X-Men '97 #3

Westchester, where glamorous reporter Trish Tilby is live downtown, where a super-powered bar brawl has spilled out on the streets, endangering the local populace. 'Who will be completely fine, thanks to the fast action of several devastatingly attractive mutant heroes. In fact, my whole news crew will now be evacuating to a safe distance!' smiles another Trish Tilby as she steps into view of the camera, causing the real Trish and her camera man to run. 'You dropped your camera! Ah well, the perils of effective crowd control' the mutant called Morph smiles as they drop their Trish Tilby disguise and revert to their blank-faced default form. Behind Morph, Storm controls a twister which knocks the Marauder called Harpoon backwards, as another Marauder, Prism, leaps towards Storm. Morph shifts into the Hulk and races over to where Wolverine is battling the Marauder called Riptide. 'Civilians cleared. You ready to smash some Marauders, Logan?' Morph asks. Wolverine uses his claws to block Riptide's attack, and tells Morph that it is good to have them back, and that it feels like old times.

'Nostalgia, eh? That calls for a classic move. Too bad I don't have any, so how about... a mean, green slowball special instead?' Morph jokes as they leap off of Wolverine and, still disguised as the Hulk, slams their hand into Riptide, knocking them out. 'Oh, hey, Storm! Long time no see!' Morph calls out as they look up at Storm. Storm tells Morph that they are a welcome sight, even in that form. 'But you'll forgive me...if I focus on the battle at hand before any warm reunions!' Storm responds as she sees the Marauder called Arclight running away, and fires lightning bolts at her to block her escape. 'You two can handle those jokers – Sabretooth is mine!' Wolverine snarls as his old enemy approaches him. Sabretooth growls and remarks that Wolverine is always biting off more than he can chew.

'FREEZE!' a voice calls out as a blast of energy slams into Wolverine's back, dropping Logan to the ground before he can get to Sabretooth. 'This one's all yours, Logan!' Sabretooth frowns before he turns and runs. The weapons blast was fired by Agent Carl Denti, who is blanked by several other officers. Denti looks angry and announces 'For the crime of public endangerment, I hereby place all mutants in the vicinity under arrest. And I do mean all'.

At the same time, in Central Park, Rogue is glowing with energy after touching the powerful mutant called Sienna Blaze. 'The entire planet's electromagnetic field... coursin' through me! Feels like every bone in mah body's gonna rattle loose' Rogue utters, while Siena Blaze falls to the ground and asks 'More than you can handle, Southern Belle?' before she admits that Rogue's little leech effect has drained her, but that it is worth it to see an X-Man struggle with forces that it takes years to even begin to control. Gambit rushes over to Rogue who collapses backwards and releases a powerful surge of energy upwards, while he tells Bishop and Jubilee to handle Blaze. 'That girl had her full serving of cuckoo puffs today' Jubilee mutters. Bishop raises a large weapon towards Siena and reports that the archives didn't have an entry for her, and wonders if it is because they take here down today – for good. 'Or maybe it's because I always scape you do-gooders!' Siena exclaims as she suddenly vanishes before Jubilee's plasma blasts or Bishop's weaponfire can strike her. 'So she can teleport too. Great' Jubilee complains.

Rogue continues to release the energy absorbed from Siena and tells Gambit that she can't describe this power, but that she is worried that one wrong move and she might mess with the whole planet's electromagnetic field. 'Then it's a good thing you're in control, non?' Gambit responds, before telling Rogue that she has come a long way since he first laid eyes on her. 'Ah can handle raw power, Remy. That ain't the problem. But even Siena don't know how to keep her abilities in check!' Rogue exclaims, to which Gambit points that Siena Blaze don't care about no one but herself. Gambit leans down and takes Rogue in his arms as he tells her that she is a bona fide hero who cares about the whole world. The power subsides and Rogue clenches a fist as she tells Remy that he is right, but that right now, the first thing she cares about is getting back at that little brat.

Bishop suddenly reports that they are not getting back at anyone, or getting back home, unless he can get the Blackbird up and running. 'Blaze fried our stabilizers' he explains. 'Oh, great. Cyke's never gonna let me fly the jet at this rate!' Jubilee snaps as she kicks the ground and blows a bubble with her gum. 'Bet we wouldn't have crashed if I was the pilot...' she adds.

