THE TEST: CHALLENGE 3/3

By Francisco Charrua

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                          The Beginning Of The End

They struggle to break free, in vain. The force that is binding them to the
metallic wall of this strange cylindrical room, seems to be also dampening
most of their powers. All Sean and Emma can do is communicate psionically.

Emma: {Sean...}

Sean: "Gnnnnnnnnn.! Ooff... Gnnnnnnnnnnn..."

Emma: {SEANNN!!!}

Sean: "Ach lass... Ye cannae see? I'm tryin t'break us free..."

Emma: {Look...}

Their surroundings brighten, as images begin to form on the screens of four
giant monitors. Floating back-to-back in the center of this metal-tile
prison, they form a cube. On the side that is facing them, our two heroes
can see the projection of one of their students.

Sean: "It's Monet... Haven' another one o'her spells."

Emma: "She's... making some kind of ... sand castle?"

Sean: "Gnnn... Uh ? You stopped using yer telepathy?"

Emma: "It's easier this way, and Sean ... I've noticed that we're about
fifty feet above the ground. With our powers diminished, breaking free
isn't a great idea."

Sean: "ACH!! Pinned to the wall like bloody flies!"

The giant cube which is floating a few feet away from them makes a quarter
rotation. Facing them is now the image of their incarcerator.

Apocalypse: "INDEED!! LIKE the INSECTS that you are!"

Sean: "So... Why don't ye come out of YER HIDING PLACE AND TRY T'GIVE US A
SWAT!!!! Mister, I promise ye, once I rescue the lads, ye'll!..."

Meanwhile, in another far away place ...

PAF! THud ...! Once again, Bobby collides with the mountain wall. Usually,
Burnout has no trouble maneuvering in mid flight... Today, gravity is
playing tricks on him.

Freefall: "... you ... MIMICKING SON OF A B*TCH! Don't think I don't know
what's going on here!"

Synch: "Whatever you say ... _Mother_. I promise I'll be good..."

Roxy feels the gravity field around her change sporadically. Her body
shifts back and forth in mid air. For every gravitational shift made by
this mysterious foe, she reaches out with her power and neutralizes it.

Freefall: "GUYS!!! Get the hell out of ..."

Synch hurls a fireball at her. Roxy dodges it. Glancing at her two fallen
comrads, she curses under her breath.

                                   T 4 5

Jubilee: "... so, like ... I knew this guy couldn't handle my powers,
right? Everyone was juuust freaked when I started pissing him off... So
after he supped on me, he just totally lost it... because he just couldn't
handle my ..."

Fairchild: "ahem... Sorry Jubelle..."

Jubilee: "That's Miss Lee!"

Paige: "Don't you pay no attention to her Caitlin. We awll call her
Jubilee."

Fairchild: "Well, I was wondering... How did you manage to carry these
powers around without having corporations try to exploit them?"

Skin: "Well chica, back where we come from, no one is interested in
exploiting our powers."

Chamber: {Yea, instead the plonkers just go around hating us, hunting us
down, wanting us dead, fearing us...}

Fairchild: "Oh my... That's terrible, I had no ..."

Jubilee: "HELLOOOOO!!!! I believe I was in the MIDDLE of something over
here!"

Fairchild: "Sorry, sorry... I interrupted... You tricked that Emplate guy
into absorbing your unstable power?"

Jubilee: "Yep. I sure got us out of a tight one... Kinda reminds me of this
one time when I was hanging with the xmen..."

Paige: "OH MY!!! Ha have a great idea! We could all take turns at describin
our powers, out loud. And maybe... even go into how we experienced them for
the very first tam."

Skin: "Hey Jono, why not tell us about your story?"

Chamber: {There's nothing to tell...}

Paige: "Jonothon darlin, you know keeping stuff all bundled up insad ain't
gonna do you no good."

Chamber: {...}

Paige: "Jono dear... You know these things will just blow up on you, sooner
or later..."

Skin: "Jono amigo... Can I throw some salt on the wound too? Our gringa
friend here seems to be having sooo much fun..."

Fairchild: "So, your exploding power is fueled by negative emotions, like
angst?"

Jubilee: "Well, he wouldn't be the first one. *laugh*"

Chamber: {Actually luv... I once thought my power was the best thing that
existed in me.}

Jubilee: "Yep, that's right! What would I do without the hideous hole
disfiguring my whole upper body... geee, what made change your mind !?"

