My Uncanny XMen Mini's

by LoganAlpha30

Archangel, Psylocke, Warpath, Siryn, Cannonball, Meltdown, and Psyflare vs the evils of Apocalypse and the Crimson Dawn. All New 4 Horseman. Chapter 39 Now Up...

31. My 31st Mini

UNCANNY X-MEN MINI #31:  A PLAN COMES TOGETHER

BY: LOGANALPHA30

"" - Words

[ ] - Caption Boxes

( ) - Art Instructions

- Thoughts

+ + - Time, Place Boxes

 +Paris France+

  +11:30 P.M. +

[Paris, the city of love, lights, art, and food].  [One of the oldest and richest cities in all of Europe].  [Intended destination of the five youngest members of the renegade team of X-men led by the former X-men Archangel and Psylocke].  (We open with several panels of Paris at night).  (We also see tourists out on the town and some of the clubs at full occupancy).  (Then we pull back to a wide shot of the entire city before we then see a panel of the X-jet flying through the air).  (Then we see another panel of the X-jet as it passes over a river).  (Then we move inside of the X-jet and see Sam at the controls with Tabitha beside him and Warpath is doing a crossword puzzle while Siryn is looking over his shoulder trying to help him and Erica is cleaning out the tread of her boots with a stick).  "You're gonna have to clean all of that up when you're done ya know," (Sam then says with a scolding scowl on his face as he looks back over his shoulder as beside him we see Tabitha snicker a bit).  "Okay mom, I'll be a good girl…," (Erica then says with a pout on her face as she looks up at Sam through the tops of her eyes).  "Ooh if I didn' know better I'd think that this plane ride was taking a bloody eternity," (Siryn then says with a mocking scowl on her face as she looks back and forth between Sam and Erica). 

"Okay Red that's…," (Erica then starts to say before she jumps to her feet and then Siryn and Erica look like they're about to start fighting).  (Then we see Warpath smirk with a joking look on his face as he half turns his head and then says), "Don't make me get in between you two."  "Nae Jimmy, I won't need your help t' show this…," (Siryn then says with a very serious look on her face as she glares at Erica).  "Can it you two we're here," (Sam then shouts with an angry frown on his face as beside him we see Tabitha laugh and roll her eyes and then say), "Finally!"  (Then we see Erica sit back down with an angry look on her face and Siryn does as well).  "We should probably land somewhere quiet and out of the way so that we don't draw to much attention," (Warpath then says with a serious look on his face as he lays the crossword puzzle down and turns off the instruments at his station).  "Right, ya know maybe we should change our clothes or something, so that we don't look like carnival rejects," (Sam then says with a slightly confused frown on his face as he's punching a few buttons).  "What…ye don' think we look good…," (Siryn then says with a fake look of anger on her face as she leans back in her chair and crosses her arms).  "No…I just thought that we might look a little strange to the locals…," (Sam then says with a slightly unhappy and nervous frown on his face as he looks over at Siryn).   

"This is Paris Sam, remember," (Tabitha then says with a slightly cheesy smirk on her face as she leans forward and rests her elbows on the console in front of her).  "Right…silly me," (Sam then says with a sheepish smile on his face as he shakes his head).  "Maybe ye should just land the X-jet Sam," (Siryn then says with an unhappy frown on her face as she pulls her hair back up into a ponytail and she's holding the hair tie in her mouth).  "Yeah, but maybe we shouldn't go traipsing around in the sewers just yet…," (Erica then says with a nervous smile and shrug of her shoulders as she leans back in her chair and looks over at the readouts on a screen at her station).  "You mean you're not looking forward to wading through the stuff everyone flushes down the toilet," (Warpath then says with a smug smirk on his face as we also see Tabitha half turned in her chair and grinning wickedly back towards Warpath).  "Ah hate t' break it to ya Jimmy, but this isn't that kind of sewer…for the most part anyway," (Sam then says with a slight smile on his face as he punches in a few coordinates with one hand while he holds onto the control stick with the other). 

"So what are we supposed to do if we run into any of the jean dams, I mean we're supposed to stay off of their radar but…," (Erica then says with a slightly nervous look on her face as she turns her head back to look at Sam and Tabitha).  "Simple, we tell them that we're all a bunch of tragic fashion victims from some wacky runway," (Tabitha then says with an overly joking smile on her face as she turns around and waves back at Siryn and Erica).  "Is it too late to…," (Warpath then says with a slightly nervous look on his face before he drops his head into his hands).  "Calm down everybody…and cut the chatter," (Sam then says with an almost scolding look on his face as he then looks back and says), "Jimmy you and Terry take the east side of the city, Erica I want you and Tabitha to take the west side while I take the north side, tomorrow we'll come in from the south." 

"But Sam I…," (Tabitha then says with a shocked and slightly hurt pout on her face as she lays a hand on Sam's arm).  "Sorry Tabitha, but unless you've suddenly become nigh indestructible you and Erica are going to team up," (Sam then says with a sympathetic but stern frown on his face as he flips some overhead switches).  (Then we see the X-jet land in a heavily wooded area near a rocky cliff wall).  "Fine," (Tabitha then says with a very unhappy scowl on her face as she crosses her arms and pouts).  (Then we see a panel of Sam and the rest of the team as they walk down the ramp and out of the X-jet).  (Then we see Sam turn back and say with a smile as the ramp is going back up), "Okay now, everybody remember where we parked."  "Good one Sam, now how are we supposed to get into town, I don't fancy walking the whole way," (Erica then says with a sarcastic frown on her face as she adjusts her coat).  "Jimmy take Tabitha and Erica to the west side, after that meet back up with Terry, I'll fly on ahead," (Sam then says with a serious look on his face as he's looking down as he is zipping up his coat).

[Later, The East Side]

(We see Siryn easily walking through the sewers with her in front and Warpath in the back as he's having to crouch a bit and Siryn has a flashlight).  "I wish that I could just take a quick look around with a short flight," (Siryn then says with an unhappy and frumpy frown on her face as she flashes her flashlight around).  "With the echo in here they could probably hear you in London," (Warpath then says with a sarcastic smirk on his face before Siryn turns around and glares back at him).   "Perhaps, but this is nae the time t' be making light of the situation," (Siryn then says with a rather unhappy scowl on her face as she turns away and flashes her flashlight around).  "Sorry Terry, but everything about this mission is a little crazy," (Warpath then says with a grim smirk on his face as he smashes down a big metal grate that's in their way).  (Then we see Siryn nod her head in agreement before she steps inside followed closely behind by Warpath).  (Then we see them get a few feet in).  [And as things tend to go for this unlikely pair…]  (Then we see the tunnel that Warpath and Siryn are in suddenly light up like a Christmas tree in a pattern that's cylindrical and is going down the entire length of the tunnel).  (We see Warpath and Siryn jerk in shock and alarm). 

"What the…," (Warpath then says with a very serious scowl on his face as he turns around and then tries to go back out the way that they came in but can't as we see him get shocked violently as he touches the metal grate that was moved into place behind them).  "Jimmy," (We then see Siryn yell with a very worried and almost frantic look on her face as she rushes to Warpath's side and she initially get zapped and is thrown back up against the wall and then tries to pick herself up off of the ground).  "Whoa…what the hell's going on here," (Warpath then says with a pained grimace on his face and a hand on the side of his head).  "I think that it's safe t' say that we've definitely found something boyo," (Siryn then says with her teeth gritted and her hair all a mess as she's pushing herself up off of the floor).  "Yeah Terry…but who," (Warpath then says with a frustrated and angry frown on his face as he stands up, but has to crouch and he then helps Siryn up).  "Then let's find out shall we," (Siryn then says with a very determined but a little nervous and weary frown on her face as he and Warpath then start to make their way down the tunnel).  (Then we see Warpath and Siryn finally exit the tunnel and they enter a very large room that doesn't look anything like the sewer that they just left).  "Okay…call me crazy if you want but I don't think that this is a part of the old Paris sewer line," (Warpath then says with a slightly overwhelmed and surprised look on his face as he's looking all around the room as best he can). 

"Aye boyo, this doesn' even resemble anything that I've seen before, and for me…well that's saying something," (Siryn then says with a concerned frown on her face as she and Warpath slowly begin to look around the big room that's dimly lit and they're on an elevated metal walkway with a railing on the side).  "Should we contact Sam now, or wait until we know what the hell this place is," (Warpath then says with a concerned frown on his face as he is looking down at Siryn and she's looking back at him with an equally concerned frown on her face).  "Nae, we should do a bit more exploring first, otherwise we could call it in and have it turn out to be a false alarm," (Siryn then says with pessimistic frown on her face as first she and then Warpath have to duck under a low beam).  "I wish that we could find a light switch or something, I hate wandering around in the dark like this," (Warpath then says with an unhappy and frustrated frown on his face as we see him stub his toe).  "Calm down Jimmy, I think I found something," (Siryn then says with a bored and somewhat frustrated frown on her face as she's looking back up over her shoulder at Warpath).  (Then we see a small panel of Siryn's hand and fingers as she flips a switch and light then floods into the room).  [They stand in awe at the sight in front of them]. 

