Well an update for this story after a long time. For me a big one. I will also write a quite controversial character in the story. A mutant with a background not many will like who might get a bigger role in further chapters At the end of the chapter I will explain more.
All right belong to the owners of the rights just playing in their sandbox. As always butchering the English language and trying some new writing style
`Whatever the man could do he know how to make a blow count``Demona mused, She responded in kind and the three blows she gave him counted too as was the kick she gave him, The man fell to the ground crying out in pain.
A swift grab and twist made sure said man would no longer be a problem.
It was sure to kill him when after a moment he stood up Demona smiled and said. `Finally somebody worth killing over and over again.`
Sabretooth did not like the look the frail gave him. And where was that other woman.
He got the answer when a laser blast hit him in back making him yell out in pain. Two other hit him in both of his knees making him drop to the ground.
"NYPD on the ground." He heard the Injun woman yell.
"I rather stand." he snarled.
"Well that can be arranged. You can stand trial." Said a new voice.
"Gentlemen take him in." Sabretooth felt himself being cuffed and a collar was put around his neck.
"Name is Director Fury what the heck is going on here? Every fucking hero is out their rescuing people and too busy to take calls."
Demona turned to the man a bald black man with an eyepatch while people in purple uniforms led Sabretooth away.
"The Morlocks are under attack my department was called into help." Maza explained
"You are quite chummy with your taskforce his targets detective." Said the director. Hill make a note of that. And get our troops into the sewers and assist the heroes , call every sewer worker too."
Demona gave him the glare that her employees had dubbed number 1.
"Idiots are useful but barely tolerated."
"Jeez D. Darius would tell you that if you hold that face long enough it would stick."
Demona smirked at the words. "Darius would say that human and a lot more."
Nick smiled " Dum Dum called you a crazy old hag with an attitude. You called us a couple of younglings with too much luck and attitude."
Beside the both of them Hill and Eliza Maza smirked.
"Now Hill get a move on, Demona get somewhere else to brood and detective we saw nothing for now."
Both Demona and Eliza nodded.
Baxter Building
Sarah, Franklin and Delilah were dropped off at the Baxter building and left under the mercy of Angela and her girlfriend with the assistance of J.J. Jameson.
Walking to the door leading to the stairs Annie did not hesitate to knock.
After a moment the camera above the door came to live and Annie pointed to the three kids. When the door opened the three kids and the two older women and Jolly Jonah entered the building.
When they reached the floor the fantastic four used Sue Storm appeared.
She grabbed Franklin and hugged him.
`You foolish boy.` She said after releasing him. `I am disappointed in you Franklin. Ben and Johnny were already looking for strays.`
`Sorry but they are my friends.` Franklin mumbled
Sue her face softened before turning hard again.
`I know darling but being reckless is not a good thing.`
`We got incoming.` yelled a new voice in a moment a man wearing the uniform of a paramedic appeared. `Gargoyles, are any one of you doctors you're your species.`
`student at the moment` Replied Annie who walked to him.
`Get your but in here. He ordered.` Their leader Talon told me they went toe to toe with the attackers.`
When Delilah heard this she started to sob and fled in Angela her arms.
A few minutes later two other woman appeared at the roof one gargoyle and a human wearing a red jacket.
When Angela saw them arrive she made sure the door was opened for them.
"How are things here?"
"They brought in the Labyrinth clan. And it isn't looking good." Angela replied.
" how are they?" Elisa asked
"Don't know but Annie is assisting them. Mother do you know some healing
"A bit but not enough to help out. The older woman replied while taking Delilah from Angela's arms.
"I will go check on them." replied Elisa with worry in her voice.
When she walked into the makeshift hospital she saw a large line of bodies lying on the floor covered with blankets. She saw various doctors treating patients she also saw other carry bodies away. She saw Annie assisting a doctor who was treating Malibu. It looked like he had been crushed into a small ball. She saw Talon carry another body to the line placing it gently on the ground and accepted the help from another man to place a blanket over it.
Walking towards him he saw that he wore a look of sadness on his face.
