Issue+54+-+'Tinderbox'


 * Issue 54 - 'Tinderbox' **




 * Plot**

(Takes place at the same time as Age of X: Homefront, Part 3 of 4)

The eXalts Gold Team has completed their mission of contacting the Avengers and attempting to recruit them. David hopes Steven Rogers will agree to his terms: if the Avengers and the human resistance fight on the side of the Mutant Republic against Magneto’s New United States, after the war the humans can have the east coast. During the mission, however, Dane’s team member from the Red Team, Thornn, lost control of her berserker rage and killed several human resistance members. Among those killed were Bastienne’s brother-in-law, Rafé, and Samantha’s ex-husband, Matt. The Gold and Red teams meet outside the Avengers’ secret lair to discuss the events of the mission. David agrees with Sam and Bastienne that they should reclaim the bodies of their loved ones. Rafé’s body is taken onto Blackbird, but Samantha flies off with Matt’s body. The Red Team returns to Academy X first due to Pixie’s teleportation powers. Dane pulls Thornn aside about her loss of control and tells her she’s off the team if she loses control again. The Gold Team returns. David and Bastienne bring Rafé’s body to the medical lab. Jubilee cleans him up as best as she’s able. Thornn stabbed him through the heart, and Bastienne notices he had a tattoo over his heart of Georgie’s name. Bastienne stays with her brother-in-law even after Jubilee and David leave. David calls a debriefing meeting for the Gold Team. Dane relates the Red Team’s mission. They were able to sneak in, do some reconnaissance, place teleportation nullifiers and build stasis fields to hold the Avengers, and then report to the Gold Team. The mission went perfectly until the Hulk overloaded the stasis generator and Thornn lost control when the Red Team was holding off reinforcements. David gets Dane up to date. He then calls the Minister of Defense and Dagan’s husband, Alex Summers, to report on the mission. Alex is excited that the Avengers may have become allies of the Mutant Republic. He’s a bit upset to hear that David offered the human resistance the entire east coast in payment for their help, but David assures Alex that they don’t have to follow through on that promise. David also asks Alex to pressure Vice-Exarch Michael (now leading the Mutant Republic since Exarch Dagan lost her memories) to put at least one suggestion from X-Corporation: San Francisco’s leader Heather Cameron’s action plan to help humans into effect. Alex says he has bigger problems now with potential war with the New United States looming. He criticizes Mac for his recent speech about human equality that has riled up the Mutant Republic’s human population. He grudgingly agrees to forward the action plan to Michael to see if there’s anything they can do. During the meeting Samantha finally reaches the Morlocks. Some of the old tunnels she remembered from ten years ago collapsed or were blocked off. She finally reaches a passageway to their home, but it’s guarded by a Morlock with spider legs she knew as a child and one of the Morlocks’ human guards. They recognize Matt’s body. The spider Morlock leaves to talk to the elder. A group of Morlocks returns shortly after. They agree to take Matt’s body for funeral services, but they won’t let Sam enter the community. Samantha is shocked – last she remembered she was considered a Morlock! Apparently much has changed in ten years. The lead Morlock says she’s one of “them” and not welcome. Samantha takes Matt’s personal effects, including his wedding ring which he wore on a chain around his neck, and departs. She flies into the mountains to spend some time alone. On Sunday Bastienne visits Ruth at the mental asylum in San Francisco. Ruth is already talking to herself when Bastienne enters. Her rambling includes references to meowing cats, wells dug too deep, generals made of light, and other nonsensical sayings. When Bastienne takes her hand, however, she suddenly gets lucid. She says, “two minutes until midnight” and then trails off into meaningless babble once more. Meanwhile, Agape contacts Academy X and asks if she can move in. Now that she’s returned from her mission with the Red Team, she’s having difficulty living in the “future.” She’d rather be with the others who lost their memory. Dane and Bastienne agree and she moves into their guest room. Billy visits Dane and asks if they can perform a memorial service for Rafé (and for Matt if Sam agrees). He’s just looking for a private ceremony for staff, since the students didn’t know Rafé. Dane agrees to perform the service. Samantha