PRELUDE TO ASCENSION - 10/? By Various X-Men Mansion - Common Room As the 20th century Cannonball takes ill and crumples to the ground, surrounded by the Beast, Dr. McTaggert and Banshee. Shadowcat, with Ilyanna in arm, is coming down the staircase. Ilyanna: Arms outstretched. "Sammy!" Shadowcat: (In russian) "Sam? What are you talking about- oh!" Kitty sees a stranger lying on the ground and forgets what Ilyanna has said. She phases the two of them through the wall for safety, then pokes her head back out to assess the scene. Beast: Lifting up Cannonball. "Oooof. I don't remember you weighing so much, and on closer inspection, you seem to have changed. Questions to answer later, for now, the hospice." Hospice room 3 - X-men Mansion - Sub-basement Off to the side, Banshee and Beast confer while the Doctor attends to Sam. Banshee: "He's not quite willin' to beggar his chances with us, and he's got an ace or two left to be sure. Then there's an edge to him that belong to the pros." Beast: (Wearing a white mask) "Indeed, and his age can not be determined by these readings. He is at least biologically in his thirties." cough " But he is Samuel Guthrie. The retinal and DNA match, but they also show evidence of mutation in 12th and 16th pairs. Banshee: "And?" Beast: "He has been exposed to the plague, and survived. His current illness is a merely a tropical flu that is already working its way out of his system. He heals remarkably well." Banshee: "As do yuirself lad, bein' that I see no scar where the Silver Samurai stabbed you, an that's if'n I be gettin' yuir story right in the tellin." Beast: "Yes, well, the operative point here is that Sam's body contains the cure for the plague." Cannonball: "Ms. McTaggert, ah need to rest, and think a bit. Could I have a little privacy?" Dr. McTaggert: "Sure. Yuir not in any danger. Speak up and the computer will page us." All but Sam exit. Cannonball: (Whispering) "A.L.? Can you suggest a course o' action? Is there any change in probability caused by them knowin' who ah am and what ahm doin'?" A.L.:--Negative interaction in continuum. Current distortion maintained at 98% efficiency-- Cannonball: "So whatever ah did to change history, ah haven't changed it again.?" A.L.: --Affirmative. However, temporal anomaly extended to external interference limits accuracy to 98%"-- Cannonball: "Huh? Oh! Someone else is muckin' with things?" A.L.: --35% Probability of external manipulation, 15% probable computational error, 50% unknown chaos attractors.-- Cannonball: "If you don't know, say so." A.L.: --Affirmative on the Negative.-- Cannonball: "Can y'all come in for spell? Ahm feelin better and I need to ask a few things." Beast and Banshee enter as Dr. Mctaggert goes over Sam's chart. "Things busted up with X-Force. Ah can't tell you how, yet, but we were attacked and I got separated, and ah I came back here for help. Mah memory's kinda fuzzy about it all." Beast: "When you can remember more, we'll return. For now you're safe, and we'll try and contact the rest of X-force to see if they're safe." X-Men mansion - West Wing - Beasts room Henry McCoy leafs through his bookshelf, first grazing over medical and genetic texts, but his mind is too preoccupied to study. He wades through his pile of unread fiction, smiling at the oddities loaned to him by Rogue, paperback spines creased heavily at the best parts. He ponders then chooses an old favorite, "The Little Prince" and laughs anew at the arrogant child on the little tiny world, who scoots his chair forward to watch the sunset over and over again. Henry lies down, his breath labored, his eyes strained, and he rubs them under his glasses. Weary, he rests and falls asleep, deeply. A dream approaches him, dark and ominous, escorted in by a fiendish skeleton draped with tattered rags. He has seen the apparition before, cheated it many times, he knows her name, Death. Death gestures and a grotesque woman behind her, hidden in shadow, works a marionette. The woman's face is dark, chilling, and the marionette looks like someone he once knew. "Danielle?" he asks of Death, and the puppet jerks at the name, showing its slack, lifeless face. The mystery woman gestures and a second marionette dances, naked, without hair, and listless. It