Dazzler #6 In the middle of nowhere, within the region of Siberia....
"Good or Bad"
By Pat Donovan
"Rogue ... it's been a while," smiles Dazzler, quite surprised at the presence of her former teammate in all that is going on, yet not considering, Gambit, Rogue's lover, if you can call him that, has been at the center of it all.
"Has, Ali," nods Rogue, hovering above Dazzler. These words are tense, though, the two sharing a history with so many different feelings attached. Rogue lowers to the ground, the tension mounting in them both, until Dazzler is embraced in a hug. Sunfire, Wisdom, and Caliban stand away from the two women of the X, letting the two have their privacy.
"So, what's going on here, Rogue? Is there other things I should know about? I'm definitely out of the loop when it comes to most things involving which mutants to really trust," starts off Alison.
"Well, Gambit's gone a bit off his rocker, Ali. Remy's stolen some samples of the Legacy Virus from Excalibur on Muir Isle* [[*Check out Excalibur #118 -Pat]], and to make matters worse ended up in a squabble with Angel* [[*Which happened in Uncanny X-Men # 357 -Pat]]. Ah tracked ya'll through Wisdom, and now ah'm here to make sure Gambit gets it. Makes me feel better knowing someone like you was here," explains Rogue.
"Well, Gambit helped back when Mojo was causing a ruckus* [[*X-Men #10 and 11 -Pat]], so I figured I could trust him. Guess, I was wrong from what you just told me. Still, I knew Caliban wasn't all right. That poor guy needs some help, and the rest still creep me out all the same," continues Dazzler. "Listen, though, how is everything, Rogue? We really didn't get to talking much after you, Gambit, and the rest of the X-Men helped us out on Mojoworld. Did everything work out after you went through that portal* [[*AKA the Siege Perilous, check out Uncanny X-Men #247]]?"
"In the end, yeah, but NO, Ali. Ah don't blame ya for it, ah questioned it, though, course but it wasn't your fault that ah went through that suckah and ah believe you did the right thing. Ah laid mah life on the line and ya just helped me do it, s'all. Whether it be me trying to kill ya* [[*In the original Dazzler series :D]] or chasing after your beau in the Australian outback, ah don't know how ya didn't knock me through a portal once or twice before then. What a weird, strange relationship we've grown," smirks Rogue.
As Dazzler thinks back, it has taken awhile to understand Rogue, but now she accepts things for what they are and what Rogue is... a friend. "When you're the only human all alone in an alien dimension, you think alot and I understand alot now. You tried correcting your wrongs by joining the team and I never gave you that chance at redemption like everybody else, When it came down to it you trusted me enough to let me knock you through Siege Perilous without hesitation and sacrificed yourself to stop Master-Mold. I realized that act proved you were a hero, and everything else faded away. I'm just sorry I never accepted you from the get-go, we probably could have had a lot more fun in the outback if we hadn't been at each other's throats most of the time."
"Ali, ya had just cause for it all. Ah'm just as responsible and ah apologize. Ah tried to kill ya and I'm sorry for it to this day. Same as trying to steal Longshot, but, Ali, you brought up a good point, aren't you supposed to still be the only human on that alien dimension?" questions Rogue.
Dazzler looks down at the snowy, white ground below her, as she tries not to bring tears through her eyes. "It's a long story, Rogue, and it all began just after you X-Men made that trip to Mojoworld....* [[*And if you've been reading Dazzler, you know that story! -Pat]]"
******
"Mystique, you have grown pathetic in your old age," growls Karma. Her instinct is to pry Mystique's mind open, but she hesitates, Shan knows that at times the woman's intentions can be in the right place, and she'll at least hear the woman out.
"Do not think you are as wise and all-knowing, Karma. Things aren't what they seem here and I am just using your siblings for some assurance that you will help me," begins Mystique, walking towards a locked door.
"Go on."
"Dr. Agee has in his possession a piece of machinery with the reputation of curing mutants of their mutation. The doctor acquired this technology from Forge through the government and plans to use it on your siblings," informs Mystique, as she presses in a code, the door unveiling the domed technology and a tied up Dr. Agee beside it.
"And?"
"What do you mean? You knew this and accept it?"
