Issue+94+-+'Sky+is+Falling'


 * Issue 94 - 'Sky is Falling' **




 * Plot **

The eXalts have discovered that Clan Akkaba, the descendants of the X-Men villain Apocalypse, is active once again. The eXalts previously defeated one branch of Clan Akkaba when Bastienne killed its leader – her grandmother, Sophie. The newly-active branch is seeking “seeds” like Bastienne and her sister Georgie: mutants created or modified to host Egyptian gods. Bastienne already merged with the goddess Bastet and Georgie with Sekhmet, though Georgie was freed by the Orb of Ra. But the Orb has been drained of its power and there are many seeds out there. The eXalts couldn’t prevent the seed of Anubis, a boy named Dmitri, from being abducted by the clan. They saved his twin sister, Robyn (seed of Horus), who has since gone into hiding. But who are the other seeds, and what does Clan Akkaba have planned for them? And what connection does this have, if any, to Academy X student Evan Sabahnur, clone of Apocalypse? Meanwhile, tensions over the future of the mutant nation of Utopia have exploded. Fliers were posted in the town of New Genosha with a list of demands. The mutant refugees that make up the citizens of Utopia are now echoing this call for more rights: land and business ownership, more representation in the government, and so on. Bastienne, sick of the politics, has announced she will resign her position as Secretary of State. Former Academy X staff member Ruth has already resigned her position as Treasury Secretary. David was running for Secretary of the Treasury, which will be decided in an upcoming election along with two newly-created legislator positions to give New Genoshans more representation. But when the public outcry erupts, David instead demands an immediate election for the presidency – and announces his intention to challenge Mac for the job. Then Dane further causes chaos by announcing that he should still rightfully be president as Mac only replaced him once he was thought to be dead.

As the weekend begins there is chaos in New Genosha. The 200+ residents of the town are nearly all in the streets – protesting, meeting in small groups, visiting David in prison, asking Bailey for advice, and so on. David has begun his campaign for presidency, despite the fact that the position isn’t up for election for another four years. Baily advises the protestors to be peaceful and assures them that he will continue to push for more independence for New Genosha. Meanwhile, at Academy X, the staff is preparing for parents/family/friends weekend. Bastienne overhears Samantha crying in her room. She asks if Sam is pregnant, which only makes Sam cry harder. Jesse, the Stone child who is now over six and a half years old due to her rapid aging, swats Bastienne with her tail. Bastienne returns the tail swat in kind, which finally cheers Sam up – that and the chocolate Bastienne brought. Elsewhere, Mac sends a message to the eXalts leadership (the top three: Sam, Bastienne, and Liam) that there needs to be an official policy about not doing lethal damage to sentient foes. While the rule was unofficially in place, it needs to be enforced strictly. Liam, along with the others, agrees. Liam then takes the school’s ferry (//The Poseidon)// to San Francisco to pick up the visitors for the parents/family/friends weekend. His daughter Jasmine goes with him, as does new Academy X teacher Michael “Discord” Schwartz. Michael is actually a grown-up Davan (David and Dane’s son), but no one is sure how. Michael has sometimes been an ally and sometimes a foe of the school, but after helping them a few years back he lost his memories. He’s recently joined the staff.

