GENETIC ECLIPSE

Part VI: Put Into the Shade

By David Wheatley and Daniel Sauve

Author’s Note: This story is continued from Uncanny X-Men #15.

Charles Xavier rubbed his head as he awoke. What was going on, he wondered for a moment, feeling the ice around him. Then it came to him.

They were under attack from Sabretooth and Black Tom Cassidy, the new Horsemen of Apocalypse – War and Famine, respectively.

He reached out to his X-Men only to find them in serious danger. He knew they were mere moments from defeat, however he could sense Spark in the Danger Room and he sent out a telepathic signal to her.

{Angela.}

{Professor?} she asked.

{The others need your help.}

(Bobby told me to wait for him.}

{I’m countermanding that. If you don’t help, the X-Men are dead.}

{But…}

{I know you’re scared, Angela, but courage is something you find after the actions are taken. Plus, I sense a new arrival.}

{Who?}

{A friend. Hurry, child, the others have been defeated.}

“We’ve wasted too much time,” said Famine. War acknowledged him with a growl and stood over the body of Gambit as Famine crouched down to touch Rogue and Kurt, killing two birds with one stone.

“No!” came a voice and the Horsemen looked up. Spark stood there. “You want them, you’ll have to come through me!”

“You an’ what army?” asked War with a chuckle.

“That would be me,” said a voice behind him. “Hello, Tom.”

“Cain!” said Famine, turning to see the Juggernaut.

“Rematch!” growled Creed, his defeat at Juggernaut’s hands fresh in his mind.

“Dinnae be a fool,” shouted Black Tom as Creed leapt at Cain Marko. He was hit by the fist of the Juggernaut and sent reeling back against the wall, his bones shattering on the impact of Cain’s fist..

“Ah, Cain, ye’ve still got style,” said Famine as he looked at his former ally. “A shame I’ll have to be stoppin’ ye.”

“You an’ what army, Tom?” asked Juggernaut, hoping it wouldn’t become a fight between the two of them. That had happened all too much of late.

“No army. Between Apocalypse and Weapon X, I’m more than a match for the Juggernaut!”

“What about the Juggernaut and an X-Man?” asked Spark as she fired off a bolt, narrowly missing Cassidy’s head.

“D’ye qualify?” he taunted.

“Yes, she does,” said Nightcrawler, standing, mostly recovered from Creed’s strangulation.

“An’ they ain’t alone, sugah,” said Rogue, also feeling better after connecting with Famine. Gambit and Iceman were still down from Tom’s energy blast a moment ago.

“Neither’s Famine,” said Creed standing, his healing factor having repaired the damage done by the Juggernaut’s punch.

“Rogue, Spark, we’ll deal with Sabretooth,” said Kurt. “Let Cain deal with Tom.”

“Good thinkin’,” said Marko, and he smiled. He knew that if anyone could talk sense in to Tom it would be his only friend, and Nightcrawler knew it as well. With luck, Tom would have conflicting messages from not only Weapon X and Apocalypse, but possibly some of his Hand programming as well. Cain went outside to get some room to fight with, and Juggernaut followed.

“Bobby won’t like it,” said Spark.

“We’ll ask him when he wakes up,” said Kurt and teleported out in a stench of brimstone. This trick had worked earlier and this time he knew what Creed would do. The thing with Sabretooth was he never altered his style, which was why Logan beat him more often than not.

Last time it had been a distraction to Creed, nothing more, however after Marko’s slam it proved to be more effective. As he punched and teleported, and punched and teleported he made ready for Creed’s attempt to grab him.

“You don’t learn, do ya, boy?” said War as he grabbed the air, only to find Nightcrawler gone. “Huh?” he asked only to be met by electricity surging through his body from the security sensors in the floor.

Spark smiled as she upped the voltage on him with her powers, but Creed’s healing factor was kicking in and he leapt up in to the air, so he wasn’t in contact with the electricity or grounded for it affect him.

However Kurt had counted on this, and Rogue flew in, her hands clasped together and punched War in the chest with a mighty blow, Creed’s ribs cracking under the punishment. It sent him flying back, through a window and out in to the open.

