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Intifada - part 5: Detante
At Roberto DaCosta’s Estate, where a gala is being held at one thousand dollars a plate, things aren’t going as Roberto had planned. At this moment, he is being held by the throat against a statue of a dolphin spewing water from its mouth into a pool. The woman that holds him against the pool is named Anna Raven, otherwise known as Rogue. She has come seeking answers to some questions. Behind her is her friend, Sam Guthrie, and his ally, Anna Aquilla.
Sam cries out to Anna for her to stop. He tells her that this isn’t the time or place for her questions and asks her how she knows she even has the right guy? Rogue looks back at Sam and tells him that their house was attacked again last night by the same woman, but this time she wasn’t alone. Turning her attention once more to Bobby, she tells him that she trailed them after they left and they ended up going into the corporate garage of X-Corp. She goes on to say that the events would seem to mean that either X-Corp is dirty or Roberto himself is! Bobby tells Anna that she doesn’t know him, but Sam does and she should listen to him. He goes on to say that he does not take kindly to threats.
Rogue begins to morph into a giant string and Bobby tells her that she has just met one of his security guards named Stringfellow and his powers basically turns her into an elongated Reed Richards. Anna falls to the ground like a clump of stringy noodles. Bobby goes on to say that she doesn’t have the mobility that Richards has and he hears that the affect is quite painful, but luckily temporary. A young boy stands in front of Roberto with a smiley face shirt on and tells Roberto that, if she struggles, he can make it worse. Sam comes near Roberto and tells the two of them that there was no call in hurting Anna. Just then a girl from behind him attacks Sam, as she apologizes for her intrusion. Skitz is her name and, as Sam finds out, she has the ability to project delusions into people’s minds, making them see aspects of themselves they never dreamed possible and some that might haunt Sam Guthrie till his dying days. During his madness, Sam can only think of one thing, and that is escape. Sam blasts into the air and Anna, at the last minute, is able to wrap her stringy body around Sam’s throat and he carries them away, with a quick solar-powered punch from Sunspot (Roberto DaCosta). Roberto tells Sam, as he punches him into the atmosphere, that he has to much invested in house and his guests to allow them to harm either.
Screaming at Stringfellow and Skitz to find Sam and Anna, he tells them that the two mutants will not remain non-compos for long. He tells them that to be warned when they come to he is sure they won’t be happy. Amara begins to follow the two mutants, but Bobby begs her to say and promises to investigate Rogue’s accusations after the gala. He tells Amara that Rogue normally wouldn’t lie about such a thing, but he hopes she is wrong. Amara agrees to stay and Roberto begins to apologize to his guests for the interruption.
Meanwhile, near the ocean, Sam and Anna have come to a landing with the two of them still non-compos. Above them lurks a shadowy figure that talks to herself, saying that she is aware of Sam Guthrie’s presence, but her telepathy tells her that Anna doesn’t even exist. Her eyes glow with a tint of red and she ponders the fascinating evidence surrounding Rogue’s mind.
Elsewhere, the mutants delinquents named Cutter Sullivan, Dervish and Porous finish off their delivered pizza and wonder how much longer they’ll have to hide out before they can go back to causing havoc. Just then, the shadowy telepath appears in the room and offers the three of them the opportunity to attack one of the fallen X-Men. She shows them a picture of Sam lying on the beach, unconscious. She goes on to offer them three vials of the drug called “Kick” and she tells them with this drug the three of them can defeat any X-Man. The three mutants get an evil grin on their faces, as they continue to stare at the treasure they are offered. While the delinquents ponder their offer, at Rogue’s house Sage takes Evangeline Whedon to safety and Bishop goes off to save Rogue and Sam.
Back at the Presidential Ranch, Gambit and Storm parry each other’s moves, as the two practice with wooden sticks. They stand on the precipice of a small waterfall. He tells her, as they continue to parry, that she can’t always count on her powers or her good looks even though they can take a man’s breath away, because she must learn to fight before she can lead the X-Treme team into battle. Storm thinks she has the upper hand as she drops from Gambit’s grip, but he is quickly able to maneuver himself to miss her blow. After landing on his feet, he uses his leverage to knock Storm from the precipice down to the water below. As a mutant, Storm controls the weather and she instinctively creates a gale force wind to hold her aloft from the waters below. Gambit knew this, however, and planned accordingly. The master thief jumps from the precipice and lands on Storm, knocking her into the waters. Coming up from the water, Gambit gleefully smiles and, holding his fingers like a gun to Storm’s head, he tells her bang she is dead!
After there practice is over, the two mutants hear the increasingly familiar voice of Colonel Vazhin speaking to them from the nearby bank. He asks her if Gambit wins often, as he helps her from the waters. She tells him, as she calls on a gust of wind to dry off her body, that if she recalls correctly he has never lost. Colonel Vazhin tells Storm that her proposal was accepted and her team has now become the X-Treme Sanctions Executive or X-S-E for short. She looks at the Colonel and sees the questions in his eyes and she says what he is thinking; he wonders if she is up to the task? He tells her that their authority is unique and the jurisdiction is now global, which makes their badges recognizable around the globe. He goes on to say that she must be as much a diplomat as a warrior and the best at both. Storm tells Vazhin that she is ready and Vazhin tells her that he takes after President Reagan in that aspect he has faith, but her requires proof.
Gambit comes into the conversation and Vazhin informs him that their talk is private. Gambit tells Vazhin that it isn’t his call to make and Vazhin exasperates that the X-Men are always about the team. Vazhin reminds Storm that the chain is as only strong as the weakest link. He tells Ororo that she is the cornerstone to the X-S-E and she is just as integral to the future of mutants everywhere as Charles Xavier himself. Vazhin pulls a picture of a blue looking troll from his jacket pocket and tells Storm that she must complete an assignment before he will know for sure that she is ready to lead the X-S-E. Vazhin explains that there is a large number of mutant arenas popping up across the globe and they’re all linked to this man. Storm and Gambit recognize the man as Tullamore Voge, a slaver they met in Moscow quiet a while back. Storm asks where he is and Vazhin tells her that he does not know, but they do know that he has an arena in Tokyo and he wants her to join it.
On the sands of Valle Soleada, Cutter, Porous and Dervish have taken care of Stringfellow and Skitz. The three mutants walk closer to the fallen Rogue and Sam, while the two of them are powerless to escape. Cutter uses his powers to tear into Rogue’s elastic body. Luckily for them, the police arrive and the delinquents are distracted for the moment. Officer Mendes tells Cutter and the others to back away from the injured. He is not alone; because Jack, Paint and other mutants have come along and they tell Cutter and his gang that they’re no longer going to put up with their terrorizing. Porous attacks them and easily takes them all out by knocking them unconscious from dehydration. Cutter goes back to attacking Rogue, but luckily once more Bishop is there to save them. Bishop blasts Cutter to the ground and the three delinquents converge on their attacker. Dervish pulls Bishop from his truck with her wind powers and sends him sailing to a spiked-up Cutter.
While Bishop heads towards Cutter, Porous attacks Rogue, telling her that he is going to liquefy her one organ at a time. Cutter grasps hold of Bishop, but he is able to use his years of training to escape his grasp. Bishop listens as Cutter tries to brag about his power, but Bishop is easily able to counter his moves and send Cutter sailing towards Dervish’s face. He tells Cutter that he knows they’re on the drug “kick” and they should have saved their money. Thankfully for Dervish, Cannonball finally comes to his senses and he knocks Cutter out of the way inches before Dervish was impaled by her teammate. Bishop blasts Dervish with a strategically placed blast and tells Sam that he is glad to see him feeling better. Sam goes to the cliff to check on Officer Mendes and the others and reports back to Bishop that they’re hurt, but okay. From behind the two X-Treme members, Porous calls out to them and tells them that they forgot about him. Bishop teases Porous by saying that he isn’t really even a threat and Sam agrees. Porous screams to them that he will kill Rogue for their teasing. Bishop and Sam continue to tease by acting as if they don’t care. Rogue begins to reform into her true physical state as she wraps her hands around Porous’ throat. She tells him that he isn’t the hotshot he would like to think he is and knocks him to the ground for his troubles.
Back at the X-Corp headquarters, Roberto and Amara look through their files and find that Jarod Malloy was the one buying up the property from all the humans in Valle Soleada. Amara starts to tell Roberto that she doesn’t feel right and Roberto agrees. Oddly, the two friends begin to passionately kiss and, behind them and unseen, Empath stands crying. A hand lying on his shoulder shows the presence of the shadowy telepath once again. She explains to the un-hearing Amara and Roberto that she made Jarod leave a trail to make him look bad, to use him as fodder later on. She explains to them that Empath is making them kiss, but she will erase their short-term memories and only allow them to remember their findings. She tells Empath that she will give him his ration of “kick,” since he obeyed her. She also thinks its odd that these two friends passionately kiss, but she can detect that they do not have any passionate feelings towards one another. Given the vial of “kick,” Manuel downs it, still tears rolling down his eyes. She tells him that she wants him to be at his peak when she destroys the X-Men. Finishing their conversation, she says that she ha something special planned for Sage.
Another day, Roberto stands in front of reporters at his headquarters, publicly apologizing for Jarod Malloy’s actions. He goes on to say, as the X-Treme team continues to watch him on their television at Anna’s house, that Valle Soleada is Charles Xavier’s dream brought to life. He says that X-Corp’s goal is to create societies across the globe like this one and, hopefully, after years of trial, humanity will be able to live together. At Anna’s house, Bishop’s forehead wrinkles, as he says aloud that they will see if Bobby’s words come true. Behind Bishop, Sage uses her powers to search for Elias Bogan.
Anna and Marie stand at the gravesite of the D’Ancanto family and Marie apologizes for what she tried to do to dishonor their name. She stands up and embraces Rogue and, with tears in her eyes, she tells her parents that she has gotten a second chance and she wants to make them proud.
At a house somewhere in the world, a young boy listens to the words of Roberto DaCosta as he cleans his rifle. Behind him, hanging on the wall, is a poster with the PURITY emblem on it. Putting the gun to his eye, the determination for a future job lingers in his eyes.


