[Superpool]

Part 2

Bobby and Kitty are talking.
"So I was thinking now that Rogues gone, maybe we could start things up again?" Kitty asks. "I think there was something good between us."
"Kitty I've told you before. I love Rogue and I know she'll be back." Storm walks in.
"Guys, meeting in the War Room in ten minutes."

In the War Room under Xavier Mansion, Sinister's list is on display. Scott decides to go to find his brother at his last known location, Muir Island. He refuses to take anyone with him. Storm says he can use the jet and he leaves. Logan tells Storm he'll keep an eye on Scott, she protests but knows he won't change his mind, so just tells him to be careful. Logan leaves. She addresses the rest of the team,
"Kitty, try and find the location of the Morlocks. Then we'll go down there and offer them a home here."

At a meeting of government officials, there is a heated argument. They are saying the mutant problem is getting out of hand again, with this new version of the Brotherhood and other attacks. One says just last night there was some kind of fight in a building close to there, the X-Men are believed to be involved. They recovered some technology there of damaged robots that could help to hunt mutants. An agent called Boliver Trask is working on the technology to see what he can come up with to contain the mutant threat. They call it "Project Wideawake".

Scott has taken off in the jet. Logan sits down beside him. Scott is instantly angry.
"What are you doing here? I told you I need to do this on my own".
"I know, but you could be walking into a trap and I owe it to Jean to watch your back".
"Don't mention her name" replies Scott.
"Come on, she was gonna get mentioned eventually. You should know, there was no other way to stop her. She asked me to end it, it was the hardest thing i've ever had to do but there wasn't a choice. She was a brave woman and you should be proud of her."
"I am." (brief silence) "Thank you".
Logan buckles up.

That night, a man gets thrown through a window of a bar. Sabretooth leaps out after him threatening to kill him for insulting mutants. Before the killing strike however, a lit up card strikes him and knocks him back. Gambit steps from the shadows accompanied by Malice, Scalphunter and Riptide. Riptide can spin his body at superhuman speeds and fling out shurikens made from a resin his skin secretes. Gambit says he's got a job lined up for him.

Peter, Warren and Bobby are getting a drink in the local town. Warren is flirting with some girls and gets some numbers, then rejoins Peter and Bobby.
"I know you still think you're taken Bobby, but what about you Peter? How come I've never seen you with a girlfriend? Is there anyone lined up."
"I don't really want to talk about it" he replies.
"So there is someone. Come on we won't tell who is it? Kitty? Jubilee? Actually I've seen you getting along with Ororo quite well, maybe a little student/ teacher relations". Warren and bobby laugh.
"There are no women lined up" Peter says. "I guess I've kept it quiet long enough; I'm gay".
Warren and bobby look uncomfortable.
"Oh come on I'm still the same guy, i'm still your friend." No response. "You know with what we are and everything I would've expected you to be more tolerant with someone being different". He walks off.

The next day, Gambit and the mutants he's recruited stand before Sinister.
"You are the Marauders." Sinister tells them. "Mr Lebeau here has assembled you for a very delicate matter I'm sure you'll all be up to." Sinister gives Gambit a map of the Morlocks location and the job.
"You can't be serious, I'm not doing this" he exclaims.
"You will do as you're told boy. Come on, this will be one last job and your debt to me is paid. Or I will erase all the work I've done on you and you will die, consumed by your own powers."
"I'd rather die" Gambit replies. He attacks Sinister and the Marauders but there are too many, he is knocked unconscious by Sabretooth.
"Disappointing" remarks Sinister. "You will have to continue on without him. Malice will lead the team from now."

Kitty Pryde runs up to Ororo. "I've found them" she expresses joyfully.
"Suit up everyone" Ororo exclaims.

Storm, Iceman, Colossus, Shadowcat and Angel are exploring a sewer tunnel underground. Angel goes over to Colossus.
"Hey sorry about last night. It was just kind of a shock you know. Me and Bobby are cool with it, we all know that you can't help what you are." Colossus still looks annoyed.
"It's not like I'm attracted to every man I see! Are you attracted to every woman you see?"
"I know you're right, I'm sorry OK it was just unexpected."
"It's OK, besides, you're not my type" Colossus smiles.
"We're close team" Storm says. "Be ready for anything, apparently these guys aren't fond of people who live above ground." Just as she says that they are attacked by a few strange looking mutants and eventually captured.

