"We're here!" a ragged and torn Gaia said as she walked into the Exiles Base alongside the former Hong Kong cop, Plazm, the twins, Lifeguard and Slipstream, and the grandson of Destiny, Trevor Chase. They all were supposed to have arrived in New Mexico days ago, but Onset attacked and downed their ship.
"More little ones arrive. More crowded we get," Worm hissed as he slithered around the corner. He didn't like being at the Exiles base. It made him feel uncomfortable. Too many goody goodies about for his taste. He much preferred the abode Sinister provided.
"What the crap! Where the hell is Exodus?" Gaia asked fearing the worst. Worm was a Savage Land Mutate and all those guys served Sinister at the present. Could the others have fallen? Was that why they were calling for help?
"Easy Gaia. He's a friend…for now," Star Prophet said coming around the corner from where Worm had just made himself known. Looking closer at Gaia she snickered and asked, "Damn guys. You all been fighting pit bulls?"
"Onset more like it. She ripped through our plane like it was nothing," Slipstream said reliving the frightening experience in his mind. He had honestly thought he was going to die.
"Luckily Cameron here saved us. He opened up one of his warp portals and we got out. Only problem was we were stranded in the Sahara," Gaia said still shaking sand out of her hair.
Star Prophet laughed, "Sounds like fun."
"Where's Exodus? He would have been here by now," Plazm said.
"Unfortunately Exodus was hurt by Gaunt. Trust me Plazm. This is a war. One we can't afford to lose!"
A sleek blue figure moved into the light swaying slightly as she moved towards the person she needed to talk to. He was staring out a window into the desert landscape. The black strips that came from his shoulders down to his feet looked like a shredded cape.
"Isn't it lovely Raven? I must admit that I experience a certain aesthetic pleasure as I stare out into this wild, raw wilderness," Sinister exclaimed never once turning head to look at Mystique.
"Don't try and be coy with me Essex. You know why I'm here," Mystique said half expecting Essex to play a fool.
"Oh I know why you're here Raven. There could be no other reason. So I'm assuming Crow got to you then?"
Raven folded her arms across her chest and moved to stand beside Sinister, "Yes he did. He told me all about you and how you stole my life away from me."
"You should be happy I did what I did. I saw fire and strength in you Raven. I merely bought what lied underneath to the fore. You should be thankful."
"Thankful? You killed my father and took away my family, but I should be thankful? If anything I should be murderous and kill your ass at this point, but I want to see my brothers."
Sinister laughed, "Do you even remember your brothers or is it the simple fact that you just want to prove that you have a heart deep down in that dark soul of yours?"
"Screw you. I want my brothers back. So stop playing your mind games and do as I ask," Mystique demanded.
"I'll free your brothers, but you have to help me defeat Onset. Deal?"
"Deal," Mystique said coldly as she walked out of the room. She didn't want to fight alongside Essex or these Exiles, but she wasn't left with much of a choice. No way Sinister would give up her brothers freely.
Shard walked into Polaris's room and smiled. She had pictures of the old X-Factor team up on her walls. There were pictures of her and Pietro, Jamie teasing Strong Guy, Havok trying his best to look suave, and there was a picture of Shard with Forge. All bought back old memories for the former XSE. Lorna looked back and smiled at the company she had just received.
"I heard you were around Shard. I just wasn't sure if I could believe it. So much has changed since the old days back in X-Factor," Lorna said touching her belly slightly so Shard wouldn't notice too much.
"Trust me! I know exactly what you mean. Just look at me. I'm flesh and blood again," Shard said grabbing her wrist to feel for a pulse.
Jumping up from her bed Lorna wrapped her arms around Shard. Pulling back she smiled and said, "Just had to make sure. So how'd it happen?"
"Long story. Let's just say I had to go through hell and back to get some blood flowing through these veins," Shard said her voice getting a little somber.
Seeing that Shard obviously didn't want to talk about Lorna changed the subject, "So what exactly are you guys doing here anyway?"
"X-Corp told us this would be the place to find you. Mystique wanted to find Essex, but it seems like he was already here. You guys are keeping some dangerous company," Shard said her voice getting a little lower as if Sinister were around the corner listening in on their conversation.
"Sinister has been involved with this time since nearly its inception. Him and Exodus have quite the history I hear, but they both share one common foe."
"This Onset woman I presume," Shard replied as she picked up a picture of Forge and Havok off the wall. She remembered when this picture was taken. It was slightly before Fatale had kidnapped Havok. Things were so different now. Pyro had burned Fatale to death and Forge had given his life in battling a god. All that remained of Forge was a shard. The man called himself Genesis. If it was the same Genesis from her time she couldn't be sure, but it most definitely didn't feel like it.
"Yea it's this Onset lady that's been causing so much trouble around these parts lately. I wasn't expecting to come back to a full fledged war," Polaris sighed as she sat back down on her bed.
"What do you mean?" Shard asked sitting down next to Lorna.
