-3 WEEKS AGO-
The man stood alone in a clearing, his breath coming in sharp, angry gasps as he clenched his fists. His eyes burned with rage as he turned toward the trees surrounding him. With a fierce, guttural shout, he raised his hand to the sky and summoned a crackling bolt of lightning, striking it with precision. The tree exploded into a shower of splinters and smoke, the thunderclap echoing through the air.
Man: How dare he... how dare they...
His fists trembled as he spoke, each word filled with venom. He paced in frustration, his mind racing back to the day they had taken everything from him the job he'd trained for, the dream he had worked so hard to achieve. A pilot, grounded, replaced by someone they deemed "better." The injustice of it all fueled the fire inside him.
With another roar of fury, he extended his arm again, summoning another blast of energy. The sky darkened, clouds swirling violently above him as he unleashed another bolt of lightning. This time, it struck a large boulder nearby, sending it tumbling into the forest, shattering everything in its path.
Then, something caught his eye. High in the sky, an airplane flew overhead, its engines humming steadily as it passed by, blissfully unaware of the storm building below.
Man: From now on… I am… Weather Wizard!
The moment the words left his lips, the air around him began to crackle with energy. A thick fog started to roll in, obscuring the horizon as winds howled and twisted through the trees. With a motion as fluid as his anger, Weather Wizard raised both arms to the sky. The storm responded, with thunder crashing and lightning flashing, arcs of electricity streaking across the sky like angry tendrils.
He called upon his newfound power twisting the wind into a violent vortex. He summoned more lightning bolts, directing them at the approaching airplane. The aircraft shuddered violently as the storm raged around it, the powerful winds knocking it off course. The lightning bolts slammed into the fuselage, creating sparks and explosive cracks in the metal, as the plane struggled to stay aloft.
Weather Wizard laughed, a deep, cold laugh that carried across the storm, watching the plane plummet, engulfed by his tempest.
Weather Wizard: No more Mr. Nice Pilot. This is my storm now.
As the airplane fell from the sky, he raised his arms again, the storm intensifying with every gesture.
-9 MONTHS LATER-
The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing across the walls as the air was thick with tension. In the far corner, a hazy figure of a woman, Jubilee, stood with her arms crossed, her voice sharp with frustration.
Jubilee: What are you doing?
Across from her, Roberto Da Costa his posture casual but his tone defensive shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes on a nearby speaker.
Roberto: He likes this song!
Jubilee narrowed her eyes, incredulous.
Jubilee: How could you possibly know that?
Roberto smirked, flipping his phone around and showing it to her with a flourish.
Roberto: I checked his Facebook page. I mean, he loves listening to "Mr. Blue Sky," right?
Jubilee's eyes rolled dramatically, her irritation growing.
Jubilee: I hate you for real.
Before Roberto could respond, the faint sound of a groan cut through the air, and both of them froze. A barely audible murmur followed, a voice that was familiar but unsteady.
Wally (weakly): You're wrong... I love Japanese music over English music.
Jubilee's eyes widened, and she whipped her head toward the bed. Roberto did the same, both of them staring in shock as the figure on the hospital bed slowly stirred.
Roberto (excitedly): Oh my God! Mr. West! You're awake! Big fan of your work!!
Jubilee rushed to the side of the room, her voice ringing out to the rest of the team.
Jubilee: Guys! Mr. West is fucking finally alive & awake!
She bolted from the room to get everyone, leaving Roberto with Wally. Wally blinked several times, slowly processing the situation. His mind was hazy, trying to piece together the fragments of what had happened.
Wally (confused): Where am I, kid? And w-who are you?
Roberto, still grinning from ear to ear, took a step forward, his hand extended.
Roberto: My name's Roberto Da Costa, aka Sunspot. And you're currently in the X-Mansion!!
Wally's eyes widened at the name. The X-Mansion? His mind raced, the fog lifting just a little.
Wally: Wait, I'm in the X-Mansion?
Before Roberto could respond, Jubilee's voice echoed from down the hall, calling out to the others as they rushed to the room.
Hank's usual calm demeanor cracked, and without a second thought, he pulled Wally into a tight embrace.
Hank: I thought I lost you, my friend.
