Back to GatefoldIssue #36
August 2017 |
Now.
In a dimly lit hospital hallway, tucked away in a hidden government installation, a woman in tinted glasses stood outside of a hospital room window. A patient lay in bed on the other side of the glass, motionless, as a nurse checked his vitals and attended to him. Two men in dark blue uniforms stood guard at the two, both holding rifles at the ready. Neither of the guards seemed to pay attention to another man as he walked down the quiet, near deserted hallway that early morning.
“Director,” the man greeted as he approached her.
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” the woman said, not taking her eyes off of the patient.
“Of course,” the man said, stepping beside her and staring similarly at the patient. Her arms were crossed. He put his hands on his hips. “What’s his condition?”
“Critical,” she answered simply. “They don’t expect him to make it through the night.”
“Damn,” he replied softly. “Is he conscious?”
“In and out,” she explained. “Doesn’t give us much time.”
The man nodded his head. After a moment of silence, the woman finally turned to face him.
“I know you two were close,” she began to say. “I’m not going to judge you if you feel you can’t do this. We can find somebody else. The psychics can give it another --”
The man held up a hand and shook his head simultaneously. “No, it’s okay. This won’t be the first time I’ve had to do something like this…”
She stared at him from behind her tinted glasses. After another moment of silence, she nodded.
“Fair enough,” the woman said as she approached the door to the patient’s room. “Ready?”
“Yeah,” the man said as he released his hands from his hips and began to follow her. “Let’s do this.”
An armed security guard opened the door to the patient’s room. The woman led the man in, but he stopped a few feet short behind her as she approached the bed. A nurse looked up to the two of them, finished writing something on the chart in her hand, and quietly excused herself from the room. The same security guard closed the door behind.
Left in silence, the patient opened his eyes and slowly turned his head towards the woman. The left side of his face was bandaged, covering burns, while the right side of it was darkened in bruises and abrasions. His body was in similar condition; bandaged and ravaged under his patient’s gown. He took a haggard breath and cleared his throat.
“Hello, Jamie,” she said gently but firmly. “I have somebody that would like to speak with you…”
In a dimly lit hospital hallway, tucked away in a hidden government installation, a woman in tinted glasses stood outside of a hospital room window. A patient lay in bed on the other side of the glass, motionless, as a nurse checked his vitals and attended to him. Two men in dark blue uniforms stood guard at the two, both holding rifles at the ready. Neither of the guards seemed to pay attention to another man as he walked down the quiet, near deserted hallway that early morning.
“Director,” the man greeted as he approached her.
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” the woman said, not taking her eyes off of the patient.
“Of course,” the man said, stepping beside her and staring similarly at the patient. Her arms were crossed. He put his hands on his hips. “What’s his condition?”
“Critical,” she answered simply. “They don’t expect him to make it through the night.”
“Damn,” he replied softly. “Is he conscious?”
“In and out,” she explained. “Doesn’t give us much time.”
The man nodded his head. After a moment of silence, the woman finally turned to face him.
“I know you two were close,” she began to say. “I’m not going to judge you if you feel you can’t do this. We can find somebody else. The psychics can give it another --”
The man held up a hand and shook his head simultaneously. “No, it’s okay. This won’t be the first time I’ve had to do something like this…”
She stared at him from behind her tinted glasses. After another moment of silence, she nodded.
“Fair enough,” the woman said as she approached the door to the patient’s room. “Ready?”
“Yeah,” the man said as he released his hands from his hips and began to follow her. “Let’s do this.”
An armed security guard opened the door to the patient’s room. The woman led the man in, but he stopped a few feet short behind her as she approached the bed. A nurse looked up to the two of them, finished writing something on the chart in her hand, and quietly excused herself from the room. The same security guard closed the door behind.
Left in silence, the patient opened his eyes and slowly turned his head towards the woman. The left side of his face was bandaged, covering burns, while the right side of it was darkened in bruises and abrasions. His body was in similar condition; bandaged and ravaged under his patient’s gown. He took a haggard breath and cleared his throat.
“Hello, Jamie,” she said gently but firmly. “I have somebody that would like to speak with you…”
“WAR UNLEASHED”
Written by Steve Crosby & Cory Wiegel
PREVIOUSLY IN FALLEN ANGELS: Magneto was bestowed the island nation of Genosha by the United Nations in exchange for an end to his war against humanity. He began to develop Genosha into a mutant sanctuary, combating threats from within and without, in order to turn the island nation that was once symbolic of mutant oppression into that of strength and freedom. He founded the Fallen Angels, a covert team of guardsmen and freedom fighters, from the ashes of the New Mutants and X-Force. They shed various members and recruited others through various trials and conflicts, and ultimately served his ambitions to turn Genosha into a powerful mutant nation not to be trifled with.
Still, Magneto’s ambitions made Genosha countless enemies in the form of humans and mutants everywhere from China to the United States to San Marco. His government’s cabinet, composed of some of the most powerful and influential mutants in the world, worked diligently to intercede in hostile locales when necessary, repel threats internally and externally, and build up the resources and defenses of Genosha in order to sustain them in future endeavors. One cabinet member in particular, Exodus, was among Magneto’s most loyal allies. However, some were beginning to warn Magneto against Exodus’s nature and intentions, especially as he began to fill Genosha’s ranks with his former allies. Magneto instructed Dr. Eve Sando and Mikhail Rasputin to utilize the island’s Psi-Corps to subdue and transform Exodus into a mindless weapon of destruction. What they unleashed was something else altogether…
******************************************
Then.
The capital city of San Marcos was a beehive of activity. Mutants and humans worked together to fulfill the goals of their recently installed government. Armaments and equipment of war were being mass-produced in factories throughout the city. Thousands of soldiers drilled in formation, training for eventual battle. There was a view of the massive courtyard from the San Marco palace, home to the nation’s president and his government officials. But President Robert Da Costa wasn’t looking out the window at his drilling soldiers. He wasn’t even aware that his country was about to go to war. All President Da Costa ever knew was what his advisor Elias Bogan allowed him to know, and only when Roberto ever thought to ask. That didn’t happen too often, distracted as Roberto was by the endless women going in and out of his bed.
The latest, a petite blonde, rolled off her President with a gasp of satisfaction. “Oh sir,” she moaned, a sweaty hand sliding down his chest. “I didn’t think anyone could tax my endless stamina.”
