Dazzler felt a tapping at her face and blinked her eyes open to see her father staring down at her.
“Alison?” he said in worry, as she suddenly remembered where she was.
She bolted upright, pushing him back, and glanced around the room for threats. Sage sat close by, but other than her father, they were alone in what looked like a padded cell. The only feature in the bare room was a black monitor screen placed high up on one wall.
“Where are the others?” she asked Sage, who leaned back against the soft wall.
Sage shrugged, rubbing her neck as though she hadn’t been awake much longer than she.
The screen on the wall came to life. There was no sound, but the image was split between footage of Polaris and Magneto in one cell, and Rachel and Cyclops in another. Polaris and Magneto sat side by side, their body language awkward and uncomfortable, but they were talking. The footage of Rachel and Cyclops was very different though. Cyclops sat on the ground, his feet chained together and his hands restrained behind his back, probably so he couldn’t remove his ruby quartz crystal visor and use his mutant eyes. Rachel, too, was restrained and there was a drip feeding into her arm. Dazzler felt a spike of panic run through her at the sight. Was Shaw already taking MGH from Rachel?
She suddenly wondered why Shaw was allowing them to see into the other cells. Was it to torment them? Or was it a warning to behave, that any foolish moves could have repercussions on the others?
Dazzler looked back to the cell of Polaris and Magneto. They weren’t restrained, but the walls of their cell seemed different. In fact, all three cells looked different. Dazzler glanced around her cell’s padding.
“We’re in a soundproof cell,” Sage said, having already figured it out. Dazzler realized that Shaw was trying to inhibit her powers. She felt her ears, then checked her suit and realized her earbuds and phone were gone. Sage’s cybernetic glasses were missing, and she suspected her various weaponry was, too. Dazzler looked back to the screen at the others.
“He must be keeping Polaris and Magneto in a non-metal room,” Sage said. “And Cyclops and Rachel are restrained or drugged so they can’t use their powers.”
“Powers?” Judge Carter said, confused. His face was lined with worry. The crow’s feet around his eyes were deeper, and the gray threading through his moustache, eyebrows, and hair seemed more present. She tried to remember how long it had been. “Alison.” Her father touched her shoulder. “What are you doing here? What’s going on?”
Dazzler glanced around the cell, her mind battling for an answer she could give him.
“Alison,” her father said, more firmly. “What is going on?”
She turned back to him. “What are you doing here, Dad?” she asked. “How do you know Sebastian Shaw?”
“I- I’ve crossed paths with him at the occasional corporate event, but I wouldn’t say I know him.”
“What about Rosenthorpe? You used to defend him.” She couldn’t help the disappointment and accusation that crept into her voice.
“Rosenthorpe? Rick Rosenthorpe? That was years ago,” the judge said defensively. “He’s involved in this?”
“Yes. And you were his lawyer.”
“Years ago, yes. Back then he was just a young businessman. When he started associating with people I didn’t think he should, I terminated our agreement.”
“So, how did you get involved with them again now?” she pushed.
“Ask them!” her father said, anger rising. “They kidnapped me and have kept me here – for what, I don’t know. I suspect it’s for ransom. Is that why you’re here? And what was all that noise I heard before. Fireworks?”
“How did they kidnap you?” she pushed. “Did they just take you off the street?”
“One morning I’m in my car, in the garage, about to leave for work when suddenly there’s a guy in my back seat, and the next thing I know, I wake up in here.”
Dazzler felt a sense of relief wash over her. Then shame. She knew he wouldn’t have been involved with these cretins.
“Now you tell me,” he demanded, “what are you doing here? Are the authorities coming?” He glanced at Sage. “And who might you be?”
Sage didn’t respond, and instead looked at Dazzler.
“Dad.” Dazzler held up her hand to stop the questions. “Just let me think.”
“How do you know Shaw?” Disappointment now ran through his voice. “How do you know Rosenthorpe? Don’t tell me you–”
“I don’t know Shaw or Rosenthorpe,” she cut him off. “But acquaintances of mine do.”
