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They were born mutants--possessing powers of a genetic origin which made them outcasts of society. But one man -- Professor Charles Xavier -- brought them together to learn to use their unique gifts in the service of a world that hates and fears them... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marvel 2000 Proudly Presents... X-Men #1 “DEATH OF A DREAM” Part Two Written by Dino Pollard --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Space. Vast. Empty. Silent. The X-Man known as Bishop never realized how vast or empty it could be. But since traveling with Deathbird through space, he has learned it is far from silent. "You are a fool, Bishop," she said. Not again. Bishop constantly grew weary of her prattle. "I have offered you to be my royal consort," she began, for the sixteenth time. "Yet you have refused. You would rather live on a world where you a feared and hated than to live in royalty. Care explaining why?" "As I have said before, Deathbird," Bishop said. "With the X-Men, I have a place. I have a mission. I've dedicated my life to their cause, and I won't abandon them. Also, you are not the Majestrix of the Shi'ar Empire. Your sister, Lilandra is." Deathbird shot an angry glare at him. Talking about her inability to rule always struck a chord. "According to this, we're approaching Earth," Bishop said. "It shouldn't be long before we enter Earth's atmospher--" There was a loud noise, followed by a flashing red light and the warning siren. "Deathbird, what's happening?" "One of the thrusters blew!! It must've been damaged somehow!!" "How do we fix it?" "We don't," Deathbird replied. "Get to the escape pods!!" Professor Charles Xavier sat in his study, reviewing the results of the Genosha disaster. He still couldn't believe the UN's decision to give Magneto rule of Genosha. The X-Men were able to stop him, yet the UN still signed over ownership to him. It was...absurd. Erik Magnus Lensherr, a man who has threatened the world time and time again. Yet this time, another threat causes the UN to collapse. By making Genosha a sovereign mutant nation, Magneto would increase the number of his followers. And if Xavier's X-Men were to stop him, they would have to be ready for anything. Even the passing of Joseph, their former teammate, couldn't change the fact that the team was badly in need of more training. Particularly Marrow, the former, twisted leader of Gene Nation. He would be able to teach her how to control her bone growth, as well as how to work with a team. It would be easy to send her to the Massachusetts Academy, to let Sean Cassidy and Emma Frost deal with her. But it was his job. Only his. As always, the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. Pietro Maximoff, otherwise known as the mutant speedster, Quicksilver, has been many things in his life. A terrorist, an Avenger, a government operative, a leader, a husband, a father. But he has never been a grieving son. Mainly in part because his father is one of mankind's greatest enemies: Magneto, the Master of Magnetism. However, ever since the enigmatic Joseph, who appeared to be a de-aged and amnesiac Magneto, arrived during the Onslaught event, Pietro finally thought his father to be reformed. After the apparent loss of his wife, Pietro stayed with the X-Men in order to grow closer to his "father." Now, here he was, standing at Joseph's grave. The truth revealed: Joseph was a clone of Pietro's father. If he had a choice, Pietro would rather have Joseph as a father. A caring, compassionate man. Perhaps if his own father wasn't so embittered by loss, things would be different. "Pietro, how ya holdin' up, sugah?" He recognized the accent immediately. "I am fine, Rogue," he replied. "Ah don't know how ta tell you how sorry ah am about Joseph," she said. "There is nothing for you to be sorry about," he said. "There was nothing you could do. It was Joseph's choice to sacrifice himself." "If there's anything ya need..." Rogue began. "I know," Pietro replied. "That's why I'm joining the X-Men." "It does not seem right, tovarisch!!" Piotr Rasputin exclaimed. "I understand your frustration, mein friend," Nightcrawler replied, trying to calm his friend, the X-Man known as Colossus. "But you must try to understand there is not much we can do about it." Peter sighed, sitting on the couch. Kurt wasn't sure what to say. During a period of uncertainty in his life, Peter joined Magneto's Acolytes, only to leave. He then joined Excalibur, the team Kurt once led before it disbanded not too long ago. Then he, along with Peter and Kitty Pryde, otherwise known as Shadowcat, returned to the X-Men. Now though, it didn't seem like such a good idea. Ever since their return from Genosha, Professor Xavier has been working them non-stop. Their only rest so far has been for Joseph's funeral.