THE TEST: CHALLENGE 2/? By Francisco Charrua --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Predator Four hours had passed by since Apocalypse had transported the Generation X team to this desolate isle. Synch and M, who had left to explore the surroundings, had not returned yet. This worried the rest of the team. Gathering wood was now at the end of their list of priorities. On the sturdy branch of a tree, Angelo and Jubilee guarded the campsite. Aware of the possible presence of an intruder, they whispered to each other. "Angelo... Look over there." A few meters away, a young woman had revealed her location by accidentally stepping on a large branch. She was now looking around her with concern. Skin nodded slightly in agreement, "Si, si. I see her." "You stay here. I'll go speak to her ..." Jubilee felt Angelo's extended skin pull her back as she attempted to climb down from her post. She untangled herself and looked at him protestfully. Her anger quickly dissipated as she noticed worry in his expression. "Not a good idea." "What's wrong Ange?" Angelo pointed at the young woman who was now headed for their campsite, "Tell me gringa, on our last camping trip, why was Monet getting on your nerves?" "Well, I kept on tripping on roots'n twigs while Ms Perfect just broke everything her little invulnerable feet didn't avoid. What does this have to do ...", Before she could finish asking, the answer hit her like a hard knock to the head, "She's looking for us, isn't she?" "So, that makes one skin slinging, tree climbing mutant and his sparky sidekick against one super-strong and probably invulnerable chica.", He smiled at Jubilee, "Looks like the odds are in our favor. Eh?" Jubilee smirked and jumped over to the tree on their right. She looked at their presumed pursuer and raised her hands. Angelo gave her a knowing look and got into position. She stretched out her arms and let out a stream of blinding pyrotechnics. Taking advantage of the girl's disorientation, Angelo jumped down from the tree and used the epidermis of his hands to cover her face. This was a trick they used against Monet during many battle simulations in the danger grotto. Despite the hours these two spent working on their timing, it never worked. This little ambush was not an exception to the rule. Gasping for air, the gen-active teen swung Angelo around like a lasso. Jubilee watched in shock as she stretched and rolled his skin around the trunk of a tree. Caitlin was beginning to feel the effects of oxygen deprivation and Skin was finding it harder and harder to concentrate. She reached for the skin wrapping her head and pulled on it, uncovering her mouth. She filled her lungs with air, "Tell me stranger, what would happen to you if all this skin was to TEAR!?" Skin's eyes widened, and he immediately loosened his grip. He tried to retract his skin, but it was too stretched out. Jubilee cursed furiously from her branch. "Leave him alone you overgrown girl scout on steroids! Or I'll personally climb down and adjust your nasty 'tude!" Caitlin quickly freed herself and tied Angelo up with his own skin, she looked up and spotted Jubilee, "Brat! You're next..." Outnumbered The situation looked grim for our two stranded muties. Afraid of tearing into shreds, Angelo dared not move a single inch. Jubilee would gladly lend him a hand, but it was just so much safer up on the tree. Fortunately for them, the cavalry was present. {Good show, Luv. I guess it's time for you to test MY worthiness and right to exist.} Caitlin's attention suddenly shifted to the voice ringing in her mind. She turned away from the tree, leaving Jubilee alone. To her surprise, she was now facing two more opponents. Paige stood a few feet behind Jono, with her arms crossed. "Leave them alone! Ah swear, if anything happens to..." Fairchild started walking angrily towards her, "You'll do WHAT !? For YOUR information, they just tried to KILL me!" {That will be about far enough ...}, Chamber put out his arm, blocking her passage. The powerful teen looked at him from the corner of her eye. Something in her snapped. She grabbed his leather jacket, "You have a mouth, don't you? Why don't you loose the turtleneck and start communicating verbally! I'm sick of surprises! And I don't want to hear you talking into my head!!", with her free hand, Caitlin got hold of the material covering Jonothon's torso. "What the ...", she panicked slightly as her fingers pierced the cloth. Her hand effortlessly penetrated what should have been muscle and bone. It tore through the bandages, exposing the flames of his psionic chamber. Anticipating the explosive effect of Fairchild's act, Paige stepped away. Suddenly, small beams of light poked through his chest cavity. Jubilee jumped down from the tree and hit the dirt. Before she had time to react, Caitlin found herself being propelled through the air. A large explosion surging from Chamber's body tore at her clothing and blasted her away from him. "OK... Time out ...", Caitlin sat up and looked around her. Her uniform was partially disintegrated and her legs were buried into the ground. "Please oh please ... Talk to me Espinosa ...", Jubilee was throwing earth and leaves on Angelo, who had caught fire. Brushing dirt off the remnants of her uniform, Caitlin got up, "So, you guys were born with these ...", she walked up to Angelo and quickly covered him with dirt, "... powers?" "GnnnnSi ssssenora ...", Angelo agonized as Jubilee slowly cleared off the dirt and untied him from the tree. "Yep, that's right. But they only manifested when we were... like... a little older.", Added Jubilee, as she untangled his knots. "OK... That makes sense.", Caitlin looked at Chamber, "Our Intelligence reports must be incorrect. You're all gen-13, or at LEAST gen-12. But If you were really working for the government, I think you would be better at using your powers.", she looked at Paige, who was partially husked into a body made of wood, and frowned, "Something is not right here." Getting In Sync Over on the rocky side of the island, Everett carried Grunge on his back. Eddie's powers had behaved unpredictably during his fight against him and Monet. "It's like I'm telling you, dude. That's not the way it usually happens! I change into stuff! I don't shape-shift!" "I believe you ... Now, are you strong enough to walk?" "Sorry stranger, I don't think so... By the way, what's with your friend? I mean, she came to and then simply ignored us." "Monet?", Synch stopped walking and put Grunge down. He sat down on a boulder, "Well that's a question that I keep asking myself. And before you inquire about her knowing your name... Let's just say that in this world, there are a few precious things that she doesn't know." "Alright dude...", Grunge sat up and looked at Synch, "You and your super-chick are not the bad guys. If you were, the last thing you would do, would to help mgnnnnnnn!!!!" Synch watched in horror as Eddie began to convulse. From the pores of his skin erupted small metallic worm-like creatures. As they exited his body, they wiggled around for a while and then turned to sand. Everett cursed under his breath, he sure could use Monet's powers right now. Unfortunately, synching with her was next to impossible when she was in catatonic state. His feelings of helplessness were suddenly interrupted by the activation of his aura. His body started floating upwards. "Hello Mr. Mutant, my name is Roxy." Three teenagers stood behind Everett. To their displeasure, they noticed their unconscious friend. Roxy frowned and looked at Ev. "Look, there's a perfectly good ... aarghhhhhhh!", before he could start explaining himself, Synch found himself on a collision course with the rocky surface of the mountain. To be continued ... All Generation X characters are the property of Marvel Comics. All Gen13 characters are the property of WildStorm. Apocalypse is the property of Marvel Comics. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back one level Back to the Archive Index --