Sorry my comp is being Carried as we speak. Disclamer: I did'n write this my friend Leo did but I'll pass on the comments. Marvel owns the X-souls we make like no money and I am a VERY disgruntled McD's worker so NUFF Said!!!
Ripped from the Comics...
Classic X-Men
#3- The Brotherhood Strikes
************************************************************************
Previously in 'House of Malice- Part II': All of the
captured X-Men were in the Main
Control Room of the Hellfire Club, Where malice
revealed her evil plans. She began to
absorb the Phoenix from Jean Grey-Summers, when Gambit
flew in from a window, and
destroyed the machine that kept the Genoshan Collars
activated.
Robitic Soldiers came to take care of the released
X-Men, when Malice took the
unconscious Jean to the roof to finish the Job.
Cyclops followed them up. Malice started
again, but Cyclops interceded; learning the hard way
that Malice had already stolen a piece
of the Phoenix.
After the X-Men defeated the robotic army of the
Hellfire Club, they went to the
aid of Cyclops, where the barley conscious Jean
summoned the entire Phoenix, and finally
defeated Malice. Our Story Continues...
************************************************************************
"...Also today, the Russian Space Program is
preparing to launch a new satellite
outside Nizhniy Novgorod, in European Russia. The
satellite is designed to track any
person with a genetic 'disorder,' a.k.a. Mutants. I am
Sally McCallum for World View,
Good night." said the reporter, and the television was
turned off.
Elizabeth Braddock, the only person awake in the
Xavier Mansion, was walking
toward the kitchen for a bite to eat. It was about
midnight, and that was the fourth time
she viewed the tape of the new Russian launch. She
felt especially uncomfortable that
night. She knew all too well why.
"Great. I guess the fourth amendment doesn't apply to
anyone." she said to
herself.
The past night had brought nothing but fear and
overwhelming emotional
breakdowns for some of the X-Men, one inparticular.
Jean Grey-Summers. Elizabeth had
thought long about what could have happened; what
should have happened. She dwelled
on nostalgia for the past that evening. With all the
X-Men had been through, it was
amazing they've lasted this long. She continued
through the kitchen, hoping for some
scrap of sweets, however she knew that Hank had never
allowed that.
"We must learn to eat healthy. Now more than ever."
she remembered Hank
saying.
Then, she heard the door open, with a soft creek. She
halted, and listened. Foot
steps were heard, heading in her direction! She ducked
behind the island in the center of
the kitchen. She ignited her psychic knife when the
stranger entered and turned on the
lights. She lunged on top of him, with the knife above
his face, when he caught her hand.
"Easy, cher. I know Gambit is not well like, but 'dis
is a bit extreme, don't you
'tink.?" said Gambit on the floor.
"Sorry Remi. It's just all this that we've been
through.......it's making me jumpy."
said Elizabeth.
"It's okay, cher. We all get a little scared
sometimes."
"I know, I know." she said, helping him up.
"Hey, I know. Gambit has a great Idea!" he said
"What, are we gunna go possum shootin'?" said
Elizabeth, mocking him with a
southern, yokel voice.
"No, but 'dat sounds good."
She threw a look of disgust at him.
"Gambit will cook you some of his world famous
Gumbo!" he said, reaching in the
cupboards for a huge soup pot.
"That won't be necessary, Remi. I think I'll just go
to bed."
"No stay. Gambit make it extra nice, for 'dis extra
nice lady."
"Fine, but not too spicy." said Elizabeth, as she
took a stool and sat at the island.
She observed as Remi took out all the ingredients for
the stew. She was not quite sure as
to what they were, but one large "vegetable" spell
peculiarly like and old shoe, or
reprocessed Chinese newspaper. She wasn't sure which.
Frankly, she didn't was to know.
"So, Gambit, what are you doing up so late?"
"I went to 'dis new club in Manhattan. Pretty good,
but not like 'de other ones."
"You mean the other strip joints?"
"Strip joints, bar and night club, what's in a name,
cher."
They stayed talking the entire evening. There was no
specific topic, but Gambit
could tell there was something that was defiantly
something bothering Elizabeth.
"Hey, Betsy, what 'de matter, eh?"
"Nothing, you wouldn't like to talk about it."
"Sure. Gambit always open to new 'tings."
"Fine. It's just that Russian satellite going up. I
feel so.....uncomfortable,
violated-"
"Like someone's watchin' you all 'de time. 'Dat's how
Gambit felt 'de hole time in
Lo'isiana."
