Celebrating One Year of Vision Comics

May 98 "The dream that Failed"

Writer: Tom Editor: Tom

For Reuben M. "Supereub ", who made Vision Comics possible in every possible way. We miss you man.

The address read 1407 Graymalkin Lane. After a short road through the surrounding woods a giant gate blocked the way. Beyond that gate spread the green lands of Wenchester Country. Hills, rivers, forests and lakes made up the landscape. The land has always been rich. The Indians lived of it for over a hundred years before white man ever arrived. Later it was sold to Joseph Xavier who immigrated to the country from England. The price was small considering the amount but back then Indians would sell anything for a bottle of fire water. Quickly the Xaviers build a grand house on the land. What could be was turned into farmlands and they lived in the grand house. The house itself was the richest in whole of the area of Wenchester and Salem Center. With the main living area in the middle it had a left and right wing which were filled with living rooms for the family, maids and servants. Over the two hundred years the house was passed from father to son. In that time many things changed in the world, but the house remained as it was as if telling the world that it survived the changes of the modern world and that it didn't care about them as it stood proud on the end of the driveway. That was before Charles Xavier got it from his father. Unlike his parents and grandparents he didn't have a large family and servants. He lived quietly in it, at first alone later with the love of his life Amelia Voght. In those years America just past the Vietnam war, still in chaos still trying to find it's way in the world. But the house remained as it was. Later it became a school and then a base for the mutant outlaws called the X-Men. Then the house became filled with many people, who replaced Charles a wife and children he never had. And the house stood there proud, and untouched as if a mark. Some X-Men died, some left, new arrived and but the house didn't change. Sure it was even blown into pieces once but when Charles Xavier returned it was rebuild again. One could say that Charles's love for his family and his students and needless to say his house kept the house standing and proud, and no matter what happened Charles would be there to make sure it stood for few more centuries. Now the house was gone. And with it so was Charles. There was nothing left save few bits of concrete and wood. No one to rebuild the house to it's old glory.

The mansion was demolished, to say lightly. After the explosion Elizabeth, the newest member of Gen. X created there was hardly anything left behind. One wall in the right wing was still standing. Other than that the ground was swiped clean of any structure, save few bits of concrete here and there. Smoke still raised into the air the smell of burned wood lingering in the air. The rain didn't help anything. It had been like this, raining for two days now. Dark clouds covered the sky and heavy rain fell to the ground. No sight of blue sky. Before one could notice that X-Men's co-leader, Storm was just in a bad mood but now that couldn't be said as Ororo Munroe was left powerless once again, after the encounter with Operation Zero Tolerance forces. This time the weather was not under her control and there was no telling when the rain would stop.

The weather affected everyone's moods at the mansion. They had changed. Or actually the situation had changed them. They were angry, loathing, and wanting to be left alone. He understood each one of them. After all he felt like them. This was why he came here. The rain didn't matter. He got used to discomfort. And as he sat there on the roof of the only building remaining whole, the boat house he looked at the blurry horizon. It was terrible. In moments like this tears builded up in his eyes, looking at everything he contributed his life to fall into pieces. How could they keep going when catastrophes happened after catastrophes. He put his hand to his face pulling away his wet hair from his face. He sighed and stared at the ruins. ^What do we do now ?^

War Room

"How bad is it Hank ?"

"Well my one armed friend I'm afraid it's as bad as it can be. When the guards shot at Cable and missed, well they blew the whole computer system to kingdom come. There is no chance anything whatsoever could survive. Same goes for Cerebro. War Room is useless now, and all the information gone." answered Hank as he searched through the ruins.

"Thanks to me." Forge sighed. Hank looked at the man. He never knew Forge well, in fact he hardly knew him save those few days they spent together rebuilding the mansion underground system after Sinister destroyed it. But still to Beast that man was a X-Man, with much on his soul. Sympathy grabbed Beast as he saw the one armed man stand in front of him looking at the floor.

"Worry not Forge," he said with a smile. "At least you saved the information from getting into Bastion's hands. We can rebuild the system."

"But you'll never get Cerebro back, will you ?" Beast didn't respond for a brief moment then looked at Forge. ^He's blaming it all on himself.^.

"I'm sure we can sit down one night over a cup of coffee, or ten and by putting our minds together put the machine into one piece again. Now tell me how is our favorite wind rider doing ?"

"Storm ? She's still asleep. Of course she still can't get over the loss of her power, which I have no idea how happened. The Genoshian collar must have took away her powers somehow. Even with my brain it doesn't make much sense. The collar disrupts your genetical code shutting down the genes that give you your powers. As soon as the collar is of it's effect on you wears of. For some reason the effect lasted on Ororo. Now I guess she will be powerless for some time, but..."

