Strangers in an Even Stranger Land


Friends Of Humanity


Daemon sighed as he lost track of Lexi through the thickening crowd of people that surrounded them. He couldn't see any of the others, his short height only showed him backs. He wondered briefly how they were ever going to meet up again.
Things had not been going well since they had arrived in this wacked dimension. Originally they had kind of hoped it would be a vacation from everything that was happening at home, but instead it had just turned into one big hassle after the other.
First the X-Men, then GenX, then the X-Men again. He tried to forget about that fling with X-Force - it just hadn't been a good idea.
And then....
And then if that hadn't been bad enough - the last time Lexi was in the infirmary in the Mansion she had ripped off a couple of thousands dollars worth of expensive, prescription, and probably illegal drugs from that Blue Doctor. They had decided to run then. Moe had been mad though. Daemon wasn't sure the drugs were worth the hour lecture they had all received on the evils of stealing.
And now..
And now they weren't all that much better off. They had somehow barged into this meeting, where these people dressed in.. like uniforms ... had demanded money. Daemon could recall the evil smile of triumph on Moe's face as she had handed over the bag of dope , mouthing the words - easy come -easy go. Lexi had looked like she was going to throw up. Then it was her turn to be pissed.
But of course they couldn't say anything, and they were soon following some guy out to the street where masses of people were accumulating - he was going to show them what they were all about, welcome them, and so on. Daemon couldn't have cared who they were as long as they had a bed for him that night.
He sighed again. At this rate he'd never see the bed, or his friends again.
"Hey quit pushing!"
Daemon shoved back. The crowd was beginning to move and he was caught - being pushed and shoved with them.
"lay off!"
He felt hands grabbing him from behind -pulling him up and out. Suddenly he was standing with bright lights glaring in his eyes - while someone pushed a microphone into his hand.
"Your turn "A faceless voice informed him - before disappearing leaving him alone on the stage with thousands of faces staring out at him.
Daemon just stood there. Absolutely at lost on what to say. He had no idea what was going on.
"Say something" The voice hissed up at him.
Automatically he opened his mouth "Ladies and Gentlemen..." He began.
And stopped dead.
A person without Daemon's unique experience might have given up at this point, and passed the mike on to the next person - and Daemon probably should have too. But growing up with two very public and vocal people had taught him something about speaking in front of large crowds. For the first time in days - he felt semi at home. He paused, as if collecting his thoughts - he could feel the audience's attention honing in on him. Keep them waiting... meanwhile he could scan the crowd for some hint what this was all about. Lot's of Foh posters. Briefly he wondered what the pronunciation of that would be. He decided not to risk it.
He took a deep breath - there was only one way to find out- With a powerful bellow he shouted at them.
"WHO ARE WE?"
Silence. The crowd shuffled uncomfortably. Someone finally yelled back
"Friends of Humanity." Getting somewhere Daemon thought satisfactorily - it was a start.
"I DIDN'T HEAR YOU" He hollered out.
The crowd was getting into it
"FOH!"
"STILL COULDN'T HEAR YOU!"
"FOH FOH FOH"
Daemon felt the rhythm of the crowd. This was the most fun he had had in days. Lexi would die to have all these people paying attention to her.
"AND WHAT DO WE WANT?" He screamed out across the stage.
This floored the crowd for a second. The same person in the front row (God Bless him Daemon thought) shouted out "Down with mutants!"
What .. Mutinies?
ER - "No one wants those " Daemon yelled back in agreement. "No more mutinies!"
"NO MORE MUTANTS" They screamed after him.
"That's right," It was they guy in the front row. "No more of those freaking aliens."
Daemon's eyebrows shot up. ALIENS!
Well, Daemon thought - it was a good thing he had just seen ID4. He cleared his throat:
"Ladies, Gentlemen, fellow country men. We are gathered here today facing something that we have feared all our lives. Beings so different from us that we can not comprehend. They have come to kill our president, destroy the statue of Liberty, to bring America - and then the world to her collective KNEES!"
The crowd absorbed every word.
"And I ask you," Daemon continued. - "Where are these aliens?" Despite everything he could not resist a quick glance at the sky.
"They are among us!" The crowd responded eagerly , having picked up on Daemon's rather unorthodox style of speech giving.
"They are among us." Daemon repeated. My God! What kind of world had they arrived in - they had to find that old Geezer and get out of here fast! The aliens had already infiltrated the populace!
He scanned the crowd.. there ..he could see Lindsey with Lexi in tow, and some of the others approaching. Once they reached the stage, he grab them and go. But until then ... he'd just have to keep talking.
*********************************************

(Meanwhile at the mansion...)
"Everyone!" It was Xavier "Down to the rec. room now!"
Everyone, GenX and the X-men gathered around the television.
"It's that guy with the dreads!" Everett exclaimed - shocked.
"Daemon" Paige corrected... rather dreamily.
"What's he doing? Giving a speech? " It was Scott - who rivals only Diana Troi in stating the blindingly obvious.

****************************************************
Interlude .. In another dimension ... far in the future , another group of costumned hero's are fighting their own battle.
On the bridge of Enterprise D ...
They are surronded, the situation looks desperate. Klingons to left, Romulans to the right.
"Sir - the leader of the klingons is trying to communicate"
"Open Com link!"
"Picard you are a DEAD MAN AH HAHA HA HA -"
"Close com link"
"Sir - They are opening fire!"
"Who?"
"Everyone! - Our shields are droping fast!"
Picard: "I'm open for suggestions..."
"*Gasp*"
Everyone turns and stares at Troi, who has grabbed her head and is moaning.
"Troi - Be strong -" Riker gets up to comfort her "What can you tell us?"
"I sense...oh Captain....oh Riker..."
"Be strong Troi"
"I sense...hostility...."
"Really?"Picard felt everything falling into place - he knew what to do! " In that case - Worf - RETURN FIRE!"
BANG as the Enterpris blast the other ships to pieces.
Riker starts perfomrming mouth to mouth on the conseillor.
Data: "Commander Sir? I belive she would breath easier if you removed your tongue."
Riker and Troi: "Shut UP Data!"
Picard :"Thank you Diana - you saved our lives. What would we do without you?"
*****************************************************************

(Back to the mansion)...
"It appears " Beast corrected. "That our notorious guests - within the three hours since leaving here with all my medical supplies - have managed to join Friends of Humanity."
"Not only that" Bobby whistled "But he is giving one heck of a speech."
The camera zoomed back onto the speaker and they could suddenly hear him clearly.
"The aliens have landed!" He was shouting "LANDED! They are among us! We must fight or forever be slaves to the mothership! FOH FOH"
The camera panned back onto the crowd who was cheering themselves hoarse with excitement.
The X-men collectively sat back - bemused and silent.
Bobby scratched his head. "What is he talking about?"
"No idea."
"maybe he's high? " Jubilee suggested.
"Well - "Beast growled a bit, thinking of his lost pharmaceuticals. "They certainly have enough supplies."
They turned back to the screen where Daemon had evidently decided he was at rock concert - and was enthusiastically whipping his dreads around in beat to the crowd.
The X-men just sat and stared.

***************************************************

Finally. Daemon thought with relief, India had just appeared to the left of the stage - joining the others who were now gesturing for him to get the hell down from there.
"And Finally.... LONG LIVE HUMANITY!"
With that he leapt of the stage.
"Come on" Jonathan grabbed him "Let's get out of here before we are trampled."
Daemon turned to face them, to see their response..
Lexi's eyes were huge.
"man ... that was amazing!"

On to Chapter Twelve: Christmas


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