UNCANNY XMEN MINI: DARK TIDINGS
WRITTEN BY LOGANALPHA30 WITH HELP FROM SHADOW8
[]-Caption Boxes
""-Words
()-Art Instructions
-Thoughts
++-Time, Place, Boxes
+Uncanny HQ+ +7:30 A.M.+
(Scene opens with Warren working in the mansions workshop). (We see Warren crouched down working on something and behind him is a very large screen). (Then an image appears on the screen, it's Forge, who looks a little tired as he says), "Warren, are you there?" "Huh, Forge", (Warren says lifting his head and slightly turning it to look towards the screen). "You wanted me to contact you if I registered a disturbance above level 3,"(Forge says glancing back at a computer screen).
"And I take it from the fact that I'm staring at your ugly mug this early in the morning is because you did, when and where, I'm going to need everything you collected, all the data",(Warren says standing up). "It's nice to see you to Warren, I'm sending you all the data that my sensors picked up, but I feel that I should at least inquire as to what you need this information for," (Forge says as Warren rests on the back of the chair that's in front of the screen). "I'm sorry Forge, but it's safer for all of us if you don't know what this information will be used for, there are too many lives at stake",(Warren says while rubbing the sleep out of his left eye).
"Since I don't think arguing with you will do any good I'll let it drop, but on a more personal level, have you heard anything from Ororo,"(Forge says with a nervous look on his face). "Last I heard she was fine, but still mum about how her mission is going, I'm sorry but that's all that I can give you, but I appreciate the data,"(Warren says resting his chin in his upturned palm). "That's good to hear thank you, but I don't really have time to chat because I've got a lot of work to do so I'll contact you again when there's a spike," (Forge says as the screen fades to black and Warren says as he waves goodbye to Forge with his hand), "I'll be waiting."
(We see Warren tiredly turn to leave the room before he stops in his tracks with a surprised look on his face as we then switch to a look over his shoulder of the doorway). (We see Betsy in a bathrobe only, the bathrobe has slipped off her left shoulder, her hair is over one eye, she has a sexy smile with one hand behind her back as she says), "Hey there Warren, how,"(before she straightens up, pulls the bathrobe backup and brushes the hair out of her eyes and then says with a worried look on her face as we then see a panel of her and Warren standing face to face with his head hung in a tired way, with him massaging the back of his neck with his right hand and she has her right hand on his jaw line and in her left hand we see that she's carrying a cup of coffee), "are you alright, you look like hell, another all-nighter huh."
"Yah, how could you tell",(Warren says with a smile on his face as we see that his eyes are tired and bloodshot before he then says), "but all I need now is a good strong cup of joe to get me going and I'll be fine." "Well then, I guess this is your lucky day," (Betsy says handing Warren the coffee before she says), "Any news, Forge didn't look very festive this morning, it's bad isn't it?"
"From what I've seen of the data it doesn't look good, I think we're going to need the whole team for this one, are Alex and Lorna up yet,"(Warren says as he starts sifting through the pages of data that are being printed out while he sips the coffee). (We see Betsy frown and say while looking away from Warren), "I don't know, they left for parts unknown yesterday, all Alex told me was that Valerie Cooper had contacted them with a very important problem, something that Alex and Lorna had to handle themselves, that's all I know."
(Warren looks up with an unhappy look on his face as he says), "Perfect just perfect, we're sitting on the biggest spike in Apocalypses activity that we've had to date and we lose two of our best allies," (Warren says putting his hand over his face in frustration).
"Well you know what they say, that you should always plan for the unexpected," (Betsy says half smiling before her demeanor sours and she straightens up and says), "I'll gather the troops". "Thank you," (Warren says slumping down into the chair). "My pleasure," (Betsy says with a smirk as she activates her powers as we see her psychic butterfly and her eyes flare up as we see her think), Okay everybody, Samuel, Tabitha, Theresa, James fall in, and don't make me have to come get you, especially you Tabitha
(We see flash images of each member waking up in bed with a similar purplish pink butterfly on their foreheads as they each wake up by either opening their eyes or sitting up in bed, except for Tabitha, who just makes a funny noise and then turns over in bed). Why that little(Betsy thinks with a very angry look on her face before she turns and storms off down the hall, we go to a shot of Warren turned in the chair slightly as he's glancing back at Betsy when she storms out in the background, and he has a sly smile on his face).
(Scene shifts to a hallway in the mansion as we see Warpath standing in the hall and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes while wearing jeans and an old football jersey). "So you got Betsy's special wake up call to huh," (Sam says scratching his head and smiling sheepishly as he comes into the hall, he's wearing sweatpants and a white shirt). (Warpath smiles and starts to say something but Siryn interrupts him as she comes around the corner wearing sweatpants, socks and an overly large sweatshirt, mostly likely one of Warpaths and says), "Alright, Betsy had better have a good reason for interruptin me beauty sleep like that, ah was gettin into a good dream..".
"Wait a minute, where's Tabitha, she'd better get here before Psylocke does, or ah have a feelin that she'll regret it," (Sam says with a worried look on his face). "Well I don't see her so, oh no, she's probably still in bed," (Warpath says with a grim look on his face). "And ah'll be she's sound asleep to," (Sam says looking back and forth between Warpath and Siryn before he starts to head down the hall before Betsy comes around the corner and storms by them with a very angry look on her face with her powers flaring up through her eyes as Warpath, Siryn, and Sam do their best to stay out of her way).
(Scene shifts to that of Tabitha sprawled out in bed, her nose scrunched up as she's drooling on her pillow, and a teddy bear is ready to drop out of her hand that's draped over the side of the bed). [Peaceful restless slumber, one of the greatest pleasures of human existence, and as such it is something that's end is to be dreaded and avoided for as long as humanly possible, but in this case, one in which one very angry telepath sent out an early morning wake up call, continued sleep is no longer an option, but apparently somebody forgot to tell Tabitha that.] "Alright I've given you enough bloody time to get your behind out of bed,"(Betsy says through the door before she kicks it open, with a very angry look on her face). "Aw mommy, jus gimme a few more minutes, pwease," (Tabitha mumbles as she rolls over in bed and pulls a pillow over her face, she's wearing flannel pajamas). "Okay, enough is enough, you're falling in whether you like it or not," (Betsy says stomping her foot as her powers flare up and toss some papers around as Tabitha's mattress lifts up into the air with her on it).
