Champions Issues

Double Issue #44/#45 - Night Shift/New New York

Issue #44 - Night Shift

At 2 AM the Justice Squad is working feverishly to deal with the believed-impending crisis - despite its unknown nature.  Gere-luce has been asked to revive Neumann post-haste.  Suzanne discusses how Cyclops nearly a year before was looking for a mole in the organization, and she had checked everyone - except Jean. 

After looking over the various locations at the School for  Mutants, Nexus lets the group know that he needs two hours  to get a feel for what actually happened.  He casts a spell  and steps through a gateway into an unidentified dimension  (Though the soft smell of the ocean does waft into the  room, and, for a brief moment, everyone feels a bit more at  ease.)

Laughton contacts Wilting Rose, informing her what happened in France, and his suspicions of Kietersling.  Given his recent encounter with Wilting Rose (soon to be revealed in an upcoming issue!), he asks Suzanne to keep her in the mental link as needed.  Of course Wilting Rose and Spectrum are okay with that, and, as will be seen later, this begins a sleepless night for Rose as she was just wrapping up an evening of her normal vigilante activities when Laughton called her.  In discussions with Laughton, she indicates she's aware of Kiesterling a little bit, both from discussions with Suzanne but also, she volunteers, he's been involved in some nefarious arms deals she busted a bit ago.  She indicates that if Kietersling is linked somehow to watch out for magical arms (that is what he was selling before, missiles  attuned to bypass all normal defenses and destroy no material, a sort of ultimate neutron bomb).  Finally, she adds, "If things are gonna get heavy, I need all my gear.  Can Suzanne or Eliot teleport the bike, the amp, a rack, my guitar, and me if need be?"   Spectrum indicates she can do that since Wilting Rose is pretty well connected to the  stuff, though Spectrum would have to go there and come back with it all.

Spectrum is patrolling, looking for signs of activity and remaining vigilant.  As Spectrum flies around New England/New York, she has a certain sense of dread, arising from many psychics who are feeling it and relaying it to her.  

Laughton of course gets busy as the others do.  His quick calculating brain performs a series of permutations.  He determines DEXTER may have a role in this, especially considering unusual levels of data activity to and from Detroit.  He dismisses any overt role of Sacrosanct (see an upcoming issue for more on what this means!).  He calculates the probability of Vision being a pawn in ABC's/DEXTER's agenda, but even he cannot be sure of that, filing it away for further study.   He dismisses the idea of DEXTER having any psychic powers as unlikely given all he has studied.  Having learned a lesson in going into Kingpin's lair solo, he considers contingencies where he makes a move against Magneto on his own terms, if necessary, and convincing him of the presence of a greater evil.   He also runs a mental inventory of forms that might protect Sammy against Phoenix and Magneto.

During the time Nexus has dimensionally studied, Laughton has tracked communications from Paris and Marseilles, where Vision's crude lab was, to the eastern seaboard, to the time they first received psychic screams and through the traces of the hovercraft that disappeared from satellite photos.  He finds nothing significant to Paris except for just after the Justice Squad (sans Laughton) interviewed Schlumberger, then significant communication to Marseilles and back-and-forth; this is immediately narrowed down to Schlumberger/government contacts.  Isolating and studying Vision's Marseilles data pipe shows a burst of information had come and gone some 12-48 hours prior, direct from Detroit and apparently related from somewhere else on the Eastern seaboard.   

He also reviews for any Sacrosanct connections and finds there was significant US-Vatican communications all during the prior day, the day following the dragon attack on Laughton Agency (the place really is a mess by the way).  Then it died down last evening.  In the last few hours it's escalated, but that's hard to differentiate as communication has steadily pumped up with the US going on red alert and all that.  But all boosted communications PRIOR to that, during the period just following the dragon attack, were initiated from the US TO the Vatican, nothing vice-versa.  Based on his knowledge of Sacrosanct communication methods, he surmises that DEXTER is probably performing some sort of surveillance, possibly itself looking into Sacrosanct's role.  Laughton ponders why Vision sent a metal dragon instead of coming himself; he suspects it was some sort of test or diversion, but no real evidence can be gathered. 

Along the lines of Sacrosanct, Laughton wonders how religious any of the X-men are and if any of them are devout Catholics.  He learns Beast/Hank attends Mass as regularly as he can.  Laughton asks Beast about this, and if there are any mental lapses in his memory, and if he can account for his whereabouts last night.  Beast becomes agitated after a bit as to this interrogation and eventually goes away in a huff.  Laughton sees he is not lying, though.

Hamlet puts out a securely anonymous "leak" linking ABC to Vision to monitor how fast is is squelched and from where that action originates.   He waits for a result...

Laughton during the early hours also runs a reverse location trace on his recent calls to Magneto.  He also replays the  the conversations with Magneto, listening for background noise, voice inflection, etc.  Something was not right, perhaps a review will turn up a fresh idea he thinks.  He finds the phone signal was (by its nature almost certainly deliberately) tampered with and he was concealing Magneto's location; the cell phone shows as being in LA but is probably not; timings and latency studies indicate it's almost certainly in the greater NYC area, possibly NJ or CT.  This accounts for the level of oddness Laughton sensed in that Magneto was deceiving Laughton on at least some level.  Laughton, listening to the tape intently, finds that Magneto was dancing around the Rogue/Phoenix issue.  He knows "something" Laughton is convinced upon further study.

Laughton also contacts the MIB for tracking of the hovercar.  He waits for them to return information.

Throughout the night Laughton also considers the members of the EU sanctioned group that started Vision, but has no real time to research that and whether they have any connections to Magneto's brotherhood or ABC.  He only finds, from a hasty search based on the man he met from the EU, a smattering of info on the organization, It iss basically a sub-office of the EU "Logistics and Support" organization.  None of the names seem associated with Magneto, though some are affiliated with major companies and therefore there are a few connections to ABC executives.  

Two hours after he disappeared, Nexus re-appears, visibly shaken.  He calls the X-Men and Justice Squad together.

"I spent the last two hours checking dimensional nexi to get a feel for what happened here, what could have  happened, and what likely will happen.  It doesn't look  good."

"It looks to me as if Phoenix kidnapped Rogue.  This is the most likely scenario, and it the one that best fits what we have observed here.  It is also likely that Phoenix is in league with Magneto.   This probably means that Magneto is intending on grabbing the powers of another super who is not in league with him.   My own powers could be potentially dangerous, but without  the study of magic, they would be difficult to wield.   Suzanne's powers are prodigious, but Magneto already has  Phoenix, and she has similar powers.  Sammy's powers are  subtle, but we have ways of seeing through his deceptions.   Hamlet, on the other hand, I shudder at the thought of what  would happen if Magneto gets a clone of your powers at his command.  Magneto has been particularly solicitous of your  attention over the last few months.  You need to be on your guard.  Beyond this group, there is the possibility that Magneto's eyes are set on The Captain - though he would have to have Rogue thoroughly brainwashed to make full use of this."

"There also another troubling matter.  If Magneto isn't mixed up with this, Vision seems to be.  There is some possibility of some kind of cross association between Magneto and Vision.  We need to be careful to look for links between them.  The more we know about the Vision, the better. "

"Finally, in the scenarios I saw in which we battled Phoenix, the outlook did not look good.  Sammy in particular seemed to have some vulnerability to Phoenix.  Fighting her now could very well result in Sammy's death.  We'll need to look further into this before we fight her. "

"For this reason, I am not ready to track them down.  I fear that if we find them before we are ready, we will be handily defeated.  I will gather some samples of DNA from Phoenix and Rogue and see what I come up with in my lab."

"One other thing.  I spent the second hour attempting to gain some insight into Vision's next attack.  Most likely, it will be in Detroit, and if it is in Detroit, most likely it will be someone we know (though it is not likely to be one of us).  Buffy, Willow, The Flaming Carrot, and Wilting Rose are at particular risk.  Suzanne, you should warn them at your earliest convenience.  If this does not come to pass, there is a strong danger that the Vision will turn up in New York City and begin slaughtering normals."

"I think the Vision is still our first priority, but we need to be ready for a hostile move by Magneto.  Magneto knows a lot more about us than we do about him.  We need to find a way to turn this against him.""

Hamlet pauses, a myriad thoughts racing through his mind.  "I need to do some further investigation, just some brief computer time, and a few phone calls.  I have some ideas......."  Laughton trails off as he heads for the nearest computer terminal.

Sammy asks Suzanne, who has teleported back for the consultation, if she would like to do some mental training exercises.  Spectrum assures Sammy she'll do what she can, but needs to take care of some stuff.

Spectrum points outs to Nexus that she did scan Rogue, back when Cyclops had requested such, and didn't find anything.  She notes that someone could have mind controlled her though to take Phoenix.  She asks how many of the scenarios that Nexus looked at included Rogue there.  Sihn indicates that in many she was there, in many she was nearby, in several she wasn't around but it was clear she was known to be nearby.  She apparently, in parallel universes, is key to this.  In fact this replays itself in the "evil" universe where the Justice Squad are bad guys and part of the ruling order; Magneto and his freedom fighters are there with Rogue and the evil eye-patched Professor X is commanding "Get them my Justice Lackeys, get them!"

Spectrum teleports to discuss with Willow, as it's quicker to teleport to those she's most familiar with.  Willow of course is also appreciative and asks if they can help.  Talking with Willow, Suzanne comes across as worried for her), but wonders if perhaps between she and Dr. Strange something to safeguard bystanders at least could be done.   Especially if this winds up in New York.  Willow gets the full update from her.  If she wants to come with, Spectrum will bring her.  Willow's willing and ready, and can mobilize the Scooby Gang as well.  Although she's worried maybe someone should watch Detroit, if there were visions of an attack there.  But if Spectrum thinks it's best, she'll go to NYC.  While Spectrum clearly wants Willow to go with her, upon closer consideration she thinks it better for Willow to stay here and keep a watch out. 

As Spectrum gets with Wilting Rose, Wilting Rose says she probably better be on the lookout for danger in Detroit, all things considered, but thanks much for the heads up.  She asks for whatever info she can get in a brief conversation; she seems rushed.

She also gets with Flaming Carrot, briefing him.  After her long-winded tale, he exclaims, "UT!  There is danger afoot!  We will get the bowling balls and plungers and be ready for this robot and all danger!  Thanks, Justice Squad Spectrum!"

Spectrum also concentrates on finding Dr. Strange, who is easy to find.  Strange is in his mansion in New York City, contactable by Spectrum because he wills it so.  Basically she gives Dr. Strange the whole story and tells him that the Squad thinks this will happen in New York or LA.  Also she talks to him more about the disturbance and brings up her theory that it's not Phoenix, but someone else.  She mentions having Willow help as well.  Dr. Strange agrees as he has seen similar signs, and is unsure of how to best protect the people of NYC or LA.  In response to the Phoenix idea, he'll start looking for other personalities among mental energies instead of her, in case, and he'll look through some books on super-mentallic possession.  Strange suggests he'll alert Ghost Rider in LA and offers that it might be best for Willow to go there and assist him, since Strange is more concerned about how weak they are there for heroes compared to NYC.  And he adds, "You can all me Stephen, by the way."  She gets the sense the courtesy is not automatically extended to others of the Justice Squad.

