Malibu Mall Madness Chapter 10: Where is Everybody?, a x-men: evolution fanfic

Malibu Mall Madness

Disclaimer: "GET DRUNK!" - Peanut Butter Gamer, The Completionist

Author's Note: Apologies for the abysmal pacing.

Chapter 10: Where is Everybody?

The CVS Pharmacy

Scott Summers sat on a bench in front of the pharmacy, reading a magazine. It was one of the many celebrity-watching magazines that were found in any supermarket rack anywhere in America. In it, he was scanning through it, hoping to find an article on the Superstars. However, disappointment was with him at this time. The best he found was a picture of Lila Cheney buying a hot dog from a stand in New York City.

"Wow. Lila Cheney likes hot dogs. Big deal. How the hell is this news to some people?" The young X-Man rolled his eyes. "Well, that's a bust." He put the magazine down and reached into the bag next to him. He pulled out another magazine. One that made him smile. "Ahhh, Classic Car Weekly. You never fail to give me joy." He opened up the magazine and turned it on its side. "God, look at the pistons on that..."

"I'm ready, Scott!" He heard Jean's voice announce. Scott quickly fumbled with his magazine and shoved it into his bag.

"Uh, h-hi Jean!" Scott yammered, a big blush on his cheeks, making them nearly match the lenses of his ruby quartz glasses as Jean walked up to him, carrying a bag filled with various items. "F-f-find everything you need?"

"Certainly did!" Jean smiled, holding out her bag. Her face then formed a concerned frown. "Scott, are you okay?"

"Fine! Just fine, thanks!" Scott put out a big wide innocent grin.

"Scott, were you drooling over old Fords again?"

"...no."

"Don't lie to a telepath, Scott. It's demeaning."

"...yeah." Scott bowed his head shamefully. It made him look like a puppy who was being scolded by its owner. Jean started to laugh.

"God, you are funny when you are like that! Ha ha ha!"

"Uh yeah..." Scott rubbed the back of his neck. Jean pulled an item out of her bag.

"I got you some gummi bears."

"Oh, thanks." Scott smiled, accepting the gummi bears gratefully. Jean then noticed the other magazine next to him.

"Never imagined you to be a fan of those magazines."

"Yeah, I was just seeing if there was any articles about the Superstars in it." Scott explained. "All it had was a photo of Lila Cheney buying a hot dog in New York City."

"They treat Lila Cheney buying a hot dog as some sort of big deal? Amazing."

"Yeah, it's like they don't get the concept that celebrities do regular things, too. It really does amaze me." Scott shook his head.

"You still thinking about the Superstars, aren't you?" Jean noticed.

"...Yeah, I am." Scott admitted. "Something about them really bothers me."

"They are a bit eccentric, but famous people do tend to be." Jean shrugged.

"Yeah, but while you were shopping, I was doing some thinking."

"About what?"

"Remember when we fought that Organization member at that Superstars show?"

"Of course." Jean sighed. "Another attempt to have fun ruined."

"We saw them fight that sitar-wielding maniac to a standstill, Jean." Scott recalled. "They were good."

"Oh yes, they were quite impressive." Jean remembered.

"They were good. Real good." Scott looked at Jean. "How the hell could a bunch of rock musicians go toe-to-toe with a member of the Organization XIII?"

"So you are saying rock musicians cannot take up martial arts?" Jean countered. "Elvis took karate."

"Yeah, but did Elvis pull off some of the stuff they did?" Scott shook his head. "Think about it, Jean. We saw them fight. They were well-oiled. They fought like they had trained together for a long time."

"I overheard Paul say something about the group watching a lot of pro wrestling and Bruce Lee movies." Jean recalled.

"Watching pro wrestling and Bruce Lee movies?!" Scott shook his head in disbelief. "I enjoy Bruce Lee's movies too, but I'm no expert at Jeet Kune Do."

"You really think they're hiding something."

"Something nagged me about their fighting style." Scott frowned, chewing on a gummi bear. "But it just hit me."

"What did?"

"Their fighting style reminded of GI Joe's." Scott explained, looking at Jean. "They fought like Joes."

"Hmm..." Jean thought out loud. "We did learn of them thanks to the Misfits...and they did seem like friends of theirs..." She looked at Scott. "You think the Joes may have trained them?"

"Likely." Scott nodded. "But why?"

"That is a good question." Jean nodded in agreement. "Why would GI Joe train a rock group in martial arts? Well, they are celebrities. Fame can get them a lot of things."

"Yeah, but GI Joe is an elite military force." Scott explained. "Why would they bother to take the time to teach a bunch of rock stars? Unless..." He looked up. "Jean...you don't think that the Misfits may have done some...recruiting, have you?"

"Perhaps." Jean shrugged. "We do know that the Joes did recruit Jinx and her friend Wildstar. They did tell us they were working with a group of Joes on the West Coast. But Jinx and Wildstar had powers. I get why the Joes would want those two. But why would they recruit the Superstars, though? They're not mutants."

