(Front cover. We see Lotus and Bastion walking through the desert. Both are in their uniforms.)
Cap (N): Desert Trek!
(Page 1, panel 1. A cave in parts unknown. Lotus and Bastion are lying on the ground, out cold.)
Cap (N1): The place is unknown.
Cap (N2): It’s been a few minutes since the two of them were whisked away.
Cap (N3): And now, they wake up...
(Panel 2. The two of them wake up. Lotus nurses her head.)
Lotus: Ooh... that really hurt.
(Panel 3. Bastion stands as Lotus sits up.)
Bastion: Where are we, mutant?
Lotus: I am just as much in the dark about this as you are, Bastion... although I know you will refuse to believe me.
(Panel 4. Lotus stands as Bastion approaches her.)
Bastion: Put us back right now!
Lotus: Believe me, if I could, I would.... your energy leaves much to be desired.
(Panel 5. Bastion storms off.)
Bastion: I don’t have time for this.
(Panel 6. Suddenly both Bastion and Lotus grab their heads in pain.)
Bastion: SKWARK! 10010011 110111011 111011011 110000101001 00100 01001!
Lotus: UHN!
(Page 2, panel 1. Lotus approaches Bastion, and their pain stops.)
Lotus: Looks like we’re stuck with each other.
Bastion: (angry) I can’t believe this. You undo this right now, mutant!
Voice: (from off panel): She cannot, Bastion.
(Panel 2, splash panel. Leave room for credits here. Lotus and Bastion turn to see a white, hazy light that is vaguely humanoid in shape.)
Shape: Since time immemorial I have spent protecting humanity from itself... and now, the two of you represent the two factions that could end up destroying humanity. Bastion, as an avid mutant hater, and Lotus, as a mutant. The time for fighting each other is over. If either side is to survive, you must pull together. As leaders of both sides, you have been chosen to undergo the test. There is a device that will teleport the two of you back to where you were. It lies 12 miles to the east. While you journey to that place, you will encounter many obstacles. br>
Cap (L1): Could all my powers be gone?
Cap (L2): And if so, does that give Bastion an unfair advantage?
(Page 4, panel 1. Bastion storms off, and Lotus follows.)
Bastion: I’ve had enough of this. I’m leaving.
Lotus: Well, that’s a sign of progress....
(Panel 2. We see them outside the cave, now in a desert. The place is hot, steamy, and the ground is sand.)
Bastion: Get away from me, mutant!
Lotus: How quickly we forget... do you not remember what happened last time we got too far apart from each other?
(Panel 3. Lotus follows Bastion.)
Lotus: Look, we’re stuck with each other for the next 12 miles. You can either work with me to get to our destination or die.
Bastion: I don’t work with mutants! Get away from me!
(Panel 4. They continue to walk off.)
Lotus: Bastion, it’s not helping things resisting the reality of the situation. You’ve got to roll with the punches, not take them on the chin.
Bastion: Listen mutant, if I had a weapon I’d kill you right now. Shut up and stop following me!
(Panel 5. Lotus shakes her head.)
Lotus: Amazing... despite all evidence to the contrary, you continue to hold onto your beliefs... the truth is right in front of you. I am not responsible for doing this. I am not the ogre you make me out to be. I am not giving up here, because the situation forces me not to do so.
(Page 4, panel 1. They continue to walk onward.)
Lotus: We should make the best of this situation.
Bastion: The best of this situation puts you and me as far away from each other as possible. Good bye.
(Panel 2. They continue to walk on. Until otherwise noted.)
Lotus: So what happened to make you so hateful?
Bastion: What?
(Panel 3.)
Lotus: What turned you into such a hateful person? Why do you hate mutants so much? What have we done to you that makes you hate us.
Bastion: You were born.
(Panel 4.)
Lotus: There’s more to it than that. Man by nature doesn’t hate things - if you look at little babies, they don’t immediately shun everything. Someone or something happened to you that made you this hateful.
Bastion: I’ll tell you what happened. You mutants came into this world and were born!
(Panel 5.)
Lotus: Was it a mutant that killed someone you loved? A family member, perhaps?
Bastion: This is pointless.
(Page 5, panel 1. Go back to the rest of Group X, and the Sentinels. They look around the place.)