Suzanne teleports out to Los Angeles to find the Ghost Rider, which, between her senses and Dr. Strange's guidance, proves not terribly difficult to find.  It's their first meeting, but she's not terribly creeped out, given her experiences, with his eerie, groaning, hoarse voice.  Ghost Rider asks about Death, whom the Justice Squad has fought and whom he is aware is free and is concerned may be involved.  They agree to mentally reach each other as needed, Ghost Rider remaining in LA.

After this meeting, her "other self" also speaks up rather directly - "Suzanne, isn't it time you let me take over for a bit?  I'll take care of us both - just as I have in other times we were in danger.  You KNOW I would never let anything harm us.  Whether I've always done the right thing...well I don't know...but I know you need some help...and you need to let me in.  Directly."  And then it's time to have a heart to heart with her other self.

Suzanne is struggling against the force of this other will, as she's terribly sleep-deprived and there is more to do, but she fights through that.  Spectrum knows she can't let her take over; even though she feels on one level she needs her help, her friends take priority, and she knows this other self is likely to endanger them.  Spectrum is thinking that it's not Phoenix in control.  Or at least not Jean Grey.  Since her other self is talking she sees what she thinks of that theory; she had not voiced this to the others given her own situation with this.  The other self says, "It could be, based on what we've read in general it wouldn't surprise me."  She expresses no certainty either way but thinks it's a credible theory.

Her other self, though, seems to hold back, and when Spectrum confronts her on this, she continues, saying "Just as you can't let me take over, I can't let you know everything I know.  Besides, I help you by holding onto the things too big for just you.  I don't know why you trust your friends more than me."  But she puts up little greater struggle as she doesn't seem to have anything tempting enough to offer other than being vague that she "might" know something important and "besides, your friends need my power, don't they?"  Suzanne points out to her that she takes shortcuts and sees things much more black and white.

As Laughton and others ask about the scenarios regarding Phoenix and Rogue, Nexus indicates, ""The most common scenario was one in which Phoenix kidnaps rogue and takes her to a magnetically powered getaway vehicle.  The next most common was a scenario in which Rogue and Phoenix meet and decide that it is time to go join Magneto.  After that is a scenario in which Magneto violently attacks them.  On down the line were scenarios in which they are attacks by Vision, or Phoenix chats with Vision.  There are a few scenarios in which nothing happens, but those were rare.  The best fit with what we saw was the first scenario in which Phoenix kidnaps Rogue.   We still haven't really accounted for the psychic warning we received, though.  I have a lot of doubts about how this is being caused - despite my general distrust of Magneto.  We need to be especially on our guard for some sort of mentalist trick.  I'd feel a lot better about today if we could remove the possibility of a puppet-master from the mix."

Nexus also checks with Professor X about the possibility of Rogue stealing Laughton's or others' powers, taking into account alien physiologies.  He is concerned to see his theories are probably correct as Professor X agrees it is likely.

This puts the clock at about 4:15 AM, at this point.  Cat-naps are the best sleep anyone has had, for those who need it.  Nexus disappears again, as before, to do more research on where Magneto is likely to be found and fought as well as detailed research on the likelier battle scenarios.

Professor X also has bad news - Jean either is more powerful than he is when combined with Cerebro - or whoever has is.  Either way, that means either someone has a device as powerful a Cerebro, which he knows exists but has almost never run into, or someone is just that more powerful and that's just plain bad news at the moment.

The New School for the Gifted now looks like a sort of paramilitary supers base.  The gates have now been raised and the entire complex is covered in a metallic grid with a sparkling energy shield.  All pretense of it being a normal school has been dropped.  Younger and less capable students have been locked down in a bunker, the older and what is apparently a sort of "X-Men Auxiliary" is being deployed, with Colossus, Wolverine, and others suited up.  Professor X is consulting with Cyclops on weaponry - in-between various calls to and from the government. 

Back at the Justice Squad base, Gere-luce has feverishly worked through the night to get Neumann - long undergoing extensive repairs as Gere-luce has gotten to understand his engineering better - up and running.  When Neumann comes to he is briefed on the situation.  He immediately sets to work researching magnetism.  Gere-luce, considering the situation, asks if he's sure e doesn't want "a button" (one of Gere-luce's special self-destruct buttons, well known to the Squad) added, but Neumann demurs.

The government has just issued a Red Alert (terrorist attack imminent) to the nation this hour.  It's only 3 months after 9/11.  In major cities there is a consideration of shutting down work, even though the government has not released at all the suspected origin of this attack or that it's metahuman related. 

Both government officials and superheroes "in the know" are frightened of what this portends, and it shows.  Throughout the New School, there is little talk or humor.  Even the Imperial Falcon is unusually quiet. 

Laughton's monitoring of the leak he promoted reveals something as it pops up on one of the rogue pirate blogs (the Internet being very controlled and most private citizens don't participate) at 4:45 AM.  At 4:48 AM the site "mysteriously" goes down; as Laughton tracks it down, the server was infected with a CPU-busting virus that caused it to literally burn up inside.  Logs show the attack was relayed from a site in Brazil, not sure where it originated.  Laughton investigates and finds an array of broadcasts that's quite compelling, it rivals his own.  He cannot trace it to Detroit or DEXTER, but he feels that only DEXTER could have done it, but that's his only real "proof" is the level of difficulty/complexity, the tracks are well-covered.  The author of the blog cannot be reached and at 5:15 AM does not answer his cell phone, although, as Laughton determines, he has no job or obligation in the AM.  He had to have been connected between 4:30 and 4:45 AM.  The man lives in Boston.  He makes a note to visit on the way to what, by this time, he know is a trip to New York, time permitting.

Concurrent with this, about 4:45 AM, all at once, each member of the Justice Squad's cell phones are called, although in the New School they no longer reach outside, so only Spectrum's goes off as she is busily following up with the Detroit heroes.  She answers the call; Professor X has left a single mental channel open, and that is used by Spectrum when she's allowed "air time".  She relays a message, as it turns out, from Jonas Hell, which is simply that he's aware something big and bad is up, that the Magneto organization has deployed in Los Angeles and New York for "something" and that "the fate of the world" is at stake.  He also adds, "I think the Justice Squad is in danger, the odds in Vegas of a Justice Squad battle went down to 1:1 today - and I hate to tell you this, but the odds of a Justice Squad death are now being taken at 4:1.  Odds of an X-Men death just got shot down to 1:1.  The bettors know something, I'm trying to find out who's trying to cash in."

Laughton immediately begins to research this.  He traces a couple of the bigger bettors  One is none other than Eduardo Tocci!  The other is definitely a front person for the Magneto organization, on the radical side of it, whom Laughton already knows won't know more than they were told to bet some) money.  This person may even be representing a splinter radical group and not Magneto's own.  The person is immediately  unreachable without going and digging him up.  Tocci gets a call at 5:30 AM.  He's wide awake, and Laughton hears the news on a TV in the background.  He says, "I got an anonymous tip from someone, an old friend they claimed.  They said they knew Kingpin, and they said they'd call back and wanted a cut.  No offense, my friend, but I can't pass up an opportunity to make money in my old age, particularly on a" (he stresses the words) "FIXED INCOME."  But, hey, you found me out, I'm busted, I must confess.  The man had a German accent..."

In moments, with a cursory phone check, Laughton's sure it's Kietersling, from Berlin.

Spectrum teleports to see her boyfriend and Outsider member, Nightshade, who is on patrol and about to meet with the rest of the Outsiders.  She updates him, telling him what she learned.  She mentions she's talked to Necromancer's dad as well.  Nightshade's pleased to see her.   As he mentions he'll let Necromancer know Suzanne has spoken to Dr. Strange, he adds he's sure that Necromancer probably also has spoken to him by now, since that's how they were alerted at first that something was up.  Jeremiah (Nightshade) offers up that his group will be nearby and ready for anything, just contact them.   He mentions that earlier Necromancer passed on to him to ask her to remind Nexus that he has a card of Necromancer's and they can pass through that card when needed.  She crashes at his place.  Nightshade leaves her to it after briefly saying goodbye (both are too tired and stressed for anything else; although his pleasure in seeing her shines through, otherwise he's as cold and distant in some ways as she's ever seen him, he's on edge for preparing for something nobody really knows enough about) as the Outsiders are meeting with the Mayor (Giuliani) and their federal liaison.  She goes into a deep trance-like meditative state that allows her to refresh entirely within an hour!  

But she finally turns her phone off, as, throughout this, everyone in the Squad is getting calls from both Terwilliger and Condi Rice.  Terwilliger seems to be in charge in the White House; but so does Rice.  It's both annoying and confusing, as often Rice will call to ask the same things Terwilliger asked about 15 minutes earlier, and vice-versa.  They appear to be working out of different areas.  Laughton's sources have told him the executive branch, including Rice, has gone deep into their bunker, with Air Force One ready to take the president "to Mars, if necessary."  Laughton, thinks, "Those poor Martians, they really don't deserve something like that."

At 6 AM the MIB return information to Laughton, indicating they've contacted "sky agents" (UFOs) and then a few night-time partiers who saw a "UFO".  They traced it to a landing just off Long Island, near Point o' Woods on Fire Island.  Point o' Woods is completely self-contained; stores, kids camps, a ferry line, tennis courts, fields, and the islands only train track. Well known for its forest like landscape, boardwalks and huge fence with key only access.  Laughton pulls up satellite recon photos of Fire Island and Point o' Woods.  He notes a few odd vehicles and small plane flights, and unusual activities in different areas right around, there, pointing to a possible convergence area (no observed activity there but it's well-covered) in a forested area.

About this time Suzanne comes out of her trance and checks in, feeling much more refreshed, and teleports to the New School, picking up Neumann from back in Detroit along the way, arriving about the same time as Nexus, who reappears at 6:20 AM from his further dimensional studies.  He declares, ""I'm going to program the danger room with the details of the some of the scenarios I saw when we fight Phoenix.  You can observe the fights as I saw them, or participate as you wish.  Sammy, I'd like you to spend some time watching these.  It is especially critical that you understand what we are up against.  I'll teleport there now and bring along anyone who is interested."

"Then I need to spend some more time following up on the things I learned in my last session.  I'm going to try to find some details about exactly what we need to suspect from Magneto.  After this, I'll spend some time doing DNA analysis.  We've got some tough battles coming up, and we need to be as prepared as we can be."