“The rising sun leant me strength.” Before his allies in X-Nation had placed him as President of San Marcos , Roberto had been an agent of Genosha code-named Sunspot. Solar energy gave him power, not the least of which being strength and endurance. Reaching over the side of the bed, Roberto’s hand found the bottle of wine and found it warm. “Damn, lost its chill. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t be too long.” The blonde, who Roberto saw wasn’t natural, had shifted to rubbing herself.
As he left the bedroom Roberto muttered a few words in Portuguese, to the effect of how good it was to be President. It was like being Magnum, without getting shot at. Unfortunately, there was also an annoying Higgins in the form of Elias Bogan, whose voice Roberto heard in a nearby room. He also heard the voices of Selene and Brent Jackson, other members of the organization X-Nation. A grouping of humans and mutants working in pursuit of benevolent goals, they were the example Roberto was striving San Marco toward.
If there was a meeting going on between his chief advisors, Roberto decided he should probably make an appearance. When he started turning the knob, Roberto heard the voices immediately stop. Somebody, pulled the door open from the other end, and Elias Bogan’s stern face greeted Roberto.
“Mister President, is there something I can help you with?”
“Elias, is there a meeting going on?” President Da Costa asked. He was starting feel a little embarrassed, as though he was intruding on something.
“We were just finishing up.” Elias Bogan moved into the hallway. Before the door closed, Roberto thought he saw a black void in the room, but it was too brief to be sure. “Some issues were brought to my attention that needed to be discussed with the rest of X-Nation. It wasn’t anything worth bothering you about.”
“Maybe you can fill me in now?” It was a meek request, from the President of San Marcos to his trusted advisor.
“Of course.” Bogan reached into his tailored suit-jacket. “In fact, you’ll need to sign something related to the matter. X-Nation will be moving against Genosha, and we would appreciate San Marco’s support.”
“What?” Roberto’s brow furrowed. “Are you talking about war? Elias, I admit I’ve had issues with Magneto, but of late he’s done nothing overtly hostile. We had just hosted a diplomatic envoy.”
“Yes, and thankfully nothing happened. The same cannot be said for Lichtenbad, unfortunately.” Elias Bogan lowered his head respectfully, much to Roberto’s puzzlement. “Do you recall the train explosion that occurred shortly before Magneto visited that country?”
“Yes. It delayed his trip.”
“It also released a deadly virus that is currently ravaging Lichtenbad. Reports of this are only just coming out, but deaths are estimated in the hundreds of thousands.”
“My god. What’s being done to contain the virus?” Roberto inquired.
“My sources report the country has been quarantined, and it seems only Lichtenbad citizens are affected. That nation has a history of controlled breeding, and there’s a genetic marker unique to them that this virus attacks specifically.”
“Genetically engineered.” President Da Costa realized how Genosha would be connected.
“Only a scientist on the level of Dr. Eve Sandoval could have achieved something like this.” Elias spread the sheet of paper in his hands. “So you see, Mr. President, our goal is to bring this madwoman to justice, and anybody she may have been acting under orders from. With your signature, San Marco can join in this crusade.”
A surge of anger had risen up inside of Roberto Da Costa. Without even glancing at the paper, President Da Costa accepted it and the offered pen and signed his name. “If you have to burn that country to the ground, make them answer for this.”
“Absolutely sir.” Elias Bogan, the powerful mutant mpathy, accepted the signed document. “Also, I’ve taken the liberty of investigating any unusual occurrences from when Gomi and Ever visited San Marcos. As a precaution.”
“Well done. Let me know if anything is found.” Roberto was suddenly feeling very eager, with a rush of adrenaline that required action. “How soon until we proceed?”
“It won’t be long, sir.” Elias smiled. “Why don’t you go ‘rest’ for the coming battle while some final preparations are made?”
“Yes, Elias, I think I will.”
The president of San Marcos went to return to his room, and the blonde inside that bore a striking resemble to a woman he’d known. Elias in turn opened the door ever so slightly and rushed back to his meeting, where important decisions would be made. On his way back to his room Roberto passed a window, and saw outside an object streaking from the sky, but paid it no mind.
Seconds after the door had closed behind Elias, it burst apart in a shower of wood and metal. Roberto was thrown face-first to the floor, his mind too addled to immediately call on his inner reserves of power as Sunspot. Blood was covering the president’s face when he turned and struggled to his feet. He saw that an entire section of the palace was gone, destroyed by the falling object that had been Exodus.
The Viceroy of Genosha and most loyal supporter of Magneto floated above the gathered board of X-Nation. Mental energy sheathed his body and leaked from his eyes, which revealed the rage and insanity that now gripped the powerful mutant’s mind. Arrayed before him were slave-trader Mario Davingi, Doctor Sublime that specialized in altering mutants, the salvager of technology Sledge, human mercenary Brent Jackson, and Elias Bogan. But there was one other, blackness shaped like a man that Roberto Da Costa did not recognize. But Exodus did know this man and roared his name.
“Abyss! Your schemes and manipulations end now, along with the lives of your pawns!”
Then came the tornado of telekinetic energy. President Da Costa was thrown through the air by the irresistible power, and was overcome by darkness.
******************************************
Now.
After making their introduction, the woman made her way to the corner of the room and watched the conversation unfold diligently. Though few saw behind her tinted glasses, many knew just by listening to her speak and watching her act that she was rigid and detail oriented. It was what made her an excellent agent and supervisor for her latest promotion.
The man had a bit of a different approach. He was patient and empathic when necessary. He pulled up a chair beside his old friend, turned it around, and sat in it backwards.
“It’s good to see you again,” he said with a bit of a smile.
“W-Wish I could say the same, but I can’t exactly s-see that well outta both eyes,” Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man, joked weakly. He coughed slightly, breaking the man’s smile slightly.
“Don’t sweat it. It’s not like I’ve ever been much to look at, right?” the tried to joke back.
“Ken dahh…” the patient stammered.
“What’s that?”
“Ken doll,” the patient eeked out with a mischievous grin. “You’ve always been the Ken doll… smooth chest and all…”
The man tried his best to chuckle earnestly, hoping to mask the pity he felt for his old friend.
“Yeah, maybe,” he said before pushing on. “We need your help, Jamie. What can you tell us about how this all happened?”
“W-Where do I start…?” Jamie rolled his head slightly to imitate a shrug. “There once was a funny farm and it had Magneto’s name all over it… He p-pissed off a lot of people, assembled a bunch of lunatics to play House of Cards with him, and acted surprised when it all b-blew up in his face. The g-government sent me in to bear witness and now I’m… now I’m… d-dying…”
The man turned to look at the woman with a relatively straight face.
