Alternate X-Men #67
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Cover : Jean Grey, Bishop, Beast, Wolverine, and Psylocke [with a cane] stand
on a hill overlooking the damaged X-Mansion. The sun sets behind it, as the
ghost faces of Professor, Rogue, Gambit, Storm, Iceman, and Cyclops grace
the horizon. Atop the Mansion, perched on the roof, the Archangel sits, 
shadowed against the setting sun. In the foreground, a golden cat and a
turtle are duking it out.
 
-*-
[Prelude]
 
All across the country, mutant hatred is sprouting up. After the destruction
of a large section of Santa Fe by the X-Men called Gambit, and another
incident more recently in New York City, the mutant menace issue has
been cropping up everywhere from politics to religion to talk shows :
 
-*-
 
A Street Preacher : Mutants are the work of Satan! In order for you
to be saved, mutants must burn in your place, brother!
 
Trevor Faulkman, sub-commander of SHIELD <to Congress> : With the creation 
of this new X-Factor unit, we will now be able to combat the mutant menace 
on a much greater scale. However, this is not enough. In order for the
mutant threat to be eliminated completely, more drastic measures will be
needed as well <pounding down fist>. [the podium shakes, falling over]
 
BARNEY [on his show] : Remember, boys and girls! Love is like a happy gift!
Give it to everybody!!! Except those mutants!! For mutants, ole Barney has
an extra special gift! [packing a loaded weapon in his purple dinosaur hands]
 
-*-
 
The X-Men's ranking, once numbering as many as twelve, has slowly thinned
out, with the mysterious disappearances of Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Rogue,
Gambit, Iceman, and Storm. 
 
The remaining X-Men,  with morale running lower than ever, regroup at 
the damaged X-Mansion for some much needed rest and relaxation, after 
several weeks of being apart.
 
[End Prelude]
 
-*-
 
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@ Story #1 The Gathering @
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The X-Mansion : Just Outside the walls of this building, there sits a lake..
Over the years, many a person has come here to think.. However, Greydon
Creed is the last person Logan was expecting to find here..
 
Logan walks up to Creed, with cigar in hand..
 
"Vic.. I know we haven't gotten along, but I heard that you saved Red..
 So, in my eyes, we're even.. A friend of Red is a friend of mine.. Truce?"
 
Logan reaches his hand out to Victor, only to suddenly wince away, as Victor
lashes out at him, claws extended..
 
"You senile git! Me Helpin Red Don't Mean I Hate You Any Less.."
 
As Wolverine ducks backwards, bone claws extended, Creed suddenly
disappears in a flash of energy.. As Creed fades, he mutters..
 
"Some grudges are meant to be.."
 
Wolverine scratches his head, perplexed as to where Creed had disappeared
to.. A voice suddenly comes from behind him..
 
"My most earnest apologies, Logan. In all the confusion over the last
 two weeks, it has slipped my intention to inform you of the holographic
 projection unit that Sabretooth is attached to. It gives him an illusion
 of some freedom."
 
Logan grunts at the Beast, who has walked up behind him..
 
Logan : "Arghh.. Never even mentioned he was here period.. If I'd known
about that damn furball, I mightuv stayed AWOL a little longer.."
 
"How are Warren and Bets doing?"
 
Beast : "Bets is going to be off her bipedal accomodations for a while, until
her leg heals. Warren is in a deep slumber.. He looked exhausted.. Rest 
was what he exactly needed.. He had been working for days nonstop to
find Rogue and Gambit before Locus had swept him back to the mansion
for whatever reason."
 
Wolverine : Don't trust her.. Not at all.. Somethin' About Her Scent..
  Next time she drops by, I'm gonna grab the nut before she can zap  
  herself away again..
 
Beast : Actually, the ability of Locus to port to the X-Mansion is 
a conundrum. According to Cable's files, she should only be able to
teleport herself to places she's been before. How she was able to
teleport here in the first place eludes me.
 
Another voice .. A shadow hiding behind a tree.. Bishop patrols the grounds
of the Mansion, heavily armed with firepower..
 
Bishop : The girl is the least of our problems right now.. 
 
Logan : Don't tell me. You're hunting down the cat*.
 
[* Niels, Speedball's cat.. Don't ask how he got here. -Mike-]
 
Bishop : Our rankings are being thinned out to the point of team 
  extinction, and all we can do is stand around here and do nothing?
 
Logan takes a puff of his cigar, blowing out a ring of smoke.
 
"Can't throw a dart if you can't find the bullseye."
 
Beast : "We have no leads whatsoever, I regret to inform you.."
 
Bishop : Then we should be out looking for them! Instead of sitting
around here, sipping tea and sunbathing!
 
Beast : "I tried sunbathing, but blue fur doesn't tan very well. Besides,
that damn cat* stole my sunblock."
 
