Part
One - First Contact
On
a lovely Saturday in Westchester Julia de Santos, assassin, mutant and
larval wine critic, was trying to avoid snorting a delicate Chardonnay
up her nose. She was listening to a particularly scandal-minded tour
guide declaim the habits of the proud founders of the surrounding
region. What they put those dunking stools to use for was creative to
say the least. I just love regional history she thought as she reached
for another glass. You can always count on hearing more dirt in one hour
than in one month of history classes. Hmm, not bad. I wouldn't have
pegged this area good for Pinot Noir.
After skillfully securing a suitable lunch and a couple more bottles of
wine to further critique, she wandered out towards a secluded portion of
the vineyard's picnic area.
She was sitting in the shade with slice of Brie in one hand and a
slightly warm glass of Chablis in the other when something loud sounded
overhead. Julia squinted into the general direction of the noise.
Huh. That plane looks awfully low. Didn't notice an airport on the map.
Must be a crop duster. Where'd that corkscrew go?
Come to think about it, that looks a lot like a SHIELD PACRAT. It looks
like it's going to crash too. Probably close by.
"Oh, damn."
The plane wavered then dropped out of the sky and skidded along the
tractor path. The loose parts flying off all directions would keep kids
with metal detectors happy for months to come. Beams of red light lanced
through the side of the PACRAT and a very disgruntled looking man with
feathered wings came flying out. Something body-shaped and completely
black followed a second later.
She stood up and shrugged her jacket back on. After a brief moment of
consideration she picked up the remaining half bottle of Chablis and
sauntered over to the black flying figure. He seemed to be keeping out
of the way while a big Native American looking fellow and even bigger
greyish guy were being beat up. They looked like they were both
suffering from migraines for some reason.
"Sunspot, keep the crowd out of the way!" yelled a
white-haired older man while taking aim with what was most likely the
largest gun she had ever seen. I wonder if that's got a stun stetting,
she thought absently. She looked at the energy-covered figure beside
her. As far as she could tell from his expression he was annoyed at
having been placed on the sidelines. The crowd was staying back anyway.
Nobody wanted to be in the middle of a superpowered fistfight.
"Hi. Do you mind telling me what going on?"
Roberto DaCosta started at her direct question. Bystanders generally
weren't this calm. "He got loose. We're trying to bring him
down." Hey, she's cute, he thought. She's not freaking out either.
Wow.
Just then the older man was sent flying towards them. She waited until
he'd bounced to a stop before asking "Do you folks need some help
or are you just playing around?"
The older man's expression became even more glacial. "Kid, if you
think you can stop him go right ahead. Otherwise get out of the
way!"
"All right, settle down." She twisted her left wrist and a
throwing knife dropped into her hand. She turned to see the winged man
with the glowing red eyes flapping towards them.
She threw the knife which landed in his abdomen. The air in front of her
shimmered she sent a force wave after it that hit him in the chest,
shattering his sternum and more than a few ribs, throwing him backwards
in the process. He landed among some Cabernet Sauvignon plantings
screaming in pain until the drug seeping out from the hollow blade took
effect. She trotted up and looked down at him. He didn't seem to be
getting up again. She pulled the blade free, wiped it on the remains of
his pants and tucked it away.
The team came running up. The older commander type stood with his
excessively large gun in hand and glared down at her. Now that she came
to think about it he looked really familiar. Her brain supplied a name
after some searching. Nathan Dayspring. Cable. In the top ten of the
Guild's 'do not mess with if you can possibly help it' list. Gods. I
can't run into any random trigger-happy American. I run into the poster
boy for Soldier of Fortune and his merry band of mutants. This started
out to be such a good day. She pasted on her most charming smile.
"Good afternoon."
Silence. If possible, they seemed to glare even harder. Their eyeballs
are going to fall out at this rate she thought. "Would it make you
feel better if I told you he's probably not dead?"
"What the hell did you do?" Cable demanded.
"Stopped your hysterical playmate from wrecking this nice little
vineyard." She retorted. "You're welcome."
"You knifed him the gut!"
"Well, he was holding off the three of you." She replied.
"Four, if you count that gun you're carrying. I wanted to make sure
he'd go down and stay there." He raised an eyebrow at that.
Interesting attitude.
"Who are you?"
"Uh, uh. I'm the nearly innocent bystander; you're the guys in
uniforms. You're supposed to go first." He decided to try a light
scan, just to get her name and to make sure that she wasn't a threat. He
felt his telepathic probe hit perfect mental shielding. Damn, no luck
there. Should have brought Dom along, he thought. Also explained why
Mimic's telepathic attacks didn't work on her. He'd have to resort to
charm. He smiled. It looked a little forced but he did it anyway.
"I'm Cable, that's Warpath, Caliban and Sunspot." he said
pointing to each of them in turn.
"I'm Julia." Cable frowned again.
"No last name?"
"Well, that'd give you a two for one special wouldn't it?"
Warpath and Sunspot snickered. Cable glared at them and they quieted
again. Caliban looked vaguely confused. She gestured in the general
direction of the downed cause of all their excitement.
"Look, I don't mean to be especially rude but shouldn't you be
doing something about your buddy?" They looked down at their fallen
quarry. He was wheezing pitifully as only the critically injured could.
"He's out cold." Warpath observed.
"It's the sedative. It'll wear off in an hour or so."
"Sunspot, you and Warpath get a collar and stretcher from PACRAT."
As they ran off, Cable turned to Julia watched with an expression of
mild interest. They're wearing matching spandex uniforms and buttons
with X's all over. I wonder...
"Hey, are you guys X-Men?" Cable looked offended.
"No, we're X-Force." He seemed disappointed when she only
stared blankly.
"Oh. Sorry. I'd hadn't realized it was a franchise operation."
The two returned, loaded the winged man on the stretcher and carried him
back to the plane. She watched as Caliban trailed along behind.
Something not quite right about that one, she mused.
***
"So what do you think Jimmy?" Roberto asked as they strapped
Mimic down. A few bandages and an IV was the best they'd be able to do
until they got back to the mansion.
"He's in rough shape." James Proudstar said as he studied the
unconscious Mimic. Why'd he react so badly to their presence in Siberia
was a mystery. The attack on the station had the fingerprints of the
Acolytes all over it. Shouldn't have Mimic been glad to see another
X-team?
"No, I mean about the girl outside." He glanced back out the
door.
Said girl was sitting on picnic table speaking to an irate looking man.
He seemed to be calming down by degrees. Then he nodded, waved in the
PACRAT's direction and walked back into the winery house, herding
curious onlookers back inside.
"Nice. Strange but nice."
"Caliban, is that girl a mutant?" Cable asked. The tracker
nodded.
"Yes, Cable-Nathan. But she's all quiet."
"Quiet?"
"Not loud like Caliban's friends." Roberto looked up at this.
"Maybe he means she's low level mutant."
"I don't think so. What ever she hit Mimic with wasn't that
low." Cable said pensively. "Let's find out what she's telling
everyone. Caliban, stay here and watch him okay?" he added.
"Okay Cable-Nathan."
***
"Was that all about?" Cable asked, striding up to Julia's
table.
"Hmm? I apologized to the owner for the mess and offered to pay for
the damage. He was asking what you guys were doing wrecking his
vineyard."
"What did you tell them?" he demanded.
"That your team was bringing a delusional individual into custody
and he attacked you in mid-flight. He seemed to take that very well and
commended you fine enforcement officials for being so efficient."
Cable's train of paranoia derailed somewhat at the spin.
"You make us sound legitimate." Warpath commented.
"Would you have rather I said you're a group of mutants forcibly
holding someone against their will, who was then was seriously injured
in his escape attempt?"
"Nah, I like your version better."
She smiled at that. "Thanks."
"What are you doing now?" Sunspot asked.
"It looks like my winery tour is officially shot doesn't it?"
"Tour?"
"I thought I'd see all those 'points of interest' in the visitors'
guidebook."
A fighter, Cable thought. A smart, mutant fighter who happens to be on a
tour of New York and in need of a tour guide.
***
Julia considered Cable's offer. Why do I get the feeling that this is a
bit more than simple mutant to mutant hospitality? If I humour them,
I'll probably get a look at the rest of their team and it'll be
something to do for the rest of the day. If I decline, I'll bet Cable'll
have at least one X-type following me around just on general principles.
She smiled winningly at him. "Sure, why not?"
***
Eventually it was decided that Julia and Sunspot would take her car back
to the mansion while Cable, Jimmy and Caliban would take the PACRAT.
Jimmy looked down at Lotus Esprit racing along well in excess of the
posted speed limit. Roberto gets to ride with the girl with the cool car
'cause there's no way I'd fit into the cool car. Life was not fair.
Cable was matching the road route the two were taking as much as
possible just in case she wasn't as friendly as she appeared.
Theresa Rourke and Domino were sitting on the front steps. Cable had
radioed in saying that Roberto would be arriving with a guest. Theresa
was trying to explain why she was about ask out one Domino's most
unfavorite people out on a date. The conversation had pretty much died a
quick death and they settled for just waiting in silence. They watched
as a black sports car sped up the drive and came to a tire squealing
stop at the bottom of the steps. Roberto and guest emerged a few moments
later.
Domino looked them over. Roberto seemed kind of rattled but all right.
She didn't recognize the girl, though. After sorting through the
introductions, Domino led them to a backyard patio off the wing X-Force
occupied of the mansion.
***
In the medlab, Doctor Hank McCoy looked down at Mimic's battered form.
"Oh my stars and garters. What happened to the poor man?"
"A nearly innocent bystander." Cable quoted.
"Good heavens." Hank busied himself for a few minutes setting
up the fields that would speed his patient's healing. Cable studied the
monitors of the damage to Mimic's chest and abdomen.
"Do you have any idea what drug was used?"
"From the initial blood samples I'd say it's a synthetic derivative
of metomidate. I'd have to run a few more tests to determine a specific
variant." Not just any knife welding mutant then, Cable thought.
She's using professional quality stuff.
"Thanks, McCoy." he muttered as he walked out.
***
Domino decided to try the female bonding approach. It's damn frigging
rare that we meet another mutant who isn't attacking us, she thought.
Much less one who's obviously trying to make nice. She brought out a
pitcher of Margarita mix and she, Theresa and Julia were discussing a
whole grab bag of topics.
Tabitha Smith strolled out and joined them. I am not thinking about my
sucky love life, she repeated mentally as she introduced herself to
their guest.
Julia took another sip of her drink. It was non-alcoholic but very good.
"Are all of you students here?" she asked. "Because
that's quite the school uniform you're all wearing."
"Nah, we're a kick-butt mutant strike force." Tabitha replied.
Julia looked the costumes over carefully. Bad colors aside, from an
assassin's point of view the outfits simply didn't seem very practical.
They were lacking in any significant armor except for the shins and
forearms. The torso, while well fitted, was not protected at all. And
there wasn't any place for even the basic assortment of weaponry that
she'd take on a job. I wonder if those little yellow pouches glow in the
dark, she thought. "I don't think anyone could be kick-butt in
yellow and purple." She commented.
Tabitha looked somewhat offended by the assessment. "Hey, it's what
the stylish superhero wears."
"Stylish is Donna Karan, Channel, and, when dressing down, Calvin
Klein. Purple spandex is just outdoorsy fetish wear."
"Oh, yeah? What'd you know about fetish wear?" Julia decided
to ignore that question. Theresa giggled.
"Why all the poisoned knives then?" Domino asked.
"I heard that New York was full of brightly-colored costumed
weirdos so I thought I'd come prepared." Julia answered dryly.
Domino smiled at that. "Point. Pun intended." She added.
"And, for the record, I only carry one poisoned knife while on
vacation. The other seven are regular blades."
Theresa looked amazed at the idea. "Seven! Where do ye put them
all?"
Julia picked up her coat from her chair, held it at arms' length and
dropped to the cement. It landed with a muffled *clunk*.
"Oh."
"Gives a whole new meaning to 'feminine protection' doesn't
it?" snickered Tabitha.
***
Shatterstar had been relieved that McCoy had seen fit to finally release
him from the medlab. What the point was of all of the doctor's tests he
couldn't fathom. All the man was able to say was that he wasn't human. I
told him that, he thought sourly. As he had been dressing, Jimmy and
Caliban had entered, carrying a wounded man in on a stretcher with
Roberto and Cable following in after them.
He gathered from Roberto and Jimmy that the mutant they had been sent to
retrieve, Mimic, had been subdued by an unknown person. "And she
drives a cool car." Was Jimmy's additional observation. They
decided to join the rest of their team on the patio with their guest.
Caliban had left them to visit with the remaining Morlocks in the
tunnels.
He studied her as they approached. Despite her casual dress he could see
the grace and control of trained fighter in her movements. Judging from
the wounds McCoy was now treating and her readiness for combat perhaps a
good one. Quite different than the women at the clubs Rictor and I went
to, he thought. I wonder what Rictor would say about her. Smaller than
himself. Well shaped body. Black wavy hair pinned up. She turned and
looked directly at him. Attractive features. Silver eyes. He could see
the intelligence there. Rictor would say she is a 'babe', he concluded
Theresa was asking were the woman kept her weapons. She picked up her
coat from her chair, held it at arms' length and dropped to the cement.
He could hear the weapons inside land with a clatter.
Julia smiled at Tabitha's remark as she picked her coat of the ground.
She felt someone's gaze on her and turned to see Jimmy and Roberto
standing with a person she hadn't met yet.
"Hello. I don't think we've been properly introduced," she
said politely "I'm Julia de Santos."
"My name is Shatterstar. I am pleased to meet you."
"Likewise, I'm sure."
Gods, he's beautiful. Julia gave herself a mental shake. Where did that
come from? Think with your brain, girl. As it was, she was acting out of
habit enough to scare herself back to Paris. Since when am I so chatty
with strangers? She wondered. They're a nice bunch, though. Maybe not
professional operatives but damn close. Free-lance heroes being managed
by the ever-lucky Domino and the gun-toting Cable. They're not a new
version of the Wild Pack so do they do their hero stuff for free? That's
bizarre.
They discussed weaponry and concealment for a while. Domino, Julia and
Shatterstar debated whether it was easier to carry bladed weapons or
firearms with the others putting in comments intermittently.
Jimmy leaned over to Roberto as the issue of trenchcoats and swords was
being considered.
"Maybe so, but what are you going to do when the weather heats up?
You'll look pretty obvious; sweating like mad in a long coat in
July." Julia was saying.
"I've never seen 'Star talk this much to someone who wasn't on the
team." He said quietly.
"You've haven't seen him talk to a girl who carries knives while on
vacation." Roberto responded. I think it's a sign of a
dysfunctional personality, he thought. The people he knew who carried
weapons all the time were crazy.
***
Professor Xavier was waiting in his study when Cable entered. He gave a
terse summary of what happened when they retrieved the Mimic in Siberia,
the possible involvement of the Acolytes and their meeting with Julia.
The professor turned his hoverchair to face out the windows.
"Do you think that she knows that she is a mutant? Perhaps she
struck out unconsciously."
"No. I'd say that she knew exactly what effect her power would
have."
"But she doesn't register on Cerebro. I did check that when you
mentioned that you were bringing in someone new to the mansion. I would
suppose that her powers have only recently manifested themselves or are
doing so sporadically." Cable suppressed a sigh. He had spent
enough years in the field to spot an operative when he saw one and
Xavier had a hard time accepting that his mutant finding equipment
wasn't as flawless as he made it out to be. But, in the interests of
inter-team cooperation, he'd let Xavier have his way this time.
"Why don't you talk to her?"
"Yes, I think I should. Would you mind showing her in?"
After Cable let again, Professor Xavier studied a list of possible safe
houses for the unfortunate Mimic. Why had Magnus' followers attacked
him? Did they target him in particular or was it merely that they had
happened on the research station and found it had connections to the
X-Men? Do they still blame me for dealing with Magnus' madness as I did?
Xavier mused. He closed his eyes at the memory of his one-time best
friend's mind dissolving under his telepathic attack. It was necessary,
he thought with his fists clenched. I must remember that.
***
They were discussing what tourist traps to terrorize when Cable came
back.
"Julia, Professor Xavier would like to meet you. He's the founder
of the school." Cable said. Julia looked up at him.
"Certainly." She collected her coat and followed him back into
the building. The team glanced at each other as she and Cable left. Now
she was gone they could talk about her.
"Hey, Domino, is the Prof gonna ask her to join up?" Asked
Tabitha
"I don't know. We don't know anything about her." She replied.
"How old do you think she is?" Jimmy inquired.
"She's old enough to rent a car. At least twenty-five."
Theresa said.
"She could be using fake ID. She doesn't look old." Roberto
pointed out.
Domino frowned at that. "Twenty-five is not old DaCosta."
Roberto decided to leave that one alone.
"She's loaded. Did you see the clothes she's wearing? All designer
stuff." Tabitha observed enviously.
Domino left them discussing their new acquaintance. I'd better run a
background check on her, she thought.
<Nate?> She called through their link.
<Yes?> He sent back.
<I'm going to do a check into that kid..>
<Okay, I'll see you after>
***
Cable and Julia entered the study. The room was dominated by a mahogany
desk at the far end. Behind the large desk was a severe looking older
man. He motioned for them to sit.
"Hello Julia, I'm Professor Charles Xavier." He said. His
voice was studiously neutral but not unfriendly.
"Good afternoon, Professor. It is an honour to meet you. I must
thank you for your hospitality." She responded formally. Cable kept
his expression blank. The kid could really pour it on. Xavier was a soft
touch for manners.
"You're quite welcome." Charles considered how broach the
subject. She'd already met X-Force so presumably she knew that they were
mutants. "Nathan tells me that you demonstrated some unusual
abilities when you encountered Calvin Rankin."
"I'm sorry, who did you say? Do you mean the fellow with the
wings?" Charles nodded.
"I didn't think my abilities were unusual, sir." She stated.
Might as well cut to the chase. "I was under the impression that
everyone here possessed metahuman abilities." She said with a wave
indicating the school at large. Charles nodded again, encouraged. That
the child was aware of her powers and not horrified by her mutancy was
good news indeed.
He leaned forward on his desk. "Quite so. I founded this school to
help mutants learn how to control and use their powers. It is my dream
that mutants and humans may eventually live in harmony."
"An admirable dream, sir."
"Do you mind telling me how your mutancy has manifested?"
Charles asked gently.
"What has Cab-I mean, Nathan told you?"
Cable cleared his throat. "I told him that you threw Rankin back
with some kind of invisible force."
Julia shrugged. "That's it, then." Charles frowned slightly at
her meager description. Perhaps she doesn't know how to articulate what
she does, he thought. From what Nathan described earlier, it sounded
like a raw form of telekinesis. He decided to try a light scan to
evaluate her mental shielding. He reached out and had to contain his
surprise. To his mind's eye her shields looked like a curving metal wall
without a flicker of weakness anywhere. Was the child a telepath?
"Can you read people's minds or hear their thoughts?" He asked
out loud.
"No." She answered in a puzzled tone. "Sir, not meaning
to be rude but may I ask where this conversation is going?" Charles
drummed his fingers thoughtfully on his desk. Where indeed? The child
was most likely telekinetic. She didn't claim any kind telepathic
abilities but, given the level of her mental shields, those may had yet
to manifest themselves. Decision made, he looked at her.
"Julia, would you be interested in learning how to use your mutant
powers effectively?"
"Sir, that is a very generous offer. But may I ask why you think
that I am unable to already use my power effectively?"
Charles sat back in his chair. That was not the answer he expected.
Cable looked at the two of them. Julia was wearing a 'young and
respectful' expression and Xavier seemed taken aback by her decline for
training. The kid obviously wasn't going to give an inch.
<Charles> he sent <She might not want to tell us right away.
Why don't you ask her what she thinks of human-mutant relations? If
she's already comfortable with her powers we may be able to use her on
one of the teams.> He felt Charles' mental acknowledgment.
"Tell me, have you heard of the X-Men?" He asked. She looked
mildly surprised at the change of topic.
"Yes, sir."
"Are you aware of the goals the X-Men strive for? Of the reasons
they risk their lives for a world that fears and hates mutants?"
Julia considered. Should I go for honesty or politeness? Let's try
honesty and see where that goes. Cable was watching closely but didn't
seem inclined to participate.
"If their goals are massive property damage wherever they go,
scaring civilians, not explaining why they do the first two and thus
generating additional negative media attention for mutants worldwide,
then my answer is yes."
The conversation went downhill from there. Xavier found himself strongly
disliking Julia's more militant stance. It sounded too close to what
Magnus had always advocated. She didn't seem to think mutants and humans
could live in true harmony either. "There will always be a
particular group in charge, sir. I feel that mutants should be that
group." She had said. He dismissed her and Cable after he felt she
wasn't going to be suitable for his school.
Cable thought about the conversation as he walked her back to the patio.
"Cable, do you think the X-Men will be able to achieve Xavier's
dream? You were very quiet during that little fiasco." She asked
suddenly. He glanced down.
"Not really. X-Force is trying to use different methods to get
there."
"Oh?"
"We believe in the same goal but we take a more proactive approach
to dealing with things.." He stated directly, watching her.
She seemed to consider that carefully. "Hmm." Was her response
as they stepped out onto the backyard.
"I've got to check on a few things. Dom and I'll be back in a
while." He told Theresa.
She nodded. "We'll try not to wreck anything in the meantime."
***
The mansion's information room had connections to their own extensive
network of contacts and almost every law enforcement computer network in
the world.
Cable leaned over Domino's shoulder to read the monitor. It bugged her
to no end, but privately he thought she was gorgeous when she was mad so
he did more or less intentionally.
"Anything interesting Dom?"
"Not much. Not anything actually. Are you sure she gave you her
real name?"
"Not at all. I can't read her so I'm just going on what she gave
us. What are the chances she's just a well-off kid who just happens to
be touring New York?"
Domino just looked at him with one elegant eyebrow raised.
"I thought so. What do you think?"
"She seems nice enough. Hit it off with the kids." She smiled
mischievously. "And, if I don't miss my guess, Shatterstar was
rather taken with her."
"Huh. Will miracles never cease? Well, whatever if it keeps him
from sulking about Rictor going back to Mexico." She chuckled.
"Seriously, Dom. The kid told Xavier point blank that the X-Men
should be more aggressive or find another way of fighting for his dream
because she doesn't see them doing a damn bit of good for the cause as
they operate now. "
Domino whistled. "Pretty gutsy. Most people get overwhelmed by his
all-knowing act."
"Yeah, that's what I thought. What do you think?"
"Nate, I like this kid. Politically she's perfect but we don't know
enough about her do anything either way."
"I guess we should do something about that then."
***
"Hey, guys." Julia said as she settled back down on a lawn
chair. Jimmy and Shatterstar were bashing each other with bo-staffs.
Roberto was flying over head, doing loops in the late afternoon sun.
Julia watched enviously for a bit. It must be nice to be able to fly,
she thought wistfully.
"What'd baldy have to say?" Asked Tabitha.
"Xavier? He asked whether I'd like to learn how the control my
mutant powers, what I thought of the X-Men. Stuff like that."
"Are ye going to be attending school here then?" Theresa
looked interested. It would be nice to have another girl my age to talk
to, she thought. The X-women were nice enough but they had a tendency to
talk down to her.
"No, I won't. No offense to anyone, but I can use my powers just
fine. And I don't think Professor Xavier and I agree
philosophically."
"Oh. What do ye mean 'philosophically'?"
"He said he'd like for mutants and humans to live in harmony."
They nodded back. They'd heard that any number of times before.
"Well, I happen to think that mutants won't be really safe until
we're in charge. And no, I'm not one of Magneto's Acolytes. Xavier
already asked that."
"What'd Cable say?" Asked Theresa.
"Not much. He said you guys where more geared to taking 'a more
proactive approach'. This would be the 'kick-butt' aspect you mentioned
earlier?"
"Yeah." Commented Tabitha. "What are you going to do
now?"
Julia shrugged. "See the sights. Enjoy my vacation."
They watched the guys fight for a while. Despite his larger size and
greater strength, Jimmy was pretty much being beaten up by Shatterstar.
"Jimmy, don't drop your right hand after every thrust." Julia
said suddenly. They stopped and looked at her. "Sorry, I didn't
mean to interrupt."
Jimmy lowered his staff. "You didn't. I could use a break
anyway." He poured himself another drink. This weapons stuff is a
lot harder to learn than I thought it would be. Especially against Mr.
"I've been trained since childhood to be warrior".
"How long have you been using a staff?" She asked.
"Today is day one."
"Oh."
"Julia, are you familiar with this weapon?" Shatterstar asked
speculatively.
"I get by."
"Would you consider demonstrating you skill?"
"Against you?"
"Yes."
"If Jimmy doesn't mind interrupting his training." She said
with a glance at Jimmy.
He shrugged and handed his staff to her. "No problem here."
She took it and walked over to where Shatterstar was standing. She
tested the footing. The grass was soft but not too bad.
"What is your preference?" He asked solicitously.
"How about a timed match? Go to ten minutes or whoever hits the
dirt first?"
"That is agreeable."
"Oh, I don't possess any kind of accelerated healing, so can we
keep this at low strength?"
"Of course."
"Theresa, would you mind being the official timekeeper? Start the
clock once someone moves."
"Sure."
They faced off. He noted that she was holding the staff lightly despite
her smaller size. She didn't seem to be inclined to attack first so it
fell to him.
Julia watched as he tensed, then sprang forward. He was easily one the
best fighters she'd ever seen but his style was full of large movements
that were strangely inefficient and gave her enough openings to land a
few light blows. She jumped sideways as he swung his staff at her legs.
He corrected the swing quickly and tapped her on the ribs. Ouch. If this
was for real that would have been bad.
Shatterstar backflipped away from her strike to his head that, had they
been in actual combat, would have crushed his skull. Her manner of
fighting was excellent. There were almost no weaknesses in her technique
and it was obvious that she could see the patterns and weaknesses in
his. A warrior, he thought. Like myself. The idea pleased him in a way
he couldn't define.
Both of them had increased their speed as the match progressed. They
were now almost moving faster than their observers could follow.
"Jeez, look at them go." Said Tabitha.
"She does more that 'get by', that's for sure." Jimmy noted.
I've got to learn how to do that.
"Time!" Called Theresa.
The two combatants stopped as if a switch had been hit.
Julia stepped backwards and bowed. "Good match.".
Shatterstar bowed back to her. "Yes." Remarkable, he thought
as he observed her. She wasn't breathing hard so he could presume that
she hadn't been taxing herself excessively. There was just the slightest
flush of color on her pale skin. The only indication that she had been
doing anything except socializing was that a few locks of hair had
escaped their pins. He was about to ask her about her training when she
glanced down at her watch.
"Guys, it's been a blast meeting you but I've got to get
going." She put the staff down and picked up her coat. "Please
give my regards to Cable and Domino."
"I'll walk ye back to your car." Offered Theresa.
"That'd be nice. Take care everybody." She gave them a final
wave and followed Theresa back to the driveway.
***
Disclaimer:
The X-Men and X-Force belong to Marvel Comics. Big Sugar belongs to
themselves. Corn Pops, Pop Tarts, WD-40 and Deep Woods Off are
trademarks of their respective owners. This is a nonprofit work of
fiction. Julia de Santos/Shockwave belongs to me but she'll deny it if
asked.
Questions/Comments: sabre@industrialwebworks.com
Author's Notes: Please see Part One.
This story begins just after X-Force #46.
<telepathic conversation>
*sound effects*
****
Shockwave
by
Sabre
Part
Two - Developments
Two days later.
Shatterstar watched her from across the street. He had followed her from
her hotel in accordance with Cable's order to observe any action that
may provide information about her for their team. He knew he had
surprised Cable with his willingness to handle the task.
"You've never been one for sneaking around 'Star. Why now?"
Julia was dressed casually with a camera case slung over one shoulder.
Her hair was loose and the curled ends danced in the breeze as she
walked along inspecting the things displayed in shop windows. He admired
her carriage and her bearing as she moved. Perhaps if Cable agrees and
she is willing to ally herself with us, she would agree to further
demonstrate her skills as a warrior. Shatterstar found himself liking
that idea. As she idly looked through a selection of dresses on rack
outside he tried to think about thoughts more appropriate for a warrior
observing a possible threat.
What is wrong with me? I watch her like a first run program with no
chance of repeat broadcasts. Shatterstar shook his head at his
foolishness. I am just missing Rictor's company. I wonder how he is
doing with his family. Absorbed in his thoughts, almost didn't he notice
that she had stopped in front of a large store with a wide variety of
weaponry in the window. She stepped back a few paces to read the awning
then went in.
Ah, too bad I cannot join you. That looks interesting. He seated himself
an outdoor cafe two doors down but with a view of the store she had gone
in to.
Julia looked around. Nice stuff. She nodded to the shopkeeper, an older
Asian man. A collection of grandchildren was playing video games in one
corner.
"Hello, young lady is there anything I can help you find?"
"No, nothing special." The old man nodded agreeably. Julia
gazed out of the window and spotted Shatterstar at his table across the
street. He looked bored out of his mind. Should I or shouldn't I? What
the hell. Admit it, you want someone to talk to, she thought to herself.
And since he's gone through all the trouble of following you around for
two hours, you might as well be friendly.
"Actually, I was wondering if I one of the kids would like to run a
quick message across the street for twenty dollars." The oldest
looking of the kids looked up at this. The old man looked wary.
"What message?" Julia pulled a small notepad and pen out of
one of the camera case's side pockets. She handed to the man for
approval. He read it and laughed lightly.
