Onset War (3 of 5): Gatherings

Lorna walked over to the bed of where Havok had just awoken. He had been out of it the past few days because of Ozymandias putting some hurt to him. Polaris had wished that he were around for the fight against Gaunt. The team could have used him…she could have used him. That was the past though and she was going to pay attention to the present.

Walking over to where Havok stirred she took his hand and said, "Alex how you feeling? You took a pretty nasty hit from what I hear."

"You wouldn't believe how nasty," Havok said grabbing his head in pain.

"Look Alex I know this isn't the right time to tell you this, but I'm afraid there might not be another time," Polaris sighed squeezing Alex's hand a little tighter.

"What is it Lorna? You look mighty serious," Havok said stretching out his hand and pushing Polaris's green hair back a bit.

"I'm pregnant Alex."

Alex couldn't believe the words Lorna had just uttered. She was pregnant! He hadn't been expecting kids for another ten years at least. Now here was a woman, who he couldn't honestly say he loved, pregnant with his child. Havok's world was spinning and this time he couldn't blame it on a knock to the head. He didn't know what to say, how to respond. Children were a blessing. That much he learned from Scotty. This was a different situation though. Different as in "holy shit" different.

"I know this is a lot to handle right now Alex so I'm going to leave you alone. I don't want your temper to get the best of you," Lorna said as she leaned over and kissed the stunned Havok on the forehead and walked out of the room.

Blink stared at the containment field that was holding Gaunt and marveled at the technology that could hold such a beast. Peter says he still doesn't know till this day where Exodus got all the tech. Just one more reason why Clarice was slightly weary of Exodus. He had taken in Joseph though and she was extremely grateful for it.

"Stare at that too hard and you might go blind," a very familiar voice said from behind Blink. The elfin looking mutant sighed to herself. She didn't want him to come back so soon, but with the current circumstances how could he have stayed away?

"Glad to see you made it home in one piece," Blink replied as she turned around and quickly embraced Joseph.

Joe snickered," You're glad! Crap from what Colossus told me I was expecting to come home to a crater in the ground! I mean how can any team fight a decent battle without me around?"

Clarice laughed and play punched her boyfriend in the arm, "Oh please bud! We Exiles got along just fine before you headed out here."

"Ahh it's okay. You'll admit one day how much you guys need this," Joseph joked as he pretended to flex.

Blink rolled her eyes in reply. Joe seemed a little overly happy. She couldn't' tell if it was genuine or if it Joseph was putting on an act for her. Joe was always the type that hated people worrying about him.

"Well, since you're so eager you and me can head to the Sim room. We got some training to do," Blink said pulling on Joseph's hand and dragging him along.

"You always gotta get training in somehow huh?"

"Of course," Blink winked.

"Hey Clarice! Peter said he needs to talk to you," Star Prophet exclaimed as she ran down the hall towards Blink and some guy she hadn't seen before. Probably some new student Exodus had picked up.

"YOU!" Joseph yelled enraged at the sight of the woman who appeared to be Astra.

Just then the part of Star Prophet that was Astra felt dread. Extend the hair a bit and minus the goatee. It was clear now. Star Prophet was about to answer for old sins.

Colossus held his hand up like a visor to keep the Sun from glaring in his eyes. A jeep coming up the hill was holding Peter's attention at the moment. The scanners showed three mutant signatures, two of which indicated mutants who were allies. Nonetheless, a few things bothered Peter about the whole deal. First, one of those two allies shouldn't even have a signature at all. Second, the third signature was enough to make Peter shiver a bit.

Just to be on the safe side Peter bought his sister, Legolas, Vyper, and Red Lotus along. With the way things were working out Colossus couldn't be sure if Onset wasn't pulling another trick. He was effectively leader of the Exiles since Gaunt put Exodus out of commission for the time being. That was probably Onset's main goal. That fiend knew that Bennet was her greatest and strongest opponent.

"You guys I've got something to tell you," Legolas said warily.

"Tell us Derrick. We've got a little time yet before our company arrives," Magik replied swinging her sword around for fun. Though she was quite eager to use it again.

"You all remember Ramses Xavier right? I feel his presence again and it's very very strong. He's near us. I just can't tell where," Legolas said his body quivering a bit. Horton's mutation granted him some extra senses that allowed him to perceive things in ways others couldn't. He still didn't fully understand the senses and he was almost positive he never would.

