Quest for the Nullifier (Villains)

[Anarchy - Adrian Macbeth]

Anarchy took his first steps off the experimental military jet and breathed in the amazingly fresh, completely pollution free air and dared a little smirk. He had heard of this place many times from within Clan Akkaba and he often mused that such a secret valley of lost history was truly not so secret at all. In fact it seemed many people knew of this place which meant they would need to make all the more speed and haste towards their goal. “Come all… we are close to the Mutate Stronghold…” He had during the flight insisted that they land near but not directly in the clearing where the Mutates had established a base under the united leadership of Brain Child and Sauron. Though both had pledged their allegiance to Mystique in return for a share of power the object they had received would provide Anarchy did not yet trust them… He could not… he would not. Hell he barely trusted his own allies, especially the new ones which had joined them at the clearing.

He looked behind him with a dark glare at the man who referred to himself as Minion and the woman who seemed to display two separate personalities. It had been a majority vote that night as they presented themselves that their added power would be of benefit on this mission. Mystique already had plans to kill them both were they to step out of line and/or when the mission was complete. She herself did not trust them but she had voted to bring them along for powers sake. He on the other hand along with Cordelia Frost had both voted no. He knew the woman was a latently powerful empathy and perhaps a psychic like her sister and it had been Lady Mastermind and her own powers which had so far been enhancing Cordelia’s and drawing them out but even without Martinique’s help it seemed that she sensed in them what he suspected, they were not trustworthy… they would be liabilities.

He looked to Pyro, Blob, Avalanche, Cordelia, and Lady Mastermind for a moment as they too made their way off the jet. They did not look impressed by the sight before them which led him to believe that at least some of them had been here before and the others did not care about such natural wonders. Even he the son of Apocalypse seemed to have more nobility then this rabble. It disgusted him to be traveling and working with these self proclaimed Mutant Freedom Fighters… Then there was Mystique, his past and quite recent lover as well as the Mutant who had betrayed him and helped set about events which led to his enslavement to Apocalypse and Clan Akkaba. She too did not look impressed, he knew she had been here, but she did have a different air about her then the rest, he suspected she knew the importance of a land such as this.

“Let’s go… the Mutates have our prize waiting for us.” Mystique quipped as she moved to the head of the group and cocked her large military assault rifle which hung over her shoulder in readiness for whatever the jungle or their so called allies may throw at them. “Keep your eyes peeled. This place is crawling with prehistoric beasts and creatures beyond your imagination.” She spoke in a semi-loud voice just short of a yell to those she knew had yet never set foot on these lands, like himself. “Aye, Last time we were here loves I near had to burn down this here jungle.” Pyro called out with a sadistic chuckle as he fired a short flame burst in the air from his wrist mounted flame canons then turned to wink at the ladies in their party. Both Cordelia and Martinique glared at him then both turned up their noses at the man whom they viewed as a pathetic fool. This caused Blob to below a great laugh and slap his long time teammate hard on the back causing Pyro to stumble slightly. “Still batting a thousand with the ladies eh hot shot?” Pyro grumbled under his breath at this once he had regained his footing then continued on in silence only now and then turning to glare at the pair of psychic mutants.

None of this seemed to faze Avalanche’s stoic demeanor as he trudged along in silence with his eyes open, always looking around him. He, like Mystique, Blob and Pyro had been here before and he knew the dangers of this place. He did not take this little journey lightly and for that fact alone he along with Anarchy were the first to see their very first hurtle in this little race. “Raptor’s!” He called out in his thick eastern European accent just before firing a seismic blast from his hands at the first set of charging bipedal reptiles. “Ready yourselves mates these critters are nasty!” Pyro laughed again and then aimed and fired instantly incinerating one of the beasts while severely burning another.

