The SuperStarr Chronicles
Disclaimer: "They're...majestic creatures? WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY?!" - Greg Wilmot, The Completionist
Author's Note: I want to thank everyone who has read and supported me through this story! Here's to twenty more chapters!
Chapter 20: The Bear Necessities, Part 3!
Lemuria
Deep underneath the waters of the Pacific Ocean lied a old ancient continent known as Lemuria. Once upon a time, Lemuria was home to a mighty civilization ruled by the beings known as the Deviants. Their empire would be destroyed thanks to the god-like beings known as the Celestials. The Celestials used a weapon to bring the continent into the ocean. This event would eventually be known as the Great Cataclysm.
The Cataclysm would not be the end of the Deviants, however. They would find ways to rebuild parts of their old empire in the remains of the continent. However, the influence they once had in the world was now for all intents and purposes, gone.
The Deviants have never forgotten this, as their war with another offshoot of humanity born from the Celestials known as the Eternals led to the destruction of their home and empire.
In a bar within an underground city, a pair of disguised figures were sitting in a corner booth. A waitress approached them, carrying two metal flasks full of a foamy liquid.
"Yer grog, boys." She said, putting the flasks on the table.
"Thanks." One of the hooded figures thanked quietly, then she left. The figure picked up their flask and took a sip from it. "Good grog this month."
The other took a sip of their own grog. "Indeed. But that's beside the point. Have you found it?"
"Yup." The other confirmed. "It's located in the place the humans call Japan."
"Excellent." The first figure nodded.
"However, it's guarded."
"Guarded?" The first figure rubbed his chin, revealing pink flesh. "Hmmmm...I doubt any of what humans call superheroes know of it..."
"Kingo, sir." The second figure said. "It's Kingo who is the guardian of it."
"Makes sense." The first figure nodded. "We're going to have to plan carefully, then. Not just to avoid the wrath of the Eternals, but also Earth's resident super-champions." Underneath his hood, the bald-headed pink-skinned Deviant known as Kro began to plot and plan.
Woods Manor
Underneath the manor was a large cave-like area. The main feature of it was a large supercomputer. Sitting in front of it was Jillian Woods. She was looking over some photos of the destroyed soccer field.
"Hmmm..." She frowned. Darren Drinkwater walked up with a cup of coffee.
"Still looking at those photos?" The butler noted.
Jillian nodded as she took the coffee and sipped it. "Thanks, Darren. Yeah. I'm just grateful I still have friends on the force."
"I don't think that Chief Rothman would approve of seeing the Shadowoman being potentially back in action." Drinkwater noted. Jillian smirked.
"He hates me because I humiliated him." She reminded. She found herself thinking back to that time. Rothman had been working on a very big case, one that would have made any cop's career. And Shadowoman ended up solving it, which drove the policeman up the wall. But that was in the past. She shook her head and went back to looking at the photos of the soccer field.
"They claimed the damage was from a prank gone wrong, right?" Drinkwater recalled. Jillian nodded. "What the hell kind of prank would cause this?"
"One that involved some very powerful explosives." Jillian cracked with a smirk. "But, yeah. This was no prank."
Bayville High
"Rock rock, till ya drop! Rock rock, never stop!" Lila Chopra-Cheney sang softly along to the sounds to Joe Elliott and the other members of Def Leppard as the legendary English band's music went into her ears thanks to the earbuds she was wearing. The earbuds were connected to an iPod Touch at her hip. She bopped and strutted to her locker. When she reached it, she stopped the music and pulled out her earbuds. The interstellar teleporter then wrapped up her earbuds around her iPod and put it in her pocket.
"Uh, hey Lila." A voice greeted. The British girl turned her head and saw Sandy Hawkins smiling at her.
"Hey there, Hawkgirl." Lila greeted. "How you been?"
"Doing alright, thanks." Sandy said. "How you doing?"
"Doin' right as rain."
"That's good to hear." Sandy smiled. She then rubbed the back of her head shyly. "Hey, listen. I'm sorry to be a bother, but have you made any progress on that...thing I asked you about?"
