The visit from Rachel Summers and Jono Starsmore still weighed heavily on her mind. She wanted to go to the Xavier Academy badly. She could make friends there, with children her own age who all with powers like her own. Amilynn had the power to manipulate time, slowing it down and even bringing it to a complete stop. With a lot of concentration, she could even jump backwards a short amount of time.
There was a pop from the foot of her bed. She sat up.
“Hello?” She slowly scanned the room. “Is there anyone here?”
“Yes.” Amilynn turned to see the long fingers grab her. She was unconscious before she could draw another breath.
|
#5
JAN 10 |
 |
“Old Enemies”
Jonothon Starsmore sat in the back of the X-jet, watching CNN via satellite. Charles Xavier sat front and center on the screen, flanked by Emma Frost and several others. Camera bulbs flashed as Xavier spoke, although the channel didn’t air Xavier’s statement. Instead a newsreader spoke.
“In yet another advancement for human-mutant relations, Professor Charles Xavier, head of X-Corps International, announced today that XCI will be allying with the international police force Interpol to form an organization currently being called the XSE, X-Gene Security Establishment. This international team will be responsible for policing mutants and investigating mutant-related crime worldwide. The group will be based in Miami, Florida, a hub of international activity, and led by Peter Wisdom, a former British intelligence operative and superhero-”
“Jono, find something better to watch or turn it off,” Cable said from the pilot’s seat. “Good hell, news bores me to tears.”
“Ah, come on Nathan,” Chamber said. “Doesn’t all th’ peace between mutants and humans excite you? This is damned cool stuff.”
“He’s right,” Sam Guthrie said from the co-pilot’s seat. “It is pretty cool.”
“I know, but why watch it on the news?” Nathan replied. “We’re living it right now. Isn’t that ‘cool’ enough for you?”
“So why didn’t they approach you to lead XSE?” Jono asked. “Seems like more your cup of tea than headmaster of the Academy.”
Cable glanced over his shoulder and grinned. “They did,” he said. “That’s why I was in Salem Center last week. I was offered co-leadership with Wisdom. I said no.” He checked his instruments and glanced back at Jono. “I’m a soldier, not a cop. With Apocalypse dead, I don’t even want to be that any more. I’m ready to be something else, for once.”
Sam grinned. “Good answer,” he said. “I guess that means recruiting trips and teaching combat strategies.”
“Yes,” Nathan said, “yes, it does.” Their radio began beeping. Sam and Nate looked at it and then each other.
“It’s XCI Edinburgh’s ID code,” Sam said. “Trouble or checking in.”
“Trouble,” Nathan said. “I talked to Betsy while you were in the can a half hour ago. No reason to check in again.”
Jono stepped between them and pushed the green “talk” button. Cable glanced at him with a cocked eyebrow, but spoke to the comm. “This is Cable.”
“Ah, Nathan, this is Rahne,” came the light Scottish accent of Wolfsbane. “Are you still on track for arrival in an hour?”
“Unless there’s a problem, then we can push it a little quicker,” he said.
“Aye, there is,” she said.
“What is it Rahne?” Sam asked.
“Hey Sammy,” she said. “It seems that the girl you’re coming to visit was kidnapped out of her bed last night. Betsy’s already at the base, speaking to her parents.”
“We can be there in a half hour,” Nathan said. “Is your XSE rep working on it too?”
“That’s Betsy until you lot take her with you tomorrow,” Rahne said.
“Okay,” he said. “Let her know we’ll come straight to the base and be there as quick as we can.”
“I will,” she said. “Wolfsbane out.”
Rachel crouched down next to Peter in the Academy’s garden. She had been working with him virtually non-stop since they had arrived home from Russia two weeks before. He had progressed much quicker than she expected, but they still had a lot of work to do. He looked up from his sketch pad at her.
“Hel-lo Rachel,” he said, wrapping his tongue carefully around the unfamiliar syllables. “How are you to-day?”
“I’m doing well, Peter,” she said. “Your picture is very lovely.” His art skill was the first thing to be restored, virtually by itself. He was nearly done with a sketch of a fall rose, one of the few left in Storm’s bushes.
“The flow-er is lovely,” he said. “Like Katya.” Rachel smiled. His attraction to Kitty had been prominent in the last two weeks also.
Suddenly, Rachel felt dizzy and started to sway. Peter stood quickly and steadied her. She sighed and smiled. “Thank you,” she said.
“Are you well?” he asked.
“I… don’t know,” she said. “I might have to talk to Beast the next time he visits.”
“This will help you feel bett-er.” He bent over and picked a fully bloomed pink rose. He turned back to her and held out the rose. As he held it out, his hand shifted into metal form, which quickly spread to the flower.
Rachel’s eye widened. “Peter, how did you do that?” she asked.
“Do what?”
“Cover that rose in your metal,” she said. He looked at the flower and jumped slightly, as if he had just remembered it was beyond his capabilities to cover other things with his metal sheath.
“I… don’t know.”
