OUT OF THE DEEP
"Open the Hatch!" Storm yelled.
She stepped out onto the roof of the blackbird and lifted her head skyward. With her hand pointed outward and her eyes closed the wind started blowing through her hair. She truly looked like a goddess as she commanded the winds. The water continued to rush into the depths of the ocean floor but Storm created a back draft behind Wolverine and Colossus. They were able to maneuver their Jet Skis out of harms way, barely escaping their doom.
Then the unexpected happened. Something shot out of the water high into the air. The object resembled a large land mass several miles in diameter. A giant geyser of water followed.
"Nightcrawler, how much time do you estimate before that thing lands?" Storm asked.
"According to the calculations here, we've got 5 minutes"
"Get us out of here fast!"
Nightcrawler took the Blackbird to what they hoped would be a safe distance. Storm told Wolverine and Colossus to meet them.
"I could blast the thing out of the sky" Sunfire said.
"With something that size I don't think it would help" Storm replied. "The parts would scatter to a wider range when they broke up."
They all sat in dead silence on the black bird. The only sounds onboard were the beeps of the instrument panels as the X-men silently counted the minutes.
"How much time do we have, Kurt?"
"Two minutes until impact, Storm"
"Ok, Polaris and Phoenix, you're with me up top"
Once up top Storm said, "Polaris, use your powers of magnetism to try to slow the descent of the object as much as possible and I'll try to create an undercurrent of wind to help. Jean see how much you can telekinetically slow it."
"I'm trying Storm. This thing is enormous. Its taking all I've got"
They were able to slow the descent but not enough. To say the impact was devastating would be an understatement. The X-men watched from the blackbird.
"Oh my God," Banshee exclaimed. "A tidal wave that size would surely wipe out Hawaii and could possibly make it to California!"
"Or Japan" Sunfire added with a feeling of dismay as he saw the water rise from all directions.
Storm and Polaris stayed topside fighting the resulting effects. Polaris, trying to control the pull of the tides and Storm trying to control the destructive wind currents brewing. For two long hours they fought the raging ocean and winds. An hour and forty-five minutes in, Polaris collapsed. Colossus went topside and took her down below.
"I couldn't go any longer…I gave it all I could," Polaris said through hyperventilating breaths.
"Its ok, we know you did your best", Peter said.
Storm lasted fifteen more minutes before her legs started to give out from under her. She was forced to go below as well.
"I think we downgraded it to Gale force winds," Storm said breathing heavily. "We'll have to wait it out from here but I don't think any nearby populaces will suffer from it."
The X-men waited three long hours before they decided it was safe enough to go out. The tides were still rough but not enough to pose any danger.
"Ok, change of plans. Archangel, I need you to fly out there with Wolverine and find out what that thing is that shot out of the ocean. Take the DNA testing equipment with you as well. Turn back if you see anything out of the ordinary. Sunfire, fly with them and cover them in case anything happens. "
The object was approximately 15 miles from the blackbird. When they reached their destination it was no smaller than an island.
"Storm, I don't need any DNA equipment to know what this is," Wolverine said, "This is the spitting image of Krakoa. I'm guessing it's another one of its offspring. It's also dead as a doornail. Whatever killed it, did a real number on it."
"Warren, get some DNA samples anyway. We'll need to analyze it." Storm said.
"I'm already there Storm. This thing is nothing more than a hunk of mud now"
"Do you two see anything out there?"
"Not a thing"
"Ok lets form an aerial search. Polaris do you feel well enough to join us?"
"Yes, I think I can make it. I might not be up to full power but I'll do my best"
"I know how you feel, I'm still feeling weak myself. Colossus, stay here with Nightcrawler. Just like before, you two are to evacuate if we don't return within the hour. Banshee you'll be the point man. Archangel, you Wolverine and Sunfire can rendezvous with us in the air."
Banshee led the aerial recon using his sonic scream to take him airborne. Iceman, not too far behind on his ice slide turned to Jean and said, "Damn, I forgot to bring my ear plugs"
"I know what you mean. I don't think I'll ever get used to Banshee's sonic scream." The sound of the scream echoing off the waters didn't do much to help her uneasy feeling. What was even more eerie was when the scream cut off suddenly.
Banshee suddenly found himself choking. A large tentacle had shot up out of the water and wrapped itself around his neck effectively cutting off his scream. Just as suddenly, he was yanked under water.
Jean saw this unfold in front of her eyes. She screamed, "BANSHEE!!"
Storm flew up and said, "What happened?!"
Jean said, "I don't know, something just pulled Banshee under"
Storm's mind was rushing. How can they get Banshee without endangering anyone else? "Ok everyone stay put!" Storm said.
Wolverine, Archangel and Sunfire were almost at the rendezvous point when they saw Banshee get pulled under and Storm telling everyone to stay put.