From what Anarchy could see these were larger than normal raptors, much like the fake anamatronic ones in the movie Jurassic Park which were far larger and more menacing then what current fossils had proven most raptors to be. Perhaps this was a yet undiscovered species or a new evolution only having ever existed in this secret Antarctic valley. Whatever the case he was ready for the prehistoric monster which leapt from the nearby jungle pushes to snap at his throat and try to slash him with the large hook like claws on their feet. “Oh no you don’t laddie.” He growled with his thick Scottish accent and slashed with his own hand which had become twice as large, metallic in color and bladed on all fingers and thumbs. The shape shifting powers of his father were strong in him, stronger than any other member of Clan Akkaba, the descendents of He Who Never Dies himself. As another jumped at him from his opposite side his other arm became long and thin, metallic like his bladed hand but serpent like in form, a metal tentacle with a sharp tip much like a scorpions stinger at the end. It wrapped around the animals throat and snapped it instantly while also stabbing the raptor through the heart. “Pathetic prehistoric trash!” He roared and tossed the dinosaur aside only to watch the carcass crash into Blobs stomach and bounce off.

“Watch it Shorty!!!” The massive mutant called out before grimacing as one of the dinosaurs’s leaped onto his back and began to claw at his unbreakable flesh and bite into his triple chinned neck. “Hey!!! Get off of me you stinking lizard!” He drawled and tried as best he could to reach back with his fat arms to grab at it but finding it impossible. “Why did we even bring you Dukes if you are going to stand around like a giant useless marshmallow?” Snarled Mystique as she turned took aim and fired her high powered rifle at the raptor on Blobs back causing its head to explode the second the military grade bullets punctured its skull. “This is a big pack Lady Mastermind called out next with Cordilea beside her, both in a seeming strain to concentrate with all the chaos around them as well as shoot any raptors which came near to them with their fully automatic hand pistols. “We cannot control them; their minds are too feral, too primitive.” Cordelia shouted out as she took aim and fired at one of the raptors about to jump upon Avalanche.

[lifelink]

It had been sometime since the events with Sage, and though she had not recollection of what happened since the conversation of eternally holding her away, the marks that were left on her body and the unknown room told the story that to them she was an enemy.

Wondering in the shadows, she had no job, no love or life. Hiding among the scum, hated and unseen she continued on her fixed road of her future. Her mind wandered through times as many moments she experienced the visions of many's deaths in depth. Hours later awakening form the control of Robin as she took over and guided her body along the road thrusted upon them.

Now she stood, among the many hated, infamous and dangerous mutants of the world. Each more dangerous than the next. She stood there muted and hidden by her sulk black cloak that hid her face from the scars that still slowly were sowing back together. Felt so long since she looked beautiful, or spoken. She had experienced each of them killing her, the next more vile than the first. She couldn't talk, she was helpless. She had to remain silent for her life. her name was reduced to 'Lifelink' due to her powers and connection to Robin.

She wore two leather gloves wielded by a pistol in each hand. Her body was covered in a black Gothic look that hid her body and her feelings within.

She blindly followed them as they wandered through the environment appeared to be alerted there presence and almost watching them. She walked, the guns held shakily as she wandered on, she dared not look at any of them, her head traced the floor around her with an occasional glance back to make sure she wasn't followed.

A call of alarm

Within moments, the party became under siege by creatures of the un-imaginable. She spun on the spot, each turn revealing a creature in duel with a mutant before being massacred in horrific ways. It was terrifying.

Her hands on the gun shakily aimed for the the beast on top of the blob. She fired hesitantly as the bullets skimmed past the beast into the forest.

Her mind was starting to go faint, as her mind latched from her head and weaved ahead through the fabrics of time, before planting down next to the future her. Despite the shock she wasn't as surprised, it was expected in this environment, and strangely she felt safe. Like pressing against glass, she couldn't be touched.

She watched as the future self of her shot insanely at the other creatures, her hands violently shaking that they missed so many times. A creature flies over Roberta, knocking her over. She lay there for a moment, injured and distressed. The mud all over her clothes. She look pathetic, even in her eyes. She felt hatred for herself swelling up, it was this state that she was seeing that gave her these scars and took her beauty.

She was alive though, it wasn't her. She turned round and watch the others. Her eyes caught onto Pyro as a creature leaped at great speed and latched onto his back over balancing him to the floor. It's fangs sinking into his neck as it ripped deep into his flesh and gushed his blood and other red things out of him.

She watched, partly with a deep want for him to die. He was cruel and terrible, he deserved it. But with his death comes hers, it's her powers and they all knew what she could do. These people were all that was left of her life so she had to keep them, even in mutual agreement to hate each other.