The luncheon for the visitors goes well at the school. Jasmine has made nametags for all the guests. Some notable family or friends include the Lisowski family who is attending to support Gabe (as he recently survived Avengers Arena and has been having a hard time adjusting), the Hardies (a group of British mutants who can all fly who are there for senior Ned), former classmate of many staff members Anne Moore (her younger brother, Craig, is a sophomore) and former eXalt Cameron’s sister (her daughter, Etta, is a junior). Valerie, a “normal” looking Morlock, attends to support her relative Hunter. Senior prefect Madison seems sad, as it’s her first family weekend since her father William (AKA the mutant villain “Mindworm”) is in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. One of the parents works as a blogger and corners Mac to discuss Utopian politics (“What are your thoughts on demands for an election? If there are elections, will you run?). In the middle of the luncheon, Bastienne and Samantha notice that Evan is missing. Bastienne uses her super senses to track him to the Academy X basement. It’s a restricted areas to students (except for student staff), but this hasn’t stopped Evan before from using his technopathy to override the security. Bastienne finds him in the boiler room where they’ve hidden their Cerebra unit. The machine is blinking and humming. One of Evan’s many powers is telepathy, and he’s using it to power the dangerous machine! As Bastienne entered silently, she makes a noise to alert Evan to her presence. He takes off the helmet and tells her some alarming news: he was searching for the seeds, and he’s found one – on Utopia! He can’t tell who it is, but the seed is in the middle of the island. The seed is being pursued by a group of Hellfire Club: Tokyo mutants and is terrified!

Bastienne alerts Sam, who assembles the eXalts. They take the Blackbird as it’s the fastest way to get to the seed (as Mac hasn’t been to the middle of the island to teleport there – in fact, no one’s had the time to explore much of the island at all since Sam expanded it to over twice the size of Long Island using her Phoenix Force powers). Evan accompanies them. As the jet nears the location where Evan detected the seed, however, the engines suddenly whine and then shut down. Sam tries to use her telekinesis to keep the Blackbird in the air, but she’s shocked to find her powers aren’t working! As the Blackbird begins to descend, the rest of the eXalts realize they can’t use any of their powers, either. The exceptions are Bastienne (apparently her powers are innate due to her merger with Bastet) and Bailey (as his non-mutant powers are racial from being half-Kree). Dane, with the help of his co-pilot Sam, makes a heroic landing. The Blackbird is badly damaged, but most eXalts only have bumps and bruises. Sam is impaled by one of the controls that broke free and Billy is left with a mild concussion, but no one is badly hurt. Evan cries out from the floor – without his telekinesis, he’s trapped in his armor and can’t get up! Bastienne uses her claws to free him while Dane points out something shocking: they didn’t crash land in a forest. They’re in a jungle! And it doesn’t look like any jungle on Earth, either. Many of the plants and animals look alien. There are giant mushrooms, huge beetles, purple ferns, and more.

The eXalts take medical kits and emergency supplies from the jet. None of their equipment is working. Like the Blackbird, their communicators are dead. Something has shut down electronic equipment like an EMP blast, perhaps the same thing dampening their powers. Bailey is the only one with weapons (his tonfa and a pistol). Evan is in shock over the loss of his powers. The group soon realizes that Dagan once again has channeled David’s personality. She must have done so when she panicked when the Blackbird first lost power. Now that she’s lost her powers, she can’t re-exert control! As Bailey checks over Billy and the rest of the team readies for a hike through the jungle, a dozen humanoid creatures emerge from the underbrush. They’re wearing leather clothing that looks like armor and wielding bows. Most surprising, however, are their pointed ears. They look like elves out of a fantasy movie! The lead elf calls out in an incomprehensible language, but his meaning is clear. The eXalts put their hands up and get down on their knees. One elf goes to each eXalt and uses some kind of chloroform-like substance to knock them out. The next few days are a blur. The eXalts dimly remember being carried on litters through the jungle before being knocked out again. They finally wake up in a hut in the middle of a jungle village. They’re not bound, but a half-dozen elves keep guard outside. The group assesses their situation when there’s yet another surprise: the door opens and two humans are ushered into the hut.

