Vance moved onto the stairs and gripped the railing as the woman was now more visible standing across the way. “Don’t suppose you can tell me where I am and what this is all about?”
“You come to challenge Morgan for the Heart Emblem; you will fall to the might of my team!”
“Yeah, didn’t think so. That thing I said in the past about wanting to fight some of the X-Men’s classic foes, I take it back. I really take it back.”
From Morgan’s hand flew a large black ball that hit the ground and seemed to burst open with light. From within emerged a figure in the shape of a man with electricity seeming to flow all around its body and from every orifice and limb. With a screech it moved forward till it reached the middle of her half of the field. “Choose your team wisely!” Cheer within the voice signaled that Morgan was clearly excited for the fight to come.
Muttering, Vance grabbed one of the few orbs upon his belt. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Here goes nothing.”
The orb hit the ground moments later and a figure burst out in the same light as from Morgan’s. Instead of a man made of electricity there came a man made of ice from within Vance’s. A man of ice that was more than familiar, the large X emblazoned upon his chest not necessary for recognition. With a loud groan Bobby Drake slapped his forehead. “You have got to be kidding me.”
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#6
DEC 10 |
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No Business like Show Business, Part Two
“Life's A Show”
“Life's A Show”
Firestar
Pain shot through the head and just about everything else as consciousness returned. Gone was the bright but sort of grim surroundings of the police station. In its place was a dark and damp area that smelled much like a sewer. Upon closer inspection it was hard not to tell that it was in fact a sewer. Fabulous.
Groaning, Angelica grabbed at her head as she rose to a sitting position. “Just great. Clocked by the crazy mutant attacker and kidnapped to the sewer…the cliché event for just about all female characters in forms of entertainment at some point.”
Muttering seemed to echo slightly in the area, with each second of eyes adjusting to the dark the more of the cavernous area could be seen. Effort was taken to stand but a chain around the waist brought her down and if it hadn’t the excruciating pain from the leg injury would have. With a grunt Angelica fell back to the ground and gripped her injured leg.
Out of the shadows a figure emerged sort of shambling her way. As the shadows parted more it was clear to see it was the man who had attacked the precinct screaming for Stella. Gone was the anger that had seemed so prevalent in the eyes before. Instead they seemed glazed over perhaps as if confusion had come over the man. “Stella?”
With that came a sigh. Clearly the man was even more unhinged than she had figured seeing as somehow the idea that she was Stella had formed within his mind. “No, I’m not Stella. I promise you.”
“But Stella...”
“Why don’t you...err tell me about Stella. Maybe I can help you find her.” It was worth a shot.
“Stella was beautiful...she was mine...so lovely.”
The use of the word was got picked up quickly. Apparently Stella both wasn’t beautiful anymore and had left him, or she was dead which was proving to be possibly the more likely option. “Is...is Stella dead?”
An anguished cry came with a nod as the man knelt down and began to weep. “They took her from me. They shot her. The men in blue.”
The attack on the police precinct was explained at least. Somehow the cops had shot Stella, perhaps if she was a mutant like the man she had gone off on people just the same and been taken down. That led to him figuring on attacking them back.
“I don’t think they meant to shoot Stella...I promise you. Stella wouldn’t want you to be angry and destructive. You’ll get hurt. She wouldn’t want that.”
“No...no get hurt. Stella wouldn’t want. You very pretty, you stay with me.”
“Err no, I have a fiancé.”
“No, you stay.”
There was no arguing with the large mutant and before any such argument could be made he had shambled away leaving Angelica alone again. “Well, that went wonderfully.” All around the tunnel became brighter as a white light enveloped the young woman and all faded away.
Longshot, Shadowcat, Sunfire
Shiro’s arms were crossed and the man’s face painting a picture of not even being remotely interested in any of the proceedings. “Typical American entertainment. It’s a wonder you haven’t been conquered with such mind numbing dreck upon your airwaves.”
All around them chairs were knocked aside as a couple figures were seen rolling around the stage. Longshot found himself beneath a few of the rejected suitors from the reality program Mojo had chosen for them. Another was standing and cheering them on, randomly trying to kick out and hit Longshot and avoid any of his fellows doing the attacking.
“Will you get off your high horse and help your teammate!” Hands slid to the hips as a frown grew upon Kitty’s face. Shiro was just about on her last nerves.
“If you insist.” Hands rose to allow the fire energies within to be released. Nothing happened. Hands kept moving as if suddenly the fire would pour out. “Truly annoying.” At the same moment the third man leapt and tackled Shiro to the ground sensing the man had been meaning to attack him.
“Oh brother.” Kitty leapt forward and kicked at the man who was on Shiro. “Leave him alone. He’s annoying but he’s our annoying guy.”
“Your way with words truly warms the heart.” Sarcasm dripped from the words as Shiro got leverage and shoved the man aside.
“Yeah, well, just be glad you are on my side. I’d have much worse things to say I’m sure.”
“A little help if you two are done sniping.” Both turned to see Longshot under a pile of the other bachelors.
