They have become unhinged from time; they are heroes from different realities who must travel from one alternate reality to another, completing missions in order to repair the broken links in the chain of time. They are the Exiles and this is their fate.
Exiles Volume 1 #39 "Unexpected"
Note: This story and the ones following it are apart of a fan fiction based series derived from my imagination. And were created because of my displeasure of what has happened to the Exiles since the King Hyperion arc. I claim no ownership of the characters featured within save the characters that are of my own creation.
None of the others could understand what Calvin was going through. His mind contained the telepathic might of Professor Charles Xavier, and he could feel an echo of the Professor's psyche inside of him. It was a surreal experience, as his powers never worked that way before. He raised his head up when he picked up a scent, it was familiar; a jasmine smell. He turned to see Clarice.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"None of the others could decide who should go check up on you, so I came."
"Don't see why," he said, and looked back over the sun lit horizon.
"Because," she said, "while we're not lovers no more; I still care."
Calvin looked at her, and then nodded. "I'll be fine; I just need some time alone."
"All right," she said, and vanished through one of her pink portals.
Chicago, the living city;
Deep within the belly of the living city, the high lord Apocalypse lie entombed within his vaunted regeneration chamber. Outside of it stood his adoptive son, Namor the Submariner. As Apocalypse slept, Namor made sure nothing disturbed his father's sleep, but then the sight seer Destiny entered, and whispered in his ear.
"What is this?" asked Namor. "Has some dared enter my father's domain?"
Destiny nodded her head.
"Then I shall destroy them, and let them know that Apocalypse is the only salvation they shall know."
As he flew off, Destiny looked at Apocalypse beneath her golden mask, and then walked away.
Some miles away;
Calvin flew low letting himself bask in the view. He started to think about all he saw through the Professor of that world's eyes, and then the visions would haunt him; plague him like nightmares born. He tried to push them from his mind, but that proved difficult.
Then suddenly, he picked up a familiar scent and heard a famous battle cry. Instantly transforming from flesh to organic steel, he braced himself as Namor slammed into him, and drove him through several trees before coming to a stop on the ground.
"Namor, what are you doing?" asked Calvin.
"I do not know how you know my name, but you shall soon be joining your brethren in the grave!"
Namor swung trying to clip Calvin in the chin, but he used his flight to evade the blow, and kicked Namor in the ribs. He followed it up with an optic blast that sent him flying.
He picked himself up from the ground, and looked at Calvin; then smiled. "Not bad, but paltry tricks such as that will not save you."
Namor ripped a huge tree out of the ground, and smacked Calvin with it, sending him in the other direction. Using his flight power, he managed to stabilize himself only for Namor to tackle him again.
The campsite;
The others stood around the campfire waiting for Calvin to return when Heather noticed something in the air. She shifted to Sasquatch form, and saw that it was Calvin fighting with Namor. She turned to the others, and pointed.
"Look, Calvin is fighting Namor!"
"He better have a good reason," said Kevin.
'I'm sure he does," said Clarice.
"Quit you're talkin' and let's help him!" said Illyana.
"Fine," Kevin said, and turned into a flame thrower. "Just aim me."
"All right!" said Illyana.
She aimed, and fired right at Namor. The flames licked at his bare skin, and he cried out, but he still wrestled with Calvin. Calvin popped his claws, and stabbed Namor, the move proved to weaken him further. But, the flames suddenly died out, and burst of water hit Namor causing him to be restored. Calvin blinked in surprise as Hydro-Man, and Whirlwind stood below.
"Don't worry Prince Namor, we were sent to help!" said Whirlwind.
"The help is appreciated," said Namor as he decked Calvin sending him crashing into the camp site. "Now, let us dispense with these charlatans."
Calvin got back up, his healing factor tending to the damage he received. His eyes brimmed with scarlet light, and he uttered a growl of pure primal rage. He let TJ deal with Whirlwind while he fired an optic blast at Hydro-Man; it missed him, but nailed Namor.
