UNTOLD TALES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE
ISSUE #1

The tiny, blonde-haired form of Illyana Rasputin stood in the middle of a vast wheat field, part of the Ust-Ordynski Collective Farm in Siberia, watching the X-Men's aircraft land. She bounced happily on her toes as the blackbird craft wooshed down and landed, VTOL-style*, on a bare patch of soil.

[*Vertical TakeOff and Landing --Aeronautical Van]

Illyana rushed up as the hatch opened, and Colossus dashed down the steps to pick her up and hug her. Behind them, Cyclops, Storm, and Nightcrawler disembarked as well; Storm shivered at the cold Siberian winter air, while Nightcrawler and Cyclops looked around, taking in the grand and majestic vista surrounding the farm.

An Untold Tale of the X-Men:
"Home for the Holidays"
by Van Allen Plexico

[NOTE: This story takes place during the Christmas season, in the early days of the "New" X-Men (somewhere between the events of Uncanny X-Men #98 and #119). Thanks to John Quiring for the title and suggestions! --Van]

Colossus was home for a holiday visit, his first since leaving to join the New X-Men. Illyana clutched tightly at his neck, delighted to see him again, and told him of how she'd missed him.

"I've missed you too, sweet sister. It is good to be home." He smoothed back her hair from her eyes. "You are getting along well with the other children, yes? Even the ones I used to have to... er... keep in line?"

Ilyanna looked away, nervously, and Peter frowned.

"Peter-- they can be so mean! They're always getting into trouble... and I try-- I truly try not to..."

"Yes?"

"...But they make such fun of me-- they call me a 'goody two shoes' and other names..."

Peter's frown grew grim, but then he smiled and hugged her again. "My sister, I am proud of you for resisting their temptations. You are strong, Illyana. And wise." He kissed her tenderly on the cheek. "We should all do we feel is right in our hearts, no matter what others might say."

Illyana brushed back a tear and nodded. Colossus asked where their parents are, and Illyana replied that they were back at the house, that some other people arrived just before Peter and company did. Peter glanced nervously at the other X-Men, and the group proceeded toward the house.

The X-Men and Illyana entered the house, only to be met inside by Vanguard, of the Soviet Super Soldiers. Peter's parents were seated stiffly at the kitchen table, while Darkstar and the Crimson Dynamo stood nearby, clearly tense.

"Wha-- Vanguard? Dynamo? Darkstar?" Peter's eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"

Cyclops stepped up alongside Peter. "Yes, Vanguard-- I'd very much like to know what business the Soviet Super Soldiers have here."

Vanguard sneered at both men. "Business of the state, of course." His arrogance and self-assuredness overpowering, Vanguard proceeds to lecture the X-Men that the time has come for Colossus to serve the Motherland, instead of the capitalist Americans. Vanguard portrays Peter as all but a traitor and demands that he "do his duty" and return to Moscow with them immediately.

Cyclops stepped ahead of Peter. "Stick it, Vanguard. Peter made his choice-- he's an X-Man now."

"His decision was... well, allow me to be charitable and say, 'in error.'" Vanguard attempted to push past Scott, only to have Cyclops shove him back. Crimson Dynamo stepped forward, as did Nightcrawler. The two groups began to square off in the farmhouse kitchen while Peter stood back, troubled and confused.

Storm stepped between the two parties, in an attempt to cool them down and get them to act reasonably. "Please, you must not--"

Vanguard shoved Ororo back. Cyclops's anger and dislike for Vanguard spilled over and he unleashed a weak eyebeam blast, hurling the Soviet Super Soldier out into the yard. Both groups spilled out into the field and the confrontation very quickly turned ugly.

Darkstar grabbed Vanguard by the arm. "This is insane! There is no need for violence! We must not--"

"They struck first, Darkstar," Vanguard hissed. "Now they shall pay!"

Within moments, the X-Men and the Soviet Super Soldiers were locked in a violent clash. Peter held back at first, confused. Cyclops unleashed another powerful blast at Vanguard, but this time the Russian superhero employed his hammer and sickle weapons, which give him the ability to repel assaults back upon the attacker. Cyclops's blast reflected back at a wide angle and struck Cyclops, Storm, and Nightcrawler, staggering them all.

Darkstar gritted her teeth and called back to Vanguard: "If this must happen, then Storm is probably the most dangerous of the group-- she must be contained quickly." Darkstar ensnared the still-reeling Ororo in a construct of Darkforce energy, totally boxing her in.

"Let her out of there," Cyclops demanded. "She's claustrophobic! There's no telling what damage you're causing--"

Darkstar was taken aback by this, but wanted the fight over quickly, and replied, "Surrender Colossus to us, and I will release her."

Meanwhile, Crimson Dynamo used his armor's sensors to locate Nightcrawler, who had dashed into the shadows, seeking time to recover and looking for an opening to strike. Crimson Dynamo's first blast missed, and he continued to fire as Kurt teleported from place to place, until after a few moments he tracked Kurt's pattern of appearances with his armor's computers, and caught Nightcrawler at the point of rematerialization, knocking him out .*

[*At this point in his career, Kurt was not experienced enough to know to vary his pattern --X-Van]

At that moment, Vanguard rushed forward, deflecting yet another of Cyclops's attacks, and brutally knocked the distracted Scott to the ground with his hammer.

