A glowing fist slammed into the face of a young man that was running away from the scene of the crime. Sparks of light flew out around the fist and the face as the youth let out a grunt and staggered backwards. A fully loaded MAC-10 fell out of his hands and clattered to the ground. The mask upon his face, a Captain America mask at that, tumbled away and hit the ground, bent out of shape.
“Might want to watch where you're running next time buddy.” Jubilee quipped, pulling her fist back as she stood over the fallen criminal.
Across the way the alarm for the bank continued to ring as the sound of gunfire echoed. Another masked youth, this one with the mask of Iron Man, was firing at the air as the figure they were aiming at kept dodging out of the way.
“Hold still, damnit! He's like a damn rabbit!” Iron Man-mask called out in frustration.
With a grin on his face, Longshot dodged and grabbed a nearby light pole as he leapt. With hands firmly upon the pole, the former Mojoworld star swung around and let his feet lead the way right at the young man. They struck the young man's chest and the gun fell away shooting out some last rounds at the nearby building
'Iron Man' hit the ground and let out a cry as Longshot landed next to him. “Your dimension’s fondness for such weapons is disturbing. Perhaps more time should be spent preparing for hand to hand combat.”
A third and fourth of the armed robbers, one wearing a Thor mask and the other wearing a Beast mask, ran for the small pick-up truck that was parked between the bank they had tried to rob and the laundromat that sat next to it. If they could just get behind the wheel they'd be home free. At least they assumed so.
'Thor' grabbed his ears in pain and then was swept up off his feet as he was lifted right off the ground. Siryn soared overhead with the man in her hands and dropped him right into a dumpster. 'Thor' threw his gun and mask out and crawled over the side hands high in the air. “I give up!”
At the same time 'Beast' was struck blind as bright fireworks exploded before his eyes. Crying out, the man stumbled back and began to fire wildly. Bullets struck the walls and the getaway vehicle. “Watch where you shoot that thing jerk!” Jubilee yelled out as she leapt around the side of the building and flattened herself out just as Logan had taught her years before. “Little help here!”
Longshot glanced up still grinning as before and seemingly most times and, with the flick of a hand, sent a small throwing knife at the man. It struck the barrel of the gun and turned it into a useless hunk of deadly metal. Still blind, 'Beast' screamed and grabbed his other weapon and began firing just as wildly and blindly as before.
Jubilee had turned the corner just in time to see the man doing so down the way. She spotted his mistake before he could only because she had the bonus of sight at the moment. “No! Stop shooting!”
It was too late, though, as the weapon discharged and hit the gas tank on the vehicle. In a moment that was nothing like a movie the truck exploded, sending shrapnel and chunks of what had formerly been a vehicle in all directions. Jubilee gasped as she was yanked back around the corner by Longshot.
Peering around them saw nothing but flaming debris and the burned mask of the young man who was laid out on the ground not moving at all. There were quite a few chunks of metal stuck in his body.
“We need help now!”
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“Under the Media Microscope”
“It comes as no surprise that yesterday in Boise, while supposedly 'saving' people, the X-Men were part of a fight that led to an explosion that critically injured one of the young men accused of armed robbery as well as caused considerable property damage in the immediate area. These supposed super heroes are no strangers to property damage and risk to innocent life.”
“There are numerous accounts from their time in New York City, where many branches of this group of supposed non-militarized mutants still reside, of damage to New York City all in the name of 'saving the people'. Magneto. Apocalypse. The Brotherhood. Just to name a few of the mutants that caused damage already only to have the X-Men come sailing in to cause more damage and put more lives in danger to supposedly stop these 'evil' mutants. Please, clearly, just like any other heroes the X-Men are no different in the fact that flaunting the law is some way to get off for them. Great power and no responsibility at all.”
