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| X-men 2099UG Issue #10, Volume 2 Written by Chris Lough |
| The 2099 Underground is a project whereby a group of fans are putting together a series of stories continuing from Marvel's fantastic futuristic 2099! Ignoring the ignoble and inaccurate "2099: World of Tomorrow", we're exploring what we feel is the true spirit of 2099 as envisioned by then Editor-in-Chief Joey Cavalieri. Participation is open to all. Comments about this issue should be sent to the author. Or you can visit our message board and post your thoughts on the issue. Anyone wishing to join the mailing list should do so by signing up at Yahoo! Groups. It's free and easy! Simply type in the keyword "Ghostworks" and you're good to go. |
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The plains stretched out to the horizon for as far as he could see. The hills beyond were black mounds in the night, large and foreboding, they ringed him in, it seemed. He was far from the noise of civilization, with only the scuffling of his feet on the underbrush and the flapping of his cowl in the wind to remind him that the world still held movement and life. No one would come upon him here, miles and miles away from the nearest outpost or highway. And for that he was thankful. He didn't belong in this world. He was never meant to be around people, to have friends or loved ones, to have a place somewhere. He realized that now. He brought only destruction to those who cared about him. Here, surrounded by desolation, here was his place. A pair of yellow eyes before him drew him up short. The moonlight glinted off those eyes ever so briefly. Hungry eyes. The eyes of an animal on the hunt. A deep, fierce growl rumbled from the coyote and around him he could see the flash of more eyes. A pack, was it? And eager, from the sound of them. The plains held small prey only. He must have looked like a feast to them. Unconcerned, he stepped forward. The coyote lunged. In anticipation, he briskly stepped aside, his rags blowing in the wind, and gripped its neck firmly. The coyote's mouth foamed as it snapped at him, its growls were almost demon-like. Its show of fierceness lasted only a moment. The growls were replaced with a desolate howl and the coyote squirmed in his grip. Its ears slackened and its tongue began to hang lazily out of its mouth as it whined and howled. He let it go. The coyote limped off into the night, trying to run. The growls and snarls around him abruptly ceased as the pack chased after the lame dog. This was what it was like wherever he went. Death and destruction. Grimly, his mind settled on the coyotes. The world was cruel. Nature was cruel. Fate itself was cruel. It was not fair that he robbed her of life. The events replayed themselves in his head. If only he hadn't...if he had chosen to be somewhere else at that moment...he would still have a home. Instead, he had destroyed his one chance at living a normal life after his...transformation. He had been turned into a weapon, and obviously still was, but she had chosen to risk it and live with it. All because she still saw the human inside him, when no one else did. She had given him a life again. Sure, it hadn't been a comfortable one, but he was free. And how had he repaid her? By robbing her of her own life. It felt awful, as if he had betrayed them all. Breakdown, Psyclone, Tantrum, Dominic, Rosa, even that Eddie brute that Rosa liked. He had done more than murder Mama Hurricane, he had robbed them all of hope. He hadn't meant to, it was the last thing in the world he would ever think of doing. But it had still happened, and he was sure they blamed him. And he couldn't seem to stop, even now he robbed them of the justice - the closure - he knew they would seek. They would look for him, certainly, but by then it would be too late. Dehydration and over-exposure would take their toll. It would be a long death. Ravens and coyotes would pick at him as the last ounces of life left his body. But it was no less than Mama would suffer through. Perhaps when death finally took him she would know of the punishment he enacted upon himself, and forgive him. Bitterly, he dimissed the thought. There would be no forgiveness for him. He was Contagion. All he brought was despair and pain. * * * The X-perience pulled into the ranch, a trail of dust settling on the small dirt road behind it. The Oklahoman sun was bright in the sky but the air was cold. Chill northern winds flowed from a fierce-looking cloud front that loomed on the northern horizon. The van hatch to the X-perience slid open. The vehicle was a compact military cruiser. A sharp-edged, armored, and camouflaged van with room enough for eight. It was fast and held food stores, a small communications array, and medical equipment. The vehicle had served the X-men well and when Halo City was built, they had it safely stored away in Halo Tower. It seemed likely that they would need it again someday. The dust kicked up by the van billowed by as Xi'an stepped out, garbed in old tan fatigues. Shakti followed in her traditional X-men uniform with Krystalin trailing behind in a tight-fitting black bodysuit. "I WOULD have to wear this today, wouldn't I?", Krystalin coughed as she brushed her uniform clean. More by habit than choice, Xi'an took point. "Shakti, are they here?", he asked as he peered at the ranch. The wooden house was small, but expansive, it stretched out to the left and right. And Xi'an wagered that the lower levels were even larger. If the Freakshow had truly decided to settle here, they would need space...and an escape route. "I sense seven of them," Shakti answered. "Eddie and Rosa are together with...I'm assuming that's Rosa's child. This is amazing, Xi'an, the child has apparently already manifested its mutant abili..." Xi'an cut her off. "That accounts for all of them then, from what