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The Search, part 2: Lost & Found
A kiss is all it takes. All the doubt…all the fear…all the insecurity born of lost faith…they all disappear in the caress of a loved one’s lips. It’s at moments like these when hope - adrift on an endless sea of confused emotion - is suddenly found. And the world is wonderful once more. Like right now, here on Muir Island, Scotland, where Brian Braddock a.k.a. Captain Britain, Europe’s finest hero, has returned to the team he co-founded, and the woman whom he loves, and who loves him back - the elemental Meggan. ‘Uh…Meggan, darling? Thrilled as I am to see you after all this time, sweetheart - might we continue our long overdue reunion on terra firma?’ Brian asks as he and Meggan hover high in the air.
Meggan apologizes, remarking that she got carried away, as she is so excited to see him. Meggan tells Brian that, day after day, sunrise after sunrise, she would sit on this very dock, waiting for him to return. ‘It feels like forever since you’ve been gone’ Meggan exclaims. ‘Indeed’ replies Brian, adding that it is certainly a long way down, as he clings to Meggan, who asks him what is wrong and asks him since when he has been afraid of heights. ‘Since I discovered the powers I lost weren’t coming back!’ Brian replies as they land on the dock.
‘They’re not? You mean…never?’ Meggan asks shocked. Brian turns away from her, ‘You sound disappointed. Afraid I’m not the same Captain Britain who once saved your life?’ Brian asks, declaring that he thought that might be a problem, that without his powers, Meggan would find him less attractive, less desirable a husband. ‘Less of a hero…less of a man’. Meggan lets out a small laugh as she wraps her arms around Brian, who asks her if something is funny. ‘Just how silly you’re being’ Meggan replies, telling Brian that, after all these years, he should know that, empowered or powerless, he will always be her hero.
Meanwhile, inside an obscure Operation Zero Tolerance installation, nestled deep within the Peruvian Highlands. A forgotten outpost founded upon the principles of Genocide and genetic prejudice. It is a place where hope - once lost - is rarely ever found. ‘Nightcrawler! Look out!’ shouts Katherine “Kitty” Pryde a.k.a. Shadowcat as her friend and teammate is attacked by a surprising discovery - the man known as Calvin Rankin, who can painfully attest to the lost hope of this facility. Kurt “Nightcrawler” Wagner dodges an optic blast fired from Mimic’s eyes, while Piotr “Colossus” Rasputin and the techno-organic Douglock also take cover. ‘Stay away…you monsters!’ Mimic shouts, declaring that they cannot keep him here anymore, that he will not let them. Excalibur came here in search of their missing mentor, Professor Charles Xavier…yet another casualty to Zero Tolerance’s war against mutant kind. They found the Mimic instead.
Nightcrawler calls out to Mimic, assuring him that they are not the enemy. Douglock remarks that the Prime Sentinels must have messed up Mimic’s mind so bad that he doesn’t know who the real enemy is. ‘Not that it matters to him right now!’ Douglock exclaims, before calling for help, only to slip on a layer of ice that Mimic set down. With some debris still falling though, Douglock calls out to Colossus to warn him. Piotr turns and smashes the falling debris aside with his powerful form, while remarking that saving Douglock from falling debris is becoming something of a habit. ‘Thank you!’ Douglock repeats over and over.
Shadowcat becomes intangible to allow a barrage of ice to pass right through her as Mimic attacks. Kitty tells herself that Mimic has Cyclops’ optic blasts, Marvel Girl’s telekinesis, Beast’s strength and dexterity, Angel’s wings, Iceman’s thermodynamics, and even some of the Professor’s telepathy, and even though he possesses all that power, it is still not enough to free him from the technological prison he is being held in. Kitty feels sorry for Mimic, being prodded and poked for so long, he is more a caged animal than a rational, thinking man. ‘Lucky for him, my natural intangibility comes with a built-in lock pick for all things techno!’.
Kitty shoves her hand into the control system, short circuiting it, while hoping that Mimic doesn’t freak out and tear them apart. Released from his bonds, Mimic rubs his long-chained wrists. ‘Free?’ he asks. Nightcrawler and the others slowly approach Mimic, and Kurt tells Calvin that he is free at last. Kurt reminds Calvin that he was an X-Man once, and assures him that they are not the monsters who hurt him, but friends who are here to help. ‘Do you understand?’ Kurt asks. Mimic looks at them, ‘Friends? X-Men? I think - I think I remember!’ he exclaims.
Kurt smiles, ‘Yes, you do remember. I know you do. You must’ Kurt exclaims, adding that Mimic must remember Charles Xavier, and asks if he saw Professor X here, saw what happened to him. Kurt asks Mimic if he saw where the Prime Sentinels take Xavier. ‘You remember them, don’t you? The Robot people?’ Kurt asks. ‘Robot people?’ Mimic asks. A flash in his memory, he sees a Prime Sentinel attacking him, and exclaims that he remembers, ‘I remember!’ he shouts, unleashing a powerful optic blast in the process.
‘Not a particularly pleasant memory, I assume!’ Kurt exclaims while dodging the blast, while telling his teammates to take cover, as he think he touched a nerve with Mimic. Colossus urges Douglock to look out, but it is too late, as Mimic’s blast smacks right into him. ‘Never mind’ Piotr mumbles. ‘I am so not cut out for this lifestyle! Douglock mutters while rubbing his head.
Back on Muir Island, Meggan, Brian, Dr. Moira MacTaggert and Rahne “Wolfsbane” Sinclair are having a catch up over some tea. Moira exclaims that it has been ages since she has heard from the lads at Darkmoor, and asks Brian if they have taken her picture off their dartboard yet. Brian replies that they haven’t, as Darkmoor is still trying to keep up with her research, to their eternal dismay. Brian adds that the scientists at Darkmoor would likely keel over if they knew that Moira was taking a break from her Legacy Virus research. Brian admits that he is rather surprised himself.
‘Well, they don’t award the Nobel to corpses!’ Moira exclaims, before explaining to Brian that she decided, with some unexpected help from Douglock, that perhaps the time had come to take a sabbatical of her own. ‘To smell the roses, so to speak’. Moira adds that, from the looks of things now, the roses are to be wedding bouquets. Brian just smiles, while Rahne asks when the big day is. Jokingly, Meggan tells Brian to marry her now or lost her forever. Brian smiles, ‘Right. I think I’ve kept you waiting long enough’ he admits. ‘How about next week?’.
‘Next week? But I haven’t anything to wear!’ Meggan exclaims, shocked. Rahne remarks that a week isn’t much time, to which Moira whispers that, when you are in love, it can be an eternity. Moira and Rahne pull Meggan up from the sofa while Moira tells Rahne that she knows just the place to find her gown and her make up, and her shoes…. Rahne exclaims that this is so exciting, just like Cyclops’ and Phoenix’s wedding. Meggan blushes and remarks that she hopes she looks half as beautiful as Jean Grey did, and asks Brian to wish her luck. Brian assures Meggan that when it comes to being beautiful, she does not need any luck, while thinking to himself how good it is to be home.
Meanwhile, elsewhere within Zero Tolerance’s Peruvian stronghold, the five Prime Sentinels trapped here gather themselves, while the female exclaims that they should have destroyed the “Mimic” when they had the chance, for now they are trapped and their only chance at survival depends on whether a bunch of gene joke muties rescues them or not. One of the others replies ‘Not me! I became a Prime Sentinel to exterminate those freaks. No way I’m hanging my life on them!’, before suggesting they kill them all now and let God sort them out later.
He begins to go towards the chamber where Excalibur are dealing with Mimic, until the female tells him to stand down, and unleashes a small blast, stopping him in his tracks, he asks what gives? The woman exclaims that they all made a huge mistake when they sold their souls to that devil Bastion, who baited them with his twisted promises of genetic purity, and they bit - hook, line and sinker. She remarks that is all over with now, and this is the aftermath - the retribution. ‘The judgment upon us all’ she remarks, before telling her companions that whether they like it or now, the mutants are the only chance at salvation they are ever going to get.
Inside the chamber, Nightcrawler teleports rapidly around Mimic, hoping that by teleporting and hitting as fast as possible should keep Mimic off balance before he has a chance to - ‘Stop it! Stay away! You’re making me change!’ Mimic exclaims as he swats Nightcrawler away. Kitty realizes that Nightcrawler was too close too long, and now Mimic has adapted his powers. Kitty thinks it is fortunate that some of them possess other talents that are not genetically bred, and decides that it is time to see how the copycat fares against someone skilled in the deadly ways of the ninja!
However, as Kitty almost hits Mimic, she instead passes through, then, the now blue-skinned Mimic trips her up, and Kitty realizes that Mimic can not only phase, but he knows all about her martial arts techniques too. Nightcrawler tends to the fallen Shadowcat, while remarking that as if fighting the combined powers of the original X-Men wasn’t bad enough, now they have to fight themselves too. Colossus exclaims that he might be able to prevent Mimic from adapting their powers any further, and rushes towards Mimic, thinking that though he is resilient, even he must fall before the force of his organic steel - Colossus realizes his theory was wrong as Mimic smashes Colossus across the chamber and through the next wall.
‘That was some wallop!’ Douglock exclaims as he looks through the large hole and asks Colossus if he is okay, only to be grabbed by Mimic, who clings to the ceiling while throwing Douglock around, exclaiming that he looks like the robot-people so will hurt him, try to shock him like they did. ‘Ow! Not the hair!’ Douglock shouts as Mimic tugs at his techno-organic hair. ‘Did someone declare it “mop the floor with Douglock day” and forget to tell me?’ Douglock asks as Mimic release him and tosses him aside. Nightcrawler tells Douglock to go limp as he catches him, while informing him that he has discovered Mimic’s weakness. ‘Sounds like a plan to me!’ Douglock exclaims as Kurt whispers a plan to him.
