X-Men: Come the Apocalypse (part 10) The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning: A heated battle rages in the X-Men's hanger bay; however, one individual still seems to find time for conversation... {McCoy}: Y'know this really isn't all that bad. He shouts the words out so that Fatale could hear while leaping to avoid a stray energy blast from Vessel. Fatale had problems of her own. {Fatale}: *CRACK* What are you going on about now? {McCoy}: I'm thinking... new opportunities? {Fatale}: What, pray tell, are you getting at? McCoy pretended to be too preoccupied to answer her. But he was secretly scheming to himself. {McCoy}: (thinking) This is simply marvelous! All of my former creations always served Apocalypse. It seems that tradition still remains. While these Morlocks aren't exactly my creations _directly,_ they are the spawn of my other creations. And it is only fitting that they join my master. I shall not abandon them. Not only will I be serving my true master, but he will protect me from Sinister. How convenient it is that Sinister is his worst enemy as well as mine. {McCoy}: *WHOOSH!* Heads up, 'Lex *SMACK!* He jumps at Havok like a cat, back-handing him across the face. {Havok}: McCoy! What the hell is your problem?!? {McCoy}: You know that the side of the angels was never for me. I got suckered into this 'Brotherhood' thing just like Fatale. You think I wanted to join this little campaign? Please! You were my ticket outta prison. {Havok}: This isn't the time or place, but I'm gonna turn you into one, big, fried hairball for usurping my authority! {Hemingway}: hrrr, no. You will die instead. {Havok}: *HURK!* *GAKK!* The massive Morlock snached Alex up from behind, grabbing him by the neck, and lifting him off his feet. *SSHHHRRAAKKKK!!!* {Hemingway}: ARRGGHH! Storm summons a lightning bolt and strikes Hemingway as casually as if she were swatting a fly. The man collapses and does not move again. {Storm}: Alex! Are you all right? {Havok}: *pant, pant, pant* y-yeah. i'm ok. that thing would've snapped my neck had you *pant, pant* n-not stepped in. {Storm}: And that is what friends are for. {Havok}: Friends again? I'd like to think so. Cannonball faces off against Sack as Storm and Havok's conversation continues. Well, sort of. Sack was already half-way inside Sam. {Cannonball}: That little trick ain't gonna work twice. It didn' work the first time anyway. Just then, Sam saw a chance to kill two birds with one stone. Wolverine and Ever were exchanging blows a few feet in front of them. {Cannonball}: Lets us see if this'll work. Cannonball charges head-long at Ever, Sack still attached to him. It was awkward moving like this, but Sam still managed. He then powered up his blast-field a few inches in front of Ever and slammed into him with everything he had. The impact carried them through the wall and outside the hanger bay. {Sack}: ARRGGHH!!! Look what you've done to us! Look you stupid boy! Ever's head was now sticking out of Ever's chest. He continued screamed, not out of pain, but mostly anger. Ever stared down at the head emerged from his body. {Sack}: It will be very difficult for me to divest in this state without seriously injuring Ever. {Ever}: Just do it quickly! This is painful. {Sack}: I could do it very quickly by completely possessing your body but once we separate, you will be dead! {Ever}: Oh, that's wonderful. {Cannonball}: Amazing what a little kinetic back-lash will do to ya, huh? {Sack}: Curse you, boy! I swear you'll-- MMPPPHH! Wolverine emerged from the hole in the hanger bay and cupped his hand over Sack's mouth. {Wolverine}: Three words: shut and up. A sly grin appeared on Logan's face as he dealt with Ever/Sack. He decked what was visible of Sack (head) and punched Ever in the jaw as well. Both of them (or one if you prefer) fell to the ground. Wolverine cracked his knuckles as he and Sam prepared to rejoin the others inside. {Fatale}: Y'know Havok, maybe McCoy has the right idea! {Havok}: What? Fatale, not you too! {Fatale}: I only joined you to get out of prison, like McCoy. {Havok}: Well guess what? I wanted to destroy McCoy when I got him out of there. The last thing I wanted was that psycho on my team. Ever and I have been plotting against him since the beginning. I guess it's too late to stop him now though. {McCoy}: So you could care less what I do? {Havok}: I can't do anything about it. {Fatale}: But you _did_ have plans