DARK ZODIAC SAGA PART 2: The Cursed Scientist and the Grand Liar (3 of 3)
Fabian Cortez pulled up the computer file on the Tans. He wanted to know exactly what Sinister had done to all of them and what they were capable of. While he was an ally of Sinister now he could never be sure. He had betrayed and double-crossed people enough times to know that well. With a few taps of the keyboard he had the Tan file all to himself.
Ricki TanLatent Power Accessed: The latent ability accessed for Ricki was the ability to control his density.
Mutant Power Grafted: The mutant power Sinister had grafted to Ricki was that of Pete Wisdom.
Analysis: Ricki might prove valuable in reconnaissance endeavors and the abilities of Pete Wisdom will provide him with an offensive capability.
Usefulness rating: 4 of 10
Amethyst TanLatent Power Accessed: There was no latent ability to be accessed since Amethyst was already a mutant.
Mutant Power Grafted: Shadowcat's mutant ability was grafted to this particular Tan.
Analysis: The combination of her minor telekinesis and Ms. Pryde's powers could very easily make her a force to be reckoned with in time. Especially if she was to combo with Ricki.
Usefulness rating: 6 of 10
Nawon TanLatent Power Accessed: The latent mutant ability accessed in Nawon was a massive control over electric forces.
Mutant Power Grafted: The mutant power grafted to Nawon was that of Siryn.
Analysis: Nawon's massive latent ability forced Sinister to try and find a graft that was powerful while at the same time limited. Siryn seemed to be the perfect choice. Nawon is an extremely useful mutant. He has the power to take on the opponents of Sinister and come out on top. He is the diamond in the rough.
Usefulness rating: 8 of 10
Axel TanLatent Power Accessed: The latent power accessed in Axel was super-strength (2 tons)
Mutant Power Grafted: The mutant power grafted to Axel was that of Sabra.
Analysis: The combination of his own natural strength and Sabra's should make Axel the strong man of the Tans. He will prove useful in all out brawl situations.
Usefulness rating: 5 of 10
Tawana TanLatent Power Accessed: The latent power accessed in Tawana was the ability to turn her hair and nails to steel.
Mutant Power Grafted: The mutant power grafted to Tawana was that of Marcus Raven.
Analysis: Sinister had not expected such a weak latent power so he forced to compensate in his graft. Even though it takes a while for telepaths to develop effective skills so she shall remain somewhat useless for the time being. She's a work in progress.
Usefulness rating: 2 of 10
Igiro TanLatent Power Accessed: The latent power accessed in Igiro was the ability to control his mass.
Mutant Power Grafted: Lydia del Ruiz's powers were grafted to Igiro.
Analysis: Sinister was considering grafting the powers of Rachel Summers to this one, but having to train another telepath was something he had no intention of doing. So he grafted the powers of the Alpha level Lydia del Ruiz to Igiro to produce a mid-level Alpha mutant.
Usefulness rating: 5 of 10
Mintaka TanLatent Power Accessed: The latent mutant powers accessed in Mintaka was the ability to create seismic waves and to mimic any sound.
Mutant Power Grafted: The mutant powers grafted to "Big Red" were Maverick's and Multiple Man.
Analysis: Sinister by this time had grown confident in his grafting process and so decided to graft two powers to Mintaka. The result was massive mutations. Sinister compensated for this by using massive animal gene-splicing and even taking a bit of DNA from himself. Mintaka was salvaged and is considered the most powerful Tan now by Sinister.
Usefulness rating: 9 of 10
"I see you've read the Tan file," Sinister said sneaking up on an unsuspecting Cortez. Fabian nearly fell out of the seat he was reclined in.
Surprised Fabian said, "I only want to get to know my associates."
"Careful Cortez. Don't cross me or you'll just become another one of my 6 billion lab rats."
"Are you accusing me of…"
"Silence! I'm picking up on a familiar signal from the Astral Plane calling for me. Give me time to answer it," Sinister said as he went into a trance like state. Cortez didn't watch his master, but only tried to come up with ways to weasel himself out of the situation he had gotten himself into.
After a few minutes of silence Sinister awoke from his trance and a smile formed his on white face. He said slowly, "Let us go Cortez. We have an old friend to visit. I'm sure you're dying to see him."
Fabian breathed a sigh of relief. He had been saved by someone who he was going to have to secretly thank once he got wherever he was going. The question was whom would Sinister give so much urgency to? He had a few thoughts in his head, but he wouldn't voice any of them. The best thing he could do right now was to remain silent.
"Oh Cortez don't think I've forgotten about you and your little intrusion into my computer network. My mood is just too good right now to have the Tans tear you to bits," Sinister said as his step became lively. Wherever he was going he wanted to get there quick, fast, and in a hurry.
AkabbaIf there was one place Exodus knew Sinister could find it would be this one. The birthplace of his creator was here and who could ever forget a place like that? Of course this was the birthplace of his creator as well. The difference between Sinister and himself was that one had embraced the power Apocalypse had given for a much longer period of time than the other. Bennet almost felt some sympathy for Sinister. All those years hoping that one day he might get his family only to have those hopes dashed against the rocks by the brute Apocalypse. Or maybe this sympathy just stemmed from the fact that Sinister had in his own way almost "protected" his team while Apocalypse reigned over the Earth. And there was one last option and it nearly sickened Exodus. Somewhere deep down du Paris he felt some sort of kindred ship towards Sinister.