Not far away, a lone figure lowered a pair of binoculars and smiled.
“Perfect,” he hissed.
Betsy Braddock sat across from Colonel and Mrs. Johanson trying to look impassive. Carol Johanson was weeping into her husband’s shoulder, while the Colonel tried to hide the turmoil he felt while comforting her. For Betsy, it was hard to maintain the shell she had put up. Her psychic abilities helped her feel their loss on another level entirely.
“Colonel, I need to know,” she continued, “is there anyone that would want to harm you or your daughter? Any enemies in your family’s past?”
“Please, call me Martin for the time being,” he said. “And no, not that I know of. Ami was a good kid. Well-liked. I can’t think of anyone who would want to hurt or take her.” He was telling the truth. Betsy frowned. This was all so strange. What motive would anyone have for taking their daughter?
“Excuse me,” said Sergeant Greene from the door. She turned to face him. “The X-Men just touched down outside.”
“Bring them here,” Betsy said, her lightly accented voice commanding authority. She turned back to the couple. “They’ll be able to help.” She stood, crossed the room, and knelt in front of Amilynn’s parents. She put her hand on Carol’s shoulder. “Cable is one of the most skilled psychics I know, and he had Chamber with him; Jono has more raw talent than any mutant I know. We’ll find your daughter.”
A few moments later the front door opened and the trio of X-Men stepped inside. The trio wore civilian clothes, and if it wasn’t for Cable’s glowing eye and metal hand, no one would have known they were anything more than normal men. Their dress echoed Betsy’s casual tank top and cargo pants, normal clothing to put others at ease around them; it had been Charles’ idea. Betsy stood and gave them a nod.
Cable walked over to them. He offered his hand to the Colonel. “Sir,” he said. “My name is Nathan Summers. My sister visited you about a month ago with Jono over there. That is Sam Guthrie.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Martin said standing and taking his hand. “Please find my girl.”
Nate nodded. “We’ll do our best,” he said. He turned to Betsy. “Can we see her room?”
She nodded. “Naturally. Follow me.” The small group walked toward the bedroom.
Sam stepped up to Betsy’s side. “How are they doing?” he asked softly.
“Not well,” she said. “They’re very shaken.”
“Don’t blame them,” Jono whispered as they walked into the bedroom.
Cable turned to Chamber. “Jono, remember our psi training,” he said. “I want you to open your senses and scan for any lingering psychic presences. Anything that could clue us into a suspect.” Jono gave a nod and stepped into the middle of the room. Cable leaned against the wall next to Betsy.
“The fact he’s sleeping with your sister doesn’t bother you?” she asked quietly.
“No,” he said. “Should it?” Betsy grinned.
Jono suddenly grimaced and swayed. Sam stepped towards him and put out a hand to help steady him. Jono waved him away. “I’m fine,” he said. “But I know who it is. The… flavor of his psi signature is familiar.”
“Flavor?” Betsy asked.
“Dark, rotten… dead.” Jono looked up at them. “I know who this is.”
Amilynn woke up and tried to sit up. She found herself held down by heavy chains. She grunted and continued to struggle. Separate lengths of chain held her tight. She started to panic. She couldn’t move. The fear raced over her entire body. And then she heard the voices.
“Frost ain’t goin’ to be happy boss,” the shrill first voice said. “He’s going to want your head on a plate.”
“That matters not,” said the second voice. Amilynn’s fear grew. She knew that voice. “I must sup. This morsel is the most satisfying I can sense on this forsaken island.”
“You insist boss.”
“I do. I make the decisions, DOA. Don’t forget that.”
“Of course not boss.”
Amilynn heard a door creak slowly open. She began to hyperventilate as she heard the footsteps shuffle towards her. A dark face, partially covered in a gas mask, came to view.
“Good evening Miss Johansen,” he said. “My name is Marius. I am your kidnapper. I am also the last living being you shall see.” Amilynn’s eyes widened. He smiled.
Fearful prey was the most satisfying.
“Emplate is a psychic vampire,” Jono explained to the Johansons. “Every living being possesses an energy field, a life force. Emplate feeds on the life force of mutants. Ami was probably the tastiest he could sense.”
“You know a lot about this guy,” Martin said. “How?”
“He’s the brother of one of my closest friends,” he said, “and I have been one of his targets for years.” He glanced at the other X-Men. “Apart from maybe Monet, I’m probably the X-Men’s number one expert on Emplate.”
“So his attack on my daughter when you’re on the way to meet with us…” Carol asked.
“Was very likely a co-incidence,” Cable said. “Very poor timing.”
“Or good timing,” Sam said, “depending on how you look at it.”
“What do you mean, Mister Guthrie?” the colonel asked.
“Well,” he said, “your daughter was kidnapped by a monster just before a team of X-Men arrived to speak with you. A team with three psychics…and me.” Sam grinned.
“So you’re going to try to rescue Ami?”
“Yes,” Betsy said. “We’re going to try to rescue Ami.” After several more moments of reassurance, the X-Men left the small residence. They returned to the X-jet and gathered around the small mobile operations center in the jet.