Chamber: {It was before... the incident. I knew it was inside of me... It
was like suddenly I had the energy to do all I ever wanted... My parents
worried when I stopped eating, they had no way of knowing...}

Skin: "Mui fascinating amigos, I would love to stay and chat but someone
should start looking for our two missing companions."

The uncanny teens keep talking as Angelo dashes towards the sandy part of
the isle. He glances back and continues running. Anything, to avoid that
particular topic of conversation.

                              Everyone Loves M

How to ward off the adversaries waiting for them on this desolate isle, how
to keep warm at night, how to keep the team morale up. After only a few
hours on this strange land, Monet knows enough not to worry about these
particular problems. Oblivious to her surroundings, she picks up handfuls
of sand and carefully adds them to her castle. Completely unaware her
distant spectators, she carries out her secret ritual.

Sean: "I do nay know if this is appropriate, but the lass has quite a
talent for picking her time t'space out."

Emma: "Well Sean, no one's perfect. No matter how powerful Monet is, we
must realize she lacks experience."

Sean: "Ye'r right 'bout that, lass. And her tendency t'keep to herself does
nae hel..."

Their attention shifts to the middle of the room, as the display cube
starts to change. The glass shatters and all the circuitry oozes out as if
it were alive. Before the very eyes of our headmasters, the metal mesh
quickly takes on a humanoid form.

Apocalypse: "And then, there is the matter of the company she keeps..."

Sean: "Grrrr!..."

Emma: {Sean, getting aggressive now is a waste of our time and energy!}

Sean: "Uh?..."

Emma: "I think it's time we stop playing games, Apocalypse. What do you
want with Generation X?"

Apocalypse: "I want them to EARN their place in the world as the superior
beings that they are... Or DIE trying!"

Sean: "I'll be honest with ye, sir. We cannea care less about yer wants. We
have our hands full enough trying to get the kids ready for a world that
hates them."

Apocalypse: "Yes... It seems to me like your lives consist of one burden
after another."

With a simple gesture, he activates a series of viewing screens. The
cylindrical surface that was once all metal tile, is now mostly covered
with images of the generation x team.

Emma: "Why thank you Mr Nurr. I was missing the view."

Sean: "Look lass! Seems like M built a device of some sorts."

Emma: "With sand?"

Apocalypse: "AH, I see you have located one of your burdens."

Sean: "I know very well that in a world ruled by the likes of yerself, the
lass would be judged unfit t'live! I won't even try to explain my concern
for her, since it's obviously beyond yer comprehension!"

Apocalypse: "Oh but you are so WRONG. In such a world, she would be RULING
by my side! LIKE me she is SUPERIOR, even to mutants!"

Emma: "Could the two of you keep it down? It's enough that I can't DO
anything to help my students... The least you could do is let me WATCH
them!"

Apocalypse: "?...?"

Sean: "*Gulp*"

Emma: "Look... There's Angelo. He found her."

The mutant known as Skin eagerly runs towards his teammate. His joyous
expression fades when he sees the state she is in. He sighs to himself.
Even if it does not provide him with human interaction, Monet's company
does invoke a certain feeling of safety. He welcomes the afternoon sun as
it throws his shadow against the sandy ground. He sits down.

                          But Synch Is Such A Jerk

A few meters away from Gen13's hiding place, Rainmaker and Burnout are
entrenched behind a pile of boulders. Next to them, lies their unconscious
teammate.

Burnout: "Shouldn't we be helping out?"

Rainmaker: "I think Roxy mentioned something about the guy mimicking our
powers. You did notice that she has tried to keep the fight as far away
from us as possible?"

Burnout: "... makes sense. So what do we?..."

On the other side of the mountain, Roxy is on the prowl. She is determined
to make him pay for what happened to Grunge. _Her_ Grunge. With her power,
she turns over every rock, exposes every opening. It is not too long before
she notices that something is out of place. Blocking the entrance to one of
the few caves on the mountain side, is a large boulder. She tries to move
it out of the way, but it won't budge.

Freefall: "Not very smart, mister!"

