One Universe: Season III IC Thread

[SenseiofCheese]

I am the Flash.

The Fastest Man Alive.

...and I'm going out of my mind, here.

The Scarlet Speedster comes to a screeching halt. Ever since accidentally being made part of a League meeting and learning of Magneto impending attack, Wally West has been worried to say the least. He bends over, grabbing both his calves and letting out a heavy sigh. He's lost count of how many times he's made a run-through of Keystone, making completely sure that there was no sign of Magneto's goons, but it's been enough times to make even him tired.

"24 hours to go.." he says out loud, almost trying to convince himself that it's actually going to happen.

Sure, he's fought big battles before. But Wally's never even entertained the thought of having to defend the entire city on his own, before. Was he really good enough? Would he really be able to defeat an army by himself?

"I'll have to be."

 

[Watchman]

Last time,

Spoiler

He once had the powers of a god. He was Victor Von Doom and no prison in the Universe will be able to contain his will. He will find a way from his current entrapment.

"Ah Victor, Victor, Victor. Still think you can escape?" A voice but where was it coming from? "Your arrogance was never ceases to astound me."

"Show yourself, coward!" he could speak again, "show yourself and face Doom!"

"If you insist," two eyes and a smiled appeared in space, like the Cheshire Cat, followed by a body. It was a small man wearing an orange jump suit with a bowler hat. "Names Mxyzptlk, Mr. Mxyzptlk."

"Begone from my sight, creature. Doom does not wish to converse with the likes of you."

"Ah but right now I'm your best friend, Doomy. I'm your ticket out of you this mess."

"You insult me. I do not require assistance from you." Mxyzptlk snaps his fingers and both had disappeared from the source wall.

Doom had disappeared from the Source Wall. He was now on land, on a barren world. There seem to be no life in any direction.

"Mxyzptlk!" He called out, "I demand to know where I am." A cloud formation overhead transformed into the face of Mxyzptlk with a giant grin on his face.

"I'll give you a hint, here they called day as night and night day. Ok Doomy, here are the rules of the game. I putting you through the gaunlet. Now usually I would pester big blue but I needed to find someone with a bigger stick up their ass. Then I found you. You smug jerk. I thought of a few games we could play. Get through all my games and make me say my name backwards and I'll let you return to Earth." The clouds disappeared leaving Doom alone.

"I swear, Mxyzptlk, when we next meet you will feel Doom's wrath."

"I don't think so," his voice wisappear in Doom's ear. Mxyzptlk threw Doom's cape over his head and push him to the ground. "Ha, just because I'm a nice guy. I'm giving your suit all its power back." He disappear but Doom's suit was fully power. Doom made his way across the wasteland.

 

[Carnage27]

The sun rises over the city skyline, and SHIELD agent Brian Smith grasps his fire arm a little tighter. He had been deployed here with a paltry number of fellow agents in order to help guard against Magneto's imminent mutant attack.

Like he and the rest of the small force would be any deterrent to what he could only guess was an army of super-powered individuals. Besides, there hadn't been a hint of where Magneto's Brotherhood was, nor any reports of their movement.

Agent Smith goes inside SHIELD's makeshift barracks, grabs a cup of coffee, and sits down next to his friend, "You think they're gonna show?"

The other agent looks up from a computer screen, "Who knows. Fury doesn't even know where they are, how could we have any clue."

Smith puts his coffee down on the table, and it is immediately knocked over by a small tremor.

"You feel that?"

All of a sudden the radio on each man's chest goes alive with frantic chatter from the local police forces.

"There's gotta be two hundred..."

"They're everywhere!"

"...starting fires!"

"One's making a freakin' earthquake!"

The two agents rush out of the building and in the distance see plumes of smoke rising from street level into the air, out of which marches a mishmash of people, led by the man clad in red and purple, floating above them.

Out of the smoke flies a large spherical object, as fast as if it had been thrown by the hand of God himself. It smashes into the high rise apartment building next two the agents, no doubt killing countless of civilians.

Agent Smith looks up in horror at the sphere, and whispers the inscription on it out loud, "Daily Planet."

Magneto and his Brotherhood had come to Metropolis.

 

[wiegeabo]

Working with Xavier's students is a new experience.

Actually, working with the rest of the League is almost a new experience too.

We've been practicing for two days in what the X-Men call their Danger Room. It's an impressive piece of technology. Makes me think it might be time to do some renovations at the Brownstone.

Especially seeing the problems the teams are having working together. Most of us haven't done this before. We've fought, but not really as a team. And those who have are rusty. I'm glad I didn't break Ted's nose when I ran into him. He would never have let me live that down.