(When it's visibly above the rest of the bed we do a close up of Tabitha's upper body as her eyes slowly flutter open as she sleepily says), "huh, what's goin," (while propping herself up on her elbow). (Then we see a close up of Betsy's face as her face is normal at first then with a smirk and a wave of her hand the mattress flips over and dumps Tabitha out of the bed before the mattress is flung to the side as we see Betsy standing just inside the doorway with the trio of Sam, Warpath, and Siryn looking around the corner of the doorway and cringing as Tabitha is dumped off the mattress and crashes to the floor with a loud sound and a yelp of surprise and wonder.)
"Hey what's going on,"(Tabitha says looking around with one eye because the other is covered by the blanket)."Okay everybody, you've got ten minutes to suit up and assemble in the ready room, Apocalypse is at it again," (Betsy says with a sly smile on her face, before she turns on her heels and walks out of the room and then in the next panel we see Sam sitting on the corner of the bed, he's smiling at Tabitha who's sitting on the floor with a bewildered look on her face). (And we see Siryn and Warpath glance at each other with a smile before they walk away).
[10 minutes later..]
(Scene shifts to the ready room, with the different team members fully suited up, lounging in chairs in the room). (Warren and Betsy are standing by the command screen, Warpath is leaning on the back of the chair that Siryn is sitting in, Sam is reclining in his chair with his feet up on the console with his arms crossed, and Tabitha is sitting in the chair beside Sam).
"Okay we're all here right, good, now exactly thirty minutes ago one of Forges sensors registered a readings spike, and after looking through the data that he sent me I feel that it's Apocalypse all right, or at least some of our buddies from the crimson dawn, if not a horseman or two," (Warren says grimly as he sets a stack of papers down on the rooms center table). "Then what are we waiting for, let's go," (Tabitha says in a really gung-ho manner as Sam casts her a sidelong glance that seems to say cool it). "Well there's the fact that we seem to be short a couple of teammates," (Warpath says with a sigh as he looks around).
"Yes well, Alex and Lorna have been called away on urgent business," (Betsy says looking at Warren as they are standing side by side and he's also looking at her.) "So when are they coming back," (Sam says as we see Tabitha yawning beside him). "They're not," (Warren says as he turns his head to look towards Sam). (We see a few moments of odd silence before Warren says), "Now that we've answered that question I think that while Elisabeth and I hammer out a few of the details her that the rest of you can get the X-jet ready,"(Warren says scratching his chin).
"Okeedokee birdman,"(Tabitha says with a big smile on her face as she jumps up out of her chair, to which the rest of the team responds by glaring at her before Sam stands up, puts a hand on her shoulder and says), "Come on Tab, let's just go okay,"(as Sam, Siryn, Warpath, and Tabitha exit the room).
[Later, in the hanger bay.]
(Scene starts by showing Sam prepping the X-jet for launch while Warpath and Siryn are moving boxes out of the way, the box that Warpath is pushing we see Tabitha sitting on it and she's blowing a bubble of bubble gum). "You know Terry, this would go a lot faster if somebody would help," (Warpath says glaring at Tabitha as he's pushing the box). "Hey I'm helping, see,"(Tabitha says grabbing a very small box before she hops off the box before chucking the small box to the side with a smile). (With an angry look on her face Siryn starts to go after Tabitha, but Warpath holds her back).
"That's enough Tabitha, Theresa, James, this ends now so get over it and get on board or else I'll make you walk,"(Warren says angrily as he and Betsy enter the hanger bay and stop near the X-jets boarding ramp). (We see the trio of Warpath, Theresa, and Tabitha cringe before looking a little scared and then they come towards the X-jet). "So where to Warren", (Sam says sitting at the controls and half turning in his chair).
"A small town in the Scottish countryside a few hours outside Glasgow, I'm inputting the coordinates into the navi-computer now," (Warren says sitting down at the navigation station and inputting some numbers on a keypad). (We see the small screen in front of Warren light up with the numbers, then a set of small lights in front of Sam light up). (Then we see the X-jets door close and then it takes off, with the next few panels showing the X- jet taking off and then flying over the water). [40 minutes later.] [As the team sights land, dark clouds gather on the horizon]
(We see the X-jet start to fly over land again with the sky getting very dark). (We see Tabitha peering out one of the windows with a concerned look on her face as she says), "I don't like the looks of this,"(then looks a little scared as she looks towards Sam who looks back at her and says), "Ah know, somethin's wrong here,"(with an unsure look on his face). "Regardless of what you feel Sam, we have to land and investigate the readings that Forge sent us," (Warren says as he shuffles through some papers with a grim look on his face).
"If you say so,"(Sam says glancing back at Warren as Warpath and Siryn share a worried look as Sam guides the X-jet down onto a grassy hillside that overlooks the town that is off in the distance). (Then the door opens and the team comes out, it's windy as we see the team members hair blowing in the wind, Tabitha is shivering with her teeth chattering, we see Siryn and the team's breath). "I'm f-f-freezing out here", (Tabitha says before Sam takes his coat off and puts it on Tabitha who smiles in return).
"Okay we're all here right, good, now here's the plan, I'll carry Betsy, Sam you take Tabitha, James well, we're lucky that you can fly because I don't think that any of us could've lifted you, so now we land at the outskirts of town before we head in,"(Warren says looking at the team members individually).
(We see the team members nodding their heads as they glance nervously at each other). "Everybody ready, let's go,"(Betsy says looking up at Warren). "As ready as I'm gonna get,"(Tabitha says as Sam picks her up and blasts off, Warren and Betsy share an uncertain look before Warren picks her up and lifts off, then Warpath does the "after you" gesture to Siryn and says), "after you". (Siryn nods with a smile on her face and says), "thank you",(then she flies off). (Warpath then shakes his head with a smile before taking off after Siryn).
(We see the team flying towards the edge of town and they set down.)(Sam scrunches his nose up like he smells something bad and Tabitha makes a very grossed out face and says), "Oh man, what is that stench",(As Warren and Betsy land in the foreground and Warpath and Siryn in the background). "I don't know, but whatever it is, it ain't good,"(Siryn says with a sickly look on her face).
