The Uncanny X-Men: The Neo

No. 1

The Siege

            "As you already know," said Storm, the X-Men's leader whose powers are to manipulate the forces of Mother Nature, "anti-mutant hysteria is growing rapidly by the minute.  Our efforts to establish peaceful co-existence between humans and mutants (these are humans with a genetic mutation that gives them amazing powers) are becoming less and less effective. Humans already hate mutants but to make matters worse than how they already are, a new race of mutants calling themselves the Neo has begun a series of terrorist attacks all over the world.  We must contain the Neo at any cost.  If we fail, all our work towards peace would have been in vain."

            "We have located the headquarters of the Neo," added Nightcrawler, a mutant with the ability to teleport to places he's seen or been to, "Both Storm and I believe that if we destroy the Neo's home base, their order of operations would have been disrupted which would stop their attacks for a short period of time."

            "We must venture in groups of four," explained Storm, "Psylocke, Shadowcat and Wolverine will go into the Neo's base with Nightcrawler as your leader.  Phoenix, Gambit and Cable will be with me so that we can be the back-up assistance in case our plan goes wrong."

            "That sounds good to me," replied Shadowcat, the computer genius with the power to become intangible.

            "We're going in stealth style, bub.  I like your style Storm," agreed Wolverine the mutant with a fast healing factor and a skeleton bound with adamantium, the strongest metal in the world.

            "I have no problem with this team-up.  What is the battle plan Storm?" asked Psylocke, the telekinetic ninja with the ability to teleport through the use of shadows.

            "The plan, Psylocke, is to first knock out the base's security mechanism," answered Storm, "The four of you will sneak into the base and head toward the north eastern part of the compound.  This is where all the security is maintained.  Once you shut down the security, you'll have ten minutes to knock out the power core of the base which is located at the heart of the compound."

            "Where do we fit into all off this," asked Cable the mutant from a far-off future with the powers of both telepathy and telekinesis.

            "You, Cable, will be back-up for Nightcrawler's team with me.  All we have to do is to help keep an eye out for Nightcrawler's team.  If something goes wrong, we'll be the first to know about."

            "I yearn for battle Storm," insisted Cable, "I'm a natural born warrior and I need to help in a more active way."

            "I know Cable and I also know that your skills are needed much more on the back-up team.  With your military knowledge and powerful telekinesis, you are the only capable one of holding off a legion of the Neo so that the stealth team can escape unharmed."

            "I see the logic in your decision," murmured Cable, "I may not particularly enjoy the fact that I'll be playing a less active role in this mission but, I respect your judgment and consent to your decision."

            "Are we all clear about the plan people?" asked Nightcrawler.

            "All that info is crystal clear, mon ami," answered Gambit, whose mutant powers are to charge inanimate objects with kinetic force which explodes when it collides with another object.

            "Good.  Then let's head to the Blackbird (the X-Men's stealth jet with advanced alien technology from the Shi'Ar)," commanded Storm.

            The entire team went toward the elevator to travel down into the sub-basement of the X-Mansion.  As the rest of the team entered the elevator and began their descent to the sub-basement level, Storm and Phoenix remained behind.  The two women awaited the second elevator to arrive as the first finally reached the sub-basement level.

            "Are you ready for this battle?" asked Phoenix whose powers are of high-level telepathy.

            "You're a telepath Jean.  You should already know my state of mind," replied Storm as she turned to face Phoenix.

            "You, of all people, should know that I don't read people's mind against their will unless I have no other choice."

            "I was only joking around Phoenix," giggled Storm.

            "Sorry if I'm so tense but I can't help but think that we might not all come back from battle alive."

            "We're the X-Men Phoenix.  We fight to protect those who fear us.  We face dangers like this all the time and have walked away knowing that we're one step closer toward achieving our goal of peaceful co-existence."

            "I know.  I know, but with what happened during the past six months or so, I just wonder if the X-Men can pull through."

            "Believe me Jean, there will be no casualties on our side as long as the X-Men are under my watch.  That is a promise."

            Right after Storm and Phoenix finished their conversation, the elevator opened up and the two entered the elevator.  As they descended to the sub-basement, the rest of the X-Men had already boarded the Blackbird and gotten ready for take-off.  Nightcrawler took the co-pilot seat, reserving the captain's seat for Storm.  Once Storm and Phoenix boarded the Blackbird, Psylocke closed the door behind them using her telekinesis.  Storm went to the captain's seat and prepared for lift-off.

            "Are you nervous Wolvie?" asked Shadowcat.

            "No way Kitty.  I'm not nervous about this.  I've been in worse situations in life." answered Wolverine as he lit his cigarette.

            "You do know that smoking is unhealthy don't you?" asked Psylocke clearly annoyed.

            "Of course I do, bub, but my healing factor keeps my lungs healthy all the time so it don't matter to me."

            "Well, then you at least blow your smoke in a different direction."

            "Sure," replied Wolverine as he blew the smoke straight into Psylocke's face.