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Storm: the Arena - part 1: Challenger
A spiked gate opens to reveal a shadowed female figure and her thoughts are on the cheers of the people around her. The thought that passes through her mind is that the people want their “star” and this is her destiny.
Days before the shadowed woman’s starring moment – Storm flies Gambit back to California. Once they arrive on the beach near Rogue’s house, Gambit becomes distracted by his lover, running into his arms. Rogue questions Remy, as she jumps into his arms, of where has been. She tells him that she thought Storm had stole him away from her. Gambit informs her that she had tried to steal away their love, but they both know she is the only one for him.
Much later, Ororo tells the others about what she was up to and tells them that the government has now made them official world sanctioned police. Sam states the fact that their team is now the X-Treme Sanctions Executive and, officially, cops. Bishop sits below Sam on the back porch of Rogue’s beach house and he crushes the can in his hand in both anger and confusion on the events transpiring. Bishop tells the others that he feels like he is experiencing déjà vu. He tells them that in the future that he came from his job was to police the mutants populace and the title of his position was an X.S.E. (Xavier Security Enforcer) officer. Sam jokingly teases Lucas that at least he’ll get on the ground floor this time. Bishop stands to his feet and Ororo comes to his aid and asks him if he feels that their actions will prevent his future or help create it. She tells Bishop that in Africa where her mother is from they believe that nothing is written until it happens. She continues to speak and tells Lucas that if they all do their best the future will take care of itself. Bishop reaches out and grasps Ororo’s jaw in his right hand, he informs her that she could be wrong. Ororo defiantly tells Lucas that she is an X-Man and that gives her hope.
Sage walks up to her two friends and asks if she is going to go solo into Tokyo. Ororo confirms Sage’s proclamation and tells them that it is their job to go after Bogan. Ororo looks down at a picture of Tullamore Voge and tells the others that it seems that Bogan and Vogue employee the same muscle so there is probably a connection between the two of them. Sam asks Storm if she wants back up to help her face against whatever menaces wait on her in Tokyo. She tells him that she does not and questions his thoughts on her inability to handle a slaver like Vogue. She tells him that, if she needs any help, they can rest assure she will call. Bishop turns to her and tells Ororo that she won’t call because of her stubbornness and that might even be the death of her. Finishing their conversation, Ororo tells Lucas that if she dies at least she knows she sacrifices herself for a good cause.
Ororo flies towards Tokyo and, along the way, she thinks about the death of her parents and the war that caused it. She also thinks of how her parents never saw her grow to adulthood and join the clandestine group known as the X-Men and how their dream became her own. She remembers how Charles Xavier has recently focused more on the future of mutant-kind and she realizes that her job is to take care of the world here and now, until Xavier finally reaches his goal. Seeing the city of Tokyo getting closer, she thinks about the recent attack on her body and the uncertainty of her physical prowess afterwards. That is why, she thinks, she is here to not only stop a slaver from an illegal action but to prove to herself that her body is capable of leading her X-Treme team in it’s future.
Storm flies above the skyscrapers and thinks about her meeting scheduled for seconds from now with her long time ally, Yukio. Just then, a shadow races across the building below her and she recognizes the form as Yukio. To Ororo’s shock, Yukio jumps from the building, headed straight towards the ground below. Screaming, “NO!” Storm rushes to her friends aid and questions her intelligence for such a dangerous feet. Yukio tells Storm that she had told her when and where to meet her; she just wanted to greet her in style. Ororo questions Yukio of what she would have done if she were unable to honor their reunion? Ororo lands Yukio on the nearby building and Yukio informs her that she would have just had to think of something to save her and quickly.
Ororo and Yukio embrace and they discuss both of their recent near death experiences and how both seem to have something to prove. Yukio teasingly walks towards a hidden present and offers it to a reluctant Storm. Ororo recognizes the present as new clothes and Yukio warns Ororo that if she wants to get in the Arena she will have to look the part. Storm stutters out no and Yukio asks if Ororo is afraid of the clothes or the woman they will help to set free?
Later that night, a Samurai stands guard at the door to the entrance of the Arena. Handfuls of pedestrians try to gain entrance, only to hear a rejection from the large Samurai. All, except the few he agrees upon, may not enter but, after seeing Storm and Yukio, he doesn’t hesitate to allow them in. Storm’s outfit is flashy with a red appearance going from her shoes all the way to the cleft of her breasts. The tight-fitting jean skirt is sowed together on the sides and reveals Storm’s “better” side. Yukio wears an outfit equally as flashing and the black skintight outfit stretches the entire length of her body with small holes strategically placed all over. To accentuate her outfit, she wears a black and green jacket that seems to be outfitted with medals. Both women stand in high-heeled shoes and each one of them wears a form of collar around their neck.
As the women enter the building, Ororo thinks of how Yukio is a hired assassin and how they became friends she will never know, but when she is with Yuriko she feels so untamed. After her entrance in the Arena, each woman is shocked to see the appearance of the insides. It is like that of an alien place. In this entertainment center, there is no barrier between the entertainer and the entertained. Both Yukio and Ororo quickly realize that the noise is so much that the two of them can’t hear one another and, all around the room, camera’s flash pictures of the crowd, replaying them on video screens in odd shapes. One of these screens show Ororo and Yukio can’t help but laugh, as the two of the drink at the bar.
Another form of entertainment in the bar is the fact that certain dancers are given headsets that supposedly makes their experience even better. Ororo and Yukio are among the guests that receive these headsets and, unknown to them, an unknown person is scanning them via the headsets to find out if their mutants. On a video screen in a separate room, Yukio is shown to be a baseline human, while Strom is revealed to the Arena as a mutant. After their moment in the spotlight, the two friends see a nearby rest area, where they can escape the noise.
Yukio and Ororo race into the nearby room and Ororo questions her if she is all right. Yukio asks her own question about how the room could be so quiet, even with all the music playing outside. Ororo informs her friend that she was able to set a wind buffer against the door that helps to filter out most of the sound so they don’t have to scream at one another. Both companions sit on a couch in the room and sip their glasses of wine. Yukio asks Storm how she is feeling? Storm replies that she can’t even remember the last time she had so much fun. Yukio tells Ororo that she is trying to help her let loose and actually enjoy life.
Suddenly, the curtains to their hideaway part to reveal a woman that introduces herself as Masato Koga. Masato tells them that she knows about their recent adventures and certain talents and powers each one of them has. She continues on, telling them how there are other areas to the Arena that might be spicier to women of their nature. Masato stands to her feet and tells the two women to follow her, which they do. As the women traverse different areas of the Arena, Masato talks about how the need for people of their nature to win at all costs for survival was so strong in the past. The need to fight for survival is not strong now, but the need to win battles at all costs still is. They travel through the dance hall section of the Arena, a gambling casino, and finally through a male entertainment section.
With a motion Masato commands the bodyguard to pull back a set of curtains that reveals a passageway farther down into the depths of the Arena. At the bottom of he stairs, Masato tells Storm and Yukio that human beings became sterile, not wishing to be hunters or predators anymore. Humans became content just to be voyeurs, who watch others do what they can only dream of. Storm’s red wig is taken from her hair by handmaidens that appear at Masato’s command. A bird-type headpiece, equally as red, takes its place. Yukio is not left out, as her hat is removed and replaced by a phantom mask with wig-piece. Masato continues to speak and she tells them that for some the urge to be the star is too much and they venture forth to become the hunters once more. The two allies follow their guide, but nothing prepares them for the sight they see once they pass through the nearby gate.
Warriors stand behind the two allies, but the amazement doesn’t come from the sight of them. The amazement comes from Masato’s introduction of the true Arena. Around them sit hundreds of people, who are cheering the two mutants that fight in a small courtyard below the cheering masses. In the courtyard, a young mutant named Silkworm fights against a towering behemoth by the name of Musclehead. The outcome looks to be obvious, but Silkworm turns out to be a worthy opponent, making quick use of Musclehead’s bulk against him. Storm hears Masato tell her that the rules are simple, there are none. No mercy is given, only earned in the battles that take place. She goes on to say that victories are, however, most rewarding. Back in the courtyard, it seems that Silkworm has bested her opponent and a smile creases Ororo’s deep-red lips. The smile doesn’t last long, as Musclehead regains his strength and attacks the overconfident Silkworm. Musclehead has Silkworm by the throat and is seconds away from finishing her off, when Storm licks her lips in silent anxiety of her next move.
A lightning bolt separates the two attackers and Storm floats softly to the courtyard to warn Musclehead of his actions. She tells him that he made his point, but killing Silkworm is not the answer. Oddly, it isn’t Musclehead that attacks the would-be savior, but Silkworm. Silkworm, angered at being rescued, tells Ororo that she shouldn’t have interfered with their match, as she sends her powers to entangle Storm. Ororo, wrapped up like a cocoon, is no match for Musclehead, as Silkworm sends her spinning into his awaiting fists.
Above the ground floor, Yukio removes her headpiece and screams Storm’s name in fear. Blades quickly surround Yukio’s neck and Masato warns Yukio not to interfere with the match. She tells her that Ororo made the choice of entering the battlefield and she must now play by its rules.
That is easily done for a woman that commands the very elements. Summoning the winds to wrap Silkworm’s energy strands around her own body, Storm is quickly able to subdue the arrogant mutant. Storm hovers in the air and she informs Musclehead that she does not want to continue on with their fight. Musclehead tells her that it is too late and he will face and defeat her. Storm lands on the ground and creates a gust of wind to nock him off balance, which allows her to make a strategic blow. Musclehead falls to the ground and Storm pounces on his chest. As she begins to lay a serious blow, she tells him that he must always remember that where there is lightning there is always thunder! With that said, she knocks him into a nearby wall and Masato travels to the ground floor to raise Storm’s hand in victory.
Masato announces to the fans that she gives them their newest Tokyo Arena Champion: Storm. Surprisingly enough, Storm thinks that she feels glorious… and she wants more!!


