Uncanny New Mutants

Chapter 51: Payback Time- Part 2

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to Marvel.


Somewhere in Utah-

In an old decommissioned army base somewhere in Utah, the mutant-hating group known as The Right had set up shop. Once again, The Right was under the command of Cameron Hodge. The funny thing was that Hodge should have been dead. Several times over, as a matter of fact. The first time that Hodge 'died' was when a vengeful Archangel decapitated him with his metal wings. The second time was after a battle with the X-Men, X-Factor and the New Mutants. He was left buried under some collapsed buildings. The third, and most recent, time was when he ha become one with the Phalanx. He had seemingly perished when the would-be alien invaders' citadel was destroyed. Nobody knew why or how Hodge came to be alive once more. The Right didn't care, they were just happy to have a strong leader once more.

Unfortunately for The Right, the mutants that they were so intent on destroying were already aware of Hodge's return and had come to make sure that he stayed dead.

The techno-organic mutant known as Warlock had assumed the shape of a spider and was climbing up the side of one of the sentry towers surrounding the complex. It was his job to take out the guards so his team-mates could make their way inside and take Hodge out for good.

Warlock climbed over the edge of the sentry tower and crept up towards the two guards within.

'I wish that Hodge would hurry up with this new campaign of terror…' One of the guards grumbled impatiently, unconsciously tightening his grip on his assault rifle. 'While we're here sitting on our hands, all those damn muties are running free! I wanna take out some mutie scum already!'

'Hey, do you wanna get killed?' The other guard hissed. 'Cuz that's what'll happen if Hodge hears you. You're gonna get yourself killed if you're not careful.'

'I'd listen to your buddy if I were you…' Warlock advised the first guard as he returned to his normal form. The guards just stood there dumbstruck at the sight of the alien's sudden arrival.

'Oh, good.' Warlock smiled. 'You're too dumbstruck to raise the alarm. Which makes my job an awful lot better…'

Warlock then morphed his arms into giant knives and stabbed both guards through the chest.

'Well, that's the guards taken care of…' Warlock said as his arms returned to normal. 'Now I just have to wait for Amara and 'Berto's distraction…'


Later-

Amara and Roberto soon came through on their plan for a distraction, which mainly consisted of blowing up a truck with a magma blast. With that taken care of, the former New Mutants then proceeded to storm The Right's complex.

The Right weren't prepared for just a savage attack so soon after Hodge's return. The Right's goons had barely been able to grab their weapons before the team of mutants were upon them. No matter how well-armed The Right was, they were no match for the might of the X-Men!

'Ha! I Haven't had this much fun since I was one of Apocalypse's Horsemen!' Illyana laughed as she sliced and diced any goons that were stupid enough to try and stop her.

'Weren't you kind of evil back then?' Doug pointed out as he slammed one goon in the face with the butt of his rifle.

'Meh. Details.' Illyana shrugged as she ran another hapless goon through. 'I'm not going to get in trouble for this now, so it's all good.'

'Does anybody even know where Hodge is?' Roberto inquired as he tossed more goons about like rag dolls. 'Not that I'm not enjoying kicking the asses of these losers, but shouldn't we get this over and done with soon?'

'Ah'm sure that one of these goons will be happy enough to tell us all we know.' Sam reassured his teammate as he blasted through yet more goons, sending them scattering like dominos. 'That's if any of 'em are left alive to talk.'

'They would not have any mercy for us, Sam.' Amara pointed out. 'Neither will we have any mercy for them! It is kill or be killed.'

'Where's Rahne gotten to anyway?' Dani noticed as she threw one goon against the wall. 'Surely she'd want to be in on this fight too.'

'Come to think of it, where has Warlock gone?' Shan frowned as she kicked more goons in the gut.

'Maybe they've found out where Hodge has hidden himself.' Illyana suggested as she attempted to wipe away some blood that had splattered on her pristine white uniform. 'Damn. I knew I shouldn't have worn white. By the time this fight's finished, I'm going to look like I had an accident with a load of paint.'

'Well, ah guess that's the most of the goons taken out.' Sam breathed a sigh of relief as the last gun-toting bigot fell. 'Ah say that we go find Rahne and 'Lock before they get themselves into trouble that they can't get themselves out of…'


Meanwhile-

While the rest of the team took out the gun-toting goons, Rahne and Warlock were on the trail of Cameron Hodge himself. Warlock's sensors had detected Hodge's location as soon as the X-Men had entered the complex. The unusual thing was that he hadn't even made a move to escape, as you would have expected. Either Hodge had seriously overestimated the might of his goons, or he was waiting for Rahne and Warlock to walk straight in to a trap.

'Hodge is just at the end of this corridor, my love.' Warlock told his wife. 'Now, are you sure you don't want me to come in there with you? Taking Hodge down isn't going to be easy.'

'This is between me and Hodge.' Rahne responded. 'And I intend tae make sure that he stays dead this time.'

Warlock just nodded silently. Both he and his wife had history with Hodge dating back to when he had sequestered himself in Genosha and had attempted to execute the X-Men for being spies. Hodge had changed Rahne into a Mutate and Warlock had expended all of his life energy in an escape attempt.

The pair stopped by the door that would lead them in to the room that Hodge was hiding in.

'My sensors don't detect any traps or any other people hiding inside.' Warlock explained. 'Hodge is all alone.'

'Good.' Rahne nodded in understanding. 'You wait out here and let the others know what's going on, okay?' Warlock nodded in response.

'You be careful in there, okay?' Warlock asked. 'And give Hodge a kick in the head for me…'

TBC…


Next: Payback Time- Part 3

Rahne takes on Cameron Hodge. Two people enter, but only one shall leave. Which one will it be? Tune in next time to find out…