In mere minutes, Nexus quickly  finishes the computer programming and his holographic projection occupies a large portion of the New School Auditorium.

In broad daylight, just above the Empire State Building (now NYC's largest building again, post-9/11), the Blackbird approaches.  Visible on the top of the building are Magneto and Phoenix.  The Blackbird is sent plummeting into the bay, but apparently was a diversion as teleporting onto the top of the building are the Justice Squad and some of the X-Men.  And coming from the sky all around are the X-Men and a few other supers, including Nightshade and Necromancer of the NY-based Outsiders.  And just as suddenly arise Magneto's confederates, some recognizable such as Nightcrawler and Lizard King, some new, and other unexpected but major supers including the Anarchist and Red Amazon also appear by his side (as Nexus explains, these confederates change greatly in different views of the battle). 

The battle is quickly joined.  Phoenix lifts the entire roof of the building telekinetically and sends it hurtling down into the street below, sending non-flying Justice Squad members into the mode of finding a place to go, killing several less fortunate supers and apparently bystanders below.  Now the battle is only in the sky.  Nightshade calls to Sammy for help, then, apparently mind-controlled, sucks away some of Sammy's soul.  Laughton is down below in the Empire State Building and disappears from view.  You can only see and hear things, so it's unclear what mental communication is taking place among the JS. 

Spectrum encompasses Phoenix in a barrier of steel as Neumann steam-heats it up.  Nexus engages Magneto and places a massive entangling force wall around him.  Other supers battle around them.  The Lizard King jumps from one of his flying confederates onto Sammy and they fight, Sammy sending the Lizard King hurtling downward. 

Phoenix' mental powers are undeterred by her predicament it appears and Sammy is seen struck unconscious by a Phoenix mental blast, he starts to fall but is saved by Spectrum.

Spectrum is then hit by Magneto who penetrates Nexus' force wall as Nightcrawler teleports him out.  She is stunned and loses hold of Sammy.  Then Red Amazon comes from behind Nexus, bludgeoning him and stunning him, though his cape keeps him resting in midair. 

Neumann reaches out with his tentacle-like cabling but is shocked to find that as he catches Sammy, Phoenix delivers a fatal mental blow, frying Sammy's brain.  He rests limp in Neumann's arms.

Sammy throws another handful of popcorn in his mouth and crunches away as he is watching the holo-movie.  Many thoughts go through his head as he drops his popcorn in awe....  he wonders what loosing one's soul would feels like, why the Lizard King and Nightshade would be so mean, given that they are friends. Finally, he has thoughts of trying some drugs given that his brain is going to fry anyway.  All this wondering has definitely made Sammy hungry...   "It would be a real shame if he missed his last meal... everyone deserves a last meal, right?" he thinks.  "Geee...  all these depressing thoughts are definitely making me more hungry...  this is a fight we do not want to happen -- think of all the Turkey Dinners we would miss if we allowed these events to pass..."

Neumann, looking around, fires a strange-looking weapon at Magneto.  A strange gold-blue circles Magneto and he suddenly starts to fall.  He laughs and suddenly a strange whirring is heard and a blast of crimson shoots out from the Empire State Building.  Magneto is restored to his power.

Spectrum though has come to and aids Nexus, getting him up.  Just then Nightshade hits Nexus with a crippling vampiric blow, Nexus is seen recoiling in agony as his life-force is stolen violently, causing pain.   Spectrum then looks at Nexus wordlessly and disappears - so does Nexus, just as Magneto hits him with what looks like a horrifying blow as the hazy glow seen in the battle with The Captain hits Nexus.  Neumann disappears at the same time.  They see The Captain coming over the horizon as this battle scene fades.

It's 6:30 AM.  Cyclops is distraught and as the battle scene just described ends starts shouting, "We've got to go to New York and save Jean, or at least start looking there.  We can't sit here, we can't keep "studying," Eliot, we have to do something.  I know you think we should be careful, but there isn't time, and all we're doing here is looking at probabilities.  Good lesson, okay, but we gotta go!"

Professor X raises a hand and says, "Eliot, or Hamlet, or anyone, what more do you need to find out, specifically?  We're checking leads throughout the community and I am sure you're right something is going to happen in New York or LA.  Perhaps we should martial the troops and split up between cities, with some transporters who can get us from one place to another quickly.  What's your opinion?"

Nexus responds, "We still don't know exactly why Rogue was taken.  I don't have time to check any further into it.  We need to study this carefully and be prepared for what we might face.  Scott has a point - if we get there now, we might be able to set an ambush.  They know our abilities and tactics a lot better than we know theirs - but this hologram evens things out a bit.  Hopefully we can cook up a few surprises for Magneto and his gang."

Spectrum offers Hamlet or herself could probably talk to Red Amazon since there seems to be a chance of her working with Magneto.  She adds that, "With fighting Magneto, I think I shouldn't be encasing anyone in steel.  I think mentally attacking his minions would be a better use.  Conversely, I need to come up with some way of protecting the minds of our team from Phoenix.   I've got a few spells that may help."  She asks as well if there's any idea where we disappeared to in the projection, but Nexus does not know.  She is concerned as well, as are others, that Laughton was not mentioned, but as they discuss it is determined that Laughton goes a number of directions in other dimensions as well as often works in the background, not visible in the battle.

Then Spectrum takes a bit of time to gather her thoughts to contact Red Amazon.  She finds Red Amazon, which is good as it turns out she's not reachable other than by mental contact.  She shows up in Russia, in the Ukraine, not far from but outside Stalingrad.   Suzanne starts with pleasantries, trying to determine what Red is up to, though to no avail, as  Red Amazon is taken aback to be contacted and even in thoughts she acts as if she's keeping quiet.  Very quickly Spectrum gets blunt and asks her what her view on Magneto's Manifesto.  Red Amazon says, "Now is not the time for this conversation, my friend.  All I will tell you is that I have my sympathies for Erik and as a communist - and a mutant - I believe in his call for emancipation.  But I know what you get at, and do not worry, I have, what is it you Americans say, other fish frying right now.  I have no time to fight with Erik and his vagrants."

Spectrum also warns her about Vision even though she doubts he could take her in a straight fight, taking care to say so, but warning her about the phasing and heart rendering trick.   Red Amazon responds, "Vision?  I thought the Euros were done with that doomed project.  Bastards!  I thank you for the warning, Suzanne.  Oh and last time I was a bit drunk - forgive my manners.  My given first name is Nina,"  Suzanne thanks Nina and says not to worry about the drunkenness.  She adds, "Hopefully after this mess is settled we can get together and talk in person about all sorts of stuff."  Nina would like that.  Then Spectrum hears a loud explosion in her thoughts and Red Amazon thinks to Suzanne, "I really must go, darlink, as you Americans are so fond of saying 'later'."

Meanwhile, turning to Sihn, Sammy asks Sihn what the meaning of all those disappearances are.  He wonders if they could be from teleporters like the one Professor X is proposing, or perhaps the group is being saved from certain death by friendly teleporters in Detroit.  Or perhaps there is a traitor teleporting the good guys out of the scene to create chaos in the battle...  He asks, "Do either of these scenarios fit your visions Daddy Sihn?"

Sihn responds, "This is as far as I can see for now, Sammy.  The main point I wanted you to see is that these people want to hurt you badly.  I don't want to see that happen.  I want you to be ready for them."

He continues, "Keep in mind that Magneto has been expecting to fight us for quite some time.  He knows our powers.  He knows what Suzanne can do, and he will likely be ready for it.  He's been defending his team against Prof. X's mental powers for quite some time - don't be surprised if they have plenty of mental defense.  If we want to win this fight, we're probably going to have to use different tactics.  Laughton was absent in a good many of the scenarios.  We still don't know why Rogue was taken.  Perhaps these two facts are related."

Laughton watches the scene with a look of pensive thought.  He is uncharacteristically silent for the brunt of the battle, refraining from making any of his pithy comments.  Finally he speaks up, "Eliot, what makes you certain that this possibility is the most likely to happen here in our dimension?"

Nexus answers, "There are many, many scenarios, Hamlet.  All of them are different.  This one will not happen the way you saw it happen - the very fact that we witnessed it ensures that our actions will be different.  Sammy dies in an unusually large number of them, though.  That's the point I want to make to Sammy, who needs to be careful, and to Suzanne, who will hopefully be able to help Sammy defend against the attack that is meant to kill him.

He continues, "Another trend that shows up a lot is that people we trust turn on us in the fight - usually this precipitates Sammy's death.  "Keep in mind that we heard earlier that there is probably a super-powerful mind controller out there and that he or she is probably mixed up in this one way or another.  Most scenarios show that some sort of cataclysm is slated to happen today.  Other scenarios suggest that the way to stop it was to move against Magneto earlier.  Our best chance is behind us now, and we must play the hand we still have the best way we can."

He adds, "I've been entirely straight with you Hamlet.  Now I have a question for you.  Why are you so certain that Magneto is not behind the kidnapping?"

Laughton announces, "I am convinced something is up with Erik, but I don't believe that he was behind the disappearance of Rogue and Jean.  But, first, we can probably thank Kietersling for putting out the word that there will be a death of someone in the Justice Squad.  That's not to say that he is involved in any of this, but I would not put it past his influences to be at least privy to some of what's happening."  Nexus was in another dimension when Hell's call to Spectrum was relayed, and he's filled in on what Laughton's talking about.

Nexus during this begins to phase in and out, his body nearly invisible at times as, given the urgency, he begins looking for his own allies among air elementals even while engaged in listening to Laughton and others.  His brilliant mind can fill in any gaps in the conversation so his attention being divided makes no difference.

As Laughton talks, Nexus speaks to the elemental Hurricane, who wants an open season to roam the Atlantic.  She promises to respect human life although can't guarantee zero loss of life.  She intends, she says, to become a new god among the island peoples of the Atlantic, among whom her distant echoes are heard and she hears their pining for leadership.

Nexus also speaks to the elemental Gusto, who wants a single serious favor chip that Nexus will have to obey when it's his turn.  Gusto is an amoral force that gets into a bit of trouble here and there in Faerie (in fact he's the reason that wind has been banned in the fey empire) and elsewhere, he's quite a traveler.

Nexus wonders what the deal is with the megalomaniac elementals?  He thinks, "Don't they know that they are third string scrubs in a super battle!  yeesh!"

Sihn is mildly intrigued by Gusto's offer.  "I'll agree to give you a favor if it does not involve performing an immoral act, and if it can be performed expeditiously."  He considers this a damned good deal for the elemental considering the power differential between the elemental and Nexus.  He holds his tongue, but it takes effort.

Gusto responds, "REASONABLY expeditiously - how about up to a day, Mr. Time-Traveling Nexus, Master of Dimensions?"  Gusto winks as he forms a cloud-like face."  Nexus indicates that would be fine.

