Disclaimer: I dont own X-men, Marvel or Slayer
This chapter reveals the origin of two characters in this alternate universe tale, one is an altered version of slickboy444's OC Slayer, his true origin will be told in later chapters.
The March to Second Coming
Chapter 6: Dark Origins
Soldier had been right; the Multiverse was filled with Infinite possibilities. Infinite origins for an infinite number of characters. Some created through the intervention of outside sources, such as time travellers or a certain dimension hopping team. History branches into two, a reality where there wasn't outside interference and a reality where there was. Other realities are created by the possibilities of choice. Billions of people make billions of choices and created infinite worlds due to the results of those choices. One reality where a choice was made, another where the opposite path was taken. Some realities can even be identical to the point where you have to spend a lifetime trying to find a distinction. Others are so radically different that they can defy the imagination. Forget what you think you know about these people, for in the Multiverse any thing is possible.
Jack Robinson was not always a warrior. Versions of himself often share the same birth. A boy is born into this world without a mother. Though the boy is healthy, the mother dies because of the loss of her love.
"The mother just gave up, its practically a miracle that the boy's so healthy, poor thing," One of the nurses mutters.
"Does he have any other family?" The Doctor asks.
"No sir, that means…"
"Yes, an orphanage, and with the social sector in such a mess these days…there's nothing more we can do," The Doctor sighed.
In one reality, Jack Robinson was left in the care of an orphanage. When he reached a certain age he was then sold to a prostitution ring. For years he spent his days as a slave to the upper class and those that sought to hide their vices without repercussions from the law. One day, Jack was finally brave enough to escape this life and by chance he found his first love. Layla and her brother lived with Jack and over the course of their time together Jack fell in love with the beautiful blonde. Tragedy struck when gangsters found them and violently killed Layla and her brother. Jack's path then came across that of Yoshinto's and he made the choice to become the Warrior spirit's Avatar.
But the divergence of this reality occurs on the day Jack was born. The hospital sent him to the Orphanage, where he was swiftly adopted by a woman with very few good counterparts. Her name is Selene, ruler of Roma Nova and a woman seeking the power of gods.
In this reality, Selene was still the ruler of Nova Roma and was still a priestess of the darkness. But her path diverges from the timeline we all know when she chose to corrupt young youths. She found Charles Xavier and after murdering him decided to take on his goal of creating the X-men. But first she adopted the future Avatar of Yoshinto. She cradled the baby in her arms as she walked across the streets of San Francisco.
"So beautiful, you will be a handsome man one day Jack, a strong mutant, perhaps the most powerful mystic imaginable. But only with guidance Jack, I can guide you," She whispered to the baby.
A smirk crept across Selene's face as she heard the click of a gun.
"Stay right there lady, don't move or I'll shoot and that's the last thing that baby needs. I'm gonna reach into your coat pockets and take your purse, I want to stay still as I take that jewellery your wearing," The thief explained.
Selene laughed as her eyes turned a black colour. The baby began to cry as Selene's shadow formed the shape of a creature with tentacles on its back.
"First lesson Jack, the weak die and the strong reap the benefit of that death, the benefit here…is pleasure," Selene giggled.
The thief screamed as the tentacles impaled him, lifting him off the ground. Dust fell to the floor, followed by empty clothes as Selene gasped in awe. Every time she drained the life out of a victim she would be filled with the insatiable feeling of pleasure. Her strength would increase and her power would grow, just as he influence over her servants would grow. As Jack grew, Selene trained the vulnerable boy in the dark arts. She taught him to embrace his darker desires.
"Why is this man being punished?" Jack asked his adopted mother.
He watched as Selene's guards dragged a prisoner through the streets.
"The man tried to muster a rebellion against me, I am the ruler by birth right of Nova Roma, I am also a goddess in comparison to him. You are too Jack, you too have the right to do whatever you wish, because the power inside you gives you that right!" Selene explained, smiling as she turned to the boy.
"Don't listen to her," A voice spoke inside his head.
"What was that?" Jack asked.
"What was what my dear?" Selene ran a comforting finger underneath Jack's chin.
"I heard something," Jack said, his hands trembling as he looked into Selene's eyes.
"Power is not a privilege, it is a gift that must be used accordingly!"
