The New Brotherhood
Issue #3 – Blood Ties - Part Three
Savage Land
"Commando, take them out," Magnetrix said as she tried to cope with the vertigo and blindness that was unleashed on her team by Whiteout, Vertigo and Equilibrius.
"Already on it, everyone keep low," Crimson Commando said as his suit shimmered and turned silver while taking on the form of what appeared to be dozens of speakers covering his body.
"How's he going to help when we're all powerless?" One-Eighty asked, hating the feeling of helplessness.
"My mutant power has nothing to do with my weapons and my visor protects me from the effects of vertigo and blindness. Now stay low," Commando said as the speakers on his suit set off a powerful electrical pulse wave that sent all the attacking mutates backwards, including Sauron.
"We must strike before they regroup," Magnetrix said as she got to her feet as the vertigo and blindness began to fade.
"We won't last long without our powers," Pyra said looking at their leader.
"Never underestimate me," Magnetrix said as she whispered something into her com device.
Instantly a flash went off and Astra appeared with Aumente. "You summoned us?" Astra asked.
"Yes, Aumente if you would? Astra, any luck with Voght?" Magnetrix asked quickly.
"We are close to breaking her. Having been close to both Magneto and Xavier she has very well placed psi shields," Astra said as Aumente closed her eyes sending a tingling sensation through all the members of the Brotherhood.
"I can feel my powers returning," Lady Mastermind said rubbing her temples as Astra caught the collapsing Aumente.
"Sorry, my powers allow me to enhance a mutant's powers, but in this case I was able to grab and jumpstart your suppressed powers. I've never pushed at so many at once before," Aumente said feeling weak and wiping blood from her nose.
"You did well, Aumente. Astra, get her out of there and keep working on Amelia. I expect results when we're done here," Magnetrix said turning towards Sauron as Astra and Aumente vanished from sight.
"Mutates, kill them all!" Sauron shouted as he took flight and headed straight up.
"Finish them quickly, I'll handle the reptile," Magnetrix said as she called on her powers and shot straight up and after Sauron.
"You are no match for us," Whiteout said as she began to call on her blinding power.
"Whatever, hurry and take out the other two major threats," Commando said as his arm shimmered forming a harpoon gun and firing off a spear that plunged through Whiteout and pinning her to the wall.
"I can't believe he killed her like that," One-Eighty whispered at the sight of the mutate hanging form the wall.
"Hey, don't go soft on me. It's either them or us," Commando said as he moved to face the four armed power house known as Barbarus.
"Hurry, Equilibrius before they get the upper hand," Vertigo said as she began to call on her powers.
"Not on my watch," Pyra smiled as he stared at the two mutates, focusing and calling on his powers.
Pyra's eyes flashed as a loud boom sounded and a pulse shot from his body at the two vertigo makers. Vertigo and Equilibrius both screamed as they and the area around them exploded into flame. Pyra had always been afraid to use his powers but with his training and the more he used them he had grown to like them. With a widened smile, he sent off two more pulses engulfing the burning mutates completely in fire ensuring their screams would be silenced by the fire as well as their lives.
"It seems you have a very deadly power, but I can use that to our advantage," Lorelei said as she began to sing and use her powers to take hold of the fire powered mutant.
"Back off lady," One-Eighty said pushing the woman aside.
"Oh, you'll do just as well," Lorelei smiled as she redirected her powers in full at the mutant in white and blue.
"You made a mistake when you targeted my man," One-Eighty said as he stared into the woman's eyes as white flashed within his eyes.
"I want you to help me take down your team," Lorelei said as she pushed with her powers.
"Your powers won't work on me. One, your not my type and two, I'm immune to mental powers. Don't worry, I have one more surprise for you as well," One-Eighty smiled as he pushed with his powers.
"What?" Lorelei asked as she suddenly stopped singing and stood completely still.
"I can also turn one's powers back on them," One-Eighty smiled. "Now go take a flying leap."
