The Uncanny X-Men #2

[fan4]

The Uncanny X-Men #2

New Age, Part 2

X-Men Together

Written by Thomas
Edited by Aaron Martel

Kitty Pride stared down a huge, ferocious beast, its mouth drooling at the sight of her. It was too soon for her to die. She was only fourteen. She never kissed a boy or sky dived. Her legs frozen in fear, she closed her eyes and began to quiver. Suddenly, the creature bolted up. Kitty looked up as she saw frost start to form around the creature’s morbid form. Within a few seconds the creature was completely frozen. A cocky voice emerged from the creature’s back side.

“Come on Kitty, fight!” yelled Bobby Drake. He popped his head out from the now icicle’s shoulder. “You can’t expect us to protect you always. Show us your powers.”

A shining red beam shot across the room and slammed the frozen body into a wall, shattering it into a million pieces.

“He’s right, Kitty. There is no need to be scared of these things,” Scott Summers spoke up from across the room.

“Please Katzchen. I would like to see your powers too.”

There was a smell of brimstone that filled Kitty’s nostrils as Kurt Wagner appeared behind her. She turned around to scowl at the blue furred teen only to get a face full of brimstone. Kurt was now crouched on the ceiling of the chrome room.

From the black cloud emerged another creature much like the first one.

Don’t mind them, Kitty. Boys will be boys. The reassuring voice of Jean Grey entered her head. Now why don’t you show these boys what you can do?

Kitty smirked as she braced herself. The fierce beast passed completely through Kitty. The surprised monster was greeted by the steel plated fist of Peter Rasputin on its exit.

“Great job Kitten,” Peter smirked as he ran off after another. Kitty blushed as another creature sneaked up on her. By what seemed like luck a lightning bolt struck the creature, hurling it back a few yards.

“Be careful, child. Flirting can be dangerous on the battlefield. Believe me, I know,” came a voice from above.

“You’re not much older than me,” she yelled back up, “But thanks anyway, Ms. Monroe.”

“Call me Ororo, child.” The weather witch purposely put the extra emphasis on child. Suddenly, the creatures began to fade from existence. A voice began to boom into their heads.

>>That’s enough. I think I have a hold on your skills. Scott, Jean, Ororo, it’s about noon; why don’t you show our new students to their residence.<<

Everyone began to pant from there heavy exercise. They all smiled at each other from their good work. They hustled out and started to dry off with the monogrammed towels available. They traveled up the elevator to the second story.

[fan4]

They reached Kurt’s dorm first. On top of a neatly made bed sat his bags and a gold cross.

“What’s up with the cross?” Bobby asked.

“I never go anywhere without it. After all, I am a man of god.”

“Man of God?” Kitty asked curiously.

“Well, for some reason, when I was a baby, I was abandoned, thrown off a bridge apparently, by my birth parents.”

“That’s horrible.” Scott said in disgust.

“Yes, but I was found by a priest and his wife. They raised me as a good Christian, despite my demonic appearance. Then word started to spread that there was a demon, me, in the village. For my parents safety I fled; my first big teleport. I soon found my way to a mother and daughter in a traveling circus just outside of Munich. They took care of me, and in exchange I would perform in the circus for them. Everything went well until in one town I was found to be more than a man in a costume and they chased me about. It was a regular scene from Frankenstein. They had pitchforks and everything. That’s when the Professor contacted me, and here I am.”

The others were astonished by Kurt’s story of tragedy. Jean turned to Kitty.

“How about your story, Kitty. How did you discover your gifts?”

“Mine started a few years ago. I started to have these chronic nightmares, and wake up in the basement. My parents tried to figure out what was happening to me. They tried everything from shrinks to blocking my door. I guess they didn’t want to admit their little girl was a mutant. Then I started to drop everything. That’s when my parents and I had a meeting with the Professor.”

[fan4]

Leaving Kurt in his room they continued down the hallway. They directed Kitty to her room and they soon arrived at Peter’s. His bed was scattered with sketchbooks. Ororo picked one up and started to flip through it.

“You’re quite the artist, Peter,” she commended.

“Da,” Peter agreed, shuffling.

“Peter, I’m curious, how you discovered your gift?” she asked.

“It really all started when my parents died. I then had to look after my little brother and sister, Mikhail and Illyana. We barely had enough money to feed ourselves, so I only had one place to turn; the Russian Mafia. I was involved in a lot, and saw a lot. When I finally decided to quit and find a better way to make money they said they would come after us. It happened when we were working in the field. I told Illyana she had to be older, but she insisted to help. One of their men got a hold of a tractor. They were after Illyana. I had to protect her.”

“What did you do?” asked Bobby.

“I jumped up to protect her. Then my mutant power kicked in. I shredded the thrashers like they were paper. Then the Professor found me, and promised to take care of Illyana and Mikhail.”

[fan4]

They left Peter to unpack his things and showed Bobby his room. His bed
was crowded with rolled up posters. He turned to the three senior classmen.

“Don’t you want to know how I became the ‘Iceman’? Well, I was always cold, and then one day I started to freeze whatever I touched. Then the Professor came.”

