[Assistant]
Hope You Survive the Experience (1st story) - Here Comes Tomorrow (2nd story)
Westchester, some 7,000 miles east of Doomgard. Were you to look upon this locality mere moments before, your gaze would've been met with images of war and strife, but not this day. Today, what stands before you is a community in the midst of rebuilding. A place of peace. But as always, peace is a fragile concept.
Right now, inside Lazer Hut 2000, Westchester's EXTREME Laser Tag! Seven members of the X-Men stand ready. 'On your toes. This is life or death!' Cyclops, who fires powerful solar charged force beams from his eyes exclaims. Jean Grey, who has telekinetic and telepathic abilities reminds Scott that there hasn't been an evil mutant attack in months, and suggests he try enjoying himself a little. 'Yeah, boss – take a chill pill!' Jubilee, who creates pyrotechnic plasmoids of colorful light from her hands, laughs.
But Storm, who controls the forces of nature declares 'No, child! Cyclops is correct. Though I've mastered my own ability to control the forces of nature, it is in all our best interests to continue to hone our mutant-born abilities!' Rogue, whose mutant power is absorption, super-strength, flight and invulnerability tells Storm to call up all the rain clouds she wants, ain't none of them going to stand a chance against her this round. 'Maybe the winner get a kiss, eh?' Gambit grins. His power is to charge objects with explosive kinetic energy – and he possesses psychic charm. 'Maybe the loser gets a clue, bub' Wolverine suggests. He is possessed of healing factor, enhanced senses, nigh-indestructible adamantium skeleton and razor- sharp claws.
There is a countdown, before the laser fight begins, and the mutant heroes called the X-Men race into the game. They are born with incredible abilities, and gathered together by Professor Charles Xavier, they are dedicated to protecting a corner of Battleworld that once hated and feared them. Not so long ago, they risked their very lives for both the mutants and humans of Westchester. These days, however, their time is spent in preparation for a battle they may have already won. Nevertheless, this afternoon has brought them to the New Salem Mall for an animated outing full of strategy, exercise... and laser tag!
Cyclops tells Storm and Rogue to keep their powers to a minimum. 'You know the rules. If you're gonna use them, stay low – don't give our positions away to the gold team!' Storm assures him that they won't be airborne long, and instructs Rogue to reconnoiter and report back, while she covers the forward flank. 'I'll be as quiet as a church mouse!' Rogue replies as she flies past the bright lights that flash in the area. Gambit holds his laser gun at the ready, it doesn't matter none to him – he never has a hard time finding a lady, or so he boasts. 'Take Rogue's advice for once, Gumbo! I could hear you clear across the arena!' someone calls out as they shoot at Gambit, zapping his tag with the laser gun. 'And Cyclops is right – you are an easy target!' they tell Storm as they shoot at her. 'By the Goddess!' Storm gasps.
Cyclops is the next to get shot at as he instructs the blue team to fall back into position alpha. 'Too late, leader-man!' the shooter declares. 'Sorry, Jean – nothing personal!' they add as they shoot Jean. 'Oh, good shot!' Jean smiles.
Nearby, Wolverine and Rogue start shooting at each other. 'Down to you and me! Nice job on taking out the others, but I ain't so easy!' Wolverine warns her. 'Me? Shoot, I thought it was you who -' Rogue begins, before her tag is shot at. 'Aw, dang it!' Rogue mutters. 'What in blazes -' Wolverine begins, before a voice calls out 'Did you forget, Logan? You're in my Battleworld now!' It's Jubilee, who grins and shouts 'BANG, YOU'RE DEAD!' as she shoots Wolverine's tag. And almost as swiftly as it began, the battle ends. 'Right on, kid!' Wolverine tells her.
The team gathers, and Jubilee declares 'So that's what? Jubilee six, X-Men zero! Now can I go on more missions, Cyclops?' But Cyclops tells Jubilee that being skilled in simulation is one thing, but surviving in the field's a different story altogether. Storm agrees, but tells Cyclops they must all admit, the child has done well.
Gambit points out that they have this place rented out all day. 'And you should know this: Gambit always wins... eventually. He looks at Rogue and suggests that his name will look real good with the high scores. 'Only if they spelled it C-R-E-E-P!' Rogue retorts. Jubilee tells Gambit to keep dreaming, as before she joined the X-Men, she was here, like, twenty-four seven. While other kids were wasting quarters on bag dudes, she was taggin' lasers! Jubilee adds that if Baron Kelly really wants to keep Westchester safe, he oughta put her in charge of taking down evil mutants. 'You guys could, like, retire tomorrow!' she boasts. Storm tells Jubilee to mind her words, as Kelly may be sympathetic to the mutant cause now, but she is sure his friends at the newly formed Bureau of Super-Powers would like nothing more than to put a target on all mutants, regardless of their intentions. 'Don't know, Storm. A nice big target might improve this ensemble' Wolverine suggests. 'Ey!' Gambit exclaims, before Cyclops tells them all to settle down. He assures them that he has nothing against having a little fun, but this isn't a game.
Cyclops continues, reminding the others that they are only training here while Beast and the Professor repair the Danger Room. 'Thanks to somebody' he adds, looking at Wolverine. 'Don't cut your eye at me, Bub. It's the “Danger Room”. You don't want me breaking stuff, name it something else' Wolverine retorts. 'Wolverine! Scott! Please -' Jean begins, to which Wolverine turns around and removes his laser tag gear, he tells Jean that he doesn't need heightened senses to know when he is not wanted. 'Have fun or don't – who gives a rip? I got shopping to do'.
Annoyed, Scott orders Wolverine not to walk away from him, as they are not done training. Jean tells Scott to let Wolverine go, and Scott admits that she is right, adding that they will get more done without him. 'Back to work, X-Men! And this time, the target's off!'
Suddenly, as the X-Men engage in another training session, several Sentinels appear and tear the roof of the Lazer Hut 2000 off. 'Destroy!' one of the Sentinels declares. 'Sentinels! Evasive maneuvers!' Cyclops instructs the X-Men.
Wolverine enters a clothing store and picks up a checkered shirt. 'Welcome to Rugged. You're one of them, aren't you? “The Wolverine” right?' the shop assistant asks. 'Just Wolverine, darling' Wolverine tells her. The woman tells Wolverine that she wants to thank him, for all he did. She adds that he saved her sister's life once, and she talks about him all the time. The woman pauses, and Wolverine asks her if something is wrong. 'I thought you'd be taller' she tells him. 'Yeah, so did I. Listen, you got this in another -' Wolverine begins, before picking up a scent. He pulls his mask back over his face and tells the shop assistant to get somewhere safe. 'What is it?' she asks him. 'I smell – trouble!' Wolverine declares as a Sentinel brings its hand into the store and wraps it around Wolverine, knocking the rack of shirts aside.
Back in the Lazer Hut 2000, Jubilee is tangled in some cables that the Sentinel wraps around her. 'Hey! Take it easy! No fair!' she exclaims while trying to blast the Sentinel with some fireworks. 'Not quite laser tag, is it, Jubilee?' Cyclops asks as he fires an optic blast, freeing the young mutant. 'Not the time, boss!' Jubilee calls out.
'By the power of nature, you shall fall!' Storm declares as she blasts one of the Sentinels with a surge of lightning. 'Request denied, mutant!' the Sentinel responds as it blasts an energy beam from the palm of its hand. 'Goddess!' Storm gasps as she is struck. Jean has moved out into the mall and asks the panicking civilians to try and exit in an orderly manner. 'Giant robots... again?' a man exclaims. Jean tells Gambit that they are panicked, she can't calm them. 'It's all I can do to get them out of harm's way!' she exclaims as she tries to use her telepathy on the civilians. 'Can you blame 'em?' Gambit asks, when suddenly, a Sentinel almost stands on her and she is knocked aside.
'Maybe she shoulda said “please”!' Rogue declares as she slams her fist into one of the Sentinels. 'It's going to crush Cyclops!' Jubilee calls out as another Sentinel grabs Cyclops in its hand. Storm tries to get to her feet, declaring that she must recover and take back control of the winds. Cyclops is blasting optic beams at the Sentinel, but he can't get a clear shot. 'Don't worry, Sugah. Help's on the -' Rogue calls out, before she is struck by another Sentinel. 'Prepare to be neutralized, mutant. Permanently!' the Sentinel holding Cyclops warns him. 'Must – get – free -' Cyclops utters, when suddenly: 'Something in your eye, Bub?' Wolverine asks as he bursts through the Sentinel's head.
With that, all of the Sentinels are defeated. Storm reports that the authorities are arriving, and Jubilee blasts some more fireworks at one of the fallen Sentinels. 'Not so tough now, are you, dweeb?' she tells it. Cyclops tells Jean that he realizes Wolverine saved his life, but his attack was reckless, and she knows it. 'Ah, another successful shopping trip!' Gambit jokes as he stands on one of the fallen Sentinels. 'Honey, they oughta see us go out t'dinner!' Rogue exclaims.
Suddenly, men in brown uniforms with green helmets appear. 'The Westchester Guard. About time you showed up. Care to explain why we were just attacked by Sentinels, Mister?' Cyclops asks one of them. 'Afraid that's above my pay grade, Sir' one of the Guard replies. 'But not mine!' a voice calls out. 'Baron Kelly!' Gambit exclaims as Baron Robert Kelly, the duly appointed Lord of Westchester arrives on a chariot drawn by Warwolves. 'Captain Summers!' Kelly greets Cyclops, asking him if he and his men are all right. 'I'm not Captain Summers, Baron... not anymore. The Westchester Wars are over, Sir. And these aren't “my men”, they're my friends' Cyclops adds. “Friends`?' Wolverine asks. Baron Kelly announces that he is sorry about this, and explains that free-range Sentinels were programmed for evasion, impossible to track, and unfortunately, not all of them received the shutdown order after the war. Baron Kelly assures Cyclops that his people are working on it, and now that they have these to dismantle and evaluate, they are one step closer to ending the Age of the Sentinel.
Baron Kelly asks if any civilians were injured, but Cyclops tells him that none were this time. 'Thank Doom' Kelly utters. Wolverine points a finger at Baron Kelly and suggests that he might like to thank them, as Doom had nothing to do with this. 'Can you say the same, “Your Highness”?' Wolverine adds.