"You mean Louisiana." said Elizabeth.
"Like I said before 'what's in a name, cher.'"
They were in the Kitchen the entire night, and well
into the morning. Before they
knew it, the sun had risen, and it was six in the
morning.
"*Yawn, Yawn*, My, look at the time, I think we
should go up stairs." said
Elizabeth, getting of the stool.
"Is 'dat an invitation?" said Gambit, a smile
twisting on his face.
"No, it is not." said Elizabeth, going upstairs,
smiling. As she went upstairs, Hand
and Ororo were walking down.
"Good morning, Betsy." said Hank.
"Good Moroning,." Ororo said.
Elizabeth ran right up, not saying a word. Hank and
Ororo proceeded to the
Kitchen, where Gambit was cleaning from the previous
night.
"Good morning, Remi. Were we hungry?" asked Ororo.
"No. Bets and I just wanted some gumbo, is all." he
replied.
"I see."
"Well, would you mind telling me what happened?"
Henry asked.
Gambit began to explain everything from the previous
night.
"Nothing. You just had a conversation?" said Ororo.
"She seemed very distressed, for a conversation."
said Hank.
Just then, Professor Xavier came hovering down the
stairs.
"Good morning everyone." he said.
"Professor." said Hank, and he gave a nod.
The professor, the, proceeded to the refrigerator,
and noticed something.
Everyone was quiet. He did a quick psy-scan of their
minds and said, "She's emotional
because she feels her privacy is being threatened
because of the satellite.'
"Professor, you just-" said Remi
"Well, you could not understand why, and I just told
you. Problem solved. Now,
who's making the coffee?" said the Professor.
"You seem very light hearted this morning." said
Hank, as Ororo made the coffee.
"One must not dwell on the misadventures of the
past." said the Professor.
"That's one way o' pottin' it, Chuck." said Logan,
leaning on the post of the door.
"Logan we did not here you come in." said Ororo.
"That's the idea, 'ro." said Logan.
"Would you join us for some breakfast?" said the
Professor.
"Nope. Gotta get outside, start my mornin'
exercises." he said, heading out. "I'll
be back in a few hours."
"Always 'de cheerful one." said Gambit, putting the
pot beside the sink.
A few moments later, the coffee was done and everyone
had a cup in their hands.
"Hiya, ya'll. What's up?" said Rogue entering the
kitchen.
Then, Scott walked in, helping Jean to a seat.
"Good morning." said Scott.
Everyone said "Good Morning."
"Good morning, tell me, how's the patient?" asked
Hank.
"Groggy, and a little weak." replied Jean. "But
otherwise fine. "So, what's for
breakfast?"
_______________
After everyone was fed, they went to the living room.
Gambit changed and
proceeded to the shower, as did Logan and Rogue.
everyone else was awake, in everyday
clothes, watching the television.
"And there she is, Russian Shuttle Saratov Penza,
here at Nizhniy Novgorod. The
shuttle will but the first satellite in space,
designed to track all mutants on the planet.
Here is Russian Science Minister Sezrus Kepstok. "This
shuttle 'vill be forr 'de safety of
all 'de people of Earth." said the Reporter,
Interviewing Minister Kepstok.
"See. I told that thing is no good. If it protects
'the people of Earth,; why aren't
we on that list?" said Elizabeth.
"Know Betsy, you know that Mutants were never
acknowledged as humans, even
though we are." said Hank.
Then, the phone rang, and Jean answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this the Xavier Institute for Higher
Learning?" said the woman on the
phone.
"Yes it is." replied Jean.
"May I speak to Professor Charles Xavier."
"Yes. Hold on a minute." said Jean. Charles, phone
for you.
Thank-You, Jean. I'll take it in my office. said
the Professor telepathically.
The Professor lifted the phone, and said, "Hello?"
"Yes, Charles Xavier, I presume?" said the woman on
the other line.
"Yes, this is he."
"I am Chelsea Norsturm, Nation Security Advisor to
the President."
"Yes, how can I help you, Madam Advisor?"
_______________
He had been in his lair control room for 72 hours,
without sleep. Toad was
growing weary eyed, especially a day before the space
launch. His master, Magneto was in
his chamber, plotting and scheming.
"Toad!" he yelled, "Where's Piotr and Wonda?" he
said, entering the control
room.
