*Note: The next four issues will spotlight on a certain member of PathetiX on one very important day.*

Previously in PathetiX: During the course of a single hectic day, changes have occurred to the loosely knit team known as PathetiX. Micromax left after being shot down by Spectra while Squirrel Girl was being manipulated and revealed to being a mutant by the Stepford Cuckoos. Amidst the drama and angst, Eye Scream found a job at the local Subway finding the hero known as Jared to be all but a mutant with psychic powers. And last but not least Spectra. Let’s see what she’s gotten herself into…

“Sleep…how I need thee.” Becca Eidelman rolled around in her bed, having just had a wonderful night’s sleep. “Just a bit more…”

She didn’t dare look at the clock beside her. In fact she didn’t really care. All she needed right now was more of this luxurious sleep and she…

“RISE AND SHINE SKITTLES!" said a happy Walter Goodwill, violently shaking Spectra's body as she slept. Spectra awoke in a jump while pushing Walter away from her.

"Walter…what the hell are you doing?" she said, placing her hand on her head. She felt a little jittery after Walter's shaking.

"Can't a man wake up a girl while she's sleeping soundly in her bed?"

Becca looked at him with an evil look and sleepily walked out of bed. "If you'd like to wake me up, you can wake me up gently. Notice the word gently."

Walter waved his hands in disgust as he walked out of her room. "Oh you Goths and your rules. Its always 'Walter, stop shaking me while I sleep!' or 'Walter, stop reading my diary!' This is my home, my rules babe."

Spectra walked groggily into the bathroom as she muttered annoyances under her tongue. Getting out her toothbrush and such, she started to brush her teeth and her usual daily routines.

“Dumb Walter…always wakes me up when I need sleep the most. This is turning out to be an AMAZING day!” said Spectra sarcastically in the mirror. She threw her toothbrush into the sink before going back into her room and getting dressed.

Putting on a black t-shirt and a pair of black leather pants she combed her majestic rainbow hair, slightly bored. She hated her hair no matter what any one else said…she couldn’t even dye it another color.

Climbing back onto her bed she reached towards her portable CD player and reached for a plastic bag that she had under her bed. In the bag lay some CD’s as she took out a yellow one.

“Yes…music…” Becca smiled happily as she opened her CD tray.

When she looked inside, she couldn’t help but scream.

“WALTER!" wailed Becca, marching into the main room with her CD player in her hand. Walter jumped and turned to face her.

"Yeeessss?" he said lovingly to her, his eyes twinkling.

"Have you been using my CD player again?" she said angrily, raising the hand with the CD player up to his eye level.

Walter shook his head, "…No…"

"Then why is there…bologna in it?" Becca stated, opening the CD player and taking out a piece of bologna.

Walter looked nervously around the room. "There's a perfectly good explanation for that." She tapped her foot, waiting for his response.

"I wanted to hear the Oscar Meyer weiner song."

Becca stared at Walter for a very long time before doing anything close to moving. "Well, for your ignorance and stupidity, my CD player no longer plays anything close to music!"

Walter shrugged his shoulders, "Good, that punk crap you listened to hurt my ears anyway."

Becca couldn't hold in the anger that swelled up inside her as she turned on her heel muttering obscenities under her breathe. "I'm going out to buy a new CD player and some CDs to go along with it. And if you so much as TOUCH this new one, I will make sure every piece of furniture in this room is pinned permanently up your ass."

And with that, she put on her coat and slammed the door shut.

"Ok…make sure you buy me something!" he shouted back.

“I can’t believe him…completely inconsiderate to everything and anything but himself.” Becca walked quickly down the sidewalk, causing quite a stir as people looking oddly at her hair. “Take a picture, it’ll last longer.”

This day wasn’t turning out the way she had planned and she definitely knew it wouldn’t end well either. Might as well get in and out of the store, make as little fuss as possible and head back home to beat up Walter.

