HOMECOMING

Part I: Missing In Action

By Dino Pollard

The name’s Logan, but most just call me Wolverine. And if ever there was a spokesman for Alzheimer’s, it’d probably be me.

Basically, I don’t know anything about myself. Most of my memories have been lost over the years, and I can’t trust the few memories I do have, because I’m not sure if they’re real or not. Good ol’ Weapon X – they fill me full o’ adamantium, train me how to kill, and erase most of my memories and replace them with fake ones.

To make things worse, I got no clue how old I really am. All I know is that I’m old. I got memories from World War II, so that should give you some idea. Although I’m not sure if those memories are real or not. One of the reasons I’ve been around so long is because I’ve got a mutant healing factor.

Make that I had a mutant healing factor.

Turns out after a certain point, mutant powers don’t work quite the way they used to, an’ my healing factor has now given up on me. I’ve already aged by a couple of decades in a matter of weeks. My time’s runnin’ short. But I’m not goin’ down without a fight. I’ve been a warrior for as long as I can remember, so that’s how I’ll die.

“Good old Wolverine. Always training.”

The voice comes over the Danger Room’s PA system. I stop from my little acrobatic routine an’ look towards the control booth and see an old friend. Kurt Wagner, or Nightcrawler if you prefer. Ever since Jeannie’s reopened Xavier’s as a school, he’s taken over command of the X-Men’s strike team. He waves at me from the control booth and then vanishes. A quick sniff shows that the scent of brimstone is in the air, an’ I already know that he’s behind me.

“What’s up, Elf?” I ask. He holds a towel in his hand that he tosses to me. I use it to wipe the sweat from my brow.

“Is it just me, or have I never seen you sweat before?” he asks. “At least not from dodging bullets from gun turrets.”

“Just getting old, pal,” I say.

“That’s another thing I’ve never seen you do,” he says. “I wasn’t joking around when I said you look like shit, Logan. Something’s happening to you.”

“Y’know how I got a healing factor?” I ask him. He nods. “Well, I don’t anymore.”

“…What?!”

“My healing factor’s given up on me, Kurt,” I reply. “I don’t got much time left to live.”

“That explains why you didn’t use your claws during the last mission,” says Kurt.

“Yeah, didn’t wanna risk usin’ them unless it was necessary,” I say. “So how’s it feel t’be leading again?”

“Comforting,” he says. “But… odd. The active roster consists of nine.”

“Includin’ us?”

“Including me,” he says. “Jean hasn’t placed you on active duty, yet. I admit that at first, I was puzzled as to why, but now I see.”

“I’m active, Kurt,” I tell him. “Whether you like it or not, I’m goin’ down fightin’. Now how about tellin’ me who else is active?”

He sighs before continuing. I’m puttin him between a rock and a hard place, I know. But I’m a dyin’ man and it’s my last wish. I’ll take up this matter of active duty with Jean later.

“In addition to the two of us, we have Domino, who is in command of the strike force alongwith myself. Alex, Danielle, Sunpyre, Scanner, Ever, Skin, and Peter are also on active duty.”

“What about that kid who hooked up with us after the incident with th’ Theatre?” I ask.

“Ecstacy,” replies Kurt. “I haven’t discussed her place on the team with Jean or Domino, yet. I suppose I can take them up on it now that I’m going to have to convince them that you’re cleared for active duty as well.”

“So that brings the roster to eleven,” I say. “Looks like a full house.”

“Not to mention an… odd grouping,” says Kurt.

“Wake up, Kurt. That’s how the X-Men have always been.”

“You have a point, I suppose,” he says. “But, I’m getting a mental summons from Jean, so I’ll see you later.”

He teleports away with a thought an’ I stretch. It’s been too long since I had a good workout. I almost consider upping the level on the Danger Room an’ facing off against some robots, but decide against it. Best thing to do is head t’ the weight room an’ do some lifting…

Nightcrawler rematerializes within the War Room, not far off from the Danger Room where Wolverine was training. Jean stands at the foot of a long, rectangular metal table with a yellow X engraved on it. Domino sits in one of the empty seats. The other chairs are empty.

“You rang?” he asks.

“I thought that now would be as good a time as any to discuss the state of the team,” says Jean. A mental command from her mind activates the computer and brings up a holographic image in the center of the table. The image is that of Wolverine.

“First up,” she says. “I’ll be frank, I don’t want Logan on active duty. I don’t believe he’s suited for the possible dangers.”

“I’ll have to disagree,” says Kurt. “I just spoke with Logan, and despite his current… situation, he is as dedicated to the team as any I’ve ever seen. If not for him, Domino, Alex, Scanner, and myself may be dead.”

“He got lucky this time, Kurt,” says Jean. “But what about next time?”

“You could say the same about any of the X-Men,” says Domino. “Maybe he just got lucky this time, but what if he didn’t? Wolverine’s got more field experience than all of the X-Men combined. And with the type of stuff we do, we could use his help. I side with Kurt on this one.”

Jean sighs before she replies with, “I don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to like it,” says Domino.

“Domino, please,” says Kurt. “Jean, trust me on this. Logan has always been an invaluable asset to the team.”

