"Checkmate, my dear friend."
Magneto raised his eyebrow cockily at Xavier. In this round, Xavier has won with his black pieces over Magneto's white pieces. In the beginning, Magneto had the upper hand until he made a mistake by moving his white queen, thus being eliminated strategically by Xavier's black bishop. From there, all of Magneto's white pieces were removed until the white king and a few white soldiers were left.
"I must say Charles, it seems you are getting better in this game. Back then, we were even", Magneto comments at his friend's performance.
"As oppose to our latest scoreboard which is 3-2 just now", Xavier tells him as he rearranges the pieces. "I don't know about you but I'm getting tired."
Magneto laughs. "Ha! Getting away while winning? I'm not letting you off the hook that easily!"
Xavier wheels himself to the counter and pours himself and for Magneto two cups of coffee. He comes back to the table and serves it to his friend/rival. Magneto drinks his coffee quietly while Xavier turns on the television, which has a satellite network. This means that he can check out what's been happening around the world, most especially in New York. He goes back to Magneto and decides to start the conversation about whatever's happening recently.
"Ever since Warren has arrived, the electricity has been brought back but it needs more improvement", Xavier calmly states.
"True. A bit improvement since you have arrived here", Magento notes. He looks at the television. "As much I would hate to admit it, I missed watching television."
"How is Wanda?" Xavier asks sincerely. The master of magnetism looks at him and knew that he really meant it. The question, somehow, seems out of the blue.
"She is fine. But she hasn't woken up yet", Magneto answers him.
"I could help her."
"Thank you Charles for your concern, but it is my problem and I don't want to involve you in this mess", Magneto politely rejected his offer. Xavier knew better than to push his buttons. "Today, I read to her "The Two Towers" in the part where Frodo, Sam and Gollum met up with Faramir."
Now this brought Xavier surprised, but nonetheless happy. "Oh, that's nice."
Callisto enters the kitchen, planning to grab a cub of coffee after scouring ¼ of Genosha. "Hello Charles, Magnus", she greeted them.
"Ah, Callisto. How are you?" Xavier greets her in a question form.
"Tired. Never knew that after staying here for so long could get very taxing. On the brighter point, Shola discovered some food supplies and he and Warren distributed it to the survivors. Strange thing, though, is that we have a surviving marching band."
"We have a marching band?" Magneto asks bewilderedly.
Callisto shrugs. "Yeah, but they'd be banging into different off-tunes at times which…can be pretty nerving." She notices the chess board and the pieces. "Another game of chess? Don't you guys do something else…like knife-throwing?"
Callisto seats beside Xavier as they watched the news. Magneto had a thought just now and then looks at Xavier. "Charles," Magneto asks him, "does he know that I am here?"
Xavier knew he was talking about Warren. "I plan not to tell him, Magnus. I know the consequences if I tell him." That would mean that if Warren knows that Magneto is alive, he would contact the X-Men in a heartbeat and they would arrive and, once and for all, kill him. They will not also trust Xavier ever again. So it's a bad situation for him and Magneto and Callisto knows that. Still, the three of them have been wondering from the beginning who was the imposter that impersonated Magneto back in New York who disguised as Xorn.
Magneto decides to ask Xavier another question, not involving Warren. "Have you deciphered Destiny's new prophecies?"
"No", Xavier sadly tells him. "This diary…is different, but like the others, there are vague clues being offered to us."
"No offense", Callisto interrupts them, "But if I remembered correctly, Storm said that Destiny's Diaries are some kind of a self-fulfilling trap and that if we follow them, it would bring us misery and we would have no control."
"I know that. But Destiny seems to make sure that I would decipher it."
"What makes you think it's different than the previous volumes?" Callisto asks.
"In my opinion, the prophecies are somewhat vague, as I said before. But why do I have a gut feeling, this time around it would guide us into a better future?"
"Or a road to darkness and high calories and cholesterol, if I may add. Charles, the prophecies have brought death and destruction, according to Storm."
Magneto has another thought. "Charles, mind if I read the first entry? Perhaps I could help."
Xavier nods and proceeds to his room to get the diary. He returns to the kitchen and gives it to Magneto. "Mystique only found the first few parts of the diary. Forge said that most of the parts were spread around the world. To be honest, I could've looked for them myself but it would be a risk since I have no idea where to start."
Magneto decides to read the first part of the entry.
Once was home, now a haven of the condemned ones
They have been plagued by the black ones
But there is more to come
As the circle within will be broken internally
The children will band together
The second part:
Rise will be a woman who was made of physical nothingness
Who has brought fires of pain from the sky to the innocent millions
She now wants to ravage her blood counter part
But the five ones will stop her
For that shall be her fall to nothingness
But damage has already been done
The third part:
The joyous union of man and woman
Once a heavenly bliss for them
Separated by betrayal and death
United by chance and togetherness
Only to fall apart for love between them is no more
"Wow", was the only thing Magneto could reply. He couldn't make out the first and the third prophecies but he has a small idea about the second one. "Charles, I may have inkling about the second one."