Back in the X-Men base/school, Laughton is speaking as this goes on.  "Second, I'm fairly certain that I have located the most likely location of Phoenix and Rogue...It's a place out by Long Island, Point o'Woods, a private resort on Fire Island-- the oceanic barrier to Long Island.  The hover car was tracked there, and after reviewing and tracing the calls I made to Magneto, I've determined that he is in the greater New York City area maybe near Connecticut, not Los Angeles as he wanted me to believe.  My guess is that Magneto is a step closer to Rogue and Phoenix for what ever reason.  Los Angeles is an elaborate ruse in my opinion, merely to split up forces.

"Suzanne, I'd like to ask you to scan for Kurt, it's very likely he is in that area as well.  Erik may not be completely innocent, but I still have my doubts that he is wholly behind what's happening.  There is too much evidence pointing to my artificial pal DEXTER.  Scoff all you want about my theories, I have gathered significant data to reveal DEXTER as being behind much that is nefarious and the control of ABC Corp."

"What do we know about the abilities of Kietersling?  I know that he is powerful, and he postures himself as being Odin, or even the basis for the mythology centered around Odin/Wotan.  He has made a number of unfulfilled threats toward us in the past, and is just the kind of guy to put something like this together.  It would certainly add some credibility to the EU having an active interest in the Justice Squad if Mr. K was one of the behind the scenes guys.  We don't have the luxury of time for me to spend more effort on this, but my hunch is telling me that there are connections to ABC from the EU's 'Logistics and Support' organization.  That I suspect Kietersling is involved and all that implies, is one of the main reasons I do not think that Magneto is behind this.  Erik is clever, but he has a tendency to be bone headed to the point of manipulation.  There are many many dominoes in this picture, with too many subtle influences to be his work alone, as well there are too many things that were done with extra effort to "be close" without them being "exactly correct"."

Laughton asks Professor X what he knows of Kietersling, but it's just a bit, he's run across his mind and stayed out as Kietersling has other (supernatural) capabilities.  There's no relationship, adversarial or otherwise, between them at this point.

Laughton goes on, "Something we need are allies we can trust enough to either act as information relays or even join us in battle.  Off the top of my head:  China Left, Fox Force 5, Wombat, Comet, Lucretia Jones, Daredevil.  I am comfortable with my understanding of their motives and likely actions with all these people that I believe even if they can't be trusted, they can be manipulated to do what we want them to do in a highly predictable manner."

"Eliot, what are your thoughts on the absence of my presence in many of the scenarios?"  Laughton pauses for Eliot, still flipping between air elementals and the conversation, to answer, before revealing anything more.

Nexus answers, "I have no real information about your absences in many of the fights.  My own guess is that you are most likely working off-stage.  If you were in real danger, I suspect we'd see the team reacting to that in some way."

Nexus goes back to bargaining with the insipid Air Elemental, Gusto.  "Now, for the other side of the deal - you must only attack the enemies that are attacking us.  You must try very hard not to kill your targets.  I want you to concentrate on harassing them - on breaking up their plans.  If you see a chance to damage one of their leaders, though, by all means take it."

Gusto responds, "Sounds grand, boss!  Easy work, good pay...I'm down with that!  Hotcha!"

Laughton points out to Sammy, "I know you enjoy being the center of attention Sammy, but perhaps this time it might be better if you served the role of support.  There are forms I can have you take on that will offer both a useful tool as well as be a defense against your greatest weakness."

Sammy, morphing to appear as a Marine Sergeant, snaps to attention, barking, "Sir, Yes Sir!!"  More casually, he adds, "Perhaps I can protect the most physically vulnerable among us, Suzanne? And she can protect me...."

Spectrum mentions to Nexus the news that Wilting Rose and Flaming Carrot have been briefed on Vision and Magneto, as well as Willow.  She also reminds him, as asked by Necromancer via Nightshade, that Nexus has a card of Necromancer's and they can pass through that card when needed.  The discussion with Dr. Strange, whom she inadvertently refers to a "Stephen Strange", is also discussed.  She also points out that she spoke to Red Amazon, mentioning her sympathies for Erik's ideas but not so much for his group.  She also mentions we might be able to setup a network in Detroit, New York, and LA of people that can warn them.  "With Nexus we can be there quickly," she notes.  She leaves out any mention of the discussion with her other self.

She volunteers that, in case there are attacks in other places, Willow can act as an anchor in LA with Ghost Rider, explaining, "We can then pull at least her if the fight winds up elsewhere.  With Laughton's and Nexus' info though, perhaps New York is the definite place.  And how uncovered do we want to leave other areas?"  As they concur that there's little value in wasting time on an elaborate national net, she contacts Dr. Strange immediately with the news. 

Regarding Dr. Strange, she also mentions she talked with Stephen about the possibility of Phoenix not being in control of herself, whether it's Rogue, someone controlling her via Rogue, or even something like what Suzanne has experienced.

Responding to Laughton's point on allies, she's up for contacting China Left, and indicates she should probably contact China first and if Laughton wanted to, she could probably relay directly if she's up to talking.  For contacting Kurt as Laughton requested, she'd like to prepare some defenses since they may anticipate this.

China Left isn't too hard to reach, she opens her mind to Spectrum.  It's clear that China Left is accustomed to such communication even if not a mentalist per se herself.  China Left is of course courteous - she greets Suzanne with "Suzanne, is good to see...talk........think to you again.  I am hope that you had good visit to Sihn family."  Laughton prods Suzanne to bring China Left to them.  Suzanne, in order to best use her time, puts Laughton into a direct mental link with China Left while she prepares to attempt to contact Kurt.

Laughton briefly explains the situation with respect to Vision, the series of killings of known mutants, the suspected origin from Doc Magnus, and the twisted set of instructions.  He mentions some of the global reaching aspects (embellishing at this point but remaining plausible).  He then explains the extent of the recent episode with Rogue/Phoenix, including the psychic world wash, and the possible extent of her (Rogue's/Phoenix') powers at this point.  As China Left asks any questions, he gives the most succinct of answers; Laughton wants to convey that time is of the essence here.  He then tries to best summarize the issue with Magneto/Vision/Unknown mastermind in a favorable light to draw China Left into helping, bringing to bear all of his intellectual and conversational skills.  As a desert topping and floor wax, Laughton drops that the Justice Squad will owe China Left a big favor.

As he speaks, he calculates from her responses the possibility of creating a situation where say China Left starts to investigate Kietersling's involvement with the EU and/or Long Island as a diversion for some subversive acts from his end, but he's unsure as he realizes she concentrates mostly on things that have a more overt bearing on China and has little interest in Kietersling or EU except as it can be clear there is that direct link to China's national interests.

As China Left is very hesitant and even expresses her general support of Magneto's goals in some ways, Laughton  expresses his understanding of Magneto and Erik's goals to China, and conveys to her that he too is against an "all out war" with Magneto, that taking out a leadership figure for so many is not the way to a united position for mutants, and that he is certain that there is more to this whole thing.  He explains that it is difficult for him to communicate with her in this manner, that he hasn't had time to properly cram up on Chinese, and that they could really use her help in person, he can explain further then and asks that she trust that the greatest detective in the world does not lead his friends on wild goose chases.

Sammy volunteers his services as chinese translator, declaring "我說漢語"  Hamlet is glad to see Sammy expanding his mind, but he points out that his lack of competent Chinese was more ruse to further prompt China Left to come than it was a need for an interpreter

As Laughton pushes for her to appear in person, she hesitantly agrees, and, facilitated by Spectrum, joins to at least discuss further.  In tandem with other conversations that occur, over the next 30 minutes she agrees, as Nexus is of a family she knows in China, to come along and watch out for either Vision or anything that would harm "the workers".  As such, her sense of duty will be narrow.

Meanwhile, despite Spectrum's best efforts, Kurt/Nightcrawler is "off the map" so to speak and Spectrum cannot find him.

Back to an internal conversation, Laughton inquires "Suzanne, in Origin, you managed to control The Captain.  What is the possible range that you can do such again?  Do you think its even possible these days?  What about concerted efforts with Stephen?"  He is considering that The Captain is a possible pawn for Laughton and Suzanne to set up in a situation.  Perhaps a "false lead", he thinks, that Magneto is the one responsible for the whole mess (as Nexus and The Captain would likely want to be the case, regardless of its truth), or even better:, ABC Corporation has orchestrated this from the DEXTER site, and Magneto is currently there (ABC) working on using the powers of Phoenix and Rogue to give psionic abilities to DEXTER.  He considers implanting the suggestion that The Captain needs to make a strategic strike at that location.  Hamlet is thinking this might be very possible with some careful telepathic communications.   Assuming Suzanne can contact The Captain at this point.  Laughton wants to have the Captain attack ABC at DEXTER's fortress of information and possibly destroy it.  He goes on to discuss this mostly openly, admitting, "I know, I know, fat lot of good that will do to help us now, but in the long run!..."  But he leaves it entirely open to discussion, and Laughton is willing to forget about it, willing to forego any surreptitious side action.

Spectrum is willing to talk to The Captain, but not willing to trick him into any course of action.  She thinks there's something that is trying to get Magneto and The Captain at each other's throats, possibly Vision.  As the idea is discussed, it is abandoned given Spectrum's feelings and a general lack of enthusiasm for this.

Sihn turns to Professor X to spend a few minutes discussing Magneto's and Phoenix's powers - strengths and weaknesses.  He is keenly interested in Magneto's strange crippling attack they witnessed in Origin.  Professor X is unaware.  From Nexus' observing fights, there are several variations that seem to have to do with different ways in which Magneto's powers may have developed, but Nexus notes that there's clearly some tie to magnetic traits, even though in some battles anti-magnetic devices don't seem to stop some similar powers.  But this one eludes Nexus and Professor X other than wild speculations.

So contacting The Captain is nonetheless in order.  He doesn't answer, and Terwilliger says he's "indisposed" due to the emergency.  Nexus points out it's directly related, and given that Terwilliger gets The Captain in touch.  Nexus notices The Captain seems agitated, which, even in this circumstance, is unusual.

The Captain basically answers, "It felt like I was breaking from the inside-out, if that makes any difference, Troll.  Er, sorry, meant Nexus, as if I were being pulled apart from the inside."

Nexus muses if it sounds like some sort of magnetic attack against blood cells.  He wonders if it would be stopped by wearing garden-variety magnets on one's person?  Sihn runs various possibilities through his head.  As he ponders, he determines the attack either likely is simply massively powerful and not easily countered, and/or it involves extraordinarily fine-tuned targeting of particles, to a level virtually unheard of.

