Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago
Date: Thursday, 16 Apr 1992 14:10:44 CDT
From: <U16244@uicvm.uic.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics
Subject: A Plotting I will Go, a Plotting I will Go, High Ho the merry O

Note:  This is not one of those killer plotline danglers.  I only had one
of those, and I'm burned out on it.  I doubt this story would make it into
any of the X-Books, but if it does, then I think I'd rather have it in
X-Factor.

X-Factor: Accident of Birth

Rhane and Jamie are mulling around Saturday night in DC, with nothing to do
since they ran out of jokes to play on Val Cooper.  Jamie's having no luck
sneaking Rhane into a night club (she's underage), so he decides to have some
fun by getting his hand stamped, and then parading all of his dupes in and
out of the club while Rhane watches from the street.  After the door guy is
throroughly confused and ticked off, he gives Jamie the boot and the pair
continue walking along.  As they pass near Georgetown University, Rhane gets
a splitting headache instants before every window on campus shatters.  Madrox
calls in Quicksilver (who's on call) and the trio track down the area where
the sonic blast originated. (Think about it, the three best people suited
for a massive building search- Rhane, Pietro, and Jamie.)  They find a girl,
cowering on the bed, a boy with his ears ruptured and flowing blood between her
legs.  Her clothes are torn, and it appears to have been a rape attempt foiled
by the sudden manifestation of a sonic scream.  The boy is dead, and campus
security drags the girl off on the grounds of murder.  A trial is held that
draws national attention as the prosecution states that this girl is guilty
of manslaughter and is a menace to society who should have her vocal chords
surgically removed before she kills another person.  Matt Murdock is brought
in for the defense (Val Cooper managed to pull a few dozen strings to get
one of the best lawyers around back on the job), and argues that mutations
either manifest naturally or during times of intense stress.  He argues
that there was a rape attempt which provided enough trauma and stress to
activate her sonics and has forensic evidence to back it up.  The prosecution
is still intent on calling it cold blooded murder of a human by a slimy mutant.
As the girl is being transferred to her holding cell, a lynching attempt is
made.  A couple cops are injured before X-Factor (who has appeared in full
force at the trial, albeit in civilian guise) and Daredevil show up.  No
actual violence, just their appearance convinces the crowd that a fight will
not solve anything.  The girl is convicted of involuntary manslaughter and
must submit herself to vocal surgery where her vocal chords will be removed.
Rhane starts to protest, but Murdoch says that they have plenty of time for
an appeal before the surgery.  Despondant, the girl attempts to hang herself.
In the process, she not only irreparably damages her vocal chords, but
due to lack of blood to the brain before she is rescued, is left mentally
impared.  When one of the dead boys' parents speaks up about how the girl
should have done that in the first place, Rhane wants to gut the bastard,
Jamie manages to restrain her.
Alex pulls the parents aside and tells them about his brother's problems
and that mutants are by no means responsible for what they have become, and
the parents blow him off, leaving for home.

That's one story I've always wanted to see done in one of the mutant books.
But, combining manslaughter and rape into one story might lose its comics
code approval.  I feel that Peter can pull this story off, even make it
a two-part story, or once more, we could have an annual that's one long,
good story, with a few pinup and information pages like in the good old days.

Doug.

Sigh, it's hard being the most talented mutant in America.  Looks, lightning
wit, lightning reflexes, an alumnus that would make most X-Men choke.  I
really can't see why anyone would hate me.
Uh, Mister Quicksilver, I'm a really big fan of yours.
You're not going to give me a marble now, are you?
No.  But I saved, and I saved, and I love your haircut, so I got you
a can of hairspray.  That way you'll stay with that dashing haircut
no matter what.
Bless your heart child.  If even a young girl like you can like me, then
I must be good.  (Starts spraying hair) >BOOM< Quicksilver, almost completely
bald, eyes widened to the size of pie plates.  Guido walks in.)
Oh no.  She's back.  Although, I must say, she has improved your looks
Petey.
(Quicksilver's response) >Thud<