Those that went about their usual nine to five jobs within the greater Chicago area stared up at the skies to find a squad of robotic figures sailing through that same sky quickly, jet propulsion systems within their feet clearly evident. Humanoid in shape and design, the ten-foot-tall robots came to a stop before the Reserve. Lurching forward, the lead machine unleashed a barrage of missile fire on the front of the building. Debris rained from the sky as the pillars and front of the reserve exploded under the barrage, and patrons and employees alike scurried away.
“Dude this is awesome!” said one of the machines, the voice filtered out of a speaker on its chest.
“Told you that there was cool stuff to do online,” another said. “We’re gonna be rich!”
One of the robots began to move toward the bank but its path was brought to an end when a beam of crimson energy struck and sent the machine tumbling. Sparks came from it as it rolled down the stairs and came to a stop at the feet of one of the others.
The first one to have spoken whirled around to see a man with shaggy brown hair wearing a black leather trench coat and a black visor with a red lens over his eyes. There was a second of a flash of red indicating that the man was where the beam had come from. “It’s time to call it a day, boys,” he said as others gathered around him.
The group that now stood beside the speaking man was quite impressive to look upon. A young man seemingly made entirely of ice was suspended in mid-air by a pillar of the same ice, his hands turned down seemingly keeping the pillar in existence. Another young man with short brown hair and a blue cape floated in the air, with a young woman with wavy red hair and a glow that seemed like fire around her. There was another young woman with red hair hovering in the air as well with her mouth wide open, yet no sound seemed to be coming from it. The only way to hear it was to have very sensitive ears, as the sonic scream that kept her aloft was untraceable by human ears at the moment.
On the ground there also stood quite a few figures, the first being a Chinese American young woman with raven locks clad in a yellow rain coat with pink, over-sized sunglasses covering her eyes and a giant grin completing the package as she stood prepared for whatever came. Close by and above in the air was another red-head this one clad in a pair of black leather pants with a gray and black horizontally striped shirt and a black leather jacket with some yellow stripes and X symbols emblazoned upon it. A fiery aura surrounded her in a shape that vaguely resembled a phoenix. Beside her hovered a man in a red skintight suit, with horizontal and diagonal golden stripes on his chest approximating the rising sun motif. A circular emblem was found upon his chest in the center and on both shoulders. A yellow belt and several more yellow stripes around the ankles, thighs wrists, and upper arms completed the look. The man’s face was open as short raven hair topped his head and fire surrounded his body as he hovered in the air.
Below them stood a statuesque blond with hair hanging down to the middle of her back, wearing brown leather chaps over some cream colored pants with a kidney belt. The costume was finished off with a blue shirt with the midriff showing and a yellow star emblem in the mid chest area, the whole thing completed with a black leather jacket. A glow could be seen around the woman as she seemed to never stop grinning. Beside her stood a man with blond hair in a black leather jacket with throwing knives attached to his jacket and waist, a yellow glow surrounding his right eye.
The last two of the group were brunettes, one male and one female. The female hovered in mid-air as she phased right through the molecules of the world around her. A skin tight blue and yellow uniform that was reminiscent of the past of the X-Men was upon her body, a purple dragon perched upon her shoulder with thin trails of smoke curling from his nose. The male wore a trench coat as well like the leader, this one brown and more like those worn by private investigators in old movies. Under it he had normal pants on but his shirt was green with yellow line going straight down the middle with six half arches coming out of both sides of the line and ending in circular dots at the end.
Cyclops stepped forward, his visor still glowing red and a large grin on his face and pointed at one of the machines on the left hand side. “You’re all mine.”
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#1
JAN 09 |
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“Brand New Day”
Two Days Ago
Graymalkin Island
Lake Michigan
For the last four months crews had worked around the clock to finish making the island that would soon be the Chicago home of the X-Men a reality. Gone was the abandoned ship and in its place was an entire artificial island complete with lush green in certain areas as well as numerous buildings that dotted the landscape. Dead center was a large, heavily armored building that now encompassed the elevator shaft that was the only way down into the technologically advanced base below that was truly the real home of the team.
