Well, this is the next chapter. Not much to it in terms of plot
development, just a perspective of all minor support characters. It was
necessary I suppose. Sort of a filler in chapter, explaining everything
that's been going on other sides.
Thanks to all those who reviewed, and I will take all my fluids, don't worry. There's no way in hell I'm missing out on another chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own X-men, AoA, or any other Marvel character. I do won some Prelates, some Externals and some other OC's. No OC plays a major role however. (Apart from Halfbane and Sammael.)
Feedback: At six_nites@hotmail.com, my home away from home. sort of.
Tourniquet
Essex stood watching the camp get set up. What a stupid excuse for a rebel force. They posed as entertainers, moving across the whole of Apocalypse's empire, attempting to sabotage any of Apocalypse's plans. Small chance in a group this disorganized or small. The leader of this little band was brilliant, but his brilliance was limited to inventions, not tactics of fighting. He was a fairly good fighter, but he was no great leader. His idea's were haphazard and prone to failure against any slightly seasoned opponent. Like himself, or any of his Prelates. He had always considered the Prelates, although the actual head was Sammael under Apocalypse. It had been he who had sowed the seeds of the idea of a Mutant force made up of the strongest of the mutant's they kept with them. Forge would have only made it to rook, or perhaps an Uber-leutnant. Rooks. the special security measure Havok had employed a few years ago, after he became Prelate. They guarded the Elite Mutant Force's headquarters, and each was loyal to Havok. Cyclops had never been trusting of them, as they had all reported directly to Havok. Essex himself had cared not one way or another. If anything it increased their enmity, and Scott's survival instincts. Scott had gotten too good at those. Essex had been surprised when he broke free of his constraints and destroyed much of his laboratory 1.
"Hey Essex, what're you doing here all by your lonesome. We could use a hand down there."
Essex turned. He found it irritating to keep himself in this form, especially when his own normal one was so much more comfortable. However he realized the necessity. The boy was not yet powerful enough that he would be able to detect Essex, and he needed to be here to watch over him. However even the company here was irritating. Apart from Forge they were all foolishly stupid. Toad pretended to be a gentleman, Mastermind tried to come of as being more than he was, yet was shackled by self doubt. Brute was just stupid, a brainless git with not enough brainpower to do simple addition of the numbers one to nine. Soaran was a throwback to the Mesozoic era, with his pterodactyl like form. His caustic remarks and attempt at dry wit was beginning to irritate Essex more than anything else. He was constantly attempting to pick fights. First it was the boy, now him. The girl Sonique. A rare beauty, with powers much like Banshee. Also completely in love with Nate Grey, although he had taken care of that with a little low level telepathy.
Which of course brought him to the last member, and the reason he was here. His creation, made using the genes of Scott Summers, the man he considered a son, and Jean Grey, potentially the most powerful telepath in the world. Their genes had the potent mixture, to create a mutant with near limitless power, unhampered. Of course, controlling the energy of that power was going to be difficult and would probably kill Nate Grey before he reached maturity, but Essex needed a brash and impulsive boy. One he could readily control. He had done so with his father for years.
"I am coming Soaran. Do not hurt yourself on your way down." He implanted a telepathic suggestion for Soaran to halt his wings beating and glide downward, nose first. He also implanted the suggestion that he forget about both suggestions. It was necessary to maintain his cover, but he would not take any insult readily. Soaran squawked as he found himself plummeting downward. Essex walked on, not caring in the least.
"Hello Essex." Forge stopped on his way, presumably to engage in idle chit- chat, and probably find out more about him. He really should be more subtle. He of course had no idea that Essex was the same man who had contacted him a week ago to take in the boy. Nate had soon grown friendly with everyone, and it didn't take long for Essex to figure out that Forge saw himself as a mentor and father figure to the boy. He would have to take care of that.
For now though, he would let things be, and train Nate surreptiously, as well as poison his mind against Apocalypse completely. Then his weapon would be brought to the forefront, where he would use him to weaken Apocalypse and his allies, before he could strike himself. His fellow Externals should be ready by then and awaiting his attack command. He didn't believe that Nate would be able to take on Apocalypse and win. He was by no means experienced enough, and perhaps not even he was powerful enough.
These horsemen troubled Essex. They were powerful, very much so, and they were completely under Apocalypse's control. They had caused him to restructure his plans. However the one person who had most fouled up his plans was Remy Lebeau. He had unlocked his potential, and he had gone and freed what could have been their savior, before Nate Grey could completely grow up. AS it was they had a hormonal teenager, with power enough to destroy a continent running around. It had forced Essex to pretend to die and leave the Tower. However all was not lost. He still had time to train the boy. He would let him find out about the world, and then kill this little band and train Nate Grey completely, in order that he fight against Apocalypse, and help him in securing all of Apocalypse's celestial technology. With that he could dictate how to better this world, using the technology to breed an invincible horde, strengthening this world.
x-------------------- ---x
Apocalypse stared at the reports in front of him. All was going as planned. Holocaust was nearly ready to start the culling of the west coast, obliterating all human life. The Human High Council would react, and Apocalypse would be waiting for them. Death and the Reavers would strike from behind, while Apocalypse and his armies from the front, squashing them in the middle. Nothing would be able to stand against them, nothing at all. As for the remaining X-men. When he had dealt with the Council, he would hunt them down like the dogs they were and kill them all.
"Master, Rasputin wishes to speak with you."
Apocalypse turned to his centuries old ally, perhaps even older than Sinister. He had created him from the same piece of celestial technology he had used to create Sinister.
The perfect mutate battery, capable of storing energy that powered a dozen mutants and feeding it into others, or using it for himself. A powerful ally, and useful for what had been his once main plan, to use the powers of twelve mutants to ascend to higher plane, as strong, or even stronger than the celestials, power enough to rival that of Galactus. However, the Hellfire Club and the insane power levels that had appeared when Magneto and Xavier joined the fight had forced him to reconsider. Shaman and Halfbane had nearly destroyed all his plans. The Harbinger had been destroyed before he could awaken. The Externals, except these few who were his allies, broke their agreement of never interfering with him. Now he was master of the world, and it was better off without Human's. Mutants already grew powerful.
"Put him on the monitor."
Other worries plagued him. The Arch-Prelate, Deathbird, she was not a mutant. She wasn't even an enhanced human. In fact she was suspiciously like the Shi'ar he had found out about through the usage of the celestial's technology. However he had no idea what a Shi'ar was doing in this world. She seemed loyal enough, and wasn't powerful enough to be threat to him. Not alone at any rate.
