UNCANNY XMEN MINI: THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
BY LOGANALPHA30 WITH HELP FROM SHADOW8
()-Art Instructions
""-Words
[]-Caption Boxes
-Thoughts
++-Time, Place Boxes
+Xavier's School for gifted youngsters+
+8:30 P.M.+
(Scene opens with Sam seen sitting on the dock at the pond and holding a stick in his hand and he's twirling the end of it around in the water, as we see the ripples and his sad face reflected in the water.)What do ah do now, momma, Lizzie(Sam thinks as he drops his head into the knee that he has propped up and one arm resting on it as we see a few tears slide down his cheeks.)"Sam",(we see Sam and now Warpaths reflection in the water, it's lit by moonlight, Jimmy has seen better days as he looks sick and haggard.)
"Huh Jimmy, what are you...",(Sam says lifting his head up and turning to look up at Warpath.)"I had to get out of there, I couldn't stand it anymore,"(Warpath says sitting down near Sam, Warpath has jeans and boots on but no shirt, we see that he's bandaged up, but he wraps a big blanket around him.)"Ah know the feelin,"(Sam says smiling weakly)."But really Sam, you okay, Tabitha told me about what happened to...,"(Warpath says looking concerned).
"Ah'm okay Jimmy, I mean ah have tah be okay, if not just for Paige's sake,"(Sam says scratching his right cheek and chin.). "That's all well and good for the short term, but they're still going to be gone years from now, time doesn't make the pain go away, you just learn how to handle it better,"(Warpath says coughing)."Ah hope you're right Jimmy, I mean, ah still don't know how I'm gonna tell Paige, ah don't even know where she is,"(Sam says looking frustrated).
"Warren can probably help you out with that, but then you have to figure out what you're going to do after you tell Paige, after all, it's just going to be the two of you now,"(Warpath says glancing up at the moon)."Maybe we'll ask the Professor if we could stay at the mansion for a while, but after that, ah got nothin,"(Sam says throwing the stick into the water angrily)."I know the feeling, if not for me joining X-force I don't know where I'd be right now, although right now it's hard to see how it could be much worse,"(Warpath says smiling weakly).
"But ah guess a part of me feels responsible for their deaths, like if Tabitha and I would've gotten there sooner we could have done something,"(Sam says looking angry)."Or maybe you two would have died right along with them, you're still here for a reason, now you just have to figure out what that reason is,"(Warpath says looking back at the moon.)"But with my luck that could take forever,"(Sam says tossing a small rock into the water).
"Well if you ever need any help, just ask,"(Warpath says before coughing again, this time a little blood comes up, which makes him wince)."You okay Jimmy, ah think you should go back inside, you don't look so good,"(Sam says looking concerned and putting a hand on Warpaths shoulder)."I think maybe you're right, I'm getting a little lightheaded,"(Warpath says standing up)."You want me to go get Mr. McCoy, ah'd be back before you know it,"(Sam says getting to his feet.)
"No thanks, I'll be fine, I'd better get back before...",(Warpath says before being cut off by Siryn as we first see her words,)"Jimmy, are ye daft, ye shouldn't be out her in your condition",(she says entering the picture as we see Sam and Jimmy cringe and smile sheepishly)."I know Terry, I just needed to get some air that's all,"(Warpath says as we see an overhead shot of the three of them.)"Then you should've opened a window, now get back inside before ye catch a cold out here,"(Siryn says glaring at Warpath).
"Okay, remember what I said Sam, you need any help, you know where to find me right,"(Warpath says smiling weekly along with Siryn giving him a mean look)."Ah'll do that, see ya tomorrow,"(Sam says walking away and smiling)."Don't stay out to late, you know how that bugs the Professor,"(Siryn's says almost dragging Warpath with her back towards the mansion.)"I won't, don't worry,"(Sam's says leaning up against a nearby tree, even though it's dark out the line of shadows rests on his face).
