The GIANT-SIZE Traitor Game: War Of The Exiles!

[Deadpooligan]

Thunderball stalks closer to Morph, looming over the pasty mutant. "Perhaps you need a closer look."

Coolly, he shoves his mace close to the smaller man's face.

"It says 'The World Still Needs Heroes, Not Glorified Talking Welcome Mats.'" Disdainfully, he moves his weapon away from Morph. "Seeing as you brought us here to save the world, shouldn't we be getting on with the heroics, or would you rather waste more time with your mouth-breathing antics?"

"You can walk right on over me then, I haven't ever been worthy enough to lift that Uru juju. Not that I ever got the chance. Worlds aren't in that much peril that we can't take an hour or two to show you how things work. The last time we tried to make a new team, they surprise-ambushed us back on our home turf wanting answers. So we skip any misunderstandings this time by giving you guys the full picture from the beginn--"

"Excellent." Without waiting for more from Morph, Thunderball steps through the portal. Heather Hudson? Why does that name sound familiar? he wonders.

"Because there's probably a version of me in your home reality, Doctor Franklin," a woman in a white labcoat replies.



"Hello everyone, I'm Heather Hudson, mission coordinator for the Exiles. Before I fire Morph from being our glorified greeter, and give you some more concrete answers, allow me to introduce the rest of the team..."

The other Exiles are standing next to her, as she introduces them from left to right.



"This is Clarice Ferguson, also known as BLINK. She's a teleporter, and usually the field leader for our team and a few newly recruited teams. She's been at this, like Morph, almost nonstop from day one."

"Hello."

"Next to her is T.J. Wagner, known as NOCTURNE... and her beau, John Proudstar, THUNDERBIRD."

"Hey there!" "Greetings."

"One of our newest additions is a genuine Captain Britain Corpsman originally from Earth-238, kind of the 'original' Exile, CAPTAIN U.K."

"Or Linda, if you please."

"And you know MORPH, also known as Kevin Sidney. Probably more than you want to."

"What is this, rag on me day? Maybe I oughta shift into a doormat. Probably make Thundermace over there real happy."

[Deadpooligan]

Vague threats weren't leverage enough for American Woman's easy acquiescence. "Why not? What could possibly be worse than the worldwide havoc that ensues if Superman invades North Vietnam?" The blonde heroine stepped closer to Morph. She didn't indulge histrionics, but instead attempted to reason with their strange host. "There are certainly better ways to get help than blackmail and kidnapping. Your personal trouble doesn't negate the severity of the troubles we're all dealing with back in our home universes. Violating our free will makes you no better than any other villain I've ever fought."

Morph steps up to her, his brow furrowed. He didn't like being painted as a bad guy at all, even though the circumstances could very easily make him appear one (or at the very least, a nuisance).

"How about everyone on Earth dying except for Big Blue? I'm talking a serious domino effect of events that starts with capes flying ends with nukes flying. Then you get Kal-El, last man on planet dustball. I don't even want to think about what comes next, because we fought a Superman-survivor of a dead world once."

Anyway... this is not blackmail and kidnapping! Look, by taking you off your world, we're trying to prevent that from happening. Events and history change on the cosmic whim, and we're trying to keep it all together!"

As she presented her case, American Woman noticed Wanda's severe labor pains. Her eyebrow rose in a concerned frown. "Shouldn't we help her? She really looks like she needs a doctor."

"Apparently she needs to get to Heaven to un-demonize her unborn kids. Talk about a bad timing..."

The revelation would shock Mysterio as he would once again sit down in his chair. "No...no that's fine." Head sunk low head let out a sigh. "I'm never going to be the Performer Supreme aren't I?"

"I don't think there's any performers here, other than you an' me. I'll concede the title, I think I've been Performer Supreme of the Panoptichron for too long."

[Indigo Al]

"I am still not your mother. Although I can help you find her, if you like..."

"Why don't we save that for later, after we've done whatever it is we're supposed to do here -- Empress." 'Jesus,' Django thought to himself. 'Man up already. She's not Mom, not really. And since when could I ever rely on my parents anyhow?'

Still, his proximity to Wanda and her infernal presence made his hair stand on end and his skin tingle. He could feel his own mutant probability-hex, buzzing in his skull in protest, easily susceptible to the hellish voice of the pregnant Empress...he clenched his fists, resisting the urge to gesture wildly....

