Subject: [OTL]: (alt. X-Force) Warcry (PG-13) Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 22:06:18 -0700 From: Phil Hartman will1@earthling.net Warcry by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: They're all Marvel's. No money is being made off of this. Please don't sue. CONTINUITY: The fourth in a series of tales of X-folk from an alter-Earth ... -------------------------------------------------------- 2/16/94: Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters: Salem Center, N.Y.: 16:00 hrs EST: -------------------------------------------------------- "Douglas Ramsey, if ye DARE t'toss that sodden - AIEEK !" Doug grinned, watching his girlfriend surface from the waters of the unseasonably-warm Spuytyn Dyvil Cove wearing a bikini and a wrathful expression. "C'mon, Rahne," the young blond man teased, stretching out on a rock at the edge of the water in his swimming trunks, "it was just in fun." "T'was a wet rag !" Rahne Sinclaire huffed, bounding out of the cove to grudgingly accept the towel Doug gave her. She smiled, drying off, as she watched Sam Guthrie and Tabitha Smith frolic deeper in the cove. "'M glad Sam's found someone - ye ken, after he an' Lila broke up," Rahne said. She let Doug slip close to her, and blushed as she added, "Love's hard t'find in our life, ye know ..." "I know," Doug whispered, leaning close. Then the ground shook, and Rahne blushed again. #I hope that wasnae my heart ...# "RUN !" Roberto DaCosta bellowed through the trees, followed closely by Julio Richter, Rusty Collins and Sally Blevins. "We're being attacked !" "WHAT !?" Doug yelled, extending his perceptions downward into the sensors of the complex beneath the cove and the acreage of the Xavier estate - #stupid, STUPID, Ramsey, letting your hormones lead you when you should've been on watch !# he reprimanded himself, examining the sensor readings. "Three transformable motorcycle-walkers, Genoshan issue," Doug said, standing behind Rahne as she assumed her wolfen state. "Sam -!" "Ah'm on 'em," Sam called, dropping Tabitha off beside Rahne and Doug before plowing into the lead attacker, his kinetic blasting field protecting him. The Genoshan cursed, flying off of her vehicle as it exploded under the impact. "Call in the - AAUGH !" the second Genoshan yelled, thrown from his bike by a vibratory blast. "Take 'em down HARD !" Rictor yelled, nodding when Skids deflected the third Genoshan's machine gun fire with her force field. "Russ -" The third Genoshan rolled, pulling his gun when his bike erupted in a gout of fire. "I'll -" he began. Then he yelled, his arms pinned by a black wraith with enraged white-on-white eyes. "Talk, you bastard, or I'll break your arm !" Sunspot ordered. "Why are you here ?" "Kiss off, genejoke," the magistrate sneered, grinning beneath his gas mask when a transmat portal opened nearby. "We were the advance guard. You brats are OURS !" "Not if we rabbit - X-Force, BOLT !" Sam yelled, picking Tabitha and Doug up on the fly. Robert cursed inwardly, throwing his prisoner away and blasting off under his honed solar power to pick up Rusty and Skids. "MOVE, Rahne ! I'll cover us !" Rictor yelled, trying to keep the Genoshans off balance while Rahne ran for the hatch Doug had thrown open. "'M tryin', Ric, but - NO !" Rahne screamed, her claws ineffectual against the energy net one of the flyers snagged her in. Rictor leapt after her, shouting under the burning of stun blasts - - and the Genoshans and mutants were gone. "RAHNE !?" Doug roared, straining against Sam's grip. "Damnit, Guthrie, let me GO - they've got her, don't you KNOW what Genoshans DO to mutants !?" "Ah know, pal," Sam said, spinning Doug around with a grim expression on his own face. "An' ah know we gotta keep it t'gether if we wanna get our people back. You with me ?" Doug forced himself to relax, frowning, and opened the hatch to the underground complex. "I know. But we can't waste time," he insisted, climbing down into the complex. "We have to go after them." "You heard the man, team - suit up and jet-ready in five," Sam ordered. He caught Tabitha's nervous gaze and asked, "You OK ?" "Yeah ... Christ, Sam, Ric was my first real friend in the mutant scene ... and Rahne ..." Boomer whispered, heading for the women's locker room. "It's just, like -" "Ah know. An' ah know we're gonna hit them Genoshans hard," Sam said coldly. #Lord, ah wish ah felt as strong as ah sound ...