DEALS WITH THE DEVIL

Part II

By Brent Lambert

Location. Some desolate woods in Canada. Why? A friend needs rescuing. Who? Someone that could snap a normal man’s neck with a quick flick of his thumb. Why couldn’t he save himself? Damn good question!

“Glad to see everyone made it,” Bishop said. Bedlam and himself were at this location nearly three hours before anyone else arrived. It had been three long agonizing hours for Jesse. The only thing worse than a focused Bishop was an impatient one.

Meltdown looked to Jesse and smiled mischievously. “Yea, well the Atlantic flight was a little bumpy.”

“Seems you had a ball on your mission though,” Maverick said. Tabitha and Quentin’s faces drained of color. “You nearly blew the mission! If it wasn’t for Shinobi’s contempt for Ahab-”

“Enough!” Bishop firmly said. “It doesn’t’ matter now, regardless of the circumstances we know where he is.”

“Just how trustworthy is Shaw? What’s to say we aren’t walking into a trap?” Kid Omega asked.

Maverick laughed. “Now you think about strategy? You’re just brilliant, kid!”

The two mutant’s eyes were in a deadlock when Quentin said, “You must not realize I could make you do a ballet dance while clucking like a chicken? Don’t make me demonstrate how brilliant I really am.”

“Once again I said enough,” Bishop ordered. “We need to get moving. Let’s go.”

A mile outside the base. Walking there wasn’t fun, but not being detected was key. That was small comfort to Meltdown’s feet, but since she was the only female on this mission she wasn’t going to complain. She had to rep for the ladies. Though she would enjoy a nice long bath when she got back to base. Anyone objecting to that could kiss the roundest part of her ass. It was an ass in definite need of a tan. Being in Alaska was not doing a thing for her complexion. And that complexion grew all the paler at the site of the base where they all hoped Cain was. The complex looked like a high tech Nazi camp with cybernetic blue men as the bodyguards.

Mimic’s vision was better than everyone else’s, due to his borrowed abilities from Warren Worthington. He angrily said, “Hounds are surrounding that place. How the hell did he get his hands on mutants that fast?”

Bedlam laughed and shook his head. “Being the information junkie I am you wouldn’t believe how easy it is for corporations to get what they want and how they want it.”

“We need to find out what they’re capable of,” Bishop said as he looked to Quentin, “Scan their minds if you can.”

Quentin pouched his lips to one side of his face and said, “If I can? Can’t believe you even said that Bish.”

“Just do it,” Bishop said unflinching in the face of the annoying nickname. Looking back at the base he added, “Make it quick. Their security systems could be on us any moment.”

“You think Campbell’s here?” Bedlam asked.

Maverick’s fists tightened and his blood rushed faster at the thought of Ahab. “If he’s here then he’s going to answer for his crimes. That butcher isn’t getting away.”

The memories of Skin and the altered recruits were raw for all of X-Corps. Especially Omega, as he had himself been one of those Hounds. Having your free will stripped from you was perhaps the worse punishment that could be devised for a telepath. To go from being so much in control to having no control at all…Quentin shivered at the experience.

“Their minds are nearly blank and only filled with a few instinctual loyalties to Ahab and each other. They’re all teleporters with enhanced strength and senses.”

Tabitha bit down on her lip and said, “Okay maybe I’m clueless, but blue and teleporting? Doesn’t that sound a bit familiar?”

Bishop quickly realized the implication of what Tabitha was saying and urgently said, “Everyone stay tight! We may already have enemies around us. Omega, do a defensive telepathic sweep and Mimic get us in a TK bubble!”

The telekinetic force field and telepathic sweep were done without question. When it came down to it Bishop was one of the X-Men’s best military thinkers. If he said that a threat was approaching you listened and did what he asked. Once again that instinct had proven right as dozens of Hounds had been revealed and knocked unconscious by Quire’s psionic sweep.

“The fuckers were cloaked! Shit! Why didn’t they take us out?” Bedlam asked as he observed the number of fallen Hounds around him. Jesse knew that cloaking technology was readily available on the black market, but Ahab had built up his resources in an amazingly short amount of time. Of course, the more feasible explanation was that Sebastian Shaw already had all this set up for Campbell. It was a credit to Shaw’s meticulous planning if that was the case.

