Sensational X-Men
Issue #13 – Demon Storm – Part Nine
Space – The X-Men
"Forge, they're back from the planet," Polaris said walking onto the bridge.
"Great, tell them I'll be right down," Forge said as Polaris nodded and headed back out.
Forge took one last look at the readings on the monitor and then got up. A few hours ago they had picked up a mutant reading. It had led them to a small red planet. The planet supported life but had enough dust in the atmosphere that not only would they have to wear masks but it distorted their readings enough that they couldn't tell if the mutant signatures was one of their comrades or a habitant of the planet. Either way, they had to investigate to know for sure.
This time Forge decided to stay behind and let Sage go down and led the away team. Between her great mind and Spark's tracking abilities he knew they would find their mutant. Out of the group of new X-Men, Kid Vulcan (he's going by plain Vulcan now), Sway and Darwin showed the greatest mastery over their powers so he let them go along. Darwin's evolving powers would come in handy as well as Sway's time powers and Vulcan's energy manipulation.
Forge saw great potential in Vulcan. He was just like his brothers, Scott and Alex. Like his brothers he had great power and was gaining mastery over them. On the plus side, he had Scott's natural ability to lead but on the other hand he had Alex's hot headedness. Overall, thanks to him and some help from Mystique he was balancing out quite well. He wished the others were more like Vulcan can take more to Mystiques training, but after reviewing all the X-Men files the others were shying away from Mystique and the brotherhood.
Forge couldn't blame them, but everyone deserved a chance to prove themselves. Vulcan seamed to see that and had no problem working with Mystique, and like Forge was taking them as allies and comrades for now. Forge did wonder if Vulcan's dwelling anger at Xavier and what he did hasn't made a natural bond between him and Mystique. No matter the reason and how much he was putting faith in the two, he would have to be on his guard if they ever did cross paths with Charles again.
He just hoped they would find one or both of his brothers before they found Charles. That way there might be hope in diminishing his bubbling anger for the man. He just wished Vulcan was more like his other comrades, understanding and able to see things from Charles's point of view and why he did what he did whether they agreed with it or not. In the end, no one, including himself, knew how they would react once face to face with their "greatest" teacher and mentor.
"About time you got down here," Sage said breaking Forge's thoughts as he entered the docking bay.
"Sorry, I take it your trip was a bust?" Forge asked as he noticed no new familiar faces in the group before him.
"Yes and no," Sage said.
"What do you mean?" Polaris asked as she used her powers to move the suits from the away team to the storage lockers.
"I see someone is getting used to the new environment and the re-mastery of her powers," Sean teased as he winked at Lorna.
"Back to the mission at hand, the mutant we found was just a natural habitant of the planet. He generated a type of radio wave. It was of no use so we let it go," Spark said flatly as Forge rolled his eyes.
Forge was glad that they had found Allison, but he missed the fun spirited girl he had once known. Having lost her memories in the trip through the wormhole and immediately being found and brought into the Bounty Hunter Collective had changed her personality. For now, with the resources they had they had removed a lot of the tech, but she still had enhanced abilities and was still slightly emotionless. They had even showed her as much data on her life as they could but that still did no good. Until she got her memories back was willing to embrace her old life, she was determined to remain Spark and they couldn't remove the rest of the tech implants without risking permanent brain damage.
"But we did make a great discovery," Darwin said.
"Yeah we did. Darwin's eyes had changed and he could see better than any of us down there. He spotted something in the sewers," Vulcan said.
"Yes, and Vulcan used his energy to make a force that blew a hole in the ground while I was able to slow time enough that the creature couldn't move very fast allowing Spark to move fast and subdue the creature," Sway said enthusiastically.
"And this is the good news?" Forge asked.
"Yes, as you can see they did quite well as a team," Sage said. "The creature was spying on us. He thought from our appearance we were part of the Others."
"The Others?" Sean asked staring at them and then at Forge and Polaris.
"Yes, it seems they are a group of being that steel and collect technology," Spark said.
"That would explain how primitive and barren the planet is," Forge said.
