A Tale of Mischief and Mutants

The Savage Land

—-Loki—-

I wake up to someone screaming. It's Jubilee there's a group of bizarre looking people who have come into our camp they're holding Storm, Jubilee, and Kitty at gun point. Sam's up now too. We get to our feet ready for a fight. I step in front of her wanting her behind me in case I can't talk our way out of this and they become violent. Scott beats me to having the first word.

"There must be some kind of misunderstanding. We're not here to hurt anyone we're looking for someone we lost."

A man who's odd appearance I could only
describe as frog like answers.

"No, there is no misunderstanding the master has commanded that we take you mutants to him."

"Put down your weapons or feel the wrath of Vertigo."

A woman in a suit with green and white spirals demands. Everyone reluctantly complies not wanting theses people to loose their temper and kill someone. I speak up then, I can feel this situation worsening.

"Perhaps we can come to an arrangement."

The woman, Vertigo I assume, responds with a scowl.

"Why would we do that? If the master has commanded it, it must be done."

I flash a charming smile at her and her frown softens slightly.

"You see, I am not a mutant. But I am very useful and this master you speak of sounds intriguing."

She raises her eyebrows at me. Then motions one of the people she's with over to me. I see Scott glare at me in my peripheral vision. He's going to think I'm betraying them, Sam knows better by now but the rest aren't familiar with my methods. The bizarre looking man scans my body with some sort of device.

"This one's not lying he's not even human."

Vertigo looks at me curiously then seems to throw a questioning gaze to a four armed man who is currently holding Storm at gunpoint. He speaks to me.

"You would pledge your loyalty to the master?"

"Perhaps... I'd request to have an audience with him first."

They've taken the bait. The four armed man gestures to the team with one of his guns. 

"The rest of them must come with us."

"Of course, if that is what this master of your's requires."

Sam, who likely just told her friends in any way she could to go along with my plan, gives me a questioning look as she passes me being lead away by these people. I give her a subtle reassuring look. I have until we reach wherever this 'master' resides to come up with a plan. I hope I figure out some way for us to escape these people before we get that far but I need to have a plan if I don't.

I begin to think as we're being lead through the Jungle. There must be some reason why their abilities are shut down, some spell or technology. I need to find out what that is and I need to shut it down.

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As we walk I'm not being regarded as, as big a threat as the others. I'm walking beside Vertigo and start up a conversation.

"So, this place it's truly beautiful what is it called?"

"This is the Savage Land we mutates were created here."

"Mutates?"

"Yes, unlike mutants, we weren't born with the genetics for our abilities."

"Is that why their abilities don't work and yours do?"

I've put her at ease, my silver tongue is truly a gift. She smiles then gestures towards her belt.

"No our master has made a way for his device not to affect his mutates."

"He must be very clever to create such a device."

'Unlike you.' This woman is freely giving me valuable information.

"He is you would be wise to join him."

I nod. 'When there's a cold day in Hel perhaps' I'm not serving any more masters grand, Titan, or otherwise.

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We've been walking along for a good twenty minutes when suddenly from the jungle a man and a big cat of some kind come rushing out. I see my opportunity and take it. While they're distracted I destroy Vertigo's belt and the frog like creature's belt before they even realize what's happening.

The man from the forest is fighting the mutates causing them to be distracted. They are quickly disarmed by the X-men. We then run into the forest unsure of which direction to run. The man runs past us and yells.

"Follow me! Any enemies of Sauron and his allies are my friends!"

I'm pretty sure nobody has a clue as to who Sauron is but we don't hesitate to follow the man deeper into the forest. The sound of those giving chase seems to fade after a bit. I can only hope we are in a better position now than we were with the mutates.