Giant horse flies how they got in he didn't care the where annoying and he was going to take care of the problem. Taking one of his boots off he began to stalk his prey as it circled his bike. "That's it say right there you pest" Rearing back Anthony slammed the boot down getting a satisfying crunch on the floor. "Got you, you little pest."

"It'd be easier to get them if you used my bug catcher." Forge held up the so called bug catcher was about the size of a shotgun with a mason jar at the end. "It's got a teslacoil energy net. With vibration tuning capabilities. When Laser sighting for multiple target acquisition."

Anthony rolled his eyes using one of Lance's grease rags to clean off the fly gut before putting it back on. "Forge you've been hanging around us for way to long."

"I owe you guys my life." Putting the bug catcher over his shoulder he activated the garage door opener. The sound of the motor working and rain hitting the tin rattled into the garage. "it was raining that night too."

"It was Bishop who came to me," Leaning against his bike Anthony took out a rubber band flicking it against a wall. "Not our fault Cerebro wasn't working and they couldn't find you."

00oo00oo00

Bishop sat back flipping threw the pages of his book using the light from the large panel windows for a light source. He was alone in the kitchen which suited him just fine about the only person he was willing to listen to was Wolverine. From what his benefactor had told him his sister had come back to somewhere in this time period. From his estimate he didn't have much time left to find her considering how things a had already progressed,

She had to get his attention someway if only to get him to talk till finally an idea rolled its way in. "Scoot over yeh tak'n up the whole damn table." Pushing onto the edge of the bench she forced him toward the center and to her surprised Bobby took the other side giving Bishop no escape.

Bishop was in trouble not the physical kind but, the verbal type and he knew it. Only two escape routes remained for him, one was the pane glass window now behind his back and her seriously didn't feel like picking glass out of his arms, the second was he could go under the table and he knew that they would block his path. Looking at them both he could see Rogue holding a news paper from page displaying the Bayeville highs left wing covered in a tarp. Seeing Bobby the young mutant was currently faking being engrossed in his game system. "yes?"

Sitting the news paper down Rogue looked over at Bobby who glanced up before looking down. She had to get right to point or at least one of them. "So how sick you?" Bishop raised an eyebrow at her getting one her nerves. "I'm ask'n how sick as physically sick are you? It's kill'n you aint it?"

"She had no right that's personal business." Groaning Bishop looked up at the ceiling trying to not meet there prying eyes. He knew they wouldn't let up unless he gave them something 'Yes, I'm dieing I'm just an Alpha level mutant whose cells are breaking down."

Attention fully gained Bobby gawked at Bishop watching the dreadlocked man stare at the ceiling "wait breaking down? Why?"

"well ice cube," Bishop crossed his arm not really wanting to tell them but, he got the feeling they weren't about to let it go. "Normally my cells the things that make up a body would store up the energy for my energy blasts. The belt is mutation in itself created in the lab from fossilized remains of the Kuuga belt infused with grongi armor." Looking at them he waited but they where still listening. "No mutant could wear the belt and believe me we needed it, the grongi where waking up, So in order to wake the belt up again they exposed it to grongi armor mutating the belt. The first user of the belt one of my mentors died fighting them. It wasn't them they didn't kill him his own cells did, The belt it stained his body to breaking point and I think in the end he knew there was chance for it. "

"And they let you put it on! Dude that's insane."

"They didn't let me do anything ice cube!" He glared slamming his hands down on the table his eyes glowing with crimson energy. "They locked it up in secure vault and began to search for someone, anyone that had seed of Agito. They had no intention of letting something so dangerous to user get let out. Do you know what the Grongi where doing? They where hunting us anyone with the X-gene playing there damn games! Someone had to do something anything."

Shaking her head Rogue picked his book. "So you figured it had to be you," She handed him his book. "no matter how dangerous it was you took it upon yourself to save them?"

Taking several uneasy breathes letting his body release all its tension. "My sister and me we where protected we had friends powerful ones. Neither could stand it though even if the Grongi stopped targeting mutants and went after baselines it would be wrong of us. We had power we could fight back so we did."

Rogue nodded she could understand that took her awhile but, she had learned people get hurt when good people stand by and do nothing. First Magneto then dealing with Apocalypse both very hard lessons but well learned. "you had stand I get that I understand."

"yeah, we get it but isn't there some you know way of helping you?"

"no, all I want to do now is to find my sister and take her home," Picking up his book he flipped it open to where it had been. "The belt's part of my biology now and I can't remove it till either I'm dead or it's ready to come off."

"Well that's wonderful out look on life," Walking into the mansions kitchen Anthony began to rifle threw the fridge. "I mean seriously I your sister rather go back to your time with you alive and intact celluar decay be damned."

Bobby shot up from his seat slamming the fridge in Anthony's face. "okay what are you doing here? I thought you moved in with the other free loaders."

"Bobby!"

Defending his actions Bobby looked at Rogue. "What it's true while they where here all they did was steal, lounge around, and did nothing,"

Anthony smiled pulling open the fridge open finding jug of orange juice. "for your information," Slamming the fridge shut he took down a hanging glass and filled it up. "Mr. Xavier is helping me understand the more parasitic aspect of my abilities and after we get done me and Logan sensei are going to spar."

"As entertaining as this be I better things to do," Sliding out of the booth Bishop walked out of the kitchen waving to the three of them. "Till then later."

"bishop wait," Getting up Rogue tried to follow only to have Anthony stand in front of her sipping on his glass of orange juice. "out of my way someone has to talk to him."

"Since when have you been concern about others well being," Blocking there path he closed his eyes. "we all have our own problems and will have to deal with them in time. All we can do for him now, and I made him a promise, we will find his sister if just happen to stubble on a solution to him dying that's bonus points and I always go for the bonus." Looking at the two X-men he silently dared them to challenge him.

Just as the two where about to go past him Xavier's voice came over the house wide intercom. "will senior staff and senior students please report to study immediately."

"Come one Rogue mister fangs can wait the professor wants to see us," Bobby glared at Anthony who simply responded by wiggling his eyebrows freaking him out.

Rogue walked up to Anthony shaking her head. "Take easy on Bobby he just got call from his parents, don't ask what it was about all I know is he turned the danger room into a imitation of the arctic."

