Chapter 65

State Of

The Mutant

Disclaimer: And we're goin', goin'.

In the aftermath of the Battle Of California, morale for not only the original Misfits but the West Coast team and even X-Factor as well was low due to several losses they'd had during the Battle. For the Joes/Misfits, it'd been a loss of life where a number of Greenshirts and Joes were concerned in addition to a number of injuries several on the teams had gained. Matters weren't especially helped when the team had managed to find an unresponsive and barely alive Todd who is now in a Coma. Roadblock in particular wasn't handling his son's current state all that well but Althea herself was on another level entirely as she'd gone into a Catatonic state due to the stress of the situation and had been in that state for two weeks now despite Lifeline and Betsy's attempts to wake her and Todd up. Pietro had taken a leave of absence from X-Factor to be with the Misfits and the Joes and considering the X-Factor team itself was benched due to losing several members during the Battle of California, his being with them was a no brainer.

What morale had been left in X-Factor was essentially gone as due to an encounter with Magneto and his Acolytes several days prior to the big battle, the team had already been hurting in the morale department due to their loss against the man and his bunch. The rest of the surviving members were also away for the time being as well. There was also even a sense of uncertainty for the original Joes/Misfits as well during this time as the mandate where Cobra was concerned had finally been met but many of them were trying not to think too much on it. California itself was going to take time to fully recover from what Cobra and its allies had done to it but it should be said that because of this event, support for Mutants had risen considerably given not only the efforts of the Misfits/X-Factor, but various Mutants in the California area who'd done their part to help out in the fight. Even those outside of the State for that matter since Kyle had practically guilted the teaching staff at the Cleveland School into helping in the fight.

Which had also involved Bobby Drake and a few of the other former Institute kids and reportedly, Jake and Clara were none too happy with the staff where Kyle was concerned and as well as Kyle himself. California was even receiving foreign aid and the fact that it was from a Mutant ran Country of all things by the name of Krakoa, and something the ancient Mutant known as Apocalypse himself had a hand in its founding, was shocking but at that point, not many was interested in putting up too much of a fuss for obvious reasons. The State itself had no problem with the aid given as they needed it and a little known fact at the time is that Apocalypse had led an Army to the Island of Genosha and not only ousted the ruling party but had taken over entirely rather quietly. Something that was helped by thanks in part to the MLF, who were also doing their part to ensure things for Mutants in America and as well as outside of it weren't going too far down the drain. Which was also why Sentinels weren't being used much due to lack of funding, the manpower to help create them, and anti-Sentinel propaganda that was used.

"Its good of you to come by, Vincent." Remarked Hawk as he escorted the British born Mutant through the halls of the Pit.

Who'd arrived minutes ago after getting back and touching base with everyone back in California. "Well, after I heard what happened to you lot, I just had to come and see everyone. Still can't believe I missed that fight." Sighed the young man in supposed sincere regret and making sure he didn't slip up where Althea was primarily concerned in his mind.

"Couldn't be helped, you were dealing with your own thing back home. How's that going, by the way?"

"Unfortunately, I've had to take over after me old man was killed and just when we were getting to a good place again…" Lied the young man.

For his father had invited him back home under false pretenses in order to get him back under his thumb so that more money could be made. Needless to say, Vincent hadn't taken that too well. Hawk closed his eyes and gave a silent prayer before speaking again. "I'm sorry to hear that, son. Everyone is here if you need us."

"Yeah, appreciate that, Mate."

Thanks to Hawk, Vincent would encounter all the present Misfits before eventually being brought to the medbay where Althea and Todd were and it took all the genius Mutant had to not react to the sight of Todd in one of the beds. For he was supposed to be dead and not in a coma like the others had claimed and was hoping they were wrong about! You little bastard! I'll kill you yet! Hissed the Mutant in his mind savagely.

Vincent paid little mind to Hawk telling him he needed to go and deal with something as he stared at Todd before finally looking to the Catatonic Althea. Someone whom he cherished with all his heart and made his way to her and knelt down in front of her in her chair. "Its okay, my love, I know that Froggy bastard has you under some kind of influence but I think I have the way to undo it. And then… Then we'll be together!" He softly told her and even pecked her on the lips.

The only reaction to that was her gasping and Vincent took that as a favorable sign before getting back up. Looking around for anything that he thought would aide him in what he was about to do, he spotted a cabinet containing the various tools a Medical Professional might need and went to it to get a scalpel from it. A disturbing grin came across his face as he stared at it and then towards the Comatose Todd. Slowly, he went over to Todd and stared down at him. "And now… You die, you Froggy bastard!" Snarled the genius Mutant as he raised up his arm with the scalpel in it to bring it down when he was stopped.

"What are you doing!?" Came the shocked voice of Bree, the wife of Lifeline.

"What needs to be done as I'll get it right this time!" Yelled the young man as he went to strike down at Todd as Bree rushed towards him after hitting a nearby emergency button.

Her rushing caused him to be shoved into the nearby equipment with the scalpel falling out of his hand and he snarled angrily at her. "What the Bloody Hell do you think you're doing, you daft Bint!?"

"Stopping you, of course!" She told him boldly.

With a yell, he charged at her and the two began to fight but it was clear Bree was outmatched due to her focus primarily being healing rather than Physical Training. Luckily, Fate would intervene thanks to help showing up and Vincent would be none too happy about it and let it show. He'd also demonstrate a new ability in order to escape capture by turning into green Binary like Code and fleeing through some of the machinery present. "Find him! We can't let him escape!" Yelled out a Joe as Bree, Todd, and Althea were looked over.

Morale after this would be down even more once everyone learned what Vincent had tried a second time if Bree had understood his words right. But for the West Coat team, especially those who'd come to know Vincent since taking him in, the betrayal would hit especially hard for them.

Author's Notes: I would've had all this up and posted before now but after experiencing a heart attack, being in the hospital a few days because of that, and then being at home and not exactly being in the right mind to write much, kept that from happening.