Issue #3
by Jay Corafa
Cyclops
Phoenix
Storm
Wolverine
Beast
Cannonball
Moments ago Phoenix learned the status of her teammate,
Wolverine.* While scanning his thoughts from
the Xavier Estate, Jean discovered that he is fighting a battle that he
may not be able to just 'claw' his way out of. And when a friend needs
help, the X-Men will not be far away. Using the amazing power of her telekinesis
Jean expands her blazing aura to each of the X-Men. And with no more than
a thought lifts them all into the air. Through the conveniently placed
hatch above them, the X-Men take flight. They glide through the sky within
Jean's firebird.
( *Last issue--Dino )
The Back Streets Of Salem Center
"Listen Bub, you can't come into my town and make a ruckus. Especially when I'm trying to have a day off!"
"Sorry, Wolverine. But I have come to your town and I'll make a helluva lot more than just a ruckus. More like a massacre."
"Wrong answer!" Logan wearing his street clothes dashes at the one called Payne. Releasing his extremely sharp bone claws he slashed at Payne, breaking the skin. First blood to the X-Man.
"Stings doesn't it?" asked Logan.
"Not a bit!" Payne says with a smile.
The Sky, Not Far From The Battle
Cannonball and Storm, each wielding their individual abilities, soar through the air. The other X-Men rely on Phoenix to transport them. But highflying fun is not on the top of their to do list. Helping their friend win his battle is.
"Cannonball," Scott called over, "Phoenix and I will split Wolverine and his assailant up. Then you, Storm, and Beastwill make sure the beserker doesn't do anything rash."
"Great, sticking us with Wolverine."
"Hey no one said being an X-Man was easy, Sam."
"I never thought it was Scott, not for an instant."
Back at the fight
"What's your name?"
"You can call me Payne, Logan!" Shock pulses through Wolverine when he realizes Payne knows more about him than he would care to share with most people.
"So you did your homework. Good job, kid."
"I am no child, Logan. I am much more a threat to you than you can imagine." Dodging Logan's thrust Payne grabbed a hold of Wolverine's neck. Logan has been hurt before, but never like this. Shooting pain courses through his entire body, leaving him utterly useless. Every synapse blazes as the secretions from Payne's skin contacts Wolverine's flesh. Soaking into his body, Wolverine's nerve cells are stimulated to their max, all turning on at the same time. It overloads his brain, shutting it down.
The X-Men land, their plan is not quite relevant any longer. Cannonball, Storm and Beast race to Logan's side. But Jean and Scott face a larger dilemma.
"Why did you come here Payne?" Jean insisted.
"How do you know my name Red?" He snapped back.
"I'm a telepath, I know what I want to know."
"Interesting, but there is no doubt in my mind that you don't know everything. Otherwise you would be singing a very different tune right now."
"Listen buddy, we can finish this two ways. With words or with fists, you decide."
"I will take the latter four eyes."
"Have it your way," Scott said as he blasted an optic beam from his eyes. The energy slamed into Payne, pushing him back into a near by wall.
"Hurt, Payne?"
"Not a bit. You see I have this habit of not feeling pain. But I can make others feel it real bad. That's what happened to that vermin Logan over there. You see four eyes, no matter how much you blast, it has no effect." Scott continues his optic charge slamming into Payne. But, the mutant just keeps walking with the beams having no effect on him. Physically, it looks like Payne should be screaming, but he can't feel a thing. Payne walks right up to Scott and touches his face. Having an effect too familiar to that which it had on Wolverine.
"Hurt Four Eyes?" Payne said with a devilish smile. As the optic blasts subside Payne's flesh begins to rebuild itself, transforming his abdomen from a bloody mess of almost raw tissue into perfectly normal skin.
"Let me tell you something Payne." Jean demanded. "You may not know what it is like to experience physical pain, but there is a pain much worse. And it is watching those you love hurt. An emotional pain so hurtful it makes you do anything to set things right. ANYTHING! Feel my pain!" Jean links her mind with that of Payne's. And like a flood, her memories of hurt pour into his.
His body writhes as his mind is invaded. Jean has experienced more in a lifetime than most, but all her anguish condensed into one moment is enough to kill. She wouldn't kill, instead she overloads him. Shutting down his mind, he lays limp and unconscious.
Cannonball rockets across the sky to Jean's aid.
