ESCAPE FROM ALKALI LAKE

Charles Nicholls turned off the audio recorder, and swiftly unlocked the door to the enclosure. The two children and their tutor turned around at the unexpected visitor. He rushed through, swiftly drawing his only defence- a revolver, military-issue. He quickly capped the tutor before he did something pre-programmed and lethal. Turning to the kids, he was not surprised to see Harry standing in front of Miriam, protecting her, claws out. The onyx-black claws had thin, gold bands along the contours, highlighting the serrated edges near his knuckles. His green eyes shone, sending a shiver of fear through the man.

"Harry, I'm sorry I had to do that. He was going to kill me if I tried to get you out of here. Your father is coming to liberate you, do you understand?"

The boy kept his defensive stance, even as he retracted his claws and stood up.

"My… father? But, who? Who is he? I am told of the word, but I… make no connection. Snff." The boy sniffed at the end, catching a small whiff of musk, and blood. Familiar, and yet completely unknown.

Harry, that man you smelled, he is your father. Your progenitor. He has come to rescue you from this place. Take you away somewhere safe. Trust this man before you, he is just. He wishes you to be free. He wants you to live a good life. Not one restricted and imprisoned. He cares for you. Go. Meet your father. Take Miriam and run. Escape. I am with you.

Harry knew he could trust the Voice. It had not led him astray yet- in fact, it was due to it that he had survived this long- it had suggested not to release his powers until it said otherwise, in case something bad happened.

"Mim, you heard the Voice, let's go."

Harry was on his way out of the room when Nicholls said something more.

"Harry, take this. You will need it for the road ahead."

In his hands were four lumps of metal, seemingly formed of the same metal he saw in his dreams. He reached out and took the nuggets, saying,

"Thank you. I don't know why, but thank you. Now, where is our father?"

At that very moment, Logan bolted around the corner and through the door, shouts following him. In his hands was the box that Stryker had finished packing before his death. Logan's eyes bugged out when he saw the two five year-old children, when he'd been expecting two newly-born babes.

"What?"

"Perhaps I should explain. But away from here, I think, seeing as you bought half the army here on your heels. Let's go." Nicholls said.

He turned to his office, and clicked open a hidden panel in the wall. Putting in the code, a panel in the wall slid away, allowing the four exit into the mountain.

"Storm, I'm gonna need your help. We're in a tunnel heading out of the complex, North by Northwest. I've got the kids and another passenger. Only innocent guy I could find."

"Copy that, Logan. We found a duct about a mile away in the direction you specified. We'll be there."

Logan handed the box to the scientist, and then picked up the two kids. Then, he started sprinting towards the tunnel end.

"If you wanna get outta here, keep up!"


"So. You bound a Symbiote Skin to my kids, which lets them be connected telepathically? And you somehow managed to bind the Adamantium to them without hurting them, in such a way as to keep it flexible? How?"

Nicholls shook his head, it wasn't quite right.

"Not quite, Logan. The Adamantium is bound to the Super-Symbiote, which is bound to them. It basically allows it to be indestructible. No weaknesses. All the strengths. Harry, show him your claws, please?"

Snikt

"The black is the Super-Symbiote, and the gold is the bound Adamantium. Now, Mim, would you mind?"

Snikt

"The white is again, the Super-Symbiote, and the black is the Adamantium. Thank you, children."

Snikt

Logan was slightly perturbed at having an alien life form known to hunt down and kill people bound to his kids, but he acquiesced. He had no choice.

"Their powers have not fully manifested yet, expect them to in no more than two years, max. I suggest training them to the fullest extent. Mutants this powerful attract trouble. Actually, would you be able to explain why technology tends to blow up around them, if it's not EMP-protected?"

"Oh, sure, that'll be the magic. Why?"

"Hahaha! Oh, Logan. I didn't know you had a sense of- Wait. You're serious? Magic… wow. No wonder they've been beating every test I could throw at them. Which reminds me- that problem with pheromones you have? Well, they won't have it. The tests we did ensured they could tell what was scent, what wasn't, and how to ignore it. I hope that's alright?"

"More than alright! That's brilliant! Still don't fix the production of it though."

"Ah, well. That may have increased slightly, from the X-Gene drugs. But… they will be more powerful than Magneto and Xavier put together, I'm sure of it."

Logan sat back in the Blackbird, watching the two kids sleep. They had their arms wrapped tight around each other, never letting go.

"I know."


Back at the X-Mansion, Logan was sitting next to a bed with the two children tucked up. He knew he couldn't look after them, there were too many people who would go after them, and they wouldn't survive them all. No, he'd have to give the kids to Lily's husband. He'd look after them, if he thought they were his. Maybe Lilith could help?


Just as the last time, Logan found Lilith waiting at his rented flat. Just the thought of her, and how erotic and psychedelic their first time had been was enough to- No. Not now. He needed to look after Harry and Mim. First things first.

