M2K Presents
Force Works 18
Eye of the Beholder
Part 2
The Story thus far: The outlaw mutants known as Factor X attacked and utterly destroyed a high tech facility belonging to the funder and partial founder of Force Works, Donald Parvenue. Outraged, the billionaire has ordered Force Works to bring in Factor X, or be disbanded. Danielle, however, is reluctant to go after them.
Metro City, The Workplace training room
"Everyone ready to start?" Mirage, illusion-casting leader of Force Works, asked of her teammates.
"Aye." Wolfsbane, mutant werewolf and Mirage's closest friend, answered.
"We're always ready needless destruction!" Arsenal, empowered by the transplant of mutant organs, boasted proudly.
"Yeah, especially when you use the same freakin' simulation as a morning exercise all the time." Speedball commented dryly.
Laid out before the nine young heroes was an utterly devastated city block that looked like it belonged in some post-apocalyptic movie. Buildings were toppled, power-lines fallen and gutted cars littered the street while the skyline was pure, blood red with no clouds in sight.
Almost as if of one mind, dozens of villains began emerging from every nook and cranny, from fallen buildings and out from under sewer lids. Sentinels, both regular and Prime, the Grey Gargoyle, Diamondhead, the insane villains known as Psionex, Shi'ar storm troopers and even more, different enemies.
"What was our time last session?" X-Treme, alien mutant martial artist, asked as he withdrew several blades from his belt in preparation for battle.
"Too long." Mirage deadpanned in all seriousness, "Alright team, lets go to work!"
Without another word, Force Works selected their targets. X-Treme leaped at the Shi'ar soldiers; Kymaera targeted the Psionex while Wiz Kid singled out the smaller Prime Sentinels.
"So what's the deal with Parvenue?" Speedball asked as he slammed into a group of Hydra soldiers, "why'd you guys have that powwow yesterday? I...ah...missed last night's briefing. "
Mirage thought about how best to phrase her answer while she held off several A.I.M soldiers with her arrows.
"He wants us to bring in Factor X, one of the million and one X teams out there." Nova the Human Rocket stated as he flew thru the chest of one Sentinel like it was wax paper, "seems like they blew up one of Parvenue's more expensive companies for no good reason."
That we know of Danielle thought to herself bitterly.
"Who're Factor X?" Tarene, young goddess of thunder, asked as she dispatched the Grey Gargoyle with a single throw of her mallet.
"Basically, they're underground operatives who work for the MUSE, an underground railroad like system for mutants." Mirage explained.
Kymaera threw the holographic copy of Impulse of Psionex into Mathmaniac, "So you know these people, right? So why they'd attack Masterson Technologies?"
"I honestly don't know, but I'm confident they had a good reason to do what they did." Danielle answered, very unconvincingly. It sounded more like she was rehearsing lines for a new play than anything else.
"You hope. Not that it matters, really." Wiz Kid remarked casually as he used his wrist blasters to take down several Prime Sentinels.
"Computer, stop the simulation!" Danielle barked suddenly. The holograms of various enemies froze immediately, as did Force Works. Mirage turned to glare as Wiz Kid, who simply stood there impassive, "What did you say? Doesn't matter...?"
"What I said wasn't as important as what I meant." Wiz Kid said nonchalantly, "I'm not entirely convinced that these Factor X people are completely trustworthy based on your half hearted protests simply because they bear an X. From what I understand, you only know one of the members well, and people change in ways no one can predict, Dani. You should know that better than anyone. After all, wasn't Magneto's team of Fallen Angels formed completely out of former X-Force members, a team you personally led?"
Danielle's face twisted into a look of pure anger as she said thru clenched teeth, "What are you trying to say, Taki?"
"Now wait jus' one bloody minute! Dani's nae to blame for them defecting!" Rahne protested.
"Nor am I implying that she is. After all, Rictor and Meltdown were my teammates as well at one point." Taki said evenly, "Everyone only has themselves to blame for their own actions and consequences thereof. I'm simply pointing out no one here is a perfect judge of character."
Danielle looked towards Nova, Kymaera and Speedball; "You guys want to help me out here? According to the file we were given, three members of the Factor X guys were old associates of yours. Helix, Bandit and Silhouette, as I recall."
Speedball began examining a suddenly interesting spot on his boots as he whistled while Nova suddenly felt compelled to start counting the ceiling tiles in the training room. Kymaera let out a tired groan at their cowardice.
"To be honest Danielle, I think I speak for all three of us when I say we're confident Silhouette and the others had a good reason to do what they did, but it is possible they're not acting for the greater good here. Sil and Bandit both have long experiences with gangs in the past, and Helix was a real mystery to us when he left. We're just not sure what to think, honestly."
Dani threw her hands up and scowled in angered disbelief, "Unbelievable! So much for moral support."
"There's also the issue of the damage they've already done, monetary and otherwise, even if they had good reason." Taki added, "Their actions have totaled losses of three billion dollars and twelve hundred jobs lost. Their reckless and irresponsible actions later led to the death of an innocent mutant, Daniel Howard, and they're still out there doing God knows what and why."
"Whoa, hold up!" interrupted Arsenal; "it's not fair to blame them for that guy's death! It was a bunch of drunken bigots who killed that man, not Factor X!"
"Said 'bigots' were all employees Parvenue was forced to lay off hours before. See the cause and effect here? Randomly blow something up, you scare and piss people off. Following the riots in Washington, it's completely irresponsible to take actions that will exacerbate human mutant relationships like this. We've only recently begun making inroads as a whole against negative stereotypes and social acceptance in concerns to mutants, and these people threaten to push that back."
"What, just because they don't do press releases and have a clean shaven image, we should bring them in?" X-Treme sneered as he sheathed his sword, "been there, done that, thanks."
"To be fair, it's not like we're one hundred percent forthcoming with the public either." Reminded Kymaera, "No one outside of this team knows about the little secret project we have going in Africa."
"But Force Works does provide a large degree of transparency to mutant issues, something that was largely lacking up until that point." Wiz Kid reminded them, "I certainly haven't ruled out the possibility that there is more to this than what we know, but we should be prepared to take action against Factor X."
"This discussion's about spoiled my appetite for destruction today." Arsenal stated. He pulled his headgear off and withdrew the metal wings on his back into his body, "I'm gonna go have some breakfast."
