Archangel 2099UG #11

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

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NOTE: This issue occurs after the events of Xmen #50, but BEFORE the Galactus mini series.

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Don't ask me why, but I come here when I am confused. I take comfort somehow in the echo as each step falls on the polished floor. This vestibule connects Xavier's to the abbey of the Howlers, a few square feet of balance between two extremes. Colored light streams in as the first rays of the sun strike the stained glass window. I nearly smile, I never used to see mornings as they chased the darkness from the sky, but lately I have not slept a lot. It seems to all of us that our lives are changing and we have no control.

   I thought long ago that I had come to terms with having no family of my own. When I had first come to Xavier's Shelter for Indignant Children, I saw it as just another set of chains. But with the passing of the last couple of months, I came to see the Shelter as home, and fraggin forgive me, I think of the Sisters and the other kids as a type of family . . . kind of. That is why it was soooo weird to find out that Metalsmith is the Mutant Messiah.

   We all knew in the back of our minds that one of us was the Messiah of mutantkind since Dust first told us. I guess, though, we all kinda figured that we would have a chance to grow up before we had to face it. Now Metalsmith is struggling with a new identity and the rest of us are trying to cope with the repercussions.

   I sigh, and walk to my favorite spot, a small bench at the center of the vestibule. I sit facing the stained glass window that stretches brilliantly about 20' top to bottom. If I look real hard I can see the faint flashes of the force field protecting it. It is very pretty.

   "Twilight?" The voice echoes in the cavernous expanse around me. I jump a little and turn to see who spoke my name. When I finally see her face I settle back down.

   "Hi Sister Debbi." I address a very young woman in the habit of an acolyte of the Sisterhood that runs the shelter. Of all the sisters, she is the easiest for us to relate to because in a way she is one of us . . . a kid trying to find her place in the year 2099.

   "Oh please, call me Debbi. I haven't earned the 'Sister' yet." She smiles and it is contagious. "Why are you up so early?"

   "I couldn't sleep. I guess everything that has happened this week has left my head in cyberspace."

   Debbi takes the seat beside me. " I guess you are talking about Metalsmith?"

   I nod and look down at my hands. " That and everything else."

   Debbi slouches a little bit and becomes contemplative. "Don't worry about it too much. You have a lot in your favor. You're beautiful, you have a place to stay, your needs are met. A lot of the kids in screamtown would envy you."

   The silence hangs there between us as I try to figure out how much of what Debbi is saying I agree with. She has been a confidant ever since Sister Nick's added duties made it impossible for her to see to us. I was glad when Sister Nick had no more time to lord over us, and more so when she assigned the acolyte Debra Fury to keep us in line. I find myself missing Sister Nick though every once in a while . . . but not often so don't tell her.

   I take a stab at changing the subject. "So why did you join the Howlers, Debbi?"

   The question seems to catch her flat footed. After a moment she reflects. "I want to bring hope to the dregs of society." Then in an imitation of Sister Nick she continues, "Whether they want it or not!"

   We both laugh as Debbi searches for a more complete answer. "I always grew up hearing about my great-uncle Nick and how he was one of the Primo players of the Heroic Age. He had no powers but stood toe to toe with the heavy hitters of the time with nothing but a cigar and attitude. He faced the best and worst of a century overrun with meta-humans. He was not perfect, as his memoirs are required reading in the Order, but I guess it's the one thing that inspired me. I want to inspire that spirit in people, and inspiration can only happen if you put yourself up as an example."

   "But why a nun? I mean, don't it frizz you out not being allowed to date?"

   I can tell her mind goes to Nos. Then it is her turn to sigh. "I don't have all of the answers either Twilight. I do date, and I can't say where my life will end up . . . with the Sisters or with Nostromo. But I can tell you this, Faith in yourself and God is never a prison. It has nothing to do with what I can or can't do, but rather growing as a person. I date but there is no hurry. I think Nos accepts me for who I am now. He won't push me to make a choice I am not ready for."

   "I wish I had it together like you do."

   Debbi laughs. " It is all an act Twilight. I . . . "

   BBBBBAAAAAAAMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!

   In an instant the world changes around me. Talk of hope melts away in the heat of reality. The front door of the shelter bursts open to slam against the wall. All I can remember seeing in that instant is the blood, and the fear in a Sister's eyes. It wasn't the fear of an enemy, but the fear of loss.