we know from our last encounter." "Do they know we're here?", Krystalin asked Shakti. With a sudden whirring, several laser cannons sprouted upwards from the ranch's lawn, supported on swiveling pylons. The cannons targeted the three X-men. "Guess so," Krystalin said, her words drowned out by the blast of simultaneous laser fire. Xi'an leaped out of the way, landing with a roll, as Krystalin hastily erected a crystal shield. "Shakti! Behind me!", Krystalin yelled as the laser bolts refracted and splattered against the shield. Shakti took cover quickly as the cannons precisely targeted Krystalin. As the cannons unleashed their salvo, Xi'an quickly darted over the ranch's fence and towards the nearest cannon. It swiveled to point towards him and he leaped to the right as he took the glove from his left hand. With reflexes honed over the years, he made contact with the cannon. His corrosive touch crumbled it to nothing in less than a second. As Xi'an assualted the ranch's defenses directly, Krystalin took a wider approach. With a thought, crystalline sheath's surrounded each cannon. The laser's from each barrel bounced back into their chambers. With a flash and a crack of the crystal casings, each cannon slagged itself. "Be alert," Xi'an said as he took up a defensive position. "That was most likely the first line of defense only. Two of the Freakshow have long-range abilities." Krystalin turned to Shakti. "Shakti, is Psyclone near? Or that enormous lady...what was her name...Tantrum!?" Shakti's eyes widened. "Actually..." "Do you have any idea how much those laser cannons cost? Or how long it took us to set them up?", a voice called from the house. In the front doorway, Rosa stood, her arms crossed and her face stern. She stormed out across the ranch towards the X-men. Behind her, a massive form emerged from the house. The sun glinted and shone off Eddie's metallic skin. For strangers, he was a fearsome sight to behold. Almost 400 pounds of muscle with armor that could withstand a point-blank blast from a tank. For the X-men though, he wore a wide smile. "They're not the ones who didn't install proper surveillance," he said as he caught up to Rosa. "We should have know they were friends." Rosa walked up to Shakti and Krystalin and sighed. "I suppose we'll have to think of something better," she said as she surveyed the wrecks of the cannons. Turning back to Shakti, she continued, "It's good to see you though, Shakti." Shakti smiled. "As good as it is seeing you and Edward again." "We can reimburse you for the laser cannons," Krystalin noted. Eddie walked over to the three of them as Xi'an joined them. "Xi'an!", Eddie exclaimed. "You're leading the X-men again?" "No Eddie, Krystalin is for now," Xi'an's reply was curt. "Aren't there more of you than this?", Rosa said, peering past them to the X-perience. "Are they all still in the van?" "That is somewhat the reason why we are here, actually," Shakti answered quietly. "We left one of the X-men back in Halo City. You haven't met her, her name is Sham. She had," Krystalin paused. "Something to take care of." Krystalin wanted to avoid mentioning Rachel around Shakti. She knew Shakti was a strong woman, but she didn't know how she was taking the whole thing. "Hm. Well then," Rosa said. Her accent had a slight Spanish drawl to it, but her words were still pronounced and clear. Just hearing her voice made one think that Rosa knew more than she let on. "Let's get inside the house then, I don't like being out here more than can be helped." Rosa glanced at the X-perience once more. "Can you park that around the back of the ranch house?" Krystalin turned to Xi'an. He nodded. "I will do it. I'll meet you inside shortly." Eddie, Rosa, Shakti, and Krystalin walked back towards the large ranch house. "So you and the Freakshow have finally decided to settle?", Shakti asked as they walked. "Not exactly. Circumstances, for the time being, have put us in one place," Rosa smiled up at Eddie. It seemed somehow forced. "Little Joaquim needs his family in one place, for one thing. I can't raise a child on the run." Eddie smiled and clasped Rosa's shoulder with one of his large hands. If he chose, Eddie could crush every bone in Rosa's body with a simple squeeze. His touch was gentle and loving though, Eddie was very careful around her, Shakti and Krystalin noticed. Every step and every motion seemed guarded and carefully gauged. "Have the Bioshop enforcers stopped hunting the Freakshow?", Shakti asked. The Freakshow consisted of several Bioshop discards and degens. Normal people taken from the streets, mutated and genetically altered to serve the labor needs of various corps. It was grossly inhumane and unethical. The degens were considered the property of the Bioshops, and when one escaped, it was brought back. With prejudice. "I doubt it, considering the laser defenses we just encountered," Krystalin spoke up. "Thankfully we haven't had any encounters with them since we entered the Keewazi Nation," Eddie commented. "The Keewazi have been extraordinarily kind to us." Rosa and the rest walked up the wooden steps to the ranch house's front door. "Doctor Wingfoot organized a town fund for us after I had Joaquim," Rosa said as she swung the door open, pausing to input a code into the panel next to it. With two beeps, the security was switched off. They all continued inside. "They raised enough so we could modify this old ranch house outside of town. They've been so kind to us, we don't want them to get mixed up in our troubles." Shakti looked around the wood-panelled room they were in. For such a large amount of people living in the house, it was very sparsely furnished. Only one table in the center of the room, with three couches arrayed around it. A vidscreen was on the left wall and a few toys were scattered on the table and couches. All the furniture rested on a large rug that almost covered