Everyone silently agreed the practice session was over, and Force Works filed out of the training room, ready to start their daily activities.
"Adam, the church where I volunteer needs some more chaperones f'r a fieldtrip to Metro City's art museum. Would ye like tae join us?" Rahne asked.
"Sure Rahne, I think it'll be fun. I've never really had a chance to explore Earth's arts." Adam answered.
"Jus' make sure ye keep one eye on the children." Rahne chuckled.
"It's always something with you."
Speedball watched the couple as they easily bantered back and forth before turning down a hall towards Taki's lab alongside his mutant friend.
"I swear, I don't know what Rahne sees in him!" Speedball complained suddenly.
"Shared experiences and personal understanding." Wiz Kid answered while fiddling with his custom made hi-tech palm pilot.
"Huh?"
"Both orphans emotionally deprived in their pre teen years, only to find family later. Both forced into a lifestyle while it may not suit them, they feel expected to lead. They can find a surprising amount of understanding within one another."
"Oh, thanks Dr. Phil." Groused Speedball.
"Don't mention it. And there is that last, most important difference between you and Adam."
"Oh? What's that?"
Wiz Kid smiled at Speedball wryly, "Adam's more alpha male you ever will be."
"Hey, I'm manly! I'm masculine!" Speedball said defensively, "There isn't a jar I can't open!"
"Robbie? I'm gay so trust me when I say, as far as animal attraction goes, you couldn't turn on a light-bulb, let alone Rahne."
"Anyways," Speedball quickly snapped, changing the subject of conversation at breakneck speed, "you were pretty harsh back there, man. Were you serious about arresting those Factor X guys even if they really are heroes? One of those gals is a friend of mine."
"My sympathies, but I'm afraid I was completely serious."
"Why?"
"Two reasons. Firstly, the destruction they wreaked. Their collateral was needlessly excessive and irresponsible. Second, their operating methods leave to much to be desire. As it stands, we have no idea why they attacked Masterson Technologies beyond guesswork. And the public, Joe Average as it were, has even less. These Factor X are helping fuel fears and worse, stereotypes about mutants regardless of their intentions."
"Come on, plenty of other heroes have done worse. I mean, the Avengers..."
"Are held accountable for their actions by the government and are almost a public institution. They also explain their actions. Factor X is neither and have an unknown agenda. That only helps fear anger and suspicion, which in turn lead to negative stereotypes, something America is quite fond of, sadly."
"People aren't sheep, Taki." Speedball replied, "Well, most of the time." He amended.
"Tell me, do you consider yourself well informed?" Inquired Wiz Kid.
"Reasonably, I suppose."
"Then you're aware of the fact that an organization akin to the National Socialists Party, Nazis, organized a massive rally on Washington D.C twice without protests by civil rights leaders. And no, it wasn't the Friends of Humanity."
"Err, no that's news to me." Speedball admitted, "Any clues?"
"It was called the Million Man march, planned by the Nation of Islam, an organization that preaches the racial superiority of blacks over whites."
Speedball stopped dead in his tracks, "Wait a minute..."
"Are you surprised about the lack of protests, or the idea African Americans have an organization with ideals much like the KKK, or Nazis?" Wiz Kid asked the stunned Speedball.
"Both, I guess." Shrugged Speedball. He continued walking.
"Understandable. See, that's the problem we face, among others of course, stereotypes. We even have stereotypes about stereotypes. More than ever, we have to be pragmatic about how we address issues today. We can't just do the job, fly away and hope everyone will understand. The sensationalism that's gripped the media alone would flay us alive."
"I see your point, but don't think I like it." Conceded Speedball, though with a heavy heart. He didn't relish the idea of hunting an old friend down, literally, because her team had bad P.R.
"Nor do I. But we need to face facts here. Sinners or saints, Factor X threatens to damn us all."
"The community has reluctantly come to the defense of those arrested in the lynching of Daniel Howar..."
click
"Other companies fear that, following the devastating attack on Masterson's Technologies, that they will be targetted as..."
click
"Protests against mutants have grown noticeably louder since the attack on Masterson..."
click
"The mutant terrorists unknown motives have contributed to fears that..."
click
Dani turned the television off, the news stations only making her concerns worse. The situation with Factor X looked like it was already FUBAR, and Force Works wasn't even involved yet. That state of affairs wouldn't last, Dani knew. Edie Sawyer was calling constantly for updates on Force Works' hunt for Factor X, and Dani was barely able to pacify the woman's seeming bloodlust for the rogue mutant team.
But despite it all, Danielle Moonstar just wasn't convinced that Factor X attacked Masterson's Technologies for no good reason. After all, Danielle had been on the other side of the fence and the wrong side of the law dozens of times as a former member of first X-Force. She saved dozens of lives and even the planet once or twice, all the while operating under the label of 'outlaw' because of the bigoted media (and perhaps in small part due to lack of official explanation regarding their actions). Of course, the damage incurred on her missions didn't exactly rival Factor X, but Dani nevertheless understood their compulsive desire and need for secrecy.
Thankfully, Danielle had an inside track to finding out the information she needed in this case.
Though she kept it secret from her fellow teammates, even Rahne, Dani had in fact known about the Mutant Underground Support Engine for a considerable time. In fact, she'd learned about it only a month after enrolling in Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Professor X's concern for Danielle and her class of New Mutants was always for their safety first and foremost. He feared that should something unfortunate happen to him, that they would be in deadly jeopardy, exposed and vulnerable due to their lack of experience.
But like any good teacher, Professor X was prepared for any eventuality. He asked Danielle and Sam Guthrie, the co-leaders of the New Mutants, into his office, and explained his concern. He then described his suggested course of action and explained how the MUSE could protect and hide them and their classmates should the worst come to pass. Of course, the MUSE itself needed to be protected as well, thus Professor X only felt comfortable giving the young mutants the contact information they needed by implanting it in their unconscious, long term memory, something he felt uncomfortable doing without their permission. Dani and Sam agreed to the Professor's proposal almost instantly, for the sake of their friends as much as themselves.
