XAVIER INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER LEARNING
WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK
Xi’an struggled, her hands clasping the frames as she manoeuvred the metallic leg prosthetic and sweat forming on her knitted brow. It had been an age since she’d found herself rescued from the troublesome background in Vietnam and still, as she worked through her newfound disability, Xi’an couldn’t name a moment when she had ever felt more abandoned. In Xi’an’s weakest moment, she had trusted the people who had been with her from her youth and they had disappeared into the aether without so much as a word. The Vietnamese mutant was used to the young adults collectively known as the New Mutants fading in and out of her life, it was the norm for all of them. It was why she was almost able to understand that their own lives could easily have dragged them out of hers over the years. Still, a major part of her also focused on the very real issue that Leong and Nga where missing and Xi’an had relied on others to find them because she was no longer able to.
Hank’s words still rested on her mind. “If we don’t hear from the others, we’ll find them,” was what she recalled from their conversation on the previous day.
She wanted to trust them. She wanted to have faith. After all those years together, didn’t they deserve her trust in them? Yet, she knew they weren’t the same people anymore. Roberto had veered so far from the path the X-Men had taught them that he’d spent several years considered to be a dictator of a foreign land, with Julio – who she scarcely felt like she knew – at his side. Amara’s halo wasn’t much cleaner after she’d previously attacked the mansion. Danielle had done well for herself, establishing herself as a hero in the eyes of the government, but her life was shrouded in secrecy that left Xi’an feeling most distant from her. At least she knew who the others were. Illyana had spent most of the last several years dead and so, who even was she anymore? They weren’t who she remembered and their visit to the hospital in Eagle Point had made that abundantly clear.
Taking a step, Xi’an miscalculated her control of the prosthetic and she collapsed to the ground, hard. Grimacing through the pain, her raven hair cascaded around her face, she tried to breathe through it. She’d knew the risk of hastening her recovery when she started. Allowing her hands to reach towards the amputated stump, she massaged the joint. It was the first time she’d physically touched her injury, it had been easy to ignore and cast to the side but suddenly it felt real. Feeling helpless, as she had done so many times over the last several days, she surprisingly found herself longing for her friends . . . a longing that made her feel pathetic and uncomfortable.
Chestnut eyes burst into a soft pastel pink as Xi’an’s mutant power of bodily possession activated. Normally composed and controlled, she’d rarely had issues with her abilities. Yet, they seemed to know what was best for her as she felt her mind freeing itself from her frail body. It happened in a flash, as was the way with her power, and she soon found herself staring out of the eyes of another. Awkwardly peering around her, Xi’an could see Illyana, Amara, Roberto and Julio. It was enough for her to realise she’d been transported into Danielle’s body. They seemed to be in a stadium somewhere and, despite earlier readings of Cerebro, they were definitely on Earth. It was then that she noticed, ahead of her friends stood the menacing Demon Bear.
The view went back as she was shunted backwards through the astral plane, Danielle had freed herself.
As the shades of pastel pink faded from her eyes, returning to a soft chestnut colour, Xi’an found herself returned to the amputated body she’d been so desperate to escape. Her anger sweated through every pore as she focused on the glimpses she’d had of the New Mutants amidst what seemed to be a football stadium and the Demon Bear she’d once thought they’d already faced and defeated. Despite the abandonment she felt, Xi’an knew that their pasts had all come back to haunt them, not just hers and as she worried for her friends, she was reminded of the stakes in the world that she’d forced them into once again.
“Found you.”
WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK
Xi’an struggled, her hands clasping the frames as she manoeuvred the metallic leg prosthetic and sweat forming on her knitted brow. It had been an age since she’d found herself rescued from the troublesome background in Vietnam and still, as she worked through her newfound disability, Xi’an couldn’t name a moment when she had ever felt more abandoned. In Xi’an’s weakest moment, she had trusted the people who had been with her from her youth and they had disappeared into the aether without so much as a word. The Vietnamese mutant was used to the young adults collectively known as the New Mutants fading in and out of her life, it was the norm for all of them. It was why she was almost able to understand that their own lives could easily have dragged them out of hers over the years. Still, a major part of her also focused on the very real issue that Leong and Nga where missing and Xi’an had relied on others to find them because she was no longer able to.
