I forgot to add this first chapter: I DON'T OWN ANYONE IN THIS FIC. They belong to Marvel and Wildstorm.
CHAPTER TWO: CATCHING UP PAST
Generation X was outside under a grove of brilliant green maples telling stores of tragic past dances and parties when the attack came. Monet first noticed an approaching noise. Her head shot up to find the source of the noise, but before she found it a violent quake knocked her and GenX to the ground.
Monet scrambled quickly to her feet and grabbed Jono who was close to her.
*Wha' th' bloody 'ell!* Jono let out a surprised psychic yelp.
Paige quickly recovered her scattered wits to give orders to her disorganized team.
"Artie, Leech, Penence, get back to school. Chamber alert Ms. Frost. M, get up and see what's going on. Lets get ready, team." Husk shed a layer of fleshy skin for one of silvery steel.
The younger children scattered towards the school as GenX launched into action. M flew up for an aerial view and Synch rainbow aura linked with Chamber.
To a side Jubilee was the last to stand, feeling dazed and confused. The long, restless nights had caught up at the worst moment.
"Hey, Jube-chica, you 'kay?" Skin shot his friend a worried look as he hooked gray fingers of skin to the tree above him.
Jubilee shot Skin a quick faked grin, determinedly pushing the painful dizziness aside. "I'm fine."
Before Skin could respond, M came down landing in front of Husk. "Several ninjas, a woman in green, and a pale man are attacking. The quake seems to have been generated by a small machine set up nearby."
The woody undergrowth rustled furiously as the attacking villains burst onto the scene. Jubilee instantly recognized Viper. How could she forget Wolvie's shocking wedding to the woman. The others were new to Jubilee. A tall, pale, dark-haired man followed Viper and black-hooded ninja-type-assassins typical to this kind of situation, easily made to be the distracting element while the more powerful villains kicked butt.
"It's Viper," Jubilee yelled. Snarling she looked at Viper. "What are you doing here?"
"Very good, child. You remember me. Now, I seem to specifically remember telling Logan that if he or any of his allies ever entered Madripore again, I would destroy them." Viper smiled venomously, pointing a finger at Jubilee and GenX. "Kill them."
The pale man interrupted, "The deal was I get them alive, Viper. I hope you are not going back on your word."
"Of course not. I just got carried away." Viper, smiling sourly then turned back to her assassins. "Don't kill them. We want them alive."
The assassins spread out like fifteen well-trained dogs. In turn GenX also moved out to counter them. Chamber, Synch, Skin, and M headed for the assassins, Husk the pale man, and Jubilee made a beeline for Viper.
Chamber and Synch double-teamed and began blasting assassins, watching each other's backs. One of them slipped through Synch's defense and sliced his blade across his arm. Chamber turned a blasted the assassin into a tree where he twitched once then laid still.
M flew up, turned, dove, and took out two assassins. Skin went up into the trees and started grabbing assasins as they passed by, throwing them into tree trunks with bruising force.
Jubilee faired well against Viper, keeping out of her poisonous reach. "All we wanted to do was retrieve an ancient sword...for one of our headmistresses Adrienne...but we had no intention of interfering with your rule." Jubilee wasn't sure if she wanted to fight Wolverine's wife or not. Viper had tricked Wolvie into marrying her, but … Jubilee sprung back as Viper let lose a poison dart.
"Doesn't matter child. Intentionally or not, you challenged my position. That is unacceptable to one of my position." Viper reached out and tried to swipe Jubilee with a knife tipped in poisonous green. Jubilee jumped back and let loose a string of pyrotechnics, which blinded Viper. She jumped in and hit Viper across the head, sending the green woman to the ground unconscious.
Husk's favorite steel skin sparkled in patches of sunlight as she cautiously circling the pale man, not knowing what to expect. She never rushed into an unknown situation. "So who are you and what do you want with us?"
The man's face creased into a slight grin. "My, what an interesting power, and such a beautiful child too," he spoke, ignoring Husk's questions. "Why don't you come closer?"
Paige grinned thinking the man was making a mistake and started towards him swinging.
Behind her M let loose and several more assassins went flying. On bounced off a tree and rolled knocking Husk's feet out from under her. She fell to the sun-dappled ground. Before she could gather her wits the pale man knelt next her, cradling her head in his pale hands.
He looked deep into her eyes and suddenly Husk stopped struggling. "Yes, that's a good dear. I do believe you would make a wonderful leader. And that boy is not worth your suffering. You have so much beautiful untapped potential." His eyes glowed red with a burning light that reflected in Husk's silvery ones.