I notice Steve throw his shield at Nightcrawler. He teleports to another position, only to have the shield hit him in the back after it's ricochet. Steve's patented move.

Spider-Man does a great job avoiding Iceman's, giving the young mutant a dose of webbing for his troubles. But he winds up being caught in a green bubble as Alan uses him as a battering ram against Iceman's wall. Then Tony shoots Alan in the back.

I sigh. Still, we could be worse...


***

Oh. My. ****ing. God.

How bad can this get? This is supposed to be our crack team to hold off Magneto's army?

I growl in frustration. These people are utterly pathetic as a team, and not much better on their own. Wildcat, Hank, and Rogers are the only ones with some real skill. I've got no problem taking them into battle. But everyone else...

"Enough. Enough! ENOUGH!!!" My shouting brings everyone to a standstill. "You people..." I grind my teeth and shake my head.

"It's not that bad, Logan."

"Oh really? What training sessions have you been watching for the last two days?"

"There's been improvement," the Canary states defiantly. She stands right up to me with her hands on her hips, staring me down. I like her. For a chick, she's got balls.

"Maybe," I say. "Think it's enough improvement to take on an army." She doesn't say anything. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

I pull my mask off. "Ok. Let's pack this up."

"We've got plenty of time, Logan. Let's keep practicing," Drake pleads.

"You ain't gonna be much good tomorrow if you wear yourselves out today. And we need to be in position early. No tellin' when it's goin' down."

Everyone starts filling out of the Danger Room. The Flash stands next to me. "What do you think? Honestly."

"Honestly? ...You a praying man?"


***

"So here's the breakdown. In Metropolis; Superman, Cyclops, Nightcrawler. Gotham; Wildcat, Angel, with Supes as floater between the two cities."

"New York: Spider-Man, Iron Man, Iceman. Chicago: Flash, Black Canary, Beast, with Flash as floater between those two."

"Los Angeles: Green Lantern, Rogue, Jean Grey. Houston: Me and Captain America in the Blackbird, and Fury directing SHIELD."

No one sounds too happy. Neither am I. Too many targets, not nearly enough people. But what else can we do? Magneto's playing this just right. "Once we know where the main attack is, everyone who's free will group up. Any questions?"

Spidey and Drake raise their hands. I sigh. "Real questions?" They put their hands down.

"Ok." I look at everyone. "Well...whatya still sittin' around for?!"

 

[Byrd Man]

​

Spidey and Drake raise their hands. I sigh. "Real questions?" They put their hands down.

"Ok." I look at everyone. "Well...whatya still sittin' around for?!"

"I agree with Logan." I say as I pull my mask back on and look at the group gathered before us.

"I'm usually one for motivational speeches, but time is of the essence. Let's move, people!"

Houston

High above the skies of Texas, Wolverine and I sit in the X-Men jets cockpit while he handles the controls.

"You know, for a man seems so mechanically uninclined, you can fly the heck out of a plane." I say nonchalantly to Logan as I pull off my mask and place an ear piece in my ear.

"Okay, people. First reports have Magneto landing in Metropolis. I want a sit-rep from our team there, what's your status?"

 

[Eddie Brock]

Iron Man, Iceman, and myself are all in position in New York City, but things seem quiet for the moment. I take the opportunity to talk to Iceman. We've spent the past two days together, and he seems like a pretty cool guy - no pun intended, I swear.

"So, Bobby, what was it like when you first found out that you were a mutant?" I ask.

Bobby shrugs. "Not much different than when you discovered your powers, I'd assume." He doesn't mean it to sound offensive, but I pick up on the slight tone in his voice. I don't blame him. I mean, he's been victimized his whole life because of...of...genetics! It's ludicrous.

"Right. Sorry, man," I apologize sheepishly. "I don't mean to be insensitive."

Bobby waves a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. I know you didn't mean anything by it," he assures me. Then, turning, he looks at me and suggests, "But maybe we keep the small talk to sports and women from now on?"

I give him the thumbs up.

"Get ready, boys," Iron Man announces suddenly. "I've just received word that Magneto's forces have touched down in Metropolis. It won't be long before..."

He trails off as we look down at New York. There is a flash of pink light, and then the streets are flooded with Brotherhood mutants. They waste no time in causing mayhem and destruction.

I check my webshooters to make sure they're clear. "Well," I begin as I look at Iron Man, "You were right. It wasn't long."

 

[Eddie Brock]

Sunlight streams through the window, disturbing me from my slumber. I open my eyes slowly and take in the peaceful sights of the morning. However, I'm no longer in Blonsky's hideout in Brazil. As I sit up, I realize I'm in my bedroom. My bed! I toss the sheets aside and stumble down the hallway.