He also checks Laughton's DNA in preparing for the struggle.  Laughton's DNA is actually most intriguing.  It has evolved further; early on it showed as human with major mutation; now it seems as much mutate as human.  This is not entirely uncommon with major mutants in that their mutation manifests even in DNA code over time more securely/profoundly.  In this case what is interesting is that Laughton's DNA is extremely heavy with elements that Nexus has found commonly to exist  in other mutants, but is most often sparse in those mutants.  Of course Sihn consider that some alien race, if the Egyptian trip is to be believed, played a major hand in shaping humanity, so the DNA relationship might not be so odd...

Hamlet asks of Professor X, "Charles, do you have any studies of Rogue's power set, say a scan of one of the students here, then a scan of Rogue with that students powers?

Professor X replies, "We have some items we can review, Hank will help you."

Beast, suited up, shows Hamlet (and anyone else so interested, including Nexus) to the results.  Rogue's adaptations vary greatly in quality but have generally gotten better.  In many cases she fully adopts the DNA code of the one she is using.  In some cases they share traits, in others she takes those traits wholly away.  It seems to depend on her (limited) self-control.

Hamlet asks, "Does she need to touch the flesh of her target to trigger her powers?"  Is there some way we can reverse the process?"

Hank responds, "Yes, she does need to touch her target.  I fear someone could find a way of extending her reach, though.  The process can be reversed, either by, perhaps surprisingly but this works, continued contact with her, as it is almost a cycle washing through her, or by special treatment with genetic surgery, which I can perform here.  But that takes a long time.  A mutant who could transform a person's DNA might be able to deal with that in the field."

Nexus asks, "Do you have a sample of her DNA?  I'd like to attune myself to it in order to have a chance of detecting her handiwork."

"Yes, Eliot, all, I do have the sample."  Professor X quickly produces a vial.  He adds, "If there's something we could all do with this, let me know.  I'm more worried about the senior members, the X-Men."

Nexus suppresses a grin at the thought of genetic surgery.  He suspects it wouldn't take him that long.  For a second he longs for the old "Troll" days when he could set up some experiments right away.  Nexus focuses his "Detect mutant" power on the vial of blood, expecting that he will be able to distinguish the mutant it came from when the time  comes.  15 precious minutes are consumed as the Master of Dimensions hastily analyzes the sample.  He is sure Hamlet's transformations will work against Rogue, as he studies the matter.

As final preparations are made, Sihn calls up an invisible monster that has huge spiny teeth and that can fly.  He has enough metaphysical force to command this one into slavish obedience, as he's familiar with it and it with him, thus sparing Nexus the painful negotiations as with the air elementals.  The creature, known as the Grim Stalker of the Plains of Despair is in fact completely invisible to all normal senses and otherwise generally difficult to track, though easier if one can spot that small glimmer of hope that resides deep within its alien structure.  It isn't a very damaging beast, but it casts a sense of despair that slowly wears down people.  As it casts this, the victim sees the thing appear briefly right in the target's face with a hideous multi-eyed face and big spiny teeth springing at it.  Its attacks don't work against one who has no doubts or is filled with confidence.

Sammy ponders as "Daddy Sihn" has confided in him that he is worried about Suzanne and "perhaps me a little", he thinks, as Sammy is ever-downplaying of concerns of personal danger.  As it is possible Sammy is a primary target, he decides to be a bit stealthy.  He and Jane are going to make themselves scarce, neither one is going to appear as they normally do.   Sammy intends to keep things a bit low key and appear as a secondary X-men student.  Having spent the early hours socializing with the X-Men and the students (who are unable to sleep), helping to keep spirits from being too grim, he's become familiar with many of them.  He considers which of them is reasonably unremarkable, and determines he wants to appear as Sturdy Boy, a tough, strong older teenager who is very hard to knock back but has few other powers.  Sammy knows he can emulate his powers reasonably.  Professor X, upon Sammy's discussion of this, is glad to ensure that Sturdy Boy remains behind rather than join the X-Men auxiliary going to New York, to ensure the ruse can succeed.  He wants Jane to turn into a pet cat that stays home while Sammy is out, but she believes she should help Detroit, staying out there in case anything happens.  She promises she'll stay on the sly, and be very careful.  Spectrum dutifully teleports her back to Detroit as Sammy agrees.

Even before this, Sammy has been practicing manipulating his mental matter, his brain, to not be so accessible as it is to human mentalists.  He basically wants to be a mental chameleon as well as physical, and has learned much being around Spectrum at least intuitively by her mental communications with him.  He's developing an ability but it is very limited.   Nonetheless, being Sammy, he announces he has amazing mental fortitude!  

Suzanne finds need to test out Sammy's claim, and examines him.  She at first senses nothing unusual, but then realizes that in fact he can reshape the mental portion of his manner and resistance seems to come and go.  She sees he is sincere, though exaggerating his capability.  Still, as they discuss the matter, it seems clear Sammy is on the verge of getting it just right.

Hamlet asks if Sammy managed to shift the thinking portion of his protoplasm to the core of his being, maybe he could instead shift it into a completely different vessel?  After all, the Troll was able to control body parts remotely and he's Sammy's "daddy".   Sammy is entirely unsure, and it seems unlikely if Sammy can't grasp the idea well enough to execute anything.

Laughton muses as to how Peter Parker is doing, and, as he mentally calculates, figures that most likely Parker still wants an apology from Laughton for bringing up the Green Goblin and his death lightly.  He talks with Spectrum, who reaches out to Spiderman/Parker.  Laughton - ever proud - hints at being slightly remorseful for dredging up bad memories at Origin--though in Hamlet's mind, Peter should be over that by now, hence his inability to actually apologize as he sees Spiderman's position as irrational.  In any case, as the situation is relayed to Parker, he agrees to come along as well, and Spectrum brings him in.

Briefly, Laughton entertains the notion of Namor helping out.  He discusses this with Nexus, who says he's be been assuming that Namor wouldn't be much help in this - it seems to him that he'd be more sympathetic to Magneto.  But he wonders if he could be wrong, and says to Laughton, "Let me think about it for a minute" - and disappears for just about a minute, just as he did earlier, moving into another dimension, affording all a brief strange glimpse.  Nexus is not surprised to see, as he just quickly surveys the situation, that  Namor is a wild card, not always in a good way.  Upon his return, Nexus relates it probably isn't a good idea.  He notes that ihe does have a crystal that he can use to summon Namor if the need is dire enough, but that he would only use this if Aela or the baby were in danger.  Nexus also thinks to himself he's not ssure which would be less palatable - being killed, or asking Namor to save his life!

As they finalize arrangements, Wilting Rose agrees to be pulled in directly rather than wait in Detroit, and Spectrum teleports her to join them.

Spectrum does some final research on protective spells.

With time fleeting, the consideration of pulling in other allies is impractical, except for one - Laughton suggests they contact Liberty.  He feels the French government owes them one given the fracas with Vision and the EU and given Liberty's shame over it upon their recent meeting, he's sure the French hero would help.  Spectrum can contact Liberty easily directly.  The French government, though, has no response to a request, either via Terwilliger or directly.  No one of authority is "available".  Spectrum does contact Liberty  directly and he is ready and willing; he quickly contacts a friend, sparing Spectrum some time, and teleports immediately to them.

As Laughton examines aloud just what they should do with their new-found army of supers, Nexus is candid.  He relates that he would like to see Magneto go down.  He's trying to keep an open mind, but, even if the Justice Squad is being manipulated to fight Magneto, he doesn't necessarily see that as a bad result.  In Sihn's view, Magneto has done only harm to mutants.  Magneto appeals to the desire to face evil with evil, instead of trying to rise above evil of your detractors. Magneto is a Malcolm X; what mutants really need is a Martin Luther King.  Defeating Magneto would be an important first step in proving to the world that most mutants do not follow Magneto's radical ideology.

At 7:15 the planes around the nation have been grounded.  Military jets have begun patrolling the skies.  There is no time to follow up on Laughton's Boston lead as the Justice Squad and the X-Men board the Blackbird and prepare to go to New York City...

Far away from the New School, in a darkened room, a lone figure sits in a moment of respite, watching the rays of the new day break into the room. The figure intones to itself, "Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!"  And laughs...

Issue #45 - New New York

...and back at the New School for the Gifted, as the Blackbird is boarded, Nexus eagerly introduces his new "friend", the Grim Stalker of the Plains of Despair, taking a bit of delight in gauging the group's reaction.  Indeed, they feel the palpable  sense of dread the strange creature exudes - even though in fact they cannot actually see it outright, only a bare fringe it has chosen to show!  

That moment is deflated, though, as Gusto introduces himself all around.  He's like a bad stand-up comic or politician, smarmily greeting everyone.  He says to Spectrum that he hopes he won't "blow her away" with his charm.  She avoids him...  Nexus points out to Gusto that he's sure that Magneto would enjoy his sense of humor - despite having evolved from his Troll form, Nexus, Master of Dimensions, still possesses a certain cruel streak.  Neumann cocks his head curiously, gears grinding slightly (he's recently been oiled), producing a soft whirring sound, as he does so.

The Outsiders pop in to coordinate, as Spectrum has requested of Nightshade.  They also get to meet the new players, ensuring they will be able to tell friend from foe.

They discuss Spiderman's past exploits with the world's most legendary hero, an inevitability Spiderman has long been accustomed to.  Among even the world's mightiest superheroes he's accustomed to a certain fawning.  Nexus in particular goes into great detail, relishing the opportunity given his extensive study on Spiderman and superheroes in general, and his general fascination with adventures of the past.  At one point the discussion turns to whether everyone will ride in the Blackbird (since Spectrum and Nexus can get everyone to New York faster, meeting the rest when they get there); Neumann, ever eager to help, offers to Spiderman he could ride on his back.  Spiderman catches a whiff of Neumann's "robot odor" as Neumann smells like freshly burnt oil and politely indicates he'd prefer other options.

Just as they are about to take off, none other than The Captain appears!  This is the first time Neumann has met The Captain and remarks in his usual monotone and without concern for emotion, "You are shorter than I expected."  Nexus mentions they still have his old platform shoes, and Laughton points out that Sammy has The Captain's old toupee.  Sammy mentions he's added some Brill cream and turned it into a pompadour.  The Captain seems a bit put off, and cuts to the chase.  He indicates he's been sent to fetch Laughton for a private discussion with Condi Rice.  

Spectrum, meanwhile, had spent a bit of time with  "kitchen witch" sort of magic and has created some chips to help boost mental resistance.  She hands out the chips to everyone except Laughton and Sammy, for whom she has created the traditional Justice Squad meal - baloney.   She manages to have enough to help the entire Justice Squad (Neumann, Nexus, Rodin, Sammy, Spectrum), the Outsiders (Desperado, Dr. Time, and Nightshade, with Necromancer not needing any), Colossus, Cyclops, Liberty, Spiderman, Wilting Rose, and Wolverine.  She also has some to spare for The Captain, as she fears his ability to withstand attacks from Phoenix.  

