New Marauders (1of 3)
Exodus was about to lie through his teeth. There use to be a time when he wouldn't have cared about lying, killing, or committing any other dirty deed. Those days were past him now. He had people who looked up to him, people who needed him and most of all he had someone who loved him. Bennet du Paris had finally found his light in the dark tunnel and he wasn't going to ever lose track of it.
That's what made lying to the students so hard for him. He kept telling himself he was doing it for the students, but he knew in part it was for himself. Bennet was still in shock over what happened two days ago, but most of all he was hurt over what had happened. He had lost faith in his mission for just the slightest moment. Mutant Forger and the rest left him without even a second thought. What they had done had crushed him in a way. Was he wrong for being angry with them? He wasn't sure, but he did know one thing. Just like they had their mission he had his.
Exodus just felt awkward about the whole situation before him. He didn't know whether to be angry or proud or maybe even both. Their mission was a noble one, but they could have gone about starting it in a different way. Now only Exodus remained with Colossus and Shiro.
Walking up to the podium Exodus looked out and saw all of his students waiting for him to speak. What was he going to say to them? He had an idea, but for the most part he was going to be improvising this little speech.
"Hello my students. As you may well know by now we have lost 5 of our friends, mentors, and allies to a very important mission. Proteus, Mutant Forger, Star Prophet, Ever, and Plazm are liberating entire worlds from the grip of an evil group of tyrants. I'm proud of them and so we all should be. If there are any question please feel free to ask me now or later."
Red Lotus was the first to ask a question, "How come Colossus, Sunfire, or even you didn't go on this mission?"
Bennet hesitated before answering, "The three of us felt it best that we stay behind and continue on the mission of the Exiles, which is to train all of you in your powers."
Gaia asked the next question of Exodus, "Will we be getting new teachers to replace the ones we've lost?"
Du Paris hadn't even through about new teachers. He would have to answer the question though because it was a valid one. Looking straight into the eyes of Gaia he said, "It is a possibility that is being explored at the moment. My hope is that we will find replacement teachers."
After answering the question Exodus descended from the podium and he felt immense guilt at having lied to his students. He knew nothing good would come from him lying, but he did it nonetheless.
6 Days EarlierJudas Traveller dragged in Legolas and Impervious by their legs. He could have simply carried them in with a magnetic field, but Judas Traveller preferred to make them hurt a little as their heads collided with the many stray rocks and cracks in the ground outside his teacher's base. Discipline was born of pain in his mind and so this was the beginning of his two new pupils pain even though they were unconscious. The floor of Sinister's base was much different from the Legolas and Impervious had just been drug across. It was a smooth black surface without the slightest blemish on the floor. This made the dragging done by Judas Traveller a little pointless at that point because the pain that was being created was greatly reduced.
"Why must you be so rough with the children?" Essex asked as he walked out of the shadows the dimly lit building produced. Behind Sinister was Nawon Tan, to his left Vertigo, and to his right Fabian Cortez.
"Probably pulled an R. Kelly on the two of them," Fabian snickered. He wasn't entirely sure if Traveller would get the joke, but he soon got his answer. Judas Traveller gave him an icy stare and with a carefully placed magnetic bubble cut off the Genoshan's oxygen supply. Cortez began to gag fiercely and fell to the ground hard. As he began to convulse Essex gave Judas a scolding look and the magnetic bubble cutting off Fabian's air supply dissipated. If it had been up to Judas the Genoshan would be very much dead, but his teacher had told him otherwise. And he always did what Essex asked of him especially since he gave Judas a great deal of power. Power that the old man now relished in.
As Fabian took a deep breath and caught his wind again he glanced up at Judas Traveller. He loathed that man a great deal. He wanted to rip him to pieces for what he had. That man had the power he should have had. He had the chance he should have received. Sinister had taken him in as a pupil when that's all Fabian ever wanted because as he now saw being a pupil of Essex meant being granted tremendous power.
Nawon Tan watched Fabian Cortez and saw the hate that man had for Judas Traveller. It was in his eyes. They burned with a rage that could consume a city. He knew the type of person Fabian was and unlike many others around him he thought that made Cortez dangerous. Sure the man was a coward and a power hungry man, but that made him resourceful. He would always look to someone else to do his dirty work and he was quite the smooth talker. Fabian was the snake in the grass that could strike at any moment. And the first thing he would bite would be the heel of Sinister.