"What is 'lack of foresight' the secondary mutant power in all of Magneto's family? What did you think we going to happen if --? Ahh... forget it. I don't know what to tell you, I can't send you home, but maybe we could find a version of Wundarr or Angel that can do it. And hopefully soon, before we get a House of Omen on our hands."

"Huh. 'House of Omen.' We have something like that back in my world..."

The House of Defenders is where all the supernatural characters have congregated to form their fiefdoms. Its territory has become somewhat chaotic given the wild and unpredictable nature of magic. It has its own, supernatural based problems plaguing the populace that the ruling class has to attend to. By rights the House of Defenders should be the more powerful of the Houses. However, its power is kept in check by its own tendencies towards balkanization, as rival internal factions struggle for influence over the house. Roughly:

The Court of Strange - located in Citrusville, Florida, and headed by Doctor Strange and Clea. Includes many former Defenders including Valkyrie, Devil-Slayer, the Gargoyle, Andromeda, Nighthawk, the Over-Mind, as well as Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Howard the Duck, Jennifer Kale, Hannibal King, Rintrah, Amanda Sefton, Brother Voodoo, Agatha Harkness, and others. They are very powerful, and serve as the public face of the House to try to reassure a populace that's increasingly fearful of the magickal madness in its territories, due to the Nexus of All Realities in Citrusville becoming unstable. Furthermore, they are slyly and covertly challenged, much like a Renaissance court with its backstabbing intrigues, by:

The Church of Satan - Daimon and Satana Hellstrom have each established rival denominations of the Church of Satan in Georgia. Daimon presides in Atlanta in an official polyamorous marriage with its High Priestesses Patsy Walker, Seripha Thames and Lilith, Daughter of Dracula. Satana Hellstrom and Blackheart preside over their denomination in Savannah. Frequent associates of both denominations include Nekra Sinclair, Baron Mordo, Doctor Druid, all of the Salem's Seven team from New Salem, Tarot (formerly of the Hellions), Ghost Rider Danny Kvetch, Gabriel the Devil Hunter and Desadia, a reformed Doctor Sun, Manslaughter and Ben Reilly the Scarlet Spider. Both denominations accrue magickal energy through sex rituals, in which Selene, Black Queen of the Hellfire Club, participates for purposes of personal power, pleasure and to cement the relationship between the House of Defenders and the Hellfire Club, which operates secretly in the territories of the House of Might.

The Barony of the Darkhold - In New Orleans, Rachel Van Helsing has slain Dracula and assumed title of Lord of Vampires. She keeps her flock of vampires closely and struggles to keep them from feeding on humans and spreading vampirism, as well as succumbing to her own vampire nature. She rules together with her new wife, Victoria Montesi, daughter of Chthon, who struggles to safeguard the Darkhold, hidden in the old Entergy building in New Orleans' business district. Associates of the Darkhold Barony include Jack Russell, Morbius, Blade, the Night Shift team (Dansen Macabre, Hangman, The Shroud, Gypsy Moth and I forget the rest of them), an embittered alcoholic Frank Drake, an embittered and alcoholic Sam Buchanan, the Darkhold dwarf, Marie Laveau, Frankenstein's Monster, Simon Garth/Zombie, and the sorceress Topaz.

Thus, the official ruling Council of the House of Defenders is composed of Doctor Strange, Rachel Van Helsing and Daimon Hellstorm. They are deeply feared and mistrusted by all the other Houses except for the House of the Atom, whom with they have excellent relations thanks to Selene, Tarot, Amanda Sefton, Forge and Illyana Rasputin. Baron Mordo and Blackheart have also made gestures of alliance to the House of Thunderbolts on the Defenders' behalf.

[tangentman]

Morph steps up to her, his brow furrowed. He didn't like being painted as a bad guy at all, even though the circumstances could very easily make him appear one (or at the very least, a nuisance).

"How about everyone on Earth dying except for Big Blue? I'm talking a serious domino effect of events that starts with capes flying ends with nukes flying. Then you get Kal-El, last man on planet dustball. I don't even want to think about what comes next, because we fought a Superman-survivor of a dead world once."

A shudder ran through American Woman at the very thought of worldwide obliteration. She knew firsthand the powers that would have been brought to bear in Vietnam. Superman had already left Hawkman and Aquaman severely battered, literally tore through the Red Tornado. Thunderlord was said to have a voice that could shatter a mountain top with a mere whisper. She'd seen one military intelligence movie that documented that devastating power. What if Morph really spoke the truth?

