Exodus

I walk into the room cautiously as I push back the doorknob. No lights are on in the room. Strange considering that Fontanelle always liked to keep the room well lighted. Could this woman really be called Fontanelle anymore? After the battle with Onset, Astra was found in the suit of Fontanelle. The first reaction people had was that Fontanelle had died and Astra had somehow taken her suit. After I did some of my own investigation I found a much stranger situation. The body was Astra, but the minds were a meld. Everything that made up both Astra and Fontanelle was in the mind. Gloria and Astra both resided in that mind. It was an entirely different person, though at the same time the same memories were there.

"Hello Fontanelle? Are you awake?" I ask as look through the room trying to find the light switch.

"Yeah I'm here," I hear a voice grumble. Obviously Fontanelle (at least that's what I called her for now) wasn't waking up on the best side of the bed. That trait was distinctly Gloria's.

"The teachers are meeting. I need you to be there in 10," I say trying my best to sound as if nothing is wrong, but in truth there is much that is wrong. This isn't the same woman that Fontanelle had once been.

Fontanelle rose up from the bed and undid her long black hair. Exodus found Astra attractive, but part of her was Gloria. A very large part of her indeed. The woman walked up to me and looked at me with groggy eyes, "Let's get a few things straight Bennet. Don't call me Fontanelle anymore. That name doesn't fit. I have Fontanelle and her powers and the same goes for Astra. Don't call me Gloria or Astra either. The name is Star Prophet. Plain and simple. No changes, no nicknames. Is that clear?"

Was this woman actually trying to intimidate me? I'd have to put her in her place, "Crystal, but let's get one thing clear. I'm still in command here. I don't care who's in your head or what body you're in. I'm in charge. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Is THAT clear?"

Star Prophet sighed and said, "Sure boss. Whatever you want. Now can I get some pants on?"

I nod and walk out the door. I close it behind me trying not to make too much noise. The students were still sleeping and they didn't appreciate being awoken so early in the morning. And from what I could decipher neither did Star Prophet.

Star Prophet

The nerve of that man! He had the nerve to come in here with his high and mighty attitude trying to boss her around. Just like Magneto and Deus. Though the latter was partly her murder. Well at least he was the murder of half of her. Boy did that sound too complicated or what? I guess I can get five minutes more of sleep and get dressed in five. Gracious I hate that the Fontanelle part of me use to wear. It's so damn uncomfortable. Of course the outfit the Astra part of me use to wear wasn't the peak of comfort either.

I bent over and was about to put on some pants when a sharp pain struck me in the side of my head. I threw my head into the bed doubling over in pain. I knew exactly what was coming… a vision.

Everything around me went black.

Sinister

I had my protégé now. Do you see me Apocalypse? I'm going to forge a proverbial son much like you forged me except this one will remain loyal. For I shall not betray it and leave it much like you did to me. I will give and he will give in return. He is my child and I want you to see him Sabah Nur.

"Welcome to one of my many abodes Judas Traveller. Here is where you shall be forged into my student and weapon of the future. You want power? That I can promise, " I said assuredly as I outstretched my hand to show the expanse of this Moroccan base.

On the right of me was Cortez. He wanted what I was giving Judas. He wanted more than he probably even knew. But that jackal couldn't be trusted. He would use what I would give him and turn it against me. He was far too much like me. I needed someone more docile and Judas was the perfect one.

"I thank you for offering me sanctuary and this great gift of power Sinister. I will repay you in kind for it," Judas said looking around the base. Then he heard two tremendously loud screams.

I smiled at the shocked look on Judas's face and said, "It's only Sunfire and Colossus. Two of my pets. I see Nawon and Ricki must be having some fun."

Ever

I propped my feet up on the table and waited for Exodus to arrive with Fontanelle. If you could call her Fontanelle even? Her mind was a two for one offer. There were more memories, feelings, and emotions in that mind than I had ever felt before. Sometimes I just wish I could go back to those tunnels and to simpler times. Most of the Morlocks had been annihilated by Bastion's Sentinels. The only ones I knew that were still around and kicking were Callisto and Marrow.

"Anybody notice that Exodus is late? Fontanelle must be giving him some lip," I said trying to lighten the mood of the silent room. Proteus looked like he was staring off into space and Mutant Forger had an expression of pure seriousness stuck on his face.

"Don't call her Fontanelle anymore. Her name is Star Prophet," Exodus said entering the room with his red sword hilted at his side. That sword scared the heck out of me. The whole Horsemen armor thing Exodus was wearing freaked me out.

Raising my hand I ask, "Do you have to wear that Exo? Man it just gives me the willies!"

Exodus laughed, "This armor is a gift. It allows me to focus all my new powers. When Legion and me were caught in that light I got his powers. The armor allows me to focus them. Besides the armor is more a part of me than ever. It's organic and merges into my skin. It can even shapeshift into other clothing. I prefer to keep it this way because it reminds me of my past sins."

