LIFE GOES ON
Gambit looked around not for the first time. He hated this place. It
reminded him that he would never feel clean again. That his sins would
always be buried inside him. He looked around. A carpet of candles
covered the ground around him. It was a anniversary. Of death. < God how
much I hate myself. I hate everything I've done. I don't know if I can be
even ever forgiven. Every night I wake up and hear screams. Dam it. Remy
LeBeau you're scum.>. He looked at the candles. Tears filled his eyes. He
dropped to his knees. "Why did I d' it ?" he shouted. "What drove me t'
doin' it ? God how much I be sorry." He covered his face with his hands.
"I always be sorry."
Bastion opened the door of the lab. < Harper better have the Prime
Sentinels ready> he thought. He looked at the man in the white outfit. No
words were needed. "Sir they are ready."
"Let me have a look Dr. Harper." Harper pushed few keys here and
there and the platform they were standing on started to rise slowly. After
a while they appeared in a big room. Bastion looked around. In front of
him 2000 people were standing, motionless. Bastion looked at Harper.
"Are they ready Doctor ?" he asked.
"Yes sir."
"Then activate the program." Again Harper pushed few keys on his
computer and the people began to move. The first two rows stepped forward
and flew out the big window that was opened for them. The rest repeated
the sequence, flying in threes. Bastion looked at his newest creations.
As he watched them fly out he saw the dawning of a new era. An era that
had no mutants in it. An era where humans would live in peace. An era
which he gave life. An era which was his agenda. Finally when all of the
Prime Sentinels were gone, Bastion turned around.
"Dr. Harper ?"
"Yes sir."
"I want 10 shipments like that before the end of next week. Each with
2000 units. Is that understood ?"
"Yes sir. I'll start right away."
"Good." With these words Bastion walked out of the room.
Hank looked around. < Hmmmm, now where did I put that screwdriver ?>
It was lying on the floor right next to him < Oh>. He picked it up and
suddenly froze as Cerebro's alarm started to beep. < Cerebro has localized
a new mutant !>. Quickly he got up and ran to the machine. He sat in the
chair.
"Cerebro, confirm Hank McCoy."
{CONFIRMED}
"Report the situation."
{MUTANT CLASS ALPHA FOUND ON 42 N, 71W.}
Hank typed few keys and the computer started to calculate something.
Then it came it up with a answer. "Boston."
"Cerebro, give more details on the mutant."
{POWER TYPE NOT IN FILES. POSSIBLY DANGEROUS. FEMALE. AGE CAN NOT BE
SPECIFIED. MANIFESTATION OF POWER IN 1500 HOURS.}
"Hmmm. Any additional information ?"
{NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOUND}
"Okay. Save the report under: 1500 hours, 189898. Password:
K-Beta-Omega"
{SAVING. COMPLETED}
Beast looked at the computer. He wondered what to do. Then he picked
up the phone and dialed a number. Few seconds latter someone picked up.
"Um, Massachusetts School for Gifted Youngsters."
"Good Afternoon Jubilee."
"Hank ??? Hullo, how's life ??" Asked Jubilee with excitement. "You
know that you don't call us a lot." She added after a short gap.
"I'm fine thank you Jubilee. You know how busy things are over here."
"Yeah, I remember. So why did ya call us ?"
"Could I possibly talk to Banshee ?"
"Mr. Cassidy ? Yeah sure." With these words she took the phone from
her mouth and shouted. "MR. CASSIDY !!!!!! HANK MCCOY ON THE PHONE FOR YA
!"
"Well that should get his attention. See ya later Hank. Say hi to
Wolvie from me."
"Will do Jubilee. Thank you. Bye."
"Bye." With these words she put the phone down. "Hey guys wait up
for me !" She shouted and ran after her friends.
After a while someone picked up the phone. "Yes ?"
"Good Morning Sean. It's me Hank."
"Hi Hank what brings ye here ?"
"I've just had an alarm from Cerebro, about an new mutant...."
"Has been found in Boston. I know I got it too."
"What details did it give you ?"
"The person is female. It managed to keep track of her bio signature
and therefore we checked the address she lives under. Her name is
Elizabeth and she's 16."
"Very impressive. I wonder why my Cerebro didn't pick up all that
information."
"Good question."
"Did it give any idea about the power she might have ?"
"It sort of did. It said she was a powerful telepathy, but also it
said she had unrecognized type of power, of storing energy. But it only
clued on that. It didn't say anything specific."
"Okay. Will you and Emma take care of her ?"
"Yes. I'm going to ring her parents tonight and try to convince them
bring Elizabeth to Massachusetts."
"That's good. When you are done call me and tell me all about it."
"Will do Hank."
"Good Bye."
"Bye." With these words they both hanged up the phones. Hank looked
at Cerebro and wondered why it didn't show as much details as Banshee's.
