Where You Go, I Go (June 2012)

Serena slowly sauntered over towards Gambit. She felt...strange. She didn't feel fully in control of herself and felt powerless to stop what was happening. She didn't respond to what Gambit said. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him...deeply and passionately. She then pulled back and grinned at him. "I'm going to go get changed for dinner." She sauntered away from him and went to her room. She went to her closet and pulled out a dress she usually wore to clubs. It was short and low cut in the front. It hugged her curves and left almost nothing to the imagination. She then put on some 3 inch stiletto high heels and sprayed on some perfume.

She heard her mother call her for dinner and she walked out. She walked confidently and let her hips sway back and forth as she walked to the table. Isabella nearly dropped her water glass when she saw what Serena was wearing. Kate blinked and looked away. She suddenly felt rather uncomfortable.

When Gambit saw her he whistled softly. “Now that is a dinner dress,” he said but the way he meant it was far from decent. Logan grinned when he saw her but when Natalya looked at him he lowered his gaze. “I like the dress,” he said but she doubted that was really what he was looking at.

Peter was quite taken aback by the display. And Tony scowled at her. “Serena, really?” He said in a disapproving way. “ Steve didn’t even look at her as he sensed Kate was watching him from the corner of his eye.

“Well it’s a nice dress,” Peter and Gambit said at the same time as the bowls began to get passed around.

Serena felt confident and...good...really good. She just no longer cared what everyone else thought about her and she quite enjoyed the attention she was suddenly getting. As she passed by Gambit to get to her seat beside him, she ran her fingers along the backs of his shoulders. She was seated across from Peter and she smiled at him and gave him a little wink.

When the bowls came to her she just passed them along and put nothing on her plate. Isabella looked at her daughter and found this rather strange. "You're not hungry?" Serena flashed her mother a little grin. "Oh, I'm hungry...I'm just not hungry for food." Kate heard Steve nearly choke on what he was eating next to her at what Serena just said. Kate began to feel that there was something wrong with Serena. This was just not how she behaved.

"Serena, are you alright?"

Serena grinned again. "I'm fine...I feel great."

Tony looked at Serena and so did Peter. Peter didn’t know how Serena normally was but he had seen the abrupt change. And his mind worked at the reason of it. He was distracted to though, especially when Serena looked at him. She was gorgeous with large, dark eyes, dark hair and a few freckles on her nose.

Gambit felt her hand on his thigh and then it was right on his package. He looked over at her and for the first time he frowned at her. He took up her hand into his and looked into her eyes. They looked loving but also heated as if she was overcome with desire. He liked seeing that but there was something off about it too.

“Should we...you know tell them?” He whispered to her. Tony looked at Isabella with a concerned look. “What’s happening?” He asked.

Serena laughed out loud at what Gambit said. Anyone who knew Serena would be able to tell that it wasn’t her laugh. It sounded...different. She looked at Gambit and he would see that her eyes looked different too...like they weren’t hers.

“And why should I just settle for you when there’s now some competition?” she asked as she flashed Peter a sexy smile.

Gambit’s eyebrows drew up in astonishment at what Serena. Peter’s did too. “That’s enough Serena...are you drunk? Did you take something?” Tony asked. He had never seen her like this before. He turned to Isabella. “Should we take her to the infirmary?” He asked.

“The tablet,” Peter said suddenly and everyone looked at him. “That’s when it started. I showed her the tablet and she began to...talk differently,” he said. Gambit looked at her again and again she playfully tried to touch him. When he fought her off she just laughed.

“Well something’s wrong with her,” Logan and Steve said together. Everyone was looking at Isabella for guidance on what to do. Except Gambit who held her hands because she kept trying to undo his belt and touch him in front of everyone at the table. She was not herself at all and acted as if she was happy and playing some sort of game.

Serena began to grow frustrated with Gambit. She finally huffed at him and pulled her hands away. "Fine. You don't want to play with me...then I'll go play with Peter," she told him as she stood up. As she started to walk over to Peter, Isabella gasped. A shadow was reflected on the wall behind Serena as she walked, but it wasn't her own. It looked...otherworldly.

"Kate!"