"Master." The face and shoulders of Mikhai9l Rasputin came on the screen. Ah Mikhail. What a powerful ally, able to use his powers in ways much like Rumik, to distort space. However he could also transport and open portals to other universe's, and dimensions. His face had changed over the years, becoming more metallic, and he had added more armor to himself. A good thing, considering his main enemy was his brother Colossus, who was nearly as strong as Apocalypse was. They had fought again, a fight nothing like their first bitter one. In that Colossus had nearly broken Mikhail entire face, which was why he wore facial implants.
"What is it Rasputin?"
"Master, the Sea Wall is in position for any attack. The Human's will be obliterated if the try to cross it."
Apocalypse nearly smiled. It showed how useless Rasputin was when it came to tactics. No the Sea Wall's were not enough to stop the Human's. Lately they had managed to design ships that would cross them with fair ease. No, he would use the Sea Walls for another matter.
"No Rasputin, they will not. In fact, they only serve as a first line of defense. No, the only thing the Sea Walls will be used for is to destroy the human's. Once they attack full force, I will expand the Sea Wall."
Rasputin's face blanched, or something akin to it.
"Master, that would kill all life across Eurasia!"
Apocalypse smiled chillingly.
"Yes."
x-----------------x
Alex stood in the centre of the security room. His domain. It had always been his domain. Even back in the days of the Citadel, when he had been young child, being raised by Sinister, he had always liked the security room. As a Prelate he had been second in command after Cyclops, and head of the Elite Mutant Force's quarters. However, Cyclops had never trusted him with too much power, and he had always been Sinister's favorite. He scowled. Finally he turned to Sam Guthrie. The young Rook had been delayed his promotion to Prelate for a long time. At first by Cyclops, and now because there were more than enough prelates. One thing Havok truly regretted about the battle at Muir Isle had been not finding Cyclops. He badly wanted to face his brother in combat, to kill him finally. Sam had never been an Uber-leutnant. Havok had made sure that his chosen few allies were never put under direct control of Cyclops or anyone else. The Rooks were his special force, loyal to him. They ran the security of the EMF building, as well as Sinister's and Dark Beast's pens. Alex moved towards him. Even now as High Prelate he didn't like sharing power, and he had to do so with Deathbird, the so called Arch-Prelate. A beautiful woman, or maybe not. Alex was never sure what exactly she was. However for now, he had things to do, places to be.
"Sam."
The young man turned. Sam was a powerful ally, able to propel himself with enough force to shatter a building, as well as generate a force field that even his power had difficulty breaking through.
"Make sure Lorna is busy." Sam nodded immediately. Havok sighed. It wasn't Lorna's fault, but he had to go. For a long time he had been attracted to the dancer at the only neutral ground in the whole of Apocalypse's empire. It was an underground club, open to both mutants and humans. Havok had never liked that too much, until he had met Scarlet. Then he himself had blatantly begun to break one of Apocalypse's strictest rules. Apocalypse had banned mating with flatscans. Havok had been too filled with desire to continue ignoring that rule. He had thought, just this once? However that had changed. He had not seen her for nearly a week, and his loins flared to life at the thought of her. He loved Lorna, but he could do things with Scarlet that he couldn't with Lorna, not with any degree of success anyway. Scarlet was a very vigorous person, and their sex life was excellent. He didn't love her, at least he thought he didn't, but he couldn't get enough of her.
He walked out of the security complex and began to head for his bike. The club was located a little over half an hours drive from the tower. Close, but Alex had made certain, along with many others that the Club remained unnoticed. Of all the high rank people, he figured only a couple knew of its existence. It was run by some shady mutants and humans, trying to make a living here. It was also an excellent place to find information on rebel groups. Scott had used this place frequently, though he never seemed to make use of the entertainment facilities available. Sometimes Alex thought that Scott was a robot, although the rebel Jean Grey had certainly proven him wrong. Surprising thing to see, both brothers had a taste for redheads.
Havok parked the bike outside the club. He was fairly certain he would not be needed right now, and he always had his communicator if necessary.
"Alex!" He turned to see Karma. Karma was the manager of New Haven.
"It's been while Prelate, I suppose I should congratulate you on your promotion. Never expected that Scott would turn. Ah well, who cares, at least you got a promotion instead. Scarlet's waiting. She's been lonely without you."
Alex nodded. Although he liked Karma, he suspected that Karma was a Human High Council spy. Pity.
He walked into the back, and into Scarlet's quarters. When he first saw them Havok had been impressed by her plush apartments. Apparently they had been favors of her previous lovers, and Alex had made it clear he disliked the fact she had other lovers. He had arranged with Karma till only he was her lover. As soon as he saw her his blood rushed to his groin. She sat up in surprise at the intrusion, but her eyes brightened at his appearance. For long now he had been not only sleeping with her, but actually trusting her, and using her as a sounding board for all his hopes and dreams. In a perfect world she would be a mutant, but the world wasn't perfect. She got on her knees on the bed, and he rushed forward into her embrace, hearing the lock click shut behind him. His mouth hungrily fastened on hers, and his tongue dueled with her. He shuddered with joy and passion, and knelt to kiss her neck. Here was where he felt complete.
x--------------------------- -----x
Dark Beast walked towards one of the remaining machines in the new laboratory's Apocalypse had given him. McCoy was troubled. He had long been Apocalypse's most trusted ally, or close enough as to make no difference. His dark master had given him a great task in commanding him to build the future. His Infinites had made Apocalypse's power near complete. While Sinister had originally begun the construction of the gene pool, and all it entailed, it was McCoy who had first realized the uses it may be placed to other than to create perfect life. That had been Sinister's earliest desire, to create life. With the destruction of the Citadel, McCoy had despaired of ever getting another gene pool. However the one built here was even better than the original. Instead of him having to manually operate it, this one was far more automated. Sinister had taken no interest in this, being more concerned at the time with his two sons, and creating another Brain Trust. This one too was composed of the same sort of telepathic minds; however it was far more protected. It was surrounded by adamantium armor, and guarded by a hundred Infinites as well as in built defenses. Only the chips he had developed and placed in each person allowed access to that area was what kept anyone, including himself from feeling the brunt of the Brain Trust. As it was he only felt a mild buzzing, almost pleasant, and completely familiar now. He depressed a lever, watching the screaming human fall into the pool. If his genes were of the correct type, he may be used to create another perfect specimen. If not, he could just as easily be used for Infinite processing.