"But she managed during the first time she lost them she will manage now as well." finished Hank. They got up and left the War Room heading down the stairs.

The underground of the mansion was okay. Except for few smashed walls there wasn't much of destruction compared to upstairs. But then again the Blackbirds were gone, one smashed somewhere in the Rockies, the other destroyed by Bastion. The War Room was gone as well and only thing that seemed to still work was the Danger Room. But that was only because Bastion didn't have time to get his hands on it. The rest was pretty much gone or destroyed. Hank sighed. This was not one of those best days they had either.

"Forge my friend are you sure I can't help you with that arm of yours ? It looks pretty... smashed for a lack of better word."

"No Hank really I'll work on it when I have some time, and that's not right now."

The two of them remained silent for few moments as they headed towards the Com Room. Finally Hank couldn't hold the question much longer, it had been bugging him for two days now. "Forge... the Professor, did he really walk ?"

"Yes he did. I still don't know how that happened. Cable must have disrupted something in Charles's mind while he was restoring his powers. Really we should ask Cable. Where is he anyway ?"

"He was trying to contact X-Force in Brazil. If I recall correctly there was no response which means they're on their way home."

The two men entered the Com Room and sat down on the chairs. Hank checked if the hologram was working properly. Yesterday they decided to set the Danger Room hologram system to project a image of a house, so at least had somewhere to sleep. The system being the top notch technology made the image as real as possible, they had some sort of a house indeed. But some things just couldn't be replaced. Like everyone's personal belongings, memories, money, clothes. Everything. Gone.

The Med. Lab

She watched slowly as his chest raised and fell. How long had she been here ? And hour, maybe more. She still didn't understand why. She had loved this man, but that was long ago. Since then she went through many changes, she died few times, came back even more, and most of all got married. Still there was something, something that this man had that atracted her. She loved her husband with all her heart but still this man attracted her. Maybe it was his bravery, maybe his harsh attitude, compared to her husband who was always calm and always in control. This man here was the opposite of her husband. Maybe this was what pulled her after all.

"Oh Logan what have they done to you this time ?" She sighed as she placed her hands on her lap puling her hair away from her face. "Haven't you've gone through enough already ?"

"Don't.... don't worry Red, I'll come out of it."

Jean jumped up on the sound of those words. She looked at Wolverine and he was lying there covered in bandages, looking at her, some sort of a smile forming on his face. "You're awake !" she shouted.

"Yeah I've been for few last minutes. I drift in and out. How ya doin' ?"

"Me ? Bub I think I should be asking this question."

"Go ahead."

"Really Logan we've known each other for so long tell me..... will you survive ?"

"I've survived everything red.... except for you...."

Jean walked up to Logan and grabbed his hand smiling. "Still can't get over me bub ?"

"Ya think I ever will ?"

" I suppose we both held something for each other. But that was... long ago."

"Speak for yourself red."

Jean looked at him. A uneasy silence filled the room. They stared at each other for few seconds. Logan's hand raised and touched her face. She lowered her face and their lips met in a kiss. A slow, passionate kiss. Logan's bandaged arm stroked her back and her chest touched his. For few seconds they just remained like this motionless drowning in each other. Then suddenly Jean's eyes went wide and she pulled back. She stood back and looked at him unable to say anything.

"Nice to see I'm not the only one that's best there is at what he does." Logan finally said with a faint smile. Jean laughed relived that they broke the silence. She looked at him her green eyes grinning.

"You are not my friend. Nice to see you're still there for me just like I am for you."

"Always red. Always." he said and then passed out, with a smile on his face. Jean looked at him and sighed. She still loved this man after all, after so many years. She couldn't help it.

Outside

"I tell ya Bish. never trust dat you' home will keep you' stuff safe."

"Well Gambit I know that all ready. Now care to tell me why are we here outside in the rain ?"

"Ha ! You make Gambit laugh. Don' b' impatient you' will see in a second. As I said, every good thief make sure dat his belongings are hidden."

"And ?"

"And voila !" Gambit said and he kneeled on the wet gras. He pulled his wet hair away from his face and pulled the grass away. A door appeared with a digital lock. Remy punched few numbers in and then pulled the door open. Inside there was a small hole about a meter deep and in there Bishop could see everything, money, clothes, weapons, even food.

"Gambit, what is this ?"

"Dis my friend is a safe. Don' tell me you not happy t' see it."

"When did you make this ?"

"Now, and den. I got 'bout four more 'round de mansion. Now help me wit' this stuff, w' need t' get 't inside so it won' get wet."

"Gambit you're a man of surprises."

