Aliens took off with the disclaimer that I don't own any Marvel Characters or GI Joe characters. Well this is a companion piece to Days of Our Mutant Lives. It deals with what the New Mutants left behind on Earth go through. Especially once their enemies realize that the X-Men and Misfits aren't there. It's not going to be pretty people.
Holding Down the Fort
Chapter 1: Holding Down the Fort
"It's only been three days since Xavier was kidnapped and the X-Men Gold team along with the Misfits went off to rescue him," Logan groaned. "And already there are holes in the walls!"
And there were holes in the walls. Big holes. "How did it happen this time?" Roadblock asked.
"Let's just say Starla ain't too good with mopping and Cannonball shouldn't have been running through the hallways," Warren groaned. "Oh when are the X-Men and Misfits going to come back?"
"They won't be gone that long," Logan shrugged. "I mean how long can it take to rescue the Professor from aliens?"
"Until then I moved in to help out," Candy grinned as she walked up to the three men. "Not like my career is going anywhere. And I really need to get away from the paparazzi stalking me."
"Candy Southern?" Roadblock blinked. "You're helping out?"
"Like these two boys can handle a bunch of teenagers on their own," Candy snorted. "Especially a bunch of teenage girls."
"It does help me sleep better at night knowing there's someone who can watch after Boom Boom and make sure she doesn't blow up the place," Warren admitted.
"Okay so who's here so I get it straight?" Candy asked.
"Here's the list of the two teams of New Mutants," Warren gave it to her. "The Red Squad is the more advanced team and the Blue Squad is the team that needs more work."
RED SQUAD: LEADER: CANNONBALL.
SQUAD MEMBERS: PSYLOCKE, JUBILEE, BOOM BOOM, MAGMA, BERZERKER, SKULLFIRE, WOLFSBANE, DEAD GIRL, CYPHER, POLARIS.
BLUE SQUAD: LEADER: MIRAGE
SQUAD MEMBERS: SUNSPOT, MULTIPLE, PENNANCE, HUSK, BEDLAM, SYNCH, GOBLYN, GOSSAMYR, STATIC, BIRD BRAIN.
"Bird Brain? That's Danny's new codename?" Roadblock gave him a look. "What did you do let Boom Boom name him?"
"Pretty much yeah," Logan shrugged. "Believe it or not he actually didn't mind."
"I don't believe it," Roadblock said.
"Then you should read his test scores," Warren groaned. "Let's just say having a father in the Mob wasn't exactly a good role model for his education."
"Okay why is Roberto on the Blue team? I thought he has pretty good control of his powers?" Roadblock looked at the list.
"He does, it's his attitude that needs some adjustment," Logan grunted. "Besides it's not a good idea to put him on the same team with Berserker and the Blue squad could use some extra power."
"Well then why did you put Tabitha on the Red Squad?" Warren gave him a look.
"That girl is beyond help," Logan sighed. "Might as well put her where she can do the most damage to the enemy and the less damage to us!"
"So how are the new kids?" Candy asked. "I see the kids accepted Danny."
"Yeah most of 'em took Danny being gay pretty well," Logan shrugged. "Then again look at our other kids, we have kids with different religions, different races, clones, half demons…Former Hellions and Morlocks…A zombie…You get the picture."
"Except for Starla who had some of the most colorful ideas about homosexuality," Warren groaned. "I think most of the boys are more uncomfortable around her than Danny."
"Most of the kids hate that small minded little brat. Her brother Taylor is all right though," Logan admitted. "A lot more mature than his older sister."
"Speaking of which has she finished waxing the vans yet?" Warren asked.
"Wait a minute there's somebody missing from this list," Candy scanned it. "What about that other new girl, Autumn Rolfson? What squad is she on?"
"She's not on any squad," Logan grunted. "One, she's way underweight. And two…She's way too unstable to put her in with the others yet. When Charles gets back maybe he'll continue his sessions with her."