In London, ‘I feel fat in this!’ Meggan exclaims as she stands before a mirror in large white wedding dress. The tailor tells Meggan that her figure is rather inconsistent with their available dresses, and that no two sizes seem to fit her the same, that it is like her body keeps changing. Rahne whispers to Moira that the poor tailor sure has his work cut out for him. Moira agrees, remarking that she doubts many empathic metamorphs frequent the bridal department.
The tailor reaches for another dress while thinking to himself ‘Fifteen dresses in over three hours. They don’t pay me enough for this!’, before handing another dress to Meggan and suggesting that this is more to her liking. ‘Fussy bloody cow’ he thinks, while Meggan gets changed behind a curtain, Moira remarks that she knows Meggan wants to look beautiful for Brian. ‘But ye’re almost as indecisive about buying clothes as Kitty!’ Rahne adds.
‘Well, then…how about this?’ Meggan asks, stepping out from behind the curtain. ‘Too prissy. I should know!’ Rahne exclaims. ‘Better?’ Meggan asks, moments later, in yet another dress. ‘Too trampy!’ Rahne exclaims. ‘Waaay too trampy!’ Moira agrees. ‘Oh, I give up! I’ll never find the right dress!’ Meggan sighs as she tries on yet another. Moira smiles: ‘You know the old saying luv’ she begins. ‘”Three hundred and thirty times isthe charm”!’ Rahne exclaims. ‘Very well…then how about this?’ Meggan asks. ‘Perfect!’ everyone exclaims in unison.
Back in Peru, ‘Douglock, what are you doing?’ Colossus exclaims as he sees Douglock with his arms wrapped around Mimic’s neck. Mimic thrashes about wildly, trying to rid himself of Douglock, who replies that it was all Kurt’s idea. Kurt calls out to Colossus, quickly informing him that Douglock has the means to subdue Mimic, but only with his help. Douglock remarks that his techno-organic coils cannot penetrate Mimic’s steel hide, but that a surface pulse might do the trick, but it will take all the power he has got.
Douglock tries to latch onto Mimic, and Colossus grabs Mimic while telling Douglock to make it quick, as Mimic’s strength rivals his own, and cannot contain him much longer. Mimic shouts out in frustration, ‘Here goes everything!’ Douglock exclaims as he and Colossus are thrust from Mimic, who screams as energy courses through Douglock’s coils inundating Mimic with the once force capable of laying him low - electricity! Mimic resists the deluge of pain with the same determination that allowed him to survive the torment meted out by his Zero Tolerance captors. This time, however, all his determination, all his resistance, proves futile.
One of the Prime Sentinels alerts the other to the force field around the complex which they can see through a skylight window dissipating. ‘We’re free! Let’s get out of here!’ The female Prime Sentinel is somewhat surprised. ‘They did it. The mutants really did it. They saved us!’ she exclaims. The five Prime Sentinels take flight, while she thinks to herself, ‘All that hatred. All that fear. All that death and destruction…all along, believing their species to be a threat to humanity’s way of life….never once realizing that deep down inside - whether homo sapiens or homo superior - we’re all the same’ she declares that they were fools. ‘I’m so sorry’ she whispers as they leave the complex.
Kitty motions to the air and alerts Nightcrawler to the escaping Prime Sentinels, she exclaims that they cannot let them get away, but Kurt tells her to leave them be. ‘But after all they’ve done to our friends…our family…to the Professor!’ Kitty protests. Nightcrawler replies that, hard as it may be, they must find it within themselves to forgive the Prime Sentinels for their sins, and pray they never find it within themselves to commit them again.
Nightcrawler then turns his attention back to Mimic, informing him that there is something he must ask, something of dire importance. Kitty reminds Kurt that Mimic has just been through hell, and that it looks as if he is just now reverting back to what passes for his “normal” state, she suggests Kurt give him time to recuperate before he starts on with the third degree, that once they get Mimic back to Muir Island and Moira has had time to address the damage done by Zero Tolerance, then Kurt can start grilling him.
Colossus agrees, ‘One ordeal per day is enough to suffer’ he remarks while helping Mimic to his feet, telling him to take it easy and that it is over. Tired, Mimic thanks everyone. Kurt tells Calvin that there is no need to thank them, before asking him if while he was held prisoner, did anyone make any mention of Professor Xavier. ‘Any mention at all? I must know!’. ‘The Prof? No, nothing. Why?’ Mimic asks. ‘No reason in particular…’ Kurt replies solemnly.
Minutes later, en route across the Atlantic Ocean and bound for Muir Island. Mimic is hooked up to some equipment and Colossus watches over him, while Kitty tells Kurt to look on the bright side, remarking that not only did they help the Prime Sentinels - who are still just people - but they saved Mimic, good things which would not have happened unless he asked them to come to Peru with him. Kitty adds that it may feel like he has let the Professor down by on the front line during the war against Bastion, ‘Which you probably think means you’re less than the leader - less than the hero - he trained you to be…but you were out there fighting for his dream. You just did it on other fronts. With the rest of us!’.
Kitty remarks that they don’t have to be “X-Men” to do that, to which Kurt replies that it sounds like Kitty is trying awfully hard to justify Excalibur’s distance in the current scheme of things. ‘Maybe’. Kitty replies, before asking Kurt if he remembers what Professor X always said. “Once an X-Man…always an X-Man!”. ‘How could I ever forget?’ Kurt asks.
In London, a certain whirlwind shopping spree comes to an end, and Moira tells Meggan that she will knock Brian off his feet when he sees her in that dress. ‘Yeah, I guess’ Meggan replies quietly. Rahne asks Meggan what the matter is, pointing out that she doesn’t seem very excited about getting married. Meggan hangs her head and replies that she is, but that there is something she should probably tell Brian, but she is scared. ‘Something really, really bad!’ Meggan adds. Moira asks if she is referring to the situation with Colossus, to which Meggan asks Moira how she knows about that.
Moira replies that it was not difficult to see the sparks between Meggan and Colossus, though the sparks certainly did seem to be flying off Meggan more than Colossus, Moira admits. Meggan replies that it was just some stupid crush when she was feeling lonely, and that it meant nothing, as she never stopped loving Brian. Meggan asks her friends if they think she should say anything. ‘What do you think?’ Moira asks. ‘Crumbs…’ Meggan mutters, knowing the answer to a hard question.


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Someone
London, down a deserted alleyway which a wooden sign stuck up next to it indicates the alleyway as a “Seekrit Hydeowt”. ‘Tonight’s the night, fellows! Tonight…we strike back for the copious abuses heaped upon us! Tonight…we shall at last have our revenge! REVENGE!’ cries a cloaked figure known as the Executioner to his teammates - the Crazy Gang! Standing around a barrel with fire to keep them warm, newspaper is scattered all around them. ‘Revenge. Yes…well’ begins the Knave of Hearts, before the Jester exclaims that it sounds like smashing good fun, before asking the green cloaked figure who exactly he is.
‘Orf wiv ‘is ‘ead!’ cries the rather round Red Queen, while the imbecile Tweedledope just utters his trademark ‘Hyuk!’. A face semi-obscured by the green cloak grimaces as the Executioner declares that who he is, is insignificant, but that what he wants is all that matters. ‘And what I want - is the DEATH of Captain Britain!’. At that moment, one of the newspapers lying around blows past, with the headline that reads: Scientist and socialite Brian Braddock to marry!
Meanwhile, elsewhere in London at Braddock Manor, home of the aforedoomed Captain Britain. Piotr “Colossus” Rasputin is watching an old black and white film in the small theatre, when suddenly, the pensive Colossus is visited by his long time friend Kurt “Nightcrawler” Wagner, who tells Colossus that he has been looking for him all over the manor. Kurt ads that Brian’s bachelor party is about to begin, and asks Piotr what he is doing in here all by himself.
Colossus replies that he cannot face Brian. ‘Because his bride-to-be had a crush on you while he was away?’ Nightcrawler asks, pointing out that it is not like Colossus and Meggan did anything, ‘Uh, did you?’ he asks quietly. ‘Of course not! I never would!’ Colossus replies, to which Kurt asks what there is to worry about, and tells Piotr to put it out of his mind. Nightcrawler reminds Piotr that this is supposed to be a festive occasion, and that as Brian’s best man, he is honor bound to make sure everyone “parties hearty”.
Kurt suggests Colossus come and live a little for once, and warns him that he will not want to miss the surprise he has cooked up inside Brian’s “cake”. Kurt teleports away just as the film finishes, and Colossus thinks that perhaps Kurt is right, perhaps he is overhanging this, as the wedding is still on for tomorrow. Nevertheless, Colossus doesn’t think that makes it right, as he feels husbands and wives should not hide such secrets from one another. Making his way out of the small theatre, Piotr decides that if Meggan is too frightened of the consequences to speak up, then someone should tell Brian the truth. And that someone, is unfortunately him.
Meanwhile, in her bathroom, the elemental Meggan is wearing a robe and has a towel wrapped around her head to dry her ankle-length tresses. Holding a bar of soap in her hands, she practices a speech to herself in the mirror: ‘Brian, my love - not, that’s plain awful. My dearest Brian - mmm not that either, too corny. Sweetheart…I know this is a peculiar time to mention this, but -’ she is interrupted by Brian, who asks ‘But what, Meggan?’ as he enters the bathroom.
