PROLOGUE

I don't remember my childhood. Nothing has ever come to light in that dark hole in my memory, even in the years I do remember. It doesn't matter much to me, either way. I am quite content with who and what I am. My first memories were that of Cryptic, an infamous assassin, who had found me with a small folder of classified information. He never did tell me the contents of that folder.

Cryptic took me in as his apprentice and trained me in the ways of an assassin. I caught on quickly to his lessons of Ninjutsu, Jujutsu, parkour, and also mastered several forms weaponry under his supervision. Together we discovered my most powerful talent: the ability to manipulate Darkforce. After conducting several tests, Cryptic concluded that I was a mutant, possessing the "X-gene". He told me that I was very special, and that I should exploit the possibilities my gift had opened. That I could become very powerful someday.

At that moment in time, I was only his apprentice, though neither of us could predict that it would only be for a short time. Cryptic was the leader of a guild of assassins known as Illusion. Due to both the individual reputations of the assassins and their reputation as a whole, they received the best contracts. They had never failed a single one. One day, Janus Technologies was on the receiving end of such a contract. Unfortunately, the guild of assassins learned too late that "Janus Technologies" was more than just a company of inventors and innovators.

Janus was a centuries-old organization dating back to the days of Ancient Greece. Its various members were shady, but greatly influential on the global scale. They had been playing a game of world dominance since those ancient days. It was Janus that burned Illusion to the ground. Every member killed in a controlled explosion; the base reduced to a pile of charred rubble. I don't know how, maybe I used the Darkforce instinctively, but I survived. It felt as if I spent ages in a place of pain and suffocating smoke. I was barely aware of someone pulling me out. When I had come out of unconsciousness, the first person I saw was Taskmaster, an old friend of Cryptics and a fellow assassin.

He had pulled my burned and broken body out of what was left of the Illusion base, managing to get me away just before S.H.I.E.L.D arrived on the scene. For months afterwards he made sure my bones were set properly while my minor healing factor fixed me up. As soon as I was able to move from the bed, Taskmaster was my physical therapist. He helped bring my body back up to assassin standards. Once my body was back to physical peak, he became my teacher. Taskmaster had a different teaching style than Cryptic, but was just as good. He refined my current skills while adding a few new ones.

I was a rather hard student for him, mainly because I wouldn't talk to him. It wasn't hard for him to figure out why. I suffered from PTSD since the day I came to after the explosion. Learning that all the members of Illusion, and Cryptic, had died was hard on me. Cryptic may not have been my biological father, but he was the closest one I had. Taskmaster apparently knew this, and tried to bring me out of my depression and silent grief. After a month of trying, he decided to put his dignity aside and showed me a surveillance tape. It was of him and Deadpool, a mercenary who was best known as the Merc with a Mouth, and for good reason. Before I knew it I was actually laughing, as Deadpools antics, making fun at Taskmaster, were very amusing. Taskmaster had brought me out of my grief, and taught me that I should remember Cryptic and the other assassins, but not get consumed by my emotions.

When I reached the age of eighteen, he decided that I would make my own way, but could stay at his training facility until I could find a place. I work on my personal projects, and take online college courses to give myself a different life to hide in. Eventually I had managed to seize Illusions various bank accounts, and now use the money fund my projects.

Taskmaster's Training Facility

05-15-2020

1700 HOURS

I had probably checked the specs of my armor a thousand times, but I needed everything to work together seamlessly. A majority of the materials I required to complete my project had been obtained, everything except for a small sample of Vibranium. Once I had that, what was once a series of plans would become reality. I had planned my armor to suit my specific needs, and I was very close to completing it, except for the Vibranium that I needed for my Echonium batches. Echonium is a special talent of mine, a metal created from Darkforce that can mimic the properties of any metal or alloy in existence.

Once touched to a piece of Vibranium, it instantly mimics the properties of Vibranium. I say mimics because it doesn't actually become Vibranium, just copies the properties. I call it Echo-Vibranium, like Echo-Iron or Echo-Gold. Because of the Echoniums unique property, I kept the batches in wooden containers so that it doesn't touch any outside metal. It takes a lot of energy out of me to create large amounts of the stuff, so I didn't want to contaminate the Echonium I'd already created.

As I mulled over this problem Taskmaster entered my temporary workshop. He had someone with him, judging by the two different strides. I pretended to ignore them both and looked over the plans I could use to obtain Vibranium.

"Shadow Walker."