"They are entering from a scouting mission." said
Toad, pointing to a screen with
Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch on it.
"Good. Tell them that all is prepared, to find
Sabretooth and Mystique." said
Magneto, re-entering his chamber. Oh Charles, he
thought, How will you foil me this
time?
Then, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Toad, Mystique, and
Sabretooth all entered, and
gathered around a large, holographic projection
device.
"Ah, welcome everyone. Now, to Business. There will
be heavy guards, and much
anticipation of attack, so this must be done covertly
and very secretively." said Magneto,
as the projection of a map of the launch site was
activated.
"Until we attack." said Wonda, cracking a smile.
"Funny, Wonda. But true. I will be here, at the top
of the command center, Wonda
and Piotr will be at the blast zone placing the
explosives, Sabretooth, you take the North
guards, Mystique, the west, and Toad, the south. If
anything goes wrong, I will destroy
that shuttle magnetically.....My self." he said. "One
thing, we must be there early, so that
the rocket does not go up, in case we fail."
"What of the X-Men?" asked Mystique.
"If the X-Men arrive, Xavier will psy-scan all minds
present, so wear the helmets I
have designed. Should things get violent, be violent;
but that rocket goes, understood."
All nodded.
"Good. Now, let us depart." he said, and all of the
Brotherhood Mutants departed
for their jet.
_______________
"Yes. I understand. Thank-You." said The Professor,
hanging up the
phone. He then went downstairs, where all of the X-Men
were enjoying the great
outdoors.
X-Men, meet me in the Situation room immediately.
said the Professor, using
his telepathy. Moments later, all of the X-Men were
assembled.
"So, what's doin' Professor. Ah thought that this was
our day off." said Rogue.
"Yeah, did the Russian Satellite crash or somthin'."
said Logan.
"God willing." said Psylock.
"No, nothing like that. Quite the opposite, in fact.
I just got a phone call from
Madam National Security Advisor Norsturm. She asked us
to meet her in Washington."
said the Professor.
"So, what did she want, Professor?" Cyclops asked.
"I'm not sure at present, Scott. She told me for us
to meet her in a private airfield
known to few. It's outside of Washington, on an
uncharted island in the Chesapeake. The
coordinates are already logged into the X-Jet's
memory."
"I take it we depart immediately." said Beast.
"Yes. We leave tomorrow."
The day went as it should, and before long, tomorrow
was today. All of the
X-Men dressed into their uniforms, and boarded the
X-Jet. In two hours time, they landed
at Jefferson Airfield, in Chesapeake Bay.
"Good Morning, Ms. Norstrum." said the Professor, as
he and the X-Men walked
down from the plane.
"Hello, Professor. If you'll follow me to the
briefing Room, we can get started."
said the Advisor, and they entered an underground
bunker.
"Now, as you are probably aware, the Russian
Federation is planning to launch-"
said the Advisor, but was interrupted.
"Yes. We know of Russia's gift to the world." said
Psylock.
"*Ahem.* Yes well, Russia is more useful as an ally
than and enemy, so they have
asked the US State and Defense Departments for someone
to guard the shuttle."
"You're asking us to guard a device that will be used
to track mutants....to track
us?" said Beast.
"Not guard, but be on the side, should something
happen. We have intel. reports of
a mutant terrorist group planning to attack the
shuttle. Russia's military is not ready to
handle mutant threats, so the US has accepted their
offer."
"But, Ah thought that President Kelly was for mutant
rights?" said Rogue.
"He is, but he also does not want a major nuclear
power launching A-bombs within
their own border." said Advisor Norstrum.
"I see. So we will be there, strictly for the purpose
should the unforeseen be seen?"
asked Storm.
"Exactly. Low profile. No one knows you'll be there,
unless something happens."
"And, what about X-Factor? They're your mutant
lackeys." said Wolverine.
"X-Factor is going up and down the western seaboard,
trying to stop anti-mutant
riots." said Ms. Nortrum.
"All right. We'll do it. Only as a reserve
precautionary measure, though." said the
Professor.
"Great! We leave immediately." said the Advisor.
The X-Men, along with a few armed forces, boarded a
plane to the Russian city of
Nizhniy Novgorod. When they landed, they arrived at
the site, hours before people arrived
at the launch. Xavier did s quick psy-scan, and
detected no one but work-crew.
