Mutant Generation Force
Issue #37 – X-Force – Part One
Arizona Desert
Deep within the canyons
"We've been at this far too long now. Face it guys, Shadow Nova and her crew are gone," Meltdown said as she chomped her gum.
"No, their out there and we must find them. The possibility of the Shadow King and Cassandra Nova out there together is too great a risk. We have to find them and make sure the threat is eliminated," Cable said as he moved his team slowing through the sand and rocks.
"She's just mad that she's stuck here while Warpath is off running around with Sam and the others," Bedlam teased as he dodged an exploding bomb from Tabitha.
"That's enough you guys before you alert them and the whole state to our presence," Domino said as she gave them the look that said she was not afraid to shoot them to quiet them.
"Caliban, you picking up anything?" Cable asked as he looked at the white skinned mutant and then at the rest of X-Force.
After a big show down with Cassandra Nova, the Shadow King and their accomplices, something unforeseen had ended up causing Cassandra Nova, Shadow King and Gaia to be killed and merged into a new being called Shadow Nova. The being looked like Gaia but was bald and had pure blackness for pupils. It was clear that there was nothing left of the three mutants and that Shadow Nova was a completely different entity. The being also appeared to be powerless but Cable had sensed something that made him feel it was worth double checking. Unfortunately Shadow Nova, with the help of Sparkles, Giant Dragon, Purge and Broadband had escaped. Cable decided it was important to assemble his team and hunt them down.
His current friend and personal documenter, Irene Merryweather sat with his best friend from the future, Blaquesmith in cables secret safe house running communications and ops for him and his team. He relied on his old friend deeply. After their battle with Cassandra Nova and the Shadow King and then the Demon Storm, Cable had taken a great setback that no one knew about but Blaquesmith. His techno virus had gone out of control and now cable had to use every ounce of his tek powers to keep it in check rendering him unable to use his powers anymore. After the Demon Storm and the death of his sister, Marvel Girl, his mental powers were for some reason diminished to almost nothing. Thanks to Blaquesmith and his telepathic powers, Cable had enough to act as a medium and channel and use his old friend's powers making it seem like to others he still had them. Cable couldn't afford to look weak in front of his team.
X-Force consisted of nine members. His long time friend and ally that he trusted almost as much as Blaquesmith was Domino and she was his second in command. Also on his team was his daughter that had come back from the future to kill him but then had a change of heart. Tosha Dayspring still blamed him for everything that went wrong and the death of her mother, but the wounds were slowly healing and Cable was doing his best to build a relationship with his daughter and not risk the fate that had befallen him and his now deceased son, Tyler. He would do everything he could to protect her and not fail her. It would be tough with this band of mutants to lead.
Luckily, or unluckily depending on how you looked at it, he had some old X-Force veterans on his team. He had Shatterstar, a fierce warrior from an alternate dimension called Mojoverse, the same as Longshot but Shatterstar actually is from the future as well. Even though it has not been proven and it is never discussed, there is a small possibility that Shatterstar is Longshot's son. Also on the team was the former Morlock tracker Caliban, the wild and explosive Meltdown and Warpath, who was currently off elsewhere at the moment. There were three other members to his team, one X-Force ally and two brand new additions.
Jesse the mutant known as Bedlam had teamed up and assisted X-Force for awhile and had eventually become a full time member. Cable wasn't so sure how much he trusted or liked him but if the others vouched for him then he would give him a chance. The last two newest members had proven to be quite the power houses and assets to his team. Shola Inkuse not only had telekinesis powers that almost matched his daughters, but also had limited telepathy as well. The last was something else entirely. Karima Shapandar was a human that was transformed into a Sentinel by Bastion using nanite technology. Luckily, Karima's programming had been disabled and she gained complete control of her body, mind and freewill as well as the powers her sentinel changed body was equipped with. She now calls herself Omega Sentinel and stands to fight for the side of good and mutant kind. Cable liked her and valued her firepower, but he was also prepared to do what was necessary if her old programming were to ever come back.
"There are mutants up there," Caliban said as he pointed up at a ledge leading into a cave.
"How many?" Domino asked.
"Can't tell, but know their in there," Caliban answered.
"I can't get a clear mental reading either," Cable said after receiving confirmation from Blaquesmith.
"Whatever's in there it's blocking my telepathy as well," Shola added.
