Canon Fodder

CHAPTER 455 RUINED

“Despite the outburst from the humans yesterday. Your Majestor is pleased with the attempt the Earthlings have made at representing their species,” the lackey yelled from the podium. People cheered and I rolled my eyes. 

The death of Black Tom Cassidy was a sobering moment for us all. Though no one else had died yet. Cain Marko was still missing. Whisked away to some prison or killed, I wasn’t sure. Either way he was another factor I would have to account for. 

Currently the plan for escape that Xavier was planning on was helping Lilandra wreak havoc at the arena. She and Gladiator had been confident they could attack the arena this day, but that was before their lair was destroyed and they went on the run. 

I had no idea if that was still the plan or even if Wolverine was still with them. For all I knew he could have been working on his own plan to help us escape since Quicksilver hadn’t made it back to us yet. Hopeful that the plan would come to fruition I had a few plans just in case that didn’t work. 

My eyes drifted up to the sky. Above us were many starships just floating up there. Ready to be stolen. All I would have to do was fly straight up, risk the vacuum of space, learn to navigate an interstellar ship, swoop down, grab everyone and all would be good. 

One major problem was I still didn’t know how to fly a ship. With my track record of barely being able to manage the helm on the Going Merry and Thousand Sunny in One Piece, I did not have much hope of managing a ship, but desperate times called for desperate measures. 

The other major problem was I still didn’t know if I could survive in space. Viltrumites in Invincible had been able to hold their breath and traverse the galaxy easily enough. I wasn’t exactly a full-blooded one yet. Which concerned me slightly. 

I could jump out of the world and try it somewhere else, but then I would be without an arm. I didn’t want to risk losing it in another body with my World Lasting Physique. I needed a full heal or some other way to grow it back before I jumped worlds. 

For now, I would wait to see what happened. “Let the second day of the trial of the traitorous Kree, Car-Ell, begin!” The lackey yelled. 

Carl Danvers was sitting on one of the large cushioned seats. Still weak, he apparently didn’t have his Cosmic Force anymore. His Haki now that of a normal person I hoped that the power would reawaken just so Anne didn’t feel bad about stealing it. But I’d rather she have the skill as well. 

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Currently she was sitting next to me on one of the sofas. Leaning into me she was like a new person. No longer worried about what was to come, she idly called some of her Cosmic power to her palm causing her hand to glow. Though I didn’t exactly understand the power, I knew it was powerful from how strong she felt. A fact that she was quickly becoming aware of. 

Though we hadn’t talked about our own issues, I felt that she was a lot more like herself. Perhaps gaining strength made her feel like she had something to offer, or some other weird notion. Either way, I had no drive to bring up our problems with an impending fight coming up. 

“Let us begin,” the lackey said and Magneto winked out of existence from beside Xavier. 

“Oh damn,” I said, sitting forward excitedly. “Come on, guys. Off the glass, we all want to see.”

“Please don’t talk to me,” Peter said as he stepped away from the window. Magneto was standing at one edge of the fighting arena. Still wearing his purple suit he was easy to spot. 

“Oh come on, so I beat you up a little, now you’re not talking to me?” I asked, playing dumb. His Haki was pretty obvious. 

“A little?! I was pissing blood this morning,” he said, glaring at me. 

“But did you lose an arm?” I asked with my best convincing tone, raising my stub of an arm up. I was really playing it up not having one for the time being.  

“I’m gonna kill you in your sleep,” he mumbled. 

“Bring it,” I said. “I’ll get rid of my other arm, and maybe you’ll have a chance.”

“God, I fucking hate you,” he said, meaning it. I waved at him, blowing him off. He and Gwen needed a real fight. Since I didn’t want to leave them to an alien that would potentially kill them, I felt a lot more confident about their chances after testing them. 

“Bunch of babies,” I said. “Gwen has moved on, at least.”

“Oh no, I’m helping him plan how to kill you in your sleep,” she said.

“Do you see this, Jessica? Your classmates are a couple of whiny bitches,” I said. She rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh at how hurt they acted. 

“Fuck waiting until sleep, let’s all jump him,” Gwen said, mostly joking. 

“Shh-” I said as Magneto’s opponent appeared. This one was a very small man, but he made the mistake of wearing a suit of armor and large sword on his back. Apparently the Shi’ar hadn’t continued looking into our powers or they most likely would have sent someone else. Magneto knew we had to extend the fights out as long as possible though, so it would be a while until he wrapped things up. 

