Chapter Text
Benjamin Russell gave Shatterstar one of the greatest gifts he could’ve. He was one of the people— along with the members of X-Force— that gave the dying ‘Star a chance to be his own person, someone who wasn’t a slave to the media on Mojoworld. Someone who wasn’t just a gladiator, a warrior beyond measure, someone who wasn’t going to die, just yet.
Shatterstar came from a different reality, a possible future timeline in an alternate dimension. Shatterstar was what one could consider a variant of the mutant known as Benjamin Russell. Benjamin had been in a coma for years, brain activity gone and only relying on life support. The last will of his energy, his being was to merge his life and future with the warrior known as Shatterstar.
In truth, Shatterstar wasn’t really sure how it had occurred. No one was. Their bodies, spirits, minds and memories had merged, granting Shatterstar an identity that had 616 as his homeworld, and granting Benjamin Russell another chance on life. Sometimes, Shatterstar wondered what had allowed that to happen. He had a few theories of his own, none of which he truly felt comfortable sharing with others. He wondered if Benjamin Russell’s untapped and unknown mutant ability had guided them together, let them merge. He wondered if Benjamin had some sort of psionic mutation, letting his memories flow into ’Star’s head. They were two sides of the same coin, born int two separate universes— destined to end as one.
The only thing Shatterstar regretted was that he could never truly thank, nor meet Benjamin Russell.