As a result, Dani had always possessed the ability to contact the MUSE system anytime she wanted. Thankfully, things had never gotten so bad that she actually needed to before now. But now, too much was being threatened not to try and reach out. Dani looked at the cell-phone in her hand, and started dialing randomly. She wondered idly how she'd explain herself if she'd called the wrong number, or how she'd even know if she called the right one to begin with. Ask if there were any left wing mutant sympathizers in the house?
Dani pushed those thoughts aside when she heard someone pick up the phone, "Hello?"
"I'm from Xavier's, and in need of a trip north." Danielle stated before catching herself. She quickly realized that the Professor must have given her the necessary code phrases she'd need to identify herself to other MUSE members.
"Moonstar." The voice on the other of the phone replied calmly.
"Correct. You gonna give me your name and serial number, or do we do the whole cliché no names routine?"
"Blackwood's fine with me."
"No family to worry about huh? Well, I need to get in touch with whoever's leading Factor X."
"Speakin', kiddo."
"Well, you know who I am and now I know who you are, so I'll skip the foreplay. I've been ordered to bring you and your team in."
"Okay. That all?"
"'Okay'?!"
"Okay. You do what you gotta do, kid." The man explained casually.
"Umm, I think you missed something. This is where you explain to me why you attacked and devastated a company out of the blue, costing twelve hundred people their jobs and possibly inciting a hate crime that cost a mutant his life!"
"Can't." The man stated simply.
"Can't or won't?"
"Pick your poison."
"Why?" Moonstar demanded, "hate you break it to you, but me and my team is involved in whatever you have going on now! I think I deserve an explanation as to what the hell happening!"
Blackwood glanced out his van window, peering out at a walled mansion that held his objective, "That's your problem, but thanks for the heads up. What I've got cookin'...trust me when I say you don't wanna get involved. I wish I could say more, but I don't know who to trust right now."
"That's bullshit!" Dani snapped, "I think I've done enough for mutant kind to get some damn explanation of what's going on!"
"I would, but Parvenue complicates things, kid."
"What are you talking about? He funneled millions of dollars into the MUSE system!"
"And he's been very progressive in mutant and civil rights. But you know this already, because you were on the ground floor when he founded Force Works, a human mutant alliance of heroes." Blackwood explained.
"I'm not sure I get your point, Blackwood."
"My point is this. Parvenue doesn't have a racist bone in his body. So why on earth would his wife, who knew him better than anyone else on the face of this planet, hide the fact she was a mutant?"
Dani opened her mouth to reply, but no words came forward. Damned if that wasn't a good question, one that she had absolutely no answer for. Hell, in all honestly it was a question she never would have thought to think of in the first place.
-Click!-
And then, with the press of a button, answering became a moot point. Dani stared at the cell-phone and realized that all she had now was even more questions, ones that threatened both Factor X and now possibly Force Works itself.
The Residence of U.S Senator Arthur Marshall
"...I'm not asking for a lot, I just want my curfew extended by an hour, that's all!" Mathew Marshall half pouted, half shouted into his cell-phone. Mathew Marshall was what most would describe as, to put it mildly, a black sheep to his well-bred family. He was wearing ripped jeans that were two sizes too big, had multiple piercings and tattoos all over his body while wearing a leather jacket adorned with the Anarchist symbol. Not that the young man really had any understanding of the various cultures he was aping, he just thought they looked cool and at least he succeeded on one regard. Mathew Marshal looked like a punk if there ever was one.
"And I'm telling you no." The voice of his uncle answered over the phone, "human or mutant, you're an embarrassment, Matt. You need to grow up and learn some responsibility. The last time I extended your curfew, you were nearly front-page headlines all over the state! It took too damn many favors to erase that black mark just because you got piss drunk!"
"That was only one time!" Mathew snapped. A minor earthquake that lasted only several seconds punctuated the statement.
"Is everything okay in there?" A Secret Service guard asked from outside the door to Matt's disorganized room.
"Just freakin' peachy!" Matt snapped, before turning his attention back towards the phone, "come on! Stop treating me like I'm a damn kid!"
"I will the moment you stop acting like one. It is why you were sent to live with me, after all. Now shut up, and get on your studies. Your tutors tell me you're behind in everything."
"So...?"
-click!-
Mathew Marshall looked at his cell-phone is disbelief before throwing it against the wall, shattering it into a million pieces, literally. The earth shook as he raged at how his uncle treated him like a little kid who needed discipline. Part of him wanted to go on some wild mutant rampage, just to kill his uncle political career. But the more rational side of Mathew's mind took over. If he did that, his family would disown him. The free ride he enjoyed at the expense of his wealthy family would be over, and he'd be forced out into the real world. Furthermore, his uncle was the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and in passing would sometimes imply something unpleasant would happen to Matt if he revealed his mutant powers to the electorate.
So for now, Matt, an omega level mutant who longed to cut loose, was on a short leash that would never let him do what he really, really wanted. And boy did it rankle.
After he calmed down a little, Matt realized that the Secret Service agents his uncle had drafted as 'bodyguards' (basically, stooges to keep him out of trouble) hadn't said a thing when he started his second little earthquake. Normally, they pitched a bitch, as per their orders from his uncle, whenever he pulled something remotely related to his mutant powers. He stared his bedroom doors curiously. Something just didn't feel right.
Carefully approaching the dual oak doors and peering out, he glanced around for his federal handlers.
"Guys?"
Matt pushed the door open a little further, only to find it obstructed. He looked down and saw the unconscious bodies of his two bodyguards.
"I'm sorry."
Fireworks seemingly went off on the edges Matt's vision as a metal-gloved fist slammed into the side of his head. He slumped to the ground, nearly senseless.
"I want you to know, this is truly for the best. Your sacrifice will help countless generations." Matt's assailant reassured him, though Matt barely heard it. He was struggling to fight off the blackness of unconsciousness.
"Shouldn't that be the boy's choice?" A second, new voice asked, surprising the first.
"You...!" The first voice snarled, his voice dripping with anger and perhaps some level of familiarity, at least to Matt's ears. But there was nothing for Matt to hear, as he spiraled into oblivion moments later.
Within a minute of that, the sounds of superhuman combat could be heard from the estate for three miles in all directions.
Metro City, the Workplace
"I'm just saying that if someone re-ignites class warfare, turns a blind eye to human rights abuses in South America and destroys an American institution like Savings and Loans, they don't deserve an assload of mourning." Speedball explained to Arsenal as they walked into the Workplace recreation room.