"what ever his problem with me he needs to come to me." allowing her to pass he followed her downing the glass. "I mean I didn't do anything to him."

Entering the study Rogue blocked his entry. "senior X-men only and you're not even X-man." She watched him roll his eyes and complain that he wanted more orange juice. Sliding the shutters behind her she walked behind the coach behind Kitty. "So what's going on."

00oo00oo00oo00

"I could use a sparring partner," Leaning up against banister railing Anthony smirked looking up at Bishop.

Putting his book down Bishop looked around before focusing back on Anthony. "Well a sparring session should take my mind off things." Glancing over to doors leading out into the yard. "Shall we take it outside or work on control inside."

"I hate fighting indoors tends to cause collateral this isn't Nerima," Walking out into the yard he found grassy area pulling up his hood.

Sliding off his jacket Bishop put it on the rack before following Anthony out. "nerima? I've heard of it famous for some reason."

Stretching out Anthony went into a rapid fire kata limbering up. "Yeah it's basically Japan's martial arts capital, used to live there when I was just a tot. Started my training under Tendo-Sama till his wife died used to have a crush on the ice princess." Straightening out he watched Bishop stretch out. "can't say my tastes of changed much."

"yeah, enough talk" Bishop launched into his attack throwing a punch only to have it deflected. Not letting up he rolled with deflection sweeping his leg forcing Anthony to back flip back. "You gonna take that?"

Smirking Anthony turn to go on the offensive came as he delivered a series of quick jabs before swinging around with a pair of back heel kicks. His last kick was caught allowing Bishop to grab his thigh swinging him around. Landing on his hands he began to rapidly spin around the battle pace picking up as they traded blows neither connected. After minute of this rapid pace Anthony changed his footing pulling up his hood shadowing his eyes. "Now that he warm up is done shall we shift gears."

Bishop raised his fist his eyes glowing a dark crimson the same color surrounded both of his fists. "I'm game," Firing off and energy blast Bishop watched as Anthony rolled out of the way before flipping onto his shoulder.

"hiyah!" His fists glowing with indigo light as he focused his killing intent delivering a series of punches and backhands. Not prepared for Bishop he found his thigh grabbed and his body slammed into the ground. Sweeping his hands across Bishop unleashed power wave of energy ignoring the blood pouring across his eye.

"stop!" Outstretching in his hand Bobby created a wall of ice between the two combatants before sliding be down. "You're going to kill each other like that!"

"here," Reaching into his pocket Anthony tossed Bishop a rag over the ice wall. "For your information we weren't even trying to kill each other, If we where there would be a lot more property damage."

Using one side of the rag to clean the blood out his eye Bishop used the other side to stop the bleeder. "Yeah letting that guy close to you in fight is a bad idea. I'm surprised you didn't use the Shoryuken on me. "

Snorting Anthony weight for the bruising on his back to go down. "Please I was working my way up to my better stuff. Must always use the proper application of force never to much never to little."

"good to know you three can git a long" Sitting down the steps Rogue looked at the trio. "The professor is let'n me lead a mission with Scott and Jean gone." letting out a puff of air she looked at them. "I'm gonna need some muscle and you three are it. "

"Okay we're friends and all but, I hate to burst your bubble," Slamming his fist against the ice wall Anthony caused it to crumble like cement blocks. "But I'm not an X-man and you can't make me go,"

Looking directly at Anthony Rogue stared him down "Forge is missing and the Professor can't find him,"

"Now that's peeked my interest Forge is a friend and if he's in trouble." Holding in his tracks Anthony smirked hiding it under his hood. "Just give me a few minutes I'll right back."

00oo00oo00

Forge had a headache the kind of headache you got after an all-night bender problem was he didn't drink. Opening his eyes and almost immediately wished he hadn't as the bright light flooded his vision. Taking a couple seconds to adjust his vision he noticed one thing he was in some kind of tank. Looking at himself he noticed he was still in normal clothes and secondly he noticed his arm it was back to normal. Which meant that his powers where being inhibited. Banging

Banging against the glass he realized he triggered a release mechanizes, stumbling out he finally got a good look around. It was a lab of some kind of lab and it wasn't built for the comfort of the patients not mattress to be found. "Dissection tables that really makes comfortable." As he continued to look around he felt queasy as he was reminded of a science fiction horror movie he watched recently Event Horizon it was almost like they pulled the medical center whole sale.

Flying across the room from another pod Forge watched another young man stepped out wearing custom leather jacket with a fur collar. From how he looked he was ready to beat the living day lights out of next person he saw. Lucky for Forge the young man was sound enough not attack on sight instead he like Forge looked around. "I hate laboratories."

"let me out!" Both looked another pod watching a young woman pounded on the glass of her pod. "Please somebody help!" Inside the pod the woman watched as the man in fur coat tapped on the glass miming for her to stop panicking. She watched as his finger searched for the seems and much to her shock he ripped the pod open.

Forge gapped at the display. "Are, uh are you powers working."

The man snorted crossing his arms not even bothering to help the woman out of the pod leaving that to Forge. "Hardly, if my powers where working I would already have escape this place. My strength though be moans me to admit this comes from training in the martial arts. When training in my human state my mutation gets stronger gets stronger as well."

"Thank you, thank you both," The woman looked around and like Forge and the other man before her she was unnerved by there new location. "This may seem rather rude but, who are you two? And where are we?"

"Gregor"

"Forge," The two of them gave him that look, the look that said they didn't understand why he went by Forge but not his real name. "Don't worry about it, it's what I like to go by considering what I can do." Walking over to the door he began to search for release mechanism even without his mutation he knew machines on instinctual level.

Gregor walked up to the door tapping on it with his knuckles. "To thick for me to punch threw in my human state, I could lift it if I could get under the seam but the door goes below the floor."

After a few seconds Forge found the edge of a control panel. "Just give me a moment. I need something to pry this open like a flat head."

Looking around the morbid surgical lab the woman found a drawer with various medical tools most of which she couldn't begin to name all sterilized. Reaching in she grabbed a scalpel walking over to Forge handing it to him. "Just call me Lucifer."

Taking the scalpel Forge used it to pry open the panel taking a look at the wiring. "Lucifer as in the match or demon? Roll that cart over to me. How about I call you Lucy instead."

