|
 |
Volume 2 |
"We all can use a little change" Written By Tony Thornley |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
Scott Summers stood on a rocky plateau, hundreds of feet above the desert floor. There was a slight, warm breeze, which stung his eyes. He rubbed his eyes for several seconds before a voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Are you ready to do this again Summers?” the deep, resounding voice said.
“Every night, Bob,” he said, turning to see Apocalypse standing behind him. “Thankfully I don’t have to remember this damn dream in the morning.”
“I am sick of that stupid name,” he growled. “I am your superior in every way, and yet you insist on belittling me.”
“Of course,” Scott said. “Every night. Just because I have to listen to you every night doesn’t mean I have to like you. At all.”
“You will be humbled again soon,” he said. “Your wife was only the beginning.” Scott’s eyes narrowed and began to glow red.
“Don’t mention her again. You had nothing to do with what happened to Jean.”
“Did I?” Apocalypse said. “Did I really?”
“Psychological warfare?” he said. “Real cute. What other seeds of doubt do you want to plant? That Xavier’s takeover attempt on Genosha was my fault? Mesmero taking over Ecuador? Psylocke’s death?”
“Who knows? After all… they’re all psychics. Maybe you should keep a close eye on Miss Frost. Just in case.”
“I’ll find a way to kill you soon, you know?”
“I look forward to the challenge,” Apocalypse said with a smile.
=X=
Detroit, Michigan, the next morning
“I love waking up to an ass-kicking early in the morning!” Cain Marko bellowed. The Juggernaut grabbed the misshapen moloid and threw it down the street like a missile.
“Where’s the damn Mole Man?” Radius called. “I’ve never seen these things without the Mole Man around!” He dodged an awkward swing from one of the moloids and kicked it in the gut. He spun and kicked another moloid in the head.
“The moloids can operate without Mole Man,” Cyclops declared through the team’s comm-link. “They probably followed whatever burrowed up from under the city. Have you four contained the moloids there yet?”
“Moloid,” said the third member of the group. “What a funny word. Moloid.” Longshot flipped over the mindless creatures, drawing and throwing a handful of his throwing knives in a single swift movement. Each of the knives struck a target, throwing the moloids to the ground much more forcefully than the laws of physics dictated.
“I dinnae know about contained,” Wolfsbane replied, “but Longshot’s having fun.” Rahne Sinclair swiped at several of the creatures in her half-wolf form. She had been a member of the team barely 24 hours and was already seeing action. She was uneasy about the group, but Nick Fury had made her a substantial offer for her time with them.
“Work on it and get back here,” Emma Frost said over the radio. “I want to be full strength when we dive down this hole.”
“Jumping down a giant hole into who-knows-what?” Cain growled. “Sounds like fun! We’re done enough here.”
“Enough?” Radius muttered. “There are civilians out here.”
“They’re runnin’ scared Corbo,” Juggernaut replied. “They’re headed back to their hidey-hole, and that means our job here is mostly done. I may have a dirty past, but I’m working for the side of angels now. You done whining now?”
“He’s right Radius,” Rahne said. “Let’s herd them in.”
=X=
Cyclops glanced over the edge of the gaping hole. He looked up at Emma. Frost held her hands on her hips, and squinted at the bottom, thirty or so feet below.
“See anything?” he asked.
“Nope,” she said.
“Sense anything?”
“Chaos,” she said. “A lot of it.” She frowned. “But there’s something… I don’t know… creepy?”
“You don’t sound sure about that.”
“I’m not. Something’s wrong down there.” Scott frowned. Emma was shaken by whatever she was sensing. Even with his limited experience with the woman, he hadn’t seen anything shake her before, and that was unsettling.
“How we getting down there?” Bolt asked.
“SHIELD has got some sort of gizmo to get us down there,” declared Alison Blaire. The pop star stood nearby, earphones in, and music blaring. She sneered in disdain, thinking of the possibility of dirt under her well manicured nails. The tunnels looked disgusting from what she could see. Scott nodded.
“They do,” he said, “but we’re climbing down.”
=X=
“Scanner, this is Cyclops, you awake up there?” Sarah Ryall jumped slightly at the sound of Scott Summers’ voice. She sat up and leaned towards the console. She had been following the mission below, but found herself dozing. She and Chris had been up all night talking. They had gotten the same amount of sleep, but somehow Bolt was more well-rested than her.
“I’m here Cyclops,” she said. “Looks like we’re in better shape now.”
“Yeah,” he said. “The moloids are retreating. We need support to secure the area and bring some climbing gear down.” Sarah spun and pressed her touchscreen.
