"Over Emotional"

Writer: Stephen Crosby
Branch Editor: Adam Di Stefano

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NOTE: This story should be read following Silver Surfer Annual #1 and prior to the Fantastic Four Annual. The other parts of "Zodiac Rising" may be read at the readers’ discretion. This story takes place between X-Men issues #78 and #79.

The Port Authority, New York City. A crossroads of America, hundreds of trains arrive at this station daily, depositing thousands of visitors to the Big Apple. Be they tourists, businessmen, students, or spectators at Madison Square Garden!

“Christ, I can’t believe the Knicks lost!”

“Believe it man. Now, pay up!”

Growling, the man counts out the bills to pay his pal. As he does this, a man suddenly bumps into him.

“Hey, gimme back my money!”

Grabbing the man that has accosted him, the almost victim shakes him viciously. The bills fall to the ground, and he hurls the bum to the ground. Kicking the bum, the man picks up the bills and goes back to his friend.

“That’ll teach him.”

“Lousy freeloaders.”

Stumbling to his feet, Arthur Parks shakes his head. Sure, he could fry that man with ease, but what would be the point. He’d just get his ass kicked by another super-hero, and locked away for life with a murder charge. Besides, nobody should know that he, once a great laser technician, reduced to picking fifty dollars from middle-class Americans.

Arthur looks down at his hand, feeling the power moments before the energy crackles across her fingertips. Once, he was the great, the powerful Living Laser, a villain that had fought Iron Man himself to a standstill. And now, now he’s nothing. Just a bum.

Making his way through the crowds, Arthur thinks about it again. He’s nothing but light, albeit solid light with the appearance of a normal man, but mere light nevertheless. It’d be so easy, so very easy, to just dissipate his particles and end it once and for all. No guns or tall buildings or knives across the wrists, all he’d have to do is will it, and it’d be all over.

No more grand plans of domination. No more paths of vengeance. No more women to chase.

No more prison. No more laughter at ridicule from villains and heroes alike. No more humiliating defeats.

Standing in the middle of the crowds, Arthur Parks closes his eyes, and he begins to will it.

High above, the ceiling shatters, a great bolt of energy streaking downward. A great bolt that, despite it’s great size, strikes only Arthur Parks.

“Arghhhhhhhhhh!” Arthur cries out, falling to his knees as the great energies coursing through his body. Around him, frightened New Yorkers, visitors, and sports spectators scurry about, driven to a panic by the scene unfolding.

“Ungh,” Arthur groans. “What the hell was that, and why is giving me such an awful headache?” Holding his head in his hands, Arthur slowly rises to his feet. All around, fearful and panicky humans run about in confusion.

Looking down at his hands, Arthur realizes something. One, that bolt disrupted his concentration, reverting him back to his natural light form. Two, he’s larger, and feels more...together than he’s ever felt before. Three, the people around him are very, very afraid. It’s not just that they look and act afraid. He knows they’re afraid.

“They’re scared of me,” Arthur mutters. “Me, the Living Laser. They’re scared of the Living Laser!”

Throwing his arms up in triumph, Arthur latches onto their fear, feeding off it like a sponge. As he grows to greater size, the tattoo on his chest, which he has thus far failed to notice, glows brighter and brighter.

The tattoo is that of a ram, the sign of an Aries.

“I still can’t believe that you’ve never been to the top of the Empire State Building! That’s practically a crime against tourism!”

“I don’t see what the big deal is Katya. I’ve seen this city more than enough times from the air.”

Kurt Wagner leaps over the slow-walking pair. “It’s more than an observation sight, Peter. The Empire State Building is full of history. I, for one, can’t wait to do my King Kong impersonation.”

“Just keep your hands away from me, fuzzy elf. Your skin might accidentally touch mah own, causin’ me tah absorb your powers and memories.”

“Rogue, I’m getting sick of those reminders ever two minutes” Kitty Pryde says with a touch of annoyance. “We know how your powers work. And besides, aren’t you able to control it now that Carol took her powers and memories back.”

“If ah concentrate, ah can touch someone for about a minute, but that’s about it. The Professor thinks that mah guilt over absorbing another person’s memories is still limiting mah control. Ah’m trying to work past it, but without the Professor’s help...”

“It’s hardly the Professor’s fault,” Kurt says. “Even if he wasn’t running for Senate, his powers have decreased dramatically in recent months. A sign of old age, he believes.”

“Ah know that Kurt! But still, ah’m so close to what ah’ve always wanted. If ah could control mah powers, touch somebody safely, ah could finally live a normal life!”

Peter Rasputin frowns. “I do not like what you are suggesting, Rogue. You’ve fought with the X-Men almost as long as the three of us. As long as your powers can help the world-”

“That’s just it Peter!” Rogue snaps. “Mah powers can’t help anybody, least of all the X-Men. Sure, ah did good in that riot a few weeks ago, but what could ah do against Sinister, or Sentinels! Ah’d be crushed like a bug. Without mah Ms. Marvel powers, ah’m of no use to you!”

Kurt places his hand on Rogue’s shoulder. Thanks to his image inducer, it has five fingers. “Rogue, you know that’s not true. Do you remember when we first fought Nimrod? If you hadn’t absorbed mine and Peter’s powers, he would have killed all of us. Your mutant power saved the day, not Ms. Marvel’s.”

“We would all like to live normal lives, Rogue,” Peter says. “But so long as mutants are feared and hated, what we want can never be a reality. Until that ends, it’s our responsibility to fight for acceptance.”

Kitty says nothing. Out of them all, she’s the only one who senses the true pain beneath Peter’s words. Unlike Rogue and Kurt, and so many other X-Men, Peter isn’t cursed by his powers, but only by the mere fact that he is a mutant. Being a mutant has cost him his family, shattered every attempt he’s made at a normal life. Thus far, the only thing that’s kept him going has been the dream. He fights so that other mutants won’t suffer as he has.

Turning the corner towards 5th Avenue, the four X-Men stop suddenly, momentarily taken aback by the sight before them.

Kitty smiles, somewhat amused by their reactions. “Speaking of persecuted minorities, I’d say we picked a hell of a day to visit the big city.”

Down the street, marching along 5th Avenue, is the Gay and Lesbian Parade.

Kurt fidgets slightly, looking around quickly. “The Empire State Building is on the other side. I suppose I could teleport the four of us-”

“Ah don’t think so Kurt. There’s just too many people around. Ah know ah wouldn’t want to reappear inside of a few homeless guys.”

Kitty shakes her head. “It’s New York City guys. Parades always stop every few minutes so traffic can get by. In the meantime we can watch the parade.”

Kurt and Rogue look up the street in uncertainty, and Peter looks like he’s going to be sick.

Kitty laughs. “Peter, I know you were raised in the old conservative USSR, and homosexuals were probably burnt at the stake there. But they’re regular people, just like us. They just make some unusual sexual choices, is all.”

Peter blushes several shades. “Katya, you above all others should know that I am uncomfortable with the subject of sex, unusual or no.”

Looking towards the parade, Rogue snickers. “Then just think of them as really close friends. Come on, they’re playing YMCA now. Ah’ve seen you dance to that song Kurt, so don’t even try denying it.”

“Why should I try to deny it?” Kurt asks. “It’s a good song, regardless of how the performers lived their lives.”

Together, the four X-Men walk up the street, stopping at the edge of the crowds watching the parade. Marching past them are literally hundreds of gays and lesbians, holding their heads high and carrying signs that both promote their rights and parody anti-homosexual remarks.

