Returns
High Evolutionary's Orbital Base
High Evolutionary stroked his hand against the stasis chamber of the believed dead heroine, Britannica. Frogman was by his master's side strangely intrigued by the High Evolutionary's behavior.
"It was a stroke of pure genius my lord. Making the heroes think Britannica was burned to ashes by Phoenix with your psychic powers. Of course you could have just made them all forget she even existed," Frogman laughed.
"That would have been too difficult and time-consuming Eugene. I just want people to think she's dead so I can do with her as I please," High Evolutionary smiled as she stared into the closed eyes of the British woman. He would have her back after all this time. The only difference was this time she was never going to escape.
Six Castle
Elektra sat at her desk meticulously working at the adoption papers. If everything went according to plan Scotty would be her son. She knew that was what Madylene and Havok would have wanted.
Her pen worked through the boring details of the paper and suddenly a gust of wind blew on her neck. She stood up quickly out of her seat and looked around her room. Her closet door was open.
"Who's there?" Elektra asked. Just as she pulled out her sais from underneath her desk a golden glimmer shined in her eye. He was here, but why? He had left her years ago.
"Adam Warlock come on out of there," Elektra smiled trying to hide her resentment and regret. A golden man returned her smile as he stepped out of the closet. His black cloak dragged behind him as he approached a nervous and cautious Elektra.
"I've come to warn you my love."
"Warn me of what Adam? And please don't call me love because I don't think you know what that means," Elektra said as she noticed a green emerald almost imbedded in Adam's forehead. That wasn't there when he left.
"The High Evolutionary has gathered allies and he is planning to invade and conquer the Earth. And why are you so harsh with me? I had plenty of good reasons to leave. I promise you I never wanted to leave you," Warlock pleaded as he moved closer to Elektra. She in return backed away from him.
"Why couldn't you have taken me with you and why do you choose to come back now?"
"Because I have a lot to make up for Elektra and I want to start right now," Adam Warlock said as he bent over and kissed her. Elektra wanted to stop him. She wanted to fight back, but her body could only kiss him hungrily. She realized now that she lusted for Adam. She wanted him more than she had realized. She wasn't going to wait for him to make the first move.
"Oh that's just not right," Adam smiled as he realized where she was moving her hand. He didn't come her intent on making love, but it was a nice bonus.
Six Conference Room
The Six sat around the TV screen watching the carnage unfold. It was footage from earlier in the day about how the Brotherhood had started numerous riots throughout the country by releasing some type of anger toxin amongst the people.
"It's unexplainable! It seems that just suddenly out of nowhere people began to fight and riot amongst the streets! It all started with some strange gas spreading itself for these attacks. I'll report more as more information comes in. This is Rene Xavier with CNN," the young woman said as Momentum turned off the T.V.
"This situation is serious people. We'll be heading to Brazil ASAP, but first I've got to give you a run-down on the Brotherhood. Cerebro activate the Brotherhood files."
As Sam said this holographic images of five Brotherhood members appeared, in 3-D form, in front of the Six. One was a short, bald Mexican and next to him was a young Puerto Rican woman. To the right of the Mexican was a very tall and fat Asian man. Then there was a man who looked like a tiger/human hybrid. The last member of the Brotherhood was a familiar and intimate face to one person in that room. It was Paige Guthrie, the sister of Momentum.
"Cerebro activate the file on my sister," Momentum commanded. All eyes were on him in an instant. "Yes, my sis is a member of the Brotherhood. I figured I'd get that out into the open from the very beginning."
"Neat and discreet. Just how I like it," Sunspot smiled at Sam's revelation to the team. Phase understood what it was like to have a sibling opposed against you. Belladonna hated her after the death of their father. Blink could see the look of sorrow upon Phase's face and she patted her friend's back softly.
Husk
Real Name: Paige Guthrie
Age: 17
Powers: Able to "husk" her skin and have different compositions of skin. (Ex. Adamantium)
"Any questions about her?" Sam asked. Everyone shook his or her heads. Except for Sunspot who always seemed to have something to say.
"I think we should look at all the profiles and then ask questions if that's alright with you fearless leader?"
Momentum smiled trying to hide his annoyance at Sunspot's arrogance. Most city boys Sam knew always had a high almighty attitude. When he was being trained by Riot in the New Mutants Sunfire was stuck up, but that was before Apocalypse had gotten to him. "Alright Mr. DaCosta whatever you want. Cerebro run the rest of the files."
Black Locus
Real Name: Juan Valenzuela
Age: 24
Powers: Can emit large amounts of dangerous radiation from his body and he can create dense balls of light he calls fireflies. He uses these more often since the radiation he emits can sometimes affect him.
Lift
Real Name: Maria Hernandez
Age: 22
Powers: Mid-level telekinesis and the ability to control the biological functions of other people's bodies, but only by touch. Used to use this power to increase orgasms while she was an X-Rated actress.