(Then we see a panel from behind of Warpath and Siryn as they're looking down into the room that looks like an airplane hanger and has a lot of what look like cryogenic tubes and capsules as well as a lot of lab type equipment).  "Whoa…," (Warpath then says with a shocked look on his face as Siryn then says in a panel where we're looking straight at them), "You said it boyo."  (Then we see Warpath and Siryn get to a long stairway and then start down it).  (Then we see a couple or a few quick panels of Warpath and Siryn as they descend the stairs).  (Then we see them get to the bottom of the stairs and then Warpath goes up to one of the large cryogenic tubes and rubs clear the fogged up top of the tube and looks in).  (Then we see a panel of Warpath as he's looking down into the tube and we see what looks like a Shi'ar woman inside of that tube).  (Then we see Siryn do the same and she instead looks into one of the cryogenic type tubes and see a Skrull male).  "Bloody hell," (We then see Siryn gasp in shock as she takes a step back away from the cryogenic tube and bumps into a table).  "What's going on here," (Warpath then says with a confused and concerned frown on his face as he looks around the room).  "Ye got me Jimmy…I think we should call Sam now," (Siryn then says with a nervous and scared look on her face as she turns to Warpath and lays a hand on his shoulder).  "Yeah…I think you're right," (Warpath then says with a worried look on his face as he nods his head towards Siryn).

[Meanwhile, On The West Side]

(We see Erica angrily walking through the sewers, as she's holding up a sphere of fire in front of her with her hand that she made using her powers and her eyes are on fire, and behind her we see an equally unhappy Tabitha walking with her arms crossed).  "This is going well," (We then see Tabitha say with an angry scowl on her face as she shivers in a half close up panel).  "Shut up Tabitha, there's only so much of you're complaining that I can take," (Erica then says with a not very amused smirk on her face as she half turns her head back towards Tabitha).  "Hey it's not my fault that Sam stuck me with you," (Tabitha then says with an angry scowl on her face as she kicks a tin can out of her way).  "He probably just didn't want you to get hurt, ya know…he's just doing that thing that guys do when they try to keep the woman that they love out of harms way," (Erica then says with a forced look of calm on her face before she sighs and turns back to face Tabitha).  "But…yeah I guess, it's just that…Sam usually isn't like that," (Tabitha then starts to say with a very angry scowl on her face before then in the next panel her scowl on softens into a worried frown). 

"All men are like that girl, it doesn't mater where they're from or how they were raised, deep down the simple fact is that they're all the same," (Erica then says with a slightly frustrated look on her face as she lanes back up against the wall and looks down at the sphere of fire that she's holding in her hand).  "Yeah…I guess, but how are we supposed to find anything down here, this place is like a maze," (Tabitha then says with her shoulders slumped and she's shuffling her feet a bit).  "Well Sam had faith in us, and I don't know about you but I'm not going to let him down," (Erica then says with a slightly tired smirk on her face as she leans forward a bit and lays her hand off hand on Tabitha's shoulder).  "Me either," (Tabitha then says with a slight shrug of her shoulders and a somber frown on her face as she looks up at Erica).  "So then let's get going and find something so that tomorrow morning when Sam asks us how our night went we'll be able to tell him the good news," (Erica then says with a bored look on her face before she turns and heads off down through the sewers).  "Whatever, let's just get this over with," (Tabitha then says with a serious frown on her face as she then follows Erica down the sewer tunnel). 

(Then we see Tabitha walk through some more sewer tunnels before she catches up to Erica, who's standing out front of the entrance to a metallic tunnel doors with what looks like no way in).  "Hey, what's the hold up," (Tabitha then says with a slightly confused look on her face as she stops and bends over a bit to catch her breath).  "We seem to have come to a dead end, unless of course you remembered to pack a giant can opener in that outfit," (Erica then says with a slightly joking smirk on her face as she leans in close and looks at the big doors).  "Ooh…damn, I knew that I forgot something," (Tabitha then says with a sarcastic look of anger on her face).  "Very funny…but we have to get by these doors if we're going to find anything," (Erica then says with an unimpressed look on her face as she looks back at Tabitha over her shoulder).  "Can't we like…go around or something, I mean we could be at this for hours," (Tabitha then says with an impatient frown on her face as she steps up beside Erica and peers closely at the doors).  "Well we can't just go back without finding what's behind these doors," (Erica then says with a serious and grim frown on her face as she rubs a finger around the edge of the doors).  "Maybe there's a keyhole or a latch or keypad of some kind," (Tabitha then says with a concerned look on her face as she crouches down at the side of the doors and tries to brush away some of the dirt off of the wall). 

"I don't know it's to dark to see very well," (Erica then says with a frustrated look on her face with one hand holding the bright sphere of fire and the other hand is on her hip).  "So then why don't you shed a little light on the situation huh, Miss Human Sparkler," (Tabitha then says with a small smirk on the corners of her mouth as she's still crouching down and looking up and over at Erica).  "I am not Miss Human Sparkler Tabitha, but I agree that we do need a bit more light to see everything," (Erica then says with a slightly angry frown on her face before she takes a few steps back and then brings her hands together).  "What are you doing," (Tabitha then says with a confused look on her face as she half turns around to look back at Erica, and she's kneeling on the ground).  "Shedding a little light on the situation," (Erica then says with a slightly cheesy smirk on her face before we see the small sphere of fire that she's holding in her hands start to grow and starts to shed a lot of light on the area as Tabitha has to shield her eyes and squint them).  "Okay…," (Tabitha then says with a slightly angry frown on her face as she turns around and shields her eyes as she starts to look around for a way to open the door).  (Then we see Tabitha scratch some dirt away before we then see that she uncovered a palm reading device). 

"Guess I found something," (Tabitha then says with an elated smile on her face as she tilts her head up a bit).  "Good, so can you open the doors yet or…," (Erica then says with a slightly frustrated frown on her face as she's squinting her eyes and has her chin down on her chest so that the light from her powers doesn't blind her).  "How should I know…your boyfriend is the technical wiz…," (Tabitha then says with a slightly joking smirk on her face before she snickers a bit).  "So…he's not here," (Erica then says with an unimpressed frown on her face as she dampens the light of her powers is giving off).  "Alright then," (Tabitha then says with a sarcastic scowl on her face before she then cautiously puts her hand up onto the palm outline).  (Then we first see a panel of Tabitha wincing in anticipation before she then relaxes a bit as we then see that her palm is being scanned).  (Then we see a couple of panels of Tabitha and Erica watching and waiting to see what happens before we see the doors slide open and Erica and Tabitha look on in shock).  "Looks like our luck's on an upswing," (Erica then says with a pleasantly surprised smile on her face as she reduces the amount of light that her powers are putting off). 

(Then we see the tunnel that's past the doors suddenly light up and Tabitha falls back abruptly back so that she's in a seated position).  "Whoa…okay what's going on here, this is getting a little to much like the X-Files for my taste," (Tabitha then says with a worried and slightly scared look on her face as she looks back up at Erica).  "Yeah…my thoughts exactly," (We then see Erica say with a very unsure and nervous look on her face as she looks down at Tabitha before then in the next panel we see Tabitha stand up and dust herself off).  "Should we…go in, or wait and call Sam," (Tabitha then says with a nervous and slightly scared look on her face as she's looking down the tunnel that's still all lit up).  "We'll call Sam alright…but only after we find something," (Erica then says with a confident frown on her face before she extinguishes her flame and starts off down the tunnel).  "Hey…wait for me," (Tabitha then says with a worried look on her face before she takes off in a run down the tunnel after Erica).  (Then we see a pane of the big metal doors as they slam shut).  (Then we see a couple of panels as Tabitha catches up to Erica and then the two slowly begin to walk through the tunnels that seem to go on like a maze as the two then start to look around with nervous and concerned looks on their faces). 

"Wait a minute," (We then see Erica says with a very concerned frown on her face in a close up panel from her collarbone up).  "Uh Erica…we've been here before, I swear that we're going around in circles," (Tabitha then says with a frustrated and nervous frown on her face as she's looking up and running both hands through her hair).  "Yeah Tabitha…I think you're right, we are going around in circles," (Erica then says with a very uncertain and concerned frown on her face as she looks around and ten leans back up against one of the nearby walls).  "Okay…so then what do we do now, we don't have any bread crumbs to leave behind us to help us find our way," (Tabitha then says with an unsure look on her face as she's searching through her many pockets for something or anything to make a trail with).  "Well what if I…," (Erica then says with a deep in thought look on her face before she then stands up, turns around, and places her hand flat on the wall).  "What are you," (Tabitha then says with a confused look on her face as she starts to step towards Erica, who stops her by holding a finger up).  (Then we see a panel of Erica concentrating really hard with her eyes closed as we start to see a small red glow form under her hand).  (Then we see a short series of panels that are of Erica's hand flat against the wall and the red glow under her hand starts to grow in size and also its intensity).  (Then we see a panel of the metal and Erica's hand melt's the metal away before she then pulls her hand away).  "Cool," (Tabitha then says with an elated smile on her face as she pats Erica on the back). 

