Attention: Generation X and their villians, as well as any other mutant mentioned in this story, is property of Marvel Comics. The character Richard Cale is named after family relations. Any other reference to anything copywrighted is a chance happening.

Win Some, Lose Some

A Hollow Victory

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I. Mondo
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Mondo paced the room as he waited. When the others left on the mission, it was decided that two people would take turns guarding the girls until the others returned. Right now, it had been Darrett's and Gabe's turn, but that didn't have Mondo worried. He was worried about Daria. They had been a couple for a while now, and he worried alot about her. Normally, he never let it show, but it was times like these when it was evident. The only person not given the task of guarding the girls was Dr. McCoy, but he did want to look at the Cerebro unit that the school had. As he paced, he heard Sean say, "Worried about Daria, lad?"

He nodded and said, "I wish we could contact them." He knew that would be out of the question since it would ruin the element of surprise that they were going for. However, he had to admit something felt odd to him, but he couldn't place what it was. He just said, "I just have a bad feeling that something is going to go wrong."

He then head Paige say, "I wish I could contact Jono as well Mondo, but we can't think that the worst has happened right now."

He then heard Angelo say, "Besides, Claudette and her crew made the mistake of kidnapping Yvette. We've seen what Rich does in that case."

He was about to agrue that one, since one time he was unconscious, when he noticed something entering the room. It was a purple mist. He knew right away what was happening, and quickly forgot his worry for Daria. He just said, "Sean, I think the attack is starting."

He saw Sean nodded and say, "Everyone get ready." Soon, the front door smashed open, and Mondo saw the rest of Emplate's hellions. As Vincente reformed, Mondo saw Bulwark, D.O.A, and Murmur enter. It was going to be a one on one battle by the looks of it. Before any of the fighting could start, he realized something. Although Emplate's minions were there, Emplate wasn't. Mondo quickly morphed into the floor as Vincente took a swipe at him, and said, "Banshee, I think we have a problem."

He saw that Husk had taken an steel-like form and went up against Bulwark. and Skin had Murmur all tangled up. He heard Sean through the sonic screams his was launching and D.O.A, "Why do ye say that, lad?"

Mondo continued his battle with Vincente as he said, "Emplate isn't part of this group." He couldn't look to see how anyone reacted to it.

He then heard Angelo say, "That means it is going to be Gabe and Darrett vs Emplate and Aura. If they can fend off those two, the girls will be ok." It sounds alright, but Mondo could not shake that feeling of dread. He couldn't help but think that Emplate had an ace up his sleeve.

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II. Darrett
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Darrett stood at the door to the room all the girls were placed in. Closest he could figure, he had the most boring of all the tasks. At least he hoped it would be boring, but he had a bad feeling in his gut. It was only magnified when he heard Gabe say, "What was that?" He had also heard something, like a door breaking.

He then said, "I think Emplate has finally decided to attack. Maybe one of the girls managed to contact him." The thought sickened him, but the only reason he could see such treason was if they thought they were saving their own lives.

He then hear Gabe say, "Listen, I don't know much about what Cartier's son looks like now, but I know he's forced to a respirator." Darrett just nodded and Gabe said, "And it would cover most of his face, right?"

He knew where Gabe was going with his questions before he could answer the next one. Emplate had already entered this building because what was happening over at the main building was a distraction. He slowly turned and said, "Where is he, Gabe." He watched as Gabe pointed and faced the direction.

That's when he almost lost it. He did see Emplate and Aura, but Aura had gained weight. Also, he saw Freeze Frame. He wondered if this was all part of Claudette's plan, until Emplate said, "Well, well, well. Two of you versus three of us. Odds don't seem right, do they? Now, I think it would be wise for both of you to move aside. The girls will be more use to me, especially now."

It was then Darrett reallized the full extent of Aura's state. He was filled with disgust and revoltion. He was started to run forward in rage when he hit a wall. He then saw Aura's hand was up. She just said, "Sorry, but we will be having some little mouths to feed."

Soon, he felt like he was moving backwards, and he heard Gabe say, "What's happening?" Gabe probably had no idea of Aura's powers, and Darrett didn't know how much time he had to explain them to him.

He started to say, "It's Aura's power. She can control her aura so she can..." The words stopped when he lost his breath. They were both pushed against a wall, and having the wind knocked out of them. He started feeling light headed and realized that they had failed to protect the girls.

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III. Emplate
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Emplate watched as Darrett and his father's friend collapsed to the floor when Elane released them. The two were unconscious, and now all they need to do was collect the four girls. He turned to Freeze Frame and said, "You are ready, are you not?" When the boy nodded, Emplate said, "I know you can have your power include more than on person, but it will not last as long as it usually does, but it will be long enough. Once we have the girls, the others will leave. There is no room for foul ups now."

