"The Cure" part 1

Story and Script by: Richard Gutierrez

The X-Men and all prominent characters TM and copyright Marvel Entertainment Group 1999

The Blue Area of the moon. It is a section of the moon that has a limited Earth like atmosphere and gravity. The last time that the X-Men called Cyclops, Phoenix, and Iceman where on the moon, they where teamed with the Inhumans in battle against the ageless mutant Apocalypse and his Dark Riders for the life of Cyclops’ son Nathan Christopher, a.k.a. the mutant powerhouse Cable. It is a battle that had long reaching consequences for all involved. Apocalypse had infected Nathan with a deadly techno-virus that would have killed the infant if not for the arrival of one of Mother Askani’s followers, which sprinted the infant to the far future. Even though it’s been revealed that Cable returned to this time and Cyclops and Phoenix have made peace with him, there is still a piece of the wound that reopens when these X-Men find themselves at the base of what was the stronghold of Apocalypse.

Phoenix: (placing her hand on Cyclops’ shoulder): Scott…are you ok?

Cyclops: I’m fine, Jean. This place is just full of memories that no matter how many times I tell myself I’m strong enough to get past it…visuals have away of driving those memories home.

Wolverine: Listen Slim, we’ve all had our bad share of memories here in the Blue Area of the moon, but right now, we might want to keep an eye out, for the one us, that’s not used to being in Antarctica one moment and then the surface of the moon the next.

The mutants turn slowly and see the young 16-year-old mutant boy, that goes by the name of Tyro, silently looking up at the stars and…the Earth.

Tyro: Are…we…really on…the moon?

Iceman: (putting his arm around Tyro) Sure thing kid! Us X-Men come up here all the time. It’s practically our vacation hotspot. In fact, follow me and I’ll show you where that short hairy guy over there, stores all his cigars.

Storm: Bobby don’t…

Cyclops: Let him go Storm. I’m sure that whatever Iceman shows the boy it’ll get his mind off of his recent capture by Mister Sinister.

Sunspot: Why do you suppose Sinister wanted him?

Cyclops: Tyro told me that he had some kind of "Beginner’s Luck" power that allows him to successfully perform any task asked of him, the first time he’s ever done it. Sinister said something about using the boy to journey here to the moon and Apocalypse’s temple to find the cure for the Legacy Virus that’s plaguing the mutants of Earth.

Colossus: Why would Sinister want the cure for the virus? Do you think he might have contracted the virus himself?

Wolverine: Bub, It couldn’t happen to a "better" mutant!

Phoenix: We’ll probably never know, but if Sinister wants it…than we need to get it.

Storm: Agreed. Havok, you and Sunspot see if you can find where Iceman and the boy went off too. The others and I will start toward the temple and we’ll meet up at the "front door".

Cyclops looks at Storm as she once again slips into the role of leader to the team that he led for so long. He wonders where this leaves him.

Meanwhile on the planet Earth, Katherine "Kitty" Pryde is experiencing something that she hasn’t known for quite awhile…the feeling of anxiousness that all people feel before they go out on their first date with someone new.

Kitty: (to self, rolling her hair) You would think that someone who has battled all manner of evil mutants, demons, and hordes of ninjas would be able to calmly get ready of a date, but nooooooo…not me. I feel like I’d rather have my skeleton bound to adamantium and then have Magneto rip it out of my pores! My hair’s not doing want I want it to. My makeup makes me look like a tramp! AARRGGGHHH!!! Please, please, please let the Sentinels attack before he….

Kitty: (to self)…here. He can’t be here early. Wait a minute…it’s 8 o’clock now. I’m late. (Out loud) Hold on! I’m on my way! (Busily getting dressed) I’m sorry I wasn’t ready! I’ll be there in a minute!

Kitty: (heading to the door) Ok. No need to get impatient. I’m looking forward to seeing you (opening the door) too?

Nick Fury: Well nice to see you also Agent Pryde.

Kitty: Fury? What are you doing her? Come inside before someone sees you.

Nick Fury: Thanks. I see that college life is agreeing with you. Oh want, I’m sorry you look like you where getting ready to go out.

