...and for all." They land at the mission only to find
A giant ship with the imperial guard of Shi’ar armed and ready for a fight
thoughts race Magnus' mind of Xavier's love only for the dark Princess Lilandra
and his own wife Amelia Vought now dead at Xavier’s hands.
Sentinels converge on the spot blowing up the Shi’ar ship. Magneto looks at the note Charles left
for him and crumbles it in his fist as the rest of his Brotherhood come down to help avenge their
friends deaths and defeat the sentinels. Apocalypse joins the fray by blowing up the sentinels.
Apocalypse looks out over the destruction then looks at Magnus. He looks quite grave as he says,
"Magnus these sentinels weren't the worst of it the X-Men have other victims as well. They have
just blown up an orphanage. Cyclops insisted on it. He has to make the child welfare system pay
for his time in there you know."
Sinister looks over them with a sorrowful expression, "Oh my son. I tried to save him from this
path of evil but did he listen...no the bitterness just ate him up inside and now look at him!"
Storm has also decided it turns out, that New York has got to go due to the levels of pollution
there.
All of the sudden a voice speaks from the shadows..."That isn't the worst of it. Guess
what? Shadowcat and Darkchilde (who got partially purified by angels so she is fighting
her conscience now) have just taken over as hell's new rulers. This isn't good or is it just me?"
As the shadow figure appears they all see Selene, the queen of the light realm, and Magneto's
best friend "My dearest friend," Magneto says.
"Walk with me awhile." Selene says motioning down the broken path.
Together they leave the carnage and come to a bare hill, where the grass struggles to survive.
"I am weary of war, Selene." Magneto says a heavy sigh escapes him. "Every day more and more I
see the atrocities that Mutant kind inflicts on the humans, and I say to myself Did I make the
right choice all those years ago." Selene nods. "If I had stayed with Charles perhaps I could
have changed him. now it's too late."
Selene puts her hand on his shoulder. "But you keep trying Magneto, and you'll try again, won't
you?"
"Perhaps for the last time." He replies. He then takes a deep breath "I will meet with him alone,
I know where he shall be." with that magneto rises into the air.
Meanwhile at Xavier's camp...
Cyclops laughs at the outcome "Xavier you fool! You depended upon the Shi’ar twerps and they lost
. It is a wonder you are the leader!"
"perhaps dear Cyclops it is because I can crush you dear fool."
"Lets see." says the arrogant field leader. and the fight breaks out.
The fight ends before Cyclops can even blink a tendril of psychic energy from Xavier tearing into
his mind. "If I keep this up you'll be dead. REMEMBER that! "Xavier looks at the downed Cyclops
and smashes into his side with his armored hover-chair. The sound of bone crunching is
satisfying. Cyclops moans in pain. Suddenly Xavier turns away. "Magneto is coming." he mutters to
himself. "My old friend..." He thinks back to the day years before, the day Erik took his legs....
He became enraged, "Don't you understand that your effort to make mutant-human coexistence
is futile?" Xavier muttered to himself. Then he hovered about thinking of a way to dispose of
Magneto, he stopped in front of Wolverine and Jean, they were both kissing when, Xavier said "Cut
it out you two or neither of you will be able to think by tomorrow." As Xavier said this he
remembered Lilandra and their fling when suddenly A scream is heard echoing through the halls.
"Ah Beast has made progress at last. Soon Gambit will spill all his secrets."
While Xavier is distracted Cyclops manages to sneak up behind him and wrap his hands around
his throat.
Meanwhile, in hell, Kitty and Illiayna look at their newest victim...namely Polaris.
"Looky at what we got the bimbo bad guy. You stole my idea for a haircut last month and I for
one am holding a grudge." Kitty growls as she lets loose some arcane power making Polaris scream
in pain.
Illiayna looks on uncomfortably and then says, "Kitty,do you really think we should hurt her, I
mean she is a teammate and her powers don't work here andall." Illianya then slaps her hands
over her mouth after saying this and looks back at Kitty apologetically, "Sorry! The good side of
me took control for a moment. Let's fry this hag." She then sticks the soul sword through her
and watches her die in excruciating pain. Illiayna looks at Kitty and grins, "I haven't had that
much fun since I killed Belesco the first time, right lover." Belesco encased in crystal looks
on in a silent scream from his crystal. "I think he looks very pretty don't you?"