Hank’s words still rested on her mind. “If we don’t hear from the others, we’ll find them,” was what she recalled from their conversation on the previous day.
She wanted to trust them. She wanted to have faith. After all those years together, didn’t they deserve her trust in them? Yet, she knew they weren’t the same people anymore. Roberto had veered so far from the path the X-Men had taught them that he’d spent several years considered to be a dictator of a foreign land, with Julio – who she scarcely felt like she knew – at his side. Amara’s halo wasn’t much cleaner after she’d previously attacked the mansion. Danielle had done well for herself, establishing herself as a hero in the eyes of the government, but her life was shrouded in secrecy that left Xi’an feeling most distant from her. At least she knew who the others were. Illyana had spent most of the last several years dead and so, who even was she anymore? They weren’t who she remembered and their visit to the hospital in Eagle Point had made that abundantly clear.
Taking a step, Xi’an miscalculated her control of the prosthetic and she collapsed to the ground, hard. Grimacing through the pain, her raven hair cascaded around her face, she tried to breathe through it. She’d knew the risk of hastening her recovery when she started. Allowing her hands to reach towards the amputated stump, she massaged the joint. It was the first time she’d physically touched her injury, it had been easy to ignore and cast to the side but suddenly it felt real. Feeling helpless, as she had done so many times over the last several days, she surprisingly found herself longing for her friends . . . a longing that made her feel pathetic and uncomfortable.
Chestnut eyes burst into a soft pastel pink as Xi’an’s mutant power of bodily possession activated. Normally composed and controlled, she’d rarely had issues with her abilities. Yet, they seemed to know what was best for her as she felt her mind freeing itself from her frail body. It happened in a flash, as was the way with her power, and she soon found herself staring out of the eyes of another. Awkwardly peering around her, Xi’an could see Illyana, Amara, Roberto and Julio. It was enough for her to realise she’d been transported into Danielle’s body. They seemed to be in a stadium somewhere and, despite earlier readings of Cerebro, they were definitely on Earth. It was then that she noticed, ahead of her friends stood the menacing Demon Bear.
The view went back as she was shunted backwards through the astral plane, Danielle had freed herself.
As the shades of pastel pink faded from her eyes, returning to a soft chestnut colour, Xi’an found herself returned to the amputated body she’d been so desperate to escape. Her anger sweated through every pore as she focused on the glimpses she’d had of the New Mutants amidst what seemed to be a football stadium and the Demon Bear she’d once thought they’d already faced and defeated. Despite the abandonment she felt, Xi’an knew that their pasts had all come back to haunt them, not just hers and as she worried for her friends, she was reminded of the stakes in the world that she’d forced them into once again.
“Found you.”
