Peter and Gwen stood side by side with Han Solo, Peter Quill, Gamora, and Chewbacca aboard the legendary Millennium Falcon. The dimly lit interior of the ship hummed with a faint vibration, a reminder of its storied adventures through the galaxy. They were gathered around a table, their eyes fixed on a brilliant holographic projection, expertly crafted by BD. The hologram displayed intricate schematics, highlighting the secure base that housed the Mutants—the very beings the Empire had been created to combat the rebellion.
With intensity on their faces, they scanned the details of the layout, hoping to glean crucial information from Yelena and Andor, who provided invaluable insights into the Empire's operations. The sound of soft beeping and whirring filled the air, underscoring the urgency of their mission as they strategized their next move amidst the backdrop of the Falcon's glowing controls and the distant hum of stars whizzing by outside. Drax and Mantis were off on some other mission with Hondo (paying off his monumental debt, so they weren't going to be around.
"That is one secure facility," Quill commented.
"The last facility I saw this advanced was the Kyln," Gamora commented.
"They would need a facility this secure to house people like us and that Mudhorn guy," Peter stated as he looked over the schematics. "Did you ever find a way in?"
"Not really a way in, more of their schedule," Andor said. "They keep shipping something in and out every other day."
"If I had to guess, it's more Mutants. Or experiments to use on them." Peter said with a snarl.
"And were you able to convince the others to send backup?" Gamora asked Peter and Gwen.
"They said it's not work risking resources for a rumor," Peter said with a scoff. "Like that Mudhorn guy was a rumor."
"But Fury did assign us an 'unofficial group'," Peter tells them.
"Or me," Gwen stated. "Look, Serena is going to use them. We have to save them before she finds a way of turning them to actually joining the Empire."
"You think she can?" Han asks. "They were arrested by the empire."
"She won't give them a choice." Gwen proclaimed.
"Well, we can intersect one of their trucks." Yelena offered the beginnings of a plan. "We take out the guards, scramble their comms before they call for backup, and take their place."
"Right, and we have our two Muties right here," Quill said, gesturing towards Peter and Gwen.
"That almost sounds like an insult," Gwen commented.
"But that is half of our problem, once we are inside... we are going to need someone who has been in and gotten out," Yelena told them. "There is no way of knowing what we are walking into."
"Who is on this unofficial team of yours?" Quill asks.
"We got Zeb, he was assigned to another mission, but Bucky is filling in for him," Peter told him.
"Kamala also wanted to join. Said that she wanted to help. Something about having Mutant blood in her or something." Gwen wasn't entirely sure how to explain it. "I don't know, but her powers would come in handy."
"Yeah, well, all the help in the galaxy won't do us any good unless we have a way of getting in." Yelena reminded them.
Gwen then remembered something that could help. "Wait. I might know someone."
"Who?" Ador wonders.
"A while back, back when this facility was in its youth, I suppose, Serena mentioned an escaped convict. It's what caused them to update security." Gwen explained to them. "He got out and vanished without a trace. Arrested for cheating at Sabbac against an Imperial Officer."
"How do we find him?" Quill asks.
"Well, he is known to enjoy a game of Sabbac." Gwen then went over to the map of the galaxy, pointing under a few of the various locations he is known to travel. "I suppose... this would be a good place to start." She gestured to several Outer Rim planets. "A lot of ground to cover."
"Then we start where guys like this are known to travel," Han said, gesturing to the one planet that she marked. "Nal Hutta."
"Nal Hutta?" Andor asked in shock. "You want to go there?"
"Want to? No." Han stated. "Need to? Likely. Especially if we wanna find someone avoiding the Empire."
"This guy have a name?" Peter asked Gwen.
Gwen tried to remember. "I didn't get a long look, I didn't even think twice about him. But... I do remember his nickname. He called himself... the Gambit."
With a sense of purpose, the crew gathered Kamala and Zeb, preparing for their next move. They climbed aboard the Millennium Falcon, the spaceship's sleek design and weathered exterior a testament to its storied past, and took to the stars, heading towards the notorious swamps of Nal Hutta. This distant world was a refuge for the powerful Hutt Clan, whose government ties allowed them to thrive amidst the galaxy's underbelly.
Nal Hutta was infamous for its vast, bloated swamps and bogs, perpetually shrouded in a film of greasy rain that fell like a curtain over its murky surface. The terrain's oppressive atmosphere was only worsened by the lingering effects of the Drengir crisis during the High Republic Era, leaving the planet in a state of decay and lawlessness. Today, it served as a haven for smugglers and outlaws, all too aware that the Empire dared not encroach upon this hazardous territory.
As they approached, the Falcon glided down to a landing port, the sound of its engines echoing through the damp, rancid air of Nal Hutta. The crew disembarked, leaving Kamala, Andor, Yelena, and Chewbacca on board, tasked with guarding the ship.
"You guys hang back," Han said, his voice serious. "We need you to keep the ship from being salvaged by these guys."
With that, the pair settled in, vigilant against any threat that lurked in the shadows of this treacherous world.
"Got it," Kamala said.
Chewie growled in confirmation.
As they trudged through the thick, murky soil of Nal Hutta, the ground squelched beneath their feet, a constant reminder of the swamp's damp embrace. The air was heavy with humidity, mingling with the pungent scents of rot and decay that seemed to seep from every corner of the landscape. All around them, a colorful tapestry of smugglers and criminals thrived, their shadows dancing under the dim glow of neon signs. Twi'leks flaunted their vibrant skin tones, weaving through the crowd with a blend of grace and cunning.
Their eyes remained sharp and focused, scanning the chaotic scene for their elusive mark. The labyrinthine alleys and hidden nooks of the planet concealed secrets, and they needed to strategize, piecing together clues that would lead them to the den where he might be holed up. With determination driving them forward, they immersed themselves in the underbelly of the world, ready to confront whatever dangers lurked in the depths of the swampy expanse.