"Derek." She called out when the mutate looked up his face softened a little.
"Hey sis. What are you doing here?"
"Checking on my baby brother and his friends. Do you know anything about the attack."
"At least fifteen dead at this location. Burbank, Brentwood, Hollywood and Claw amongst them. In the Labyrinth I don't know but they needed help
Their trying to save the life of Malibu at the moment. If they can keep him alive till sunrise. Delilah is missing and I hope she is still alive."
"She is. Bit altered but that might be good thing someone deaged her when she went in to protect some kids."
Talon smiled at that.
"Well let's hope you can keep her out trouble. Now get out of here it seems there is another body waiting for me."
Elisa nodded.
When she returned she saw Demona holding Delilah. Who seemed to have fallen asleep.
"Most clones are dead and they hope Malibu survives the night. Claw is dead too at least ten or more casualties beside them here. They don't know the count at the Labyrinth."
The two gargoyles nodded an Jameson seemed to refrain himself from cursing.
"Demona, Angela its nearly sunrise it would be better if you disappear, Take Delilah with you please."
"Come along then Angela you two can spend the day at my place." Demona said. Angela nodded.
"Well the presses wait for no one. So I will be going too then. Maza we will chat later."
"Let's leave out front then. My boss will rather get this news before it appears in the papers.."
Jameson smirked at that. "You can try missy. You can try."
The next morning most of New York woke and learned of massacre that had swept through the tunnels under their city. Public outrage and tension grew to a very high level.
John Castaway was nearly lynched by a group of people when he stated that at least some freaks and monsters had died when he left city hall.
At Nightstone every employee noted that their boss was in a barely controlled rage. Her secretary made the wise decision to cancel most of her meetings When the head of the medical division complained that their CEO had demanded that medical supplies were to be send to the Baxter building she tore the man to pieces only using words. That said man fled to his department to arrange his boss her orders said something after he had made more work for the janitors.
Eggshells were the word today at Nightstone because the boss was in roaring dragon mode.
When lunch came Dominique Destine seemed to have calmed down a bit.
She told her secretary she would be out and to reschedule any remaining appointments.
While leaving the building she saw employees taking breaths in relieve.
Walking down the street she took a deep breath and walked to a small nearby café. Ordering a large lunch she sat down at a table on the terrace it had and watched people walk by.
Darius always told her that her vendetta would be fruitless and only lead to more anger. Demona had to admit the man was probably right. Darius had also been one of the few that knew about her role in the massacre of her clan.
When she had been in Paris during world war II he asked to aid him in his actions and for all her faults Demona never would hurt or leave children behind Intentionally.
Seeing what had happened last night wasn't the first time neither would it be the last. But once again it had hit a spot in her hearth Delilah for all her faults was still her daughter and seeing her finally close to her actual age and holding her had melted the ice her hearth was encased in a lot. The clones had been her and Thialog his idea. Maybe she could convince someone to deage Malibu if he was still alive. It seemed to have done wonders for her daughter Maybe it would work for him too.
"This seat taken." Asked a voice.
Looking up she saw detective Bluestone standing beside the table.
"go ahead detective. Just a shit day."
"Mind if I join that club. This morning I had to go to the Baxter building Talon nearly killed me when I told him the remains of the labyrinth clan where being taken. Somebody at least was smart enough to make them disappear."
"Detective what about Malibu."
"put under the protection of the Fantastic Four. If you run in our mutual associates please tell them to keep away from there for the moment. Margot Yale is camping outside it with some very questionable friends." He said this while helping himself to a bread roll.
When her meal appeared it seemed Bluestone had ordered also for himself.
Both ate in silence.
After the meal both stood up.
"Dominique don't do anything rash The task force will not be happy if you go there guns blazing." Bluestone said
"Why detective I am a respectable businesswoman." She replied with a smirk
"Stay that way. It will make my day."
