Psigame

Author's Note: This story continues right after Uncanny X-Men 380.

Prologue

Funny how time flies. A few weeks passed by and they did not even notice it. How could they, when their utmost thought was each other? When their biggest worry was if the rain might spoil their fun? When they no longer needed to care about a world that hates and fears them? For millionaire playboy Warren Worthington III and his young lover, Elisabeth Braddock, losing their mutant powers gave them their heart's desire; to be normal, to be just like everybody else. Due to the manipulations of a madman, the entire mutant population of Earth had lost their abilities, the one thing that set them apart from society. For some of them it was agony, especially for mutants who possessed elemental powers, connected to Mother Earth. For most, such as the deformed and strange looking mutants, it was a wish come true.

Once, Warren Worthington III was Archangel, a mutant with a pair of gigantic angelic wings, hollow bones and blue skin, who could soar the skies and fight crime. Elisabeth Braddock was a telepath, but she had been unable to use those powers of late, for she had imprisoned a deadly body less telepath known as the Shadow King within her own mind. Together they were part of a group of mutants called the X-Men, sworn to protect those who hated and feared them. That did not matter anymore. They had those powers no more, they had those worries no more, and they were mutants no more. The sun beat relentlessly down upon the hot sand. The wind was strong, casting waves upon the beach, attacking it repeatedly. The water was hot and clean, perfect for fun. It was a perfect day in Aruba.

Betsy started it. As her beau calmly enjoyed the surf, allowing the currents to sway his tanned body, she used the opportunity to splash his face full of salty water. His pride demanded retribution. Smiling, Warren Worthington III filled his hands with water and threw it at his laughing girlfriend. His mind could not remember a happier time. These last few weeks, without his wings, without his mutant powers, had been the happiest of his entire life. He should have known it was not meant to last. Betsy fell backwards as the water hit her, and she did not move anymore.

"Betts?" he asked without a response. "You know that trick is older than both of us... you're not gonna lure me by playing possum..." she did not answer his taunt. He moved towards her slowly, denying that little feeling of worry in his heart. He had thrown water at her. No one dies from having water thrown at her. As he came closer his worries increased, but he remained cool. "It's not working... I can see you twitching... and you call yourself a ninja?" he laughed, a nervous laugh that disappeared as soon as he saw her face. "Bet-- What-- what's wrong?" he screamed while moving faster. He picked her up in his arms, but she did not move. He could feel her as rigid as a steel girder beneath his fingers, her eyes wide open staring up, an expression of terror on her face. He could not believe this was happening. He turned around, looking for help, for familiar faces, but most people were far away. He began to run towards the beach. How could the water hurt her so? He felt a searing pain in his back, and all his questions found their answers suddenly. "Uh... no... Not now," he said as he fell to his knees; his back felt on fire, the pain increasing exponentially.

"Mommy look!" Cried a small child, pointing as Warren kept trying to walk forward, carrying Betsy in his arms. "He's turning all blue!" People stared at him, he could hear their derogative banter, the talk of mutants in their midst. Nevertheless, he did not care. The pain would not stop him. He reached the beach and then fell to his knees once again, but he could not stand up this time. He screamed a cry of pain and terror, high-pitched enough to make everyone cover their ears as it happened. Two massive wings erupted from his shoulder blades, and people began to run and scream in panic. The wings gently moved downwards, enveloping their master, almost caressing him. He opened his eyes. The pain was gone, the fear was gone, and he felt as if everything was right in the world, realizing how he had missed his wings, his bird-like sense. He looked at the girl in his arms. Betsy was still unconscious, almost dead like. He stretched his wings and stood up. "Don't worry. I will bring you back," he said, kissing her forehead. His wings flapped and he began to levitate and he could hear the voice of a child, pointing at him once more. "Oohh... it wasn't a mutie dad... it was an angel!"

Chapter One