X-Men Evolution characters? Don't own 'em. But you might see a few new creations of mine in this fic. This takes place not even a week after the final events of 'This Soap Opera Called Life'. It begins Evan's new life with the Hellions and some changes are gonna happen because of it.
Welcome to the Dark Side
Chapter 1: Another New Beginning
Evan was grateful for the ride in the limo to the school. Especially since it had tinted window so no one could see in. Not that there were that many houses in Snow Valley to speak of. The colors of the fall leaves on the trees were surrounding the road from all sides. "Man you guys are really out in the middle of nowhere," He whistled.
Emma Frost sighed. "Well the purpose of that was to keep us safe from unwanted attention and prying eyes. I'm sad to say it didn't work quite the way we planned."
"It's not your fault," Evan told her. "Blame the Purists who attacked your school."
"I wish it was that simple," Emma sighed. "I'm afraid my charming sister told the good Reverend Stryker everything before she had her little breakdown."
"Oh," Evan said softly. "I didn't know…"
"These are troubled times," Emma said. "When you can't even trust your own family any more. Well, in my case I never could to begin with but still…"
"I know exactly what you mean," Evan's face hardened. "People say they're behind you all the way until you do something they don't approve of."
"Like your aunt?" Emma asked. "I don't need to read your mind to know how angry you are with her and the other X-Men. But listen to me, Evan you had no choice. Yes, you killed Spears but by doing so you saved a lot of mutant lives and you managed to give the FOH a very serious blow. In the long run, you did the right thing."
"I know that now," Evan said. "I used to doubt myself back in jail but…"
"Well you shouldn't," Emma said gently, putting her hand on his shoulder. "I know exactly what you are going through. We've both had to make tough choices to survive. We did what we had to do. If the X-Men can't see that then they're bigger fools than I thought them to be."
"Well they did take it kind of hard when I turned my back on everything Xavier taught us," Evan grunted. "Even though it's mostly a lie, I still feel a little bad."
"Despite what the good Professor believes, evolution is not some beautiful perfume commercial you just wake up to," Emma scoffed. "It can be harsh and brutal."
"Like Darwin said, Survival of the Fittest?" Evan asked.
"Exactly," Emma said. "It isn't enough just to be a mutant, you have to prove yourself by surviving. Which you have done. So don't feel too disappointed about how you left the X-Men."
"Leaving them? Please!" Evan snarled. "That's the least of my worries." He softened. "There were other people I had to leave behind."
"You mean the Morlocks?"
"Yeah, they only got rid of me because they had no choice. I kind of see Callisto's point you know? They got enough trouble without me bringing them more."
"Evan those Morlocks are self pitying fools with too much pride they've got little right to have," Emma told him. "Oh look at us, we're so deformed and ugly and poor. The world above hates us so we should live in the sewers. HA! If those Morlocks had half the ambitions of some of my students have they would have taken over entire city blocks by now so that they could go above ground! That's what the Night Pack and the Bacchae did."
"The what?"
"Oh that's right, you don't know about them," Emma grinned. "Let's just say there are a lot more mutant groups around than you think. Well the Bacchae aren't all mutants but enough of them are. They operate out of San Francisco and Hawaii now. Originally the majority of them were from Los Angeles but they traveled to a more…hospitable climates."
"Does Xavier know about them?"
"I doubt it. The Bacchae figured out a way to cloak their mutant signatures. And the Night Pack is very discrete. If he does have any inkling about them he doesn't know the whole truth," She grinned. "They've become the Hellfire Club's…Allies in the field so to speak."
"Sounds interesting."
"You have no idea," Emma said. "We're here."
"Whoa…" Evan saw the huge campus and all the construction going around. "I'm impressed."
"It looked a lot better before the Purists attacked," Emma admitted. "But we've decided to rebuild. Make it bigger and better with more spaces for new students."
"So tell me more about how things work around here," Evan asked.
"Simple, my group the Hellions are the elite team," Emma explained. "They are the main strike force that goes on missions as well as teaches some of the other students in basic classes. There are four other smaller teams of mutants that mainly do research and defensive capabilities. In order they are the Beta, Gamma, Theta and Epsilon teams. Beta and Theta do mostly scientific research. Gamma works on weapons systems and defensive maneuvers. Most of Gamma team was wiped out in the attack. Epsilon focuses more on business, law and politics. We're thinking of adding a sixth team in the fall."
"How many students are here now?"
"Like I said, we did lose a few in the Purist attack, but thanks to the good Reverend Stryker's little misfire we were able to make up those numbers and then some," Emma explained as the car parked. "Including yourself we now have over one hundred and fifty eight students."
"That many?" Evan's jaw dropped. "I thought Xavier had a lot."
"We've been working on this school for a lot longer than Xavier has," Emma grinned. "And the Hellfire Club has many contacts and resources."
Evan cautiously got out of the limo, making sure his spikes didn't scratch the paint job. "The driver will take your luggage to your room," Emma said. "I'll have someone show you it later. Right now we have an assembly to catch. Then I'll introduce you to your teammates."
