Author's Note – I do not own any of the characters, Marvel and DC do.
.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Praestantia
.
Apophis stood on the bow of the Praestantia, his body changing constantly as he switched between the forms of various energy-projectors. His attacks slashed outwards, targeting the flying heroes and military jets while Galatea flew through the swirl of combat, her eyes flashing red as she seared the wings off the planes before they could launch against the flying battleship. Suddenly, the Praestantia lurched, then started to slowly descend as the repulsorlift engines whined and groaned.
Apophis reached into his power, pulling at a DNA sample that he had acquired almost by accident and an instant later, he was in the form of his fellow-Horseman Magneto. Raising his hands, Apophis concentrated on reducing the rate that the craft was descending, when a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
*…morph…*
Apophis frowned, then tried to ignore the somehow-familiar whisper.
*…morph… listen…*
A sudden howl of rage caused him to look up just as Galatea slammed into the deck, leaving a large dent. An instant later, the fast-moving forms of Supergirl and Flamebird tackled her, slamming her off the helicarrier and below the deck level.
*…morph… listen to me… remember who you are…*
The slow creaking of the ship settling into the middle of the river briefly drowned out the mental voice, then it spoke again.
*…kevin sydney… morph… listen…*
Apophis grabbed at his head. "Who are you?"
*…a friend from the past… remember who you are… remember…*
Apophis shook his head as he shifted into a new form and started hurling water spears at the approaching forces.
"Who are you?!"
.
Charles frowned as he used Cerebro to reach into the mind of his former team-mate. As he traversed the mindscape of his former ally, he couldn't help but wince at the damage that had been done, the chains of hypnotic commands and the scars of psychological torture that had been inflicted upon the one once known as Morph.
*Morph, Kevin, listen to me.* He sent. *You are being controlled. I can free you. I can give you your life back. Please, trust me.*
.
Galatea finally managed to catch one of the punches thrown at her and with a snarl, she broke Firebird's arm, revelling in the scream of pain, then her vision seemed to flash as a powerful blow slammed into her cheek.
As Firebird plummeted, cradling her arm, Galatea spun to face her attacker, only to be sent flying backwards by a pair of feet hammering into her stomach.
"You know, I don't like fighting." Karsta Wor-Ul growled. "For you, though, I'll make an exception."
Galatea lunged forwards to meet Karsta's attack with one of her own.
.
Apophis rippled into a new form, that of a man covered in diamond plates. Swinging his fist, he sent the teenage girl with the blades flying off the side of the angled deck, then he jolted sideways, just managing to avoid the mast that had slammed down exactly where he had been standing.
*…kevin… listen to me… I can help you…*
At the other end of the mast was a young black-haired boy dressed in a leather jacket over a bodysuit. The boy shifted his grip before lifting the mast slightly and swinging it like a baseball bat, catching Apophis and catapulting him off the boat and onto the river-bank.
*…kevin… please listen... I can help you regain your memories…*
Apophis growled as he pulled himself out of the crater he had caused, then paused at the sight of the boy floating before him, the mast gripped in both hands.
"You hurt Laura." The boy growled and Apophis finally spotted the S-in-a-shield logo on the boy's jacket pocket.
"Superboy, you will make a fine servant for Lord Apocalypse."
Chris Kent snarled, then swung the mast again. This time, Apophis was prepared and he rippled into a new form, one that held the power to slice through anything that wasn't organic. The mast clanged as it fell and Superboy stared for a moment at the shortened length he still held even as Apophis rippled to a new form, one chosen for brute strength.
.
"Attention all agents." Fury snapped. "Xavier is attempting to engage Apophis mentally. Only engage Apophis if he attacks first!"
.
Galatea staggered back, gasping for breath as Karsta lay, barely conscious, at her feet, then a new voice sneered from behind her.
"Impressive. You took down a pacifist."
Galatea spun round, then froze as she saw her new adversary, a Kryptonian clad in the uniform of the Krypton Defense Fleet.
"Who… are…?"
"I am Zun-Dyal." The man stated. "Member of the Solar Defense Fleet."
"So what?" Galatea snarled, hurling herself forwards and unleashing a powerful uppercut. Zun simply slid to one side and deflected her strike, using it to swing her up and down, cratering the ground.
"So you should surrender." He stated and Galatea rose from the crater with a shriek of pure fury.
.
*Kevin, remember who you are!* Xavier broadcast. *Remember your friends. Sage, Wolverine, Banshee,Frost, Darwin… remember who you were, remember who you are!*
.
Apophis howled as he unleashed a barrage of spikes at his attacker. Chris simply brushed them away even as Apophis shifted forms and unleashed a wave of flame, but it failed to stop Superboy. Leaping backwards, Apophis shifted again, this time pulling up the power of an aerokinetic. Seizing control of the wind, he funneled it into a horizontal tornado and slammed it into his attacker, sending Superboy hurtling away.
*…you are morph… you are kevin sydney… remember who you are…*
.
Galatea flew away from her opponent, weaving in and out of the ariel combat as she tried to lose him. Although she had only taken a small amount of damage and was already healing due to the sun's rays, she had discovered that her adversary had the advantage due to his knowledge of fighting skills as opposed to her brawler-style technique.
As she flew, she glanced back, but failed to see…
The impact sent her spiraling downwards and she barely managed to turn her unexpected descent into a hard three-point landing.
"Impressive." Zun said as he descended into Galatea's field of view. "Speed, power, ferocity, but your weakness is your technique."