“So what’s the plan, ‘expert’?” Betsy asked Jono, annoyance evident in her voice.
“Oh, come on, Braddock,” he growled. He rubbed his chin. “You can’t be serious. Tell me what you know about the Saint Croix family.”
“You ignorant twit,” Betsy growled. “I have yea-“
“Betsy, shut up,” Nathan said. He looked at her, his eyes narrowed. “Jono was right. He knows more about Saint Croix than anyone other than his sister. Considering Monet is off the grid right now, Jono is our best bet for trying to find him.”
“Thank you,” Jono said.
“But don’t get cocky, kid,” he continued. “Let’s save this girl. Tell us about what Emplate would do.”
“Well…” He sighed. “He’s probably isolated himself. He keeps himself away from people, it keeps his tracking abilities sharp.”
“The more isolated he is, the less likely he is to be found also,” Betsy declared.
“Right,” Sam said.
“And when you’re feeding on life force, you need time.” Jono laughed.
“You say that like it’s such an everyday occurrence, dealing with baddies like this,” Sam said.
“We’re the X-Men,” Cable said. “It is. Bets, can you find us any sites that match that sort of description. Focus on lighthouses, castles, anything like that?”
“Yeah,” she said. “No problem.”
Logan stood just outside the school grounds. He crouched over a set of footprints. They were still fresh, practically warm. He chewed his top lip for several moments before he caught a familiar scent. He turned and nodded at Storm.
“Hey there, ‘Ro,” he said. “How’s it going today?”
“Rachel is a bit under the weather,” she said.
“And Nate’s team? They found the kid yet?”
“Still working on it,” she said. “What did you want me to see?”
He stood and pointed at the footprints. “Fresh,” he said. “Probably sometime since sunrise.”
Storm crouched over the footprints and looked at them closely. “Thank you for telling me about this,” she said. “What else can you tell me?”
“Only a little, and none of it’s good,” he said. “The owner’s male. He’s heavy and wide. He was alone. There’s a tire treads about a half mile up the hill. Small, light SUV, probably a jeep. I’m guessing he was only here fifteen, twenty minutes tops.”
“All that from foot prints and tire tracks?” she said. “Surprised SHIELD has not recruited you as a crime scene investigator.”
“Pay’s not good enough,” he said, “and I can’t do a David Caruso impression.” He grinned at her.
She chuckled. “You have a theory?”
“Two encounters with Weapon X in a little less than six weeks?” he said. “Doesn’t take a detective… They were after my kids and Pete. I’ve never known Creed to give up easily.”
“And so he is still after them,” she guessed.
“Maybe,” Logan said. “But like you said, it’s just a theory. We have enough enemies that it could be literally anyone, even just an anti-mutant freak or a disgruntled parent.”
“I will let Nathan known next time he checks in,” she said. “In the meantime—”
“Yeah, I’ll keep an eye out,” he said. “Tell Kurt I could use some help when he’s done for the day.”
Cable lowered his binoculars and scratched his nose. A solitary pair Quonset huts sat in a clearing, years of disuse rotting them away. He looked back at Betsy.
“You sure this is our best bet?” he asked.
“Pretty sure,” she said. “Of the abandoned spaces in the area, this is the only one that’s been isolated enough recently to be even on the list.”
“If Emplate’s still in the area at all,” Jono said. “He has had teleportation tech in the past.”
“Well, then we’ll hope that he doesn’t right now.” Nathan’s eye flashed. He frowned. “If they’re in there, they’re not alone. I can sense four, maybe five presences. None of them are who we’re looking for, but they could be psi-shielded.”
Jono nodded. “Something familiar about them,” he said. “But they seem…”
“Hollow,” Betsy finished.
Sam rolled his eyes. “How about your little psychic club stop making me feel like I don’t belong?” he said. “And we can do something about it while we’re at it.”
Cable nodded and removed a short round blade from his belt. He pressed a button and the psimitar extended to its full length. “You’re right. Let’s move.”
“They’re hungry,” Tony Patrico muttered. The young mutant’s head twitched from side to side. He licked his lips as he watched the door leading into the holding cell. “How much longer?”
“The master must take his time, Bugout,” DOA growled. “You don’t want to see him after he rushes a meal. Grouchy.”
“I know how he feels,” Katisa Glenn replied. She dumped a handful of fruit gummies into her palm and quickly ate them. The former New Hellion Vincente simply rolled his eyes from where he sat near the window and looked back outside.
“You’re always grouchy, Kandi,” Alex Anderson hissed. Katisa stuck her tongue out at Toxicwaste. The large, suited figure just folded his arms and shook his head. Of Emplate’s minions, he was the only one that couldn’t pass as human. His body had been consumed by toxic material, forcing him to live his days in a containment suit or alone. He chose the former over the life of a hermit.
“Guys, something’s wrong outside. It just got darker.”
“Son of a—” The front door exploded inwards, followed by Sam Guthrie. Cannonball slammed into Kandi and continued through the metal hut.
