X-Men: Alpha
Episode IV
Weapon X
Part One
Snow swirled outside the window as Dr. Cornelius wiped the top of his bald head with a handkerchief.
The scientist stood in the hallway outside his laboratory. He had been working on a special project for months.
Tonight, the powers that be were coming to inspect his progress. It was an important project and it hadn't gone as smoothly as he had hoped.
Footfalls became audible from down the hall. Cornelius turned to face three men in military fatigues. The man leading the way had a cigar in his mouth and a stern expression on his face.
"Dr. Abraham Cornelius?" he said.
"Yes."
The man removed his cigar and released a breath full of smoke. "Colonel Jonathan Wraith, Department H. I'm here to check on our boy."
Cornelius waved his hand in front of his face to encourage the smoke to disperse. "Of course, right this way, sir."
The scientist led the soldier through a door to their left and into his laboratory. The men stepped up to a large glass tube filled with a greenish liquid.
A young man floated in the fluid. Several wires and tubes protruded from him and a bizarre looking helmet was on his head. "Well, Colonel, this is Weapon X."
"Weapon X? What about the name he already had?"
"He will still respond to it. Weapon X is merely the name of the project."
Wraith narrowed his eyes as he circled the tube. "What exactly is it you did to him?"
"We grafted a rare metal called adamantium to his skeleton."
"Adamantium? Never heard of it."
"As I said, it's rare. Nonetheless, it is virtually indestructible."
"An indestructible skeleton added with that mutant healing thing of his, huh. That could make him one tough guy to kill."
"Nearly impossible, I would say."
The Colonel took a closer look. "Is he sedated or something?"
Cornelius dabbed a bit of sweat from his forehead. "Actually, we're not entirely sure why he is unconscious."
Wraith slowly turned to face the scientist. "What?"
"Well, you see," Cornelius nervously clutched his handkerchief. "He slipped into something of a coma after the procedure."
"Something of a coma? What the hell is 'something' of a coma?"
"Well..."
"Listen up, Doc! That freak is important to the Department!"
"I-I know, sir, but..."
"We've spent 16 years training that kid! That's a significant investment and if you've..."
A soft bubbling sound attracted both of their attentions. The men looked to the tube.
Wraith glanced at Cornelius. "Did he just move?"
"I-I don't know."
As the Colonel stepped closer, he noticed the subject's hand twitch slightly. Suddenly, his fist clinched and three metal claws extended from between his knuckles.
Before Wraith could recoil, Weapon X punched through the glass and slashed him across the face. His cigar fell to the floor.
Cornelius stumbled backward as his project smashed it's way out of the tube. Before the doctor could make his way out the door, Weapon X grabbed him and threw him against the wall.
"Help!! Guards!! Gua..." The last words of Abraham Cornelius ended with a sickening gargle as three adamantium claws plunged into his throat.
The guards stepped into the room a few seconds too late. The two immediately opened fire. Bullet after bullet found its mark.
Weapon X dropped to the ground. His helmet fell from his head.
The guards etched closer, keeping their rifles trained on their target. Suddenly, the mutant sprang to his feet. His wounds had healed and a murderous glint was in his dark eyes.
The guards opened fire again, but this time Weapon X dove forward and drove his claws into each of their chests.
The project rose from the bodies of his victims. Blood trickled from his claws. Slowly the metallic weapons retracted into his hands.
The mutant reached down and picked up Wraith's cigar.
After taking a deep drag, he tossed it back to the ground and walked out of the room.
-X-
"Ladies and gentlemen, Mayor Robert Kelly."
Hundreds of New Yorkers applauded as Mayor Kelly stepped up to the podium on the steps of City Hall. Even though weeks had past, both Kelly and the building still showed signs of the mutant attack.
"Citizens of New York, I stand before you a changed man. I have lived my entire life believing that our society was safe. However, recent events have opened my eyes. We are now faced with a terrifying threat, the threat of mutants."
Henry Gyrich scanned the crowd. The people hung on Kelly's every word. He knew that the Mayor's Senate campaign would go smoothly. The incumbent was not particularly popular at the moment.
Still, it was important that Kelly come out strong.
"Mutants walk among us every day. There may even be some here at this very moment. These 'people' possess incredible power. I have seen it first hand. Their powers have made them think they are above the rest of us. Above our rules, above our laws and above our rights as citizens of this great country."
"They believe that they can do whatever they want whenever they want, to whomever they want. So far your leaders have done nothing to deal with this menace, but let me assure you that I will!"
Kelly slammed his fist down on the podium as the crowd applauded wildly.
"It is with your safety and well-being in mind that I hereby announce my candidacy for Senate!"
The crowd exploded as Kelly waved to them. He stepped from behind the podium and began shaking hands.
Gyrich watched with a smile on his face.
This was going to be easier than he thought.
-X-
Charles Xavier watched the televised speech with growing trepidation. He held his chin as he witnessed the repercussions of James Beckett's attack on City Hall.