She rolled her eyes before taking the cart over to him watching him work. "Hardly when I say Lucifer I'm talking about a light bearer. You might as well call me Luz instead of Lucy." Looking over at Gregor his face was grim like he knew something. She returned the look daring him to challenge what she had said. His response was simple and silent raising his hand in front of his face clenching into a fist as warning all the while Forge took no notice.

"I like Luz better anyway sounds cooler." Within a few seconds there was a hiss and the door began to slide up only for it to stop about knee height. "Well that's the best a I can do. So Greg you think you can get us some more room? "

"do I look like a Brady to you." Hunching down Gregor grabbed the bottom of the five inch door. "My name is Gregor!" With a grunting growl pushed up with his legs already he could feel the door trying to push back down. "Get out!"

Luz didn't waste time easily squeezing out with Forge quickly following behind. "We're clear," She watched as he shifted his arms bracing the door across his shoulders before rolling out with them. Even before he finished his roll the door slammed red emergency lights ignited. Not even bothering to see if the giant of young man was alright she looked ever had designed the halls had things for scales a theme that had been present in that lab they had woken up in. Dark chrome curled along the ceiling concealing the emergency lights only when she looked down did she notice power conduits under the metal grating. "Now isn't this morbid?"

It was the smell like rotted meat left out in jungle sun, it curled his stomach in knots and he really wanted to keep it down. "I think going vomit."

"hold it in or you'll never get used to it." Gregor pressed foreword wanting to find the source of the smell he knew it to well when he been traveling the Diamond trails in Africa. It was the smell of human flesh left out in the sun to rot. There was no sun in this, he could only say, complex so someone liked it warm. "Humidity makes it worse as the flesh bloats on it's own gasses."

It doesn't take long for them to find the source of the smell and part of Gregor wish they hadn't. Hanging down over what looked to be a cesspool for waste was a human body hanging by a metal wire made like a snare. Looking at his companions he could see the where getting queasier by the minute and he really couldn't blame them. "You two go take the other hall see if any other doors you can open." They don't have to be told twice, left alone with the body he can finally get a closer look. "Something gnawed on his legs." Taking care he took hold of the mans thigh twisting the body around finding the mans pants had been shredded to get to the meat on the bones. That he expected he knew something had at on the body possibly a cannibal it was just that he didn't expect. "Something burst out of his rib cage." Looking up he watched the flys curl around the former gas station worrked bloated face. "Rest in peace." Sliding his jacket off he bear hugged the body pulling it down not even stopping as he heard the tearing nor when felt the partially congealed dripping on his head only when the body slacked dig let go. He stood watching as the corpse splash into the cesspool it head following soon after.

"Hey I found," Forge stopped in his tracks when he saw Gregor step back the ooze of the blood rolling down his face. "the shower, they work."

"Good I want to clean myself."

Forge gulped as he let Gregor walk past him. "only cold water though, uh did you uh drop the body." Gregor's silence was all Forge need to know that the giant was dangerous. After what seemed to be a eternality he finally noticed Gregor's jacket untainted by the blood. Picking it up he noticed some writing scratched on a pipe one word likely written by a knife or finger nail. "Brood?"

00oo00oo00

The northern Canadian wilderness cold and full of evergreens and for the moment completely silent even the black birds engines roar clearing the softer snow as landing gear pressing down on the hard pack. With burst of hissing the exit ramp lowered allowing the five person team exit.

The first set of boots to hit the ground was Bishop's pair. "you sure this is the last place the cerebro picked up on Forge?"

Rogue walked down the ramp. "something about magnetic field blocking the professor."

Letting an already iced up Bobby walk past him Vampyr sniffed the air. "It's to quiet."

Ice Man turned on his heel looking at Vampyr"Dude don't you know better than to say things like that? When people say that sort of thing bad things always happen." To his surprise he saw Vampyr grinning. "you're looking for a fight aren't you?"

"He's always looking for a fight." Looking up behind Vampyr Bishop looked at Beast who was working on a pad he had recently designed. "You coming Doc?"

"No I think I'll sit this one out till you located Forge he may need medical attention," Beast put the pad down and looked at Rogue. "Remember Miss Darkholme this is you mission and I'm only here to supervise, Don't be afraid to ask questions." His spiel completely he tossed the pad toward her. That device should allow you to track the electronic signal from Forge's arm."

Catching the pad Rogue studied it for few seconds taking off one of her gloves with her teeth she began to work the screen zooming the map out to get a better view. "We need to head due east some kind of facility over thata way." Pointing with her finger she put the glove back on. Don't call me Miss Darkholme I aint my mother." The words dripped with venom on her lips.

As he climbed into the cockpit of the blackbird Beast picked up the book he had been reading before they had been called up for this mission. "I'm sure they can take care of themselves." Taking his place in Copilots seat he looked out the window watching them till they disappeared into the tree line. "They remind me of my younger days."

There direction set the quartet made there way threw the wilderness with Rogue in the lead the pad strapped on her hip, a few steps behind her Ice-man whistled his hand behind his head occasionally shooting off a beam ice onto an unlucky tree or two. Following not far behind Bishop and Vampyr walked side by side. Bored as Bobby, Vampyr struck up conversation. "So rogue, and Kurt are brother and sister I get that I also get that they're Mystique's kids I just want to know why Kurt has different last name?"

Bishop rolled his eyes listening to crunch of snow below his feet. "Do I look like I know?"

Continuing with missing a beat vampyr began to ramble. "They way I see it Kurt was somehow adopted, From looks of things Mystique didn't have much contact with either child preferring to keep her distance. If Had to say she would have liked for both of them to not get involved at all to protect them. Likely to keep them safe from both Chucky and Mags considering she might not trust either of them."

Rogue couldn't help but hear the ramblings and better of her wanted to answer them and possibly punch him. She wanted to tell him he was wrong that Mystique didn't give a squat about her children that she had abandoned them both. She wanted to tell him that Kurt had been left to drown as infant thrown into a river, she wanted to tell him how she was locked in house and told she had some sort of skin condition that she couldn't touch or see anyone. The more he rambled though the more she wanted to punch him as he came up with more and more reason that Mystique may have abandoned them. Finally she snapped twisting around she pushed Bobby aside causing him to stumbling into a tree. Quickly grabbing Vampyr by his jacket she pushed him back. "What do ya think you doin! Playing devils advocate."