The flames of fury in Roxy's eyes dissipate and give place to a sinister
glow. She thinks of all the possibilities. A nice little cave-in could do
the trick. Or she could simply wait him out. Outwitting her foe, she uses
her power to push the boulder, instead of pulling it out. The entrance to
the cave is now completely sealed. She knows that sooner or later, he will
run out of breathable air. She pushes in the rock like an assassin using a
pillow to muffle the life out of a victim. She suddenly feels a hand on her
shoulder.

Freefall: "Wha!?"

Rainmaker: "It's me, I..."

Roxy's attention is drawn to her companion for fraction of a second.
Unfortunately for her, enough time for her adversary to strike back. The
boulder quickly flies out of the mountain wall. As she pushes the boulder
back, Rainmaker summons an enormous thunderbolt that shatters it to pieces.
For what seems an eternity, both parties slug it out.

Freefall: "take this!!!"

Rainmaker: "I'll try to control those rocks with MY powers."

Freefall: "What?"

Rainmaker: "They're more unpredictable"

Synch: "Ouch! What's wrong with you!?"

Freefall: "YOU'RE RIGHT! The cyclonic winds you are generating are too
randomized for him to neutralize:)"

Synch: "Ouch!"

Rainmaker: "Try creating a zero gravity zone in front of him!"

Freefall: "... here goes."

Synch: "Ouch, ouch! quit it!"

Freefall: "OUCH!! Sarah!"

Rainmaker: "Sorry, it IS rather unpredictable. Now create a gravity field
behind him, making it grow outwards..."

Freefall: "There."

Synch: "Arghhhhhhhh!!!!"

Freefall: "YES!"

They both watch as their nemesis struggles to keep the cloud of rocks from
hitting him. He suddenly lowers his defenses. Roxy feels her need for
revenge purged as a few boulders accelerate towards the stranger's head
and...

Rainmaker: "... they bounced off him..."

Freefall: "They BOUNCED off him?"

Rainmaker: "... except for that one... It broke into three pieces..."

Synch: "I think it's time we put an end to our little battle. Sarah, Roxy,
meet two of my good friends, Monet and Angelo."

Rainmaker and Freefall: "eh eh *gulp*"

Skin: "Hi there chicas, I suppose you're both Caitlin's friends."

Rainmaker and Freefall: "... Yes..."

M: "Am I correct in assuming that this little skirmish is connected to the
current condition of Mr Chang?"

Rainmaker: "uh-uh, right."

Freefall: "WAIT A MINUTE! He hurt my friend, real bad. He HAS to pay!"

M: "Your friend's injuries are the result of him trying to use his morphic
abilities on techno-organic matter."

Rainmaker: "What's techno-organic matter?"

Skin: "A bunch of creepy tiny microscopic robots that try to assimilate
you. Bet you guys don't have this in YOUR universe."

Freefall: "In our what!?"

M: "ahem... As I was saying, by gaining the properties of the
techno-organic sand, Eddie turned part of his body into something that
tried to assimilate him. The effort required for him to purge his system
was what caused the physical trauma. Not an attack made by my teammate."

Freefall: "Are you sure?"

Synch: "Excuuuse meee! Do I look like some psy..."

>From a distance, young man runs runs towards the party of confused teens.

Skin: "Is HE a friend of yours?"

Rainmaker: "Oh, that's Burnout."

Burnout: "It's Grunge, he coming around."

M: "Great, I'll fly him over to the campsite. Angelo and Everett, you lead
the others there."

Synch: "No problem M. We'll be with you in a minute."

                                  Allegro

The red sun slowly retires behind the western horizon, signaling the end of
the day. Similarly, our young heroes retire from the hardship and conflict
that made up their introduction to one another.

Husk: "...so ah tore out mah own skin only to discover a whole new body
underneath. It was the most beautiful day of mah entire life!"

Fairchild: "Wow... Just like a fairy tale. I mean, although I do enjoy my
powers, the way I got them wasn't as... romantic. As the scientists gave me
stuff to trigger them, I got real sick. I would spend entire evenings awake
in bed, nauseating and hurling."

Jubilee: "Gee Caitlin, I can't wait to hear YOUR story."

Fairchild: "Well, I didn't mean to..."

The rustling of leaves disrupts the social gathering. Monet slowly lowers
herself and Grunge to the ground.

Chamber: {Welcome back luv.}

M: "Caitlin, your teammates are on their way. And guys, I've arranged for
transportation back home."

She gracefully lands while holding on to Grunge.