One of the Westchester Guard steps forward: 'Watch yourself, runt. Or maybe you wanna take a trip to Clear Mountain -' he begins, but Baron Kelly tells the soldier to stand down. “Clear Mountain”? Wolverine asks. 'What the hell's he talking about?' 'Very well...' Baron Kelly begins. He reminds the X-Men that they were all there when the conflict between human and mutantkind reached a tipping point – the day Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants declared war on humanity, and thanks to the heroic actions of the X-Men, they discovered not all mutants were a threat, and realized that a peaceful co-existence between Homo Sapiens and Homo Superior was indeed possible. Baron Kelly continues, explaining that a coalition between mutant and man was more than the deranged Magneto could stand, and as his anger grew, so did his Brotherhood, until total chaos erupted in Westchester and nearly destroyed everyone. Sadly, it took Magneto's death to end the years of fighting, and his demise left Westchester with an abundance of mutants who knew nothing but violence as a way of life. Baron Kelly reveals that with those poor souls in mind, the Bureau of Super-Powers established the Clear Mountain Institute – a haven for wayward mutants with a desire to find a new path in life – a place where those who are tired of lashing out at the world and forget about being evil mutants....
“...and learn to become civilized members of society” Cyclops exclaims to Professor Charles Xavier back in the X-Mansion, home of the X-Men. 'Curious. And the good Baron actually used that word? “Civilized”?' Hank McCoy a.k.a. The Beast asks as he hangs from the ceiling, repairing some equipment. He is possessed of enhanced strength and agility and superhuman intellect, while Professor X is Westchester's most powerful telepath – for now. 'He may have a point, though, Cyclops' the Professor states. The Professor remarks that years of conflict against the evil mutants left many without hope that they would ever be able to find a place in a Westchester that was finally at peace. He reminds the others that he opened his doors to many of them, but alas...not everyone wants to be an X-Man. Xavier declares that if Baron Kelly truly means what he says, then this “Clear Mountain” could be a benefit to all of mutantkind. But he points out that they have seen how similar “benefits” have hidden traps before, and he is not sure how much he trusts this new “Bureau of Super-Powers”. He suggests that perhaps the X-men should pay a visit to the facility – it is the civilized thing to do.
'But Professor, what if it's not a cover for something more sinister? What if it's exactly what they say -' Cyclops begins, to which the Professor interrupts him, stating that if there is even a small chance they are harming mutants, then they must investigate. 'Don't you agree?' he asks. 'I'm not sure I do' Cyclops tells him. The Beast suggests to Gambit and Jubilee that they take their leave now, to which Jubilee calls out 'Okay, but can I go on the next field mission? Cyclops?' and her response from the Professor and Cyclops is a unanimous 'Later, Jubilee!' The Professor asks Cyclops if he has something on his mind. 'Are you asking, Sir? Or do you already know?' Cyclops responds, clenching his fists. 'Scott, that was out of line. I would never read your -' the Professor begins. Cyclops apologizes to him, admitting that he was wrong, and pointing out that it has been a long day. 'About Clear Mountain...' he begins, stating that they have been suspicious of the government for so long – and they have had every right to be – but each time they have met with Baron Kelly he has been completely honest. He adds that after all they have been through together, he would like to believe that Baron Kelly is one of the good guys, and if Clear Mountain really is a program designed to help mutants re-enter society, then – then maybe Westchester won't need the X-Men anymore?
'And maybe the X-Men won't need Cyclops' Scott adds. 'Scott, are you saying -' the Professor begins. Cyclops turns away from the Professor and reminds him that he has lived here since he was a teenager, his whole life he has fought to protect mutants from a world that hates and fears them. 'I know how to be an X-Man, Sir – I've gotten pretty good at it. But I know nothing of what it means to be Scott Summers'. Cyclops tells the Professor that he is like a father to him, and if not for him, he would probably be in that institute himself. 'You saved my life, but I'm sorry...I'll go to Clear Mountain. Make sure it checks out. But after this mission, I'm leaving the X-Men!' Cyclops announces.
The next morning, the gleaming shape of the X-Men's modified SR-70 aircraft, the Blackbird, streaks across the sky. Its destination: Clear Mountain Institute. But whether they will find friends there, or foes, remains unknown. Beast and Cyclops sit at the Blackbird controls, while Jean Grey stands behind Cyclops, and Storm, Wolverine, Rogue, Gambit and Jubilee are seated up the back. The Beast announces that they have touchdown in five minutes, and Cyclops declares that they are right on schedule. 'I wouldn't dare deviate from your itinerary, oh fearless leader! After all, this little excursion into the unknown is the closest thing we've had to a vacation in years, and I wouldn't want to be the one to ruin it!' the Beast exclaims. Jean remarks that a vacation sounds nice. Cyclops tells her that he is glad she thinks so, and asks her if when this is over, they go up north for a little while, maybe do a little whale watching. Jean tells Scott that sounds so romantic. 'Whale watching with Cyclops? Hmph. Watch out, whales' Logan mutters as he keeps a watch on Jean and Cyclops.
The Blackbird descends over a high-tech facility built into the side of a snow-covered mountain, an announcement from Clear Mountain gives the X-Men permission to land, and informs them that the Director is waiting for them on the ground. The jet lands and the X-Men emerge from it, and Rogue asks the others what they know about this “Director” they are supposed to meet? 'Not that much. Just that she's some pioneer in mutant psychology' Cyclops announces. 'Sure is chilly up here' Jubilee remarks as she examines her surroundings. A figure arrives on the steps leading up to the facility, flanked by what appears to be several robots. 'Good morning, X-Men. I'm Director Cassandra Nova. Welcome to Clear Mountain' declares the skinny, bald woman who stands before the mutant heroes.
Cassandra Nova doesn't dream. She takes great pride in knowing her every thought is grounded in reality; that the whole of her identity is based solely on direct interaction with the environment in which she exists. In her mind, dreams aren't even suitable for children. Especially Children of the Atom! The X-Men listen to Cassandra as she asks them to forgive the pomp and circumstance, as they don't get many visitors, and when they heard the X-Men were coming, the Guard Command insisted on giving them the full Clear Mountain experience. 'Thanks. But in the future, you might consider not greeting guests with a battalion of uniformed soldiers. Gives the wrong impression' Cyclops suggests to her. 'Noted' Cassandra replies. 'Now I believe you're here to see the Facility. If you'll allow me the honor...' she begins. 'Lead the way' Cyclops replies.
The Beast walks up front alongside Cassandra, followed closely by Cyclops and Jubilee, then Rogue and Storm, Jean, Gambit and Wolverine bring up the rear. Cassandra states that it is a shame Professor Xavier isn't with them, as his work in the field of mutant sociology influenced much of what they do here. 'I was looking forward to meeting him. Still... I'm delighted the rest of you chose to come. I've often wondered when the Battleworld-famous X-Men would pay us a visit!'
The Beast tells Cassandra that they would have stopped by sooner, but to his knowledge, they never received their invitation. 'Perhaps it was lost in the mail' he remarks. 'Haha! When has not being invited ever stopped a strapping Beast like yourself from going where he wants!' Cassandra is wanting to say, but decides that is inappropriate, so replaces that sentence with: 'What's important is that you're here now' as she strokes the Beast's cheek. 'Um...Director Nova? The tour?' the Beast reminds her. 'Of course, Dr McCoy' Cassandra replies as she leads the way along a platform within the facility. 'Look around. Clear Mountain is a safe refuge for wayward mutants in need of change. Here, we remove those extreme tendencies that make them societal rejects, and prepare them for a brighter tomorrow' Cassandra explains.
The X-Men enter an area where over a dozen mutants are seated ot standing around in a garden area, talking in small groups. 'Welcome to Phase One: Mentoring' Cassandra reports. 'What is this?' Cyclops asks. Cassandra reveals that it is the Courtyard, a judgment-free zone where disciplined role models equip so-called “evil mutants” with the skills necessary to be human first, and mutant second. She adds that this stage of the treatment is essential to a patient's future success, as it's where they learn to trust again – instead of fear. She adds that she likes to think of it as their version of the Danger Room – with less danger, of course. Many dupes of Multiple Man stand around the perimiter, while a shirtless Iceman talks to Frenzy. Boom-Boom sits with Fabian Cortez, and Cannonball and Polaris (who resembles Malice) stand at a table where Havok, Firestar and Warpath sit. Shatterstar and Vertigo have their arms around each other, while Destiny hangs back from the group. Strong Guy and Unuscione stand together, while Avalanche and Pyro sit at a table and Dazzler stands behind them.
'And here we have -' Cassandra begins, motioning to a basketball court, 'Toad and the Blob playing ball? What do you call this one? “The Lily Pad”?' Rogue exclaims. 'We call it a basketball court, dear' Cassandra replies, adding that she would ask them all to refrain from calling the patients by their codenames, as Mortimer and Fred are in the second phase of treatment – nonviolent one-on-one interaction with another former reprobate. The goal here isn't to win, but to accept the loss. The Toad – Mortimer – leaps into the air and flips over the Blob – Fred – slamming the ball into the hoop, laughing as he does so. 'Gotta be the shoes' Fred mutters as the Toad bounces onto his head, then to the court. Logan sniffs the air, and the Beast notices him doing so. 'Logan?' he asks his friend. 'That scent...' Logan begins, while Cassandra suggests that they move inside. 'Scott!' Jean gasps, keeling backwards and clutching her head. 'Jean, what's wrong?' Scott asks. 'Psychic...blackout...' Jean begins. 'Allow me -' Cassandra offers as she steps towards Jean. 'Back off!' the defensive Cyclops warns her, before asking what is wrong with Jean. Cassandra claims that it is a psionic suppressor, which keeps telepaths from getting ahead of the treatment. 'I should've warned her, I'm sorry' Cassandra adds, while Jean assures Scott that she is fine.
Wind rises around Storm, who declares that whatever the technology, it seems to affect Jean alone, as her control over the winds remains unhindered. 'I still don't like it. Turn it off, Nova' Cyclops exclaims, but a somewhat stunned Jean tells Scott that they are her guests, and they should keep going. 'I want to see -' Jean begins, when suddenly, 'I knew I smelled a rat!' Wolverine growls, popping his claws, he lunges forward, 'SABRETOOTH!' he snarls. The X-Men look on in shock, while Storm shouts 'By the Goddess! I call upon the winds to -' but before she can conjure the winds, 'A moment, Storm' Cassandra calls out, raising a hand. 'But -' Jubilee begins. 'Observe, child' Cassandra tells her. 'Logan, wait -' Sabretooth exclaims as Wolverine tackles him. For what, you egg-sucking dog? Christmas?' Logan asks. Wolverine waves his claws toward Sabretooth, who falls backwards, 'Don't worry. Got yer presents right here, Bub! Bad news, though. Somebody unwrapped 'em already!' Logan adds. But Sabretooth asks him to put away the claws, as he doesn't want to fight. 'That's a load of bunk!' Wolverine retorts.
