Date:          Thu, 7 Mar 1996 13:51:50 BST

--------------------------------------------------------------------
  ** X-WRITERS is a fan-fiction e-mail group. Though our 
theme is the  X-Men, Marvel (which owns that product) has not 
given us permission to  use that product and all characters related 
to it. We similarly are not  sponsored by any other private 
organization, MUSH, individual, etc.  Finally, we are a non-profit 
bunch of amateur comic book wannabe-writers,  we ain't got the 
money for a lawsuit... so don't even bother. **

Notes: Things in [square brackets] are the sort of running 
commentary you get in boxes in the corner of the frame. Things 
in <arrow things are thoughts and things in "speech quotes" are 
speech. Things in nothing at all are descriptions of the panel the 
speech below them occurs in.

                   EXCALIBUR #92 (December issue)
                     "Another Day in Paradise."

        Written by Lady Amethyst (amethyst@jadzia.demon.co.uk)

 -----------------------------------------------------------------
     Cover: Rahne on her knees, hands clasped. Ghostly forms of       
 
     Doug Ramsey and Warlock behind and to either side, arms 
     crossed.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------

Rahne and Douglock are clearing away the dinner dishes. 
Meggan and Kitty's plates are untouched. Lockheed is perched on 
the back of Kitty's chair like a guardian angel, glaring at Pete 
Wisdom.

 [Their friend and team-mate Brian Braddock may be missing but 
Excalibur  won't give up without a fight. They know they will find 
him, but they  might be surprised as to just how soon that will be.]

 Amanda: "I could try setting a finder spell on Brian. It should be 
     able to find him even if he's not on Earth any more."

 Kurt: "I can't see what else we can do. Katzchen and I found 
     nothing in the computers of any help..."

The door is flung open and a drenched Captain Britain stands in 
the doorway. The team stares open-mouthed at him.

 Meggan: "Brian?"

 Brian: "Meggan, I am so glad to see you. I have defeated that 
     imposter who thought he could take my place and fought 
     my way through Otherworld* to reach you..."

Meggan is standing a few feet from Brian looking upset. Kurt and 
Amanda are behind her.

 Meggan: "Imposter?"

 Brian: "Kaptain Briton, the fiend who tried to take my place. 
     Surely he didn't fool any of you? Meggan?"

Meggan begins to cry.

 Meggan: "Oh Kurt you were right, I've been so stupid."

 Kurt: "We have only his word that Britanic was not Brian 
     Braddock, who is he to tells us that? The costume doesn't 
     make the man. Prove yourself."

Brian looks surprised at this negative reaction to his return.

 Brian: "I... don't know how. Where is Rachael? Surely she can 
     tell you I am who I say."

All the teams faces go blank except for Douglock.

 Douglock: "The Phoenix entity entered the timestream to save 
     the Britanic entity."

Close up from the side on Kitty facing Brian looking really angry.

 Kitty: "She's dead! She sacrificed herself to save YOU! Only 
     NOW you tell us it wasn't you. She died for NOTHING 
     and if you don't prove to us that it wasn't your fault I'm 
     gonna make you wish you'd stayed in the damn 
     timestream!"

Amanda steps between Kitty and Brian.

 Amanda: "Perhaps I can tell. There is a spell that can determine 
     if a person is in the dimension they belong to. If he is not 
     our Captain Britain I will be able to tell."

 Kitty & Brian: "Do it."

Brian stands surrounded in sparkly smoke stuff with Amanda 
behind him. The rest of the team watch from further back.

 [Amanda casts the simple but visually stunning spell while the 
rest of the team wait with bated breath.]

The smoke vanishes and Amanda turns to the team.

 Amanda: "He is Captain Britain of Earth 616. There is no doubt 
     of it."

 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

It is sunrise though the sun is behind us to the south-east. The 
Blackbird can be seen approaching from the west over the Outer 
Hebrides. There is an obvious frost on the ground and the sky is 
very clear. Moira, Douglock and Rahne (in half wolf form) wait 
outside, well wrapped up. The water vapour in their breath 
freezes as they expel it. Moira stands away from the other two.

 Rahne: "It'll be nice tae see Dr McCoy again will it no Doug?

 Douglock: "I have never met Dr McCoy before Rahne."