Mumbling under his breathe something he could see her getting angry as she pulled him closer he leaned in beside her ear whispering. "We're being watched," He leaned back and looked directly up the trunk of the tree.

Rogue still angry but realizing he might have been right followed his line of sight and saw it. "Ice-Man white out now!"

"right! Huddle up everyone," Raising his arm up Ic-man blasted the sky with a beam of energy. Truth be told he had never tried anything like this though Proffesor had told him that he had a lot of potential and to his shock it was showing. As the snow began to ripple down in sheets he quickly gathered with the other three who had clustered together for warmth. "Quickly question why'd you call up for the sudden blizzard."

All three where very glad for the fact that there unforms had been insolated against the cold weather though it still chilled them. It was Rogue who answered first rubbing her arms trying to keep warm. "We where being watched "

Vampyr nodded taking slow steady breaths. 'I noticed the CCTV camera's while you where shooting off some ice some snow fell from branches and I could see the camera in branches. It had a skull with squid tentacles on it."

"Hydra," When both Bishop and Vampyr raised an eyebrow in confusion she shook her head. "Whil I don't know much but they had something do with the people that gave Mr. Logan is claws."

"you mean those pointy things that pop out between his knuckles." Chuckling Vampyr lowered his head. "I might have an interesting time after all."

Rogue took out a compass. "Glad you enjoying yourself lets keep moving Ice-man keep this Blizzard going we don't want them seeing our every movement."

00oo00oo00

"It feels like we've been walking in circles and starting stink like dead fish," Gregor complained having washed his hair and face of blood.

"you said you saw the word Brood written on one of the pipes what do you think it meant." Luz commented.

Forge nodded in agreement with Gregor for all he knew they had been walking for hours in circles. "I'm not sure could be some kind of warning. You're right though it does smell like dead fish in here." As they walked down the Corridor Forge looked around. "what really surpises me is that we haven't trigger any booby traps."

Gregor was the first to notice and the first to react as he jerked the absent minded Forge back as several metallic rods burst from the left hand wall into the right. "You we're saying."

Nervously laughing Forge ducked under the rods coming up the other side. "guess I have to pay more attention to my surroundings. Still rubbing the back of his head watching as the two of them come from under the rods .

Luz separated herself from the other two turning down another corridor. "Another door?" Before the trio stood a pair of partially ajar doors. "Think you can open it the rest of the way,?"

"I doubt it," Gregor pointed at the Control panel that had once been a card reader and keypad shot to pieces by gun fire. "Someone was here before us."

Forge slipped threw the crack. "uh you two might want to come in here." He had found himself inside of some type of control room. Screens flickered with the Hydra emblem some of them stained in blood as he walked around he found a largely intact computer He began to work on the keyboard bringing up lines of code. "Let's see if we can figure out where we are."

Gregor stood behind him watching as the young mutant worked at the Keyboard. "Well this looks to be a Hydra outpost."

"Give me ah got it, we're inside a Hydra deep mine base," Clicking on a series of icons he found some entry logs. "From what's here some of there electronic equipment was failing and they needed someone to fix it so they," Stopping himself he half heartedly chuckled. "They sent a squad after me well that explains me," When he ran a search for Gregor and Luz he found the files corrupted beyond repair. 'Nothing on you two, Apparently Madam Hydra was brought here for medical treatment after escaping something called X-23. Oh I found something a video log,"

Activating the play back feature he treated to the sight of solider in a full body suit talking to a man in a purple cowl. "sir Zemo! We need help! We've barricaded ourselves in the command center six agent in total we need reinforcements they took the secondary medical bay! Madam Hydra was in there!"

"So? Lockdown the facility and activate black protocols."

In comparison between the two the Hydra agent was clearly in a state of panic while Zemo was calm and collected. "Sir the whole facility will be cooked including the command center!"

Zemo chuckled lightly. "you are Hydra take one of ours heads and two more will take it's place you served well." In the backround screaming could be heard the words the door had been breached and log ended in static.

"well that's comforting,' Gregor looked around room noting the bullet and other damage. "apparently they didn't make it, is there anything more on the drive?"

Forge nodded bringing up another file. "It says they found something below the moutain, which answers why there are no windows."

"We're underground." Luz responded.

"yeah," Continuing to read Forge. "Some type of nest the description alternates between insect hive and lizard nest."

"put two and two together." Gregor stated placing his hand on Forge's shoulder. "You get Brood."

Luz watched as Gregor went to half open doors. "Where do you think you're going don't you think it would be wise for us to stick together?"

"funny coming from you," Gregor stood between the two doors. "If want to know where I'm going, you can follow I'm going to the nest, if there's a way out we should there."

"Wait maybe I can bring up a map," Turning around in the chair Forge began to roll threw the menus only after a few seconds for the computer to short the keyboard and motherboard frying. Slamming his fist into the top of the monitor he did some uncharaistic of him. "Damn it! The system is fried now we have to go into nest filled with the spirits know what likely our death just we can get out of here!" Standing up angrily began to kick the mainframe. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

Luz grabbed the time displaced mutant making him face her. "Look at me," when he didn't look at her she slapped him stinging his cheek. "I said Look at me, good now focus we are going to survive this even if we have to make hard choices."

"Are you done being a whiney wiener?" Gregor stood by watching as Forge regained his composer. "We should get move no telling how long we have. If lucky those Brood what ever they look like starved after there food source ran out."

00oo00oo00

"So guys how long do I have to keep this up?" Ice-man looked back at his companions. "I can't do this all day you know. Ow" Ice-man looked down a curved blade was sticking out of his chest where his heart would be. "I've been stabbed cool."

"Bobby!" Rogue screamed out his name as the blade was pulled out his form kicked to the ground. Moving quickly she caught his icy form and would have lost her head if it weren't for Vampyr who wagged his finger after catching blades owners wrist. "Don't ice down Bobby don't it went threw your heart."

