The Brotherhood Chronicles: Understanding.
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Pyro"Right then. Maybe I should start from the beginning. That seems logical. Maybe. I think. Let me check with the higher ups for a second."
"Okay then. I've consulted with the inner demons and they agree. I should start at the beginning. My name is St. John Allerdyce, codename Pyro. Member of Magneto's Acolytes. And also apparently I was the Horseman of Famine for Apocalypse. At least that's what omega and the others are saying. I couldn't really remember until a few hours ago, but now everything's clear. Well, as clear as lighter fluid can be I guess. It seems that when Magneto went missing, I was the only member of the Acolytes that gave a damn. Well not really I guess. I liked Magneto and all, but it was mostly because I was bored and it seemed like something to do. I like things to do. It keeps the Leprechauns that tell me to burn things away. I hate Leprechauns. Little chinstrap Basterds. Anyhow, I ended up running into this here plonker by the name of Sinister. He promised me massive power and world domination for my soul. Small price I thought at the time I guess. I mean come on. Wonderous power? All over that luv. Wait a second. Those pesky angels are back. I have to go set them on fire. Be right back."
"Alright then. Damn angels cry more then orphans when you set their only pair of sock on fire. I mean come on. It's not that cold in January… Anyhow. This bugger Apocalypse sticks me one of his machines that plays the Didgeridoo with me insides and head, like I wasn't crazy enough to begin with; I mean go ahead and ask the Leprechauns. Anyhow he goes and turns me into the living Avatar of Famine. I could feel it. The consuming hunger of the flame. The insatiable thirst. The unquenchable hunger. Wait. Rewind and reverse those last two. Better. I can still feel it I guess. Apocalypse is out of my head now, but I can still feel his 'gifts'. They're crawling at the edge of my thoughts. But that's okay. They can keep those damn Leprechauns company. I've got more important things to do. Like burn things. Needless to say, Magneto has offered me my old position in the Acolytes, and I'm right up for taking it. These new kids look like they could use some laughs. Morph's doing a fine job and all, but he could use some help. And fire. But then again, everyone could use some fire. I like fire."
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Archangel"I still don't know what happened. One minute I'm flying through the Morlock tunnels looking for survivors from Sabertooth's attack, the next thin I know I'm in an Egyptian Pyramid, screaming in pain as I watch a living God float by, a simply smile pasted on his hideous face. I never met Apocalypse before, but it turns out I was his right hand man. I was Death incarnate. Not necessarily the best way to get people loyal to him, but I guessed it worked. I mean hell; I turned on my friends and students. Basterd."
"I think the worse thing he did was give me the gift of death. All the horsemen were give a special ability to correspond with their position. I know Omega as War, could see every possibility of a battle and how to move through a fight to guarantee himself victory. Pyro has the ability to see the inner hunger of every soul, and how to exploit it, and make them weaker. Caliban could create and generate any disease you could think of. AIDS, SARS, Bubonic Plague, anything… And me. I could look at someone and see the exact moment of his or her death. How they died, when they died, and why they died. The only problem is that I can still see it. Hell, I felt Apocalypse die. Somebody out there killed him. Which means there's only something more dangerous than a living God out there."
"As I look at my friends I can see them, their smiling faces, they're happy that I'm back. But I'm not. I can see them all die. I look at them, and see only death. This isn't a way to live. So I try to control it. But I can't. The only thing I see now is Death. But I guess this gives me an edge with saving them. That's all I can hope for really. Being able to save them and pay penance for all those I killed while I was Death incarnate. I just hope I'll have the strength when the time comes."
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Omega"Okay. We're alone. What did you want to talk to me about?" Mike said as he walked with Betsy through SHIELD's Helicarrier. Fury was working with Dr. Cooper and the Brotherhood to figure out what had happened recently.
"Damn it Michael!" Betsy screamed at her husband as stopped inside one of the hallways of the SHIELD Helicarrier. "How could you be so bloody careless?"
"Is this about War?" mike asked.
"Yes you bloody twit!" Betsy screamed. "How could you be so reckless?"
"It needed to be done Bets!" Mike shouted back. "You have no clue how dangerous the Horsemen were. You all would have been killed if I didn't let War out!"
"So you think you can go and play hero, and let out that demon that took my husband away from me once before, and think that everything will be all fine and dandy?" Betsy asked.
"No. I don't. I knew the risks. But they needed to be taken. We were out gunned, and our strongest hitters were captured. Jesus. Look at what happened to Mesmero, Mastermind and Wolverine." Mike said simply.
