Beyond Evolution

Number Six - Just Like You

First Published: June 2002
Stars: Spyke
Writer: Devin Grayson
Art and Colors: Udon, Long Vo, Charles Park and Saka of Studio XD
Letters: Randy Gentile
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Associate Editor: Brian Smith
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
Pages: 23

For more information about this comic, including scans of the first four pages visit Toon Zone!

Summary

As we join up with Spyke, he’s riding his board with a bunch of friends. One of his friends challenges him to a stunt, and Spyke does it, but almost gets run over by a car. He realizes he’s been very stupid…

Meanwhile, at the Institute, the kids have just successfully completed a danger room training. Scott and Jean are complimenting each other – so much that Rogue can’t stand it. Just about then, Spyke enters the danger room and notices he’s missed the session – again. As Spyke tries to apologize with Scott, he responds Spyke will have to learn to work in a team. The Professor arrives, and he talks over it with Spyke and Storm. The Professor tells Spyke he’ll have to learn responsibility, but Spyke responds he never wanted to be an X-Man – nor a mutant. He tells Storm they don’t have to expect him to grow up to become like her, or Scott, or Logan… As Storm tells him she doesn’t expect him to become more than himself, Spyke tells her to forget it.

Cut to next day, at Bayville High. As Spyke’s waiting between lessons, one of his friends introduces him to a new classmate, Cal Rankin, and he says they’re going to skate at a wicked place. It would mean cutting classes, but Spyke won’t/can’t refuse…

Cal tells the group the trick is to skate as close to the edge of a gorge without falling in, and pretty soon, only Cal and Evan are competing – the rest finding it too dangerous. As Evan begins to question why they’re doing it, Cal makes a mistake, and plunges into the gorge – until he’s able to stop himself by digging into the cliff – with a spike not unlike Evan’s. Spyke’s the only witness, and he’s left puzzled…

Cut to the Institute, and Evan’s recalling the incident – saying he went skating after school – and how Cal used spikes like he always does. The professor tells Evan that’s interesting, as there had been no mutant activity around the gorge at that time, but he also tells Evan he knows he lied, and advises him to talk to him whenever he feels the need to cut class.

Cut to the Rankin household. The professor’s visiting Ms. Rankin – actually Nasya Ehrlich, as she and Mr. Rankin aren’t together anymore – but as they are talking, Cal also communicates with the professor – telepathically! As he explains why he’s there, and that he suspects Cal is a mutant, Nasya dispels the thought – that is, until Cal communicates telepathically with her, too!

Cut to the Institute, two days later. Nasya and Cal arrive at the institute to meet the Professor, and it’s Wolverine who welcomes them. He could have done it more carefully, however, as he pops up his claws in front of Nasya… As they enter the hall, the students are there waiting, but as the professor tells her they’re at the West wing and they were expected at the East wing, something starts happening with Cal. Suddenly, he starts spouting spikes and bone claws, firing concussion beams, phasing and porting – not to mention the fact he turns blue! As the professor shouts to Scott that Cal’s mimicking all of the powers of those present, he orders him to evacuate the team. But as Scott starts issuing his orders, Jean runs to the Professor to see if she can help him. While Kurt ports Spyke and Rogue out, Kitty phases herself and Ms. Ehrlich out. Meanwhile Scott tries to reach Jean, but as she’s trying to help Logan, Logan orders Scott to get out himself. Scott hesitates. When, moments later, Scott, Jean and Logan are standing outside, Logan begins blasting Scott for not following his orders. He tells him he understands why, but that it shouldn’t be a liability to the whole team.

Meanwhile, inside the Institute, the Mimic’s powers have ‘dried out’. The Professor explains that Cal has the ability to absorb the skills or powers of those people he’s standing close to, but that he isn’t controlling it yet and that he couldn’t handle the amount of power present. Cal apologizes for the damage that he inflicted, but the Professor answers recurrent damage is calculated into the annual budget. But when the Professor begins to investigate Cal’s powers, he’s in for a nasty shock…

Meanwhile, outside, Scott tries to explain to Jean what he’s feeling for her, but as he tries this, he fails to make any sense (he’s way too nervous) so Jean’s left even more puzzled after their talk than she was before. “Scott Summers! Don’t you make me read your mind!”

The Professor calls the others back inside, saying he’s holding (temporary) control over Cal’s powers. He tells there’s a decision to be made: Cal’s not a mutant. The Professor suspects his ability is a result of his father experimenting with him, so the question is whether he could stay in the Institute. But as the Professor starts discussing it, Cal interrupts him: he sees this as a rejection, and doesn’t want to stay so ‘he can ape the others’. Cal walks of angrily, Evan wants to stop him but Storm tells him Cal doesn’t belong there. Evan doesn’t see it that way and tries to reason with Cal, but he doesn’t want to talk to him anymore. Evan then asks Cal to remain quiet about the Institute. Cal asks him if he’s ashamed about being a mutant, but Evan responds he’s rather more ashamed of Cal. Cal then tells Evan he actually hasn’t got anything against him, and asks him to come along, as he feels Evan doesn’t belong there. But Evan responds he does belong there, as he can only be friends with Cal by following him, while he can be friends with the X-Men by just showing up…

Summary written by Nikko for -