“Knock, knock,” Cable said as he stepped through the door. His psimitar glowed yellow as he swung at Bugout. The young man’s body quickly covered itself with an exoskeleton, but the psimitar overloaded his nervous system before the chitin could effectively block the psychic attack. Cable kicked him away as Psylocke and Chamber followed him through the large hole. Vincente rushed towards Cable, transforming into a gas, but he put his hand out, ensnaring him in a TK vortex.
With energy forming a halo around his body, Chamber threw his hands out channeling a bio-nuclear blast through them, and slamming into Toxicwaste. Anderson was thrown back several feet before regaining his footing.
“X-Men,” he hissed. “Marius warned us you were coming.” Almost on cue, Cannonball slammed back into the ground, Kandi on top of him. She drew a glowing blade of psychic energy out of Sam’s chest. Toxicwaste smiled and extended his hand towards Jono.
“My turn,” he hissed. A stream of sludge sprayed towards Jono, but a telekinetic wall came to life in front of him.
“Jono, Emplate,” Cable said. “Betsy and I will handle these two.” He swung his psimitar around his body, the leather jacket he wore whipping behind him. For a moment Jono hesitated, desiring to see Nathan in action. He knew his priorities though. The girl needed him.
DOA stood in front of the door, trying to guard it with his body. Past the door, Jono could feel Ami, her distress and fear. Jono said nothing as he approached DOA. He simply held up his hand. Energy criss-crossed his arm and shot past his fingertips. It slammed into DOA and shot him through the door. Jono stepped into Emplate’s feeding chamber, bio-nuclear fire burning all around him. Marius was nowhere to be seen, but Jono could feel him.
“Mmmm…” the vampire hummed from the shadows. “The tastiest morsel I never fed upon. How is Jonothon today?”
“Pissed off,” Jono growled, his Scottish burr echoing off the stone walls. “I’m here for the girl. You leave her alone, you let us leave here. As much as I want you to burn, the girl is my priority. Let her go.”
“Ah, but I cannot,” he said. “And you wouldn’t want her. After I begin to sup, I can pinpoint anyone with nary a thought. Do you want that hanging over your head and your school?”
“The school’s lived through worse,” he replied. “And naturally, you’d have to come through me to get her.”
Marius laughed, filling the chamber with the eerie sound. “Quite cute,” he said. “The white knight in black leather. It’s almost endearing.”
Jono began to concentrate. He had to take Emplate out and was already in motion by the time he found him. Jono spun to his left, the gaunt, grotesque form of Emplate growing large in the dim light. Jono threw out both arms and hit him with a large stream of energy. Marius was slammed back into the wall, but recovered quickly and began to circle him.
“Much better training since the last time we met.” he said. “Imagine your accuracy with another couple of years training.”
“The girl,” Jono growled. “Just give her to me.”
“Ask nicely.”
Jono’s eyes narrowed and his whole body began to glow. “No.” Bio-nuclear fire tore free of his body, consuming his flesh as it filled the room. Emplate and DOA both threw up their arms to shield their eyes as the fire dew close to them.
“DOA, get us out of here!” Marius called.
“With what?”
“I do not care! Anything!” The duo were consumed by a greenish light moments later, the same light enveloping their allies outside after another few seconds. The fire drew itself back together, congealing into Jono’s form as his flesh and bone began to reconstitute itself around him. After several minutes, his body was nearly completely whole again. Jono felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Good job kid,” Cable whispered.
Snow Valley, 24 hours later…
Jono leaned against the outside wall nearest Ami Johansen’s room. The colonel had quickly agreed for her to join the school after her safe return. He was stunned by how quickly it all happened. He smiled as he felt a familiar presence join him.
“Hey luv,” he whispered.
“Hey Jono,” Rachel replied. She wrapped her arms around his chest. The warmth he felt through their psychic rapport was all he needed to forget Emplate for the time being. He’d show up again, but that wasn’t a matter for the here and now.
“We have to talk Jono,” she said. He suddenly sensed anxiety and excitement in her mind, but not the specifics of what she wanted to talk about.
“I’d ask good or bad news, but I have the feeling that it’s mostly good?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ve been feeling sick the last few days and… Hank got back to me a couple hours ago.” She sighed. “Jono… I’m pregnant.”
Sam Guthrie sat on the couch in his bedroom. Dani Moonstar sat on his bed across from him, a sly grin on her face.
“How quickly did she take you out again?”
“Oh shut up,” he said. “Don’t tell me that you’ve never been taken by surprise.”
“You know me,” she said. “I’m normally the one taking people by surprise.”
“Point taken,” he grunted. “So what happened to you this weekend?”
“Had a visit from Nick Fury,” she said.
Sam sat up. “Fury? What did he want?”
“What Fury always wants,” she said. “None of my- or your- business.”
“Really?” he said. “Do you think he wants you back in SHIELD?”
“Sam, I really don’t know,” she said. She sighed and laid back on his bed. “For all I know, he was trying to see if I still had valkyrie powers. I haven’t been active within SHIELD in… years though.”
