---

Steady tapping filled the small office as Jean Grey stared out the windows at the vast lake that surrounded Graymalkin. The last few months had been something that put a lot on her mind. The team that had been brought together in that time had not worked entirely as figured. It was not their fault or her own really. Life was what it was and people had to do what they wanted to or had to in that span.

First it had been Bobby to leave. With things heating up for him in the celebrity world and things with his cousin, it had been more than understandable that he wanted to leave Chicago. In fact Jean had encouraged it. Bobby being out in the world doing what he did was just what they dreamed of with the Chicago team. The icy mutant was doing what made him happy and the publicity for mutants was off the charts.

Shiro leaving had been no real surprise. She was glad for his help in the interim team that had taken on Magneto before the Chicago team formed and his time on the team there, but Shiro was never one that was for staying with the X-Men for long. Things back in Japan called for him. Newest to the team, Chris and Rina, had headed on to other pastures which was understandable. Kurt had left to take some time away for himself and Jean supported it fully. She could not recall what Bishop was up to but he had taken is leave as well. Tabitha had just pretty much up and gone but that was part of Tabitha.

“Quite the few months,” Jean murmured, turning back to her desk and staring at all the files there. “At least something came out of it though.”

While the team she had mostly built had started to fade through the months, something else had taken its place, a team that fit together better than the last team did already. There was a good feeling about the team and where it would go.

“I feel funny offering this to a telepath, but penny for your thoughts?” It was easy to identify the musical voice of Alison Blaire from the doorway.

Turning towards her famous teammate, Jean offered a slight smile. “Strange but still appropriate I would say, though if we’re going to start charging for thoughts around here I might need to stock up on money.”

Alison crossed over to the desk and sat in the chair on the other side and placed her feet up on the edge. “Nah, we’ll just let you pass. You need the money more. Someone has to pay to buy us all these trendy uniforms.”

“Of course. I was just thinking about the last few months and the team. Strange where we end up over time.”

“Hey I’m not complaining at all. My career got a major boost over the months. Granted it came at the cost of Little Rock, which is still a shame*.”

* See the upcoming Dazzler mini-series for details! – Scottie X

Jean waved a hand. “You don’t need to even mention it. You weren’t even trying to get famous off that. The amount of money raised by that concert for charity and for the families of those lost in that tragedy was staggering. You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“Same thing my agent said. Then again, anything that gets good publicity makes her happy, though I don’t have to tell you that, since you no doubt hear that every day with Kate handling the team PR now.”

Jean let out a small laugh. “I like Kate. She’s focused and knows what she’s talking about. She’s got some of us booked for quite a few gigs coming up.” A slight pause came. “I still feel odd saying that even after all these months of being the ‘celebrity’ team.”

“Don’t worry. Give it some more time and it becomes second nature. That’s when you really should worry about it. When you book yourself for the Tonight Show and don’t even think twice. Always remember, polite laughter at Leno’s jokes, only way to get through it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

---

Thunderous noise filled the streets as the large wheel continued its path through the Downtown streets. The side of a building was ripped off as the spike from the wheel carved through it like it was paper. Estimates for city damage were already piling up into the millions.

“We need to end this quickly, before the entire city is just ruins,” Siryn called out as she soared overhead. Quick breaks in her sonic screams along with gliding on the wings that were under her arms on the costume allowed for quick speech.

“I got this.” Jubilee shot into the sky and began to shoot plasma at the advancing villain, aiming for the ground under the treads. Small furrows were being blasted into the asphalt. Not enough to really do anything at the moment but if deep enough she figured it could help.

Soon enough the young mutant was reacquainted with the idea of the best laid plans. As Big Wheel approached, a burst of speed as well as a device that was almost like a spring sent the large wheel right over the blasted portion of asphalt.

Just as quickly panels on the vehicle opened and various items were propelled from the openings. A torrent of freezing water hit Jubilee and sent her spiraling back towards the ground. Siryn dodged out of the way as several heat seeking missiles locked onto her signature. They were dodged but one exploded right behind and sent the young woman right down to the Earth with a hard impact.

Quick moves from Wolfsbane moved herself and Multiple Man out of the path of the blades that were shot their way. “We are getting pwned by a dude in a damn giant wheel!” Multiple Man shouted, disgusted by the predicament they were now in.

“I know! I know! Let me think,” Siryn cried out, mind in a whirl.

“Screw it.” Wolfsbane muttered, surging forward on all fours. “Had enough of this jackass.”

With a mighty leap the feral woman was upon the large wheel in just moments. Claws dug into the surface as she began to tear into the sensitive areas. Sparks and metal shards flew up into the air as she continued along the wheel as it kept turning and moving forward.

“Hey! Cut that out!” came the worried voice from within through the outer speakers.

Not a word was heeded as Wolfsbane growled and continued with her work. Siryn rose from the ground and pointed a finger at their teammate. “Rahne’s got us our distraction. Don’t let it be for nothing. Take him down!”