Xavier now looks at him with surprise. "Really?"
Magneto nods. "Jean Grey." Now this brought Xavier into shock and disappointment. "It can't be!" Xavier protests.
"Charles. It makes perfect sense! The first two sentences would fit her and the Phoenix Force completely!"
"That's nonsense Magnus!" Xavier raises his voice against Magneto. "What if that prophecy isn't about Jean? What if it's someone else?"
Magneto didn't buy this. "Are you saying this because you're in denial? Your denying that fact that your precious student will be resurrected and will do something drastic."
"What makes you sure she'll do that? Yes, she is the Phoenix, but…"
Magneto narrows his eyes at his old friend. "But, if she comes back unstable and ravaging for power and death, what will you do?"
"You're taking this out of context!" Xavier spats back.
"Calm down you two. At your age, you should settle this like wise, mature men, not loud-mouthed brats. This is so out of character, both you. Maybe the diaries bring out the worst of us", Callisto tells them.
Magneto and Xavier sheepishly admit their mistakes.
"Erik, I'm sorry. I…I just…", Xavier apologizes before he is at lost at words.
"I am sorry too. I know what it's like having the weight of the world on your shoulders and losing a loved one", said Magneto.
Callisto reads the second prophecy carefully. "You know, I'm still kinda lost on the whole ravaging of the blood counterpart. As for the five who will stop her? Good luck in figuring that out."
"Blood counterpart…", Xavier ponders. "If I'm correct, blood counterpart would mean a sibling. Jean's only sister died a long time ago, so it's not her!"
"But who knows? Maybe she has another sibling she doesn't know about?" Magneto tells him. "Does she?"
Their argument however ended when they hear something important on the television involving an incident in New York.
"This is Trish Tilby, reporting live. Last night, a group of mercenaries has infiltrated Xavier's Institute For Gifted Youngsters for unknown reasons. Reports indicated that there are no casualties but only one staff member is in critical condition right now after sustaining two bullet wounds, one on the shoulder and one on the stomach. The mercenaries were described by wearing black outfits and gas masks. As of the moment, Scott Summers and Emma Frost, who are currently heading the institute, are not available for a comment due to an emergency."
Xavier could not believe this. The Institute was under attacked by mercenaries. He was also concerned on who was in critical condition. Then, it hit him. He reads the prophecies again and realizes that the first part has been deciphered but now by him.
"Charles", Magneto seems to be concerned. "Is something the matter?"
"The first prophecy. I think I deciphered it…or a part of it", Xavier reveals to them with complete shock and awe.
"What are you talking about?"
""Once was home, now a haven of the condemned ones", it was talking about the school! If I am correct, the mansion was once a home for the X-Men. Now it is a school of young mutants. "They have been plagued by the black ones", means that they were attacked by the mercenaries."
"That would seem clear. But what about the last three sentences?"
"I'm going to read the prophecies again and this time, I may have to go back to New York…if I had the chance."
"As of press time, there are many speculations that the Institute, home to the X-Men, has hidden a mutant terrorist, but this isn't the first time and-"
Cannonball quickly turned off the TV. He was sick of all the X-Men bashing the press have been creating, following the destruction of Manhattan by Magneto. But he was stunned that they have been attacked last night. Cable shares the same feeling as Cannonball, but he felt something happened to Rachel.
"Ah have to go back, Cable", Sam said, thinking about his siblings. "Ah'm definitely needed there."
Cable nods. "I know."
He, Sam, Meltdown, Domino, Feral, Proudstar, Rictor and Shatterstar watched the news of events that took place at the institute. They recently reunited as a group under Cable's request to fight an anti-mutant terrorist that proved to be anything but a pushover.
"Another attack at the mansion. Is that a ritual that takes place every other year?" asks Domino.
"Needless to say, probably", Cable answers her. "Last time it was Magneto and he killed Jean."
"And yet they have risen from the ashes", Proudstar comments. "I honestly think they should move to another place. I think their neighbors are sick of them."
"Hey Sam, you said Dani, Rahne and Xi'an are working there as teachers", Meltdown said. Cannoball looks at her.
"You want to be a teacher?" he surprisingly asks.
"Hell no! I'm not sure if I could fit in as a teacher. I think I might destroy some innocent brats before they could get the worst of me", she jokes. "But seriously, no."