“Well, I’d say that about sums it up. How about you?” he said, trying to play along with Jamie’s flippancy. The woman didn’t appear convinced or amused. The man turned back to the patient. “I’m sorry, Jamie. I think we’re going to need a bit more details than that.”
Jamie huffed and reached for a plastic remote at his side. It was connected to the machines that he was hooked up to and had a red button at the top of it. He pressed it, pumping his pain addled body full of morphine. He seemed to sigh satisfactorily after that.
“Good stuff… Want some…?” Jamie asked his old friend. The man shook his head. “Alrighty then, your loss…” he said as he closed his eyes and slipped into a comfortable twilight. “I was only with Magneto’s suicide squad for a few months before we began getting reports of a rival nation making plays against Genosha... San Marco and the X-Nation… Humans and mutants working together, but with mutants clearly steering the ship of fools...”
The man looked back up to the woman, who nodded for him to continue.
“Go on.”
“Magneto wasn’t having it… His people swooped up Exodus and tried to turn the guy into some kind of mindless weapon of mutant destruction…” Jamie dreamily continued to explain. “They got the WMD part down, but kinda messed up the mindless drone part…”
“What happened?”
Jamie half-opened his eyes again and looked to the man sitting beside him.
“Exodus… went bat-shit crazy… and San Marco didn’t know what hit them…”
******************************************
Then.
One thing about invading a sovereign nation was that there was no shortage of enemies to fight. Exodus had barely begun his telekinetic onslaught when Sledge pressed one of the numerous devices strapped to his body. Just like that dozens of soldiers were teleported to the scene, mutants that had been enslaved by Davingi and altered by Sublime.
Bursts of energy fired from a bizarre flesh cannon on a mutant's shoulder were deflected by Exodus. The cannon was then crushed, along with the mutant, by a great telekinetic weight. One beam of brilliant telekinetic power then punched through Sledge, destroying the portable teleporter.
"You send corruptions against perfection!" Exodus yelled. Bursts of mental energy were propelled from his skull in a wide arc, blasting holes in many of these mutant slaves. One sprang out at Exodus, elongated arms prepared to grab the powerful mutant. But without even a glance in his direction, Exodus wrapped the mutant's arms around himself.
Brent Jackson rolled out of the way when the self-restrained mutant slave crashed to the ground. He twisted while springing to his feet, pulling a gun free and aiming it at Exodus. "My mind bullets will turn your brain into mush, you frea-aaahhh!"
The human mercenary's trigger finger was now bent in the opposite direction. Exodus made a gesture, and an invisible blade removed Brent Jackson's head from his body. "Human waste. The meek will inherit nothing."
"Ah, something we can agree on," Selene remarked. At a gesture from here the gun in Jackson's lifeless hand fired. A blue bullet shot out the barrel and through Exodus' head, but the penetration was mental rather than physical. Exodus screamed, and Selene smiled. "And in I go."
Exodus did collapse to the ground, but his final spasm of power ignited the air around, incinerating the remainder of Davingi's mutant slaves. He cursed at this. "It will take minutes for reinforcements to reach us."
"Relax, he's mine now," Selene assured her associates. She approached the shuddering Exodus. "Ooo, and it would seem Magneto made this easier for me. Implanted Exodus with a neural implant. Here I was worried Magneto had lost all backbone."
Through gritted teeth, Exodus hissed out, "n-not Mag...neto."
As though wiped by a cloth, Selene's smile vanished. "There's something else. It reacted to the implant, was activated by it." She raised her hands, and a wall of earth rose up between Selene and Exodus. "He's following the commands of-"
The earth shattered, and Selene was hurled back, past Bogan and her other associates in X-Nation. Exodus was again rising in the air, brimming with power. "My association with Magneto ended the moment he trusted lies against my loyalty. Once again, I follow the ways of my true master! Before the Exodus, there was War, Horseman of Apocalypse!"
"Ha!" Dr. Sublime laughed at the declaration. "That relic is dead, his ways dismissed as a failure of thought. I, however --" A high frequency shriek followed Dr. Sublime's words, the result of work done on himself.
But Exodus, War, threw the frequencies back on his enemy. Dr. Sublime, with ears less sophisticated than his vocal cords, felt his brain degrade into liquid. Telekinesis grabbed the body while still in its death throes and hurled it at Mario Davingi. Flesh exploded against flesh.
Elias Bogan, the powerful millionaire capable of affecting the emotions of thousands, shrank back in fear. "Such rage...and such perfect conviction. Its like battering against the face of a cliff."
"Then I shall become a torrential ocean." Selene's hands gripped Bogan's head from behind. "Give me strength, and I shall drop that cliff into my waters!"
It was a rapid transfer of energy, Bogan's life into Selene's body. He collapsed into dust, and filled with power that rivaled her peak Selene rushed up at War. A psionic burst of energy from Selene smashed through his defenses, struck War full-on. But instead of being pained, War thrived on the power, and he craved more.
"I've felt this once before," War exclaimed as he bore down on Selene. "Beaten, sent hurtling down from the heavens, I adapted for survival. Where there was power, I took it." His eyes met Selene, and energy bridged the gap. "And you have such power!"
The immortal mutant witch screamed. That which she had taken was snatched from her in turn. Power, youth, life itself flowed from her into War. When he was done, all that remained of Selene was a skeleton. One that, when it crashed to the ground, moved as though in pain. Even reduced to such, Selene still lived!
Filled with power almost beyond imagination, War had won. All that remained, was the individual giving mock applause behind him. Abyss chuckled as War turned to face him.
"You find death so amusing?"
"No," Abyss admitted. "But the culmination of my perfect plans, yes, I find it hilarious. Thank you for removing my pawns, now that I have no more need of them."
Even with all the extra power War had at his disposal, the mind of Abyss was a dark void he was unable to penetrate. As black as his skin, sucking in all light around him. "You had Sandoval give me the implant."
"Heh." But Abyss shook his head. "I simply took advantage of what I knew Magneto would do, and what I knew that would do to you. It was I who told Magneto of your eventual betrayal, after all."
"Yes, as I was warned."
"I know." The black shape of Abyss shimmered, and War found himself looking at Fontanelle. "It was I who gave you the warning!"
"Yet another of the many things you do that make no sense," War taunted. The possibility of his former ally being harmed did not concern him in the least.
"Thus making it difficult for any to thwart my schemes," Abyss revealed. "Now all the resources of X-Nation are mine, and you have given all the world cause to strike against Genosha. That nation will burn, Exodus, and you have the option of joining with me in other pursuits. Your allegiance to Magneto is done!"