Selene narrowed her eyes as she accessed Jack's mind. The spirit was already beginning to influence the boy. She stepped up her efforts, filling the boy with hatred for his father. After all his father died, leaving his mother alone. She too was a failure as a mother; she didn't look after herself, endangering the life of her child. The doctors couldn't keep her alive. They were all failures in Jack's eyes, yet still he could not bring himself to enjoy the torture of prisoners. When he was old enough, Selene began her seduction by simply giving him pleasure from her slaves. Jack's first time was not with a woman he developed feelings for, but like other realities with someone he didn't even know.
"Jack, come here," Selene commanded.
He left his bedchambers, cautiously approaching his guardian. Jack widened his eyes slightly as Selene began rubbing his arms and neck.
"Selene I…"
"Hush Jack, I don't want to be your mother, nor do I wish to be a sister to you, I want you," Selene whispered as she slowly bought her lips closer and closer to Jack's.
He slowly closed his eyes, as the runes beneath them began to glow. Wrapping his arms around his Queen's waist, Jack no longer heard the voice of Yoshinto. Without the guidance of the spirit, he finally gave in to what his body had desired. His mouth practically begged to be kissed, and Selene smirked as she gripped the sides of Jack's head. She grabbed his mouth with hers, viciously locking their lips. Her spirit form entered Yoshinto's realm, holding Jack's spirit form in an intimate embrace. In front of her stood the collective embodiment of the Warrior's spirit, Yoshinto.
"He is mine," Selene smirked.
"Jack Robinson is not yours, nor is he mine, the choice is his alone to make, you seek to corrupt his soul and the spirit of the Warrior, this is something I will not stand for," Yoshinto said before lifting his sword.
Hordes of black tentacles flew out of the shadow Selene cast over Yoshinto's realm. The armoured warrior hacked at the tentacles, blocking their strikes and fighting with everything he had. He reached for Jack, only for a tentacle to wrap around his wrist. Selene touched Jack's cheek, turning his head to her eyes. Their eyes locked and Jack Robinson, the weakened and corrupt teenager found himself captivated by the beauty of Selene's eyes.
"Look at me Jack, look only at me and listen only to me, you trust me don't you?" She asked.
Her voice was gentle, as was her touch.
"I have searched for so long Jack, I've searched for you for so long," Tears seemed to fall down her eyes as she caressed Jack's cheek.
"I've been hearing this voice for so long, I never thought it could be you," Jack whispered.
"NO JACK! DON'T LISTEN TO HER!" Yoshinto yelled.
The tentacles wrapped themselves around Yoshinto's sword, pulling it out of his grip. They then converged on the warrior, entrapping him and pulling on each of his limbs. He watched as Jack looked at Selene with a longing expression. She had led him to believe that she was the one speaking to him in his dreams, the one that had been with him since he was young enough to understand words.
"We are finally together my love, you and I, our souls linked since the beginning of time," Selene soothingly kissed Jack's lips.
"My queen, I do truly love you, I am yours forever," Jack said.
Yoshinto let out a final yell before the darkness gagged him. His host locked his lips with Selene, linking their souls together in a soul ritual. He was hers now, body and soul forever. Selene left her kingdom with her new lover and introduced him to the First Class of X-men. She had influenced and twisted these X-men to serve her and fulfil her dream. The world would become a dark and lonely place for baseline humans. There was still hope, but every day more and more people succumbed to the darkness Selene spread, becoming her mindless worshippers.
Jack Robinson, the one who had accepted the destiny of Yoshinto's Avatar looked at the other version of himself in shock. His shock deepened as the man let Selene kiss his cheek. He saw the momentary look they shared and realised one thing. These two people truly did love one another. Shaking those thoughts aside, Slayer then focused on the other dark X-men. One was a vampiric Jubilee, her skin pale and body fit neatly into a black suit. Next to her stood Colossus, but his head was devoid of hair, his face shaped into a monstrous mask with spikes running across his shoulders. The alternate version of Beast had black hair and was mutated even further. He had goat like hooves, black claws and the jaws and teeth of a Sabre tooth.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special treat, a survival match with no kill limit, our contestants just have to survive for as long as they can!" Mojo said to the crowd.
Slayer nodded to Storm, whose eyes changed to their empty white colour. A mist began to pass over the arena, obscuring the vision of spectator and contestant alike. Wolverine cursed as he looked up at the screen showing the fight.