Sam leaned back into the cushions. “Holy crap, what a life we lead. Never know what’s going to happen by the day.”
Just outside the school grounds, a single figure watched the pair from a tree. A grin spread across Feral’s face as she lowered the microphone from her ear.
“You have no idea,” she whispered.
To Be Continued...
Next: In Uncanny X-Men #6: Weapon X
Previous Issue | Next Issue
“In yet another advancement for human-mutant relations, Professor Charles Xavier, head of X-Corps International, announced today that XCI will be allying with the international police force Interpol to form an organization currently being called the XSE, X-Gene Security Establishment. This international team will be responsible for policing mutants and investigating mutant-related crime worldwide. The group will be based in Miami, Florida, a hub of international activity, and led by Peter Wisdom, a former British intelligence operative and superhero-”
“Jono, find something better to watch or turn it off,” Cable said from the pilot’s seat. “Good hell, news bores me to tears.”
“Ah, come on Nathan,” Chamber said. “Doesn’t all th’ peace between mutants and humans excite you? This is damned cool stuff.”
“He’s right,” Sam Guthrie said from the co-pilot’s seat. “It is pretty cool.”
“I know, but why watch it on the news?” Nathan replied. “We’re living it right now. Isn’t that ‘cool’ enough for you?”
“So why didn’t they approach you to lead XSE?” Jono asked. “Seems like more your cup of tea than headmaster of the Academy.”
Cable glanced over his shoulder and grinned. “They did,” he said. “That’s why I was in Salem Center last week. I was offered co-leadership with Wisdom. I said no.” He checked his instruments and glanced back at Jono. “I’m a soldier, not a cop. With Apocalypse dead, I don’t even want to be that any more. I’m ready to be something else, for once.”
Sam grinned. “Good answer,” he said. “I guess that means recruiting trips and teaching combat strategies.”
“Yes,” Nathan said, “yes, it does.” Their radio began beeping. Sam and Nate looked at it and then each other.
“It’s XCI Edinburgh’s ID code,” Sam said. “Trouble or checking in.”
“Trouble,” Nathan said. “I talked to Betsy while you were in the can a half hour ago. No reason to check in again.”
Jono stepped between them and pushed the green “talk” button. Cable glanced at him with a cocked eyebrow, but spoke to the comm. “This is Cable.”
“Ah, Nathan, this is Rahne,” came the light Scottish accent of Wolfsbane. “Are you still on track for arrival in an hour?”
“Unless there’s a problem, then we can push it a little quicker,” he said.
“Aye, there is,” she said.
“What is it Rahne?” Sam asked.
“Hey Sammy,” she said. “It seems that the girl you’re coming to visit was kidnapped out of her bed last night. Betsy’s already at the base, speaking to her parents.”
“We can be there in a half hour,” Nathan said. “Is your XSE rep working on it too?”
“That’s Betsy until you lot take her with you tomorrow,” Rahne said.
“Okay,” he said. “Let her know we’ll come straight to the base and be there as quick as we can.”
“I will,” she said. “Wolfsbane out.”
Rachel crouched down next to Peter in the Academy’s garden. She had been working with him virtually non-stop since they had arrived home from Russia two weeks before. He had progressed much quicker than she expected, but they still had a lot of work to do. He looked up from his sketch pad at her.
“Hel-lo Rachel,” he said, wrapping his tongue carefully around the unfamiliar syllables. “How are you to-day?”
“I’m doing well, Peter,” she said. “Your picture is very lovely.” His art skill was the first thing to be restored, virtually by itself. He was nearly done with a sketch of a fall rose, one of the few left in Storm’s bushes.
“The flow-er is lovely,” he said. “Like Katya.” Rachel smiled. His attraction to Kitty had been prominent in the last two weeks also.
Suddenly, Rachel felt dizzy and started to sway. Peter stood quickly and steadied her. She sighed and smiled. “Thank you,” she said.
“Are you well?” he asked.
“I… don’t know,” she said. “I might have to talk to Beast the next time he visits.”
“This will help you feel bett-er.” He bent over and picked a fully bloomed pink rose. He turned back to her and held out the rose. As he held it out, his hand shifted into metal form, which quickly spread to the flower.
Rachel’s eye widened. “Peter, how did you do that?” she asked.
“Do what?”
“Cover that rose in your metal,” she said. He looked at the flower and jumped slightly, as if he had just remembered it was beyond his capabilities to cover other things with his metal sheath.
“I… don’t know.”
Not far away, a lone figure lowered a pair of binoculars and smiled.
“Perfect,” he hissed.
Betsy Braddock sat across from Colonel and Mrs. Johanson trying to look impassive. Carol Johanson was weeping into her husband’s shoulder, while the Colonel tried to hide the turmoil he felt while comforting her. For Betsy, it was hard to maintain the shell she had put up. Her psychic abilities helped her feel their loss on another level entirely.