“With his healing factor, yes,” says Jean. “Without it, he’s dying. There’s no telling how much damage he could do to himself. He has a far better chance of being killed.”

“Logan is the only X-Man with a healing ability,” says Kurt.

“He’s also the only X-Man who is quite possibly over a century old,” says Jean.

“Can I be blunt?” asks Domino.

“Why not?” replies Jean.

“Listen up, he’s gonna die, you can’t change that,” she says. “And his last wish is to go down the same way he’s lived – a fighter. Why deny a dying man his last wish?”

“Fine,” says Jean. “I’ll clear him for field duty, but I want him to be kept in reserve if at all possible. Understood?”

“Works for me,” says Domino as she props her feet up on the table. She turns her head towards Kurt. “How about you, Fuzzy?”

Nightcrawler simply nods.

“Next up,” says Jean. A mental command causes the computer to display a different holographic image. “Your latest acquisition, Ecstacy.”

“She demonstrated an incredible calm under pressure,” says Nightcrawler.

“After she almost killed you,” says Jean.

“So did you,” says Domino. Jean glares long and hard at the former mercenary.

“According to Hank, she can control pheromones,” says Jean.

“She has experience,” says Kurt. “And when she attacked us, it wasn’t by choice. She was being controlled by the Theatre Of Pain. And after she broke free, she could’ve run, but instead she helped to rescue my team.”

“I’m going to trust your judgement on this, Kurt,” says Jean. “But if there are any problems, I want her removed immediately.”

The holographic projector brings up ten other images to stand beside Ecstacy. Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Domino, Scanner, Havok, Moonstar, Colossus, Sunpyre, Skin, and Ever.

“That brings the active roster to eleven,” says Jean. “Are you sure some trimming isn’t necessary?”

“We’ll decide on teams based on the mission,” says Domino. “Seems like the best way to go, if you ask me.”

“On missions, either Domino or myself will remain in reserve,” says Kurt. “It’s a good strategy, Jean.”

“I hope you realize I’m putting a lot of faith in the two of you,” says Jean.

“I know,” says Kurt. “And I appreciate it, I really do.”

“I’ve good news, Bishop.”

The man known only as Bishop approaches his companion. Her name is Deathbird. Together, the two of them have been stranded in space for quite some time. Bishop was at one time a member of the X-Men. Deathbird was at one time Majestrix of the star-spanning Shi’ar Empire.

“What is it?” he asks.

“We’ve just passed the planet you call Mars,” she says.

“Mars?” asks Bishop. “But that means…”

“We are nearing Earth.”

“Good,” says Bishop. “I wonder… how much time has passed since we were seperated from the X-Men?”

“No way of telling,” says Deathbird. “Our little excursion through time damaged the ship’s clocks.”

“How much longer before we reach Earth?” asks Bishop.

“Again, no way of telling due to the damage of the clocks,” replies Deathbird. “However, it should not be more than a day or so.”

“Good,” says Bishop. “I’ll be happy once I am home again.”

“Home?” asks Deathbird. “Your home is an era which may no longer exist. Return to the Shi’ar Imperium with me and become my consort.”

“The present has become my home, Deathbird,” replies Bishop. “I have friends there, and a purpose. I cannot abandon them.”

“They have made no attempt to search for you,” says Deathbird. “To them, you are little more than a tool.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Then why is there uncertainty in your voice?” asks Deathbird.

“We have located the Key, sir. Your orders?”

“Fire on them.”

“Yes sir.”

“Prepare a boarding party to meet them.”

Although many may claim that the Danger Room serves as the X-Men’s gym, there is, in fact, an actual gym just a few floors above. The Danger Room is intended for mission training. Some X-Men, however, prefer the simplicity of a regular gym. It gives them a sense of normalcy.

However, watching a seven-foot tall Russian made out of metal bench pressing every weight in the room is not something one might find at a local Bally’s.

“There a reason yer bench pressing, Petey?” asks Logan.

Piotr Rasputin sets the bar back on the rack and rises from the bench to see the face of his teammate.

“Boredom, mainly,” he replies.

“Y’try painting?”

“I’m an artist Logan, not a workhorse,” says Piotr. “I cannot just start painting, I must have inspiration, first.”

“You’d think with the school reopening that you might find some,” says Wolverine.

“You would think so,” says Colossus. “Unfortunately that isn’t the case. I haven’t seen you around in awhile, though. Tell me my friend, what have you been up to?”

“Just the usual, pal,” says Logan.

“Haha, with you there’s no such thing as usual,” says Piotr. “Come, tell me about recent events in your life.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn ya, Petey.”

“I don’t believe I’ve seen you around here before.”

The woman who calls herself Ecstacy looks to her side and sees a young man with gray skin and brown hair staring at her. He has a slight chin growth, as well as a stupid grin plastered on his face. The two of them are sitting in the commons area of the mansion, surrounded by students.

“What’s your name, chica?” he asks.

Ecstacy is about to reply, but then she sees a woman come up behind the young man. This woman is about the same age as the young man, with attractive Asian features and long, black hair.

“Leave her alone, Skin. I don’t think Grey would appreciate you harassing the new students.”