"Dude, Reagan wasn't that bad! He made Americans believe in this country again!" Arsenal defended.
"I'd say that was a good thing, but seeing as how he destroyed the Savings and Loans, traded arms for hostages then lied in a manner that seemed Clintonish years before Bubba even showed up!"
"And he won the Cold War, if I recall correctly." Arsenal rebutted.
"Dude, history won the Cold War. It wasn't as if he didn't have a lot of help from Russia itself, man." Speedball corrected, "lotta people like to forget that."
"Speedball, would you shut up already?" Nova demanded as he lounged on the couch, "the guy only dies once, Christ! I'm trying to watch T.V here!"
Nova turned his attention back towards the T.V just in time to see the game disappear to be replaced by the local news station caster who naturally said, "We interrupt your regularly scheduled program for this special News Bulletin..."
"God damned rest of the world...!" Nova shouted, loud enough to draw Arsenal and Speedball's attention away from their debate. The picture on the T.V shifted to that of a well-dressed middle aged man, standing at the perimeter of a well-manicured lawn. Behind him were dozens of police officers who were flaking the grounds, trying to access the situation and contain the damage, as well as a two million dollar mansion ablaze; with flames reaching the sky and energy blasts reaching out for the sky like they were part of a laser show.
"The mansion of senior Senator John Marshall turned into a battle ground only minutes ago. Police have cordoned off the area. Information at this point is sketchy, but from what we can observe, two teams of superhumans are looked in combat, for reasons thus far unknown. They may be terror...look!"
The cameraman pointed towards the mansion where a large, fifty foot tall man had just burst forth from the second story roof. The man's skin was oddly colored, with leathery patches all over.
"Helix." Nova muttered as Arsenal and Speedball watched the screen over his shoulder.
"Not good." Speedball surmised.
"Nope. Lets get Dani on the horn, 'cause I doubt we can ignore this..."
The Workplace, Taki's lab.
"So, what do you think of your new look?"
Adam Sol examined himself in the full-length mirror Wiz Kid had provided, and like what he saw.
Gone were his barbed shoulder pads, his bladed gauntlets and belt overflowing with obvious weapons.
Now, Adam Sol, The X-Treme, sported a leather coat draped over a skin tight leather body suit like a wetsuit, with small, unperceivable pouches with concealed weapons like garrets, throwing stars and small daggers. Crossed across his chest, forming an 'X' were the straps that held his sword and axe to his back, both weapons expertly concealed. Adam's belt now hid all his blades, and towards the back (where no one from the media could see) were several different types of grenades. The only thing that remained of X- Treme's old uniform was his backwards baseball cap placed atop his head.
"Nice, nice. I can barely feel the steal mesh microweave sown into the leather." X-Treme commented as he took striking at the air in mock combat. He executed a few hand strikes before flipping into the air with a cartwheel kick, "it's perfectly weighted."
"Of course it is." Taki smiled proudly from his chair, "and that's not leather. It's a special fiber I created. Combined with the microweave, your uniform can withstand the majority of projectile weaponry with no damage whatsoever." Taki then pointed towards the far wall, where several steel dummies were hanging from the ceiling.
X-Treme swung his arms straight out at the dummies, and four throwing stars flew forward from his sleeves and embedded themselves in the dummies.
"Again, perfect."
"Good. Now, try the blade release."
X-Treme pumped his wrists once while depressing a special pressure activated button in his gloves, and two one and a half foot long blades came out from the folds of his coat. X-Treme took several practice slashes at the air, testing the blades' balance.
"Perfect, not that that's a surprise." X-Treme commented as he withdrew the blades back into their sheathes, "And no sound effects, meaning..."
"I installed audio dampeners, as well as other special sensor scramblers. Congratulations, you're even stealthier now than before."
"I'm sure Dani will happy to hear that." X-Treme commented as he took his coat off, "thanks for the overhaul, but I've gotta meet Rahne in half an hour."
"Wiz Kid, this is Mirage. Is anyone there with you...?"
"Damn it," X-Treme winced as he heard Danielle's voice over the intercom. Official codenames always meant trouble.
"X-Treme's here with me, what's the matter?"
"We have a lead on Factor X. Get your butts to the hangar."
"Damn, Rahne's gonna be ticked." X-Treme sighed as he put his coat back on.
Once X-Treme and Wiz Kid reached the hangar, they were somewhat surprised by what they saw. Of the team of nine young superheroes, there were only four other members present. Only Mirage, Tarene, Nova and Speedball were present.
"Where's the rest of the team?" X-Treme asked.
"Not here." Dani stated simply. She motioned towards the plane with obvious reluctance, "Shall we?"
The Residence of U.S Senator Arthur Marshall
The officers and reporters surrounding the Marshall estate found themselves thrown thru the air as a massive explosion ripped thru the air like a run away freight train. The bodies of officers slammed into the hoods of their cars and reporters smashed into the sides of their vans. At the center of the now completely leveled estate stood an ebony dome, seamless and from all appearances unscathed by the massive explosion that had torn thru the air. After several minutes, the dome began to dissipate, to reveal the mutant strike force known as Factor X. Their features were battle worn, with nicks and cuts here and there, as if they'd just fought a harrowing battle.
"Oh, this is going to look bad on the five o clock news." Wildchild commented as he looked over the damage and destruction that had been wrought.
"We have more pressing concerns at the moment." Fixx stated, "We failed to complete our objective. Were it not for Silhouette, we wouldn't even be alive. We need to regroup and rethink of strategy immediately."
"That's not going to happen."
No sooner had Fixx finished her sentence than a lightning bolt struck the ground only a meter away from the group of mutants. The team turned to see Force Works standing only yards away.
Mirage's bow was armed and taunt, X-Treme's sword glimmered in the afternoon light while Wiz Kid drew a casual bead on Factor X with a single laser pistol. Nova and Tarene hovered at the edges of the team; their arms crossed across their chests and puffed out in an authoritative manner that easily conveyed their incredible physical power. And Speedball was Speedball.
"I want answers," Mirage growled, "and if I have to beat them out of you, so much the better!"
Next issue: Confused? Good. Things don't get any clearer as Force Works and Factor X thrown down and Tarene makes a mistake that threatens Force Works' future!