Tigris
Real Name: Unknown
Age: 575
Powers: An External with the ability to control animals. After genetic manipulation by Sinister; Tigris gained his feline appearance and the abilities that came along with it.
At the instance Cerebro mentioned Sinister's name Momentum cringed. In death Essex had caused more harm than in his life. Sam knew this best of all because the burden he carried as a result of Sinister's death weighed on his soul everyday. It was a floodgate just waiting to be unleashed, but he had to hold it back everyday with all of the might and will within him.
Unforgiving
Real Name: Tenin Chaozu
Age: 34
Powers: Extremely strong (near Hulk level), sonic scream and he can change his body into solid steel
As Cerebro ended its entries the holographic images faded away into nothingness. All of the Six were impressed by the collection of power in the Brotherhood except for Sunspot. He had dealt with things much more tough in life than a few psycho mutants. Of course that's the reason he joined the Six for. He wanted to fight these out of control people so he would have some reprieve from the business world he was constantly entrapped in.
"Alright now that you guys got the lowdown suit up and meet in the hangar in ten minutes. Oh and one last thing before you leave. I want you all to fight my sister as hard as you would against any other foe. Show her and me no sympathy because right now we can ill afford it."
"Momentum should I tell Elektra about us leaving?" Phase asked. She had befriended Elektra in her past few days here and she had grown a fondness for her.
"Nah let Elektra be. She's still filling out those papers so she can adopt Scotty. She probably needs her private time anyway right now."
Brazil
The Brotherhood stood before the Six with their teeth gritted for battle. Each one was poised to take on whomever they could. This battle was going to be theirs because they refused to be locked in Xavier Asylum again.
"Step down Brotherhood or things are going to get real ugly real quick," Momentum said authoritatively as possible. His sister, Husk, was far from impressed.
"Why should we do that Sam when we can have so much more fun beating you all to a pulp?"
"Paige why do you fight me?" Sam asked pleadingly. Husk could see his eyes were full of sorrow and regret, but she didn't care in the slightest.
"The same reason you fight me Sam. Isn't that obvious? Or maybe you just want everything to go back to the way it was? Grow up Sam! This is the present and not the past so I suggest you learn to deal with it. Either put up or shut up!"
"Alright Sis! Your wish is my command. Six let's handle these clowns!" Sam ordered. He hated this. Every damn part of it! Why did he have to fight his sister? Why did he ever lead X-Force into that rotten base? The worst part of this whole situation was that he could bring his sister back to the light, but it would reveal his darkest secret and he could never bear to have that revealed. He knew deep down in his heart that was the only way to free his sister, but Momentum's soul just kept trying to find some other impossible way.
"Too much thinking and not enough action brother!" Husk exclaimed as she punched Momentum in the stomach with an Adamantium fist. The air wheezed out of Sam's chest leaving him breathless. He fell to the Brazilian floor with a hard thud. Husk laughed at the unmoving body and began to kick it…repeatedly.
Sunspot saw this display from across the battlefield, but decided not to intervene. Most Externals healed faster than your average mutant anyhow. Who Roberto was focused on though was the leader of the Brotherhood, Black Locus. The man was 5'3 and was extremely skinny, but his radiation powers and "fireflies" were nothing to laugh at. Of course Sunspot felt the same way about his powers.
"No one attacks Brazil! Ever!" Sunspot yelled as he began to try and ram into the leader form the sky, but before he could get to his destination he was stopped in mid-air. Lift was responsible for that. Roberto couldn't wait to ring her tiny neck, but he wouldn't have time to do that as he was flung into a tree.
Meanwhile across the battlefield Blink was fighting against Tigris. She easily had the advantage in this battle because she was moving quicker than Tigris could handle. This battle was going to be a synch and maybe then she could help Sunspot out.
"Stop teleporting insolent child!" Tigris yelled impatiently. Blink laughed to herself and she responded to Tigris in kind.
"Well this insolent child is kicking your sorry tail!"
Just as she finished her comment a furry paw grabbed her leg and slammed her into the ground. Blink instantly was knocked unconscious. Tigris roared in victory. He leaned down to the unmoving Blink and whispered in her ear.
"Too much chatter young one. Improve and maybe you might actually pose a threat to me next time."
Phase watched this display and became angered at the sight of her best friend being beaten by this feline freak. She slowly crept up behind Tigris, but before she could execute her plan a large number of birds attacked her. Phase only had time to disappear into the ground to prevent the birds from tearing at her flesh.
Unfortunately for Sauron he was having the same kind of luck fighting against Unforgiven. The Asian man was throwing large boulders at Sauron hoping to knock him out of the sky. Sauron was hoping that he could stay in the sky long enough to exhaust Unforgiven because though the man had incredible strength he didn't exactly have incredible endurance.
"Come down from there little lizard!" Unforgiven yelled in a very strong Asian accent. Sauron was slightly amused by the man's accent, but he was not at all amused at the rock that tore through his wing. He hadn't expected Unforgiven to start throwing smaller rocks at a much faster pace.