He watched as Freeze Frame nodded again and said "I understand, sir. I also know that my reward will be the girl who helped you. I won't fail you, sir."

Emplate liked the power he had over Freeze Frame. He had been a lackey of his sister's, but he failed her and this was his fate. He told the boy if he failed him, he was lunch. A simple, but very effective threat. He then heard Elane say, "Ok, they are out. Let's get the ladies."

Emplate than kicked openned the door. He saw all the ladies cowering in the corner. He entered with Freeze Frame just behind him, and Elane stayed near the door. He slowly approached the girls and said, "Now ladies, I think you know what I'm here for." He could see the fright in their eyes, all except the girl named Britney's eyes. She thought she could save the others.

He watched as Britney pushed the mutant girl, Christina forward and said, "Here she is, just like I promised. Now let the rest of us be, like you said. You said you only need mutants." He saw the shock on all the girls' faces, especially Christina.

He heard Christina say, "I should have known you'd do this." He had to enjoy the fact that he was about to shatter the other girl's hope.

He just moved forward, with Freeze Frame still at his side and said, "You shouldn't be upset with her. She was only doing what she thought would save her friends. She's right that I only need mutants, but I know that your abililty turns normal girls into mutant girls. It's that simple. By enhancing their figures, they become mutants. You'll give me an endless supply of mutants to feed on, starting with your three friends. However Britney will have a special fate. She will belong to my newest minion here, Freeze Frame." A new look of horror crossed everyone's eyes, but more so in Britney. Before they could scream in horror, he said, "Now Freeze Frame."

With that, they were frozen, and he heard Aura say, "Ok, shall we go?" He nodded and she said, "Direct me to the new hideout, my love, and we shall have a little fun."

He smiled inwardly and pulled all of them into the beyond, with her to protect them. As they moved, he just said, "When we reach the new hideout, in time, I will be a new man, with more power, but the same Emplate." He saw the smile on her face. He had told her what would happen if Claudette managed to kill their father. It would mean more troubles for Generation X, and maybe even the world.

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IV. Yvette
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Yvette watched as the fight between Rich and Black Tom continued. She was afraid for Rich. She had watched as Black Tom fired shot after shot at Rich, and Rich kept deflecting them with his sword. As the fight continued, she heard Rich say, "How can you still be alive?"

She watched as Black Tom continued to blast at him and said, "Lad, ye only killed me clone, just like your buddies stopped my second clone of Mondo. It was ashame to have the first one go soft, and I worked on toughing up the second clone, as well as the real one."

That explained the Mondo that grabbed her. Of course this meant that they would have to explain it to their Mondo, but that could wait until the got back. She heard Rich say then, "You mean to tell us that the Mondo we have at our school is a clone."

Another blast for Tom almost sent Rich flying as she heard him exclaim, "Aye lad, I can do alot with clones. If I wanted to, I could clone ye, and take all yur money. Of course, I'd have to kill ye first." With that, Yvette saw a blast knock Rich off his feet and send him flying to the floor.

When Rich hit the floor, she heard something hit the ground near him. She looked over to see his glasses. She just heard him say, "I can't see." She was more scared now then before, and puzzled. Did he still need his glasses to see? Was Dr. McCoy wrong? Did Rich still need his glasses? She watched as he looked for them, and saw Black Tom getting closer. Tom was moving in for the death strike. Then she noticed it, Rich was searching for his glasses, but never touched them, even though his had was near them a coulpe of times. He was acting like he couldn't see at all. It was all an act, and Black Tom was walking right into a trick.

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V. Black Tom
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Black Tom walked over to the form of Richard Cale. Without glasses, the boy couldn't see, and was most vulnerable. In his mind, this was the best way to do the deathstrike. When the boy was helpless. It was basically what the lad did to him. He smiled and said, "Time for ye to die, Richard. Give me regards to me clone."

He was stunned when Richard said, "It's not my time to go yet, Tom." He was more startled when the boy swung his sword and sliced his sheleighle in half. Tom realized it wasn't luck that did that, especially as the boy planted a kick on him that sent him flying.

Tom got up from the kick and saw the boy was now standing. He was stunned, and realized that he had been had. "Ye never need the glasses in the first place, did ye?" When the boy shook his head, Tom then said, "Ye were playing me for a fool?"

The boy started to advance, and Tom saw that one hand was now a claw. "Couldn't play you for an intellegent being." Tom started to back up and glanced over at the one spot in the room. He had told Mondo that if there was a problem, to be there. Indeed there was the sign that the boy had made it to the spot.