Cortez

Look at him. Sinister has scoffed me and he knows it. He did with the intent of cutting me down. Essex wants to pacify me and make me into his cow. That will not happen. I will only be satisfied with power and at least Magneto was smart enough to see that. I could have ruled at Magnus's right hand if it wasn't for his meddling son. I would exact my revenge on Pietro Maximoff one day soon. Perhaps I could kill Luna or better yet Crystal. A blow to Quicksilver and Exodus. How sweet would that be?

Before I could wander off anymore into my thoughts Sinister beckoned to me. He had a command to give. As always I suppose.

"Bring the Savage Land Mutates that serve me here Cortez. Use my terrasect portal as transportation. Judas I want to take you on a field test. The Tans and you will destroy a large mutant terrorist cell in northern Pakistan. This will be the test to see if you are truly worthy of the powerful I wish to give you," Essex said with a smile as he tenderly touched Traveller's shoulder like a father would with a son. How disgusting a sight it was to watch!

Maybe if I got lucky Judas would die in Pakistan. Perhaps I could persuade one of the Tans into killing him for me.

"Are you not gone yet Fabian? Quickly now! I want this base to have some kind of defense," Sinister ordered shooing me away as if I were a fly. That infuriated me to no end, but I humbly bowed trying my best to hide my anger.

Mutant Forger

Looking at Exodus's armor I am reminded of the enigmatic man known as Pilot from my childhood. Pilot's armor was much like Exodus's except all of his reds were of a much darker shade than Exodus's. Pilot had saved me on many occasions and he saved my brother as well quite a few times. If only he had been there when the Demolishers killed his brother.

Those were awful times. I had only been eight when my brother was slaughtered. I joined the New Clan for protection and friendship. Brother Hood and Fact 3 were my teachers and best friends. Unfortunately just as I lost my brother to the Demolishers so did I lose them. That's when my powers first manifested. I had such anger back then and I used my powers recklessly the first time. I created a hundred extremely powerful mutants that day and they were the source of the Demolishers destruction.

"Since it seems Star Prophet has chosen to be late let us begin," Exodus said gruffly as he telekinetically handed to each of us a brown manila folder. Bennet was obviously upset at Star Prophet not showing up. It would feel strange calling Fontanelle that name from now on, but what had to be done had to be done. Times had changed and the Exiles were no longer like they once were.

I open up the folder and see six pictures of what look to be random kids. They were arranged all on one page in two columns of three. These are probably new potential recruits for the team.

"The first picture is of Josh Kenney. He lives in Albany, NY and he is able to absorb the DNA of anyone he touches and become that creature for a time period of 2 hours. The picture under him is Sarah Pollard. She resides in Honolulu, Hawaii and is capable of slowing down time around her. The last picture in that column is Tony Crosby. He lives in Denmark and is capable of turning anything he touches into its liquid, solid, or gas form."

Ever cut in and asked, "Who's going to be getting these guys?"

Always like Ever to ask about work. For all his potential he just didn't have the right drive. He trained hard. No doubt about that. He just seemed to lack that certain something that kept him from true greatness.

"I'll explain that later Ever. Now if I may finish," Exodus said clearing his throat. Ever nodded bashfully.

"The first picture in the second column is of Thomas Franzoni. He dwells in Atlanta, GA. Young Thomas can create whips composed of 'emotional' energy. Whenever the whips touch they create large bursts of certain emotions. Under his picture is Jason Shirely. He inhabits the little town of Dayton, Ohio. This one's mutant ability is to turn his body into organic rubber. The last of our potential recruits is Adnan Ingram. This will probably be our most difficult one to get. He lives in Tajikistan, but his powers are worth going after. He doesn't need to eat, sleep, or get rid of waste. He can survive in temperatures near absolute zero and as high as 45,000 degrees Celsius. The boy is immune to any type of psionic attacks as well as mystical ones. Most of all though this boy is an External," Exodus exclaimed. Judging from his tone Bennet was quite excited about Adnan. There was much potential to be found in him. That much was true.

Star Prophet

I'm running down this hall and my heart is about to pound out of my chest. Boy the Astra side of me should have worked a little harder on staying in shape. Sweat is pouring down my brow like Niagara Falls and my hands probably were more slippery than an eel. None of that mattered though. Why should it? The vision I just had was amazing. Everyone had to know because it was just that important. It was one of the happiest visions I've had so far. All because it revealed one grand truth. Sunfire and Colossus were very much alive.

F12

I am a creation of Sinister. I was handcrafted by Essex to be a warrior and a servant. I know my purpose in life and I'll follow it to whatever end. As of the moment I'm on a mission to capture a certain mutant for Sinister's Marauders project. I pick up my handheld computer and activate it.

