Sierra Leone, Africa
Mwaka, forty years young, son of Mosi and Badu, watched the scene in front
of him with a heavy but accepting heart. In truth, it was a fate he had
accepted long ago. His village, however small, was situated near several
important diamond mines. And that made his village a prime target for the
Revolutionary United Front, who sought control over the diamond mines in
their civil war against the ruling government. Every now and then they felt
the need to exercise their control over the villages they held. The rebels
that captured the village had grown too attached to the money it produced
to respect the official cease-fire, after all. They came like thieves in
the night, without warning and surrounded the village before anyone could
raise the alarm. They violently dragged men, women and children out of
their huts and into the town square.
"It has come to my attention that there are those who doubt the righteousness of the Revolutionary United Front. Those who support the corrupt government of the so called President Tejan Kabbah and the corrupt elite who rape our natural resources.*" The RUF commander, dressed in grass green combat fatigues, said menacingly, while holding a machete in his left hand. Behind him, his soldiers carrying old M-16s watched the villagers, their fingers on the triggers of their weapons.
* (Translated from English, the official language of Sierra Leone-Did his research David)
"Kabbah is an idiot, a puppet of foreign governments who wastes our natural resources. He is not fit to rule. I am saddened that you do not feel this way." The R.U.F commander sighed sarcastically. "And so, I must make an example of your children."
The commander pointed towards three young boys gathered in the crowd in front of him. A half dozen soldiers rushed forward and grabbed the two young boys before they could think to get away. They dragged them out of the crowd and pushed them to the ground. One soldier grabbed the boy's legs and held them to the ground. Two other soldiers then grabbed the boy's wrists and stood on them. The process was repeated on the other two boys.
As Mwaka watched this, he unconsciously rubbed the stump that had once been his left hand with his right hand. He knew all too well what was in store for the three young men.
The RUF command ran his hand over the machete in his hand, stroking it fondly like one might stroke a favorite pet. The machete was caked in dried blood and rust, and he savored the looks of terror on the young boys faces and the sounds of the mothers wailing for him to spare their sons. These things made the commander feel powerful, in control. It gave him a high more powerful than the drugs first used to enslave him into the R.U.F. It truth, it could honestly be said that he lived for moments like this.
"Stop!" A feminine voice yelled. A young women, not more than sixteen years old ran forward, charging the commander with a small knife and false bravo. She lunged at the commander, but he side stepped the attack easily, and struck her in the face with a powerful right hook.
"That was very stupid." The commander said, matter of factly. He took out an old .45 magnum and pointed at the young woman. "What is your name and why did you do that?"
"I...I am Misha, and I could not allow you to mutilate my brother!" she shouted defiantly. "By what right do you do this to us? We have done nothing to you!"
"By what right? Because we know the true path, because we refuse to allow outsiders to ever rule us again. " The commander then carefully took aim into the crowd. As casually as some men shoot skeet, he pulled the trigger and shot an eight year old girl two weeks short of her next birthday, an eighty year old man who, despite being blind in one eye and losing a leg to a landmine, never complained, and a thirty two year old father of three who lived only for his family and wife. The crowd shuddered as their neighbors were cut down, many closing their eyes out of both fear and respect for those lost. "Lastly, because of force of arms."
The RUF commander pulled Misha up to eye level, and forced his lips to hers. After several seconds, he relented and pushed her into the arms of two of his soldiers. "Misha, I think you'll make fine entertainment for tonight."
The RUF commander turned his back as Misha began struggling wildly and motioned for one of his soldiers to bring him some rope.
"But now, it is time for business." He stated as he took the rope in his hands. He walked over to one of the young men his troops were holding down and tied the rope tightly around the young man's upper arm, cutting off the circulation.
"Don't struggle. " The R.U.F commander suggested. "it'll only make things worst. Not that I care."
The young man responded by attempting to spit in the R.U.F commander's face, and hurling every profanity he knew at the commander.
"Have it your way." The R.U.F commander smiled as he raised his machete into the air above the young man's arm. "It makes no difference to me."
***
Metro City, the Workplace
Danielle Moonstar rolled over in her bed and looked at her alarm clock. It read six o clock in the morning, much to her annoyance.
Time to get up she sighed inwardly. She then realized something. She could feel another weight pressing down on her bed beside her, meaning someone else in her bed with her. Dani turned over and came face to face with a blue eyed, blond haired young woman in a familiar yellow and black costume from her past.
"So, was it good for you too?" Illyana Rasputin purred seductively.
"Gah! Sonofa...!" Dani would have leaped out of her bed in shock were it not for her sheets. As it was, she fell out of her bed and landed on the floor with a light -thump-. She shot up a split second later, her psychic bow and arrows trained on the bed.
"Man, am I that ugly?" Illyana asked. "Two spirited my ass."
"How did you get in here? The security system...should have stopped..." Dani stammered as she tried to clear the cobwebs from her brain.
"It would have. You guys have a pretty neat system for keeping teleporters out. Paranoid much?"
"Yes. Then how..."
"Rahne let me in last night, duh. " she explained. "we were up all night doing girlie stuff. I guess being mistaken for dead makes two people really appreciate one another."
"I'll have to take your word on it, it's been a while. So, did you get a chance to check out Tarene like I asked?" Dani inquired as she dissolved her psychic weapons.
"Yeah, and whoever brainwashed that girl did some major scrubbing."
"Like?" Dani asked as she walked into her walk-in closet and pulled out her uniform. She started to change out of her oversized New York Giants uniform and into her yellow and blue costume of Mirage as Illyana started to explain,
"Well, they cast a spell on her that not only suppressed her memory, but also erased most of her emotional attachments to them."
"Meaning what?"
"Well, basically it means she won't recognize the significance of certain things. For instance, she may recognize what a gun is, but at the same time might not recognize a gun as a threat unless told or she sees it in action."
"I guess that's why she seems so dumb. " Dani commented as she secured her belt.
"Not dumb, just...really, really uninformed. Innocent, in a way. " Illyana said
"So is there anything you can do about it?"
"Whoa, hold up!" Illyana put her hands up. "It took me some effort just to recognize the spells used on her. You need Strange."
"I've tried to get him, but he's always busy, or we are. " Dani replied. "Anyway, how are you liking Muir Isle?"
"It's hardly the greatest place to be, but with Brandon and Moira there to keep me company, I get by. Besides, it's better than some of the other places I've been since I got back. Just wish I didn't have to play nurse made to a bunch of mutants who got their asses kicked."
Mirage looked at Magik, shocked. "If Kylun hadn't thought to call you in at the last second, he, Wildchild, Monsoon, Archer, Fixx and Syphon would be dead now!"
"Like I don't know that! Careless bums forced me to actually time shift. I lost a week because those guys couldn't handle themselves!"
"You're luck you saved who you did! Show some respect!"
"Whatever. " Illyana said nonchalantly. Mirage just shook her head. True, Illyana was her friend, but Dani always had trouble getting used to how cold Illyana could be at times. Growing up in limbo did tend to make one apathetic.
"Just don't get lax. There are a lot of people out there who want a piece of Moira for curing the legacy virus. You drop your guard, and there'll be hell to pay."
"Hey, I may not be all G.I. Jane, but I get by! You guys might want to tone down your training, though. I mean, Rahne had some really nasty bruises on her."
"Train tough, fight easy. " Dani replied. "Tell Brandon high for me*."
* (Brandon AKA Weapon X, Didn't forget him - David)
"I will. He misses you, you know." Illyana answered. "Anyways, I need to be getting back."
Dani picked up her personal remote to the security system and turn the capture fields off. The entire Work Place was defended by three different micro thin force fields that cut Force Works off from the rest of the world in a very unique way. One altered its frequency randomly a thousand times per second, another twenty times per second and the final one changing frequency every other minute. The end result kept all unwanted teleporters, telepaths and any other spies of all kinds out. Once the capture fields were down, Illyana disappeared thru her personal stepping disks.
***
"Don't see why I have to be up before the sun, not like I'm gonna make flowers grow..." Nova grumbled as he waited along side Speedball, Tarene, Arsenal, Wiz Kid, Mr. Parvenue, and his assistant Eddie Sawyer in the hangar. "Where is Dani anyways?"
"Dani said she had to make sure everything was ready for us when we get back. " Taki answered.
"...Press release is prepared, and the appropriate people will be contacted when you make state side. " Mr. Hearte, the teams public relations manager could be heard saying as he entered the hangar with Mirage.
"Good. This mission shouldn't take that long, and I'm tired of getting swamped with paper work. " Dani said with a sigh.
"No worries, this mission should be perfect for Force Works. Human/Mutant team saves philanthropist from anti-patriotic terrorists. Even the conservatives will love you!" Mr. Hearte smiled
"You're foaming at the mouth. " Mirage said sardonically
Hearte smiled. "And you should be too. I've gone over everything with a fine toothcomb. Provided the rescue goes smoothly, this mission'll raise your approval ratings thru the roof!"
"Whatever. " Dani muttered
"You still don't have to do this mission if you don't want to Dani. " Mr. Parvenue said.
"When I asked you if you would consider doing me a favor, I realize now that I was overstepping myself, and..."