"So, where do we find this guy?" Peter asked.
"Well if I know my lowlives..." Han muttered.
"And he does. Because he is one." Gamora stated.
"If you want to find a lowlife, then you start at a saloon," Han said, gesturing off to the saloon.
Entering the saloon, Gwen, Peter, Gamora, Quill, Han, and Zeb saw the lowlives and they looked off to see someone shuffling Sabbac cards off in the distance. They noticed a hint of a glow forming between all the cards, giving off the feeling that he was their guy.
"That's him," Gwen stated. "Saw his photo once."
"And he might've changed up since then," Han commented.
"We'll cover the back if he decides to run," Zeb said.
"I've got the front," Gamora said, approaching the front.
"I'll approach him," Zeb offered. "I can get a sense of him."
"Got it," Quill said as he approached the bar to be on the lookout.
"Hey, you happen to catch what his Mutant powers are?" Peter asked Gwen.
"I don't know, but he managed to escape a highly secure research facility." Gwen reminded him. "Who knows what he could do."
Zeb groaned as he walked ahead, walking towards the table. "Are you the Gambit?" He asked the man in the hat.
The man stopped shuffling the cards and looked down at the table. "Do I owe you credits?"
Zeb was confused by the question. "Uh... no."
The man then removed his hat and revealed his face. To Zeb's surprise, he looked normal, aside from the black eyes and glowing iris' he had. "Then that would be me, amie. And, please, call me Remy LeBeau."
"Is that French?" Peter muttered to himself.
"Have a seat." Remy offered Zeb.
Zeb sighed as he took his seat at the table. "So, what are we playing?"
"Large bind 100 credits, small bind is 50 to enter," Remy told him.
"Well... I've got... 50," Zeb said, dropping his credits into the pot.
"Must say, I am quite surprised to see one of you," Remy told Zeb. "Thought your kind were all but extinct." He saw the sour face Zeb gave him. "No offense. We're all here on the run from the Empire."
Zeb took the cards Remy tossed over. "Some of us more than others, I believe."
Remy seemed to take ill to that comment as he froze when he heard that comment. "So, what brings a Lasat to our mudhole."
"Tell him Serena Patel," Gwen called through the comm. "See if he reacts."
"Serena Patel," Zeb said, causing Gambit to freeze mid-card toss.
"He reacted, he's our guy," Quill confirmed.
"And who is that?" Remy asked.
"An Imperial Officer I am after," Zeb answered. "Heard you might know a thing or two about getting into a facility on Lothal."
"And why would you think I would know a simple thing like that?" Remy asks.
"Because I know who you are, Gambit. What you are," Zeb tried to sound easing. "We need your help to get back into that facility."
Remy reclined in his chair, tension rising as a bar fight seemed inevitable. There was no chance for a peaceful resolution. Holding a card that started to emit a purple glow, Remy gave the impression that he was about to reveal his abilities. With a swift motion, he hurled the card at Zeb. Zeb attempted to block, but the card hit him with such force that he was propelled backward, crashing into a table and losing consciousness.
The chaos escalated into a full-blown bar brawl. The gang's other members dodged the melee that erupted around them. Blasters were pulled out as - shots rang out, glass shattered, and punches were exchanged. Amidst the turmoil, everyone's focus was on one individual: Gambit. As Gwen moved to confront him, Gambit seized a staff and twirled it expertly, ready to defend himself.
As Gambit slammed his staff into the ground, a massive shockwave erupted, sending patrons and furniture alike careening through the air like ragdolls. The chaotic bar fight raged on, but Peter felt the familiar, protective sensation of the Symbiote enveloping him. Struggling to regain his footing, he glanced up just in time to see a burly figure charging at him, fist poised to strike.
In a swift, fluid motion, a dark tendril coiled out from the Symbiote's shroud, extending from Peter's back and striking the aggressor squarely in the jaw, sending him sprawling to the floor, unconscious.
Meanwhile, Peter's eyes darted towards Gambit, who was making a dash for the exit. Desperation fueled his speed as he propelled himself across the bar, the tendrils of the Symbiote assisting him in leaping over overturned tables and debris. With determination etched on his face, Peter burst through the door and raced into the chaos outside, hot on Gambit's heels.
Peter swiftly launched several tendrils, using them as a slingshot to gain momentum. Catching up to Gambit, he watched as Gambit charged a bike with energy and hurled it towards him. The resulting explosion sent Peter flying backward, the Symbiote shrieking from the noise and flames that caused it distress. Despite this, Peter remained unscathed. Meanwhile, Gambit fled to a nearby store and hastily barricaded himself inside. However, this proved futile as Peter, regaining his composure, approached and utilized the Symbiote to force entry.
That was when Gambit used another handful of cards and tossed them at the doorway. The explosion went off, causing the Symbiote tendrils to disappear completely. "I take it you've had enough?"
At that very moment, Peter descended dramatically from the shadows above, crashing through the plaster ceiling with a resounding thud that sent dust motes swirling in the air. Gambit, caught off guard, jumped at the sudden intrusion, his eyes wide with surprise. Seizing the opportunity, Peter lunged forward, gripping Gambit's arms with a firm hold. He expertly avoided Gambit's hands, keenly aware of the unpredictable energy that could surge from them and disrupt the delicate circuitry of his suit. The tension in the room crackled like electricity as the two prepared to face off.
"So... you going to kill me now?" Remy asked.
"You think I went through all of this trouble to kill you?" Peter asked sarcastically. "Trust me, the thought did cross my mind. But I need you. You're going to get me into that facility so I can burn it to the ground, and free all of the Mutants they are housing inside."