Tom started to move towards the spot, and said, "Ye should have put more thought into yur plan, lad. Ye should have known that I would be prepared if things went sour." With that, he through his sheleighle at the boy, and bolted for the spot.

He glanced back to see the boy move towards him and bat the staff downward. He smiled as the staff tripped the lad up. When the boy hit the floor, he heard the lad say, "Don't think I'll let you get away."

He smiled and looked over at the lad when he reached the spot. "It's not like ye can turn me in, lad. The world knows I'm dead, or would ye care to explain that we are both mutants. Maybe another day, we will meet again. Mondo, get me out of here." He saw the shock on the boy's face as the ground around him appeared to form a protective barrier. Now he was safe, and might have to plan for the next attack he would make, but maybe not against this Richard Cale. Not now, but maybe later.

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VI. Rich
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Rich was still in shock as Tom sank out of sight. However, Tom did have a point. Due to what happen months ago, the world had accepted that Black Tom Cassidy was dead. Rich did have to admit that it explain the Juggernaut appearence. He then remember that Yvette was still tied up. He ran over to her and started to untie her. As he did so, he just said, "I'm sorry that all this happened to you."

He could tell Yvette was looking at him when she said, "It's alright now. Now, I'm just worried about Cartier. Did he come with you here?"

He could hear the concern when she asked the question. She knew something, but still couldn't tell him. He looked her in the eyes as he continued to untie her and said, "Yes, he did. Is he in trouble?"

He was almost startled when she said, "Claudette is planning to kill him, and you know what that would mean." He did know what that meant. Emplate would be a more dangerous foe than he was now.

When he finally got the last of the bindings off her, he removed the collar and said, "We have to get to the others, and warn them of Claudette's plan."

He almost frozen when Yvette said, "There's more. I think Claudette is going to try and seperate herself from Monet. She managed to get a clone of herself from Black Tom."

He looked at her and he knew she saw the worry in his eyes. "You mean to say that Claudette plans to make her and Monet seperate, yet equal." He watched as Yvette nodded. This was definately not a good thing. Cartier had come along in hopes of defeating Claudette and regaining Monet. It made their situation all the more dangerous. He then said aloud, "We have to get out of the room, and back to the others."

When they reached the door and openned it, Rich saw Clarice standing there, saying, "Skitz, something's wrong. Emma just said we have people down." Rich had a feeling he knew who was down. He and Yvette followed Clarice down the hall to the room they had entered from. He wasn't surprised to see Cartier on the floor, mortally wounded, but he was surprised to see Daria extremely shook up, and Jubilee unconscious.

He walked over to Emma, who stayed near Cartier and said, "What happened," even though he had a good idea.

He was almost startled to hear Cartier say, "Claudette ambushed us. Stabbed me from behind."

Rich took Cartier's hand and said, "Stay strong. We'll try and get you taken care of at the school." He was almost crestfallen when Cartier shook his head. Cartier knew it would be pointless. Rich knew it would be pointless, too. He could tell that Cartier might not even make it back to the school. He just said, "We have to hurry. What happened to Daria and Jubilee?"

He then heard Jono say "Apparently, we had another evil Mondo incident, and I think that means Black Tom might still be alive?"

Rich just nodded and said, "Still be it isn't. 'Is' is correct. Luckily, we have the good one at the school. Let me guess on Jubilee, Q.T. got her." He watched as Everett nodded and then said, "Ok everyone, we need to get out of here. I want to see if we can help Cartier if we can." However, Rich felt that was only wishful thinking.

As they left the hideout, he heard Yvette say, "Your nightmare was about this, wasn't it?" He nodded and he hoped that the rest of it, that he could remember, wouldn't come true.

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VII. Sean
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Sean was almost in shock when Gabe said that the girls were gone. Emplate had executed a perfect attack, something he would not have been able to do if the rest were here. He just shook his head in disbelief and said, "Alright, what had happened when Emplate's minions attacked us." He really didn't want to know, but he knew Rich would want to know.

He waited as Gabe composed himself and said, "Well, Darrett and I were guarding the door, like you had suggest, and then Emplate, Elane, and a third person appeared."

The third person made Sean feel like something already tipped the scale in Emplate's favor. He just said, "Who was this third person?"

He was shocked when Darrett said the answer. "It was Freeze Frame. I guess Claudette gave him to Emplate since she didn't have Rich to give to Emplate."

Sean shook his head in disgust. This was not a good thing. Sean then said, "So the three of them knocked the both of ye out and took the girls. Rich is not going to be happy. He's going to have to explain to the parents why the girls are gone."

He was stunned to hear Darrett say, "It gets worse."

