X-Men: Come the Apocalypse (pt.4) Author: Nathan Summers Date: 1997/09/25 Forum: alt.comics.fan-fiction Picking up right where we left off... {Post}: Tonight, Warren Worthington, you shall burn in hell! {Warren}: Oh, really... {Scott}: Yeah, that'll happen. {Jean}: Right. {Betsy}: So bring it on. They thought little of this soon-to-be attack; after all, they were used to it. They might have been a little more concerned if they knew that Apocalypse was involved though. As for Post, he remained crouched upon the hood of their car, smiling sinisterly. He could attack at any moment. {Scott}: Okay Post, you throw the first punch. Give us a reason to tear you apart. Post said nothing. His action spoke for him. An energy cannon of some sort raised itself up from behind his right shoulder. It sat on it's pedestal for a while, not doing much. Then it started charging, powering up. {Scott}: That's about as far as you go, Mr. Scott grabbed the side of his shades and ripped them off, letting his crimson blasts of personified destruction flow out towards Post. They slammed into him, carrying off the car, and into a brick wall. It was like getting smashed in the stomache with a sledge hammer. A big sledge hammer at that. {Post}: M-m-most... impressive S-summ--ers. D-d-didn't... know you had it... in you... . He tried to hide it, but everyone could tell that Post took quite a hit. He was still trying to get his second wind. And failing miserably. {Scott}: Take him! {Warren}: I'm on it! Warren ran, leaped, and landed on the car hood where Post previously stood. He crouched down and dove head first towards his antagonist. Midway down, Warren's beautiful feather wings unfolded, tearing his tux to shreds. He flew into Post, hammering him with fists and wings. Warren anticipated that a good upper-cut would take care of him. He thought wrong. {Post}: You are pathetic! Be glad that your father allowed you to enjoy your final moments on this planet as you once were. A fan-like object sprang forth from Post's left fore-arm. It unfolded itself in a circular pattern, becoming a dish. Or a shield. He punched Warren into the brick wall with it, pulled him out, and decked him. Warren was out cold. {Jean}: He's alive. Out, but alive. {Post}: Allow me to rectify that! Post made a fist with his left hand and pointed it at Jean. The top of his fist slid back, revealing a miniature rocket launcher. Jean could see four tiny rockets within. Post launched them, one after the other. They exploded around Jean and Warren, smothering them in ash, soot, smoke, and flame. When the debris cleared, Jean was laying over Warren's body, bruised, bloodied and broken. {Scott}: Betsy! Is she-- {Betsy}: Way ahead of you, Scott! As Betsy went to check on her teammates, Scott put his visor on. He was ready to tear Post apart. Cyclops blasted the enemy in the back, knocking him down to his knees. {Post}: Uhhh... You'll... pay... Red smoke streamed from Post's scolded back. He staggers to his knees only to be knocked down again by Psylocke. {Psylocke}: Ke-yai! {Post}: OOOFFF!!! She drop kicked him in the jaw, nearly shattering it. As Psylocke prepared to drive her psychic knife into Post's head, he counter-attacked. His right fore-arm lifted into the air and a laser blaster appeared beneath it. An orange blast shot out of the narrow barrel and exploded near Psylocke. {Psylocke}: Was that meant to disteact me or did you just miss? {Post}: Okay, guess you got me there. Mabe. A small laser weapon popped out of Post's left shoulder. It cocked itself and fired before Psylocke could react. A fine, thin beam hit her and illuminated her entire body for a moment. Then she collapsed. {Betsy}: Ohhhhhh****** {Warren}: B-b-b-betsy! No... {Post}: You again! Post blasted Warren with the large energy weapon over his right shoulder. {Warren}: ARRRGGGHHH!!! {Scott}: Oh, please no... There... there's no pulse! No pulse... he can't be... You monster! I'll blow you to atoms! Scott tore his visor completely off preparing to do just what he said. Post didn't seem one bit intimidated. {Post}: Fell right into my trap. He quickly blasted Cyke with the laser weapon on his right forearm. Cyclops fell to his knees. {Cyclops}: AAARRRGGGHHH!!! Entire... body... on... f-fire! Can't stay focused... Before Cyclops could recover, Post threw an object at him from behind his back. It seemed to have a built-in tracking computer because it landed on Scott's head, covering everything down to his eyes. {Cyclops}: C-can't s-see... Can't fire... Gotta get this blasted thing off! {Post}: I don't think so. All I had to get you to do was take your