"I've got her!" Kate said as she stood up and held out a hand towards Serena and used her powers to freeze her in place. "Go get a sedative," she told Steve.

Nyx began to fight back against Kate's powers. Kate felt herself losing her and suddenly Nyx shattered the grip that Kate held on her. It was so powerful that it threw Kate back onto the ground in an unconscious state.

Gambit didn’t know what was happening but obviously something was wrong with Serena. Very wrong. He didn’t want to hurt her but he knew he needed to subdue her. Kate already tried but before he could Logan was there. Serena shot him in the chest with a powerful blast but Natalya was on her and hit her in the back of the neck. Serena’s knees buckled as she softened her fall.

Steve was bent over Kate and turned her over to assess her injuries. Gambit, Tony and Isabella has all moved toward Serena and Natalya and Logan groaned as he turned himself over. The front of his shirt was completely burned away and the gaping, burnt flesh began to repair itself. The floor where he lay had a pool of blood and the front of him was covered in it. If he had been a normal man, Serena would have killed him for certain. They looked her over as Tony darted away to get the sedative injector.

“What is happening” Gambit asked as he looked Serena over. Peter had gone to the lab to check on the tablet. Tony returned and tossed the injector to Isabella. Isabella knelt and injected Serena with the powerful sedative. Peter returned with the tablet and the runes on it were glowing a bright violet color.

“Definitely some kind of connection between Serena and the tablet somehow?” Peter asked He knew nothing of Nyx or what had really happened before.

That had been covered up by SHIELD. And the other students had signed confidentiality agreements never to speak of it. Gambit brushed hair from her face. Serena looked so peaceful like this but she had lashed out with her powers. “We need to get her back to the mansion I think,” Tony said.

Kate was alright physically, but she remained unconscious. Steve picked up Kate and took her down to the biobed. Isabella knew that Nyx was back and that Tony was right, they needed to get her back to the mansion. Natalya was leaned over Logan as his body began to repair itself. Although she knew he was going to be alright, it was still unnerving to her to see him so injured. After Logan's eyes opened, Natalya helped him up and then looked over at Tony.

"I'll go ready the jet."

Isabella looked at Peter and sighed a little before telling him about Nyx. She explained that Nyx was the reason why there was that abberation in the program. Nyx had used that to try and come into their world and Evan had died helping to keep her at bay. However, part of Nyx had attached to Serena, which is why she had ended up at the mansion. Professor Xavier had helped to box up Nyx in Serena's mind, but clearly she was starting to escape.

"Peter, why don't you remain here at the Tower with Steve and Kate. The rest of us will take Serena to the mansion."

Peter looked down at the tablet and cringed. “But...but...what do I do with this? Obviously this has some...connection to what's happening with her. We should bring it with us. I’ve heard of Charles Xavier, but, can we get in touch with Doctor Strange?” Peter asked.

Gambit picked up Serena. “Well I’m going,” He said as Kate began to stir. “Ok, You’re coming to Peter and bring the tablet,” He said. “I can give Strange a call,” He said

Natalya landed the jet near the mansion. The group disembarked and were met by Scott, Jean, Storm and Charles. Gambit carried Serena and everyone else walked with them toward the mansion.

“So our errant girl has come back to us. Bring her in and lets try to find out what's wrong with her,” Charles said as they moved inside. They went up to Her and Gambits room. When they arrived, Doctor Strange was already there waiting for them. “Stephen, I was hoping you’d be here,” Tony said and shook his hand as Gambit laid Serena on the bed. He had dressed her in black yoga pants and a red t-shirt.

“Ah, Doctor Strange? It’s good to finally meet you,” Charles said as Tony did the introductions. He then began to explain everything that had happened, including what little they learned from the tablet.

Serena did not stir during the flight. She was strapped down in the back for safety reasons and Natalya got them to the mansion as quickly as possible. Isabella had called ahead and spoken to Charles and so they were expected. Natalya landed the jet and they were met by Charles, Storm, Scott, and Jean. Gambit carried Serena inside and up to their room. Everyone else followed behind. Isabella was relieved when she saw Stephen Strange already there waiting for them. She and Tony knew Stephen and she hoped he might be able to shed some light on this tablet and what was happening with Nyx and Serena.

