May 5th, 1995. Manhattan, New York City.
Charles Xavier, leader of the X-men has called his team together for an important mission. Beneath the million dollars mansion and school, a secret cluster of rooms makes up the X-men base. The war room is their main briefing room situated right next to the danger room, their training grounds. At the end of the hall is Cerebro, where Xavier keeps an eye on the mutants and humans of the world.
"Welcome, my X-men." Xavier said, sitting in his wheelchair at the head of the long table. To his right sat his second in command Scott Summers, aka Cyclops. On his direct left, Jean Grey, aka Marvel Girl. They had been his earliest students and powerful mutants. Next to Cyclops sat Bobby Drake, aka Iceman. Next to Jean sat Kurt Wagner, aka Nightcrawler and next to him Warren Worthington III, aka Angel. These were his X-men, loyal, brave and compassionate. His hopes for the future lay in their hands.
"An hour ago in Cerebro i picked up the trail of a mutant in distress. Not much later i fully lost the connection." He started. Jean was the most familiar with Cerebro's workings so she immediately stepped in to explain further.
"Meaning the mutant died quite instantly, and violently." She said. Xavier nodded softly. He could always feel a sensation of dread when someone died while he was connected to them through cerebro. He had trained his mind to cope with this loss. He continued.
"Death can happen to all of us. An accident, disease, but this was clearly murder, murder by another mutant to be exact." He said the last thing with a broken voice. Last time something like this happened it concerned his X-men closely when one of them died trying to stop a missile. The event was still fresh in his mind and that of his 2 top X-men sitting closest to him. The others weren't here yet though, but they knew their pain. Xavier promised no other X-men will die by his fault again.
"Another mutant?" Angel asked. "Do you think Magneto is behind this?" Angel asked concerned. They had dealt with Magneto increasingly the last months, he has become more violent and cocky. Magneto wanted humankind to kneel towards the mutants, he thought the mutants should rule the humans instead of the other way around, he was willing to kill and use terrorism to achieve his goals, even against fellow mutants.
"I did not recognize the mutant as one of Magneto's men. Very powerful though, too quick to identify. Curious enough i have detected more mutants in the same area. This amount could gain the attention of groups and organizations." Xavier explained.
"You mean a group that could mean harm to mutants? Where did it all happen exactly Professor?" Iceman asked.
"Japan, Kyushu island. As you know a mutant we know, Sunfire, resides there. As far as i know he is not involved yet. But he is present in the country." He explained. Angel stood up to look at the screen more closely. He pointed at the area marked.
"Isn't that the same spot where the red ribbon army fought the avengers? They are known mutant haters." Angel added.
"The red ribbon army is gone, has been for years. I don't think they are involved in this, this is something different." Professor X said. He knew the red ribbon army had fallen apart ever since a group of kids they knew as the Z warriors took out their leaders one by one. They were just kids, higly skilled at combat but still only kids, not mutants either. Like said, the red ribbon army is no threat anymore, it doesn't concern them.
"Different? Why is that professor?" Jean Grey asked.
"I detected something else, something disturbing. Ancient. It moved around, couldn't pinpoint a location. I have a feeling this involves the murder of the mutant. I did an investigation and 2 days before another person was murdered not far from where the mutant was killed. There could be a connection." Professor said whilst showing various Japanese newspapers on the screen behind him.
"Wass ist this connection?" Nightcrawler asked.
"Well, only one way to find out. X-men, suit up." Cyclops said and they all stood up. The X-Jet was all ready and fueled up to take them to Japan within a few hours.
"Wasn't there a group of children in Japan that helped us out before in Japan?" Jean Grey asked Cyclops as they arrived in Kyushu, landing in a secluded part under the cover of trees close to where the body of the mutant was supposed to be.
"You mean the so-called Z warriors? Yes, they are, but its too dangerous for children to be involved don't you think?" Cyclops said. Jean explained to the others who they were. A group of teenagers, 2 of them martial artists that were taught in an ancient way of fighting. They teamed up when part of the X-men were captured by Krakoa the living island. But, Cyclops was right, they were just children, 2 of them still mere teenagers after all these years. As they exited the X-Jet they took on the scene. Cyclops and Jean hadn't been to Japan for years, the others had never been here at all except Nightcrawler. Angel immediately took to the skies. Nightcrawler teleported some short distances. They always wanted to stretch their legs after a flight.
"Do you guys smell something foul?" Nightcrawler asked, but nobody could smell anything, mostly because the smell of brimstone was everywhere from his teleporting. Jean was still thinking of those kids Cyclops mentioned.
"They are just kids Jean." He repeated.
"Yes i know they are just kids, but weren't they training for this martial arts tournament? The world martial arts tournament it was called i believe, i remember we had promised to come watch. Who was it who asked? Yamcha was it? Wasn't one of them a mutant as well?" She said. Cyclops did remember something like that, one of them had a mutation, a tail. His tail might be known, he might be in danger from mutant haters. They must be a lot older now, it was nearly 6 years ago. It reminded him of the old X-men, the first X-men.
"Alright, Jean, we will investigate the..." Cyclops began to speak but was interrupted from a voice afar.
"Did you people read my mind? I was about the contact you." Sunfire said, as he landed down next to the X-Jet. Cyclops shook his hand, Jean hugged him. Sunfire has the ability to absorb solar energy and release it in almost any way, including heat blasts and use for flight. His body was always warm, too warm for this kind of climate.