At the hellicarrier Nick Fury was reading all the rapports on last night. Seeing the Hag again made him think of old times. When times looked easier and you could tell right from wrong. Darius had told him that Demona her pain and loathing of her own actions made her focus her anger against humanity or rather the dead of humanity. According to the ancient priest deep down inside herself she still lived by the code of the gargoyle race protect the innocent.
Nick Fury could admit that the human race had little innocence left but he liked to preserve it. When he had become director of S.H.I.E.L.D. he had historians pour over history texts to learn about her .
he had a small file in a hidden place on her and the man that fought Nanny last night Macbeth
"Sir there is something happening at the Baxter building" Hill told him.
"On screen." He ordered.
They saw a woman a known reporter appear on the screen who was talking in a microphone.
"In a surprising moment Nightstone Unlimited has send security forces to the Baxter building" The camera view showed an armoured car with the logo of the company stop in front in the building
Ten guards stepped out followed by a woman the guards wearing batons and guns positioned themselves in front of the building.
"What is the meaning of this?" Margret Yate yelled In anger.
In a voice of contempt the woman leaving the van said "Crowd control."
A bit in the past
"Get me the chief of security" Yelled miss Destine while walking in the building. The receptionist picked up her phone and started to dial a number before a large hand placed back the receiver.
"Here ma'am. What do you need?" said a large black man
"Two squads of guards we are going to the Baxter building. No bigots."
"Yes ma'am."
Five minutes later most of the guards the chief had chosen stood in front of an armoured car.
"I choose de Boer as commander he is capable and is pissed that he missed last night. He and his wife are mutants. his wife works at General as a doctor.
"Did you want to settle old feuds?" Dominique asked. The man nodded
"Heard Creed was in town and some gargoyle dame jumped him and tore him apart. He is someone that puts a bad name on most mutants. Least I can do is protect some that want a better world."
Dominique nodded and saw the stance the man had.
Where did you serve?"
"Eastern front, Indonesia and Korea*. My wife keeps me grounded now a days."
Around the group many eyebrows rose when the heard the first name.
"Ma'am like you I am a child of the time of my birth." Dominque nodded in understanding.
"O.K. let's go boys and girls we have people to protect." de Boer yelled the group ran to the armoured car and where surprised when their boss joined them.
"Ma'am is this wise?" asked de Boer.
"No. But making a statement without the dragon lady does not work." Replied his boss
Around them the guards chuckled while they took seats in the van.
" Swap your weapons and check them people." de Boer ordered
Guns were swapped and checked over even their boss checked a couple.
"Our target is the Baxter building some idiots are there protesting expect Quarryman." Miss Destine said. The guards nodded
"I am going to make a statement and you are going to be guarding the building. By night you will be relieved travel home in groups."
The entire group nodded. "I leave with the van after my declaration." Miss destine said
Present
"Crowd control are you serious?" Margot Yale yelled while behind. Her the gathered crowd" screamed in anger.
"spread out." ordered de Boer. Behind miss. Destine the guards formed a line on the sidewalk.
Dominique destine gave Margot Yale a glare that silenced her.
"Why yes Mrs. Yale it surprises me that you aren't here with cops but with vigilantes. Aren't you a consultant for the NYPD?"
Margot Yale bristled at the words
"They should be locked up not protected by some idiots."
"Het oude liedje als altijd." Said de Boer in Dutch a bit too loud
Beside Margot Yale a man gasped understanding the words and when he saw de Boer his eyes grow in fear.
"What did he say?" demanded Margot Yale.
"Same old song as always." Translated the frightened young man
Dominique Destine sniggered at the words she heard.
"de Boer calling them out in a foreign language isn't nice." Miss Destine chided. Before she turned to the crowd and said "He is right to say it of course so to help you a bit let me compose a new one then. Last night me and my husband were one of our rare nights out and while the both of us are not strangers to war we rather forget about it.
Last night sickened me to the bones when I understood some terrorists decided to hit the Morlock and Labyrinth homeless communities. It sickens me even more that a group like yours want to kill the people that fought to protect those communities.
Where were you last night? I see you standing here calling for blood of people human, mutant, mutate and gargoyle alike that fought against them. You can't tell me you want to kill heroes because they are different. Leave now!"