Remy seemed surprised to hear what he had to say. "You are going to burn the place down?"
"I am going to scorch the planet with their blood," Peter promises.
Remy nodded as he sighed. "Apologies for your friend."
"He's handled worse," Peter promises.
Serena was engrossed in her work on Weapon-XI, her eyes flickering across the glowing screens filled with intricate genetic codes and colorful data charts. Around her, a myriad of mechanical arms whirred and clicked, each one performing a precise task with eerie efficiency as they meticulously extracted and combined strands of DNA harvested from the countless Mutants subjected to experimentation. The goal was audacious: to synthesize the ultimate weapon by harnessing the unique strengths of each mutant while eradicating their vulnerabilities.
In the dimly lit lab, the air buzzed with a palpable tension, underlined by the knowledge that previous attempts at creating soldiers inevitably ended in chaos, with each one prone to defying their orders. It was essential for this new creation to be different—a weapon forged not only for combat but for unwavering loyalty. Serena's heart raced as she adjusted the final parameters, feeling the incredible potential of Weapon-XI coursing through the wires and circuits that drenched the lab in an otherworldly glow. This was it—the moment when her creation would come online, a herald of power and precision that could finally be commanded without fear of rebellion.
Outside, near the research facility, Yelena was looking through a scope as she watched a transport. "They're early. That's never happened before."
"That a problem?" Kamala asked.
"Opposite. Gives us extra time to get in," Gamora stated. "We all clear on the plan?"
"Me, Gwen, Kamala, Zeb, and Remy get to the lower levels, where they are holding the inmates. Yelena, Andor, and Gamora, you guys take out the guards." Peter recapped the plan. " Quill will be our lookouts. Han and Chewie are with the Falcon for the getaway when we get everyone out."
"Great," Gamora said. "Now, what about our-"
Yelena fired her sniper rifle, causing the blaster fire to fill the air for a good second. That was when they saw that she had shot the trooper behind the driver's seat. Then there was a second blast, coming from Yelena killing the second driver. "Taken care of." Then she turned and saw them looking at her. "What?"
Dragging the bodies out of the tank seems that there was no sign of prisoners in the back. That was odd, but that was when they saw medical supplies inside the truck. Meaning that these trucks weren't always prisoners. That was odd, but it was even odder with what the equipment was. They tossed the equipment out and placed the cuffs on Remy, Andor, Kamala, and Gamora. Yelena and Peter took up the driver seats as Gwen jumped on top of the truck and turned invisible. She was going to be their insurance policy if something went wrong on entry.
Peter groaned as he picked up the soldier helmet. "Do I really gotta wear this?"
Yelena sighed as she walked out and was wearing the armor from the driver. "If I have to, you have to."
Peter groaned but then watched as the Symbiote began to morph. He dropped the helmet and saw the suit change into the exact look of the Stormtrooper. "Whoa." He said, seeing that it even captured the voice modulator flawlessly. "This is incredible."
"Cheater." Yelena scoffed as she jumped behind the wheel. "Let's go."
They then drove off, leaving the others behind to begin their mission. They drove off in a bit of silence as they didn't have much to say to one another.
"So, how has it been going with you and your Mandalorian lady?" Yelena finally asked.
Peter turned to look at her in confusion. "Are you asking me about my relationship?"
"Well, I am curious," Yelena admitted. "Like... in this time of war, what are dates like?"
"We're... making it up as we go," Peter admitted with a shrug. "It's not like I can take her out to a nice restaurant. And I don't think she is the kind of girl to like that kind of date."
"Yeah, she strikes me more of the gun range kind of girl," Yelena agreed. She then groaned and grabbed her helmet. "I can't see a thing in this." She then removed it, showing she had her hair braided up to stay out of her hair. "No wonder they can't shoot in those things."
"Yeah..." Peter sighed. "Does Sabine talk about me?"
"Oh, no, I am not going to use our girl talk moments for you to get a leg up in this relationship," Yelena stated.
"Come on, nothing?" Peter asks. "Like... does she talk about me?"
"She... mentions you," Yelena gives him a hand. "Likes you a lot from the sound of it. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Maybe something... I have a feeling she isn't telling you something."
"Yeah, I've felt the same since we first met," Peter muttered. "I don't know what it is though..."
"She might tell you, given time," Yelena said, noticing the approaching gate. "We're on."
Yelena then placed on her helmet and they approached the gate. They drove slowly as the gates then opened allowing them passage. They then brought the truck into formation with the others, continuing to follow along. They then reached a garage of sorts and a few of the guards began to check the containment of the trucks. They took the prisoners and began marching them off.
When they got to their vehicle, there were only a few guards left. Then they opened and saw Remy standing with a deck of cards in his hands. "Sabbac?"
"What the hell?!"
Remy then tossed the cards, causing them as hard as he could, causing them to be caught in the cracks of their armor and causing it to explode. The guards were blown up, sending the fragments of the armor everywhere. Luckily it seemed to have gone unnoticed by the remaining guards.
"Well, that went better than expected," Gwen said as she jumped down. She then zapped a camera, causing it to fritz out and break. "Cameras are down."
"Good," Peter said as he walked ahead. "Gwen, you say ahead and deal with any more of them." He then looked over towards Remy. "Time to lead us to the prisoners."
"Gambit always keeps his word," Remy promises.
"Good luck with the guards," Peter told the others.
Yelena scoffed. "Us? You're the ones who gotta go up against the prisoners if they haven't turned."
"Let's hope not," Peter said as he raced after the others.
Sneaking through the halls, they followed Remy while disabling the cameras along the way. They knew sooner or later, they were going to get suspicious about the cameras, and that was where the others were going to come in. They needed to take over the command center before word began to get out.
