NYX (2nd series) #1

'My whole life, I've watched this city shine from across the Hudson River. Imagining myself walking its streets. Flying through its skies. I mean, people have a million terrible things to say about New York... but the city in my mind? That just out-of-reach place that shined light into my bedroom window from what felt like a whole world away? It felt like destiny' Kamala Khan a.k.a. Ms. Marvel remarks. 'Does that sound stupid? I hope that doesn't sound stupid. Like, I love Jersey City, it'll always be my home, obviously. But the world is so much bigger. And so am I... especially now. It kinda feels like me and the city are going through the same thing, you know? We're evolving' Kamala smiles as she walks like a giant a bridge with cars packed bumper-to-bumper as she speaks to someone on her mobile phone.

As she does, Empath stands on a rooftop overlooking the city, while Sophie Cuckoo attempts to hail a cab. Anole is wiping a martini glass in a bar, while Caliban looks up at the city from a sewer grate. Laura Kinney walks down an alleyway, dragging her claws against a wall, and someone spraypaints an image of Prodigy on a wall.

Kamala uses her increased height and easily step across rooftops as she tells the person that she is speaking to that they will be happy to know she is back at E.S.U., and enrolled in some after-school school. 'It's me, hi. I'm the problem. It's Kamala Khan!' Kaama exclaims, adding that it is such a cool program. She adds that she is sorry if it gets kinda hard to hear over the wind. 'I'm embiggening my way to school' she explains. Kamala leaps across a park while explaining that E.S.U. has a new curriculum going that is totally mutant-centric, which feels like a big step up from a campus that was basically run by anti-mutant genocidal monsters last year, and now, the class is even taught by a former X-Man. 'Like a legit lived-on-Krakoa-and-did-the-whole-thing X-Man'. Kamala smiles as she tells the person she is speaking to that she can feel their jealousy from here.

Kamala drops down into an alley and reverts to her standard size, before deciding that she is a terrible friend with one heck of a monologuing problem, apparently. Kamala begins putting civilian clothing over her Ms. Marvel costume and tells the person she is speaking to that is what they get for leaving her behind all semester to study in Amsterdam 'I know you've definitely already fallen asleep, 'cus it's like 1 A.M. there right now and your snore is extremely distinctive. But still... I miss you, Bruno' Kamala remarks before she hangs her the call. 'Whew. Okay. Here goes nothing' Kamala tells herself as she steps out of the alleyway – and collides with someone walking past, causing them to drop books and their coffee cup. 'You're Sophie Cuckoo!' Kamala exclaims as she looks up at Sophie, who stands over her. Kamala has fallen to the ground, while Sophie has telekinetically caught most of the books and the coffee cup, preventing the coffee from spilling.

'Am I? How you can you tell? I do have four identical sisters' Sophie smirks, to which Kamala confesses to being a big fan. Sophie smiles, then telekinetically lifts Kamala up off the ground. Sophie tells Kamala that she accepts her apology and tells her that she was there at her little coming-out party, before the fall of Krakoa. 'Big day. Big trauma. Every mutant knows you, for better or worse' Sophie points out, before telling Kamala that she never really got the name – Ms. Marvel. 'I mean, you just a big Jean Grey fan or what? Because honestly, Ms. Grey's kind of a hot mess' Sophie adds, to which a wide-eyed Kamala informs Sophie that she still has a secret identity, and asks if they can keep the noise down. 'Really? Is it so secret you can be seen hanging out with a known mutant?' Sophie asks as a man walking nearby gives her a strange look. 'Are you – sorry, I think I misheard you. Did you just ask me to hang out?' Kamala asks, confused.

'Well, you are one of the only other mutants at school. We weirdos gotta stick together right?' Sophie telepathically tells Kamala while winking at her. Sophie puts an arm around Kamala's shoulder and asks her to walk with her to mutant class so she doesn't look like the friendless loser that she clearly is. 'Wait, you're in examinations of post-Krakoan diaspora? Why? Didn't you live it?' Kamala enquires. 'Exactly. Someone's gotta keep him honest' Sophie smiles.