Issue #4 (December 2018)
"INTO THE BADLANDS - Part Four"
Written by Gavin McMahon
"INTO THE BADLANDS - Part Four"
Written by Gavin McMahon
Featuring:
Karma
Magik
Magma
Mirage
Rictor
Sunspot
Collins Macarty
Harrison Hodges
Demon Bear
|
THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE Amidst the roaring of the crowd, students and fans gathered in the stands, the New Mutants exploded onto the football pitch from Magik’s teleportation disc to find they’d carried the rampaging Demon Bear with them. It roared, soon the only sound to be heard as the spectators were silenced in fear and confusion. A football, which had been mid-throw, propelled through the air and struck the side of the Demon Bear’s snout. It elicited a second roar, a sound that drove those surrounding it into violent shrieks. The New Mutants, battle weary as they found themselves, knew that with no options, they had to act, and they had to bring an end to the reign of terror that they had unleashed. They had been the mechanism of its return just as Danielle Moonstar had once been the mechanism of its creation. Danielle’s body tingled slightly and suddenly, the Native American mutant felt disconnected from the scene around her. She could still see what was happening: the roaring Demon Bear, Illyana undoubtedly ranting at her, and Amara turning to say something she could only faintly hear. It was as if a sheen had separated her from reality, cast her into the passenger seat of her own body. It was a physical force, holding her mind in place, and she soon found herself smashing her fists against the invisible wall. Expanding upon her own psionic gifts, Danielle hit the wall again and again until it shattered around her and she was once again in control of her own form. “Dani!” Amara’s voice suddenly rang clear as a bell. It caught Danielle by surprise, but she quickly turned to face the frustrated Nova Roman. “You have to stay with us!” “I told you coming back to this realm wouldn’t fix anything,” grunted Magik as she tightened her grasp of the soulsword and postured forward aggressively. Mirage snarled, attempting to shrug off the oddity she’d just experienced. “This could’ve been avoided if you’d just done as I asked when I said it the first time.” Sunspot growled. “Now isn’t the time.” The crowd of previously adoring football fans now crashed from the stands, screaming towards the exits, and the athletes ran to the furthest points of the pitch, attempting to escape the Demon Bear’s reach. Its clawed hand tore through the dirt, leaving a hole as it launched the mixture of grass and mud through the air. Magma slid forward, her body igniting once more, and lava shot from her outstretched hands, obliterating the projectile. Through the falling fiery dirt, the New Mutants moved forward. Mirage fired arrows from her psionic weaponry as Sunspot went high. Crossing his arms over his chest, he absorbed the excess solar energy in the air and channelled it from his body in an explosive wave. It cascaded beneath him, propelling into the Bear and destabilising it. Rictor thrust his hands forward, summoning pillars of earth beneath each of the bear’s hind legs and forcing it to flip onto its back. There was little time for celebration as it rolled onto its front again and roared. “What now?” grimaced Rictor. Mirage commanded. “We keep going!” “What she said!” Magma bounded forward, stretching her hands in the air as Sunspot swooped down to grab them. Hoisting her into the air, they seemed to disappear before she reappeared, freefalling through the air like an infernal tornado. There was a flurry of fiery sparks as she landed on the bear’s snout, scalding it. She jumped to the side, but he managed to swipe at her, swatting her into the nearby football goals. Sunspot rapidly reappeared and bolted through air in pursuit of her. Mirage had an idea, but she knew she was almost too afraid to enact it. Still, her eyes searched for Rictor. “Ric, cover me!” He nodded, extended his hands as the earth quivered and quaked beneath their feet. It was as if the seismic vibrations were causing the pitch to convulse. He smiled riotously, it felt good to be back on home turf – even if he was a considerable distance from Mexico – as his body and abilities felt reinvigorated. Mirage charged forward, firing the occasional psionic arc from behind the pillars of earth that Rictor erected. At the fifth pillar, she slid back against it and closed her eyes. If the Demon Bear was a nightmare she’d brought to life, then perhaps – at a push – her ability to project and manipulate the fears of others could allow her to connect with it, to control it. She just had to be strong enough. As her eyes shone white, Mirage found herself in the rambling, chaotic mind of the beast. She fought against its mental attacks but, after less than several seconds, she collapsed to her knees with a