"Pretty much, Mystique. I'm looking for a cure to my siblings problems and Dr. Agee's machinery offers at least a step in that direction. They will be rid of their powers, and perhaps I could soon enough find someone to revert them to their proper age," informs Karma, who glances at the doctor.
"How could you support such a device that endangers all of mutantkind? So, easily, this technology could be used to eradicate our entire race!" shouts Mystique.
"I have faith, Mystique, that people like Dr. Agee are genuine in their intentions, which is why I believe he can cure my brother and sister's problem. Perhaps, even this could be offered to those who's mutant powers control their lives. Those who's powers interfere in following an everyday life or even those who may not be able to, well, say ... touch another human being."
Mystique sneers at the comment, knowing Karma's intentions to bring about the memories of her foster-daughter, Rogue, the very same mutant who our favorite lightengale conversates with. "You are gullible, Karma. You do not understand how easily power is abused in this world and how easily this machine can cause our kind to be destroyed!"
"I do, Mystique, but I believe this machine can and will be handled with the proper care. I now pose a question to you though. If indeed you intend to destroy this machine, why have you waited?"
Mystique shakes her head, turning from Karma. "I have the Legacy Virus and this machine may be the only way to cure me. I was working through Dr. Agee's files before you interrupted."
Karma's eyes widen a bit, seeing now how desperate the woman truly is, and understandably considering the severity of the virus and the inevitable death Mystique faces if no cure is found. Karma reaches out, placing a hand to Mystique's shoulder."Have you tried contacting the X-Men, Mystique? If a cure has been discovered, I'm sure they would offer it to you," suggests Karma.
"I attempted to gain access to a cure in the guise of Moira MacTaggart only to be told there is none* [[*That's putting it lightly, considering Moira was dead and she took her place anyway. See Excalibur 116-118 -Pat]]. Although, I doubt their word," continues Mystique, shrugging off the hand of Karma as she peaks.
"Why? Nightcrawler's your SON from what I understood. As your son and as a student of Professor Xavier, he wouldn't hold---!" Karma is trying her best to help Mystique, but before she can glass begins to pour down from above. As the two women look up they find an intruder in this already complicated situation.
From the roof drops Wild Child, former X-Factor teammate to Mystique, his body slinked to the ground, looking at the two women with a grin. "Someone call a government agent to insure that two femme fatales don't destroy one important hunk of machinery?"
*******
"Ah'm always here for ya, hun," smiles Rogue. "All the X-Men are and ya never forget that."
"I never will, Rogue, but right now I need to find out who I am before rejoining any kind of X-Team," responds Dazzler, the two again embracing in a hug.
"Enough of this gushy-stuff, Al, we're X-Men. Time to show it, because Gambit'll be out here any sec--," Rogue is interrupted by the hail of kinetically charged cards that land about them. "Now, he's even turning on the same damned team he formed himself! This Cajun has got to go down! Dazz, him with all ya got," orders Rogue lifting up into the sky.
Dazzler creates a light orb in her hands and let's it rip, watching it as it nails Gambit with results. Wisdom, Sunfire, and Caliban gather to continue the assault on the ragin' Cajun, only to find Rogue has sprouted him from the ground. Dazzler sees the two vanquish from her sight, her eyes caught in the sun, she feels something changing. Alison is no longer outdoors as a window is what she views the sun through now.
Suddenly, she looks down from the sun to gaze upon a most different sight. All around her are people she considers friends, close to family gathering in what again seems to be the mansion headquarters of the X-Men.
"Yo, Dazz! You coming or what?" yells Jubilee, skating circles around Dazzler.
"Umm... Yeah, Jubilee ... sorry," responds the Dazzler, deciding to once more follow whatever course has been laid for here ... wherever here is.
Jubilee skates off, and Dazzler follows, as the two are met by Colossus, another X-Man friend, at an elevator shaft. "How are you feeling today, Dazzler? Henry mentioned you were a bit disoriented this morning. Any better?" questions the Russian-born mutant with a smile.
"Yeah ... fine," Dazzler says, still caught up with what's going on she merely smiles and then exits the elevator having reached a sub-basement floor in the mansion. Jubilee leads the way skating ahead of the two, blowing a bubble from the bubble-gum in her mouth on the way. The trio reach the War Room to find others already gathered. Havok heads the group, while Polaris and a still British Psylocke both stand at his side. Madrox is already seated as Jubilee joins him as well as Colossus.