Startled, Meggan drops the soap into the sink full of water, and as she spins around, the towel around her hair unravels. Brian, also just in a robe, leans against the door frame and smiles, while a sheepish Meggan exclaims ‘Oh, um…it’s just…uh…just you, Brian’, before asking Brian if it isn’t bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the…the…her voice trails off. ‘The wedding?’ Brian offers, before going over and putting his arms around Meggan, asking her since when he has been one for silly superstitions, before pointing out that they have been apart long enough, so from now on, the two of them are a team. ‘Nothing will ever come between us again’ Brian declares. Meggan leans into him. ‘Right. Nothing’ she replies with a worried look on her face.
Shortly, Brian and Meggan walk through the sprawling manor, and Brian asks Meggan if something is bothering her, as she seems a bit preoccupied. ‘Just pre-wedding day jitters, I suppose’ Meggan replies. Brian smiles and begins to open a double door as he tells Meggan that this may help her get over them: ‘SURPRISE!’ shout four of Meggan’s friends - Kitty “Shadowcat” Pryde, Rahne “Wolfsbane” Sinclair, Linda McQuillan a.k.a. Captain UK and Dr. Moira MacTaggert. ‘A bridal shower? For me!’ she asks, before getting all snuffly and exclaiming that this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for her.
Kitty, with her pet dragon Lockheed on her shoulder, phases through the door, asking Meggan not to open the presents without her as she would hate to miss anything. Brian turns to Linda and remarks that he doubts Kitty will be missing very much. Linda turns around and snaps ‘Don’t think I can’t recognize that chauvinist tone, Brian Braddock!’ Linda peers at Brian from above her glasses and remarks that her clearly expects them to sit around darning socks like elderly church marms, while he and the other boys “whoop it up” and gawk at scantily clad bimbos. ‘Well, for your information…I didn’t take a leave of absence from my duties as Captain UK of Earth-839 to spend the evening sipping tea and cooing over toasters!’.
‘Look! A toaster!’ Meggan exclaims after opening a present, before Moira asks where Kitty is with that tea. Captain UK just grunts and pushes her glasses back up, before storming away. ‘You were saying…?’ Brian jokes, before turning to Meggan and blowing her a kiss, he informs her that he is off, but will see her bright and early, “Mrs Braddock”. ‘See ya’ a somewhat forlorn Meggan replies. Rahne realizes that Meggan hasn’t told Brian yet, to which Meggan exclaims that she can’t tell Brian as he will call of the wedding and never want to see her again. ‘He’ll absolutely hate me!’.
Linda asks what Meggan has to tell Brian, to which Rahne replies that Meggan had feelings for Colossus. ‘The Russian? Oh, he is cute!’ Linda replies. Meggan hangs her head, asking if she must be the bearer of bad news, and if one of them could tell Brian, as it might hurt him less. Meggan adds that it would mean so much to her. Moira reminds Meggan that she is not a child anymore, but almost a married woman, so it is time she stood up for herself. ‘Amen, sister!’ Captain UK exclaims while playing with the olive from her martini.
Meggan replies that she knows, but that the thought of losing Brian scares her so much. ‘There must be someone who can help me, someone who understands the bind I’m in! Someone…’ just then, Kitty phases back into the room and notices everyone looking at her. ‘I missed something…didn’t I?’.
Meanwhile, ‘To Captain Britain - long may he bear the standard!’ exclaims Kurt, raising his glass to toast his long time teammate. Brian, Colossus, Calvin Rankin a.k.a. the Mimic and the techno-organic Douglock all follow suit. Cigar smoke fills the room, and Douglock repeats Nightcrawler’s quote, though somewhat slurred and with a few hiccups. Colossus remarks that liquor is nothing to be trifled with and suggests to Douglock that he has had enough. ‘Who - hic! - me? Naaaaaa’ Douglock replies.
Douglock pours himself another glass of vodka and explains, still very slurred, that is alien physiology is resilient enough to handle this terrestrial drink, and adds that vodka is the vilest substance he has ever ingested, ‘But I am strangle compelled to consume - more?’ suddenly, Douglock falls forward and smacks his head down on the coffee table. ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you!’ Colossus exclaims. ‘Is it dead?’ asks Mimic. ‘Nein, but he’s going to wake up with a nasty hard drive hang-over!’ Kurt replies. Mimic picks Douglock up and asks if there is anywhere in particular he should put him. ‘Third door to the left, Mimic, he can sleep it off in my old room’ Brian replies.
Shortly, Mimic has put Douglock down on the bed in Brian’s old room, and with his cigar hanging out of his mouth, begins to look at all the photographs and newspaper clippings framed in the room. Mimic thinks that Brian is a smart fella, and that perhaps Brian can help him be normal some day, though he knows Brian has no reason to. ‘Why, I’m as much an alien as that thing passed out on the bed. Alone. Always alone’. Calvin picks up a photograph of the original Excalibur - Captain Britain, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat and the long absent Rachel Summers - and thinks to himself that it must be nice having friends and family, recalling that he sorta had that once with the X-Men, but that he was too wild back then and couldn’t keep it together enough to be a team player. ‘I wonder if those kids realize just how lucky they are to have each other…cuz I sure do’.
Meanwhile, just outside, Tweedledope chases after his hat which is blown along the ground by the wind, while the Knave of Heart’s asks the green-cloaked mystery to tell them who he is. ’If you’re to be our proper leader, we have a right to know!’, but the new Executioner replies that it is a surprise, and one long overdue that these costumed buffoons will not soon forget.  Now be quiet before you betray our presence here!’ The Jester whispers to the Knave of Hearts that this one is certainly cryptic, ’I was never so cryptic when I was leader’ he remarks, only for Knave to stare Jester right in the face and snaps ’You were never leader! I was!’
‘Were not!’ Jester snaps back. ‘Were too!’ ‘Were not!’ The Executioner turns to them, ‘Will you please shut up!’ he shouts. The Crazy Gang all look up to an open window, where Shadowcat can be seen. The Red Queen and Tweedledope continue to follow the Executioner, with Jester and the Knave brining up the rear, and Knave whispering that he was never so sensitive a leader. ‘You were never leader!’ Jester snaps. ‘Was so!’ ‘Were not!’ they continue to argue.
Inside, Kitty turns away from Meggan, declaring that there is no way she is getting involved. Meggan asks Kitty ‘Why not’ and points out that Kitty has known Brian almost as long as she has, and is like family, so Brian will listen to her. ‘Besides, you understand what I’m going through. I don’t want to lose Brian like you lost -’ Meggan stops herself from saying “Wisdom” as a forlorn Kitty stares at her, Meggan quickly apologizes, ‘I never meant…’ she begins, until Kitty tells Meggan that she does understand what she is going through, and remarks that there is nothing more painful than losing someone very special - someone you love - because of feelings you couldn’t control.
Kitty exclaims that she had to learn that lesson the hard way, and tells Meggan that she would do anything to spare her the experience of it, ‘But I can’t’. Kitty wraps an arm around her friend, and Lockheed gives Meggan a sympathetic look, while Kitty tells Meggan that she has to be able to do this by herself. ‘Trust me’.
Meanwhile, ‘Lucky man, aren’t I?’ Brian remarks to Colossus, who is holding up a photo of Meggan and Brian in their swimsuits while on a beach. Colossus gasps and spins around, shifting to his armored form. Brian, smoking a cigar, tells Piotr that there is no need to armor up on his account, and that he is just making polite conversation. Colossus asks Captain Britain to forgive him and explains that he was startled, before handing Brian the photo and remarking that he was admiring the photo, adding that he and Meggan both look very happy.
‘We were. We are. I hope we always will be’ Brian replies, declaring that Meggan is his world, and that he doesn’t know what he would do if anything ever came between them again. ‘I can imagine’ Piotr quietly replies. Brian picks up on Piotr’s strange behavior and asks if there is something on his mind. ‘What makes you say that?’ Piotr replies anxiously. ‘Alcoholic’s intuition’ Brian replies, remarking that the face Colossus is “wearing” usually means something is wrong. Brian adds that whenever he got that way he would seek the answers to his problems in the bottle, because he couldn’t find them within himself, never once realizing those are all the wrong answers.
Colossus replies that he is no alcoholic, and informs Captain Britain that he has had a bad experience - a beating from the Juggernaut - while under the influence. Brian replies that he isn’t saying Colossus is an alcoholic, but that he thinks there is something knowing away inside him, something that he needs to get out. ‘Badly’. Colossus frowns and thinks to himself that the truth may ruin Brian, but that someone must tell him. Brian begins to leave the room, until Colossus asks him to wait, and announces that there is something.
Brian pauses in the doorway while Colossus leans on a table and remarks that he does not know how to say this - on the eve of Brian’s wedding night no less - ‘But while you were gone, I - U fell for Meggan. I loved her’. Colossus turns around and says that he is sorry. Brian doesn’t look at Piotr, he just puffs out a heap of cigar smoke and remarks ‘Really’.
Back outside, the Crazy Gang stand at the door to Braddock Manor, and Jester exclaims that he is not so certain that this is a wise idea. ‘Right’ replies the Executioner, remarking that before this scheme goes any further, they need to get one thing straight. ‘Who’s the leader here? You…or me?’ he asks. The Jester smiles and replies that he used to be the leader, to which the Knave of Hearts shouts ‘You were not! I was!’. ‘Rubbish!’ Jester replies, before declaring ‘That’s it, you - I’ve had it!’ and the two begin to fight. ‘Get off me! Get off me!’ Knave shouts, while Tweedledope just grins, thinking this is all hilarious, and the Red Queen spouts her usual ‘Orf wiv their ‘eads!’. The mysterious Executioner slaps his hand against his forehead and remarks that this is so mortifying, before deciding that if you want to do something, you have to do it yourself, he then rings the doorbell.