barely responds as she makes him bow. Then she turns to Henry, "My toys are the weak and the unvalored. Only the glorious dead may be reborn in Asgard." She moves towards Henry, and he feels a pull to her, a yielding of his will. He fights, he struggles, and wakens. His heart pounds, but weakly, pulse erratic. His breathing is labored. He is glad to be alive, and silently vows to never sleep again, fearing he will never wake up again. Antarctica Warlock and his Symbiot Doug Ramsey are scouring the Antarctic, searching for signs of their lost Professor, Magneto. They were interrupted by an apparition. Doug: Warlock - That person, it was Magik! Warlock: --Negative friendDoug. Parameters did not match with current Magikincarnation.-- Doug: But it looked just like her- Warlock: --FriendMagik is currently 5 earth years old. Self believes it to be similar apparition to nomenclature Gamemaster, although telemetry readings do not match.-- Doug: There's only one way to find out. We have to follow her. Warlock: --Self cannot locate friendMagikghost. Hypothesis: creature has returned to Limbo-- Doug: Warlock! You are capable of manipulating stargates! Magik's portal into Limbo is just like that. Scan recordings of energy trace at Magik's disappearance and modify self's energy output to follow! Warlock: --Problem PROBLEM Problem. Selfwarlock regrets inability to fine tune portal for dimensional transit. Self parameters are configured only for interspatial travel. Self lacks accurate telemetry for guidance across interdimentional space.-- Doug: Give me access to the readouts. I'll try to plot the course. We have to catch up with her. Find out what she meant by the spell. Warlock: --Self doubts precision of nexus. Selves could end up anywhere.-- Doug: We're in ANTARCTICA for goodness sakes. You can't get much further away than that. Warlock: --...opening portal-- Directly beneath their position, the air begins to oscillate and warp until it glows with the energy signature outline of a smiley face. Doug: (to himself) "Why is he using all those faces?" The mouth opens and light emanates from the inside, then the mouth becomes a gaping maw swallowing the face and becoming a hole in the fabric of time and space. Doug: Warlock, I don't understand any of these readings! This is gibberish. Its going to take me quite some time-" The hole closed over their heads. Limbo Books of eldritch mastery are strewn about the demonic palace of Ilyanna (Majik) Rasputin, Sorceress Supreme of the dimension formally known as Belasco's Limbo. Majik: "Sy'm. Give me your arm." Sy'm: Rips it free and offers it to her with no discernable side effect. "By your will mistress." Majik: "The technarc virus is unique, and will work better than Human hair." She wills the technorganic mass to congeal and hold the form of a miniature Doug Ramsey. She opens an envelope, one among many she has stored, and removes a lock of blond hair, "But a little bit of the real 'McCoy' can't hurt, good thing the New Mutants were all sound sleepers." She bonds the hair and doll and then takes the simulacrum into a deep enchantment. Sy'm: Grows a new arm. As the spell is cast, an explosion annihilates everything that exits in Limbo, and then twists back together, locking into place like a Rubics cube. Majik, in pain, grips her Soulsword, which is plunged into the ground, stabiliizing it. Majik: "That was not Magic." DougLock: Smoldering, and slightly delirious from existing in three thousand realities for a miliseconds duration, the team supreme lies sprawled out upon the ground like a Dali painting. Warlock: --self reintegration. All functions nominal. notwellfeeling bypassed. extending sensor pod.-- --WARNINGWARNINGWARNINGWARNINGWARNING!! Self detects presence of selfFather! Selfisin Imminent Danger-- --Self Too weak. Options: Find source for recharge. Flee. Stand and be terminated-- --Self also detects presence of DemonMagik. Appears to be allied with MagusfatherS'ym.-- --Doug-- --friendDoug?-- --Unable to flee without Dougcalculations.-- --Remaining Options: Termination. Find recharge source-- --Selfexperience show two options for recharge: IllyanaMagik and FatherMagus.