I hear sounds coming from the kitchen. Acting on my acquired instincts, I retrieve a baseball bat from the coat closet. I approach the kitchen slowly, cautiously. My fingers grip the maple wood tightly as I try to control my breath. My pajama pants hang low, getting caught under my heels. It makes the process very difficult.

When I enter the kitchen, I see Betty standing there. My jaw drops, and I loosen my grip on the bat. Propping the bat up in the corner, I move to the kitchen table, pulling out a chair for myself.

Hearing the chair, Betty looks over her shoulder and greets, "Good morning, Bruce." She's making breakfast. "Here I thought you'd never get up!"

My breathing becomes labored as I lean over the table.

"Bruce?" She sounds very far away now. "Bruce, what's wrong?"

My vision blurs, and soon all I can hear is my own breathing.

"Bruce?"

I stumble back suddenly, gripping my chest. It feels like there's a fire inside me. I claw at my shirt. Betty looks at me with worry. I begin to sweat as I look down at my chest.

Bulky, green fingers poke through my skin and begin to pull my chest apart. Betty is screaming, but she sounds miles away. The green fingers become green hands which tear me into two pieces. As I black out, I hear a hideous cry.

"GRRRRRRRRRRAHHHHHH!"

I wake up in a cold sweat. My makeshift cot in Blonsky's loft is drenched - as is my tank top. Somewhat foolishly, I check my chest. No signs of damage. No green hands. No Hulk. I hang my head and close my eyes. Even at night, I can find no peace.

I trudge down the metal steps leading from the loft into the common room. The building is an old warehouse, and the rooms aren't really separated. Therefore, when I reach the ground floor, I can see Blonsky sitting at his desk, surrounded by papers. When he sees me approaching, he closes up a folder and puts it away in his desk.

"Bruce," he greets quietly. "What are you doing up at this hour?"

"Bad dream," I explain simply. Rubbing my eyes, I point to his desk. "You?"

"Just crunching some numbers," he answers pleasantly. "Yours is a peculiar case, my friend." I sigh understandingly. Blonsky gets up and heads for the kitchen - or what can be considered the kitchen, anyway. "The sun will be up soon, anyway. Can I make you some coffee?"
​

 

[wiegeabo]

"Canary! On your-"

SKREEEEEEEE

"Nevermind." I run down the street as the ground explodes around me. It's like they're not even trying. Or they're leading-

BOOOOM!!!

I'm flung backwards at high speed, but I'm able to vibrate my body through the wall of the Sears Tower instead of splattering against it. I hit the floor, roll, and run back out through the wall, catching the mutant off guard. Half a second later and I've hit him a dozen times, tied him up, and dropped him off at the police station.

Magneto's followers seem to be coming out of the woodwork as another two dozen rush down the street. Dinah and Dr. McCoy are already in the midst of them, dropping the like flies. They may have us outnumbered, but they aren't trained. I suspect most are just acting out in anger. Don't they understand that they're doing more to hurt their cause then all the mutant-haters combined?

"Okay, people. First reports have Magneto landing in Metropolis. I want a sit-rep from our team there, what's your status?"

"Flash here. Minor uprising in Chicago. Might be able to head over to Metropolis soon. Looks like Ted was right." A fire hydrant explodes as a mutant directs the high stream of water at me...

***

The Blackbird spins around in the air at high speed. Steve and I both fight with the stick to try and gain control, but the windstorm being generated around us is just too strong.

"How...about...those...g-forces...?" I joke through gritted teeth, trying to keep my breakfast down. Suddenly the spin stops and the blackbird drops like a rock for a second. Outside the window we can see two shield agents in flying armor, carrying the unconscious mutant between them.

The speakers spark to life. "That better?"

"Stop gloating, Fury."

 

[Carnage27]

Magneto couldn't help but smile. As the cream of the crop of his mutant warriors systematically tore apart Metropolis, the Master of Magnetism could feel his plan working.

"Pyro! Set as many fires as possible. I want this city to burn with the fires of our fury!"

He then looked down at Blob, who was standing next to Avalanche, "Blob, protect him at all costs, you are his body guard!"

"Marko!" he then yelled to Juggernaut, "Do your thing. Bring this city to its knees!"

Two cars flew up next to Magneto and immediately flew at a group of police officers firing at the mutant crowd, but the leader of the brotherhood frowns as they are melted by an unknown force.

He looks up to see something he had been waiting weeks for. Kal-El. Superman. The last son of Krypton.

"I was wondering when you would get here, boy."

*****************************

I can't believe what I'm seeing. Superman drops Cyclops and I off at street level, and we are immediately attack by over a dozen mutants. Scott manages to hold them off with his blasts, and I proceed to teleport and attack.

