Misfitverse: The Korvac Saga
Disclaimer: "Mr. Stark makes a habit out of bailing out Avengers." - The Scarlet Witch, Avengers (Vol. 1) #177
Chapter 2: In or Out?
The Astral Plane
"What's it gonna be?" Ronnie asked. The New Mutants and the Hellions looked at each other.
"...Uh..."
"There's gotta be a catch." Jennifer shook her head. "We get to come back to life? For free?"
"Ressurection involves a lot of paperwork." Ronnie explained. "So, when someone is brought back, they have to do something. It's a simple exchange."
"I get it!" Danielle realized. "We agree to investigate the changes in reality, we get lives again."
"And a kewpie doll goes to Danielle Moonstar!" Ronnie grinned. The rock legend made a plush toy that resembled a tiny version of Dani appear in his hand, then he handed the toy to the Cheyenne mutant.
"Huh?" Dani blinked at the toy. "How'd you do that?"
"Man, that was cool." Buford whispered to Fabian. The electrokinetic nodded.
"Uh-huh." Fabian agreed.
"You know, I want to return to life." Amara told Ronnie. "I don't want my life to end the way it did. It is not worthy of a princess." Ronnie chuckled.
"My death wasn't exactly a way a normal rocker goes out either. But since I never did drugs, and I can't stand the taste of alcohol..." The rocker shrugged.
"I'm a little suspicious of this." Jennifer crossed her arms. Ronnie rolled his eyes.
"Blondie, here's the deal. You guys get brought back to life in the future, and you help investigate the missing heroes and reality-changing. Once you deal with that, and I know you kids can pull it off, you'll be allowed to go home."
"Well, if that's the deal..." The blonde luck-manipulator shrugged, arms still crossed. "Okay. I'm game. Besides, I want to see Wildstar again."
"I have to admit, I am curious." Ray shrugged. "Okay, I'll come back. Maybe the future will be really cool. You know, like The Jetsons. You know, with the flying cars and the buildings that are on poles high above the ground..."
"Knowing our luck, it'll be more like Mad Max." Roberto grumbled, crossing his arms.
"Whadda madda, Sunspot? Chicken?" Ray mocked. "Don't you want to see Fire again? I know I do..." He grinned widely, making the girls roll their eyes.
"Yeah, I do..." Roberto admitted, after briefly glaring at Ray. "...even though she does tend to embarrass me with her stories of her mad misadventures."
"Dude, even if you decide not to come back, she'll die at some point, and you will see her again, and those stories will continue to be told." Ray countered. The Brazilian's face paled.
"You got a point." Roberto nodded quickly. "I'll go! I'll go ten thousand if it means no more hearing Bea's embarrassing stories!"
"I suppose it would be interesting to see what the future is like..." Dani mused out loud. "Okay. I'll do this, too."
"I have to agree with Mirage and Berzerker." Marie-Ange smiled. "I am slightly curious myself. And since another version of me came back from the grave...it would be a start of a tradition, yes?"
"Well, if Dani, Ray, and Roberto come back, then perhaps I shall as well." Amara nodded. "I do not want to be the only New Mutant not to come back from beyond. And besides, I still wish to go shopping with Tabitha next week."
"Well...I..." Doug shifted nervously. "I admit, I do want to see Rahne again." Doug told Ronnie. "I want to come back, but I don't think my powers will be any good if something bad happens. I mean, what can I do, translate a bad guy to death? When you fought Selene, you had that guitar. I don't have a thing."
"Maybe if we're lucky, the bad guy will be an evil language." Ray joked.
"Stop it, Ray." Dani ordered.
"Kid, Batman don't have any powers. Neither does many of those Green Lanterns without their rings. What about Iron Man and Sonic Blue? Without their armors, they're regular people." Ronnie argued.
"And the Punisher." Fabian shuddered. "He don't need powers to raise hell. That guy's a psycho!"
"Besides, kid. If these kids encounter any aliens, and there are a lot of 'em out there, they'll need a translator." Ronnie told the young blond.
"Doug, you should come along." Dani encouraged. "We're a team. We're all useful in a way."
"Well, alright..." Doug shrugged.
"I am not sure if I should." Haroun frowned. "No offense, Ronnie, but...I feel I deserve this fate."
"Huh?" Ray blinked.
"He's got this honor thing going." Jennifer sighed.
"Do you know why I joined the Hellions?" The Moroccan cyborg asked Ronnie.
"Hang on." A clipboard appeared in Ronnie's hand. He flipped through a couple pages. "Oh yeah. I got you right here. You joined them because you felt bound by your honor."