Sam looked around the lounge of the mansion. It was definitely in
Christmas spirit. Everyone was walking back and forth arranging Christmas
decorations. Almost everyone was there. Scott and Warren were hanging up
red ribbons over the tree. Most of the women including Rogue were
decorating the tree. Even Gambit came out of wherever he was hiding and
was now with Bishop hanging up decorations above the door telling him how
they celebrated Christmas in New Orleans. Christmas was coming in few
days. Sam had already sent presents to his family. Now he was sitting on
the couch unable to help anyone. After his foolishness in the fight with
Holocaust his arm was broken. He had the cast for the past week and it was
at least a week before he could take it off. He hoped it would be off for
Christmas day. Paige and the rest of Gen. X were coming and he would look
stupid in a cast. Right now he just looked at people walking past him and
trying to give his arm some rest so the cast could be taken off quickly.
He hated casts. Suddenly he saw someone fly past him and land on the couch.
He looked down at his friend. His hair was totally messed up. He appeared
to have fear on his face. "Sam buddy, we're under attack !" He shouted.
"What ?...Who ?" Sam looked back confused ready for anything. It was
then when Bobby busted out laughing. Sam looked at his unsure what was
going on.
"You...you..should..have..seen...your face...." He said while trying
to calm down.
"You really thought I was serious ?" Bobby still kept laughing. He
couldn't stop.
"That wasn't funny Bobby." Said Sam. He threw a cushion at Bobby.
Bobby took it and looked at Sam.
"You know Sam, if your arm wasn't broken, I would do...THIS." With
these words he threw the cushion at Sam. Sam totally unprepared fell of
the couch under the impact. That made Bobby laugh even more.
"Well you're defiantly 'n a good mood today." Said Sam while sitting
back at the couch.
"Yeah I guess I am. Christmas is coming. Aren't you ?"
"Not with this." Sam said while pointing at his broken arm.
"Oh yeah I forgot."
"Why have you been running ?"
"I was running away from Jean. She wants me to help her with some
stuff."
"Oh."
"Well you don't sound like you're doing much."
"Ah'm 'ot."
"Want me to tell you a story ?"
"A story ?"
"Remember when I left to take care of my father."
"Yeah how could Ah forget."
"Well there is a whole story to it." Said Bobby while settling on the
couch. Sam was ready to listen. No one paid attention to them.
"Well it was all like that."
Bobby looked up at his father lying in front of him. "Ororo I'm not
coming back." He said.
"I understand. I'll have one of the X-Men pick you up in the
morning."
"No, I'm not coming back to the X-Men. My father needs me more than
ever."
"I understand. Remember that you always have a place as one of us."
With these words she and Gambit walked out of the room. Bobby leaned
over his father. "I'm not going to leave you now dad." He said in tears.
"Bobby could you come here for a second !" Shouted his dad.
Bobby ran from the lounge. It was a month after the accident. His
dad still couldn't walk. He looked down at his father, who was sitting on
the veranda looking out somewhere to the sky. "Yes dad ?"
"Could you get me a glass of water, it's hot like hell. It doesn't
feel like autumn at all." Bobby ran to the kitchen to get himself and his
dad a drink. He came back and sat beside his dad on a chair.
"How are you doing dad ?" He asked
"Well I still can't move my legs but I'm getting better. The doctor
said I'll be walking within few weeks."
"That's great dad."
"Don't have to tell me about it Bobby. I'm tired of asking everyone to
do something for me." Dead silence fell after that. Bobby just looked at
the floor while his dad thought of something. Then, suddenly he broke the
silence.
"Bobby why did you ever join the X-Men ?"
"Wha... ?" asked Bobby surprised that his dad asked him a question
like that.
"You heard me. When Prof. Xavier came around that day, why did you
say yes ?"
"Well I don't really know. I guess I enjoyed being a super hero.
Plus I wanted to learn how to use my powers."
"Did it pay off ?"
"I don't know dad. We had our good moments and bad ones. But as I
sit here ten years after this all I still don't know."
"What about the dream."
Bobby sighed. "The dream...I don't know if the dream still lives.
Prof. is locked up god knows where, everywhere you turn people hate
mutants. Everyone is hating us no matter what we do. And as much as we
fight it, it gets bigger. But I don't know....Maybe one day we will make
it good."
"Bobby I'm proud of you. I always was. All the times you were on TV,
I watched you and pride filled me. I've got so many cuttings from the
newspaper where you are saving the world. I guess I never told you that
Bobby... but I always was proud of you. And I always will.."
Bobby looked at his father surprised. He tried to speak but no words
came out. He couldn't believe it. His father ! Telling him something
positive. Finally he managed to choke out.
"Dad...I....never....knew....." His dad smiled at him.
"Bobby. You're my only son. I love you more than anything on the
world. I know I haven't showed this in past much but I do. Now that I was
crippled I had much time to think about it. I have been terrible in past.