Inside a lecture theater, David Alleyne a.k.a. Prodigy sits on a table, several books at his side. On screens behind him, the Krakoan alphabet is on display, along with maps of the Atlantic and Pacific Krakoan islands. Students pay attention as David tells them that, at the heart of it is this – mutants were an endangered community that had spent an inordinate amount of time doing one thing above all else – protecting its oppressor. 'This is essentially inarguable, no matter what some of your parents think. The government of the United States financed the creation of – and actually deployed – giant killer robots against the mutant population!' David declares. 'They were killing us. Hunting us. And yet we protected them. In the most colorful outfits we could manage. Looking brilliant under the weight of the entire world. That was Charles Xavier's dream. That we take it. Forever' David adds.

David continues, telling the students that despite what the news would have them believe, Krakoa was inevitable, that it was necessary, and he will ask every one of them in this class to respect that, and treat it with empathy. 'But what was Krakoa? What will it become as its cultural institutions, its language, its religion integrates with the human world? In this class, that's exactly what we'll be -' David begins, before someone shouts 'OH WHAT A LOAD OF $#%*(!#%^)!' It's Sophie, who stands with Kamala and asks 'Is that really how it's going to be, Prodigy? You're gonna write the gravestone before the body's cold? Or, I'm sorry, it's David out here, right?' Sophie adds. 'It's Professor Alleyne' David frowns while adjusting his glasses. 'And I'd appreciate you not swearing' he adds. 'Sophie, he is the teacher' Kamala utters. 'Who I've known since Westchester. If he wants to build an ivory tower, he can deal with me throwing rocks at his windows' Sophie smirks.

'Youngest professor in the history of the school. Tenure track even, which is a  wonderful handout' Sophie remarks, before asking David if he thinks they did that because of his many academic  qualifications – or so they could feel a little less guilty about the last mutant massacre? 'You're the one protecting the oppressor now, Professor Alleyne' Sophie adds, raising an eyebrow as she asks David if that doesn't bother him.

'Ho-lee-WHUT?' Kamala exclaims as she follows Sophie out of the classroom, asking her if that is how they did things at Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning. 'We just called it Xavier's. Or the School' Sophie responds, adding that it is true, she never did like authority much, and that her sister's ex-boyfriend threw a riot once. 'Oh, I, uh... I led a march one time. ROXX news called it a riot, but that's because they're evil and super racist' Kamala responds, before announcing that she has to get home to Jersey City – where she lives with her parents. 'Ah, yes. That secret identity life. Tell me they know, at least, about your X-Gene?' Sophie asks. 'They do not. They don't know I'm Ms. Marvel. Or a mutant' Kamala reveals.

'I hate that for you' Sophie responds, pinching the bridge of her nose, before telling Kamala that tonight, she will live her truth. She instructs Kamala to call her parents and tell them that sher has a study group with a new best friend and that she will be home late. '...new best friend... be home late...' Kamala utters, wide-eyed while staring at Sophie in awe. Sophie strides along the sidewalk as Kamala rushes along beside her and points out that they don't have a study group. 'We do not. What we have is an in at Key Turn, the coolest club in the city. If you're not allowed to be a mutant, you can at least be allowed to be young' Sophie responds. 'Yeah, but my parents -' Kamala starts, to which Sophie declares 'Are not your jailers'. Kamala smiles again, and later, tells her mother 'It went great – really great! But... see, there's this study group...'.

The Lower East Side, at 8:00 PM, where a bouncer guards the door to the exclusive club, and crowds of people mill about, some waiting to enter the club. 'Wait. This will never work' Sophie decides as she looks at Kamala. 'Because we're both suddenly realizing that I'm underage and there is no way that large man is letting me in?' Kamala asks. 'What? No, that's easy' Sophie responds, before explaining that she doesn't want Kamala walking into the club dressed for a bake sale. 'No offense' Sophie adds. 'None taken – I literally have cookies in my pocket' Kamala replies as she pulls her pocket inside out. Sophie marches towards the bouncer, while Kamala tentatively follows her. 'Ladies, you've got to go to the back of the -' the bouncer begins, to which Sophie smiles and replies 'But I know the bartender – can't you just let us in?' as she telepathically influences the bouncer. 'Oh, absolutely. Go right ahead, and have a great night' the bouncer replies. 'See?' Sophie asks Kamala. 'Easy' she tells her as she puts a hand around Kamala's shoulder, Kamala no longer wears her puffer jacket and has Sophie's shirt on her her t-shirt.