"Anyway... this is not blackmail and kidnapping! Look, by taking you off your world, we're trying to prevent that from happening. Events and history change on the cosmic whim, and we're trying to keep it all together!"

[/FONT]

"Morph, you seem sincere. I consider myself a fairly good judge of character, and I don't sense any evil in you. However, your methods are suspect here, and I really only have your word about what could happen."

However, Empress Wanda's plight momentarily distracted them...

"Apparently she needs to get to Heaven to un-demonize her unborn kids. Talk about a bad timing..."

"My homeland has scientists who could ease her pain. We even have meta-physicians who could possibly help her out with her thornier...theological matter..."

[Indigo Al]

Vague threats weren't leverage enough for American Woman's easy acquiescence. "Why not? What could possibly be worse than the worldwide havoc that ensues if Superman invades North Vietnam?" The blonde heroine stepped closer to Morph. She didn't indulge histrionics, but instead attempted to reason with their strange host. [COLOR="#FF0000"]"There are certainly better ways to get help than blackmail and kidnapping. Your personal trouble doesn't negate the severity of the troubles we're all dealing with back in our home universes.

"Your world's headed down a similar path to mine...that sounded like just the start. Hi. I'm Django - or, The Scarlet Nomad, if you prefer." Django was drawn to the blonde heroine in the colors of the former United States, whose ideals his father once tried to uphold. She looked like she'd be a member of the Cap Corps of the House of Might. But then he remembered what superheroes and their costumes really stood for back in his world. He was conflicted, but still...

[tangentman]

The tentative greeting was met with a warm smile. American Woman gladly shook Scarlet Nomad's hand. "There's no need for new friends to stand on formality. Call me 'Dee'! On my world, I'm known as 'American Woman' in my heroic persona." Something in the young hero resonated with Diana, as well. Django reminded Diana of the "legacy heroes" who took up the mantle from Justice Society predecessors. She herself had followed in the footsteps of her mother, who'd fought in "The Outer World" as "Wonder Woman".

"Django, is your world also on the verge of war? If so, I'm very sad to hear it."

[Chris Lang]

"Because there's probably a version of me in your home reality, Doctor Franklin," a woman in a white labcoat replies.

"Hello everyone, I'm Heather Hudson, mission coordinator for the Exiles. Before I fire Morph from being our glorified greeter, and give you some more concrete answers, allow me to introduce the rest of the team..."

The other Exiles are standing next to her, as she introduces them from left to right.

"This is Clarice Ferguson, also known as BLINK. She's a teleporter, and usually the field leader for our team and a few newly recruited teams. She's been at this, like Morph, almost nonstop from day one."

"Hello."

"Next to her is T.J. Wagner, known as NOCTURNE... and her beau, John Proudstar, THUNDERBIRD."

"Hey there!" "Greetings."

"One of our newest additions is a genuine Captain Britain Corpsman originally from Earth-238, kind of the 'original' Exile, CAPTAIN U.K."

"Or Linda, if you please."

"And you know MORPH, also known as Kevin Sidney. Probably more than you want to."

"What is this, rag on me day? Maybe I oughta shift into a doormat. Probably make Thundermace over there real happy."

Irene pondered the group before her. "A teleporter is indeed useful in field situations. Combine that with a shapeshifter, and you can send spies in to infiltrate whatever organization whose secrets you wish to know."

"Wagner ... that name has great meaning." She stopped there.

"Morph, you seem sincere. I consider myself a fairly good judge of character, and I don't sense any evil in you. However, your methods are suspect here, and I really only have your word about what could happen."

However, Empress Wanda's plight momentarily distracted them...



"My homeland has scientists who could ease her pain. We even have meta-physicians who could possibly help her out with her thornier...theological matter..."

"These 'Exiles' are capable of accessing several different realities." Irene said. "Perhaps they can find people similiar to these meta-physicians of which you speak."

"But I have not introduced myself. You may call me Irene Adler, though in some circles people refer to me as Destiny. I am a private investigator."

"Yes, it was my name that inspired me to become a private investigator. My parents were great fans of the Sherlock Holmes stories."

[Froggy]

Django cast his eyes down, stung at the rejection by his "mother", who now looked like some nightmare out of the ruling class of the House of Defenders. But then again, familial disappointment was nothing new. And his mind had to accept this idea of different realities.