Lila shot Sandy a big smile. "Today is your lucky day, Hawkgirl." She unzipped her bag and pulled out a small blue box, the size of a smartphone. Sandy noted that she even put a little blue bow on it. "Here ya go." Sandy took the box and opened it. Her eyes widened as she pulled out a small futuristic black taser. It could be held like a smartphone, and it had three rectangular buttons on it in a line: Green, yellow, and red. The front of it had a pair of silver-colored metal pongs the were shaped like the mandibles of a beetle, tipped with small red round spheres. "I hope you like it." Sandy lit up.
"Thank you!" She grabbed Lila in a hug. "Thank you thank you, thank you!"
"You're welcome, girl." Lila chuckled.
"Here." Sandy grabbed her purse and took some money out. She gave the money to Lila. "Thanks a lot."
"A pleasure doing business with you." Lila took the money.
"Hellooooooooo, ladies..." A voice piped up, trying to come off as smooth.
"Oh God, no. Not this guy again..." Sandy groaned. True to her statement, Kerry Windham walked up to the two, a smug smile on his face.
"This guy's not the learning type, is he?" Lila grumbled. Sandy scowled and shook her head.
"Well, well, well. If it ain't Deeee-lightful Deeee-lilah." Kerry smirked at Lila.
"And if it ain't Knucklehead Kerry." Lila retorted, making Sandy giggle.
"So, babe. Have you thought about my offer to do a little...cultural exchange, heh heh heh..."
Lila rolled her eyes. But then she got a wicked little idea. She glanced at Sandy. "Say, Sandy..."
"Mm?" The brunette looked at the British-Indian mutant.
"Why don't you show Kerry here the little gizmo I made for you?" Lila offered. Sandy smirked wickedly.
"You know what, Lila? I should." Sandy pointed her new taser at Kerry.
"Whuzzat, some kind of remote?" The jock asked.
"Press the green button." Lila whispered. Sandy did so. The red bulbs on the device started to glow.
ZAP!
The device fired a small burst of electricity at Kerry. The blast sent him flying backwards.
"YEOW MAH BOYS!" He wailed. Meanwhile, Craig Starr was putting away some books in his locker. He noticed Lila and Sandy talking. The former gang member mentally shrugged and went back to his locker. This was Lila's business, not his.
"Hey punk!" He turned his head and saw an angry Ethan Meyer stomping towards him. He had a snarl on his face, and Craig could have sworn that he was foaming at the mouth. Which made sense to the young mutant. After all, as far as Craig was concerned, a rabid dog could easily outdo Ethan Meyer when it came to raw brainpower.
"What do you want, Buttlord?" Craig cracked with a smirk.
"What did you do to me, you little SOB?!"
"I have no idea what your delusional self is talking about." Craig cracked.
"I know you did something to me!" Meyer snapped.
"Sure, Buttlord." Craig said.
Ethan's face reddened. "Ethan!"
"What do you want me to say?" Craig scowled. "You want me to apologize for your parents entering into a massive drug binge and then forgetting to use protection, which resulted in you? That's hardly my fault."
"I saw you, and then I found myself in Kelly's office yesterday! He said I ran around here naked screaming I was the Buttlord!"
"That does sound like something you would do, Buttlord." Craig snorted.
A growling Ethan angrily hit the locker next to him. The noise made the students nearby jump and run away. "I know you did something to me, you SOB!" Meyer snarled. "I don't remember an entire school day!"
"That sounds like a you problem." Craig sneered. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sandy blast Kerry Windham with her new taser...and Kerry flying towards them. He quickly took a step backward.
"What the-?" Ethan blinked in confusion. Craig smirked and pointed at the flying Kerry. Ethan turned his head and saw Kerry fly towards him. "AHHHHHHH!" He screamed as Kerry flew into him, crushing him against the lockers. "MY SHOULDER!" He wailed as the two crumpled to the ground in a heap.
"What a woman..." Kerry smiled dreamily. "Is it weird that I was turned on?" Craig rolled his eyes and walked away.
This place is full of weirdos. The young mutant thought as a crowd gathered around the two downed teenagers. Lila and Sandy witnessed this.
"Hopefully, he'll finally learn his lesson this time." Sandy sighed. She noticed Lila was looking at a certain blond teenager was putting his own books away. "Oh, that Southern kid. What's his name again?"
"Sam. Sam Guthrie." Lila told her.
"Yeah. He seems nice."