"I found my grandmother. Her name is Yvette. And I found out something else. I'm pregnant with Alex's child," Polaris laughed weakly as she began to cry.
"Damn it Lorna don't cry," Shard said sympathetically as possible as she wrapped an arm around Polaris.
"It's not that Alex was upset or anything. It was just the look in his eyes when I told him. He didn't seem happy at all. Just somber," Polaris sobbed.
"Don't worry about it. You know how Alex is. He reminds me of Bish. Always a stick up his ass," Shard laughed.
"Yeah you're right. It's just that it hurts to see him not happy," Lorna said.
"I'm sure he's happy. He's just not very good at showing it," Shard consoled.
Colossus walked into the dark infirmary room and flipped on a dim light. Walking amongst the beeping equipment Peter made his way to Exodus's bed where his leader was sleeping. Pulling up a chair Colossus sat down in front of the centuries old mutant.
"Exodus we could really use you right now. This isn't a battle I can lead. I just don't know what to do honestly. There is so much going on. So much I have to do," Colossus said reaching out and taking Exodus's hand.
Ever had told Colossus that Exodus had healed himself once when gravely wounded by Onset. Why wasn't he doing the same now? What made the circumstances different?
"Come on Exodus. Wake up. I can't do this by myself. They're all looking to me and I can barely answer my comrades. How do you do this day in and day out? I'm no leader," Colossus sighed.
"Oh but you are Peter. You've proven it so far. Though the ultimate test is yet to come. Onset will soon be marching on our gates. Are you ready for her?" Sinister asked as he stepped out of the shadows.
"What I'm ready for is to be through with the likes of you!" Colossus exclaimed rising up from his chair angered at Essex's sudden intrusion into his conversation.
"And you will be, but first you must do something for me. After all you do have a debt to pay," Sinister said as he lifted up a syringe full of a blue fluid.
Rasputin shivered inside. He knew this day was coming. Sinister was calling back on an old debt. Colossus's weakness had come back to haunt him. What would Essex ask of him and how long would the impact of it bare on his soul?
"What do you want of me Sinister?" Colossus asked anger boiling up within him. He wanted nothing more than to snap the neck of that man. Usually, Peter suppressed such urges, which made him the gentle giant so many of the X-Men had come to know him as. Something about Sinister though evoked the darkest emotions in people.
"This syringe here is to be injected in Bishop. The fluid will reactivate Bishop's mutant abilities and make him a valuable asset in the battle against Onset," Sinister explained as he handed Colossus the needle. The Russian grabbed it quickly. Essex could tell what he had just asked of Peter was causing him turmoil. He loved every minute of it.
"What else will it do Sinister? With you there is always more to something than meets the eye?" Colossus asked.
"Of course Rasputin, but you'll know nothing of it. Now do as you're told," Sinister said moving into the shadows once more.
Colossus stared down at the syringe and tightened his opposite fist, "You will pay for this Sinister. I promise."
Blink arose from her sleep at the sounds of the blaring alarms. Clarice quickly threw on her uniform and ran out to the main hall of the Hulkbuster Base. All the other occupants of the base were already there.
"Glad to see you could make it on time," Sunfire said mockingly as Clarice walked up beside him.
"What's going on?" Blink asked ignoring Shiro's comment.
"The forces of Onset have decided to meet us. They wait for our arrival outside of this base," Sinister informed.
"Let's go then! Everybody ready to go?" Blink asked looking around at the motley crew that consisted of the Exiles, Sinister's forces, and Dark Beast's forces.
"Hell yea we're ready!" Legolas yelled raising his two long knives into the air.
"Alright lets do this!" Blink yelled childishly as she created a large portal underneath everyone that lead directly to the battlefield.
It seems Exodus's ilk have finally arrived. I was wondering when they were going to show up!
"Well, my master, the people of Exodus are cowards. We shall smash them down quickly," Mutant Forger said.
Onset smiled at her new servant's comment. He was indeed going to be great in her plans. The world would be hers to command and control. Mutant Forger was going to make quite the general in her army. And with her love, Armageddon, at her side the world would crumble into nothing underneath them.
Prepare yourselves people of Onset! The enemy approaches! We shall hold our ground and make them scream in agony.
Before you attack my love give our troops their gift.
Of course darling.
Holding out his hand Armageddon let loose a ball of green energy that turned into Gaunt. He had freed the captured from his prison.
Be a storm of fury Gaunt! Send the Exiles and their allies to the grave!
From afar Blink caught sight of Gaunt and cursed, "Man and just when you thought this fight couldn't get any harder!"
"We'll be fine Clarice! Everyone split up and take different targets! Bishop, Joseph, Clarice, and Heather come with me! We're going to take down Gaunt once and for all," Colossus proclaimed turning his body into its classic organic steel form.
"Lorna are you sure you don't want to stay inside?" Havok asked worry about the pregnancy.
Raising a green magnetic field around herself Lorna shook her head fiercely, "I'll be fine. You guys need me out here."
