Tales of the Pendragons, “Children of the Land”

 

 

Siberia…

 

Black Tom Cassidy looked across the darkened sky and sighed. The black mass barrier had an assortment of effects on everything in the Europe area including mutants whose powers were tied to nature as well as beings that were forces of nature. The most evident case was Tom’s former friend the Juggernaut Cain Marko. The barrier had a particular effect on the enchantment that empowered his best friend and it appeared Marko was no more. Now there only stood a force of living destruction devoid of the emotions that were once of a friendly giant that only showed his soft side to Tom. Tom looked down at his green hands that were partially blue. His curse apparently was to become one with nature and as such he drew strength from the abundance of magic in the air. That was perhaps the only reason he was still alive right now in this cold wasteland. He pointed his fingers to ground and took root right there in a spot that was in the middle of no where. Here he would wait until the moment was right.

 

 

******

 

London….

 

Mimic flew over the city with his angelic wings spread out. He was furious at Lauren for making trouble with Marrow. Both Calvin and Sara had started to grow closer as an item. Yet it seemed Lauren was now showing signs of over protectiveness over Calvin. Which was confusing as Calvin didn’t believe that he had led her on since the team came together some time ago.

 

He landed on the roof of the Parliament building and looked out over the city taking in all of his surroundings. Everything seemed different to him as he didn’t remember some of the people who had met since coming out of the barrier that Meri had set up. One of those people was Harrison Halpin. Harrison had the looks of an actor that stood on the tip of Calvin’s tongue, but he just couldn’t remember the name. His personality however seemed to a completely opposite. Just like every one else Harrison was confused by the X-Men’s reappearance. Which made Calvin wonder just what exactly is going on and how these people could not notice there disappearance.

 

He leaped down before the prime minister who was backed by his usual entourage consisting of his publicists though what the need for one in such craziness made no sense to Calvin. He had what appeared to be two rock trolls standing by his sides with large jewel encrusted axes and wearing silk Armani suits. The rock trolls skins were brown and craggy much like desert rock. They towered over Mimic who only stood at about six foot two inches.

 

“You bloody super heroes. Every where I look one of you costume gents seems to pop up,” Halpin said with harsh tone in his voice.

 

“We’re not here to cause trouble Halpin. We’re only trying to figure out what happened to us,” Calvin replied trying to keep his calm.

 

“That’s exactly what your friend tried explaining of course we haven’t seen him since he visited us,” Halpin said running a hand through his dark brown hair.

 

“McFadden disappeared?” Calvin thought to himself.

 

Halpin noticed the bewildered look on Calvin’s face. He took a step towards Calvin and leaned in to ask, “You been drinkin’? You look like your going to spill your guts all over the place.”

 

Calvin shook his head and flew off. Halpin waved him off then proceeded to head back towards his mansion.

 

******

 

Elsewhere….

 

An Asian woman with ebony hair was kneeled before a dark emerald statue that glowed with an unearthly light. Her naked form was soaked with sweat as she had waited hours for her call to be answered yet finally.

 

“You seemed confused my mistress. I am the one who beckons you forth not the other way around. Now tell me what business have you brought before my ears today,” a dark and vile almost inhuman voice rang out.

 

“My master I have kept my ears to the ground for the ones you have spoke of,” she replied.

 

“And?” the voice asked.

 

“They showed up not along ago just like you predicted. The people of London are weary of them and believe them to be bewitched,” she replied.

 

“Good let Sakai take the first shot at delaying them. I must have time to lead the fools away from the cause of their disappearance,” the voice said.

 

“Very well my master,” she replied.

 

She rose up off the floor and made her way out leaving the statue to its solitude.

 

******

 

Berlin….

 

Kurt Wagner walked the short distance to the nearest dive. He had traveled to Berlin to see if he could track down any of the other X-Men and as of yet he has had very little luck. So far he has only found faux pretenders using the moniker to rebel against the humans who are using some kind of damnable occult magic in the next region in order to subvert many of the restored races. It sickened him that humans were still capable of being so vile and evil. Yet these other X-Men he heard of were almost as bad. They would kill any humans that happen to cross their path. It kind of reminded him of Cerebro’s X-Men who were evil and dangerous. Using a name that didn’t belong to them as well as using methods the X-Men didn’t believe in. As he looked through the uncomfortable atmosphere provided by his surroundings he noticed a rather striking fellow who reminded him of some one he once knew. He walked towards the gentleman keeping weary of any people that stumbled across his path. When he made it to the gentleman’s table he noticed he looks a lot like, “Pete Wisdom? Mein Gott what are you doing here?”

 

“Eh?” the drunken fellow replied, “Go away you elvan trash I’m not interested in a snog or your company.”

 

“Was? I’m not interested your company mein fraund I clearly mistook you for some one else. My apologies,” Kurt said.

 

“Do I know you gent?” the drunk asked.

 

“I’m afraid not,” Kurt replied, “I’m sure I would remember some one as…decadent as you.”

 

“Are you sayin’ I’m a drunk,” the man said as he brushed his short bleach blonde hair.

 

Kurt looked at the man for a moment and realized he let his frustration at finding his friends seep in. So he sat down and ordered another drink for the blonde haired bloke.

 

“Tell me mein fraund why is that you look so much like a friend of mine? I keep thinking it’s my imagination playing tricks on me, but your appearance is uncanny to that of Pete Wisdom,” Kurt said.

 

The drunk looked him his eyes drew in the full sight of Kurt, “How in the bloody hell do you know my brother?”

 

“Was? Mein Gott! Pete never said anything about a brother,” Kurt replied as if dismissing the notion.

 

“I’m his half brother twat and any one who mentions his name must either be a friend or foe of his. Which would you be?” the man said.

 

“Well I’m definitely not a foe of his. I would more call myself an acquaintance,” Kurt explained.

 

“I see. Both him and Romany are still running around I’d imagine,” the man replied.

 

“What is your name?” Kurt asked curious of why Pete never mentioned him.

 

“Robert Spencer I’m Pete and Romany’s half brother. My father is Harold and my mother is or should I say was Dorothy,” Robert said.

 

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Kurt replied sympathetic to Robert’s pain.

 

“Ah don’t worry about it chum. My mom hated me because of me mutantcy which I presume I got it from my father,” Robert replied.

 

 “I think I have taken enough of your time Auf Wiedersehen,” Kurt said as he got up to walk away.

 

“Hey wait do you mind I tag along with you? I really don’t have anywhere else to go,” Robert said.

 

Kurt sighed, “Come then let us go.”

 

 

******

 

Outside the Parliament…

 

The Crusader stood amongst the people enticing a riot with his bold and brash words that branded the Parliament as traitors as well as Adam Crown. They seemed entranced by everything he said whither it be a lie or not. Finally Lauren appeared on top of Parliament building and leapt down. She eyed the brave and foolish warrior before he swung his sword remembering how easily he injured Thor yet faltered when he witnessed it break upon Lauren’s adamantium claws. A quick kick to his crotch and he fell to his knees in agony before being knocked cold by a jab to the chin. Lauren stood among the crowd with them awakening from their stupor.

 

“What happened,” one of the townspeople asked.

 

“Nothin’ just another loser tryin’ to make a name for himself,” Lauren replied before walking off.