   It is Sister Nick who enters first, shouting orders as always. "Alright girls! We have wounded! I want a triage set up right here . . . STAT!" In her arms is a charred husk in the singed robes of Sisterhood. It takes me a moment to realize that the husk was breathing. Who is it?

   Next in is Shakti! She is hurt, holding her ribs. Despite her obvious pain she is giving support to another Sister I can't recognize because her face is a bloody mess.

   Less than a step behind the X-man called Cerebra, is the new Sister from the middle east who arrived a few days ago. She carries a Howler I recognize as Sister Rose. She has a trickle of blood running down her cheek, I don't see her breathing.

   Obviously the Howlers have seen the painful end of a battle and I stand there faced with a new kind of horror, that these women I know may die here. Just as I begin to deal with the world around me again, it gets shocking fragged. Sister Einstein enters with a grav-litter, on it is a beautiful woman writhing in pain. She seems young, perhaps her early 20's, and like so many in this day she shows a variety of ethnic physical traits. Her hair and skin are typical of Asia, possibly Japan or Cambodia. Her eyes and cheekbones have a more European look about them. She wears an ultra modern outfit all in black and her hair in a style reminiscent of a Geisha. All of this would seem perfectly normal were it not for the rather large fangs in her mouth.

   Finally, Sister Samson bulls her way into the building, obviously under a stressful load. "Hurry . . . ugh up, sisters! He's . . . heavy!" Over her shoulder she barely manages to carry a massive form, a man, probably over 7 feet tall and wearing armor not unlike a mirror. His long ebony hair hangs swaying with each labored step of the sister. It is not until she finally clears the threshold that I see the wings. This must be a mistake, this man must be a winged mutant, like the legendary Archangel of the heroic age. But as I stare, I know that is not the truth. The sisters have found an angel and nearly died to bring him home.

   From the time that the door burst open, until the angel entered was less than 5 seconds, but to Debbi and myself it seemed like an eternity, a single moment in time that never wanted to end. Inaction overcame us as we are shocked from talk of love and faith to sights of death and war. We stand unmoving, aghast. It seemed in slow motion as those who were able try to begin a triage for those who can't. That is when Sister Nick's eyes come up and meet my own. I am lost in her gaze. I see years of hurt and struggle, I see faith and anger, and finally I see regret. In that single second I see her for the first, and maybe the last time as she really is. Then the spell is broken and time resumes it's brutal flow. Sister Nick hardens and yells out "Twilight! Debbi! We need you!"

   To her credit Debra Fury is able to move, and rushes forward. "What can I do Sister?" No one seems to notice I have not moved.

   "We have to find Nemesis, Debbi. I have reason to believe he too has been attacked! Run girl, we are racing against time." She turns to another sister. "Samson! Go with her."

   With that Samson rises from laying down her heavy load and picks up several weapons. Debbi lifts up the hem of her habit and runs off. Sister Nick turns her attention back to me. She sits there cradling the head of the husk in her lap and seems nearly unable to control her sorrow.

   "Twilight," she calls. "I know this is hard child, but we need you right now."

   I feel my throat constrict and my eyes water. "What can I do? I am not ready for this!"

   "I need you to run to the Poly-med clinic down the street. Once there I need you to find Sister Margaret and tell her I need her. Hurry Child!"

   I do not remember turning, or leaving for that matter, but all I know is suddenly I am running, hoping I could go on running forever.

   I don't remember getting back, but I am here with Sister Margaret. Like all of the Howlers, she is an expert in her field and begins to bring the triage up to the level of the emergency. Early on, Margaret ruled that several of the wounded's injuries were not life- threatening. Treatment for the new sister Avangel, Shakti, and the unconscious angel, is put on hold until the more serious wounds can be tended.

   The next level of injury, but still not critical, included Sisters Rose and Tomalyn. But their wounds are all but ignored as the rest of the sisters fight to save the lives of the two worst cases. Within moments, Nemesis has joined the group of the worst injured, bringing the total of life threatened injured to three. The burn victim I came to know was the rarely seen Howler Whisper, and she was the focus of the most attention. Margaret was hard at work, muttering under her breath the whole time.

   After nearly 20 minutes, Margaret frowns and stands. "I can't help either one of them, Nick. Even at the Poly Clinic." She places her hand on Nick's shoulder. " It's only a matter of time."

