Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 01:19:50 -0500 (EST) ** 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: Trying out a style more similar to the rest of the team. It's easier to gauge if you've written enough. Things in are thoughts. EXCALIBUR #93 (January issue) "A Powerful Legacy." Written by Lady Amethyst (amethyst@jadzia.demon.co.uk) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cover: Large Phantazia in background with cloak spread out and smaller in the foreground Blob facing Nightcrawler and Shadowcat. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It was December the 30th and the air was clear and cold over Muir Island, frost still coating the ground from the night before. The sun so low on the horizon at that time of the year that it could'nt get up enough heat to melt it and shadows ran off into the distance as if it were evening. The wind was unusually calm as Dr's Henry McCoy and Moira McTaggart took a break from their work to walk along the beach, wrapped against the chill, breath curling from their mouths as they breathed. The Legacy Virus still mystified them both, the secret to it's structure always only just out of reach. Both had vested interests in the cure but most especially Dr McTaggart, the first and so far only, non-mutant to contract the Legacy Virus. And yet it's means of transmission is still unknown as is the effect it will have on her. She can feel it inside her, weakening her, making the cold cut deep into her bones, spreading through the cells of her body. But how it will bring about her end is a frightening unknown... a terrifying secret. And she waits day by day for its revelation. They looked out to sea to watch a boat head for the mainland. Cutting a white trail through the choppy sea. "Well that'll be that Pete Wisdom chappie off back tae England then. Ah canna say ah'm sorry t'see him go. Though ah'll admit it wis nice tae have someone tae yell at f'r a while," noted Moira. "But it's best that he leaves now an' let Kitty get over whitever happened while they were doon in London." They turned back to face one another. "I had noticed she'd been very quiet. Do you have any idea what happened?" Beast asked. "In this case ah dinna think ah want tae know," she answered. - - - - Pete Wisdom slouched, arms crossed against the cold wind produced by the boats speed. He was returning home to England. Following one of the few rules he lived his life by. "When things go sour don't wait around for them to get worse. Leave while you still can." And maybe he hadn't got that much to go back to now that he'd broken with Black Air and maybe he would still think of her every now and then. But that was just life. He lit a cigarette then changed his mind after one draw and threw it overboard. The boat rushed on toward the mainland of Scotland. - - - - Kurt sat in the control room staring out a window as Amanda perched on a table talking to him. "I've told Moira about Rory... about Ahab. She agrees that he needs more help than we can give him. She said she'd arrange something," she told him. "I don't know what she has planned." "Hmm..." Things had not been quite right between these two recently and she felt perhaps it was time she told him what she was thinking. Especially as she had already gone as far as to do something about it. She tugged nervously at a hank of the golden hair that fell over her shoulder as she spoke. "Kurt... there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about." Kurt, looked concerned, "Vas?" she thought. "You know I've never really been into this super-hero thing and ever since I moved in here with you... well I've been treated as part of the team. I mean that's great and all... but... I don't actually _want_ to be part of the team." She looked away from him. "I've decided to go back to work. I've got a job stewarding again. I can work from the airport at Stornoway so I don't have to move too far away, just over to Lewis..." "You don't have to move out surely?" he asked. She laughed, "Well it might be a _little_ hard to drive to work from here and I'm not exactly boatswoman of the year you know." He looked thoughtful for a minute then spoke again, "Then let me come with you. With my power I can get back here in seconds if I'm needed." Amanda smiled, "Kurt do you really want..." Her face suddenly glazed over. "Amanda? Are you alright?" She came back to herself quickly and replied, "After the soul sword incident I set wards around the island to let me know if anyone with ill intent came ashore. Someone just set them off." Kurt turned quickly to the computers and scanners and began searching. "I'm not getting any readings but that doesn't mean there's no-one there. Can you tell me where?" "They came through the wards on the west coast, near where Dr McCoy and Moira went. But I don't know where they are now." He stood up. "I'll take Kitty out and we'll see what's happening. Put out a call to Britan... Brian and Meggan to fly back in case we need them. You stay here and make sure no-one gets into the building." He disappeared in a puff of smoke as Amanda put a call out to their team mates who were picking up some supplies over on Stornoway. - - - - Fred J Dukes better known as the Blob, last known affiliation... the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, sits alone on a rock. He is beginning to think it's time to design a new costume. "It's too damn cold for this. Why couldn't we attack an island in the Bahamas? Not that anyone's going to answer me of course. Stay here Blob, you're just the back-up. I hate being the damn back-up." Behind him appeared Nightcrawler with Kitty. "Over there... Blob," she