‘There he is! It’s about time!’ Captain UK thinks to herself, before telling the other women that it sounds like they have got company, and that she wonders who it could be, before giggling. Rahne pours Moira some more tea and remarks ‘That Linda’s a bawdy one, isn’t she, Mum?’ ‘Aye, Rahne, that she is’ Moira agrees. ‘I’m going to owe Privateer Albion for this favor, Roma bless his exhibitionist soul’ Linda thinks to herself as she walks to the door. ’After all, what fun’s a bachelorette party without a - stripper?!’ Captain UK is shocked when she opens the door, expecting to find Privateer Albion, she is instead greeted by the squabbling Crazy Gang!
‘What the bloody -’ Linda begins, until she is smacked over by Tweedledope who is tossed aside after biting Jester’s leg. The fight spills over into the lounge where the bachelorette party is going on, and Moira frowns upon seeing the Crazy Gang, ‘That’s nae quite the “company” I was expecting’ she remarks to Rahne, who shifts into a wolf form and growls. Captain UK smacks the Knave of Hearts over, ‘Any day now, ladies?’ she exclaims, while Knave tells her that wasn’t very nice. ‘What a bunch of Looney Tunes’ Wolfsbane exclaims, before asking who these clowns are.
While Tweedledope plays with Meggan’s new toaster, Jester leaps over Wolfsbane, remarking that he is the only clown here, and that they are not the “Looney Tunes” but the Crazy Gang. ‘What, you’ve never heard of us?’ he asks he adds. Shadowcat phases as the Red Queen tries to punch her, remarking that Rahne is lucky enough not to have crossed the Crazy Gang’s path, unlike the rest of Excalibur, before asking what is going on, as she thought they were done with crime. Knave replies that they were, until their new leader led them here, not that he is sure why still, before adding that he supposes that is what leaders do, ‘If anyone should know, it’s me, I was leader once!’
‘You were not! I was!’ Jester shouts. Linda interrupts the squabbling by asking where this “leader” is now, while Tweedledope carries Moira over his shoulder, and the toaster under his other arm, ‘Hyuk! Hyuk! Hyuk!’ he exclaims while rushing away with her. ‘Take your stinking paws off me, ye dirty ape!’ Moira shouts, while Lockheed chases them.
Meanwhile, Nightcrawler teleports into the kitchen where a massive cake awaits. ‘I touched it, gross!’ ‘Eeek! Get it away from me!’ come the cries from the lounge, but Kurt just thinks that it sounds like the girls are having a rather sordid soiree in there, ‘Well, what’s good for the goose…’ he decides as he wheels the cake out of the kitchen, thinking that the guys are going to love this, he does not here the muffled cries coming from the pantry, where a scantily clad woman sits bound and gagged by pink bands of energy.
‘And now, meine herren, for something completely different!’ Kurt exclaims as he enters the room where his friends are. Mimic motions to the cake and whispers to Captain Britain, ‘Watch out now, you lucky dog! Hot stuff comin’ thru!’ ‘I say, this is a rather unexpected surprise. I wonder what other surprises Kurt has in store!’ Brian exclaims, when, suddenly, the Executioner bursts through the top of the cake along with balloons and streamers, shouting ‘A surprise for which you will pay with your very life, Brian Braddock!’ The Executioner claims that he has waited too long to avenge himself upon Brian, but now the wait is over. ‘Now - it’s time to die!’
Brian ducks as the Executioner swings his weapon around, ‘Resist at your peril, oaf! Submit and your death may be a swift one!’ Brian thinks to himself that with the Crazy Gang’s Executioner here, the rest of those daft dementoids must be around somewhere too. Colossus grabs the Executioner’s scythe-like weapon and informs him that this is a private party, so that it would be in his best interest to leave. ‘Hey that’s mine! Give it back you tin-plated terror!’ the Executioner exclaims, Nightcrawler tells the Executioner that they will give him his toys back once they have had a good look at him, and teleports behind him to pull off the Executioner’s cloak. ‘No! You mustn’t!’ the Executioner shouts. Kurt points out that the Executioner is awfully bashful and remarks that he surely wouldn’t be naked underneath - but he is, however the fact that the Executioner is sitting atop the cake naked is not what shocks everyone the most - that would have to be the fact that it is former Excalibur member Feron!
Feron, looking highly embarrassed, places his hands in front of himself and mutters ‘Um…er…uh…hello’. Brian asks Feron what in the world he is doing here, to which Feron replies that he would rather not say, as it is too humiliating. ‘You’ll get over it. Now, spill’ Brian exclaims, grinning, to which Feron mutters that he supposes this cannot get much more embarrassing, and frowns as he reveals that it all began when Captain Britain had disappeared into the Timestream.
(Shown with flashback illustrations)
Feron reminds everyone how Meggan had fallen into a deep, dismal state, and that there seemed no way to bring her out of it, but he figured his arcane abilities would suffice, not realizing just how powerful her empathy could be. ‘Her despair infected me…overwhelmed me…and I, too, succumbed to grief’. Feron explains that he was unable to maintain his corporeal form, and the tide of the waterfall eventually whisked him away from Braddock Manor. Feron reveals that being one with the current, he was channelled every which way throughout the British isles until he emerged in a strange and wondrous land.
‘A place called High Street’. Entering High Street through a drain, Feron remarks that he had been called there for a reason, an unknown purpose that immediately became apparent as soon as he saw “them” - the Crazy Gang. ‘They say death comes to us all, old friend. We hope you’ll come back for us, someday, too’ Knave said as he tossed the Executioner’s robes away. Feron tells the others that if he was to have his revenge, he needed allies, ‘Sycophantic lackeys who would fall upon his every command and worship the ground above which I must forever hover! I got the Crazy Gang instead’ Feron mutters, explaining how he stole the discarded robes of the Executioner and then appeared before the bumbling Crazy Gang.
(Present)
Kurt asks Feron why he need allies for revenge against Excalibur, reminding him that they are friends. ‘You were my friends, before you ignored me. Before you forgot all about me!’ Feron exclaims as he puts the robe back on. ‘You attacked us because you wanted our attention? That’s positively daft!’ Brian exclaims, to which Feron replies that they don’t understand, as he was born for a greater destiny than the rest of them. ‘The monks who raised me taught me this lesson!’ he boasts, telling Brian that he cannot imagine what it is like being told you’re special all your life only to discover that perhaps you’re not all they said. ‘It’s a rude and painful awakening to realize you’re a nobody’.
Nightcrawler tells Feron that they have all experienced those feelings, and points out as those monks showed Feron what makes him special, as did someone who helped them realize their unique potentials. Mimic remark that Kurt is right, and tells Feron that even now they are all still learning how to best use that potential. ‘We never stop learning, actually’. Colossus adds that the desire to change and become a better person than we were the day before is what makes a person truly special.
Feron smiles and puts his hands to his face, ‘Really? You meant it? I’m not nobody?’ he asks, before floating up into the air, ‘I’m somebody!’ he shouts, before crashing into the ceiling. ‘That’ll leave a mark’ Kurt jokes, while Feron calls out for someone to help him down.
Shortly, the merriment ensues at a much more civil pace. Lockheed and Jester show their affection towards the cake-girl who was rescued from the pantry, while Tweedledope receives some toast, ‘Mmm! Eats! Hyuk!’ he exclaims. Everyone else goes about chatting to who they wish, while Captain UK approaches Mimic, who is looking at a photo album, and tells him that he is much lovelier than Privateer Albion, and asks him if he fancies a mutual go at “the full Monty” upstairs. Calvin pauses before asking Linda if she is usually this forward with men. ‘Only the big ones’ Linda replies.
Kitty whispers to Meggan that she better get it over with soon, to which Meggan asks ‘Now? Here? In front of all these people?’ Kitty replies that there is no better time than the present. Meggan agrees, and remarks that if she is truly going to be “Mrs Brian Braddock” the rest of her life, then she must be completely open and honest with her husband, however painful the truth. ‘Scared?’ Kitty asks. ‘Terrified’ Meggan replies. ‘Not about getting married, I hope!’ Brian remarks as he comes over and takes Meggan’s hand. ‘Uhm, no - of course not’ Meggan replies.
‘Good’ Brian replies, before asking Kitty to excuse them as he needs to speak with his blushing bride-to-be. ‘Uh, yeah. Sure, I was just gonna see if Tweedledope wanted to…uh…dance…or something equally nonsensical’ Kitty replies, while thinking to herself ‘Good luck, Meg - you’re gonna need it’.
Colossus keeps watch of Meggan as she and Brian leaves the room, and Meggan turns to face him also. Piotr turns to Kurt and remarks that he hopes he did the right thing lying to Brian like that, as he fears he has made a terrible mistake’. ‘You did what your heart felt. There’s no right or wrong to that’ Kurt assures his friend, adding that he certainly would appreciate that above all else and is sure Brian would too. Colossus points out that they will soon see if Kurt is right, to which Kurt exclaims that he thinks this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, for all three of them. ‘Hyuk!’ exclaims Tweedledope.


[Assistant]
Tying the Knot
Braddock Manor, home to England’s premiere super hero, Captain Britain a.k.a. Brian Braddock, and the site of Brian’s raucous bachelor party. Although the celebration ended nearly three days ago, the fun is just about to begin for one very hung over partygoer - the techno-organic Douglock. ‘What happened?’ Douglock asks as he wakes up, still in the clothes he wore to Brian’s party, and on top of the ruffled bed. ‘Last thing I remember was…was…’ suddenly, Douglock falls off the bed and lands on the floor with a mighty thump. ‘Ohhh…my aching head!’ Douglock exclaims, muttering that everything is a blur, a total blank, he cannot even remember his name - of if he has a name!
