(Front cover. We see Bakerman, Starshot, Degree, Juana, Marita, Jam, and Bux surrounded by the Friends of Humanity.)

Marita: Can’t we just get along?
FOH Man: DIE, MUTANTS!!!

(Note: click this for a picture of Marita, Jam, and Bux. Juana is a hot Hispanic woman about the same height as the others, dark hair and brown eyes.)

(Page 1, panel 1. We see Bakerman, Starshot, and Degree getting ready for a night out. They are in the briefing room. Starshot is dressed in a black leather dress with miniskirt; Bakerman has a Mojo Nixon T-shirt and blue jeans; Degree wears a Lush T-shirt and blue jeans. All have Doc Martin boots on.)

Cap (N1): Christopher Madhak, and his alternate reality counterpart, Christian Madhak, are anxiously waiting tonight.
Cap (N2): They’re about to see the newest sensation in alternative music.
Cap (N3): A hot quartet from New York named Amethyst.

(Panel 2. They finish getting ready.)

Bakerman: All set?
Starshot: Aye.
Degree: Let’s go then.

(Panel 3. We see them leave the briefing room to meet Lotus.)

Lotus: All ready for the night, hmm?
Starshot: It’s rare that we get to cut loose, Lecita... I’m going to enjoy it as much as I can.
Bakerman: And so will I.

(Panel 4. Lotus smiles.)

Lotus: Just don’t party too hard.

(Page 2, panel 1. Deep Ellum, at the club called Black Galleon. The place is a seedy dive with a stage on it. There we see Marita, Jam, Juana and Bux setting things up with their manager.)

Cap (N1): After running into X-Man awhile back,
Cap (N2): They decided to form a band together.
Cap (N3): The place is known as the Black Galleon.
Cap (N4): A seedy dive in the Deep Ellum section of Dallas.

(Panel 2. They start their soundcheck. Bux is on guitar, Marita is on the drums, Juana is on base, and Jam has a keyboard set in front of her.)

Jam: Check, check, testing, check...

(Panel 3. Bux and Juana tune their instruments.)

Jam: Let’s start off with Show Me the Love.

(Panel 4. The others get ready.)

Jam: 1-2-3-4

(Page 3, splash page. Leave room for credits here. The band plays as Jam sings.)

Jam: (1) In this big world there’s love and hate/ And the interfering hand of fate/ But where I go I see the rage/ Living my life inside a cage/ Come on, show me the love.
Jam: (2) Yea show me the love! Show me the light/ Show me what it is your feeling/ Here tonight. Show me the love! Take me in your arms/ And let me give to you/ all my charms.

(Page 4, panel 1. the band stops.)

Jam: Hold it...
Bux: I need more monitor here.
Juana: I need mine lowered some.
Soundman: No problem.

(Panel 2. The soundman makes some adjustments.)

Soundman: Try it now.

(Panel 3. They play again.)

Jam: (1)We’re all here to make this world better/ Come on now, join my letter/ Write it to all/ Send out the call/ That we’re sent from above/ To show me the love.
Jam: (2) Yea show me the love! Right here tonight/ Pull me close now daring/ And hole me tight. Show me the love! ‘Cause it’s a crying shame/ That everyone else/ Looks for someone to blame.

(Panel 4. They stop.)

Bux: That’s better.
Juana: Sí. I’m fine now.
Soundman: Then take a break, Driver 8.

(Page 5, panel 1. We see them put up their instruments, and go off together.)

Jam: Time for a quick snack and then to work...

(Panel 2. A shady back alley in Deep Ellum. Starshot, Bakerman, and Degree teleport in.)

Degree: Ah, Deep Ellum... where I have spent many a night listening to many a band...
Bakerman: Lucky you. The only music allowed on my Mojoworld was crappy disco.
Starshot: Och, ye poor thing....

(Panel 3. They go out to the main area.)

Degree: And now to the main event... Timmy’s Discount Garage Band here... I knew the lead singer when he was in Obscenely Cheerful. Strange fellow, Lonnie...
Starshot: Ye think he’ll recognize you?
(Panel 4. Degree smiles.)

Degree: Probably not - it’s been over 5 years since I last saw him.

(Page 6, panel 1. They come up to the club to see that it is closed. There is a notice on the door.)

Bakerman: (reads) This establishment has been closed by order of the City of Dallas due to numerous health, fire, and decency violations. The owner has 30 days to abate these violations or face serious fines and permanent shutdown.
Degree: Bummer...

(Panel 2. Starshot looks forlorn.)