 Rahne: "Oh of course. Ye... died... afore we New Mutants met 
     X-Factor."

 Douglock: "I do not understand."

 Rahne: "Ah knew the Good Lord couldna just let ye die Doug. It 
     widna be fair f'r it should never ha' happened. An noo he 
     has brought back you an Warlock, both who died f'r my 
     sake. Just like he brought back the X-Men when they died 
     in Dallas an like he'll provide a cure f'r the Legacy Virus 
     too."

The Blackbird lands.

 Douglock: "I know of no "Good Lord" Rahne. It was the 
     Phalanx that created me to use Doug Ramsey's mutant 
     power."

 Rahne: "Ye just dinna understand Doug. The Lord used the 
     Phalanx, for all tha it wis evil, tae right a great wrong. Tae 
     give ye back y're life..."

Rahne steps closer to him, reaching out a hand to touch his 
cheek.

 Rahne: "tae bring ye back tae me..."

 Douglock: "Do you wish to proposition me?"

Rahne jerks her hand away looking shocked.

 Rahne: "Doug! I widnae do such a thing."

 Douglock: "I thought perhaps you wished to. It seems most 
     common. Meggan and the Britanic entity, Nightcrawler 
     and Amanda, Kitty and Mr Wisdom. I thought perhaps 
     you felt... left out."

Rahne looks down at the ground.

 Rahne: "Ah dinna think we should talk aboot such things. Tis no 
     right. An a doubt Kitty wid be pleased tae hear ye 
     spreading such rumours aboot her an Mr Wisdom."

 Douglock: "But it is not a rumour, I heard Kitty tell Nightcrawler 
     that she propositioned Mr Wisdom on the way back from 
     London and that he accepted. But what I do not 
     understand is why she seems so upset about..."

Rahne is blushing, obvious even in her half wolf form.

 Rahne: "Stop it Doug! Tis no right to talk aboot this an Kitty 
     _should_ be upset f'r doin' such a thing when she hardly 
     knows him. Tis clear that he has led her astray an' had ah 
     known it ah wouldna hae prayed for them last night but f'r 
     the Lord tae forgive Kitty f'r her sin."

 Moira: "Will yoos two quit gabbin' an' come gi me a hand here!"

Moira leads Beast inside as Bishop directs Rahne and Douglock 
as to what to take inside.

 Beast: "It must be hard for Rahne. With the boy so resembling 
     Douglas Ramsey."

 Moira: "T'tell the truth ah havnae had the time tae ask her aboot 
     it. She seems tae be takin' it awfy well. Kitty wisnae so 
     understandin' at first, though they get on fine noo."

 Beast: "She is not the only one. Psylocke was quite shocked to 
     hear of the boys apparant resurrection, in form at least. 
     The Professor explained the situation to her and I do not 
     doubt she will eventually get up the nerve to come and see 
     for herself."

They are inside the house and removing their heavy coats.

 Moira: "I'm sure Brian wid be glad tae see a friendly face after 
las' night. Oh, you dinna know aboot that yet."

 Beast: "Indeed I don't, do tell."

 Moira: "Apparantly this Britanic chap wis an imposter after a'. 
     He vanished las' night an' Brian turned up at th'door. 
     Meggan didnae tak it well at a' an neither did Kitty f'r that 
     matter. But she hasnae bin takin' onythin' well since she 
     an' that  Wisdom got back frae London."

Beast and Moira sit down, he grins at her.

 Beast: "I do declare Moira, you have become quite the gossip in 
     your old age. And I suppose you expect the same in 
     return..."

 Moira: "Well ye know a' like tae keep up wi things on th'other 
     side o' the pond. So whit's been goin' on?"

We see Kitty pause, startled, in the doorway of the room.

 Beast: "Old memories dredged up, and not pleasant ones I'm 
     afraid. Though with less damaging results thank goodness. 
     Peter Rasputin appeared at the mansion with Callisto..."

 Moira: "Ah thought Callisto died wi' the Morlocks."

 Beast: "So did we..."

Cut to Kitty leaning against the wall outside the room.