"No, we're to late,"(Warren says with a frustrated and apprehensive look on his face as he bolts off into the town, followed closely by first Betsy, then Warpath and Siryn and finally Sam who pulls Tabitha with him as she says,) "Hey come on, what's the big hurry, it's not like." (We shift to a scene of a courtyard as the team comes into the area). "Warren wait, we can't just barge, oh my..",(Betsy says as she follows Warren into the courtyard before they both stop abruptly with looks of horror on their faces).
"Hey, what's the holdup,"(Tabitha says before running into Warpath who almost bowls over Siryn, who gasps with a hand to her mouth with a horrified look on her face says), "Saints be merciful." "Ah don't bel...",(Sam says with a horrified look on his face in a close up as over his shoulder we see Tabitha react with a look of absolute shock and horror, and then we see her throw up in the next panel after her cheeks puff up with her hand over her lips).
(Next we see Warpath smile while looking back at Tabitha, but then he turns his head and we see first his eyes grow wide before his face becomes emotionless as he sets his jaw firmly.) (Then we do a pan shot where first we see a group shot of the group standing shoulder to shoulder with horrified and angry looks on their faces before we go to a wide shot and we see the courtyard littered with broken, dismembered, decapitated, and bloodied bodies of the citizens along with the broken food carts and their produce is spilled all over).
"My God..",(Warren says before becoming angry and gritting his teeth and clenching his fists.) "Before joinin this troop ah didn' think anyone could be this evil, but now...",(Siryn says looking like she's going to cry). (Then in a shot where we see the team in the far background and in the immediate foreground, we're looking out from an alley, as we see shadows moving). (Betsy seemingly senses something and turns with a ), "huh". "Something wrong Betsy,"(Warren says with a worried look on his face towards Betsy, who then says), "I-I don't know, I thought I sensed something,"(with an uncertain look on her face).
(We see a panel of the team nervously looking around then Betsy says after shaking her head), "I guess I was wrong, but I could've sworn I." "Okay, everybody split up and try to find the survivors, if there are any,"(Warren says as the group splits up). (We see an overhead shot of the team as they look through the city after breaking up, Warpath/Siryn went together, Sam/Tabitha, and Warren/Betsy as they find people, check to see if they're alive, of course they're not, as we see Warren closing a woman's eyes with his hand with a very sad look on his face and Betsy's as she looks on, and then we shift to Sam and Tabitha as Sam is squatted down next to a little dead girl, he's holding her doll in his hands and is looking sadly at it, while Tabitha is standing by him with tears in her eyes).
(We see Warpath kneeling next to what looks like a family that died together, with them huddled together as the older members tried to protect the younger ones). "Everywhere I look I just see needless death and destruction, we can't let this happen again Terry,"(Warpath says rising to his feet).
"I know what you mean boyo, we can' let this atrocity go unavenged, we have to do something",(Siryn says putting her hand on Warpaths back as he solemnly lowers his head and then turns his head towards Siryn and manages a weak smile). "We've been trying to find survivors, but I think it's time that we admit that there aren't any and just go back and find the others,"(Warpath says looking around with a somber look on his face). "Aye, we can' do anything for these poor souls now, maybe if we'd gotten here sooner.,"(Siryn says as we pull away from Siryn and Warpath).
[Nearby.]
(We next see Sam and Tabitha as they enter a bombed out church and Sam walks up to the preachers podium before he notices something in the rubble, it's a dirty and dusty book, he picks it up and blows and rubs the dust off of it and we see over his shoulder that it's a bible). "Man, this place looks worse than my room, am I glad we're not the clean up crew,"(Tabitha says picking up a brick, looking around and then throws it into a nearby pile of bricks before she dusts her hands off).
"Ah know that Apocalypse is evil and all, but ah'm still tryin tah wrap my head around all of this,"(Sam says as he puts the bible back on the pastor's podium). "I know, he definitely needs to meet with a slow, grueling, and very painful demise, preferably one that we get to watch,"(Tabitha says with a sinister smirk on her face). "Ah hate this, first my momma and Lizze, and now these people, ah can't let this happen again,"(Sam says clenching his fist in anger).
"Sam, what are you saying, one of this is your fault, what happened to your family was not your fault or mine, you have to believe that, you have to Sam, for both our sakes,"(Tabitha says walking up to Sam and grabbing hold of his arm and turning him so that she's looking into his eyes with a very serious and a little bit of a scared look on her face). (Sam looks at her with a long face before smiling, while he rests on the corner of the back of one of the churches pews, before resting his forehead on Tabitha's shoulder as she rests her head against his and wraps her arms around him and they stay that way as we back away from them and fly over the city over to Warren/Betsy, who are checking through the shops of the cities downtown district and the city square).
"Find any survivors Warren,"(Betsy says pushing a door open and peering inside, as over her shoulder we see Warren searching through a demolished building). "How could I let this happen, when Jean and Cable used Apocalypses own scimitar to destroy him that should have been it, he should have been gone for good, but somehow he's found a way to make it back.,"(Warren says picking up a brick, getting angry and then hurling it against a wall, to which we see Betsy wince a little with a concerned look on her face).
"Warren stop it, getting angry now won't solve anything, we have to keep looking,"(Betsy says with a slightly angry look on her face). (Warren and Betsy share a look of frustration and Warren is about to say something when Siryn cuts in as she and Warpath enter the square, as she says), "I hope ye've had better luck that we did, we didn' find a single survivor."
"Neither did we, I hope Sam and Tabitha have had better luck,"(Warren says with a sad look on his face). "I don't know, something tells me that we all had about the same amount of luck,"(Betsy says as Sam and Tabitha enter the square, they don't look very happy). "Okay, now what we need to do is.,"(Warren says as we see the entire team together before we see them react as we see from off panel someone say), "Is to stop getting in our way." (We see the team spin around to see who spoke, as we see Death, Pestilence, Imol, and a few crimson dawn soldiers milling about).