Keeping a tight grip on the attackers wrist he smashed his fist into the white goggles of the ninja. "I hate," punch, "Snow" punch "Ninja!" twisting the ninja's wrist he flipped it over. Releasing the ninja's wrist he narrowly dodged a swing from another ninja.

Bishop watched as more ninja appear most dropping down from the trees. Jumping back he grabbed two of them by the neck as they came out of drift of snow slamming the face down into the snow. "We got ninjas."

"oh I didn't notice." Rolling out of the way of downward swing he smashed his elbow into another ninja's spine using his leg to trip the ninja before chopping into the Ninja's throat causing the ninja to wheeze. Vampyr gasped as the sword pierced his side, grabbing the blade before it was remove he smashed his palm into the ninja's jaw.

Bishop put his back against a tree deflecting blade with back of his hand playing dirty kicking the Ninja in the crotch. The result of his kick causing the ninja to falling over grabbing it's crotch in pain. Sensing something Bishop ducked as the tree was cut in half about the level his head had once been.

Sliding on his feet he double punched another ninja in the gut before spinning around back kicking the ninja in the skull. Grabbing the wrist of another ninja that had tried to lop the top of his head off he delivered a series of kicks the first to the gut, then the ribs then finally in the side of the right knee shattering the joint. Jerking the ninja's wrist he threw him into the hard packed snow. "Come on"

Jumping back Bishop leaped over that tried to split between his legs. Having regained his foot quickly bishop kick the ninja into the ground. "I'll take that," Grabbing the sword sheath on ninja's back using it to trip up another ninja before standing up doing it like he did to previous ninja kicking him in the crotch. Twirling around the sheath he used it to smack another ninja's face around smacking each cheek before striking the chin before the nose.

Rogue sat pulling herself and Bobby against some roots and would have been killed by a pair of ninja that had flipped from above her only to have Vampyr slam the face first into the roots. Looking at Bobby she could see him panting trying to stay iced up. "Vampyr drop them now!"

Vampyr took a ninja by the head flipping him over. "bishop get down!" Spreading his arms out wide the blood he had lost from the wound gathered in his palms. "Red ribbon," crossing his arms the blood spread out into arcs. The with blinding speed he spread his arms a thin red mist filling the area.

Bishop reacted quickly flipping a Ninja in front of him using it as a shield finding himself slammed into a snow drift. After few seconds he dropped the ninja and got a quick look around, seeing that what ever had been facing toward Vampyr had been sliced to ribbons not killed. Standing dead center of the carnage Vampyr stood pastier than usual. "you look like hell."

Panting inside his circle of destruction Vampyr looked at Rogue and Bobby. "Snow," Stumbling toward them. "Pack some snow on the wound trust me."

"Right, like that will," Rogue stopped herself as she thought about it Bobby was currently made of pure ice and if that was true. "All we have to do is seal the wound!" Taking hand full of the snow she began to pack it on the wound. "Bobby listen to me," She packed in more snow. "Bobby focus as long as you stay iced up you can heal this. So get frosty"

While the two of them Rogue and Vampyr worked to help make sure Bobby stayed alive Bishop began to exman the ninja. "A Shield agent, A Hydra operative, another Hydra, two more Hydra, this weird, another Shield agent."

Walking over to Bishop Vampyr looked down at the downed Ninja. "So what's so weird."

Bishop began to count the number of ninja that they had taken down. "How much blood did you use?"

"About a pint and half nothing some orange juice can't handle. Now stop deflecting the question, what is it that you find so weird?"

"you mean you haven't noticed." Bishop pointed to patch on the side of the Ninja's suit. "This one is a Shield agent while that one over there works for Hydra. Two groups that have even less reason to work together than the Black panthers and Ku Klux Klan."

"maybe we can ask one of them when they wake up should be entertaining story." Vampyr shot straight up hearing a sound none of the others could hear. "Did any of you hear that?"

Rogue pulled out the pad using it to try contact beast to pick up Bobby only discover that it was full of static. Searching her person she tried to use the radio transmitter only to find it just as fried as the pad. "Guys we got a problem our electronic equipment is fried."

Vampyr stood up looking around trying to not panic. "crap we where just hit by a high frequency EMP caused my eardrums to pop. Who ever is pulling the strings doesn't want us getting any help."

Rogue nodded pushing the snow off of Bobbies chest the wound having been frozen. "Right," Looking at the pair she stood up taking command. "Bishop you get Bobby to the Black Bird, Vampyr I need you to come with me to find Forge."

"You're the boss." Vampyr took a deep breath readying himself. "I'm ready."

"come on popsicle" Bishop walked over to Bobby picking him up. "Alright you stay iced up till we get to the Black Bird the Doc will decide what to do then."

00oo00oo00

The journey in the lower levels of the base was unnervingly quiet for Luz from the dripping of pipes to transition from organic design to stone walls carved out of the mountain with only the emergency lights staying the same. "how many booby traps have we managed to avoid?"

"There was the laser grid that Gregor tripped, those giant mutant sea creatures when he flooded that chamber two levels up. The machine guns and plasma turrets, the flame throwers, yeah after that I just stop keeping track." Forge stopped looking around seeing that they where once more in a complex series of tunnels carved out of the mountain. "What I want to know what's inhibiting our powers."

Gregor grumbled under his breath. "I've been wondering that myself." Leaning down he picked up a small rock he tossed it down the corridor only to have the space in front of them ripple like a pond. "Well isn't that interesting."

Walking up to the where the stone had hit Forge poked the area with his finger causing another ripple. "not the most scientific action I've done," Grinning he looked back at them. "I do believe we've found the end of the trail."

"A hologram," Luz smiled walk into the image and suddenly found herself at the edge of hive would have been the right word. A slime like substance rolled down the rounded walls she didn't want to look up she really didn't but she had to. That where numerous to many to count hanging on roof of the hive and she couldn't help but agree that hybrid lizard wasp creatures. They had massive stingers much like wasps, there legs looked like the tails on a komodo dragon, There faces shaped like the snot of the same lizard a strange slit running down there jaw, A dark green shell covered there back hiding a pair of wings.

"Don't scream," Gregor placed his hand over Luz's mouth as he could see the rising panic in her eyes. "If we make more noise than necessary." He didn't have to finish as she nodded in understanding. "I really don't want to deal with swarm of those things."