"Oh, very much so." The British girl smirked wickedly. "Enjoy the taser, girl. I'm gonna say hello to the Farmboy. If you need it fixed up, let me know." She sauntered over to the blond mutant. Sam closed the door of his locker, and saw Lila leaning on the lockers next to his, her arms crossed and the smirk still on her face.
"Oh, hello Lila." Sam greeted, his cheeks reddening.
"Hey there, handsome." Lila answered, smiling wickedly at the Kentuckian.
"How ya doing?"
"Better now that I got to see you again." Lila said. "Been a while, huh?"
"Uh, yeah." Sam said.
"Say, Sammy..." Lila looked Sam over. "How'd you like to do something...fun tonight?"
The human cannonball blinked nervously at that. "Fun? W...wh-what do you mean by that?"
"Well, what do you think I mean?" Lila's wicked smile returned. Sam's face did its best impression of a fresh tomato.
"Uh, well, Ah..." The Kentuckian mutant mumbled, tugging at his collar.
He's adorable when he's all flustered like that. Lila mentally chuckled. "I was thinking maybe after school, you and I could go hang out at the Burger Clown."
"You mean, like a date or somethin'?" Sam asked.
"If you want, love." Lila answered.
"Well..." Sam mumbled. She is really pretty... "If...if ya want."
"Great!" Lila's face lit up. "Seven-thirty fine?"
"Uh, yeah. Sure."
"I'll see you then!" Lila grinned. "I'll be at your Institute. See you around, luv." She ran her finger under his chin and then walked off.
"Wow..." Sam mumbled in a daze. What a gal! He thought as he watched Lila walk away.
Bayville High's track field
Principal Kelly walked into the field. The brunet man quietly watched the track practice.
"Principal Kelly!" He noticed a smiling Hank McCoy walking towards him. "I wasn't aware you were fond of track."
"I was a track runner myself back in my high school and college days." Kelly explained. He looked at Scott. "I take it you are familiar with the Summers boy?"
"Yes, he's a natural on the track." McCoy answered. He noticed that Kelly had cocked his head at Scott. "Are you alright, Principal Kelly?"
"Is he allowed to wear those glasses there?" Kelly asked, pointing at Scott's glasses.
"Yes, he is, why?" McCoy frowned at the brunet man.
"Just wondering." Kelly said. "I just find it...unusual that he wears them all the time." I hope he's buying this. I don't want him to know that I know he needs those to keep those freaky eye beams from blasting everything.
"He has an eye condition." Hank explained.
"I see." Kelly nodded. "I was just curious." An eye condition?! And people actually buy it?! The lenses are tinted red! What the hell kind of eye condition needs glasses with red-tinted lenses?! He then mentally shrugged. Aw, who am I kidding? In the world we live in, I wouldn't be surprised if such an eye condition does exist. Meanwhile, Scott and Duncan were practicing their stretches.
"I've been training hard, Summers." The blond man smirked.
"That's nice, Matthews." Scott said. "I've been training hard, too. Everyone has."
"Speed is an important thing to have on the football field." Duncan continued on. "You need to be greased lightning."
"Is that why you also do track?"
Duncan nodded. "Yup." He heard a rumbling. "Hey, you hear that?"
"Yeah." Scott nodded. "I do." Is that Alvers? Wouldn't surprise me if it was Alvers.
SMASH!
The stands seemed to explode as the bear smashed its way into the track field, roaring in pure rage.
Okay, so it was not Alvers. Scott thought. Also, is that a bear?!
"Wah!" Kelly yelped as he fell over, McCoy got knocked aside.
"OH MY GOD!" Duncan exclaimed as Scott leapt to his feet. The bear's roar sent everyone on the field into a panic. Scott instinctively reached for his glasses, but stopped himself.
We're on school grounds! He reminded himself. Can't use my powers here, blast it! He noticed the bear blasting the stands with its laser breath. Where the hell did this thing come from?! It then turned to a fallen Kelly, mouth still glowing. "Principal Kelly!" He ran towards the man. I'm not going to make it to him! The bear fired its laser breath at Kelly, but Hank McCoy was able to get him out of the way before the beam hit. Oh, thank God!
"What's going on?!" Kelly yelped as McCoy got him back up to his feet.
"Hey, you big dumb animal!" Duncan yelled, tossing a javelin at the bear. He picked up another one and aimed it at the large ursine. "You want some of this?!"