"I hope you can give us some information about what's going on here Sunfire." Cyclops asked as Sunfire was wrapping up greetings to the others. Sunfire looked down and sighed.
"I think its best to show you the body then. No local police have found it yet, i was sure to keep them out of it until i found out more. I didn't think the professor would have already been alerted by the death so quickly." He said as he led them to the scene of the crime.
"No, Professor X thinks there is more going on than a simple murder case." Angel mentioned as they came upon the scene. Sunfire nodded, he understood. He was one of the X-men some years ago but never really went out on a mission with them. His homeland called to him, he couldn't stay.
A body lay in the middle of a clearing, a big body. The stench was terrible.
"See? I told you i could smell it from the X-Jet." Nightcrawler said.
"So could i." They heard a voice say. Cyclops recognized him immediately. James "Logan" Howlett, The Wolverine.
"In fact, i could smell it in Tokyo." Wolverine said as he looked everyone over. He wasn't the one to shake hands, he did stare longer at Jean than anyone else though. Cyclops intervened the stare.
"Are you investigating this murder as well James?" Cyclops asked. Wolverine didn't like it when he called him his real name in public, but they were amongst friends so it didn't do any harm. Wolverine shrugged.
"Not until recently. I came to Japan when i heard an old friend had died, suicide they said but as soon as i saw the body i knew it was murder. Then, the smell. Nothing like it anywhere else. I figured it had to be a mutant i came across before. Seems i was right." Wolverine said.
"You know this man Logan?" Jean asked. Wolverine smiled at her.
"Yes, his name is Bacterian, from the Philipinnes. I fought him before." He said. Jean looked shocked for a moment.
"I didn't harm him, in fact he harmed me more than i him. No, it was for a martial arts tournament 2 years ago. The Tenkaichi Budokai. Met him in the preliminaries, only barely beat him. He can produce a vile stench from his mouth, so foul you can't help but faint." Logan said casually whilst bending over the corpse.
"That was his mutant power? Bad breath?" Iceman said.
"Oh it was more than that. He can make it so bad it can kill you. His mucus is quite toxic as well." Wolverine continued without looking up. He was picking away at some leaves and sticks laying around the body, he was smelling some of them as he picked them up.
"The wound is from some sort of blade, a hot blade since the wound is burned. The location of the wound is directly into the heart, a surgically precise strike." Jean Grey said as she examined the corpse opposite Wolverine.
"We've seen a wound like that before." Angel said. Wolverine grunted.
"Yes, it's hard to smell beyond Bacterians odour but i do pick up a scent i have smelled before. Like i smelled on the previous body. Psylocke." Wolverine said, looking at Jean. She nodded as she looked at Cyclops. He nodded as well. Yes, this is definitely the signature markings of the mutant Psylocke. She disappeared off their radar after their last encounter.
"So, the brotherhood of mutants is involved in this. Jean, you tell the professor. Nightcrawler, we are going to.." Cyclops wanted to continue but Wolverine interrupted him.
"This is not the working of the brotherhood of mutants. They ain't in the business of killing their own. I heard Psylocke had left the brotherhood some time ago. Since the red ribbon army disappeared from these regions certain organizations have been able to make use of the power vacuum that was created to gain land and manpower. I think she rejoined a much older organization, one far more dangerous than either those 2.
Look, something i have to tell you. The friend of mine, who was murdered as well, he fought in the last world martial arts tournament as well. Also, same kind of strike near the heart. Why Psylocke is killing these martial artists and for whom is not clear for me. The next tournament is close though, i suppose that's the reason why Bacterian was here already, to participate in this one as well. Its possible she is under contract to kill competition, to use the tournament to increase territory and gain money. I can assure you nobody from the brotherhood is in Japan right now." Wolverine said as he got up, cracked his neck and lit a cigar.
Cyclops thought for a moment. The professor did mention something else was going on, something dangerous, unknown.
"Alright then, fine. We are going to split up anyway. Wolverine, you in joining up to help find out these murders? Sunfire you too?" Both nodded. Wolverine sat on a broken branch and pointed to the side of his head.
"Seeing Bacterian again reminds me of the tournament 2 years ago. I met this group of kids, teenagers. One was named Goku i believe? Yes, he was a special kind of kid. A mutant, perhaps. He took out a wendigo during that tournament, one that i had been tracking. Eventually he ended up in the finals, but he lost to someone who disappeared right after the tournament, i lost to that guy as well so i don't blame him i guess. I'm sure he and his friend Yamcha are targeted as well. Also, King Chappa, Nam and Wolfman should be visited." Wolverine said. Good, Cyclops thought. Now he had to cleverly divide the teams.
"Yes, us 2 know of Goku and his friends. They are the first on our list." Jean said. Cyclops rubbed his forehead.
"Alright, Jean and Sunfire will look up King Chappa. Angel, Nightcrawler and Iceman, you will find Nam whilst Wolverine and i go find Goku and his pals, you know where they are, are they close by?" Cyclops asked Wolverine.
"I can find their scent easily. If i can get away from Bacterian's stench. They ain't far away from here." He replied. Cyclops nodded.
"Alright, both Nam and King Chappa are registered with the tournament so you can find their address back on the X-Jet. As soon as you find your target, you take him with you and visit Wolfman. Alright let's go." He said and no questions were asked, they just got into action, Cyclops felt pride fill him. Jean, Sunfire, Iceman, Angel and Nightcrawler all went to the X-Jet with Nightcrawlers teleport whilst Cyclops and Wolverine took off on foot.