WEAPON X

Part II: Storms

By Dino Pollard

Harry’s Hideaway. The X-Men gather around a television set and watch as their teammate, Ororo Munroe, codenamed Storm, wreaks havoc on the city of New York. They watch as she uses her mastery over the winds to tear the Statue of Liberty from its base and hurl it into the bay. All of them are in shock, and none of them, save for one, can find any words.

“Christ O… what’ve you done…” mutters John Proudstar.

“Come on,” says Monet. She turns away from the television and pushes past the other X-Men.

“Where are you going?” asks Ali.

“Where do you think?” replies Monet. “We have to stop her.”

“How are we supposed to get into the mansion without Xavier noticing us?” asks Kurt.

“We’re not going back to the mansion,” replies Monet. “We’re not that far from the city, we can make it on our own steam.”

Monet St. Croix walks to the door. She stops when she sees no one is following her and faces the X-Men.

“What are you waiting for?”

Marie Darkholme looks at her teammates, and sees them all struggling with their emotions. She admits feeling her own pang of guilt, for Storm’s psyche is still in her mind.

“Screw this, I’m going,” she says.

Henry Peter Gyrich strolls through the halls of NASA with a spring in his step and a grin on his face. Many of the personnel who recognize him stare at him as he walks past. They have never seen him in such a mood, and it somewhat frightens them. He continues walking past, and he enters a room at the end of the hall. There is a man sitting behind the desk, speaking on the phone. He has graying hair and a thin mustache. He looks up when Gyrich enters.

“I’ll call you back,” he says into the receiver, then hangs up the phone. “Mr. Gyrich, is there something I can do for you?”

Gyrich smiles and drops a document on the man’s desk. The document says Project: SENTINEL on it with the word APPROVED stamped over it.

“The President has given the go-ahead, Trask,” he says. “How soon can we have Sentinels in New York?”

Remy LeBeau slowly gets to his feet. He looks around, and sees Gris Gris lying at the mercy of a man and a woman dressed in black. The large black man turns his head to see Remy, and he does a double-take.

“Shit…” mutters Remy. He starts to run, as the black man gives chase.

“Hey, hold it!” he shouts.

Remy ignores him, just continues running. He sends a charge of kinetic energy through his own body, boosting his endurance and speed slightly. Unfortunately for him, the Shadow King’s attack was more than he could handle, and the charge is not enough. He feels a strong pair of hands grab his shoulders and pull him back. The large man slams him against the wall.

“Well well, look at who we’ve got here,” he says. “Been awhile, LeBeau.”

“B-Bishop…” mutters Remy. Bishop reaches inside his trench coat and pulls out his badge and flashes it at Remy.

“Special Agent Luther Bishop, FBI,” he says. “At your service.”

He drags Remy back over to his partner and Gris Gris, and throws him on the ground.

“Look who decided to join the party,” says Bishop. His partner looks down at him and smiles.

“Remy LeBeau,” she says. “Be still, my beating heart.”

“H’llo Shard,” he says. “How you been, cherie?”

“You how it is with paranormal investigations,” she says. “Now, how about you tell us what happened here? Your friend here doesn’t seem too willing to speak.”

“That’s ’cause I can’t remember anyt’ing,” says Gris Gris.

“Convenient,” says Bishop.

“It ain’t his fault, hommes,” says Remy. “His mind’s been scrambled.”

“By who?” asks Shard.

“The Shadow King.”

Bishop and Shard both look to each other, and then turn to Remy.

“I think you should come with us, LeBeau,” he says.

Area 51, the current headquarters of the top-secret black ops group known as Weapon X. Headed up by Colonel John Wraith of SHIELD. He approaches a large man with white hair who is dressed in full uniform. He stands behind a plate glass window and watches as his charges go through training scenarios. He turns once he sees Wraith approach.

“What did he say?” he asks.

“He wants a full debriefing,” replies Wraith. The larger man snorts.

“That’s not gonna happen.”

“I know,” says Wraith. He looks through the window as well. “How are they doing?”

“They’re set to go. We’re just awaiting the order, Colonel.”

“Project: SENTINEL has been approved,” says Wraith.

“Christ…”

“I know, I don’t like it anymore than you do,” says Wraith. “Make sure the team is ready to go at a moment’s notice.”

“Done. What’s the target?”

“The X-Men.”

Shard sets down a steaming styrofoam cup of coffee on the table that sits before Remy LeBeau. He lifts it to his lips and takes a sip. She takes a seat across the table from him, and Bishop leans against the wall with his arms crossed. His trench coat and suit jacket are both draped over a nearby chair, and his gun is in plain sight. Something he’s doing to intimidate Remy.

“This an interrogation or what?” he asks.

“God how I wish it were…” mutters Bishop.

“Who’s this Shadow King?” asks Shard.

“What’s it worth to you?” asks Remy.

“What do you mean?” asks Bishop.

“Gimme one good reason I should tell you anyt’ing.”