Cap (N): Meanwhile...
Karen: (a Sentinel) Bastion? Boss? Where did you go?
Eagle: Lotus?
(Panel 2. Karen approaches Walking Eagle.)
Karen: Return Bastion to us at once!
Eagle: We do not have your Bastion. What have you done with our Lotus?
(Panel 3. Karen gets in Eagle’s face.)
Karen: I said return Bastion to us at once!
Voice: (from off panel) He does not have Bastion, Karen Grayberg.
(Panel 4. They turn to see the Shape from earlier there.)
Shape: Since time immemorial I have tried to keep humanity from killing itself off... and now, the biggest challenge to my existence has come upon us. I have taken your leaders, and put them in their situation now. They can either work together... or die separately.
(Panel 5. Karen rushes the shape.)
Karen: You! Return him at once, mutant!
Shape: This is for your education as well as the education of others.
(Page 6, panel 1. We see the Sentinels and Group X members sitting in a theater.)
Shape: Don’t bother standing. This is a kind of limbo where things will unfold. Now, it is your turn to watch something... and learn a lot.
Karen: This is an outrage! You let me go immediately!
(Panel 2. Walking Eagle faces Karen.)
Eagle: Flow with nature. Accept this for the moment.
Shape: Good advice. What you will see is your leaders. You will hear them too, but you will not speak to them. If nothing else... a lesson wasted on him would be a lesson for you to learn.... on both sides.
(Panel 3. Karen struggles.)
Karen: When I get free, you will die, mutant!
Shape: I am no more a mutant than you are... for my species, I am normal.
(Panel 4. Karen stops struggling.)
Karen: Well, for now...
(Page 7, panel 1. Go back to Lotus and Bastion. We see them arrive at an oasis.)
Cap (N): And so...
(Panel 2. They look over the place.)
Lotus: So we can get a break for a little? I want to drink some water here.
Bastion: All right...
(Panel 3. Lotus drinks some of the water.)
Bastion: So you need water too, hmm?
Lotus: Yes.
(Panel 4. Lotus finishes drinking the water.)
Lotus: You probably don’t need it anymore, do you?
Bastion: A small price to pay, I think.
(Panel 5. Lotus turns back to Bastion.)
Lotus: Is it? Not being able to feel what it’s like to touch someone anymore... not being able to enjoy the feel of good food in your stomach?
Bastion: I have memories of those things... and that is good enough. Someone had to sacrifice their humanity... so that others could be human.
(Page 8, panel 1. They go off together.)
Cap (L1): I’m not dealing with a normal person.
Cap (L2): He’s even worse than a psycho.
Cap (L3): I don’t think he can transcend his programming.
(Panel 2. They go on.)
Lotus: But what triggered it all? What made you decide to be one of the ones who would give up being human?
Bastion: You’re trying to get into my mind, aren’t you? Looking for some kind of trauma, some fatal event that turned me against mutants... you won’t find it here.
(Panel 3. They go onward until otherwise noted.)
Lotus: Will I? It’s not man’s inherent nature to hate. Hatred must be taught.
Bastion: You seem very enlightened for a mutant.
(Panel 4. )
Lotus: I have a M.S.W. and certification. Like I said before, most mutants want to conform to the rest of society. I’m not that much of an exception.
(Page 9, panel 1.)
Bastion: Really? What respectable university would give you a masters degree?
Lotus: the University of California at Los Angles. I was on the honor rolls for the whole time, too. Of course, they didn’t know I was a mutant.
(Panel 2.)
Bastion: I’ll have to send some people to shut them down when we get back.
Lotus: Don’t blame them. I’m sure if they knew if I was a mutant, they would have kicked me out. You know, it’s really a shame that mutants are denied equal educational opportunities. Many of them are above average intelligence. Everyone really deserves a chance.
(Panel 3.)
Bastion: And then you take it all away from the normal human beings, and leave us with nothing.
Lotus: From the time life first began, it’s been a struggle. It’s because the food supply increases slower than the population. Then again, if it was the other way around, we would all be just a bunch of primordial ooze.
(Panel 4.)
Bastion: And the ultimate result of all this is mutants like you.