"You pick quite the city for me to meet you at," Sinister said as he stepped out of the terrasect portal with Fabian Cortez by his side.
Shock quickly filled Bennet's mind as he saw Fabian. Then shocked turned to anger, "What is he doing here!"
"Didn't they tell you Exo? I'm working for Sinister now. I'm surprised you're dealing with him. I thought you had become Mr. Moral. Guess I was wrong," Fabian Cortez smiled wickedly.
"I'm sure like most I make deals with his purposes are noble. So I see you brought young Gaia with you though she doesn't look so well. I was quite fond of her and the rest of your Exiles when they fought for me during the time of Apocalypse's rule," Mr. Sinister reminded Exodus.
"Yes I'm quite grateful for you watching over them Sinister, but then maybe once again you'll be willing to protect one of them. Gaia's DNA is breaking down. Her Neo/Mutant hybrid DNA isn't stable and is beginning to destroy her. I need your help," Exodus pleaded.
"Ahh I see now. I believe I have what she needs right here with me. It's something I used on one of my recent experiments," Sinister said pulling out a long tubular metal stick from his wrist. He laid it on Gaia's chest and it began to glow a bright emerald. Slowly it melted and was absorbed into Gaia. Exodus looked up at Sinister with untrusting, but hopeful eyes.
"She should be alright in a couple of hours, but remember Exodus…you owe me now. And don't think I've forgotten my last defeat by your time. There will be a day of reckoning and you shall become my slave," Sinister said as he opened up a terrasect portal. Essex stepped through it and Fabian followed. He threw Exodus the finger before he left. The bastard always loved to give parting shots.
Exiles Base"So you're telling me you got to see a bunch of college girls show their tits in public every year?" Vyper asked an embarrassed Legolas.
"Yes Cory I did. I was on a float every year since my father ran one of the float companies that made the things for Mardi Gras in the first place. Perhaps me and you should go there one time," Legolas suggested continuing to pass out the playing cards around the table.
"Looking like this?" Cory laughed directing to all the green scales that covered his body instead of skin. Legolas returned the laughter with a gentle smile.
"Trust me Vyper. You'd fit in perfectly around that time. I've seen far worse looking things."
"Oh you're just a self-esteem builder aren't you?" Toxicwaste said as he took his last card from Legolas.
"He didn't mean it that way Alex and you bloody know it!" Harmony exclaimed. Tom was getting tired of hearing Alex's crap and his rotten attitude. He felt sorry for what his mutation did to him. He truly did, but you can only take so much.
"Trust me man you don't want to test me! I'll burn a hole through you so fast…"
"Enough Alex! Just because you came into this with a load of sins on your back doesn't mean you can go around treating everyone any way you feel like," Legolas cut in finally growing too angry to allow Alex to continue on in his assault.
"How do you know?" Alex stammered his anger changing to embarrassed shock.
Legolas sighed feeling bad at his outburst, "My powers have given me two new senses. That's the best way I can explain it. One let's me know when danger is near and the other gives me a glimpse into people's worst secrets. I can't control either sense, but Mutant Forger has been helping me to work on it."
"So that's why you've been so shady around us?" Chemistra asked.
"Yes, because I was afraid of what I might see after I saw into Alex."
"How dare you! How dare you go waltzing around in my mind you sorry SOB! What did you see? What did you see Legolas?" Alex asked boiling over with shock and anger.
Legolas looked up at the intense expression of Alex and said with a teary eye, "I saw what happened to your sister."
Alex stepped back not saying anything and he walked out of the room shaking his head in denial. He thought that sin would be buried in his past and never again bought to the fore, but now this mutant threw all of the memories back in his face again. He couldn't have anyone else knowing. It was bad enough having to deal with the thoughts and images in his own head let alone having them in someone else's head. What did Legolas think of him? Did he think he was a monster or some type of inhuman beast? Perhaps that's why he looked the way he looked now. He was being punished for what he had done. That had to be the explanation. No good person would be cursed to look like this. A big ball of toxic waste no one could ever touch again. Maybe it was better for him not being able to touch people. It stopped him from hurting them.
Morocco"Do you seek to betray me Cortez?" Sinister asked grabbing Fabian by the neck and holding him in the air.
"No of course not Sinister. I only sought more information."
"Information can be killer Fabian. Are you sure you want heavy doses of it?" Sinister inquired.
"My Cursed Scientist and Grand Liar are now ready to be captured! Come to me willing and you shall be rewarded with great power."
"Who's there? Where are you? Do you know where you're at?" Sinister asked angered at an intruder being in his base. He thought Fabian had something to do with this new intruder.
"Oh I know where I'm at alright! I see there will be resistance unfortunately."
Sinister and Fabian Cortez were still looking for whoever was talking to them when four large green energy blasts came out of left field and struck the two of them. They had no time to defend themselves and they went flying into the nearest wall with a hard thud. Their bodies slid down the wall and hit the ground.
"Why can't collecting these miscreants ever get any easier?"
The creature known as Onset walked over to Sinister and Cortez. She picked up the two bodies easily. As she picked them she tossed them into the air and suspended them their with her telekinesis. The Dark Zodiac was two more signs close to being complete.