"It gets better. If the creature can be trusted with its knowledge, the Others is said to be gathering technology in a means to enhance their ability to teleport to and from worlds using gateways," Sage smiled.
"Gateways, does this mean what I think it means?" Polaris asked staring at everyone in the room.
"Yes, between my abilities and Sage's we could have a means to get home," Forge said.
"That would be so cool," Sway said lighting up.
"What about the X-Men still missing?" Polaris asked thinking of Havok as she looked at his brother Vulcan.
"Yeah, we still need to hunt down this Xavier guy," Vulcan snarled.
"I'm not saying we would leave without them, but we need to check this out," Forge said.
"I agree with Forge. We don't have to use it right away, but just having the means to go home when we choose is something we can't pass up," Sage said as Sean nodded with agreement.
"I guess, but do we even know where to look for these Others?" Polaris asked.
"From the coordinates the creature was able to tell us, they reside on a planet not to far from here," Sage said.
"Then let's get moving," Forge said feeling a twinge of excitement about possibly finding a way home.
Sage, Polaris and Sean went to the bridge to take the ship on its new course. Forge led the others as they gathered the rest of the crew to let them know what was going on. Blob and Avalanche were very adamant about jumping straight home. The new X-Men wanted to go home but also felt the urge to find the lost X-Men and their siblings. Mystique, of course, kept silent and didn't say a word. Forge wasn't sure if he was relieved or if that was a bad sign.
"Bridge to Forge, we've arrived," Sage's voice came over the intercom.
Forge and the rest of the crew piled onto the bridge. Before them was a large red planet that looked like it was made of fire. According to the ships scans and reading there were no life forms below but they were getting readings of some sort of technology and power source. On top of that, the readings indicated that the surface temp was lethal to exposed skin and the air was not breathable. With their space suits they could go planet side but the X-Men space ship was the only thing resistant enough to break the atmosphere and land safely.
They knew this could be dangerous but they had to take the whole ship down. If there was a way to get home down there they had to risk it. Plus, with no life signs they could assume the Others weren't home and it would be easier and safer to search the planet. Forge gave the command and everyone took their seats and buckled up. The ship hit the atmosphere and began its decent planet side.
"Forge, the shields and the ship's integrity are not going to hold. We need to do something fast or we're all going to roast and burn up on reentry," Polaris shouted.
"I've reverted ninety percent of all power to the shields and the other ten to life support and environmental control. I still don't think that will hold," Sean said as he began to sweat with the rising temp of the room.
"Sage, we need some quick thinking," Forge said to the mutant with the computer brain as he began to fix and rebuild the power controls to enhance power supply.
"Darwin, it appears from the color of your skin you've evolved so the heat and the energy spikes from the consol will not hurt you. You take control of the ship. Polaris, use our powers to reinforce and hold together the ship. Banshee and Spark, let lose your powers at full force. Vulcan, use your powers tap into and manipulate their energy strengthening the shields and add a power boost. The rest of you, prey," Sage shouted the commands after contemplating for two seconds.
Sway watched in awe. Banshee's scream and Spark's light power, which were being powered by Banshee too, generated with great force from their bodies. Then Vulcan, with Sage's guidance, manipulated that energy and reinforced it into the ships power and shields. It was this moment she realized that this woman with a computer mind as a mutant power could easily prove to be one of the most powerful beings in the world. Because of her and only her, they would survive and make it to the planet below in one piece.
"We've landed," Darwin informed them as a large thud was felt throughout the whole ship.
"Great work team," Forge said as the mutants powered down and sighed with exhaustion.
"Please, we could've made it just fine," Blob mumbled to Avalanche.
"I could've helped. I have more power than any of them do," Avalanche said in agreement with Blob.
"Quiet you two, I need to pay attention to what's going on," Mystique said getting out of her seat and heading near Forge and the others.
"Okay, it seems just over that clearing is a metal door of sorts in the ground. If my readings are correct, the power source we're looking for are coming from an underground base beneath those doors," Sage said looking at the computer monitor.
"It seems it might be a fairly big place down there. Sage, Polaris and Spark will join me to scout ahead while," Forge began to say to his crew.
