Things are taking some turns in this adventure, folks! On the top we got Spidey, Kitty and Wade bringing the fight directly to Sauron, but they have to deal with one last obstacle: His new Royal Guard. On the bottom, the Royal Guard had a huge headache with the enhanced Itsy Bitsy but fortunately for them, Elsa Bloodstone has joined the fray!
However…Sauron's minions have just breached into Krakoa, so the mutants are about to discover how things have changed in their mission against Sauron, so let's jump into the action!
Enjoy the reading!
SPIDER-MAN AND KITTY PRYDE: ROYAL PAINS
Chapter 13: IntervenXion, Part 1 – Knock, Knock!
A normal day marches in the mutant nation of Krakoa, and even X-Force finds an unusual calm in their mission log. The only pending mission is the Sauron case, which they put on hold at Wolverine's request as he allowed Spider-Man and Kitty Pryde to attempt a diplomatic solution, but they are not aware of how things are going down in Staten Island about that case, and they are about to find out as soon as the Gargoyle Monsters that Sauron sent enter the Krakoan Gate and gain access to the nation.
Sage is the one who keeps an eye on the traffic through the gates, making sure that everyone who steps out of the nation is registered and everyone who gets in is truly a mutant, but she starts to be alert when she detects an unusual entering through the Washington Square Krakoan Gate.
"This is odd…" Sage mutters while she keeps on checking the database, just as fellow mutant Cypher walks in.
"Anything wrong, Sage?" Cypher asks while she keeps her eyes on the screens.
"I've just received the notification that Jelby walked into the island but…I have no record of Jelby leaving" Sage replies "Hell, there's a repeated entry of Jelby, so that means…" she shifts the cameras to the ones set on the gates, only to discover the reason of the anomaly "Oh #$%&!" she then issues an alert to The Pointe and calls through the telepathic comms "Intruder Alert! We have Intruders on the island! Non-Identified Creatures have breached through one of the New York gates!" she warns the island, prompting a group of assorted mutants to stand up and head to the gate.
"RRAAAARRGGGHH!" the lead gargoyle roars announcing the arrival of the 'Six-Pack' crew of monsters from Staten Island, three of them begin to fly while the other three run through the fields searching for anyone to wreak havoc.
The first flier heads towards a highly populated area of young mutants, some of them try to take cover while others simply try their best to build up some defense. The gargoyle tries to swat a few as it flies down at them but he is suddenly caught in a pair of metallic rings that tighten around him, blocking his wings and dropping him down to the ground.
"Whoever the #$%& you are, you made a huge mistake coming around here" Polaris, emerges as she moves her hands to manipulate the metallic rings, tightening them around him, but the gargoyle fires an energy breath from his mouth towards her, distracting her long enough to cut her concentration and allow him to break the rings with his strength.
"DIE!" the gargoyle screams at her, but before he rushes at her, he feels a slashing blade on his back, causing him to tumble. He turns around and growls at the perpetrator, a female ninja in a dark blue leotard with a red belt holding a katana in her hands.
"You are an intruder to Krakoa, and since Krakoa's laws do not apply to you, you'll meet your end here" Kwannon, now adopting the codename of Psylocke, threatens him, but she only gets another growl response "Suit yourself" she replies, rushing towards him and ready to slash her katana again, but the gargoyle blocks it with his claws.
Polaris tries to use the rings again but Kwannon glares at her while she keeps fighting him, signaling her that she does not want her interference.
"That guy's too big for you to handle it alone!" Polaris exclaims while she moves the rings, but the gargoyle dodges it and fires another energy breath at her, however, before he could strike again, he receives a couple of shots from his side, revealing another entrant into the battle.
"Eat lead, #$%&+!" Domino exclaims as she fires at him, looking at Kwannon and Polaris "Yeah, yeah, I barged in, you can scold me later" she tells them and then looks back at the gargoyle "for all that I care about being scolded" she mutters while she fires at the creature, causing him to stumble "Hit it, Lorna!" she calls for her to strike.
Polaris makes her move transforming the metallic rings into cuffs that bind the gargoyle and lock him down to the floor, causing him to writhe as he tries to break the hold again.