"You would figure Exodus had taken the guy down for good," Red Lotus said rocking back and forth on his heels as he whistled a tune.

"In our line of work people don't tend to stay dead. Just ask me and my brother," Magik laughed as she winked at the former Triad assassin. She wondered how an assassin could be so natural and humorous. Illyana would expect someone of his background to be cold and unforgiving. Perhaps those feelings lied just beneath the surface and Lotus sought to deny them.

"Quiet. The vehicle approaches. Tell me what do you sense Vyper?" Colossus asked.

"They smell anxious, but their heartbeats don't speak of deceit. I think we can trust them Petey," Cory replied as the jeep came to a halt only a few feet from the group of Exiles.

Jumping out from the jeep where Bishop, Shard, and Mystique. Bishop lead the group and shook Colossus's hand. Shard waved at the Exiles and Raven didn't show the slightest bit of emotion. She wanted to get down to business and find her brothers. That bastard Sinister was going to pay.

"We need to talk Peter. Where's Sinister?" Bishop asked frankly.

"Not sure at the moment. He's off gathering allies for this war we're raging," Colossus explained still holding onto the hand of his former teammate.

"War?" Bishop asked his eyebrow cocking up a bit.

"Great to know our exploits are sooo appreciated," Vyper whispered into Red Lotus's ear.

"Quiet! This is no time for jokes," Red Lotus hissed. Cory was taken aback. Usually Red Lotus was the life of the party. What changed his demeanor so quick? Did he want to show off for the hotshot X-Man rolling up here in that raggedy jeep?

"We are fighting a women called Onset. It would take too long to get into details, but what you do want with Essex?"

"He has my family captive! I want them back!" Mystique yelled.

"Calm down lady. I don't like Sinister too much, but as of right now he's an ally," Magik said unsheathing her sword. Illyana knew it wouldn't have an effect on Mystique, but her opponent didn't necessarily know that.

"Put that away Illyana!" Colossus ordered and then he turned to Bishop, "Despite my sister's brashness she does speak the truth. Sinister is our ally at the moment. If you care to speak with him then you'll have to wait for his return inside our base."

"We'll wait and we'll help you too," Bishop said pulling out a gun, "Besides. It's been a while since I've been in a good fight."

"I thank you comrade. The help is much appreciated," Colossus said gripping Bishop's shoulder.

"Great. More house guests," Vyper muttered under his breath.

Legolas had remained silent during the whole exchange because he had felt something tremendous. Powers were moving about and they were very old powers. Some were strong beyond belief and others barely held any strength, but they were moving about. One thing Derrick knew for sure. These powers were not of this world.

Sunfire walked into the room to find Jadianna watching television and Friends of all shows. Shiro had never been more disgusted with any other show.

"Are you alright?" Sunfire asked from behind Jadianna. He honestly felt anyone who watched Friends had to either have mental problems or be extremely depressed.

"Quite fine. This world's programming is fascinating," the former general of Ramses Xavier said as she rose up from the couch.

Turning to look at Shiro, the man who had defeated her in combat once before, the woman asked, "Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

Sighing the Yashida Clan leader said, "Is there any hope for this world? You have seen many worlds and much desolation. Is this world destined for the same?"

Jadianna laughed, "If it is I surely tell that it will not fall because of another dimension. There are legends throughout the Multiverse of Earth 616. The unconquerable plane I believed it was called. Ramses believed he could conquer that which had never been taken. You and yours proved us quite wrong."

"We had a little help along the way," Sunfire smiled thinking of the Avengers who had come to their aid.

"I only wish my world had such a chance. A man named Midas unleashed a thousand giant robots based off Tony Stark's technology he called Iron Guards. These Iron Guards first wiped out the X-Men. My father, Wolverine, and Iceman were the last to fall. My mother, Storm, was on the Avengers at the time and they had been off planet when Midas unleashed the Guards. Upon returning home the Avengers were just as swiftly wiped out. My mother died in my arms and Wasp sent me into the care of Eliza Bloodstone. She raised me up to be the warrior I am today, but in truth I never wanted to be a warrior. Just a little girl watching her parents save the world, "Jadianna explained as a single tear fell down her eye.