"Duncan, no!" Scott yelled. The bear roared and swiped Duncan away. The screaming jock was sent flying towards some other stands. The bear snarled. Scott managed to make his way to Kelly and McCoy.
"The hell are you waiting for, boy?!" Kelly exclaimed, his voice a harsh whisper. "Blast that thing with those freaky eyes of yours!"
"We're on school grounds, remember?" Scott reminded, his voice also a whisper. Kelly opened his mouth to argue, but no sound came out. He realized Scott had a point. The principal looked at the thrashing bear.
"Well, I think we can make an exception here." Kelly said. "Just try not to kill anyone."
"That shouldn't be a problem." Scott nodded. He turned to the bear and blasted it with his optic beams.
This is insane! Kelly thought as he watched Scott engage the bear. Stuff like this? This stuff doesn't happen here! This stuff only happens in big cities! Not to mention the damage this is doing to the track! We already have to deal with repairing the football field after that alien wrecked it, and now this. Is there something in the water in this town?!
"Uh, Principal Kelly?" Hank McCoy brought the hapless brunet out of his reverie.
"Huh? Oh, right. Yeah."
"We'd better get the authorities." McCoy suggested.
"And tell them what?! That a giant superbear is wrecking the school?!" Kelly exclaimed.
Dammit, this isn't working! Scott thought as he blasted at the bear. What is this bear made of, that metal in Wolverine's claws?! I'll have to get it to chase me. Hopefully, I can draw it somewhere away from here and I can get the other X-Men to help me stop this thing. "HEY, SMOKEY!" Scott called out. The bear growled at him. Scott then blasted it in the eye with his optic beams. The bear roared in rage. "Come and get me, fuzzball!" He ran for his life. Feet, don't fail me now! Kelly and McCoy watched the enraged ursine run after Scott. The two looked at each other.
"...what the hell was that?!" Kelly exclaimed.
"I believe that was an ursus americanus." Hank answered.
Kelly blinked at his fellow member of the Bayville High faculty. "No that wasn't! That was a goddamn bear!"
"That's what I said." Hank clarified. "It's a common American black bear. They are native to upstate New York." He rubbed his chin. "Although I can't help but wonder how on Earth the bear ended up in such a state?" Kelly scowled. He then sighed and pulled a flask out of his jacket.
"I picked the wrong week to quit drinking." He muttered as he unscrewed the top of said flask and took a big swig out of it. I hope at the very least he leads that thing out of here. The two then heard some groaning. They ran over to the source of it: a crumpled-up Duncan Matthews lying in the wrecked stands.
"My God!" McCoy exclaimed as the two helped Duncan up. "You are a very durable young man."
"No kidding." Kelly agreed. "You alright, son?" A blinking Duncan glanced at Kelly.
"I AM THE PRETTY PRETTY PONY GAWD!" The blond jock whooped. "YES DADDY!" He threw a couple pelvic thrusts, then fainted. Kelly and McCoy blinked at this.
"I'll call the police." McCoy pulled out his phone and started dialing. Kelly sighed.
"Yup. Definitely picked the wrong week to quit drinking." He took another swig from his flask. As all of this was happening, Jean Grey was on the soccer field, doing some practice kicks.
"Hey, Jean!" The redhead perked up and saw Taryn Fujioka walk up, a soccer ball under her arm. "Coach said I needed to work on my passes. You mind helping me with that?"
"Oh, sure." The telepath/telekinetic nodded. "Happy to help." The two then started to pass the ball between each other. "Soooo, how have you been?"
"Doing fine, thanks." Taryn answered. "Been doing well yourself?"
"Yes." Jean nodded.
"You know, I am curious about something."
"About what?"
"The fire at the soccer field. Roger's been looking into it." Taryn said.
"Who's Roger?" Jean asked.
"Roger Gruenwald." Taryn explained. "You know, one of the reporters for the school paper?"
"Oh yeah, he also writes columns about superhero history."
"Yup." Taryn nodded. "He thinks there's something more to the fire." She shrugged.
"Was he at the soccer game?" Jean asked.
"I think so." Taryn recalled. "He had to leave early, but forgot his phone. When he retrieved it, he found it was damaged."
