Avalon
Genosha

The abandoned airfield in the mutant-run African nation served as the base of operations for a renegade team of X-Men. Labeled terrorists by the rest of the world and on the run from their friends, they nonetheless had an agenda they felt would lead to the betterment of mutantkind.

A lot has happened since then.

The airfield had been upgraded inside with state of the art technology. Right now, Alex Summers stood in front of a large monitor. On the screen was footage streamed from the Internet of an incident in Kansas. Members of the virulent anti-mutant hate group called the Kansas Humanity Church were sucked into a black hole that had been opened at their protest of the funeral of a mutant teenager.

The cause of the black hole was a man who appeared at the rally dressed in black and red leather. He wore an iron helmet that looked like a skull, with bright blue energy emitting from the eye slits. He was accompanied in the video by three other mutants—a woman with snake-like skin, a man whose entire body glowed bright green and revealed a black skeleton beneath his translucent flesh, and another man in a trench coat with his mouth and chest cavity replaced by a burning furnace of psionic energy.

Havok turned off the monitor and faced those four mutants. But he specifically addressed the man responsible for the black hole. “Just what in the hell were you thinking?”

“We took action, Alex,” said Xorn, his voice echoing within his iron helmet. “Fighting for mutants.”

“No, you murdered men, women and children!” said Havok. “Children, Xorn! You crossed the line!”

“I thought we were in this to bring the kind of justice Xavier’s lapdogs don’t have the stomach for,” said Skullfire.

“Watch your mouth, Roberts,” said Phoenix. “I won’t stand here and listen to you discredit the memory of a man who did more for mutants than you can ever dream of.”

Ecstasy rolled her eyes. “Could we not get into another edition of the Exploits of Saint Xavier? Shit, Ray, every time you start goin’ off about him, you sound like Tom Cruise when he talks about Scientology.”

Gambit sat nearby, his legs propped up on a table, flipping his plastic playing cards between his hands. “You didn’t know the man, chere. Some of us here owe Charlie X our life.”

{Yeah, well I knew ‘im,} said Chamber. {And I gotta know, who gives a toss about Xavier? He’s got nothing to do with this.}

“Without Xavier, there wouldn’t be any X-Men,” said Warpath. “I may not be as invested in his idealism as some of you, but the man’s earned our respect.”

{Did I say he didn’t? What I’m saying is Xavier has nothing to do with this team. He’s gone, so we shouldn’t live and die by what he would approve of,} said Chamber. {Besides, not like he didn’t see the need to cross the line every now and then. Bet I’m not the only one who remembers what he did to Magneto.}

The Master of Magnetism himself was present in the room, but despite Chamber’s obvious attempt to rope him into the discussion, he remained separate from it. Lila Cheney was another matter.

“This is wrong,” she said. “I joined up with you guys, because I thought we had a line we wouldn’t cross, too.”

“When we first came together, I said we would stray from the path of nirvana if we continued down this road. We’ve come too far to turn back now, Alex,” said Xorn.

“You also said it disturbed you,” said Phoenix.

“Indeed I did, but I’ve made peace with that. To call Fredericks and his ilk ‘human’ is an insult to that term. They have brought much suffering.”

“This isn’t what I wanted when I put this group together…” said Havok.

“Things don’t always work out the way you plan. Just gotta roll with the punches, Alex,” said Ecstasy.

“Not with this,” said Phoenix.

“Magneto.” Havok looked at the caped man who had long been an enemy of his. “I want to know what you think.”

“This is your team, Alex. I simply provide you with shelter,” said Magneto.

“Please,” said Havok.

Magneto sighed. “Very well. I side with Xorn.”

“Big surprise there…” muttered Gambit.

“You have done much good, but you formed this team so you could go to those lengths the rest of the X-Men would never dream of,” said Magneto. “Do not stop now. And do not shed any tears for trash like Fredericks.”