“Recently their destructive ways were brought upon Chicago, where for whatever reason the locals and the officials have welcomed them with open arms. Senator Fromstein of Chicago recently tried to pass a bill through the state Legislature to hold any super humans that brought damage to the city responsible for such damage. That bill was shot down by a grand majority. There were so few for the bill that it was ridiculous to watch. Now they've brought their rain of destruction down upon the Idaho city. When will this madness stop?”
They said charity started at home. There was nowhere more 'home' for the X-Men than New York City. While Jean's team had come to know Chicago as their new home, it was nice to be back in the Big Apple for such a charitable event. Critics over time, the years since super heroes and mutants first appeared, had often criticized those with powers for not doing more with them. It was one thing to swoop in and save the day from a super villain, but there were many everyday practical uses of the powers that went unheeded. No longer.
Over the last few days various members of the X-Men had helped with projects that would help all people in some way. It wasn't just feeding the poor or donating clothes or something. Every action was so much more. Two days before Siryn and Dazzler had helped create a store of light and energy for various cities around the world that would help provide them with both for some time. Reed Richards and Tony Stark had provided the special generators that stored the light Dazzler produced and converted the sound energy of Siryn down into its base components and then into usable and sustainable energy to power anything that people wanted. It was a giant step towards energy independence for many
“I believe I've made a connection, but just for one second,” Jean spoke as she hovered off the ground in the lotus position. A young woman stood nearby, hands wringing with a worried look upon her face. There were various others gathering and waiting as well. Waiting for their turn.
Horrible droughts had hit various parts of the country with the changing weather, but with a little luck on their side things had changed. Going to the various farms in these areas, Longshot brought his patented luck and brought the rain down upon various farms. At the same time, with some of their Shi’ar technology freely given, the X-Men were able to contain that rain and give the farmers a long-term irrigation system that would not be bothered by the weather in any way.
Wolfsbane and Jubilee spent their time recently helping raise awareness of the orphaned children in the US that needed adopting, helping match many children to new homes. Siryn and Longshot were assisting various police departments solve many of their cold cases and unsolved murders, using Longshot's psychometric ability to read items involved in the cases.
“I've found him. He's outside Baton Rouge. The man who took him has changed his name to Henry, but it is unmistakably your son, Colin. The local authorities have been notified,” Jean spoke as she came back down to the ground and took the waiting woman's hands into her own with a small smile. “They'll secure his coming home to you.”
The woman broke down into tears and squeezed Jean's hands. “Thank you so much...I don't know how I could ever thank you.”
Jean touched the woman's face. “You don't have to. Just live a good life with your son. Reuniting you is the least I could do.”
The woman nodded and turned to speak to the NYPD officers that were there to facilitate many things. Jean turned towards the crowd to see who was next. That was the plan at least.
“Neat trick…is that how you plan to convince the world that you X-Men deserve the press and celebrity growing around you?”
Emerald eyes turned to take in the new arrival, a woman with a pad in hand and a pair of thick glasses on. The press badge upon her chest signaled her as a reporter from the Daily Bugle. “I'm sorry, Ms...?”
“Farrell. Kat Farrell, with the Daily Bugle.”
“I'm sorry, Ms. Farrell, but I don't follow your train of thought. Not often that a telepath can say that.”
“Why don't you just read my mind?”
Jean's head shook. “It doesn't work that way, at least not with myself. I don't treat minds as an open book for me to thumb through. I only enter minds with permission. Surface thoughts are picked up like a radio picking up signals, but deeper thoughts are not.”
“So why not pick up my surface thoughts?”
“Did you come here to ask something more specific, Ms. Farrell, because I assure you I'm very busy?”
Adjusting her glasses, Kat pulled a pen from her pocket and tapped it against her pad. “Busy with this little show, I take it? Do you really believe that the American public is gullible enough to believe this press show of a charity you've put on?”
“Press show? When did helping one's fellow human beings become a press show, Ms. Farrell?”
“Around the time that reality television became the norm and people were willing to do anything from eating bull testicles to jumping off buildings for fame and money. We're a cynical society, Mrs. Summers.”