"So much for good times, eh amigos?" Rictor asks them, remembering the good times as the X-Force. "Too bad, Theresa couldn't join with us. She said that she's on a vacation with her father."
"And this, my friends, where we all split up to our separate lives again", Shatterstar reminds them after this meeting. "Question is what do you guys are going to do?"
"One thing's for sure, I can't wait for a reunion. You know, the one where we get to beat up the bad guys?" Meltdown joyfully tells her teammates and friends.
Domino ponders Meltdown's words. "Maybe you're right. I can't picture ourselves in a dinner table with us laughing and remembering the times good and bad."
Feral, who has been quietly eating while listening to the conversation, decides to speak up. For the rest, they know it's not going to be a good thing. "Still a little disturbed."
"About what?", asks Shatterstar.
"The X-Men." Cable and Cannonball knew she would arrive on this topic. "I know they have this whole high moral thingy about protecting mutants and humans, but aren't they spreading themselves a little too thin? Housing fugitives in hopes of redeeming them, my ass."
Cannonball knew what she was talking about. Even up to now, he was a little disturbed about Emma Frost and Juggernaut joining the X-Men. One part of him tells him that maybe they have changed, but on the other, there was Magneto. "Feral, not everyone agreed with that philosophy. Wolverine even told me that the Professor went to Genosha t' bury Magneto instead of attending Jean's funeral."
"So…would that make the Professor a hypocrite?"
Cable decides to break the Xavier and X-Men bashing before it could get worse. "Enough. I'm way more concerned if this involves us at all."
"What do you mean?" Proudstar asks.
"I had a gut feeling this was no ordinary attack. If someone wants to take out the X-Men, he or she should've bombed the place with many casualties. They have a list of suspects that can pull that."
"Oh come on!" Cannonball laughs. "Who would be smart enough to do that?"
"Apocalypse is dead, but his followers are around somewhere. Magneto is dead. Mystique is missing. The Brotherhood is still around…somewhere. Mr. Sinister, we haven't heard of him. Then we got some anti-mutant terrorist groups. Listen Sam, it's best that you return to the X-Men immediately. The rest of you, return to your previous affiliates. I don't know why I'm saying this, but it may involve us as well. The attack at the mansion is the starting point. If we need to band again we will. If we have to join with the X-Men, we must."
Scott, Logan, Kitty and Piotr quickly arrived at the medical bay to see Rachel on the bed, as Hank quickly helps Storm and Elixir in treating her wounds.
"Ororo, what happened?" Scott asks as he approaches Rachel's bedside. Her wounds were treated well with bandages covering her shoulder and her stomach.
"Sinister hired some mercenaries to attack us last night. Rachel was caught in the crossfire", Ororo fearfully replied. If something happens to Rachel, she could not forgive herself. Scott looks at his alternative future daughter with sadness. He caresses her hair in a fatherly manner.
"'Ro, where's Kurt?" Logan asks her.
"He's in his room. He doesn't want to come out", Ororo said in sadness. "He think's he's responsible for her condition."
"That's bull."
"That's what I keep telling him."
Hank thanks Elixir and dismisses him. "The good news is that she's okay. Ororo, you and Josh did a good job removing the bullets out of her body", he compliments her.
"It wasn't easy."
"Still you did a great job. However, she'll be in a coma for a while. I'll give a week or two for her to wake up."
"I'll go to Kurt to check him", Piotr announces. Kitty and the others agree with him. "I think he needs more than a good cheering."
"I think he needs more than that", Kitty tells him. "I better check on the students to see how they're faring with this latest mess." With that, they both left the medical bay.
"How was your mission?" asks Ororo.
"Like chasing a dead duck", Hank replied coldly. "Seems Sinister manages to get his groove back. We were chased by two fighter planes on the ocean. How's yours?"
"Betsy and Jean-Paul said that the soldiers have managed to capture one student."
"WHAT?"
"They tried to stop them, but it seems that the soldiers' intention was to hold them back. Remy and Alex also said that they got something from the basement. It was I think a large test tube, but they were not very specific."
Hearing this, Scott and Hank looked at each other worriedly. Logan manages to catch this.
"Is there something you people want to tell us?" Logan interrogates. "I hate secrets and the last thing I would expect is you hidin' secrets from us. So you better tell us the truth."
Ororo agrees with Logan but what the two didn't know is that the tube contained Cassandra Nova and that Ernst was Cassandra.
"To tell you the truth, I don't know", Hank answers him. "Right after the mansion was destroyed, Scott and I looked at the ruins to see if there are any areas that were not damaged. We somehow ended up in the basement and saw the tube, but before we could enter, a robot attacked us and as we managed to defeat it, the whole debris collapsed on us. Since then, we hadn't had the time to go there."
"What was a robot doing there?" asks Ororo.