Force Works 18
Eye of the Beholder
Part 2
The Story thus far: The outlaw mutants known as Factor X attacked and utterly destroyed a high tech facility belonging to the funder and partial founder of Force Works, Donald Parvenue. Outraged, the billionaire has ordered Force Works to bring in Factor X, or be disbanded. Danielle, however, is reluctant to go after them.
Metro City, The Workplace training room
"Everyone ready to start?" Mirage, illusion-casting leader of Force Works, asked of her teammates.
"Aye." Wolfsbane, mutant werewolf and Mirage's closest friend, answered.
"We're always ready needless destruction!" Arsenal, empowered by the transplant of mutant organs, boasted proudly.
"Yeah, especially when you use the same freakin' simulation as a morning exercise all the time." Speedball commented dryly.
Laid out before the nine young heroes was an utterly devastated city block that looked like it belonged in some post-apocalyptic movie. Buildings were toppled, power-lines fallen and gutted cars littered the street while the skyline was pure, blood red with no clouds in sight.
Almost as if of one mind, dozens of villains began emerging from every nook and cranny, from fallen buildings and out from under sewer lids. Sentinels, both regular and Prime, the Grey Gargoyle, Diamondhead, the insane villains known as Psionex, Shi'ar storm troopers and even more, different enemies.
"What was our time last session?" X-Treme, alien mutant martial artist, asked as he withdrew several blades from his belt in preparation for battle.
"Too long." Mirage deadpanned in all seriousness, "Alright team, lets go to work!"
Without another word, Force Works selected their targets. X-Treme leaped at the Shi'ar soldiers; Kymaera targeted the Psionex while Wiz Kid singled out the smaller Prime Sentinels.
"So what's the deal with Parvenue?" Speedball asked as he slammed into a group of Hydra soldiers, "why'd you guys have that powwow yesterday? I...ah...missed last night's briefing. "
Mirage thought about how best to phrase her answer while she held off several A.I.M soldiers with her arrows.
"He wants us to bring in Factor X, one of the million and one X teams out there." Nova the Human Rocket stated as he flew thru the chest of one Sentinel like it was wax paper, "seems like they blew up one of Parvenue's more expensive companies for no good reason."
That we know of Danielle thought to herself bitterly.
"Who're Factor X?" Tarene, young goddess of thunder, asked as she dispatched the Grey Gargoyle with a single throw of her mallet.
"Basically, they're underground operatives who work for the MUSE, an underground railroad like system for mutants." Mirage explained.
Kymaera threw the holographic copy of Impulse of Psionex into Mathmaniac, "So you know these people, right? So why they'd attack Masterson Technologies?"
"I honestly don't know, but I'm confident they had a good reason to do what they did." Danielle answered, very unconvincingly. It sounded more like she was rehearsing lines for a new play than anything else.
"You hope. Not that it matters, really." Wiz Kid remarked casually as he used his wrist blasters to take down several Prime Sentinels.
"Computer, stop the simulation!" Danielle barked suddenly. The holograms of various enemies froze immediately, as did Force Works. Mirage turned to glare as Wiz Kid, who simply stood there impassive, "What did you say? Doesn't matter...?"
"What I said wasn't as important as what I meant." Wiz Kid said nonchalantly, "I'm not entirely convinced that these Factor X people are completely trustworthy based on your half hearted protests simply because they bear an X. From what I understand, you only know one of the members well, and people change in ways no one can predict, Dani. You should know that better than anyone. After all, wasn't Magneto's team of Fallen Angels formed completely out of former X-Force members, a team you personally led?"
Danielle's face twisted into a look of pure anger as she said thru clenched teeth, "What are you trying to say, Taki?"
"Now wait jus' one bloody minute! Dani's nae to blame for them defecting!" Rahne protested.
"Nor am I implying that she is. After all, Rictor and Meltdown were my teammates as well at one point." Taki said evenly, "Everyone only has themselves to blame for their own actions and consequences thereof. I'm simply pointing out no one here is a perfect judge of character."
Danielle looked towards Nova, Kymaera and Speedball; "You guys want to help me out here? According to the file we were given, three members of the Factor X guys were old associates of yours. Helix, Bandit and Silhouette, as I recall."
Speedball began examining a suddenly interesting spot on his boots as he whistled while Nova suddenly felt compelled to start counting the ceiling tiles in the training room. Kymaera let out a tired groan at their cowardice.
"To be honest Danielle, I think I speak for all three of us when I say we're confident Silhouette and the others had a good reason to do what they did, but it is possible they're not acting for the greater good here. Sil and Bandit both have long experiences with gangs in the past, and Helix was a real mystery to us when he left. We're just not sure what to think, honestly."
Dani threw her hands up and scowled in angered disbelief, "Unbelievable! So much for moral support."
"There's also the issue of the damage they've already done, monetary and otherwise, even if they had good reason." Taki added, "Their actions have totaled losses of three billion dollars and twelve hundred jobs lost. Their reckless and irresponsible actions later led to the death of an innocent mutant, Daniel Howard, and they're still out there doing God knows what and why."
"Whoa, hold up!" interrupted Arsenal; "it's not fair to blame them for that guy's death! It was a bunch of drunken bigots who killed that man, not Factor X!"
"Said 'bigots' were all employees Parvenue was forced to lay off hours before. See the cause and effect here? Randomly blow something up, you scare and piss people off. Following the riots in Washington, it's completely irresponsible to take actions that will exacerbate human mutant relationships like this. We've only recently begun making inroads as a whole against negative stereotypes and social acceptance in concerns to mutants, and these people threaten to push that back."
"What, just because they don't do press releases and have a clean shaven image, we should bring them in?" X-Treme sneered as he sheathed his sword, "been there, done that, thanks."
"To be fair, it's not like we're one hundred percent forthcoming with the public either." Reminded Kymaera, "No one outside of this team knows about the little secret project we have going in Africa."
"But Force Works does provide a large degree of transparency to mutant issues, something that was largely lacking up until that point." Wiz Kid reminded them, "I certainly haven't ruled out the possibility that there is more to this than what we know, but we should be prepared to take action against Factor X."
"This discussion's about spoiled my appetite for destruction today." Arsenal stated. He pulled his headgear off and withdrew the metal wings on his back into his body, "I'm gonna go have some breakfast."
