Sensational X-Men
Issue #35 – Lost and Found – Part Two
Unknown Space
Powerless Ship Caught in a Tractor Beam of another Ship
Havok, Frost, Slipstream, Sway, Océana and Angel stood there for a moment as they watched the boarding tube approach their ship. First instinct was to use their powers to destroy the tube but they decided that it was best to see who this ship belonged to before instantly making them an enemy. There was a chance they were here to rescue them and if they attacked, whatever their intentions, would make them open fire on them in a defenseless ship. They may all have powers and could take them but what good would that do them floating in space without a ship? So for now, they would wait to see who they were and then go from there.
"I think we should over power them and take their ship," Frost said what she knew many of them were thinking.
"No, we don't know their intentions. They could be friendly," Angel said.
"And if they aren't?" Slipstream asked.
"Then we have ourselves a new ship," Havok smiled making Océana frown a bit.
"Don't worry, I'm sure we won't leave them stranded here or harm them severely if it comes down to it," Sway said knowing that sometimes you aren't left much of a choice.
"I still can't pick any thoughts up. You think these could be the Others?" Emma asked as she continued to push with her mind.
"No, if they were I'm sure we'd been blown up by now," Sway added.
"But they could be mechanical or some kind of different alien brain makeup," Angel suggested.
"Either way we need to be ready," Havok said as they all saw the tube getting closer to the one side of the ship.
"Here they come," Slipstream said as the ship shook upon impact of the tube.
"Slipstream, you and Océana stay here and keep an eye on that ship. If something more heads this way or it does something you let us know," Havok said as he led the others towards the spot the invaders were arriving at leaving Océana behind for Warren's sake and that he hadn't seen her in battle enough to know if she would be more of a liability or not.
"What's the plan boss?" Angel asked Havok as he caught a glare of disapproval from Frost.
"Emma, I want you to keep the mental link going and see whatever you can read from them. Sway, I want you to be ready to slow time the second they come through that wall to give us an advantage over their first move. Angel, not sure how you're doing it but I think Archangel might be preferred so you and me can dish out the heavy artillery if needed," Havok said as Angel closed his eyes and in moments shifted his skin to blue as his feathery wings jerked out becoming instantly solid, shiny and very sharp and pointed.
I don't like how he seems to be able to shift from X-Man to Horseman and back.
I'm with you there, Emma. He doesn't know why he can do it. Until recently he thought when he reverted back to Angel that he was finally free of Apocalypse's handy work.
Alex, you ever wonder if his greatest creation is still a sleeper agent of sorts.
I would be lying if I said I hadn't considered that or that I do find it hard to completely trust our winged friend here, but until he appears to be a threat we have to trust he's got our back.
If we make it back I think he should be checked out, along with a few other, Emma thought as the image of the pregnant Mystique made her cringe with anger.
"Here they come," Archangel said as the side of the ship began to have a circle into it from the tube.
"Still not getting any mental thoughts or images," Emma pronounced as a circular piece of the ship fell towards them as smoke filled into the room from the tube behind it.
Havok shouted for them to go into action immediately. No sooner had the wall fell in when dozens of large armored men with guns came charging through. Sway's eyes flared as she called on her powers and pushed out with her mind. Thanks to Frost she had gotten a better idea on how her powers worked. She was, according to Frost, almost an Omega Level Telekinesis. She didn't really slow or freeze time, what she did was grab hold of people and things and held them with her telekinesis to the point that they were could barely more or if she pushed hard enough to come to a complete stand still unable to move almost looking like she had frozen time. As for recreating scenes of the past, she assumed it was a combination of tek grabbing hold of images and a secondary mutation of psi abilities that allowed others to see them. No matter what it was, right now she was using her tek and pushing with all her might.
"I don't understand. I'm pushing with all my might and I don't seem to be slowing them down at all," Sway say as she started to perspire.
"Emma?" Havok asked as both his energy blasts and Archangel's wing blades had no effect on the attackers.
