The Wilderness of Canada's Northwest Territories, three fourths of a mile from the Department K Complex.

Four prelates tread slowly and silently towards the abandoned Department K complex. The four mutants have been through a lot in past years. Their leader, the prelate known as Gorgeous George, has seen his share of combat while allied Onslaught, including the decimation of several human safe havens. The female to his left, Powerhouse, has always believed in Onslaught's ways and volunteers as much as she can for missions that involves the slay of Homo sapiens. The man next her, Northstar, enjoys killing humans almost as much as her if not more, but currently has his sights set on the X-Man Colossus, who destroyed his face. Taking up the rear of the prelates is Zaladane, a mutant with the power to manipulate magnetism. She was once a beautiful woman until her entire body was set aflame by the X-Man Legion.

"Lets move out, people." George ordered, while using his mutant power to allow his body to stretch, squirm, and slither through the branches of the forest pines, "There's a few humans and a gene-traitor to take care of. These should be easy pickin's for us. That bein' said, take your time and make 'em suffer."

"I hope those fucking X-Men show up." Zaladane says, "I have a serious need for revenge on Legion and I know Northstar has an appetite for it also. Isn't that right, friend?"

Northstar nods in approval, unable to speak through the folds of flesh holding his face together. Masque had managed to save him, but he would remain forever disfigured. He hated Masque for that.

"Okay, people," George says, "We have a quarter mile left until we are upon their sanctum. Make any preparations you need to now."

(Both events occurring during AOO: Alpha - Benn)

The Conference Room of the Department K Complex.

"We have a situation here." Weapon Alpha states, "Prelates are within a mile of our safe house and I doubt their intents will be of a friendly nature. Gentlemen, I think it's safe to presume the worst." Weapon Alpha gravely looks at his comrades. "Use any means necessary to ensure your survival. We must attempt to stick together and work as if we're a team! Have I made myself clear?"

"Garrison," Arcade began, "I have an idea. Why not send out the security robot Madison and myself built this morning? Not only would it make for a good test run on the robot, which will no doubt be destroyed upon being discovered, but it's cameras could send back images of our assailants, from which we can gather information on the prelates we are up against."

A wry smile crosses Weapon Alpha's lips.

"Arcade, that is the best idea I have ever heard you utter in the past ten years of Team Alpha's existence. Show me this automation immediately."

The five men leave the room and travel to Arcade's workshop on the other side of the complex. They enter the dome-like quarters of Arcade. Machinery, workbenches, blueprints, inventions, and other objects are scattered in a cluttered mass about the room. As Team Alpha work their way to the other end of the shop, Kane stares in awe at what he is seeing. It must only have been two weeks since last he set foot in the workshop, but what Arcade has set up and built since then had totally changed the layout of the room and the wonders within.

"Garrison." Daredevil says to the leader of Team Alpha, "You okay?"

Weapon Alpha snaps out of his awe-struck state. "Yeah," Kane says, "I'm fine."

Kane looks at the metal capsule in front of him. Underneath the capsule are two mechanical legs, obviously to allow the robot to walk. Mounted on the capsule are five chain guns and a video camera.

"Well?" Arcade asks.

"I like what you have set up, Arch." Kane says, "Only thing that has me perplexed is the capsule. What exactly is it for?"

"Ask Madison." Arcade says, "After all, 'twas his idea."

"It's a combination." Jefferies starts, "It not only processes and sends back information to us, but acts as a bomb if the robot is in undeniable trouble."

"Good thinking, Madison." Glory piped up.

"How can we control it and watch what it transmits?" Daredevil questions.

Arcade turns to his computer console and brings up a visual of what the robot's optic sensors are detecting. An image of Weapon Alpha's feet appears on the screen.

"Well, that answers one question." Daredevil says.

Arcade pulls over a separate control panel and hooks it up with his mainframe.

"This should answer another." Arcade says, pulling back on a lever.

The robot takes one step forward and Arcade pulls another lever. The robot takes another step. With each pull, the robot steps. With a twist of the panel, the robot turns. With the press of a button, the robot unleashes a shit load of bullets.

"Fascinating." Kane says, "Send it out after our prelate friends."

"Consider it done." Arcade responds, sending the robot out of the room, "I'll stay here, you guys take on the prelates."

"Good man." Kane replies, "The rest of you, prepare for combat."

"My fellow mutants," Gorgeous George begins, "it is time. Tonight we will slay our enemies, tonight we will triumph. Now, lets kill 'em."

The prelates charge towards the Department K complex. Powerhouse fires plasma blasts to take out the pines blocking their path. Zaladane uses magnetic forces to fly towards their destination. Northstar barrels through the forest at high speed, leaving his team-mates behind. He enters a clearing and stares at the Department K complex.

'Time to meet your ends, fools.' Northstar thinks to himself.

"Halt you two bit mutie bastard!" a mechanical voice says from Northstar's right. The startled prelate spins around in an instant, only to see the flash of a light and the bang of a gun before being knocked backward, pummelling through the near-by forestry.

Arcade sits at the control of the security robot and snickers. One prelate has shown up on his screen and is oblivious to his creation. Arcade leans down to microphone.

"Halt you two bit mutie bastard!" Arcade shouts into the microphone.

As the prelate turns to face his opponent, Arcade has the robot open fire on the prelate, launching three bullets into the mutants chest. Arcade laughs.

Four members of Team Alpha walk toward the entrance of the complex. Exiting the building, the team spot the security bot patrolling around the complex. Towards the edge of the woods, lying in a pool of blood, is Northstar. Weapon Alpha stalks toward the fallen prelate. He grabs the man and holds him by the collar and lifts him from the ground.

"Where are the others?" Kane demandings, his gun targeted on the fallen prelate.

Northstar cannot answer. Instead, he responds by spitting a wad of blood at Kane from his disfigured face.

"Steve, Matt. To my side." Kane says.

"What of me, Alpha?" Matter Master asks.

"You just stay there, Madison!" Kane answers. "As for you," he snarls as he returning his attention to the prelate "you're going to suffer."

Meanwhile, on the far side of the forest.

"Do you hear that?"

"What, Powerhouse?" asks Gorgeous George.

"It...it sounds like screaming?" Powerhouse answers, as they all stop in their tracks, attempting to detect the noise.

"Yes, I can hear it too." Zaladane concurs.

"It-it sounds like Northstar...u-used to?" Powerhouse notices, trembling on her voice.

"Those flatscans are gonna pay!" George cries as he streaks through the forest.