A Master's Legacy (3 of 3)
The time for action was here. It wasn't exactly a course of action that Exodus had wanted to take, but Amadeus had somehow or another coerced him into doing his dirty work. Bennet should have seen it coming a mile away, but why hadn't he? Maybe in a way he was curious and it had gotten the best of him.
A pink 3-D holographic outline of the bases that Amadeus wanted eliminated was shown in mid-air for the four former Exiles students Exodus had called to see. The leader of the operation, Sunfire, was at the fore trying to absorb every detail of the layout that he could. That's why Exodus had chosen Shiro to lead this mission. He was constantly focused. Nothing about the man showed the slightest bit of hesitation. If he had been around during the whole Onset affair maybe things wouldn't have turned out the way they did.
"So you have any idea exactly what kind of mutants are in these bases?" Legolas asked.
"None at all. Amadeus's little disk doesn't give specifics. As prying as that man is I'm sure that he just couldn't find out the information," Exodus explained trying to assuage any fear that Amadeus was withholding information.
"You sure you can trust him?" Vyper asked not exactly sure if his old teacher was using his best judgment. Anyone connected to that Deus creep (someone he only heard about) then could they really be trusted?
"I'm not sure Cory, but the bases are legit. Besides with as powerful a mutant as Shiro leading you practically nothing could go wrong," Exodus assured.
"You do me too much honor Exodus, but I will do my best to make the mission a success," Shiro replied as he stood out of his seat and gave Bennet a bow of respect.
Exodus nodded his head slightly, "I know you will. Now let's get back to business shall we?"
"Exodus some major crap is going down!" Blink exclaimed as she burst into the room. All eyes fell on her though a few of them gave her a strange look.
"What is it Clarice?" Bennet asked.
"Some guy claiming to be the Dark Beast is attacking Buffalo. They're burning the city to the ground. We've got to stop them!"
"Why? Let the humans handle their own affairs," Exodus said taking everyone in the room aback except for Sunfire who remained unflinching.
"You know what you're saying Exodus? Have you gone insane?" Blink asked so angered that she could have easily stabbed the guy and walked away feeling better. Maybe Exodus really was slipping and perhaps he was reverting back into the beast of a man he once was. If that were the case Clarice would put him down.
With a sigh Exodus looked away from Clarice and said in a low voice, "I know exactly what I'm saying. We're not helping Buffalo. Let some other heroes go there. This team is supposed to be an underground one, but we have to keep continuously exposing ourselves to the public. I'm going to try and put somewhat of a stop to that. Let the Avengers or perhaps X-Corp handle the situation."
"So you're willing to send us in a suicide mission because MUSE asked you to, but you can't help a bunch of innocent humans? You're willing to eliminate a bunch of bases in the middle of nowhere, but you can't help this city that's being obliterated?"
"YES! That's exactly right and you wanna know why? Cuz they were mutants! I'm tired of helping humans and receiving nothing in return. If there is one thing Kuragari showed me it was that I need to stop fooling myself. I need to stop pretending I care about the humans that we as a team have saved because frankly I don't."
Colossus walked into the room and stood behind Clarice, "Would you care if those humans were your wife or your son? Would you care then Exodus?"
"You were right to have grown tired of Xavier's dream Colossus. There is no point in it. The humans do not see our efforts and they do not care. All they see our freaks that need to be destroyed. Isn't that why you came to Magneto? Wasn't it because you grew tired?"
"Yes, I grew tired. I grew tired of death and pain. I understand being tired Exodus and if that's what you are then you should take a break. Don't make rash decisions like I did. Old ways die hard my friend and Xavier's dream will take time. I came with you because when you talked of your hopes and aspirations I got that same feeling I did when I first came to Xavier's Mansion. Feelings like that hadn't stirred in me in quite some time. So I came with you. Don't let me down now," Colossus pleaded.
Bennet leaned against his desk and let his long black hair hang down over his face. Staring down at the floor with slumped shoulders he said, "Fine Colossus. You lead the team to take on this supposed Dark Beast. Sunfire take the students and eliminate those bases."
"What about you Bennet?" Colossus asked concerned as he walked over and put a hand on the man he had come to consider a good friend.
"I'm going to take a break Colossus. Not a big one, but just enough. Now go and stop whatever menace needs to be stopped."
"Alright my friend. I will. Everyone is dismissed!" Colossus said walking out of the room. Sunfire and the students quickly left out the back door towards the hangar. Blink was the only one left in the room.
"I suppose you want to yell at me some more? I would be delighted to hear some more of your ranting and raving," Exodus laughed still in the same position he had been for almost the past minute.