[With his friends gone Samuel Guthrie finally has some free time, or so he thinks...] "Hey Sam, there you are, where have you been I've been looking all over for you,"(Tabitha says running towards him)."What, is something wrong,"(Sam's says looking concerned).
"Not anymore, so whatcha doin out here,"(Tabitha asks a little winded from the run)."Just thinkin,"(Sam says kicking the dirt at his feet.)"What about,"(Tabitha says also leaning up against the tree, close to him, and she doesn't have a coat on.)"Ah don't know, nothin, everything, us..."(Sam says lifting his head and then looking at Tabitha)."Us,"(Tabitha says looking a bit confused, not angry, and she's shivering because of her lightweight shirt that she's wearing).
"Ah don't know, it's just that ever since you and Bobby..., but that's in the past, ah've just felt like there's been something missing in my life, and that something is you,"(Sam says looking obviously nervous as he smiles.)(Next couple of pictures or so we see Sam and Tabitha nervously look at each other, then their eyes grow wide and they quickly turn away, acting like they're thinking, I hope he/she didn't see me)."So then what are you saying Sam,"(Tabitha says looking really nervous, but excited at the same time).
"I just thought that we, you and me, might take another shot at us, maybe try and get back to what we used to be, that is if you still....",(Sam says with a sad puppy dog face as he sheepishly looks at Tabitha.)"Sam, I never stopped.."(Tabitha says taking Sam's right hand in hers and his left to her face)."What does that,"(Sam says looking confused, but not worried)."You talk to much,"(Tabitha says before kissing him in the next panel).(Next few panels are as we pull away from them).[Meanwhile, back in the mansions War room]
(We see Warren, Betsy, Alex, and Lorna are monitoring many computer and TV screens, as we see images of war and unrest all over the world)."And this is only the beginning, it's only going to get worse,"(Warren says rubbing his eyes with one hand and holding papers with the other hand). "So then what are we supposed to do about it, we can't stop all these things from happening, no one can,"(Alex says as he's standing up, but bent over with his elbows and forearms on the back of his chair).
"I agree, but Apocalypse and the Crimson Dawn aren't behind all of them, so that narrows the field down pretty well,"(Betsy says typing something on a keyboard and some of the screens shut off.)"But even then that's still a lot of hot spots that'll need to be taken care of,"(Lorna says looking at Alex, she's obviously tired).
"Yes there are, but it's getting late and I think it's best that we pick this up tomorrow morning, agreed,"(Warren says as Betsy rest her right hand on his right shoulder, and he places his left hand over top of hers.)"Ahh, sounds good to me, I'm beat,"(Lorna says stifling a yawn and smiling at Alex)."Then I guess we'll see you tomorrow, good night,"(Betsy says as Alex and Lorna leave the room while they say,)"Good night,"(as well)."You coming to bed luv,"(Betsy says wrapping her arms around Warren up at his shoulders and resting her head on his shoulder).
"In a minute my love, I still have a few things to catch up on first,"(Warren says smiling with a hand on Betsy's right cheek)."Okay, but don't be to long,"(Betsy says walking out of the room as Warren says,)"I won't."Now that they're gone I can get the information that I'll need for this mission(Warren thinks as he types on the keyboard in front of him, and we see the screen behind him n the wall show that he's bypassing the systems access codes)."Now for the good stuff,"(Warren says as we see him first click on copy files with a roller ball kind of mouse, then we see a progress bar at the bottom of the screen, and the other screens flash over a series of panels as we see images of the old X-force team members bios, the old X-Factor bios, then images of Sage and her bio from Xavier's personal files, and also Vargas before it switches to mainly blueprints of the mansion and the blackbird.)
"What's all that,"(Siryn says from the doorway, looking confused)."Theresa, what are...., just getting a copy of some files that we'll need, that's all,"(Warren says as he's obviously surprised to see her)."Right, well I'm going to bed now, see ye tomorrow,"(Siryn says waving to Warren as she walks out of sight)."Good night,"(Warren says with a relieved look on his face)."That was a little to close,"(Warren says as the screen shows that the computer is done copying the files).
