No one got the challenge. This is the last chapter, for it and for the
story. So, last chance. One more thing, I made a mistake in the last
chapter. Kurt is supposed to be touring Europe and trying to drum up
support for the Resistance's cause along with Kitty and Wild Bill. So,
please replace his name with Pietro's. Thanks, and sorry.
What Lies Ahead
"You wanted to talk to me?" asked Peter as he strode through the curtain to Scott's room.
"Yes," said Scott wearily, "I did. I understand that a few days ago you attacked Toad?"
"He startled me."
"I've seen him sneak up on you several times before, and you never hit him. What made this time different?"
"I was angry, at the Misfits in general."
"But at Toad in particular?"
"No, at Lance. But I know one thing; I don't feel any remorse for what I did. He's had it coming to him for a long time."
"I'll be the first to agree with that. However, I think it can wait until the Misfits are no longer so necessary to us. Once we can defeat Cobra without their further help, you'll be free to go after Toad, or Lance if you like.
"You mean..."
"A coup. Yes. If you haven't noticed, Hawk and Fury are close pals. And when it comes down to a vote, Spyke is more likely to side with them than he is with Xavier. So the Joes, and hence the Misfits, are really running the show. Soon, all that will change. Essentially we'll split off. If they try to resist that, which is likely, we'll return to violence."
"Why not now?"
"We need more allies. Once Kitty and Kurt return with support from Europe, we'll make our move."
"I see. And until then, I suppose I'll just have to wait?"
"That's right."
"Does Xavier know about this?"
"You know him, he's a pacifist by nature. He was forced into the role of tactical leader by circumstance. The idea of fighting his own would be alien to him. So no, he doesn't know. Only myself, you, Kurt, and Jean know as of right now." ***********************************************************************
Hawk paced the infirmary. Arcade was lying on a makeshift operating table. Hawk turned to Lifeline.
"You're sure there's nothing you can do revive him?"
"Not without risking killing him. His body shut down due to the lack of air. That's the only thing that saved him. If I bring him back, I risk reviving his brain before his lungs and heart, and killing him. So, the only way he'll come out of that coma is when he's ready."
"I understand. The only thing that bothers me is; what was he trying to say? What's in that area? L is all we got from him."
"I don't know. But I know that he's strong willed. He'll live through this, and probably come out tougher for it."
"I hope you're right." ***********************************************************************
"The fact of the matter is," said Fury, "that we've matched Cobra in tactics, determination, and skill, but they have more troops. We have to attack their BAT manufacturing facilities."
"No." Said Xavier, "it's too much of a risk. The BAT factories are a high priority area for Cobra."
"Which is all the more reason that a strike at one of them would seriously damage Cobra."
"The old Morlock tunnels lead to an area about a mile away from factory number three." Said Spyke. "A one man team might be able to avoid the camera beams and guards, and place explosives inside. The trick would be getting out again.
"So you both agree on this?" Asked Xavier.
Fury and Spyke nodded, "very well then, I will concede the point. On one condition. The man is Gambit."
"It makes sense," agreed Fury.
"Fine," said Spyke. "Gambit it is."
"If this fails," said Xavier, "they'll increase security, and we'll never get another chance."
"If that happens, we may as well consider the war lost." Replied Fury grimly. "So, let's hope it doesn't fail shall we?" ***********************************************************************
Toad walked into Rouge's office. He was wearing an image inducer, one of the only three that the Resistance had, and looked nothing like himself.
"You are?" Asked Rouge sharply.
"Private Sanders, just transferred from infantry, Ma'am." answered Toad. "They said they didn't have enough agents, and you had a mission lined up for me?"
"Yes. You're going to be working with Agent Faces. Your mission is to infiltrate one of the Cobra bases, gather what information you can, destroy their computer records, and sever their communications."
"Yes Ma'am. Do I leave straight away?"
"Yes. Use the side access tunnel."
"Yes Ma'am. Right away ma'am." Toad left. Rouge sat back in her chair.
"Bobby, did you get all that?"
Bobby stepped out from behind a curtain. "Yes. He's Private Sander, just transferred from infantry. Fits perfectly with what Hawk told us."
"Let Agent Faces know that he's to keep an eye on 'sanders' and tell me if he lets anything slip that indicates he's not who he says he is."
"Understood. Anything else?"
"Yes. Give Rahne the message, five days."
"Am I supposed to know what that means?"
"You'll probably be better off if you don't."
"Got it."
"That will be all."
Bobby nodded his comprehension and left. ***********************************************************************
Arcade, lying on his back in the infirmary croaked out three words. "Eloi. Cobra. Outriders."
But there was no one to hear these words, and in despair Arcade slipped back into unconsciousness. ***********************************************************************
Althea lay on her back in her quarters, staring at the ceiling. Suddenly Lance burst into the room.
