✓ Prologue: Chapter 06: What the Hell Was That??
>> FLYING OVER ALASKA.
After the battle against Sinister, the Marauders, and the Acolytes, the X-Men were now gathered inside the Blackbird, which was rapidly flying back to the mansion with urgency.
"Logan!!"
"Can you fly this thing properly, or do you want me to take over?" Storm said to Logan, as he was nearly constantly causing the Blackbird to collide with mountains along the way.
"Don't worry about me, Ororo… The healing factor will take care of this in… It's just a bit of… Ughh… pain," Logan said, letting out faint groans of pain after being severely injured by the Marauder Malice.
"How's the elf doing?" Logan asked, his concern reflected in his wild eyes as he looked at his teammate Kurt.
"Unconscious, but not good. I did what I could to stop the bleeding—
"But we need to get him home soon… to a healer," Storm said, her face bearing a sad expression, her dark eyes reflecting anguish as she sat on the floor, carefully holding Kurt's bloodied body, the bandages on his chest marking the spot where the bullet had hit.
"Colossus is pretty banged up too," Warren commented, his voice heavy with tension as he looked at his friend beside him, struggling with pain.
"Speak for yourself… Warren… I'll be… fine," Colossus said to Warren, who was also injured.
"Damn… We missed our target…
—Where the hell is Emma?" Wolverine said angrily.
"Did you get through to her after we lost contact?" Storm asked, her voice calm but also worried.
"Yeah, long enough to tell her who's really got the babies…
—But now I can't reach Scott or anyone at the mansion. It's complete radio silence," Wolverine said, concerned.
"Do you think Cable somehow jammed the signal?" Storm pondered, her mind quickly assessing the situation.
"I hope that's all it is… But the way things are going, I'm not that optimistic."
---
>> XAVIER'S MANSION.
At the mansion, the mutants were being brutally attacked by the O.N.E. Sentinels, now new models developed by Tony Stark to ensure the protection of surviving mutants.
Inside one of the mansion's rooms, the environment had become a chaotic battlefield.
"Emma!!!!" Scott shouted, holding Emma's unconscious body.
"Hank, Emma's passed out! And I didn't see what hit her," Scott exclaimed, firing his optic blasts toward the Sentinel's hand that had invaded the room.
"I didn't see it either, but it's not hard to guess," Hank said as he dodged the debris caused by the hand's attack.
"Damn it!! What's wrong with these idiots??" Bishop's voice rang out with anger as he fired energy beams from his fist.
Hank McCoy, with his Beast-like agility, leaped over the debris with skill, dodging the Sentinel's attacks with nimbleness. He reached Scott's side in a swift leap and took Emma's unconscious body in his arms.
"I'll take her to safety… and get some help from my lab," Hank said quickly, leaving the area while holding Emma's body.
Outside, the two Sentinels continued to deliver devastating blows to the mansion. Their massive robotic fists demolished walls and structures, while the energy beams they fired randomly caused even greater destruction.
"NEW PROGRAMMING ACCEPTED," the robotic voice of one Sentinel echoed as its fists struck the mansion's structure.
"DESTROY ALL MUTANTS," declared the second Sentinel, its voice cold and merciless as it fought against some mutants.
"DESTROY THE X-MEN," said a third, newly arrived Sentinel as it landed on the mansion, enveloping it with its energy beams, unleashing a relentless rain of destruction.
The mutants inside the mansion felt the ground tremble beneath their feet with each impact of the energy beams, fear growing as they watched their home and safety reduced to rubble before their eyes.
"I knew it!!" said a man after leaping from the mansion's roof toward the head of one of the Sentinels.
"I knew it was only a matter of time before you turned your damn butts against us," the man said, stabbing the robot in the head with his two vibranium knives.
"But does anyone listen to what an Indian says?"
"NO!" shouted James Proudstar, also known as Warpath, the brother of one of the first X-Men, Thunderbird.
On the other side of the mansion.
"What the hell is this now?" Scott said, staring perplexed at the horizon as two energy beams rapidly approached the Sentinels.
"James!! Get out of there now!!" Scott shouted, his voice filled with urgency and fear as he watched the energy beams dangerously approaching James.
James heard the call and quickly leaped off the Sentinel, watching as the energy beams struck the Sentinels.
The red energy beams cut through the air with lethal precision, hitting each of the three Sentinels quickly and relentlessly. One after another, the Sentinels were pierced by the beams, which passed through them with impressive speed, leaving only two small holes in each robot. The attack was so fast that the Sentinels barely had time to react.
"APPENDAGE COMPROMISED… OUTER FUSELAGE… ERROR, ERROR."
"STABILIZATION… ERROR."