Good, now that the hard part is over, I can start the move, I hope everybody's not getting to comfortable her, because it's time to get out of her, it's safer for everyone involved that we're not her when all hell breaks loose(Warren thinks putting the cd with the copied files into its case and then into his briefcase that's sitting beside him)."I'm glad Charles isn't here, I couldn't have done this if he were," (Warren says standing up).
"Now I'd better get to bed before Betsy comes looking for me,"(Warren says with a smirk on his face as he walks out of the room while carrying his briefcase)[Meanwhile as Archangel slowly saunters off to bed, the newly reformed couple has camped out for the night in the study](We see Sam and Tabitha asleep together on a large couch, she's wearing his coat and a blanket, they're both fully clothed, and he's holding her in his arms).(Warren is seen stopping at the door as we see him from the waist up as he says with a smile),"kids"(before continuing on his way.)
+Bus Terminal #247+
+San Francisco, California+
+10:30 P.M.+
[There's the easy way and then there's the hard way, and for these two it somehow always ends up being the hard way, much to the chagrin of one of them in particular](It's raining as a bus pulls up to the station, and the passengers file out under a large overhang and get their bags.)"You just couldn't leave well enough alone could you, we were almost on the plane, but no, you had to be the bad hombre and bring your swords along didn't you,"(Rictor says with a sarcastic look on his face as he picks up his bag.)
"But I had to bring them, a warrior without his weapons in many situations is as good as dead,"(Shatterstar says picking his bag up and slinging it over his shoulder)."Whatever, we need to get out of this rain so hmpf,"(Rictor says as he backs into somebody who says),"Hey".(As we see Rictor back into a woman)."Oh hey I'm, I'm,"(Rictor stammers out as he turns around and then stares at the woman he bumped into).
"Is something wrong, do I have something in my teeth,"(the woman says looking worried as she puts a hand to her mouth)."No, you're teeth are fine, I was just going to apologize for backing into you,"(Rictor says smiling sheepishly).
"We're are truly madam, but my friend and I are in a hurry and ..."(Shatterstar says with a dignified stance and look on his face before she interrupts him),"hey, no harm done, so you two just move here,"(she says smiling)(She's wearing lightly tattered blue jeans, a shirt that stops where her stomach starts(but down far enough)at the top, she has a belly button ring, leather boots, her medium length dark brown hair is slightly curly and her skin is a light brown(much like the color of native Hawaiians- spelling-or color like that), with an old leather coat, leather boots, a baseball cap that's on backwards, and wearing a small crucifix and two earrings in each ear).
"Something like that, we're here to see some old friends, catch up on old times,"(Rictor says scratching his chin)."Fekt, now is not a time for celebration and indulgence, it's time for training and meditation,"(Shatterstar says crossing his arms and looking impatient)."Is he always like this, and what does fekt mean anyway,"(the woman says smiling).
"Uhh, it's Russian, and it loses a lot in the translation,"(Rictor says looking at his feet and smiling)."Sure it does, but listen, my cab's here so,"(the woman says turning her head towards the road before saying,)"I'd better go, but it was nice meeting you two, oh I forgot, I didn't' tell you my name, it's Erica, Erica Kalen,"(Erica says as she shakes their hands as Rictor says,)"Rictor, Shatterstar". "Bye,"(Erica says getting into the cab and waving goodbye as Rictor says),"Bye,"(as we see the cab coming towards us in the panel and Rictor and Shatterstar in the background, waving.)