"Give me a readout," I say as the computer screen turns green for a brief moment and the device comes up with a readout of the mutant I'm suppose to capture. Looking down from the building ledge I'm on I see nothing of value in the masses of Malaysia. Of course it's not my place to question the master in these matters. He knows potential and he knows the strong from the weak.

I dig into the pouch I have attached to my large black belt and get out the gene goggles the master gave me. I put them on quickly and look into the crowd. The mutant I'm supposed to capture stands out. He's glowing a bright blue color while everyone else is in a haze of green. Of course I can't just go in there and snatch the mutant up. I'll have to be a little more subtle about it.

Of course I can always create some chaos and snatch him up in the confusion. After all I have the powers of Harry Leland grafted to me. I'll use them to create the chaos I need. Looking across from where I'm standing I see a large billboard. If I was to make that come crashing to the ground if it would create plenty of confusion and plenty of time to get my target.

"That won't be necessary. Creating chaos is such messy business," a proud voice comes from behind me. I spin around quickly to find myself staring at ten very familiar, but at the same time different mutants.

The one out in front of all of them looks exactly like Charles Xavier, except this guy was much younger and he wore a black bodysuit with a long black cloak. He wore knee high boots and black gloves that reached up to his elbows. From all the information that Sinister implanted in my head I knew this was definitely not Xavier. Besides this one looked so much more menacing. His face was full of haughtiness. Following close beside this Xavier look alike was a large gray mutant that I thought had been killed by the Sentinels. If I remembered right this mutant was Craze. The only difference being is that this Craze had a long spiked tail.

Next to Craze was a woman who was the spitting image of Storm from head to toe. She just had different fashion sense. Her hair reached only shortly past her ears and she wore a pair of white hip hugger pants and white boots to match. She had gold arm bracelets on with gray diamonds that matched her gray sleeveless t-shirt. Guarding her closely was someone who looked exactly like the dead mutant Cypher. Only difference was his clothes and his silver hair. Cypher had on an all blue leather body suit that had a white zipper down the middle. The mutant's sinister smile sent a chill through me.

Beside Cypher was the king of the Neo, New Son, and the Morlock, Caliban. Nothing looked different about them. Yet I could feel something different. Don't ask me why, but I can just pick up on these sorts of things. Probably comes from my grandmother, Jean Grey. Who knows?

On the left of the Xavier look alike was someone had never seen before. The man had a tan complexion and short blonde hair. He wore a gold body suit with stripes of black going from his shoulders to connect into a belt. His eyes glowed like ebony reflecting in the sun. Next to him was the mutant known as Chamber.

The last two mutants were ones that I am quite familiar with. One was Legion dressed in a red cloak, white long sleeve shirt, and black pants. Next to him was a buffed up and bald Cyclops.

In the face of these mutants I must maintain my cool, "What do you want?"

I try to sound as tough as I can, but I know I'm in trouble. I knew I should have got some back up. Unfortunately I had to be stubborn.

"We want the world. Just as we've wanted so many worlds before this one," the Xavier look alike said.

"Who are you?" I ask trying to stall for a little bit. I had to think of some way out of this.

The Xavier look alike stepped forward and smiled sinisterly, "I am Ramses Xavier. My other generals are Jadianna Logan, Seti Haller, and Ptah."

Jadianna was the Storm look alike, Seti was the Legion one, and Ptah was the one he had never seen before. I scanned all of them and Ramses continued, "Our bodyguards are Craze, Cypher, Caliban, Chamber, and Cyclops."

"Who sent you? Last I checked Craze and Cypher were dead and Cyclops was leading X-Men Alpha," I say trying to get more time.

Ramses sighed and said, "You know too much!"

I feel my mind shut down slowly. Painstakingly slow. Then all goes black.

Exodus

I looked down at his fellow teachers and was about to tell them who went after each new recruit when Star Prophet bust through the door. She looked tired and exhausted. I could sense a great deal of distress coming from her.

"What is it?" I ask. She's barely able to respond she's so tired.

"Have-to…tell you-about…my vision," Star Prophet said putting her hands on her knees and trying to catch her breath.

"Let me I see, " I say as I put my hand to her forehead. I feel the surface thoughts and I see what she saw only a few moments ago.

"Now…do you understand?" Star Prophet whispers.

I nod my head and look at the rest of the team, "We're going on a mission. Everyone suit up and meet me in the Gym in ten minutes."

"What for?" Ever asks jumping up out of his seat. He's always so damn impulsive. Why did he have to question me this time?

"They're alive Ever! Colossus and Sunfire are alive. They're being held by Sinister and we're going to save them. Is that enough incentive for you? Or would you like to see the images I saw in Fontanelle's mind?"