“What game are you playing, LeBeau?” asks Bishop.

“I wan’ immunity,” replies Remy. “If I talk, I walk. Deal?”

“Like he-”

“Deal,” says Shard. Bishop looks at her out of the corner of his eye while a single brow goes up.

“Shard, can I speak to you for a moment?” he asks.

“We’ll be right back,” says Shard to Remy. She turns and walks out of the door which Bishop is holding open. He follows her and closes it behind him.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“What does it look like?” asks Shard. “I’m getting the answers we need.”

“You can’t be serious,” replies Bishop. “We’ve been trying to nail this guy for years. He’s our only link to the Guild. Now he’s right in the palm of our hands, and you want him to walk?”

“Did you examine the area thoroughly, Bish?” asks Shard. “Did you notice Strange’s body?”

“Strange is dead?”

“Exactly,” replies Shard. “And if he’s dead, that means the Guild is basically nonexistant. We don’t have to worry about them. Anything that can kill Strange deserves our full attention, and if that means letting LeBeau walk, then I’m willing to do it. We have to choose between the lesser of two evils, and as much as I hate to admit it, the lesser here is Gambit.”

Bishop sighs and lowers his head. Then, he opens the door and walks back in with Shard following. He closes the door behind her, and Shard takes her seat across from Remy.

“Now, about the Shadow King…” she begins.

“Dunno much about ‘im,” replies Remy. “What I do know is that he’s this powerful… force or somethin’. I’m not sure if he’s a mutant or not, but what he does is feeds on negative emotions.”

“Where do we find him?” asks Bishop.

“You don’t,” replies Remy. “He don’t exist-least not physically, anyway. He’s just this energy thing, a collection of negative emotions and thoughts. An’ he can do a lot o’ crazy shit. Like possessin’ people-multiple people. All at the same time. An’ he can make them do whatever he wants.”

“If he doesn’t exist, how did he cause the damage at the Guildhouse?” asks Shard.

“He possessed someone,” replies Remy. “A mutant who can control the weather.”

“The weather?” asks Bishop. He walks outside the room.

“What’s his problem?” asks Remy, glancing towards the door.

“Not sure,” replies Shard, also staring at the door. “This mutant… who is she?”

“Can’t tell you that,” replies Gambit.

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Both.”

Shard stares at him for a few moments, and then lightly shakes her head. She rubs her eyes, and Remy smiles.

“Tired, chere?”

“Long day…” she mutters.

The door opens and Bishop steps in, holding something in his hand. He drops a folder in front of Remy, and the Cajun thief slowly opens it up. In it are photographs. Photographs of Storm using her powers against the city of New York. Among the photographs is one of the Statue of Liberty lying in the water.

“That was just the beginning,” says Bishop. “It’s getting worse. Is this the mutant that the Shadow King is controlling?”

Remy shuts his eyes tightly and solemnly nods. Bishop leans down so that his face is inches from Remy’s ear.

“There’s something you’re not telling us, LeBeau,” he says. “I can tell. You’re already going to walk, so why don’t you tell us what you’re holding back?”

“I can’t…” mutters Remy.

“And why not?” asks Bishop.

“It’s personal,” replies Remy. “It can’t help you.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

“Trust me… you don’ need to know this.”

“You know that immunity we just promised you?” asks Bishop. “If you don’t give us full disclosure, then you don’t get jack shit. Understand?”

“Yeah… yeah, I understand.”

“Then come clean.”

“The Shadow King…”

“What about him?” asks Shard. Remy sighs and lowers his head. Once more, he closes his eyes. His hands are clenched into fists so tight that his knuckles begin to turn white.

“He’s my father.”

“Why am I not surprised…” mutters Bishop.

“You said he’s in New York right now?” says Gambit.

“Yes,” replies Shard.

“Then that’s where I’m going,” he says and stands from his seat. Bishop grabs his arm forcefully.

“Hold it,” he says. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“I’m a mutant, too, mon ami,” says Gambit. “My biokinetic powers make me virtually invisible t’ the Shadow King. I’m the only one who can stand up to him.”

“If you think I’m going to let you just walk out of here…”

Remy’s eyes flash for a second before he speaks again.

“You got nothin’ on me, B,” he says.

Bishop shakes his head, and releases Gambit from his grip. Remy smiles and winks at Shard before walking out the door. For a few minutes she just seems to stare into space, and then she shakes her head.

“Whoa…” she says. “I just blanked out there for a second…”

“Glorious destruction…” says the Shadow King through the mouth of Storm. “Look at them, my child. They run, they scatter. They fear you. They hate you. And as a result, they hate all mutants. All those negative emotions, feel them coursing through you! Coursing through me—through us!”

Storm’s body begins to convulse with electricity. She turns her head slightly to see the form of Rogue hovering behind her, carried aloft by the very same winds.

“Who dares?”

“I dare,” replies Rogue. “This is going too far, Storm.”

“Is it?”