Blink used her teleport javelins to teleport Hydro-Man far away from the battle. While Illyana waited for TJ to get Whirlwind right where she wanted him, and then created a stepping disc under him that sent him to limbo. Heather ran up to join Calvin as he battled Namor who was returned to full strength. All of their combined power created shockwaves that shook trees for miles around. Kevin created a shield for the girls who watched as the battle between Namor, and Heather, and Calvin.
The Living City, Below Ground;
Apocalypse's regeneration chamber opened, and he climbed out of it. He looked around sensing the strong energies that were clashing. One was his adopted son; the others were new to him. He levitated out of the living city, and began to fly directly there.
The battle ground;
Namor socked Heather sending her down, and out. Despite everything she tried, she was not in Namor's league. Calvin seemed the only one close to Namor's league due to his variety of powers, and skill. For every blow struck both contenders dealt retribution on the other. After an hour, Namor was nearly exhausted, and injured while Calvin's great healing powers were trying to keep up with his injuries.
Apocalypse arrived, and landed beside Namor, the adopted son, turned, and bowed before his adopted father.
"Father, I am sorry you have been awakened early."
"Do not concern yourself," said Apocalypse, "these strangers interest me."
"What do you wish done to them?" asked Namor, as he remained kneeled.
"Nothing as of yet, they shall be granted entry into the city."
"But, why father?"
"Do not question my decisions, or I will send you back to where I found you; alone, and without a shred of an idea who you are."
"Yes father," he said, "I understand."
Illyana walked up to Calvin and put a hand on his shoulder, and lifted his arm up and put it around the back of her neck.
"Come, I'll help you."
"Thanks," said Calvin.
Kevin picked up Heather, while Clarice started to follow behind when she noticed TJ disappeared; however, she said nothing of it.
The Living City, Below Ground;
Namor was in his recuperation pool while Apocalypse sat before the Exiles, his eyes glowing strangely, and then TJ appeared from his form; smiling.
"Whew, I'm glad that worked."
"TJ!" said Calvin, "are you all right?"
'Yeah, thank god the big guy is asleep; I don't know if I could have done that if he wasn't."
"What do we do about Namor?" asked Heather as she crossed one of her legs over the other. "He's bound to realize he's been duped."
'Then we should figure out what our mission is, and execute it quickly, so we can get out of here."
"Great," said Kevin, "then tell us what it is fearless leader?"
Calvin closed his eyes, and concentrated, after a few moments the tallus spoke to him, and he absorbed as much as he could from its cryptic message. Then he turned to his teammates. TJ was sitting on Apocalypse's knees when disaster struck; Namor grabbed her by the throat, and snapped her neck. The others looked on as she was dropped to the floor.
"No," said Calvin; he turned and his flesh became organic steel. With a cry of rage he flew at Namor, popping his claws. Namor charged at him with the same amount of fury, and both collided with their fists doing equal damage to each other.
Clarice was frozen to the spot as she looked at TJ who lie upon the floor dead with a shocked expression on her face. No words were said when the sociopath killed her.
She created a javelin, and looked at the high lord while Illyana, and the others had joined Calvin in battle. She raised the javelin high, and slammed it down into Apocalypse's chest displacing his body across the planet, and the moon. Namor screamed in anger.
"Filthy low-borns!" he said, "you shall die by the hand of the sovereign son!"
Namor drove his fist into Calvin's jaw, his foot slammed hard into Heather's stomach, and the back of his hand struck Illyana hard across the cheek. Kevin tried to entangle him as a massive anaconda, but Namor tore him apart.
"Now, it is just us you pink skinned wench!"
"I think not," said Calvin as he ran his claws straight into Namor's back, and ripped him apart. The effort unfortunately caused Calvin to pass out.
The others gathered around Calvin, and picked him as the portal appeared. Whatever bleak mission was to be had appeared to have been fulfilled. The only thing to do now was to move on to the next world.
Somewhere;
"Have they figured out our ruse yet?"
"No, not yet; I don't think they will."
"Well, then, I guess we have nothing to fear right?"
"Yes, it appears so."
EXILED: The death of TJ in my original writings was to put in some OC's. This time it's to whittle the cast down to five. After this issue there will be five Exiles, but the rotating aspect will remain. In fact, you may see another cast member die; but who and when, I won't say *smiles*
-Mick