Chapter 3: Generation X

Banshee stared hard into the darkness ahead of him. Had something moved in there? Behind him, Jubilee and Synch waited tensely. Then, something moved. This time he was sure of it.
"It's ahead of us." he told the two scared teens behind him. "I'll flush it out, then you two catch it.

"Yeah right," Jubilee said, hiding her fear in her usual manner, "Catch it with what? I'm not touching that thing with my bare hands."

Everett stepped into the room beside him and took the sheets and blankets from the bed. I hope Monet won't mind. He thought. "Here Jubilee," he said. "We can use this."

"Whatever Ev, that thing just ripped through a vent cover as if it weren't even there. What good are bed sheets gonna do?"

"Do you have a better idea?" he asked her.

"Yeah, let's just blast the thing."

"I like her idea sir." Everett said.

"Very well, ye're probably right." Banshee agreed reluctantly. "Now wait here."

Banshee stepped cautiously into the dark hallway.

Monet landed outside the entrance to the tunnel and took a step towards it. Suddenly, a red blur shot out of the entrance and flew past her.

"Penance?" she asked in surprise. What could make her friend run from a confrontation? The answer came shortly after. Something large and black ran out of the tunnel. The thing hissed and leaped at her.

M threw the monster off her, and stared in shock. It was Mondo. His head was the same shape as the monster's, but the face was his. His black, hard skin bore several scratches. Apparently Penance had attempted to do battle with him before fleeing. Monet was tempted to run as well. But knew she couldn't. Somehow she would have to subdue Mondo long enough for him to digest the alien. Mondo had obviously absorbed the creature and apparently, some of it's mind set had been transferred as well. Why else would it have attacked her?

"Mondo," she said slowly., "It's me, Monet, your friend."

The monster that Mondo had become did not listen. It's mouth opened wide, ropes of gelatinous drool dripped from it's jaws. Hissing, it leaped at her again. This time, Monet let it come. She caught it and held it at arm's length.

"Mondo listen to me!" she tried again. "Don't make me hurt you!"

In answer, he grabbed her head with both hands. His fingers had become claws of enormous strength. Monet felt a burst of pain in her skull as the creature squeezed, and blood trickled down her face. Before her eyes, she watched, horrified as Mondo's face was replaced by that of a monstrous creature that had no resemblance to him at all. Mondo had not digested the Alien, it was the other way around. Monet felt something poke her in the small of her back and realized it was the thing's pointed tail. As an added horror, it extended a secondary set of jaws which began to try to penetrate her skull.

Screaming in pain and terror, and rage at what had been done to her friend, she ripped off it's arms, and rolled away, barely dodging the snapping jaws and spraying acid. Monet got to her feet, wiping blood from her eyes. Something trickled from her eyes and she realized that she was crying. Anger arose once more in her and with one powerful kick, she took off the thing's head.

Sadly, she gazed at the now dead Mondo. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

Angelo this is Jono come in! Chamber called into the radio once more. Come on Sunshine. I've got a bad feelin' about this.

Chamber and Paige arrived in the computer room, and stopped short. Angelo was gone. "He's gone!" Paige cried.

Not all of 'im luv. Chamber said, his voice shaking. He pointed to the chair and the computer. Some of 'im is still 'ere.

Paige had to fight to keep her breakfast down at the sight. Blood and pieces of brain and skull spattered the computer screen. "Good lord," she said, her voice shaky, "What did that to him?"

Chamber suddenly felt a telepathic presence in his mind. Ms. Frost? But it was not the head mistress. Slowly, Chamber turned. I think we're about to find out luv.

Banshee sighed. It apparently had left while they were arguing. Then it grabbed him. One hand circled his throat, cutting off his air supply before he could scream. With it's other hand, it grabbed Everett's head.

One of Monet's many powers is her sense of hearing. Even clear across campus she heard Paige and Jubilee's screams. She took off at top speed towards the source of the sounds.

Though Banshee was unable to scream, Everett was not so impeded. He quickly synched with Banshee and let loose. The scream ripped the Alien apart. Unfortunately, not without consequences. The Alien's acid blood washed over Banshee, killing him almost instantly. And the Aliens grip on Everett's head was so strong that it took most of it with it.

Jubilee was well clear of the acid, but she almost wished she had died. No one, she thought. No one should ever have to see that.

The wall collapsed in on itself with the explosive arrival of Monet. She took one look at what happened, and suddenly burst into tears.

"What the hell?" The shock of seeing Monet crying was enough to make Jubilee forget her previous shock.

"I was too late." Monet said. "I was too late to save them."

"Hey," Jubilee said softly. "It's all right. You did the best you could." Jubilee was not used to comforting people.

"You don't understand!" Monet said. "Jono, Paige, Mondo, Angelo, they're all dead!"

"What?" Jubilee whispered.

"When I got to the command center, one of those things had killed Angelo, Paige and Jono, it almost killed me too. So did the one that killed Mondo."

Jubilee took a close look at Monet. Her uniform was in tatters, and she was bleeding.

"My god." Jubilee whispered, and sank to the floor.

The Next Day

With Monet's strength it had not taken long to bury their dead. When they had found Emma's body, they had also found Gateway, alive. Now he spun his bola, ready to transport Jubilee, Monet, Leech, Artie and Penance, the survivors of Generation X to a place that Monet said would be safe, and they could contact the professor there.

Well, Jubilee thought. At least it's over.

If only it were! But stay tuned for: Spider Man!