INTO THE LIGHT

Part II: Under Siege

By Ryan Krupienski and Dino Pollard

The Xavier Institute

Some days it just does not pay to get out of bed in the morning.

Take this day for instance. Sure, it seemed good enough to begin with. There was gonna be an announcement about the new campaign for mutant civil rights. All of us here at the Xavier Institute were pretty psyched about that.

Then, Cassandra Nova Xavier, some bald old lady who claims to be the sister of Professor X (who’s dead or missing or something – don’t ask me what, I just got here myself) revealed to the world that she’s Professor X. Personally, I don’t really buy it, but stranger things have been known to happen. That’s a story for another time, though.

Like, right after she announces this, on national TV, Cyke’s psycho-bitch of an ex-wife, Madelyne Pryor and her semi-son Nate Grey (and trust me, that’s one family tree I don’t even wanna try to explain) show up to tear the school apart.

By the way, I’m Jubilation Lee. But everyone here just calls me Jubilee. Sort of like my codename-slash-nickname. I just came back here after spending time at another branch of the school (again, story for another time).

Pretty much everyone around the mansion has either been taken out, or is working on getting the students to safety. That means our only line of defense is composed of Ever, Colossus, Deathbird, and yours truly. Two ex-villains, one hero-turned-villain-turned hero, and me. Yeah, it’s a fun match-up.

Ever’s splitting his time between using his telepathy to block out Maddie and Nate so they don’t take over our minds or something, shielding us with telekinesis, and trying to contact Jean. For an ex-Morlock, the guy’s actually pretty powerful. But when your body’s like, a big percentage of brain matter, I guess you’re kind of expected to be pretty big in the ol’ ESP department.

Colossus and Deathbird are pretty much taking up the front line. Deathbird’s an egotistical bitch to begin with, and also a little psychotic. So she doesn’t really take kindly to Maddie Pryor stealing her thunder. She already got put down once by her, and now she wants revenge.

Colossus is doing his best to try and pummel Nate, but it’s not really doing much damage. Nate’s left eye just keeps glowing, and Colossus’ fists keep stopping short of striking Nate’s body. Nate actually seems to think it’s funny, ’cause all he’s doing is standing there with his arms folded and giggling like a smitten little schoolgirl whenever Colossus’ punches fall short of their goal.

As for me, my powers are distance-based, so I’m letting loose with all the fireworks I can muster. Deathbird’s probably dense enough to believe she’s actually a threat to Maddie. Colossus and I know better, though. We know there’s not much we can do to stop these two crazies, but at least we can hold them back for a bit. At least until back-up gets here. But right now, we need some of the heavy hitters like Jean or Storm or Wolvie.

I glance over to Ever, and I see his eyes shift slightly. He notices my glance, and connects me into his little psychic conversation. Seems like he’s finally gotten in touch with someone.

{Jean?} he asks.

{No, Cassandra.}

Just great. There’s something I never really liked about that wrinkly old chick. And after today, I like her even less.

{We’re on our way back to the mansion right now,} says Cassandra through the psi-link. {Just try and hold them off until we get there.}

{We’re doing the best we can,} says Ever. {Right now, our forces are pretty thin. Most of the team has either been neutralized, is off on a mission, or is working on leading the students to safety.}

{I hope you don’t know the location of where the students are being taken.}

{Think we’re stupid, Cassie?} my thoughts ring out. I know Ever didn’t expect me to speak up, and he gives me a look that says, “Thanks a load, Jubes.” But I just can’t stand this self-righteous bitch who treats us like a bunch of amateurs. Hell, I’ve been involved in this game longer than she has, and I’m only nineteen.

{All we know is that some of the teaching staff is getting them to a secure location,} I say. {They’re the only ones who know where they’re going, so there’s no risk of faux Jean and Stryfe-wannabe over here plucking the info from our heads.}

{Just keep your attention on protecting my school,} says Cassandra.

{What do you think we’ve been doing, playing Twister while watching those two tear it up?} I reply. {And it’s not your school, lady – it belongs to all of us.}

Cassandra breaks the connection after that, and I feel a bit of an ego boost. It’s not every day a mallrat from So-Cal gets to put an eldery psychic in her place.

Next thing I notice, Deathbird stops attacking Maddie, and starts doing the chicken dance while clucking. Maddie claps and laughs hysterically. So now I’m guessing they’ve broken past Ever’s shielding.

“Much better,” says Maddie. “More like your namesake.”

“That’s nothing,” says Nate. His eye glows, and Colossus starts to dance.