'Well, hello, trouble – what kind are you bringing me today?' Victor Borkowski a.k.a. Anole asks as he stands behind the bar, preparing a cocktail. Sophie ignores Anole's comment and asks Kamala if she ever met Anole, a former bartender at the Green Lagoon, and now New York's best. 'That is giving me a lot of credit' Anole remarks. 'How about my favorite?' Sophie suggests. 'HI! I DON'T DRINK BUT IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU!' Kamala shouts over the music while looking at Anole. 'So, what do you think?' Sophie asks. 'It's very loud' Kamala responds, to which Sophie tells her that it is quieter on the dancefloor. 'That doesn't make any sense' Kamala responds. 'Girl, I'm a telepath, so believe me when I say: you think too much' Sophie smirks.

Suddenly, a man holds his phone up towards Anole and begins recording: 'Hey, freak' he calls out. 'Hey, come on. This is my job, man – can we not do this?' Anole begins, while the man with the phone tells Anole that he has a question: 'Who is the mutie terrorist?' the man asks. 'The building collapse uptown! The fire by Columbia?' he exclaims, while another man grabs Anole by his arm and claims that it happening every night, that they aren't mistakes – it's mutants, and they all know it. 'Admit it!' the second man shouts, raising a large knife, he warns Anole that they will find out if lizards really can grown back limbs.

Sophie frowns and tells Kamala that cameras are out. 'Secret identity. Just stay cool' she adds. 'Thats something you gotta understand if you want to be my friend' Kamala responds as she scrambles her face, mutating herself to appear that she has no mouth. 'I'M NEVER COOL!' Kamala calls out as she extends one of her arms, slamming her oversized hand into the man with the knife's face, knocking him backwards. The man with the phone turns the camera to himself and tells his audience that they are seeing this live. 'Mutant violence, right here in NY! Don't trust the lies. They're not immigrants, they're -' the man begins, before Sophie telekinetically yanks the phone out of his hands. 'Hey!' the man complains. 'How's this for the truth? You suck!' Kamala delcares as she punches him hard in his stomach.

A hooded figure appears behind Kamala and shocks her with a taser. Kamala isn't knocked out however, and Kamala spins around and kicks her attacker backwards. Someone else puts their hand on Kamala's shoulder, so Kamala smacks her elbow backwards into their face. 'You just punched me. No one punches me' the bouncer declares, blood trickling down his nose. Kamala tells the bouncer that it is not what it looks like 'Mr. Bouncer. Uh, sir'.

A moment later, Kamala and Sophie are thrown out of the club. 'WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. #$&^!*(' Sophie screams as Kamala's appearance reverts to normal. The bouncer walks away from the young women as Sophie tells him that those guys were harassing the bartender, and one of them had a bowie knife in the nightclub. 'And she's the one you're throwing out? She was trying to help!'  Sophie exclaims. 'No mutants. New rule' the bouncer announces. 'An idiot and a racist. What a catch!' Sophie remarks, before helping Kamala to her feet and asking her if she is okay, suggesting that they could go to another club. 'I'm like a walking fake I.D.' Sophie jokes, to which Kamala tells her that it is okay, and notes that this is more Sophie's scene than hers. 'I appreciate you and the coat and Anole and the whole thing. But you heard that guy. There are mutants and people in trouble out there. And someone needs help' Kamala adds, before announcing that she is done for the night.

Soon, Kamala has changed into her Ms. Marvel guise, and using her ability to extend her arms, she uses them to swing between the nearby high-rises. 'Ms. Marvel. I get it now' Sophie smiles as she watches Ms. Marvel depart.

Meanwhile, David Alleyne sits at a kitchen table, opening cartons of takeout food, while a man sitting opposite him does the same. A phone nearby begins to ring, playing a song as the ringtone. David addresses the man as Dante and tells him he should get the call. David picks up the phone and tells the caller that if this is a student, they should know that he limits his office hours to when he is actually in the office. The voice on the other end of the phone calls out 'Professor Alleyne? Can you hear me? This is Kamala Khan. In in your class? We met at the Hellfire Gala once?' David rubs his head at the randomness of Kamala's call as she informs him that she is “Ms. Marvelling” and that she knows he is the weird skills X-Man. 'So question: Do you know how to unlock a cell phone that's not yours? I can't get the facial recognition quite right -' Kamala begins, before announcing that she has got it. 'Take that, Tony Stark!' Kamala jokes.