"Whatever the case might be, I'm glad to see you here, Wolverine."

Logan raised an eyebrow under his mask. "heh, Wolverine? S'that what I go by where you're from? Naming myself after a type of weasel don't sound flattering at all" he replied, laughing a bit. "Maximoff's your last name? Well uh no offense but I'm not use to Maximoff's being 'xactly friendly to me or all that receptive to my presence y'know? All in all, nice to meet one that don't wanna hex me to death or something" he said, giving him a nod of peace

"It wasn't a planned pregnancy, you dimwit. One day I was just pregnant. The longer you stay in Hell, the more it becomes a part of you, this particular physical manifestation was... unexpected. But we make do with what we must, even if it means entering the twelfth month of a demonic pregnancy."




"I am still not your mother. Although I can help you find her, if you like..."

Logan aka Weapon Grifter sighed. "Thought I explained this already? You're NOT his mother, yeah but a version of you is, y'get me?"

Vague threats weren't leverage enough for American Woman's easy acquiescence. "Why not? What could possibly be worse than the worldwide havoc that ensues if Superman invades North Vietnam?" The blonde heroine stepped closer to Morph. She didn't indulge histrionics, but instead attempted to reason with their strange host. "There are certainly better ways to get help than blackmail and kidnapping. Your personal trouble doesn't negate the severity of the troubles we're all dealing with back in our home universes.

Violating our free will makes you no better than any other villain I've ever fought." As she presented her case, American Woman noticed Wanda's severe labor pains. Her eyebrow rose in a concerned frown. "Shouldn't we help her? She really looks like she needs a doctor."

Logan then whistled as he saw American Woman. "Well at least we can say we have a nurse, am I right gorgeous?"

[michalecs]

"The lifesigns have relocated Miss Frost." Jarvis echoed in Emma's head. "Oh thanks for that, Captain Obvious. Let's head in and get some answers."

"Because there's probably a version of me in your home reality, Doctor Franklin," a woman in a white labcoat replies.



"Hello everyone, I'm Heather Hudson, mission coordinator for the Exiles. Before I fire Morph from being our glorified greeter, and give you some more concrete answers, allow me to introduce the rest of the team..."

The other Exiles are standing next to her, as she introduces them from left to right.

"This is Clarice Ferguson, also known as BLINK. She's a teleporter, and usually the field leader for our team and a few newly recruited teams. She's been at this, like Morph, almost nonstop from day one."

"Hello."

"Next to her is T.J. Wagner, known as NOCTURNE... and her beau, John Proudstar, THUNDERBIRD."

"Hey there!" "Greetings."

"One of our newest additions is a genuine Captain Britain Corpsman originally from Earth-238, kind of the 'original' Exile, CAPTAIN U.K."

"Or Linda, if you please."

"And you know MORPH, also known as Kevin Sidney. Probably more than you want to."

"What is this, rag on me day? Maybe I oughta shift into a doormat. Probably make Thundermace over there real happy."

"All right, so I seem to have gotten some of the skinny on who our hosts are, I'm ready for the dime tour now." Emma said, hands on her hips.

[tangentman]

"These 'Exiles' are capable of accessing several different realities." Irene said. "Perhaps they can find people similiar to these meta-physicians of which you speak."

"Are we allowed access to those realities, though? It seems as though we're operating under very strict guidelines if we accept this mission."

"But I have not introduced myself. You may call me Irene Adler, though in some circles people refer to me as Destiny. I am a private investigator."

"Yes, it was my name that inspired me to become a private investigator. My parents were great fans of the Sherlock Holmes stories."

"Hello, Irene. I'm Dee, American Woman to the world at large." Grinning, Dee added, "Your parents are certainly well-read!"

Logan then whistled as he saw American Woman. "Well at least we can say we have a nurse, am I right gorgeous?"

American Woman responded with a coy smile. "Why? Is there someplace particular where it hurts?"

[Froggy]

American Woman responded with a coy smile. "Why? Is there someplace particular where it hurts?"