returns to Academy X on Sunday night. She doesn’t want to talk to anyone but Raven. Her “father” is sad for her and comforts her. Raven mostly blames the human resistance for Matt’s death – if the humans were happy with their lot, Matt never would have died. Mac spends a few hours writing a press release. There have been several human protests since his last speech and the numbers of protestors is growing. Mac clarifies that he wasn’t criticizing the political leadership of the Mutant Republic or the New United States – he was only addressing the need for equal treatment for mutants and humans alike. The statement is well-received for its diplomatic message, but it doesn’t stop the growing calls for human equality and the growing attendance at rallies and demonstrations throughout the Mutant Republic. The recent food rationing is also playing a role in the human unrest. At the Sunday night staff meeting, memorial services are planned for Rafé and Matt for the upcoming Saturday. Then, suddenly, an incorporeal woman steps through the wall and joins the meeting. She identifies herself simply as “X”. X takes responsibility for bringing the eXalts minds from the past into their bodies of the future. She says that while their older selves are corrupt, she believes that their younger selves can save the world. Samantha reads her mind and can tell she is telling the truth – or she believes what she’s saying, anyway. The eXalts ask why she chose them and not others, like the X-Men. X says she believes they are the only ones capable of stopping the war. When she’s asked how they can stop the war, X says she has a plan – but it’s not time yet. She says they have to be prepared to take drastic action when the time comes. She says she’ll contact them soon. She then disappears. The eXalts discuss the mysterious woman’s message. Many do not trust her. Others seem more willing to listen – they’re willing to do anything to return to the past. Honoka asks if it’s possible to remain in the future, but doesn’t explain why she’d want to. David says it’s up to her. The school week resumes on Monday. David oversees Combat Club for the first time since he “lost his memory.” He notices many of the kids have familiar powers of those in the past – they have an African healer, a girl who can create an energy whip, a girl who can create zombies, a boy who can tunnel through the earth, and so on. The eXalts discuss this coincidence, but shrug it off. Samantha is quiet and withdrawn and avoids contact with everyone but Raven. Bastienne believes Rafé’s body should be returned to Georgie. Billy says he’s willing to search for Bast’s sister, but Bastienne says no. She believes Georgie is part of the human resistance and is in hiding. Even if Billy could find her, it would be too dangerous. The weekend arrives. On Saturday the staff holds memorial services for Rafé and Matt. Rafé is buried in the Academy X memorial garden, though Bastienne is upset that he can’t be with his wife. Dane gives some heartfelt speeches and many share their memories of Matt and Rafé. Sam refuses to speak. After the ceremonies, Honoka approaches Sam. She offers her condolences, as she lost her entire family years ago. That’s why she wants to remain in the future – in the ten year gap, her family somehow came back to life and Honoka wants to stay there with them. Honoka says that she knows Sam is alone except for Raven, and she expresses her sympathy. Sam is appreciative. Honoka leaves to visit her family. After the ceremony Meghan asks Dane if they should reconsider their decision not to have children. It would mean quitting the Red Team, but she thinks maybe she’s ready. Dane says they’ll think about it. Meanwhile, Bastienne shows ultrasound pictures of the baby to Billy. He’s emotional when looking at the images. He can’t believe he’s going to be a father. He makes a pledge to be a better father than his father was. On Saturday night David receives a phone call from Michael. Michael tells David that the Mutant Republic will be starting a draft. He needs David to sort the Academy X students into three categories: Category 1 is for students with evident combat abilities; Category 2 is for students with possible combat abilities; and Category 3 is for students with no combat ability. David agrees to do so. Michael then asks David if he’d be willing to serve as general of the Mutant Republic. Alex Summers is capable, but David is the most well-known and respected mutants on the west coast. David agrees on one condition: that when conflict between the two mutant countries begins, Dagan will be at his side. After all, she’s his daughter