Salem-X
Issue #34 – Rebirth of the Coven – Part One
Downtown Salem – A Café
"Still weird to think that this whole time Wanda was also Mistress X, should have guessed," Billy Kaplan said as he sipped his late.
"She had no choice. It was the only she thought she could keep Agatha's death hidden from the evil that is out there," Laura Dean responded as she leaned into her boyfriend, Sam Le.
"Still a little hurt that you all knew and didn't bother to tell me," Billy said with a little anger in his voice.
"It wasn't our secret to tell, plus we couldn't if we wanted to. She cast a spell not allowing us to reveal to those who didn't know," Ming Le said as she sat down and handed one of the cappuccinos to their newest member, the boy from another dimension, Erik Williams the Reaper.
"Yeah, and you should talk, Mr. secretive. Where are you going all the time and talking to on the phone?" Sam Le countered.
"Sorry, Billy, but I'm really offended that you've seemed to shut us out, especially me. What are you keeping from us?" Laura asked.
"I'm not really hiding anything. I," Billy started to say as he grew nervous and frustrated at the third degree.
"Hey, back off everyone. Kids not doing anything wrong and he seems like a stand up guy to me. I think even super heroes like us deserve a little bit of a private life," Erik said as he hid his smile behind his drink. "Man, this is good."
"Glad you like it," Ming said getting a little closer to Eric while glaring at Billy.
"So, how are you liking it here? No homesickness yet?" Billy said changing the subject.
"It's different but I like it, so peaceful. Most thrive on the fighting demons or just accept it but I've always wished there was something or somewhere more out there. Trust me, I can handle my own in a fight, but it's nice not to be on alert twenty-four-seven," Erik said as he glanced into the café window at his reflection.
Erik had always liked his darker look. Goth as Billy and the others here called it. Thanks to Ming and Laura they had introduced him to guy liner and black nail polish to replace the charcoal he had to use back home. It was a lot nicer and it didn't smudge or wear off as easily. He also had to thank Billy for introducing him to jeans and t-shirts. Sam whined as Billy and the two girls helped him with his clothing. Erik liked his whole black attire look but wasn't sure about the silver rings on his hands and the silver dagger earring they convinced him to get in his left ear. It went with the look so he would try it out for now.
"Don't worry, it's not all peace and boredom. Knowing this team we are bound to get some action soon," Sam said as they all chuckled.
"Glad to see Erik fitting in," Zafar Sorana said as he looked over at the kids sitting in the Café's outside balcony area.
"Yes, it's a relief. I don't want to let Lady Lehnsherr down. What makes it tough, and I know he's from another dimension, but I can see my good friend Simon in him as if he was this world's Simon's son," Wanda said as she stirred her herbal tea.
"Don't worry, you'll do just fine as a mom to him. Just too bad all your kids are coming from Illyana's home dimension," Lucy France teased a little.
"Not really funny," Mike Twoyoungmen said with a sigh.
"Mike, it's okay. It seems all my kids, biological or adopted are always intertwined with a demon in someway. How are you doing?" Wanda asked as she placed a hand on her friend's hand.
"I'll be fine. I know why she stayed and despite her not returning my feelings, I still miss her," Mike rambled.
"We all miss her. Just wish I knew how to tell Wade," Wanda said as her thoughts drifted to her newly discovered son.
"Don't worry, he'll come back from space safely, with your sister and father," Zafar said with a comforting smile that sent a good chill through Wanda.
"I know, but I wish I would have had more time with him before he ran off on that mission with the X-Men. Speaking of revealed secrets, I hope you can forgive me for not telling you right away about Agatha," Wanda said hoping her lie hadn't ruined any chance she had at getting to know the man next to her.
"It's okay, everyone has secrets that they keep for the good of others. But now that she's dead, word will spread and the attacks will come," Zafar said as he looked at the rest of the customers in the Café.
"Till then, let's enjoy some relaxation," Lucy said. "Too bad Ty and Tandy didn't join us."
"With Cloak waking up, they have a lot of needed alone time and emotional healing I think. Plus, we are not here on holiday. Thanks to Zafar we got the Hex-Detector up and running. If we are serious about getting the School of Witchcraft up and running, our first pupil is in here somewhere," Mike said as he glanced around the room trying to get his mind off Illyana.
Wanda looked around and felt a bit excited as well as nervous. The thought of not only leading a team but actually recruiting and training students with magical abilities made her stomach turn. On the other hand, she found something in her loving the idea and finally finding her place in this world. She always felt lost and never had the best of luck with friends or family. When Ultron's final battle resulted in the end of the Avengers she thought it was all over for her. Then came Agatha's invitation to Salem-X and despite the lies it was all based upon, it had put her on the path she was meant to be on.
She was now the leader of Salem-X. She had something to call and make her own. Yes there had been tragedies and it hasn't been easy and would continue to have its challenges and setbacks, but there has been and will continue to have and do good with this team. No longer labeled Magneto's daughter or mutant or Avenger's lackey or family failures nor a follower, she was now a leader and a good witch that has come into her own. Not only would she lead Salem-X in its fight for good but she would make her mark by running a school to teach others how to use their mystical abilities for good. She would be to the supernatural what Xavier had been to mutants and would even do it better.
"I think it might be her," Zafar said as he pointed to a young woman with flaming red hair.
"How can you tell?" Mike asked.
"I can feel an elemental aura around her," Zafar answered.
"Now that you say that, I can sense a mystical energy around her too," Wanda said as she continued to get use dot her newfound powers.
"How do we do this without freaking her out? Just go right yup to her and have at it?" Lucy asked with a nervous chuckle.
"Not sure, but that's why I brought the kids. Thought it might help for her to see others like her and show our legitimacy," Wanda said as she studied the girl and then went wide eyed when she saw that her spoon was stirring her coffee on its own.
"Okay, let's," Mike began when a large bolt of lightening struck the Café causing the side of the shop to explode inwards sending everyone, including the red head to fly across the room in front of Wanda and her party.
"What was that?" Lucy asked as they all jumped to their feet.
"Check on the civilians and the girl. Sam, did you see what hit us from out there?" Wanda asked into her Hex-Com as she was now in her white robed Mistress X outfit as by magic, the rest of Salem-X were instantly changed into their costumes too.
"It's our blue demon buddies again and there are hundreds out here," Sam's voice came back and then cut out.
"Wanda, she's dead," Mike gasped as he removed a large piece of wall off of the red haired girl and checked her pulse.
"Master, the O'Brien Bloodline has now been ended," a blue demon cheered as it came through the whole in the wall.
"No!" Zafar screamed as he ran to the dead girl's side and held her causing Wanda to state in surprise and confusion at his reaction.
"There's a lot of wounded. Darklight, VivaMuerte, we need you here," Shaman said into the Hex-Com.
"I'll see if I can't," Mistress X began to say when a bolt of electricity hit her in the back sending her facedown into the ground.
"Master, Mistress X and her crew are here," the blue demon said as energy crackled around its blue fingers.
"Then kill them all, but bring me Agatha alive. I want what is rightfully mine. I want that Book of Shadows. The Book of the Coven will be mine!" A loud voice boomed from the clouds above.
"Incoming," Python said as dozens of blue demons came pouring into the Café, electricity crackling from their eyes and hands.
Young Avengers
The Pride – Part One
The Bishop Mansion – New Headquarters for the Young Avengers
"Are you sure you don't mind us using this place and hanging out here?" Patriot asked as he helped Iron Lad and Stature install the rest of the computer equipment.
"No, it's time to use this place as a resource for good," Archtress said she looked at Iron Lad's setup.
After seeing her father's message Kate had been ready to storm out and head to California. Cassie and Tamia were ready to back her but a force of reason hit them and calmed their adrenaline high. They decided that they had better talk to the boys and make a game plan. They couldn't go charging after these Pride murderers without knowing more about who they are, where they live and what they are about. After what they did to her father she knew they were no pushovers. Kate immediately called Iron Lad and told him everything and was a bit surprised that he didn't even flinch about the news about her mom or the rest of the guy's information she had divulged. All he did was agree that her mansion would be a much better headquarters.
At the late hour, Iron Lad, Speed and Patriot, who snuck out, were the only ones able to come over and quickly move all their stuff here. They had almost everything and decided to call it a night and would hold a meeting first thing the next day. When she went to bed she found it weird that A.J. had laid down by the computer and had inserted his fingers into it. He, with her permission, was going to take control of her computer system and merge it with his and his data base. In the morning when it was done he would install the rest of the computer system. Despite all that happened, the new HQ did add a little excitement and happiness back into her life.
"Sorry I couldn't get here sooner but it was hard getting away from my mom," Teddy said as he walked into the room with Tamia who had gone to let him in.
"Everyone's here but Billy. Where is he?" Kate asked as she looked around at everyone.
"Don't tell me he backed out of our team," Cassie said as she replaced a tile in the ceiling and shrunk back down.
"No, he's all for the Young Avengers. He couldn't talk long but some stuff has come up with Salem-X and had to go, but he really wanted to be here though," Teddy said with a soft sigh in his voice.
"There, security has been installed and updated. No ones getting in here without us knowing it," A.J. said with a smile.
"Which reminds me, you all are welcomed here and A.J. has created code keys to get you in. You can come and go or stay here if you like," Kate said as those like A.J. and Tommy had nowhere else to live.
"This is great," Teddy said looking at the code key with his picture on it.
"But, for security measures all guests should be cleared with all of us first," A.J. said.
"I agree. Especially if we are going to keep our identities secret from everyone," Cassie added.
"So we're going after the Pride?" Elijah asked as he cracked his knuckles.
"Yes, they are responsible for my parent's death and so much more," Kate said as she told them all she learned from her dad, minus the stuff about her teammates.
"Sounds like some real bad ones," Teddy swore.
"We should have left for L.A. hours ago," Elijah added.
"No, these are seasoned villains. If we go charging in without being prepared we're liable to all get killed," Kate said wanting so bad to rush out but felt in her bones that her sister was already gone and this mission was going to be a search and destroy and to do that they needed to have there stuff together.
"Have you found anything out on them?" Tamia asked.
"Yeah, with a little help from me A.J. was able to pull some information on the Pride. Very helpful to be from the future," Cassie said as they all turned to look at A.J.
"I guess," A.J. said with a slight blush. "I did all my searching from our old base. My tech is advanced but they have some good safeguards so I didn't want to take a chance of them being alerted and then tracking me down. If they did, it would lead them to our old base. Now I've also made sure all bugs were cleared from here. We are truly safe and secure here, but it won't be long before they come for Derek's daughter."
"Which is why we need to go and strike at them first and bring them down," Tamia said.
"We will, first I want to see what A.J. has got," Kate said as she nodded for him to continue.
"Okay, from what I've gathered, and I didn't have much from my future database since the Pride no longer existed in my time, is an elite circle of six couples," A.J. said as he activated the computer system and a holographic projection appeared in the middle of the table they had all sat down at.
"These are the Wilders, Geoffrey and Catherine. They are the ring leaders of the Pride and are very power crime bosses posing as very successful business people. They are involved in everything from illegal drug trading, gambling you name it. They have very powerful and strong connections and are very deadly if crossed," A.J. said as the images of the African American couple appeared before them all.
"They are the ones that killed my parents," Kate said through gritted teeth and tears.
"These are the Yorkes, Dale and Stacey. They are antique dealers and have their own shop. That is just their cover up for their real occupation, time travelers. I know this from my own future databases. Even though the Pride doesn't exist in my time, the Yorkes have setup shop there before on a visit. It appears they travel and visit all periods of time and who knows what kind of gadgets or weapons they may have," A.J. said about the images of two couples wearing old fashion pilot outfits and goggles on their heads.
"If they travel in time, then won't they know were coming?" Teddy asked.