"Okay," Evan shrugged. He then noticed most of the other students were wearing red and white uniforms. "I…uh, just hope you don't mind me breaking the dress code." He was bare chested due to the spikes and armor and wearing jeans with holes in them. There were holes in the jeans where his spikes protruded.
"I'm sure we can bend the rules for now," Emma made a wry grin. "Just follow the other students and I will see you after the assembly."
"Okay," Evan nodded and did so. He made his way to the auditorium. Even though he was among mutants he still received a lot of stares. He found a seat near the back next to a blonde haired 16-year-old boy. He was wearing a red and white school uniform.
"Excuse me, but aren't you Evan Daniels?" The blonde haired boy asked.
"Uh yeah," Evan said.
"Wow! I mean this is amazing," The boy said. "My name's Doug Ramsey. I've been following your case. You really did a lot for us. I mean, I don't think any other mutant has done what you did. You're famous!"
"You don't say?" Evan raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Doug nodded. "I mean after the Purists attacked things were really bad here. I lost a lot of friends in the attack. But when we heard the verdict everybody was ecstatic! Somebody finally stood up to those people and won one for us, you know what I mean?"
"Yeah," Evan grinned slightly. "So what's your power?"
"It's kind of lame," Doug scratched his head. "I can translate stuff. No matter what language it is, I can read it. Any code you make, I can crack it. That's why they call me Cypher."
"Wait, you can understand anything anyone has ever written?" Evan asked.
"I can even figure out Shakespeare," Doug grinned. "But since it's not that good of a power I'm on the Beta team. Doing research and stuff."
"I dunno," Evan said. "I think I could have used a power like that once or twice."
"Word around school is you're gonna be in the Hellions," Doug said. "That means you're gonna be one of the top guys around here. Man you are so lucky."
"Let me guess, the Hellions are at the top of the food chain around here?" Evan asked.
"Yeah but they've got a right to that rep," Doug said. "They took out those Purists even after they were infected with the nanites. They get to go on missions and everything. Man, what I wouldn't give to be like them."
"Careful what you wish for," Evan muttered.
Emma Frost made her way to the podium. Soon everyone was silenced. "Greetings Students," She spoke. "This is a new beginning, not just the start of another semester, but a new chance for us to unite as mutants. A new commitment to the future. Many of you have lost friends and teachers due to the Purist attack. Others have just gained their abilities recently and are new to being mutants. Others have come from other places trying to find acceptance. But we all have one thing in common; we have survived some of the worst things mankind is capable of. We are stronger for it."
"There will be a lot of changes in this semester. First of all, in addition to your mandatory self-defense courses, it will also be expected of you to learn how to use your abilities and skills in an offensive way."
"Like forgetting to shower?" Bevatron snickered quietly to his fellow Hellions in the front row. "Looks like some of them already have learned that."
"Oh man look at some of the freaks here," Beef snorted. "Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel."
"I know," Roulette filed her nails. "I remember a time when mutants with obvious mutations wouldn't even dare come near this place!"
"It's the poor ones I don't care for," Monet sniffed.
"You watch your tongue!" Catseye hissed. "I no like how you talk like that and Miss Frost no like it either!"
"Aww, what's wrong with Teacher's Pet?" Beef snorted. "Got her ball of yarn twisted?"
"The only reason we tolerate you, Catseye is that Ms. Frost is your legal guardian," Monet looked at her. "She should have left you back in that alley where you belong!"
"And you would know about alleys wouldn't you, Monet?" Tarot glared at her. "Seeing how you spend all your time in the gutter."
"I swear if we were not in assembly right now…" Monet hissed.
IF YOU WEREN'T I WOULD SURELY MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF YOU! An angry telepathic message from Emma hit their minds. Do you have any idea how rude it is to interrupt my speech? I will speak with you later. After the assembly!
Emma had paused in her speech to send the message. She smiled for the crowd and continued. "Also some of you will be reassigned to other squadrons or have your position in your squadron changed. This restructuring is not a punishment. It is merely a place where we feel your talents will be more vital. Now let's get down to brass tacks. After your Team Advisor calls your name and codename you will join your squad and leave immediately for debriefing. I will start first with my Hellions. In no particular order…Evan Daniels, Spyke."
"That's my cue," Evan got up to go up. All eyes were on him. He could hear their comments.
"Wow! That's Evan Daniels!"
"He's here? No way!"
"Man he looks even cooler in person!"
"I can't believe they let him in here!"
"Who cares what he looks like! Did you hear what he did to Guy Spears and the FOH?"
"Trashed an entire FOH building! Nearly killed 'em all!"
"I thought he was an X-Man?" Beef blinked.
"Guess not," Catseye grinned. "You were saying something about lower evolved mutants?"
"It makes sense if you think about it," Empath nodded. "We could use some new muscle."
"Hey!" Beef snapped.
