X-teams crossover: "The Gathering" Part II By Quamp
(Front cover. We see the members of Generation X, Team X, X-Force, and the X-Men in a fight
with each other. In the middle of it, Lotus and Professor X are there, trying to avoid the
fight.)
Lotus: Can't we all just get along?
(Inside front cover. We see the same blurbs from last issue, along with some blurbs for the
X-Men. Page 1, panel 1. Same scene from last issue. Mondo looks around.)
Mondo: Uh-oh. My friends are in trouble.
(Panel 2. Mondo sets some of the members of Generation X free.)
Jubilee: We're like totally glad to see you.
Queen: look sharp, everyone, we've got big trouble.
Timelasher: Stop them!
(Panel 3. Enter Bander, throwing adamantium spikes.)
Bander: Guys, next time you take a trip, wait for me.
Lotus: Bander!
(Panel 4. The alliance fights back, attacking. Bander avoids several blasts to free Lotus.)
Bander: In the flesh, Lotus. I must say, you don't choose your captors very well.
(Panel 5. We see that the members of Generation X, Team X, and X-Force are freed from their
bonds.)
Lotus: Now we're fighting on equal terms, Petey.
(Panel 6. Lotus discharges her spiritual light onto Timelasher, hitting him.)
Timelasher: ARH!!
(Page 2-3, splash page. Leave room for credits here. Two panel page. We see the various X
teams fighting the alliance.)
Cap (N1): And fight they did.
Cap (N2): The alliance begins to unravel.
(Page 4, panel 1. We see Sonnos, Banshee, and Siryn advancing against the alliance, giving
off a sonic scream.)
Banshee and Siryn: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
(Panel 2. Reinfire and Locus panic.)
Reinfire: This wasn't supposed to happen! Locus, get us out of here, Quick!!
(Panel 3. Spyre strikes Locus II, sending her flying out of panel.)
Spyre: Not so fast, Vandi!
SFX: WHAM!!
(Panel 4. We see Warpath knock Ruffian into a tree.)
SFX: WHAM!!
Warpath: And the term is Native American!
(Page 5, panel 1. The members of the alliance panic, and scatter.)
Jubilee: They're like getting away!
Lotus: Well, don't just stand there, follow them!
(Panel 2. Bander throws an adamantium net over several of the people.)
Timelasher: NON!
Bander: Yes.
(Panel 3. Sonnos picks up Jubilee as they head off after Vomit and Smoke.)
Sonnos: Allow me, Señorita.
Jubilee: HEY!!
(Panel 4. Jubilee flies next to Sonnos.)
Sonnos: Lo siento, but we have to catch them.
Jubilee: Uh. . . . O.K.
(Panel 5. They get close enough for Jubilee to fire at Vomit and Smoke.)
Jubilee: Take that, you dweebs!!
SFX: PING! PING!
(Panel 6. Jubilee hits Smoke with a shot, which goes into a tree, hitting her head on the
tree.)
SFX: PING!
SFX: WHUNK!
(Page 6, panel 1. Sonnos sonically pushes Vomit into the ground.)
SFX: RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!
Vomit: UHN!
(Panel 2. Sonnos lands.)
Sonnos: Stop right there, Retchquist!
(Panel 3. Jubilee falls into Sonnos' arms.)
Sonnos: Are you all right, señorita?
Jubilee: Well . . . I am now.
(Panel 4. Sonnos sets Jubilee down.)
Sonnos: We make a good team, no?
Jubilee: Yea. . . but like, who are you?
(Panel 5. Sonnos restrains Vomit as Jubilee restrains Smoke.)
Sonnos: I am Sonnos, señorita. And you are. . .?
Jubilee: My name's Jubilee.
(Panel 6. Sonnos leads Vomit back.)
Sonnos: Don't try to resist me, gringo.
(Page 7, panel 1. Go back to see Emplate running from M and Meltdown. Emplate dodges Meltdown's
explosive balls.)
M: Finish what you start, brother!
(Panel 2. Suddenly Emplate runs into Penance, who slashes his arm, causing him to bleed.)
SFX: SLASH!!!
Emplate: UHN!
(Panel 3. Emplate gets caught in one of Meltdown's explosive balls, and falls on the ground.)