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Storm: the Arena - part 2: Champion
Koga stands amidst the crowd watching the Arena match and presents their newest and greatest Champion of the Tokyo Arena: Storm. Yukio stands near Storm in the stands above and screams down to Ororo that Koga tricked them. Koga places his hand to his chest and declares that Yukio is exaggerating, because he simply used their situation to make an opportunity for the Arena. Storm seems confused, as she removes her headpiece and looks longingly into space. Koga continues to talk on about how rough life is on the outside for mutants but how, once they are in the Arena, there is greatness along with rules. A clear outcome – no matter how many enters, only one leaves victorious. Samurai-dressed employees of the Arena enter the battlefield, as Koga continues to talk. These silent workers drag gurneys behind them and they remove Silk and Musclehead from the area. Koga stands next to Storm, as he gazes up at the crowd. With arms stretched out, he tells Storm that their audience may be small but their money and power cannot be rivaled and, today, she has won their hearts.
Storm does not hear any words spoken, but thoughts rush through her mind upon hearing the cheers of her audience. She thinks to herself about the goose bumps she is experiencing and grits her teeth as the cage around her spirit break and her emotions are released. Without a word, she sails into the sky, using her powers over the winds to carry her. She grasps a hold of Yukio and steals her away from the samurai that surround her. Yukio grins ear-to-ear, as the two of them burst through the ceiling and fly away to a safer place.
In Yukio’s apartment, the Ronin assassin steps from a hot shower and wraps a nearby towel around her wet hair. Yukio walks into her living area in nothing but a sports bra and her underwear. Across Yukio’s back appears to be a dragon climbing her spine. She passes pictures of her, Logan and Storm, as they listen to the bleak weather report on the news. The weather report states that rain has fallen almost six centimeters an hour for the later part of the night and they offer their sincere apologies for their misinterpretation of the night’s forecast. Storm stands out in the rain, as Yukio nears her friend’s side to see what’s the matter. Yukio leans out the window and informs Storm that she is drowning the city of Tokyo. Storm, startled, turns around and asks what Yukio means by her comments? Yukio states that she is deep in thought and worries that the weather will only get worse if she does not start to control her mood. Storm seems to agree and walks back into the apartment, briefly stopping to use her powers over the wind to dry the two of them off.
Inside, Storm takes her clothes off and Yukio goes to a nearby room to get her a clean outfit. While Yukio is away, Storm watches the news report on Marie D’Ancanto, the human who tried to kill a group of mutants in Valle Soleada, California. Yukio comes back into the room, throws pajamas at the feet of Ororo and asks her what the news was about on the television? Storm does not answer her friend’s question, but states one of her own: she asks why mutants must be the enemies among all minorities? Yukio states that some of her friends are Jews, gay, chink, and gaijin, though the rest cannot be trusted. She goes on to say that those thoughts are what the world thinks about minorities.
The two friends sit down on the nearby couches and Storm opens her laptop to show Yukio a new website that sponsors attacks on mutants. The website is www.voiceofhumanity.com and it shows three pictures: Charles Xavier (Known Mutant), Marie D’Ancanto (Species Traitor) and Serafina Montoya (Mutant removed from the Gene Pool on December 17, 2003. Storm explains how the website turns humans everyday to their side of hatred against mutants. She explains the story of Marie D’Ancanto and how mutants accidentally led to the death of her family.
Outside the apartment, a strange figure is seen climbing the wall outside and nearing the window of Yukio and Ororo’s.
Ororo focuses on the picture of Charles Xavier and she questions the laptop if he knew about what was coming? Ororo stops drinking her red wine and hurls the liquid onto the computer screen. The wine drains down the screen and Xavier’s picture can still be seen. Ororo stands to her feet and continues to question his picture. She states that it was easy to police the world when it was only a handful of mutants facing a handful of villains, but now the mutant numbers have grown and the threat is even greater. Storm walks back towards the sliding glass door and stands on the balcony once more. Yukio comes to join her friend and she listens as Storm questions how she can find the answer of policing the ever-growing mutants community. Yukio tells Storm that she will not be able to save everyone. Storm tells Yukio that Charles Xavier trained her and she is at heart an X-Man, which means she only knows how to try.
Later that night, the two friends sleep soundly on the two small couches in the living area. Suddenly, the sliding glass door silently opens and a mammoth figure steps into the shadowed room with his body dripping from the torrent of rain outside. Silently, the figure crosses the room and pulls back his left hand, preparing to strike a powerful blow to Ororo’s head. All those years of training come into play quickly, as Strom opens her eyes in enough time to fall to the floor and warn Yukio of an attack. The mammoth figure’s hand barely misses Ororo’s skull and powerfully punctures the pillow upon which it laid. Violently, the fight begins and Yukio begs Ororo not to destroy all her belongings. The mammoth attacker is engulfed in a Tornado that would suck the life out of any ordinary man but, speaking in a heavy-mobster accent, the attacker tells Yukio that her belongings are going to be the least of their worries.
The attacker places his hand around Ororo’s neck and hurls the weather witch into the nearby wall. Yukio gets into the action and hurls three throwing stars towards the attacker in hopes that they will deter Ororo’s assailant. They do not, as the attacker grasps the throwing stars in mid flight. He then turns his attention once more to the woman in his grasp. Suddenly, around the attacker appear balls of lightning and Storm warns her assailant to release her before her lightning fries him. Shockingly, the light reveals her assailant as none other than Guido Carrosella, her one time ally and friend.
Yukio questions Guido’s attack but, before he can answer, he throws the same throwing stars from earlier above the women’s heads. They strike two spycams behind the women and he informs them that Koga uses them in his arena. Quickly, he demands them to follow him and they travel through Yukio’s apartment building and out a side door.
Suddenly as they enter a nearby door, the three allies are met by a voice greeting them to Guido’s home. Inside Guido’s house, a water fountain spews water from the mouth of a three headed dragon made of concrete. Mostly neutral colors, the house is accented strangely by a pink rug, with orange pillows everywhere a guest may find to sit. The computer voice explains that it is under the service of Lila Cheney and with Guido as Lila’s “Major-Domo,” it also belongs to him. Another shocking revelation is the fact that Lila has programmed the sentient-residence to accept Storm as an owner of the house, as well. Glaring suspiciously, Yukio questions Storm on why she was never informed of her ownership. Storm explains that she never knew, because Lila never informed her.
Changing the subject, Ororo turns to Guido to question him why he attacked them earlier. He tells her that, after X-Factor disbanded, he needed a place to go and, since he did not want to become a super-hero again, it was hard for him to find a job. Guido goes over to a nearby refrigerator, with his shirt opened, showing his tattoos that were placed on him when the Arena claimed ownership of him. He grasps a red liquid and begins to drink it. Guido goes on to say that he found the Arena and was fooled by the promotions that stated it was a life of luxury and ease. Guido begins to get upset and crushes the glass bottle in his hand. Storm grabs a nearby washcloth and helps to clean Guido’s hand off, as tiny vacuums race from the walls to clean the mess on the floor. Yukio calls Guido a “big guy” and tells him that he should not fear for Ororo or her safety. Guido corrects Yukio by stating the term she should have said was “Strong Guy.”
He continues on, as the sentient computer program of Lila’s projects Guido’s statements into real-life pictures. He tells them that the Arena employs all people, from human to mutant. He explains the rules of the Arena. He tells them that each Arena has it’s own champion and everyone in that Arena is subject to the Champion. He tells them that Koga is what is considered their manager and he is the one that books all the fights. To get ahead, you must fight the mutants above you and, once they are defeated, they become your property. The only way to buy your freedom is to challenge the fighter that became your master. He explains that the only way a person can challenge the Champion is for them to become a Champion themselves. He tells Storm that she is lucky; she blind-sided Musclehead (who was the Champion) so she gets a free pass, and she can leave if she wants.
Storm questions Guido what would happen to them if she did leave? He tells her that there would be mass battles and that some competitors would not make it out alive, until finally a player is crowned the victor. Storm ponders for a moment, as Guido continues to talk about how, if she takes the job as their Champion, she can never leave the Arena. Storm’s expression changes from contemplation to anger, as she hears Guido’s final words about how the Arena’s bouts can sometimes end in DEATH!
Koga stands among his mutants and announces to them that Storm is their new Champion, as long as she agrees to forgo all freedom in service of the Arena. Storm, wearing her red Arena battle suit, stands amongst the competitors with neon blue tattoos adorning her naval. She tells Koga that she accepts and turns to her new servants and tells them that, if any of them want to challenge her and try to claim the throne, they can. Ororo hears a voice of a friend from behind her; the friend tells her, “Well since you asked!” Shocked, Ororo turns around to see Callisto with snake-like tentacles dancing from what used to be her arms. Callisto tells Storm that she has issued a challenge from one champion to the other and, if she wants to stay the Champion, she must fight her. Callisto finishes by telling Ororo that she has to win or, otherwise, she will belong to her!


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Storm: the Arena - part 3: Slave
In the Tokyo Arena, Callisto stands tall above Storm, as she holds Matsuo Koga’s neck in her hands, questioning why he set her up. Koga informs Ororo that Callisto has made a challenge and, with her being the Champion, she must accept.
A few feet away, Yukio tugs on Guido’s suit and asks him what Koga is talking about? Guido explains that if, Storm does not accept the challenge from Callisto, then it is assumed she forfeits, which gives the servitude of the entire Tokyo Arena to Callisto and her manager. Yukio skulks back into her seat, exclaiming how Koga is a weasel. Guido agrees but reminds her that the two of them did try and talk Storm out of accepting the title of Champion. Yukio questions Guido about the history between Storm and Callisto.
Flashback:
Guido explains that a mutant group called the Morlocks held the X-Men hostage under the streets of Manhattan. Their leader, Callisto, was challenged by Storm to duel for the lives of the X-Men. Luckily for the X-Men, Storm won both their freedom and the leadership of the Morlocks. In the battle, the two combatants fought with knives and Callisto, believing that Ororo was a hero and never would kill, thought she had the upper hand. Callisto didn’t and Storm was able to sink her blade deep into the heart of the mutant named Callisto.
Present:
Guido turns to Yukio and tells her that this must now be Callisto’s revenge. Yukio exclaims that she was told by Storm that the two of them had since become close friends. Yukio looks up just in time to see Callisto moving to fight and the Ronin calls screams out, “no,” as loud as her lungs can go. Yukio sees Callisto pull hundreds of blades from hidden pockets all over her outfit and hurl each one of them towards the unknowing Storm. Ororo releases Koga and braces for the few that might get by her defensive maneuvers. Those behind Storm are the unlucky ones as they are sprayed with razor sharp knives, wounding some and killing others. One blade does get by Storm and it slices deep into her left bicep.