Kamala continues, asking David if he knows how there are the new Truthseekers in town, informing him that she just fought a few of them, and, long story short, took one of their phones. 'I can see where they're planning the next crime they're gonna pin on mutants and catch them in the act' Kamala reveals. David finally gets a moment to speak as he promises Kamala that she knows what she is doing better than he ever could. 'You're Ms. Marvel. Own that. And the decisions that come with it'. He then tells Kamala that he has to get back to dinner with his very patient boyfriend. 'Okay?' he asks, only to get no response from Kamala, other than a loud crashing sound which he hears over the phone, and looks at the phone with wide-eyes.

'Kamala?' David's voice can be heard as Laura Kinney a.k.a. Wolverine stands over Kamala who has fallen to the ground, Laura's claws skewered through the phone. 'You're chasing ghosts, Ms. Marvel. Go home before you get hurt!' Laura warns her. 'I'm sorry, are you an Avenger?' Kamala suddenly retorts as she gets to her feet. 'No, I'm an actual hero who looks out for the people who fall through the cracks and watches kids like you when you get too close' Laura responds. She adds that people are preying on mutants every day, and Kamala is starting bar fights, sitting in calss while the real work goes down – meaning she isn't ready for this. Kamala extends an arm and points a large finger at Laura as she responds 'I'm sorry, Wolverine's gonna lecture me about starting fights? Come on! The only thing I'm doing is trying to help our people, same as you!'

Kamala continues: 'I just also have a family and school and even more school and apparently I have a new best friend and I spend all day trying to live up to their expectations of me! And I still have time to fight for what's right!' she looks sternly at Laura as she tells her that being a mutant doesn't mean you don't get to have a life. 'Mutants and humans. After everything we've done. This city's about to explode. Get ready or get dead' Laura warns Kamala as she leaps off the staircase she and Kamala have crossed paths on, leaving the mobile phone behind – with a massive hole in the device. 'Thanks, Wolverine. Good talk' Kamala frowns, before she swings down towards the entrance to a subway. 'Thank you so much for ruining my only lead on a case we both want solved because you have some kind of weird protector complex about me. Now how am I supposed to catch the Truthseekers in the act?' Kamala wonders, when suddenly, there is an explosion up ahead.

Kamala protects some civilians from the explosion by covering them with her large hands, before she leaps into action, darting past the rubble, she exclaims 'Well. Guess that solves that'. She increases her mass and shouts down into the subway, telling anyone who can hear that to come towards her voice, and informs them that the exit is still good. Kamala holds the ceiling up and points the way to safety for several civilians. She declares that if any Truthseekers are here, she knows what they are up to, and is not going to let them pin this on mutants. 'I'm gonna show everyone exactly who you are!' she exclaims. Suddenly, a voice calls out 'But, Ms. Marvel...you have no idea who we are. After all, you never experienced the true promise of our nation. You never sat at our feasts. Danced in our jungles. Worshipped at our church. You missed the golden age. Your birth was our end. Now only I remain'.

Energy swirls about, and Kamala reverts to her standard size, with extra-large fists at the ready, as a mutant wearing a red and black costume hovers over Kamala, telekinetic energy levitating a subway tunnel behind him as he introduces himself as the Krakoan. 'I'm her vengeance' he boasts. 'Are you kidding me? You're a mutant!' Kamala exclaims. 'More than you'll ever be' the Krakoan responds from underneath what appears to be a Cerebro helmet on his head. With a red cape sprawling behind him, the Krakoan hurls the subway train towards Kamala and exclaims 'Professor Xavier is gone! The X-Men are outlaws! And here you are, worried about some human nothings?!' The Krakoan tells Ms. Marvel that she is a disgrace, and that he is not going to sully himself by battling a traitor to her own people. 'Why do you protect them?' he asks, as he flies away. 'Wait, where are you going?' Kamala calls out. 'The true question is... whose side are you on?' the Krakoan responds as Kamala catches the subway train.

