Exodus sat at his computer typing with great speed. He was establishing files of many different types in the Exile's computer base file. Typing was something that he had to get use to. Domino had helped him out over the past few days. As he typed he couldn't help but think about the events of the past few days.

He had lost control and had destabilized his team's faith in him. Peter was the only one who didn't seem to doubt him. That blind faith was why Bennet had chosen Colossus as his first.

As Exodus was typing a slow humming sound became to echo itself across the room. He slowly backed his way out of his chair and stood up preparing to greet his mysterious employers.

As he stared off into the sightless space in front of him a hologram appeared. It was one of the servant races of his employers. The alien stood about five feet tall, had five green eyes, and three muscular legs. His neck was elongated and his head was flattened like a tapeworm's. How could a brain stay in there?

"Are you the one called Exodus?" the alien said in a nasal tone.

"Yes I am. What business do you have here? I was assured that my employers wouldn't interfere or show themselves in my base!" Exodus exclaimed.

"This is a matter of the utmost importance. I am what you would call an oracle. The future is an open book to me. My masters want you to be the one who completes their endeavor for them, but I see that in the near future you will be incapacitated for some time. So you will not to be able to complete the quest as quickly and efficiently as say Deus."

"And what do you want me to do oh grand teller of the future," Exodus said annoyed. He knew exactly of what the alien was speaking.

"To insure you are the first to complete the task placed before you my masters want you to tell a member of your team the secret you have withheld from them," the alien said gently seeing the anger build in Exodus's eyes.

"You've compromised my mission to tell me that. Did you not think I knew about this already? I have known ever since Genosha the path that is laid before me. My creator had many things etched into my mind. I will do as your masters ask. Now leave!!" Exodus yelled sending the hologram into disintegration.

Who would he tell and whom could he tell? Colossus was completely out of the question. Domino would leave at the instance of discovering their secret. Dr. Reyes would be able to totally comprehend the matter. Sunfire and Longshot were too pure and would defect, but in a much harsher way than Domino would. The only true option was Fontanelle because the only reason she was on this team was because she had a deal with Exodus. She would have to be the one.

"I wonder how she will react to it?" Exodus thought to himself as he sat back down in his chair.

Jamaica

The young boy ran down the alley with all the speed he could muster. He didn't know why he was being chased or how he was going to get out of this situation, but he sure knew that he wasn't going to die this night!

"Come out come out wherever you are," the monster said his voice echoing down the alley. The boy's muscles tensed with fear because he had reached a dead end. There was no way he was going to get home tonight or ever.

"You shouldn't try to run away from Craze kid! You'll only get hurt in the process!" the monster laughed as he punched the young boy knocking him out.

"Just one more mutant in Deus's possession."

Hulkbuster Base

Fontanelle stood in absolute shock. Her breathing was heavy and she barely could stand to talk. She couldn't believe what had just been told to her by Exodus. The man was playing everyone on this team for his own advantage, except for her because she was the wild card in his plans. He hadn't figured out exactly what role she would play just yet. Could this be what her visions were about?

"Fontanelle would you please say something," Exodus demanded gently. The woman in front of him just stared. She didn't know what to say or do.

"Why are you telling me this?" Fontanelle meagerly managed to stammer out. Exodus nodded his head at this question as if he knew it was coming.

"I want you to continue the quest whenever I'm gone. Today I will pronounce you as the new co-leader. Colossus may not be pleased, but he will get over it."

Fontanelle wanted to respond badly, but she couldn't find any words to say. Her mind felt like it was in vertigo. Her mind kept running the same questions over and over again in her head. She couldn't find a response to anything. Maybe right now a response wasn't necessary.

Madagascar

Sinister stood silently in front of the two canisters labeled N24 and Z12. They were going to be the new members of the Nasty Boys. N24 was the genetic son of Deadpool and Storm. Z12 was the genetic daughter of Iceman and Vertigo. He wasn't sure what their abilities would be just yet, but they would be sufficient no matter what.

"So my friend… are you pleased with the Nasty Boys you'll be leading?" Sinister asked as a stone man stepped out of the shadows.

"Yes I am very pleased Sinister. We shall take En Sabah Nur's place soon enough."

"Yes we shall Ozymandias. Yes we shall," Sinister smiled as walked out of the room to leave his new ally to watch the developing mutants.

Hulkbuster Base

All the Exiles members stood below a floating Exodus and Fontanelle. Bennet's telekinesis could probably lift up the whole compound if necessary. He did manage to encase Genosha long ago.*

( *During the Bloodties crossover - Dino )

Domino couldn't help, but to wonder what this whole big spectacle was for. Obviously Exodus had something important to tell them. Even after hundreds of years the man still had his noble qualities. Peter on the other hand was more disturbed than Domino was amused. Colossus had seen Exodus become more and more flaunting with his powers in the past few days. He wasn't sure if the man he called leader was beginning to crack up again. If this was so he would be the first to put the man down.

"Hello my soldiers of light. Today I have made a tough, but sound decision that will effect drastically the way this team operates. Some of you may like it and some of you may not but it is for the best," Exodus said somberly as he lowered Fontanelle and himself to the ground.

"Gracious, don't let him give us another lecture..." Ever groaned to Dr. Reyes. The young Puerto Rican woman let out a little giggle only to get a weird stare from Domino. She was about to shout out her usual insult of clown, but decided to hold back on it today. The last thing she wanted was Exodus breathing down her neck.

"Now my peers I have come here to announce that Fontanelle is…"

Before Exodus could even finish his sentence he vanished in the blink of an eye. One by one the same thing happened to all the Exiles until Longshot was left standing alone and then he was gone as well.