"If I know, I'd answer you right now."
Scott now looks at them. "Who was the student who was captured?"
Now this brings Ororo to the main point. "That's the thing. We checked every student accounted for and everyone is safe and here. But according to Xi'an, the student that was missing was named Ernst."
"Ernst? Which squad does she belong to?"
"We checked on every data and file about her but none."
"Emma and I should have known that by now! How come we don't have anything on her? We checked every student that was enrolled here."
Scott stopped talking and returns to Rachel's bedside. Hank, Logan and Ororo knew that he wants to spent time with Rachel, so the three of them left the medical bay. As soon as they were gone, Scott begins to feel regret and shame.
"I'm sorry", he began. "I'm sorry for everything. I know that you hate me for being in a relationship and Emma and thinking that I have tarnished Jean. I still love Jean no matter what and I will always do. But I have to move on. I know that's really not the best excuse but sometimes, you need to have someone close when you're in pain. Emma filled that role. But it's not easy moving on. Everyday, I still kept thinking of her. If she was here alive, she would tell you to move on and be happy and…great I can't believe I sucked at this."
Bobby enters the medical bay to see Scott talking to Rachel. Scott turns around to see Bobby and nearly falls off of his chair, causing Bobby to chuckle.
"What is it Bobby? I don't have time for jokes", Scott tells him off sternly.
"I don't", Bobby replies very seriously. "It's an emergency and believe me, you will want to know this!"
"Is this some kind of a joke?" Scott shouted. He, Bobby, Hank, Kitty, Logan and Emma are at the site of Jean's now empty grave. Scott was stunned about this and quickly assumes Sinister wants Jean's corpse.
"Why the hell would Sinister want her?" Scott continues to ramble.
Logan sniffs the entire area. "No sign of Sinister or any else…'cept Drake himself."
Everyone looks at Bobby, who was just as confused as they are.
"Bobby, is there something you haven't told us?" Emma asks him.
"I…I woke up in this place and next thing I knew, Jean's body was dug up", Bobby tells them. "I swear…I actually don't remember before that."
Emma reads his mind. "He's right. He doesn't remember. But there's something blocking your mind and I can't get through it."
"That's it. I think we're being abducted by aliens."
"I don't think so", Logan interrupts them. He continues to sniff the entire area along with Hank.
"She's alive", Hank announces. "She's alive."
"But how?" Kitty asks.
Scott knew one thing. "Phoenix. It revived her some reason. But…it's not Jean."
"Excuse me?"
"Jean and I were psychically linked. It was however severed when she died. You may smell her body but she's not in it."
"If the Phoenix Force did revive Jean, then how come we didn't sense its presence?" Hank wonders. "Emma, Scott, you of all people should sense it."
"Hank. If we did sense it, we would've told you right away", Emma replies. "I don't know why but it did an amazing job hiding her presence. Either that or we were far away."
"Are you sure about that Miss Frost? Maybe you're in denial", Kitty quips.
"Yes, I AM in denial", Emma answers back both sarcastically and harshly.
"Back to the topic. Where would it go with Jean?"
"Somewhere far away I hope."
"Guess it forgot to pick you up, not that I blame it."
"Enough", Scott scolds Emma and Kitty. "We have to find her…then we destroy her."
Logan, Hank, Bobby and Kitty are shocked. "Are you out of your mind?" Bobby asks him incredulously.
"Don't worry. He's just showing his baggage", Kitty politely tells Bobby. This brought Scott's attention.
"Excuse me?"
"You're saying that if we find Jean, we should kill her? I think you're jumping the gun."
"She's not back, Kitty."
"What are you talking about? Are you saying that Jean is not Jean at all?"
"Gotta agree with the kid, Summers", Logan adds. "You don't probably sense her because she doesn't want you to. We need to see her first before we assume killing her. I smelled her and believe me, she's alive and well to…wherever she went to. Jeannie would come back here for us and for you, if that's really necessary for her part."
"What if she came back as Dark Phoenix then?" Scott questions him. "Suppose the reason why Jean was resurrected is because the Phoenix needed her again, to connect into this world and got hungry for power. I'm not saying that we should kill Jean just for the sake of it. If she becomes Dark Phoenix, we have no choice but to kill her."
"Oh come on Scott. How can you assume that she'll be back as Dark Phoenix? We don't see a sign that says "I'm back and now I'm evil"", Bobby looks at him.
"How can you assume she's back to normal?" Emma asks him. "What if when she sees us, she'll automatically fry us? I'm not taking any chances of that."
"I have to agree with Emma", Scott replies.
Now this brings Kitty to her skepticism level. "What's going on Miss Frost? A little mind control?"