Sinister had never liked his work with the Infinites, finding that the Infinites were below his preferred level for gene experimentation. Therefore, whatever was to be scrapped was used in making Infinites. McCoy found it quite funny that every human foe they felled was a potential Infinite. Of course, some destruction was too complete for even him to salvage anything from. However he had pleased Apocalypse immensely with the potential for added firepower the Infinites brought. He had ordered the construction of several death camps and Infinite processing plants. McCoy had been ordered to see to each. He also was privy to one of Apocalypse's secrets. Apocalypse needed to recharge his power from time to time, and the death camps were also built to provide him with that. Apocalypse could feed on life-energy. Not as naturally as Exodus, but close enough. He could absorb mutant energy if necessary, but only if at full power. As far as McCoy could be certain Apocalypse had drained at least a million humans already. His only concern was for the gene material lost of course.
Each Death camp was built to house two chambers. One for Apocalypse, and another for Infinites, the latter being sent to a nearby processing plant via teleportation equipment. AS far as McCoy knew the only place that was more suited to his energy leeching was his statue. It had bodies of several thousand humans stored underneath it, each routed to channel energy into him. His single most powerful source of energy. McCoy was also fairly certain only he and Sinister knew, and perhaps Holocaust. McCoy wasn't sure what to make of Holocaust. Apocalypse had never seemed to be the proud father sort, and McCoy was never quite sure exactly how Apocalypse had sired a son. Apocalypse had never told him, and he had never asked. However, now Apocalypse had made holocaust his most trusted second, as well as placing him in charge of all the others. Rasputin, Exodus, Sammael and Candra hadn't been too pleased. McCoy was never quite sure of Apocalypse's motivations. Then again. Holocaust was very powerful, extremely so. He had single handedly destroyed an entire city once. A brutal show of power. His loss of a flesh and blood body at Wundagore was of small consequence. The new body that Sinister had designed for him, a containment suit rather, had been enough. The corporeal energies that made up what was left of him had been kept inside the suit easily, and he had seemed even more powerful for it. It seemed he generated his own energy, never seeming to need replenishing, and never losing any of the life energy that was him. McCoy was sure he must have a source. Perhaps it was like the Summers, obtained from the sun or atmosphere.
McCoy put it out of his mind. The gene pool was done melting the body of the human down to only genetic material. He quickly scanned a monitor and made a note of the gene code. Using the celestial technology granted him, he began to separate the genes that would be useful, while tucking the others away to be used later or for Infinite processing.
x--------------------- x
Moira Trask walked with steady determination to the hallway at the end of the block. Her step hardly faltered and she was proud of that. It seemed things had just gone to hell in the matter of a few short weeks. First had been the interminable waiting while Xavier was hunted down across America. Then the shattering blow that came with his death. Moira had kept back her grief, so that the others would take her as an example and be brave and strong. For long she had been the mother of the little group of X-men. Erik had taken on his friend's role, and he had been masterful at it, managing to launch one of the most successful attacks on the Tower ever. However, the loss of human life compared with the loss of X-men and Apocalypse's forces had turned the others in the Human High Council away from the X-men. Moira had long been one of the only few on the Human High Council willing to trust the X-men. Her husband had never trusted them, and while he had been alive an alliance with the X-men would have been next to impossible. However even Moira had lately felt that the X-men were falling apart. First had been the pardoning of a man that should have been killed on sight, the High Prelate Cyclops. Then had been the break up of the team into two factions. The final crippling blow had been the loss of Muir Isle. The news had just reached Moira from a hidden frequency that she recognized as one Erik used. The message had been short and simple. Muir Isle was lost, some survivors. A short message that had been enough to make her lose her composure.
She opened the doors to the council hall, using one of ten passkeys made.
She wasn't surprised to see the hall filled with council members. Only a few weren't here. Many councilors had their aides with them. Moira knew she would face heavy opposition for her plan, but she intended to go through with it.
She went and sat down next to her long time friend Susan Storm. Moira had helped Susan get over the pain of losing her long time boyfriend Reed Richards, although it had taken his best friend, Dr. Victor von Doom to finally do that. Susan gently touched her arm, and Moira smiled at her. The woman was younger than she, although not by too much. Her brother suddenly came running up and sat down to Moira's left.
"Hey Mo, how're ya doing?" Jonathan Storm, known to his friends as Jonny, was constantly on the move. He was one of the members only because of his rarely displayed talent for seriousness and calmness when everyone else seemed on the verge of panic. Even his brother-in-law to be, Victor had never perfected that. His exuberance also filled the Council with some light heartedness in times of darkness. He amused Moira no end.
However right now, she couldn't find the strength to laugh at his joke.
"May I call this meeting to order?"
Moira looked up at Brian Braddock with some distaste. She had respected the man before, however nowadays he just seemed pompous and arrogant. He had taken over the presiding of the Council in conjunction with her since the death of Trask, but recently he had become almost a different man. At his side stood his aide, a man named Connor. He had arrived recently, and was a thin bony man, with heavy eyebrows and a sickly jaw. He was always smiling unpleasantly and this time was no different. He seemed to take great delight out of riling up the Council. Moira had her eye on him. Brian had changed after he took up being advised by him. She turned to see her own attendant Beatrix coming forward, hurriedly fixing her skirt, her full lips slightly fuller than normal. Her hair was slightly rumpled, but it never seemed to stay put. On her it still seemed sexy. It had irritated Moira no end. Recently Beatrix had seemed to realize that she was not getting any younger and had taken to dating every man she could. Moira didn't mind, as long as it didn't distract Beatrix from her duties too much. The woman had been Moira's assistant for a few years now. Behind her came Susan's assistant, a young blonde woman named Debra Levin. The woman had a cute Russian accent. She had also arrived recently. She was also somewhat of a bodyguard for Susan. Moira turned back and noticed most of the men, and some of the women as well watching Beatrix as she sat. Only a few glanced at Debra Levin, and that too on point of danger. Debra didn't like people watching her. Other assistants came in quickly.
Finally the hall was filled. Moira glanced at Brian as he began one of his speeches. Lately they had become more anti-mutant than normal. She sneered lightly and looked to the side to see Mariko Yoshida giving her a sardonic grin. Mariko was a woman Moira had never gotten along with. She was an enigmatic woman, who knew a lot about mutants, and would always be surprising in what she did. She wasn't a sensationalist, no Moira was sure that Mariko had some plan in mind.
However Moira knew better than to try and second guess the woman. Mariko wanted to be friendly today... alright, Moira could be friendly.
Suddenly the shift in Brian's speech caused her to look up.
". Mutants have become a bigger threat than ever before. We don't even have the X-men to 'rely' upon anymore. I have confirmed reports that Muir Isle has been destroyed. This means that many of the innocent children at what the X-men claimed was the safest spot in the world have been killed. The survivors are unknown, but we know that the X-men escaped, while humans did not. Whether this was an act of mutant's under Apocalypse, or the X-men themselves is unknown, but reports indicate that Apocalypse may have been involved. In my opinion we should destroy Apocalypse while we still can!"