"Archangel, fly me over to where Banshee got pulled under and drop me in the water," Wolverine said.
"But…."
"JUST DO IT, MAN!"
Storm saw Archangel swoop in and drop Wolverine in the water.
"WOLVERINE!! Damn It!!" Storm exclaimed. She was trying to figure a way to rescue Banshee, now she had two men under.
"Jean, do you have telepathic contact with Banshee?" Storm asked.
"Yes, but he's in a state of panic."
"Can you telekinetically get a lock on him?"
"I can't pull him without the risk of strangling him more."
"Can you move the creature that has a hold on him?"
"No, it won't budge"
Wolverine swam underwater towards Banshee who was being pulled down further towards a large hole. With claws drawn, Wolverine started hacking at the thick tentacle that was holding Banshee. He was making progress but it was taking too long to get through its thickness. He had one last hope. The thinnest part of the tentacle was around Banshee's neck.
Banshee was struggling madly. He was losing air. A lot of bubbles were escaping his mouth in his struggle. What was taking Wolverine so long to get through this thing?! Wolverine swam up to Banshee with his claws pointing towards his head. 'Dear God, he's just going to put me out of my misery,' Banshee thought. Wolverine slashed at the tentacle around Banshee's neck. It was a close cut but he was free. They both tried to swim to the surface but a current was sucking them down into the hole. Neither one of them could fight the pull. Wolverine looked down the hole and sensed that it spelled certain death.
"I've got them, finally!" Jean shouted. "They've been released from the creature and I have a telekinetic lock on them. I'm pulling them up."
Jean pulled Wolverine and Banshee out of the water. Banshee was coughing violently.
"That was a close one Jeannie," Wolverine said. "Real close."
"What are we dealing with Wolverine?" Storm asked.
"I don't know. I've never seen anything like it."
"Archangel, take Banshee to a safe distance from here." The water started erupting underneath them and Storm saw many tentacles coming to the surface.
"X-MEN TAKE EVASIVE ACTION NOW!!"
The X-men retreated closer to the Blackbird. They looked back and stared in horror at what was coming up out of the ocean. The creature resembled an enormous worm. It had no eyes. Many tentacles surrounded a huge mouth. The creature must have been at least a mile wide and many miles long as it rose up out of the water. Even from a 5 mile distance the creature loomed over them.
"Kurt, do you have Xavier on the Com?" Storm asked frantically.
"I'm here Storm, I'm monitoring you telepathically but it's a bit of a strain at this distance. The creature has tremendous mutant power. I'm not sure what the extent of the power is. I have determined that there is a power source at this locale that is causing accelerated mutant growths. This would explain the previous incarnations of Krakoa. This creature MUST be destroyed."
'How can we destroy something this size?' Storm thought.
"Allow me Storm. I've always wanted to cut loose and see the extent of my powers. I think it's time to put this thing on ice." Iceman said.
"Go ahead, Bobby"
Iceman skated as close as he felt he could possibly get to the monster. He needed to be in range to use his powers. Everyone watched, holding their breath, fearing that Iceman was too close. Just as the creature was veering down to attack him, Iceman released his mutant power. A full powered jet of ice shot from Iceman's outstretched hands. The blast seemed to take the creature by surprise as it got hit full force in the head. It didn't appear to do damage but it slowed the monster enough for Iceman to continue his blast. The speed at which he iced the creature over was amazing. The creature would tremor a little but appeared to be in shock. Within half an hour, Iceman had the creature encased completely in ice. It looked like a giant ice sculpture coming out of the sea.
Bobby approached the X-men. "Now that wasn't too bad," he said with a grin. "Whew that wore me out!"
"That thing must be anchored to the sea floor. It still won't budge," Jean said. "Not that I would be able to move anything that large but I should be able to feel something give."
No sooner than she had said that they heard a loud cracking sound. Cracks started forming in the great ice block and the whole structure was shaking.
"Shit! The thing's breaking loose!" Wolverine exclaimed.
There was an explosion of ice. Millions of shards of ice of various sizes came flying at the X-men.
"Jean we need some protection!!" Storm yelled.
"Everyone behind me" Jean said as she put up a telekinetic shield to protect the X-men. "There's too many and the shards are coming too fast!" she cried.
One shard broke through Jean's barrier and cut into Polaris' face. She screamed in pain as blood poured from the wound. A larger knife-like shard was sticking out of Wolverine's chest. All of the X-men were getting sand blasted by particles getting through. Iceman put up an ice wall to help reinforce Jean's shield. The X-men nervously watched the ice wall crack and splinter with the impacts. Finally there was silence.
"Is everyone ok? Wolverine, it looks like you and Polaris got the worst of it." Storm said.
"My Healing factor's already kicking in." Wolverine replied.
"I've got a nasty gash under my eye but I think I'll be alright," Polaris said through stinging tears.
