X-Men #1

Robert Drake

“My name is Robert Drake, but my friends call me Bobby. The ladies, however, call me all the time. Small joke there; wish I could get just one girl to call me. Unfortunately I’m a freak, at least to some people – including my parents. S’all right, though, I’m getting used to it. Let’s see, what do I want to say to the students that will be following in my footsteps? Well, don’t let anyone get you down, that’s first thing, I guess. You’re going to be alright, trust me. If anyone calls you names, laugh; but don’t freeze their fingers to their bicycle handles. Trust me on that one.

Um, let’s see, where do I hope to be in five years? As rich as Warren and surrounded by as many hot babes as Tony Stark. Yeah, that’d be sweet.”

Warren Worthington III

“For those of you who haven’t heard my name still echoing through these hollowed halls, I’m Warren Worthington the Third. My old man is one of the ten richest men in America; when I grow up I want to be richer. Ha! So I’m supposed to be leaving you a message with profound wisdom before I leave this school for gifted youngsters for the last time. I suppose the only thing I can tell ya is – like yourself. If you don’t like yourself, nobody is going to want to hang with you. And you aren’t anything unless you got some major peeps to hang with.

Where do I see myself in five years? Simple, I see myself living the good life, being the first out mutant celebrity and knowing that Bobby is still watching me... envious as hell.”

Hank McCoy

Hello, children of future classes. I bid you greetings from a not-so-distant past. Perhaps, though, I might yet still be around. Once I’ve achieved my doctorate in a year or two, my plan is to give back to the Professor for all that he has done for me. I shall endeavor to help pave the way for Human/Mutant relationships by being a liaison of some sort.

Where do I see myself in five years? Most likely I shall have a cabinet position in the White House. Or I’ll own the world’s largest shampoo distribution center. Either way, I’ll still be impressive as well as good looking.

Scott Summers

Hello, I’m Scott Summers. I was the first student to ever grace these halls, and I’m proud of that. I’m pleased that you have all taken the first step forward into acknowledging who and what you are. Be proud of it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are any less than who you are. I believe in Professor Xavier’s dream with everything I hold dear. I hope that someday you will as well.

Where do I see myself in five years? Right here, helping the Professor... and married.”

Jean Grey

Hello everyone, I’m Jean Grey, last of the original five. It’s been a long four years, but a fun one. These guys are like the brothers I never had. When I pulled up in front of the school, I had no idea what to expect, but my life has changed so much. There’s a feeling around here that we’re ready for anything the world throws at us. Scott says that there may be dark times a head for people like us – mutants. If there are, I know he and I will face them together. Scott is destined for great things, I can feel it. Me? I... I hope that I’m there to see it.

What does this say? Where do you see yourself in five years? Oh. Umm... I... uh... don’t. I don’t. Sounds weird and more than a little flaky, I know, but I can’t see myself in five years.

She turned the recorder off, her hands shaking. Jean Grey hadn’t meant to say that. She also didn’t have anyway to delete it. So there it was, for everyone to see. That comment was going to come back to haunt her, she was sure of it.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She heard Scott’s voice on the other end, asking if she was okay. She smiled to herself; he was always checking on her and she couldn’t help but enjoy it just a bit... when it wasn’t irritating as hell.

Opening the door with her best smile put forward she tapped his concerned face lightly with the inside of her hand. “I’m fine, silly. I know how to handle a video recorder.”

Scott said nothing, just smiled and offered his arm. She took it and they walked down the hall of the school.



The blackness swirled around him for a moment, then Charles Xavier found himself in his astral form. He rarely allowed himself to enjoy this kind of travel, using the power only for work purposes; but occasionally he just had to let himself be free. Yet, even then his mind was always searching for one of his own, the lost... the scared.

His astral form soared high above the trees and within seconds had crossed the Atlantic Ocean. His thoughts wandered as he traversed the miles in the wink of an eye. He was proud of himself, for the first graduating class in the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning; step one of his dream had reached fruition.

He found himself on the other side of the world, traveling into the land of the Swiss Alps. Lately it seemed as though he had been drawn there quite a bit. His astral form passed over the rough terrain with ease. It took only minutes for him to find the cavern that led to the body that had lay dormant for centuries.

The young man was unaware of him, of anything around him. Xavier studied the body, probing gently but getting no where.