A few buildings upon the surface were still under construction but were not essential to the beginning of the team. Most would serve as shell buildings so as to seem to be the true base, aa bit of camouflage and subterfuge that Scott had insisted be inserted into the plans for the base. No one besides those that built the under-water base even knew of its existence and even those people had no working knowledge as the information had been hidden and obscured within their minds courtesy of one Emma Frost. Loathe as Jean was to admit it the woman had done them a favor in that regard as it meant less chance of someone finding out and going right for attacking the base from below.
“Seems to be shaping up,” the red-headed telepath said as she came to a stop near the main bunker.
Her companion gave a nod and glanced around at all that surrounded them. “Certainly looks a lot better than what I saw of it before,” Bobby commented as he smiled. “I’m glad you and Scott decided to come back and see this through.”
Internally Jean gave a sigh as she still wasn’t happy with Scott making the decision for them when it came to getting back into the X-Men. While inside she fumed on the outside she returned the smile to her friend. “I’m glad, too. Honestly I did miss you all. Alaska was…lonely.”
“Surely not that lonely, what with all the sex and such.”
Jean whacked Bobby on the arm as the chryomorph winced and laughed. “Bobby Drake, don’t make me go into your mind and make your worst nightmare come to the surface.”
“That would be the one where I’m naked at the mansion and look like the Blob and the only one interested in me is Emma Frost who keeps trying to mount my leg like a dog in heat. Oh, and Sponge Bob is there singing. Absolutely terrifying.”
A shake of the head came with a chuckle. “You are something else, Bobby.”
“I know, I’m amazing. Don’t think I didn’t notice how you deflected my comment though.”
While Bobby was known as the joker of the team Jean knew that there was a lot more to him. The man cared about his friends, especially the rest of the original five, and could be quite deft at picking up on subtle clues. “Which one of us is the telepath here?”
“That’d be you but you guys are wearing your issues on your sleeves. It’s amazing there is enough fabric for that.”
“Things are…tense between Scott and I. Ever since…” It was hard to even say the name.
“Apocalypse?”
“Yes. Ever since he returned he’s different…reckless, cold, distant…like he’s overcompensating for his former shortcomings. We don’t even really talk that much and, even if we share a bed, it feels more like we’re miles apart.”
“Maybe he just needs time. A great evil did take over his body and use him like a meat puppet on steroids.”
“You’re right. He needs time.” Jean didn’t honestly believe that one bit. There was more to the story and she was going to get to the bottom of it one day, even if she had to break her own rules and pry.
The two moved from the spot they had been occupying for the last few minutes and entered the bunker. As they reached the middle of the room, Jean placed her palm upon a console that was there alone in the center of the room. A sound was emitted as her palm was read and the verification was made. “Welcome, Phoenix.”
“Back to going by Phoenix, I see.”
Jean frowned. “Warren and his marketing team found it to be the name most associated with sightings of me in the past, even if those sightings are apparently of the Phoenix entity masquerading as me and not of me exactly.”
“Jean, we start telling people that you’ve been replaced by a cosmic entity or that Scott was possessed by an ancient evil mutant or, hell, that we’ve fought robot clones of ourselves or any of this other crazy stuff we’re mixed up in, they’re bound to certify us all.”
Around them the square platform began to lower. As they moved down through the tube all around them they at first could see dirt and rock but soon enough it opened up into the water of the lake. Not much could be seen through the tube as the lake was not clear, more of a murky consistency for the most part. “I was hoping the water would clear up some and we’d get to see some fish or something. It seems sort of pointless to be underwater when it looks like someone has been leaking sewage in said water.”
Jean let a smile spread across her face. “Sadly, Bobby, the only fish you’ll be seeing will be on a plate, I’m afraid. Now let’s go meet our team, shall we.”
