Match 20639 Banshee vs. Cannonball

[JohnnyChany]

THE XAVIER INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT PART 17

TEAMS AND SET-UP

 

During the fight between Magma and Rictor, the Danger Room simulation of a volcano shook violently from the combined seismic abilities of both mutants. Despite the uneven footing, both heroes expertly moved around the battlefield, embracing the chaos rather than being hampered by it. Magma had the advantage of flight that had Rictor constantly fighting on the back foot. Near the conclusion of the skirmish, Rictor did his best to knock her out of the sky by causing an avalanche of rocks to fall down upon her. Magma avoided  most of the falling boulders with precise movements before being hit in the back by a stray one that knocked her to the ground. Rictor jumped toward her to take advantage of the opening, but Amara proved to be too quick in her defense. She shot out fire which knocked Rictor back. She then produced lava from her hands and buried Rictor underneath it. Her teammate, Sunspot, who with the rest of the New Mutants looked on from the viewing room, grew concerned.

SUNSPOT: Careful Amara, you don’t want to burn him too badly.

MAGMA: I’m here to win!

Rictor used his powers to cause vibrations within the lava that set him free momentarily. However, Magma was relentless and eventually overwhelmed Rictor with her lava based assault. When it became clear that he would not be able to defend himself any longer the match was called.

COMPUTER VOICE: The winner is Magma. That is two points for the New Mutants. X-Force remains with one point.

The Danger Room opened up and Rictor’s burns were immediately tended to. Magma stepped out and was hugged by Magik.

MAGIK: A great showing out there, we are back in the game.

Amara immediately turned to Rictor’s teammate and lover, Shatterstar.

MAGMA: It was nothing personal and I only did what I did to secure the victory. I saw no other way.

SHATTERSTAR: I sensed no ill intent in your fighting. You fought with honor. We all know what we have signed up for. Julio will be fine, disappointed in his loss, but fine.

Amara smiled and then followed the rest of her team as they exited the Danger Room.

MAGIK: The ladies have really carried this team thus far, Beto and Sam you will have to start carrying your weight.

SUNSPOT: That’s not fair. We haven’t been picked to fight yet. What do you expect us to do?

MAGIK: Be focused so that you don’t drop the ball when it is your turn to keep up our momentum.

DANIELLE MOONSTAR: Do you guys feel nervous about carrying us across the finish line?

CANNONBALL: Ah feel fine, just itching to get to my fight. I really want to know who it’ll be against.

Elsewhere, before her team was summoned to their third round matchup which would end up being a match pitting Husk against Jubilee, Emma Frost, leader of Generation X, reached out telepathically to her former fellow Massachusetts Academy headmaster, Sean Cassidy, Banshee, who currently was  a member of the International X-Men team.

EMMA FROST: Sean, darling, I’ve heard that you have been asking around about me and the Generation X team.

BANSHEE: Well of course lass, with our shared history, you are the only team other than my own that I’ve been keeping my eye on.

EMMA FROST: It would be easier to keep tabs on us if you were on the team with me, and with our former pupils, where you belong.

BANSHEE: I wouldna loved nothing more then to be partnered with ye once again, but I didna select the teams. And I wanna respect the established protocol of staying with yer team between matches.

EMMA FROST: Fair enough. What would you like to know darling?

BANSHEE: Just how the morale is for everyone. I know you didna get the start you wanted.

EMMA FROST: I blame myself for that. I was overconfident leading into my fight against Rachel. While it is true we have lost our first two matches, the morale remains high. If I weren’t a telepath I wouldn’t have known there was any doubt at all. Hollow doesn’t speak, Jono barely communicates, and you know Monet is never low on confidence in herself. If anything she is probably more disappointed that everyone else thus far hasn’t held up their end on this team.

BANSHEE: What about Paige?

EMMA FROST: She is definitely feeling the pressure to get us a win, and I have no doubt that she will be able to do that. In fact, thinking about it now, that win may come against you. You haven’t fought yet and our teams have not been paired together as of yet.

BANSHEE: Aye, it’s certainly possible, if she doesn’t have her match this round. Also, I couldda just as easily be paired off against either Jono or Monet in the next couple of rounds.

EMMA FROST: How would you feel fighting one of them?

BANSHEE: The same I’d imagine as ye would, lass. Proud, and determined to give it my all to see how far they have come since being our students.

EMMA FROST: Glad to hear your priorities remain in the advancement of the next generation, despite being teamed with the old guard. Speaking of, how are things on your team? All smiles with Kurt’s and Piotr’s victories, I assume.

BANSHEE: Shiro is not all smiles. He wasn’t happy being teamed with us again in the first place after all these years. I believe it brings up some unhappy memories for the lad. Now you place on top of that a loss to Bishop. He’s just a regular bag o sunshines and rainbows.

