“Immediately, Commander!” the Skull bellowed.
That sounds like my cue, Jean thought.
Gently, she reached out telekinetically and grabbed hold of the sedative-filled syringe on the desk.
“She’s awake!” Xavier suddenly cried out. Even as he spoke, Viper collapsed to the floor, his hold over her broken, the connection severed.
“What—?” the Skull said. “What is going on?”
Jean snapped her head up, and sent the syringe hurtling across the room. Xavier lurched back in his chair as the needle penetrated his neck, and the plunger was rammed home. He groaned loudly and toppled forward, dropping in a heap to the floor.
“Commander Viper, what is happening?” the Skull demanded. “Where are you? Answer me, damn you!”
Even as the professor was falling, Jean turned to see Danvers rushing at her, blackjack at the ready. Using her mind, Jean shoved, and sent her crashing into a wall. Danvers slipped to the carpet, unconscious.
Jean now turned her attention to the straps binding her. A few seconds of telekinetic manipulation, and the clasps popped open. Jean blew out a sharp breath, and began rubbing the circulation back into her tired limbs.
“You! Mutant!”
Startled, Jean looked up. The Skull glared at her through the view-screen, his blood-red features filling the frame.
“Where are you going, X-Man?” he asked.
“Then you do know who I am,” she replied.
“I recognized your ridiculous codename,” he admitted. “But without your gaudy costume, you are just another faceless drone—less than a drone, given your genetic impurities.”
“Ow. I’m so insulted,” she said dryly. Careful, Jeanie, she warned herself. Remember, he’s got the Cosmic Cube in his possession. He could turn you into a statue, or inside out, if he wanted to. All he has to do is think about it. . .
“Have you come to destroy my empire? To put an end to my ‘villainy’ once and for all?” The Skull huffed loudly, and waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. “Bah! You costumed cretins are disgustingly predictable!”
“So are super-villains.” Jean raised herself from the seat of the wheelchair, wincing slightly at the pins-and-needles sensation that ran through her legs. “But, no, we haven’t come here to destroy your precious empire, as much as I’d like to see happen the ‘mutant revolution’ everybody kept talking about. We’re more concerned with the source of your empire.”
His eyes sparkled with dark mirth. “Ah. You’re here for the Cube, then. And how did you propose to take it from me, you and your little band of subhumans?”
Jean paused. She was on deadly ground here—one wrong word, one insult that pushed him too far, and she’d be praying that killing her would be the worst he’d do to her. “I... was hoping you would hand it over.”
The Skull stared at her for several long moments. And then he burst out laughing. “I retract my earlier comment. Unlike your heroic associates, you, woman, are not predictable. How refreshing.” The laugh faded, and he eyed her closely. “You do not fear me, do you?”
“What I fear,” Jean replied, “is what will happen to the universe if you don 7 surrender the Cube.”
“Indeed.” The Skull sat back in his chair, and rested his chin between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. “Then this ‘threat’ Viper kept mentioning—”
“Is all too real. And it’s only going to get worse.”
“Would it have anything to do with the flaw I detected in the Cube?” Her look of surprise was confirmation enough for him. “Then you should cease your worrying, mutant, for I have already addressed that problem—and corrected it.”
“No ...” Jean whispered. “How could you ... ?”
“Because only the Red Skull has touched the face of Eternity! Only the Red Skull has journeyed to the depths of the Cosmic Cube, and seen the power that is his for the taking!” he crowed. “Only I—who have been as one with the cosmos—could do what those bunglers von Doom and Magneto failed to do: master the Cube, and thereby master the universe!”
A lump formed in Jean’s throat, and she swallowed, hard. Well, this is certainly an unexpected turn of events. I don 7 know if I should be happy that he’s managed to halt the reality-cancer—or terrified that he’s achieved total control over the Cube . . .
“So, you come from a parallel world, do you?”
The change of topic caught Jean by surprise. “What—?”
“How did you get here?”
“I. . . I’m not sure,” she replied, just a little too quickly. “Some big machine we had to step through—looked like a circular gateway. I’m not very technical...”
