Enter: Supreme Universe
THE TUNNELS beneath Manhattan, the haven for the Morlocks ...
"So we battle with staffs," said Storm, agreeing to the conditions and the terms of combat.
"Yes," a familiar voice responded. "And should you use your mutant powers in any way, you and your surrogate family will die," said Callisto, the woman whom Storm had enticed into a duel for leadership of the Morlocks.
At that very moment, an extreme flash of lightning struck in Storm's mind. She felt utterly confused upon seeing an old man in front of her, telling her ...
"Beware, X-man! For a great destruction awaits in the future for each and every one of you ... The future that cannot be changed ... That is why you alone are given the privilege of revisiting the past, for you have the most chance of changing the history ... The future of the X-Men now lies in your hands, Weather Goddess." And the old man faded out.
"Wait!" said Storm, trying to stop him. "Who are you? ... What are you?" But it was too late. Storm struggled a moment, confused. Then several remarkable events flashed in her mind. She recalled the event recorded on the Island of Genosha where she had suffered a near-death trauma at the hands of the Sentinels and the man named Mr. Trask.
Storm looked down at the staff she was holding and a doubtful thought kept playing in her mind which stopped her from going. "If I let Callisto beat me down, the history will be redefined and the future will eventually be changed ... and ... and ..." She couldn't utter a single word more ...
And then she heard familiar voices behind her.
"Au contraire, Cherie! We will survive dis!"
"Yeah! Just keep yuh guard up ... and do it, gal!"
"Careful ... Storm ... we need you ..." That last voice she heard was Jean ... And then Callisto's voice caught her attention ...
"You doubt yourself, witch! Because in your heart, you fear you don't belong ... and that you will fail in defending your family and face rejection!" [1]
And in the blink of an eye, Storm was several feet above the ground calling the forces of thunder and about to direct some bolts of lightning toward a woman with a black patch around her eye -- Domino -- who fell to her knees.
"Storm, I don't think this is necessary!" said Jean Grey, who was trying to stop her from hitting Domino. But Storm didn't seem to be listening. The bolts started to spark from her hands until Meltdown stepped in to rescue Domino.
"Show her no mercy, Tabitha," said Rogue as she coached her to blow up Storm. Tabitha Smith, also known as Meltdown, threw some bombs toward Storm, enough to create a gigantic explosion, but Jean telekinetically acted on the bombs and redirected them. Siryn flew on her way to Storm. Her supersonic voice made Storm dizzy and she fell to the ground unguided and unconscious.
Havok absorbed the energies as the bombs exploded near Siryn causing her to fall, but Rogue was able to catch her.
Rogue made a sign to her team to retreat and the women moved to leave. Rogue lifted off the ground and as she left said ...
"Better watch out, you X-people ... because the next time we face again, Ah'll make sure that the next thing tuh get wounded ... is yuh heart ... Mrs. Jean Grey-Summers!"
Havok rushed to lift up the unconscious Storm and he carried her in his arms.
"They are unstoppable, Alex," Jean declared, annoyed. "It seems that there's no way to refute what they believe and fight for. What they do not understand is that they do not harm us, but put their own lives in danger. They lead their own lives into destruction."
PALLAS ATHENA, New York, formerly the X-Mansion, the Summers' School for Gifted Youngsters. It was renovated and redesigned to house more mutants. The previously automated and technologically advanced building was converted into a normal mansion. As the owners, Scott Summers and Jean Grey-Summers eliminated all of the equipment and technical contingencies installed in the mansion. But in doing so they failed to maintain the accessibility of training for the mutant youngsters, who later decided to move out, tired of facing danger every time the rebels invaded the Mansion.
Storm opened her eyes slowly. Some familiar faces registered in her sight. Yes, she could identify them, but with confusion. When she saw the good-looking man wearing an optic shield over his eyes, she hastily sat up from the bed where she had lain for almost half an hour. She gasped, overwhelmed
"Scott?!" she said, her eyes wide. "You're safe! Did Callisto hurt you?"
"Storm, he's okay," said Jean, grasping Storm's arms to calm her. "Everyone is okay. All you need to do is stay relaxed."
"Jean?" Storm said, stroking Jean's cheek with her shivering palm. "Didn't Callisto kidnap you? But don't worry, Jean ... We came to save you."
"As I said, everyone is fine ... Storm, stay focused. Close your eyes ... don't say a word ... and take a deep breath."
Storm did as requested, and Jean telepathically explored her inner memories. It took her only several seconds.