"I say we just charge in there," Shatterstar said as he drew out his two blades.
"Or just seal them away in there," Meltdown said with a smile as she started to create one of her bombs in her hands.
"I am getting six body signatures inside," Omega Sentinel said as her eyes flared a strange color.
"Die!" A large red dragon screamed as it flew out of the cave and dove right at them breathing fire.
"Is that the best they can do?" Tosha asked as she threw up a tek shield that deflected the fire and then used her powers to propel herself into the air and pulling out two guns and opening fire.
"Daughter like father," Domino smirked as she opened fire on Giant Dragon while only getting a disapproving grunt from Cable.
"Take them out quick," Sparkles said as she, Purge and Broadband appeared in front of them.
"Purge is mine," Shatterstar said as he flipped into the air and engaged the mutant.
"You're not much of a threat," Bedlam said as he sent an electronic wave pulse at Broadband.
"I have learned much in my time," Broadband said with a smile.
Having the ability to receive and send transmissions she was now using her ability to receive and absorb Bedlam's wave pulse. She then turned her face in to a monitor and altered the wave and sent a transmission back out at Bedlam. The transmission caused a loud feedback that brought Bedlam to his knees, cuffing his ears in pain. Shola turned and called on all his might as he grabbed Broadband with his telekinesis and sent her flying hard against the side of the rocks with enough force to knock her out and end her transmissions.
"Thanks, dude," Bedlam said as he got up and wiped the small drops of blood form his ears.
"Let's even the playing field a bit," Sparkles said as she concentrated with her powers causing sparkling lights to shoot out and make all of Cable, Tosha, Domino and Shatterstar's weapons to vanish from sight.
"Not so tough without your swords huh?" Purge said as he landed a punch onto a now weaponless Shatterstar.
"Some of us don't need guns," Meltdown said as she sent two large glowing spheres at Purge.
"What?" Purge asked as he caught both of the spheres in his hands
"Boom!" Meltdown said as she made a gun motion with her fingers causing the both spheres to explode and send Purge flying back in pain.
"Now for the dragon," Omega Sentinel said as she lifted into the air
Her arms and body began to shift as two large weapons appeared on both side of her body. With a flash the weapons went off sending to pulse blasts at the large dragon. The dragon roared as the blasts hit him and caused it to slam to the ground. When the smoke cleared they all saw that the dragon was gone and in its place were the two figures of Tim and Tom. Tosha and Shola each took a twin and held them away from each other. Cable nodded with pride as his team had made short work of the mutants.
"Looks like I better send some of them into the sun," Sparkles said as raised up her hands.
"I don't think so girly. You see, I have the gift of things working out for me so I'm betting that I can throw this knife and land it between your eyes before you can even make a pretty sparkly," Domino said as Sparkles turned to see the mutant a few feet from her crouched and holding a very large knife.
"Well done, X-Force. It seems you've finally found me," a figure said coming out of the cave.
"Shadow Nova," Cable said as they all looked up to see a woman step out wearing a black leather outfit with a bright yellow robe draped over her body. She looked just like Gaia, but she had no hair and her eyes were black as night.
"Cable, I may be newly born into this world but I do hold the memories of deep hatred for you and all the X-Men. I may not remember you, but I do know I loath you. Why are you here?" Shadow Nova asked with no emotion showing.
"You had vanished so suddenly that we thought we would come pay a visit to see how you and your mutant traitors were faring," Cable said as he mentally coached his team into position.
"I think you're hear to see if Shadow King or Cassandra Nova still exist and weather or not I have powers," Shadow Nova said with a smile as the darkness seemed to come out from her eyes and suddenly cast them all in a dark shadow.
"Blaquesmith, you there?" Cable asked out loud and mentally to only get nothing but quiet static.
"My telekinesis and telepathy's out," Shola said as Tosha confirmed she could no longer use her powers as well.
"It seems the shadow somehow blocks the ability to use any psi based powers," Cable said with fear not against the bald woman but the fact he could feel the virus starting to stir within him as his tek hold n it began to fade.
"To answer your questions, yes Shadow King, Gaia and Cassandra Nova are dead and forever gone but I am far from powerless," Shadow Nova said as the darkness in her eyes flashed.
"Watch out," Domino shouted as large shadows came out of the darkness around them and began to attack and restrain them.