"There is something going on with the cameras."
"Maybe a glitch."
"I don't think so. Wait, the one outside is down. Go take a look."
The Trooper approached the doorway and opened it, but was then immediately followed by a fist from Yelena. She punched the guard as hard as she could, sending him flying.
"Rebels!"
"How did they get in?!"
Andor shot as he and Yelena fired back to back, followed by Gamora using her speed to leap and draw her sword and impaled right into the officer in command. The sword went into the commands, shutting down all of the cameras and even the alarms, helping them as they knew that meant the others could wander freely with only the guards to watch out for.
Crouching stealthily in the dimly lit upper levels of the facility, Gwen, Zeb, Kamala, Peter, and Gambit maneuvered their way past an expansive chamber that hummed with the low drone of machinery. Peter crawled on his hands and knees, his spider-sense prickling at the edge of his awareness, drawing his attention downward. As he peered through the shadows, he caught sight of a squad of Stormtroopers patrolling below. Among their ranks, Gwen's heart sank as she recognized her stepmother, Serena. Time seemed to freeze around Gwen as she absorbed the shocking revelation, the air thick with tension.
Suddenly, the heavy doors swung open, and in strode a figure commanding authority, flanked by his own cadre of Trooper guards. He wore a stark black uniform, sharp and imposing, reminiscent of Darth Vader's iconic attire, yet tailored to exude a distinct sense of military precision befitting a high-ranking officer. This was a Moff, radiating an unsettling confidence as he advanced into the room, eyes scanning the space with icy detachment as if anticipating the unfolding events. Just then, a swirling black void materialized in front of them, rippling ominously, and the group realized this was a phenomenon for which they had all been prepared, stirring a mix of dread and anticipation within them.
"What the hell?" Kamala whispered.
"Oh, god..." Peter knew what it was.
Then out of the black hole marched Jonathan Ohnn. He walked into the room, several crates walking alongside him. The crates expanded, revealing to be some sort of transport cells, built to transport prisoners.
"Dalmation," Peter snarled.
"Spot." Kamala corrected him.
"Spot," Peter corrected himself.
"Who is that?" Gambit wonders.
"It's Moff Gideon," Gwen whispered in shock.
"Should I know that name?" Peter asks.
"No, but he is relentless," Gwen tells him. "It makes sense he is in charge of this sector."
"What are they doing?" Peter wonders.
"And we are sure this batch will survive the transport?" Moff Gideon asks him.
"That's what your scientists say," Ohnn tells Moff. "I warned you all the dangers of traveling through my portals."
"Let's just hope it works," Gideon says, waving his hand, and a squad of troops brings in a handful of Mutants. "Otherwise he will be greatly disappointed."
"They're moving the Mutants?" Kamala asks. "To where?"
"I have a feeling we don't wanna know," Peter said. "Come on, we gotta keep moving."
They began to sneak off once again, making their way across the upper parts and heading towards the prison cells. This is apparently the same path Gambit took to escape, and they luckily didn't upgrade the corridors. Peter went first as he dropped downward, landing in the middle of the hallways, and saw there was no sign of Troopers.
"You sure that this is the right way?" Peter asked as Gambit fell down next to him.
"Gambit knows where he is going, Mon ami," Remi promises, walking them as the others drop down. "Gambit knows-"
Gambit walked and accidentally bumped into a trooper, who froze and saw the five of them. "Hey, you shouldn't-"
Zeb quickly reacted and punched the trooper in the face. "Ah, that's better."
"You know I could've just morphed back into a trooper, and convinced him I was transporting you," Peter informed them.
"Ah, it's the feeling of their helmets bouncing off my fist," Zeb stated.
"Yelena, you guys okay?" Peter asked into comms.
"All good here," Yelena said, noticing approaching troopers. "Oh, hold on," She then rolled back on the chair and aimed at the door. The troopers opened the door and jumped when they saw Yelena. But that was all they could do before she gunned them down. "All good here."
But what she didn't realize was that those troops had sensors attached to their armor, sending an alert to a certain someone when their hearts flatlined. Serena got the alert and saw it was time. She reached up to her arm and pulled up an activation code.
"Activate Weapon-X, Weapon-XI," Serena tells the system.
"We should be nearing the Detention Center," Peter said.
The doors creaked open as Gambit focused his energy, sending a burst of kinetic force that shattered the locks with a resounding bang. As they stepped into the dimly lit room, a heavy silence enveloped them, and they were momentarily paralyzed by the sight before them. Rows upon rows of containment units lined the walls, each housing a mutant—individuals with a spectrum of extraordinary abilities, their faces marred by a mix of fear and determination.
Some were attempting to harness their powers, desperately pushing against the transparent barriers that held them captive. There were mutants with shimmering, iridescent skin flickering like the surface of a lake, others whose eyes glowed with an inner light, and a few who seemed to distort the very air around them. The atmosphere was thick with a sense of desperation as if the room itself was holding its breath, echoing the unspoken hopes of those strained to escape their grim confines.
"How do we get them out of here?" Peter asks.
"Gambit doesn't know." Gambit stated. "Vous pensez que je sais comment cela fonctionne?"
"Okay, seriously, are you speaking French?" Kamala asked him in confusion.
"The control room..." A voice filled Peter's head. "It's over there."
"Who is this?" Peter thinks.
"My name is Jean. I am a Mutant telepath."
"Telepath? Sweet."
"I know you are here to help. Please, help us..."
Peter cautiously navigated the dimly lit corridors, following her precise directions until he arrived at a large control room bustling with guards. The air was thick with tension, the flickering overhead lights casting strange shadows across the cold metal panels. As he stepped inside, the guards turned, their expressions shifting from confusion to alarm.