the entire floor. Other than that, the room was empty. "Which explains your remoteness..." Krystalin picked up one of the squeaker-toys from the table and squeezed it, giving Rosa a questioning look. "Dominic leaves those there," Rosa answered. "He plays with little Joaquim all the time. He's overjoyed with my son, he doesn't really have anyone else here his age but him. They were playing in this room last night while most of us watched. My brother in particular is very protective of Joaquim." "Sometimes overly so," Eddie added, no longer smiling. Even after all this time, Breakdown and him still weren't the best of friends. "Have you considered coming to Halo City?", Krystalin asked, dropping the toy. Rosa sighed. "I suspected that was why you came." "That is not the only reason, Rosa," Shakti said. "To be honest, we came for Edward." A surprised look appeared on Metalhead's face. "Me? What do you need with me?" Shakti turned to face both of them, Rosa was almost frowning, she seemed sad, as if she already knew what Shakti was going to say. "I will be frank. The X-men's numbers are dwindling. And the Halo City Protectorate is down to three members. My time is occupied teaching the mutant children of Halo, Henri is on a leave of absence in New York, Sham is also otherwise occupied. And Tim and Luna have left in search of Avalon." "Who's Luna?", Eddie interrupted. "An X-man, Tim's...," Shakti searched for the right word. "...companion." "We need you, Eddie," Krystalin pleaded. "Halo City is particularly unstable right now, and it needs a strong Protectorate to see it through." Rosa's face was unbelieving. "And you want to bring Eddie, Joaquim, and I right into the middle of it?" "All of the Freakshow are invited, Rosa," Krystalin added. "Frankly, I'm surprised that you haven't already come to Halo. Surely you'd be safer there. You could settle down with your family and still have the Freakshow close by." Guys," Eddie interrupted, his face was absolutely crestfallen. "I can't go. We can't leave." Krystalin looked offended. "Why not? What's wrong with it?" Eddie was quick to defend. "Don't get me wrong. It's not you guys. I'd love to go to Halo with you, I'd join the X-men again in a heartbeat." Eddie looked at Rosa. "And I'm sure Rosa wouldn't mind either, it's just that...Rosa, do you want to explain this?" Shakti gave Rosa an inquisitive look. "What is it?" Rosa's face was grim. "It's Mama Hurricane, she's dying." * * * The X-perience rumbled to a halt as Xi'an backed it down the ramp into the ranch's small underground garage. There was not much space to maneuver in, but there weren't many vehicles to bump into anyway. A small red jeep and a large truck were tucked to the sides of the garage. Xi'an thought he could make out a Neosaka motorbike propped up against the wall. A vintage '69, it looked like. He wondered how the Freakshow got a hold of such a vehicle. Silently, Xi'an switched the X-perience off and set the security on. His trust in the Freakshow was not as enthusiastic as Shakti or Krystalin's was. He did not expect trouble, but it was wise to remain cautious. From somewhere around, a door slid open. "Hey!", a man's voice called out. "What is that?" Before Xi'an had a chance to reply, the source of the voice came around the truck and into view. Xi'an raised his eyebrow in mild surprise. He did not need Shakti's telepathy to know the stranger was a mutant. Solid metal armor covered the tall stranger from head to toe. It shone under the garage lights. It was as if the man was completely made of solid gold. "Greetings," Xi'an nodded. Suddenly the stranger's eyes widened. "Hey!", he said, his voice was almost boyish, despite his lanky muscular stature. "You're one of them! One of those X-men!" "Er...yes." The golden man rushed forward and grabbed Xi'an's hand. "This is amazing! Here I am trying to convince the Freakshow to go to Halo just so I can get a glimpse of you guys, and well, we can't do that right now because...well, it's shockin' weird! You're right here! Are the other X-men with you?" Xi'an was taken completely off-guard. "Some of them..." The golden man smiled widely. "Oh man, I have to meet them too." It was hard to get in a word edgewise with the golden man. "Excuse me..." "Shock me! Where are my manners?", the golden man exclaimed. "I'm sorry, you must feel so uncomfortable. I bet you get this a lot." "Actually..." The stranger continued onwards. "My name's Shell. I'm a mutant like you guys." Abruptly, Shell flexed his muscles. "I got tha powah!" "I'm glad for you..." "What are you doing here, anyway? Forgive the question, but it's pretty odd to have any visitors at all, especially the X-men. Oh wait! You're here to visit Eddie, aren't you?" Xi'an started towards the door. Shell tagged along. "Yes. Although hopefully he will be leaving with us as well." The door slid open with a WHOOSH as they walked onwards. "What do you mean by that, Mr. Chi Xan? Or is it Mr. Xan? How come you don't have a codename like everyone else?" Xi'an's mouth twisted in annoyance. "'Xi'an' has always served me well enough. You may call me that." "Sure Xi'an, sure...heyyyyyy, you're taking Eddie back to the X-men, aren't you?" Shell barked out a short laugh. "His vacation with Rosa's over, I guess." Shell's voice became quiet again. "Or maybe she'll go with him." "Do you know where Edward is at the moment?", Xi'an asked. "Uhhh, not really. It's a small ranch though, he's got to be somewhere inside. He's probably with Mama Hurricane like the others." Shell seemed to ooze eagerness just talking to Xi'an. "Then I will wait, I do not wish to disrupt Mama Hurricane's meeting." Shell looked uncomfortable at what Xi'an said. "Uhhhh, she's not having a meeting. She's...sick." Xi'an turned to Shell, remaining calm. "That is unfortunate news. How serious is her condition?" "Actually, she's dying," Shell answered. Xi'an's eyes