Looking at the Hounds officially crept Meltdown out as she said, “Okay those things look just like Kurt! What the hell!”

Bishop then stated the grim truth. “Looks like Ahab is using genetic splicing to create his new foot soldiers.”

“And he got a nice head start on material to work with when he captured us,” Maverick said.

“Exactly. We need to move fast. Stealth may be our only option and advantage now,” Bishop replied.

“Nightcrawler would probably be of great help right about now,” Omega sighed to himself. His DNA was in Ahab’s mix somewhere. That thought just flat out pissed Quentin off. He was unique! How dare that traitorous scumbag make him into some puzzle piece to be mixed and matched with others? The thought of it demeaned his very existence.

“We don’t have Kurt, but we’ll make due. Quentin I’m going to need you again since it’s obvious Ahab hasn’t equipped these Hounds with any kind of respectable psi-shielding,” Bishop said as the cogs in his head began to turn.

“You would think after meeting Stryfe, the Hellfire Club would sharpen up in its psi-defense measures,” Maverick said as he pulled two of his plasma guns from their holsters.

Mimic’s telekinetic field vanished and Calvin asked, “So what’s the plan here Bishop?”

“Classic distraction,” Bishop said as he turned to Kid Omega. “I am going to need for you to fool these Hounds into thinking that SHIELD is coming barreling down their doorstep.”

Omega smiled and cracked his knuckles in anticipation of the easy task. Before he could get too eager Bishop said, “I want this distraction to be authentic so Mimic will be using his telekinesis to make sure of just that.”

Quentin didn’t need or want Mimic involved. He could handle the task on his own. The big oaf would just be a hassle to deal with. Bishop needed to use him like the dumb muscle he was intended to be. A telepath of Quire’s power didn’t need aid in such a simple maneuver.

“Wouldn’t it be better to have Mimic’s power help you in pulverizing that base? There is a strong possibility that you all could encounter an out of control Juggernaut.”

“Let us worry about that Quentin. Besides, the distraction won’t have to last that long. We just need to extract Juggernaut. Not dismantle this base,” Bishop said looking at all of his team to make sure they understood the objective. Save Juggernaut. Not become crusaders. At least not today.

“I can’t help but to shake this feeling that none of this is going to go down easy,” Maverick said. Then he added, “I may have another idea if you’re willing to hear it out.”

Bishop nodded. Maverick had just as much valuable combat experience as Bishop. North was a worthy enough person to hear a second opinion from.

“Why not have Quire take hold of these fallen Hounds and use them to provide the distraction?”

The suggestion made sense to Bishop. “Do it Omega. Mimic you’ll be coming with us. Watch yourself Quire.”

Quentin was elated at how circumstances had turned out in his favor. The big lug had been dismissed and he would be allowed to operate solo. The brilliance of his mind would be allowed its chance to shine. It was the opportunity Quentin had been waiting for. He would legitimize his place in X-Corps. There was a smile all over Quentin’s face and he couldn’t hide it.

Maverick saw that smile and said, “Don’t think this is a game Kid Omega. You do your job and you meet up with us. Nothing else.”

Omega snidely remarked, “Isn’t Bishop the leader of this operation?”

Bishop stepped forward and said, “Maverick’s right. You need to keep your head in the game. You’re too powerful to lose to foolish rashness.”

What was supposed to be a scolding made Quentin smile. Bishop had noticed and appreciated his abilities. Now, it was time to put them to work.

“Do you really trust that kid to get the job done without showboating?” Maverick asked as he used a burst of kinetic energy to blow open an entrance at the back of the facility. The loud explosion muffled Bishop’s response. David didn’t ask him to repeat it. Men like him hated having to repeat themselves.

Bishop turned to Mimic. “Telekinetic sweep.”

Calvin nodded and a wave of telekinesis across the inside of the facility. It was a false echolocation that allowed Mimic to identify any problems areas for the team. “No security to speak of. If anything, we may encounter some mechanical systems, but that’s nothing we can’t handle.”

“Especially, with your resident electronic disruptor,” Bedlam said with a grin. His abilities would allow for the easy dispatching of any defensive machinery lurking around this dully-made facility. The walls were gray and lifeless. Perfectly arranged square wall and floor tiles were without inspiration.