“You lie poorly, mutant,” the Skull snapped, “and I have no patience for word games—or for conversing with you any longer through a television screen.”
The change was startling. One moment, Jean was in Viper’s New York office; the next, she was standing before the Red Skull. Teleported across an ocean in less than a heartbeat, by the power of the Cube.
Oh, Jeannie, she thought, stepping back from his desk, you are in so much trouble. . .
“Now, then, X-Man,” the Emperor growled as he rose from his chair, “the choice is simple: Tell me what I want to know—or prepare to die. . . .”
18
/’M NOT dead.
Not exactly the most original thought one could have upon first - awakening, Betsy considered, but given the fact she hadn’t expected to ever wake up again, it seemed the most appropriate.
She opened her eyes, and found herself staring at the floor. She couldn’t remember how she’d gotten into that position—had the lightning bolt struck close to her and tossed her a few feet, or did she roll out of the way and come to a halt this way? Probably the latter, since she didn’t feel like she’d been electrocuted.
Groaning slightly, she rolled onto her back and sat up, tossing back her head to get the hair out of her eyes. Maybe she should consider a shorter hairstyle, she thought. It would certainly be more practical in combat situations .. .
She surveyed the area. Von Doom and his lab coat-wearing lackey were nowhere to be seen—much to her surprise, but not to her regret. Nearby, the other Betsy was still unconscious, which was all right with her—the last thing she needed right now was coming to terms with the fact that she had been living in another woman’s body—and mind—for the past month. Across the way, Warren was beginning to revive, and Roma. . .
“Roma!” Betsy shouted. She leapt to her feet and ran to the Supreme Guardian. The goddess was slumped forward on the medical table, the restraints digging into her body.
Betsy released the braces supporting the table, and lowered it to a horizontal position. Then she set about undoing the straps.
“Roma? Roma, can you hear me?” Betsy asked. She grabbed the Guardian by the shoulders and roughly shook her. “Roma!”
“I. . . live . . . Elisabeth . .came the weak response. The darkhaired goddess slowly opened her eyes and looked at her. “But not for . . . much longer ... if you continue to . . . assault me . . .”
“Oh. Sorry.” Betsy immediately released her and took a step back. “I didn’t mean to get so physical—”
Roma waved off her apology. “Nonsense. Your concern for ... my well-being ... is greatly appreciated.”
Apparently nursing a major headache—judging by the way he was rubbing his temples and moaning—Warren staggered over to join them. He looked around in confusion. “Hey .. . where’s Doom?”
“He . .. and Stanton . . . have departed . . .” Roma whispered.
“They left? Just like that?” Warren asked. “What happened to him getting ready to kill us?” He paused. “Uh, not that I’m complaining, of course.”
Roma shook her head. “At times... the powers of... a celestial being ... elevate its bearer ... above such ... petty considerations.” “You mean he just didn’t think we were worth the effort of killing.” Betsy grunted. “Typical super-villain. He steals the powers of a god
dess, but not her wisdom. I’m surprised he didn’t hang around to tell us all about his grand scheme for ruling the omniverse.” She shrugged. “Well, his oversight will be our advantage ... hopefully.”
Roma struggled to sit up; Betsy lent her a much-needed hand. “We must... return to the ... citadel... immediately.”
“You shouldn’t try to move around just yet,” Betsy cautioned her. “I... am weakened, Elisabeth,” Roma said, her voice sounding just a bit stronger, “but I am not infirm. It is true that the human, von Doom, has caused me considerable pain—but what he has stolen from me is only a small portion of the power I possess.” She swung her legs off the table and, using it for support, stood on her feet. “Though I may not be whole until all the aspects of myself that were tom away have been returned, still am I Roma, daughter of Merlyn.” She tilted her head back proudly, a determined expression now set on her face. “Still am I Supreme Guardian.”
A soft moan from the floor caught their attention, and all three looked to its source.
Betsy’s alternate was starting to revive.
“She must not know of this place,” Roma said gravely.