"Forget it, Mr. Parvenue. " Dani answered. "You've invested millions into Force Works and so deserve a little payback, and this mission is still a humanitarian one."
Dani looked around, and noticed the absence of Wolfsbane and Kymaera. "Where's 'Nita? I hold her I don't give a damn if she disagrees with this mission, she was going."
"Umm, she said today was a Atlantean holiday that forbids violence. " Nova said weakly. He knew no one really believed him, and considering Nita's politics, he couldn't blame them. "She said she needed the day for reflection."
"Yeah, because Atlanteans are such peaceful people. " Dani said sarcastically. "Forget it, we don't need her. Tarene, go get Rahne so we can get this mission over with."
Tarene exited the hangar and was quickly at Rahne's room. Unfortunately, small things like common courteous still escaped Tarene, and so she opened the door to Rahne's room without even a thought about knocking. She saw Rahne in her bra and underwear, looking thru her closet. Strangely, her back and front had several large purple bruises. Rahne noticed Tarene a second later,
"Tarene! Learn to bloody knock!" Rahne exclaimed as she grabbed one of her dresses to cover herself. "And close the door!"
"Sorry." Tarene apologized as she closed the door. "Dani wanted you to join the rest of us at the hangar."
"Tell her I'll be there in a bit. Is that all?"
"Well, how did you get those bruises?" Tarene asked absently.
"Oh...I...umm...fell down some stairs." Rahne quickly snapped. "Tell Dani I'll be there in a moment."
"Okay." Tarene turned and left without another question, much to Rahne's relief.
***
Mr. Parvenue waved good-bye as the Stealth Wing with Force Works, minus X- Treme and Kymaera, disappeared over the horizon, smiling the cat who'd just eaten the canary the entire time.
"You should have told them, sir. " Ms. Sawyer said deadpanned.
"What? That some of my business associates have been pressuring me to have Force Works rescue Mr. DuReight?"
"No, sir." She answered. "You should have told them what will happen when they rescue him."
"I want it to be a surprise. " Mr. Parvenue said, his smile never leaving his face. "I think it will be rather fitting and will teach my business associates that I am not a man to be trifled with."
***
"Okay team, I'll start the briefing. " Dani stated as she stood in front of the cockpit.
"We're rescuing a one John DuReight. For those of you who may not know, Mr. DuReight is a member of the board of De Beers' diamonds. Last month, Mr. DuReight was kidnapped by the forces of Ultimatum from his estate in South Africa."
"I know about those guys. " Nova said. "They're those 'One world, one government' terrorists, right?"
"Correct, Nova." Dani knelt down and picked up a package sitting next to her leg and tossed it to Wolfsbane. "Those are Mr. DuReight's jacket and one of his shirts. Get the scent, Rahne. They oppose the current system thru which diamonds are sold on the world market and have taken Mr. DuReight hostage to protest this fact. They have threatened to kill him if the system doesn't change. We're going to get him out."
"How do we even know where they are and where the heck's tall, dark and broody?" Speedball asked.
"When Ultimatum took Mr. DuReight, they didn't know that his watch and cell phone, which were on him at the time, held a G.D.P device. I've managed to locate the signal. " Wiz Kid stated.
"And we dropped X-Treme off yesterday morning to check out their security system. " Dani said. "He's rather skilled at stealth, I've found."
"Cool beans." Speedball hit the recline button on his chair. "Wish all our missions could be this smooth."
"Don't get cocky, Robbie. This mission hasn't even started. Any final questions?" Dani asked. Tarene raised her hand tentatively,
"Yes?"
"Nita said something yesterday about Blood diamonds. What are those?" She asked innocently.
"Umm, Wiz Kid?" Dani said quickly.
Taki rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "How to put this...See Tarene, diamonds really aren't as rare as you have been led to believe. In reality, a flawless diamond is only worth a few hundred dollars, not the few thousands that it is sold for. However, two thirds of the world's diamonds are controlled by De Beers, an international cartel with some of the greatest P.R ever, thus the reason people are convince that diamonds are rare. They keep a strangle hold on the market that allows them to sell diamonds at such a high price, and that some questionable people have taken advantage of. For instance rebels, terrorists and the like have been known to illegally mine diamonds using slave labor in certain parts of Africa. It's not uncommon for the terrorists to amputate limbs to scare others into working harder or just plain intimidation. Hence the blood part. They then sell the diamonds on the black market to buy weapons and fund their various illegal activities."
"I thought drugs were what supported terrorists. " Tarene stated
Taki waved a dismissive hand. "Whatever money terrorists gain from drugs pales in comparison to the money they get from diamonds and oil. Drug money goes to criminals, by in large. " he explained. "A small difference, but a difference none the less."
"I don't understand. " she said
"Small surprise..." Taki muttered. "Well, it's actually a little more complicated. See..."
"No, it's not that." Tarene said. "If this man is part of a system responsible for a super inflated market that is being used to exploit others, fuel wars, slavery and terrorism, why are we rescuing him?"
"Umm, well, Mr. DuReight is an internationally known philanthropist. He gives billions to charity every year, such as the Red Cross and Doctors without Borders. " Taki stated
"With money earned from an illegal monopoly?" Tarene asked
"Umm, yes. " Taki confirmed
"Oh, Okay." Tarene simply said.
Great, way to help morale, Tarene Dani thought as she studied the papers in front of her. She could almost feel her entire team shift in their seats uncomfortably.
"It's nae that bad. " Rahne said as she sat down beside her.
"What's not that bad?"
"Whatever yuir worrin' about. " Rahne replied. "It's a natural state wit' you."
"Maybe. What's up, furtop?" Dani asked.
"I... need to talk tae ye about somethin' personal. " Rahne said in a hushed tone that usually implied quite a bit of importance.
"It'll have to wait until after the mission. X-Treme managed to send us some photos of the compound, and I want to study them before we get in too deep." Dani said, completely oblivious of any subtext.
"But..." Rahne implored. "...it's really..."
"After the mission, I promise. " Dani said sternly, cutting Rahne off without ever taking her eyes off the papers in front of her.
***
A lonely stretch of Interstate 66,
"See, this is why I work in the motor pool section. " Mark Peterson commented as he motioned toward the virtually empty high way, surrounded in every direction by what had to be the exact same trees. "The scenery."
"God damn it Mark, can't you go one transfer without making that damn joke?" John Grass asked from the drivers seat. To the untrained eye, the two men were riding in an unassuming eighteen-wheeler transporting perishable goods while in actuality, they were employees of the federal government. Both Russ and Derrick were well trained in hand to hand combat and had advanced weaponry hidden away in the cab while four men in guardsmen armor were watching over the two superhuman prisoners in the back.
"Just making conversation, jeez lighten up. " Mark said
"Easy for you to say. The losers we're transporting in the back seat are making me uncomfortable, is all. " John confessed
"What, that Powder Keg guy?" Mark asked.
"Nah, that mini magneto, Lodestone. Bitch tore up most of Baltimore by herself, 'fore she got put down. According to a buddy I know up at Tartarus, the reason they want her transferred down there is because they want to see what makes her tick. Maybe use her as some kind of anti Magneto weapon. I don't want think what will happen if she gets loose. " John explained.
Mark stifled a laugh. "Man, you been reading to many conspiracy books. She got beat by the Scarlet Spider, for pete's sake."
"So? I'll bet her powers would let some egg heads see rabbit...door...habit..." John replied.
Mark was about to ask John what the hell he was talking about, but John's arms started flailing, as though his mind had lost control of his body. Naturally, without John's hands on the wheel, the transport started to jack knife.
"Shiiiiit!" Mark screamed as the transport started to cut across the three lanes of traffic and swipe oncoming cars. Mark unbuckled his seat belt as fast as he could and lunged for the wheel. But before he reached it, Mark heard a loud -Thoom!- and the transport jerked to a complete stop. Mark was canny enough that the situation had just gone from bad to hell in a hand basket.
"I suspect that's our cue. " John Calender, one of the four aforementioned Guardsmen, said from inside the holding section as he regained his footing. He turned towards Lodestone and Powder Keg, both restrained in high tech chairs that prevented them from using their considerable powers. "Don't you two go anywhere."
"Go to hell, you bastard. " Lodestone snarled.
"More than likely. " Calender muttered under his breath as the activated the sky hatch.
The four guardsmen shot into the air, ready for anything. Well, almost anything.
According to their scanners, there was nothing out there. Not even the slightest hint as to what had caused the large transport to stop.
"What the hell is going on here?" one guardsmen asked
"Peter, David, secure the parameter!" Calender barked. The two guardsmen moved to comply, but then stopped in mid air. To the astonishment and fear of all four men, their armors were no longer complying with their commands. Against their will, the four guardsmen slowly lowered themselves to the ground and stood in a row in front of the transport. Though fear was gripping each and everyone of them, they realized that the reason they couldn't see anyone was because their attacker or attackers were controlling every aspect of their armors, including the monitors they used to see the outside world. Despite the thickness of the armors, the men inside them could still slightly hear what was being said on the outside, which of course did nothing to allay their fears.
