GENETIC ECLIPSE

Part I: Something Apocalyptic This Way Comes

By Ryan Krupienski

Author’s Note: This story is continued from Cable #7 & Shadowcat #5.

*INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!*

The alarm rings throughout the mansion, alerting its inhabitants, the X-Men, in the middle of what they hoped would be a normal day. No such luck.

Within minutes, Cyclops, Phoenix, Beast, Archangel, and Cecilia Reyes are gathered in the main foyer, all in uniform and ready to face the intruder.

“Where’s Alison?” Cyclops asks anxiously.

The aforementioned Dazzler rushes down the winding staircase, replying, “Right here, Scott. The alarm woke Rebecca from her nap… I had to calm her down before I could leave her.”

Cyclops turns to his wife, whose pregnancy is really showing. “Jean, are you up to a telepathic scan…?”

Without replying, Phoenix activates her telepathy and scans the premesis of the Worthington Estate to discover the identity of the intruder. Seconds later, her eyes shoot open. “Scott… it’s Apocalypse!”

Archangel’s face immediately turns crimson red as he clenches his fists tightly. “That butcher’s here?! I’ll kill him myself!”

“Hold on, Warren! Let Jean finish her scan,” Dazzler says soothingly in an attempt to calm Archangel down. “Scott briefed me on this guy, and he’s way out of your league. It’s better to confront him together.”

Archangel takes a deep breath, and turns away from Dazzler. “You’re… you’re right..”

“Hank, this Apocalypse… is he the one you told me about, the one who manipulated Warren back when you guys were part of X-Factor?” Cecilia asks, turning to her blue-furred beau.

“The very one,” Beast replies with a nod.

Phoenix raises her fingers to her forehead, closing her eyes and gulping nervously. “I’m picking up more thought patterns…” she started.

{Not gonna… make it…}

{What’s going on here?! Gotta be stinkin’ muties!}

{Jean… Alison… Warren… help me…!}

“KITTY! He’s got her!” Phoenix says with a gasp, her fearful eyes shooting open. “I’m also picking up the thoughts of a seriously injured cab driver, the one who drove Kitty here… his cab crashed outside the gates, now a crowd has formed…”

“I’m sure the crowd will call for help for the driver. Right now, our first priority is to get Kitty as far away from Apocalypse as possible. Jean, I want you to stay here… you’re in no condition to fight Apocalypse. The rest of you – let’s go!”

Phoenix shoots her husband a glance of defiance. “Forget it, Scott, I’m not going to sit around while Apocalypse is at large, even if I am pregnant! One way or another, Apocalypse is going down!”

Outside, on the grounds of the Worthington Estate…

Apocalypse picks Shadowcat up and swings her over his shoulder. “Your capture was inevitable, Katherine Pryde. You may be one of the Twelve, but compared to Apocalypse you are nothing! I shall find the remaining eleven members of this fabled group, and when you are all gathered together, I shall destroy you. Then the Askani’s pathetic prophecy of a peaceful era for this planet shall cease to exist… and the Age Of Apocalypse shall begin!”

“In your dreams, blue lips!” A wave of bright energy sweeps across Apocalypse from behind, knocking him to the ground and Kitty into the arms of Archangel. Apocalypse regains his stance and turns around, coming face-to-face with Cyclops, Phoenix, Beast, Dazzler, and Cecilia. A smile forms on his face; he was hoping to encounter the X-Men.

“Well, if it isn’t Xavier’s herd of deluded mutant sheep,” Apocalypse comments, gazing at his opponents, who are soon joined by Archangel and the unconscious Shadowcat.

Cyclops’ visor glimmers with energy. “We’re not under Xavier’s command anymore, Apocalypse. We do things differently – we do what’s necessary to permanently bring down menaces like you. And the only way to stop you once and for all is to kill you!”

In an instant, Cyclops lashes out at Apocalypse with everything he has. The ancient mutant before him is his most hated enemy; Apocalypse destroyed his son’s life after infecting him with the techno-organic virus, forcing Cyclops to send the child into the future to be saved. This is the man who would be responsible for the very destruction of the human race if given the chance… and Cyclops is not about to let that happen.