Behind Storm, Guido wrestles Yukio to the ground before she can enter he battle in defense of her friend. He tells her that this is a battle Storm will have to face on her own. He also explains that he knows Storm as an extremely smart woman and she must have a plan up her sleeve.
The battle continues and Storm seems to be on the losing side. Callisto’s mutant power makes her an almost unbeatable opponent, as she can predict nearly every move her opponent is making. Quickly, her tentacles grasp Storm’s body and, each time, Callisto sinks a blade into a different area of Ororo’s body. Reading for the coup-de-grace, Callisto is thrown back by a last minute lightning strike. Callisto stands to her feet and tells Storm that she has not lost her touch. Storm tells Callisto that their battle has not ended. Callisto triumphantly stands above Ororo and tells her that it seems she was not paying attention. Storm looks around her and notices the bodies of the dead being carried out and, looking down at her own wound the, wind goddess collapses.
Storm’s thoughts:
Storm remembers a time when she was approached by Xavier and asked to join his new team of mutants so she could help others. Then, shortly after joining the X-Men, how much the price for her sacrifices would be. Later in her life, she decided to leave Xavier and form her own team of X-Men. Tragically, soon afterwards the entire mutant population was struck with the knowledge that an entire nation of their people was obliterated on the island of Genosha. Circumstances soon afterwards also led to Xavier announcement of him being a mutant, which brought the X-Men out in the open. Inside the Arena, Storm stands alongside her mentor, Charles Xavier, and is surprised, as he punches her in the stomach, announcing that no one can be trusted.
Back in reality:
Storm comes to, in the embrace of Callisto’s tentacles, and asks Callisto why she would transform her body just to settle a score with her? Shockingly, Storm realizes that the spirit seems to be out of Callisto, as if she is being mind-controlled by some outside source. Thinking that she must warn someone, her words are interrupted by a tentacle sliding into her larynx. From behind Storm, a voice approaches and Koga, along with the other combatants, turn to see the oncoming person.
From the shadows, a woman’s figure appears and she announces to Storm that she should not spoil the ceremony. She continues on to say that, as for transforming Callisto, it seems her looks are much better now. Stepping out into the light, a Madonna-like woman tells Storm that she was right in one regard: it’s about settling scores both with Callisto and her. In Storm’s mind, she screams the name Masque, as she recognizes her oncoming enemy.
Approaching Storm, Masque asks if she requires a demonstration? Putting her hands to Storm’s face, Masque begins to reshape her appearance into the form of a beaked dinosaur. Ororo falls to the floor in seemingly agonizing pain. Masque turns around and asks if anyone else would like a demonstration of her powers? Masque tells Koga that it would seem that most of his Arena combatants are not even worth keeping, so the others will be sold as slaves. Koga exclaims that their enslavement was not in the deal! Stepping in to shut him up, Paradise (a member of Masque’s entourage) places a hand on Koga’s right shoulder, sending him to his knees. Masque explains that, in the Arena, there are no rules for the Arena that’s Champion loses.
Ororo stands to her feet behind Masque and her entourage and thinks to herself that she may have only a fraction of her strength, but she must give Yukio and the others the chance to escape. Her ruse works and, after a brief confrontation which Storm loses, the smoke clears and the others are gone, save for Masque and her followers. Masque turns to her strongman named Posterboy and demands that he search the Arena to see if he can find the missing combatants. She also tells him to put out the word to others in the Arena Circuit that the Tokyo combatants have rebelled against their code and that makes them all fair game.
Turning her attention to the mayhem-causing Ororo, Masque inform her that it is time she begins the process of becoming broken, just like her friend, Callisto. Masque transforms Storm’s face back to its original appearance and she leans down to kiss Storm on the lips. Suddenly, boils burst all over Ororo’s skin and Masque tells her that it is her inner demons coming forth from her body. All around Storm, black smoke floats from the boils and, tethered to the ends of the smoke, are hundreds of tiny heads. Masque goes on to say that every hour another inner demon will take her place and become host to her body, till the one Masque likes the most is picked.
Suddenly, one of the heads bursts into Ororo’s right shoulder, sinking its teeth into her. Ororo begins to change shape to the appearance of the inner demon she was bitten by. Before even having the time to react, Paradise sinks her psychic claws into the neck of the Ororo-demon. Masque explains that, by the time Paradise is through with her, she will beg Masque to give her more torture. Behind Masque stands Callisto and she is privy to every word that Masque speaks, even the words that haunt her to the bone. Callisto is her pet and Masque gloats about how easy she was broken. Callisto looks up into the Arena and notices a spycam hiding in the corner, sending a signal to an unknown place.
In Lila Cheney’s safe house, Yukio watches on the spycam every action that is taking place back at the Arena. Angered by what she sees, she lashes out at Koga and knocks him to the floor with a well-placed punch. Guido quickly seizes Yukio and asks her to consider the fact that fighting will not help them figure a way to help Storm or themselves. Guido picks Koga off the floor and tells him that he is going to help them find a way to clear all their names. Yukio grabs their attention and tells them that something horrific is taking place back at the Arena.
Back at the Tokyo Arena, Storm is somehow back in her human form and seemingly being beaten violently by the mutant called Purge. Masque tells Storm that her plan is to bring forth every vision that seems glorious and noble, then turn her over to Purge to make her hate those visions. Storm, being tormented by Purge’s whip, questions Masque if she truly wants to see the demons in her soul? Storm’s body transforms into the look of a devil-cat and she pounces on top of Masque’s body. On top of her tormentor, Storm tells Masque that her inner demon hungers for her heart. Luckily for Masque, Paradise is close by and she quickly subdues the ballistic Storm.
Later, in the same Tokyo Arena, the Champion Storm walks out onto the center stage, with a throng of fans cheering her every move. Storm thinks to herself, as the next combatant comes out, that it was not the fact she had lost to Callisto that hurt her so much; it is the fact that the battle was over. Moving through the motions in her fight against her assailant, Storm continues to think about the inner demons inside of her and how alive she feels when they are free. Storm feels her body changing and knows that she is allowing her wild side to come free. Suddenly, her combatant loses her helmet and Storm realizes that it is Yukio underneath all the armor. That does not stop Storm, though, as she chases Yukio across the Arena, trying to knock her down.
In a hover platform, Masque watches from above and narrates to the crowd about how the Storm they all know is nurturing and kind, but this Storm is ruthless, even to the point of murdering her own friend. Storm quickly conjures up a tornado that spins Yukio around. Storm races over, her appearance in the form of the devil-cat once more, and grabs the fallen katanas, placing them to Yuriko’s neck. The crowd cheers for Storm to kill Yukio and, just as it seems she is prepared to do so, Storm drops Yukio to the ground. Storm’s her appearance suddenly changes to normal and she tells the crowd, “No.”
Purge rushes out and punishes Storm for her disobedience and Posterboy quickly removes Yukio from the Arena floor. Masque looks back at Purge, as she runs to Yukio’s side, and tells him that she wants to hear Storm scream. Inside the hidden chamber, Yukio asks Masque why she was going to allow Storm to kill her? Masque calls her a poor bunny and tells her that she knows Storm too well to think she would kill her best friend, yet! Putting her hands to Yukio’s face, she begins to transform Yukio back into Paradise. It seems that Paradise was used as a ploy to test Storm’s reserve. Masque goes on to tell Paradise that it will take a long time to break Storm’s spirit but, eventually, they will, just like they did Callisto’s. Masque walks out onto the Arena floor and hears Storm beg for mercy. However, instead of allowing her the mercy, she tells Purge to begin the torture again. Behind them, in the shadows, Callisto stands and, after hearing all that had transpired, she seems to ponder questions in her mind.


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Storm: the Arena - part 4: Gladiator
In the London Arena, two combatants face off against five champions from other Arena’s around the world. The combatant’s names are Ororo and Callisto, two mutants with enough power to take on an army. To the fans in the stands, these two mutant’s reputation has them as the best of the Arena. They have paid top dollar to see this battle and the two combatants give them more than their money’s worth.
Callisto faces off against a mutant female by the name of Quill, who, with her powers sending razor sharp feathers hurled towards the combatant, it seems to be a good match. Thankfully for Callisto, she has learned every martial art form known to man and can use them with deadly effects. Quickly, Callisto grasps the hundreds of quills in mid-flight and sends them hurling back at their creator. Storm is the next combatant to be attacked, as the mutant by the name Dervish uses his speed attack against her. Storm calls upon the rain to soften the ground beneath Dervish and, while he is busy trying to catch his balance, Storm moves in to knock him out.
While her back is turned, two of the other mutants move in and team-up against the weather witch. Their names are Lariat and Lamprey and, while Lariat holds Ororo down, Lamprey uses his powers to try to suck the life force from Storm’s body. It seems the two Champions have finally won the fight but Storm, in the last minute, calls upon a lightning bolt that sends the Arena’s competitors to the ground, save the two winners, Callisto and Storm. Looking into the stands, Ororo thinks to herself that Masque has made a lot of money off of this bout and the two of them will never see any profit from it.
After the battle, the Arena fans and competitors all go to a mansion under the shadow of Big Ben to celebrate the night’s victories. Storm walks up and down the floor, drinking and laughing with the Arena fans, while Callisto is held against a nearby wall, as she is felt up by many of the fans that were cheering her on earlier.
Behind the door closest to Callisto, a shadowy figure’s eyes glow, as if in laughter at seeing Callisto’s face twist in disgust. The shadowy figure is found to be Masque and she closes the door to turn to the other occupant of the room, Tullamore Voge. Voge sits in a lounge chair with two of his “hounds” under leash below his feet. These two women-hounds are barely clothed with fishnet clothing and humbling themselves at their master’s feet. One of them uses her own body as a footrest for the rotund villain. Voge holds in his hand a hologram of Storm and he asks Masque to allow him to buy her. Masque tells Vogue that her and Callisto have brought her Arena more money than any other competitors and she would be foolish to sell her for one payment. Vogue tells Masque that she has gotten her revenge on Ororo and it is now his turn to gain his revenge. He goes on to say that there is no price too high. With that said, Masque tells him that they will talk about a deal. Smiling from ear to ear, the blue villain says, “splendid.”
