NIGHT OF THE LIVING BRAIN DEAD

 
Ben Church [rlchurch@erols.com] 

     All characters are the property of Marvel Comics. Except 
Hotshot, he's mine.

Chapter 16
     "The next time something like this happens, I want to be 
informed immediately." Emma said sternly. She finished examining 
Clarice. "Fortunately, none of you were hurt, but next time you 
might not be so lucky without us to help you."
     "Sorry Miss Frost, I just got caught up in the moment." Will 
said.
     "It's all right. Just tell me next time. And Clarice, from now 
on, I want you wearing an image inducer. Now everyone go to your 
rooms and get some sleep. We've got a long day ahead tomorrow." In 
the morning they would make their attack on Arcade's headquarters.

     Will sat in bed and flipped channels until he found a news 
channel showing live coverage of a speech being made in DC
     "Well well, if it isn't Mr. Nazi, KKK, throwback prick of '96, 
Graydon Creed." he said. He turned up the volume.
     "...and it is the duty, of all human beings to dispose of all 
of these so called 'Geecees'..."
     "Hey," said Everett. "That's Freak, and it's Mr. Freak to you 
pal."
     "...or they will destroy us all!"
     "Can you say paranoid? Damn, compared to him, Rush Limbaugh 
looks good." Will said.
     "Turn that shit off." Angelo said. "He's pissing me off." Will 
flipped off the TV
     "Speaking of shit, I'm gonna go take one." Will said.
     "Thanks for sharing." Everett said.
     Will stepped into the bathroom and froze. He stared at the 
toilet for a moment, and turned hurried out.
     "On second thought, I think I'll wait." he said with a slight 
tremble in his voice.
     "Dude, when nature calls, you can't put her on hold." Everett 
said.  Then he noticed the look on Will's face. "Hey what's wrong?"
     "Have you ever heard of Arachnophobia?"
     "You're afraid of spiders? So what, there's a spider in 
there?"
     "It's on the toilet." Will said, embarrassed.
     "Hey there's nothing to be ashamed of, I can't stand snakes." 
Everett said, and went into the bathroom. Will looked at Angelo, 
waiting for some reaction.  But he was sound asleep. A minute 
later, Everett returned from the bathroom.
     "All clear." he said.
     "Thanks man." Will said and went in.

     That night, Will awoke and got a drink of water. He took a 
sip, and deciding it was to warm, went into the hallway to get some 
ice. As he approached the ice machine he saw that someone else was 
already there, another guest at the hotel. As the other left, Will 
heard the chime on the elevator ring and the door opened. Will 
stopped to see who would get out, and what he saw froze his blood. 
Slowly, a man stepped from the elevator. A desiccated man. It's 
skin was shriveled, like a mummy who had had the wrappings 
removed. The glass dropped from Will's hand, and he turned to run. 
The creature grabbed the other man, and began to drain his life 
force. The drained human now looked just like the zombie.
     As he pivoted on his toe, he saw another behind him. He thrust 
out with his power, and destroyed the one blocking his path, but 
another took it's place.

     Emma awoke with a start, and wondered what had woken her, then 
she remembered. A scream of pure unbridled terror in her head, it 
was Will.
     "Sean," she called mentally. "Will's in trouble." She didn't 
wait to get a response, she woke Ororo.

     Hotshot raced down the maze of hallways desperately thrusting 
out with his power whenever he saw one the creatures. He finally 
reached the stairs and he jumped down an entire flight. His knees 
buckled, and he crashed into the wall and fell down the next 
flight. He opened the door, and ran onto the balcony overlooking 
the lobby.  He raced for the railing, and turned when he heard a
sound. One the creatures, leaped from the shadows and grabbed his 
shoulders.  Hotshot threw himself backward, and fell screaming off 
the balcony. In mid-fall, a laser shot from below and blasted the 
creature off Hotshot. Will landed hard.
     "Are you all right Hotshot?" Bishop asked.
     "Now that the calvary has arrived I am." he said.
     "What the hell are these things kid?" Wolverine asked.
     "These are the humans who were taken during the kidnapping."
 They were now surrounded. Will saw the hallway behind them 
suddenly cleared by a psionic blast.
     The White Queen and Husk came out of the elevator. The 
creatures turned to attack them as well and Husk ripped of her skin 
and assumed the form of a spiked metal statue. She tore into the 
ranks of the creatures and fought her way to Hotshot's side.
     "Where's Storm?" Wolverine asked.
     "She's getting the others." White Queen answered.

     Chamber blasted a group of creatures away from the stairs, 
while Storm and Banshee blew some down the hall with a blast of 
wind and sound. Sabertooth and Penance tore some apart. Blink 
teleported some away, and M and Synch threw the rest out windows. 
Skin raced down the stairs and saw Bishop finishing off the
last of the creatures.
     "Yo Professor!" Skin called. "We finished cleaning up the 
things upstairs, what next?"
     "Now we return the attack," Emma said grimly, "A thousand 
fold."

To be continued....