"Damn it, I know Storm's bringing up tactics but cant she do it without making us worry so much?" the bald Wolverine wondered.
"Storm, Colossus and Slayer are the only ones who can hold their own, Jubilee's too inexperienced," Eric stated.
"Plus she's against a vampire, so she's pretty much screwed," Psylocke added.
"Braddock, your still a psychic right, how far is your telepathy's range?" Soldier asked.
"A few miles in this place and there are certain minds and places I cant access, what good does that do us anyway?"
"A plan, that's it, we relay a plan to the team through telepathy!" Eric clicked his fingers together as he removed his helmet.
"I'll see what I can do, and its Mrs Worthington," She said.
She claims to be Elizabeth Braddock-Worthington, the wife of Warren Worthington the Third, AKA the X-man Angel. But the truth is that she is also Kwannon, the woman responsible for the X-men's downfall. Or she was at least responsible for the downfall of the X-men in her world. Betsy Braddock had been an early recruit of the X-men. In a world where the X-men never faced a threat greater than the Sentinel's, their lives were less complicated, almost happier. Betsy fell in love with Warren and the two eventually married. However their marriage took a tragic turn when the Hand began their attack on the X-men.
"I infiltrate the X-men, disable them from the inside and give the Xavier protocol data to you, do you really think we will get away with this?" Kwannon asked the Silver Samurai of her world.
"It can be done Kwannon, these American heroes have not been tested as greatly as we have, this will be the beginning of our crippling America's super hero community!"
It was the beginning of that world's X-men's downfall. Capturing Betsy Braddock was easy, after all she lacked the training of a Hand ninja in this reality. Kwannon looked at Braddock, struggling as the Hand ninjas pushed her into the machine that would exchange their minds.
"You people will never get away with this," Braddock growled.
"We already have Mrs Worthington, Kwannon," The Hand grand master nodded to Kwannon as she climbed into the machine.
Kwannon and Betsy both screamed as the machine activated. The bulbs of the lights exploded as the Hand ninjas backed away. Betsy covered her face with her butterfly aura as she felt Kwannon's mind penetrate her own. She screamed, telekinetically throwing the Hand ninjas aside. Finally the machine stopped and Betsy climbed out of her side of the machine. She looked at Kwannon's Asian form in disdain as she began walking out of the Hand base. Her eyes then turned to the Hand grandmaster as a Telekinetic katana appeared in her hand.
"Kwannon, are you in there?" He asked.
Betsy/Kwannon smirked as she raised her sword.
"I'm right here master, thank you for giving me the power I needed," She grinned.
She thrust the blade through her master's brain, frying his mind completely. Revanche returned to the X-men and began her work to destroy it from within. Donning a suit of armour, Revanche worked amongst the X-men with none the wiser to her change. But secretly, Xavier began therapy sessions with Betsy in an attempt to draw the intruding personality out of her mind. His efforts were halted every time, but he had faith that Betsy would one day have the strength to overcome Kwannon's influence. Revanche rewarded this faith by killing him.
"NO!" Betsy yelled.
She stood over Xavier's body, his neck bent back by telekinesis. Suddenly, the X-men burst into the room. Amongst them was Jean Grey, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast and Angel. Warren looked at his wife in shock while the other X-men glared.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Cyclops yelled as he fired his optic blast.
On instinct, Betsy formed a telekinetic shield. The red beam bounced off of the bubble, consuming Iceman's face.
"Please stop me, I cant control myself," Betsy begged.
"Take her down," Jean growled.
Betsy found herself consumed by Kwannon's personality, so much so that she couldn't remember exactly how she killed the other X-men. Alls she remembered was waking up with Warren in her arms. She screamed in agony over the loss of her husband. It wasn't just Kwannon that haunted her, but the blood of those she had killed.
Now she stood with various alternate versions of the people she had killed. She touched the sides of Eric's head, the butterfly aura covering them both. He closed his eyes as he and Betsy watched the fight going on between their allies and their darker counterparts.
"Everyone, Psylocke is linking our minds together," Eric said telepathically.
"Its Revanche, I'll give you all images relayed from the minds of your opponents, specifically whatever they are looking at!" Betsy explained.
'Oh shit, the vampire me is right behind me,' Jubilee thought.