"I have taken control of their armors. What are your orders Christopher?" a cold voice asked
"Kill them. We need to insure that there are as few witness as possible, and to establish our credibility. " another voice, this one young and powerful, stated."Warhead, if you please?"
"My pleasure. " agruff voice said. "always like killin' pigs."
Ten seconds and four energy blasts later, the four men knew no more.
"So, that Scarlet Spider guy got you too, huh?" Powder Keg asked, trying to make idle conversation. He wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Loadstone didn't bite, far to tense to think about anything other than what was happening outside. After all, her ex husband was the head of his own crime family, and more importantly, she had made an attempt on his life not ten days ago. Had he arranged a hit on her while she was in federal custody? It wasn't his style, but when it came to protecting his son, my son, she corrected herself, anything could become his style.
Loadstone watched fearfully as the rear doors to the transport swung open, seemingly of their own accord, and in walked two men. One was a figure of black and gold, seemingly made completely of circuits while the other was a young African American man, wearing leather pants and jacket, wearing a shirt that read 'War is politics by any other means' while concealing a powerful build.
"Ah, Miss Costanzo. You're a difficult woman to get an audience with.. " the young man stated. "but I trust you'll be worth it in the end."
"Just kill me and get it over with. " Lodestone snarled in impotent fury. "I won't beg for my life."
"I'm afraid you misunderstand my intent. " the young man stated. "I call myself King Bedlam. And I'm here to offer you a deal."
"A deal?" Lodestone asked.
"Yes, a deal. One that will benefit you, me and your son and the underworld at large." Bedlam smiled. "It's win, win all around."
"Hey, what about me?" Powder Keg cut in.
"Oh yes, you. " Bedlam nodded towards the black and gold figure floating behind him.
"Paradigm, if you please."
"Hey, thanks man. Whatever you guys want me to do, I'm in." Powder Keg stated as Paradigm approached him.
"Yes, you are. " Paradigm said as he placed his hands on Powder Keg's head. "Simply not in the way that you think." Techno organic material flowed from Paradigm's hand and fused with Powder Keg's face and melted down his body. For the sake of his fellows, Paradigm prevented Powder Keg from screaming himself hoarse in pain, which he was in enough distress to be doing, but he still writhed in agony. Lodestone could see this all happen from her vantage point, and was more than a little bit worried. For herself, obviously.
"What is he doing to him?" she asked.
"Paradigm is doing two things, actually. First, he's secretly placing long- range scanners in Powder Keg's body for use at a later date, and second, he's erasing his short-term memory. I don't want certain people to know I'm up and about until such time that I let them know myself. " Bedlam explained.
"What's this you were saying about a deal for me and my son?" Loadstone asked.
"Ah, yes. I know about your little custody battle with your ex husband, and how you came up on the losing end. To be brutally honest, you may have lost any hope of reclaiming your son now."
"You don't know a damn thing. " Lodestone fumed. "My ex husband is nothing compared to what I am now."
"Is that why you're on your way to a prison with a string of human rights violations?" Bedlam asked with a slight chuckle, his arms crossed in front of his chest. "You know as well as I do your husband is no doubt prepared for another assault by you on his person. I doubt even you can stand up to the full force of his resources, being as you are simply one woman, however powerful."
"And you can?" Lodestone sneered.
Bedlam chuckled again. He already had all the angles figured by the time he had decided to recruit Lodestone, and she was reacting just like he knew she would. "Yes, actually. My team has quite a formidable collection of raw power exceeded only by our ruthlessness. Raw power I'm willing to use to help you solve your problem."
"What's the catch?"
"I need your knowledge of the criminal underworld for another assignment first. I warn you ahead of time, the job will require some patience, but when it is completed not only will it reap incredible dividends for everyone involved, but we'll be able to crush your ex husband without fear of reprisal. " Bedlam explained
"I am finished. " Paradigm reported. Powder Keg was slumped over, unconscious in his chair and covered in cool sweat.
"Good, then free Ms. Costanzo, and we'll be on our way. " Bedlam ordered.
"I still haven't agreed to anything. " Lodestone retorted. Bedlam rolled his eyes.
"Please don't waste my time on empty bravo. Either you come with us, or you get a shiv in the back as alimony or you're hauled off by the governments of the world in a vain hope to create some kind of anti-Magneto weapon. Those, Lodestone, are your only other choices. I'm simply offering you one where you might see your son again." Bedlam sighed. The locks on Lodestone's wrists and feet released, and she stood up. She took a moment to rub her sore joints, and then silently made her way towards the exit of the transport.
"Wise choice. " Bedlam complimented as he followed her
"Shit man, it's a freakin' jail break!" Mark said as he and John squatted in front the transport. They could see Bedlam, Paradigm, Lodestone, together with a large, bald hulking orange figure start to walk away.
"You think?" John asked as he held his gun at his side. "We're lucky they don't seem to care about us."
The two men heard what sounded like an odd combination of a chuckle and growl above them, and looked to see an orange blur descend upon them. The figure landed in between the two men, and then ran off in the direction of Bedlam. Mark was about to ask 'what the hell happened', but he couldn't find his voice. Neither could John, but both felt a wetness on their throats.
The orange figure who had sealed their fates had forgotten about them by now, but not it's own sense of achievement. Bedlam had ordered that there be no possible witness to the attack, and he was more than happy to comply. As such, anyone who had survived the 'accident' that they had created and subsequent twenty-one car pile up were killed by his hands. When the state police eventually arrive, they will only find one man alive and not a single clue as to what had happened that day.
***
Sierra Leone, Africa
Arsenal carefully set the Stealth Wing in a patch of cleared rain forest about two miles away from where the Ultimatum base had been discovered. Thankfully for Force Works, the Stealth Wing had a special hover mode that could allow them to land just about anywhere they wanted with little problem, so landing near a swamp was little problem.
"These the coordinates that X-Treme said to meet us at?" Mirage asked.
"Yeah. " Arsenal confirmed.
Speedball opened the hatch to the Stealth Wing. "I need some fresh air."
As he stepped out of the Stealth Wing, Speedball looked at the undisturbed natural beauty surrounding him. The grass was waist high, and palm trees, along with tall teak trees were scattered all over the area. Speedball could make out crocodiles moving about in the nearby swamp, and watched as an African grey parrot took off from it's perch, and disappeared into the sky.
"Place looks like something out of the discovery channel," Robbie quipped almost involuntarily.
"Your inability to truly appreciate this beauty is almost heart breaking." Dani said as she and the others exited the Stealth Wing. "I personally love missions where I can get close to nature. It puts everything in perspective for me."
"When I want nature, I'll go to Central Park," Robbie answered. "Or, now that I live in Metro City, Aegis Park."
"Where's X-Treme?" Nova asked. "We're here to do a mission, not commune with nature."
"Standing in the middle of a rain forest is hardly communing with nature, Rich," a voice declared from behind them. Force Works turned to see X-Treme standing less than four feet behind them, with a granola bar in one hand and a folded up tent slung over his shoulder. "Let me stow my equipment, and we can get on with the mission."
"We gotta put a bell on that guy," Speedball commented to Wiz Kid.
"Alright, I checked out Ultimatum's security, and there's good news and bad news," X-Treme stated as he came out of the Stealth Wing. "The good news is that I've found a way around their security system and the patrols protecting their base. I've walked the majority of it without them ever knowing."
"I fail to see the problem then." Speedball commented.
"Well, there are two problems," X-Treme explained. "One, they have two sets of patrols. One keeps a schedule like a German watch..."
"Swiss," Arsenal corrected.
"Whatever. Anyway, they have one set of regular patrolmen, and a set of random patrols with no set pattern. Could be a problem. Also, they move Mr. DuReieght about every eight hours. I don't know where they're holding him."
"That's not a problem," Dani replied. "Taki, break out the camouflage gear so we can get this over with."
"Oh great," Nova muttered. "We get to play dress up with old army surplus supplies."
"Old army surplus?" Taki asked as he pulled out a box from the Stealth Wing. "Don't be insulting. This camo gear not only provides almost complete invisibility, but another advantage over regular camo."
Wiz Kid tossed the gear over Nova's head without warning. As Nova took it off, the others could see his mouth moving, most likely something insulting, but not a sound was to be heard.
"The gear dampens sound," he stated. "That way, your big mouth won't give us away and even a child could use it. Best of all, it barely cost anything to make and it'll self-destruct in two days. We can use it and lose it."
"Man, you'll take any excuse to make new toys," Speedball smiled.
"You say that like it's a bad thing. Besides, come to a battle with the right toys, and your chances of leaving said battle alive increase dramatically," Taki said
"Alright, here's what we're going to do," Dani stated. "Wolfsbane, X-Treme and I will infiltrate the Ultimatum compound and grab Mr. Du Reight. I plan on taking him out from the north direction. Speedball, Tarene, Wiz Kid and Nova are going to get into place and when I give the word, are going to hit the north face with everything they have." Dani looked towards Tarene. "Kid gloves, Tarene, like we practiced. You kill me, and I'll be pissed."
"Are you sure it's a wise idea to take DuReight out where we're going to be attacking?" Wiz Kid asked.