"Direct approach, hmm. Okay, Sun you'll go." He folded the
note and handed to the boy. Julia took out a twenty and gave to the boy
who smiled happily at the windfall. "See the man sitting at the
cafe? With the long ponytail and tattoo on his eye? That's who the
note's for. Tell him he has to reply in person."
"Okay lady."
Shatterstar watched as the door of the weapons' shop opened but instead
of Julia a small boy came out. Disappointed, he watched as the boy ran
across the road and headed directly for him. He studied the small face
with the big grin.
"Yes?"
"This is for you." A folded paper was placed on the table in
front of him. " The lady says you've got to reply in person."
"Oh. Thank you." The boy ran back to the shop. He picked up
the paper and opened it.
Hi.
Would you like to go for lunch?
Julia
He glanced up to see her standing across the street in the doorway of
the shop. She was watching him with faint smile. He stood and walked
over to her.
"I believe my answer is yes."
"I'm glad."
***
Theresa sat pensively in the communications room of the mansion. I'm
going to do this, she thought. I didn't have the 'let's just be friends'
talk with Jimmy for nothing. She tapped the keyboard. The line rang five
times before it was answered.
"Talk to me. Make it quick. There's a McGyver marathon on and I
just love what that guy does with duct tape and chewing gum."
"Wade, it's Terry."
"Hiya gorgeous. What's the problem? Trapped in the loony bin
again?"
"Nae. There's no problem. I'd like to see ye though."
Miles away, Wade Wilson, the mercenary known as Deadpool, stopped all
motion and looked intently at the speaker. Did she really just say that?
I haven't got kicked in the head recently so I should be hearing things
okay.
"Uh, why? You're okay right?"
"Aye. I was thinking I'd like to see ye without anybody chasing us,
no disasters, that's all."
"Do you mean like a date? A date, date? As opposed to a 'let's go
out a beat some people up together' date?
"Aye. That is, if ye'd like."
"I like, I like." He said at last. "I like lots. When?
Soon?"
"Whenever is good for ye. We're not going anywhere for the next
bit."
"Tomorrow? I can pick you up at mutant central. Say sevenish?"
"Sounds good. I'll be waiting."
"Oh boy."
After they signed off, his brain caught up to his mouth. He was one of
the most expensive specialized help money could buy but right now all he
could do was jump up and down in excitement.
"YES!"
***
Shatterstar thought about his day with Julia as he drove back to the
mansion. They had found a small cafe and spent much of the afternoon
discussing her plans for sightseeing. She had been surprised to find out
that he hadn't much knowledge of the city either. He had accompanied her
to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and they had gone through the exhibits
making the occasional scathing comments about the art and the possible
mental health of the artists. He couldn't identify why he enjoyed her
company so much. I barely know her, he thought. But I feel more
comfortable talking with her than I have ever been with anyone else.
The wing were X-Force was staying was mostly dark. Everyone must be
asleep. He passed by the kitchen and noticed that Cable and Domino were
still awake. They waved him to a seat.
"Hey, 'Star. How was your day? Did you find out anything
interesting about Julia?" Asked Domino.
He considered before answering. I was supposed to discover information
that would be of use to the team, he thought. Instead, I know she likes
strong coffee and has a low opinion of abstract art. Not precisely
important tactical data. "I don't think she is a threat to
us." He said at last.
"Oh? What'd you do all day?" Cable asked over the rim of his
mug.
"We had lunch. Then I went with her to an art display."
"It's past midnight. That must have been one hell of a long art
display."
"We attended a dinner theater afterwards." It was very
strange. Julia had been equally baffled. They had spent most of the
performance debating the meanings of the actions of the players. They
had come to consensus that it was supposed to be incomprehensible.
"You were tasked to follow her, you know." Cable said. So much
for 'Star's sneaking around.
"I am aware of that. She noticed I was following her."
"Huh." Cable really couldn't think of anything to say.
<Dom, help me out here. With anybody else I'd say they got close to
the target to seduce the information out of them.>
Domino suppressed her laughter at his thought. <Me too. Given that
this is Shatterstar we're talking about, I think the normal rule doesn't
apply. Maybe they just got along. I hear it happens on occasion.>
Shatterstar noticed that they were probably communicating telepathically
and waited for either one of them to say something aloud.
Domino cleared her throat. "Do you know what else she's planning do
while she's in town?"
"She has a list of things she stated she wished to see." He
paused. "I agreed to accompany her to the Empire State Building and
to a number of other sites tomorrow." The looks on their faces
nearly made him smile. I hope they do not decide that my plans are in
conflict with the team's interests.
Cable and Domino were still trying to figure how to handle things when
Gambit strolled in.
"Bon soir, mes amis. I understand you met a certain petite belle
recently?"
Cable grumbled under his breath. The X-mansion had a whole range of
comforts and advantages but secrecy was not one of them. "You mean
Julia de Santos? Yeah, so what?"
Remy's red eyes were unreadable. "You don' know what she is or you
don' care?"
Shatterstar tensed slightly. What was the man implying?
"That she's a mutant? We figured that out real quick." Domino
couldn't understand Remy's charm at all. Just being in the same room
with him made her want to have a wash.
"She be an assassin."
Cable leaned forward. "You think she's here to kill someone? A
member of one of the teams?"
"Non. They'd be dead by now. I jus' though you should know who
you're dealing wit'."
"So how do you know who the hell she is?" God, if she's some
ex-girlfriend of his I'm going to be sick, thought Domino.
"La petite was at my wedding as a guest of Belladonna."
"Oh."
Cable considered this while Remy helped himself to a cup of coffee.
"Remy, just how good is this kid?"
"She be a known master mon ami. As good as dey get."
Cable and Domino exchanged a glance full of meaning. A trained operative
could be definitely of use to the team.
"Does she have a working name?" He asked.
"Non, not from the Guild. SHIELD's name for her is Shockwave."
Domino sat back in, well, shock. Cable looked like he'd been slapped.
That kid was Shockwave? He ran through the list of kills that had been
attributed to that name. Almost eighty. As far as anyone knew. How many
more? Anyone's guess. Each one a perfect hit. She and Cable exchanged
another look.
"She'd be a helluva an asset." Domino mused out loud.
"Or damn dangerous." Cable reminded her.
"Nate, everybody in this nuthouse could be dangerous with the
possible exception of the goldfish upstairs."
Shatterstar stared at the far wall as he contemplated Gambit's words. To
him, an assassin was everything a warrior was not. Untrustworthy,
cowardly, dishonourable. Julia did not seem be any of those things but
perhaps it was all trickery and lies.
"We would not benefit from associating with those who kill in
secrecy."
Remy gave him a measuring look. He could sense the feeling of betrayal
coming off the boy like mist.
"You got a problem wit' assassins? Dey bound to their Guild jus'
like t'ieves. Dey have der rules."
"You cannot deceive me thief. Assassins have no honour."
"You t'ink it so bad? You killed for sport. De assassins don't kill
for dat. She find out you killed for a TV show she prob'ly but jus' as
disgusted wit' you." With that Remy stalked out. She might be mad
at me now but a least they won't hate her later for what she is.
***
The next morning Shatterstar waited in the courtyard of her hotel. He
watched as Julia approached.
"Hi. Ready to go?" She asked as she reached him.
He gazed at her lovely face. This is an assassin he reminded himself.
"No. Why did you not tell me that you are an assassin?" His
tone was full of accusation. Julia couldn't help her start of surprise.
How the hell did he find out? Who knew who she was? I don't know anybody
here, do I? Oh blast. LeBeau's still hanging out with the X-men isn't
he?
"You didn't ask." she replied. As if I'm going to just say
hello, my name's Julia and I'm paid to kill people. Sounds like some
demented twelve-step program. "Perhaps we should forget about the
tour. It's been nice making your acquaintance." She nodded as
politely as she could manage and walked off.
This doesn't bother me. I've only known him for two days. A day and a
half really. This doesn't bother me. He can't prove a damn thing. This
doesn't bother me, she repeated to herself. Gambit, truce or no truce
I'm going to kill you.
Shatterstar stared after her retreating form. What had happened? He had
expected denials and protestations of innocence. Instead she had all but
confirmed his accusation. Or had she instead been so offended by his
words? Why did it bother him so much to think she did not want to speak
with him any longer?
"Julia! Wait!" She turned to see him jogging after her. Gods,
what now?
"What did you want?" He looked slightly put out by her cold
tone.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to offend you."
"You didn't. I think the issue here is whether I offend you."
He couldn't think of anything to say to that. She sighed.
"Look, why don't we continue this conversation somewhere reasonably
private, okay?" He brightened at this. At least she was willing to
speak with him.
***
Just before lunch Tabitha intercepted Sam as he was leaving the library
with a large binder under his arm.
"Sam!" She called. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed
the air out of him.
"Hey there girl." He smiled when they broke.
"I was thinking we could go and see a movie later. A little time
for ourselves. What do you say?"
"Ah'd like to but Ah've got to study these Blackbird specs. Maybe
later this week?"
"Um. Okay. Promise?"
"If nothing important comes up."
"..."
"You know, you should be practicing more with powers. Ah think the
Danger Room should be free now."
"Is this something you want to help me 'practice' with?" She
leered. Maybe he was just playing hard to get.
"No, Ah've really got to study. Ah'll help set up a program for
you, though."
"Uh, no. That's okay. You run off and study. I'll see you
around."
"Sure Tabs."
She watched as he strode down the hall. "Damn it!" I'm not
going to cry, she thought furiously. He's busy. Just because we haven't
done a single thing together in a week doesn't mean I'm going to blow my
cool.
***
They ended up back at her hotel room for no other reason than if she was
going to be telling a member of known mutant outlaw group that she was a
killer for hire she's wasn't about to do so in public.
She threw her coat over the chair in the sitting room adjacent to her
suite.
"Okay." I can do this, she thought. Gambit's already told them
who I am, that thieving bastard. Still, a lifetime's worth of secrecy
was hard to overcome in twenty minutes. She didn't want to examine why
she was doing this too closely. "What did you, and by extension I
can assume all of X-Force, want to know? Or better yet, what has Gambit
not told you?"
He looked surprised at the association. "I want to know, for
myself, if what he has said about you is the truth."
"And that would be what, exactly?"
"You are an assassin."
"Yes, I am."
"Oh." Shatterstar stood up and moved over to gaze out of the
window.
"What specifically is bothering you? X-Force consists of mutant
terrorists that are wanted by the U.S. government and SHIELD for a whole
assortment of offenses up to and including attempted murder."
"We are not terrorists."
"That's what's on news. Sorry."
"It is just on my world assassination has an extremely negative
connotation."
"On your world?" This was news. A unpleasant possibility
occurred to her. Oh gods, please let him not be delusional.
"Yes. I am not from Earth. Did you not suspect that from my
name?"
"No. I mean, I thought it was your, uh, working name, as it were.
You've got a friend calling herself Boomer for goodness sakes." She
paused. "Where are you from?"
"That may take some time to explain."
"I'm not on a schedule."
"What about your plans for today? I thought you wished to see the
Empire State Building."
"I'm fairly sure it'll still be there tomorrow."
"You are truly new to New York if you think the buildings here
remain undamaged for very long."
"If not, we can go look at the ruins." She pulled a bottle of
wine from the bar fridge and a couple of glasses. "I got this at
the vineyard your friends dropped in on. May I pour you a glass?"
"Yes, I think so. I have never had wine or any type of alcohol
before."
"Really? The effect is sort of lost on me. It tastes nice
though."
"Theresa used to drink beer quite often." He said as he
removed his jacket and settled on one end of the sofa.
"Oh? I don't care for beer. I can't get past the smell." She
said as she put the glasses down. She sat down opposite from him.
"I have to ask. Is this normal for you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Hanging around with an almost complete stranger."
"No. I do not know why I am doing this."
She laughed softly. "Well, that's okay. Neither do I."
He sat for a moment trying to find a way to describe his world and his
life in a manner that would not have her questioning his sanity.
"I told you I am not from Earth. The world I am from is called
Mojoworld, after the ruler. The ruling class is of a different species
than mine and my people were, are, being held as slaves." He picked
up his glass and took a sip. It was an agreeable drink.
"Why are your people slaves? Did you lose a war?"
"No. We are created to be slaves. My race was bioengineered, not
evolved like humans. We were created to provide entertainment.
Television is a very powerful on my world. We would perform for
television programs that were in demand by the masses. There were a few
factions that contested for power but Mojo's programs always had high
enough ratings to maintain his rule."
"Are you saying that the power base of the government rested on
television ratings?"
"Yes." He smiled at her expression. "I am entirely
sane."
"I don't doubt it. My political theory professor would
hyperventilate at the idea though."
"That would be the reaction of most people." He said. "We
have been trying to free ourselves for over one hundred years. Many of
us who escaped from slavery joined the Cadre Alliance."
As he described their war, he realized how much he had neglected his
mission. I have almost forgotten why I am here. He told her of his trip
through time and space in search of help and how that resulted in
joining with the group that would become X-Force. He talked about the
nature of the Arena games and the Spineless Ones' taste for blood
sports. She looked ill at the idea of killing for entertainment but did
not say anything.
"The matches of single combat in the Arena were the most popular
show. The more a warrior was able to humiliate his enemy the better
ratings."
"These matches were always to the death?"
"Yes. If your opponent was badly injured Mojo would decide whether
or not they would be spared by the audience reaction." He closed
his eyes briefly. He could hear the roar of the crowds demanding death
even now. They had cheered his victories but he always knew that they
would have cheered his death just as avidly. He opened his eyes and
looked at her. She was staring down at the sofa, one finger tracing the
pattern of the fabric absently. "Julia?"
"It sounds like a cruel world." She said softly. "What
happened to those who refused to fight?"
"They were still placed into competition. They were killed by their
opponents. Not many wished to die that way. We are bred to fight. The
sense of honour instilled in us demands it. The trainers tell us that
'where there is life, there is hope'." He paused. "That phrase
inspired the Cadre Alliance."
She looked up at him. "Of course your people had to be
indoctrinated to hope." She said just as quietly as before.
"If you were being set against your countrymen, you needed
something to believe in. This dream that someday it would end." He
heard the sadness and understanding in her voice.
"Yes." He hesitated, then took her hand gently in his.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For listening to me. I have not spoken of this since I arrived on
this world."
"You must have told your friends this. Don't you talk to
them?"
"My teammates know where I am from and how I came to be here but
they have their own concerns."
She tilted her head questioningly. "You make it sound like they
don't care. I thought you said that's why you're with them to begin
with."
"I feel that Cable may have made his offer of assistance without
understanding fully what I was asking. And perhaps I accepted too
rashly. Even he did, there does not seem to be any indication from him
that his part of the agreement will be honoured. The others do not take
my request seriously because of that, I think."
"You live in the same house as the X-Men. Have you asked
them?"
"I have thought about asking them." He played with his glass,
watching the liquid spash against the sides. "They were not the
heroes I expected from the vids. I do not doubt they are formidable
opponents but I don't know anymore if they are what the Cadre Alliance
needs to succeed against Mojo."
The sat in silence for a while. Julia got up and retrieved the bottle of
wine from the ice bucket.
"If your trip back involves time travel, couldn't you theoretically
return just after you left? That way, no matter how long it takes here,
your people won't notice the difference?" She asked as she refilled
their glasses.
"Yes. However, I still have no means of returning. The technology
of this world is not yet advanced enough and I am not versed in the
magics capable of making the journey." He sighed.
She settled down across from him again. Magic, huh? I think I know a
magician or two, she thought. I wonder if interdimentional time travel
is on the course list.
"Tell me about your guild." He asked. "I don't know very
much about how such things are organized here."
"That may take a while." She smiled. "We've been around
for a long time."
"I, too, am not on a schedule." Indeed, Cable had been so
amazed that he was inclined to socialize with someone that he was
exempted from training sessions for the next few days.
Julia sipped her wine and tried to sort out an abbreviated version of
the Guild's thousand years of history. "Here in America it seems
that the development of mutants in the population is considered recent.
That's not really true. The number of mutancies is on the increase but
there have always been people with usual powers throughout history. One
of the rarest powers is that of immortality."
"I am familiar with this. Sam Guthrie is immortal. We were certain
he had been killed in battle but he came back from death."
"I think I remember Tabitha complaining about him. He's with the
X-Men now, right?" He nodded.
"Many immortal mutants became very wealthy and powerful simply
because they outlasted everyone else. Others gathered mortals to serve
their causes and protect their interests. These became the sponsors of
the guilds. Eventually, the guild councils created their own laws and
expanded into different countries." She took a sip of her wine.
"The Assassins' Guild was created by Selene to fight her wars.
She's only ever appeared to the Council, though. Remy LeBeau's Thieves'
Guild was formed by Candra to acquire valuable items that she wanted. I
understand that she's still involved directly with them. She caused the
split between the New Orleans Assassins' Guild and the main house in
Argentina when she persuaded their council to accept her in place of
Selene."
"Are there many such guilds?"
"According to the records, at one time there were twelve. Now we're
down to two. Some of the functions of the vanished guilds have been
incorporated into the surviving houses."
"I have never seen any vid of this in all my time here."
"I'm not surprised. After all, killing and thieving is against the
law in most countries." She looked consideringly at him.
"Generally, anytime evidence of either guild's existence is going
to be made known to the media everyone available moves to destroy
it."
"Sensible." He thought for a moment. "Are you at risk for
telling me this?"
"Only if you planned to announce it on nationwide television."
"No. I would not betray your confidence." He sipped the wine
again. "Did you join the Guild freely?"
"I suppose not." She said. His eyes darkened at that.
"I'm a foundling. An orphan. Technically speaking, when the
headmaster took me from the orphanage the Guild bought me. Most of what
I earned for the first three years after I reached full rank paid for my
freedom."
Shatterstar put his glass down while he considered her words. It was
disturbing to hear that she had been property.
"I had, I think, a good upbringing. I didn't suffer. I didn't want
for anything and when I see what some parents do their children here I
can't help but be grateful." She paused. "I wasn't alone. The
guilds have been actively taking mutant children in for some time. I
would guess that's how Remy came to be Jean-Luc LeBeau's son."
"Were you similarly adopted by an assassin's family?"
"No. I was raised in the guild house with a few others. We started
training earlier than children who had been adopted into assassin
families."
"Ah. That explains you skill. I was very much impressed when we
dueled the other day."
She smiled. Compliments from another expert were always welcome.
"Many thanks. I've got to say that you're certainly one of the best
fighters I've seen. Your style is very unique."
"Thank you." He smiled back. "I have been told I employ
excessively extravagant techniques by others though."
"As long as it works for you, anything goes." She shrugged.
"We used to get marked for style and technique but the particulars
were up to us."
"Marked? Do you mean like grading?"
"Yes. It was a school after all."
"What sort of classes were taught to children who were being made
into assassins?"
"Weaponry, combat strategy, basic magical theory. Plus, we did the
usual literature, sciences, and cultural studies." She smirked at
his disbelieving expression. "Sounds a little out there?"
"Out where?" He asked with what she was starting to recognize
as a conversational hedge. "It sounds to me like a very practical
and useful education."
***
Wade pulled up outside the X-mansion. He checked his watch nervously.
I've done jobs in total hellholes and I get the jitters waiting for my
date. At precisely seven, Theresa emerged from the house.
"Oh, wow." He sighed. She was wearing a very flattering dark
green dress that showed just enough to wet the appetite. He got out of
the car and met her halfway down the steps.
"Hiya doll. You look fantastic."
"Hello Wade. I'm glad ye like the outfit." She studied him
carefully. His face looked almost normal but there was something just
slightly off. "Are ye wearing an image inducer? Ye look
different."
"Nah. I'm trying something new. It's a latex mask." He said
with a twinge of anxiousness. What did she think? She reached out and
gently ran her hand down the side of his face. She could feel the scar
tissue under the covering.
"Ye look fine, Wade." She said finally with a smile.
"Let's go and have a good time."
He stood there with a silly grin on his face. "You got it, Red. One
good time coming up." He opened the door for her and clicked his
heels in air as he hurried to the driver's side.
***
Jimmy was sitting outside and enjoying the sunset. He'd allowed himself
a bottle of beer as Theresa wasn't around to be tempted. That's kind of
the problem isn't it? He mused. I'm good at helping her and being her
friend. Spirits knows that I think she's one of the most beautiful women
I've ever met. She said she still likes me as a friend and I know I
still like her. Should I push for more anyway? Do I really want to or I
am just doing this out of habit? Jimmy boy, you need a life.
***
They had gone to see the Empire State Building after all. They both
agreed that the streets of New York looked much better from twelve
hundred feet up. Afterwards, they found a nice restaurant with a view of
the city lights.
"After you left, there was discussion as to whether or not you had
told us your real name. Domino had tried to find some record of you in
various databases."
"Oh? I can't say I'm surprised. Well, on the passport it's my full
name: Julianna Selena de Santos. Spanish names tend to be lengthy so I
just introduce myself using the short form. Domino can look me up under
that name if she wants to."
He turned the name over in his head. "I think it has a pleasing
sound."
"Thank you." She smiled. "Which name do you prefer:
Shatterstar or Gaveedra Seven?"
"I earned the name Shatterstar so I would say I prefer that one. I
don't like the number associated with my other name. Neither one is what
I use legally here." He said. After searching through his jacket,
he handed his driver's license to her.
She looked at the card. "Benjamin Russell?"
"Apparently I resembled this individual closely enough that Cable
thought that it would be a suitable legal identity."
"Where is he now?"
"He died a few years ago in an institution for the criminally
insane."
"You're using the ID of a crazy person? The police are going to
love that."
"I'll just have to ensure I'm not performing some outlandish act
when they decide to question me."
"I thought that's what your team did best." She studied at him
then turned back to the picture. "You know, you don't look like a
'Benny'."
"I'm glad you think so. I don't think I would be able to face my
enemies saying 'I am Benny, warrior born'."
"It does lack a certain something." She agreed.
***
Wade was happier than he could remember being in a long time. He was
twirling Terry around the dance floor of a fancy dinner club and feeling
like just another guy out with a pretty girl. I think my life is
complete, he thought as she pressed against him as the song ended. And
people say ballroom isn't sexy.
"Yer a terrific dancer. " She said as they sat down again.
"Only one of my many fabulous secret talents." He said as the
waiter came back with another bottle of de-alcoholize wine. He'd nearly
died when she admitted she couldn't let herself drink anymore. More so,
considering he'd just offered to get her something from the bar. What
could have happened to you to hurt yourself like that? He wondered. He
had managed not to screw things up and suavely choose something they
could both enjoy. At least it tasted like wine. He couldn't feel alcohol
unless he went on a real bender anyway. Like I'm going to do that with
her sitting here, he thought.
"Babe, I gotta know. Why, um, are you, I mean," He stuttered
to a stop. Great time for your brain to seize, Wilson.
Terry smiled. "Why did I ask ye out?"
"Yeah." He fiddled with his napkin. "You were kind of
close to Proudstar. What's up with that?"
She sighed. "Nothing. I said 'let's be friends'." She leaned
forward and took one of his hands. "I like ye, Wade. I sort of got
the impression ye liked me too. I want to give this a chance. Is that
good enough reason for ye?"
"It's a great reason." He grinned. "Fabulous. Wunderbar.
Outstanding."
"I guess ye like it then?" She teased. He nodded
enthusiastically. "How about this then?"
She leaned forward kissed him. She could feel the unevenness of his skin
through the mask but she had promised herself to not let that stop her.
For the first time since she'd met him, he was completely speechless. He
blinked as she sat back again. She kissed me! He thought stunned.
She gave him an appraising look. "Well?"
"Oh yeah. I definitely like that too." He gushed. "Take
advantage of me anytime."
"I just might do that." She winked.
***
After dinner they walked along until they came upon a loud nightclub.
There was a line of people outside waiting to get in.
"I have been here before. Rictor, our teammate I told you who has
left, brought me. He thought it would be a good experience."
"Was it?"
"No. I found the environment too close to that of my homeworld. And
there was a woman who..." He trailed off. Julia looked at him when
he didn't continue. He had a vaguely embarrassed expression.
"A woman who what?" She asked teasingly. "Asked you for
hair care advice?"
"No. I think the term is 'came on' to me."
"This was a bad thing? Or just unexpected?"
"Both unexpected and unknown. Rictor said it is just 'social stuff'
I have to learn but I have my doubts."
"Well, given the culture here finding information shouldn't be
difficult. Did you like the attention? No, never mind. You don't have to
answer that."
"I don't mind answering you." He said truthfully. "Her
attentions were, ah, physical. I wasn't prepared for my reaction to
them."
Oh, she thought. Is he saying he's never been felt up before? I think he
is. My goodness.
"How did you react? When that sort of thing happens to a woman the
man usually gets slapped."
"I did not hit her. I ran out the door. Not the fearless behavior
expected from a warrior."
"'Star, correct me if I'm wrong but I'm getting the strong
impression your schooling didn't cover reproductive biology and
psychology." Sailing into deep waters here, she thought. Do I
really want to know this or am I letting my morbid curiosity run away
with me?
"Your impression is partially correct. We are," He paused.
"anatomically correct. So I am aware of the physical makeup of the
sexes. However, reproduction is done entirely through artificial
means."
"Why artificially? Just because? The women don't want stretch
marks?"
"No, we are married to a genetically approved mate in order to
improve the Arena game stock. The Arena could not spare a female warrior
for the gestation period so infants are created and raised in the
training facility's breeding centre."
"Oh. That's sounds like quite the impersonal reason to get married.
Arranged marriages in the Guild are usually to keep the peace between
the various houses." She glanced at him. "What's your wife
like? Shouldn't she be wondering where you are?"
"I have never met her." He said in a subdued tone. "From
the vids I have seen, she is a magnificent warrior. Undoubtedly she is
still fighting with the Cadre Alliance."
"I can see how you'd be a good couple then."
"Yes, I suppose we will be." He thought for a few moments.
"You mentioned that arranged marriages are not unknown in your
guild. Are you married?"
"No. There was someone that the Council thought would be a terrific
match for me but it didn't work out as planned."
"Why?" He asked curiously.
"It was hate at first sight. Nicholas and I aren't actively trying
to kill each other now so I guess that's some progress."
"Oh. Where is he now?"
"Italy, last I heard. He's in the same guild, different branch.
They're into magic and whatnot."
The strolled along in companionable silence as they occupied themselves
with their own thoughts. He found himself wondering what kind of person
would incite such loathing in her. I wonder what my reaction to Windsong
will be when we meet. She was impressive on the vids. Adam X was willing
to fight to the death to save the hologram of her so he must have
thought the mere sight of her was reason enough.
"Julia?"
"Hmm?"
"What was this Nicholas like?"
"Well, he's good-looking. Blond hair, green eyes. We're the same
rank, sort of, in the Guild, so he's good at what he does. All the
regular social qualifications: respectable family, charming,
well-educated and so forth. If you can overlook the fact he's a vampire
and half-demon, then I'm sure you'd get along very well."
He stopped and stared at her. "Your Council thought a demon would
be a good match for you?"
"Sure. They thought I was the avatar of our patron goddess so a
sorcerer would be an acceptable date."
"Why did they think you to be that?"
"I'm immune to magic for some reason. Spells just skip over
me."
"That is quite an advantage. On my world, there would be many who
would desire such immunity."
"It's just a fluke, or sloppy spell casting. I'd rather be immune
to bullets."
He smiled at her eminently practical view. "That also would be
desirable."
"What does you wife look like? Do you know her name?"
"Her name is Windsong. She is a warrior, as I have mentioned."
He paused. "She has very long brown hair and brown eyes. I am not
sure of what else I could tell you. I think she would be considered
beautiful by Earth standards."
"I'll bet she's photogenic too." She smiled. The idea of an
entire world run by television still amazed her.
"Of course. Are you not?"
"I'm not sure. I stay away from cameras. It's sort of expected,
given my line of work."
"That is too bad." He mused aloud. She gave him a sideways
look but didn't say anything.
***
They were watching television when he returned to mansion. Tabitha
practically tackled him when he came into the living room.
"'Star, where have you been all day?"
"I have been in the city with Julia."
"Oh really? Cool. Let's hear it."
"Hear what?"
"Details 'Star. C'mon, you're in town all day with a girl and
you're not trying to kill each other. What happened?"
"We talked. She is very good company. I enjoy speaking with her a
great deal."
"I guess it helps that she's majorly cute too." Roberto noted.
"She is aesthetically pleasing." He agreed. Leaving the rest
of them with bewildered looks, he went upstairs to his room.
"I dunno. I think it's weird. 'Star usually doesn't care about
anything except TV and hacking people to bits." Jimmy commented.
"Do you think it's a sign the world's ending?" Mused Roberto.
"What, again?" Jimmy asked. He tilted his head as he heard the
front door opening again. After a few moments Theresa breezed through.
"Hi guys."
"Hey Terry. How's Deadpool?" Roberto asked. I cannot believe
she went out with him.
"Wonderful." She smiled. "I'll see ye in the morning.
We've got a session at eight so don't forget." She waved at them
and sailed upstairs, humming happily.
"Oh, yeah. The world's definitely ending." Tabitha muttered.
"What's the matter, Tabs?" Jimmy asked. "You've been
snarky all day."
"Sam's being a jerk." She grumped. "He's so into being an
X-Man now it's enough to make me gag. At dinner he said maybe if I train
harder I might graduate too."
"Since when were we looking to graduate?" Roberto asked
without looking up from the TV. "I thought that's what Gen X was
for. We're just as much a real team as they are."
