The Starr Chronicles
To soulstress: Hey there soulstress! Yeah, Althea told off Vincent, alright. But for some reason, I can imagine that Vince didn't quite completely get the whole message. I'm glad you're working on the next chapter of "Tempest". I can hardly wait to read it! I'm also glad that you liked the way Duncan got his butt whipped. Yeah, football players. They have one-track minds. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait to read the new chapter of 'Tempest'!
To Aaron: Hey there Aaron! Yes, Vince is obsessed with winning Althea, and her snapping at him may have made him more determined to win her over. You'll love the fight, and I'm glad you liked the scene with John's crank calling. I'm a Simpsons fan, and I needed something for John to do, so why not crank call? Enjoy the new chapter!
To todd fan: Hey there todd fan! I read your new stuff and I loved it! I'm glad you liked the little Simpsons tribute with John. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait to read more from you!
To Red Witch: Hey there Red Witch! I read your new stuff and I loved it! I'm glad you liked the last chapter, especially Al and Vince's talk and the Duncan and Kelly torture. Pyro's scene was really meant to be a Simpsons tribute, but they did take the bit from Steve Allen, so …I guess there's not any truly original stuff out there anymore, huh? Anyway, enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait to read more from you!
To Metal Dragon1: Hey there Metal Dragon! Yep, it's going to be Todd, wielding Roxor's mighty Cosmic Axe, versus Vincent James, who will be in the form of a giant robotic dinosaur that looks like Mecha-Godzilla gone punk rock. Let the brawl begin! I'm glad you liked the little scene with Pyro doing some crank calls. I also would not be surprised if the cheerleaders sent those dogs after Duncan, either. Will the Brotherhood have a house to come back home to? Find out! Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for the new chapter of 'Take the Long Way Home'!
To Raliena: Hey there Rae! Even though Althea doesn't live with the Joes in this universe, she still is quite a wily young woman. I am not surprised. I think of Althea as the type who wouldn't let herself be held back easily. She's very strong-willed. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter!
Disclaimer: "Hasta la vista, baby." - Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800, Terminator 2 (One. Awesome. Movie. Get it on DVD! It rocks!)
Chapter 36: Sneak Attack!
The Brotherhood House
"La la la la la la la…" Pyro happily sang in the kitchen. "Let's see what's cookin' in the oven…" He said in a sing-song voice. He pulled down the oven lid and pulled out what appeared to be one very big roasted duck. One could hear the small TV in the kitchen (Pyro brought it himself), blaring out "Iron Chef America". "Ah yes, me roast duck a la flambé is almost ready!" The crazed pyromaniac grinned to meself. He checked his watch. "Great. Just in time. Now to add…" He struck a dynamic pose. "THE SECRET INGEDIENT! Once I add this, the roast duck a la Allerdyce will be completed. Those X-Men will love this culinary masterpiece." What people didn't realize that even thought John was crazy and he like burning stuff, he was actually a pretty nice guy, and he liked hanging with friends as much as he loved writing novels and burning things and playing drums. John picked up the secret ingredient. "Let's add it!" He poured pineapple-flavored lighter fluid (He made it. Don't ask) all over the turkey, and lit a match. The turkey was on fire. "Oh yeah! WHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!"
The Brotherhood's hotel suite, Miami, Florida
A flash of light erupted suddenly in the middle of the suite's living room. When the light went away, one could see Todd Tolensky and Lila Cheney. Todd was known as the Toad for his frog-like mutation. Lila was a mutant with the power to teleport across space. She didn't have a codename because it was difficult thinking up a codename for an interstellar teleporter. Todd rushed toward his suitcase, threw it open, and started tossing out clothes and things left and right.
"Uhm, pardon me for asking a stupid question Toady, but why exactly did you bring the Cosmic Axe with you?" Lila blinked. "I doubt that anyone except the X-Nerds even knows of the powers the Cosmic Axe allows."