Upstate, at the Mansion, 'You will pay for the sins of your “Father,” Cyclops!' the villain called Hazard exclaims as he fires a blast through the gaping hole in the X-Men's home, which strikes the ground near where Cyclops is. 'All who follow Charles Xavier's cruel example will suffer at the hands of Hazard!' the villain snarls through gritted teeth, fists clenched and glowing with energy. 'At least our uninvited guest has thoroughly introduced himself' the Beast remarks to Jean Grey as they are both behind Jean's telekinetic field. The Beast adds that “Hazard” does seem like a fitting nom de plume given his destructive capabilities. Jean notices the Beast tapping into a console on the wall nearby and tells him that whatever he is doing, to do it quickly. The Beast tells Jean that he is typing with great haste, and while his digits may be furry and clawed, he assures her that they are still capable of activating the mansion's defenses.

Indeed, several barriers slam closed over the holes that Hazard has created in the mansion. 'I will not be deterred by steel panels!' Hazard exclaims. Energy crackles from his eyes as he announces that for decades he has considered how best to take his revenge on Charles, that he wanted to savor the moment – but he can see now that he must not allow any vestige of Xavier's legacy to stand even a second longer – and a moment later, Hazard releases an immense amount of power that seemingly causes the mansion to explode, while shattering open the gates to the school grounds.

But Hazard looks confused as the gates suddenly repair themselves, glowing with psychic energy. 'This – this isn't fair! I demand vengeance!' he declares. Jean and Cyclops have arrived on the front porch of the mansion and Jean informs Cyclops that she is telekinetically undoing all of Hazard's damage, and asks Cyclops to let her concentrate for a moment. But Jean falls backwards and Cyclops catches her. 'I've got you!' he assures her, while Jean tells Cyclops that she will be fine. 'You can't exert yourself like that anymore. Not in your condition' Cyclops adds. The Beast notes that it appears Jean's show of force intimidated Charles' acrimonious acquaintance, as the mansion's sensors are no longer detecting Hazard anywhere on the grounds. The Beast then turns to Cyclops and asks him if he said that Jean was contending with some sort of condition. 'Oh my stars and garters – you don't mean -' the Beast grins, to which Jean smiles and tells the Beast that this isn't how she hoped to tell him. 'The best laid plans of mice and mutants, my dear' the Beast jokes.

Meanwhile, back in downtown Westchester, 'You think you can barge in here and arrest the X-Men for saving lives, you've got another thing coming, pal!' Wolverine snarls as he moves towards Agent Denti, only for Morph to grab Wolverine's wrist to hold him back, telling him to take it easy and save the claws for the bad guys. 'I'm looking at one, Morph!' Wolverine responds, while Agent Denti aims his gun towards Wolverine and tells him that he is looking at life in a cage, where he belongs. But before he can fire, 'Enough!' Storm calls out as she creates a surge of wind that pushes Denti's gun from his hands. 'We have had our full of men in uniforms pointing weapons at us, Agent Denti!' Storm declares. But as the wind passes Wolverine's nose, he picks up a scent, and realizes that it is one he picked up earlier, but couldn't place – but it's all coming back to him now – from a long time ago.

(Flashback)

'What's the sitrep?' Logan asks Maverick as he kicks down a door to a warehouse. Logan has guns at the ready as Maverick announces 'Oh, nothing special, Logan. Just some dirty agents selling state secrets to militias' to which Creed asks which ones they are hunting – the dirty agents or the militia? Maverick opens fire and takes down two of the men inside the warehouse as he tells Creed that they are Team X and have been hired to take everyone down. 'We've been exposed – leave no survivors!' one of the militia calls out, while an agent looks around nervously. 'That's the plan, meat!' Creed snarls as he attacks the miltia, while Logan tells Creed to look out, noticing that the militia he was attacking has a grenade. The grenade goes up into the air – and explodes, right next to a wall where the nervous agent was making an escape – rubble from the wall strikes across the agent's face.

(Present)

'I remember you from my mercenary days – you've always been crooked, Denti!' Wolverine exclaims, breaking away from Morph, he rushes forward, when suddenly, the Marauders return, and Arclight claps her hands, creating a seismic shock that knocks Denti and the others over. Sabretooth is on the roof of the agents' armored vehicle and leaps into the truck, where the rest of the Marauders are. 'Looks like you folks have some unfinished business to sort out. Me and the Marauders will leave you to it. See you soon, Logan' Sabretooth smirks. 'Get back here, Creed!' Wolverine calls out after Sabretooth, before turning his attention back to Agent Denti, as Morph and Storm gather nearby. 'I don't know how you buried your crimes, Denti, but I'm going to make real sure they come to light' Wolverine warns him. 'According to our files, you're an expert on sins of the past' Denti snaps. Logan is about to say something, but Storm tells him that is enough, and that Denti will be held accountable, but not like this.