Five spikes fly past my face, and in a puff of purple smoke I'm on top of the aggressor, pounding his face into the curb with my tail.

I hear Captain America's voice over the piece in my ear, "Okay, people. First reports have Magneto landing in Metropolis. I want a sit-rep from our team there, what's your status?"

"Vell, let's just say the crap has hit zhe fan here, Captain. Magneto is here with what seems to be two hundred mutants. Ve are definitely going to need some help here."
I can see a mutant in the distance that looks to be the source of the fires, and I yell back to Scott, "Cyc! Cover me! I'm going to try and take down the hot head!"

I just hope we hold off until help arrives.
​

 

[SenseiofCheese]

My name is Wally West.

I am the Flash. The Fastest Man alive.

And this is weird..

Wally West, the Flash, has just finished his sixtieth run through of Keystone. Stopping at every street light, every alley, every hidden away dumpster and every suspicious looking building, but found nothing. No evil mutants screaming their heads off, no one looking even remotely like Magneto; nothing. Not even a 'Magneto is Right' flier.

"---ming to you live from Metropolis, where the mutant criminal known as Magneto--"

Wally dashes up to a nearby window. Beyond the glass are a dozen or so televisions showcased for the most popular electronics store in the city. Screen after screen shows the same thing, but from different angles; Magneto, along with a unbelievably large following, wreaking havoc on Metropolis. The streets are on fire, the ground is cracked, and the people lucky enough to not have been killed in the streets are running as fast as they can.

Wally watches in horror as whatever he worried would happen in Keystone plays out tenfold in Metropolis. He tries to look away; tries to convince himself that the other heroes have got it. They do this sort of thing all the time, they can handle this.

A light touch on his hip snaps him back to reality. Without him having noticed, a large group of people have gathered around him. People on their way home from work looking at the screens with fear, knowing that if not stopped, this would happen to their city as well. The small girl who had poked her little finger into the Flash's hip speaks up.

"Why are you not helping, Mr. Flash?"

Wally is speechless, looking into the little girl's inquizitive eyes. "I...I gotta stay here. Watch over all of you guys."

"Nah, man." a large man carrying a shopping bag says, nodding towards the TV screens. "You need to help those people."

"But, I.."

"Go, we'll be fine." a middle-aged woman smiles warmly.

Looking at the hopeful faces of all the people who have come to count on him, Wally feels a swell of pride in his body. But it doesn't last long. Because the pride is soon replaced by determination. In with that, the Scarlet Speedster is gone, making a straight dash towards Metropolis.

 

[Byrd Man]

I feel the Blackbird rock and shake as the first reports come in.

"Flash here. Minor uprising in Chicago. Might be able to head over to Metropolis soon. Looks like Ted was right."

Vell, let's just say the crap has hit zhe fan here, Captain. Magneto is here with what seems to be two hundred mutants. Ve are definitely going to need some help here."

"Jay, I need you to stay the course in Chicago. If it gets worse, Beast and Canary will need you. I need someone closer to get to Metropolis."

"I'm on it, Cap."

"With that metal casing of yours? Son, Magneto would pull you apart like a tin can."

I feel the plane buck and shake harder, I grab on to my seat as we start to spin.

The Blackbird spins around in the air at high speed. Steve and I both fight with the stick to try and gain control, but the windstorm being generated around us is just too strong.

"How...about...those...g-forces...?" I joke through gritted teeth, trying to keep my breakfast down. Suddenly the spin stops and the blackbird drops like a rock for a second. Outside the window we can see two shield agents in flying armor, carrying the unconscious mutant between them.

The speakers spark to life. "That better?"

"Stop gloating, Fury."

"Nick, where are your men currently at?"

"We're spread just as thin as you, Cap...least your foot soldiers are faster than a speeding bullet."

I ignore his comment, looking over the Blackbird's console instruments.

"I think it's showing that there's a disturbance down in the streets. Logan, take us down."

 

[Keyser Soze]

Hello Thor. I'm Donald.

You don't know me, not really. I mean, you know about me. You know my life, you know my job, you know the places and the people all around you. But me, Donald Blake, the man? You didn't think there even was a Donald Blake. For a while, there wasn't. But I'm here now, Odin brought me back from... wherever it was I went to. And now you're stuck with me.

I was there, when you fought Seth. I could see what you saw, experienced it all through your eyes. And it was incredible. I've been a nobody, all my life. Don't get me wrong, I've tried to help people, done what I could as a doctor. But ultimately, I'm invisible, just some cripple stitching up one person at a time while the heroes like you save the world.

