ASTONISHING
X-MEN
X-MEN
Gatefold
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ASTONISHING
X-MEN |
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Gatefold
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She sat quietly in the meeting room. The only other person with her was a young security guard, about 23 yrs old, standing at the back of the room. Whenever she looked his way he turned suddenly, avoiding her glance. She was no fool. She reached out with her mind and did a little poking. She smiled when she found his most recent thoughts. These thoughts were aimed at her and about her and were quite adult in nature. She giggled, "You naughty boy, but whip cream? How clichéd."
The security guard turned a bright red and was about to stumble out an apology of sorts when the double doors at the head of the room opened up. A tall man with a swimmers physique and distinguished gray streaks at his temples strode in. He nodded to the embarrassed guard and tilted his head to the door. The guard took that as his opportunity to escape an awkward situation. He briefly looked back towards the blonde who had read his mind; she raised her hand and waved. Her smile grew as he walked right into one of the open doors.
"Doctor Emma Frost I presume?"
"Director Fury." Emma said as she stood to shake hands. "It's a surprise that we have met only now."
They both took their seats, facing each other from opposite sides of the table. "I may not have met you until now but I have been following your work very closely. Especially your research into genetic enhancements you and Frost Dynamics have been working on."
"A fan?" she asked, leaning forward on her elbows.
"Of sorts, myself, and the President have both been watching your research very closely."
Emma leaned back, and attempted to reach into the Director's mind.
He leaned back as well, "Not going to work, dampeners." he said tapping his forehead with his finger.
Emma hid her frustration, "I just wanted to know if this was a friendly play date or not."
The phone beside Fury rang; he picked it up and did not say a word. He placed the receiver down, "I am sorry, it appears I have to cut this meeting short." Director Fury stood up and pulled a micro disc out of his tunic pocket, attached was his business card. "I wanted to meet one of the most powerful women in the world and give you this," he said looking at the disc, "It's a proposal of sorts, very beneficial for both of us and the world as well."
The Director turned and headed towards the door.
"One of the most powerful women?" Emma asked as she slipped the disc into her Luis Vuitton purse.
"You really have to meet the First Lady." And with that the Director was gone. Emma stood and did up her blazer. She walked casually out of the boardroom and past the guard she had 'met' earlier. She looked at him and focused for one moment on one portion of his mind. He immediately fell to his knees, a smile cascading across his face. She laughed again and stepped into the elevator at the end of the hall. As the doors closed the guard heard her ask, "Was it good for you?"
"Jean?" Warren said, quietly leaning into the library where Jean sat, staring out a window.
She seemed startled. She looked towards her friend and smiled, her red hair flowing over her shoulders.
Warren walked in taking a seat opposite Jean. "A penny for your thoughts?"
She held a photo to her chest and lowered it looking longingly at it. She placed it on the coffee table that separated her and Warren. It was a picture of the original five, Jean, Warren, Bobby, Clark and Hank. She looked back at Warren.
"Well I don't need to be telepathic to know what you were thinking about." He leaned forward and took the redheads hand in his own. "You still miss him." He stated the fact and didn't ask it. He knew, he could tell by the look in her eyes as she looked down at the man she once loved, still loved.
She looked again out the window. "It seems like Clark was here just yesterday, even after six months…" her voice trailed off.
Warren said nothing; he knew that this was something that Jean had to work through. "I am here for you, we all are."
Jean turned back to Warren uncurling her legs and facing forward. "I know." She stood and placed the photo back on the wall from where she had removed it. "Was there something you needed?" She asked.
Warren stood up and held out two ties in front of Jean, "Two things really, one is which tie should I wear and the second has to do with an impromptu meeting that I have to attend."
Jean walked over and looked at the two ties, she pointed to a burnt orange monochromatic tie that was a little darker than the shirt Warren was wearing, "That one." She took it in her hands and started tying it for Warren. "Now what was this thing about a meeting?"