Watching the parade, Kurt leans over to talk with his friends. “Just imagine, mien friends. Someday, a Mutant Rights Parade may march down this very same street.”

Rogue shakes her head. “Ah doubt that’ll ever happen Kurt. The city’d be too scared of that many mutants in one place. And you can hardly blame them. There’s been quite a bit of damage done to this city over the years, courtesy of mutants.”

“We’re so much like them, you know,” Peter laments. “Like them, we didn’t have a choice of how we were born. Like them, we’re feared and hated, ridiculed and beaten. Many of their families have been torn apart, and I am not the only one to use his family because of what he is. We even have a disease, the Legacy Virus, swiftly killing us off.”

A tear slides down Peter’s face as he finishes this final thought. No doubt he is thinking of his young sister, his ‘Little Snowflake’, Illyana. She was only a child, and yet the Legacy Virus took her life without mercy.

Kitty places her hand on Peter’s shoulder, feeling his pain. Illyana had been her best friend, and she’d stayed at the girl’s side as she died.

“AIDS isn’t solely a danger to homosexuals, Peter,” Kurt says bitterly and no longer is the Legacy Virus only a threat to us. A cure will be found for both the diseases and the prejudice, and the senseless dying will come to an end. Until that day comes, all we can do is pray, and do our best to help end the madness.”

Rogue nods in agreement, then points at the passing float. “Look y’all. Lesbian strippers.”

Kurt smiles and nods. “I am a god-fearing man, and it has been said that such people are ungodly. But I know in my heart that women like those are what makes life worth living!”

Kitty shakes her head in disgust. “I’m never going to understand why men are so attracted to lesbians. Do you see me getting hot over the thought of two men?”

“That’s cause men are ugly, sugah,” Rogue comments. “That and they like watching as much as they love the act itself. That’s why porn is still popular.”

Kitty nods. “Can’t argue with you there.”

“That is a lie,” Peter says. “I’ve never even thought of such things!”

“Ah, to still have your innocence, Peter,” Kurt remarks, eyeing the marching lesbians. “I read somewhere that the average man thinks about sex every nine minutes.” He smiles mischievously. “I’ve always considered myself above average.”

The stripper float passes by, and the parade stops so that traffic can get by. The touring X-Men take the opportunity to cross, though Peter has to grab Kurt and shake him back to reality. The little German just smiles sheepishly at the big Russian.

“Sorry, I should be fine for the next seven-and-a-half minutes.”

Halfway across the street, Kitty turns with some choice words for Kurt. However, before the words leave her mouth, a large explosion booms several blocks away! The ground trembles with the shockwave of the explosion, sending Rogue, Kitty, and Peter sprawling off their feet.

Only Kurt’s incredible agility allows him to sustain his balance. “Vas...that was in the direction of the Port Authority!”

“Dang, ah bet our bus’ll be late,” Rogue replies as she rises to her feet.

Peter helps Kitty regain her balance. “This is not the time for jokes. We must investigate, and do what we can to help the injured. A pity, Katya, that we must postpone our trip to the Empire-By the White Wolf!” Peter exclaims.

And with good reason, the other three X-Men realize when they look up. In blinding illumination, a massive image of light takes up virtually the whole of the sky above New York City.

It is an image of a ram.

The symbol of Aries.

First sign of the Zodiac.

Elsewhere, in well-lit, clean penthouse apartment, a cloaked man walks amongst huddled masses. They are his slaves, inside and out, completely subservient to his will.

“Who is your master?” this cloaked man asks.

“Zenith is our master,” the masses respond in unison.

“Who is the voice of Zenith? Who is her true herald?”

“You are the voice of Zenith! You are the her one true herald! Your will is the will of Zenith!”

Beneath his cloak, this man smiles. “And what is your purpose as Zenith’s fateful servants?”

“To assist in the mission of her herald! To spread the word of Zenith, and convert them into obeying her will!”

The cloaked man turns towards the large penthouse window. There, illuminated in the sky, is the blinding image of the Zodiac sign of Aries.

“Another of Zenith’s heralds have arrived. He acts to foment chaos, to release the hatred and fear which exists inside all of humanity. Now is the time for us to act! You shall take the most hateful and fearful of this city, and convert them to the cause of Zenith!”

As one, the huddled masses rise to their feet, and slowly file out of the penthouse. In their wake, the floor is riddled with drops of thick, dark mud.

His slaves gone, the cloaked figure slowly follows. The time of the gathering is nearing. The heralds shall unite for Zenith’s coming, and the world will crumble at her feet.

As this herald passes through the doorway, the front of his cloak opens. Beneath it is revealed a chest covered in thick, dark mud, a symbol traced into it.

The symbol of Leo, fifth sign of the Zodiac.

Scott Summers strides into the war room. His visor hangs over his neck, yet his eyes are still hidden beneath his ruby quartz glasses. As always, his vision is nothing more than shades of red, a constant reminder that he is a mutant. Worse, a mutant with no control over his powers.

Moving towards the large circular conference table, Scott brings his hand up to his temple, wincing slightly. Beneath his mat of brown hair lies a scar, a constant reminder of the day when Scott Summers lost his parents, and apparently first manifested his mutant gift to discharge concussive force blasts from his eyes. He had parachuted out of his father's plane, but the weight of both himself and his brother Alex had been too great, and they had plummeted, seemingly to their deaths. In that instant, crimson force had burst forth from Scott's eyes, slowly the descent of the two brothers.

However, Scott had hit his head upon landing, damaging a minor, normally unused portion of the brain. For mutants, however, it was that portion which controlled their respective powers.

Rubbing his aching old wound, Scott Summers approaches the only man seated at the conference table. The founder and teacher of the Uncanny X-Men, Professor Charles Francis Xavier.

"You seem troubled Scott," Xavier remarks.

"It's Warren," Scott answers. "He should have been back from the Morlock Tunnels by now. I'm going to send Bobby after him, like I should have in the first place."

"I know I'm doing Scott. It's time Warren faced his fears." Xavier steeples his fingers. "It's taken him years to overcome what Apocalypse did to him, and that is only the first step. After all, we may need to use the Tunnels for an escape route someday."

Scott nods. "Of course Professor. You're right, as always." The leader of the X-Men sits across from the Professor. "Professor, what we're doing, are you sure it's for the best?"

Xavier gives his student a steely gaze. "What do you mean, Cyclops?"

Scott sighs. "I know that, with your mental abilities diminishing, you need to take a more public stance for mutant rights. And I know that running for public office is the best way to accomplish that. It's just that....was it really necessary for the X-Men to reveal their identities?"

Xavier nods. "I know what you're worried about Scott. Peter's family was killed, taken from him, because he was a mutant. Despite the problems Kitty has had with her parent's, I know she loves them very much. Bobby and Jean have already suffered so much with their families, and you wouldn't want anything to happen to your grandparents."

Scott nods. "Exactly Professor. Now, it's not just us we're putting at risk, but our families as well. Sure, some of us have nothing to lose, but for those of us that do, I just don't think we were entirely aware of what we were getting into."

Sighing, Xavier leans forward, looking Scott in the eyes. "That's because I didn't want you to be fully aware."

Needless to say, Scott is taken aback. "Huh? P-professor, what are you."