One-Eighty turned to look for his next opponent as Lorelei ran to the top of the ledge and jumped off hitting the ground below. Christian was sure she wasn't dead, but at least she would be down for the count for awhile. He knew he wanted revenge on Magneto, but sometimes he wondered if he was going about it the right way and if he really fit with this band of mutants he was with. At this point it didn't matter. He had to focus on surviving this battle first.
Lady Mastermind moved as fast as she could back down the corridor as her attackers darted after her in hot pursuit. In moments she was back outside the base and in the forest. She stopped as she heard a strange flute playing from all around her. She looked to see the mutate known as Piper sitting in the trees playing music on his pipes. Lady Mastermind took not as several creatures from the Savage Land were coming out of the trees below him. Piper's music had then in his complete control. Before she could react she heard another noise coming from behind her.
She turned to see Lupa off to her left with a large pack of wolves and her brother Lupo who looked like a large blue bear and was in control of a large pack of canine creatures. It appeared that the animal controlling mutates had her surrounded. She took a deep breath as she rotated looking at each of her attackers. She knew that the odds were against her and that's the way she liked it.
"Looks like your attempt to flee was for not," Lupo growled.
"Who said I was fleeing?" Lady Mastermind smiled as she set her trap.
"Kill her," Lupo shouted as his creatures leapt upon Lady Mastermind.
"Feast on her flesh," Lupa commanded as her wolves rushed Lady Mastermind for a tasty meal.
"Finish the witch," Piper said as he played his music causing his controlled creatures to charge Lady Mastermind.
Three different sets of beasts tore Lady Mastermind to shreds. In a shimmering flash, Lady Mastermind walked back toward the base, untouched and her cape flapping in the wind. She turned back around to witness the screams of the mutates as her illusions vanished. Thanks to her powers the mutates thought they were attacking her while in reality Lupo's creatures were tearing apart Piper while Lupa's wolves ate her brother alive just as Piper's creatures devoured Lupa. The mutates had taken each other out without her even having to break a sweat.
"Three more down," Lady Mastermind smiled as she headed back into the base.
"I'll take care of these two," Super Sabra said as she moved at super speed.
Amphibius and Brainchild grabbed their throats gasping for air. Super Sabre ran around them at such great speed that the two mutates found themselves trapped within a giant whirlwind. Immediately caught in this vacuum, the air vanished as they were unable to breath and soon blacked out from lack of oxygen. Super Sabre stopped running as she watched Amphibius and Brainchild dropped to the ground.
"You might as well give up. My mutant powers make me as strong, if not stronger than you," Commando said as he landed a punch that sent Barbarus flying backwards.
Commando then turned to see Leash moving towards Pyra and Worm closing behind One-Eighty. Commanding his new tech suit, his hands and arms shimmered to silver as they began large machine-like guns. Commando somersaulted into the air as he released dozens of rounds into the bodies of Worm and Leash before they could touch his teammates. Pyra and One-Eighty both flinched as they turned around to see the two dead mutates lying behind them.
"Keep alert boys," Commando said as he turned to finish off Barbarus.
"You will never take his place," Sauron squawked as he dove and came up behind his magnetic attacker.
"I wouldn't want to," Magnetrix responded as she advanced on the green reptile.
"I bet you'll taste so good once I get my claws in you and feed off of your mutant energy," Sauron said as he came down upon Magnetrix and grabbed her shoulders.
"Get off!" Magnetrix screamed as she felt the green bird feeding on her.
Magnetrix called on her powers and grabbed to near by stones and pelted the reptile with them. Sauron snarled as he let go and fell to the ground. Magnetrix hovered over him and used her powers to smash the stones into several sharp projectiles. She smiled as he prepared to slay her opponent. Just as she was about to unleash her wraith, a large figure burst through the trees and slammed Magnetrix to the ground.
"What the?" Magnetrix questioned as she stood up to see a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex standing over her with teeth bared and saliva dripping.
"That's my queue. Till we meet again," Sauron squawked as he took flight and vanished into the sky.