"A business associate of mine contacted me concerning a deal she has been approached about involving the government and she said it would hold special interest for me. I am leaving for New York immediately and thought a trip into the city would do you good." He turned around and looked in the mirror. "Perfect," he said, "And with only two weeks until the re-opening of the school I thought a little break would be nice for you."
Jean thought about getting away for a few hours the past few days but she felt she should stay at the school, so much to do, so little time. She knew that if she could clear her head though, that a lot more could be accomplished. "What about the others?"
"Hank is busy readying his labs for the new students, Bobby is still sleeping, late night in the Danger Room last night, and Katherine is at her University today, clearing out the last of her stuff from her Dorm room and saying goodbye to her friends." He took her chin in his hand and gently tilted her head up to his, "What do you say Red?"
She laughed; she hadn't been called that in years, since she first came to the school. "I think my credit cards will get a little bit of a workout today." She picked up a small round device that sat on a table beside the couch, "and I can try out Hank's latest little invention." She pushed a button and her outfit changed, "a little holographic Gucci?" she pushed the button again, "or a little Versace?"
Warren laughed, he was relieved to see Jean come out of her shell again. "Shall we?" and they headed to the car waiting outside.
Jean Paul Beaubier was a confident man that never let anything rattle him, until now. He sat in a cold room, concrete on all sides and a metal object around his neck. He sat quietly, not sure what was going to happen next. One minute him and his sister are on a routine border patrol for The Flight and the next he wakes up in a strange place, unable to use his powers. He reached toward the collar like object that wrapped around his neck.
A mysterious voice came out of the darkness, "Uh, uh, uh Monsieur Northstar, I recommend that you do not play with other peoples toys."
Jean Paul scrambled to his feet. He frantically searched the cell he found himself in, no cameras, and no windows, not even a door. "Where are you, why do you hide? If you have hurt my sister…"
The mysterious voice cut off the angered mutant, "You'll what? You'll find, as I am already sure you have, that your powers are temporarily not available." There was a momentary pause and the voice returned, "as for your sister, well she is currently being treated by one of our doctors." A scream so loud it appeared to emanate from all around Jean Paul permeated his eardrums.
A look of pure anger flashed across Northstars face, "What are you doing to her?"
The voice responded, apparently amused by his captive audience, "Treating her, I said."
Northstar continued to scan his small room, looking for anything, a camera, a window, "What kind of treatment?" he yelled.
"The kind of treatment that cures the worst sickness of all, the sickness that makes you a mutant." His voice had changed from one of amusement to one of hate. "You mutants think you are so much better than humans, well I am going to change all of that, and then the world will thank John Sublime for curing them of the horrible Mutant illness." Jean Paul fell backwards, for the first time feeling helpless as he continued to hear the screams of his sister. A woman who was in such pain that he would do anything to help her. All he could do was sit and cover his ears and wait for his turn.
Director Fury sat at his desk. He rolled a cigar between his fingers. His attention was focused on the computer monitor in front of him. "Where are you hiding John?" he said to himself. The computer monitor showed a list of hundreds of mutants. This list had a complete breakdown of their powers and there weaknesses and in some cases enhancements. When Weapon X was shut down not too long ago it was discovered that there were several underground Weapon X cells operating within the United States of America. These cells were being run by the true mastermind behind Weapon X, John Sublime. Fury had tried to warn Agent Danvers, the Director of Homeland Security, but she was busy dealing with a recently discovered mutant terrorist group simply known as the Brotherhood.
Danvers and the Department of Homeland Security were severely understaffed and she could not spare anyone. Fury took it upon himself to send out a select group of SHIELD operatives. They were to covertly infiltrate a supposed Weapon X safe house in Gotham City. En route the craft they were flying completely vanished, no trace had since been found of the plane or the seven missing agents.
Fury knew that President Scott was not keen on having a mutant police force at his side, but the President also realized the growing danger that certain mutants posed. Fury approached the President with an idea. A way for the newly reorganized SHIELD to have it's own group of mutant agents while not affiliating them with SHIELD or the government.
