Paying the Piper by Ben Church Once again, this is not an official sequal. Chapter 3 Arclight was on her knees, burns ranging from first to third degree covering her body. Where once had been a coldly beutiful person, was now a horribly disfigured hag. Tears streamed openly from her eyes, she had never known so much pain. "Please," she whispered through scorched lips. "Please, no more." "And now you know the pain and suffering you have caused others." Hotshot said. "Now, I could have mercy on you, and end your pain. But you never showed your victims mercy did you? But then again, I am not like you. I'm not a cold, heartless, cruel, sadistic b----. So I will end your pain. And may God see fit to forgive you for your sins." Hotshot dispatched her in the quickest, most painless way he could. He vaporised her. "Your companions are gone." Dragon Boy said to a disarmed Scalphunter and an injured Blockbuster. "You have heard their cries, seen their deaths. Only now will you die. But as I always say, let the punishment fit the crime." He turned to Scalphunter whome he held against the wall. "You are their leader, and you will be the last." Then, with his free hand and legs, he proceeded to break every bone in Blockbuster's body, one by one, giving Blockbuster enough time to scream between each break. Through it all, even when the screams died off into a gurgle and the light faded from Blockbuster's eyes, Scalphunter remained cold and uncaring. "Now finally it is your turn." "Go ahead. Kill me. I'll be back, so will all the rest." "Not this time." Dragon Boy picked up Scalphunter's automatic rifle and switched it to single fire. "This time, there'll be no one to clone you." Dragon Boy shot the leader of the Marauders' feet. Then his shins, then on up the body until he too was dead. Dragon Boy dropped the gun, sorrow in his eyes. "I don't think I can stomach any more killing." he said. "You won't need to." Hotshot told him. "But what about Sinister?" "I have taken care of that." a voice said. "Who are you?" Dragon Boy aske the newcomer. "I am Necromancer." he said. "And I have ensured that the Morlocks get their just revenge." * * * * Sinister set about the simple task of cloning his once again dead Marauders. "Sometimes I really don't know why I bother." he thought. "No sooner do I take out one Mutant group, then another rises to take it's place." Sinister was surprised by a knock at the door. "What the...Could it be that one of them has actually managed to survive?" He went to the door and opened it. Indeed, it was someone once thought dead, but it was not a Marauder. It was a Morlock. And from the looks of it, it had been dead for quite some time. "Sssssssinisssster." it hissed. Behind it, the corridor was filled with the walking dead. Sinister blasted the lead zombie, but it kept coming. They all kept coming. His escape route was quickly cut off, and the dead converged on him. Sinister barely had time to scream. * * * * "He is dead." Necromancer said. "His spirit has crossed over to the other side. None can return from there." Hotshot raised an eyebrow at that. "Oh really?" "Yes. Really. If any return from the dead, or their spirits haunt the living, then they never crossed over. Even I don't know why this is so." "Well then," Dragon boy said. "It's over." "For you maybe." Hotshot said. "We still have a funeral to prepare." Dragon Boy nodded solemly. "I will inform Mr. Summers of what has happened. If he is able, where shall I tell him the funeral is to take place?" * * * * Thomas entered the room quietly. Mr. Summers had woken from his coma, but he was staring forlornly out the window. "Mr. Summers?" he said, closing the door. "What." Scott asked. "I have some news from a mutual friend of ours, Will Davidson." Scott started at this news. "But Will's dead!" he insisted. "Not anymore. Do you want to hear the message or not?" "All right, tell me." "The deaths of the X-Men, and the others have been avenged." "What?" Scott looked in the direction of the boy's voice, wishing to god he could see. "They have been avenged. The Marauders, and Sinister will never more endanger the lives of inocents." "Did they suffer?" Scott asked. "Yes," Thomas replied sadly. He did not like killing, or torture. But occasionaly his dragon blood's idea of justice demanded it. "Yes, they suffered." Scott smiled. "Good." he said. "There is more, we've contacted the families of those who still had any, and there will be many funerals around the country." "I wish I could be there." "You can." A new voice said. "What? Who's that?" "My name is June, I'm an old friend of Will's. He sent me to facilitate your recovery. I have the mutant power to heal." No one ever found out what happened to the mystery patient. He simply vanished one day. Epilouge In Weschester New York, there is a cemetary where is buried many unknown soldiers who battled for a better tomorrow. A major battle has been lost, but another won. And no matter what happens to the dreamers, the dream will survive. In the center of the Cemetary lies a head stone erected in the memory of the most recent casualties. IN LOVING MEMORY: PROFESSOR CHARLES FRANCIS XAVIER WARREN WORTHINGTON III SEAN CASSIDY DR. HENRY MCCOY BISHOP SAMUAL GUTHRIE PIOTR NIKOLAIEVITCH RASPUTIN FORGE REMY LEBEAU ROBERT DRAKE JUBILATION LEE ERIC "JOESEPH" LENSHERR JEAN GREY LORNA DANE ELIZABETH BRADDOCK PIETRO MAXIMOFF LENSHERR ROGUE THERESA CASSIDY ORORO MUNROE LOGAN The End If I missed anybody, on the headstone, please forgive me.