"Project: Capture Legolas and Impervious is complete," Judas said as he placed the two young boys' bodies in front of Sinister. A smile marched itself quickly across Sinister's face.
"Honestly sir I don't know why you're trying to create a new group of Marauders when you already have the Tans, F-Series mutants, and Savage Land Mutates," Nawon Tan said. Sinister admired Nawon's frankness and bold nature.
"The new Marauders are needed because all of the above you have just mentioned are ineffective. Neither the Tans of any of my other acolytes have gone the distant. You've proven yourselves…unworthy," Sinister spat and in doing so he wrecked the pride of Nawon Tan.
"Shall I deliver these two to the holding cells?" Judas Traveller asked. Sinister nodded and walked away from all of his soldiers. There was work to be done.
Arizona (Present)
A red truck approached the reservation that the mutant known as Proudstar resided in. Whoever was driving the truck was having quite the problem navigating the dirt road. Proudstar smiled to himself at that. Whoever was in that truck they obviously weren't from around here.
Stepping outside of his house with just a pair of blue jeans on Proudstar told all the little children playing to go inside. Grabbing his black boots that were sitting by his rocking chair Proudstar stepped out onto road. As the red truck steadily made its approach to where he was at Proudstar put on his boots. When he was done lacing them up the truck was only a couple of yards away. It was then that he was able to see who was driving the vehicle.
Lorna Dane was at the wheel with Alex Summer sitting beside her. They both smiled and waved at Proudstar. James returned the greeting and murmured to himself, "Lorna's driving. No wonder their ride was so bumpy."
As the car came to a stop Proudstar walked up to the driver's window with both his hands in his pockets. Rolling down her window Lorna said to a shirtless Proudstar, "Nice pecs there kid. Alex and me were out on a road trip and decided to stop by and pay you a visit."
Havok and Lorna were on this road trip to try and see if anything was still there between them. For Lorna she wanted to try and rekindle the flame. Havok had hopes that maybe he could dig up those old emotions he felt for Lorna, but if not he would move on. Besides even if he decided he didn't want to pursue a relationship with Lorna she would still be one of his closest friends.
James smiled as he looked down at his chest, "Yeah I've been working out on them. I'm glad you two decided to come over. I can't promise a five star hotel, but we make due."
"All we need is some food to eat and a place to sleep," Havok said as got out of the car. He was a wearing a blue t-shirt with white horizontal stripes and a pair of blue jeans.
"That sounds reasonable to me."
"Well, that's Alex for you. Always the reasonable one," Lorna said as she pulled the key out of the ignition and stepped out of the car. She was wearing a black shirt with a picture of a unicorn on it and her pants probably were cutting off her circulation. Proudstar had to try and keep his eyes off her. He wasn't exactly sure of the status between her and Alex so he didn't want to intrude.
Havok whistled some as he came around the front of the car to where Polaris and Proudstar were talking. Looking around he asked, "Where is everyone at?"
Proudstar chuckled a little, "How rude of me! Everyone come out and meet our guests!"
With James' cry children rushed out of the many dilapidated homes to greet Havok and Polaris. The adults were warier and only took peaks at the visitors through their doors. Seeing their hesitation Proudstar yelled, "Come on now! There's no need to be scared! They are friends!"
Proudstar's reassurance had the adults coming out of their houses just like the children now and everyone in that part of the reservation was all around Polaris, Havok, and James.
"Where are you from?"
"Do you have money?"
"That's a nice car!"
"I have cigarettes here for cheap!"
"If you ever want some pie come to my house!"
"I make the best sausage in all the reservation!"
The flood of questions and comments overwhelmed Alex and Lorna. They didn't know where to start. Whispering in Proudstar's ear Havok said, "They're quite excitable huh?"
"They don't get visitors often," Proudstar said as he began to make his way through the crowd with Polaris and Havok behind him.
Suddenly a blue portal ripped open in the sky like someone had just ripped a piece of paper. Out of the portal came four beings. Two of them were known quite well to Alex and Lorna. The other two were unknown to all of them.
At the sight of the portal the people of Camp Verde began to yell and cry out in fear.
"By the spirits!"