"You think to best me?" Magnetrix swore at the giant dinosaur.
Flicking her wrists, metal components opened on the side of her waist. As she waved her hands dozens of tiny needles flew up into the air. Quickly, Magnetrix flew upwards and avoided the lashing jaw of the giant T-Rex. Once she was at eye level she thrusted her arms out wards causing the needs to plunge into the head of the dinosaur. Some sticking while others went down its throat. They didn't kill the beast, but they served their purpose. Reaching out with her powers she felt the needles and metal alloy that it had injected into the T-Rex. Taking hold she quickly shaped it and centered it all in one spot, the base of the lizards head and neck. Making a slicing motion with her arms, all the metal pulled outwards, severing the dinosaur's head from its body as two giant metal discs flew back and past their controller.
Magnetrix turned back to the base as the T-Rex fell to the ground dead. She saw that her mutant warriors had all survived and were approaching her. She landed and moved before them.
"The Savage Land Mutates are all dead. I see Sauron got away," Commando said.
"Yes, but that is okay," Magnetrix said as she stared at the base.
"I thought you wanted him dead. If he gets too far he may strike back," Lady Mastermind said.
"Exactly and allow him to do our job for us. He'll gather any remaining Brotherhood out there and bring them to us. When that happens, we will kill him and them. Now, let's finish here," Magnetrix said call forth her powers and causing the base to crush down in on itself.
"To be safe, Pyra do your thing," Magnetrix smiled as Pyra unleashed his powers turning the ruined base into a giant bonfire. Even if any had survived the battle, they would either be finished off by the collapse of the base or roast alive in the fire.
"You called," Astra said appearing out of thin air.
"Yes, our work is done here. Any luck with the woman?" Magnetrix asked.
"She still won't talk, but Aumente did manage to pull on useful bit of information from her mind," Astra said.
"What is that?" Magnetrix asked.
"She was a child hidden somewhere. We couldn't get any more info from her, but we do know that the child she bore belongs to either Xavier or Magneto," Astra said with a smirk.
"Now doesn't that make things interesting?" Magnetrix whispered to herself as Astra gathered up all the mutants and teleported them away from the Savage Land.
Brotherhood Origins: Aumente and Crimson Commando
A Small House in Spain
"Are you sure about her?" Magnetrix asked.
"Yes, her mother had an affair with a married man. The affair ended when she was with child and was paid to be kept silent and far away. The child not only shares the same father but also the same genetic code," Astra said.
"What makes you think she will join our cause?" Magnetrix asked as she looked over at her from the computer.
"Because, despite their parent's knowledge, she kept in touch with her sister. They communicated back and forth till her sister suddenly stopped all communication. She doesn't know why and we do," Astra said as she filled her leader in on the whole story and displayed the info on the monitor.
"Perfect," Magnetrix smiled as she nodded and found herself and Astra in front of a small house in Spain.
"We may need to be a little discrete?" Astra suggested as Magnetrix nodded and Astra vanished and returned with Lady Mastermind.
"Told you not to go without me," Lady Mastermind said as she called on her powers and made it appear as if three nuns were approaching the small house.
"I'm coming," a voice shouted as the nuns knocked upon the door.
The door opened and a young woman stood before them with deep green eyes and fiery red hair that flowed past her shoulders. Flour covered her face and body. The sent of pies filled the outside air. The woman looked at them in surprise and then took as step back.
"Splitting image," Lady Mastermind said looking at the woman.
"Sisters, what do you want? I already told you I can't afford to give anything to the church," the woman said.
"Actually, Maria, we're not here for money," Magnetrix said stepping forward.
"Wait a minute. Who are you? Why can't I read your thoughts?" Maria asked stepping back as the three nuns stepped into the house.
"That's because we're not nuns," Lady Mastermind said as she removed their illusion and Magnetrix waved her hand closing the door.
"What are you?" Maria asked as she looked around for something to use as a weapon.
