X-MEN: INSURRECTION #4
DOUBLE SACRIFICE
We see a wide 1/2 page shot of Roma and Charles Xavier framing the panel. In the center stands an alternate Charles Xavier, standing up on his own two legs, looking somehow more youthful and vibrant.
1. XAVIER: Who…?
2. ROMA: You, Charles Xavier. At least in another world. Or perhaps another time. Time, of course, is relative. What one experiences as fast another experiences as slow and vice versa.
3. ROMA: But I digress. This is your counterpart from reality 616. Your counterpart from the universe that Bishop came from.
4. 616 XAVIER: I have agreed to help Roma aid you – but I may only do so within a restricted period of time. As I understand it, your versions of Destiny’s Diaries only cite a limited timeframe within which the insurrection will occur.
5. XAVIER: An insurrection? By whom?
6. ROMA: By Time; or more accurately, by Fate itself. And it has already begun. Even now it steals many of your own.
7. XAVIER: You are suggesting that these strange occurrences of disappearing mutants is the product of destiny?
8. ROMA: In a way. But what is destiny, Xavier, if Time is malleable? Cannot one shape it to his own will?
PANEL
1
Xavier looks upon the Guardian with a look half of skepticism, but she returns the look calmly.
1. XAVIER: And I suppose that in bringing the two of us here you have already bent the will of destiny?
2. ROMA: I can’t be sure…yet.
3. XAVIER: So how do you propose that I – we – help Bishop?
4. 616 XAVIER: By joining the two of us into one entity, as was done with our two Bishops – only in a far more subtle way than they experienced.
5. ROMA: His powers will be your powers. You will finally be able to achieve your destiny.
6. XAVIER: But our memories, our lives, our differing experiences – will hey not be merged also?
Roma’s face is stern but kindly.
7. ROMA: Yes. A potential sacrifice you must both make in order to save one world and stop an insurrection from forces that threaten even me.
8. 616 XAVIER: The question is whether that is a price you are willing to pay?
Xavier’s expression is one of deep thought.
9. CAPTION: He thinks of the X-Men, of Moira, of his son.
10. CAPTION: But in the end the answer is always the same.
A distraught Moira sits in on a chair, hugging James tightly in her arms as though to draw strength from him.
1. MOIRA: He’s gone, hasn’t he?
About Moira the X-Men are gathered in the infirmary, their faces grim, with Jean at their head.
2. JEAN: Gone, yes. But not the way you think. Just gone…somewhere.
3. MOIRA: But where? And how can you be so sure he’s still…still…
Moira looks down at her son, as if suddenly aware of him, and quickly falls silent.
Jubilee kneels forward and offers a hand to the boy.
4. Come on, Jamie. How’s about I take you to the Rec Room, watch some TV? Leave all the adults to it, right?
5. JAMES: Yeah!
Moira looks up expectantly at Jean as the two leave. Jubilee casts a confederate look over her shoulder.
1. JEAN: I’ve scanned as far as I can psychically, even tried to track him with Cerebro. There’s no sign of him. But…I’ve been able to detect a psychic residue – a sort of telepathic imprint of his last whereabouts. And they lead back to this very room. He must have been teleported somehow.
Moira points accusingly to Bishop, who is still unconscious in bed.
2. MOIRA: It’s t’ do with this ‘Bishop’ man, isn’t it? He’s taken Charles away from me…us! Who is he, Jean, why is he here?!
3. CYCLOPS: He claims to be our Bishop from another reality, and that Laura switched with him willingly. But any more than that, I don’t know.
4. MOIRA: And you believe him?!
5. WOLVERINE: I hate to say this, Moira, but the man’s comatose. How could he have done anythin’ to Charlie?
Moira gives in, putting a hand to her forehead.