“I’ll show you maaaaagic!” exclaims Colossus. “Whut whut? Maaaaagic! I got th’ magic stick!”

It’s official. The shit has hit the fan.

Blackbird One; En route to Xavier Institute

Alison Blaire, once called the Dazzler, looks down at her sleeping daughter, Rebecca. She smiles as she brushes some hair from the child’s face. She finds it amazing that Becca is able to sleep after the ordeal she has just been through.

Alison then turns her attention to the man lying asleep in the Blackbird’s med-bay. Logan, or Wolverine is his name. He’s an old friend of hers, from her own days with the X-Men. Standing on the other side of him is Ecstacy, one of the newest recruits. She has her hand on his arm, using her pheromone powers to block out any pain he may be experiencing.

She places her hand on his and squeezes it lightly.

“You’re stubborn as hell…” she says. She feels his hand squeeze her’s back.

“You know it, darlin’,” mutters Logan as his eyes slowly open. “Damn, I feel like I just went on a bender for a straight week.”

“I thought you weren’t able to get drunk,” says Alison.

“So imagine how much I had to drink,” says Logan with a grin. “Almost put the place outta business.”

“Can’t get drunk?” says Ecstacy. “Dude, that sucks.”

“What’s the status?” asks Logan.

“Mission was a success,” replies Alison. “You did good.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” says Logan. “We headin’ home?”

“Yeah,” she says.

“Maybe you should consider hangin’ around a bit longer,” he says.

“Oh, I don’t know…” says Alison. “I’ve tried to put that behind me.”

“I saw you in action today,” he says. “Y’enjoyed it, didn’t you?”

“Maybe a little bit…” she says. “But what kind of life is it for Becca?”

“Yeah, who’d wanna grow up in a mansion?” asks Ecstacy with a hint of sarcasm.

“She’s got a point,” says Logan.

“I’ll think about it,” says Alison.

“How we doing so far?” asks Alex from the co-pilot’s seat.

“We’re cruising at a steady speed, we’ll be at the mansion in no time,” replies Domino from the pilot’s seat.

“Good,” says Alex. “I’ll be glad to kick back and put my feet up.”

“Makes two of us,” says Scanner who sits behind Domino, with a smile as she looks at Alex. He smiles back, and continues to stare at her for a few seconds. The two realize what they’re doing and quickly snap their attention back to the windshield. In his own seat behind Havok. Fantomex takes notice of this little action, and beneath his mask, he smiles.

Alex remembers what Ecstacy told him when they were in Black Womb. It has made him a bit more aware of his behavior around Scanner as of late. And now that he’s aware, he feels almost nervous around her. Unsure of what to say.

“Huh?” asks Danielle Moonstar from the navigation seat.

“Something wrong?” asks Domino.

“There’s a distress signal from the mansion, but I can’t patch through for some reason,” replies Danielle.

“See if there’s someone else you can contact,” says Domino.

“I’m trying to tap into any open communication port I can find,” says Danielle. She takes an earpiece with a microphone attached to it and attaches it to her ear. She activates the speakers so that the rest of the cockpit can hear as well. “Blackbird One to open ports, response?”

Static is all that comes through.

Danielle hits a few toggle switches and buttons, opening all communication ports.

“Blackbird One to any open ports, response?” she asks again.,/p>

Static comes through for a bit, before a response is heard.

“Cyclops with Blackbird Two. Go ahead.”

“Scott, we’ve just received a distress call from the mansion,” says Danielle. “But we can’t get in contact, the ports are down there.”

“The mansion’s under attack,” replies Cyclops. “Nate Grey and Madelyne Pryor are going after the school. We think they may be after the students.”

“We’re trying to get there as fast as possible,” says Domino. “But our ETA will be at least another twenty minutes, most likely more.”

“We’re trying to get there ourselves, but it’ll take us longer. Just do whatever you can, Cyclops out.”

The line goes dead, and Danielle shuts off the port.

“Shit…” mutters Domino.

“I have a thought,” says Fantomex. “What if Scanner and someone else teleport out there?”

“I can’t teleport,” says Scanner.

“That’s essentially what you do in your bio-electric form,” says Fantomex. “Only difference is you don’t realize how fast you can travel.”

“It’s worth a shot,” says Domino. “Take Ecstacy with you, maybe her pheromones can help calm down one or both of the psychics.”

“I can try…” says Scanner. “But I’m not sure if it’ll work.”

“What did I tell you back at Black Womb?” asks Domino.

