X-MEN #25
A TRIP TO JAPAN
By: Bodhi Ouellette
"... Don't you DARE send me to Japan!"
New Utopia; Professor X's Office:
Logan stands sternly in front of Professor X in his own office. The door was wide open, with the X-Men members Hank, Kitty Pryde, and Neal peeking inside, watching them.
Logan: I ain't going back to that damn place ever again!
Professor X: I'm not giving you a choice.
Logan: Why the hell are you forcing ME to go, anyways?! Did it ever occur to you that I didn't want to go back to Japan, every again?!
Professor X: You never asked.
Logan: Remember how I said I'd stab you in the leg the other day?
Professor X: That was for a different situation, but yes?
Logan: I'm tempted to do that to you, right, freaking, now.
Professor X: I'm sending you in, because not only do we have proof that an old enemy of yours is there.
Logan: Who then?
Professor X: Gorgon.
Logan: (long beat) Alright, fine. But if there is any other mission that happens to be in Japan, I'm calling in sick. And I want Neal and Kitty with me.
Professor X: Granted. Neal, Kitty, would you please stop hiding behind my door and enter into my room?
Neal and Kitty all enter in the Office, standing behind Logan.
Professor X: So, for you two that have joined us on this mission, you'll be going into Tokyo, Japan, to infiltrate a factory that built the Machine. We also think the factory has connections to Magneto and the Brotherhood. I need you three to investigate it.
Neal: Sounds fine with me.
Kitty: An infiltration mission, you say? I think this'll be a cool use for my new powers.
Logan: Hooray... Japan...
Tokyo, Japan:
Business as usual. The lights shine like no other city can. But where this factory is located, is somewhere where the lights do not shine too often, and the sounds of cars and people is almost barren. The X-Jet flew over the factory's location. Wolverine, Shadowcat, and Thunderbird jump out of the X-Jet. Shadowcat phases through the ground, while Wolverine barrel roles once he lands on the ground, and Thunderbird slows his landing down by using his flight powers to descend down slowly, eventually touching the ground safely. The X-Jet flies off.
Wolverine: Alright. You all know the mission, eh? We go in, find whatever this connection with Magneto is, then get the hell out.
Shadowcat: Boy, you really don't sound too enthusiastic about being here, are you?
Wolverine: No... what gave it away? The fact that I was screaming in front of Chucks face about being FORCED to go here? So you two are gonna listen to whatever I say, that way I don't have to suffer through this place any longer. So let's get our asses movin',
The two follow Wolverine's orders, and they all head into the factory.
Factory:
The factory is somewhat refurbished, with some parts of it being more or less untouched, meaning this factory is not only active, but constantly active. The three go and look all around separately. Though this doesn't stop them from having any conversations.
Wolverine:ComSo, Neal. We haven't really talked since you've been back and such. How's life been treating you?
Thunderbird:ComWell, from the time I've been away, I got married.
Wolverine:ComThat's nice. Who'd you marry?
Thunderbird:ComHer name is Natalie. I met her while I was vacationing in Sydney, and I met her at a Pearl Jam concert. We started dating for a while, and it was about a year into our relationship that I told her I was a mutant.
Wolverine:ComAnd what did she think about that?
Thunderbird:ComShe was shocked. But after a while, she looked passed that, and we've been together since.
Shadowcat:ComThat's nice.
Thunderbird:ComYeah. She's beautiful. She and I have more in common, that it's kind of scary. But she and I understand each other, y'know? I wouldn't of been happier. But I gotta ask. How's Betsy doing?
Wolverine:ComFine. She's now apart of an X-Men team under the Jean Grey School Mansion. Call it our "second division" if you want.
Thunderbird:ComHas she met anyone since I've left?
Wolverine:ComI don't remember. Maybe she had a thing with Warren or something.
Thunderbird:ComOh.
Shadowcat:ComGuys. I found something. Over here.
After Wolverine and Thunderbird regroup with Shadowcat, she points at a pile of boxes that have the label "TO SHIP TO SAVAGE LAND" on it. Shadowcat opens up the box to reveal a bunch of tools and pieces of metal in it.
Shadowcat: Well, we found what we were looking for. So what do we do with it?
Wolverine: We blow it up.
Thunderbird: I highly doubt that'll stop them from sending stuff to the Savage Land.
Wolverine: Let's blow it up anyways. We'll use Kelly to find the person whose shipping this stuff over and tell him to stop, or else will come back to stop it. *Sniff* *Sniff*
?: Well, you're all already here-
Jumping down from the ceiling with a katana in his hands is Gorgon, ready to strike. All of them dodge the attack however. Gorgon repositions himself at Wolverine.
Gorgon: - You might as well try to stop me.
Wolverine: Gorgon. So you're the one who's been sending these supplies over to the Savage Land.