Emma Frost was the key, with her genetic research and her connections to the mutant world, she was the one hope. Director Fury and President Allan both knew that if there was indeed a genetic war coming then Frost was to dangerous to not have on there side.
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Fury said to himself as he brought a lit match up to his cigar. As he was about to light his stogie, a message flashed across his computer monitor, "International Priority One."
He tapped the receive button at the bottom of the screen. James Hudson, Director of Canada's Alpha Flight appeared. "Fury, good to see you and SHIELD back in action."
Fury leaned forward. "Looks like you got a promotion." James was wearing a suit and sat behind a desk, the Canadian flag proudly displayed behind him.
"I did, but you can congratulate me later, we have a situation, Alpha needs your help. We think we may have found Sublime."
"Tell me where and what you need." Fury grabbed his firearm from his side drawer and placed it in his holster.
The people on the street stopped in there tracks when they saw Warren get out of the back of his stretched limo. A six foot tall blonde man with wings would make anyone stop and stare. Jean followed and immediately felt the barrage of thoughts from the surrounding crowd.
One woman even grabbed her rosaries and started to pray.
'Freaks.'
'Wonder if he's with the red head?'
Angel knew Jeans talents and looked back at her with a smile, "Are they hating us?"
"A bit, one of them wants to know if you're single."
Warren scanned the crowd, flashing his media friendly smile, "Is she cute?"
Jean took Warrens arm and walked inside, his head constantly looking over his shoulder, "I don't think he's your type." She looked down at the ground as she walked, stifling her laughter.
Warren stammered, not sure what to say until a short woman wearing a Versace basic black knee length dress came over, "Mr. Worthington, Ms. Frost is expecting you," she looked at Jean, "We were unaware that you would be bringing a guest."
Jean broke off from Warren, "Just here for the shopping." She stood in front of Warren and straightened his tie. "Call me when you are done."
Warren nodded and followed the woman to the elevators.
She smiled to herself thinking of Warren and stopped herself. She remembered feeling this way about another man and he left. Warren was a friend and nothing more. She would never use her power on a friend but she hoped he was only being a friend in return. She needed to allow herself time to heal and that time had not come to pass yet. 'Will it ever pass?' she thought to herself.
So much has changed, Clark is gone, the Professor deceased, no word from Logan, everything was different. She even felt different these days; an odd feeling was coming over her, one that she was not entirely comfortable with. She felt more aggressive.
"Everything is different these days Warren." Emma looked out her 35th story office window at the world below. "Without doing anything, just living our lives, we are still considered a danger, a menace."
Warren leaned back in his chair, "Emma, always one with the flair of melodrama."
She took her seat at her desk and tossed a printout copy of the report on the disc Fury had given her. "This has nothing to do with melodrama." She eyed the report and looked back up at Warren. She slipped her fingers around the base of a martini glass and brought the Cosmopolitan up to her lips.
Warren picked up the report and started to leaf through this. "Where did you get this?"
"A very powerful man with an eye patch gave it to me."
"I thought Fury was dead and SHIELD along with him?" Warren asked, still engrossed in what he was reading.
Emma chuckled, "People like him and us, don't stay dead." She got up and walked behind Warren, placing her hands on his shoulders, "A little tense darling?" She rubbed his shoulders, "and I am jealous, really, Jean? Does she know?"
Warren shrugged off her hands and turned to look up at her, "Business remember? You and I, we don't work."
Emma seemed to go cold. She returned to her chair and sat down. "I needed you to see this, as a forty percent share holder in my company, I had to tell you that I am going to go ahead with this, at least the part I can."
Warren stood up and put the report in his briefcase. "I can't promise what the others will say. This will change what the X-Men are."
Emma turned her chair around to once again admire the view. "Hardly, you all still get to keep the precious school, as for me, I always wanted one of those sexy X-Men uniforms, leather was always a turn on for me."