"I guess." She said. "It just makes me mad."
"It should. I personally thought it was weird that Sam even went
for it." Roberto opined.
She huffed and returned her attention to the TV. He looked her over as
they watched the rest of the late night movie. He always liked blondes.
He knew that Tabitha didn't mind him and Sam's ignoring her wouldn't
help their relationship any. It was just, what? Besides the hair, she
wasn't the type of girl he found really attractive. She was pretty but
they were from different worlds, socially speaking. He was the head of
DaCosta International, even if it was in absensia. He sighed as an image
came to mind. Amara Aquilla, now she had been perfect. Except she'd been
interested in Manuel at the time. Now though, she was back in Nova Roma.
Rumor had it she and Manuel had called it quits once and for all. I
should write her, he thought. Better brush up on my Latin. Besides, I'm
sure Sam wouldn't like me hitting on his girl just because I can.
***
Disclaimer:
The
X-Men and X-Force belong to Marvel Comics. Big Sugar belongs to
themselves or their record company. San Miguel is real beer from the
Philippines. Corn Pops, Pop Tarts, WD-40 and Deep Woods Off are
trademarks of their respective owners. This is a nonprofit work of
fiction. Julia de Santos/Shockwave belongs to me but she'll deny it if
asked.
Questions/Comments:
sabre@industrialwebworks.com
Author's
Notes: Please see Part One.
This
story begins just after X-Force #46.
<telepathic
conversation>
*sound
effects*
****
Shockwave
by
Sabre
Part
Three - Getting Comfortable
They
were walking back to her hotel room discussing the latest movie they had
seen. There were only so many tourist traps that anyone was willing to
visit in two weeks, no matter how far away they came from. Shatterstar
was amazed that she hadn't been exposed to television or motion pictures
until comparatively late in life.
"I grew up
in secret society in the middle of a mountain range. I knew what it was
but television as popular culture kind of eluded me until I moved to
Europe. Anyways, too much TV's supposed to bad for your eyes."
"My eyes
are in excellent condition and I have seen more television than anyone I
know. Perhaps not enough TV is bad for your eyes?"
"I think
I'll let medical science work on that." She decided as they reached
the lobby of the hotel. "I'm moving out of here tomorrow." She
added offhandedly.
For a moment,
he didn't know what to think. I knew she was only vacationing here, he
thought, but I hadn't prepared myself for the instance when she would
leave. Julia was oblivious to his reaction.
"I thought
I'd set up keep somewhere a little less transient." She said they
got into the elevator.
"What do
you mean?"
"I'll be
moving into a place that's outside the city. I really don't change
locations all that often. I was in Paris for two years before
this."
"I would
have thought due to your profession you would be on the move
frequently." He commented. I am glad you are not leaving yet, he
thought.
"You're
confusing me with a mercenary." She said as they settled onto the
sofa. "At the risk of sounding boastful, I don't leave witnesses or
survivors in the course of doing a job so I'm not really worried about
anybody out for revenge coming after me. If someone comes out of the
woodwork, well, there's few people I can't take."
He raised his
eyebrows at that. "Why do you think I have confused you with a
mercenary?"
"Mercenaries
are pretty much freewheeling in their methods. They can do anything they
want so long the price is right. They can even go after each other. They
end up running from all sorts of people after awhile." She
explained. "Guild assassins can't take contracts on each other, so
a major source of worry is gone right there. We don't involve innocent
third parties, we don't do anything except neutralize the target."
He picked up
the room service menu. It was his turn to choose dinner. "I can
understand how you can be more relaxed about how you conduct your life
then. Theresa has a friend who is such a mercenary and we still don't
know where he lives or how he locates us." He said studying the
selection.
"Well, if
this guy has been in business for while then he's probably got to hide
from a lot enemies." She paused. "And locating you guys
wouldn't be too hard if someone puts their mind to it. You're X-Force
and you live at Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning with the X-Men.
There's a suspicious number of X's in there. I think that's what phone
books are for."
"We
actually have not been in the mansion for very long. We previously lived
at a facility formally owned by a man called Arcade."
"Gods.
Arcade? Really? He gives assassins a bad name and we don't have much to
start with. Can I hope you nailed him then?"
"Ah, no. I
am sorry but I have to disappoint you. The facility was abandoned when
we moved there."
"Damn."
"I agree.
I have found him to be of particular annoyance." He said reaching
for the phone. While he placed their order, she dug around for the
address of her soon to be new residence. When he hung up the receiver,
she handed him a small card.
"That's
where I'll be, if you'd still like to hang around together."
"I'd like
that very much."
***
Jimmy was
enjoying a snack in front of the TV when spotted Caliban lumbering by
with bundle of blankets under one arm and a large pack under the other.
He was wearing a strange, mismatched set of clothes.
"Hey Cal!
Whatcha doing?"
"Caliban
is going to live with Morlocks."
"What?"
"Caliban
misses Morlock friends. They are going away to be safe. Caliban is going
to go way with them."
"Uh, does
Cable know about this?"
"Caliban
told Cable-Nathan. Cable-Nathan and Patch-Eye were very unhappy."
"Oh. When
are you friends coming to get you?"
"They are
waiting outside now. Caliban senses them."
"I'll walk
you to the door."
Sure enough,
there was a collection of Morlocks waiting outside. They somehow had
acquired a beatup school bus. Jimmy watched with more than a little
sense of foreboding as they all piled in and drove off. Caliban's
hitting the highway, he thought. The roads will never the same again. I
wonder what'll happen when they stop at a rest area?
***
He pulled up to
the end of a row of converted warehouses. The neighborhood appeared to
be in transition from industrial to artsy with all sorts of creative
looking individuals walking around.
He pushed the
intercom button next to a featureless steel door.
"Yes?"
"Hello
Julia, it's Shatterstar."
"Be right
there."
Julia opened
the door and showed him in. The warehouse had been split into two
levels. The personal living space was upstairs with the main floor
consisting of a training area, kitchen and living room-like space. He
couldn't help notice that, while there was an expensive-looking stereo
system, she'd didn't appear to have bothered with a television. There
was a stained glass skylight overhead. Three large trunks of
miscellaneous weaponry were lined up against one wall.
"How did
you get your weapons through the airport?" He asked looking at the
neat arrangements of knives and swords.
"It's not
as difficult as you'd think. As long as it goes as sealed cargo, I can
more or less bring it everywhere. Go ahead, take a look if you'd
like." She said as she poured them drinks. "I suppose I could
just buy new equipment when I relocate but some of those blades were
custom made so they're hard to replace. Others are just bits and pieces
I've picked up over the years." She handed him a glass as he poked
curiously at the various bits of hardware. "I packed everything
this time. I would have left most of the older stuff with my apartment
but the girl who moved in after me isn't into bladed weapons."
"You know
who is living your former home? Do you who lived here before you?"
"Yes. The
girl who's at my old place is a seer for the Paris house. This place was
owned by a thief so I can be pretty sure the security system is
good."
"That is
reassuring." He commented. There were several styles of swords. The
knives were mostly throwing blades with few long bladed types. "You
don't use firearms?"
"I can. I
will if the job requires it but those are really tough to get across
borders. I just pick up whatever I need wherever I happen to be."
She smiled mischievously. "And guns have no style. Any moron can
pull a trigger."
He laughed and
they clicked their glasses together. "Yes. When my teammates found
out I knew how to use a gun, they were amazed. I didn't point out that
it was far easier than using two swords in combat. I'm sure Cable would
be displeased to hear this, though."
"I can
imagine." She laughed. "It's too bad you didn't bring your
gear with you. I don't know many people who fight double-handed."
"Are you
suggesting a duel?"
"Sure."
"I would
like that also. I didn't bring my swords but perhaps you have a pair I
can use?"
"I think
so." She dug around in a trunk. "These are matched set but
they may be a little light for you."
He took a
proffered sword. It was lighter than either of his own Mojoworld swords
but not unworkable. The blade itself was thinner and longer. Better
reach, he thought. The grip was good too. The sword was balanced to
itself so he could suppose that it was not custom made.
"This is
very good." He said at last. "I have secondary pair similar to
this. This type is called a 'katana', correct?"
"Yes."
She said as she pulled another sword from a different trunk. "I
find it very useful if I'm going to packing it around for a long time
because it's so light. Something like this just for dueling." The
sword she was holding was a long bladed type with an elaborate guard. He
took it from her and studied it. "It's a medieval European style
blade with a few modifications. The common use is sword and knife."
She looked up
to see him smiling openly at her. "What?"
"Nothing.
I am just enjoying myself." He said. He looked down at the clothes
he was wearing. Not very good for fighting. She seemed to guess what he
was thinking.
"If it
doesn't weird you out too much, I probably have a pair of sweats or
shorts you can wear."
"I would
appreciate that."
She went
upstairs and looked through her workout clothes. "How about
these?" She called as she tossed a pair of unisex shorts down at
him. University of Madrid, he read on one leg as he inspected the
garment. It looked too big for her so it would likely fit him.
"This is
fine." He said. He could hear her rustling upstairs. She must be
changing clothes also, he thought.
"Are you
decent?" She asked.
"Yes."
She hopped over
the railing and landed in front of him with a pair of towels in one
hand. His eyes widened. "I wouldn't have expected you to be able to
do that."
"It's not
too high. Why not?" She smiled dropping the towels on the sofa. She
was wearing a sweat pants, a brief top and what looked like fitted black
slippers. "I don't want to wear my boots." She explained at
his look. "And my other shoes aren't really any good for this kind
of thing."
"It would
be unfortunate for you to jump from that height only to hurt yourself
with poor footwear." He said picking up his swords.
She picked a
knife belt and strapped it on for a cross-body draw. Spring-loaded wrist
sheaths were better for surprise attacks. He's knows I'm here, she
thought amused. I certainly know he's here. Especially now that he was
down to a pair of shorts and runners. Stop that, she scolded herself.
"As these
are not practice weapons we should pull our strikes." He said
facing her.
"Okay. En
garde, s'il vous plait." She said raising her sword in salute.
"For the
glory of the Arena." He replied.
They started
slowly. Playing with real blades against a new opponent made them both
more cautious. Gradually, they because comfortable to each other's style
and picked up speed. The warehouse echoed with clash of steel.
Shatterstar was
impressed anew by her skill. Her style was very elegant, not the same as
a warrior of the Arena at all. There were no wasted motions, no
flamboyant gestures. She smiled devilishly and switched her sword and
knife hands midway through their match. He was momentarily on the
defensive as he adapted to the difference in her attack.
Julia leaped
over him as he pressed the attack again. She twisted in the air and
faced him as he stepped forward. His face was expressionless but his
eyes were sparkling. Her initial assessments of his style came back to
her as they danced around the floor. Strong, fast and very skilled. He
was inclined to large gymnastic-type moves that were a unique
combination flashy and superbly effective. It certainly is wonderful to
watch, she thought as she blocked a strike with her knife.
He watched
admiringly as she flipped away from him and land almost delicately. They
had been going for an hour but she didn't seem to be excessively
fatigued. She brushed a damp curl out her eyes and smiled.
"Want to
take a break?"
"Yes. I
believe I would like a drink." He said putting his swords down. She
undid her knife belt and left it with her sword on the floor. She pulled
a pitcher of juice from the fridge as he brought their glasses over.
They settled across from each other on the sofa, sipping their drinks.
"That was
fun." She said wiping her neck with a towel.
"Yes, very
much so." He replied as he studied her. He found his attention
taken by the fall of a curl against her neck and the flush of color on
her face. "I don't often have the opportunity to practice against a
live opponent. The training facilities at the mansion are excellent but
it is not the same. None of my teammates, save Jimmy who is just
learning, use any manner of bladed weapons."
"Oh? I'd
have thought because you're a strike force everybody'd be trained to a
least be proficient with a few other weapons other than their mutant
power. That's a real weakness."
"I know.
Domino has also expressed a similar view. Unfortunately, the others
aren't inclined to learn or when she insists, they participate
reluctantly. They are able to use firearms, though."
"That's
good."
They moved on
to unarmed combat with a 'win' being counted as dropping the other to
the floor. He definitely had the advantage of strength so she resorted
to high speed techniques and tactics.
She flipped
over him and quickly pressed the attack. Let's try something I'll bet
wasn't covered in school, she thought gleefully. She ran her fingers
lightly and rapidly over the sides of his midsection.
"Za's vid!"
He exclaimed as his leaped away from strange torment. "What manner
of attack was that?"
"I guess
you haven't been tickled before, hmm?" She smiled.
He looked
puzzled. It wasn't painful but at the time he felt an uncontrollable
urge to get away. A harmless attack, he considered. Very suitable for
practice. "No, but I learn swiftly." He said as he grabbed her
wrist.
She twisted in
an effort to counter his greater strength and ended up pressed up along
the length of his body. At sensation of her struggling against him, he
could feel his body reacting. He jumped away from her as if burned.
"Are you
okay? Did I hurt you?" She asked alarmed at his extreme response.
He took a deep
breath and tried to calm himself ."No. You did not harm me."
He said shakily. She looked him over. He wasn't even bruised. What's
wrong? She wondered.
"Okay."
She said at last.
"Julia."
He said hesitantly. "I was, I behaved so because I was reacting to
you not as a fellow warrior but as a woman." He was staring at the
floor. She went over to him and lifted his head to look into his eyes.
"Well, I
am a woman. If you had reacted to me as a rhinoceros, then that would be
cause for concern." She said softly. "Can I guess this is the
social stuff you said you still had to learn?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
She paused. I suppose I should be flattered but he looks so damn
mortified. "Why don't we get changed? We can talk about this later
if you'd like."
He sat on the
sofa while she fussed over the directions on a frozen lasagna.
"I think
the hardest thing to learn on my own was this domestic stuff." She
said after placing the dish in the oven. She seated herself across from
him. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"I think
so." He said. "It is not unpleasant, just unexpected."
She sighed.
"Fair enough. Can I ask you something?"
"Of
course."
"Why are
you here with me?"
He sat back in
thought. "At first I did not know. I found your company compelling.
I enjoy our conversations very much. I thought I had at last found a
companion who is also a warrior at heart." She was watching him
closely with an unreadable expression in her eyes. "Why do you
choose to continue to associate with me?" He asked.
"I don't
have to hide what I am from you." She stirred her drink absently.
"I can talk to you with softening any edges. Does that make
sense?"
"Yes."
"I,"
She bit her lip. "I think you're attractive, but that's not the
reason I like being with you so much." She smiled tentatively.
"Not to say I don't notice."
He relaxed
slightly. "In that case, I would have to say that I notice you are
attractive also. I was concerned that this was unusual between companion
warriors."
"Not that
I know of. Training can override biology only so far." She held out
her hand. "Still friends?"
"Yes."
He smiled taking her hand. With a mischievous smirk, he yanked her
closer to him and tickled her without mercy. She shrieked and squirmed
frantically out his grasp. She glared at him from several feet away. He
was obviously trying not to burst out laughing at the lapse in her
composure. A few strangled snickers escaped his control.
"You know,
this means war."
***
Domino watched
them from a second floor window. Jimmy was continuing his bo-staff
lessons with Shatterstar. Julia was lounging with Tabitha on the lawn
chairs. It looked like they were heckling the proceedings. Terry was out
with Wade. Again. Roberto was in the library studying Latin for some
reason. Occasionally he'd lean out a window and yell a few phrases at
Julia. She'd snicker at his accent and yell stuff back. She'd been
around almost every second day for last week. The other days, the team
was hanging around her place. They're really enjoying the downtime,
Domino thought. I can't say I'm not either. If nothing else, it's forced
me and Nate to sort things out between us.
Down on the
lawn, Julia unrolled a brace of throwing knives and held one out at
Tabitha.
"Here.
Throw this and see if you can hit that tree over there."
Tabitha
hesitated. I hate looking like a loser in front of everyone. That's a
real skinny tree. "I might hit Logan."
"You've
named the trees?" Julia asked disbelievingly.
"There's
someone living the woods. He's sort of having a personal crisis."
Julia surveyed
the backyard. "I don't see anybody. Hopefully he'll know not to
stand in the way. C'mon, it's easy."
"Oh all
right. Just don't laugh."
Tabitha held
the knife as directed. I can throw timebombs and nail a moving target,
she thought. How hard can a little piece of metal be? She threw the
blade and it landed about three feet short.
"Nuts!"
"A little
more power. Your aim's great."
The second
blade hit the tree but it wasn't deep enough. It wavered before dropping
to the ground. Tabitha threw the third one and it sunk in hilt deep.
"Excellent!"
Julia enthused. "You're a natural."
"Cool."
She threw the next three blades and they all landed dead on.
"All right
Tabs!" Jimmy cheered. He was in a good mood, having managed to
actually land a few hits on Shatterstar for a change.
Tabitha grinned
and ran to retrieve the knives. "What next?"
"More of
the same. Try alternating hands this time."
"I'm
right-handed. I'm a feeble shot with my left."
"The more
reason to practice. You could break you hand, you know."
"Yeah, I
guess."
Tabitha found
she didn't have the same power or aim at all. I can do this, she
thought. She tried to visualize how she threw with her right. Okay. Now,
same thing, only other side. The blade hit the tree off-center but it
hit.
"Yes! The
blonde bomber makes it!"
Cable came up
behind Domino as she continued to watch out the window.
"Nate.
Don't sneak." He smile ruefully.
"Okay. No
sneaking. What's so interesting outside?"
"Tabitha
is throwing knives with both hands."
"What?"
He looked out the window. Sure enough, Tabitha was throwing knives at a
tree. "When did she starting doing that?"
"Thirty
minutes ago. From what I can make out, Julia is encouraging her to use
her throwing skills for other things besides her timebombs."
"Huh.
They're getting along well then."
"Yeah. I
don't think these kids have known anybody who wasn't part of the
incestuous X-crowd and not attacking them. It's sort of a novelty."
"What do
you think about making her a part of our incestuous crowd?"
"I like
it." She turned around and smiled suggestively at him. "I like
lots of other things too."
"Oh? Such
as?"
"Why don't
we go back to my room and discuss them?"
"Are you
trying to lead me astray?"
"Possibly."
"Good.
Lead away."
She reached up
and grabbed the collar of his shirt. He gagged a bit as she dragged him
down the hallway.
"Help."
He said half-heartedly.
"No one
can save you now." She said cheerfully as she pushed open the door
to her room.
"That's
okay."
***
Roberto reread
his letter once more just to make sure there weren't any glaring errors.
Since Julia spoke the language as her mother tongue she'd been able to
help him translate things like 'my cellular phone service was cut off
because I'm considered a terrorist by the government'. Stuff like that
wasn't covered in the regular textbooks. As it was, his missive was
seventeen pages long. We do some amazing things, he thought. I don't
really think about it until afterwards but how many people can say that
they've had it out with SHIELD in a futuristic space station or been
mentored by a immortal stockbroker? He tucked the letter into an
envelope and sauntered down the hall. Given the postal service to Nova
Roma, she should receive this somewhere around New Year's Day, he
thought pessimistically.
He went back to
his room and sighed at the large pile of mail from DaCosta
International's agents. He'd been ignoring his duties since his fall out
with his former mentor. Damn you, Gideon. He thought absently. He opened
a letter at random and tried to summon interest in the contents. My
family's fortune, and I can't be bothered anymore. I loved this work
once and I am good at it. Ran the company after Father died. Well, sort
of. Gideon was there the entire time and the board of directors
certainly had their opinions about letting a minor become their CEO. He
stared down at his hand as he played with the papers. He was powered up
all the time now because of what Gideon's pet scientists had done and
what had happened when he was pulled out of time by that time-traveling
terrorist Locus. Good alliteration there, 'Berto,he told himself. Now my
head's full of Askani nonsense from Cable's mindfix to get my alter-ego
under control. Had to watch a lot of TV and reread the history of
conquest of Brazil a few dozen times to remember who I am.
He went to his
dresser and pulled out the small box that held his family ring. He'd
stopped wearing it after he'd been 'cured' of being a terrorist leader.
After all those times I made fun of Magneto's purple jumpsuit with the
giant 'M' on the front, what do I do when I go nuts? Get really big hair
and an unbelievably bad costume. Just goes to show, I really didn't
learn anything from Mags when he was still teaching us. He put the ring
on and buffed it on his shirt. He glanced back at months' worth of
neglected mail. It didn't look so intimidating now. Deal with it,
DaCosta. He told himself firmly. It's your duty and you don't ever run
from that.
"No, I
don't." He said out loud as he sat down at his desk.
***
The next
morning Domino was sipping her coffee when Cable wandered into the
kitchen. He poured himself a cup and sat down.
"You
didn't wake me up." He complained mildly.
"You never
sleep in normally. Besides, I understand that older men need more
recovery time." She smiled knowingly.
"I
recovered fast enough last night."
"But the
day's still young. You'd better drink a lot of coffee. You're going to
need the energy."
He smiled. It
was a rarity that they could actually flirt with each other outside of
the privacy of their rooms. After all their years of dancing around, he
was bound and determined to not to screw things up.
"I think I
can make the effort." He said a heroic voice.
"Where'd
you send the kids off to?" Not that she minded having the peace and
quiet.
"Terry and
Tabitha have gone out with Julia to a mall. Roberto roped Jimmy and
'Star into something so they've disappeared too."
"I thought
you were going to start more telepathic training today."
He sighed.
"The kids really don't like me poking around in their heads. You
damn near punched me out the first time I tried to scan what you're
thinking."
"Yeah, I
did. I don't mind the link so much as I thought I would but I'll belt
you one if you go pawing through my head without asking."
"I
consider myself warned. My point is that I'm going to just use it the
field. When regular vocal commands would compromise our position or
something like that. It took long enough for them to trust me as someone
other than a disciplinarian with a big gun. I don't want to give them
reason to doubt that trust."
She sat back,
impressed. "Why, Nate. You're paying attention to other people's
concerns all on your own. Does this mean I can expect you to remember my
birthday now?"
"I'll try
that next year." He said dryly. "I think my new trick quota
has been reached."
"Damn. I
had something I wanted to show you too." She sighed
melodramatically. "I guess it can wait until January first."
"Well, I
think I can fit one more new idea into my skull."
***
Tabitha and
Julia were watching the crowd. Theresa had disappeared into a lingerie
shop. She's dating Deadpool and shopping for lingerie. I do not want to
know, thought Tabitha. Actually, I do want to know but I don't think I
could handle the answer. She came back holding a shopping bag and they
resumed their stroll through the temple of consumerism.
"So Terry,
who's the lucky fellow?" Julia asked. "Anybody I know?"
"Nae. His
name's Wade Wilson. Ye haven't met him yet. He's away on business."
"What does
he do?"
Terry
hesitated. "He's self-employed. He, um, runs his own
business."
"That's
very enterprising of him." Julia complimented. A mental alarm bell
went off at the name. Is this the mercenary friend 'Star mentioned? My
gods. She wouldn't be seeing that fruitloop would she? Tabitha
snickered. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing.
Let's check out that store."
They decided to
take a break from shopping and headed over to the food court. Terry
expressed her displeasure when informed that energy-using mutants like
Tabitha and Julia could eat whatever they wanted to without fear of
harming their figures.
"I donnae
like it one bit!" She muttered into her salad. "It's nae fair
at all."
Julia smiled
over her double latte with whipped cream. "It's all random. You can
fly, which is neat. There's lots of people who'd like to able to do
that."
"I'd
rather be able to eat chocolate all day and not gain an ounce."
"Bad for
the skin." Tabitha advised with the wave of a french fry. "Or
so I've heard."
"Hmph!"
***
Roberto studied
the wall of television sets. He wanted something to say 'thank you' to
Julia for her Latin help, and, given who he was, flowers and candies
just didn't cut it. Shatterstar had mentioned that she didn't have a TV
at her new place, so it seemed like the perfect choice. He fiddled with
the power inhibitor bracelet he wore. Doctor McCoy said it was new
design that could be used for longer periods without causing any damage
to the wearer. I like the power increase, he thought. But being reliant
on this thing to look normal is a pain.
"'Berto,
are you sure that this such a good idea?" Jimmy asked. "I
mean, a TV's kind of a lot. Why don't you just get her a thank-you
card?"
"No, it's
not." Roberto replied. I don't think he really understands where
I'm coming from. "I've got the money to get a decent gift. She
won't mind or get weirded out by the price, if that's what's bugging
you."
Shatterstar
turned from the unit he was inspecting. "How can you be sure of
that?"
"It's a
cultural thing. I can't possibly offend her because she knows it's the
type of gift people of my status give."
Jimmy gave up
on the conversation. DaCosta's attitude grated on his nerves some days.
"Well, whatever. Pick one already."
"'Star,
what do you think? You're the big TV expert." Roberto asked.
"This unit
here is sufficient. Although, she has told me she does not habitually
watch television."
Jimmy looked
intrigued. "She doesn't watch TV? What could you possibly have in
common then?"
"We find
other activities to occupy our time."
Roberto's eyes
widened. He was about to ask what those activities were when the
salesman circled back. A suitable unit was purchased and carried out the
car.
Since the girls
were going to meet them at Julia's place on a couple of hours, they
decided to kill time wandering around the mall rather than going back to
the mansion.
"We might
get nailed doing chores." Jimmy reminded them.
They found a
large music store and split up to goggle at the selection. As they
wandered around, Jimmy noticed that there was a girl that appeared to be
following him as they went from store to store. He studied her in a
mirror as she loitered across the hallway from him. Long straight black
hair, exotic dusky features, great body. Well, at least I get a cute
stalker, he thought. She didn't pursue him when they went back out the
car so he put it down to one of those things that just happened.
***
Terry looked
around as they brought in their bags. Julia had added a bit more
furniture and decorations over the last week. A few more plants, a
punching bag and a training dummy decorated the open space.
"These
look neat." Tabitha said, patting an oversized floor cushion. There
were a bunch of them sort arranged around the coffee table across from
the sofa. She flopped down. "Comfy."
"Very new
age, I know." Julia nodded, putting the drinks and snacks away. She
never bought any significant amount of foodstuff unless she was
expecting company. "I didn't want to hassle with a decor."
"Ye can
say it's post-modern urban retro martial artist." Terry offered as
she helped put the bottles in the fridge.
"Gosh,
that sounds fancy." She said wide-eyed. "Does that involve
berets?"
"Possibly."
Terry allowed. "Ye get the option of piercing yer visible body
parts too."
Tabitha hopped
up and rooted through the cupboards. "You got a popcorn
maker!"
"Yeah.
Yesterday. There's a bottle of popcorn above your head." Julia
said.
"You guys
want butter and salt?"
"Sure.
Healthy food gives me hives."
Terry went over
to the stereo system. "Want do ye want to listen to?" She
asked.
"Anything
loud and fast." Tabitha said.
Terry picked
out five discs that matched that category and load the CD changer. A
moment later, the music of Big Sugar blasted out of the speakers at
about twenty-one on the volume scale.
"Saints!
That's loud. Even for me." She turned down the volume to somewhere
where she could actually her herself think.
Julia giggled
as she went to go answer the door bell. Predictably, it was Roberto,
Shatterstar and Jimmy.
"Check it
out. The Mutant Musketeers." She called.
"I'm not
French." Roberto sneered good-naturedly.
Shatterstar
went over and prodded the training dummy experimentally. "This
looks like a particularly easy foe to defeat."
"So you
say now. " She smiled. "What's this?" She asked as Jimmy
carried in a large box.
Roberto smiled
"My thanks for your help with my Latin. Especially for that 'modern
phrases' dictionary you made up for me."
"You're
welcome. What is it?"
"A
TV." Jimmy said setting the box down. "Do you have something
to cut it open?"
"Jimmy,
this is me you're asking. Of course I do. I probably have something that
colour-coordinates with your clothes."
She pulled open
a drawer of everyday knives and handed him a large utility knife. They
went to work installing the thing. There was a live cable line to the
stereo and Shatterstar had thought to acquire a line splitter so all
went well. They turned it on and awaited the verdict.
Julia raised an
eyebrow at the flickering images. "Wow. Five hundred channels of
nothing worth watching. I think I like it, though. Sort of noisy
wallpaper."
After they'd
fiddled a bit more with the new TV and argued about what music to listen
too, Julia brought a few drinks out of the freezer where they'd been
undergoing high-speed chilling. They looked dubiously at the de-alcoholized
wine. Roberto winced. I know it's a courtesy to Terry but that's just
wrong.
Julia smiled.
"I've bought beer, if you'd rather have that. I employed the highly
sophisticated technique of buying the brand with the nicest looking box
and Spanish name."
He inspected
the offering. "Hey, this is good stuff. San Miguel is all right by
me." He took a bottle out and settled contentedly on a floor
pillow.
"You know,
I think you're the first mutant we've met who hasn't attacked us."
Jimmy remarked.
Julia balled up
a paper napkin and threw it him. "There. Better now?"
"Much. You
attacked Mimic but it's just not the same."
"You're a
strange boy." She noted. "And Cable did say either help or get
out of the way."
"Ye helped
him into the infirmary." Terry smiled.
Julia sniffed.
"He didn't mention any specific parameters."
"You come
in peace but shoot to kill." Tabitha snickered.
"I didn't.
He was still breathing."
"Severely
injure, then."
"I'm
feeling persecuted."
"Don't."
Roberto advised. "It's cool. We're into the same thing."
"Yes.
However, you proved to be more effective than Roberto or Jimmy or Cable
even." Shatterstar said.
Julia smiled.
"Why, thank you kind sir."
"Hey!"
Jimmy and Roberto chorused indignantly.
"Ye've
started something now 'Star." Terry advised with a laugh. "The
lads willnae let that rest."