Suddenly, ‘Douglock - your presence has been requested. It is time!’ a voice cries. Douglock looks up and sees a strange being hovering before him. ‘Great. Amnesia, and now I’m starting to hallucinate!’ Douglock mutters. The mysterious being remarks that excessive levels of alcoholic consumption may have disrupted Douglock’s optical receptors, before assuring Douglock that he is no hallucination. ‘I am Widget. You will accompany me!’ the peculiar being announces, while Douglock protests, ‘I’m not going anywhere with you!’ he exclaims, only to fade away….
….and appear in an unmeasurable distance through Space-Time, elsewhere, in mid-air, where he falls to the ground, greeted by his Excalibur team-leader Kurt “Nightcrawler” Wagner, who tells Douglock that he is glad he could rejoin them in the land of the living. Kurt thrusts a tuxedo towards Douglock, telling him that it is time to get dressed, as the ceremony is about to being. Kurt then bamfs away in a burst of sulphur, causing Douglock to cough and splutter, while asking what this “ceremony” is.
Douglock nevertheless, proceeds to get changed into the tuxedo, muttering ‘First some weird translucent robot abducts me. Then…a man with blue fur hands me a tuxedo and teleports away as if I’m supposed to have the slightest clue who he is and what in the world I’m doing here! I have no idea where “here” even is!’ Douglock exclaims, before looking in the mirror after dressing himself and muttering that ‘And who the heck is this “Douglock” character anyway?’.
Suddenly, some cries of joy outside the building grab Douglock’s attention, and he glances out the window, where a group of people stand amongst some doves, ‘Joy to the Omniverse on this glorious day!’ one of them shouts. ‘”Omniverse”?’ Douglock wonders, when suddenly, Rahne “Wolfsbane” Sinclair rushes over to Douglock and asks him what he is gawking at, ‘Everyone’s expecting us!’ she exclaims. ‘What are you doing here?’ Douglock asks. Rahne frowns and shifts into her half-girl half-wolf form and replies that she has been asking herself the same thing, and assuring Douglock that she is trying to forget all that has happened between them lately.
Wolfsbane tells Douglock that she is trying to forgive him, and that he could at least pretend to forgive her. ‘I - I could?’ Douglock asks as Rahne picks him up and throws him over her shoulder as she grabs her long pink dress and holds it up so she can run to their destination, while remarking that what she is trying to say is that she is sorry, admitting that she was much harder on him than he deserved when he was only trying to protect her when he took it upon himself to end Lady Moira’s quarantine.
Rahne remarks that, under different circumstances, she probably would have been more appreciative, but that she is so worried about her mother, what with Moira having the Legacy Virus and all. Moira tells Douglock that he will be able to help them with that, as he might have a key to the Legacy Virus somewhere in his memory banks. ‘Right?’ she asks. ‘I suppose…’ Douglock replies. Rushing to an enormous cathedral, Rahne reminds Douglock that he said Stryfe’s android, Zero, uploaded the Legacy Virus data into his memory. ‘Ah, right, I said that, didn’t I. Did I mean it?’ the still groggy Douglock asks.
Rahne asks Douglock if something is wrong, and assures him that she is still his friend and therefore he can tell her anything. Douglock asks Rahne what makes her think something is wrong, when suddenly a citizen of Otherworld cries ‘Joy to you both!’ as they rush past her. ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah. Back at’cha lady’ Douglock replies. Standing at the cathedral doors, Rahne reminds Douglock that she is past wolf, so can smell it on him, and points out that he is not acting like himself today. ‘You have no idea’ Douglock mutters, before explaining that he is a little disorientated.
Wolfsbane informs Douglock that is normal, as Roma says that the transdimensional leap from Earth to Otherworld is often a bit dodgy, but it will pass. Douglock rubs his head and exclaims ‘Good!’ before asking Rahne if she would mind telling him why they are on this “Otherworld” place in the first place. Rahne smiles and after returning to her human form, tells Douglock to quit messing about. ‘Ye know precisely why we’re here!’ she exclaims as she opens the cathedral doors and drags Douglock in, ‘I do?’ the perturbed alien asks as he looks around at the cathedral full of guests.
The guests, who heavily comprise of the Captain Britain Corps all turn and look at Rahne and Douglock, who walk past Gabriel and Michael, while Tweedledope of the Crazy Gang claps his hands and exclaims his trademark ‘Hyuk!’ Waxworks scuttles along the floor while its teammates Ferro2 and Chinadoll in the Technet admire the young members of Excalibur. Douglock whispers to Rahne, ‘I…uhh…that is…ummm…we’re not getting married…are we?’ Rahne grins, ‘US!?’ she asks, before declaring that this wedding is for Brian and Meggan. ‘How could ye forget?’ Rahne remarks. ‘Hah, silly me’ Douglock mutters as they walk down the aisle, followed by young Otherworld children carrying candles and singing as they approach the altar, where the goddess Roma stands alongside the handsome Brian Braddock a.k.a. Captain Britain, finest of the Captain Britain Corps.
Roma holds a staff into the air and welcomes everyone who has gathered from the far corners of the Omniverse to celebrate this auspicious occasion. Roma declares that, as Omniversal Guardian, the ceremony can now commence. ‘Holy spirit, banish night…keep these candles burning bright!’ the young chorus sings while Rahne scatters petals along the aisle. ‘To love’s beacon testify…the fire that burns, yet never die. Guide their light that it might shine…through darkest days and for all time. Amen’ the chorus concludes as they place their candles along the altar, and Douglock and Wolfsbane take their places, while Roma calls out for the rest of the bridal party to come forward.
Next up are Kitty “Shadowcat” Pryde and Piotr “Colossus” Rasputin. Kitty asks her former boyfriend if he can believe that Brian and Meggan are finally tying the knot. Kitty adds that she is so happy for her fellow founding Excalibur teammates, boasting that she always said Brian and Meggan were meant for each other. ‘Like we were, once upon a time?’ Colossus asks. ‘Not funny, Rasputin’ Kitty exclaims.
Seated together are two of Excalibur’s most prominent allies - Dr. Rory Campbell and Alistaire Stuart. Rory turns to Alistaire and motions to Kitty and Colossus, remarking that they are a good couple. Alistaire replies that he will never understand Kitty’s choice in men. ‘What she sees in brutes like Rasputin and Pete Wisdom is beyond me!’, he then adds that Kitty used to have a crush on him.
Kitty smiles and looks up at Colossus, asking him if he is all right, as he looks like he just lost his best friend. Solemnly, Piotr replies that he feels he has already lost two friends. Kitty tells Piotr to cheer up, as he still has her. As Shadowcat and Colossus pass, world-renowned scientist Dr. Moira MacTaggert, with Kitty’s pet dragon, Lockheed sitting beside her, remarks that Kitty and Piotr are sweet, and wonders if they will ever wise up and follow Brian and Meggan’s example some day. Lockheed just coos.
Kitty and Colossus take their places on the altar and Roma declares that each pairing of bridesmaid and groomsman symbolizes a union, a connection, the binding of souls. Roma remarks that the aisle down which they walk represents the journey that is life, and the altar is the end of that journey. ‘But for bride and groom, the altar is merely the beginning. It is here that they are forever joined in holy union…a sacred bond no man may sunder!’ with those words spoken, Captain Britain and Colossus give each other a stern look.
Next to embark on the aisle is Nightcrawler and Elisabeth “Betsy” Braddock a.k.a. Psylocke of the X-Men, sister of Captain Britain and friend to Meggan. Kurt asks Betsy how it is that her beauty surpasses itself each and every time their paths cross. ‘Still the silver-tongued devil eh, herr Wagner?’ the glamorous ninja replies, referring to her current condition, she remarks that it is nice to see someone hasn’t changed.
Sitting nearby, former extra-terrestrial member of Excalibur known only as Cerise exclaims that Nightcrawler is as dashing and debonair as ever. ‘Don’t you think, Kylun?’ she asks, nudging her fellow former Excalibur teammate, who is snoozing. ‘KYLUN?’ the feisty Cerise shouts. Colin “Kylun” McKay, the leonine warrior wakes, and repeats exactly what Cerise had remarked about Nightcrawler. Cerise rolls her eyes while Kylun apologizes and admits that he never did get the hang of his little-used mutant power, when suddenly, the powerful and beautiful Amanda Sefton a.k.a. Daytripper, another former member of Excalibur sitting in the row behind Cerise and Kylun, leans over and tells Cerise to back off, as Kurt is hers. ‘We’ll see about that, witch!’ Cerise snarls back.
Suddenly, an elaborate organ-like instrument begins to play, and everyone’s focus is now on the door, as with a blinding flash of light, the elemental Meggan begins walking down the aisle. Everyone stands as the powerful woman, followed by young attendants, and looking enchanting in her carefully selected gown. Captain Britain smiles as he sees his long-time girlfriend, soon to be his wife, while Meggan looks around at everyone who has come to witness her happy day, while thinking to herself ‘It’s happening! It’s really, truly happening!’ Meggan tells herself that her wedding day is like a dream come true, before recalling how it nearly became a complete nightmare ‘All thanks to me’
….
(Flashback, takes place between Excalibur (1st series) #124 and #125)
Brian leans against the fireplace in the room where he and the other men had the bachelor party. Balloons and streamers line the floor, while the large cake that an unexpected guest jumped out of lies slumped over. Nervously, Meggan remarks ‘You wanted to talk to me about something, Brian? You haven’t started drinking again, have you?’ Meggan asks, assuring Brian that, if he has, then she is here to help him.
Brian assures Meggan that it is nothing like that and asks her a question: ‘Tell me…you’ve always been honest with me, hmmn?. They still don’t look at each other as Meggan replies that of course she has - always - and asks Brian if he thinks she hasn’t been. Brian replies that he does, and that he does not understand why she never told him about Colossus. ‘Piotr? What about him?’ a concerned Meggan asks, turning to Brian. Brian turns to face Meggan and asks ‘What would drive a fellow as forthright as Colossus to lie and pretend he’s fallen in love with another man’s fiancée’.
