ASKANI #1: Water Under the Bridge Written by Jfive Edited by Kingbob *************************************************************** Westchester, New York. "Charles Francis Xavier." A man said. "Gone to be with God." Tears trickled down his cheeks as he read the tombstone. "God dammit, Charley. You should have known better than to take safety for granted. So many people didn't like what you were trying to accomplish... ya should have known better..." "How are you?" A woman asked from behind. "I know it hit ya hard. It hit all ah us hard. I wonder how Scott and the others are taking it?" She walked up to him and put her arm around his waist. "Why, Moira? Why did it have to happen to him now? He had such great plans for us all. It's not fair." The man said, accepting Moira's embrace without a conscious thought. "I don't know, Cain, I just don't." Moira answered. She sighed, then brought up the subject that had brought her out here. "Cain?" "Yes?" "Charles told me a few months ago, 'that if anything happened to him, he was going to leave the ownership of Muir Island and its properties to the two of us. The lawyer needs us to meet with him tomorrow at nine. Can you be there?" Cain nodded his head without answering. He turned and looked back at the tombstone. When Moira left a little later, he was still in that position. *************************************************************** Iverness, Scotland. Unlike many of the other castles built by the Knights Templar, Refuge Castle was of a rectangular design and had six large towers. One rose from each of the four corners, then there was one on the center of each wall facing the Atlantic Ocean. The one way that Refuge could be reached was via a narrow, six foot wide, peninsula with a thousand foot drop on either side. With it's back was set against the ledge of one of the many cliffs in the area and approachable from only one direction, Refuge was, basically, impregnable. Never one to trust in what should be, Nile de Gregory had decided to stage a mock invasion to see if the 'inhabitants' could stop the 'pirates'. With the added bonus of a few members of Mutant: Underground present, he believed that, with their help, he would be able to see if the castle was as impregnable as he had intended when he built it. Nile had divided the Askani and the Underground members into defenders and attackers. The defenders were led by himself, and included Stick, Jubilee, Colossus, and Lourdes Chantel. The attackers were led by Eric Masterson, and included John Wraith, Cordelia Frost, Flex, and Radius. *************************************************************** Nile stood upon the upper ramparts, gazing out over the acres that the castle overlooked. Any moment now, he thought with a slight touch of battle fervor. Then the place would once again be a battle field. He had stationed his 'troops' out around the walls hoping that one of them would see the 'pirates' approaching. Suddenly, he felt a presence beside him. Wraith. No question...no one else could have gotten there without him discovering him. Nile fired a low powered blast as he turned. Only to discover that no one was there. Cordelia had used her telepathy to convince him that Wraith was there. Nile never saw the punch that Radius threw. "Chalk another one down to my God-given charisma." Radius said with a grin. "Give it up, Jared." Cordelia shot back. "We've still got four others to go. See if you can find Jubilee." "The brat? I don't think that I should waste my time on her. She's more Flex's style, anyway." "Just watch your ass, OK? Remember, Forge sent us out here to train with these Askani, and from what I've seen, we still have a long ways to go before we'll ever reach their level." If they ever did. *************************************************************** Unaware that their leader had been 'killed', the others stood their ground against the sudden attacks. Eric had done a thorough job in planning the assault, and it seemed as if the attackers were everywhere at once. Jubilee leaned against the western wall of Refuge, catching her breath during the slight break as the attackers pulled back to regroup. In her dark clothing, she was almost entirely invisible as Radius went by. She could hear mumbling something as he passed her. "Go find the little girl, she says. Forge sent us out here to..." Radius said through gritted teeth. "I'm sick of everyone telling me what to do!" He stopped and looked over the wall. When he turned back around, he saw Jubilee right behind him. Her pyrotechnics knocked him over the wall, to the ground below. "Hey, Radius!" She yelled from