"Thanks…but I don't know how long I can keep this up, that took more out of me then I thought it would," (Erica then says with a tired and worn out look on her face as she has to squat down to try and collect her breath as Tabitha looks on).  "So in other words, we're back to square one, trying to figure out exactly where we are and which way we're supposed to go…perfect," (Tabitha then says with an exasperated and frustrated look on her face before she throws her hands up and slides down into a seated position right beside Erica).  "Don't look now but I think that our problems just increased…something in these walls is blocking the signal, I can't get James or Terry…let alone Sam," (Erica then says with a growing look of negativity on her face as she's glaring at her communicator).  "So let me get this straight, we're like completely lost in God knows where and we can't get in touch with anyone," (Tabitha then says with a very frustrated frown on her face as she shakes her head and pulls her knees up close to her chest).  "Pretty much…got any ideas," (Erica then says with a slight shrug of her shoulders as she looks over at Tabitha).  "You're asking me…," (Tabitha then says with a shocked look on her face as she only turns her head towards Erica).  "Yeah…is that so strange of a notion…asking your opinion on something," (Erica then says with a slightly surprised smile on her face as she lightly taps Tabitha on the shoulder). 

"Actually…yeah, I'm the dumb one around here, the screw-up, no one ever asks for my opinion on anything, if you need fashion tips or what's the best hair dye to use then I'm your girl, but if you want someone with an actual brain in their head then you should talk to someone like Psylocke…or your boyfriend, but not me," (Tabitha then says with an increasing look of dejection and sadness on her face in a trio of panels as she also starts to hang her head).  "Hey now…that'll be enough of that, you're not stupid," (Erica then says with a very serious scowl on her face as she turns to Tabitha and squeezes her shoulder tightly).  "You sure, everyone else thinks so," (Tabitha then says with a dejected pout on her face as she starts to hang her head some more).  "Well I don't…now are you coming or not," (Erica then says with an angry scowl on her face as she jumps to her feet, puts her communicator away in one of her pockets, and then glares down at Tabitha as she extends her hand).  "Yeah," (Tabitha then says with an energized smile on her face as she lets Erica pull her back up to her feet).  (Then we see Tabitha and Erica walking further down the tunnels and then around the corner).

[Paris, Northern Side Of Town]

[He charges through the dark depths at a breakneck pace, rarely checking that which is in front of him, preferring instead to allow his nigh impenetrable blast shield keep him from harm].  (We see panels of a very determined Sam, with a very serious frown on his face, as he races through the sewers under Paris).  (We see Sam leaning forward as he's running and he's wearing blackened over goggles).  (We then see Sam as he goes crashing through some big boxes and even a few walls as his blast shield allows him to just go through them with ease).  (Then we see Sam stay running but look at his wrist as we see over his shoulder as there's a radar screen on his wrist and there are hits from the radar up ahead).  (Then we see a panel of Sam running by some guards before they turn around to look but they don't see Sam and one just shrugs his shoulders and says something about that it was probably the wind, in French, before the two guards go back to whatever it was that they had been doing).  (Then we see Sam get to a big room with a very high ceiling as he stops running and catches his breath).  Time to check up on everyone, (We then see Sam think with a serious frown on his face as he takes his communicator out of one of his pockets). 

"James, Terry…you there," (Sam then says with a somewhat concerned frown on his face as he holds the communicator up to his mouth).  (Then we see Sam wait for a bit before he furrows his brows and then ads), "Tabitha…Erica, come in."  (Then we see Sam wait a bit before he then starts to say something but then we see a sound come from off panel that causes Sam to stop and then start to look around before a big plasma blast slams into him as he then goes flying through one of the far brick walls and lands hard on some bricks).  (Then we see a panel of Sam as he tries to pick himself up off of the ground with a pained grimace on his face as he shakes some dirt out of his hair).  "Get up scum, you're not wanted here," (Someone from off panel yells as Sam then pulls himself back through the hole in the wall).  "Sorry t' disappoint ya pal…," (Sam then says with gritted teeth ass he's standing back up).  "Your existence is a disappointment," (We then see War growl in sheer anger as we see him readying another plasma blast).  "So is yours but yet you don't seem to have let that stop you," (Sam then says with a joking smirk on his face as he gets in a defensive stance).  "I will make you eat those words," (War then growls with an angry grimace on his face before he then charges forwards towards Sam, who takes off himself in a sprint towards War). 

(Then we see a quartet of wide panels of Sam and War as they're charging towards each other as in the bottom panel they finally run into each other in a big explosion that we then see continued onto the next page in a half page panel as the explosion blows a hole through the floor and then in the next two more panels to finish the page Sam and War go crashing down through the floor and then a couple more floors before they land in a water filled tunnel).  (Then we see War and Sam trying to fight against the current but they can't before the two get flushed out into another big room that looks similar to the big room that Siryn and Warpath are in).  (Then we see War growl in anger as he fires off another red hot plasma blast as Sam isn't taken by surprise and brings up his blast shield and so he only gets knocked back into the wall instead of through it).  "Nice try War, but I'm on to you," (Sam then says with a mocking grin on his face as he's standing back up).  "Your pitiful attempts at humor only mask your fear…so tell me Guthrie, how's your mother…is she well…," (War then says with a sneer of sheer delight on his face as he picks himself up off of the floor).  "Why you ba…," (Sam then says with a very angry scowl on his face as he's preparing to fire off a blast at War). 

"Ooh such language coming from someone of your supposed impeccable character," (War then says with a mocking sneer on his face before he throws his head back and laughs hysterically).  (Then we see Sam get even angrier before he then launches himself at War).  (Then we see a panel of Sam plowing into War's midsection and he drives a still laughing manically War backwards).  (Then we see Sam and War slam through a number of bio-beds and then finally into a large collection of the cryogenic tubes and the like).  "Get off me unworthy scum," (War then shouts in anger as he blasts Sam, who's gritting his teeth and trying to punch War, off of him with a very powerful plasma blast in a big panel).  (Then we see Sam go flying back up into the air and then down through the ceiling of what looks like a modified greenhouse).  (Then we see a panel of Sam as he sits up and then howls in pain as we see a big gash on his right side that's bleeding pretty well).  "Your exquisite howls of pain only make this more enjoyable for me," (A very boastful War shouts in triumph as he's walking towards where Sam is and he's kicking some broken trash out of his way as he does so).  "Yah well ah reckon that you'll have a pretty hard time enjoying anything after ah get done with ya," (Sam then yells with a rather boastful but hollow grin on his face as he's crawling back under a metal table).  (Then we see a quick panel of a very angry War kicking the greenhouse like buildings door in off of its hinges).

+The Mansion+

+ 5 A.M. +

[The bedroom of the two most senior members of the team, caught in a restless night common to new parents as well as leaders of a team of rogue mutants].  (We open with many panels of the night outside of the mansion and its grounds along with the full moon before we then pan down and see a light breeze wafting through the trees and a bird or two shivering with cold).  (Then we continue to pan through the darkened mansion but we see a sleepy Forge, still awake with the lights on in his lab, rubbing his bleary eyes with the back of his hand while trying to weld two items together and there's a steaming hot cup of coffee and coffee pot sitting nearby).  (Then we press on and get to Warren and Betsy's room as they're both in bed and the two look like they collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep the second that their heads hit their pillows and we see that Betsy's head is lying on Warren's chest).  (We then see Charles and Moira sound asleep in their side by side basinets that are pretty close to the bed).  (We see that there's also a changing table and a lot of other baby stuff nearby).  (We then see Betsy scrunch up her face as it appears that she's having a little bit of trouble sleeping).  (Then we see Warren's wings slowly begin to fold down around him and Betsy almost in a protective manner). 

(Then we see Betsy jerk her head up suddenly and look around as we see that her hair is all messed up and in her face as she doesn't have any makeup on and her hair is over her right eye).  (Then in the next panel we see Betsy's face again as one of the babies wakes up and starts to wail and the in the next panel we see Betsy become very unhappy and scowl in anger and say as she brings a hand up and brushes the hair off of her face), "Bloody…#$%@!"  (Then we see Betsy brush Warren's wings away with a frustrated frown on her face before she slips out of bed and then pulls her nightgown on with a really big and tired yawn).  (Then we see Betsy stand up and tie her hair back up in a ponytail with a tie that she got off of the nightstand).  (Then we see Betsy walk over and pick Charles up as she says with a tired but motherly smile on her face), "Okay luv…mommy's here."  (Then we see her walk over to the rocking chair that's by the window and she sits down before then in the next panel she starts to nurse him as we pull back so that we don't actually see anything).  (Then we go back to the bed and see Warren roll around a bit before he seems to notice that Betsy is no longer there).  "Huh," (We then see Warren mumble as he wakes up and then looks around groggily before he then spots Betsy by the window). 