“Best Buy…just the place I was looking for!” Becca exclaimed as she walked casually towards the large electronics store. As she walked into the revolving doors she noticed the immediate looks she received.

“She must be one of those mutants…”

“Do you think she’s a new member of X-Corp…?”

“Her hair is beautiful, it’s just those clothes don’t match…”

She took in a deep breathe as she tried to ignore the fuss and commotion of the onlookers. Walking faster than before, she reached the portable CD section, took the cheapest one and waited on line at the register.

Interlude

The Journal of Isaiah Curwen—

My quest in finding Doctor Stephen Strange has ended for now as recent events have shifted my attention. A mutant of all people, she studies a rare form of the mystical arts called Mova Artigos. As she passed me, I felt her mystical aura caress me, as if wanting me to come closer to her. Whoever this girl is, her power is incredible. If she is allowed to access any more of it…I cannot even bare to think. Dr. Strange can wait…I have a new target.

-Isaiah

End Interlude

Becca flew out of the store like hunted prey, fearing and hating the gaze that the onlookers gave her.

“If I go faster, they won’t see me. I just have to get to my CD store…it’s only a little way from here…”

Quickly entering a small corner store a small ways away from Best Buy, she took a nice long breathe. The small store was called Ebony Arts, a local underground CD store. The store itself had little customers traveling the aisles but this was how Becca liked it. Small, quiet and easy shopping.

“Hey Becca!” the shopkeeper called out to her, causing her to jump slightly. “We got that Dillinger Four CD you’ve been itching ta get. You want it? I’ve been saving a copy.”

Becca walked excitedly over to the counter and grabbed the CD. “Paul, you’re awesome.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

Becca smiled and continued to roam the aisles, occasionally fingering through a selection of CD’s. As she fingered through a set, she noticed someone grab the CD she was just about to grab. She looked to her left and saw him.

“I’m sorry. You can have it.” His face was covered by black leather and she never noticed once his lips move. She felt as if…he was talking in her head.

“No, it’s OK. I probably should only get one CD anyway. What’s your name?”

The man was dressed entirely in black except for his unkempt tawny hair that he constantly put his hand through. He wore black leather gloves and long black trenchcoat.

“Please, I’d like to be alone.” The man said, although it didn’t really look like he said a thing. Becca eyed him and then suddenly grinned softly.

“You’re a mutant too then, huh?”

“What? Please, just please leave me alone.”

Becca stared at him as he turned to leave the store. “I just want to know your name and I got nothing against mutants…believe me.”

“It’s Jonothon. Now I have to go.”

She placed the CD that Paul had given her in one of the slots and followed him out the door. She was needles to say, intrigued by this man. She had seen some sparks fly out of his veil as he left which gave away the mutant thing.

“You’re telepathic right? If it makes you feel any better, I’m a mutant too.”

“Look. I don’t feel like talking to anybody right now. So you’re a bloody mutant. There’s a shitload of them running around these days. Bother one of them.”

Becca was taken aback, “Look, pal. You don’t have to give me attitude just because you’re in a bad mood.”

Jonothon looked back at her and crossed his eyes, “What do you want? I just wanted to buy a bloody CD and you’re turning this into a scene.”

Becca looked at him and gave him a warm smile, “I…I just wanna talk.”

“Her name was Paige.”

What started as a simple conversation that Jonothon or Jono as he had told her to call him didn’t even want to talk about, gradually Becca led him in and got him to feel comfortable. He was definitely someone she had never in her life dreamed of meeting.

“You loved her?”

“On and off, yes. But she’s gone now. She died at the hands of someone I trusted…used to trust.”

Becca looked at him with concern in her eyes, “You haven’t even touched your coffee, Jono.”

Jonothon Starsmore glanced at the woman he saw ahead of him. She was definitely radiant and she…she reminded him of Paige, yet at one end…they didn’t. She was different in the exterior…she was exactly like him there. But past her image, she and Paige were exactly alike in their own unique way.

“Jono?”