'Is it?' Cassandra asks as she stands behind Sabretooth. She tells Logan to forget what he knew. 'Your senses don't lie. What do they tell you now?' she enquires. Sabretooth announces that Doc Nova's treatment cured him – all the rage and hatred – she helped him get rid of it. 'Y'gotta believe me, kid...I've changed!' Sabretooth explains. 'Yeah! Right! As -' Jubilee begins, but Jean tells her not to, and goes over to Wolverine, taking his arm. 'Logan, let the man -' Jean begins. “Man?” Wolverine asks. 'He ain't nothing but a rabid animal'. Sabretooth gets to his feet, while Wolverine warns Cassandra Nova that if she keeps him off his leash for long enough, and she will be cleaning up the leftovers. 'Please, Logan... all I want is for us to be friends! Honest!' Sabretooth pleads. 'How about a hug?' he asks as he wraps his arms around the surprised Wolverine. 'By the Bright Lady!' gasps Storm. 'Now this is a grand change!' Gambit remarks. 'Y'can say that again, Swamp Rat. They went and turned Sabretooth into a pussycat!' Rogue declares. Cassandra suggests to Rogue that “Pussycat” is not acceptable, and that he should always be called Victor. 'My dear. His name is Victor. But I'm glad you're impressed' Cassandra smiles, adding that it is too bad Professor Xavier isn't here to see that.
Meanwhile, the address is 407 Graymalkin Lane, the X-Mansion, where an increasingly concerned Charles Xavier prepares to use the mutant-detecting supercomputer known as Cerebro to ease his mind. In the communications room, Charles places the helmet of Cerebro over his head and thinks to himself that the X-Men aren't scheduled to check in for another few hours, but he is suddenly uneasy about their excursion to Clear Mountain, and by using Cerebro, he should be able to look in on them. But, it is as Charles feared, nothing but darkness, as if a cloud were casting a shadow over the Clear Mountain Project. But there is no sign of the X-Men, nor any other mutants for that matter. He must know what is happening up there, and decides he may find answers on the Astral Plane. But as Charles' astral form searches this psychic realm, he senses another presence. Suddenly, “Presence?” Cassandra Nova asks, as a gigantic version of her appears, looming ominously over Charles. 'I'm hurt, Charles. Don't you recognize me?' she asks. 'Who -?' Charles begins, to which Cassandra tells him that she is the other side of the mirror, the answer to the question “Is God a woman?”. She introduces herself, and informs Charles that he is the relic that needs to be put away. 'You're controlling the Astral Plane?' Charles asks. Cassandra announces that she has done some redecorating. 'Welcome to the Mind Field, Charles' she tells him, before her appearances transforms somewhat, a huge mouth with razor sharp teeth opens, 'Watch your step!' she screams. 'Noooo!' Charles calls out.
Back at Clear Mountain, Cassandra has led the X-Men inside, where they observe Rusty and Siryn playing a game of cards with Forearm and Marco Delgado. Cassandra explains that Phase Three is Intergration, and here, the patients apply what they have learned so far, interacting with the people around them instead of lashing out at them. 'Those mutants were one hated enemies. I confess I scarcely imagined seeing them as friends' the Beast remarks. Cyclops agrees that the results are appealing, but asks the Director how. 'It took years for us to find peace' he adds. 'Ah, but that's the flaw in pre-war thinking, isn't it? You were trained to fight in the name of peace. That contradiction has held you back, perpetuating a viscious cycle' Cassandra tells them, adding that at Clear Mountain, they know violence is never the answer.
And on the Astral Plane:'All your work, Charles, and what have you accomplished? Nothing. Yours is a legacy of endless conflict wearing the mask of progress' Cassandra declares as she smacks Charles' astral form. Charles' astral armor materializes around his astral form, and tells Cassandra that powerful she may be, she is no “God”, for if she were, she wouldn't make the mistake of attacking him here. 'Oh, Charles. So sure of yourself. It's been a long time since anyone's asked you to dance, hasn't it?' Cassandra asks. 'You're a mutant?' Charles exclaims. 'Perhaps. Once upon a time, I may have been. But now, I'm neither mutant nor human. Now... I'm whatever I wish to be!' Cassandra boasts, as energy swirls around her and she pushes Charles backwards. Charles readies some psychic power on the Astral Plane to fight back, 'Whatever you are, whatever your intentions with my students, you will not harm them!' Charles warns her. Cassandra's energy strikes Charles' as Charles announces that he is in control here, and he will stop her. 'Oh, are you? I hadn't noticed!' Cassandra exclaims as she smacks Charles backwards. 'Same old “Professor”. Always so keen to teach, but you never learn, do you?' Cassandra remarks, adding that she, on the other hand, has grown a great deal since their previous encounter. 'Previous? Who – what are you?' Charles asks. Cassandra pulls some of the Astral Plane aside, revealing a scene from the past. She tells Charles that she was different then, fragmented, more he than she in some ways, but lost without form in another.
Flashback'Whoa! This old lady's heinous!' a man with glasses wearing a jacket with “Shadow Kings” on the back exclaims as he and two others walk amongst some ruins, where they come across a series of tanks, with beings held in suspended animation inside. One of them is marked “Professor X-23”. A man with short hair remarks 'Oh, I disagree, John... she's perfect!' A body worthy of me. A new vessel for my revenge!' a shadowy figure declares as it – he – moves from the man with the short hair, seeping into the woman in the tank. 'And for Westchester's salvation' he adds. The man with short hair falls to the ground, 'Ralph, man this isn't funny' the third man of the group calls out. 'Ralph? Wake up, man!' John declares as he tries to pull Ralph up. 'That lady! She did something to him! Who the hell is she?' the third man asks, when suddenly, the bald woman bursts through the tank, fiery energy radiating around her, she exclaims 'Profanity is the last refuge of a weak mind, child – and I am no weak mind!'
Present'My God!' Charles utters from behind his astral armor. 'Now you're getting it' Cassandra snarls. 'Apocalypse's cloning project. You're... me, somehow. Twisted – changed!' Charles gasps. 'I was you. Now I'm something better' Cassandra replies. An image of the Shadow King can be seen, then Cassandra's costume changes from the brown clothing she was wearing to a revealing latex black outfit. 'Shadow Queen, Professor!' she re-introduces herself, armed with two fiery psionic swords. 'I've defeated you before. I shall do so again!' Charles reminds his foe as he releases energy towards her. 'Fall!' he calls out. 'You've never defeated me, Charles. Not this me' Cassandra calls back, releasing energy which transforms the Professor's body into many bubbles. 'How...?' the Professor calls out. Cassandra declares that her former self merely exploited the Astral Plane for his own selfish desires, and now she embodies it. 'It's as much me as I am you. And we are all together!' Cassandra exclaims, holding up Charles' head amongst the bubbles. 'Why are you doing this? What do you want?' Charles calls out. Cassandra shushes him, and tells him to open his mind so she can help him. She then tears open Charles' head, and pushes her way inside him. 'Phase One: Mentoring. Recognizing when you need to learn from your betters' she tells him. She looks around at the images inside Charles' head. Cyclops, Wolverine and Jean Grey can all be seen. 'Phase Two... Treating Aggression!' Cassandra grins, eyes glowing with the evil of the Shadow King.
'Outmoded ideas must be torn down so that we can build something new!' laughs Cassandra as she releases energy inside Charles' brain, fracturing it further. She stands over Charles' motionless body, 'Phase Three: Integration. The realization of just how pointless it is to continue fighting' Cassandra declares. In the real world, Charles has fallen out of his yellow hover-chair, and Cerebro hangs over him as he lay, contorted on the ground, wide-eyed, he utters 'To...me...my...X...X-Men...'.
Back at Clear Mountain: 'And finally, Phase Four of our treatment: the Mind Field!' Cassandra anounces. Cyclops tells her that it sounds dangerous, to which Cassandra replies 'To some, perhaps, but only if they're afraid of examining themselves!' she adds that here, they simply analyze the mind to identify those antisocial urges caused by the X-gene and quiet them. 'The X-gene as the cause of aggressive behavior? I'd be curious to see your research' the Beast tells her. Cassandra asks him why he would seettle for reading a paper, when he could experience it, as she has prepared the room if they would like to see it. 'What say you, Captain Summers?' Cassandra asks. Cyclops asks for a moment, to which Cassandra enquires 'Getting cold feet?' Cyclops walks away from her and declares that he just needs to consult with his team. Cassandra tells him to take his time. The X-Men gather together, and Wolverine declares that something stinks to high heaven around here. 'For once we agree, Logan' Cyclops admits. Wolverine tells him not to worry, as he isn't planning on making it a habit. The Beast tells Wolverine that while he is inclined to trust his instincts in these situations, the change in Sabretooth alone merits further investigation, on his part at least. 'As the bard would say, “The friendship makes ups fresh”!' the Beast quotes. 'You always saying somebody need to teach Gambit some manners' Gambit points out. 'Man's got a point. Be nice to see how he cleans up!' Rogue remarks.
'If but one of Nova's techniques can aid us in our efforts to protect mutantkind, how can we say no?' Storm asks. 'She helped Sabretooth, Logan...maybe she can -' Jean begins. 'That what you think, Red? That I'm like him?' Wolverine asks, before pushing Gambit out of the way and shouting 'I'm nothing like that maniac! And I'll prove it. Out of my way, Gumbo! I'm first in line!' Gambit then frowns and decides that maybe on second thought he should sit out. 'No way! We all go or none of us do!' Jubilee exclaims. 'Afraid not, young lady. Children aren't allowed in the Mind Field' Cassandra informs her. 'I look like a kid to you, lady? C'mon, I just want to know my team's gonna be okay in there' Jubilee exclaims, throwing her hands in the air. 'She's an X-Man, Director' Cyclops tells Cassandra, who explains that it is for her own safety, as the adolescent mutant's physiology is a cauldron of chemicals – a work in progress. 'Our system's adaptability network, while impressive, is no match for the teenager' Cassandra adds. Storm assures Jubilee that no harm will befall them. 'Yeah, 'swhat they keep me around for' Wolverine reminds Jubilee. 'Fine, whatever. Just come back in one piece' Jubilee tells them, before asking Cassandra if she has an arcade around here or something. Cassandra calls out to two associates, Rachel and Miles, and asks them to show their young friend to the lounge. 'The rest of you, right this way' Cassandra announces.
A concerned Jean approaches Logan, 'What I said before... I didn't mean -' she begins, but Wolverine interrupts her and tells her to forget it. 'Let's just get this over with' he adds. Cassandra leads the way to a room where several while domes with seats under them are waiting. Cassandra tells the X-Men that entering the Mind Field before completing the other phases of the treatment is a bit unorthodox, but from what she hears, the X-Men have played enough basketball already. 'Take a seat' she instructs them. 'I usually prefer Baroque furniture, but these certainly make an impression' the Beast remarks. Jean adds that she thinks it will be nice to work out their frustrations without having to trash a giant robot for once. 'Hope you ain't looking for repressed memories, Nova. We'll be here all flamin' week' Wolverine tells her. Cassandra asks if the X-Men are all seated comfortable, and grins. 'Good... let's begin. Activate the Xavier Protocols' she announces as restraints cover the X-Men's chest, and shackles appear around their ankles and wrists. 'The what? It's a trap! I knew it!' Cyclops exclaims. 'Lady, you got no idea the kinda hurtin' coming to you soon as I pop my claws -' Wolverine begins, while Storm tells Nova that whatever she is about to do, don't.