The creature started to advance on the X-men. Storm, Sunfire, Polaris, Phoenix and Iceman all fired at the creature in unison at full power. Lightning, Plasma, Magnetic pulses, Telekinetic blasts and Ice pummeled the monster. Banshee had recovered from his near drowning incident and added his Sonic Scream to the melee.
Nightcrawler was watching everything unfold from the blackbird.
"Storm, we're coming in for assistance," Nightcrawler said through Jean's telepathic rapport.
"Thanks Kurt, we need all the help we can get."
"Well, Colossus, I think it's time we tried out this brand new weapons array that Forge installed on the Blackbird." Nightcrawler said.
Kurt flew the blackbird within range. The X-men were slowing the creature down but didn't appear to be doing much damage.
"Colossus, I'm going to make a sweep. Fire full powered lasers when we're within range"
The lasers hardly scratched the creature. The blackbird made one more pass and Colossus launched torpedoes right down the gaping maw. The monster lurched a little and let out what appeared to be a huge belch but was still unharmed.
"Storm, the Blackbird's weapons don't seem to be effecting it," Nightcrawler stated.
The X-men were running out of hope. They seemed powerless against this atrocity.
Storm was blasting all the lightning she could at the giant worm but the creature was still advancing. She saw something hovering up above in the sky and she screamed, "NO!!!"
A helicopter was flying up above with a cameraman dangling out trying to get footage of the epic battle. The monster turned its attention towards the helicopter and prepared to attack it. Archangel flew towards the helicopter which seemed oblivious to the oncoming attack.
Storm noticed that one of the X-men had bailed out of the attack. They were missing Sunfire's power signature.
"Sunfire we need you!"
She looked over at him. He had his eyes closed and was facing the sun. He was almost glowing. He appeared to be powering up just like Havok used to.
"Sunfire what are you doing?"
"Forgive me Storm. This is the only way."
"NO!!! Don't do it Sunfire! COME BACK….SUNFIRE!!!"
Sunfire flew towards the creature.
Archangel flew inside the helicopter and grabbed the controls.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing?" screamed the pilot.
"Saving your ass, that's what!" Archangel shouted as he steered the helicopter away from a swipe from the creature's tentacles. A swipe that would have destroyed the helicopter.
Sunfire absorbed as much energy as he could from the Sun. He felt like he was going to explode. When he had powered up as much as he possibly could he flew directly towards the creature's mouth. He felt like he was melting from the inside out. With a tear in his eye he spoke his last words, "I love you Akiko." He entered the creature's gaping maw.
Storm was flying after Sunfire when Banshee intercepted her and held her.
"Let me go!" Storm shrieked.
"Storm don't let his sacrifice be in vain!"
"Not on my watch! I'm not losing anyone!" Then she broke down and cried. "Not on my watch…"
"Storm, we have to get out of here!"
"Let's go," she said, shaking with anger.
The explosion was greater than an atomic bomb. Possibly, one of the greatest explosions ever to occur on earth. The creature split apart and fell into the ocean. Without a doubt, it was finally defeated.
All was quiet back on the blackbird. The only sound was the instrument panels and the sound of Lorna softly crying with her head in her hands. Colossus had his arms around her trying to comfort her. Everyone sat in stunned silence. Most with tears brimming their eyes.
Storm contacted Xavier. She cleared her throat and tried to keep her voice from shaking.
"The creature was defeated and we secured the area. We took action to ensure that this type of mutation doesn't form again. Iceman and I created a winter storm around the affected area. Polaris manipulated the magnetosphere and has permanently contained the storm. There shouldn't be anymore unusual mutant growths. The zone is quarantined. Nine X-men are returning home. We had just one casualty…"
Akiko sat by the phone waiting anxiously for the man she loved to call. She couldn't wait to tell him the good news. The phone rang and she answered it before the first ring completed.
"Hello…oh hi Professor…may I speak to Shiro, is he there? ...ok…yes…yes I'm sitting down… what's wrong? ………….y-yes I'm s-still h-here"
Akiko started to cry. "I'm sorry too," she said.
Her voice cracked and she couldn't speak anymore. She hung up the phone. The tears fell freely from her face. Her world just crumbled. She never knew what devastation was until this moment. She held her belly, which started hurting. She thought about the child that was growing inside her. The child that would never know its father…
The next day, Japan mourned the loss of their hero.
End
Brian Ritchie
2001
All Parallel X-men issues are located at:
http://members.aol.com/parallelxmen/parallelx.html
For more information on the mutant known as Sunfire check these publications:.
Giant Sized X-men #1
Uncanny X-men #94, 118-119, 181, 284-287, 377-379
X-men 93-98
Alpha Flight (2nd series) #1-9, 12-13
Sunfire and Big Hero Six #1-3