"Nothing. It's as if their minds are blank or maybe shielded big time," Emma answered as she went sharp trying to connect both mentally and physically with her attackers and not having any luck.
"They move at an alarming speed," Archangel said as he had no luck hitting any of them with his wings.
"Everyone stop! One more move and we blow her head off," one of the armored men said as they all turned to see two men pointing a gun at each side of Sway's head.
Emma?
Already alerted Slipstream and Longshot to be ready, Emma thought to Alex as they stood down and watched all the armed men surround them with their guns.
They all turned as two figures came walking out of the tube and onto the ship. Both figures were both wearing full body armor and appeared very muscular and about seven feet tall. Each held a very large sword in one hand and a large strange gun in the other. It was clear that they were the leaders of these invaders. The fact that they couldn't touch these guys or even read their minds made Havok nervous. He just hoped that they could make it out of this alive but Emma assured him that all would work out.
"You, white witch can stop with the mental gifts. We are immune to your trickery and if you so much as send out a thought we will kill her," one of the large leaders said as he nodded towards Sway.
"Don't worry. We promise to cooperate and come peacefully. Just don't hurt her," Havok said as he watched the two.
"We have no intention of taking you prisoner," one of the leaders said.
"We just want your supplies and rations. If you don't get in our way we will let you live," the other leader said.
"We'll die anyway if we're left here without food," Archangel said as he eyed them carefully.
"Enough of this charade. Enog Eb Snoisulli!" Magnus said as he walked into the room and released his powers.
Electricity shot from his eyes and hands and engulfed the room. Emma nodded in amazement as the electricity missed every single one of them and only hit the invaders. As the electricity streams made contact with the attackers, the men with guns flickered and then vanished from sight. In an instant all the invaders were gone but two, the leaders. As they all turned to the leaders they saw that they were gone and now standing in their place were a man and woman with orange skin, bald heads with web like ears and a third eye in the middle of their foreheads. They were both thin and scrawny wearing no armor and both holding very small guns. Magnus without missing a beat sent another blast of power causing the two to drop their guns and fly backwards against the ship's wall. To his teammate's surprise, Wade was in front of the two holding them against the wall by their necks with his hands before they had even touched the wall.
"Illusions, I knew it," Emma swore at being played the fool.
"No wonder we couldn't touch or hurt them," Archangel said looking at Havok.
"Wade, how did you know?" Havok asked of the man who had been in a healing trance of sorts.
"After Emma contacted Longshot he intercommed into the med unit to let them know what was going on. Luckily, when he buzzed in the com made a screeching noise that caused Stacey X to jump and drop her glass by my bed, shattering and luckily waking me from my trance. After Longshot filled me in I went to see Slipstream.
"I told him to sneak aboard the ship and see what we were up against. He went there and came back in seconds letting me know that the ship was empty and according to the scanners our ship registered only us and two strangers. I immediately knew what was up and took action here while I told Slipstream, Océana and Longshot to get our prisoner, injured and all supplies teleported to the other ship. Now, you have one minute to speak before I remove your heads," Magnus growled as electricity danced from his eyes and around his hands.
"I am Ta and this is my mate, Ve. We are all that was left of our crew. We happened to crash land on a planet where we came upon a group of people who had just built a ship to escape. We stole their ship and left for freedom. We didn't mean you any harm. We just needed food and supplies," Ta said nervously as the electricity crackling around her neck made it hard to concentrate.
"So it's just the two of you?" Havok asked.
"Yes, your friend is right. My mate has the gift to make people see things while I can see what needs to be done to achieve what is needed," Ve said as he telepathically felt his mate's displeasure in revealing their gifts.
"Well, let's ditch these fools and get aboard our new ship," Emma said as the two aliens third eyes flared.
"You won't do that," Ta said.
"Why is that?" Havok asked.
"My gift showed me what is needed to get what we all need," Ve said as he sent the info to his mate telepathically.
"What is that?" Emma asked.
