Issue+18+-+'We+Die+Young'


 * Issue 18 - 'We Die Young' **




 * Plot**

Following the battle with the Purifiers at the parade, there is confusion on the other side of Amanda’s portal at the school. Students are milling around. Some are injured, while the prefects and head boy and girl are trying to create some order. Mustang emerges with the unconscious leader of the Purifiers, Matthew Risman. He issues some orders, then hurries to the medical lab with Thomas (one of the prefects) and Aaron. Samantha comes through next with a badly injured Billy. She also hurries to the lab. Lastly, Jessica and Daniel emerge with an unconscious Cameron. Daniel stays to help the shell-shocked sophomores, traumatized by Toxin's death. Jessica goes to the lab with Cameron.

Meanwhile, Bastienne and Dane stay on the scene after the battle. Bastienne tries to save the life of one of the Purifiers she stabbed, and he survives until the EMTs get to the scene. The other she attacked dies. Dane speaks to the police and firemen until S.H.I.E.L.D. arrives to detain the attackers. A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent then asks Dane and Bastienne to come in for questioning, and they agree. They are brought in but are not in restraints.

Back at the school, Mustang asks Lucius to tie up Risman in the garage and try to deactivate his weaponry. Jess brings Amanda down into the lab with her. Jess removes the bullet as best as she’s able and Amanda heals the wound. Cameron is then sedated when he complains of a headache - is he about to lose control of his Weapon X brainwashing? The teachers assign Taz, the speedster, to search for Ruth because she’s nowhere to be found. Eventually the Manh twins help Samantha discover Ruth. The headmistress was in her own room, presumably passed out due to having a vision of Billy’s injury.

At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters in San Francisco, Bastienne is still in shock from killing one of the Purifiers. Dane speaks to the commander, a woman named Maria Hill. Maria says she’s been assigned to handle the west coast operations of S.H.I.E.L.D. and she’d like a better relationship with the eXalts. Dane and Bastienne are questioned. Maria then informs the two Academy X staff members that they will be required to attend a hearing on Monday due to killing two of the Purifiers. The Purifiers were minors, which complicates matters.

Around this time, David is called back into the garage when Risman awakens. The Purifier has activated an explosive and could trigger it to explode at any moment. He taunts David and the other mutants for a while, saying they’re aligned with the devil and will be scourged from the land. When David and the others don’t take the bait, he asks to be transported to a park in San Francisco. Amanda opens a portal and Risman goes through. David follows. David takes a few shots at him in the park, but Risman grabs a small boy. When David takes a well-aimed shot and avoids the boy, Risman throws him high into the air. David is forced to save him, by which time Risman has escaped into the city. David gives chase, but loses him down an alley.

Following the chase, David stops by Academy M and speaks to Cordelia Frost. She seems genuinely upset by what has happened, and David is moved by her grief. He asks her to use her contacts to look into the Purifiers, and she says she’ll help however she can. David arrives back at the school at the same time as Dane and Bastienne in the bus. They argue a bit as the students watch the news reports of the events. Cameron, now awake, asks Meghan for his powers back, but she says not yet. Daniel speaks to several teachers about his concerns that the parade was a setup by Academy M, but they pay him little attention at the time.

The teachers then have a meeting and discuss plans. Dane explains what happened with S.H.I.E.L.D.. Samantha reveals that Matthew was concerned about missing Morlocks – two healers and a precognitive mutant. A plan is made for the memorial service for Toxin. David and Dane argue over whether the press should be allowed, and the debate becomes heated.

After the meeting, Bastienne calls home to her family. Her twin sister Georgie reluctantly puts their father on the phone. He doesn’t acknowledge Bastienne as his daughter, and essentially blames her for the tragedy. He agrees to do her one last favor, but demands that it be their final contact. He will support legislation to allow superheroes to attack supervillains and terrorists and not worry about legal trouble. This will get Dane and Bastienne off the hook for killing the Purifiers. Late that night, Matt leaves the Morlock tunnels in San Francisco and finally receives Samantha’s messages. He hurries to the school to be with her. Megan finally falls asleep and Cameron regains his powers. He flies around the school to let off some steam, but he is quickly grounded by Dane.

The next day, Academy M deflects press criticism of the parade by staging a scene. They send Michael to Academy X, revealing the school's secret location to the press. News helicopters and vans are soon everywhere. As Michael is allowed into the grounds to deliver a “gift,” Lucius hides the meeting at Dane’s request by putting an illusion over them. Michael hands over a mutant “family album” of all the mutants on the west coast, showing they’re connected. He seems genuinely sad about what had happened, but he is still egotistical and obnoxious.

A few days later the memorial service for Toxin is held. David asks Joni to hide a camera (and later sends the footage to the media). Dane’s tape is also sent. David gives a stirring memorial address and calls upon mutants everywhere to emerge from the shadows. If mutants become more well-known he believes they’ll be more accepted. After the service, David speaks to Daniel about his concerns and tells him that he’s starting a secret team. Daniel agrees to join and be quiet about it.

Several days after the memorial service, Cameron overhears that he was once an eXalt in a news story. He does some research and discovers it’s true. He speaks to Jessica and several students about it. The next morning, Cameron decides to speak to David about being kicked off the eXalt team. At that moment, David is opening a package from his parents. Inside is a Latverian amulet. The ruby in the amulet glows, and a portal opens that sucks in Cameron. It almost sucks in David, as well, but Daniel pushes him out of the way and is sucked in instead…

**Next:** Issue 19 - 'Number of the Beast' **Previous:** Issue 17 - 'Happiness is a Warm Gun'