He started the fight by controlling the sword of his opponent and making it chop his arm off. Which was bloody to start until the guy grew another limb. The real fight started then and all conversation drifted to the way-side as we watched them fight below. 

The platform we were on was a lot bigger and more powerful than the one Cain had broken out of the day before. The forcefield surrounding it got an upgrade, and the guards intermingled among us, watching to make sure we didn’t make a move again. I didn’t feel like Magneto needed my help as he lifted the opponent up by his armor and slammed him into the fighting arena, causing it to crater underneath him. 

-Weston- A voice said in my head. I looked over to see Jean Grey, eyeing me from next to Scott Summers. 

Normally I would have fooled around, but her Haki said she was worried about something. Not in the mood to piss her off I asked -What?-

-I uh…nevermind-

-My god, even in my head, women suck at talking- I thought at her. She didn’t reply, just looked away. I let out a sigh and thought -Follow me into my mind- I instantly shifted into my rendition of the Makuramoto. Jean hesitated for a moment, but then found my consciousness. Barely touching my mind she slowly entered more and more until she was forming inside the pillow room. 

“Welcome to my domain,” I said as I sat in my couch pit. I was happily munching on popcorn. Unsure how this all worked, I assumed this was possible for anyone to make with the right training, but only chakra could be used to draw people in. Otherwise I needed a psychic to join me. 

Jean looked around hesitantly in the room. No longer wearing the white shirt and blue jeans from the outside world,  she was now in all black. A change I doubt she noticed. Also on her chest was the outline of a bird made of flames. Not filled in completely, just the edges. I was caught off guard a moment by the outfit. This was her own mental image of herself. No bra, perfectly round breasts in skin tight clothes, her red hair almost glowing slightly. She was gorgeous. 

“Have I been here before?” She mumbled, looking around. 

“Uhhh, what do you want?” I asked, changing the subject.

“I…don’t know,” she said, studying me for a moment. I pointed opposite me in the couch pit. Rolling her eyes she moved over to it and plopped down. Then realizing how comfortable it was she relaxed more and more. I made a bucket of popcorn appear in front of her and she hesitantly took a bite. “How are you doing this?” 

“Practice,” I said. “Let’s start at the beginning. Did you read the scroll I gave you?” I felt someone’s fingers move across my mind. Suspecting the Professor, I pictured a brick wall to make sure he couldn’t find us. 

“I did…I still don’t get why you gave it to me though,” she said. 

“Why are you lying?” I asked, frowning at her.

“Lying?”

“Yes, spreading falsehoods. You know exactly why I gave it to you,” I said. She frowned, unwilling to say the words. “I think you’re the Phoenix.” 

“That’s crazy,” she said, no mirth in her voice. Blushing, she looked down to her hands as she rung them. “There’s just no way I have that kind of power.” 

“Why not?” I asked. She frowned, unsure how to answer. “Jean, you are strong. I’ve been trying to tell you that for a while. I know you were a little messed up after Sinister. Whatever history you and he share, I’m guessing it’s because you’re strong. Maybe you are the Phoenix, maybe you’re not. Either way, you will eventually be called to fight in this tournament. So do you want to be that useless teacher you were at Calhoun, or that battle-lusting woman that fought beside me in Limbo?” 

She blushed again, telling me she was slowly remembering what was happening. “I-” She tried to say but was pulled out my mind as someone shook her. I left my Makuramoto, watching as Magneto appeared in front of us. His fight over, I looked down to the floor to see only a lifeless body on the tournament floor. His armor crushed like a beer can, there wasn’t much left of the opponent as someone went down to scrape him off the ground. 

“Do you really think that was a good idea? They will want retribution,” Xavier said, disappointed at Magneto. 

“These people need a warning that we live and die by an eye for an eye,” the confident Magneto said. “Perhaps this will give other’s pause.” His Haki was calm as before. I could tell that he was unbothered by killing. Nodding slowly I looked over to Anne next to me. She was still playing with her power. 

The announcer began to talk once more. There was some minor small talk. Reed Richards still nursing his wounds, but more likely milking the attention, I frowned, annoyed by him. The blonde Invisible Woman giving him all of her attention, I didn’t think he deserved it. The resolute Ben Grimm was far more admirable to me. Standing guard over Richards though he was considered a freak being covered in rocks. The man was ready to throw down at any time with anyone that hurt his friends. 

-Weston, any idea when this attack will take place?- Xavier asked telepathically. 