“Ms. Grey.”
Kat stopped jotting and stared blankly at the other woman. “I'm sorry?”
“Ms. Grey. I'm not Mrs. Summers.” Jean actually felt a bit of shock that the woman did not know that; usually media outlets were all over relationship woes that plagued the famous people of the time. With mutants being so popular and the X-Men being the top of that popularity, one would think that the ending of the 'power' couple of the team would get into the news. Not that Jean was complaining.
“Interesting. Any reason you kept this, whether divorce or separation, from your husband Scott Summers secret from the world?”
Jean actually found herself chuckling. “Are you sure you’re a serious journalist? There is no secret to be found here. Mr. Summers and I parted ways months ago. I’m afraid there is no story to dig at here. Are you sure that you're not from the Enquirer?”
“Belligerent and condescending…interesting.” Kat said as she scribbled a few notes. “Clearly there are issues involving Mr. Summers.”
A slight bit of irritation was rising on Jean's part. “Are you here to ask any real questions or can I get back to helping people?”
“How are you helping them?”
“By finding those they've lost and helping them reach a point of possible reconciliation or closure. With the use of this portable Cerebra device, I can gather a psychic imprint of the one they lost off of them and search for them. The X-Men are doing our part to use our powers and skills to help make this a better world.”
“Or are you just looking to pick up your next bit of publicity? That is what you're team is for, right? To become celebrities and we know that celebrities in this society are all about getting good press.”
“We're done.” Jean turned and moved away from the woman and back toward the gathered crowd.
“Oh Ms. Grey, we're not even close to done.” A smirk crossed Kat's lips as she wandered away.
“Society is facing a crossroads America. There now seems to be more superheroes per capita within our borders than there are Starbucks on the corners. Yet do you feel any safer? I sure don't. Where are these heroes and what are they doing? New York City is the capital of heroes in this fine country, but yet their crime rate is still off the charts. For every hero that emerges there are ten villains that rise to stand against him. Clearly cause and effect. If they are causing every villain to appear by even existing, how safe are we really?
The answer is we are not. Not even close. How can we be? The heroes spend more time fighting the same pointless battles with their 'rogues', as the youth of the day so eloquently refer to them, as well as fighting each other than really helping or protecting
Graymalkin
A delicate and pale finger traced along the edge of the glass bottle, almost dipping into the opening, and a slight whiff of the contents could be detected as the nostrils flared. Red hair was brushed from the face as the owner sighed. Theresa Cassidy removed her hand from the bottle of Irish whiskey and pushed it across the table. Each day away from alcohol was a battle that was fought and, if she was lucky, won. It had been quite some time since the last drink and if she kept it that way it would never be something to happen again. Like her father before her, the red-head had had a bad run in with alcohol that stemmed from grief and a terrible injury.
Feral cutting her throat had been painful and hard to get over, but the constant alcohol had been even harder to get over. Moments later the cap was placed back on the bottle as it was placed aside and instead the same hand moved over and gripped the handle of the coffee pot. A more pleasing aroma rose as the dark liquid poured into the green mug that sat before her.
“Almost seems like you’re teasing yourself in a way.”
Green eyes rose up to take in the forms within the mess hall doorway. Theresa gave a bit of a nod to acknowledge that Rahne and Jamie had entered the room. Rahne’s eyebrow was raised as she had spoken just before about the teasing. Jamie moved over and sat across from the red head. “No, it makes sense, Rahne. She has to face what plagued her and what she gave up in order to fully move forward. Sometimes that takes longer for some than others. Isn’t that right, Theresa?” Jamie said as he leaned forward a bit. Jamie hadn’t spent a lot of time with Theresa since the very early days of their time of affiliation with Xavier’s brood, but he knew that there had been darkness in more recent years for her.
“Something like that,” Theresa offered as she sipped from the coffee mug. Placing it down she turned to Rahne. “It's part of making sure that I don't relapse. Wouldn't want to become the Irish stereotype on the team. My da wouldn't be very happy about that I'm sure.”
