Misfitverse: The Korvac Saga
Disclaimer: "It's like a koala bear crapped a rainbow in my brain!" - Captain Murphy, Sealab 2021
Chapter 21: Girls' Day Out, Part 5!
Avengers Mansion
"Man, I am bored..." Ray Crisp sighed, laying back on his bed in the infirmary. "I really wish they would let me outta here." He heard a knocking. The young electrokinetic turned his head to the door. "Hello?"
"Hello." A familiar silver-haired head peeked inside.
"Oh." Ray realized who it was. "Oh, hey Jocanna."
"Jocasta." The silver woman corrected as she stood at the door. Ray noticed she was carrying a white box underneath her arm. "May I come in?"
"Yeah, I guess." Ray shrugged. "I have no idea how to get on the TV in this place."
"TV?" Jocasta cocked her head slightly. "Oh, you mean, holovision. Yes, I can help you. Do you see the silver ring up in the ceiling?" Jocasta pointed up at the ceiling. Ray looked up and noticed the ring.
"Yeah..."
"That's the emitter." Jocasta smiled.
"Oh..." Ray blinked. "So...where's the remote?"
"Remote?" Jocasta blinked.
"Yeah, the remote." Ray groaned. "You know, a little rectangular thing with buttons on it, and you press the buttons on it to change the channel."
"I know what a remote is, Raymond." Jocasta explained. "I was around in your time. It's just that in this time, holovisions don't have those."
"Then how do you turn it on?" Ray blinked.
"Vocal command." Jocasta answered. "Like this. Holovision, activate." Before Ray's eyes, the silver ring on the ceiling started to glow, and it emitted a blue sphere of light.
"Please select channel." The sphere commanded.
"Whoa!" Ray blinked. "And I thought HD was something!" Jocasta giggled.
"Trust me, Raymond. This is beyond high-definition. What do you want to watch?"
"Uh...I dunno." Ray admitted. "I don't know what's on."
"Would you like the listings?" The sphere asked.
"Hey, that's neat." Ray blinked in amazement. "Well, I'm sure what...holovision is like. Anything you recommend?"
"There's a really good show on right now." Jocasta recommended. "If you like talk shows."
"I don't care." Ray shrugged. "As long as it isn't some lame infomercial...there are still infomercials here, right?" Jocasta sighed.
"Unfortunately." The robot woman nodded. "Holovision, Channel 6." With a bleep, the screen turned to a three-dimensional image of a man with blue hair in a loud green suit sitting behind a desk.
"And welcome back to the Zandor Zed show!" The man announced. "Tonight, we have a great show lined up for you! We have Durlan actress and Avenger Chameleon Girl here, and legendary Kree author Rog Str-Ne will be talking about his latest book." (1)
"You know, I'm surprised that you aren't really bothered by my appearance. Most from the 21st Century would be terrified of me."
"Jo, can I call you Jo?" Ray started to retort. Jocasta nodded. "Jo, I was in the X-Men. Robot women are one of the more normal things I've seen. I just died and returned, and found out there's a prophecy about me. Compared to that...you're normal."
"Ah. I see." Jocasta nodded. She then remembered the box she was holding. "Oh, yes! Speaking of the prophecy, I made a gift for you." The silver woman smiled as she held out the box. "Take it. I made it for you."
"Uh..." Ray took the box. "Thanks...what is it?"
"Open it." Jocasta smiled. Ray opened the box and revealed itself to be...
A costume.
"Whoa..." The electrockinetic blinked, slightly pulling out the suit so he could take a look at it. It was a deep blue costume, with four lightning bolts forming an X across the chest, the tips of the bolts meeting at the center. The costume came with a built-in cowl.
"Do you like it?" Jocasta smiled. "I made it myself."
"Wow..." Ray blinked. He ran his fingers over the costume. "This fabric...it feels really strange."
"It's 31st Century material." Jocasta explained with a smile. "All superheroes use it in their costumes in this time. Try it on. I made gloves and boots for you, too."
"Will it fit? I don't think I gave you my measurements."
"My sensors took care of that matter." Jocasta reassured, tapping her temple. "Do you still hear the transmissions?"