scream. The Demon Bear arched its paw to strike her in her moment of weakness but Rictor slid forward. “Sorry, Dani,” he groaned. He forced the pillar to swat away the paw and the ground beneath her knees to swallow her whole. Her scream echoed as he closed the earth around her and forced the plates to carry her safely towards him. He opened a hole and pulled her free. “You alright?” She glared at him but there was less venom than before, it had been replaced with gratitude. “Never do that again.” As Magik bounded past them, she forced the soulsword between the gnashing teeth of the beast, but it pushed back against her. The Russian mutant and her teammates were so distracted by the attack that none of them noticed the anxious cheerleader on the side-lines of both the pitch and the fray. Dressed in an amalgamation of white and a gaudy shade of orange, the brunette twisted her fingers and bit at her lower lip, making the bravest decision she had ever done. Around her, the spectators continued to flee but she stepped through the throngs of people and did the only thing she knew she could do. Already the New Mutants were regathering from where they had been scattered but none would reach the sorceress in time, but she could. Bolting forward, her hair bouncing in a high ponytail, the girl unclenched her fists and reached outward. The air at her fingertips began to solidify, taking on a vibrant red hue as it formed into what appeared to be rose petals. Each petal seemed to rapidly multiply, creating a flurry ahead of her which, with a thrust forward, rushed towards Magik and the Demon Bear like a crimson tsunami. The bear continued to snarl as the rose petals swept beneath its stomach, separating it from reaching the Russian. With a second thrust, this time upwards, the cheerleader hoisted the Demon Bear into the air and away from its target. It continued to roar as strain registered on the girl’s features. Attempting to maintain her focus, she pushed forward, and the beast was thrown into the outfield. Magik panted as she stood, slinging the sword to her right and excising the drool it had gathered. She, and most of her teammates, focused solely on the svelte brunette in her garish uniform. As the Demon Bear roused, it became clear that the cheerleader had done more than simply save Magik’s life, she had inspired bravery in another. The New Mutants and the girl turned to look right at the sound of finger snapping to see the quarterback marching forward, each snapping creating a luminescent orb at his side. He snapped his fingers exactly four times, creating four orbs, but as he opened his palms the orbs shifted to create a bear, a lion, a hawk and a horse. He continued to pace forward, much to their surprise, as the Demon Bear bounded to its hind legs. Sunspot’s jaw dropped. “I can’t believe we’re fighting with a cheerleader and a footballer.” “There are allies everywhere,” Mirage reminded him coolly. “Even in Tennessee.” The words tripped from her mouth with a semblance of humour. It was something he hadn’t expected, she’d all but lost her personality in the continuing battle against her oldest enemy. It soon became clear, as the quarterback commanded his glowing animals forward, that his attack wasn’t intended to be offensive but to serve as a distraction. The New Mutants had learned better through their experiences than to waste an opportunity. The Demon Bear, swiping at the spectral animals, failed to notice their rush toward it. Mirage pulled at her psionic bow and her aim was true, striking the beast in the eye. The glowing animals continued to draw the Demon Bear’s attention as Mirage refocused. “I want to try again,” Mirage whispered to Rictor. He scowled. “It didn’t work out so well the first time, Dani.” She nodded. “But it’s different this time. Its unfocused and I saw its mind. I can prepare for it now.” Taking the opportunity of the distraction, Mirage once again allowed her mind to project into the Demon Bear’s. It was still rambling and chaotic but this time, she found it less hostile. The distraction seemed to be drawing its attention suitably, the mindscape barely resonated her presence. By the time it finally noticed her presence, Mirage was ready for it. Staring down her archenemy, the moment was tense between them. It was preparing to charge when she reached out with her mind, forcing it to endure the traumas of its species death on repeat. She cycled the fantasy on a loop before stepping from the mindscape. The stadium returned around her as she narrowed her eyes on the slumped, catatonic Demon Bear. Exhaling, she turned towards Illyana. “Send it back.” “We should kill it,” replied Illyana. “No,” said Danielle adamantly. “It’s no harm now. Get rid of it.” “Dani, are you–” She nodded. “I’m sure, Bobby. Send it back.” Booing sounded behind them as Magik used her portals to banish what remained