Masque goes to the dungeon that Callisto and Storm are kept in. Paradise follows Masque and, using her psychic talons, persuades Storm to agree to anything Masque says. Masque begins to talks and she tells Ororo that the slave-master, Tullamore Voge, was offered both Callisto and Storm to become his slaves, but he would only take Ororo. Masque goes on to say that it must be a powerful grudge that he has against her to be so insistent on only her. She tells Ororo that, soon, she will give her to him and, from then on, she will never be able to taste freedom again. Behind Masque, a small light flashes and a spycam can be seen in the shadows of their cell.
On the other end of the spycam, Koga watches from a laptop computer and sees Masque tell Paradise that she wants the full treatment for Storm tonight. Masque continues to say that she does not want any rebellion in Storm’s heart against Tullamore Voge. Near Koga, a voice is heard asking him if he sees anything he likes from his spycam? Quickly Koga drops the monitor of his laptop down and tells Guido that it is nothing of consequence. With the speed of thought, Guido picks Koga into the air and tells him that he does not want to play him or Yukio as chumps. Guido tells Koga that he was their manager and it is his fault their in the predicament they are in. Behind Guido, Yukio raises the laptop’s monitor to see what Koga was seeing.
Koga tells Guido that they were Gladiators and it is their life to fight for riches one moment and lose it all the next and every Gladiator knows that. He goes on to say that it is his job to sign matches that will give his Arena the best awards. Its just this time he was suckered like an amateur by Masque. Guido’s features tense and he asks Yukio if he can finally kill the little weasel. The other seven members of the Tokyo Arena walk up to Guido and Koga. Koga tells the others that they all knew the consequences of joining the Arena and they all voluntarily gave up their freedom. He goes on to say that they could stay in Guido’s extra-dimensional house forever, but they could never go home again.
Yukio asks Koga if he has a good idea. He tells them that he is the brain, while they are the brawn. He tells them that Callisto was used by Masque, which makes her challenge invalid and, if they can defeat Masque, the other Arena’s would recognize them once again into the fold. Yukio asks Guido to let Koga go and then asks if he has a plan to get by Masque’s defenses? He answers her question with a smile; absolutely!
In the dungeon of a mansion in London, Callisto tries to get the attention of Ororo. Callisto calls out, but does not receive an answer. Callisto calls Ororo a cow and tells her that she never thought she would have been broken so easily, except for maybe by her. Sweat drips from Callisto’s face, as she tries with all her might to remove the shackles from around her body. Sadly, Masque has thought of this ploy and she placed inhibitor shackles around their arms, which makes their powers useless while they are adorned. Finally giving up, Callisto closes her eyes and tells herself that Masque has defeated her as well. Suddenly, a small rock strikes Callisto’s forehead and, with an “ouch,” she looks up to see the rock floating in front of Ororo’s legs. The rock suddenly moves through the air, striking the spycam nearby, and Storm thinks to herself that she might have allies watching them but, just in case it’s Masque, she cannot tip her hand just yet. She begins to think, as she raises her head and smiles at Callisto, that if they are going to win their freedom they will have to play as dirty as their captors.
Days later, in Hong Kong, the two women fight more combatants, as it seems that Masque is taking them on a farewell tour together before Storm is shipped off to Tullamore Voge. In the midst of the Arena, Callisto is spread-eagle over a fire-breathing mutant, while Storm holds back four attackers with her lightning attacks. Even with all of this commotion, the two allies converse on how Storm was able to stay sane, even after all of the manipulation by Paradise and Purge. Elsewhere in the Arena, Masque becomes irate when she realizes that her two prize possessions do not have live microphones implanted on them in the Arena. Posterboy tells her that Storm puts off too much interference to allow them any vocals from their equipment.
In a dungeon later that night, Storm holds a bit in her mouth, as Paradise administers more “lessons” to her. Thinking to herself of ways to stay sane, Storm shrinks into herself and allows the wild creature inside to take control.
In Rio De Janeiro, in Riyadh and, finally, in Las Vegas, the Arena battles continue. In each fight, the two mutants discuss a new thought. This thought is one in which every mutant in the world’s Arena’s can be given the chance to join in a secret army that may even one day surpass that of the X-Men themselves.
Inside her bedroom, Masque looks over two pictures of different celebrities that she may want to change her appearance to next. Paradise, Posterboy and Purge enter the room and tell Masque that it seems there is no need for them to continue on with punishing Storm and Callisto, because their spirits have finally been crushed. Masque tells them that it is good news and demands Posterboy to contact Voge and tell him that his package will be shipped soon.
The conversation between Posterboy and Masque, becomes interrupted, as Koga sticks his head around he door and asks if he is interrupting anything. Masque quickly stands to her feet and commands her entourage to kill him. Crying, “wait,” Koga begins to back off as the door fully open, revealing the entire Tokyo Arena combatants, including Yukio. Koga tells Masque that he has brought the talent back to her as a gift, plus the hideout that they were all staying at. Suddenly, a translucent door appears in front of Masque and Koga, allowing Masque to step into the gateway. Inside the room, its sentient host greets Masque and tells her that, all it is, is hers.
Masque turns to Posterboy and Paradise and tells them to bring both Callisto and Storm to her side. She tells the others that she cannot be sure that their plea is true until they seal the deal with blood! Storm and Callisto have now arrived and Masque asks if Yukio is her friend? Storm agrees with Masque’s assumption. Masque shockingly tells Ororo that, if she is truly under her command, she will kill Yukio. One of Masque’s entourage holds Yukio down and, with a clean swipe of her razor blade, Storm slices the throat of her friend. Storm stands triumphantly over her quarry, as the others stare at Yukio in fear. Masque kisses Ororo on the head and throws her towards Paradise, telling her to ship Storm to Voge. Leaving the room, Masque tells Posterboy and Purge to take care of the other combatants, so they can be conditioned for the next fights.
After Masque and Paradise leave the room with both Callisto and Strom in tow, Posterboy begins to check out the dead body of Yukio. Shockingly, Yukio awakes and kicks Posterboy off of her, sending him into the arms of Purge. Everyone stares in disbelief of Yukio’s resurrection, as she gleefully announces that Storm is the greatest woman alive. She explains that Storm cut the vein on her throat that would be the messiest, yet leave no lasting harm. Guido checks Yukio’s wounds and Yukio tells them its time to rock-n-roll.
Outside in the hallway, Paradise is taken by surprise, when Storm turns on her and knocks her out cold. Masque, feeling betrayed, runs down the hallway, awakening the mutants from their dorms. She screams to the eleven members that arise that whomever is able to bring her Storm’s head will get to become Champion of the Arena of their choice. Callisto stands at the other end and asks if she can join the other side and help Storm? Masque screams for a group of mutants to attack her and tells Callisto to prepare to die. Every mutant in that hallway realizes that Masque is a liar but they’re so scared of her that they would go against their better judgment and fight two combatants that have already defeated them once before.
Storm and Callisto realize that the mutants are fighting scared, but no measure is held back, as Storm and Callisto easily defeat their opponents. Masque runs towards Storm, thinking that, if she can only touch Ororo, she can deform her for life. Storm has different ideas, as she uses her powers over the wind to send Masque skewered on a nearby door. The glass shards hold the villain into the air, as she screams for them to release her. She tells them that, if they would only let her go, she would make them richer than their wildest dreams. Callisto tells Masque that they are Champions, which makes them rich. Masque then decides to persuade Callisto to let her go in exchange for her arms back, but it still does no good. Silently, Callisto picks up a nearby glass shard and holds it close to Masque’s face. She tells Masque that she likes her new appendages, but she may need a little work. In the Las Vegas Plaza, a scream of, “NO,” can be heard on every floor.
Back in Tokyo, where it all began, the mutants of the Tokyo Arena eat at a large table, as they watch a blonde-haired woman dance on the table before them. Above them on a balcony, Yukio, Storm and Callisto watch the festivities below. Yukio tells the others that she wishes she could have been there to see Masque squirm. Callisto explains that it was Storm’s idea to put Masque in the box shipped to Voge, but she wishes they had killed her. Storm tells Callisto that killing will not be tolerated, not now, hopefully not ever. Thinking to herself, Storm is not so sure of herself when it comes to that. She remembers how it felt to let her wild side free and she worries if she could stop if it ever got free again.
Callisto interrupts Ororo’s thoughts and she asks her if she will return to the Arena? Storm exclaims that she is an X-Man and will always be. Callisto warns Ororo that she has sworn her life to the Arena and now she can never go back. Ororo explains that she has different views about the Arena. She says that they can start using the Arena to train mutants to help humanity and not just entertain. Callisto thinks for a moment and tells Ororo that she has seen her people murdered before her eyes and she will not see it again. If Storm will have her, she will do whatever Storm needs.
Inside a Jacuzzi, the three women are stripped totally naked and each one of them is enjoying a red wine. Storm tells the others that she finds it odd that she came out to Tokyo as a favor to a friend and has found a way to build a secret army. Callisto jokes that it must be the Xavier in her that sees a group of mutants and wants to form them into X-Men. Ororo tells them that she pictures a world where humanity and mutants live side by side, where women with tentacles can be considered human like everyone else. Callisto tells Ororo that her views are impossible. Ororo counters with the fact that the two of them are mutants, which proves that anything is possible.


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Prisoner of Fire - part 1: Ambush
The two lovers, Gambit and Rogue, walk down the beach near their house holding hands and lovingly teasing one another with their eyes. Silently, they walk hand in hand until their emotions take control and the two soul mates embrace one another and passionately kiss. In the water, their reflection is shown, as if their lives could not get any better than this one moment in time. Rogue whispers a song to Gambit and sings part of the chorus to Wild Thing. Rogue asks Remy if the two of them can stay in their embrace forever? Remy answers that he would love to, but he is sure the fates will not allow it.