"Wavedancer, get ready."
"For what?" Asked Althea, confused.
"We leave in ten minutes to try and contact Magneto and Polaris. We've placed them in the Caribbean. A cell of the Resistance is waiting for us there."
"Alright, I could use some action." ***********************************************************************
Cobra Commander paced his safehouse. Xomat and Tamox watched him with concern.
"Sir, wearing a hole in the floor," began Xomat
"Won't help matters." Finished Tamox.
"Did you just tell me what I should do?" Asked Cobra Commander, in a dangerous tone.
"No sir," said Xomat hurriedly. "We were just,"
"Giving advice." Said Tamox.
"Good. Now, we have to plan carefully. Has my contact on the inside given us the location of McCoy's quarters yet?"
"No sir," replied Xomat
"It's closely guarded information. He has a shapeshifter bring all his meals directly to his room." ************************************************************************ Watcher file, entry 12654938659: These humans and mutants interest me. They are riddled with contradictions. They cling to life like a precious bauble, but often risk it to save another. Some preach equality for all, and then grind those who are different into the dust.
Hypothesis: human and mutant brain patterns are affected by the changing of the earth's magnetic field, therefore altering their life philosophies.
Assessment: Improbable.
Hypothesis: Humans and mutants, like so many other races I have studied operate on a loose, and easily misinterpreted moral code.
Assessment: Probable.
Hypothesis: Above moral code holds a different meaning for each sentient life form on the planet earth.
Assessment: Probable.
Hypothesis: The humans and mutants, in this dimension termed the resistance, are likely to defeat Cobra, and regain control of the west.
Assessment: Insufficient data to project results.
Final assessment: This planet, in this dimension merits further observation.
Whew, I finished it. As you can probably tell from the Watcher's entry, there'll be more to come. The next fic in this series takes place chronologically before it, when Cobra is just starting to rise to control, just so you won't get confused. It's called The Rise of Cobra and I'll be writing it. Thank you, and have a good time. Those of you who watch movie credits, and the such (I'm not the only one, am I?) May want to read the following. Those who aren't, thank you for reading, it is time to review.
Thanks to Red Witch who gave me permission to use the Misfits, my sister wOLF8, my beta, and all my wonderful reviewers.
Also thanks to those brilliant people who created Star Trek DS9 and thus inspired this weird idea. If anyone is interested I'll be doing another fic in a different AU (non Misfits) where the brotherhood trains under Sabretooth until a certain figure intercedes. Lots of insanity, songs gone horribly wrong, and mad mutants.
What Lies Ahead
"You wanted to talk to me?" asked Peter as he strode through the curtain to Scott's room.
"Yes," said Scott wearily, "I did. I understand that a few days ago you attacked Toad?"
"He startled me."
"I've seen him sneak up on you several times before, and you never hit him. What made this time different?"
"I was angry, at the Misfits in general."
"But at Toad in particular?"
"No, at Lance. But I know one thing; I don't feel any remorse for what I did. He's had it coming to him for a long time."
"I'll be the first to agree with that. However, I think it can wait until the Misfits are no longer so necessary to us. Once we can defeat Cobra without their further help, you'll be free to go after Toad, or Lance if you like.
"You mean..."
"A coup. Yes. If you haven't noticed, Hawk and Fury are close pals. And when it comes down to a vote, Spyke is more likely to side with them than he is with Xavier. So the Joes, and hence the Misfits, are really running the show. Soon, all that will change. Essentially we'll split off. If they try to resist that, which is likely, we'll return to violence."
"Why not now?"
"We need more allies. Once Kitty and Kurt return with support from Europe, we'll make our move."
"I see. And until then, I suppose I'll just have to wait?"
"That's right."
"Does Xavier know about this?"
"You know him, he's a pacifist by nature. He was forced into the role of tactical leader by circumstance. The idea of fighting his own would be alien to him. So no, he doesn't know. Only myself, you, Kurt, and Jean know as of right now." ***********************************************************************
Hawk paced the infirmary. Arcade was lying on a makeshift operating table. Hawk turned to Lifeline.
"You're sure there's nothing you can do revive him?"
"Not without risking killing him. His body shut down due to the lack of air. That's the only thing that saved him. If I bring him back, I risk reviving his brain before his lungs and heart, and killing him. So, the only way he'll come out of that coma is when he's ready."
"I understand. The only thing that bothers me is; what was he trying to say? What's in that area? L is all we got from him."
"I don't know. But I know that he's strong willed. He'll live through this, and probably come out tougher for it."
"I hope you're right." ***********************************************************************
"The fact of the matter is," said Fury, "that we've matched Cobra in tactics, determination, and skill, but they have more troops. We have to attack their BAT manufacturing facilities."