Lotus: Actually, this is but a point on a longer journey. Imagine the awe of the apes when they saw man for the first time. Or the awe of the animals when the first primates came. They knew something was up. But most of them survived. Other animals live in peace with humans.
(Page 10, panel 1. Go back to Walking Eagle and the Sentinels. They still sit and watch )
Karen: I don’t get it... why is she trying to make friends with him? What’s her ulterior motive?
Eagle: Perhaps she doesn’t have one.
(Panel 2. Karen faces Eagle.)
Karen: What are you talking about?
Eagle: I should know her more than most people... after all, we are married. Lotus always attempts to find the peaceful solution before resorting to violence. Perhaps that is something you have forgotten.
(Panel 3. Karen is confused.)
Karen: Peace? Why would you talk of peace?
Eagle: There is more to mutants than fighting and carrying on. Most of us wish to be left alone, and live our lives in peace.
(Panel 4. Pause.)
Cap (K1): Processing.
Cap (K2): Scans turn out normal.
Cap (K3): He is telling the truth.
Cap (K4): Have we been on the wrong track all this time?
(Page 11, panel 1. Go back to Lotus and Bastion. We see them continuing to walk on in the desert.)
Bastion: I don’t believe it! It cannot be true!
Lotus: Refuse to believe it if you must, but the truth goes opposite what you believe sometimes.
(Panel 2. Suddenly a large monster rises out of the dunes, angered. It is a sandy color, with very sharp teeth and claws on its 11 paws. It resembles a cross between a toad and a crocodile, but about 25 feet long.)
Bastion: Now look at what you’ve done, mutant!
Lotus: Me? You’re the one who’s been shouting all this time.
(Panel 3. The monster advances.)
Bastion: My God, we’re going to die here. Well, I have only one life to give up, but at least I’m taking a mutant with me.
Lotus: Remember what the shape said... we can beat it if we work together. Now, the creature resembles a crocodile, so I hope that the way to put it back to sleep is the same way.
(Panel 4. The creature hisses at Lotus and Bastion.)
Lotus: I’m going to need your help in turning it over.
Bastion: Forget it. I don’t work with mutants!
(Panel 5. Lotus tries to go around the creature.)
Lotus: It’s either that or becoming a mound of silicon, Bastion.
(Page 12, panel 1. Lotus manages to grab the creature’s neck.)
Lotus: Come on, help me turn it over!
Bastion: No mutant orders me around, mutant!
(Panel 2. The creature slips from Lotus’ grip, and shoots acid from its mouth, hitting Bastion.)
SFX: HISS!
Bastion: AH!
(Panel 3. Lotus stands up.)
Lotus: Damnit Bastion, if you don’t help me, we’re both monster fodder!
(Panel 4. Lotus grabs the creature’s neck again.)
Bastion: All right, mutant... but I am not doing this again.
(Panel 5. Bastion grabs the creature’s other end, and they flip it over in panel 6.)
Creature: Gwargh!
(Page 13, panel 1. The creature goes to sleep.)
Lotus: Now, see what we can accomplish together?
Bastion: I won’t play for your power struggles, mutant.
(Panel 2. They let go of the creature and go off again.)
Lotus: Let me see those acid burns.
Bastion: Don’t touch me, mutant!
(Panel 3. They go off again until otherwise noted.)
Lotus: Fine. Suffer. But as one suffers, all suffer.
(Panel 4.)
Bastion: Suffering? You mutants have put everyone else through endless suffering! Why should you even care about suffering at all?
(Panel 5.)
Lotus: Because we all suffer, Bastion. But it doesn't have to be that way.
(Panel 6. Bastion stops.)
Bastion: Of course not - you mutants can die!
Lotus: Ironic, isn’t it? Here I am, the so-called “Big bad scary mutant” advocating peace while you, the so-called “Helpless normal human” are advocating violence.
(Page 14, panel 1. Bastion strikes Lotus hard with his fist.)
SFX: POW!!
Cap (L1): Huh?
Cap (L2): That didn’t hurt at all.
(Panel 2. Bastion nurses his hand.)
Bastion: AH! What did you do to me, mutant!?
Lotus: I did nothing... but it should serve as an example to you... when you hurt others, you end up hurting yourself.