"I don't know. That's the thing I don't get. If the Joes have recruited the Superstars, why have they done so?" Scott chewed on some more gummi bears in thought. "...Maybe the Superstars are mutants, but are just hiding it."

"That would make sense." Jean nodded. "The Superstars are very famous, and I'm sure that is something they would want to keep hidden. With people like the FoH running around, having an X-Gene with a high profile is extremely dangerous." She then realized something. "If the Misfits have recruited the Superstars, why would they not tell us?"

"Oh, knowing those jerks, they probably thought it would be funny not to tell us, so they can reveal it and brag about it at some inopportune time." Scott scowled.

"Okay, but why would GI Joe not say?"

"Hmmm..." Scott thought over the question. "The Superstars are working with the Joes on something in secret. That's the only reason I can think of that makes any sense. And the Joes are keeping quiet about it to protect them."

"That would make sense." Jean nodded. "Unlike the Misfits, I highly doubt the Joes would keep a second team secret just so they can laugh in private at us not knowing about it."

"True." Scott nodded. "The Joes are many things, but they aren't that insensitive."

Jean looked at Scott. "Do you want to ask the Joes about this?" Scott scrunched his face in thought...and then shook his head.

"...no. No, not yet. I need actual proof first." Scott sighed. "May you could-!"

"No, Scott." Jean shook her head firmly. "I don't like the idea of invading other people's minds. Do you remember when my powers went completely crazy?" (1)

"Ohhhh, yeah..."

"Well...at the time, my telepathy went crazy...and I ended up learning some secrets about the other X-Men." Jean sighed sadly. "It was very awkward. I had to do a LOT of talking to some people afterwards."

"Ah, I see." Scott nodded. He then looked at Jean mirthfully. "Learn anything silly about me?"

"Well..." Jean grinned. "I know you enjoy watching My Little Pony." Scott blushed.

"Frickin' Tabitha..." He muttered. He heard glass shatter. "The hell?!"

"BWAAAAAA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!" The Surf Master cackled as he burst into the mall through the skylight, sending glass everywhere. "THE SURF MASTER IS HERE, BITCHES! IMMA BRING THIS MALL DOWN, AND THEN I WILL KICK TONY STARK'S ASS! BWAAAAA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Oh, my God!" Jean jumped off the bench in shock.

"Who is that guy?" Scott exclaimed, whipping his head around and seeing the Surf Master crash in.

"Can't we go anywhere without something like this happening?!" Jean groaned.

"Evidently not." Scott grumbled. "Let's get the others."

The Hot Topic

"Ooh, lookit this shirt!" Tabitha Smith grinned widely, holding up an Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters t-shirt. "Look at this shirt! It's so silly!"

"It is." Amara Aquilla frowned at the shirt. "Why are those hamsters using martial arts?"

"I dunno." Tabitha shrugged. "It's so goofy! I want to buy this shirt!"

"Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters." A voice familiar to Tabitha and Amara piped up. "They were a comic book published in the 1980s, and their success caused a wave of imitators. They also had a big time cartoon back in the day." The two girls turned and saw a smiling Paul Starr, his star-shaped purple birthmark covered by makeup. "I have all the old comics and the cartoon series. I was a nut for it." He smiled at the shirt. "See?" He pointed at each hamster. "That's Clint, Jackie, Bruce, and Chuck."

"...PAUL!" The two X-Girl squealed in delight, running up to him.

"Hey, girls!" Paul grinned. "Haven't seen you two since that unfortunate mess in Brown University."

"I'm surprised you two remember us." Amara noted. Paul shrugged.

"Hard to forget a day like that, uh..." Paul trailed off in uncertainty.

"My name is Amara. And this is Tabitha." Amara introduced, gesturing at Tabitha.

"Ah, thanks." Paul nodded. "As I was saying, a big attack by the FoH often doesn't happen at our shows."

"I'm surprised that doesn't happen more often at your shows, considering your support of mutant rights." Tabitha blinked.

"Oh, they protest." Paul nodded. "We also get our fair share of religious nuts, too. Mutants are spawns of Satan, and other idiocy."

"Hope you guys don't get too frightened by them." Tabitha stated sympathetically.

"Nah, they know to just stay behind the barricades." Paul shrugged. "If they do try anything, well..." His smile widened. "We have very good security that takes care of any morons." Hooking up with GI Joe does have its benefits... "And we can take care of ourselves."

"Well, that's good." Amara nodded. "We're glad you guys don't have to worry about those buffoons."

"Are you girls ready to go?" Ororo "Storm" Munroe asked as she walked in. "We do have other things to do."

"Miss Munroe, look! It's Starchild!" Amara jumped up and down excitedly, pointing at the musician. "It's Paul Starr!"

"Hi!" Paul grinned, holding out his hand for a handshake.

"It is good to see you again, Starchild." Ororo smiled, shaking the young mutant's hand.

"Nice to see you too, ma'am." Paul grinned. "Call me Paul. Starchild is just for the stage. You're Storm, right?"