‘He did…?’ Meggan asks while Brian points at her and asks if Colossus was protecting her, hiding the fact that it was really her who had developed feelings for him. Meggan hangs her head as she mumbles ‘He…we…I…’ her voice trails off as she drops down onto a sofa. Meggan reminds Brian that he was gone for so long, and it seemed like an eternity - just like when he was lost in the Time Stream. She exclaims that she tried to be strong, tried to bury her emotions, anything to keep her feelings locked away, before admitting that it was so hard, and reminding Brian that they had promised each other they would be together so many times before, and yet were once again apart.
Meggan puts her hands over her face and begins to cry as she explains that she could not handle being alone again, without Brian, without someone. Meggan admits that she should’ve come forward about this sooner, she knows that now, ‘I wanted to tell you the truth, but I was afraid how you’d react’ she exclaims, before declaring that she has ruined everything - ‘The wedding. Us. You must hate me now!’ Brian sits down beside Meggan and lifts her face from her hands, looking into her teary eyes, Brian replies ‘Never. I’m sorry I ever left your side. Forgive me?’ he asks. ‘Oh, Brian…’ Meggan replies as she leans into him and they hold each other close….
(Present)
…’I really am the luckiest girl in the world!’ Meggan thinks to herself as she passes an alternate Nazi Excalibur known as the Lightning Squad who are standing in front of Bodybag of the Technet. The Nazi Nightcrawler of Earth 597 grins and compliments Meggan. Hauptmann Englande looks on while Meggan’s Nazi analogue asks ‘What’s she got that I haven’t?’. The 597 Shadowcat exclaims that Meggan’s beauty radiates from within. ‘Monsters like you could never understand’.
‘Vootie!’ cries Joyboy of the Technet as he sits beside his former companion the Red Queen of the Crazy Gang, who is being all melodramatic, while the idiotic Tweedledope repeatedly claps his hands yelling ‘Hyuk! Hyuk! Hyuk!’. Captain Britain and Excalibur’s long time ally Detective Dai Thomas turns to former Excalibur member Scott Wright, better known as Micromax and remarks that Meggan has come a long way in her time, starting out as the “ugly duckling”. Dai adds that Brian is a lucky chap to have won Meggan’s heart.
Roma raises her voice to get everyone’s attention, announcing that they are gathered here today to celebrate the blessed union of two kindred spirits into one. ‘Let us pray their love will never bow…never falter…be broken - and that it may be forever fortified by this most sacred trust’. Meggan and Brian, who looks as dashing as always, dressed in a formal outfit fitting someone of his prowess, kneel before Roma, who remarks that to achieve one-ness, they must solemnly state the true nature of their hearts. ‘Will you swear it?’ she asks them. ‘This we swear’ Brian and Meggan reply in unison.
Roma proceeds to ask Brian Braddock of Earth 616 if he takes Meggan to be his lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for as long as his soul shall live. Warren Worthington a.k.a. Archangel of the X-Men looks on at his girlfriend Psylocke, while Brian declares ‘I do’. Roma turns to Meggan, and asks if she takes Brian Braddock to be her lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, as long as her soul shall live. ‘Och, !’ exclaims Moira as she wipes her eyes, watching her friends. ‘With all that I am…I do!’ Meggan declares.
Roma turns her attention to the vast amount of guests. From Crusader X to Ringtoss. From Gatecrasher to Kylun. From Arcade to Opal Luna Saturnyne. From Miss Locke to Nigel Orpington-Smythe and asks if there is anyone present amongst this assemblage who deems it unfit that Brian Braddock and Meggan be joined in holy matrimony. ‘May you speak now or forever hold your peace!’ No one objects, despite plenty of the guests being former antagonists of Captain Britain and Excalibur.
‘Good’ Roma exclaims, before turning to Nightcrawler, Brian’s best man, and asking for the ring. Kurt reaches into his pocket, ‘Uh-oh!’ he exclaims, ‘Be right back!’ and with a burst of sulfur, Kurt vanishes, only to return a moment later, and handing Brian the ring, whispers that the “best man jitters” got the better of him, adding that he hasn’t been this nervous since Wolverine’s wedding. Roma smiles and tells Brian to repeat after her ‘”With this ring, I thee wed”’. Brian smiles as he repeats the words and slides the glamorous - and expensive - ring onto Meggan’s finger.
‘By the power vested in me as Omniversal Guardian, I do hereby proclaim you…husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride!’ Roma exclaims. ‘I love you, Meggan. So very much!’ Brian exclaims. ‘And I love you, Brian Braddock…eternally!’ Meggan replies before they kiss passionately, surrounded by sparkling magicks, while everyone claps.
Soon after, in the banquet hall, Kurt goes up to Kitty and asks her if she is ready for the tossing of the bouquet, motioning to a mezzanine where Meggan, Brian and Roma are standing. Kurt adds that, tradition has it that the lucky girl who catches the bouquet is the next to marry. ’Isn’t that sweet!?’ he asks. ’Ridiculous is more like it’ Shadowcat replies, asking Kurt if he has seen how catty women get when it comes to the stupid bunch of flowers. ’They’re vicious!’ she exclaims.  Kurt tells Kitty to lighten up a little, before nudging her in the direction of a large grouping of other women. ‘Hey!’ Kitty exclaims, before being bumped into by Cerise. ‘Owww!’ Kitty snarls, before Saturnyne elbows her. ‘Ouch! Watch it!’ Kitty exclaims, before turning back to Kurt - ‘You are so dead, Elf!’ she calls back.
Some of the women begin chanting ‘Throw it! Throw it!’ to Meggan who is up on the balcony. Meggan turns around and tells the women to look lively, as here it comes! She then tosses the bouquet of roses over her shoulder - and into the frenzy below! The bulky Gatecrasher pushes Miss Locke to the ground and reaches past Chinadoll as she announces ‘I have the weeds! The next husband will be mine!’. ‘Woe be to him…’ whispers Yap who clings to the large woman’s shoulder. ‘I heard that, Yap!’ Gatecrasher snaps back. ‘Apologies, mother!’ Yap whispers, only for Gatecrasher to snap ‘How many times must I tell you…? I am not your mother!’.
Psylocke lunges forward, telling Gatecrasher that she has claimed her bounty too soon, and declares that she will be keeping the wedding tradition in the Braddock family! Betsy kicks Gatecrasher over, causing the large woman to tumble to the ground. ‘Look out beloooow!’ cries Yap as they fall, while Daytripper asks Betsy how long she and Archangel have been together now - ‘And he still hasn’t proposed?’ Amanda then joins the lunge for the bouquet, ‘Give it up, girlfriend!’ she tells Psylocke.
However, the two sultry women collide, causing the bouquet to slip even further away, while Cerise, who tries to reach over the fallen Gatecrasher’s body, declares ‘You are no one to criticize, Amanda Sefton! The floral arrangements will be mine - and so will Nightcrawler!’ Amanda regains her footing and replies ‘In your dreams, birdbrain!’. As the bouquet soars over him, Yap whispers to Gatecrasher ‘Mother, I fear this bodes ill!’ Gatecrasher just tells Yap to get off of her and grab the bouquet before she has his head. ‘Ulp! Yes, mother!’ Yap replies.
Scatterbrain watches as her leader Gatecrasher rises, and being such a large woman, easily knocks Dr. MacTaggert and Cerise over, while Yap congratulates his “mother” on such a well-struck blow. ‘You certainly knocked that Shi’ar floozy for a loop!’. Gatecrasher ignores the compliments and shouts ’The weeds, yap! The weeds! And for pity’s sake - stop calling me “Mother”!’. ’As you wish, Mother’ Yap replies, scuttling up her back.
In all the confusion, Wolfsbane suddenly, leaps over everyone, warning Yap that he is in for it now, as she catches the bouquet. ’Wolfsbane!’ Cerise exclaims, while Gatecrasher laments ’So close, I was so close…’. But out of nowhere, the Red Queen cries ’Orf wiv ’er - ’ead?’  as she smacks her wand against Rahne’s head, causing the bouquet to slip from Rahne’s hand, soar past the short Red Queen - and right into the arms of Shadowcat. ‘Figures’ Kitty mutters as the other women scowl at her.
Meggan announces that it is now time for the ceremonial “removal of the garter”, and lifts her dress up to her thighs while Brian begins to remove the garter, ‘Allow me to do the honors, Mrs Braddock!’ he remarks. ‘”Mrs Braddock!” I do so love how that sounds!’ Meggan exclaims, while a group of men gather below the balcony - Kurt, Colossus, Douglock, Archangel, Mimic, Alistaire Stuart, Rory Campbell, Jester and Knave of the Crazy Gang, Ferro-2 and his teammate Thug included.
Nightcrawler tells Colossus that they do not want to get muscled out, to which Piotr replies that this seems equally as silly as the bouquet toss. ‘Have it your way. One less bachelor to contend with only increases my chances at marital bliss!’ Kurt exclaims, to which Colossus asks him if he is ready for such a commitment. ‘Not really…but shhh! Don’t tell Amanda!’ Kurt whispers.
‘Heads up, lads - hot stuff coming down!’ Captain Britain calls out as he tosses the garter below, and instantly Archangel takes flight, ‘I’ve got it! Better luck next time, boys!’ he shouts, only for the garter to slip from his reach as Nightcrawler bamfs up behind him and covers Warren’s eyes. ‘You were saying?’ he asks, to which a blinded Warren exclaims ‘No fair!’ Nightcrawler replies that all is fair in love and lingerie.