Xavier continues to stare into Scott's eyes. And when he speaks, it is not with his voice. "You will not discuss this with anyone else. You will not even think of it again. When you hear another X-Man voice these concerns, you will inform me immediately. Is that clear?"

Scott nods lazily. "Yes Professor. I'm sorry. It's wrong for me to ever doubt you."

"Quite all right Scott." His voice back, Xavier leans back. "Now, what is really your mind?"

Scott Summers brightens up. "Oh, it's a really great idea, Professor. I think that, what with your campaign and everything, it'd be best if the team stayed close at hand. That way, we could protect you against any possible assassinations, and you could send us to deal with a mutant situation immediately."

Xavier nods. "A terrific idea, Scott. I'm always up for something that will make the X-Men more effective."

Before Scott can gush over Xavier's praise, a voice crackles from the communications console.

"This is Rogue, y'all! We got us a serious situation here in the Big City! As in the Port Authority’s a pile of rubble, everybody at the Gay and Lesbian Parade is tryin' to kill each other, and the sky being lit up with the signature of whoever the hell's being it! Ah'd appreciate a little backup over here, pronto!"

Rushing to the console, Scott answers Rogue's distress call. "Cyclops here. We'll be there as soon as we can Rogue. Any idea who's behind it?"

"Nightcrawler and the others have all gone to investigate, but ah have my suspicions. Mah astrology isn't that peachy, but the symbol in the sky looks like a pair of ram's horns, which ah know is some sort of sign of the Zodiac."

"Aries," Cyclops replies. "Chaos, random acts of destruction. Sounds about right. Until we get there Rogue, do your best to keep the crowd until control."

"Sure thing. Ah'll just absorb them all, and let 'em duke it out inside'a mah head!"

Scott cuts the transmission and, carefully keeping his eyes closed, removes the ruby quartz glasses. Setting the pair on the table, he then dons his visor, and opens his eyes.

Cyclops looks down to the Professor. "There's a major situation near the Port Authority, Professor. Four of us are on the scene. Should we back them up?"

Xavier nods. "Of course we should. Humanity should see swift and decisive action from mutants. Also, today is the day of the Gay and Lesbian Parade. It wouldn't hurt to gain their support. Fellow minorities fighting persecution and all that."

"Excellent thinking Professor. I'll have Jean and Bobby meet me at the hanger immediately. Whatever Warren encounters in the Morlock Tunnels, he'll just have to deal with it himself."

"It's his own fault," Xavier agrees. "And once again Scott, terrific idea about keeping the team close and at my call. I so enjoy it when you think for yourself."

Shadowcat looks up. “Remind me again Kurt, why aren’t I in college again?”

“Forgive me Kitty, but I’m still wondering why I ever left the circus.”

The two old friends, together with Colossus, make their jokes as they look up, up and up. Towering over them, still a good block away, is a massive creature composed of glowing light, the symbol of Aries emblazoned on it’s chest.

The moment that symbol had appeared in the skies over New York, the X-Men had sprung into action. Peter had shifted into his organic-steel form, shredding his civilian clothing to reveal the bright and colorful costume underneath. Kitty phased of her clothes and Kurt teleporting out of his, each revealing their costumes as well.

“Rogue!” Kurt cried out. “Contact the mansion for backup while the three of us investigate!”

“Of course,” muttered the still-civilian-garbed X-Man. “It’s not like ah’d be useful against whatever it is.”

“Who knows, mien friend, you just might be. But until we’re sure, it’s best if you stay in reser-Mein gott!”

Reacting at a fantastic speed, Nightcrawler just barely avoided the thrown Coke can. The bitter insults, however, were impossible to avoid.

“Get the hell out of our city, you stinking muties!”

“Your kind’s not welcome here!”

“Kill ‘em all!”

Colossus moved to shield his teammates from much of the garbage thrown at them. “What blind prejudice is this! Surely they recognize us as the mutants that helped in the riot!”

“I don’t think they care Peter!” Shadowcat replied. “But I do know that their hatred isn’t just towards us! They’re attacking the parade marchers!”

Indeed, the crowds that had lined the streets to watch the parade had begun moving in on the homosexuals with more than unkind intentions. The numerous police officers present did not seem to dissuade them. Indeed, more than a few of New York’s finest were joining in on the carnage.

Nightcrawler snarled. “This is much more than typical hatred. Something is making these people act out their innermost prejudice!”

Shadowcat looked back up at the burning symbol in the sky. “Whoever’s behind that must be responsible! Let’s move guys!”

The three X-Men began rushing in the direction of the Port Authority, leaving Rogue behind. Knowing that she was witnessing a riot in the making, Rogue searches for her commlink. “Ah just knew it was gonna be one of those days!”

That brings us back to Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, and Colossus, prepare to engage a large creature made entirely of light.

“That must be the cause of the explosion,” Shadowcat remarks. “And the cause of the symbol in the sky. But I don’t see how it could affect all these people like this.”

Indeed, in the wake of the creature, hundreds of people were either fleeing in fear, or looting stores and attacking others out of hatred. It had brought out their most primal instinct, reverting them to little more than animals.

Colossus balls up his fist, his face tight. “We must do something to end this madness!”

Nightcrawler nods. “Da, but until the others get here, what can the three of us do? This creature is made of light! For all our powers, they are only physical in nature!”

Striding to the side of the street, Colossus grabs a nearby car. “Nyet! I will not stand by while people die! Never again!” With this frustrated cry of defiance, Colossus hurls this car at the creature of light with all his might.

“Colossus!” Shadowcat cries, leaping towards him. “Don’t!” But she’s too late. The car is sent hurtling towards it’s gigantic target.

It strikes head-on, directly on the symbol of Aries. However, instead of crashing and staggering the giant creature of light, it instead passes through and explodes inside the creature.

The air immediately surround the creature of light...ripples, and a huge wave of heat assaults the three X-Men. Overwhelmed, Shadowcat and Nightcrawler collapse to the ground, barely conscious. Colossus, however, stands tall, and watches the consequence of his action.

“C-colossus!” Shadowcat gasps out. “If that thing...wasn’t made o-of heat, the car would have passed right through it, possibly onto bystanders! As it is, you’ve disrupted the energy matrix that holds it together!”

Indeed, the giant creature of light shrinks before their very eyes, all the while screaming in agony. Finally, an eight-foot construct of light, very much resembling a man with ram’s horns, rests on the ground on his hands and knees. Enraged, this man looks up at his attackers, and the look on his face is a mixture of surprise and outrage.

“The X-Men! I tear this city apart, and who comes to battle me? The X-Men!” He is now screaming at the top of his lungs. “What, are the Avengers suddenly too good for the Living Laser! Has Iron Man decided that I’m suddenly beneath him! I’m better than this! And I’ll prove it by displaying your charred corpses to the world!”

His body of light begins to glow brightly, particularly his eyes. Yet Colossus steps forward, intent on pressing the advantage.

“Butcher, this rampage shall be your last. Whatever mercy the Avengers have had for you, Colossus is not feeling so gener-Omph!”

From the Living Laser’s eyes, a beam of intense light, ending in a ram’s head, slams into Colossus’ chest. Thrust of his feet, the armored X-Men hurtles through the air and crashes into the window of a small deli. He does not reappear.

Shadowcat staggers to her feet. Next to her, Nightcrawler is still stunned by the heatwave, his velvety skin slick with sweat. Shadowcat turns her gaze to the Living Laser, and finds that he’s meeting her gaze with that of a madman’s.