"Betts…," (Warren then says with a tired yawn as he wipes a hand across his face as he's sitting up).  "Over here Warren," (Betsy then says with a tired look on her face as she leans her head back).  (Then we see Warren slide out of bed as we see that he's barefoot, shirtless, and wearing a pair of drawstring black pants).  (Then in the next panel we see Warren standing at Betsy's side with a hand on her shoulder as he says with a tired look on his face), "Someone not sleeping very well?"  "Yeah…me," (Betsy then says with a half smile on her face as she looks up at Warren as the panel starts at Betsy's chin and goes upward).  "That's true…but then we should have heard from the team by now," (Warren then says with a worried look on his face as he's looking down at Betsy and softly caressing the top of Charles' head).  "They'll call back Warren, Sam's a responsible guy, you did right by putting him in charge," (Betsy then says with a serious but honest look on her face as she's looking out the window).  "Yeah…you're right," (Warren then says with a slight nod of his head and his hands on his hips).  (Then we see Betsy think with a sly smile on her face), Aren't I always….  (Then we pull back and see Betsy hand Charles back to Warren, who slowly walks back and puts Charles back in his basinet). 

(Then we see Warren turn back to Betsy as she's slowly rocking in her chair).  (Then we see Warren cringe as Moira takes her opportunity and wakes up balling her head off).  "Perfect…," (Warren then says with a tired look on his face as he picks Moira up and then turns back to Betsy).  "Guess someone didn't want to miss out on the free food," (Betsy then says with a sarcastic frown on her face as she waves Warren over).

[Later]

(We see Warren walking through the halls, still barefoot but he's pulling a beater on).  (We then see him pass by the lab and he stops as he sees that the light is on).  (Then we see Warren push the door open and then slip inside as he has to squint at the bright lights as he then says), "Forge…what are you still doing up?"  (Then we see a panel of Forge as he jerks up to a seated position and rubs his eyes and says), "Wha…Warren what?"  "I could ask you the same thing, shouldn't you have gotten to sleep a few hours ago, it's five in the morning," (Warren then says with a sly smirk on his face as he walks up and cross his arms as he leans up against the table that Forge is sitting at).  "You know me Warren, I have more work that time to do it in, I get going and time seems to cease to have any meaning," (Forge then says with a nervous shrug of his shoulders as he the runs a hand through his hair).  "I know what you mean, when I get embroiled in the middle of a hectic business meeting I completely lose track of time, oftentimes Betsy has had to come very close to having to psyknife me," (Warren then says with a slightly cheesy smile on his face before we see both he and Forge share a laugh). 

"So has Sam checked in yet," (Forge then says with a somewhat worried look on his face as he starts to search through the items on the table in front of him).  "No…not yet, Betsy said not to worry, that Sam's responsible enough to contact us if something were to go wrong," (Warren then says with a serious look on his face as he turns around and then leans forward on the table on his forearms).  "You're engaged to a very intelligent woman, you know that," (Forge then says with a sly grin on his face as he picks up a couple of circuit boards and then starts to study them as Warren then laughs a bit and nods his head).  "Yes I do Forge, yes I do, in truth it's a fact that I'm reminded of almost every day," (Warren then says with a laugh before he pulls up a chair).  "On another matter I'm having a hard time in my attempts to discern what Apocalypse's intentions are in the sewers beneath Paris, now that's taking into account the possibility that the crimson dawn warriors presence in Paris is actually one of that despot's plans," (Forge then says with a very serious and frustrated scowl on his face as he lays the two circuit boards back down onto the table). 

"Their presence there is proof enough for me Forge, or else I wouldn't have sent Erica and the others in there, have you heard anything from Charles or Cable yet," (Warren then says with a grim look on of concern on his face as he idly sifts through the contents while Forge looks on with a concerned look on his face).  "No, I have yet to be able to get in touch with Cable and as for Charles well…he's been very busy lately and hasn't returned any of my calls," (Forge then says with an unhappy frown on his face as he pulls up a wireless keyboard and types in a few things as Warren looks on in frustration before running his hands through his hair and staring up at the ceiling in frustration as a 3D screen pops up beside him and Forge squints at it).  "I can understand about not being able to contact Cable, God knows that man's been difficult to get in touch with in the past, but Charles…," (Warren then says with a very worried look on his face as he scratches his chin and stares ahead). 

"Has a lot on his mind right now Warren, now I thought about contacting the Paris X-Corporation branch but I'm not sure that it would be wise given some of the recent events there, what do you think," (Forge then says with a very serious look on his face as he's putting two more circuit boards down on the table).  "I think that you've spent far to much time cooped up in here, take a few days off and relax…if that's at all possible for you, take Erica and go to some tropical island…in fact the two of you can stay at one of my villa's," (Warren then says with a slightly cheesy smile on his face as he pats Forge on the back).  "I may very well do that Warren, I could use a little downtime, although I'm not sure Erica would be so eager to leave…," (Forge then says with a concerned and slightly sad frown on his face as he leans forward onto the table and rest on his forearms).  "You sound so sure of that Forge…I think that if you were to ask Erica to go away with you on a vacation…just the two of you…that she'd surprise you," (Warren then says with a big smile on his face before he then stands up and turns towards the door).  "I'll think about it," (Forge then shouts over his shoulder as Warren starts to walk out of the lab). 

(Then we see a panel in which we see in the immediate foreground we see Forge as he's watching Warren walk back towards the door in the background Warren is almost at the door as he slightly turns back and says), "See that you do."

[Paris]

"This is pathetic…we've been walking around for hours, can't we rest a bit, I'm tired," (Tabitha then says with a big yawn and sigh before she slumps back up against the wall).  (We then see Erica hunch her shoulders up and clench her fists in frustration and grits her teeth before she then says in the next panel with an angry frown on her face), "You're always tired Tabitha…I'm surprised that you and Sam ever have sex."  "Hey…I'm always up for Sam…or he is for me…heh…uh yeah let's go," (Tabitha then says with a snicker before she blushes with embarrassment and a huge grin on her face and then hangs her head and shuffles her feet). "Whatever," (Erica then says with a nervous chuckle as she helps Tabitha back up to her feet as we see that the two are still in the lighted tunnels that they were in before).  (Then we see the two walk for a bit before they get to an unlit room without a door).  (Then we see Tabitha walk out into the room a way and looks around, as the light from the tunnel is pushing out into the room, as she says), "L-u-c-y…I'm h-o-m-e!" 

"Would you keep it down," (Erica then growls with an angry scowl on her face as she storms into the room and grabs Tabitha's wrist).  "What…we're alone…here," (We then see Tabitha say in two panels as in the first panel it's of her upper body with a defensive look on her face before then in the next panel we see a full two page panel of Erica and Tabitha in the center, as the lights snap on suddenly, of what looks like an old Roman coliseum as the two are panicking as the coliseum is filled with crimson dawn warriors and mutants of every shape and size and then on the floor surrounding Tabitha and Erica are what look like gladiators).  "Oh #@$%," (Erica then says with a total look of shock on her face in a close up panel on her head).  "My thoughts exactly," (Tabitha then says with a terrified smile on her face as then she and Erica go back to back).  "Welcome Ms. Smith and Ms. Kalen, and I should thank you for not forcing me to pit my own creations against one another," (We then see someone yell from high up in the crowd as Tabitha and Erica look up towards where the voice is coming from).  (Then we see a big screen light up and we see a rather arrogant Death sitting on a throne looking very much like a king and all around him we see extremely scantily clad female slaves of varying skin colors-like blue, yellow, purple, orange and the like-all around him keeping him cool with those big fans). 

"What is this…a bad porno movie," (Tabitha then says with a grossed out look on her face as she then sticks her tongue out with a look on her face as if she just smelled or tasted something awful).  "Laugh and joke all you want miniscule insects…your bones will be…," (We then see Death say with a very cocky sneer on his face as he clenches a fist in front of his face before Erica then interrupts him with a heard it a million times before look on her face as she says), "Our bones will be ground up into a fine powder and mixed in with your tea."  "What are you…some rich little," (Tabitha then says with a sarcastic grin on her face before she has to dive out of the way as one of the gladiators charges towards her, kicking up a cloud of dust and dirt that causes Erica to choke and cough on the cloud).  (Then we see a few panels of Erica and Tabitha in their desperate attempts to stay one step ahead of the gladiators that are trying to kill them while the crowd roars).  "Tabitha," (Erica then shouts with a panicked look on her face as she tries to go and help Tabitha but one of the gladiators jumps in front of her). 