            "You sonuva…. If I still had my telepathy right now, I'd burn out every last brain cell you got in that skull of yours!" shouted Psylocke as she prepared to punch Wolverine.

            "Ooohh now.  We're not going to have any of that today," said Shadowcat as she got in between the two.

            "Let me at him!" screamed Psylocke with rage in her eyes.

            ('I'll use my telepathy to stop both Wolverine and Psylocke.') thought Cable as he eased away the tension between Wolverine and Psylocke.

            "That's better you two," said Shadowcat proudly, believing that she had stop the conflict, "Jeez, you two act like kids when I'm the kid around here."

            In a short time, the Blackbird took off and within the hour, the X-Men arrived at the Neo headquarters.  Storm landed in a deserted area located on the island.  Both Storm and Nightcrawler exited the cockpit and began to prepare for the siege.

            "Do you all remember the plan?" asked Storm.

            "Of course boss-lady," replied Shadowcat.

            "Alright then good luck.  Phoenix, Gambit, Cable and I will remain here to help you through.  Remember, if anything happens we'll be here to help."

            Psylocke, Shadowcat, Wolverine and Nightcrawler moved stealthily throughout the forest area.  Wolverine and Nightcrawler lead the way using their enhanced senses to pinpoint the headquarters.  Wolverine used his sense of smell to find the base while Nightcrawler used his eyes to scan the area for the building.  Once they found the base, they prepared to enter the base.

            "Alright team, it's show time," announced Nightcrawler, "We need to get pass those security cameras.  My teleportation power might trigger a mutant detection alarm but Psylocke's teleport is not a mutant power.  Shadowcat and Psylocke, you both teleport to the entrance and shut down the security cameras."

            "We're already on it," replied Shadowcat as she and Psylocke sank into the shadow beneath them.

            "I'll never get used to seeing Psylocke use that power," said Nightcrawler as the two of them reappear in front of the entrance.

            "Alright little kitty, work your magic," encouraged Psylocke.

            "I'm already way ahead of you musclehead," explained Shadowcat as she got out her mini computer made by the Shi'Ar.

            "Well, do you have a better definition for someone with telekinesis?"

            "Uh... you do have a point little one."

            Shadowcat got a cable and quickly hooked it up to the control panel of the entrance.  Shadowcat turned on her computer and instantly encrypted codes appeared on her monitor.  Shadowcat quickly typed in DOS commands and unlocked the encryption code.

            "Finally!" exclaimed Shadowcat, "That took longer than I thought it would."

            "Stay here little Kitty.  I'm going to teleport Wolverine and Nightcrawler over here," commanded Psylocke as she sunk into the shadows again.

            "Sure, whatever," murmured Shadowcat as Psylocke disappeared into the shadows, "Like I'm actually going wait for you old-timers," said Shadowcat as she checked the door for any electrical devices.

            Shadowcat found no electricity so she felt it was safe to phase.  Shadowcat's powers disrupt all electronic devices when she moves through them.  As Shadowcat glanced behind her to see whether or not her teammates were watching, she phased through the entrance and entered without setting off any alarms.  On the other side, Psylocke reappeared but when she glanced over at the entrance, she was shocked to find that Shadowcat was gone!

            "Oh my god!" gasped Psylocke, "Shadowcat went into the base herself!"

            "What?!" exclaimed Nightcrawler, "What's she thinking?  The Neo are extremely dangerous.  We need to collaborate in unison to take them down."

            "Don't get too worked up, bub," said Wolverine calmly, "The girl knows what she's doing.  She can take care of herself especially since I taught her the art of the samurai."

            "That doesn't matter Wolverine.  We must get in there and stop Shadowcat from doing something rash."

            Nightcrawler, Wolverine and Psylocke teleported to the other side of the entrance and immediately scanned their new surroundings for any immediate threats.  Wolverine used his hyper sensitive sense of smell to track Shadowcat and caught onto her scent before long.

            "Shadowcat went northeast so she must be headed to the area to shut down the security," reported Wolverine.

            "We must go after her," insisted Psylocke.

            "Let's not.  The situation is in our favor.  With Shadowcat off to destroy the security area, the three of us can take out the power core," suggested Wolverine.

            "I'm going to trust your instinct about Shadowcat, Wolverine," agreed Nightcrawler, "Let's contact her via our communicators."

            "Bad idea, bub," replied Wolverine, "The communicators can be traced.  We're lucky our uniforms have a Shi'Ar microchip to cloak us from sensors.  Our communicators don't have that advantage."

            "Let's head toward the power then," said Nightcrawler reluctantly, "I sure hope you're right about her Wolverine."

            "Don't worry.  She learned from the best," assured Wolverine.

            Meanwhile, at the security area, Shadowcat sidestep along the wall to keep from being spotted by the security cameras above her.  As she moved along the wall, she encountered a Neo who gasped in surprise.  Shadowcat quickly grabbed the guy by the neck and socked him in the jaw rendering him unconscious.

            "That was way too close," Shadowcat murmured to herself as she turned a corner.