Everyone silently agreed the practice session was over, and Force Works filed out of the training room, ready to start their daily activities.
"Adam, the church where I volunteer needs some more chaperones f'r a fieldtrip to Metro City's art museum. Would ye like tae join us?" Rahne asked.
"Sure Rahne, I think it'll be fun. I've never really had a chance to explore Earth's arts." Adam answered.
"Jus' make sure ye keep one eye on the children." Rahne chuckled.
"It's always something with you."
Speedball watched the couple as they easily bantered back and forth before turning down a hall towards Taki's lab alongside his mutant friend.
"I swear, I don't know what Rahne sees in him!" Speedball complained suddenly.
"Shared experiences and personal understanding." Wiz Kid answered while fiddling with his custom made hi-tech palm pilot.
"Huh?"
"Both orphans emotionally deprived in their pre teen years, only to find family later. Both forced into a lifestyle while it may not suit them, they feel expected to lead. They can find a surprising amount of understanding within one another."
"Oh, thanks Dr. Phil." Groused Speedball.
"Don't mention it. And there is that last, most important difference between you and Adam."
"Oh? What's that?"
Wiz Kid smiled at Speedball wryly, "Adam's more alpha male you ever will be."
"Hey, I'm manly! I'm masculine!" Speedball said defensively, "There isn't a jar I can't open!"
"Robbie? I'm gay so trust me when I say, as far as animal attraction goes, you couldn't turn on a light-bulb, let alone Rahne."
"Anyways," Speedball quickly snapped, changing the subject of conversation at breakneck speed, "you were pretty harsh back there, man. Were you serious about arresting those Factor X guys even if they really are heroes? One of those gals is a friend of mine."
"My sympathies, but I'm afraid I was completely serious."
"Why?"
"Two reasons. Firstly, the destruction they wreaked. Their collateral was needlessly excessive and irresponsible. Second, their operating methods leave to much to be desire. As it stands, we have no idea why they attacked Masterson Technologies beyond guesswork. And the public, Joe Average as it were, has even less. These Factor X are helping fuel fears and worse, stereotypes about mutants regardless of their intentions."
"Come on, plenty of other heroes have done worse. I mean, the Avengers..."
"Are held accountable for their actions by the government and are almost a public institution. They also explain their actions. Factor X is neither and have an unknown agenda. That only helps fear anger and suspicion, which in turn lead to negative stereotypes, something America is quite fond of, sadly."
"People aren't sheep, Taki." Speedball replied, "Well, most of the time." He amended.
"Tell me, do you consider yourself well informed?" Inquired Wiz Kid.
"Reasonably, I suppose."
"Then you're aware of the fact that an organization akin to the National Socialists Party, Nazis, organized a massive rally on Washington D.C twice without protests by civil rights leaders. And no, it wasn't the Friends of Humanity."
"Err, no that's news to me." Speedball admitted, "Any clues?"
"It was called the Million Man march, planned by the Nation of Islam, an organization that preaches the racial superiority of blacks over whites."
Speedball stopped dead in his tracks, "Wait a minute..."
"Are you surprised about the lack of protests, or the idea African Americans have an organization with ideals much like the KKK, or Nazis?" Wiz Kid asked the stunned Speedball.
"Both, I guess." Shrugged Speedball. He continued walking.
"Understandable. See, that's the problem we face, among others of course, stereotypes. We even have stereotypes about stereotypes. More than ever, we have to be pragmatic about how we address issues today. We can't just do the job, fly away and hope everyone will understand. The sensationalism that's gripped the media alone would flay us alive."
"I see your point, but don't think I like it." Conceded Speedball, though with a heavy heart. He didn't relish the idea of hunting an old friend down, literally, because her team had bad P.R.
"Nor do I. But we need to face facts here. Sinners or saints, Factor X threatens to damn us all."
"The community has reluctantly come to the defense of those arrested in the lynching of Daniel Howar..."
click
"Other companies fear that, following the devastating attack on Masterson's Technologies, that they will be targetted as..."
click
"Protests against mutants have grown noticeably louder since the attack on Masterson..."
click
"The mutant terrorists unknown motives have contributed to fears that..."
click
Dani turned the television off, the news stations only making her concerns worse. The situation with Factor X looked like it was already FUBAR, and Force Works wasn't even involved yet. That state of affairs wouldn't last, Dani knew. Edie Sawyer was calling constantly for updates on Force Works' hunt for Factor X, and Dani was barely able to pacify the woman's seeming bloodlust for the rogue mutant team.
But despite it all, Danielle Moonstar just wasn't convinced that Factor X attacked Masterson's Technologies for no good reason. After all, Danielle had been on the other side of the fence and the wrong side of the law dozens of times as a former member of first X-Force. She saved dozens of lives and even the planet once or twice, all the while operating under the label of 'outlaw' because of the bigoted media (and perhaps in small part due to lack of official explanation regarding their actions). Of course, the damage incurred on her missions didn't exactly rival Factor X, but Dani nevertheless understood their compulsive desire and need for secrecy.
Thankfully, Danielle had an inside track to finding out the information she needed in this case.
Though she kept it secret from her fellow teammates, even Rahne, Dani had in fact known about the Mutant Underground Support Engine for a considerable time. In fact, she'd learned about it only a month after enrolling in Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Professor X's concern for Danielle and her class of New Mutants was always for their safety first and foremost. He feared that should something unfortunate happen to him, that they would be in deadly jeopardy, exposed and vulnerable due to their lack of experience.
But like any good teacher, Professor X was prepared for any eventuality. He asked Danielle and Sam Guthrie, the co-leaders of the New Mutants, into his office, and explained his concern. He then described his suggested course of action and explained how the MUSE could protect and hide them and their classmates should the worst come to pass. Of course, the MUSE itself needed to be protected as well, thus Professor X only felt comfortable giving the young mutants the contact information they needed by implanting it in their unconscious, long term memory, something he felt uncomfortable doing without their permission. Dani and Sam agreed to the Professor's proposal almost instantly, for the sake of their friends as much as themselves.