"If you let us live and take us with you we can take you to your missing friends," Ta said as she created an image of Storm, Magneto and a few others on a stranded island causing them all to gasp as the two aliens smiled.
Alpha Flight
Return of Beasts – Part Two
Toronto, Canada – Downtown Bridal Shop
"Thank you so much for agreeing to be my Maid of Honor," Lillian Crawley, the ex-Alphan known as Diamond Lil
"It's my pleasure. I am so happy to see the two of you happy. I'm glad you've, both of you have found someone," Heather said as they glanced at racks of wedding gowns.
"You mean, glad I finally moved on?" Lillian asked with a bit of attitude as she turned to face her old friend.
"I didn't mean that. I am just happy for all of you. Madison has found happiness and now both you and Walter have found happiness. That's all I meant," Heather said with a cute smile.
"Sorry, I don't know why I get so agitated at the thought of him. Walter wants to invite them but I don't know. Anyways, what about you and Mac? Do I see reconciliation there?" Lillian asked changing the subject.
"Heavens no. There's too much history between me and Mac to not be good friends, but that same history makes it harder to ever be more than that. Especially now," Heather said and then trailed off as she pulled out another dress.
"What, is it the running of a new team or a certain hairy furball that has come back?" Lillian asked with a coy smile knowing full well it was her turn to be evil.
"Me and Logan? Please. Seriously, the last thing I need is another James in my life," Heather said as she threw a dress at her friend.
"I'm just saying. Logan isn't the type to settle in one place, especially when he's got his whole mutant family in the states. Something's got to be holding him here," Lillian said as she made a gagging face and put the dress back on the rack.
"I don't think so. You know how old he is and where he's all been? He's probably got women and children all over the world knowing him. Plus, being all around, what would he even see in simple ol' me," Heather said as she got nervously quiet.
"Whatever you say," Lillian laughed as she grew tired of looking at dresses and wished she would have taken Jodi up on her offer to make it for her, but she was already doing so much making the bridesmaid's dresses.
"So, how is Walter adjusting to the whole marriage thing?" Heather asked.
"Fine, but he has been a little growly and odd recently but I think it's just nerves," Lillian said.
"Yeah, wedding jitters. Everyman gets them. Once you say those vows all will be fine and well worth it," Heather smiled as she spotted a dress and held it up causing Lillian, for the first time to clap and scream like a school girl.
Alpha Headquarters
"You know we have to plan the bachelor party," Mac Hudson said after gladly accepting Walter's offer of being his best man.
"No, I don't want one of those," Walter said with a laugh.
"Oh, sorry bub, you've no choice in the matter," James "Logan" Howlett, the mutant known as Wolverine said with a smirk.
"I agree. This is happening," Sean Bernard, the costumed fighter known as Groundhog said.
"This is too much guys. If you'll excuse me a moment?" Walter said as he got up and headed down the hall to the bathroom.
"About time you arrived," Hightech said causing Walter to jump.
"Can I help you?" Walter asked puzzled by the strange greeting in the bathroom.
"Yes, you can, Tanaraq," Highbrow said as his image fizzled and then shifted taking on that of a very old being with long pointing outward ears holding a walking stick.
"Somon, the great Artificer. Your word is my command," Walter said as he suddenly shifted into Sasquatch but with a darker tint to his fur and evil in his eyes.
"We don't have much time before they wonder where we are," Somon, leader and controller of the Great Beasts said gliding to the door and securing it from being opened.
"How is this possible? We were banned from this realm?" Tanaraq asked feeling slightly dizzy and weak.
"Luckily, when the Demon Storm hit this plane it weakened some veils and with the Zodiac Stones coming into conflict with the sword of Nemesis it allowed me to take possession of the life form called Knapp. Unfortunately I am tied to his other self Hightech and not him but this will still work.
"Using his knowledge of technology and mixing it with my powers I have found a way to bring the rest of the Great Beasts back to Earth by merging into a host," Somon said.