[* Niels, Speedball's cat, hitched a ride to the mansion in Speedball's
   coat a few issues back, which was being borrowed by Pretty Persuasions, 
   one of the Psionex who raided the mansion, looking to discover why Cyclops 
   had been lurking outside the demolished Genetech research facility. Take 
   notes - You'll be tested on this later. -Mike]
 
Logan : "We're tired, Bish.. Some rest is what we need.. Red has
been going nonstop since Threnody appeared*, and would have burnt out
without any slumber. We're no help to anybody if we're dozing off as we 
rescue em.. We're ONLY HUMAN, regardless what people say.."
 
[*Alternate X-Men #50 -Mike]
 
Bishop drops his gun to the ground.. "I just feel so helpless.. For
the first time since I got to this time, it feels as if the entire
future that I know is in jeoporady.. Nothing is happening as it should
be.."
 
Logan walks over to Bishop, patting him on the back : "And that's bad?
Maybe we'll slip by this whole X-Traitor shtick you've been yappin about
all these months.."
 
A crease forms on Bishop's head : "Or maybe we're backing into it without
even realizing it.."
 
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@ End : Story #1 @
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@ INTERLUDE @
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The Stairwell
-------------
 
Within the X-Mansion, a golden-colored cat goes bouncing up a stairwell,
a pair of keys jingling happily in its mouth, along with a bottle of
sunscreen. Niels has always been a bit hyperactive. Once he starts moving, 
very little can stop him - however, there are a few things -- one of those 
being a man appearing out of a portal, offering Niels a boloney sandwich.
 
Of course. this doesn't happen too often, since there are very few men
that appear out of portals, and even fewer that happen to offer Niels
a boloney sandwich. However, today is Niels' lucky day. From seemingly empty
air, several feet above the stairwell, a golden spiral-shaped disc appears,
as the shadow of somebody can be seen in it. A small man - In his hand, he
clutches onto a boloney sandwich. 
 
The scent of the boloney sandwich reaches Niels' sensitive nose, as he drops
the dangling keys and sunscreen from his mouth , and they hit the ground with 
a clank. 
 
Warren's room
-------------
 
Betsy sits at Warren's bedside. In her hand, she holds a cane, as one of
her legs is heavily bandaged, set in a cast. Warren is deep asleep, as
Betsy/Psylocke keeps a silent vigil over him.
 
Betsy <whispering> : Oh come on, Warren, you can't blame yourself for
  everything that has gone wrong lately. There is only so much angst
  one can take before life seems like a poorly written comic book.*
 
[* Warren misplaced Rogue and Gambit, while gutting a cybernetic terrorist
   accidentally with his wings. It's all his fault! -Mike-]
 
Betsy is suddenly caught off-guard by a stunning light coming from just 
down the hall. Her ears perk up, as she hears the meowing of a cat, and
the smell of ozone coming from nearby. With a limp, she hops down the hall..
 
She gets there in time to see a glowing portal fade out of existence.. Niel
sits below it, perched on his hind legs, with a boloney sandwich in
his mouth, and a suspicious grin on his face. A second later he is gone..
As Betsy limps to catch up with him, she notices a small turtle poking its
way down the hall..
 
Betsy <scratching head> : I'm not even going to ask.
 
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@ End : INTERLUDE @
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@ Story #2 : Fire In The Head  @
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**Welcome To The Generic Dream Sequence Game Show!!**
 
**I'm your host, Bobby Walker!!!**
 
(A man dressed in a nice suit, with shining white teeth.)
 
And let me introduce you to the contestants!
 
Meet Jean Grey, a mutant from Westchester County, New York!
 
[Jean is dressed in streetclothes, giving funny looks to the contestant
 to her right.]
 
Nathaniel Essex, an undesignated mad scientist from parts unknown!
 
[Essex stares back at Jean, giving her an evil grin.]
 
-AND-
 
Irving, an accountant from Little Rock, Arkansas!
 
[Irving, dressed in business attire, sloppily picks his nose.]
 
-*-
 
** Now, I'm sure all contestants understand the rules. I ask the
   questions.. You supply the answers.. Whoever has the most
   points wins **
 
** The First Question is for Essex : What color is the sky? **
 
<BUZZ> Essex : Why, it's blue, Bob!
 
** Absolutely Correctomundo!! Next question, for Jean : What is the
atomic weight of a thermonitrate compound in normal gravity at an
extra-crispy density? **
 
Jean <scratching head> : Huh?
 
<A buzzing noise> ** I'm sorry, but you lose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! **
 
The floor suddenly opens but beneath Jean, as she falls screaming.
 
Irving The Accountant : Man, that certainly seemed like a short game!
 
** Heck, what do you expect? This is a Dream Sequence!!! **
 
Essex slams his fist into Irving, sending him flying through the wall.
 
Irving : Ouch.
 
** Generic Omnipotent Voice, tell Essex what he's won!! **
 
YOU'VE WON THE BODY OF SCOTT SUMMERS!! TO MANIPULATE AND FINAGLE ANY
FRIGGIN' WAY YOU WANT!
 