But I've learned so much from you. You've got so much courage, not just in battle. All this time I've loved Jane Foster, but been too afraid to tell her how I felt. And you just walk right up to her and sweep her off her feet. You became the me I wish I could be, the me that I'm now going to be, thanks to you. I don't want to be invisible anymore. It's not enough for me to just exist. I want to make a real difference, help the people that really need it. Playing it safe in my safe hospital treating safe, rich, insured patients isn't going to cut it. I want to be a hero, like you are. I think that warrior's spirit of yours might be rubbing off on me a little.

But that got me to thinking. You're an immortal Asgardian, once worshipped as a God. You've conquered armies, slayed Frost Giants, shown feats of immeasurable strength. You could be the greatest warrior that ever lived. What could I possibly have to offer you?

So I thought about my battles. What it takes for me to climb a flight of stairs. Or what it takes to admit when my body won't let me do something, and ask for help. I'm humbled, every day. There's no glory in what I do for a living. No great celebration or feast with my victories. It's just on with the next patient, and hope I can help this one to. I set myself aside, and put others first. Ironic as it might sound to you, I believe in God. I go to church, and I pray for help and guidance, that I may live a better life and be a better person. I put my faith in something greater than myself. I am in love, and in this world, love is such a fragile, transient thing, all the more beautiful in that it cannot last forever.

Maybe there is a few things a human like me can give a god like you after all. Maybe my humanity has already rubbed off on you a little. Maybe we can both teach each other a few things. We'll be spending a lot of time together from now on, it would be good if we both got something out of it. Anyway, that's me. That's who I am. Nice to meet you at last, Thor.

"Nice to meet you, Donald."

 

[wiegeabo]

"Nick, where are your men currently at?"

"We're spread just as thin as you, Cap...least your foot soldiers are faster than a speeding bullet."

I ignore his comment, looking over the Blackbird's console instruments.

"I think it's showing that there's a disturbance down in the streets. Logan, take us down."

"On it!" With more skill than I have any right to, I guide the jet onto a flat rooftop. The loading ramp lowers and I lock up the systems as Steve runs out. I catch up with him at the edge of the roof and look down. Half a dozen mutants are rampaging in the street, damaging property, threatening innocent lives.

"Well, what're we waitin' for?" I jump off and fall the ten stories, landing on the concrete. It cracks and shatters with the impact. I can feel my internal organs squish, and then right themselves.

SNIKT

"RRRAAAAGGGHHH!!!" I run into the fray.

 

[Byrd Man]

"On it!" With more skill than I have any right to, I guide the jet onto a flat rooftop. The loading ramp lowers and I lock up the systems as Steve runs out. I catch up with him at the edge of the roof and look down. Half a dozen mutants are rampaging in the street, damaging property, threatening innocent lives.

"Well, what're we waitin' for?" I jump off and fall the ten stories, landing on the concrete. It cracks and shatters with the impact. I can feel my internal organs squish, and then right themselves.

SNIKT

"RRRAAAAGGGHHH!!!" I run into the fray.

I follow closely behind Logan, my shield flying as I fight off attack after attack from the mutant soldiers.

"Hey, buddy! Watch where you're going!"

"I agree with him!"

"Me too!"

Hiding behind by shield as I fend off the blows, I peek up and get a good look at exactly who I'm fighting.

"Oh my lord." I say as I toss my shield into a group of soldiers and break out for higher ground.

"Logan! I'm not sure if you picked up on this." I say as I leap off the pavement on to a fire escape.

"But all these soldiers are the same man!"

I look down at the mob as my shield flies back to me and lands comfortably in my hand.

"What in the world is this?"

"MY NAME IS MULTIPLE MAN!" All 200 mutants say at the same time.

"Yeah! What they said!"

Well, almost all 200 said it at the same time.

 

[wiegeabo]

"You noticed that too, huh?"

I take an absolute beating. There's just way to many punches and kicks to possibly block. Although, despite their attacks getting through, I'm pretty sure they're still getting the worst of it.

"Oh, man."

"Seriously."

"What the hell are you made out of? Concrete?"

"Adamantium, actually." I punch the guy in the face and he splits in two!

"What the fu-!" A bunch of them jump on me from behind. I grunt, grinding my teeth. "That's how you want to play?!"

SLASH

One of the Multiple Men gurgles as blood pours out. He falls to the ground...and then disappears into the nearest copy of himself.

"Oh...that's good to know," I say with a smile.

30 seconds and 30 multiples later, I'm covered in red and it's all I see.

"COME ON!!!" Suddenly...the world goes dark.

And then white in pain!

I drop to my knees and grab my head. It feels like my brain is going to explode. I can't see anything...and can barely hear the words.

Spoiler

"Well, well, well. I think you're gonna be fun."