(Panel 3. Bastion storms away.)
Bastion: The sooner I get you out of my life, the better!
(Panel 4. They start walking again.)
Lotus: Well, this is a step in the right direction.
(Page 15, panel 1. Interlude. About 2-3 sentinels have arrived at Group X headquarters.)
Cap (N1): Interlude.
Cap (N2): The place is Group X headquarters, Fort Worth.
Cap (N3): The Sentinels have found out about the place.
Cap (N4): They aren’t going to have an easy time, however...
(Panel 2. Go inside to see Spyre working on the computer.)
Cap (S1): Almost finished.
Cap (S2): Lecita should be happy about this one...
(Panel 3. The computer sounds an alert.)
Computer voice: Attention! Sentinels are 5000 meters away and closing! Sentinels are 5000 meters away and closing!
Spyre: What’s their E.T.A.?
(Panel 4. The Computer responds.)
Computer: Estimated Time of Arrival 3 minutes.
Spyre: (1) Ah’d better hurry then...
Spyre: (2) Computer, engage auto defenses.
(Panel 5. The Sentinels arrive outside Group X headquarters.)
Sentinel: Sensors indicate one unidentified mutant female in the place. Recommend destruction of place.
(Panel 6. The Sentinels open fire on Group X headquarters. The defense shields hold, however.)
Sentinel: Sensors indicate shielding far in advance of this unit’s abilities to disable it via energy weaponry. Recommend manual destruction of building.
(Page 16, panel 1. The Sentinels strike the building, which collapses under the force.)
SFX: WHAM!
(Panel 2. They strike again.)
SFX: POW!
(Panel 3. Spyre enters. She is in her uniform.)
Spyre: Hey! Someone’s gonna have to pay fer all that damage!
Sentinel: Identified: Mutant female. Powers identified: ability to increase strength through unknown means.
(Panel 4. Spyre grows to 30 feet tall, about the same height as the Sentinels.)
Spyre: Pick on someone yer own size, you big bullies!
Sentinel: Identified: Mutant ability to increase mass through unknown means.
(Panel 5. Spyre puts her fist through one of the Sentinels.)
Spyre: Ah hate bullies!
SFX: SKRUNCH!
(Panel 6. She throws that Sentinel into the other Sentinel as the other Sentinel opens fire.)
Sentinel: Attention: weakness determined. Mutant will not be able to keep this size and strength up for long periods of time. Recommend wearing down mutant.
Spyre: That’s easier said than done, you overgrown tin can!
SFX: CRASH!
(Page 17, panel 1. Spyre avoids the firing of the third Sentinel, and manages to strike him hard enough to knock his head off with a diving kick.)
SFX: WHAM!
(Panel 2. Spyre lands on the ground with a thud.)
SFX: THUD!
Cap (S1): That plum wore me out.
Cap (S2): Ah hope no more of those thangs show up anytime soon.
(Panel 3. Spyre returns to normal size.)
Cap (S1): Ah got to rest...
Cap (S2): Being at maximum always takes a lot out of me.
(Panel 4. Go back to Lotus and Bastion. We see them walking some more.)
Lotus: Well, this is a step in the right direction... I hope.
(Page 18, panel 1. They continue to walk until otherwise noted.)
Bastion: Listen mutant, the minute I get back, you are dead!
(Panel 2. Suddenly two armed humanoids appear, and open fire. They wear army-like uniforms, with helmets.)
Bastion: Look at what you’ve done!
(Panel 3. The two of them dive for cover.)
Lotus: Me? You’re the one who’s been shouting all this time.
Guard: [Surrender or die!*]
Cap (N): *Translated from the original language.
(Panel 4. They hide behind a sand dune.)
Lotus: Got any bright ideas?
Bastion: This is your fault.
(Panel 5. Lotus rolls her eyes.)
Lotus: You would accuse me of Nazi atrocities if you could. sorry, but mutants aren’t the source of all evil. We have to get around them to get back.
(Page 19, panel 1. The two humanoids enter, and point their lasers right in the faces of Lotus and Bastion.)
Guard: [Surrender or die!]
Lotus: Uh... sorry, we don’t speak the local dialect here...