“Well, what do they want? I can pay a ransom if it means getting us out of here. I’ve tried to negotiate with them, but all I got was silence.”
“Dad, they don’t want your money.”
“Then what do they want?”
She stared at him. Memories of her childhood flashed through her mind, of studying, of the good grades, of him telling her she’d make a good lawyer one day. She felt her heart sink, just like it had when she’d been accepted into college. He’d been so proud of her. But she realized she wasn’t happy about the acceptance, and instead felt sad. She’d realized that she hadn’t wanted to be a lawyer anymore. She’d wanted to be a musician. And when she finally told him, the arguments and shouting came flooding back.
“Alison, what on earth is going on!” he insisted, wanting to know the facts, wanting to cast his judgment.
“I can’t tell you, Dad!” she blurted.
He stared at her with those disappointed eyes she’d seen too many times in her life. “What have you got yourself into?”
She glared at him. “I can’t tell you, Dad, because it’s classified!”
His graying brow furrowed heavily. “What do you mean, classified?”
Her mind raced along with her heart. “I- I’m working for a federal agency. I can’t tell you what organization or what I’m doing.”
“You’re working in law enforcement?” The lines of his face seemed to smooth out, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
“In a manner of speaking,” she said awkwardly, glancing at Sage.
A sensation of pressure filled her head as Sage’s voice sounded inside her mind. “He doesn’t know you’re a mutant, does he?”
Dazzler shook her head subtly.
“Oh… honey.” Her father pulled her into a hug. At first, she resisted, but then she let herself relax. Technically it wasn’t a lie. She was working for S.H.I.E.L.D. But it still left her with an empty feeling inside. Why could he never be this accepting of her being a musician?
She pulled away from him, uncomfortable with the way he studied her with concern, with curiosity.
“You look different,” he said softly. “Not so… happy anymore. Not like you used to be. There was sunshine in your eyes, in your smile. Now you look… hardened. Sad.”
He pulled his wallet out of his jacket pocket and opened it to stare at a photo inside, then turned it to show her. It was her senior high school photograph, taken not long before her powers first presented at the school dance. She’d been performing at the time, and some thugs had overrun the hall, and she’d inadvertently stopped them with her powers.
But her father was right. She looked so innocent in that photograph. She beamed a sunny smile, and her eyes were alight with stars, so hopeful for what the future promised her.
Dazzler turned away. “That was a long time ago now.”
“It was,” he said, studying her again. “What’s happened to you, Alison?”
She looked back at him again. “Life. It’s not always an easy road, you know.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way.”
“Yeah, I know,” she said, dismissively, “if I’d just gone to law school everything would’ve been all right. Well, I didn’t, Dad. I went on the road with a band, and I liked it, you know? I had fun, and I had success.”
“Did you?” he asked.
“For a while!” she said, offended. “My career has had its ups and downs like any other. As I said, life got in the way.”
“What life?” he asked.
She looked away again. She couldn’t exactly explain how being a mutant and getting entangled in the X-Men derailed her music career from time to time.
“I just want you to be happy,” he said, looking at the photo again, then holding it out to her. Dazzler stared at her younger self and felt tears sting her eyes. So much had happened since then. If she’d followed the path her father had wanted her to take, would she be here now? Both of them prisoners, both of them soon to be killed or used for other means. Or would the mutant life have caught up with her anyway, whether a lawyer or a singer? By following her own path, being a musician, she’d at least had moments of happiness, right?
Scenes from her last gig flashed through her mind. She saw the crowd clapping, cheering, and chanting her name. She smiled sadly at the memory.
“I am happy, Dad,” she said. “I chose my path. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Playing in small bars and driving around the country in a beat-up old van?”
Dazzler looked at him, curiously. How did he know that detail? Was it just an educated guess?
“I’ve kept an eye on you,” he admitted begrudgingly, sensing her question. “You sometimes appear in the press. It’s hard not to.”
Anger surged up, making her wonder how much the judge knew about her life, and thinking how little she knew of his.
“I am your father, you know!” he said defensively upon her angry look.
“Are you?” she blurted. “Then where were you most of my life? I could’ve used a little support you know!”
