Generation X

JUDGMENT DAY

By Mike Rudden

Alexander Roberts was in ecstasy. He was laying in a comfortable bed in a heated room in clean clothes. He smiled as the unfamiliar sound of a blaring radio woke him up at six-thirty in the morning. He stumbled out of bed, put on a pair of jeans that he had worn the day before and tossed on the floor. He should have gone to the bathroom and gotten ready for breakfast, but something was calling him…

His guitar. In the corner of the room, his old acoustic guitar stood in between the window and the desk. Alex picked it up and sat down in the desk’s chair. Just for noise’s sake, he jammed one good chord. He then fiddled around with it for a few minutes, creating catchy tunes and imitating his favorite rock songs. This guitar was the only thing he brought with him from Detroit to Massachusetts. He smiled as he set it down and went to the bathroom to take a shower. It was marvelous at how much better life could get in just a couple weeks.

About a hundred yards away, Emma Frost was decidedly less happy. She wished she could have just stayed in bed this morning. Instead, she was taking the elevator down a floor to the room directory under the Xavier’s School For Gifted Youngsters’ main hall. The room was often referenced as the War Room.

This room was fully equipped with tracking devices, planet-wide location systems, and strategy reference books.

Emma walked up to a door next to the large table used for secret conferences and ejected a access key into the handle. The metallic door whirled open, revealing several security cells. Only one of these were occupied.

“Good morning, Clarice,” Emma muttered. She was almost starting to feel sorry for the young prisoner known as Blink. Clarice had not spoken since an argument with Charles Xavier and Sean Cassidy over a week ago. Other than her refusal to speak, everything else seemed to be fine. And Emma could certainly go without Clarice’s mouth.

Clarice also hadn’t put up to fuss about eating her breakfast, a regular spectacle over Blink’s duration at the school. She simply ate her cereal and drank her juice without any trouble. The only thing that seemed to disturb Clarice was when Emma started unlocking Blink’s restraints from the wall.

“Wh… where are you taking me?” her voice cracked as she talked.

“Just to the conferencing table,” Emma claimed. “Mister Cassidy should be here soon. Clarice, today is your judgment day.” Miss Frost said, almost as a threat.

Alex entered the kitchen. Six teenagers and two children already sat at the table, passing boxes of cereal and toaster waffles to each other. He ran a hand through his still-wet hair, took a pair of sun glasses out of his pocket and placed them on his face. He sat at the foot of the table, in between Everett and Paige.

The table was silent besides Artie and Leech playing with the toys they had stolen from the cereal boxes and Jonothon and Everett talking about music videos. Nuclear fixed himself a couple waffles.

“…Yeah, yeah, Metallica’s okay. But did you catch the new Goo Goo Dolls video?” Everett chuckled. “Those guys are awesome!”

Jubilee hadn’t seen Synch laugh is weeks. “I did but…”

{Are you kidding? Those bloody pillocks couldn’t find a meaningful lyric if it bit ’em on the bum!} Jono said, cutting off Jubilee. Neither of them glanced at her.

“I’m a bit fond of classical music, myself… maybe I’ll found the CMTV,” commented Monet, at the other side of the table.

{Ev, I was wondering if you and me could shoot some hoops later. You up for it?} asked Jonothon.

“Sure! How ’bout you, Ange?” Synch asked. Although there was no way to tell, Jono frowned on the inside.

“Actually, Paige and I were kinda going out later,” answered Skin.

“You mean… like a date?” broke Monet’s silence.

“Not exactly… well… Ah… yeah.” Paige tried not to look at Jonothon.

{Okay… I guess it will just be a little one-on-one then!} claimed Jono, shaking off the recent news. Nuclear just stared at his food, a little disappointed at not being asked to play. He’d rather explore the campus anyway.

Although Jubilation Lee and Monet St. Croix would normally have either classes or training today, Mister Cassidy called off all school activity until tomorrow. Nobody knew why, but neither of the headmasters were to be found. That meant a free day for everybody.

Jubilee was whistling as she strolled down the hall of the girls’ dormitory. She was wearing the usual tank-top and cargo pants, covered by her yellow rain jacket. Her red sun glasses were fixed into her pinned-up black hair. Monet, on the other hand, was wearing her black school uniform, which consisting of a black mini-skirt and black blazer.

