STRANGE:R.I.P #1
By: Tony Braeme
"I have seen many things in reality, though the nightmares I have encountered changed me over the years. I never thought that this was my end. I have accepted death and have made my peace with my friends. My apologies, you must be confused. You see, my dear, soon I'll die. You will be needed to protect them. I created the items you need to do so. I gave one as a parting gift. I will tell you how this happened to me. It started a month ago. That was when the cold came." A month ago, Strange was meditating over his bed. His mind's eye moved throughout the dimensions with the hope of finding something. His search ended when he found a blue mystical ore. "There you are. It took me an hour of world traveling, but I found you." He grabbed the ore and returned to our plane with the ore in his hand. He exits his room and shows Wong the ore. "Wong, I need you to handle this ore for me. I have business with a friend of mine." Wong took it and bowed. "I will Stephen." Strange smiled and said "Good." He created a portal and walked through it. But there was a light blue glow on his hand as he walked through it. He appeared at the still being built X Mansion to see Charles Xavier. "Hello, Charles." The telepath turned to him and said "Why, hello Stephen. Good to see you. You look well." Strange nods and said "Same to you, my friend. I see that your home is being reborn once again. It is good that Stark and Reed are helping in the reconstruction." But before Strange said another word he begins to feel cold. Xavier looked at him and said "Are you ok?" Strange looked at him and said "Yes, but I think some tea would be most welcome. I would like to see the interior of your home." The two men walk to the Mansion and have a conversation over tea. During said conversation, Strange feels that cold feeling again but it seems weaker than before. His hands had a small shake and sweat begins to fall from the Sorcerer's brow. "Stephen, you don't look well." That was when Strange's sight begins to fade and he falls to the floor.
Strange then wakes up in the med bay of the mansion. "What happened?" he said as he tries to get up. "You fell Stephen." Beast said with a clip broad in his hand. "You were cold to the touch and we had to take action." Strange looked at Beast and said. "I'm glad you did. Can I see the chart?" Hank hands him the chart. He scans it with an intense look in his eyes. He stopped for a moment when he saw one particular line. "Viral entity unknown?" Strange said to Hank. "That's right. It is not in any known databanks. Stephen, have you come into contact with anything?" Strange thought back to the ore and said "It was an ore I was looking for. I needed it to create a new set of items." Hank looks at Strange and said "My god. You saw your chart. You know that you don't have that much to live. You better settle things now before you can't."
Continued in part 2.