It is in that moment that Shadowcat is afraid from her life.

Hatred is an ugly thing. And the worst thing about hatred, is that it exists in every human being. A man may deny it, but the fact remains that deep within his heart and soul, he holds a deep and unabiding hatred for someone or something. For some, the hatred is towards a specific animal or occupation, such as snakes or lawyers. While for others, this hatred is held towards a religion, nationality, or race.

However, there are also those who will hate anything merely because it is different. This is the ugliest and most prejudicial form of hatred, for it is hatred without reason, without compassion, and without exception.

Until today, the young mutant known as Rogue has been too busy hating herself and her own powers, that she has been all but blind to the hatred around her.

But know, standing in the midst of a riot that had only moments ago been a peaceful march for Gay Rights, she sees the true face of hatred.

And she fights to contain it.

She rushes towards a red-headed man fighting with a transvestite, anger on her face and her fists clenches. “Ah’ve had about enough of this!” She cries, grabbing the man by the back of his jacket and hurling him away.

Had Rogue still possessed superhuman strength, there is no doubt that this man would have fallen onto the pavement, and quite possibly knocked unconscious. As it is, he manages to remain on his feet, take hold of Rogue’s arm, and throws her to the ground.

“That’s where you belong dyke! Lying down for a man!”

Snarling in rage, Rogue strikes the man in the one place where, whatever her strength, she is guaranteed to hurt him.

“Ooooo,” he moans, collapsing to the ground.

Rogue rises to her feet, anger evident on her face. The nerve of that man, labeling me just cause ah’m trying to break things up!

Searching the area, Rogue is baffled as to how she can contain the anarchy. Men and women are fighting everywhere, all with a total disregard for their own well-being. And what are the police doing? Nothing, as far as Rogue can tell. Well, except for that one officer, who has his gun drawn and is....

“No!” Rogue cries, hurling herself at the policeman. Tacking him to the ground, Rogue scrambles to take the gun from him. Dear god, he was actually going to kill a man who had his back turned!

“Get the hell off me bitch!” The policeman shouts.

He slams his fist into Rogue’s face, causing her head to explode in pain. Slightly dazed, Rogue managed to keep her grip on the officer’s gun arm. Even without her strength, she may be able to deal with him, if only she had Carol Danver’s memories. But those memories, just like the strength, is gone. For the first time in years, Rogue has to depend entirely on herself.

Her eye swollen, her head throbbing in agony, blood pouring down her nose, Rogue does the only thing she can do. Reaching out blindly, Rogue presses her bare hand against the policeman’s face. Rogue closes her eyes, dreaded what is about to happen.

The body beneath Rogue goes limp, but she takes no notice. Rogue’s mind is overwhelmed with the officer’s memories, personality, and hatred. It is the hatred in particular that Rogue tries desperately to contain. Grabbing the revolver lying on the ground Rogue finds herself suddenly pointing the gun at a nearby homosexual. Her eyes open wide in startled fear the moment she feels her finger pulling on the trigger.

“No!” Rogue cries out, forcing her arm up. The gun fires harmlessly in mid-air. In disgust, and untrusting of herself, Rogue hurls the revolver to the floor. “Ah can’t do this!”

Kneeling on the ground, Rogue begins to cry. Without Carol Danver’s strength and combat experience, Rogue can’t contain the riot. Worse, if she tries to use her powers on any of the rioters, their hatred could very well overwhelm her, forcing her to do horrific things. She’s useless here, and she can’t risk accidentally touching anybody, else she becomes totally caught up in the hatred and unbridled violence around her.

Looking up, Rogue starts at the sight of a woman rushing at Rogue with a baseball bat. Before she can think about it, instinct takes over, and years of police training kick in. Springing to her feet, Rogue jumps back out of the bat’s swing, then thrusts her hand forward to take the woman by the wrist.

The woman who had attacked her struggles for only a moment, then goes limb. Rogue lets go of her quickly, taking her own head in her hands. She’d touched a lesbian, meaning that the hatred for homosexuals is now balancing out. Gritting her teeth in concentration, Rogue tries to focus past the two personalities invading her head, taking advantage of their animosity towards one another to retake complete dominance.

Sighing in relief, Rogue bends over to pick up the bat, once again in control of herself. From somewhere in the crowd, Rogue hears this voice, and she doesn’t like what it is saying.

“Hatred and fear weakens the mind. Zenith shall take that weakness to forge their minds anew. Go forth, servants of Zenith, and bring her these weakened minds!”

Rogue turns towards the voice, and spies cloaked individuals moving among the rioting men and woman. One cloaked man reveals his hand, caked with dark mud, and touches it to the wrist of a man strangling a woman. Impossibly, some of the mud creeps onto the man’s wrist, spreading through his arm like a plague. He lets go of his victim and stands, his eyes glazed over.

“The will of Zenith is absolute. All shall follow the one true goddess.”

“Ah don’t think so!” Rogue cries. She rushes towards the newcomers, bat held high. “These people ain’t exactly being saints, but trade’n one form of mind control for another ain’t the answer!”

Rogue swings her bat, scattering the cloaked men and women. She slams the bat into a man’s midsection, sending him crashing to the ground. Remarkably, he doesn’t not cry out in pain. His cloak flies open, giving Rogue a full view of the writhing, living mud that covers much of his flesh.

“Oh mah god! What has happened to these people!”

“The will of Zenith!” Cries a cloaked woman that grabs Rogue from behind. “Now yours as well as mine!”

Rogue feels the muddy hand grasp onto her neck. She feels the mud seep onto her bare skin, seeping through her pores, latching onto her nerves. She feels her brain catch on fire, as the living mud attempts to take control.

However, Rogue also feel herself absorbing her attackers abilities and memories. She sees this woman touched by a cloaked man with a symbol on his chest. Rogue feels the nature of the mud, and knows that it is in fact not mud, but clay! Rogue absorbs the power of the clay, and thus becomes immune to it.

The cloaked woman crumbles, unconscious, and Rogue collapses to her knees. “Ah can feel it...living, controlling whatever it touches! But th-there’s something controlling the clay, commanding these poor people through it! But now...now ah can do it too!”

Rogue raises her head, and concentrates on her weak, temporary connection with the clay. She feels it, and every individual it controls.

“Stop it!” Rogue cries out, focusing. “Stop spreading Zenith’s will! Gather together!” Rogue points to the middle of the street, right in front of a fire hydrant. “Gather right there!”

“You will not!” A voice commands. The cloaked men and women, in the process of obeying Rogue’s orders, abruptly halt. Rogue turns her head in the direction of the voice.

Towering over Rogue is another cloaked man. However, unlike the others, this man barely is one. The writhing, living clay envelopes him entirely, and with a shudder Rogue realizes that he may very well be made of the clay.

Worse of all, etched in the clay man’s chest is a symbol that Rogue recognizes.

It’s the symbol of Leo, her astrological sign.

The Living Laser’s light blast zooms towards Shadowcat at...well, the speed of light. However, Shadowcat has trained herself to instinctively phase at the slightest sign of danger. As a result, she was already phased before the Living Laser even thought to attack.

Phasing didn’t help much.

“Agh!” Shadowcat yells as the blast of light tore through her body. She collapses to her knees, her body wracked with pain. “H-how...”

“A super-dense photon beam,” Living Laser gloats. “I could blast a hole in adamantium with that sucker.” Striding closer to Shadowcat and the recovering Nightcrawler, Living Laser raises his hands. “Hmmm, you look like you’re in a lot of pain. Allow me to take you out of your misery!”