"Oh, that's a shame."
"Yeah, he said it got fried somehow. And not from the fire."
Oh dear. Jean thought. Magneto wrecked the cameras when Bounty showed up at the soccer field. Makes sense his powers would have damaged Roger's phone, too. No wonder he's suspicious. We may have to do something about this... The redheaded mentalist's thoughts were derailed when she and Taryn saw Scott run up to them. "Scott?"
"JEAN! TARYN! GET AWAY!" Scott yelled desperately, waving at them as he raced by. "ANGRY SUPER BEAR!"
"Angry super bear?" Taryn repeated, blinking in confusion. "What is he talking about-?!"
SMASH!
The bear smashed its way through the stands onto the soccer field. The bear roared in rage.
"OH MY GAWD!" Taryn screamed in horror. Some of the debris flew towards the scared teenager.
Jean grabbed her and shielded her from the debris using her body.
I know that we can't use our powers on school grounds, but I can't let Taryn get hurt! The redhead was hit by a bolt of inspiration. Using her telekinesis, Jean created a thin field around her and the Asian student. The field managed to protect the two, while making it plausibly look like they managed to dodge the flying debris. Jean watched it fly into some undamaged stands, then saw the bear chase Scott.
"...what was that?" The redhead muttered as she helped Taryn up.
"Thanks, Jean." Taryn said. "Was that Scott being chased by...a giant bear?"
"Yeah. Yeah, he was." Jean nodded.
"Where did that thing come from?!" Taryn yelped.
"I wish I knew, girl. I wish I knew."
Gotta get to my car, gotta get to my car, gotta get to my car! Scott mentally chanted as he continued to run. He put his hands in one of the pockets of his shorts. Ah, blast it! I don't have my keys! He saw another student head towards his car. Much to Scott's delight, he saw another student walk towards his own car, and the student had his keys out. Yes! Although I hate to do this, I don't have much of a choice.
"I cannot believe I left it in my car." Randy Stern muttered as he headed for his car. He blinked as he heard Scott calling towards him.
"Hey! HEYYYYYY!" Scott waved as he ran towards Randy. He stopped and panted for a second. "Hang on..." He wheezed out. "I just...need...running."
"You alright?" Randy asked.
"Yeah..." Scott panted. "I need your car."
"For what?"
"Lure a bear out of here." Scott explained.
"...lure a bear out of here." Randy repeated in disbelief.
"Yeah." Scott nodded, having gotten some of his wind back. "Big angry bear."
"Yeah, sure." Randy chuckled. "I admit, man. You had me fooled for a moment-!" The bear's enraged bellow was heard. "...holy..."
"Yeah." Scott nodded.
"Alright, try not to bust the car up." Randy gave Scott the keys.
"Thanks!" Scott opened the car door and noticed a large stuffed bear in the passenger seat. "Uh..."
"Yeah, I got that for Chelsea." Randy smiled, a blush coloring his cheeks.
"Well, that's nice." Scott pulled the bear out and gave it to Randy. "By the way, you may want to go way over there." Scott warned as he got in.
"Way over there?" Randy blinked, pointing behind himself with his thumb. He heard a roar and turned his head. His eyes widened and saw the enraged bear running towards them. "OH SH-! Yeah, I'd better go way over there."
"Exactly." Scott said as he pulled out fast. "Sorry again!" He raced off, the bear chasing after him. Randy stared at Scott as he drove away, the bear in hot pursuit. He then shook his head with a chuckle. He noticed the bear crushed a car on the way out.
"Heh. I love this town." Randy chuckled to himself. He then noticed Principal Kelly and Hank McCoy run towards him.
"Did you see a bear run by here?" A panting Kelly asked. Randy nodded and pointed in the direction Scott and the bear went. "Thanks! Okay, McCoy. Tell the police they went..." He noticed the coach was blinking at something. "What?"
"Principal Kelly, is that your car?" Hank asked, pointing at the crushed automobile. Kelly blinked, turned his head, and his jaw dropped.
"OH MY GOD MY CAR!" Kelly screamed. He ran over to the crushed piece of metal, fiberglass, and plastic that was once his personal vehicle. "MY CAR! THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY CAR?! WHO DID THIS!?"