Betsy looked at her in shock. “You’re not going to kill her, are you?”
Roma gently placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled weakly. “No, but it would be best if she did not see a duplicate Elisabeth Braddock standing before her when she awoke, or that she ever learn of the existence of the Starlight Citadel—if anything still exists by the time this day is through.” The hand on Betsy’s shoulder tightened as the Guardian began leaning on her for support. “Please . . . help me over to her . . .”
Both X-Men supported her as she walked the short distance to Elisabeth, then aided her in kneeling beside the groggy woman. Roma lightly touched her on the forehead; a warm light played over Elisabeth’s features, and she settled back. Warren picked her up and carried her to the medical table.
“She will sleep now,” Roma explained as Betsy helped her to her feet. “With luck, she will remember nothing of these wretched events when she awakes.”
“Except that she’s lost the only man she ever loved ... the one who died in my—her—arms . . .” She turned to Warren. “What about your other counterpart? The one from Magneto’s world
Warren shook his head as he walked back to join her. “He’s . .. gone, Betts.”
“Oh,” was all she could say. She couldn’t think of anything else. “The strain of division, no doubt,” Roma said. “His body could not handle the effects of the multiphasic crystal accelerator. It is a wonder that both of you managed to survive the process.”
“Cold comfort in that,” Betsy said quietly. “We’re still here, but we’ve lost two lives already.”
“And an even greater number may soon be lost, Elisabeth,” Roma said gently, “if the chaos unleashed upon the omniverse is not put to an end.”
Betsy nodded. “You’re right, of course. It’s just... I wish I could have done more for them. For everyone.”
“Hey.” Smiling warmly, Warren wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and drew her close. She placed her hands on his and leaned back, feeling comfort in the warmth of his body. “We’ve all felt that way at some point, Betts—wanting to do better, cursing ourselves when we can’t. Thinking what we could have done differently, replaying it over and over again in our heads until it all becomes a blur ... No one ever said being an X-Man would be an easy job, and it’s not—take it from a founding member. Every day we put our lives on the line, without a second thought for our own safety, because we know that we’re doing something good. Because people count on us. But we can only do the best we can.”
“But sometimes that’s not good enough,” Betsy said.
“True,” Warren agreed. “But we’re not gods, Betts. We’re not perfect; we have our limitations, just like any other person. And we can’t expect to save everyone in a crisis, no matter how hard we might wish otherwise.” He gave her a small squeeze. “You can’t save the universe all on your own, Betts; Lord knows other people have tried before you, and failed. It’s just too big a job.” She felt him kiss the top of her head. “But if you want to try—okay. But you don’t have to shoulder the burden alone. Not as long as you have me. ”
Betsy tilted her head up to look at him; at the caring eyes and the warm smile. She reached up to touch his face and gently stroked his cheek, her fingers gliding over the sandpapery, day-old stubble growing there. He was right, she knew.
“Thank you,” she said softly, and kissed him.
“The reward makes it all worth the effort,” he said, nuzzling her cheek with the tip of his nose. Then, with a smile, he turned to the celestial being standing before them. “Umm . . . About that ‘gods’ comment, Roma ... no offense meant.”
“None taken,” she replied pleasantly. “Just be grateful my father was not present to hear it.” Her smile faded. “But now, my friends, we must go. Time grows short, and only Order and Chaos know what madness the human von Doom will unleash upon the cosmos, now that he possesses the power of a Supreme Guardian.”
Warren snorted. “Between that Knights of the Round Table reject and the Cosmic Cube, it’s a wonder the cosmos is still around.” He frowned. “Just wish I knew who had their hands on the damn thing now. ...”
From a comer of the room, Leonard watched quietly as the Red Skull advanced on the redheaded woman who had just materialized a moment before. Obviously, his master had tapped into the power of the Cosmic Cube, and used it to transport her across the Atlantic Ocean, bringing her from New York to Wewelsburg Castle in less than a heartbeat. Knowing that the Skull was able to do so without having to hold the device—a feat he had seen him do on other occasions—reminded the young Nazi of just how in control of everything the villain was... although the revelation that one of the Reich’s outstanding officers was, in actuality, a mutant showed that even the all-mighty Emperor was capable of overlooking the smaller details in his creation. Not that Leonard was ever going to bring it to his attention—he might be a weak man, in the Skull’s opinion, but he certainly wasn’t a stupid one.
