Outcasts and Invaders (3 of 4)

Black tentacles were wrapped around the bodies of Shiro, Bennet, and Lorna. The tentacles kept the powers of the three mutants dampened so they would have a much harder time resisting. The three of them could barely breathe let alone fight against what held them captive. These were the same kind of tentacles that Exodus had seen in his dream. The difference was that now Du Paris saw the source of these tentacles. The being was about 6'5 and his skin was black as ebony. Orange material was wrapped around his hands and he carried a large silver sword.

"How dare you attack us!" Shiro asked outraged. His body might have flamed up uncontrollably if the black tentacles weren't keeping the former Yashida Clan leader's powers in check. Despite the fact that the tentacles held back his powers he still maintained his plasma form that had resulted because of experiments done on him by Gaunt. In truth, Shiro's stubbornness had been just as much as factor as anything else. Essex had given him the opportunity to prevent his new form, but in his arrogance he turned Sinister down.

The fire in your soul is truly something to behold Sunfire.

"Who are you?" Polaris asked in a wheezing voice uncommon of her. If only she had her powers she would have hit first and ask questions later, but this man had the advantage over her. And something about this man's pure white eyes made Lorna pause. His eyes spoke of something that she had come to recognize. Unspeakable evil.

I am Kuragari. I've come for Exodus, but you two are just as splendid. All your fury, rage, hate, and anger is simply delicious. I can see it all like an open book.

"Let them go Kuragari. As you said it's me that you want. So do as you will with me and let them go," Exodus pleaded.

Oh and why would I go and do that? The darkness in them is nearly as scrumptious as your own.

"Screw you! You're a fucking lunatic!" Polaris exclaimed as she spat on the ground in front of Kuragari. The being of Crimson Dawn origin laughed at the defiance of the woman. She actually would be so crass and disrespectful. That's what surprised Kuragari so much.

You have much spirit woman. A shame I will have to relinquish a part of it from you.

"You won't be taking anything from them," Exodus growled. He tugged at the tentacles that had him entrapped and became even more frustrated at the fact that his powers were ineffective.

And who will stop from me from taking what I will from them? You Exodus? I hardly think so with the position you're in at the moment.

"I promise you Kuragari that if you harm them you will incur my wrath," Exodus snarled. He regretted dragging Sunfire and Polaris into this conflict. Du Paris should have confronted his dreams alone. If he had been alone in this affair perhaps...no there was no use in trying to change things. He had to deal with present and stop thinking how about how he could change the past.

Oh believe me Exodus I know all about your wrath. The way you mind wiped the Tans and so ruthlessly killed the soldiers of Ramses. And lets not forget your time as a Horsemen. You took down Blink and her team of X-Men single-handedly and you nearly struck down Invisible Woman. Trust me when I say I know of your wrath.

Kuragari smiled after he finished unloading some of Exodus's recent sins upon him. He could see that something in Exodus was now brewing. That infamous darkness was nearing towards the surface. And now he only had to do the same for his two friends.

And don't even get me started on you Shiro. Remember before you first joined the Exiles. You along with Longshot and Craze attacked the same Florida cops that had killed the innocent mutant child. Their blood is on your hands. You tried to redeem yourself, but in the end failed miserably as you allowed yourself to be captured by Gaunt. And then once you returned you let your own arrogance destroy you. Right now you could look like any normal human, but you let your hate for Essex and arrogant attitude of doing things your way strike you down. How sad is that? Your own foolishness will be your undoing.

"Be silent," Shiro growled. He was utterly enraged. How could this fiend know so much about him? And just how did the words of this monster cut so deeply into Shiro?

Oh how I woe for the sad Polaris! She can never get anything down right. The woman tried to live her life as a normal human, but instead was hunted down by a Horsemen of Apocalypse. And when she finally gets the love of her life back all she manages to do is push him away from her. Then just when things finally seem to be turning around she lashes out at him. Maybe you and Havok were meant to be Lorna. Did you ever take the time to think of that? Or perhaps you're just so wrapped up in your own wants that you'll stop it nothing to get them. You're incredibly childish.

"Shut up! Shut up!" Lorna yelled angrily as she struggled to break free of the tentacles. Who was this man to judge her? How dare he?

