It’s that time of year again. The leaves are changing. The air is getting colder. Winter is coming. It’s oddly appropriate for the current status of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. The events of the Dark Legacy arc have had a cold, chilling effect on the X-men’s world. When Sinister unleashed the Legacy Virus, he unleashed a devastating force that swept across every corner of the world. It didn’t just affect mutants either. Humans suffered as well. It didn’t matter who they were, what genes they had, or how they felt about human/mutant conflict. They were all equally vulnerable to Sinister’s wrath. The X-men’s own John “Thunderbird” Proudstar and even President Kelly’s own son succumbed.
It’s a dangerous world for the X-men. And it’s a world that the next entry of X-men Supreme will explore in greater detail. But before I begin the next phase of this fanfiction series, I feel as though it needs a transition of sorts. A few years ago, Marvel Comics began a new initiative called point one. This initiative created comics that were meant to be transition comics or jumping on points for new readers. It’s an initiative that I feel has a lot of merit, so much so that I’ve utilized it myself with special issues like X-men Supreme Issue 0: Revelation X and X-men Supreme Issue 3.1: Sin City Shenanigans. I didn’t do an issue after X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear because I didn’t feel one was necessary for the progression of this fanfiction series. But after the events of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths, I think it’s warranted.
So with that, I’m officially announcing X-men Supreme Issue 5.1: Deceptive Revelation. This issue will act as a transition issue that should help get readers up to speed on the current situation within this fanfiction series. It officially takes place between the final issue of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths and the first issue of X-men Supreme Volume 6, which I’ve yet to announce. It’s a simple, self-contained story that should help set the tone for what X-men Supreme is going to become. And the character who will guide that story is Mystique.
I’ve already given Mystique some significant insight with her entry in X-men Supreme Reflections. And after the shocking revelations that occurred in X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths, I think she’s the most appropriate character with which to tell this story. Her life has been completely turned upside down and inside out after the events of the Dark Legacy arc. She just recently learned that before she was Mystique, she was Rose, a former lover of Wolverine. She died at the hands of what would become Weapon X, but Sinister brought her back to life. She didn’t remember her previous life though. She only remembered the alias she went by, Raven Darkholme.
Now, as she adjusts to these revelations, Mystique will find herself in an unfamiliar situation in X-men Supreme. For the first time in her existence, she has a life she can call her own. She has an identity that she didn’t have to steal. What does this mean for her? What will it mean for the X-men, Wolverine, and the future of this fanfiction series? New threats are already emerging and the world is vulnerable for humans and mutants alike. Mystique will find herself at the forefront of this new conflict and it begins with X-men Supreme Issue 5.1: Deceptive Revelation. As always, I’ve prepared a preview of the kinds of revelations that our favorite shape shifter will be dealing with.
The shape shifter was actually in a good mood. This outing had been therapeutic. Being Rose felt right. All that time she spent agonizing over who she was didn’t matter as much. Just spending some time as her true self helped put everything in perspective.
She made a stop by the food court for a quick bite before continuing. She bought herself a burrito and a drink from one of the concession stands. It was around lunch so it was pretty crowded. She looked around to see where she would go next. Just going wherever fate took her seemed to be working so far. There was little reason why she shouldn’t continue.
Then as she stood near the south end of the food court, a strange feeling came over her. Being a hardened mercenary, she had instincts that were hard to match. Those instincts were telling her that she was being watched. It was a distressing feeling and it wasn’t because of the potential danger.
“No…not now,” she groaned to herself, “Not when my day has been going so well!”
Within moments of saying these words, a figure approached her from behind.
“Mystique…we need to talk,” he said.
When Mystique heard that voice she tensed. She turned around to see a man in street clothes wearing a thick coat. It didn’t take hardened instincts to know that he was packing heat inside. She had not seen him in a long time, yet because of the memories that Sinister revealed she was able to recognize him.
“Christopher Nord?” she said.
“I have a message to deliver,” said Agent Zero.
“A message, you say? Why is my first instinct to say return to sender and fuck off?”
Agent Zero didn’t flinch in the slightest. He was like a machine. When Mystique saw that cold look in his eyes, another round of instincts took over.
In lightning-fast move, she threw her half-finished drink right into Zero’s face. The moment it hit, she struck him with a kick to the gut. This stunned him for a split second. That was all the time Mystique needed to get away and slip into the crowded food court.
“Target is resisting,” he said flatly, not even wiping Mystique’s drink from his face, “Initiating secondary protocol.”
Agent Zero went into action, reaching into his coat and pulling out two Colt 45 pistols. He fired off two shots in Mystique’s direction. The echoes of gunfire reverberated throughout the area, quickly causing panic among the crowded food court.
“Whoa! What was that?!” exclaimed a young mother with two kids.
“Holy shit! That guy has a gun!” yelled an older man standing nearby.
“Must have missed a sale or something!” said a teenage girl.
“RUN!”
This sentiment quickly spread and everyone who heard the shots dashed towards the nearest exit. Those operating the food courts took cover and ducked out behind the back. It was pandemonium, the crowds pushing and shoving to get as far away from the danger as possible. Agent Zero used the new clearing to head in Mystique’s direction. The shape shifter hadn’t gotten more than fifteen feet. She was still in his sights and weaving through the tables in the central area.
While Zero pursued her, three mall cops came rushing into the area. As soon as they saw Zero, they drew their weapons and approached him.
“You there! Drop the guns and get your hands in the air!” said one of the officers.
“I must not fail,” said Zero flatly.
With terrified crowds still running around, Zero fired off several well-aimed shots that struck the three mall cops. One was shot through the head and killed instantly. The others were hit in the chest and quickly bled to death. No one was going to get in Zero’s way. When Mystique looked back towards him, he saw her turn his guns in her direction.
“Time to be Raven again!” she grunted.
This one-shot story will act as a prelude of sorts to X-men Supreme Volume 6. As I announced at the end of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths, I won’t be updating as often as I have I the past. Rest assured, I won’t let X-men Supreme be subject to the same delays as Marvel has allowed with Secret Wars and Uncanny X-men #600. The reason I’m limiting these updates is because the lack of feedback and reviews has made it difficult to keep this schedule. I am pursuing other projects and if there isn’t a lot of support for this fanfiction series, I find it hard to justify dedicating as much time to it. I’m still committed to telling the story of X-men Supreme. But for now, it’s going to be more limited.
That can change though. If I get an influx of feedback and reviews, I will reconsider my current update schedule. You can always submit your feedback to me by contacting me directly or posting your comments directly in the issue. Either is fine and I’m always happy to chat X-men. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
Jack
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