"Beast, the two Jubilee's are on the path ahead of you, take out the pale one!"
'Beast smell her, beast run, beast fight!' The Feral X-men ran on all fours.
He jumped through the mist, slamming his feet into the Vampire Jubilee's jaw. Storm altered the structure of the mist, focusing it on Selene and the Dark Slayer. The Dark Brute roared as he began charging towards Jubilee.
"Jubilee, don't blast the Brute, turn 40 degrees to your right and fire a blast into the mist!" Eric said.
"I'm not so good with maths," Jubilee muttered as she turned around.
"NOW JUBILATION!" Storm yelled as she fired electricity into Brute's chest.
Jubilee fired a blast from her hand, straight into the mist. She felt the blast hit something and flinched in shock as the mist disappeared. Selene was clutching the left side of her face, half of it burnt from Jubilee's attack. The young X-Girl had never injured a super villain like that, even on the worst days of her world she and her X-men never had to kill. Selene however was no exception. She threw her arms forward, releasing a flurry of black tentacles. Slayer jumped in between Jubilee and the tentacles, cutting each limb apart. His eye glowed as his dark counterpart approached. Energy ran off of their blades as they swung them together. A blinding flash of light knocked Betsy and Eric back to their conscience minds.
"We've got the view back it seems," Wolverine said as he looked up at the screen.
Layla watched the two Jack's fight; both viciously slammed their swords together. The darker Slayer drew the Ebony blade from his waist, swinging it at Jack's waist. Jack adjusted his footing, sliding his legs away from the Ebony blade's path. Gripping his sword with both his hands, Jack swung the blade at his counterpart. The other Jack crossed his swords together, catching Jack's blade in a tight grip.
"Impressive, your more skilled than I thought you'd be," Dark Slayer grinned.
"I was trained by the best," Jack growled as he pushed his counterpart back.
"So was I," The Dark Slayer blocked Jack's follow up slash, countering with a horizontal swing of his Ebony sword.
Jack ducked, the ebony blade cutting strands of his hair. He thrust his sword at the Dark Slayer, missing his nose by inches. The other Jack had tilted his head to the right, dodging Slayer's lunge. He whistled to the Brute, whom ran way from Storm, heading directly for Slayer's back. Layla put her hands together, gasping as the Brute pounced at Jack. Suddenly, Jack turned around, firing an energy blast from his hand. As the blast hit Brute, Jack then blocked a sword slash from his counterpart. Beast and the Vampire Jubilee rolled across the floor, both snarling at one another. The Vampire Jubilee snapped her teeth at Beast, who flipped back. His teammates walked into the observation room, watching their friend fight.
"I killed you on my world," Selene said as she faced Storm.
"What do you know, I killed you on my world as well, it may have been an accident but it was surely no loss," Storm explained.
Fire surrounded Selene's hands as she used her Pyrokinesis. Storm suddenly created a rain cloud, bombarding herself and Selene with enough rain to flood a city. She then created a gust of wind, blowing Selene back. The Black Queen yelled as she created several dark tentacles. Storm flew around the tentacles and kicked Selene across the head. Jubilee fired a blast at Brute, hitting him in the chest. The two Slayer's moved at impossible speeds, slamming their blades together again and again. Energy was unleashed with every blow, striking the walls of the arena.
"You know what my favourite part of this arc is? Seeing different versions of famous faces hit themselves," Mojo laughed.
Cyclops focused his eyes on Storm, watching the drenched woman put everything she had into fighting Selene. He gasped as one of Selene's tentacles smacked Storm in the chest.
"Jean, contact Beast telepathically, tell him to help Ororo," Cyclops said.
"Help who?" Jean asked.
"Storm, get him to help Storm!"
"Hank, Scott has a crush on the one with white hair, help his mate!" Jean relayed the order telepathically.
'Beast help white haired female, Beast help mate of Cyclops!' Beast thought as he ran away from the Vampire Jubilee.
He took a running start, jumping forward and grabbing Storm. Beast rolled across the floor, dodging the tentacles Selene had summoned. He jumped with Storm in his arms, thrusting his feet into Selene's burnt face.
"I am fine, help Jubilation," Storm said as she flew out of Beasts arms.