"Well come on, we've still got awhile before our cab gets here so we'd better get in out of this rain,"(Rictor says as he and Shatterstar walk into the bus station.)[As night steals over the city the rain comes to try and wash away the fears of the day...](Wide shot of it raining and the city in the bottom of the picture)-END
BY LOGANALPHA30 WITH HELP FROM SHADOW8
()-Art Instructions
""-Words
[]-Caption Boxes
-Thoughts
++-Time, Place Boxes
+Xavier's School for gifted youngsters+
+8:30 P.M.+
(Scene opens with Sam seen sitting on the dock at the pond and holding a stick in his hand and he's twirling the end of it around in the water, as we see the ripples and his sad face reflected in the water.)What do ah do now, momma, Lizzie(Sam thinks as he drops his head into the knee that he has propped up and one arm resting on it as we see a few tears slide down his cheeks.)"Sam",(we see Sam and now Warpaths reflection in the water, it's lit by moonlight, Jimmy has seen better days as he looks sick and haggard.)
"Huh Jimmy, what are you...",(Sam says lifting his head up and turning to look up at Warpath.)"I had to get out of there, I couldn't stand it anymore,"(Warpath says sitting down near Sam, Warpath has jeans and boots on but no shirt, we see that he's bandaged up, but he wraps a big blanket around him.)"Ah know the feelin,"(Sam says smiling weakly)."But really Sam, you okay, Tabitha told me about what happened to...,"(Warpath says looking concerned).
"Ah'm okay Jimmy, I mean ah have tah be okay, if not just for Paige's sake,"(Sam says scratching his right cheek and chin.). "That's all well and good for the short term, but they're still going to be gone years from now, time doesn't make the pain go away, you just learn how to handle it better,"(Warpath says coughing)."Ah hope you're right Jimmy, I mean, ah still don't know how I'm gonna tell Paige, ah don't even know where she is,"(Sam says looking frustrated).
"Warren can probably help you out with that, but then you have to figure out what you're going to do after you tell Paige, after all, it's just going to be the two of you now,"(Warpath says glancing up at the moon)."Maybe we'll ask the Professor if we could stay at the mansion for a while, but after that, ah got nothin,"(Sam says throwing the stick into the water angrily)."I know the feeling, if not for me joining X-force I don't know where I'd be right now, although right now it's hard to see how it could be much worse,"(Warpath says smiling weakly).
"But ah guess a part of me feels responsible for their deaths, like if Tabitha and I would've gotten there sooner we could have done something,"(Sam says looking angry)."Or maybe you two would have died right along with them, you're still here for a reason, now you just have to figure out what that reason is,"(Warpath says looking back at the moon.)"But with my luck that could take forever,"(Sam says tossing a small rock into the water).
"Well if you ever need any help, just ask,"(Warpath says before coughing again, this time a little blood comes up, which makes him wince)."You okay Jimmy, ah think you should go back inside, you don't look so good,"(Sam says looking concerned and putting a hand on Warpaths shoulder)."I think maybe you're right, I'm getting a little lightheaded,"(Warpath says standing up)."You want me to go get Mr. McCoy, ah'd be back before you know it,"(Sam says getting to his feet.)
"No thanks, I'll be fine, I'd better get back before...",(Warpath says before being cut off by Siryn as we first see her words,)"Jimmy, are ye daft, ye shouldn't be out her in your condition",(she says entering the picture as we see Sam and Jimmy cringe and smile sheepishly)."I know Terry, I just needed to get some air that's all,"(Warpath says as we see an overhead shot of the three of them.)"Then you should've opened a window, now get back inside before ye catch a cold out here,"(Siryn says glaring at Warpath).
"Okay, remember what I said Sam, you need any help, you know where to find me right,"(Warpath says smiling weekly along with Siryn giving him a mean look)."Ah'll do that, see ya tomorrow,"(Sam says walking away and smiling)."Don't stay out to late, you know how that bugs the Professor,"(Siryn's says almost dragging Warpath with her back towards the mansion.)"I won't, don't worry,"(Sam's says leaning up against a nearby tree, even though it's dark out the line of shadows rests on his face).