“Colonel, I need to know,” she continued, “is there anyone that would want to harm you or your daughter? Any enemies in your family’s past?”
“Please, call me Martin for the time being,” he said. “And no, not that I know of. Ami was a good kid. Well-liked. I can’t think of anyone who would want to hurt or take her.” He was telling the truth. Betsy frowned. This was all so strange. What motive would anyone have for taking their daughter?
“Excuse me,” said Sergeant Greene from the door. She turned to face him. “The X-Men just touched down outside.”
“Bring them here,” Betsy said, her lightly accented voice commanding authority. She turned back to the couple. “They’ll be able to help.” She stood, crossed the room, and knelt in front of Amilynn’s parents. She put her hand on Carol’s shoulder. “Cable is one of the most skilled psychics I know, and he had Chamber with him; Jono has more raw talent than any mutant I know. We’ll find your daughter.”
A few moments later the front door opened and the trio of X-Men stepped inside. The trio wore civilian clothes, and if it wasn’t for Cable’s glowing eye and metal hand, no one would have known they were anything more than normal men. Their dress echoed Betsy’s casual tank top and cargo pants, normal clothing to put others at ease around them; it had been Charles’ idea. Betsy stood and gave them a nod.
Cable walked over to them. He offered his hand to the Colonel. “Sir,” he said. “My name is Nathan Summers. My sister visited you about a month ago with Jono over there. That is Sam Guthrie.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Martin said standing and taking his hand. “Please find my girl.”
Nate nodded. “We’ll do our best,” he said. He turned to Betsy. “Can we see her room?”
She nodded. “Naturally. Follow me.” The small group walked toward the bedroom.
Sam stepped up to Betsy’s side. “How are they doing?” he asked softly.
“Not well,” she said. “They’re very shaken.”
“Don’t blame them,” Jono whispered as they walked into the bedroom.
Cable turned to Chamber. “Jono, remember our psi training,” he said. “I want you to open your senses and scan for any lingering psychic presences. Anything that could clue us into a suspect.” Jono gave a nod and stepped into the middle of the room. Cable leaned against the wall next to Betsy.
“The fact he’s sleeping with your sister doesn’t bother you?” she asked quietly.
“No,” he said. “Should it?” Betsy grinned.
Jono suddenly grimaced and swayed. Sam stepped towards him and put out a hand to help steady him. Jono waved him away. “I’m fine,” he said. “But I know who it is. The… flavor of his psi signature is familiar.”
“Flavor?” Betsy asked.
“Dark, rotten… dead.” Jono looked up at them. “I know who this is.”
Amilynn woke up and tried to sit up. She found herself held down by heavy chains. She grunted and continued to struggle. Separate lengths of chain held her tight. She started to panic. She couldn’t move. The fear raced over her entire body. And then she heard the voices.
“Frost ain’t goin’ to be happy boss,” the shrill first voice said. “He’s going to want your head on a plate.”
“That matters not,” said the second voice. Amilynn’s fear grew. She knew that voice. “I must sup. This morsel is the most satisfying I can sense on this forsaken island.”
“You insist boss.”
“I do. I make the decisions, DOA. Don’t forget that.”
“Of course not boss.”
Amilynn heard a door creak slowly open. She began to hyperventilate as she heard the footsteps shuffle towards her. A dark face, partially covered in a gas mask, came to view.
“Good evening Miss Johansen,” he said. “My name is Marius. I am your kidnapper. I am also the last living being you shall see.” Amilynn’s eyes widened. He smiled.
Fearful prey was the most satisfying.
“Emplate is a psychic vampire,” Jono explained to the Johansons. “Every living being possesses an energy field, a life force. Emplate feeds on the life force of mutants. Ami was probably the tastiest he could sense.”
“You know a lot about this guy,” Martin said. “How?”
“He’s the brother of one of my closest friends,” he said, “and I have been one of his targets for years.” He glanced at the other X-Men. “Apart from maybe Monet, I’m probably the X-Men’s number one expert on Emplate.”
“So his attack on my daughter when you’re on the way to meet with us…” Carol asked.
“Was very likely a co-incidence,” Cable said. “Very poor timing.”
“Or good timing,” Sam said, “depending on how you look at it.”
“What do you mean, Mister Guthrie?” the colonel asked.
“Well,” he said, “your daughter was kidnapped by a monster just before a team of X-Men arrived to speak with you. A team with three psychics…and me.” Sam grinned.
“So you’re going to try to rescue Ami?”
“Yes,” Betsy said. “We’re going to try to rescue Ami.” After several more moments of reassurance, the X-Men left the small residence. They returned to the X-jet and gathered around the small mobile operations center in the jet.
“So what’s the plan, ‘expert’?” Betsy asked Jono, annoyance evident in her voice.
“Oh, come on, Braddock,” he growled. He rubbed his chin. “You can’t be serious. Tell me what you know about the Saint Croix family.”