            As Shadowcat continued along the wall, a group of the Neo soldiers came out from nowhere.  They were conversing about something and did not notice Shadowcat.  She knew that she couldn't take them out without the security camera catching her so she took a deep breath and phased herself into the wall.  There's no oxygen in the wall so she must hold her breath and keep herself from falling.  As the Neo soldiers walked by her unnoticed, Shadowcat phased out of the wall and gasped for breath.  Shadowcat got out of the wall too early for the Neo soldiers heard her gasping and turned around to check out the situation.

            "Did you hear that?" asked one of the Neo.

            "Yeah, it sounded like someone gasping for breath," said the other Neo as they rushed back down the hallway.

            ('Damn it!  Those Neo heard me!  I'm such an idiot!')  Shadowcat thought to herself.

            The three Neo burst backed into the hallway with guns flaring.  Shadowcat quickly back-flipped and reached into her belt for her ninja stars.  Shadowcat landed on the ground crouching and tossed her ninja stars.  The three Neo dodged the ninja stars but was still continuing their gunfire.  Shadowcat threw a few more ninja stars to distract the Neo while she ran toward the security room area.

            "Sound the alarm!  We have an intruder!" commanded one of the Neo.

            The other Neo triggered the alarm and the three Neo quickly chased after Shadowcat.  One of the Neo used their power of manipulating the ground and caused the ground to split upward changing the smooth surface rocky.  Shadowcat didn't expect this and almost tripped while sprinting toward the security room area.  The Neo continued to shoot at her but kept missing every shot.  Shadowcat quickly leaped into the door of the security room while becoming intangible to go straight into the room.

            ('Whoa!  What an adrenaline rush!') thought Shadowcat excitedly, "I wonder which of these switches shut down their security."

            As Shadowcat scanned the room for the switch, the three Neo banged on the security door.  Shadowcat couldn't decide which one was the switch so she jammed her hand into the system and shut the entire thing.  After Shadowcat destroyed the mainframe, the Neo broke into the room where Shadowcat got surrounded by enemies.  Meanwhile, Psylocke, Wolverine and Nightcrawler just reached the power core when the alarm went off.  Almost instantaneously, an army of Neo burst into the hall and began to attack the X-Men.

            "Did you set off the alarm Wolverine?" asked Nightcrawler angrily.

            "What?! Of course not!" exclaimed Wolverine.

            "Then it must've been Shadowcat because I didn't set off the alarm," Psylocke pointed out.

            "Who cares who set off the bomb?!  We have another problem to deal with!" said Wolverine as he unleashed his adamantium claws for his fist and leaped into the battle.

            Psylocke used her telekinesis to knock down a path toward the power core.  The Neo attacked her with bullets and laser shots but Psylocke managed to erect telekinesis shields around her to deflect the projectiles.  Nightcrawler used his agility to maneuver in the confined space and fought off the Neo that tried to pull him onto the ground.  Wolverine tried to fight off a legion of Neo but began to lose his strength.  Psylocke quickly rushed to Wolverine's aide.

            "Are you alright Wolverine?" asked Psylocke as she kept the Neo at bay telekinetically.

            "I'll manage.  You need to take out the power core.  No matter what happens, that thing must be destroyed!" commanded Wolverine.

            While all this commotion was happening in the heart of the compound, Shadowcat struggled against a legion of Neo of her own.  Shadowcat managed to use her katana (a weapon of the samurai or ninja) to keep the Neo from overwhelming her.

            ('My passive powers are useless against the Neo but my martial arts has started to wear me down.  Maybe I can use my power in a more aggressive way.') thought Shadowcat as she kicked a Neo away from her, ('I'll try to phase into the Neo and partly solidify.  Perhaps this'll help me get out of this situation.')

            Back with Wolverine, the team begins to break down from the overwhelming number of the Neo.  As all three X-Men to survive, Nightcrawler managed to teleport near enough the power core to make some damage.  Nightcrawler quickly jammed his sword into the power core and nuclear energy began to leak from the core.  Psylocke already knew that the power core was going to explode but was not able to shield Nightcrawler.  Just as the power core exploded, Psylocke was only able to shield herself and Wolverine.

            "No!!" Psylocke screamed as she ran toward Nightcrawler.

            Once the smoked cleared both Wolverine and Psylocke could see that most of the Neo had been knocked out.  Psylocke and Wolverine ran to the middle of the area in search of Nightcrawler.  After frantically searching briefly, Psylocke found Nightcrawler's body sprawled on the floor with blood gushing out of a head wound and multiple cuts all over his blue skinned body.

            "Oh my god," murmured Wolverine shocked, "Psylocke, you keep his blood from gushing with your telekinesis.  I'll call for backup from the others," ordered Wolverine as he turned on his communicator," Stormy, we need immediate back up.  Nightcrawler's been hurt bad and we don't know what's going on with Shadowcat.  Bring medical equipment.  Hurry 'cause I don't think Nightcrawler's got much time left.

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