Kitty looks on and grins evily, "Of course roomy! He looks great. Now that we have had some fun,
let's go take over the world hmmm..." Both of them laugh evily and plan their assault.
Meanwhile back on the astral plane with Scott and Jean...
Jean is yanked back into her body when a psychic knife cuts her off from her telepathic powers.
"Leave my lover alone you red headed cow!! Scott are you all right?"
Scott manages to roll to his feet, favoring his wounded side and grins at her charmingly,
"Of course my dear. You should know better then anyone that I feel nothing anymore...not even
pain." He then laughs and staggers off to go get patched up.
Meanwhile in the detention cell...
Scanner screams in pain again. She doesn't want to live anymore, but she cannot help but hold
to the hope that Sabertooth will one day come and rescue her. Jubilee looks at her flaming hand in
awe as she flips the little pafs up in the air. She looks over at Nightcrawler irritably when he
interrupts her contemplation with one word..."Again!" Jubilee then shoots her flames at Scanner
making them erupt right under the skin. She screams again only worse.
Nightcrawler looks on and grins..."That is more like it. Scream librechin...scream!" He laughs.
Meanwhile in Gambit's holding cell a recently patched up Cyclops looks over at McCoy in horrified
fascination, "My God McCoy you are a genius...what in the hell did you do to him?"
Beast looks at him and grins..."I put him through a week of Barney, Care Bears, Michael Jackson
was on the sound system at the same time too. In between I put on Jane Fonda workout tapes.
After a week of that...told you he'd crack eventually!"
Gambit sits in a corner of his cell in a semi catatonic state repeating the same words over and
over, "Please turn it off...Please. I'll kill whoever you want me too. I am your slave. Just
turn it off."
Cyclops looks at Gambit and says, "Okay then...you win. We want you to..."
Meanwhile outside, the ruined tree planted long ago by Xavier and Magnus still stands dying
and twisted like Charles Xavier. Magnus looks at his one time friend's effort and thinks to
himself "Charles you are so much like this tree, twisted and dying. Why do you continue?"
"Because I must," Charles, answers his hover-chair gliding to a halt next to Magnus.
"There have been too much blood lost between us, to many years." Magnus says silently.
"Yes there has but I feel the end draws near my old nemesis. I'm glad for that at least."
Magnus looks over at Charles. The once youthful man has become thin and cadaverous in the
past few months as if he were withering.
"Yes, it's the virus." Charles says. "I won't see the end, though but know that my side will
triumph."
"Are you so sure Charles?"
"Yes."
"Than we have nothing left to be said, between us." Magneto turns away. " I wished that in the
end we could remain friends."
A coughing laugh escapes Charles, "When you took my legs you took that friendship Erik."
"I forgave you long ago why can't you, me?" Magnus says rising into the air.
"Because you walk..." Charles says to himself.
Magneto returns to his ship and comes in to see Deadpool and Sabretooth waiting his next
command. "Old friends, I must see what Charles has in this mansion of his. I want to know the
full nature of what we're dealing with. I want the two of you to teleport in and scout around. If
worse comes to worse, I am allowing you to kill any threat to your mission." Magneto declares,
even though this decision rests heavily on his heart, he knows what must be done.
With that, Deadpool clicks on his belt button and He and Sabretooth are inside the mansion. They
creep around the corners avoiding security devices while trying to reach the war room. As they
make it to the basement level they are confronted by Bishop and Forge, both carrying a massive
array of gunpower. Forge goes ballistic thinking its Vietnam and unleashes a barrage. Deadpool
and Sabretooth narrowly avoid the display and are both wounded. This matters little since they
have healing factors. Sabretooth looks up to see a barrel aimed right at his head by the
maniacal Forge. When the trigger is about to be pulled a sword comes through the center of
Forge's head, releasing him from his insanity and life.