Her mind rested back into her head as she instantly moved out of the way to allow the jumping creature through as it landed before it's head removed by the blast of mystique.

Her Pistols moved towards Pyro before moving to the spot she saw the beast coming from. Blinking with each shot she took she fired many round into the direction. She could see sparks fly off the best where she shot as they failed to penetrate. With near the last shot she caught lucky as a bullet sank into the beast eye causing it to falter as the body hit the floor and bounced over pyro landing heavily.

She felt sympathy for the beast yet the must of it's death. She had to lock herself away from this darkness, she couldn't let her innocence be infected. She did however, feel slightly thrilled by her courage to take on a beast so big and wild and win.

[Anarchy - Adrian Macbeth]

The raptors were torn to pieces within minutes by the power of the evil Brotherhood. Those that survived fled into the jungle from whence they came. Anarchy looked around, pulling one of the beast’s claws which had snapped off in his shoulder in the battle and tossed it aside before looking around at his current comrades to see which ones still stood. To his delight the untrustworthy Minion had fallen… so much for the badass assassin he mused but as he turned to see the other, the strange woman, still lived whimpering on the ground he grimaced. Well he could not win them all he mused and moved towards her as Pyro approached and leaned down to help her up.

“You ok luv?” Pyro asked with a concern in his shaky voice while trying to help her to her feet. “I gotta say I didn’t think much of ya before but you saved my hide back there, I owe you one.” He smiled while pulling her up. “She is ok mate…” He said looking to Anarchy who still did not look impressed. “She needs to work on her aim… mate…” He retorted with a glare at the pair then turned his attention to Mystique. She, from what he could see was no worse for wear, which was good for it was her contacts they were meeting.

The rest of the group were, from what he could see, fine and that was good for despite his mistrust of the new comers, they were sure to need all the power they could muster. As Anarchy thought this he looked up to the sky covered by the dense jungle foliage. The dinosaurs were gone but he could not shake the feeling that they were being watched.

As they started to move on, leaving the dead reptiles behind Pyro stayed close to Life Link making sure the lass was ok. “Got a new girlfriend hot licks?” Blob laughed out loud which earned him a glare from Mystique who stayed unusually quiet at the head of the group with only Lady Mastermind now by her side. He found this interesting for up to now it had been he she had been confiding in but now as they drew into the prehistoric jungle she seemed to converse more with the powerful psychic mental artist of the group.

Was this jealousy he was feeling? No… could not be… he had let such foolish feelings go a long time ago. Yet seeing this angered him… it made his chest hurt a little… why…Why…WHY!

His glare turned once again to Life Link… she had an interesting power, this one was useful in her own way even if not trustworthy yet. “Lass… come here… please…” He lightly called ahead to the woman and tried his best to use his most courteous tone of voice. “She will be safe with me Pyro… go ahead and scout… do not take no from Mystique if she tells ya, I want to know what is up there and ye are the best ta warn us of danger be there any.”

Pyro glared at him but Anarchy glared right back and morphed his right hand into a sharp metallic talon with razor claws which would no doubt cut through near anything. This show of his power made the less powerful mutant grimace and nod before running ahead and ignoring anything the others said. “Lass you will be safer with me then that blighter.” He again addressed Life Link and motioned for her to join him at the back of the group. He wanted to talk with her… perhaps test her powers.

[lifelink]

Roberta felt herself get hurled up by the hand offered to her.
The sudden attention and respect given to her by her achievement.
It felt, to be truthful, like she was wanted.

Feeling the closeness from Pyro made her feel a touch wanted and stronger.
Something she had desired from many, regret almost touched her mind for wanting him to be slain.

She kept her hood up and accepted Pyro's comforting presence despite the still strong hatred.
She walked on with him until she was called by another part of the team.
This character gave of a vision of fear, not one ever to tamper with or see the wrong foot.
She approached with caution before she connected to his party and walked side by side.
She didn't speak just gazed at his face with her watered blue eyes and continued to walk staring ahead.

