"Chamber watch out! you've got one right behind you!" shouted an airborne Monet St. Croix, as she found herself dodging blasts from the Prime Sentinel which was tailing her. The young Algerian female known as M specialized in, well just about anything anyone could think of. Blessed with the gifts of flight, super-human strength, intelligence, speed and invulnerability, among other things. With the all makings of perfection, at the moment she was simply trying to stay one step ahead of her attacker.
Of course her fellow team-mate Jonothan Starsmore, also known as Chamber of the X-Men, wasn't exactly faring much better. Even with the heads up from Monet, the British mutant was still caught off guard by his own cybernetic assailant. Having dealt with Prime Sentinels before, Chamber knew what they were capable of. As a member of Generation X he had squared off with them in a battle which seemed almost endless.
Of course that past fight wasn't taking place in the heart of Times Square, with an overwhelming crowd of civilian getting in the way.
{I'm in need of a little help with crowd control luv, innocents are gettin' in the way.} he said via telepathy to M, as he nimbly avoided a blast from his Sentinel, responding with a bio-kinetic one of his own.
"I'm a little tied up here," she shouted back as she propelled herself through the sky, still dodging blasts. Though she was doing a great job defensively, M knew that she needed to start dishing out more on the offensive end. Stray blasts from the Prime Sentinel were leaving destruction all around the popular section of New York City.
<Mutant designate: M. Neutralizing target.> The mechanical words being uttered from the Sentinel giving chase triggered a change in its programming, its eyes lighting up in response. Suddenly the mutant-hunting device found itself moving at an accelerated speed too fast for the eye to see, and in mere seconds was suddenly in front of Monet.
Gasping for dear breath, M attempted to adjust upon seeing the Sentinel now directly ahead of her, she moved her limbs into a shielded position.
<Target Acquired.> It said as it extended its right arm, releasing a sonic pulse that drove M backwards in mid-flight. Refusing to relent, the Sentinel then proceeded to fly ahead of her once more, only to deliver a two-handed blow to the body of the X-Man. It has long been theorized that all of Monet's attributes are somehow psionic in nature. Though never proven, with her mind currently in a state of panic, M's invulnerability seemed to have failed as she felt more from the blow than she would have liked, her body falling, falling to the ground at a rapid pace before finally coming to a halt as she met the concrete of the streets.
Watching his fallen team-mate, Chamber couldn't help but to send out his thoughts. Dealing with his own mutant assailant, Jono saw this as an opportunity to experiment with his abilities some more. Crowd control was non-existent at this point, seeing as how the sane had took off and everyone else was pretty much trying to avoid being shot down regardless.
{Ok, this ends now.} he says as he fires off a broad range blast directed at the Prime Sentinel.
Taking in the full brunt of the blast, the Sentinel's systems began to adapt to the assault.
<Mutant designate: Chamber. Neutralizing target.> Once the words were uttered, Chamber ceased his attack and switched up as the energy he harboured within his body began to swirl around his figure, almost like armour as he lunged forward to strike the cyborg. His efforts were futile at best as the Prime Sentinel increased it's mobility to grab hold of what was left of Chamber's head. It's emotionless eyes locked in with Jono's as laser beams projected forth, only to freeze upon construction.
"Enough. Computer abort session." The voice was one of disappointment as suddenly the Times Square environment seemingly evaporated, replaced with the barren set of the Danger Room.
Looking down from the monitor station set high above the ground stood Neena Thurman, the former X-Force member and sometime mercenary Domino.
Returning to her feet despite being slightly shaken was M, as she motioned towards Jono and joined him in looking up at Domino.
"Why did you end the session. If given the sufficient time we needed we would have,"
"Died." Domino cuts off M as she speaks through the intercom set in the room.
"M your Sentinel had you subdued, and despite what you may want to believe, beat. Had I not stopped the simulation when I did, Chamber there would have had his skull fried from the inside out. Not to mention the casualties both of you failed to notice. Exactly where do you think those stray blasts you kept avoiding were going. Half of Times Square was sniped off. Lesson of the day kids, even if you beat the bad guy, if the people you were saving wind up dead, YOU STILL LOSE!" Domino says in the most serious of tones.