Wally, still disoriented and not quite sure how to react to the sudden affection, awkwardly patted Hank on the back.
Wally: Uh, dude, I'm... I'm not gay?
Hank pulled back slightly, a sheepish grin on his face, clearly understanding Wally's discomfort.
Hank: I know… but sometimes, you just need a hug, right?
Wally blinked, still processing everything. The whole situation felt surreal to him. His mind was racing with thoughts, but the weirdness of the moment wasn't lost on him.
Wally: This is... weird.
Just as Wally spoke, a familiar voice rang out from the doorway.
Storm, elegant as ever, stepped into the room, her silver-white hair framing her face, her eyes filled with warmth as she approached Wally's bed.
Storm: Hey, Wally. How are you now?
Wally gave her a tired but grateful smile.
Wally: Alive and well, I guess?
His gaze darted to the others in the room as he suddenly remembered something important. His expression shifted to one of concern.
Wally: How long have I been here??
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone exchanged uneasy glances. Storm's voice broke the tension, her tone soft but serious.
Storm: Nine months.
Wally's eyes widened, his face turning pale as the realization hit him like a ton of bricks.
Wally: Oh no... I need to get to Betty!
He tried to sit up, panic seizing him. The thought of Betty, of the promise he made to her, was all that mattered in that moment. But Storm stepped forward, her hand gently resting on his shoulder, urging him back down.
Storm: You need to rest, Wally. You've been through a lot. Betty will understand. Right now, your health comes first.
Wally hesitated, the desperation in his eyes fading just slightly as he looked at the concerned faces around him. He nodded reluctantly, feeling the weight of the situation settle in.
Wally: I... I guess you're right. But once I'm able, I'm getting to her.
Storm gave a small nod of understanding, her voice firm but kind.
Storm: We'll make sure you're ready. Rest now, Wally. You'll see her soon.
Wally closed his eyes for a moment, his thoughts swirling. But he couldn't shake the worry for Betty. Nine months. How had so much time passed? What had happened in the time he was out? One thing was certain: as soon as he could, he was going to make things right.
the gentle hum of the machines and the soft beeping of the heart monitor filled the room. He seemed to be resting, but there was still a deep tension in the air. Logan, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, shot a glance over at Hank McCoy, his eyes narrowing with concern.
Logan: Should we tell him about the girl, Bub?
Hank, who had been pacing quietly, hesitated for a moment, his blue fur bristling slightly as he tried to find the right words. He looked at Wally, still unconscious on the bed, and then back at Logan with a quiet sigh.
Hank: Keep it a secret, Logan. I don't want our friend to know. Not like this.
Logan raised an eyebrow, a grunt escaping him as he shifted his weight.
Logan: You think he's better off not knowing?
Hank's expression softened, but there was a sadness in his eyes. He shook his head slowly.
Hank: Wally's been through enough. If he knew about Betty's affair with another man…
He paused, his thoughts trailing off, and he let out a quiet sigh.
Hank: It's not the right time. He needs to heal, physically and emotionally. He's been out for nine months. A shock like that... could destroy him.
Logan clenched his jaw, a flicker of understanding in his eyes as he mulled over Hank's words. He took a step forward, lowering his voice.
Logan: You're right. The kid's been through a lot. Maybe it's better to wait until he's stronger.
Hank nodded, his shoulders sagging as the weight of the situation pressed down on him.
Hank: Exactly. We'll tell him when the time is right… but not yet. Not while he's still recovering.
Logan didn't respond immediately, but he seemed to agree, though his mind was undoubtedly still troubled by the situation. He glanced over at Wally, who was now resting peacefully, his breathing steady but deep.
Logan: He'll find out eventually, Hank. People always do.
Hank's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression firm but understanding.
Hank: I know. But not today, Logan. Let him have the time to heal before we drop that bomb on him.
Inside the Blackbird, the X-Men team sat strapped into their seats as the jet soared through the skies, its engines humming steadily. Cyclops, leading the team, sat at the controls, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Marvel Girl, Colossus, and Magik were all seated around him, each one lost in their own thoughts, their attention focused on the mission ahead.
Cyclops: We've got an emergency situation in Mexico. A plane went down earlier today under unusual circumstances. Authorities are calling it a freak storm, but something doesn't sit right with me.
Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) glanced over at Cyclops, her brow furrowed as she listened to his words, sensing his growing unease.
Marvel Girl: What do we know about the crash so far?
Cyclops: Initial reports say the plane was struck by lightning, but eyewitnesses are reporting strange weather phenomena unnatural winds, intense lightning bursts, and fog none of which match any natural storm conditions.
Magik, who had been silently staring out the window, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of her seat, finally spoke up.
Magik: Sounds like something's controlling the weather. A storm doesn't act like that without help.
Colossus, his massive frame filling the seat beside her, nodded in agreement.
Colossus: Could be another mutant causing it. We've dealt with weather manipulators before.
Cyclops tapped a few buttons on the control panel, bringing up a live news feed on the monitor in front of them. The image of a news anchor appeared on the screen, the words "Mexico Plane Crash" flashing in bold letters.
News Anchor (on screen): Breaking news from Mexico. A commercial airplane has crashed in the remote hills near the Pacific coast after reportedly being struck by a series of violent electrical storms. Rescue teams are on the ground, but authorities are concerned about further incidents as strange weather continues to plague the area. Some witnesses are calling it a freak storm, but experts are baffled by the intensity of the lightning and winds. Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the crash.
Cyclops: We need to get there before it gets any worse. If someone's causing this, it's only a matter of time before they make their move again.
Marvel Girl: Agreed. Let's get there and find out what happened. We can't let anyone else get hurt.
Cyclops nodded firmly, adjusting the Blackbird's course toward the crash site.
Cyclops: Alright, team. We're heading into unknown territory. Be ready for anything. Keep your eyes open and stay in contact.
Magik stood up and made a small portal in the air, her fingers glowing with magic as she prepared herself for the next phase of the mission.
Magik: Let's see if we can find this storm's source, and who's behind it. I'll be ready to teleport us straight into the heart of it, if needed.
Colossus flexed his muscles, his form now taking on a metallic sheen as he readied himself for the chaos ahead.
Colossus: I will be ready for anything as well. Let's go.
As the Blackbird soared through the clouds, Cyclops focused on the path ahead, his eyes scanning the terrain below.
As the Blackbird continued its flight toward Mexico, the team was deep in thought, processing the situation. Cyclops sat at the controls, his jaw clenched, his mind working through the details of the case. The strange weather, the unexplainable lightning strikes, and now, this airplane crash.
Cyclops: Jean, how many plane crashes have there been this month? Any other reports of unusual weather incidents?
Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) quickly accessed the information in her mind, pulling up the numbers from various news reports and databases.
Marvel Girl: There have been 972 plane crashes in the past 9 months alone, Scott. That's a staggering number, even by the most catastrophic standards.
Cyclops' grip on the control yoke tightened as he processed the number. His mind raced something didn't add up. 972 plane crashes in less than a year? That's too many, and they're all tied to storms?
Cyclops: This is weird… Professor Xavier ran scans with Cerebro, and there was no sign of any mutant responsible for this.
Marvel Girl frowned as she turned her gaze toward Cyclops. She didn't like the sound of that.
Marvel Girl: If Cerebro didn't pick up any unusual mutant activity, then it doesn't make sense. Unless—
Magik, who had been silently observing, crossed her arms and spoke up, her voice tinged with a slight edge of suspicion.
Magik: Unless theres a man the one causing all the storms is a mutant too, but one that's more powerful than Storm?
Cyclops shot her a sharp look, his face immediately taking on a determined, almost stubborn expression.
Cyclops: I can't believe that. Storm's abilities are already on a god-like level, and if there was another mutant with that kind of power, Cerebro would have detected them. Besides, there's no record of any mutant with weather control at that level.
Magik raised an eyebrow, not convinced by his words. You know as well as I do that some mutants can hide from Cerebro, especially if they've learned to control their powers. If this person is that powerful, they could be masking their presence, controlling the storm itself as a shield.
Cyclops was quiet for a moment, tapping his fingers on the control panel in front of him, deep in thought.
Cyclops: I still don't buy it. But the sheer scale of this something doesn't sit right. All those crashes, the weather… it's not a coincidence. Whatever's going on, we need to get to the crash site fast and figure it out ourselves. It could be something else entirely.