The more outgoing member of the pair is a woman with alabaster skin, a blue star-shaped mark on her forehead, and a rainbow-colored mohawk. She brightly introduces herself as “DJ Niji.” Her more subdued companion is a brown-haired man wearing a skull and crossbones t-shirt and a trenchcoat. He says his name is simply “Ian.” The pair immediately recognizes the eXalts, except for Evan (who sits despondently at the edge of the hut). When Bastienne asks how they got to Utopia, DJ says their boat crashed and they were taken prisoner by the elves. David (in Dagan’s body) begins questioning them insistently, including asking if they’re mutants. DJ says the questions are a little intrusive, and Billy agrees. He tries a friendlier approach. He explains that the eXalts’ jet crashed and their powers won’t work. DJ explains that the plants in the area nullify both powers and technology. Meanwhile, Bastienne tries to cheer Evan up. He’s not receptive, however. He says he’s “useless” without his powers. David loses patience and yanks on the hut’s locked door. He shouts to the elves that he wants their leader. The door opens and several elves enter, but they can’t understand David. They look to Ian for help. Ian translates what David was saying – he can apparently speak their language! The elves reply. Ian tells the eXalts that their leader will soon be joining them.

When the leader of the elves arrives he says the humans can leave, but insists they keep the deal the elves made with Ian and DJ. DJ explains that the elves’ survival depends on others not knowing they’re there. DJ is very persuasive and convinces the eXalts to keep their end of the bargain. The elves then give supplies to the group: food, water, and survival gear. They give Ian a map, but he doesn’t share it with the others. The elves also provide a leaf that they’ve discovered can return some of their lost powers, but it will also make them feel drained. Evan leaps at the chance to regain some of his powers and quickly chews on one leaf. All of the other eXalts chew on leaves as well, except for Bastienne (as she already has her powers) and Dane (who chooses not to use the leaf for now). Billy says the leaf won’t work as well a second time. When the group asks what he means, he says they used a leaf like this before when they lost their powers fighting Danielle Robitaille. Mac found it when they were on the run in the forest. The group looks at Billy like he’s crazy – that never happened. Billy is confused (“Why do I remember things you guys don’t?!”) and the rest of the group wonders why his memories are different. Is he from another timeline? Bastienne seems less surprised at this – she says it’s like his false memories of “Roman”, whoever that is.

The leaf quickly takes effect: Bailey already had his super-strength and enhanced physical traits from his half-Kree heritage, but he regains his mutant ability to paralyze foes (though he can no longer adapt to attacks). David, in Dagan’s body, can use the “light armor” alternate form she’d developed, but without its regeneration (and she can’t blast or nullify or borrow powers). Liam is able to call upon two spirits only (a cheetah and crocodile). Mac can use his “ruby armor” form which is strong and tough, but no other magic (including flight, blasts, teleportation, mirror images, draining energy or healing). Sam regains enough of her telekinesis to create a force field and deflect attacks, but not enough to fly (and all her telepathic powers are gone). Billy is right that his previous use of the same (or similar) leaf means that he only regains a fraction of his time control (and, thus, speed). Evan regains his ability to create energy blasts, but doesn’t have his telepathy or telekinesis. The eXalts feel relieved to have some ability to defend themselves, especially when the elven leader warns that there are dinosaurs in the jungle! Sam says they should head for the Blackbird. Ian plots a path through the jungle and they set off.

As the group treks through the jungle David tells Mac to collect plant samples to study later. Mac agrees. The trip is slow-going. The virgin jungle is so thick they can’t even see the sky through the canopy. The first obstacle in the group’s path is a riven swollen from recent storms. While the group discusses how to get across, DJ Niji creates a rainbow tornado around herself. When it dissipates, she’s gone – she’s already across the river! When David witnesses her teleportation, he shouts, “I knew you were a mutant!” Apparently DJ and Ian were captives of the elves long enough to regain their powers (though Ian continues to deny he is a mutant). David says they could rest to regain their powers, but most of the others don’t want to be away from Academy X any longer than necessary. They’ve already been gone for half a week. Bastienne easily scales a tree and leaps across the river. She mentions to DJ that she can teleport as well. Liam’s cheetah spirit gives him climbing ability and he follows Bastienne’s route, though he injures his ankle upon landing. The rest of the group successfully swims across, though several are injured when the current knocks them into jagged rocks. They travel safely until nightfall.