-Probably in the most dramatic moment possible- I said truthfully. 

-What?- He asked. 

-No, I have no idea. You know what I know. The princess said the second day. That’s all I- I cut off as Peter Parker disappeared. 

“Shit,” Gwen and Jessica said as one as he appeared on the tournament floor. 

“Fuck,” I said. I had hoped that the attack would happen before Peter, Lyra, or Gwen had to risk fighting. Though they were strong, they were still too new to this. I stood up, moving to the glass as I looked down at the nerdy kid. 

Though he didn’t wear his glasses, he still looked like a major nerd. Brown hair cut short, average nose, small chin, he looked too normal to be centerstage during an alien fighting tournament. Wearing my ARMIS suit that was painted red and blue, he at least had that to fall back on. But as he stood looking around this way and that, his Haki told me he was scared shitless. 

His opponent appeared opposite him. A woman with green hair and lime colored skin, the random plants around her began to bloom wildly as she approached him. “Fuck, think he can beat up a girl?” I asked. 

“He’s not you,” Gwen said. “He couldn’t even fight a guy. He’s so screwed.” She chewed her nail, worried as she stared down at him. The fight commenced and the foe began to make trees shoot up out of the ground. Which would honestly help Peter more. The web shooters needed height to become useful. 

The woman Shi’ar covered the perimeter in trees, blocking our view. I watched with my Observation Haki as a huge man-eating plant began to dig underneath the stage. “Fucking fuck…” I mumbled as I opened a finger-sized Rift. 

I looked around, waiting to see if anyone noticed the tear in space I caused. The black Rift right in front of me, the other end formed overtop of the fighting area. Ready to call down my Hoken like god’s judgement. I waited as the man eating plant burrowed toward him. Peter and his opponent said a few words, then the massive plant shot out from underneath him, swallowing him whole. 

I began to sweat, waiting to see what he would do as I began to charge up a Haki focused Hoken attack. Chewing my lip, the bulbous head of the man-eater chewed and began filling it’s mouth with some sort of acid. My eyes closed, I watched Peter’s Haki as he tried to climb up the interior mouth of the plant. Like a mario villain, the plant was a huge flower-like head attached to a massive vine.

The acid in it’s mouth rose and Peter continued to scramble up, sticking to the interior of the mouth. I cursed, charging more Hoken to hit the woman, but then Peter remembered his web slinger. Blasting it to the tip of the monster’s mouth he pulled himself up and began punching the now small orifice of the inner mouth. 

The man eating plant dove down, swallowing a bunch of rubble to force him down, but Peter was smart this time. Shooting out of there instantly. 

“What’s going on?” Gwen asked. “I can’t see anything with the trees.”

“He’s alive,” I said, my eyes watching his Haki as he used his webs to pull himself toward the plant woman. Another plant shot out of the ground, swallowing her, but instead of chewing it was more like a protective shell. Peter began to punch at the flower as the man-eater went at him. 

“You can see?” Gwen asked. “Tell me, what’s going on?”

“Fuck you, bitching about me helping you. Figure it out on your own,” I said.

“Weston, I’m sorry. Please, it’s Peter,” she said.

“He’s fine, just…wait,” I said, unwilling to give her a blow by blow as Peter broke through the protective plant. As he did, the plant lifted up, revealing a row of bullet plants. They spat seeds at him like a Plants vs. Zombies protection device. The small seeds shot at him like bullets, causing him to move back. Dodging on instinct, I smiled, already seeing a stark improvement from the day before. 

After some testing he was able to adjust the pressure on his new web shooters, making the webs strong enough to knock the plants back. The man-eater dived at him, but he slid away, more and more confident each second as the fight picked up. 

The arena finally got an invisible camera inside the field of trees, just as Peter snatched the green haired Shi’ar with a web. Everyone in our platform cheered as he grabbed her and pulled. He began wrapping her up, but the man-eater swallowed them both up. Again the view was blocked, but Peter was getting more confident. He grabbed the woman and tied her up fully, covering her entire body in webs. 

Threatening her he got close to her body only to have her slice the webs surrounding her with some kind of plant sword. 

“This is going to take a while,” I mumbled. Not terribly surprised, but ready for a fight at any moment. My eyes glancing around the area they landed back on Jean Grey. Lost in her own thoughts, I felt her Haki begin to pulse slightly. Getting stronger and stronger, bit by bit. My eyes widening, I wondered how close she was to actually being ready to awaken the true her.