SFX: WHOOM!
(Panel 4. M, Penance, and Meltdown stand over the fallen Emplate.)
Emplate: I should have never agreed to this.
Meltdown: Well, where you're going, you'll have a long time to ponder that.
(Panel 5. M looks at Penance.)
M: But how could she have gotten ahead of us?
(Panel 6. Penance gestures. Page 8, panel 1. We see Starshot and Blacklyte holding Positron
down.)
Starshot: Ye canna get away from us, Positron.
(Panel 2. Go over to see Reinfire flying away as fast as he can. Lotus, Banshee, and Sunspot
follow him.)
Lotus: You can't get away, Reinfire!
(Panel 3. Reinfire gets to the ceiling.)
Reinfire: I'll die before I give in!
(Panel 4. Reinfire blasts a hole in the ceiling, creating a hole in the roof.)
Cap (L1): Can't get close enough to spirit him.
Cap (L2): There's got to be a way to stop him.
(Panel 5. Reinfire exits the biodome, and looks back on the others.)
Reinfire: I've done it! I'm free!
(Panel 6. Suddenly, from nowhere, Reinfire is electrocuted.)
SFX: FZAPT!!!
Reinfire: UHN!!
Banshee: What the --!?
(Page 9, panel 1. We see Storm flying in, as Lotus and Banshee catch Reinfire.)
Storm: We received your automatic distress call, Banshee. Looks like we got here just in time.
(Panel 2. They go down to see most of the alliance caught, along with many of the X people
there.)
Cap (N1): And one by one, they were caught and brought back.
Cap (N2): Returned to face justice.
(Panel 3. We see Lotus facing Timelasher.)
Lotus: You've got a lot to answer for, Petey.
Timelasher: You will never catch me, Letty!
(Panel 4. Locus II wakes up, and nurses her head.)
Locus II: Uhn. . .
Spyre: Don't you try anythang funny, Vandi.
(Panel 5. Locus II stands.)
Locus II: Well, well, Vicki Loxberg . . . Flekt, aint the world small. I would stay and chat,
but I've got places to go, timelines to cross.
(Panel 6. Spyre dives for Locus II as Locus II teleports the alliance out.)
Spyre: Vandi no!!
(Page 10, panel 1. They see the members of the alliance have disappeared.)
Lotus: ERGH! @#$& that man!!
Voice (from off panel): I should have known you were behind this, Jones!!
(Panel 2. Lotus turns to face the X-Men there.)
Cyclops: You've got a lot of nerve showing your face with another team!!
Lotus: Scott, it wasn't my idea to come here, believe me.
(Panel 3. Marrow draws two of her bones, and attacks Blacklyte.)
Marrow (Shocked): YOU!!!
Blacklyte: UHN!!
(Panel 4. Starshot tries to stop Marrow, but to no avail. Marrow sticks one of her bones into
Blacklyte's chest.)
SFX: SHLURK!!
Starshot: NO!!!
(Panel 5. Starshot tackles Marrow, trying to get Marrow off of Blacklyte.)
Starshot: YE WITCH!!! Ye had no reason t'do that!!!
(Panel 6. Marrow slashes Starshot's face with one of marrow's bones.)
Marrow: Get off of me, woman!
(Page 11, panel 1. Marrow and Starshot continue to fight as Sonnos checks on Blacklyte.)
Blacklyte: Uhn. . .
Sonnos: Hold still, amigo.
(Panel 2. Sonnos tries to sonically heal Blacklyte, but he is too late. Blacklyte dies.)
SFX: Hmmm. . .
Sonnos: No. . .
(Panel 3. Sonnos checks on Blacklyte again)
Sonnos: Lo siento. He is dead.
(Panel 4. Go over to see Bander approaching Storm.)
Cap (N): Meanwhile. . .
Bander: after all this time. . . is that really you?
Storm: Jorgios?
(Panel 5. Storm and Bander face each other.)
Bander: Ororo? It has been a long time.
Storm: I . . . thought I'd never see you again.
(Panel 6. Bander and Storm hold hands.)
Bander: It is good to see you again.
(Page 12, panel 1. Suddenly Wolverine jumps Bander, slashing Bander's face.)