went wide. "Dying? From what?" "From something Contagion gave her. It's all just really bad news and I've been staying away from it all because I haven't been with the Freakshow that long." Shell paused, but spoke up before Xi'an could respond. "Heyyyyyyy...," Shell's eyes lit up as he turned to Xi'an. "You can heal her, can't you? You can heal anything! And this is something you've healed before, too. I know because Eddie told me. You can heal her! You can make Mama Hurricane better!" "Errr...I am not certain if I will be of any assista...," Xi'an was cut off as Shell grabbed his arm and dragged him along down the hallway and towards the stairwell at the end. "I know you can do it, Xi'an. You're an X-man, you guys can do anything." * * * Above the infirmary bed floated several monitors detailing Mama Hurricane's quickly ailing condition. They beeped and flashed and scrolled information as they constantly updated her condition. The woman herself was asleep, tucked tightly into the hospital bed. Her skin was pale and sunken. Her breathing was slow and shallow. Krystalin counted the seconds between breaths. One...two...three...four...five...six, silently gasping as Mama Hurricane took another breath. IV tubes ran out from under the blankets and were coiled around and up the bed's frame. Chemicals and machinery were the only thing keeping her alive at the moment, but Krystalin could see that it was a losing battle. "How long has she been like this?", Shakti asked calmly to Doctor Wingfoot. The doctor was a thin woman with broad white streaks on the sides of her hair, her hair was otherwise black and her features were distinctly American Indian. She had delivered Rosa's baby and was a close friend to Mama Hurricane. She had been the first - and only - person the Freakshow had called. "It's been four days now," Doc Wingfoot said softly. "To be honest," Eddie commented from the doorway. "I'm surprised she's lasted this long." Shakti's gaze took in Mama Hurricane. "And Contagion did this?" "Yes," Doc Wingfoot answered. "From what Eddie has told me about his own encounter with Contagion, the virus he carries spreads quickly through the body. It mangles muscle and bone at first, but eventually it gets to organs and blood vessels. The virus is like throwing a wrench into the works, the organs just break apart and shut down." "And there isn't a cure?", Krystalin asked. "No. I've got another doctor back in town working on it. But with the limited resources we have we just can't find a cure in time. The virus travels too quickly." "What about Contagion, couldn't he do something?", Krystalin continued. Rosa spoke up as she stood by Mama Hurricane's bedside. "Contagion can't cure it either. Or else he would have instead of running away." "Breakdown and the others are out looking for him now, but it's been days...," Eddie trailed off. "We know he didn't mean to infect Mama with his virus," Rosa explained, thinking back on the clumsy accident where it all started. It was odd. Mama Hurricane had liberated mutants from the camps during the Great Purge and survived. Liberated degens and genetic test subjects from bioshops and survived. She had lived long enough to see the dawn of a new century. And now she was a step away from death's door. All because of a silly accident. "But he blames himself. He thinks we blame him, too. At least that's what the note said." "So you see why I can't rejoin the X-men, guys," Eddie said. Krystalin nodded glumly, walking over to the Rosa and Mama Hurricane. When Mama Hurricane died, Rosa would be the only one left to keep the Freakshow together. And with that responsibility added to raising her child Joaquim, Rosa needed Eddie with her more than ever. Krystalin could only imagine what Rosa was feeling. She had lost her own father mere months ago***, but she had never had to shoulder the responsibility that Rosa would have to. ***X-men 2099 #14 Krystalin felt a small gust of air on her back and the sound of the door opening. In the doorway, Xi'an and a lanky stranger completely covered in gold stood. The stranger spoke up quickly, his voice, the whole manner in which he carried himself was eager. "Guys! Rosa! Doc! Eddie!", Shell rattled off the names quickly. "Great news! Mama is saved!" With a jerk, Shell held up Xi'an's right arm. Xi'an looked visibly bothered. "Hey! Dex! Looks like you found Xi'an," Eddie said to Shell. They made an odd picture standing there, the two men made of metal. Shakti and Krystalin gave Rosa a questioning look. "Shell there is the newest member of our family. It's actually quite strange how he came to be with us...," Rosa explained. "I think I'm the only person who ever volunteered to join the Freakshow, well, besides Eddie here," Shell responded, following the remark with a sly punch at Eddie's arm. Their metallic skins clanged together and the sound of the slight impact echoed around the quiet room. Eddie smirked and elbowed Shell back, sending him stumbling a few steps. He smirked as well as he regained his footing. "Later for you, old man, later for you!" "Eddie and Shell almost get along better than Eddie and I," Rosa whispered to Shakti. "They seem very playful with one another," Shakti whispered back. "Hm, yeah, Shell insists everyone call them the Bruiser Brothers," Rosa laughed. "We don't though," she hastily added. Xi'an wedged himself between Eddie and Shell, walking towards the others and the bed. Quickly, he got a glimpse of Mama Hurricane's condition. His mouth hung open. It was worth than he thought. He didn't know if he... "She only has a day or two left," Doc Wingfoot said, seemingly answering Xi'an's unspoken question. Shakti remained calm, turning to Xi'an, "Do you think you can heal her?" Behind her, Rosa bit her lip in worry. Shell and Eddie remained silent. Krystalin waited for Xi'an's response. "I...I don't know. I have healed the plague that