"My name is Ororo." The wind-riding Kenyan smiled.

"Ororo. That's a neat name." Paul complimented.

"It means 'beauty'."

"Well, it does fit."

Ororo chuckled at Paul. "Charmer."

"It's a gift."

"I take it you and the other Superstars are not here for a performance?"

"Nope! Just a nice break and a chance to be regular folks again for a while." Paul explained. "I was just telling Tabitha here about the ARBBH on her shirt."

"I didn't know they had a cartoon." Amara remarked.

"Oh they did. Two, in fact." Paul explained. "The first one started in 1987 and ended in 1996. Lasted very long for a cartoon of the time. Also spawned a massive line of action figures. I used to collect them, but I lost my collection. Luckily, thanks to eBay, I was able to rebuild it."

"Well, that is very good." Amara smiled.

"I have to admit, I'm not into that nerdy stuff, but I want to see that." Tabitha chuckled.

"You are only interested because Paul Starr is." Ororo remarked.

"It's alright, ma'am." Paul reassured. "I'd love to show you two my collection sometime."

"I just noticed something." Amara looked around. "Where is your brother? From what I have seen, the two of you are inseperable." Paul shrugged.

"Craig is doing his own thing."

"Is that wise?" Ororo noted. "From what I heard, he is a criminal."

"He put that behind him, ma'am." Paul explained. "He's one of the good guys now." He heard a crash. "What on Earth-?"

"I'll take a look." Ororo peeked outside the store, the three younger mutants running up to join her. "Gods of Earth and Air!"

"Who is that?!" Tabitha blinked.

"I don't recognize that person." Amara said.

"Must be a new supervillain." Paul noticed. "I don't think Malibu has any local superheroes to protect this place."

"They do have today." Ororo said. "They have the X-Men."

"Alright!" Tabby grinned. "Some action! I love me some action!"

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Paul offered.

"Sorry handsome, but this requires some superhero action." Tabitha smirked. "Wouldn't want flyboy over there to damage your pretty face."

"I am afraid you'll have to stay here where it is safe, Mr. Starr." Ororo explained.

"It's cool." Paul nodded in understanding. "I'll stick around here and keep an eye on the people in here." He struck a martial pose. "I also know some judo and aikido. Anybody tries anything funny, I'll give them the Bruce Lee treatment. Wa-taaaa!" Amara and Tabitha giggled. Ororo smiled.

"Very well. Let's go, kids!" The three Xavier Institute students raced towards the rampaging Surf Master. Paul watched them leave. He then eyed a bathroom nearby.

"Excuse me folks, my stomach is acting up." The young musician quickly ran into the men's room and locked himself in a stall. He pressed a button on his watch.

"This is Starchild!" He whispered into the disguised Joe-Com. "We got a problem, you guys! A supervillain has attacked! Seems like a new one!"

An arcade

The Malibu Mall had its own arcade, and one Craig Starr could be found there, playing Killer Instinct. He was portraying Jado, and he was fighting Glacius. Much like his twin brother, Craig's brithmark was covered by makeup, which he hated.

"Come on and melt, you overgrown snowman." Craig grumbled, hitting buttons. "Yeah! Eat that!" He smirked in satisfaction. "Heh. Overgrown snowball."

"Wow!" A young boy wearing a red baseball cap grinned at the rocker. "You are awesome!"

"Uh, thanks." Craig blinked.

"You must practice on that game a lot!"

"I have a cabinet like this one at home." Craig explained. "This is my favorite fighting game."

"You own one of these cabinets?!" The boy's eyes widened in shock.

"Yup." Craig nodded. "Also got KI2, and some others."

"Those things must be expensive!"

"Being a rockstar has its perks." Craig explained.

"You're a rockstar?" The boy blinked.

"I've been known to play in some big arenas." Craig nodded.

"Jerry, stop bothering that kid!" A teal-haired teenage Goth girl snapped, walking up to the boy.

"It's alright." Craig shrugged. "Kid wasn't bothering me."

"I'm sorry, I'm just...ohmygod, you're Craig Starr!"

"Just here to play some Mortal Kombat." Craig explained. "Being a civilian today."

"Wow!" The girl gasped in delight. "I have all the Superstars' album, and I saw you guys perform in LA last month!"

"Hope you liked the show."

"It was awesome!" The girl whooped. "It was such a cool show! You guys are so awesome live! I don't think I ever had that much fun at a concert since-!"

KRESH!

"Oh my God!" The girl screamed, grabbing the boy. "What was that?!" Craig noticed people screaming and murmuring. Craig raced to the front of the arcade.

"The hell?" He mumbled as he saw the Surf Master burst in.

"Aw, man..." Craig groaned. Damn it all! An actual supervillain to fight, and I have to keep my powers secret! This freakin' sucks!

Well, well, well! Looks like the Surf Master has finally started his rampage! What insanity will happen next?! Can our heroes save the mall from the supervillains? Will the Superstars be able to help the heroes without exposing who they are? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly.

(1) – In the X-Men: Evolution episode "Power Surge".