Just then, as if planned, Bishop runs right by them, in nothing but his shorts and a pair of sneakers. Rogue growls a menacing noise and asks why Bishop has to run on this beach, of all the ones in the world. Gambit answers that it seems Bishop is on a mission and did not even see them. Rogue tells Remy that Bishop is just like Sage, he sees and knows everything about his surroundings. Rogue grasps Remy’s hands and places them on her butt, as Remy tells her that he lives his life and they are going to love theirs. Off in the distance, Remy spots an ally waving to them, trying to draw their attention. Remy asks Rogue if she would like to invite themselves to a clambake and Rogue seems to become excited at the prospect. She raises her arms high in the sky to cheer the suggestion and tells Remy that she has never been to a clambake before.
At Rogue’s beach house, Evangeline Whedon screams out in disgust about lawyers. Marie, who is sitting near her, asks Evangeline if she hates herself since she is a lawyer also. Evangeline holds her head, as she stands above boxes of papers spread throughout the living room, and tells Marie to not start patronizing her. She tells Marie that they know there is someone behind Jarod Malloy, but every avenue they take in trying to find the perpetrator they end up at another dead end. Kicking a nearby box, she exclaims that Malloy will not spill the beans on who was controlling him. Marie asks what they are going to do now? Whedon tells her that they are going to quit for the night so she can stretch her wings outside. Whedon tells Marie that, since it is getting darker, the beach goers probably will not see a flying dragon along the water line.
Marie asks Whedon why she hired her even after her recent attack on the mutants of Valle Soleada. She tells Marie that she is on probation and she needs to be supervised by a court appointed employee and that would be her. She also says that she needs an assistant, but the real question is why Marie said yes? Marie tells her that she is not sure, but it seemed like the right thing at the time. Evangeline explains that, when her office found out that she was a mutant, she was fired on the spot. The next day, she was evicted from her apartment and her fiancé broke off the engagement through e-mail. She goes on to say that her folks disowned her, because their only child had become a “monster.” Evangeline tells Marie that she knows what it is like to lose everything she ever valued. She also knows that she has the power at her disposal to go “Godzilla” on the world, but she chooses to build and not to destroy. Placing her hand onto Marie’s shoulder, she tells her that she wants the same chance for her.
Minutes later, Marie walks into Sage’s room and she tells her that Vange thought Sage would want some coffee. Sage sits on a nearby couch and works through her tech-glasses on searching for any hint about the identity of the person pulling Jarod Malloy’s strings. Marie sits down on the couch opposite to Sage and tries to apologize for her murder attempt days earlier. Sage tells her that her apology is not needed and it was not just she whom she tried to kill, but about seventy others as well. Marie asks Sage not to remind her of the mistakes she made. Marie tells Sage that Vange mentioned they all were at a dead end, when it came to finding the person pulling the strings of Jarod Malloy.
Sage sips a shot of wine from her glass and tells Marie that they have hit a dead end for the moment. Marie tells Sage that she thought she knew everything. Sage explains that most people would call her a cyberpath, which means she can process information faster than any known computer and retain said information forever. She goes on to say that, thanks to today’s technology, she can access any network on the planet, but even that has its limitations, as all documents haven’t been saved digitally yet. She stands to her feet and looks at Jarod Malloy’s picture. She explains that, in Malloy, they have their scapegoat, but not any of the answers on why Valle Soleada is so important to this unknown villain. She asks if it was coincidence that more mutants have been moving to Valle Soleada, because relationships between baseline humans and mutants around here have been good for years. She wonders aloud about who may profit from the turmoil that has been caused? Looking at another set of pictures, she traces the history of the X-Corp building in Los Angeles back to 1921, when there was another majestic building built on the property.
Sage, for some unknown reason, decides to check in on the Xavier Institute and is horrified by what she finds. The gates of the Institute are ripped apart and graffiti stains the walls surrounding the building. Most shocking of all, Charles Xavier, Emma Frost, Scott Summers, Jean Grey-Summers, Beast and Wolverine are nowhere to be found. Immediately changing direction, Sage requests Storm’s attention via their communication links in their high tech glasses. Storm appears in Sage’s mind in a yellow blouse and gray running shorts. Sage tells Storm that it would seem they have more than just Bogan to deal with.
Later that night, Sam lies on Lila’s lap, as she plays her guitar. The two lovers are not alone on the Valle Soleada Beach, because Remy and Rogue have joined them in their clambake. Remy and Rogue dance to Lila’s tunes and Sam questions if anyone thought they would have seen the day when Remy and Rogue could touch? Remy jokes that it only took a person named Vargas skewering the two of them together for their opportunity to be together to happen. Rogue leans on Remy’s shoulder and tells him that it also took her dragging him from the Gates of Heaven. Dipping his lover in their dance, Remy tells the others that it seems Rogue made a better offer.
Sam lays bare-chested on Lila’s lap and talks to the others about the recent events with Lorna, Alex and their wedding. He mentions that they were once in love. Rogue teasingly dips Gambit in their dance, tells Sam that they were in love once upon a time and asks what is the mountain boy’s point is. Lila tells Rogue to not mind Sam’s ramblings so much; they are due to country music messing with his mind. Rogue gets nearer to the fire to grab her glass of wine and asks what Sam means, because she can tell it has nothing to do with Lorna or Alex. Sam tells Rogue that it is about her sister wanting to be with Warren Worthington. Rogue tells Sam that Paige is nineteen and should be able to make her own decisions.
Sam then changes the subject to Paige’s clothing and his bewilderment on why Xavier would allow her to wear such a scandalizing outfit? Rogue spits the wine from her mouth and tells him that right now his Momma and Poppa would be so proud of him. Lila grasps her legs around Sam’s waist and tells him that Paige never even gave Xavier a chance to deny her choice in clothing. Rogue laughs at Lila’s maneuvering to capture Sam. Rogue laughs so hard, tears form on her eyes, and Gambit tells Sam that everyone hopes they’ll get lucky and find the right one, even little sisters hope for the same.
Suddenly, their fire begins to rise as a wind gust comes up. Sam warns the others to shield their eyes and Gambit recognizes the visitors as Evangeline, in her Dragon form, with Magma and Sunspot. The two ex-new mutants get off the back of Vange and ask if they have come to late for the clambake? Behind them, Vange transforms back into human form and Rogue offers her the skirt she was wearing to hide Vange’s now naked body. Rogue asks why Vange is there and Sam tells her that it was his doing. He goes on to say that, as of late, the X-Men have become splintered and it was his idea to bring them together tonight. Amara asks why Sage is not there and Vange explains that she refused to come, due to some other private business. Rogue then asks why Bishop is not there and Sam explains that he was invited, but told them that he would show up later.
Bishop runs down the beach and thinks to himself about the different ways, if he was ever forced to, he could stop or kill the X-Men. First, he thinks that the Master of Magnetism would be useless with a broken neck. He then considers that a high-powered plasma blast to the chest could incapacitate the mutant named Cable. Killing Storm, he thinks, would give him the power to control lightning, which would make the capture of Jean Grey easy, as well as a lightning strike would kill even Wolverine.
Suddenly, lights flash across the sky, blinding Bishop momentarily. Suddenly, Bishop hears a whirling sound as Manacle appears from nowhere to attack him. While occupied with Manacle, Bishop is not ready for the Jeep that bounds nearby and knocks him into the ocean. Coming up from the water, he recognizes another attacker by the name of Rolling Thunder. He thinks to himself that he knew her as an adult and he feels unlucky to be the one that she began her career against. As Bishop stands amidst the waters of the ocean, he is attacked by two more villains that wield giant maces, their names are Cudgel and Bludgeon. Knocking him into the waters with their giant maces, the two behemoths work as one to knock Bishop into the awaiting Manacles of their ally.
With Bishop wrapped in his chains, their leader, Revenant, walks onto the beach and placing a boot upon the X-Man’s head. She tells him that he is hers now. Bishop looks up with an evil grin and tells her that he would have it no other way. Bishop uses all the energy he gained from Rolling Thunder’s plasma blasts to break free of his prison and makes easy work of the fleeing thugs. Blowing the smoke from his fingers, in a pistol-like way, he prepares to put his high tech glasses to his face and call the other X-Men. A voice from behind him tells him that she thinks not. Suddenly, black fingers phase through Bishop’s head turning him into a drooling vegetable.
Elias Bogan in the unknown telepath’s body asks Bishop what good are pawns for, except to take out a bishop? Grabbing the tech-glasses from Bishop’s hands, the telepath places them on her face and tells the unconscious Bishop that she can’t have his teammates worrying about him. Standing to her feet, she points towards the Bishop, lying on the ground, and she tells him that, once he embraces “hellfire,” he can never escape.


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Prisoner of Fire - part 2: Past Lies
Inside a dungeon, Bishop hangs upside down, tethered to the wall by barbed chains. These chains have been wrapped around his body by one of his captor’s thugs, named Manacle. Manacle peers through the opening of the dungeons door and watches his master taunt their prey. Whoever the shadowed figure is, she is being controlled by Elias Bogan.
Bogan has been a thorn in the X-Treme team’s side for quite some time now. Bogan stands above Bishop and gloats about his recent promise of making Lucas his pet. Holding Bishop’s nose, he pours a green fluid down his throat known as Rave. Instantly, Bishop’s eyes feel with rage and he breaks free of the manacles holding him prisoner. Dropping to the ground, Bishop watches as the debris from the chains burst with so much power they puncture through the twelve-inch cinderblocks that make up his prison. Gleefully, Bogan claps as Bishop continues on with his display.
Outside the cell, Manacle tries to shield his privates against the stray debris and breathes a sigh of relief when he finds that they have come to no harm. Just then Rolling Thunder enters the cell and plasma blasts from her hands immediately follow, trying to deter Bishop’s rampage. Knocked back for a few seconds, Lucas easily absorbs the blasts and sends them ten-fold back at Rolling Thunder. Luckily for her, Manacle has the presence of mind to grab her and cover her with his body before the wall that stands between them and Bishop is toppled on the two of them by Lucas’ furious discharges of energy. Next Bludgeon and Cudgel decide to attack Lucas. Each one enters the cell but Bishop easily takes care of the two of them with just one blow, sending the two of them literally plastered to the walls. Turning his attention to Elias Bogan, he runs after him with his full force, intending to tackle him to the ground. His plan doesn’t work and, as Elias looks after his fingernails, Bishop sails through his intangible body with disastrous results. Convulsing in pain, Bishop falls to the ground, mindless.
