General Lassiter was wearing his usually chipper disposition. Duane, Xavier, Overhaul and the twins, Hack and Slash all were sitting around a table, Lassiter at the end infront of a large monitor. "The Mission, ladies and gentlemen, was a success. But dont let it get to your head. There were numerous factors that could have compromised the mission and lost all of us our jobs."
"Like what?" Duane demanded
"That act with the mayor was hardly favorable to us." General Lassiter said, showing obvious restraint with his temper.
"Well, he was being stubborn and I had to get my point across. I knew the urgency of the situation with the aliens and everything but he just wasn't getting the point." Duane said to his own defence.
Lassiter slammed his fist onto the ground. "And threatening to kill his own daughter!"
Duane shook his head. "I wasn't going to do it. I knew that'd be the bottling point, I knew his type, its the only thing he really had going for him. He wouldn't let it be taken away."
"Regardless, it was a wreckless act Bannts, He described your face to perfect accuracy, he didnt buy that you were dead and it took alot of effort on the governments part to cover this up." Lassiter continued.
"Listen, you wanted this over with. It was done, the vampires are gone and the town is safe. Hopefully they'll learn not to be so cocky." Duane said, reclining his chair and putting his feet up on the table.
"Get your feet of the damn table Bannts! Christ, where the fuck are your manners." Lassiter spat at Duane, clearly angry.
"Jesus-fucking-christ General, what the fuck is wrong?" Duane asked back.
"What the 'fuck' is wrong? Duane? You're what the fuck is wrong. Your leadership was in many situations questionable. It was your second mission so that's only a warning. But one more slip up and someone, more qualified will recieve your leadership position." The general spat.
"Well maybe if you wouldn't throw us into such bullshit situations with such inane intelligence maybe we'd be able to back ourselves on the field without resorting to questionable acts." Duane was defending himself and the general was not backing down.
"Those questionable acts could have gotten us out of buisness. And I dont know about you, but do you ever think to where your teammates would end up. Xavier would be back in Japan, where nobody wants him. No Family, No Friends, Overhaul would be in jail. Hack and Slash would be back in a mental home. And you would be slowly losing your will to live as you lived the rest of your days in solitary confinement." Lassiter continued with his verbal assault.
"This is hardly fair General. There was no other way to go about that. Nobody was talking to us. Might as well just gave us blindfolds and told us to fucking smell our way around for the vampires." He spat. "Fuck I hate vampires.."
"Duane. Your actions, even though they may have worked. Were irrational and of poor judgement. I am almost positive there were numerous situations that you could have perhaps taken different courses of action." The General was still clearly mad but calming himself down.
Duane groaned. "For fuck sakes!" He continued, "Will somebody back me up here? That first night we were lucky to run into anything. And we nearly got ourselves killed. We couldn't find anybody willing to talk until we found Isabelle!"
"The butcher." The General asked.
"The butchers wife... but I guess after those vampires, the butcher." He said with a long breath. "She was the only one who went out of her way to cooperate with us."
"At the expense of our cover Mr. Bannts." Xavier spoke as if he were jabbing needles into the voodoo doll that would belong to Duane.
"Is this true?" The general asked.
"Yes, but we trusted he-" Duane was interupted by the general once more.
"You blew your only cover to get information. And what did it get you?" The general asked curiously.
"It got us the leader, who we eliminated." Duane said quite proudly
"At the comprimise of your cover." The general was clearly frustrated. "Your actions were brash." He took a deep breath. "But this senseless arguing is getting us away from the point. Bannts, you'll recieve a warning and just for heavens sake. Next time use some caution and maybe think things through a little more thoroughly."
"I'm... I'm sorry." Duane said, slightly defeated, slightly uninterested in giving up this fight. But he knew it was hopeless.
There was a momentary silence where the general only sat in thought. Duane looked at his shoes, noticing a large spot of blood that ruined the tan color of the boot. Xavier was sitting rather upright with his eyes closed. Overhaul was sitting hunched over the table as if he were about to fall asleep and Hack and Slash were sitting politely. Waiting for the resumation of the meeting
Lassiter looked at them all curiously, taking a deep breath. "The military is rebounding to take action against this alien outbreak. The Aliens have taken up stronghold in possibility city."
"Possibility City?" Duane looked up, suddenly interested.
"The word is a couple members of Team Mutant X have been captured by the aliens and noone has seen anything from them. So I guess that's our cue people." General said with a sigh. Clearly the General was no more pleased with this than duane was now.
Duane looked onward and his mind was racing, two members, who? He had been curious of how the team was doing. He hadnt' even seen his friends since his 'death' and he hadn't heard anything of the team until now. And it wasn't positive. He sighed. To think of it now, was actually the first time he'd even given his friends thought.
Breaking the new string of silence, Xavier spoke up. "What do you plan to do General?" he asked curiously.
"Well, its obviously our cue to get our asses in gear. Im sorry you wont have any time off after a stressful mission like that one but time is of the essence as they say. And its something we're running out of. So you should all get a few hours of sleep atleast. That mean's you Xavier. Bannts, I've seen you wandering the halls late at night too. It will do all of us some good. We'll fully breif your mission tomorrow morning. 4AM we'll send you off. So that gives you atleast 6 hours to get a good nap, 10 if you're a deep sleeper. So dismissed."