# -------------------------------------------------------- She yelled, shape-locked and clad in a skinsuit, as she and Rictor were tossed into a jail cell. "The X-Men want to play games ? Let them try and identify you two after the genemod process," one of the magistrates chuckled. The guards walked off, leaving Rahne to pull her knees up under her chin. "Rahne, c'mon - we've been in worse situations," Rictor said, examining the cell's walls. "Our powers've been nullified, we're t'be brainwiped an' shaved, an' the Genoshans're plottin' t'hunt all the X-teams ? Define 'worse,' Rictor !" Rahne barked, wiping her eyes. "'M sorry ... t'is just ... 'm worried f'r Doug. I ken he's a cyberpath, nae just a translator, but ..." "Hey. The rest of X-Force got away, didn't they ?" Rictor said, sitting beside Rahne. "Have a little faith, chica. We're the tough guys, remember ?" Rahne laughed humorlessly, then slid closer to Rictor. "Aye. An' I wouldnae want t'be the Genoshan foolish enough t' face Roberto when he's angry," she tried to joke. Then the alarms went off, and the young people stood, tensing. "D'ye hear that ?" Rahne said, concentrating. "I hear some kind of alarm," Rictor said, shrugging with a confused look. "Nae ! T'is like - hooves ?" Rahne replied, arching an eyebrow. "Check on the -GLYXXRRGH -" SHYEEFFKT Rahne and Rictor gasped as a huge white arrow-shaped bolt of energy slammed home into one of the magistrates. The other turned, but yelled when a huge black shape reared up and struck him in the head. "Wh-who - ?" Rahne gasped, looking at the young woman taking keys from one of the guards. She wore a mask with white eye-holes, while a red leotard and kneeboots set off her exposed thighs and upper arms. Long black hair cascaded down the back of her head, while a jet-black winged horse paced nervously behind her. "It - can't be," Rictor whispered, watching the door swing inward. "Move," the figure ordered, removing her mask before grinning conspiratorially at the suddenly-beaming Rahne. "What, fur-top, you thought I'd let you be turned into a zombie ?" Dani Moonstar said, winking. -------------------------------------------------------- "MOVE, you stinking rustbucket !" "Doug, cursing at the overgrown heap won't help," Rusty muttered, glancing nervously at the altimeter. "Uh, Sal, you mastered that parachute-form for your field yet ... ?" "Har-de-har-har, lover," Skids joked despite the sweat dripping from her brow. "This Blackbird's a LITTLE beyond its manufacturer's specs, right, Doug ?" "Forge assured me the stupid thing would hold together even at Mach 8," Doug growled, fighting with the control stick. "Of course, even at Mach 8, it'll take over four hours to GET to Genosha, by which point Rahne'll be a bald, dead-eyed maid for some God-damned Genoshan politician -" "Chill, Ramsey," Boomer interrupted, playing with a time-bomb. "Ric's the best B and E man we've got. If he can't figure out a way past those Genosh jerks, I'll eat my old hair bow." "Ah jes' hope we'll be able t'get past the coastal defenses," Sam said, checking a laptop with an increasingly-concerned expression. "Some days, ah miss 'Yana ..." "Oh, SURE," Roberto chuckled. "Demons to the left of me, demons to the right ... I'm happy for her, personally." "I'll show those bastards demons," Doug snarled, punching the accelerator. -------------------------------------------------------- "But -" "The Valkyrior were pissy about my whole alliegance to the Cheyenne deities, so they kicked me out of Asgard," Dani said, leading Rahne, Rictor and Brightwind through the sewers of the Genoshan Citadel. "I did get one boon for good service, so I asked to be sent straight to you, Rahney - you're practically my sister, after all - and lucky for you I showed." "Thank ye, Dani," Rahne said, relief audible in her voice. "I pray we c'n get out o'here w'out any more problems ..." KA-BOOM ! "FREEZE - GHURK - GNYEAAGGGHHH !" "PLEBIANS !" Rahne and Dani looked at each other, then at the cooling mass of rock before them, and the stunned magistrates