“Sorry,” said Rogue. “Shoulda looked where I was hitting.”

“Don’t worry,” said Bobby, standing up, his head throbbing and he also had a craving for a cheeseburger or twelve. “Now we help Juggernaut.” He wanted a crack at Cassidy for his ambush and was ready to take him out, one way or another.

“Nein,” said Kurt, seeing the anger in his eyes. “Allow Cassidy and Marko to fight each other. We’ll get in the way.”

“But…” said Bobby, and Kurt placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Mein freund,” he said. “You are the field leader of the X-Men. Emotions are well placed, but you need to think rationally.” Bobby’s cheeks flushed.

“If Bobby thinks we take on Famine, we take on Famine,” said Spark, coming over to the blue-furred German. “Just because you were a leader of some team once, doesn’t make you one now.” Kurt opened his mouth as if to say something but did not.

“Now wait a minute,” said Rogue, leaping to her foster brother’s defense.

“Or what?” asked Spark.

“Guys, c’mon!” said Iceman, sheathing himself in ice. “Bickering isn’t going to help. Nightcrawler, I’m field leader, I don’t expect my decisions questioned. Spark, that was out of order. Kurt’s right. Rogue, leave it.”

“This wouldn’t have happened with Storm in charge,” she muttered, a tone in which Robert Drake heard his own words to Storm, criticizing her actions – or lack of them. It also reminded him that she had told him she would not be questioned either.

“Probably not,” he said, forcing himself to remain calm. “Kurt, other than Ororo, you have the most experience here as a team leader. Anytime you want to give me advice, or question what I’m doing – go ahead.”

“Danke,” said Kurt. “I’m sorry if I took over, it’s just…”

“I know,” said Bobby. “Forget about it. Now let’s take down Sabretooth.”

In the meantime, Charles had managed to crawl to a small room in the mansion, a task made easier by Robert’s ice slide, which had brought him away from the action. He concentrated his thoughts and reached out.

{Logan.}

{Chuck?} came the feral X-Man’s reply.

{Logan, the situation is grave, I need you back at the mansion immediately.}

{Chuck, I’m kinda busy right now. Is it that important?}

{I would not call otherwise. Two of Apocalypse’s Horsemen are attacking the X-Men. One of them is Sabretooth.}

{I’ll never get there in time,} said Logan, Charles sensing the growing tension in his voice. {Not even using the warp chambers of Landau, Luckman and Lake.}

{Where are you?} asked Xavier, and Logan explained what was going on. {I understand,} said Xavier. {Continue your mission and we will regroup later.}

{Good luck,} came Logan’s answer, and Xavier sent the same in return before breaking contact. The Xavier focused. He had someone else to contact.

Outside, Marko and Cassidy were facing off against each other. Thanks to Doctor Strange, Black Tom no longer possessed the ability to breach the magics that protected the Juggernaut, however the Celestial technology that Apocalypse had created the new Famine were almost up to the task.

Cassidy’s wood form was dented and broken from Marko’s blows but the damage that should have been done by Juggernaut’s attack was not apparent, and Famine was healing himself rebuilding his body from the natural goodness around him.

Decay and death began to flow around the green grass and foliage of the Xavier Estate, pre-empted by a black flow of energy that was absorbing the life force. This provided Cassidy with the power to focus his energies underneath Cain, as he had done with Gambit moments ago.

Marko fell to his knees, as the powers could not drain his life force without removing the magic first, and that was what it was doing. Mystically reaching in to the realm of Cytorrak and draining the life force of the god-like entity itself.

Because Cain Marko was using the powers of Cytorrak, either Cytorrak would be unable to defend and eventually fall, thus rendering the ruby that powered the Juggernaut useless, or Cytorrak would take back those powers, and Marko would wither away to an emaciated husk.

Either way, Famine would win; even if he had to drain the life force from all of Salem Center.

“Tom,” said Marko as he inched towards him. “Remember who you are, remember who you were.”

“Nae likely,” said Tom. “Always second best tae Sean, always a step behind the rest o’ the mutant populace, even Theresa left. Ye’re never around any more, wanting tae go ‘straight’. As Black Tom Cassidy, I had nobody. As Famine, I have my three brothers, my loving father and his Dark Rider entourage!”

