San Francisco, California.

He looks up in the air, filled with ashes of burned mutants, and humans. The land that X-Posse has arrived to just weeks ago, have undergone a war. A war instigated by Onslaught's assassin elite, known as "The Hellions." X-Posse has won the war. But, at what price?

The others regrouped in an abandoned house in Pacific Heights. Shinobi, along side the ever faithful Wildchild, now awaits their return. Shatterstar is the first to arrive, swords stained with dried blood.

"How does it look?" a curious Shinobi Shaw asks.

"The Hellions have fled to the San Francisco Bay." answers Shatterstar

"And the others?"

"Tessa, and Milan are treating those who are injured in battle in Chinatown."

"Not to mention Siryn and Rusty." Informs another new arrival, the Indian mutant known as Reaper, now sitting against an open window.

"That's just great! Reaper, be sure Meltdown's not gonna do anything stupid. God knows we don't want to cost any more lives out here. If she hears Rusty's down, she's liable to do something stupid. Bring her here." Shinobi orders.

"Sure thing chief." Reaper answers, heading back outside.

The door breaks down, Guido and Warpath both bursting in after Rictor. They don't have any explanation. They don't need one.

"Now that the Hellions are no longer a threat here, we need to do some recon work. Just to make sure we haven't missed anything" Shinobi addressed the gathered mutants. "Ric, you to take Guido and Warpath to the west side of San Fran. Cover the Golden Gate Park, and work your way down south to Lake Merced."

"Sure thing boss" Guido answers with a smile, always cheerful, despite the morbid surroundings.

"'Star, once Reaper and Meltdown gets back, I want the three of you to take The Bayshore. We have divided into quarters. Each team will have a transmitter. Which means, I will distribute them out to each team leader. I'll keep one, Ric will have another, Meltdown will have one, and Tessa won't need one. Just call to her. Okay, let's get started."

Reaper and Meltdown finally returns to Pacific Heights. Reaper, one hand on his scythe and the other around Meltdown's waist, as she fights to break free. The two then enter the now abandoned room X-Posse were in only a half hour before. "I thought he said for us to return here?"

"He did." Shatterstar, hidden within the shadows of the dark building, answers. "You're late." He then throws the transmitter over to Meltdown, before explaining their mission. "Our job is to head to Bayshore."

Chinatown, San Francisco.

{They're here} Tessa tells herself. {The Hounds are here. Siryn, Rusty...I need you two to get on up. The team needs you.}

"I've can see some thing coming Tessa." Milan informs hers, as if she didn't already know!

"I know.... I know..... The Hounds are here. I felt it too." Tessa informs her team-mate.

"No, not that. I can see something different...another vision."

Tessa now closely reads Milan's mind.

{NO!} She telepathically cries. {Milan, it's worse than I though! Not only are there the remaining Hellions, but now The Hounds and...and...}

{What? Who is coming?}

{THE REAVERS! Shinobi? Shinobi, Where are you?} Tessa asks, quickly attempting to contact their fellow leader, Shinobi Shaw.

As Shinobi hears a voice in her head, he instantly responds back, knowing it was Tessa trying to talk to him, and not some voice in his head. {I'm heading for City Hall of Union Square. What's the trouble?}

{The Reavers are here...Hounds are here...Watch your back.}

{Where?} Shinobi demands.

{The Reavers and Hounds have no clue on the others appearance. But, I'm sure Selene will find out sooner or later. I say take the team and hit the Reavers. Hit 'em hard.}

{Where are they?} Shinobi asks again.

{The Reavers have been teleported at to the Civic Center. The Hounds have just arrived on a boat, at Bayshore.} Tessa answers.

{Damnit! I sent Meltdown, Reaper, and Shatterstar there. How many Hellions are left?}

{Five. They're at Lake Merced. Also Shinobi...I'm picking it up on their thoughts...the Reavers are here to kill you. They are only here only for you. You and me. To end all links to what was once The Hellfire Club. Which means, if they can get her, they'll try to go after Selene as well. Wait. There's another Hellfire here as well...I'm not sure...thoughts hard to decipher...}

{Who is it?}

{It's Leland. Prelate Leland. Also known as Harry Leland. Your father's former best friend before his death. Leland took the offering of "Prelate" before Hellfire was destroyed by Black Air.}

{Tessa, can you reach Meltdown's team?}

{No, there's too much interference. I'm not sure where it's coming from...}

{Okay, then we'll try to reach Meltdown's team, and tell them to watch out.} Shinobi answers.