'You'll thank me later, Ms Munroe. But calm yourselves. I promised no harm would come to you, and I meant it' Cassandra assures them. She sits a a control panel in front of the pods, and tells the X-Men that standing against their own kind won them the hearts and minds of every normal citizen in Westchester, and for tht, she can't thank them enough, as they paved the way for everything she has done here. 'But I'm afraid the era of the extreme is over. The world that's coming deserves a better class of mutant. One that isn't burdened by all those pouches filled with aggression and inner turmoil' She tells Captain Summers that he is wrong – this isn't a trap...it's therapy!


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Untitled
Eight days after the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters opened its doors to the next generation of mutants... the X-Men find themselves up against the Russian super-team known as the People's Protectorate!
The X-Men are born with powers and abilities that set them apart from the rest of humanity. They are Wolverine a.k.a. Logan – best there is at what he does, with healing factor, razor-sharp adamantium claws and enhanced senses. Ororo Munroe a.k.a. Storm, team leader and goddess at large who controls and manipulates the forces of nature. Rogue who is tough as nails and twice as strong, with power absorption through skin-to-skin contact. Gambit a.k.a. Remy LeBeau, part-time thief and full-time scoundrel who charges objects with kinetic energy and makes them go boom. The two newest recruits are Psylocke a.k.a. Betsy Braddock a telepathic ninja from across the pond who manifests power as a psychic knife, and Bishop, a mutant lawman from the future who converts energy into powerful blasts. In a world that hates and fears their kind, the X-Men have defied the odds to become Earth's most popular super-heroes. Still, despite global fame, not everyone is a fan....
Earlier that day:Outside the front gate to the Xavier School, Trish Tilby is making a live news report. 'Mutants. Heroes. Television stars. All words that describe Westchester's own Uncanny X-Men. And today we add one more to that list – teachers!' Trish reports that founder of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Charles Xavier surprised the world recently when he announced the school would accept new students, not to be trained by him, but by the X-Men themselves. Trish adds that this is another exciting step towards acceptance by America's favorite mutants; one everyone is anxious to watch unfold. 'Reporting live from Salem Center, Trish Tilby, NPR-TV news'.
Inside the  halls of the Xavier Institute, Professor Charles Xavier is in his hoverchair, alongside Henry McCoy a.k.a. the Beast, X-Men member and Dean of Students. 'It feels good to have students at the school again' Charles remarks as several students including Husk, Blink, Artie Maddicks, Doop, Chamber and U-Go Girl walk down the corridor, too. Henry agrees, before remarking that he doesn't recall being quite so boisterous in his younger days. “Boisterous”?' Charles Xavier grins. 'I seem to remember a student of mine who insisted he could only do homework while hanging upside-down from the rafters' he reminds Henry. 'Sounds like a highly inventive pupil to me' Henry replies, as the student called Spike races down the corridor.
'Slow down, Mr Elliott!' the Beast calls out, before turning back to the Professor and asking him if he is sure he won't consider taking a class of his own. Charles tells Henry to relax, and explains that he would prefer to serve in an advisory role from now, what with his mutant gifts still weakened from the psychic battle against the Shadow Queen, it is a fitting time for the next generation to take over. 'Of course. And after all, it's the first day. How much trouble can there be?' Henry asks, when suddenly, there is a loud BOOOM which rattles the corridor.
'Mebee next time you dodge like Gambit and not get hit so hard, chere' Gambit suggests to Rogue, who is sprawled on the floor in the corridor and looks back through the gaping hole in the wall, 'Dang! Ya’ll weren't kiddin’ about those new Danger Room levels!' Rogue retorts, announcing that those new kids are gonna have it rougher than a hickory switch.
The bell sounds, and Henry looks at the Professor, who sighs and tells him to go. 'It seems like a headmaster's work is never done' Charles mutters, as the Beast rushes down the corridor, holding several files, he declares that it is the first day of teaching and he is already late. 'I've had nightmares like -' he begins, when suddenly a voice shouts, 'Incoming!', and Wolverine collides with the Beast, sending his files flying into the air.
'Sorry, McCoy. When Jubilee told me she wanted to do some training with blades, I didn't think she meant these blasted things' Wolverine snarls, motioning to the roller blades on his feet. 'Quite all right, Logan' the Beast replies, rubbing is head. 'It's really our fault for building out classrooms on a roller derby track' the Beast mutters. 'Hiya, Beastie! Aren't you late for class?' Jubilee grins as she skates over to Wolverine. 'Yes, Jubilation. Now, please... keep it out of the hallways, hmm?' the Beast suggests.
The Beast rushes into a classroom, with “X-Men 101” written on the blackboard. Professor Henry McCoy, MD, PhD, MRs written on the blackboard, too, which has been crossed out by someone who has written “Beast” underneath.
'Ah, good morning, class' Henry huffs as he drops his books onto the teacher's desk at the front of the room. Several students are slumped at their desks, 'You're late, Professor. We're not allowed to be late' M declares, unimpressed. Chamber, Dead Girl, Vivisector, Kid Sensitive, Leech, Mondo, Synch, Penance and Blink are also in the class. The Beast tells Ms St Croix that he is well aware of his tardiness, and explains that being part of the faculty affords certain privileges. He tells the students that if they are ready to begin, they can finally start talking about what it means to be an X-Man. He states that lesson number one is, as mutants, they will experience the worst side of humanity, but the truth is, and he doesn't mean to frighten them, is that their worst days as a mutant will likely be their best day as an X-Man. 'You will learn a great deal in this class, but nothing I say can prepare you for -' the Beast begins, when suddenly, 'X-Men! They're coming for you!' shouts Maverick as he bursts through the window, startling Blink and Penance as glass shards fall towards them.
'Beast, they're... it's all... a game -' Maverick utters, before he passes out. The Beast sighs and announces that class is dismissed. 'So, uh... this sort of thing happens a lot, then?' Chamber asks as he, U-Go Girl, Vivisector and Doop gather around.
Deep beneath the classrooms of the Xavier School lies the heart of the X-Men's operations center: Cerebro, the mutant-detecting supercomputer, the hangar for their SR-70 Blackbird stealth jet, and a fully functional medical bay that can handle any injury – or worse.
'This is most disturbing' Professor X remarks as Maverick is laid on a table before him. The Beast, Wolverine, Storm, Psylocke and Bishop are in attendance. 'You're telling me, Chuck. I worked with Maverick back in my Weapon X days. Anything that could knock him around like this is trouble. Big trouble' Wolverine points out. Storm tells Wolverine that she is sorry about his friend, and gives him her word as leader of the X-Men that they will find who did this. Wolverine informs Storm that he ain't seen Maverick in years, so it is hard to call him a “friend”, but as Maverick came to him when he needed help, he doesn't plan on letting him down. 'He said something about a game, Beast?' Wolverine asks. The Beast tells Wolverine that just before Maverick lost consciousness, he did. 'Though if there's a game that results in multiple fractures, I'm fairly certain I don't want to play it' the Beast remarks. 'Any clues in his gear?' Bishop asks as he looks through Maverick's uniform and accessories. 'Nothing I could find, but you are our resident detective, Bishop. Feel free to plunder' the Beast tells him.
“Book of Sins?” Bishop quotes as he holds up a CD  and announces that he will run it through Cerebro and see if he can't turn up something useful. Psylocke readies a psychic knife and points out that if worst comes to worst, they can always get the information directly. 'I'm not sure I fancy waiting around with something as ominous as “they're coming” hanging over our heads' she adds. 'Let's hope that won't be necessary, Elizabeth' the Beast remarks as he marks something on a clipboard. 'Uh, Professor' a voice calls out over the intercom. 'Yes, Ms St Croix' the Beast and Professor X respond in unison. 'I think you're going to want to see this. There's a bear on the lawn... and it looks like he brought friends' M reports.
Now:Darkstar! Red Guardian! Ursa Major! Vostok! Omega Red! - the People's Protectorate stand before the X-Men. Omega Red greets the X-Men, eyes glowing red, he tells the X-Men that they have something that belongs to them. 'You are giving it back, yes?' Omega Red declares. 'OMEGA RED?!' Wolverine shouts, claws ready. 'Didn't know the Russian army was so desperate for recruits that they'd take a slimeball like you!' Wolverine snarls, while Gambit asks Wolverine if it is time for another trip to his mysterious past. 'I'm starting to think we need a chart to keep up with' Psylocke remarks.
'In exchange for pardon, I am now commander -' Omega Red begins, before Red Guardian clears his throat. 'Co-commander of People's Protectorate' Omega Red corrects himself. Red Guardian explains that they are not “Russian army”, but super heroes like the X-Men, and that they don't want trouble. Red Guardian informs the X-Men that a fugitive mercenary has stolen secrets from their government. 'Yes, very stubborn. Would not die like proper soldier and ran here instead' Omega Red adds. Psi-knife at the ready, Psylocke tells the People's Protectorate to correct her if she is wrong, but that she believes their jurisdiction stops a few thousand miles east of here. 'Or did World War III start while I wasn't looking?' she frowns.
'Is new era of international cooperation, yes?' Omega Red grins, shrugging his shoulders. Red Guardian explains that their state department would rather not house an international criminal, and assures the X-Men that the mission has been authorized. 'There's no need for violence, if you will only -' he begins, before Omega Red interrupts him, 'We know he is here. Now are you giving...or are we taking?' Omega Red asks, his coils extending towards the X-Men, who leap forward into action.
'What do you think, bub?' Wolverine growls, while the students watch from inside the mansion. 'Yeah! Get 'em, Wolvie!' Jubilee calls out, while Chamber remarks that this place just keeps getting better. Wolverine claws slash against Red Guardian's shield. 'Ya picked the wrong fight – ain't a metal known to man my claws can't cut through' Wolverine tells Red Guardian, who points out that Wolverine is defending an international criminal. 'Maverick is a thief!' Red Guardian exclaims. Bishop and Gambit blast Omega Red, who tells Red Guardian to save his breath, and admits that he was hopeful this is how it would happen. 'The famous American X-Men defeated on their very own doorstep... humiliated for all world to see!' Omega Red declares as he slides one of his tendrils around Gambit's ankle.
Rogue throws Ursa Major over her shoulder, and tells Omega Red that he talks awful big for somebody who is about to get a bear upside the head. 'Aw, c'mon! Gambit mutters as Omega Red's tendril pulls him into the air. 'Eh? What does this mean, “upside”?' Omega Red asks, when suddenly, he finds out as Rogue drops Ursa Major on top of him.