“Good morning, Lee,” Monet muttered as the two crossed paths. M stopped at her room and fiddled with the key.

“So, it seems just about everyone is hooking up, doesn’t it?” Jubilee said annoyingly.

Monet was reminded of a conversation the two had a few weeks ago when they had found Everett and Gaia together. “It would appear, Jubilation, all but us two.”

“Well, I’m still holding out for someone…” Jubilee was interrupted by Monet’s chuckling. “But that new kid seems to be checking you out!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Lee.” Monet narrowed her eyes to the door handle. “I would never touch anyone so… unrefined.” Monet thought for a second as Jubilee tapped her foot. “And if you’re joking, I’ll hang you on top of the flagpole!”

Jubilee just chuckled again. “You like him…”

“I would never…!” M seemed appalled.

“You really like him…”

“Look, you little pipsqueak, I know you get some kind of high off trying to mock my emotional status, but…” Monet took in a breath, “…give it a rest!”

“To be honest, I just came here to help you out,” Jubilee said with a half-smile.

“And what would you suggest?” humored M.

“Well, you want to get to know Alex better…” Jubilee thought for a moment, “…everyone’s going to be busy today. Sean and Frostbite are nowhere to be found. The Danger Room will be empty…”

“You can’t be suggesting…”

“A private training session! It’ll be awesome!”

“It would never work,” Monet grumbled as she finally got her door open.

“Just let me set it up. I’ll get a program going and make up some excuse to get Alex there… please?!”

Monet thought for a moment. She weighs her options and consequences. “Fine.” Her door slammed shut. Jubilee shrugged, thinking she would have done it anyway…

Interlude One

Under the streets of New York City there lies several secret tunnels, one of which leads to a secret chamber. This chamber, secured from all tracking systems and psychic attacks, has unlimited technology. The technology of the monster known as the Dark Beast.

This chamber also served as the current headquarters of the New Hellions.

Only one of the New Hellions was present this day, however – the one known as Fatale. Former lackey of the Dark Beast, current leader of a rag-tag team of second-string villains. Also present in the chamber is the former Xavier’s School student known as Gaia.

Fatale took Gaia out of her holding tank today. Fatale found one of the Dark Beast’s old machines, that he used on the mutant known as Havok. Fatale hooked Gaia up to this machine, and is just waiting for Gaia to regain consciousness…

“Wh… wha…” Gaia said as her eyes slowly blinked open. “Where am I?”

Fatale quickly activated the machine. “What do you mean, Gaia? You’re home.”

“No… home is at school…” Gaia claimed groggily.

“No, home is with me,” Fatale coaxed. Gaia’s was a powerful mind, and brainwashing her wasn’t going to easy.

“Who am I?” Gaia asked.

“You’re Gaia. A member of the New Hellions,” Fatale explained.

“I am? How come I don’t remember?”

“A team called Generation X kidnapped you and tried to force you onto their team. We saved you, though, Gaia. We saved you.”

“I don’t remember…” Gaia whimpered as she broke into tears.

“Don’t worry,” Fatale soothed her as she smiled. “I’ll explain everything…”

End Interlude

“Ye don’t have anything to say?” asked Sean Cassidy.

Although he’d been done in the War Room for hours now, he was sure it was a dark day outside.

“This is your final day for a defense, Clarice.”

Blink just sat there, staring at the floor.

“You wouldn’t understand…” Blink stuttered.

“Try me. Ye honestly feel no remorse for what ye’ve done?”

{Sean, let me handle this,} Emma telepathically commanded her colleague.

{Fine, Emma, but I doubt ye’ll get anywhere,} Banshee replied.

Emma took a deep breath. “Clarice, I know about making mistakes. I was the leader of an organization that pitted itself against the X-Men for years. And I was too bull-headed to even acknowledge to myself that it was plausible that I might be making a mistake. And do you know what made me finally realize my sins, Clarice?” Emma walked over to Clarice and leaned on the table for dramatic effect.

“A couple dozen kids got slaughtered in my name.” Emma paused to see if Blink was paying attention. She was.

“And do you know when I finally admitted my mistakes? After saving five kids from a similar fate.”