X-Men. Keep your minds clear and be on alert. I fear
that this would be the
perfect opportunity for a strike. The gates are
locked, but be weary. I will maintain a
constant scan, until the rocket launches. said the
Professor with his Telepathy.
All of the X-Men then went to their pre-arranged
posts. Storm and Jean were at
the rocket's pad, Beast and iceman were at the north,
Cyclops and Psylock were in the
east, Rogue and Wolverine in the West, and Cannonball
and Gambit in the South.
However, they were too late. The Brotherhood had
already entered the compound
and was executing their plan.
"Mystique to Piotr: Quicksilver, are the explosives
set?" said Mystique over the
radio.
"Yes Raven. Wonda and I are----Wait! I see two X-Men.
Storm and Phoenix.
Wonda and I will intercept."
"NO Quicksilver! Detonate the explosives, and let the
rubble kill them instead."
said Mystique.
"Fine." said Quicksilver. But one of the explosives
went off prematurely. A Piece
of the Platform was destroyed, Alerting the X-Men to
the Brotherhood's presence.
X-Men, this is Jean, an explosion went off, and I
saw Quicksilver and the Scarlet
Witch run off. Be alert.
All of the X-Men, then, went to the Launch pad.
Except Wolverine. Mystique
caught up with him, and morphed into Jean.
"Logan, help me! I'm injured!" said the Fake Jean
Falling into his arms.
"Jeannie, what's wrong???"
"It's just that, I am so in love.........with
CYCLOPS! Ha ha ha ha ha! Who could
ever love a freak like You!" said Mystique, reducing
Logan to tears. She ran off, never to
be seen.
"Ah don't like this. It's too quiet for an explosion
to just happen." said Rogue at
the pad.
"You couldn't be more wrong!" said the Scarlet Witch,
shooting her hex spells at
the X-Men, throwing them back. "NOW!"
All of the Brotherhood hench men arrived, beginning
to fight. Sabretooth took on
Rogue, Beast, and Cannonball. Cannonball, then, flew
himself at Sabretooth, but missed.
He hit the Lunch pad instead. Mystique, using her
martial arts, began to fight Psylock,
who also had knowledge of Far East Fighting. Storm
began to fight Wonda.
"Prepare to meet your doom, Weather Witch!" said
Wonda.
"You may predict fate, but I can control the very air
around you!" said Storm.
The X-Men fought the Brotherhood, and the Brotherhood
fought the X-Men,
relentlessly. It was violent and very dirt. After a
few moments of fighting, Magneto
appeared above them, and gathered all of the X-Men
into one of his Electromagnetic
spheres.
"Why do non of you understand what we are trying to
do? This rocket could
destroy us all." said Magneto.
"They mean no Harm, They want to feel safe." said
Beast.
"Tell that to the Nazi dogs that murdered six million
people, my parents included."
"Magnus, enough! This not the way in which to achieve
your means." said Xavier,
hovering on the floor, beneath Magneto.
"I will not here more of your 'peace babble',
Charles. This compound goes today."
said Magneto. Using his magnetic powers. He raised his
hand to the control tower, and
reconfigured the controls for the rocket to
launch...and then crash on the site. He encased
all of the Mutants present at the site, to a safe zone
outside of the compound. Then, the
rocket launched, and Magneto flew him and his
brotherhood away.
"This can't be good" said Bobby, looking at the
skyrocketing shuttle.
"Rogue, is it possible you could fly me to the
cockpit?" asked Beast.
"Not at that speed, sugah." said Rogue.
"Then I shall go. Using the wind, I could push it
away to the north. To an
uninhabited area." said Storm.
"No Storm, it's too dangerous." said Cyclops.
"I must. It is the only way."
Cyclops shrugged, "Fine, but be careful."
Storm rose and, with all her might, created hurricane
force winds to push the
rocket forward. It had worked, and the shuttle crashed
in an uninhabited area to the north.
She then flew back down, trying to catch her breath.
"It is done." she said. Falling into
Beast's arms.
"She is quite tired, Scott. Perhaps we have
overstayed our welcome." said Beast,
and all of the X-Men retreated toward the plane, which
landed them there.
"You're a fool Charles. You and your foolish dream of
peace and happiness. I fear
that your dream, will bring us all one step closer to
death." said Magnus, looking off to
the sky. The Sun was a beautiful sunset red. Magnus
looked at the redness, and thought
that it is sign. A sign of blood to be spilled.