Emma glares at her. "Call me Emma, Katherine. It's so much nicer between friends", she hissed. "And for the record, I don't use mind control on Scott."
"On some occasions", Kitty muttered. Emma heard that, but decides not to pursue it. She's had enough of being bashed from her and Bobby.
"Are you girls done fighting?" Scott asks them. "Look, our main concern right now is Sinister and Ord. With the whole Phoenix thing added to our list of worries, I doubt we would get some sleep easily. Emma, contact the other X-Men and tell them to proceed to the Danger Room. All of them, Alex, Bishop, Lorna, Kurt, Peter, Gambit, Rogue, Ororo and even Betsy and Jean-Paul. Hank, after the meeting, I want you to build a device to lock Jean's powers in case she comes back and goes into her Dark Phoenix mode."
Scott and Emma left the scene, leaving the other four behind while pondering on what is about to happen.
"Summers has issues", Logan speaks up.
"On Jean?" Hank asks.
"About everything. He thinks everything's gone haywire. With Sinister, Ord and now Jeannie thrown into the mix, I'm not surprised that he could think of a plan that pre-maturely."
"What are you saying? That Scott's pretty incompetent as a leader? I've seen him in these kinds of situations and yet he's doing fine. What's the difference this time?"
"I ain't saying that. He could pull of a plan that could kill us all." With that, Logan began to head back to the Institute.
"Well, there's an excellent afterthought", Kitty bitterly mumbled.
Bobby also shares the same sentiments. "Yo Hank, you believe Logan?"
"I'm not sure Robert", Hank replied with a sigh. "But for what I believe, he wants to move past the heartbreak and focus on the object at the hand, which is…"
"To kill Jean."
Hank looks intently at his best friend. "Robert, I know you saw her."
"I don't know, Hank. I couldn't remember…I think."
"I think she has managed to block your memory of her."
"Okay Einstein", Kitty joins in the conversation. "If that's the case, why? Why would she block Bobby's mind? And come to think of it, how come the telepaths at the Institute couldn't sense her?"
"Maybe she wants it that way", Bobby said somberly. He looks at Jean's grave and her head stone, "Maybe she wants to move on. She wants us to forget her."
Storm exits her room and is on her way to the Danger Room to meet the others. Before that, she checks on the children to see if they are okay. As she goes down the stairs, the front door opens and Storm sees Sage, all decked out in her X.S.E. uniform.
"Tessa, what are you doing here?" Storm asks her in a venomous tone. She still couldn't forgive her for betraying them.
"I heard the news and I thought I could help you guys", Sage replies in an analytical manner. Storm laughs.
"Really? For what? So you can spy on us and report this to the Hellfire Club?"
"Ororo, I came here as the member of the X-Men, not as the member of the Hellfire Club. I'm not lying."
"Tessa, they usually are attached to big ones. I trusted you and you break that trust. How the hell am I supposed to trust you again?"
Sage thinks of a way to convince Storm that she's on her side again. "You just do, Ororo. You just do."
Storm frustratingly sighs as she thinks this matter through. On one hand, Sage is very useful in tracking Sinister or whoever is planning on their demise. On the other hand, she could backstab them when the need rises and Storm is not willing let that happened again. Just the Bishop is looking for Storm when he sees her and Sage facing each other. He was surprised as well to see Sage here at the Institute.
"Sage?", Bishop calls out.
"Lucas, how are you?" Sage asks in a sincere tone. Storm thinks that Sage uses that tactic to get them off hand and regain that trust.
"Fine. What are you doing here?"
"Helping you guys, again. I am sorry for what happened before."
Bishop looks at Storm for any answer about this. "Come with us", Storm said to Sage in an emotionless tone. She followed Storm and Bishop to the Danger Room where the others are waiting. They were surprised to see Sage back as she is surprised to see Psylocke and Colossus, alive.
"Sage?" Psylocke said as she sees her.
"Hi", Sage greets back, not knowing what else to do with a recently resurrected X-Woman. "How are you?" Now, Sage thinks she's stupid, not that she was concerned with that matter.
"Dead, you?"
"Formerly working for the Hellfire Club again."
Psylocke paused for a while. "Oh."
"All right people settle down", Scott announces. The Danger Room quickly changes into a big board of Monopoly.
Piotr was awed. "I can't believe this."
"That's not the only thing, that'll surprise you", Kurt tells him. "This Danger Room has a lot of simulations that you can't imagine like you can be in underwater."
"Or an S and M hall", Rogue replies as she eerily remembers entering that scene.
Everyone decided to stand up since there are no chairs. Scott begins the meeting. "As you all know, Sinister is back. He has managed to free Ord from S.H.I.E.L.D. custody and last night he sent a group of mercenaries to attack the school. Rachel, however, is on the medical bay due to the injuries she received from the mercenaries and Sam is going back to the X-Men and will arrive tomorrow. But we have another problem this time."