While Laughton leaves with The Captain, arrangements are made to split up the group so that Spectrum and Nexus can take them quickly to New York, balancing their power. 

In Washington, DC, Rice speaks with Laughton confidentially, dismissing The Captain, almost as if he were a mere staff member, indicating she will call him back shortly.  She then demonstrates that she and Laughton have complete security.  Then she tells Laughton she has something very important but top secret to tell him...and she turns into her true form, the mutant whom almost nobody knows but is called Mystique!  Mystique can change forms, becoming virtually anyone.  Hastily, she briefs Laughton that she is a mole, long, long ago planted as she took the Rice identity in college, creating it from scratch, with the intent of infiltrating the government as a security advisor.  She was friends with Magneto even back then, when he was a younger man but already a notorious firebrand leader of the then-developing Brotherhood of Mutants.  Essentially they fell in love and they are significant others of some sort to this day (Laughton recalls that Erik was intimate with Maddy Hayes at this point but of course says nothing).  But, she states, she also developed a strong sense of supporting the United States and became passionate about the fight against communism.  As such, she has tread an extremely fine line, helping Magneto from within, but not so much as she obviously could.  She even brings up that she was unclear until the last moments about his involvement in 9/11 and therefore powerless to sound an alarm.

Then she reveals the purpose of their meeting.  She pleads with Laughton, whom she is aware has a relationship with Erik, to do what he can to not hurt Erik and steer the group similarly, because in the last couple days he's been acting "differently" and, worse, he did not respond properly to their customary secret signals.  Condi fears he is under the control of someone else or even replaced.  Laughton thanks her for the info and assures he will do what he can but can make no promises.  He does state his goal has not been to fight with Magneto, though clearly they differ.  The conversation quickly concluded in the interest of time, Before leaving, Laughton leaves her with a special tracer/communicator which allows her to set off a distress beacon, giving Laughton her location and allowing them to communicate for about 12 seconds.  Condi/Mystique summons The Captain by snapping her thumb against a metal device on her finger.  He appears forthwith and immediately spirits Laughton/Rodin back to the New School.  Before Laughton and The Captain part, Laughton explains to The Captain that he's found alarming information about ABC Corporation and alludes to their involvement in going after Sammy and other nefarious deals.  He decides, for now, to leave out DEXTER, just wanting to get The Captain thinking in a particular direction.

Laughton then explains that he was consulted with though he leaves out the Mystique revelation for the moment, at least partly because so many others are present.  He explains that he's been given intelligence that Magneto is not in control of events, and they need to factor this into how they handle it.  Nexus, though, is essentially unconcerned with this, as he argues that regardless this situation would not be in play without Magneto, and that Magneto must be taken down.  They begin to argue, but are interrupted by television coverage flashing a news bulletin!  New York is under the siege of two blinding lights, one emanating from downtown New York (in fact, later to be determined, the Empire State Building), and the other from the Statue of Liberty island.  Not much is known, but the lights are so bad that the public is being advised to be extremely careful as blindness may result.  

The heroes immediately mobilize.  The Outsiders fly away on Necromancer's flying carpet.   Even as this happens, Laughton and Nexus argue, though, their mighty minds able to absorb everything at once.  Nexus interrupts them, exhorting everyone to leave immediately, his body moving forward even as his head points backward watching the television.  Professor X offers a ride on the Blackbird but they feel they can make their way faster.  Spectrum suggests they remove any souvenirs they wish to keep from the Blackbird before going into action - given the damage Magneto did to it in their LA confrontation.  In moments the Blackbird roars off into the dawn sky.  

Spectrum does the "heavy lifting" of transporting many of the heroes to New York, with Nexus leaving just ahead of her making his own way.  Laughton helps out by going near-immaterial, turning to his monopole form, while Sammy becomes a small version of Sturdy Boy and Neumann is turned to dust (voluntarily of course) by Laughton.  Still, with the various other supers in toe, Spectrum makes two trips.

They land near the southern docks of Manhattan, finding the light is more intense than they thought, disallowing them from seeing much more than a few feet in front of their faces.  The air feels odd, they note; it's hard to define, but it feels almost prickly - just almost.  Sammy sits inside the restored Neumann, hiding from the frigid New York air, which diminishes his power.  Spectrum puts on some dark glasses she's spell-crafted, and under them her eyes turn all black!  Neumann burns off a large amount of oil, casting a thick black cloud which shields them from the light a bit.  This allows Laughton to build anti-flare contact lenses for everyone who needs them (Neumann and Sammy both have special senses to avoid the light, and Nexus can use some of his power to protect himself) from his kit of tools. 

Just as some of them start to hear screaming nearby, Neumann, in reaction, sets off a flashing light and a screaming siren, alerting all.  They see a group of what looks like homeless people...but they are bear-like, essentially werebears, traveling in a pack!  And then a small child with wings flies by!  A gang of upright snakes comes at them, one of them saying "Brainssss, brainssss!" while another laughs.  Laughton flips them a nickel and then turns to his true form as T'suara.  One of the vipers strikes at Nexus but misses him as his cape swirls around, deceiving them as to his location.  Sammy is inspired, he turns into a viper himself and spits at them.  A few words in the melee betray they were a street gang known as "the Vipers" and suddenly became real vipers.  Nexus, eager to dispense with the situation, sends his minions in.  Gusto says, "My pleasure!" as he blows one of them into the harbor, and the Grim Stalker besets to frightening them.  Sammy gets in a shot as well, and they start running away.

Meanwhile, Spiderman simply watches, laughing his ass off!  At his age and years in adventuring, he's learned to take pleasure in these relatively gentle absurdities.

Spectrum notes a large bear coming towards, but not at, them, and they realize these strange beings are emanating from a direction north of them, so they quickly move that way.  On his radio, Neumann gets word that a mass jailbreak has taken place on Ryker's Island, freeing many desperate mutants - no doubt a work of confederates of those fomenting this strange event.  The Outsiders apologize but indicate they must take care of this, New York being their town and them being well aware of what evils have just been unleashed.  Necromancer, though, abruptly excuses himself from everyone, including the Outsiders, as he simply notes, "Dad's in trouble," and he disappears.

Moving along, Neumann notes a tremendous amount of heat in the air ahead of them, and from that discerns what seems to be a lead to whatever might be causing this.  Neumann and T'suara, using special telescopic sight, fix a gaze ahead and soon see that a group of supers have taken over the Flatiron Building in New York.  

As they get closer, T'suara and Neumann can see greater detail, and they note that Phoenix has...changed greatly!  Where before her manner of appearance and discussion was of decorum, she now wears tight black pants, a belly-exposing t-shirt, and is ranting and raving as her hair is wild with a sort of electricity coursing through her, shouting at the world from atop the modest skyscraper (New York's first in fact).  She augments her voice by carrying it along telepathic waves as all can her her ranting about others' brains.  She notes the approach of the Justice Squad and their army of superheroes, laughing maniacally and looking forward to "frying their brains."  Spectrum shakes her head and says, "And I thought I was going off the deep end," referring to her now apparently much less disconcerting issues when possessed and drinking heavily.  Jean refers to herself as "Dark Phoenix".  They believe it.  The Blackbird, having just arrived, is alerted by Spectrum and quickly moves in.

Then suddenly they hear a screaming sound and turn to see an incoming missile!  Neumann offers to be thrown as protection but they hope that is not necessary.  Nexus barely hits it with a car he tosses at it, while Spectrum grabs a vacant car also and tosses it up as a shield, an explosion occurring.   Sammy readies his putty-like substance to spawn an entangling mess but that isn't necessary as the combined cars cause an explosion that forces the missile to go up.  They note this is very fortunate - there are people all around them, and the missile would have killed many innocent people.  Many mutated innocent people, as the Justice Squad notes that there are even more instances of strange changes among the population, particularly evident in this area.  The air around them is a sickly yellow-green sort of color and slightly wavy.  The heat, at least, emanating from the Flatiron Building keeps Sammy ready for action. 

There are others atop the building with her.  A strange character from another dimension, unknown to all but Nexus, King Midas, turns the Blackbird to gold, causing it to fall, and then Magneto, flying near the building, grabs it - surprising the Justice Squad given the properties of gold and his power - and casts it into the bay.  The X-Men, however, have already evacuated, expecting just such a maneuver, though not in that way.   The Imperial Falcon has remained aboard, with Professor X, as they execute a contingency to control the sleek ship and assure it lands in the water rather than smashing into the civilian population.  China Left is heard to exclaim, "Good one!" at the move, disconcerting the Justice Squad. 

Storm brings dark clouds over to end the flood of light (which later is determined to have been coming from the Empire State Building).  The rest of the X-Men move to the building, Iceman moving high on his projected sheets of ice and engaging Deep Freeze, who clings to the side of the building, keeping him occupied.  Beast begins to climb, while Cyclops flies to the building with Storm.  The junior members Colossus and Wolverine also make their way up the structure.  Neumann detects some sort of radio communication, which they surmise directed the missiles and seems to be about to launch another; he manages to jam the signals, assuring the safety of the area, as he grabs onto the building to climb.  

The heroes with the Justice Squad, save China Left, begin scaling the tall structure.  Shots ring out against them as apparently the Anarchist IV is inside.  An explosive burst hits the area of some of the Justice Squad, causing only minor reaction on the whole.

China Left is helpful even if she does not involve herself in the conflict.  She sets about healing many of the mutated and incidentally wounded people on the ground.  She shouts to Nexus, nearby, that she needs more soil from China to help them, while casting bits of sand which apparently carry this curative power.  Nexus disappears to China to help her.

T'suara begins moving up the skyscraper as well, looking to infiltrate and see what's going on.  His alien form is immaterial.   Neumann is suddenly hit by another burst, and Sammy rushes to his aid, then T'suara turns a nearby newly-created mutant into a big ball of silly putty-like substance - one of his own forms, as in this form he can turn others into anything he can be, though only to the limit of four forms, beyond which his alien form cannot support at one time.   

Meanwhile many others become engaged in a massive battle, much of which is to be unseen as some move into the building and find resistance there.  Moving to the building are Liberty, Gusto, Wilting Rose (who rides her bike right through the doors!), Spiderman, and the Grim Stalker.  Atop the building are  Dexter, whom the Justice Squad fought back when they faced the Kingpin, depriving him of his pal, Volcano, and Lizard King, the brutal extremist among the Brotherhood.  Inside, await Nightcrawler, Office Despot, Vacuulator, and Existential Man.  Flying nearby are Magneto and Dark Phoenix.

And even Mover Shaker is lurking about.  He's in nearby buildings, planted in a spread fashion so he can concentrate fire.  Many of them fire on Sammy but all miss. 

Dark Phoenix is confronted by Cyclops, who yells, "Jean!  Jean!  What have they done to you?"  She laughs and says, "I'll keep you safe," suddenly flinging him telekinetically thousands of yards, possibly miles away!

