X-men 2099UG #40

Halo City
Meanstreak's WorkShop

A framed picture sits on top of the workbench. There aren't too many things left in frames now a day, but it helps Henri remember the old days. He remembers the days he spent in college with his good friend Jordan Boone. Jordan is… was brilliant. Brilliant until the Avataar decided he wanted to use him in his Norse God scheme. Jordan soon after became the twisted Halloween Jack. Taking Las Vegas as his own, "Jack" reopened the gateway into the "Virtual Unreality" universe that Jordan had opened some months before. The gateway wreaked havoc on the city and Henri swore he would journey there to help "Jack" fix things.

Weeks have gone by, and Henri has just heard of his friend's death. He sits at his workbench with a bottle of some synthetic alcohol and a framed picture of he and Jordan. "Shock it, Jordan. Why did you have to let this get to you? We could have beaten Jack and gotten you back to normal. But, no. You always had to have it your way, you and your damn gateway. "

As Henri sits and regrets his past decisions, the workshop door hisses open and Shakti walks in. "How are you holding up?"

Henri laughs, "As well as can be expected. Damn him, Shakti. Damn him to death. We could have beaten this thing, but he had to do it on his own."

Shakti walks over and takes the bottle from him, "And this is how you honor his memory? Are you drinking to forget, or to remember?"

Henri stands up, "What does it matter anymore? He's dead, and all I can do is remember. If it wasn't for that stupid gateway I don't think he would have gotten this crazy. I think that "virtual unreality" did something more to him. Shock, he destroyed an entire city with it."

"And what about Vegas?"

"The whole thing is destroyed. The gateway made certain of that. I knew it was too unstable, and I told him." Henri shakes his head, "I've got to get out of here."

"Do you need some air to clear that stuff you were drinking?"

Henri smiles, "No. That 'stuff' was Jordan and my favorite drink in college. After every exam we would go out and drink to another exam behind us. No. I need to get out of Halo for a while."

Shakti walks over to him and puts a hand on his shoulder, "How long will you be gone? We're losing our team one at a time. We need to stay together."

Henri shakes his head, "I won't be gone forever. I just need a little space and time to myself. I'll be back. I'd never leave you and the X-Men. The team's been my friends and family for a while now, you won't get rid of me that easy. I just need some time alone."

Shakti smiles, "Good. I don't think we could fix much around here without you."

"I know. I made sure of that."

The two friends laugh. Sometimes in the darkest of times, there's always hope.

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Alaska

Alexander Shaw sits staring out of his office window. He ponders about the days that are before him, and the work that must go into it. The Hellfire Club is his main priority and nothing will stand in his way to bring the Club back to the status it once had. He swivels his desk chair back to his desk, and presses a button on his holo-com.

An image of the Mediator comes to focus over the holo-com, "Yes, sir. Is there something I can get for you?"

Alexander nods, "It is time to gather the others, my friend. "

The Mediator nods, "Yes, sir. I'll have them arrive at the Juneau location."

"That will be fine."

"Is everything alright, sir? You don't seem quite yourself."

Alexander smiles, "I'm fine. There's much to do before we can announce the arrival of the new Hellfire, and all this preparation is weighing heavily on me. I just need some time to myself. Thank you, my friend."

The Mediator nods, "Yes, sir. I'll make sure no one bothers you until the others are here."

"Thank you, Mediator."

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Halo City
Book's Information Bank

A hundred feet above the floor below hovers the mutant known only as Book. Yesterday his fellow X-Man, Luna, visited him. Book took the painful responsibility of telling Luna Brimstone Love was her brother. And as he expected, she did not take it well. Denying Book's revelation, Luna left in fear and in rage. Book was hoping she would help him destroy Brimstone Love by infiltrating the Theatre of Pain using this information. His hopes were ripped apart. He was counting the odds that her hatred for Brimstone would overrule her breaking heart knowing he was her brother. As Luna left him that day, Book regretted his next step in his attempt to destroy the Theatre once and for all. He knows now he must inform Luna and Brimstone's other sibling of who he shares blood with.

The door at the ground level hisses open and a voice breaks the tower's silence. "You wanted to see me about something, stone one?"

Book smiles and looks down at the door, "Yes I did. Please come up here, I have something I must share with you."

The man enters into the tower and floats up to Book in his zero gravity environment. "What is it? And make it quick, you know how I hate it inside here."

"Oh, yes. I apologize, Bloodhawk. I'll make this quick. How much do you know about your family?" Book smiles.

"What do you care?" Bloodhawk growls.

"Well, I've been looking into your life, and I've found something very interesting."

Bloodhawk looks sternly at Book, "And what might that be?"

"Do you know you have a brother and a sister?" Book smiles with pleasure at the look of sheer shock on Bloodhawk's face.

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Alaska

The candles on the walls dimly light the room. The Mediator stands at the head of the large wood table and addresses those seated around it. "On behalf of my employer I would like to thank all of you for coming on such short notice. You all have been asked to come here in the hope you and my employer can reach everyone's goals together. Each of you hold large portions of several private corporations all over the world."

A young man seated on the right side of the table speaks up, "We all know who we are. I want to know who your employer is. None of us knew of this Alaskan Complex before we received your employer's invitation."

The room is filled with blinding light as a door behind the Mediator opens, and a man steps into the room. "My friends, my name is Alexander Shaw, and I have asked all of you here so I may offer you a business proposition."