As Siryn flew towards Big Wheel, Jubilee rolled her eyes. “We need a better battle cry.”

---

“I get the top bunk!”

“No I do!”

As the disagreement of who got which portion of the bunk beds in the other room rang out, Xi’an settled back into the small couch that was in the main area of the new living space on island she shared with her siblings. A large bowl of popcorn sat forgotten on the side table as her arm was wrapped around the shoulders of the other woman that sat beside her.

“Shouldn’t you break that up?” Luna asked carefully, an eye cast towards the bedroom.

“They’ll work it out,” Xi’an said as she kept her focus upon the television and the movie that was playing there. “How did this win an Academy Award?”

A crashing sound came from the other room and Luna kept her eyes over there. “Was that a lamp?”

Xi’an shrugged. Reaching over she grabbed a handful of popcorn and munched on it. “Probably. I don’t ask anymore, really.”

“Don’t you think you should check on them?”

Xi’an heard the concern in her girlfriend’s voice and rose, with a bit of a sigh, and headed for the room. Moments later she came back out and crossed back for the couch. As she sat back down and snuggled back into place it wasn’t hard to miss the intent stare from Luna.

“So?”

“They were curled up together starting to doze off. Crisis averted.”

Gaining her position back, Xi’an tried to get back into the movie when she noticed Luna still looking at her. “What?”

“I’m just curious,” the woman spoke, reaching up and brushing a lock of her short purple dyed hair out of her face, “about why you are doing this.”

An eyebrow rose as Xi’an found herself a bit caught off guard. It wasn’t the first time she had been in such a position with the woman. When first coming to Chicago some time ago she had just hoped for a fresh start away from the X-Men and all the mutant issues. A job as librarian at the local University had been secured and a school for the twins picked out. They had a place of their own at last and nothing to ruin it.

Everything seemed so normal till the day she had walked into the new coffee shop, The Grindstone, and met Luna dePaula. It might have been the bright blue hair or just the way the eyes seemed to smirk at one even if the mouth wasn’t, but something made Xi’an trust the woman. Open up to her in ways she never had with anyone. One thing led to another and they spent most of their time outside their jobs and obligations together. So it was no surprise that Luna had more questions for her.

“Doing what? With the twins? I’m confused.”

“No, not the twins.” Luna waved that assumption off and leaned forward on the couch so she could turn and face her girlfriend. “This. All of this stuff with the X-Men. I thought you wanted out of all of this? Why come back now?”

It was the question that had been expected for some time. After all that Xi’an had said in the past about the X-Men and their world it was really inevitable that Luna of all people would ask. “I had to do it.”

“Why?”

“I’m a mutant. I thought what I wanted was to be out of all the fighting and the hatred for mutants that I encountered in my youth and later in life. I thought I wanted something more normal. The thing is I do but I also can’t stand by and watch others do all the fighting for mutants and just do nothing. All mutants deserve a shot at a quote normal life.” Xi’an said as she turned and placed her hand on Luna’s cheek, feeling the warmth that radiated from her skin. “Mutants are more popular now and the world is accepting of us. I need to be part of this. For myself. For others. For the twins. So they can grow up in a better world and know that their sister did something to make it happen.”

The corners of Luna’s mouth began to move and slowly a smile formed. “I just had to ask. I’m proud of you, you know that right? I love you and I’m proud of you.”

It was Xi’an’s turn to smile as she leaned forward to bring her face closer to the other woman’s. “You know, that’s the first time right? The first time those words have been uttered.” Luna blinked as she realized what she said, but it was not confusion for long as Xi’an brought their lips together in a tender kiss. Pulling back, Xi’an kissed the other woman’s nose. “I love you too, you know.”

Luna let her eyes flicker towards the television and then towards the other room. “I’m sort of bored by this movie too. Not sure why it won an award. You sure the twins are out?”

There was that smirk in the eyes that Xi’an loved so much as she let herself smirk. Leaping from the couch, they grabbed one another’s hand and raced for the other room, leaving the television and popcorn behind as the door closed tight and locked moments later.

---

Sonic waves ripped from Siryn’s throat and struck the ground around Big Wheel and kept the villain and his large vehicle in place as the streets were ripped up around him. At the same time Wolfsbane continued her physical assault upon the outside. Like a hamster in a wheel she kept moving as the wheel turned below her feet, never once losing a beat or her grip.

Multiple Man stood and watched all that was going on. “Now I know how that fifth Ninja Turtle felt in the 90’s…tacked on and not very useful.” A head shake came as the man just tapped his foot creating a slew of duplicates. “All right boys, any ideas how we can help?”

“Death is but an inevitability…we should cast ourselves beneath the great wheel of death and accept our fate,” one muttered, keeping his eyes downcast as he brushed his hair off his forehead.

“All for one, all for an ass whooping! Let’s tear that wheel a new one! Banzai!” another called out as he ran forward screaming right at the spinning wheel.