"No." Said Xavier, "it's too much of a risk. The BAT factories are a high priority area for Cobra."
"Which is all the more reason that a strike at one of them would seriously damage Cobra."
"The old Morlock tunnels lead to an area about a mile away from factory number three." Said Spyke. "A one man team might be able to avoid the camera beams and guards, and place explosives inside. The trick would be getting out again.
"So you both agree on this?" Asked Xavier.
Fury and Spyke nodded, "very well then, I will concede the point. On one condition. The man is Gambit."
"It makes sense," agreed Fury.
"Fine," said Spyke. "Gambit it is."
"If this fails," said Xavier, "they'll increase security, and we'll never get another chance."
"If that happens, we may as well consider the war lost." Replied Fury grimly. "So, let's hope it doesn't fail shall we?" ***********************************************************************
Toad walked into Rouge's office. He was wearing an image inducer, one of the only three that the Resistance had, and looked nothing like himself.
"You are?" Asked Rouge sharply.
"Private Sanders, just transferred from infantry, Ma'am." answered Toad. "They said they didn't have enough agents, and you had a mission lined up for me?"
"Yes. You're going to be working with Agent Faces. Your mission is to infiltrate one of the Cobra bases, gather what information you can, destroy their computer records, and sever their communications."
"Yes Ma'am. Do I leave straight away?"
"Yes. Use the side access tunnel."
"Yes Ma'am. Right away ma'am." Toad left. Rouge sat back in her chair.
"Bobby, did you get all that?"
Bobby stepped out from behind a curtain. "Yes. He's Private Sander, just transferred from infantry. Fits perfectly with what Hawk told us."
"Let Agent Faces know that he's to keep an eye on 'sanders' and tell me if he lets anything slip that indicates he's not who he says he is."
"Understood. Anything else?"
"Yes. Give Rahne the message, five days."
"Am I supposed to know what that means?"
"You'll probably be better off if you don't."
"Got it."
"That will be all."
Bobby nodded his comprehension and left. ***********************************************************************
Arcade, lying on his back in the infirmary croaked out three words. "Eloi. Cobra. Outriders."
But there was no one to hear these words, and in despair Arcade slipped back into unconsciousness. ***********************************************************************
Althea lay on her back in her quarters, staring at the ceiling. Suddenly Lance burst into the room.
"Wavedancer, get ready."
"For what?" Asked Althea, confused.
"We leave in ten minutes to try and contact Magneto and Polaris. We've placed them in the Caribbean. A cell of the Resistance is waiting for us there."
"Alright, I could use some action." ***********************************************************************
Cobra Commander paced his safehouse. Xomat and Tamox watched him with concern.
"Sir, wearing a hole in the floor," began Xomat
"Won't help matters." Finished Tamox.
"Did you just tell me what I should do?" Asked Cobra Commander, in a dangerous tone.
"No sir," said Xomat hurriedly. "We were just,"
"Giving advice." Said Tamox.
"Good. Now, we have to plan carefully. Has my contact on the inside given us the location of McCoy's quarters yet?"
"No sir," replied Xomat
"It's closely guarded information. He has a shapeshifter bring all his meals directly to his room." ************************************************************************ Watcher file, entry 12654938659: These humans and mutants interest me. They are riddled with contradictions. They cling to life like a precious bauble, but often risk it to save another. Some preach equality for all, and then grind those who are different into the dust.
Hypothesis: human and mutant brain patterns are affected by the changing of the earth's magnetic field, therefore altering their life philosophies.
Assessment: Improbable.
Hypothesis: Humans and mutants, like so many other races I have studied operate on a loose, and easily misinterpreted moral code.
Assessment: Probable.
Hypothesis: Above moral code holds a different meaning for each sentient life form on the planet earth.
Assessment: Probable.
Hypothesis: The humans and mutants, in this dimension termed the resistance, are likely to defeat Cobra, and regain control of the west.
Assessment: Insufficient data to project results.
Final assessment: This planet, in this dimension merits further observation.
Whew, I finished it. As you can probably tell from the Watcher's entry, there'll be more to come. The next fic in this series takes place chronologically before it, when Cobra is just starting to rise to control, just so you won't get confused. It's called The Rise of Cobra and I'll be writing it. Thank you, and have a good time. Those of you who watch movie credits, and the such (I'm not the only one, am I?) May want to read the following. Those who aren't, thank you for reading, it is time to review.
Thanks to Red Witch who gave me permission to use the Misfits, my sister wOLF8, my beta, and all my wonderful reviewers.
Also thanks to those brilliant people who created Star Trek DS9 and thus inspired this weird idea. If anyone is interested I'll be doing another fic in a different AU (non Misfits) where the brotherhood trains under Sabretooth until a certain figure intercedes. Lots of insanity, songs gone horribly wrong, and mad mutants.