"What is it?" asks Storm.
"The Phoenix Force. It came back and resurrected Jean. However, neither she nor the force can't be located even with Cerebra."
Everyone in the room was quiet to digest the information that Jean is alive and very much missing. Nightcrawler realizes that Rachel said to him last night before she was shot. She sensed the presence of the Phoenix and Jean.
"Scott, you're wrong. Rachel sensed Jean…right before she was shot", Nightcrawler replied with a hint of remorse at the end of his sentence. "I know this because I was with her…"
"What? And you didn't tell us about this?" Scott asks Kurt angrily.
"I thought Rachel was thinking of Jean. I didn't know…"
"Ease up Summers. Kurt didn't know that fact", Logan defends his friend.
Emma decides to change another topic. She's had enough of Jean in one day. "In terms of Ord, Agent Brand from S.W.O.R.D. will be helping us in finding our favorite friendly green alien. Scott's team will be handling that."
"Wait, you mean our favorite hydra hair bitch is joinin' us?" Wolverine asks gruffly. "After she revealed that one of us will destroy that dink's planet?"
"We don't have a choice Logan", Scott answers him. "Agent Brand is the only one who can spot Ord. If we find him, we can locate Sinister."
"Again, with the big revelation", Kitty speaks up. "Did she agree to help us willingly or reluctantly?" In Kitty's case, if Brand agrees to help them willingly, it could be said that she will find out who will destroy the Breakworld. On the other hand, if she joins reluctantly, she's not interested in helping them at all.
"I don't know, but what Fury told me, she joined reluctantly. As for X.S.E., you have a call from the government of Japan who needs your help. Sunfire will assist you."
"What going on in the Land of the Rising Sun?" Bishop asks curiously.
"There is an anti-mutant terrorist known as the Red Moon that has been killing Japanese mutants. We think that they have been supplied by the government with weapons. I want you to investigate that case. Havok's team will go to San Francisco in investigating a mass murder in a community. Our reports indicate that a psychotic mutant mutant is on the loose."
"How long has this been?" asks Havok.
"Three days. It was said that this mutant is impervious to any physical objects", Emma adds the information.
"Great, there goes my abilities", Rogue grumbled as she sees Gambit, Beast and Colossus playing the dice while Kitty went around the entire board.
"Bobby Drake, however will not join you."
Now this brought Bobby to a surprise. "I'm sorry. I'm what with the what?"
"What do you mean he won't join us?" Polaris asks.
Scott didn't answer her question. "All right everyone you are dismissed. Bobby, Psylocke, Northstar, please stay."
"Whoa! Wait a sec! You expect us four to stop this mutant?" Havok asks indignantly.
"No, the L.A. X-Corps will assist you in your mission. They are currently tracking this mutant as we speak. If you have any questions, please ask immediately."
Gambit raises his hand. "I have. I thought about dis since last night. Remy saw them mercenaries grabbin' a large test tube. Now, what was inside dat tube?"
Scott and Hank remained quiet. They didn't want to alarm everyone that Cassandra Nova is inside. Then again they're not sure if that was Cassandra Nova.
"I don't know, Gambit", Scott plainly answers him, though Gambit isn't convinced.
"I got one. Which team I'll join in?" Logan asks.
"Ours, in the meantime."
Betsy and Jean-Paul looked at each other as the others begin to leave. Afterwards, they, Iceman, Cyclops and Emma Frost are the ones left behind.
"Can you please tell me why you guys are pulling me off the team before I turn New York into the second Antarctica?" Iceman asks in a serious manner.
"I called you three is because I have a very special assignment for you", Cyclops begins to speak.
"What kind of assignment?" Psylocke asks. "And do I have to teach? I'm not sure I'll do well with kids."
"It's your choice, although I have for you to teach them etiquette and grooming." Emma tells her.
"Etiquette and grooming? Do they even need that? Well I'm not saying that they smell like dead fish. Sorry mate, can't picture myself as Miss Marple of the educational field."
"Anyway", Scott decides to interrupt since he doesn't get Betsy's British pop culture reference at all. "Cerebra has located a loose mutant in Canada. But this is no ordinary mutant."
"Please intrigue us more, Scotty and Frosty", Iceman cooed.
"This mutant has well, how I shall put this…"
Emma interrupts her lover as she relays the info on the three mutants. "I cannot however contact him with my telepathy. I believe his mind has been protected by someone or something. According to our sources, his name was Noah Emerson who lived in L.A. 16 years old, Caucasian and an orphan. A few days ago he ran away because it was said that some men were chasing him. No one has heard of him since. But based on a few sightings, he could be a telepath yet we're not sure. A few hours ago, he was finally captured by the men who were pursuing him. Their current location is in Russia in the Khrushchev Company."