6. MOIRA: I…I know, it’s just…He comes here, and all this happens. I mean, how d’ya explain that?
7. CYCLOPS: I’m sorry, Moira. Simply put, we can’t.
1. ROGUE: So what do we do now? Wait for the Prof to just reappear – if he ever does?
2. CYCLOPS: Right now, Rogue, what else can we do?
Later – a close up of Bishop. A female hand has placed a cool flannel comfortingly on his forehead.
3. JEAN [off-panel]: Bishop, or whoever you truly are…
Pan-out to see Jean sitting next to him.
4. JEAN: …I hope that whatever the Professor is doing for your sake is worth it. And that whatever interest the Phoenix has in you is justified.
5. JEAN: She saved your life once; I can only hope that she will protect the Professor as well.
6. JEAN: I can hope; but it cannot end the fear. Of what? Of this thing inside me. And that after all these years…
Tears begin to sparkle in Jean’s eyes.
7. JEAN: I have no more control of it than the day we first began.
A double page spread of Dazzler coming out of a plane flanked by bodyguards and her agent, Tony. She is immediately surrounded by a crowd of screaming fans, who are being held back by a wall of low metal fences and struggling policemen. In foreground is Jubilee, straining forward to get a better look. Next to her in Wolverine, hands in pockets, and Rogue, arms cross – they both look similarly unimpressed.
1. JUBILEE: I can’t believe it, this is so awesome! Thanks for taking me, guys!
2. WOLVERINE: Hmph. Where’s Angelo? Thought you’d be draggin’ him along, not me.
3. JUBILEE: Poor baby couldn’t make it – had some training to do or something. But I figured you’d make up for him just fine, Wolvie.
4. WOLVERINE: …
5. ROGUE: Ah still think it’s a bad idea for us t’ be here, what with the Professor gone an’ all.
6. JUBILEE: Aw, live a little, Rogue! You haven’t been out in months. ‘Sides, Jean has the psi-link set up just in case anything happens.
Dazzler stops at the top of the steps to give a special message to her fans.
7. DAZZLER: I just wanna say how happy I am to be back in New York, and to give a special welcome to all my friends, family and you, the fans!
In the background there are shouts of ‘Yay! We love you Daz! Go Daz!’
Amongst the crowd is standing a silent onlooker, dressed in jeans and a jacket, the hood brought up over his face. We cannot see his features.
8. DAZZLER: And I’m expecting to see you all on the last leg of my Homecoming Tour, this Tuesday! Be there!
PANEL
1
A shot of the fans, screaming, crying, whistling, in a general state of hyper activity.
Dazzler walks down the steps, waving to the fans pleasantly as the policemen attempt to hold them back.
1. JUBILEE: Oh wow, look, she’s waving at us, guys!
Wolverine is silent. He has noticed something strange – the hooded man standing only a few feet away from him. He sniffs the air cautiously.
A close up of the hooded man’s face, profile view. We cannot see much of him, since the hood covers most of his face. It is Joseph.
WOLVERINE [think]: That guy…he has the scent of…
The bottom 1/3 of the page shows an explosion going off with a terrific KA-BOOM near the entrance of the airport. Several civilians jump out of the way, others are running about in terror.
PANEL
1
The top 1/4 of the page shows the crowd of fans running about in fear, screaming. In the middle of the throng stand Wolverine, Rogue and Jubilee, genuinely stupefied.
1. ROGUE: Where the hell did that come from?!
2. JEAN [telepathic]: Stay alert, X-Men! Seems there’s been a minor explosive device set off just outside the entrance of the airport.
3. WOLVERINE: What, with all these civs around? Whoever did this ain’t jokin’ around.
4. JUBILEE: Well, whoever they are, let’s go get ‘em!
The three begin to run off through the crowd toward the airport building.
5. ROGUE: No argument from me, sugah!
Wolverine looks back over his shoulder.
But where Joseph once was is no one.
6. WOLVERINE: Gone…?
The three round a corner, and see people running away in all directions, some against them. They seem to be the only ones going towards the scene of the disturbance.- a tide of bodies erupts against them. Black smoke billows in the background, towering over several smouldering fires. Little else can be seen for all the people and the distance.
