Homefront,+Part+1+of+4


 * Age of X: Homefront, Part 1 of 4 **




 * Plot**

(Takes place at the same time as Academy X Issue 52) On the day after the attack on the Peaceful Coexistence Party’s convention, everyone is still discussing the attack at the convention center. While candidate James Sangrey survived, 22 mutants died in the initial blast. 6 more died in the courtyard outside the main hall when the Purifier biosentinels herded the survivors into a kill zone. Several were injured (including Michael “Discord” Schwartz, Peaceful Coexistence Party chairman) and a handful of mutants were left in comas. Mac was able to save many in critical condition, however, preventing even more deaths. Amidst the news of the bombing is a new story: the group that supported Proposition X last year is now pushing for the mutant registry database to be made public. They argue that mutants are even more dangerous than child molesters, and a homeowner has the right to know if any mutants live near them. This reignites the staff’s conversation from the previous night about mutant registration. David once again strenuously argues that Academy X should officially take a stand and encourage mutants statewide not to register. Mac agrees, but also wants to begin a “Unity Campaign” to reach out to potential human allies. Bastienne, Jessica, and Dane are sympathetic to David’s points, but ultimately want to protect the school from any potential legal consequences from advocating their students and mutants everywhere to break the law. Ruth researches educational law while Bastienne talks to the school’s lawyer, Evangeline Whedon. While the ultimate ramifications of not registering or advocating civil disobedience aren’t entirely clear, it seems the state probably can’t directly shut down the school. They can, however, revoke the staff’s eminence credentials. They can also remove the students that are officially wards of the school. They would lose around one third of their kids! Bastienne and Dane, as headmasters, stand by their decision and the result of the vote the previous evening: Academy X will comply with the law. They arrange to transport Academy X students to a registration site at the end of the month so the kids can register (except for Seth, who is human). The week goes on as normal. Julian has his first Combat Club meeting, and nearly every student is there. He is trying to recruit every single Academy X student to join the group. Later, many kids pay close attention to the developments from the convention bombing. The Humanity Now! coalition, organized by the Church of Humanity, has dissolved. The other anti-mutant churches and organizations do not wish to be associated with the Church of Humanity following the deaths of so many mutant teenagers. Other students try to ignore the violence. David trains the student staff as their own team. Some students display new abilities in their classes: Carlos can put himself to sleep at-will in order to transform into a jaguar. Melody can extend the aura that allows her to fly to let others fly. There are changes for other students. Jordan and Patrick are adjusting to their new roles as team leaders. Gunther is doing well as Head Boy. Ginny is enjoying her new role as Prefect, while Liam is still trying to build his confidence in that role. Julian still seems resentful that he is merely a Prefect and not Head Boy. Dondre is more withdrawn, perhaps chagrined at being removed from the student staff. Mac receives a response to his e-mail to James Sangrey about the Unity Campaign. Sangrey (or whoever answers the e-mail) says that he cannot be associated with starting such a campaign so close to the election, but he’d be happy to attend one of the events to show his support. Mac begins planning the first event for that weekend. He plans to bring a group to a San Francisco mutant registration site. They’ll hold signs with images of the 28 dead mutants and peacefully protest mutant registration. Heather “Lifeguard” Cameron, head of X-Corporation: Los Angeles, is happy to help him rally mutants throughout the state. Meanwhile, the group tries to decide what to do about the new Purifiers. Bastienne comes up with the idea of contacting some of the former Humanity Now! coalition members to see if they know anything about the Church of Humanity’s secret Purifier paramilitary group. Lucius finishes his tests on the biosentinel blood sample brought back from the attack. He says the humans were infected by a technological virus that turned them into mindless robots. The virus was transmitted by nanites. The group guesses that Simon Trask, the former (current?) head of the Church of Humanity, may be involved. A year ago he used nanites to transform his followers into robot-like monsters to attack the Mutant Revolutionary Front. On Friday Dane is contacted by Maki Matsumodo, Hellfire Shogun of Hellfire Club: Tokyo and a member of Academy X’s Board of Trustees. She says her technology expert has come up with a way to reattach his missing arm. Dane gratefully agrees to meet with her for the procedure. That night he uses the back entrance to a Chinatown clinic to meet Maki. The scientist, a middle-aged Japanese man that speaks little English, says that Dane’s arm will remain Vibranium and will not return to normal even when Dane is in his human form. Dane, happy just to have his arm back, agrees. The procedure is painful, but it works – his arm is reattached! Before