Contagion carries before, but never when it was this...rampant...throughout the body," he stammered, gazing at Mama Hurricane. "But you'll try, right? We owe it to her, if only for the good she's done," Krystalin asked. Xi'an closed his eyes and nodded, mulling over the situation. "I will try. But I make no promises. Her pain may be too great..." Xi'an turned to the room. "I will need to be alone. I have to concentrate. Doctor Wingfoot can stay, but I must ask the rest of you to leave." Tears seemed to be gathering in Rosa's eyes as Eddie put an arm around her and led her out. Shell followed behind. Shakti nodded and walked out. "Good luck Xi'an," Krystalin said before leaving as well. Doc Wingfoot sat down in the corner of the room as Xi'an pulled the glove from his right hand. The hand glistened with golden light, it seemed to brighten the air around it. Xi'an closed his eyes again and steeled himself. There would be a price. Whenever he healed, he took their pain and their suffering and made it his own. It was brief, and then it left his body. Even so, it was those brief seconds that held incredible danger for him. Mama Hurricane was on the very edge between life and death. Xi'an didn't know what healing her would do to him. It seemed he would find out, though. Gently he laid his golden hand, the hand that healed, on Mama Hurricane's forehead. It was as if the world itself had jolted around them. Doc Wingfoot gave a sharp scream of surprise as Mama Hurricane's body jerked upwards. Xi'an barely heard it. His knees threatened to give out beneath them. It was all he could do to keep them straight. Somehow, he kept his hand on Hurricane's forehead. It was like nothing he had felt before. The destruction of Mama Hurricane's body, the very strength with which she was holding onto life, the ocean of pain that wracked her. Xi'an felt all of it. It was a merciless torrent. Rolling and crashing against him with the force of a raging storm. It was all around him. It was in him. It was all over. There was no way to escape it. It closed in on him from all sides. Pressing in harder and harder. And there was so much of it. It never ended. He would drown in it certainly. It was everything that was wrong with the world. It was so much more than simple pain. It was hell itself. Writhing and twisting through him. Each fresh wave of it snapping bones inside him. Tearing and shredding his insides. Slicing open huge gashes on his skin. Boiling his blood. Melting him from the inside out. Xi'an's teeth were clenched so tightly he thought they might shatter from the pressure. Sweat ran down his face and body in small rivers. His legs were jelly, wobbling frantically under him. His hand shone with a severe intensity. It made everything else in the room seem pale in comparison. In the corner, Doc Wingfoot sat on the edge of the chair. Her breath was still in her throat, her eyes were wide, she didn't move a muscle. She had been around, but she had never seen anything like this... It started softly, but it soon grew. A soft growl rippling out from Xi'an. It became louder, becoming a snarl. Xi'an's lips were curled. The snarl grew and grew until...suddenly an ear-deafening scream ripped loose from him. Mama Hurricane's eyes snapped open. She sat up with a start, a startled scream coming from her lips, she coughed hoarsely. Xi'an abruptly stopped screaming, his hand slipped off Mama Hurricane and he crumpled limply to the floor. The door burst open as Shakti, Rosa, Krystalin, and the others rushed in. Doc Wingfoot rushed over to Mama Hurricane. "Mama!", Rosa yelled as she ran over to the bed. "Xi'an!", Krystalin exclaimed as she spotted the limp Xi'an on the floor. "Is he alright?", Eddie asked. "Is he alive?", Shell added. "Madre de dios! Xi'an!", Rosa exclaimed, suddenly remembering Xi'an. "Please! Everyone! I understand your excitement and concern. Believe me, I share it," Doc Wingfoot said sternly. "But you all you need to back off so we can help Xi'an and Mama Hurricane." "Doctor Wingfoot is correct," Shakti said as she knelt down next to Xi'an. "We need some space here." As everyone backed off, muttering apologies, Shakti laid a finger on Xi'an's neck. She breathed a sigh of relief. There was a pulse, thank god. But he wasn't breathing. Quickly, Shakti used her powers to grab onto Xi'an's motor control center. With a quick jolt, she forced Xi'an's lungs to start again. Slowly, Xi'an's chest began to rise. Shakti continued coaxing Xi'an to breathe until she was certain he could handle it on his own. Lazily, Xi'an's eyes opened and he coughed harshly. Shakti let go and relaxed. He would be alright. Xi'an looked over at Shakti. "Did it work?", he asked weakly. Shakti nodded, smiling. "It worked," she answered quietly. "I'm telling you, Doc, I feel fine," Mama Hurricane said, her voice was strong and clear. She seemed vibrant and full of energy as she sat up in bed. "Now get these blasted tubes out of me." Mama Hurricane tugged at the IV lines impatiently. "Lay. DOWN," Doc Wingfoot insisted, almost shoving Mama Hurricane back down onto the bed. "I've adjusted the doses of the medicines you're on, but I'm not going to take them out until I'm completely sure the virus is eradicated and the damage healed." Mama Hurricane grumbled. "Fine. Might as well take care of myself in my old age." She turned to Rosa, who was anxiously waiting by the bedside. "Rosa dear, you must have been worried sick! I'm sorry to put you through that, hon." Rosa's voice was a little weak. "It's okay, Mama, you're back with us now." "Eddie, I trust you took good care of her during this?", Mama's voice was stern, but warm. Eddie smiled. "Yes ma'am." "And kept Shell out of trouble?", Mama Hurricane added, looking at Shell. Shell almost seemed to blush. "Well..." "Where are the rest of my kids?", Hurricane interrupted him. "Who do I have to thank for this? You, Doc?" "No, Mama