"Run children!"
"The gods have returned!"
As they landed on the ground with unnatural grace Fabian looked up at the three mutants and said, "Well, look who we got here. I just thought we were going to be taking down Proudstar, but we got a couple of more goodies to play with now don't we guys."
Vertigo smiled at Polaris all the while Fabian talked. The two had what you might call a not so good history. The two unknown kept their sights on Proudstar the entire time. They unlike Fabian and Vertigo wanted to capture Proudstar and quickly.
"I hear you're rolling with Sinister these days Fabian. You just can't help, but to be a lapdog."
"Oh come now Polaris. Don't tell me you still have hard feelings? We've both moved on since then haven't we?" Fabian asked with a smug smile.
A blast from Havok knocked that smile off Fabian's face as he went flying back in Vertigo's direction. The woman dodged the flying body and let loose one of her nauseating blasts. As her wave of energy hit the three mutants they fell to the ground trying to stay conscious. Their world was whirling around as if they were on a roller coaster and in the House of Mirrors at the same time.
"This should be easier than capturing Blink. I'll let you finish them off Legolas and Impervious," Vertigo said as she continued her wave of nauseating energy.
Before the two young men could even leap into battle dozens of rocks flailed down upon them. The same happened to Vertigo. The Native Americans that trusted Proudstar and thought of him as a leader rained down the rocks on the three mutants. Many of the rocks began to cut into the flesh of the three mutants.
As Vertigo lost her concentration Havok and Lorna leapt to their feet. Polaris punched Vertigo square in the face and sent the woman reeling back. Lorna didn't stop her assault though as she delivered a kick to Vertigo's chin that sent her to the ground. Alex blasted Legolas and Impervious in the chest. The stream of energy sent the two young mutants into the area of Fabian.
Havok and Lorna had gave what energy they had left in their attack on Vertigo, Legolas, and Impervious. They hit the ground with a thud because the effects of Vertigo's attack hadn't worn off just yet. The two were still a bit woozy and counterattacking so quickly had taken a lot out of them.
"I believe it's time to get out of here! Everyone let's go!" Fabian said as he arose from the ground having recovered from Havok's blast. Another blue portal opened up behind him and he went through it swiftly. Legolas and Impervious followed behind him. Vertigo was the last to go through the portal and as she did it closed behind him with a deafening roar.
Proudstar's people helped the two mutants to their feet. They were still shaking off the effects of Vertigo's attack, but Proudstar just had to mention something, "Did she say they captured Blink?"
Havok nodded, "That's exactly what she said."
"I know where she was last at. She had called me from California two days ago," Lorna said moving her green hair out of her eyes.
"It seems I know where we are headed then," Proudstar said grimly.
"Hell no! Why go look in California in the hope we might come across some clue? We already know who's behind this. It's Sinister and who has been dealing with that guy as of late?" Havok asked.
Sighing Polaris replied, "Either Cable or Exodus. They've had the most dealings with the man as of late."
"Then our problem is solved for us. We're going to Exodus," Havok said beginning to walk to Lorna's truck. He was still trying to reestablish his life and though he wasn't with Lorna anymore they were still friends so she was helping him along the way. Unfortunately he hasn't been able to buy a car yet.
"Why Exodus? Cable is just as good and last I checked he never was evil," Proudstar said angered that his old leader wouldn't be chosen over a one time villain.
Havok turned around. He didn't like being questioned, but he would give Proudstar this one time, "I know Cable kicks ass with the best of them. I don't fault him on that, but not only does Exodus have a team he also is packing in power himself. The guy was a former Horsemen and believe when I say I got a first hand look at how powerful he was. The guy is not a damn joke! So let's stop talking and start moving!"
"Your logic is flawed there my friend. Cable beat the creator of the Horsemen so for all the power Exodus may have—,"
"Please can we just go guys! Blink is in trouble and we need to help her! I know the three of us can't do it alone and I doubt one more mutant, no matter how powerful, will throw the scales much. We need Exodus and his team. I want Cable in on this too Proudstar, but we gotta think about Clarice," Polaris said interrupting the boiling conflict between the two mutants.
James huffed, "Two against one I see. Looks like I don't have much of a choice. I'd still prefer Cable on this, but let's go find us some Exiles!"