Without hesitation, Peter whistled sharply, a sound that rang out like a challenge in the tense atmosphere. Instantly, several Stormtroopers swung their blasters in his direction, fingers twitching on triggers. But Peter wasn't fazed. With a quick, fluid motion, he raised his hands, a signal that concealed the brewing power within him.
In an instant, the Symbiote responded to his call, tendrils erupting from his body in a dark, swirling mass. They shot forward like vipers, striking effortlessly to ensnare the nearest troopers. The tendrils slammed the guards into the reinforced walls with a bone-jarring thud, the sound echoing in the chamber. One by one, the troopers crumpled to the ground, rendered unconscious, their blasters clattering to the floor as Peter stood amidst the chaos, a fierce glint in his eyes, ready for whatever came next.
"That button..."
Peter pushed the button that caused the alarms to start blaring. All of the cells began to open up, releasing all of the Mutants that were being held. Some of them ran out and hugged one another, showing that some of them were families within the facility.
"What's going on?"
"Who let us out?"
Questions were serving among the Mutants as the others came forward. "Don't you guys recognize what this is?" Gwen asks. "It's a jailbreak!"
"Come on, follow us!" Kamala cried as they all ran for the exit.
"Let's go! Let's go!"
"What is going on?" Moff Gideon asks as he hears the alarms.
"Rebels..." Serena snarled as she saw her Weapon working. "Let's hope this works."
Peter stretched out tendrils, catching a dozen approaching Troops. "I offered you the easy way out!" He then threw the troops against the walls. "But you just didn't wanna take the offer."
"Han, Chewie, we're heading for the trucks. Be ready for a pickup," Gamora contacted them.
"Understood," Han called back.
"Yelena, where are you?" Andor asks.
"I am on my way," Yelena said, but then watched as Moff Gideon was heading into some secret area. "Uh... I'll be a little bit behind."
Panic surged through the group as they sprinted towards the trucks, their hearts pounding in sync with their hurried footsteps. The dimly lit garage loomed ahead, its heavy doors rattling ominously as they began to creak open. A collective gasp escaped their lips, and they skidded to a halt, eyes wide with disbelief at the sight that emerged from the shadows.
Before them stood a grotesque Mutant Hybrid, a nightmarish fusion of various mutated traits, each feature a chilling testament to the horror of genetic experimentation. The creature marched forward with an eerie, deliberate gait, its bald head glistening under the harsh fluorescent lights. What struck them most was its absence of a mouth, a blank canvas where speech should have been, leaving only two piercing eyes that shone like gemstones, surrounded by an intricate pattern resembling diamonds etched into its skin.
The creature's body was a terrifying patchwork, covered in strange, sinuous markings that faintly pulsed with a menacing light. Each line and symbol hinted at the dark procedures it had endured, a living testament to a twisted amalgamation of life forms. The air grew thick with tension as the onlookers exchanged fearful glances, paralyzed by both curiosity and dread. They could hardly comprehend the depth of suffering and science that had fabricated this abomination, an undeniable emblem of the Empire's reckless pursuit of power through experimentation.
Peter sensed a darkness and danger inside of this experiment that got him to stop everyone. There was no way that they were going to take this guy with these Mutants all not having a way of controlling their gifts yet. Their Mutations were too unstable.
"Gwen, Remy, get these people out of here," Peter told them the plan.
"What?" Gewn asks.
"Me and Zeb will handle this guy, just get them to safety," Peter told them the plan. "The priority is getting them out, not him."
"Alright," Gwen decided to listen and follow instructions. "Remy?"
"Gambit knows a back door, follow Gambit!" Remy cried, running off. "Come on!"
Peter cast a wary glance at the imposing figure of the Mutant Hybrid, then quickly shifted his focus to Zeb. The air was thick with tension as they, along with the rest of their group, followed Gwen, who was leading the charge toward another exit to free the captured Mutant prisoners. Both Peter and Zeb instinctively settled into a combat stance, their muscles coiling in anticipation of the impending confrontation.
The Mutant Hybrid, a fearsome sight, unleashed a set of razor-sharp katanas from his knuckles, the blades gleaming wickedly as they extended down toward the ground, almost as long as his own legs. The metallic sound of the blades slicing through the air echoed, intensifying the palpable sense of danger that loomed in the dimly lit corridor.
"What do you think?" Zeb asks. "What's his power?"
"I don't know, but whatever it is, it doesn't stop at blades, it is bad," Peter stated, releasing some tendrils from his back. "We gotta act quick."
Suddenly, a resounding BANG echoes through the air, and the Mutant Hybrid collapses, effortlessly vanquished. From the shadows of the doorway, a new figure emerges. Clad in a red and black tactical suit, the mysterious newcomer is fully equipped for combat. The suit's belt brims with an arsenal of weaponry, including an array of guns, grenades, sai, and knives. Additionally, two sheaths are mounted on the back of the suit, ready to secure a pair of katanas.
"Hey! It's just me!" The Merc with A Mouth stated. "Don't shoot or... whatever that is." He gestured to the black tendrils. "Ooh, another Venom story arc. That'll be fun to see how that plays out."
"What?" Peter asked. "Who... who are you?"
"Wade. Deadpool." He introduced himself, taking a few more shots at the Mutant Hybrid. "I'm on a bit of a mid-life crisis trend right now. Traveling the multiverse." He then fired a few more rounds into the Mutant Hybrid. "Cleaning up this false prophet. Because I AM the only Deadpool in this multiverse." He then fired even more rounds into the corpse, taking a peak towards the reader. "Oh, and this joke even works a lot more if you know Steve Blum, the voice of Zeb, he voiced Wolverine." He then continued to shoot into the Mutant Hybrid again, even taking a katana and stabbing him. "Alright, that should be good enough." He then yanked the katana back into his holster. "Now if you excuse me, I have to get back into my own story, and a cameo to make in that Mortal Kombat story." He then fired a few more shots into the Mutant Hybrid as he walked off. "Love you guys..."
