Genetic X #2 "Mutant Underground" Written by Reuben Macapinlac *Supereub* July 1997 The helicopter flew over the San Francisco Bay, leaving the all-out ruckus behind at Essex's main lab. Monet felt as if she was going to cry of happiness, but her shock and awe of the battle below prevented her from doing so. She gazed at the war below them, the figures becoming smaller as they went further away from the lab. "Pathetic, isn't it?" a voice suddenly interrupted her thought. "What?" she turned her head, exchanging a smile with one of the soldiers, sitting directly across from her. "I said its pathetic," he said. "How we have to fight our lives down there to prevent a madman from torturing and turning innocent people into his personal 'toy' collection." "Yeah," Monet agreed in a soft tone, then just stared at the view over looking the city. The sun was breaking the horizon, and the lights of San Francisco were already coming on. She was amazed at hoe beautiful the site was, especially since she hasn't seen the outside world in a year. For the first time in a long time, she could feel freedom. *** Essex grinned from his post as he saw the helicopter containing the kids float away from the island and to the city. "Perfect," he said in a satisfied tone. "Servant!" "Yes sir?" "I want you to contact Jono Starsmore in a few hours," he ordered. "He should have the information I desire by then." "Sorry to question you, sir...but what information would that be?" the servant inquired. "Are you so foolish that you question my actions?!" The diamond on Essex's forehead began to glow an eerie red. "Do you think I would let some petty "mutant underground" catch me off-guard?! Those apes couldn't sneak up behind me if they're inferior lives depended on it. I've sent Jono undercover as a genetic slave to pick up any information he could get on Mutant: Underground. If it weren't for my interest in shutting them down, not to mention gaining Forge's little techno wonders, I would have slayed Monet St. Croix when she first attempted to escape." "I'll be sure to tell him the news sir," he bowed in front of Essex. "And hurry," Essex turned to face the window, his silent figure watching the closing battle overhead. "The offensive squad should be ready to raid in an hour." *** Forty Five Minutes Later... (Amazing,) Monet thought to herself as the chopper landed. They were in a strip of empty warehouses, abandoned ever since Essex began to rule the underground. Probably because he didn't want any foolish cargo workers to cause him any hassle. (They're located so close to Essex's main headquarters, and yet, they've managed to hide their location for so long.) She glanced at the other captives. The first captive she freed was sitting at the opposite end of the bench. The Englishman, who was unconscience during the fight, stared at the wall. The other woman, a blonde-haired girl, slept peacefully. "Wake up," the Mutant: Underground officer gently shook the blonde girl a little until she started to moan. "We're here at our base." She shook her head, rubbing her eyes. "Please follow me once we exit the helicopter," the officer ordered. Monet nodded. The helicopter landed on the ground, its roter still running. The officer went out of the chopper first, the immense wind caused by the roter blew his hair back and forthas he gestured to Monet and the others to follow. Slowly, each one got out and followed him inside one of the abandoned warehouses. "Where is the base?" the Englishman queried. "All I see is hundreds of empty cargo packages." "You'll see," the officer grinned, then took out a small device and pointed it at the wall...a small acess opened. Thought it, a lift awaited them and the five individuals entered it and started to decend. "Welcome to Mutant: Underground," said one of the officer guarding the lift shaft. "Forge Blackwing, our leader, must see you immediately." "Why?" the first captive asked, rather suspicious. "Nothing urgent," he assured the captive. "Mister Blackwing always wants to greet escapees. He's really friendly if you think about it." "I can see," Monet said, examining the lift. Its marble walls unscratched, the dim lights overhead, and the steel rails on three sides of the elevator. "In the pens we thought the "Underground" was a myth." The elevator door slowly opened, the officer led the four captives out. "Far from it," he replied. "We always sent spies incognito to observe each of Essex's bases, we have been...for years." "Years?" the blonde-haired girl asked. "Yes," he said. Then marched down the hall. Monet was fascinated at this organization, and how many members it had. Troops walked back and forth the huge hall, many doors alongside the walls. Soldiers running to the elevator to aid in the battle, others headed towards other exits. The overhead alarms, and the lights that revealed the mass room. "Unreal," Monet awed in amazement. *** "Those assholes busted up my lip," Crusher Creel wiped his lip with the back of his hand. "We wiped the floor with those suckers." "Dinnae be so confident," Sean Cassidy, the third Marauder, warned. "These lads are pretty clever, I wouldn't be surprised if reinforcements were on the way." "You think what you like, Irish." Creel said in a rough tone, rubbing his hands smoothly. "I say we trashed them good." "Oui," Remy said, silent in the corner of the small chamber, patching up his gloves. "Dey had a run for dere