(Then we see Tabitha get knocked down onto her back as then that same gladiator raises his weapon as he prepares to smash Tabitha, who's looking up at him with a total look of horror on her face before then in the next panel she smiles, that makes the gladiator hesitate, and then Tabitha smiles and winks at him before she blasts the gladiator in the chest and that gladiator goes flying back away from her and he takes out another of the gladiators that's trying to slice Erica's head off with an axe).  (Then we see Tabitha start to get back up but then another of the gladiators grabs Tabitha's collar and pulls her up as she kicks and struggles to get free as she yells), "Hey…let me go!" "Heh…little feeble girl, you should quit trying to play grown up," (The angry gladiator then says with a mocking sneer on his face before then in the next panel we see Tabitha grimace and then say), "Okay…so I'm a kid…then I guess that you won't mind it when I do…this!"  (And as we see Tabitha grin and say that we see her rear back and kick the gladiator that's holding her hard in the crotch).  (Then we see a panel of that gladiator's face as he reacts to what Tabitha did). 

(Then we see a panel of Tabitha smiling like a fool, and she's facing us, and with the gladiator that she kicked is on his knees hunched over with his back to us).  (Then we see Erica get close to the wall and a torch as we then see her grab the torch off of the wall).  "Okay people…who's first," (Erica then shouts with a very angry frown on her face as she starts to jump towards several of the gladiators and her powers flare the flame up a lot so that she's not practically holding a flamethrower).  (Then we pull back and see a few wide shots of the coliseum's floor as Erica is using her flamethrower and Tabitha is blasting away before then in the next panel we see Tabitha hopping up and down in celebration of blasting a gladiator before we pull back and see a really tall lizard like creature jump out of the stands down onto the coliseum floor and then open its mouth and then its tongue shoots out of its mouth and wraps around Tabitha's ankles).  (Then we see Tabitha notice suddenly as she looks down and gasps as her smile changes as her jaw drops).  (Then we see Tabitha get lifted up into the air upside down as she's really surprised and shouts out in alarm).  (Then we see Erica turn around and yell), "Tabitha," (with a worried look on her face before one of the gladiators gets in a lucky shot and slams his fist into the side of Erica's face as we then see Erica crumple to the ground unconscious). 

"No…," (Tabitha then shouts in alarm before she gets slammed up against the side of the coliseum wall, instantly knocking her out).  "How pathetic…they didn't even last five minutes," (We then see Death say with an unimpressed sneer on his face before he then slams his fist down onto the armrest of his throne, scaring the scantily clad women around him).

[Northern Paris]

(We see Sam yell out in pain as we see him go crashing back through the wall of the greenhouse like building).  (Then we see a very cocky and triumphant War charge through the wall after Sam like it's not even there).  "Is that all you've got pitiful worm, it's almost not even worth it to break you," (War then says with an angry scowl on his face as he's popping his knuckles).  "Sorry pal…but you're not even close t' breaking me," (Sam then says, as he spits out some blood, with an angry look on his face as he's picking himself up out of the midst of a number of smashed pallets and crates).  "Then let me give it my best shot," (War then says with an angry smirk on his face as he charges towards Sam while building up a plasma blast).  (Then we see War fire off the blast towards Sam, who raises his blast shield and so his surroundings get pretty much vaporized but he's okay).  (Then we see Sam fire off a blast of his own from a kneeling position as he drops his blast shield with his surroundings ablaze).  (Then we see that blast slam into War and it sends him flying backwards through the wall and we see a loud crash). 

"Told ya," (We then see Sam say with a very determined frown on his face as he stands up and then starts to walk towards War, but has to stop halfway and double over in pain as he winces and grabs his side, as the blood is running down his leg).  (Then we see War angrily storm back out of the greenhouse like building as the rest of it then falls down around him).  (Then we see Sam have to drop to a knee from the pain as he also seems to be kind of getting a little woozy from loss of blood).  (Then we see War about to punch Sam in the face, but then from behind we see Sam get zapped from behind by what looks like a suped up cattle prod as he screams in shock and pain as he gets shocked and then falls to the ground, out like a light).  "Stupid mutant," (Pestilence then says with a sly grin on her face before she shakes her head and walks away).  "There you go again taking all of the fun out of everything," (War then says with a frustrated frown on his face as he picks up and then slings Sam over his shoulder and carry Sam out of the room).

[Eastern Paris]

(We open with Siryn walking around in the big room with a frustrated look on her face while Warpath is sitting on the steps with a bored frown on his face as he's leaning back against the wall and playing with some odd piece of machinery).  "Any luck," (Warpath then says with a bored stiff look on his face as he looks over at Siryn).  "Nae, I still can' reach anyone…," (Siryn then says with a very frustrated scowl on her face as she's glaring at her palm pilot shaped communication device in the palm of her hand).  "Have I told you lately how much I'm not liking this," (Warpath then says with a worried and sarcastic look on his face as he leans forward a bit and scratches the back of his head).  "Like about a million times in the last two hours boyo," (Siryn then says with a tired smile on her face before she walks over and lays her head on Warpath's shoulder and then wraps her arms around his as best she can).  "Sorry," (Warpath then says with a somber frown on his face as his shoulders slump). 

"Hey now, don't go getting all mopey on me, you're my rock you that right, ever since I first me you you've always been the one constant in my life, no matter what social or private hells that the team and or I went through I always knew that I had a friend," (Siryn then says with a very serious and worried look on her face as she walks around in front of Warpath and takes his face in her hands before we then see the two touch foreheads as we move in closer and see in close up panels they lock gazes).  "And don't you ever forget that Terry…ever," (We then see Warpath say with a very sincere look on his face as he grabs Siryn by the shoulders).  "Don't worry I won't, now maybe we should stop wasting time moping around here and see if we can figure out exactly what this place is," (Siryn then says with a nervous smile on her face as she pats Warpath on his cheek before she walks away).  "Fine, better than sitting here…wasting away," (Warpath then says with a cheesy grin and shrug of his shoulders as he stands up and follows Siryn).  (Then we see a few panels of Warpath and Siryn as they look into each and every cryogenic tube and also the two peek under the white blankets that cover some of the bio-beds).  "Anything Terry, cause all I've got on this side are a bunch of frozen stiffs and guys that look like the medical examiner forgot to finish the autopsy," (We then see Warpath say with a bored frown on his face as he turns back to Siryn).  "Same over here, except it looks like they didn' get as far with the autopsies," (Siryn then says with a nervous and slightly unsure frown on her face before she hops up on one of the empty bio-beds and starts to swing her legs a bit). 

"Yes Alex, I'll take sick and twisted scientists dreamland for three hundred," (We then see Warpath say with a cheesy smile on his face as he also raises his hand like he's in school while walking over to cross his arms and lean on the bio-bed beside Siryn).  (Then we see a panel of Siryn and Warpath just being there smiling like fools in a panel before the two then look at each other in another panel and then the two snicker and then burst out laughing).  "Ye know Jimmy, we really shouldn't be sitting here like this, we should be burying them or something," (Siryn then says with a much more serious look on her face as she turns to Warpath).  "I completely agree Terry, but unfortunately we're in no position to give them the proper burial that they deserve," (Warpath then says with a very grim and slightly angry scowl on his face as he looks around the room).  "Aye…but how did they all get here in the first place, someone had to of brought them better yet collected them like trophies…it's sickening," (Siryn then says with a slightly sickly look on her face as she looks around the room while Warpath puts an arm around her and shrugs his shoulders).  "That it is, but come on let's go, we're not going to find the answers to any of our questions by sitting around here all day," (Warpath then says with a very serious frown on his face before he then stands back up full and starts to walk away from Siryn as she looks on with her brows furrowed and an unsure look on her face). 

[Out West]

[After fighting for their lives for what felt like hours Erica Kalen and Tabitha Smith find themselves not only bruised and battered but in need of aid…and some clothes].  (We open with a few panels of an underground tunnel system with brick walls and then several cylindrical pits in the floor that are mostly filled up with water).  (And on top of that we see an iron mesh gate placed over the top of those holes and we see two people chaired up to the iron gate with their hands above the gate and high enough above their heads so that their arms are stretched above their heads).  (Then we move in closer and see that the two people that are chained up are Erica and Tabitha and the two are naked but the water is up high enough so that we don't see anything).  (Then we see panels of Tabitha and Erica all chained up and bruised and bloodied before Erica then opens her good eye as her other eye is swelled shut and says), "Psst…hey, Tabitha!"  (Then we see a panel of Tabitha with bruises and a split lip as she's hanging her head as Erica repeats her request to Tabitha). 

(Then we see Tabitha say), "Nnh…my head," (as she then starts to roll her head around a bit before we then see her lift up her head a bit).  (Then we see Tabitha say with a pained look on her face), "Er…Erica, what…where are we…and uh why am I…we, naked," (as she looks down at herself first and then over at Erica).  "I don't even want to think about it Tabitha, the last thing that I remember is getting thrown into some sort of ancient jail cell and…God this water is cold," (Erica then starts to say with a pained wince on her face before we then see her look up and grimace and then we see sounds of her teeth chattering very loudly).  "Who knows, maybe it's that bastard Death's way of making sure that we don't get to comfortable," (Tabitha then says with a hitch in her laugh before we also see Erica crack up laughing).  "Now though at least we have some kind of an idea as to what Apocalypse's plan is for this place, sick as it may be," (Erica then says with a worried look on her face before she has to bite her lip from the shock of the cold water).  "We kind already knew that Apocalypse was one sick puppy Erica, Warren and Elizabeth better than any of us, but all that we now know for sure is that Apocalypse is definitely planning something here…man at times like this I wish that Sam was here…," (We then see Tabitha say with a concerned look on her face before we then see a panel of Erica and Tabitha looking up out of the pit as we see the sound of someone being dropped rudely onto the floor that's unconscious and someone says), "Well then worm, this must be your lucky day!" 