"Not really." Ray shook his head. "I managed to get myself to stop hearing 'em. It's weird...I never knew I could do that."
"The electrical blast you took from Livewire must've caused you to unlock hidden aspects of your mutation. It's been known to happen. Some mutants are more powerful than they think." Jocasta reminded.
"Yeah, but there are more powerful mutants than me out there." Ray frowned. "I'm sure of it." Jocasta shrugged.
"True, but you were chosen by fate to help fight a great evil. So, you may not be the most powerful mutant out there, but that doesn't mean you're not special." The robot woman told the electrokinetic.
"If you say so." Ray thumbed the fabric. "Man, this is some strange fabric."
"31st Century fabric." Jocasta smiled. "I'll leave, so you can try it on." The robot woman left the young mutant.
"Huh." Ray blinked as he got up from the bed, holding the costume. He then put it on, discovering the costume also had white boots and gloves with gold lightning bolt zig-zag stripes on the tops. A couple minutes later, he called Jocasta back inside.
"Raymond..." Jocasta blinked. "You look very handsome in your new costume."
"Yeah." The electrokinetic young mutant nodded. His cowl, with silver built-in eyepieces, covered his head except for his chin and mouth. "This costume is amazing! It feels really comfortable. This future cloth stuff is amazing." He moved around a bit. "This is cool."
"I'm very glad you like it." Jocasta smiled. "I hope you'll wear it when you finally face the enemy you're prophecized to face."
"Can I keep this?" Ray grinned.
"Of course! I made that for you." The robot woman answered. "I'm very glad you like the costume.
"Man, I wish the X-Men let me have a costume like this."
"I doubt they could." Jocasta shook her head. "The materials I used to make that costume weren't invented at that time yet."
"Do all superheroes in this time use this stuff in their costumes?" Ray inquired. Jocasta nodded.
"Yes, it's standard costume material." The robot woman explained. "The Legion of Super-Heroes, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Avengers, they all use this material in their costumes."
"...you're in demand in the super community, aren't you?" Ray realized.
"I'm the best there is at what I do." Jocasta winked. "And what I do is make a good costume."
The skies over New York City
Rond Vidar and Cary Wren were flying through the skies, towing the Gammazon and the female Lost Mutants behind them in a green sphere.
"That. Was. Weird." Jennifer shook her head, running her hand through her long blonde hair. "That. Was. Really. Weird."
"I have to agree with you, Stavros." Danielle nodded. "That was weird."
"I don't believe it." Amara mumbled in shock. "They...they...they didn't hate us."
"I know." Marie blinked. "It was incredible."
"You really shouldn't be surprised." Jhen smiled. "This isn't the 21st Century. Humans have seen a lot worse things than mutants. We've learned that compared to some other things...mutants are harmless."
"If humanity is so accepting of mutants, then how come we all live on another planet?" Jennifer asked. "Why don't they stay here?"
"...it's a long story." Jhen sighed. "Some mutants still live here on Earth, though. Not all of them left. And besides, I'm not allowed to give you any historical information between the time you guys died and now. Protection of the timeline and all of that jazz."
"So, that means..." Amara realized. "You can't tell me about Roma Nova. If it's still around."
"Sorry, Amara." Jhen shook her head. "Believe me, kid. I'd like to tell you, but it's too dangerous for you to know." The two Green Lanterns couldn't help but overhear.
"I don't think she'd want to know about Roma Nova anyway." Rond whispered. "Can't believe that place may have actually existed."
"All legends have a basis in truth, Rond." Cary reminded in a whisper. "Evidently Nova Roma did. We had better not mention it to her." She shot a quick peek at Amara. "If she is truly from the past, then we should keep quiet about Roma Nova."
"No kidding. I just discovered it may have actually been around." Rond nodded.
"So, where was this quiet place you wanted us to take us to?" Marie wondered.
"Right down there." Jhen pointed at the ground. "Hey Lanterns! Take us down!"
"Right!" The two Lanterns flew down towards a small cafe. They let the bubble touched the ground, and it faded.
"Thanks, guys." Jhen waved. "Sorry about having you guys play taxi."