"Alright, but I'm staying with you," Alex replied.
Lorna smiled, "Whatever suites you."
Shard heard the exchange between the two and smiled. Looking out into the battlefield she felt a great swell within her. Finally, she would be able to use her X.S.E. training to the fullest. This was the battle she had waited for her whole life and her smile quickly changed into a face wide grin.
"Come on and face me if you dare Exiles! You're going to lose one way or another," Gaunt laughed as he floated above the approaching mutants. He would make quick work of them and move on to his next opponents.
Clarice teleported behind Gaunt and stabbed in the back with one of her javelins. Pink spatial energy filled the techno organic body of Gaunt. The energy didn't harm Gaunt in the least though. With the power of Bishop he absorbed the very energy that had been directed at him. Using the teleportation abilities of Locus, Gaunt came up behind a mid-air Blink and tried to smack her out of the air. Before he knew it she teleported again.
Joseph came flying up at Gaunt while he was distracted and wracked his body with magnetic energy. Gaunt cried out in pain and teleported below the flying Joseph. Splitting himself up into four versions of himself he moved with the speed of Quicksilver and attacked Joseph's magnetic shield from all sides. Then throwing in the power of Polaris he pulled apart the shield of Joseph and began to physically attack him.
The man that had once been called Proteus had no defense against the onslaught of Gaunts. He could only try and deflect the blows with magnetic bursts of energy. Even that was hardly effective due to Gaunt screwing up his powers. In a matter of minutes he fell and fell hard.
Joining himself back into one person Gaunt dusted off his hands at a job well done. That's when he was blasted in the back with a plasma gun blast. Spinning in the air, Gaunt was quickly ensnared in one of Blink's portals. Falling into the portal Gaunt found himself face to face with Colossus's fists.
"Why must you always make things difficult?" Colossus asked as he began to pummel Gaunt with blow after blow. Peter was relentless in his attack. He knew the kind of threat that Gaunt could be. There was no way he could allow him to get his bearings.
A telekinetic blast came out from Gaunt's body and sent him flying back a hundred feet. Before he had time to fully recover from Colossus's attack he had two javelins in his shoulders courtesy of Blink. Spatial energy filled his body once again and Gaunt cried out in pain. While the pain was still strong Bishop rammed Gaunt from behind and sent him right into the living tank that was Colossus. When the two bodies impacted Gaunt was sent crashing to the ground seemingly unconscious.
"That was easier than I had thought it would be," Peter said putting his foot on Gaunt's chest. He wasn't usually one to gloat over a victory, but something about this one felt like it should be celebrated. That's when Gaunt's body shattered like glass.
"Okay tell me that didn't just happen," Blink exclaimed.
"It did little girl, but you're going to wish it hadn't," a voice echoed throughout the battlefield as Blink was suddenly surrounded by pink plasma. A giant stone hand rose up from the ground and wrapped itself around Lifeguard. Colossus was flung into the air and suspended there. The ground beneath Bishop sucked him in up to his waist.
"What the crap?" Blink asked her voice being muffled by the plasma that had become her prison.
"Shut up," Gaunt said as he burst from the ground his body grossly enlarged so he looked like he had been on steroids for years. Reaching out with his right hand he twisted and turned the body of Colossus like it was silly putty. It was so excruciating Pete couldn't even find the courage to scream. Finally, turning his body back to normal Gaunt dropped Colossus to the ground like a brick.
"Damn it," Blink whispered under her breath. Her powers had been completely neutralized by whatever this plasma was Gaunt had put her in. Looking up she could see the majestic greens and purples that made up Gaunt's color scheme floating her way.
"For far too long you have been a nuisance Clarice. My master grows tired of your defiance," Gaunt informed the elfin girl as he turned her plasma prison into electricity. Blink cried out briefly before she was knocked unconscious. Lifeguard looked on in horror at what was transpiring.
Bishop meanwhile no longer felt something that he had felt ever since that day in Antarctica. He didn't feel the blazing heat of the sun anymore. He didn't feel the wind going over his cheek. Looking down at his hands the former XSE did feel something though. He felt power and despite his initial shock he quickly adjusted to the situation as he had always been trained to do.
Aiming both of his arms directly at Gaunt he let loose all the energy within him. The two beams of pure kinetic energy hit the weapon from the future dead on. The techno-organic flesh of Gaunt strained under the blast and Gaunt was sent flying high into the air. Bishop was able to pull himself out from the ground and Lifeguard broke free of the giant stone fist when her power granted her super-strength.
Walking over to Bishop the young Australian girl sighed, "Looks like we got lucky mate."
"Not as a lucky as me," a voice called out from behind the two as daggers struck both of them in the back of their necks. A liquid was emitted from the daggers that knocked both mutants out unconscious. Standing over them was the former X-Man, Longshot with a wicked smiled etched across his face.
And so the battle continued to rage. All the while Onset along with her lover watched the clash of the two mutant armies.
Such a battle has never been seen my love!