The garter lands on the ground, and the Jester punches Knave, ‘Back off you tin-plated nitwit!’ he warns him, to which they begin fighting, while Thug lumbers forward and boasts ‘That lovely lace’s all mine!’ Rory Campbell has other ideas though, and suggests Thug watch his step. ‘Wouldn’t want you to get all tripped up now, would we?’ Rory asks as he sticks his cane out, tripping the squat Technet member up, ‘Foul!’ Thug cries as he rolls into Alistaire Stuart and the Mimic, knocking them over also.
While the quest to catch the garter continues, ‘I’ve got it!’ ‘No! I’ve got it!’, Lockheed watches from his spot on the floor, ‘Hmmm’ the cunning dragon thinks to himself, when suddenly, Knave tells everyone to cease their struggles, as he, leader of the Crazy Gang, holds the garter high in the air. ‘You’re not the leader, I am!’ Jester shouts, while the Knave begins to say something else, Nightcrawler suddenly teleports behind him and snatches the garter. ‘Ahhh, sulfur and brimstone. The sweet smell of - victory?’ Kurt remarks as he holds the garter up in front oh him - only for Lockheed to fly down and grab it, before carrying it over to Colossus and dropping it in his hand.
‘Now what am I to do with it?’ Colossus asks. Moira and former Excalibur member Feron walk up behind him and Moira smiles as she tells Piotr that he has to put it on the leg of the “lass” who caught the bouquet. ‘And we all know who that was!’ Moira adds. Everyone turns to Kitty, arms folded, who mutters ‘Oh, like none of you saw this coming?’. Colossus obliges and goes over to Kitty who sits down and mumbles that this is a really stupid tradition. ‘Really stupid’ Colossus agrees as he slides the garter onto Kitty’s leg, while Kitty exclaims that it is not like they absolutely have to get married because of this.’ Right’ Colossus agrees.
Kitty adds that this is not some emblem of their destiny to be together forever, as they can decide for themselves whether they want to get back together again, or stay single. ‘Absolutely. We can either stay single - or get back together.’ Colossus remarks as he looks into Kitty’s eyes and brings his face closer to hers. ‘Don’t you even go there!’ Shadowcat snaps as she turns away. ‘Phew!’ exclaims Colossus, when suddenly the awkward moment is broken when an attendant announces that dinner is served.
Soon, a sumptuous cuisine imported from the farthest reaches of the known galaxies fills the guests’ stomachs, while a selection of the finest wines and spirit’s Otherworld’s cellars and vineyards have to offer loosens their tongues - and for one particular guest - Nightcrawler - his heart. Arcade examines the cake, while Captain Britain and Meggan clink their glasses together at their table, seated at the front of the large ballroom. The current members of Excalibur as well as Daytripper and Moira take up a table just off to the left, while the other former members of Excalibur sit with the Technet, and Kurt begins his speech:
Grabbing the attention of the room, Kurt apologizes for disturbing their meal, but wants everyone to indulge his toast to the wonderful bride and groom. Kurt exclaims that he does not know who is luckier here today - Brian and Meggan, or everyone gathered to celebrate their blessed - albeit protracted - union. Kurt declares that he cannot imagine what his life would have been like without either of them, and frankly, he would rather not. ‘Standing beside them as Excalibur, they have become more than just my friends, they are my family. And I love them dearly! So here’s to you both, may peace, love and happiness keep you together…forever!’ Kurt exclaims raising his glass. ‘Hear! Hear!’ everyone else cries, before Kurt motions to intergalactic superstar Lila Cheney and asks her to take it away.
Lila thanks Kurt and tells him that the next “jaegmeister shot” is on her, before asking the bride and groom to kindly take the floor for their first dance as husband and wife, introducing the song she is about to sing as something called “My one and only”. Captain Britain and Meggan comply, while their guests look on.
Rahne watches her teammates intensely and remarks that she wishes someone would sweep her off her feet like that. ‘If you insist’ replies Douglock as he picks Rahne up and puts her over his shoulder like she did to him earlier today and carries her onto the dance floor, where Nightcrawler and Daytripper have joined the newlyweds, as have Psylocke and Archangel. Rahne asks Douglock what he thinks he is doing and to put her down, so he does and remarks ‘But you just said -’ Rahne interrupts, ‘I know what I said, but that’s not what I meant!’ the former New Mutant exclaims, before deciding that they are getting Douglock some help, she drags him away, past the Red Queen who holds Joyboy, ‘Vootie!’  while Douglock asks ‘Where? From who?’ Wolfsbane declares that if there is anyone who can sort him out, it is her mother.
Moira is sitting alongside her former colleague, Dr. Rory Campbell, who asks her if she has bowed out of the game. ‘Waiting for the next round is more like it’ Moira replies, before asking Rory how his own Legacy Virus research is going and if he is keeping Sebastian Shaw and the Hellfire Club happy. Rory nurses his drink and replies ‘Nothing I can speak of, I’m afraid’. Moira smirks, ‘Can’t? Or won’t?’ she asks, before telling Rory that he has always been a competitive one, keeping his research as close to the vest as she does. ‘Hic!’ exclaims Tweedledope as he comes up alongside Moira.
Rory sips his drink while Moira tells him not to deny that his nose twitches at the scent of a Nobel Prize, to which Rory asks Moira if she is enquiring as a concerned victim of the virus, or because she is afraid he might find a cure before she does. Moira turns and checks the time on her watch while Rory gets up and leaves. Rahne suddenly calls out to her mother, who replies that she is fine, and asks Rahne what the matter is. Rahne tells Moira that she thinks she should run a diagnostic on Douglock, as he has been acting strange all day. ‘How so?’ Moira asks, just before Douglock falls over onto the table with a thud. ‘See?’ Rahne exclaims.
While the band plays on, more guests begin dancing. Kitty and Alistaire pair up while Knave and Chinadoll dance together also. Kurt tells Amanda that it is nice to see she could take some time off from her duties as Limbo’s guardian and squeeze him into her busy schedule. ‘That’s not all I’d like to take off for you…’ Daytripper whispers. ‘Amanda!’ Kurt exclaims. Amanda tells Kurt that she thought he liked bad girls, when suddenly, ‘What he likes, hussy - is me!’ shouts Cerise as she grabs Amanda’s cape and pulls her away. ‘Uh-oh’ Kurt thinks to himself.
‘Hello, my love. Mind if I slice in?’ Cerise asks as she wraps her arms around Kurt. ‘Uhh…you mean “cut” in. Cerise’. Kurt replies nervously. ‘Yes, whatever you terrans say’ Cerise mutters, before asking Kurt if he has missed those stimulating lip massages they once enjoyed. ‘Have you not missed me?’ she asks. ‘I…um…er…of course I did’ Kurt replies. Suddenly, Cerise slaps Kurt had across the face, and angrily asks him why it is that he never came for her. Cerise then reveals that if not for the grace of the Empress Lilandra, she would have been left to rot in some Alsibarian prison camp with the rest of the interstellar refuge. ‘But you wouldn’t have known because you never bothered to inquire about my fate, did you!’ Cerise then storms away, ‘Some “lover” you are!’ she snaps. Daytripper returns to Kurt, ‘”Lip massages”?’ she asks. ‘Heh’ Kurt replies smiling, while thinking to himself ‘Women!’.
Nearby, Alistaire Stuart asks Kitty where the two of them went wrong. ‘You know there was never any “we”, Alistaire’ Kitty replies, reminding him that she had eyes for him once upon a time, but that he could not take his off Rachel. Alistaire smiles, ‘Touché’ he replies, remarking that Rachel “Phoenix” Summers was quite ravishing in her patent red leather and those spikes…. Kitty remarks that Rachel has been lost in the Time Stream for so many moths now, but that she feels like a part of Rachel is still here. ‘With me. With Excalibur. Watching over us. Protecting us. God I miss her…’.
Alistaire remarks ‘Speaking of missing persons’ and asks Kitty where her “better” half is - ‘Smarmy ol’ Peter Wisdom?’ Kitty replies ‘I wish I knew, Alistaire…I wish I knew…’ as she holds onto her friend, unaware that back on Earth, while an old hobo sits outside a large mansion with a bottle of alcohol in his hand, another man sits inside the mansion, a bottle of alcohol at his side, and a cigarette in his hand, he holds up the wedding invitation for Brian and Meggan’s wedding. It reads:
You are cordially invited to celebrate the union of Brian Braddock, Captain Britain of Earth-616 and his beloved Meggan on Otherworld, on the 19th of August 1998.
Wisdom raises a shot glass to his former teammates, ‘Cheers’ he remarks, before downing his drink.
Back on the dance floor, Moira and Wolfsbane drag a comatose Douglock along the floor, past Captain UK, and Colossus, who asks Moira if there is a problem with Douglock. Moira replies that there are several, and that she must get him to the hospital immediately. Rahne tells Colossus that whatever the boys did to Douglock at the bachelor party has buggered all of his internal systems, and he now has amnesia. Colossus replies that he didn’t know such a thing was possible for a techno-organic being, to which a disorientated Douglock exclaims that anything is possible for him. Colossus picks up Douglock and throws him over his shoulder, reminding him that he already warned him not to overdo alcohol, as it is dangerous. ‘And you are…?’ asks Douglock.
Nearby, Captain Britain and Meggan are having their photo taken by the spiky-haired Bert, while the pompous Horatio Cringebottom exclaims ‘To think someone of my credentials would be reduced to the lowly role of wedding shutterbug! I, Horatio Cringebottom, was once an emissary for the Ministry for Crosstime Transportation and Regulation Monitor and Control, Sanction Implementation Department! Hmp!’ Bert tells Horatio to chill and go with the flow, before telling the newlyweds to smile pretty and say…’Cross Time Caper!’ but at the moment the camera flashes, Tweedledope jumps in the way, interrupting the wedding photo.
