Chapter 4

"Scott... we have to get back to the mansion! *I* need to get back! I need to talk to Charles."

"All right, Jean. We'll leave right now," Scott said, sensing the urgency and fear in Jean's voice. "Are the rest of you--"

"GET DOWN, SLIM!" Logan barked, knocking Scott down as a car flew through the air directly at them, barely missing its mark and slamming into a nearby building. Seconds later, a second car came hurtling through the air at the X-Men, but it was quickly teleported away by Nightcrawler.

The team readied themselves as they saw a familiar figure stomping down the street, taking the opportunity to demolish anything in his path as people ran away from him.

"Well, well... if it ain't my old pals the X-Men! How's Chuck doin' these days?" Juggernaut smirked.

"What do you want, Cain?" Ororo asked, lightning crackling from her fingers.

"Awwww, come on Sparky," Juggernaut grunted. "I jus' wanted ta say hi. Y'know, catch up with some o' my good buddies."

"We ain't your buddies," Logan grunted. "Now get lost, unless you wanna get cut up."

"Awww, that hurts, Logan. But I know it ain't true. Every time we meet up, you stab me a bunch, I smash you up, tryin' to break that metal skeleton of yours. If that ain't friendship, I don't know what is."

"We don't have time for this, Marko," Scott interjected.

"See, now I think yer lyin'," Juggernaut snarled. "Y'always seem to have time fer me when I'm smashin' up something. And I hate bein' lied to. So, the way I see it, you guys either make time for me, or I start breakin' things."

Storm sighed. "Fine. You leave us ****, Marko. We'll play your game."

"Now that's more like it!" Juggernaut grinned. "Been a while since I been in a good scrap."

"Careful what you wish for," Logan growled. "'Cause I'm gonna make it hurt."

Logan charged towards Juggernaut, plunging his claws into his monstrous enemy's chest. Juggernaut attempted to grab Wolverine, only to be struck in the face by an optic blast, followed by being knocked back by a vicious gust of wind.

"Huh. You guys are gettin' better."

As the fight went on, the X-Men seemingly gained an advantage, albeit not without exhausting the team. Out of the corner of his eye, Juggernaut spotted Emma, who had made her way down to watch the battle. From her vantage point, she gave Cain a knowing nod.

"This is gettin' boring," Juggernaut remarked, taking off his helmet and tossing it to the ground and gazing straight at Jean. "Maybe this'll make it interesting. Your move, Red."

Both the Juggernaut and X-Men stared at Jean as everything went silent. Jean froze, staring at Cain. What was he up to? Was this a trap? Could it have something to do with her? On the other had, she couldn't stand idly by and let the Juggernaut rampage through the city. This was an opportunity to stop him before he did any more damage.

Jean decided to take the risk, and attempted a psychic wave, hoping to knock Juggernaut ****. Taking advantage of the situation and her hold on Jean, Emma redirected the psychic wave and knocked out the X-Men instead, Jean included.

Emma made her way down to Juggernaut and the **** X-Men, a wide smirk across her face. "Excellent work, Mr. Marko. You've earned your pay and then some."

"Never gets old, beatin' up on Chuck's little goody-two-shoes pals," Juggernaut answered. "Whaddya want me to do with 'em?"

"Take Jean Grey and follow me," Emma ordered. "Leave the rest -- I have no use for them."

"You're the boss," Juggernaut shrugged, picking up Jean and slinging her over his massive shoulder.

Emma smiled at Cain's last comment. Once the others in the Inner Circle were out of the way, she would be the boss -- and able to rebuild the Hellfire Club as she saw fit. She'd have control over not only the wielder of the Pheonix ****, but now, she realized, the wielder of the Gem of Cyttorak. Juggernaut was easy enough to control. All it would take would be money. Good thing, too, Emma thought -- she had no interest in seducing Cain Marko, or any man, for that matter, easy as it may have been.

"And while we're on the subject, Mr. Marko, I'd like to discuss permanent employment."