To her dismay, Jean learned a startling thing.
"It's impossible," she exclaimed.
"Why?" said Cyclops as he stepped closer. "What did you see?"
"She's lost much of her past," Jean replied. "Her recent memories have been erased ... and the only thing she remembers ... is Callisto!"
"She must be stopped, Jean," Storm exclaimed. "Callisto will reign over humanity with terror ..."
"Storm, she has no way to do that anymore ... Callisto has been dead for years now ..." Jean clarified.
"Enough for now, Jean." said Cyclops, making a sign of restraint. "I advise Storm to take some rest. Too much pressure now might cause her to crack under the confusion."
"No," Storm insisted, "I'm sure I'm okay ... I just don't understand why I seem to have lost my memory? I believe something is happening which I don't understand yet ... Jean, all I want is for you tell me what is going on."
"Storm, listen to me ... As I explored your memories, I only saw one part of your past ... which happened a long time ago ..."
At that moment Havok, Captain Britain, and Meggan entered the room.
"We are now in the Supreme Universe, Storm," Jean said carefully. "A universe where mutants like us are regarded and acknowledged as supreme beings over humanity. Humans worship us as gods of this universe."
"No, it can't be, Jean ..." Storm said, disagreeing emphatically. "This is not what Professor Xavier dreams of ..."
"Yes, of course, Storm," Cyclops said. "Professor Charles Xavier is nothing but an imagination created by our mutant ancestors. The dream of the X-men was to become superior over everything in the world, and now we have it, in our very hands."
"What are you people talking about? And you ..." Storm said, turning towards Cyclops. "You're the most precious X-Man he ever cherished for all these years, how could you say things about the Prof like that?! How could you?!"
"Enough, Storm," Jean said, restraining her. "I know this is hard for you as well as for us, and it will take time for you to fully recover. All I want for you to do for now is trust us. That's all I can ask."
"I understand how you feel, Storm, " Scott said, "after what happened. But I believe that this will pass."
SOMEWHERE in the northeastern USA
Siblings Cable, Phoenix, and X-Man have wandered throughout the region searching for the signs that could lead them to uncover the mystery of disappearing mutants. After several weeks of roving, they have failed to find a single one ...
...Until one day ...
As the three move through the lightly dense forest ...
"I'm just curious," Rachel Summers, also known as Phoenix, asked, "about how you two guys feel about what we've been doing for weeks now ... After all, we've ended up with nothing!"
"It's just not good enough for you to do the mission," X-Man replied. "Just keep on going and no more questions, please!"
"You're such a spoiler!" Phoenix exclaimed. "How 'bout you, bro?"
"The good thing for me is that I don't have to deal with feelings." Cable replied arrogantly.
"Then I suppose you should start dealing with somebody's feelings ... after you take this!" a voice behind them said, and as the three turned around they saw three silver daggers moving swiftly towards each one of them. So furious. So fast. So formidable. The three telekinetically reacted to the daggers and the pointed weapons suddenly stopped, controlled, their tips almost an inch away from their eyes.
As the daggers fell to the ground Phoenix, saw the purple-haired woman and thought she was seeing a ghost.
"Psylocke?!"
"My name is Manora," the combatant woman replied. Her alluring beauty and intensive agility made Phoenix mistake her for the late Elizabeth Braddock, who was known as Psylocke during the earlier days of the X-Men. "Should you take a single step, I'll make sure the first part to be cut off from you is your head! You are nearing my domain. And I hate to see mutant-god wannabes like you contaminating my own land."
"What the hell are you?" Cable asked anxiously.
"I didn't come to be interrogated," Manora replied. "I have set my own rules before you, and your only choice is to obey. Take this as a warning, or else your kind will suffer!"
"But we came to search for answers ourselves!" X-Man said.
"Then take this," said Manora, summoning a pair of eyeglasses and tossing them telekinetically. X-Man caught them, confused. "Those may bring you to the answers you seek." And then she lifted herself up into the air and disappeared.
"She can fly." Phoenix exclaimed. "I really thought she was Psylocke ... the hair ... the body ... they look almost the same."
"Now, what do we have here, Nate?" Cable asked.
"I'm not so sure," X-Man replied. "I suspect this belongs to an X-Man."
"Do you think they're Beast's?" said Phoenix.
"Yeah ... They must be the McCoy's."
Is this the sign they are searching for?
Have they found the key to some answers at last? Or just more questions?
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[1] Scenes adapted from the teleplay X-Men: The Animated Series, Season 1, Episode 5.