"Indeed I am, Bish." Remy said with a grin.

"You've got everything here. Even a shaving razor. How on earth could you think of hiding stuff like this ?"

"Well w' need it now, no ? An' as I said, good thief don' hide his belongin' in his house."

Underground

No one had anything to do. The weather kept them from going outside and doing anything. They sat in the "lounge" or wandered around the "house" each of them with their own dark thoughts. Joseph and Iceman sat on the couch watching national baseball, for the lack of better entertainment. Rogue kept near by sipping on a coffee. Sarah sat in the corner watching them all quietly with a grin on her face. She didn't move, but her eyes pierced every one of them. Sam walked up to her trying to start a conversation. "So Sarah, miss would ya like anything to drink, or eat ?"

"Piss of Kentucky, I don't need any of your help."

"That attitude is gonna get you nowhere."

"And what are you going to do about it, pretty boy ?" She said as she sprung to her feet. She leaned close to Sam and spat out. "I don't need any help from you or your fancy X-Men."

Sam smiled. "Then why are you here ?"

"I have my reasons Kentucky and don't push me, or you'll regret it."

"Is that so ? And what are you going to do Sarah ? You think you're the toughest there is don't ya ? Well let me tell you something...." Sam was interrupted by a sudden shout and Psylocke entering the room in furry. Her eyes sparkled with rage as she almost ran across the "room" in her uniform. The not much happier Warren stormed out after her.

"I can't believe you don't want to go with me !" he shouted after her. She stopped in the "kitchen" and took deep breaths. Her hands on the sink she spoke as calmly as she could.

"Warren stop it, you're driving me crazy."

"Me ? You're the one playing the stupid hero you're not !"

Betsy lost it. "Well at least Mr. High Flying Angel I don't want to leave my teammates when they need us the most and go to live alone."

"Here we go again. Betsy they're X-Men they've been through much more than this and they survived. The only reason you don't want to go is because you're afraid."

"Me ? Afraid ? Of what, Warren ?"

"You know exactly what I mean."

"No I don't !" She shouted as she turned around and walked up to him. "You can be such a jerk sometimes."

"Well at least I don't dress up like a street girl." Betsy couldn't stand more. She brought up her hand and slapped Warren on the face. Warren's face twitched and he hissed.

"Guys c'mon you're behaving like children." Bobby joined in.

Warren looked at Bobby and raised a eyebrow. "Children Robert ? You're the one that's a child here and you always were, snowball." Bobby was about to say something but Betsy pushed him away.

"Don't change the subject Warren this is about me and you."

"Me and you Betsy ? I don't think there is me and you anymore. I'm tired of your mood swings, of new powers, new bodies, everything."

"Well you know what Woringhton ? I'm tired of you moaning about your old wings everyday. I'm tired of you being so selfish."

"Oh yeah ? Fine !" he said while turning around. "Hope you have a miserable life." with that his metallic wings ripped from his shirt and he started flying away.

"Go Angel, never come back." she shouted after him mad with anger. "I never want to see your face again asshole. I can manage much better without you Mr. Woringhton."

And he was gone.

Betsy put her hands to her forehead and pulled her purple hair away. She felt Bobby's hand touch her on the shoulder. "Betsy ?"

"Leave me alone Drake, before I do something we'll both regret." With those words she walked out of the room. Everyone looked at each other not saying anything. Sarah smiled viciously.

Outside.

He was in open air space in matter of few seconds. His big wings spread out and he began flying upwards towards the sky. His blonde hair was wet instantly and he had pull it out of his eyes to see his way. Anger still pumping in him his wings worked with a speed they hardly ever reached. He was a small dot in the rain few seconds later.

^Where was Warren going ? The whole team is going crazy.^ Scott thought. He was still sitting on the roof of the boathouse, thinking. He couldn't tell how long he'd been there but to his estimation it was about four or five hours. What did he manage to think in that time ? Nothing. He just sat there. He relived the events of the last week, the last month. With the Professor in comma he had to do something. He, as his first student he had the responsibility to keep the dream going now that Xavier was as good as dead. But was there something to keep going with ? That was the question he'd been asking himself for the last four hours. Everything lay in ruins. Was there a point to putting it back together ? Maybe it was the time to change, to change everything and in every way. Maybe the dream had failed indeed and now it had to be replaced. Maybe. Maybe they just needed to give up before they'd lose more.

Underground

Ororo entered the "lounge". She'd been feeling terrible for the past two days, ever since her power disappeared. It reminded her of those old days again. She glanced over the house and saw Joseph and Iceman watching TV, Rogue in the "kitchen" making coffee, Cannonball sipping on a coke and Sarah sitting in the corner watching her every move. Ororo lifted her head up and walked past her without even glancing down.