"It's risky, but also unexpected. If you guys do your job right, no one will be left standing to get in the way. So, do your job right," Dani answered
"What about me?" Arsenal asked.
"I want you in the Stealth Wing and ready to go at a moment's notice. Timing is going to be critical here. I want to hit them hard and fast, and be gone before they know what's what. Any final questions?" Dani looked the team over and instinctively knew they knew what was expected of them and the plan. "Then, let's go to work."
***
Ultimatum Base
The base that Ultimatum kept Mr. DuReight was being kept had considerable comparisons to a medieval castle. Built into solid bed rock, the complex was three stories tall and surrounded by ten foot tall cement barricades with only one entrance and exit.
"Patrol in two minutes," X-Treme whispered as he boosted Mirage, protected from detection by her illusions, up and over the barricade. Once Mirage was over, X-Treme and Wolfsbane leaped over.
Rahne, lead the way Dani said over the psi link they shared. Rahne took a deep breath of air, and led her teammates into the complex. For fifteen minutes, they carefully navigated the underground labyrinth of the Ultimatum base, taking all deliberate care not to be noticed and not relying solely on the fact that they were invisible. Eventually, Wolfsbane led her teammates to where DuReight was being held. Unfortunately, two soldiers, who marched back and forth in front of the cell, eyes searching for intruders, guarded the door to his cell.
"What do we do?" Rahne asked softly.
"I'll get them with my arrows," Dani answered.
"No, don't. They have throat panic mikes. If the mikes detect something wrong, they'll set off the alarms," X-Treme warned
"Then what do you suggest?" Dani asked
X-Treme didn't reply. He reached into both of his boots and pulled out the stasi coshs, basically collapsible Billy clubs, he had concealed within them. In the hands of a skilled fighter, coshs are extremely dangerous.
And Adam Sol is just such a fighter.
Concealed by Mirage's illusions, X-Treme waited until he was within an inch of the soldiers before striking. He hit the back of their knees, sending their feet flying out from under them. Before they could even gasp, in a fluid motion he brought his coshs up and down on their necks. The men grabbed their throats for a split second after they hit the ground on their backs before ceasing to move. X-Treme kicked in the door to DuReight's cell, and was followed in by Wolfsbane. Dani lingered with the guards for a moment.
"They're alive," X-Treme said flatly.
"Just making sure," Dani answered unapologetically. She then walked into DuReight's cell. Mr. DuReight looked like a mess, to say the least. His gray business suit was covered in dust and tears. It looked very much like the man hadn't worn another pair of clothes since he had been kidnapped, his mouth was taped shut and he was tied to an office-rolling chair. Wolfsbane quickly cut the ropes that were holding him down with her claws.
"Mr. DuReight, we're Force Works and we're here to rescue you," Dani explained as she removed the tape from his mouth.
"Who sent you? I demand to mmphh!" Dani quickly replaced the tape on his mouth.
"Well, since you can't seem to be quiet, Mr. DuReight, that'll have to stay on a little longer," Dani said firmly. This was a rescue mission, but that didn't mean she had to be nice, after all. "You make a noise, and you'll get us all killed. I can prevent us from being detected, so stay close to me."
After Wolfsbane dragged the two guards into the cell, Force Works with Mr. DuReight made their way out of the base, though DuReight was somewhat hesitant the entire time. Once they were on the outside, Dani led her small team to a small corner on the north side as Ultimatum soldiers went about their work. Dani made sure her team was secure behind her illusion of invisibility and out of the way, situated behind a diesel tank before she called Wiz Kid.
"Taki, I need some rockets on the south side. Don't ask, just do it," she said. A split second later, alarms started blaring about the base.
"Shit, what happened?" Dani asked, somewhat annoyed.
"They probably detected your message to Taki," X-Treme said. Thankfully for her team, they were standing well out of the way of the rushing soldiers. "You don't seem that bothered."
"I'm not, 'cause I just had a kick ass idea," Dani said with a smile
***
Roughly twenty feet away from the base, Wiz Kid was assembling a rocket launcher around his wrist with his tech pack. The barrel was no larger than a coke can, but it didn't matter. Wiz Kid took aim and signaled for it to fire four times. Four energy missiles flew out and utterly destroyed the south wall of the base. Wiz Kid then morphed his tech pack into a rocket pack and made his way towards the base along with his teammates. Once the rockets hit the south face, Dani went to work. She concentrated, knowing exactly what illusions she wanted to create.
"Oh my god..." one Ultimatum soldier muttered, responding to the attack on the south side.
"What are they doing here!?" another asked. By now, the entire base had responded to the attack but were instantly cowered by the sight they saw. Standing in the wreckage were the Avengers. Iron Man, flanked by Thor and Wonder Man. Firestar and Justice were there as well, with Justice levitating Captain America and Hawkeye. The Avengers just hovered there, seemly intent on staring Ultimatum down. And it was working. After all, it was the Avengers they were facing.
"We are so screwed," one soldier said.
"I thought they changed their lineup?" Another stated.
"Worry about it later!" one commander, who had screwed up his courage, finally yelled.
"Let's get those tanks over here! We're not going down without a fight! One world, no borders!"
That battle cry galvanized the soldiers, who as one remembered they were carrying powerful weapons. They unloaded said weapons at the 'Avengers' only to have them predictably pass right thru them.
"Surprise!" Speedball shouted as he slammed thru the collected soldiers. "Made you look!"
Force Works wasted no time taking advantage of Ultimatum's distraction. Nova flew thru every grounded Apache helicopter on the base like a guided missile while Tarene concentrated on the tanks. She threw her mallet at a row of them and it ripped thru a dozen tanks before returning to her hand.
Speedball watched a flood of men come out of the underground compound, and he decided to try something. When he was a prisoner of the Undertow, he managed to charge matter with kinetic energy, something he hadn't been able to really do again. But simply because he couldn't figure out how to charge matter with kinetic energy, didn't mean he didn't know a new trick. He grabbed one of his multi colored bubbles that always surrounded him and concentrated. He then threw it towards the Ultimatum soldiers, blowing them in every direction. "Cool! Bubble bombs!"
"Regroup! Regroup!" The Ultimatum commander yelled in vain, but it was too late. Nova and Tarene had already made hash of their heavy weaponry, while Speedball, Mirage and Wiz Kid disabled the personnel. They were well- trained soldiers, but when faced with psychic arrows, high-powered lasers and blasts of kinetic energy, they stood no chance. In less time than it took to tell, the fight was over.
"Looks like all those hours in the training room have paid off," Mirage commented as she looked over the Ultimatum base. There were small fires everywhere, wrecked equipment and defeated soldiers littering the landscape and the level of destruction would have made the X-Men proud. Mirage still had her guard up, but she was satisfied that the job was done. Mirage heard a slight buzz overhead, indicating Arsenal had arrived with the Stealth Wing.
"You ladies ready to go?" Nova asked Wolfsbane and Mirage as he set down beside them.
"Yep. Nothing left to do here." They turned around allowing Nova access to the straps built into their costumes. Nova picked them up and flew them up to the Stealth Wing. Wiz Kid had already taken Mr. DuReight and X-Treme up to the plane.
"We good to go?" Dani asked as she came thru the drop hatch. Tarene and Speedball, who closed the hatch, quickly followed her.
"Umm, not exactly," Wiz Kid said. "We've hit a small hitch."
"What's that?" Dani asked
"I don't want to be rescued!" Mr. DuReight exclaimed
"Who with the what with the huh?" Dani stated, more than a little taken back by that fact
"I said I don't want to be rescued, young lady!" Mr. DuReight said, pointing an accusing finger at Dani. "Who asked you for your help!?"
"Does it matter? They were threatening to kill you!" Dani answered
"They wouldn't kill me! I agree with them! I demand you take me back this instant!"
"Mr. DuReight! They will kill ye if we take ye back tae them! Have ye gone daft?" Rahne asked
"I'm certainly not taking his ass back," Nova said angrily. "We went thru all this trouble to get him out in the first place!"
While the debate raged on in the Stealth Wing, a random patrol that X-Treme had warned about returned to base. Unfortunately for Force Works, they were armed with an anti aircraft missile launcher. In the confusion over what to do, Force Works hadn't pulled away. An Ultimatum soldier quickly took aim with his rocket launcher and pulled the trigger.
"Everyone, shut the hell up! We'll sort this out later!" Dani yelled, cutting off anymore debate. "Arsenal, why are we still..."
-Boom!-
The Stealth wing lurched to the right as the missile tore thru the wing and set the engine on fire.
"We're hit!" X-Treme shouted
"...fire, the engine's on fire!" Taki exclaimed
"...Pull away! Damage! What's the damage!"
"Jesus, Allah, Buddha, I love you all!"
"...mission screwed..."
"... going down!"
*** Next issue: Force Works is down and out in Sierra Leone. Stranded with no easy way to get home, in a war torn country where they have no business being, Force Works discovers first hand the effects of blood diamonds and find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. Be here next issue as the shit really hits the fan as Heroes in the Rough concludes! ***
Notes
Kylun, Wildchild Monsoon, Archer, Fixx, and Syphon were thought killed in X- Men Omega 39 Powder Keg was defeated by Scarlet Spider in the battle of the year in M2K's Scarlet Spider 11 Lodestone's 'custody battle' and problems were seen in M2K's Scarlet Spider 11-15 Lastly, I know last issue promised a crossover between Hulk and Force Works, but things came up and that's all I'm saying on that.