money. But Essex said dat once de bogey finds the Mutant: Underground base, we attack." "I'm ready to kick some underground ass," Creel commented, folded his arms, both bulging like boulders. "Don't worry, I'll save some of those pests for y'all as well." "Shove it, Creel," Jasmine snapped. "I'm tired of hearing your boasting and your tough attitude! One of these days, you'll get it and you won't be bragging then!" "Eh Jasmine?" Creel stood up, his massive body shadowing her. "You have something to say to me?" "Sit down," Remy said without looking at them, but examined his hand, which was injured in the fight. "Essex is not going t' be happy if he finds two of our own fightin' wit' each other, y' got me, hommes?" "I agree," Sean nodded. "Yeah, whatever." Creel sat back down, hunching over as he cupped his fist with a hand and thought to himself. "But when if I see those underground wimps again, they're gonna wish they never messed with me." "Egotistical brute." Jasmine mumbled, folding her arms. *** The four silenced themselves as the figure approached them. He was a tall man, probably standing over 6 feet. His dark brown hair stretched out to his shoulders, wearing a uniform similar to the officers. "I assume you are the a portion of the captives?" he queried. "Yeah." the first captive answered. "Allow me to introduce myself," he grinned. "My name is Forge Blackwing, head of operations in Mutant: Underground. And you four are?" "Monet." "Darnel." "Paige." "Jonothon." "Its a pleasure," he said, murmuring a few words with the officer. "Officer Drake will escort you to your private chambers. We will contact Avalon immediately." "Avalon?" Paige asked in a soft tone. "A safe haven," Forge said. "You will be safe over there, they will take care of you." "I'm not going back to another slave pen!" Darnel snapped. "'Take care of us'?! Yeah right, they'll probably beat us to death." "Shush!" Monet exclaimed. "I've heard of Avalon. Its not a slave pen." "Please," Forge whispered. "Do not cause such a commotion. I assure you, you will be safe in Avalon...out of Essex's influence." "I would take the chance." Jono chuckled. "You're taking no risk," Forge explained. "We're transporting all passengers to our transport base in Washington tomorrow...which includes yourselves." Jono nodded, then looked down at his belt where a little device hung from it. With no one watching, he pressed a switch, then smiled to himself. *** "Tell Essex that we got'em," a soldier said as he gazed at the glow red dot that appeared on the computer landscape map of San Francisco. "My God, its located right next to the laboratories...he'll be delighted by this turn of events." "Good," the other soldier mumbled, reaching for his communicator. *** Two Hours Later... Monet rotated her head in circular motions as the officers took off her neutralizer collar. These underground workers seemed to be able to take it out with a key, probably the ones that the officers at Essex's labs used. "It feels good to get that slave collar off me." "You're not the only one luv," Jono smirked. "We've all been in those collars for too long." One of the officers grabbed the disposed collars and exited the room. The other placed the key in his pants pocket. "Please follow me," he said. "I'll assign your private chambers." *** "Tony?" Forge said, holding the phone receiver tighter. "I asked you not to call me here unless you need the Underground? I can contact you tomorrow if this is nessary. Good bye." Forge looked over his window, his eyes widening as he saw the red alert siren go off. "Oh my God." he whispered to himself. "Ah damn..." He was horrified at this site, hoping that this day wouldn't come. Several hundred troopers storming in each exit, all of Essex's officers. "Computer. Status." "Code Red" the computer mimicked in a human voice Forge screamed on the speaker. "Evacuate immediately!" "Sir!" Robert Drake stormed inside, huffing and puffing. "The Marauders are here!" "The Marauders. Gather the captives and head to the Underground." "Done," Robert Drake informed. "Several trucks and jeeps are transporting them. We just need to load a dozen more." "I want everyone out asap" Forge scooted him out, grabbing a rifle from the gun rack on the side wall and cocked it. "I'll cover you." *** "RUN!" an officer yelled, only to be cut short of his screaming by a gun shot. Monet soared above the crowds. Hundreds fighting to stop the grunts from reaching further ground, others fleeing to evacuation transports. Monet, on the other hand, did not choose to fight. Darnel, shoving everyone out of his way, followed Monet's lead, holding Paige with one hand. (Got to follow these people, they're obviously headed to the escape vehicles!) Monet thought in her mind. Suddenly, she felt a sting on her back, a sharp pain, and fell. "UGH!" she grunted. Darnel stopped, his eyes widened. Suddenly, he ran and grabbed her, only to fall from the sudden impact. Paige helped Darnel up, who lifted Monet's body and curdled it in his arms. The crowds went around him, shoving and bumping into his arms. Paige and Darnel looked up, only to find one of the Marauders floating above them, gun muzzle pointed in their direction. "Give it up, lad." the Irish man suggested. "Ye ain't goin' to go far as long as I'm in the higher ground." "That's not going to be the case for long," Darnel smirked at him, then suddenly an energy bolt surged out