X-Men: Mutatis Mutandis

[Will]

A second group of X-Men, led by Will Stanton (no, not that one. No, not that one. No, not...OK, look try to keep this straight, will you?) was gathering outside the borders of the rippling timestream that led to London's Mutant Town.

[Sara Stanton]

"Now this brings back memories." Sara says as she walks up to the gathering group, wearing a fairly pristine, barely used uniform of dark red and brown, ending at the knees and elbows.

[Sean Hall]

Sean was wearing the uniform Null had given their team for the fight. He'd modified it only slightly to have more pockets for spell components and the like.

[Chase Delacroix]

Chase, in an unmarked black uniform, idly examined the variety of arrows in his quiver and nodded to himself.

[Trev Anderson]

Trev shifted uncomfortably in his uniform. No matter how many iterations he tried, the damn things never really felt like they fit quite right. His very, very slowly diminishing gut didn't help, though the mostly black affair he'd put together did hide it.

Sort of.

It did have wings between his arms and his back that he could use to soar with a bit less noise though!

"I just hope this time I'm not doing another impersonation of the TRON cosplay guy," he mumbled under his breath.

[Byrna Cooper]

This dimension’s bear joined the group, suited up with her regular x-men leathers and two satchels, no doubt filled with lots of ball-y goodness.

“When was the last time we went to London for an overnight?” She asked, smiling.

[Miranda Weaver]

Miranda tilts her head as she regards the blip in time and space. Seeing on the other side of it is like looking through a shattered window for her, the edges catching possibility and spinning into myriad colors and other sensations. "Let's just hope we can get it closed and get out."

[Onyx]

"I'm sure we'll succeed with a minimum of casualties, ma'am," Onyx said, standing slightly behind the group, deferentially. She was joined by Rachel.

[William Stanton]

The comms sprung to life.

"OK, I'm here with...

Tosh, was it?

Tosh, and uh...I've got the mission schematics here, William said, over the intercom.

"There might be static once you go into the various, uh, dimensional pockets, so we're going to, uh, get this all out now.

Each of you has a, uh, 'dimensional disturbance translocator?' Something like that. It should help you locate the source of the signal once you enter into dimensional pockets. There should be some kind of device producing the signal; we're not entirely sure what sort of device it is, so you'll have to improvise to take it off-line. It is PROBABLY better to turn them off carefully, but they have to go off one way or another -- if you can't shut them off, smash them into bits.

Uh...yeah, that should, uh, about cover it. Theoretically, we should try to do this at similar points, but as long as, uh, no one takes TOO too long, we should be...should be alright, right?


Is that, uh...everyone's clear on that, yeah? Good luck, X-Men."

[Narrator]

With no more questions, the group entered the dimensional rift.

Mutant Town is not altogether different than most people would remember it. It's a bit less...slummy than the Modern XU people would know, though not exactly a high-class neighborhood. It's more of a well-functioning ghetto, with people of all different shapes, sizes, colors and powers mingling together. It's a rough neighborhood, but not an actively dangerous one.

The statue commemorating a tragedy at Genosha would be new to current XU people, as Genosha was doing just fine in there universe.

Thumping music could be heard throughout the area, as it appeared to be evening on a Friday night, and the town was just waking up to party.

[Miranda Weaver]

Miranda holds a hand out, "Someone lead me, I'm going local blind for a bit." With that, she pushes her vision up and overhead, trying to get a good look at the surrounding area from that higher vantage point.

[Narrator]

Mutant Town was busy, as people were coming out to party and play, nightclubs oontzing and thumping.

The signal was pointing towards the edge of Mutant Town, and one of the higher-class (..or at least, higher-expense) clubs. Xzotic, an adult entertainment center focusing on 'exotic mutant dancers', according to the signage. Your standard luxurious furnishings, scantily-clad women, overly-priced drinks sort of establishment.

[Chase Delacroix]

Chase stared at the night club for a few moments. It reminded him of an assignment that took him to the back rooms of such a place to kill a drug dealer.

This is too much like Madripoor.

[Sean Hall]

Sean reaches out for Miranda's hand to lead her with the team.