Cyclops sighed in relief as Storm summoned a whirlwind, throwing Selene into the wall. Beast jumped at Brute, tackling him to the floor. Jubilee attempted to fire a blast at the Dark Slayer, only for him to deflect it into the ceiling. He then promptly turned to Jack, kicking his counterpart in the chest. Swinging around, the Dark Slayer slashed Jack's thigh.
"Jack," Layla gasped, looking at the screen in concern.
The Dark Slayer then stabbed the ebony blade into Jack's wrist, pinning him to the ground. Slayer yelled in pain as his glowing eye flared.
"Someone help me, I'm a little outclassed here," Jubilee said as she fired multiple blasts at her counterpart.
The vampire Jubilee leapt across the arena, dodging every blast her counterpart fired. She dived at the girl, gripping her neck and lifting her off the floor.
"God, I can't believe I was ever so pathetic," The Vampire muttered.
She threw Jubilee across the arena, sending her sliding across the floor. Jubilee hit the wall, feet away from the others.
"Jubilation," Storm said in concern.
"The girl," Slayer growled as he gripped the Ebony blade.
His darker counterpart merely laughed as he tapped his sword against his shoulder.
"Your tougher than the other versions of myself I've killed, hey lover, come here and help me see what this guy's hiding," Dark Slayer grinned.
Selene grabbed Storm with one of her tentacles and threw her aside. She opened her arms, flying towards the two Slayers with a smile. The darkness she controlled crawled around the two men, covering them both completely.
"You see it Jack, the difference between us," Jack felt his counterpart speak in his mind.
"The darkness can not be fought Jack, it can only be harnessed, enjoyed even!" He cringed as he heard Selene whisper; it was as if she was inches from his ear.
"I don't give into evil," Slayer growled.
"Give in, we embrace it, we revel in it!" Selene and the Dark Slayer's voices echoed together.
"I'm sorry, we both just wanted food!"
Jack widened his eyes as he saw his and Layla's first meeting. He felt that incredible feeling again, as if he had seen an angel for the first time.
"Layla…I don't understand the effect that girl has on you people," Dark Slayer muttered. "Maybe I'll find out by paying her a visit!"
His counterpart's laugh echoed in his mind. Jack let out a yell, energy surging from his body. The light swept the darkness away as Jack pulled the Ebony blade out of his wrist. He swung the blade around, slashing his counterpart across the face. Then he threw his fist forward, slamming it into the man's chest plate. A crack appeared on the centre of Dark Slayer's armour as Jack drove his fist forward. He let out another yell, blowing Selene and his counterpart back in a blaze of energy. They both flew across the arena, landing back first into the wall.
"YOU WONT TOUCH HER! EVER!" Slayer roared as he brandished both the sword of Yoshinto and the Ebony blade of the Black Knight.
"That's right, we wont ever touch her, because she's dead isn't she, those gang bastards shot her right in front of us, you see Jack unlike you I can keep my women," Dark Slayer grinned as he caressed Selene's cheeks.
"ONE OPPONENT DOWN! THE WINNER IS THE SIDE OF HEROES!" Mojo yelled.
Slayer looked around in confusion, his eyes growing wide as they nestled on Jubilee. She was on her knees, staring at her hands in shock. In front of her was the body of her Vampiric counterpart. In place of her head was a burnt up skull.
"I-I never used-used a blast that p-powerful," Jubilee trembled.
Storm immediately rushed to the girl's side, catching her as she fell.
"Hush little one, its okay, you did what you had to," Storm rubbed Jubilee's head as her counterparts body turned to dust.
Slayer touched his forehead in shock. He hadn't seen Jubilee fight her counterpart. It was clear that this version of Selene was much more powerful than the one in his world. The gates of the arena opened and the darker versions of the heroes began walking away.
"This isn't over Jack," The Dark Slayer said.
Selene blew Jack a kiss before leaving with her true lover. Beast snarled at the villains as the gates closed, while they were forcibly teleported to their cell. Slayer and his group appeared in the room Eric, Wolverine and Revanche were using. Layla stood at a distance, looking at Slayer in concern.
"We've got wounded here, somebody get Elixir," Eric said.
Cyclops and the younger prisoners rushed into the room, looking at the trembling Jubilee.
"What happened?" Jean asked.
"She had to cross a line, the same line everyone of us will cross to get home," Revanche said.
"Soldier, where's Soldier?" Slayer asked.
