It's a mutantfull life
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "Well, two Turtle Doves. I'll tell you what you do: you keep one, and you give the other one to a very special person. You see, Turtle Doves are a symbol of friendship and love. And as long as each of you has your Turtle Dove, you'll be friends forever"
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I warn you all now before you read, this chapter contains character death. It 'aint pretty.
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Chapter 5 - Last cut is the deepest
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Todd blinked as he familiarised himself with his new surroundings. They were underground, that much was obvious, he brushed a hand over the wet semi-circle wall.
"We're in the Morlock tunnels", he murmered, then paused, looking at Percy, "Wanda's a Morlock?".
"Hardly", muttered Percy.
Before Todd could question him, Gambit and Pyro ran past. A small ball of flame hovered a few feet ahead of them, lighting the way, while the Cajun's eyes glowed slightly in the darkness.(1)
"De East tunnels are covered", said Remy into a communicator, "no sign of any life".
"Good", came Magneto's voice on the other side, "meet me in the main alley, we have captured all that we need".
"What are the Acolytes doin' in the alley?", whispered Todd.
"They can't hear you, you know", said Percy pointedly.
"Force of habit", replied Todd, only slightly louder, clearing his throat, "so, what're they up ta?".
"Recruiting", said Percy with a frown.
"Recruitin'?", asked Todd, furrowing his brow in confusion.
Percy waved his hand, the scene changing around them, the tunnels widening.
"Brace yourself", said Percy.
The scene finally finished morphing, becoming the large, open area in the middle of the sewers. This was the 'home camp' of the Morlocks, serving as their living, eating and sleeping area. Poorly crafted tents were pitched around the space, most with huge claw marks slit through them, others nothing but scraps of material. Much needed food had been thrown to the dirty floor, trodden in underfoot, while the small hut acting as a medical unit had been upended. Todd's eyes widened as the Morlock known as 'Healer' lay still amongst the wreakage.
"Who did this?", he said breathlessly.
"They did", said Percy, pointing ahead of them.
A small group of Morlocks were trapped in a corner of the alley, Sabertooth stalking backwards and forwards before them, growling dangerously. Magneto was standing a few feet away, his arms crossed.
"Any time would be good", he said.
"Got him!", came a voice from within the huddled Morlocks.
Todd blinked up, recognising the voice. His eyes widened as the speaker stood up and began walking out of the crowd, dragging something behind her. He may have recognised her voice, but she herself looked nothing like the young woman he'd fallen for the moment he met her.
"Wanda?", it came out in a soft whisper.
Wanda's hair was long, the red highlights she normally wore at the back were instead at the tips. She wore the same uniform she had in Todd's world, though this number sported a blood red cape and dark black high-heeled boots. But the biggest change Todd saw in her were her eyes. Those beautifull blue eyes he could stare at all day, or until she hit him with a hex bolt. Where once they were full of strength and a fierce determination of spirit, they were now cold and cruel. If the eyes were the windows to ones soul, Wanda's was now empty of everything but hatred.
"What happened to her?", he managed to get out.
Percy cleared his throat.
"Without you OR Nightcrawler around, there was no one to save her from her father's brainwashing of her", he explained, "so, instead of just changing her memories, Mastermind was forced to finish the entire job Magneto had planned for her. She was made a duitifull follower of Magneto's cause, one of his greatest Acolytes".
"No", replied Todd quietly, shaking his head.
"How can you speak like that?", asked Percy, "YOU have let her live with the half-job that was done to her in your world. Just so you could be closer to her, you let her believe that she and her father were close, and he'd never thrown her in a assylum".
"I.....", started Todd, then looked away, "it was for her own good".
"LOOK at her, Todd", replied Percy, waving a hand in her direction, "do you HONESTLY believe that THIS is for her own good?"
Todd forced himself to look at her again. She managed to get out of the crowd of Morlocks, dragging a small child along with her. Todd recognised him. He was that kid who could null mutant abilities...what was his name?
"Leech", replied Percy, as if reading his mind.
"Don't do that, it's creepy", said Todd.
"Here he is, Father", said Wanda, pushing the child in front of Magneto.
Dorian whimpered, trying to back away from the older mutant.
"Good", said Magneto, looking at Dorian, "null their powers. Now".
Dorian blinked as Magneto pointed to the Morlocks.
"N...no...please..I...I can't", he stammered.
Magneto narrowed his eyes.
"You can, and you will", he said, then smirked, "if you do, then they can join my ranks with much less pain, and fewer....unfortunate deaths".
"When did Magneto become so.....cruel?", said Todd, blinking, "I mean, he's always been a little out there but never...."
"Xavier was the only true friend he ever possesed", replied Percy, "when he was killed, Magneto decided that the only way to carry out his work was by brute force. Kill or be killed".
"What, you're afraid of trying to brainwash us with our powers working?", sneered a voice form the crowd.