(We see a wide panel of the team on one side, tensed for battle, and on the other side are the horseman and the C.D. warriors, who seem to have increased in number). "Ah Mr. Guthrie, so nice to see you again, and how's the family,"(Death says in a close up with a cruel smile on his face). (We switch to see Sam and Tabitha who are standing just to the right of and behind Warren, Sam is very angry as he's standing sort of sideways with both hands clenched in fists as his powers flare up, he's gritting his teeth as Tabitha is standing beside him looking like she's ready to throw a fireball like Ryu from the Street Fighter video game, but she's readying the beginnings of a large plasma bomb, with a very angry look on her face). "I only have one question, why,"(Warren says with a very angry look on his face).
(With a wry smile Pestilence says), "Why not". (We go back to a panel shot of the team, now they're really mad as Warren says with his gaze locked on Pestilence), "If that is your answer then we cannot allow you to go any further, your path of death and destruction ends here". "Bold words coming from someone that is so completely outnumbered,"(Death says with a wave of his hand as we see C.D. warriors seem to appear out of nowhere, and it's quickly apparent that the team is vastly outnumbered.) "Uh Warren, what do we do now,"(Siryn says nervously looking around.)
"Somehow I don't think we have to many options, what we need is a good offensive strategy,"(Tabitha says managing a weak smile.) "Alright how's this, we go down but we take as many of em as we can with us,"(Sam says with a determined look on his face), "Oh that's a great plan Sam, I doubt things could get much worse,"(Tabitha says with a sarcastic look on her face before it starts to rain as Tabitha then says while looking up at the sky,) "I had to ask".
[With a blur of movement the battle begins as Warpath, remembering the slaughter of his own family, vaults into the fray, followed closely by a barrage of plasma blasts from Meltdown]. (We see a pitched battle being waged, Psylocke tears into the C.D. warriors with her psysword, her feet and her fists while Warren leaps into the air and carries a group of C.D. warriors through a large glass window before emerging to fight Imol in hand to hand combat as the rain begins to pour down, turning the square into a muddy and bloody mess).
(Siryn, using her powers, blasts a panel wide group of the warriors through the walls of the nearby buildings as Sam then blasts into the main group of the warriors before one of them gets in a shot that sends Sam crashing through a nearby brick wall). "Sam," (Tabitha yells with a worried look on her face as she bashes a warriors face with her fist and rushes to get to Sam.)
(Warpath meanwhile is tearing into the C.D. warriors before he spots Pestilence attempting to sneak away into an alley). "Hey, come back here,"(Warpath says chasing Pestilence before Imol steps in front of him, causing Warpath to take a swing at Imol, who phases so the punches go right through him as Imol smiles before gives Warpath a punch that sends him reeling). "Stupid boy, you can't hurt me,"(Imol says grinning from ear to ear sinisterly). (Then we see a metal bar knocking Imol around as he's hit repeatedly as he's now staggering around).
"Who dares atta-arrgh,"(Imol says as Warpath now hits him with an uppercut of Warpaths hands clasped together, and Imol goes flying, then we pull back to see Warpath standing beside Siryn, who's holding a bloody metal pipe in her hand as Warpath says with a trickle of blood coming from his mouth), "Thanks Terry,"(as Siryn looks up at him with a smile on her rain streaked face and says), "anytime boyo, anytime". (Then we go to Warren fighting some C.D. warriors when Betsy throws a warrior into the group of warriors that Warren was fighting.)
"Thank, now where did Death and Pestilence go to,"(Warren says looking around as we then see Death and Pestilence in the far background programming an odd looking device as we see it between Warren and Betsy, we see as if we're standing right behind them with their backs turned to us and the scene is between them, in the foreground).
(Then we see the whole team come back together before Warren says), "Stop, what are you.". "Just leaving you a little surprise, I think they call it a bomb, but this is one that we've supped up a bit, so that when it goes off this entire city will go up with it, including you, Imol, get your sorry carcass over here, we're leaving,"(Pestilence says angrily as Imol, while holding an injured arm, staggers back towards Death and Pestilence saying), "Yes my mistress." "Death, ah'm not gonna let you run away again, ah'm gonna make you pay for what yeh did tah mah family,"(Sam yells angrily as he looks like he's ready to take the whole world on all by himself).
"Ahh, the welp seems to have grown a backbone since last we met, to bad you'll never get the chance,"(Death says with a snicker). "Ah'm gonna tear your heart out,"(Sam yells taking a step towards Death and Pestilence). "Sam hold on, I know how much you want to exact revenge on them for what they did to your family, but now is not the time and you're in no condition to take them on right now,"(Betsy says with a cautious look on her face).
"Who are you tah tell me what tah do, ah can't just,"(Sam yells angrily at Betsy). "Sam, I can't believe I'm saying this but I think you should listen to her,"(Tabitha says grabbing Sams arm). "We'd really love to stay and chat some more, but we really must go, we have a schedule to keep, so for now we bid you adieu,"(Death says with a mock bow before Imol, Pestilence, and Death quietly port away). "No,"(Sam yells as he fires a blast that destroys the building next to the bomb).
"James quick, see if there's a timer on that thing", (Warren says turning to Warpath, who then runs to the bomb and then looks upset)."What is it boyo, what's wrong,"(Siryn says as the remaining C.D. warriors port out). "There's a timer alright, but there's no way to shut it off, and it's down to 10 seconds and counting,"(Warpath says looking worriedly at Warren). "Okay, move it everybody, back to the X-jet now,"(Warren says as the team quickly takes to the air, Warren carries Betsy, Sam carries Tabitha, and Siryn and Warpath fly by themselves).
[Fleeing from the impending disaster, the team valiantly tries to outrun the blast, but to no avail] (First we do large full panels of the team flying away as the countdown goes down from 5 to 1 then the bomb goes off and the team is thrown into a nearby lake with a huge splash from the shockwave hitting them as we see the X-jet in the background rock around and almost fall over). (Next scene we see the team as they come crawling out of the water before Warren says,) "Everybody okay". "As well as we're gonna get I think,"(Tabitha says before making a face as she pulls some moss out of her hair). "Yah, I think so,"(Warpath says checking on Siryn, who seems okay).