"Hold up. We have a stake in this too and we want to come along. You said that place is big and the more that go the more ground we can cover," Vulcan interrupted refusing to be left out.
"I agree with the kid. I'm not staying behind while you skip for home. We all go or no one goes," Mystique said stepping next to Vulcan as the other Brotherhood members nodded taking a stance behind the blue skinned woman.
"Now wait a minute," Sage said as Polaris nodded preparing to power up.
"Stop, we won't make it home if we start fighting. If we're a team we go as a team," Forge said looking from Mystique to his fellow X-Men behind him.
"Forge, you can't be serious," Polaris started to protest.
"You heard him, we all go," Mystique grinned.
"Not all. Polaris, you will stay behind with Spirit and watch over the ship," Forge said.
"Blob will stay too," Mystique said.
"But Mystique," Blob started to say.
"Someone needs to make sure our only means of transport isn't taken from us," Mystique commanded.
"Fine," Blob mumbled.
"Okay, with that settled the rest of us will suit up and head out," Forge said as he led his band of X-Men off the bridge.
After a few minutes they were all suited up and were off. Even in their suits they could feel the heat of the planet. They soon made it to the metal doors and Sage was still not picking up any life forms. Forge nodded to Petra and she called forth her powers. The ground shifted pulling apart taking the doors with it leaving a hole in the ground. Sage did a quick scan and signaled for all them to head down the stairs leading deep into the underground base.
"To be safe, I want everyone to keep their helmets on," Forge said through their radios once they reached the bottom of the stairs.
A strange glow lit the room. It was large and empty with only two ways out. The way they had come and a doorway in front of them. Sage scanned and nodded and they all stepped through the doorway and in a dead end. Sage was about to speak when the floor dropped from underneath them and they found themselves falling. Before anyone could react they hit the ground below. Fortunately it was a short drop and no one was injured.
"Everyone okay?" Forge asked as every one nodded or mumbled to themselves. This time they found themselves in a pitch black room.
"I'm getting a reading from this direction. I think our power source is this way," Sage said looking at her scanner.
"Guys, I think the Others are here," Darwin said as his eyes suddenly allowed him to see clearly in the dark.
"What makes you say that? I'm not reading any life signs but ours," Sage said.
"Because," Darwin started to say when the very large room suddenly lit up with a giant red glow.
"I knew I should have stayed behind," Avalanche swore as they all realized they were now surrounded by hundreds of demon-like robots whose eyes exploded with fire as they pounced upon the X-Men.
Egypt – The Planet Earth
"Where am I?" One of the figures asked causing Ozymandias to look down as the two mutants he had dragged with him to freedom from Apocalypse began to wake.
"You're in Egypt. Count yourself lucky, of those of us that survived the crash you two are the only ones that haven't been mutilated into Apocalypse's slaves," Ozy said helping the two mutants to their feet.
"Lorna and the others, where are they?" Alex Summers, the mutant known as Havok shouted in a panic.
"I do not know. Besides Apocalypse and myself, you two and seven others survived the base explosion in space landing here in Egypt. The laboratory hit here and was covered in sand. My former master found all your bodies and I helped him build the lab down below the sands," Ozy said to Havok.
"You don't mean?" Havok began to ask.
"Yes, your friends have become his new Horsemen, but I have put an end to them," Ozy said looking past him.
"Are you saying you did this?" The time traveler known as Bishop asked as he pointed out to Alex the giant beam of fire, red sky and the fire raining down from above.
"What the hell is going on?" Havok said growing very worried and praying his dear Lorna was okay.
"Yes, by sacrificing Apocalypse and his Horsemen I have paved the way for my new master to come and bring a new order to this world," Ozy said as he began to twitch and feel his body burn.
"I hate to disappoint you, traitor, but I live and you will pay dearly," a voice shouted in pain and anger.
They all turned to see a form rise from under the sand, inches in front of the beam of fire. A man of normal build with just a loin cloth stood in front of them. If it were not for his voice, they would have never known it to be the great and powerful Apocalypse. He had survived the beam of fire but at a cost of his powerful body and armor, burned away leaving his frail and very human body.