'ENOUGH!' Storm shouts, as lightning crackles around her. She hovers above the others and declares that she will not see the sanctity of this school violated any further. She instructs the People's Protectorate to stand down or face the full wrath of the forces of nature. 'We only want -' Red Guardian begins, as a powerful wind sweeps towards him. He tries to deflect it with his shield, while Omega Red boasts that they will die before they surrender. 'Bozhe moi!' gasps Darkstar, when suddenly, 'Stop!' Maverick calls out as he stands in the doorway to the mansion. Addressing Red Guardian as Josef, he tells him to call his team off. 'I assume you've got your handler listening in, right?' Maverick remarks. 'Tell him I've got information on something that's going to be a whole lot worse for Mother Russia than a few missing documents, and I want to make a deal. Twenty-four hours and I'm yours' Maverick announces.
'Tell him I know all about your new commander's previous model' Maverick adds. 'Did you copy that, Dimitri?' Red Guardian asks in Russian, touching his earpiece. 'You are kidding with this. Such an obvious bluff is never working on -' Omega Red begins, before Red Guardian informs everyone that their handler says to stand down, and that Maverick has twenty four hours. 'Come on back if you get bored' Wolverine tells Omega Red, grinning and raising his claws.
The X-Men march through one of the corridors with Maverick. 'M, Skin, Leech and Mondo pop their heads out from one of the classrooms, but the Beast tells them that everything is fine and to get back to their studies. 'That's where you're wrong, Beast – you X-Men are a long way from fine' Maverick declares. Wolverine tells Maverick to level with them, and asks him what he stole that got the blasted Russian army on their doorstep. 'Information, Logan – only thing worth stealing these days' Maverick replies, revealing that someone found out about a long-lost Soviet super-weapon, and now they have got it pointed straight at the X-Men. 'I didn't know that at the start – didn't even know who I was working for until after the job was done and they stabbed me in the back to tie up loose ends' Maverick adds. Wolverine sits Maverick down on a sofa, as the other X-Men gather around, and Professor X joins them. 'They'll find us to be tougher prey than a single mercenary. No offense' Psylocke points out. 'None taken' Maverick tells her. 'But they're not the ones you have to worry about. My clients have a whole new nasty planned for you' Maverick reveals. Gambit tells Maverick that he knows it is tres gauche to ask this of another thief, but suggests that it might be time for him to put a name on those “clients” he has got so riled up. 'Tell me something, X-Men... what do you know about the von Strucker family?' Maverick asks.
'Welcome to Russia!' Andreas Strucker tells his sister, Andrea, as a chopper sets them down near a bunker in a desolate wasteland. Smog pollutes the area, where a few dead trees remain – and the ground is covered in bones. 'Honestly, Andreas, you tell me you have great plan to get ahead of Shaw and the others, and you come back with a piece of Siberian scrubland? How are we meant to score points with this? Lure them here with the promise of a ski weekend and then watch them die of boredom?' Andrea asks as they walk towards the bunker. Andreas explains to his sister that it is not the land, but what is on it. 'Although if you look down, you might start to realize why this little trip cost us so many millions. Do watch your step, hmm?' Andreas remarks as they walk across the skulls and bones littered across the ground. Approaching the bunker, Andreas announces that at great expense they have just become the first living beings to set foot on this miserable piece of land in almost fifty years. 'Ever since the Soviet Union decided that what they'd unleashed on this little patch of hell was – and you'll love this, Andrea - “far too deadly for use in war”' Andreas quotes, and Andrea laughs, before asking if that is where the money went – bribes to get them through restricted territory?
'Some of it, yes' Andreas confirms as he taps some numbers into the keypad on the front of the bunker, adding that the rest made them the owners of Russia's first attempt at creating a soldier – 'Codename... Alpha Red!' The door hisses as it slides open, revealing a chamber filled with junk – and a gray-skinned humanoid whose face is hidden by cowl, but sharp teeth and red eyes can be seen in the darkness. 'How long has it been? How long have I slept?' Alpha Red asks, sniffing the new arrivals, he tells them that they have the stench of Germany in their blood, and asks the names of the Nazis who have come this far to die in a desolate land at the hands of Mother Russia's finest weapon. Andrea grins, 'Oh, this is delightful. You've done very well, Andreas' she smiles. Andreas greets Alpha Red, and introduces himself and his sister and explains that they are the new owners of this nightmarish piece of real estate, which makes them his new owners. 'That being the case, you have my permission to leave this prison' Andreas adds. Alpha Red makes his way to the bunker door, 'After so long...I am free?' he asks. 'My Russian's not so good... did he say “free”?' Andrea frowns.
Andreas tells Alpha Red that they said nothing about freedom, and explains that they have plans for him. He points out that Alpha Red has been out of circulation for quite a while and reveals that the world has changed a bit since his Soviet overlords locked him away in this bunker fifty years ago. 'Welcome to the '90s, comrade. I wonder, do you even know what a mutant is?' Andreas asks. Alpha Red grins, showing off his jagged teeth: 'Tell me more... comrade' he responds.
Back in Westchester, Storm, Wolverine, Rogue, Gambit, Beast, Psylocke, Bishop and Maverick have gathered, as Maverick explains that he is called Alpha Red, and was the Soviet Union's answer to Captain America, but there was one problem – they didn't have a Super-Soldier Serum, and they were a few years away from developing kind of tech that would allow them to create anything like their friend with the tendrils, so they went back to something older – combining Soviet science with a Russian monster, and it came back to bite them – literally. Maverick continues, revealing that Alpha Red's first mission was a massacre – they dropped him into a battle against the Germans and he took out everyone – both sides, and he was found four days later, still standing in the center of the carnage, and decided right then that the experiment was a failure, so the party quarantined the site and built a magic bunker just to house him. 'And let me guess: now that capitalism's back, somebody was looking to make a quick buck by selling off the surplus' Wolverine asks. 'Got it one' Maverick replies, revealing that Fenris, the von Struckers' company hired him to confirm Alpha Red's existence, then sold him out the second he knew too much.
'And you believe this is all part of some game, Maverick?' Storm asks. Maverick reveals that he overheard them talking about “scoring points” and how there were “other players” all after the same goal – the X-Men. 'Oh my stars. Something wicked comes this way!' the Beast exclaims. Maverick turns and starts to leave. Storm asks him where he is going, and Maverick turns back to the X-Men, remarking that Logan has saved his life ten times over, so he figured he owed the X-Men a warning, at least. He points out that he has a target on his back, and Omega Red and his friends are nothing if not committed. 'If I stick around, they'll be back, and you're better off not fighting enemies on two fronts' Maverick declares. 'Very well. We shall prepare to defend ourselves from whatever deadly game the von Struckers are playing' Storm announces. 'Prepare? Oh no, mein freund, you are mistaken. I've been running for weeks. Alpha Red is not coming to Westchester... he is already here!' Maverick reveals.
Salem Center, where Jubilee and Chamber are leaving the cinema, where movies like “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”, “Dracula”, “Army of Darkness”, “Cronos” and “Interview with the Vampire” have been screening. 'So, not bad for a first date, huh?' Jubilee remarks. 'I mean...this was a date, right?' she adds. 'I mean, we made plans and got dinner before so it's gotta be, right?' Chamber laughs and tells her 'Course it was, luv'. Locals stop and stare at the young mutants, as they head down an alleyway, Chamber tells Jubilee that he didn't think she would be the type to sneak out and catch up a movie. 'Miss full-fledged X-Man' he jokes. 'What? Are you kidding? I'm a loner, man. I go where I wanna go. And if anybody tries to stop me – SNIKT! I mean, PSHEW!' Jubilee exclaims, making the sound her powers make. Chamber takes her hand, 'Oh right, I forgot, so nice of you to take a mere student on your solo adventures!' he jokes, as a figure emerges from the shadows. 'Haha, right! Stick with me, kiddo – you might learn something' Jubilee grins as Alpha Red reaches out for her....


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Young Blood
Westchester, the X-Mansion. Lovely evening. Isn't it? There is an explosion that shatters the still night, as the mercenary Maverick is blasted through a wall. Maverick lands on the ground outside, and Bishop, his very large gun raised, steps through the hole in the wall, 'The others might be okay with you just walking out of here, Maverick, but in case you couldn't tell – I'm not!' Bishop declares. 'Please, my friend, we're running out of -' Maverick begins. 'We aren't friends!' Bishop responds, before reaching down to grab the surprised Maverick, who tells him that he is making a mistake. 'I went through your bag of tricks while you were unconscious' Bishop announces as he picks Maverick up and holds him up to his face, 'Cerebro is the most advanced computer on Earth So why can't it make heads or tails of what's on those disks you were carrying?' Bishop demands. 'User error?' Maverick jokes. 'Why you -' Maverick begins. 'Tell ya what, new guy, I'll give you 'til three to turn him loose' Wolverine a.k.a. Logan warns his new teammate as he comes between he and Maverick.
But with Wolverine's claws aimed at Bishop's neck, Betsy “Psylocke” Braddock appears and holds her psi-knife to Wolverine's head. 'Tit for tat, little man. One...' she begins. Wolverine asks her if she is sure she wants to go this route. 'You pull on me, you best to be ready to follow through' he warns her. 'Two' Psylocke continues, when suddenly Ororo Munroe a.k.a. Storm shouts , 'ENOUGH!' as she flies towards her teammates. Rogue and Henry McCoy a.k.a. the Beast are with her, and the Beast tells them that this is no way for teachers to behave.
'He's hiding something -' Bishop starts to tell Storm, while Wolverine checks on Maverick. Storm tells Bishop that this is not X-Force and that she won't remind him again. 'Think she needs a little refresher, too' Rogue snaps, pointing her fingers at Psylocke, who holds her arms and glares at Rogue, 'Because I trust Bishop more than some mercenary?' she asks.
Several students start to gather around including Husk, Doop and Synch as Storm tells Psylocke that none of them deny Maverick's story raises more questions than it answers, but if Wolverine vouches for him, that is enough for her. 'I won't force him to stay any more than I will force you, Elizabeth. Understood?' Storm asks.
Remy “Gambit” LeBeau and Professor Charles Xavier are near the gaping hole in the wll, as more students including Skin, Kid Sensitive and U-Go Girl appear. 'Look here. Our little hard party done work the tadpoles!' Gambit jokes. Xavier tells the students that there is no need for concern and asks them to go back to bed. 'Come on, Professor X, do we have to? Things were just getting good!' Skin exclaims, while Xavier insists, adding that it is well past curfew.
'Somebody should maybe tell them!' a wide-eyed Synch suddenly announces, pointing across the grounds. Others look in that direction, equally shocked. 'Oh my stars...' the Beast utters, as Chamber walks through the front gate, carrying a lifeless Jubilee in his arms. 'Help us... please. He bit Jubilee!' Chamber exclaims.