"You okay Sam,"(Tabitha says with a worried look on her face). "I'm fine,"(Sam says with an angry look on his face as he storms off towards the X-jet). "Damn those bloody savages to hell,"(Betsy growls as she walks towards the X-jet followed by the rest of the team, as we then see them get in their seats, they're all muddy, soaked, and bloodied as the X-jet takes off). [With the ruins of the once proud city smoldering behind them, the exhausted team heads for home].-END
+Uncanny HQ+ +7:30 A.M.+
(Scene opens with Warren working in the mansions workshop). (We see Warren crouched down working on something and behind him is a very large screen). (Then an image appears on the screen, it's Forge, who looks a little tired as he says), "Warren, are you there?" "Huh, Forge", (Warren says lifting his head and slightly turning it to look towards the screen). "You wanted me to contact you if I registered a disturbance above level 3,"(Forge says glancing back at a computer screen).
"And I take it from the fact that I'm staring at your ugly mug this early in the morning is because you did, when and where, I'm going to need everything you collected, all the data",(Warren says standing up). "It's nice to see you to Warren, I'm sending you all the data that my sensors picked up, but I feel that I should at least inquire as to what you need this information for," (Forge says as Warren rests on the back of the chair that's in front of the screen). "I'm sorry Forge, but it's safer for all of us if you don't know what this information will be used for, there are too many lives at stake",(Warren says while rubbing the sleep out of his left eye).
"Since I don't think arguing with you will do any good I'll let it drop, but on a more personal level, have you heard anything from Ororo,"(Forge says with a nervous look on his face). "Last I heard she was fine, but still mum about how her mission is going, I'm sorry but that's all that I can give you, but I appreciate the data,"(Warren says resting his chin in his upturned palm). "That's good to hear thank you, but I don't really have time to chat because I've got a lot of work to do so I'll contact you again when there's a spike," (Forge says as the screen fades to black and Warren says as he waves goodbye to Forge with his hand), "I'll be waiting."
(We see Warren tiredly turn to leave the room before he stops in his tracks with a surprised look on his face as we then switch to a look over his shoulder of the doorway). (We see Betsy in a bathrobe only, the bathrobe has slipped off her left shoulder, her hair is over one eye, she has a sexy smile with one hand behind her back as she says), "Hey there Warren, how,"(before she straightens up, pulls the bathrobe backup and brushes the hair out of her eyes and then says with a worried look on her face as we then see a panel of her and Warren standing face to face with his head hung in a tired way, with him massaging the back of his neck with his right hand and she has her right hand on his jaw line and in her left hand we see that she's carrying a cup of coffee), "are you alright, you look like hell, another all-nighter huh."
"Yah, how could you tell",(Warren says with a smile on his face as we see that his eyes are tired and bloodshot before he then says), "but all I need now is a good strong cup of joe to get me going and I'll be fine." "Well then, I guess this is your lucky day," (Betsy says handing Warren the coffee before she says), "Any news, Forge didn't look very festive this morning, it's bad isn't it?"
"From what I've seen of the data it doesn't look good, I think we're going to need the whole team for this one, are Alex and Lorna up yet,"(Warren says as he starts sifting through the pages of data that are being printed out while he sips the coffee). (We see Betsy frown and say while looking away from Warren), "I don't know, they left for parts unknown yesterday, all Alex told me was that Valerie Cooper had contacted them with a very important problem, something that Alex and Lorna had to handle themselves, that's all I know."
(Warren looks up with an unhappy look on his face as he says), "Perfect just perfect, we're sitting on the biggest spike in Apocalypses activity that we've had to date and we lose two of our best allies," (Warren says putting his hand over his face in frustration).
"Well you know what they say, that you should always plan for the unexpected," (Betsy says half smiling before her demeanor sours and she straightens up and says), "I'll gather the troops". "Thank you," (Warren says slumping down into the chair). "My pleasure," (Betsy says with a smirk as she activates her powers as we see her psychic butterfly and her eyes flare up as we see her think), Okay everybody, Samuel, Tabitha, Theresa, James fall in, and don't make me have to come get you, especially you Tabitha
(We see flash images of each member waking up in bed with a similar purplish pink butterfly on their foreheads as they each wake up by either opening their eyes or sitting up in bed, except for Tabitha, who just makes a funny noise and then turns over in bed). Why that little(Betsy thinks with a very angry look on her face before she turns and storms off down the hall, we go to a shot of Warren turned in the chair slightly as he's glancing back at Betsy when she storms out in the background, and he has a sly smile on his face).
(Scene shifts to a hallway in the mansion as we see Warpath standing in the hall and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes while wearing jeans and an old football jersey). "So you got Betsy's special wake up call to huh," (Sam says scratching his head and smiling sheepishly as he comes into the hall, he's wearing sweatpants and a white shirt). (Warpath smiles and starts to say something but Siryn interrupts him as she comes around the corner wearing sweatpants, socks and an overly large sweatshirt, mostly likely one of Warpaths and says), "Alright, Betsy had better have a good reason for interruptin me beauty sleep like that, ah was gettin into a good dream..".
"Wait a minute, where's Tabitha, she'd better get here before Psylocke does, or ah have a feelin that she'll regret it," (Sam says with a worried look on his face). "Well I don't see her so, oh no, she's probably still in bed," (Warpath says with a grim look on his face). "And ah'll be she's sound asleep to," (Sam says looking back and forth between Warpath and Siryn before he starts to head down the hall before Betsy comes around the corner and storms by them with a very angry look on her face with her powers flaring up through her eyes as Warpath, Siryn, and Sam do their best to stay out of her way).
(Scene shifts to that of Tabitha sprawled out in bed, her nose scrunched up as she's drooling on her pillow, and a teddy bear is ready to drop out of her hand that's draped over the side of the bed). [Peaceful restless slumber, one of the greatest pleasures of human existence, and as such it is something that's end is to be dreaded and avoided for as long as humanly possible, but in this case, one in which one very angry telepath sent out an early morning wake up call, continued sleep is no longer an option, but apparently somebody forgot to tell Tabitha that.] "Alright I've given you enough bloody time to get your behind out of bed,"(Betsy says through the door before she kicks it open, with a very angry look on her face). "Aw mommy, jus gimme a few more minutes, pwease," (Tabitha mumbles as she rolls over in bed and pulls a pillow over her face, she's wearing flannel pajamas). "Okay, enough is enough, you're falling in whether you like it or not," (Betsy says stomping her foot as her powers flare up and toss some papers around as Tabitha's mattress lifts up into the air with her on it).
