Halloween Havoc!
To Aaron: Virus never was quite right in the head. Besides, he believes everyone else, including the Southside Misfits, are below him, so one could imagine him being cowardly when he encounters other mutants with offensive powers like Vixen and Fyre do. Enjoy the new chapter, man!
To SickmindedSucker: Yeah, I imagined Duncan not being able to do much besides stand there and drool. Yeah, Fyre has a bit of a temper. It's her Irish heritage, the same heritage that makes her a redhead. You see, Lisa is half-Irish, and half-Cambodian. Sure, you can borrow her. She's crazy, flirty, and she's a pyromaniac. Like Pyro, she can control flame, and she can also generate flame and fly like the Human Torch. Also, she has a major thing for Pyro. She wants to be his girlfriend. She's also an avid keyboardist. I hope you like this new chapter, full of madness!
To Red Witch: Hey there, Red! I'm glad you liked the Zombie Duncan torture! I do hope to put in some more. I've been keeping up with your work and I loved it so far! I see you used the nano-tech storyline from the new Joe comics. I wonder, what other storylines will you adapt? The Tyler Wingfield storyline? Return of Serpentor? I can't wait for more insanity from you, Red! Oh yeah, and enjoy this new chapter!
To Sparky Genocide: Yeah, I figured the Simpsons was your inspiration. The zombies dancing like the ones from Michael Jackson's video for 'Thriller'? yeah, I can see that, man. I can so see that. Ahh, Michael Jackson in the thriller days, he was at his best then. Duncan tangoing with Virus, and the mad Dreadnok screaming to lead? Yeah, I can see that. Virus is that arrogant. No, I have not seen "Valor vs. Venom" yet, and who is Over-Kill? I remember in the new comics, there is a character called Over-Kill, and he was the S.A.W. Viper who murdered several Joes, including Doc, during the Trucial Abysmia storyline back in the Marvel GI Joe comics. Is that him? I think Virus may also get along with Donald Pierce, a cyborg himself. I hope you ike the new chapter!
To Metal Dragon1: Exo and Multiple are still in town, and they're fine. Jamie's pretty resourceful, and Exo's powers protect him from Virus's zombie nanites. If he gets infected, all he has to do is turn into a robot form before they take control, and he's good. Knowing Exo, he's probably in a robot mode right now. Yeah, but Exo probably won't become Liger 0 Panzer (The Panzer armor got its name from a German tank. The Jager armor I think was inspired by Chuck Yeager, the pilot who broke the sound barrier the first time. Appropriate since the Jager armor allows Liger to move at incredible speed. I don't know about the Schneider. Probably for the comedian Rob Schneider and his "cutting" wit, heh heh) until he's in a safe place, as the cartoon had established that the Panzer armor was so heavy, Liger 0 could barely move in it. I can hardly wait for the new chapter of "Take the Long Way Home"! I hope you like the new chapter!
To Raliena: Hey Rae! Well, Virus considers everyone else (except Althea) below him, so he doesn't really care. You think Jamie should be a Misfit, huh? Personally, I'm keeping him in the X-men because unlike the Misfits, the X-Men need a little multiplying guy. And yes, Multiple can be one dangerous guy. I hope you like the new chapter!
To RogueFanKC: Hey there RogueFan! Yeah, well, Jean doesn't like Jenni much for obvious reasons. Wanda and Taryn could be friends, but the thing is, wouldn't Wanda get jealous if Taryn saw Craig? Well, Kitty knows Jenni, and Jenni didn't try anything with Peter. He just looked at her and WHAM!!! I hope you like this new chapter!
Disclaimer: "Oh my God! The quarterback is toast!" - Clarence Gilyard, Die Hard
Chapter 9: Confrontation!
In town
"Jamie, hurry!" Timmy yelled. Multiple and Exo had ducked into a magazine shop and were hiding behind a counter. Several cyber-zombies were lurching towards them. Exo transformed himself into G1 Soundwave. His mutation also caused him to take on several personality traits and abilities of the robot he became. In the case of Soundwave, he developed the Decepticon's ability to deploy warriors in the form of cassette tapes, and his analytical talents. Exo spoke in a cool mechanical voice. "Analysis: Humans with molecular structures altered into bio-mechanical forms by nanites. Possibility of restoration to normal: Positive. Objectives: Stop zombies without causing serious harm, and return to Xavier Institute for further analysis." He pressed a button on his shoulder, causing a flap on his chest to open. "All forces, Operation: Stun. Engage zombies, but do not harm." Jamie peeked up and watched.