"If he's not too distracted again," Roadblock nodded.
Speaking of distracted outside Autumn was sitting watching several other New Mutants play basketball. "Hey Autumn," Jesse waved to her and walked over. "Do you want to play?"
"Not really," Autumn sighed. "I really can't…"
"Oh right," He looked at how thin and frail she was. "Can I ask you something? Do your powers affect your weight or is it…?"
"It's a little bit of both actually," Autumn said lifelessly. "Doctor McCoy put me on a special diet to build up my strength. But my odd metabolism does take a lot out of me. But he's not here now. Xavier isn't here either. They said they could fix me."
"Yeah right," Jesse grunted. "I've been here over a year and I still barely have control over my machine manipulating powers. Now I've got these other powers that can fry people's brains like a hamburger and the one guy who can help me control them has just gotten kidnapped by aliens from outer space. Face it, I can't do anything right."
"Then you are just like me," Autumn shrugged. "Nobody really thinks I'm worth much either."
"I wouldn't say that," Jesse began but Autumn walked away. When she was out earshot he shuddered. "Logan is right, that girl is creepy."
"Hey Jesse," Paige said as she and Jubilee walked up to him. "What's going on?"
"I was talking to Autumn maybe trying to cheer her up but I ended up getting depressed myself," Jesse groaned.
"I know I should feel bad for her and I try to be nice but there's just something about her that's so creepy," Jubilee shuddered. "And this is coming from someone who hangs out with a living dead person."
"Yeah even Dead Girl is more upbeat than her," Paige agreed.
"Hey once your life has been taken away from you by a horrible fate it's all uphill from there," Dead Girl cheerfully walked over to them. "What's wrong? Jesse you look like death warmed over. In a bad way that is."
"Just worried about Autumn," Jesse said. "I mean I feel so bad for her. My powers are out of control too and now they can seriously hurt people but man…"
"Hmmmn," Dead Girl sighed. "I wasn't gonna say anything but I was talking to some of my spirit friends…I've been hearing things. You know the dead talk to each other all the time. Hell, gossiping among the spirits is one of the few things you can do when you're dead."
"And?" Paige asked.
"Her folks were real A class jerks and probably deserved what they got but…" Dead Girl sighed. "It wasn't really an accident."
"Hold on a second," Jubilee said. "You can find out if people were murdered or not? Then if that's true then why didn't you ever tell us about Warren's father and his uncle?"
"One, I don't talk to every spirit that I meet," Dead Girl said. "I mean do you just go up to every stranger you see on the street and start chatting with them? Two…There are some things even I'm not allowed to know that the dead purposely keep hidden from me. It's part of the whole free will, let destiny take it's course thing."
"You mean there are rules when you're dead?" Jubilee asked.
"Of course," Dead Girl nodded. "I've been trying to get permission to be able to talk to Angel's parents. Don't ask about the details. It's some weird zoning law thing. But I should have some kind of indication in a few days."
"Zoning law?" Jesse asked.
"Let's just say Angel's old man has to work off a few debts and figure out a few things for himself," Dead Girl shrugged. "It's not exactly Hell but it's not Heaven either. Actually it's where most souls end up until they settle their paperwork and get reassigned or are allowed to certain positions."
"It sounds like a complicated system," Paige said.
"It is and it isn't," Dead Girl shrugged. "Don't say anything yet to Angel. Don't want to get his hopes up just yet."
"Speaking of hope," Paige sighed. "I hope the others hurry back before something bad happens."
"They should be back pretty soon," Jubilee shrugged. "I mean they're only going to be gone a few days right? How bad could it get?"
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Somewhere in a secret base, there was a very luxurious room with three huge golden chairs with satin plush lining and a golden table. This was the secret room of Factor Three. Factors Two and Three also known as Unicorn and the Vanisher were there, waiting for their leader, Factor One to arrive.