“Well hello, Charles,” came a familiar voice behind him. He turned, shocked to see the astral body of his oldest friend, his oldest enemy, Erik Lehnsherr hovering next to him.

“Erik? How are you able to...?”

“Oh come now, Charles, you don’t really think I’m going to answer that, do you?” he replied with a smile that would have made a fox envious. He chuckled when he saw the squint of Charles’ eyes, a dead give away that he was using his powers. “After all these years, you’re still trying that?”

Charles studied his friend a little longer. “This is not your usual shielding.” He mused with keen interest. “You have a telepath with you.”

Erick’s sly smile maintained on his face. “You weren’t the only one who spent these last few years obtaining followers. After all, the idea did come from you after the last time we met.”

The Professor’s face darkened. “I would suggest, old friend, that it would be wise of you not to bring that up.”

For the first time, Erik’s eyes flashed with something akin to victory. “This one is mine. We both know it, Charles. Why do you come here?”

“I don’t have followers,” Charles said, side-stepping the question, “I have students.”

“That you’ve convinced to follow your cause. As I understand the term, isn't that called a disciple?”

“The future is not cast in stone,” Charles stated.

“Well you would know that better than I, wouldn’t you?”

Charles shook his head in disappointment. “This doesn’t have to be a...”

“Oh Charles, don’t go there again. It’s a very tired old song with themes that are as implausible as your dream.”

“You sought me out for a reason, Erik. What are you up to?”

Erik Lehnsherr’s eyes twinkled, but he shook his head. “Oh Charles...” His chuckle faded with his astral form, leaving Charles to ponder the conversation.



Warren Worthington had decided to call himself Angel; actually it had been Jean’s idea, and one that he had liked. Two days until graduation and he still hadn’t decided if he was going to stay or go. The major plus was that Jean was staying. She had accepted the Professor’s offer to head up his English program. The problem was that if he did stay, the Professor would definitely make him pull his own weight. It wasn’t that he was against it, per se, but what did he have to offer the school?

Although he had passed all his studies, he hadn’t really excelled at any of them. What exactly could he teach the next group of students? Unless they were all sporting sharp-looking wings like his – not much.

Reaching the top of the staircase, he did what he always had done: he skipped the steps down and instead took to the air. His wings spread out majestically behind him as he flew above the steps, onto the first floor foyer. He had to swerve suddenly as he nearly ran into Hank who bounced off the walls.

“Watch where you’re going, you big fur ball!” Warren shouted as he brought his wings in tight.

“My apologies, Warren. My experiment is nearing completion and I’m a tad over-exuberant in my return to the lab.”

“What experiment?” Warren asked as he landed gently on the balls of his feet.

“Well, I’ve been working on the molecular cohesion of mutants...”

Warren raised his hand and cut him off. “You know what, forget I asked. But since I’ve got your attention, mind if I ask you a question?”

“Please do.”

“Well, I know you, Jean and Scott are planning on staying on to teach the next group of kids that come here, and the Professor has offered me a place here as well, but I’m not sure if I’m going to stay.”

“What is it the Professor has asked you to do?” Hank inquired.

Warren blushed. “Nothing. He never really offered me a specific job. Let’s face it, I wasn’t the best student in the class. I’m really not sure what I’d have to offer anyone.”

“You are needed in my office at once.” Charles Xavier's voice echoed in both their minds.

It made both of them jump. “I wish he would warn us before he did that,” Warren exclaimed.

“And how exactly would he warn us that he was going to summon us telepathically? Perhaps by sending a warning into our mind?”

Warren gave him a withering look before soaring down the hall. “Never mind.”



When Hank and Warren arrived they found the other three were already in the room with Professor Xavier.

“About time,” Bobby said to them as they came through the door. “The Professor summoned us seven seconds ago.”

“Sorry, I was trying to figure out which of my lady friends I was going to take out tonight. You know what that’s like... oh no, I guess you don’t,” Warren retorted.

Jean sighed. “Enough boys, this is serious.”

Bobby looked at her in mock chagrin. “Boys?!”

The Professor raised his hand to silence them all. “I feared this day would come.” They weren’t sure if he was talking to them or himself.

Their youngest student’s eyes widened with excitement. “You’re sending us out, aren’t you?” Bobby asked.