* (* in M2K's Uncanny X-Men #1 - Dino) "Peter, do you sometimes question our decision to return to the X-Men?" Kurt asked. "Nyet," he replied. "...at first. Now though, I find myself questioning it more and more. I believe the strain of the past few events has finally gotten to Professor Xavier. From Onslaught to Zero Tolerance to Cerebro to Magneto. Now, he is allowing us no rest, almost as if he wants us to experience what he experienced." Wolverine continued to brave the horrors of Genosha. The guards of the citadel were no match for him. He would've given Magneto more credit. The "mighty and vengeful lord" should've at least made his fortress somewhat impenetrable. Instead, Logan found it extremely easy. Like a cakewalk. He continued through the halls, but stopped before turning the next corner. "Acolytes," he muttered, his bone claws piercing the tops of his hands. They came out covered with a bit of blood, as always, but the wounds quickly healed around the claws, preventing blood loss. A healing factor was a wonderful thing. The two Acolytes who were standing guard, the Kleinstock Brothers, walked away from the door to Magneto's inner sanctum. Wolverine quickly ducked into the shadows, watching as they passed. It would be so easy to kill them. But that wasn't why he was here. Once the Kleinstocks were out of earshot, Wolverine rounded the corner, approaching Magneto's door. Claws extended, he burst inside. "Knock knock," he said, getting into a fighting stance. "Anyone home?" The room appeared empty. No sign of Magneto whatsoever. Perhaps he was elsewhere in the citadel...? Logan prepared to go searching, when he found he couldn't move!! "What the hell?" he asked. "Logan, Logan, Logan," a man said. "How foolish you are." "Magneto!!" Wolverine cursed. "Even coming here with the other X-Men would be insanity," Magneto said. "But alone, that's simply suicide. I never expected you to exhibit such stupidity." "You'd be surprised...." Wolverine said. "Perhaps," Magneto said. "But, nonetheless, it is time for punishment." Magnetically lifting Wolverine into the air, Magneto mentally commanded various metal objects in the room to attack the savage X-Man. Wolverine grimaced in pain at the attack. This wouldn't be as easy as he thought. Suddenly, the image of Magneto, and Genosha, began to fade. Wolverine once again found himself in the Danger Room. "That's only one possibility of how Magneto could stop you," a voice said over the intercom system. Wolverine looked up. In the control booth was Storm, alongwith Cyclops and Phoenix. The latter two were on a leave of absence from the X-Men, but had recently returned to the mansion for Joseph's funeral. "Would you like to see another one, Logan?" Storm asked. "Don't bother, Storm," Professor Xavier replied, appearing at the entrance to the Danger Room. "I believe it's time I evaluated Wolverine's fighting skill. Something I haven't done since he regressed into his feral state. I'm curious to see if the change is for the better or worse." "I'm still livin', ain't I, Chuck?" Wolverine replied grimly, removing the yellow and black mask. "Magneto's already done the worst he could ever do ta me a year ago, back when he took out my adamantium. Now, I'm achin' ta return the favor." "Your blindness by your rage amazes me sometimes, Logan," Xavier said. "You've been with the X-Men for years. You should realize that we're a team. And when you’re in a team, you follow the rules and rely on teamwork. Not moronic grandstanding. If you're willing to be a devoted member of this team, then be prepared to work hard. If you don't think you can handle the strain, then leave." "Why ya self-righteous--" "Wolverine!!" Scott exclaimed, entering the actual Danger Room with Jean and Storm. "That's enough! You have no right to question the Profess--" "Stick it in yer ear, One-Eye!!" Wolverine snapped. "It's high time somebody told him the truth." "Logan, now isn't the time to discuss this," Jean broke in. "Joseph's barely cold in the grave, and you're ready to join him." "That'll be a cold day in Hell," Wolverine said. He turned to Xavier. "This ain't over, Chuck." Then, he stormed out of the Danger Room. "Sometimes I wonder if we can really trust him," Scott said. "You're not one to be disciplining others, Scott," Xavier said. "You left the X-Men to take some 'time off.'" "Charles, that's hardly fair criticism," Storm interjected. "Scott and Jean have been loyal to the X-Men since the beginning. They are entitled to a little time off once in a while." "Storm, when I want your opinion, I'll ask for it," Xavier snapped. "I'll be in my study." With a mental command, Xavier's futuristic hoverchair turned and headed out the door. "Scott, Ororo, I'm worried about the Professor," Jean said. "That makes two of us, Jean," Scott said. "I'm just praying this isn't what I think it is." "What would that be, Scott?" Storm asked. Scott looked at her through his ruby-quartz sunglasses, which he needed to control his deadly optic blasts. He didn't need to say what he thought. They already had the same fears. But he was the only one not denying it. "Onslaught." The escape pod streaked across the night sky, finally landing in a clearing of woods. The impact had caused a fairly large crater. As the door opened with a hiss, Bishop pulled himself out. He observed his surroundings. "Deathbird...?" he asked. Nothing. It appeared as if his traveling companion was nowhere to be seen. Before finding her, there was one thing he had to do. Find out where on Earth he was. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEXT ISSUE: Head over to X-Men #2 by Dino Pollard for “DEATH OF A DREAM,” Part Three! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |