"INNER SPIRITS" by anonymous ------- Today.....Light Years Away Form Earth.... There was a dark throne room. Occassionally, a glimmer of metal would shine through the blackness. Enough light shone so that a throne was visible, a throne made of an ebony material. If one looked closesly, the throne almost seemed to....pulsate. Perched upon the thron was a tall woman. It was impossible to make her features out in the dark, but thats the way she preferred it. A young man came through the door on the far end of the chamber, looking around nervously as he made his way to her side. "Mistress, we're beginning to receive the reports from our scouts on earth," said the man. "Good, it's about time. Are they ready? Is the planet ready?" asked the woman, with an amused look on her face. "Yes, m'lady. The cultivation of the earth's mutants has already commenced," said the man. The woman smiled, but it was a smile devoid of all warmth. For a moment, the man felt sorry for the people of earth. Their fate would be infinitely worse than any death imaginable..... ------------- Brazil, 10 Years Ago.. Father Manuel Esteban was a man who thought he was used to it all. He had been through wars and disasters, and after many years of hardship, had finally founded a small parish in a remote forest in Brazil. Things had been getting louder for the past several months though. Esteban wasn't certain, but it seemed as if someone was engaging in heavy construction in the area. He had other worries on his mind though. However, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by heavy knocks at the door. "Miguel! Open the door," said Esteban, turning to face a child. Miguel was a young boy who often worked with the Padre in the church, doing odd jobs, or just playing around. His parents were dutiful farmers, and their strict upbringing irked the rebellious youth. So he would often find an excuse to go into town and spend a day with the Padre. Miguel slowly opened the door. The boy was young, and rarely at a loss for words, but whatever he saw caused his jaws to drop. Esteban shuffled quickly towards the door, expecting perhaps one of the local boys, who would often fall in love at the drop of a hat. The local girls, though, weren't quiet so ready for these brash, young men. And often, their rejection caused many a soul to be tormented. As a voice of reason, Father Esteban was usually the man who consoled them. As he poked his head out the door, what he found was definitely not any of the locals. There was a small band of men and one woman. They all wore outlandish uniforms, and only a few of them even looked human. There was a hulking red man, who was more beast than man. To his side was a young man, possibly American, and an older, black man. In front of him, a white-faced woman was holding what appeared to be a man.....and machine. "Padre, this man needs medical attention immediately!" said the woman. "I...." muttered Esteban. There was a note of fear in his voice. "Now! Please!" pleaded the woman. Although she obviously had the guns to force her way in, something prevented her from doing so, a fact which relieved Esteban. "O..of course, bring, bring him in. Miguel, get my medicine bag..." said Esteban. ----------- Half an hour later..... "His name is Cable. We were...on a mission, when he got hit by a weapon that messed up his mechanics," said Domino. "And this..Cable..why is he...I mean...his arm and leg, they're..." asked the Padre. "I don't really know, Padre. He's never told us how he got them like that. Nate's like that, he never tells you anything you want to know," said Domino, as she watched the ailing Cable thrash in his sleep. "You and your friends lead quite an exciting life," said Esteban. "Hmm. Well, times like this, I wish I had a chance for a quiet life here, like you have, Padre," said Domino. "Yes...a quiet life..." muttered Esteban. ---------- "Dom, the guys and me are going to go scouting around a bit. Maybe we can make some contacts around here, try to figure a way out..." said Bridge. The rest of the Six Pack began to outfit themselves with what little weaponry they had left. "All right, Bridge. Be careful out there, though. Those AIM guys are still around, and they're pissed," said Domino. "You...you're going out in the night?" asked Miguel. "Yeah, what's it to you, kid?" asked Kane. "But the Fire Demon hunts during the nights...." said Miguel. "Wha?" muttered Kane. "The Fire Demon! They say that he is the devil's son himself! He walks the earth at night, looking for innocent souls to capture!" said Miguel, his eyes glowing with