[Anarchy - Adrian Macbeth]

Anarchy walked in silence for the time being. He watched the young woman move beside him and he took a moment again to size her up. She was the definition of frail. She was small, timid and weak, much like a doe in the highland forests. Yet unlike such a weak creature she had potential. She could very well be more given the time and training. If she chose to pursue continued affiliation with The Brotherhood it would be a hard, long road. However it was not her potential the Son of Apocalypse was interested in. It was her power to see potential deaths. This power seemed to be an offshoot of probability foresight and manipulation. This was similar to the mutants Domino and The Scarlet Witch, a useful tool if harnessed and tempered correctly.

“Your name girl, what is it?” He spoke in his strong, very old fashioned highland accent which he now and then lapsed into. “And nay, I do not want your human name. Not the name they would have you known by but the name of you’re choosing. The name your soul, your heart and your powers scream out to you.” He knew it to be Life Link but he wanted her to say it. The medieval mutant had a point he was going to make and perhaps both gage her metal and ease her more effortlessly into the fold.

[lifelink]

She followed him in silence for some time, she could feel his eyes on him, almost scanning straight through her. He was after something, she wasn't going to die and Pyro had enough powers to look after her. She felt her hairs stand up from her legs up to her back from the electricity in her sparked by her nerves.

She felt his voice in her ears when he asked for her name, tension rising. He knew her name, the name she choose for herself, this was going somewhere, but where? As she prepared to answer her mind slowly folded back into the blanket at the back. Robin was piercing into control.

The pretty lady was sound asleep now. Robin was now in control, puzzled by the interrogation of the big changling. She felt the urge that the pretty lady needed protecting...Robin had been feeling sad for upsetting the pretty lady, very much. She had to make it up to her.

In her high pitched innocent voice she pitched through the cloaked hood.
'Her name is Lifelink.....And mine.....Is Robin'

She paced with him for a moment before removing the cloak from her head to reveal her scarred face. Her eyes were different, they were Robins eyes, not the pretty ladies. Parts of her scars healed at a faster pace before stopping again. Healing took time, even for Robin.

'I'm not here long, just here to let you know i'm watching you' She smiled and giggled at the end before gazing at him in the eyes. Her expression was almost distant and wild, but her eyes were piercing. She seemed insane until just as she turned her head back her eyes flashed a illuminating white flash before covering her hood. She moved to the back of the brain and rested watching eagerly....


Roberta continued walking, slightly drowsy as though awaking from sleep. Unaware of where she was, everything looked the same, therefore she must of been thinking deeply and worrying to much.
'My name is Lifelink' she spoke with a slight quiver in her voice, though she did push some strength into the voice.
She continued walking as she got her awareness back to be alert.

[NPC]

Leading the group through the dense jungle was no easy task at least not when there were those in the troupe that as far as she was concerned would have been better falling in the initial raptor attack. Yes she had voted for taking them along because the extra powers could have come in handy however all she could see so far was that the woman who now walked at Anarchy's side was weak, her power offered little to the group at least in this situation. It would have been better had Pyro left her to whimper on the ground like a child than help her up to continue following them. Suddenly she stopped without a word crouching to the ground to examine tracks laid into the soft ground, even as one who had been here before and the one who had provided them with the contacts here, Mystique didn't like what she was seeing before her.

"Move quickly and silently, there are things in this area of the land you don't want to allow to catch a whiff of you and if they do don't expect me to come back for you" she spoke in a hushed tone turning her head back briefly to glare at the group her eyes finally resting on LifeLink. Although she played her little games with Macbeth, there was something she did not like about him taking this newcomer to his side all too quickly and perhaps it was partly for that reason that she hoped this woman would lose her life before they met with their contacts.