"That's because of James, isn't it?"
Xavier didn't even flinch at the sudden sound of Storm's voice. He had sensed her enter his study a few seconds before she spoke.
"Not entirely, my dear, though it was definitely a contributing factor."
Storm sat down in front of his desk and glanced to the television. "All he's doing is stirring the pot."
"Well, exploiting the fears and prejudices of the common man is hardly uncharted territory in the realm of politics."
"There are mutants who aren't going too responded kindly to this."
"True. I suppose we will have to keep on our toes."
"Isn't there anything we can do about this? I mean, we have to speak up and defend ourselves."
"On the surface that would seem like an ideal solution. However, I don't think that exposing ourselves to that kind of publicity in this stage of our existence would be prudent."
"I guess you know best. It just sucks that we have to just sit here and take it."
"I know, Ororo. Nonetheless, we must exercise patience. I fear this may only be the beginning."
-X-
Rogue glanced around her as the men circled.
Her fists clinched as she prepared for their attack. Seconds later, they charged her.
Rogue took the defensive blocking punches and kicks. Normally this fight would have been over already, but she was a bit preoccupied.
She hadn't been able to forget the X-Men's struggle with the Sentinel. She had felt completely helpless. She was a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and could drop someone with a mere touch.
Unfortunately, neither of those things would have had any effect on that robotic monstrosity. Even Cyclops' plan of attack had no place for her.
Becoming a burden on the team was not something she was prepared to let happen.
Just as that thought finished, she was struck in the side of the head. Rogue was able to tumble away. When she came to her feet, a disturbing glint in her eye signified that the time for defense was over.
She hurled herself at her attackers. The first two were treated to devastating punches to the face. Another was kicked in the ribs and then had an elbow driven into the back of his skull.
A fourth tried to strike but his attack was avoided and a quick sweep took him to the ground. Rogue dropped her knee down on his face and looked up just in time to catch the foot of her final opponent as he tried to kick her.
With a twist of his leg, Rogue took him down and quickly pounced on him. Once she had straddled him, she drove her fist into his face again and again and again. Before she was done, he faded and disappeared.
When she looked around to see what happened, a towel was tossed toward her.
"I wasn't done." She said as she snagged the towel out of midair.
Cyclops stood over her. "That kind of brutality is unnecessary."
"All of the sweet things in life are."
"I guess I can't argue with that." The leader of the X-Men offered her his hand.
She smiled and took it. "What are ya doin' in here anyway, Watchin' me?"
"Would that be a problem?"
"I guess not." She did her best to seem like she didn't care. In truth, the idea that Scott was paying her that kind of attention was the best news she'd heard in some time.
"Good. Listen, have you seen..."
"Oh, God. If he says Jean, I'm gonna kill her..." She thought. "...then him."
"...Dr. McCoy?"
"Oh. No."
"Well, I need to see if I can find him."
"I'll go with ya."
Scott seemed a little surprised. "Oh. Alright."
"What? Why do you look so shocked?"
"You really don't make efforts to be around other people very often."
"If you don't want me ta go..."
"No. No, it's fine. It's just a little surprising."
"Well, I'm a surprising person."
"You don't have to tell me." Scott steps aside and motions to the door. "After you."
As the two walked down the halls of the Institute, Rogue wanted to ask an important question. However, she wasn't sure if it was the best idea.
She glanced to him every so often to try and gauge his mood, but without being able to look him in the eye, it was difficult.
"Why don't you just say whatever it is you want to say?"
Rogue nearly jumped at his sudden directness. "Sorry. It's just kinda touchy."
"I can handle it."
"Ok. Well, I was just wonderin', with Jean havin' a boyfriend now, are you gonna start lookin' elsewhere?"
"Jean is the one for me. Unfortunately, I haven't told her that. I don't think this thing with Duncan is going to last. Eventually, Jean is going to realize that he's a jerk and dump him. I can wait til then."
"And if she don't?"
Scott seemed disheartened at the thought. "I guess I'll need to move on."
Rogue tried not to seem too happy as the two reached the stairway that lead to the Institute's front entrance. "That would be too bad."
Cyclops stopped in his tracks. "Are you smiling?"
She quickly wiped the smirk from her face. "No."
"Yes, you were. Look, I know you don't like Jean but would you really like to see her get stuck with Duncan?"
"Oh, please. Believe it or not, Scott, the whole world don't revolve around Jean."
"Then why would you be happy if that happened?"
Rogue looked at him for a minute. In her head, she weighted the consequences of what she was about to say.
"Ok, listen. This ain't easy fer me. I like..." A loud knocking on the Institute's door interrupted her. "Aw dammit! Just a sec."
She stomped to the door and flung it open.
"What the hell do...!" Rogue froze in mid-sentence. Her eyes widened and her mouth hung open. She trembled and began to slowly back away from the door.
A tall man with thick white hair stepped in. A smug smile was spread across his face. "Hello, Rogue. It has been a while."