the wall. "Hope that force field absorbed the impact, not!" "Jubilation!" Stick whispered at her. "Sorry, boss. Just couldn't resist a chance to gloat at him." "Let's go, Jubilation." Stick grabbed her hand and started towards the central part of the castle. "Remember this exercise is far from over." *************************************************************** "Peter." That single word caused Colossus to turn around. He took his time, knowing that the person that was there wouldn't dream of attacking someone in the back. Colossus wondered how long he would last in the real world. "Flex." "I'm sorry about what I have to do. I just wanted you to know this before hand." "Adrian, it's part of the exercise. No hard feelings." Colossus said with a smile. "OK." Adrian Corbo's hands 'FLEXED' into long metal hammers. "Hammers, Adrian? You've been spending to much time with Eric." Colossus said after laughing a moment. "Let's dance." His body went from human skin to organic metal with a thought. They began to circle each other slowly, each looking for an opening. Then, Flex attacked. He swung his right 'hammer' at Colossus's face, while he swung his left one at Colossus's stomach. Peter managed to avoid the first blow, but the second one glanced off of his skin. Peter stared at Flex with shock. He hadn't thought that the youth was that far along in training yet to have developed a maneuver like that. Peter stepped back from Adrian, right into the telepathic punch that Cordelia had been waiting for. "Let's go, Adrian. We've got to find Stick." "Where's Jared?" "He went to find Jubilee." *************************************************************** John Wraith followed Stick and Jubilee towards the central bailey. He was waiting for the right moment to strike. *SHHHRRRRR* He turned and looked to the woman who had just teleported behind him. Lourdes Chantel, one of the newest recruits of the Underground. John saw that she had a laser rifle pointed in his direction. He teleported to the top of the nearest building, and because his teleportation didn't make a sound, she didn't know where he was. John pointed his pistol at her and slowly drew a bead. When the crosshairs matched up with her torso, he squeezed the trigger ever so gently. *ZZZZZZZZ* John saw the beam strike her, then she fell to the ground unconscious. He was about to leave, when one of the Askani came rushing out of the building. "NILE! You've got to get in here now. We just got a connection established with Jamaica." Nile de Gregory walked over from where he had been watching the exercise. He listened to the man for a moment, then his face went white. "Tell him I'm on my way!" Nile yelled as he hit the comm button on his vest. "Eric?" "Yeah?" Eric's voice came from the two way speaker. "Exercise is canceled. We've had a major accident happen in Jamaica. Moore is on the satellite hook up now. I'll meet you in the conference room in five minutes." "Yes, sir." "Good, Gregory out." *************************************************************** Paris. Gideon looked into the mirror. He considered himself a handsome man. He looked over at the bed that his partner and lover sat upon. "What time did you tell Blowout to meet you?" Candra got up and walked to the closet, unashamed of her nude body. As she carefully chose her wardrobe, she answered his question. "I told her to meet me in the lobby at about 8. What do you think? The blue or the green?" "The green." Gideon moved over to help her put the dress on. "While y'all talk, I believe that I'm going to take a short scouting trip to Iverness." "Do be careful." She said. The look in her eyes said something different though. She didn't like sharing control with Gideon, and if something should happen, she wouldn't mind. She looked at the clock. 7:30. Just a little while longer. *************************************************************** Refuge. The Askani, and the visiting members of the Mutant: Underground gathered around the console, as Nile hit the reconnect button. Thomas Moore's face materialized upon the screen. His eyes bore the residue of tears, his voice broke as he spoke. "Nile." That single word contained all the hurt that Thomas had in his heart. The grief that he felt he had to keep under control. All that emotion made his voice shake. "She's gone. Dead." "Who?" Nile asked gently, his mind had already decided, but his heart refused to take the answer. It needed verification. "Ororo." That single word destroyed Nile's heart. Originally she had been just another member of the Askani, but, over time, she became his best friend. They had never been intimate, and