Suddenly the concrete on the street rips open and out come pouring small round creatures with cleavage on the bottom as if with derrieres and with stick figure feet, almost the same as the creatures Nexus has summoned from elsewhere yet without the fangs.  These are underground beings, and up with them comes their leader, who proclaims, "I AM OG, KING OF ASSHOLES!"  Hundreds if not thousands of his little butt-beings stream out, causing chaos.  China Left fights them off effectively, her nunchukas sending them flying.  Neumann shoots an entanglement around Og but he seems to easily burst out.  T'suara tries to change Og but finds him strangely resistant.  Og also takes a blast from Sammy, seeming to feel it a little but not much.

Above, atop the Flatiron building, some can glimpse Storm striking Lizard King with a lightning bolt, hurting the vicious lizard-man.  As Spectrum witnesses this, she suddenly sees a burst of light in front of her from the Anarchist - thanks to her darkened eyes she avoids being blinded, but just barely as everything goes white for a fraction of a second.  Dark Phoenix mentally blasts Spiderman, cackling as she does, but she's disappointed to find his mental energies boosted by Spectrum's "home cooking".

Spectrum then hits one of the Mover Shakers as T'suara, using its strange abilities to peer about, locates some of them.  Spectrum knocks one out as T'suara also transforms one into dust.  T'suara then instructs Neumann to use the putty he's recently created to strike with; the robot tosses the big ball of putty, with its entangling energy, at King Midas, and he's engulfed in the rubbery mess.

King Midas, though, at the same time as the blob is hitting him, has cast a golden box around T'suara.  Normally T'suara can move through any solid substance, but is surprised to find Midas' case cannot be penetrated.

Magneto blasts Wolverine gruesomely  as he nears the top of the building; the master of magnetism bends Wolverine, who has a metallic skeleton of sorts, nearly in half and the tough mutant plummets stories.  The Justice Squad fears he is dead.  At the same time the Anarchist fires again, this time at Sammy, but misses the slimy super.  

Sammy then spits a special venomous bile at the golden case around T'suara, creating a small hole - which is enough for T'suara to "leak" through.  Meanwhile above a battle continues to rage on the building as well, with Storm fighting Lizard King still, slowly chipping away at him, and Liberty shot by the Anarchist, but then hitting back and the heroes see the Anarchist flying out the window and plummeting downward - in his case it's clear his padding and armor and gadgets will probably save his life - probably.  In the meantime, they find Wolverine is badly hurt, but alive and already beginning to heal, but certainly out for the duration. 

Just then The Captain arrives!  By now, Iceman and Deep Freeze have been locked in a duel, neutralizing each other.  Wilting Rose is deep in the building doing reconnaissance.  Liberty is also in the building battling the Existentialist.  Gusto, Storm, and the Grim Stalker work on the top of the building, distracting the Lizard King and Dexter, who are joined by the Vacuulator.  Spiderman is battling Dark Phoenix and King Midas as he makes his way up the building, a bit slow for the firepower directed at him.  Colossus, trying to make his way into the building, is immediately knocked out by Magneto, an unfortunate pairing!  Beast is making his way up near the top.  

The Captain, however, is, as the Justice Squad feared, mind controlled by Dark Phoenix, who laughs as she turns him against his former teammates.  The Captain strikes Spectrum, sending her flying into a building, but she manages to avoid being knocked out as she rolls with it and her defenses of course are fully engaged.  Sammy is moved away by the Mover Shakers as they concentrate fire from hidden positions.  And the Beast is stunned and falls as he's hit next by Magneto.

Liberty relays that he's learned that Rogue is in the building but not where.  Meanwhile the Grim Stalker's presence is felt as he is picking at villains atop the building, causing mild pain and distracting namely Dexter. 

Just then Nexus pops back (literally) and drops a vast heap of Chinese dirt for China Left.  She is grateful and, while knocking away the little asshole beasts, casts it about, whipping a frenzy of dirty all around the block with her nunchuaks, curing many of the terrified (and many unconscious) normals who were mutated.  Sammy moves closer to the fight, still not quite close enough, as T'suara uses his abilities to heal Beast, an ability heretofore unknown! 

Spiderman gets a blast of his webbing around Phoenix, slowing her down as she has to stop to rip it apart.  And as it does not stop her mental powers, she aims a horrifying mental blast at Nexus, who is badly wounded, his brain almost literally frying.  China Left manages to heal Nexus, though.  She tells the Master of Dimensions she is most grateful for his gift; he has earned her trust for taking his time away from combat to help the people.  Then China Left becomes embroiled in combat with Og.

Above, inside one of the top stories, Liberty knocks out Existential Man.  Another one bites the dust...

Wilting Rose is then seen riding her motorbike out the window of the floor just under the top-most!  She and Spectrum in contact, she relays that she's seen exactly where Rogue is, guarded by villains in a protected bubble, a wall of pure energy.  Spectrum, noting Wilting Rose is plummeting stories down though in an arc atop her bike, asks if she needs help, but the heavy metal mistress tells her she's in control, just needing to flee.  It turns out she ran into a trap Office Despot meant for Nexus, along with both Nightcrawler and Dexter who moved inside to protect Rogue, at the same time!

Nexus moves immediately to the top of the building, hoping to free Rogue and, as they surmise, end this strange mutating air.  While he cannot immediately get to her, he can see she looks very bad, her body slowly but visibly decaying as he calculates that her very bodily material is being deconstructed and the DNA pumped out in a manner causing this mutating event!  Worse, what's been done is somehow the force wall around this floor is such that if it is broken or the power to the floor lost, the entire floor will lurch over - the floor is held entirely and solely up by the force wall!.  He also notes that a thick electrical cable runs down the building and is fueling the device that eats her away.  Nexus' background includes architecture, and as it has turned out, he has studied (like many architects) the famous New York landmark.  He communicates what he knows to Neumann who in turn uses his own abilities to calculate just where the energy source is and the bottom of the cable, and he and Sammy rush there.  A plan is quickly forming among the minds of the Justice Squad...

The Captain meanwhile is under Dark Phoenix' power, and as the crowds below watch, his own power boosts incredibly, far beyond anything the Justice Squad had witnessed.  The Captain tears into the building he thinks Spectrum is in (she's actually in the one next to it) - in fact he does so in such a dramatic and forceful way,  madly bursting through it, that the building collapses!  The Captain pauses; however strong Dark Phoenix' powers are, he has caused, he knows, likely many innocent deaths!  This is too much for The Captain, and his mind snaps out of her control.

Spiderman, meanwhile, has turned golden and shiny as he's battling King Midas, who has freed himself from the putty.  The legendary web-slinger can hardly move as he is stiffening, but the holds off the greedy thief-mage from another dimension.  This allows T'suara to follow Nexus and also see Rogue, guarded by Dark Phoenix' followers who've moved to protect her.

Down below, China Left is becoming overwhelmed as the little ass-beasts, thousands upon thousands, swarm her as she fights Og.

And The Captain, recovered, joins battle against Magneto, who just misses The Captain with his strange wavy and brutal attack.

Liberty is tied down piling up the villains defeated to date and ensuring they don't rejoin the fray!

King Midas is knocked back by Gusto as Sammy, who has left Neumann to handle the electrical source, grabs Spiderman, ensuring he's rescued.  Nearby, just a few yards from him,  Sammy glances sideways at the icy blasts Deep Freeze and Iceman trade! 

The Vacuulator is barely standing as he's been battling Gusto and has just faced other supers.  Storm, though, is removed from the battle by the Mover Shakers!  The Lizard King, badly weakened by his battle with Storm, is knocked over as well by one of Gusto's blasts.

Dexter turns and notices Nexus who has teleported inside the bubble.  However, he's distracted by the Grim Stalker and doesn't get a shot in.  

Dark Phoenix bellows, screeching, mad at the loss of control over The Captain, "Where are you, Spectrum?  I'm gonna squeeze your freakin' brain!"  Spectrum flinches as she senses Dark Phoenix starting to get a mental fix on her...

King Midas turns his attention to his natural foe - Nexus, Master of Dimensions.  He grins and declares, "Nexus!  I've always wanted to buy you!"  He is ever the avaricious collector.  His gilded casing closes around Nexus!

T'suara concentrates on Magneto, trying to transform him, hoping to both neutralize and rescue him from serious harm at once.  A little of the power gets through as he's surprised to feel some resistance.  The Captain, communicated to by T'suara as to the real threat, Dark Phoenix, turns his attention to her, but his heat vision misses. 

As the Grim Stalker of the Plains of Despair works his sensation of loss of all hope, Dexter crawls into a ball like a little child!

Magneto turns his attention to T'suara, firing a strange blast of some sort of electromagnetism.  T'suara feels an odd effect; his alien body is subject somehow, he finds, to this power, surprising him.  He surmises that Magneto can affect molecules themselves!  And although the immaterial T'suara isn't as harmed as if he were solid, he feels as if he's been whirled around a bit!  T'suara is meanwhile trying to free Rogue from fueling the strange mutating device, using his abilities to turn her into a manageable dust cloud.   He finds the force field around her is difficult to penetrate, inhibiting his transformation as he tries twice and gets negligible result.

Spectrum intervenes, though, just as Dark Phoenix is about to blast her, and mentally touches Magneto.  With great concentration and amassing all her will, she forces her way into him - liberating him from Dark Phoenix' control!  But at the same time, having found her target, Dark Phoenix then deals Spectrum a heavy psychic blow, knocking her out!  But this allows Sammy to get a shot in, and he spits his strange venom at her - and she has no defenses as it coats her body, causing her agonizing pain!

Nexus opens a portal and, using his familiarity with their cousins from another dimension, begins sending mobs of Og's creatures into the room with Rogue and himself.  T'suara continues his attention to the situation with Rogue as Magneto and Nexus break through the magnetic force wall.  T'suara's third attempt thus manages to work, turning her to dust for safe-keeping and to foil the device churning out her DNA.

Sammy is suddenly struck by a blow from Magneto, stunning him, but just as he gets another attack in on Dark Phoenix.  Just then Nexus whips a strange blade of mysterious energy at Dark Phoenix, channeling it from who-knows-where.  It penetrates the force wall he is behind as well as her tough mutant and psychically-enabled resistance, and she is reeling, though still fighting - barely.

Just then Nightcrawler, among those inside the bubble with Rogue, switches side!  He gathers the dust cloud (which, as with all of Laughton's such clouds, is like a big but barely-material dust bunny), and teleports out, giving it to T'suara whom, from other stories, he realizes is Rodin/Laughton!  Nightcrawler says in his German accent, "You know, I cannot fly," as his teleporting has him appearing stories high and about to fall.  T'suara is able to hold Nightcrawler up with his telekinesis.  It turns out that Nightcrawler was disgusted at what was happening to Rogue, something he did not know would be done exactly (the details of the plan were not shared), and he was looking for just such an opportunity.  Being friends with the Justice Squad, he felt safe in defecting.