"Wow." Jamie blinked as he saw Exo fire what appear to be several brightly-colored over-sized cassette tapes from his chest.
"Ravage…" Exo ordered. A black-and-gray tape hit the ground and turned into a snarling robotic panther. "Rumble and Frenzy…" A blue-and-purple tape and a black-and-red tape turned into a pair of twin robots with piledriver arms. "Laserbeak and Buzzsaw…" A black-and-white tape and a black-and-gold tape turned into a pair of twin condors. "Ratbat…" A purple-and-silver tape unfolded into a bat. "Slugfest…" A green-and-red tape transformed into a stegosaur. "Overkill…" A white-and-black tape unfolded into a tyrannosaur. "Beastbox…" A purple-and-orange tape transformed into a gorilla. "Squawktalk…" A green-and-blue tape, the final ones in "Soundwave's" little collection, unfolded itself into a robotic bird. The robotic beasts stood in front of the counter, snarling. "Attack." The beasts engaged the zombies, careful not to harm them. Rumble and Frenzy called upon their piledriver arms to knock them off their feet. Slugfest, Ravage, Beastbox, and Overkill rammed zombies and threw them around. Squawktalk, Buzzsaw, Laserbeak, and Ratbat flew around in the air, using their aerial tactics to drive the zombies crazy.
"Man, you know your tapes." Jamie blinked. Exo turned his head to him.
"The tapes have provided an avenue of escape. Recommendation: Leave at once."
"Right!" Jamie and Exo ran out. "Okay, Exo! Let's go!" The two boys…well, boy and boy-sized robot, ran out. "Okay, Exo! Make with a car mode and let's get the fudge out of here!"
"My alternate mode in this form is a cassette player. I cannot change into another robot unless I get back my tapes." Exo replied coolly. He looked at the 'battle'. "Return!" He commanded. The tapes came back to Exo, transforming into their tape modes, and flying back into his chest compartment. A mist surrounded Exo, and he transformed into a blue robot with downward-pointing airplane wings on his back and a cockpit on his chest. He transformed into a blue-and-white F-15. "Thundercracker Express!"
The Xavier Institute
The X-Men and the Southside Misfits stood at the Institute's front lawn, in costume.
Wow. WrongWay thought as he looked at the New Mutants. All these different people. Different backgrounds, even. I guess the X-Gene is an all-encompassing thing. He looked at Danielle. And it is nice to meet another Native American mutant around here. I thought I was the only one. Shows how much I know.
"Be ready." Scott told the X-Men.
"I say we tear the &$#&$ gates the $&# open and take those &$#$# down." Trouble grumbled.
"Easy, Eric." Jason held out a hand. "I know these guys get your temper going, but you have to keep your cool." Jason smiled. "Let's figure out where these zombies came from."
"I scanned the zombies." Johnny B said as he scanned the zombies with his tricorder. "According to these readings, the zombies are people!"
"How did that happen?!" Scott exclaimed.
"Well, according to my readings, their bloodstreams have been infected by some form of nanite. Tiny robots are in their bloodstreams. And they have altered the molecular structures of these people and built cyborg enhancements for them."
"Ingenious!" Forge exclaimed. "You'd have to be a real genius to create something like that!"
"And we know one person who is both smart enough and twisted enough to create something like that." Jesse grumbled. "That psycho Virus." Laser fire streaked by the sky. A screaming Vixen and Fyre flew down.
"He's crazier than me!" Lisa exclaimed. A cackling Virus landed in front of the X-Men and Southside Misfits.
"What did you do, Virus?!" Jason roared. Virus smirked.
"Spelled the end of the X-Men, that's what. And once I complete this test run, I shall create more cyber-zombies, and Toad shall finally get his!"
Uh oh! Looks like our heroes may have a problem! What insanity will happen next? Will Virus's mad plan succeed? Will our heroes win the day? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!