One member of the team remained silent during the entire exchange. As Avalanche, Dominic Petros made a career out of being a mutant terrorist. Still, he felt no need to get embroiled in this debate. He slipped out from the room, leaving the airfield and walking to the edge of the hill it sat on. From here, he had a great view of Hammer Bay and he started to reflect on his own life. Was he truly doing the work of a hero, even if the world still thought him a terrorist? Was he really helping mutants? Or was he just back with the Brotherhood under a different name?

The armored man appeared in a flash of light behind Avalanche. He was silent, so Petros couldn’t even detect him. The armored man held up his lance, pointing it at the unassuming mutant. A burst of mental energy fired from its tip, knocking Avalanche down.

“What the—?”

Before Avalanche even knew what had happened, his attacker was on him, pummeling him mercilessly. His strength was unbelievable and his weapons were powerful. Within moments, Dominic Petros lay battered and bruised on the ground.

The X-Cutioner moved from him, going towards the abandoned airfield. Avalanche was just the first of many killers he had to deal with tonight.

JUDGE, JURY, X-CUTIONER

By Chris Munn and Dino Pollard

The Shi’ar computer system incorporated into the X-Cutioner’s armor provided a HUD over Carl Denti’s eyes. He could see the security measures surrounding the seemingly-decrepit airfield. In reality, it only looked to be decrepit. Seemed the X-Men had spent some time fortifying the inside to prevent unwanted visitors. Probably due to the recent Sentinel attack on Genosha.

The armor’s stealth feature rendered him invisible to any scanning devices and he calmly walked past them. When he reached the door, he opened a small panel on his gauntlet. At this close range, he could easily access the computer systems. Lines of code flashed across his HUD as his armor hacked into the security. Once the HUD notified him the security was deactivated, he entered the door.

Sentinel x-gene detection scanners showed ten mutants in the immediate vicinity, all of them in the same location. Seeing a vent in the ceiling above, the X-Cutioner extended his arm. From the housing attached to the bottom of his gauntlet, a carbonadium tentacle emerged and latched onto the vent grate. With a simple thought, the coil retracted, pulling the grate with it. The X-Cutioner used the tentacles to pull himself into the ceiling tunnel and began to move slowly but deliberately through the path, following the scanner.

He came to an opening where he could see the targets arguing about the team’s direction. On his HUD, the video of the attack in Kansas played and the scanners matched the mutants in that video with four of the mutants in the room. Chamber and Skullfire were identified as former students of the now-defunct Xavier School in Snow Valley, although the files indicated Chamber had been dead for some time. The snake-woman and the man in the iron mask were unidentifiable, but their descriptions were included in past X-Men sightings.

The X-Cutioner burst through the vent, putting an instant halt to the debate. He cast a glance at Havok. “You get a pass for now. I’m only interested in mutants who’ve killed.” He gestured towards the four X-Men involved in the Kansas massacre. “You’ve been found guilty. I’m here to carry out your sentence.”

The carbonadium tentacles fired out from his gauntlets, one of them wrapping around Ecstasy’s torso, pinning her arms to her sides. The other snagged Skullfire around his neck and he struggled against it.

Phoenix moved to jump into action, but Havok held up his hand. “We have to stop him!” she said.

“Not yet,” said Havok, watching the battle unfold. “We’ll step in if need be. But after what Xorn and the others did in Kansas, they’ve got some punishment coming.”

“Y’know Summers, playin’ at Evil Mutant don’t mean you leave your friends t’ die,” said Gambit.

“Alex has a point,” said Magneto. “Actions have consequences. It’s a valid lesson to be learned.”

“Appreciate the support,” said Havok.

Xorn and Chamber moved to assist their teammates, but the X-Cutioner countered with techno-organic energy blasters that formed on his shoulders to knock the two of them back.

“Who the hell are you to judge me?” Skullfire glared at the X-Cutioner and his eyes burned before firing bursts of radioactive energy at his helmet. “I’ll boil the skin off your bones, you hypocrite!”