Holding in his hands the brain of Bishop, Elias kisses the top of it and comments on how sophisticated Lucas’ brain actually is. Elias watches, as six different astral projections float from Bishop’s mind, all in succession of age. The top astral form is the youngest, while the one half-hidden in Lucas’ mind is the head of his present age. Bogan comments to himself how Lucas’ mind is chalk full of defenses, but the Rave has destroyed them all. He goes on to say that, if he takes Bishop back to his childhood when those defenses were not put up, it will be easy child’s play turning him into another one of his pets. Lucas’ eyes roll from the back of his head and straighten, as Bogan begins to remove the defenses till drool is predominate on the X-Man’s face and his eyes are replaced with the look of confusion.
Meanwhile, on the sands of the beach in Valle Soleada, California, the two lovers, Anna and Remy, search for their missing friend. Remy complains to Anna that, if the two of them walk any further, they may wind up in Malibu before their search for Lucas is over. She tells him that she is positive Lucas came this way. Nearing a pool of water in the sand, she sees what looks to be a place where a skirmish recently took place. Leaping into the air and somersaulting to the ground, she tells Remy that the first contact was here. She tromps to the beach shore once more and quickly kicks the air. She tells Remy that the tides have washed the evidence away, but it is safe to assume he fought his way back to dry land. Remy sneaks up behind Rogue and, placing two fingers to Anna’s head, pretending them to be a gun, he tells her that the battle then ends and bang Rogue your dead.
Gambit walks over to a nearby gash in the sand and asks Anna if she can tell all this information just by the impressions in the sand. She tells him that she is just doing like she was taught by him and she leans towards the ground and points towards the spot she believes Lucas to have fallen. Remy tells her that there are no other footprints, but those of the thugs that dragged him away, which tells them nothing about the character that finished off their friend. Rogue looks into the distance and asks Remy if Lucas could have been taken by surprise? Remy looks up and tells Anna that anything might be possible. Putting both her fist to her sides, she announces that it seems Bishop deliberately moved the fight to the beach to tell the X-Men what happened. The two X-Men rise and begin to walk back to their beach house, as Rogue curses Bishop for trying to protect them and intentionally making himself a target.
In Anna’s house, Sage sits with her visors on, pondering about the amount of telepaths on Earth. She also is having a conversation with Storm, who is still in Tokyo, about the reports of Xavier and the other X-Men becoming missing. Ororo stands in a half-blouse and sweats, she tells Sage to keep monitoring the situation in New York and be sure to immediately inform her if their assistance might be needed. Sage sits back in her astronomy-themed sofa and asks Storm how things are going in Tokyo.
In Tokyo, Yukio is cleaning up debris from her recent battle with Guido, as Storm talks to Sage via their link with their glasses. Storm tells Sage that she will keep her posted, but she wants to know more about Elias Bogan. Sage then displays holograms for Storm, describing their recent battle with Elias inside the X-Men’s own Danger Room. She goes on to show different events; she shows how Emma Frost used Cerebra to create a scenario inside the Danger Room and a mysterious shadowed female was able to sneak in behind her and change the scenario without alerting anyone of her presence. Storm questions Sage about her knowledge of a suspect but, before Sage can answer, their com-link is aborted and Storm screams after her friends shocking disappearance.
In front of Sage stands an irate Rogue, as she holds Sage’s glasses in her hands and demands an explanation about her and Bishops covert plans. Instinctively, Sage reacts before thinking and knocks Rogue to the floor, while grabbing for her hidden gun. Pulling the pistol from her blouse, she is only stopped from making the killing shot by the arrival of Remy. Remy quickly jumps towards Sage and she counters his attack with ease. Tables are knocked over and wine is spilt during the chaos, as bodies tumble over one another each one of the lovers realize that Sage’s ferocity may even match that of their teammate, Wolverine’s. Sage hits Rogue in the nose and the blood immediately ensues. The two women grapple for seconds more, with Rogue finally gaining the upper hand by stealing Sage’s hidden dagger from her body and placing it to her neck. Instantly, Remy moves into position with Sage’s dropped pistol in tow. Placing the pistol to her head, Remy tells Sage to calm down before she does something all of them will regret.
Minutes later, Sam arrives with Amara holding tightly to his neck. Sam tells Amara about his appreciation for her coming with him. She tells him that they are all X-Men and, if she is needed, she will be there. Coming into the Anna’s house, she holds her hand to her mouth in astonishment and tells Sam that it seems they have come too late. Gambit stands between a peeved Rogue and a stoic looking Sage. Anna tells Remy that it isn’t fair; she explains that the team counts on Sage to hold them together emotionally and she shouldn’t be allowed to trash her house. Remy explains to Sam that Sage and Bishop created a plan, in secret, that would allow Lucas to get captured and lead the rest of them to Bogan. Sam goes over and sits next to Sage, scratching his head he tells the others that the plan seems to make sense. In astonishment the others turn to look at Sam; minus Sage, the others in unison question Sam’s thinking.
Sam grabs a dustpan and pail and follows Rogue to their kitchen. As he cleans up the mess on the floor, he tells Anna that she must think of their plan not as a friend, but like a boss. He goes on to say that Bishop knew they couldn’t trust X-Corp L.A. Due to their ties with him in the past, he also knows about Elias’ pet telepath and their use of the drug Rave in controlling their pawns. Sam goes on to say that Elias is a voyeur and doesn’t like to soil his own hands, so he likes to use those pawns to do his dirty work. Sam puts a finger to his lips, as if pondering for a moment, and then tells the others that Elias cannot use them, so his next move will be to try and eliminate them. The others pile into the room and sit at the kitchen table as they continue to listen to Sam’s words.
Remy hands them all drinks and Sam sits at the table along side of his friends. Sam tells the others that, if Bishop is now being used as a pawn, Bogan will use him as the point man against them. Remy offers Anna a drink, as Sam still continues on with his evaluation of Bishop’s plan. He tells them that he proposes they split their forces, with half of them keeping Bishop busy and the other half attacking Bogan’s pet telepath. Amara stands to her feet and walks over to the trashcan that everyone was placing the broken debris from Anna and Sage’s earlier tussle; she sets it on fire to reduce the trash. Sam ends with saying that, if they can take the telepath out, Bishop will be saved and the good guys will win. Jarring from her trance, Sage finally utters her words; she announces that Sam’s proposal is “fascinating.”
Just then, Ororo’s hologram appears before them, demanding that Sage tell her if she is okay. Sage places her glasses on and tells Storm that there was only a small confusion, but everything was fixed and they are all right now. Sam leans over to Sage and asks why they can all see the hologram of Ororo? She informs Sam that her glasses are able to project holograms. Sam explains to Ororo that they have some trouble. Storm crosses her arms and tells Sam that she understands they are having troubles, but she believes they can handle it without her. Sam glares and Sage and tells Storm that, while he appreciates her confidence in them, it would be better if they all were on the same page. Sage places her hands down on the kitchen table and tells the others that, if she wills herself to, she can totally block her mind from the influence of a telepath, but it totally removes her psionic abilities while she hasher defenses up. She goes on to say that it is a small price to pay for her freedom, because Bogan is the cause of her troubles these days.
Sam leans on the table, as Storm’s hologram tries to comfort Sage nearby. He tells her that he knows that it will pain her to do so, but her teammates need to know what her connection is with Elias Bogan. Holograms flash before everyone’s eyes, as she explains each one in detail. She tells them that, before Emma and she had joined the X-Men, the two of them played a role in the Hellfire Club’s Inner Circle. She tells them that a man named Oliver Ryland, at that time, was the pet of Elias Bogan. She says that Shaw challenged Bogan to a poker game where, if Shaw won, he gained Elias’ fortune but, if Ryland won, Elias would gain the possession of Emma Frost. Bogan had never lost and that was the only reason he chose to accept the wager, but he didn’t count on Sebastian’s servant, Tessa, to be Shaw’s hidden upper hand. Thanks to Sage, Bogan lost. For years, Bogan waited to exact his revenge and one day he kidnapped Tessa and took her to his hidden hideaway. He tried to ransom Sage to Shaw by asking for his entire wealth for her return, Sebastian declined. One person did not fail Sage and that was Storm. While Elias began to torture Sage for her master’s refusal, Ororo flew in and stole Tessa away from Bogan and his gang. Ororo comforts Sage, as she finishes by saying that there is evil in the world and she bares its mark, evil’s name is Elias Bogan.
Later that night, Sam walks out onto the patio where Sage sits going over news events, trying to uncover the many mysteries that haunt her mind. Sam holds onto Amara’s shoulders and allows her to explain to Sage that, with her ability over the land, she also can trace fault lines, so, if there is a hidden passageway underneath the X-Corp branch in L.A., she can find it. Sam turns to the others and tells them that they need to get to work, because their time is short.
Sam and the others go back into the house. Ororo’s voice can be heard, as she comments on how Sam is a fine piece of work. Sage exclaims to Ororo that she thought she had hung up a long time ago. Ororo appears in holographic form to Sage and tells her that she just wanted to make sure she was all right. Sage tells Ororo that she is as fine as Ororo is. Storm tells Sage that she knows what is troubling her. Holograms fill the air of Jean Grey in all her incarnations; the Black Queen and the Phoenix. She tells Sage that she wonders what would have happened if Sage had been able to save Jean from being manipulated by Mastermind, turning her into the Dark Phoenix? Sage tells Ororo that the past is done, but Ororo tells her that she is haunted by her own past every night. Sage tells Ororo that she should have found a way to save Jean and she is still trying, because the dead can be avenged. Sage places her hand onto the hologram of the Phoenix’s face and tells Ororo that the best way to make amends is by banishing the hauntings; the way you do that is by fighting with all your strength to save the living.
Elsewhere, in a room hidden from everyone, save the puppets of Elias Bogan, Manacle, Cudgel, Bludgeon, Rolling Thunder and Revenant watch as the pet-telepath gropes the body of Lucas Bishop. Behind Bishop, who is armed to the teeth with guns of every array, hovers the red eyes of Elias Bogan, as he announces that Bishop is ready to kill the X-Men.