Starshot: So what do we do now?
Degree: The nice thing about Deep Ellum is that you can walk to some of the other clubs. Let’s try Club Surreal.
Bakerman: No way. It’s open mike night with poetry readings.

(Panel 4. The others are apprehensive.)

Degree: Then let’s try Bois D’arc.

(Page 7, panel 1. They go up to the Bois D’arc club.)

Bakerman: (reads) Tonight: Kevin Franklin’s Well-hung band, with DJ JD and MC CM opening.
Degree: Ew. Franklin can’t sing, and MC CM is a rapper who uses a foul word every three words.
Starshot: I’ve heard him. He sounds like Vanilla Ice.

(Panel 2. Degree smiles.)

Degree: Ah, I once met ol’ Robert Van Winkle... It was at a football game here up in Carrollton. I remember about 3 guys beating the tar out of him.
Bakerman: Well, that explains a lot.
Starshot: Let’s ask around for some good things tonight.

(Panel 3. They come to one of the many ubiquitous cafés in Deep Ellum. Also there are Marita, Jam, Bux, and Juana. They sit at another table, but all involved notice each other.)

Bakerman: Do you sense what I sense?
Degree: Others on the path? Oh yes...

(Panel 4. Starshot, Bakerman and Degree enter the place to see the others looking them over.)

Degree: Perhaps they would know a good place to be tonight.
Jam: We do.

(Panel 5. The ladies invite them to sit next to them.)

Marita: I sense strong things from you three.
Starshot: We ride the path as well. Me name’s Sara, and these are Christopher and Christian.
Degree: And you ladies are...?

(Page 8, panel 1. Starshot, Bakerman and Degree sit.)

Marita: My name’s Marita, and these are: Jasmine, Belinda, and Juana.
Jam: But everyone calls me Jam.
Bux: And everyone calls me Bux.

(Panel 2. They continue to talk.)

Bakerman: So you ladies know of a good place to hang out tonight?
Jam: We’re in a band performing over at the Black Galleon. Come on in and watch us.
Degree: So who’s opening for you?
Marita: Los Pendejos.

(Panel 3. Degree smiles.)

Degree: Ah, Arturo... I knew him back when he was in Sensurround.
Bux: You must be a vet of this area.

(Panel 4. Degree faces Bux, and sparks fly.)

Degree: I’ve spent many of my teenage years here...I’m still young, but I knew the scene back when Edie Brickell was still hanging around these places.
Starshot: That was a long time ago.

(Panel 5. Degree faces Starshot.)

Degree: True... I was about 14 when I first started hanging around the scene.
Bux: Well, you should come by and see us tonight.

(Page 9, panel 1. Go over to the shadows to see a man there.)

Cap (Man): Stinkin’ muties! They’re trashing the world, all of them! Better call some help to take this bunch down.

(Panel 2. Go back to the others.)

Bakerman: Oh, we will... and I’m sure it’s going to be a packed house tonight. You really don’t have much competition tonight.
Degree: Yea, one club’s closed, another is hosting a couple of rotten bands... you’re bound to get some people in tonight.
Marita: That’s good to hear... last night we played Houston to about 4 people who never heard of us before.
Starshot: I havena heard of ye either.

(Panel 3. They continue to talk.)

: Marita: We’re Amethyst, and we’re from New York City.
Degree (concerned) Don’t say that too loud! Someone’s bound to start a fight.

(Panel 4. The group stands.)

Marita: Well, we’ve got to get going.
Degree: We’ll be there.

(Page 10, panel 1. Black Galleon. We see Bakerman, Degree, and Starshot sitting at a table with the ladies of Amethyst.)

: Cap (N): And after moving to the Black Galleon....
Degree: Perhaps you’d like us to attend the party afterwards.
Bux: Definitely.

(Panel 2. Los Pendejos, the Tejano punk band, enters with their equipment. We see them as a quintet consisting of a drummer, guitarist, basist, keyboardist and lead singer/concertina player. By now the club has gotten about 60-70 people in it, all sitting at tables or standing.)

Arturo (singer): ¿Qué pasa, hombres? ¡Hay tiempo para divirtirse!

(Panel 3. The band has set up, and is tuning.)

Marita: Are you sure these guys are good?
Degree: They’re good. They’re also really unique. They combine Tejano with punk.
Bakerman: Tejano punk???

(Panel 4. The band plays.)