Apocalypse struggles against Cyclops’ optic blast, almost refusing to fall to the ground. Dazzler sees that more is needed to stop Apocalypse, and readies herself to aid in his downfall. Before she can act, Apocalypse rapidly extends his arms and grabs both Cyclops and Dazzler, tossing them to the side. Phoenix levitates after them, as Apocalypse comes under attack by Archangel, who is bombarding him with swift punches. Archangel has a hate of Apocalypse equal to that of Cyclops, and ignores the pain it causes him to constantly send his gloved fists against Apocalypse’s armored hide.

“You’re mine, you monster!” Archangel shouts angrily, slamming his clenched fist straight into Apocalypse’s jaw.

Beast and Cecilia run towards Apocalypse and begin to hit him with everything they have. Apocalypse swats Archangel out of the way, and grabs Beast, wrapping his hand around the blue-furred X-Man’s neck.

“Farewell, Henry McCoy!” Apocalypse says, tightning his hand around Beast’s neck. Cecilia looks up and her eyes fill with fear. Her mind briefly flashes back to the moment of her father’s death; she was helpless to save him, and could only watch as his life was taken. Not this time, though… this time, she can do something.

“Let him go!” Cecilia demands, morphing into her translucent form and extending her forcefield around Apocalypse’s legs. Apocalypse loses his balance and falls to the ground, releasing Beast in the process. Beast gets to his knees, rubbing his neck and trying to catch his breath. He looks up, and sees that Cecilia is far from done with Apocalypse.

“I’m gonna show you how we throw down in the Bronx, chump!” Cecilia continues, jumping on top of Apocalypse and ramming her fists into his face. “Think you’re bad, hombre? I don’t think so – you ain’t seen bad till you’ve messed with me!”

Apocalypse, becoming annoyed, raises his arm and grabs Cecilia around the waist. He stands up, increasing the mass and height of his body. “Insolent female! You believe yourself strong enough to defeat me? You are strong-willed, woman, and I commend that, as well as your bravado and persistence – but I am Apocalypse, before whom all shall fall!”

“Oooh, I’m shakin’ in my boots!” Cecilia snaps back, glaring at Apocalypse hatefully. “Stop deluding yourself; you think you’re so strong and keep going on and on about how you’re going to dominate everyone. Guess what – you won’t. You can’t. You lack humanity… you have no soul! And that, Apocalypse, makes you the weakest of all!”

“NO!” Apocalypse’s face becomes red with anger, and in a fit of rage, he raises Cecilia above his head and launches her into the air at a velocity so great, it could make Quicksilver’s head spin.

“Cecilia!” Beast cries, leaping into the air but failing to catch his lady love. He watches in horror as Cecilia zooms through the air, but is then relieved to see that Phoenix catches her and lowers her to the ground telekinetically. He rushes to her side, as Phoenix levitates towards Apocalypse.

“Ah, Phoenix… it is quite ironic that you are the most powerful among your teammates, yet you are also the weakest due to the fact that you are pregnant. You dare not confront me, for it would put your unborn children’s lives at risk.”

‘I know that, monster… but I have to stop you. I’ve seen what you’ll do to the future… and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let it come to pass!’ Phoenix takes a deep breath, conjuring up all her strength, and grabs Apocalypse with her telekinesis. “You’re right, Apocalypse – I am the strongest! And I may be pregnant, but that won’t prevent me from taking you out, especially if it means my children will be safe from you for all of eternity!”

Apocalypse tries to move, but finds that he’s frozen in place thanks to Phoenix. He looks at her, seeing the sweat drip from her forehead and her body tremble, and can tell the attack is pushing her to her limits… but still, she does not stop. In fact, she strengthens the attack… Apocalypse can feel sharp jolts of pain inside his body.

‘Keep… going… ignore… the pain… have to… stop him…!’ With all her might, Phoenix manages one last jolt of telekinetic energy, causing Apocalypse to finally give in and reel in pain. “Go on, Apocalypse… SCREAM!”

“AAAARRGGGHHHH!!!” Apocalypse bellows, being able to contain himself no longer. Within seconds of his cry of pain, he can feel Phoenix’s attack beginning to subside. However, Cyclops and Dazzler, having regained their strength, pick up where Phoenix left off and send intense blasts of energy straight at him. Apocalypse flies backwards and falls to the ground, softly moaning in pain.