Wolverine: Get away from her, Mbajong!!
Storm (Shocked): Logan!!
(Panel 2. Bander puts up an adamantium shield, preventing Wolverine from clawing him again.)
Bander: Logan . . . of all the people I had to run into again, you had to be one of them,
didn't you?
SFX: THWIPP!
(Panel 3. Walking Eagle tries to stop the fights.)
Eagle: Please, everyone stop fighting! We are all the Grandfather's children here.
Warpath: Brave words for someone who sold out his tribe, Turnhorn.
(Panel 4. Go over to see Starshot slash Marrow's face with Starshot's knife.)
Starshot: %&*@#!!!
Marrow: %$#@&!!!
(Panel 5. Lotus and Cyclops continue to argue.)
Cyclops: You've been nothing but trouble since the day we met you, and now you go and spread
your chaos to our sister teams!
Lotus: I was kidnapped and dragged here just like X-Force was, Summers! Don't tell me I'm the
one being trouble!
(Panel 6. Sonnos faces Jubilee.)
Sonnos: Jubilee. . . I think we should get out of this area immediately.
Jubilee: But, like, why?
(Page 13, panel 1. Sonnos takes Jubilee's hand.)
Sonnos: This could be the beginning of the end for all the teams. Besides, things are only
going to get uglier.
Voice (from off panel): Stop right there, niño.
(Panel 2. Sonnos turns to see Ceclia Reyes there.)
Reyes: Vazquez the quack . . . You have shamed me and every other Hispanic doctor in the world.
Sonnos: My research is real, señorita.
Jubilee: Huh? Like, what's going on here?
(Panel 3. Ceclia, ignoring Jubilee, pokes a finger into Sonnos' chest.)
Reyes: Don't give me that! Everyone knows sonic healing was proven to be false!!
Sonnos: I was discredited because I'm a mutant, not because what I did was false!
(Panel 4. Go over to see Professor X in his wheelchair, next to Phoenix IV.)
Xavier: Jean, we've got to stop this.
Phoenix: I'm with you, Professor.
(Panel 5. Professor Xavier and Phoenix IV unleash a mental bolt onto everyone. All but Lotus
and Walking Eagle grab their heads.)
Cap (N1): They release a tremendous psi wave.
Cap (N2): And only those completely resistant to all forms of psychic attack are not affected.
(Page 14, panel 1. We see Cyclops recover.)
Cyclops: Uhn! Professor, what are you doing!?
Xavier: Scott, do not fight her. She is one of us.
(Panel 2. Cyclops is shocked beyond belief.)
Cyclops: WHAT!? One of us!? Professor, are you out of your mind!?!?
Lotus: No he's not, Scott. You never gave me a chance to prove how valuable to the team I
could be. If you had just listened for one time, I would have been able to explain
everything.
Psi balloon (Pointing to Xavier): Everyone, stop fighting and we will explain everything.
(Panel 3. We see the X people gather around the Professor.)
Xavier: My friends, this goes back a few years. Team X, which Lotus leads, was gathered to
keep a team of mutants that would work for our dream of equality separate from the
others. Each member of Team X has some kind of trouble with a member of another team
or a former member. But they still could be allies. Powerful allies. We agreed to keep
the teams apart, because this would happen. I want you to know that we must work
together still.
Cyclops: Are you out of your mind!? Lotus is undisciplined, uncontrollable, and flighty!
There's no way she should be in the team!
Wolverine: George would sell his own mother out for a quarter! He's no good at all!
Storm: I find this very hard to believe, Logan.
(Panel 4. Ceclia approaches the Professor.)
Ceclia: Are you loco, professor? Vazquez is a disgrace! He's not a doctor!
Xavier: Ceclia, sonic healing is real. And I will prove it to you now.
(Panel 5. Professor Xavier stands on his own.)
Xavier: I have been undergoing the sonic treatments to repair the damage on my spinal cord.
I'm not able to walk completely, but I can stand on my own.
Cecelia: Es. . . es impossible! You couldn't regenerate missing neural cells!
Sonnos: He still cannot. What I have done is stimulated the remaining neural cells to grow
longer and connect with each other in his spinal cord. He's still got some treatments
to go before he can walk again.