Almost immediately the professor’s voiced boomed into their heads. >>X-Men, quick, to the War Room!<<

[fan4]

They hurried as fast as they could to the small room in the subbasement, led by Scott. They found the Professor leaning over a console.

“It seems the Brotherhood of Mutants, the mutant terrorist group, is attacking downtown Manhattan. I need Jean and Ororo to take the others and stop them,” the Professor stated.

“What? Professor, they need me!” Scott yelled.

“They don’t. Besides, I have a special mission for you.”

[fan4]

The new X-men entered a hangar. A sleek black jet crowded the middle with a smaller helicopter beside it. The X-men where fully clothed in uniforms. Kurt, now dubbed Nightcrawler, wore a completely black suit that he found quite similar to his old circus uniform. Bobby “Iceman” Drake wore a simple black and yellow body suit. Ororo, now Storm, wore a uniform similar to an African gown. Colossus, formerly Peter, now wore a simple muscle suit with matching sash and gloves. Kitty, now Shadowcat, wore a full body suit with yellow designs. Jean, Marvel Girl, wore a two piece costume.

The team entered the SR71 Blackbird. Storm and Marvel Girl took their seats at the front with the three others filling up the other seats.

“X-jet clear for launch.” Storm said as she lifted a headset over her head. The roof above them split, and the jet began to shake as it rose. Once it reached the cold, fresh air it rocketed off into the gray.

[fan4]

A small helicopter landed in the wilderness of the Canadian north. Scott stepped out of the cockpit wearing a ruby quartz visor in place of his sunglasses. He also wore a black and yellow military getup under the heavy coat he wore. He trudged through the deep snow mumbling, “Why me?” under his breath. “Just because the Professor couldn’t contact this guy telepathically, I have to fly all the way up here when the Brotherhood is attacking Manhattan right now.”

>>I heard that, Scott<<, the Professor scowled in Scott’s mind.

>>Sorry, Professor<<, Scott answered. Suddenly, he felt something hit his back. He turned around quickly and retaliated with his own optic blast. It didn’t affect the marksman at all.

“Sharp aim X-Man, but the mutant belongs to the Brotherhood,” the figure declared.

They were both caught off guard by a loud roar. They both peered over to see a bear tangoing with a small man. His hair was brought up in two spikes, resembling animal ears. The bear stepped forward and the man roared. Three shining claws shot out of each of his hands. He roared back and lunged. They caught each other; the bear tearing at the man and vice versa. Everything stopped, and the wind blew across the white snow. The bear fell with a thud. Blood began to form around it. In victory the man removed a match and cigar from his pocket. He struck the match on his hand and lit the cigar.

“Hello, brother!”

The man turned toward the two, the wounds on his face healing rapidly.

“What the hell do you two want?” he asked.

“I represent the Brotherhood of Mutants and I have come to tell you to join our cause or perish,” the figure spoke up as he kept in the shadows.

“And you?”

“I’m with Xavier’s Institute for Higher Learning. We promote human/mutant rights,” Scott spoke up.

The man looked between Scott and the stranger.

“Not interested,” he mumbled.

“Fine, perish with the rest of the human race!” the strange man yelled and shot a powerful blast from his fists straight at the animal. The blast struck him head on. He fell into the snow, half of his face
burned to the bone.

“Long live the Brotherhood!” the mutant shouted as he rushed off into the woods. A few seconds passed before the man rose to his feet again, his face healing rapidly again.

Scott, I scanned his mind. Say exactly what I say.

“We can help you regain your memory,” Cyclops blurted out.

The man’s eyes widened to saucers. He hung his head, torn with the decision. Finally he turned around. He walked past Scott and towards where the helicopter laid. Scott caught sight of a dog tag around his neck.

“I see your name’s Logan,” he tried. Logan turned around and went up to Scott’s face.

“You know, I don’t like you.” He started to walk away. Scott was shocked, but walked along with his new teammate.

[fan4]

The man named Logan pulled a yellow cowl over his head and scowled at his new teammates who surrounded him. Professor Charles Xavier smiled at his new student before he spoke.

“Team, I would like you to meet your new teammate: Logan, codename Wolverine.”

Logan scowled over his shoulder. “Where did you get that name?” he growled.

“You know…Wolverine.”

Wolverine marched up to the Professor. “Listen…” he began.

“Charles.”

“Chuck, you stay out of here,” Logan tapped the side of his head. “Got it?!” SNIKT! He brandished his claws at Charles.

“Right.”

Logan stormed away in disgust.

[fan4]

The Professor rolled into his office. He was happy. He had a new team of X-men, and the school year would be starting soon, meaning the halls would be filled with young mutant minds for molding. He rolled up to his desk. He became so deep in his work be almost didn’t notice the metal knight of his chess board move across the board to a winning position.

“Checkmate, Charles,” a dominant voice boomed into the room. Charles shot his head to the open Victorian window.

“Eric.”

Without warning he was slammed against the wall.

“Yes, Charles, I just thought I should warn you before I make the final move to secure the checkmate for mutant supremacy.”

Charles felt his chair released from its invisible hold.

“Goodbye, Charles.”

To be continued




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