-- --FriendIllyana not an option. Self must stand against Magus-- --Recharge and termination same option-- Restaurant, New England Jodlin Creed, formally enjoying a meal with collegiate friends, is now surrounded by death destruction wrought by the Dark Hunters, who have left only to have Jodlin staring down the barrel of a gun held by the Upstart leader of the Humanists, Graydon Creed. Jodlin: "Now I remember you, you're that maniac they had on Nightline a while back!" Creed: Nonplussed. "All the more reason for you to die. We can't have anyone remembering my face, can we?" And his finger tightens on the trigger. Jodlin: Snaps, and goes over the wall of hysteria. His willpower focuses in adrenalized desperation. Creed suddenly feels extremely TIRED as Jodlin mutant power commands Creed's physiology. Jodlin takes a step forward. "Fatigue poisons in your bloodstream. You should feel very tired right now." He takes another step forward. "Getting hard to lift your gun? Muscle aches, caused by the hyperaccelerated poisons in your bloodstream." Creed, however, is a man of excellent physical health and will. He fights his own bodies rebellion and with difficulty, he fires. The shot goes wild and slams into Jodlin's shoulder, spinning Jodlin and dumping him on the ground. Jodlin clamps down on his arm and wills the spurting blood to stop, and for his body to heal, and for the pain to recede. Creed: Takes a moment to regain control. "Interesting ability mutie. We were originally here to compromise the now dead senator, but killing you should be nice bonus" Creed fires again but the shot goes wild as his hands contort in pain. Jodlin: Crawls to his feet, pain suspended, light headed, but aware. "Arthritis. Everyone has it to one degree or another. Now you have the mother load." Creed can barely concentrate as Jodlin steps into arm's distance. "I'm not killing you, Creed. These aren't even permanent effects." Jodlin furrows his brow, and Creed screams in agony. "What's the matter, Creed?" Jodlin asks, and smiles, enjoying too well the feeling of having his prey cowering before him. "A little TOOTHACHE got you down?" Jodlin laughs to himself; the feeling of 32 simultaneous abscesses would put ANYONE down. The half dozen soldier's of Creed's elite stand by warily, indecisive. On orders not to interfere, but knowing now they should. Jodlin: "Back off! Or you start looking for another boss!" Jodlin takes a last step, and grabs Creed by the collar. "I." He hauls Creed's twisted form to his feet, using a surge of adrenaline to make sure he has the strength. "Have." He shakes Creed violently, once. "Had." He shakes Creed again. "Enough." He throws Creed into the dessert tray, causing the immaculate suit Creed is wearing to become soiled. "Of." He pulls Creed to his feet, winds up, and delivers a right cross on his helpless victim. "You!" Jodlin stares down at Creed. "You've ruined my life, Creed, so now we're going to have a little talk. You're going to tell me all about this Gamesmaster, including how to get in touch with him." Jodlin turns over a seat, calming himself with judicious application of his power. "And you're going to tell me who else is playing this silly game of yours." He bends over Creed, makes to hit Creed again, but instead reaches to the upturned dessert cart and takes an undamaged eclair. "And if you tell me right away, I might not burst every blood vessel in your brain." He munches on the eclair and looks at Creed with what Jodlin hopes is a murderous glare. A woman in one of the Humanists uniforms runs in. "What's taking so long- Oh my God!" She views the carnage and acts. "Idiots!" She blows Jodlin away.... With a tazer. The electric jolt is too much and to rapid for Jodlin to cope with, especially while willing his arm not to hurt, and to heal. Jodlin goes down. He awakes in a dark gray room, lightly padded. A brief bit of light shines through what is obviously a barred window on a door. A cot and wash basin are visible in what is clearly a prison cell. His arm is bandaged and pain killers course through his system. Outside the cell Voice One: "Your leadership is still contested mutie, but a deal is a deal. The trade is made. Just get this straight, I didn't do this because you ordered me to." Voice Two: "Very well. As a favor, I will return your latest assassin, only slightly damaged. Try