Betrayal Game II #53: X-Force Reunion

The explosions caused by Boom Sentinel, in addition to the damage caused by X-23 and her unexplained new abilities, were having a catastrophic effect on the foundation of the Worthington estate. Unfortunately all remaining survivors were located in the ballroom which was in the middle of collapsing. Well, almost all survivors. “Where the hell is Vanisher? We need him to get us the hell out of here,” yelled Domino. Orphan grabbed the hand of his former lover despite the pain her oily skin was causing him. “Edie, you’ve got to do it.” Fear filled U-Go Girl’s eyes. “I don’t think I can. So many people. And what about Nightcrawler. Look what happened to him.”  Guy pushed Edie out of the way of a falling support beam. “You can do it, I believe in you.”

Psylocke was so intent on watching the affectionate display between the two lovers. She couldn't help but think about her Angel, even at a time like this. But because of this distraction, she did not notice the still living Tabitha Smith behind her. Cybernetic arms ready to come down crushing her skull. Luckily for her, Warpath managed to tackle Psylocke; the two of them rolling to safety, as Boomer’s hands came instead crushing down on the ground sending her plummeting to her death below.

With Guy’s support, Edie managed to focus and teleport all those around her to a separate wing of the mansion, safe from falling debris. “I…did...it,” Edie breathed out as she passed out from exhaustion. About an hour later, as everyone was tending to injuries and assessing the damage to their current prison, Mister Sensitive approached Psylocke, concern across his face. “Miss Braddock, I understand you are a very gifted telepath. I need your help. Edie’s teleportation always takes a toll on her; however, she hasn’t woken up. Plus I can feel that something is wrong. This is more than just a deep sleep. I fear it’s something mental. Is there anything you can do?”

“I will see what I can do. However I must concentrate. I need you to wait outside the bedroom. Make sure no one enters. I can’t have any distractions while I probe her mind”. Orphan reluctantly left the two women alone in the bedroom. Betsy easily entered Edie’s mind. She just as easily saw the cause for her condition. U-Go Girl was on the ground weeping, being berated and beaten by mental images of the deceased Zeitgeist, Anarchist, and Orphan. Urging them on was a duplicate Betsy Braddock. However, Psylocke was not fooled. She could tell a psychic intruder when she saw one. “Imposter, reveal yourself now,” Psylocke shouted, her butterfly effect eminating outward. The appearance of the duplicate Psylocke shattered revealing a white skinned female with white hair. “Copycat I presume. So you did manage to infiltrate the party. I suppose, you have been pretending to be Domino this whole time.” Vanessa smiled and laughed, the first time in a long time. “Been there done that sweetie. I can be pretty much anybody I want to be. You really think I would be so boring as to play the same part again. Oh I can feel you trying to figure out who I am posing as, but you’re wasting your time. I may not be as skilled with your psychic powers. But by copying them, I have enough raw power to keep you at bay for at least a little while. At least until Miss Sawyers inner demons tear her limp from limb.” Turning towards Edie, Psylocke saw as her old flames were actually ripping her arms and legs off, blood splattering all of them. Psylocke easily engaged them and destroyed each one using a psionic katana. Bending down she took Edie’s shaking head in her hands. “Edie, this isn’t real. This is only in your mind. Let me help you repair the damage done to your astral self.” The butterfly effect enveloped U-Go Girl’s torso. Purple energy emerged where her severed limps once were, and they were slowly retaking there shape.

“Just a few more seconds Edie, then I have to figure out where Copycat slinked off to.”  In the real world Psylocke felt something sharp slide through her chest. Looking down she saw her metal Katana protruding from her cleavage and buried in the throat of U-Go Girl. A duplicate Psylocke whispered into the real ones ear, “I’m right behind you.”

Starring:

Mastermind as Domino – XXXXX XXXX

das_boot as U-Go Girl - X

Peter Luzifer as Hepzibah – XXXXX X
Crawer as: The Orphan – XXXXX X
UncannyScott as Warpath - X

marhawkman as X-23 - XXXXX

Gibbering Fool as Vanisher – XXXXX XX

placebo as Caliban – XXXXX XX

Dead:

Banshee

Nightcrawler

Pete Wisdom

Wolverine

Sunspot

Boomer

Psylocke

U-Go Girl

The remains of Caliban lay on the floor, untouched, and undisturbed. Left alone, no one was there to see it move.  Reacting purely on instinct, the walking corpse lumbers down one of the many hallways of what was left of the Worthington mansion. Behind a wall, the entity that was once Caliban could sense the presence of a dead mutant. Punching through the wall, a hidden chamber is quickly revealed. Any living person would have surely vomited from the gushing stench of rotting flesh. A body hidden away, prior to the party. Possibly weeks prior. Sinking his teeth into the neck of the found corpse, the undead Caliban spreads its’ infection.

Elsewhere, the Orphan was weeping into his hands, despite the burns, his salty tears were inflicting. James Proudstar put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Guy’s eyes widened as he sensed something wrong inside of the supposed Apache.  Before he could react, he felt a vibranium blade pierce his abdomen. Slashing his stomach open, Guy’s intestines split out over the floor. Domino fired a shot that the Warpath easily evaded. He countered by throwing his dagger, embedding itself in the center of the black circle around Domino’s left eye. James chuckled at how her luck had finally run out.

Deadpool’s eyes started to wander as he was being held against the wall by his throat. He could see that Vanisher’s head had been bashed in, Fantomex’s neck was broken, and Hepzibah’s heart was torn out of her chest. “Only one symbolic murder, I have to admit I’m a tad disappointed in you Warcat. Or do you prefer Copypath? No, Warcat sounds better.” “I think that’s what I always adored about you Wade, your ability to make jokes in the face of certain death. I’m sure you made lots of jokes the night you let Sabertooth claw me to death. Luckily I was able to copy his healing factor as he tore…” “I know you probably have this very intricate story about how you returned from the dead, but can you just get to how you felt like X-Force tossed you away after they discovered you were impersonating Domino, despite you growing to care about them. So you decided to use this reunion to get revenge on X-Forcers past and present by impersonating poor Proudstar.” “You know how I said I adored your ability to make jokes? I’m over it. I don’t even think ripping you apart will kill you, but I hope it hurts like hell.”

Covered in blood Vanessa Carlyle shed her Warpath identity one last time.  Using her remote, she deactivated the shield that trapped her victims inside the mansion. Copycat, honestly couldn’t believe that she managed to dispose of so many X-Forcers. “I guess they really are nothing without Nathan. Next stop is X-Factor to deal with Shatterstar and Rictor” Vanessa approached the door but was shocked as a hand burst through the floor and dragged her down. She was now at the feet of the undead James Proudstar. With an inhuman growl, he picked Copycat up and bit into her jugular. Pulling off her arms Warpath feasted on her limbs, until nothing was left of the X-Force slayer.