EMMA FROST: He’s never been the most jovial of mutants, but I don’t think he should feel any shame in his performance here. Not many mutants here have the firepower to overload Bishop’s mutant abilities, but I would have put money on Shiro being one of the few. I thought it to be a sound strategy.

BANSHEE: Aye, but they’re not handing out any victories for smart strategy.

EMMA FROST: Something else is bothering you, Sean, I can feel it. Talk to me.

BANSHEE: I was never good at hiding anything from ye, was I? I’m just a wee bit down that Theresa isn’t here. It’s sucha unique, incredible experience for us all to be together like this and she wasn’t invited. She easily coulda been on the X-Force team or an X-Factor Investigations team. Even after it became clear that she wasn’t on any of the teams, I expected her to at least be invited with the other mutants who are helping Charles and Magneto run this tournament. But nothing… so far.

EMMA FROST: I have not sensed her presence, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t being hidden somewhere until a proper reveal. Maybe even for your matchup.

BANSHEE: I appreciate the optimistic sentiment but I doubt either one of us truly believes that.

EMMA FROST: Well, I can’t think of any bridges she has burned that would prevent her from being here. She and Monet are on cordial terms and even her and Jamie Maddrox have moved on past the traumatic experience of him absorbing their baby. I could probably do some digging into her absence if you’d like.

BANSHEE: I wouldna want to detract ye from your mentorship of the Generation X team.

EMMA FROST:  Darling, please, they are not kids anymore and you know me, I am simply amazing at multitasking.

BANSHEE: Thanks Emma.

Banshee’s psychic conversation with Emma was interrupted when the Generation X was directed to the Danger Room for their showdown against X-Men Blue. 

Back with the New Mutants team, the five heroes were joined by their original leader, Karma, after the beginning of the fourth round.

DANI MOONSTAR: If you are here now, that must mean our matchup is next.

KARMA: That is correct.

Sunspot hit Cannonball on the arm.

SUNSPOT: Alright buddy, time to find out which one of us is fighting next.

KARMA: I think we all understand the points or order at this point, so I’ll skip the formalities.

CANNONBALL: By all means.

KARMA: Follow me.

Cannonball, Sunspot, Magik, Danielle Moonstar, and Magna followed Karma to the Danger Room. The team standing across from them this time was the International Team of Storm. Nightcrawler, Banshee, Colossus, and Sunfire.

SUNSPOT:  Is it going to me and Storm? That would make me excited and nervous at the same time.

KARMA: No Beto, the pairing this time is between a pair of mutants from very different worlds. Hailing from the mine shafts of Kentucky and the seas of Ireland, these two longtime X-Men veterans  have two very distinct things in common. Sam Guthrie, Sean Cassidy, not only do you both enjoy soaring through the air in battle but beyond that you have proven yourselves to be very capable leaders time and time again. Mutants from across the globe have shown a willingness to follow you both and your leadership has meant so much to the wider array of X-Men. Today, however, your skills in leadership will not be tested, only your battle prowess as you take to the skies to battle one another.

CANNONBALL: Well Ah’ll be, that is quite the intro they cooked up for you there, Xuan. Almost brings a tear to my eye.

KARMA: All of it is true, Sam.

Banshee did not immediately respond. The realization that his fight would be with Cannonball plus his recent conversation with Emma had him thinking even more about his daughter, Theresa. She would have been the perfect host for this particular matchup given her familiar to connection to Sean himself and her long tenure as a teammate of Cannonball on X-Force.

NIGHTCRAWLER: Are you okay, mein friend?

BANSHEE: Aye. A little caught up in the moment. But I’m ready.

KARMA: Sam, Sean, your time is now. Please enter.

Cannonball and Banshee shook hands respectively and then walked into the Danger Room which transformed into an aircraft carrier.

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Banshee
Read more about Banshee at Wikipedia
Official Site: Marvel Entertainment Links: Banshee Entry At Wiki Banshee Bio At Uncanny X-men Cry Out: The Banshee Fan Site

Cannonball
Read more about Cannonball at Wikipedia
Official Site: Marvel Entertainment Links: Wikipedia Marvel Database Uncanny X-Men Net

[patrickthekid]

I would give it to Cannonball. I don't think Banshee could stop him once he starts moving.

[DSkillz]

Another good chapter to this arc, Johnny.  Just looking up Banshee is reminding how out of the loop I am with comics these days, lol. 

As for the match, I have to agree that Cannonball just may be too powerful to lose against Sean here. 

[leroypowell3]

I'm going with Sam.

[Pizza Guy]

I’ve always thought Cannonball had a much better power for combat and practicality so I’m voting him.

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
4.00 - patrickthekid
4.50 - Fox
4.60 - DSkillz
4.40 - Pizza Guy
5.00 - Boratz

FPA Calculation:
5 Total Votes cast
22.50 Total Combined Score
22.50 / 5 = 4.50 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Banshee: 2
Cannonball: 4