harder to kill me next time won't you? And this 'find' of yours better be useful to me." Voice One: "Oh to be sure." Ill laughter. Voice two: "If this is a trick..." Voice One: "From me? Enough. We meet with Genosha's president within the hour. Play your part as I told you Cortez." Voice Two: "Ordering me? I would have thought..." They walk beyond the hearing range of Jodlin Pierce's cell. Golan Desert Magneto, after stopping Byzantium, and saving the X-Men's Blackbird, wounded and slightly deaf, confronts his arch nemesis. Magneto:Glancing up (the "glance" is social; he is not taking his eyes off the entire scene), he sketches a silent greeting to Rogue, something between a deep nod and a slight bow. Quietly (again, volume measured by vibration), turning to Xavier (and ignoring Cyclops completely), he allows himself a faintly inquiring glance -- the first sign yet that his face isn't steel. He says only, "Well, Charles?" as though picking up a conversation begun years ago, with no need for summarization. Cyclops: (via telepathic link to Xavier) "Professor, my intention for forming up to move toward Magneto was to join up with him and see if he needed aid or assistance. That's what I intend to do. He may need our aid, and we may need his! The rank order is simply a precaution." Professor X: (via telepathic link to Cyclops) "I understand my son. The openness and the caution are both well founded." (To himself) "Despite our last encounter on Asteroid M, the X-men still sympathize with Magnus. He took a greater role than merely my replacement while I was with Lillandra, he took on their respect." Wolverine: Leans toward Colossus and says, "I sure hope Mags shakes his hand. I don't think I can stand another 'My dream is better' debate between these two. Especially when I'm standin' on the Israeli border." He continues to keep an eye on both Magneto and Renegade. He notices that Renegade is watching him, assessing him, more so than the others. Her scent is vaguely familiar, she smells like Morlock. Xavier: (to the X-men Telepathically) "Your concern for the Syrians seems unfounded Colossus, without their super soldier to rally them, they are already making plans to break rank and disburse. If they do not, we risk being in the cross fire of the long range weapons of the Israeli's as well." (Out Loud) "Magnus. We continually meet in strange wars surrounded by enemies bent on mutual destruction. I see this as the culmination of your twisted view on the world of might making right. Byzantium could have been one of your Brotherhood of Evil mutants, fool hardy, self righteous and bent on slaying any in the way of his aims. This madness must stop. Surely by now you must see the wisdom of my dream, we must come together the Humans and the mutants. Use this new life as a second chance! We must learn to live together, all of us, in peace." From his chair he offers his hand. Strangely, it's shaking. Renegade: Her costume blends with the desert sand, making all but her face invisible. Quietly, whispering to Magneto, knowing that Magneto's power is boosting his hearing. "Don't do it Mags, you don't have any protection from his mind now, you're weak. You start acting the slightest bit funny, and they're going down, all of them." Her voice has the edge of a veteran that doesn't threat or brag, but does what they say, without mercy. Magneto: Nods to Renegade, the faintest possible movement, barely visible. His response to Xavier is a moment's silence, then a chuckle harsh with scorn. "I expected at least intellectual honesty of you, Charles. The Syrians have been looking for a way to destroy the Jews of this area for longer than you or I have been alive. This was not a result of some policy of mine, that power is the law... even if I had ever supported such a policy, and though you may prefer to deny it, you know me far too well to believe that. This is what the world does to those of its citizens who are different from the rest." He smiles just a little. It's impossible to tell whether the smile is mocking or reassuring; it appears to be somehow both at once. "It is something I will not let the world do. I never have, and for this we have been enemies. But you have no doubt noticed how I prevented it on this occasion." He