{Sorry if we weren't able to keep all of Times Square in order just long enough to get our asses handed to us. Next time we'll do it in that order.} Chamber says, receiving a glare from Domino in the process.
"Ugh, sessions over. We're done for the day." Domino concludes.
Chamber and M exit the Danger Room, both feeling effects of soreness that wasn't there before.
Scottsdale, Arizona
"Come on now, your making this all to easy. I thought you X-Men were supposed to be the best of the best?" the mutant villainess known as Fatale asks as she holds a knife to the throat of her green haired hostage. At the moment, Lorna Dane was presently unable to break free of the grasp of the unique mutant. Watching her helplessly, Wolverine stood poised with his claws extracted on both arms.
"Ok Fatale, you had your fun, but I'm going to give you one good reason to let go of Polaris." Wolverine says as he grits his teeth, not wanting to tempt the assassin into killing off Lorna.
"Yes, and what is that?" Fatale says annoyed as she rolls her eyes.
"The girl's tougher than you think." he says with a wink as Polaris's powers come to life tightly wrapping around her only so that she can extend the magnetic shield to repel Fatale back and away. Once free this gave Wolverine the opportunity he had been waiting for, but Lorna chose wanted this to be precise. Grabbing hold of the adamantium which lay attached to Wolverine's skeletal structure, she launched him forward with his arms outward to impale their would be assailant.
"Not today," Fatale says as she throws the dagger directly at Polaris before teleporting herself away from the incoming Wolverine.
"Damn it, that's the second one that's gotten away." Wolverine says in frustration as Lorna relinquishes her hold over him.
"Lorna?" Logan turns to see that the green haired woman has begun walking away from the non-populated field, back towards the hotel they had stayed at.
"LORNA!" Logan repeats, this time with bass in his voice.
"Not now Logan."
"No, RIGHT now." he says as he gently grabs her by the wrist, bringing her to a stop.
"Ok, talk to me girl. You showed up at the mansion talkin' bout you needed help out in L.A., me, Domino, and Bobby went out there for you no questions asked. Then you drag me all the way out here with you, and I wind up getting stabbed in my hotel room by some broad named Fatale. Maybe I was being a little to nice at first, but I want answers. Now." Logan says as he stares Polaris down.
"Obviously this is important to you. Now tell me, what are we looking for?" Logan asks.
Knowing that she owed the X-Man at least that much, Lorna was still hesitant to answer. She didn't exactly know herself what she was looking for. Only that when she found it, she would know. At least, she hoped so.
"All I can tell you Logan is, we're looking for a sign."
Xavier's Institute For Higher Learning; Headmaster's Office
Recently Professor Charles Xavier had decided to step down as the Headmaster of the Xavier Institute, granting the role to Emma Frost. It had been years since the Institute itself had served as an actual school, but Emma's progress with Generation X in Massachusetts was more than enough reason to strengthen the homebase. As the two conversed within what was now Emma's office, they were surprised to see Domino come in unannounced.
"Yes Neena, how did the Danger Room session go?" Charles asked out of curiosity, welcoming the intrusion.
"The kids are powerful, but they're not ready for this Charles. They're hesitant in their actions, spend to much time worrying about what could instead of what should." Domino reports.
"My students are more than qualified to be X-Men, perhaps your just not instructing them right. Perhaps your not quite the teacher, lord knows you've yet to learn how to knock." Emma says slightly offended at the analysis of her former pupils.
"You can't teach physical experience Emma. Though I doubt we share the same thoughts on what qualifies as physical activity." Domino says with a smirk.
Ignoring the look given to her from Emma, Domino turns her attention back to Charles.
"Think I'm going to hit the showers Professor. Call me if you need anything." Domino says as she takes leave of the room, not bothering to close the door behind her.
"Thank you Neena," Charles says as he bids her goodbye.
"Remind me again why you want Cable's little plaything hanging around?" Emma asks once Domino is clear of ear-shot.