[With his friends gone Samuel Guthrie finally has some free time, or so he thinks...] "Hey Sam, there you are, where have you been I've been looking all over for you,"(Tabitha says running towards him)."What, is something wrong,"(Sam's says looking concerned).
"Not anymore, so whatcha doin out here,"(Tabitha asks a little winded from the run)."Just thinkin,"(Sam says kicking the dirt at his feet.)"What about,"(Tabitha says also leaning up against the tree, close to him, and she doesn't have a coat on.)"Ah don't know, nothin, everything, us..."(Sam says lifting his head and then looking at Tabitha)."Us,"(Tabitha says looking a bit confused, not angry, and she's shivering because of her lightweight shirt that she's wearing).
"Ah don't know, it's just that ever since you and Bobby..., but that's in the past, ah've just felt like there's been something missing in my life, and that something is you,"(Sam says looking obviously nervous as he smiles.)(Next couple of pictures or so we see Sam and Tabitha nervously look at each other, then their eyes grow wide and they quickly turn away, acting like they're thinking, I hope he/she didn't see me)."So then what are you saying Sam,"(Tabitha says looking really nervous, but excited at the same time).
"I just thought that we, you and me, might take another shot at us, maybe try and get back to what we used to be, that is if you still....",(Sam says with a sad puppy dog face as he sheepishly looks at Tabitha.)"Sam, I never stopped.."(Tabitha says taking Sam's right hand in hers and his left to her face)."What does that,"(Sam says looking confused, but not worried)."You talk to much,"(Tabitha says before kissing him in the next panel).(Next few panels are as we pull away from them).[Meanwhile, back in the mansions War room]
(We see Warren, Betsy, Alex, and Lorna are monitoring many computer and TV screens, as we see images of war and unrest all over the world)."And this is only the beginning, it's only going to get worse,"(Warren says rubbing his eyes with one hand and holding papers with the other hand). "So then what are we supposed to do about it, we can't stop all these things from happening, no one can,"(Alex says as he's standing up, but bent over with his elbows and forearms on the back of his chair).
"I agree, but Apocalypse and the Crimson Dawn aren't behind all of them, so that narrows the field down pretty well,"(Betsy says typing something on a keyboard and some of the screens shut off.)"But even then that's still a lot of hot spots that'll need to be taken care of,"(Lorna says looking at Alex, she's obviously tired).
"Yes there are, but it's getting late and I think it's best that we pick this up tomorrow morning, agreed,"(Warren says as Betsy rest her right hand on his right shoulder, and he places his left hand over top of hers.)"Ahh, sounds good to me, I'm beat,"(Lorna says stifling a yawn and smiling at Alex)."Then I guess we'll see you tomorrow, good night,"(Betsy says as Alex and Lorna leave the room while they say,)"Good night,"(as well)."You coming to bed luv,"(Betsy says wrapping her arms around Warren up at his shoulders and resting her head on his shoulder).
"In a minute my love, I still have a few things to catch up on first,"(Warren says smiling with a hand on Betsy's right cheek)."Okay, but don't be to long,"(Betsy says walking out of the room as Warren says,)"I won't."Now that they're gone I can get the information that I'll need for this mission(Warren thinks as he types on the keyboard in front of him, and we see the screen behind him n the wall show that he's bypassing the systems access codes)."Now for the good stuff,"(Warren says as we see him first click on copy files with a roller ball kind of mouse, then we see a progress bar at the bottom of the screen, and the other screens flash over a series of panels as we see images of the old X-force team members bios, the old X-Factor bios, then images of Sage and her bio from Xavier's personal files, and also Vargas before it switches to mainly blueprints of the mansion and the blackbird.)
"What's all that,"(Siryn says from the doorway, looking confused)."Theresa, what are...., just getting a copy of some files that we'll need, that's all,"(Warren says as he's obviously surprised to see her)."Right, well I'm going to bed now, see ye tomorrow,"(Siryn says waving to Warren as she walks out of sight)."Good night,"(Warren says with a relieved look on his face)."That was a little to close,"(Warren says as the screen shows that the computer is done copying the files).