Duane stood up deflated, grabbing his trenchcoat and throwing it on. Walking like a slug as he carried himself to his room. Changing into some sweatpants and a fresh t-shirt. After changing he walked over to the gym. Walking in, and turning on the light as expected it was empty. Duane smirked, few things made him feel good and forget all his worries. And one of those things was working out, and it was a hell of alot better than smoking.
Walking over to the bench press he loaded it up nothing too strenuous, just 250lbs, thankfully they loaded it with heavier weights incase he wanted to give himself a challenge. He heard the door open and he assumed it was overhaul, as he was the only other person who used the gym. But already noticing by the black pants and white tank-top, and white hair. It wasnt overhaul, hell it wasn't even black.
"Get Up." Xavier demanded.
"I'm working out, just w-" Duane was pulled up from his bench press by Xavier who gave him a swift chop in the gut.
Duane was sure he was hit by a truck, atleast thats what he'd preffered as the chop connected with his midsection and knocked all of the air out of him. No wonder Xavier dropped that vampire in just three hits. "What the... FUCK is your problem." Duane said with all the sound his larynx could produce.
Xavier kicked Duane in the head then looked down at him. "You listen to me. You were spoon fed your leadership but I know better... you're going to get us all put back. And I am NOT going anywhere."
Duane cursed as he spat out some blood and what he was certain was a tooth. "I'll give you 3 strikes Xavier... then I am kicking your fucking ass."
Xavier picked up Duane and pushed him into the wall before hitting him with another earth shattering palm that he was sure broke a rib. Spitting out more blood, Duane looked at him. "Three..." he said dodging the next strike headed his way, quickly he kneed Xavier in the gut then balled his hands together and hit Xavier with a hammer in the back, knocking him to the ground
Xavier was quick to get to his feet, almost quicker than he found himself there. As he stepped towards Duane who was reeling from the quickness of Xaviers rebound, Xavier launched a kick that connected solidly with the side of Duane's jaw, sending him colliding into a excersize bike, knocking it over before Duane fell to his face.
"It disgusts me that someone so pathetic is leading this team. The General trusts you for some obtuse reason, when he knows how ineffecient you are. I've heard tales of your missions and your legend. And I've met you face to face now, I think you're a pathetic joke. A old man who's golden days are behind him." Xavier said as he stalked towards Duane.
Duane pushed himself up to his knees, looking to Xavier. "If I'm anything..." He said as he blocked another kick from Xavier, grabbing the foot and pulling Xavier down then punching him in the face, smashing Xavier's nose. "I'm your daddy, asshole!"
Duane got up and picked up Xavier tossing him into a wall, following through and aiming a punch that collided with the mirror, smashing it with the severity of Duane's punch. Xavier stepped back towards Duane and chopped him in the abdomen then as Duane reeled, kicked him right in the chest as he toppled over a bench.
Xavier stalked after Duane, attempting to stomp him in the chest but Duane rolled out of the way, grabbing his coat, Duane felt Xavier kick his coat away. "You're a joke... you're nothing without your precious little guns."
Duane looked. "And you're a joke with that fucking haircut." Duane got to his feet and grabbed Xavier, throwing him to the ground. Xavier immediately tried to get up but Duane who grabbed a 50lb hand weight smacked Xavier across the face, knocking him unconcious. "50 pounds for your thoughts, asshole?"
Duane was about to go for another before Overhaul and General Lassiter came storming in. "Christ Bannts! You maniac, get off of him!"
"That fuckwad was the one who started it. I'm in here minding my own buisness! Then he comes and assaults me!" Duane said as he attempted to plead his own case.
Lassiter helped Xavier up, who overhaul eventually grabbed. "Bannts I do not want to hear any of your fables."
"But General, Duane is right." Came a soft voice from a corner of the room. It was Hack, or was it Slash? Duane didn't remember which one had the short hair. "Xavier came in and attacked him..."
"And you didn't break it up." General asked curiously, almost shocked at this.
Slash shrugged. "Why would I get in the way of a quarrel like that. I didnt want to risk hurting myself. I'm certain Duane has a broken rib or two. And after that last hit. I'm sure Xavier has a broken or dislocated jaw..."
"Fuck." Lassiter swore. "Both of you, just... Bannts, I dont want to see you until you're summoned to the breifing tomorrow morning!" He looked to Slash. "Slash... Thank you, make sure Xavier doesn't do anthing stupid."
Duane stood there kind of awe struck as Overhaul carried an unconcious Xavier out of the room. Slash walked upto Duane who looked confused. "I dont care what Xavier thinks..." Slash said as she ran a finger curiously down Duane's muscular torso. "You're fit enough to lead me any day..." She said as she turned around and walked towards the entrance of the gym.
Now Duane was confused even more, "I dont mean to be rude... but which one of the wonder twins are you?"
Stopping at the door, she smiled. "Slash... but you can call me Malorie, but shh... you didnt hear that from me." She said as she opened the door and left with a shy smile and walked out.
Duane was left standing there with a blank look on his face, his utter confusion overshadowing completely the burning pain in his chest from the two broken ribs.