"What…," (We then see Erica say in a close up panel of her face as her chin is in the immediate foreground and in the background is her forehead and hairline as the gate above is casting weird shadows on her face).  "I thought that I'd reunite the two lovebirds," (We then see a very smug War say with a big smile on his face as he's using his foot to roll a bloodied and unconscious Sam towards the mouth of a small tunnel that leads to the pit that Tabitha and Erica are in).  (Then we see Tabitha look up and yell with a panic-stricken look on her face), "Sam!"  (Then we see a couple panels of Tabitha in a frantic attempt to get free as tears come to her eyes).  (Then we see a naked body come sliding into the pit and it results in a really big splash).  (Then we see that the body was Sam as he the cold water wakes him up as he's confused at first before he reaches up and grabs the gate, hissing in pain and shock at both the temperature of the water and of the pain from the wound on his side). 

"You're right where you belong now…mutant scum," (Ware then says with an angry sneer on his face as he's kneeling down on the top of the gate as he's ordering two crimson dawn warriors to pull up Sam's arms and hands before chaining his hands up like Tabitha and Erica).  (Then we see War and the two crimson dawn warriors laugh heartily as they tie Sam's hands up and then walk out of the room).  "Sam," (Tabitha then shouts with a very worried look on her face as she leans as close as she can to Sam, who winces in pain and looks up before he then says with a surprised and relieved look on his face), "Tabitha…Erica, what?"  "Guess we won't be getting our investigation merit badges eh Sam," (Erica then says with a slightly embarrassed and apologetic look on her face and a cheesy smile).  "Oh I don't know…I could be lenient this time," (Sam then starts to say with a nervous smile on his face before he sees the condition that Erica is currently in and frowns).  "Sam, are you," (Tabitha then says with a very worried look on her face before Sam then turns to her and says); "I'll be okay Tabitha, what about you?"  "Well I won't be winning any beauty pageants for awhile but I'm okay…now that I know you're okay," (Tabitha then says with a cheesy smile on her face before she leans her head up against her stretched out arm). 

"We were doing fine Sam…really, until we ran into Cirque de Pain up there and got our asses royally handed to us by Death and his cronies," (Erica then says with an angry and nervous look on her face before she winces in pain).  "We tried to fight back but they had a lizard man that laid the smackdown on me with his tongue…it was so gross," (Tabitha then says with a slightly sickly look on her face before she laughs a bit).  "Sorry Tabitha, but right now we need to get out of here and get word to Jimmy and Terry, hopefully they haven't been caught yet," (Sam then says with a grim and serious scowl on his face as he's looking up through the gate and around the pit to take stock of their surroundings).  "Great plan Sam, great plan…only one little flaw with that perfect plan of yours, we're stuck chained up in the pit…naked…with no way out," (Erica then says with a tired snicker to which Sam gives her at first an odd look and then an unhappy scowl).  (Then we see Sam raise his blast shield and say with a grim smile on his face), "Guess our powers still work…that's a plus, but I wonder why they just left us here like this, ah mean we would just bust out of here in like two seconds…." 

(Then we see Erica look around and then say with a slightly cheeky smile on her face), "They probably thought that we'd be too embarrassed to do anything."  (We then see the trio continue to talk as we pull up and away).

[Meanwhile, Back At The Mansion]

"I've hand enough Betts, no matter how responsible Sam is he still should have checked in by now," (We see Warren yell with an angry look on his face as he's unbuttoning his coat and loosening his tie as he's walking through the hallways of the mansion as he's in psychic contact with Betsy as her butterfly is on his forehead, all that after the first couple of panels of outside of the mansion and then the next couple of panels we go in through one of the windows, as the wind blows the curtains around a bit, and then down a long empty hallway before getting to Warren).  "I know luv but…," (We then see Betsy say out loud with a frustrated frown on her face as she's standing beside a crib and she's looking down at Charles while pulling a blanket up to keep him warm).  "They've been gone all night and they've been taught better than this…," (Warren then says with a serious frown on his face as he rounds a corner and stands in the doorway of the nursery as he's pulling his tie completely off). 

(Then we see Betsy turn back to Warren, still with a hand down on Charles' blanket, and say telepathically with a very stern look on her face), Keep your voice down Warren, or do you want to be the one to soothe his cries.  "I'm sorry, but I still believe that something has gone very wrong in Paris," (Warren then says in a whisper as he walks up behind Betsy and wraps his arms around her and rest his chin on her shoulder).  "What did Forge have to say about all of this," (We then see Betsy say with an almost sly smile on her face as she leans back into Warren and lays her head back on Warren's shoulder while she wraps her arms around herself and Warren's arms).  "He said that he hadn't heard anything yet and that I should ask my gorgeous and brilliant fiancé about what to do on the subject," (Warren then says with a very big grin on his face before he spins Betsy around so that they're facing each other).  "Good answer…although I highly doubt that Forge actually said that…now I want you to meet me in the gym in twenty minutes, I haven't worked out in so long that if I don't do it soon I'm going to have a bloody…," (Betsy then says with a very nervous and frustrated scowl on her face as she pokes Warren in the chest). 

"But what about…," (Warren then starts to say with a concerned look on his face as Betsy then starts to walk out of the room).  "The nanny can take care of them for now…after all, it is what we pay her for isn't it," (Betsy then says with a slight tilt of her head and an energized smirk on her face as she has a hand on the doorframe).

[Shortly]

(We start off with panels of Betsy, in workout shorts and sports bra, as she's standing in front of the mirrors in the gym stretching).  (Then we see a panel from behind of Betsy, still stretching, and we see in the mirror the reflection of Warren standing in the doorway of the gym leaning up against the doorframe with a smug and appraising smirk on his face and his arms are crossed).  (Then we see more panels of Warren watching Betsy stretching).  (Then we see a panel of Betsy still stretching with her legs stretched apart a little more than a shoulders width apart and she's stretching from her waist up from side to side).  (Then we see Betsy say with a sly smirk on her face as her head is turned down towards the floor), "Are you just gonna stand there staring at my ass all day like a wanker or are you actually going to step inside and give me a hand?"  "Ya know…I could actually stand here all day…but if I ever want to sleep in our bed again…," (Warren then says in two panels where in the first panel we see a slightly cheesy grin on his face before then in the next panel he shrugs his shoulders and then walks into the room).  "I need someone to spar with and you're the only one that can keep up with me," (Betsy then says with a calm frown on her face as she stands back up and pulls her hair back up into a ponytail). 

"Don't worry Betts, I've been neglecting my workouts as of late so you're right, this is just what we both need," (Warren then says with a serious look on his face as he walks further into the room before taking his shirt off).  "Careful Warren…a girl could get the wrong impression after seeing you shirtless," (Betsy then says with a daring grin on her face as she's shifted her weight to one side so that her left hip is higher than her right as she's also pulling on some wrist weights).  "Oh really, and here I was thinking that you liked me sans shirt," (Warren then says with a sly grin on his face as he picks up a couple of wrist weights of his own).  "I do luv, but at times I find it difficult to concentrate on working out with you like this," (Betsy then says with a slightly cheesy smile on her face as she turns and walks over to a rack of training weapons).  "Sorry, I'll just put my shirt back…," (Warren then starts to say with a calm and serious frown on his face as he turns around and goes to pick his shirt back up but Betsy turns and says with a hand outstretched and a slightly worried look on her face), "No…wait, I…."  "But I thought," (Warren then says in two panels where in the first panel he's facing Betsy with a serious look on his face before then in the next panel he turns away a bit in a close up panel of his face as he smiles widely). 

"Just get over here will you, we don't have all day," (Betsy then says with a slightly embarrassed look of anger on her face as she picks up a couple of bo's, as in the weapon that Donatello of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles uses, and then in the next panel she tosses one to Warren, who catches it with one hand while he drops his shirt back down with the other).  "Yes dear," (Warren then says with a slightly cheeky smile on his face as he hangs his head a bit and walks towards her).  "So do ya want me to pull my punches or go all out, because I can play this either way," (Betsy then says with a serious frown on her face as she and Warren walk over to an open area that they can spar in).  "Oh no by all means…don't pull your punches, I can tell that you're ready to snap if you don't get to release a little of that energy that you've been amassing you'll burst at the seams," (Warren then says with a very small smile and wave of his hand as he steps out of the way to let Betsy pass, and she rolls her eyes and frowns). 

