Rising Starrs!

To Sparky Genocide: Hey there, Sparky! Yeah, I highly doubt that it is a mutant thing. Not much is known about Tomax and Xamot. Maybe they were Siamese twins who were separated at birth. That was a pretty funny idea with Craig and Wanda. I'll see what I can do with that. Craig chasing Paul with a toy chainsaw. That's funny, although I think Craig would rather chase Paul with a real chainsaw. If I can fit it in, I'll see what I can do. I hope you like the new chapter! By the way, what happened to you! All your reviews disappeared! I'll e-mail you when I update!

To soulstress: Hey there soulstress! I read the new chapter of 'Tempest' and I loved it! What clues? A stapler, and a locket. I don't really get it. I'm not that good at mysteries. I'm no Sherlock Holmes. Yes indeed, knockout gas is everyone's greatest foe. Well, maybe not for X23, Logan, Sabertooth, and Ace. They all have healing factors. I thought it'd be funny if the sharks noticed that Cobra Commander wasn't quite all there. I think animals in the Misfit-verse can sense psychos. Indeed, the heroes have to beat the bad guys. They're the bad guys! They must be beaten! They're evil. I hope you like the new chapter!

To Raliena: Hey there Rae! Two words about that: Dramatic license! It's used a lot in stories. It's used to help create conflict. It can be unrealistic at times, but it's a useful thing. Don't worry about it, Rae. Just keep reading and reviewing! Hope you like the new chapter!

To Red Witch: Hey there, Red! I read the new chapters of "This Soap Opera Called Life" as well as all your new one-shots. I loved them! Poor Todd can't get a break. I want to see Al in heat. That'd be so funny! I want to get some Monty Python DVDs someday, even though I don't get the humor sometimes. Weird, considering I'm half-English myself. I went down to a video store, and I saw The Meaning of Life for rent. I should've rented it, but I picked up Slap Shot instead. Oh well. The Hanson Brothers are hilarious. Poor Coke machine. Anyway, I hope you like the new chapter!

Disclaimer: "We are Scotsmen, hey! We are Scotsmen, hey!" - Iron Man and Beast

Chapter 10: Release!

Mindbender's Secret Lab

"Uhhhnh…" Paul moaned as he opened his eyes. He found himself in a cell. "Oh man, not again…" Paul fingered the collar around his neck. "This is definitely déjà vu all over again…"

"Good to have you back, little Star boy." Dr. Mindbender grinned. Paul blinked.

"You again, huh?" Paul replied with a deadpan look.

"Yes, me." Dr. Mindbender grinned. "I went to a lot of trouble to bring you back. Unfortunately, you and your trouble-making brother just had to bring the Misfits and the Joes with you." Dr. Mindbender jumped back in fright when Craig leapt out of the darkness. He grabbed the bars and snarled.

"WHERE ARE WE, MINDBENDER?!" Craig roared. Dr. Mindbender smirked.

"Let's just say you won't need to know." Dr. Mindbender laughed. "I think I will use your new friends as my first test subjects." Craig snarled and Paul gulped. Dr. Mindbender laughed as he walked off.

"What's going on here?" Althea wondered.

"Dr. Mindbender had been doing experiments to figure out the mysteries of the X-Gene." Paul explained.

"He's been capturing urchins, particularly ones with mutant powers, and experimenting on them." Craig finished. "Looks like your friends are going to be in big trouble if we don't get out of here, Delgado. Those collars prevent the use of mutant powers." Althea nodded.

"We Misfits have faced them before. They can be broken. Besides, I have more than just powers." Althea smirked. She spat out a lockpick. Paul whistled.

"Wow."

"Ninjas are always prepared." Althea smirked. She used the pick to free herself of the collar, and then she used it to unlock herself. "Mindbender may be a genetics whiz, but he's a complete dipstick when it comes to catching and restraining people." Althea grinned.

"No kidding." Craig blinked. Althea snuck over and freed the Starr Brothers. "You guys go that way and help free the other captives. I'll take care of the Joes and the other Misfits."

"Since when do I follow your orders?" Craig scowled at Althea.

"You got a problem, Craig Starr?" Althea growled.

"Not now, you guys!" Paul grabbed Craig. "C'mon! Let's go help the others!" Paul and Craig ran off, down deeper into the holding area, to help the urchins that were captive. Althea raced to help her fellow Misfits and Joes.

"Why are we following her orders?" Craig scowled.

"We promised the others we'd get help." Paul said simply. "And we did."

The lab control room

"WHOOO!!!!" Tomax whooped as he and Xamot played a game on a pair of portable game systems linked by a cable. Xamot cursed.

"Well, those Misfits and Joes are under lock and key." Dr. Mindbender grinned happily as he walked in.

"Dr. Mindbender, I'd like to warn you…" Tomax started.

"That those Joes and Misfits can be wily." Xamot finished. "They've escaped perils before…"

"So I would not underestimate them." Finished Tomax. The escape alarm sounded. "I am…"

"Not surprised in the least." Xamot smirked.

"ARRGH!!" Dr. Mindbender screamed. He started to throw a tantrum, but then he stopped. "Wait a minute…" Dr. Mindbender smirked. "I prepared for this situation. I have the thing for this situation. I took blood samples of the urchin mutants we captured. I used the blood to create an enforcer."

"Then why did you not send it…" Xamot exclaimed.

"To get those Starr Brothers in the first place?!" Tomax finished in an equally shocked tone.

"Because it wasn't finished when those Starr boys escaped, that's why!" Dr. Mindbender snapped. "Besides, it wasn't intent for capturing mutants. It was something I was going to present to Cobra Commander as a brand spanking new weapon of destruction."

Well, well, well! Looks like our heroes are in trouble! What insanity will happen next? What's Mindbender's secret weapon? Can Craig and Paul rescue their fellow captives? Will our heroes save the day? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!