“What I’d give for a camera right now.”
Kitty started to move forward with Shiro at her side when the last few rejected bachelors and, surprisingly, the host came out of nowhere and tackled them both. As the fight continued the crowd began to roar and pour out of the stands headed for the stage. An all out brawl was beginning. A white light appeared and enveloped them all and, just like Firestar in her own simulation, they found themselves fading away.
Jubilee, Phoenix, Archangel
“You just had to ask about the worst that could happen, didn’t you?”
Jean’s muttered words came as the redhead stared down at her overly inflated chest. Apparently part of the lives of the women in the various shows the current simulation was based on was getting cosmetic surgery. In the case of Jean at the moment it meant suddenly having a larger pair of breasts than she had come into the dimension with. Staggering a bit with trying to become adjusted with the new weight, a sigh rose. “When we get home, the channel that creates this crap is getting deleted.”
“Yesh, eye don’t wannit anymore.” Jubilee’s words were mashed and mixed up as she tried to speak over the large collagen enhanced lips that now were hers.
Warren shrugged at Jean’s first words. “Well, I really don’t see a problem with it.” A sly joking wink slipped out as Jean tried to whack the man but couldn’t get her hand up over the chest protrusions. “Careful, you might put an eye out with those things.”
“This is utterly ridiculous. What are we supposed to gain from this or how do we end it? There is no usual climax to the simulation like achieving a goal. It’s just the same things over and over. How are these people famous? Their lives are terrible.”
“Money buys a lot of things; trust me, I know that quite well. I don’t think there is a point to the scenarios this time. Mojo is trying to show us something, something to do with his offer no doubt. Hopefully he’ll tire of showing us this all soon and just tell us what is going on.”
“One can hope.” With Jubilee’s help Jean had finally found a chair and fell within it. Eyes fell upon the token couple of the scenario, their love seeming to fade as they were yelling at one another.
As Jubilee wandered away to find a way to deal with her lips, Warren caught Jean’s look and found a spot to sit beside her. “So....how are things with you and Scott? I know you guys had that whole retirement thing going on that I pulled you out of.”
“Not your fault, Warren. It wouldn’t have lasted.”
“Why not?”
“Scott’s....Scott’s different. He has been ever since Apocalypse. Others would say that he was more free and unrestrained like when we fought that Warp Savant kid, but there is more to it. Not only is he cutting loose in that way, he’s grimmer and crueler sometimes and just so withdrawn. He hasn’t touched me in weeks. We might as well be sleeping in separate rooms. The love...I don’t know where it went.”
There was a time in the past that Warren could have been the one with Jean, having come very close as their flirtations came close to something a bit more. But with Scott back in the picture after Madelyne, things hadn’t quite gone that way. It was one of those ‘could have’ been moments. When Jean had first come to the school all the guys were jockeying to curry her favor and catch her eye. Scott had been the one to catch her eye early on even when he didn’t realize it. The man was lucky that way. Warren would have killed for Jean’s attentions and affections back then, and if he was being honest with himself then he still would.
A hand clasped hers lightly as a small smile was given. “Scott still loves you, Jean…it’s just a rough patch. I’m sure that in no time you guys will be back to the high school sweethearts you are at heart. I guarantee it. Scott knows he’s a lucky man to have you. Anyone would love to be in his shoes, you just have to remind him of that is all.”
Even without using telepathy there was an obvious air that there was more to Warren’s words than the implied meaning. A light scan brought a red flush to her cheeks that she quickly hid…Scott hadn’t thought of her in such a way for quite some time. Typical that the man with such thoughts was not her husband; life was cruel that way. “I suppose your right, Warren. There isn’t much else I can do after all.”
There was a small part of Warren that hoped that Scott could never be shown how much Jean should mean to him. It was hurtful to think of a friend in such a way but the jealousy was speaking. Coveting another man’s wife was definitely a sin and so be it. As that thought grew all things went white as the X-Men vanished from the scenario.
Justice, Iceman
Deep breaths were taken as a slightly smoking Bobby fell back on the ground. “This is utterly ridiculous. Who the hell watches this stuff? And why did I have to be the little monster that lives in a ball?”
“Cause an icy monster is more fitting with the show than a handsome telekinetic monster.” Vance tried to stifle a laugh as Bobby shot him a glare. “At least you beat the other monster.”
Across the field the once sparking with electricity creature was crumpled in a heap, frost and some ice across parts of its body. Morgan had run off as soon as her monster lost. Vance found it odd as she had claimed she had more monsters and he should pick his team wisely. Clearly that wasn’t part of the scenario.
“Yeah, sure, I’m just a Kentucky Fried icicle at the end of it all. Have we figured out how to get out of this hell yet?”
“Still working on it. There has to be a way. We beat Morgan so that part is done.”
Loud thrashing came from behind as trees were slammed aside. Towering over them was a giant yellow creature that was reminiscent of quite a few dinosaurs of the past melded together. At its feet stood Morgan, a grin upon her ruby red lips. “Now you will fall for daring to ever challenge the great Morgan!”