"My allegiance is to Apocalypse!" Power cascaded from War's eyes. "We shall see if you have what it takes to survive, schemer."
Black power in turn emanated from the eyes of Abyss. "Yes, we shall see."
And the battle between the impossibly powerful was joined.
******************************************
Now.
“M-Magneto’s psychic chop shop didn’t know what they were playing with…” Jamie continued. “Apocalypse is dead as a door nail, gone with the wind, long gone, but Exodus was still his Horseman deep down inside… and n-no one could control him… fight him…”
“X-Nation was destroyed,” the man said simply. “San Marco was left in chaos.”
“Righty-o…” Jamie nodded. “None of them mattered, though… this Abyss guy was the real puppet master… all along…”
The man took a deep breath. “What can you tell us about him?”
“H-He… he… was…”
The man leaned in as Jamie struggled to get it out.
“Very… black… so black…” Jamie joked. “Like, a shadow, man…”
The man sat back and closed his eyes. He rubbed the tension out of his nose.
“Jamie, please.”
Jamie couldn’t help but chuckle a bit as he sliped . “I’m… I’m telling you the truth… but he was also powerful… so powerful…”
“What could he do?” the man asked.
“More like… what couldn’t he do…” Jamie said with some despair. “Real clash of the titans stuff… But w-we heard someone else had his… number… that day…”
******************************************
Then.
Loud bangs and bright colors invaded the darkness and brought Sunspot out. He awoke in the ruins of his nation's capitol, surrounded by screams and violence. Lifting his head up for a better look around, Sunspot saw a group of men attacking another man, apparently because of his bright orange skin.
"Hey!" His own skin now a deep black from charged solar power, Sunspot leapt to his feet and rushed forward. "Leave that man alone! What are you doing, attacking your own countrymen?"
The men shrank back, fearful of this powerful newcomer. "Mutants like you are the reason for this," one shouted. He pointed to something far behind Sunspot. "Out there right now, two of you are tearing our palace apart. With our president dead, our ancient palace destroyed, everything will be going back to before."
"I feel it in my head," another exclaimed. "Before I felt in a fog, tolerant of all my fellow man and willing to walk beside him. But now," he gripped his head with both hands, "the anger and frustration returns."
Those words echoed in Sunspot's head, and suddenly he realized a difference in his emotions as well. "Mutants are not to blame for this nation's troubles," he told the men. "Men were responsible, and human or mutant, it doesn't matter. Their power is of a different sort, and wanting more they came to exploit you."
Sunspot turned from the men, and looked up at the former palace. It was indeed a charred ruin, and in the center two shapes were at war in the air. Energies were being thrown about, crashing into the surrounding city and causing devastation far from the epicenter. Sunspot knew the form of Exodus, and recognized the black shape from before. Identities did not matter to him then. San Marco was being destroyed, with those men and others responsible.
"Attacking men innocent in this helps nobody. I'm hearing people cry in pain." Sunspot looked over his shoulder at the men, who'd been warily creeping towards him. "Helping people caught up in this would be a better use of your energy."
Sunspot rose into the air, and the men retreated in fear as a result. With a sigh of regret and guilt, he turned his head to the scene of battle. "I'll settle for making these men pay, and others if they're still alive."
The once New Mutant, former leader of state-sponsored terrorists, and president of a ruined nation rocketed in the direction of his gutted palace. Exodus was one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, mutant on the face of the Earth. While unfamiliar to Sunspot, the second mutant was able to hold his own against Exodus and was therefore a powerhouse in his own right. Sunspot had no illusions about his chances, but maybe he could drive them out to the ocean, at least spare San Marco any further damage.
Both Exodus and his mysterious opponent were too concerned with each other that Sunspot flew up unseen. He smashed into the back of the man he did not know as Abyss. For some reason, there was an immediate reaction. Abyss' skin began to bubble. He and Sunspot were face-to-face, and Sunspot saw incredulous fear on the mysterious man's melting face.
"No!" Abyss exclaimed. "Such concentrated solar power! I cannot-"
Darkness split open. Light spilled out, then exploded in Sunspot's face. Once again, he was rendered unconscious, as an explosion of immense magnitude engulfed the area for miles around. When the energies passed and the site was calm again, there was only a shroud of dust. The former Exodus, now War, emerged from the fog unscathed. After stepping over a woman's shuddering skeleton, War's feet stopped at the body of Sunspot.
A weak breath escaped the young mutant, and in response War said, "You are a survivor." He rose through the air, and the dust settled in his wake. Nowhere could the body of Abyss be seen. "Now to judge the rest of Genosha."
War rocketed up into the air, leaving behind one devastated country for another.
******************************************
Now.
Jamie closed his eyes and began to breathe heavily. The pain from his grave injuries was overwhelming. It was making it hard for him to continue.
“Genoshan intelligence told us… Sunspot did what he could… but San Marco fell into chaos… race riots… and looting…” He slowly reached for the remote control beside his bed again, feeling for it a few times before he found it. “Mutants and humans blamed each other… Sunspot disappeared after that… and then… Exodus came for us…”
Jamie clicked on the remote’s buttons repeatedly. His breathing became heavier but the morphine never came.
“Damn…” he grumbled. “Must’ve… exceeded… my daily… recommended dose…”
The man leaned in and put a hand on Jamie’s.
“It’s okay, Jamie,” he said as he patted his friend’s hand. “Take a break. Save your strength. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Jamie closed his eyes and nodded weakly. He reached out and gripped the man’s hand as strong as he could. The man bit his lip, sat up from his chair, and walked to the woman in the corner of the hospital room. Jamie continued to frivolously tap on the remote, but gradually lost the will to continue.
“What do you think?” the man asked.
“Everything he said makes sense, based on all available intelligence,” the woman replied. “U.N. Peacekeepers said the citizens of San Marco were at each other’s throats. It took extreme force to break them up. We’re thinking they were under some kind of psychic thrall.”
“Exodus?” the man posited. The woman nodded. “They never stood a chance, then…”
“We’re trying to locate Sunspot now, but it may take some time,” the woman added. “Our resources are stretched a little thin after everything that’s happened.”
The man nodded. “I think we can help with that… Forge? Mystique?”
“They were the last ones to talk to Madrox. He snuck them a brief on their last mission to Genosha,” the woman replied. “We’re bringing them in now for questioning.”
The man grew silent as he considered their next move. Suddenly, an alarm went off in the room. It was one of Jamie’s machines. He was flat lining.
“Doctor!” the woman shouted.