Federal Reserve
Now
The streets of Chicago were filled with the thundering sound of battle, something they weren’t entirely used to. Super-villains and super-heroes seemed to be almost territorial in a way. Not fighting over the same area like they were in the wild but they stayed where they were comfortable. For most that meant staying in New York where there was an over abundance of heroes and villains, too many sometimes. Villains and those that aspired to be villains were beginning to diversify their locations just as the heroes were as well. It was just the luck of the two dimwitted brothers behind the mechanical attack on the reserve that the X-Men had recently chosen to make Chicago their new home.
“Fighting robots, never gets old,” said Iceman as he slid across an ice slide created by freezing the molecules of water that were within the air, ice seemingly coming from his hands to strike one of the machines. In reality the ice coming from his hands was the same as what made his slide, moisture molecules being brought down to the temperature of freezing. “Kids should have known better. Most heroes have been taking down robots since they got their first pimple from puberty.”
“That’s just you, Bobby!” Jubilee called out as she slid past on her skates, sending bursts of her pyrotechnic plasmoids right for the legs of one of the robots. “Not all of us are as old as you.”
“Old! Watch it, girl, you’re not too old to ground and take away your desert!”
“Oh please, you’d have to catch me first.” With ease the girl ducked and rolled under the legs of the machine, blasting it from behind with more of her plasmoids and sending it stumbling forward right into another one. As the two machines collided they fell right to the ground. With a whoop of pleasure she skated away. “Two for the Jubesters!”
Bobby slid in along his ice slide and shot of a handful of sharp icicles hitting another machine right between the eyes sending sparks flying. “That was just luck, little girl.”
“Speaking of luck,” Longshot called out with a grin as he leapt into the fray, releasing a handful of small knives from his four-fingered hand. Each one struck a robot in the right spot to sever the flow of energy from the central battery to each of the four limbs. With a groan it plummeted forward with no way to move.
“Now that was cool,” said Jubilee as she grinned at the man from Mojoworld. “No mullet and coming in with style; hard to believe he’s the same old Longshot from the old days.”
Across the way a fiery bird appeared in the sky as the red headed Jean Grey, back to going as Phoenix on the team, floated through the air and concentrated. All around her three of the machines were taken apart piece by piece till there was nothing but a large pile of debris left. Telekinetic energy flared out as she hefted the pieces into a nearby dumpster. “That was easy,” the woman said with a smile as she landed beside her husband.
“No time for levity, Jean,” Cyclops called out as he unleashed more ruby red optic energy upon the robots and two more joined the pile of scrap metal as he demolished them. “We’re on a mission.”
Within moments the once smile quickly turned into a frown. It was not something abnormal really as many of her moments around her husband had the same effect recently. “Of course, Scott, however could I have forgotten?”
As Scott moved off to fight more, Dazzler arrived beside her teammate and offered a comforting hand upon the shoulder. “Don’t let him get to you, Jean. He doesn’t know what he’s missing out on.”
“If only that were true, Allison, but I fear he knows exactly what he’s missing.”
All around the sounds of battle lessened and stopped completely as there were no more of the machines left. There was just a screen that showed the scared face of a young man as Shadowcat pulled out a small tablet and began pressing buttons.
Scott picked up the screen and the teen looked even more scared. “You’re little fun is over boys. Right now Shadowcat here is tracking your position. The police are on their way. Just a word of advice: don’t mess around in Chicago. The X-Men are here to stay!”
Graymalkin Island
War Room Two Days Ago
“You’re going to do what now?!”
Disbelief was evident within the slightly higher pitched voice of Bobby Drake, the higher pitch coming from the shock that caused him to actually forego jokes of any kind at the moment. The chryomorph glanced around at each of his companions in the room to gauge their reaction to what had just been said.
Scott sat at the head of the table, his hand together in the air in the shape of a pyramid and his elbows upon the metal table. The man’s face was slightly forward so that the lower portion of his face rested upon his hands. Beside him Jean was leaning back within the padded metal chair she occupied, all of the chairs having been given additional padding for comfort, not an ounce of her thoughts or emotions being given away by her poker face. Shrio just stood in the back of the room with his arms over his chest; the same usual almost scowl upon his face.