Warren walked out. "I'll let you know after I speak to Fury myself, have him contact myself and the others at the school."
Emma tapped a button her keypad phone, "Get my Helicopter ready, I want to pay a visit to the Hellion facility."
Jean sat on a bench enjoying a Latte and watching the people who called this city home. As she brought the cup to her lips a scream wracked her mind. The Latte fell from her hands and she collapsed to the ground, grabbing the sides of her head with her hands. The scream stopped but the psychic echo rang through her head.
A stranger crouched down near her. "Are you ok, miss?"
She stood up and looked around the park, everyone had stopped and continued to stare at her even as she brushed off the man who checked to see if she was fine and headed to the nearest exit. She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. She dialed, Warren picked up.
"Ready to go?" Warren asked, noticing Jeans name on his call display.
She didn't respond to his question, "We have a situation. Someone is in danger."
Warren stopped on the street, about to get into his limousine, "Jean what's wrong?"
"I'm at the southwest exit in Central Park, I'll be waiting."
Warren stepped into his limo as the sound of a helicopter filled the sky. He looked up and saw Emma's private Frost Dynamics helicopter speed off towards Boston. He sat down and looked at the report Emma had given him. "Southwest exit of Central Park."
"Yes sir." Responded the driver.
Northstar opened his eyes. Every square inch of his body was racked with pain. He tried to move his arms but found they were held down as well as his legs. The bed he found himself on felt more like a steel slab, cold and hard. The only light came from ahead and beside him. The light was intense, he couldn't see past it. He heard the sounds of movement in the distance but couldn't make out what it was.
He tried to speak but found nothing but a hoarse whisper escaped his lips. No matter how hard he tried no sound came from his mouth, nothing. A click in the distance diverted his attention. He felt the table below him start to vibrate and move, it was turning. It stopped and then started to move again, this time putting the trapped superhero in a standing position. The image before him made his heart stop.
He finally was able to speak, instead of the scream that wanted to escape his lungs, all he was able to say; quite weakly was "Jeanne Marie." In front of him was his sister, on a similar table to what he found himself on. She was still in her uniform but it was spattered with dried blood. Cuts and abrasions made her face look like a patchwork quilt. She was unconscious with her head hanging to the side. Her chest was barely moving. Jean Paul felt himself start to cry. He wanted nothing more to save his sister but instead was forced to see her so helpless and not able to do anything.
A door opened on the far side of the room. Footsteps echoed throughout the dark corners. A voice called forth, "Jean Paul, I see you have awoke, enjoying your reunion with your sister?" The man asked and then laughed, "I suppose not, she seems to be a little worn out from our work." He stepped closer; Jean Paul was now able to make out a form. The light above was still to bright for him to make out any distinct features. The partially obscured man reached out with his hand and took Jean Marie's chin in his hand, "She really is quite lovely, shame she tried to resist, some of these little scratches might leave scars." He let her head drop down.
"Bastard." The word came out weak from between Jean Paul's lips.
The man chuckled and moved closer. He had brown hair and was wearing a surgical mask and a lab jacket, one that was encrusted with blood, Jean Marie's blood. "What was that?" The man stepped closer, "I didn't quite hear you, pathetic mutant."
Northstar raised his head and looked this attacker, this monster, in the eyes. "You will pay for what you have done."
The doctor spoke as the table took up its horizontal position again. "I highly doubt it, in a few short hours, you will be nothing but a human." A mask came down and covered Northstars face, he tried to not breathe in but felt it becoming impossible. The gas escaped through the mask and into Northstars mouth. Slowly the world faded and blackness claimed him again.
The limousine stopped in front of where Jean was sitting. The door opened and Warren stepped out. "What's wrong?" Jean sat on the bench; she looked different, angry and sad at the same time.
Jean stood and looked at Warren, "I sense something terrible is about to happen. I can't explain it but there was a spike on the psychic plane."