"REPAIRING DAMAGE… ERROR," the metallic voices of the Sentinels echoed as they tried to repair the damage, but it was too late.
Moments after being hit, the Sentinels began to disintegrate rapidly, dissolving into clouds of gray particles that quickly dispersed into the air.
But before they could be completely disintegrated, something unexpected happened.
A small compartment opened above the head of one of the Sentinels, and from it emerged a robotic-looking, humanoid creature.
"SENTINELS, MISSION FAILED. INITIATE ESCAPE SEQUENCE 1265," the robotic creature announced, flying above the disintegrating Sentinel's body.
"ESCAPE SEQUENCE 1265 INITIATED," said a second Sentinel as a compartment opened above its head, and another humanoid robot emerged from within.
"UNABLE TO INITIATE… UNABLE TO INITIATE," said the first Sentinel, the only one of the three hit in the head and the most disintegrated of them all.
At that exact moment, high above the mansion in the sky, a Blackbird piloted by Iceman approached, carrying some of the New X-Men who had been scattered due to Pixie's blind teleport.
Inside the Blackbird:
"Cessily… Take Julian to whatever's left of the medical wing," Laura said as she pressed a button to open a compartment in the Blackbird.
"Laura, wait—what are you—?" Mercury began to question but was interrupted by Laura's immediate action.
"Laura, no!!!" On the ground, Scott shouted as he saw the Blackbird arriving while X-23 leaped from it, falling from the sky toward one of the humanoid robots floating above a Sentinel's head.
"Yaghhh!!" Laura screamed in pain as she landed on the robot and pierced its head with her claws, while simultaneously receiving a massive defensive shock from the robot, causing her to writhe in agony and then faint.
"Damn it!!" Scott said angrily as he ran toward Laura's unconscious body, which had just fallen to the ground.
"MUTANTS, YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED… IN DUE TIME," the second humanoid creature proclaimed angrily before quickly flying away.
But to its misfortune, a second red energy beam appeared swiftly and struck the creature, killing it instantly.
A few minutes after the attack.
At the mansion, a large group of mutants came outside to see what had just happened, observing with curiosity and concern on their faces. Uncertainty hung in the air as they discussed what could have caused the sudden interruption of the Sentinels' attack. Some murmured among themselves, while others remained silent, alert for any sign of imminent danger.
"What the hell was all that?" Warpath asked, his gaze fixed on the sky as he addressed Scott, who was holding Laura's unconscious body due to the shock she had taken.
"Nano-Sentinels," Scott replied grimly, his eyes hidden by his visor but his expression clearly worried.
"And what are these Nano-Sentinels?" Dust asked, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and fear as she stood beside Scott, checking on her friend Laura.
"They're humans… Probably the men inside the Sentinels," Iceman, Bobby Drake, replied, his voice reflecting the gravity of the situation. "They were turned into robots through a techno-organic virus. This virus converts flesh and bone into metal and circuits, transforming ordinary people into mini-Sentinels."
"Someone infected the humans inside those Sentinels and turned them into these abominations, making them attack us," Bobby continued, his serious expression reflecting the shared concern among everyone.
These new Sentinels, modified by Tony Stark, could only function with a human piloting them internally. This precaution was implemented to prevent the Sentinels from being remotely controlled by enemies and used against mutants like the X-Men.
These modifications were put in place after several incidents where Sentinel technology was compromised by hackers or technology manipulators, resulting in catastrophes that endangered both humans and mutants.
"And that red energy beam that hit them, what was that?" Nezhno Abidemi asked beside Scott, his voice filled with curiosity and uncertainty.
"I don't know… Maybe after all this time, God decided to help us again," Scott joked.
"Well, it doesn't matter now. We'll think about it later. The battle's over, now get back inside what's left of the mansion," Scott said, looking at the mutants around him, his voice firm and authoritative.
---
>> LATER AT THE MANSION.
Minutes earlier, another Blackbird had just landed with the X-Men who had faced Sinister and his team.
Inside one of the devastated rooms of the mansion, Scott stared deeply at the destruction around him.
"They destroyed everything," he murmured, walking through the wrecked mansion alongside Logan.
"Not everything," Logan commented, smoking a cigar.
"We're hurt, Logan… You're hurt, the kids went after the Purifiers and took losses… And all our telepaths passed out during the Sentinel attack."
"As if that wasn't enough… Our only healer, Elixir, was injured by a collapsing wall. He's unconscious and probably will be for days." Scott concluded, worried.
"Hmm… Releasing nano-Sentinels into those humans… Like some kind of virus. You really think your son, Cable, would go that far?" Logan asked, doubtful.
