Template:Featured Articles/25-2023
 "Prism, Rambeau is coming." "I got it. Quit dancing with the other one." As Nica got closer, the man stepped out of the darkness, sparkling in the dim light. His entire body seemed to be moving crystals, reflecting and refracting the light around him. "I'm afraid this is not an ideal matchup, young lady." The matter-of-fact way he said it reminded her of the woman from the Brotherhood who had so easily beaten her, but here she was now and Callisto needed her to do her job. With both hands, she flung a burst of infra-red light at the crystal figure. The blast took him square in the chest, but he didn't move. Instead, it made his body glow for a second as he redirected the blast towards Callisto. "As I said." Callisto howled in irritation as the beam seared across her cheek. "Okay, enough," she snapped, and shrugged of her jacket like a circus contortionist, ducking out of the way and leaving Meat Mountain with two handfuls of aged leather before he even had a chance to react. She fell into a roll past the guy, hand whipping out as she went. The back of his knee blossomed dark, and Callisto was back in the open. He grunted in pain, pulling back briefly, holding his leg. The crystal man spread his hands and a laser-like beam ripped through the hall, forcing Callisto back away from his teammate. "You OK, Blockbuster?" "It'll heal." Was the terse response before he turned and smashed his fists into the side of the wall. Already weakened by the laser, crack ran from the impact and up into the ceiling, causing a partial cave-in. Seeing this, Nica darted forward and solidified long enough to push Cal towards the man - Prism, that was what Blockbuster had called him - with a brief exclamation of: "Swap partners! I have an idea!" before she dematerialised again. Without hesitation this time, she began blasting the huge Blockbuster with infra-red light, aiming for his face and eyes, intent on driving him towards the cracking ceiling. Callisto didn't hesitate. The moment Blockbuster's attention was diverted she dropped low and launched toward the glowing man, flanking him in an attempt to avoid his blasts. He began to turn towards her as she got close, throwing another of those beams, but she ducked again and swept a leg out to hook his ankle and set him off balance. The air around Nica was becoming superheated as she threw blast after blast at Blockbuster, driving him back towards the cracked section of roof that seemed to be barely holding on. "Just...a...little...further..." she muttered through gritted teeth, aware she was draining her stored energy rapidly. One step, two steps back, but then he began pushing back against the weakening energy of her infra-red beams. "Cal! I need a boost!" she called to the other woman, hoping she would understand what she meant. Callisto, standing over Prism with a hand at the back of his neck, pinning him on his knees, glanced across in Nica's direction, eye narrowing as she took in Blockbuster's slow but steady resistance. Then, all of a sudden, she twigged. Nica had seen Callisto perform some feats of significant strength. Throwing massive chunks of masonry, hauling around motorbikes like they were toys. But there was nothing quite like the sight of an extremely averagely-built woman lifting a man - crystalline or otherwise - off his feet by the neck. Turning toward Nica, Callisto grabbed a thigh too and lifted his flailing body above her head. "This work? Bit lower?" There was a long moment of silence, punctuated only by the pings of the last few rocks coming down. Then a fist came up out of the pile. Massive hands shifted the rubble as Blockbuster got to his feet but he was unsteady; punch-drunk. "Now we got..." He slurred, getting his balance and stopped, touching his ear. Just then Prism put his hand over Callisto's eyes and channeled everything he had left through his palm. The searing light hit with almost physical force, sending him crashing to the floor. He scrambled up and raced towards Blockbuster. "Time to go!" "I heard. I-" He wavered, but fell into full out retreat with him, leaving behind the pair of X-Men. Callisto dropped to her knees, bringing her hands to her face reflexively. "Fuck me..." Nica was by her side in literally a flash. "Are you okay?" she asked, concerned at the sudden vulnerability of the woman she had begun to think of as indestructible. "Yeah, yeah, I'm good, justneedaminute." Callisto rose a little unsteadily to her feet, shaking her head as if to clear it. Prism's hand had left an angry red band scorched across her face - a shallow burn that would heal in no time, but it whatever kept Callisto's eyepatch on had come unstuck and it had fallen away, exposing the mess of scar tissue that covered her bad eye. The other eye was blinking rapidly. "Fucker blinded me again. Gonna need to hug the wall." Nica winced at the sight, but her voice remained steady... if somewhat tired. "I've got you," she said, slipping her arm around the Morlock to steady her. Callisto's response was a throaty chuckle. "'Course you do," she said. "That's the job, right?" It was strange, how much those brief words meant. That and the weight of the woman on her shoulder, and suddenly the exhaustion that had settled on Nica like a leaden weight seemed to lessen. Or perhaps it was the weight of her self-doubt that was reduced? Either way, it felt good, and she grinned to herself. "Let's get the fuck out of here." |