While a bit disheartened that they’re only able to travel 3-4 miles a day due to the thick jungle, the group sets off with high hopes on the second day. That morning they encounter a silent section of jungle blanketed in moss. Even the birds and bugs seem to avoid the area. While approaching, the moss pops and sparks in reaction to sound. Bastienne is able to easily cross, as she can move silently. DJ teleports halfway across, but makes a noise and causes a bright flash of light. Her second teleport takes her to the far end of the mossy area. The others do their best to move quietly through the area, though the occasional snapped twig or kicked leaf causes an explosion of light, partially blinding whoever disturbed the moss. That afternoon the group reaches a clearing. While eating lunch, Liam notices pterodactyls descending from above! The group dodges their attacks, though a few are impaled by claws before escaping. The group is clearly moving through dinosaur territory, because on the morning of the third day they are attacked by a large pack of velociraptors. Some attack the creatures, while others scare them away. Ian displays his ability to create illusions when he creates the image of a huge scaly monster to disperse the pack. It’s a bilgesnipe, the same creature seen by Glob Herman and Wicked near New Genosha! Ian saw one when he first came to the island. Ian admits he has mental powers (which is how he learned the elven language), though he hasn’t regained his ability to communicate long range. DJ says she has most of her rainbow powers, though not her ability to heal. It’s a shame, too, as many of them are still injured from their various encounters in the jungle.

The most dangerous threat appears that afternoon. While moving through slightly sparser jungle, a large number of blue-skinned humanoids with swords and bows surround the group. Several of them are riding horse-sized dinosaurs (utahraptors) or beasts that look like a cross between a dire wolf and a saber-tooth tiger. One even rides a tyrannosaurus rex! Phantasma orders the eXalts to attack on the run. Blur speeds ahead and takes out a dinosaur mounted by an elite orc rider. Bastet leaps next to him and injures the orc that leapt free. K9 stuns another orc rider. Primal tries to dominate the dinosaur but is unable to do so. Panzer quickly eats a leaf, but before he’s able to regain his vibranium armor an arrow pierces his side. Once he shifts into his metal form he punches the t-rex, but to little effect. Ian’s mental blast also does little damage to the beat. Several other members of the group are slightly injured by orc attacks, including DJ who barely gets up a yellow force field in time to slow down a well-shot arrow. She then unleashes a wave of violet light. Bursts of white light explode in front of each orc and dinosaur. Half of them are blinded! The group seizes the advantage. Mystic, in ruby form, punches one of the blind dinosaurs. Blur takes out an orc veteran while Bastet drops a dinosaur. Several others gang up on the t-rex, but their attacks only inflict minor damage. The orcs manage a counter-attack, but with half of them blinded only a few members of the group are hurt, though Panzer is stunned. DJ unleashes another violent wave, blinding even more orcs. Ian creates an illusion of a forest fire that only the orcs and dinosaurs see, causing many of those who avoided being blinded to flee. In the midst of the chaos, the group finally manages to take down the t-rex and the orc leader. Phantasma realizes Evan has been missing. She finds him hiding in some underbrush. Ian mentally communicates with all the orcs, commanding them to flee – or die. The remaining orcs flee into the jungle. The group hurries away. Sam convinces Evan to leave his hiding spot and they hurry away from the scene of the attack.

