Tales of the Pendragons “One and a Million”

By Jason Trenner and Mick Edwards

They stood in position six feet from one another. Their eyes locked as they began their dance across the hard blood stained floor of the worn down X-Corp building. The taller man flexed out the kinks in his back and got into a fighting stance.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked. His voice laced with pure venom.

She merely eyed him as she took a fighting stance all too similar to him.

“Oh yeah girlie this will be a fight you’ll remember,” He said with a toothy grin.

“We will see old man,” she replied with a cocky smile

They then charged at each other as the electricity in the building shut out again.

******

Hours earlier….

The X-Men had arrived at the former headquarters of X-Corporation London. A spell of silence passed between the heroes. Eventually they walked inside and were repulsed by the stains of blood. The utter smell of decay and death hung in the air. Lauren and Mimic held their noses trying not to gag on the smell. Nightcrawler moved past the rubble strewn about the place. He ran his hand through his blue hair and flipped on the power switch. The blood stained walls brought back memories. They were memories of the death of his teammates and of failure that he felt when they were killed in front of him.

“Are you alright mien fraund,” Lauren said.

“Ach, if I didn’t know better Lauren I would say you were a natural born German,” Kurt replied.

“So this is where they died,” Mimic said as he kneeled down to examine the big splotches of blood on the ground, “It looks like this place has been picked clean.”

“Yes. It appears my comrades bodies have been taken,” Kurt sighed, “I should have been with them till the end.”

Cecilia rubbed his shoulders, “There was nothing more you could have done Kurt. You have to let it go.”

Kurt took her hand and kissed it getting a glare from Jono,” Danke Cecilia. But I’m afraid I’m not ready to let that burden go yet. Not until I avenge them.”

“Vengeance can lead down a dangerous path Kurt,” Mimic said as he stood up.

“I appreciate your concern mien fraund, but right now vengeance is the only thing that will make me feel better,” Kurt replied

“Well then let’s get this place cleaned up aye mates,” Jono said as he wrapped his arm around Cecilia.

******

Now….

Lauren dodged Sabertooth’s swipe and struck him under the arm pit with top of her foot. She quickly pulled back as he tried to grab her foot and continued to dance around him.

“So. Old man just how much longer do you think you can keep up with me?” Lauren asked with piqued interest.

“Long enough t’ kill ya darlin’,” Sabertooth smiled.

“We’ll see about that grandpa,” Lauren said as she gracefully side stepped another swipe.

“Oh I like my women feisty,” Sabertooth replied as he lunged again.

******

Earlier….

Nightcrawler checked the computer that was connected to a different power source located in the subbasement. He flicked a bunch of switches and it hummed to life.

“Ach lieber we have a working computer now too,” Nightcrawler said as he tapped the keys.

“Is the memory on it intact?” Mimic asked.

“Ja. It appears everything is in order and the computer seems too connected to some kind of ethereal net,” Nightcrawler replied as he continued examining the computer’s database.

“Ethereal net?” Mimic said.

“An ethereal net is a basically a husk internet connection. As in we only have connection to certain places while other places seem dead,” Nightcrawler replied.

“I see,” Mimic said as he took a seat beside Nightcrawler, “Just how many people are in the same predicament as us?”

“I don’t know mien fraund, but it appears a lot of people crying out for help,” Nightcrawler replied

“Do we have any type of transportation?” Mimic asked, “Anything at all to get out there and help those people?”

“I’m afraid not,” Nightcrawler replied.

“Mien fraunds we’ve found something!” Lauren said with zeal.

******

Now….

Sabertooth dodged Lauren’s punch and replied with a back hand. She rolled with blow and came into a full flip landing back on to her feet.

“Your good kid. Perhaps too good. I don’t think the runt ever give me as good as fight as you have given me. But this has to end and end now,” Sabertooth said.

He charged at his smaller foe with claws at the ready. Lauren fell to her back when he got close enough and put up her legs to gain enough leverage to flip him over her. Once he hit the ground on the other side of her. She flipped to her feet and kicked him on the side of the temple twice. As he struggled to get up Lauren popped her foot claw and slammed it right through his eye. Blinding him and temporarily incapacitating him.

“Perhaps I’m better then you think old man,” Lauren spat.

In the next room Nightcrawler, Chamber, Cecilia, and Mimic struggled with Vargas who casually batted them aside like they were fleas. Lauren heard the fighting cease for a moment and then broke into a run. Her friends were in danger and she knew that she had to save them.

******

Earlier….

The X-Men marveled at what appeared to be a crept buried next to the power source in the subbasement.

“What in the hell is this?” Mimic said.

“Mien Gott,” Nightcrawler echoed the sentiment.

“We practically tripped over this damn coming down here,” Chamber said,” I don’t have a clue what hell the thing is.”

“This thing gives off a weird scent,” Lauren said as she sniffed the air coming from it.

“That’s all boys and girls,” A burly voice said,” that you’re going to get see.”

Lauren and the others turned to see the sight of Sabertooth and a Spaniard behind them that they did not recognize.

“Who in the bloody hell are these blokes?” Chamber asked.

“Beats me luv,” Cecilia replied.

“Call us death,” the Spaniard said dryly.

******

Now…..

The Spaniard they now knew as Vargas held Mimic by the throat. The mutant power copier tried with all his might to break free, but it was all but impossible. As Vargas raised his fist to drive it through Mimic’s head, two claws went through his wrist. He screamed in agony and let go.

“That was for my friends,” Lauren said before she kicked Vargas in the sack,” That’s for me.”

Vargas backed away holding his wrist with both arms crossed over his crotch, “You bitch.”

“I know. I’ve been called worse,” She replied before kicking him in the temple.

He slumped to ground unconscious. With the others rising up wondering how she casually handled him when they could not.

“How did you beat him Lauren?” Nightcrawler said.

“I could feel him trying to prod my mind and realized he must have been reading your thoughts in order to anticipate your moves,” Lauren said, “That and he must be taking a lot of steroids.”

“Now that we have taken care of these two let’s find out why they were here,” Mimic said.

Just as they were about to pick up Vargas he disappeared. The X-Men looked around and could not find him. Nightcrawler teleported to where Sabertooth was and he was gone as well.

‘I have a feeling mien fraunds that we will not be finding out why they were here,” Nightcrawler said as he examined the spot where Sabertooth had been.

The end…