(I'm sorry it took so long for the update. Graduating college and working on the plans then hopefully eventual book I am aiming to do has made things complicated I guess…as it's a strange feeling and I have uncertain decisions to make. Nevertheless, I hope to update my stories online as much as I can while still working on the plans then eventual book as best I can. Hope you all enjoy the update.)
Death Fury: Thanks.
Noble Six: Sorry that it was predetermined.
Chapter 24: First Mission
(New York City, unknown location, a few days later)
Connell overlooked a table with a holographic display of Manhattan. Around him were several members of the resistance: Cassandra, Jacob, Eren, Kim, the couple who vied for co-op leadership whose names were Lona and Richard, the rich tech genius lady whose name was Gigi Burns (who was discreetly funding their operation as the CEO and owner of her company), and a few others. Burns dictated the layout of the hologram with a holographic screen which she used above the map.
"What have you got for us, Ms. Burns?" Connell asked.
"As you know, S.H.I.E.L.D. Sentinel patrols constantly search from the skies and ground for any people that haven't registered with the government. The mutant community known as the Morlocks has been moving around out of the sewers lately because they're struggling to find supplies. From what I've heard in the grapevine, Sentinels are hot on the trail of the individuals the Morlocks have sent for food and medicine," Gigi answered.
"What's their last known location?" Connell asked.
"I don't have a specific location, but a possible area of interest. However, I believe S.H.I.E.L.D. will have this information as well," Gigi answered.
"You have any ideas for them to keep them out of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar for now? From what I've been told, the party tracking them isn't that large though that could be incorrect," Connell said.
"If they're moving underground, S.H.I.E.L.D. either is blocking or flooding areas, though they could be sending the new Sentinels to scour the sewers," Gigi replied.
"Hmm, I'll head down those sewers and see what they've got while you stay as over watch for the sewers on level ground," Connell said.
"You can't go by yourself. You don't know if there are any Sentinels down there and how many," Kim said.
"She's right. Now that you've got your resistance, or the start of it, there will need to be teams or a team for now the will handle missions. I get going solo, but now that there's the rebellion there has to be training and real experience for these people if we're to win," Jacob added.
'They speak wisely, young man,' Musashi said to Connell.
'I know,' Connell replied to the spirit.
"You guys are right. This is something that will need some getting used to and the sooner the better. Team building will change and alter as time goes on as we hopefully will get more people and future missions for perhaps many teams," Connell said.
The others nodded.
"There should be just a few. If we come across S.H.I.E.L.D., we can't give them the impression we have a considerable number facing off against them right now," Connell said.
"Who's going with you?" Gig asked.
"I haven't decided. Though if I'll see if any of the others are willing to volunteer," Connell answered.
"I'm in," Jacob said.
"Me too," Eren said.
"I'm coming as well," Kim said.
Connell nodded. He looked to Cassandra.
"Don't think you're going without me," Cassandra chuckled.
Connell smiled. He looked to Gigi.
"Got anything for us to communicate?" Connell asked.
"I was hoping you'd ask," Gigi answered.
Gigi had a suitcase by her side. She knelt down and opened it. She pulled out five small, gray, round pieces of metal.
"These ear piece comm devices will secure themselves snuggly in your ears to allow communication over a wide range with improved use of blocking interference. I will keep tabs through my own and the laptop I'll be using to watch over you guys. Damn, I really need to build a lab…well, once we find a suitable location for main base," Gigi explained.
"Thanks. Until then, this serves as our base of operations," Connell said.
Gigi nodded. Connell turned to the couple.
"I'm trusting you two to run things while I'm out," Connell said.
They smiled and nodded.
"Gigi, the masks I asked for?" Connell said.
"Masks?" Eren grunted.
"For any who needed them," Connell explained.
"I could use one," Kim said.
Connell turned to Cassandra, Jacob, and Eren, who shook their heads. Connell nodded then turned back to Gigi who had pulled out cubes which she handed to the two women after some brief explanations. She looked to Connell.