Out of the corner of her eye she spotted at least two camera crews filming her speech.
The group in front of her was another matter.
While some looked down other faces hardened. Margot Yale looked at the woman in front of her like she had grown a second head.
Turning around she walked to the armoured car that was waiting for her one of the protester pulled a quarryman hammer from somewhere and charged at the redheaded woman before anybody could react said woman dodged the wild swing of the man and spun around fluidly and kicked the man between his legs and when he doubled over in pain she kneed him full in the face
"Yate I suspect the NYPD will demand you resignation for working with vigilantes like this, that you even associate with them sickens me." Said Dominique with a glare while picking up the hammer. The man that assaulted her lay moaning on the ground. Swinging a few times Dominique brought it above her head the man on the ground head fear in his eyes. "You are scared aren't you?" Dominique Destine whispered but everyone around could hear her. "Don't answer I already have the answer." Around the man's hand and groin had formed a puddle. "Last night a lot of people were scared to. Scared of a group of killers that wanted blood and now you and your friends vilify those that had at least the guts to stand up to them." With a swift move she brought the hammer its handle to her knee and broke it in two.
"Children and idiots should not have weapons. They might injure themselves."
Around her people were looking at her not in fear as she was used to but awe
It was a bit of a new experience for her but she turned around and walked to the van while pulling out a cell phone which had been ringing.
"Mister Stark. How are you after last night? you still want to meet today. Dinner, I have to decline I have my daughters at home at the moment it is rare that I have them both at home at the same time nowadays. My eldest attends college and she hates it when I bring business to the table while eating."
The limp she had from breaking the hammer showed itself quite well.
Macbeth while lecturing felt the pain lurch through his body and grimaced.
"Are you alright sir?" Asked one of his female students with concern.
"Yes Miss Jones. Last night taught me I am not as young as I should be."
Jessica Jones raised an eyebrow.
"Do you mean you were fighting last night? Sir you don't look like you would don spandex."
"I didn't but a robot decided some kids were easy pickings I persuaded it otherwise" he pulled from his jacket three pieces and quickly assembled a rifle.
"I am an advocate for not taking your guns to town. Carelessness and intoxication are not a good combination. But I have made some enemies over my life." He dissembled the rifle with ease and put the pieces away
Flash Thompson whistled at the.
"Got any good stories sir."
"O. Was the lecture about the declaration of independence boring mister Thompson? For now you can write like the rest of the class a review about it. And mister Thompson no matter what the coach says I fail you if I have to."
Flash replied "I would have it no other way professor."
"Class dismissed."
Nick Fury wanted to cackle when he saw the reporters praise the hag for her speech and actions. Who conned the saying old dogs can't learn new tricks had never met her. The guards were good too he had some around there too but they were out of sight.
When Dominique Destine walked into the Nighstone building she saw her employees look at her in awe while she limped to the elevator.
When she arrived at the floor holding her office she limped further to her office.
"Ma'am should I call your daughter to pick you up?" Her secretary asked.
Dominique shook her head. "She is watching her sister. Just call for a car and make a note I will have lunch with mister Stark tomorrow."
"Yes ma'am." Her secretary said.
Sitting in her chair Dominique closed her eye for a moment. From her mind came an old memory the memory from getting the name Demona "Because you fight like a demon."
Right now she had to snigger at that. She might be named that for her fighting prowess but people forgot that demons were also dangerous with words.
Alexei De Boer while being relived was pulled into memory lane not a nice place to be.
The past.
"I arrange everything your mother and grandmother will get the money" His cousin said
"Promise." Sixteen year old Alexei asked
"You have my word."
A year later
"You have leave? I thought you would have died at the front" his cousin said
"Don't act surprised! My money they never got it. You did not keep your promise" an young man wearing an Waffen SS uniform said
"Idiots don't deserve money. I already spend it. I got a family too you know."