Arturo: (sings) Oh He’ll/ Turn your sons into Nazi soliders/ He’ll turn your daughters into widows/ He’ll turn everybody inside out/ He’s gonna make you scream and shout! He’s been with the best/ He’s been with the worst/ Guess which he prefers/ Tellin’ everyone he’s just one of us/ Then throwing your neighbor on the curb/ He’s mean and rude/ Don’t let me be misconstrued/ I’ve seen his evil firsthand! Oh (Page 11, panel 1. The band continues to play.)

Arturo: Ross Perot has to go! You know he’ll bring back/ Old Jim Crow/ He’ll blow a reveille at 3 a.m./ He’ll make all the blacks be slaves again/ Oh/ Ross Perot/ Has to go.

(Panel 2. The band stops playing.)

Arturo: Gracias y thank you!

(Panel 3. Later. We see Los Pendejos leave the stage.)

Cap (N): Later...

Arturo: You’ve been a great audience... ¡buenos noches, vive y prospera!
Marita: That’s our cue, girlfriends...

(Panel 4. Los Pendejos exit the stage.)

Cap (N): And trouble forms...

(Panel 5. We see about 7 FOH members there.)

FOH Man: (from earlier) Remember, hit them hard, and hit them fast.

(Page 12, panel 1. The band sets up.)

Jam: Good evening ladies and gentlemen, we are Amethyst and we hail from the Northeast.
FOH members: NEW YORK CITY!?!?!?

(Panel 2. The FOH members advance.)

FOH Man: Muties from New York City!! There’s only one good mutant, and that’s a dead mutant!!

Bakerman: *SIGH*... whatever happened to live and let live?

(Panel 2. Bakerman, Starshot and Degree stand between the FOH and the band. Juana is seen getting a bullwhip.)

Bakerman: Now hold on there, mister. Everyone in the world has just as much right to exist as you do.
FOH Man: Don’t feed me those lies, Mutant!! I know better than that!! You want to take over the world and turn it into anarchy!!

(Panel 3. Degree smiles slightly.)

Degree: Oh really? If we were truly out to kill everyone and everything like you say, then why are we trying to reason with you?
FOH Man: There’s no reasoning with you, mutant! All you care about is killing and destroying!
Bakerman: (to the Audience) Say gang, we’re going to learn a new word today. It’s called projection. Projection is a psychological term for applying one’s faults to another person or group of people. Now, who here do we know that does this?
Starshot: Sounds like someone else in this room, but not us.

(Panel 4. One of the FOH people opens fire, causing the crowd to scatter and head for the door.)

SFX: Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!!
Starshot: So much for wanting to avoid bloodshed.

(Page 13, panel 1. The FOH people attack Starshot, Bakerman, Degree, and Amethyst. Juana defends herself with an electrified bullwhip. We see Starshot fight hand-to-hand with one of the FOH members. She strikes him in the stomach.)

SFX: WHOK!

(Panel 2. Bakerman unleashes a volley of light disks as the FOH fire automatic weapons at him. He dodges the shots as he throws the disks.)

SFX: Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!! (Panel 3. Juana strikes one of the FOH members with her electrified bullwhip as he fires a pistol, missing.)

SFX: CRACKLE! POW!
Juana: ¡No me molestes, Gringo!

(Panel 4. Bux makes a diving kick, striking the FOH member in the jaw.)

Bux: I may not be superhumanly strong, but I am proficient in the martial arts!
SFX: WHAM!

(Panel 5. The FOH pull back.)

FOH Man: The cops are coming! Break off and regroup!

(Panel 6. The FOH run for the exits as police lights become visible.)

Bakerman: Computer, teleport us back to base immediately! Seven to teleport!

(Page 14, panel 1. Starshot, Bakerman, and Degree teleport out as the police enter to find the place trashed but nobody present.)

Policeman: EVERYONE FREEZE!!!
Policewoman: Damn! Got away again!

(Panel 2. Group X headquarters, Fort Worth. We see Starshot, Bakerman, Degree and the band teleport in.)

Bakerman: Sorry about the teleportation. I don’t think you’d want to spend a night in jail.
Jam: Understandable. So what happens now?

(Panel 3. Enter Lotus. She wears a blue dress.)

Lotus: So did you have fun -? Well, new friends I see.

(Panel 4. The band faces Lotus.)

Marita: Fascinating...
Jam: Woah...
Bux: Hello...
Juana: Maria...
Degree: Ah, allow me to introduce these fine young women. These are: Marita, Jasmine, Belinda, and Juana. They play in a band name Amethyst. (to the band) This is our leader and spiritual guide, Lotus.

(Panel 5. Lotus smiles slightly.)