The strike caused the coils to loosen. Now free, Ecstasy moved towards the X-Cutioner, increasing her body’s adrenaline output. She needed to make skin-to-skin contact for her powers to take effect and it seemed the easiest way to accomplish that was by removing his helmet.

But once she got close, the X-Cutioner grabbed her arm, sending a burst of electricity through her body and then dropping her to the ground. “One down.”

He threw up a forcefield to defend himself from another blast from Skullfire. The X-Cutioner drew his lance and fired another burst of energy at the young mutant. Skullfire countered, holding the blast at bay with his own radiation beam. The two continued at a stalemate for a few moments before the X-Cutioner’s techno-organic cannons added more fuel. The blowback caused Skullfire to burst through the wall of the hangar, out into the open airfield.

“Alex, this is getting serious now,” said Phoenix.

“Not yet,” said Havok.

“Then to hell with you.” Warpath broke out into a run. The X-Cutioner had his back to him but his scanners alerted him to the Apache’s attack. Just before he could strike, the X-Cutioner stepped to the side and grabbed Warpath’s arm, twisting it behind him. He drew one of Warpath’s daggers from the scabbards strapped to his back and drove it into Warpath’s side.

“I told you, stay out of this,” said the X-Cutioner before throwing Warpath to the side.

“I’ve had enough of this,” said Magneto as he rose into the air. He used his powers, latching onto the metal in the X-Cutioner’s armor. But beneath his helmet, Denti smiled. He sent a cybernetic command to his armor and dropped from the carbonadium coils.

“I had a feeling I’d run into you as well, Lehnsherr,” said the X-Cutioner. “Those coils are the only metal in my armor. Now stay out of this!”

The X-Cutioner froze up suddenly, being lifted into the air once more. “What?”

“Perhaps you didn’t do the proper research, my friend,” said Xorn, the blue energy pouring from the holes on his helmet. “I can control your gravitational field. Since you seem so eager to help those who would celebrate the death of a mutant, perhaps you should join them…?”

“Okay, now it’s gone too far!” said Gambit, charging up his staff and hurling it at Xorn. The impact knocked the Chinese mutant off his feet and Gambit readied his playing cards just in case. He cast a glance to Lila.

“Got my back, chere?”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” said Lila.

“If it does, I’m with you, too,” said Phoenix. “Lila, Proudstar needs medical attention. I need you to teleport him to the nearest hospital.”

“What? But what if—”

“We can handle the X-Cutioner, but I’m not letting anyone else die because of our actions,” said Phoenix.

“Got it,” said Lila. She ran to Warpath’s side, teleporting the two of them from the battlefield.

Rachel cast a glance at Havok, who still just stood silently, watching everything go down. {Some leader you’re turning out to be.}

{Trust me, Rachel. I know what I’m doing,} came Havok’s telepathic response.

“Whatever,” she said out loud. She moved to intervene, but the X-Cutioner activated a device enclosed on one of his gauntlets. Rachel screamed and collapsed. Her mind felt like it was on fire. As she lifted her face, the Hound scars were present and her eyes were completely white and vacant.

“Something I got from one of your old pals recently. Looks like it was more effective than I expected,” said the X-Cutioner.

{Let’s see you try it on me!} said Chamber. The X-Cutioner barely had time to throw up a forcefield as Jono unleashed a massive burst of psionic energy directed at the attacker.

Once the dust settled, the X-Cutioner was nowhere to be seen.

“You vaporize ‘im or somethin’?” asked Gambit.

{If I did, I didn’t mean to,} said Chamber. {But I can’t pick up his thoughts any—ARGH!}

The X-Cutioner teleported behind Chamber, blasting him with his lance. As Chamber fell to the ground, the X-Cutioner raised up the lance. At the end of it, an energy-based sickle formed and he was prepared to bring it down on his target’s head.

The ground began to fiercely quake and as the X-Cutioner brought the scythe down, it shook so much that he missed the target. Another rumble and the ground beneath the X-Cutioner rose up and threw him back. A wave of earth rolled in, with Avalanche perched atop. He had recovered from the X-Cutioner’s ambush and did not appear to be in the best of moods.