"Now's a good time to do your thing" Polaris tells Kwannon to strike, to which she does, running towards the creature and slash his chest twice, leaving an X-shaped scar and causing him to scream in pain, a scream that is silenced by Domino who fires her gun at him, shooting at his head to put it down.
"You think he's dead?" Kwannon asks Domino as she puts her gun back to its holster.
"Considering these types, doubt it" Domino replies while she approaches the creature "But it's down, hopefully long enough to give him a stronger lock" she looks at Polaris, sighing after dealing with one of the creatures "I hope the rest of the guys can handle the other ones" she muses, hoping that the other creatures are contained.
WITH GARGOYLE #2
Another gargoyle begins to run deep into the woods of the island, and while Krakoa itself is fighting back, the creature slashes his claws breaking vines and twigs, shredding bushes and knocking down trees on its path, searching for someone to obliterate.
"Hey!" a child-like voice catches his attention, making the creature lift his sight to a tall tree where a small silhouette appears "You're a big meanie! Wanna see what we do to big meanies around here?" she speaks with a slightly menacing voice at him.
"RRRGHH!" the gargoyle growls at the silhouette, striking at the tree to bring it down with the child, but in response, the silhouette jumps down, unsheathing small claws as her identity is revealed.
"RRRAAAAAARRGGGHHH!" the young Gabby Kinney, also known as Scout, slashes her claws at the gargoyle's arms, trying to stab at him with quick moves, but due to the size comparison she barely makes some damage at him, so in response the creature grabs her by the neck and throws her at another tree "UGHN!" Gabby groans in pain as she hits the tree and the gargoyle stares at her, but before he could make his move, he feels a sudden slash on his back, hurting him and going deeper with another strike. The creature turns his sights and discovers a bare-chested man with brown pants, unsheathing his claws as he looks at the creature.
"Get off my sister, you #$%&+*%#& idiot!" Daken appears to assist his sister in the assault, jumping towards a tree to boost forward and strike from above, slashing one of his shoulders while he lands and stabs one of his sides, allowing Gabby enough time to recover and rush to him.
"Thanks for the assist" Gabby comments while she tackles the gargoyle's right leg, stabbing it repeatedly, but the gargoyle kicks her away and then pushes Daken off of him, holding his wound while he looks at them with rage in his eyes.
"RRAAAAARRRRGGHH!" another growl is heard and right then, the creature feels his wings being stabbed from behind "Seems you met my kids, Bub" Wolverine mutters while he raises his claws "Consider it the last thing you'll ever see" he adds while stabbing his head, effectively killing it.
"And that's how we do things in family!" Gabby quips at the fallen monster while Daken and Wolverine stand on each side of the fallen body.
WITH GARGOYLE #3
One of the gargoyles flies overhead, heading towards the Akademos Habitat where a group of younger mutants is gathered, plunging at them with open claws but before he could reach them, a portal opens right in front of him, flying towards it and entering a whole different realm.
"If you want to hurt them…then you deserve to stay here" a voice catches his attention, discovering a young blonde girl with a Russian accent and holding a bright sword in her hand, revealed to be Magik, one of Krakoa's Great Captains and also ruler of Limbo "And now you'll know who rules this place" she adds, running towards the creature as she wields her Soulsword.
The gargoyle tries to swing his claws at her but she dodges his moves and strikes with her Soulsword, boosted with magic energy to double the damage at him and then slashes his chest leaving an X-mark as a scar, then she opens another of her portals behind him, then she rushes towards him and tackles the creature pushing him outside to be on the receiving end of a large metallic man who holds him by the waist and pulls him to slam him down the ground in a suplex.
"You tried to hurt children…you need to be punished" the large Russian man is revealed as Colossus, Magik's brother and 'Member-In-Probation' of X-Force. He grabs the gargoyle and lifts him above his head, spinning him around to grab his neck and slam him with a cutter drop. The gargoyle tries to stand up again, but now he is caught by several vines made of water, holding him on the ground "You OK, Kayla?" he asks his girlfriend Kayla, a hydrokinetic mutant who helped Colossus readapt after being resurrected in Krakoa.