7. JUBILEE: My God, do you think anyone’s hurt?!
Without warning, a dragon made out of flames suddenly bursts into the air above the air above the screaming crowds.
8. ROGUE: Well, how ‘bout that? Someone jus’ wrote their signature into the sky.
9. WOLVERINE: Pyro.
PANEL
1
Once more the three advance towards the scene of the crime.
1. WOLVERINE: Jeannie, I think we got Pyro startin’ the fires here, true to his name as ever. Anyone else we should be ready for?
2. JEAN [telepathic]: I just this second ran a search on Cerebro, Logan, and it doesn’t look good. Logan…it’s Magneto.
3. WOLVERINE: I shoulda known…Coulda sworn I smelt ol’ bucket-head a mile away!
4. ROGUE: He’s still alive?!
5. JUBILEE: I told you guys…!
6. JEAN [telepathic]: Logan, I’m sending in the rest of Team Alpha pronto! It looks like Magneto brought a few friends along to join in the fun.
7. JUBILEE: Man…
8. WOLVERINE: Shit…
9. ROGUE: So the rat’s brought friends? So what? I can take down three a go!
The three X-Men run past the site of the explosion and into the lobby, where the Brotherhood are laying waste to everything they lay eyes on. On the edge of the fray are Scarlet Witch, Avalanche, Pyro, Toad, Sabretooth and Blob. In the middle of it all is Magneto, crackling with newfound strength and power.
10. JUBILEE: In that case, care to cover for me, Rogue?
PANEL
1
Wolverine charges at Magneto, unheeding of the carnage about him.
1. WOLVEEINE: Erik, you bastard! I knew we couldn’t trust Charles to have killed you off!
Magneto halts him in mid-step, manipulating the adamantium in Wolverine’s bones.
2. MAGNETO: Erik is dead, Logan. It is by the name of Magneto that all shall know me now!
Rogue is in the foreground, fighting off the Blob, while Jubilee is holding back Pyro in the background.
3. ROGUE: Erik was dead a long time ago, you butcher!
From behind the Scarlet Witch grasps Rogue about the neck.
4. SCARLET WITCH: Oh? And what do you call the psychic beating your precious Charles Xavier gave to him? My father nearly died, and had he done so, you X-Men would have been no better than those murdering human bigots who killed our people!
5. SCARLET WITCH [cont.from panel 4]: And worse, you would be race traitors!
Rogue twists round and throws the Scarlet Witch away from her.
6. So this is about Genosha, isn’t it! That’s why you’re here, attacking these innocent bystanders!
PANEL 1
Magneto a simple wave of his hand, Magneto slams Wolverine back into a wall, leaving a Wolverine-shaped crater in the plaster.
1. MAGNETO: What do you think, Rogue? That I would stand by and let the world’s so-called leaders slap themselves on the back for their ‘solution’ to the mutant ‘problem’?!
As a bloody Wolverine crashes to the floor, Jubilee runs up and kneels beside him frantically.
2. JUBILEE: Wolvie!
3. MAGNETO [cont. From panel 5]: Never would I tolerate such insolence, such arrogance!
Jubilee is almost in tears as Wolverine hoists himself up onto his feet.
3. WOLVERINE: Arrogance? Rich comin’ from you, Magneto. Wasn’t it you who tried to assassinate that ambassador?! How did you expect the UN to react?!
Magneto looks upon him, enraged at Wolverine’s suggestion.
4. MAGNETO: I planned no assassination! My rule was a peaceful one! What reason had I to endanger my people?! No doubt the humans attempted to sacrifice one of their own in order to incite hatred against Genosha!
Furious now, Magneto grasps all three – Wolverine, Jubilee and Rogue – in a magnetic grip.
5. MAGNETO: That they chose to stoop to such a foul act alone is testimony to the sick depravity of the human race! Their eagerness to kill and consume has already condemned a nation of peace and prosperity! Their hate has turned me into an outlaw when all I desired was for homo superior to be treated as normal human beings!