Dark Phoenix is not up even a second longer, either.  She's weakened, and Magneto gets in a blast that knocks her through a building!  It's obvious she can stand up to the damage, and all know that she has to be stopped.

Now the Justice Squad executes the plan it had formed when they figured exactly where Rogue was!  Neumann cuts the bottom of the cable, severing it from its power, then holds it, using all his strength to steady it, as the force wall dies away,  Nexus knows what force Neumann can apply, and between his knowledge and Neumann's skill, they keep the top from falling!  This gives Nexus time to weld the floor back on.

Just as the Outsiders arrive, Magneto then explains what has happened.  Phoenix had become involved in the Brotherhood secretly, some time back, after she and Magneto had exchanged many covert messages debating his tactics.  Apparently she had some sympathy for the cause from way back, but didn't see eye to eye.  Gradually that changed.  She provided information to Magneto, at first infrequently.  Then she became more involved, and more rapidly so.  Magneto did not realize she was exerting mental control, and, as it turned out just prior to the strike, orchestrating a take-over of the organization!  Apparently she used Lizard King as the muscle, as well as being a galvanizing force among more extreme mutants.  Erik admits he had formulated a plan along these lines but had abandoned it as too reckless and unpredictable, as well as too likely to earn greater enmity for the cause.  He indicates a couple days prior Dark Phoenix had mind controlled him and set the plan into motion.  Looking about and seeing New York with mutants as far as the eye can see, he expresses, "Well, now they'll see what it's like to be mutants."  It's clear his feelings on the overall effects are conflicted.  Aboard the Blackbird, Dark Phoenix is kept deeply unconscious and highly protected.

Some of the villains naturally escape as soon as they see the jig is up, with Dark Phoenix fallen and Rogue rescued.  King Midas slips back into his own dimension.  Og, King of Assholes, slinks underground, followed by his bizarre minions.  The Mover Shakers disperse.  But...this is all!  All the others have been defeated - Dexter, the Lizard King, the Anarchist (IV), Deep Freeze (as he's too slow and surrenders), Office Despot, Existential Man, and the Vacuulator.

The heroes immediately set about helping the citizens of New York in the chaos as quickly as they can.  Neumann does not take part in the discussions about Dark Phoenix, insisting on helping the people of the city at once.  China Left uses her sands of China to do what she can, but near the source of this there are simply thousands upon thousands of mutants.  People are affected in many differing ways.  Most people are hardly affected if they were under cover or distant from the source, but that still leaves many thousands who have become all sorts of mutants, from the most debilitated to very powerful.  Any solution seems to be capable of only addressing a few at a time.  While Rogue could be employed, she is far too weakened at the moment, and while Nexus can craft a treatment, he is concerned over further ramifications and knows he can only treat people one on one truly effectively. 

But even Magneto does what he can, and The Captain, chastened by the experience of killing innocents (it turns out some dozen people were killed; fortunately most had fled the building prior), doesn't even try to go after Magneto, fearing things will just get worse.  So all cooperate dutifully and solemnly.  As soon as things stabilize enough and the authorities begin seriously moving in, Magneto makes his escape, not chased by The Captain or any other superheroes.

The Justice Squad hears shortly after the situation from Willow, who contacts Spectrum mentally.  The Mysterymen have been attacked by Vision.  Spectrum and Nexus teleport back.  The Shoveler and Toad both have been killed.  The other Justice Squad members learn from Spectrum's mind link instantly, and are whisked to Detroit to do whatever they can, at least to be comforting.  They are deeply saddened.  Nexus takes it upon himself to act immediately, and tries to revive their brain waves and bodies.  He manages to bring Shoveler back to life, as his energy had not dissipated, but it is too late for the Toad.  Neumann confirms the unique nuclear signature of Vision.

With nothing more they can do, they head back to New York and help as they can.   Laughton, just prior to leaving Detroit, modifies his mutant scanner and fine-tunes it, making it work at great range and with basic analytical capabilities to assist them.  Between his scanner and the news, it is soon discovered a very wide radius is affected - all the way into Connecticut and as far north as Yorktown Heights and as far south as near Princeton.  Much of Long Island has also been affected.  The map to the left indicates the mutation zone; in green in the outer ring are only mild mutations, nearly all simply benign (wiggling ears, a mole, etc.) and among a small portion of the population.  The yellow ring indicates a greater frequency with a number of significant mutations, but mostly nothing serious.  Inside the red ring is a high incidence with varying degrees.  

As soon as the situation seems in hand as it can be, they turn their attention to Dark Phoenix.  Willow works as an anchor for Spectrum as she delves deep into Dark Phoenix' mind.  Professor X, along with drugs and magic, helps to drain all defenses from Dark Phoenix and keep her under.  It turns out that while she was in fact a sympathizer in some ways with Magneto, she also started developing a form of madness.  Worse, as she became mad her mental powers grew exponentially; she began to enter others' minds and learn more and more, no doubt leading to her exploitation of many fields of knowledge to pull off what she did.  But entering into others' minds made her more mad as their thoughts reached out to her constantly.  The insanity overwhelmed her, leading to  the events Magneto mentions.  Cyclops is not around, still unconscious.  Professor X resolves for the time being, mercifully, to leave him that way.   He is afraid to let Scott near her, fearful he'll rouse her or otherwise be prone to incautious action.  After relatively brief but at times heated discussion, they finally decide she can't be left "as is" and that the authorities are too likely to either be incapable of restraining her (her power is far beyond that known yet for mentalist mutants) or, perhaps worse, also too likely to abuse her power if they can.  Professor X hates this situation, but agrees she can't be handed over.  Sammy points out she just needs a caring friend, and they suggest The Captain to Sammy, both as an example of someone going at least somewhat power mad despite having one and also as someone who would be "a bit" more likely to benefit from Sammy's friendship.  Laughton and Nexus collaborate on making a body seem like Jean's, Nexus recreating her body from a bit of her DNA.  They all agree to be truthful up to that particular point, in some part to give Magneto his credit for not being willingly involved nor having recklessly killed her.  Then Nexus takes her to a self-contained dimension with nothing but pure space existing.  She is to be kept unconscious there, though Nexus yields to Professor X' insistence they continue a form of therapy with her, Nexus enabling Professor X to travel there and do psychic therapy with her.  Only his respect for the doctor, the man who saved him from a life of hell, makes him go along with this plan.  He does not want to kill Dark Phoenix, but he is very concerned about leaving her in any position possible to wreak havoc - in this or any dimension.  He would have preferred to have kept her cryogenically suspended until a better path could be taken, though he knows that would have been forever.  He also waxes aloud about his own experiences going off the deep end as the Troll and his own rebirth, holding out hope.  It should be noted that the idea of surgically altering her was discussed but the decision was this would be too risky and a death to the personality of Jean Gray anyway.  As no matter what Magneto will be reviled for the events, Laughton considers how he can turn this to his advantage, perhaps even controlling Magneto's organization...

Nexus helps the authorities draft a plan to properly restore the Flatiron Building.  He also heals Rogue.

Laughton asks about Magneto about Point o' Woods, Magneto explaining it was a base of his being used; given the area movements to and from were easy, but otherwise not much was explored directly there.

Soon the politicians get involved.  Mayor Giuliani, facing the second major crisis in New York in four months, welcomes the Justice Squad publicly.

The Justice Squad also checks in with Dr. Strange given Necromancer's comments.  They find both of them, and it turns out that Kietersling opened a portal and threatened to unleash a dimensional war.  Dr. Strange and then Necromancer responded.  They realize Dark Phoenix had also reached Kietersling, though they believe he very willingly cooperated.

Spectrum wants to tie up one loose end she's had enough with.  She reaches out her mind, knowing the Mover Shakers cannot resist her, and being by now well familiar with their minds.  Spectrum had warned them before about their ways, back in Origin, and she swoops in on "them", finding them recombined into a single Mover Shaker.  She knocks him out immediately, with no struggle, and takes him in.  She's gone from the team for all of thirty seconds! 

Sihn's mind is busy formulating next steps; he snaps up his cell phone and calls Bob Rogers (it's less intrusive than popping in) and explains he wants to start an international benevolent organization of mutants.  Bob Rogers is excited about the idea and resolves to get right on it as soon as they can.  In a matter of days a full page ad is placed in the New York Times looking for new mutants who have powers and want to use them for good as the stage is being readied...

Shortly after, Magneto drops a note to the Justice Squad, pointing out his original idea indeed had some benefit.  He seems incapable of resisting the last word.

And Suzanne has an even fuller house as she gladly puts up Nightcrawler, along with the Metal Men already staying wit her.

[Game Mechanics - Points Awarded...

Enemy is taken care of once and for all and it is the BIG BAD!  (Dark Phoenix riding the Brotherhood) -  +75 RP, +5 XP for Nexus, Rodin, Sammy, Spectrum; +100 RP, +10 XP for Neumann

Enemy is taken care of this time and it is (the other) BIG BAD!  (Magneto's influence and organization is shattered) - +37.5 RP, +2.5 XP for Nexus, Rodin, Sammy, Spectrum; +50 RP, +5 XP for Neumann

Act of enduring heroism -  +60 RP, +.5 XP for Nexus, Rodin, Sammy, Spectrum; +80 RP, +1 XP for Neumann

It got out of control but you did your best against the BIG BAD, Vision, as he stuck it to the Mysterymen - +3.75 RP, +.25 XP for Nexus, Rodin, Sammy, Spectrum; +5 RP, +.5 XP for Neumann

Equivalent 14 hours in character for PBEM plus session - +10.5 RP, +3.5 XP for Nexus, Rodin, Sammy, Spectrum

6 hours in character for +4.5 RP, +1.5 XP for Nexus, Rodin, Sammy, Spectrum, +6 RP, +3 XP for Neumann

Totals:

Laughton  191.25 RP, 13.25 XP
Nexus  191.25 RP, 13.25 XP
Neumann  241 RP, 19.5 XP
Sammy 191.25 RP, 13.25 XP
Spectrum 191.25 RP, 13.25 XP

Totals to Date:

Dice 188.5 RPs, 14.95 XPs
Laughton 1855.375 RPs, 162.625 XPs (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for minion, 50 for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Neumann 709.5 RPs, 82.8 XPs  (with Rep level, 50 for base)
Nexus 2050.125 RPs, 175.775 XPs  (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for minion, 50 for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Sammy the Slime 1883.25 RPs, 179.2625 XPs  (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for minion, 50 for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Spectrum 1802.375 RPs, 165.075 XPs  (with Rep level, 50 for base, 25 for minion, 50 for reorg (note, did not use for agency or life-saving)
Steely Danelle 86 RPs, 10.75 XPs]]