"This would be an awful place to get into a fight," Sean said looking around at the crowds of people.

[Will]

"Well, hopefully, it won't be a fight. In and out.

And in, apparently," he said, looking up at the building. "X-Man business, sir, let us through."

[Narrator]

"Youze guys on the list?

If not, scram. Private party tonight," the very big, very bald and very built bouncer bristled.

[Chase Delacroix]

Chase stared down the bouncer with his most threatening assassin glare, daring the bouncer to try stopping them.

[Sara Stanton]

"Oh god, I remember some of the stories from back in the day about this place..." Sara chuckles slightly, fairly certain that most of them were probably embellished to some extent.

[Miranda Weaver]

Feeling the mild consternation in her group, Miranda snaps back to her body. She smiles at the bouncer, trying to take a telepathic sense of the man and figure out where to push. "Of course, we're on the guest list," she says, peering briefly over his shoulder at his list without moving. "We're the Patterson party and, as you can see, we're running late."

[Narrator]

Miranda's mother has taught her well, as the man's eyes glaze over.

"Patterson...party of nine...of course....my apologies," he droned out. "The party is awaiting you..." he added, stepping aside.


The interior was well-furnished. The dancers were not. The crowd was sparser than usual, thanks to the private nature of tonight's showing. Some kind of gothic party? Lots of pale-skinned people dressed in mostly black, with occasional red accents.

...Creepy. And foreboding, as many of them turned to look at the newcomers, rising to their feet.

[Sean Hall]

Sean for his part tried to see if this was another hive of vampires by examining the flow of magic around the room because that was the first thing a bunch of pale-skinned goth people made him think of.

[Jezebelle]

These weren't magical, though they clearly attempted to look that way. No, these were mutants, though genetically modified and 'enhanced' mutants.

A woman, standing up from the VIP section on the upper level, looked down over the balcony. Behind her, a complicated (and out-of-place-looking) machine was sitting, flashing lights.

"The X-Men. He said you might try to interfere.

I am generous. I shall give you this one chance to turn around and remain whole. Otherwise, my children will show you their mercy."

[Chase Delacroix]

Chase grabbed an arrow but didn't yet draw it out of the quiver.

"You're welcome to try Elvira."

[Sara Stanton]

Sara frowns and she shifts into solid rock, balling her hands into fists.

"I remember you from the first time we stomped you out. Back then I was terrified. Now I'm just mad."

[Sean Hall]

Sean was equal parts disappointed and pleased that they weren't actually magical creatures.

"Maybe you should just give us the machine or you'll see what real magic looks like," Sean said eyes beginning to glow as he drew magic to prepare his first spell.

[Miranda Weaver]

Miranda extends her staff, holding it casually at the ready in one hand as her wing feathers turn black. "Spoken like someone who doesn't know her future is already written. You don't understand who you're dealing with. We could continue to extend to you the chance to surrender, but you'd never take it, would you?"

[Jezebelle]

"The future is never written. And your future will be wiped away in His name.

Try to spare the floor, boys," she said, walking away from the bannister, as the 'vampires' on the ground floor charged the teams!

[Sean Hall]

Sean spoke several words of power in rapid succession. Several ephemeral spears coalesced from the air, which launched towards the nearest 'vampires'.

[Miranda Weaver]

Miranda's face hardened and she began to emanate a low level wave of dread as she lunged at the nearest vampire, sliding to the side as she brings her staff around in a hard swing at waist level.

[Byrna Cooper]

“Fake Vampires.. why’d it have to be fake vampires?”

Bear cartwheeled to the left, popping up with two thrown baseballs launched at any stragglers.

[Sara Stanton]

As the vampires charge Sara stomps her foot on the ground and a thick wall raises up from the concrete underneath the dance-floor, aiming to slam into some of the vampires.

[Narrator]

“Fake Vampires.. why’d it have to be fake vampires?”

Bear cartwheeled to the left, popping up with two thrown baseballs launched at any stragglers.

One of Bear's baseballs smashed right into one of the vampire's skulls, knocking them to the floor with a thump. Her second one was deflected by one of the vampires holding up a serving tray, which was then hurled at the hippie.