“You ignorant twit,” Betsy growled. “I have yea-“
“Betsy, shut up,” Nathan said. He looked at her, his eyes narrowed. “Jono was right. He knows more about Saint Croix than anyone other than his sister. Considering Monet is off the grid right now, Jono is our best bet for trying to find him.”
“Thank you,” Jono said.
“But don’t get cocky, kid,” he continued. “Let’s save this girl. Tell us about what Emplate would do.”
“Well…” He sighed. “He’s probably isolated himself. He keeps himself away from people, it keeps his tracking abilities sharp.”
“The more isolated he is, the less likely he is to be found also,” Betsy declared.
“Right,” Sam said.
“And when you’re feeding on life force, you need time.” Jono laughed.
“You say that like it’s such an everyday occurrence, dealing with baddies like this,” Sam said.
“We’re the X-Men,” Cable said. “It is. Bets, can you find us any sites that match that sort of description. Focus on lighthouses, castles, anything like that?”
“Yeah,” she said. “No problem.”
Logan stood just outside the school grounds. He crouched over a set of footprints. They were still fresh, practically warm. He chewed his top lip for several moments before he caught a familiar scent. He turned and nodded at Storm.
“Hey there, ‘Ro,” he said. “How’s it going today?”
“Rachel is a bit under the weather,” she said.
“And Nate’s team? They found the kid yet?”
“Still working on it,” she said. “What did you want me to see?”
He stood and pointed at the footprints. “Fresh,” he said. “Probably sometime since sunrise.”
Storm crouched over the footprints and looked at them closely. “Thank you for telling me about this,” she said. “What else can you tell me?”
“Only a little, and none of it’s good,” he said. “The owner’s male. He’s heavy and wide. He was alone. There’s a tire treads about a half mile up the hill. Small, light SUV, probably a jeep. I’m guessing he was only here fifteen, twenty minutes tops.”
“All that from foot prints and tire tracks?” she said. “Surprised SHIELD has not recruited you as a crime scene investigator.”
“Pay’s not good enough,” he said, “and I can’t do a David Caruso impression.” He grinned at her.
She chuckled. “You have a theory?”
“Two encounters with Weapon X in a little less than six weeks?” he said. “Doesn’t take a detective… They were after my kids and Pete. I’ve never known Creed to give up easily.”
“And so he is still after them,” she guessed.
“Maybe,” Logan said. “But like you said, it’s just a theory. We have enough enemies that it could be literally anyone, even just an anti-mutant freak or a disgruntled parent.”
“I will let Nathan known next time he checks in,” she said. “In the meantime—”
“Yeah, I’ll keep an eye out,” he said. “Tell Kurt I could use some help when he’s done for the day.”
Cable lowered his binoculars and scratched his nose. A solitary pair Quonset huts sat in a clearing, years of disuse rotting them away. He looked back at Betsy.
“You sure this is our best bet?” he asked.
“Pretty sure,” she said. “Of the abandoned spaces in the area, this is the only one that’s been isolated enough recently to be even on the list.”
“If Emplate’s still in the area at all,” Jono said. “He has had teleportation tech in the past.”
“Well, then we’ll hope that he doesn’t right now.” Nathan’s eye flashed. He frowned. “If they’re in there, they’re not alone. I can sense four, maybe five presences. None of them are who we’re looking for, but they could be psi-shielded.”
Jono nodded. “Something familiar about them,” he said. “But they seem…”
“Hollow,” Betsy finished.
Sam rolled his eyes. “How about your little psychic club stop making me feel like I don’t belong?” he said. “And we can do something about it while we’re at it.”
Cable nodded and removed a short round blade from his belt. He pressed a button and the psimitar extended to its full length. “You’re right. Let’s move.”
“They’re hungry,” Tony Patrico muttered. The young mutant’s head twitched from side to side. He licked his lips as he watched the door leading into the holding cell. “How much longer?”
“The master must take his time, Bugout,” DOA growled. “You don’t want to see him after he rushes a meal. Grouchy.”
“I know how he feels,” Katisa Glenn replied. She dumped a handful of fruit gummies into her palm and quickly ate them. The former New Hellion Vincente simply rolled his eyes from where he sat near the window and looked back outside.
“You’re always grouchy, Kandi,” Alex Anderson hissed. Katisa stuck her tongue out at Toxicwaste. The large, suited figure just folded his arms and shook his head. Of Emplate’s minions, he was the only one that couldn’t pass as human. His body had been consumed by toxic material, forcing him to live his days in a containment suit or alone. He chose the former over the life of a hermit.
“Guys, something’s wrong outside. It just got darker.”
“Son of a—” The front door exploded inwards, followed by Sam Guthrie. Cannonball slammed into Kandi and continued through the metal hut.
“Knock, knock,” Cable said as he stepped through the door. His psimitar glowed yellow as he swung at Bugout. The young man’s body quickly covered itself with an exoskeleton, but the psimitar overloaded his nervous system before the chitin could effectively block the psychic attack. Cable kicked him away as Psylocke and Chamber followed him through the large hole. Vincente rushed towards Cable, transforming into a gas, but he put his hand out, ensnaring him in a TK vortex.