“Yes,” Charles replied simply, sadly. “There is an incident in Greenwich Village. I have picked up the stray thoughts of a much-panicked young girl.”

“All the way from New York City?” Bobby asked with genuine shock.

“Why are we needed, Professor?” Scott asked, having said nothing so far.

“The young girl is hiding from three men terrorizing the streets; these men are mutants. They’ve displayed extraordinary powers, but I can feel the anger, the rage in them. They must be stopped. I suppose you could call this your final exam.”

“Or our baptism of fire,” Hank mused.

“We won’t let you down,” Jean said with a confident smile.

“I know,” Charles replied with a small smile. “Be careful my children... my X-Men.”



“I apologize if this sounds a bit vain, but I’m not sure the gold in my uniform matches the blue of my fur.”

“What are you talking about?” Bobby asked in shock as he slapped Hank on the shoulder. “Blue and gold? Two of the most famous colors in all of college football.”

“Yes, well, that does help,” Hank said. He watched Bobby return to his chair in the back of the Blackbird and turned to Scott who was piloting the craft. “It doesn’t, actually.”

“I know,” Scott said. “We’ll be there in three minutes.”

“What’s the plan, Cyclops?” Warren said, trying out the codename for the first time. His adrenaline was pumping and he had to admit that he loved the feeling.

“We go in hard and fast. The Professor gave us the image of the three guys. Angel, you and Beast go after that fat man in the middle of the street; Iceman, the one with the tongue, and that leaves Jean and me to take out Mr. Flamethrower.”

“It’s good to be the king, eh Scott?” Warren asked with obvious sarcasm.

There was no reaction from the pilot’s seat as the man codenamed Cyclops flipped a small switch. A small humming noise was not only heard but felt as the cloaking device activated.

“The Professor ever tell anyone exactly where he came across one of these?” Bobby asked nobody in particular.

“I inquired once, but he either did not hear me or chose to ignore the question. As with everything, I’m sure the Professor will inform us when we need to know,” Beast said.

“Look,” Jean said, pointing out the front window.

Two of the three mutants were down in Washington Square; both causing mass destruction as one seemed to be throwing flames from the palm of his hands while the other, a massive beast of a man, tossed cars around like they were made of cardboard.

“You’re giving us him?” Angel asked incredulously.

“Oh my stars and garters,” Beast murmured.

“Hmm, well I may have miscalculated this one,” Scott admitted. “Last minute change of plans, folks.”

“About time,” Warren grumbled.

Cyclops continued. “Iceman, you’ve got Mr. Fire Island, Marvel Girl and I will take that toad-looking guy on the side of the building. That leaves...”

“Oh come on!” Warren cried out, throwing his hands up in the air. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“Alright,” Cyclops sighed. “Jean, do you think you can take care of the little one on your own so I can help Warren and Hank?”

“Of course,” She replied confidently.

“That’s more like it,” Warren stated as he went back to his seat.

He didn’t see the slow smile that crept across Scott’s face, but Hank did.

“You have a wicked sense of humor, Mr. Summers.”

“I know,” Scott replied. “Okay, people, I’m placing the Blackbird on auto. She’ll hover up here until we need her. Grab a partner and let’s go.”

“Care to give me a lift, Angel?” Jean asked.

“You sure the ball and chain wouldn’t mind?”

Jean’s eyebrow raised and she brought her hand up, flicking him away as if he were a bug. She gave him a gentle push that sent him stumbling backward and out of the hatch. He let out a quick scream of surprise.

His wings unfolded just in time to see the red head take a swan dive out of the hatch, plummeting towards the ground. Cursing under his breath he quickly turned around and soared towards her. He had to give her one thing, she had style.



He was called the Toad, and he was having fun as he caught people with his tongue and threw them down the street. He was so involved with his game that he didn’t even see the young woman until she was on top of him. Her legs wrapped around his neck, knocking him off the side of the building.

When they hit the ground, Marvel Girl rolled with the landing, coming up with her arm stretched out in front of her. The squat man suddenly found himself tossed through the air like one of his victimss.

“Not so funny when the shoe is on the other foot, is it?”

Smashing into the side of a parked car, the mutant couldn’t help but giggle. “It is if they are all as hot as you. So tell me, sweetums, does the carpet match the...”

He was lifted off the ground before he could finish the statement and flung into the fountain in the center of the park.

“You are revolting.”

