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MV1 #82 SEPTEMBER Year 3

starring X-Man by Al Ritter

X-Man: Full Burn

New York City
ESU Campus
7:00 PM

“Hey Urich!”

Phil Urich looked up from his chemistry books. He recognized the voice belonging to Eddie Garza, a fellow student of ESU. Eddie was also enrolled in Phil's Chemistry class. Phil had no idea why Eddie wanted to talk to him. Eddie had always seemed fairly stuck up and never acknowledged Phil except for the one time he wanted to borrow some of Phil's notes when he missed a few days of classes. Maybe Eddie was hoping to sponge off of Phil's notes for the test. Quite frankly Phil didn't care because he had been studying for well over three hours and would easily welcome any excuse to take a brake. As the Superhero Green Goblin, Phil had survived the Rhino, Hobgoblin, The Eel, Sentinels, and many other earth shattering foes, but he was beginning to wonder if this Chemistry test was going to end up being what finally did in the Goblin.

“Hey Eddie. Whats going on?”

“Not much man.” Eddie sat down across from Phil. “Hey, You're a big New York Smashers fan right?”

“Yeah, I love the Smashers!” Phil had an extensive collection of Smashers merchandise, and he often wore Smashers T-Shirts to ESU, probably the reason why Eddie had asked. Phil had even saved Johny Dare, the All Pro running back for the Smashers from the Rhino once as the Green Goblin.*
*(Green Goblin # 2)

“Why'd you ask?’’

“Well I just happen to have some tickets to see the Smashers play the Cincinnati Comets this weekend, my cousins a Comet. Anyway I cant go, and I thought you were a big fan. Just wanted to know if maybe you wanted my tickets?”

Phil couldn't believe it. Tickets to go see the Smashers play the division leading Comets. “Oh man! Yeah I want the tickets! Wow I cant believe your going to give me your tickets, this is so great!”

Will paused and scratched the back of his neck. “Hey sorry man. I didn't mean for you to think I was just giving it away, I was hoping you'd buy them of course Yo?”

Of course.
 
 

New York City
An abandoned Storage Building
11:00 PM

“Not my idea of the perfect hideout.”

Jody sighed. “Nothing I do is ever up to your standards is it Sid?”

“I was being sarcastic, anyway why couldn't you have found a cheep hotel room or an abandoned apartment building or something ya know?”

“Cause I figured this place had the least potential for being disturbed by unwanted visitors, you moron!”

“Hey! You better watch you step babe, you wouldn't want me to...”

Sid’s ranting was cut short when the figure standing in the corner raised its hand. “Why don't you two just shut up, your giving me a headache!”

"Sorry boss, but we've been here for hours and you still haven't told us the plan. I guess all the waiting is making me a little crazy. You know, on edge."

"Yeah I'm sorry too, sorry Sid's a friggin moron!"

The figure stepped out of the corner. "You're both morons, but after tomorrow your going to be rich morons. I got a plan. Just stick with Solarr and we'll be set for a long time to come!"
 
 

Outside New York
A Highway
4:00 AM

His name was Nate Grey. That's about all he could remember. For months he wandered around the country, cold, homeless and alone. Then one day he got picked up by a trucker by the name of Chris Diamond and his whole life (or lack thereof ) changed forever. Now after destroying a friends of humanity rally, he was driving across the US in a practically stolen Semi truck with Diamond and a runaway exotic dancer named Tiffany Wenrich.*

*(dosn't that make you want to go read Marvel Premiere #77 - 79? It's good stuff!)

Tiffany had suggested going to New York and Diamond agreed. Nate hadn't argued. The truth was he wanted to go to New York, but couldn't remember why. He felt...a connection when he thought about the city, but his memories were still just out of reach, on the edge of his mind, taunting him. Maybe if he was in New York some things would click and he would finally be able to remember everything. He had been awake for hours, Tiffany was sleeping, and Diamond was focused entirely on driving so he wouldn't doze off. Nate had tried to sleep earlier, but was having nightmares. Something about a Demon, and another about a woman with red hair, but they faded quickly when he woke up, and he was unable to remember exactly what they where about.

"Hey Nate, you getting hungry yet?"

Nate jumped in his seat. Had been so lost in his thoughts that Diamond's question startled him.

"You OK Nate?"

"Yeah Mr. Diamond, I was just thinking..."

"For the last time Nate its just Diamond." Diamond paused. "You remember anything yet?"

Nate shook his head. "No...I can't...Its like I can almost remember some things but they're so fuzzy I can't...I don't know, its so frustrating. I think I remember being in New York, maybe being there will help me remember something."

"It'll be all right Nate. Hey as soon as we get into the city I'll take you guys out for some breakfast and then we can look around, sound good?"

"Sure thing Mr. Di...Uh..Diamond."

Diamond smiled. Don't worry kid, he thought, everything'll turn out fine for you, I know it will.
 