A team of doctors and nurses rushed past the guards into the room. They quickly began to assess Jamie Madrox’s condition, simultaneously preparing a crash cart and stripping him of his gown in preparation, and began resuscitation procedures. After several attempts to stabilize him, the medical team relented, and one of the doctors looked up to the clock and said something to a nurse. Another doctor approached the man and woman.
“Director Brand… Agent Summers…” the doctor said as the medical team pulled a sheet over Jamie. “I’m sorry, but we lost the dupe. There was nothing else we could do.”
Director Abigail Brand of the X.S.E. nodded her head slowly and coldly. The doctor turned away and joined the medical team in putting away the equipment. Brand knew it was only a matter of time before the dupe had lost his struggle with death.
Her subordinate dropped his head slightly. His response was decidedly less subdued.
“Damn it,” Alex Summers, codenamed Havok, cursed under his breath. Though the man that died in that hospital room was only a duplicate of his old friend, he was unable to completely detach himself from the situation emotionally. After a moment, he looked up to Brand and finally asked, “What now?”
“Genosha has fallen,” Brand replied. “If we have any hope of finding out what happened there and saving more lives, we need to find the real Jamie Madrox…”
******************************************
TO BE CONTINUED…
******************************************
POSTMARK: GENOSHA
It’s been over sixteen years since X-Force: Fallen Angels (eventually shortened to just “Fallen Angels”) launched at Marvel 2000. It’s been over nine years since the last issue released. The title has gone through five different writers in the last thirty-five issues and is now going through two more. Why revisit a title that’s had such a tumultuous history? Well, because believe it or not, this used to be one of the most consequential titles in the X-Men Branch! It was essentially a book about mutant terrorists and freedom fighters trying to carve out their own place in the world. It was the story of anti-heroes, many of which were former students of the X-Men, having some serious growing pains.
Towards the end of his run, Brent Lambert was building towards an epic conclusion to the series. He had some pretty ambitious plans, but unfortunately has taken a bit of a sabbatical from fan fiction to focus on other creative works (which is actually pretty awesome!). Steve Crosby and I chatted to each other a few years back as a part of M2K’s “Wrap-up Project.” In short we order, crafted a plan to bring this series to a close and set up future stories for all of the characters involved. We’ll do our best to bring lapsed readers and new readers up to speed in our issues as we push the story and action along to its rip-roaring conclusion, and we hope everyone enjoys the ride in the process!
- Cory Wiegel
July 24th, 2017
Still, Magneto’s ambitions made Genosha countless enemies in the form of humans and mutants everywhere from China to the United States to San Marco. His government’s cabinet, composed of some of the most powerful and influential mutants in the world, worked diligently to intercede in hostile locales when necessary, repel threats internally and externally, and build up the resources and defenses of Genosha in order to sustain them in future endeavors. One cabinet member in particular, Exodus, was among Magneto’s most loyal allies. However, some were beginning to warn Magneto against Exodus’s nature and intentions, especially as he began to fill Genosha’s ranks with his former allies. Magneto instructed Dr. Eve Sando and Mikhail Rasputin to utilize the island’s Psi-Corps to subdue and transform Exodus into a mindless weapon of destruction. What they unleashed was something else altogether…
******************************************
Then.
The capital city of San Marcos was a beehive of activity. Mutants and humans worked together to fulfill the goals of their recently installed government. Armaments and equipment of war were being mass-produced in factories throughout the city. Thousands of soldiers drilled in formation, training for eventual battle. There was a view of the massive courtyard from the San Marco palace, home to the nation’s president and his government officials. But President Robert Da Costa wasn’t looking out the window at his drilling soldiers. He wasn’t even aware that his country was about to go to war. All President Da Costa ever knew was what his advisor Elias Bogan allowed him to know, and only when Roberto ever thought to ask. That didn’t happen too often, distracted as Roberto was by the endless women going in and out of his bed.
The latest, a petite blonde, rolled off her President with a gasp of satisfaction. “Oh sir,” she moaned, a sweaty hand sliding down his chest. “I didn’t think anyone could tax my endless stamina.”
“The rising sun leant me strength.” Before his allies in X-Nation had placed him as President of San Marcos , Roberto had been an agent of Genosha code-named Sunspot. Solar energy gave him power, not the least of which being strength and endurance. Reaching over the side of the bed, Roberto’s hand found the bottle of wine and found it warm. “Damn, lost its chill. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t be too long.” The blonde, who Roberto saw wasn’t natural, had shifted to rubbing herself.
As he left the bedroom Roberto muttered a few words in Portuguese, to the effect of how good it was to be President. It was like being Magnum, without getting shot at. Unfortunately, there was also an annoying Higgins in the form of Elias Bogan, whose voice Roberto heard in a nearby room. He also heard the voices of Selene and Brent Jackson, other members of the organization X-Nation. A grouping of humans and mutants working in pursuit of benevolent goals, they were the example Roberto was striving San Marco toward.
If there was a meeting going on between his chief advisors, Roberto decided he should probably make an appearance. When he started turning the knob, Roberto heard the voices immediately stop. Somebody, pulled the door open from the other end, and Elias Bogan’s stern face greeted Roberto.
“Mister President, is there something I can help you with?”
“Elias, is there a meeting going on?” President Da Costa asked. He was starting feel a little embarrassed, as though he was intruding on something.
“We were just finishing up.” Elias Bogan moved into the hallway. Before the door closed, Roberto thought he saw a black void in the room, but it was too brief to be sure. “Some issues were brought to my attention that needed to be discussed with the rest of X-Nation. It wasn’t anything worth bothering you about.”
“Maybe you can fill me in now?” It was a meek request, from the President of San Marcos to his trusted advisor.
“Of course.” Bogan reached into his tailored suit-jacket. “In fact, you’ll need to sign something related to the matter. X-Nation will be moving against Genosha, and we would appreciate San Marco’s support.”
“What?” Roberto’s brow furrowed. “Are you talking about war? Elias, I admit I’ve had issues with Magneto, but of late he’s done nothing overtly hostile. We had just hosted a diplomatic envoy.”
“Yes, and thankfully nothing happened. The same cannot be said for Lichtenbad, unfortunately.” Elias Bogan lowered his head respectfully, much to Roberto’s puzzlement. “Do you recall the train explosion that occurred shortly before Magneto visited that country?”
“Yes. It delayed his trip.”
“It also released a deadly virus that is currently ravaging Lichtenbad. Reports of this are only just coming out, but deaths are estimated in the hundreds of thousands.”
“My god. What’s being done to contain the virus?” Roberto inquired.