“I’m not a student,” replies Ecstacy.

“Neither am I,” says Skin. “No need t’get all bent out of shape, Sunfire.”

“My codename is Sunpyre,” she says.

“Yah, yah, whatever,” says Skin. “Anyway, my name’s Skin, but my friends call me Angelo. The Lucy Liu wannabe over here is Leyu. What’s your name?”

“Ecstacy,” she says.

“Ecstacy, eh?” asks Angelo. “I like that.”

“You would,” replies Leyu. “Pig.”

“Don’t you gotta fight Godzilla or something?” asks Angelo.

“Don’t you have some drugs to traffic?”

{Could you all kindly shut up?}

“Stay out of my mind, Ever,” warns Leyu. “Unless you want me to reduce you to a cinder.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” says Ever. “It might upset Missus Summers.”

“Do I look like a person who cares?” asks Leyu.

“Nice to see the old Yoshida charm is still working.”

Sunpyre doesn’t even need to turn around. She recognizes the voice as that of Alex Summers. She turns anyway, and sees that the woman called Scanner stands by his side.

“What started this little spat anyway?” asks Alex.

“Hey, I was just trying to welcome the new girl,” says Angelo. “Then Sunfire came over and picked a fight with me.”

“For the last time…” says Leyu. “My name is SunPYRE! P-Y-R-E, okay?”

“Wait, you know what?” says Havok. “Forget it, I don’t even care who started what or what started who. I’m finishing it.”

“Angelo, didn’t you say that you came here to talk to Ecstacy?” asks Scanner.

“Yeah,” replies Angelo. “Hey… where’d she go?”

“Enjoying your first day?” asks Danielle Moonstar.

“These people are fucking nuts…” replies Ecstacy.

“It’s an… interesting group,” says Danielle. “Give it time, though. I’m sure you’ll come to like them.”

“And if I don’t?” asks Ecstacy.

“You’ll probably go nuts and try to enslave humanity,” replies Danielle.

“…What?”

“Just a little joke,” says Danielle. “Welcome to the X-Men.”

A large, green-skinned alien with guns strapped to his body stands over the body of Bishop. He has an eyepatch over one eye and a metal plate grafted to his face. He bends down and examines the former X-Man. He hears footsteps and looks up to see a slender man of Earthly descent standing above him.

“This the guy, boss?” asks the alien.

“Yes,” replies the human. “He’s the Key. Take him back to the ship, Broadside.”

The alien called Broadside lifts Bishop up and throws him over his shoulder. The human is about to follow him, when he hears his name being called.

“We found another survivor, sir,” says a slim woman with white skin and a bandana.

“Where?” asks the human.

“Killian has her,” says the woman.

“Take me to him, Bess.”

Bess leads him further into the ship, and they approach a large alien with pinkish skin and gold armor. By his feet lies Deathbird.

“What do we do with her?” asks Killian.

“Bring her with,” replies the human. “Bishop may not be very cooperative, but if we put his friend at risk, he’ll have no choice.”

Jean Grey-Summers enters the War Room and finds the field team already assembled. Nightcrawler, Domino, Havok, Wolverine, Colossus, Moonstar, Scanner, Sunpyre, Ever, Skin, and Ecstacy. She walks towards the head of the table, next to Nightcrawler and Domino.

“I suppose you’re all wondering why I called you here,” says Jean. “Cerebro has recently detected a presence we haven’t seen in quite awhile.”

“Who would that be?” asks Nightcrawler.

“Bishop,” replies Jean. “I’ve had Cerebro scan for his presence ever since the school reopened, in hopes that we might be able to find him. I had all but given up hope. Until now.”

“If you found Bishop’s presence, that means he’s returned to Earth,” says Colossus.

“Right, but there’s more,” says Jean. “There are large energy readings coming from his location. I believe a strike team is in order. I’d like to have Nightcrawler head it up.”

“Understood,” says Nightcrawler. “And by my side I’d like to have Colossus, Sunpyre, Skin, and Wolverine.”

{Are you sure that’s wise, Kurt?} asks Jean through the use of telepathy.

{Logan knows Bishop better than most of us,} replies Nightcrawler. {I want him to come.}

{It’s your call, then.}

“There is one more thing you should know,” says Jean. “In addition to Bishop, Cerebro has detected another mutant presence.”

Bishop’s eyes slowly open. Once they do, he feels a sharp pain in his abdomen as a booted foot slams into it.

“Welcome back to Earth, Bishop. I must admit, you had me worried there for a bit.”

“Who…?” asks Bishop. He glances upwards to see the face of his captor. “No…”

“Oh yes,” replies his captor. The man kneels down to Bishop’s level and lifts Bishop’s jaw with his hand. Bishop notices the green hair and goatee. And the only thing he can think of is how much he wishes he had a gun in his hand so that he could end this man’s life right now.

“I’m back, Bish, and I need your help.”

“Burn in hell, Fitzroy.”

“I’m sorry, I should have made this clear earlier,” says Fitzroy. He snaps his fingers and Broadside enters with one arm holding an unconscious Deathbird. His free hand holds a gun which is aimed at her head.

“You don’t have a choice.”