Blink looked up. “And do you know what made me come here to teach those kids? Knowing that a girl died because of her inexperienced powers.” Clarice formed tears. “I guess I was just trying to save you all of that stress…”

“All right. I’ll tell you.” Emma and Sean shared a glance. Neither expected this reply. “When I was in the desert – I don’t know where, I just know it was a desert – I just wanted to feel that it wasn’t my fault. I wanted to blame somebody for what happened to me. I was so exhausted from using my powers, I couldn’t even teleport back home for a day or two… and I didn’t really want to. There was nothing for me there… and when you guys didn’t search for me, I felt like there was nothing for me here, either. So… I trusted the first person who made me feel like I wasn’t responsible for my own actions. And that person was Fatale…”

“Bottom line, please, Clarice,” Banshee stated.

“Bottom line? I really am sorry.” Blink’s gaze returned to the table.

“Sean? Please return Clarice to her cell,” Emma sighed. “We have to talk.”

Jubilee felt ultra-sneaky. Currently inside the basketball hoop/control center of the Danger Room, she had instructed Monet on what she was to do and had just called down Alex. He should be arriving right…

“Where’s everyone else?” asked Alex. This was the first time Jubilee saw him in his red Generation X uniform.

“Actually, I was told to give you some private tutorials on the Danger Room,” claimed Monet. She was an excellent liar. M signaled towards the control center. “All right, let’s get started.”

Suddenly, the two were in the South American jungle, being chased by natives in a scene right out of Raiders Of The Lost Ark.

“What do we do?!” squealed Nuclear.

“Fight!” yelled Monet. That’s all Alex needed to start emerging green energy from his hands, and shooting it in the direction of the natives. M fought much more elegantly, flying up into the air and doing flips before slamming down on two natives.

The fighting continued. The two fought on Viking ships, African deserts, and Medieval castles. Surprising to Monet, Nuclear kept up to speed perfectly, hardly ever falling behind. After about an hour of practice, the two were exhausted. Monet signaled to Jubilee to stop.

“Well, it was really a lot of fun, Monet.” Nuclear was breathing heavily.

“Well, the fun doesn’t have to stop.” M walked up to him seductively. He suspected nothing. “Alex?”

“Yes?” he replied. With that, Monet kissed him square on the lips. After about of second of shock, Alex pushed her away. “What the hell are you doing?!”

‘Whoops,’ Jubilee and Monet thought in unison.

The sleepy college town called Snow Valley was just awakening from its winter coccoon. With the snow almost completely gone, some of the teenagers went as far as to venture outside without jackets or just wearing jean shorts. Stores left their doors open. But Angelo Espinosa and Paige Guthrie didn’t need to worry about warmth. Angelo, who had six times as much skin as any one person could every need, could go without clothes at the North Pole. And Paige, who had the sometimes useful ability to shuck her skin, could morph her body into any material – even one impervious to cold.

The two weresitting at a table in Pizza O’ Eight, a small pub-like restaurant. So far, it had been a normal first date. They had their meaningless chatter, they drank their colas, they had their awkward quiet spells. But in the back of their minds, they each felt like they were betraying someone.

Betraying Jono. Paige was Jono’s off/on love interest for a long time, and Angelo was Jono’s best friend for longer.

“So…” said Husk, the silence aching.

“Yeah?” Angelo replied, fixing his brown hair. Paige didn’t reply. “What is it?”

“It’s just… Ah’m not sure Ah can do this.”

“It’s Jono, isn’t it?”

“Yeah…” Paige sighed.

“If you feel this is wrong, we can just go home and pretend like this never…”

“No,” Husk said sternly. “Ah waited, like a dope, for a year for him to recognize me. A year full of heartbreak and rejection. But there’s always been one guy who supported me through all that. You’ve always been there for me, Ange, and I can’t think of anyone who Ah’d rather be with!”

“Okay.” Angelo smiled. Husk smiled back. Angelo leaned in, but all of sudden their bliss was interrupted.

*BEEP!* *BEEP!*

Angelo picked up the beeper for his pocket. It read, “All students are to report the main hall in a half an hour. – S & E.”

Skin stood up. He noticed the other five people in the pub started to notice his skin.

“C’mon, chica, let’s go home.” Paige followed him out.

Interlude Two

The setting? A lighthouse, somewhere in Eastern Canada. A place where there seems to be a constant thunderstorm. This lighthouse once consisted as the headquarters for the low-brow criminal known as the New Hellions. Currently, it is the low-profile home of one Marius ‘Emplate’ St Croix, and his sidekick, D.O.A.

