Spider-Bat: New Way Home
Chapter 30: Ridin' the Storm Out
Professor X, can you hear me? Jean Grey, one of the first members of the X-Men, asked Charles Xavier using her telepathic powers.
Yes, Jean, I hear you, Professor X replied through his thoughts.
Bobby, Warren, and I are in Central City... and we have found Magneto, Jean started. But he's not alone, she continued.
What do you mean? Charles asked.
He's accompanied by a speedster and a gigantic floating skull with tentacles lingering from it. Plus, there is a tremendous storm on the horizon that would make Ororo jealous, Jean added.
What do you think Magneto is attempting to do? Charles asked.
I'm not sure, but it doesn't look good. The energy surrounding them is unstable, and the floating skull—whatever it is—feels... unnatural, Jean explained.
Professor X furrowed his brow, his fingers steepled in deep concentration as he tried to reach out with his telepathy. He could sense Jean and the others, but beyond them, a strange interference clouded his ability to probe further.
Jean, be careful. There is something—something powerful—disrupting my abilities. I cannot get a clear reading, Charles warned.
Jean turned to Bobby and Warren, her face grave. "Professor X says there's something interfering with his telepathy. That means whoever—or whatever—is with Magneto might be shielding themselves. We need to be careful."
"Well, that's just great," Bobby muttered. "So, do we wait for backup, or are we going in?"
Before Jean could respond, a bolt of crimson energy shot through the sky, striking a nearby building and sending debris cascading onto the street. A gust of wind howled through the city as the storm intensified. A shadowed figure moved with inhuman speed between the wreckage, stopping just long enough for them to catch a glimpse of a silver-clad speedster.
"That's our answer," Warren said grimly, his wings spreading as he took to the sky.
Jean took a deep breath. "Then let's do this. We stop Magneto before whatever he's planning spirals out of control."
Jean, if you can hear me, I am sending Ororo, Scott, and Henry to your location in the jet. Please be careful. As Warren became Angel, he swooped down toward the silver-clad speedster, hoping to catch him off guard. But it didn't work. The moment the speedster got a glimpse of him he stepped aside in the blink of an eye, causing Angel to swoop right past him.
Angel tried coming back around for another attempt, but the speedster began running in a fast circle, creating a vast whirlwind, trapping Angel within it. Jean looked over at Bobby. "You're up, kiddo," she said. "Try to get close enough to the speedster to freeze his legs."
"Shall do," Bobby replied, changing himself into Iceman. He slid down on a self-made slide of ice, shooting out ice crystals on his way down. The speedster saw them coming and stopped his whirlwind effect, causing Angel to slam into a semi-truck. From a distance, Jean used her telekinesis to slow the speedster down just enough to allow Iceman to hit the speedster with one of his ice balls.
The ice struck true, freezing the speedster's lower legs in place. He struggled, his silver suit shimmering as he vibrated at intense speeds, cracking the ice bit by bit. Jean gritted her teeth, amplifying her psychic hold to keep him from escaping. "Bobby, reinforce it!" she shouted.
Bobby conjured another layer of ice around the speedster's legs, but before they could secure him completely, a deafening metallic screech filled the air. Magneto hovered above them, his cape billowing in the wind. With a flick of his wrist, shards of metal tore from a nearby wrecked car, streaking toward Jean and Bobby. Jean barely managed to throw up a telekinetic shield as the metal bounced harmlessly away.
"Fools," Magneto's voice echoed through the streets. "Did you really think you could challenge me?"
Before Jean could respond, the gigantic floating skull with its ominous tentacles loomed closer, its eerie glow casting long shadows over the battlefield. "Jean Grey," it rasped, its voice slithering into her mind. "You and your kind are but pawns in a game far greater than you understand. Kneel, or be consumed."
Jean's head pounded as the entity's mental force crashed into hers. She staggered back, gripping her temples. "Not... gonna... happen!" she growled, pushing back with all her might.