Ever's annoyed expression turned into one of shock and he said silently, "Okay. I'll be ready."

Cortez

Being Sinister's little errand boy wasn't suiting me well at all, but the only way to gain his trust was to follow his orders. However ridiculous and petty they may seem to me. Why Sinister even had this Savage Land Mutates as servants was beyond me. They all were pathetic and useless. Though Essex seemed to be taking just anyone who was available. He was in such a rush to be another Apocalypse that he could very well be building his forces too fast. Sinister's patient and in the background mode had worked for him before so why was he changing things now?

"Why has Sinister summoned us from the Savage Land?" Whiteout asked. Looking at her was an eyesore. Her skin was white as was her suit. She was far too bright for me. Though perhaps if those clothes were taken off she'd be a little more bearable to look at. I hadn't have sex in almost seven months. It's killing me!

"He's summoned you because he has decided it's time to transfer her talents to him directly. He wants you close and available. And of course there might be other benefits," I say as I place my hand on Whiteout's thigh.

"Perhaps there will be," Whiteout smiles. I had definitely scored. Whiteout was all mine.

Exodus

"The mission is simple people," I say as I stare out into my four fellow Exiles. Ever and Star Prophet looked pumped up to rescue Colossus and Sunfire, but it could make them reckless. Mutant Forger and Proteus didn't understand the emotional attachment the rest of us shared with Sunfire and Colossus. They were our teammates and our friends. We had all thought them dead.

And to think Sinister had them all this time? What could he have been doing to them? What tortures were they forced to endure? All these questions bothered me deeply and I knew I would have answers to them soon.

"We save Colossus and Sunfire. Then we get out! If we encounter resistance we handle them and move on. We're not looking for a big fight," I say knowing good and well I wanted to rip Sinister apart so bad that it hurt. But I have to keep my team cool. I have to keep my emotions in check. If not I fail my team and my students.

I look out upon them, pull out my red sword from it's hilt, and say, "Let's go! We've got friends to rescue."

Star Prophet

I hear Exodus's proclamation as a flash of bright yellow light engulfs everyone. Everything is bright for a moment and then we are in dimly lit room. In front of us are Cortez and a bunch of unfamiliar mutants.

"Look at what the cat decided to drag in," Cortez laughed as his fist glowed a dark pink color. I want to wipe that smug look off his face so bad that it hurts.

"Give us Shiro and Peter! We'll leave then and only then Cortez," Exodus ordered. His eyes glowed red and he lifted Cortez and the woman all in white next to him in the air. With his telekinesis he threw the two people in the wall…hard.

Lupa jumped into the air and slammed hard into Ever. She pinned him to the ground and began to slash into his brain matter chest with her claws. Fighting through the pain he shot out a powerful psi-blast and knocked the woman off of him.

Proteus used his abilities to warp the ground around Worm and Equilibrius. The metal ground was like liquid and flew up into the air wrapping around Worm and Equilibrius encasing them in metal shells. The shells solidified making makeshift metal prisons for the two Savage Landers.

Sinister

Alas these Savage Land mutates are in much need of improvement. How could they have been so easily defeated by the Exiles? Perhaps I should have had Cortez charge them up though it might not have made much of a difference. This was not fairing well. Perhaps I would be better off giving them Sunfire and Colossus. I've gotten all the information I need from them and I was only holding them for bargaining chips. But with the Exiles crashing around in one of my bases the bargaining chips were no longer needed.

I pull up my wrist and grab it tightly. The terrasect opens in front of me. It was time to get to business. I needed a few self-righteous mutants out of my base. And I suppose I was going to have to do it myself.

I step into the terrasect portal and prepare myself for some manipulation and scheming. The life of a scientist never ends.

Ever

I can feel the liquid drain down my chest from the wounds that Lupa woman gave me. No time to worry about that though. A terrasect portal just opened a few feet away from Exodus and that can mean only one thing. Essex was in town.

"And to what do I owe the pleasure du Paris?" Sinister asked with a smile all over his face despite his lackeys having been thrown around like they were nothing.

Exodus floated slightly above the ground, floated towards Sinister's face, and said, "Give me my friends. And do it promptly! I don't have time to fool around with you. Not today."

That's right Bennet. Tell that sucka what for! I can't believe he's been holding Peter and Shiro for this long. That dirty sneak probably had the guys even when we were fighting alongside him against Apocalypse.

"Of course you can have them my friend. They're on the third basement level of this base. I'm sure you'll be able to hear their screams. Be warned though. They might be a little different," Sinister laughed as he opened another one of his extremely convenient terrasect portals and vanished away.

Man I just hate the fact that this guy manages to always get the slip somehow. When was he ever going to get his just due? He's manipulated so many and hurt so much.

I watch as Exodus descends to the ground and says, "Let's find our friends and return home."