The Secret Mutants
Family Heritage – Part Two
San Diego, California
Home of Steve Connors
"So you were adopted?" Theresa asked as Steve got them cold sodas from the kitchen while Sam looked around the living room.
"Yes, my adoptive parents couldn't have children of their own. I wish I had pictures of them to show you, Sam, but everything was destroyed in the fire. I have nothing left of my life with them but my own memories," Steve said as he came back into the living room and handed them all their drinks.
"Thanks," Mona said as she watched how nervous and uncomfortable Sam was.
"I appreciate you letting us in even though I'm not really sure they were my parents or not," Sam said as he took a sip of his soda.
"So what makes you think you're adopted? Did your parents tell you?" Steve asked as he glanced over at Mona and smiled at her causing her to blush a little.
"Actually my parents never said anything to me. Up until recently I had no reason to believe I was anything but their blood son," Sam said not sure how he could explain this all.
"I can sense your hiding something but afraid to talk about it. It's okay, I'm a mutant just like the three of you," Steve said as all three guests immediately made eye contact with him.
"How did you know?" Theresa asked as she moved next to Sam and Mona.
"It's my mutant gift. I somehow sense and read energy around a person. It's how I can tell if a person is telling a lie, or feeling a certain emotion or even if they having something in them like a sickness or even the mutant gene," Steve said as he gave them all a smile to try and put their worries to rest.
"Yes, we are mutants and work with a team called the X-Men," Sam said as he, with the help of Mona told Steve all about them, the X-Men and finding out about the Secret Mutants and being inserted into new lives. That even though he didn't have the memories like some of the others he supposedly lived with the Connors before being taken by Xavier.
"Well, your not crazy, Sam. I can see and sense the energy around all of you making your tale true. You know, this makes sense, my imaginary friend being named Sam. If you were inserted into a new life, your time at the Orphanage was erased but my mutant power still allowed me to see and sense your energy so you and me becoming friends became me having an pretend friend," Steve said with the excitement of someone being reunited with a long lost friend.
"I may not have my memories but I do feel a strange connection to you," Sam said scratching his head.
"Well, Sam, if this is all true, not only were you two friends at the Orphanage but if the Connors were both of your parents, real, foster or adoptive, you two are in a sense brothers in some form," Theresa said trying to lighten the mood with a little teasing.
"You know she's got a point there," Mona said as Theresa rolled her eyes.
"Well, I guess the only way to figure out how I truly fit into all this is to visit the Orphanage. Any idea what the name was or where it's located at?" Sam asked.
"No I don't. I don't remember much of the Orphanage, just that I was there with my imaginary friend till the Connors came and with great relief adopted me and got me out of there. My powers didn't emerge till I was thirteen and even then I kept it secret and didn't know what they were. I spent a lot of time in high school and then college studying and researching what I was.
"It was before I graduated from high school and went off to college that I had asked my parents about the Orphanage and my real parents but all my father said that last he knew it had been burnt down and rebuilt since I was there. Any records of my real parents had never been given to them and were now lost from the fire. With my powers I sensed the truth in that statement and never pursued it since," Steve explained.
"Well, it looks like the key to both of your pasts lies with the identity and location of this Orphanage. But how do we find this out if you don't have the information and anything your parents may have had went up with the house?" Mona said as Theresa glanced out the window.
"You think we should call the others down here out of the open?" Theresa asked hoping that Slash hadn't killed anyone or vice versa.
"I have pretty nosey neighbors. You might all be safer if they stayed out of sight," Steve said as Theresa closed the curtain when she saw two different sets of neighbors staring at her from their windows.
"I think it might be best to keep them up there for now too," Sam said thinking it might be a good idea to introduce Steve to the man who killed his parents.
"So everything was destroyed here in the fire? There wasn't a safe deposit box or a secret compartment here in the house that might have survived the fire?" Mona asked as she looked around.
"There was no box and the whole place was ruined and I had it rebuilt. I, wait a minute," Steve said as he went running off and a few seconds later came back in with a laptop.
"Before I received word of my father and mother's death in the fire I received an e-mail from my father. When I tried to open it, it looked encrypted or damaged. I couldn't read anything in it whatsoever but there was a photo attached to it that I couldn't get to open so I copied the whole thing to a thumbie before deleting it," Steve said as he pulled out the flash drive from his pocket and plugged it into the computer.
"Let me take a look at that," Mona said as she opened up the file and looked at it.