As the X-Cutioner tried to prepare for a counter-strike, the ground beneath him opened wide and he fell into the deep chasm. Avalanche closed the gap, but the X-Cutioner teleported behind him, slamming his covered hand into the terrorist’s back. Avalanche was thrown from the ground wave and it collapsed without his control, with the X-Cutioner falling with it.

The X-Men recovered and surrounded Denti. The X-Cutioner slowly got to his feet, facing off against his enemies. He sized each of them up, his armor’s scanners analyzing potential avenues of attack and weak points. But before he could utilize any option, Skullfire charged into him and blindsided him. The young mutant pinned Denti to the ground, his hand wrapped around the FBI agent’s throat. Denti’s computer system warned him of an armor breach and he could begin to feel the heat from Skullfire’s radioactive power.

“You think you’ve got a right to judge me?” he asked. Skullfire held up his free hand, radiation building up in his palm. “You think you’re better than us, with all these little toys? Take all that away, you’re nothing more than flatscan scum! You defend monsters like Fredericks? Well, I’ll show you what I think of flatscans like you! How’s this for judgment?”

Avalanche grabbed Skullfire’s arm and yanked him off the X-Cutioner. “You’re done, kid.”

“The hell’s the matter with you?” asked Skullfire, glaring at Avalanche. “You decide to start standin’ up for bigots instead of your own kind?”

“Talk like that, makes me wonder how tolerant you are,” said Avalanche. “You kill him, that’s something you never walk away from. My check’s already been cashed but you got a shot at bein’ something better than me. Don’t waste it.”

The X-Cutioner slowly rose to his feet, leaning on his lance. His armor was compromised and the odds were against him. Would only be a matter of time before Magneto called in more reinforcements if necessary. And he had no desire to take on an entire country, he was only interested in the guilty parties. He activated his teleporter and began to vanish away in a flash of light.

“NO!” Skullfire generated a radioactive blast, but the X-Cutioner had teleported away before the attack could hit. He turned his burning eyes to Avalanche. “You sonnuva bitch!”

“Consider yourself lucky, kid,” said Avalanche.

“Petros is correct,” said Magneto. “I suggest you all return to your quarters. I will contact someone about repairing this security.”

Rachel Summers awoke in a hospital located near Magda Square. She was somewhat surprised to see Magneto standing over her. Even more surprising is that he was dressed casually as opposed to his usual armor and cape.

“How are you?” he asked.

“Okay, and a little surprised to find you watching over me,” said Rachel.

“A situation involving McCoy’s team of X-Men called for your parents’ urgent intervention,” said Erik. “As she left, your mother contacted me via telepathy with two instructions. One was to watch over Genosha as she and Scott tended to those matters. The other was to watch over you.”

“You know, seeing you like this, reminds me of the Erik Lehnsherr from my time,” said Rachel.

“What was it the X-Cutioner did to you?” asked Erik.

Rachel shook her head. “Not sure. But it kind of felt like I was a Hound again, under Ahab’s control.”

“He said he obtained it from one of our old friends. Could he have meant Ahab?” asked Magneto.

“From what we’ve heard from those who were with X-Corps, Campbell embraced that destiny. Might have something to do with it,” said Rachel. “I’m more worried about Alex’s attitude during the battle.”

“Perhaps he had a point in allowing those the X-Cutioner was after to defend themselves,” said Erik.

“Yeah, but when things got out of control…”

“I’m aware.”

“Y’know, as far as you’ve come, there’s still more than a little bit of Magneto still in there,” said Rachel.

“I was prepared to put it behind me, but they continue to force my hand,” said Erik. “The world may need Magneto more than it realizes.”

“Or maybe you weren’t as ready to let go of the hate,” said Rachel.

“Get some rest, Rachel. I feel you may need it in the coming days.”