Blinded by the flash from the camera, the dim Tweedledope stumbles backwards into a waiter, ‘Hey, watch it you dumb ape!’ the waiter exclaims as he stumbles into another waiter, who sends wine glasses crashing all over Hauptmann Englande - who is a man it is best not to get angry. ‘Why, you stupid, hairy -!’ Hauptmann Englande shouts as he begins chasing Tweedledope around.
Suddenly, Bert’s communicator goes off, and he announces that he has received some interdimensional transmissions. Before three holographic images appear of Captain Britain’s friends, Bert remarks that they claim to know Cap from “way back when”. First up is Captain America, who salutes Captain Britain, congratulating him and remarking that Brian has proven himself a fine hero, so now it is time to prove himself an equally understanding husband. ‘Good luck to you and your lovely wife’ Captain America adds, while the handsome Dane Whitman a.k.a. the Black Knight wishes his friends all the best. ‘I hope you find your Camelot together’ he remarks. Spider-Man appears next, blowing his nose, he tells Brian and Meggan that he is psyched for them both. ‘PS: Don’t think I’ve forgotten that month’s rent you owe me from college, pal!’ he adds.
Nearby, ‘Mmmm…BIG cake!’ Kylun remarks while he eats some other sweet. Suddenly, a voice remarks ‘Contrary to popular opinion these days…size does not matter. Believe me, Kylun, I should know!’ remarks Micromax, who shifts from a micro size into his average human height. Kylun greets his former teammate, ‘Many moon cycles no see’ Kylun remarks. Scott agrees, and asks Kylun if life is treating him well. ‘Not as well as it could’ Kylun replies, admitting that this day has stirred long-dormant thoughts of his late, beloved love, Sat’neen.
Colin asks Scott if he remembers his search for his missing parents, and reveals that it was far less than the grand quest he expected, for it turned out that his parents went to visit their cousins in Australia, but that the chairwoman had accidentally tossed out the note. ‘Now it’s back to living home with three square meals and “do the wash, Kylun, tidy up your room, Kylun” blah blah blah‘. Kylun adds that the last time he heard the glorious call of battle was on the telly, before remarking that he has spoken enough, and that it is unbecoming for a warrior to lament his woes. He then asks Micromax where destiny’s guiding hand had led him in these past months.
Scott replies that he was in the States, until about a month ago, he was working as chief of security for the Brand Corporation. ‘In that abominable hellhole called “New Joisey”’. Scott adds that is until the bigwigs at Brand realized they no longer required his unique services, and as a token of their appreciation gave him a “lead parachute” severance package, and since then he has been wallowing in self-pity and catching up on his soap operas among the ranks of the unemployed. Kylun suggests a toast, and the two former members of Excalibur “clink” their cakes together, ‘To the life of the super-powered toiling in obscurity!’ Micromax exclaims.
While Numbers of the Technet stands nearby, Meggan approaches her friends and asks if either of them has seen Brian. Scott replies that the last he saw, Brian was headed to the gardens with some leggy blonde in white. Scott admits that having drunk quite a lot this evening, he assumed the leggy blonde was Meggan. Kylun agrees, before remarking ‘A vision resembling my lost Sat’neen was she’. Suddenly, Meggan’s eyes flash green. ‘A “leggy blonde in white”…resembling Sat’neen?’ she exclaims with shock. ‘Oh, no…not Saturnyne!’
Indeed, Captain Britain is out in the gardens, sitting a few feet away from the sultry, tempestuous, diabolical Saturnyne. ‘So. This is it’ Saturnyne remarks. ‘So it appears’ Brian replies. Saturnyne dips her hand in a pool of water, remarking that she never thought it would end like this. ‘Despite our roundabout relationship all these years - I always presumed I’d be the one in the wedding gown next to you on the altar’. The glamorous Saturnyne gets up and walks over to Brian, who tells her that things don’t always pan out the way they plan. ‘True’. Saturnyne agrees, before pointing out that the Omniverse is a funny place.
‘Anything can happen’ Saturnyne whispers as she places a hand on Brian’s neck. ‘I think not, Saturnyne’ Brian replies sternly as he grabs her wrist and pulls her away. Rejected, Saturnyne shoots Brian a look that could kill. ‘Very well, then…”Captain”. It’s your loss!’ Saturnyne exclaims before rushing out of the garden, past Meggan who comes in, ‘Enjoy your husband, cow. I certainly never did!’ Saturnyne shrieks. A bemused Meggan goes over to Brian and sits on his knee. ‘Don’t tell me she’s still vying for your affection?’ Meggan asks. ‘Some people just never learn’ Brian replies, before they kiss.
‘Hey! Save that for the honeymoon, you two!’ shouts Archangel as he and Psylocke arrive in the gardens. Betsy jokingly tells her brother that she new knew he had it in him, ‘Since when are you so passionate?!’ she asks, before they hug. ‘Since I’m the happiest man alive!’ Brian replies, telling Betsy that he is so glad she could make it, as he has missed her. ‘I wouldn’t have missed it for the world Brian. Telepathic meltdown or no!’ Betsy assures her twin. Solemnly, Brian remarks that it is a shame the whole family couldn’t be here to enjoy it, thinking of their older brother, Jamie.
While Betsy and Archangel join Meggan on a bench, Nightcrawler, Colossus and Shadowcat arrive in the garden. Kurt remarks that he is sorry to intrude upon their family reunion, but that he, Kitty and Piotr have something of an announcement to make. Brian asks Kurt if something is wrong, to which Kurt replies ‘Not so much wrong, as in need of reconciliation’. Kurt declares that he sincerely hates to be the bearer of bad tidings on their wedding day, before revealing that by the time Brian and Meggan return from their honeymoon, he, Kitty and Piotr will already be gone. ‘”Gone”? Where too?’ Meggan asks.
‘Home’ Kurt replies, to which Colossus quickly adds ‘Well…to our other home. In America’. ‘With the X-Men’ adds Kitty. ‘”America”…?’ Brian exclaims. ‘”The X-Men”…?’ Meggan asks. ‘Wow!’ mutters Archangel, taken aback, before telling Kurt that it isn’t as if the three of them wouldn’t be welcome or anything, but wants to know if there is a particular reason for this. ‘To knot some loose ends, Warren’ Kurt replies, before remarking that this is possibly the hardest decision they have ever faced, and only time will tell if it was the right one.
Kurt goes over to Brian, both men having led Excalibur during its rich history, and Kurt informs Brian, who was absent at the time, that their recent search for Professor Xavier proved less fruitful than he had anticipated, but that he hasn’t given up hope yet. ‘We haven’t’. Kurt remarks that returning to the States, to their other family, to their roots, seems like the best way to keep that hope alive right now. ‘But what’s to become of Excalibur?’ Brian asks. ‘Whatever you make of it, Brian. Empowered or powerless, you’re still Captain Britain! We both know you were born to lead Excalibur. I merely held your place until you were ready’ Kurt replies.
Meggan hugs her fellow founding Excalibur members Kitty and Kurt, ‘Oh, we’re going to miss you all so much - aren’t we, Brian!?’ she exclaims, while Colossus looks on. ‘Brian?’ asks Meggan as Captain Britain strides over to Colossus. ‘Quite’ Brian remarks, agreeing with his wife’s comment as he extends a hand to Piotr, who shakes Brian’s hand, replying that the feeling is mutual. While the five core members of Europe’s former premiere super hero team hug, Betsy and Warren watch on, and Psylocke asks Warren if he thinks the new X-Men are ready for these guys. Warren replies that he thinks the real question is - ‘Are these guys ready for the new X-Men?’.
Kurt motions back towards the party, ‘Much revelry awaits!’ he exclaims, adding that the night is young and there is still plenty of wine left as he does some acrobatics towards while making his way back inside. Colossus picks up Kitty, who tells Kurt that they are right behind him, and exclaims that they will show these Otherworlders how to really “raise the roof”!. Meggan picks up Captain Britain, using her super strength, while Betsy and Warren follow.
All of the heroes were unaware though as they leave the gardens, that they were being watched by an elderly man, who is suddenly approached by Roma, exclaiming ‘And so it all comes full circle, doesn’t it…father?’ The old man is taken aback, and replies ‘Forgive me, Guardian - but I do believe you are mistaken’. Roma stands by her comment and replies ‘If I only I were so blind as to not sense your presence here on Otherworld’, before telling her father that he is like a force of nature. ‘One could more easily ignore the whipping wind…Merlyn!’
‘You always were such a perceptive child, Roma. I’m amazed I could deceive you this long!’ Merlyn replies as he shifts into his true form, before asking his daughter why she has picked this moment for Excalibur’s dissolution, as the threat of evil still lingers. Roma replies that she has done nothing, and tells her father that she assumed it was his doing. ‘Not this time, I confess’ Merlyn replies. Roma asks her father if neither of them had a hand in shaping this portentous event, then who could have?
‘Peculiar as it may be, I believe they did it themselves’ Merlyn replies as the two powerful beings watch the sun set. Merlyn reminds his daughter that the two of them possess the power to steer these gallant heroes in a direction, but that only Excalibur themselves can determine the proper course to follow, and in order to serve a “higher” purpose, to the fullest of their abilities, they must first fulfil their own. ‘I suppose this is why humans prize that dodgy “freewill” notion so highly’ Merlyn mutters.
Roma exclaims that this is a terrible tragedy and that they should intervene. ‘Nay’ replies Merlyn. ‘Though the sword we two so craftily forged hath been sheathed for now, it may yet be drawn anew when the time is right…someday’. And as the sun sets upon Otherworld, so does the legendary Excalibur….