it had pinned against the ceiling. "Fools ! Maggots !" a flame-skinned female form snarled, her footsteps hissing as she walked through the sewage. "Daring to lay hands on a daughter of Nova Roma !" "MAGMA !?" Rahne and Dani yelled, hugging Amara Aquilla as she resumed her human form. "I have missed you, my friends," the geokinetic said, smiling. Her expression turned sour as she looked at her would-be captors, and she snapped, "Attempting to kidnap me, dogs ? I think NOT !" "Are we EVER glad to see you, Amy," Dani said. "This is Julio Richter, a new teammate of ours - the Genoshans came after you, too ?" "Indeed," Amara muttered, creating a lava staircase up to the street. "They failed to reckon with my power, and I repaid their arrogance with the contempt it deserved. Now, pray let me concentrate for a moment -" The ceiling exploded, allowing the young mutants to escape onto the darkened streets of Hammer Bay. "Come !" Amara called, leading them into an alley. "I loathe skulking, but as the Professor and later Rogue taught us, we must decide when and where to make a stand." "I bet the others are on their way," Rictor said, keeping watch as they ducked into an alcove behind an office building. "All we have to do is stay free until then." "Easily said, compeer," Amara said, powering down. "Let us hope your deeds match your words." "So, how's Empath ?" Rahne asked with a wry expression. Amara snorted, then chuckled and said, "I - what is the American expression ? - 'sent him packing.' His snivelling and mind-tricks finally grated on my nerves. And ..." She sighed, a dreamy expression crossing her face as she pulled a worn photo from her New Mutants uniform pocket. "I missed ... someone," Amara said, smiling with what Dani swore was a blush. "Who ?" Rahne asked innocently. Amara handed her the photo, then mumbled a name and curled up, yawning, in a corner to rest. "ROBERTO !?" -------------------------------------------------------- "C'mon ... c'mon ..." ZRACKLE "Doug," Sam said, watching streaks of fire leap up at the Blackbird from the approaching coast of Genosha, "we gotta go ..." "Come on, just a little farther ... Hammer Bay's not that much farther ..." Doug pleaded, cursing when the energy bolts connected. BOOM ! "Doug, ah'm not thrilled 'bout lettin' our ride explode," Sam grumbled, holding Tabitha close to him as he blasted the two of them out of the plane. "Relax, fearless leader !" Doug yelled, holding onto Roberto as the Brazilian carried him and Skids. "We'll just have to hotwire a Genoshan plane !" "Guys - oh for God's sake," Rusty groused, flying shakily after the others. "This's a new trick for me, ya know !?" KA-BOOOOOMMMMMM !!!!! -------------------------------------------------------- Brightwind whinnied in panic, stirring his mistress and her companions from their slumber. "Madre de - look !" Rictor yelled. "DOUG !!!" Rahne shrieked, running to hug her boyfriend as Roberto set him down gently. "Och - Sam, 'Berto, look who else's here !" "Dani !" Sam cheered, hugging the Cheyenne woman. "Hey, chief, new look ?" "Missed you too, hayseed - easy, Tab, friendlyhug only," Dani said, smiling at Tabitha as they hugged as well. "Like he's your type," Tabitha chuckled, looking at Dani. "Stylin', girlfriend !" "Thank you," Dani said, grinning when Roberto powered down and looked at Amara with wide eyes. "KISS ME, YOU FOOL !" the Nova Roman laughed, nearly bowling Roberto over with her tackle-hug. Their lips locked, and Rusty and Skids linked hands with a knowing grin. "Uh, guys, not that we're trying to damp the lovefest or anything ..." Skids began, motioning over her shoulder at the sound of sirens. "Ah hear ya, Skids," Sam agreed. "We'd best high-tail it f'r the coast, find a boat or a skysled ..." "Samuel, we are in a hostile nation," Amara snapped. "First and foremost, we must make it as difficult as possible for the foe to catch us, especially with Rictor and Rahne still power-damped - eh ?" "Not anymore, chica !" Rictor grinned, the air dancing around his hands. "Wipeout's brujeria must've worn off - Rahne ?" Dani laughed, hugging Rahne when the wolf-girl shifted to her transitional form and back. "Our psi-link works !" Rahne exclaimed happily. "Oh, Dani - please, an' Amara too - stay with us ?" "Of course, fur-top," Dani said, grinning. She glanced at Amara with disapproval and said, "While I disagree with Amara's ... zeal, she's got a point. We'd better bolt while we can." "Ah'll carry Tab - Dani, can Brightwind carry you, Doug an' Rahne ?" Sam said, taking Tabitha in his arms and blasting off. "No problem, Sam," Dani called, her winged horse taking to the skies as Doug and Rahne climbed onto his back. "'Berto -?" "I've got Ric and Amara - Russ, bring Skids !" Roberto called, blasting off. "Sam, I remember the map of Hammer Bay - the airport's about three klicks west of here !" Skids called over the sound of blast fields, solar and plasmatic energies, and Brightwind's giant wing-beats. "But - we're leaving a mutant-enslaving regime in power !" Roberto yelled, glancing over his shoulder. "Am I the only one who's got a problem with that ?" "We're outnumbered, 'Bobby," Sam called back. "Let's count our blessin's an' get home." -------------------------------------------------------- 24 hours later: X-Mansion: -------------------------------------------------------- ~SAMUEL !~ "Professor Xavier !?" Sam yelled, leaping out of bed in the men's dorm of the underground complex. ~I am in the War Room,~ Charles Xavier's mental voice snapped in Sam's head. ~I STRONGLY suggest you assemble your ... team ... and report here at once.~ "Yessir," Sam muttered, emotions churning as he dressed. #We're adults,# he reminded himself, opening the door to his room and meeting Doug's fearful gaze. #He can't do too much t'us ... kick us out, maybe ...# The young men, accompanied by Rusty, Rictor and Roberto, headed into the hall. Sam nodded politely at the gathered X-Men - #X-Factor's here too ?# - before his knot of mutant males met with Dani and the other X-Force women at the entrance to the War Room. "He's inside," Iceman said, with a twinge of what Sam thought was fear in his voice. #Better get this over with,# Sam thought, opening the door to the War Room. "C'mon, y'all," he said, trying to sound confident. The glare Xavier gave the youths was enough to make Sam's heart drop. Cyclops, Storm and Jean Summers were gathered around the holo-tank, while Xavier stood with his baleful gaze in front of the holographic display unit. "Samuel," Xavier said, his tone level. "I understand you intentionally invaded a sovereign nation yesterday to rescue Rahne and Rictor." "Sir, we ... ah didn't feel we had any choice," Sam said, fighting to remain calm. "The Genoshans attacked us first. Ah wasn't 'bout t'let Ric an' Rahne be turned int' mutates." Xavier nodded, and started to pace with his hands behind his back. Finally, he looked at X-Force with a softer expression. "Your attack brought international condemnation upon Genosha," Xavier said, the corners of his lips starting to twitch. "United Nations observers have been dispatched to the island, and the Security Council has ordered peacekeepers to investigate the mutate situation. "In other words, congratulations." "Sir - !?" Sam exclaimed, as Xavier smiled wearily at him. "Forgive me, Sam. I have had a ... long, difficult trip. But I am relieved - and proud - to see that you have stood by your ideals," Xavier said, taking Sam by the shoulders. "You have also won a great victory for mutants and humans alike, without needless death. I wish you only the best fortune - and I believe I have something for you and X-Force." He held up a set of keys, and handed them to Sam with a conspiratorial wink. "These are the door keys to a mountain cabin I own in Colorado," Xavier said, his smile dancing around his lips. "Underneath that cabin, is a hideaway I constructed several years ago in case the mansion was ever lost to us. It is self-sufficient, and I hope you will accept it as a belated graduation gift." "Sir - ah - !" Sam stammered, breaking into a grin. "Thanks, sir," Dani said, shaking Xavier's hand. "I think we'll move in right away, if you'll be all right here ?" Xavier's expression turned grim, and he nodded once. "I ... will take time to heal," he said. X-Force looked at him with surprise, then shock, as he related what had happened on Muir Island (SEE Convergence) the day before. "Professor - och ! 