Uncanny X-Men (Marvel Omega)

Theatre of Pain, Part I

Death Valley, California. Just as the name implies, not much happens here. The only sound that is heard across the barren land is the sound of jet engines coming from the modified SR-71 Blackbird jet that rockets across the valley. Behind the X-shaped, red tinted glass is a pale-skinned woman with a dark oval over her left eye known only as Domino piloting the ship. The slim, demonic man by her side whose body is covered by a fine layer of indigo-colored fur is her partner. Kurt Wagner, or Nightcrawler as he is sometimes called. These two are the co-leaders of a squad of X-Men.

Behind them sits Alex Summers, a man better known as Havok. Across from him is the young woman called Scanner. Alex feels somewhat strange being in the same area with Scanner without being forced to battle her. When these two mutants first met, it was on opposing sides of the law. Havok was the leader of the government-sponsored team of mutants called X-Factor, whereas Scanner was a member of the Acolytes – a group of religious fanatics who looked upon Magneto as their messiah.

All four of the mutants take note of the uncomfortable silence which hangs in the air and lingers there. Some may think it odd that Domino is the co-leader of this squad of X-Men, given her checkered past and loose association with Xavier. It is something Havok knows, yet he keeps his reservations to himself. Same goes for his reservations towards Scanner. It was Jean's decision to structure the team like this, and although he may not agree with her judgement, he trusts it nonetheless.

"So..." begins Scanner. "What is it we're doing out here in the middle of nowhere?"

All ears in the plane perk up at the sound of Scanner's voice. Previously, the only sound heard in the Blackbird was the hum of the engines. A voice with a hint of a faded German accent offers the reply to Scanner's question.

"Jean said that there was a mass psionic disturbance in this area," says Nightcrawler.

"How come there's no telepath with us, then?" asks Havok. "I don't think Ever was up to anything."

"Grey thinks it's too risky," replies Domino. "Says the mass emotions might overwhelm them or something."

"Any idea what it is we're supposed to be looking for?" asks Havok.

"Not really," says Domino. "We've got the Cerebro unit scanning for any positive x-gene manifestations."

"And...?" asks Havok.

"Zip," replies Domino. "Well... not completely zip. I'm getting readings, just can't get a hard lock on anything."

"I thought you were supposed to be lucky," says Havok.

"Obviously my powers aren't working if I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere with you," offers Domino with a slight grin. Havok chuckles a little at her remark.

"Whatever we have out here, it's big," says Nightcrawler. "Cerebro may not be able to locate the exact source, but why don't you all take a look at what the Shi'ar scanners have picked up?"

Kurt presses a button on the console before him, and the four X-Men look out the window to see some sort of electric disturbance appearing in midair.

"What's causing that?" asks Scanner.

"Hold on... I'm jamming the signal," replies Nightcrawler as he flips a switch. "Annnnnd..... wunderbar!"

As he presses another button, the electric disturbance seems to grow larger. Out of nothing, the X-Men see a structure appear in the middle of the desert. A large, ominous building with gothic-esque construction and no obvious markings on it which can even hint to its identity.

"What the hell is that?" asks Havok.

"Well, either I haven't been paying attention and they've decided to relocate the Sistine Chapel, or I have no idea," replies Nightcrawler.