Sensational X-Men

Issue #54 – The Search – Part Four

Starship Lifeguard

"Both teams have crossed out of range. I can detect if their ships are destroyed, other than that the only contact I have is sending and receiving long range messages," Lifeguard said as her brother sat staring at the screen showing the dark and starry depths of outer space.

"I just can't wait till we find and accomplish what we are here for and get back home," Slipstream said as the monitors continued to show no activity around them.

"You don't like our company?" Sage asked as she stared at her monitor and continuously watched and ran scans.

"You," Slipstream began to say and then slumped over.

"Davis?" Lifeguard called out as Sage turned around and then fell to the ground as well.

"Don't worry, they are not hurt anymore than this will," a figure said stepping into the room and then shot a cord into one of the computer drives.

Recreation Room

"Not easy being related to the most popular mutants on Earth?" Adam Neramani, the mutant also known as Adam-X or X-Treme asked as he stepped up to a girl who was sitting on the edge of the pool staring at a holo-photo of her brother Iceman and the original X-Men and one of her and her team of X-Men.

"I thought it would be a great reunion, but I just can't emotionally connect with any of my family. All I know and feel is with my friends," Barbara Drake the mutant known as Petra signed.

"I know what you mean. Even though they are my brothers and we share the same parents, since I was harvested and genetically aged by aliens, they still act like I'm a stranger. Heck, they accepted Cannonball and that clone Ruby as family aster than they do me," Adam said as he sat next to her, slightly touching her hand with his fingers.

"You two quit your whining," Avalanche said as he stared at a holographic chess board.

"I don't see why you keep playing against Sage, she always beats you and while doing a hundred other things at the same time," Colossus said with a laughed as he walked past the evil mutant turned X-Man.

"It's because he is in love," Jam'se, Scott's alien wife known as Red commented as she played with their son Je'se in the shallow end of the pool.

"Leave me alone," Avalanche grunted as he stared at the board not liking that Cyclops's wife had become familiar enough that she hung out and chatted as if she was friends with all of them.

"Something's not right," Alison Blair, the mutant once known as Dazzler but going by Spark suddenly said.

"What do you mean?" Colossus asked as Mammomax and Krakoa began to look around frantically.

"Sage, are you there?" Avalanche called out when the lights suddenly went out as the emergency lights kicked in.

"Down!" Adam screamed as he hit Petra pulling her into the pool seconds before something whizzed past them, missing them barely.

"What was that?" Petra asked as they came to the surface to see everyone in the room laying unconscious except Ruby and her child who had moved up next to them and Spark who was nowhere to be seen.

"You, have you come in search of me?" Ruby asked as they saw a woman with red skin, short buzzed blue hair and armor, tech and circuitry attached all over her body.

"No, my dear sister, you are not who we seek," the woman said as she stepped aside allowing another figure to enter the room.

"It is I. Greetings, Zekk," Spark said as she dropped from the ceiling landing between the two parties.

"Yes, my dear, I have come and this time I will not leave without you," Zekk said as flexed out in his new body and launched himself at Spark and the remaining X-Men standing.

Deep Space – X-Men Strike Team

"How do you think they are doing?" Loa asked looking at Spirit, the only other member of the crew that wasn't battling the Others, well except for one other sitting in the pilot's chair.

All are alive but it's not an easy battle. Since there are no minds to attack, I am useless out there so I know how you both are felling, Lilandro's voice popped into both their heads.

"Well, I'm tired of sitting here. With my powers I can do more damage out there," Loa said as she ran out of the ship.

Stop! Lilandro said as Spirit took a deep breath and ran out after Loa.

The two stopped for a brief moment as they stepped out of the ship and onto the docking area of the Other's ship. There were cybernetic demons swarming everywhere and they couldn't even see their fellow comrades until Lilandro was suddenly in their heads and linking them with the other X-Men. Corsair and Havok fighting back to back while Cain and Shaw bulldozed though the enemy. Wolverine, Archangel and Shirubá-Shi slicing through their prey as best as they could as Darwin and Polaris used their powers to destroy as many as they could. As well as everyone was doing, they could feel them becoming overwhelmed.

"If only there was a way to bring this ship down," Loa suggested.