He gave her a
superior smile. "I do not fear them. Perhaps they should consult
Guthrie for strategic advice."
Roberto and
Jimmy glanced at each other and nodded.
Tabitha snorted
derisively. "Yeah, right. As if Sam's going to even give us the
time of day now."
There was
momentary confusion as Roberto and Jimmy leapt up walloped Shatterstar
with the floor pillows a few dozen times. He was taken by surprise and
flailed under the assault. They sat back after vengeance had been
achieved. His hair was in disarray and the female contingent was
laughing itself sick.
"Tabs, I
heard you complaining about this 'Sam' person ever since I met you.
Where the hell is he? Does he even live in this reality?" Julia
asked after peace was somewhat restored.
"Yeah, he
does. We even live in the same place. You wouldn't know it though."
"Sam used
to be our deputy leader before he was bumped up to the X-Men."
Jimmy explained. "Cable said it because he 'graduated'."
"It was
too bad he accepted." Shatterstar said, adjusting his ponytail.
"He was a capable leader. I mean no offense of course, Terry."
"None
taken."
Julia poured
herself another glass of mock wine. "I'm not sure I understand. Are
you saying you're all sort of aspiring X-Men?"
Tabitha
grimaced. "I like you so I won't hit you with a timebomb."
"That's
good to know. Well?"
"I donnae
think any of us really wanted to be X-Men." Terry said. "Even
being in X-Force was sort of something that we all fell into."
"Huh. So
why are you guys doing this? Fame and fortune?"
"Well,
it's not for money." Roberto said. "And the fame is more bad
than good. I went to school at Xavier's to learn how the use my powers.
We wore costumes but we weren't really referred to as trainee
X-Men."
"I think
that was the point though." Jimmy pointed out. "You guys
started up at the same time the Hellions did. We were supposed to be the
next Hellfire Club and you were supposed to be the next X-Men. My
brother died as an X-Man." He said to Julia. "I thought Xavier
was responsible for his death."
"Oh. What
did you want to be then? I've heard about the Hellfire Club. You seem a
little too normal for them."
"That's
for sure." Roberto seconded. "Although the women are very well
dressed in that organization."
Terry dumped a
bowl of popcorn his head. "Ye are such a pig some days."
"Oink."
Came from under the bowl. Roberto emerged a moment later, shaking the
kernels out his hair.
Jimmy stared at
the stained glass skylight. "I wanted to avenge my brother. Then, I
wanted to avenge my people after they were massacred at Camp Verde. I
hooked up with Cable 'cause he promised to help me find who was
responsible. What I wanted for myself, I haven't a clue." He
smiled. "I know I didn't live to be an X-Man someday though."
"Ye've got
your head on right then." Terry said. "I was nae going to be
on any team. I sort of hung around after some trouble with the Shadow
King."
Julia blinked.
"Who?"
"He's a
telepathic entity who attacked the Muir Island base." Roberto said.
"Telepaths.
More trouble than they're worth." She said disdainfully. "So
did you ever find out who murdered your people?"
Jimmy sighed.
"Not yet. Just my luck it'll be some untouchable criminal
mastermind that won't ever be brought to justice."
"Gosh,
you're just full of happy thoughts." Tabitha said sarcastically.
"You think you'd be able to just quit this adrenaline-rush
lifestyle even if you found out?"
"I don't
know. Maybe. Maybe not." He got up and fetched another beer.
"It's a shitty life sometimes but we do stuff that regular people
only dream about. You want another, 'Berto?"
"Yeah."
Roberto looked at Julia. "What's the strangest thing you've done? I
mean, that you can tell us about?"
She looked up
in thought. "Besides meeting you? I've been to Hell."
Terry looked
horrified. "What?"
"Hell. You
know, where Satan hangs out? His kid is charge now. I was tasked to nail
this guy who'd screwed over a demon but, because of the deal he cut, the
demon wasn't allowed to come after him. I had to bring the body down as
proof." She smiled the appalled looks. Shatterstar seemed
interested but not overly shocked. "It's just another dimension and
there's quite a few gateways between here and there."
"Madonna."
Roberto muttered. "I might not be religious anymore but that sounds
disturbing."
"Yeah. Um,
aren't you worried?" Tabitha asked tentatively.
"About
what? Demons are merely another magical species." Julia smirked.
"They can be killed dispite rumors to the contrary."
Jimmy sat back
down and handed a bottle to Roberto. "I really can't see you in a
regular life now."
"Nor I.
Your skills would be wasted in mundane surroundings." Shatterstar
said. She smiled and they clicked their glasses together.
"How about
you, Terry?" Tabitha asked. "You were raised in a convent
school. You can't get much more normal than that."
She sighed.
"I donnae know. I cannae see living a normal life either. A regular
job, husband and kids. It sounds nice but boring." She smiled.
"I was a thief when I first came to America."
Julia choked.
"What? Gods, Terry. I would have never guessed. You come across as
so respectable."
"It's all
a front. Donnae be fooled." She confided. "What did ye want to
do when ye grew up, 'Berto?"
Roberto leaned
back. "I expected to go into my father's business. I didn't really
anticipate this superhero stuff. Even if I am good at it."
"Are you
not concerned that your reputation will be harmed by remaining with
us?" Shatterstar asked.
"Sometimes.
I like running the business but I said I'll stay to help. What about
you? What did you want to be when you grew up?"
"I never
considered it. I lived only to fight. I'm not sure what I would have
done after we defeated Mojo. There have been prophesies as to what would
happen afterwards but I do not place much faith in them now."
"I can't
see you working a desk job after your people take over, 'Star."
Jimmy commented.
"Neither
can I. What is normally done after a revolution here?"
Roberto
shrugged. "Depends. Either the leaders have something planned and
all goes well or they realize they don't know how to restructure their
country and end up just like the government they overthrew."
"It's
usually option two." Julia said.
"Yeah.
There's been plenty of revolutionaries in South America but nothing
really changes. I mean, fighting is a lot easier, really, than creating
a stable government."
"That is
not encouraging." Shatterstar sighed. "My fellow warriors of
the Cadre Alliance were not inclined to the sublties of politics. I fear
just lawmaking would be beyond us."
"It cannae
be something ye cannae learn." Terry pointed out. "Ye learn
quick."
"I suppose
you are correct."
Tabitha threw
one of the paper balls at Julia. "What are you going to do when you
retire? Is there an old assassins' home somewhere?"
"Do you
really think anyone in my profession even lives to see old age?"
Julia asked. "There were over thirty of us in my first year class.
Five made it to full rank. Two died a year later on assignment."
Jimmy whistled.
"Why's the attrition rate so high?"
"Knives,
swords and children. Think it through."
There were
uncomfortable looks as they realized what that meant. Shatterstar put
his hand on hers in empathy. I know what they have in common now,
Roberto thought. The same brutal childhood.
"Sounds
bad." Tabitha muttered.
"I guess.
We were always treated very well. Every comfort and privilege. We simply
couldn't make a mistake." She smiled and threw the paper ball back
at Tabitha. "Cheer up. I'm here and somewhat well-adjusted so it
just sounds gruesome. What did you want to do when you grew up?"
Tabitha sighed.
"I didn't care. All I wanted was to get out of my home town and
away from my folks."
"You been
to Asgard, Tabs. That's far enough for anybody." Roberto reminded
her. She threw the paper ball at him.
"Ye really
didn't like yer parents that much?" Terry asked. "I didn't
meet me Da until I was grown and me mother is dead. I would give
anything to have known her."
"My mom's
dead now too. My dad's a jerk." Tabitha said quietly, picking at
the label on her bottle. "He really hated that I was a mutant. I
mean, he thought it was something that I could just quit being if he hit
me hard enough."
"I'm
sorry, Tabs." Julia said softly.
"S'okay."
Jimmy gave them
a lopsided grin. "We're a happy bunch, aren't we? Do we even know
anybody who has a regular life?"
There was
silence.
"I guess
that's a 'no'." He smirked. "We're more interesting like this
anyways."
"YEAH!"
They cheered as they toasted each other.
***
Tabitha yawned
into her Corn Pops. They'd stayed at Julia's until almost three in the
morning. It was six AM now. The only reason she was even up at all was
that they had a training session in an hour. The rest of the team
straggled in and began fumbling with their breakfasts.
"Where's
'Star?" Terry asked. She looked at her toast. What was I doing? Oh,
right. Jam.
Roberto peered
over his hot chocolate. "He went out for a run. I don't think he
bothered to go to sleep."
"Probably
a good idea. Three hours of sleep is just teasing." Jimmy said
fuzzily. "Where's the coffee?"
"In front
of ye." Terry pointed.
"Right. I
saw that."
The high
quantity of caffeine and sugar had its desired effect and soon they all
acquired a veneer of wakefulness. Time for gossip.
"So what
the group opinion? Are they or aren't they?" Roberto asked.
"He made some crack about 'activities' yesterday but I didn't get a
chance to ask."
"They're
pretty tight." Tabitha said reflectively. "I saw him hug her
when we left yesterday. This morning. Whatever."
"Really? I
missed that." Jimmy said. He poured himself another coffee. I am
awake, he told himself.
Terry shook her
head. "I think ye might be wrong. I think they're only
friends."
"You think
'Star would hug somebody if he was their friend? Mojoworld is not a
huggy kind of place."
"Well,
okay maybe not hug. He was close to Ric too. I dinnae see any
difference."
"You know,
I thought that was strange."
"Tabitha!"
"Kidding.
Guys, we gotta ask. Julia gave me the royal run-around when I asked her
at the mall."
"I didn't
get a straight answer out of either of them last night and I've got more
tact than to come out and ask if they're sleeping together."
Roberto put in.
Tabitha nodded.
"Yeah. That would be ugly if we're wrong. We gotta ask
subtle-like."
"Okay. We
ask. You do it." Jimmy said.
"No. I
think 'Berto should do it."
"Why
me?"
"You're
the Latin Lover. Ask 'Star mano a mano. I dare you."
He paused in
mid-refusal. A dare. A DaCosta never backed away from one. "You're
on."
"Let's
go." Terry said, smothering another yawn. "The faster we get
this session done, the faster I can go back to bed."
***
The training
session went surprisingly smoothly. Cable and Domino were as mellow as
they ever got. The review lasted only a few minutes with only minor
criticisms about their performance. If I didn't know any better, I'd say
they were both hung over, Roberto thought as he went for a nap.
***
Later that
afternoon, Roberto found Shatterstar in the armory sharpening his
swords. Not a good omen, he thought.
"Hey,
'Star?"
"Yes?"
"Are you
and Julia seeing each other?"
"Not
presently. She is at home and I am here"
Roberto studied
his target. I know he knows what I'm asking. Do I want to risk getting
beat up if it offends him or something? Try another approach, DaCosta.
"No! I
mean, are you, um, together?"
"No. I
though I just explained that to you. Are you well?"
"Dios!
Forget it."
Shatterstar
looked up and smiled as Roberto left.
Tabitha was in
the living room awaiting the results. "Well?"
"I asked.
He said no." Roberto reported as he sat down.
"Huh."
***
The next day
Shatterstar received clearance to show Julia the more advanced functions
of the Danger Room from Cable. He immediately spent most of morning
reviewing log tapes for a custom program. Julia arrived that afternoon
for another practice duel. Afterwards, he triggered the program from the
floor. In front of them appeared an enormous creature in a spidery
looking device.
"What the
hell is that?" She asked.
"You
wished to see what a Spineless One looked like so I programmed the
holographic computers with an image of Mojo."
She walked
around the creature. There were masses of wires covering its head that
trailed into the contraption it was sitting in. It had very large,
fleshy arms and hands with long nailed fingers. The face was distorted
by hooks holding open the eyes and mouth in a parody of a wide-eyed
grin. He said that his people were being ruled by another species but
this is not what I was expecting. Living proof that large doses of TV is
a bad thing.
"Without a
doubt this is the most revolting excuse for a sentient lifeform I've
ever seen." She said at last. "I can see why 'Mojo-kisser' is
such a nasty label now. Why is it squished into this container?"
"The
Spineless Ones use their platforms to move around." He said. Even a
simulation of the being who oppressed his kind was enough to cause the
rage to build in him. "Tell me, what sort of attack would you
recommend?"
"On this
thing in particular or for the overall war effort?"
"Either
one."
"Honestly?
Given what you've told me about the relations between your species I'd
say that total extermination would be the way to go. Anything that'd
clone itself to stay in power can't be trusted to honour a peace
agreement. One-to-one, I have no idea. Stick a grenade under it? Can it
even be damaged by conventional weapons?"
"They can
be killed as we can be but their platforms have shielding and weapons
built into them."
"Hmm. What
happens if they're not in one of those platforms? Do they have some
unusual power I should know about?"
"No. They
cannot move very much without the aid of their devices."
He watched as
she made another circuit around the image.
"Presuming
that the equipment is not magical, I would recommend a preliminary
strike with an electromagnetic pulse to disrupt the electronics and
electrical systems. Given that there may be other unknown defenses, a
medium to long range weapon could then be used to terminate the
individual." She said thoughtfully. The sheer size of the body
would make for a very messy kill. I'd stand back a dozen feet at least.
She looked at him. He was staring at her with strange expression.
"Not quite how an Arena warrior would do it, hmm?"
"No. Not
at all." He said finally. "We, I, would likely attack with at
most an energy weapon at close range. I would still use my swords
first." He paused. "I am not unusual in that respect. Warriors
will always seek to engage their enemy in a direct battle."
"I think
this is a fundamental difference in approach. Ratings, crowd response
and that kind thing of doesn't matter to an assassin. What matters is
that it's a definite, confirmed kill. As long as one follows the
guidelines, everything else is personal preference."
"Most of
the people on my world would consider such a philosophy dishounorable
and such methods cowardly."
She shrugged.
"Not to be blunt, but you said yourself that all those trained
warriors were losing the war."
He felt a flare
of anger when she brought up the faltering Cadre Alliance. "Are you
saying that our skills are not sufficient?" He asked angrily before
he could control himself.
She looked at
him with an unreadable expression. "No. I didn't. You did that when
you came to Earth looking for help. You asked for my opinion and I gave
it to you."
She turned away
and picked up her water bottle from her pile of things by the wall. She
settled down against the cool metal. "You know, if we continue to
escalate the name-calling and insults this is going to be
unpleasant." She said from her seat on the floor.
"I do not
want that." He said, sitting down in front of her. "I would
not want to loose you friendship over words."
"Likewise."
She paused. "Would you mind turning that thing off? It's giving me
the creeps."
He smiled at
her lighter tone as he moved to the panel on the wall. "I would
have expected us to begin fighting in anger had we continued."
"Bad form.
I'm not getting paid to kill you, so why bother?" She asked with a
wicked grin.
He looked
startled then recovered. "There is no one watching. I cannot see
the point of killing you either." She squirted him with her water
bottle. He retaliated in kind as he reviewed her words in his head.
"You choose your attack based on personal preference. What part of
your recommendation was that?"
"The part
about long range weapons. Quite frankly, I think I'd be too disgusted to
get close. I'd have to be paid a whole lot to get within arm's length of
that thing." She smacked him lightly as he smirked at her
reasoning. " You can't tell me you'd be willing get touchy with
that."
He laughed.
"You are correct. I too feel unwell at the thought of physical
contact with a Spineless One."
"Hey guys!
Whatcha doing in here?" Jimmy called from the control room.
"We are
discussing why we don't kill each other and well as things that induce
illness in us." Shatterstar said truthfully.
"Uh. Okay.
Whatever." He sounded bewildered at their choice of topics.
"They've got the barbecues going so come outside."
"We will
be there shortly."
***
Julia walked
across the roof towards the hunched figure. The gang was down below
playing basketball and exploring the wonders of propane cookery. Carbon
was supposed to be harmless, wasn't it? I think I'll stick to the salad,
she decided.
"Bonjour
Monsieur LeBeau." He turned his head towards her.
"Bonjour
Mademoiselle. Wha' are you doing up here?"
She settled
down beside him.
"Just
saying hello. There aren't very many members of either guild around
here. I thought I'd come and pay my respects."
"Non, der
aren't." He looked at her. "You know dat I told dem you be an
assassin?"
"Yes. It
wasn't hard to figure out."
"It don'
bother you dat dey know?"
"Not
really. It would have come out eventually. They don't seem to mind. And
even if they did, they aren't in the position to do anything about
it."
"Dat's
good."
They watched
the basketball game for a while. Roberto was experimenting with cooking
his food with his flares.
"Remy, why
are you sitting up here? It's not very comfortable."
"I was
jus' t'inking." He glanced at her again. "Is he still mad dat
I left?"
"Who? Oh.
No, I don't think so. He should have known that there's things you can't
do because of who you are. I told him that I couldn't play thief for the
same reasons. After he thought about it, he seemed to be okay with that.
It didn't come up the last time I talked to him."
"You be
careful about telling anybody here dat you know him. He's been messing
wit' some of dem and dey aren't going t' be forgiving any time
soon."
"I'll keep
that in mind." She shifted around again. "Why are you thinking
up here? There's lots of nice lawn chairs down there."
"T'inking
about a woman, petite."
"That
figures. On the prowl again?" She asked. Remy LeBeau was famous in
both guilds for his ladykiller habits.
He felt his
mood lift slightly despite his resolve to be miserable. "Non. I be
chasing jus' one now."
"Wow. Just
one? Is there a restriction on? Who is it?"
"She be an
X-woman. Rogue."
"I don't
think I've met her yet. Is she down there somewhere?"
"Non.
She's away."
"On a
mission?"
"Non. We
kissed and she den she left."
"You must
be losing you touch, Monsieur LeBeau. I thought the ladies always stayed
around when you kissed them."
"You be
bad, petite." He chuckled. "Rogue, she can see your mind when
she touch you. I t'ink she saw t'ings in my head dat she don' like. Der
be plenty in der dat I don' like."
"So?
There's plenty of that in everybody's brain. You're a lot less messed up
than most people."
"It not be
dat simple, petite."
"Are you
sure? Is it because she might know about the Doctor? So what? What's the
worst she could do to you?"
"She can
fly. Mebbe she drop me from a few hundred feet."
"Ouch."
"Oui."
He sighed. "De X-Men don' trust me. Dey got a problem wit' t'ieves."
Even after all this time he was only friendly with Stormy, and maybe
Logan, really.
"They
should. You thieves steal anything that's not nailed down."
"You
assassins kill everyt'ing else." He retorted.
She just
grinned back at him. "You got it. Give me five more years and I'll
be on the Council too."
"You
ambitious petite."
"Of
course. Aren't you? There isn't anywhere to go after master's rank and
you can't honestly sit there and tell me you're going to go back to
being a novice."
"Dat's for
sure. Remy likes de privileges dat rank bring." I worked damn hard
to be a master thief too. Papa said that he wanted me to take his place
as head of the Guild. I wasn't ashamed of my family or my Guild before.
What's happened to me? I stayed with people who don't trust me and fell
in love with a woman I can't touch. Merde. I think I should let the
Doctor look at my head. I must have been hit too many times.
"Hey you
two!" Domino called from below. "What are you doing up
there?"
"We be
plotting de guilds' takeover of de world!" He called back.
Julia waved at
Shatterstar.
Remy perked up.
Gossip was better than gold in the mansion. "Let's go down and see
your amour."
"He's not
my amour."
"Oh? Dat's
not wha' I heard. You look very happy petite. Wan' to tell me something?
I promise I only tell Belle. She stop trying to marry you off den."
"No. And
you can tell your lady that she can stop playing matchmaker." She
looked down. "Want to jump?"
"After
you."
"What the
hell?" Said Domino disbelievingly. Remy and Julia just walked off
the edge of the roof. He had decided to show off and somersaulted on the
way down. She went for simplicity and came straight down, landing neatly
beside him.
"Hi
guys." She said. "What's cooking?"
"Do you
normally jump off roofs for fun?" Asked Jimmy.
"Sure.
Don't you?" Julia asked, all puzzled innocence.
"Dey be
delicate petite." Remy smirked. They all looked highly offended at
that.
"You're
skating on thin ice, Gambit." Domino warned.
"Ah, but I
have only de greatest respect for you all. Especially you, ma belle
blanche." Remy responded with a courtly bow. "I see you later
dis evening, oui?" He tried to kiss her hand but she yanked it
away.
"Not
likely."
"Non? Why
you so cold to me in public, chere? I be at de usual place. Don' be
late." She glared at him as he strolled off.
"Dom? Are
you and Remy going somewhere?" Asked Cable as he came up.
Domino looked
like she was going to hurt somebody soon. "No! I'm not going
anywhere with that greasy Cajun!"
They left Cable
to calm Domino down and to persuade her not shoot Gambit in the head.
They
commandeered a few lawn chairs and dragged them away onto grass away
from the X-Men. Cable and Domino wandered up after a while with drinks
in hand. They made collective small talk as they picked at the
identifiable bits of their meals. After a little telepathic prompting,
the rest of the team excused themselves and went off to occupy
themselves elsewhere. Julia watched them go. Even Shatterstar had gone.
He threw her an apologetic look as he followed Jimmy away.
Cable cleared
his throat. "Julia, we'd like to know if you'd consider joining the
team."
She nearly
dropped the glass she was holding. "I beg your pardon but what the
hell did you say?"
Domino leaned
forward. "I know this seems sudden but we'd like you to think about
it. We really could use someone with your talents on side."
"Why? You
don't even know what my talents are." Damn, I knew this might
happen. I just don't know if it's what I want to do.
"We know
you're an assassin and a mutant." He noted. "That's pretty
impressive."
"What are
you asking? What do you people actually do?" She asked. I can't
decide but I can stall.
"We're
fighting for human-mutant peace. This team was created to be a strike
force to that end." He said. "I think I've mentioned it
before."
"I'll
think about it but I'm not promising anything."
He frowned.
"Can I ask why you're so reluctant? You told Xavier that you
thought mutants should have greater influence in society. Traveling
around the world as an assassin isn't helping the cause."
Julia
stiffened. "Don't presume to judge me Cable. You were happily
bombing civilians for the highest bidder not to long ago." He
openly scowled at that.
"We're not
judging you." Said Domino reasonably. She looked at Julia, who was
watching both of them with a carefully blank expression. Domino recalled
a photo of a site that been wiped off the map. It was hard for her to
connect this friendly kid with the reputation of one the deadliest, most
destructive assassins in the world, even if that was why they wanted her
on board. <Nate, don't push too hard. I don't want to find out what
she can do while I'm still sitting at close range>
"Nathan!"
Ororo was striding towards them. "Why are you over here? Will you
not join us at the pool?" She gave Domino barely a glance as she
stopped before them, looking at Cable inquiringly.
"Ororo,
you've met Julia, right?" Cable said slightly defensively.
"I cannot
say that I have." Ororo studied the girl curled up on the chair. A
lovely thing with striking sliver irises. "I am Ororo Monroe.
Welcome to our house, child."
"Julianna
Selena de Santos. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Ms.
Monroe."
Ororo smiled.
There was ingenuous air about the girl that was quite charming. "Remy
mentioned to me that he knows you. Are you from New Orleans as
well?"
"No. I'm
from the main house of his wife's guild."
An assassin.
How awful. "Why have you chosen such a life, child?" She asked
gently. Perhaps they could save her from such an corrupting environment.
"I didn't
want to be a thief."
Domino smiled.
That may not have been a dig at Ororo's past but it sure sounded like
it. <Nate, go entertain her worship. I'll talk to Julia> No one
could say she wasn't magnanimous in victory.
***
Julia watched
as Cable led Ororo away. He had looked almost nervous for moment before
he offered to join Ororo and the other ladies at their table. Domino had
smiled but it hadn't reached her eyes. I think Cable is, or has been, in
a lot of trouble with the ladies, she thought.
Domino
considered different opening ploys. The kid wasn't a rookie, despite her
appearance so she'd have to work more along the lines of recruiting
another experienced operative. I'll try something less intense to start,
she thought. A little friendly gossip never hurt.
"You and
Shatterstar seem to get along very well." She said with a
speculative smile.
Julia had no
problem detecting the layers of the statement. "Dom, he's a married
alien from the future of another dimension. He's my friend but it ends
there."
"He's
married?" Domino couldn't suppress her surprise.
"Didn't
you know that? He has been under your command for sometime now."
"It's
never come up."
More like you
haven't asked, Julia thought. Every one of your people could die
tomorrow. What do you really know about them? Could I really work with
people who are so locked away in themselves?
"At any
rate," She said aloud. "yes, we get along. But that's not
enough reason to sign my loyalty to you. Why are you here? Is it because
Cable and you have been working together for so long anyways? Is this
another job for you or do you actually care about this cause?"
Domino didn't
change her expression. So she knows about the Wild Pack. Not surprising
considering the circles she moves in. She probably knows about some of
the jobs we've, I've done, then too. This was a job, a favor to Nate.
Now what is it?
"I'm here
because I want to be." She said. "I'm willing to fight for the
mutant cause and it's something that needs to be done."
Julia tilted
her head. "Are you and Cable fighting for the 'let's hope we can
convince them not to hurt us' mutant cause or the 'sooner or later we
want to run the world' mutant cause?"
"Which one
do you subscribe to?" Domino asked.
"I think
we'll have to do more than guerrilla strikes before we're ever going to
be truly safe from flatscan threats."
"You sound
like you're advocating Magneto's line of reasoning."
"Professor
Xavier said that too. I don't have a problem with Magneto. No matter
what he did, he wanted to protect mutants." She paused. "You
didn't answer my question."
We're fighting
for the Professor's Dream, Domino thought. Nate's methods, no matter
what, are to that end. What do I want? When did I start following
Xavier? Hell, unlike some these professional lapdogs I know my politics.
The Dream will never happen as long as there's an imbalance of power
between mutants and humans. Mutants have natural power and humans have
governmental power. Either mutants loose their natural power or they
gain governmental power. I know that, so now what do I want to do about
it?
"Right now
all the teams are working for peaceful coexistence between humans and
mutants." She said. I sound like a fucking parrot, she thought.
Next thing you know I'll be dying and coming back a couple of times.
Julia thought
about it. Peaceful coexistence, huh? Not the kind of win I'd expect from
Cable and Domino to be fighting for, given their reputations. She
sounded just the tiniest bit uncertain though. With her, that's a whole
lot. Good enough for me.
"Okay. Can
I have time to think about this? I'll let you know either way."
"Sure."
Domino watched
as she went over to where the rest of the team was wasting time. I've
got some thinking to do too, she mused.
***
The scene was
similar to the first time she'd visited the mansion. Shatterstar and
Jimmy were continuing the staff lessons with rest of the team hanging
out.
"Okay, you
guys. What the hell was that all about?" Julia asked.
"Dom said
they wanted to talk to you privately about something." Terry said,
playing with her ice cream float.
"What's
up?" Tabitha asked.
"Take as
guess. Cable and Domino are on a recruitment kick."
"Oh, hey.
Cool." Jimmy said as he played with his new double-bladed staff.
"So are you joining the team?"
"Didn't
they tell you about this first?" Julia asked. "Seems kind of
strange."
"Not
really. They play things pretty close to their chests." Roberto
said. "So, are you signing up? I think you should. We need another
member with Latin blood. I try to bring the standards up but I could use
a little help."
Julia smiled.
"Viva Latina. I need a little time to think about this."
"How much
time?" Asked Shatterstar.
"A few
days maybe. I'm sure they'd like an answer right away but I can't
promise my loyalty on a whim."
Terry smiled
around her straw. "Donnae worry, we'll still be here. Unless the
mansion gets blown up again."
"The
building contractors must just love you guys." Julia smirked.
"Yeah. If
it's not our place that someone's wrecked, it's someone else's place
that we've wrecked." Tabitha said. "We should get frequent
buyer points or something."
Shatterstar
walked her back to her car after the party died down. The issue of her
joining their team hadn't been brought up again.
"Julia,
have you any feelings as to whether you will accept Cable's
invitation?"
She sighed and
leaned on the roof. "I really don't know. I like the idea but it
would mean a lot of changes to my life that I don't know if I'm ready
for."
"Will you
still remain in New York if you decline?"
She bit her lip
and shook her head slightly. "'Star, there's a lot of people who
could identify me as an assassin now. How would I know that they'll keep
quiet if I hang around for much longer? I would really have to consider
disappearing if word gets out much more."
His gut
tightened as her meaning became clear. She was leaving and he couldn't
think of any way to convince her to stay. He reached out and took her
hand.
"Promise
me you will not leave without letting me know." He said quietly.
She nodded. He
released her hand and she got into the car. He watched as she drove
away.
***
Disclaimer:
The X-Men and X-Force belong to Marvel Comics. Big Sugar belongs to
themselves. Corn Pops, Pop Tarts, WD-40 and Deep Woods Off are
trademarks of their respective owners. This is a nonprofit work of
fiction. Julia de Santos/Shockwave belongs to me but she'll deny it if
asked.
Questions/Comments: sabre@industrialwebworks.com
Author's Notes: Please see Part One.
This story begins just after X-Force #46.
<telepathic conversation>
*sound effects*
****
Shockwave
by
Sabre
Part
Four - Changing Lanes
She stared up
at the skylight from her position on the floor. Three days of chasing
her thoughts in circles. I would be leaving the Guild. I've never done
that. I've never even thought about it. Would they even let me go? Maybe
I can ask for leave instead. Do I want to go? Jimmy said they have a
shitty life sometimes but they all still stay. It must be worth it for
them. Why am I even considering this? It just because I like them so
much? Be honest with yourself, de Santos. Is it because you like 'Star
so much? Probably. Cable and Domino are worth the respect. They've
proved themselves as field commanders before. But this isn't a regular
op. This a cause. A revolution. Am I a revolutionary? I don't think so.