"I can handle it" Kayla gently replies, holding him long enough for Magik, who emerges from the ground through another of her portals and steps forward the creature, stabbing his chest with her Soulsword and enough magic energy to leave him deeply hurt and knocked down "Was that really necessary?" the young mutant asks with an upset tone on her voice.
"He is unconscious, he'll be OK" Colossus replies to Kayla, calming her down "He is alive, is he?" he asks his sister, who nods her head in response.
"Couldn't kill him, these things seem to be as resilient as the creatures of Limbo" Magik replies "Besides, I think your new friends might want to take a shot at interrogation" she comments to her brother, knowing about his recent recruitment into X-Force.
"It's temporary" Colossus replies "I promised to put it to the test" he adds, looking at Kayla who looks concerned about his new duties with X-Force "But yes, Beast and Sage might need to interrogate him, and let's hope the other ones are contained" he comments, hoping that the other creatures meet the same result.
WITH GARGOYLE #4
Another of the creatures rushes deep into the woods, walking into the open until it reaches the Hellfire Bay, right between Blackstone and the Red Keep, but suddenly the creature is caught by a constant barrage of vines that holds his arms and legs, forcing him to growl and roar in anger.
"RRRRGGGGHHHH!" the gargoyle growls as it struggles to get released.
"Ye can fight all ye want but ye can't get loose of us, lad!" the thick Irish brogue of Black Tom Cassidy is heard, the man charged with the island's security and also a member of X-Force steps in moving his hands to manipulate the vines "You incurred the wrath of Krakoa and that means you pissed me off, ye #$%&+!" he exclaims while he tightens the grip of the vines, with the gargoyle firing his energy breath at him, causing him to lose the concentration and loose the ties.
"DIE!" the gargoyle screams at him while he cuts off the vines but he starts to take shots from one of his sides. When he turns his sight, he discovers a man clad in red holding an energy rifle, firing repeatedly at him.
"You finally show up, Bishop!" Black Tom exclaims, thankful yet complaining at how long it took for him to appear.
"Sure, because he landed on such a short distance from the Red Keep" Bishop replies sarcastically while he keeps shooting at him while Black Tom brings back the restraints. The gargoyle roars and growls at him, taking the shots fired at him until he falls to its knees and right then Black Tom holds him by the neck, asphyxiating him to the point where he loses consciousness and falls down to the floor.
"That should do it" Black Tom sighs "Sage, we already brought down one'a da big monsters, Krakoa's done fer now, lass" he communicates to Sage through their psychic link "Now, where da #$%& did these things came from?" he throws the question and then looks at Bishop as if he tries to get the answer from him.
"Don't look at me like that, I'm wondering the same #$%& as you do" Bishop replies, looking around to ensure that the zone is clear.
WITH GARGOYLE #5
"You have to be #$%&+*&$ kidding me!" the young woman Hisako Ichiki, also known as Armor, complains while she fights against one of the gargoyles in a duel of strength, her armor matching his rival in size, yet it seems to be a stalemate until the gargoyle pushes her off and fires his energy breath at her to push her further away. The beam causes a few of the plants around the place to catch fire, and that is taken advantage by a certain member of the Marauders who can manipulate fire.
"OY!" the pyrokinetic mutant Pyro calls the gargoyle's attention and right then he fires a pair of fireballs at him "How about you face someone of a bigger caliber" he smugly quips at him, fully attracting his attention to lure him away.
He runs past Armor, luring him with a couple of flames in his hands, and once he reaches an open field, he quickly turns and fires a larger barrage of fire at him, bathing him in flames, but much to his surprise, the creature holds the heat and rushes at him, tackling him to bring the mutant down and pummel him to the floor. Armor jumps behind him and grab him to toss him down, trying to repeat the process again until the creature blocks her and turns the tables at her.
"Damn it!" Armor exclaims after the creature slams her to the ground, rolling to avoid his claws and running towards Pyro to help him back up "Come on Pyro, we have to hold on" she tells him, trying to re-boost her energy and recover but the creature walks towards them menacingly.
"Man…I always hoped that I would get laid before I die…" Pyro comments, much to Armor's disgust.