"You'd like that wouldn't you Warren, me bursting at the seams…my stomach and other internal organs spilling out all over this nice clean floor…tsk, tsk my love, what ever would the poor unfortunate cleaning lady think of walking in here on Monday morning to find me…here…a bloody awful stain to get out of the rug," (Betsy then says with a sexy pout on her face also with an eyebrow cocked as she's not standing up straight but leaning on her bo and is putting more of her weight on one leg than the other).  "Are you always with incorrigible after having to spend almost four straight weeks doing…woman's work," (Warren then says with a slightly cocky grin on his face as he is holding his bo behind his head and he's draping his hands and forearms over the bo as if it's a stockade of some sort).  (Then we see a panel of the two just staring at each other from the side before we then see a close up panel of both of their eyes as they each cock an eyebrow as if daring each other to act in a battle of wills).  [She moves deftly, with a speed born of years of practice and sacrifice].  (Then we see one quick panel of Betsy as she winks at Warren, who's confused by her wink as she then takes a long step forward and jabs Warren in the stomach with the end of her bo). 

(Then we see a panel of Warren reacting to her sudden attack as he yells with a shocked and pained grimace on his face), "Hey!"  "I think you're getting soft in your old age dear," (We then see Betsy say with a smug grin on her face as she's back to leaning on her bo again).  "I'm not old, I'm only twenty eight," (Warren then says with an angry scowl on his face as he doubles over a bit and tries to catch his breath).  "Aw…did I hurt the poor baby's feelings," (Betsy then says with an over exaggerated pout on her face as she leans heavily on her bo).  "No, but you did catch me off guard with that little cheap shot," (Warren then says with a slightly angry frown on his face as he half glares at Betsy).  "Cheap shot, is that what you think that was," (Betsy then says with a hurt and somewhat angry look on her face as she takes a small step forward and clenches her fist).  "Well what would you call it," (Warren then says with a slightly confused frown on his face as he leans his head back a bit).  "A wake up call, one that I think that it's now apparent that you sorely needed," (Betsy then says with a very serious and slightly scared look on her face as she gets up into Warren's face as we see a side panel of the two staring at each other and their noses are almost touching).  (Then we see Warren lean in and kiss Betsy). 

(Then we see Betsy pull away and look around at Warren with a confused look on her face before she then kisses Warren back).  (Then we see the two pull back and grin at each other).  "Shall we begin," (Warren then says with a sly grin on his face as he twirls around his bo).  "I thought you'd never ask," (Betsy then says with a wide grin on her face as she takes up a defensive stance and motions with her hand for Warren to attack).  (Then we see a panel of Warren as he swings his bo at Betsy but she blocks his swing with her bo).  (Then we see several panels of various sizes as Warren and Betsy go at it in a fight as they don't hold anything back).  (Then we see a panel of Warren and Betsy then trying to catch their breath and they're sweating pretty heavily).  "That was fun," (Warren then says with a tired smile on his face as he's kneeling down on one knee and leaning a bit on his bo).  "It was alright, but if that's all that you've got…," (Betsy then says with a rather confidant and smug smirk on her face as she's squatting down with her feet together under her and her knees apart with her forearms on her thighs as her bo is setting across her lap behind her elbows). 

"You always have to push it don't you Betts…heh…then again what else should I have expected from you…," (Warren then says with an odd grin on his face as he stands up and shakes his head and then takes a deep breath).  "Little old me…why what ever gave you that idea…I'm just a pure little innocent Catholic girl," (Betsy then says with as innocent of a pout on her face as she can get before she then drops her head down a bit so that Warren can't see her smile).  "I didn't know that you're Catholic, hmpf…guess you learn something new every day," (Warren then says with a somewhat stunned look on his face as he shrugs his shoulders).  "I'm not…exactly, but I tend to fall back on it when I get in sticky situations such as this," (Betsy then says with a short chuckle as she stands up and crosses her arms with a wicked grin on her face as her bo is mixed in their with her crossed arms).  "I know what you mean, so do you want to switch weapons…or start round two," (Warren then says with a sly smile on his face as he starts to twirl his bo around). 

"You know now that you mention it we did get a slew of new swords in last week from Tokyo…we could break them in…as it were," (Betsy then says with a slight tilt of her head to one side and a daring smile on her face as she walks up to Warren).  "You read my mind," (Warren then says with a big and slightly cheesy grin on his face before we then see the two walk back towards the training weapons).

[Back In Paris, East Side]

[Not knowing the fate of their friends and teammates Theresa Rourke Cassidy and James Proudstar solemnly continue their search for the answers to their questions, many of which they have yet to ask].  (We open with Warpath and Siryn climbing up a ladder through a tunnel that looks like a Jeffries tube from Star Trek, we see the first few panels we're looking down the tube as they're climbing up the tube towards us with serious looks on their faces).  "I think it's official…we're completely lost," (Siryn then says with a confused look on her face as she stops climbing and looks back down at Warpath).  "We were lost before we ever left that lab or whatever it was Terry," (We then see Warpath say with a sly smirk on his face as he's barely able to make his way through the tube because of his size).  "True…but at least we could move around a bit, unlike in this bloody coffin," (Siryn then says with a worried and nervous look on her face as she shakes her head).  "What…since when are you claustrophobic," (Warpath then says with a shocked and confused frown on his face as he looks up the tunnel). 

"I'm not Jimmy, but that doesn' mean that I enjoy being cooped up in here with you…no offense," (Siryn then says with a frustrated frown on her face as she looks back down over her shoulder at Warpath).  "None taken Terry…but maybe we should take the first way out of this place that we come to…," (Warpath then says with an unhappy frown on his face as he starts to look around for a hatch).  "I won't argue with that boyo, this place is giving me the creeps," (Siryn then says with a fearful look on her face as she starts to climb up again).  "Well the bad news is that I'm not seeing any hatches or ways out of this place…the good news is that…uh…there really is no good news as far as I can see," (Warpath then says with an unimpressed frown on his face as he continues to climb up after Siryn).  "Then by all means, let's find some good news," (Siryn then says with a nervous smile on her face as she starts to climb faster).  (Then we see a few panels of the two climbing up until they seem to come to the top of the tube and they exit it into another dark room). 

"Any clue where we are," (Siryn then says with a concerned look on her face as she helps Warpath up into the room).  "No more so that you Terry…but once again we're apparently in a big…dark….room, with no idea what's going on," (Warpath then says with a nervous smile on his face as he stands up and brushes the dirt off of his pants while Siryn brushes his back off).  "Then allow me to shed a little light on the situation," (Someone then says from out of the darkness that makes Warpath and Siryn frantically look around in the darkness and they both get in a defensive stance).  "Who are you," (Siryn then shouts with an angry look on her face in a half close up panel before we then see Warpath shout), "Show yourself!"  "You'd like that wouldn't you Jimmy m'boy, but then…," (We then see the voice say out of the darkness before we then see Siryn look around with a confused and serious look on her face as then we see Warpath furrow his brows a bit and then stand straight up and say), "Wait a minute, I know that voice."  "Ye do…," (Siryn then says with a nervous frown on her face as she edges a bit closer to Warpath and lays a hand on his shoulder). 

"Yeah…I think so," (Warpath then says with a nervous look of frustration on his face as he looks at Siryn).  "Okay…so then what are ye waiting," (Siryn then says with an angry frown on her face as she punches Warpath in the shoulder).  "Alright already…Pete…Pete Wisdom…is that you," (Warpath then says with an angry frown on his face as he glares around into the darkness).  "Bloody hell," (We then see the voice in the darkness say that shocks Warpath and Siryn before the lights suddenly turn on as Warpath and Siryn shut their eyes).  "Pete…what the hells going on here," (Warpath then yells with a frustrated and angry look on his face as he clenches his fists and looks like he's ready for a fight).  "You know what James…I wish that I could answer you but first I'd have to know what was going on here," (We then see Pete Wisdom say back in two panels as in the first panel he's leaning forward on the railing and then in the next panel we see him stand fully up and cross his arms).  "So then you…I mean this isn't…," (Siryn then says with an unhappy frown on her face as her eyes are finally able to adjust to the light).  "You mean this bloody awful excuse for…," (Pete then starts to say with an angry and fed up scowl on his face before Warpath then cuts in and says with a sarcastic and frustrated scowl on his face), "A simple no would have sufficed Pete." 

"I know James, but then…where's the fun in that," (Pete then says with a flippant smile on his face as he's walking down the stairs with a hand on the railing).  "Ye never change do you Pete, still got that stick jammed firmly up your…," (Siryn then starts to say with an impatient and uninterested smile on her face with her hands on her hips before we Warpath clear his throat loudly as he tries to keep from laughing).  "As feisty as ever I see…you sure know how to pick 'em James," (Pete then says with an almost mocking smile on his face as he walks towards Warpath and Siryn).  (Then we see Siryn take a step towards Pete with an angry look on her face before she then says), "Keep it up pal…."  "Easy Terry…the last thing that we need right now is to start fighting amongst ourselves, we need to keep going and figure out what happened to Sam and the others," (Warpath then says with a very serious and also somewhat worried look on his face as he glares down at Siryn).  "Something happen to Mr. Guthrie," (Pete then says with a concerned frown on his face as he scratches his chin with one hand and puts the other hand in his pocket).  "We're not sure, we haven' been able to contact Sam, Tabitha, or even Erica for some time, we were hoping to run into them here…but instead we found you," (Siryn then says with a pensive frown on her face as she's looking up at Warpath, almost begging for him to agree with her). 