excitement. "Riiight...anyway, Dom, we'll be back in a couple hours, probably," said Bridge. There was a moment of worry in both his and Domino's eyes, it was almost imperceptible. "I'm telling you the truth! My grandfather saw the demon!!" shouted Miguel. His arms were flailing wildly in the air. "Hush, Miguel. There's no need to worry our guests with wild stories.." said Esteban. "We'll pick you up some fries," quipped Kane, as he, Bridge, Grizzly and Hammer left. ---------- Hours Later..... "D...Dom..." whispered the ailing Cable. His techno-organics shifted back and forth at random. His body looked like a tidal wave of machinery. "Shh...Nate. Be quiet. You're still hurt real bad...." said Domino, as she applied another cold compress to his forehead. "K..Kane....Bridge.." whispered Cable. It was obvious that it was sheer agony for him to even speak. "They're out, trying to get help, just rest," said Domino. On the other side of the room, Father Esteban was talking to an excited Miguel, who kept gesturing wildly as he relayed some news. He hurriedly urged Miguel to leave the church, and quickly walked over to the small bed that Cable was resting in. "I'm afraid I have bad news for you, my friends. Your comrades have been captured by those men you were running from. They're coming here now, even as we speak! We must leave!" urged Esteban. "We can't do that! Nate's in no condition to..." said Domino, a look of worry in her face. "There is no choice! If you stay here, we'll all die!" shouted Esteban. "We can't move him! He..." Her words were cut off by an explosion which ripped the main doors open. Behind it, a team of AIM mercenaries streamed into the church and began firing at random. "No!!! Nate!!!" cried Domino. With lightning-fast reflexes, Domino reached for her side and pulled out her plasma pistol, and fired with pin-point accuracy. She took down three of them in her barrage of fire, but the sheer numbers overwhelemed her. A bullet ripped through her thighs, and Domino fell to the ground. "Uuuuhnnn!!!" cried Domino. Before she could react, she felt a massive impact on the side of her head, as someone hit her with the butt of a rifle. "N...n..noooo....." groaned Domino. Esteban ran out in front of her, as an AIM mercenary prepared to fire. "Please...stop...this is a house of God...." begged Esteban, tears streaming down his face. The mercenary didn't even blink and cocked the rifle at Esteban's chest. "Padre?" cried a small voice, as Miguel peered inwards from where the doors used to be. The AIM mercenaries turned around and pointed their rifles at the terrified young boy. "No...please.....don't do this...." pleaded Esteban. It was to no avail. The rest of the mercenaries also cocked their rifles and were about to fire. "STOP!!!!!" cried Manuel Esteban. His eyes burst with flames, and the flames began to encircle his entire body. The startled mercenaries dropped their weapons and shuffled backwards. The dazed Domino could do nothing but watch the spectacle in front of her. The fire began to consume Manuel Esteban's body until he literally turned into a being of red-hot fire. He looked around at the mercenaries. There was no expression in his now fiery face. He spread his arms open, and unleahsed a massive sheet of flames. The light blinded Domino. When her eyes cleared. She saw only ashes. The mercenaries had been reduced to dust, along with most of the furniture inside the church. The sheer power left her at a loss for words. She spotted the crumpled body of the Padre, as he sat on his knees, his body convulsing in grief. She tried to walk over to him, but the pain in her leg forced her down again. "You must leave...." said Esteban, in a cold, emotionless voice. "What...what are you..." "Miguel...Miguel will show you how to get out from here, and find your friends," "What...what about you?" asked Domino. "I...I do not know..." whispered Esteban. "You...you're a mutant...like us... You can't stay here, you must know that..." said the awestruck Domino. "I don't know. I don't know.. Please, leave, now," said Esteban. ---------- Today..... I haven't had the chance to go out on the town in a while. But Domino thought that it might do us both good to get away from all of the fighting and mutant angst for a while. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll get a chance to do that. I'm late, damn late. I have no idea why I decided to take a cab into town. I berate myself for my stupidity as I run down crowded streets. I ditched the cab twenty minutes ago. The driver kept going around in circles, and frankly, the traffic didn't help. I'm running as fast as I can towards the restaurant, but I'm already fifteen minutes late. I hope Dom didn't bring a gun tonight, because otherwise, I'm..... "AAAAAH!!" I crumple over in shock for a second. I'm still not used to my telepathy. And in a city, it's a real strain trying to keep everyone's thoughts out. So it doesn't help when someone's mind shines like a beacon, and it just overwhelms my psi-shield. Someone's nearby, someone powerful...but where? I get my answer in the form of a huge jet of fire, bursting from the side of a brownstone building just two blocks down. If I ever get the chance, I've got to talk to Jean about getting a grip on this telepathy. I'm still proficient enough to do a rudimentary psi-scan though. I sense two minds, one of them's the one that breached my psi-shield, a mutant, I think. The other's...scared...a young...girl, I think. I'm not sure. I hesitate only for a second, and then I rush towards the building. I should be worried about whoever's in there, whether or not I'm going to be killed, but the only thing I can think of is that Dom is going to get really mad at me now.... ---------- Inside the building..... "Oh God....please...don't do this...." begged the girl. She was young, only about 16. She was huddled against the wall, with small fires popping up all around her. Standing in front of her was a man who seemed to be made out of black fire. "I am not doing anything, Amy. It is you who is refusing to accept your destiny," said the man. His voice was cold, it almost seemed to be a void, drawing you in. "Please....I don't know what you're talking about....please don't kill me..." whimpered Amy, as she began to cry. "Kill you? Why would I kill you? I've come to free you from this wretched life of yours," said the man. "I don't want to die...I don't want to die..." cried Amy. "Poor child, I once thought as you. But I've been reborn, in more ways than you can imagine. Once my mistress takes you into her arms, she'll show you the possibilities that await you!!" said the man, as he gestured wildly, setting off more small fires. "She'll have to take a raincheck on that, pal," I say, as I rush through the doorway. "Who?" I have to admit, I haven't seen too many guys looking like this nutcase. He seems oddly familiar, but I don't have time to reminesce right now. I don't have any weapons on me, so I've got try and bluff him. As he turns around to face me, I realize that I might be outmatched. "Leave the girl alone, now!" I shout. "And why should I do that?" asked the man, contemptuously. "Because of this!" Potentially, I'm one of the most powerful mutants on Earth. Of course, the key word is "potentially." I've only just been finding out about my powers. One of the things I can do real well, though, are TK bolts. I don't have a gun handy, but in a pinch, TK'll do. I didn't realize that his enetire body was made out of that black fire. It explodes and streaks around the room. I don't have enough time to congratulate myself though. The fire reforms in an instant. "Interesting. My turn." said the man. He points towards me, and in a second, a wave of black fire shoots towards me. I duck just in time, but my jacket gets scorched. That was a gift from Dom, now she's really going to kill me. I probably should get my priorities straight, but I'm not scared enough yet. The fire man shoots a bolt of black fire at me this time. With no time to duck, I put up a TK shield as fast as I can. "Ughn!" I cry, gritting my teeth as some of the flames get through and burn what's left of my jacket. But the shield holds, barely. I'm at least half an hour late, now. "I don't have time for this," said the man. He gestures towards the ground around me, and burns the floor underneath me. One thing I haven't gotten a good hang of yet, is flying. "Woaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!!!" I cry as I fall through the floor. ---------- "There is no more time!" said the man, turning his attention on Amy once more. He opened his palms, and a black sphere of energy coalesced within it, slowly forming into a black crystal. It began floating in the air and radiating with energy. "No....please don't hurt me...." begged Amy. "There will soon be no more pain for you. Your soul shall be touched and rebirthed by my mistress. You will have a new life, a new name, a new purpose!!!" screamed the man. "I'm just a kid! Why are you after me! Please don't kill me..." "Your powers will server our cause well, child...now, we begin!!" "Powers? What powers?" asked Amy. Her words were cut by a shining