As a result, Dani had always possessed the ability to contact the MUSE system anytime she wanted. Thankfully, things had never gotten so bad that she actually needed to before now. But now, too much was being threatened not to try and reach out. Dani looked at the cell-phone in her hand, and started dialing randomly. She wondered idly how she'd explain herself if she'd called the wrong number, or how she'd even know if she called the right one to begin with. Ask if there were any left wing mutant sympathizers in the house?
Dani pushed those thoughts aside when she heard someone pick up the phone, "Hello?"
"I'm from Xavier's, and in need of a trip north." Danielle stated before catching herself. She quickly realized that the Professor must have given her the necessary code phrases she'd need to identify herself to other MUSE members.
"Moonstar." The voice on the other of the phone replied calmly.
"Correct. You gonna give me your name and serial number, or do we do the whole cliché no names routine?"
"Blackwood's fine with me."
"No family to worry about huh? Well, I need to get in touch with whoever's leading Factor X."
"Speakin', kiddo."
"Well, you know who I am and now I know who you are, so I'll skip the foreplay. I've been ordered to bring you and your team in."
"Okay. That all?"
"'Okay'?!"
"Okay. You do what you gotta do, kid." The man explained casually.
"Umm, I think you missed something. This is where you explain to me why you attacked and devastated a company out of the blue, costing twelve hundred people their jobs and possibly inciting a hate crime that cost a mutant his life!"
"Can't." The man stated simply.
"Can't or won't?"
"Pick your poison."
"Why?" Moonstar demanded, "hate you break it to you, but me and my team is involved in whatever you have going on now! I think I deserve an explanation as to what the hell happening!"
Blackwood glanced out his van window, peering out at a walled mansion that held his objective, "That's your problem, but thanks for the heads up. What I've got cookin'...trust me when I say you don't wanna get involved. I wish I could say more, but I don't know who to trust right now."
"That's bullshit!" Dani snapped, "I think I've done enough for mutant kind to get some damn explanation of what's going on!"
"I would, but Parvenue complicates things, kid."
"What are you talking about? He funneled millions of dollars into the MUSE system!"
"And he's been very progressive in mutant and civil rights. But you know this already, because you were on the ground floor when he founded Force Works, a human mutant alliance of heroes." Blackwood explained.
"I'm not sure I get your point, Blackwood."
"My point is this. Parvenue doesn't have a racist bone in his body. So why on earth would his wife, who knew him better than anyone else on the face of this planet, hide the fact she was a mutant?"
Dani opened her mouth to reply, but no words came forward. Damned if that wasn't a good question, one that she had absolutely no answer for. Hell, in all honestly it was a question she never would have thought to think of in the first place.
-Click!-
And then, with the press of a button, answering became a moot point. Dani stared at the cell-phone and realized that all she had now was even more questions, ones that threatened both Factor X and now possibly Force Works itself.
The Residence of U.S Senator Arthur Marshall
"...I'm not asking for a lot, I just want my curfew extended by an hour, that's all!" Mathew Marshall half pouted, half shouted into his cell-phone. Mathew Marshall was what most would describe as, to put it mildly, a black sheep to his well-bred family. He was wearing ripped jeans that were two sizes too big, had multiple piercings and tattoos all over his body while wearing a leather jacket adorned with the Anarchist symbol. Not that the young man really had any understanding of the various cultures he was aping, he just thought they looked cool and at least he succeeded on one regard. Mathew Marshal looked like a punk if there ever was one.
"And I'm telling you no." The voice of his uncle answered over the phone, "human or mutant, you're an embarrassment, Matt. You need to grow up and learn some responsibility. The last time I extended your curfew, you were nearly front-page headlines all over the state! It took too damn many favors to erase that black mark just because you got piss drunk!"
"That was only one time!" Mathew snapped. A minor earthquake that lasted only several seconds punctuated the statement.
"Is everything okay in there?" A Secret Service guard asked from outside the door to Matt's disorganized room.
"Just freakin' peachy!" Matt snapped, before turning his attention back towards the phone, "come on! Stop treating me like I'm a damn kid!"
"I will the moment you stop acting like one. It is why you were sent to live with me, after all. Now shut up, and get on your studies. Your tutors tell me you're behind in everything."
"So...?"
-click!-
Mathew Marshall looked at his cell-phone is disbelief before throwing it against the wall, shattering it into a million pieces, literally. The earth shook as he raged at how his uncle treated him like a little kid who needed discipline. Part of him wanted to go on some wild mutant rampage, just to kill his uncle political career. But the more rational side of Mathew's mind took over. If he did that, his family would disown him. The free ride he enjoyed at the expense of his wealthy family would be over, and he'd be forced out into the real world. Furthermore, his uncle was the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and in passing would sometimes imply something unpleasant would happen to Matt if he revealed his mutant powers to the electorate.
So for now, Matt, an omega level mutant who longed to cut loose, was on a short leash that would never let him do what he really, really wanted. And boy did it rankle.
After he calmed down a little, Matt realized that the Secret Service agents his uncle had drafted as 'bodyguards' (basically, stooges to keep him out of trouble) hadn't said a thing when he started his second little earthquake. Normally, they pitched a bitch, as per their orders from his uncle, whenever he pulled something remotely related to his mutant powers. He stared his bedroom doors curiously. Something just didn't feel right.
Carefully approaching the dual oak doors and peering out, he glanced around for his federal handlers.
"Guys?"
Matt pushed the door open a little further, only to find it obstructed. He looked down and saw the unconscious bodies of his two bodyguards.
"I'm sorry."
Fireworks seemingly went off on the edges Matt's vision as a metal-gloved fist slammed into the side of his head. He slumped to the ground, nearly senseless.
"I want you to know, this is truly for the best. Your sacrifice will help countless generations." Matt's assailant reassured him, though Matt barely heard it. He was struggling to fight off the blackness of unconsciousness.
"Shouldn't that be the boy's choice?" A second, new voice asked, surprising the first.
"You...!" The first voice snarled, his voice dripping with anger and perhaps some level of familiarity, at least to Matt's ears. But there was nothing for Matt to hear, as he spiraled into oblivion moments later.
Within a minute of that, the sounds of superhuman combat could be heard from the estate for three miles in all directions.
Metro City, the Workplace
"I'm just saying that if someone re-ignites class warfare, turns a blind eye to human rights abuses in South America and destroys an American institution like Savings and Loans, they don't deserve an assload of mourning." Speedball explained to Arsenal as they walked into the Workplace recreation room.