Moira stood angrily, her face flushed.
"Brian are you insane! You no nothing of the attack on Muir Isle. I am the only one to have received reports about it. It is already being declared a potential dead zone. The area has become poisonously radioactive a little over twelve hours after it's destruction! I know the X-men, and they have helped us in the past! Muir Isle was destroyed by Apocalypse, and the X-men lost some of their number trying to protect them. Most survived and no children were killed. I can swear this to you."
Brian also stood up, his own face getting angrier.
"My reports confirm death of over a hundred children and infants. As for the X-men's loyalties, hah! That is nonsense."
Moira leaned close to him. She hoped she would not have to play her trump card.
"Betsy is alive as well Brian."
She said it softly, enough to ensure that no one else heard. Brian's assistant was leaning forward though she doubted he heard. She also caught Debra Levin leaning forward a bit, but she straightened a bit as well, and Moira realized she was just straightening her self in the chair. She was too suspicious these days.
Brian however heard her words. He was a politically motivated man these days, and he also knew what the effect of knowing that his sister was a mutant would do to the others. Very likely he would be voted off the council, under suspicion for being a mutant himself.
"I'm sorry." Moira was, she hated pulling that sort of stunt, but it became necessary sometimes. The rest of the meeting went fairly well, but Moira could see that other hardliners were getting worked up. None was powerful enough to move alone against her but with Brian they could easily. At least she had just guaranteed that from happening.
Moira walked out of her office and stared at her assistant flirting with Jonathan Storm. She was fairly certain that the two were secretly seeing each other, and the clandestine behavior bothered her. Beatrix had changed a lot recently, and Moira wondered at the change. She had caught them one day, in wild abandon in the closet. She had dryly reprimanded them, and then offered her couch in the office while she went out for lunch. She left before they could say another word. In truth Jonny and Beatrix were two of her favorite people, and she felt that their sleeping on the couch would be a good thing. If they didn't get together at least they would be apart. She hated it when she had to pretend not to notice affairs going on around her.
Moira walked into a lavatory and sat down after pulling down her skirt. She thought it was a waste of time, but it was necessary to purge oneself of bad habits before trying to purge an entire community. Someone was interfering. She had suspected that it was one of Apocalypse's spies, but too many events were going on, and many completely opposite to what Apocalypse would want. Unless this was some crazy plan. Moira didn't know, but something was wrong in this city, and it had to be stopped soon. She wondered if she should contact the X-men at this point, then finally decided not to. They had enough problems for the moment.
x----------- -------x
In a small island off the west coast of Italy, the remaining Externals under Nidlen Halfbane met.
Asmodeus found that as always he was one of the first to arrive. It was irritating, especially when one considered that they were perhaps one of the most powerful groups on this world. Even then the others would be late. Of late Halfbane had taken to brooding almost endlessly in his own quarters. Asmodeus had at first respected the man, but now he was beginning to see that like his brother he was half insane, and drunk with power. However, also like his brother, he was cunning and shrewd. Due to him they had finally managed to escape Sammael, and Asmodeus always remembered that Halfbane had a private army, doing his every bidding. Gilgamesh, once his greatest rival, was now perhaps his closest confidant. They still didn't like each other, inborn hatred's were difficult to get over, however they were both logical men, and knew when they would need to work together. Astaroth and Behamen would be of no use there. Astaroth was completely Halfbane's man. Even back when they had begun pulling the strings of the Hellfire, Astaroth had been more content to let others do the thinking, and carry out his part in any plan. A loyal soldier; that would sum up Astaroth. Behamen however was a different matter, although no less useless. Of late she had taken to sleeping with every single young man on this island to catch her fancy, and if Asmodeus's suspicions were correct, some of the women as well. Not that he had anything against miscegenation, or sleeping with one's own gender, but Behamen took it to something beyond even an art form. In the last week he had counted over a hundred times when Behamen had been with a partner. Her sheer stamina was to be wondered at as well.
However the main reasoning behind Behamen's unreliability was that she was flighty and also knew where the power lay. Asmodeus was sure that if Behamen could get proof of their alliance and half hearted plans, she would betray them. Asmodeus wished again Galaire had not died. Of course, Halfbane had not called a meeting since he had told them of her death as well as battle against one of Apocalypse's horsemen. He had too many spies Asmodeus knew.
The door opened and Astaroth entered then, moving almost lethargically. It was an appearance well cultivated. Astaroth was as graceful as the best of them when he wished. Behind him came Behamen, once again her face flushed and her hair slightly mussed. Asmodeus sneered slightly. The way she looked, one would suspect that she was coming from a torrid assignation. Asmodeus knew better. Even she would not be foolish enough to forget a meeting. It was another thing about her that bore watching. Perhaps she was not as hormonal as she seemed to be.
Gilgamesh appeared a few seconds before Halfbane, appearing out of a dark corner and sliding into his seat. Asmodeus still marveled at that power. He was a true master of the shadows.
"Rise!" Halfbane came in with great pomp and show, with a clashing of a huge gong with another, and a little drum roll. Asmodeus started at that. What on earth was he coming in with a drum roll for?
They stood however. Halfbane was one to require such little displays of his power over them. Failure to do so meant punishment. Asmodeus cared little. He had not minded before, and he did not mind now.
"I have thought it over a great deal my compatriots. Galaire's betrayal will not go unpunished. Her death shall not save her from my wrath. However that is all of no importance. With what we know now, it is apparent that Apocalypse has sent the X-men running, and the horsemen prey upon this world, at his bidding. We must be wary now, as these are no common soldiers. In fact, they are possibly stronger than some of us. However, Apocalypse has erred in some ways. He has not given us enough importance, and now we shall disabuse him of his thinking. We are the biggest thorn in his side, and we shall bring him down. I have set a plan into motion already, and Apocalypse will fall. Destiny is of no importance, although her presence would have been a blow to the enemies morale. The best place to start our assault will of course be at the Sea Wall itself. There we shall take apart his security network, and cause his ruin. We shall rule the world."
He bent forward and Asmodeus listened as he spoke, nodding at some parts he thought were sound, while actually thinking inside as to how stupid and blind this endeavor was. The Sea Wall was almost impossible to take down, it would kill them before they got within a hundred feet. Unless Halfbane had some other plan in mind as well.
==============================
Well, that's it then.
Oh yeah, and if anyone notices that some elements of the original AoA pop up now and then, it's because I probably read a comic which I hadn't, and learnt something new that I liked and decided to fit into the story. But Scarlet was planned to come in about here anyway.