“I say we run the other damn way and just go get a coffee. Let them handle this. Way above our pay grade,” another offered with a shrug.

“Wait, we get paid…I’ve never seen a dime!” another said as he began to cry.

The prime Multiple Man rubbed his forehead and sighed. “Not a single useful idea out of the lot of you. Makes me worry about my intelligence.”

Jubilee zipped overhead with her jetpack and yelled out to the army of Jamie’s below. “Dude, quit playing with yourself and get ready. I got an idea.”

“Better than what I got right now. All right fellas, time to come back in.” Arms rose as he concentrated and watched as the duplicates, even the insane one running into battle, were sucked back into his person. “So what’s this plan and should I be worried?”

“Probably, it’s a crazy idea.” Jubilee grinned and grabbed the man by his hands and lifted them both back into the air. “Gosh, you need to cut down on the Twinkies Jamie.”

“Hey! I’m not that heavy. It’s just duplicate weight.”

“Sure it is.”

As the jetpack held them aloft, Jubilee steered the duo right at Big Wheel. Rahne continued her assault as she tried to keep her balance as the wheel spun faster. Siryn took a breath and sagged some as it was taking a lot out of her to keep up the assault. Big Wheel tried to spin in place within the deep trench that was now present in the ground. Chunks of concrete and other materials were sent flying in all directions.

“All right spanky, time to do your thing,” Jubilee called out as she brought them above the wheel.

“It don’t work that way, Jubilee. I can’t just will them into existence. It takes impact.”

Just as the words left his mouth, she released one of his hands and slapped the man right across the face. “That work?” Just as she asked a duplicate appeared and cried out as they fell through the sky right for the wheel.

“What the hell was that!” Jamie shouted, holding his cheek.

“That was my plan dude. Just wait.”

As the duplicate hit the wheel, multiple duplicates appeared and with each move of the wheel more came. They all began to roll around and fall into the holes that Rahne had created into the interior. Some fell and hit the ground and fell under the wheel.

Multiple Man sighed and turned his head. “I can’t watch this.”

“Dude…you just got turned into hamburger down there.”

“…Yes, I know…unlike you I can feel it. Can we please never do that again.”

There was a commotion that could be heard coming through the speakers and then a yelp. Soon enough a voice came over pleading. “I give up! Call them off! I don’t want to be shived!”

Siryn turned and stared at Multiple Man as all he could offer was a shrug. “Hey, I never said my dupes weren’t not crazy.”

With a groan the large wheel toppled over to the side as it stopped spinning. As the dust cleared the four X-Men returned to the ground and looked upon the damage done and the foe they had taken down.

“See that wasn't so hard now was it?” Jubilee asked as she glanced at each one of the others. With shakes of the head the other three walked and flew away. “What? Oh come on, you gotta admit that was cool.”

---

Epilogue

S.H.I.E.L.D. had been through the found factories and had stripped them for all they were worth. Not a hint of the technology that created the different Sentinels that the X-Men had fought months before was left. The branch of the Friends of Humanity that had been there were all in custody. The key of the matter was that their mission had been accomplished.

Stryker was not an ignorant man. There was no way that the few Sentinels managed to be put online and the small group of members of the cause would have been able to finish off the X-Men. Having confronted them in the past leading up to his wrongful incarceration, he knew well that they were not an easy foe to defeat. No one had to have more in their arsenal, thus the distraction that had been caused by the Sentinels and humans. Now that S.H.I.E.L.D. had left the true mission could begin.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was good at their job and had found all that had been there to find. What they did not find was the other factory. Those above ground were just the for show models. Fully operational and ready to churn out Sentinels but they were the visible targets had any mutants or foreign agents decided to come for the program in its early days. The real treasure was deep below.

Miles of caverns had been carved out fully operational and ready to churn out Sentinels. With the fall of the administrations that had okayed such projects in the past the secret base had been mothballed by order of Bolivar Trask. Trask had intended to return at some point and rain destruction upon mutant kind but the man’s death had put a damper in such plans. In the end it worked out as there was a greater mission in store for what Trask had created, a true mission with the approval of a higher power guiding through the body and mind of Stryker. They would end the scourge of mutant kind soon enough.

With a ding the secret elevator came to a stop, as Stryker and a group of followers waited. As the doors opened they were hit by a burst of stale air. No one had been to the levels in years after all. Flickering lights sprung to life overhead with clicks with each step they took. A railing stood before them and as they stood before it they could see the huge cavern of levels below them.

Every level had various Sentinels in different states of completion and various other technological wonders. In the cavern wall a large Master Mold sat silently ready to create a righteous army. As all was taken in Stryker could do nothing but smile as all that was before him was to be their weapon, their tool to end the blight of mutants forever.

“And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day,” Stryker called out, as his followers stared at him silently. “The day that mutant kind met its end. My brothers and sisters, prepare for zero tolerance.”

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Next: In Astonishing X-Men #12: Power of the Media

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