Introduction

Introduction


The lights begin to build up around the torch. It really is now or never. The winds are beginning to swirl around at an amazing pace, as though a tornado has set down in Lady Liberty's head. At the center of this whirlwind stands Ororo Munroe, commonly called Storm to her friends.

To her left, clinging to the wall stands Scott Summers, the mutant Cyclops, and field commander of the X-Men. Directly in front of her is the resilient and sometimes berserk Wolverine. And finally, on her right, is Jean Grey, the teams resident Doctor and telekinetic.

They have gathered here to save the life of one of there own, the mutant named Rogue, and to stop their deadliest foe, Magneto, from killing millions of innocent people.

As the winds begin to lift Wolverine into the Sky, Jean raises one hand to guide her power as she steadies Wolverine on his ascent. Within moments, Wolvie has landed and is prepared to release Rogue from the machine that could not only destroy herself, but the millions of people below. Seeing as how Wolverine's skeleton is laced with the metal adamantium, and Magneto can control Metals, they have seemingly cancelled each other out. The outcome of this battle now depends on the remaining three X-men below.

Realizing that they must act now, Cyclops reaches upwards to his visor, preparing to move the small lever that will release his concussive optic blasts.

"Scott!" Jean quickly intercedes. "Wait!"

The radiation begins to spread farther towards Ellis Island and on into New York City. On the Torch, caught in the machine, a strip of Rogues hair grows white. The machine is straining her too much to where her body is beginning to alter with it. Wolverine is able to move his claws closer to the machine's rings, but not close enough to stop it.

"Jean, I have to!" Scott shouts over the humming of the machine. He is determined to stop this threat before it is too late.

"Just wait!" Jean Replies. Although time is running out, Jean cannot help but hope this lasts longer than it has to. And she does not know why.

"I have a shot." Cyclops announces. "I'm taking it."

Jean looks at her fiance and then Stares back at the torch. That torch. Why does it's radiation attract her so?

With a short and steady flow of energy from his eyes, Cyclops is able to stun Magneto, releasing his grasp on Wolverine. Now free of Magneto's hold, Wolverine's claws strike hard at the spinning rings of Magneto's machine. The machine is obliterated and across the ocean you can see the bright white light of Radiation dissapear with it.

It is at that moment Jean Grey feels a very sharp and cold chill run down her body, leaving a warm numbness to her mind. She quivers with the wave and catches her breath. What has happened to her?