he leaves, Dane asks Maki if she knows anything about the Purifiers or if she can help. After all, she is part of Academy X now. Maki says she’s still rebuilding after the losses Hellfire Club: Tokyo suffered in the spring, but she’ll look into it. Saturday is Mac’s first Unity Campaign event. Perhaps due to spreading the word through the Nothing Can Stop the Blog! website or X-Corporation: Los Angeles’ efforts, the event is a huge success. Hundreds of mutants and mutant allies, including several of Bastienne’s roller derby teammates, attend. The event is peaceful and gets a lot of press coverage. Meanwhile, David gives another statement to the protestors outside Academy X. He once again urges mutants statewide to refuse to register. That night, the staff is surprised when S.H.I.E.L.D. Cape-Killers arrive at the school. The lead Cape-Killer is none other than Mac’s cousin, Agent McAlister. David is arrested! By advocating others to violate the law, he has violated the terms of his bail. He is conflicted, but in the end decides to go peacefully. He is brought to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion, their floating headquarters off the coast of San Francisco. Bastienne returns from her roller derby competition and is shocked that David was arrested. She also has another surprise: her attempt to reach out to former Humanity Now! organizations has paid off. A member of the Unity of the Holy Cross is willing to talk to her in the upcoming week. Bastienne returns the e-mail and agrees to meet on Wednesday. Sunday brings other news. Through her job at the hospital, Agape was able to get access to the mutants still in comas following the convention attack. Agape overheard two doctors discussing “odd results” from their blood work. Lastly, Dagan’s constant presence at the school despite the start of her college classes is explained: she announces she’s dating Julian, the Prefect! School resumes on Monday. First Julian has his Combat Club meeting, and every student attends. Julian gives a speech about David. He says David knew the importance of every mutant being able to stand up for themselves, and he wants every mutant to be able to defend themselves. He focuses Combat Club on self-defense. Jubilee is also training, albeit on her own. She has learned to utilize her vampiric speed and boost her physical attributes through blood. Her strikes have become more powerful. She can also magically charm others. She still hasn’t learned how to turn to snow, however. On Wednesday Bastienne meets with her contact from the Unity of the Holy Cross. She arrives at a busy restaurant in downtown San Jose fifteen minutes early. Samantha and Dane, co-leaders of the eXalts, agreed that members of the team should be nearby in case it’s a trap. They are stationed in several places nearby. Honoka is hiding in an alleyway across the street, ready to teleport in help if needed. Mac is on top of a building, ready to use his new magical abilities to open a teleportation portal for the rest of the team. Bastienne’s contact finally arrives. To her surprise, it is no mere follower or parish priest. She is met by Bishop George Hinton. George starts by apologizing for the convention center attack. He says he didn’t know about it, but he still feels partially responsible. He was one of the bishops that voted in favor of the Unity of the Holy Cross joining the Humanity Now! coalition, even knowing the militant attitudes of the Church of Humanity. The decision was a pragmatic one: membership among Christian churches nationwide has been on the decline for years. Only the most conservative Christian churches – especially those that espouse anti-mutant beliefs – are growing. That’s why he voted to join. The two develop a rapport. George says he can’t reveal any confidential information there in the restaurant. He just wanted to make sure he could trust her, and he does. He says he’ll send an e-mail soon to arrange another meeting. Bastienne agrees, and they depart. By Friday night Mac has received responses from over a thousand supporters looking to attend his next Unity Campaign event. He is planning the final details when news breaks: Purifiers are attacking a mutant halfway house set up by X-Corporation: Los Angeles! It’s the one Mac attended the opening of over the summer. The eXalts hurry to the Blackbird. For the first time, Sam is truly on her own as field leader of the eXalts. She won’t even have David providing her guidance over the comm system. The superhero team arrives at the halfway house to find the building on fire. Several mutants are already down. If not for the powers of one mutant that is able to create a force field to protect himself and others, everyone would already be dead. The eXalts spring into action. Phantasma uses her telekinesis to drive the fliers onto the ground. Panzer knocks out two quickly. Billy drags the injured to Medic, who heals them. Glimmer, Nightwind, and Icegirl blast the others into unconsciousness. But there is one last surprise: the sole remaining Purifier reveals a new weapon: a firearm emerges from his forearm that fires a tranquilizer dart. Phantasma tries to deflect it, but to no avail: she is infected with Hope! **Next (Issue):** __Issue 53 -'Six'__ **Next (Storyline):** Age of X: Homefront, Part 2 of 4 **Previous (Issue):** __Issue 52 - 'Exiled'__ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Previous (Storyline):** Issue 51 - 'Remix'