Just as the fight was about to continue, a loud, thunderous sound came from out of nowhere. It was the Juggernaut, and he was coming in quickly. Iceman tried shooting out a large ice shield, but Juggernaut crashed right through it with ease. Jean put up her own shield just in time as Juggernaut's shoulder came blasting in. The impact sent Jean and Iceman sprawling. Angel had regained his composure, attempting to swoop in and lift Juggernaut, but it was impossible. Juggernaut grabbed Angel and threw him into the sky like a paper airplane, causing Angel to spiral out of control and land forcefully on the ground.
Jean struggled to her feet, wiping blood from her lip. "Bobby, we have to hold him off until reinforcements arrive!" she called out. Bobby nodded, forming jagged ice spikes along his arms, ready to go another round. The speedster, having freed himself from the ice, returned to Magneto's side, smirking as he watched the chaos unfold.
Suddenly, the jet roared overhead, and three figures leaped out—Cyclops, Storm, and Beast. Scott Summers adjusted his visor and fired a concussive blast directly at Juggernaut, forcing him back several steps. Storm raised her hands, summoning the winds to slow down the speedster, while Beast landed gracefully next to Jean, helping her to her feet.
"Looks like we're just in time," Cyclops said. "Let's end this."
The battle was far from over, but with the X-Men reunited, they had a fighting chance.
What is it that you think you are doing here, Magneto? Beast asked, surveying his surroundings.
"It's simple," Magneto replied. "The war is brewing between man and mutant, and I intend on creating more of them. They won't be mutants per se, but they will be meta-humans when I am done with them."
Beast turned to look at everyone in their stalled vehicles. "Go! Run!" he exclaimed, causing everyone to get out of their cars and take off running.
"What is that?" Iceman asked, noticing a crimson-colored rock hovering in the storming sky.
"You'll see," Magneto replied, blasting it with his magnetic energy.
The clouds became a purple and crimson color, and the lightning bolts did the same. "This isn't good," Iceman said.
Red lightning bolts began hitting close to the people who were running. Jean yelled out at Storm. "Try to control the lightning strikes. Keep them away from the pedestrians."
Storm created a whirlwind, hoping to contain the lightning, but she could tell it was an unnatural force she had never felt before. The silver speedster saw what she was doing.
"Oh, no you don't!" he said, speeding off toward her, running up buildings to get to her.
Just as he leaped into the air, Storm redirected some of the red lightning in his direction, striking him directly in his chest. The lightning was so powerful; it went right through him, sending the red lightning crashing into a window at S.T.A.R. Labs.
Professor X? Jean called out. Magneto is using some sort of magical crimson rock to hurt people. He says it will turn them into something he called a meta-human.
Oh no, Charles replied. The Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. It possessed my brother, changing him into the Juggernaut. Magneto must be using it to do the same thing to others—his efforts to create more mutants and eliminate humans.
What should we do? Jean asked Charles. The flying skull seems to have telepathic abilities, just like us.
The power of the gem now lies within Juggernaut's mind, Charles replied. "If you can find a way to remove his helmet, I might be able to get into his mind to shut down the storm. I will need your help as well. If the flying skull has the same abilities, they will surely fight us every step of the way.
Jean regrouped with the X-Men, relaying Professor X's plan to remove Juggernaut's helmet. She assigned Storm to continue mitigating the lightning strikes, ensuring no further harm would come to innocent bystanders. Cyclops was tasked with engaging Magneto directly, keeping him occupied. Angel was to hover above, feigning an attack to serve as a distraction. Iceman would attempt to freeze the front of Juggernaut's helmet, weakening it just enough for Beast to strike and shatter it. The moment the helmet broke, Angel would swoop in and snatch it away, allowing Professor X to enter Juggernaut's mind and neutralize the storm.
The battle erupted into chaos. Storm called upon the winds, swirling the darkened skies to redirect the crimson lightning, her eyes glowing with raw energy. Cyclops unleashed a relentless barrage of optic blasts at Magneto, forcing the master of magnetism to divert his focus to defense. Sparks erupted as Magneto's electromagnetic shields absorbed the impact, his expression twisted with frustration.