"The Hellfire Club saved my life." Haroun bowed his head. "I loved my powers when I first manifested them. Unfortunately, my body was unable to handle the intense heat that came with the flight I had mastered. My mutation was imperfect. I had not developed an immunity to my own powers like many mutants have. I made...a stupid mistake." Ronnie nodded.
"We all do, kid."
"My mistake was never leaving the Institute when I had the chance." Doug pinched he bridge of his nose. He got elbowed by Dani for it, but Haroun ignored it. "Hey!"
"I...gained grievous injuries." Haroun sighed, bowing his head. "They repaired my damaged body with cybernetics. I even was given cybernetic implants put in to allow me to change direction in flight."
"So, you joined the Hellions as your way of thanking them." Ronnie realized. Haroun nodded.
"Huh." Roulette crossed her arms. "So that's your secret origin."
"Yeah, he's like Robocop." Buford grinned, making Fabian snicker.
"Well, let me tell you, you don't seem like a bad kid." Ronnie nodded. "If it weren't for the Hellfire Club, you could've been a hero. You know, you should accept this second chance at life. You can use it to start again with a clean slate."
"Hmmm..." The Moroccan rubbed his chin in thought. "You do have a point, Ronald. Alright, I accept. I shall undertake this mission as well."
"Okay, so that's Cypher, Roulette, Tarot, Jetstream, Berzerker, Mirage, Sunspot, and Magma." Ronnie nodded. "What about the rest of you?"
"I'm not doing it." Tim growled.
"What?" Ray blinked.
"Dude, are you out of your mind?!" Roberto's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe what Tim just said.
"Yeah, are you crazy?!" Jennifer looked at the redhead like he had lost his mind. "This is a guaranteed free chance to live again!"
"For what?" Tim scowled. "To aid a bunch of heroes that would've debuted a long time after we die anyway? What's the point? We don't even get to have another shot at Fitzroy!"
"Tim, this is more important right now." Dani told the energy-blaster. "Didn't you hear what Ronnie said? All of reality is in danger, and we may be able to help stop it!"
"Great! Good!" Tim grunted. "Ever since I found out I was dead, I've wanted a shot at Fitzroy! It's not fair!"
"The afterlife ain't fair, kid." Ronnie shook his head.
"Screw all of you!" Tim grunted, walking away. "I'll find my own way back, and I'll get my hands on Fitzroy!"
"Kid, Fitzroy is dead! He's getting what's coming to him! Don't worry about that! You get a free shot at living again!" Ronnie tried to tell him. Tim stopped and looked at Ronnie.
"And what about you?" Tim reminded. "Don't you want to come back and get your hands on Selene for killing you?" The rock legend looked at the redhead.
"Every damned day I did." Ronnie nodded. "But then my guitar found itself in good hands, hands that have consistently beat the hell out of that old witch." Tim grunted. "You've been avenged, kid. This is a rare opportunity. I'd take it. A second chance at living." The redhead bowed his head in thought.
"...I'll...think about it." Tim answered. Ronnie smiled.
"Okay. I'm not one of those ghosts that's 'accept-right-away-or-else'."
"Oh, that's good." Fabian told him. "Because...I want to know something."
"Shoot." Ronnie nodded.
"Well...is there a chance we could die again?" Fabian asked. Ronnie sighed.
"There's the risk, yeah. I'm not going to lie to you. There is the risk you kids could get killed again." The kids looked at each other.
"...I want to go out fighting." Dani scowled. "I didn't like the way I went out last time."
"Yes." Haroun agreed. "I was not given the option of dying an honorable death. I think it would be preferable than merely being ambushed like we were."
"I'm a little afraid, to be honest." Buford looked at the rocker with a little shame. "I mean...you know..."
"I'm with the big guy here." Jesse nodded in agreement. Fabian nodded. Ronnie smiled.
"Don't worry about it. I'll let you guys think it over." The legend nodded. Jesse, Fabian, Buford, Everett, and Tim nodded in thanks. "Alright, the rest of you? You ready to go back to the future?" He started to laugh. "Sorry."
"Let's go. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can go home." Dani nodded.
"Alright!" Ronnie's hand started to glow. "Good luck, kids."
"Wait, aren't you coming with us?" Amara blinked.
"Sorry, kid." Ronnie shook his head. "I got other things to take care of." He snapped his fingers, and a flash of light erupted over Dani, Ray, Amara, Roberto, Marie, Doug, and Jennifer.
New York City, one thousand years in the future
A tall, powerful figure stood on top of a building in the futuristic New York City. His body and face was covered by a blue cloak and hood. He looked up slightly.
"My Cosmic Awareness has alerted me. They have returned. After one thousand years, the Lost Mutants have returned. I have been waiting for this day."
Well, well, well! Looks like our heroes are about to make the big return! What insanity will happen next? Who was that figure? What kind of craziness will our heroes encounter in the far future? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!