'M so sorry !" Rahne sobbed, hugging her former teacher. "Is Lady Moira - ?" "She is with Banshee, recuperating from her ordeal," Xavier said softly, returning the hug. "Thank you all for your concern. But ... I think David is finally free ..." "Charles, you need to rest," Jean said, fighting back tears. She walked with Xavier to an anteroom, while Scott shook Sam's hand. "You folks stay in touch - we don't want to seem like we're trying to rush you out of here, though," Scott said amicably as he walked with the X-Forcers out of the War Room. "That's OK, sir," Roberto said, holding Amara's hand. "We've lived in this sardine can for a while now. That cabin sounds great." "C'n ye make room f'r two more ?" X-Force looked across the hallway, smiling welcomingly as Theresa Cassidy walked towards them with a tall, long-haired Native American youth. "Terry ! Are you ... ?" Roberto asked his former Fallen Angels teammate. "I've felt better," Theresa said softly. "Ye ken James Proudstar ?" "Thunderbird," Dani said, her tone sounding odd to Rahne's ears. "It's been a while ..." "Nice to see you too, Cheyenne," James said, smiling without mirth. "I've come seeking help. My entire tribe was massacred, and I need to find their killers." "WHAT !?" Skids shrieked. "OhmyGOD-" "You want help, T-bird, you got it," Sam said, offering James his hand. "Ah know we used t'be on opposite sides, but ah never considered the Hellions t'be our enemies." "Thanks, Guthrie," James said, carefully returning the handshake. "Same with you Muties - like the name change, 'X-Force.'" "Well, then, we'd better get packed if we're going to get to Colorado," Doug said, holding Rahne close. He glanced at a comm-panel, then said, "Hey, is that -?" "It cannae be !" Rahne said, her eyes lighting up as the biosignature on the internal sec-system grew closer. "She was in Madripoor !" "Until I found my siblings, mes amis," a familiar, French-accented voice called from around the corner. X-Force looked, the former New Mutants beaming, as Xi'an Coy Mahn walked into view, leading a small Asian boy and girl by the hands. "SHAN !" Rahne laughed, running to hug her friend. "An' ye found Leong an' Nga - t'is wonderful !" "Hi, Rahne," Nga said, laughing when Doug tossed her in the air. "Shan saved us from the slavers !" "Slavers !?" Sam blurted, aghast. "I am fortunate I was able to save the twins before they were sold. But I did manage to break the slaver ring," Shan said, smiling a little. "And my accursed uncle, General Coy, will rot in prison at last. I ... have missed you all, as well ..." "As if you needed a reason to rejoin us !" Dani exclaimed, grinning as she hugged Shan. "Right, guys ?" "Ya bet, Dani," Sam said, smiling again. "We're headed out west, Shan, guys - you up for it ?" "YEAH !" Leong and Nga cheered, running ahead of X-Force. "Well, what're we waitin' for ?" Rahne said, leading Doug by the hand. "Let's go !" -------------------------------------------------------- EPILOGUE: U.N. Headquarters, Manhattan: 2/19/94: 10:00 hrs EST: -------------------------------------------------------- "... therefore, it is the finding of this Security Council that Genosha be declared a leaderless state, following the mutate uprising and the slaying of President Reneau," the Secretary-General said, a grim expression on his face. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a unique situation to address. A nation of formerly-enslaved mutants and their human overlords sits, leaderless, in the Indian Ocean. We cannot afford to let a genetic war break out." "Zhen, you would endorse zhe committee's recommendation ?" the French ambassador said with a nervous glance at the guest sitting beside her. "I feel we have no other choice. Our esteemed colleague was found innocent by the World Court, and his ... expertise makes him an ideal candidate to guide Genosha through its turbulent times," the Secretary-General said, giving the floor to the "guest." "I thank you for your trust, ladies and gentlemen," Erik Magnus Lehnsherr said, nodding politely as he stood. "I shall endeavour to make Genosha a democratic nation as soon as possible ..." -------------------------------------------------------- tbc --------------------------------------------------------