Colossus, who had been listening to the exchange, looked at Cyclops, his voice firm but supportive.
Colossus: Either way, we'll get answers when we're on the ground. We'll deal with whatever's causing this. Together.
Cyclops gave a nod, appreciating the reassurance, but his mind was still on high alert. The mystery of the crashes and the storm was growing more ominous with every passing moment.
Cyclops: Right. Stay focused, everyone. We're getting close. We'll find out who or what is behind this, one way or another.
"BOOM"
A massive bolt of lightning struck out of nowhere, arcing across the sky with a deafening crack. The bolt struck the Blackbird's left wing with a violent explosion, sending shockwaves through the jet's frame.
Cyclops: HANG ON, PEOPLE!
The plane lurched, tilting dangerously as the electrical surge coursed through the jet, sparking fires in the engine compartment. The wing started to crumble, disintegrating under the pressure of the strike, and the once steady hum of the engines turned into a screeching noise.
Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) scrambled, her eyes wide with panic as the plane's systems began to fail. Cyclops' voice broke through the chaos, his command clear.
Cyclops: Jean, we need a forcefield! NOW! If we crash, we need you to protect us!
Jean, already closing her eyes, extended her telekinetic powers. The air around her seemed to vibrate with energy as she focused, creating an invisible barrier in front of the team. The forcefield expanded quickly, crackling with psychic energy as the Blackbird shook violently from the damage.
Marvel Girl: I'm doing it! I've got a shield up, but it's going to take everything I have to keep it stable!
Cyclops gripped the controls tightly, doing his best to steady the aircraft, but the damage was overwhelming. Sparks flew from the control panel, and the cockpit lights flickered. With the loss of the wing, the Blackbird was losing altitude fast.
Cyclops: We can't keep this up much longer! Everybody brace for impact!
Colossus, who had been bracing himself already, clenched his fists as he prepared for the worst.
Colossus: We will survive this! Stay together, comrades!
Magik, eyes narrowed and hand gripping the seat in front of her, looked over at Cyclops.
Magik: Do you still think it's just weather?
Cyclops didn't have time to respond. The Blackbird was rapidly descending, the ground rushing up to meet them. Jean's forcefield shimmered, its energy glowing as she desperately maintained the psychic barrier.
Marvel Girl: It's holding for now, but I don't know how much longer I can—
Another bolt of lightning struck, this one even more powerful, hitting the damaged wing again. The Blackbird twisted, groaning under the strain, and suddenly the forcefield flickered.
Cyclops: Jean, focus! Keep that shield up!
The plane was no longer flying, but plummeting, the roar of wind filling the cabin as the Blackbird headed toward the ground. With every passing second, it became clear that a crash landing was imminent. The sound of the wind, the crackling of lightning, and the growing pressure of Jean's psychic shield were all that could be heard.
Cyclops: I know you can do it, Jean. We're almost there. Just hold on a little longer!
As the ground closed in, the team braced for the inevitable impact. Everything around them seemed to go silent, the forcefield glowing brighter than ever as Jean poured everything she had into maintaining it.
Marvel Girl: Please… just a little longer…
The Blackbird hit the ground with a bone-shaking thud, but the forcefield held strong, cushioning the impact. The aircraft skidded across the ground, sparks flying and debris scattering in all directions. Finally, the Blackbird came to a halt, rocking one last time before everything fell still.
Inside the cabin, the team remained silent, catching their breath as the dust settled. Cyclops slowly exhaled, looking over at Jean, who was still shaking from the effort.
Cyclops: Jean...
Marvel Girl opened her eyes, sweat dripping down her forehead, but her forcefield had held, and the team was alive.
Marvel Girl: That… was too close...
Cyclops glanced at the others, his tone firm but relieved.
Cyclops: Everyone alright?
Colossus and Magik nodded, while Jean, still recovering from the psychic strain, nodded weakly.
Cyclops: We need to get out of here. We've got a crash site to investigate.
Magik, who had a feeling that something more than just a storm was involved, glared at the sky outside the Blackbird's shattered windows.
Magik: Let's hope we can get answers now. Before things get worse.