"When is he going to get here and get started?" Unicorn tapped her long nails impatiently on the table. "Typical, always makes a big deal about us being on time and showing up but he gets to be fashionably late!"
"Relax Unicorn," Vanisher sighed as he sipped his tea. "Factor One will be here soon enough and the Game will begin. He's probably just setting up some last minute surprises for us."
"Humph," Unicorn pouted. "Always with the surprises."
"But that is what you live for, do you not Unicorn?" Factor One entered the room. He was completely covered in black and had a black cape with silver linings. He wore a silver mask that had no facial features except for eyeholes but had black markings on it. Only his long white hair could be seen cascading down his back.
"Took your sweet time getting here," Unicorn pouted. "Let's start the Game already! I wanna plaaaaaaayyyy!"
"You are such a child," Vanisher groaned.
"Speaking of children I suppose it's time we announce our candidates," Factor One pressed a button. "The Players shall enter. Factors, call forth your apprentices."
"I, Factor Three call forth as my apprentice, Wilson Fisk, The Kingpin!" The Vanisher called out. The Kingpin walked in regally.
"I, Factor Two call forth my apprentice, Legion," Unicorn shouted. Lucas strode into the room.
"Shouldn't that be apprentices?" Vanisher asked. "The man has more personalities than a talent agent."
"That's what makes him so much fun," Unicorn snickered.
"I, Factor One call forth Nathaniel Essex, Mister Sinister," Factor One intoned.
"This better be worth my time," Sinister grumbled as he walked in.
"And my second apprentice…" Factor One continued. "Shinobi Shaw!"
"WHAT?" Sinister roared as a twenty one year old, well dressed Japanese man strode in. "SECOND APPRENTICE?"
"I see, this is going to be interesting already," Unicorn grinned.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" Sinister snapped at Factor One.
"It means he has two apprentices competing instead of one," Unicorn said. "Is that fair?"
"Why you've got an apprentice that's at least six people rolled into one!" Vanisher snapped.
"Yeah and yours looks like he ate two people so, yeah that's fair," Unicorn shrugged. "Deal with it Sinny Baby!"
Sinister foamed at the mouth. "It's bad enough that I have to be your second rate stooge, but now I have to put up with this second rate pampered upstart…"
Suddenly Sinister felt very strange, like someone's hand was on his heart. He looked down and realized that was what was happening. Worst of all he felt so heavy he couldn't move. "What…?" Sinister gasped as he realized Shinobi Shaw had casually phased his hand through his body and was now grasping his heart.
"Sinister," Shinobi gave him a contemptuous glare. "Shut up."
"What…How? Can't move…" Sinister shuddered.
"It is rude to criticize someone until you have been formally introduced to them," Shinobi said in a very cultured accent. "I am Shinobi Shaw, son of Sebastian Shaw and the Black King of the Asian Branch of the Hellfire Club. Actually I am now the head of nearly the entire Hellfire Club, thanks to my father's bungling. Factor One excepted of course since he leads the European branch of the Hellfire Club."
"But I have left most of my duties to Shinobi," Factor One was secretly very pleased.
"In case you haven't realized it yet Sinister, I will tell you exactly what my mutant powers are," Shinobi spoke. "I can control my body's density, making myself able to pass through walls or sturdy enough for a tank to crash into me and yet I will walk away unscathed. I can also alter a person's density as long as I touch them. That means I can kill you in two ways right now. One I can just squeeze and yank your heart out of your chest, but that is rather messy. And two…I can just make your body so heavy your bones will not be able to support it and they will break and collapse under the weight as well. That includes your skull which will smash your brain instantly. So take my advice Sinister…Don't ever…call me second rate ever again!"
"You may release him now Shinobi," Factor One waved and he did so.
"All right!" Unicorn whooped. "Okay I know it's against me but we gotta award Shinobi here at least fifty points for that move! It's worth it to see Sinister taken down a peg!"