and he wants to keep her safe. Michael agrees, as long as the doctors agree that Dagan is up for it. Dane holds a whole-school meeting on Sunday to inform the Academy X students about the upcoming draft. A few students are excited, most are worried, and a few are terrified. David says he will be in command and he will do his best to keep them safe. Samantha is worried about her kids on the east coast. She realizes they are prisoners meant to keep the eXalts from attacking. Kurt calls her and asks how she’s doing. She lies and says she’s okay. She hasn’t told the kids about Matt’s death. Kurt says he’s doing well. He mentions there’s been extra security lately and that students are going through extra combat training. Samantha then calls her daughter, Alex. Alex somehow knows that her father, Matt, is dead. The young telepath says she’s heard stories about poisoned food supplies and upcoming conflict. She says she’ll do her best to protect Kurt and keep her eyes open. She says that Sam should consider listening to X. Sam isn’t sure how she knows about X, but agrees. On Sunday night Ruby Summers (Emma and Scott’s daughter) and Peter Rasputin (Piotr’s son) approach Dane. They want to know if they can return to the east coast. James Hudson (Wolverine’s son), the other exchange student from the east, hates his father and wants to remain on the west coast. Dane says he’ll talk to the leaders of Xavier’s school and see. When Dane calls the mutant school, he’s surprised when Xavier himself comes on the line. Xavier says he doesn’t want a conflict between the two countries. He’d be happy to take Ruby and Peter back, but he can’t send back Alex, Kurt, and Davan. President Erik (Magneto) has forbidden it. Dane realizes his and David’s son, as well as Sam’s twins, are essentially captives. Xavier says they may be able to arrange a secret visit. Dane says he understands and breaks the news to the rest of the Academy X staff. David says it’s too dangerous to try to free their kids – it could start the war they’re trying to avoid. Everyone agrees. David continues his efforts to try to reach Magneto, but Erik won’t return his e-mails or calls. Even after David forwards confidential information on the Mutant Republic’s draft and even offers to fight for Magneto, David’s father won’t reply. David calls his mother and asks her if she can try on his behalf. She says she’ll try, but doubts that he’ll talk to her. She doesn’t seem to have any luck, either. Meanwhile, Mac gives a speech as part of his Unity Campaign. He shows images of mutants being oppressed before the mutant uprising. He then shows images of human oppression since the formation of the two mutant-lead countries. He says his goal is to bring equality to all. Some of the human protestors agree with his message, but other human rights groups ignore his pleas for peace. The human equality protests continue to grow, and some become little more than mobs and riots. S.H.I.E.L.D. troops are able to contain the violence, but for how much longer? Monday is the start of the mutant draft. All students with evident combat abilities or potentially useful combat abilities (Categories 1 and 2) leave Academy X for “training centers.” The other half of the students (Category 3 students with no useful combat abilities) remain. Aiden McAlister, Mac’s son, visits his father before leaving. Mac says that being a father is the most important thing he’s done – even more important than being a teacher, an eXalt, or running the Unity Campaign. He apologies for not being ready to be a father sooner. Aiden apologizes for not spending more time with his father. They have a tearful hug, then Aiden leaves. Later on Monday Dane recalls the eXalts Red Team to Academy X. Lucius, Joni, Daniel, Lucia, and Melissa join Agape and Meghan (who were already living at Academy X). Dane then meets with Ruby and Peter and tells them that they can’t go east. They take the news fairly well – too well, as it turns out. That night they try to escape Academy X. Their plan is foiled by Dane and other staff members. Dane reluctantly puts power-dampening collars on the two students that he borrowed from S.H.I.E.L.D. They are held in custody for now. The rest of the week goes on as normally as possible with half the study body gone. At the Tuesday night staff meeting, Academy X student Shura reappears. She has a familiar message: “Wake up!” She then adds, “Come back to the real world! You are needed! There is no future!” before she fades away. The group isn’t sure what to do about the message. They have other problems to worry about. Sunday brings the biggest problem yet: Dane