Elsewhere, chess-piece figurines of the X-Men are placed on a chess board and someone knocks the figure of Jubilee over. 'I wonder, Andreas... if both of them die, will he double the points?' Andrea von Strucker asks her brother, Andreas, as they hold glasses of champagne and stand in a room, where Shinobi Shaw is seated at a desk, and Fabian Cortez pours himself a glass of wine. 'An excellent question, sister' Andreas replies, adding that their little clique never thought to discuss collateral damages outside the core X-Men. 'Xavier reopening the school is something of a wild card in all this'. 'Von Strucker brings up a good point. You're supposedly from the future, Fitzroy. Why not mention there'd be a slew of new mutant brats to contend with?' Shinobi asks the green-haired Trevor Fitzroy who is also in the room and goes over to the chess pieces. 'Isn't it obvious? He was saving them for himself. Looking to run the score up on us, old boy?' Shinobi, now sitting on a sofa, asks as he sips his wine.
'A flattering thought, Shaw, but no' Fitzroy replies. He holds up the figurine of Bishop and announces that this isn't the history that he remembers, as there is no record of Xavier teaching these students, or the X-Men being so well-liked. 'It's as if something's changed the timeline. Any advantage I might've exploited has been... erased' Fitzroy muses, examining the Bishop figurine.
'And thus the game remains fair, Mr Fitzroy. As it should' a man in a gray jumpsuit with yellow pouches and a yellow headpiece remarks as he enters the room. 'Gamesmaster! Well, it's about time' Fitzroy exclaims. The Gamesmaster explains that their benefactor had need of him elsewhere. 'I am here now. That's all that matters'. Cortez rushes over to the Gamesmaster and tells him to stop wasting their time, and asks when they meet this “benefactor”. 'The rules -' the Gamesmaster begins, as Cortez interrupts him: 'Damn the rules! I was the right hand of Magneto! You say you're charged with finding the next supreme mutant, well look no further! Here I am! Game over!' he boasts.
The Gamesmaster laughs and replies 'If only it were that simple, Mr Cortez!' before he picks up the chess piece figurine of Jean Grey and asks 'What of your fifth player?' Shinobi knocks back some more of his drink and replies 'Off planning a nasty bit of business in London, last I heard'. The Gamesmaster announces that they will proceed without her, and asks Andrea and Andreas to step forward. 'Congratulations. Your current endeavor has put you in the lead' the Gamesmaster smiles. This causes Shinobi to spit out his wine in shock. 'What?' he exclaims, while Andrea and Andreas hug each other. 'That's absurd. They've already caught up with me?' Shinobi asks. 'On the contrary, Mr Shaw. They have surpassed you' the Gamesmaster explains. 'How? By letting some monster do their dirty work? By eliminating a kid who's barely even an X-Man?' Fitzroy asks. The Gamesmaster states that the game allows players to employ the services of others. 'As for young Jubilee's “elimination”...the child yet lives' the Gamesmaster announces. 'What?' Andrea and Andreas gasp in unison. 'Isn't the whole purpose of this ridiculous game to end the X-Men?' Cortez asks.
The Gamesmaster frowns and addresses those before him as the Upstarts and tells them that they will learn that this contest is about far more than simply taking lives. 'This is about survival. And the prize is all of mutantkind!' 'Fine, “mutantkind” whatever... here's what I don't get: we ordered Alpha Red to destroy her. Why's she still around?' Andrea asks as the Gamesmaster picks the Jubilee figurine back up. 'It would seem young Jubilee still has a part to play' the Gamesmaster declares, telling Andrea to make no mistake – she and her brother may have set him free, but Alpha Red is playing a game all his own.
Back at the X-Mansion, in one of the medlabs, the Beast holds the lifeless body of Jubilee in his arms. 'I did everything I could. I'm – I'm sorry, but... we lost her' Henry announces, before he places Jubilee's body on a table, covers her with a blanket and asks Chamber if he can tell them what happened. Charles is with them, while looking through an observation window, Storm listens in. Chamber reports that something snatched Jubilee on the walk home, dug its teeth into her throat, so he blasted him, and then it turned on him. 'Went for my neck, but... joke's on him, huh?' Chamber remarks, adding that it all happened so fast. 'It's been a long night, young man. Let's get some rest, shall we?' Charles suggests to Chamber, exiting the lab with him. Storm speaks to Henry via the communicator in the observation booth, and asks him if this is the work of the monster that Maverick warned them about - “Alpha Red”. But the Beast tells Ororo that he can only share what he knows. He reports that the damage to her neck was severe, but worse, her blood cells have collapsed in on themselves. He announces that he has never seen anything like it. 'I have' Storm replies.
Rogue and Gambit enter the lab, and Rogue reports that the head count has been done, but they have a problem – Wolverine has gone AWOL and Maverick is missing, too. Storm goes into the lab as Rogue asks 'Want me and Remy to go after 'em? Bring 'em home?' Storm tells them that Wolverine has gone after the monster responsible for this no doubt, and asks her teammates to find him and help put an end to this. She instructs them to ask Bishop and Psylocke to meet her in the hangar. Storm turns to Henry and asks him to lock down the lab. 'No one gets in or out, understood?' Henry asks Ororo if she is going somewhere, and she tells him that she is, but that she needs one of his students. 'Take me to Edie Sawyer' Storm instructs Henry.
Shortly, Chamber sneaks back into the lab, telling himself that he has a few minutes until the lab is locked down for good. He stands over Jubilee's body, knowing that he would never be able to sleep if he didn't come down to say goodbye. Chamber hangs his head, then looks back up – and sees the table where Jubilee was lying is now empty! 'Where'd...?' he wonders, before thinking 'Oh, bollocks'.
Meanwhile, at a warehouse just outside Westchester.
'This is it!' Maverick exclaims as he searches through several crates and finds Alpha Red's coffin, empty. But Maverick knows that daylight approaches, and so Alpha Red will return. 'All I have to do is wait' he tells himself. 'Talking to yourself, bub?' a voice calls out. 'LOGAN?' Maverick shouts, turning around, surprised. 'We got history. But don't think for a minute that means I trust you' Logan warns Maverick as he leans into him. Teeth gritted, Wolverine narrows his eyes at Maverick and admits that he doesn't really trust Bishop, either, but that the man knows his tech. Logan gives Maverick one last chance to tell him what is on the disk before he stops asking questions and does what he does best. 'I told you everything -' Maverick begins, before Wolverine pops his claws, the familiar SNIKT sound is heard. 'Fine...' Maverick mutters, before revealing that there is a book, and nobody knows how far back it dates, but in 1915 Rasputin spent a bit of the czar's fortune tracking it down, sometimes page by page. Maverick adds that he called it “The Book of Sins” but that it has another name – the Darkhold.
Maverick continues, explaining that the book disappeared behind the Iron Curtain after the revolution, but he stumbled upon it when he was hacking the classified KGB database that led Fenris to Alpha Red. 'From what I can tell, it might be the key to defeating him' Maverick explains. He adds that once he discovered who he was really working for, he took the disk for himself, hoping to contain the damage that he did. 'Shut up' Wolverine replies. 'I'm telling you the truth, Logan' Maverick replies. 'I know... but we ain't alone' Logan declares. Suddenly, 'Idiot' Omega Red exclaims as he appears in front of Wolverine and Maverick, waving his tendrils at them. 'Good choice of last words, bub. It's exactly what I was gonna carve on yer tombstone' Wolverine snarls. Maverick holds his large weapon towards Omega Red, and sees that he is injured. 'And about to get worse' Wolverine points out, waving his claws about. Omega Red asks them why they came here alone – 'Are you wishing to die?' he enquires, wondering where the rest of the X-Men are. 'Don't worry yer pretty little head, scumbag – I'm more than enough to deal with!' Wolverine shouts at Omega Red, when suddenly, a voice from above utters' Haha foolish little man – it is not you he must be worrying about'. 'Oh no. he is here' Omega Red utters.
'Of course I am here, tovarisch. I am not one to suffer my enemies to live' Alpha Red declares, positioned on the rafters above, alongside Omega Red's teammates in the People's Protectorate – Darkstar, Ursa Major, Vostok and Red Guardian, all who seem to be under Alpha Red's control. 'Look at you. Cowering like some rodent. And they say you were meant to be my replacement, when I have ever been your superior' Alpha Red tells Omega Red, adding that he thinks his former teammates would agree. 'They are mine to command now – slaves to the burning power that is Alpha Red. And I have but one command to give'. Alpha Red then smacks his teeth together and shouts 'KILL!' as he, Darkstar and the others drop down towards Wolverine, Maverick and Omega Red. Alpha Red grabs Maverick and asks 'Where is it?' but Maverick doesn't respond. 'I won't ask twice' Alpha Red declares as he tosses Maverick through a wall, into another room, then goes after him and grabs Maverick by his throat. 'Do not think you can lie, German – not to me' Alpha Red warns Maverick, informing him that Red Guardian told him about the book, about its power and how Maverick took it from Russia. 'Tell me, and the death I grant you shall be quick. Where is the Darkhold?' Alpha Red demands, his cowl fallen away, revealing his face.
Nearby, Wolverine growls and pushes Darkstar and Red Guardian away from him. 'Get offa me!' he exclaims, while warning Maverick that if he tells Alpha Red anything, then he will be dealing with him next.
Ursa Major appears before Wolverine, who calls out 'C'mon then, Yogi. I could use a new rug!' 'You only pretend to be an animal, Wolverine. You know nothing of the savagery of nature. But come, let me show you... and then let me eat you!' Ursa Major declares.
'Not today, sugah!' Rogue exclaims as she flies into the warehouse and slams her fist into Ursa Major's face, while Gambit remarks that the one good thing about Wolverine is that he is never hard to find, while tossing kinetically-charged playing cards at Omega Red, Darkstar, Vostok and Red Guardian.
Rogue swoops in and pulls Wolverine into the air, telling him that Storm figured he would need some help, but that they didn't count on running into an army.
'They sent more X-Men? How delightful' Alpha Red smiles as he wipes his mouth while standing over the motionless body of Maverick. 'Traitor!' a voice cries out in Russian. It's Omega Red, who wraps his tendrils around Alpha Red's hands and tells him that he is a relic. 'I exist as a testament to your failures! I am improved in every way!' Omega Red boasts.
'They will hail me as a hero when I bring your head back to Moscow and leave your body for the wolves' Omega Red tells Alpha Red. But Alpha Red grins, showing off his jagged teeth, and tells his comrade that he is wrong. 'They did not make you because I failed. They made you because I performed too well!' And with that, Alpha Red slashes Omega Red's tendrils with his claws, freeing himself and causing Omega Red to fall backwards. 'We're leaving' Rogue announces, while Gambit holds onto the motionless Maverick. 'No, blast it! Turn me loose! He's the one who hurt Jubilee!' Wolverine exclaims as the super-strong Rogue flies all three men into the air. Wolverine looks back down at the warehouse as Rogue tells him that she knows, but that anybody who can do that to Omega Red ain't somebody she wants to face without the whole team. 'We stay there, and we ain't helping nobody' Rogue points out. Gambit remarks that this may be the wrong time, but he isn't sure if Wolverine's friend is going to make it. 'Looks like he got bit pretty bad'. Suddenly, 'YES – I DID!' Maverick exclaims as he bares his now jagged teeth at Wolverine, lunging for his neck.