“My sources report the country has been quarantined, and it seems only Lichtenbad citizens are affected. That nation has a history of controlled breeding, and there’s a genetic marker unique to them that this virus attacks specifically.”
“Genetically engineered.” President Da Costa realized how Genosha would be connected.
“Only a scientist on the level of Dr. Eve Sandoval could have achieved something like this.” Elias spread the sheet of paper in his hands. “So you see, Mr. President, our goal is to bring this madwoman to justice, and anybody she may have been acting under orders from. With your signature, San Marco can join in this crusade.”
A surge of anger had risen up inside of Roberto Da Costa. Without even glancing at the paper, President Da Costa accepted it and the offered pen and signed his name. “If you have to burn that country to the ground, make them answer for this.”
“Absolutely sir.” Elias Bogan, the powerful mutant mpathy, accepted the signed document. “Also, I’ve taken the liberty of investigating any unusual occurrences from when Gomi and Ever visited San Marcos. As a precaution.”
“Well done. Let me know if anything is found.” Roberto was suddenly feeling very eager, with a rush of adrenaline that required action. “How soon until we proceed?”
“It won’t be long, sir.” Elias smiled. “Why don’t you go ‘rest’ for the coming battle while some final preparations are made?”
“Yes, Elias, I think I will.”
The president of San Marcos went to return to his room, and the blonde inside that bore a striking resemble to a woman he’d known. Elias in turn opened the door ever so slightly and rushed back to his meeting, where important decisions would be made. On his way back to his room Roberto passed a window, and saw outside an object streaking from the sky, but paid it no mind.
Seconds after the door had closed behind Elias, it burst apart in a shower of wood and metal. Roberto was thrown face-first to the floor, his mind too addled to immediately call on his inner reserves of power as Sunspot. Blood was covering the president’s face when he turned and struggled to his feet. He saw that an entire section of the palace was gone, destroyed by the falling object that had been Exodus.
The Viceroy of Genosha and most loyal supporter of Magneto floated above the gathered board of X-Nation. Mental energy sheathed his body and leaked from his eyes, which revealed the rage and insanity that now gripped the powerful mutant’s mind. Arrayed before him were slave-trader Mario Davingi, Doctor Sublime that specialized in altering mutants, the salvager of technology Sledge, human mercenary Brent Jackson, and Elias Bogan. But there was one other, blackness shaped like a man that Roberto Da Costa did not recognize. But Exodus did know this man and roared his name.
“Abyss! Your schemes and manipulations end now, along with the lives of your pawns!”
Then came the tornado of telekinetic energy. President Da Costa was thrown through the air by the irresistible power, and was overcome by darkness.
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Now.
After making their introduction, the woman made her way to the corner of the room and watched the conversation unfold diligently. Though few saw behind her tinted glasses, many knew just by listening to her speak and watching her act that she was rigid and detail oriented. It was what made her an excellent agent and supervisor for her latest promotion.
The man had a bit of a different approach. He was patient and empathic when necessary. He pulled up a chair beside his old friend, turned it around, and sat in it backwards.
“It’s good to see you again,” he said with a bit of a smile.
“W-Wish I could say the same, but I can’t exactly s-see that well outta both eyes,” Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man, joked weakly. He coughed slightly, breaking the man’s smile slightly.
“Don’t sweat it. It’s not like I’ve ever been much to look at, right?” the tried to joke back.
“Ken dahh…” the patient stammered.
“What’s that?”
“Ken doll,” the patient eeked out with a mischievous grin. “You’ve always been the Ken doll… smooth chest and all…”
The man tried his best to chuckle earnestly, hoping to mask the pity he felt for his old friend.
“Yeah, maybe,” he said before pushing on. “We need your help, Jamie. What can you tell us about how this all happened?”
“W-Where do I start…?” Jamie rolled his head slightly to imitate a shrug. “There once was a funny farm and it had Magneto’s name all over it… He p-pissed off a lot of people, assembled a bunch of lunatics to play House of Cards with him, and acted surprised when it all b-blew up in his face. The g-government sent me in to bear witness and now I’m… now I’m… d-dying…”
The man turned to look at the woman with a relatively straight face.
“Well, I’d say that about sums it up. How about you?” he said, trying to play along with Jamie’s flippancy. The woman didn’t appear convinced or amused. The man turned back to the patient. “I’m sorry, Jamie. I think we’re going to need a bit more details than that.”
Jamie huffed and reached for a plastic remote at his side. It was connected to the machines that he was hooked up to and had a red button at the top of it. He pressed it, pumping his pain addled body full of morphine. He seemed to sigh satisfactorily after that.
“Good stuff… Want some…?” Jamie asked his old friend. The man shook his head. “Alrighty then, your loss…” he said as he closed his eyes and slipped into a comfortable twilight. “I was only with Magneto’s suicide squad for a few months before we began getting reports of a rival nation making plays against Genosha... San Marco and the X-Nation… Humans and mutants working together, but with mutants clearly steering the ship of fools...”
The man looked back up to the woman, who nodded for him to continue.
“Go on.”
“Magneto wasn’t having it… His people swooped up Exodus and tried to turn the guy into some kind of mindless weapon of mutant destruction…” Jamie dreamily continued to explain. “They got the WMD part down, but kinda messed up the mindless drone part…”
“What happened?”
Jamie half-opened his eyes again and looked to the man sitting beside him.
“Exodus… went bat-shit crazy… and San Marco didn’t know what hit them…”
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Then.
One thing about invading a sovereign nation was that there was no shortage of enemies to fight. Exodus had barely begun his telekinetic onslaught when Sledge pressed one of the numerous devices strapped to his body. Just like that dozens of soldiers were teleported to the scene, mutants that had been enslaved by Davingi and altered by Sublime.
Bursts of energy fired from a bizarre flesh cannon on a mutant's shoulder were deflected by Exodus. The cannon was then crushed, along with the mutant, by a great telekinetic weight. One beam of brilliant telekinetic power then punched through Sledge, destroying the portable teleporter.
"You send corruptions against perfection!" Exodus yelled. Bursts of mental energy were propelled from his skull in a wide arc, blasting holes in many of these mutant slaves. One sprang out at Exodus, elongated arms prepared to grab the powerful mutant. But without even a glance in his direction, Exodus wrapped the mutant's arms around himself.
Brent Jackson rolled out of the way when the self-restrained mutant slave crashed to the ground. He twisted while springing to his feet, pulling a gun free and aiming it at Exodus. "My mind bullets will turn your brain into mush, you frea-aaahhh!"
