Jean is a whole other story. Powerful, intelligent sexy redhead. The costume and everything just hooked me but to me she was far too powerful. I could never think of a way to honor that power while bringing her down. It's been done in the comics many times as anyone who has read them knows. Her power comes from her mind so I thought the best way to bring her down would be through that.
Thinking about that I came across an old storyline in the comics I read. It was about the Neo, a super powered community of non mutants who of course wanted to eliminate all mutants. They were separated into clans and one of those clans was the Crimson Pirates led by a man called Tullamere Voge. They were slavers. They came across the X-Men and managed to capture a few of them. I thought how would I continue their story because they largely haven't been seen in the books since. Thankfully they provided some good images to inspire.
taken from Uncanny X-Men #385
taken from X-Men volume 1 #104
“I
believe she wishes to be rid of you pirates” Jean announced as she
swung into the wider room below.
“X-Men!”
Killain roared. He grabbed a hold of the young woman and through her
towards one of the Dogs who had the cowl. She screamed and thrashed
about. The Sea Dog though was far to strong for her and had the cowl
around her jaw within moments. The poor young woman’s thrashing
ceased and she stood docile next to the Dog.
Bess
acted the quickest trying to get a hold of her mind. Jean all to
ready for it and far more powerful sent a feedback pulse through her
mind that caused the pirate to scream and shock and fall tot he floor
barely conscious. Broadside the large behemoth maneuvered close to
her to try and punch her but he found his movements slow and then
stopped while she used her tk to stop him and then with a flick of
the mind sent him tumbling up through the floor she had just crashed
through towards the other two Sea Dogs she had just flung away. With
Bess down the psionic shielding went down. Jean could sense
everything from the minds of everyone in the building. Most were just
interested in fighting and capturing her. Killain was wondering why
there was no other X-Men joining the fight. Jean realized that was
holding him back so she took the opportunity to project into all
their minds that the X-Men were indeed joining her. Storm, Gambit,
Wolverine, Rogue, Nightcrawler. They all came to their minds and they
all tensed. Jean focused on the mind of the captured young one. She
was docile and standing next to the Sea Dog but Jean could sense
turmoil within her. With her senses Jean sought out the slave cowl.
She found a weak point in the construction and tore at it. The cowl
separated into two pieces and fell to the side. The Sea Dog watching
over her looked at it and the girl with a confused look on his face.
The distraction was all jean needed to send a blast of energy at the
pirate sending him hurtling back twenty feet. The girls freedom was
short lived as the other Sea Dog transported next to her and reached
for another cowl.
“NOOOOO!!!!”
The girl screamed.
Her
attention on the girl Jean didn’t notice the flashes behind her as
the first two Dogs rejoined the fight. They hurtled into her with
blinding speed and precision. Knocking Jean to the ground.
Momentarily losing her concentration. The images of her fellow X-Men
vanished from all their minds and Killain looked over at her now
fully aware that she was the only one in the building.
“Our
Employer always did say you were the best stock Phoenix” Killain
roared. Just off to the side the girl still screamed. Out of her side
view Jean could see the three now Sea Dogs beginning to stock her and
Bess raising to her feet. In the battle of the minds she could see
Bess trying to reestablish the shielding around her and her pirate
friends. Jean prevented that but in doing so allowed Bess into her
mind.
[Hello
meat] Jean could hear Bess say into her mind.
[Care
to give up now?] Jean responded.
Jean
saw images flash through her mind. Images of Bess taking others who
looked just like that girl and placing cowls around their heads.
Marching them off to be sold. She could see the look of Voge as he
counted the money coming in and the lust he felt for his own slaves.
Images flashed through Jean’s mind and then finally the image that
stuck out was off years past. In their first meeting. Jean prone on
the floor on her stomach. Bess straddling her and placing a cowl on
her. Pulling the cowl down over her eyes and face. Jean could feel
the suffocation and the mindlessness. The need give up control.
Despite herself jean couldn’t help but be aroused by it and
tempted.
[Just
stop resisting meat. Voge wont make you a hound. He always said he
had something else in mind for you] The voice of Bess in her mind
stated.
More
images flashed through her mind. Jean standing before the slaver
lord. Cowl over her head but drawn back so she could see. Heavy metal
restraints around her hands and feet. Chains binding them all
together. Vogue sat before her on a throne with some sort with a
collar in his hands. Metal with a flashing lights around it.
[Freedom]
The voice said. Was it Bess or was it Voge or even was it her own.
Jean was distracted enough that when she finally shock out of it she
saw that she was surrounded. The young girl had a cowl just being
placed on her. Killain had chains hanging from his palms. Bess held
her sword high and a smile on her face. Broadside had leapt back down
and come from behind.
“Your
power has drastically increased but even so against the might of the
Crimson Pirates just embrace your fate” Killain proclaimed.
Jean
smiled. Why did villains always have to some way or another always
have to sound so grandiose.
“NONONONONO!!!!!”
The young woman was screaming as the Sea Dog was attaching the cowl
to her again.
“Stop
that NOW!!” Jean demanded and let lose a short burst of telekinetic
energy. It didn’t stop the Dog, but before he could close it at the
chin the young woman started shaking.
“No!…..
get back!!!” Killain had noticed and ordered his pirates to step
back from the girl. She screamed in agony and then with a short but
blinding light she exploded. There was remains flung about she just
simply vanished but Jean heard her screaming on the psychic plane and
felt her anguish. The girl had killed herself instead of being taken.
If only Jean had taken care of these losers quicker.
Jean’s
anger flashed.
“MONSTERS!!!”
Jean’s voice took on an edge and an other worldly tone. The pirates
took a step back from her. The Phoenix force and flames screeched out
from Jean enveloping the entire floor.
“You
all will pay!!” Her voice showed no emotion and no care for the
pirates.
Killain
looked at the Sea Dogs for a moment and they started to teleport. All
four of them appearing in the air above Jean. The flames of the
Phoenix not seeming to slow their descent they kicked into her and
tried to punch her. So engrossed in the power was Jean though that
they might as well been kicking nothing. Standing there taking it she
laughed as they fell to the ground and tried to physically attack
her. From behind a large forearm appeared and wrapped around her
chest. Except Broadside couldn’t contact her body at all. She was
projecting a strong field around her that nothing and no body could
breach. Bess tried to infiltrate her mind and screamed at more
feedback. Jean sneered at the telepath in contempt.
“Try
that again pirate and you will forget how to walk and talk” Jean’s
voice carried a hint of darkness now.
Killain
tried next to send his chains at her but they bounced harmlessly out
of the way. The pirates looked at each in confusion and fear. Jean’s
fiery Phoenix wings enveloped them and she thought for a moment about
simply ending their existence. She gripped them all in her embrace.
Raising them all from the floor.
“You
should all die for what you did to that poor girl” Jean proclaimed.
“X-Men
don’t kill” Killain managed to say. Jean was beginning to squeeze
and they were all feeling it.
The
words rung true and immediately Jean reigned in her powers and
released them all. The Sea Dogs all grabbing their throats reacted
first. They swept her feet from her and Jean crashed to the floor.
Without a moments hesitation Bess still grabbing at her own throat
was on her back once more. Like that scene from all those years
before. A cowl in her hand she slipped it over Jean’s head and
clicked it together at the front under the chin. Jean felt the need
to just stop and stay still instantly. The need to obey. So fast that
it happened she was still trying to figure out why she had nearly
lost control. With the cowl on Bess reached forward and whispered
into Jean’s ear.
“Be
still meat”
No comments:
Post a Comment