Warren guided Jean to a bench, "Where, do you know where the spike came from or why?"
Jean just shook her head, "I'm not sure. Someone was in pain, it spiked, and then was gone." She looked around as if trying to see something. Her face changed, from someone who was unsure to a face of anger. "There," she pointed to an unassuming building less than a block from them. "That's where it came from." She stood up took her cell phone from her purse. She pushed a red X button on the bottom. "Priority one, all X-Men converge on these co-ordinates." She turned to Warren. "Are you coming?" The clothes she was wearing dissolved leaving her standing in her new red and gold field uniform. She turned back to the building and took to the air. All around her people stopped, some ran. Fear overtook them, Jean could not hear their fear, something far worse was calling her. The call of a madman who had to be stopped.
Warren stood as well and removed his jacket and tie and took to the air. He came up beside her, "Where did that all come from?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She stopped and looked at Warren, "I'm not sure, I just know where to go. It's like someone was with me." She continued her path. Below them traffic had come to a standstill as New York citizens looked up to see a man with wings and a red headed woman float above them.
Jean Paul woke to the sound of feet running all around him.
The man from earlier was standing beside him. "It looks like someone knows you are here." Jean Paul didn't respond. He was still too groggy and yet he felt an odd power growing in him. "For the moment you have been spared, but we will get you soon." Nothing more was said, footfalls walked away from his table and out a door that slammed shut behind him.
Silence.
"Jeanne Marie?" Jean Paul wanted his sister to respond, wanted to hear any indication that she was all right. Nothing. He needed to get free. A sharp flash of light exploded, not in front of him but it felt as if it was coming from within his mind. He felt as if his head was about to split into two. A power surged through his body. He felt his muscles come alive. The restraints seemed weaker and weaker. He had never felt such power before. The lights in the room started to flicker as he felt electricity arcing from his body to everything around him. The restraints popped, shattered really, as he felt a rage overtake him. He stood, ripping the now dead power dampener from around his neck.
Jean Paul stood in the middle of what looked like a hospital operating room, far more advanced than he had ever seen. On his right lay his sister. She was motionless except for the weak movement of her chest. "They will pay."
Jean hovered above the roof. A squad of heavily armed men poured through the roof door. Guns pointed at ones they now viewed as a threat. She raised her arms and an orange flame like shield extended out in front of her, covering both Warren and her. The gunfire melted as it hit the shield.
Warren had never seen Jean display such power before. He watched, slightly frightened, as Jean extended her hand, this in turn extended the shield. It came down on six of the men that were in front of the others. They dropped their guns and fell to the ground gripping there faces.
"Jean what are you doing?"
She turned to Warren, smiling a dark, sinister smile, "Just a little mind trick, they think they just got torched by a wall of flames. The others see that as well." She turned back to her assault, "Relax will you, I am not going to far."
She read Warrens thoughts; she never had done that before. Jean had become someone completely different in a matter of moments. He focused on the task at hand. They landed on the roof. Those left had escaped back through the roofs door. The six that had been "burnt" by Jean lay motionless, still alive, but scared like never before.
"The others are escaping."
Jean waved her hand and her shield was gone. "They are turning themselves in to the police that have just shown up."
Warren walked over to the building ledge and looked down. At least two dozen men were dropping their weapons and kneeling on the ground. Police officers swarmed them, taking them into custody. "How?"
"I just suggested to them that it would be a good idea. The others are almost here, and we should be receiving guests from the north."
Warren knew this was going to far, this went against everything Xavier had ever taught them. This was an aggression an X-Man had never shown.
A sound of approaching aircraft diverted Warren's attention to the sky above. "We have company." He looked but Jean was gone. The first to arrive was one of the X-Men's personnel craft. It landed and the side ramp came down. Iceman and Beast walked down. Both were in battle gear and Iceman was fully iced up. "Where's the party?"
Iceman looked around, "Look's like everything is taken care of, I got out of bed early for this?"