The human mercenary's trigger finger was now bent in the opposite direction. Exodus made a gesture, and an invisible blade removed Brent Jackson's head from his body. "Human waste. The meek will inherit nothing."
"Ah, something we can agree on," Selene remarked. At a gesture from here the gun in Jackson's lifeless hand fired. A blue bullet shot out the barrel and through Exodus' head, but the penetration was mental rather than physical. Exodus screamed, and Selene smiled. "And in I go."
Exodus did collapse to the ground, but his final spasm of power ignited the air around, incinerating the remainder of Davingi's mutant slaves. He cursed at this. "It will take minutes for reinforcements to reach us."
"Relax, he's mine now," Selene assured her associates. She approached the shuddering Exodus. "Ooo, and it would seem Magneto made this easier for me. Implanted Exodus with a neural implant. Here I was worried Magneto had lost all backbone."
Through gritted teeth, Exodus hissed out, "n-not Mag...neto."
As though wiped by a cloth, Selene's smile vanished. "There's something else. It reacted to the implant, was activated by it." She raised her hands, and a wall of earth rose up between Selene and Exodus. "He's following the commands of-"
The earth shattered, and Selene was hurled back, past Bogan and her other associates in X-Nation. Exodus was again rising in the air, brimming with power. "My association with Magneto ended the moment he trusted lies against my loyalty. Once again, I follow the ways of my true master! Before the Exodus, there was War, Horseman of Apocalypse!"
"Ha!" Dr. Sublime laughed at the declaration. "That relic is dead, his ways dismissed as a failure of thought. I, however --" A high frequency shriek followed Dr. Sublime's words, the result of work done on himself.
But Exodus, War, threw the frequencies back on his enemy. Dr. Sublime, with ears less sophisticated than his vocal cords, felt his brain degrade into liquid. Telekinesis grabbed the body while still in its death throes and hurled it at Mario Davingi. Flesh exploded against flesh.
Elias Bogan, the powerful millionaire capable of affecting the emotions of thousands, shrank back in fear. "Such rage...and such perfect conviction. Its like battering against the face of a cliff."
"Then I shall become a torrential ocean." Selene's hands gripped Bogan's head from behind. "Give me strength, and I shall drop that cliff into my waters!"
It was a rapid transfer of energy, Bogan's life into Selene's body. He collapsed into dust, and filled with power that rivaled her peak Selene rushed up at War. A psionic burst of energy from Selene smashed through his defenses, struck War full-on. But instead of being pained, War thrived on the power, and he craved more.
"I've felt this once before," War exclaimed as he bore down on Selene. "Beaten, sent hurtling down from the heavens, I adapted for survival. Where there was power, I took it." His eyes met Selene, and energy bridged the gap. "And you have such power!"
The immortal mutant witch screamed. That which she had taken was snatched from her in turn. Power, youth, life itself flowed from her into War. When he was done, all that remained of Selene was a skeleton. One that, when it crashed to the ground, moved as though in pain. Even reduced to such, Selene still lived!
Filled with power almost beyond imagination, War had won. All that remained, was the individual giving mock applause behind him. Abyss chuckled as War turned to face him.
"You find death so amusing?"
"No," Abyss admitted. "But the culmination of my perfect plans, yes, I find it hilarious. Thank you for removing my pawns, now that I have no more need of them."
Even with all the extra power War had at his disposal, the mind of Abyss was a dark void he was unable to penetrate. As black as his skin, sucking in all light around him. "You had Sandoval give me the implant."
"Heh." But Abyss shook his head. "I simply took advantage of what I knew Magneto would do, and what I knew that would do to you. It was I who told Magneto of your eventual betrayal, after all."
"Yes, as I was warned."
"I know." The black shape of Abyss shimmered, and War found himself looking at Fontanelle. "It was I who gave you the warning!"
"Yet another of the many things you do that make no sense," War taunted. The possibility of his former ally being harmed did not concern him in the least.
"Thus making it difficult for any to thwart my schemes," Abyss revealed. "Now all the resources of X-Nation are mine, and you have given all the world cause to strike against Genosha. That nation will burn, Exodus, and you have the option of joining with me in other pursuits. Your allegiance to Magneto is done!"
"My allegiance is to Apocalypse!" Power cascaded from War's eyes. "We shall see if you have what it takes to survive, schemer."
Black power in turn emanated from the eyes of Abyss. "Yes, we shall see."
And the battle between the impossibly powerful was joined.
******************************************
Now.
“M-Magneto’s psychic chop shop didn’t know what they were playing with…” Jamie continued. “Apocalypse is dead as a door nail, gone with the wind, long gone, but Exodus was still his Horseman deep down inside… and n-no one could control him… fight him…”
“X-Nation was destroyed,” the man said simply. “San Marco was left in chaos.”
“Righty-o…” Jamie nodded. “None of them mattered, though… this Abyss guy was the real puppet master… all along…”
The man took a deep breath. “What can you tell us about him?”
“H-He… he… was…”
The man leaned in as Jamie struggled to get it out.
“Very… black… so black…” Jamie joked. “Like, a shadow, man…”
The man sat back and closed his eyes. He rubbed the tension out of his nose.
“Jamie, please.”
Jamie couldn’t help but chuckle a bit as he sliped . “I’m… I’m telling you the truth… but he was also powerful… so powerful…”
“What could he do?” the man asked.
“More like… what couldn’t he do…” Jamie said with some despair. “Real clash of the titans stuff… But w-we heard someone else had his… number… that day…”
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Then.
Loud bangs and bright colors invaded the darkness and brought Sunspot out. He awoke in the ruins of his nation's capitol, surrounded by screams and violence. Lifting his head up for a better look around, Sunspot saw a group of men attacking another man, apparently because of his bright orange skin.
"Hey!" His own skin now a deep black from charged solar power, Sunspot leapt to his feet and rushed forward. "Leave that man alone! What are you doing, attacking your own countrymen?"
The men shrank back, fearful of this powerful newcomer. "Mutants like you are the reason for this," one shouted. He pointed to something far behind Sunspot. "Out there right now, two of you are tearing our palace apart. With our president dead, our ancient palace destroyed, everything will be going back to before."
"I feel it in my head," another exclaimed. "Before I felt in a fog, tolerant of all my fellow man and willing to walk beside him. But now," he gripped his head with both hands, "the anger and frustration returns."
Those words echoed in Sunspot's head, and suddenly he realized a difference in his emotions as well. "Mutants are not to blame for this nation's troubles," he told the men. "Men were responsible, and human or mutant, it doesn't matter. Their power is of a different sort, and wanting more they came to exploit you."