"Hey, for a fellow Avenger, no problem." Rond waved. "Good luck to you kids. Hope this time treats you well." And I hope that prophecy is fulfilled. Rond and a smiling Cary flew away. The girls entered the cafe and sat at the table.
"Your menus, madmoiselles." A waiter handed each of the heroines a piece of red-and-white-striped plastic the size of a Game Boy, and as thick as a quarter.
"These are menus?" Jennifer blinked.
"These are touch screens." Marie realized. "Like in information booths back in our time."
"Yeah..." Dani pressed a graphic. The screen then showed a list of items for ordering. "Neat."
"I personally recommend the mocha latte." Jhen recommended with a grin.
"There are still mocha lattes in the 31st Century?" Jennifer blinked.
"Of course." Jhen nodded. "The truly good things are timeless. Besides, I'm sure you kids could use something good to eat while we're here."
"Well, I am kinda hungry..." Dani admitted, looking at her menu. "I'm gonna have me a turkey sandwich."
"I think I'll have a slice of blueberry pie." Marie smiled at the menu.
"Meh." Jennifer shrugged. "I'll have that too."
"Aren't you worried about ruining your precious figure?" Amara grunted. "I saw the grin you got when that one guy complimented your appearance." Jennifer shrugged.
"Don't you worry about me, Princess." The blonde smirked. "I got good metabolism." She then noticed her reflection on the metal umbrella pole. "I dare say that I look even better now than I did before Fitzroy toasted me."
"Please stop." Marie groaned.
"Just shut up and order some lunch, Amara." Danielle grumbled.
"I am not hungry." The Nova Roman grumbled. Her stomach then growled.
"You aren't, but your stomach is." Jennifer joked.
"And you are not funny." Amara retorted, picking up her menu. "I will have the chicken soup."
"I think they're starting to like each other." Jhen chuckled.
"No, we're not." Amara and Jennifer countered in unison, making Dani and Marie snicker. "I said that! Stop mimicking me! Knock it off, it's not funny! GAH!" The two both crossed their arms and grumbled, making Jhen, Dani, and Marie laugh.
"Orders collected. Now sending to the kitchen." The menus said.
"Whoa!" Dani gasped. "That's incredible!"
"Yup." Jhen chuckled. "No need to wait for the waiter to come and get your orders."
"Then what's his job?" Jennifer frowned.
"To bring us the food, of course." Jhen grinned.
"I just hope it's good." Dani sighed.
"Trust me, you haven't lived until you tried 31st Century cooking." Jhen reassured with a laugh. "It's so good, you won't want to come home."
"Maybe Roulette here can stay here, then." Amara remarked.
"Screw you." The blonde retorted.
"Shut up, Amara." Dani ordered.
"Oh, and by the way, do you really believe that the Wildstar would have mourned you?" Amara added, making Jennifer scowl. "I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't even think you were worth shedding a tear over." (2)
"You do not know that." Marie shook her head. "That is not fair."
"Watch it, Aquilla." The blonde snarled. "Don't make me have to give you a black eye in public. And when we come home, we'll find out how he feels."
"Oh, I am scared." Amara cracked. "All I have to do is activate my powers."
"I'm warning you, Amara." Dani growled. "Shut it!"
"Unlike you, I don't need my powers to beat your ass, you stuck-up-!" Jennifer got ready to throw a punch at the Nova Roman.
"Not here!" Dani snapped, pushing the two apart, and holding Amara back. Marie moved to hold the Atlantic City-born blonde back. "Knock it off!"
"Figures you X-Men would take each other's side." Jennifer scowled.
"She's not." Marie glared at the blonde. "She may have just saved your life."
"No kidding." Dani grumbled. "Amara, knock it off!"
"Were the X-Men always like this?" Jhen blinked. "I'll have to talk to Sam."
Well, well, well! Looks like things are heating up! What insanity will happen next? Will Amara and Jennifer ever get civil? What will the others think of Ray's costume? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!
(1) – A nod to legendary Captain America, Spider-Man, and Avengers writer Roger Stern.
(2) – In NebulaBelt's "Misfitverse: Civil War CHECKMATE", Wildstar did mourn for Jennifer and Marie-Ange. He revealed that he wished that the two had a chance to change their ways.