"I'm sorry for your loss, but whatever came of your world?" Sunfire inquired.

"Full of questions aren't we? That's okay though. It's been a while someone has asked questions that didn't have to do with battle strategy. Back to answering your question though. Eliza, Black Panther, and Meltdown lead the charge against the Iron Guards. The resistance quickly looked like it would fail until Ramses came along. He set my people free. He gave us hope, but now I realize it was a false hope. So you ask me if I think your world is doomed? No, because in this place there is true hope," Jadianna exclaimed.

"Then why serve Sinister if you believe in this true hope?" Shiro asked confused by this former general.

"I said the true hope was there. Never said I believed in it. Hope died out in my heart long ago," Jadianna replied as she walked out of the room.

Firestrike felt the air grow cold and heavy as Essex walked into the makeshift lab Dark Beast had constructed for himself. Sinister didn't look happy as he surveyed the area with his piercing red eyes.

"Do you not enjoy the nature of my experiments?" Dark Beast asked with a snarl motioning to the dozens of cages filled with the young babies that had been stolen from Buffalo.

The Victorian geneticist laughed, "Nothing you do here appalls me except for the sloppy way you do it in. McCoy was at least reasonable in his skills however stolen those skills may have been."

"You know nothing of my master! He was a thousand times the man you are!" Dark Beast yelled infuriated. The nerve of this man to come and judge him! What gave him the right?

"McCoy was nothing as you are nothing. I offer you the chance to be something. If only for a few moments," Sinister explained. Essex was a savant at deceit and manipulation. Dark Beast would serve his plans perfectly. The abomination was simply a pawn to be used against Onset.

"What do you offer?" Dark Beast asked curiosity overtaking him.

"I have an opponent that needs defeating. Give me your forces and I'll be able to dispatch this foe quicker. In return I'll give you better facilities in which to conduct your experiments. And I'll pretend that you don't exist," Sinister said the last portion filling his voice with venomous hate.

It was now Dark Beast's turn to laugh, "Normally I would take this offer, but my forces are imprisoned at the moment no thanks to Exodus's lot."

"My Dark Riders are already handling that problem. You'll have your forces shortly," Sinister said beginning to walk out from the sewer based lab, but before he vanished into the shadow he gave Dark Beast one last piece of advice, "You had better get over your problems with Exodus. You'll be working with him."

"You witch! You have the nerve to show yourself here!" Joseph yelled as he flew forward and wrapped his hands around Star Prophet's neck. Magnetic energy flew from his body shaking the walls of the former Hulkbuster base.

Blink ran up from behind and grabbed Joseph around his waist trying to pull him off Star. Yanking she desperately cried out, "Stop Joe! She's not Astra! She's not Astra!"

"Oh but she is Clarice and I'm going to make her pay!" Joseph replied as his grip tightened on Star Prophet. He was going to make Astra pay. For all she had done to him and made him do.

"Stop now!" Clarice yelled as she stabbed a javelin in Joseph's shoulder. Joseph was displaced for just a fraction of a second and fell to the ground smoking pink. Stepping over his body Blink ran over to a gasping Star Prophet.

"You alright?" Blink asked as she lifted the barely breathing woman to her feet. Clarice felt guilty. She should of told Joseph about Star Prophet earlier, but she hadn't the heart to. Now look at what had just occurred.

"I'm fine. Check on him," Star Prophet said through wheezing breaths.

"He's going to be okay, but boy do I have one hell of a story to tell him once he wakes up. After apologizing for frying him and everything," Blink said wincing at the thought.

Onset sat on her floating throne of red bones and black spikes. She was waiting. Someone was coming to her and they were of great worth to her.

You wait for him don't you my love. I can see it in your eyes. You know he's coming just as I do.

Smiling Onset nodded in reply and only continued to wait. Then suddenly the whole of her Tibetan base shook violently and terrasect portals began to open like splitting wounds all over the place. Mutants that were either clones or creations of Mutant Forger poured out of the portals like the soup from a pot into a bowl. Moving swiftly the forces of Forger quickly moved against the few mutants Onset had left from Gaunt.

"Today is the day you fall Onset! No more games!" Mutant Forger said floating through the last portal telekinetic power rippling from his body.

Your confidence is amazing Forger. Prove to me that this day is my last!

