Mutant Generation Force

Issue #8 – End Game – Part One

Xavier's School for Gifted Students

"How's everyone?" Sam asked as he walked into the infirmary.

An hour ago Callisto and a hand full of mutants from Genosha had appeared on their front door step. Before blacking out, Callisto had claimed that they had been attacked and that they were all that was left of Genosha and that Paige had been taken. He hadn't been able to get much more than that and would have to wait till everyone was ready to talk. It was hard to remain patient since that fate of his sister was in the balance. He almost felt like it was his fault since he knew there was something wrong with not being able to reach her and deciding not to do something sooner.

Their guests were in bad condition and Sam had them taken to the infirmary immediately. He had notified the staff right away and had them keep a tight seal on this. As far as the students knew that some guests arrived and that was it. He had psi-blocks fired up around the room to keep the mind readers out. Until he knew more, he didn't want the students in a panic or his mom and siblings to go off the edge about Paige.

As of right now, the school and students were under control and going about their business. He had Warlock, Skids, Tom Corsi, Luna and his mom keeping a watch over things till they got this figured out. Magma was taking care of their injured guests while the rest of the staff; Psyche, Karma, Sunspot, Wolfsbane, Empath and Rictor assisted where they could. After taking one last tour and making sure Warlock had security tight he went to join the others.

"Everyone's going to survive," Amara said as she looked up at Sam.

"That's good to hear," Sam said looking around.

Everyone was sitting up and conscious. Thanks to Amara and Callisto's weird powers, all her tentacles had grown back from being burned off. Callisto had begun to tell them how they had survived. Thanks to Shola Inkose throwing up a tek shield at the last moment, Wicked, Freakshow, Karima Shapandar and Callisto had survived the blast that would have instantly killed them all without it. They had been lucky, unlike everyone else that had been on the island.

"I came to and saw we had all survived thanks to Shola. Karima then did a quick scan and we searched and Hub, Purge and Broadband were the only other three we could find alive. Those that weren't personally executed by these attackers had died in the island wide bomb that had went off," Callisto said.

"I fell bad. I wish I could have saved more. I knew Purge would be able to survive the blast and I had a split second to react. Broadband was the only one near me and at the last second I touched him and we teleported. A few seconds later when we reappeared a few feet away the damage from the blast had been done," Hub cried.

"Hub, there's nothing more you could have done. Hub and the other two came across us later. Broadband tried to contact Charles but all transmissions had been cut off. We couldn't reach him, so we had Hub bring us here," Callisto said.

"Couldn't reach Charles? Sam did something happen to the X-Men?" Wolfsbane asked.

"I don't know. I know I haven't heard from them but I didn't think it was anything important to report or panic about," Sam said.

"Sam, it is important. All this could have something to do with the loss of communication with the X-Men and your family being attacked and your sister being taken and Xavier's base island destroyed," Sunspot shouted.

"Calm down, everyone. We don't know yet if this is all connected or if Sam and his family are in danger," Dani said trying to calm everyone down.

"Dani, don't defend him. Sam isn't the only one. We all, including the students here could be in danger," Sunspot shouted back.

"Actually, Bobby is right. This is bigger than just Sam and his family," a voice came from the doorway. They all jumped to see a badly beaten man being supported by two women in the entryway. A third woman behind them held a small strange creature in her arms.

"Cable?" they all shouted at once.

"Yes, and we all need to talk. Something big is going down, but first me and my friend little friend here need some medical attention," Cable said in a strained voice as Sam and the others ran to help them.

Headquarters of the Gamesmaster

"They all in place?" The Gamesmaster asked as he appeared from thin air.

"Yes," MacTaggert said startled at the appearance of her partner.

"The Upstarts have done a great job. With what you had already acquired before I met you, plus what I coached you to get along with their prizes I now hold twenty-one of the second wave of future X-Men," the Gamesmaster laughed with joy.

"Yes, but what about the remaining candidates? You said we needed the thirty-one but how do we do that when two are unattainable, one is dead without being retrievable and the other ten are currently at Xaviers?" MacTaggert asked.