"It has come to my attention that there are those who doubt the righteousness of the Revolutionary United Front. Those who support the corrupt government of the so called President Tejan Kabbah and the corrupt elite who rape our natural resources.*" The RUF commander, dressed in grass green combat fatigues, said menacingly, while holding a machete in his left hand. Behind him, his soldiers carrying old M-16s watched the villagers, their fingers on the triggers of their weapons.
* (Translated from English, the official language of Sierra Leone-Did his research David)
"Kabbah is an idiot, a puppet of foreign governments who wastes our natural resources. He is not fit to rule. I am saddened that you do not feel this way." The R.U.F commander sighed sarcastically. "And so, I must make an example of your children."
The commander pointed towards three young boys gathered in the crowd in front of him. A half dozen soldiers rushed forward and grabbed the two young boys before they could think to get away. They dragged them out of the crowd and pushed them to the ground. One soldier grabbed the boy's legs and held them to the ground. Two other soldiers then grabbed the boy's wrists and stood on them. The process was repeated on the other two boys.
As Mwaka watched this, he unconsciously rubbed the stump that had once been his left hand with his right hand. He knew all too well what was in store for the three young men.
The RUF command ran his hand over the machete in his hand, stroking it fondly like one might stroke a favorite pet. The machete was caked in dried blood and rust, and he savored the looks of terror on the young boys faces and the sounds of the mothers wailing for him to spare their sons. These things made the commander feel powerful, in control. It gave him a high more powerful than the drugs first used to enslave him into the R.U.F. It truth, it could honestly be said that he lived for moments like this.
"Stop!" A feminine voice yelled. A young women, not more than sixteen years old ran forward, charging the commander with a small knife and false bravo. She lunged at the commander, but he side stepped the attack easily, and struck her in the face with a powerful right hook.
"That was very stupid." The commander said, matter of factly. He took out an old .45 magnum and pointed at the young woman. "What is your name and why did you do that?"
"I...I am Misha, and I could not allow you to mutilate my brother!" she shouted defiantly. "By what right do you do this to us? We have done nothing to you!"
"By what right? Because we know the true path, because we refuse to allow outsiders to ever rule us again. " The commander then carefully took aim into the crowd. As casually as some men shoot skeet, he pulled the trigger and shot an eight year old girl two weeks short of her next birthday, an eighty year old man who, despite being blind in one eye and losing a leg to a landmine, never complained, and a thirty two year old father of three who lived only for his family and wife. The crowd shuddered as their neighbors were cut down, many closing their eyes out of both fear and respect for those lost. "Lastly, because of force of arms."
The RUF commander pulled Misha up to eye level, and forced his lips to hers. After several seconds, he relented and pushed her into the arms of two of his soldiers. "Misha, I think you'll make fine entertainment for tonight."
The RUF commander turned his back as Misha began struggling wildly and motioned for one of his soldiers to bring him some rope.
"But now, it is time for business." He stated as he took the rope in his hands. He walked over to one of the young men his troops were holding down and tied the rope tightly around the young man's upper arm, cutting off the circulation.
"Don't struggle. " The R.U.F commander suggested. "it'll only make things worst. Not that I care."
The young man responded by attempting to spit in the R.U.F commander's face, and hurling every profanity he knew at the commander.
"Have it your way." The R.U.F commander smiled as he raised his machete into the air above the young man's arm. "It makes no difference to me."
***
Metro City, the Workplace
Danielle Moonstar rolled over in her bed and looked at her alarm clock. It read six o clock in the morning, much to her annoyance.
Time to get up she sighed inwardly. She then realized something. She could feel another weight pressing down on her bed beside her, meaning someone else in her bed with her. Dani turned over and came face to face with a blue eyed, blond haired young woman in a familiar yellow and black costume from her past.
"So, was it good for you too?" Illyana Rasputin purred seductively.
"Gah! Sonofa...!" Dani would have leaped out of her bed in shock were it not for her sheets. As it was, she fell out of her bed and landed on the floor with a light -thump-. She shot up a split second later, her psychic bow and arrows trained on the bed.
"Man, am I that ugly?" Illyana asked. "Two spirited my ass."
"How did you get in here? The security system...should have stopped..." Dani stammered as she tried to clear the cobwebs from her brain.
"It would have. You guys have a pretty neat system for keeping teleporters out. Paranoid much?"
"Yes. Then how..."
"Rahne let me in last night, duh. " she explained. "we were up all night doing girlie stuff. I guess being mistaken for dead makes two people really appreciate one another."
"I'll have to take your word on it, it's been a while. So, did you get a chance to check out Tarene like I asked?" Dani inquired as she dissolved her psychic weapons.
"Yeah, and whoever brainwashed that girl did some major scrubbing."
"Like?" Dani asked as she walked into her walk-in closet and pulled out her uniform. She started to change out of her oversized New York Giants uniform and into her yellow and blue costume of Mirage as Illyana started to explain,
"Well, they cast a spell on her that not only suppressed her memory, but also erased most of her emotional attachments to them."
"Meaning what?"
"Well, basically it means she won't recognize the significance of certain things. For instance, she may recognize what a gun is, but at the same time might not recognize a gun as a threat unless told or she sees it in action."
"I guess that's why she seems so dumb. " Dani commented as she secured her belt.
"Not dumb, just...really, really uninformed. Innocent, in a way. " Illyana said
"So is there anything you can do about it?"
"Whoa, hold up!" Illyana put her hands up. "It took me some effort just to recognize the spells used on her. You need Strange."
"I've tried to get him, but he's always busy, or we are. " Dani replied. "Anyway, how are you liking Muir Isle?"
"It's hardly the greatest place to be, but with Brandon and Moira there to keep me company, I get by. Besides, it's better than some of the other places I've been since I got back. Just wish I didn't have to play nurse made to a bunch of mutants who got their asses kicked."
Mirage looked at Magik, shocked. "If Kylun hadn't thought to call you in at the last second, he, Wildchild, Monsoon, Archer, Fixx and Syphon would be dead now!"
"Like I don't know that! Careless bums forced me to actually time shift. I lost a week because those guys couldn't handle themselves!"
"You're luck you saved who you did! Show some respect!"
"Whatever. " Illyana said nonchalantly. Mirage just shook her head. True, Illyana was her friend, but Dani always had trouble getting used to how cold Illyana could be at times. Growing up in limbo did tend to make one apathetic.
"Just don't get lax. There are a lot of people out there who want a piece of Moira for curing the legacy virus. You drop your guard, and there'll be hell to pay."
"Hey, I may not be all G.I. Jane, but I get by! You guys might want to tone down your training, though. I mean, Rahne had some really nasty bruises on her."
"Train tough, fight easy. " Dani replied. "Tell Brandon high for me*."
* (Brandon AKA Weapon X, Didn't forget him - David)
"I will. He misses you, you know." Illyana answered. "Anyways, I need to be getting back."
Dani picked up her personal remote to the security system and turn the capture fields off. The entire Work Place was defended by three different micro thin force fields that cut Force Works off from the rest of the world in a very unique way. One altered its frequency randomly a thousand times per second, another twenty times per second and the final one changing frequency every other minute. The end result kept all unwanted teleporters, telepaths and any other spies of all kinds out. Once the capture fields were down, Illyana disappeared thru her personal stepping disks.
***
"Don't see why I have to be up before the sun, not like I'm gonna make flowers grow..." Nova grumbled as he waited along side Speedball, Tarene, Arsenal, Wiz Kid, Mr. Parvenue, and his assistant Eddie Sawyer in the hangar. "Where is Dani anyways?"
"Dani said she had to make sure everything was ready for us when we get back. " Taki answered.
"...Press release is prepared, and the appropriate people will be contacted when you make state side. " Mr. Hearte, the teams public relations manager could be heard saying as he entered the hangar with Mirage.
"Good. This mission shouldn't take that long, and I'm tired of getting swamped with paper work. " Dani said with a sigh.
"No worries, this mission should be perfect for Force Works. Human/Mutant team saves philanthropist from anti-patriotic terrorists. Even the conservatives will love you!" Mr. Hearte smiled
"You're foaming at the mouth. " Mirage said sardonically
Hearte smiled. "And you should be too. I've gone over everything with a fine toothcomb. Provided the rescue goes smoothly, this mission'll raise your approval ratings thru the roof!"
"Whatever. " Dani muttered
"You still don't have to do this mission if you don't want to Dani. " Mr. Parvenue said.
"When I asked you if you would consider doing me a favor, I realize now that I was overstepping myself, and..."
"Forget it, Mr. Parvenue. " Dani answered. "You've invested millions into Force Works and so deserve a little payback, and this mission is still a humanitarian one."
Dani looked around, and noticed the absence of Wolfsbane and Kymaera. "Where's 'Nita? I hold her I don't give a damn if she disagrees with this mission, she was going."