Kitty: The first thing I want "going out" is your smelly cigar. (Grabbing cigar and putting it out in the sink) Then, I want you out of here. I’m not an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. anymore, so unless you’ve got a real good reason…

Nick Fury: when was the last time I didn’t have a good reason. I’ll make this quick. It seems that your old friends Angel, gambit, and Rogue have hooked up with Magneto and are in San Francisco and are calling themselves the Brotherhood*. They have…

*See Issues of X-Men: the Brotherhood for the full story…..GUTE says!

Kitty: I’ll stop you there. You came here because you wanted my help in contacting them and bring them in, right?

Nick Fury: Actually, no. I came here to tell you that S.H.I.E.L.D. is going to bring these guys in and it would be better if you stayed away. We’ve tried to contact the X-Men but have had no luck. It’s like they’ve disappeared from the Earth. The only one we’ve found is Nightcrawler who’s stinking up the joint in Madripoor.

Kitty: Thanks for the warning. Now if you’ll excuse me…I have plans for this evening.

Nick Fury: I’m sure you do.

Nick Fury then leaves the off campus apartment of Kitty Pryde.

Kitty: (to self) Ohhhh I could kill that pompous…

Kitty: (going to the door) What’s the matter did you forget to clean up the slime trail you left behind (opening the door) you basta…

Mark Steevo: (handing Kitty flowers) Sorry, I’m late. There was some guy blocking the entrance to your building with his car. These are for you.

Kitty: Mark, it’s OK. These are beautiful! I’ll just go put these in water and be right out. (to self) All right Kitty, calm yourself. Nick got me so worked up about this whole Brotherhood thing that I almost snapped at Mark. Well, I’m not going to let him ruin my night. I’ll go out with Mark tonight and then since there are no classes tomorrow I’ll get a ride over to the mansion and see what’s up.

Iceman: Are we there yet?

Havok: You know if I said that I missed you Bobby, it’d only be because I have this code against killing fellow X-Men.

Iceman: Way I hear it, you and you little Brotherhood did a lot of damage to X-factor before you come back…

Havok: (grabbing Iceman by the shoulders and slamming him against a wall) Shut up, deep freeze! You have no idea what I went through.

Iceman: Cyclops, I’d tell your brother to take it down a couple of notches before I give him the worst case of "cold shoulder" that’s ever been recorded.

Havok: Bring it on…

ZZZZZAAATCKK!

Cyclops: (separating the two with a blast of his optic beams) Stand down both of you! We need to find away inside the temple, find this Legacy Virus cure, and get back home. If the two of you can’t control yourselves than I will.

Wolverine: (whispering to Colossus) Hey Red, does Cyc seem a little on edge?

Colossus: (whispering back to Wolverine) Dah, tovarisch. We all gathered together for an X-reunion and then before we know it, we’re off to rescue Cyclops from Mister Sinister in the Savage Lands.* Now, we’re all grouped together on the moon…him, his wife, his brother, our current leader, yourself, a returning member, and 2 kids thrown into the mix. I’m sure he is feeling a crunch.

*Issues 1-3 of Uncanny X-Men…GUTE says again.

Sunspot, one of the 2 "kids", hears Colossus speak and, even though he knows the massive Russian meant now disrespect, the word "kids" echoes in his psyche long after the group have finished their journey to the foot of Apocalypse’s temple.

Phoenix: Here we are…

Tyro: (walking up to the wall of the temple) Wow! This place is…huge?

Sunspot: What was that?

Wolverine: You can bet your family’s fajitas it’s not good.

The X-Men can feel the ground underneath them begin to rumble and shift. They can barely stand, as the surface of the moon below them seems to collapse, plunging the X-Men into darkness.

Storm: Hang on everyone! I will use my command over the weather to create some up drafts to slow our decent. There is so very little atmosphere here that I will only be able to produce light winds to help. I’m afraid that we will still hit the bottom hard!

Iceman: (hitting the ground) OOFFFF! Thanks for the warning!

KRAK!!!

Tyro: (hitting the ground) Aww!! I think I broke my leg! Help me I can’t see you guys!

Phoenix: (using telepathy to speak to Tyro) Be calm. I’ll use my telekinesis to splint your leg for you.

The rest of the X-Men finally land on the cavern floor.

Cyclops: Sunspot can you shed a little light on our situation.

Sunspot: (powering himself up) No problemo!