In spite of the healing factor, Logan decided to play along. "It hurts right here baby, right here" he said pointing at his heart. He was surprised that line in particular worked, considering the woman he last tried it on-Zealot-really didn't like it, and showed him how much by gutting him

American Woman did not have a sword so he was feeling lucky

[tangentman]

In spite of the healing factor, Logan decided to play along. "It hurts right here baby, right here" he said pointing at his heart. He was surprised that line in particular worked, considering the woman he last tried it on-Zealot-really didn't like it, and showed him how much by gutting him

American Woman did not have a sword so he was feeling lucky

Dee could only shake her head in mock-pity. "Tsk-tsk! I don't know if I'll be any help to you, friend. You might need a heart surgeon!"

[Deadpooligan]

"Huh. 'House of Omen.' We have something like that back in my world..."

"I hope not," Blink interjects, "Morph's referring to an event called 'The House of M', when the Earth-616 Scarlet Witch caused a severely unstable reality warp... it was... traumatic."

Nocturne leaps down from a crystalline perch and approaches the lad so Blink doesn't have to continue.

"Wanda Maximoff is my mom too, Django. I guess that makes you my multiversal half-brother? A lot of the versions of her out there tend to go a little crazy, but she's still a proud Avenger and X-Man. Thank good ol' 'Grampa' Magneto for making her run a gauntlet as a kid.

I can't complain though, I inherited her hex bolts and got a cool possession power on top of it! What can you do?"

"Morph, you seem sincere. I consider myself a fairly good judge of character, and I don't sense any evil in you. However, your methods are suspect here, and I really only have your word about what could happen."

"You don't have to take my word for it. Heather?"

"American Woman, all I can do is show you footage of your Earth's future as proof. I can understand if you still find it suspect... because your reality was recently affected by the space-time cascade, it's history is constantly in flux. There's only so much we know about what has happened and what can or will happen with each Earth, so the system isn't perfect."

"My homeland has scientists who could ease her pain. We even have meta-physicians who could possibly help her out with her thornier...theological matter..."

"Don't worry, I'll search the Earth database for potential worlds to look for help. It worked once before in finding a healing factor formula, maybe it can work on some kind of divine healing spell too."

Irene pondered the group before her. "A teleporter is indeed useful in field situations. Combine that with a shapeshifter, and you can send spies in to infiltrate whatever organization whose secrets you wish to know."

"We do almost all of out 'spying' from here," Heather says, gesturing to the array of monitors and computer console. "You're right though, on a lot of missions we've had to employ some tactical stealth to get the job done, Blink and Morph are a perfect team for it."

"Wagner ... that name has great meaning." She stopped there.

Talia smiled. "I'm not surprised. If your world has a version of my father, you and Raven are the equivalent of my grandparents... and please, no jokes about 'blue genes', Morph gives me enough of that."

"All right, so I seem to have gotten some of the skinny on who our hosts are, I'm ready for the dime tour now." Emma said, hands on her hips.

Morph's eyes cartoonishly widened as Emma removed her helmet.

"Yowza. For you, the price of admission is free. We got the observation computers here, the excursion platforms are down the hall thattaway, and past that we've got our personal rooms, a library, and a medical bay. Always avoid the glowing doors, unless you want to get stuck in the infinite ocean, desert, field, volcano, or whathaveyou."

[Chris Lang]

"Hello, Irene. I'm Dee, American Woman to the world at large." Grinning, Dee added, "Your parents are certainly well-read!"

"Indeed. Literacy is certainly something that should be encouraged." Irene replied.

"I can only hope things will work out in your world. At least when I left mine, I did so in the process of saving Raven's life. Knowing her, she will probably carry on and track down as many remaining Purifier fanatics as she can. I will have to accept that for now, I cannot directly assist her."

[Chris Lang]

Talia smiled. "I'm not surprised. If your world has a version of my father, you and Raven are the equivalent of my grandparents... and please, no jokes about 'blue genes', Morph gives me enough of that."

"The Kurt Wagner of our world has yet to give us grandchildren, I'm afraid." Irene replied.

"Rest assured that while I see the value of using humor as a coping mechanism, I would never stoop so low as to make that sort of pun."

Morph's eyes cartoonishly widened as Emma removed her helmet.

"Yowza. For you, the price of admission is free. We got the observation computers here, the excursion platforms are down the hall thattaway, and past that we've got our personal rooms, a library, and a medical bay. Always avoid the glowing doors, unless you want to get stuck in the infinite ocean, desert, field, volcano, or whathaveyou."

"Interesting." Irene said. "Just what are these infinite oceans, deserts, fields, and so forth for? Are they just scenery, or do they have some purpose related to your activities?"