ray of ebony energy that cut into her very being. It streaked from the crystal into her chest. "Aiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!" screamed Amy, in unbearable agony. The beam seemed to cut into her body, and beagn to slowly spread a wave of darkness all around her. It took me a second to figure out how to get back up here, and just in time, too. A quick TK bolt hurls the crystal out the window and towards the ground. I take a quick look at the girl, she looks shaken, but not too hurt. I've got to make sure she stays that way. "YOU!?! Again!?! That's it!!!!" screamed the man. I get a mental flash of what he's going to do a split second before he does it. I hope to God that I'm strong enough, as I erect a telekinetic field around myself and the girl. Within a second, the entire building explodes in an enormous burst of heat and fire. I manage to close the gap and hold the girl in my arms. The field around us holds, but just barely. The force of the explosion hurls us a half dozen blocks away. What little TK I had left was expended trying to make sure that we don't hit too hard. As it is, I think I cracked a rib. I take a look at the girl. Fortunately, my body cushioned the impact for her, and it doesn't look like she broke anything, just some cuts and bruises. I think for a second that maybe, just maybe, we made it out. A searing presence in my mind proves me wrong. A jet of flame shooting forth from the wreckages of the brownstone soars skyward, and then comes down in front of me, forming into the shape of a man. "Leave the girl. And then I will kill you," said the man. "How about you leave the girl, and I won't have to kill you," I bluff. "You??? Fool..." He's going to burn me, I can see it in his mind. He's either mad enough to kill us both, or good enough to just get me. Either way, I don't have much of a chance, unless.....I can see at least two fire hydrants around me. Opening them up's a snap with telekinetics. Re-directing two high-velocity streams of water is another thing. "What?" I can't hold it for long, the water's too hard to contain with telekinetics. Holding water's so much harder than holding something solid. I get another idea, though. I let the water go free for just a second, and pick up a couple manhole covers with my mind. Hanging around Cyclops teaches you a thing or two about geometry. I manage to manuever the covers so that I can still direct the water flow, without having to touch it with directly with my mind. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!" screams the man in agony. He begins to steam and his body starts to warp out of shape. The smell is undescribable. That won't hold him for long though. I put everything I have left into a psionic bolt. It's not strong enough to knock him out, but it'll confuse his thoughts long enough for the water to work. "Nooooo!! NOOOOOO!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! MISTRESS!!!!!!" For a second, I get flash of a familiar presence, of a familiar memory. It's gone though. There's a brilliant burst of light... ...and when the spots clear, the man's gone. "Are you all right, Miss?" "Uuuhh-huh-uuuh-huuh...oh God...uh--huh...." I think she'll make it. I do a quick psi-scan of her, and whatever that black beam was, it didn't hit her long enough to do any type of permanent damage to her. I can't sense that guy at all. I guess I killed him. I'm not sure how I should be feeling right now. Maybe if I had more control, I could have stopped him without killing him. I don't know, I can't afford to second-guess myself, though. I sit there for a moment, trying to comfort her as much as I can. I'm not very good at it though, but I don't think she's noticing, since her sobs begin to slow down. A quick telepathic nudge puts her to sleep. I can hear the sirens in the distance. I have no idea what this night was about, or who that guy was, or why he seemed so familiar for just a second before he died. And frankly, I'm too tired to think about it. I've been burned, I'm soaked, and my clothes are a mess. I'm probably at least two hours late now. Dom's going to kill me. ---------- Thousands of Light Years Away...in a Throne Room.... "Mistress, there's been a problem in the collection of the earth mutants," said the young servant. "Yes, I've been watching. I must admit that I wasn't expecting quite such a resistance. These mutants will make worthy soliders in my little army," replied the woman. "What...what do you want me to do?" "Send in the reinforcements. We'll see how much these mutants like a taste of their own medicine...."