"I take great honor in being your first to bring over," Tanaraq growled.
"You were not the first. Herateq, Tiamaq and Neoaqtoq were brought over right away when I mastered the spell to bring them through the host's soul," Somon said with a sigh.
"Then where are they?" Tanaraq asked in confusion.
"They are dead, but with that I have learned a grave lesson," Somon said.
"Dead? We can't die," Tanaraq roared.
"Keep it down fool. It seems that when we come over this way, we, along with our host, become mortal and vulnerable to death as well as very limited in our abilities and powers. If we die in this state we die for good," Somon hissed.
"Then why do this? How are we to take over this world if we can die and not have our full powers?" Tanaraq growled in anger and fear.
"Because it is only a minor setback. By taking the hosts of those such as Alpha Flight, we are less likely to be killed. Once all of our brethren are here, there is a ritual we can perform that will expel our host's souls allowing us permanent domain that will not only grant us our full powers back but also our Godhood to take over this world with no obstacles," Somon smiled.
"Then let's go. I whole bunch are in the other room," Tanaraq began to say and was silenced by a raised stick.
"It's not that simple. There has to be a connection and sometimes it doesn't work and when it does I don't know who will come through. If we go marching in there and just one of them doesn't work then we are exposed," Somon said.
"How did you know I would work?" Tanaraq asked.
"Don't be an idiot. You and the one called Sasquatch have the greatest bond. That is why after the first three died I knew to call you," Somon said.
"Is everything all right in there?" Jaimon Kwan, the Alphan known as Shiver asked through the door as she pushed on a locked door.
"You fool, you, wait, that is the one called Shiver. Powers over the cold. Olanik etisua remintin," Somon shouted through the door as he opened it.
"What did you, oh!" Shiver explained as she saw the two beasts.
"I said, Olanik etisua remintin!" Somon shouted as he raised his walking stick and invoked his spell.
Tanaraq prepared to strike when he saw Shiver start convulsing. Somon pulled her into the bathroom as she began to transform. Shiver suddenly grew taller, muscular and sprouted crème colored fur all over her body. In moments Shiver was gone and replaced with an ape-like looking beast with colored oval earrings. The beast looked around in puzzlement and then grunted as he recognized the two in front of him.
"Tanaraq, Somon," the beast said as he bowed before Somon.
"Kolomaq, welcome back," Somon said as he nodded at his fellow Beast.
"What is going on here?" Kolomaq asked.
"I will fill you in, but first, we must be careful and play it safe while I finish using Hightech's gifts to cross reference their database and find the best matches for the rest of our brethren," Somon said as he filled in the Snow Beast and then allowed themselves to revert back to their host's forms.
Epilogue
New York City
"Is this wise? What if you're recognized?" Arlette Truffaet asked as she and her companions trudged through the wind and the cold towards Broadway.
"I don't care. I've been cooped up for so long I just needed to get out," Adrian Carbo said as he found the cold on his face felt refreshing and intoxicating
"I really don't think it matters. He only played dead to help keep Alpha away from all of us," Jared Carbo said as he glanced at his brother and then squeezed Arlette's hand.
"And I would like to keep it that way. Every time we are involved with them something bad happened to us. Last time we were turned into Zodiac Demons and almost all died for real," Arlette said in anger as they turned down an ally to make a shortcut to the theatre they were heading to.
"Greetings," a woman said as they stopped short to find a woman in a strange all black outfit.
"We don't want any trouble," Arlette said as she flexed her hands and readying her powers while she saw Adrian's hands becoming blades and felt Jared's shield start to left from where it rested tightly against his skin.
"But I want what's mine. Cancer, Virgo, to me!" The woman shouted as she raised her hands.
Jared called on his powers as he heard his girlfriend and brother begin to scream horribly while something sharp and hard hit him in the chest causing him to black out.
Next: Issue #36 – Lost and Found – Part Three & Alpha Flight: Return of Beasts – Part Three