The Civic Center.

Pierce and his cyborg soldiers making their way down the football field, with one goal, and one goal only...the death of Hellfire.

"All right, let's move on out." Pierce commands. Pierce, once a member of Hellfire, was removed by the Black King himself. He has never forgiven Shaw for that indignity. But Shaw is dead. Now he must settle for Shaw's two closest successors, Shaw's ever faithful Tessa and the boy left in her charge. Shinobi.

The other Reavers all do as he asks. Their names are Bonebreaker, Cyber, Skullbuster, Pretty Boy and Hardrive. They exit the football field and make their way to Shinobi.

Meanwhile, at Bayshore.

The Hounds have finally arrived. Leland slowly exits the ship, followed by his whole crew, with the exception of Harpoon, who remains to keep guard of their ship.

"Harpoon...I want every ship here destroyed. No one will leave here unless we say so. I want all flatscans dead, and Shinobi alive. Do what you want with the rest of his little group." Leland orders to his crew.

The crew consists of Selene, Gauntlet, Tusk, Spoor, Scalphunter, Chrome, Stonewall, Omega Red, Beef, and Riptide. Collectively they are known as the Hounds. Relegated to the seas and shores, it is their duty to act as the first wave of Onslaught's forces. But this mission is a personal one. Their will be no reinforcements. The Hounds will either take the city of San Francisco, or not at all.

"Beef...you, Chrome, and Riptide head to Lake Merced to retrieve what's left of the Hellions. Omega Red, you...Omega Red?" Harry Leland looks around, and sees that Omega Red is no where to be found. "Alright. Stonewall, Tusk, Gauntlet, and Selene...find the X-Posse, and terminate them. You have your powers to guide you. As for Spoor and Scalphunter. You two, come with me. It's time we meet an old friend of the family."

Not far away...

Reaper, Shatterstar, and Meltdown have finally reached the Bayshore.

"Meltdown! Come in Meltdown? Tabby, do you copy?"

Meltdown looks down at her transmitter, and smiles. "WWWHHAAAAZZZZZZZ-UP?"

"No time to joke around." Answers the voice of Shinobi Shaw. "The Hounds have arrived not more than two hours ago at Bayshore. There's a static around the island that's preventing communications. Keep your eyes open." Shinobi says, before his transmitter cuts off.

Meltdown's smile fades away, as a look of disbelief comes across her face. Shatterstar, silently, takes his swords out, and points them to the vintage nineteenth century ship a few hundred yards before them.

We now return back to Tessa and Milan as they continue to attend to their fallen comrades, Siryn and Rusty. Outside they can feel their enemies approaching, and they know that, no matter how hard they fight, those they have tried to protect will die.

Milan now projects an image of Pierce and his Reavers making their way towards Chinatown. Tessa knows that the Reavers are coming here to claim her death. She must think. How can she evade their grasp, even if it is for just mere moments. She has to think. Then it comes to her.

"Milan?"

"Yes Tessa?"

"I'm going to contact Selene. Let her know our location. Pierce wants all former members of the former Hellfire Club dead, so we'll give him what he wants. All the members of the hellfire Club. Leland, Selene...we'll get them head to head. Hopefully they'll end up wiping out each other."

"Do it. Me and Rusty can't defeat all the Reavers." Siryn agrees.

Now, Tessa opens a line of contact to the one woman...the bitch...she has always despised, even during the Hellfire era. {Selene?}

{You have a lot of gall to be contacting me, woman.} Selene, mutters.

{We know why you're here. Let's get this over with. Chinatown...we're waiting.} Tessa goads, before breaking the connection. Selene will eventually catch on to why Tessa really challenged her, of that Tessa is sure. But it won't stop her. Tessa and Selene have...unfinished business. "They're on their way."

"Too late it would seem" jests a cold, unnatural spectre from the open doorway. The Reavers break through the door, making their way to the four X-Posse members, killing all humans in their way.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Tessa. I told you, and your employers I would find you. Now, there's a bounty on all members of Hellfire, and I intend to collect. The Black King is dead Tessa. In chess that means...GAME OVER!" Pierce maniacally screams, raising a scythe in the air.