(When it's visibly above the rest of the bed we do a close up of Tabitha's upper body as her eyes slowly flutter open as she sleepily says), "huh, what's goin," (while propping herself up on her elbow). (Then we see a close up of Betsy's face as her face is normal at first then with a smirk and a wave of her hand the mattress flips over and dumps Tabitha out of the bed before the mattress is flung to the side as we see Betsy standing just inside the doorway with the trio of Sam, Warpath, and Siryn looking around the corner of the doorway and cringing as Tabitha is dumped off the mattress and crashes to the floor with a loud sound and a yelp of surprise and wonder.)
"Hey what's going on,"(Tabitha says looking around with one eye because the other is covered by the blanket)."Okay everybody, you've got ten minutes to suit up and assemble in the ready room, Apocalypse is at it again," (Betsy says with a sly smile on her face, before she turns on her heels and walks out of the room and then in the next panel we see Sam sitting on the corner of the bed, he's smiling at Tabitha who's sitting on the floor with a bewildered look on her face). (And we see Siryn and Warpath glance at each other with a smile before they walk away).
[10 minutes later..]
(Scene shifts to the ready room, with the different team members fully suited up, lounging in chairs in the room). (Warren and Betsy are standing by the command screen, Warpath is leaning on the back of the chair that Siryn is sitting in, Sam is reclining in his chair with his feet up on the console with his arms crossed, and Tabitha is sitting in the chair beside Sam).
"Okay we're all here right, good, now exactly thirty minutes ago one of Forges sensors registered a readings spike, and after looking through the data that he sent me I feel that it's Apocalypse all right, or at least some of our buddies from the crimson dawn, if not a horseman or two," (Warren says grimly as he sets a stack of papers down on the rooms center table). "Then what are we waiting for, let's go," (Tabitha says in a really gung-ho manner as Sam casts her a sidelong glance that seems to say cool it). "Well there's the fact that we seem to be short a couple of teammates," (Warpath says with a sigh as he looks around).
"Yes well, Alex and Lorna have been called away on urgent business," (Betsy says looking at Warren as they are standing side by side and he's also looking at her.) "So when are they coming back," (Sam says as we see Tabitha yawning beside him). "They're not," (Warren says as he turns his head to look towards Sam). (We see a few moments of odd silence before Warren says), "Now that we've answered that question I think that while Elisabeth and I hammer out a few of the details her that the rest of you can get the X-jet ready,"(Warren says scratching his chin).
"Okeedokee birdman,"(Tabitha says with a big smile on her face as she jumps up out of her chair, to which the rest of the team responds by glaring at her before Sam stands up, puts a hand on her shoulder and says), "Come on Tab, let's just go okay,"(as Sam, Siryn, Warpath, and Tabitha exit the room).
[Later, in the hanger bay.]
(Scene starts by showing Sam prepping the X-jet for launch while Warpath and Siryn are moving boxes out of the way, the box that Warpath is pushing we see Tabitha sitting on it and she's blowing a bubble of bubble gum). "You know Terry, this would go a lot faster if somebody would help," (Warpath says glaring at Tabitha as he's pushing the box). "Hey I'm helping, see,"(Tabitha says grabbing a very small box before she hops off the box before chucking the small box to the side with a smile). (With an angry look on her face Siryn starts to go after Tabitha, but Warpath holds her back).
"That's enough Tabitha, Theresa, James, this ends now so get over it and get on board or else I'll make you walk,"(Warren says angrily as he and Betsy enter the hanger bay and stop near the X-jets boarding ramp). (We see the trio of Warpath, Theresa, and Tabitha cringe before looking a little scared and then they come towards the X-jet). "So where to Warren", (Sam says sitting at the controls and half turning in his chair).
"A small town in the Scottish countryside a few hours outside Glasgow, I'm inputting the coordinates into the navi-computer now," (Warren says sitting down at the navigation station and inputting some numbers on a keypad). (We see the small screen in front of Warren light up with the numbers, then a set of small lights in front of Sam light up). (Then we see the X-jets door close and then it takes off, with the next few panels showing the X- jet taking off and then flying over the water). [40 minutes later.] [As the team sights land, dark clouds gather on the horizon]
(We see the X-jet start to fly over land again with the sky getting very dark). (We see Tabitha peering out one of the windows with a concerned look on her face as she says), "I don't like the looks of this,"(then looks a little scared as she looks towards Sam who looks back at her and says), "Ah know, somethin's wrong here,"(with an unsure look on his face). "Regardless of what you feel Sam, we have to land and investigate the readings that Forge sent us," (Warren says as he shuffles through some papers with a grim look on his face).
"If you say so,"(Sam says glancing back at Warren as Warpath and Siryn share a worried look as Sam guides the X-jet down onto a grassy hillside that overlooks the town that is off in the distance). (Then the door opens and the team comes out, it's windy as we see the team members hair blowing in the wind, Tabitha is shivering with her teeth chattering, we see Siryn and the team's breath). "I'm f-f-freezing out here", (Tabitha says before Sam takes his coat off and puts it on Tabitha who smiles in return).
"Okay we're all here right, good, now here's the plan, I'll carry Betsy, Sam you take Tabitha, James well, we're lucky that you can fly because I don't think that any of us could've lifted you, so now we land at the outskirts of town before we head in,"(Warren says looking at the team members individually).
(We see the team members nodding their heads as they glance nervously at each other). "Everybody ready, let's go,"(Betsy says looking up at Warren). "As ready as I'm gonna get,"(Tabitha says as Sam picks her up and blasts off, Warren and Betsy share an uncertain look before Warren picks her up and lifts off, then Warpath does the "after you" gesture to Siryn and says), "after you". (Siryn nods with a smile on her face and says), "thank you",(then she flies off). (Warpath then shakes his head with a smile before taking off after Siryn).
(We see the team flying towards the edge of town and they set down.)(Sam scrunches his nose up like he smells something bad and Tabitha makes a very grossed out face and says), "Oh man, what is that stench",(As Warren and Betsy land in the foreground and Warpath and Siryn in the background). "I don't know, but whatever it is, it ain't good,"(Siryn says with a sickly look on her face).