“I’m dispatching a team right now,” she said. “Madrox will be leading them down.”
“Perfect,” he said. “Don’t forget the climbing gear.”
“Will do, boss,” she said. “You need my help on the ground?”
“No,” he said. “You’ll be safer up there. Trust me.”
=X=
The tunnels stunk like rotted vegetable matter. The group carefully moved through the tunnels two by two. Dazzler and Wolfsbane took point, followed closely by Juggernaut. Alison held her hands up, projecting as much light as she could convert from her iPod’s audio. Rahne was almost in full wolf form, her senses scanning as much as she could pick up. The remainder of the team followed closely behind, trying to be as prepared as possible.
Scott and Emma walked at the back of the group, watching the small group ahead of them. The two had been silent for some time. Vocally.
They’re still uneasy around each other, Scott thought. Even Bradley, Smith and Corbo. Throwing four new team members into the mix so soon after the botched Ecuador op, it’s just not healthy.
Don’t be so clinical, this is the new world Scott, Emma replied. We’re the new face of mutants, and SHIELD needed us operating as quickly as possible. Let your friend Worthington handle the politics. We’re the Avengers of the mutant world.
Just like you, he said, more than a little disgust evident. I’m trying to talk strategy, you start preaching to me. I’m all for hope, but not until our lives are no longer on the line.
Afraid of the moloids? Not like you Scott.
Not afraid, he said. Cautious. It’s not like a random group of moloids would pop up and cause this much chaos, no matter what I said before. They’re stupid creatures. Without some sort of driving force, they’re zero threat. There’s so-
“Hang on,” Rahne said, interrupting the telepathic argument. She coughed. Speaking thought her mostly canine vocal chords was no easy task. “There’s another scent.” She sniffed the air carefully. “It’s very different. It’s… a fresh smell. Hasn’t been down here long.”
“You feel anything Emma?” Scott asked. Her eyes glazed slightly as she reached out with her mind. She frowned.
“A presence,” she said. “Dark. Malevolent. There’s a… buzz surrounding the presence too. Kind of like the old sound of a dial up modem.”
“We’re fighting the internet in the 90’s?” Meltdown offered.
“Cute,” Radius replied.
“I thought it was funny,” Juggernaut said.
“Okay guys, really,” Scott said. “It sounds to me like something with a hive mind.”
“You know who it is, Boss-man?” Bolt asked. Scott shook his head.
“A theory, some possibilities,” he said. “Nothing more until we have more information.” Emma glanced at him, but said nothing. She had the same suspicions he did.
“Bolt, Meltdown, take point,” Emma said. “We’re close to the moloids. Defense only.” Scott glared at her but nodded after a few moments.
“Power up,” he said. “They will attack. Cain, keep close to them.”
“Aye aye,” Tabitha said. She gave Emma a lingering glare, but began walking. An aura of greenish energy surrounded her fists. Chris glanced at the others and shrugged before beginning to follow. They walked quietly for about another hundred yards before the tunnel opened up.
Emma was nearly driven to her knees by the sudden psychic feedback that filled her mind. Her mouth opened in a silent scream. Scott dropped to her side and put his hand in the small of her back. He leaned forward to her ear.
“I’ve got you,” he said. “I’m right here. What is it Emma?”
She whispered into his ear, barely audible to anyone else. He looked up at the team.
“Back in the tunnels,” he said.
“Boss?” Bolt asked.
“Back into the tunnels,” he said. “Now.” They started to follow his order, each obviously wondering why. Scott looked across the cavern and saw several figures approaching them through the air. He cursed.
“We need back-up,” he said as he guided Emma into the tunnel. He glanced over his shoulder. “Someone call in back-up!” Radius grabbed his radio and began talking to Scanner.
“What is it Cyclops?” Tabby asked.
“It’s the Brood,” he said.
=X=
Scanner’s eyes widened as she heard Cyclops’ declaration in the background. She had only heard stories of the Brood, but it was more than enough to scare her.
“Oh my…” she gasped. “Tell Cyclops that Jamie’s on the w-“ She heard Tabby and Alison scream, an inhuman screech and then an explosion. She leaned forward.
“Jared!” she cried. “JARED! JARED!”
=X=
Far below the streets of Detroit, the dust began to settle. Jared Corbo shook his head, grateful for his forcefield. He sat up and looked around.
“Sarah,” he said, “calm down. I’m fine.”
“What about the others?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “We’re cut off from each other. There’s been a cave-in.”
=X=
In X-Factor #6: The team in trapped in the moloid tunnels, Brood on one side of them, SHIELD on the other! It’s a race to see who gets to the trapped heroes first!