The Morlocks Strike Back

In a large van that served as a portable command center General Kincaid was overseeing the operations. "We got 'em," He grinned. "Trapped like the rats they are. I tell you Major, it was a lucky break we were able to find those old city blueprints as well as those files on Cobra."

"Lucky break nothing," Kincaid's underling grunted. "If I hadn't remembered there used to be a major Cobra operation in this area years ago we'd still be looking. It wasn't easy getting those classified files."

"It'll be worth it after tonight," Kincaid grinned. "After months of searching not only will we get the Leech boy, we'll wipe out an entire nest of mutants. Operation Rat Catcher will be a success. Especially after we figured out how to cut off the power to their generators."

"But sir we accidentally cut power to several blocks," One officer said. "There are blackout conditions in less than a quarter of the city."

"Are any hospitals without power? Firehouses? Police stations?" Kincaid asked.

"No but…"

"And we can easily restore power once we've taken care of the mutants right?"

"Well within a few hours yes, but…"

"So a few people miss an episode of 'The Amazing Race'?" Kincaid snarled. "Small price to pay for solving the city's mutant problem! This is war soldier! We have to expect a few casualties! Tell Team Alpha to keep advancing! Remember, we want the Leech boy alive! And if you can get at least ten other captives that would be perfect for Dr. Winson's needs. Exterminate the rest!"

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"Where are they?" Solitaire asked Eve.

"Breached the first tunnels already," She told him. "I barely got away myself. They killed Zipper and Flame."

"I can't sense anything," One mutant who was a telepath said. "They must have some kind of shielding in place."

"If we could get power back to the generators long enough we could shut the emergency defenses on 'em," Cell said.

"Patch, Postman, and you Slicer! Take the children to the lower stronghold along with Mrs. Leech," Solitaire ordered. "That door can only be opened manually. Shut the door and don't let anyone in unless it's us! Those doors should hold but if somehow we fail and they do break in…"

"Then they'll wish they hadn't," Slicer, a large gray mutant with large bone blades on his arms and talons growled. The mutants readied for battle. They didn't have to wait long.

The soldiers burst in with guns blazing. But the mutants were ready to fight for their lives. Some mutants were able to put up a telekinetic shield in time to protect many of the Morlocks from the gunfire. Other Morlocks who were impervious to the gunfire used their claws or whatever else they had on the attackers.

The soldiers had not come unprepared. One of them used a sonic attack machine that brought many of the Morlocks to their knees. However, one of the Morlocks, a purple skinned mutant was deaf and used his powers to destroy the weapon. But not without getting killed by a hail of gunfire.

"DIE HUMANS!" Eve shouted as she electrocuted several soldiers. However they were wearing some kind of protective covering on their uniforms so they were not killed. But they were severely stunned.

Stunned long enough for Solitaire and other mutants to cut them down. "We need those generators online!" He roared. "Eve! Jitters! Follow me! The rest of you hold your positions!"

Eve and a mutant with five arms followed him deeper into the bowels. Solitaire was able to see due to his natural senses and Eve's glow. "This way!" He pointed. "Okay Eve! Do it!"

"One charge coming up!" She used her powers to restart the engines.

Jitters ran towards the machine and stared to work on it. "It's working! Systems will be back online any second!"

"Good! Shut the blast doors!" Solitaire ordered.

Soon a series of large doors came out of the walls near the fighting. The Morlocks were able to scramble back and several soldiers followed. To their horror they realized that they were soon cut off from the rest of their unit and trapped as the blast doors shut behind them. Several Morlocks grabbed weapons from the dead soldiers and started to use them against their pursuers. It wasn't long before all the soldiers that had followed the Morlocks were dead.

"How many you think are outside?" Eve asked.

"Enough to send reinforcements," Solitaire looked around. "How many casualties?"

"Five," One mutant with large teeth and a horn told him. "Blank, Rope, Leia, Bookworm…"

"And Silence…" Solitaire looked sadly at the purple mutant's body.

"At the very least we shut 'em out," Cell grumbled. "For now anyway."

"Yeah but we're stuck in the Vault," Eve grumbled.

"Not quite," Solitaire took a communicator from a dead soldier. "Broadband?"

"Yeah ready to go, Boss," Broadband, a large mutant with a pig like snout grinned and hefted up a huge ax.

"I want in on this party too," Eve told Solitaire.

"I can take two more people," Broadband told Solitaire.

"Litterbug," Solitaire turned to the huge green mutant that resembled something from Alien. Then he turned around. "Cell…We're going to pay the humans a visit. But first let's deal with those on our doorstep."

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"Team Alpha! Team Alpha! Can you hear me?" General Kincaid shouted into the comm. system. "Damnit Team Alpha respond!"

"Sir! More than half the team has been cut off!" One soldier shouted. "There's some kind of doors blocking our way. Somehow they turned on the generator and…"

A strange crackling could be heard. "NO! NOOOOOOOOOOO!" A horrified scream and gunfire could be heard over the intercom. Then all was quiet.

"Team Alpha! Do you read me? Team Alpha! Do you copy! Report! Team Alpha!"

The system crackled to life. Suddenly it began to spark. "What the hell is going on!" Kincaid shouted as it began to vibrate. "Team Alpha!"

Suddenly a big flash of light shot out of the communications. Kincaid's eyes widened when five mutants, some of them the most hideous creatures he had ever seen appeared in his van. "ATTACK!" Solitaire shouted.

Before Kincaid could blink a woman with white hair electrocuted two of his men. The other mutants tore into his men. One sliced off his trusted major's head with an ax. "You god damned…" He pulled out his weapon only to have it knocked out of his hand by the lead mutant, a scaled monstrosity with gold reptilian eyes and strange gold markings on his green face.

Solitaire threw Kincaid to the side of the wall as the other mutants tore into his men. "You are the leader…" Solitaire hissed. "Listen well human, I will leave you alive for only this… To relay a message to all those who hunt us…LEAVE US ALONE!"

The next thing Kincaid knew he was being thrown out of the truck. Solitaire stepped out and stood over him. "Tell your men to pull back or…"

He was interrupted by some kind of sound. Solitaire looked and saw several mutants running towards him. "Step away from the general," He was knocked down by an incredibly fast mutant. "Even if he is a jerk!"

Solitaire flipped onto his feet again instantly. He glared at the X-Men and Misfit teams attacking. Then Solitaire saw something that made him gasp in shock.

"One…" Xi blinked. "One…is that you?"

Solitaire made no reply. "Solitaire we gotta go!" Litterbug roared. Solitaire ran off into the truck. Broadband used his powers to transport the five Morlocks through the communications systems.

"ONE!" Xi shouted trying to chase after them, but could not get to them in time. "ONE!"

"God damned freaks!" Kincade snarled. "What the freaking hell are you doing here?"

"You're welcome," Althea said sarcastically. "We can ask you the same question."

"I'm under orders to contain the mutant menace in this city!" Kincaid snarled.

"By causing a blackout?" Roadblock asked.

"This is war soldier!" Kincaid told him. "And what the hell are you and your rejects doing here? This is my operation!" He looked at his truck. "What's left of it anyway."

"Oh my god…" Kitty gasped as she looked inside the truck. "It's like a bloodbath in there!"

"Big surprise! Those monsters killed all my men!" Kincaid pointed at Xi. "And their leader looked just like that!"

"That was One…" Xi said. "I'm sure of it…"

"Who's One?" Logan asked.

"He's…My brother," Xi told them.