 

[SenseiofCheese]

My name is Wally West. I am the Flash.

..and I'm going to go help save the day.

It takes the Flash ten seconds to run a straight line from Keystone City to the sprawling cityscape of Metropolis. For anyone else in the world that'd seem like the blink of an eye, but for Wally West, he thought the journey would never end.

I can't just hide in Keystone forever.

I have these powers, and just like Barry said, it's my responsibility to help people. It's an honor.

And besides....

In Metropolis, a heavily tattooed, lanky mutant with a massive 'M' adorning his bare chest is about to bring a large piece of concrete down on a helpless woman. Just as the woman closes her eyes, tears streaming down her face, the roar of her attacker is silenced. When she finally dares take a peek, she's met with a different sight.

I look good doing it.

The woman cries her thanks to the Scarlet Speedster as she gets to her feet and takes off running. For a second, a second that seems to last a day, Wally takes in the destruction. The streets are littered with the firey carcasses of vehicles, bodies of Magneto's victims strewn about the city. Buildings smashed, a blanket of glass on the asphalt. It's not right.

This isn't right.

Hearing screams coming from down the street, Wally turns to see a large man holding two children, one in each hand. The kids scream for help, manic cries for their parents. But before even the Flash manages to react, manages to wipe that evil grin off of the monster's face, a loud blast signals a massive ruby beam smashing into his back. Magneto's lacky screams out in pain as he's brought to his knees. Within 2 seconds, Wally has grabbed the children, brought them to the other side of Metropolis, and gotten back.

"Woah woah! I'm one of the good guys!"

Wally walks slowly towards the man with the visor, not recognizing him in the least. He looks young, younger than Wally. The visibly tense newbie slowly, but surely, lets down his guard.

"I'm the Flash. I'm here from Keystone, how can I help?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"You noticed that too, huh?"

I take an absolute beating. There's just way to many punches and kicks to possibly block. Although, despite their attacks getting through, I'm pretty sure they're still getting the worst of it.

"Oh, man."

"Seriously."

"What the hell are you made out of? Concrete?"

"Adamantium, actually." I punch the guy in the face and he splits in two!

"What the fu-!" A bunch of them jump on me from behind. I grunt, grinding my teeth. "That's how you want to play?!"

SLASH

One of the Multiple Men gurgles as blood pours out. He falls to the ground...and then disappears into the nearest copy of himself.

"Oh...that's good to know," I say with a smile.

30 seconds and 30 multiples later, I'm covered in red and it's all I see.

"COME ON!!!" Suddenly...the world goes dark.

And then white in pain!

I drop to my knees and grab my head. It feels like my brain is going to explode. I can't see anything...and can barely hear the words.

Spoiler

"Well, well, well. I think you're gonna be fun."

I leap off the fire escape and dive head first into the mob of angry mutants...or mutant, I should say.

Swinging my shield and limbs furiously, I battle my way to Logan's position.

I see the man standing over him and toss my shield.

Wham!

It smacks him upside the head, he falls over as I catch my shield mid-flight.

"How about you give a fellow a fighting chance, pal?"

I reach down and help Logan up.

I spin quickly and bash my shield into an oncoming Multiple Man's stomach as the rest start to attack us again.

 

[wiegeabo]

"James?"

My head sears with pain. I don't understand it. I don't understand much of anything. But through blurred vision I can see a faint figure.

"Why James?"

"...who..." I can see a woman. Almost make her out.

"Why did you let me die?"

Something is drilling through my head.

"WHO ARE YOU?!!!!"

I leap off the fire escape and dive head first into the mob of angry mutants...or mutant, I should say.

Swinging my shield and limbs furiously, I battle my way to Logan's position.

I see the man standing over him and toss my shield.

Wham!

It smacks him upside the head, he falls over as I catch my shield mid-flight.

As quickly as it started, the pain ends. I fall over on the ground and groan. Through squinting eyes is see a scruffy man even shorter than me.

"How about you give a fellow a fighting chance, pal?"

The pain quickly fades. At least, the physical pain does. That...woman. I know her. Somehow. And that name she called me. J...J...it's gone. What the hell was that? I look up at Rogers and offer up my hand.

I reach down and help Logan up.

I spin quickly and bash my shield into an oncoming Multiple Man's stomach as the rest start to attack us again.

I feel hands wrap around me from behind, and with no conscious thought. With nothing but pure instinct, my world goes red.

"RRRAAAAAHAHHHARHRHRHAHHHHH!!!!"

I don't know how long I'm gone. 30 seconds...30 minutes... But when my senses return, there's about forty less copies around me. But I notice fifty or so more ripping into Steve. Yet he doesn't go down.