Scott and Logan land on Muir Island and go to Mctaggerts school for the gifted. Scott asks for Alex Summers. They are greeted by Moira Mctaggert who tells them Alex left some time ago. She seems to be in a rush to get them out. Charles Xavier (in his new body) comes in,
"It's all right Moira."
"Who are you supposed to be?" Cyclops asks. He reveals himself as Charles Xavier and tells them what happened. "Alex hasn't left, I'll take you to him now." Scott goes into Alex's room, who is shocked to see him. They talk about old times and what theyve been up to since, Alex says hid codename is "Havok". There is an explosion somewhere in the complex. The Brotherhood have attacked, looking for more recruits. Cyclops, Wolverine, Havok and other mutants fight a team of them while Xavier confronts others. Magneto flies in.
"What are you doing Erik?" asks Charles.
"Charles is that you?" Magneto replies.

Underground, Storm is arguing with the Morlocks leader "Marrow" A mutant with uncontrollable bone growth, her bones petrude from her skin which she can snap off and use as weapons. Storm offers the Morlocks a home above ground, but Marrow doesn't trust her.
"Upworlders experimented on us and tossed us away when they were bored" she says. "You X-Men clearly harbor the pretty ones who can fit into society, there is no place for us."
"If you think we only take in pretty ones you should meet my friend Hank. We're not all as bad as you think, the man that did this to you was a sick twisted individual who doesn't represent the rest of us. We would keep you safe from people like that, and those that want to can fight them to stop others going through the same experiences you had". Marrow still looks unconvinced. Suddenly the Marauders burst into the cavern, Sabretooth brutally claws the mutants in his path. "What have you brought here X-Men?!"
"These aren't with us!" Storm shouts. The Morlocks and X-Men fight the Marauders, but clearly the Morlocks have no fighting experience apart from Marrow and are quickly getting slaughtered. Angel gets pinned against a wall by Scalphunter, who amputates his wings.

Back on Muir Isle, Magento and Xavier face each other.
"I knew you wouldn't stay dead for long old friend, you've always been too stubborn." remarks Magneto. "This new body seems to be working out for you, you can walk again at least." Wolverine, Cyclops and Havok burst in and are surprised by magnetos presence. Wolverine charges towards him to attack him, but Magneto stops him with his powers. "I'm sick of your animalistic approach to all this Wolverine, let's see how tough you are without your advantage." Wolverine looks at his claws, the metal peels off to reveal the bone claws underneath. He screams as the adamantium grafted to his skeleton is ripped from his body, and is left a quivering wreck on the floor as his healing factor tries to repair the damage.
"NO! This time you've gone too far Erik, I've had enough!" He charges at Magneto and manages to knock his helmet off. Magneto looks shocked, Charles points at Magneto's brain, whose eyes turn white. He collapses to the floor.
"Is he dead?" Cyclops asks.
"No. I couldn't do it. I've erased his memories. When he wakes up he'll remember nothing, much like Logan did years ago. Erik Lensherr will not be a threat to the world any longer."

Underground in Manhattan, the Morlocks are slain. Only Marrow is still alive, fighting with the X-Men. Just as Sabretooth is about to deliver the killing blow to Marrow, Gambit makes a sudden appearance and knocks him back with cards, saving Marrows life. He fights with the X-Men and helps defeat the Marauders.
"Thank you for your help, we thought the Morlocks had all been killed apart from marrow here" Storm says. Gambit looks at Marrow, who gives him a strange look, knowing he is not a Morlock, but doesn't say anything. Colossus picks up Angel who is still in great pain and carries him out of the cavern.
"I've lost everything" Marrow states.
"Come with us Sarah. You cannot stay here. You can live at our school." Storm looks at Gambit, "You can too of course, with that skill you would be a worthy addition to our team." They all leave together.

On Muir Island Cyclops and havok put Wolverine down in the jet. Havok says he'll come with Cyclops. Xavier walks in.
"It's time I come back, where I am meant to be. Moira can look after the students here." They take off in the jet.

Sinister is watching the X-Men leave the Morlock dwelling on screen. He looks very worried. He turns around when he realizes someone has just come in.
"You have disappointed me Essex" a booming voice states. Sinister immediately gets down on his knees. "You've barely been able to clean up you're own mess, and these X-Men could prove troublesome to my plans. You still have some use, you will help me get rid of these "X-Men"
Sinister humbly replies "Yes, Lord Apocalypse".

THE END

X-Men: Tales of Apocalypse coming soon.