"Guide us there, Gigi," Connell said.
Gigi nodded.
(Another part of Manhattan, in the sewers)
The group had been walking through the sewer lines, following Gigi's directions.
"Bleh. Now I'm wishing I hadn't come along. This shit stinks!" Eren growled.
"We're in the sewers. What did you expect?" Jacob asked.
"Hey, just here helping," Eren scoffed.
"I know," Jacob sighed.
"So…uh…shouldn't we have codenames…to…you know…keep our identities secret?" Kim asked.
The others looked at her. She had on nano tech mask that was stylized in what one might think of a robber's mask. But it protected her eyes and hid part of her face, along with giving her analysis capabilities that Gigi described that was similar to how Tony Stark's armor would work when he needed to study something while armored up.
"Good idea," Connell said.
"Great, call me: Convict," Kim said.
The others gave her perplexed looks.
"What? We're criminals regardless of what others feel and believe. Besides, I like the name," Kim said.
"Gutsy, not bad," Jacob chuckled.
Kim smirked.
"What about you guys?" Connell asked.
"Call me: Absolute Zero," Jacob answered.
"I'll let y'all know my codename as the opportune moment," Eren said.
They turned to Cassandra.
"Fatale," she chuckled.
Connell smiled and nodded. They looked at him.
"Call me whatever you wish," Connell said.
"Not to keen on any of the codenames?" Jacob asked.
"It's not that, I've just focused on other things with this journey other than a codename. Nothing against it. Come on, we're near the place where Gigi directed us to," Connell answered.
They nodded. They continued through the sewers for several minutes. Connell saw a look of anger on Fatale's face then understood why not long after. They soon heard the screams and shouts along with the sound of fighting. They rushed towards the sound and came upon the sight of S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers attacking people covered in dirtied clothing. The Morlocks weren't like some mutants, their mutations altered their appearances that to the common public as hideous and monstrous. Some were trying to hold back their attackers, but there were too many…that and they were too busy protecting very young mutants who hid in fear. Connell's eyes narrowed and glew more fiercely from the shadows that hid his face. He turned to the group and nodded. They nodded back.
"Get on the ground!" A S.H.I.E.L.D. trooper ordered, leveling his gun at a young mutant whose body reflected a misshapen humanoid amphibian.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. troopers cornered the Morlocks, who numbered a few dozen, and outnumbered them near two to one. One trooper, one with a different sigil than the others and more armor, marking him as their commander.
"Contact the base, we've captured the Morlocks," the commander said.
"That's not happening," a voice said.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers turned to find five figures, one was between a few of them and they couldn't get a good look at him. But their focus was on the ghostly vigilante that had become recently notorious and the young man that had ice formed as armor covering him from head to toe. There was also the scrawny girl with the mask, the dark beauty, and the partially hidden young black man behind them.
"I will only say this once: surrender," Connell said as two spectral katanas manifested in his hands.
Absolute Zero formed two ice daggers and held them at the ready.
"More freaks! Take them down!" The commander ordered.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers turned their blasters around and fired at the group. Before the vigilantes could an act, a large mass suddenly landed before them. The blasts hit the mass with seemingly little effect. The soldiers gasped in surprise at the sight and the vigilantes were caught off guard somewhat at least. A large, blue, muscular figure with glowing blue lines or veins across their body and bat like wings had taken the blows. The figure turned to look back at the vigilantes and smiled. Connell recognized even with the Skrull/Hulkish look that the being was Eren.
"Call me: B-Hulk," Eren said.
Connell smiled and nodded.
"Go! Help the Morlocks!" Connell proclaimed.
The five leapt into action.
"Take 'em down!" The commander ordered.
B-Hulk flew into the air while the others raced forward. The S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers raised their guns and fired. The blasts surged forward. The vigilantes grunted as they evaded the incoming fire. Connell growled as the katanas disappeared and spectral shurikens appeared between his fingers. He then threw them, the spectral weapons cutting apart most of his enemies' weapons.