Forge leaned down looking below and saw a device at the bottom of the hive. "I think I found what's inhibiting our powers." As looked he could see the Hydra and Shield agents all coated in what looked like mucus. "Anyone besides me see alien for first time last week?" Hanging high above them where numerous rocky pillars with largest hanging dead center.

"Then let's turn it off," She knew it would be unpleasant even before she began sliding down the side of the hive. Landing hands first in the slime Luz groaned wiping it off her hands onto her pants. Seeing her task ahead of her she weaved threw the bodies trying to avoid waking up the neighbors. She nearly jumped when she felt Forge's hand on her shoulder. "Are you trying to scare me."

"Gregor's going to search for an exit," He pointed at the device. "We are going to have to be quick though." The two of them walked up to the device listening to it humming. Forge walked around the device rubbing his temples sweat dripping from his brow. "Just wish this headache would stop."

"you and me both," Luz put her hand on the device and nearly dropped to her knees the pain incredible it wasn't till the first drops of blood from her nose hit floor did she check it. "I think, I think I'll pass out now."

Forge quickly rounded the machine catching her before she fell face first. "Luz stay awake please I know your head hurts so does mine," He could see her trying to keep her eyes open though he was having the same problem so close to the device. At this point the didn't care if he woke brood above. "Gregor we need to drop this thing now." Pulling her away from the machine he tried to push out the jackhammers in his head.

Gregor had been experiencing the same headaches the moment they had arrived in the hive. It had started small enough but the more time he spent there it felt like a jack hammer was being used on his skull. Up until now he had thought that Luz was lying about not being able to use her powers. She was homo Ultimatus a child of the vault and he had encountered them before. They didn't like him and he was more than willing to return the feeling.

As he circled the hive watched as Luz dropped part of him was inclined to join her face first in the slime. The only thing that was keeping him up was Forge's sudden yelling causing a surge of awareness. Looking up he could see the Brood waking becoming aware of there presence in the chamber. "Forge take care of it yourself." The first creature dropped down it's massive stinger curled out unfortunately for it Gregor wasn't going to stand still. Grabbing it's abdomen and throat he slammed it down it's face split open revealing rows of teeth. "Do it now Forge!

Laying Luz down Forge was panting as blood dripped down his nose. "I have to shut it down." Stumbling the few steps it took to get the machine he vision was getting more and more blurry. "Sometimes the only way to fix things," Looking at his right arm he drew it back. "Is to hit it!" Slamming his fist into the machine he roared.

Her vision blurred Luz looked over at Forge and smiled. "You can do this."

Gregor snapped the creatures neck watching at the creatures neck looking up his vision blurred as well the pain increasing. "Finish it now!" using the vision he had left he slammed two more of the creatures into ground.

Inside the machine Forge's arm shifted wires and metal fused together around his arm forming a network of cybernetics. Lines akin to those on a circuit board appeared in forge's irises, he could feel his arm changing transforming like the first time it did when his mutation activated. A beam of energy rocketed out of the back of the machine ripping tear in the hive.

Gregor grinned as his vision cleared and his head no longer hurting, he could already feel his strength returning. "Now I can really cut loose!" Sliding his jacket off he roared as he power finally kicked in his muscle mass increasing. Leaping up he slammed another brood into the side of the hive ripping out it's throat with bone spur in his knee.

Luz smiled standing up a crimson haze around her body like a flame. "So these fools thought that they could take me prisoner." Waving her arm hard light flaming daggers pierced into the a set of brood pinning them to hive wall. "I am a child of the vault." Like the lash of a whip a violet beam sliced another Brood down the middle.

While Luz and Gregor fought threw the Brood Forge examined his arm like his old one it was a cybernetic prosthetic. Unlike the old one it looked like and actual arm yet it had all same functions and dozens more. "This is so cool." While he looked at the new arm he noticed some of the brood landing on the people inside cocoons. "no you don't!" A portion of his arm opened and a high energy beam lanced out piercing threw the brood's head. "we can't let these things eat these people."

Gregor leaped from one side of the hive to the other smashing Brood into the walls. "Stop standing there then and cut them loose!"

00oo00oo00

Beast looked out the Blackbird watching as Bishop appeared out woods. "My stars and garters," Climbing out the seat he quickly ran down activating the Black birds emergency medical unit.

Bishop grunted as he dropped the ropes helping him pull the three sleds each larger than the last. The first sled directly behind him had Bobby his head and top of his shoulders having around reverted to normal. Dragged behind that sled was one with three of the ninja on it. The last sled carried on it the remaining ninja. "Bobby got hurt by the idiots in white."

Walking over to Bobby examined the iced over spot on Bobby's chest. "It looks like someone cracked some ice then poured some water over it. Bishop bring in one of the idiots as you described them into the black Bird."

"Alright figured you want to look them over too," Walking over to the second sled he picked up the first agent he came to.

Moving rapidly Beast laid out Bobby on one of two medical beds on the black bird. While he didn't have all the equipment he could want it would be enough to provide emergency care. Typing a command on the pad above the bed two concentric rings emerged and began to circle Bobby. Looking at the monitor he watched as the outline formed "Mr. Drake your anatomy is truly remarkable transitioning from ice to organic while retaining all functionality. Charles was correct in labeling you an omega, just by using a simple snow pack you used it to heal a mortal wound. Though I suspect it you where awake you'd make a crass comment on Ice sculpture."

Bishop walked into the Black Bird flopping the agent onto the other bed. "Here's patient number two." Checking to make sure the rope was secured "So how's Bobby going to be?"

"Once he wakes up he should be his cheery irreverent self, now" Reaching over to the second patient he keyed in the scan sequence again. "Might ask where you got the rope and what happened."

"I usually keep a hundred to two feet of rope on hand at all times," Bishop smiled as Beast gave him a look that asked wear he kept it. "I hide it place Anthony hide his ride buckle among it's old martial arts technique. A lot magicians know it too strangely enough don't ask me how. As to what happened these dumb asses ambushed us and someone released high frequency emp."

Reaching up Beast tapped a part of the image on the monitor. "Can you tell me if that belongs there?"

"Oh shit," Bishop looked at the embryo like grow on the mans spine. "Not them anything but them."

"What is it?"