[Anarchy - Adrian Macbeth]

“Interesting….” Anarchy said as he listened to the change in the young woman’s voice as well as her use of two names in reference to herself. “Very interesting…” he smirked with a nod. This mutant was not the first to be driven mad by their power nor would she be the last. Indeed many in Clan Akkaba due to years of inbreeding in order to preserve the blood of Apocalypse and the power inherent their in had fallen to such maladies. This one however was different in that she was not so because of genetic degradation, at least as far as he knew. No she was apparently mentally unstable for other reasons. He could very well attribute this to the morbidity of her powers, to see death in any of its forms as often as she did would defiantly unhinge even the strongest of willed people. This frail child was no different in his mind. Yet as it stood this weakness of the mind was something he could perhaps use if worked right…

“Why did you join us Life Link? You came to us in a quite disheveled state. You appeared to be running and you gave little explanation but you offered your services to us. We took you on for the extra power, a choice I might not have allowed were it in my power.” He looked to her side long while primarily keeping his eyes on the trail. He was being honest with her. Macbeth had figured by now with one so seemingly innocent it was better to gain her trust through some honesty rather than full out deceit. He paused then to listen to Mystique up ahead and nodded in reply. “Aye leader, nor will any of we if per chance you fall to one of the beasties in this here jungle.” He called forward in reference to her threat/promise not to turn back for any who might fall along the way. This was his own way of making it clear to his blue skinned lover that she was as expendable to him as he was to her.

He looked back to Life Ling again and nodded. “Aye, a fine bunch of miscreants we be lass. All for one and none for all. That is the world you’re in now but then we are all not like that as our dear Pyro has shown to ye. I also have promised to protect you for now, one promise I soon not to break. But you need to be useful to stay alive in a place like this. Can ye be useful lass? Can ye use your powers to look ahead and see what may be of danger to our lives around the next corner as it were?” He did not mean the literal next corner. He wanted to know what awaited them in the future, what death may loom over any of them when they reached journeys end and came upon their so called allies the Savage Land Mutates.

Again he looked forward to the others in the group. Pyro had not yet returned yet nor had he sent any signal of danger, this meant that he was either dead or he was still scouting far ahead. Either way it was some peace for the annoying Australian accent. Blob and Avalanche spoke nary a word to one another, the fat one lumbering along on the long trek already out of breath from the exertion he was not used to and the other seemingly ever vigilant in his own fashion. Mastermind continued by Mystiques side and now Frost had joined them. These three Femme Fatales were the ones to watch out for. They would be the ones to betray the rest of them if given the chance and he knew it. If anyone was going to survive though it would be the Son of Apocalypse. If Mystique of any of them thought to take him down or leave him in the dust… they would find themselves in said same position.

“Oy mates!” the familiar voice of their wayward scout finally did ring from several meters away in one of the highest trees. “You are not going to believe this… The Mutates base… it’s gone!” He called out and as they all rushed in approach. Anarchy’s eyes moved from the fire powered mutant to the tree in which he sat and higher into the sky covered by leaves. “What do you mean gone? Have you been sneaking nips at that old flask o’yours again?” The Blob laughed up at him tauntingly. “Yes, a base like that does not just disappear Johnny boy.” Avalanche retorted though a little more reproachfully as if to make it clear he would not be amused if this were another of Pyro’s practical jokes.

“No, I mean it, it’s gone… leveled… it’s like it was busted from the inside out… In its place is some giant dome of energy. The Mutates are waiting for us there Mystique, Sauron and Brainchild send their best but they said do hurry.” He responded as he leapt down t rejoin the group. “They are only a few miles ahead and they are not in good moods.”

[lifelink]

LifeLink listened as he told her the stuff she already knew, baring in mind she had foreseen herself dying by each hand, she had an idea of their trust personalities and such.

But the question she had never asked herself suddenly filled her ears in ringing alarm. Could she voluntary look into the future of deaths. Would she ever want to? She never had a choice any other time.

"It's...not that simple." She almost breathed her words finding it hard to function with the question in her mind. Finding more strength in her voice she explained carefully.
"I don't see the future, just when someone is about to die...I can't see if theres nothing to see."
She paused for a moment.
"It just comes to me....but....then i've never tried." She sighed, she could see him forcing her to try.
She felt her hair on her skin curl.

She heard Pyro's voice, it almost melted the ice breath that was shivering her skin. She faintly smiled at his presence before listening in carefully. A building replaced by a mass dome? Sounded like some kind of fantasy comic story. Still, life had its tendency to seem surreal.

Her eyes traveled to his until his connected to hers. Her mind suddenly numbed into lush and liquidated out of her head through the gaps of time once more at such speed.

