They come from across the globe and all walks of life, but these teens share a spectacular and frightening secret--a genetic twist of fate has gifted each one of them with incredible powers. This is the next generation of mutants who have come to the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters in Snow Valley, Massachusetts, to learn how to control and utilize their growing abilities for the greater good of mankind. Helping them along the way are the exclusive academy's three headmasters, Sean Cassidy, Emma Frost, and Raven Darkholme. Together, the pupils and teachers do their best to attend class, learn about themselves, and find their place in a world that fears and hates them...


Issue #2

by Mikey G.

Once a student of Professor Xavier himself, Irish native Sean Cassidy has now dedicated his life to teaching young mutants how to live with and employ their fantastic powers. Banshee's own genetic gift is that of a
Banshee

Once one of the X-Men's deadliest enemies, Emma Frost is a telepath of enormous power and questionable morals--a mutant who is more than willing to use her ability to read and control the minds of others. Only after seeing her first group of students perish did she resolve to join Xavier's efforts to create a brighter future for mutants and humans alike.
Emma Frost

Jubilation Lee is a southern Californian, ex-mallrat with the power to generate explosive bursts of energy! Her rebellious nature is perhaps the result of being orphaned, as she lived for a time relying solely on her own resourcefulness to survive.
Jubilee

Raised in the harsh environment of East LA, Angelo Espinosa learned at an early age not to expect too much from life. He must concentrate to maintain control over what everyone else takes for granted--and learn how to use his 6 or so extra feet of skin to stretch, grip, and wrap him self around opponents!
Skin

Born and raised in London, Jonothan Starsmore is cursed by his frightening appearance--the result of the first manifistation of his mutant ability, when telekinetic energy literally erupted out of him. Chamber's only means of communication is the capacity to project his thoughts into the consciousness of others. In addition, he can use the power of his mind to generate destructive bio-blasts!
Chamber

The young woman named Monet St. Croix comes from a family of aristocrats whose ancestral home is Monaco. Often time, her haughty bearing infuriates her teammates--but none can deny her advanced intellect, telepathic power, or superhuman strength.
M

Paige Guthrie has followed in the footsteps of her older brother Sam--X-Force's Cannonball--to become a student at Xavier's. As a metamorph, Husk has the ability to shed her skin, revealing beneath it a new body, a new form, in any number of bio-organic substances--from diamond, to rock, to steel!
Husk

Perhaps the most well-adjusted of the group, Everett Thomas possesses a synchronistic aura--an energy field that allows him to become genetically 'in synch' with any mutant in close, physical proximity. In essence, he has the ability to utilize aspects of other mutant's powers--on a limited basis.
Synch

By far the most mysterious of all the GenX kids, the young girl whose only other known name is Yvette has yet to communicate verbally with her fellow students or teachers. Apparently unable to give voice to her personal terrors, she has managed to find refuge within the confines of Xavier's School--where she is slowly beginning to learn how to cope with diamond-hard, razor-sharp, skin.
Penance

After a battle with the Phalanx, Clarice Ferguson was believed to be dead. However, now she has mysteriously returned, and her whereabouts for the past few months remain a mystery.
Blink

The cousin of Generation X's Banshee, Black Tom underwent experiments which transformed him into a plant-like being. He has the mutant ability to direct energy blasts through his hands.
Black Tom Cassidy

Strapped to a wall, tubes connected into mysterious places, Paige Guthrie's thoughts shift from terror to self-blame. You might call this young X-Man a perfectionist. Her drive is obtained from her own self-reproach. She obviously did not want the abduction of herself and the other residents of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters to happen; still she places the blame squarely on herself.

Why didn't I see it coming? Paige thinks to herself. A leader is worthless if not alert. An X-Man is DEAD if not alert. Its because I wasn't a good driver.* I could have seen it coming miles away had I been in the driver's seat. M's autism makes her concentrate on only a few things at a time, so it wasn't her fault. Banshee was being too much of a teacher at the time. Of course Jono and Jubilee were playing in the back. I should have stayed focus. I need to learn that the time for fun has got to pass. All those times visiting the X-Men, they were cool, calm, and collected. They are never caught off guard, by anything! That's what I need to be like. The next generation of X-Men must be ready for anything and everything...

[*In last issue when the Gen-X students went for a driving lesson--Jay]

She goes on. Ironically, she is so immersed in her own pity she does not even seem to notice that the person next to her good friend* who she hasn't seen in so long.

[*Just incase you didn't know, Blink is BACK! Check it out in issue #1--Jay]


The man called Bishop makes his way through the woodland until finally, he comes to a clearing.*

[*See X-Men #1 for more on Bishop's return--Jay]

The little one's school... hmm... he thinks to himself.