 

New York
Phil Urich's apartment
6:37 A.M.

Phil was having no trouble sleeping. Instead of nightmares he was having nothing but good dreams, mostly of him defeating threats like Onslaught all by himself and having the general public love and adore him. He was just about to be Knighted by the Queen of England when he woke up to a tapping at his door. Phil staggered over and opened it.

"Hey honey, I thought you said you were going to be awake?" It was Meredith Campbell, Phil's girlfriend.

"Wha..." Said Phil, slumping back on the couch. "What time is it?"

"About a quarter to seven"

Phil jumped up "A quarter to seven!!! We've got to go!!!" Phil grabbed a Crushers jersey and inspected it to make sure that it wasn't too dirty and ran to the fridge to grab a slice of cold pizza to eat on the way.

"Phil, I still don't see why we have to leave so early. The game isn't going to start for another four hours."

"I told you Merry, Buck Simpson, the QB, is going to be signing autographs down the street at Mad Cats Sports Cards and Comics shop! I got to get this rookie card signed, and if we don't get there soon the line will be to long and I might not get it!"

"Ok just let me use your bathroom for a sec and then we ca..."

Phil grabbed Meredith's hand and lead her out the door. "No time! You can go later! I'm late, I'm late!"

"But I really have to go..."

Meredith's complaints fell on deaf ears for Phil was on a mission!
 
 

New York
Dinks Dinner
6:48 A.M.

"Nate, you've barely touched your French Toast!"

Nate Grey looked up at Tiffany, who was sitting across from him and next to Diamond. "I guess I wasn't as hungry as I thought."

"Hey If you don't want it I'll finish it off for you" broke in Diamond.

"Go ahead, I don't think I want it"

"But Nate" whined Tiffany "If you don't eat you'll make yourself sick!"

"I think I'm already sick" Nate wanted to say, but he didn't know why. He felt fine.
 
 

New York
a back ally across from Dinks
6:49 A.M.

"All right boss, the trucks going to come by in about ten minutes, are you going to let us in on the plan or what?"

"Well," replied Solarr, "its quite simple Jody. I use my flame to blow up the truck, then we grab the cash toss it into the car and head out of this town. After that you guys can do whatever. Me? I'm going to hunt down the Punisher."

"Thats it!?! Your master plan is: Blow up truck, and grab cash?!? What do you need us for?"

"I need Sid to drive and I need you to help me load the cash in the car, trust me we're going to be rich!"

Jody shook her head. "This guy makes Sid look like Einstein!," She thought, "I could find a better plan on the back of a cereal box."
 
 

New York
110th Street
6:59 A.M.

"Come on Phil, I have really got to go!"

"Can't stop now Merry, only one more block to go!"

Meredith stopped. "Phil, I've got to go. I'll meet you at Mad Cats."

As she turned to walk into Dinks Dinner an armored car drove around the corner. Everything happened so fast. The armored car was instantly engulfed in a bright blast of flame, blowing up the engine and blasting open the doors. Solarr was firing random blasts at bystanders while two other people began piling money into a Green Neon Coup parked by the road.

"Holy shnikies! Its...Uh, Hmm. I have no idea who that guy is." Phil pushed Meredith into the dinner. "Stay here, I'm going to go get some help!" Phil ran around the corner and reached into his pocket and realized his Goblin Glider remote was sitting on top of the TV."Crud. Now I got to run all the way back to the apartment again!* I just hope I can get my Green Goblin gear and get back here before anyone gets seriously hurt!

(* Phil had Glider trouble in Green Goblin 15, he just can't catch a break can he?)
 
 

New York
Dinks Dinner
7:00 A.M.

Nate was about to take a bite of the French Toast when a young lady came falling through the front door. Less than a second later a burst of flame shattered the front window, showering everyone with broken glass.

Nate flinched.

Tiffanly screamed.

Diamond stood up. "What the hell?!?" He looked across the street, and headed for the door. "Somebody's going to get hurt!"

Nate grabbed Diamond by the shoulder. "Yeah, you will, if you go over there."

Diamond kept walking "I think I might be able to do something, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't try and somebody got killed."

Nate couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Diamond, that guy out there is shooting streams of flame out of his fingers! He'll fry us alive before we get two steps in his direction!" He paused and looked at the two people loading the cash into the car. "Maybe we can stop his sidekicks while he's busy destroying the street. Tiffany, stay here a second."

Nate and Diamond started walking across the street towards Sid and Jody when suddenly an ear piercing bout of laughter filled the air. Everyone looked up to see the Green Goblin swoop down on his Goblin Glider and toss a pair of Pumpkin Bombs at Solarr, the explosion sending him hurling down the street. Green Goblin landed and walked over to were Solarr had landed.