Not far away, in the dormitories of the X-Mansion, Skin, Leech, Dead Girl, Artie, Doop, Husk, Vivisector and Kid Sensitive are sitting on the floor as M stands before them. 'As Student Body President, I, Monet St Croix, take your safety very seriously' Monet announces. 'President? We haven't even had an election' Skin points out. 'It's inevitable' Monet tells him, before continuing with her speech, telling the others that the teachers clearly aren't telling them everything. 'I mean, you heard what Chamber said – Sentinels don't bit you on the neck and drink your blood. I think we're dealing with... vampires' Monet declares. 'Oh, come on. You're being ridiculous' Vivisector remarks. 'Dude, you're literally a werewolf' Kid Sensitive points out. Dead Girl covers her ears, while Husk looks scared. 'That's different. Besides, I've seen every episode of the X-Men's TV show and I don't remember anything about vampires' Vivisector remarks. 'That's 'cause they're too violent to show on TV' Kid Sensitive suggests.
'AHEM!' Monet clears her throat, telling the others that if it is vampires, then they need to have a plan. 'We clearly can't rely on the staff to do something. So... what do we know about vampires?' Monet asks. 'They can't get in unless you invite 'em. So as long as we stay inside, we oughta be safe!' Husk exclaims, raising her hand and smiling. 'What about Jubilee?' Kid Sensitive asks. 'Dude! Too soon! Vivisector snaps. 'No, for real! I mean, this is her home, right? And even if it wasn't, they brought her in already' Kid Sensitive points out. Husk tells the others that their rooms are like little houses, so she thinks that means it works. There is a crack of lightning, and the students all turn to the window, when suddenly, 'Wrong' Jubilee exclaims, grinning, as the doors slam behind her, and the students scream.
In the hangar, Psylocke tells Bishop that she doesn't know what Storm hopes to accomplish with the overhead recon. 'She should've sent me along with Rogue' Bishop replies. 'Don't you mean “Rogue and Gambit”? Or did I have it right the first time?' Psylocke responds. 'Don't know what you're talking about, Braddock, but -' Bishop begins, but Betsy tells him to relax and points out that there is no sense in lying to a psychic. '...and here we have Psylocke and Bishop. They'll be joining us' Storm tells U-Go Girl, who is wearing one of the red training uniforms as they approach Bishop and Psylocke, who looks the young mutant up and down. Bishop informs Storm that the Blackbird is ready. Storm thanks him, but announces that they won't be taking the plane. 'A little late for a field trip, isn't it?' Betsy asks. 'Uh, hi? I'm U-Go Girl' the young mutant introduces herself. Storm explains that time is of the essence, and that they must move quickly. She informs Bishop and Psylocke that Miss Sawyer is a long-range teleporter, and that she can get them where they are going even faster than the Blackbird. 'A teleporter? Where exactly are you taking us... and does Xavier know you've recruited a student for whatever this is?' Psylocke asks. 'Charles has enough on his mind' Storm points out.
'You're first mission as leader, and already you're keeping secrets from the Professor... tsk tsk, Storm. What would Cyclops say?' Psylocke smirks. Bishop frowns, while U-Go Girl looks nervous as Storm tells Betsy exactly what Cyclops would have said: “You should never let Psylocke on the team, Ororo”. Storm assures Edie that she can do this. 'Ready? Set...?' Storm begins. 'GO!' U-Go Girl calls out, throwing her arms into the air, a portal warps around them, and soon, they materialize out in the open, as a storm rages around them. Lightning crackles and rain pours down. 'That was... rad...' U-Go Girl utters as she collapses into Bishop's arms. 'She's exhausted. That 'port took everything out of her' Bishop remarks. 'You dropped us in the middle of a bloody hurricane!' Psylocke snaps. Storm tells her that this is not natural, that this is for her. 'He knew we were coming' Storm reveals. 'Who?' Psylocke asks. 'Him' Storm replies as they look over to a large mansion.
'Inside, quickly!' Storm calls out as she pushes the door open with a gust of wind. 'Storm. Where have you taken us?' Betsy asks. Soaking wet, they stand in the foyer of the mansion, and Bishop and Psylocke go wide-eyed as someone calls out to them 'You are in Transylvania, my celestial beauty'. The cloaked figure grins, as he welcomes them all to Castle Dracula!


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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The World is a Vampire
Somewhere beyond space and time, in the blackest corner of Limbo, far from any sun...they gather together from countless worlds, dark deacons of some heretofore unknown universal collective. The Council of Cross-Time Draculas! 'Children of the Multiversal Midnight! I call you to order!' one of the Draculas calls out to the assorted Draculas gathered before him inside a castle that floats on some sort of asteroid belt. 'Dark Master, why have you brought us here so hastily? I was mere moments away from draining the accursed Ulysses Bloodstone -' one of the Draculas remarks, before the one called Dark Master shouts 'Silence!', then asks his brother if he presides over this assemblage lightly. 'No, I have felt it again, as I'm sure you have. Across the void between dimensions, a shift in the balance of power on a neighboring Earth'. He adds that tonight they gather to witness the victory of one of their own. 'Earth-92131, where soon, the very nature of the vampire will be changed forever... and another world will run red with blood!' the Dark Master declares as screens depict Alpha Red attacking Jubilee, and several X-Men confronting that world's Dracula.
That Earth, specifically, Transylvania, where Dracula sits on his throne as Ororo “Storm” Munroe, Betsy “Psylocke” Braddock, Lucas Bishop and the student Edie Sawyer a.k.a. U-Go Girl stand before him. He welcomes the X-Men, and tells Storm that she is more breathtaking than he remembers. He then calls her his “Dark Enchantress” and tells the X-Men to make themselves comfortable.
'Hold on a bloody minute. Storm and Dracula -' Psylocke begins, but Bishop shushes her and tells her to be ready for anything. Storm tells Dracula that his hospitality is appreciated, but that this is not a social call. 'We X-Men have suffered a great tragedy' Storm informs him, adding that she has reason to believe that he can help them. Sipping a red liquid from a wine glass, Dracula points out that “can help” and “willing to help” are two very different things, but tells Storm that he will allow of her to ask what she will. “Allow?” Bishop asks, before telling Storm, with all due respect, that he is tired of Dracula's face, and either he be allowed to teach him some manners, or Storm has to tell them what she expects to accomplish here.
'Shame on you, Ororo. Keeping secrets. Will you share, or shall I?' Dracula asks. Storm informs Dracula that Bishop and Psylocke are new to the team, and therefore are unfamiliar with their... history. Her eyes glow white, as she remembers Dracula standing behind her while she held the limp body of Jean Grey in her arms. Blood trickled down Storm's mouth, while her teammates Wolverine, Cyclops, Colossus and Nightcrawler lay strewn about at her feet.
She turns to Bishop and Psylocke, and calling them friends, tells them that despite what it might have looked like back at the Mansion, Jubilee is not dad, but afflicted with a dreadful curse, one she herself has suffered through. Storm explains that soon, Jubilee will rise again, however she will not be the same child they know and love. 'But as lord of all vampires, Dracula has the power and the capability to cure our young friend. The question is... will he?' Storm asks.
Getting to his feet, Dracula announces that he supposes he will. 'You have my thanks' Storm tells Dracula, before turning to Psylocke, and informing her that she needs to revive U-Go Girl. 'If.' Dracula declares. 'Excuse me?' Storm asks, turning back to the vampire lord. Dracula informs Storm that he will help her if – and only if – she gives him what he wants in return. 'I should have known' Storm mutters.
'You may refuse, but I would remind you that your young friend's eternal soul hangs in a very delicate balance' Dracula points out. 'As if I could forget' Storm replies, before asking Dracula what it is that he wants. Dracula grins as he declares that it is a simple promise, and tells Storm he will break this curse upon the X-Men – on that she has his unholy word – and Storm will become his bride!
'This again?' Storm asks, telling Dracula he forgets his place. There is a loud BOOM before Dracula asks 'Do I?' before reminding Storm that she acknowledged him as Lord of all Vampires. 'Am I not King of the Undead?' he enquires, telling Storm that he offers her eternal life, and that she would rule the night as his queen. 'Indeed, you are a king. But perhaps you've forgotten – I AM A GODDESS!' Storm shouts as lightning crackles down towards Dracula, knocking him into the air. Bishop uses his body to shield Betsy and U-Go Girl from the debris that starts flying around the room as Storm creates a powerful wind. Storm remarks that she believed Dracula to have some semblance of honor in that black heart of his. 'But if this is the only language you understand – so be it!'
Storm suggests to Dracula that they bargain then, and asks if he will help them and do everything within his considerable power to save Jubilee. 'HOLD ON!' Bishop tells Betsy and U-Go Girl, while Dracula, clinging to his throne, leers at Storm. 'In exchange... I will not call upon the forces of nature to rend your home from its very foundations' Storm tells Dracula. Sun starts to stream through the storm clouds outside, and Storm tells Dracula that she will also not use the entirety of his power to keep him bathed in sunlight for all eternity. 'Do you agree to these terms?' Storm enquires. Dracula laughs, 'Quite so, Windrider. But know this, mutant... nothing in this world comes without a cost' Dracula grins.
Meanwhile, in Westchester, at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, there is a scream as the students Husk, Dead Girl and Artie rush down a darkened corridor. 'Pretty sure it's this way, guys. I really should've paid closer attention during Gambit's tour of the school' Dead Girl admits, telling Husk and Artie to keep running and not look back. 'But what's wrong with 'em, Dead Girl? What'd Jubilee do to 'em?' Husk asks. 'Does it matter?' Dead Girl asks, telling Husk to focus on making it to the panic room. 'We're sure to be safe there' Dead Girl suggests, when suddenly, 'Boo!' Kid Sensitive calls out as he and Monet St Croix drop down before their fellow X-Men students. 'Y'know, any room can be a panic room as long as you've got the right motivation' Monet remarks, showing off her fangs. 'Back off, you jerks!' Dead Girl declares, standing in front of Husk and the frightened Artie, who projects an image of a gravestone. 'Oh, stop being so dramatic. We don't want you' Monet tells Dead Girl, pointing out that her blood is probably all gross and clotted anyway. 'Artie, on the other hand...' Monet begins. 'I can already tell he's gonna be tasty!' Kid Sensitive exclaims. 'No, now, Mister Smith, you know the rules – no snacking after curfew!' the Beast a.k.a. Dr Henry McCoy declares as he swings down from a chandelier and pulls Dead Girl up in his arms, while grabbing Artie and Husk with his feet. 'Professor McCoy!' Dead Girl gasps.