"Umm, she said today was a Atlantean holiday that forbids violence. " Nova said weakly. He knew no one really believed him, and considering Nita's politics, he couldn't blame them. "She said she needed the day for reflection."
"Yeah, because Atlanteans are such peaceful people. " Dani said sarcastically. "Forget it, we don't need her. Tarene, go get Rahne so we can get this mission over with."
Tarene exited the hangar and was quickly at Rahne's room. Unfortunately, small things like common courteous still escaped Tarene, and so she opened the door to Rahne's room without even a thought about knocking. She saw Rahne in her bra and underwear, looking thru her closet. Strangely, her back and front had several large purple bruises. Rahne noticed Tarene a second later,
"Tarene! Learn to bloody knock!" Rahne exclaimed as she grabbed one of her dresses to cover herself. "And close the door!"
"Sorry." Tarene apologized as she closed the door. "Dani wanted you to join the rest of us at the hangar."
"Tell her I'll be there in a bit. Is that all?"
"Well, how did you get those bruises?" Tarene asked absently.
"Oh...I...umm...fell down some stairs." Rahne quickly snapped. "Tell Dani I'll be there in a moment."
"Okay." Tarene turned and left without another question, much to Rahne's relief.
***
Mr. Parvenue waved good-bye as the Stealth Wing with Force Works, minus X- Treme and Kymaera, disappeared over the horizon, smiling the cat who'd just eaten the canary the entire time.
"You should have told them, sir. " Ms. Sawyer said deadpanned.
"What? That some of my business associates have been pressuring me to have Force Works rescue Mr. DuReight?"
"No, sir." She answered. "You should have told them what will happen when they rescue him."
"I want it to be a surprise. " Mr. Parvenue said, his smile never leaving his face. "I think it will be rather fitting and will teach my business associates that I am not a man to be trifled with."
***
"Okay team, I'll start the briefing. " Dani stated as she stood in front of the cockpit.
"We're rescuing a one John DuReight. For those of you who may not know, Mr. DuReight is a member of the board of De Beers' diamonds. Last month, Mr. DuReight was kidnapped by the forces of Ultimatum from his estate in South Africa."
"I know about those guys. " Nova said. "They're those 'One world, one government' terrorists, right?"
"Correct, Nova." Dani knelt down and picked up a package sitting next to her leg and tossed it to Wolfsbane. "Those are Mr. DuReight's jacket and one of his shirts. Get the scent, Rahne. They oppose the current system thru which diamonds are sold on the world market and have taken Mr. DuReight hostage to protest this fact. They have threatened to kill him if the system doesn't change. We're going to get him out."
"How do we even know where they are and where the heck's tall, dark and broody?" Speedball asked.
"When Ultimatum took Mr. DuReight, they didn't know that his watch and cell phone, which were on him at the time, held a G.D.P device. I've managed to locate the signal. " Wiz Kid stated.
"And we dropped X-Treme off yesterday morning to check out their security system. " Dani said. "He's rather skilled at stealth, I've found."
"Cool beans." Speedball hit the recline button on his chair. "Wish all our missions could be this smooth."
"Don't get cocky, Robbie. This mission hasn't even started. Any final questions?" Dani asked. Tarene raised her hand tentatively,
"Yes?"
"Nita said something yesterday about Blood diamonds. What are those?" She asked innocently.
"Umm, Wiz Kid?" Dani said quickly.
Taki rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "How to put this...See Tarene, diamonds really aren't as rare as you have been led to believe. In reality, a flawless diamond is only worth a few hundred dollars, not the few thousands that it is sold for. However, two thirds of the world's diamonds are controlled by De Beers, an international cartel with some of the greatest P.R ever, thus the reason people are convince that diamonds are rare. They keep a strangle hold on the market that allows them to sell diamonds at such a high price, and that some questionable people have taken advantage of. For instance rebels, terrorists and the like have been known to illegally mine diamonds using slave labor in certain parts of Africa. It's not uncommon for the terrorists to amputate limbs to scare others into working harder or just plain intimidation. Hence the blood part. They then sell the diamonds on the black market to buy weapons and fund their various illegal activities."
"I thought drugs were what supported terrorists. " Tarene stated
Taki waved a dismissive hand. "Whatever money terrorists gain from drugs pales in comparison to the money they get from diamonds and oil. Drug money goes to criminals, by in large. " he explained. "A small difference, but a difference none the less."
"I don't understand. " she said
"Small surprise..." Taki muttered. "Well, it's actually a little more complicated. See..."
"No, it's not that." Tarene said. "If this man is part of a system responsible for a super inflated market that is being used to exploit others, fuel wars, slavery and terrorism, why are we rescuing him?"
"Umm, well, Mr. DuReight is an internationally known philanthropist. He gives billions to charity every year, such as the Red Cross and Doctors without Borders. " Taki stated
"With money earned from an illegal monopoly?" Tarene asked
"Umm, yes. " Taki confirmed
"Oh, Okay." Tarene simply said.
Great, way to help morale, Tarene Dani thought as she studied the papers in front of her. She could almost feel her entire team shift in their seats uncomfortably.
"It's nae that bad. " Rahne said as she sat down beside her.
"What's not that bad?"
"Whatever yuir worrin' about. " Rahne replied. "It's a natural state wit' you."
"Maybe. What's up, furtop?" Dani asked.
"I... need to talk tae ye about somethin' personal. " Rahne said in a hushed tone that usually implied quite a bit of importance.
"It'll have to wait until after the mission. X-Treme managed to send us some photos of the compound, and I want to study them before we get in too deep." Dani said, completely oblivious of any subtext.
"But..." Rahne implored. "...it's really..."
"After the mission, I promise. " Dani said sternly, cutting Rahne off without ever taking her eyes off the papers in front of her.
***
A lonely stretch of Interstate 66,
"See, this is why I work in the motor pool section. " Mark Peterson commented as he motioned toward the virtually empty high way, surrounded in every direction by what had to be the exact same trees. "The scenery."
"God damn it Mark, can't you go one transfer without making that damn joke?" John Grass asked from the drivers seat. To the untrained eye, the two men were riding in an unassuming eighteen-wheeler transporting perishable goods while in actuality, they were employees of the federal government. Both Russ and Derrick were well trained in hand to hand combat and had advanced weaponry hidden away in the cab while four men in guardsmen armor were watching over the two superhuman prisoners in the back.
"Just making conversation, jeez lighten up. " Mark said
"Easy for you to say. The losers we're transporting in the back seat are making me uncomfortable, is all. " John confessed
"What, that Powder Keg guy?" Mark asked.
"Nah, that mini magneto, Lodestone. Bitch tore up most of Baltimore by herself, 'fore she got put down. According to a buddy I know up at Tartarus, the reason they want her transferred down there is because they want to see what makes her tick. Maybe use her as some kind of anti Magneto weapon. I don't want think what will happen if she gets loose. " John explained.
Mark stifled a laugh. "Man, you been reading to many conspiracy books. She got beat by the Scarlet Spider, for pete's sake."
"So? I'll bet her powers would let some egg heads see rabbit...door...habit..." John replied.
Mark was about to ask John what the hell he was talking about, but John's arms started flailing, as though his mind had lost control of his body. Naturally, without John's hands on the wheel, the transport started to jack knife.
"Shiiiiit!" Mark screamed as the transport started to cut across the three lanes of traffic and swipe oncoming cars. Mark unbuckled his seat belt as fast as he could and lunged for the wheel. But before he reached it, Mark heard a loud -Thoom!- and the transport jerked to a complete stop. Mark was canny enough that the situation had just gone from bad to hell in a hand basket.
"I suspect that's our cue. " John Calender, one of the four aforementioned Guardsmen, said from inside the holding section as he regained his footing. He turned towards Lodestone and Powder Keg, both restrained in high tech chairs that prevented them from using their considerable powers. "Don't you two go anywhere."
"Go to hell, you bastard. " Lodestone snarled.
"More than likely. " Calender muttered under his breath as the activated the sky hatch.
The four guardsmen shot into the air, ready for anything. Well, almost anything.
According to their scanners, there was nothing out there. Not even the slightest hint as to what had caused the large transport to stop.
"What the hell is going on here?" one guardsmen asked
"Peter, David, secure the parameter!" Calender barked. The two guardsmen moved to comply, but then stopped in mid air. To the astonishment and fear of all four men, their armors were no longer complying with their commands. Against their will, the four guardsmen slowly lowered themselves to the ground and stood in a row in front of the transport. Though fear was gripping each and everyone of them, they realized that the reason they couldn't see anyone was because their attacker or attackers were controlling every aspect of their armors, including the monitors they used to see the outside world. Despite the thickness of the armors, the men inside them could still slightly hear what was being said on the outside, which of course did nothing to allay their fears.
"I have taken control of their armors. What are your orders Christopher?" a cold voice asked
"Kill them. We need to insure that there are as few witness as possible, and to establish our credibility. " another voice, this one young and powerful, stated."Warhead, if you please?"
"My pleasure. " agruff voice said. "always like killin' pigs."
Ten seconds and four energy blasts later, the four men knew no more.