Sunspot turned from the men, and looked up at the former palace. It was indeed a charred ruin, and in the center two shapes were at war in the air. Energies were being thrown about, crashing into the surrounding city and causing devastation far from the epicenter. Sunspot knew the form of Exodus, and recognized the black shape from before. Identities did not matter to him then. San Marco was being destroyed, with those men and others responsible.
"Attacking men innocent in this helps nobody. I'm hearing people cry in pain." Sunspot looked over his shoulder at the men, who'd been warily creeping towards him. "Helping people caught up in this would be a better use of your energy."
Sunspot rose into the air, and the men retreated in fear as a result. With a sigh of regret and guilt, he turned his head to the scene of battle. "I'll settle for making these men pay, and others if they're still alive."
The once New Mutant, former leader of state-sponsored terrorists, and president of a ruined nation rocketed in the direction of his gutted palace. Exodus was one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, mutant on the face of the Earth. While unfamiliar to Sunspot, the second mutant was able to hold his own against Exodus and was therefore a powerhouse in his own right. Sunspot had no illusions about his chances, but maybe he could drive them out to the ocean, at least spare San Marco any further damage.
Both Exodus and his mysterious opponent were too concerned with each other that Sunspot flew up unseen. He smashed into the back of the man he did not know as Abyss. For some reason, there was an immediate reaction. Abyss' skin began to bubble. He and Sunspot were face-to-face, and Sunspot saw incredulous fear on the mysterious man's melting face.
"No!" Abyss exclaimed. "Such concentrated solar power! I cannot-"
Darkness split open. Light spilled out, then exploded in Sunspot's face. Once again, he was rendered unconscious, as an explosion of immense magnitude engulfed the area for miles around. When the energies passed and the site was calm again, there was only a shroud of dust. The former Exodus, now War, emerged from the fog unscathed. After stepping over a woman's shuddering skeleton, War's feet stopped at the body of Sunspot.
A weak breath escaped the young mutant, and in response War said, "You are a survivor." He rose through the air, and the dust settled in his wake. Nowhere could the body of Abyss be seen. "Now to judge the rest of Genosha."
War rocketed up into the air, leaving behind one devastated country for another.
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Now.
Jamie closed his eyes and began to breathe heavily. The pain from his grave injuries was overwhelming. It was making it hard for him to continue.
“Genoshan intelligence told us… Sunspot did what he could… but San Marco fell into chaos… race riots… and looting…” He slowly reached for the remote control beside his bed again, feeling for it a few times before he found it. “Mutants and humans blamed each other… Sunspot disappeared after that… and then… Exodus came for us…”
Jamie clicked on the remote’s buttons repeatedly. His breathing became heavier but the morphine never came.
“Damn…” he grumbled. “Must’ve… exceeded… my daily… recommended dose…”
The man leaned in and put a hand on Jamie’s.
“It’s okay, Jamie,” he said as he patted his friend’s hand. “Take a break. Save your strength. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Jamie closed his eyes and nodded weakly. He reached out and gripped the man’s hand as strong as he could. The man bit his lip, sat up from his chair, and walked to the woman in the corner of the hospital room. Jamie continued to frivolously tap on the remote, but gradually lost the will to continue.
“What do you think?” the man asked.
“Everything he said makes sense, based on all available intelligence,” the woman replied. “U.N. Peacekeepers said the citizens of San Marco were at each other’s throats. It took extreme force to break them up. We’re thinking they were under some kind of psychic thrall.”
“Exodus?” the man posited. The woman nodded. “They never stood a chance, then…”
“We’re trying to locate Sunspot now, but it may take some time,” the woman added. “Our resources are stretched a little thin after everything that’s happened.”
The man nodded. “I think we can help with that… Forge? Mystique?”
“They were the last ones to talk to Madrox. He snuck them a brief on their last mission to Genosha,” the woman replied. “We’re bringing them in now for questioning.”
The man grew silent as he considered their next move. Suddenly, an alarm went off in the room. It was one of Jamie’s machines. He was flat lining.
“Doctor!” the woman shouted.
A team of doctors and nurses rushed past the guards into the room. They quickly began to assess Jamie Madrox’s condition, simultaneously preparing a crash cart and stripping him of his gown in preparation, and began resuscitation procedures. After several attempts to stabilize him, the medical team relented, and one of the doctors looked up to the clock and said something to a nurse. Another doctor approached the man and woman.
“Director Brand… Agent Summers…” the doctor said as the medical team pulled a sheet over Jamie. “I’m sorry, but we lost the dupe. There was nothing else we could do.”
Director Abigail Brand of the X.S.E. nodded her head slowly and coldly. The doctor turned away and joined the medical team in putting away the equipment. Brand knew it was only a matter of time before the dupe had lost his struggle with death.
Her subordinate dropped his head slightly. His response was decidedly less subdued.
“Damn it,” Alex Summers, codenamed Havok, cursed under his breath. Though the man that died in that hospital room was only a duplicate of his old friend, he was unable to completely detach himself from the situation emotionally. After a moment, he looked up to Brand and finally asked, “What now?”
“Genosha has fallen,” Brand replied. “If we have any hope of finding out what happened there and saving more lives, we need to find the real Jamie Madrox…”
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TO BE CONTINUED…
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POSTMARK: GENOSHA
It’s been over sixteen years since X-Force: Fallen Angels (eventually shortened to just “Fallen Angels”) launched at Marvel 2000. It’s been over nine years since the last issue released. The title has gone through five different writers in the last thirty-five issues and is now going through two more. Why revisit a title that’s had such a tumultuous history? Well, because believe it or not, this used to be one of the most consequential titles in the X-Men Branch! It was essentially a book about mutant terrorists and freedom fighters trying to carve out their own place in the world. It was the story of anti-heroes, many of which were former students of the X-Men, having some serious growing pains.
Towards the end of his run, Brent Lambert was building towards an epic conclusion to the series. He had some pretty ambitious plans, but unfortunately has taken a bit of a sabbatical from fan fiction to focus on other creative works (which is actually pretty awesome!). Steve Crosby and I chatted to each other a few years back as a part of M2K’s “Wrap-up Project.” In short we order, crafted a plan to bring this series to a close and set up future stories for all of the characters involved. We’ll do our best to bring lapsed readers and new readers up to speed in our issues as we push the story and action along to its rip-roaring conclusion, and we hope everyone enjoys the ride in the process!
- Cory Wiegel
July 24th, 2017