Disclaimer:  All Marvel characters featured in this story are trademarks
of Marvel Comics Group.  This is an unauthorized work and no profit is
being made on this work.  This story is copyright Tim Frankovich 1995.

Shattered Perceptions, Chapter Three

     "I was there when you first discovered your mutant ability!"
     Shatterstar's mind flew back, remembering...  Yes, Spiral had been there. 
Her face was one of the first he could remember recognizing.  It certainly
was not a pretty face, but there had been times during his early years
that it had appeared almost kind.  More often than not, however, the
perceived kindness was quickly erased by a fit of malicious anger.
     One other face stood out from his "childhood."  It was not one he had seen
frequently, but it was one that he never forgot.  It was huge, hideous and
bloated, a dirty yellowish color with lighter colored splotches here and
there, sweaty and slimy.
     It was that face he saw now as Spiral's teleport dissipated.  It was the
face of Mojo V.
     "Shatterstar!" the blob exclaimed gleefully, throwing his arms wide. 
"Where HAVE you been, dear boy?  The arena crowds have been wondering
about you!  Why, the letter-writing campaign alone has been overwhelming!"
     "Sorry, Mojo, but I'm staying on hiatus!" Star shot back, charging
forward.
     "What? And miss your season premiere?"  Mojo waved his hands in mock
horror. "You wouldn't believe the trouble I went through to get your
co-star!  And now you want to cancel!  What is it you want?  A new
costume?  A new personality?  Work with me, here!"
     As he babbled, Mojo gestured to a pack of guards.  Shatterstar fought
valiantly, but after dispatching five of the fang troops, the remaining
six were able to overpower him.  The last thing he saw was Spiral moving
behind Mojo as the spineless one laughed uproariously.
     "Take him to the pens and prepare him!" Mojo V cried.  "This ought to get
higher ratings than the last X-Men rerun," he muttered to himself as
Shatterstar was dragged away.
******
     "Blast it, Xavier!" Cable shouted, slamming his right fist against the
terminal.  "There has to be a way!"
     The face of Charles Xavier, founder of the X-Men, frowned sympathetically
from the monitor Cable was addressing.  "I am truly sorry, Nathan, but
other than Spiral herself and other servants of Mojo, the only person I
have known who was capable of travelling to the Mojoverse was Lila Cheney."
     "And she could be absolutely anywhere!" Boomer exclaimed from behind
Cable.
     "I will contact X-Factor," Xavier offered.  "Perhaps Guido Carosella has
heard from Lila recently.  It is a long shot, but it is all I can offer."
     "Thank you, Professor," Cable answered, running a hand through his hair. 
"This is all my fault.  I told Shatterstar months ago that we would return
with him to his world and overthrow Mojo V.  But I never got around to it.
 To be honest, I put it out of my mind and forgot about it sort of
intentionally."
     "Nathan, when have you had an opportunity to travel to Mojoworld?" Charles
asked.  "X-Force's history has been... tumultuous, to say the least.  And
have you ever had access to an interdimensional transporter?" 
     "You're... right, of course, Professor," Cable agreed reluctantly.  "But I
still have to take some responsibility.  I never even talked to Star about
his homeworld after that first day or two."  Cable hesitated.  "Call me if
you hear anything.  I have some other contacts I can try."
     Xavier nodded and the screen went blank.  Cable took a deep breath and
turned to face the rest of the team.  They met his gaze and waited. 
"Well, until we can find a teleporter, it doesn't look like we'll be
speeding to the rescue," he stated.  "For now, Sam & Shatterstar are on
their own.  They're two very resourceful and dangerous young men.  We
shouldn't give up on them by any stretch of the imagination.  They may
just find their own way out of this mess."
     The silence that met his words told Cable far more than any answer his
students could have given.