 Kitty: <Peter's left Avalon... Do I want to see him again? What 
     would I say to him, we've grown apart too long. I ruined 
     things with Pete by jumping in too quick but maybe Peter 
     and I spoiled things by waiting too long and that's what I 
     was trying to avoid this time.>

She walks away.

 Kitty: <But I was so young when Peter and were together, who's 
     to say what's right. I certainly don't know.>

Wisdom grabs Kitty's arm as she walks down the hall and pulls 
her into his room.

 Kitty: <?>

In Pete's room.

 Pete: "We have to talk Pryde... I mean Kitty. About what 
     happened."

 Kitty: "I... I don't know... what to say to you."

 Pete: "Well tellin' me I'm just imaginin' things and you haven't 
     been ignorin' me would be a good start."

Kitty looks away.

 Pete: "Kitty? Well this is just flamin' brilliant! There was me 
     worried about your feelin's an' it looks like I'm the one 
     that's been had all along. Well I hope you really enjoyed it 
     for what it was worth, cause I meant it even if you didn't."

Kitty slaps him, angry now.

 Kitty: "How dare you! How dare you say that to me!"

 Pete: "If the shoe fits..."

There are tears in Kitty's eyes.

 Kitty: "I hate you Peter Wisdom, I wish I'd never met you! I 
     shouldhave paid attention to first impressions cause I 
     guess you really are the person I thought you were and if I 
     could take back what happened I would cause it makes 
     me sick that I ever let you touch me."

She runs out the room slamming the door behind her.

He looks after her with an indecipherable expression.

He sits down on the bed and lights a cigarette, a wry look on his 
face.

 Pete: <Way to tell a girl you're in love with her Wisdom. You're 
such a smooth talker.>

 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Amanda and Rory walk (well Rory limps) down a corridor in the 
research building.

 Amanda: "This is for the best Rory. You must set things straight 
     with Spoor before he leaves."

Rory enters a door and Amanda remains behind.

The door swings closed with a heavy thunk.

Rory enters the room alone, Spoor is behind bars.

 Spoor: "Well, well, well. If it isn't Mr Psychopath. Attacked 
     anyone today Dr Campbell? The delightful Amanda 
     perhaps... or her demonic boyfriend Nightcrawler?"

Rory clenches his fists.

 Rory: "Shut up Spoor, just shut up!"

 Spoor: "Temper, temper Dr Campbell. Just making polite 
     conversation.  But perhaps you would prefer me to growl 
     incoherently and then  maybe you could beat me up for a 
     while."

Rory turns away.

 Rory: "I don't have to listen to you. I'm not listening to you!"

 Spoor: "You can't stop me Dr Campbell, not without killing me. 
     I'm going to be there to taunt you every day of your life 
     till I'm dead. And you know why? Well?"

Rory spins around and grabs hold of the bars, spitting in Spoor's 
face.

 Rory: "No I don't! So why don't you tell me!"

 Spoor: "Cause I just love lookin' in your eyes and watchin' your 
     mind fall to bits... Dr Campbell."

Rory grabs Spoor by the neck.

 Rory: "You think you know don't you? You think you know 
     what I'll become... but you're wrong! I won't let it happen! 
     You can't make me become that monster! I could never 
     do that... not to Rachael... never to Rachael..."

Close up on Spoor looking puzzled.

 Spoor: "Jesus... you really have flipped. You're a fucking loony! 
     Hey! Hey is anyone out there! This guy's a bloody nutter! 
     He ought to be in here not me!"

Amanda comes in to see what's going on, Spoor has pushed Rory 
back onto the floor.

 Amanda: "What's wrong?"

 Spoor: "He's flipped, nutso, one sausage short of a fry up!"

Rory grabs Amanda's legs.

 Rory: "He's trying Amanda. He's trying to make me but I won't 
     let him! I won't. I won't. I won't."

Amanda teleports them out of the room...

                                            ...and into the 
infirmary.

 Amanda: "Rory! Calm down."

 Rory: "I won't. I won't. I won't."

Amanda uses a spell to appear in the living room of the house in 
front of Moira and Beast who are still talking.

 Amanda: "Moira, please hurry to the infirmary, Rory seems to 
     be having some kind of break down."

 Moira: "We'll be right there Amanda."

Moira and Beast hurry out the room.

 ------------------------------------------------------
Next Issue: The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.