"…your new co-leader," Exodus finished weakly as he found himself and his Exiles in a strange and desolate place. The air smelt of brimstone and dry blood. The sky was bright orange and every shape around them seemed distorted and gritty. The only noticeable feature was a giant hill.

Slow realization dawned upon Colossus and he could only mutter out where he knew he was.

"The Hill."

"Oh yes my brother the Hill indeed. Welcome home Exiles. Soon my ascension will begin!" Mikhail Rasputin yelled as he descended down from the giant hill purple and green energy flowing all from his body. Even Exodus was impressed at the display.

Ever, knowing an assessment of the enemy was necessary in any combat situation, reached out to touch Mikhail with his mind only to be thrown back by something sinister and twisted. Ever fell to the ground in shock because he had seen the face of evil. Longshot came to his aid and lifted him off the ground. He tried to speak to the young Morlock, but nothing was working.

:You're not Mikhail! You're not Mikhail! You're not Mikhail!" Ever yelled out making all of his teammates clasp their ears in pain. Before Ever could yell out anymore he fell to the ground unconscious.

"Ever are you all right?!" Longshot cried as he bent over the crumpled body of the pulsating Morlock.

"He'll be fine. I just temporarily subdued him because he was beginning to become a liability," Exodus stated rather matter-of-factly.

"And you are going to become subdued as well," Mikhail snickered. Instantly the once breathable air around the Exiles turned into krypton. Each and every Exile fell one by one, but before Colossus finally gave out he pleaded with his brother.

"Mikhail please stop this madness!"

"There is no Mikhail brother! Only Nagaru; the demon of The Hill!"

Later….

The Exiles were chained to a giant, jagged rock as they watched Mikhail float about 5 meters above them. Exodus couldn't believe nor understand how Mikhail beat his team so easily.

"Peter I hate to ask you this, but does your brother have any weaknesses?"

"Exodus I hate to tell you this, but that is not my brother up there. Maybe in body he is, but not in mind. I believe ever since my brother has been in The Hill he has been possessed by this Nagaru."

"Then we must strategize accordingly. I can use my telepathy to increase Longshot's and Domino's abilities. It's a risk, but maybe their powerful luck will help things fall into place for us. Does this sound good to you?"

"Do what you must," Colossus said plainly. A look of desperation crossed his face for he knew deep down that only Mikhail could beat Nagaru and Peter knew from experience that a battle of wills is much worse than a battle of fists.

"What do you plan on doing with us?" Domino inquired her body surging with anger that Mikhail had gotten the best of her. She felt sympathy for Peter, but she really wanted to kick the crap out of this guy.

"You all will help me become the master of time itself. I will amplify your powers a hundred fold and then absorb them into myself," Mikhail cackled loudly. His eyes were almost without emotion. They seemed blank and devoid of life. Peter at seeing this wept to himself. A hard struggle was ahead for his brother.

"How exactly will our powers help you master time. I'm really not seeing it or have you just truly gone off the deep end?" Fontanelle asked trying to throw down Mikhail's guard and to keep his attention off of Exodus who was obviously hard at work doing something telepathically or telekinetically.

Just then a massive headache surged through Fontanelle. Another vision was coming.

In an instant Fontanelle found herself in a small nomad town. The people seemed content enough until they began to scatter at the sight of a beautiful woman. They were all shouting the same thing, "The Untouchable!" Just as they were about to prepare their weapons thousands upon thousands of locusts poured out of her mouth enveloping the people. Just as the locusts began to move in on her she was snatched from her vision.

"If you must know you ill-mannered heifer I will gladly explain to you. First you…ARGHH!" Mikhail cried rolling in pain as he floated in the air. The rock that held the Exiles secure began to crumble.

"Now it's time to fry!" Sunfire exclaimed as he aimed his arms at a defenseless Mikhail.

"Shiro stop! Don't you see the demon possessing my brother needs this world and this world is crumbling," Colossus pointed at swiftly to his teammate.

"Demon?" Shiro said puzzled.

"It seems my plan has worked Peter. Luck fell in our favor. Ever if you have the strength help me rid Nagaru from the body of Mikhail," Exodus commanded. Ever slowly nodded his head and the two's heads began to bead with sweat almost instantly. With every second they concentrated another part of The Hill began to tear away. The ground was cracking and spewing out orange mist.

Nagaru writhed and screamed in agony as his body and mind were being tore at. He couldn't stand it any longer. He knew when to call it quits. Peter was ecstatic as he saw a green mist come from the body of his brother. Mikhail began to fall to the ground, but was caught by Longshot.

"How the hell are we getting out of here people?" Dr. Reyes asked bedazzled at the sights she was seeing before her.

"We will get home," Exodus said as he crawled to the unconscious body of Mikhail and with the last of his telepathy he accessed the man's powers and sent his teammates home.

Hulkbuster Base

Fontanelle let out a sigh of relief as she realized they were back to good ol sweet home. She looked around for the hero of the day Exodus, but he could not be found. She wasn't the first to notice.

"Oh no. Exodus isn't here. He must not have had enough strength to get himself home." Ever said with a voice that came from the darkest parts of his soul.

Elsewhere…

"I knew you would come for me," Exodus said the man who stood behind him. His visage was one of doom and power.

"You must have know I would come for you in time my child."

"Too bad I didn't have some more of that all precious time though your time runs out as well my friend."

"Please this is only the beginning. I will have you within my thrall soon enough and the world shall crumble," the man snickered.

"They will beat you Apocalypse. They will beat you," Exodus said unsure of what he was saying.

NEXT ISSUE: The Neo! And the New X-Men?