“Your father would always be proud of you,” Jamie offered.
Theresa allowed her eyebrow to rise. “Yeah, I’m not too sure about that, Jamie. You don’t know my da the way I do.”
“Father issues, they really are a common theme with mutants aren't they?” Rahne threw out as she leaned back in her chair.
“My parents and I didn't really have issues. Granted they passed before I ever got to the troublesome stage. Oh, who am I kidding…I was and still am an utter angel,” Jamie said with a large grin.
“Count yourself lucky then. Guarantee if you ask around aren’t many of us that can claim the same. Probably why the Professor and his dream and guidance resonated with so many, as it filled that parental hole in our lives,” Theresa said as she sipped from the mug again, letting the warm liquid slide down her throat.
It was true in a certain way. The issues with her father had led Terry down some dark paths and, in the end, she had been hurt by the Shadow King and joined up with X-Force as soon as the offer was made, replacing the issues with her father inside by picking up another father figure in Cable at the time. It was a strange dance that was being done. Rahne was in much the same boat with her father being a priest that impregnated a prostitute and then wanted nothing to do with the child that came out of the union…especially once she was confirmed a mutant.
Jamie shook his head. “Don’t we seem the messed up bunch here.”
Rahne chuckled. “The Irish lass with the bottle of alcohol nearby to keep her out of the bottle; the man with more personalities than a psychiatric patient; and the Scottish lass with a religious father that sees her as an abomination. That about covers it, I would think.”
Grabbing two mugs, Jamie filled them with coffee and placed one before Rahne. Jamie then raised his mug was raised. “A toast then; a toast of coffee to messed up lives and good company.”
Both women shook their heads, but smiled and brought their mugs up so all three clinked together before they began to sip the brown liquid as they shared laughter and words.
“The X-Men are no different than any other group out there. They run around with their powers and do so-called amazing things with them and say they are protecting the world from evil mutants and other threats. How are we supposed to know if this is true or not? What if these so called ‘evil’ mutants are just their pals and it is all an orchestrated show to make us think that most mutants are on our side so that when the day comes that they take over we’re not prepared for it. Then we will be caught off guard with our pants around our ankles and our new overlords bending us over for their pleasure. Mark my words people: that day is coming. I bet young Timothy Evans in Boise wishes he had realized that. Man robs a bank and ends up dead all because some firework-spewing mutant blinded the man. Is that saving anyone? I think not. End of days are coming they say. 2012 is the end. When I look at things like this I have to wonder…maybe the Mayans were right.”
Graymalkin
There was a crash as the flung remote control sailed through the air and right through the screen of the large television. Sparks were thrown off as the insides were destroyed in the process. Nothing but a jagged broken screen and a bit of smoke could be seen now. An angry hand flexed and gripped the arm of the chair.
“Not sure seeing you mad is something I like.”
Jubilee’s eyes turned to the entering figure of Longshot and arms crossed her chest tightly as she made a slight grunting sound. For anyone that knew Wolverine it was quite clear that he had a hand in raising the young woman, the mannerisms were a dead giveaway.
“Yeah, well, get used to it, bub. No reason not to be mad.”
“I’m not entirely certain at times about your world and emotions, but I’m going to go out on a limb and think their just like the emotions of the people of Mojoworld,” Longshot said, taking a moment to perch on the arm of the nearby couch. “You can change them if you so desire.”
“And what if I don’t want to change them?”
“Well then, I suppose you would not have to, though I would think that not watching that blowhard as he spews falsehoods about yourself and others would be a good way to start possibly letting your emotions change themselves.”
With a huff, Jubilee rose and moved around till she could hit the nearest wall. “He’s blaming me for what happened to that crook!”
“What does it matter what he says? You and I know the truth,” Longshot said as he rose from the couch and moved closer.
“The world…they feed off this crap. You should know, you come from a world where a fat tub of lard spews his lies and filth all the time.”