Anyway, next chapter things begin shaping up for the final conflict. Which is about three chapters long. Plus, the chapters are loonngg.
Bye now.
Thanks to all those who reviewed, and I will take all my fluids, don't worry. There's no way in hell I'm missing out on another chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own X-men, AoA, or any other Marvel character. I do won some Prelates, some Externals and some other OC's. No OC plays a major role however. (Apart from Halfbane and Sammael.)
Feedback: At six_nites@hotmail.com, my home away from home. sort of.
Tourniquet
Essex stood watching the camp get set up. What a stupid excuse for a rebel force. They posed as entertainers, moving across the whole of Apocalypse's empire, attempting to sabotage any of Apocalypse's plans. Small chance in a group this disorganized or small. The leader of this little band was brilliant, but his brilliance was limited to inventions, not tactics of fighting. He was a fairly good fighter, but he was no great leader. His idea's were haphazard and prone to failure against any slightly seasoned opponent. Like himself, or any of his Prelates. He had always considered the Prelates, although the actual head was Sammael under Apocalypse. It had been he who had sowed the seeds of the idea of a Mutant force made up of the strongest of the mutant's they kept with them. Forge would have only made it to rook, or perhaps an Uber-leutnant. Rooks. the special security measure Havok had employed a few years ago, after he became Prelate. They guarded the Elite Mutant Force's headquarters, and each was loyal to Havok. Cyclops had never been trusting of them, as they had all reported directly to Havok. Essex himself had cared not one way or another. If anything it increased their enmity, and Scott's survival instincts. Scott had gotten too good at those. Essex had been surprised when he broke free of his constraints and destroyed much of his laboratory 1.
"Hey Essex, what're you doing here all by your lonesome. We could use a hand down there."
Essex turned. He found it irritating to keep himself in this form, especially when his own normal one was so much more comfortable. However he realized the necessity. The boy was not yet powerful enough that he would be able to detect Essex, and he needed to be here to watch over him. However even the company here was irritating. Apart from Forge they were all foolishly stupid. Toad pretended to be a gentleman, Mastermind tried to come of as being more than he was, yet was shackled by self doubt. Brute was just stupid, a brainless git with not enough brainpower to do simple addition of the numbers one to nine. Soaran was a throwback to the Mesozoic era, with his pterodactyl like form. His caustic remarks and attempt at dry wit was beginning to irritate Essex more than anything else. He was constantly attempting to pick fights. First it was the boy, now him. The girl Sonique. A rare beauty, with powers much like Banshee. Also completely in love with Nate Grey, although he had taken care of that with a little low level telepathy.
Which of course brought him to the last member, and the reason he was here. His creation, made using the genes of Scott Summers, the man he considered a son, and Jean Grey, potentially the most powerful telepath in the world. Their genes had the potent mixture, to create a mutant with near limitless power, unhampered. Of course, controlling the energy of that power was going to be difficult and would probably kill Nate Grey before he reached maturity, but Essex needed a brash and impulsive boy. One he could readily control. He had done so with his father for years.
"I am coming Soaran. Do not hurt yourself on your way down." He implanted a telepathic suggestion for Soaran to halt his wings beating and glide downward, nose first. He also implanted the suggestion that he forget about both suggestions. It was necessary to maintain his cover, but he would not take any insult readily. Soaran squawked as he found himself plummeting downward. Essex walked on, not caring in the least.
"Hello Essex." Forge stopped on his way, presumably to engage in idle chit- chat, and probably find out more about him. He really should be more subtle. He of course had no idea that Essex was the same man who had contacted him a week ago to take in the boy. Nate had soon grown friendly with everyone, and it didn't take long for Essex to figure out that Forge saw himself as a mentor and father figure to the boy. He would have to take care of that.
For now though, he would let things be, and train Nate surreptiously, as well as poison his mind against Apocalypse completely. Then his weapon would be brought to the forefront, where he would use him to weaken Apocalypse and his allies, before he could strike himself. His fellow Externals should be ready by then and awaiting his attack command. He didn't believe that Nate would be able to take on Apocalypse and win. He was by no means experienced enough, and perhaps not even he was powerful enough.
These horsemen troubled Essex. They were powerful, very much so, and they were completely under Apocalypse's control. They had caused him to restructure his plans. However the one person who had most fouled up his plans was Remy Lebeau. He had unlocked his potential, and he had gone and freed what could have been their savior, before Nate Grey could completely grow up. AS it was they had a hormonal teenager, with power enough to destroy a continent running around. It had forced Essex to pretend to die and leave the Tower. However all was not lost. He still had time to train the boy. He would let him find out about the world, and then kill this little band and train Nate Grey completely, in order that he fight against Apocalypse, and help him in securing all of Apocalypse's celestial technology. With that he could dictate how to better this world, using the technology to breed an invincible horde, strengthening this world.
x-------------------- ---x
Apocalypse stared at the reports in front of him. All was going as planned. Holocaust was nearly ready to start the culling of the west coast, obliterating all human life. The Human High Council would react, and Apocalypse would be waiting for them. Death and the Reavers would strike from behind, while Apocalypse and his armies from the front, squashing them in the middle. Nothing would be able to stand against them, nothing at all. As for the remaining X-men. When he had dealt with the Council, he would hunt them down like the dogs they were and kill them all.
"Master, Rasputin wishes to speak with you."
Apocalypse turned to his centuries old ally, perhaps even older than Sinister. He had created him from the same piece of celestial technology he had used to create Sinister.
The perfect mutate battery, capable of storing energy that powered a dozen mutants and feeding it into others, or using it for himself. A powerful ally, and useful for what had been his once main plan, to use the powers of twelve mutants to ascend to higher plane, as strong, or even stronger than the celestials, power enough to rival that of Galactus. However, the Hellfire Club and the insane power levels that had appeared when Magneto and Xavier joined the fight had forced him to reconsider. Shaman and Halfbane had nearly destroyed all his plans. The Harbinger had been destroyed before he could awaken. The Externals, except these few who were his allies, broke their agreement of never interfering with him. Now he was master of the world, and it was better off without Human's. Mutants already grew powerful.
"Put him on the monitor."
Other worries plagued him. The Arch-Prelate, Deathbird, she was not a mutant. She wasn't even an enhanced human. In fact she was suspiciously like the Shi'ar he had found out about through the usage of the celestial's technology. However he had no idea what a Shi'ar was doing in this world. She seemed loyal enough, and wasn't powerful enough to be threat to him. Not alone at any rate.