Hurricane," Shakti said, standing up. Mama Hurricane yelped. "Don't ever scare me like that, child! Popping up out of nowhere...so I have that boy scout boyfriend of yours to thank? The one with the funny hands?" "Indeed," Shakti answered, ignoring the boyfriend comment. "Although it almost killed him." "Then I'm in debt to you and the X-men...are you still X-men?", Hurricane asked. Krystalin laughed. "Yes. We're actually here because...well, we came for Eddie." Eddie's smile vanished, replaced with a wary expression. "I'm still not sure I'll be able to join you, guys..." "Wait," Hurricane interrupted Eddie again. "Where's Contagion? And the others?" Rosa answered her. "Dominic is in Joaquim's room right now, watching him. Contagion ran away after the accident, though. He blames himself and thinks that we're all mad at him. He left on foot with no supplies. He's going to kill himself. Breakdown, Tantrum, and Psyclone are out looking for him. But it's been four days since he left and we haven't found a trace of him." Mama Hurricane's eyes went wide. "Shock," she muttered. "We have a bigger problem than my recovery on our hands then." Everyone gave Mama a puzzled look. Hurricane continued. "The Bioshop turned Contagion into a living biological weapon. He was created to be able to spread his crippling virus to exact targets, as well as spread it over a large area. Unfortunately for anyone within a 200 mile radius of him...because of what he was made to do...when he dies he'll go off like a bomb." "And he's been out in the wild for four days without food or water...," Shakti muttered. "Exactly. We've got to find him. Now." * * * Contagion opened his eyes and saw a blurry yellow sun. It filled his vision. The sky was yellow as well. The sun was so enormous and huge. It was going to fall right on him, he was sure of it. It didn't move, but he thought he could make out the edges of it simmering and waving in the air. The sky was still and filmy to him, like it had been wrapped in wax paper. He laid there in the dead grass, winds from the hills washing over him. His throat was so dry, he tried not to breathe, it hurt to breathe. He was surprised he still had the energy for it. He couldn't move, didn't want to move. It felt like he was trapped in the shell that was his body. He was dead outside. Everything was so slow now, days passed so quickly, were they days? That humongous sun always stared down at him. Its light was everywhere, but it was so dim. Contagion closed his eyes again. Inside him he could feel the virus stirring. It never died. Vaguely, he wondered where it would go once he was gone. Everywhere. Everywhere. Everywhere, he knew. That was too bad really, even dead he couldn't stop hurting people. Contagion slipped back away into the world of fever dreams, not caring if it was the last time... * * * "Does he know that's what's going to happen when he dies?", Shell asked Mama Hurricane. Beneath them, the X-perience rumbled along at 90 miles per hour along the small highway. The Oklahoman plains stretched out around them. Mama Hurricane leaned against the trailer doors inside the X-perience. "He does. I've discussed it with him. He was never the most rational of my bunch, though." Xi'an sat on the medical bed, staring ahead. He turned to Hurricane. "Guilt clouds the best of intelligences at times," he said. It was sage advice, Xi'an thought, he knew from personal experience. He had more than his fair share of demons from his past. He was only beginning to atone for his actions. The guilt would be enough to drown any man. It would be easy to do what Contagion did, Xi'an knew, and just walk off into death. But there were people that needed him here, and so much good he could do with the X-men. "No sign of him yet," Eddie said to the vidscreen in front of him. Rosa's face was displayed on it. She had been left at the ranch to watch over Dominic and Joaquim. Rosa sighed. "Alright, promise you'll call back in two hours." Eddie gave her an encouraging smile. "Promise." The screen blinked out, leaving him again with his old friends, the X-men, and his new ones, the Freakshow. It was funny how he seemed to gravitate towards exceptional groups. The X-men, the Freakshow, even the Armageddon Choir all those years ago. He hadn't had the opportunity to get back into music in such a long time. There were days where all he wanted to do was stay in his room and compose. Test out new sounds, catch up on all the music he had missed. It was an artist's life, really, and he missed it. Still, being a member of the X-men wasn't exactly chicken feed either. Eddie looked up at the cockpit where Shakti and Krystalin were. They seemed so determined, so brave. All the setbacks they had undergone, and they were still here, and just as strong. He wanted to be a part of that again. He needed to make a difference in the world. Eddie had no idea how Rosa would react, though. He didn't know if she would leave the Freakshow even now that Mama Hurricane was better. And would the Freakshow let her? Would Breakdown? He didn't want to be the one who had "kidnapped" her from the Freakshow, from the only family she had known. "Nothing yet," Shakti said, responded to a question from Krystalin that Eddie had not heard. The X-perience was better equipped than anything that the Freakshow had. They were tracking him by DNA, after they had gone through his room and found some worn garments. It was slow going though. They could only reach top speeds on the roadways, and Contagion had most likely abandoned the roads completely. They had decided to head west for him, assuming that Contagion knew what would happen when he died, and would want to head towards desert to minimize the loss of life. It was still tough going, though, he could have been anywhere. And if the X-perience turned off-road to search, they would be going at a much slower pace. They'd