************************************************************************
Next Issue: Find out what it's like to live in the
X-Men's shoes, in A Day with the X-Men.
************************************************************************
By: Leo Federico
Ripped from the Comics...
Classic X-Men
#3- The Brotherhood Strikes
************************************************************************
Previously in 'House of Malice- Part II': All of the
captured X-Men were in the Main
Control Room of the Hellfire Club, Where malice
revealed her evil plans. She began to
absorb the Phoenix from Jean Grey-Summers, when Gambit
flew in from a window, and
destroyed the machine that kept the Genoshan Collars
activated.
Robitic Soldiers came to take care of the released
X-Men, when Malice took the
unconscious Jean to the roof to finish the Job.
Cyclops followed them up. Malice started
again, but Cyclops interceded; learning the hard way
that Malice had already stolen a piece
of the Phoenix.
After the X-Men defeated the robotic army of the
Hellfire Club, they went to the
aid of Cyclops, where the barley conscious Jean
summoned the entire Phoenix, and finally
defeated Malice. Our Story Continues...
************************************************************************
"...Also today, the Russian Space Program is
preparing to launch a new satellite
outside Nizhniy Novgorod, in European Russia. The
satellite is designed to track any
person with a genetic 'disorder,' a.k.a. Mutants. I am
Sally McCallum for World View,
Good night." said the reporter, and the television was
turned off.
Elizabeth Braddock, the only person awake in the
Xavier Mansion, was walking
toward the kitchen for a bite to eat. It was about
midnight, and that was the fourth time
she viewed the tape of the new Russian launch. She
felt especially uncomfortable that
night. She knew all too well why.
"Great. I guess the fourth amendment doesn't apply to
anyone." she said to
herself.
The past night had brought nothing but fear and
overwhelming emotional
breakdowns for some of the X-Men, one inparticular.
Jean Grey-Summers. Elizabeth had
thought long about what could have happened; what
should have happened. She dwelled
on nostalgia for the past that evening. With all the
X-Men had been through, it was
amazing they've lasted this long. She continued
through the kitchen, hoping for some
scrap of sweets, however she knew that Hank had never
allowed that.
"We must learn to eat healthy. Now more than ever."
she remembered Hank
saying.
Then, she heard the door open, with a soft creek. She
halted, and listened. Foot
steps were heard, heading in her direction! She ducked
behind the island in the center of
the kitchen. She ignited her psychic knife when the
stranger entered and turned on the
lights. She lunged on top of him, with the knife above
his face, when he caught her hand.
"Easy, cher. I know Gambit is not well like, but 'dis
is a bit extreme, don't you
'tink.?" said Gambit on the floor.
"Sorry Remi. It's just all this that we've been
through.......it's making me jumpy."
said Elizabeth.
"It's okay, cher. We all get a little scared
sometimes."
"I know, I know." she said, helping him up.
"Hey, I know. Gambit has a great Idea!" he said
"What, are we gunna go possum shootin'?" said
Elizabeth, mocking him with a
southern, yokel voice.
"No, but 'dat sounds good."
She threw a look of disgust at him.
"Gambit will cook you some of his world famous
Gumbo!" he said, reaching in the
cupboards for a huge soup pot.
"That won't be necessary, Remi. I think I'll just go
to bed."
"No stay. Gambit make it extra nice, for 'dis extra
nice lady."
"Fine, but not too spicy." said Elizabeth, as she
took a stool and sat at the island.
She observed as Remi took out all the ingredients for
the stew. She was not quite sure as
to what they were, but one large "vegetable" spell
peculiarly like and old shoe, or
reprocessed Chinese newspaper. She wasn't sure which.
Frankly, she didn't was to know.
"So, Gambit, what are you doing up so late?"
"I went to 'dis new club in Manhattan. Pretty good,
but not like 'de other ones."
"You mean the other strip joints?"
"Strip joints, bar and night club, what's in a name,
cher."
They stayed talking the entire evening. There was no
specific topic, but Gambit
could tell there was something that was defiantly
something bothering Elizabeth.
"Hey, Betsy, what 'de matter, eh?"
"Nothing, you wouldn't like to talk about it."
"Sure. Gambit always open to new 'tings."
"Fine. It's just that Russian satellite going up. I
feel so.....uncomfortable,
violated-"
"Like someone's watchin' you all 'de time. 'Dat's how
Gambit felt 'de hole time in
Lo'isiana."
"You mean Louisiana." said Elizabeth.