"Rogers! You can't hit them. They just keep splitting." I hear a footstep next to me and stick my arm out, my claw stabbing through his throat. The copy falls, then gets absorbed into another. "You've got to kill them!"

 

[Byrd Man]

I don't know how long I'm gone. 30 seconds...30 minutes... But when my senses return, there's about forty less copies around me. But I notice fifty or so more ripping into Steve. Yet he doesn't go down.

"Rogers! You can't hit them. They just keep splitting." I hear a footstep next to me and stick my arm out, my claw stabbing through his throat. The copy falls, then gets absorbed into another. "You've got to kill them!"

I grit my teeth as I dodge blows and bounce fists off my shield.

"I don't know if I can do that, fellow." I yell to Logan over the battle.

"When you've seen some of the things I've seen, you realize that life is too precious to squander."

I look on as he stabs one of the copies in the neck and looks over at me annoyed.

"No time to be philosophical, bub. They're dupes! You ain't killing the real thing."

I only nod in agreement as I sling my shield forward and watch as it slices through the bodies.

"Wait." I say as my shield bounces off the Blackbird and cuts through a nearby dupe before returning back to me.

"What happens if we kill the original Multiple Man?"

 

[wiegeabo]

I grit my teeth as I dodge blows and bounce fists off my shield.

"I don't know if I can do that, fellow." I yell to Logan over the battle.

"When you've seen some of the things I've seen, you realize that life is too precious to squander."

I look on as he stabs one of the copies in the neck and looks over at me annoyed.

"No time to be philosophical, bub. They're dupes! You ain't killing the real thing."

I only nod in agreement as I sling my shield forward and watch as it slices through the bodies.

"Wait." I say as my shield bounces off the Blackbird and cuts through a nearby dupe before returning back to me.

"What happens if we kill the original Multiple Man?"

"Huh, didn't think of that." I punch a copy in the face and he splits. So I quickly slash them both.

"Guess that's his problem."


***


A beam of energy tears through the wall and slices above our heads. "Flash, I believe it would be prudent to find an area with more protective cover."

"Just wait for it."

"For what?" Dr. McCoy asks.

The beam stops and there are the blunt sounds like something hitting a wet sack loose meat. "All clear!"

I smile. "For her."

McCoy and I stand up and run outside. "The young Canary is quite adept."

"You don't know the half of it. Excuse me Doc." I kick into superspeed in grab the mutant Dinah just took down for what's becoming my regular drop off to the police. Along the way, I punch another mutant a dozen times and drop him off at the station as well.

By the time I rush back, everything is eerily quiet. Dinah and McCoy look around the area, still on alert. "I...I think we did it," she says.

"Be cautious. Such utterances unfailingly have the tenancy to produce counter-desired results."

"Say that again?"

"Don't jinx it."

As we get used to the quiet, we begin to hear other sounds that had been buried under the fight. Sounds of moaning and pain.

"Oh my. I believe my services are required." McCoy heads off to the nearest sounds of injured.

"Dinah," I say softly. "Help him. I don't think these people will look kindly on a mutant doctor right now."

"Got it. What about you?"

"This was just a distraction. So imagine how bad it is in Metropolis. That's where I'll be."

 

[Blacklight]

Magneto couldn't help but smile. As the cream of the crop of his mutant warriors systematically tore apart Metropolis, the Master of Magnetism could feel his plan working.​

"Pyro! Set as many fires as possible. I want this city to burn with the fires of our fury!"​

He then looked down at Blob, who was standing next to Avalanche, "Blob, protect him at all costs, you are his body guard!"​

"Marko!" he then yelled to Juggernaut, "Do your thing. Bring this city to its knees!"​

Two cars flew up next to Magneto and immediately flew at a group of police officers firing at the mutant crowd, but the leader of the brotherhood frowns as they are melted by an unknown force.​

He looks up to see something he had been waiting weeks for. Kal-El. Superman. The last son of Krypton.​

"I was wondering when you would get here, boy."​

​

The Man of Steel, after dropping off the two young mutants that were aiding him, descended upon the mutant leader. You see, Clark was never the type of person to allow anyone, no matter what their intentions, prejudiced or non-prejudiced, to destroy the city he's made his duty to protect. Not even the Master of Magnetism....



"Magneto, I presume?"

Superman looked at the destruction Magneto's band of misfits were causing, and he was... unhappy, to say the least...

"Well for someone who claims they were waiting so long for me to arrive, you certainly wasted no time in getting the party started without me... Shame I'm going to have to ask you all nicely to turn around and walk away, before I have no choice but to use force."

Superman stared directly into the elderly mutant's eyes, showing the seriousness in his words.