Grunge: "Ohhh, gosh! Do I have to? I mean, it's not every day that I get to
fly under da stars with a doll like you. Let's do it again!"

Fairchild: "Grunge!!! Sorry Monet, he's just like that."

M: "I know what you mean."

She glances at Jubilee.

Fairchild: "Monet, your friends say that you sometimes like to tell tales
of your past."

M: "Really, they said that?"

Jubilee and Husk: "*chuckle*"

Fairchild: "Yes, they told me you were a great story teller. I would love
hear about your adventures."

Husk: "Well, we were all talking about the origin of our powers. But you
could choose another topic if you want to."

Chamber: {I think we should wait for the others first.}

M: "You know, Chamber is right. It would be very rude not wait for them.
Non?"

>From far away, Emma watches with a Machiavellian expression on her face.
She knows that every time Monet is honest about her past, she looses an
arm. She wonders how her student will talk herself out of this one. May be
if she...

Sean: "Ye know what Emma?"

Emma: "Uh... What?"

Sean: "There may have been a purpose to all o'this. Just look at them...
Meeting other mutants just like themselves."

Apocalypse: "WHAT!?"

Emma: "Look, it's Angelo and Everett."

Apocalypse: "What do you mean, Mr Cassidy?"

Sean: "I mean, this is great for the kids. Learning how to get along with
others, overcome differences. The lads are more mature than I gave them
cre..."

Apocalypse: "HOW DARE YOU! BEGONE!!!"

A blinding flash of light transports Emma and Sean back to Xavier's School
for Gifted Youngsters.

Sean: "Was it something I said?"

Emma: "Forget about it Sean. The kids will fill us in on the details when
they return, *sigh*."

Back to our uncanny teens...

Freefall: "... so, no hard feelings?"

Synch: "Hey, you didn't do anything I wouldn't have done."

Freefall: "Thanks! *wink*"

Burnout: "So when do we get started? I can't wait to hear Monet tell her
story."

M: "Guys, I would love to stay but the longer we remain her, the more
unstable my techno-organic transportation device becomes. Generation X
should leave at once."

Jubilee: "Guys, sit down. The only thing that's unstable is M's tendency to
be honest with us."

Rainmaker: "That doesn't sound good."

Grunge: "Yea! Like, where's our story?"

Husk: "Look M, ah realize you're sensitive about your past. We're sorry
bout what we did, but it's no reason to just up and leave. We spent the
whole day fightn each other. Ah think the least we could do is spend one
naght talkin lak good friends."

Fairchild: "What about you Angelo? I'd love to hear yours."

Skin: "Let me see, I was born, I grew lots of skin, and I joined Xavier's
School for Young Weirdos."

M: "*sigh* Fine, here goes. I'd like to tell you about... My present
incarnation."

To everyone's awe, Monet St Croix does the unexpected. She reveals the...
TRUTH about herself. She tells them a tale about a young heroine who is
forced to sacrifice her life to save the ones she loves. About her battle
with the villainous Doomsday. About how her body had died but her essence
had remained intact. She tells them about how she was later brought back to
life without her super powers...

M: "... so I finally defeated the Cyborg Monet by vibrating my arm at the
speed of sound. It was no small feat, considering I had just regai..."

Jubilee: "ahem, I wanna hear Angelo's story again!"

Fairchild: "Monet, what's kryptonite?"

Rainmaker: "Do the sun's rays still fuel your power?"

Burnout: "Why does Marius Luthor hate you so much?"

Jubilee: "THE END"

Synch, Rainmaker, Grunge and Husk: "ahem!"

Jubilee: "What?"

M: "You realize you are not the narrator. Oui?"

Grunge: "Hey dudes, look at me! My skin is all grey and gooey!"

Skin: "Rassum, frassum..."

Husk: "Here you want a potato chip?"

Rainmaker: "Yes, thank you. munch, crunch crunch."

M: "So as I was saying, thanks to me everyone bla bla bla bla bla bla
bla..."

Fairchild: "Bla?"

Jubilee: "Bla!"

Chamber: {Bla bla bla bla bla.}

Grunge: "Bla bla bla dude!"

The End

So, what did you think ?
Please please, write me at f_charr@alcor.concordia.ca and visit my site at
http://alcor.concordia.ca/~f_charr/fanfic.html
All GenerationX characters are owned by Marvel Comics
All Gen13 characters are owned by WildStorm
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