Berzerker tilted his head to one side, hand pressed against his ear which glowed blue as his power worked for him. Telling him what other people said. Telling him what other people planned.
Oh it wasn't as easy as it looked. Because of Berzerker's ability, Magneto and his army new almost exactly when and where the enemy would be or what they were doing. The humans had found out that fairly early on after a series of rather devastating battles. So they'd had to encode their electronic transmissions, and thus Berzerker had to learn the code. Every time it changed it was just something new for him to learn. It wasn't easy but he did it for the war effort.
Now he'd found out something new. And he immediately was on his feet, rushing to find his superiors and report what he'd discovered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So the humans have begun again to destroy the frail peace of our new city," remarked Magneto, idly staring at a painting on the wall. Stolen, of course. He hadn't had the heart to leave it to the humans who had little taste for art these days.
"By reports, its only a small team of superhumans," replied Berzerker. "We knew this was coming. The Rebirth project..."
"I am familiar with the extent of the Rebirth project," remarked Magneto, not bothering to turn around. "I saw it in action with the great Captain America during my time in Poland. So did Wolverine. He was right... we should have destroyed it when we had the chance."
"Its just one small team," replied Cyclops. "They're only setting up just inside of our borders, and the position is hardly of any value. Why would they waste such powerful resources like that?"
"The military of the world powers," stated Magneto. "Does not wish to appear weak. They're flexing their muscles, trying to reassure the people they're still strong and try to put us on edge with their presence. Well... we will not tolerate this. Not even this small team," he declared darkly, turning back to face his commanders.
"What are you suggesting sir?" asked Beast.
"We send out a strong force. Three full teams. Yours, Cyclops' and Storm's. Leave behind two soldiers from each team and that should be more than adequate defense for the fortress. Especially with the civilians here and Asteroid M in orbit."
"Will we really need that many to handle a small team of superhumans?" asked Cyclops.
"No, but that is precisely the point. Let us give them an idea of just how powerful we mutants are," he remarked. "You have your orders. We depart at midnight... be ready."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A soft knocking came at her door.
"Rogue? Can I come in?" came Scott's voice.
Rogue slipped off the bed and opened the door, allowing Scott entry. He did so reluctantly, sitting down on the vacant bed of Rogue's... Carol's... former roommate Psylocke.
"We've just received some new orders. I'm heading out tomorrow to deal with some human resistance on our western border, near Dark Hollow. I don't expect to be back for a day or so."
"Do you... do you need mah help?" she asked. He shook his head.
"After what happened last time... I don't think it would be smart Rogue. Besides you... you're going home soon. Be kinda pointless if you lost your life before you got a chance to leave."
"Just because I'm not from here doesn't mean I don't care about any of you," she replied, frowning.
"I know that."
An awkward silence passed between them. Every time they met it seemed to grow worse. Rogue had always admired Scott. Since she'd first met him in Caldecott. He'd been a field leader, and a smart one. And then, as himself, at Bayville. So quiet, so mysterious, yet so confident in himself and his friends. He'd drawn her even before she'd left the Brotherhood to go join the X-Men.
But in this Scott was nothing like the one she knew. This one was dangerous, he'd killed and had no remorse, he'd sacrificed troops for the purposes of the war. Rogue found that, now able to actually compare this Scott to the one she knew, she wondered what had ever appealed to her about him in the first place.
"Just stay here Rogue... we need to leave some troops behind anyway. I just sent Spyke out to get Meltdown and Magma. They'll be working guard duty. If you want to do something useful go see them and give them a hand."
"Thank you Scott," she replied softly, grateful for the option he'd presented her with. A way to back down without losing face. Smiling, she remembered why she'd fallen for Scott, and imagined why the other Rogue had fallen for this one. Whatever else he was, in both universes he remained completely selfless. Always thinking of others first. That's why she was becoming such good friends with both of him.
"I'll see you in about a day," he replied, standing and making his way out of the room. He had work to do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spyke slammed open the door, not even bothering to knock. With a grunt, the covers of the bed shifted and Meltdown's bleary face came into view, her short blonde hair frizzled. Her roommates bed was empty.
"Just got new orders. You and Magma are on guard duty in half an hour. So get your ass out of bed," he grumbled.
"Fine, you mind givin' me some privacy, or you want a cheap show while I change?" she asked, sitting partially up, allowing the covers to fall down, exposing her shoulders but no lower. It also exposed something else, and even Spyke had to ask.
"Whose foot is that?"
Before Meltdown could reply, the covers near the bottom of her bed shifted, and another head popped up from underneath, giving Spyke an upside down smile of innocence that didn't fool him for one minute. Well, at least he'd found Magma.
"Hello sir," she said, giving a wave. Spyke wasn't impressed. Not was he terribly surprised. It was a well known fact that those two rarely slept in separate beds.
"Just finish up and get to work," he grumbled, closing the door as he stalked out to grab the other troops and give them their orders.
Magma swiveled, shifting under the covers so she could face Meltdown on the other side.
"Well?"
"Well he did say we could finish up," remarked Meltdown with a saucy smirk. Giggling, she and Magma both slipped back underneath the covers to finish what they'd started.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Storm dropped into the infirmary latter in the day to check on her injured soldiers. Angel lay there, his wings carefully stretched out and held in place by braces that kept them straight but did not cause him undue comfort. The hollow bones had broken when a crate had nearly crushed the poor man.
"Feeling better Angel?" she asked as she entered.
"Almost. My wings are nearly as good as new," he replied, nodding.
"Well keep off them for the next few days. You're being assigned guard duty while myself and the rest of the mutants under my lead travel to Dark Hollow to drive out some human trouble makers."