"He had access to the nano-Sentinel samples… He's a capable scientist… And we have no idea what he's planning, Logan… We have to assume the worst," Scott replied, slightly saddened.
"I guess so," Logan agreed.
"Bishop went to the O.N.E. headquarters to tell them what happened. But no matter what they decide to do… It's time for us to rise again," Scott decided.
"Wait… What are you planning to do?" Logan asked.
"I'm sending you with another team, with our best fighters and trackers, back to that hospital in Cooperstown."
"Last time we were there, your nose didn't work because of the chemical residue in the air. Now that things have calmed down there, maybe your sense of smell will work."
"I'm also sending Caliban, our best tracker. I hope he has success."
__________
.
>> COOPERSTOWN.
>> HOURS LATER.
Wolverine and his new team quickly arrived back in Cooperstown, the birthplace of the mutant babies.
Now with a new team called X-Force, led by Wolverine, composed of Warpath, Hepzibah, Caliban, X-23, and Wolfsbane.
With agile and stealthy movements, they invaded the hospital where the babies had been born, determined to capture any remaining trace of Cable.
Inside, the mutants split into three groups, each searching for the distinctive trail left by Scott's son. Corridors were scoured, rooms were turned upside down, and every corner was meticulously investigated in hopes of finding some trace of Cable's scent.
After an intense search, Caliban, with his mutant-detecting power, sensed a familiar disturbance. His psychic ability, which could detect mutants from miles away, revealed the presence of his former teammate, Cable, a few miles from there.
With the location confirmed, the team quickly regrouped and headed to the Blackbird. Prepared for the pursuit, they set off immediately, certain that finding Cable could be crucial to resolving the situation.
---
> A FEW MILES AWAY FROM THE X-FORCE.
Cable found himself in a desperate situation, cornered against a cliff and surrounded by the fearsome Reavers and the relentless Lady Deathstrike, who brandished her claws menacingly.
"The end is near for you, Cable," Lady Deathstrike threatened coldly.
"Today, you and those children will die."
"Don't worry. I'll start by ripping out the tongue of that white-haired little boy who dares to defy me, before dealing with you, Cable, and then, right after, that girl, the Antichrist," she declared, pointing her claws at young Michael, who was provoking her by making funny faces and sticking out his tongue.
"What's your deal, Deathstrike? What's your connection to the Purifiers?" Cable questioned, desperately seeking an opening to buy time while discreetly noticing some people approaching stealthily from behind the Reavers.
"The birth of the child was prophesied by Reverend William Stryker… He told me about the Mutant Antichrist and asked me to kill her… Now, I will fulfill my oath," Lady Deathstrike replied, slowly advancing toward Cable.
Cable, unfazed, cast a shadow of doubt over Lady Deathstrike's words: "I think the Reverend forgot to tell you something…" he taunted, watching as a group of people behind the Reavers got closer and closer.
"Huh??" she murmured, confused by the insinuation.
"To look behind you."
"Yuriko!!!" Wolverine shouted, emerging from the shadows and surprising the Reavers from behind, as the X-Force arrived at the scene to turn the tide of the battle, immediately starting a bloody fight.
Cable seized the distraction and shoved Lady Deathstrike aside, knocking her into the snow, as he quickly ran to escape the area.
"X-23!! Hepzibah!! Don't let the old man get away," Wolverine shouted while fiercely fighting a Reaver.
"Kill them!!! Kill them all," Lady Deathstrike screamed, filled with rage, as she rose from the ground, her eyes blazing with hatred and memories of old rivalries with Logan.
"Good job, kid," Cable said, feeling an energy shield protecting his back from gunfire as he ran to distance himself from the scene.
"Cable!" Warpath shouted, his eyes fixed on his former teammate and mentor, who was running quickly, trying to escape while he and the X-Force brutally fought the Reavers.
"Focus on your current prey, James. Or you won't survive to chase your old friend," Hepzibah warned, taking down a Reaver and brutally choking him on the ground.
"Watch out!!" X-23 exclaimed, pushing Caliban to dodge a bullet from one of the Reavers.
"How… How dare you call yourselves servants of God… You killed children!!! You killed babies," Wolfsbane roared in anger in her wolf form, biting the neck of a distracted Reaver who was aiming at Cable.
A few minutes later, after killing one of the Reavers, Logan ran swiftly after Cable.
"Damn, Cable, you run pretty well for an old man," Logan grumbled as he raced through the snow.
"Logan-san," said a voice running silently beside him.
"Hmm??" Logan quickly glanced to the side.
"Die!!" Lady Deathstrike screamed, deeply slashing Logan's arms with her claws.
"You were a fool to get involved in this. You'd have lived longer if you waited for me to come for you."