Sage cleared her throat, and Dazzler looked around at her, flushing with embarrassment. Caught up in the moment, she’d forgotten her fellow mutant was there.
Sage’s voice sounded in her mind. “I hate to break up your family meeting, but we have other matters to attend to. Like getting out of here.”
Dazzler nodded, running her hand over her face. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s OK,” her father said, thinking she was talking to him. She glanced at him, then back to Sage.
“Can you reach the others?” she asked Sage in her mind.
“Polaris, maybe,” Sage replied. “I think they’re in the next cell. Rachel, no, she’s drugged. We need her to wake up. She’s much stronger than me. Thankfully, because I haven’t used my telepathy in so long, Shaw seems to have forgotten I had the skill.”
Dazzler nodded and began pacing.
“What do you know about this place?” she asked her father. “Have you picked up any useful information since you’ve been here?”
“Like what?” he asked.
“Do you know how many guards there are? Do you know where the labs are?”
“Labs?” he asked, confused.
She nodded. “They’re producing a steroid here, Dad. It’s called MGH, and it’s very dangerous.”
“I overheard something about that. Thought it might be important. They took me for a bathroom break earlier, and I heard two of the soldiers talking outside. They said something about ramping up production, that mobilization was being brought forward.”
Dazzler exchanged a glance with Sage.
“Did they say how soon they were going to mobilize?” she asked her father.
“No. They just said soon. Something about a sudden change of plans. What are they mobilizing?”
Sage’s voice sounded in her mind again. “We can’t wait. We need to get out and stop them now. Before they can take any MGH from you and use it against us.”
Dazzler nodded again.
“What is this MGH exactly?” her father pushed.
Dazzler stared at him, not wanting to say the M word. If she said the M word, it could leave a dangling thread that he could then pull to reveal the truth about who she really was.
When Dazzler didn’t answer, Sage answered for her.
“It stands for Mutant Growth Hormone.”
Her father turned to Sage. “And that’s what he’s using Magneto and Cyclops for?” He glanced back at the screens on the wall. “Shaw said something, out on the dock, about using you and others. Are the two women mutants as well? Are you?” Her father turned back to Sage.
Sage looked at Dazzler, unsure how to answer.
“Yes, they are,” Dazzler said quickly, wanting to move on. “Now tell me everything you know about the guard movements.”
Sage’s voice popped into her mind again. “How long do you think you can keep this from him?”
Dazzler ignored her. “Dad?”
He shrugged. “They deliver me three meals a day, and I get maybe four or five bathroom stops. Why?”
Dazzler inhaled deeply and exhaled heavily to calm her nerves. “Just curious,” she said, and began to pace. If Polaris and Rachel were being filmed, they would be too, and no doubt one of Shaw’s goons was listening to every word they said. She had to go about this carefully. She had to ensure Shaw’s Reds did not know their escape was coming.
And escape, they had to. Dazzler had to make a break before they drugged her and started extracting the MGH. She had to warn S.H.I.E.L.D., S.W.O.R.D., and A.R.M.O.R. before Shaw could enact his mutant annihilation on behalf of this New Earth Alliance. She pictured it now. A swift operation where they picked each mutant off, one by one, in a series of coordinated attacks.
But then again, could she trust S.H.I.E.L.D., S.W.O.R.D., and A.R.M.O.R.? How far did Shaw’s reach and this New Earth Alliance extend? Had it infected these organizations already? Were its roots already far too entrenched?
Both S.W.O.R.D. and A.R.M.O.R. soldiers had been killed or wounded in the station boarding, but it wouldn’t be the first time an organization had scarified its own soldiers as collateral damage. Bennett had made it clear to her that the humans’ love of mutants was a slippery slope. Would it erase trouble for all if they turned a blind eye while Shaw wiped all mutants out?