seems almost disinterested by the last sentence, though; abstracted, as though his mind had gone off on another track and one that disturbed him enough to command his attention -- though he does keep his eyes on Cyclops and to a lesser degree, the rest of the team; and he does remember to gesture to Renegade; a slight, unobtrusive 'halt' movement with one hand, to assure her the distracted look is not cause for worry. But his expression slowly hardens after a few moments, and the mental barriers gain all the force he can put into them, and when he looks at Xavier again it is with a coldness that is frightening, though he doesn't move. Professor X: cough "One man can not control the world Magnus, no matter how well intentioned. A civilization must work as a whole with the respect of the individual, of any type or difference, and the cooperation of the combined individuals to a create a just society. Your aggression is no different then the aggression leveled against you. Just because we fight back as a minority, does not justify recreating the sins of the majority to survive. We must be better than this!" The telepathic link amongst the X-men is suddenly cut. A small trickle of blood from his Xavier's nose begins to meander a jagged line down his unshaven chin. Within Xavier's Mind Xavier: Charles wavers in his seat as his memory flashes back. It is storming in France, he and the Gold Team are on top of a Castle having just defeated Magneto's Acolyte, Fabian Cortez. It is a moment that has plagued his thoughts and dreams. Thunder rolls, and the lightning strikes, and the boy that helped them speaks. Neophyte: "I suppose you will interrogate me--subvert my will and enlist me in YOUR cause?" Cyclops: "Despite what you may have been taught--the X-Men don't work that way." Xavier: "IF the day comes you CHOOSE to stand with us--it must be your OWN decision." Neophyte: "WHEN that day comes, that I can TRUST again...you will hear from me. Until then, I am afraid I must find my OWN WAY in the world. For you AND Magneto are BOTH great men, Professor Xavier--and your DREAMS might be MORE SIMILAR than EITHER of you realize." Golan Desert A change occurs in Charles's voice after a hesitant silence. Xavier: "But you are right old friend. You are not responsible for this. That you -- that I -- have made the plight of Israeli's on occasion our own, does NOT incur blame here. This day you are a hero, risking yourself to save the helpless, an act equal to ANY of my X-men." He begins to sway, "And like them, it will be our doom to fight and die for our dreams." A seizure grips him and his body stiffens, straightens, and then falls from the chair to the ground. As he falls he moans, "and to die for peace, and for trust." Cyclops: Moves quickly, and catches the Professor. "Sir? What's wrong?" The Professor is without strength, his body slack. Blood pools by the mouth and nose. His pulse is very weak, and fading. "Magneto! If you've any shred of decency help him!" Magneto: Moving as quickly as Cyclops, he slams up a force bubble around the entire group as a protection. The action is on pure reflex; he doesn't appear to realize he's done it, let alone that he has instinctively included the X-Men in his protective effort. Colossus: Moves to aid the Professor as well, but Cyclops and Magneto's presence prevent him. He feels like the proverbial fifth wheel, a common feeling to him now. Magneto: Ignores Cyclops and checks Xavier's breathing and heartbeat, eyes impassive, but the alarm evident in the haste of his movement and his willingness to ignore the threat of the other X-Men for a moment. When he finds Xavier's vital signs weak and growing weaker, he whirls to Rogue. "This may be an attack on his mind, but it is his body which cannot support it right now. If you absorb him, a psychic assault would follow his mind, and your body is much stronger than his." Rogue: Lands, drops off Gambit and moves towards Xavier. Gambit: Standing behind Cyclops, he drops three cards to his hand and energizes them, one for Renegade, one for Magneto, and one for Xavier, just in case. (To himself) "If Mags is as powerful as dey say, might be I should be checkin my options. No pun intended, but let's let the cards fall where dey may, eh?" Rogue: Glove off, reaches for Xavier... Xavier: (Out loud to Rogue, but faint, raspy) "No...do not. It is not from...outside." Late 20th Century -- The Moon Titan The remains of the final battle between the Council Forces of Order, led by Franklin Richards and the Forces of Apokalyps are strewn about the ruins of the world computer ISAAC. Loki looks on, unharmed as Apokolyps teleports away. Loki: "Verily, without Magnus to oppose thee, thou art triumphant. All of the other alternate realities and variables played out as you planned them, and you were the victor in all of them. How fortunate you are a god and able to exist outside of the frame work of time. But where any god treads, others may follow." Loki casts a spell that follows Apokalyps. The tribunal of the Eternals - Earth Concordium The ones in shadow, The Eternals, sit in judgement. The only witnesses are the Sorceress Supreme of Earth, Ilyanna Nikolovetch Rasputin, and the only other being to come before the council and turn it down, Immortus. Eternals: (All speak as one) "As set down upon the aegis of man, the High Lord has ascended and transcended his mortal being to become the apex of humanity. That which we have wrought has finished. Come forth and claim that which is due unto you, Apokalyps, come forth and be made an Eternal, and given unto the temporal continuum that is the reality nexus known as Earth." Apokalyps: "As is my right, give to me that which I deserve!" Eternals: "Are there any petitioners to deny this being's claim as the greatest of Earth?" Loki: (Teleports in a loud flourish) "I do." Eternals: "Asgardian, this is a tribunal of Earth, you are not welcome." Loki: "But is not Apokalyps an outsider as well? He is the creation of an alternate earth, by the man Franklin Richards, as an artifice designed to destroy Victor Von Doom. And as you know, Apokalyps failed, and Doom became Kang the Conqueror, the true despot of Earth. Apokalyps ran away from Kang, tail between his legs, how then can he be triumphant? It is Kang we should adulate!" Eternals: "When Immortus defeated all alternate realities of himself, and denied this tribunal, he denied his claim to this title." Apokalyps: "I am a god of this Earth, consecrated by the blood of my worshippers. I am of Earth dolt!" Loki: "But, by that reasoning, so am I. And my cult was always larger than yours..." Apokalyps: "Blasphemy! I shall shred th-" Loki: (Louder than Apokalyps) "I too am of outside Earth's Plane, yet a part of it as well. I too claim the title of High Lord." Eternals: "We accept your Claim Asgardian. We withhold these proceedings until a victor is determined." Loki: "No Problem." He snaps his fingers and Apokalyps vanishes. "The problem with time travel is that you can't control the outcome. Now about that Ascension thing..." ---------------------------- "Prelude To Ascension" - Part 10 - 9 Pages (Holy Bursting Bandwidth Batman!) (This is a serial work of fan fiction. It is based on the adventures of the X-Men and diverges from the comic continuity after Unlimited X-Men #1. Continuity may also differ in other respects. This story in its original form is an e-mail RPG started on Usenet .racx, and these Story Posts are combined from the actual moves of the players, with minor editing, plus my added filler. Co-plotting and most of the dialogue should be credited to the appropriate players listed at the end. Sorry, no more players will be accepted.) Previous Chapters available by E-MAIL request to Dan Adams at dadams@hpbs3339.boi.hp.com -GM/Author Scott Bachmann/di800@cleveland.freenet.edu The Players DougLock: Jennifer.L.Lehoczky@williams.edu (Toby Elliott) Magneto: rivk@midway.uchicago.edu (Naomi Gayle Rivkis) Colossus: dn961@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Matthew S. Mccarthy) Rogue: jav41196@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jennifer Vodvarka) Gambit: V534YYNN@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu (Matt Dempster) Majik: glaw@Jade.Tufts.EDU (Gabe) Wolverine: musgse@meaddata.com (Steve Musgrave) Cannonball: tnieboer@nyx.cs.du.edu (Toby Nieboer) Cyclops: CHL701S@vma.smsu.edu (Christopher Lenger) J.Pierce: uplink@cwis.unomaha.edu (John) Beast: dh340@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Joshua H. Gage)