“D.O.A.! I must feed!” roared the evil mutant to his servant. “The battle with Fatale, and the Hellions betrayal has left me weak!”

“Yes, sir,” said D.O.A. as he crawled towards his master. “The last of the prisoners has died, we must acquire more, sir.”

“I see. Then, leave me for now, I must concentrate.”

“Yes, sir.” D.O.A. replied as he left for another part of the lighthouse.

“Master, I summon you,” whispered Emplate with grief. With that, lightning appeared in the chamber with red dust following. An unholy being, covered by shadows, appeared to Marius.

“What is it?”

“Requesting permission to leave. I need more genetic material.”

“More? More?! Is that all you ever ask for?!” yelled the being. His voice echoed through the lighthouse.

“Please, sir, I will die…” Emplate pleaded with much shame.

“Why should I care if you live or die. You will simply be in one realm or another.” The being thought for a moment. “Very well, your request is granted. I will let you leave soon, but use your time wisely. I am getting quite fed up with your meddlings, and if you don’t use your time more productively you may not have much left!”

End Interlude

“What were you thinking?!” screamed Alex. Monet just stood there, staring at her feet.

“Look, I was just thinking…” M searched for words as Nuclear stared at her with a blank expression on his face. “I was just thinking maybe…” More silence.

“What do you want from me?” asked Nuclear.

Monet could hardly believe he asked that. “I… nothing…”

“That’s apparent,” chuckled Alex, turning around.

“No… wait. You don’t know this, but for the longest time, I was stuck in this nightmare of a body. It was razor-sharp, diamond-hard, the whole works. I couldn’t speak or talk to anybody. Nobody even knew who I was. I just sat there, watching everyone. Everyone having fun and falling in love.” Monet sighed. “And, even when I got this body back, I was still everybody’s friend. The person people came to talk about their boy adventures with. But I wanted more. I wanted my own adventures…”

“And how do I fit in here?”

“When I saw you, you didn’t know anybody. You would just sit there, watching everyone. And I think that you feel the same way I felt. So…?”

“So… maybe I’m interested…”

“In what?” Monet inquired.

“In an adventure.” Alex smiled. But before they could talk anymore, they were suddenly interrupted.

“Everyone is to meet in the main hall in a half an hour,” blared the intercom.

“We better go,” Monet smiled back. They walked out of the room, side by side, with Nuclear’s arm around Monet’s shoulders. Once she was sure they were gone, Jubilee followed them, smiling from ear to ear.

It was four in the afternoon, and Paige, Angelo, Monet, Alex, Jono, Everett, Jubilee, Penance, Artie, and Leech were all packed into the main hall. In the connecting room, Banshee leaned against the wall, second-guessing himself on his decision.

Emma emerged from a side room. “She’s ready.”

“Are ye really sure about this? She could easily be fooling us…”

“She’s sincere. I checked.” At that moment, a violet-skinned girl walked out of the closet. Her red Generation X uniform matched her crimson marks around her eyes. She smiled at her two new teachers.

“Now, Clarice, ye know I’m ecstatic about your decision. But ye also know that ye must keep on the power dampener, just in case.”

“I understand, Mister Cassidy,” Blink assured him.

“All right, then let’s get this thing started.” Cassidy and Frost then walked into the main hall.

“Please, children, settle,” Emma spoke first. “We are here to tell you about another new student.”

“What?!” Everett couldn’t believe it. Another new student, yet no search for Gaia?!

“Please, Everett, just hear us out,” Banshee tried to calm him. “Ye, Jubilee, Monet… er, Nicolette and Claudette, Ange and Paige already know her…”

“Oh, no…” Jubilee gasped. “Not her!”

“Jubilee, please show a little more respect,” scolded Emma. “Clarice is sincere about her rehabilitation, and we should all help her. Come on out, Blink.”

Blink slowly stepped into the hall.

“Um… hi…” The other children just stared at her with varying expressions, most of them negative ones.

‘This should be interesting,’ thought Clarice.

NEXT ISSUE: The New Hellions attack! Blink must come to terms with her past sins! Nuclear’s powers undergo a stunning metamorphosis! The final confrontation between Banshee and Fatale! All this, plus Synch’s actions might compromise his position at the school!

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