Now that's the spirit! I was wondering when I could finally get things started.

Blink looked up groggily and in her dazed state found herself looking at a fog of gray. She could pick out people here and there, but other than that everything was a mess. Trying to move a bit Clarice found herself shackled to the wall. What had happened? How had she ended up here? Slowly it all began to come back to her…very slowly.

"It's awake boss," Zeke said with a hint of disgust as he saw Blink stir to life. She had been the last of these mutant rebels to wake up. The animal had been so out of it that she didn't even hear her teammates talking to her. Maybe Zeke had roughed it up a little too much, but he didn't care honestly. The damnable thing was going to die anyway.

"Excellent Zeke. You serve the cause well," a robotic voice that sounded almost devilish came from behind the Exterminator. As the voice stepped into the light the four Exiles caught their first glimpse of the new Bastion. He wore the same suit as the old one, but his skin was a light hue of blue. This Bastion was bald and had no facial hair whatsoever. His face was smooth and reminded Proudstar of the blue waters of Hawaii.

"Who are you?" Havok asked through painful breaths.

"I'm hurt," Bastion said in false sadness, "Don't you remember your old friend Bastion?"

"Bastion's dead asshole. So stop playing games," Blink exclaimed trying her best to sound threatening, but heavy wheezing tended to smash any intimidation abilities.

"This is hardly a game I'm playing little X-Man! I'm out for revenge! Mutantkind ignored me even after all I had did for them. They forgot about me and left me to die! I won't tolerate betrayal. So mutants must be destroyed."

"You do realize you're an insane motha fucka right?" Havok asked just for self-clarification.

"Every madman has his army Havok. Remember that," Bastion said as he walked away from the mutants. He stopped walking when he came close to an Exterminator named Imma. Leaning over in her ear he whispered something only she could hear. A smile came across the Korean woman's face and she nodded to an anxious Zeke.

"We get to have some fun with you animals now," Zeke smirked. Time was approaching. The real fun was about to begin.

Kuragari floated above his three captured mutants. Each of them resonated with power. He could feel it flowing from them. They would give them this power and not even know. Magic was in play that neither Exodus or his two charges knew anything about. And they wouldn't know anything about it until it was too late. Then, Kuragari could begin to set his plans into motion.

Why do you insist on trying to resist me? My magic is too powerful for you, but you mutants just don't know your limits do you? Sunfire was so foolish as to try and defeat a Son of Set all alone. The arrogance of you, Shiro, is almost unfathomable. You tried to defeat a god!

"We did defeat that god," Polaris said.

HAHAHAHA! You only put a dent into him. It took an ancient force like Shuma Gorath to finally put him down. You only had a small part in the defeat of Yamu. Once again the arrogance of you mutants take the fore. When will your race realize that you are only at the bottom of the totem pole? So much is over you!

"If so much is over us then why are you concerned with us?" Exodus inquired.

I won't to show you mutants the error of your ways. You need to learn humility. Exodus, you plague yourself with guilt when in truth you enjoy every moment of your darkness. You lie to yourself and those around you. The Horsemen of War was what you were truly meant to be. And by denying you just continue to deny your very existence. Sunfire, you got a taste of power and you now find it insatiable. You want to unleash this power, but underneath your arrogance is a weak man. Did the trials of Gaunt break you so low Shiro? Or maybe you knew that denying Sinister would give you something more. You desire power to hide your weakness. Polaris, you are a quick study. You cling to anything that looks like love because you're afraid that once you lose it you'll never get it back.

"You presume to know everything about us! You don't know jackshit!" Polaris exclaimed.

"With all you talk why do you remain in the air? Let me come and face you! We'll see who will desire power by the end of our fight."

"No you two! Don't give into his taunts. Kuragari wants us to get angry. For what reason I can't figure out," Exodus said trying his best to calm Shiro and Lorna.

It's too late Exodus! I've already bought all of your cruelty, rage, and anger to the surface. You three have given me what I need.

Kuragari's body began to glow a bright yellow as three white orbs came from his chest and descended to the ground. The orbs began to take familiar shapes. Looks of shock passed across the faces of the three Exiles. Each one of those orbs looked strangely, far too much for coincidence, like one of them.