of the Demon Bear, the smell of the Badlands caught the noses of all who had been lost there. The New Mutants spun, staring at the crowds of people who now jeered and launched empty containers at them. It was clear that some things would never change. Roberto growled. “I haven’t missed that. We just saved their lives.” “We also endangered them,” Amara reminded him. “Let’s go, before this gets out of hand.” The New Mutants rounded the corner and beneath the bleachers far from the remaining crowd with the cheerleader and the quarterback in tow. After a moment of recomposing themselves, each of the heroes exchanged glances and focused their attention on the duo who had just assisted them in the battle against one of their oldest foes. Danielle moved forward, standing at the head of her teammates. Dani frowned. “Who even are you?” “Harrison Hodges,” replied the quarterback, removing his helmet to expose his features. His voice sounded like rustling gravel, gruff and deep. The cheerleader’s rasping tone came almost sensually, the thick southern twang filling every stereotype the south had ever garnered. “I’m Collins Macarty.” She gave a girlish, innocent wave. “What you did out there was incredibly brave,” Amara was the first of the New Mutants to offer any semblance of a smile, but she remained concerned about the ramifications of what the duo had done for them. “Thank you.” Illyana’s features betrayed no sense of emotion or gratitude as she observed the pair. “Or incredibly stupid.” Quickly, she turned her attention towards Collins and her features temporarily softened. “I thank you though, I owe you my life and I won’t forget that.” Collins smiled broadly. “Think nothing of it. There wasn’t much else I . . . I mean, we could do. You needed a hand out there and we could offer that.” “I fear you don’t understand the ramifications of what you’ve done for us,” replied Dani. “In assisting us, you’ve also revealed yourselves and that won’t be forgotten in a hurry. I’m not sure about mutant sentiment in Tennessee specifically but from what I saw out there, it’s not always a favourable outcome.” Her voice took a maternal tone, despite the pair being of similar age. “Is there somewhere you can go? Somewhere safe until you decide what to do next?” Harrison shifted his foot uneasily and, as seemed to be common practice by now, Collins spoke for both. “I hadn’t really thought about it. I guess I just expected that I . . . I mean, we would could back to our lives.” Roberto sighed. “I’m not sure that’s an option, girlie. Two collegiate athletes just helped a selection of mutants, some of whom have been on the wrong side of the law, take down a giant, demonic bear. I don’t think you get to just return to the sorority after that. This could be bad. Your scholarships or whatever could be revoked.” “I don’t have a scholarship,” she replied, less brightly than before. Harrison grunted. “Well, I do.” Julio rested a hand on Harrison’s arm reassuringly. “I’m sure it won’t come to that.” His eyes narrowed on Bobby and Dani. “Stop scaremongering. You don’t know yet that anything will have changed for them.” Bobby gave a haughty laugh. “Remind of your experience, Julio. I don’t remember it being a good one.” “We have to prepare them for the realities,” snarled Illyana. Amara rolled her eyes. “Which we can do without frightening them. Look, we’re terrifying them.” Dani stepped between them. “I think it best you come with us for now and we’ll resolve this, as well as everything else as soon as we can. We need to regroup anyway and plan our next move.” She offered a smile, yet her face remained severe. “The Xavier Institute is a haven during every storm. Come with us.” Roberto noticed Amara’s uneasiness. “What’s up?” “I haven’t been back since . . . well, you know.” He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It’s always home, no matter what we’ve done wrong. You know that.” The New Mutants, followed reluctantly by Harrison and Collins, stepped into Illyana’s teleportation disc and faded from the Tennessee football grounds. XAVIER INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER LEARNING WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK There was a rap of knuckles against the oaken door as Xi’an turned from the edge of her bed, narrowed eyes resting on the stern features of Danielle. She seemed to become even more serious as her hazel eyes fell upon the prosthetic leg the Vietnamese mutant now had. It was a prototype, bulky and imperfect, but it had allowed her to attain some of her lost mobility. In her mind, Xi’an prepared to bound from the bed and taken Danielle in her arms but as she shifted her weight slightly, feeling the twinge at her knee from her fall, Xi’an was reminded that she was a long way from recovered. Instead, she exhaled and offered a sorrowful smile. Danielle entered. “It was you, wasn’t