“So are we going to stand around all day or are we going to move?” Meltdown asked as she played with tiny energy globules in her hand.

Bishop didn’t seem to notice Tabitha’s annoyance. Either that or he just didn’t care. “Where to, Calvin?”

“Straight up the corridor and to the left,” Mimic said.

Jesse smiled and patted Mimic on the back. “You’re just a regular MapQuest, man.”

Mimic gave Bedlam the bird and said, “Spin on it.”

Bishop looked at the two mutants and groaned. “You two keep at the fore of the group. Meltdown keep some plasma charges ready to go in case we end up in a tight squeeze. Maverick and myself will cover the back of the group.”

North tapped the communicator on his ear and said, “Omega we are in the building and en route to Juggernaut. Rendezvous with us ASAP, over.”

A moment later Omega responded. “Pounding is officially over. We won’t have any Hounds to worry about on our exit out of here, over.”

Maverick was about to respond when the ground beneath him rumbled violently and North suddenly found himself flung into the air along with pieces of metal and concrete. When he landed on the ground he rolled out of the way of a large block of concrete and pulled out both his guns. The cause of the explosion had been none other than the man they had come to rescue.

Cain was covered in the same wiring that Omega and the others had been. His helmet was removed and his eyes were red with rage. “You’re trespassing on private property. I have been ordered to apprehend you by order of Ahab!”

The air was still and Wisdom imitated it with flawless skill as he scanned over Sebastian Shaw’s e-mail. Both his hands rested gently on his leather swivel chair’s armrest and a cigarette hung limply from his mouth. His jet-black hair was slightly disheveled (as always) and his tie was just as much out of order.

His lack of movement didn’t change once Psylocke entered the disorganized office. Betsy and Peter had at one time been in a relationship and as a result she felt she could connect with him better than anyone else in X-Corps. Seeing his utter stillness she asked, “Luv, what’s wrong? You look like a ghost just walked through here.”

Wisdom spun the computer screen towards Psylocke. She squinted her eyes and began to walk across the room to see what he was displaying clearer. “Shaw sent me an e-mail offering up a good amount of intel on black Womb.”

“Is it legit? This is Shaw we’re talking about here,” Psylocke reminded knowing full and well the manipulations of Shaw and his brand of scum.

“Figuring that out should be oodles of fun,” Wisdom replied as he leaned back in his seat.

“Well, one has to think of Shaw’s motives here.”

“Which in my experience is purely personal,” Cable said as he walked into the room fully armored and ready to blaze into battle.

Betsy looked Nathan up and down with an amazed eye. “Relaxation might be a good thing for you to take up.”

Wisdom chuckled, but still managed to maintain control of his nicotine stick. ‘Despite the heavy dress, Cable does have point. Shaw is all about himself and his own aggrandizement. He doesn’t give out anything freely.”

“So is he trying to set us up for is he trying to use us to harm Black Womb?” Psylocke asked.

“More than likely some of both,” Cable said. “There really is no way for us to be sure if the information is authentic.”

Wisdom hated to admit that Cable was right, but Shaw had not given them any means to prove or disprove his information. They were simply gong to have to make an educated guess. “My gut tells me that this information is legitimate. In Shaw’s eyes we’re probably shite compared to Black Womb.”

“So we go with the information?” Betsy asked. She wasn’t quite as sure of Wisdom’s assessment. Shaw had suffered defeat by the hands of the x-Men for too many times to underestimate their capabilities.

“We shouldn’t make any kind of decision now. I suggest we wait for Bishop’s return and them make our assessment of the issue,” Cable suggested knowing it would be purely instinctual to decide something right at the moment.

Finally reaching for a lighter in his coat pocket, Wisdom said, “At the rate Bishop is going we won’t see him till fall.”

“Rather him at fall then a crazed Juggernaut now,” Psylocke defended.

“Everyone get out of his range!” Bishop commanded as all of his team backed away from juggernaut with as much speed as they could muster. An inhuman roar issued forth from Juggernaut as he turned on Bishop. The former XSE unleashed his guns from torso holsters and commenced to unload barrage after barrage of streaming pink energy. Each blast that connected only seemed to throw Juggernaut back a step or two. Bishop knew though his blast shouldn’t even have done that. An idea struck him as he ran full speed at Juggernaut. When that last moment of safety came he rolled between his teammate’s massive legs and landed behind the behemoth man. Bishop was about to shoot him in the back of the head, but he saw a few glowing plasma globules had beat him to the punch.