"Get up Tooth, we got a job to do." Bishop fires a beam of energy knocking Deadpool to the
ground. Sabretooth jumps at him in a berserker fury, grabs him by the neck and crushes his
windpipe like it was a tomato. Deadpool recovers from the blast, and runs in with Sabretooth to
the war room. "We only got a few seconds hairy, so make it qucik!" Exclaims 'Pool. As the CD ROM
is finished downloading the Xavier protocols an army of X-men appear in the room. "Adios,
suckers!" As Deadpool and Sabretooth port out of the room. As they return to the ship. They
hurry their steps since they realize that The info that they have has power to finish this war
once and for all.
When they get on the ship Magneto says "Make preparations to leave immediately! Good job
Friends." Then as the ship is begging to depart...
Back at the Xavier war room...
The X-men stand over the broken bodies of Forge and Bishop.
Xavier states "Damn, they were good soldiers, but what I am worried about is the files stolen.
They had exact counterattacks and methods on how to destroy us all. This maybe be our final hour.
" As the shocked X-men stare at the Professor, a vindictive Cyclops turns to the X-men. "We shall
fight to the death, bring Magneto on for we shall crush his bones. Battle Stations!!" "Activate
perimeter defenses!!! " Said Cyclops. Suddenly Guns pop out of the Mansion.
As the rocket launchers rise from the ground Magneto looks over the defenses of the X-Mansion on
the files Deadpool and Sabretooth got him. "All right people...here’s the plan..."
"Magneto, incoming" screams Fatale a look of panic on her face.
"Damn, if only we hadn’t lost Illyana. " Magneto turns to the screen to see the oncoming missiles
. "Teleporters get out of here". The master of magnetism then raises his arms and activates his
power. Nothing, what are the missiles made of. The ship he must move the ship. With all his
power Magneto then lifts the ship out of the line of fire. Then exhausted he drops to the ground.
The missiles passing them by. Silverfox rushes to his side.
"Are you okay?"
"Just exhausted this whole situation is taking its toll on me. We need to get back to base and
examine the files. Only then will we have a chance of finding a weakness."
Hours later the ship arrives at Asteroid M. Magnetos chief scientist the time-lost Black Beast
rushes to great his leader.
"You are looking a little the worse for wear old man."
"No worse than the X-men are going to be my friend" Magneto looks at McCoy amazed that this is
the same man that tortures his men in Xavier’s mansion, but from a different reality. One where
Xavier had died many years ago. His death had caused a utopia for mutants and humans alike.
"Something troubles you Eric, what is it?"
"These are the endgames I fear. Xavier has something planned. We must make our final assault
count or it has been for nothing." With that Magneto heads for the war room, calling for his finest
warriors.
Magneto stood in front of the giant screen full of hope for what it was about to show him.
Behind him stood some of the most noble mutants ever to walk the Earth.
"I hope this is worth it, I cannot stand the thought of my stepbrother destroying any more lives"
So spoke the gentle giant Juggernaut.
"I would say now is a good time for us to pray people" Magneto operated the controls
downloading the files into the memory banks of Eric’s computer. Within minutes they were presented
with detailed information of each of the X-men, including their weaknesses.
"That’s it" said Callisto, Magnetos personal bodyguard. "We have the information now we just
have to utilize it"
"Crimson Commando, my finest strategist, I want you to come up with a detailed plan of which
of my men would be best suited to take down Xavier’s in the ways described. I will work on a way
to get us near enough to take them down. Now!" The tone of his voice made his men tremble, they
had seen the dark side of Magneto surface before. He had even aided Xavier for a while until he
realized his methods were too harsh. "Callisto, Mastermind, Vanisher, Deathbird and Sauron come
with me we have much to discuss."
suddenly a small red light appears on the Holodome. "A message has been intercepted from the
X-Men base." The Main computer, all that's left of Tessa says. Magneto nods and everyone
silences.
The image takes a few minutes to crystallize and when it does Magnus stares at the youthful face
of Sunfire, behind him are his mercs rogue mutants who'll join anyone for a price. "We received
your invitation Xavier to join your little war and your gift." Sunfire says. "I believe that we
must... Accept your offer."
A huge grin comes over the face of Magneto when he receives the intercepted transmission.