"Not so tough now are you?" Bishop laughed.
"Oh, I'm not alone. Horsemen, rise!" Apocalypse shouted as from the sand burst the forms of Famine, Pestilence, War, Death, Fear, Hate, and Oblivion.
"You survived," Ozy said with no emotion.
"Yes, you may have killed all my living mutates and subjects down there but fittest have survived," Apocalypse snarled.
"It doesn't matter for now you face your death at the hands of Ozydemontrex, one of the Horseman of Hell," Ozy shouted and he exploded with pain transforming into a giant demon made of sand and glowing red with fire. Ozydemontrex waved his hands and hundreds of forms rose out of the desert sand taking the shape of demon-like creatures made out of red sand.
"For Semaj, attack!" Ozydemontrex shouted.
"Horsemen, attack!" Apocalypse shouted.
"So whose side are we one?" Bishop asked with a chuckle as he and Havok looked back and forth and the Horsemen of Apocalypse charged form one side and the Horseman of Hell came from the other.
Epilogue - Unknown Island – The Brotherhood
Storm floated a few feet above the ocean. It felt good to float her alone whipping around her dosing her with air and watery mist form the ocean below. With everything that has happened, sometimes it felt good to get away and think and clear her mind of all worries. How were they going to get home? Would they survive? Did the others survive and where were they? Was she really falling for Erik? If so, did that make him good or her evil? Storm shook her head and pushed all thoughts away and pulled in the wind around her.
"Ororo, you okay?" Colossus shouted up at her.
"What?" Ororo gasped as Colossus's approach had startled her causing her to lose control of her powers.
On this planet, the atmosphere was slightly different which made it more of an effort to keep her powers under control. She lost the control of the wind from being startled and a hurricane like wind grabbed her and sent her flying downward. Colossus jumped up and caught the descending Storm as she tried to retract her powers. They hit the beach hard as Colossus's body protected them both from the impact as Storm was able to force her powers off and outward sending them out to sea appearing as a giant tidal wave.
"Piotr, you gave me a start," Storm said as she got to her feet.
"Sorry about that," Colossus said getting to his feet as well. "What were you doing?"
"I like to come here and clear my mind and relax. The view of the ocean is calming and almost reminds me of being home," Storm said looking out to sea.
"I'm sorry I've been such a pain. It just that I don't trust or like that," Piotr began to say.
"Piotr, we've been friends a long time and I respect your thoughts, but I need you to back off of me and Erik. I can take care of myself and I need to figure this out on my own, okay?" Storm said looking at her old friend.
"Okay, but you know I do what I do because I care," Piotr said as he looked out to sea as the tidal wave vanished from sight as it carried deeper out to sea.
As two old friends went one direction the wave carried on in the other. The tidal wave and wind power behind it vanished just as it reached a very small piece of island in the middle of the ocean. A weird face rose up from the island's sand and began to inhale the sent from the fading wind and water. The face fully erected and glowing eyes looked out in the direction the tidal wave had come from.
"That scent, after all this time," the face growled as the very small island began to take shape.
Next: Issue #14 – Demon Storm – Part Seventeen – Final battle with Ozydemontrex
Check out the following issues as the other Horsemen of Hell make their move:
Salem-X #17 & 18 – Demon Storm Part Ten
New Exiles #16 & 17 – Demon Storm Part Three & Eleven
Power Pack #13 & 14 – Demon Storm Part Four & Twelve
Wild Pack #13 & 14 – Demon Storm Part Five & Thirteen (Final Issue)
Alpha Squads #13 & 14 – Demon Storm Part Six & Fourteen (Final Issue)
Mutant Generation Force #14 & 15 – Demon Storm Part Seven & Fifteen
X-Calibur # 13 & 14 – Demon Storm Part Eight & Sixteen
Sensational X-Men # 13 & 14 – Demon Storm Part Nine & Seventeen
Then Read: Demon Storm #2 – Demon Storm – Part Eighteen – The Conclusion