Meanwhile, Iceman skated along his icy constructs, weaving between Juggernaut's thunderous steps. With precision, he launched a concentrated stream of ice at Juggernaut's helmet, the frozen layer thickening rapidly. Juggernaut roared in irritation, reaching up to claw away the ice, but Beast saw his opening. With a powerful leap, Beast lunged forward, his fists smashing into the frozen metal. Cracks splintered across the helmet as shards of ice and steel flew through the air.
Angel, waiting for his moment, dove with incredible speed. His wings cut through the air as he reached out, fingers grasping the fractured helmet. With a mighty pull, he yanked it free just as Juggernaut swung a massive fist at him. Angel barely evaded the crushing blow, spiraling back into the sky with the helmet in his grip.
Now, Professor! Jean cried out in her mind, her hands pressed against her temples as she braced herself for the psychic battle to come. The flying skull, sensing Charles' intrusion, lashed out with a mental assault, attempting to sever their connection. A fierce struggle of minds ensued, the air around them crackling with unseen energy as Xavier fought to reach the core of Juggernaut's mind.
Juggernaut staggered, his roars turning into guttural growls of resistance. The power of Cyttorak pulsed within him, but with each passing second, Professor X's influence grew stronger. The storm above began to wane, the red lightning fading as Juggernaut's movements slowed. The battle was not yet won, but for the first time, victory seemed within reach.
The silver-clad speedster regained his composure after being struck down by Storm's lightning. As he took in the battlefield, he realized the X-Men were gaining the upper hand. Then he noticed Jean, her mind locked onto Juggernaut's psyche. Time seemed to slow as he focused, his instincts kicking in. In a blur, he took off at full speed.
"Look out!" Beast shouted, but it was too late. Before Jean could react, Quicksilver was upon her, delivering a devastating punch that sent her hurtling through the air. Beast leaped, catching her just before she could hit the ground. Her body was limp—she was unconscious.
With Jean down, Professor X was left to battle Juggernaut's mind alone. But with Brainiac opposing him, Charles felt his strength waning fast. The tide of the battle had shifted once more, and the X-Men were now on the defensive.
Professor X dug in, giving it everything he had, nearly causing him to pass out from exhaustion. But somehow, he did it. Juggernaut fell to the ground, unconscious. The storm completely dissipated, and the skies grew clear. Brainiac, realizing the battle was lost, instructed his crew to retreat, knowing the damage had already been done. He wasn't certain how many meta-humans had been created, but he knew there would be a few.
Magneto descended swiftly, seizing both Quicksilver and the unconscious Juggernaut. With a surge of magnetic energy, he lifted them into the air, guiding them toward Brainiac's massive skull-shaped ship. Within moments, the vessel zipped away in a flash, vanishing into the atmosphere.
The X-Men were left amidst the wreckage, the echoes of battle still ringing in their ears. Now, they faced their next challenge—assessing the damage and aiding those affected by the chaos left in Magneto and Brainiac's wake.
Epilogue:
At S.T.A.R. Labs, a lone forensic scientist remained on duty that night—Barry Allen. He gazed out the window, watching the storm rage outside, marveling at the red and purple hues that painted the sky. Then, suddenly—CRASH! A red bolt of lightning shattered the glass, streaking through the lab and striking him square in the chest. The force sent him sprawling to the floor, the searing pain in his chest nearly unbearable. He gasped for breath, a burning hole smoldering in his shirt.
As he lay there, his vision blurred, he caught sight of a fallen photograph—the image of his father. A wave of sorrow washed over him. He had spent years trying to prove his father's innocence, and now, in his final moments, he realized he would never get that chance.
Then—everything went dark.
Thirty minutes later, his eyes fluttered open. The sky outside had cleared, the storm completely gone. He inhaled deeply, feeling no pain. Glancing down, he saw the burned remnants of his shirt, but where there had been a hole in his chest, only a faint, lightning-bolt-shaped scar remained. Confused, he picked up the photograph of his father.
Suddenly, thoughts began racing through his mind—flashes of information, scattered yet precise. His brain processed everything at an alarming speed. He gasped, his eyes darting as evidence from his father's case flooded his consciousness. Everything connected in mere seconds.
Barry Allen had changed.
And nothing would ever be the same again.