Gorgon: Magneto promised a position for the Hand in his new world if we'd send him supplies only we could get and obtain.
Wolverine: Well, guess what, bub? We're ending your little partnership, now.
Gorgon: I doubt it.
Wolverine charges towards Gorgon, at the last minute, popping out his claws, as soon as Gorgon blocks the attack. Gordon takes a swing at Wolverine, which he blocks with his claws. Wolverine retracts his claws, grabs Gorgon by his clothes and then throw him into a wall. Gorgon is phased, but he gets his conscious back.
Gorgon: Your fighting style is... different. You stopped using your claws. Why?
Wolverine: I'm a new man, Gorgon. I don't want to kill anyone, anymore.
Gorgon: Then you must know who will win this fight today.
Gorgon charges at Wolverine, and like before, Wolverine dodges the strike, by moving out of the way. Gorgon actually swings a couple more strikes at Wolverine, all of them have been dodge.
Wolverine: Who said I was planning on winning? All I'm doing is distracting you.
An big explosion happens behind Wolverine. The explosion came from the supplies. Thunderbird and Shadowcat walk up behind Wolverine.
Gorgon: The supplies!
Wolverine: See what I meant?
Gorgon: (beat) It doesn't matter. I can just get back the supplies again. And now it is time for your nuances to go away.
Gorgon begins removing his glasses, revealing is glowing blue eyes.
Wolverine: Don't look at him!
The three X-Men quickly look away from Gorgon.
Gorgon: Closing your eyes will do you nothing. You're gonna have to look eventually.
Thunderbird and Wolverine quickly barrel roll out of the way. Wolverine looks over to see Gorgon heading over to Shadowcat, but he notices something over where the explosion happened; a bathroom with a mirror is still intact.
Wolverine: Kitty! Keep your eyes closed, turn around, and run!
Shadowcat: Run?!
Wolverine: Yes! Run! And whatever you do, don't phase through anything!
Shadowcat does exactly that; she turns around, and run. She opens her eyes to see what Logan was talking about, and she indeeds notices the mirror as well. Gorgon chases her into the bathroom. Kitty stops in front of the mirror, closes her eyes and turns over to Gorgon. Gorgon grabs Kitty by the neck and holds her towards the mirror.
Gorgon: You have nowhere to go. It's time for you to open your eyes.
Shadowcat: I don't think so.
Kitty quickly begins disappearing from Gorgon, eventually making herself invisible. Gorgon looks directly into the mirror. Gorgon starts turning himself into stone, struggling to get out, until he eventually freezes all over. Kitty reappears behind Gorgon, and looks behind at him, smirking.
Wolverine: Nice job, Kitty. Glad that worked on him.
Shadowcat: So what do we do about him? (motions her head at Gorgon)
Wolverine: I wouldn't worry too much. The Hand will probably find him and unfreeze him with somethin'. Out job is done. Let's get the hell out of here.
X-Jet:
The three X-Men are back on the jet, with Beast piloting the jet. Logan is looking back out in Tokyo. Once the view of the city disappears, Logan makes a heavy sigh.
Logan: Finally. I plan on never going back to that place again.
Beast: So, what did you find out in the factory?
Logan: Well, everything Xavier told us was pretty much true to the bone. We blew up one of their supplies, and Gorgon was there. And he froze himself.
Beast: (beat) Alright, then. So who has anything else to say?
Kitty: Can we stop for Ice Cream?
Beast: (long beat) Why?
Kitty: I don't know. Cause I want to?
Beast: (beat) Maybe.
Some Town in New Hampshire:
A long line is placed at a Ice Cream store. The employer hands the person his order of Ice Cream.
Employer: Here you go. Raspberry swirls.
Customer: Thanks!
Employer: Next?
After the customer gets out of line, Beast approaches the stand.
Employer: Uh... can I help you?
Beast: Yes, I'd like to order your... lets see... Triple Chocolate Swirls with Brownie bits, Fudge Swirl with the rum in it, a Hot Fudge Sundae with coffee Ice Cream, and do you have any Frozen Yogurt?
Employer: (beat) We do.
Beast: Then I'll take the Blue Raspberry, please.
Employer: (beat) Uh... yes. That'll be 20.74, please.
Beast: Oh great. I only have a 20 with me. I could come back to get an extra dollar, if you'd like?
Employer: No, no. We'll take the 20. We'll get you your Ice Cream, right away.
Beast: Thank you. (looks over to the three X-Men) I don't think he was expecting that, now, was he?
They all laugh.
Well wasn't that a very sitcom like ending? Well, it doesn't matter. The next arc is gonna be a bit X-Men 'less', as we focus our attention back in the Savage Land, with Magneto and his progression coming very close to completion!