"Pity. I rather enjoy putting the fear of God in those stupid bastards," stated Angel.
"You'll have your chance," she stated quietly. Angel frowned lightly. Something was troubling the dark-skinned Weather Witch.
"Something wrong, Ororo?" he asked, using her first name. He was one of the few people he knew it, and one of the even fewer who had her permission to use it in private.
"I sense... a storm coming," she replied, her eyes large and fearful. "I sense dark clouds rolling in. I fear this war... is about to become far, far more terrible."
"Everything'll be fine," said Angel, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Magneto will lead us to glorious victory. And you and I will get to enjoy the fruits of victory when our world finally becomes paradise."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jubilee was one of those left behind on the mediocre duty of guarding the fortress in the absence of its leaders and primary troops. Her powers being what they were, she'd always been overlooked as more of a distraction and a burden than a real fighter.
So she'd been given to Wolverine's forces at the beginning. After she'd been rescued from the camps. Even they'd never considered her very dangerous. Oh, she could create a few sparks and maybe a little heat, but ultimately her powers were all flash and no substance. And she was just a twelve year old girl.
So she'd been given to Wolverine, and he'd worked her mercilessly. He'd been merciless to anyone under his command, really, but she he'd been particularly tough on. She should've been grateful for it, but at the time... she'd hated him for it.
Until that fateful day.
She remembered it like it was yesterday...
Jubilee sprang up, shooting her bursts of bright green, red, and blue energy into the air, blinding the soldiers. But they were quick to strike back. They'd been expecting mutant resistance. A stray grenade exploded near Jubilee, the blast knocking her onto her back.
That's when the humans brought out their secret weapon. The side of their makeshift fortress opened up and a great energy cannon came into view. Their experimental weapon. It was aiming... oh god, it was aiming right for Jubilee.
Wolverine didn't hesitate.
He flung himself right in the way, arms outstretched. Energy blasts stopped upon contact with the first thing they hit, though they did considerable damage to whatever that poor something was. Jubilee peered up in horror as the blast was launched, and it slammed full force into Wolverine.
The great man screamed... no, not screamed... roared defiantly as the blast tore into his body, reducing his clothing to shreds in second and his body underneath in only a little longer. He was tough but he wasn't invincible. And this point was driven home when a blast rocked the air. Jubilee was assaulted by a wave of fire that singed away her hair and part of her uniform. But when she managed to open her eyes... she saw Wolverine hadn't been so lucky.
Standing before her, arms still outstretched, was his adamantium skeleton. And then, as the wind shifted, it collapsed, shattered, and the metal bones hit the ground in a horrible pile that was the remains of Wolverine.
Jubilee crawled forward, picking up the great adamantium skull. His features were still frozen in defiance, even in death.
On that day, Jubilathon Lee had died alongside her mentor, Wolverine. And Jubilee was reborn. She was determined to prove herself.
Now if she could only have the chance.
Guard duty, indeed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So it was that the troops donned their uniforms, grabbed their weapons, readied themselves and prepared for battle. Each team needed only one aircraft for their members, and Magneto went along with Cyclops' team. He even sat in the co-pilot's chair. He might've been old but he wasn't dead yet.
Quicksilver zipped into the sight right behind them, as always eager to prove himself. One of the reasons Magneto had put him under Cyclops' command. His skill as a leader was unparallel, and only the now deceased Wolverine had been any better. And his son had improved considerably in the past few years. In another few months he might be ready for a team of his own. And fortunately so. His mutants on Asteroid M had nearly reached the fighting age.
The engine roared to life, as the teams zipped out of the fortress and into the air, heading towards Dark Hollow.
Magneto leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.
Author's Notes:
Oh silly me, italics also refer to flashbacks. And so we see more insight into the war as things start to heat up. And I don't just mean the scene with Tabby and Amara. The scene with Storm is, of course, foreshadowing what is to come. The reference to Wolverine being completely blasted away I actually did as a tribute to Scott McNeil, his voice actor. Another of the characters he voiced, Piccolo, got killed in a similar, equally painful manner protecting someone they cared about like an offspring. Besides, "Wolvie" and "Jubes" were always close in the comics. Surprised we don't see more of that in Evo before Jubilee left.
Sashi: Magneto is the least of Rogue's problems. Believe me, things are about to get much more intense. Glad you liked the insights into Colossus and Façade. I try to give all characters, especially the underused and underappreciated, their own chance to shine in the spotlight. And yes, I'm mean to the audience. I'm just naturally cruel.
Risty: More of lovable Façade later, believe me that's important. Sorry you didn't care for the insight into Colossus, but you know what they say. Quiet people tend to have the most going on upstairs. He's probably smarter than he lets on. And wouldn't you expect that from Scott? He's defied people like Logan before, why not Magneto now?
DoubleL27: Yes, yes I do. As for Kurt/Amanda, well, we'll see… I don't want a completely happy ending to the story, after all. It's angst. But I'll have at least a few characters be content once everything is said and done. Same with Scott… but I have plans for him.
Rogue14: Good thing this is in the fanfiction universe, where time passes as quickly or slowly as the author demands. Muwahahahahah! Next chapter soon, and the story will keep progressing.
Elrohirthewriter: Heads will roll, heads will be cut off, heads will be blown to pieces, heads will be sliced in half. It's all good. Glad you liked my roughly designed explanation of the 'Winding Way' and the introduction of DayTripper into the semi-Evo universe.
Todd fan: Oh, you shall see. And then you shall be afraid. Verrrry afraid. There shall be death and destruction a plenty for everyone of the Evo characters you care about! Muwahahahahahaha!