"I don't know, he disappeared a few seconds ago, its not the first time prisoners have disappeared. A while back I was talking with a nicer version of Sabretooth, he disappeared and never came back. Just a few days we had a few hundred prisoners crowded in here, they ended up disappearing too. Mojo hasn't said what he's doing with those mutants so far," Wolverine explained.
Elixir suddenly ran into the room, placing his hands on Slayer's wounds. Cyclops walked over to Storm, awkwardly looking at the floor as the Queen took off her crown and ran a hand down her wet hair.
"I'm glad your okay," He said.
"I'm glad too Scott, it is not the first time I have fought a version of Selene, my world's version got what was coming to her, that other version is no different!" Storm explained.
Slayer got off the floor, flexing his fixed arm and leg. He closed his eyes, relying on the eye of Yoshinto to find the masked man. The eye took on a red tone as Slayer saw through Soldier's eyes. He was in a dark void, standing between two gates. Looking between the two gates, Soldier's eyes promptly darted to above him. Floating above him was Spiral and Mojo.
"Soldier, your one of many other super humans who I am happy to give this amazing opportunity too, between me are two doors, one will take you home back to your own reality. The other however will take you back to your cell, back to Mojoworld," Mojo explained.
"Why the change of heart?" Soldier asked.
"I cant overcrowd my cells, I'm not an evil man you know, I just want to increase my shows ratings!"
"So you see me as a threat?"
Soldier's deadpan voice caused Spiral to laugh, only for Mojo to silence her with a glare.
"The offers still on the table Soldier, stay or go," Mojo growled.
Jack widened his eyes as he felt someone grab his shoulder. He looked to see Layla standing beside him.
"I have seen what happens in that place Jack, all of the people I saw ended up taking the opportunity to leave. According to Eric many more people disappeared, and I doubt that any didn't take the opportunity to go," Layla explained.
"What happened to you Layla, you used to believe in people, or at least my Layla did," Slayer said.
"I died the day my Jack did!"
Slayer was taken aback by the frown on Layla's face. She was still so beautiful, yet he couldn't shake off that frown. Instead he focused on the dimension Soldier was now trapped in. He watched Soldier wait and think, weighing every possible outcome. Finally the masked man looked up at Mojo, balling his hand into a fist.
"I refuse the offer to go home, I'm staying," The masked man growled.
A satisfied smirk crossed Jack's face as he saw Mojo's face scramble in anger. The overweight creature growled in fury as he slammed his hands against his platform.
"Damn you, why the hell do you have to be so righteous? God it gets boring, why cant you shock people by leaving? Well guess what idiot, I lied, you don't get to go back, you can join all the other self-righteous idiots in the void, BYE BYE!" Mojo yelled as he slammed his hand into a button on his console.
The gate behind Soldier opened and a mass of Mojo-like hands stretched out of the darkness. They wrapped themselves around Soldier's limbs, dragging him towards the gate. He struggled, trying to move his arms. The masked man let out a yell as the gate slowly began to close on him. Mojo smiled in satisfaction as he bought up another screen. He couldn't see his mysterious benefactors face, but the screen was more so the person could process Mojo's grinning face.
"See, you told me to get rid of Soldier and I did, there you go," Mojo laughed.
"I said you were welcome to try," The Benefactor said.
Suddenly, the gate shook, causing both Spiral and Mojo to turn to it in shock. They widened their eyes as a fist burst through the gate. The hand then pushed the gate open, revealing Soldier. Cybernetic tentacles were ripping at his mask and suit as he pushed his way forward.
"What the hell is he?" Mojo asked.
"If you have to ask that, then after all this time you've learnt nothing from the X-men, a human with a strong enough will can overcome just about any obstacle," The Benefactor explained before the screen disappeared.
Jack turned to Jean Grey, grabbing her hand tightly.
"Relay what you see in my mind to everyone here," Jack said.
"But…"
"There's no time to argue just do it," He told the girl.
A Phoenix symbol appeared over Jean's eyes as she accessed Jack's mind. This symbol spread to every other prisoner as they watched Soldier force his way out of the dark void. Half of his body was already free and Mojo was flying in front of him.
"What do you think your doing huh? Trying to get away? Your never getting out of here, this arena is here to stay! Its here to stay!" Mojo's voice was hysterical.