Miranda's face hardened and she began to emanate a low level wave of dread as she lunged at the nearest vampire, sliding to the side as she brings her staff around in a hard swing at waist level.

The low-level dread was enough to keep the vampires slightly at bay, and give Miranda the opening for a hard shot in the solar plexus of the nearest vampire. Two more charged at her, with much faster speed than any 'normal' human

Sean spoke several words of power in rapid succession. Several ephemeral spears coalesced from the air, which launched towards the nearest 'vampires'.

Sean's spears hit their targets, sending vampires sprawling to the ground. He was tackled from behind by another, however, trying to keep the mage from maging.

As the vampires charge Sara stomps her foot on the ground and a thick wall raises up from the concrete underneath the dance-floor, aiming to slam into some of the vampires.

The wall served as a convenient cut-off point, trapping a number of vampires on the other side of it (and smashing one or two against the ceiling, to boot.) More, however, came down from the VIP era, charging at her with unusual speed.

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear kept moving as she does, flipping away from the tray as it impacted into a wall mirror, cracking it spiderweb-like from floor to ceiling.

Not that vampires used mirrors that much.

“Someone wants to get in a throwing contest with me, huh?” She said, smirking.

[Miranda Weaver]

The low-level dread was enough to keep the vampires slightly at bay, and give Miranda the opening for a hard shot in the solar plexus of the nearest vampire. Two more charged at her, with much faster speed than any 'normal' human.

Miranda spins as they come, knocking over a nearby chilling bucket with her staff in what looks like sheer clumsiness until the ice spills directly into one of the vampire's path. She can't seem to get out of the way of the other, instead trying to roll with whatever blow he levels at her.

[Trev Anderson]

Trev took a deep breath and let out a focused shout at the additional vampires charging Sara.

[Narrator]

Miranda spins as they come, knocking over a nearby chilling bucket with her staff in what looks like sheer clumsiness until the ice spills directly into one of the vampire's path. She can't seem to get out of the way of the other, instead trying to roll with whatever blow he levels at her.

Miranda's ice bucket spills into the vampire's path, who slides and slams into the bar. That knocks over a bottle of expensive-looking alcohol, tipping to the floor and rolling down, causing a vampire about to hit Miranda to also go sprawling. Rube Goldebergian preconition powers strike again.

The other vampire then just punches Miranda really hard.

Bear kept moving as she does, flipping away from the tray as it impacted into a wall mirror, cracking it spiderweb-like from floor to ceiling.

Not that vampires used mirrors that much.

“Someone wants to get in a throwing contest with me, huh?” She said, smirking.

Bear's response was a hiss, as the vampire flung itself towards her with inhuman speed.

Trev took a deep breath and let out a focused shout at the additional vampires charging Sara.

Trev's shout knocked them off-path, but another Vampire grabbed him, slamming into (and through) a wall. Trev went sprawling into the backstage area, right into the collective laps of a bunch of half-dressed ladies of the establishment were taking shelter. The vampire followed.

[Sean Hall]

Sean's spears hit their targets, sending vampires sprawling to the ground. He was tackled from behind by another, however, trying to keep the mage from maging.

Sean hit the ground and after a moment rolled to face the vampire. He attempted to grab its face while growling out the words to a spell

"And unto you the blessing of Ado," Sean said as he tried to turn the vampire into salt.

[Sara Stanton]

As the two vampires get knocked to the side Sara slides her foot on the ground and the wall she erected comes tumbling down on top of the stumbling vampires.

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear bounced off a wall, changing direction quickly while tossing a glue ball at the charging foe.

[Miranda Weaver]

Miranda's ice bucket spills into the vampire's path, who slides and slams into the bar. That knocks over a bottle of expensive-looking alcohol, tipping to the floor and rolling down, causing a vampire about to hit Miranda to also go sprawling. Rube Goldebergian preconition powers strike again.

The other vampire then just punches Miranda really hard.

Miranda catches the blow on her shoulder, the loud pop of a dislocating joint drowned out by her cry of pain as she goes tumbling back over a table, which pops her shoulder back into place somehow. She doesn't advance on her opponent though. Instead she balls up all that pain and shares it with them.