it?” Xi’an simply nodded, her obtrusion into Danielle’s psyche had been a mistake but she knew it hurt her friend to have been used like that regardless. Ignoring her indignance, Dani continued. “We were about to head back to Oregon to see you but then Hank told us you’d been transferred here already.” Xi’an remained silent. “We found the Gladiators in Wisconsin,” said Danielle uniformly. “They didn’t have Leong or Nga with them.” She bit at her lip nervously, taking a moment. “We got involved in a battle with the Demon Bear as you saw, and they escaped but we will find them, Xi’an. We aren’t giving up. I know what you must’ve thought when we just disappeared.” Xi’an nodded. “Thank you.” “It’s just . . . we’re not used to each other anymore,” Danielle explained. “We can’t agree long enough to formulate a plan and, as much as we aren’t willing to give up, I’m not sure we’re the best option anymore. There may have been a time when we all had each other’s back, when we could rely on each other, but it’s not the same as it was. Illyana’s resurrection has changed her, she’s more aggressive and disobedient than she’s ever been. As for Bobby, he’s done some questionable things recently and, whether we want it to or not, that affects us all.” Xi’an bristled. “I’m not sure what you’re saying Dani.” “I’m just saying that maybe there’s a better option for getting the twins back than us,” even Danielle seemed uncomfortable with the conversation she’d started. “Beast has that team of X-Men. They’d have the resources and teamwork needed, much more of it than we do. We’re not who we were. We haven’t worked beside each other in almost four years. This incident was hardly a glittering success.” “I see.” Danielle scowled. “Don’t be angry with me, Xi’an. I’m just saying the truth.” “This isn’t Force Works, Dani,” replied Xi’an irritably. “Have you ever stopped to think that Illyana is being ‘disobedient’ because you don’t own her? She’s under no obligation to follow your leadership.” The Vietnamese mutant cleared her throat and forced herself onto her feet, unsteadily squaring up against one of her oldest friends. “You say you can’t work with them because we’ve changed but it’s your inability to change that’s placing you all at odds with one another. When I asked you all to help me, I didn’t mean for it all to go back to how it was. I meant that we need to work together, to grow and adapt to who we are now. You look at them as if their little kids that still need your leadership. That might be how you and Rahne operate but that’s now what’s needed here.” Danielle was affronted, her face barely masked the sentiments that rested within her. Xi’an glared. “You wanna play leader? You wanna help me? Then stop whining and act the part. I thank you all, Dani. I thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made these last few days but I’m not going to play den mother. I’m going to lead by example, whatever that means, and I don’t have time for this. So, if you only want to complain, then I suggest you leave because I’m tired.” Danielle opened and shut her mouth repeatedly, but Xi’an turned, sitting on the edge of the bed, and the Native American woman exited in silence. Next in New Mutants: As the search for Leong and Nga continues to hit a roadblock, the New Mutants find themselves facing another old foe in unfamiliar territory! NEW MUTATIONS. This brings us to the end of our first arc on the revamped New Mutants series. Perhaps a little slow at times, with a lack of action until this issue and the one before. I feel as though I finally have their voices. The Demon Bear may have been a difficult antagonist to start with, but it’s been completed now in a somewhat satisfactory manner, I believe. I’m keen to bring this series to the fore, to show the New Mutants are more than just wallpaper in the landscape of more celebrated X-Men and that is something that I think I’ve managed to achieve – if the reviews are anything to go by. On that note, thank you to everyone who has been reviewing this series so far. It really does help and encourage me to pump out issue after issue. You’re all amazing for taking the time to not only read my work but to highlight what I’m doing well and what needs to be altered going forward because I’m just like everyone else, I make creative mistakes but all mistakes can be rectified when people provide me with feedback! Going forward, I’m taking the New Mutants up against another old foe with a new agenda. We’ll be examining them more as individuals so that we can understand the strained relationships between them. We’ll be continuing the hunt for Leong and Nga, and the Gladiators will be coming back but not too soon! Also, it’s about damn time these heroes got some of those individualised costumes like the “main” X-Men always seem to have so that’s coming next issue! Thanks for sticking with me! -Gavin |