At least I don't think I am. How do you test for that?
"Augh!" She yelled.
Okay. Primal screams don't help the thought processes. Revolutionaries
are usually passionate, hot-headed types. I'm what? Don't know. Not
that, at any rate. Can't really feel very much. Empathy is not my strong
suit. Will that matter to them? At least I can sort of fake having real
emotions now even it is still sort of abstract to me. Will they
understand that assassins, that I, can't feel like they do? Am I looking
to escape being an assassin? I don't think so. I like my life. I like
what I do. Considering I can't really do anything different. How much of
that is me and how much is what the Guild conditioned me to be? Doesn't
matter now. I'd be taking orders. Can I do that? Haven't had to before.
Never worked with a team before, either. Except for 'Star, they don't
have the same perspective I do. Would we be able to work together, when
push comes to shove? How long are they going to be doing this? For the
rest of their lives? How long was I going to be an assassin? Well,
according to the oath it was 'now and always'. Does that apply to them?
She got up and poured herself a drink.
Yes or No? Make a decision and live with it.
She took a deep breath.
Gods, let this be the right choice.
***
"How long has he been down there?" Cable asked looking out of
the control room window of the Danger Room.
"Just under an hour." Domino replied. "But it's his
fourth session today."
Below them Shatterstar was working through a program that involved
robotic assailants trying to keep him from the stop button at one end of
the room. The longer it took, the more opponents were added.
"Have you heard anything yet?" She asked as they left the
room.
"Not a word."
***
He wasn't thinking. Just reacting. The robots would materialize and he
would cut them down. He wasn't attempting to reach the goal so their
numbers were increasing. That was good. He didn't want feel anything
beyond the rush of battle.
***
Julia opened the door quietly and peeked inside. As per Roberto's
information, Shatterstar was slicing a multitude of mechanical attackers
into pieces. It looked like he had been injured in several places
already but that didn't appear to have slowed him down in the slightest.
I could watch him all day, she thought before she could stop herself.
Yeesh, it's a good thing the resident telepaths can't read me. She
pulled out a fairly heavy knife and threw it at the red button at the
opposite end of the room.
Without warning the program stopped. Breathing hard, he turned to the
control room in fury. There was no one there. He looked at the button at
the other end of the room. In it was knife, sunk to the hilt.
Julia was standing in the doorway. She was dressed in black armor and
had a sword belt around her waist.
"Za's vid." He breathed as his anger evaporated. He sheathed
his swords without taking his eyes from her.
"Hi." She sauntered towards him. "Why are you in here?
Nothing on TV?"
"You came back." He stared at her with a mixture of hope and
relief playing across his features. She looked at him with a puzzled
expression.
"Of course. I wasn't leaving, I was just thinking. " She
replied. He seemed to notice her appearance for the first time.
"Why are you dressed like that? You look like you're expecting
combat."
"This is the official armor of the Assassins' Guild" She
smiled. "I thought you guys should know what you're getting."
He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer. "You're joining us?
Joining X-Force?"
"Yes."
"I, I am very happy that you choose this." He said with a
brilliant smile.
"Hey guys, check it out!" Tabitha called. Theresa and Jimmy
hurried in. Below them Shatterstar and Julia were standing about two
inches apart.
Roberto ran in. He'd been outside when she arrived. "Did I miss
anything?" He asked looking down.
"Nae. They're just talking but 'Star's smiling for the first time
in three days." Theresa commented.
"Do you think that means she's joining the team?" Jimmy asked.
Tabitha gave him a knowing look. "Oh yeah. Why else would he be so
happied up?"
"Another three hundred channels added to satellite TV would do
it." Roberto said.
"You know, we've got an audience." Julia remarked. She could
see the gang in the control room out of the corner of one eye.
"Yes. I don't care. We are not doing anything to be ashamed
of." Shatterstar replied calmly.
"Not yet, anyways. I can't think of anything suitably
shocking."
"Neither can I. We should consider possible actions for later
opportunities."
Mindful of their watchers, she placed her arms around his neck.
"For somebody who claims not to be good at social stuff, you've got
innuendo all but mastered." She said playfully.
"I'm glad you think I'm improving." He said with a grin.
"I look forward to increasing my skills in this and other
areas."
She laughed. "It's always good to have a goal." She agreed.
"I have to talk to Cable and Dom. I called from the car. They're
expecting me in the 'briefing room' wherever that is."
"They didn't do anything!" Tabitha complained. "I was
sure they would!"
"It's a good ye didn't wager on it then. Ye think they didn't see
us up here gawking at them?" Terry asked.
"I was not gawking." Roberto sniffed. "I was taking an
interest in my friends' situation. A DaCosta does not gawk."
Jimmy snickered. "Yeah, right. C'mon, let's meet them
downstairs."
***
"Cable, you and Domino asked if I was willing to join the team. I
am." Julia stated clearly. "However, I have three
stipulations."
Domino leaned forward. "Let's hear them."
"First, I'd like to keep my own place while we're still in New
York. I'm not trying to be difficult but Professor Xavier and I don't
agree and I'm just not comfortable with the idea of living in his house.
Second, I'm wearing this when I'm in the field. I know the reasons why
you dress similarly and they're good ones but really, you might as well
paint targets on your chests if you're going to be wearing yellow
anything. I'll wear an badge or change the color to dark purple if you'd
like. Third, unbelievable as it may seem, I do have a life. There's
several things I have to sort out before I can get out of the full-time
assassin business. If there's something you need me to do right away,
they can wait though."
Cable and Domino glanced at each other.
<What do you think, Dom?>
<I can see her point about living in the mansion. If it's just while
we're stationed here, that's fine by me. We'll probably end up bugging
out sooner than later, you know>
<Yeah. Probably> Cable thought about the uniforms. What possessed
him to make his team wear X-Men variation outfits?
<Why'd we go with the purple and yellow?>
<Damned if I know, Nate. We wanted, pardon me, you wanted to dress
like a team, work like a team and so on ad nausea> Her mental voice
sounded amused. Knowing Dom, she'd wear whatever she felt like when they
actually went into combat.
"What sort of things?" Domino asked out loud.
"Number one is that I have to take official leave from the Guild.
Normally, I could be called back at any time and I have to report where
I am once a year."
"Sounds pretty strict." Roberto commented.
"Not any more so than any other secret organization and we're lot
more stylish than the Masons."
"How long will you need?" Asked Cable.
"At most, two and half weeks."
Cable sat back for a moment. They didn't have any missions planned as
yet and things were quiet on the 'enemy back for revenge' front.
"Okay, why don't you do whatever you have to do immediately and
we'll start the team training when you get back. You can keep you own
armor. We'll decide on the color later. And while we're still here in
the mansion, you don't have to bunk with us. That'll change when we move
out of here."
"Fine with me." Julia said with a smile.
"So you're on the team now?" Tabitha asked.
"I guess so. Is there anything else I should know?"
"Nae. We'll teach ye the secret handshake later." Terry
smiled.
"Okay."
"Hey, Julia." Jimmy said. "What's you power anyways? You
nailed Mimic with something but we never asked what it was."
"Jeez, Jimmy. You make it sound like a game show." said
Tabitha.
"I'll take 'unknown' for five hundred then." Julia said
thoughtfully. "I project a force wave of varying strength and
range. It's difficult for me to control it in close quarters but in the
open the speed can exceed Mach one. I tire out quick if I go full
throttle more than a couple times consecutively though."
"What kind of range do you have?" Cable asked intently.
"It's hard to say. The wave front will keep going for about five
miles if there's nothing in the way but that's mostly due to it's own
momentum. My effective range depends on the density of the buildings and
such. In a reasonably developed area? About half a mile. I can hit
planes from about two miles away." She smiled at the surprised
looks around the table. You guys really weren't ready for that, were
you? She thought.
"Wow." Tabitha said. "How fast is Mach one anyway?"
"Approximately seven hundred and five miles per hour."
Shatterstar said with a smug air. She'd already told him what she was
capable of when he demonstrated his mutant power during practice.
"So you're Shockwave." Cable stated, sounding pleased. We've
got our ground-to-air assault covered now, he thought.
"Really? I didn't know that. Where'd you get that name?"
"SHIELD's file on you. They didn't have your name so that's what
they put down."
"Colonel Fury's getting creative in his old age. I'd just as soon
not use it if that's all the same to you."
Domino smiled at her decline of a codename. "Are you always this
open about your abilities?"
"No. But if I'm going to work with you I'm going to be honest. You
should know what I can do." Julia replied. "Your tactical
planning will be off otherwise."
Domino raised her eyebrows at the reasonableness of the answer. <This
kid takes the award for the nicest professional killer I have ever
met> She sent to Nate.
<I know. If she showed some kind of personality disorder I think I
could cope better> He sent back.
<In this business being polite and friendly is a personality
disorder>
***
"Mail call!" Tabitha yelled. She looked at the last envelope
left. What's this? S.Star c/o Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning. No
return address. Huh.
"Hey Shatty! I think here's mail for you."
That is odd, he thought as took the envelope from her. He never received
any mail. It wasn't as if the postal service could send to Mojoworld
after all. Perhaps Rictor has sent me something. Inside the envelope was
a card with a picture of city he'd never seen before.
"Well, who's it from?" she asked impatiently.
"Julia." At this the gang crowded around.
Hi from Cape Town,
How's life? Save the world from anybody lately?
Things are okay here.
Say hello to the gang for me.
See you soon,
Julia
"She's in South Africa, huh? I guess we'll see who died on the
news." Said Roberto absently. He was absorbed in the multipage
letter he had received from Amara. Nova Roma was slowly integrating into
the twentieth century but there was still a lot of work to be done. As
it was, it remained a virtually closed society. The post script made his
day. 'I would like very much for you to visit if you are returning home
to Brazil' she had wrote.
"That's it? Doesn't say much." Jimmy put in.
No, it doesn't, Shatterstar thought. See you soon. It says everything.
She'd said she needed at most two and a half weeks, so she should be
back in four days. He sighed. He had discovered that he despised waiting
for his friend to come back as much as he despised seeing her off. At
least she is coming back, he thought. They had yet to hear anything from
Rictor, even though he had promised to keep in touch.
***
Later that evening, Domino was doing a little recreational hacking into
the SHIELD databases. She really wasn't looking for anything specific
but she liked to keep her skills up. Nate was loitering nearby reading a
newspaper and enjoying the view.
"Nate, check this out. Ten days ago a paramilitary compound in
Botswana was wiped out. The blast field around the main building was
ID'd as identical to Shockwave's energy sig."
"Survivors? Witnesses?"
"Not a one." She tapped another key. "It gets better. The
guy in charge was found beheaded at ground zero. His head was found with
a knife sticking out of one eye. According the cross-references, the
late General Amared was a known supporter of anti-mutant policies and
practices."
"Well, can't say it's a loss to society then."
"Makes you wonder who paid to have his ticket punched, doesn't it?
You think a group of mutants took up a collection?"
"Given who he was, maybe she did as a public service." He
studied the screen. "That kid does good work. If she was taking a
break, I wonder why she took the job."
"Why don't you just ask her flat out when she gets back?"
"I think I may do that." He agreed going back to his paper.
She pulled up the latest intelligence reports on mutant hate crimes. The
ideas that been simmering in her head came to a full boil.
"Nate?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you ever think we could be going about this the wrong
way?"
He looked up at that. "What do you mean?"
***
Three days later.
*Ring*Ring*Ring*
"Hello?"
"Tabs? It's Julia."
"Hey you're back. Are you at your place?"
"Yeah. Traffic was horrible. My suitcases are a nightmare and I'm
ready to fall over. Stop laughing."
"Sorry. No, actually, I'm not. I've never heard you whine before.
It's funny."
"I've done an insane amount of traveling in last two weeks. I'm
entitled to whine, bitch and complain. How's things with you?"
"I'm okay. We haven't gone out and pounded anybody lately. Sam's
going to get a timebomb stuck somewhere if he doesn't take me out this
week. Shatty's been mopping around."
"I doubt that. I'll come by tomorrow before lunch. Go smack Sam
into line."
"You bet. See ya."
"Bye."
*Click*
Tabitha found Shatterstar watching a late news program. He was, in fact,
watching eighteen news programs and his incessant channel surfing had
driven everyone else out to find other entertainment.
"Yo 'Star, Julia just called. She'll be around tomorrow
morning." She smirked at the suddenly happy expression on his face.
The guy was just too easy to read some days. She planted herself in a
chair.
"So, you really like her, huh?"
"Yes. I thought she was liked by all our teammates."
"Oh, yeah. But you kinda were her friend first. How come you even
made the effort to get to know her at all?"
"Tabitha, is there a reason for your inquiries?"
"Well, if you're gonna be like that do you want to know why I like
her?"
"If you wish to tell me."
"It's 'cause she cares. I mean, when I talk to her she's really
listening to me, you know? Most people just blow me off and forget what
I've said three seconds later. Julia's different. I can kinda see her
thinking about what I'm saying. She takes me seriously. I matter to her.
We matter to her." She paused. "It's nice."
Shatterstar looked at Tabitha's earnest expression. "That is one of
the reasons why I find her such an appealing companion also." He
sighed. One confidence deserved another. "Julio was my closest
friend as you know." She nodded. He'd been so freaked when Rictor
left. "Yet even he did not care to find out very much about me or
my background. Admittedly, I am not the most forthcoming of individuals
but I always felt that he became my friend out of default rather than
choice."
"What do you expect? All of us sorta stayed 'cause we didn't have
anywhere else to go. Kinda amazing we even get along at all."
"Some days we do not even do that."
"Yeah. But come on, what are we really gonna do about it? I'm not
going back to my dad. Terry can't stand who her dad is working with and
her uncle's locked up. Jimmy's family is toast. You can't go home. The
only person who maybe has somewhere to go is 'Berto." She paused.
"I mean, none of us have any regular job prospects either. I can
just see me at an interview. No high school but I've been to outer space
and I can blow stuff up. I'm sort of okay with really fancy computers
from the future too."
"I see your point. I have no option but to continue to remain with
our team."
"I don't know. I think you'd make good coin as a male exotic
dancer."
"What?"
"Never mind." She grinned as she stood up. "I'm going to
hit the sack. 'Night."
"Good night, Tabitha."
***
The next morning, Shatterstar found reason to linger around the front
door. He jumped up when the doorbell rang and hurried to answer it.
Julia was standing on the doorstep. "Hi there. Remember me?"
There was a collection of gift bags at her feet.
"I think so. You are the strange woman with all the knives."
He smiled and helped her carry the bags inside. He closed the door and
pulled her closer. "I am pleased to see that you are well." He
said into her hair. "I was concerned when Domino said that you had
been fighting during your time away."
"It's nice to see you too." She said. "Everything went as
planned and, as you can tell, I've brought a lot of blatant bribery
goods for everyone."
Domino came around the corner and nearly choked at the sight of them
holding each other. <Nate!>
<What? What's the problem?>
She sent him the image and in the opposite wing of the mansion, Cable
spat out his coffee. Unfortunately, he was having coffee with Jean and
Ororo and managed to spit his beverage onto the front of Ororo's dress.
I think descretion is the part of valor I should exercise right now, he
thought as there was a crash of thunder overhead.
"Nathan!" She gasped. "What do you mean by this?"
"I'm sorry, Ororo. I have to get back to my team immediately."
He handed her a dishcloth and hurried out with as much dignity as he
could manage.
"Hi Domino." Julia smiled as they stepped apart.
"Hi yourself. Welcome back." Do I say something? You'd blow a
circuit if somebody decided to get cute about you and Nate so just
ignore it. "Did I hear that you're going to be bribing us?"
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"Hell, no. We don't get nearly enough bribes. The gang is
congealing in the living room."
***
"Okay everybody. A word of warning. There's not much else to the
country than gold and jem stone mines and I've been told my tastes are a
bit much. " Julia said handing out the boxes. "I blame that on
the culture. We tend to go overboard on glittery objects."
"That would explain 'Berto's thing with jewelry too." Jimmy
smirked. "Maybe it's something in the water."
"It's good breeding." Roberto shot back. "And you're the
one wearing two earrings and a necklace, Proudstar. Latinos are by
nature conscious on their appearance. When we have the means to do so,
we choose only the best."
"I gotta go with 'Berto on this, Jimmy." Tabitha said.
"His clothes always rock and Julia's been decked out every day
we've seen her."
"Decked out? Tabs, wait until we go to an embassy ball. That's
decked out. It'll take three hours to get dressed."
"Why would you go, or even be invited to, an embassy
function?" Domino asked in mid-unwrap.
Julia shrugged. "I needed some excuse to stay in the country. I'm
not a citizen and it'd be too much paperwork to get a student visa. So,
I'm officially here as an attaché of Argentine Embassy. Diplomatic
immunity might come in handy."
Cable's eyebrows almost reached his hairline. "Do I even want to
know how you swung that?"
"Nobody died, if that's what you're asking."
Roberto looked speculative. Diplomatic privileges sounded good.
"Hey, maybe I can pull a few strings and become an attaché from
Brazil. Did you use money or pull favors?"
"Pulled rank, actually. The Guild has a long reach. DaCosta
International should have enough clout to get you a position,
though." She made a frustrated gesture at them. "Open the
stuff already! I'm dying from anxiety here."
"Why would you do that?" Shatterstar asked as he undid the
last of the ribbons and paper. "I would certainly welcome any gift
you choose to give me." He lifted the lid of the box. There was a
black leather coat inside. He inspected the lining and saw that it would
conceal two short bladed swords. There were two plain sheaths at the
bottom of the box. He pulled out one of the blades. It was well-balanced
with a good grip. He carefully placed the blades in the sheathes that
were part of the fabric and tried the coat on.
"That looks great 'Star." Domino said. "You can't tell
you're carrying anything."
"I can see that I will no longer have to go without weapons when we
are out socially." He said warmly. "That is very comforting.
Thank you."
"You're welcome, of course." Julia smiled. Encouraged, they
began tearing into their respective packages.
Jimmy open his box. Inside was a large gold watch and a vest with a cool
design down one side.
"Wow." He said as he examined the heavy timepiece. His name
was engraved on the back. He put it on and admired the glint of the
metal. "Thanks." He shrugged the vest on. The design seemed to
be the representation of some kind of animal-human creature.
"That's the god of," Roberto searched his memory. I used to
know the mythology. "warriors. There's all these altars and things
to it back home."
"I bet it's got some name fourteen letters long and mostly
consonants too." Jimmy said. "It fits great."
"Vowels are for sissies." Julia said. "And thank Tabs.
She got me all your sizes."
"I'm no fool. If you're going to actually to bother to get us
stuff, it's got to fit. " Tabitha said. She looked down at her
gift. "Ooh." There was pair of gold and emerald earrings
sitting on a silk sundress. "I'm totally amazed." She
reverently exchanged the set she was wearing for her new pair.
"Thanks just tons." She shook the dress out.
"It's sort of a new wave toga." Julia explained at her curious
look.
"I'll be right back. I gotta try this." Tabitha said running
out.
"Since she'll be a few hours, I'll open mine." Cable said.
Inside his box was a tooled leather briefcase. It was proportional to
his size but still quite light. Inside was compartments for more than a
few weapons. His initials were worked in sliver on the lock. "This
is fantastic. "He complimented. "I can't help but notice that
it's setup for carrying guns."
"Of course." Julia smiled. "And it's shielded so you can
get past a metal detector if you wanted to." She looked puzzled as
something occurred to her. "How do you get through metal detectors
anyway?"
"My cybernetic parts can fool the detectors." He smirked.
"We don't travel coach so I don't go through the airports."
"That's good to know. Knives and swords are usually aren't allowed
as carry-on luggage."
"Have you considered switching to non-metal weapons?" Domino
asked as she petted her new black leather coat.
"Domino, please." Julia winced. "Even the idea makes me
queasy."
"It would be difficult to be taken as a serious threat with a
plastic sword." Shatterstar agreed.
"You're both being fussy. Carbon fiber can be your friend."
Domino teased, examining the coat. She smiled at the pockets for knives
and the shoulder harness for one handgun built into the lining. She
stood and put it on.
"It looks good on you, Dom." Cable said.
"You're really raising the dress code here." Domino smiled.
"I don't know if we can cope with this kind of thing."
"Well, Roberto was slacking off so someone's got to do it. I've got
great taste in combat gear but that's about it."
"I am not slacking!" Roberto asserted. "It's a tough job.
I was just resting."
"Oh, sure."
***
Tabitha adjusted the dress one last time in front of the mirror. It was
a simple tunic-style dress with a layer of semi-transparent layer of
silk draped over it. She stepped out onto the hallway and ran into Sam.
"There you are!" He smiled. "Wow, you look nice."
"Thanks. It's new." She tilted her head. "Are you allowed
to hang with us tonight? We're going out to a club."
"Ah'm not sure. Ah think Ah's supposed to be on watch."
She blew out the breath she'd been holding. Figures. "Whatever. If
you get permission, you know where we are." She pushed past him and
went to join the others. I am really getting sick of him jerking me
around. Yesterday it was 'Sure, girl. Anytime's good for me'.
***
"Okay, check it out!" Tabitha called. They looked up at her in
the doorway.
"Looking good, Tab." Roberto said truthfully. The dress wasn't
especially short or low cut but it clung to her enough to show off her
figure. The swathe of silk over top gave the outfit a classical air. She
smiled at the praise and settled down beside him again.
"That's a good idea about getting you in as part of the embassy,
Roberto." Cable said. "We'll have to work on that." He
looked consideringly at Julia. "Does the Guild's reach extend to
Brazil?"
"Um. Not so much my Guild. Rio's Thieves' Guild is quite large and
influential, though"
Roberto frowned. "It is? I haven't heard about them before."
"How many secret societies last if they take ads out in the
newspapers? I'm surprised you haven't received an invitation to enter
into alliance with them yet."
She's not insulting you, he reminded himself. "Why? My family
aren't thieves."
"No, but your family has control of a major corporation and you're
old money. Those are usually the major prerequisites. The Guild likes to
see that its prospective allies have staying power."
"Is this why there isn't a strong presence here?" Cable asked.
Domino was watching everything intently. This could be a big help to
what we want to do eventually, she thought. It'll be our biggest op
ever.
"More or less. American families are too new by our standards. I
mean, the country's isn't that old and the value system here is very
different."
"I guess that makes sense. My family has been Brazil for the last
four hundred years." Roberto pulled out a white cloak with gold
trim along the edges. There was a large intricate pattern in gold over
each shoulder and the DaCosta crest was worked into the design on the
right side.
"You muttered something about visiting Nova Roma." Julia
explained. "That's part of the dress code for a nobleman's son.
They might be accepting electricity now but jeans and t-shirts are still
out."
"You've been there recently? I thought you needed all kinds of
special permits."
Julia hesitated. Might as well tell them. He'll find out if he wants to
visit anyway. "The government of Nova Roma has entered into
alliance with both Guilds. Officially, all trade negotiations are being
handled through Guild agents and we can come and go freely."
"Whose idea was that?" Domino asked.
"Theirs. They needed protection from exploitation and we've got
sort of a cultural loyalty. They can take their time learning about how
things are done now." She smiled. "And we speak the
language."
"Dios, I had no idea that you guys had so much influence at
home." Roberto commented. After a moment of consideration, he
turned on his inhibitor bracelet. I think it'll lose some of the effect
if I'm powered up. He stood and fastened it around his neck. The cloak
reached almost to the floor. If I was wearing sandals, it'd be the
perfect length. I wonder what Amara will think? I'll have to get fitted
for some tunics and leggings before I go to see her.
Tabitha whistled. "You're stylin', 'Berto."
He bowed with a flourish. Female approval. Good sign. "It's great.
How did you get my family crest done?"
Julia smiled mysteriously. "Ways and means."
"I know not to ask, then." He carefully folded it up and
placed it back into its box. If the Guild is that powerful, I should at
least make an effort to know about them. "I'm going to be visiting
home in a few weeks. How would I contact the Guild?"
"Ask Remy. He's got the title to make the introductions and he's
very well liked. Terry, are you going to open that or what?"
"I donnae want to open it." Terry said, turning the
elaborately wrapped package over in her hands. "It's so
lovely."
"Open it, you silly. I was bored out of my mind on the plane so I
got clever with the wrapping."
Terry carefully undid the paper and pulled out a necklace with a
sapphire pendant. "My goodness." Tabitha scooted over and
helped her fasten the clasp. Terry patted the stone happily. "Thank
ye." She lifted the silk dress out of the bottom of the box. It
looked longer than Tabitha's but a similar style. Wade will love it, she
thought.
"I'll wear mine when we go out tonight." She said. "What
are you wearing, Julia?"
Julia blinked. "Pardon? Who's going where?"
"Terry, I didn't tell her yet." Tabitha grumbled. "'Berto
and I thought it would be cool for us to take you out. Sort of a welcome
aboard thing."
"Oh. Okay. What's the plan?"
"We'll tell ye over lunch." Terry said.
***
It was Tabitha's turn to cook so they had pizza for lunch. While they
waited for the delicacy, they squirreled away their new acquisitions.
Roberto probably broke some local ordinance when he burned all the
wrapping paper and boxes with his flares outside.
"Are you pleased with the idea?" Shatterstar asked as they sat
down on the patio to wait.
Julia curled up on a chair and tried not to think about how tired she
was. "I guess. I thought this wasn't your sort of thing,
though."
"I think it may be enjoyable as we are going with our friends.
Rictor always wished to socialize with women when we had gone out before
and I was uncomfortable because of my ignorance of the behavior
expected."
"Just be yourself." She smiled. " If people can't deal
with that, then to hell with them."
He tilted his head. "Should I not make the effort to integrate
myself with this culture? That has been an occupation of mine for some
time."
"I think there's difference between understanding the culture where
you happen to be and changing yourself to get along." She said
thoughtfully. "I mean, if you change what you are what will you
have left?"
"Nothing." He asserted firmly. "Being a warrior is all
that I am. Many are uncomfortable with my manner on occasion,
though."
"So? As long as you're not breaking some law outright, who
cares?" She smiled at his intensely serious expression. "'To
thine own self be true.'"
He considered that. You have such clarity of self, he thought. "I
like that phrase. It is honourable advice."
"And your Shakespearean quote of the day." She said lightly.
"Hamlet, to be specific."
"I suppose that is something not shown on television? Will I only
find it in one of your very dense books?"
"Well, actually sometimes the play is broadcast but the language
might be different than the original. So you're still saved from
reading."
"That is most fortunate." He said with small smile.
Terry found them and handed Julia a brochure. On the cover was a round
all-glass building. A large neon sign named the structure as 'The
Palladium' .
"It's newish club that's supposed to have everything." She
explained. "Tab and 'Berto have been dying to go."
"Whatever." Julia shrugged. "What's the dress code?"
"Club formal." Roberto said, joining them. "Nice party
clothes will do it."
Julia went through her wardrobe in her mind. "I suppose I can do
that. When did you want to go?"
"We were thinking after dinner would be good." Terry said.
"Sounds fine."
The pizza was pronounced ready and they seated themselves around the
kitchen table.
"You were in Botswana a week ago, weren't you?" Domino said
nonchalantly between bites. "SHIELD ID'd an energy signature that's
been linked to their profile for you."
Julia stilled her automatic alarm at the connection. I'm working with
these people now. "Yes, I was. It was one of those things I had to
get done."
"Can I ask why'd you did it?" Cable inquired. "I mean,
besides the money." He added with a smile. That kind of work would
be worth a fortune.
"I said over a year ago I'd agree to do the job." she
shrugged. "You've got to keep your promises in this business."
Cable's bionic eye flickered. "Yes, you do." He glanced at
Jimmy and Shatterstar who were watching him with noncommittal
expressions. "I haven't forgotten my promises to either of
you."
"That is good to hear." Shatterstar said seriously. Jimmy
nodded.
Domino turned back to Julia. "What kind of transport did you
use?" Nothing like shop talk, she thought. Especially with someone
whose SHIELD file is longer than mine.
"Getting in, I walked. Getting out, I drove." Julia smiled
slightly. "Why did you think it took me so long to get there?"
"Why the hell did you do that?" As tough as she was, Domino
didn't see the point in suffering any more than strictly necessary
during an op.
"They were tracking all vehicle movements for about twenty miles
out both ground and air, and I couldn't get a reliable set of
teleportation coordinates. Pedestrians aren't much of threat so they
didn't bother stopping any hikers." She blinked innocently.
"After all, how much damage could one person on foot possibly
do?"
"Jeez. That sounds brutal." Tabitha muttered. "I'd be
bagged before I even got there."
"Well, just don't make any smart comments about my having to do a
workout now." Julia said.
Cable sat back. A trek on foot, presumably with her gear. Then, break
into and neutralize every person on the base and flatten the place on
the way out. From the date of her card to 'Star, she must have drove
more or less non-stop to Cape Town. "Christ, kid. You're
good."
She smirked at him. "Yeah. I know."
"And yer modest too." Terry snickered.
"Not at all. Arrogant and proud of it."
"We can't accuse you for false modesty then." Roberto noted
with a grin.
***
They watched TV while the rest of the gang wandered off to do their own
thing. Shatterstar noticed that Julia's attention was drifting and she
looked like she was staying awake on willpower alone. He didn't think
the program was that boring for her.
"Julia, have you slept recently?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Sort of. I've crossed the date line and four time
zones in the last three days so I'm kind of out of wack with the local
clock. I think it's three AM for me."
"Why don't you rest now? You will be too tired to enjoy going to
the club otherwise."
"Okay." She sighed as she curled up on her end of the sofa.
She was asleep almost instantly. He paused, trying to figure out what to
do. He had thought to suggest she sleep upstairs but was hesitant to
wake her again. I don't think I should leave her alone in a public room
while she is sleeping, he thought. He carefully pulled her closer to him
and settled them down on the sofa. He reached out to the remote control
and shut the TV off.
"Hey, 'Berto. Come see this." Tabitha called quietly. He
joined her at the doorway of the living room. Shatterstar and Julia were
sleeping on the sofa and he had his arms around her. Roberto moved
closer to get a better view and Shatterstar opened his eyes.
"Yes?" He asked softly.
"Sorry. I thought you were sleeping."
"No. I am not tired but she was fatigued from her mission. I
thought it best if she rested before we went out tonight."
And that's why she's napping on you? Roberto thought. "Oh. Why
don't you wake her up around five? She'll have time to go back to her
place and get changed then."
"I will do that."
***
Julia woke up slowly. Where am I? Suddenly she realized she was lying
more or less on top of someone. Her eyes snapped open and flicked over
the room. Oh, right. The Xavier place. That would make this cuddly
someone Shatterstar. She glanced up. Sure, enough he was sleeping
peacefully and she felt his arms wrapped around her. My, this is nice. I
could really get to like this. Don't go there, she reminded herself. She
wondered briefly how they ended up like this. I'm pretty sure I was a
modest distance away before I flaked out. He stirred and opened his
eyes.
He looked confused briefly then smiled at her. "Hello."
"Hi." She smiled back.
"How are you?"
"Fine. Rested."
"That is good." He didn't feel inclined to move. He was quite
comfortable as they were. I am enjoying this, he thought. He wasn't
quite sure why he felt compelled to hold her so protectively close.
Since she didn't object, he decided to leave that consideration for
another time. He looked up as the living room doors were opened.
***
Sam opened the doors to the living room. Why were they even closed? He
wondered. He went in and stopped in his tracks. Shatterstar was lying on
the sofa with a girl.
"Oh mah god." He said automatically. She looked vaguely
familiar. Wasn't she around when we did the barbecue a couple weeks
back?
"Hello Sam." Shatterstar said, sitting up. The girl just
smiled at him as she sat up and adjusted the pins in her hair. "You
have met Julia, correct?"
Sam's manners kicked in. "Ah can't say Ah have." He came
forward and held out a hand. "Sam Guthrie."
"It's a pleasure to meet you at last, Sam. I'm Julia de
Santos." She said as she took his hand.
"Julia has recently become a member of X-Force." Shatterstar
said.
Sam frowned. Ororo had complained that Cable had recruited an assassin.
"Are you the assassin?" He asked before he could think of a
polite way of phrasing the question.
"Not 'the'. Just 'an' assassin." She said whimsically.
"Ya really kill people for money?" Might as well ask, he
thought.
She smiled. "No, not any more. Since I'm on side, I guess I'll be
killing people for free." Why do I get the feeling he doesn't see
the humour here?
"Great, you're awake!" Tabitha said, coming in. "You got
to help me pick out what to wear."
Sam brightened up. "Hi there, Tab."
"Hey Sam." She said offhandedly. He blinked at her lukewarm
greeting. What did I do? He wondered.
"What time is it?" Julia asked.
"Almost four-thirty." Tabitha said sitting down. "What
are you wearing?"
She looked down at her clothes. "Right now? Black pantsuit with
silver trim. Can't you see me?"
"Funny. I meant tonight."
"I don't know yet. I'll dig something up."
Shatterstar looked puzzled. "Why do you wish to know this?"
"I just do." Tabitha stated. He put it down to the mysterious
behavior of women and abandoned the inquiry. "Are you allowed to
come out and play?" She asked Sam.
"No. Ah'm sorry but Ah'm on watch tonight. Ah tried to get Bobby to
swap with me but Scott says Ah should get familiar with the
system."
Storm warning, Julia thought watching Tabitha. She looked mad, hurt and
then indifferent.
"Yeah, okay. Whatever."
"This is important to me, Tab."
"Yeah I know." Don't spazz, she thought. He really doesn't get
it. How come I'm not important anymore? He doesn't really give a damn
about anything except being a good little X-Man. "Did you come over
here for a reason?"
"Ah came to tell you that. Ah'm not trying to be jerk."
"Of course not. You're never trying to be a jerk."
Sam considered asking what was bothering her but let it go. I'll find
out when we're alone, he decided. "Have a good time tonight."
"Yeah. We will."
***
Tabitha blinked back tears as Sam left. I'm cool, she thought.
"Julia?"
"Yes?"
"What do you do when you're really, totally mad?"
"Something violent and destructive. Repeatedly."
That sounds like the way to go, she thought. "Um. 'Star? Do you
think you could set up a program for me in the Danger Room?"
"Certainly." He said. "Did you wish to do this now?"
"Yeah."
Julia watched as the program began. Tabitha was standing in an open
field with mechanical insectoids coming at her. She began throwing her
timebombs in a fury.
"Will she be all right in there?" She asked Shatterstar. I
know he explained it's all computer simulations and such but sure looks
real.
"Yes. I have made sure the safety locks cannot be overridden. If
she wishes, she can halt the program by calling out 'stop'." He
looked down at Tabitha's angry assault on the attackers. "I believe
she is very upset that Sam cannot come with us tonight."
"That's probably just the surface of things." She stood as the
explosions coming from the floor of the room increased intensity.
"Come on. I think she might want to be alone for a while."
He nodded. "I do not care for people watching me during my workouts
either."
***
Tabitha blew the next wave of metal insects into pieces. I'm not
important to him, she thought. He said we were gonna try and make it
work and it's not working. I've haven't even had to go on a mission yet
and we still can't get together. She wiped her eyes and threw another
bomb at what looked like a giant grasshopper. You're fucking pathetic,
she cursed herself. You were drooling over him when we got back from
Asgard. Did he give a damn? NO! Hung around because of him. What did I
say? 'If Guthrie stays, so do I?' Boy, I bet Cable just about bust a gut
laughing. The stupid bimbo'll follow along as long she can get with
Cable's pet. Another blast of explosive plasma. Why'd he bother to get
with you anyways? Nice country boy. It's 'cause you'd put out. Must have
been thrilled to get some after that out-of-date bitch dumped him. She
ran to the top of the fake hill. She could feel the power just rushing
through her. It's been over fifteen minutes and not I'm even close to
tired. Been holding back all this time. Oh yeah. Took me home to meet
his mom and useless family. Jeez, did that ever suck. All of them
looking at me like I'm trash. She held her hands out and the explosion
demolished more bugs. Fuck 'em. Practice more with your powers, Tab.
Maybe if you're really, really good you can be an X-Men just like me. No
way. The mandatory lobotomy would wreck my hair. She laughed out loud.
How come you got all nice and sweet, Boomer? That ain't you. You turned
yourself in a doormat 'cause why? It might freak somebody out if you let
go? Let 'em freak. She grinned and looked down at her hands, glowing
with power. I'm not gonna get yanked around by anybody. The bugs
reformed and began charging the hill. Oh yeah, come and get it you
fuckers.
Sam entered the control room and looked down. Tabitha was standing in
the middle of dozens of mechanical insects. They had her surrounded but
she was laughing. He reached for the microphone. He jerked back as an
explosion slammed against the glass, filling his view of the room. The
light cleared and he stared stunned at the damage. The room was in
shambles. There were burn marks along the walls and wires hung from some
of the exploded light fixtures. Tabitha was still standing. She smirked
up at him.
"You got a problem, Guthrie?"
"Tab! Are you okay? Ah'll be right down."
"What for? I'm cool. Just working on my powers and having a great
fucking time. I gotta tell Cable I broke the playpen." She said as
she strolled out the door. He raced out to meet her downstairs.
"Tabitha!" He called to her.
"Yeah?" She smiled. This is going to be so sweet.
"Uh, Ah'm sorry about not being able to go out tonight. Ah know Ah
haven't been around much."
She manifested a mini-timebomb and played with it. "You ain't been
around at all. We're over, Sammy boy."
"What?! Tabs," He began.
"Nope. I'm not going for sorry, maybe or later. You want to get
with me now, you're gonna have to work for it. Talk to me when you're
willing to do that." She bounced the little timebomb off his chest
and grinned when he flinched. "'Till, then, see you around the
mansion."
***
Cable looked around at the devastation. "Tabitha did this?" He
asked incredulously.
"Yeah. She blew the room up and said we're over." Sam
reported. He was stunned, hurt and confused all at once.
"Hey there Big Guy!" Tabitha called. "I guess you know I
broke the room now."
"Yes. I do." Cable studied the girl. She looked happy and he
could sense that she was really pleased with herself. "You
okay?"
She smiled radiantly. "Fantastic. Am I in shit for this?"
"No. I'm glad you've reached a new level in using your
powers."
"Funky. Got to go. See you later." She waved and walked out.
"Cable! Aren't you going to talk to her?" Sam asked.
"She's not acting normal."
"Sam, how are you doing?"
"How do you mean? Mah girl's just dumped me and has gotten all
mouthy."
"She's always been mouthy. It's practically a trademark. Why she's
dumped you, well, have you been paying attention to her lately? Women
like that, you know."
"Ah know but Ah've been trying really hard to fit in with the
X-Men." Sam said running his hand over his head. "Since you
and the Professor felt Ah was ready to graduate, Ah want to do right by
your decision."
Hell, Nate, you can really wreck things for your kids when you try, he
thought. "What did you think of that decision?" There was
something about that conversation with Xavier that bugged him but he
couldn't focus on it.
"Ah was," Sam considered. "impressed at first. Ah mean,
Ah've always looked up to the X-Men. But weren't we our own team? Ah
missed mah friends. Ah'm just another junior teammate now."
Cable sighed. I have to fix this. Sam deserves that much from me.
"Do you want to come back to X-Force?"
"Ah don't know. Ah mean, with Tabitha acting so different and all.
It would be kind of hard to live with. Can Ah think about it?"
"Sure, Sam." He put a paternal arm around the boy's shoulders.
"Why don't tell me about what you've been doing lately?"
***
Disclaimer:
The X-Men and X-Force belong to Marvel Comics. Big Sugar belongs to
themselves. Corn Pops, Pop Tarts, WD-40 and Deep Woods Off are
trademarks of their respective owners. This is a nonprofit work of
fiction. Julia de Santos/Shockwave belongs to me but she'll deny it if
asked.
Questions/Comments: sabre@industrialwebworks.com
Author's Notes: Please see Part One.
This story begins just after X-Force #46.
<telepathic conversation>
*sound effects*
****
Shockwave
by
Sabre
Part
Five - Fun and Games
Jimmy parked
the borrowed limo in front of Julia's place and honked the horn. It had
taken a lot of begging to get the car but it was only thing outside a
minivan that would fit them all comfortably. Julia stepped out a moment
later.
"Madonna." Roberto breathed from his shotgun seat. She was
wearing a little black dress with gold embroidery down one side. Her
hair was down for a change making her look more feminine than they could
ever recall seeing her. Shatterstar smiled and opened the door. She got
in and Roberto couldn't help but notice she was wearing heels and seamed
stockings.
"Hi guys." She smiled. "I like the dress, Tabs. Where's
Terry?"
"Thanks." Tabitha said, smoothing down the small red dress.
She played with the cuffs of the matching jacket, getting the folds just
right. "Terry is going to meet us there. You get to meet her
boyfriend tonight."
"Gosh, the excitement just builds." She looked at Shatterstar.
"You look nice." Black suit with collarless jacket. His
red-gold hair looked brighter than ever. I am not staring. I am just
admiring the colour on him. Well, maybe I'm staring a little.
"I am glad this meets with your approval." He said.
"Roberto insisted that I try a new style of clothing."
"And aren't you happy I did?" Roberto said, turning around.
"We're a real collection of the beautiful people tonight." He
patted the lapels of his black Armani suit happily.
"Why'd you get tagged with driver duty, Jimmy?" Julia asked as
she surveyed his nifty almost-hoodlum outfit. Never thought he'd be the
leather suit type, but whatever, she thought.
He grinned at her in the rearview mirror. "'Star drives too fast,
Tabs didn't want to and 'Berto can't reach the pedals."
"HEY!"
***
The Palladium had everything, just as the brochure promised. The first
floor was a regular bar with a small dance floor for whatever house band
happened to playing. Tonight though, it was kareoke. They couldn't
escape since they agreed to meet Terry and Wade in the area. They
watched the next gentleman climb onto the platform. He was apparently
tone deaf and chose to perform all the accompanying gyrations to his
song.
"Do they do kareoke in Argentina?" Tabitha asked Julia.
"Not more than once. It's an offense punishable by death."
"That sounds like an appropriate penalty." Shatterstar
commented.
Roberto looked surprised. "Really? You're just given lashes in
Brazil."
"We do that to mimes. Then they're drowned in greasepaint."
Julia explained.
"Ah. National differences." noted Roberto. "We float them
out to sea on rafts."
Tabitha looked back and forth at them. "Are you guys kidding? Say
yes."
"Maybe." Roberto smirked. "There's Terry."
They saw her approach on the arm of a good-looking blond man. Jimmy
tried not to frown.
Terry smiled. "Hi everybody. Wade, I'd like ye to meet Julia de
Santos. Julia, this is Wade Wilson."
Wade glanced at her. "Hey. Nice to meet you."
"How do you do?" She asked.
Wade tilted his head slightly. Something about her voice was familiar.
Not bad but just familiar. He looked closer but didn't recognize her at
all.
They relocated on the next level that was set up as sort of a
lounge/dance floor. The tables were in semi-private alcoves around the
dance floor. Tabitha declared she was going to enjoy her new fake ID and
went to find a reasonably short bar line-up. Jimmy and Roberto excused
themselves and went off to explore the rest of the club on their own.
Shatterstar leaned over to Julia as they watched Wade and Terry on the
dance floor. I would have not guessed him to be so proficient at such
things, he thought. "Something is bothering you."
Julia nodded. "I'm not sure if this bothers me yet." She moved
closer to him. "Is Wade the mercenary friend you mentioned?"
"Yes. Do you know him?"
"I've met him. On business. I don't think he's recognized me
yet." She said mischievously. "Want to have a little fun with
the merc?"
He smiled slightly. "Of course."
They waited until Wade and Terry came back.
"I'll be right back." Terry said as she picked up her purse.
Wade looked forlornly after her.
Julia slammed her glass down. "Last call, you loony bastard!"
Wade jumped and Shatterstar tried not to smile at the man's response.
The voice clicked. The last time he'd heard it he had been fighting out
of horrible ninja stronghold with a strange mutant assassin.
"Damn! I knew I recognized your voice!"
She smiled and raised her drink. "Termites are a bitch, aren't
they?"
"Yeah, they are. Good thing they're so damn easy to kill." He
agreed as they clicked their glasses together. She was a whole lot
better looking than he imagined her to be. When they'd last met, she'd
been wearing a mask and body armor so he hadn't been able to form any
opinions. He'd rather thought, since she'd been covered head to toe,
she'd been as physically messed up as him. In his experience, most
mutant women didn't seem to wear very much in the field.
"It's nice to see you again. I think you and Terry look good
together." She said. Her friendliness derailed him. Mind you , they
were sitting in a nightclub, not in a enemy base knee-deep in bodyparts.
Come to think about, she'd been pretty nice then, too. Must be just the
way she is, he thought. What a weirdo.
"Thanks. I think so too." He paused. "What are doing with
this little spandex brigade?"
"Fighting with my genetic compatriots for the glorious mutant
cause. Long live the struggle." She laughed as he snorted his beer
up his nose.
Shatterstar emitted a sort of strangled snicker and settled back to
watch the rest of the strange reunion.
"Jeez, you've been hit on the head too many times. Why the hell did
you give up your day job? That stuff doesn't make a dime." Wade
muttered. "How much did you make for that job anyway?"
"What a tacky question. I'm shocked." She smiled. "More
than you I'll bet."
"What? No way! Not a chance! Let's hear the numbers."
"Five point six."
"Damn." He said mournfully. "I knew I gave in too
soon." He took another swig of his drink to console himself.
"You know, you didn't tell me your name before. Or any name come to
think about it. Are you shy?"
"That's my usual policy. I responded to 'killer mutie' so what's
the problem? Do you hand out business cards?"
"I got myself a fancy codename that's part of my rep. People hear
it and go running the other way." He bragged. He lowered his voice.
"I'm Deadpool."
"I can't understand why anybody go for that codename stuff. I've
heard of you under that name, though. Quite the rep, too."
"You don't have one? It's all the rage these days. Every
fashionable costumed lunatic has one."
"That explains you then. I've sort of been tagged with one. Fury's
group of busybodies calls me Shockwave."
He gasped. "Holy shit. I don't believe it. The killer mutie I knew
and snuffed ninjas with is the single-serving nuke. I am
impressed."
"Thanks, I think." She said dryly.
Shatterstar was laughing quietly. "Am I correct in assuming that
termites are what you call ninjas?"
"Yeah." Wade said as he finished his drink. "Just a
stupid number of them too. It took, what? Almost all day to get them
all."
"About that." Julia acknowledged.
"I have never actually faced one but I understand they are a
difficult sort of foe." Shatterstar commented.
"Not especially. The ones that I've run across are all highly
formalized and none of them seemed terribly creative. I don't think
you'd have any problems except for the odd mutant powered one."
"That one who could turn into that thing with all the tentacles was
tough." Wade reminisced. "All the slime jammed my gun."
"Yeah, that was just disgusting."
"Ahem."
Wade turned to see Terry and Tabitha watching them. "Doll, there
you are!"
"Ye didn't mention that ye knew Julia." She said. He
recognized the tone. I'm in trouble with my girl, he thought. And for
once, I'm entirely innocent. Sheesh.
Tabitha looked at them. "You guys know each other?"
"Somewhat. We just figured it out though." Julia said.
"Terry, I think I would have fainted if I knew this was the guy
you're dating. Have I got stuff to tell you."
"Oh no you don't." Wade said defensively. "Babe, don't
listen to her. She's slandering my good name."
Shatterstar smirked. "I was not aware you had a good name. What is
it?"
"Shut it, ponytail boy." He was too flustered to think of
anything wittier. Women problems always rattled his nerves.
"I told ye his name." Terry said to Julia.
"I thought it was familiar but we really didn't do the
introductions before. What was I going to ask? Is your boyfriend also a
crazy merc with bad taste in clothes?"
"What! My outfit's great! What's wrong with it?"
Julia looked like she was going to say something when Terry leaned
forward batted her lashes. "Nothing. It's tight all over. I think
it's great too."
"Ooh, flattery. I like it. More, please."
Tabitha gagged. Julia glanced at the ceiling in mute appeal to whatever
gods were handy. Shatterstar looked amused at Wade's discomfort.
Terry leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. "How did ye meet
then?"
He relaxed. All was still well. He glanced at Julia, who shrugged.
"We met, uh, professionally when parties who really hated this
unlovable SOB paid me and her separately to make sure he and his hit the
afterlife ahead of schedule."
"Now that's a bad day, having two people looking to snuff you. Most
people just dread opening their mailbox." Tabitha opined.
"How'd you two decide then?"
"We flipped a coin. I lost but I got to tag most of the guards on
the way out."
***
Jimmy wandered around the fourth floor. Up here it was mostly
Latino-style music. I am going to have a good time, he told himself
firmly. He spotted Roberto on the dance floor with pretty brunette.
Unbelievable, he thought. We've only been here maybe ten minutes. He
perched on a barstool and waited for the bartender to notice him. Then
he saw someone in the bar mirror he recognized. The cute stalker from
the mall. He turned around enough to see her clearly. She waved at him
from her table. Should I? Go on, Proudstar. Live a little. He walked
over and sat down across from her.
"Hi. You waved?"
"Yes. I wanted to meet you." She said. "I'm Risque."
Now that's a sign, he thought. "James Proudstar." He said
holding out a hand.
She smiled at his formality as she shook his hand. A definite winner,
she decided. She'd been impressed when she'd seen him in her former
employer's files but in person? Wow. She'd followed him around that mall
like some sick puppy. Pet me, she invited silently. Or I can pet you,
either way's good.
***
They left Terry and Wade downstairs and moved up the more pub-like
atmosphere up a flight. More classic rock and pool tables.
Julia looked up at the man who was attempting to entice her out to the
dance floor. "No, thanks. Not interested."
"C'mon pretty baby. One dance." He wheedled with oily charm,
as he looked her up and down. She suppressed her desire to plant her cue
stick into the man's gut and just shook her head.
"You don't like men?" He asked snidely.
"I like men fine. Insects are out." She muttered.
He looked at something over her shoulder. "Your loss." He
tossed off as he left.
Julia glanced around. "Hey. I'm glad you showed up."
"What did that person want?" Shatterstar asked.
"Take a guess."
He frowned. "I don't think I like the guesses that occur to
me."
"Neither did I." She sighed. "At the risk of sound
homesick, in Argentina I'd be free to gut him in the parking lot."
"I would help. Do you wish to break?" He asked as he removed
his jacket and hung it over a chair. She blinked at the tight-fitting
gold shirt he was wearing. My day has just been made, she thought taking
in his perfect form. Stop that, she added automatically.
"No, it's your turn." She handed him the chalk. "How do
you guys know Wilson?"
"He attacked us on several occasions. In addition, he is
responsible for Domino's abduction and replacement by a duplicate."
He said dryly.
"And Terry's dating him now? And this is okay with everybody?"
"Domino and Cable were," He paused. "less than pleased at
first but they honoured her choice."
She shook her head. "Very strange. Still, he's an excellent merc
and he seems to be quite hooked on her."
He stood back as his last shot just missed. "You think highly of
his skills?
"Yes." She said distractedly as she lined up. "Some of
what he does isn't what I approve of but I'm not going let that get in
the way of an honest assessment." She smiled as the ball sunk.
"After all, I'm not the one to be casting moral judgments, am
I?"
"I suppose considered from the conventional morality here,
no." He admitted as she walked around the table. His thoughts were
halted as she leaned over the table and her skirt rode up her long legs.
What was I going to say? He wondered. I cannot remember.
"What do you think of him?" She missed her fourth shot.
"Phooey."
"A good attempt." He said as he surveyed the table. "He
is indeed dangerous." He gave her a small smile. "He once
bested me in unarmed combat."
She stood next him as he targeted the eight ball. "Well, according
to the rumors, he's a product of the same program that gave the world
Wolverine." She told him softly.
"Za's vid. Now I find that out." He sighed. A thought occurred
to him. "Has he ever attacked you?"
"No. We got along that one time." She said as they collected
the balls again. "I heard he went a little insane afterwards."
"Was he not when you met him?" He asked as he racked up.
"It was hard to tell. I put it down to being hyped up and in an
enemy base for too long. I thought he was just talky and a little
weird."
***
"So de Santos is hanging around you guys full time now, huh?"
Wade asked as they danced.
Terry nodded "Aye. Cable was quite keen to bring her on board. We
get along great so it's nae like we've got an unknown person joining
up." She considered. "What do ye think of her?"
He paused. She's gorgeous? No, that would not be a good thing to tell
your girl. "Um. If she was after my hide, I'd be worried."
"Sakes, that good?" She teased. "Ye say ye never worry
about that kind of thing."
"Yeah. But she's really fun to watch in the field." He said
thoughtfully. She'd been a peculiar combination of friendly and totally
cold-blooded. He recalled when she had decapitated a few guards and then
gave him an educated and hilarious critique of the sake that had been
lying about. "I kinda freaked out at one point but either she
didn't notice or she's just as nutso."
"I donnae think yer truly crazy, Wade." She said with a small
hug.
"When you say it, Red, I think I can almost believe it."
***
"Okay, guys. We're going upstairs!" Tabitha decreed upon
return from her explorations. "The seventh floor is the
coolest."
"You mean a guy asked you to dance." Roberto translated. He
come downstairs after Jimmy had made it obvious that he'd rather been
left alone with his new acquaintance.
"Same thing. The layout's awesome and the music's better than this
old stuff."
Shatterstar looked up at that. He didn't really care for 'oldies' rock.
"It would be interesting to see the rest of this facility."
Julia put her cue stick down. "Whatever. Lead on, fair Tabitha."
The layout was spectacular. It had the largest dance floor with the
tables hidden among smoked glass alcoves around the edges. Small stages
allowed the more outgoing patrons the chance to perform more visibly.
There was a platform in the centre overlooking the entire floor and loud
techno-dance music pounded out from the speakers.
"Good call, Tabs." Roberto said approvingly.
She grinned. "No doubt. Let's grab that table."
***
They finally came downstairs because he wanted to see what his buddies
were up to. After some searching, they found the gang on the seventh
floor.
"Hi everybody." Jimmy said. "This is Risque." There
was a chorus of 'hi's in response.
"Hey." Risque smiled. She could tell they were scoping her out
and figuring out how to take her down just because they could. Cool. My
kind of crowd. The redheaded girl looked at her strangely then smiled
and cuddled up to the blond guy.
"Jimmy, are you wearing rouge?" Tabitha asked with a wicked
grin. He rubbed his face and neck self-consciously in an effort to get
the lipstick off.
Risque just grinned. "Do you think it's his color?"
"Sure." Said the dark-haired girl. "He needs a little
color in his life."
Risque perked up at a song that began. She grabbed Jimmy and lead him
away into the crowd on the floor.
"Sort of a hit and run introduction." Wade noted. He was
actually pleased that Proudstar had found some other interest. He didn't
want the competition.
"Do ye think that 'Risk' is her real name?" Terry asked only
slightly sarcastically.
"Faux is in. I've got a fake face, she's got a fake name and that
waitress over there has got fake -bmph-" He said from behind her
hand.
The waitress in question looked over then shrugged and walked away.
Terry dropped her hand.
"Yer terrible." She giggled.
***
Julia climbed the stairs up to the center platform. There was a small
bar at the top and a line of barstools lining the edge of the railing.
She picked up another drink and found a seat with a view of her friends
on the dance floor below. Roberto had apparently convinced Shatterstar
to at least try to dance and she could see them out on the floor with a
pair of blonde girls. She smiled to herself. Roberto might not claim any
mutant ability to charm people like Remy had but the effects were pretty
damn similar when he tried.
She surveyed the crowd and attempted to figure out whether she actually
feeling anything or just going through the motions. She'd learned early
on how to mask her naturally detached manner with all the popular
behaviors. I like this, she decided. I like being out my friends. I
guess I can say for certain I am having fun. Hmm. Anything else? It was
so hard to tell some days. It was as though there was a blank were her
emotions should normally be. I can understand why other people get mad
or happy or whatever but for me? Nada. It's still all an intellectual
exercise. I can get annoyed at things so that's a start. I guess my
reaction to things that annoy me is more extreme than normal so I can
pass for getting furious. Well, I like being 'Star so let's start there.
She tapped the railing in time to music while she considered.. We get
along well and I look forward to being with him. She focused on the
memory of what she experienced when he met her at the door that morning.
I liked that a lot. Looks like I can 'happy' to my repertoire now. I'm
happy when I'm with him. I'm attracted to him. Is that the same as
desire? Ooh, that means I feel two new things. Even if I'm not about to
do anything about it. What else? I would be not happy to leave them now,
so does that count as something? Loyalty, maybe. Is this concern? Am I
concerned about them? I guess so. Do regular people feel things
independently or do they feel things in reaction to other people? Either
way, they probably don't have to concentrate to do it. She spotted
Tabitha dancing with her current admirer. She likes the attention and
she feels appreciated, Julia concluded. She's happy right now. I can
analyze it, categorize it, understand it but I just don't feel it.
Everything passes over me without actually affecting me. She sipped her
drink. It's what makes me a great assassin. No empathy, no emotions but
I can pass as normal so people can't pick me out of crowd. Most
professionals had some quirk that always gave them away. Wade's a
borderline psychotic. Domino is a secretive, abused survivor. What are
you running from, Dom? She wondered. You've got overcompensation written
all over you. Cable is harder to figure out but there's an undercurrent
of desperation in him. He fears losing so badly that he feels pushed to
do things that are abhorrent to him.
She put down the empty glass. What was that anyway? Oh, right. A 'Rusty
Nail'. Not bad. Well, enough navel-gazing for today, she thought. She
saw a flash of blond hair beside her and turned to see Wade Wilson
hovering close by.
***
Wade sidled up to Julia as she watched the crowd. She appeared to be
contemplating something and was oblivious to the gazes of the men around
her. She turned and smiled at him.
He glanced over the railing. "Good view. You'd be able to pick off
nearly anybody from here."
"Yes. What I wouldn't give for a box of rubber bands right
now." She said impishly.
"I gotta remember to bring some if I ever come back." He
grinned. She's still got a great sense of humor. "So, as one pro to
another. What's with you and ponytail boy?"
"Gods. Not you too."
"C'mon, Terry is dying to know. It'll mean points for me if I can
find out."
"We're friends."
"Yeah, but what else? You even dress like a matched set."
"What?" She looked down at her dress and realized his black
and gold suit did match her outfit. "That was unintentional."
"You didn't get dressed together this morning? Discuss hair
accessories over coffee?" He speculated suggestively.
She sighed. "No. Drop it."
"You just ain't any fun."
Julia raised an eyebrow and yanked him forward with his tie. "I can
be plenty of fun, Wilson." She purred at him. "It's too bad
you never found out before." She pushed him backwards as his eyes
got very big.