"Dude, Reagan wasn't that bad! He made Americans believe in this country again!" Arsenal defended.
"I'd say that was a good thing, but seeing as how he destroyed the Savings and Loans, traded arms for hostages then lied in a manner that seemed Clintonish years before Bubba even showed up!"
"And he won the Cold War, if I recall correctly." Arsenal rebutted.
"Dude, history won the Cold War. It wasn't as if he didn't have a lot of help from Russia itself, man." Speedball corrected, "lotta people like to forget that."
"Speedball, would you shut up already?" Nova demanded as he lounged on the couch, "the guy only dies once, Christ! I'm trying to watch T.V here!"
Nova turned his attention back towards the T.V just in time to see the game disappear to be replaced by the local news station caster who naturally said, "We interrupt your regularly scheduled program for this special News Bulletin..."
"God damned rest of the world...!" Nova shouted, loud enough to draw Arsenal and Speedball's attention away from their debate. The picture on the T.V shifted to that of a well-dressed middle aged man, standing at the perimeter of a well-manicured lawn. Behind him were dozens of police officers who were flaking the grounds, trying to access the situation and contain the damage, as well as a two million dollar mansion ablaze; with flames reaching the sky and energy blasts reaching out for the sky like they were part of a laser show.
"The mansion of senior Senator John Marshall turned into a battle ground only minutes ago. Police have cordoned off the area. Information at this point is sketchy, but from what we can observe, two teams of superhumans are looked in combat, for reasons thus far unknown. They may be terror...look!"
The cameraman pointed towards the mansion where a large, fifty foot tall man had just burst forth from the second story roof. The man's skin was oddly colored, with leathery patches all over.
"Helix." Nova muttered as Arsenal and Speedball watched the screen over his shoulder.
"Not good." Speedball surmised.
"Nope. Lets get Dani on the horn, 'cause I doubt we can ignore this..."
The Workplace, Taki's lab.
"So, what do you think of your new look?"
Adam Sol examined himself in the full-length mirror Wiz Kid had provided, and like what he saw.
Gone were his barbed shoulder pads, his bladed gauntlets and belt overflowing with obvious weapons.
Now, Adam Sol, The X-Treme, sported a leather coat draped over a skin tight leather body suit like a wetsuit, with small, unperceivable pouches with concealed weapons like garrets, throwing stars and small daggers. Crossed across his chest, forming an 'X' were the straps that held his sword and axe to his back, both weapons expertly concealed. Adam's belt now hid all his blades, and towards the back (where no one from the media could see) were several different types of grenades. The only thing that remained of X- Treme's old uniform was his backwards baseball cap placed atop his head.
"Nice, nice. I can barely feel the steal mesh microweave sown into the leather." X-Treme commented as he took striking at the air in mock combat. He executed a few hand strikes before flipping into the air with a cartwheel kick, "it's perfectly weighted."
"Of course it is." Taki smiled proudly from his chair, "and that's not leather. It's a special fiber I created. Combined with the microweave, your uniform can withstand the majority of projectile weaponry with no damage whatsoever." Taki then pointed towards the far wall, where several steel dummies were hanging from the ceiling.
X-Treme swung his arms straight out at the dummies, and four throwing stars flew forward from his sleeves and embedded themselves in the dummies.
"Again, perfect."
"Good. Now, try the blade release."
X-Treme pumped his wrists once while depressing a special pressure activated button in his gloves, and two one and a half foot long blades came out from the folds of his coat. X-Treme took several practice slashes at the air, testing the blades' balance.
"Perfect, not that that's a surprise." X-Treme commented as he withdrew the blades back into their sheathes, "And no sound effects, meaning..."
"I installed audio dampeners, as well as other special sensor scramblers. Congratulations, you're even stealthier now than before."
"I'm sure Dani will happy to hear that." X-Treme commented as he took his coat off, "thanks for the overhaul, but I've gotta meet Rahne in half an hour."
"Wiz Kid, this is Mirage. Is anyone there with you...?"
"Damn it," X-Treme winced as he heard Danielle's voice over the intercom. Official codenames always meant trouble.
"X-Treme's here with me, what's the matter?"
"We have a lead on Factor X. Get your butts to the hangar."
"Damn, Rahne's gonna be ticked." X-Treme sighed as he put his coat back on.
Once X-Treme and Wiz Kid reached the hangar, they were somewhat surprised by what they saw. Of the team of nine young superheroes, there were only four other members present. Only Mirage, Tarene, Nova and Speedball were present.
"Where's the rest of the team?" X-Treme asked.
"Not here." Dani stated simply. She motioned towards the plane with obvious reluctance, "Shall we?"
The Residence of U.S Senator Arthur Marshall
The officers and reporters surrounding the Marshall estate found themselves thrown thru the air as a massive explosion ripped thru the air like a run away freight train. The bodies of officers slammed into the hoods of their cars and reporters smashed into the sides of their vans. At the center of the now completely leveled estate stood an ebony dome, seamless and from all appearances unscathed by the massive explosion that had torn thru the air. After several minutes, the dome began to dissipate, to reveal the mutant strike force known as Factor X. Their features were battle worn, with nicks and cuts here and there, as if they'd just fought a harrowing battle.
"Oh, this is going to look bad on the five o clock news." Wildchild commented as he looked over the damage and destruction that had been wrought.
"We have more pressing concerns at the moment." Fixx stated, "We failed to complete our objective. Were it not for Silhouette, we wouldn't even be alive. We need to regroup and rethink of strategy immediately."
"That's not going to happen."
No sooner had Fixx finished her sentence than a lightning bolt struck the ground only a meter away from the group of mutants. The team turned to see Force Works standing only yards away.
Mirage's bow was armed and taunt, X-Treme's sword glimmered in the afternoon light while Wiz Kid drew a casual bead on Factor X with a single laser pistol. Nova and Tarene hovered at the edges of the team; their arms crossed across their chests and puffed out in an authoritative manner that easily conveyed their incredible physical power. And Speedball was Speedball.
"I want answers," Mirage growled, "and if I have to beat them out of you, so much the better!"
Next issue: Confused? Good. Things don't get any clearer as Force Works and Factor X thrown down and Tarene makes a mistake that threatens Force Works' future!