Close-up of Magneto’s face.
7. MAGNETO: And now the flatscans shall pay the price for their wanton destruction! They shall savour the suffering of those of my kin I was unable to save!
Magneto unconsciously powers up in his rage, energy sparking over the whole room, while the three mutants in his grasp writhe in agony.
1. MAGNETO: The humans shall repent their sins before the Brotherhood of Mutantkind!
Magneto is suddenly hit in the shoulder from behind by a barrage of light. It does little to injure him, but…
He is sufficiently stunned to drop the three X-Men.
Magneto swings round, outraged.
2. MAGNETO: Who dares…?!
Looking down, he sees Dazzler standing below him, her stance of one ready to fight, her expression fierce.
3. DAZZLER: I dare, buster! Because everything you’re saying is insane! Sure, mutants have had a bad press! But if you think the human race is inherently evil then you must be a sad, deluded little man!
4. DAZZLER: I got family you wanna kill, people who’d never even hurt a fly! And you still think you can judge them?! I’m sorry, mister, but you’re no better than those freakin’ mutant-haters yourself! And that gives me the right to ‘dare’!
In a fit of rage, Dazzler barrages Magneto with an explosive burst of light. Stunned, he falls back.
Dazzler turns to the three X-Men, holds her hand out to help Wolverine up, who is bleeding from several wounds.
1. JUBILEE: Wow…
2. WOLVERINE: Thanks…for the assist…
3. DAZZLER: I’m a mutant, but I’m also a human-being. I’m not gonna buy into that crap.
A large, wide shot of the rest of Team Alpha running into the lobby, minus Jean Grey. Jubilee is now being helped up by Dazzler.
4. ROGUE: And here comes the cavalry.
5. WOLVERINE: Hmph. About damned time.
6. JUBILEE [think]: Wow…
The X-Men engage in a ferocious fight with the Brotherhood, with Dazzler joining in.
7. WOLVERINE [to Cyclops]: Where’s Jeannie?
8. CYCLOPS: Holding fort back at the mansion, just in case the Professor makes an entrance.
9. ROGUE: Anyone get the feelin’ we’re out-numbered here?
10. BEAST: Just a tad!
PANEL
1
Outside the airport police cars come skidding in, people jumping out of their way.
Armed police pour out of the vehicles.
PANEL
3
Magneto locked in a fierce grapple with Cyclops.
1. MAGNETO: Tell Charles…that the war isn’t over. It’s only…just begun! And he’ll suffer for what he did to me!
The Brotherhood suddenly disappear – it seems that someone is tachyon teleporting them.
PANEL
5
The police move into the foyer to see the carnage, but no Brotherhood. In the middle of the rubble stand the X-Men, Dazzler in their midst.
PANEL
6
One of Dazzler’s bodyguards is cowering in fear at her feet, covered in dust and debris.
2. BODYGUARD: Ohmigod, she is a freakin’ mutie!
Wolverine lays a hand on Dazzler’s shoulder.
3. WOLVERINE: Hey, you did great, kid. We owe you one.
4. DAZZLER: Thanks.
A little way off Cyclops is talking to the police sergeant. In the background several policemen and paramedics are attending to the wounded and the witnesses.
1. SERGEANT: What the hell happened here?
2. CYCLOPS: Sorry sergeant, but it appears that Erik Lensherr survived the Fall of Genosha after all. And this time, he’s out on a personal vendetta with his reformed Brotherhood. I’d be on high alert, if I were you. Looks like this was just a warning.
In the background…
3. POLICEMAN I: Any casualties?
4. POLICEMAN II: Few wounded, but no one hurt too bad. Looks like those X-Men took the brunt of the attack. Them, and the building.
Nearby Dazzler dusts herself off with the other X-Men.