"Brood which explains why they attacked us,"

Walking into the cockpit of the Blackbird Beast climbed into the pilots seat. Reaching down he put on a headset typing in a few commands. "Can you hear me, Good we need some assistance contact Fury we found some of his agents. We'll need a medical unit, with surgical teams and neuro team. Thank you Logan I know how much you dislike him."

00oo00oo00

"So Rogue I know you don't like your mother," Vampyr trudged threw the snow looking for the telltale signs where the ninja had come from.

Rogue grumbled not liking where the conversation was going, though she had already given up trying to track the ninjas, she wasn't about to let him steer them into that subject. "You an my brother may be friends, and he may want to get to know her, I don't."

"you want screwed up?" Vampyr hunched down half laugh. "I screwed my birth mother and my aunt. My father dropped me off on an island in middle of pacific just so I could train with one of the most dangerous men on the planet. Might add that if I failed Master Gouki wouldn't have hesitated to end my life. When I finally got state side again I took up numerous after school jobs just to pay our rent. Some idiot took away my father pension. I had to drop out of school four time over course of four years while he got drunk. Worse you got is a half brother who tries to hard and mother who yes lied to you, whose also afraid getting close." taking a deep breathe he released his temper. "oh and one more thing I discovered that woman I called mom didn't did of broken heart she was murdered."

"wow," Rogue was in a state of shock she didn't think he'd go into rant. All she knew was that she had to focus on something. "you screwed your mother?"

"you pick that to focus on," Falling back into the snow Vampyr laughed hysterically. "Oh my that's funny it really is," Tears of laughter rolled down his cheeks. "I need minute," Standing up he leaned against a tree taking a moment to recover. "I needed that I let it bottle up, I should take up the violin again."

"You play the violin?"

"yeah, classically trained," Taking a seat on a stump he looked up. "Both my sister where taught how to play though she prefers the cello to my violin. Mind you I'm not as skilled as either her or Michi-chan. Between the two of us being so ultra competitive." He shook his head. "I don't think we gave them moments rest."

Rogue joined him on the stump. "Guess things are really messed aren't they."

"Yeah," He looked into the sky watching it searching for something. "Notice anything weird?"

"No not really,"

"No birds not even geese," Pointing up into the sky he aimed his finger. "What it is it's going to coming from that direction really fast."

Rouge stood up looking in the direction he was pointing. "How can you tell."

"The air pressure sensitive to it," Popping his knuckles he grinned revealing his fangs. "make you bet if we can take down this thing and find Forge You and I will have to talk to our respective hated parent."

"And if we loose."

"you pick," That's when the sonic boom hit knocking them both off there feet. Vampyr was the first to recover kicking up onto his feet. "Oh lovely a blonde bombshell." If it weren't for the solid face of rage she was projecting she'd be pretty. The next few second where a blur for Vampyr as his feet left the ground. "there went the ribs internal organ ruptured" Blood splattered down his chin already he was slammed face first into the ground the back his skull caved in.

The blonde haired woman turned toward Rogue he body glowing with energy. Slipping her gloves off Rouge rolled out of the way as the woman flew toward her. Finding herself with a few seconds she looked at the seemingly dead Vampyr. "are you dead?"

Vampyr gave a thumbs up before using ribbon of blood to jerk Rogue toward him just as the woman dropped her fist into ground. Pushing himself up he grunted out a few bars vomiting out some blood clearing his lungs. His rib cage popped into place his internal organs sealing stopping the internal bleeding. He had only seconds to recover as the woman came close but he wasn't going to get caught off guard again. Raising his arms he took a blow to his arms shattering the bones in them. "Best you got!"

Letting his arms drop bone breaking threw the inside blood drooling down his palms He narrowly dodged another punch that would have struck his cheek taking step back. Taking a boot to the gut he was slammed into the ground. The pain was incredible like getting adamantium claws to the gut which he experienced before.

Rogue slipped off her gloves having hidden herself behind a drift of snow. "Okay don't know how much he can take." She winced as she saw the woman deliver several boots stomps to Vampyr's face. "not much more" Climbing onto the drift she tried to sneak up to the woman.

Unfortunately the woman still retained her peripheral vision. Raising a few inches on the ground she flew toward Rogue back handing her back into the snow drift.

Pulling himself to his feet the bones pushed themselves back into there proper alignment. Stretching out his fingers he flicked off the blood only for it to stretch into a thin stream. Using his blood he wrapped her in red using it he pulling her against his body pinning them together. Putting his arms around her neck, the spores in his blood stream crystallizing the blood. "rogue now I don't know," He didn't get to finish as the woman reached between her legs to his grabbing his crotch crushing his boys into hamburger meat.

Picking herself up she spit out the dirt and half melted snow. Rogue knew she had to move quickly slapping her hands onto the woman cheeks the only exposed skin. What Rogue got was a lot more than she thought possible voices hundreds of them screaming.

00oo00oo00

Forge cut through another cocoon this time releasing a woman having he fall into his mechanical appendage. Taking a moment to look at her he quickly loaded her onto the float pallet he had built in record time. He found his head forced down by a green glowing hand and he could hear the sound buzzing wings only for it stop as a Brood came down in front of him split in half. "thanks for assist."

Luz held her hand against the wall a blue dome of light surrounding the hole created when Forge blew the inhibitor machine. "Don't thank me yet," With her right hand occupied creating the bubble of blue light, she used her left hand to create green constructs of light keeping the brood away. "Just get those people out of her and I'll follow you."

Forge ducked at Gregor leaped over him smashing boot first into a brood. "don't have to tell me twice." Raising his arm he typed into holographic display causing the pallet to lift up and foreword. "I think I've got everyone."

Reaching onto his back Gregor pulled a pair of brood off his back that had been tearing into his thick skin slamming them together. Dropping there remains to the ground he ground his heel into them before looking at Forge and Luz. "Stop standing and get going."

Luz opened a hole in the blue bubble looking back at Gregor feeling something. A pang of guilt possibly or regret. The three of them had formed something of a strange friendship and part of her didn't want it to end. "Get moving Forge!" Both her hands free to fight she produced a wall of yellow needles piercing several brood.