"Seriously? Are you hitting on me!?" Armor complains "Not only you're way older than me, you're so not my type" she scolds him.
"I'm not hitting on you! Although there's no law against it in this island, but still!" Pyro tries to defend himself but then he turns his sights at the creature and notices something "Hey, Hey, HEY!" he calls for Armor's attention "Is it me or that creature is paralyzed?" she asks her, prompting her to see the same thing he does, and in reaction she walks towards the creature and moves her hand in front of his face.
"He is paralyzed" Armor replies "How…?"
"I'm starting to think these guys really have the brain the size of a pea" Quentin Quire walks behind the creature as he concentrates, revealing that he is using his psychic powers to keep him paralyzed "This one's down for the count" he forces him to get down on his knees "Just let me take care of the final shot" he adds, summoning one of his 'Psychic Shotguns' to aim it behind his head and fire it, leaving him knocked down on the floor.
"Is he dead?" Armor asks, but Quentin simply shrugs his shoulders.
"I could've killed him, but I think Sage might want him alive for interrogation or something" Quentin replies "Although I already picked up something from his mind, and something tells me that I'm going away to settle a score" he adds, discovering the connection with the case X-Force is working on.
WITH THE LAST GARGOYLE
The leader of the gargoyle pack flies above the ground of Krakoa, setting his sights in the search of the biggest target, the leader of the island, but he is intercepted by a blonde winged man who flies in his way.
"Excuse me" Angel, one of the founding members of the X-Men flies by his side "You and your friends are causing a lot of trouble on our island so, how about you step down and surrender?" he warns the gargoyle but his response is a slash that Angel manages to dodge "Just to be clear, I asked nicely" he comments, flying to his side so he can strike him with a couple of punches that destabilize his flight path.
"HHHRRRGHH!" the gargoyle growls at Angel, but he simply responds with a smirk on his face, gesturing to look down. The gargoyle does so and ends up on the receiving end of a barrage of energy beams, or more accurately, optic blasts coming from X-Men leader Cyclops.
Cyclops blasts the gargoyle clipping one of his wings, sending him on a descending spiral down but, immediately creates an ice-slide to ease his fall. The gargoyle reacts as he slides down but once he reaches the end, he is received by a tackle from Beast, struggling to hold him down until Jean Grey appears last, using her psychic powers to put the gargoyle to sleep.
"Well, this was easy" Iceman comments while Angel descends near them "Chalk up another win for the O-Five!" he exclaims pointing out the detail that this battle was fought, and won, by the X-Men's original line-up.
"I wouldn't define it as 'easy', Robert" Beast comments while he stands up and releases the creature "There are several of them spread across the island" he adds, looking at Cyclops.
"I've already received reports from Magik that most of the others are contained" Cyclops replies to Beast's comment "Logan managed to kill one of them, though".
"Got any idea of where do they come from?" Angel asks Jean who is performing a psychic scan.
"I'm seeing the images and…" Jean comments but then she gasps as she discovers the clues "They come from Staten Island…" she replies, looking directly at Beast.
"Staten Island? You mean that Deadpool sent them?" Beast asks, since this is connecting to the case X-Force is working on.
"No, not Deadpool…Sauron sent them" Jean replies "Sauron is on a throne" she adds, prompting Beast to rub his eyes and pinch his nose.
"Oh my, Stars and Garters…" Beast sighs and then activates his communicator "Sage, call all of the X-Force operatives for a meeting at The Pointe, I'm afraid our Sauron Case took a turn for the worse" he adds, now knowing that Logan's suggestion of a last minute diplomacy attempt has failed and now they must take extreme measures to capture Sauron, or if necessary, end him.
And there you have it! Sauron's Gargoyles wrecked havoc in Krakoa, and now the mutants are ready to bring back the fight. Also, is worth to note that Spidey, Kitty and Wade were absent on this chapter, so consider the timeline to be somewhat parallel to what transpired in the last one. Don't worry, that will be fixed next chapter where everyone else will reunite and bring back the fight, so stay tuned folks!
NEXT CHAPTER: X-FORCE STEPS INTO THE PLATE AND THE STARS OF OUR TALE RETURN!