   I see everyone else's eyes drop. She takes off her gloves, now unnecessary. "Whisper is burned beyond any hope of recovery. Her muscles are destroyed, her skin burnt below the depth of the generative layer. She was beyond hope before she even got here Nick." Then she motions to the young woman on the grav-litter. "As to the other one, do you have any idea what you have brought here?"

   Nick only nods. Margaret sighs. "I hope you know what you are doing Nick." Then she moves off to begin working on Nemesis.

   I guess Shakti must have felt how lost I was because soon I felt her hand on my shoulder. "Anything you want to talk about?"

   "Who did this?"

   "We don't know exactly. We suspect it might have been an Archangel after Omen over there." She points to the angel.

   "I thought angels were sent to protect us. How could anyone, let alone an angel cause this much suffering?"

   "I don't know Twilight, but luckily the Sisters were there to stop her."

   I turn to her, tears flowing freely now. "Luckily? Look at them Shakti! Three dying! Two more in agony! For what? One Angel? I don't have to go to school to know that the math is a little off here. How can Sister Nick order so many to lay their lives down for one being?"

   "It is not an easy lesson Twilight, but heroes like Sister Nick don't do it for the one, they do it for the whole. The Howlers lay their lives down for the ideal. They have the power to make a difference, and with great power comes great responsibility. Sometimes we need to help, just because we can."

   I can't really say I understood Shakti, but as I stood there watching the chaos, I knew I wanted to understand. I see nothing but bravery here, as Margaret and Avangel fight to save the ASKAR Nemesis. I see bravery as Whisper, burnt and dying, fights to hold onto life. I see bravery as Debbi forgets her own fear of the future to tell Sister Tomalyn it will be alright.

   I take one step, then another. Shakti's words are in my ears, echoing with each footfall. "Sometimes we need to help just because we can."

   I walk to stand next to the charred mass that is Sister Whisper. Sister Nick strokes what is left of her hair, crying and unwilling to let her friend die alone. She rocks and tells her stories of an age 100 years past, when heroes and hope were common. I kneel and for the first time Sister Nick notices me. Again our eyes meet, and then she knows what is happening inside of me. She nods and I close my eyes.

   "Twilight!" I hear Shakti call. " What are you doing?"

   I don't open my eyes. "Whatever I can."

   "We don't even know if you are capable of helping her. We haven't had time to test the limits of your powers yet."

   "Then I think it is about time." With but a thought, I summon a sphere around me.

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My name is Twilight, and I am a mutant in the year 2099. I am also the next generation of hope in a world that needs it. Today, I take my first steps toward that unseeable future. I have always looked at the world a little differently, probably because of what I am. I believe in my soul that one person cannot change the world, but today I see that we don't have to. You can make your corner of it better, if you believe. The first time I manifested my power was like that too. I saw something I didn't like, something I wanted to change, and suddenly the world 'felt' different. I have never seen myself as a hero, and I still don't, but today I see something else I don't like, and it ends here.

   My power brings into being a sphere where I dictate the laws that operate there. Gravity, time, thought . . . all are mine to acknowledge or ignore. It engulfs us as I begin to form my own vision of the universe. I see a place where pain does not exist. Immediately Whisper's labored breathing eases a bit. I smile, encouraged at my success. Then dared to go farther. I deem that the world has no sickness, no suffering, and where our bodies cannot retain wounds. There is a gasp from the room. I open my eyes and I see her beneath my hands. Sister Whisper is beautiful, her bluish skin radiant, and she begins to smile. I did it! I healed her!

   I turn to Shakti, I made a difference! She stands there cradling her ribs and nodding. I get up and run to hug her when a scream is like ice in my blood. I had only taken two steps when I turn and see the source of the scream. It is Whisper! Now out of my sphere her skin again begins to char, her eyes burn away. I gasp and turn to bury my face in Shakti's shoulder and sob. She strokes my hair and whispers to me. "It's alright, you didn't know."

   But I don't want to hear it. I push away and without turning back I run out of the room. I knew I wasn't a hero. I failed.

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I don't know much about what happened next, or how long I was gone, but the first thing I am aware of after I left is sobbing on my knees, and feeling a hand on my shoulder.

   "Twilight?" The voice is gentle, masculine. I look up knowing who I would find. The X-man Timothy Fitzgerald, called Skullfire. His wild dark hair, and white painted face hide a good man, and he now serves as leader of the former outlaws. "What's the matter? Why are you out here?"