"Absolute Zero! The rest of their blasters!" Connell shouted as he blocked a punch from a S.H.I.E.L.D. soldier.
Absolute Zero grunted as he slashed with one of the daggers at one of the soldiers. He blocked the strike from another soldier.
"I've got my hands full here!" Absolute Zero called out.
Connell kicked away a soldier and raised his arm up to block the punch from a soldier. He turned to look as Convict backhanded a soldier away then grabbed a blaster then crushed it in her hands.
"Convict! Can you –" Connell was about to ask.
Convict punched away a soldier then found several others trying to dogpile her.
"I'm a little busy!" Convict called out.
Connell struck out with a swipe from one of his spectral katanas, cutting apart another blaster. He swiftly turned around while throwing out a kick, knocking down a soldier who was trying to attack him from behind. He saw B-Hulk getting dogpiled by several soldiers. He then saw Fatale choke slam a soldier then backhand another, knocking him to the ground.
"Fatale! B-Hulk! Can you –" Connell started to ask.
B-Hulk shouted as he flapped his wings, trying to gain altitude whilst S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers bashed him with electric shock batons. Fatale was busy knocking down or throwing around the soldiers.
'Damn it,' Connell growled in his mind.
Connell leapt forward and stood between some S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers and the injured Morlocks. His katanas were replaced by a shield in the style that Spartacus and his followers stole from their former masters. It had manifested as his foes fired off blasts towards the Morlocks. The blasts couldn't get past the shield, and the energy blasts vanished once they hit the spectral shield.
"You're…You're helping us?" A mutant boy asked.
Connell turned to look at him. His mutation had made him have green skin and large yellow eyes. He looked to be about only 10 years old.
"Why wouldn't we?" Connell answered.
The older Morlocks looked at one another in uncertainty. Connell looked back at his team. They were fighting individually, Fatale and Absolute Zero were faring the best while Convict and B-Hulk were a bit uncoordinated in their fighting yet were able to hold their ground. He recalled his training with William Wallace, Spartacus, Mary Read, Anne Bonny, and the other spirits whom had been leaders when they were flesh and blood.
"GUYS!" Connell bellowed.
His team looked at him.
"We need to get the Morlocks out of here! We have to help them and each other! We keep going like this and we won't be able to help anyone!" Connell shouted.
They nodded.
"Absolute Zero! Convict! Absolute Zero! Get the Morlocks out of here! Fatale! B-Hulk! We have to hold them off!" Connell ordered.
They nodded. Absolute Zero's ice daggers disappeared. He then opened his hands and several ice spines shot from his hands at the soldiers. The men grunted in pain as they ran for cover. Convict hurried over to the Morlocks and motioned for them to follow her. Absolute Zero followed behind them whilst making sure he kept an eyes behind him. Connell, Fatale, and B-Hulk stood in the way of the soldiers that attempted to follow.
"B-Hulk! Block the exit! Don't let any of them cross!" Connell said as a spectral bo staff appeared in his hands.
"And we'll take the fight to them," Fatale chuckled.
Connell smiled and nodded. The two leapt forward. Fatale kicked out with her right foot which slammed into the torso of one soldier. The breaking of ribs was heard as well as the man's scream. She grabbed a punch from another then retaliated with her own, breaking the jaw of that man. She smirked as she back flipped over the tackle of a soldier then responded with another rib breaking kick after she had landed. She grinned as four more soldiers rushed her. Connell twirled the bo staff as he rushed at two soldiers. He lunged forward and swiped downwards, striking the head of one soldier and knocking him to the ground. He brought the staff up and blocked the swipe from the other's baton. He then swiped with his left leg after raising the staff higher. He then struck down with the staff, hitting the soldier's chest as he fell.
"Out of our way, freak!" A soldier said.