"It was the bear." Randy said. "Ran over it like a monster truck." Kelly screamed and angrily kicked the hulk. He howled in pain as he grabbed his hurt foot and started jumping up and down on his one uninjured foot. Randy winced at this. Hank sighed.
"I'll have to take him to the nurse..." Hank said. He glanced at Randy. "You may want to head to your class." Randy nodded and headed inside. He walked over and put Kelly's arm over his shoulders. He then helped the brunet man walk to the nurse's office.
"Oh GAWD, I picked the wrong week to quit drinking..." The bespectacled principal moaned.
The Xavier Institute
"I see." Professor Xavier said. He was on the phone in his office. "I assure you, I am just as confounded as you. No, I was never aware of any mutant bears." He winced and pulled the phone away from his face. "Principal Kelly, I assure you that none of my students are responsible for this...rampage. And I doubt that Miss Creed's wards are either. And I assure you, I will reimburse you for your car. Just send me the bill. And are you well? Your words are slurring. Have you been drinking?" Xavier nodded. "The X-Men will deal with it." Xavier put the phone down. In his office, he was joined by Logan and Ororo.
"Did I hear that right?" Logan asked. "The school was attacked by a...bearzilla or something?"
"Indeed." Xavier confirmed with a nod. "Scott is attempting to lead it out of town to hopefully prevent it from harming anyone."
Ororo frowned in confusion. "Where on Earth did this bear come from?!"
"I'm afraid that mystery is one we'll have to table for now." Xavier said. "We'll have to help Scott." The two heard a knock on the door. Logan went over and opened it. Jamie Madrox, aka Multiple, peeked in.
"Uh, Professor?" The young boy blinked. "Sorry to interrupt, but there's something on TV."
"About a giant bear, Quarter-Pint?" Logan guessed. Jamie nodded. "Figured."
"Thank you, Mr. Madrox." Xavier smiled. Jamie pulled his head away and Logan closed the door. Xavier picked up a remote on his desk, and turned on a TV. The screen showed a newscaster standing in front of the hospital.
"We're here live in front of Bayville Hospital." The newscaster announced, Maxine kanyon standing next to her. "And with me is Maxine Kanyon, who was attacked by what she claims is a monster bear." She put the microphone to Maxine's mouth.
"Yes, my friend Mike and I..." She gestured at the hospital with her thumb. "Were driving down a road when this giant bear came out of nowhere. It was gigantic, I didn't think bears could be that big! It also shot atomic breath at us, like it was Godzilla or something! It drove us on the road! It tried to kill us!" The newscaster then put the microphone back up his face. Xavier turned off the television.
"I know the media tends to...sensationalize things, but I believe the phrase 'truth is stranger than fiction' still applies here." Xavier noted.
"Tell me about it." Logan grumbled. Ororo looked at the Canadian mutant.
"I take it you're talking about your meeting with Miss Creed some time back." The windrider noted. Logan nodded. That meeting allowed him to fill in a blank regarding his past, but it still highly surprised the mutant man, especially since it revealed that he was quite a bit older than he thought. However, he would find himself driven out of his thoughts.
"PROFESSOR!" Jean mentally screamed. Xavier grunted and rubbed his head.
"Jean! Are you alright?" He answered.
"Yes! I just saw Scott run by! He was chased by a...very large bear!" Jean reported. "He needs help!"
"Agreed. We're on our way." Xavier assured. He looked at Logan and Ororo. "Get the X-Jet prepared. Cyclops needs us."
Downtown Bayville
"OH MY GOD!"
"Watch out!"
"What the-?!" Various pedestrians and bystanders screamed as they dove out of the way of the wildly-driving car, despite the fact that it was clearly trying to stay on the road.
Scott Summers was normally a very safe driver. He was well-aware of the dangers of being neglectful behind the wheel. However, this was not a normal day for him. There was a very good reason why he was driving like a madman today. That was because he was trying to keep a very large and very angry superpowered bear from getting innocent people killed.
"Come on! Get out of the way!" Scott yelled, angrily honking his horn and swerving wildly. He looked in his rear-view mirror and saw the bear chasing after him. Come on, man! Stay on me, you big furry monster!
"RRRRAAAAAAAARAGH!" The bear roared. It fired a laser beam at Scott. The young mutant cursed and jerked the wheel. He was able to dodge it, and the beam hit a building. The beam blew a hole in the building about 40 inches in diameter.