and David get an urgent alert from Alex Summers. A “stealth helicarrier” from S.H.I.E.L.D.’s east coast force has located and stolen the west coast’s last remaining strategic food reserve. Both eXalts teams, Gold and Red, respond. The Gold Team, including Mustang, Bast, Blur, Medic, Mystique, Nightwind, Panzer, Phantasma as well as Icegirl, arrives on the helicarrier first. They recognize their foes: it’s Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants, which includes Avalanche, Blob, Burner, Probe, Sabretooth, and Toad! The battle begins. Blur attacks Probe, but the mutant says he’s run the battle a thousand times in his head already and he can’t be stopped. He easily evades Blur’s attack. Probe then unleashes a powerful attack with his twin tonfa on Blur and nearly knocks the speedster unconscious. Toad spits poisonous mucus at Medic and partially paralyzes him. Avalanche unleashes a powerful seismic blast on several eXalts, but only manages to stun Nightwind. Burner fires a twin flame attack at Panzer and Phantasma. Panzer is too tough, but he slightly burns Phantasma. Mustang flies to Magneto and pleads with his father to talk to him. Magneto says he’ll talk to him when he’s in the brig. Mustang tries to snare Magneto with his light bands, but the powerful magnetic mutant evades. Magneto responds with a powerful magnetic blast, but Mustang narrowly deflects it with his force field. Mystique fires two shots at the Blob, but they bounce off harmlessly. Bast, and Icegirl team up on Avalanche and nearly knock him unconscious. Phantasma stuns Sabretooth. Panzer grabs the feral mutant and throws him overboard! His healing factor should save him from the fall, but still… The eXalts Red Team finally arrives. The group teleports from their older-model Blackbird onto the Helicarrier deck. Suddenly Mystique pulls out an electronic device. The Red Team collapse to the floor of the airship, clutching their ear. The eXalts are shocked to see their allies lose their powers before their eyes. Pixie’s wings wilt. Prism’s force field disappears. Swipe loses the powers she was borrowing. Thornn transforms into a normal looking girl! They’ve been given Hope! Even worse, a moment later Mystique triggers an explosive in their comm, blowing their heads clean off. They’re dead! When Mystique tries to trigger a similar device to incapacitate and then kill the Gold Team, Blur arrives in time to stop her and knock the device away. Mystique responds by pointing a gun at Blur’s forehead – and killing him in one shot! The eXalts Gold Team goes into a frenzy. Nightwind savagely attacks Mystique with her darkforce blade, stunning her. Icegirl staggers her with a powerful blast of ice. Phantasma, worried the others might kill her, knocks her unconscious. Her worries are proven accurate when Bast jumps on top of Mystique and rips out her throat. She’s dead! The battle turns against the Brotherhood. Phanasma deflects a missile Magneto had activated. Medic evades Toad’s attacks. Then Avalanche is knocked out, and Probe quickly follows. When the eXalts team up to incapacitate Magneto, the leader of the Brotherhood sees the battle is lost. He says, “Now, Wanda” – and appearing from invisibility is the Scarlet Witch! She hasn’t been seen in ten years since the House of M! She teleports the Brotherhood’s team and the Helicarrier away. The food is gone! And worse, the eXalts are falling through the sky! Mustang and Phantasma can fly, but the others are in danger. Nightwind grabs Medic and teleports them safely to the ground. Phantasma grabs Bast with her telekinesis. Mustang uses his ability to create light objects to “catch” Icegirl and Panzer. Everyone lands safely. The eXalts are shell-shocked from the events of the battle. But more bad news is forthcoming. Jubilee calls Mac to see how he’s doing. She says the security system has locked down from one of Mystique’s codes, and something is flashing – and an explosion ends the call. Honoka teleports everyone back to Academy X. The school is a smoking crater. Cordelia's and David’s daughters are dead, as are most of the students. Standing in the middle of the destroyed school is Ruth. She somehow escaped the asylum to reach Academy X. She says simply, “one minute to midnight.” And that’s when news breaks: Vice Exarch Michael has declared war on the New United States. Standing at his side are the Avengers! The war that will destroy everything will soon begin… **Next (Issue):** Age of X: Homefront, Part 3 of 4 **Next (Storyline):** Issue 55 - 'Explosive' **Previous (Storyline):** Issue 53 - 'Six'
 * Previous (Issue): ** Age of X: Homefront, Part 2 of 4