"Khrushchev Company…I've heard about them before", Northstar revealed. "They dealt with scientific researches around the world. Most of the money was funded by the Russian division of the Hellfire Club since 1999."
"So they were pretty much aligned themselves with the Hellfire Club?" Cyclops asks.
"Not anymore. Two years ago, they had a huge argument over who will completely take control of the company. Stephan Khrushchev, a hottie but also an ass, is the current president. Their methods are well, best similar with HYDRA."
"The three of you will infiltrate the company, rescue the boy and get out", Emma continues to debrief them about the mission. "Now, you may be wondering why Scott and I chose you three of all X-Men."
"Because you want us killed and in Betsy's case, again?" Iceman jokes.
Emma is obviously not amused. "Because Northstar, as he demonstrated just now, knows the company very well…"
"Wait a sec!" Northstar interrupts her. "I only know ¼ of the company, not the whole thing!"
"Better you than anyone else. I could've chosen Warren for this mission but given the fact that his wings are not easy to hide and obviously not here, he would be bad for a rescue mission. As for you, Ms. Braddock, I want you to assist Jean-Paul and the both of you must pose as two executives who are interested in the company itself. As for you, Robert Drake, you will sneak in the building at the back and destroy the electricity in order for Elizabeth and Jean-Paul to rescue the boy easily. Any questions?"
"Tons", replied Bobby.
In unknown location, Mr. Sinister and Ord watch as the latter's henchmen are now fixing three chambers for Ernst and Cassandra Nova's lifeless body. Ord is disturbed at this progress.
"What do you wish to achieve in all of this, mutant?" Ord questions Sinister. "Why are you interested in this?"
Sinister doesn't speak for almost a minute. "For the future, my dear friend…"
"What makes you think you are my friend?"
"Wasn't I who freed you? In return, we would help each other to achieve our individual goals. But in my case, by combining the bodies of two mutants will result of one of Charles Xavier's nightmares."
"Who?" Ord asks.
"Cassandra Nova was Xavier's twin sister, except for the obvious fact that she is the opposite of him, the yang to his yin. Also, she was truly responsible for the bombing of Genosha."
"Ah yes, I remember that. The deaths of 16 million people including mutants, not that I care."
"Ouch, that's pretty harsh", Sinister mockingly jokes. "We have however, one problem. Her real consciousness is missing. If we do manage to combine them into one, we won't still have the real Cassandra."
"Wait, what good would it develop by merging this freaky mutants into one freaky mutant? What does she have to do with us?"
This is where Sinister wickedly grins for this is his one of his real plans. He grabs a piece of paper and shows it to Ord. In it is a written passage:
A woman of no physical origin
Inside of a man whose mind is his greatest ally and enemy
Shall lead a genius man with a twisted and cruel mind
To a route of the greatest discovery
Of the reawakened threat of all living worlds
"What is this? I have no time for rhymes or any crack-pot prophecies!" Ord yelled at Sinister. "My world is about to be destroyed by an X-Man and all you do is to give me some bullshit poetry?"
Ord grabs Sinister's collar and both are facing each other. "You listen to me mutant. We made a deal. You will deal with my problem and I will do yours. In the Breakworld, honor is sacred and very much valued. I don't know if your world practiced it, but if that is tainted, one dies!"
Ord let goes of Sinister. The latter fixes himself and faces the Breakworld warrior. Sinister knew Ord has problems with who to trust after Kavita Rao and SWORD betrayed him. "Listen to me, warrior. I am a man of my own word. If I were to betray your trust is because either your goals are shortsighted or you did something incredibly stupid. I am presenting to you a prophecy on who will destroy your world. In this prophecy, Cassandra Nova will help me in identifying the one who will be the destroyer. If you want to know what's in it for me, that I cannot tell you right now except you have to trust me. The day of joy will come."
Without a word, Ord left Sinister alone and went to his room with his feet stomping to let everyone know that he is seriously pissed off.
"Give him time, Sinister. He'll come around."
Sinister looks behind at the figure hiding behind the shadow. "After all, you've helped me a lot."
"True, but we do not know what Ord will do. Usually, I would wait and be patient", said Sinister.
"What has changed?"
Sinister was thinking for a moment. "Time is very precious right now. Some of Destiny's Diaries are missing. If your source is correct, then some of them are with Charles Xavier. In fact, do the X-Men know the real Magneto is alive?"
"No. They only believe that Xorn-Magneto is dead. They are pre-occupied at their puny school at the moment. Did I mention that one of their students is dead?"