"True, Leech is dead and we can't find the body anywhere and Artie is with Salem-X, which we dare not attempt to penetrate. That is why we took M's two little sisters. They hold the right elements to take their lace. As for Gossamyr, she was never truly a member but held a connection," Gamesmaster said.

"Yes, but how do we get her from space?" MacTaggert asked.

"We can't, but that is why I tried to get the Cheney woman. She holds the elements to replace her in the device but since the remaining reside in Xavier's School I found a better option. Cheney can't be counted on to be around but Empath holds a closer match so he will be taken with the final ten," Gamesmaster said.

"How do we do that? There's no way we can take them from their own school, not yet anyway. You said, we need all thirty-one in order for the device to work and bring my friends back to me, even the ones already lost," MacTaggert asked.

"Yes, we do and when we do I will have the power needed to demolish the school and Charles. Then I will lead my new students to world domination," Gamesmaster laughed.

"Wait a minute. You said that the device would give them clarity and break free from Charles hold. That while you got the power you needed they would be able to start over with new normal lives," MacTaggert began to worry.

"That's what I said," Gamesmaster said as two images blurred over his face causing MacTaggert to grab her head in pain.

"Sorry, Gamesmaster. Blanked out for a minute. I asked how we get the final eleven then blanked out and missed the plan," MacTaggert said rubbing her temples.

"I left Cable and Callisto alive for a reason with a trail. He, with Sam will bring most of the ones we need to a trap I've setup. We with no doubt with require all our targets. If any others, like Cable live through it will get back to Xaviers to find out that they like the residence of the school are too late to stop my second plan," Gamesmaster said.

"And that is?" MacTaggert asked.

"My infiltrators, while the others are our chasing a trap, will have easily snuck in and out with our remaining few candidates without notice," Gamesmaster laughed as he left the lab leaving MacTaggert to finish tending to the device for it's final occupants.

Gamesmaster stood outside the lab and looked into the mirror. An odd image looked back. "That trick cost us, especially in our weaken state."

"We had too. Can't have MacTaggert knowing our full intentions now can we?" Gamesmaster asked his reflection and then vanished from site.

Xavier's School for Gifted Students – Secured Conference Room

After Cable and company arrived they tended to their medical needs before anything further was discussed. Once everyone had a clean bill of health or close enough to it, Sam, after reminding Cable who was in charge, called a secret emergency meeting. They had to compare notes and decide a plan of action.

Cannonball, knowing the importance or this meeting had all staff members attend. Karma, Psyche, Sunspot, Wolfsbane, Magma, Empath, Rictor, Warlock, Skids and Tom Corsi took their seats. He had told his mom they were having a regular staff meeting for an hour or so and that he would need her and Luna to keep an eye on things for him. He wasn't ready to worry his mom or his siblings about the situation.

Joining them was Callisto and her companions Shola, Karima, Wicked, Freakshow, Hub, Purge and Broadband. Cable took a seat next to Sam as his companions, Domino, Irene Merryweather and Blaquesmith took seats with the others. Knowing that something big was coming, Lila Cheney had vanished and brought back her best friend Guido, the Strong Guy. Jamie Madrox had returned with them since Guido and the missing Siryn were his future business partners.

Sam started the meeting by retelling the attack on his family. Callisto and her team recounted the attack on Genosha. Cable nodded and then he updated them on what had happened to them from the message the X-Force members had all received to the discovery of the battle site to the attack on them that led them to the mansion. Cable made sure every detail was described and then he used his powers and the computer in the room to confirm what they knew.

"It appears they call themselves the Upstarts and part of sick game. Now we are dealing with seven dangerous individuals. Especially since they have achieved what they have so far. Their perfect team work and accomplishment leads me to believe someone bigger is behind their attacks," Cable said.

"Any ideas who?" Dani asked.