Galatea bared her teeth in a snarl, then hurled a handful of dirt into his face. As his hands rose to reflexively block the clods of soil, she accelerated hard, slamming into him and then arcing down to piledrive him into the ground, then she punched him in the head until he stopped moving.
"Hah." She gloated. "Once again, I win."
"You bad lady!"
Galatea froze, then she slowly straightened and turned.
"And who, exactly, are you?"
"I'm Squirrel Girl, and… stop laughing!"
"Squirrel Girl?" Galatea sneered. "What powers do you have? Let me guess, you turn small and fluffy."
Doreen glowered at the taller blond. "I took down Thanos."
Galatea paused. "Really? Even Lord Apocalypse regards him as a potential threat."
"Well, he's in stasis now." Doreen stated. "Now, you really should give up or I'll have to hurt you."
"Go ahead." Galatea laughed derisively. "Do your worst."
.
*…kevin… remember…*
Apophis yelled as he grabbed at his head.
"Get out of my mind!"
*…remember who you are…*
"I! Am! APOPHIS!" He screamed, then he froze as something inside him seemed to give way and a cascade of images passed through his thoughts.
Standing in a group of people, amusing himself by transforming into each of them, and then one of the ladies turned towards him.
"Show me how I'd look with long hair, please."
Changing his form slightly, he looked at her and she smiled, slightly adjusting her white cloak.
"Wow, I look really good like that."
"No! Who is she? What are these?" Apophis growled as he shook his head, trying to clear it.
"My name is Eric, but in the field, I go by Magneto." The smiling man said. "I am honoured to meet you all and look forwards to working with you."
"No!" Apophis protested as he dropped to his knees. "No, that isn't me!"
*…they are your memories, my friend…*
"Who! Are! YOU?!" Apophis screamed towards the sky.
The bald man in the wheelchair smiled in greeting as they filed into the large room.
"Good morning, and welcome." He said as they sat down. "Thank you for agreeing to join X-Force."
"It's good to work with another telepath." The dark-haired woman said, then she looked round. "I stand corrected, two other telepaths."
Morph looked at the other telepath, the a blond woman with incredible poise and then turned himself into a copy of her. She stared at him, then looked down.
"Well, I always knew I had great boobs, but seeing them like this just proves it."
Morph reverted to his base form, laughing.
Apophis lurched to his feet and staggered backwards. "Noooooo! What is happening to me?"
*…you are remembering who you were, who you are…*
Apophis dropped to one knee, then his eyes widened in recognition.
"Charles?"
*…yes, my friend?..*
"Please…" Morph whispered, his eyes filling with tears. "Help me…"
*…always, my friend… always…*
.
Galatea shook her head as she pulled herself out of the crater. Pausing only to pluck off and throw away the half-dozen squirrels still attached to her, she started to run away from her newfound nemesis. As she ran, she barged through the ground battle, uncaring of whether her blows sent her allies or enemies flying.
"Ooof!"
Galatea sprawled on the dirt as the titan she had collided with turned, briefly outlined by a purple flash from behind him.
"I know you…" He rumbled and Galatea felt her heart sink as she realised who she was facing.
"…Juggernaut."
Cain Marko nodded even as he flexed his fists. "You could always surrender, you know."
"Never!" Galatea shouted and Juggernaut shrugged, then unleashed a powerful jab that sent her hurtling backwards.
"Squirrel kick!"
Galatea screamed in pain as a pair of feet slammed into her back with a shattering impact, then she felt the controls on her mind, controls that she had not even realized were there, fall away. Even as she tried to adjust, a large hand grabbed her round the neck and slammed her face-first into the ground.
"Doreen! Get over here and remove that damned device from her!"
Galatea remained motionless as a set of claws ripped open the back of her jumpsuit, then there was a long pause before Squirrel Girl spoke.
"It looks… broken…"
"It is." Galatea whispered, her voice filled with relief. "I'm… free… For the first time… I'm free…"
Juggernaut slowly lifted her off the ground and placed her in a sitting position.
"I'm free…" Galatea repeated, her eyes filling with tears as her emotions whipsawed through her. "I… what do I do now? I've never been free before…"
Juggernaut and Squirrel Girl exchanged long looks, then Cain crouched beside the shell-shocked clone.
"You can join the Guardians until you know what to do." He offered. "You'll get food, quarters, good pay and whatever education you think you need."
"The Guardians?" Galatea repeated. "I… remember them… they… protect? Would they accept me?"
"Human, mutant meta-human, alien, clone… all are accepted." Marko agreed. "All we ask is that you are willing to stand between the innocent and those who would prey on them."
"But… I would still be free?"
"You would." Marko confirmed, then his hands darted out as Galatea collapsed.
"I think she fainted." Doreen observed.
.
Morph pulled himself to his feet and slowly looked around at the devastation.
"My god." He whispered. "What have I done?"
*It is not your fault, Morph.* Xavier's voice echoed in his mind. *You were controlled, programmed. I have broken you free, but you will need more help and unfortunately, my time is limited. I do not know how much help I can give.*
*Then it is fortunate that I can help.* A tart voice interrupted. *Welcome back, Morph.*
"Thank you, Sage." Morph whispered, knowing that the telepath could hear him.
*I'm contacting Fury now, he'll arrange transport for you." Sage said, then her mind-voice turned gentle. *Welcome back, brother of my heart. Welcome back.*