Alexei de Boer disliked the remaining relatives in his homeland. They still lived from well invested blood money. His cousin had been too sick for the front but still could make money with every person he brought in and had banked it in other goods. After the war his cousin 's widow came of easy. Nobody had known about his cousins actions except her and him. His cousin had been smart enough not to shit on his own ground. The opposite had been true for Alex when he returned from Russia, he was hated by everyone on principle.
He told his people to go home without him after walking a few blocks away from the Baxter building after they left he leaned against the wall of a nearby building. Mary would not like what he was about to do. But he had seen the man that translated for that Yate woman follow them He had been invited for a family reunion last year. His cousin's daughter had invited him but he had politely declined. Too polite in his own opinion but Mary had stood on it.
"Alexei what happened between you and her father. I think she doesn't know about it or her parents role in the war." Alexei doubted it.
When he had seen the man he had felt like that naïve sixteen year old again that had been tricked into joining the Germans to fight against the communists to provide for his mother and grandmother and have vengeance for his grandfather who had died as an officer of the white Army in the Russian civil war. The man looked a bit too much like a younger version of his cousin. He heard his wife's voice again when he stepped in an alleyway to get their little tail. "Don't put the sins of the father on the son." He smirked at those words "Grandson is more likely." He thought.
When the man passed the alley Alex did not hesitate and pulled the man in to the alley by his neck.
"Goede avond." (Good evening)
When the man saw who had spoken his eyes showed fear
Switching to English Alex said.
"Following people to hurt them later is a bad habit."
"I wasn't."
Alexei sensed the lie before it left the man's mouth.
"Lying is also a very bad habit."
The man's eyes grew even larger."
"I think you know who I am?"
"Your my grandfather's cousin that joined the SS." He stammered.
"You know that it was on advice from him that I joined the SS?"
The man shook his head while it showed surprise.
"You know what your grandfather did in the war?"
"Grandmother said he was with the resistance."
Alexei snorted.
"He was a collaborator. A man that sold others out for money. Your grandmother and he lived rather lavishly of it too. He made sure nobody knew about it. Don't follow the same road it might end with your going back home in a coffin."
"You would not dare. I am family." Alexei raised an eyebrow at this remark
"Your father stole also most of my pay while I was in Russia. That money was intended for my mother and grandmother. Who do you think was smarter as the resistance and killed him?"
The man's eyes grew even further when realised what the answer was.
"This is your only warning stay away from those quarryman and their friends. If not, well you know that answer already." He said in a stern and cold voice
Alexei released the man who ran from the alley in fear.
Following the man with his eyes he saw him run back towards the Baxter building.
Walking from the alley a song came on his lips
"Man turns his back on his family, ain't no friend of mine." He sang softly while walking home
Demona felt the pain of the change while she heard both her daughters roar
Having changed after arriving home she walked to the balcony both had slept.
A white haired missile found her and she wrapped her arms and wings around the youngling that was her youngest.
"Hey youngling did you have nice dreams." She asked Delilah
The eyes looking up to her told the truth because they were tearing up.
Demona put her head on her daughter and let the girl cry.
Angela watched in silence Demona mouthed "Good morning."
Angela smiled and replied "Good morning mother and good morning little sister."
Delilah looked up with teary eyes and replied ."Good morning." In a small voice.
"Dinner first girls. I have some nice lasagne waiting." Carrying her daughter she and Angela walked down stairs.
A man watching the mansion from a distance smiled thinking of his own family.
A.N.
Bit of a history lesson
* Eastern front, Indonesia and Korea. Not a well-known fact, the government of the Netherlands recruited former members from the Waffen SS who were of drafting age or volunteered for the war in Indonesia. In the Korea war it were volunteers being offered their nationality back so far as I know.
Two Johnny Cash references
On Alexei. his comment " Like you I am a child of the time of my birth." I quote an article I recently read "we prayed for Franco through the Spanish civil war." Alexei his parents were rabid anti-communist as was his grandmother. His cousin used this to trick him in joining the Waffen SS.
Darius: A highlander the series character.
I am not an advocate for Nazism or any kind of racism Alexei just came someday up in my mind and he stayed his wife to you meet her in the next chapter.