"So, that Scarlet Spider guy got you too, huh?" Powder Keg asked, trying to make idle conversation. He wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Loadstone didn't bite, far to tense to think about anything other than what was happening outside. After all, her ex husband was the head of his own crime family, and more importantly, she had made an attempt on his life not ten days ago. Had he arranged a hit on her while she was in federal custody? It wasn't his style, but when it came to protecting his son, my son, she corrected herself, anything could become his style.
Loadstone watched fearfully as the rear doors to the transport swung open, seemingly of their own accord, and in walked two men. One was a figure of black and gold, seemingly made completely of circuits while the other was a young African American man, wearing leather pants and jacket, wearing a shirt that read 'War is politics by any other means' while concealing a powerful build.
"Ah, Miss Costanzo. You're a difficult woman to get an audience with.. " the young man stated. "but I trust you'll be worth it in the end."
"Just kill me and get it over with. " Lodestone snarled in impotent fury. "I won't beg for my life."
"I'm afraid you misunderstand my intent. " the young man stated. "I call myself King Bedlam. And I'm here to offer you a deal."
"A deal?" Lodestone asked.
"Yes, a deal. One that will benefit you, me and your son and the underworld at large." Bedlam smiled. "It's win, win all around."
"Hey, what about me?" Powder Keg cut in.
"Oh yes, you. " Bedlam nodded towards the black and gold figure floating behind him.
"Paradigm, if you please."
"Hey, thanks man. Whatever you guys want me to do, I'm in." Powder Keg stated as Paradigm approached him.
"Yes, you are. " Paradigm said as he placed his hands on Powder Keg's head. "Simply not in the way that you think." Techno organic material flowed from Paradigm's hand and fused with Powder Keg's face and melted down his body. For the sake of his fellows, Paradigm prevented Powder Keg from screaming himself hoarse in pain, which he was in enough distress to be doing, but he still writhed in agony. Lodestone could see this all happen from her vantage point, and was more than a little bit worried. For herself, obviously.
"What is he doing to him?" she asked.
"Paradigm is doing two things, actually. First, he's secretly placing long- range scanners in Powder Keg's body for use at a later date, and second, he's erasing his short-term memory. I don't want certain people to know I'm up and about until such time that I let them know myself. " Bedlam explained.
"What's this you were saying about a deal for me and my son?" Loadstone asked.
"Ah, yes. I know about your little custody battle with your ex husband, and how you came up on the losing end. To be brutally honest, you may have lost any hope of reclaiming your son now."
"You don't know a damn thing. " Lodestone fumed. "My ex husband is nothing compared to what I am now."
"Is that why you're on your way to a prison with a string of human rights violations?" Bedlam asked with a slight chuckle, his arms crossed in front of his chest. "You know as well as I do your husband is no doubt prepared for another assault by you on his person. I doubt even you can stand up to the full force of his resources, being as you are simply one woman, however powerful."
"And you can?" Lodestone sneered.
Bedlam chuckled again. He already had all the angles figured by the time he had decided to recruit Lodestone, and she was reacting just like he knew she would. "Yes, actually. My team has quite a formidable collection of raw power exceeded only by our ruthlessness. Raw power I'm willing to use to help you solve your problem."
"What's the catch?"
"I need your knowledge of the criminal underworld for another assignment first. I warn you ahead of time, the job will require some patience, but when it is completed not only will it reap incredible dividends for everyone involved, but we'll be able to crush your ex husband without fear of reprisal. " Bedlam explained
"I am finished. " Paradigm reported. Powder Keg was slumped over, unconscious in his chair and covered in cool sweat.
"Good, then free Ms. Costanzo, and we'll be on our way. " Bedlam ordered.
"I still haven't agreed to anything. " Lodestone retorted. Bedlam rolled his eyes.
"Please don't waste my time on empty bravo. Either you come with us, or you get a shiv in the back as alimony or you're hauled off by the governments of the world in a vain hope to create some kind of anti-Magneto weapon. Those, Lodestone, are your only other choices. I'm simply offering you one where you might see your son again." Bedlam sighed. The locks on Lodestone's wrists and feet released, and she stood up. She took a moment to rub her sore joints, and then silently made her way towards the exit of the transport.
"Wise choice. " Bedlam complimented as he followed her
"Shit man, it's a freakin' jail break!" Mark said as he and John squatted in front the transport. They could see Bedlam, Paradigm, Lodestone, together with a large, bald hulking orange figure start to walk away.
"You think?" John asked as he held his gun at his side. "We're lucky they don't seem to care about us."
The two men heard what sounded like an odd combination of a chuckle and growl above them, and looked to see an orange blur descend upon them. The figure landed in between the two men, and then ran off in the direction of Bedlam. Mark was about to ask 'what the hell happened', but he couldn't find his voice. Neither could John, but both felt a wetness on their throats.
The orange figure who had sealed their fates had forgotten about them by now, but not it's own sense of achievement. Bedlam had ordered that there be no possible witness to the attack, and he was more than happy to comply. As such, anyone who had survived the 'accident' that they had created and subsequent twenty-one car pile up were killed by his hands. When the state police eventually arrive, they will only find one man alive and not a single clue as to what had happened that day.
***
Sierra Leone, Africa
Arsenal carefully set the Stealth Wing in a patch of cleared rain forest about two miles away from where the Ultimatum base had been discovered. Thankfully for Force Works, the Stealth Wing had a special hover mode that could allow them to land just about anywhere they wanted with little problem, so landing near a swamp was little problem.
"These the coordinates that X-Treme said to meet us at?" Mirage asked.
"Yeah. " Arsenal confirmed.
Speedball opened the hatch to the Stealth Wing. "I need some fresh air."
As he stepped out of the Stealth Wing, Speedball looked at the undisturbed natural beauty surrounding him. The grass was waist high, and palm trees, along with tall teak trees were scattered all over the area. Speedball could make out crocodiles moving about in the nearby swamp, and watched as an African grey parrot took off from it's perch, and disappeared into the sky.
"Place looks like something out of the discovery channel," Robbie quipped almost involuntarily.
"Your inability to truly appreciate this beauty is almost heart breaking." Dani said as she and the others exited the Stealth Wing. "I personally love missions where I can get close to nature. It puts everything in perspective for me."
"When I want nature, I'll go to Central Park," Robbie answered. "Or, now that I live in Metro City, Aegis Park."
"Where's X-Treme?" Nova asked. "We're here to do a mission, not commune with nature."
"Standing in the middle of a rain forest is hardly communing with nature, Rich," a voice declared from behind them. Force Works turned to see X-Treme standing less than four feet behind them, with a granola bar in one hand and a folded up tent slung over his shoulder. "Let me stow my equipment, and we can get on with the mission."
"We gotta put a bell on that guy," Speedball commented to Wiz Kid.
"Alright, I checked out Ultimatum's security, and there's good news and bad news," X-Treme stated as he came out of the Stealth Wing. "The good news is that I've found a way around their security system and the patrols protecting their base. I've walked the majority of it without them ever knowing."
"I fail to see the problem then." Speedball commented.
"Well, there are two problems," X-Treme explained. "One, they have two sets of patrols. One keeps a schedule like a German watch..."
"Swiss," Arsenal corrected.
"Whatever. Anyway, they have one set of regular patrolmen, and a set of random patrols with no set pattern. Could be a problem. Also, they move Mr. DuReieght about every eight hours. I don't know where they're holding him."
"That's not a problem," Dani replied. "Taki, break out the camouflage gear so we can get this over with."
"Oh great," Nova muttered. "We get to play dress up with old army surplus supplies."
"Old army surplus?" Taki asked as he pulled out a box from the Stealth Wing. "Don't be insulting. This camo gear not only provides almost complete invisibility, but another advantage over regular camo."
Wiz Kid tossed the gear over Nova's head without warning. As Nova took it off, the others could see his mouth moving, most likely something insulting, but not a sound was to be heard.
"The gear dampens sound," he stated. "That way, your big mouth won't give us away and even a child could use it. Best of all, it barely cost anything to make and it'll self-destruct in two days. We can use it and lose it."
"Man, you'll take any excuse to make new toys," Speedball smiled.
"You say that like it's a bad thing. Besides, come to a battle with the right toys, and your chances of leaving said battle alive increase dramatically," Taki said
"Alright, here's what we're going to do," Dani stated. "Wolfsbane, X-Treme and I will infiltrate the Ultimatum compound and grab Mr. Du Reight. I plan on taking him out from the north direction. Speedball, Tarene, Wiz Kid and Nova are going to get into place and when I give the word, are going to hit the north face with everything they have." Dani looked towards Tarene. "Kid gloves, Tarene, like we practiced. You kill me, and I'll be pissed."
"Are you sure it's a wise idea to take DuReight out where we're going to be attacking?" Wiz Kid asked.
"It's risky, but also unexpected. If you guys do your job right, no one will be left standing to get in the way. So, do your job right," Dani answered
"What about me?" Arsenal asked.
"I want you in the Stealth Wing and ready to go at a moment's notice. Timing is going to be critical here. I want to hit them hard and fast, and be gone before they know what's what. Any final questions?" Dani looked the team over and instinctively knew they knew what was expected of them and the plan. "Then, let's go to work."