"Points?" Kingpin raised an eyebrow. "What kind of game are we playing, exactly?"
"The usual, World Domination," Unicorn said. "But there are a few rules."
"Rule Number One is that We make the Rules and they shall be obeyed," Factor One spoke.
"Rule Number Two, no killing of any mutants unless we order it," Vanisher said. "If you want to kill someone you have to run it by us first. That means no killing X-Men, Misfits, Magneto, Apocalypse…At least not yet. Got it?"
"Can we at least make their lives miserable?" Lucas asked.
"Oh yeah," Unicorn nodded. "That you can do."
"Then I have no problems," Lucas grinned.
"Points are given out for many things," Vanisher said. "How many missions you accomplish, how many Sentinels you destroy, how many humans are killed…You get the idea."
"And the stats shall be determined by these watches," Unicorn got up and gave them to each of them. "They shall tell you not only how you are doing, but how the others are doing. And so far Shinobi is ahead."
"Not for long," Kingpin gave him a look.
"Don't you think you might have a problem offing your fellow humans?" Lucas sneered.
"Don't you have any clue who I am and how I make my living? I have been killing other humans because of business reasons for decades," The Kingpin gave him a look. "Do you really think I would have a problem with it now?"
"Well uh…" Lucas realized the Kingpin's point. "When you put it that way…"
"Then let me ask another question. Do genetically empowered non mutants count in your little crusade?" The Kingpin asked. "Or are they considered mutants and exempt from the game?"
"You mean like Spider Man and Daredevil? No…You can kill them too," Unicorn said.
"Then I have no problems," The Kingpin grinned. "So let the games begin!"
"Actually," Factor One spoke. "I've already gotten some very interesting information from a very reliable source. Not only is Professor Xavier…Unavailable but all the Misfits and half the X-Men are gone as well."
"Gone? As in dead? Please say dead," Lucas asked.
"No, they are on a mission but it could be a long time until they return," Factor One explained. "This is the perfect opportunity for us to start the Game."
"Just the opportunity I have been waiting for," Shinobi grinned. "Within two weeks I will be in control of an entire mutant army as well as a city."
"And within that short amount of time I will have developed a mutant army of my own," Kingpin glared. "And commit several crimes that will cripple the governments around the world!"
"I'm going to have some fun with the FOH," Lucas sneered. "They wanna hunt down mutants and kill them? Let's see how they like it!"
"Amateurs," Sinister growled. "By the time I am through nearly half the population of the world will be mutants! Those that survive that is!"
"Oh please…Hey, I got a great idea," Lucas grinned. "Can I make a call and give some information to a friend of mine?"
"Why not?" Unicorn shrugged.
"Wait until Mastermind hears about the X-Geeks and the Misfit Morons," Lucas cackled. "He'll go running to Magneto and then the fireworks will really begin!"
"Well that will keep the remaining X-Men busy," Vanisher approved.
"This promises to be such fun," Unicorn grinned.
"Let the games begin," Factor One spoke with anticipation.
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"Yes let the games begin," Apocalypse spoke from his hidden chamber. Selene was using a giant crystal to show what was going on. His son Amadeus stood beside him. "Very well…Let us play this game as well. It shall be most amusing."
"I like Games," Black Tom nodded. Juggernaut and Sammy were in the chamber as well.
"Can't wait to play," Juggernaut grinned.
"All in good time," Apocalypse nodded. "But first some good news. I believe I have found the perfect candidate for my second Horseman. At the Xavier Institute. Now all we have to do is set the stage and prepare…"
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Somewhere in America a green skinned boy with brown hair looked out the window of his dingy apartment. But he wasn't looking at the view outside.
"Bad things are coming," Dorian Leech's eyes widened. "Very bad things…"
And he was afraid.
Looks like everyone is playing games! Next! The world starts to feel the effects of Factor Three's Game and it's gonna be explosive!