"It could be anyone. We all have many enemies but at least we know whom the Upstarts consist of. Sentinel's description from all the attacks confirms that Chester Cabot's attack on the Guthrie farm is part of their game and confirms his identity as Sentinel," Cable said.

"Yes, and it seams our old fiend Black Tom, with better-controlled powers is on the team too," Cannonball swore.

"What about the old strange guy?" Irene asked.

"From the description you guys gave, that would be Frederick Animus the Ani-Mator," Dani said.

"How do you know that?" Domino asked.

"I will never forget that description. I was there when he shot and killed Doug Ramsey. Trust me, he may be old but he is dangerous," Rahne growled as she and her fellow New Mutants recalled that dreadful day back from their early years.

"We also have confirmed that Emma's sister Adrianne is back posing as their new White Queen. Also, Stryfe is back. I did get a strange metal reading but was then lashed back. I'm not positive but I believe my son Tyler is somehow alive and wearing the Stryfe armor," Cable said as Domino gave him a soft look.

"Looks like their King Bedlam is actually Jesse's brother Christopher. What about the man in armor calling himself Pierce?" Domino said.

"We have all confirmed that the man was basically a cyborg and I will bet anything we are somehow dealing with a very much alive Donald Pierce," Cable said.

"It looks like that all seven of these Upstarts are past enemies that have real grudges against, not only the X-Men but specifically against us younger generation of X-Men," Sam said.

"Which might mean that the person behind them, this game master, is someone with an even bigger grudge against us," Dani said.

"You think that we're specifically being targeted?" Sunspot asked.

"You better believe it. Cable, Blaquesmith has finished using the laptop to control and check the data you wanted," Irene said.

"Go ahead, buddy," Cable nodded.

"Jubilee, Chamber and Gaia have gone missing. I have also received confirmation that the St. Croix home has been attacked. The twins and M are missing while the rest of the family were found dead," Blaquesmith said.

"It's confirmed, anyone associated with New Mutants, X-Force and Generation X are being targeted. Those of us in this room and the student Penance are all that remain," Domino said looking over info on the laptop.

"What do we do next? How do we find them?" Sam asked beginning to get impatient.

"Well, Domino found this computer chip at the battle scene. We're hoping we can use it to somehow track them," Cable said.

"Hey, that almost looks like the piece of Sentinel armor I managed to find after the attack on Genosha," Broadband said as he held up his piece and then reached out taking the chip.

Once Broadband took the chip, the Sentinel armor piece and the chip flared with light and then his powers kicked in, as his face became a screen. Suddenly a broadcast was being shown. They could see Sentinel flying towards a volcano as his voice could be heard.

"This is Sentinel. I've returned to base, please give me clearance," Sentinel said.

"You're cleared to enter," another voice said.

"Thanks, and how are the prisoners we just brought?"

"They're secured in the devise and ready for," the voice said and then the transmission ended and Broadband turned to normal.

"Wait, get them back!" Sam screamed.

"I can't," Broadband said.

"Sam, calm down. I recognize that place. It's the island of Maui," Magma said.

"We have them then. We know the location of where they're hiding them. Let's go get them!" Sam screamed.

"Wait, Sam. We'll go but we need to make a game plan. Remember they're still after the rest of you and who knows what they plan for the school," Cable said.

"I agree," Dani said.

"Okay, let's form a game plan of our own. It's time for their game to end," Sam said pounding his fist into his hand.

Epilogue

"Oh no!" Wallflower screamed.

"What is it?" Icarus asked looking at his teammate.

"I didn't mean to, but I some how was able to listen in on that secret meeting. They just sent a team off to go save your sister Paige and other missing mutants," Sofia said.

"What? That can't be. My brother wouldn't keep something like that from me. Tell me all you heard," Josh began to tremble.

"It's true, and my sister here just had a vision that the team is headed in the wrong direction," Sarah said as she and her sister Jessica walked up to them.

"Looks like we have a lot to talk about. Hurry, let's get the others!" Josh shouted as he grabbed the three girls and they ran off.

Next: Issue #9 – End Game – Part Two