The Beast tells Dead Girl that he applauds her commitment to formality, but suggests using his nom de guerre in the heat of battle. 'Ready, Beast?' a voice calls out over a communication system. 'Now, Charles!' the Beast replies, and in the Ops Center, Professor Charles Xavier presses a red button: 'Systems online!' the Professor calls out, as the X-Mansion defenses are activated. 'What's that -' M begins as a net falls towards her and Kid Sensitive, trapping them. The Beast drops Husk, Artie and Dead Girl to the floor, and points out that net launchers have snagged Monet and Kid Sensitive, and while the hallway is clear for now, it won't be for long. 'Pardon my French, Beast, but what the heck's going on here?' Husk asks. 'This isn't just some elaborate fire drill, is it?' Dead Girl enquires. 'Afraid not' the Beast responds, while the Professor's voice can be heard the communications system again, asking the Beast if the children are safe. 'Safe enough' the Beast replies, adding that they need to move.
At that moment, in the Ops Center, Charles announces that he is routing the Mansion's defenses to clear them a path to the Ops Center. 'Join me here as soon as you're -' Charles begins, as Chamber enters, and informs the Professor that the students are revolting. 'Now, Mr Starsmore, that's no way to talk about your classmates' the Professor replies, before instructing Chamber to close the door behind him, as it is not safe out there. Chamber tells the Professor that he went to say goodbye to Jubilee, but she was gone. 'What's happening, Sir? Where is she?' Chamber enquires. Professor X reveals to Chamber that Jubilee and over half the student body have been transformed – into what, he is not sure. He starts to psychically scan the school, when suddenly, he clutches his head and cries out in agony. 'Professor, what is it?' Chamber asks. Xavier tells him that it is evil – and pain, excruciating pain, a mind so dark it is burning its way into his thoughts. Xavier declares that he is still too weak to fight, and instructs Chamber to help Beast. 'Use the Mansion's defenses... protect the...' Xavier utters, before he falls into unconsciousness. 'Bollocks' Chamber mutters.
'Ph, Beast! It's Chamber on telepathic link! Can you hear me?' Chamber calls out to the Beast, who fires some sort of weapon at the student called Vivisector. Chamber reports that something has taken the Professor out, so he is at the controls now. 'Stars and garters! What's happened to Charles?' the Beast enquires. 'No clue. But...I think he wants me to press the red button' Chamber responds, as Charles utters 'Rrrred'. 'The Juggernaut Protocols?' the Beast asks, surprised, before telling Chamber that whatever he does, stay away from the red button, as these are still his fellow students, and the yellow defenses should suffice. The Beast then hands the weapon to Husk and instructs her to shoot anything with fangs – excluding him. 'Never shot a gun before!' Husk replies. The Beast explains that it is a quick-setting polymer restraint, basically harmless. 'That's funny' a voice calls out. 'They used to say the same thing about me' Jubilee grins as she bares her fangs. 'Fangs! Fangs! Fangs!' Husk gasps, firing the weapon at Jubilee, but she dodges the polymer with ease. Heh. Too slow' Jubilee remarks, before the Beast tells her that they can help her. 'Help me?' Jubilee asks, standing by a recently boarded-up hole in the wall, which she pulls down and declares 'You guys're the ones who need help, Beastie!'
'So this is the vaunted home of the X-Men. I wonder, might I have a look inside?' Alpha Red asks as he strides across the Mansion grounds, followed by those under his vampiric control – X-Men members Wolverine a.k.a. Logan, Rogue and Remy “Gambit” LeaBeau, as well as their ally Maverick, and most of the members of the People's Protectorate – Darkstar, Red Guardian, Vosok and Ursa Major. 'Mi casa es su casa, bub' Wolverine tells Alpha Red. 'Er, should I go ahead and hit the red button then?' Chamber asks, while Artie projects images of several gravestones this time, and Dead Girl and Husk both look on in fear. 'No, no, skip the red. Go straight to black' the Beast instructs him. 'And anyone else wth a pulse – run!' the Beast declares. 'Black-level defenses online. Omega-level threat identified. All non-combatants seek cover' a computer voice announces, as the Mansion's defenses are unleashed upon Alpha Red and those under his controls. Wolverine cuts to shreds shards of metal that reach out to him. The same weapons attack Vostok, and are neutralized by his power. Large spiked balls are tossed towards Rogue, who punches them into shards, while Darkstar obliterates the spiked ball that attacks her with her Darkforce powers. Red Guardian uses his shield to block some laser fire, while Gambit throws some kinetically-charged playing cards at the werapons, while Maverick attempts to take them out also. Ursa Major tosses a large bear trap aside with ease, while flame-throwers dowse Alpha Red in flames, but he continues to walk forward.
Followed by Jubilee and Chamber, Alpha Red slashes his way into a room within the Mansion. “Cerebro” Jubilee reports, adding that she used to think this was the spookiest room in the house, but not so much anymore. 'What're we doing in here anyway, boss?' Jubilee asks. 'Making history, child. Changing everything' Alpha Red boasts. Alpha Red announces that for the better part of a  century, he was locked away in a tomb, kept alive on recycled blood and rodents, forced to serve others – like those von Strucker fools, by arcane rules of magic they scarcelyb understand. Alpha Red picks up the Cerebro helmet and declares 'Never again. Today, I toss off the shackles of my inheritance. At last...it is ready, yes?' 'Affirmative, Master. Everything is as I suspected' Maverick reports after checking the console. Maverick announces that the program implanted itself into the Cerebro network when that oaf Bishop searched his data files, it has taken over the whole system. 'Excellent. Now we begin' Alpha Red exclaims, grinning, as he puts the Cerebro helmet over his head. Alpha Red touches some of the keys on the console before him, 'Boot up the Darkhold Program' he declares. 'Let us give this world something to be afraid of!'
Back at Castle Dracula, 'How are you feeling?' Storm asks U-Go Girl who sits at a large table, and replies that she is awake, but she just needs a few more minutes. Dracula hands her something and tells her to drink it, as it will give her strength. He promises that it is not blood. 'Fine. Someone's got to say it' Psylocke remarks, before telling Storm that her desperation to save Jubilee is clouding her judgment. 'This plan – trusting him – it puts us all in harm's way!' Psylocke points out. Bishop tells Storm that Psylocke has a point, and adds that even in his dark future, stories of “The Dracula” are still used to scare children. 'What makes this monster any better than Alpha Red?' Bishop asks. 'Did you say - “Alpha Red”?' Dracula asks. 'He is the vampire responsible for your current plight?' Dracula enquires. 'You know him? Figures' Bishop remarks, clenching his fists. 'You're gonna tell us everything about him, leech, or so help me -' Bishop begins, but Dracula tells Storm to call off her “dog”. As U-Go Girl drinks the liquid Dracula gave her, Storm tells Bishop that threats will not save Jubilation. 'But you think he will?' Bishop asks.
'So, what's the story, grandpa? Maverick told us Alpha Red's been locked away for more than fifty years. You don't seem like the visiting type, so I'm guessing you two go way back' Psylocke remarks. 'Oh, indeed. I've known him his whole life' Dracula replies, smiling as he reveals that Alpha Red is his son!

Flashback images, narrated by Dracula:
Dracula tells Storm that she is not the first mortal woman to capture his affection, and that there was one such maiden, a century ago. 'And unlike you...she was receptive to my charms'. He reveals that their love bore fruit – a child they named Janus, the heir to his dark powers. 'But what good is an heir to an immortal?' Dracula asks. Dracula explains thay Janus was blessed – perhaps cursed – with his father's ambition, and Janus sought to take Dracula's place as lord of the unliving. 'But his powers were no match for my own'. Janus was obsessed with being more than Dracula – anything that could make him stronger – demonic pacts, forbidden texts – he sought them all, and eventually he allied himself with Russian scientists trying to replicate the success of the American Super-Soldier Program. They combined their technology with the darkest of magics to amplify his powers, and in the process, they made him far deadlier than even they thought possible. His even greater than Dracula's, his cruelty knows no bounds, and his bite turns in seconds, not days.
Present:
Dracula reveals that there was, however, a consequence, for the bite that turns so quickly burns through its victims, rather than immortality, it grants a death sentence – a single night before they crumble to dust. U-Go Girl yawns, and Dracula suggests that perhaps they should have left sooner. 'What? Jubilee was attacked hours ago! It's nearly dawn in Westchester – she's already out of time?' Storm exclaims, leaning in towards Dracula. 'Not yet, she isn't' U-Go Girl declares. Storm helps the younger mutant up and asks her if she is certain. 'Yeah, I'm good. Let's do this. I can do this. Everybody hold on. Here we – GOOOO!' U-Go Girl exclaims as she takes Dracula's hand and her teleportation power kicks in, transporting them all to the Mansion. 'kay...night...' U-Go girl utters as she collapses into Bishop. 'By the Bright Lady... the Mansion! It – it has been destroyed!' Storm gasps as she and the others look upon the ruined Mansion. 'We were only gone a few hours. Who could have done this in -' Bishop begins, when suddenly, 'Welcome home, X-Men' a voice calls out from inside the ruined Mansion.
'No... Storm utters. 'And you've brought a guest, I see' the voice adds. 'Janus' Dracula declares as he sees Alpha Red walking out of the Mansion, Wolverine and Jubilee at his sides. 'Good morning, father. As fortune would have it, you have all arrived just in time' Alpha Red reports. 'Dracula's yer old man? Explains a lot' Wolverine remarks, while Jubilee greets Storm and asks her if she likes what they have done with the place. 'Creature of darkness! You have violated the sanctity of my home, attacked my friends, and put my students – my family – in danger!' Storm declares as she summons the forces of nature around her, announcing that she knows how to stop him. Storm rises into the air as dark clouds appear above her, 'I call upon the winds to split open the heavens. For now is the dawn, and with it comes the light!' Storm shouts. The light breaks through the clouds, and Alpha Red looks up into the sunlight. 'It tingles, just a bit' he grins. Dracula shields himself from the light, 'How – Janus, what have you done?' he asks his son. Alpha Red, Wolverine and Jubilee then walk out into the full light that bathes over them, 'What you never could, oh Lord of the Vampires' he declares, while telling Jubilee and Wolverine to step out into the light.
Alpha Red reveals that by using magics which his father ignored for centuries, he has eliminated their vampiric weaknesses and made their kind stronger than they have ever been. 'No longer will we be made to languish in the shadows of a world that fears and hates us' Alpha Red declares, adding that it is fitting that the X-Men should be the first to witness their victory. Jubilee smiles as Alpha Red tells the remaining X-Men that where they once stood as the evolutionary replacement of man, vampires now take their place. 'Behold, mutants! Look upon your successor... and despair!'