Taskmaster. I sighed as if annoyed at the interruption, and turned to face him and his guest. Taskmaster was with someone I had seen before, but never met in person. Clad in metal armor and a helmet that prevented psychic intrusion, was Magneto, who was currently examining me inside out. He had this, aura I should say, around him that shouted superior power. My inference was certainly correct, as I had seen video evidence of his power over magnetism. There was a chart S.H.I.E.L.D devised to determine how powerful a mutant, or mutate, was based on data previously gathered on a scale of 1-5, one being weak and five essentially being Deadpool. Magneto ranked a four, very powerful, but not capable of immortality. I had yet to rank myself using the chart, but I believe my mutant powers hadn't developed enough to gain much of a ranking anyway. He was a wonderful surprise from Taskmaster, and I certainly planned to use this new resource.

I kept an easy posture while being scrutinized under Magneto's eye. Taskmaster looked on uncaring. This went on until Taskmaster said, "Shadow Walker, I invited Magneto here because I know you've been having trouble locating Vibranium."

My left arm went around myself, my chin resting against my right hand. A thinking position I had adopted from Cryptic.

"It's not that exactly. I know a place where I can find Vibranium," I paused as I pulled up a holographic image of the African continent with a red outline around a small country, "The place is Wakanda, a small African kingdom sitting on a massive deposit of Vibranium ore."

I then pulled up a geological hologram of the deposit, and it was indeed a large deposit. Then I looked toward Magneto and I asked, "I believe you can sense this deposit?"

"Indeed, it's rather hard not to. Are you planning to infiltrate the country and steal away a sample of a metal they consider sacred?" He had a deep voice, his Polish heritage revealed in an underlying accent.

I gave a sly smile as I continued, "I am not planning anything of the sort. Getting into Wakanda is not much of a problem, but getting out is another matter entirely."

The image of the Wakandan deposit disappeared, replaced by an image of an iconic shield.

"Getting Captain America's shield however, is a much easier endeavor."

Taskmaster interrupted, "Just how do you plan to steal away Captain America's shield? The Avenger's Mansion has a much tighter security than the S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier."

I grinned at them both, "That's the thing; I don't plan on entering the Avenger's Mansion. I plan on provoking a fight with Captain America and then snatch his shield when he throws it."

Magneto gave a deep laugh, "Ambition. Very commendable young one, but what you have planned is easier said than done. Captain America is not to be underestimated."

I had expected this well-founded criticism and was ready with a reply, "I plan on provoking a fight between Captain America and the Red Skull. No need for me to enter to fray. I already have everything in place, except the current whereabouts of the shield of course."

Gesturing towards the holographic image, I again looked at Magneto and asked, "Are you able to sense its whereabouts?"

He closed his eyes for a few moments, and then reopened them, "I can, but what do I gain from this?"

Adopting my thinking position, I replied while occasionally gesturing with my right hand. "Considering the long-term benefits, I offer you a contract. Free-of-charge."

I couldn't see most of Magnetos facial features, besides his eyes, but I was willing to bet that he was certainly interested in my offer. "Are you that skilled?" He asked.

Taskmaster replied, "Originally trained by Cryptic, and then her training was completed by me."

Magneto nodded his agreement and we shook on it. He had a strong grip, which meant he worked hard to gain his reputation. I pulled up a model globe and said, "All you have to do is point to the location of the Vibranium shield. I'll activate the chain of events if the location is favorable." Red dots came up on the globe at various coordinates.

"These are the major HYDRA facilities."

Taskmaster sounded slightly impressed as he asked, "All this is being done under the Red Skull's non-existent nose?"

I gave a nod as Magneto studied the globe, most likely pin-pointing the shields location through the Earth's magnetic field. He then pointed to a red dot on the west coast, "The shield, and most likely the Captain as well, are within a hundred mile radius of this facility."

That probably meant that S.H.I.E.L.D had an eye of suspicion on the facility for a while, since Captain America was so close to it. I then remembered something about that facility, and pulled up the information. A small bit of laughter came from me after I had read the information.

"What is it?" asked Taskmaster. He took half a step back when he saw my devious grin.

"It just so happens that the Red Skull himself is within the facility as we speak, conducting an inspection," I replied. After typing a few keywords I had the HYDRA facility compromised. Slightly running to a very small platform, I manipulated Darkforce to open a door-like space of swirling black and gray. This was how I traveled long distances. I believe I had impressed Magneto. Maybe.

Setting my watch, I said, "And that makes my job much easier!" then walked through the portal.