of his arms and hit underneath the hover craft, stalling the mobile "Run!" Darnel held Monet in his arms, sprinting as fast as he can through the crowds. Paige seemed to fall behind, but he occasionally glanced back, relieved that she was still able to keep up. He could hear the drone of the hover craft becoming louder every second. He picked up his pace, using every strength in his legs to boost him forward. The sweat poured down his face, his breathing rate sped up, his legs starting to reach its peak before it tired out. He ran faster, escape was the only thing he had in his mind. Suddenly, someone grabbed Darnel on his shoulder and halted him completely, despite how strong he was trudging ahead. Darnel turned back, relieved it was Forge Blackwing...armed with a rifle. "We have to go!" Darnel warned. "The Marauders are on my tail!" "I know. Follow me." Forge commanded, running ahead of him...Darnel willingly followed. They headed further down the corridor, until they reached a junction, crowds running both ways. Forge headed for the left passage. Darnel could feel his legs about to die out, sprinting all this time. (Can't stop!) Darnel said to himself. (If I get caught, I'm as good as dead!) Forge dialed a key sequence on a small device as he sprinted forth, a wide side door ahead of them opened. Forge gestured Darnel to follow. The two, with other soldiers and escapees, headed through the side passage...the majority took the main course. Forge tripped over his feet, cursing as he got up. As Forge got up and ran forward, the small key device lay on a bed of stones. Darnel continued to run forward, Forge catching up to him in a matter of minutes. After five minutes, Forge halted Darnel. Two soldiers, armed with AK-47s, stood by Forge's side. This cave turned into a wide secret tunnel. No one could be seen, either killed along the way or went separate ways throughout the cave. But this was the only exit, so they were obviously dead. Darnel placed Monet on the ground, kneeling down to check her pulse. "She alive?" Forge asked with concern, kneeling down to examine her condition. "Yeah," Darnel said without keeping his eyes off Monet's face. "I feel a pulse, she's fine...but she took a bullet no regular human could handle." "She's a special mutant," Forge commented. "What do you expect?" "Sir!" one of the officers exclaimed. Forge got up, then told everyone to quiet down. A distant buzzing sound could be heard. The leader gulped, then looked at Darnel. "Get her up!" he said. "We have to go out of here!" Darnel nodded, grabbing Monet and holding her in his arms. Suddenly, a flying figure came out of the shadows. Both Mutant: Underground officers began firing their weapons at the stranger. "Pussies! You can't stop me with your toys!" Crusher Creel took out his own gun, firing several rounds at the figures below him. "You ain't leaving her alive!" "Run sir!" one of the officers said, firing at Crusher Creel. Forge gave a nod, then ran further into the tunnel, Darnel carrying Monet, glancing over his shoulder periodically. FFFRRRZZZZAAACCCHHHH!!!! Darnel gulped, that shot was aimed at him! A large explosion followed, resulting several meters behind the two men. "Run you scamps!" Creel laughed. "Your underground babies went down like fish in a barrel!" Another shot was fired, the explosion's force threw Darnel forward. He grimaced at the pain, Monet flew out of his arms during the fall and landed a yard ahead of him. Forge stood his ground, cocking his rifle and firing it. BLAM! BLAM! "Head to head with Forge Blackwing, eh?!" Crusher Creel said in a mocking tone, firing his own plasma blasts right back at Forge. The leader leaped to the side, dodging the explosions, he skidded across the dirt, firing at the hover craft overhead. BLAM! BLAM! Darnel slowly got up, Creel was distracted by Forge's desperate attempts to shoot Creel down. Slowly, Darnel took a breath, gathering his energy for a brief moment. Suddenly, with all his power... FFFFFFFFRRRRRZZZZOOOOMMMM!!!!! "AAAAARRRGGHH!!!" Creel was thrown out of his hover craft and slammed against the stone walls of the tunnel, the hover craft flew forward and into the darkness. Darnel dropped to his knees, taking a breath. Crusher Creel got up, limping towards Darnel, face covered with his own blood. "Y..Y..You bastard!" he growled, pointing his gun at Darnel. The captive slowly closed his eyes, clenching his teeth...exhausted from that last shot that he could hardly move a finger. BLAM! BLAM! Crusher Creel grabbed his sides, then gazed at his hand, covered with more blood. He stared at the gun shot wounds on his sides, then dropped to his knees and fell over. Forge came forward, rifle in hand. "Are you okay?" Forge queried. "Technically," Darnel tried to smile, but couldn't. "Come on." Forge said, sighing. "We have to go, there's nothing to be seen here." *** Next on GENETIC X #3: The Marauders get a new recruit in replacement of Creel. The Genetic X kids find the true Mutant: Underground base. And where the hell did Jono Starsmore go?! Supereub *Reuben M.* supereub@lava.net Visit my X-Zone: Unofficial X-Men Fan Fiction Archive at: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/6715/Main.html _________________________________________________________ "DREAMS ARE FOR PEOPLE THAT SLEEP! This wasn't a 'dream' I was living...it was my life. And now its gone." - Dr. Cecilia Reyes to Iceman *X-Men #66*