(Page 15, panel 1. Marrow approaches the Professor.)
Marrow: How could you let that butcher be one of us!? He killed my mother!!
Starshot: That doesna give ye the right t'kill him! Johnny was trying t'reform himself!
(Panel 2. Marrow turns to Starshot.)
Marrow: He is a cold blooded killer!!
Xavier: People in glass houses should not throw stones, Sarah.
(Panel 3. Marrow faces the Professor.)
Marrow: And who are you to judge me!? You've killed people too!!
(Panel 4. Xavier is serious, and stares grimly at Marrow.)
Xavier: I killed because I was insane. You killed him for no reason.
(Panel 5. Go back over to see Storm electrocute Wolverine.)
SFX: FZAPT!
Storm: ENOUGH!!
(Panel 6. Storm faces Bander.)
Storm: I want the truth, Jorgios. . . now.
(Page 16, panel 1. Bander is serious.)
Bander: It all happened a long time ago. I had gone to Canada after my basketball scholarship
was revoked. There I went to Department H, applying for membership in Alpha Flight.
They offered me an unbreakable skeleton. In exchange, I had to bring Wolverine back
to them. It was shortly after he had left them.
(Panel 2. Wolverine recovers.)
Wolverine: Uhn. . . and now you've come back to finish the job.
Bander: I don't care where you go, Logan . . . I'm not their pawn anymore.
(Panel 3. Wolverine grimaces at Bander.)
Wolverine: A leopard can't change its spots.
Storm: Stop this! Jorgios, I cannot believe you would do this.
(Panel 4. Bander faces Storm.)
Bander: I had to, Ororo . . . everything else had disappeared for me.
(Panel 5. Sonnos and Jubilee sneak off into the back area of the biodome. We see them walking
off together.)
Jubilee: But, like what's all this mess about sonic healing?
Sonnos (1): Well, mi amor, there are certain frequencies that, when combined, enhance the
body's natural ability to heal itself. I discovered it, and when I made my results
public, I was discredited for being a mutant.
Sonnos (2): But that's not important now. What is important is us.
(Panel 6. They stop next to a rose bush in bloom.)
Sonnos: Jubilación, I don't really fall in love at first sight, but there is something especial
about you - something I'd like to know better.
Jubilee: Well, like, this is totally so sudden, o.k.? Like . . . I don't know.
(Panel 7, Sonnos plucks a rose from the bush.)
Sonnos: In all of nature, the rose was the only plant said to have achieved its natural
pinnacle.
(Panel 8. Sonnos puts the flower in Jubilee's hair.)
Sonnos: And you, mi amor, make the rose look plain in comparison.
Jubilee (Touched): Aw . . .
(Panel 9. Sonnos holds hands with Jubilee.)
Sonnos: So what do you think?
Jubilee: I . . . I think I love you.
(Page 17, panel 1. Sonnos and Jubilee embrace, and kiss.)
Jubilee: Mmm. . .
(Panel 2. Enter Husk and Skin. Sonnos and Jubilee part.)
Husk: There you two are. Come on, we need you.
Jubilee: What's wrong?
(Panel 5. Focus on Skin's face.)
Skin: Everyone is attacking everyone else.
(Panel 6. Go back to the main area. Everyone except those in the last panel have exited the
biodome, and are just outside it.)
Xavier: Relax, everyone. We are all X-people. We all have agreed to work together for the
dream of equality between humans and mutants.
Cyclops: I find that hard to believe. Jones is nothing but trouble!
Lotus: Scott, stop it. You decided from day one that I'm no good. Why? What if the Professor
had decided that you were no good?
(Page 18, panel 1. Xavier is serious.)
Xavier: I think it would be best if everyone left here now.
Lotus: Agreed. However, we are without transportation.
(Panel 2. Xavier faces Lotus.)
Xavier: I have sent for your plane, Lotus. It should be here soon.
(Panel 3. We see Warpath, Moonstar, and Walking Eagle talking.)
Eagle (1): The Grandfather does not care what the color of our skin is. If someone wishes to
reach the Grandfather, they should be allowed every avenue to do so.
Warpath: The White Man tried to wipe us off the face of the Earth, Walking Eagle.
Eagle (2): Then that makes teaching understanding all the more important.