Several hostesses wheel Scott out on a stretcher, as Essex approaches
him, with a big smirk on his face.
 
Jean Grey suddenly emerges from the floor, in full uniform, telekinetically
levitating herself!
 
"I'm sorry, but that man is already taken!"
 
The game show host attempts to hold Jean back.
 
** Come Jean, let's not be a sore loser. **
 
There is an intense booing within the crowd.
 
Jean : I'm sick of this dream controlling me! Sinister, I intend to make
you into a sore winner!
 
With a flash of light, Essex and the Scott Summers merge together, retaining
the physical characteristics of Scott, save for the crimson red eyes and
pale complexion of Sinister. 
 
Sinister : Come Jean, even the most elaborate dreams are rooted in truth.
It's too late to save his body or soul. Live with it. I will be forever.
 
The game show host pipes in : **Well, Essex, do we have a deal for you! Since
you've been the best game show contestant we've ever had, we're gonna throw
in a bonus prize!** 
 
In a flash of light, the icon of the Phoenix Force illuminates everything.
 
** The Phoenix Force, in all its power and glory! **
 
Sinister : "Wonderful. Wonderful. However, I suppose I'll have to shed this
body before I can take another."
 
Sinister suddenly separates himself from Scott Summers, as Scott's compexion
returns to normal. Jean attempts to telekinetically keep Sinister away from
the Phoenix Force, hovering in the air, only to find her powers aren't 
working.
 
As Sinister is about to merge with the Phoenix Force, a loud voice erupts
from behind him.
 
"Stop! That body is already taken!"
 
The bruised body of Irving the Accountant, glasses off, crawls out from
behind the wall he was tossed into.
 
Sinister : And who are you to stop me? What can you do?
 
The appearance of Irving begins to change, as he grows taller, his hair 
becoming more curly.. The announcer begins blaring, at ear-pounding 
volumes..
 
SINISTER! YOU'VE WON A NEW PRIZE! AN ALL EXPENSE-PAID TRIP TO HELL, WHERE
YOU WILL ROT AND SUFFER IN AGONY FOR YEARS TO COME!!!!!
 
The Phoenix suddenly comes alive, consuming the body of Sinister, as he
shrieks in bitter agony.
 
Jean opens her eyes a little, staring at the man whom once was Irving.
 
"I've seen you before. You're Ruckus, one of Sinister's goons."
 
Ruckus reaches his hand out to the Phoenix force, which drifts down,
surrounding him in an eternal blaze. His entire body begins to glow
an intense orange, as his strawberry blond hair is replaced by
golden flame.
 
"We're more than that now. We've seen the light. One part of us has
shown the other what it means to be human, and the other part has
shown the other the error of his humanity. And now we are two parts of
the whole. Only deep within, though. On the outside, we are still
segmented. We're not ready to help you yet. But we need your help. It's
not too late for Scott, but if you wait any longer, we might have to
destroy him. My human side is already crying for blood, even as we
are pursued!"
 
-*-
 
The Dream Ends. Jean Grey awakens in her bed, in the Summers townhouse on
the grounds of Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning.. The Real World
beckons her forth with problems : Her husband missing.. Iceman AWOL from
Muir Isle, so Moira says.. Storm and Xavier both noticeably absent.. 
Archangel and Psylocke being ferried back to the X-Mansion by the mutant 
teleporter Locus, without Gambit or Rogue, both missing or dead.. And
then there's Locus, a former villain with hidden motives probably..
 
All these problems.. And from a dream, perhaps the first ray of hope.
 
"But what does it mean?", she thinks to herself..
 
--\ /--
--/ \--
 
<Epilogue>
 
A Donut Shop In New York. A Stranger walks in, as a zit-faced teenager
attempts to close the store down for the night. The Lights Are Low, as
the employee had already flicked the lights off.
 
The employee suddenly finds himself in the shadow of the stranger..
 
Stranger : You wouldn't happen to have seen a tall fellow with curly
pinkish hair around, have you? He was wearing a tie-dye shirt and
a jacket with a Flotsam&Jetsam logo on it?
 
The Employee : That loser? Yeah, he looked pretty drunk. I threw him out
about an hour ago to clean the floor. Man, he must have downed about
ten coffees.
 
Stranger : Thanks, kid. Hey, give me a coffee.
 
The Employee : I would, mac, but the pot's been sitting off the burner, and
it's wicked cold..
 
Stranger : No problem.. I can heat it up myself..
 
The strangers eyes suddenly glow red, behind a pair of ruby glasses..
 
--\/--
--/\--

@@ The Godquest Begins.. Plus, cats, turtles, and little green men.. Well, sort
of..
 
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Disclaimer : Most of the characters here are the property of Marvel Comics,
  except for BARNEY, who is the property of some alien race attempting to
  brainwash the people of earth with terrible children's programming. 
  However, most of the ideas are mine.  
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