"No, we're to late,"(Warren says with a frustrated and apprehensive look on his face as he bolts off into the town, followed closely by first Betsy, then Warpath and Siryn and finally Sam who pulls Tabitha with him as she says,) "Hey come on, what's the big hurry, it's not like." (We shift to a scene of a courtyard as the team comes into the area). "Warren wait, we can't just barge, oh my..",(Betsy says as she follows Warren into the courtyard before they both stop abruptly with looks of horror on their faces).
"Hey, what's the holdup,"(Tabitha says before running into Warpath who almost bowls over Siryn, who gasps with a hand to her mouth with a horrified look on her face says), "Saints be merciful." "Ah don't bel...",(Sam says with a horrified look on his face in a close up as over his shoulder we see Tabitha react with a look of absolute shock and horror, and then we see her throw up in the next panel after her cheeks puff up with her hand over her lips).
(Next we see Warpath smile while looking back at Tabitha, but then he turns his head and we see first his eyes grow wide before his face becomes emotionless as he sets his jaw firmly.) (Then we do a pan shot where first we see a group shot of the group standing shoulder to shoulder with horrified and angry looks on their faces before we go to a wide shot and we see the courtyard littered with broken, dismembered, decapitated, and bloodied bodies of the citizens along with the broken food carts and their produce is spilled all over).
"My God..",(Warren says before becoming angry and gritting his teeth and clenching his fists.) "Before joinin this troop ah didn' think anyone could be this evil, but now...",(Siryn says looking like she's going to cry). (Then in a shot where we see the team in the far background and in the immediate foreground, we're looking out from an alley, as we see shadows moving). (Betsy seemingly senses something and turns with a ), "huh". "Something wrong Betsy,"(Warren says with a worried look on his face towards Betsy, who then says), "I-I don't know, I thought I sensed something,"(with an uncertain look on her face).
(We see a panel of the team nervously looking around then Betsy says after shaking her head), "I guess I was wrong, but I could've sworn I." "Okay, everybody split up and try to find the survivors, if there are any,"(Warren says as the group splits up). (We see an overhead shot of the team as they look through the city after breaking up, Warpath/Siryn went together, Sam/Tabitha, and Warren/Betsy as they find people, check to see if they're alive, of course they're not, as we see Warren closing a woman's eyes with his hand with a very sad look on his face and Betsy's as she looks on, and then we shift to Sam and Tabitha as Sam is squatted down next to a little dead girl, he's holding her doll in his hands and is looking sadly at it, while Tabitha is standing by him with tears in her eyes).
(We see Warpath kneeling next to what looks like a family that died together, with them huddled together as the older members tried to protect the younger ones). "Everywhere I look I just see needless death and destruction, we can't let this happen again Terry,"(Warpath says rising to his feet).
"I know what you mean boyo, we can' let this atrocity go unavenged, we have to do something",(Siryn says putting her hand on Warpaths back as he solemnly lowers his head and then turns his head towards Siryn and manages a weak smile). "We've been trying to find survivors, but I think it's time that we admit that there aren't any and just go back and find the others,"(Warpath says looking around with a somber look on his face). "Aye, we can' do anything for these poor souls now, maybe if we'd gotten here sooner.,"(Siryn says as we pull away from Siryn and Warpath).
[Nearby.]
(We next see Sam and Tabitha as they enter a bombed out church and Sam walks up to the preachers podium before he notices something in the rubble, it's a dirty and dusty book, he picks it up and blows and rubs the dust off of it and we see over his shoulder that it's a bible). "Man, this place looks worse than my room, am I glad we're not the clean up crew,"(Tabitha says picking up a brick, looking around and then throws it into a nearby pile of bricks before she dusts her hands off).
"Ah know that Apocalypse is evil and all, but ah'm still tryin tah wrap my head around all of this,"(Sam says as he puts the bible back on the pastor's podium). "I know, he definitely needs to meet with a slow, grueling, and very painful demise, preferably one that we get to watch,"(Tabitha says with a sinister smirk on her face). "Ah hate this, first my momma and Lizze, and now these people, ah can't let this happen again,"(Sam says clenching his fist in anger).
"Sam, what are you saying, one of this is your fault, what happened to your family was not your fault or mine, you have to believe that, you have to Sam, for both our sakes,"(Tabitha says walking up to Sam and grabbing hold of his arm and turning him so that she's looking into his eyes with a very serious and a little bit of a scared look on her face). (Sam looks at her with a long face before smiling, while he rests on the corner of the back of one of the churches pews, before resting his forehead on Tabitha's shoulder as she rests her head against his and wraps her arms around him and they stay that way as we back away from them and fly over the city over to Warren/Betsy, who are checking through the shops of the cities downtown district and the city square).
"Find any survivors Warren,"(Betsy says pushing a door open and peering inside, as over her shoulder we see Warren searching through a demolished building). "How could I let this happen, when Jean and Cable used Apocalypses own scimitar to destroy him that should have been it, he should have been gone for good, but somehow he's found a way to make it back.,"(Warren says picking up a brick, getting angry and then hurling it against a wall, to which we see Betsy wince a little with a concerned look on her face).
"Warren stop it, getting angry now won't solve anything, we have to keep looking,"(Betsy says with a slightly angry look on her face). (Warren and Betsy share a look of frustration and Warren is about to say something when Siryn cuts in as she and Warpath enter the square, as she says), "I hope ye've had better luck that we did, we didn' find a single survivor."
"Neither did we, I hope Sam and Tabitha have had better luck,"(Warren says with a sad look on his face). "I don't know, something tells me that we all had about the same amount of luck,"(Betsy says as Sam and Tabitha enter the square, they don't look very happy). "Okay, now what we need to do is.,"(Warren says as we see the entire team together before we see them react as we see from off panel someone say), "Is to stop getting in our way." (We see the team spin around to see who spoke, as we see Death, Pestilence, Imol, and a few crimson dawn soldiers milling about).
(We see a wide panel of the team on one side, tensed for battle, and on the other side are the horseman and the C.D. warriors, who seem to have increased in number). "Ah Mr. Guthrie, so nice to see you again, and how's the family,"(Death says in a close up with a cruel smile on his face). (We switch to see Sam and Tabitha who are standing just to the right of and behind Warren, Sam is very angry as he's standing sort of sideways with both hands clenched in fists as his powers flare up, he's gritting his teeth as Tabitha is standing beside him looking like she's ready to throw a fireball like Ryu from the Street Fighter video game, but she's readying the beginnings of a large plasma bomb, with a very angry look on her face). "I only have one question, why,"(Warren says with a very angry look on his face).