All of this happened very quickly, before Peter could overcome his uncertainty and act. With the other X-Men momentarily knocked out of the fight, Vanguard confronted Peter, demanding that he put aside his loyalty to the X-Men and serve Mother Russia. "Unlike you, your brother knew where his duty lay. He served the Motherland even at the cost of his own life!"

Shaken from his immobility, Peter flared. "Do not speak to me of Mikhail, Vanguard, or--"

"Or what, traitor? I knew your brother quite well, Colossus. Mikhail was a very brave astronaut. Brave until the very end, when his rocket exploded and he selflessly gave his life for the Motherland! And you--! You shame his memory. You do not even feel the need to serve our land at all!"

Peter was by this point in an emotional whirl, torn between anger and guilt. As he glared back at Vanguard, the other X-Men recovered and struck back.

Storm, still relatively weak from battling claustrophobia inside the black blob, freed herself from the Darkforce construct with an anger and violence that rattled Darkstar, and quickly gained the upper hand. Nightcrawler teleported directly in front of the Crimson Dynamo and used a martial arts move to topple the larger, heavier armored man. Rather than launching another direct attack, Cyclops used his beams indirectly to drop the overhang of the barn down onto Vanguard, immobilizing him temporarily.

The Russian heroes suddenly found the tide turning against them and struggled to recover, to rush to the attack again. Vanguard bellowed, "You will pay for this indignity, X-Men! I will--"

"You will do nothing, Vanguard." Peter stepped between both sides, hands raised. The others all paused.

"Perhaps... Perhaps Vanguard is correct, Cyclops. Perhaps I should stay. Perhaps that would be... the right thing to do."

"Peter, no--"

"Besides, I have not exactly been of great use to the X-Men in my time with you. You would scarcely miss me."

Storm and Nightcrawler rushed to his side, atempting to persuade Peter that he was wrong, while Cyclops and Vanguard, perhaps sensing that the time for violence had, at least for the moment, passed, stood aside, waiting.

At that moment, Illyana rushed past the others and up to Peter. "You are going to stay?"

"I... I think so, little one."

"But Peter, I thought you said we should always do what's right in our hearts."

Peter stared down at her, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly. Darkstar and Crimson Dynamo exchanged uneasy glances.

Vanguard interjected, "But sometimes duty must come first."

A voice from across the yard called back, "My son's first duty is to his own heart."

The heroes all looked up to see Peter's father striding purposefully across the yard, to stand next to his son.

"Your conscience tells you that you should stay, yes, my son?"

Colossus nods.

"When Professor Xavier first invited you to go to America, to be a part of the X-Men, I told you to follow your heart, because it would not betray you. Your heart told you to stay, then, but you chose instead to follow your conscience, and go. Now, the two seem to have reversed themselves, and I tell you again: You must follow your heart."

"But, Papa--"

"Your heart is clearly with the X-Men now, my son. Follow it."

"I--" Peter looked from his father and sister, to the Soviet Super Soldiers, to the X-Men. He closed his yes, and nodded. "Yes."

"Now, wait a moment--!" Vanguard started forward, but Darkstar reached out and stopped him. He whirled on her and started to reply to her angrily, but the Crimson Dynamo stepped to his other side and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It is over, Vanguard. The choice has been made, and we must respect it." Vanguard began to argue, but the Dynamo held him back, saying, "We are not kidnappers, my friend. Let it go."

The Crimson Dynamo led a resigned Vanguard back to their own aircraft, which had been concealed behind the house.

Darkstar and the X-Men exchanged a few brief words of apology and understanding. Cyclops shook the blonde Russian woman's hand. "You're a mutant, aren't you, Darkstar?"

"Yes."

Cyclops nodded. "Professor Xavier has spoken of you in the past. Should you ever wish it, there is a place for you in the X-Men."

Darkstar smiled a modest smile. "I thank you, Cyclops, X-Men. I will keep that in mind." She shook Peter's hand. "I wish you well, Colossus. It seems you have truly found a home."

Peter went over and embraced his father, as the others patted him on the back.

Darkstar started for her aircraft, then turned back and noticed the little form of Illyana, so like herself as a child. She bent down, caressing the girl's hair.

"You are perhaps the wisest of us all, little one."

********************

MARVEL UNIVERSE--ITY

Address correspondence to "Marvel Universe-ity," c/o plexiva@lads.com

Thanks for reading this far-- I hope you liked the first installment of UNTOLD TALES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE. It only seemed fair that if Roger Stern will be writing such a title for the "real" Marvel, then MV1 deserved one as well, and I'll try to do it justice for as long as I'm writing it.

This issue was something of an anomoly, because I'm planning on a much larger storyline to begin next issue, one that will involve many characters from across the Marvel Universe, and carry us to a number of its more exotic locales. I'm very excited about this series, and hope you'll stick around to see what happens.

This X-Men story was originally written as a submission to Marvel (you'll see what I'm referring to later this year, I think, though this story will only be notable by its absence...), but the whole bit with the Soviet Super Soldiers and the former Soviet Union apparently made it too difficult to fit into current Marvel continuity. I think, on a technical level, it fits much better here. Thanks especially to John Quiring, who came up with the title and provided a few key ideas for it.

Incedentally, for those who wonder what Vanguard, Darkstar, and Crimson Dynamo were doing together here, the Super Soldier lineup I used originally appeared in IRON MAN #109, one of my favorite comics.

I'm anxiously awaiting any feedback you the reader would care to provide! Thanks, and see you next issue.

--Van Plexico