visor off so I could get this lock on you. Worked like a charm. But I can't have you awake for the next few hours... {Scott}: Arrgghh!!! E-e-electricuting me! Gotta collapse... gotta---- Ohhhhh**** {Post}: Out like a light. Now to contact the superiors... Apocalypse? Apocalypse come in! It's Post. Apocalypse appeared on a view screen which emerged from Post's chest. {Apocalypse}: What? Oh, it's you. Don't tell me you need reinforcements. {Post}: No, no. Mission completed. I've just got-- {Apocalypse}: What? You mean, you've eliminated Worthington? He's out of my life forever? {Post}: Yeah but Jean Summers is dead too. Didn't you say you wanted her alive? {Apocalypse}: I suppose I can't get everything done right. Report back here with Summers and Braddock immediately. Understand? {Post}: Got it. Post out. He watched as the view screen filled with static and closed back up into his chest. Post gathered up Cyclops and Psylocke and proceded to leave, ignoring Phoenix and Archangel, whom be believed dead. Post's build-in teleportational system was activated and he vanished. The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning... {Rogue}: So what should we do with him? {Cannonball}: Ah don't know... radiation containment cell maybe? {Iceman}: Do we _have_ a radiation containment cell? {Cannonball}: Good point. {Beast}: Nate, how's Caliban doing? {Cable}: He's resting comfortably Completely exhausted. If I hadn't telekinetically restrained him during that seizure, he would've snapped his own neck. Not to mention a few other bones. {Beast}: Any suggestions on what to do with Holocaust? {Cable}: Ya got a radiation containment cell? {Beast}: Well, no... {Cable}: Then kill him. He's to risky to have around. {Holocaust}: I... don't think so... Nathan... I will... be gone... The pile of radioactive bones that was Holocaust staggers towards Caliban. Everyone is too stunned to react at first. {Domino}: I'm back now and-- holy shit! Don't just stand there, shoot him! {Holocaust}: I don't think so, woman! Domino pulls out her energy rifle and starts unloading it on Holocaust. The first few blasts hit him, blow a hand off, but then he leaps at Caliban. As Holocaust grabs Caliban, atomic energy expands off of him, engulfing himself and Caliabn. All any of them can see is the swirling, radioactive ball and then it goes up in a mushroom cloud which quickly disipates. {Strom}: We must vacate this room immediately! It must be sealed off as well. {Cable}: No! ARRGGHH!!! {Storm}: What is-- {Beast}: No time Ororo, let's get out of here now! Once the X-Men have moved out of the war room they investigate Cable's problem. {Storm}: We heard you cry out, my friend, what is wrong? {Cable}: It's Caliban... {Storm}: I'm sorry. That madman killed himself and Caliban. {Cable}: Argh... No! Caliban's still alive! I got a mental lock on him before they vanished. The coward didn't kill himself... he teleported away. Retreated so he could finish off Cal without us interfering. {Storm}: He only made it look like suicide? {Cable}: Yes. But Caliban's so far away it's putting a tax on my powers. A great strain... lots o' pain. {Beast}: Cable, do you know exactly where Caliban is now? {Cable}: Not exactly. But I can find out. {Storm}: Then let us do it! Somewhere in another galaxy... {Deathbird}: We're entering Shi'ar space now. Ready? {Bishop}: Yeah. I've gotta get back to Earth... gotta rejoin the surviving X-Men. Tell them what happened... {Deathbird}: Hmmm, yes. Prepare for docking. {Bishop}: Anything on radar? {Deathbird}: Just one ship. Must be a very big ship because I'm picking it up a lightyear away. {Bishop}: Wha--? Let me see that... it is a big ship... maybe as big as-- no way... {Deathbird}: You don't think--? {Bishop}: Yeah, I do. Head for that ship. I'm gonna give whoever's in it a piece of my mind! {Deathbird}: We may not have enough fuel to make it back here. {Bishop}: Oh, well. {Deathbird}: Once we get near that thing this little escape pod will be ripped apart just like the royal cruiser did! {Bishop}: So I'll wear a space suit! {Deathbird}: Bishop, this is insane, I-- {Bishop}: Don't argue with me just do it! {Deathbird}: We are commiting suicide. Elsewhere... it doesn't really matter exactly where... {Gambit}: Why de' hell am I doin dis? Headin back to Xavier's upon Sinister's request? I must be nuts! That guy went looney tunes about a century ago and I'm listenin to em? But I got a funny feelin about dis. Like somethin big is goin ta happen. I gotta save my friends. The only friends I've ever had. Better book a flight to Westchester. To be Continued next Wednesday....