"Excellent, Deadpool, your comrades have done an excellent job of convincing Xavier that he has
new allies in this war." "Ha, Wait till chuck sees them turn on him right in his very own war
room.
"Man, I can't wait to see his face." Sabretooth sits in the shadows and comes forward. "What
about Scanner? We had the perfect opportunity to get here when 'Pool and I ported in."
Magneto answers "Do not worry old friend, Deadpool has talked to Sunfire and he has assured her
safe escape from the X-Men. You have my word, she will be with you by this time tomorrow."
Sabretooth walks out of the room as Magneto plans his next strike. Deathbird thinks to herself "I
have never seen Magneto this vindictive, what will be the next move in this mad struggle?"
Her question is soon answered as the face of the man known only as Bastion appears on Magnetos
screen.....
"Bastion," Magneto grins, "how fares my Mutant Underground?" "Supplies are low, and morale
is lower," the bearded man answers. "If you've got a plan I suggest you do it now. Doc Sinister
and I have been trying to care for the wounded as much as possible but ..."
"But what? Bastion, answer me!" Magneto declares. Bastion looks down then looks at the screen,
"The US government has initiated its Extinction Agenda, and they asked me to run it." Magneto's
face darkens, "I see."
Bastion smiles, "I told them to go to Hades, right now I'm off to try and smuggle a few mutants
into Genosha, they'll be safe in that peaceful, tolerant nation. Good luck Magneto, Bastion
signing off."
Meanwhile...Apocalypse looks at the beauty that once was Mount Rushmore and seethes. He can not
believe the evil the X-men will sink to in this war. They do this destruction for fun, he thinks
to himself. Who can ever defeat them.
Elsewhere...
in downtown New York Rogue and Pietro have gone on a little shopping spree.
Within the space of ten minutes they have looted everything they need. They are laughing as they
get into the car when a voice speaks from the shadows..."Rogue, my daughter, I have come to
take you home."
Rogue looks to see Mystique standing just to the side of the car. "Oh man! Ya always did know
the worst possible times to visit mama. We are almost ready to take over the world and ya just
have to butt into it!" Mystique stands in front of the jeep as they climb in and pulls out a gun.
"Sweetheart, I don't think you understand me. I know that Carol Danver’s put this evil in
you and I know the Shadow King can fix it. You are coming with me whether you like it or not!"
Rogue looks at Mystique and then at the gas pedal on the jeep. It would be soooo easy. She turns
the key and slams on the gas. Mystique looks surprised as the jeep barrels down on her and squashes her morphing form flat as a pancake.
"Good thing I'm a shape shifter. that would have HURT." "I wonder," ponders Mystique, "Dose
this mean that Rogue is beyond help? or did her knowing I could easily avoid any serious injury
prevent her from reaching deep in side for the good still in her?
Back in Limbo/Hell...
"Come Kitty, see what I have found in the scrying glass!" calls Magik.
"What’s up?" responds Kitty, Gazing into the glass. "Oh, You have GOT to be kidding me!"
She laughs. "THAT is most certainly NOT us!"
"Not US us, no. But rather cross-time variants of us. Possible answers to the great cosmic
question of 'What If...?'" Explains Illyanna.
"But look at them! 'me' especially! Look how sickly weakly and innocent I look!" Shadowcat
shudders.
"No need to get all upset, it's just one possibility. besides, " Magik adds, "check this out." as
the image shifts, revealing the numerous 'Heros' as the dark and loathsome Villains the readers
all know so well.
"Mmmm... That's a bit better. I never realized the potential some of those fools had. WHY do
they waist it so?" Wonders Shadowcat.
"THAT, We may never know, my friend, we can, however go recruiting!" Magik says with an evil grin.
"Sounds like a deliciously Wicked idea!" responds Kitty as they disappear through a stepping disk.
Sensing a disturbance in the space time continuum Destiny warns Magneto of the fracture.
"Magnus, there has been a rip, someone has breached the continuum," Magneto, looking very
surprised realizes this can only mean one thing. "Magik has drawn the last straw, we must stop
them now Erik." Destiny speaks in a harsher tone realizing what they plan to do. "Very well, I
shall call on the Shadow King to stop them."
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