   I turn and grab him hard around the neck. I feel like a fool but can't stop. "I'm sorry! I couldn't do it. I tried but I am not like you. I am not like Shakti."

   He shakes his head, confused. I can't say I don't sympathize. "What are you talking about? Where is Shakti? Is she alright?"

   I begin to wipe my tears, gaining strength from his calm analysis. "I don't know. She looked a little hurt, but she was helping the others."

   Timothy smiles. "OK, Twilight, it is important that you calm down and talk to me. Where is Shakti?"

   With my single word reply his face darkens with concern. "At Xavier's. Something went wrong."

   He slowly soaks that in then takes my hand. "Come on. Let's go back together and see what we can do to help."

   Reluctantly I do just that.

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It did not take us long to get back. Now Timothy just stands there in the doorway to the vestibule, frozen like I was. By then good Sister Margaret had made a lot of leeway in her ministrations, and she was kneeling next to the fallen ASKAR Nemesis with a smile. She nods nearly imperceptibly to Sister Nick. I hear Margaret speak. "If I can move him to the Poly-clinic he will make it. You found him just in time."

   I see Tim's eyes go to each corner of the room. He sees the writhing woman in black leather in agony struggling against her restraints, he sees the barely breathing charred husk of sister Whisper and I look away. I hear a gasp as his eyes fall on the angel. When I feel him tense I dare another look up just as he leaves my side. I see where he is heading . . . where Sister Nick had just gone to help Shakti.

   He walks right up, quickly, deliberately and grabs Sister Nick roughly by the shoulder. The next instant passes so quickly none of us really knows exactly what occurred, but when next we blinked all we can see is a VERY large handgun pointed at Timothy's head, and the green glow of Skullfire's fist mere inches from Nick's own face. For an instant they stand there unmoving. Timothy is the first to find his voice.

   "What is going on here Sister?"

   To her credit, Nick is cool and collected. "We are doing our job. Leave us to it X-man."

   "I had no problem with that until you brought a war zone to the children! What were you thinking? Nothing could be worth this."

   From across the room comes another voice, a new voice. It is the new Howler here, Avangel. "Stopping the Dark Angel was, you fraggin SOG."

   Timothy and I turn as one and see every weapon owned by the remaining Howlers trained on Timothy. Avangel continues. "I know you are upset Mutant, but we are all on the same side here. Why don't you move your hand from our good sister's face, huh?"

   His hand drops as his attention returns to the angel lying nearby. "That creature caused this?"

   Sister Nick shakes her head. "No, he was the target. He has been here several days and we were caught by surprise."

   "Here?!?" Skullfire bursts. "We know nothing about him. What right do you have to bring him here? You have a responsibility to the children."

   Samson speaks up for the first time. "At least we haven't taken them into a war zone yet." (Referencing X-men 2099 UG #50 . . . check it out soon)

   It is then Shakti steps forward. "He came here alone and without a memory, Timothy. We are here to help those who need it. I don't think Xavier's dream excluded anyone. How could we have foreseen that this would happen?"

   Suddenly the room goes silent as I turn to see Skullfire face Cerebra. "You knew about this?"

Shakti can only nod weakly.

   "You did not tell us? Shakti, we are more than just a team here. I am your friend, and your leader. I thought you trusted me."

   I see Shakti in a new light . . . fallible. I see how a single mistake on her part might have been the one to cause all of this suffering. If she had not kept her secret from the X-men perhaps they could have protected them all better. I begin to doubt, just a little whether my faith in her is completely founded. I shake my head. I don't want to think about this right now. (See upcoming issues of X-Nation 2099 UG!!!)

   "Friends!" A voice springs up all around us, strong and authoritative. " I know thou art in a time when all things are doubtful, but listen to me."

   As one, all of us turn to see the angel has risen from his resting place, and as I feared, even weak and holding his own ribs, he is magnificent. His voice is like a choir as he seems to speak right to my heart.

   "I have faced greater threats than these, not because of who I am, but who dost support me. Now is not the time for blame, nay, but rather a renewing of the trust. I am lost on this world, my past a blank, but I know that I shalt triumph, with you my friends." He then looks at Timothy dead in the eye. "I regret what hast happened, but I tell the now Timothy Fitzgerald, I know in my soul, the worst is yet to come. We must talk."

   And as the angel staggers to Skullfire's side, I must admit, I don't like the sound of this.



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