"And what might that be, Mr. Shaw?" A young woman sitting on the left side of the table asks.

"Ms. Craven, there is no need for formalities here. You are with friends and comrades in the reaching of all of our goals."

"You seem to know a lot about us, Alexander, but we still don't know what you have in mind."

"Do you remember the Hellfire Club, my friends?"

Everyone in the room nods and tells of their families being part of the club, "We all have had family in the Club, Alexander, but what does that mean to us? The Club is dead and forgotten."

"Oh, I would have to disagree with you, Sir Domingo. The Club is very much alive, and I ask all of you to accept my offer to be the Club's Inner Circle."

The room is silent. No one knows what to say to this. The Inner Circle was the most feared part of the Hellfire Club in the 20th Century. Sebastian Shaw. Selene. Magneto. Emma Frost. Harry Leland. Donald Pierce. These were the most feared mutants in the late 20th Century, and now here in the present day, they were being offered the chance to become part of that history.

After a few moments of speaking to themselves, Ms. Craven stands representing all of the invited guests. "Mr. Shaw.. I mean Alexander. On behalf of my fellow guests, we accept your offer."

Alexander smiles, "I am glad to hear that. And considering you are your fellow guests' spokesperson allow me to introduce you first. Everyone, this lovely young woman is Aloria Craven. Aloria will stand as the new Hellfire's Black Queen. Skipping over the empty seat next to her we have Jonathan Richards. Jonathan will serve as the Black Bishop of Hellfire. Moving directly across from Jonathan, we have Hellfire's new White Bishop, Nathaniel Dumakas. Next to Nathaniel, we have Sir Domingo de Solas, who will serve as the new White Rook. Seated next to Sir Domingo is a dear friend of my childhood, Amanda Mallie. Amanda will serve as the White Queen.

I hope you all will get to know one another during your visit here. All of you have your own private suites, and if you need anything please call Mediator. He will tend to any needs you have."

Amanda stands, "Alexander, who are these empty seats for? Surely you do have a White King and a Black Rook."

Alexander smiles, "Oh, dear Amanda, you are correct. I do have two others in our ranks. Your White King will be joining us as soon as returns from Halo City."

"Halo City? Why has he gone there?"

"Sir Domingo, do not worry. Halo is not an enemy of ours. Our White King has gone there to ask a very special man to be our Black Rook. Tell me, do you know of Morphine Somers?"

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The Desert

This is Xi'an Chi Xan, once leader of the mutant group known as the X-Men. But that time is long behind him, and Xi'an has taken a new road away from the X-Men. This road has brought him on a search for something he lost long ago-- his soul. Xi'an has always felt guilt for his past as part of the Lawless, and he gathered the X-Men to make atonement for those past acts. He brought a group of young mutants together and he tried to do what was right, but he failed. He realized it was up to him and he alone to undo the past, so that is why his road has led him here. He has come to see the past, and to change it.

Xi'an stands in front of a large steel gate that stands over four stories high. This is the gate to the city of Saba'Ur. There is no true date to when this city was built. Some of the legends say it was built after the mysterious ending of the Heroic Age, others say it has been here since the dawn of time. It has been the safe haven of all that seek hiding. Legends have been started here as to who built it, but all Xi'an knows is this is where he saw his own death. The Lawless journeyed here ten years ago, and they destroyed everything that stood in their way. When they entered into the city they felt something come over them and they lost all control. Men. Women. Children. Everything was killed or destroyed. Xi'an remembers this place all too well. No one ever spoke of what went on here again. No one understood why they did what they did, but they knew they weren't in control. It was like the city itself took control of their bodies and let their eyes watch as the city took vengeance on its inhabitants.

Xi'an stands before the city's gate and wonders if this is where his answers lie, waiting for him to come for them. When the Lawless left, no one ever inhabited Saba'Ur again. They say evil spirits of the people the Lawless killed curses it. Xi'an thinks to himself of the helplessness he felt when everything was over and he gained control back. He felt for the first time regret and fear. This was the final day of the Lawless. After then they parted ways and never saw each other again. Why is it the last day of the Lawless would be the first place Xi'an would be drawn to? This is what he hopes to find out.

He walks to the closed steel gate and pushes on it to open it, but it remains closed. He steps back and places both hands against the gate's steel face and he begins to push harder, but nothing. He looks up at the gate and sees nothing that should hold the door shut. He wonders if there is a locking mechanism behind the door to lock it from the interior. "I don't have time for this."

Xi'an by nature is a mutant. He is the yin and the yang of himself. One hand can bring life and a second chance. The other hand is a weapon of death. He removes his glove from his hand and places it on the door. He concentrates slightly and a large hole begins to form around his hand. It grows until it is large enough for his body to slide through. Xi'an shakes his head in disgust as he see the city's streets covered in scattered debris and bones. Even after all this time, the remains of the Lawless's last day are here to remind him of his past.

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Outside of Halo City

Henri rides away from the city's gate on one of his dune-cycles. "I'm glad I took this cycle instead of running. There's no telling what I might run into out here."

As he rides away he passes a sign:

LAS VEGAS
75 MILES

Be here next issue when the "Messiah Quest" begins in full force. The Evil One finally comes to the surface world, but what does he want with Dorian and the Wild Boys? Find out next issue that is written by guest scribe, Munch2099.

I'll be back for issue #42 with a story starring Xi'an and the return of the Lawless. See ya!