Soldier suddenly swung his fist forward, punching Mojo in the face. The dimensional being hovered back, his eyes practically popping out of his head as he watched Soldier. He held a yellow-gloved hand, gripping it tightly.
"Don't let go," He growled as he stepped forward.
With every step he made, more and more of his uniform tore and with each step he revealed more and more of the other prisoners. First came an alternate version of Captain America. One who bore a blue and yellow costume with X's on it. Soldier walked further and revealed a whole chain of prisoners, their hands connected together. Cap held the hand of a young Kitty Pryde, wearing a black and purple body suit with fingerless gloves, her hair was tied into a bun and her fingers were tightly locked with another gloved hand. She opened her eyes, looking back at the person she held onto. He was wearing a black Spider-man costume, with gold shoulder and kneepads. The white spider on his chest formed the shape of an X. He looked behind him, seeing a version of John Proudstar. This version of the man was dressed in a red and black outfit with Apache symbols on the chest. He carried a primitive bag over his shoulder and held the hand of the second to last prisoner. She was Rachel Summers, or at least a version of her taken from time. Her costume was the Marvel Girl outfit she wore to honour her mother. She held the hand of the last prisoner. He had angelic wings, but he wasn't Angel. His cowl had red eye lenses on them; reminiscent of the Ruby Quartz visor Cyclops wore. A huge yellow M was stamped to his Blue suit, which also had a red X on the belt buckle. He was Calvin Rankin, AKA the Mimic.
"We're back," Cap said.
"We're staying, we're staying because we will stop you, MOJO!" Soldier roared.
Spiral threw her hand forward, creating a vortex around the prisoners. Slayer and the other prisoners covered their eyes, as the heroes appeared before them in a brilliant flash of light. Jack's shock was replaced with a smirk as he looked at Soldier and the new additions to the "army".
"I know you all want to get home, that your all hurting because of things you may be forced to do. But rest assured, you wont have to break your moral code, we don't have to stoop to Mojo's level. If we work together, we will get home and we will stop Mojo once and for all!" Soldier explained.
"Wow, that scene would make such a great comic panel," Iceman said in awe.
"I'm in," Eric stepped forward as he put on his helmet.
"We've got the power, we just need to use it properly," Slayer said.
He threw the Ebony Blade to Soldier, who easily caught it.
"We're all in," Jean spoke her team's thoughts.
"Da, before you know it we'll be saying Das Vidaniya to Mojo and this accursed arena," Colossus said.
"They wouldn't call me the best there is if I didn't do the right thing every time," Wolverine grinned.
Soldier gripped the handle of the Ebony blade and nodded to all the gathered heroes. Their escape wouldn't be immediate, but it would come soon.
Next Chapter 7: The Utopia program
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, next time we return to the main reality as the Squadron Supreme launches an attack against San Francisco, at the same time Lazlo and Emma investigate the disappearence of their team mates.
Just a little background on the new alternate characters introduced.
Captain America: A version of Captain America that was found by the X-men and not the Avengers. On his Earth he fights for a world where everyone can be equal as leader of the worlds premier super hero team the X-men, a team thats bigger and bolder than ever.
Kitty Pryde: The same character from the series X-men Forever, during a fight with Fabian Cortez, Kitty phases her hand through Wolverine's arm. As a result of Cortez's powers Kitty absorbs one of Logan's claws into her arm. She is a much more aggressive version of the character we all know and love.
Spider-man: In a world reminiscent of the X-men Evolution world, the X-men are just starting out and take interest in the boy with spider abilities. After losing his uncle Ben because of his inaction, Peter protects both New York and the mutant community of Bayville as an X-man.
Shaman: First introduced in a world the reality Hopping team Exiles visited, this John Proudstar joined the Canadian Team Alpha Flight and became Shaman's apprentice and eventual successor. He achieved both inner peace and mastery over the Canadian magics.
Rachel Grey/Marvel Girl: Ripped from a point in time after her mother died and Emma and her father rebuilt the mansion. She is still connected to the Phoenix of her reality and wears a costume to honour her mother. But her connection to the Phoenix has somehow weakened just as every other reality has.
Mimic: Sharing a similar past to the Exiles Mimic, this Calvin Rankin was taken in by Xavier. After leaving his isolated shell, Mimic became friends with the X-men and eventually a valued member of the team.
Till next time folks