Good, now that the hard part is over, I can start the move, I hope everybody's not getting to comfortable her, because it's time to get out of her, it's safer for everyone involved that we're not her when all hell breaks loose(Warren thinks putting the cd with the copied files into its case and then into his briefcase that's sitting beside him)."I'm glad Charles isn't here, I couldn't have done this if he were," (Warren says standing up).
"Now I'd better get to bed before Betsy comes looking for me,"(Warren says with a smirk on his face as he walks out of the room while carrying his briefcase)[Meanwhile as Archangel slowly saunters off to bed, the newly reformed couple has camped out for the night in the study](We see Sam and Tabitha asleep together on a large couch, she's wearing his coat and a blanket, they're both fully clothed, and he's holding her in his arms).(Warren is seen stopping at the door as we see him from the waist up as he says with a smile),"kids"(before continuing on his way.)
+Bus Terminal #247+
+San Francisco, California+
+10:30 P.M.+
[There's the easy way and then there's the hard way, and for these two it somehow always ends up being the hard way, much to the chagrin of one of them in particular](It's raining as a bus pulls up to the station, and the passengers file out under a large overhang and get their bags.)"You just couldn't leave well enough alone could you, we were almost on the plane, but no, you had to be the bad hombre and bring your swords along didn't you,"(Rictor says with a sarcastic look on his face as he picks up his bag.)
"But I had to bring them, a warrior without his weapons in many situations is as good as dead,"(Shatterstar says picking his bag up and slinging it over his shoulder)."Whatever, we need to get out of this rain so hmpf,"(Rictor says as he backs into somebody who says),"Hey".(As we see Rictor back into a woman)."Oh hey I'm, I'm,"(Rictor stammers out as he turns around and then stares at the woman he bumped into).
"Is something wrong, do I have something in my teeth,"(the woman says looking worried as she puts a hand to her mouth)."No, you're teeth are fine, I was just going to apologize for backing into you,"(Rictor says smiling sheepishly).
"We're are truly madam, but my friend and I are in a hurry and ..."(Shatterstar says with a dignified stance and look on his face before she interrupts him),"hey, no harm done, so you two just move here,"(she says smiling)(She's wearing lightly tattered blue jeans, a shirt that stops where her stomach starts(but down far enough)at the top, she has a belly button ring, leather boots, her medium length dark brown hair is slightly curly and her skin is a light brown(much like the color of native Hawaiians- spelling-or color like that), with an old leather coat, leather boots, a baseball cap that's on backwards, and wearing a small crucifix and two earrings in each ear).
"Something like that, we're here to see some old friends, catch up on old times,"(Rictor says scratching his chin)."Fekt, now is not a time for celebration and indulgence, it's time for training and meditation,"(Shatterstar says crossing his arms and looking impatient)."Is he always like this, and what does fekt mean anyway,"(the woman says smiling).
"Uhh, it's Russian, and it loses a lot in the translation,"(Rictor says looking at his feet and smiling)."Sure it does, but listen, my cab's here so,"(the woman says turning her head towards the road before saying,)"I'd better go, but it was nice meeting you two, oh I forgot, I didn't' tell you my name, it's Erica, Erica Kalen,"(Erica says as she shakes their hands as Rictor says,)"Rictor, Shatterstar". "Bye,"(Erica says getting into the cab and waving goodbye as Rictor says),"Bye,"(as we see the cab coming towards us in the panel and Rictor and Shatterstar in the background, waving.)
"Well come on, we've still got awhile before our cab gets here so we'd better get in out of this rain,"(Rictor says as he and Shatterstar walk into the bus station.)[As night steals over the city the rain comes to try and wash away the fears of the day...](Wide shot of it raining and the city in the bottom of the picture)-END