Morph looks up and tells the others that it seems accountability is coming in for a landing right now. Indeed, a chopper descends and Valerie Cooper steps out of it: 'Agent Denti! This was not an authorized field mission!' she shouts over the thudding noise of the chopper's blades. Valerie points a finger at Denti and tells him that he is well aware that the government no longer considers the X-Men to be enemies of the state, and that his renegade actions today has allowed five known mutant threats to escape custody. 'With respect, Dr. Cooper – all mutants are known threats' Denti responds. Storm reminds Val Cooper that that it was only hours ago that she assured the X-Men that the world's leaders had turned a new page in mutant/human relations. 'It appears not all of your subordinates have caught up to this development!' Storm exclaims.

'And for that, Ms. Munroe, I sincerely apologize. But believe me – Carl Denti will not go unpunished' Valerie responds. Another agent then informs Denti that he is to be stripped of his rank and position until a court martial can be arranged. 'Fine. Take my badge. You can't take my morals. Mutants are a danger to this country' Denti scowls. As he is led to the chopper, he warns everyone that once he gets in touch with his Friends of Humanity contacts, mutants will finally get what they deserve.

Back at the Mansion, 'Morph! It's really you!' Jubilee exclaims as she embraces Morph, and grins. 'Who else would I be, Jubilee? Oh, wait – I guess I can be anyone else!' Morph laughs, before shifting into Sabretooth's form. 'Including old Snaggletooth' Morph jokes. 'Meow'. 'Oh, yuck!' Jubilee complains, stepping away from Morph, while Wolverine tells Morph to cut it out. 'I'm still annoyed the real Creed and his “Marauders” got off easy back in town' Wolverine snarls. The rest of the team are gathered, too and Bishop asks 'You threw down with Sabretooth tonight?' while Gambit suggests that is funny, timing, as they met a lady named Siena Blaze tonight, and didn't much like her. 'Knocked us right outta the sky!' Rogue exclaims.

The Beast suggests that this mounting coincidence is far from humerous and reveals that an armored gentleman announcing himself as Hazard nearly destroyed the mansion late this afternoon. 'Guess he didn't do a very good job. Mansion looks pretty intact to me' Jubilee remarks as she knocks on a wall. Cyclops reports that this is thanks to Jean, who used her powers to fend Hazard off and undo the damage he caused. 'Hazard will pay for putting her in that kind of danger' Cyclops adds, to which Jean tells him not to get upset again. 'I know I have to be careful... now that I have our child to think about' Jean announces to all of the others. 'Your what now?' Jubilee exclaims, wide-eyed, while a concerned Morph looks over at a sullen wolverine. The Beast, Gambit, Rogue and Storm all smile, while Bishop remains emotionless. 

Several days later, the X-Men's Blackbird descends next to Jean Grey's family home. 'Are you sure we can land the jet here?' someone asks. Some of the X-Men are dressed up in suits, including the Beast, who holds a wrapped gift as he leaves the jet and remarks that he knows it is going to wreck havoc on the flower bed. 'Ah'm sure the Greys won't mind, Hank. They're too busy expecting their first grandchild!' Rogue smiles as she walks alongside Gambit and Jubilee. Morph follows Wolverine and asks him if he didn't feel like dressing to impress. 'Who do I have to impress, Morph? I'd rather be ready to fight if we get attacked'Logan responds. Jean overhears this and asks Scott if Logan is right, and queries whether they made a mistake holding their baby shower at her parents' home. 'You deserve to experience a normal motherhood, Jean. That's why we didn't have it at the mansion. None of our enemies know where your family lives. And even if they did...there's no place safer for us than with the rest of the X-Men' Cyclops adds.

However, down the street, Siena Blaze grins as she leads the way, followed by Arclight, Harpoon, Prism, Riptide and Hazard, while in his lab, Mr. Sinister grins and decides that, at long last, it is time for the next step in his plan. 'The world believes the X-Men to be heroes? Let us see if humanity feels the same way once their 'heroes” are responsible for the destruction of an entire town!'