"Master." The face and shoulders of Mikhai9l Rasputin came on the screen. Ah Mikhail. What a powerful ally, able to use his powers in ways much like Rumik, to distort space. However he could also transport and open portals to other universe's, and dimensions. His face had changed over the years, becoming more metallic, and he had added more armor to himself. A good thing, considering his main enemy was his brother Colossus, who was nearly as strong as Apocalypse was. They had fought again, a fight nothing like their first bitter one. In that Colossus had nearly broken Mikhail entire face, which was why he wore facial implants.
"What is it Rasputin?"
"Master, the Sea Wall is in position for any attack. The Human's will be obliterated if the try to cross it."
Apocalypse nearly smiled. It showed how useless Rasputin was when it came to tactics. No the Sea Wall's were not enough to stop the Human's. Lately they had managed to design ships that would cross them with fair ease. No, he would use the Sea Walls for another matter.
"No Rasputin, they will not. In fact, they only serve as a first line of defense. No, the only thing the Sea Walls will be used for is to destroy the human's. Once they attack full force, I will expand the Sea Wall."
Rasputin's face blanched, or something akin to it.
"Master, that would kill all life across Eurasia!"
Apocalypse smiled chillingly.
"Yes."
x-----------------x
Alex stood in the centre of the security room. His domain. It had always been his domain. Even back in the days of the Citadel, when he had been young child, being raised by Sinister, he had always liked the security room. As a Prelate he had been second in command after Cyclops, and head of the Elite Mutant Force's quarters. However, Cyclops had never trusted him with too much power, and he had always been Sinister's favorite. He scowled. Finally he turned to Sam Guthrie. The young Rook had been delayed his promotion to Prelate for a long time. At first by Cyclops, and now because there were more than enough prelates. One thing Havok truly regretted about the battle at Muir Isle had been not finding Cyclops. He badly wanted to face his brother in combat, to kill him finally. Sam had never been an Uber-leutnant. Havok had made sure that his chosen few allies were never put under direct control of Cyclops or anyone else. The Rooks were his special force, loyal to him. They ran the security of the EMF building, as well as Sinister's and Dark Beast's pens. Alex moved towards him. Even now as High Prelate he didn't like sharing power, and he had to do so with Deathbird, the so called Arch-Prelate. A beautiful woman, or maybe not. Alex was never sure what exactly she was. However for now, he had things to do, places to be.
"Sam."
The young man turned. Sam was a powerful ally, able to propel himself with enough force to shatter a building, as well as generate a force field that even his power had difficulty breaking through.
"Make sure Lorna is busy." Sam nodded immediately. Havok sighed. It wasn't Lorna's fault, but he had to go. For a long time he had been attracted to the dancer at the only neutral ground in the whole of Apocalypse's empire. It was an underground club, open to both mutants and humans. Havok had never liked that too much, until he had met Scarlet. Then he himself had blatantly begun to break one of Apocalypse's strictest rules. Apocalypse had banned mating with flatscans. Havok had been too filled with desire to continue ignoring that rule. He had thought, just this once? However that had changed. He had not seen her for nearly a week, and his loins flared to life at the thought of her. He loved Lorna, but he could do things with Scarlet that he couldn't with Lorna, not with any degree of success anyway. Scarlet was a very vigorous person, and their sex life was excellent. He didn't love her, at least he thought he didn't, but he couldn't get enough of her.
He walked out of the security complex and began to head for his bike. The club was located a little over half an hours drive from the tower. Close, but Alex had made certain, along with many others that the Club remained unnoticed. Of all the high rank people, he figured only a couple knew of its existence. It was run by some shady mutants and humans, trying to make a living here. It was also an excellent place to find information on rebel groups. Scott had used this place frequently, though he never seemed to make use of the entertainment facilities available. Sometimes Alex thought that Scott was a robot, although the rebel Jean Grey had certainly proven him wrong. Surprising thing to see, both brothers had a taste for redheads.
Havok parked the bike outside the club. He was fairly certain he would not be needed right now, and he always had his communicator if necessary.
"Alex!" He turned to see Karma. Karma was the manager of New Haven.
"It's been while Prelate, I suppose I should congratulate you on your promotion. Never expected that Scott would turn. Ah well, who cares, at least you got a promotion instead. Scarlet's waiting. She's been lonely without you."
Alex nodded. Although he liked Karma, he suspected that Karma was a Human High Council spy. Pity.
He walked into the back, and into Scarlet's quarters. When he first saw them Havok had been impressed by her plush apartments. Apparently they had been favors of her previous lovers, and Alex had made it clear he disliked the fact she had other lovers. He had arranged with Karma till only he was her lover. As soon as he saw her his blood rushed to his groin. She sat up in surprise at the intrusion, but her eyes brightened at his appearance. For long now he had been not only sleeping with her, but actually trusting her, and using her as a sounding board for all his hopes and dreams. In a perfect world she would be a mutant, but the world wasn't perfect. She got on her knees on the bed, and he rushed forward into her embrace, hearing the lock click shut behind him. His mouth hungrily fastened on hers, and his tongue dueled with her. He shuddered with joy and passion, and knelt to kiss her neck. Here was where he felt complete.
x--------------------------- -----x
Dark Beast walked towards one of the remaining machines in the new laboratory's Apocalypse had given him. McCoy was troubled. He had long been Apocalypse's most trusted ally, or close enough as to make no difference. His dark master had given him a great task in commanding him to build the future. His Infinites had made Apocalypse's power near complete. While Sinister had originally begun the construction of the gene pool, and all it entailed, it was McCoy who had first realized the uses it may be placed to other than to create perfect life. That had been Sinister's earliest desire, to create life. With the destruction of the Citadel, McCoy had despaired of ever getting another gene pool. However the one built here was even better than the original. Instead of him having to manually operate it, this one was far more automated. Sinister had taken no interest in this, being more concerned at the time with his two sons, and creating another Brain Trust. This one too was composed of the same sort of telepathic minds; however it was far more protected. It was surrounded by adamantium armor, and guarded by a hundred Infinites as well as in built defenses. Only the chips he had developed and placed in each person allowed access to that area was what kept anyone, including himself from feeling the brunt of the Brain Trust. As it was he only felt a mild buzzing, almost pleasant, and completely familiar now. He depressed a lever, watching the screaming human fall into the pool. If his genes were of the correct type, he may be used to create another perfect specimen. If not, he could just as easily be used for Infinite processing.
Sinister had never liked his work with the Infinites, finding that the Infinites were below his preferred level for gene experimentation. Therefore, whatever was to be scrapped was used in making Infinites. McCoy found it quite funny that every human foe they felled was a potential Infinite. Of course, some destruction was too complete for even him to salvage anything from. However he had pleased Apocalypse immensely with the potential for added firepower the Infinites brought. He had ordered the construction of several death camps and Infinite processing plants. McCoy had been ordered to see to each. He also was privy to one of Apocalypse's secrets. Apocalypse needed to recharge his power from time to time, and the death camps were also built to provide him with that. Apocalypse could feed on life-energy. Not as naturally as Exodus, but close enough. He could absorb mutant energy if necessary, but only if at full power. As far as McCoy could be certain Apocalypse had drained at least a million humans already. His only concern was for the gene material lost of course.