Shocked out of her phased form, and too stunned to phase again, Shadowcat can only look up in horror as Living Laser releases to powerful light blasts from his hands! Fortunately, Nightcrawler is able to grab Shadowcat in time and-

BAMF!

Shadowcat and Nightcrawler are suddenly on a nearby roof.

“Phase into the building Kitty,” Nightcrawler quickly says. “See to Colossus. I will keep the Living Laser busy.”

Then Nightcrawler teleports, and a burst of light tears through the left behind smoke, inches away from Shadowcat. She quickly phases down through the roof.

Nightcrawler reappears behind the Living Laser. “You’re aim is lousy!” He teleports to avoid another blast, this time appearing on a nearby fire hydrant. “No wonder you are called the Living Loser!”

“I am not a loser!” Living Laser cries, releasing a massive burst of light at Nightcrawler.

Of course, Nightcrawler teleports out in the nick of time. “Auf Weiderson!”

Living Laser’s blast hits the hydrant, tearing it wide open. A gout of water bursts out towards the Living Laser.

“Argh!!!” Living Laser screams in rage as the water splashes into his light form.

“Hahahahaha!” Nightcrawler laughs while hanging from a lightpost by his tail. “Now you are the Wet Loser!”

“Stop calling me a loser!” Living Laser screeches. Reflecting the light of his body off the water, he becomes brighter than the sun itself.

Deadly blasts of light Nightcrawler can dodge, but a blinding white light visible for miles is another matter entirely. With a cry of pain, he falls from the lightpost onto the ground, semi-conscious.

Cackling madly, Living Laser stalks his tormentor. “Fe-fi-fo-fum! I’m about to smell the blood of a cooked German! Who’s the loser now?”

Stop!

The mental command slammed into the Living Laser straight out of left field. Clutching his head, the Living Laser railed against the assault.

“Who the hell are you!” He shouted. “Get out of my head!”

Silence Aries! I am Zenith, your master, and I command you to cease this pointless battle!

Living Laser shakes his head vigorously. “No! I am not Aries, I am the Living Laser! Nobody tells me what to do!”

You have fomented chaos in my name, and allowed Leo to recruit my followers. But you waste time fighting with children, when you should be gathering with the rest of my heralds! You must prepare for my coming!

Throwing his head back, Living Laser screams towards the heavens. “Shut up! The power is mine, do you hear me! Mine! I feel their hate, their fear, and I feed from it. I grow stronger from the darkness around me, not from you!”

Living Laser stands tall and stoic. Waves of dull light pulsate from his body, striking everyone around him. Those that flee run faster, while those that loot and kill do so with greater fury.

“Even as I draw strength from their hatred, I amplify it with my power! Those who fear forget all else, save the preservation of their lives! While those who hate, finally release their anger, seek out that which they hate, and destroy it!”

“In that case, abomination, your powers is useless against me. For my hatred towards you is greater than that which I have ever known!”

Living Laser turns his head in response to this cold voice. Immediately, his head whips back, courtesy of a very large steel fist.

When Shadowcat phased into the building, she discovered that Colossus was fine except for one thing. He was very angry.

Cold rage evident in every line of that solid steel face, Colossus slams his fist into the Living Laser again. This time, the man of light flickers at the impact, as though he is losing his physical coherence.

“Without provocation,” Colossus states coldly, punching the Living Laser again. “You have taken the darkness hidden within this city, and set it loose. You are responsible for hundreds of deaths and untold damage. You have driven once good men to murder, ruining their lives forever!”

Another shattering punch. “And now, when you could go no lower, you attack those that wish only to help!”

Yet another earth-shattering blow. “I tell you this now, monster, your madness is at an end.”

Grabbing Living Laser by the next, Colossus slams him face-first into the pavement. “So I swear on the graves of my parents, and the soul of my little sister, you shall butcher no more!”

And right there, holding the flickering and whimpering Living Laser to the pavement by the back of his head, Colossus raises that massive steel jackhammer that he calls a fist. And he lowers, it. Once, twice, three times and more. He rains down blow after blow under his steel skin glistens with his sweat, and steam rises from it because of the heat. Finally, when the mighty Colossus can barely bring his fist back up, he ceases the attack, and releases the limp, transparent body of light that is the Living Laser.

Finally, after several long seconds of rapid flickering, the light fades, and the Living Laser is gone.

“It is over,” Colossus whispers.

“I didn’t hear the fat bitch sing, you Russian freak!”

Before Colossus can react to the voice behind him, he is struck upon the back of his head with incredible force. Exhausted and battered, Colossus his thrown to the ground by the sheer power of the blow. Quickly rolling onto his back, Colossus sees his foe, his eyes widening with surprise.

“By the White Wolf!”

The Living Laser stands over him at twelve feet tall. Energy crackles around his frame, save for his horned head, upon which is a face of true fury. The sunlight shines through his red body of light, casting Colossus in a blood-red tint.

“Light is an impressive thing, you steel savage! I can bend it to my will, becoming virtually invisible. By traveling along the light particles in the air, I can move at the speed of light, appearing instantaneously wherever I wish!”

Living Laser raises his massive fist high above the body of the stunned Colossus. “And finally, I can slow down or speed up the light particles in my own body. I can go untouched, or compose my body into ‘hard light’, something that makes your steel hide look like paper!”

The large fist, made of compacted photons, slams down. “Now I hear the fat lady!”

Far away, in a tidy little hotel room in Chicago, a young red harried woman watches the news.

Judging by the way the TV implodes, she is not happy.

“Just great,” she mutters. “I vanish for a couple years, and all hell breaks loose!” She turns to her bed, upon which is numerous clippings from various newspapers over the last few months.

Picking up one particular article, tears begin to fall from the woman’s eyes. “’Sentinels Devastate Manhattan.’ Yeah, that’s how it started. The heroes won, but it took years to repair the damage. But they came back, again and again, until there was nothing left to stop them.”

Tossing aside the article, this woman glances over other articles. One about the Magneto Territories in Canada. “That’s the thing to do all right. Gather us all in one place, so we can be wiped out in one fell swoop.” Another asking the youth of America their thoughts on X-Force. “That’s helpful. Teenagers support it, so that should keep the adults from fearing it.” And finally, several articles on Professor Charles Xavier announcing his campaign to run for Senate, as well as the X-Men revealing their secret identities.

Looking down at these articles, this young woman can’t stop the tears that are blotting out the words. “It’s happening, just like I remember it. Uncle Charlie ran, and he lost when his powers were made public. He should have known better. Christ, an almost identical incident had occurred just a few days before!”

Angrily, she sweeps her arm, and the papers go flying. “Why did they have to reveal everything! Our only advantage, and they throw it away so they can ‘gain the public’s trust’! Oh, they trusted us all right. They trusted us to be easy targets when the right laws were passed, and they could legally kill us!”

Bitter memories surface; memories of family dying, of being used to track down and kill her own friends. Memories of the camps, and the sliver of hope that finally came. But then the hope shattered, as easily as the dream had years earlier. These memories return, and she reacts violently. Grabbing the end of the bed, she flips it as though it weighs nothing.

“They know what’s going to happen!” She cries. “I told them what to expect, but they just keep going, confident that they’re ready for the worst of it! But they’ve never experienced the power of hatred; never tried to fight for their lives against an entire world, while at the same time trying not to hurt it!”