Before he can bring it down, Rusty let's out a burst of flame. The flames scold Peirce, and he backs away from the heat. Rusty, with what little energy he has left, turns his attentions to the advancing Pretty Boy, burning away his ragged clothing, leave nothing behind save his metal hide.

"Bad move, boy." Pretty Boy screams, as he lunges himself for Rusty.

"Death to the Hellfire!" Pierce screeches.

"'Death to the Hellfire'? Looks like I got here just in time." Laughs a seductive voice.

Pierce quickly turns around, and to his shock, he gazes upon the one woman who he fears above all. "The witch!"

"You and your little cyborgs will now perish for such a threat...In the name of Onslaught!" Selene orders as she leaders her Hounds into battle.

Cyber lunges for Tusk. Skullbuster and Gauntlet begin shooting away at one another. Pretty Boy and Bonebreaker both attempt to halt Stonewall. What a mess.

Tessa turns to look at Pierce, to find him starting on at Selene, in complete and utter fear. What could Selene have done to deserve such a reaction? Tessa doesn't know, and she doesn't want to know. The only thing that matters now is getting out of this one alive.

"That leaves me and you Pierce." Selene chuckles.

"Selene...you've come for the X-Posse, have you not?" Pierce asks, obviously hoping to strike up some bargain, and to spare his miserable hide.

Gauntlet ends Skullbuster with a clear shot to the head. The blood sprays everywhere, shards of bone spread across the filthy floors. Gauntlet smiles.

"Yes. Though, anyone who opposes Onslaught shall be slayed. That's how it is Pierce." Selene replies, obviously not in a bargaining mood.

Cyber slits Tusk's throat, only for Selene to raise the ground up from beneath him, crushing the adamantium-laced cyborg in mere moments. Pretty Boy gets a round blown at him by Gauntlet as he falls. Pierce then looking around, to see that only Hardrive and Bonebreaker are left from his Reavers.

"We surrender." Pierce begs of Selene, knowing he was defeated even before the war began.

Bonebreaker begins to flee, only to get crushed to his death as he crashes into Stonewall.

"You two will come with us. Pierce...Hardrive, we will let Leland decide what to do with you. Come now, let us end X-Posse and finally be rid of it."

And this is where Tessa realises her efforts were for naught. For now, not only does she have the far more powerful Hounds to contend with, but she has handed them two Reavers as well. {Shinobi!}

Rictor, Warpath, and Guido makes their way down Golden Gate Park. It's a long walk when none of them can fly. They're on the look out for the Hellions. They've found more than they needed. Their names are Riptide, Chrome, and Beef. Both sides begin to smile.

"Beef...gather your Hellions. Let myself and Riptide deal with these three." Chrome arrogantly commands Beef. Beef does as he commands, and uses his exaggerated speed to make way for Lake Merced.

"Come get some." Taunts Guido as he gets into a fighting stance.

Chrome charges through the air towards Guido, but is suddenly drowned in a wave of earth, as he's buried under ground. He grasps for breath as he begins to be buried into his own death.

"So....what you waiting for?" warpath taunts to the shocked Riptide.

Riptide then lets off a slight grin, as he begins to spin at an uncontrollable rate, firing his pierces blades through Warpath's left arm. Guido then charges at Riptide, flipping him over as though he was a bug. Riptide crashes into an unforgiving brick wall, as Guido slams into him with all his might. Rictor then decides to lend a hand, burying the already broken Riptide under six feet of earth.

"Rest in peace, mi amigo's. Brace yourself 'Bash Brothers'...the Hellions are on their way." Rictor reminds his two comrades.

Two metal tendrils slowly creep around Rictor's feet, before seizing their firm grip around him. The two 'Bash Brothers' look up to see none other than the famed Omega Red.

In Pacific Heights, San Francisco

Where Shinobi Shaw waits with his bodyguard, Wildchild. Shinobi slams his fist down hard, startling Wildchild for the merest of moments. He's angry. Angry at himself for splitting up the team, angry at himself for not being a good enough leader, and angry at himself for endangering his people. The only people who have ever believed in him, who have trusted him with their lives. It's his duty to insure their safety, and he's not going to let them down.

"Wildchild, I want you to head to the Bayshore and help Reaper, Shatterstar, and Tabby. I'll go find Tessa. You understand?" Shinobi asks.

Wildchild simply nod's, and begins to spree for the Bayshore.