Before Sean could answer the question, he heard someone say, "What gets worse?" He turned to see that it was Emma as she and Rich were carrying Cartier St. Croix in what was left of the door. "Don't tell me Emplate attacked?"

Sean just nodded and said, "Yes he did, and he took all the girls." He saw the crestfallen look on Rich's face. He knew that Rich must have felt like a terrible failure at that point.

Rich then said, "Why would he take all the girls, and where is Dr. McCoy? We need him here."

Almost on cue, Sean saw Hank show up, and say, "I heard Emma call, don't worry. As to answer the question about the others, I checked the Cerebro unit, and apparently Chris's powers didn't just improve their looks, but made them mutants while she was near them."

He saw Rich's face as the conclusion hit him. "That means Emplate will keep Chris alive, but sup on the others. Dr. McCoy, what about Cartier?"

He watched as Dr. McCoy approach Cartier, and Sean finally noticed that Cartier was not moving, and had been covered in blood. Sean had a grim feeling, and it was confirmed when Hank just shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, Richard, but I'm afraid there is nothing I can do." Cartier had been killed on this mission.

Sean just looked at Rich and said, "Lad, what happened?"

He then saw that Everett was carring Jubilee in, and Jono and Yvette was trying to comfort Daria. Rich just said, "Claudette wasn't alone. Q.T. knocked out Jubilee, but Everett managed to prevent the same fate. Claudette and Golden ambushed Emma and Cartier, the result of that was Cartier's death. Claudette had a partner, and I'm sorry to say that it was your cousin, being alive and well." Sean felt like he had been hit by a ton of bricks on that one, and Rich continued. "He had a version of Mondo there, and he did a number on Daria. Daria is still shook up, but we are getting her calm. Juggernaut almost flatten Clarice and myself, but Clarice kept him busy, while I had to face Black Tom. And to add to the disaster, now that Cartier's dead, Emplate will be gaining alot more power, which will make him a more dangerous advesary."

Sean then said, "Well lad, let's hope that this is the worst of it. Darrett said something, but I don't think it can make this feel any worse than it is." He looked over at Darrett and hoped he was right.

He watched as the boy had a blank expression on his face as he said the most devestating words any of them would ever hear. "Elane's pregnant." He turned and saw that Rich and Yvette had fainted dead away, while most of the others were in more shock than they had been. Darrett then said, "That about how I felt when I noticed it." Sean realized that just that shock alone could have caught them off guard. Now everyone had to hope that Emplate's child would not be an Emplate as well.

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VIII. Grimore
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It had been a week since the disaster had happend, and Grimore just stayed at his masters' side as they stood at the door. He watched as Rich said, "Thanks for staying longer than you needed to, Gabe. Have a safe trip back."

He heard the man say, "I will try to, and you take care of yourself as well. Alot will be resting on your shoulders now." Grimore knew what Gabe meant, but he couldn't bring himself to say it aloud. He watched as Gabe got into the van and Sean drove off.

They closed the door, and Rich and Yvette turned to head back to their place on the school grounds. Over the course of the difficult week, Rich had informed all the girls parent, telling them how all the events came to be. He stayed by their side and said, "This is not your fault, sir. You were not to know about what Marius had done, and how Marius had tricked the girls."

He watched as Yvette just said, "Grimore's right, my love. You couldn't have know about him having Freeze Frame with him."

He then said, "I should have expected that Elane would have ended up pregnant. But what will happen when Marius gets Cartier's powers."

Grimore knew that Rich wouldn't like hearing the next part. "Most likely, Marius will no longer look like he does. He will no longer fear being pulled into the beyond. He will have magical abilities that he will not use for good."

Rich then said, "And with Christina in his clutches, he will be capturing normal girls now." He saw the regret on Rich's eyes. They spoke much, and he could see that Yvette now felt regret about it all.

Grimore just said, "It was bad timing that everything happened like this, sir. You got into a no win situation. Either way, you would have lost, and you did what you thought you could to prevent that. No one will fault you for that."

Rich just shook his head and said, "No one but myself."

Grimore then watched as Yvette had picked up a letter and said, "Dear, I think this might be important. It's from England."

Grimore watched as Rich openned it and read it. "It's from Her Majesty. She said that due to events and that England is realizing how mutants should be equal. She wants the Paladin to return to England as an official advisor."

Grimore looked at him and said, "How do you plan to reply?" He could see the two both think about it. If Richard accepted the post, it would mean they would have to leave the school to stay in England. What would they decide on? Grimore decided that right now, it would be best if they had some time alone to think about it. Maybe they would accept, and if they did, what would happen to the team they were a part of?