"Neena has proven to be a great addition, you saw how she handled that situation in Los Angeles with Wolverine and Iceman." Charles responds.
"Yes, well be that as it may, if we are to reopen this place as a school, then I'm going to need her to be a little more of a subordinate, and less of a smart-ass. Logan is intolerable enough."
Storm's Loft
In the upper part of the mansion the X-Men used as their base of operations, was the attic which Ororo Munroe had converted into her own personal quarters. It was certainly nothing like a typical attic, coming off as more of a home in itself. Since the anointment of Emma Frost as new Headmaster, Storm has found herself spending much of her time secluded here. At the moment she was accompanied by Danielle Moonstar, a former student of Xavier's herself.
"Yes well Danielle, much has changed since your days as a New Mutant. not for the better I might add." Storm says with a frown as the two sit in a section of the loft.
"Emma's not that bad Storm. I mean I'd like to believe she's not the same woman whose tried to kill and manipulate us all on numerous occasions. The Professor doesn't seem to think she poses a threat anymore." Danielle adds.
"I'd rather not speak on the Professor's judgement, for I fear I may regret my words." Storm says. Having already seen the apparent tension between Ororo and Professor X, Dani attempted to steer the conversation in another direction.
"So, any word on Lorna and Logan?" Dani asks.
"Actually, Jamie mentioned that they'll be returning from Arizona shortly. From the message he relayed to me, they hit another dead end, but Lorna is still refusing to give up hope." Ororo says.
"Hmm, well Storm do you think Lorna is a hundred percent sure he's out there. I mean perhaps she's starting to lose her grip on reality,"
"Dani!" Storm objects. Taking her eyes away from Ororo, the Cheyenne woman shrugged.
"I'm just saying that maybe it's not all there with her, you know?" the question wouldn't be answered, but it left the two women in thought.
Dormitories
As Chamber and M ventured through out the mansion back towards their respective sleeping quarters, silence was all that remained. Since accepting the invitation to join the X-Men, the two had been staying close to each other, neither one really wanting to connect with the senior members. Jono was a loner by nature, and M was just...well M.
They had been the only two out of Generation X invited to join the group, which may as well have been a slap in the face to all of their friends. Even Jubilee, whom had actually started off with the X-Men wasn't invited to serve. The Massachusetts school was closing so that this one could be reopened, and though not all of Gen X was deemed worthy of calling themselves X-Men, they were offered a place of refuge. Professor Xavier had wanted for them all to remain as students, but that objective had run its course.
Jubilee, Synch, and Skin took off West to go roadtripping. Paige Guthrie had joined them for a little while, but had since returned to the Guthrie farm to help her mom out. Jono and her had somewhat of a relationship before, but now all of that was up in the air.
Yes, he missed her, but it wasn't something he would admit easy. He was much to stubborn to do that.
{Hey Monet, don't worry about the training room session. Just forget about it. We'll show them soon enough.} Jono says, though his way of communicating wasn't exactly a way to break silence.
"Oh believe me, it was forgotten the moment we left the Danger Room. First chance I get I will prove my worth, even if that means liberating Genosha from Magneto himself. Besides Domino may have seniority, but I have yet to hear about anyone being appointed leader. Which means it's only right for me to make my claim for it." Monet says as she walks to her room.
{Funny luv. You almost sound convinced.} Chamber said in amusement.
Monet gave the disfigured mutant a look which was far to serious to not believe. Without saying another word, M proceeded to open her door and enter her room.
{Oh brother} Jono says to no one but himself.
Recreation Room
"Game point, I win again!" Jamie Madrox declares as he just finishes beating, himself at a game of ping pong.
"Two out of three, double or nothin'." The Madrox dupe challenged.
"Ok, you can't tell me this doesn't weird you out." says the Iceman, Bobby Drake. Having returned only recently from a leave of absence, Bobby was surprised to say the least upon seeing some of the newer residents of the mansion. He had been taking care of his father after he was attacked some time ago, and when he got the call from Professor X that he was needed, Bobby certainly didn't hesitate to come. As one of the original X-Men, he knew that he owed it to Xavier to help get things settled, especially if the powerful telepath was serious about bringing in a new batch of students to train. Unfortunately for him, he was the only one of the original class still calling themselves X-Men.