"Yowza!" He leered at her. "Are you going to change your
look to one of those skin-tight spandex things? Hubba, hubba!"
"No, body armor is my friend. Are you still wearing the tights? No,
wait. Of course you are. Terry has mentioned it several times."
"She has? I thought she'd didn't tell you who I was."
"She sort of stressed the nearly naked aspect of the fit." She
smiled. "You know, you still don't know very much about me but I
know a whole lot about you."
"What?!" He sat down heavily on the next seat. "Spill it.
What do you know? What did Terry tell you?"
She regarded him silently. He twitched nervously as she looked him up
and down. "Jeez, tell me already. This is cruel and unusual
punishment."
"Not a damn thing actually." She admitted with a grin. "I
just wanted to see you squirm"
"That was evil." He declared.
"Well, yes. What did you expect?" She waved a waiter over.
"Can I buy you drink in atonement? Sake, perhaps?"
"Oh jeez, not sake. I think I OD'd on that crap last time. But if
you're buying, I'm getting the expensive stuff."
***
Shatterstar wandered up after while. He'd been wondering where Julia had
disappeared to. This outing was for her after all, he thought. He
frowned slightly as the mercenary finished telling some story to her.
She was laughing quietly and from the strange, almost nonsensical,
descriptions he could overhear he concluded that the story was in fact
some mission.
"Oh look. It's the poster boy for hot-oil treatments." Wade
smirked.
"Hello." Shatterstar said. Hot oil? He knew better than to ask
about the man's reasoning. "Terry is looking for you."
"Yeah? I'd better run along then." He said, getting up.
"My, your leash is short." Julia snickered. "But, no
joke, go pay attention to her or she'll be difficult to work with."
He didn't deign answer that as he hurried off. He was already feeling
vaguely guilty for enjoying her company.
Shatterstar sat down in newly-vacant seat. "Are you enjoying
yourself?"
"I am, actually." She said with a dazzling smile. She'd rather
liked talking to the man. "How did you find dancing?"
"It was interesting." He allowed after a bit of thought.
"Not especially strenuous or difficult."
"It's not supposed to be a workout. It's supposed to be meaningless
fun."
"Then I would say it was as it was supposed to be." He pulled
out a small piece of paper. "She gave me her phone number. Roberto
indicated that this was a favorable sign."
"That's sort of the done thing when people get together in this
kind of place."
"You mean if they wish to pursue further association at a later
time?"
"Got it in one." She patted his hand. "You'll get this
social stuff mastered yet."
"But I do not wish to continue to associate with her."
"Well, that's okay too." She smiled. "Americans are a bit
uptight about this kind of environment. Having a loud time out is
usually mistaken for being on the prowl for a partner."
He sighed. "You make this sound simple."
"It is simple. You'd be hard pressed to explain to me how having a
good time is supposed to be complicated." She stood up. "Did
you want to go see what everybody else doing?"
"Yes." He agreed. "What is done in your country
then?" He asked as he followed her down the stairs.
"The capital is a party town. Sort of like this but all the time,
day and night. Nobody takes anything very seriously at clubs. Or at all,
really. The smaller cities are more mellow." She studied his solemn
face as they reached the bottom of the steps. "Tell me what's
really bugging you."
"I'm still uncertain how serious to take the actions here."
She gave him an exasperated look. "Are you here because you're
looking for a sexual partner?" She asked bluntly.
"Fekt, no!" He exclaimed.
"Well then, don't worry about it. Simple, no?"
"Yes, I suppose." He said finally. "I'm grateful you
explained this to me."
"You're welcome." She batted playfully at a lock of hair that
had escaped his ponytail. "You're so serious all the time, do you
realize that? Life can be a lot of fun if you let it."
She squeaked in surprise as he grabbed her waist and spun her around.
"I think I am able to learn that." He said with great
assurance.
***
Tabitha was lingering at the edge of the dance floor. A few drinks and a
few cute guys asking her to dance made for a great night out. Small
blondes in a party mood attracted a lot of very flattering attention and
dispelled any lingering doubt she might have had that she didn't have it
anymore.
"Excuse me, miss. Would you like to dance?" Asked someone
behind her. She smiled and turned around.
"Sam!" She exclaimed. He was in his one real set of party
clothes and had big smile on his face.
"Hi, Tabs."
"What are you doing here?" She asked. I kinda still wanted him
to show but now what?
"You said if Ah wanted to be with you, Ah had to work for it. So
here Ah am." He pulled her out on to the floor as a slower song
started. "Ah asked Bobby to do the watch tonight and he doesn't
have anything better to do."
"Scotty really let you do that?"
"Nah, he doesn't know yet. But Cable always said sometimes you got
to break the rules to do the right thing."
She thought about her resolution. He's chasing me now, she thought. I
can live with that.
"Guthrie, some days you really impress me." She grinned.
"Good thing. Ah've been working all day to do it." He said.
"You look really nice." He touched her face gently. "Ah'm
sorry Ah've been ignoring you. Ah didn't mean to."
She blinked at his sincerity. I'm such a sucker for that 'honest and
country bred' voice. "Just don't do it again." She said at
last.
"Ah won't."
Tabitha pulled Sam back to their table after the song ended.
"Hey, guys. Look what I found." She called.
"Tabs, don't pick up strays." Roberto smirked. "Now he'll
want to follow you home."
"But he's so cute. Can I keep him, Terry? Please?" She pouted.
Terry smiled and made a show considering the request. "I guess so.
But ye'll have to look after him yerself."
Sam looked around at the assembled crowd. "Hi everybody."
"HI SAM!" They chorused. There were more than a few inebriated
giggles.
"Ya'll are being silly." He decided. He'd missed this kind of
thing. Most of the X-Men wouldn't know a good time if they tripped on
it.
"No, we're being irresponsible and juvenile." Terry corrected
with authority. "Get it straight, boyo."
***
Julia waved as they pulled away. Shatterstar had been the one to drive
after all since Jimmy had taken Risque up on her offer to continue the
party elsewhere. Roberto, Tabitha and Sam hadn't been any condition to
drive after they had their little shooter drinking contest. She closed
the door and smiled. I think I could really like it with them.
Across town, Terry hugged Wade to her.
"Did ye having a good time tonight?" She asked softly. He'd
been kind of reluctant to hang around with them at first.
He thought for a moment. His first impulse was to say yes because he
knew it would make her happy. But he had enjoyed himself. It'd been a
long time since he'd been out with people who knew who he was and
weren't out to nail his fast healing butt. Not anymore, at any rate.
Friends, even by proxy, were hard to come by.
"Yeah, babe. I did."
***
Much to everyone's disgust, they had a training session the next
morning. Julia bit back a yawn and sauntered into the Danger Room with
Terry. The rest of the team was already there. Tabitha looked up from
her seat on the floor. Roberto was leaning against a wall and looked
like he was sleeping. Jimmy was standing up on his own but staring into
space. The only person who seemed alert and ready to go was Shatterstar.
"Yo, morning guys."
"Hey, Tabs." Julia said with a wave. "Hi guys."
"Good morning." Shatterstar said. "Are you not using one
of your swords for this?"
"No. I've never trained with a bunch of people before so I thought
I'd better get used to it first." She smiled slightly. "I
don't want to freak out and accidentally skewer anybody." She
patted the small rifle hanging from its strap on her shoulder.
"I'll just use this for now."
"We appreciate your thoughtfulness." Roberto said with his
eyes still closed. "Did you have a good time last night,
Terry?"
"Aye." She blushed. "How about ye?"
"Great. Haven't been out in ages." He opened an eye.
"Jimmy did all right, too."
Jimmy blinked at his name. "What? Oh. Yeah. It was great."
"She must have been." Tabitha grinned. "You just got
back." He flushed slightly.
Cable and Domino stood in the control looking down at the team arranged
in a rough circle around Julia with her firearm of choice. She waved up
at them. "So this is a straight timed takedown?"
Cable leaned forward into microphone. "Yes."
"Any points for style?"
"None."
"Okay."
"On my signal." X-Force tensed.
"Three" Theresa took a deep breath. Roberto hovered a few
inches off the floor. Shatterstar drew his swords. Tabitha readied a
small timebomb. Jimmy crouched to spring. Julia smiled.
"Two" Had they been looking down, they would have seen the air
very close to the floor start to shimmer.
"One." Faster than the eye could follow the force wave surged
straight up and slammed the team against the ceiling. Julia raised her
paint gun and shot every member with a colourful orange spatter. She
looked at Cable and Domino who were gazing with stunned surprise at
their highly trained strike force attached to ceiling like modern art.
"I win."
She closed her eyes and concentrated. It was a lot harder to reduce the
wave in stages than just shut it down all together.
To the pinned X-Force, it felt like they were on a broken freight
elevator as they were lowered to the floor. Roberto and Theresa few away
as soon as they were clear of the ceiling.
Julia opened her eyes to see them standing on the floor again. Purple
and orange just don't go, she thought.
"Everybody okay?" She asked. "Are we done now?"
"I could barely breathe! It felt like there was a truck parked on
my chest!" Tabitha complained.
"Sorry. It took a little more power than I thought it would to hold
all of you up at once."
"Well, I'm glad you didn't let us just drop to the ground."
Jimmy commented.
"Of course I didn't. I don't want to be on the receiving end of a
lynching anytime soon."
"Why did you do it like that?" Shatterstar asked in a somewhat
disappointed tone. He glanced down the orange stain on his chest. As it
was, it was a good shot.
"My ribs hurt." Roberto said from overhead.
"I must say that's the fastest anyone's ever taken us down."
Theresa said as she landed.
"I though that was the point." Julia said. "If this was
for real, I would have used enough force to kill everybody with the
first strike."
Cable sat back in his chair. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised
Given her background, she'll always shoot to kill unless told not
to."
Domino was cycling through a selection of possible program scenarios.
"That's why we wanted her, remember? Anyway, why don't we get them
to do another round?"
"Okay, let's try this again." Came Cable's voice from the
speakers. "A simple game of tag. Julia, you can use whatever you
want except your powers. You're 'it'. Just try to tag everybody else
before they tag you." As he finished speaking the room changed.
They were standing the centre of a bombed-out village at twilight.
Julia tapped the wall nearest her as she dropped the empty paint gun.
Seemed solid. "Neat." She looked up. The wall was about twelve
feet high.
"On my signal." Cable said again. When he reached 'three', she
backflipped upward onto the top of the wall and ran along until she
could jump to the nearest rooftop. She disappeared into the shadows.
"Hey, she didn't say she could do that!" Tabitha said playing
with a timebomb. Shatterstar grinned. Now this would be fun.
"Roberto, go up and see if ye can see where she went." Terry
said. "Everybody else spread out. She's nae allowed to use her
powers and she's nae carrying anything so this shouldnae be too
hard."
They moved out cautiously. The village remains provided plenty of cover.
Roberto flew in a spiral pattern overhead.
"Why aren't you up there too?" Jimmy asked Terry quietly.
"With me scream, she'll hear me coming ye big lug." She
responded. "I'll sneak around like everybody else."
Roberto circled closer to the buildings. I think I saw something moving,
he thought. Julia sprang out from a rooftop and tackled him in
mid-flight. He wavered as he adjusted to addition of her weight.
"Tag!" She said as she tapped the top of his head. She let go
and dropped behind a building.
"Droga!" He cursed as he landed. "I'm out already."
On the plus side, he could go and veg while he waited for the others.
Behind a wall, Julia pulled a small cylinder free from her armor. With a
barely audible whisper, her bo-staff telescoped out. No powers, no
problem, she thought. This was fun. She edged out and cast a locator
spell. Not flashy, almost no range but still useful on occasion. Like in
an enclosed room in the dark. She'd be able to mark each of them and
sense their positions now. Heh, she thought as she concentrated. By the
pricking of my thumb, the blonde bomber this way comes.
Tabitha crept down a ruined alleyway. She had one small timebomb ready.
There was a soft sound to her left and she turned quickly. She felt her
feet tangle on something and she was pinned to the ground an instant
later.
"Omph!" She gasped as someone landed on her back.
"Tag, Tabs." Julia said patting her on the head. She jumped
off and ran into the shadows again.
"Oh, man. I'm out too."
Who next? She pondered from her perch on a roof. Hmm. That's Terry down
there and the boys are closing in. I can lift her, I'm pretty sure. She
hooked her feet around a drainpipe and reached down silently.
"Saints!" Terry yelped as she was pulled up by the collar of
her uniform until she was dangling a few feet off the ground. A hand
patted her head.
"Tag, Terry!" Julia said. She dropped her and vanished over
the rooftop. Better get away before Jimmy decides to flatten me. I hope
'Star remembers that I don't have fast healing if he tries to tag me
with a sword. She found a convenient hiding spot and considered her next
move. She cast a second spell. This one on Jimmy. A partial mask on the
senses. He won't be able to scent or hear me coming now, she thought
pleased. Now, do I try to trip him or what? He likely not even notice if
I tried to tackle him.
They came around a around a corner at the same time.
"'Star, we're the last ones left. She just got Terry." Jimmy
said. His instincts were screaming at him. She had to be close but he
couldn't track her at all. His head felt like it was wrapped in wool. I
must be tired, he thought. Risque really wore me out.
Shatterstar nodded. "Yes. Julia is not using any weapons so she is
trapping us one at a time. Be cautious."
"Oh yeah."
They moved apart again. Behind him, Shatterstar heard someone running
along the rooftops. He turned to see Julia somersaulting over Jimmy.
"Tag!" She called as she flipped away.
"Damn. She bounced off my head." Jimmy complained.
"Didn't even hear her coming."
"You are fatigued. I heard her clearly."
Julia watched as Jimmy slunk off to join the others and released the
spell. Try the same thing on 'Star? No, better not. He said his people
are into magic so he might be able sense something that direct and I'd
rather they didn't know about how much I can do. Just be sneaky. She
doubled-back and followed him a discrete distance. She contemplated
possible attacks behind a wall. He was in the open space on the other
side and wasn't moving from what she could sense. She stopped breathing
as he came closer to her position. She could see his head over the top
of the stone. Can I reach? Sure. Game over, you transdimetional cutie.
Shatterstar considered. He was fairly certain she'd run off in this
direction. Should I give chase? She will have to come after me to finish
the game. I will wait. He stood with his back to a crumbling wall.
Suddenly his head was yanked back as someone pulled his ponytail. A hand
patted his forehead.
"All's fair, 'Star. Tag." Julia said softly into his ear.
"Fekt." He muttered as she released her grip on his hair. He
turned to see her smiling at him and standing on her toes on the other
side.
Domino burst out laughing. "I was wondering when somebody would do
that."
"Do you think he'll get a haircut now?" Cable asked with a
smirk as he hit the program stop. The lights came back on as the village
dissolved. He switched on the microphone. "Okay. That was fine.
Everybody to the briefing room."
They went over the session afterwards. Shatterstar wasn't pleased when
everyone started laughing at how he was tagged.
Cable thought about how he wanted to ask his next question. They needed
to know and it would give a good indication how she thought things
through.
"Julia, if you were tasked to assassinate us how would you go about
it?"
The team stopped talking. Julia raised an eyebrow at the question.
"Why? You've been targeted before. My methods would be skewed
because you all qualify as metahumans in terms of power."
"That doesn't matter. I'd like to hear how we'd be considered from
a professional point of view, skewed or not."
Julia tapped the table. Just leave off the magic, it'll be close enough.
"Okay. I apologize in advance if this bothers anybody. First I'd go
after Domino."
Domino looked surprised at her status. "Thanks. I like being first.
Why me?"
"Besides the fact you're a expert mercenary? You manipulate
probability. That's hard to predict or counter. I would guess that your
ability doesn't work when there's overwhelming set of odds against you
so I'd pick something that would be close to overkill. Also, your
absence would deprive the team of a leader and Cable, who's next by the
way, would be personally affected."
Cable winced at her assessment of their relationship. Not exactly the
secret romance, is it Nate? "Me next?"
"Yes. You're famous for your guns, Cable but your telepathy and
telekinesis hasn't made the rounds yet even if you're starting to use
them more. You're a big bugger so a one-to-one fistfight is obviously
out." There were snickers around the table at that. "I would
most likely use extreme force like my full power at close range since I
can't estimate how sturdy your cybernetic components are."
"They're probably not sturdy enough for me to be thrown through the
sound barrier and then walk away." He commented. "I'm glad to
hear you won't try a direct fight."
"I'm an assassin, not an idiot." She sniffed. "I don't
let my ego get in the way of a score. Did you guys want to hear the
rest?"
Terry nodded "Aye. It's sort of fascinating."
"Roberto is next. I'm not playing favorites just because he's also
South American."
Roberto affected a wounded expression. "No? I'm hurt."
"You've got long range firepower and you can fly. In addition, I'd
dare say you can keep using your power at full strength longer than I
can. But then, I'm a good shot with a gun. It's bad form to injure
anybody else during a hit so I'd only try to blast out of sky with my
power if we were outside a metropolitan area. In general, energy users,
that means you next Tabs, are taken out ahead of everyone else."
She looked at Tabitha. "You can't fly away but you're damn
destructive."
"Thanks!" She said preening as she played with a mini-timebomb.
"You're welcome. Anyway, because she can't fly there's the option
of doing this either with or without my power. I'd normally opt for
without and use a gun. I couldn't afford to get close enough to use my
sword as she could just fry me with a plasma bomb. Terry would be
next."
"I can fly." Terry reminded her.
"Yeah. And I'm not about to go chasing you across rooftops either.
You really can't creep up on anybody due the nature of your power so I
wouldn't worry about that. However, you're effective at long range so
it'd be a sniper strike that would be most effective."
"That's how I've been dropped the most times." Terry said
reflectively. I should really watch that.
Julia paused as she considered. "Jimmy is simply ridiculously
stronger than I am. Also, your senses are enhanced aren't they?"
"Yeah."
"I would have to go for a quick fatal strike then first off. Either
behead you or put a bullet in your brain during a surprise attack. I
don't think I'd be able to sneak up on you twice."
"Jeez. What a happy thought." He rubbed his neck
self-consciously.
She smiled at Shatterstar. He was looking ambivalent. Warriors and
executioners were two different things and it still bothered him on some
level that she could be both. "You're a fast healer, 'Star so I
wouldn't be playing around. You'd be able to recover too quickly for
that no matter how much fun it would be."
"Of course not. I would not expect anything else. Let me guess
then." He said. "You could use your power to finish me but you
are not normally inclined to do so. So that leaves a distance weapon
such as a throwing blade or a gun."
"Give the man a prize!" She cheered. "Would anybody like
to tell me how they think I could be dropped?"
Domino and Cable looked at each other.
<It'd be a good idea for them to start thinking like this, Nate.
It'll give them insight into their own weaknesses>
<Yeah. I'll start then>
"You're shielded from telepathy so I can't just zap your
brain." Cable began thoughtfully. "I'd have to do things the
old-fashioned way and gun you down."
Julia smiled. "It's nice to see somethings don't change."
"What can I say? I'm a traditionalist."
Domino nodded. "I'd try something similar since I know you could
hold your own in a sword fight. You're faster than normal too so I'd
have to take that into account."
"I'd be able to overpower you if you're not carrying
anything," Jimmy said tentatively. "but since I don't have a
healing factor I wouldn't risk it if you had your sword."
"Fair enough."
"I'd try flaring you from a long ways away." Roberto grinned.
"Preferably when you didn't have a gun. Or maybe I'd try wooing you
with my irresistible charm."
Terry looked speculative. "She'd kill ye for sure then. I'd try
something at a distance too. Ye'd be too hard to get at close up without
me scream."
"This is kind of fun." Tabitha said. "I'd just try to
blast you with a big frigging bomb. I'm not going to try throwing knives
at you 'cause you'd probably catch them and throw them back. And once
you knew I was aiming for you I'd be hooped."
Julia laughed. "You got it."
Shatterstar considered. "You would be a threat to me if we were in
actual combat. I would use my own mutant power against you sooner than I
would with another opponent."
Julia leaned on the table. "Better make it good shot then."
Domino smiled. "Let's open the floor. Everybody has to come up with
a way to nail everybody else."
When Scott Summers poked his head into the briefing room ten minutes
later, they were loudly throwing wild suggestions at each other. He
could make out the words 'poisoned Corn Pops' and 'exploding TV remote
control' amidst the noise. He shut the door again. Some things he didn't
want to know.
***
Disclaimer:
The X-Men and X-Force belong to Marvel Comics. Big Sugar belongs to
themselves. Corn Pops, Pop Tarts, WD-40 and Deep Woods Off are
trademarks of their respective owners. This is a nonprofit work of
fiction. Julia de Santos/Shockwave belongs to me but she'll deny it if
asked.
Questions/Comments: sabre@industrialwebworks.com
Author's Notes: Please see Part One.
This story begins just after X-Force #46.
<telepathic conversation>
*sound effects*
****
Shockwave
by
Sabre
Part
Six - Common Interests
Cable was reviewing their proposed mission plans in the briefing room
when Professor Xavier came in and positioned his wheelchair at the
table.
"I understand you have recruited Julia de Santos into
X-Force." He stated without preamble.
"Yes, I did. Dom and I feel that she's a good addition to the
team."
"I do not. I am concerned that you have knowingly exposed your team
and the rest of the residents of the mansion to a known assassin. We do
not have any assurance that she will not use the information she has now
against us."
Cable kept his mental shields tightly wrapped around his mind and his
expression noncommittal. Why the hell was Xavier telling him who he
could or couldn't have on his team?
"She said she's on side. She left the Guild to join us. That's good
enough for me."
"Have you asked her about the murders she has committed? X-Men do
not kill. I feel that if we are to have the teams working together we
should apply the same moral standard."
"Then what about the murderers already on the teams?" Domino
asked from the door. She came in and sat down beside Cable. "Nate
and I were mercs for a lot of years. Logan killed Sabretooth a couple
months ago but he's still here. Warren did his stint as the Angel of
Death. Even Scott and Jean have killed in combat. X-Men kill all the
time."
Xavier's face tightened. "The deaths that the X-Men may have caused
were necessary in the course of pursuing their missions. We are
discussing an individual who killed for monetary gain and who shows no
sign of remorse. I think for the good of the team you strongly consider
observing her before allowing her to accompany you." He looked down
at the papers in front of Cable. "The mission that you accepted to
do can be reassigned to the X-Men if you prefer."
<What's going on Nate? Why the sudden morality enforcement?>
<It looks like Xavier basically saying he doesn't want Julia on the
team. This job is too covert for the X-Men. We need to get the info out
our way.>
"We're doing the mission. I'll let Julia know she's staying
behind." He told Xavier.
"Excellent decision." The Professor nodded as he left the
room.
***
"Any questions?" Cable asked. The assembled members of X-Force
glanced at each other.
"Just one, Big Guy. Where's Julia?" Asked Tabitha. "I
kinda thought she'd be here for this stuff now."
<Dom, this could be ugly.>
<You'd better believe it.>
He cleared his throat. "She's not coming with us. None of you are
to discuss the mission plans with her."
Shatterstar leaned forward. "What is the reason for excluding
her?"
<Nate, you'd better tell him the truth. He'll freak out if he thinks
she's been dropped from the team>
"Xavier feels we should observe further her before bringing her
along." Cable said. "This mission would have been handed back
to the X-Men otherwise."
"That doesn't make any sense." Jimmy said. "We already
know she's good at this sneaky stuff. It's not like she really needs to
practice."
"Aye. This type of assignment would be perfect to see how well we
can really work together." Said Theresa.
"Xavier does not trust her." Shatterstar said tightly.
"He thinks she will betray us." She is not here to defend her
honour. How cowardly of him.
"Yeah, 'Star. You got it." Domino sighed. "Okay, gang.
We're leaving today so get ready and meet back at the hanger in an
hour."
They scattered off.
Shatterstar lingered behind. "I will inform her of this."
Cable considered. She'd probably take it better coming from him.
"Okay."
He and Domino stayed back, looking at each other over the table.
"You know, if I was recruited then jerked around like this I
wouldn't stay around for very long." She said.
"I know. Neither would I." He got up. "I'm going to talk
to Xavier. We're not his pet team even if we're cooperating with them
now."
***
*Ring*Ring*Ring*
"Hello?"
"Julia, it's Shatterstar."
"Hi there. What's on you mind?"
"We are leaving for a mission today."
"Oh?"
"Please do not take offense when I say I cannot tell you the
details."
"..."
"Julia?"
"I guess my word's not good enough, huh?"
"It was not Cable's decision. Xavier feels that you should be
observed further."
"I see."
He held the receiver tightly. Her voice sounded strangely detached. This
is such an insult to her, he thought. Will she still stay will us?
"'Star, thanks for letting me know. Get back safe, all right?"
"Yes."
"Bye."
*Click*
Julia put the phone down. She stood motionless while she considered the
anger that was building in her at the implied slur. I might not have
morals but I do have honour, she thought savoring the sensation. She
picked up her sword and carved the training dummy into pieces. There,
she thought looking at the remains, all better now. And here I was
thinking I couldn't feel anything.
***
Five days later.
*Knock*Knock*Knock*
Julia rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head. Too early. Go
away.
*Knock*Knock*Knock*Knock*Knock*Knock*
Ugh. They were still there. This never happened at the Guild.
"Yes? Who is it?" She asked into the intercom.
"It's me, Wade. Open the door, I gotta talk to you."
"Gods, its two in the morning. Can't you have your crisis at ten AM
tomorrow?"
"No! Open the door! It's serious."
"All right. Keep your tights on."
She looked at the external monitor. It was indeed Wade Wilson. From what
she could see, he was dressed for a night on the town with a wilted
bouquet in one hand. She placed on hand on the doorknob and activated
her power.
Wade stared as Julia opened the door. She was dressed in oversized men's
pajamas and her curly hair sticking up wildly in places. The air was
shimmering around her. She's pissed, he thought. Well so am I.
"Okay, what's the problem?"
"You look awful when you wake up."
"WADE!"
"Terry hates me!"
"What?" She shook her head. It was, depending on one's point
of view, too damn early or too damn late for this kind of thing.
"You're making even less sense than usual. Come on in. I need
caffeine to cope with anything this early." She said, dragging her
hand through her hair in the hopes of restoring order.
As she fixed a large pot of coffee, Wade paced around the living room.
"She said she'd meet me for dinner. We made plans over a week ago.
She always calls when she's going to be late." He was repeating as
he made each circuit.
"Have you tried calling the mansion?"
"Yeah. I got some snotty English bitch saying that Terry can't come
to the phone, did I want to leave a message? I left a message all
right."
She wordlessly pushed a beer in his direction. He looked like he needed
it. She sipped her coffee, sorting things through and not liking the
shape of the answer.
"Thanks. You're pretty tight with her. Has she said anything to
you? Am I being dumped? Terry wouldn't do it like this, would she? I
thought everything's been going great." He sounded manic and
depressed all at once.
"How many days ago did you plan this?"
"Eight. I remember this stuff. It's not like I've got a packed
social calendar."
"And you haven't heard from her at all in the meantime. Not a
thing?"
"No. What's going on? You sound spaced. Wakey, wakey."
"Do you have your gear close by?"
"Yeah, all the time. Have gun, sword, plastique, will travel."
She was silent for a few seconds. "I have to check something."
She said, reaching for the phone.
The line rang seventeen times before someone picked up.
"Hello? Xavier's." It took a moment to place the voice. Then
again, who else was up at this time?
"Remy? C'est Julia."
"Hello chere, wha' you calling so late for?"
"I'm looking for any and all members of X-Force. Are they in
residence?"
"Non. Dey haven't been back from der last mission." Remy
chuckled, "I'm sure your amour call you when dey are."
"Do you know if they've reported in at all?"
"Non."
"Okay. Merci, Remy. I owe you."
"Welcome chere. Dis one's on the house."
Julia put the phone down. "Goddamn it."
"What? What? Talk to me here!" If he still had any hair, Wade
would have pulled it out by now.
"X-Force left for some mission five days ago. They haven't called
in and they haven't come back."
"Shit. That was not what I wanted to hear." He resumed his
pacing around the room.
"No kidding. I know when they left but not where they were
going." She gave him a nasty smile. "Apparently Xavier doesn't
like assassins. You know how untrustworthy they are."
He smirked back at her. "Yeah, stab you in the back at the first
chance they get."
"And the front, too." She tapped the counter. Should I bother?
Do I care? Yeah. "What do you think? You want to go after them? You
know that Terry wouldn't stand you up deliberately. She would have
called if she thought their mission might take this long."
Wade considered. It took about three seconds. "Yeah."
Julia picked up the phone again. After a little begging she convinced
Remy to get her a copy of the mission plans and trace the PACRAT's last
known position. He was a sucker for romance.
"Please Remy, I'm worried about Shatterstar." I am going to
die if that ever gets out, she thought. Even if it is true.
Wade was watching her performance, trying not to laugh too loud. At this
range she could easily kill him with her power. To take his mind off it,
he helped himself to another beer. Forty minutes later, her fax machine
starting spitting out papers with the results of Remy's work.
"Oh, hell. They couldn't just go to New Jersey to do their
superhero stuff could they?" He said as he finished reading the
report. The last known position of the PACRAT was over some island in
the Pacific.
"You said it." Julia looked at him. "Know anybody who'll
give us a lift?"
***
After placing a few phone calls, he did in fact manage to find someone
with a jet for hire who was willing to leave immediately. They'd have to
take a car to the airport, wearing disguises to hide the fact they'd be
dressed in their 'working' clothes. He pulled out his image inducer and
found a program he liked. She went upstairs and retrieved a gold
medallion on a chain from her special jewelry box.