(Panel 4. Warpath turns away from Eagle.)
Warpath: You are a traitor, and you always will be.
(Panel 5. Eagle faces Moonstar as Warpath walks off.)
Eagle: So . . . do you agree with him?
Moonstar: I see the rationale behind your decision, Walking Eagle. However, I do not agree with
it.
(Panel 6. We see Maggott and Ceclia restraining Marrow, and Mindpath and Odora restraining
Starshot.)
Starshot: Let me at her!! The lass canna get away with cold blooded murder!!
Mindpath: Sis, calm down.
(Panel 7. The Team X plane enters, landing.)
Mindpath: We have t'go, Sara!
(Panel 8. Starshot stops struggling.)
Starshot (Coldly): This isna over . . . not by a longshot.
(Page 19, panel 1. The members of Team X enter the plane. Jubilee is choked with emotion.)
Queen (noticing Jubilee): Jubilation, what's wrong?
Jubilee: There goes my heart.
Husk: She's fallen in love with one of the Team X members.
(Panel 2. The Team X plane takes off.)
Queen: Don't worry, Jubilation. . . I have a feeling we're going to seep them again.
Jubilee: It's totally not fair! He was a major hunk! And now I've lost him!!
(Panel 3. The White Queen tries to calm her.)
Queen: You haven't lost him, not at all. You just won't see him for awhile.
(Panel 4. Go over to see Storm looking nervous. Xavier is next to her.)
Xavier: Ororo, I dont need to be a telepath to sense your nervousness. . .
Storm: I cannot believe the things I have heard. My former lover . . . a cold blooded
kidnapper?
(Panel 5. Xavier is serious.)
Xavier: I find it hard to believe as well, but I can tell you this. . . he has been a valuable
member of Team X.
(Page 20, panel 1. He continues to talk to Storm.)
Xavier: I can't tell you what drove him to take that assignment, but I do know it haunts him
terribly.
(Panel 2. Storm faces the window again.)
Cap (N1): Her silence speaks volumes.
Cap (N2): It was one of the things that she still believed in.
Cap (N3): And now, that illusion is shattered.
(Page 21, panel 1. Go to outside Team X headquarters. We see the members of Team X standing
around the grave of Blacklyte. All are dressed in black, and are solemn.)
Cap (N): Two days later . . .
Starshot (sings): Where are the legs with which you run, ha-roo, ha-roo/ Where are the legs
with which you run, ha-roo, ha-roo/ Where are the legs with which you run,
when first you went to carry a gun/ Indeed your dancin' days are done/ Johnny
I hardly knew ye.
(Panel 2. Starshot continues to sing.)
Starshot (sings): With your drums and guns and guns and drums, ha-roo, ha-roo. With your drums
and guns and guns and drums ha-roo, ha-roo/ With your drums and guns and guns
and drums/ The enemy went and slew you/ My darlin' dear you look so queer/
Johnny, I hardly knew ye.
(Panel 3. Starshot sings some more.)
Starshot: For you haven't an arm and you haven't a leg, ha-roo, ha-roo/ For you haven't an arm
and you haven't a leg, ha-roo, ha-roo/ You haven't an arm and you haven't a leg,
you'd have to be put in a bowl to beg/ You're a senseless, eyeless chicken egg/
Johnny I hardly knew ye.
Cap (N1): They were the original lyrics to "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
Cap (N2): Changed for a world that thought death was a glorious thing for a soldier.
Cap (N3): But death does not benefit those who loved.
(Panel 4. Lotus sets a single lotus blossom on Blacklyte's grave.)
Lotus: Rebirth. . . a chance to redeem himself. . . he had a shot at these things.
Lotus (1): Yet he was taken before he could fulfill these desires.
Lotus (2): His spirit will return.
Lotus (3): I hope when it does, he will choose the right path.
(Page 22, panel 1. Go back to Generation X. We see them talking to Mondo.)
Banshee: saints preserve us! Yer all right, Mondo?
Mondo: Oh yea . . . I was stuck as being dirt by Black Tom. I didn't want him to hurt you. But
now that I'm back, we can be friends, right?
(Panel 3 everyone give mondo a hug.)
Banshee: Of course, Mondo.