From what he was told, Cyclops and Phoenix were in Alaska beginning a new life outside the X-Men. Beast was often seen on television sharing insight into some sort of break through discovery, not to mention he was hard at work finding a cure for the Legacy Virus. Archangel on the other hand seemed to be moonlighting with the Avengers these days, making him a certified hero.
Yet despite all of his friends moving on with their lives, Bobby has returned to the X-Men. One can only wonder why? No longer the jokester of the group, he had seen far to much in life to still be that same immature fifteen year old who joined all those years ago. Professor Xavier had told him that it was time for him to step up, and use the potential that's been hinted about Iceman for sometime. Bobby however wasn't sure if that 'potential' was simply hype, or if perhaps there was some truth to it.
"Nah, can never get tired of playing with yourself. No pun intended. Or is it?" Jamie responds as he begins a new game with his dupe.
As the game was getting underway, activity came to a halt as the roar from the engines of the Blackbird overwhelmed the vicinity, signalling the return of Wolverine and Polaris.
"Looks like Logan and Lorna are back," Bobby says as he looks out of the window.
"So tell me, how does it feel man? I mean, having Lorna here and all." Jamie asks as him and the dupe join Bobby in watching the Blackbird land in awe.
"We're X-Men Jamie. People come and go all the time. Lorna and I are friends, and for the first time since I've met her, I think I can honestly say that I'm cool with that. Pun intended." Bobby says as he watches the Blackbird disappear from view.
"Uhh, what exactly was the pun?" The Madrox dupe asked as him and Jamie exchange shrugs.
Later, Cerebra Room
"Now Lorna, before I do what your asking of me, are you sure about this? This would be the third time you've asked me to get a read on this mutant, and have yet to take advantage of this information." Emma states as she enters Cerebra accompanied by Lorna Dane.
"Yes I'm sure. For the first time in a long one I can honestly say that I'm sure of what I'm feeling. When....when Alex died I knew that I had lost him forever, or at least that's what it seemed, but these past few months I've felt different. Almost if my connection with him has been renewed." Lorna says to an obviously bored Emma, as the psychic takes a seat and prepares to use Cerebra.
"You think I'm crazy don't you?" Lorna asks the former White Queen.
"I haven't said any such thing." Emma says while adjusting the headpiece for the mutant-tracking device.
"But you do. Everyone does. You would all like to believe that I'm losing it, and I wish that were the case but I'm telling you Emma, something has happened. Things aren't right, and I don't know how or why, but all is not as we think. That's why Fatale keeps ducking me, because she knows what I'm looking for." Lorna says, but to a deaf ear as Emma's attention is solely on Cerebra.
"Silence now. If Fatale is who your looking for, then so be it." Emma finishes as her eyes close and the room around her seems to alter slightly. Lorna looked on as the present monitor came to life, highlighting a list of mutants through out the world. Since Fatale was a teleporter, she was constantly in motion and it was quite difficult to get a consistent lock on her bio-signature. Still if Emma was capable of tracking her down to Scottsdale, Arizona, then it was possible to nab her again.
"Well, perhaps there is a method to your madness after all." Emma says now with a vested interest.
"What did you find? Where's Fatale at now?" Lorna asks, ready to take leave once more.
"No, not Fatale. Havok." Emma says with an unusually calm voice.
"Excuse me?" Polaris asks, unsure if what she heard was correct.
"My dear Lorna, I have found your beloved Alexander. Though I'm not exactly eager to find out how that is possible. I mean really, since when did dead ever mean dead?"
To Be Continued....
Next Issue: Wreak Havok!...nuff said.
Author's Note: Well this is officially the first issue of my X-Men launch, and it actually turned out to be shorter than I intended. As I stated before I plan on taking advantage of the shift in reality, and actually if you read closely, you can pick up on some seeds I planted which shouldn't be, but I'm not going to get into that. Trust me, everything will become clear eventually.
-Eric Roman 8/14/06