"Jean, Logan is coming to, but Scott looks horrible."
"He'll be okay in time Sam. But the pain sensors in his mind have overloaded."
"And that means in order to prevent his body from going into shock, it has shut itself down." Beast interjected.
"We have to get him back to the mansion as soon as possible," Cannonball ordered. "Storm, if you'd be so kind as tah give us ride home. Jean, yer too strained from this battle to do too much work, but could ya make Logan and Scott's ride a little more comfortable. As for Payne ah'll take care of him."
"You are wise beyond your years Sam," Storm raised her hand in the air. Commanding the currents that run through the atmosphere, Ororo Munroe is like a goddess. The X-Men are lifted into the air, both Logan and Scott surrounded each by a firey aura.
Meanwhile Sam, holding Payne in his arms, surrounds himself in his impenetrable force field and rockets off into the air.
The cliffside headquarters of the newest incarnation of the Freedom Force and X-Factor program. But inside the high-tech place known as The Compound, only one, solitary man stays. Surrounded by robotics, computers, and gadgets galore, Forge tinkers on his newest creation. Suddenly an orb, floating about, catches Forge's attention announcing the arrival of two mutants.
<< Hello Mr. Forge. Two homo-sapien superiors are approaching The Compound. Subject A is known as Samuel Guthrie. Guthrie is a class Alpha designate. His previous affiliations: New Mutants, X-For-- >>
"I know who Guthrie is Shrapnel. But who is he traveling with?"
<< Another homo-spaien superior. It is a class Beta designate. Processing DNA signature. Please stand by… It is not in our known database Mr. Forge, yet in our X-Men database there is a similar DNA sign-- >>
"Wait, I have to finish this." Brushing off Shrapnel's usually formality Forge doesn't even listen as he completes his latest invention.
"Shrapnel, let Sam and his, eh, companion in."
<< As you wish Mr. Forge.>>
The sliding doors open after an eye scan and the usual security measures are processed.
"What brings you here, Sam?"
"The talk in Xavier's underground is that you have taken over Val Cooper's last position. Taking an active government based role in the affairs of humans and mutants."
"You're correct Sam. And?"
"This is a mutant criminal. A scan of his x-factor should give you all the necessary info about his powers. He is extremely dangerous. We call 'em Payne."
"Yes?"
"You have the proper facilities to house a mutant criminal. And ah'm sure you owe the X-Men a favor or two."
"Yeah Sam, they owe me many as well. Oh well, it gives me a chance to test out my high security facility. Sam, I can't take sides in this mess between the Alpha and Omega teams. In fact, you shouldn't be here. This never happened. All right?"
"It's between you and me Forge. Ah appreciate this."
"Think nothing of it Guthrie."
The Xavier Institute For Higher Learning
Sam Guthrie returns to his home of many years. And there he meets a welcoming party. All the members of the X-Men stand before him, Logan sits because of the recent battle. And Scott Summers, leader of the X-Men is no where to be found.
"What's the deal y'all?" Sam inquired.
Jean answered. "Scott will be fine, eventually, but for the time he is out, we need to be sharp as ever. It took Logan hours to just move, he still can't stand. It could take Scott weeks. With the threat of the Apocalypse Dawn, and the recent events with Magneto and his Fallen Angels,* we have to be ready for anything. That means we need a field leader. I can't assume the role of head of the school and field leader."
( *See X-Force #1-2, as well as current issues of X-Force: Fallen Angels for more details. Also, check out current issues of Apocalypse: Ageless Fury for more on Apocalypse and the Dawn--Dino )
"I have my personal reasons for not taking up the mantle." Storm said with an ever present sense of mystery.
"I, on the other hand must be at the fore front of human-mutant relations. Leading the X-Men is not my perogative."
"And going with what Hank said, I have too much crap on my plate to take on the baggage of leading the X-Men. Even if it is temporary."
"I see Logan, well that leaves me, eh?"
Jean spoke. "Sam, you were trained by the Professor to lead the X-Men one day. You have been a member of the X-Men through New Mutants and X-Force for years. You're highly qualified, you have the drive and the belief in the dream to fight for it. You weren't what was left over. You were our first choice. Xavier and Scott would both want it. What do you say?"
"It'll be a challenge. But ah think its nothing I can't handle. Ah'm honored."
"And to have you Sam, so are we."