“Jean, are you all right?!” Cyclops exclaims, taking his wife into his arms. “Jean, you… you shouldn’t have done that! Apocalypse could have killed you!”

“Had… to try… actually hurt him… pretty bad…”

“Yes, you did,” Cyclops replies, looking over at Apocalypse along with the rest of his team. He sees how weak his enemy is, and knows it’s now or never – it’s time that Apocalypse be destroyed once and for all.

Cyclops gently lays his wife down on the ground next to Kitty, then looks up at Apocalypse once more.”X-Men – take him!” he commands, charging forward with his teammates.

“Stand back!” comes a loud, female voice as a barrage of psionic spikes rain down on the X-Men from above. The X-Men lose their balance momentarily, then regain it and turn their attention back to Apocalypse, who has been joined by his Dark Riders.

Cyclops’ eyes go wide with shock as he takes a good look at one of the Riders. “What on Earth…? That’s Dani Moonstar… and she’s working for Apocalypse?!”

“Dark Riders, take them! Remember, though… Pryde, is not to be harmed!” Moonstar commands, totally ignoring Cyclops’ statement. In compliance with his leader’s orders, Tusk charges toward the X-Men and knocks almost all of them of their feet, while Trial makes his way over to Shadowcat, next to whom is Phoenix.

Phoenix has used nearly all her power to severely injure Apocalypse the way she did; she’s exhausted, and can only watch in despair as Trial picks up the unconscious Shadowcat and walks away. “No… no! Kitty… KITTY!”

Phoenix can only send a telepathic cry out to her teammates, who are occupied with Tusk. {X-Men, you have to save Kitty!}

Archangel lifts himself off the ground, leaving his teammates to deal with Tusk. He darts towards Trial, who has Shadowcat in his grasp, but is unable to save his teammate; he passes right through Trial as the Dark Rider teleports away with Shadowcat in tow, along with Moonstar, Tusk, and the injured Apocalypse.

Cyclops rushes to his wife’s side as the others stand together in silence. The realization strikes them seconds later: Apocalypse and his Dark Riders are gone, and they’ve taken Kitty Pryde with them.

“They got away! That butcher and his henchmen got away!” Archangel spits angrily. “We have to find him, before…”

“Warren, that’s enough!” Beast says impatiently, turning to his longtime friend. “We all know why you harbor such hatred towards Apocalypse, but now is not the time for one of your fits! Apocalypse has taken control of Danielle Moonstar and has taken Katherine prisoner… they are our first priority, not your thirst for revenge!”

Archangel is taken aback at Beast’s lecture… never before has his friend spoken to him in such a manner. But, he knows Beast is right; he has to put his own hatred of Apocalypse to the side and focus on saving Shadowcat and Moonstar. He says nothing, just nods his head in understanding. Beast puts an apologetic hand on Archangel’s shoulder, nodding back.

“I’m sorry… I tried to stop him… my powers are drained,” Phoenix says sorrowfully, rocking back and forth in Cyclops’ arms. “I…”

“Shhh, Jean. It’s not your fault,” Cyclops says soothingly.

“Well, now what?” Dazzler asks. “I mean, we have to find Kitty… but where do we begin? And who’s to say that she’s the only one he wants?”

Cyclops stands up, holding Phoenix in his arms. “Apocalypse mentioned ‘The Twelve’. According to the prophecies of the Askani, they’re destined to bring about a golden era of peace on Earth… unless Apocalypse detroys them first. So, what we have to do is find out who they are, and protect them from Apocalypse.”

“And just how are we supposed to find out who these ‘Twelve’ are?” Cecilia asks.

Cyclops sighs and replies, “We call in one of the few people who could possibly know who they are… Cable.”

Read Apocalypse #8, Shadowcat #6, & X-Men #11 for parts 2-4 of Genetic Eclipse!

NEXT ISSUE: Genetic Eclipse Part 5! The Horsemen have been unleashed, and Cyclops’ team must face Pestilence and Death! Will the X-Men fall before Apocalypse’s ultimate henchmen, or will the sudden appearance of Cable turn the tables? Plus: What does Post want with the Beast’s Legacy Virus research?