"Have a seat, Ali, and we'll start," sternly states Havok. Dazzler follows the direction of Havok, as he begins. "Well, group, I'd like to explain our mission to infiltrate the latest Friends of Humanity base to the tee before we---"
Havok is short as all feel a telepathic message ring through their heads. Instinctively, Psylocke, the team telepath raises her hands to her temples and concentrates lessening the severity of the message to their minds. {{X-MEN... WE'VE LOST WHAT SEEMS TO BE A CRUCIAL BATTLE... THINGS ARE LOOKING GRIM... THEY ARE LOSSES...WE NEED YOUR HELP... THE HELLFIRE CLUB HAS OVERWHELMED THE GOLD TEAM!!}} Jean Grey, known simply as Phoenix to most is the source of this message, and all in the room rise to their feet.
"Everyone to the Hanger Bay... NOW!" shouts Havok, and all but Dazzler rise to the order. Alison is startled even more by the message and what is going on. "Dazzler, what is it? I know Hank is there, but you've got to be strong for him."
"What? What do you mean?" questions the Dazzler, with an arched eyebrow.
"The Beast, Ali. Your husband. He's there."
"My husband? Huh? Where's Rogue and Caliban and the others? What is going ON here?" cries Dazzler, her hands developing orbs of light.
"Caliban is with the Beast ... your husband, and the rest of the Gold Team. Rogue is with Longshot in Mojoworld as she has been for years now, Ali. What is going on? What's wrong? This isn't the time. We gotta save Hank, Scott, Caliban, and the rest. The Blue team should be moving out, Ali," continues Havok, putting his hands on Dazzler's shoulders. "SNAP OUT OF IT!!"
"I...I...," Dazzler tries to come with words, but all is so different wherever she is. "Why am I here? How am I married to Beast? Caliban is an X-Man and Rogue is now in love with Longshot? Plus, Psylocke's still British! I don't understand all of this... I'm not where I should be. Something's going wrong here. I've been taken captive or something and there's only one way out of this. I need help, though.. maybe Caliban is within the same illusion. I'll have to get to him," thinks Alison, focusing her thoughts. "Let's go, Alex. I'm sorry. It must be the trauma of even thinking of Hank harmed," whips up Dazzler for an excuse in her behavior.
*********
"Sorry, Raven. Gotta do what I gotta do," smiles Wild Child.
"What do you mean, Kyle? Don't tell me the government stooped to taking in the likes of you," glares Mystique, readying a weapon to pull from behind her back.
"X-Factor may've dropped me* [[*See X-Factor #132, wherein both Wild Child and Mystique both got the boot -Pat]], but, yes, I'm still on the government payroll, Mysty. Seems the US of A has some investment in Dr. Agee here and you two may be intent on destroying him and his stuff," smiles Kyle, leaping up above the two females.
Shan's eyes go blank for a moment, the psi-signature of Karma at her head, as well as that of Dr. Agee. Karma pries through the mind of Dr. Agee, looking through the mind of the man takes just a few seconds, but is not quick enough. Wild Child lowers from above pounces on Karma from above in the instant she's caught unaware.
"You slipped up, girl. Gave me that instant to attack. Gotta realize I'm not gonna give you another instant to work your lil psi-tricks on me!" exclaims Wild Child, tightly gripping the neck of Shan with his talons, while raising the other in the air.
Mystique stands tempted by the chance before her, if she was to help Wild Child in his mission, a new job with the government could enter her way. The opportunity is there for many resources in finding a cure, yet ... something gnaws at the back of her mind to help Karma.
"And you know ole Mysty ain't gonna help ya, now is she?" Kyle smirks, looking towards Mystique.
NEXT ISSUE: Will Mysty come to the aid of Karma? What will happen with Rogue, Gambit, Caliban, and the rest of this strange group of X-Men? Will Dazz be able to wiggle her way out of this other level of consciousness? Don't forget to catch Uncanny X-Men #360 and 361, too, for more on these bootleg X-Men and what Gambit's up to!