“You’re not Black Tom, you’re Weapon X!” said Cain.

“I…” said Famine, faltering a moment. He hadn’t been expecting that. “No.”

“Weapon X, the latest, the best,” continued Cain, seeing the ploy work. The Project had great brainwashing techniques, and they were never fully removed. They may have cured him of his virus, but the price had been high.

“I’m not Weapon X, I’m Famine! Famine!”

“You’re not Famine, you’re Weapon X,” said Cain, sensing Tom’s hold falter, and followed it up with a punch. He still had a good reach and smacked him in the face.

“I’m…” said Famine dazed, not only from the punch but he was tiring from attacking Cyttorak and using powers he was not used to for such long lengths of time.

“Weapon X.”

“Weapon X,” said Famine, falling to the floor, holding his head. “I’m Weapon X!” His confusion, plus the mighty blow of the Juggernaut had rattled his brains.

“You’re not Weapon X,” said Cain. “You’re Tom!” If he could keep him confused, then maybe he could put him down without doing any major harm.

Meanwhile the X-Men were after War.

Iceman was looking for him in terms of body temperature, and Rogue via the seventh sense she gained when she absorbed the powers of Ms. Marvel.

Kurt was traveling in the shadows and Spark was keeping an eye on Gambit, who was still groggy after his own taste of Famine’s energy blast.

“Where is he?” asked Gambit, wanting to go after Creed.

“We don’t know,” said Spark. “Rogue knocked him outside and we lost him.”

“So dey’re hunting de ‘unter?” he said, his accent coming through quite strongly. “Waste o’ time.”

“How would you know?”

“I found him once. Do it again. Gotta know how he thinks.”

“How?”

“Easy kills to get de confidence up first. He thrives on terror.” Then his eyes opened. “SARAH!” He scrambled to his feet and went down to the infirmary. Sabretooth had left a job unfinished – that was where he’d go first.

Spark stood there watching him go, wondering whether or not to follow. She sighed and went after him, catching up to him as he stood in the doorway.

“Knew it’d you, LeBeau,” said War, his teeth gleaming. Storm was still inert on the bed, leaving both herself and Marrow at Sabretooth’s pleasure.

“Leave them alone, Creed, jus’ you an’ me.”

“You’d like that, eh, Cajun?” said War. “Up close? Personal? Looking me in the eye?” His eyes seemed to glow a touch as Gambit looked at him. “Apocalypse altered me more than increasing my healing factor and senses, he made it so my appetite for killing can be spread to others.”

Gambit knew too late he’d been suckered, and tore his eyes away for Creed, looking at Angela. However it was too late to escape Creed’s newfound ability and now Gambit looked at Spark not as an ally, but a victim.

Before she knew what was happening, his fist had been brought down on her, knocking her to the floor. He fell on top of her, placing his hands over arms, pinning her down. Against his strength their was little she could do.

As his hands clasped her wrists, she started to struggle, trying to get away, as Gambit began to charge her clothes with bio-kinetic energy. Eventually, they’d explode, turning the fragile body that wore them in to a burnt messy pulp.

“Heure de mourir, petite,” he said. Spark didn’t understand so War translated for her.

“He said ‘time to die, little one’,” and Creed laughed. He turned to Marrow and spoke softly in to her ear. “Heure de mourir, petite.” He ripped two jagged bones from her chest forcing her to waken, screaming in pain.

She looked him in the eye, as he embedded his claws in to the holes left, grazing her lungs as he did so and as he was about to raise the claws and tear her lungs and heart from her chest, he was lifted by Storm in to the air and thrown towards Gambit, who was knocked off Spark.

Creed decided discretion was the better part of valour, as now he had lost his hold on Gambit, who would be angry at this and Storm was not one to be trifled with either.

“Help,” cried Spark, feeling the clothes getting ready to explode, and Storm unleashed a bolt of lightning at her, blowing the clothes from her body with the raw power, whilst Spark used her own powers to protect her from harm.

Then Storm turned her attention to Marrow.