Her eyes opened to the familiar wilderness they were currently in, though it look different than before, different layout. It must of been further ahead from where they were.

She walked alert beside her future self now with Pyro. She could see herself give a slight glimmer of smile as Pyro insisted to show off in his usual manner.
Everyone silenced as mystique hand raised automatically to the bitter air.
She shouted everyone to braise themselves.

The ground shock lightly, before beginning to rumble, and finally violently shake.
It wasn't long before you could make shadows, figures, tall almost huge looking. But it wasn't one, it was a stampede of a pack. Navigating from the trees they poured through the mutants as they all took heavy hits. The battle seemed to be impossible almost brief before she noticed herself and Pyro on the floor in blood of their own, disfigured and broken. But it wasn't just them, others were failing fast from the pressure of these creatures charging at them.

She could feel herself already traveling back as she gazed around in fear as the creatures when through her. She could see something about the creatures though, their eyes. They were almost terrified, they were moving for a reason. Was it Pyro...Or was there something out there?

She felt her mind return and connect to her body as she quickly held herself up from falling. For a moment she had to process everything she had saw, it was so fast. Much faster than usual, this was going to catch us all by surprise.

She moved to Anarchy so she could whisper clearly to him without being heard.
"We need to get off this land, fly, underground or be there....There's a stampede coming, the creatures are huge........they were petrified in their eyes.....i think they were running from something."

She moved away from Anarchy and proceeded to join Pyro. Waiting for the attention to avoid of Pyro, she kept her face somber and serious when she nudged her elbow into Pyros side and stared at him.
"Keep your mouth silent, somethings coming...Be ready."
She quickly pressed her lips against his cheek. If anything she hoped this would silence him and keep him quiet just for this small danger.

[NPC]

She had told them all to be quiet and move quickly and it had not bothered her that Pyro had moved ahead of the group to scout out their path and see if there were any signs of the mutates. However it did bother her when he returned and broadcasted loudly to the group about the status of the mutates base. She moved quickly grabbing him by the throat before he could reach the others "What part of silent didn't you understand" she hissed into his ear before letting him go to nurse the red mark around his throat where her hand had tightened on his windpipe. She was about to continue moving forward and allow the rest of the group to catch her up when a strange rumbling started to resound under her feet, faint enough that it couldn't be heard of felt by those who were not familiar with the terrain.

Lowering herself to the ground she placed her hands down flat and placed her ear close to the ground, closing her eyes and drowning out all other sound for a moment. There was something coming and it certainly wasn't good, in fact it was as far from good as possible from the feel of the vibrations under her hands and the dull rumbling of the ground she estimated there was a large group of rather large creatures headed in their direction. "We need to move now" she called back to the others with a hint of the importance of the situation in her voice as she herself sprung up quickly and began to move deviating from their original path into an even more dense part of the foliage surrounding them. It was each to their own now and this truly would be survival of the fittest.

[Anarchy - Adrian Macbeth]

The jungle shook, the trees swayed, the ground cracked under their feet. As Pyro gasped for breath after being assaulted by his leader he glared at Mystique with vengeful spite and slight humiliation. A desire for revenge burned in him as bright as any fire he could harness but he knew instantly it would have to wait as the trees parted, uprooted and even shattered as a dozen or so prehistoric beasts crashed their way through in a frenzied stampede.

“Drive them in another direction Pyro, Use your fire.” Anarchy called out his right arm seemed to morph into a near liquid form and flow around Mystique then lifted her high not the nearest tall trees. He did not know why he did it but part of him did not wish to see her hurt. It also was the logical choice, from a higher point she could more easily pick off the smaller, more vulnerable beasts with her guns. Unlike himself her morphing powers were somewhat limited to the organic, fabric and mock metallic. He could truly metamorphose his being into metal as hard as steel and sharper then diamond and with enough practice, enough time maybe someday form projectile weapons as well like his father. She would never have that ability. “Avalanche… make their path less smooth.” He growled as he then morphed his hands into blade like constructs to slash at any approaching beasts.