"Like I said before 'what's in a name, cher.'"
They were in the Kitchen the entire night, and well
into the morning. Before they
knew it, the sun had risen, and it was six in the
morning.
"*Yawn, Yawn*, My, look at the time, I think we
should go up stairs." said
Elizabeth, getting of the stool.
"Is 'dat an invitation?" said Gambit, a smile
twisting on his face.
"No, it is not." said Elizabeth, going upstairs,
smiling. As she went upstairs, Hand
and Ororo were walking down.
"Good morning, Betsy." said Hank.
"Good Moroning,." Ororo said.
Elizabeth ran right up, not saying a word. Hank and
Ororo proceeded to the
Kitchen, where Gambit was cleaning from the previous
night.
"Good morning, Remi. Were we hungry?" asked Ororo.
"No. Bets and I just wanted some gumbo, is all." he
replied.
"I see."
"Well, would you mind telling me what happened?"
Henry asked.
Gambit began to explain everything from the previous
night.
"Nothing. You just had a conversation?" said Ororo.
"She seemed very distressed, for a conversation."
said Hank.
Just then, Professor Xavier came hovering down the
stairs.
"Good morning everyone." he said.
"Professor." said Hank, and he gave a nod.
The professor, the, proceeded to the refrigerator,
and noticed something.
Everyone was quiet. He did a quick psy-scan of their
minds and said, "She's emotional
because she feels her privacy is being threatened
because of the satellite.'
"Professor, you just-" said Remi
"Well, you could not understand why, and I just told
you. Problem solved. Now,
who's making the coffee?" said the Professor.
"You seem very light hearted this morning." said
Hank, as Ororo made the coffee.
"One must not dwell on the misadventures of the
past." said the Professor.
"That's one way o' pottin' it, Chuck." said Logan,
leaning on the post of the door.
"Logan we did not here you come in." said Ororo.
"That's the idea, 'ro." said Logan.
"Would you join us for some breakfast?" said the
Professor.
"Nope. Gotta get outside, start my mornin'
exercises." he said, heading out. "I'll
be back in a few hours."
"Always 'de cheerful one." said Gambit, putting the
pot beside the sink.
A few moments later, the coffee was done and everyone
had a cup in their hands.
"Hiya, ya'll. What's up?" said Rogue entering the
kitchen.
Then, Scott walked in, helping Jean to a seat.
"Good morning." said Scott.
Everyone said "Good Morning."
"Good morning, tell me, how's the patient?" asked
Hank.
"Groggy, and a little weak." replied Jean. "But
otherwise fine. "So, what's for
breakfast?"
_______________
After everyone was fed, they went to the living room.
Gambit changed and
proceeded to the shower, as did Logan and Rogue.
everyone else was awake, in everyday
clothes, watching the television.
"And there she is, Russian Shuttle Saratov Penza,
here at Nizhniy Novgorod. The
shuttle will but the first satellite in space,
designed to track all mutants on the planet.
Here is Russian Science Minister Sezrus Kepstok. "This
shuttle 'vill be forr 'de safety of
all 'de people of Earth." said the Reporter,
Interviewing Minister Kepstok.
"See. I told that thing is no good. If it protects
'the people of Earth,; why aren't
we on that list?" said Elizabeth.
"Know Betsy, you know that Mutants were never
acknowledged as humans, even
though we are." said Hank.
Then, the phone rang, and Jean answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this the Xavier Institute for Higher
Learning?" said the woman on the
phone.
"Yes it is." replied Jean.
"May I speak to Professor Charles Xavier."
"Yes. Hold on a minute." said Jean. Charles, phone
for you.
Thank-You, Jean. I'll take it in my office. said
the Professor telepathically.
The Professor lifted the phone, and said, "Hello?"
"Yes, Charles Xavier, I presume?" said the woman on
the other line.
"Yes, this is he."
"I am Chelsea Norsturm, Nation Security Advisor to
the President."
"Yes, how can I help you, Madam Advisor?"
_______________
He had been in his lair control room for 72 hours,
without sleep. Toad was
growing weary eyed, especially a day before the space
launch. His master, Magneto was in
his chamber, plotting and scheming.
"Toad!" he yelled, "Where's Piotr and Wonda?" he
said, entering the control
room.
"They are entering from a scouting mission." said
Toad, pointing to a screen with
Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch on it.