"Please..." he asked coldly.​

 

[Blacklight]

He trails off as we look down at New York. There is a flash of pink light, and then the streets are flooded with Brotherhood mutants. They waste no time in causing mayhem and destruction.

I check my webshooters to make sure they're clear. "Well," I begin as I look at Iron Man, "You were right. It wasn't long."

"Good. I was starting to rust up waiting for these guys to arrive..." Tony said as he clicked the dials in his gauntlets up so that he could fire repulsor beams the same size in diameter as a small SUV at the hordes of mutants. Few were knocked down, but the rest marveled at the sight.

"Yeah. You fellas don't want to see how far up in power these things can go... Turn back now."

"Yeah right!"



"For Magnetooooooo!!!!"

The Toad mutant had managed to land on top of Iron Man, and Stark was taken aback to the point where he was having difficulty removing the pest...

"Uh, Spider-Man? A little... help...please?" He asked through his struggles with the Toad.

 

[Blacklight]

"Woah woah! I'm one of the good guys!"

Wally walks slowly towards the man with the visor, not recognizing him in the least. He looks young, younger than Wally. The visibly tense newbie slowly, but surely, lets down his guard.

"I'm the Flash. I'm here from Keystone, how can I help?"

CYCLOPS​

"Nice to meet you, Flash. Name's Cyclops, and now that I think about it... DUCK!!"

The Flash ducked as Scott launched an optic beam at a mutant trying to get the drop on the scarlet speedster. He was sent flying straight through a wall.

"...I could use a hand. Starting with that guy attacking my friend, Nightcrawler..." he said, poiinting to the flame wielding mutant, also known to his friends as Pyro...

 

[Byrd Man]

"Huh, didn't think of that." I punch a copy in the face and he splits. So I quickly slash them both.

"Guess that's his problem."

I ignore Logan's brutal comment as I continue to fight my way through the copies.

"Captain America to all locations, status report." I say as my shield flies through the air and chops a copies head off.

"Green Lantern, we've seen light resistance here. We've almost got it cleaned up."

"Good."

I roundhouse kick a dupe and grab my shield just in time to bash it upside his head as he stumbles from the kick.

"I want all units to start falling back to Metropolis once your locations have been cleared. Early reports indicate that his main invasion force is in the city, as well as the man himself."

I look across the battlefield and see the short, hairy man who was attacking Logan start to come to.

"I want this done on the double, people."

Noticing the short man is staring at me, I prepare to strike.

"Ahh!"

I drop to my knees and grab my head in pain. It feels like someone is wailing on my skull wiht an axe.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

CYCLOPS​

"Nice to meet you, Flash. Name's Cyclops, and now that I think about it... DUCK!!"

The Flash ducked as Scott launched an optic beam at a mutant trying to get the drop on the scarlet speedster. He was sent flying straight through a wall.

"...I could use a hand. Starting with that guy attacking my friend, Nightcrawler..." he said, poiinting to the flame wielding mutant, also known to his friends as Pyro...

Wally immediately spots the pair, off in the distance. A man with flamethrowers attached to both hands is gunning for a mutant that reminds Wally of something out of Lord of the Rings. The blue mutant, Nightcrawler, disappears in an explosion of smoke before the flames reach him, reappearing closer and closer to Magneto's flame wielding thug. But Nightcrawler can't get close enough to take him out as a a circle of fire has enveloped the villain; too close for Nightcrawler to touch him.

Nodding to Cyclops, the Flash is gone in a streak of scarlet. Running in between the ticks of a second, The Flash looks up and sees Superman off in the distance. He lets out a silent, thankful sigh. Seeing the Man of Steel makes it seem like they just might pull this one off.
A dozen murderous mutants lose their balance and fall over as a strong gust of wind follows in the Flash's wake.

"Hi there!"

The torrents of flame coming out of the man's hand stop as he turns to look at Flash.

"You're the Flash. Long way's from home, ain'tcha?" Pyro raises his hands and a small spark soon ignites into a small fire that envelops his palms.

"Are you into dudes at all? Because if so, I know the perfect guy for you."

"NYAAAAGGGH!"

Before the flames even come close, the Flash is already behind Pyro.

"His name is Mick, and he likes romantic walks through forest fires and really, really candlelit dinners."

"BUUUUURN!"

*BAMF*

Again the Flash is nowhere to be seen. Looking high and low, Pyro lets out a manic growl as he turns to see...

"Guten Tag."

Before he has time to react, Pyro is knocked unconscious by a vicious punch to the head.

"I'm Flash." the Scarlet Speedster appears, seemingly out of nowhere, by Nightcrawler's side.
"I'll be assisting in today's world-saving."