At that moment two triceratops burst through the foliage and started to barrel their way through the group. Pyro followed his orders only after pushing Life Link gently out of the way of the dinosaurs. His flames burst out in the direction of the stampede to drive the beasts into another, more manageable direction. Avalanche also did as he was commanded by reaching his hands out and turning the very earth against the biggest of the beasts, two brachiosaurus who fell immediately as the ground beneath them shook unstably. Their fall was akin to a small earthquake itself as it caused an even greater earth tremor around the group, far greater then Avalanche himself had expected as he soon found himself flying through the air and into a tree. “Dullard…” Anarchy snarled in the mans direction then brought his attention back to fray.

The Blob laughed as the two proceeding triceratops charged his way in a fear fueled fury. “These big iguanas donts scare me! Nothing moves the BLOB!!!” He grinned out then grabbed one by the horn stopping the beast in its tracks much to its surprise. “Little lizard hahahahaha” He laughed his chins and gut wobbling sickeningly as he did then snapped one of the dinosaurs three horns and drove it into its head like a nail into wood.

The second triceratops, seeing its mates death, became enraged and charged for the Blob only to find its legs slashed out from underneath it by Anarchy, the fingers of his hands acting akin to the sharpest swords, slicing through flesh and bone as easily as a hot knife through butter. The beasts movements impeded he leapt onto its back and drove a katana like finger into the back of its neck, severing its spine with a sickening snap and squish. “This is infuriating!” He called out with a rage as the stampede continued through there ranks. “This delays us further!” He glared and looked to Mastermind and Frost. “Can you not use your powers to quell their fury!”

The young women looked to one another then nodded. Both closing their eyes Mastermind focused her psychic illusionary powers while Frost used her own empathic skills. The combined effort was immediately visible in the beasts as they slowed and started to disperse in several directions. To any who looked on it would seem an instant calm fell upon the dinosaurs while in truth Frost used her skills to soften their moods and abate their fear while Mastermind created calming and serene illusions in their midst’s. “Now what that so hard? Can we please move on?” Macbeth sighed and looked up to Mystique for the answer.

“Yesssss move on! We need your aid!” A hissing, reptilian like void suddenly cried out in the now quieter area. Above them, perching in the high branches of the tree sat Sauron, humanoid pteranodon leader of the Mutates. The Brotherhood’s supposed ally. Anarchy had to wonder how long he had been their and if he had even intended to help them in the fracas of the stampede or perhaps pick off the survivors were it to have gone wrong. He would not put it past the beast man for he was no true Mutant or Mutate for that matter and his lust… his very hunger for power was insatiable. No doubt he would want the device they sought for himself and only wished to use the Brotherhood for as long as it suited him. “Help?! Why what has happened… Pyro mentioned a dome of energy… what is going on here.” He looked from Mystique to Sauron indignantly with a pure demand for answers.

“Here let me help you…” Pyro said as he pulled Lifelink to her feet and brushed her off. “Oy, what I saw was like nothing I ever seen before.” He called out to Mystique. “The ruins of your base, that energy dome…that aint no shield mates so don’t try to pull a fast one on this outbacker!.” Blob, Avalanche, Frost and Mastermind moved to join their comrades in questioning their so called leaders. None, especially Anarchy liked mysteries, particularly ones that could lead to cretin doom.

“Rrrrrrraaaah… The field you say mutant, was the energy construct which houses and protects the device. It has contained it since it landed and has grown bigger hourly since its impact.” Sauron growled low at the Brotherhood as her lifted into the air on his wings then came down before them, only looking up at Mystique, waiting for her to join her team. “When we brought it within our base it was the size of a large boulder and took three of Brainchild’s cybernecily enhanced ankylosaurus to pull through the jungle from its crater. Now it has grown so big that it burst our base from within” He hissed more as he stood before Anarchy defiantly, both powerful beings staring eye to eye. The Son of Apocalypse could feel a strange energy exuding from the dino-man. He had heard tell that the beast had powers of hypnosis and was reputed to be a master psychic as long as he had an individual within his stare. This amused Anarchy and caused him to take another step forward towards Sauron. “Your hypnotic powers will not affect me reptile…” Anarchy smirked and raised one of his weapon like hands. “But if you insist on this challenge… one of these most certainly will end your arrogance…. Allie or not I will not stand for this indignation much longer.” Each Brotherhood member bar Mystique and Lifelink nodding in kind for they could see who was the strongest among them now and despite Mystique being their leader they would no longer be fucked with by anyone. “Mystique, you should keep a tighter leash on your dogs… they may bite off more then they could chew. We are supposed to work together in this venture are we not!” Sauron called out as he backed away slowly and looked then to the blue skinned deadly beauty.