They studied each other. Wade was dressed in his trademark red and
black. His swords and guns waited in the car. Julia was wearing her full
guild-style armor, entirely black. Her favorite sword hung in its sheath
on the belt at her waist and she had a high-powered hand gun on the
other side. She also had her full array of throwing blades tucked into
various spots.
"You know, you look like a killer beetle in that outfit." he
commented.
"You look like a ladybug from hell." she replied and picking
up her pack.
"Couldn't you have picked a more masculine insect?" He asked
disdainfully as he activated his image inducer. He had chosen to protect
his 'normal' appearance from being connected to his professional
identity. Now, instead of the smartly dressed blond he'd used when he
arrived, he was a twenty-something guy with a goatee, baggy jeans and
longish greasy hair. "I felt my machismo take a hit."
"Cockroach?" She asked as she put the medallion on. Instantly,
the armored assassin was replaced by a college girl with a bookbag. She
looked younger and more innocent, with brown hair and eyes.
"Hey! What happened?" He exclaimed. He had sort of figured she
was going to wear a long coat or something. "That's not an image
inducer, is it? It's nicer than mine."
"It's not an electronic device." She explained, taking it off
again. She dangled the necklace in front of him. He snatched it from her
and examined it closely. It doesn't look like a gadget, he thought,
turning it over.
"I don't get it. It's just jewelry." He said. He watched as
she put it on again and the college cutie came back.
"It's magical jewelry." She smiled. The major holes in her
immunity to magic was that passive spells still worked on her, as did
spells she cast herself. Normally, this would have been useless but
she'd discovered that disguise spells qualified as passive magic and
they weren't too hard to learn. With some work, she had been able to
create a whole wardrobe of alternate appearances. "Way cooler and
there's no way it can be detected or jammed." She opened the
bookbag. Inside was a variety of textbooks and pens. "It actually
changes what I'm wearing and carrying rather than disguising it."
"Okay. I know what you can get me for my birthday now. How come you
got that?"
"I clipped the coupons and sent in the proof of purchase."
"Man, I have got to start reading the backs of my cereal boxes now.
I'm missing out on all kinds of cool stuff."
***
Towards noon, local time, they were preparing to jump out of a plane
over an unknown island. Personal cloaking devices would keep them,
hopefully, from being shot out of the sky. Julia looked down. Their
target seemed very small from way up here. "You know, some days I
hate my life." She said as stepped out of the door.
"Tell me about it." Wade yelled as he leaped out after her.
***
Wade landed on shoreline with solid *thump*. Terry babe, the things I do
for you, he thought rubbing his posterior. The beach was nice, small and
probably underwater at high tide, but nice. Julia was tying up her chute
and swearing in some language he didn't recognize.
"Hey. Have some courtesy and curse in a language everybody
understands."
She threw him a look but didn't see fit to comment. She waved the tracer
around. The energy patterns of the ship's engines were distinctive
enough to track by. That's the theory anyway, she thought. The little
box beeped at her.
"Guess what? We go that way." She said pointing to the
thickest section of jungle growth that seemed to be almost a solid wall
rising up from the beach.
"Oh yeah. That figures. Terry couldn't lying here on this pretty
little beach waiting for me with a cold drink and a small swimsuit. Nooo."
"Did you remember your bug spray?" She asked.
"Nah. Killer mercs don't do Deep Woods Off." He said, pulling
a sword. "Let's go do our part for global deforestation."
After cutting and swearing their way through the vegetation for what
felt like a horribly long period of time, they emerged in the clearing
that had been made by the downed ship. It looked more or less intact but
nobody seemed to be home.
"Well, okay. We know where they parked." Julia said.
"Where's the plane? That tracer-thingy working all right? 'Cause I
don't want to bond with anymore nature for today. Or ever, for that
matter." Wade gripped.
"Is your brain overheating? It's right in front of us."
"Don't mess with my head. There's nothing there." He stated.
Was he tripping out? He felt fine.
Suddenly the PACRAT was in front of them. "Damn, it is there!"
"I think I said that."
"Julia, is that you?" Tabitha's blonde head was stuck out the
door. Julia pushed her mask back.
"I suppose. Are you okay? Where is everybody?"
Cable appeared behind Tabitha, who was limping down the stairs. He
looked almost pleased to see Deadpool for a change.
"This place really sucks. My ankle's busted and Cable's been making
me help fix computer stuff."
"There was an unexpected development in the mission." Cable
said dryly. "This isn't my idea of a tropical getaway."
"Really, wow, I'd never of guessed. I thought you'd love to sit for
days in the middle of this stinking jungle. How do you keep from rusting
out here anyways? Where's Terry?" Wade exploded in frustration.
Cable held on to his temper with both hands and one foot. He was not
going to get mad at half their rescue team and beat him into a bloody
pulp. Maybe later. But not now.
***
Inside the PACRAT was marginally cooler than outside. There were bits
and pieces of electronic components scattered over various surfaces.
"We were hit with a EM pulse that fried the communications and
navigation controls. A lot of the systems are shielded and redundant so
it's just been a matter of switching things around." Cable
explained as they tried to make themselves comfortable. Wade was leaning
against a wall and muttering vulgarities to himself about telepaths and
their mind games. "We were looking for an abandoned research base.
It was supposed to help us gather information about the patterns of
weapon and mutant detection research that's being done for Genosha and
it's supporters. Well, we hit the motherlode. The base wasn't abandoned
and they've been perfecting wide area inhibitor fields as well a lot of
specialized mutant detection equipment. Dom and the team went in after
we crashed to check out the setup. The inhibitor field went up as soon
as they were in."
"Can you read anybody from here?" Julia asked.
"No. The buildings are psi-blocked." I can't just go in after
them without losing my telekinesis, Cable though sourly. Goddamn T-O
virus. "There's about two hundred people based here. They've kept
it light so as not attract attention to themselves with large numbers of
troops moving on and off the island. We intercepted messages saying that
the weapons research is finished and they're going to be moving
everything back to Genosha."
"And they know you're still sitting here?"
"Yes. I'll bet they don't consider us a threat because we can't get
into the compound. Even if we could leave we don't have any proof of the
work being done. They can just wait for the transfer crew to come by and
eliminate us."
"Lovely."
"If you go down there you'll set off any mutant detectors and your
power won't work."
"Got it covered. Besides, what do you think all the cutlery is
for?"
"Tripping airport security?" Asked Tabitha with a smirk.
"Besides that."
"What do you mean you've got it covered?" Cable demanded. She
was too damn casual about walking into a dead zone for his liking.
"I mean I'm a mutant with a strong adherence to forward planning.
Please relax Cable, I'm a professional." She looked over to Wade.
"Might as well get going then. You don't set off mutant detectors
right?"
"You betcha. I am one hundred percent mutant gene free and proud of
it."
"Good enough." She looked at Cable intently. "Later you
can explain to me if I'm in or not."
He stiffened at the hard look in her eyes. Dom's nice little killer can
be not so nice, he thought. "You're in. I'll give you the complete
explanation later."
"I'm sure you will." She said as she followed Wade out the
hatch.
***
They studied the encampment from a crest of a hill. It was laid out in a
rough square with what looked like barracks round the perimeter. There
were several high-tech looking buildings in the centre.
"How do you want to do this? Get them first or get the field
generator?" Julia asked him as they planned their attack. Two
hundred or so people down there didn't worry them as much as those
people calling for help at an inconvenient moment. Wade considered
carefully. As psycho as he could be, he didn't survive this long by
being stupid.
"We do the equipment, there's bound to be alarms or some shit like
that. It won't take anybody long to figure out who we're after. If we
get them first they won't be able to do their mutie stuff but at least
we'll know where they are."
"Okay. Try those cozy looking boxes on the outside first?" She
asked, digging through her pack.
"Yeah." He agreed, standing up.
She handed him a communication headset. "These have a range of five
hundred feet. The default is receive."
He turned it over in consideration then settled it over his mask. She
opted to wear hers under her mask. They picked their way through the
enthusiastic greenery keeping an eye out for traps and sensors.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"You're sure you won't set of any alarms and that high-end
firepower'll still work?"
"Yes, Wade. I won't and it will."
"Um. Are you naturally like that?"
"No."
"You get adjusted 'cause you wanted to?"
"Yes. And in answer to your next question: no pain, no side
effects."
"They know what they're doing?"
"It was done by the number one expert in mutant biology and
genetics."
"You think that maybe this person could adjust me?"
"Why? You're not a mutant."
"No. I mean for this." Wade stopped in front of her and pulled
his mask off. "It's 'cause of the healing factor that was supposed
to fix me from dying of cancer. It's kind of working overtime. I'm
getting fucking desperate here. It's hard to think Terry'll stay with me
when I look like a plastic surgeon practice doll."
"I think you might be underestimating her but if anybody can help
you it's this person. I'll put in the word for you when we get back if
you give me a contact number."
"You got it. You did a 'job', right?" He asked pulling his
mask back on.
"Yes."
"Okay. I can live with that."
***
There wasn't any kind of fencing so they were able to get close to the
buildings without any problems. They're relying on the fields and
detectors, Julia thought. Sloppy but if it works in our favor I'm all
for it. Wade picked a fairly populated building on the logic that
X-Force would have guards, so, follow the guards. Most of the rooms
looked like cross between a low quality motel and a public storage
facility.
"They're not setup to keep prisoners for very long." She
observed. "That may be a good thing."
"Terry better not be anybody's lab project right now. I'll be
really upset if she is. I'll show them uses for slide rulers they've
never seen before."
They rounded a corner. There was someone coming the other way.
"Oops. Looks like this wing is booked." He said with faux
concern.
"I thought you checked the reservations." She muttered.
The man looked surprised but, to his credit, recovered quickly. He
sneered at them from behind his gun. "You think your mutie power is
gonna work here genejoke?" A second later he was slammed into the
back wall with crushing force.
"Yes. I think it will." Julia said mildly.
"Cool." Wade opined. " I think I heard all his bones
break when you did that."
"I don't know about all his bones. The little ones in the fingers
and toes are hard to get with one shot."
***
Most of the rooms on the floor consisted of equipment storage. They
tried the next door. What was inside wasn't the straying X-Force but it
was nearly as good.
"Oh, boy. Toyland!" Wade whooped as he followed Julia into the
base's armory. She looked thoughtful for a moment then pulled a couple
of tightly rolled bags from her pack. She threw one at Wade's head.
"Here. If you're going to visit someone, you should always remember
to bring a gift." She selected three of the hanging rifles and
stuck them in her bag.
Wade dithered. "So many choices! No, too sporty, too formal, too
trendy, not her color, not in season, ooh, just right." He picked
up another three rifles. Julia found a familiar pair of swords in the
corner and slung them on.
***
They split up after she spotted an armed someone carrying food trays
into another wing. He stayed to check the rest of rooms which turned up
zip. This'd be easier if we could use the PA system, he thought as he
moved on to the next wing. Encounters with guards provided mild tension
relief and some key rings.
Wade reached the end of floor and peered into last room. Banzai! Terry
and her albino buddy. They looked like they were napping. It would have
been a peaceful scene if they weren't wearing chains. He hurried over
and prodded his little Irish sweetie on the arm.
"Hey Red!" Terry raised her head. He nearly screamed with rage
when he saw the bruises on her face. Can't do that, it'll spook her,
can't do that, he chanted to himself.
"Wade?" She asked sleepily. What's he doing here? I must be
still dreaming.
"Yeah, babe, I'm here." He tried to think straight. Get the
chains off, make sure she's okay, then cut the bastards who did this
into spaghetti strings. "What'd they do to you Red?" He asked
as she sat up.
"Just got grabby, Wade. Nothing serious. I'll be all right."
She looked up at him. The gratitude shinning in her eyes turned his
brain to mush. "Thank ye for coming for me."
"I'd have been here sooner but you didn't leave your travel
itinerary. I had to beat up a few travel agents to find out where you
were staying. The resort staff here is terribly unfriendly." Terry
hugged him tightly and he sighed with happiness.
"Ahem." Domino was watching their reunion with a mixture of
amusement and nausea. She was sure that he had a blissed out expression
on his face under that mask. As it was, she could almost see the little
pink hearts dancing around his head.
"Oh hey, Domino. What's new?" He asked happily.
"Just get this crap off of me Wilson." She snapped. Not the
most diplomatic but she was far to pissed off to worry about it.
"I'll do it." Said Terry, taking the keys from him. I'd best
keep the two of them apart for now. Wade didn't come all this way to be
beaten senseless by Dom.
"Don't be like that. I brought you a peace offering. See?"
Wade held a plasma rifle out to her.
She took it, somewhat mollified. "Where's Cable? Is anyone else
with you?"
"The tin man's guarding our parking space and swigging back the
WD-40. The meter maids around here are murder. I came with that killer
mutie friend of yours."
"Julia's with you?"
"Ten points for the albino!" Domino scowled at him.
He tapped the send button of his headset. "De Santos, you there? I
got the girls out. We'll meet you where we came in at. Don't kill
everybody without me. I'm wanna send a few to hell so hard they bounce
when they get there."
***
The guard put their meal trays down. "Lunchtime, freaks!".
Jimmy sighed. For captivity, it wasn't too bad. They were kept indoors
and fed regularly. They even got to keep their own clothes. The major
downside was the fact they were being held to be taken to Genosha.
Coming a close second was that he was trapped in the same room with
Roberto and Shatterstar for an extended period of time. Roberto had
decided to kill time by attempting to recite every Magnum PI episode
from memory. Shatterstar was correcting his quotes, interspersed with
commentary about Magnum's abilities as a warrior.
In the meantime, they shuffled over to the small table in the centre of
the room. Might as well keep their strength up. They were wearing chains
at their ankles that prevented any athletic attempts of escape. Their
hands were attached to longer chains that ran up to the collars around
their necks.
After a few more insults, the guard turned to leave. He paused in the
doorway then collapsed onto the floor with a damp gurgle. There were
knives in his throat and chest.
A masked face appeared around the corner. Silver eyes looked into their
cell inquiringly through the gap in the fabric. Shatterstar inhaled
sharply as he realized who it was.
"Julia?!"
"In the flesh, on the job, and armed to the teeth." Came the
whimsical reply as she came into line of the door.
She pushed back her mask. "Hi guys. Nice place. A little too out of
the way, though." She carried a large bag into their cell, taking
the keys from the downed guard. As she reached up to undo his collar and
chains, she smiled. "Miss me?"
He stared at her, amazed that she was really there. "Greatly."
"We found the armory so that means plasma rifles for
everyone." She unhitched the harnesses on her back. "As you
can see, I found your swords too."
"Who's 'we'?" Jimmy asked as she undid his heavy metal wear.
High-tensile strength chains suck, he thought.
"Wade Wilson's wandering around somewhere. Cable and Tabitha are
still at the PACRAT." She replied moving over to Roberto, who was
fidgeting with impatience.
Julia looked down at the trays of nameless matter. Yummy. "Did you
want to finish your meal?" She asked.
"No. The food here is barely palatable." Shatterstar replied.
"Wouldn't have pegged you for a gourmet 'Star." Remarked
Roberto.
"Just because I am not as obvious with my appetites does not mean I
do not have them."
Julia bit her lip and tried not to laugh while the other two just
stared.
She tilted her head to one side as she listened to Wade's rambling
status report. "Domino and Terry are out." She reported.
"Wilson said they'll meet us outside."
"Sounds good. Let's go." Roberto said, hefting his gun.
Outside, they saw the crushed bodies of the guards slumped against
various walls.
"What happened to them?" Jimmy asked. Mental note, he thought.
People really do look like beanbags when all their bones are broken.
"I did." Julia stated. "I wasn't about to waste time
doing Zorro impressions on these nitwits."
"Your power still works in an inhibitor field?" asked Roberto
enviously. I wonder if that's something she can show us how to do. I
hated being powered up all the time but not being able to use my powers
at all is worse.
"Yeah. I'm special that way. What happened to you guys? How'd they
take you down?"
"The bastards gassed us." Roberto said. The sensation of his
lungs burning was not something he would forget soon.
"Nasty."
Jimmy peered around the corner then nodded to them. "How'd you find
out where we were anyways?"
"Broke into the mansion and killed everybody inside. You'll never
have to wait for the bathroom again."
They stopped and stared at her.
"Guys, I'm kidding."
***
They met up without any more interruptions or setting off any alarms.
This was a team first according to Terry. Domino decided they'd hit the
inhibitor generator in two groups to ensure they got any backup
equipment that might be present and prevent anybody from leaving to
raise the alert.
Terry, Julia and Wade sidled up to the generator building. They got to
do the front. Armor and chainmail in the tropical sun, Julia thought as
they moved into position. I'm dying.
"I can't believe I'm doing this for free." Wade muttered. He
was starting to overheat but it would take drugs and torture for him to
admit it.
"You volunteered." Julia reminded him.
"Don't remind me. But it was your little brainwave so it's really
your fault."
"You're the one who came whining to me that you'd been stood
up."
"I wouldnae stand you up, Wade. Was he really whining?"
"Oh yeah. It was bad."
"Hey! No ganging up on the merc!"
Terry nodded to Julia. There was a shimmering in the air as Julia
blasted the doors inwards. A couple unlucky guards ended up under the
flying metal as it smashed against the back of the room.
"Ooh. Now that's got to hurt." Wade quipped as they made short
work of the remaining staff. There were the sounds of a firefight at the
rear of the building. Then Domino's team came running in.
"Everything's secure, Dom." Terry said. "Can we turn this
thing off?"
"Have a party." Domino responded. As one, X-Force opened fire
on the control panels and related machinery.
Wade and Julia didn't feel a need to participate. They relaxed a bit by
the back and watched the wholesale destruction of what had previously
been very expensive equipment.
"It's probably healthy for them to work through their anger like
this." He said as they watched.
"All right!" Roberto exclaimed as he powered up again. He
assumed his black energy-covered form and flew up a few feet. "As
good as new!"
The alarms were really going off now. Terry looked out the open doorway
to see a large group of guards running towards them.
"We've got company people!" She called.
Jimmy was a happy man. He was slugging it out with five of the grunts
simultaneously. If this isn't stress relief, I don't know what is, he
thought. Beside him Roberto was also doing things the long way around
and flaring their opponents at close range.
"What are you doing down here?" Jimmy yelled.
"It's more fun this way." Roberto responded, ducking a punch.
Terry flew through a tight formation of guards, blowing out their
eardrums as they scattered to either side. While they were clutching
their heads, Domino came after them, plasma rifle ready.
Shatterstar was in his element, swords flying. The ones who choose to
engage him didn't last very long. He glanced over to see Wade bouncing
through the enemy like a hyperactive child. Julia had her sword out and
was carving up all comers with her customary grace. She seemed to
watching for anybody approaching their teammates from behind as well.
Several such persons had blades sticking out of their eyes already.
They stopped only after every one of their attackers had dropped to the
ground.
"The locals might get mad that we're littering." Wade
commented as he surveyed the damage.
"They're all biodegradable so it shouldn't be too bad. "
Roberto said. He tried to turn off his power. He looked shocked when he
returned to human-normal. He powered off and on one more time in wonder.
"Isn't it supposed to work like that?" Julia asked curiously.
"You look sort of like a negative firefly."
"It didn't before. I was powered up all the time." He
explained as he fired up again. "This is great."
"At least we've got some good out of this." Terry smiled.
"We've got to get the info we came for." Domino said.
"We'll take the admin building next. Don't damage the computers but
it's open season on everything else."
The remainder of the guards and research staff had moved to fortify
their defense of the main building. As the team fought their way inside,
they were hampered by the fact they couldn't just carry on as usual. It
took a surprising amount of restraint to keep the computers intact.
A guard holding a Cable-sized gun came running in, shouting obscenities.
Julia intercepted him and her sword flashed. There was a brief scream
then a damp *thud*. Jimmy looked down at the dissected gun and former
owner in similar condition. Additional mental note, he thought. Do not
get people with swords mad at me if I can help it.
The last floor was computer control, surveillance and communications,
and file storage. The hallways were too narrow for Julia to use her
power and the sheer heat from Roberto's flares would damage the
equipment so Terry went first. There was a hypersonic scream and the
computer control room doors blew apart. Wade ran forward and quickly
knocked the remaining two attendants unconscious. Being rushed at by a
masked guy with a sword and gun was usually enough to cause most people
to faint at any rate.
Down the hallway, Julia regarded the locked communications room doors.
Fancy looking lock, she thought amused, meet fancy sword. Her sword
carved through the metal around the lock and the entire mechanism fell
onto the floor. She kicked the door open and shot the nervous looking
man on the other side.
"This room's clean." She reported, leaning out of the doorway.
Shatterstar was looking at the lock on the floor. He didn't think she
would have the strength to drive a plain steel blade through a foot of
metal.
"What is your sword made from?"
"Adamantium. It sure beats fooling around with lock picks."
She said, sheathing the blade. "There's a lot of radar and whatnot
in there. I think they managed to get off a distress signal."
He went in and checked the screens. "We will have to keep watch.
There was a signal sent but there has not yet been any response that I
can see."
She looked at the surveillance display of the camp. They'd accounted for
maybe a third of the personnel so far but the rest were staying away.
"They're waiting for something." She said. "The rest of
them wouldn't be hiding out in the barracks for no reason."
"They have every reason to cower in fear. We could certainly cut
them down like the vermin they are."
Julia blinked at his sudden heroic speech. He seemed to notice her look.
"We take special classes to learn how to do that." He
explained with a grin. "It's expected during a battle for a warrior
to make grandiose threats."
"I see." She giggled. "Very impressive."
They stood watch in the hallway while Domino went through the computer
files and copied everything of interest.
Julia leaned against a wall and closed her eyes. I want a cafe latte.
With chocolate sprinkles.
Shatterstar put his hand on her arm. "Julia, are you well?"
"Hmm? Oh, I'm fine. Just pinning for caffeine."
"Oh." He stood there uncertainly. He felt that he should offer
comfort in some way but didn't know what. He contented himself by
standing close to her.
"Hey, how'd you two get here anyway? I didn't think the subway came
out this far." Asked Jimmy.
"Jumped out of a plane, hacked through the jungle, killed all the
guards. Easy." Julia said. "I thought superhero types did this
all the time."
"We usually get rides and trample lawns." Roberto commented
from his position close to the skylight.
"X-Force: known and feared by turf growers everywhere." Wade
snickered.
Domino stuck her head out the door. "Okay. I'm done. 'Star give me
a hand so we crash this thing and get out of here. 'Berto, there should
be some backup tapes and files around here somewhere. Toast them."
"Yes! I get to wreck more stuff." He said. He started opening
storage room doors and flash-frying the contents. "Too bad Tabs
isn't here. She loves this kind of thing."
"Maybe we should bring her back a box so she doesn't feel left
out." Jimmy mused.
***
"Dom, we've got a problem." Terry called from the
communications room. "Five ships have dropped their scramblers and
landed on the other side of the base."
"Okay, everybody. Let's get out of here." Domino said, picking
up her bag. Outside she tried to reach Nate through their link.
<Dom! Are you okay? How's the team?>
<Everybody's okay, Nate. Reinforcements have just landed.>
<Damn. I've got the cloaking systems online but defenses are shot>
<We'll worry about it later>
They could see the planes at the landing strip. Damn, gunships. Domino
cursed. At least a hundred troops each.
"Make for the break in the buildings. Keep close to cover."
She said aloud to the team. This is going to be hairy. That many troops
can just overpower us with numbers and we'll get too tired to play hide
and seek in the jungle.
Julia looked back at the planes and the disembarking troops. "Dom,
why don't we let spread out then take them down? That way we won't have
anybody chasing us out of here."
They stared at her, then at the soldiers filing out into formation on
the tarmac.
"That is bold suggestion." Shatterstar said at last. He like
the idea but, against such odds, victory was not assured. Still, if she
is willing to do this, I will stay, he decided.
"Droga. You've got to be kidding." Roberto said.
"That's nuts." Wade said. "Even for me."
"Five gunships is a little more than we can handle right now."
Domino said.
Julia raised an eyebrow. "I can do it. Just get everybody back to
the PACRAT and I'll catch up afterwards."
"You sure about this?"
"If you don't get those files out of here then this'll have been a
real waste of a day." She considered the distance. "Give me
twenty minutes. If I'm later than that, leave without me."
"Yer serious?" Terry asked disbelievingly.
"You bet. I'm famous for this kind of thing in a totally unknown
sort of way." Julia smiled.
Jimmy winced. "Ouch. I think you broke my brain with that
sentence."
"Twenty minutes. You've got it. Give us a ten minute count to get
clear." Domino finally agreed.
"Okay."
Shatterstar stayed behind as the rest of the team ran for the base
perimeter.
"Get going. I'll blast them and catch up." She said absently
as she watched the troops move into position.
He didn't move.
She looked at him. There was no fear in her eyes. "Go."
He stared at her. I will not disgrace your courage. "I will then.
Do not be late."
"I won't." She smiled.
He nodded and ran after the others.
***
Julia watched as the base's reinforcements concentrate around the
laboratory buildings. They must really want to save that stuff, she
thought. All the more reason to blow it straight to hell.
The soldiers were slowly spreading out in rough circle, looking for the
cause of the disturbances. She pulled her mask back on and stepped out
into the open. Time's up.
"Hey! There's one now!" yelled someone.
Holding nothing back, she let her power explode out from her. There was
sonic boom as the leading edge exceeded the speed of sound. The soldiers
screamed as they were crushed backwards, their clothes and bodies
burning in the superheated air. The buildings collapsed around her and
the equipment inside exploded into useless fragements.
She felt as the wave lost most of its strength as it reached its
farthest point from her. Only the few soldiers who had been sent to the
perimeter of the base were still alive and they had retreated beyond her
wave's effective radius. Those building were pretty dense, she thought.
That was barely a half-mile reach and I'm tapped out. But they'll keep
their distance now. Enjoy the rubble boys.
She turned and ran. She had an appointment to keep.
***
A muffled sonic boom rolled over the island.
"What the hell was that?" asked Roberto.
"That was Shockwave." answered Cable. He gave Domino a smug
look. "She doesn't come across as that dangerous in person,
eh?"
"Oh, hush up." She responded. He sobered and looked at the
radar display. Two more gunships were on route and would be there within
the hour. "There's a few more looking to join this party."
"She said give her twenty minutes, Nate. We've got to wait."
Domino said firmly.
"We will. She'd better be on time, that's all."
Shatterstar stood guarding the entry. Where was she? Cable would leave
without her, he knew. The loss of a single soldier was preferable to the
failure of the mission.
At nineteen minutes, forty-two seconds he heard a small sound and swung
his gun into position.
"Don't shoot. It's me." Julia stepped out into the clearing.
She was out of breath and there was a string of greenery wound around
her.
"Julia!" He couldn't keep the relief from his voice.
She pushed aside her mask. "I really hate sprinting. I really hate
jungles. And I really hate sprinting through jungles. Goddamn
vines." she complained between gasps. She pulled irritably at the
clinging vegetation.
"I thought you too skilled to be felled by plant life." He
teased as they boarded the cloaked PACRAT.
"That's mutant plant life out there. It's vicious."
They lifted off a few moments later. Cable flew them over the former
base and they looked down a the mile-wide circle of destruction.
"Holy. You flattened the place." Tabitha whistled.
"You know, if you ever get tired of assassination you could always
go into urban renewal." Domino noted.
Julia frowned slightly. "What, and actually work for a living? Eww."
Roberto laughed. "My sentiments exactly."
"When does the in-flight movie start?" Wade asked, stretching
a little. What day was it? We crossed the date line going there and
coming back. Does that mean it's the same day as when we started? Jeez,
I'm bagged for not having any time to do anything.
Terry smiled. "After ye get off your sorry butt and pass out the
peanuts and sodas."
"I look lousy in those little stewardess outfits." He
complained. "And you only get nine peanuts in those baggies."
Tabitha made a face. "You know what you look like in a dress?
That's scary." She threw small plastic wrapped packages at them.
"Here. Have a field ration. Guaranteed not to taste like anything
at all."
Julia played with the envelope of possible nutrition. "Ooh. That's
a sales pitch. I'll pass." She tossed the morsel at Jimmy.
"You're always hungry. Enjoy."
He caught it. "I'm not that hungry. You eat it 'Berto."
"No thanks. Mystery food doesn't interest me." Roberto batted
the package at Shatterstar, who skewered it on the knife he was
examining.
"Victory is mine." He said, pulling the thing off the blade.
It leaked purple ooze. "It appears that I have killed a Pop
Tart."
Terry rummaged around the rations container and found a few soda-like
beverages. These were greeted with more enthusiasm. Wade even lifted his
mask enough to partake.
"Sort of a watered-down, rehydrated non-carbonated generic diet
pop." He said critically. "A poor bouquet but an interesting
finish."
Domino sat down beside Nate in the cockpit.
"Are you going to talk to her or what?" She asked.
"Yeah. Here. You drive."
Cable went back to the main compartment. Julia looked up at him and
raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Okay. You're in, just like I said. Xavier had a problem with what
you do but I'm not willing to let a good operative get bounced off my
team." He paused but she didn't say anything. "We had another
discussion and he'll stay off your case if you don't take any new
contracts now that you're on side."
"I wasn't planning to anyways. I trust you'd still want me to use
my skills on occasion?"
"When the need arises, yes." He held out a hand. "Welcome
to X-Force."
They cheered as she shook his hand. "Thanks. What are we doing
tomorrow?"
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