Warren looked at his teammates, "Jean handled all of it."
Beast saw the worry on his friend's face, "What's wrong?"
Warren headed towards the stairs, "We'll talk later, Jean went inside."
As the trio entered the building another ship stopped and hovered over the building. A group of men wearing jet packs came down and surrounded them, "Do not enter that building by order of the United States Government." The soldiers placed their hands tentatively on their holsters, ready to pull their weapons out if needed.
"Dr. Grey is already inside," Warren said. He stepped closer to one of the men. "What's going on here?"
The soldier took a nervous step back and snapped the top of his holster off, "Government operations sir."
Warren found the answer too vague. Irritation spread across Warren's face. The soldier must have seen this as he took another step backwards. Warren looked at Iceman and Beast, "Let's go." The three of them started walking into the building.
"Warren, I would advise against that."
Angel turned around, "Director Fury, I heard you were back from the dead."
"Can't keep an old soldier down."
"Why are we being stopped?" Bobby asked.
"The Canadian Government asked us to help, apparently one of their own is in there and they have sent their own group to handle this, there is also a wanted fugitive presumably in there." Fury placed a finger to his ear, listening to the latest report from the unit in the building. "A situation has developed."
At that point the building started to shake, Nick ran to the edge and looked down, bricks and shattered glass started to fall to the ground below, "What in blazes?"
The roof started to crack, holes were appearing. Fury spoke into his com device on his wrist, "Evacuate the building, get everyone away." He looked at those around him, "I suggest we take to the air."
His warning came at the right time as the building started to cave into itself. The SHIELD officers took to the air using their jet packs and Warren grabbed Beast and Bobby and got them up to the X-Jet. He put them down and flew straight towards the rubble. Smoke from the destruction filled his nostrils and he felt himself coughing but one thought took over his mind, "Jean."
He could see flashlights shine through the smoke and dust. From up ahead another light burned even brighter. The screams of people echoed from all over and the sounds of sirens drew near. He was closer to the light source. He could almost see clearly. He flew a couple of more feet and came through the dust. It appeared that a bubble of clean air, roughly 30 feet in diameter, existed in the middle of the catastrophe.
After adjusting his vision Warren surveyed the situation. He could see Jean; she lay partially under some broken ceiling beams. She had small cuts on her face but he saw her chest rise. She was alive, Warren felt relief. Standing in front of her was the mutant from Alpha Flight, Northstar. He seemed to be generating a massive electrical field. Warren felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He didn't even notice Warren.
Standing in front of Northstar was Vindicator, Heather Hudson, field leader of Alpha Flight. She crouched down and helped another team member, Flex, up to his feet. Heather spoke, "Jean Paul, stand down." Her voice was heavy with authority.
Jean Paul was going to have none of it. "You left me for dead and then you claim you did it on purpose." He was yelling at this point, "Using me and my sister as bait for some madman." The angrier he got the brighter the intensity of the light around him burned. He knelt down, not once taking his eyes off of his former teammates. He took his sisters hand, "She barely clings to life. This is because of you."
Heather stepped forward, "We can help, and we can get Marie to a hospital."
This statement appeared to anger Northstar even more. His right hand shot up and a bolt of pure light energy shot forth. Heather, not missing a beat, raised up a piece of nearby metal out of the building rubble, and intercepted the energy. It hit with such force that Heather and Flex were thrown to the ground.
"I should kill you all where you stand!" A light so blinding that Warren had to look away surrounded the enraged mutant. Warren felt the electricity in the air. "You will use no one again." The blast shot out and was about to tear through everyone, Warren, Vindicator, Flex, until it and everyone around froze.
Jean slowly lifted herself out of the rubble. She stood straight, hovering above the situation. "Not today." She looked around and saw what she had done. A smile spread across her face, "Well look at what I can do."
Well this is it, issue one. It has a lot in it but I wanted to set up the characters. I hope you enjoyed.