There is. Scans show a central power core towards the middle rear of the ship. If Loa could reach it, pass through it with her powers she could make this whole ship blow.

"Sounds great, but how will she make it back to the ship in time?" Spirit asked knowing Loa didn't move at a super speed in her intangible form and even if she did, she can't hold that form for a very long time.

"It doesn't matter. If I don't do this, then we are all lost," Loa said with a gulp knowing this was her time to show she had what it took to be a hero.

No, I will not allow it, came a few voices, Corsair and Wolverine's the strongest.

It's not their decision, Shaw said into his granddaughter's head.

"I will go with you," Spirit said squeezing her hand.

With the guidance of Lilandro they had made it to the ship's core. Between Loa using her powers and Spirit taking his spirit form they were untouchable. Loa first passed through a machine that caused it to crumble and blow up which cut the power of the ship and turned off the tractor beam holding their ship. At this moment Lilandro was instructing the X-Men back to their ship, which made it easy since suddenly all the Others were being directed to swarm the area Loa and Spirit were in. Lilandro said they had to hurry so Loa used her powers and passed through the core and screamed.

"Are you okay?" Spirit asked as he went solid.

"Some kind of energy in the core, it actually made me feel pain when I went through it but I'm okay," Loa said as she got to her feet and saw the core crumbling in on itself and the ship shaking ready to blow.

You guys need to go. I am not only reading critically energy from your location but all the X-Men have made it back on the ship and almost all the Others are about to crash in on your location.

"Loa, what's wrong?" Spirit asked looking at her as the first of the swarm of Others entered the room.

"The core, did something to me. I can't become intangible. Spirit, go without me," Loa said as the core began to erupt.

We will not leave you, Shaw suddenly boomed in their heads.

"You have no choice," Loa said with a tear knowing she had saved everyone's lives.

"Lilandro, go now. There's no time. I will stay with her. Tell my brothers and my friends good-bye for me," Spirit said as he placed his arms around Loa.

No! Screamed Can Marko as Lilandro sent their ship at great speed out of the Other's ship and getting their distance before the Other's ship exploded.

"Thank you," Loa whispered to Spirit as he closed his eyes with force and held her tight just as core exploded obliterating the entire ship and every single Other on board.

X-Men – Rescue Team

Planet Ecrub

"Here is your meal," a pig like guard said walking into the room with a large tray with a bunch of slop on it.

"Like I would eat that, crap," Mystique spat in the guard's face.

"I don't care, you die," the guard said as he threw down the tray and moved at the old lady as the other two guards rushed into the cell as well.

"I wouldn't do that," both Forge and Creed said at the same time.

"Oh and why is that?" the guard said as he turned to look at the two men hanging off to the side.

"Because I'll kill you," Mystique said as her legs came up, wrapped around the guard's neck and with all the strength she had left she snapped his neck.

"Kill her," the guard by Creed said as he began to move but was surprised when a large snap went off and he turned to see Creed had brown and nearly tore off his own hands to free himself.

"I love pig," Creed growled as leapt onto the guard.

"They are," the last guard began to say when a blast hit him in the head killing him.

"A master thief is never locked up for long," Gambit smiled as he held the smoking blaster he had picked up from the guard Mystique had killed.

"Then what are you waiting for?" Cyclops spat as Creed stood up over the lifeless guard, blood dripping from his teeth.

"Calm down, daddy-o," Gambit said as he quickly freed the rest of the team from their chains.

"Okay, now to get our powers back," Forge said as he took the devise off his forehead.

"How?" Beast asked when nothing happened.

"When I came to, I hadn't been depowered. So I quickly used what I had and created a devise and placed it on my temples so when they put the band on my head and powered up it actually shorted itself out. Now I can use this and wala," Forge said as he hit a button causing the bands on all the rest of their heads to short out and allow them to pull them off.

Instantly the changes took place as all their powers flowed back. Iceman frosted over while Mystique became, young, hot and blue again. Beast remained the same as his he no longer had a physical mutation anymore as well as Mona and Banshee. Stacy-X became scaly again as Cyclops and Gambits eyes began to glow again. Rogue's skin turned blue like her mother while Creed growled as he healed and became his more Sabretooth looking form. They were all back and ready for action.

"We have to find Gabriel before he kills him," Cyclops said.