“Your voice…” mutters Rogue. “It’s different…”

“Storm is no longer here, you bastard daughter of a bitch,” says the Shadow King. “Now, there is only the Shadow King!”

“Oh…” mutters Rogue. “Shit.”

“Precisely,” says the Shadow King. “And you are now in a world of it.”

Dark clouds form in the sky, blocking out the sun. The roar of thunder signals the beginning of the storm as rain begins to pour forth from the skies. Lightning flashes off in the distance, and the wind begins to pick up. The Shadow King controls it all, and slowly, the weather begins to build up faster. The gale forces whip past Rogue, and she tries to fight it with her own control over the wind, but finds that she cannot. The powers she had absorbed from Storm were powerful, but, as it seemed, not powerful enough. She tries to redirect the winds, but the Shadow King has a finer control over Storm’s powers than Storm ever did.

Rogue’s attack was only meant to distract Storm long enough for M to slam into her with all her strength. The Shadow King falters for a moment, then turns to face her.

“Ah, Ms. St. Croix. How nice to finally meet you.”

Monet ignores his words, and flies forward again, to drive her fist into Storm’s face. As her hand travels though, it must fight against winds which slow it down, and then it strikes the palm of Storm’s hand. The Shadow King smiles as electricity is sent coursing through M’s body. When the Shadow King releases her, she falls to the ground.

“M!” exclaims Beast from the ground. “Nightcrawler…”

Before a command can be issued, Kurt Darkholme is already gone in an explosion of light, then reappears beside Hank McCoy holding M. He passes her into his massive arms, and he lightly strokes her face.

“C’mon babe…” mutters Hank. “You’re okay… you’re okay…”

He reaches a large finger over to her neck and begins to move it around. When he feels the soft beating of a pulse, he breathes a sigh of relief.

“Is she okay?” asks Dazzler.

“She’ll be fine,” replies Beast. He looks up at Storm and Rogue, who have returned to fighting it out, a battle of the storms. “Dazzler, I want you to use as many bright lights as possible to blind Storm.”

“What about the contacts?” asks Dazzler.

“We removed them from her eyes when she fell into the coma,” he replies. “She’s helpless against your powers.”

Dazzler nods and concentrates, channeling the noise of the screams from the people, as well as the sound of the thunder, and then bright lights emerge from her hands and begin to strobe around the Shadow King. Despite the fact that he can possess anyone, he is still left to utilize his host body’s senses. And not even he can protect himself against the strobe lights created by the Dazzler.

“Cyclops!” exclaims Beast. Scott Summers removes his ruby quartz glasses and then opens his eyes wide. Concussive blasts of energy pour forth from his eyes and strike Storm. The Shadow King falters for a moment, forcing to focus his control on Storm completely.

“You’re startin’ t’ fall below the radar, buddy,” says Rogue. Storm glances over to her, and then Rogue extends her hand. The skies open up, and lightning explodes forth, striking Storm from every direction at once. The voltage cannot harm the Shadow King, but it can harm Storm.

And it does.

The smoking body of Ororo Munroe begins to fall from the sky. Thunderbird breaks into a run towards his falling teammate and leaps into the air. He catches her in his arms, then flips in the air, and lands on his feet with a grunt. The rest of the X-Men soon join him, and Rogue hovers down towards the back of the X-Men. She doesn’t notice the man who stands in the shadows.

“Is she okay?” asks Dazzler. Thunderbird looks down at her body and reaches for a pulse.

“Ow!” he exclaims. “Damn, she’s hot!”

He looks at the curious stares from his teammates and frowns at them.

“I meant literally, jackasses.”

“But is she okay?” asks Dazzler once more. Thunderbird moves his hand to her neck and presses his fingers against the mocha-colored flesh. He feels around for a few minutes, and looks up at Beast.

“Umm… am I doing this right?” he asks. “I’m not feeling anything.”

Nightcrawler places his fingers on Storm’s neck and tries to feel around. He then looks up at Thunderbird.

“I’m sorry…” he says.

“Sorry for what?” asks John.

“She’s dead,” replies Nightcrawler. John stares at him with an open mouth as do the other X-Men.

“…come again?” asks Thunderbird.

“She’s dead…” Nightcrawler repeats.

The X-Men all lower their heads. Rogue does as well, staying back from the group. Then, she notices a pair of glowing red eyes in the darkness. She approaches, and something small explodes in front of her in midair.

“What the hell?!” she exclaims.

“BITCH!” exclaims Gambit as he leaps from the shadows and drives his foot into Rogue’s face. “YOU KILLED HER!!”

“I didn’t have a choice!” exclaims Rogue as she jumps back. Before she can bring about the winds to defend her, Gambit slams his bo-staff against her body. He grabs her by her shirt and flips her over his head, slamming her to the ground. Then, he walks over towards the X-Men and Storm’s lifeless body.

Rogue stands and wipes the blood from her lip. She feels her skin beginning to heat up. She looks down to see that her body is starting to glow…

*BOOM*