Gregor watched out of the corner of his yellow black eyes as the group managed to slip into the hole. Above he could see a brood crawling down the wall. Leaping from his standing position he drove his fingers into its abdomen. Dragging the creature along he collapsed section above the hole. Disgusted with the creature on his fingers he tossed it aside before dropping down onto the floor. "I think I finally understand you Bartok." He watched as the few remaining brood crawled along the walls trilling there wings buzzing. "But I have my own justice."

Picking up his jacket steam rose off his body the bone spurs flaking off his body. "Come down," he growled out his muscles mass decreasing from hulk like proportions back to normal. "I know you've been watching." Back to human standard he slid on his jacket. "Let's finish it."

High above what was once a pillar it cracked before shattering revealing massive body of a Brood. Unlike the others which had reptilian eyes this one had six eyes each of them compound like an insects. It's mandible like mouth opened into three sets with rows of teeth a hanging forked tongue flicked out fully prehensile.

Gregor snorted as the creature came down landing on thickly muscled legs which had split from the main body supporting it's weight. "You're an ugly bitch." The creature leaned down roaring in his face spread spittle on his face. Calmly he reached up flicking the saliva off his face. "That supposed scare me?"

The creature snapped it's mouth closed taking chunk out of the ground. Confused it looked up and saw Gregor glowing with a blue light. Rearing his fist back the image a of rearing bull formed around him. "I have my code my own justice! I show you the horns of the bull. Beast Fist Brahma bull hammer!"

00oo00oo00

Vampyr eyes closed as the pain was about ready to make him pass out then he did. When he next opened his eyes he was in a cave. "oh god I feel I got steam rolled again. Wait there was screaming " Standing up he looked around found the woman that had attacked them unconscious. "That was Rogue she was screaming."

Picking himself up on his hands he found that he was laying in a trench created by his own body. Looking over he saw the woman breathing in and out but thankfully unconscious. Taking a moment he collected his thoughts. "I remember now, that while she crushing my banana and cherries Rogue touched her face and started screaming both of them. This one," she looked over at the woman again. "bolted but, passed out while she was flying. Oh yeah that's why my back hurts I got dragged across the ground. "

Reaching over he tried to open one of the pouches on her hip only to find that she opened her eyes and grabbed his wrist with a lot less crushing power than before. "If I had to guess Rogue half your strength and abilities."

She glared at him tightening her grip but, found that she didn't nearly have the same power as before. "Who are you? Who is Rogue."

"it speaks," The look she gave him would have killed him if looks could kill. "I"m Vampyr and Rogue is a friend who took you down."

She released her grip on his wrist letting him pull away. "I don't remember that," Sitting up she grabbed her head a tremendous headache coming on. "Last I remember S.H.I.E.L.D sent me and large unit to track down Madam Hydra."

Grunting in annoyance Vampyr took off his jacket inspecting his shredded fabric. "sounds like a barrel of laughs."

She glared at him anger suppressing the headache. "Might as well introduce myself," Standing up she grabbed his arms forcing him into the kneeling position. "My name is Warbird a member of initiative. You're going to tell me where I am and how I got here."

"Well Warbird," Vampyr smirked reacting with skill got out of the lock. "Canada." Stilling moving he tripped her up pinning her to ground. "And I couldn't care less about some Initiative." Pinning her legs down and locking her arms behind her back he forced her head down. "Now considering you nearly killed me I'd appreciate your real name."

Warbird turn to smirk came as she used her superior strength to break free and quickly slammed him into the cave wall. "My name is none of your business," Pushing his head against the wall she made sure to rub his cheek in it. "Now your going to listen to me,"

Using a tactic usually used on men Vampyr used the heel of his boot to kick her in the crotch. Forcing her to release his hands he used them to grab her wrist flipping over her. Rearing his head back he slammed it into the back of her head. "I don't have to listen to squat from you." Putting his foot onto her back pinning her to the wall.

She didn't want to rip his arms out his sockets she wasn't a killer but she wasn't about to let this go on she had a mission. "You'll listen alright," Bending her legs she pushed off slamming against the other wall. "even if it's in traction." She could feel him go limb and howl in pain as he leg was bent in unnatural angle against her back. Free from his grip she stepped away from him allowing him to fall to the ground. "I didn't want to do that but even at half strength I could take you."

Panting vampyr grabbed his leg forcing it back into the proper angle he bit down on his rear molars. "I think we can play this game all day," Crouching down he shoulder tackled her against the wall. "Because I think we both want answers."

00oo00oo00

Forge frantically dug at the debris trying to get at Gregor. "Luz! Help me! We have to get Gregor out of there,"

Luz shook her head. "no,"

"please help!" Forge knocked away more of the small pieces only to find the larger ones to big to move. "Those things in there will tear him apart."

Putting her hand on his shoulder she pulled him away. "Gregor will be fine Forge, I only know him by reputation alone but, he has strength of spirit that could shatter mountains." She looked back at the unconscious bodies on the pallet ignoring the sudden rumblings. "We have to get these people out of here and make sure nothing happened to them that can't be undone."

Forge numbly nodded his head in understanding commanding the pallet to move ahead of them up the path. It was the sound of powerful engines that pulled them foreword out into the ever darkening evening. Hanging high in the sky was something truly colossal a quartet of powerful turbines roared keeping the aircraft carrier aloft. "Luz we're saved." Looking around he couldn't find her. "Luz?"

It wasn't long before Forge found himself inside a mess hall half heartedly eating. "I wonder what happened to them,"

"Who those agents you rescued?" Vampyr walked into the mess hall pushing something pink into his pocket. "From what I was told while I examined they should be fine. The creatures inside them where in early state of development so they could be removed. As for Rogue apparently when she touched Warbird she touched the hive mind and fried the one inside her Apparently Rogue also got some new powers."

Forge put down his bowl of beef stew. "It's not them though I am glad for them to be alive even though half of them are going to jail." Blowing out on the stew he continued. "I'm just worried about Gregor and Luz what ever happened to them."

"Did you say Gregor," Climbing onto the chair he looked at Forge. "You where in there with Gregor and you're still alive."

Forge looked at him rolling his spoon in the stew "What are you talking about?"

"It's story and I'd say we've got time before Fury drops us off." Closing his eyes he opened them again searching himself before beginning to tell what he knew about Gregor.