"Good. Tell them that all is prepared, to find
Sabretooth and Mystique." said
Magneto, re-entering his chamber. Oh Charles, he
thought, How will you foil me this
time?
Then, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Toad, Mystique, and
Sabretooth all entered, and
gathered around a large, holographic projection
device.
"Ah, welcome everyone. Now, to Business. There will
be heavy guards, and much
anticipation of attack, so this must be done covertly
and very secretively." said Magneto,
as the projection of a map of the launch site was
activated.
"Until we attack." said Wonda, cracking a smile.
"Funny, Wonda. But true. I will be here, at the top
of the command center, Wonda
and Piotr will be at the blast zone placing the
explosives, Sabretooth, you take the North
guards, Mystique, the west, and Toad, the south. If
anything goes wrong, I will destroy
that shuttle magnetically.....My self." he said. "One
thing, we must be there early, so that
the rocket does not go up, in case we fail."
"What of the X-Men?" asked Mystique.
"If the X-Men arrive, Xavier will psy-scan all minds
present, so wear the helmets I
have designed. Should things get violent, be violent;
but that rocket goes, understood."
All nodded.
"Good. Now, let us depart." he said, and all of the
Brotherhood Mutants departed
for their jet.
_______________
"Yes. I understand. Thank-You." said The Professor,
hanging up the
phone. He then went downstairs, where all of the X-Men
were enjoying the great
outdoors.
X-Men, meet me in the Situation room immediately.
said the Professor, using
his telepathy. Moments later, all of the X-Men were
assembled.
"So, what's doin' Professor. Ah thought that this was
our day off." said Rogue.
"Yeah, did the Russian Satellite crash or somthin'."
said Logan.
"God willing." said Psylock.
"No, nothing like that. Quite the opposite, in fact.
I just got a phone call from
Madam National Security Advisor Norsturm. She asked us
to meet her in Washington."
said the Professor.
"So, what did she want, Professor?" Cyclops asked.
"I'm not sure at present, Scott. She told me for us
to meet her in a private airfield
known to few. It's outside of Washington, on an
uncharted island in the Chesapeake. The
coordinates are already logged into the X-Jet's
memory."
"I take it we depart immediately." said Beast.
"Yes. We leave tomorrow."
The day went as it should, and before long, tomorrow
was today. All of the
X-Men dressed into their uniforms, and boarded the
X-Jet. In two hours time, they landed
at Jefferson Airfield, in Chesapeake Bay.
"Good Morning, Ms. Norstrum." said the Professor, as
he and the X-Men walked
down from the plane.
"Hello, Professor. If you'll follow me to the
briefing Room, we can get started."
said the Advisor, and they entered an underground
bunker.
"Now, as you are probably aware, the Russian
Federation is planning to launch-"
said the Advisor, but was interrupted.
"Yes. We know of Russia's gift to the world." said
Psylock.
"*Ahem.* Yes well, Russia is more useful as an ally
than and enemy, so they have
asked the US State and Defense Departments for someone
to guard the shuttle."
"You're asking us to guard a device that will be used
to track mutants....to track
us?" said Beast.
"Not guard, but be on the side, should something
happen. We have intel. reports of
a mutant terrorist group planning to attack the
shuttle. Russia's military is not ready to
handle mutant threats, so the US has accepted their
offer."
"But, Ah thought that President Kelly was for mutant
rights?" said Rogue.
"He is, but he also does not want a major nuclear
power launching A-bombs within
their own border." said Advisor Norstrum.
"I see. So we will be there, strictly for the purpose
should the unforeseen be seen?"
asked Storm.
"Exactly. Low profile. No one knows you'll be there,
unless something happens."
"And, what about X-Factor? They're your mutant
lackeys." said Wolverine.
"X-Factor is going up and down the western seaboard,
trying to stop anti-mutant
riots." said Ms. Nortrum.
"All right. We'll do it. Only as a reserve
precautionary measure, though." said the
Professor.
"Great! We leave immediately." said the Advisor.
The X-Men, along with a few armed forces, boarded a
plane to the Russian city of
Nizhniy Novgorod. When they landed, they arrived at
the site, hours before people arrived
at the launch. Xavier did s quick psy-scan, and
detected no one but work-crew.
X-Men. Keep your minds clear and be on alert. I fear
that this would be the
perfect opportunity for a strike. The gates are
locked, but be weary. I will maintain a
constant scan, until the rocket launches. said the
Professor with his Telepathy.
