Dark Zodiac Saga Pt. 4: The Riding Devil and The Princess Lost (1 of 2)
Sinister hung inside of his green bubble suspended in the air. Next to him was Fabian Cortez trapped in a purple bubble. Onset floated in-between them pink psionic energy discharging off her body, which was really armor that contained her pure psionic being.
"You know all you evolution and genetic types seem to be dying off. Apocalypse got his behind handed to him by Cable and Pyro torched your student from an alternate reality, Dark Beast. The treacherous Bastion, though he was on the opposite side of the evolution fence, died by the hands of Psylocke. She's quite the treacherous one. And know you'll eventually die as well,"
Sinister smiled, "Two things Onset. First the Dark Beast was NEVER my student and I'm far from dying."
"No need for denial my dear. Who do you think would save you anyway? X-Men Omega is too preoccupied with their own affairs to worry bout me. X-Men Alpha is lead by some boy scout who's trying his hardest to be a bad boy. The Fantastic Four are definitely not on the saving list and the Avengers are stuck spending too much time in outer space. So who's left?" Onset prodded.
"You forget about the Exiles," Sinister replied. If there were anyone that could handle Onset it would be the Exiles. Exodus was capable of great feats of power and with a team at his side he could be a force to be reckoned.
Onset threw back her head in laughter and still cackling she said, "The Demon Made True and his team of mutants won't be enough to stop me. They'll all fall before my power."
"Arrogance doesn't equal power," Magus said from his aqua green bubble prison. Onset's laughter ceased and she flew her way in front of Magus's cell in a split second.
"Comments from the peanut gallery aren't appreciated," Onset hissed as she charged Magus full of electrical bolts.
Sinister looked over to Cortez and whispered, "There is no telling how many powers she possesses in her arsenal. And it only seems she's becoming more powerful with time. I believe the very nature of her existence makes it so that she can have any ability she desires."
"And this is going to help us how!" Cortez snapped back.
"Information is power Cortez. Remember that always. I don't doubt you take that statement for granted Cortez," Sinister said putting his mind into a zone. He needed to try and find some way to get help to himself.
New York"So are you enjoying the dinner?" Exodus asked Crystal. He had asked her out for a date and she accepted to Bennet's surprise. A very pleasant surprise though.
"Pietro never took me to places like this. If he would have I would have been to this place on a regular basis. The food is great," Crystal smiled.
"But the company is better," Exodus said grabbing Crystal's hand.
"Always," Crystal smiled back. She loved to look into Bennet's eyes. They always seemed to hold so much depth to them and you could see everything about him in those eyes.
"Glad to see the feeling is mutual then," Exodus replied. Crystal pulled away from his hand gently and lifted up her menu to see what to order.
"I still sort of feel weird about me and you to be honest Bennet. I mean you tried to kill my daughter and my friends," Crystal said. She saw Exodus's expression sink a little.
"I understand your hesitation Crystal. Besides we don't have to rush into this. I've been around for longer than a century so I can be very patient. You're worth the wait," Exodus said pulling his menu up to his face.
"So lets eat!" Crystal exclaimed calling a waiter over to her.
Exiles Base"So why me?" Gaia asked from in front of a desk.
"Because you're our first student Gaia and we need to get you guys prepared for things to come. You know what I'm talking about. We can't have all of you being ill prepared. Remember Barbican," Fontanelle said.
"Alright, but you act like I'm getting combat experience. All I'm doing is going to Australia with Exodus to recruit some twins," Gaia said confused at where Fontanelle was going.
"If you learn the proper way to recruit someone then we can have you older students do some of the work for us while we focus on training here at the base," Fontanelle explained.
"Oh so I'm going to learn to be a stooge?" Gaia asked.
"If you want to say that. You're dismissed," Fontanelle said.
Gaia huffed and got up out of her chair. She was headed for a combat simulation with Torrent and Ever. That was definitely where she was going to steam off some anger. Australia was the last place she wanted to go especially with Exodus. The guy was straight creepy. She didn't know how that Avengers chick could be going with him.
Avengers Mansion"Hello Master Exodus. So glad to see that you and Madam Crystal had a good time," Jarvis said taking the hand of Crystal and taking her into the house.
"I had fun tonight Bennet. Lets do it again," Crystal said looking back with a smile.