The two of them looked down at the dead Mutant Hybrid, making them wonder what to do now. "So... we just go after them?" Zeb asks.
"Hold on..." Peter was still sensing something dangerous coming. "Something's still here..."
At that moment, Peter and Zeb stiffened, their hearts racing as a low, menacing growl echoed around them, reverberating off the walls and sending shivers down their spines. They exchanged a worried glance, the primal instinct to flee kicking in as they scanned their surroundings, trying to pinpoint the source of the unsettling sound. Suddenly, out of the dim light of a narrow corridor, a figure emerged, each step deliberate and unnervingly calm.
A chilling "snikt" cut through the tension, sharp and metallic, as three glistening claws extended from both the man's knuckles, the blades catching the faint light. He strode forward with bare feet, each step soundless yet heavy with an ominous purpose. Clad solely in ragged shorts, he bore a peculiar contraption strapped across his chest, every so often blinking with an eerie glow. Perched atop his head was a bizarre helmet, its lights flickering in a rhythm that seemed almost sentient, adding to the surreal and threatening aura that enveloped him: Weapon X.
"So... that's it?" Zeb asked a little confused.
Peter however had a different reaction. "Run." He whispered, backing off and turning around. "RUN!"
"What?" Zeb asked.
Then Weapon X let out a monstrous roar, causing Zeb to jump back and shoot him, but the blast only pushed Weapon X back and angered him. He charged at Zeb, and he followed after Peter as they ran to escape.
Yelena held her blaster up high as she followed after Moff Gideon. She walked into the corridor she watched him sneak into and enter the room. She saw various Mutants that were being experimented on, all of them in tanks filled with green liquid.
"I've been reading up on you," Moff Gideon called out, getting Yelena to jump and point her blaster around. "The Avengers. People from an outside world, finding their way into ours."
Yelena kept searching through the containers, seeing that these Mutants were the ones that were used to create Weapon XI (Mutant Hybrid). "Well, we thought we were getting an overexaggeration when we were told a whole galaxy was put under the thumb of a Galactic Empire." She then turned a corner, her blaster still raised, and she saw no sign of Gideon. "Ironically, it's more like an under-exaggeration." She then kept following, looking for him. "How did you do it? There is no way that a few samples of Spider-Man's blood could have done all of this."
"You wanna know? Because you might not like the answer." Gideon informed her.
Gideon suddenly stepped into view, standing confidently in the center of the dimly lit room. The air was thick with a sense of foreboding, particularly near the imposing medical table that loomed in the shadows, a grim reminder of the experiments that had taken place within these walls, likely the very cradle of Weapon XI's creation. In a deliberate motion, he raised his hand, and Yelena's eyes widened in shock as she spotted what gleamed between his fingers—a shimmering Infinity Stone.
Its hue was a deep, striking red, reminiscent of the Reality Stone, yet something about it felt fundamentally different. That particular stone would wield too much power, far too valuable to squander on the mere creation of mutants. Instead, this stone pulsed with a unique energy, one that had the extraordinary ability to evolve individuals and even Spider-Man's blood, forging an entirely new lineage of mutants, each endowed with remarkable abilities. The possibilities it represented sent a chill down Yelena's spine.
"This... we have nicknamed the Evolution Stone." Gideon informed Yelena as she approached, seeing he was wering armor. "In its raw form, useless. But due to some help from a friend of ours, she created something so we could make a powerful weapon for the Empire."
"Friend?" Yelena asks.
"She has been telling us all about these relics. You might know her as... The Scarlet Witch." Gideon stated.
Yelena however had no idea who that was and gave him a dumbfound look. "I'm sorry, the Scarlet what?"
Gideon was confused as he lowered his hand. "How could you not-"
Yelena didn't let him finish as she shot him square in the face, causing him to fall over. "I mean, you made a suit of armor, but didn't bother to wear a helmet?" She scoffed as she walked over and picked up the Infinity Stone. "Honestly, what is with the monologuing? Do you think I care?" She looked down at the corpse. "Is this a occurring thing with you? Standing out in the open, giving a long, boring speech, and not expecting people to take a shot at you?" She then pockets the stone. "I don't know if your universe runs on other kinds of logic or fair play, but in my world, a guy monologues, you shoot. Otherwise, half of the universe ends up dead." She then signed and placed her blaster away. "Well, that's two Infinity Stones. Wonder if Heimdall figured out what Jyn's does yet."
Yelena then looked around and pulled out some detonators, throwing them around the room, letting the labs full of the corpses of Mutants explode as she ran, hoping that this was enough to put an end to the chaos of Mutants.
Gwen navigated the dimly lit corridors with determined strides, Gambit by her side, as they searched for a secure landing spot for Han and Chewie to bring the Millennium Falcon. Their surroundings hummed with tension, each step echoing against the cold, metallic walls. As they reached a small, cluttered yard, the faint light illuminated a battered fence, their only hope for escape.
Just as they neared the fence, a figure emerged from the shadows behind a crumbling wall. It was Serena, Gwen's stepmother, her mechanical arms glinting ominously in the muted light. Gwen's heart raced, and she felt a chill envelop her as she recognized the danger; Serena was formidable, and her four mechanical appendages were just the beginning of her ruthless capabilities. The absence of Stormtroopers amplified the tension, leaving Gwen acutely aware that they were unguarded yet undeniably vulnerable in the face of Serena's menacing presence.
"Oh, I cant believe this," Serena sighed when she saw Gwen. "You actually threw in your lot with them? You betrayed everything that we stood for, Gwen. Your father stood for."
