Like Father

He looked at his son and sighed. "Milo, please don't go through with this," he begged. "Forget about this Brotherhood and the war you've been telling me about and stay home. I don't want you to be part of it in any way."

Pyro bristled at the man's tone, but Battle quickly told him, "I got this." He tried to reason with his father. "But, Pa, this is a good cause. We're actually doing something to help our kind. I really want you with me. Maybe if you come with us and I take you to talk to Magneto, he'll make you see that this is the only way. The humans are going to exterminate all mutants unless we do something about it."

"And what would that something be?" the old man demanded. "You exterminate the humans before they exterminate you? Is that the only way?"

"Yes! And you know it, too!"

"It's insanity, that's what it is! You're going to get yourself killed!"

"Pa, please! Just give this a chance!"

"No!" He shook his head. "I am not going to join your army of fanatics! I'm sorry, Milo."

"I'm sorry, too," Battle whispered, looking defeated. "But if you're not with us, -" He suddenly picked up the table and smashed it against his father's head. However, it only disoriented the man for a few seconds and then he was on his feet. With a roar, he tackled his son and they crashed through the wall of the little apartment. Grappling with each other, they tumbled down the staircase.

"Who do you think is gonna win?" Rake wondered when the entire building began to shake as father and son continued fighting each other.

"Superstrength against superstrength - it's a tough call," Spine said.

Pyro scowled at them. "The two of you move your butts. We're getting out of here before the roof falls on us."

They pushed their way through the panicky tenants and waited outside. In a few minutes, the whole structure collapsed from within. As cops and firemen began to arrive at the scene, the rubble heaved violently and Battle crawled his way out of it. He was holding his father's severed head by the hair. He tossed it away as he walked toward the group.

He stopped in front of them, breathing hard. "Okay. Say it," he told Pyro. "Go on."

Pyro shrugged. "I told you it was a bad idea to try to get your father involved."

"Yeah," he nodded. "He always was a narrow-minded ass. Stupid old man. He gave me quite a workout there, though."

"Well, you're gonna get some more workout." Rumble pointed to the small army of cops that were surrounding them.

Shard laughed. "Rock and roll!"

Battle grinned.