Looking back to a smiling Tabitha, he nodded and gave Meltdown her cue. With a snap of her petite fingers the plasma bombs exploded with such force that Bishop was sent skidding along the ground at the feet of Maverick. North helped Bishop to his feet and they both watched as Juggernaut fell to the ground face first. Fighting back his vertigo and pounding eardrums Bishop said, “He’s weakened! Hit him now while he’s down! Do it!”

Maverick took off in a sprint and the still dazed Bishop followed closely behind. The three operatives were applying their various talents to Cyttorak’s chosen warrior.

“I’ve knocked out all that funky ass circuitry!” Bedlam said as he jumped off Juggernaut’s back and ran to the nearest computer console. He needed to be sure that there weren’t any other unexpected surprises moving their way. If Ahab really was gene-splicing Hounds then they were all in for a world of hurt. Jesse just prayed his assumptions were wrong.

Maverick and Bishop unloaded their weapons. If Juggernaut was indeed in a weakened state they there was a chance that their weapons could actually hurt Juggernaut. A frantic Bedlam ran back towards them waving his hands in the air. “Stop wasting ammo! That’s not Cain!”

<Could have told you that!> Omega thought as he teleported in with a group of six Hounds. His telepathy was keeping them in check. No way was Quentin going to let his playthings go to waste.

“Weren’t you supposed to leave those outside?” Meltdown asked from behind Omega.

Telekinetic energy flared around his body as he floated into the air. <You know me. Such a stickler for the rules.>

Mimic flew in front of Quentin and said, “Stop fooling around. Juggernaut is somewhere in this base.”

<We’ll encounter more of these false Juggernauts before we get to the real one.>

“Not an option,” Bishop said as he loaded a new clip into his plasma rail gun. “We find Cain and get out now.”

<Then I have a suggestion.>

A pink rip appeared suddenly in front of Quentin and a voice came forth from it. “Actually, pup I think you should let me handle this situation.”

From the rip stepped forth a decrypt old man wearing a brown trench coat that disguised black rags underneath. Bishop immediately recognized the man and exclaimed, “The Witness! What are you doing here?”

The old man smiled at his former employee. “I’m here to help. Don’t ask too many questions pup. Might give you a headache.”

Neither having time nor desire to argue Bishop said, “Fine. We’ll see just how useful your help is.”

Stretching forth his hands The Witness closed his eyes and said, “I suggest Bishop that you take your little pet Hounds and get outside of this base. I’m about to incinerate anything in here that isn’t the least bit organic.”

Bishop realized just what drastic measures the geriatric was taking and said to Quentin, “Get us out of here now!”

Omega nodded. “Will do.”

As a Hound latched on to each member of Bishop’s team they saw the pink energy begin to flow from The Witness. They were far away from the base by the time The Witness had really gone to work. The power poured out of him like water from a broken dam and flooded Ahab’s base. Every mechanical object, every scrap of metal, every ounce of rust, anything that wasn’t organic was going to be lit afire.

Bishop and his team watched from afar as a tower of energy erupted forth from Ahab’s base. Maverick looked over at his leader and asked, “Can we trust this guy?”

“No,” Bishop answered plainly. “And honestly, I have no clue why he would choose now of all moments to make himself known in this time period. I don’t trust it. I’m almost concerned if we should be saving Juggernaut at all.”

“C’mon now! Juggernaut has proven himself to be a good guy. Just cuz one of your creepy ass friends shows up doesn’t mean we all of a sudden can’t trust Cain,” Meltdown said in defense of her teammate.

Bishop scowled at Tabitha. “He’s not my friend.”

“I’m picking up on Juggernaut’s mental patterns. He’s unconscious, but unharmed. As for your friend…I think he’s long gone,” Omega reported.

“Another problem for another day. Let’s get Juggernaut before someone else decides to scoop him up,” Bishop said.

As the X-Corps members made their way to the base’s wreckage they were watched from afar by a satisfied old man.

“You’ll get your answers soon pup. Just enjoy the favor for now.”