pointed out. "Let us find out why he is here then." - - - - Mortimer Toynbee, the Toad, and Phantazia moved through the stunted trees. They were the two other remaining members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. But what interest did they have in Muir Island? "All goes to plan Phantazia. Your powers have hidden us from their sensors as expected. With most of the team on Lewis we can strike the lab and get the information we need before they have time to react. And if we do have problems the Blob is there to remove them. A masterful plan even if I do say so myself." "You talk too much, we are almost there," replied Phantazia. - - - - As Blob sat silently, waiting, he was shocked to see Shadowcat's head poke out of his chest. "Hi there," she said. "Care to tell us what you're doing on our island?" He jumped away and she was left standing in the rock he had been sitting on, arms crossed. "You can't touch me while I'm phased so there's no point attacking me. I on the other hand can kill you as easily as I can walk through a wall so don't push me, I'm not in the mood." Kurt looked shocked but kept silent, he would talk to her later about why they were the good guys and the Brotherhood were the bad guys. Blob on the other hand clearly didn't believe her. "You want hurt me, you're X-Men. So I ain't telling you nothing." "Alright then," Shadowcat started forward. "Kitty no!" Kurt bamfed in front of her and grabbed her arm but his hand passed right though it as she passed through him. Blob didn't seem to understand as she raised a simple stick of wood she had picked up earlier. "What'cha gonna do kid? Beat me to death with your little stick?" She smiled and stopped, holding the stick half in and half out of Blob's wide stomach. "The minute I let go of this stick it will become solid. I want you to consider just how painful that will be and then I want you to tell me why you're here." The Blob gaped at her. - - - - Seeing no-one watching Toad and Phantazia stepped out of the shadows and approached the door, confident that their mission was nearly accomplished. The Legacy Virus research material would sell well to the highest bidder and announce to the world that the Brotherhood was as strong as ever. Toad suddenly found he was no longer moving forward. It was as if he had hit a brick wall although there was northing there. "Phantazia!" he snapped. She paused a moment then answered, "I can do nothing. The barrier is magical in origin, my powers have no effect on it." "No!" he bounced off the barrier once more then sat silent a moment. Finally he stood up a moved away. "Mortimer?" There was no reply. - - - - A voice floated into the air over the silent tableau of Nightcrawler, Shadowcat and the Blob. "Kurt? Someone just tried to enter the compound." Shadowcat raised an eyebrow at the Blob. "Toad!" he blurted. "It must have been Toad, he wants into the lab to steal the information you have on the Legacy Virus." "Thank you." She let her arm drop. - - - - As Toad hurried silently back to the boat, shadowed by Phantazia, they heard voices. Familiar voices. Toad drew nearer to the path only to see the broad back of Dr Henry McCoy as he pointed out something to the woman with him. "Perhaps I can regain some point to this endevour," Toad whispered to himself drawing out a small pistol. - - - - Moira's attention wandered as they discussed the flora of the island and a small rustle drew her eyes to the bushes along the path. She saw the gun before she saw the man, saw the finger tightening on the trigger. As if she could stop him she stepped forward, hand outstretched. "No!" There was a sound, a flash of light. She was too late. But wait, Beast still stood beside her, staring in amazement. It was the gunman that lay on his back between the trees. And then he was gone, picked up by a swoop of cloak as if by a bird of prey. Nightcrawler appeared in a flash of smoke. "I heard a shout, what happened?" Moira stared at her hand in astonishment. It smarted as if she had been clapping too hard. "That's something I'd like to know too," replied Beast. - - - - Shadowcat saw Blob look with relief at someone behind her but before she could turn around her powers failed and one light punch from the Blob dropped her to the ground. "Hurry Blob, the mission has failed." Phantazia placed the unconscious Toad in the speed boat and they left. - - - - It was the morning of December the 31st. Dr McCoy had returned to America and Excalibur sat in the briefing room. Moira came in. She looked as if she hadn't slept and indeed, she hadn't. She began immediately. "After conducting tests Dr McCoy and I have concluded that the mutant powers I aparantly displayed yesterday are a further symptom of my infection with the Legacy Virus. We had been unsure how the virus would affect a non-mutant, how it could... kill... a non-mutant. And now we know. The virus inserts a new strand of foreign DNA into the hosts cells, actually right into one of the chromosomes. I am what could be known as a transgenic mutant. The mutant power will allow the virus to kill me, and others, by the same method it kills mutants," she paused. "Happy New Year everyone." She left the room. There was silence. The End. Next issue: Psylocke comes to visit and the team finds something lurking in Glasgow Underground. __ Lady Amethyst | "But every time it rains, you're here in my head. Keeper of the Labyrinth |Like the sun coming out, like your sun's coming out." Flame. Holy Virgin of | "There will come a time when you can even take your the Church of Xbooks. | clothes off when you dance. Wa wa wa wah." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------