“Oh, you have got to be kidding me!” Bobby’s jovial side was far from around in the current situation, and had taken a backseat even further back with Morgan’s return. “I have to fight that?”
Vance’s grin had faded as a serious tone was taken. “Looks that way...well here we go... Iceman...attack!” As Bobby leapt forward, ice bristling around him the world seemed to go white and then vanish entirely.
White light faded as every member of the team found themselves standing in a room full of television monitors. There was no roaring crowd as was usually to be found when coming to Mojoworld. Utter silence greeted the ears as surroundings were adjusted to. The experiences within the faux television shows were not forgotten. Angelica tried to lightly brush Vance away as the young man was at her side fussing over the slight gash on the forehead. Jean moved closer to Scott, perhaps for some little comfort, only to be rebuffed when he moved and in return moved back by Warren, who seemed to notice the incident out of the corner of an eye.
“Mojo! This game ends now.” Scott’s voice echoed around as they waited for the large alternate dimension being to drag himself from the shadows.
“What is his game anyways? Throwing us randomly through a bunch of weird ass shows fits but doesn’t fit, you know?” Bobby glanced between the others as if seeking the answer from anyone that could figure it out.
“They’re not random.” Warren spoke as an arm slid around Jean’s shoulder for comfort, a move that brought a missed look of irritation from Scott behind the man’s visor. “Before we came here the publicity department and a lot of Hollywood big shot producers and directors were pitching me ideas for media to help with the exposure of mutants. All of these shows we were in came from their rejected pitches. Mojo swept in during the middle of the meeting and stole myself and the Hollywood people. They weren’t in the simulations with us so he must be combing their minds for the ideas.”
“Comforting.” Words came with a sigh as Bobby began to glance around for Mojo as well. “So when do you think old tubby will show himself anyways?”
“Bobby, baby, you’re looking fabulous!” Loud clanking sounded as the metallic spider like appendages of Mojo’s transport moved the enormous being ever closer. Shadows parted as the media mogul had the usual giant grin upon his face. “Stupendous! Enormous! Your ratings were through the roof only second to Amazon Gladiators Mud Wrestling!”
“Enough, Mojo! Enough of this trivial, childish ratings and television show garbage. We should have blasted your ass out of this dimension a long time ago.” Words were punctuated by a hand rising to the red glowing visor. Jean’s frown grew as she became more and more concerned for the ever changing man she had married.
There seemed to be a change that came over Mojo in just that moment. Gone was the usual jovial air; instead there was a being set on a purpose with a mission. “Oh, I assure you, Mr. Summers, this is no game. No trivial ratings grab. This is reality. Or what reality could be.”
“You’re speaking in riddles. I tire of it.” Shiro stepped forward only to be stopped by a hand from Jean.
“Let him speak.”
Metal feet clanked against the floor more as the usual villain began to circle around the X-Men as if they were prey. “The universe is a changing place. Mutants, once at the bottom of the heap now near the top. Celebrated! Idolized! Why it’s practically a new age. Marketing galore! The products speak for themselves, don’t they child?” Yellow-tinted eyes fell upon Jubilee, causing the young woman’s skin to prickle in goose bumps. “The X-Men are the next big thing, mutant’s right there with them. You’re the newest Jersey Shore…just with more talent in your whole body than in their tiny little brains I dare say.”
“Get to the point now, Mojo.”
“Ever the one to push forward, Mr. Summers. You’re a veritable gold mine as a franchise. You’ve seen the small ideas the so called media moguls of your dimension can offer. So upon the table I offer you now my services. All the media rights to be retained by Mojo Incorporated, of course, and a modest share of the profits for yourselves or your school or some charity for mutants without shoes for all I care. You want mutants out there as poster children and heroes; I offer you the means to do that. I offer you my media technology and skills. I offer you my services.”
“What...?” All were speechless, only Vance managing to utter out something, even if it was only the one word left hanging.
“Oh yes…I am but a humble servant offering his services for a meager fee of course. Sixty percent, preferably seventy, but I’m feeling quite generous today.”
“You truly must be mad to think that we’d ever even consider such an offer.” At last Warren stepped forward to speak, much to Scott’s displeasure.
Scott moved in to step forward himself. “Enough of this. Send us back home now, Mojo, or we’ll end your dimension permanently.”
With a pop and flash the X-Men’s leader was gone. As were all the others save for Warren and Jean. The two glanced around in confusion. “Where did you...”
“They were cramping my style. Besides, you two clearly are more suited to such negotiations. I’ll tell you what, offers on the table. Take some time. Think about it. Just don’t take too long, the future is such a shifting thing. But, then again, some juicy things are coming your way, just perfect for movies. The people do love a good action movie with death.”
“Death...” Warren’s words were cut off as suddenly the conference room of Graymalkin was around them. The others were all gathered around in confusion having just arrived themselves, clearly the work of Spiral.
Scott eyed the winged mutant. “What do you mean death?”
“I don’t know...I truly don’t know.”
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