Disclaimer: The X-Men and any likeness of them are copyright and property of Marvel Comics. I am making no money from this so don't try to sue me. Any other characters you don't recognize (which is probably most of them) and the whole plot in this story are owned by MissyRed. Anyone wishing to use them must get permission from me first.

Mail can be sent to the author at MissyRed@netscape.net

Duyne, the demon moon, was created centuries ago during the great civil war to imprison the evil side of nature. That side was made through devilish forces know as Demonblood, a being of pure evil. From his power came the creatures of Duyne. Dubbed demons by their enemies, the Xanians, these demons once lived on the same planet with the Xanians. They began to fight for greater territory and increased power, forcing the Xanians to create a great machine. This machine not only created a great shield to surround the moon to support life, but teleported the demons and some unfortunate souls to their new domain. The demons were imprison in power forts, never to be released again. But the demons escaped from their confinement and destroyed all links to the Xan planet.

As time passed, the demons populous grew and became adapted to their new world on the moon. However, the demons still sought vengeance against those who sent the demon race to a world that has been now know as "The Living Hell." They exists in a world where not only do the fittest, but the deadliest and the ruthless survive. A world where there is nothing but fear, despair and total damnation.

The unfortunate souls that were sent with the demons to the moon were turned into slaves, beaten and abused to the extreme; losing all hope of ever returning to the world that was a heaven unto itself. But of all the hardship, and all of there grief, they still had their Pride, The Pride of Duyne. The Pride was a group of slaves that had banned together to fight against their captors and try to find the way to free their people from the living hell. To free their people is to find the way to the home world.

In this Pride, there was one determine to find this way back, no matter what the cost. She was known only as Sasha and she knew first hand how evil the demon moon can truly be. Her mother and sister were killed by demons before Sasha and her sister's daughter were freed by the Pride. Sasha swore that what had happened to her would never happen to anyone else ever again. So as time passed, she began working on a plan to free the ones that were closest to her. To escape from Duyne with them and all of their family members. Finally the time had come and a deal was struck with beings that both friends and allies warned her never to trust.

These beings were reptiles, cold blooded creatures who only cared about one thing, themselves. They were not merely just ordinary reptiles, these reptiles were part of a guild, the Underground Guild. The Guild had become part of the growing business of organized crime on Duyne. They contracted in both life and death deals. A deal in life would be that of a bounty found or a theft of costly merchandise. While a deal in death would be that of assassinations and the selling of the most deadliest of poisons. However, Sasha didn't deal with the life or death sides. Who she dealt with was the one who controlled both sides. The most powerful of all reptiles, the Guild Leader or more affectionately know by the Guild's members as "Big Daddy."

"Well, what has been decided? Will you help me or am I just wasting my time?" Sasha asked the Guild Leader as she stood in the middle of the great hall while all the other guild members looked at her from all sides. Sasha had to look up as she talked to this Leader. All Sasha could see was his big bright red eyes glowing in the dark and the silhouette of his form. She always wondered and now she finally realized why he was called "Big Daddy." He wasn't like any other reptile in the guild, he was a dragon and a huge one at that. He was big enough to swallow her whole but she was not fearful of him. She was determine to see this through. She knew that the only way her plan could be put into motion was to deal with him and no one else.

"I and my advisors have thought about your deal and we will accept it only on one condition." the Guild Leader said.

"A condition?" Sasha was becoming wary of this creature. She began to wonder what was he planning.

"Yes." the dragon answered.

"And that is?" as if saying get on with it.

"Four months ago a mother and child were captured by a group of demon soldiers. The female was killed and the child was taken. He was to be placed in there genetic experiments to create a certain new and lethal breed of demon warriors."

"Then this child most likely is dead by now. Demons are merciless in there pursuits to find a way to defeat the Xanians. Especially in their experiments."

"Not so with this one." he quickly added waving his finger as he said this.

"I had my best spies sent to the demon labs to keep an eye on this child and they assured me that he is still alive, worse for wear, but alive."

"What is so important about this child? What is he to you?"Sasha questioned.

"That is for me to know, not you female!"the dragon snapped. It was obvious that he was not amused by a mere female questioning him. Sasha knew it was best not to question him any further or risk losing her only chance.

"Fine then. What do you want me to do about this child?" she continued.

"Isn't it obvious? I want you to free him from the demon labs and bring him to me alive."

"And what about the Xanian you promised to locate for me," she quickly added, "have your spies also kept an eye out for that? I need one to insure that the Xanians will listen to my demands."

"Calm yourself female, I have found a Xanian, alive and practically intact."

Sasha's heart began to race. Finally, she thought.

"Who?" Her patience was at an end.

A slight laugh can be heard from the dragon's direction.

"You'll like this one, believe me. He and five others were captured during that last battle a year ago. My spies tell me he is a solider, a Major to be more precise. He is the only one to survive from the group."

"Excellent. He is perfect. Where can I find him?"

"You'll like this even more. He is in the same place where the child I spoke of is also located but a few levels down."

"Well, well, isn't that convenient." she crosses her arms. She should have know that the Guild Leader wouldn't have brought up the child unless it was in some way connected to her plans.

"So when do I go get my Xanian and your little pest."

The dragon merely laughed at this little female's contemptuous manner. 'She would have made a lovely guild member,' he thought. 'Too bad she was a mammal.'

"That, my dear female, depends on you. I will give you my best soldiers to help you retrieve them. All you have to do is agree to my condition."

Sasha didn't bother to ask for time to think about it. She knew better than that. Oppotunity was knocking and there was no way she would just simply brake this deal. No way.

"So be it. I want the targets to be found as soon as possible, nothing should be put on hold. I don't want anything left to chance."

"But of course my dear, I agree with you completely." He snapped his fingers and five figures appeared by the passageway. Each walked to where Sasha stood. A look of discontempt showed on Sasha face.

"What is this, only five?" A growing anger was noticeable in her voice. Something that the Guild Leader was also amused at.

"Calm yourself now, I told you I would give you the best and that I did, and no more."

"They better be," she said as she looked over the five, "or its your head."

The guild leader laughed out loud. 'Yes,' he thought, 'she would have truly been a great member to his Guild.'