She collapses to her knees, and breaks down in sobs. “But I did, and I ran! I couldn’t beat it, so I tried to warn them, to stop it before it became too strong! I thought I’d succeeded, and so I left content.”

She shakes her head in anger. “And what did I find? I found a world where they failed! A world that I spent a lifetime fight, and victory came at the price of that life. I succeeded where they failed, because I knew!”

With no more tears to shed, she lifts her face out of her hand. “I know, and they don’t,” she whispers. “They march towards destruction, ignorant that their actions doom us all. Only I know, and what do I do? I sit here, crying. Doing nothing.”

Determination etched on her faces, she rises. “That’s not how an X-Man acts. That sure as hell isn’t how I act! If it means the rebirth of the Phoenix to save a dead future, than so be it!”

“Wha-what are you!” Rogue cries, trying to back away. Whoever or whatever the man of clay is that stands over Rogue, it’s clear that he can somehow take over the minds of others.

“Once, I was nothing,” the clay man scoffs. “A minor scientist who relied on magical clay. I was less than nothing, a gnat in this jungle of a world. I was the Puppet Master, and I was deluding myself!”

“So what happened?” Rogue replies, sneaking glances for a way to escape. “You slip and fall in the mud?”

A crack of a smile appears on that face of clay. “I have been blessed by the goddess Zenith.” He raises his hand. “Now, I am Leo, the lion! I am king of all that I touch!”

Before the astonished Rogue can react, Leo arm shoots forward, stretching so that his hand of living clay clamps onto her face.

“Mmph!” Rogue tries to cry out. In desperation, Rogue bats her fists against the clay arm. Once, she could have ripped her attacker away with ease. Now, Rogue is helpless. She feels the clay writhe and burrow into the pores of her skin, eroding her will and taking control of her very mind. The Puppet Master, Leo, has accomplished something that Rogue has only dreamed of.

He’s turned off Rogue’s power.

Leo, formerly the Puppet Master, smiles maliciously as he feels Rogue weaken beneath his grip. “Be glad of this mercy. For defying the will of Zenith, this is the least you deserve.”

From high above, a small glowing object strikes Leo’s arm, and explodes. Rogue falls away, gasping and ripping bits of wet clay off her face.

“Whoever this Zenith be, mon ami, he had best get used to it. We X-Men, we live for defying, non?”

Leo looks up, enraged at these impudent words. High above, a figure leaps from a low building, his trenchcoat flying out behind him so that it blocks on the sun. In his one hand, a quarter staff. In the other, a series of small, thin objects that Leo assumes to be throwing knives.

“Who dares to battle a herald of Zenith!” Leo cries.

The figure lands on the ground in a short roll, looks up at Leo, and gives a roguish smile. “De name is Gambit. An’ dat girl you be messing with, she be wit’ me.”

Raising his left hand, Gambit hurls three playing cards at Leo. The glowing objects explode upon contact with the herald’s chest.

“Argh!” Leo cries, more in fury than rage. He looks down at his chest, shocked to find the Zodiac Sign damaged. “Infidel! Death is too good for you!”

The herald steps forward, using his control over his clay body to restore the Zodiac sign of Leo. “You shall serve the goddess Zenith, in the most menial and demeaning way possible!”

Gambit just hurls more playing cards. “I sold shoes once, mon ami! Gambit ain’t ever doing dat again!”

“Far worse than that, mortal!” Leo cries, unaffected by the barrage of explosive playing cards. “You body will be Zenith’s, her’s to use as she pleases. And while she forces you to do unspeakable acts in her name, you’re mind will remain your own, to experience each and every act you commit!”

Gambit, seeing that he’s not making any headway, tries to leap out of Leo’s lunge. However, Leo is prepared, for he ejects a spray of clay to strike Gambit directly in the face.

“Guhn!” Gambit cries, thrown onto his back by the force of the collision. In desperation, Gambit’s hands go to his face, grabbing at the writhing clay.

Leo can only laugh. “Struggle fool! It shall only make your conversion so much sweeter. The clay is a part of me, a living thing that is immune to your power! Soon, you will have no will, save that of Zennnnuuuugggghhhhh......”

Leo gurgles out this last word. Looking down in shock, the herald of Zenith discovers the tip of a metal blade protruding from his chest. A cold, dead voice whispers where Leo’s ear would be.

“Weak though he may be, he is protected by the strong. You will not have him herald, nor will your mistress!”

Before Leo can mentally recover and act in his defense, the damage is irreparably done. A second blade begins to peek out from the herald’s chest, barely a millimeter from the first. Then, with a wet tearing sound, the blades rip away from each other, each taking half of Leo’s chest with it.

Screaming in agony, Leo slumps to the ground, on both sides of his attacker. An attacker now revealed to be the Archangel.

Wearing the tattered remains of his Angel Costume.

With his razor keen metal wings.

Behind Archangel, Rogue rose to her feet, ripping away the last of the clay. Her eyes widen at the sight of Archangel with his old wings. “W-Warren? Ah don’t believe it! What happened to you?”

Archangel doesn’t turn to face her as he speaks, his voice lacking emotion. “I was sick, in both mind and body. Day by day, I grew weaker, until I nearly died. At that point, my strength returned, and I got better. But that doesn’t matter now.”

Archangel steps forward, towards Gambit. It is then that Rogue sees the man she’s missed for many months.

“Remy!” Rogue cries. She rushes forward, concern etched on her face. However, Archangel extends his wings, blocking her way. “Get outa mah way mister!”

“A moment, Rogue,” Archangel responds calmly, though with a trace of harshness. “First, I have something to say.”

Gambit is on his feet as Archangel approaches, the last of the clay sliding off his face. “Oh, and what be dat, mon am-Gak!”

Archangel has grasped Gambit by the throat, and lifts him off his feet.

“Remy!” Rogue cries as she tries to reach him. But once again, Archangel’s razor sharp wings keep her at bay.

“Because of you, the Marauders were formed, and entered the Morlock tunnels.” There is a deadly edge in Archangel’s voice. “Because of you, my wings were crushed and I was left crippled. Because of you, Cameron Hodge had his chance to destroy my life!”

Though Gambit tries to gurgle out an explanation, Archangel does not listen. He releases Gambit, but continues to stare hard into his eyes. “Because of you, Apocalypse made me what I am today. All that I have become, it is because of you!”

Rubbing his throat, Gambit stands firm. “Yes! I did it. I helped slaughter the Morlocks! I’m the reason you lost your wings! It’s all my fault!”

Archangel’s only response is to give a ghost of a smile, step forward, and extend his hand.

“Thank you.”

Both Gambit and Rogue look down at Archangel’s hand in disbelief. His words fall on deaf ears.

“Warren, ah think you’re still sick.”

“No Rogue. At last, I am whole. With my original wings, I was weak, useless to the world. It took my defeat at the hands of the Marauders to show me that. At last, I understand that what happened was for the best. It has been a long time in coming, Gambit, but I thank you for helping me become strong.”

Gambit can only look at Archangel’s hand, completely thrown by what is happening. Finally, hesitantly, Gambit reaches out and accepts Archangel’s hand and mutters. “Don’t mention it. Really, I’d rather you didn’t.”

Nodding, Archangel steps away. Now allowed to pass, Rogue leaps onto Gambit, throwing her arms around him, yet careful not to touch her skin to his.