Each Death camp was built to house two chambers. One for Apocalypse, and another for Infinites, the latter being sent to a nearby processing plant via teleportation equipment. AS far as McCoy knew the only place that was more suited to his energy leeching was his statue. It had bodies of several thousand humans stored underneath it, each routed to channel energy into him. His single most powerful source of energy. McCoy was also fairly certain only he and Sinister knew, and perhaps Holocaust. McCoy wasn't sure what to make of Holocaust. Apocalypse had never seemed to be the proud father sort, and McCoy was never quite sure exactly how Apocalypse had sired a son. Apocalypse had never told him, and he had never asked. However, now Apocalypse had made holocaust his most trusted second, as well as placing him in charge of all the others. Rasputin, Exodus, Sammael and Candra hadn't been too pleased. McCoy was never quite sure of Apocalypse's motivations. Then again. Holocaust was very powerful, extremely so. He had single handedly destroyed an entire city once. A brutal show of power. His loss of a flesh and blood body at Wundagore was of small consequence. The new body that Sinister had designed for him, a containment suit rather, had been enough. The corporeal energies that made up what was left of him had been kept inside the suit easily, and he had seemed even more powerful for it. It seemed he generated his own energy, never seeming to need replenishing, and never losing any of the life energy that was him. McCoy was sure he must have a source. Perhaps it was like the Summers, obtained from the sun or atmosphere.
McCoy put it out of his mind. The gene pool was done melting the body of the human down to only genetic material. He quickly scanned a monitor and made a note of the gene code. Using the celestial technology granted him, he began to separate the genes that would be useful, while tucking the others away to be used later or for Infinite processing.
x--------------------- x
Moira Trask walked with steady determination to the hallway at the end of the block. Her step hardly faltered and she was proud of that. It seemed things had just gone to hell in the matter of a few short weeks. First had been the interminable waiting while Xavier was hunted down across America. Then the shattering blow that came with his death. Moira had kept back her grief, so that the others would take her as an example and be brave and strong. For long she had been the mother of the little group of X-men. Erik had taken on his friend's role, and he had been masterful at it, managing to launch one of the most successful attacks on the Tower ever. However, the loss of human life compared with the loss of X-men and Apocalypse's forces had turned the others in the Human High Council away from the X-men. Moira had long been one of the only few on the Human High Council willing to trust the X-men. Her husband had never trusted them, and while he had been alive an alliance with the X-men would have been next to impossible. However even Moira had lately felt that the X-men were falling apart. First had been the pardoning of a man that should have been killed on sight, the High Prelate Cyclops. Then had been the break up of the team into two factions. The final crippling blow had been the loss of Muir Isle. The news had just reached Moira from a hidden frequency that she recognized as one Erik used. The message had been short and simple. Muir Isle was lost, some survivors. A short message that had been enough to make her lose her composure.
She opened the doors to the council hall, using one of ten passkeys made.
She wasn't surprised to see the hall filled with council members. Only a few weren't here. Many councilors had their aides with them. Moira knew she would face heavy opposition for her plan, but she intended to go through with it.
She went and sat down next to her long time friend Susan Storm. Moira had helped Susan get over the pain of losing her long time boyfriend Reed Richards, although it had taken his best friend, Dr. Victor von Doom to finally do that. Susan gently touched her arm, and Moira smiled at her. The woman was younger than she, although not by too much. Her brother suddenly came running up and sat down to Moira's left.
"Hey Mo, how're ya doing?" Jonathan Storm, known to his friends as Jonny, was constantly on the move. He was one of the members only because of his rarely displayed talent for seriousness and calmness when everyone else seemed on the verge of panic. Even his brother-in-law to be, Victor had never perfected that. His exuberance also filled the Council with some light heartedness in times of darkness. He amused Moira no end.
However right now, she couldn't find the strength to laugh at his joke.
"May I call this meeting to order?"
Moira looked up at Brian Braddock with some distaste. She had respected the man before, however nowadays he just seemed pompous and arrogant. He had taken over the presiding of the Council in conjunction with her since the death of Trask, but recently he had become almost a different man. At his side stood his aide, a man named Connor. He had arrived recently, and was a thin bony man, with heavy eyebrows and a sickly jaw. He was always smiling unpleasantly and this time was no different. He seemed to take great delight out of riling up the Council. Moira had her eye on him. Brian had changed after he took up being advised by him. She turned to see her own attendant Beatrix coming forward, hurriedly fixing her skirt, her full lips slightly fuller than normal. Her hair was slightly rumpled, but it never seemed to stay put. On her it still seemed sexy. It had irritated Moira no end. Recently Beatrix had seemed to realize that she was not getting any younger and had taken to dating every man she could. Moira didn't mind, as long as it didn't distract Beatrix from her duties too much. The woman had been Moira's assistant for a few years now. Behind her came Susan's assistant, a young blonde woman named Debra Levin. The woman had a cute Russian accent. She had also arrived recently. She was also somewhat of a bodyguard for Susan. Moira turned back and noticed most of the men, and some of the women as well watching Beatrix as she sat. Only a few glanced at Debra Levin, and that too on point of danger. Debra didn't like people watching her. Other assistants came in quickly.
Finally the hall was filled. Moira glanced at Brian as he began one of his speeches. Lately they had become more anti-mutant than normal. She sneered lightly and looked to the side to see Mariko Yoshida giving her a sardonic grin. Mariko was a woman Moira had never gotten along with. She was an enigmatic woman, who knew a lot about mutants, and would always be surprising in what she did. She wasn't a sensationalist, no Moira was sure that Mariko had some plan in mind.
However Moira knew better than to try and second guess the woman. Mariko wanted to be friendly today... alright, Moira could be friendly.
Suddenly the shift in Brian's speech caused her to look up.
". Mutants have become a bigger threat than ever before. We don't even have the X-men to 'rely' upon anymore. I have confirmed reports that Muir Isle has been destroyed. This means that many of the innocent children at what the X-men claimed was the safest spot in the world have been killed. The survivors are unknown, but we know that the X-men escaped, while humans did not. Whether this was an act of mutant's under Apocalypse, or the X-men themselves is unknown, but reports indicate that Apocalypse may have been involved. In my opinion we should destroy Apocalypse while we still can!"