Karl let out a deafening screech as he fell to the ground. Green blood was pouring from the large tear in his wing. He had to get back up, but there was no way possible he was going to. He couldn't stand by and watch the Brotherhood beat the Six one by one.
His eyes looked up hoping that Unforgiven was not over him and he got his wish. What he did see though were seven women descending from the sky each with a green shield around their bodies. The X-Men had arrived. Sauron wasn't sure whether that was a bad or good thing.
"What do these puny women think they can do?" Unforgiven asked as he laughed loudly to himself. Women weren't even considered viable were he came from let alone fighters.
"They were probably planning to do something like this!" Phase screamed as she rose out of the ground. She stuck a near intangible stick into his abdomen and then solidified it. She made sure to separate the molecules just right so she wouldn't cause an explosion the size of New York. Matter occupying the same space could do that.
"Arggh! You stupid whore!" Unforgiven shrieked in a mixture of agony and anger as he grabbed Phase by her hair and threw her into the X-Man, Magma knocking them both out.
Before Polaris could order own her teammates any further Black Locus, Drift and Tigris stood beside a hurting Unforgiven. Husk was soon to follow. She was covered in blood. It was the blood of her brother. The look upon her face was one of pure joy. She had enjoyed beating her brother a pulp and she knew she could do it as long as she wanted to because Sam was immortal. Husk probably would still be beating him right now if it hadn't of been for Unforgiven screwing up.
"Just because you beat the Six doesn't mean you stand a chance against us! Feral and Fatale handle Tigris. Dazzler and Meltdown finish off Drift. Wanda handle the leader and I'll be there to assist you shortly after I get done with Husk over here," Polaris commanded with a strong sense of presence.
"More lambs to the slaughter. Come on then X-Men and try to beat us," Black Locus said as he launched off a hundred of his "fireflies". The X-Men scattered at the approach of the blasts. One hit Dazzler in the back of her leg blowing her appendage off. She fell to the ground writhing in agony. Another hit Polaris and destroyed her magnetic shield. The strain of that happening was so intense that she fell to the ground with her nose, ears and eyes overflowing with blood. Meltdown was busy trying to deflect the "fireflies" so she could protect her friends Wanda and Fatale who were on the ground convulsing wildly courtesy of Lift.
Feral managed to escape most of the "fireflies" and she launched herself at the member of the Brotherhood she most identified with, Tigris. Her claws were outstretched and her teeth were grinding together anxious for blood. Over her head she could hear birds, but she didn't pay much mind to them. She would later wish she had as they descended on her ripping and tearing through her skin and fur.
Tigris grinned at this display before him, but he wasn't going to be able to watch it in his entirety because a sharp pink blade entered his stomach. He fell to the ground unable to cry out. His insides felt as if they were rearranging themselves.
"Did you really think your one little slam would be enough to take me out? You must not realize I was raised by one of the foremost experts on martial arts in the planet. Well, too bad you found it out too late. Enjoy being rearranged into a mess of…well I don't know. Just enjoy it," Blink laughed to herself at her threat gone wrong.
The birds surrounding Feral flew off in different directions leaving the woman a bloodied mess much like many on that battlefield today. Blink at seeing this decided it was time to end this battle quickly.
"Dang it I don't want to do this, but I have to!" Blink shouted as she closed her eyes and concentrated hard. Black Locus and Drift's bodies suddenly began to glow a bright pink as did Unforgiven, Tigris, and Husk. Clarice let out a sigh of relief as the Brotherhood disappeared to their intended destination. Maybe being at the South Pole would keep them out of trouble for a while.
Six Castle
Elektra and Adam Warlock just stared at each other deeply as they lay in her bed. They had a world of things to say to each other, but they could only stare. Elektra wanted to tell Adam how much she missed him and that her life didn't seem totally complete without him. Adam wanted to tell Elektra how much he wanted her to be a part of his life forever, but he wasn't sure how she would react. Finally though Elektra managed to ask a question.
"Will you be staying?"
The emotion in her voice made Adam realize then and there that he had a good thing with this woman. He regretted everyday not coming back for her all those years ago, but now he would finally be able to make her happy.
"Yes of course I'm staying. I won't leave the love of my life to fight a maniac like High Evolutionary all alone. I left you behind once and I'm damn sure not doing it again."
The only thing Elektra could do was smile. Despite all that had happened in the past few weeks she finally had a glimmer of hope and sometimes a glimmer could turn into a blazing light.
Author's NotesAlright with this issue I tried to establish with this issue that nothing and no one is off-limits from getting their asses handed to them. That's my promise to you guys. Everyone and anyone can get injured severely or killed in this series and I'm deadly serious. And trust me I'm just getting started. Also if you notice Moonstar was missing in this issue? Where is she at? Read more and find out soon enough.
