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UNTOLD TALES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #12
Part Three: The Battle
Charles Xavier found himself buried under freezing ice somewhere in the barren land of Antarctica. He had gone to search for help in an age old brotherhood of monks, the Senyaku. But instead they found him. After a lengthy stay with the monks, he had earned to master his power, the power of the mind. As he prepared to depart however a band of evil monks, known as the Evil Ones attacked the Senyaken monastery. Zjan, Xavier's master and leader of the Senyaku led his brothers into secret catacombs where he revealed the history of the Evil Ones. As earthquakes raged, Xavier convinced the Senyaku to help him defeat the Evil Ones. So now they must face them together, but the battle hardened Evil Ones are not unprepared and the battle will not be an easy one for the future leader of the X-Men.
Inside the catacombs, deep under the Senyaken monastery, Master Zjan has just agreed to help Xavier defeat the Evil Ones under one condition-no violence must be used. Xavier has agreed and has laid out a plan to the monks who are anxious to begin... Back Outside... The snow falls heavily now and Quroban IV and his right hand man Sanhjo sit on their intimidatingly tall, night black horses. They fidget nervously almost, in readiness for an attack. Even under the pressure of waiting, the Evil Ones, dressed in dark black, spiky armor, are waiting with patience, for they are sure of their coming victory. A little too sure, perhaps? Quroban is suddenly nudged by Sanhjo. "Look," Sanhjo says in his raspy voice as he points to a ridge surrounding valley in which the monastery is set. At first the figures approaching are very vague and hardly noticeable. Around Quroban, his troops shift at the sight. Hundreds of soldiers, still quite vague, appear on the ridge. They are dressed in armor similar to the Evil Ones, but in white instead of black. "What in the hell....," Quroban mutters, "They have prepared an army?!?" He turns angrily to his brothers. "Don't sit there you fools! Attack! Attack! Attack!" he orders. The Evil Ones turn their horses to form a two layer circular attack formation and all charge up the hill toward the ridge. The Mystics line up with the knights and run alongside them. Only Quroban and Sanhjo remain in the center of the formation watching, sure of the victory that awaits. The Evil troops are almost to the top of the hill when the white warriors on the ridge turn and run back. Quroban laughs. "There will be no mercy! No retreat for the Senyaken this day! Follow them, follow them!" he says. The Evil Ones race over the ridge and follow the warriors out of view. They stop suddenly and turn in fear as heat pours over their backs. At that moment, the snow clouds in the sky part and an enormous, ferocious white dragon drops from the clouds and breaths fire through its nostrils. Curses ring out amongst the Evil Ones who look on from around the ridge. Then another dragon, this one even larger and crimson emerges and circles close to the ridge. The crimson one is followed by a green one. The three dragons roar and with that the Evil Ones on the ridge turn the horses and haul out of the valley leaving their fearless leader who stares at the dragons circling above his head. "Come back you fools! Come back!" screams Sanhjo, but the soldiers are too far to hear. Suddenly the white warriors re-emerge on the ridge. The figures clear up and are suddenly revealed as their real identities, the Senyaku. Quroban screams in anger and curses the world. He and Sanhjo group together. The
dragons retreat into the clouds. But suddenly snow flies at the two Evil Ones remaining.
It pounds down on them, engulfing them. More and more piles on. The Senyaku cheer as the
men are buried in the ground. They both claw their way out, but more snow piles on faster
and faster. Quroban breathes hard and attempts to catch his breath. "Where are you?!?" he manages to gasp out. "Where in Hades are you?" The gate to the wall surrounding the Monastery opens and Xavier and Zjan stride slowly out of the opening. "Here, Evil Master," Xavier says, "I am here." Quroban grunts and charges the man. Xavier places a thick mental shield around himself and his master and Quroban runs head into it. He falls to the ground, still conscious. Xavier raises his hand and hurls more snow from the ground at Sanhjo, who gains conciousness. He falls and begins running again. The dragons return and follow the man, chasing him over the ridge, almost catching him. The snow wave almost engulfs the fleeing man. "No!!" Quroban screams, "No!" He watches as even his most loyal follower leaves him. Frustrated he draws his sword and slashes at the mental shield, yet Xavier maintains it. "How? How?!" he yells, "Are you a Mystic?" "Not a mystic," replies Xavier, "Just someone gifted with an unknown power. " Quroban stops slashing and kneels, staring at Xavier through the invisible wall before him. "How did you call forth dragons if you are not a Mystic?" he questions, eyes narrowing. "Easily," Xavier admits. He concentrates and the dragons appear to fly at Quroban but disappear as they near him. "They are simply illusions, as were the disguises of the Senyaku. The snow was mentally hurled at you, and this shield before you is also created with my mind." "You...you...you...have ruined my dreams!!!" screams