“Now, then, X-Man,” the Skull growled, “the choice is simple: Tell me what I want to know—or prepare to die . .
Leonard started. She was one of the X-Men? He’d heard about them—renegade mutants who were always causing some bit of trouble somewhere in the world—but he’d always thought of them as freaks and grotesqueries, like the ones who were always being shipped off to Amim Zola’s labs on Genosha. He never thought any of them could look so . . . well, so hot.
But if she really was a mutant, maybe he was looking at an illusion—a mental picture she was generating around herself—and her good looks were just in his head. Or maybe she was in some kind of transitional phase, like a butterfly, only in reverse, and at any moment, she might degenerate from a beautiful woman into some gnarled hag, or a boneless lump of flesh writhing on the carpet.
Still, until that happened, he didn’t mind scoping her out. It certainly beat looking at the Skull’s face.
“You already know everything you need to,” she replied. “The Cube is a danger to the universe—”
“Yes, but how do you know this?” the Skull asked. He snarled. “This nonsense of you traveling from another dimension to bring dire warnings—I do not believe it! You are of this world, are you not?” She hesitated for a moment. “Yes.”
“Then, why were you not affected by the Cube?” She fell silent, and he eyed her warily. “Because you were not on Earth when von Doom first activated it,” he concluded, and nodded, agreeing with himself when she didn’t answer. “Yeeesss ... That would explain a great deal...” He stepped back and began walking around her in a slow circle, arms folded across his chest. “But where were you, then, when the transformation occurred? Another dimension, as Viper mentioned? Perhaps. And yet...” He halted in front of her again. “And yet you knew that the Cube was involved. You sought the Cube—to reverse the process, yes?”
“Yes,” she replied, glaring defiantly at him.
“But, how was that possible?” He stepped closer. “Who told you of it? What prompted you to go offworld?”
“No one told us about anything, ” the woman replied. “And as for why the X-Men weren’t on Earth when everything changed . . .” She paused. “It has nothing to do with this situation.”
“No, ” he said, and thrust a finger in her face. “No. You are lying, mutant!” His eyes began to glow with a golden light, and the woman flinched.
“W-what are you ... doing ... ?” she gasped, placing a hand to her forehead. “Stop it. . .”
“Tell the truth, and I shall consider it,” the Skull replied. “You hurt only yourself by feigning ignorance.” The glow brightened, just a bit, and she gnashed her teeth. It was clear to Leonard that the Skull was increasing the pressure—using the Cube to squeeze her head, or something like that. He wondered just how much she’d be able to take before it exploded.
“Now, then,” the Skull continued, “who told you to leave the planet before the Cube was activated?”
“N-no one. We were asked to ... help a ... friend.” The woman compressed her lips together and moaned sharply. “Leaving when... we did ... it was just... a coincidence ...”
“And the universe runs on such whims of fate, does it not? But where did you go, hmmm? Who was this ‘friend’ who could transport you across dimensions? What was so important that it took you away from Earth?”
She gasped and suddenly stiffened, the glow from the Skull’s eyes now enveloping her body. Even from where he was standing, Leonard could see her eyes roll back in her head.
“What are you hiding from me, mutant?” the Skull purred. “What is it that prevents me from—Ah. Now, I see . . .” The light in his eyes flashed brightly—
And then two other versions of the woman suddenly peeled away from her, and dropped, unconscious, to the floor.
“Interesting . . .” the Skull said.
“Daaaamn...” Leonard muttered.
One was dressed in the clothes she had been wearing just a moment ago—white blouse and black leather skirt. The other was attired in some kind of maroon and purple bodysuit, with matching gloves and boots. But it was the third woman—the one still conscious—who captivated his attention.
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