he didn't think the thought ever crossed her mind. But they had been friends. And there was nothing that Nile could do except to mourn the death of his friend. Finally, he found that he was able to ask the question. "How?" "Daredevil." Another name that caused a definite reaction. Except that this reaction came from Stick. "Matt!?! Damn it. I should have killed him when I had the chance." Stick paused to think for a second. Then it dawned on him. "Where Matt's at, Electra won't be far behind." Moore looked up, for a moment his features seemed to return to their normal look. "There's more. Nathan's gone." Nile gazed at the screen shocked. So much of the Askani's future was dependent upon Nathan. "What happened?" *************************************************************** Paris. Candra looked up as Blowout came into the room. The blonde moved with a grace that came to her naturally. For a moment, Candra envied her. Then the moment passed. "I'm SO glad that you could make it." Sarcasm rolled off her words. "Your only thirty minutes late, this time." "I'm sorry I'm late. OK?" Blowout said in a defensive tone of voice. "God, I don't know what I'm going to do about you." Candra leaned back into her seat. "Well, sit down." She said, motioning to a chair. "We need to talk." "About what?" Blowout answered, no longer defensive, now her voice was tepid. "I haven't done anything have I?" Candra looked at the blonde. It was quite obvious that she was a natural. "No. That's not it. I'm going to need your help to complete a mission." "A mission? And you want ME to go?" Blowout asked with amazement showing clearly on her expressions. This girl seriously needed to get out more, Candra decided. "Don't sound so shocked. You're a valuable asset to this team." Blowout sat back, now more accepting of the hand that fate had dealt her. "What are we going to do?" Candra smiled. That innocence would be their ticket in. "I'm going to join a secret cult, and track their activities for our employer. I picked you to go with me because you're the most likely to past inspection." "OK." Blowout nodded, having fully accepted the mission in her mind. Candra smiled, success had once again fallen into her lap. If only getting rid of Gideon was that simple. *************************************************************** Iverness. Eric Masterson led the small troupe towards the nearest pub. "One thing that I love about Scotland is their taste in drinks." He said with a burst of laughter. "You've got to admire anyone who can drink what they do and still live." He grabbed Adrian by the shoulders. "Boy, do you think that you can keep up with us? We drink like we fight. Let no man stand against us." Radius stepped to his brother's assistance. "We can do anything that you can do, old man." He patted Adrian's shoulder. "And probably something’s that you can't." He added with a grin. John Wraith stepped between them before Eric's temper got the best of him. "Listen. Both of ya. I don't care if you want to fight till your brain's fry, you can do it later. Right now, we're trying to cheer up Nile." He pointed to where the leader of the Askani moped along behind them. "Sorry, Jared." Eric said. "Me too. We just let our emotions get carried away." Radius replied. "Let's see if we can get him drunk. That always takes my mind off my problems." Adrian laughed. "You can't remember your problems, Jared. You're a one way street." Adrian shook his head ruefully. Peter Rasputin stepped up to them, then motioned for them to proceed into the bar. It seemed that Nile would only get better with the help of alcohol. "Go on in. We don't want to make a scene." The two Corbos led the way, followed by Colossus, Eric, Wraith, and Nile. The waitress had them follow her to a large table at the back of the room. "This is 'his' usual table." She said, after looking pointedly at Nile. "This will be fine. Could you bring us a menu, please?" John Wraith asked. The waitress nodded, then left the men at their table. *************************************************************** Eric ordered another round for the table and looked at the various stages of drunkenness that were present. "Damn, we're a rough looking lot. Wraith you awake?" He asked the slumped man. When John didn't answer him, Eric nudged him with his hand. "You drunk? Must be, you ain't answered me." "Bunch of bloody drunks. The lot of ya." Eric turned and faced the man who had spoken. Gideon, one of Apocalypse's stooges. "Haven't seen you in a few years. Get over the last ass whipping I gave you?" Gideon's face turned red with rage. "You wouldn't have been able