Quroban, unleashing jabs at the shield. "Come out of there, come out and fight me! Like a man!" he snarl. "If that's the way you really want it," says Xavier with a small shrug. He drops the shield and advances on Quroban, who twirls his steel sword, ready to strike. Suddenly his drops his sword and falls to his knees, grasping his ears with his hands. He screams out in pain. "The squeal, make it stop!!! Make it stop!!!" he yells at the top of his lungs. Xavier piles it on now concentrating harder now. A hand suddenly appears on his shoulder. He turns, releasing the man who falls to the ground, yet STILL conscious. Xavier turns to see Zjan. "You are successful my son," he says as his brother Senyaku come down from the ridge and circle around them. Then the most unexpected thing of all happens and Xavier is bewildered by it for a moment. Quroban slowly rises off the ground and into the air. Then he falls on his feet. He stares and blinks for a moment at Zjan, standing powerfully before him. He squares off and charges, Zjan raises out of the way, mentally lifting himself. He smiles as Quroban plows right into the concrete wall behind him. He brings himself to the ground and checks the finally unconscious Quroban. Later... The wolves rush across the icy land. The sled they pull contains two men and another, slumped on the cargo area of the sled. The wolves come to a stop as they near the edge of a cliff. The two men climb off the back of the sled, one throws the unconscious man over their shoulder and the two men make their way to the cliff's edge. "Why did we come out here?" questions Xavier. "To rid the world of another Evil Leader," answers Master Zjan, "..over the cliff side, where all previous Evil Leaders were disposed of. But you, my student, must throw him. I must not forsake my code." There is a moment of silence as Xavier thinks. The fact that Zjan has mental powers explains a few things including the pillar moving back when they were fleeing the Evil Ones at the monestary.* * See Part Two, last ish. -Charley "So, your a telepath, like me?" Xavier asks of Zjan as they near the end of the cliff. "Yes, that is true," Zjan says with a sigh. "Why didn't you tell me before?" asks Xavier, a bit bewildered, as he drops the unconscious Quroban to the ground at their feet. "I had meant to just before you left," Zjan replies, "...when the Evil Ones attacked. You handled them quite well, I might add--' But Master Zjan is cut short because the mighty Quroban has gained consciousness and grabs Zjan's ankle, yanking him to the ground. "Die you fool!" Quroban screams and shoves an unseen knife into Zjan's midsection. "Noo!" Xavier yells, kicking Quroban in the ribs. Quroban, although hurt by the kick, slashes at Xavier leg. Xavier in an attempt to dodge, falls and rolls over Quroban, and off the cliff. Quroban laughs. A little early however, for a hand grasps over the cliff edge. Xavier's hand. He uses the other hand to grab Quroban's neck and using physical and mental strength hurls the Evil Leader of the side of the cliff. He feels a jerk on his ankle and looks down to see Quroban holding fast to his leg. He kicks the man a few times in the face to no avail. Then he closes his eyes a moment and... ...lets go of the cliff side. The two fall in midair for a moment, but Xavier telepathically lifts himself up and over the cliff side while Quroban falls to his death. Xavier scrambles over to Zjan. "Master, are you going to be all right?" he asks in distress. Zjan smiles. "No...no, my son. I will die," he mutters with a gasp. Xavier stares into his Master's eyes. "No, you can't die," Xavier remarks, tears coming to his eyes, “This is a time of victory-" Zjan places a finger to Xavier's lips, wishing to speak himself with his last breath. "Xavier, you are not just special," he begins taking a deep long breath, "You are no human. You are of another race. A race that posses an extra power. A result of a fantastic mutation. You are of the mutant race. A race which will not settle well with most. But preserve it, my son. You must preserve the-" the man gasps. "Preserve your race. Preserve our race," the man finishes and takes his last breath. ================= A large man walks through the door and sits at the bar. The bartender slides the man a mug of beer, which the man downs in a single gulp. The man drinks more drinks and stares at a small bald man out of the corner of his eye. He laughs a little. "How's it goin, baldy?" he asks and laughs again. The man stares back at the large man and glares at him through squinted eyes. "Who'r you lookin' at like that, baldy?" the big man asks standing, he's obviously had a bad day. "Not me, right?" The smaller, bald man looks away as the big man rattles off more taunts. "Hey," says the big man grasping 'baldy's' shoulder, "Look a' me when I'm talkin' ta you." "Let go of me," the bald man says in a grim voice not looking up. The big man's had about enough and rears back to through a punch. Just as it nears the bald man it hits something invisible. The little bald man turns, lifts the big man off his feet and hurls him into the wall, knocking him unconscious. The bald man pays for his drink and leaves. Xavier knows its not going to be an easy life....
Whew, and there you have it folks. The end of my first anthology. Hoped you liked it,
its been a thrill writing for MV1 and I hope to add some more stories soon! E-mail me!!! thewizard@ratedg.com |