"Blast it!" Scott muttered. I really need to get this thing out of here!
"Scott!" A familiar voice greeted him in his head.
"Jean!"
"The X-Jet is right above you!" She told him. "We're going to help you get this monster bear out of here!"
"Hurry!" Scott ordered. "I shudder to think about how much more damage this thing has caused. Not to mention the lives potentially lost."
Jean turned to the other X-Men in the Blackbird. "He got the message."
"Bring down the claws, Wolverine." Storm ordered. She was operating the stick.
"Bringin' them down." The Canadian answered, pressing the button that activated said claws. A panel on the underside of the aircraft opened, and a pair of large octagonal claws attached to spools descended from the plane. The claws came down and captured the bear. The furious ursine roared as it tried to break free from the hooks.
"That bear looks rather ornery." Rogue observed.
"Which is why we have to be fast." Jean said. "We need to get this bear out of town."
"Take it to the woods." Logan suggested. "It's not too far away."
"Wouldn't that like, give the bear the home turf advantage?" Kitty asked. "I mean, bears live in woods."
"We can fight it there without being seen, Half-Pint." Logan pointed out. "Not to mention we won't have to worry about innocent people getting caught in the crossfire." Kitty winced as she heard the bear roar.
"Like, what happened to that thing?!" Kitty asked.
"Maybe it's on drugs." Evan suggested.
Kitty snorted at this. "Be serious, Evan!"
"What? It could happen!"
"We'll figure it out later!" Logan grunted. Although knowing the world we live in, that may actually be the reason... Meanwhile, Jean Grey had opened a telepathic channel to Scott.
"Scott, we're getting this bear out of town! Keep your mind open to me, so you can catch up!"
"Copy that, Jean!" Scott answered. "By the way, you got my uniform?"
"It's in one of the lockers." Jean answered.
"Did Jubilee stow away again?" Scott asked cheekily. He heard Jean chuckle in his mind, which made him smile.
"No, we checked the lockers very thoroughly this time. No Jubilee." The redheaded mentalist replied with a laugh. As the two "talked", the bear continued to thrash in its restraints. It mouth started to glow as it charged an energy blast. It fired a blast at the X-Jet, barely missing one of its wings.
"OHMIGOD!" Kitty wailed.
"That thing nearly shot us down!" Evan yelped.
"I think I'm going to be sick..." Kurt moaned, holding his stomach. Logan growled as he and Ororo tried to keep the jet steady.
"The bear is straining the claws!" Ororo reported.
"When I give the signal, pull up and drop the bear!" Logan ordered. He carefully watched the trees. "Now!"
"Hang on, everyone!" Ororo said as she followed the order. She pulled at the control yoke, making the X-Jet fly upwards. The motion caused the hooks to move forward. The hooks then released the bear, making to fly in a forward arc.
"That bear is going to be, like, sooo mad when it lands." Kitty winced.
"If it survives it." Logan grumbled. "We'd better get down there. We can fight that thing there without endangering civilians." He looked at Jean. "Red?"
"I'll let Scott know where we are." Jean nodded.
"We'll need somewhere to land." Ororo said.
FWASH!
The windrider gasped as she juked the jet to avoid an energy beam from the ground. The X-Men screamed as the jet moved.
"Oh come on!" Kurt groaned, holding his stomach.
"I told you that bear was going to be totally mad!" Kitty exclaimed.
"Hey, there's a clearing!" Evan pointed out.
"Hopefully it's big enough for the jet." Ororo said hopefully. She managed to land the jet in the clearing. Jean ran to the lockers and grabbed Scott's costume.
"Seriously?!" Evan asked.
"He's going to need this." Jean insisted. The X-Men emerged from the jet.
"Where did that thing go?!" Kitty looked around.
"Oog..." Kurt groaned, holding his stomach.
"Shake it off, Elf." Logan ordered, unleashing his claws. Ororo quickly took to the air, looking around. The windrider frowned.
"Now how can a bear that size..."
FWASH!
Ororo gasped as she dodged the bear's energy breath beam.
"There it is!" Logan roared.
"Let's go!" The X-Men ran into the forest.
Warlord Kro first appeared in Eternals #1 (July 1976), created by Jack Kirby.