Shinobi, now turns and makes yet another attempt to contact Tessa. {Tessa? C'mon, where are you? Listen, if you can hear me, I'm on my way to Chinatown. I'll be there as --}

But suddenly he is cut off as Tessa's psychic voice invades his mind {No Shinobi! Pierce and Selene are there. Don't risk your life for --}

Again, they are cut off as an other, more sinister, presence makes herself known. {Is this a private conversation Shinobi?} Selene, now in between the two in mental conversation, asks with a laugh.

{Get the hell out of my mind, you crazy bitch! I'm on my way there, and I'm gonna make sure you get what's commin' to you!} Shinobi threatens as he breaks off the psychic link between the three.

{My, my, that was hostile.} Selene laughs as she exits the troubled mind of Tessa.

Shinobi quickly rushes out of the abandoned building, but is stopped in his tracks by three men. Mutants, to be more precise. Two of them are named Spoor and Scalphunter. Onslaught's prelates. Shinobi knows the other one very well indeed. His name is Leland.

"Shinobi. Come quietly and you will not be hurt." Leland asks of him, showing sympathy for the young man.

Leland knows Shinobi is Sebastian's son, and he has sworn never to do him harm. But he will not be denied. He has given Shinobi this warning, knowing that if the boy does resist, he might have no other choice but to kill him. It is a thought that is ever present on Leland's mind.

Meltdown leads Reaper and Shatterstar into the foggy ship. Seeming empty, they notice there isn't any other ships in sight. Any transport's for people to see families, and leave the island, they notice...there isn't any way out.

"Keep your eyes open." warns Reaper.

Meltdown says nothing instead watching their ever move, making sure they're not being watched.

"There's movement in that door." whispers Shatterstar to the other two. He cautiously approaches the door, then eases it open with his blade. He stops in his tracks, as though he's just seen a ghost.

"What is it? Friend? Foe?" Reaper eagerly asks, yet to peer inside the dark room.

"Longshot?" Shatterstar asks, as though he didn't even believe his eyes. "Spiral? How?"

"Friend." Meltdown guesses.

Wildchild then enters the ship and heads. The three of them look at him strangely, as he begins to growl viciously.

"What's he doing here?" Reaper whispers.

"Shinobi must've sent him. What's he growling at?" Meltdown asks, as the feral mutants eyes are fixed on her.

He then lets out a hellish scream and launches himself at Meltdown. She ducks, and Wildchild lands on someone else. Harpoon. The feral mutant starts slashing away, the lone prelate obviously preparing to ambush the three X-Posse members.

"Where the hell did he come from?!" Reaper asks, before slicing off harpoon's head, killing him in an instant. Crimson blood flows from his neck and his limp body collides to the floor. If it hadn't been for his shock Reaper would have enjoyed this.

"Eew, gross!" Meltdown squeals as she turns away from the decapitated body of Harpoon.

"Let's get these two out of their restraints" Shatterstar suggests, as the four of them now back into the room where Longshot and Spiral are being held captive.

"Okay, listen up." Meltdown commands. "We got a big group going now that there's six people here. We're splitting up again. Reaper, Wildchild, and I will head back to Chinatown to help out Tessa, and see what's up with Shinobi on the way to Pacific Heights. As for you three. You can talk about whatever's going on, while heading down to Golden Gate Park to see how's it going with Rictor, Guido and Jamie, got it?"

"Sure boss" Reaper jokes.

"Good."

Chinatown, San Francisco.

Selene, Pierce, Hardrive, Stonewall, and Gauntlet begin to slowly walk towards the four helpless X-Posse members.

{Listen up you three.} Tessa mentally addresses her team-mates. {It might not look like we have a chance....}

{Knowing how much value Tessa is to X-Posse.} Siryn interjects.

{Teresa, you don't mean that.} Milan protests.

{Bloody right I do!} the Irish member of X-Posse answers.

{Listen, Tessa, you get outta here. They need you more than they need us. If you can get out of here, we'll cover for ya. Just tell Meltdown...I'm sorry.} A sad Rusty tells Tessa, as though it was his last words.

{Tell her yourself. Cause it seems like helps coming...all we have to do is just last...10 Minutes.}

In X-Posse #02: What will happen when Shinobi and Leland go one-on-one? What is the relationship between Shatterstar and Longshot? Will Tessa and the rest last ten minutes against Selene and Pierce? Will Omega Red seal the fate of Rictor? Find out the answers of all these questions in 30!