for me? I wasn't just some pawn? {Havok}: I... I... why do you want to join Apocalypse over me?!? {Fatale}: Because I think fighting for some impossible dream is nuts! Homo Sapien and Homo Superior will never co-exist. {Havok}: That's not what the Brotherhood are about! I know that _his_ methods are impossible. But we will _make_ it happen. At any cost! {Fatale}: Maybe I don't want the dream to become a reality. Maybe I'd rather rule the lesser species. {Havok}: Then I can see you're making the right decision. {Fatale}: Glad you see it my way. Ever! Get us outta here! {Ever}: I've *ngh* got a problem *ngh* right now. {Sack}: Hold on *ow* we're almost owwut... {Fatale}: Oh, that is too gross. {Ever}: McCoy... take *ngh* this device. It contains the *ngh* coordinates to *ngh* just give it to Fatale! {McCoy}: Right! {Beast}: Oh, no you don't! *WHAM!* {McCoy}: uuuhhhhh... nice punch. You nearly broke my jaw. {Beast}: I've been waiting for a _real_ re-match with you ever since I escaped. The first time we met, I kinda had an adrenaline rush. The second time didn't even count since I just wanted to get home. Now we can really duke it out! {McCoy}: My pleasure. RRAAAGGGHH!!! The doppelganger tackles Hank to the ground and prepares to slash his face off. Hank, not even winded by the attack, kicks him in the stomach, knocking him away. {McCoy}: Ahh, did I detect a bit of martial arts in that kick? {Beast}: You sure did. I've got more where that came from too. Cecilia Reyes was also engaged in a skirmish with Fatale at that moment. {Cecilia}: Your energy spikes can't hurt me! {Fatale}: Blast! You're no fun to kill. I can't hurt you and you still don't fight back! Is it cold in here all of a sudden, or is it just me? {Iceman}: I can't believe you fell for it! Of course it's just you... I'm deep freezing you! {Fatale}: OOOHHhhhh y-yes. V-v-v-very c-c-cold. t-t-too c-cold. f-freez-zing c-cold. s-s-shiveri-i-ing. n-no. c-c-c-con-v-vuls-s-singgggg. Within moments, Fatale is unconscious. We now turn our attention to Joseph, Cable, and Storm who are facing off against Vessel and a recovered Hemingway. {Vessel}: We are a vessel of destruction! We will kill you all. {Cable}: Yeah, yeah, yadda-yadda-yadda, I've heard all this crap before. {Joseph}: *bzzzkktt* *bzzzkktt* My magnetic blasts have no effect on him! {Cable}: Do you see anything magnetic on him which they would effect? {Joseph}: Well all living beings have iron in their bodies somewhere. I'm getting nothing from him! He's like an empty shell, nothing more. {Vessel}: That is exactly what I am. Exactly. {Storm}: Lightning will deal with him! {Hemingway}: hrrr... you will not hurt him! {Cable}: Okay, now I'm sick of this dude. Joseph, lets double team him while Stormy takes care of that Vessel. {Joseph}: Ororo, will you need assistance? {Storm}: No. I can handle him alone. As Storm nails Vessel with nearly a thousand lightning bolts and a barrage of wind, Cable blasts Hemingway with some telekinesis and Joseph sends him through the wall with a magnetic blast. {Joseph}: Good. Both of them are dealt with and now we can help our teammates. {Beast}: *WHAM* *KRACKT!* *SOCK* *SMACKT!* And what did I get out of that fight? A busted lip, bloody nose, a missing tooth, and a bump on the head. But boy was I satisfied when I layed that loser out! {Sack}: Ahhh... there. I am free! {Ever}: free? my stomach is tied up in knots and you're praising? {Sack}: Hey, you're lucky I didn't pull your intestines, as well as various other organs, out when I separated! {Ever}: Well it sure feels like you did! {Sack}: Oh, screw you! The battle isn't over yet and-- {Wolverine}: How about I 'skewer' _you_ *SNIKT* *SLASH!* {Sack}: YEAAARRRGHHH!!! Wolverine nearly ripped Sack in half with his dense bone claws. It wasn't hard, considering that Sack was made up mostly of weak bone, weaker than cartlage, and mucus. Miraculously, Sack was still alive. {Sack}: Oww. And you're complaining Ever. Look at me! {Ever}: I'd rather not. {Fatale}: Everybody re-group! Otherwise, we've had it! Fatale dragged the unconscious McCoy over to Vessel and Hemingway. Ever picked up what was left of Sack and carried him over to Fatale. {Fatale}: Okay, Ever. Get us outta here! {Havok}: Not so fast! {McCoy}: Uhhhh... *ngh* go... go to hell! {Havok}: No! You'll cry havoc first!!! Havok powered up and pointed both arms at McCoy. He released a single blast, full power, using both hands which slammed