Lotus: Interesting... Well, welcome to Group X headquarters.
Jam: Thank you...
Degree: We kinda sorta ran into a fight here. Juana’s a mutant like us, and the Friends of Humanity showed up again.

(Panel 6. Lotus grimaces.)

Lotus: And, of course, reasoning failed as it always does. Well, you’re welcome to spend the night here if you wish.
Marita: Our next gig is tomorrow night in San Antonio. We really can’t stay.
Degree: Bummer... Well, I guess we should teleport you to your tour bus.

(Page 15, panel 1. The band appears at their tour bus in Deep Ellum. The bus is on its side, and has the windows smashed in. With them is Degree.)

Jam: Oh, Man...
Marita: Our label’s gonna kill us. That bus was leased!

(Panel 2. Degree smiles slightly.)

Degree: Let’s have our resident mechanic look at it.

(Panel 3. Degree touches his wristwatch.)

Degree: Computer, teleport this bus into the garage, then teleport us back to headquarters.)

(Panel 4. Everything disappears in a flash of light as the FOH emerge from the shadows.)

FOH Man: DAMN YOU, MUTANTS!!!

(Panel 5. We see Mindpath casing the bus over. With him are the band, Bakerman, and Starshot.)

Cap (N): Later...
Mindpath: It’s gonnae take time, lassies...
Marita: Time is one thing we don’t have a lot of. We’re supposed to be in San Antonio tomorrow at 6 p.m.

(Panel 6. Degree smiles slightly.)

Bakerman: Easily done. Our teleporters have an unlimited range. We can teleport you as far afield as you want.
Jam: Good, because our next gig is Thursday in Phoenix.

(Page 16, panel 1. Degree enters as the others turn to go.)

Degree: Ladies, your guest rooms are ready.
Jam: Yea, it’ll be our first night of serious rest in a good while.

(Panel 2. Follow Bux into her room. On the pillow we see a single red rose, with a note attached to it. She wears a nightgown.)

Cap (Bux1): A note?
Cap (Bux2): What could it be?

(Panel 3. Bux picks up the note, and reads.)

Cap (Note): My dearest Belinda, you have an energy I have seen in few women. I feel right in asking you if you want to be my love. Take this rose as a token of my affection, but its beauty cannot compare to yours, both inside and out. Love, Christian
Cap (Bux1): My, he laid it on thick there.
Cap (Bux2): Well, he did have pretty eyes, and his energy felt good...
Cap (Bux3): It’ll be only for a few days. What harm could come from it?

(Panel 4. Bux lays down, and goes to sleep.)

Cap (N): And with sleep, comes a dream...

(Panel 5. We see Bux flying in the air, soaring high.)

Cap (Bux): Where am I?

(Panel 6. She stops at a cloud, where Degree waits for her.)

Degree: Hello, Belinda. I hope you got my note.
Bux:Christian?

(Page 17, panel 1. A chair forms next to Degree.)

Degree: Come, have a seat here.
Bux: O.k....

(Panel 2. Bux sits next to Degree. Degree smiles at her.)

Degree: We could be very wonderful together, don’t you think?
Bux: Well, yes... you have an energy that feels wonderful, Christian. I just wish this wasn’t for only a few days...

(Panel 3. Degree puts an arm around Bux.)

Degree: We will always be in contact... even if I don’t get to see you every day, we can meet up here.
Bux: (smiles) All right...

(Panel 4. The two of them hold each other close.)

Bux: Mmm... you feel so wonderful in my arms. It’s like you’re everything I need to make it to the next level.
Degree: I feel the same way about you, Belinda. It’s like we came into each other’s lives just to help each other along.

(Panel 5. They kiss.)

Cap (N1): Shockwaves of passion move through them.
Cap (N2): In a world where people are hated and feared,
Cap (N3): Love is just as precious.

(Panel 6. They part lips.)

Bux: Wow... I’ve never had a kiss that good before.
Degree: Neither have I, Belinda. And we’ve got plenty of time to do more.

(Page 18, panel 1. We see Marita, Jam and Juana standing over the sleeping Bux.)

Juana: Look at her energy... she must be having one wonderful dream...
Marita: Too bad it’s morning and she has to wake up.

(Panel 2. Marita shakes Bux’s shoulder.)

Marita: Come on, sleepyhead, time to rise and shine.
Bux: (still sleeping) Mmm... Christian...

(Panel 3. The others face each other.)

Jam: Looks like someone lost their heart last night.
Marita: She still has to wake up, though.

(Panel 4. Bux wakes up.)

Bux: Uhn... what a dream.
Marita: Welcome back, Belinda.
Jam: I’m surprised you even woke up.