[lifelink]

Roberta swung as she felt the tremble of what she predicted. Moving instantly she scanned the area somewhere to stay out of their line of aim. Spotting a tree with revealed roots she moved and squeezed herself into the crack. She was skinny enough to fit and it make her sub merged from the ground and guarded by the tree making it harder to be pierced or run down.

The quake shook harder a avalanche returned the challenge with his own powers. This softened the ground and knocked over the weakest of the trees. She screamed as her tree almost pushed down onto her only to be knocked back by a beasty that the BLOB had thrown.

It was fortunate that there were physics, the beasts seemed to suddenly slow down then ignorantly moved back to their daily schedule of survival.

Dusting herself off she slowly joined the others.

Roberta kept silent and stayed stood beside Pyro, keeping out of the banter that fled back and forth between the two opponents. She was growing fond of Pyro, she didn't know it nor want to believe the possibility. However, deep into her heart a seed was rooting with the thirst that pushed to believe that Pyro could sooth it.

[Anarchy - Adrian Macbeth]

Anarchy glowered as he looked about him, the desolation wrote by the stampede of prehistoric beasts was disheartening yet all among his group survived, even the weakest to which he looked then at Frost and Lifelink. This however was not what brought his mood to an all time low, nor was it the seething wish to cut Sauron open and feed his entrails to the prehistoric carnivores of this jungle, it was in fact the skies above as they quickly darkened with storm clouds and the jungle around them became engulfed in mists thicker than bile. This was an unnaturally fast change in weather which meant to him that they were no longer the only group in this jungle.

“The X-Men are here… I know it…” He hissed and looked to Mystique who nodded in agreement as she too noticed the weather change.

“Not only the X-Men but the accursed Avengers as well…” Sauron called out as he took the air again and crouched in a tree opposite that which Anarchy had deposited Mystique. “Our mysterious… benefactor…” Sauron started but then paused while looking to Mystique knowingly before continuing. “…informed us that they too would be coming. Whoever he was urged us to hurry and acquire the power before it’s too late. He also sent warning that another great foe was on his way and we may yet have to use it in battle.”

“That will not be allowed! Not until the time is right!” Mystique scowled and then leapt from her own tree with a summersault and sideways curve in mid air before landing on her feet. “I am in charge here… don’t any of you forget it!” The blue skinned beauty snarled at Anarchy then moved her glare to Sauron and finally to the rest assembled. She cocked the weapon in her arms as if to make it clear she meant business.

“Let’s move…”

Most of the Brotherhood nodded in agreement, all but Frost and Anarchy who stood back and watched Pyro gather Lifelink close to him while Blob, Mastermind and Avalanche followed closely behind Mystique.

“This is not good…” Frost whispered to which Anarchy nodded darkly. “They are all afraid, even Mystique. This land has spooked the others and Mystique fears that which we are going after. Whatever it is, its power… she wants it… she desires it almost as much as you… but she fears it too.”

This revelation that Raven wanted him shocked Macbeth greatly but the fact that even she feared that which they were after bothered him far more. He knew so little of this treasure they were seeking, what even the X-Men and Avengers were seeing now. If it was all that powerful then it was all the more dangerous even to those that possessed it. Could he trust Mystique with it? Could they trust Sauron and the Mutates not to betray them? The second question he could defiantly answer in the negative but the first… even he could not answer yet.

“Mystique is our leader… for now. Let us follow and see where this little game of hers takes us. Keep your senses open though, I want your empathic powers attuned to everything around us. I want no surprises.” He said coldly as he looked down at the young woman and watched her nod.

Quickly these too also moved out to follow their compatriots. The Final Battle was on them… Anarchy only wondered which way the fates would turn…

(Continued in Quest for the Nullifier Conclusion)