With energy forming a halo around his body, Chamber threw his hands out channeling a bio-nuclear blast through them, and slamming into Toxicwaste. Anderson was thrown back several feet before regaining his footing.
“X-Men,” he hissed. “Marius warned us you were coming.” Almost on cue, Cannonball slammed back into the ground, Kandi on top of him. She drew a glowing blade of psychic energy out of Sam’s chest. Toxicwaste smiled and extended his hand towards Jono.
“My turn,” he hissed. A stream of sludge sprayed towards Jono, but a telekinetic wall came to life in front of him.
“Jono, Emplate,” Cable said. “Betsy and I will handle these two.” He swung his psimitar around his body, the leather jacket he wore whipping behind him. For a moment Jono hesitated, desiring to see Nathan in action. He knew his priorities though. The girl needed him.
DOA stood in front of the door, trying to guard it with his body. Past the door, Jono could feel Ami, her distress and fear. Jono said nothing as he approached DOA. He simply held up his hand. Energy criss-crossed his arm and shot past his fingertips. It slammed into DOA and shot him through the door. Jono stepped into Emplate’s feeding chamber, bio-nuclear fire burning all around him. Marius was nowhere to be seen, but Jono could feel him.
“Mmmm…” the vampire hummed from the shadows. “The tastiest morsel I never fed upon. How is Jonothon today?”
“Pissed off,” Jono growled, his Scottish burr echoing off the stone walls. “I’m here for the girl. You leave her alone, you let us leave here. As much as I want you to burn, the girl is my priority. Let her go.”
“Ah, but I cannot,” he said. “And you wouldn’t want her. After I begin to sup, I can pinpoint anyone with nary a thought. Do you want that hanging over your head and your school?”
“The school’s lived through worse,” he replied. “And naturally, you’d have to come through me to get her.”
Marius laughed, filling the chamber with the eerie sound. “Quite cute,” he said. “The white knight in black leather. It’s almost endearing.”
Jono began to concentrate. He had to take Emplate out and was already in motion by the time he found him. Jono spun to his left, the gaunt, grotesque form of Emplate growing large in the dim light. Jono threw out both arms and hit him with a large stream of energy. Marius was slammed back into the wall, but recovered quickly and began to circle him.
“Much better training since the last time we met.” he said. “Imagine your accuracy with another couple of years training.”
“The girl,” Jono growled. “Just give her to me.”
“Ask nicely.”
Jono’s eyes narrowed and his whole body began to glow. “No.” Bio-nuclear fire tore free of his body, consuming his flesh as it filled the room. Emplate and DOA both threw up their arms to shield their eyes as the fire dew close to them.
“DOA, get us out of here!” Marius called.
“With what?”
“I do not care! Anything!” The duo were consumed by a greenish light moments later, the same light enveloping their allies outside after another few seconds. The fire drew itself back together, congealing into Jono’s form as his flesh and bone began to reconstitute itself around him. After several minutes, his body was nearly completely whole again. Jono felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Good job kid,” Cable whispered.
Snow Valley, 24 hours later…
Jono leaned against the outside wall nearest Ami Johansen’s room. The colonel had quickly agreed for her to join the school after her safe return. He was stunned by how quickly it all happened. He smiled as he felt a familiar presence join him.
“Hey luv,” he whispered.
“Hey Jono,” Rachel replied. She wrapped her arms around his chest. The warmth he felt through their psychic rapport was all he needed to forget Emplate for the time being. He’d show up again, but that wasn’t a matter for the here and now.
“We have to talk Jono,” she said. He suddenly sensed anxiety and excitement in her mind, but not the specifics of what she wanted to talk about.
“I’d ask good or bad news, but I have the feeling that it’s mostly good?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ve been feeling sick the last few days and… Hank got back to me a couple hours ago.” She sighed. “Jono… I’m pregnant.”
Sam Guthrie sat on the couch in his bedroom. Dani Moonstar sat on his bed across from him, a sly grin on her face.
“How quickly did she take you out again?”
“Oh shut up,” he said. “Don’t tell me that you’ve never been taken by surprise.”
“You know me,” she said. “I’m normally the one taking people by surprise.”
“Point taken,” he grunted. “So what happened to you this weekend?”
“Had a visit from Nick Fury,” she said.
Sam sat up. “Fury? What did he want?”
“What Fury always wants,” she said. “None of my- or your- business.”
“Really?” he said. “Do you think he wants you back in SHIELD?”
“Sam, I really don’t know,” she said. She sighed and laid back on his bed. “For all I know, he was trying to see if I still had valkyrie powers. I haven’t been active within SHIELD in… years though.”
Sam leaned back into the cushions. “Holy crap, what a life we lead. Never know what’s going to happen by the day.”
Just outside the school grounds, a single figure watched the pair from a tree. A grin spread across Feral’s face as she lowered the microphone from her ear.
“You have no idea,” she whispered.
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To Be Continued...
Next: In Uncanny X-Men #6: Weapon X
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