"I don't' care about your brother. I need to find N'Lea," Creed growled as he sniffed the air and got her scent.

"We can't waste our time on your newest mate. We need to get out of this place and find my babies," Mystique said as she picked up a blaster from another guard and looked it over.

"Sorry, I agree with Creed. They may not be X-Men but Wingblade and Animala have proven themselves to this team and we cannot leave them behind," Beast said as he had truly developed feelings for the green haired cat-like alien queen.

"Then we split up. A team will recover our missing teammates while the other goes and rescues my brother," Cyclops declared.

"I plan on finding a ride off this planet," Mystique said staring at everyone.

"I will go with her and make sure we find a way off for all of us," Rogue said.

"If we be stealing a ride then you will need my help," Gambit said with a wink as the three took off out of the room shortly followed by Forge who said it was to help with the ship if they found one, but he knew what it was really about.

"Banshee, go with Beast and Creed. Mona and Stacy-X will go with me and Bobby," Cyclops said as they split and went their separate ways.


X-Calibur

New Day

Braddock Manor – Home and Headquarters to X-Calibur

"No way is she allowed to stay here," Betsey the mutant known as Psylocke said slamming her fist down on her desk.

"She is Kurt's daughter," Brian the mutant known as Captain Britain responded back, looking at his sister.

"She arranged the kidnapping of an X-Calibur member as well as helping the bad guy invade our home and try and take over our Country. How can you let her stay here?" Betsy asked getting angrier.

"She's a girl from another time who had trouble dealing with the loss and complications of her parents. She hasn't even raised a fuss about the magic cell constructed for her in the mansion," Brian said referring to a cell that looked like a normal bedroom but was magically sealed thanks to Amanda.

"Yeah, looking the other way always does family good in the end," Betsy said lowering her voice.

"Leave Jamie out of this," Brian began to say getting angry when a knock on the door caused them both to go quiet.

"Hey, hate to interrupt but everyone has gathered in the conference room," Kitty Pride the mutant known as Shadowcat said popping her head through the door.

"We're coming," Betsy said as she headed for the door where Kitty's head slid back out from it.

"Betsy," Brian called after but she was long gone.

Conference Room

"Boy, does this team always go through this many reconstruction of the team meetings?" Yuriko whispered to Benedict just as the Braddock siblings walked into the room.

"Sorry to hold everyone up but we had some things to discuss," Psylocke said as she and her brother took their seats.

"I know it's about Margali but there is good in her," Kurt pleaded right away.

"It's true, we've come from such a hard life," Curtis added feeling the guilt of always defending his half-sister no matter watch she does.

"Before I say anything, Cerise?" Brian asked looking at the woman who had been abducted.

"I can't forget what she did, but I understand where she is coming from and for Kurt's sake, I can forgive," was all Cerise would say.

"I don't think it is wise but its Brian's team and he has to deal with the consequences," Betsy said.

"Betsey, don't be that way. This is not just my team," Brian said looking at his sister.

"Now wait a minute, Betsy you of all people have no room to talk," Kurt said getting angry as Yuriko began to stand to defend her best friend.

"Enough!" Sunfire suddenly shouted causing everyone to hush up and then nodded to his wife.

"This is a mute point really. Yes, Brian this is your team and I had only took it over in your memory but now that you are back I am leaving," Betsy declared.

"Betsy," Brian began feeling hurt.

"No, this had nothing to do with Kurt's kids. I just got married and me and my husband are due for a honeymoon and little vacation. Shiro's sister was supposed to come here and visit but she got held up so instead she is going to meet us back in Japan were we will spend our honeymoon," Betsy declared.

"You will come back?" Meggan asked looking over to Betsy asking a different question than what she was thinking.

"We need some time away, but yet we will come back to visit you and Drake," Betsy said with a smile answering the true question and making Meggan beam with joy.

"Thank you," Meggan clapped as Brian smiled at his sister as well.

"Don't worry I trust you, plus Yukio will be here to keep an eye out," Betsy said as she and Sunfire got to their feet.

"You're leaving now?" Brian asked as his sister nodded, said her good-byes and she and her husband left the room.

"Let it go, she'll be back," Meggan said placing a hand on his shoulder as she picked up Drake and went to say one more good-bye to her sister-in-law since she was not returning as an active member of the team.