But Shaw would still remain. Was that a risk S.H.I.E.L.D. was prepared to live with? Or S.W.O.R.D. or A.R.M.O.R.? They may not like the power mutants had, but they sure liked calling on them for assistance when their own power fell short on handling certain problems. So long as there existed the vast expanse of space with alien creatures and strange dimensions with other beings, these organizations needed mutants by their side. They couldn’t afford to let mutants be wiped out and for Shaw to hold all that power. They needed good mutants to help control the bad. Even Maria Hill knew this.
And that’s why S.H.I.E.L.D. had called on Dazzler to help, and why they needed a Mutant Liaison. She was the lynchpin. She was the leader. And it was time she stepped up to the plate and became the strong mutant she knew she could be.
Shaw could not be allowed to succeed. Dazzler had to stop him. Not only to protect the living mutants, but also to protect future mutants born or those whose powers had not come in yet. She would not allow them to be forever hunted down and culled by the N.E.A. And Dazzler was sure all sides of the X-Men divide, whether those led by Cyclops and Magneto, or those led by Wolverine, would not stand for this either. Hell, she couldn’t even see Mystique standing for this. Mutants everywhere would come together. So long as Shaw was not granted a head start in his mobilization, so long as he didn’t have the upper hand to launch his unsuspecting assaults and weaken their defensive ranks.
“I counted thirty soldiers on the dock before we were taken,” Sage’s voice spoke in her mind. “Six were killed by the A.R.M.O.R. and S.W.O.R.D. forces. Shaw will, no doubt, have others on the station. Therefore, I predict we could be looking at maybe fifty MGH soldiers to contend with. If we free ourselves, there are six of us including Magneto and Cyclops.”
“Two Omega-level mutants,” Dazzler added.
“Whose powers may still be recovering from the Phoenix incident,” Sage warned.
“They’ll find them and make them work,” Dazzler thought confidently. “Just like Polaris. They have to.”
“And don’t discount yourself,” Sage’s voice said in her mind. “If you focus and tap into your potential, you could be very powerful, Dazzler.”
Dazzler stared at Sage, her chest filling with pride at the woman’s support.
“The only trouble,” Sage thought, “is they’ve taken your music.”
Dazzler nodded, her blue eyes turning to ice. “But they don’t know that I can store energy.”
A smile curled Sage’s lip.
“And I got a very big rush from that dimension jump,” Dazzler thought.
Sage’s smile grew wider.
“But I don’t want to use that yet,” Dazzler thought. “We don’t how long it is back to the dock.”
“I do,” Sage thought.
“You do?”
She nodded. “When we were on the dock, I calculated the station with my cybernetic glasses. I know the distance from the ship to where Shaw entered, and I used my X-Ray vision to see through the walls and make a crude floorplan map. It won’t be a hundred percent accurate, but it will be accurate enough.”
“But you don’t have your glasses?”
“No, but you forget, my brain is a super-computer. I only need to see things once, and I’ll remember everything. I know roughly where we must go. But I don’t know how we’re going to get out of here if you don’t want to use your stored energy to get us out of this room.”
“Why are you two staring at each other like that?” Dazzler’s father asked. He, of course, could not hear the conversation they’d been having in their minds.
She suddenly realized there was no way they could break out of this cell without him seeing just what she could do. Her confidence wavered like a flickering light. Was she ready to show him? Was she ready for her father to know the truth?
“He’s going to find out some time,” Sage said aloud.
“Find what out?” her father asked, still looking between the two of them.
Though Dazzler’s anxiety shot up again, so did a resignation which quickly stomped that anxiety back down again.
What choice did she have?
There were mutant lives at stake. There was no time for ego, for self-doubt. She had to sacrifice this, her secret, for the sake of others.
Dazzler took a deep breath, exhaled, then looked back at Sage. “What’s your favorite Lila Cheney song?”
Sage smiled. “You want a little singalong?”
“No, honey, I want you to shout it out like you’re on stage at Madison Square Garden.”
Sage got to her feet, cracked her neck and knuckles. “I always wanted to be a rock star.”
“Now’s your chance,” Dazzler said. “How about… ‘My Heart Was Made For Destruction’?”
Sage laughed. “Nice choice.”
Dazzler moved to the door, raised her hands, and counted in.
“One. Two… One, two, three, four!”