"My dad never believed in your Empire," Gwen stated with a snarl. "I'd rather die for what I believe in than stand by your side again."
Serena seemed disappointed when she heard that. "So be it..." She then pulled out a remote, getting them all worried about what she was about to do. "See what you have chosen."
Then they watched as the button caused the ground to shake, and they watched as several gigantic robots sprang from the ground. They began to sprout and reveal to be towering them all. All of them sprouted red and blue color schemes and all of them scanned the group of Mutants.
"Surrender, Mutants."
"This is bad," Gamora commented.
Gwen looked over to the Mutants. "Can you guys control your powers?"
"Not very well," Scott said, wearing a new visor. "We're not..."
"Well, however well you can control them, use them!" Gwen stated, seeing the robots surrounding them. "Because your lives might depend on it!"
"They're right," Jean stated. "They captured us, it's time we fought back!"
Scott sighed as he eyed one of the robots, raising his vizor, and a powerful blast of lasers exited, blasting right through the head of the robot. He let out a cry as the lasers were painful. Anna Marie quickly flew upward and punched the robot in the face, but the robot used its giant hand to stop her, ending with Anna throwing the robot far, slamming into another one. Her brother saw a group of Mutants with collars was under attack and quickly teleported. When he teleported, the robot was preparing to shoot a laser, but he had already teleported between them and teleported them away.
Ororo was trying to get her collar off, but it was difficult since they were built to withstand struggle. She saw Gamora as she ran upward and sliced off the arm of one of the robots, quickly landing back on the ground. "Please, let me help." She asked Gamora. "Can you-"
Gamora didn't need to have it explained as she slit the collar off of her throat, allowing Ororo to breathe and see that her powers were returning. Gamora channeled his energy into his Sabbac cards and tossed them upward into the robots, causing them to destroy the robot. But the more robots they destroyed, the more rose out from the labs.
Weapon X was still marching across the facility, searching for Peter and Zeb. The two of them got away, reaching the top of one of the nearby buildings, watching to see if Weapon X was going to leave them alone. But when he began to sniff the air, he snarled and drew his metal claws again, looking over towards their hiding spot.
"Oh, god," Peter said in fear.
Weapon X snarled as he ran up to the wall, and stabbed the building, using his claws as a way of climbing upward while the two of them tried to shoot him down. But their shots did nothing but anger as his metal skeleton was protecting him. When he reached the top, he sliced at Zeb's blaster, damaging it. Peter shot out a tendril to punch him, but he dodged and sliced it with his claws.
Peter let out a screech, the suit being damaged actually harming him in the process. Zeb got back up and punched Weapon X, only angering it. He snarled and went in to strike, causing Zeb to jump backward. Peter then went in to strike, trying to punch Weapon X, earning him class in the chest. But due to the suit, it didn't do much harm as the Symbiote was protecting him.
Zeb went in, grabbing Weapon X at the back, yanking him off of Peter, giving him a good chance to punch some of the equipment off of Weapon X's head, watching it as it fritzed out a little. "What?" He muttered, looking around. "What is this? Where am I?"
"What?" Zeb was confused. "Uh, what do you think is happening?"
"I don't know, but why are you- AHHH!" He screamed as the helmet began to repair itself, ending with the man snarling again, and going back to strike. "RAAAHHH!"
Peter jumped backward, seeing that they were standing over some sort of power generator tunnel. If they fell down, they were going to either be blown up, or die. Weapon X screamed as he went in for another strike, but Peter shot out a tendril to punch him, allowing Zeb to crawl around the side and grab him by the sides using his feet and throwing him into the power. When he slammed against the roof, Weapon X got back up like nothing happened and prepared to strike again.
"What does it take to take him down?" Zeb asks.
"From the looks of it, getting that helmet off," Peter commented. "I think he's doing this against his will."
"You thinking its a mind control helmet?" Zeb asked.
"I've seen stranger," Peter shrugged. "Think we can get it off him?"
"RAAAAHHHH!"
They looked down and saw Weapon X punching the roof of the power source. If he blew that up before they got out, they were all going to likely be caught in the blast.
"Let's hope you are right." Zeb sighed as he leaped down with a scream.
"I hope so, too," Peter whispered, shooting off tendrils to lower his descent.
One of the Mutants created a sword out of some sort of laser from her palm and sliced the robot by the leg, causing it to fall over. But when the laser went off a blonde mutant ran into the fray and her skin turned to diamonds and blocked the blast. Then another one came into the area as she shot off some sort of beams of light that cut the robot head off.
A young girl with blue short hair ran ahead and shot out electricity from her hands, aiming at the robot, completely destroying it with her powers. Kamala ran ahead and quickly used her powers to get high up and turned her fists into giant palms where she then clapped, crushing the robot's head instantly. A woman that had glowing orange skin ran ahead and her hands sprouted out lava that melted another of the robots.
But the more they fought, the more and more robots that keep trying to take them out. "Surrender, Mutants!"
As they were starting to circle the Mutants, the wind began to pick up, getting them to wonder what was happening. They then looked over and saw Ororo was beginning to float as the wind circled around her, levitating her into the air. Her eyes began to glow white, electricity sparking off around them and then the clouds rolled in, rain beginning to fall as Ororo raised her hands and the wind picked up so strong to knock over the robots themselves. Then the temperature around them began to drop as the robots were frozen over.
Gwen watched as Ororo stopped the rain and everything, and saw Serena was gone. "Wow. Why were you hiding that this whole time?"
"Han? You guys near?" Gamora called.
"Yeah, what the hell just happened?" Han asks.
"We'll explain later," Gamora promises. "For now, let's get these guys out of here."