Henry McCoy, the X-Man and Avenger known as Beast, smiled as his words stunned his old friend. His companion for this moment in the form of Captain America joined in and smiled slightly. “You heard Dr. McCoy correctly. The Avengers are ready to step forward and sponsor the X-Men in this endeavor you’re embarking upon. I know it is overdue. This is something we should have done long ago. For that, I apologize.”
Scott’s hands parted and the right hand made a motion to wave off the words. “We more than understand, Steve. Things are different now. The X-Men were the hidden group that was seen as criminals and it would have brought your team down along with us to be associated with us.”
“That doesn’t make the omission on our part right though. We’ve known that the X-Men have been heroes for quite some time. So it would be my honor to stand up with you and show the world that the Avengers will always stand beside the X-Men.”
Jean’s poker face faded as she smiled warmly at the World War II hero. “I’m glad to hear that, Captain. I know it will mean a lot to the others and Charles especially. This validates his dream considerably.”
“I almost can’t believe it. The X-Men are going to be regarded at the level of the Avengers and share a stage with them? Pinch me I’m dreaming,” Bobby said while shaking his head, only to leap up a bit in his seat moments later as Hank’s furry paw reached over and pinched his arm. “Ouch, fur ball! I was just joking.”
“Forgive me, Robert. It’s hard to tell when you’re joking.”
“Ha ha, very funny!”
Captain America leaned forward and regarded each one of the X-Men before him. “Are you ready for this, for all that will come with it?”
Scott met the man’s gaze through his ruby quarts visor and the biggest smile any had ever seen on his face appeared. “We were born ready for this.”
“Well then, let’s get started.”
Millennium Park
Now
A large stage had been erected within the center of the park in preparation for a large event that day. There had been fear that hate groups might crash the event as they had done to previous mutant related events around the country, but in the end the decision had been made to move forward with the event. Security was in place in case things went south quickly. The debut of the X-Men to the general public was a big thing. It would make or break their time in Chicago.
The gathered crowds began to roar as the curtains on the stage parted and the figure of Captain America, clad in iconic red white and blue costume, could be fully seen. Signs with the Avengers symbol could be seen waved back and forth in a few parts of the crowd. Those gathered were going all out it seemed.
Approaching the podium, Captain America came to a stop and smiled at the crowd as his red gloved hand rose and began waving at all that were around. “Citizens of Chicago, I thank you for this warm welcome. It’s the people like you nationwide that make this country great, make it what it is and what it could be. Today we gather to welcome the newest heroes to come to your city. While many around the country and world look upon them with fear and hatred, your fair city has welcomed them with wide open arms. You’re choices are monumental and should be an example for the rest of the country to follow.”
The longtime Avenger paused for a moment before continuing. “While the Avengers and Fantastic Four get all the publicity and recognition, the X-Men have long fought on the side of people like yourselves time and time again. They’ve lost many of their own in this battle for not only equality but safety for all. While many hated and feared them at the same time, they never wavered in their goals and in the dream of Charles Xavier, the man that brought them together. So it is my proud honor to come before you today to speak of the X-Men and officially let it be known that the Avengers endorse the X-Men as our allies and heroes to this world. It is our honor to fight beside such heroes. Here they are ladies and gentleman, Chicago’s newest protectors, the X-Men!”
Cheers erupted even louder as the curtains opened all the way for the entire team to walk right out and stand before the crowd. Like at a concert for the newest go to singer, the crowd screamed and cheered louder and louder as they stared up at the members of the team. The world continued to change each and every moment and with the moment behind them it was easy to realize that something profound had just happened.
Across the way from the stage a bald man in wheel chair stared out at the proceedings, a look of pride and accomplishment plastered across his face. Beside him stood a very attractive blond, her hand placed upon his shoulder. With a raised eyebrow and a still slightly smug look upon her delicate features, Emma Frost leaned forward over the shoulder of Charles. “Well, my dear, you’ve done it. The world has mutant heroes.”
“Emma, this is only the beginning.” The telepath smiled and clasped his hands upon his lap.
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The End...
Next: In Astonishing X-Men #2: The Price of Celebrity
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