Erik left her room, closing the door behind him. As he entered the hall, he saw Alex Summers sitting in the waiting room, still in costume. “How is she?”

With a gesture of his hand, Magneto latched onto the metal in Alex’s costume as well as the iron in his bloodstream and slammed him against the wall. The display of power was enough to cause anyone in the room to immediately leave. Magneto slowly approached him, glaring at Havok in the eyes.

“The next time you stand by as your teammates are at risk of death is the time I cease to respect your independence,” said Magneto. “These men and women are willing to lay down their lives for you. If you are not willing to do the same, you have not earned the right to lead. Do we understand each other, Mr. Summers?”

“…right,” said Havok.

Magneto released Havok and turned away. “Do not make me regret my decision to grant you asylum, Summers. Or I promise you, I will giftwrap you for the international community to do as they please.”

“Pride comes before the fall, Erik,” muttered Havok, once Magneto was out of earshot. “Pride comes before the fall.”

Alex Roberts moved through the city of Haller, which had become a center of research and development in the newly-formed Genosha. He received a cryptic message telling him to come alone and not let any of his teammates know. To avoid any recognition, Alex made sure to travel while in his human form as opposed to the smoldering emerald skeleton that became his trademark as Skullfire.

Alex looked down at the slip of paper he scribbled the address on. He came to one of the buildings and saw the numbers matched. With a thought, the paper burned to embers in his fingertips and he entered the building.

“Anyone here?” he called out into the darkness. There were no lights but he could hear classical music playing in the background. Alex held up his finger, generating a small burst of energy to illuminate the building. Past the lobby, he saw a corridor and started to move down it.

In the distance, he could see light coming out from the crack of a door. Alex went to the door and could clearly tell this room was where the music came from. He knocked a few times but received no answer. Preparing himself for anything, Alex opened the door to see a rotund, bald man with thick glasses hunched over a computer screen.

“Are you Philip Henries?” he asked.

The bald man turned off the music and spun his chair around. “That depends. Who might you be, young man?”

“Alex Roberts,” he said. “I got your message.”

“Did you, now?” asked Henries. “Well, I will need to see proof, my friend. Show me who you really are.”

Alex nodded and with a thought, green energy surrounded his body, turning his skin translucent and showcasing a black skeleton beneath. “Satisfied?”

Henries grinned. “Oh, indeed I am, my boy. Indeed I am.”

“So who are you and what do you want with me?” asked Skullfire. “Your note, said you knew something about my father?”

“Correction: I know something about your real father,” said Henries. “But first, let us dispense with all disguises.”

Henries reached into his lab coat and produced a small electronic device. He pushed a button on it and the image of Philip Henries as a fat, bald man vanished, giving way to a bestial figure covered with gray fur and with dark blue hair on his head. He had yellow eyes and a fanged grin. Skullfire looked at him in surprise.

“Wait…aren’t you…Dr. McCoy?”

“Quite accurate, my boy. I am indeed Dr. Henry Philip McCoy, II.”

“But…why are you in Genosha?” asked Skullfire. “And I thought you went through some sort of second mutation or something?”

“Perhaps I should clarify—I am the Henry McCoy of an alternate reality,” he said. “Some have referred to me as the Dark Beast.”

“Oh yeah, I know about you…” muttered Skullfire, his eyes beginning to glow. “You’ve caused the X-Men more than a little trouble in the past.”

“So have some of your teammates,” said the Dark Beast. “Now either we can commence with the barbaric ritual of fisticuffs, or we can sit and discuss your past…and your future.”

“About my father? My real father?”

The Dark Beast nodded. Skullfire hesitated, still not sure if he should attack or not. He chose the latter and powered down, curious about what information the Dark Beast had to tell him.

“Okay, you’ve got five minutes,” said Skullfire. “What’s this talk about my real father?”

“I promise you, my young friend,” said the Dark Beast with a wide, toothy grin, “this secret will change your life forever.”

NEXT: Forever Endeavor