5. DAZZLER: So you’re those X-do-gooders. Heh. And I thought I was the only celebrity round here.
6. JUBILEE: X-Men, celebrities? No way! No one ever asks me for my autograph.
Dazzler looks back at her agent and bodyguards who recoil away from her fearfully.
7. DAZZLER: Well, sure looks like no one’s gonna be askin’ for mine now either.
8. STORM: If that is the case, you will always be welcome at the X-Mansion, my friend.
9. JUBILEE: Yeah! I mean, at least let us give you a ride there, y’know, clean up and everything?
10. ROGUE [rolls eyes]: Here we go.
PANEL
5
11. DAZZLER: Well, I dunno…
12. XAVIER [telepathic]: Are we all alright, my X-Men?
13. STORM: Professor?! Your powers are back?!
14. XAVIER [telepathic]: In a manner of speaking, yes.
15. WOLVERINE: A manner of speakin’?
16. XAVIER [telepathic]: It will need some explaining. I will need you all to reconvene at the mansion as soon as possible. Jean will maintain the psi-link in the meantime. I have some…re-acquaintances to make.
PANEL
1
The X-Men look at one another in confusion.
1. WOLVERINE: Re- acquaintances?
2. BEAST: Hmm. It would appear we’ve missed quite a bit while the Professor’s been away. And here I was thinking he’d be the one missing all the fun.
Cyclops jabs a thumb behind him.
3. CYCLOPS: OK, people. Let’s head back to the mansion. Find out what’s going on.
Jubilee turns to a despondent looking Dazzler.
4. JUBILEE: Hey, you coming, Dazzler?
5. DAZZLER: No thanks. I’ve had enough high-jinxes for one day – if you catch my drift.
6. JUBILEE: Aw, but…
7. ROGUE: So what’re you gonna do now?
Dazzler begins walking away.
8. DAZZLER: Dunno. Check myself into some seedy hotel, I guess. All I want now’s one hot bath. But if I’m ever in need…I’ll call round sometime. Adios!
Jubilee mutters to herself, looking crestfallen. In the background Wolverine sniffs around, suspicious.
9. JUBILEE: Aw, and Angelo would have been so freaked!
PANEL
1
Center on Wolverine, suddenly looking about him in alarm, as though looking for something.
1. STORM: What is it, Logan?
2. WOLVERINE: Magneto – he’s still here!
3. CYCLOPS: But we just saw him go…
4. WOLVERINE: The kid! She’s in danger!
Wolverine runs after Dazzler, breaking free from the surprised group.
5. WOLVERINE: Girl, get back!
A sudden light envelops an astonished Dazzler.
6. DAZZLER: ?!!
Beast races forward, and grabs Wolverine roughly by the shoulder, holding the feral man back before he can get caught in the light.
7. BEAST: Logan, stay away from her! It’ll suck you in too!
The light swallows Dazzler up, even as she struggles to free herself. The last the X-Men see of her is her fearful face calling out to them. Wolverine is blinded by the brightness.
As the light clears, Wolverine and the other X-Men open their eyes to see the hooded form of Joseph, squatting where Dazzler had been. In his hand he holds a glittering sword of pure light.
Then he disappears by way of a time-jaunt.
The X-Men have gathered in the War Room for a debriefing. In the center are Jean and Professor X – standing about are the rest of the X-Men, looking confused, tired, or wounded.
1. WOLVERINE: I’m tellin’ you, it was him, no mistakin’. No one has a stench as foul and unmistakable as Magneto.
2. XAVIER: I agree, Logan. Cerebro was able to track the assailant. No doubt, he was Magneto. But wherever the Dazzler went, he disappeared with her.
3. STORM: What about the man who attacked the airport? An imposter? Or are you suggesting there are two Magnetos? It’s not possible, Professor.