"As did I Crystal. Though I can't see how I couldn't enjoy myself with a woman as wonderful and classy as you," Exodus replied.
"You lay it on thick Bennet, but I like it. Remember those lines for the next date," Crystal smirked as she blew Exodus a kiss. Bennet pretended to catch it and put it right up to his lips. And as Jarvis closed the door he began to teleport away back to base. The hugest grin was all over his face.
The Next Day
3:45 p.m.
"Well to be honest Ms. Cameron we do want to make your son and daughter powerful mutants. I'm not going to be like Xavier and say we aren't training them to be warriors. Because I'm going to be frank with you. A war is coming and only the strong will survive it," Exodus said as he drank the tea Ms. Cameron had given him.
"I know this Exodus. I just don't think I want them involved in the conflict that's coming your way you see."
"What do you mean?" Exodus asked curious.
"I can't go into details, but let me assure you there are struggles ahead for your team. I may not be a natural clairvoyant, but I do have some mystical training and I have foreseen these things. Ask Fontanelle and I'm sure she'll be able to tell you some juicy tidbits," Ms. Cameron said.
Exodus sat in thought. Could Fontanelle have been holding information back from him? And just how important was this information.
12:00 p.m.
"Their names are Davis and Heather Cameron. They are the twin children of a wealthy businessman in Australia," Exodus said as Gaia and he entered the city of Sydney.
"So we're adding some snobs to the school then? I guess we were going to get them eventually," Gaia said.
"Don't be too judgmental Gaia. How would you feel if Alex hated you because you grew up in a stable, middle-class family?" Exodus asked as telepathically made everyone see his uniform as a tuxedo and Gaia's as the typical American girl outfit…at least to the Australian mind.
"I so bet I look like a tramp," Gaia complained.
Bennet smugly smiled as he replied, "I'll keep that bit of information to myself."
3:00 p.m.
Gaia had one word to describe Davis. Hot, hot and hot! Seeing him getting done surfing and coming out of the water with all that water dripping off his chiseled body gave her the chills. Forget snob! This was definitely an addition she wanted to the school.
"You're pretty good," Gaia said staring at his abs the whole time.
"I try. So where's Mr. Bennet at?" Davis asked.
"I believe he was heading over to talk to your Mom."
Davis grimaced, "Well, he is about to get quite the earful. Dear ol Mum isn't the best conversationalist in the world."
"They'll make good company then because neither is he."
1:00 p.m.
"Where the heck are these guys! We've been looking for them for about an hour! Is your telepathy screwed up or something?" Gaia said.
"Silence! I'm trying, but this city is not empty of minds. So give me time!" Exodus yelled.
"No need to catch an attitude," Gaia mumbled.
"Did you even want to come here?" Exodus asked.
Gaia rolled her eyes at Exodus and said quickly, "Change of subject please! What exactly do Mr. And Mrs. Prissy do anyway?"
"Refrain from calling them that. It's about the fifth time I've heard those names used and just one more time will make me burst! " Exodus yelled and then just as quickly changed to a calmer tone, "Davis possesses the ability to create dimensional portals and he navigates them with a concentration of energy that looks like a surfboard. Heather has an automatic defense ability of sorts. Any power she needs at certain moments will be hers. Though she's never sure what the power might be."
"Don't you think she could be a hazard?"
"No more so than you," Exodus said his words like venom to Gaia. Bennet hated to say that, but he needed to put the girl in her place. She had great potential, but her attitude at times stunk.
"I'd hate to see the codenames those guys come up with," Gaia said to herself trying to block Exodus's words from her mind.
4:00 p.m.
"So if you do come to our school and all what would your name be?" Gaia asked Davis.
"Not sure mate. What's yours?" Davis asked. Gaia delayed answering him for a few seconds since she found herself mesmerized by his baby blue eyes.
"Gaia. Though that's kinda my real name too. I'm one of a kind though. The others are Legolas, Harmony, Chemistra, Toxicwaste, Torrent, and Vyper. Those are just the students though."
"There was a name that I read in one of them sci-fi books that described my powers pretty well. Slipstream I believe it was," Davis said looking up at the sky.
"Slipstream. That names fits you perfectly," Gaia smiled. Though she could care less if his name was 50 Cent. She just wanted him to come home with her and pronto.