“Sarah?” she asked, staggering from her own blow to the head earlier. Using her powers had not helped but there was no other choice.

“I’ll live,” she said, pulling the sheet around her, to preserve some sense of modesty. Sabretooth’s assault had not had decency in mind and left her upper torso uncovered.

“I got Angela covered,” said Gambit, placing his overcoat around her naked body, taking great care not to impinge on her personal space. “Je suis desole,” he said to her, but she did not reply.

War’s attack had done more damage than merely physical.

On the grounds the X-Men had not found their quarry, but they had found Juggernaut and Famine.

Famine however was sitting on the ground, sobbing.

“I dinnae know who I am,” he said. Cain, put his arms around his friend.

“You’re Tom Cassidy, and you are not a failure,” he said.

“Yuir my friend, aren’t ye?” said Tom.

Juggernaut nodded.

“How hard did he hit him?” asked Bobby and Kurt shrugged.

“It’s not how you hit him, but what with,” said Rogue, having an empathy towards him. From the reports Black Tom had been brainwashed several times in the past year. By the Hand, by Weapon X, and now by Apocalypse, as if he had willingly let go of his former self, trying to find someone better.

Rogue knew what having other people’s thoughts in your mind was like. She knew how confusing it was, and she also knew there were times when she didn’t know who she was herself, though only for a moment. Then she sensed something behind her and turned.

“WAR!” she shouted as Creed bounded toward them, his claws still dripping with Marrow’s blood. The hearts of the X-Men froze; what had happened whilst they were turned away? However, this had been planned for.

Iceman reacted quickly and created a wall of ice. Kurt kissed Rogue and she absorbed his powers and psyche and he fell to the floor. Then she teleported in as Creed hit the wall of ice and followed up with punches as Nightcrawler had done earlier – except she hit harder and Sabretooth’s claws couldn’t hurt her, and if he touched her without killing her, he would fall over just as easily as anyone else.

It had only been a brief contact and the powers soon wore off, but it was enough time for her to get clear and rejoin the others, helping Kurt to his feet. They were backed by Juggernaut, and in the background they could see Gambit and Storm coming as well.

Creed knew when he was outnumbered. It was time to go, and they had created divisions in the team by their presence.

“FAMINE!” he called. “Time ta go.”

“Are ye my friend?” called back Black Tom.

“Yeah,” said Creed, knowing whatever had been done to Famine’s mind could easily be fixed by Apocalypse. Black Tom’s defenses were almost non-existent these days and they were both teleported out.

“TOM!” shouted Cain as he saw his partner vanish, but there was nothing he could do.

“Taken by Apocalypse,” said Storm as she arrived.

“You goin’ after him?” asked Marko.

“That’s up to Charles,” said Iceman, before Storm could answer.

“Then let’s go chat with Chuck,” said Cain, and the X-Men went to find their mentor.

They found him in the War Room, where he was watching someone on the communications relay.

“It’s just the others. Please repeat what you just told me, Henry,” he said, as Bobby’s mouth opened. Was this a halt in the hostilities?

“Well,” said the Beast. “The short version is that Shadowcat was captured by the Dark Riders and Apocalypse,” at which Storm gasped and Nightcrawler clenched a fist. “We tried to stop them, but failed, then before we had chance to recover, two new Horsemen attacked – Pestilence and Death. At the same time my Legacy Virus data was copied and stolen.”

“What happened with the Horsemen?” asked Bobby.

“Cable arrived and we managed to drive them off,” prompting Bobby to raise a clenched fist, ‘yes’ escaping from his lips. “However there was a price. Pestilence infected Jean. She’s dying and so are the twins.”

Silence filled the room and it was Xavier who shattered the quiet.

“This is too great a threat for pride to get in the way,” he said. “Henry, get Scott and the others. To deal with this we need to work together. I would like you to return to the mansion. I want you to come home.”

Read Apocalypse #9, Shadowcat #7, Cable #9, Genetic Eclipse: Gambit #1, & Wolverine #14 for parts 7-11 of Genetic Eclipse!

NEXT ISSUE: Genetic Eclipse Part 12! The X-Men vs. the Dark Riders.