"You okay, Brian?" Kitty asked looking over and her friend.

"I am fine. Now, back to business, X-Calibur, I am still sticking with the magical number that Roma gave me in the beginning, ten active members. I need to determine everyone's intentions. Of course Meggan will remain non-active to care for Drake," Brian said getting the meeting back on track and pushing thoughts of his sister to the back of his mind.

"Pete has left to return to MI-13 but if it's okay, I am ready to return to active duty," Rachel said knowing she will never get over the death of her son, but being a part of this team will help as a distraction.

"Of course Rachael, were happy to have you back," Kitty said with a smile and was glad to see she got one back.

"We have, myself, Rachael, Kitty and Yukio down as confirmed members. What about the rest of you?" Brian asked looking around the table at the others seated.

"Amanda has left to tend to matters with her Limbo and the White Coven she is part of now, but has agreed to an active role in watching out for and communicating with our daughter to help her heal," Kurt said as he thought of his daughter in her "cell".

"Kurt, I already said she could stay here but even though she can't be a full member of this team yet, you are still wanted on this team," Brian said.

"I know Amanda put some magical safeguards and Lockheed will be keeping an eye out magically as well, but I think my time will be better served taking a non-active role with this team and remain at the mansion working on my relationship with Margali," Kurt said with a heavy sigh that they all felt.

"And I will be leaving as to not add a reminder of her hate of what happened on her world. My son will be coming with me so I can show him where he came from and help train him better in his abilities," Cerise said as Kurt hated for his son to go but he knew he needed to bond with his mom as much as Margali had to with him, plus he knew deep down after what just happened he needed space form his sister for awhile.

"But if you need us we will be easily reachable," Purple Fury said excited not only to be with his mom again but a chance to go into space.

"I wish you the best," Kitty said giving Cerise a hug before she, Curtis and Kurt left the room to have their private good-byes.

"I am remaining on the team," was all Cat said and refusing to acknowledge her mom's smile.

"We are happy to have you as well and glad to officially welcome Molly back to the team," Brian said as everyone clapped for Shamrock.

"I have also agreed to stay if you will have me," Emerald Dragon said as he squeezed Yukio's hand under the table.

"If it's okay, I will like to take my brother's place on your team. Not only do I want a chance to prove myself but with the secondary mutation due to what happened to me you would have a teleporter of sorts as well back on the team," Nils Styger, the mutant known as Abyss spoke up.

"Your brother's already spoken on your behalf and we had already planned on it," Kitty said with a smile as Brian nodded in agreement.

"What about the last two spots, there is no one left?" Shamrock asked as she only counted eight of them in the room.

"Actually, I anticipated we would be at least one down so on a recommendation of my friend Sabra, I would like to introduce to you all and welcome Navid Hashim codename Seraph to the team," Brian said as they all turned to see a figure walking into the room.

The man was wearing the X-Calibur inspired outfit of black boots, gloves and belt with the sword through an X on it. He didn't wear the jacket as they had all recently vetoed that wardrobe choice. His pants, sleeves and the neck part of his mask were black as well. He wore silver armband that matched the silver torso part of his outfit and silver mask that covered his face from the nose up leaving is black, wavy shoulder length hair and his mouth with thin goatee exposed. The symbol in the middle of his chest was a strange red energy blast pattern. He looked to be about Cat's age. Everyone greeted him as he nodded. Rachel and Kitty glanced at Brian realizing he knew more about this new member and he would fess up later.

"What about the tenth spot?" Rachel asked.

"I wasn't going to allow this but since we do have an open spot, welcome back to the team, Micromaxx," Captain Britain said as they all turned to see their teammate that had died during Demon Storm walk in wearing the same costume he had originally worn except for the black boots, gloves and X-Calibur belt.

Next: Issue #55 – The Search – Part Five & X-Calibur: Court of Oz – Part One

Authors Note: Check out Avengers Inc: The Doominators Issue 1 posted now. Out of the pages of Avengers Inc and introduced in Avengers Inc #7, The Doominators is a mini-series that not only serves as an origin of Dr. Doom's newly created team of villains from heroes but serves as a prologue to my title wide crossover happening next year: THE ACTS OF DOOM. Check it out and enjoy!