to do anything to me if Apocalypse hadn't told me to let you go. That's all it was, Traitor. Our lord allowed you to leave for reasons of his own." "Oh, that was why you crumbled with that hook, eh?" Eric said, trying to provoke Gideon into action. "Listen, bastard. I'm not going to give in to you. I have my own set of orders regarding dealing with you Askani. I wish it was different, because right now, the whole group doesn't look to have an ounce of brain power between you." Gideon roared. "What's the matter, Gideon? Your not afraid of me, are you?" Eric said, trying to drive Gideon's anger to a higher level. "Let's step outside, Masterson. Then we'll see who's afraid." "After you." Eric motioned to the door. Gideon led Eric out the door. When Eric's feet landed upon the ground, Gideon swung from his heels. That punch would have ended the fight except for the fact that Eric expected Gideon to try for a cheap shot. He knocked Gideon's fist out of the way, then landed a left jab that smashed Gideon's nose. Eric tried to follow with a right, but Gideon blocked it, then countered with a jab to the stomach. Eric's breath exhaled with an audible gasp. Gideon tried to follow through with a fist to Eric's face, but Eric managed to avoid it barely. Gideon, off balance from missing his mark, fell into the path of Eric's headbutt. Blood erupted from Gideon's nose. Infuriated, Gideon attacked Eric with renewed vengeance. He had dared to bloody a High Lord. Eric was barely able to fend off his blows. Finally, he saw his chance and grabbed Gideon into a bear hold. After a moment, Eric shoved Gideon to get enough room to regain his breath. While he was catching his breath, Gideon was trying to staunch the flow of blood that dribbled from his nose. "You...you've gotten a little better at the rough and tumble since our last fight, Gideon. I don't like you, but I have to admire a man that learns from his mistakes." Eric said. "You haven't changed though. Still willing to give your opponent a fair chance. How pathetic." Gideon said. "That, more than anything, was why Apocalypse let you go. You didn't have the heart for the 'Survival of the Fittest'. Never-the-less, one day your turn to be tested will arrive. What will you do then?" With those words, Gideon touched a stud upon his wristband and vanished in a blaze of light. "Still using Apocalypse's toys." Eric said to himself as he moved back into the bar. The fight had gotten rid of buzz and left an incredible hangover in its place. "Hey! Time to go!" He shouted at the Askani and Underground members that were passed out at their table. *************************************************************** Paris. "Candra?" Gideon asked. "What, Gideon? Can't you see that I'm busy?" "Your sleeping." "Exactly. Now tell me what you want, then I'm going BACK to sleep." She said. "Get up, and prep the team." He said distractedly. "WHAT!?!" She asked, completely awake now. "What do you want me to prep the team for?" "We're going to Refuge." He answered. "We're going to take the Askani down tonight." "Oh, shit." She cursed. "Gideon, Apocalypse said to infiltrate the Askani, not attack them." She noticed his cut and bruised face. "Damn it! Who did you get in a fight with?" "Masterson." Gideon said. "It doesn't matter. What does matter is this bullshit about fighting the Askani." She said. "You DON'T want to go against my decision. Understand?" It was a threat. "Yes." She answered slowly. He's insane, completely insane. "I'll prep the team. You get a quick shower, then we'll be ready to go." After Gideon went into the bathroom, Candra ran towards the communication center. *************************************************************** "Code: Alpha 145938043. Candra." She said. Moments later, Apocalypse himself appeared upon the screen. "WHAT IS IT, CANDRA?" "It's Gideon, sir. He's gone completely insane. He ordered me to ready our team for combat with the Askani in a few hours." "HE DID, DID HE? THAT WAS NOT WHAT I WANTED." "What do you want me to do, Lord?" She asked. "GO ALONG WITH HIM, CANDRA. KEEP AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT OCCURS. IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL IN RIDDING THE WORLD OF THE ASKANI, THEN SO BE IT. BUT HE KNOWS THE PRICE FOR FAILURE." "Yes, Lord." She answered. Gideon was as good as dead if she had anything to do about it. *************************************************************** Next Issue: GIDEON and CANDRA lead their group against the combined might of the Askani and the Underground, and what exactly is APOCALYPSE'S price for failure? Join us next month for ASKANI #2.