"Tell that to Bayville's Aldermen." Todd replied, remembering Roxor's attack. "Besides, it's too dangerous leaving the Axe lying around the Brotherhood House. Especially if Quickie finds it." Lila's face paled.
"Dear God, you're right." Lila gulped. "Quickie with the Axe is a bad thing. Very Bad."
MiamiFlorida
"Okay okay, so let me get this straight." Shipwreck groaned. He pointed at the X-Men. "You guys are the X-Men, dedicated to bringing about peace between mutants and humans. And they include this angel here." Shipwreck grinned at Storm. Storm rolled her eyes.
"Got it in one, Sinbad." Logan smirked. Shipwreck pointed at the Brotherhood. "And you guys are the Brotherhood. You want to start war between the mutants and the humans."
"Actually, we're not really interested in that anymore." Lance quipped with a grin. "Now we're more interested in driving the X-Geeks crazy."
"Yeah, Shipwreck." Fred nodded. "Here's the thing. You're human."
"Last time I checked." Shipwreck crossed his arms.
"You kids are all mutants." Fred blinked. "How come you don't act all hateful towards them?"
"When Althea got her powers, she didn't wake up one day and say 'I have powers. I know, I'll go destroy the world and everything in it because I can'. I've watched them grow up, and I helped make those kids into what they are today. When Althea got her powers, she didn't suddenly turn into a homicidal maniac. She was still Althea. Besides, she could breathe in water and air since the day she was born. The water powers only came later on. My kids are good kids. They all have X-Genes. I fear for my son. Unlike Al and the Triplets, he can't pass for human. His life is going to be so difficult. But I'm not going to make it more difficult for him by not being there when he needs me to back him up. He's already going to have to face a lot of monsters and demons in his life. I'm not going to be one of those demons." Shipwreck said simply. "He had lost one parent through no fault of his own. I'm not going to leave him behind." The Brotherhood definitely were amazed. So were the X-Men.
"Wow…" Sam breathed out.
"Touching, mate. Very touching." A certain English-accented voice complimented sardonically. The X-Men and Brotherhood turned around and saw Vincent walk up to them, clapping his hands. "I think I shared a bloody tear."
"What do you want, James!" Shipwreck snarled.
"Besides your hot daughter, not a lot." Vincent smirked. "And you all are going to help me get her."
"WHERE IS SHE!" Shipwreck roared.
"We'll never help you with anything, you-" Scott was interrupted by Vincent whipping out a device that looked like a remote from his jacket and blasting the X-Men, Shipwreck, and the Brotherhood with a pink beam from the remote-like device.
A warehouse in Miami
"Hmph! I think Vince is losing it in more than one aspect." Althea grumbled as she freed herself of her bonds. "Oh God! He's going to go after Todd and the guys! I've got to find them!" She quickly threw the rope off her and raced out of the warehouse.
Bayville Museum
Duncan Matthews was in the museum, looking up at a skeleton of Tyrannosaurus Rex.
"I don't get it. What was so great about these things?" Duncan blinked. A Rottweiler snuck up behind the hapless jock and bit him in the butt. "YEOW!" Duncan leapt up and forward into the air. He crashed into the skeleton, causing it to collapse around him. "AAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Bayville Zoo
"Are you sure this is safe?" Principal Kelly queried nervously as he held his hand out to a duck. The hand was full of feed.
"Relax, Mr. Kelly." A zookeeper chuckled. "Ducks are very gentle creatures. They are harmless."
"Oh, okay." Kelly smiled. The duck moved to bite some feed, but missed and bit Kelly's finger. "OW!" Kelly jerked his hand up, hitting his face with feed, and some got in his mouth. "Eugh!" A gaggle of ducks jumped on Kelly's head and started pecking at Kelly's face. "AAAAAAAAAGH!"
Well, well, well! Looks like our heroes are in big trouble! What insanity will happen next? What did Vince do to the X-Men, Brotherhood, and Shipwreck? Will the Cosmic Axe play a role? What's going on with Althea? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!