Tightening his fists Forger yelled, "Send these mutants and Onset to their graves!"

The mutant soldiers of Forger ran, flew, and teleported into battle. A clone of Locus ran head on into Longshot. The Mojoworld native leaped up into the air narrowly avoiding the kick from Locus. While still in the air Longshot sent three of his throwing daggers into Locus's forehead. The clone fell to the ground with a slump.

Before he can even hit the ground a clone of Hairback has grabbed his shoulder and was about to slam Longshot into the concrete, but in the nick of time the other dimensional action movie star threw his feet upward hitting Hairback square in the chin. Hitting the hairy behemoth felt like slamming his legs into solid steel, but the attack had proven enough to distract the clone. Quickly getting to his feet the warrior of Onset sent four throwing daggers into Hairback's neck.

"Not too bad if I say so myself," Longshot smiled as he praised himself.

The same thing occurred over and over again. Despite Forger's overwhelming numbers his troops were still losing the fight. Mikhail Rasputin had caused the most devastating damage to the Forger's forces. Without even trying Mikhail turned a dozen of Forger's soldiers into wood and another dozen into stone. Mikhail had never been quite this powerful on Forger's world. In fact Mikhail was killed when the being known as Stranger kidnapped him and used him for experiments.

Mutant Forger had not yet entered the fray wanting to see what Onset would do, but Mikhail needed to go down. Putting a telekinetic field around himself Forger flew downward in the direction of Mikhail. Before he even get off to a good start Forger's TK field disappeared into nothing.

"Matter, energy, and space are the realms over which I have dominion. Telekinetics won't do you any good here nor will any of your other energy attacks," Mikhail informed with hidden glee. Onset had made him realize his true potential. She had pushed his powers to levels he never knew existed. Now Mikhail knew that he was a force to be reckoned with.

"I'll find a way to defeat you. Peter would never forgive me if- ARGHH!" Mutant Forger cried out as he fell from the sky as a fallen bird would. His mind drowned in a sea of darkness and pain as he flew towards the ground, but shortly before he would have made contact a force reached out and held him in mid-air.

Slowly Mutant Forger raised back into the air again his unconscious body floating in front of Armageddon. The lover of Onset was quite the frightening figure. He wore the armor of Onslaught except his was all black. Long ebony spikes protruded from Armageddon's massive back and tinier spikes covered his entire chest.

Your power is impressive as is your audacity and strength! I know now why my love desires to have you at her side and she will have you. I promise!

All the forces of Forger that were still alive were snatched up by Armageddon's power and their bodies turned a glowing green. Their bodies then became ethereal and they all floated up and into the unconscious Mutant Forger. As these ghostlike forms flew into Forger he began to change. His long black hair turned into a shocking white and the hue of his skin became two times darker.

Rise Mutant Forger! Serve your queen.

Flipping himself right side up Forger shook his hair wildly and opened his eyes. Instead of brown they were a bright green. Smiling the former Exile smiled, "I live to serve."

Legolas had been listening to Bishop and Colossus catching up on each other's lives for about an hour and a half now. Vyper was with him. Both didn't exactly trust this Bishop character. For all they knew he could be a clone sent by Onset so they weren't going to leave Peter alone with him, but damn did they ever wish the two would stop talking.

Suddenly Derrick gripped his head in pain. He had felt something terrible just happened and he knew exactly what it was. Legolas could barely utter a sound at the moment though because it felt like hundreds of needles were being poked repeatedly into his brain. Blood began to trickle out of Derrick's nose.

"Derrick! You alright man? Derrick!" Vyper said distraught as he grabbed hold of his friends shaking body. Bishop and Colossus immediately rushed over.

"Legolas what's wrong comrade? Speak," Colossus said getting a better grip on the shaking body than Vyper had.

Finally being able to talk Legolas said in a hushed voice, "Mutant Forger has lost. He is now bound to Onset's will."

Author's Notes

Welcome to the end of Onset War Part Three! So far I've been having a blast with story seeing how it culminates in both a literal and symbolic way all the work I've been doing since issue one of this title. There are a couple of things I wanted to get across in this issue I hope that I succeeded in. One, Mikhail has definitely moved up the totem pole. Second, the battle with Onset is going to be nasty. Third, things are coming after Onset are going to be just as nasty.

-Brent Lambert