“Remy, ah can’t believe you’re back! You saved mah life, you crazy cajun! What are you doing here?”

Gambit just holds Rogue in his arms and smiles. “Gambit be watching de Young and de Restless, just passing de time away. Victoria was about to reveal something when de riot coverage takes over, and Gambit get annoyed. Till Gambit see you, mes ami,” Gambit purrs into Rogue’s ear. “You be so brave Rogue, fighting wit’out your old powers. Gambit just had to act.”

Rogue looks Gambit in the eyes, about to gush all over him. Thankfully, Archangel will deny her that.

“This isn’t a makeout party kids. Look.” Archangel points to the ground, at the puddles of clay that were Leo.

“Th-they’re moving!” Rogue gasp as she lets go of Gambit.

“That’s because he’s not dead,” Archangel comments. “He’s sinking into the ground, running. He is powerful, but he is no fighter. He knows he’s outmatched here.”

Rogue looks over at Leo’s slaves, and finds that they are all slumped on the ground, unconscious and free of clay. “Ah think when we tore him apart, we broke his hold on his slaves!”

Archangel gives Rogue a cold look. “The weak do not take credit for the actions of the strong.” In frustration, he slashes his wing into the street, cutting deeply into the asphalt. “Once he’s in the sewers, he’ll have the whole city to hide in! We’ll never find him!”

“Mebbe we can contact Jean to scan for him, non?” Gambit suggests.

Rogue nods. “Ah called for the others as soon as the riot started. They’all should be her soon!”

Archangel shakes his head. “It’s powers are psionic in nature. It’s possible that it can hide from mind-scans. We have it on the run. It knows we’ll be going after it. It’ll search for a protector, a fighter to keep it safe.”

Realizing something, Rogue looks up, and smiles. She taps Archangel on the shoulder, and points up. “Ah wonder if Leo has anything to do with that thing.”

Archangel and Gambit follow her gaze. They too see the large symbol of Aries in the sky.

“Aries,” Archangel states. “There’s our fighter.”

“Let’s just see how tough you are!” Shadowcat cries, sprinting from the totaled store, she leaps at the Living Laser. Then through him.

“Argh!” Living Laser cries. The moment Shadowcat phased through him, his light form began flickering uncontrollably, and the color of his body fades dramatically.

Shadowcat rolls away from him and leaps to her feet. “It worked. I was able to disrupt his energy matrix, just like a computer. So much for hard light. Hit him Peter!”

Raising to his feet, Colossus sends Living Laser flying with an uppercut. “We are in costume, Shadowcat. The name is Colossus!”

“Big deal. Everyone knows who we are anyway.”

Struggling on the ground, Living Laser is virtually invisible. He struggles to stand, clutching his head in both hands. “G-get out of my head! I won’t serve you! I won’t!”

Shadowcat looks at Colossus in thought. “What’s up with that?”

Nightcrawler answers, teleporting beside her. “Either he is fighting some sort of mental presence, or the man is mad.”

Living Laser whips his head up, glaring at the three X-Men with hate-filled eyes. “I am not mad!”

Colossus leaps to the side. “Behind me comrades!”

The blast of light that erupts from the Living Laser scorches towards Colossus, then through him.

“Da tanks Kitty,” Nightcrawler states as she lets him and Colossus go. “That blast was not meant for a phased opponent. But the next one might. We had best take out leave.”

Nightcrawler teleports his two friends out just as another light burst erupts towards them. They reappear atop a roof. Colossus and Shadowcat are merely disoriented, while Nightcrawler is driven to his knees in pain.

“Kurt! Are you alright?” Shadowcat asks.

“Da,” Kurt replies. “It was merely...the strain. I am not so used to teleporting more than one passenger, let alone one of Peter’s mass.”

“My apologies, Nightcrawler,” Colossus smiles. “But you gave me little warning. But at least you will have a chance to rest. It seems our foe has other concerns.”

Shadowcat follows Peter’s gaze at the street below, and nods in agreement. Far below, the Living Laser is ranting and raving at the air, his body fluctuating rapidly. Bursts of light appear all around him, beginning as light shapes that explode into brilliant spectacles.

“I am not a loser!” The Living Laser cries. His body suddenly brightens and appears more solid. “I do what I want, when I want! And what I want, is to win!”

Shadowcat shakes her head, genuinely feeling pity for the man. “He’s just misunderstood. If it wasn’t for everybody taking advantage of his genius, he’d be a truly great man.”

Colossus hesitates for a moment, his face hardening. Then he too nods. “His only crime is that he loves too much, and it has never been returned. Truly we have been hasty in our attack.”

“Wha-what are you....saying?” Nightcrawler murmurs behind them. He staggers to his feet, his face clenched in concentration. “He’s....doing something to us. Manipulating...our emotions! My friends, we cannot just...give in.”

At first, Shadowcat can only look at Nightcrawler in bewilderment. How could he say such things about a sweet, misunderstood soul like the Living Laser? No. Shadowcat shakes her head. How can she think such things? The Living Laser is a psychopath, an overemotional nutcase who could slaughter hundreds during a minor fit of rage.

She grabs onto the shoulder of Colossus, leaning on him for support. “Peter...he’s...”

Colossus nods, his fists clenched and his face a stiff mask. “Yes Katya. His power....it threatens to overwhelm us!”

Nightcrawler literally shakes with the strain. “We...cannot hope to...overcome him! Physically....and mentally....we are no match!” He sinks to his knees. “Have to...fight him!”

On the street, Living Laser looks up in their direction, fury on his face. They’re fighting him! “Stop it!” He shouts. “You can’t win, so just stop trying! This is mine! My victory! You lost, I won! Accept it!”

“And you must accept that you are Aries,” an ominous, wet voice rasps at Living Laser’s feet. “A herald of Zenith.”

Shocked, Living Laser whips his head about. “Who’s there! Stay out of my head, bitch!”

“Do not speak so of the goddess,” From the ground he rises. Leo, man of clay. He extends his hand towards the Living Laser. “Follow the goddess, Aries, and enjoy victory beyond your wildest dreams.”

Living Laser looks at the hand, at the man extending it, and shakes his head. “No! I have the power now! I can do it myself!”

Leo laughs softly, as though Living Laser is a mere child that said something so stupid, it was hilarious. “Zenith has given you this power, Aries. You are to use this power against the masses, to spread the fear and awe of her coming. You are her great weapon, Aries, the most cherished of the heralds. Accept her power, Aries, and accept Zenith into your heart.”

The Living Laser’s body shimmered, almost like he was shaking, as he moved to accept Leo’s hand.

But before he can, a hail of razor sharp metal rains through his body, and a glowing object explodes at his and Leo’s feet. “Who dares!” Living Laser cries!

“Gambit and friends dare, mon ami,” Gambit replies. He charging up two more cards as he rushes towards the two heralds. Archangel flies high over head, metallic wings poised to kill, while Rogue hustles behind Gambit. “You mess wit’ de X-Men, you-”

“Shut up Gambit!” Archangel snarls. “Distraction can only go so far.” He releases another barrage of razor-sharp feathers towards the two heralds.

Living Laser merely raises his hand, and with a burst of light the attack is repelled. “You just went too far,” he replies in an oddly calm voice. A wide beam of light shoots out of his hand at the trio of X-Men while those on the roof can only watch in helplessness.

Instinctively, Archangel wraps his wings around himself. It doesn’t help. The brilliant burst of light passes, and left in it’s wake are the unconscious forms of Archangel, Gambit, and Rogue.