(Panel 5. Bux looks at the others.)

Bux: What?
Juana: What’s with all the “Oh Christian... you’re so wonderful?” (Panel 6. Bux is embarrassed. )

Bux: Well, I don’t know about it... I just dreamed that I was with him... and I liked it.
Marita: Girlfriend, be careful. Make sure he’s your soulmate before going onward.

(Page 19, panel 1. Dining area. We see the members of Group X waiting around. Degree enters, along with Amethyst.)

Lotus: Nice of you to join us, Christian.
Degree: I had a long, hard night, all right?
Starshot: Anyway, just ask the computer for anything, and it will make ye breakfast.

(Panel 2. The ladies join Group X at the breakfast table. Sitting next to Degree is Bux.)

Degree: Well, I had a wonderful night’s sleep, how about you?
Marita: I’ll sleep better when the bus is fixed.
Jam: And we’re on our way.

(Panel 3. Sonnos notices Jam’s arm.)

Sonnos: Señorita, I can replace that arm with a bionic one if you wish.
Jam: Really? I really don’t like this plastic model... it’s kinda sluggish and unresponsive.

(Panel 4. Sonnos smiles.)

Sonnos: Just come to the infirmary after breakfast.
Jam: All right...

(Page 20, panel 1. Go to the FOH headquarters, Dallas. We see Mr. Carp talking to Mr. Otter.)

Carp: Some of our brothers and sisters ran into the worst kind of mutants last night. Ones that tried to pass themselves off as good.
Otter: I know. They’re called Group X, and they’ve been a thorn in our sides for awhile now. We’ve got to find a way to stop them once and for all.

(Panel 2. Carp is grim-faced.)

Carp: Heck, I don’t know if there is. The police love ‘em. It’s almost as if they wanted to lull us into thinking they were good... just like the Thunderbolts did.
Otter: We know better. We know they have a headquarters somewhere in this area. The problem is finding it.

(Panel 3. Go back to the Group X infirmary. We see Sonnos attaching the bionic arm to Jam.)

Cap (N): Sometime later...
Sonnos: Almost done, señorita.

(Panel 4. Sonnos pulls back to show Jam now has her left arm back, looking as good as new. )

Jam: It’s wonderful... it feels like my original arm... I can feel my fingers....
Sonnos: Let’s just do a few routine tests here...

(Panel 5. Sonnos takes out a doctor’s mallet.)

Sonnos: Let’s check on it.

(Page 21, panel 1. Sonnos taps Jam’s bionic hand with his mallet, causing it to jerk backward.)

Jam: Ow! Hey, I felt that.
Sonnos: Of course señorita. We have the latest in technology here.

(Panel 2. Enter Bux, Marita, and Juana.)

Marita: So how did it go?
Jam: (1) Wonderful, it’s like having my old arm back.
Sonnos: With one difference. That arm is superhumanly strong. You can lift about 10 tons with that arm, if the rest of your body could support it.
Jam: (2) Well, now I’ve got a weapon against all those horny guys who think they can get an easy score with me.

(Panel 3. Sonnos smiles.)

Sonnos: I’d hate to be in their shoes right now. Well, that’s it....
Marita: We’ve got a practice to attend.

(Panel 4. Exit Marita, Jam, Bux, and Juana together.)

Jam: Now we can do a lot of things we’ve wanted to do.

(Page 22, panel 1. A storage room. We see Amethyst set up on one side, while Bakerman, Starshot, and Degree are nearby watching.)

Jam: Normally we don’t have people watch us practice, but there’s always an exception to the rule.
Starshot: We’re very curious as t’how you sound.

(Panel 2. Jam turns to the band.)

Jam: Let’s try that Kate Bush song, Wuthering Heights.

(Panel 3. Jam plays a solo.)

Jam: (sings) Out on the winding, windy moors/ We roamed and played in free/ You had a temper/ Like my jealousy/ Two hearts too greedy/ How could you leave me? When I needed to/ Posses you/ I hated you/ I loved you too/ (Panel 4. The band joins in.)

Jam: (sings) Heathcliff/ It’s me I’m Cathy I’ve come home now/ So woah-oh-oh-aoh/ Let me in your window/ Oh-oh-oh.

(Panel 5. They stop.)

Degree: So you don’t do the second verse? “Bad dreams in the night/ Told me I was going to loose the fight/ Leave behind/ My Wuthering, Wuthering, Wuthering heights?”
Jam: Darn it, I keep forgetting those lines.
Marita: Try again, girlfriend.