***
Ultimatum Base
The base that Ultimatum kept Mr. DuReight was being kept had considerable comparisons to a medieval castle. Built into solid bed rock, the complex was three stories tall and surrounded by ten foot tall cement barricades with only one entrance and exit.
"Patrol in two minutes," X-Treme whispered as he boosted Mirage, protected from detection by her illusions, up and over the barricade. Once Mirage was over, X-Treme and Wolfsbane leaped over.
Rahne, lead the way Dani said over the psi link they shared. Rahne took a deep breath of air, and led her teammates into the complex. For fifteen minutes, they carefully navigated the underground labyrinth of the Ultimatum base, taking all deliberate care not to be noticed and not relying solely on the fact that they were invisible. Eventually, Wolfsbane led her teammates to where DuReight was being held. Unfortunately, two soldiers, who marched back and forth in front of the cell, eyes searching for intruders, guarded the door to his cell.
"What do we do?" Rahne asked softly.
"I'll get them with my arrows," Dani answered.
"No, don't. They have throat panic mikes. If the mikes detect something wrong, they'll set off the alarms," X-Treme warned
"Then what do you suggest?" Dani asked
X-Treme didn't reply. He reached into both of his boots and pulled out the stasi coshs, basically collapsible Billy clubs, he had concealed within them. In the hands of a skilled fighter, coshs are extremely dangerous.
And Adam Sol is just such a fighter.
Concealed by Mirage's illusions, X-Treme waited until he was within an inch of the soldiers before striking. He hit the back of their knees, sending their feet flying out from under them. Before they could even gasp, in a fluid motion he brought his coshs up and down on their necks. The men grabbed their throats for a split second after they hit the ground on their backs before ceasing to move. X-Treme kicked in the door to DuReight's cell, and was followed in by Wolfsbane. Dani lingered with the guards for a moment.
"They're alive," X-Treme said flatly.
"Just making sure," Dani answered unapologetically. She then walked into DuReight's cell. Mr. DuReight looked like a mess, to say the least. His gray business suit was covered in dust and tears. It looked very much like the man hadn't worn another pair of clothes since he had been kidnapped, his mouth was taped shut and he was tied to an office-rolling chair. Wolfsbane quickly cut the ropes that were holding him down with her claws.
"Mr. DuReight, we're Force Works and we're here to rescue you," Dani explained as she removed the tape from his mouth.
"Who sent you? I demand to mmphh!" Dani quickly replaced the tape on his mouth.
"Well, since you can't seem to be quiet, Mr. DuReight, that'll have to stay on a little longer," Dani said firmly. This was a rescue mission, but that didn't mean she had to be nice, after all. "You make a noise, and you'll get us all killed. I can prevent us from being detected, so stay close to me."
After Wolfsbane dragged the two guards into the cell, Force Works with Mr. DuReight made their way out of the base, though DuReight was somewhat hesitant the entire time. Once they were on the outside, Dani led her small team to a small corner on the north side as Ultimatum soldiers went about their work. Dani made sure her team was secure behind her illusion of invisibility and out of the way, situated behind a diesel tank before she called Wiz Kid.
"Taki, I need some rockets on the south side. Don't ask, just do it," she said. A split second later, alarms started blaring about the base.
"Shit, what happened?" Dani asked, somewhat annoyed.
"They probably detected your message to Taki," X-Treme said. Thankfully for her team, they were standing well out of the way of the rushing soldiers. "You don't seem that bothered."
"I'm not, 'cause I just had a kick ass idea," Dani said with a smile
***
Roughly twenty feet away from the base, Wiz Kid was assembling a rocket launcher around his wrist with his tech pack. The barrel was no larger than a coke can, but it didn't matter. Wiz Kid took aim and signaled for it to fire four times. Four energy missiles flew out and utterly destroyed the south wall of the base. Wiz Kid then morphed his tech pack into a rocket pack and made his way towards the base along with his teammates. Once the rockets hit the south face, Dani went to work. She concentrated, knowing exactly what illusions she wanted to create.
"Oh my god..." one Ultimatum soldier muttered, responding to the attack on the south side.
"What are they doing here!?" another asked. By now, the entire base had responded to the attack but were instantly cowered by the sight they saw. Standing in the wreckage were the Avengers. Iron Man, flanked by Thor and Wonder Man. Firestar and Justice were there as well, with Justice levitating Captain America and Hawkeye. The Avengers just hovered there, seemly intent on staring Ultimatum down. And it was working. After all, it was the Avengers they were facing.
"We are so screwed," one soldier said.
"I thought they changed their lineup?" Another stated.
"Worry about it later!" one commander, who had screwed up his courage, finally yelled.
"Let's get those tanks over here! We're not going down without a fight! One world, no borders!"
That battle cry galvanized the soldiers, who as one remembered they were carrying powerful weapons. They unloaded said weapons at the 'Avengers' only to have them predictably pass right thru them.
"Surprise!" Speedball shouted as he slammed thru the collected soldiers. "Made you look!"
Force Works wasted no time taking advantage of Ultimatum's distraction. Nova flew thru every grounded Apache helicopter on the base like a guided missile while Tarene concentrated on the tanks. She threw her mallet at a row of them and it ripped thru a dozen tanks before returning to her hand.
Speedball watched a flood of men come out of the underground compound, and he decided to try something. When he was a prisoner of the Undertow, he managed to charge matter with kinetic energy, something he hadn't been able to really do again. But simply because he couldn't figure out how to charge matter with kinetic energy, didn't mean he didn't know a new trick. He grabbed one of his multi colored bubbles that always surrounded him and concentrated. He then threw it towards the Ultimatum soldiers, blowing them in every direction. "Cool! Bubble bombs!"
"Regroup! Regroup!" The Ultimatum commander yelled in vain, but it was too late. Nova and Tarene had already made hash of their heavy weaponry, while Speedball, Mirage and Wiz Kid disabled the personnel. They were well- trained soldiers, but when faced with psychic arrows, high-powered lasers and blasts of kinetic energy, they stood no chance. In less time than it took to tell, the fight was over.
"Looks like all those hours in the training room have paid off," Mirage commented as she looked over the Ultimatum base. There were small fires everywhere, wrecked equipment and defeated soldiers littering the landscape and the level of destruction would have made the X-Men proud. Mirage still had her guard up, but she was satisfied that the job was done. Mirage heard a slight buzz overhead, indicating Arsenal had arrived with the Stealth Wing.
"You ladies ready to go?" Nova asked Wolfsbane and Mirage as he set down beside them.
"Yep. Nothing left to do here." They turned around allowing Nova access to the straps built into their costumes. Nova picked them up and flew them up to the Stealth Wing. Wiz Kid had already taken Mr. DuReight and X-Treme up to the plane.
"We good to go?" Dani asked as she came thru the drop hatch. Tarene and Speedball, who closed the hatch, quickly followed her.
"Umm, not exactly," Wiz Kid said. "We've hit a small hitch."
"What's that?" Dani asked
"I don't want to be rescued!" Mr. DuReight exclaimed
"Who with the what with the huh?" Dani stated, more than a little taken back by that fact
"I said I don't want to be rescued, young lady!" Mr. DuReight said, pointing an accusing finger at Dani. "Who asked you for your help!?"
"Does it matter? They were threatening to kill you!" Dani answered
"They wouldn't kill me! I agree with them! I demand you take me back this instant!"
"Mr. DuReight! They will kill ye if we take ye back tae them! Have ye gone daft?" Rahne asked
"I'm certainly not taking his ass back," Nova said angrily. "We went thru all this trouble to get him out in the first place!"
While the debate raged on in the Stealth Wing, a random patrol that X-Treme had warned about returned to base. Unfortunately for Force Works, they were armed with an anti aircraft missile launcher. In the confusion over what to do, Force Works hadn't pulled away. An Ultimatum soldier quickly took aim with his rocket launcher and pulled the trigger.
"Everyone, shut the hell up! We'll sort this out later!" Dani yelled, cutting off anymore debate. "Arsenal, why are we still..."
-Boom!-
The Stealth wing lurched to the right as the missile tore thru the wing and set the engine on fire.
"We're hit!" X-Treme shouted
"...fire, the engine's on fire!" Taki exclaimed
"...Pull away! Damage! What's the damage!"
"Jesus, Allah, Buddha, I love you all!"
"...mission screwed..."
"... going down!"
*** Next issue: Force Works is down and out in Sierra Leone. Stranded with no easy way to get home, in a war torn country where they have no business being, Force Works discovers first hand the effects of blood diamonds and find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. Be here next issue as the shit really hits the fan as Heroes in the Rough concludes! ***
Notes
Kylun, Wildchild Monsoon, Archer, Fixx, and Syphon were thought killed in X- Men Omega 39 Powder Keg was defeated by Scarlet Spider in the battle of the year in M2K's Scarlet Spider 11 Lodestone's 'custody battle' and problems were seen in M2K's Scarlet Spider 11-15 Lastly, I know last issue promised a crossover between Hulk and Force Works, but things came up and that's all I'm saying on that.