For a moment Longshot actually smirked. “You are correct. While much of my time before coming to join this team is not known to me, I do know that you are right in that regard. From what I gather, though, it’s not something that is unopposed. Those that don’t believe Mojo and don’t want to listen any longer rose up in rebellion in the past. I would imagine that much of your world would not listen to this man.”
Longshot’s hand settled upon her shoulder and a warmth radiated from it. Jubilee’s eyes drifted up to look at her teammate. “Why is it so hard now? I’ve been hated and feared all my life…why is it getting to me now?”
“I would imagine that with all the good that we are doing for the world it hurts more to see someone tear that all down. It will pass. This man and his vile hate will pass. Trust me.”
Out of nowhere the young woman moved forward and caught the lips of her teammate, catching him off guard. The kiss only lasted a moment before she pulled back, almost shocked. “Oh crap…I’m sorry!”
Before Longshot could respond Jubilee was gone out of the room. As she had pushed through the doorway she had pushed passed the approaching Rahne, who stopped to avoid being trampled. The two met eyes as the woman raised an eyebrow.
Coffee mug in hand, she gave a slight shake of the head. “God’s watching.” Leaving a stunned Longshot with those words, she was gone.
Longshot rubbed at his head as he tried to piece it all together. “Are women of all dimensions this confusing?”
“When it comes right down to it there are very few things one can count on in this world. You can count on the Government to be in our lives and taking every penny. You can count on Hollywood to be so full of themselves that reality holds no bearing on their actions. You can count on those that will bitch and moan about every issue imaginable yet never lift a finger to truly change anything. And you can trust that when you need the truth you know that my words are where it's found. While the so called heroes let us down and cause more trouble than they stop, know that I will be here giving you all the details of whatever crisis arises. Someone has to look out for the American people, and it might as well be one of our own. This is Reed Braxton signing off, reminding you that the truth is in my hands.”
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Next: In Astonishing X-Men #13: The Mighty X-Men!
Previous Issue | Next Issue
So here we are at long last, the twelfth issue of Astonishing X-Men. It’s been a long time coming for sure. Normally a twelfth issue would be the end of a first year of a title, this is around year four of this title if I recall correctly but numbers mean nothing, especially when you got heart and more going into a title.
As you no doubt noticed Astonishing has undergone a major change with the last issue. Gone is the aftermath of the ‘Weapon X’ event, which is almost two years old at this point, as is the comings and goings of team members. Some more have gone and some others have come but right here right now is the cast of this book. Well, okay, there is one more to come very soon, but that is a big surprise that should excite and delight a good many people. The changes made to this book were done so to make sure this book comes out more often and is inspiring. I lost my way for a bit as I was so stuck in trying to clean up pieces for the team after ‘Weapon X’ that I lost track of the goal of the book. To provide stories of an X-Men team that straddles the line of celebrity and super-hero. The Avengers of the X-Men world as they’ve been so referred to various times in the past.
So what does that mean for the book going forward? That means big bombastic stories of the X-Men saving the world and the galaxy and hell maybe even the universe, within these issues. That means dealing with the world around them and the celebrity that comes from being who they are. Using their powers, like this issue, to do more for the world. Building stories of a personal nature for these characters. Doing all that I did before in this title just bigger and better than ever before. This is the space where I let you into those things that are coming and perhaps in the future share reviews or ‘letters’ from readers about the title. Won’t that be fun? If you said no then clearly you have no soul!
What do you have to look forward to in the near future you ask? Well why don’t I tell you.
The Brood!
Carnage!
The return of an old enemy!
Ego the Living Planet!
A group of mutants older than Apocalypse!
Romance scandals and blow-ups!
The true nature of Longshot
Krakoa returns!
Reborn
Zero Genesis?
The end of the world as we know it…
Intrigued yet? You totally should be…trust me. I would know wouldn’t I? Of course. Excelsior!
Scott Redmond