Moira stood angrily, her face flushed.
"Brian are you insane! You no nothing of the attack on Muir Isle. I am the only one to have received reports about it. It is already being declared a potential dead zone. The area has become poisonously radioactive a little over twelve hours after it's destruction! I know the X-men, and they have helped us in the past! Muir Isle was destroyed by Apocalypse, and the X-men lost some of their number trying to protect them. Most survived and no children were killed. I can swear this to you."
Brian also stood up, his own face getting angrier.
"My reports confirm death of over a hundred children and infants. As for the X-men's loyalties, hah! That is nonsense."
Moira leaned close to him. She hoped she would not have to play her trump card.
"Betsy is alive as well Brian."
She said it softly, enough to ensure that no one else heard. Brian's assistant was leaning forward though she doubted he heard. She also caught Debra Levin leaning forward a bit, but she straightened a bit as well, and Moira realized she was just straightening her self in the chair. She was too suspicious these days.
Brian however heard her words. He was a politically motivated man these days, and he also knew what the effect of knowing that his sister was a mutant would do to the others. Very likely he would be voted off the council, under suspicion for being a mutant himself.
"I'm sorry." Moira was, she hated pulling that sort of stunt, but it became necessary sometimes. The rest of the meeting went fairly well, but Moira could see that other hardliners were getting worked up. None was powerful enough to move alone against her but with Brian they could easily. At least she had just guaranteed that from happening.
Moira walked out of her office and stared at her assistant flirting with Jonathan Storm. She was fairly certain that the two were secretly seeing each other, and the clandestine behavior bothered her. Beatrix had changed a lot recently, and Moira wondered at the change. She had caught them one day, in wild abandon in the closet. She had dryly reprimanded them, and then offered her couch in the office while she went out for lunch. She left before they could say another word. In truth Jonny and Beatrix were two of her favorite people, and she felt that their sleeping on the couch would be a good thing. If they didn't get together at least they would be apart. She hated it when she had to pretend not to notice affairs going on around her.
Moira walked into a lavatory and sat down after pulling down her skirt. She thought it was a waste of time, but it was necessary to purge oneself of bad habits before trying to purge an entire community. Someone was interfering. She had suspected that it was one of Apocalypse's spies, but too many events were going on, and many completely opposite to what Apocalypse would want. Unless this was some crazy plan. Moira didn't know, but something was wrong in this city, and it had to be stopped soon. She wondered if she should contact the X-men at this point, then finally decided not to. They had enough problems for the moment.
x----------- -------x
In a small island off the west coast of Italy, the remaining Externals under Nidlen Halfbane met.
Asmodeus found that as always he was one of the first to arrive. It was irritating, especially when one considered that they were perhaps one of the most powerful groups on this world. Even then the others would be late. Of late Halfbane had taken to brooding almost endlessly in his own quarters. Asmodeus had at first respected the man, but now he was beginning to see that like his brother he was half insane, and drunk with power. However, also like his brother, he was cunning and shrewd. Due to him they had finally managed to escape Sammael, and Asmodeus always remembered that Halfbane had a private army, doing his every bidding. Gilgamesh, once his greatest rival, was now perhaps his closest confidant. They still didn't like each other, inborn hatred's were difficult to get over, however they were both logical men, and knew when they would need to work together. Astaroth and Behamen would be of no use there. Astaroth was completely Halfbane's man. Even back when they had begun pulling the strings of the Hellfire, Astaroth had been more content to let others do the thinking, and carry out his part in any plan. A loyal soldier; that would sum up Astaroth. Behamen however was a different matter, although no less useless. Of late she had taken to sleeping with every single young man on this island to catch her fancy, and if Asmodeus's suspicions were correct, some of the women as well. Not that he had anything against miscegenation, or sleeping with one's own gender, but Behamen took it to something beyond even an art form. In the last week he had counted over a hundred times when Behamen had been with a partner. Her sheer stamina was to be wondered at as well.
However the main reasoning behind Behamen's unreliability was that she was flighty and also knew where the power lay. Asmodeus was sure that if Behamen could get proof of their alliance and half hearted plans, she would betray them. Asmodeus wished again Galaire had not died. Of course, Halfbane had not called a meeting since he had told them of her death as well as battle against one of Apocalypse's horsemen. He had too many spies Asmodeus knew.
The door opened and Astaroth entered then, moving almost lethargically. It was an appearance well cultivated. Astaroth was as graceful as the best of them when he wished. Behind him came Behamen, once again her face flushed and her hair slightly mussed. Asmodeus sneered slightly. The way she looked, one would suspect that she was coming from a torrid assignation. Asmodeus knew better. Even she would not be foolish enough to forget a meeting. It was another thing about her that bore watching. Perhaps she was not as hormonal as she seemed to be.
Gilgamesh appeared a few seconds before Halfbane, appearing out of a dark corner and sliding into his seat. Asmodeus still marveled at that power. He was a true master of the shadows.
"Rise!" Halfbane came in with great pomp and show, with a clashing of a huge gong with another, and a little drum roll. Asmodeus started at that. What on earth was he coming in with a drum roll for?
They stood however. Halfbane was one to require such little displays of his power over them. Failure to do so meant punishment. Asmodeus cared little. He had not minded before, and he did not mind now.
"I have thought it over a great deal my compatriots. Galaire's betrayal will not go unpunished. Her death shall not save her from my wrath. However that is all of no importance. With what we know now, it is apparent that Apocalypse has sent the X-men running, and the horsemen prey upon this world, at his bidding. We must be wary now, as these are no common soldiers. In fact, they are possibly stronger than some of us. However, Apocalypse has erred in some ways. He has not given us enough importance, and now we shall disabuse him of his thinking. We are the biggest thorn in his side, and we shall bring him down. I have set a plan into motion already, and Apocalypse will fall. Destiny is of no importance, although her presence would have been a blow to the enemies morale. The best place to start our assault will of course be at the Sea Wall itself. There we shall take apart his security network, and cause his ruin. We shall rule the world."
He bent forward and Asmodeus listened as he spoke, nodding at some parts he thought were sound, while actually thinking inside as to how stupid and blind this endeavor was. The Sea Wall was almost impossible to take down, it would kill them before they got within a hundred feet. Unless Halfbane had some other plan in mind as well.
==============================
Well, that's it then.
Oh yeah, and if anyone notices that some elements of the original AoA pop up now and then, it's because I probably read a comic which I hadn't, and learnt something new that I liked and decided to fit into the story. But Scarlet was planned to come in about here anyway.
Anyway, next chapter things begin shaping up for the final conflict. Which is about three chapters long. Plus, the chapters are loonngg.
Bye now.