McCoy directly in the chest. Rings of cosmic energy bounced off of McCoy and hit Ever, Sack and barely missed Fatale, who ducked out of the way just in time. McCoy was once again unconscious, nearly dead, Ever was severely burned, and Sack was literally melting. {Fatale}: Ever, come on! Ever was back on his feet in seconds and prepared to teleport. He took a moment to charge up and then psionic coils exploded out of him, connecting with Fatale, McCoy, Vessel, Hemingway, and Sack. Soon all were swallowed up and the energy disipated. All six were gone. {Wolverine}: Ha! Nice to see you've still got that "cry foul" thing goin! Forced 'em all to retreat! {Havok}: Yeah, but something still bothers me. {Storm}: What is it, Alex? {Havok}: You said that the other X-Men were back now, right? {Beast}: Yes... I see what-- {Havok}: Exactly. Where the hell were they? I'm sure they heard the commotion in here. {Joseph}: Let's find out what the deal is. We now must turn our attention to Egypt, where Cyclops, Caliban, and Psylocke continue their great escape. {Cyclops}: I'm sure an exit is around this hallway somewhere. {Caliban}: Then we must go! {Cyclops}: Exodus will be on our tails again if we don't move quickly. {Caliban}: Uh huh. {Cyclops}: How's Betsy doing? {Caliban}: She is sleeping peacefully. Probably still sick. {Cyclops}: Oh. Wait! Blast! Its another dead end. {Caliban}: What will we do now? {Cyclops}: Well we can't afford to turn around again. And I've had it with this! We'll have to go through it. I'll-- uhhhhh... {Caliban}: Are you injured? {Cyclops}: N-no. Well yes. Sort of. {Caliban}: ??? {Cyclops}: Stomach cramps. I should be resting, you see. I was seriously injured thanks to Operation: Zero Tolerance. The recovery's been slow. I was making progress though. I probably really messed myself up this time. Uhh... feels like they're starting to pass. I'll be okay. {Caliban}: Ze-ro Tolerance? Nathan tried to stop them. {Cyclops}: Yeah, well let's get started on this wall. I'll blast it, you ram it. {Caliban}: I understand. {Cyclops}: Good. Here goes! *ZZZAAARRRKKK!!!* {Caliban}: *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* The wall doesn't take well to the punishment. Within minutes, it is crumbled to powder. Cyclops and Caliban prepare to face the unknown... outside. {Cyclops}: Damn! A sand storm. I didn't count on this. {Caliban}: What will we do? {Cyclops}: We have a better chance out there than we do in here. Make a run for it! Cyclops and Caliban race through the hole, embracing the openness. The freedom. Exodus might be right behind them. Or he might still be unconscious at the bottom of the staircase. Neither of them cared. {Cyclops}: We won't last long out here, that's for sure! But Exodus will never find us. Neither will anyone else, for that matter. {Caliban}: What is our next move? {Cyclops}: I... don't know. I-- Wait! Why didn't I think of this before?!? {Caliban}: What, what? {Cyclops}: Jean and I share a constant telepathinc raport. Its taxed to it's limit here, but it still exists. It always exists. Jean may not be able to contact me because of the distance, but if I concentrate hard enough... and if she's doing the same, we'll have something, I'm sure of it! We've had a lot of luck. Hopefully, it won't run out. Back at the Xavier Institute... {Havok}: Hello? Anyone up here? {Beast}: C'mon, they're probably still in the War Room. The nine mutants get the shock of their lives when they open the door to the War Room. Nate Grey, Phoenix, Rogue, Maggott, Gambit, and Domino were all layed out across the room, motionless. And the one man none of them expected to see here -or anywhere else ever again for that matter- stepped into the light. {Beast}: HAZARD! {Hazard}: Welcome to hell, X-Men! Finally, the Shi'ar galaxy... {Deathbird}: Ohhh... Its so dark in here. I can't see a thing. {Bishop}: It'll take a moment for your eyes to adjust. {Deathbird}: Bishop?!? Is that you? {Bishop}: Hopefully, or I'm gonna be mad. Deathbird throws her arms around Bishop like she hasn't seen him in years. {Deathbird}: I thought I'd never see you again. {Bishop}: Umm, you can let go now. We're both fine. Y'know it isn't proper for warriors to hug like that. {Deathbird}: Uhh... right, I became a little too *ahem* Where are we, anyway? {Bishop}: For starters, we're being held prisoner by a cyborg. {Deathbird}: Cyborg??? {Bishop}: From what I've picked up, his name is... Mainframe!