Todd turned to see Spyke step forward, narrowing his eyes, holding a pair of spikes in his hands with a dangerous smirk.
"I fear nothing", replied Magneto simply, "but if you struggle you become.....damaged goods".
He gave a smirk.
"Sabertooth, provide an....example for the young man, won't you?".
Sabertooth gave a fanged sneer.
"My pleasure", he snarled, darting into the crowd, pulling out another Morlock child by her hair, the girl waving her hands around in a panic, her mouth open in a mute scream.
"Torpid!", yelled Leech, then looked at Magneto, "please...don't hurt her..please".
"Awww, looks like he's got a thing for the little shelia", chuckled Pyro from where he and Gambit had entered.
Magneto looked down at Leech, before smirking.
"Null their powers, and she'll be released", replied Magneto.
Leech frowned softly, glancing over at Topid, who shook her head rapidly.
"Sorry", said Leech quietly, before concentrating his mutant powers.
The Morlocks huddled in the corner became more human, the spikes covering Evan's body vanished as the Morlock's powers were voided. After a few moments, Leech looked up at Magneto.
"A promise is a promise", said Magneto, clicking his fingers.
Sabertooth gave a snarl, suddenly grabbing Torpid's tiny shoulders in one clawed hand while the other lay on her head. There was resounding snap of bone breaking before Sabertooth dropped her lifeless body to the ground, her head hanging limply.
"Holy.....", whispered Todd under his breath.
Leech looked at Torpid's still form in sheer horror, before narrowing his eyes, turning on Magneto.
"You.....you lied!", he shouted, "you said you'd release her!!!"
Magneto smiled.
"Death is the ultimate release, don't you agree?", he replied.
Suddenly, the Morlock's powers sprang back as Leech glared at Magneto.
"You KILLED her!!!".
"Technically, Sabertooth killed her", pointed out Magneto, then chuckled at Leech, "I know you're trying to null the abilities of myself and my team, but I am afraid it is a waste of time".
He smirked.
"You see I like to...dabble in science from time to time", he said, "the uniforms my team wear are formulated to protect them from any form of nullification. Nice, mmm?"
His smirk turned into a sneer as he lifted Leech into the air with a magnetic humm.
"Not nice for you, obviously", he growled, "you are standing in my way, Morlock, and there is only one way in which I deal with people like that. The exact way I dealt with that do-gooder Colossus".
He growled.
"I crushed him like a tin can, let's see if the same works for you".
ZZZAAAAAAP!.
Magneto quickly ducked as an electrical bast shot past him, Berzerker standing in front of the group of Morlocks with Evan.
"Leave the kid alone", he growled, "the Morlocks won't be YOUR lap dogs, unlike the rest of your team".
Magneto gave a dramatised sigh.
"I was SO looking forward to getting some new team members", he said, "but I think you Morlocks have outlived your usefullness....your powers aren't THAT grand, anyway. Wanda?"
Wanda smirked, throwing a hex-bolt at Leech, slamming him into one of the stone walls. The youngster gave a harsh cry, before dropping to the ground in a crumpled heap. Todd closed his eyes, turning his head away.
"You can't turn your eyes from the truth", intoned Percy quietly.
Todd let out a shuddery breath, looking up as Magneto dusted off his cape.
"Kill them all", said Magneto with a smirk.
Todd shook his head, before running down the tunnels, trying to block the sounds of anguished screams rising from the alley.
"Where are you going, Todd?", asked Percy, appearing beside him as soon as Todd stopped for breath.
"Home" replied Todd, "I can't take any more of this, yo. It's messed up".
"It is a world which would have existed without you in it", replied Percy simply, "the world is what we make it, Todd. We may not feel out lives have any meaningfull effect, but the truth is, every life has a point. You don't need to be a great leader, or a big film star. One makes their mark on the world by influencing the lives of the people they are closest to. Family, friends, loved ones, even enemies. The smallest of decisions can make the biggest of impacts, even if they are not directly seen, nor make any huge world impact. Do you understand now?".
Todd nodded mutely, closing his eyes.
"I get it, okay? Just...don't show me anymore, 'kay?", he whispered, "I just wanna go home".
He recieved no reply. He opened his eyes curiously, blinking around him. He was standing at the open door of the Brotherhood house. Snow had once again begun to fall outside.
He was home.
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(1) - Yes, Remy's eyes do glow in the dark. Well, they have whenever he's in a darkened scene in the comics. It's quite fun to see, actually.
Okay, this chapter was an echo of the Morlock Masacre, Gambit and Sabertooth were both a part of it in the cannon version. The hardest character change for me to write was actually Magneto, actually slaughtering other mutants is something I really can't see him doing, brainwashing them, yes, killing them, no. Anyway, one chapter left now, the obligatory 'changing of ways' ending, do review, until next time....