"She just called our names stupid!" Monet hissed. "Come on!" Monet, Bevatron, Beef, Empath, Roulette, Tarot, Jetstream and Catseye went forward.
"James Proudstar, Warpath and last…Douglas Ramsey, Cypher," Emma finished her introductions.
"No freaking way!" Bevatron's jaw dropped.
"He was on the Beta team for crying out loud!" Beef gasped. "Why would she put one of those losers on our team?"
"Maybe he figured he couldn't do any worse than you," James Proudstar glared at him as he walked by.
"Wow…" Doug walked up to Evan. "I can't believe it!"
"Welcome to the team, Cypher!" Evan grabbed his hand and shook it.
"Well isn't this interesting," Empath thought aloud.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"I can't believe it!" Doug said as they entered what seemed to be the common room of the Hellions Dorm. "We're here! We're really here!"
"So we're on a team of mutants, big whoop," James grunted.
"Hey give the kid a break," Evan said. "He's excited."
"Call me when the action starts, then I'll be excited," James told him.
"Look um, I didn't really know your brother and all but I…" Evan began.
"Save it," James growled. "I don't want your pity. All I want is a clear shot at the X-Men. Just one shot is all I need."
"Ah, it seems our new team mates have arrived," Empath said. There was a large buffet in the middle of the room. "Help yourselves to some punch."
Tarot and Catseye were there as well. "Welcome to the Hellions," Catseye said. "Especially you Spyke!"
"We all heard what really happened with Spears," Empath told him. "Nice work."
"Hey, I did what had to be done," Evan shrugged.
"But to go to jail…" Catseye said. "You are very brave."
"What? What'd he do?" James asked.
"Where have you been? In a cave?" Tarot asked. "This is Evan Daniels. The Evan Daniels? The mutant that killed Guy Spears and got away with it! How could you not know who he is?"
"I never watched the news that much okay?" James snapped. "Wait, wasn't Spears the one who was poisoning mutants?"
"Yeah and I stopped him," Evan told him.
"Not only that, he took down the leader of the FOH with him," Empath informed James. "Remember Creed? He had a nervous breakdown that was shown on national television."
"Oh really?" James looked at Evan as if appraising him. "Maybe you ain't all talk after all."
"Got that right," Evan said glaring back.
"Gentlemen please! Today is a day of celebration," Empath said.
"Come on guys give the macho act a rest will ya?" Tarot asked.
"Yeah well," James shrugged. "There's another time and place to test your rep. I guess I gotta give you props for taking down two slime balls like that. So where is the rest of the team?"
"Oh Ms. Frost is chewing them out about their attitudes," Tarot told them. "I gotta warn you, some mutants around here are not as accepting of obvious mutations as they should be."
"Miss Frost is really good," Catseye told Evan. "She not like that. My name is Sharon. People call me Catseye."
"She's a sort of were-cat," Empath explained. "For a time she thought she was a cat, until Ms. Frost found her."
"For real?" Evan raised an eyebrow.
"It's a long story," Emma said as she walked in with the other Hellions. "Well now that everyone's here we can get to know each other better."
"Wish I knew about this before," Monet grunted. "I am leader of the team!"
"Some leader," Empath snorted. "When push came to shove you folded faster than one of those origami paper makers."
"And you think you could do better?" Monet snarled.
"He couldn't do worse," Bevatron glared at her. "Even I could do better than you! I was infected too with those nanites but at least I went down fighting."
"Oh you were fighting all right," Monet snapped. "Fighting the urge to throw up!"
"As you can see we're one big happy family around here. Which is why I've felt the need to bolster our ranks within the Hellions. So meet your new classmates," Emma said.
"Proudstar?" Jetstream asked pointing to James. "Isn't he one of the X-Men?"
"That was my brother," James growled. "And he got killed because of them."
"Interesting," Empath raised an eyebrow. "I have a question. We all recognize Spyke and recognize his contribution to the Hellions will be…valuable. But why is someone from the Beta team being transferred here?"
"Cypher has extraordinary intelligence skills which could benefit this team greatly," Emma told them.
"Makes sense if you think about it," Evan spoke up. "Even the Misfits have a computer expert, and he's human. From what I've heard, Cypher can process twice the information Arcade can."
"Oh listen to the expert," Bevatron snickered.
"Compared to you I am pretty boy," Evan glared at him.
"Compared to you he is pretty," Beef scoffed.
"I wouldn't rag about anybody's looks if I were you," Evan glared at Beef. "You look like you're one doughnut away from being mistaken as the Blob's body double!"
"WHAT?" Beef roared.
"Well you must admit that does sound rather accurate," Tarot grinned. "You have been putting on weight recently."
"I'd be careful if I were you, making cracks like that," Monet said.
"Yeah mutants like you should know your place," Roulette said.
"He does know his place. He's your new leader," Emma said simply.
Monet's eyes narrowed in anger. "WHAT?"
"Hmm," Empath grinned. "Things are just starting to get interesting around here."