“I’m sorry. I just got lost in thought. Listen…I…have to go.”

Becca looked at him and cocked her head, “Why? I’m having a great time…aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am. And that’s what’s scaring me.” Jono looked at her placing his hand over her chin. “I want to see you again…but I can’t. I just can’t.”

“Jono…I want to see you again too. But I know that you still have feelings for Paige and I can’t blame you. She must’ve been very special and if it’s anything…I’d like us to be friends.”

If Jono could smile, he would. “I’d like that Becca.”

Becca took a look at her watch, “Well, it’s almost 7:30, its time for me to get home…Walter…I told you about him. He’s probably turning the house into a pig sty again. My number’s…”

“555-4821. I know.”

“Right…well…I’ll be seeing you.”

As Becca passed a cornor, she smiled. With a hop in her step, she giggled to herself all the way home.

"Scott! What're you doing here?" she said, smiling. Scott walked over to her and glanced at the clock. It read 7:30.

"Becca, I've been meaning to tell you something."

"Oh me too! Scott…I…I met someone."

Micromax froze.

"We met while I was looking for some new CD's and we immediately hit it off. And get this…he's a mutant too."

Micromax fumbled around his words, "I'm…so, I'm so happy for you."

Becca put the bag she was carrying on the kitchen counter and went to the refrigerator. "So what did you want to tell me?"

Again, Micromax found himself at a loss for words. What could he say? "Oh, I just wanted to…uh…wanted to see how your day was."

Spectra took out some American cheese from the fridge and took a bite into it. "Oh Scott you're such a girl." Becca chuckled and jumped onto the couch.

"Scott…I never really thanked you for everything you've done for me. I mean you helped me even though you barely even knew me."

Micromax began to back away small drops of tears, "Oh, it was nothing…"

"NO. You helped me back on that wacko alien ship when I was hurt; you comforted me while I navigated those pods into the Earth's atmosphere, plus you rescued me from that idiot Kang."

"Becca, please…" Micromax felt horrible inside.

"Scott, you're what makes this team a team. And you're…wow, I can't believe I'm saying this…you're the first real friend I've ever had."

Micromax managed a smile as he hugged Becca tightly. Mercy was right…but he knew that already. They broke the hug as Becca jumped back onto the couch.

"Where's Walter?" Becca said, biting into her cheese. Micromax didn't answer. "Scott?"

"….uh…listen Becca. I gotta go." Micromax quickly opened the door and closed it.

“Well…that was…” before Becca could say anything more, the door was slammed open, revealing Walter Goodwill in a rather spiffy Subway uniform.

“I AM GOD!’ Walter shouted. “You wouldn’t believe my day!”

“You wouldn’t believe mine.”

“But mine’s better. I fought Jared, Subway’s mascot!!”

Becca sighed and took another bite into her cheese. “Y’know what? You’re hopeless.” She turned on the radio and suddenly dropped her cheese to the floor. Walter’s eyes widended.

“…Breaking News tonight. If you've just joined us, we've been following a harrowing story from right here in Chicago at Betsy Ross High School. A girl by the name of Cheryl Wiggum has been on the run from her school after eye witnesses state that she was seen with a squirrel-like tail and teeth. Recent news has also indicated that in the panic of it all, Cheryl has injured an onlooker by the name of Tamika Brown."

“They’re joking.” Walter stated. “They gotta be. Cheryl would never do that.”

Becca suddenly realized something. “What time was it when you fought Jared?”

“Just know…7:30…why??”

“Well don’t you think its odd that I talked with Micromax at 7:30 and Cheryl’s news program suddenly pops up right at 7:30 too?”

“I don’t see how this has anything to do with anything. So what?”

Becca narrowed her eyes. “I have a feeling that this isn’t a coincidence. This time means something…I just don’t know what…”

END

NEXT ISSUE: PX Annual 2004 at the Start of the Silver Dagger! Then come back at #13 for the continuation, some Micromax stuff and Squirrel Girl runnin’ from the law!