"I'm just telling you to watch yourself Exodus. If you ever think about turning your back on this road you've taken and turning back to your old ways I will be there. Whatever nasty thoughts are floating around in your head had better drown fast," Blink said coldly as she turned away from the man and walked out of the door.
Dark Beast's dark black claws reached around the young man's neck. Many of the Morlocks had been melded together to create this creature that had taken the name Dark Beast. His black skin came from Obsidian and the bones lining his wrists from Marrow. The bulky frame was that of McCoy and his hair stemmed from Callisto.
"Do you want to live boy?" Dark Beast asked with a vicious grin.
"It doesn't matter. He'll live either way," a voice came as a pink dart stabbed Dark Beast in the hand causing him to drop the boy.
"Who?" Dark Beast asked enraged looking over to see four of Exodus's Exiles.
"A little outnumbered aren't we?" Helix laughed as she descended from the sky with a sword in her hand.
"Maybe Exodus should have come along," Proudstar gulped. They were up against five members of Heavy Mettle and five Twisted Sisters. The odds definitely did not favor them.
"Attack!" Helix yelled as she came flying towards Blink. She cut the girl on the shoulder with her sword. Blink went flying back and flipped into a newly formed portal. She ended up coming behind Helix and stabbed her in the back with a charged javelin.
Helix's body simply turned into a brilliant pink color. She slapped Blink off of her back and sent spatial energy cascading into the woman's body. Helix had evolved and Blink's attack had simply done nothing.
Barracuda meanwhile was giving Colossus quite the time. He was dousing Colossus in hot water that was a mere distraction, but nonetheless allowed Lariat to attack him with her vicious ropes of energy. Proudstar would have helped his friend except he was busy dodging the arrows of Warbow and the blows of Stronghold.
"This isn't going to work," Proudstar exclaimed as an arrow hit him below his knee. James yelped in pain and that allowed Stronghold to hit him square in the jaw. Proudstar went flying into a fire hydrant unconscious.
"We're going to need a bit of help here!" Havok said as he blasted Blackwing out of the air with one hand and took out Coil with another. A blast to the head was all he needed to put down the Twisted Sister.
"Destroy these fools! Destroy them all!" Dark Beast roared.
"I don't think so," another voice came from a distance. Looking back Dark Beast saw four mutants headed his way. They weren't Exiles or part of any other noticeable team he could remember. So who were they?
The Twisted Sisters and Heavy Mettle rose into the air and collided together. They were all stuck together like glue courtesy of Osman, the reality-controlling mutant.
"Time for a brain freeze," Ever said as he reached into all of their minds and sent them into a stupor.
"Don't even think about going anywhere," Star Prophet warned pointing a large gun at Dark Beast.
"Oh I wouldn't dream of it," Dark Beast smiled as he faded away into nothing. He had been a hologram the entire time. A sophisticated one, but a hologram nonetheless. His troopers had been captured, but his goal had been achieved. Firestrike had been missing from the very brief battle because he had gone to the local hospital and stole all the children from the baby ward. The new Dark Beast now had more than 50 new test subjects.
Osman threw Dark Beast's henchman to the ground unconscious. The newly Dark Beast designed bio-armor of Heavy Mettle sunk back into the bodies of their owners revealing frail humans. Proteus looked upon the group of mutates and mutants in a bit of disgust at the wanton destruction they had created without care.
"I appreciate the help comrades, but just what are you doing here?" Colossus asked his metal body still singed from Lariat's whips.
"We've got to talk to Exodus," Star Prophet replied.
"I'm not too sure he would be happy to see you."
"It doesn't matter Piotr. I've got to tell him about Onset. Something major is about to happen," Star Prophet insisted.
Slumping his shoulders Colossus sighed, "Fine. Blink take us home. We'll let the authorities handle Dark Beast's followers."
"Are you sure—"?
"Just do it!" Colossus exclaimed.
"Fine. You got it," Blink grunted as she opened up a portal behind her.
Exodus was asleep at his desk when the plasma screen in front of him began to bleep loudly. Bennet quickly woke up and turned the machine on. Sunfire with the former students of the Exiles were on the screen.
"You have a report for me?"
"Yes and its might not be what you expected. We swept through all the bases and there isn't a single mutant in them. Not one."
Exodus leaned back in his chair, "This is disturbing Shiro. I fear I've been played. Return to base immediately."
"Onset's coming back and you better listen to every damn word I have to say," Star Prophet yelled as she barged into Exodus's office.
"Nice to see you too Star. What brings you back here after you abandoned us?" Exodus asked.
"We don't need conflict right now Exodus. We need to plan," Mutant Forger said coming into the room.
"Then talk," Exodus said, "but make it quick."