"So unless you know where Sam and the others are we'll let you get back to whatever it was that you were doing before we showed up," (Warpath then says with a serious frown on his face as he turns away from Pete Wisdom and then starts to walk away).  "I was probably doing the exact same thing that…," (We then see Pete say with a slightly cheesy grin on his face before he suddenly goes silent in a close up panel with a very serious look on his face).  "Huh," (Siryn then says with a confused look on her face before she turns around and then adds); "Oh this ain't good."  What…," (We then see Warpath say with a confused look on his face as he stops walking and turns around).  "Looks like we got some company," (Pete then says with a very serious look on his face as we see him set his fingers on fire in preparation to fire his knives).  (Then we see a large panel of a multitude of crimson dawn warriors looking ready for a fight).  (We see that the crimson dawn warriors are heavily armed).  "Well well, what do we have here, a trio of idealistic scum threatening to undermine the will of our lord Apocalypse," (We then see Imol says with a very smug and arrogant grin on his face as he slowly and confidently walks to the front of the group of crimson dawn warriors). 

"I should have known from the putrid smell around here that we'd run into you sooner or later," (Warpath then says with a sinister grin on his face as he starts to pop his knuckles).  "Your pitiful attempts at humor notwithstanding this is where your little journey of discovery ends," (Imol then says with a mocking and belittling sneer on his face as he takes away a staff weapon from one of the crimson dawn warriors and taps the end up against his palm).  "You sure like to play the mind games don't you…soddin wanker," (Pete then says with a sarcastic grin on his face at first before he then scowls in disgust and fires off a few of his finger knives at Imol, who dodges them but they then hit some of the crimson dawn warriors that are behind Imol in the chest and they howl in pain before collapsing to the ground).  "Stupid bastard," (An angry Imol then growls with a wicked grin on his face before he pounds the end of his staff on the ground and glares over at Warpath, Siryn, and Pete Wisdom).  "Ye know Imol, it's not very nice, calling Pete something bad like that…even if I do agree with you…," (Siryn then says with a mocking smirk on her face before she takes up a defensive position beside Warpath while Pete Wisdom glares over at Siryn). 

"I call things like I see them," (Imol then says with an arrogant sneer on his face as he points the end of the staff at Siryn and Warpath).  "Oh yeah, well here's how I see things, if you and your butt ugly pals over there don't get out of my sight right Terry, Pete, and I are going to put a hurting on you that you'll remember for the rest of your short life," (We then see Warpath say with a very serious and threatening scowl on his face as he drives his left fist into the flat palm of his right hand).  "Your idle threats mean nothing to me worm," (Imol then say with a confidant smirk on his face before he smashes the staff down onto the ground).  "Ye seem t' like calling us names Imol…well ya know what, I've got one for you…coward," (Siryn then says with a mocking smirk on her face as she crosses her arms and then laughs).  "That title would actually fit you better that it would me," (Imol then says with an angry sneer on his face before he grins widely).  "So why don't we stop chatting each other up and get down to the fighting," (Pete then says with a frustrated and also somewhat angry scowl on his face as he glares over at Imol).  "Shut up you insipid twit," (Imol then growls with a mocking sneer on his face before he laughs at Pete). 

"Sod off," (We then see Pete growl back with an angry frown on his face before he sneers over at Imol, who then motions for the crimson dawn warriors behind him to attack).  "This ought to be fun," (Warpath then says with an excited smile on his face before he launches himself straight into the charging crimson dawn warriors as Siryn launches herself up into the air and she says as she's blasting the crimson dawn warriors in such a way as to open up a lane for Warpath to fallow), "Just follow my lead boyo!"  (We also then see Pete Wisdom dodge out of the way of the first crimson dawn warrior to get to him and he then laughs in triumph as he blasts them with his hot knives and they cry out in pain).  "Now this is a battle,' (We then see Pete say with an excited smile on his face as he starts to laugh and dance around the crimson dawn warriors as he's blasting them).  (Then we see several panels of the fight as Warpath is doing pretty well in the fight and Siryn is avoiding the staff blasts and she's firing off a sonic scream whenever she can).  (Pete then ducks underneath an attack and picks up the staff of a downed crimson dawn warrior and then blocks the next attack with it). 

"You should surrender now and save yourself the humiliation of being defeated by the glorious subjects of our lord Apocalypse and the Crimson Dawn," (Imol then yells ou with an arrogant smirk on his face before he swings his staff at Warpath, who catches the weapon easily).  "Then maybe you should, surrender instead and save yourself from the ass kicking that you're about to receive," (Warpath then says with a daring grin on his face before Imol then growls), "Never!"  "Ah well, have it your way," (We then see Warpath say with a slightly cheesy smile on his face as he shrugs his shoulders and rolls his eyes before he then slams his fist into Imol's jaw that sends Imol flying back into the wall).  (Then we see one of the crimson dawn warriors get a lucky shot in that hits Siryn on the thigh that causes her to shout in pain as we see a big rip in her suit at about the same place as she earlier had gotten the shard of glass in her thigh as we see part of a scar).  "Bad move pal," (We then see Pete shout in anger and alarm before he cracks that warrior over the head with his staff and that warrior then grunts in pain and collapses to the ground). 

"Terry," (Warpath then says with a worried look on his face as he rushes over and is under Siryn as she scowls in pain).  "Nnh…no Jimmy, I'm fine," (As Siryn says with a hand pressed onto her thigh over where she got hit).  "Are you sure," (Warpath then says with an unconvinced look on his face as he knocks away a trio of charging crimson dawn warriors).  "Of course," (Siryn then says with an annoyed scowl on her face before she blasts the crimson dawn warriors that are trying to take Warpath and then Pete by surprise).  "Would you two kids stop flapping your gums already and get back to the task at hand," (Pete then says with a less than impressed scowl on his face before he then, in a close up panel, swings his staff and slams it into the skull of an onrushing crimson dawn warrior).  "Yes sir," (Warpath then says with a mock salute with one hand while he's holding off some crimson dawn warriors with the other).  "Sod off already ya bloody…," (We then see Pete growl with an angry look on his face before he blocks another attack and then jabs the end of his staff into the stomach of the closest crimson dawn warriors).  "Ye know guys…we are in the middle of a fight, and I'm the only one that's actually doing any fighting," (Siryn then says with an angry scowl on her face as she's perched up on the railing with crimson dawn warriors charging up the stairs towards her). 

"Damn you," (We then see Imol shout angrily as he's picking himself up off of the floor and glaring at Warpath as Imol's all beaten up and is bleeding from the mouth).  "Someone should wash your mouth out with soap for that," (Warpath then says with a mocking smirk on his face as he throws a punch that drives two crimson dawn warriors through the wall).  "You dare mock me," (Imol then yells with an outraged look on his face as he shoves a couple of crimson dawn warriors out of the way as he starts to storm towards Warpath).  "There ye go again with the spouting of the self righteous…," (We then see Siryn say with an annoyed frown on her face as she lands on top of a pile of unconscious crimson dawn warriors, and then fires off another sonic scream).  (Then we see a panel of Imol as he picks up another staff and fires off a blast at Siryn, who doesn't notice that she's being fired on).  "Terry, look out," (Warpath then says with an alarmed look on his face before we see him rush over and take the blast for Siryn, but we see the blast barely affect Warpath).  "Thank ye," (We then see Siryn say with a grateful look on her face and then we see a couple panels of Pete fighting in the immediate foreground with Warpath and Siryn then fighting in the background). 

(Then we see Pete turn back towards Imol and then yell with an angry look on his face), "All right ya bloody wanker, you're going to tell us where Sam and the others are…or else Jimmy, Theresa, and I are going to turn this place inside out until we do."  "Stupid mutant, I will never betray my lord Apocalypse, to even insinuate such a foolish notion means certain and swift death, you should have known better and held your forked tongue," (Imol then shouts back with an angry scowl on his face before he charges at Pete, who then blocks Imol's attack with a cocky grin on his face).  "Okay…now tell me how you really feel about me," (Pete then shouts with a mocking smile on his face as he blocks Imol's attacks again).  "Does he ever quit," (Siryn then says with a worried look on her face as she lands back down beside Warpath).  "Nope…," (We then see Warpath say with a very serious look on his face as we see the two surrounded on all sides by crimson dawn warriors in a big panel).  "That's what I was afraid of," We then see Siryn say with an unsure frown on her face in a close up panel before we see the two shout in anger and charge the onrushing crimson dawn warriors.-END