Following the battle Dane seems to be stuck in his metal form and his regeneration has not returned. Many of the others are injured as well. Fortunately, the group finally reaches the lake that marks the halfway point to the Blackbird crash site. The jungle around the lake is thinner for some reason, making travel easier. Large shapes are spotted moving in the lake, so it’s not safe to try to cross, but the group is only too happy to make camp for the night anyway. The next day is extremely hot and humid. This weather, combined with traveling in the hot sun, causes many of the group to suffer heat stroke. The heat and humidity break due to a thunderstorm, however. The cloud cover also helps cool their travel, but the heavy rain exacerbates their next obstacle: quicksand. Several of the group get stuck in the mud and are fatigued freeing themselves, especially Evan who is extremely miserable. On the fifth day of travel they encounter huge swarms of insects along the lake shore that leave many covered in bites. Wounded, fatigued, suffering from heat stroke and covered in bug bites, the group is thrilled to see an encampment on the far side of the lake. They reach the encampment near nightfall. While the group discusses what to do, DJ heads immediately to the camp with Ian close behind. The eXalts are forced to follow. As they get close, they notice that the residents are humans – and nearly all Asian. It’s a Hellfire Club: Tokyo expedition! DJ asks Ian who they’re looking for, hinting that the pair have some purpose for being on Utopia. Ian points out the one non-Asian in the group: an African-American man the eXalts recognize. It’s former Academy X student Christian “Radian” Cord! Before DJ and Ian can talk to Christian, Christian greets his former teachers. Several Hellfire Club: Tokyo members emerge from tents to see what’s going on. When one tent flap opens, Bailey notices there are several plant samples inside. What is the organization up to? Christian can’t say much about their purpose (as he’s been working for them), though he admits they are exploring Utopia as it hasn’t been forbidden. Sam acknowledges there was no prohibition against traveling on the island. Bastienne warns it’s dangerous, however, as there are dinosaurs! Christian says he knows – they encountered dinosaurs early in the trip and he was separated from the rest of his team. Their electronics failed and he lost his powers, but fortunately they brought along mundane weapons and drove the dinos off with guns.

Ian whispers to DJ and she interrupts the conversation. She introduces herself and Ian and says that they were looking for Christian. She tells Christian that the Brand Corporation is hunting him and they are here to help him. Christian is shocked by the news. The Brand Corporation is a tech company. Why is something like Stark Industries after him? Ian asks if Christian has a twin. He looks even more surprised and admits he does: a twin sister, Christine. But what makes him so special? Bastienne looks at Christian quizzically, wondering the same thing – then realizes there’s something odd about Christian. She felt the same strange feeling about Robyn. Then it clicks. She realizes he’s a seed! They’re all twins: Bastienne and her sister Georgie, Dmitri and Robyn, and now Christian and Christine! And now that Bastienne recognizes the feeling, she realizes DJ and Ian are seeds, too (and perhaps twins)! Before she can share her revelations with the group, gray-skinned men emerge from the jungle. It’s the same Clan Akkaba soldiers they fought before! This time they’re lead by the dark-skinned woman Bailey saw when he was in the clan’s sanctum on the other side of a portal. She has blue markings on her chin. Billy shouts, “Oh no – it’s Diamanda Nero!” The group looks at him like he’s crazy: it’s another memory an encounter they never experienced. But there’s no time for conversation as the battle is joined. Diamanda shifts into a werewolf form and unleashes a volley of attacks. Her body adapts to withstand any kind of attack. Just as the group thinks they’re doomed, another team emerges from the jungle. It’s Sam’s husband, Matt, along with reserve eXalts Ethan and Mercy (“Sublime” and “Subsume”) and other eXalt allies: Bailey’s girlfriend Susanna (“Ultragirl”), former Academy X students Ginny (“Spark”) and Rafé (“Lobo”), Utopia federal agents and former Academy X students Robert “Glob Herman” and “Wicked” – and Mustang (the real David)! Once the eXalts disappeared, Matt convinced Liam’s second in command Glob Herman to allow David to leave jail for the rescue mission. The eXalts “red team” helps turn the tide against the soldiers. But it’s already too late – Diamanda Nero has somehow communicated with Christian, Ian, and DJ. She flew herself and the three seeds away from the group until pink portals opened and they disappeared. Now Clan Akkaba has three more of the seeds. What will the eXalts do now? And what did they miss back at Academy X and in New Genosha in the week they were missing?... **Next:** __Issue 95 - 'Beast and the Harlot'__
 * Previous: ** Issue 93 - 'Protect and Survive'