I'm sorry."
Bobby looked down at his plate. His mum and dad were sitting opposite
him. They were discussing something. It was a week after his talk with
dad. Still, he couldn't believe that his dad was proud of him. It was
like a dream come true. To be in peace with dad. Suddenly he heard a
crushing noise. He looked up. His dad was on the floor.
"DAD !" he shouted as he ran up to his father. He looked at him. His
eyes were full of pain, his hands grabbing his heart. Before he could say
something he passed out. Bobby quickly checked his pulse. It was hardly
there. "We have to get him to the hospital mum !"
"I'll call for an ambulance."
"They will never make it on time. Let's get in the car." Bobby
picked up his dad and ran to the car not awaiting for his mum to argue. In
a minute they were in the car. Bobby turned the key. The car didn't
respond. He turned it again and again. The car wouldn't start. Bobby
looked at it with terror. It wasn't going to start. He slammed his hands
on the steering wheel. "Dam you, dam." he swore.
He looked back at his father. He could see his dad wasn't doing good.
He had to be in the hospital. Fast. Then he had an idea. He picked up
his dad. His mum looked at him unsure what he was doing. "I'm taking him
to the hospital. My way." She didn't know what to say. She could see her
husband needed help fast and that the car wasn't going to go. As Bobby
changed to his ice form he was already forming a bridge of ice in the air.
"Be careful !" She shouted after him.
"I will mum." With these words Bobby speeded up. He looked at his
dad. < Don't worry dad. I'll get you to the hospital in time.> Bobby
concentrated on the bridge he was forming in front of him. Using all the
knowledge he had he pushed his powers to the full limits, using every
molecule of his power to gain even more speed. He was racing in the air
with incredible speed. After five minutes he felt really tired. He
couldn't keep up with the speed. His father moaned in his hands. < Can't
stop now. Must keep going.> Bobby pushed his powers to even more limits.
He screamed in pain but kept going. Sweat appeared on his face. He
clenched his teeth and almost crying; kept going. He could see the city in
front of him. One minute and he was in it. Crying out in pain he looked
around to see a hospital. Then he spotted one. Mother of Our Mercy. At
full speed he crashed through the big glass door. Everyone looked at him.
He was trying to catch his breath, his legs feeling like rubber.
"My..dad...help...my dad..." He managed to choke out. Doctors ran to
him with a hospital bed. Quickly they put Bobby's father on the bed and
raced for the operation room. Bobby looked around. He feel to the ground,
exhausted. A young woman, in a doctor's suit came up to him.
"Are you okay ?" She asked.
"I'll...be...fine." Said Bobby while changing back to his human form.
"I'm Dr. Cecilia Reyes, come you need something to drink and we need
to ask you few questions about your dad. You have a name ?"
"Bobby. Bobby Drake."
"Well Mr. Drake let's get you something to drink."
"Thanx Doc."
Bobby looked at his dad in front of him. Tubes were connected to him
everywhere. His eyes were closed. The doctors said his dad had a heart
attack. They managed to help him live through it, but because of his
previous injuries he fell into a coma. If he wouldn't wake up before the
morning, then he wouldn't make it. His mum was on the corridor. She
couldn't stand it. She almost lost her husband once and now it was
happening again. Bobby looked at his father. It was all Graydon Creed's
fault. If his father wouldn't have been beaten up in the first place he
wouldn't be in a comma now. Bobby was without hope. It was 2 am at night.
He kneeled beside the bed. He started praying.
"God I know I haven't been the best person lately. I know I haven't
asked for much but please, don't take away my dad. Now that we finally
made peace together. Please don't take him away now. God please. He
finally told me he cared. Why now ?"
Bobby woke up slowly. He didn't remember going to sleep. He slowly
opened his eyes. He saw.... his dad staring at him, smiling. "Bobby, I
thought you'd never wake up."
"Dad ???!!! You're awake ? And you are okay ?" Bobby quickly ran to
his dad.
"Yeah. I just woke up this morning. I feel great. The doctors said
I'll be out of here in a week, and look at this." He said while he lifted
his leg.
"You... you can feel your legs ?"
"Yes. It's a miracle Bobby."
"It is dad. It is.".....
Bobby looked around. Everyone was sitting around him on the couch.
Sam right opposite him. He didn't even notice when they sat down to listen
to his story. He smiled. Jean looked at him.
"Bobby, we never knew."
"I didn't want to tell anyone too much about it."
"Why ?"
"I don't know. I just thought it wasn't necessary."
"It always is. Remember that. We are a family."
"Yeah, of course."
The End
Plot and Script: Tom
NEXT ISSUE:
"One Christmas Day."
The mysterious new mutant is revealed in "GEN X-IN THE BEGINNING" online
next week and be here next month to see Christmas and the way X-Men
celebrate it. Don't miss it. It's the last issue before we take a new
direction in 98. Be here now.