He pauses for a moment, pondering the last visit he had here.* Where he had met the First Emplate. And helped members of Generation X fight him and his minions. It wouldn't have been a difficult battle had the rest of the X-Men been there to aid him, but with only a handful of X-Men-in-training at his side, it had proven to be quite an epic.

[*Way back when in the MU Generation X series, #12- 14--Jay]

He remembers mistaking the one known as M as his mother. Something he was certain to have taken note of.
Bishop walked up to the entrance of the school. Expecting immediate greeting, due to security censors. When he didn't he assumed the team of youngsters must be on some mission. He headed for the headmasters' office to use the hotline.

As he entered he saw a blinking red light under the desk. He opened the first drawer to reveal a keypad. He typed in a password that was held tightly in his memory and a voice said,

"Distress. Emma Frost. Distress..."

It went on and gave him detailed instructions on her location, what vehicles to use, and possible assailants.

Penance slowly walked into the room. With a troubled look on her face. Bishop looked up at her.

"Penance," he professed.

To himself, of course. He was fully aware of the young girl's incapability to speak.


Clarice Ferguson's thoughts are muddled. She could think about was the In-Betweener, and her last visit with him. Warning her of the terrible, terrible destruction of what was about to happen to his realm. She remembered asking him why he banished his own student.

He told her it was out of fear.

Not since her own "death"* had she been so despondent. She had already learned much of the fabric of space-time and ways to manipulate it. Learning of the utter joy she could only experience in her favorite third-dimensional realm shown to her by her teacher. She could never have that again. Her powers bereft of the In-Betweener's amplifications.

[*Take a look at the Phalanx Covenant cross-over--Jay]

She was back on Earth. The place the In-Betweener was so fascinated with. Even when time was distorted by Legion... and the world became an Age overrun by Apocalypse.* She had requested that she experience... everything this alter version of her went through. She was so captivated with this timeline. And... she loved herself more in this age that she had in her own. She was surrounded by friends, she was feared by enemies... she was an X-Man. This was her time.

[*The Age of Apocalypse happened back in January of 1995, and spanned all the X-books of the time. In it, Clarice was a member of Magneto's X-Men--Jay]

Again on Earth. Two fleeting minutes upon her return, the creature, Black Tom arrived. She had "seen" what had happened as a result of his previous visit. The team torn apart. Each one very nearly killed. Saved by a tiny shard of coincidence. Even she was on edge after that. Even in the In-Betweener's realm...

Now, their tormentor had returned. She is helpless to stop him. But, looking around at all the instruments laid out, she recognizes, this isn't the handiwork of Black Tom. But something far more adverse. She struggles to recall... and the revelation stuns her.

"ESSEX!" she calls out, "Oh my God! You guys! Wake up, NOW!"

A few of them began to wake up. However Leech and Skin remained out cold.

"Eh? C-clarice? Yuir back lass...?" A weary Banshee asked.

"Yes! But there's no time for that now! We've got to think of a way out!"

Paige spoke softly, "Leech is draining our powers. We can't use them with him around."

"Well, then we won't use them!" Blink called out "Come on! The X-Men have gotten out of tougher jams than this! Situations that would probably make us die from fear! Remember Genosha? You were there, Jubilee!*"

[*Blink is referring WAAAAAY back to the X-Tinction Agenda, before Generation X--Jay]

Jubilee spoke up, "She's right! There must be a way out. I think there was--" but then she was cut off by a mysterious voice.

"I'd love to hear what you're up to. But I'm afraid the time for that is up."

"Sinister!" the White Queen called out. "What in God's name are you doing?!"

"Oh please. Don't make me laugh. If you must know, I've been very intrigued by the members of your little group. They seem to contain limitless power, but with no discipline to back it up. I'm taking advantage of that situation. Rather than bore you with the details. I'll just tell you that you have a few moments to get a good look at each other. Some of you will die as a result of what you're going to be put through. Others of course, will be much, much worse... hmm..."

The sound of machines booting up seemed to echo through the room as the apparatus' the team was attached to began moving...

"WHA-WHAT?! LISTEN PAL, JUST WAIT UNTIL THE X-MEN GET ON YOUR ASS! THEN WE'LL SEE WHO'S GONNA BE MUCH, MUCH WORSE THAN DEAD!!" Jubilee exclaimed.

"*sigh* Well, it'll be too bad that you wont be alive when it happens. Farewell."

Paige Guthrie can't control the tears that begin to well up in her eyes. Pretty soon though, all they see is darkness.

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