probably end up meeting Breakdown's search party before they found Contagion. Mama Hurricane stood over Xi'an. "You up for it, bucky?" Shell giggled. He always got a kick out of Mama's arcane speech. "We're going to need your healing to stabilize him once we find him. I don't think adrenaline shots and stasis fluid will work too well." According to Shakti, Xi'an recovered quickly from the internal pain he received when he healed. That process seemed to be going slowly this time around, Mama Hurricane had been almost dead. When they found Contagion, most likely he would be the same. Xi'an still looked a little shaken. "I will be ready. Although it remains to be seen if even I can have an effect on him, given his unique physiology. I may end up simply destroying the virus within him, killing him anyway. I may not be much of a boon." "We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?", Hurricane replied. The scanning console next to Shakti began beeping. She turned to it. "Not much longer, apparently," Shakti said. "I've got a trace of him up ahead..." Shakti studied the readings. "Looks like he crossed the highway up ahead heading north into the plains. Judging from our distance from the camp now, it had to have been yesterday. We're close." Krystalin slowed the vehicle. "Tell me when to turn, Shakti," "I will." "Looks like we'll make it," Shell said optimistically. His jubilant nature didn't exactly fit in with the Freakshow. Most of them were angry and brooding over what the Bioshop's had done to them. Shell wasn't. He had been an employee for Bioshop, and a mutant who kept his powers hidden, until the night when the Freakshow came busting in. They had had a message for the Bioshop's, they'd said, and it came in the form of a genetically altered bounty hunter named Glitterspike. Glitterspike's left arm was completely gone, and he had scars all over his face. He was a mess. Shell was there on the sideline's when it all happened. He couldn't believe it. A superhero team, a real live superhero team! Well, everyone just called them terrorists, but he knew better. He had always wanted to be a part of a superhero team. And when the Freakshow was cornered as they escaped, he saw his chance to act. He turned on his employers, which, to be honest, he hadn't really liked much anyway, and ran off with the Freakshow. He'd never looked back since. And now here he was on a mission with the X-men. It was wild. And they wanted Eddie back, the only guy in the Freakshow who wasn't a sourpuss. Well, besides Dominic. The X-perience turned off the road and onto the plains. The van bumped and shook from the uneven terrain they were on. The beeping from the scanner became louder. Shakti's eyes went wide with surprise. "He's closer than I thought. Only a mile ahead, Krystalin." "You ready, Xi'an?", Shell asked. Xi'an nodded. Ahead of them, they could make out a clearing. There were dozens of birds on the ground and circling above. Contagion was still alive, but that didn't matter to carrion, apparently. In a small circle around the prone Contagion, several birds were lifeless on the ground. It didn't seem to deter the others. The birds scrambled away as the van barreled forward. They didn't stray far, though, intent on having Contagion as their next meal. The back hatch opened and Xi'an, Mama Hurricane, and Shell scrambled out. Immediately they made torward the prone Contagion. Shakti came up with a medical scanner. She swore under her breath. "He's almost gone. The birds must have picked at him, he's lost a lot of blood from the lack of sustenance. She turned back to the van. "Krys, Eddie, is the bed prepped?" Krys yelled back from the van. "Just about!" Dutifully she worked with her old teammate Metalhead in preparing everything. They moved smoothly, as if the months apart hadn't affected their teamwork at all. Krystalin allowed herself a small smile. It was good to see that Eddie was still an X-man. "Dex," Mama Hurricane said to Shell. "Do your thing." Shell nodded and suddenly his golden-armored body glowed with a purple light. Xi'an stepped back from Contagion. "What are you doing?", Xi'an asked. "It's the contingency plan, kid," Mama Hurricane replied to Xi'an. "Viruses break down under bombardment from UV rays. Shell's mutant power is that he's able to absorb the UV rays from the sun and form body armor from it. That's not the extent of it, though. He can absorb, but he can also conduct. If we lose Contagion, then at least everyone will be spared." Xi'an nodded, impressed, as Shell extended a hand towards Contagion. A harsh purple light bathed Contagion's entire body. Shell turned to Xi'an. "Better do your thing quickly before he fries." Shell's tone was deadly serious. Xi'an crouched down next to Contagion, his body also immersed in the UV light. It was an uncomfortable experience, to say the least, and he wouldn't last much longer than Contagion in it. Quickly, Xi'an grabbed Contagion's hand with his right and closed his eyes. The virus inside Contagion fought him. It was eager for a new host. It was eager to spread and infect the entire world. That was their nature, Xi'an knew, to consume until there was nothing left. Xi'an fought them, for once, he let the rage that consumed his past work for him. He channeled his anger into fighting them. They relented under his assault. The UV and Xi'an were too much for them. Xi'an concentrated on giving energy to Contagion, to closing his wounds and dragging him back from death's door. Compared to what he had already done today, healing Contagion somehow seemed easier. A voice interrupted his train of thought. "Xi'an, his eyes are open." The UV light that was covering them both suddenly ceased. The winter wind whistled through the plain like a sudden rain shower. Xi'an let go of Contagion and gasped. His skin was hot to the touch, the cold wind was slightly painful. It would pass. Contagion's