While Tony explained to him and the others what was going on, Isabella sat on the edge of the bed next to her daughter and she reached out and gently touched her face. She was still fully sedated and did not stir.

“Let me see the tablet Peter,” Strange said as if he knew Peter already. He did but not in a way anyone could understand. Peter had never met Strange and he presented the tablet to him.

Doctor Strange opened up his amulet and the ‘eye’ gazed upon the tablet. “So you say Bruce Banner gave this to you? That is not true. Whoever brought this to you looked like Bruce Banner but it was not him. One of Nyx’s disciples, a Child of Erebus brought it in an attempt to wake Nyx from her slumber,” He said as he channeled his power. They know where Nyx is now,” Stephen said. “They will try and come for her again,” He said. “Also, not that Nyx knows of the tablet, removing it far from Serena will likely cause her harm,” He said. Tony looked and felt horrified by this news and his arm moved around Isabella. Gambit only shook his head in disbelief.

“I can contain her again,” Charles said. “Yes, you can but this tablet is likely only 1 of many. The rune of waking is upon it, written in their language. If they bring the runes of Night and Dreams to her, I fear that Nyx will free herself. She is a very powerful god. Rumored to have witnessed the creation of the material plane, our plane. And she has many children,” Stephen said then looked at Isabella. “I’m...sorry Isabella, if Nyx manages to free herself, we all are in alot of trouble,” He said. But what was worse was wasn’t he didn’t say. If Serena dies, Nyx’s consciousness dies with her and with her, the threat.

Isabella felt sick to know that the person who had brought the tablet to them had not been Bruce Banner at all, but a disciple of Nyx. They had been tricked and now there was the danger that Nyx might actually be able to free herself from Serena if the runes of Night and Dreams were brought to her. This nightmare only felt like it was getting worse.

"What about destroying the tablet?" Natalya asked in desperation.

Strange glanced at Peter but it was only for a moment. Peter looked at the tablet and furled his brow as if thinking hard about it. “If Serena is dead, what happens to Nyx?” Scott said plainly. He looked troubled but Scott always had a pragmatic way of thinking. One life for the world? That was an easy equation in his mind. And Jean looked at him, knowing what he was thinking. Tony did to. “I’ve been working on something...I ...I just need more time…” Tony said as he looked at Serena. He felt heartsick and fearful.

Gambit took a step toward Scott. “That’s not happening,” he said and suddenly a card appeared in each hand. “Calm down Gambit, no one’s going to harm Serena,” Charles said. “Now everyone calm down so we can discuss our best course of action,” He said.

Isabella grew upset at the thought of Serena dying just so they could kill Nyx, but she had a feeling that was what Stephen was thinking as well. Natalya and Logan grew rather defensive of Serena as well and stood between her and Scott. The tension grew thick in the room until Charles managed to calm everyone down.

Isabella looked at her husband and wondered about something he had said. "What is it exactly that you've been working on?"

“Uh...Mrs. Stark? I’ve been using Serena’s original algorithm program to control a large Excimer Laser that Mr. Stark and myself have been building. I...I think with a few modifications, we can use it to damage that tablet…” He said but Gambit cut him off.

“How long before its ready?” Gambit said quickly and desperately. “Well...originally I was going to use it to just take a few molecules from the tablet but that wouldn’t really destroy it...or even rally damage it. I...I’m not certain but I think if we used a Dark Matter filament…” He continued then Tony spoke over him and stepped forward. “We could create a beam of negative energy,” Tony said. “Um...yeah but…” He said but Charles spoke over him this time.

“But where do we get a Dark Matter Filament?” Charles asked. And Peter nodded. Tony knew and he dropped his head and rubbed at his forehead as if he had a headache. “Doom,” He said though it made him sick to say it.

Before Tony even said the name, Isabella knew what he was thinking. However, hearing the name made it all too real. The Avengers had had a run in with Doom before and Isabella knew that Doom was extremely powerful and could likely get them what they needed to destroy the tablet, but at what cost?

"Doom is going to want something from us in exchange for this Dark Matter Filament. He won't just do this out of the kindness of his heart."