The Falcon came flying down and they blasted the wall, allowing the escape they needed. Luckily Yelena found her way to them as she ran out, noticing they were missing a few
"Where are Zeb and Peter?" Yelena wonders.
Zeb was currently ducking to dodge the strike from Weapon X while Peter came in and grabbed him by the head, crushing a fragment of the machinery on his head, trying to help free the man from the control of the machine. Weapon X snarled and cut the tendril, going to attack Peter again. Peter ducked and punched him, shattering another fragment of the machine.
Zeb swiftly transformed his handgun into a bolo staff, the metal glinting ominously as he whirled it with practiced finesse. With a powerful swing, he slammed the staff down onto the machinery, sending a jolt of vibrant sparks erupting from the impact point. The air crackled with energy as the electrical surge coursed through the machine, which groaned and shuddered violently before shattering into a cascade of shattered metal and whirring gears.
The man orchestrating the chaos staggered back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He collapsed to his knees, disoriented and struggling to regain his composure amidst the wreckage of his plans and the fading echoes of the explosive confrontation.
"Hey, you are safe," Peter said, running over to comfort him. "We helped you."
"Who are you?" He asked.
"We're with the rebellion. Who are you?" Peter asked.
"Uh... Logan. I think... it's all a little fuzzy." Logan said.
"Well, Logan, what do you say we get you the hell out of here?" Peter asks.
The Falcon came flying overhead, showing that they found them.
Getting aboard the Falcon, they looked down at the facility and Zeb turned his weapon back into a blaster, and shot at the power source when they were a safe distance. The explosion took the entire base, all of the clones, and everything else that came with the facility. There was going to be no more Mutants coming from that facility.
Anna Marie sighed as she sat down next to Gambit at the holo-table. "So... they tell us that you were the one who hollered where to find us?"
Gambit looked at her and gave a smile. "That would be true, Mon cher." He then held out his hand. "The name's Remy Lebau, but you can call me the Gambit. Remember it..."
Anna Marie chuckled. "Anna Marie. But people call me Rogue." She then went to touch his hand but flinched. "Sorry... my power... it hurts people when I touch them. I can't make skin contact with people."
"Well, Gambit loves to live dangerously, Mon cher." Gambit stated.
"So, where to?" Gwen asked Peter. "I mean, where can we really drop them off where the Empire can't find them?"
"We'll have to figure that out," Peter sighed. "The Empire isn't going to take kind to what we've done. Likely pour a lot of time into locating us."
"Luckily we didn't leave anything in the rubble," Gwen said with a sigh of relief. "Right?"
Peter thought of it for a moment and shrugged. "I can't think of anything."
But what they didn't know was Serena didn't actually escape. Instead, she used Spot to travel further away from the facility that was only accessible through his portals. He fell to the ground while Serena made her way over to some computer systems.
"Okay, so why are we down here again?" Spot asks. "I thought they destroyed everything."
"Not... everything." Serena then yanked off the tarp and revealed some sort of gigantic three-headed creature. "They destroyed my Sentinels. But they didn't take into account this one. I call it... the Wild Sentinel."
The robot came online as his eyes began to glow. "Mutant, neutralization!"
"Oh, come on!" Weapon XII cried out as he was sitting amongst the rubble of the facility. He was dressed similarly to the dimensional jumping counterpart that appeared out of nowhere. "I am seriously the final tag?!" He went over and sighed as he leaned against a piece of rubble, sitting next to the corpse of Weapon XI. "Oh, I can not believe this. This is... just an outrage. I mean, not as much of an outrage as you were. I mean, what was Fox thinking with you? Imagine if you were the face of the franchise. We would not be where we are today with three movies, and tons of cameos across the multiverse..." He then looked over to the reader. "Oh, yeah, I am not the same Deadpool, FYI. I am one of the Doppelgangers who got away during the final fight at the end of 'Deadpool: Savior of the What If Universe' story. Meaning, I am from this world. You can call me Wade Wilson, AKA, Deadpool. Like you didn't know who I was already, but you would be surprised how often we need to spell things out for people. Like when we did that whole Hulk chapter, killing Jabba, people said it was pointless. Uh, did you forget how significant Jabba was for the original trilogy? Now Han has no debt, no Bounty Hunters after him later, the point is it was a huge change in the universe. Yet nobody wanted to think of the big picture. But this isn't about that chapter. This is all about me. And..." He then put on a French accent. "Immaabouttomakeanameformyself."
Several Stormtroopers approached from behind, all of them having their blasters raised. "Sir, come out with your hands up!"
Wade smiled under his mask as he looked over to Weapon XI. "My hands? Do you care which pair?" He then raised the detached hands of his dead variant and waved them around. "Hi-ya, fellas! To infinity, and smack!"
Wade then got up and threw his hands, smacking one of the troopers across the face, then quickly smacking the blaster out of their hands and using the katana blades inside of the palms to stab the trooper. He then spins the hands, charging at another trooper who opened fire, only getting Wade to charge and strike him in the neck, avoiding the armor and aiming for the weak spots.
"Hey!" Another trooper cried, getting Wade to stop in glee. "Stay where you are!"
"The one thing I love about you Troopers?" Wade asked as he pulled the blades out of the arms of his dead counterpart. He then spun them around, getting into a stance as he eyed the troops. "There is a F%# endless supply of you!" He then froze when he heard what he said. "What the F#%?! Am I being bleeped?! You son of a b! Nobody bleeps out Deadpool! You are not turning me into some family-friendly character! I will-"
But before he could continue his rant, he was shot in the back, getting him to spin and eye the troops.
"You wanna play?!" Wade asked, drawing his swords again, and getting back into his stance. "Alright then. Let's. F#$3. GO!"
Wade then charged off, racing toward the troopers as they opened fire.