Leo grins. “Excellent work Aries. Zenith has truly blessed you with the greatest of power. When she arrives, you will be greatly honored.”

Living Laser snarls. “Yes, but first, I shall leave a message. All who mocked me will know the error of their ways.” Aries throws his head back, and the air around him ripples. “I shall flood this city in the blood of it’s own hate!”

Back on the roof, the three X-Men are just beginning to recover from the previous mind assault. They cry out in agony as a wave of hate washes over their minds.

“Arghh!” Shadowcat cries. “Why can’t any of you like my costume designs! I work hard on those!”

“Later Katya,” Colossus pants out. “We must be strong! I can feel my hate bubbling. Xavier! My Mother Russia! Stryfe! Belasco! Mikhail! Magneto! I hate them all...and so much more! My family is dead...because of them!”

Colossus closes his eyes, his face a mask of true effort. “Nyet! My family is dead because of hatred! Because of fear! Momma and poppa...died because the government feared, and wanted to control what they feared! Illyana is dead...because she was raised around hate....and the Legacy Virus was raised by a man who was raised to hate! Hate has taken my life....my soul. And. I. Won’t. Give. In!!!!!!!!!”

With this cry, Colossus forces himself to transform. He forces himself to release the energy within him, to revert to his weaker form.

To let go of his hate.

Panting, Peter Rasputin rests on his hands on knees, sweat pouring from his brow. Beside him, Nightcrawler and Shadowcat continue to struggle.

“That....is well and good...for you!” Nightcrawler barks out. “But...what about....us!”

Leave it to me guys. A voice whispers in their heads.

All three X-Men breath huge sighs of relief as they feel the hate literally wash away. Shadowcat raises her head to face the sky, and smiles at the sight of an aircraft approaching. “Thanks Jean.”

Don’t mention it, Jean replies. She’s immediately followed by Cyclops. Watch this.

High in the sky, the modified Blackbird jet angles into a descent towards Aries and Leo.

Inside, Cyclops prepares to pull up at an instant’s notice, and opens his visor wide. The crimson optic blast collides against the windshield. Fortunately, this windshield is made from a specially threaded ruby quartz matrix, and amplifies the massive burst of concussive force that harmlessly passes through it.

A wide, bright beam of crimson force erupts from the windshield of the Blackbird. As fast as the speed of light, it slams into the two heralds. The street is shattered, lifting piles of heavy dust into the air.

Cyclops smiles. “That should take care of them.”

Iceman’s eyes widen. “Think again Scott. I’m still getting heat readings!”

Indeed, when the dust settles moments later, all that is left is a gaping hole that was once a section of 5th Avenue. And still standing there, completely level with the street, is Aries, completely unaffected by the devastating attack.

Next to him, surrounded by a transparent sphere of light, is Leo.

A mocking smile on his face, Aries looks up at the Blackbird as it pulls up. “This is the best that Earth has to offer, and a mere herald stands against it all. Zenith wouldn’t have much fun here. I should just kill them.”

“That is not Zenith’s plan,” Leo councils. “All shall serve and worship her. She is coming soon. We must gather with the rest of the heralds to greet her when she arrives.”

He points into the sky, where the sign of Aries has faded, and an arrow of light erupts into the air. “Look! The call has gone out! The hour of her coming nears, as does the hour of our ultimate victory!”

Aries nods. “Yes. Let these mortals try and stop us there. The victory will only be that much greater.”

With these last words, Aries streaks into the air, far faster than the naked eye can follow. Leo, encased within his sphere, is pulled along for the ride.

Nightcrawler snarls. “I know we had no chance, but for them to just leave! As if we are nothing!”

Shadowcat shrugs. “We’ll just have to make sure they regret it later. We’d better check on Rogue and-is that Archangel and Gambit? I’ll phase down and you teleport Peter. Kay?”

Nightcrawler and Colossus both nod. They disappear in a burst of smoke as Shadowcat sinks through the building at a rapid descent. She sets her solid feet on the ground and rushes towards the three fallen X-Men, already being attended to by Nightcrawler and Colossus.

“Stay back Colossus,” Archangel snarls. “I can stand on my own two feet, without help of any kind.”

Rogue and Gambit, however, are more accepting of help. Shadowcat learns that hard way as she leans over Rogue, lightly trying to shake her awake.

“Rogue,” Shadowcat whispers soothingly. “Come on Rogue, get up. Geez, I hope you’re alri-mmmmppppphhhhmmmm!”

Jerked awake, and clearly too disoriented to know what she’s doing, Rogue grabs Shadowcat by the back of the head, lifts herself up, and plants a big wet kiss on Shadowcat’s lips.

Surprised as she is, it only takes Shadowcat a solid three seconds before she pulls away. Leaping to her feet, she wipes her mouth and backs away from Rogue. She tells herself that the lightheadedness is just Rogue’s powers draining her. “What the hell was that!”

Rogue’s eyes flutter open, then widen in horror. “Oh mah god! A-ah’m so sorry! At the riot, ah had absorbed a lesbian, an-and you startled me-”

Shadowcat raises her hands. “It’s okay Rogue, I understand that it was an accident. Don’t worry about it.”

Nearby, Nightcrawler smiles. Gambit, just coming too, misses the action.

“T’anks, mon ami,” Gambit states, rubbing his head. “Dat walking Bright Light done knocked me for a loop der. Where he at?”

“He’s gone,” Cyclops states. He strides from the landed Blackbird, Jean and Iceman behind him. “My optic blast, coupled with Jean’s mental assault, managed to drive them off.”

Shadowcat shakes her head. “I don’t know Cyclops. Living Laser didn’t even look winded. I’ve got a feeling they left to join in on something a lot bigger.”

“Ah agree,” Rogue cuts in. “Those suckers were wearing two of the Zodiac signs, and that Leo fella was going on about how he was the herald of some Zenith gal! Ah’m willing to bet she’s got about ten more!”

Archangel steps forward. “Whoever this Zenith is, she took low-level threats like the Living Laser and the Puppet Master, and made them phenomenally powerful! And it’s clear what their intentions are.”

Iceman looks Archangel up and down. “It seems they aren’t the only ones to get an upgrade. What happened to you Warren.”

Archangel fixes a cold stare on Iceman. “Let’s just say Apocalypse has a cruel sense of humor, and leave it at that. We need to follow those two, and deal with this threat before it gets out of hand!”

Jean Grey nods. “I could feel the hate spreading all over this city. If the Living Laser hadn’t left, I might not have been able to stop what he was doing. Scott, if we don’t stop him now, before he gets used to his new powers, he may never be stopped.”

Cyclops is silent, considering the arguments. He looks up at the sky, in the direction the two heralds had gone. “They went west. It should be easy to pick up their energy trail and follow in the Blackbird. The question is, should we.”

Everybody, including Jean, gapes at Cyclops.

“You can’t be serious, Cyclops,” Nightcrawler blurts of. “Of course we’re going.”

Cyclops shakes his head. “That’s not our decision Nightcrawler.” He taps the ‘X’ on his left breast. “Professor, have you been following the situation?”

“I have,” Xavier’s voice answers through all the X-Men’s comm-links.

“What should we do sir?” Cyclops asks. “Should we go after them, or work on quelling the riot?”

Around him, the X-Men are not happy.

To be continued in the Fantastic Four Annual!