4. XAVIER: According to my past experiences, Ororo, it could be very possible.
5. BEAST: You mean – cloning? It seems to me there is something you’re not telling us, Professor.
6. ROGUE: Ah’ll say. Aren't yah’all gonna tell us how you got you’re powers back?
7. XAVIER: All in good time, Rogue. Right now we must concentrate on the issue in hand. Namely, the disappearance of the Dazzler. Another mutant is missing, and it seems that Magneto – or his doppelganger – is responsible.
7. CYCLOPS: And how do you explain that?
8. XAVIER: The same way Bishop explained his entry into our universe. By a chronal anomaly.
PANEL
5
9. BEAST: That would suggest the existence of a mutant – or maybe even a human – who possesses the ability to twist time – a rare power indeed, and one Magneto certainly doesn’t have.
10. JEAN: Unless he’s working with someone who does.
12. JUBILEE: Excuse me, but what exactly does that freakazoid Bishop guy have to do with all this?
1. XAVIER: More than you can tell, Jubilation. Laura was able to travel in time, was she not? We may assume then, that this alternate Bishop has the same power – and a part to play in stopping these mutant disappearances.
2. CYCLOPS: Makes sense. But the question I guess we’re all asking is why these mutants are being abducted in the first place.
3. BEAST: Maybe our comatose Bishop has the answer.
4. XAVIER: Perhaps. And now, with my powers back, it is my intention to heal him and ask him that very question.
5. ROGUE: Professor…How on earth did yah get your powers back? And where were you the past week you were away?
6. XAVIER [think]: A week? Hmm…interesting. Time in the Starlight Citadel must pass relatively.
7.
XAVIER [aloud]: Let us just say
that my powers were ‘jump-started’, as part of a necessity.
8. WOLVERINE: Whose necessity, Charlie?
9. XAVIER: Destiny’s, Logan.
PANEL 1
1. WOLVERINE: Whaddya mean?
2. XAVIER: Apparently, the recent events we have been experiencing have all been chronicled in the Libris Veritatus, the diaries of Irene Adler. Six of the thirteen volumes are currently in our possession. Perhaps if we examine those books, we may find some answers.
3. WOLVERINE: What, in those pieces of junk? Fair enough if you wanna keep secrets from us, Charlie, but I gotta ask ya – how do you know you can trust the person that told ya all this?
4. XAVIER: Logan, I appreciate how much faith I am asking you to put in me at the moment. But until we are certain of what we are dealing with, I have no choice.
5. XAVIER: Please, my X-Men, now of all times, you must trust me.
Storm stands forward to speak for the rest of the team.
6. STORM: We shall give you that, Professor, as we ever have. But you must promise to tell us once Bishop has recovered.
7. XAVIER: I promise, Ororo.
8. WOLVERINE: Well, I guess we better go look through those diaries.
9. CYCLOPS: And hopefully glean something useful from them.
PANEL
1
Everyone else leaves the room one by one, all except for Rogue, who stands looking at the floor, deeply troubled.
1. XAVIER: Rogue?
Rogue looks up as though awoken from a trance.
2. ROGUE: It…It’s nuthin’, Professor…Ah guess ah just feel a bit strange, thinkin’ ‘bout Irenie again after all these years…Just when I thought I’d gotten over her passin’ away an’ all, she becomes involved in all this. Perhaps it was her knowledge of this that tipped her over the edge.
3. ROGUE: Yah think, if ah’d known she was hurtin’…That she woulda told me? That ah coulda stopped her?
4. XAVIER: Irene was a private woman, Rogue. She would not have hesitated to keep her secrets – especially the more disturbing ones – from one she loved as her own daughter. You could not have known.
5. ROGUE: Yeah…You’re right, as always. An’ ah’m sorry if ah’ve been so ratty lately. Ah’ll just…take some time out, if that’s okay.
Rogue begins to leave the room also.
6. XAVIER: Of course. Oh, and Rogue?
7. ROGUE: Yes?
8. XAVIER: I’ve picked up a familiar mutant signature several miles away from here.
9. XAVIER: Gambit’s coming back.
Small shot of Rogue’s face, wide-eyed.
End of Double Sacrifice.
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