"I know. You told me. A victim of Ord's cure. Sad, little boy. But I'm not interested right now with that."
"Very well. The machine is almost complete for Cassandra Nova."
"Excellent. Take a rest for a moment."
Sinister proceeds to the prison room. He opens the doors and goes to a sealed cell to see his prisoner. "Good day, how are you resting up?" Sinister sincerely greets. The prisoner is not sure whether he had meant it or not.
"I do hope your trip to Confucian land somehow enlightens you", Sinister continues wistfully. "But don't worry, you won't last in this prison. I have everything I need and you won't be useful at the moment. That doesn't mean, however, you have lost your purpose in life. I have arranged for you by an old colleague to test you as a trade, seeing how you betrayed me. In fact, your sibling did a stupendous job than you. Maybe it's time I should stop sending you to China to reach your inner-Kwai Chang Caine. Until then, Shen Xorn, I wish you all the luck you will need."
With those last words, Sinister calmly left while thinking on his next move. While running the Weapon X program, he has been secretly plotting on his comeback without any calculated flaws. As faith would have it, he had decided to create a mutant to infiltrate the X-Men. It would seem by using the DNA he had collected from almost all of the mutants he had gathered in his entire lifetime, he used Magneto's as a failsafe in case of emergency. He used a metal mask to hide Xorn's face as Magneto. As a result, Xorn has Magneto's physical appearance along with his traits and power. He, in fact, planned Xorn to be found by Cyclops in Hong Kong and then later on to join the X-Men. However, he didn't anticipate Xorn would almost destroy Manhattan and killing Jean Grey-Summers. After Xorn is admitted to the X-Men, Sinister continue to create another Xorn, this time Shen Xorn. However, he made a mistake in during the creation and now this is the result. Like before, Sinister had planned for Shen Xorn to be found by the X-Men. But, as Sinister knew, there are some things that wouldn't work out.
"I'm worried for Charles", Callisto replied with concern. "He's not like this…at all."
"That's true. Destiny's Diaries, even if they are true, were not meant to be followed. They are a trap waiting to be executed", Magneto answers her.
Neither of them talked as they walk downstairs to a basement. "You know, I know you wanted the Diaries yourself also", Callisto tells him as if it was obvious. "Like, you want to know the future of mutants."
Magneto was amused. "Seems you have read my mind."
"Ha. It doesn't need a telepath to know what you're up to."
Callisto still felt strange talking to the same man who was the adversary of the X-Men. She could've told Warren about this, but Xavier forbade her to do so for reasons unknown. Whatever it was, he better come up with an excellent excuse or else. Both her and Magneto have reached the basement which houses a secret passage to Magneto's house since Warren had arrived.
"Tell Charles, if needs some help, he should call me", Magneto suggests as he opens the door. "Truthfully, I fear he might go overboard with some of…its delicate passages. He had told me before of Cassandra Nova and the deaths of 16 million Genoshans. We decipher them before it's too late."
Callisto shrugs. "Don't worry. I'll tell him about it. By the way, does you-know-who have the privileges to the diary?"
Magneto turns away by the time the former Morlock's leader has reached her last word. That means yes, she thought. She closes the secret passage and proceeds to go upstairs. Along the way, she bumps into Warren.
"Callisto", Warren greets her emotionlessly. "Who were you talking to downstairs?"
"No one", she replied. If looks could kill, Warren could just stab her.
"I heard a man's voice…unless you're good at imitating one or you ARE one", he spats.
"Man, you are so…what's the word? Oh yeah, skeptic. Oh yeah, back then? Let it go and I'm sorry."
Warren rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Everyone's a comedian." He watches Callisto walk away. When she was gone, he goes down stairs to the basement to check something out. Everything was clean. He wished he had Logan's sense of smell or telepathy. He knows Callisto was not alone, so why does he care?
UP NEXT: Rachel receives a visitor in the form offamiliar faceduring her coma while Polaris has nightmares involving Magneto and the Scarlet Witch. During their mission, Gambit bumps into Belladonna while Rogue bumps into an old friend. X-23 enters the picture as she is befriended by Psylocke. Mystique does something to Forge and finally learn how Jubilee will be involved in this story.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
1. For those who don't know, Archangel is now on "Excalibur".
2. The conversation in the graveyard is almost similar to "X-Men: Phoenix – Endsong", with some additions from me.
3. As for the Xorn thing, this is only a theory from me and is not to be taken seriously. Of course, we still don't know the whole Xorn issue.
4. Unfortunately for those who hate her, Nurse Annie will return along with Carter. But I've got good reasons.
5. I need a beta-reader to help me for this story.
6. For those who want to crack the prophecies, good luck. They're not as easy as you think.
7. david: if you want to know more, just read or e-mail me if you have questions.