"Maria Cortez, I am Magnetrix. We are here to ask you to join us in hunting down and killing the man called Magneto," Magnetrix said.
"You're all crazy," Maria Cortez said stepping back.
"Maria, I knew your half brother and half sister Fabian and Anna Marie. They both died in the service of the man called Magneto," Lady Mastermind said.
"This Magneto killed my siblings? That's why I haven't heard form Anna," Maria said feeling sad.
"You're not alone. Magneto is responsible for the death of many loved ones. That's why we are banning together to bring him down and you would make a great addition to my team," Magnetrix said extending her hand and Maria stood and took it.
"I've always wanted to leave this place, especially now that all my family is gone," Maria said as her tears of sadness became ones of anger.
"Let's show you your knew home and family," Astra said as the four ladies vanished.
Lincoln, Nebraska
"I'll call for you when I need you," Magnetrix said as Astra nodded and vanished.
Magnetrix stood outside a trailer. It had taken her awhile to track him here but she had finally done it. She had assembled her new team and was ready to start the next stage of her plan when she heard about the new Crimson Commando had been brutally murdered. Video caught a man wearing an old version of Commando's costume and she knew it wasn't the original even if the news was claiming he was back. If someone was taking out one of her targets and was posing as another one, she had to look into it.
After analyzing the tapes with a little help from Astra they had paid a trip to the crime scene and found fingerprints that the police had never found. With some extensive computer work and cross checking into databases she had come up with a name to match the prints. The name itself was a shocking surprise and seemed fate was bringing her to him. After discovering a few more things, she knew immediately that she had to have him on her team. He would be the perfect fit. So she asked Astra to bring her hear and they would keep him from the rest of the team till needed.
Magnetrix made her way up to the trailer. Just as he was about to open the door she felt it pushing on her helmet.
"What do you want?" A man asked holding the gun at the back of her head.
"Fletcher, I'm here to talk," Magnetrix said with no fear.
"How do you know my name? You with the cops? You better talk or I'll pull the trigger," Fletcher asked.
"You'll do nothing of the sort," Magnetrix said as she waved her hand and in one quick motion ripped the gun from his hands, tore open the side of his trailer and threw the Surprised Fletcher inside and tied his arms to the wall with the kitchen chairs.
"You are not the only one with powers," Fletcher growled as he seemed to beef up and rip his arms free with great strength.
"Yes, I know all about you, Fletcher Hamilton," Magnetrix smiled.
"How do you know me?" Fletcher asked.
"I know many things. I know your mother's name was Nichole. Your uncle was named Louis, a mutant called Stonewall which you share the same mutant gene. I also know that your mother named you after your uncle and father's war buddy Martin Fletcher the Super Sabre. I know your mother had a one night affair with her brother's best friend, which makes your father Frank Bohannon, the original Crimson Commando," Magnetrix said,
"If you know this then you know that my father died in an explosion at Care Labs and to honor him I only killed the imposter for soiling his name," Fletcher said.
"Yes, but I also know that in search of your father you broke into Care Labs and took a small piece of their nano technology that they had used to rebuild your father into Cyborg X before the explosion took both the lab and your father's life. I also know that you blame the Brotherhood for the death of your father and his two war buddies," Magnetrix said knowing that there was no point in letting him know that his father had survived only to be killed during the Demon Storm as a Horseman of Apocalypse. See Demon Storm issues of Sensation X-Men
"What's it to you?" Fletcher asked eyeing the woman.
"I too am hunting them and their creator, Magneto," Magnetrix said filling him on her team and her agenda.
"And if I agree to join you?" Fletcher asked with a coy smile.
"You don the name of your father and I make you very powerful," Magnetrix said using her power to cause the nano tech in his front pocket to rise out and to start becoming active.
"I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship," Fletcher said as Magnetrix imbedded the nano tech into his body and with her powers and the devise given to her by Astra, helped it spread and reshape him into the new Crimson Commando.
Next: Issue #4 – Blood Ties - Part Four