He pulled himself up, coughing out water. “Nope, I’m Toad,” he responded, his tongue shooting out and striking her.



“Sorry I don’t have time to slow down, Beast, but I’ve got a hot date, it seems,” Iceman said as he brought his ice-bridge above the massive mutant below.

“Do enjoy yourself, then,” Hank said before leaping off the side of the bridge towards the behemoth below.

Bobby turned his attention to the fire-bearer. The villain was beginning to shoot jets of flames toward the crowds.

“You Homo Sapiens are so last century!” he cried out in disdain.

Several ice-balls shot from Bobby’s now iced-up hands. They all struck their target, and forced the evil mutant to stumble, disrupting the spray of fire.

“Who the hell are you?” he demanded as he finally saw the young man who seemed to be made entirely out of ice, sliding towards him.

“Name's Iceman. Care to tell me yours so I can make sure I put it down in my diary correctly?”

“They call me Pyro,” he sneered as he shot a stream of fire at his new opponent.

Iceman easily dodged it, dipping below the stream. “Dear Diary,” he said as he fired an intense blast of cold directly at Pyro’s chest. “Today was a good day. Got up, had a bowl of Lucky Charms, and then kicked Pyro’s butt. Hot chocolate before bed and my day will be complete.”

Pyro took the brunt of the blast; it lifted him off his feet and back several yards. “Laugh it up ice freak, I’m about to melt you quicker than Frosty on Spring Break.”

He fired a jet of fire from his right hand that Iceman dodged. Pyro was ready though, as his left hand released a second blast that struck Bobby right in the face. He laughed as he watched the young mutant roll off his own slide and land on the pavement with a sickening thud.



They called him Blob, which seemed to be a fitting name for the massive man that stood in the middle of the street, tossing cars. He was just about to heave a Subaru over his head when somebody landed squarely on his back, causing him to drop the car in front of him.

“Hello there. Sorry to drop in like this, and I apologize for my appearance. This summer humidity does frightening things to my fur.”

Blob reached behind him, grabbed Beast’s left leg with amazing speed, and threw him high into the air.

“Don’t care who you are, just get outta my way,” he grumbled.

“Relax the body, I got you,” Angel yelled out as he caught the high-flying Beast.

“Much obliged, Warren. It does sadden me that with all of our training, my first foray into battle aresults in my needing rescue from the specter of death.”

“Lighten up there, big guy. We can’t all have the uncanny skills of Warren Worthington the Third.”

“Nor the ego, apparently,” Beast murmured.

As Angel brought them in for another attack they saw three large vehicles hurtling toward them. Warren was able to dodge the first two, but the third struck him squarely in the back, causing both of them to fall towards the ground.

The pickup truck continued after them, ready to crush them when they hit the ground until the familiar sound of an optic blast struck down the car up in mid-air.

“Dear Einstein, that was close,” Hank gasped as he and Angel hit the ground. “I really wondered if we were going to see our maker, didn’t you, Warren? Warren?” He looked next to him and found Angel was unconscious but breathing.

“Well, this is a revoltin’ development.” He got up, throwing his teammate and friend over his shoulder. “I take that back, I don’t care for the way that one rolled off my tongue. I believe I shall stick with ‘Oh my stars and garters’.”

Beast heard the whirring sound and turned, just a second to late, as the street lamp went flying into him. He lost his grip on Angel as his body was swatted like a baseball. He was belted up into the air and into the distant buildings of Midtown, vanishing from sight.

Cyclops watched in amazement and concern as his best friend disappeared. He looked around to see Warren, Bobby, and Jean all lying on the ground around the park. Their counterparts were standing over them.

“So this is the graduating class of Charles’ school, is it?” asked a voice from above.

Scott looked up to see a man dressed in burgundy and purple floating down towards him. There was some kind of shield that shimmered around his body and he wore a strange-looking helmet.

“Who are you?” Cyclops demanded, his fingers getting ready to touch the trigger release of his visor that were in the palm of his gloves.

“Who am I?” the older man said with real astonishment in his voice. “My dear boy, I’m the man who is going to show you what our species is all about. I’m your new teacher. You can call me... Magneto.”

And on the roof of a building above them, a figure wearing a light blue cloak, her faced fully shielded by a gold mask, stood and watched.

“It has begun,” she stated.



To Be Continued...



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