The remainder of the soldiers except for the commander stood before B-Hulk, batons out.
"Not gonna happen," B-Hulk scoffed.
The soldiers rushed him.
"I've always wanted to try this!" B-Hulk said as he moved his hands to either side of him.
He then clapped them together and caused a sonic wave that knocked the soldiers down and out. He turned to see the commander and Connell standing before one another. He held out a baton in either hand and rushed Connell. Connell blocked the swift swipes from the commander as he struck with both batons. The young warrior twirled the bo staff and struck with both ends of the spectral weapon and knocked the batons out of the commander's hands. Connell then struck out with his right foot and knocked the man to the ground. The commander groaned in pain. The bo staff disappeared. Fatale and B-Hulk walked to stand beside him.
"Nicely done," Fatale chuckled.
"I see why S.H.I.E.L.D. is after you," B-Hulk said.
"They'll be after all of us. We have more work to do," Connell replied.
"What should we do we these boys?" B-Hulk asked.
"Gather them up, I'll take care of it," Fatale answered.
Connell turned to her and nodded. After gathering the soldiers up and then waking them up, Fatale stood before them. She had her back to Connell and B-Hulk.
"Forget everything that happened here, forget us, forget how you found the Morlocks, and tell your superiors you found nothing and that trying to find the Morlocks isn't worth any future efforts because you couldn't find any sign of anyone in the sewers," Fatale said.
Connell watched as the men's faces were drained of colors and their eyes seemed to lose all energy. They simply nodded.
"Now go," Fatale ordered.
The men then left. Fatale walked to Connell and B-Hulk.
"How did you do that?" B-Hulk asked.
"I have my ways," Fatale chuckled.
"I'm glad you're with us. Come on, let's go check on our friend and the Morlocks," Connell said.
Fatale smiled and nodded. They caught up with Convict, Absolute Zero, and the Morlocks.
"You are all safe, for now," Connell said.
"Thank you," the boy from earlier replied.
"You're that vigilante the people on the surface have been talking about?" An older man, one that had pale blue skin and dim blue eyes asked.
"I'm not alone," Connell replied.
"How have you all been able to elude S.H.I.E.L.D. for so long?" Convict asked.
"We haven't completely. We've lost some friends and family," an older woman said.
She had a form that resembled a human with blue scales and fins, along with large eyes that were a yellowish-green. Connell's heart ached when he heard that, but he wasn't surprised. He saw Convict out the corner of his eye as she clenched her fists. He then focused his gaze back on the Morlocks.
"I'm sorry. One of ours got the soldiers to forget their attack on you all and report back that they found nothing," Connell said.
"How?" Another Morlock asked.
"I don't know, but it's good that she was able to do it," Connell answered.
The Morlocks looked at one another.
"You all can come with us. We have more people that are organizing and preparing to fight back against S.H.I.E.L.D. You're more than welcome to stay with us and join us," Connell said.
"Not that we aren't grateful…the Morlocks have accepted help from outside parties in the past yet we prefer to look after our own. We've tried working with others before, it just leads to more suffering for us," another Morlock said.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Who's in charge?" B-Hulk asked.
"We really don't have that set up. Ever since Calisto and Erg were murdered by S.H.I.E.L.D., we've been more focused on just trying to help one another survive rather than picking a leader," another Morlock said.
The team looked at one another.
"We have over watch on us now and they'll be keeping watch over you all alongside us whenever they can. I have them set up some of way of communication between our groups if you ever need help again," Connell said.
"More and more mutants are joining us as the raid get worse. We're trying to keep everyone together, but I hope we don't need to call for your help," another Morlock said.
"Can't say I blame you for that. We have to go now. You all take care, the gear for the comm link will be sent back here in a day or so. Is that alright?" Connell replied.
The Morlocks looked to one another and nodded. Connell nodded back then left with his team.
To be continued…
(Again, so sorry for the late update. Trying to balance things out as best I can, though it's not easy.)