All of the X-Men then went to their pre-arranged
posts. Storm and Jean were at
the rocket's pad, Beast and iceman were at the north,
Cyclops and Psylock were in the
east, Rogue and Wolverine in the West, and Cannonball
and Gambit in the South.
However, they were too late. The Brotherhood had
already entered the compound
and was executing their plan.
"Mystique to Piotr: Quicksilver, are the explosives
set?" said Mystique over the
radio.
"Yes Raven. Wonda and I are----Wait! I see two X-Men.
Storm and Phoenix.
Wonda and I will intercept."
"NO Quicksilver! Detonate the explosives, and let the
rubble kill them instead."
said Mystique.
"Fine." said Quicksilver. But one of the explosives
went off prematurely. A Piece
of the Platform was destroyed, Alerting the X-Men to
the Brotherhood's presence.
X-Men, this is Jean, an explosion went off, and I
saw Quicksilver and the Scarlet
Witch run off. Be alert.
All of the X-Men, then, went to the Launch pad.
Except Wolverine. Mystique
caught up with him, and morphed into Jean.
"Logan, help me! I'm injured!" said the Fake Jean
Falling into his arms.
"Jeannie, what's wrong???"
"It's just that, I am so in love.........with
CYCLOPS! Ha ha ha ha ha! Who could
ever love a freak like You!" said Mystique, reducing
Logan to tears. She ran off, never to
be seen.
"Ah don't like this. It's too quiet for an explosion
to just happen." said Rogue at
the pad.
"You couldn't be more wrong!" said the Scarlet Witch,
shooting her hex spells at
the X-Men, throwing them back. "NOW!"
All of the Brotherhood hench men arrived, beginning
to fight. Sabretooth took on
Rogue, Beast, and Cannonball. Cannonball, then, flew
himself at Sabretooth, but missed.
He hit the Lunch pad instead. Mystique, using her
martial arts, began to fight Psylock,
who also had knowledge of Far East Fighting. Storm
began to fight Wonda.
"Prepare to meet your doom, Weather Witch!" said
Wonda.
"You may predict fate, but I can control the very air
around you!" said Storm.
The X-Men fought the Brotherhood, and the Brotherhood
fought the X-Men,
relentlessly. It was violent and very dirt. After a
few moments of fighting, Magneto
appeared above them, and gathered all of the X-Men
into one of his Electromagnetic
spheres.
"Why do non of you understand what we are trying to
do? This rocket could
destroy us all." said Magneto.
"They mean no Harm, They want to feel safe." said
Beast.
"Tell that to the Nazi dogs that murdered six million
people, my parents included."
"Magnus, enough! This not the way in which to achieve
your means." said Xavier,
hovering on the floor, beneath Magneto.
"I will not here more of your 'peace babble',
Charles. This compound goes today."
said Magneto. Using his magnetic powers. He raised his
hand to the control tower, and
reconfigured the controls for the rocket to
launch...and then crash on the site. He encased
all of the Mutants present at the site, to a safe zone
outside of the compound. Then, the
rocket launched, and Magneto flew him and his
brotherhood away.
"This can't be good" said Bobby, looking at the
skyrocketing shuttle.
"Rogue, is it possible you could fly me to the
cockpit?" asked Beast.
"Not at that speed, sugah." said Rogue.
"Then I shall go. Using the wind, I could push it
away to the north. To an
uninhabited area." said Storm.
"No Storm, it's too dangerous." said Cyclops.
"I must. It is the only way."
Cyclops shrugged, "Fine, but be careful."
Storm rose and, with all her might, created hurricane
force winds to push the
rocket forward. It had worked, and the shuttle crashed
in an uninhabited area to the north.
She then flew back down, trying to catch her breath.
"It is done." she said. Falling into
Beast's arms.
"She is quite tired, Scott. Perhaps we have
overstayed our welcome." said Beast,
and all of the X-Men retreated toward the plane, which
landed them there.
"You're a fool Charles. You and your foolish dream of
peace and happiness. I fear
that your dream, will bring us all one step closer to
death." said Magnus, looking off to
the sky. The Sun was a beautiful sunset red. Magnus
looked at the redness, and thought
that it is sign. A sign of blood to be spilled.
************************************************************************
Next Issue: Find out what it's like to live in the
X-Men's shoes, in A Day with the X-Men.
************************************************************************
By: Leo Federico