“Right right, first time for everything…” replies Scanner.

“I’m getting bored now,” says Madelyne. With a wave of her hand, both Deathbird and Colossus turn towards Jubilee and Ever.

“Whoa!” exclaims Jubilee as she dodges out of Colossus’ reach. He turns to her, and she fires off a pyrotechnic display, which succeeds in blinding him. Colossus covers his eyes and swings his free arm around in a futile attempt to try and strike her while blind.

“Too slow,” she says as she dodges away. With the added protection of Ever’s telekinetic shield, she throws her entire body at Piotr Rasputin’s legs from behind. She succeeds in knocking him off his feet and follows it up with another blinding flash. She knows it won’t do too much damage to a seven-foot Russian made of organic steel, but at least it will slow him down, even if for a few seconds.

Ever meanwhile allows Deathbird to try and claw at him, his shield blocking her path. She continues to attempt to strike him, but the attacks are futile.

“Face me like a true warrior, not like a coward!” she exclaims.

“If you insist,” says Ever. He links his hands together and pulls then to the side. Channeling all his telekinetic energy into the closed hands, he swings them and slams them against Deathbird’s jaw. The impact sends her flying.

“A novice psychic and a former student against the likes of us,” says Madelyne. “Seriously, look at the odds.”

As Madelyne finishes her sentence, a crackle of electricity appears behind her, and Scanner and Ecstacy both materialize on the ground. Ecstacy leaps at Madelyne and tackles her to the ground.

“Man, what is with you X-guys and psycho bitches?” asks Ecstacy. Her strike at Madelyne causes the psychic to drop her shield in shock. Ecstacy places her finger on Madelyne’s cheek.

“Just relax,” says Ecstacy as she generates chemical reactions to put Madelyne to sleep. “Be cool, be cool.”

Ecstacy is shoved back by an invisible force, and Nate Grey hovers above them, his eye burning brightly, like a sun.

“I’m getting really tired of this game,” he says. “Y’know what, here’s a thought. How about I quit fucking around and just kill you all?”

{Ever!}

{Cassandra?} asks Ever through telepathy.

{We’re running out of time,} she says. {I’ve been monitoring the battle, trying to find a weakness. Now that Madelyne is down, we may have a shot at taking out Nate if we pool our abilities.}

{Even together, our powers aren’t nearly as strong as Grey’s,} replies Ever.

{No, they’re not,} says Cassandra. {At least, not yet. But I have the potential to be just as powerful, if not moreso, than my brother. I just need help unlocking that potential – which is where you come in.}

Ever looks up at Nate, and then back to his teammates.

{Fine, tell me what I need to do,} he says.

Cassandra and Ever link their minds together. Ever feels Cassandra’s mind occupy his body as well, and using his own psychic abilities, he is able to activate her latent potential.

“What?” asks Nate, as he notices the sudden change on the Astral Plane. “What are you doing, Morlock? You trying to act threatening?”

Ever looks up at Nate, his eyes beginning to glow as blood leaks from his nose, eyes, ears, and mouth.

{You might say that…}

Ever smiles slightly as he and Cassandra strike as one with a massive psionic blow that shakes the Astral Plane to its very core. To Nate Grey, it feels as if a dam has just exploded before him. He feels as if he is being swept away by a mass of pressurized water just released.

Blackbird Two; En route to Xavier Institute

Cassandra Nova Xavier sighs as she watches Nate Grey go down through the eyes of Ever.

{Congratulations, Ever,} she says telepathically. {You’ve just become a hero. We’ll arrive at the mansion shortly. Until then, just sit tight.}

She breaks contact with Ever and reclines slightly in her chair. Her eyes go over the other present X-Men: Cyclops, Beast, Storm, and Archangel, with Phoenix still lying in the med bay, unconscious.

“The danger’s passed,” says Cassandra. “At least for now.”

“What’d you do?” asks Archangel.

“Ever and I linked together and took out Nate,” replies Cassandra.

“Since when do you have that kind of power?” asks Cyclops, with a hint of skepticism in his voice.

“Since Ever unlocked my potential,” replies Cassandra. “With Jean out of commission, I had to act quickly.”

“I don’t trust it,” says Cyclops.

“SABRETOOTH!”

Cassandra and the four X-Men instantly turn their attention to the medical bay, where Jean is sitting upright with her eyes open.

“What did you just say?” asks Storm.

“Sabretooth,” replies Jean. “He’s behind the attack.”

Into The Light concludes in Uncanny X-Men 2003 Annual!