"It's hard to say. There is a chance that with me being form the future I cast an aura about us that keeps them from knowing the future or it's possible since the Pride don't exist in the future, they know of their demise and either choose or can't reveal that," A.J. said.
"Well, I'm banking that they don't see us coming, but if they do, who cares. Either way we go in prepared to fight and take them down," Tamia said as Kate nodded and A.J. changed the images.
"These are the Deans, Frank and Leslie. They are both Hollywood actors and have never gotten into any trouble. I have done an extensive background check, bypassing a lot of cover ups and found that they don't exist. Who ever they are, they've assumed these false identities and covered up their true identities and past. This could make them dangerous since we don't know what they are capable of and if they are members of the Pride, they've got to have something to contribute," A.J. said of the beautiful couple.
"I don't believe it. She was on General Hospital. Who knew that the villain on the show was a master villain in real life," Cassie said.
"These are the Steins, Victor and Janet. They are world-renown brilliant inventers. They are nowhere in league with Tony Stark or Reed Richards and such, but they are up there. We have to assume that a lot of the Pride's money, weapons and security will be from them. With them alone we could have our hands full. Anything thing or item could be a trap or weapon thanks to them. Now the last two couples really make me nervous.
"These are the Minorus, Robert and Tina. They appear to be normal church-going people. Nothing else on the surface, but thanks to Billy, he was able to get me some info last night. I had him use the Hex-System to see if we had anything supernatural to worry about. Seems there is a red flag with the Minorus. From the readings he got we have to assume they are magic users or some level of dark wizards. The fact we don't have our Wiccan going into this battle leaves me a bit nervous, but I think we can still do this if we take them out first.
"The last couple is the Hayes, Gene and Alice. They are posing as a doctor and a speech therapist. I would say they are normal but I have future knowledge on them. They have a daughter who ends up being the leader of a group of X-Men when she becomes an adult. Knowing that their daughter is a mutant we have to assume the Hayes are as well. The fact that they are members of the Pride makes me bet that what ever powers they have they are dangerous ones," A.J. said as the last couple appeared before them.
"So, the Hayes must survive at some point to have a child. At least she turns out to be good," Teddy said.
"Actually, I was about to get to that last bit of Intel. Their daughter had already been born and is the youngest of the Pride's children," A.J. said.
"You mean these monsters have kids? How old? Do they know about their parents?" Everyone started throwing out questions.
"Yes, each couple has one kid. Molly Hayes is eleven and is a confirmed mutant. The rest of the kids are in their mid teens and in high school. Alex Wilder is a classed as a prodigy and brilliant student. Minoru's daughter Nico has to be placed under the assumption that if her parents are dark wizards than she has the ability as well. Karolina Dean, Chase Stein and Gertrude Yorkes appear to be very normal teens, but we can't assume they are. The other thing is I have no idea if they know about their parents or if they do and are apart of the Pride. We will have to approach them with as much caution as we do with their parents," A.J. said as he finished his presentation on the Pride.
"Now, we don't know where their secret base is but we did manage to get the address where each couple live in their civilian lives. Are best bet is to go to L.A. and start at one of the houses," Cassie said.
"Where do we go first?" Tamia asked.
"I say we start with the Yorkes, Steins or Deans. They appear to be human and on the lower level of the totem," Elijah said.
"I agree, no point going right for the mutants, wizards or powerful crime boss leaders right off the bat. I say are best bet is the Yorkes. The Steins may have deadly traps with their inventions and we could get information on the Deans from the Yorkes," Kate said.
"I think taking out the time travelers first is a good start," A.J. said.
"It's settled then. Anything else we should know before we go over our strategy and game plan?" Elijah asked.
"No, Kate?" A.J. asked looking over at the girl in purple.
"No, nothing at this time," Kate answered deciding that since this mission was dangerous and needed all of their attention and focus, she would tell the boys what she learned about their parentage after this.
"Alright, Los Angeles here we come," Teddy cheered as they prepared to visit California and the Pride.
Next: Issue #35 – Rebirth of the Coven – Part Two & Young Avengers: The Pride – Part Two