eyes were open again. They were open again. Contagion hadn't expected that. The sun was so small now. The wind so cold. He was shivering. He must be dead now. He was in hell. It was cold in hell. But...why was Mama Hurricane in hell, too? "Don't you EVER do that again, y'hear?", Mama Hurricane said to him. "You're damn lucky we found you!" "I'm...dead," Contagion croaked out. "You wish," Shell said. "We got to you just in the nick of time." "I'm...not dead?" "No, and you have Mama and the Freakshow to thank for that," Xi'an said solemnly. "You should not have run off like that, should not have questioned Mama Hurricane's love for all her children." "I'm...sorry, Mama," Contagion said, trying to get up. Mama Hurricane smiled. "I know, honey, I know." * * * Eddie threw the large satchel into the X-perience and turned to Rosa. "So you'll come in three weeks, right?", he asked her. She nodded, smiling. "Three weeks. Until this place settles down." Eddie scooped Rosa up in his massive arms, giving her a gentle hug. She hugged him back. "I'll miss you, you know." Rosa stood up on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss. "Don't be looking at any of those city girls. You don't know where they've been." "How's that any different from you?", Eddie joked. "You KNOW where I've been, Eddie," she said, her hands on her hips. "You beat the shock out of it." "Heh. Think Glitterspike'll ever come back?" "Not a chance." Eddie gave her a final hug. "Then I'll see you and Joaquim in Halo in three weeks, safe and sound." Shell poked his head out of the van. "Eddie, come ON! Not all of us in this van have already been X-men! I'm eager to be off!" Rosa held Eddie's hands as she nodded towards Shell. "Mama wants you to watch that one. Is Krystalin completely sure making him an X-man is a good idea?" "It'll be fine. I'll make sure he doesn't slip up." Eddie paused, just staring at Rosa's face. "I should go now." "I know." Suddenly Rosa drew Eddie down to her and whispered in his ear. "I love you." Eddie smiled and whispered back, "I love you, too. See you soon." He got up and climbed into the van. "Finally!", Rosa heard Shell yell out as Eddie closed the van doors. "Man, I'm never getting a girlfriend, they take up so much time!" With two friendly farewell beeps of the horn, the van drove off in a cloud of dust. Rosa turned back to the ranch house. Just three weeks. They could survive for three weeks. Eddie would be fine in Halo. How much could happen in three weeks? * * * "Finally!", Luna cried out as she ripped the old wood panelling from the wall in front of them. "I thought we'd never find anything in this drafty old place." "Drafty's an understatement," Tim said as he rubbed his arms for warmth. "No wonder Alchemax abandoned this place, the heaters don't work!" "Doubt that, love," Luna said as she cleared out more wood. "What a damn big place. Who knew it had so many levels?" "At least we've found something finally. The Driver probably has an access key to this little hidden elevator, but we have to work with more old-fashioned tools," Tim stated. "I don't mind," the wood creaked and snapped as Luna tore it away, revealing a plain metal door. "It's a nice workout. I knew I smelled something fishy about this place. Never like wood-panelling anyway." Finally, Luna finished clearing the door. She turned to Tim. "Think that's enough?" "Yeah, let's jump-start this thing," Tim said as he laid his hand on the metal door. He gave it a small power surge to activate it. The door slid open. Tim grinned back at Luna as they stepped in. Immediately the elevator dropped down. Tim held onto the sides. "Pretty fast for such an abandoned place. Wonder where it goes." "Down," Luna stated, waiting patiently for the elevator to halt. Abruptly, it stopped and the metal door slid open to reveal a long hallway in front of them. It was metallic and featureless all around. It looked like a fortress. All the ceiling panel lights were activated. At the end of the hallway was a large circular doorway, it was wide open. As they walked towards the doorway, Luna sniffed around. "Do you have anything?", Tim asked her. "Nothing, if he's been here then he hasn't used this hallw...wait," Luna paused. "I got something." She pointed towards the doorway. "There." Luna and Tim made towards the doorway, another hallway intersected the one they were in at the end. It ran off to the left and right of the open doorway. Tim turned to Luna. "Well?" "I don't know. The scent goes in both directions and into the room. You're depending an awful lot on my nose here. We should start searching by sight," Luna answered. "Let's start in the room then. Can't be a coincidence that this door is open," Tim said, walking through the doorway. "He probably knows we're here. This has to be a trap," Luna said warily, staying put. Tim turned back and grinned. "Then we'll rumble our way out of it. I'd like to see the brainglitch that thinks he could take us both on." Luna stepped inside the dark room. "Better hope Brimstone Love isn't in there, lover," she whispered. The room was pitch black. "Let there be light!", Tim said as he powered up. An eerie green glow lit up the space around them as electrical energy filled Tim. Suddenly, the doorway behind them slid shut with a resounding slam. Tim and Luna turned around. "I knew it," Luna said. The lights in the room bursted on. They were in a massive featureless room several stories high. "The door...," Tim said as they faced it. Behind them, they heard the sound of a match being struck. Tim and Luna turned around again to face their surprise captors. "Which one you want, one-eye?", Wolverine said, puffing on a cigar. "This isn't the time for jokes, Logan," Cyclops said, red light shone brightly from his ruby-quartz visor. "We have intruders." NEXT ISSUE: A big fight!!! And the perils of dropping in unexpectedly on the Driver. |