"Hasn't anyone told you crime doesn't pay?" Phil mentally kicked himself as soon as the words left his mouth. "Good god", he thought, "Could I have picked a lamer line to use? What a cliché! I really have to work on a cool catch phrase."

Just as the Goblin was about to reach Solarr, Sid pulled out a gun and aimed it at him. Sid was about to pull the trigger when Diamond grabbed his arm and punched Sid in the face. Then he rammed Sid's hand on his knee causing him to drop the gun. Diamond heard a clicking noise right by his ear.

"All right old man, you want to be a hero or something? Turn around real slow and don't try anything"

Diamond did as he was told knowing there was a gun pointed at his head.

"Now old man, Im going to make you famous. Don't you know dead heroes get the best press? I bet they'll eve.." Jody stopped in mid sentence. Diamond had no idea what had just happened, until Jody fell over and he could see Tiffany standing behind her with a lead pipe.

"I seem to recall you saying I wouldn't be any help in a fight?"

Nate was helping Diamond to his feet. "I thought I told you to stay in the dinner?"

Then there was a gunshot.

Somehow Sid had gotten back to his feet and recovered his gun. The target? Tiffany, who had just taken out Sid's partner.

Nate screamed.

And the bullet stopped.

Right in front of Tiffany's face. It sat there hovering in midair for a second, and fell harmlessly to the pavement.

Diamond and Nate (not to mention Sid) where stunned. "Holy Mosses girl, how did you do that!!!"

"I... I don't know Diamond."
 

Meanwhile... Solarr staggered to his feet and saw the Green Goblin walking towards him. "Hey aren't you dead?"

Phil sighed "That's the other guy, your a little out of date on your Goblin news."

Then there was a gunshot.

Phil turned around and ducked, thinking someone was shooting at him, maybe even the cops thinking he was one of the other Goblins. He saw the gun man, who wasn't even looking his way. It looked like he was aiming a girl standing across the street. At any rate the gun man was just standing there for some reason, like he didn't know where he was. "I can't give him a chance to shoot again", thought Phil. He tossed another Pumpkin Bomb, so it landed behind the gun man like he did to Solarr. Just like the first time the force of the explosion sent his target flying down the street. "That's a neat trick, I've got to remember that! Now, to deal with the flame spewing psychopath." Phil turned around. No Solarr. Phil slapped himself on the forehead. "He ran away. I can't believe I let him run away. And here come the cops." Phil looked over at the dinner. "And there's Merry probably wondering were I ran off to. I'd better go change and hurry back, I might still have time to get that autograph!"
 

To much was going on at once. Tiffany got shot. Only the bullet stopped before it hit her and dropped to the ground. The gun man had been sent flying down the street by an exploding pumpkin. The Green Goblin was leaving, the cops were coming and Nate felt like his head was going to explode. Diamond grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Come on kid we got to go before the cops get here, we're "Outlaws" remember? Hey you ok? Your nose is bleeding!"

Nate reached up to rub his nose and sure enough there was blood everywhere. "Yeah I'm fine, it probably got hit by some flying derbies, I'll be ok."

Diamond wasn't so sure. Tiffany was stopping bullets, Nate was bleeding and disoriented, both of them seemed almost in shock and the cops would arrive any minute. Diamond pushed them both towards the truck. "Come on, we got to split now, we can sort this all out later!" As they piled into the truck and pulled away Phil came running around the corner in street cloths.

"Hey Marry!"

Meredith turned around. "Phil! Where did you go? Solarr was blowing up everything, then the Green Goblin came in and I heard gun shots, I was worried about you!"

"Well, after I called the cops I saw the guys with the guns so I decided to play it safe and wait it out on the other side of the road. Come on, hurry up and use the bathroom and maybe we can still make the autograph signing!"

"I kinda lost the urge to go."

"Great! Lets hurry! We got the whole day left in front of us!" Phil grabbed Meredith's hand, and they were on their way once again.
 
 

New York
A Cheap Hotel
11:23 P.M.
 

Diamond leaned back in his chair. The TV was on, it was the local news. The top story, of course had been the attempted robbery of the armored truck. The authorities had Solarr's accomplices in custody but Solarr himself had disappeared. Right now it was the sports section of the brodcast and the reporter was analizing the 35 to 10 loss the Smashers suffered at the hands of the Comets. Diamond looked over at Nate and Tiffany, sleeping on the two beds. Both had offered to sleep on the floor, but Diamond wouldn't allow that. Diamond switched of the TV and laid down on the floor. Who was this Nate Grey kid anyway? Diamond liked the kid and all, but something felt weird now. He knew Nate was lying about getting hit in the nose with flying derbies. So why was his nose bleeding? And how did Tiffany stop that bullet? Did it have any connection with why his rig flew?* (Again in Premiere 77-79) Maybe she was a mutant and didn't know it. They where going to have a lot to talk about in the morning...

Send mail to the author: Al Ritter