Wolverine: No Sunspot don’t! We’re not …

Sunspot: Just a minute.

Wolverine: …alone!

As Sunspot lights up the cavern, the X-Men look around and are surrounded by what can only be described as mini- sentinels!

Apocalypse: (over speaker system) Welcome fellow…mutants. I see that you have found one of my many temples that I have scattered around both the Earth and Moon…

Sunspot: Apocalypse alive! I thought he was died!

Wolverine: We should be so lucky! Nah, it’s not him. It’s just a recording of his voice on some preprogrammed playback that was trigger by our graceful arrival. What’s worrying me though, are all those mini-sentinels that are lining the walls.

Cyclops and Storm: (at same time) I agree.

They quietly look at each other

Apocalypse: (over speaker system) …if you are here than you must be tested. "For only the strongest survive".

With that, the cavern lights up and the walls come to life…along with the sentinels!

Havok: Here they come!

Cyclops: Jean, protect Tyro as best you can. His abilities aren’t much help against these guys. You are the only one among us who can both fight these robots and protect him.

Phoenix: I’m on it my love.

Phoenix then encases the young mutant in a telekinesis bubble.

Phoenix: Don’t be scared. I’ve got you.

The X-Men begin to counter attack the horde of sentinels.

Iceman: (freezing one in a block of ice): Is it me or do these guys seem a little…slow?

Colossus: (ripping the head off one) Boszhe Moi! They almost crumble like paper!

Havok: (dodging a blast from one) Tell that to thins one who’s on my…

Sunspot: (blasting it): Is that better?

Havok: Thanks. Look out…

Havok channels his cosmic energy and blows up one zeroing in on Sunspot.

Wolverine: I don’t care if these guys seem like inferior models of their big brothers, there’s still at least 50 more itching to get us.

While the X-Men continue to press their attack, Tyro is protected by Phoenix’s bubble.

Tyro: I wish I could remember what my life was like before that Mister Sinister kidnapped me cause I’m sure I had some friends or family that would get a kick out of this whole thing! These guys are kicking those robots butt’s! I wish my powers where more offensive. All I can do is just sit back here and…watch?

The young mutant looks around and sees some strange writing on a nearby wall.

Tyro: Hey, I wonder what that says?

As he stares at the writing, the seemingly unreadable symbols begin to change in his mind and…

Tyro: Wait it says…wow I can read that stuff. I have to let Phoenix know what I learned. Phoenix can you hear me?

Phoenix: Yes, Tyro what is it?

Tyro: I was able to read those symbols on the wall over there and apparently it’s true. The cure for the virus is here!

Phoenix: It is, where?

Tyro: It’s in Apocalypse’s center chamber. We need to hurry though, it says that the cure has a limited life span.

Phoenix: Scott, Tyro’s discovered where the cure is. Do you think you can hold these guys off while I take Logan and Sunspot with me to go retrieve it?

Cyclops: We’re almost done here anyway. Go and keep us linked telepathically then, we’ll catch up with you.

Phoenix contacts Wolverine and Sunspot and the three mutants, along with Tyro, head off to recover the much-needed cure for the Legacy virus.

Sunspot: (to self) Phoenix actually picked my to go with her and not Iceman or Havok. Maybe I do belong here.

A short time later as the group makes their why through the Labyrinth of tunnels…

Tyro: The signs said to continue down this corridor and then continue 1000 yards straight ahead and we should be there.

Wolverine: Not bad kid. This looks like the big guy’s sarcophagus that he uses to rejuvenate himself. So where is this disc?

Tyro: It’s supposed to be…there! There it is on that wall. Just blast open that wall and it’s right behind there.

Sunspot: One wall blast coming up.

Sunspot fires a solar blast at the wall and when the smoke clears….

Phoenix: Look there it is.

The gathered mutants look on as a shine silver CD-ROM sized disc stands revealed to them.

Phoenix uses here Telekinesis to slowly lift the disc.

Sunspot: I can’t believe it! After all this time we’ve finally got the…

RUMMMBBBLEEEE!!!!!

Tyro: What’s that noise?

Wolverine: Trouble. Jean you’d better call in the reinforcements…we’re going to need them.

They look up and Apocalypse has returned!!!!

End of Issue 4