(Panel 2. Lotus and Bastion attack their guards, Lotus makes a diving kick while Bastion strikes the other guard with a shoulder-first jump.)
SFX: Wham! Pow!
Guard: Oof!
(Panel 3. Lotus delivers a karate chop to her guard as Bastion strikes his guard with a punch to the jaw.)
SFX: Whok! Thwok!
(Panel 4. The guards are down.)
Bastion: Hmph.
Lotus: I take no joy in having to hurt them, Bastion. I suggest you do the same.
(Panel 5. Bastion grabs Lotus, and throws her.)
Bastion: I’ve had enough of you, mutant!
(Panel 6. Lotus hits the ground, but it is Bastion who feels the impact.)
Bastion: Uhn!
Lotus: You just don’t get it, do you? Hurting me is only going to end up hurting yourself.
(Page 20, panel 1. Lotus and Bastion arrive at the teleportation place.)
Cap (N): Later...
Lotus: Finally, we’re here.
Bastion: Good bye, mutant.
(Panel 2. Bastion sets the controls, and enters the teleportation area.)
Bastion: I definitely won’t miss you.
(Panel 3. Lotus smiles slightly as Bastion looks around.)
Bastion: Hey! Why isn’t it teleporting?
Lotus: Because it says that it must teleport two things at one time - thus you can’t leave without me.
(Panel 4. Lotus walks up to the teleportation pad.)
Lotus: We could have been such a force for peace together, Bastion. Alas, you’re too narrow minded to see the light right in front of you.
(Panel 5. The two of them teleport out.)
Cap (N): And they went back.
(Page 21, panel 1. Lotus and Bastion appear before the Sentinels and Group X.)
Karen: Bastion!
Bastion: I have been through the valley of hate and doubt... and I have survived.
(Panel 2. Lotus rolls her eyes.)
Lotus: You kind never cease to amaze me... We just trekked 12 miles through the desert, and you have peered deep into my soul... and I yours. Yet despite all the evidence to the contrary, you still hold onto your beliefs.
Bastion: Ah, you could never really know me, Lotus... mutants are not capable of such things. You are not capable of anything... except destruction.
(Panel 3. Bastion faces the Sentinels.)
Bastion: Kill them.
Karen: Belay that order.
(Panel 4. Bastion approaches Karen.)
Bastion: What are you talking about? I am the commander here!
Karen: While you have been out hiking around we have taken the time to get to know our enemy... and they are more like us than we ever imagined. We will not hurt them. She is right, hurting others only leads to hurting yourself.
(Panel 5. Bastion scowls at Karen.)
Bastion: I will not tolerate dissention in my ranks!
Lotus: Truth hurts, Bastion. And those who refuse to see the truth will get stung even more.
(Panel 6. Bastion turns.)
Bastion: I don’t know what you’ve done to my sentinels, but rest assured I will reverse it! (Page 21, panel 1. Bastion storms out.)
Cap (N1): It was the first setback Zero Tolerance had.
Cap (N2): And it would be a turning point for the operation all together.
Cap (N3): For someone else has gotten involved as well..
(Panel 2. Go over to see Kate Neville hiding behind a building. She talks into a radio. She is in her S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform.)
Kate: This is Neville reporting. I’m afraid you were right, Bridge. Bastion is a menace and must be stopped.
(Panel 3. Group X headquarters, Fort Worth. Outside the place (which is being rebuilt) we see Group X [minus Sonnos] and the Sentinels there, lead by Karen.)
Lotus: I am glad you have seen the light.
Karen: I feel like such a fool, having been mislead so much... I wish there was a way to make up for it all
Eagle: There is... let everyone know the truth you have seen.
(Panel 4. Karen smiles slightly.)
Karen: Oh, I will, Walking Eagle... I will.
(Panel 5. The Sentinels fly off.)
Karen: We have business to attend to... but someday, we may meet again..
(Panel 6. Lotus and Walking Eagle put an arm around each other. Sonnos enters.)
Lotus: In rediscovering their humanity, I am reminded of my own. Let’s hope this won’t be a one-time thing.
Sonnos: I’ve checked over Vicki. She’s suffering from exhaustion. All she needs is rest, amigos.
Eagle: That is good to hear.