"Lilith, you… look good. For an Archdemoness. How are you?" Logan grumbled.

"Look, yes I should have told you before I jumped you, but you enjoyed it, yes? That's what matters. Lily may be dead now, but you have no idea how strong your children will be. I know what you want, and I agree. Growing up in any way associated with you or the X-Force will be a danger to them. They will be heroes in their own right, before they come of age. I will… give my essence to them, to protect them. I can see, in the far-flung futures of mankind, that these two will bring Balance. And that is all my kind have ever sought…"

Logan was ready for some supernatural spiel, but this? He wasn't cut out for this… First, an apology for hiding her origins from him, then some futuristic prophecy shite? Damn. No child of his would ever have a good life… Or so he thought.

"Give them to me, James, and I will see them safely to James Potter. I will ensure his compliance. Now go, love, I do not think it a good idea to bring another child into this world at this time…"

Logan held out his arms, beckoning his children forth. They understood that the lady would look after them. Take them someplace safe. They walked to their grandmother's side, knowing that this could be the last time they saw their father for a long, long time.

"Now, you be good, kids. I don't- snff- I don't wanna hear about any misbehaviour, 'kay? Snff! Just- stay safe. And Harry- look after your sister, and Mim- you look after him. And- And whatever your name is. Voice? You make sure they don't do anything stupid, bub." Logan could feel himself tearing up at losing his kids, after finding them so soon. He reasoned with himself- he would find them later on in life, or they would seek him out when they were ready.

"Bye Dad. We promise! We love you!" The two hugged each other close, crying silently as their father walked away, for who knew how long? Lilith knelt down and hugged the two, staying there until their tears receded, and they grew curious. What now?

"Now, children, I know you have learnt a lot. And I know you have put effort into being as strong as you are. But, for you to fit in and not be questioned, you must look, and act, like swaddling babes. So, I will mask your memories, and your bodies, to that of new-born babes. In the years to come, your memories will come back, and your personalities will, too. James Potter will be ensorcelled to believe you are his children, and you will be. By blood and magic, until my enchantments wear off. The process of changing back to yourselves will be slow, which should allow you to keep your rightful inheritances. Have no fear- everything will be right in the end."

The children nodded. They had no choice, either way.

"And Voice."

Lady Lilith?

"Do you not have a name, alien?"

No, my Lady. I am… reborn of Venom and Carnage; I am the cleansing good of Venom, and the purging evil of Carnage. I… have no name. No epithet. Merely me.

"Then I shall give you your name, alien. From henceforth, the alien known only as Voice shall be known by those worthy of it as 'Tyrannofex', the Dark Lord of Ancient Knowledge and Power. So I swear on my Ancient Seal of Nephilim. So mote it be!"

Infernal energies breached the reality surrounding the children, leeching into their bodies, letting forth a red and black glow that sent the nearest animals into a frenzy of terror. The Archdemoness' powers, magnified tenfold by the magic held within the two target children, enveloped them, granting their Super-Symbiote resident the knowledge of the ancients- the Nephilim, the Angels and the Demons; the Creator and the Destroyer; all ancient knowledge and powers resting under one roof. The influx of power gave Lilith her chance- to change the twins' bodies until they slowly changed back. Their memories faded, locked into the mind of Tyrannofex, until he could release them bit by bit. It felt the surge of power, the knowledge and demonhood it had gained. More powerful than any before, it held no wishes for bloodshed or slaughter, but Balance. By the standing definition of not just wanting the Light to survive, but also the Darkness, made it demon.

Lilith collapsed once her job was done. Spent, she spent the last of her infernal energy taking her back to Hell, where she could recuperate faster and steer the children's lives.


In the dark, flaming pits of Hell, there was a mighty brimstone throne. The arms were the likeness of grinning skulls, and the base a tangled pile of bodies. A prone figure lay before the throne, fiery hair strewn across her face, hiding it from view.

You meddled in mortal affairs for the last time, girl! I warned you of your punishment, should you break my edict once more! You know the cost!

"My Lord Abaddon! Those children have demon blood in them! Should they fall into the wrong hands, they-"

QUIET, girl! I did not seek your counsel! I know full well the danger mortals pose to us, should they grow convinced of our existence. I know they would wage war, thinking US the reason for their failures, their suffering. You know the cost. You will be stripped of your powers, for as long as your progeny live on Earth. PAAK-AH-KOOR!

With that final curse, Abaddon the Destroyer blasted Lilith to pieces, her power shattering. Before he could grasp the pieces, they faded into non-existence before his eyes.

Well. It seems you will never see your power again, Lady Lilith. From here on out, you are Pariah. Not punished in Hell, nor welcomed as friend in Heaven. No contact with your beloved mortal world, and no powers to keep you sane… Goodbye, my love…


UPDATE 01/03/16: Sorry about that weird formatting, but its fixed now