(With a wry smile Pestilence says), "Why not". (We go back to a panel shot of the team, now they're really mad as Warren says with his gaze locked on Pestilence), "If that is your answer then we cannot allow you to go any further, your path of death and destruction ends here". "Bold words coming from someone that is so completely outnumbered,"(Death says with a wave of his hand as we see C.D. warriors seem to appear out of nowhere, and it's quickly apparent that the team is vastly outnumbered.) "Uh Warren, what do we do now,"(Siryn says nervously looking around.)
"Somehow I don't think we have to many options, what we need is a good offensive strategy,"(Tabitha says managing a weak smile.) "Alright how's this, we go down but we take as many of em as we can with us,"(Sam says with a determined look on his face), "Oh that's a great plan Sam, I doubt things could get much worse,"(Tabitha says with a sarcastic look on her face before it starts to rain as Tabitha then says while looking up at the sky,) "I had to ask".
[With a blur of movement the battle begins as Warpath, remembering the slaughter of his own family, vaults into the fray, followed closely by a barrage of plasma blasts from Meltdown]. (We see a pitched battle being waged, Psylocke tears into the C.D. warriors with her psysword, her feet and her fists while Warren leaps into the air and carries a group of C.D. warriors through a large glass window before emerging to fight Imol in hand to hand combat as the rain begins to pour down, turning the square into a muddy and bloody mess).
(Siryn, using her powers, blasts a panel wide group of the warriors through the walls of the nearby buildings as Sam then blasts into the main group of the warriors before one of them gets in a shot that sends Sam crashing through a nearby brick wall). "Sam," (Tabitha yells with a worried look on her face as she bashes a warriors face with her fist and rushes to get to Sam.)
(Warpath meanwhile is tearing into the C.D. warriors before he spots Pestilence attempting to sneak away into an alley). "Hey, come back here,"(Warpath says chasing Pestilence before Imol steps in front of him, causing Warpath to take a swing at Imol, who phases so the punches go right through him as Imol smiles before gives Warpath a punch that sends him reeling). "Stupid boy, you can't hurt me,"(Imol says grinning from ear to ear sinisterly). (Then we see a metal bar knocking Imol around as he's hit repeatedly as he's now staggering around).
"Who dares atta-arrgh,"(Imol says as Warpath now hits him with an uppercut of Warpaths hands clasped together, and Imol goes flying, then we pull back to see Warpath standing beside Siryn, who's holding a bloody metal pipe in her hand as Warpath says with a trickle of blood coming from his mouth), "Thanks Terry,"(as Siryn looks up at him with a smile on her rain streaked face and says), "anytime boyo, anytime". (Then we go to Warren fighting some C.D. warriors when Betsy throws a warrior into the group of warriors that Warren was fighting.)
"Thank, now where did Death and Pestilence go to,"(Warren says looking around as we then see Death and Pestilence in the far background programming an odd looking device as we see it between Warren and Betsy, we see as if we're standing right behind them with their backs turned to us and the scene is between them, in the foreground).
(Then we see the whole team come back together before Warren says), "Stop, what are you.". "Just leaving you a little surprise, I think they call it a bomb, but this is one that we've supped up a bit, so that when it goes off this entire city will go up with it, including you, Imol, get your sorry carcass over here, we're leaving,"(Pestilence says angrily as Imol, while holding an injured arm, staggers back towards Death and Pestilence saying), "Yes my mistress." "Death, ah'm not gonna let you run away again, ah'm gonna make you pay for what yeh did tah mah family,"(Sam yells angrily as he looks like he's ready to take the whole world on all by himself).
"Ahh, the welp seems to have grown a backbone since last we met, to bad you'll never get the chance,"(Death says with a snicker). "Ah'm gonna tear your heart out,"(Sam yells taking a step towards Death and Pestilence). "Sam hold on, I know how much you want to exact revenge on them for what they did to your family, but now is not the time and you're in no condition to take them on right now,"(Betsy says with a cautious look on her face).
"Who are you tah tell me what tah do, ah can't just,"(Sam yells angrily at Betsy). "Sam, I can't believe I'm saying this but I think you should listen to her,"(Tabitha says grabbing Sams arm). "We'd really love to stay and chat some more, but we really must go, we have a schedule to keep, so for now we bid you adieu,"(Death says with a mock bow before Imol, Pestilence, and Death quietly port away). "No,"(Sam yells as he fires a blast that destroys the building next to the bomb).
"James quick, see if there's a timer on that thing", (Warren says turning to Warpath, who then runs to the bomb and then looks upset)."What is it boyo, what's wrong,"(Siryn says as the remaining C.D. warriors port out). "There's a timer alright, but there's no way to shut it off, and it's down to 10 seconds and counting,"(Warpath says looking worriedly at Warren). "Okay, move it everybody, back to the X-jet now,"(Warren says as the team quickly takes to the air, Warren carries Betsy, Sam carries Tabitha, and Siryn and Warpath fly by themselves).
[Fleeing from the impending disaster, the team valiantly tries to outrun the blast, but to no avail] (First we do large full panels of the team flying away as the countdown goes down from 5 to 1 then the bomb goes off and the team is thrown into a nearby lake with a huge splash from the shockwave hitting them as we see the X-jet in the background rock around and almost fall over). (Next scene we see the team as they come crawling out of the water before Warren says,) "Everybody okay". "As well as we're gonna get I think,"(Tabitha says before making a face as she pulls some moss out of her hair). "Yah, I think so,"(Warpath says checking on Siryn, who seems okay).
"You okay Sam,"(Tabitha says with a worried look on her face). "I'm fine,"(Sam says with an angry look on his face as he storms off towards the X-jet). "Damn those bloody savages to hell,"(Betsy growls as she walks towards the X-jet followed by the rest of the team, as we then see them get in their seats, they're all muddy, soaked, and bloodied as the X-jet takes off). [With the ruins of the once proud city smoldering behind them, the exhausted team heads for home].-END