It was very encrypted and unreadable but Mona was betting it was a letter from his father giving some information in the event of his death. She saw one part that she would bet anything was a list of addresses by the way it was formatted. She and Sam both figured that they could probably break the encryption with their computer system back at the mansion. As for the attached picture, she was knew why it wouldn't open. Somehow, it was a series of photos that had been merged together. Sometimes that can happen when sending an encrypted file through an unsecure server to a basic e-mail that can't handle it. She told them she would do her best to try and get it to open someway or another.
"You think its addresses to the Orphanage?" Theresa asked Sam.
"I don't know. How much do you know about your dad's business dealings?" Sam asked thinking once again about what their father had stolen and then killed for.
"Well, I claim to know my dad and his associates, but I guess I did sense that he was hiding something but dismissed it. He was my dad, he didn't ever do anything wrong. He was always there for me," Steve said as he looked at Sam sensing a strange aura from him as if there was something Sam wasn't telling him but for some reason when he pushed his powers on his Sam, they seemed to fizz out.
"Wait, something's happening. I think I'm getting an image from the photo file," Mona said as a very blurry image came up.
"Can't even make it out. Looks maybe like a building. Recognize it, Steve?" Sam asked.
"Not really," Steve said staring at the image.
"Maybe I can do a cross reference and bingo," Mona said as she quickly searched the internet and found an image that came real close to looking like their blurry image.
"That's the Orphanage, rebuilt," Steve said as he looked to Sam.
"Well, from the address and image from the internet I can take us there," Mona said as Steve put the flash drive back in his pocket and they all joined hands and vanished under the power of Mona.
Epilogue
"Very interesting," Romulus said as he watched the conversation between Steve and his guests and then scratched his chin as they vanished from the house.
"What is that my master?" The fury animal-like man asked.
"This is why I let Slash hook up with them. I learned a lot today and it's rare for Romulus not to know things. So it seems Xavier was active in trying to find and hide these children for some reason and it all backfired on him when this Moira inserted them all into new lives and erasing their past ones. Pretty well hidden between the acts of both Moira and Benjamin's powers and they call me evil," Romulus sneered.
"So that is what happened to you finding Slash and that weird smell about him. You originally never knew of him and he was raised by someone else and then he was reinserted into a new life and this time you found him," the fury servant stated out loud.
"Yes, and I have this feeling he may have been recruiting the children for a more specific reason now. It also makes me wonder about the rest of my Totems and if ol' Ben knows more about all of them as well," Romulus said.
"But I thought all the Totems had been destroyed?" The fury servant asked.
"So I thought until Conner found a missing piece and I discovered this Secret Mutant agenda of Xavier's. Looks like after we all went our separate ways and altered our memories, we should have known that the one not to trust would have been Ben," Romulus said as he felt the pain at his temples from trying to access thoughts and memories of things that he shouldn't know about or just couldn't pull up but wanted to.
"Why did you hack in to the laptop and send them that photo of the Orphanage? Don't you have what you need? Don't you risk loosing Slash with his new memories and the longer he stays with them?" The fury one asked.
"Actually, the Orphanage they speak of used to belong to an old associate of mine. I need to see how this plays out and learn all I can of Xavier's Secret Mutants and Slash's ties to them. Also, I believe that devise Conner possesses may contain the location of the remaining pieces of my Totem. So I will let him infiltrate the X-Men and obtain the information I need from Conner's sons. Then when I have what I need, Slash will kill them all and I will have my Totem," Romulus said with a smile.
"So what is the story of the Totems? Where did they come from and why did you destroy them?" The Fury one asked.
"There's a lot about that story that was erased. I just know about the Totems, what they could do and that my associates and I got rid of them along with the knowledge," Romulus whispered in answer at wishing he could remember more.
"Who were your associates? Maybe they could help?" The fury one asked.
"You have a lot of questions and knowledge for only a servant. Here I actually liked your company," Romulus said as he jumped up, extended two claws from under his arms that shot out, up and over his hands on each side and quickly decapitating his fury servant.
"Master?" Another animal looking man asked racing into the room at the commotion.
"Clean this up and dispose of the body properly," Romulus said leaving the room hating spies as much as being reminded by others of things he does not know.
Next: Issue #38 – X-Force – Part Two & Secret Mutants: Family Heritage – Part Three