Scared passengers look on through the subway train windows as Kamala tells the Krakoan that there are no sides anymore. 'Krakoa's gone. We're all we have left!' she calls out. Kamala places the subway train down safely and tells everyone to be careful getting out, as the metal is sharp around the edges. 'An orderly line will do just fine, and we'll make sure everyone's okay!' Kamala calls out. 'Thank you, Ms. Marvel!' one of the passengers exclaims. 'Yeah, that was amazing, and your hand got so big!' another calls out. Someone approaches Ms. Marvel and, holding up a mobile phone, informs her that they are streaming live, and asks her if she has any comment about how citizens can better confront the mutant menace. 'Any words of wisdom to any genefreaks who might step out of line?' the man asks, smiling, while Kamala looks on, shocked.

Later, 'I... I'm really glad you texted. Tonight was... a lot. And thanks for bringing my bag. And the band-aid' Kamala tells Sophie as she sits opposite her, the two sharing some food as they sit outside a restaurant, a band-aid over one of Kamala's fingers. 'You're lucky Esme used to get paper cuts constantly' Sophie remarks, while Kamala tells her that, the funny thing is, she actually has a healing factor, only the more she uses it, the less she can embiggen. 'Is that what you call it? Embiggening? That's adorable' Sophie responds, to which Kamala tells her that she is welcome to workshop a better term, adding that her power is kinda of finicky and unstable.

'Inhuman stuff is like that' she points out. Sophie realizes that she always forgets Kamala is both – no offense to Inhumans. 'But you really lucked out on the Terrigen lottery' Sophie jokes, before telling Kamala that she wanted to apologize, admitting she was pushy earlier, and asks Kamala if she can forgive her. 'Yeah. Of course. That's what friends do' Kamala replies, with a mouthful of food. 'What a relief' Sophie responds, before informing Kamala that her couch is one hundred percent hers if she feels like sleeping off the blintes and super villains and brushes  with destiny. Kamala thanks Sophie before deciding that she has had it with destiny for like a month right now, and she has to go  to the one place where this stuff doesn't follow her, and the two new friends part ways for the night.

Shortly, Kamala arrives home and finds her brother Aamir awake, and asks him how his first day was. 'Thirteen hours of onboarding. Sometimes Allah calls us to suffer for his plan' Aamir responds, to which Kamala tells him that he is funny, and points out that at least he has cousin Bilal to keep him company. 'Yeah... speaking of which, actually, be careful out there, okay? Bilal showed me this video from the 7 train. Hudson Yards Station. Just...gone' Aamir tells his sister, adding 'Ever since that island disappeared...it's like anyone you walk past could be an atom bomb. Just... watch out. Promise me?' Aamir asks, concerned. Kamala frowns, before turning and walking away. 'Yeah, Aamir. I promise' Kamala responds.

Elsewhere, an elevator dings at the penthouse suite of a high-rise building. 'Welcome back, “Krakoan.” Quite the show' a voice calls out as the Krakoan walks into the penthouse, as the other voice tells the Krakoan 'I'll be honest. I think it tops anything you ever did in the old days. Except maybe suck up to Ms. Frost so much you literally named yourself after her favorite word. So thirsty'. 'Really, man? You're the thirstiest person I know' the Krakoan responds. 'What can I say? Power is an acquired taste, and I've damn well acquired it. I've been called a sociopath. I prefer king - tomato-tomahto' the mysterious individual responds as he picks up a martini glass. 'Boys, there's no use arguing anymore. The plan's in motion. We'll have our own island again soon. Just take a drink and give us a toast, will you?' someone else asks.

The man with the martini glass smiles and declares 'You know, my whole life, I've watched this city shine. I'll never forget the first time – out the window of my father's helicopter. It's a beautiful place. But it's had its time. So here's to Krakoa, not the place that was, but the one this Quiet Council will build on these ruins. After all, evolution's already made the call'.  Exclaims Manuel de la Rocha a.k.a. Empath as he sits on a throne-like chair, wearing a suit version of his classic pink and purple Hellions costume, while resting his feet on several men wearing black suits. Julian Keller, formerly Hellion, now the Krakoan hovers above Empath, raising his own martini glass. One of the Stepford Cuckoos stands at his side, while two others cling to a handsome young man and the fourth crouches beside another who is on his knees, a tray of fruit attached to his head, while she draws on his face, and Empath exclaims 'They're done. We're what's next!'