"Now you'll die here with those babies," Lady Deathstrike taunted, recalling their past conflicts.
"I don't have time for this, Yuriko. You're still pissed at me? Fine."
"But I also know someone who's pissed at you," Logan said, smirking as a figure appeared behind him.
"Finish her, X," Logan ordered before continuing his pursuit of Cable.
"You call yourself Deathstrike… Show me," Laura challenged, lunging at Lady Deathstrike and deeply slashing her face with her claws.
"Wolverine, you insult me… A child?" Lady Deathstrike said angrily, dodging Laura's blows and counterattacking with force.
"He wants to humiliate me… But you?" Lady Deathstrike continued, glaring furiously at Logan as he ran after Cable.
"You think you're my equal? I am Lady Deathstrike, daughter of Lord Dark Wind! You are nothing!" she taunted, delivering a series of blows that Laura took passively, without counterattacking, as her body was brutally stabbed and scratched by Deathstrike's claws.
"Did you hear me? You're not even fighting anymore," Deathstrike said, repeatedly striking Laura's body, piercing and scratching her multiple times while she stood still, merely enduring the attacks.
"I'm not listening," Laura replied before delivering a powerful strike with her claws to Deathstrike's shoulder, catching her off guard.
"Pathetic, your attack barely drew blood," Lady Deathstrike mocked, clutching her struck shoulder.
"I wasn't aiming to draw blood," Laura responded as her healing factor quickly began to heal the numerous wounds inflicted by Deathstrike.
"I… My arm, why can't I move my… You bitch… You cut my cybernetics," Lady Deathstrike realized, looking horrified at her damaged shoulder.
"Now you'll see me fight," Laura said, advancing to attack.
Laura swiftly delivered a series of precise strikes with her claws, making Lady Deathstrike bleed heavily.
"You're losing blood faster than you can heal. I cut your cybernetics faster than you can repair…
—You're already dead and don't even know it," Laura declared, watching Deathstrike stagger from blood loss.
Laura ran toward Lady Deathstrike and, with an agile acrobatic move, leaped over her, now standing behind her.
Before Deathstrike could turn, Laura swiftly delivered a powerful strike with one hand, piercing and completely passing through Deathstrike's chest with her claws, just as Deathstrike had done to the mutant Hellion.
"You were already dead the moment you touched my friends," Laura said coldly, observing Lady Deathstrike's body bleeding heavily on the ground.
A little further from that bloody battle.
"Keep holding the shield, little one… We're not out of danger yet," Cable said to young Michael as he ran with an energy shield protecting his back.
"Friend Cable is escaping… James Proudstar and Wolverine are after him.
"Caliban's going too. Hepzibah will stay here," Caliban announced after defeating one of the Reavers and starting his pursuit of Cable.
"Caliban, wait!" Hepzibah exclaimed while easily fighting two Reavers.
"Come on, Nathan, don't make us do this…" Warpath shouted, running close behind Logan.
"Damn… We should mutilate that Cable for making us hunt him like this," Hepzibah said angrily, finishing off another Reaver.
Behind Hepzibah, a Reaver silently rose from the ground and grabbed his weapon.
"All mutants burn," the Reaver declared, aiming his weapon at Warpath's back.
The Reaver quickly fired.
Caliban, seeing the imminent danger, swiftly placed himself in the path of the shot and was hit by three bullets to the head, killing him instantly.
"Caliban?" Warpath said, horrified, looking back after hearing the shots and seeing his friend's body lying in the snow, bleeding heavily.
"All mutants bur—" the Reaver began to say, aiming at Warpath again.
But Warpath was faster and threw his knife from a long distance with perfect precision, quickly hitting the Reaver's head and piercing his skull completely.
"Caliban!!!" Warpath shouted, running to where his friend's body lay.
A few steps away, Logan witnessed the scene and quickly said, "He's gone, Warpath! Focus on the mission… Damn it," Logan grumbled, seeing Warpath ignore his order and continue running toward Caliban's body.
"Come on, buddy, don't do this, don't do this… Oh, no, no!" Warpath shouted, kneeling in the snow while holding his friend's body.
"Cable!!!" Wolverine roared with rage, having just lost one of his team members.
"Wait… Why is he coming back… Tracking us from where we came… Why is he…??
—…
—Damn it!!" Logan said as he heard a noise and instantly realized they had been outmaneuvered, and their mission had just failed.
In a matter of seconds, a black jet flew rapidly above the X-Force. The Blackbird, which had just been stolen by Cable.
"Damn… What's your game, Cable?" Logan said, sighing as he stared deeply at the Blackbird disappearing into the skies.
"And how many people are gonna have to die before this damn game is over?"
.....