"Hello wind rider." she heard Sarah call out behind her. A chill went down her spine but she didn't reply. Instead she entered the kitchen and walked up to Sam.

"Samuel we need to talk."

"What about Storm miss ?"

"Sarah."

"Sarah ?"

"Yes why did you bring her here."

"I didn't" replied Sam trying not to show any emotions. "She and Calisto saved our lives from the Prime Sentinels and Calisto told her to come with us."

"Then why did you take her in ?"

"Because as a leader I felt that she was a useful asset to our team."

"First of all Cannonball, you are not a leader, you are merely a junior member of the team. Second of all Sarah is a criminal and taking her into the X-Men is not acceptable."

"Now Stormy don' get all angry." said Gambit entering the room.

"Do not call me that Remy, and you are partly responsible for that as well."

"Well excuse me Storm but not everyone is a perfect leader like you." buttoned in Sam.

"You will not speak to me like that Cannonball !" Ororo shouted at him.

"C'mon 'ro calm down." said Remy putting his had on his arm. She pulled away.

"You and Cannonball have brought in a criminal to the team and now you ask me to calm down ?!"

"No need to worry bright one I'll be leaving soon." said a voice behind them. They all turned around and looked at Sarah. "How could I live next to you who broke my heart." she said sarcasm flowing from her tone. "Then there's the traitor scum. I'll get you one day for what you did Wemy. Trust me." With those words she turned around and walked out of the room into the Morlock tunnels. Everyone stood there watching the door Sarah just went out through. Their silence and troubled gazes spoke clearly of what they thought.

Somewhere else in the underground complex, later.

The tall black man stood over the bed looking down at the occupant with eyes that showed no expression. Years of training had thought him well enough not to show emotion no matter how bad the situation was. Up until today he had kept his emotions to himself, never seen with a tear in his eye or a look of frustration on his face. But as a small tear slid down his cheek this had all changed. He quickly wiped it away making sure no one noticed, even though there was no one around. And even though he managed to keep the tears away he was crying inside. Crying for the first time since his parents died. He hadn't cried when he was living on the streets, he hadn't cried when he was hunted by Sentinels, he hadn't cried when him and his sister were dying of hunger, he hadn't cried when his sister died, he hadn't cried when Randall and Malcolm died. But now as he stood over Charles Xavier lying there in a coma he cried.

He himself didn't quite know why. Professor wasn't dead and could wake up any day. That didn't seem to be the problem for Bishop. He was crying because everything he had believed in, everything he was taught about the legend Charles Xavier was false. He was revealed to be the traitor who killed X-Men. And he would if it wasn't for Bishop. Xavier became corrupted by his own power failing the standards he set out himself. Xavier had failed him. Bishop knew it. And yet he made a reentrance to their life during the Operation Zero Tolerance attack and almost sacrificed his life. And he had returned as the Xavier Bishop knew from history books. Xavier who wasn't afraid to use his power but wasn't going insane with it either. Xavier who was willing to give up his life so his students and mutants in general could live on. And most of all Xavier who wasn't afraid of taking risks. Bishop wondered if and when Xavier would wake up would he still be the Xavier that he admired ? And if not could they trust him with their lives, just like they did before ?

He didn't know.

Outside

It was getting dark now. Even though it was only four o'clock the rain and clouded sky made everything seem dull and dark. And he still sat there on the roof of the boathouse, staring off into nothingness. It had been raining all the time he spent outside and still he didn't care but if he stood up he probably would have trouble walking with his clothes soaked. But he wasn't planning on standing up anyway. Not soon that is.

^Scott Summers, the first X-Man.^ he thought to himself. ^I've been here since the beginning and I will be till the end... will I ? Damn it I don't know what to do. It's so hard to keep going, I wonder if we should. Maybe it's time to move on, understand that we can't make the world a better place like this. Maybe it's time we took the situation in our hands instead of waiting for the worst to happen. So many maybes. Remember what Professor told me the first time I asked him the same question. After our first fight with the Sentinels.^ ^Have hope, he said. Have hope that tomorrow will be better and that on the end of the day you are making a difference. Hope is the only thing that will keep you going in hard times. Without hope you are as good as lost.^

^Now I have no hope.^ he realized. Was it over ?

The dream has failed. End

HAS IT BEEN 1 YEAR ? Yeah. A year ago first issue of X-Men Gold and Blue came out on X-Zone. Not many of you remember this I suppose but it's true. I would just like to thank everyone who helped me to go through with this, I won't mention your names you all know who you are. I couldn't have done it without you. Here's hoping for many more years to come.