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Prisoner of Fire - part 3: Eyes of Fire
In Anna Raven’s house, on the shores of Valle Soleada, a team of X-Men prepares for one of the toughest battles they have ever fought. Inside the house, the team dawns their uniforms made from unstable molecules. They think to themselves about how the uniforms they wear not only separate them from normal people but also provides them a layer of protection and gives them a way to focus on the battle ahead. In front of one window, Sam Guthrie puts on a jacket over his bare upper torso, while, in another, Rogue does just the same with the jacket she has. Gambit approaches the same window that Rogue is next to and peers out, to announce the arrival of their other allies.
Coming in the front door are Magma, Sunspot and Skids, who are all three there to help in the upcoming battle. As they walk in, Roberto and Amara embrace their friend, Sam. Skids notices the presence of Marie D’Ancanto and announces to the others that she is the anti-mutant terrorist that has been on the news of late. Evangeline stands quickly to her feet and, wrapping her arm around Marie’s shoulder, tells Skids that she is on probation and, furthermore, she is now working for her. Rogue introduces Vange to her friends as the team’s lawyer and the others should not condemn the X-Treme team for taking in strays, because they have all been strays in their own way. The team gathers in the living room with Cannonball in the center of them. He tells them that they do not have time, so they must work fast and make no mistakes. Sam continues on, as the others sit and listen; he tells them about Elias and the fact that he is probably using Bishop as his point man. This means, he continues, that he has been probably drugged with Rave, which will make him easier to control by Bogan. Magma tells Sam that he seems to be making a lot of assumptions. Sam tells her that he makes those assumptions, because he knows, if the roles were reversed, he would be doing the same thing.
Sage interrupts Sam by saying that his assumptions of Bogan’s plan are both sound and tactical, but she wonders what his plans are to defeat both Bogan and Bishop. Sam tells Sage that Bishop is probably the one mutant close enough to them that could probably defeat all of them single-handedly. Vange places her hand on his shoulder and tells Sam that Bishop is only one man. Sam turns his attention to Vange and he tells her that Lucas knows both their strengths and their weaknesses, he has been trained most of his life to battle mutants. Placing his hand to his chin, he tells the others that Bishop is not the key, though, because the telepath is and, once they can remove her from the playing field, all the other pets of Bogan will fall much easier.
Sam goes over to Amara and Sage and tells them that they, along with the other “gals,” will get the job of going after the telepath. He tells them that Amara’s job is to find their hidden lair and then it’s up to the entire team to defeat her. Sam points to the others and tells them that it is up to them, along with himself, to keep Bishop busy. Skids places her hands to her face in astonishment and tells the others that she didn’t think they would have to take on someone who considers themselves on par with Magneto himself. Roberto places a hand on her shoulder and asks her if she thought their job was going to be easy? Next, Vange walks up to Sam and tells him that she can help. Sam asks Vange is she knows how to fight. With a dress cut low in the back, where her hidden Dragon tattoo is shown, she tells Sam that she is a mutant Dragon. Sam tells her that she can guarantee that Bishop has already thought of a way to easily defeat her, so he thinks the best place for Marie and her is to be as far away as possible from Bogan’s pets.
Gambit announces, as he sits on a nearby couch next to his lover, that he can take Bishop. Roberto turns around and tells him that he doesn’t even have his powers anymore, which makes him no match for Bishop. Gambit places his hands on his retractable Bo and tells Bobby that he can take him and Bishop won’t even know what hit him. With a smirk and a gesture, Sam looks at Gambit and tells him that’s exactly what he is hoping for.
Still inside the beach house, Anna and Remy spend a few moments alone before the two of them are separated. Embracing one another and stealing a kiss from time to time, the two lovers discuss their feelings about leaving one another. Anna tells Remy that she wishes the two of them could stay there forever and not have to leave one another again and again. Remy explains that the two of them are X-Men and they could choose to stay on the sidelines, but Elias’ evil would still come after them. He goes on to explain that, sometimes, life is about sacrifices and, if they want to be free, then those sacrifices must be made. Anna asks Remy if this is their dream, the house and the kisses before going off to battle? He stops her approaching kiss and lightly kisses her forehead in jest. He tells her that this is what reality is and this is what their struggles are for. Clearing his throat, Sam Guthrie walks in and tells Remy that it is time for them to go. As Gambit begins to walk away, his lover tells Sam that they better take care of her man. As Gambit turns, Rogue slaps his butt as a return jest and finishes by telling Sam that, if he is harmed, the others will answer to her.
Outside the house, Vange undresses for her transformation into her Dragon form. Rogue tells her that, as soon as she drops Magma, Sage and herself off in L.A., she is to take Marie to safety and stay by her side. Vange warns the others to stand back as she transforms. After her transformation, Rogue tells Marie not to be scared and Marie tells Anna that she isn’t scared – much. Rogue tells her, as they all climb on Vange’s back, that she has a friend that has a dragon and she thinks Marie would like the two of them very much. On the ground, Sam tells Bobby, Skids and Gambit that they need to get ready.
On an abandoned U.S. Army Coastal Fort, the X-Men wait for the arrival of their adversaries. Their wait doesn’t last long and Skids is the first of them to be attacked by Bogan’s pets. Her attackers are Cudgel and Bludgeon. Both think they have the upper hand, as they approach the frail looking mutant. They are certainly not rocket scientists and each one is shocked when their blows slip right off the body of their prey. The two mutants are caught off-guard by her powers and their momentum drives one another together. The force of such a great collision sends both their cudgel sticks into the ground, which creates a small hole that Bludgeon easily falls down into.
Skids laughs hysterically at the clumsiness of her attackers, which only angers Cudgel into a rage. He attacks her once again but, before his cudgel can land, it is mysteriously taken away from him. The thief is Sunspot and, using his super-strength, he uses the cudgel to knock their attacker out of the battle area. Suddenly, Rolling Thunder appears from atop a nearby cliff and sends plasma blasts down on her combatants below. Skids warns Roberto to get in front of her body and the two X-Men race off to hide behind a nearby stone wall. Coming from behind the very same wall, the X-Man named Cannonball appears and, using his kinetic shield, he easily deflects Rolling Thunder’s plasma blasts back towards their origin. This causes the ground below the young lady to crack and break and she tumbles to the ground below. Skids, hiding behind the stone wall, yells in excitement that they are three for three and it seems they are going to have an easy victory.
Shockingly, Sam’s team hears the voice of Bishop behind them and Roberto and Skids turn to face their most feared combatant and former ally, Lucas Bishop. He tells them, with eyes glowing red, that it is time for the main event; he also warns them not to get too cocky. Bishop places a gold box on Skids’ chest and tells her that the scariest thing about her power is that it repels friction and, without it, once her body starts to move, there is no way to stop it. Suddenly, Skids begins to spin out of control and she is thrown into a nearby pit, where she bounces from wall to wall. Sunspot tells Bishop that it is his job to protect her. Bishop cocks his head back and laughs. He teases Bobby that he must be the most “caring conscientious employer.” With that said, Bishop jumps from the wall and tells Bobby that they are about to see who can take the best punch.
Thankfully, Sam appears from the shadows behind Bobby and uses his power to throw a kinetic punch and knock Lucas straight through the stone pillar behind himself. Roberto yells to Sam to finish off Bishop, while he tries to stop Skids from spinning out of control. Bobby tells himself that, since he is not invulnerable, if his uniform doesn’t live up to par his plan is really going to hurt. Roberto pulls with all his might to stop his partner’s uncontrollable spinning and, finally, his strength prevails and she stops her motion. Bobby leans over his fallen partner and tries to remove the device that Lucas put on her earlier. Even with Sam’s protest of a trap, Bobby still continues to pry on the device. Suddenly, the device lights up and sucks Roberto’s energy from his body, sending it straight to the unconscious body of Bishop. This knocks Roberto out of the fight but, to the dismay of Cannonball, it also revitalizes Lucas, as he quickly gains his feet and throws combat nanomites into Sam’s face. Bishop explains that, even though this era’s technology is still so primitive, he can still use its resources to create devices that will help him in battle. Sam jets off and Lucas warns him that, if his invulnerability field collapses, the nanomites will do harmful things to his body. Bishop confidently strides forward, as he surveys the battlefield for more prey.
He does not, however, notice a small wooden stick rise between his legs from the side, as he strides down the steps. With a quick movement, Remy moves the Bo upwards and trips the shocked Bishop to the ground. Gambit and Bishop attack one another with neither one gaining the upper hand. Lucas asks Remy if he thinks he is a match against himself? Gambit jumps in front of Bishop, with his playing cards in hand, and asks Lucas if he thinks he is just all sass without the sizzle? With a flick of the wrist, Gambit releases his cards and Bishop braces for the impact. The cards easily bounce of Remy’s mutant adversary and Gambit uses the opportunity to slide underneath Lucas and use his Bo to flip Lucas into the pit atop the unconscious Skids and Roberto. With his landing, he re-triggers the energy-draining device, which effectively knocks Bishop out of the battle.
Gambit apologizes to his still-unconscious teammates, telling Bishop that he is magic. Jumping into the pit near his teammates, Gambit places his fingers in the air and teasingly tells the unconscious Bishop, “Bang big man you…dead?” Suddenly, black shadowy fingers phase through Remy’s head, as a voice is heard form behind him about where his magic is at now. Elias’ pet telepath stands above the fallen heroes and tells them that all that matters in the end is that she wins!
Meanwhile, above the sands of California, Vange flies her teammates to a new destination that Sage has asked her to travel to. Rogue tells Sage that it seems they are not going to their planned destination. Sage explains that she is changing the plan. With an air of frustration, Rogue exclaims that she isn’t surprised. Sage explains. as Vange lands near a rest stop. that Bogan thinks he knows the X-Men inside and out. She goes on to say that Elias figures that he knows their numbers and all their capabilities. Rogue stops Sage’s explanation. as she realizes where Sage is headed. She gasps about how Sage thought to bring in a “ringer.” Suddenly, Katherine Pryde stands before them and Sage exclaims that there is no better person to help them than somebody who can walk through walls and who’s mind is unreadable. Katherine exclaims to the others, “Just when I thought I was out…they pulled me back in!”