"That could have been you." Betsy responded. "Or you could have lost control and that could have been any of us as well."
"Jesus. Don't you think I know what that demon is capable of? He's a part of me Betsy. The same way the Crimson Dawn is a part of you."
"But the Dawn isn't a servant of one of the greatest threats the world has ever known." Betsy snapped.
"I don't have to explain myself to you. I made a decision to save my friends and make sure you didn't get killed. I stand by it." Mike said bitterly as he crossed his arms.
"So that's it? No trusting me? You had to go and do it on your own without so much of a thought of telling your wife? We're partners Michael! You should have at least told me what you were planning! Not go behind my back and betray my trust…"
"Betray your trust?" Mike chocked out. "Who's been in my head for the last year, keeping this thing locked down without my permission." Mike snapped. "Ever think of asking at least once?"
"Are you serious?" Betsy asked. "I've have spent countless Asteral hours creating those barriers to keep that thing contained, and you go and have Xavier tear them down in minutes!"
"Exactly! You never asked if I wanted that done." Mike said simply. "War is a part of me. And I can't be whole if part of me is locked away."
"Yous seriously want that thing out?" Bets demanded.
"No! But I would have liked the chance to see if I could control it on my own, without the almighty Psylocke interfering. Jesus Christ! I've done enough shit for you, that I think I deserve to be trusted without having it turned against me!"
"Screw you!" Betsy snapped as she turned her back to him.
"Excuse me?" Mike asked in shock. "Did you just say screw me? After I gave up part of my freaking soul to bring you back? The whole reason I have this thing inside of me is because I love you. Christ Betsy. I was willing to sacrifice anything for you. And now you go flipping out because I do one freaking thing without your permission?"
"If it was buying a car, or selling stocks, I wouldn't care." Betsy said as she faced him. "But this was something that could have made sure we couldn't be together. Or worse, killed you. Bloody Hell Michael! You threatened everything we've worked for!"
"And I supposed if I asked you, you would have agreed to it?" Mike stated.
"Of course not you idiot!" Betsy snapped. "I would have knocked you out myself and made sure you stayed down!"
"There we go with the name calling." Mike snapped. "I made a choice Betsy. And I'm not sorry for it. You can accept it, or you can get out of my face!" Mike stated simply. Betsy responded by slapping him harshly across the face.
"Asshole." Betsy swore, tears streaming down her face as she stormed away.
"Screw you!" Mike responded to her departing form.
"Jesus. And-I-thought-I-had-relationship-problems." Pietro said as he walked over.
"She's just pissed that I didn't tell her my plan." Mike said bitterly. "She'll get over it."
"Why-didn't-you-tell-her. Or-us-for-that-matter?" Pietro asked.
"Honestly?" Mike asked.
"Yea."
"I didn't think it would come down to it. I thought we would be able to breach the Pyramid without running into the Horsemen. When we did, I made a spur of the moment decision to try and save lives."
"Yea-well-your-decision-almost-got-you-killed."
"I know. But it needed to be done. Pietro, you have no clue what I was capable of as War. And I was only the second most powerful horseman. Think of what Death could do if he wanted to. I figured my life was a small price to pay to keep them busy while you all defeated Apocalypse."
"And-that-turned-out-so-well. Apocalypse-became-a-god-and-then-somebody-killed-him."
"Yea. Which begs the question of who's powerful enough to kill a God?" Mike asked darkly.
"On-a-side-note, they-found-Forge-dead." Pietro said simply.
"How?" Mike asked. "Deadpool finally get him?"
"No. He died of some kinda virus." Todd said simply as he walked over with Fred.
"A virus?" Mike asked. "Probably Pestilence."
"That's what the docs are thinking. It's something new that they haven't seen before." Fred said simply. "They quarantined the entire area where he was found, and they have Beast doing the autopsy later with some doc named Pym."
"How-the-Wolverine?"
"Laura said his Adamantium was completely stripped from his bones, and his healing factor got trashed trying to repair the damage. He's going to be out for a very long time." Todd said. "X is with him now, so she'll probably be gone for a few days.
"That's fine. We have work to do." Mike said simply. "My memories of Egyptian are back, so I'm helping Fury and his teams figure out what exactly happened with the glyphs all over the cavern. You should all head back home. I'll be home in a few days."
"What do we do about Lance?" Wanda asked as she walked over. "He's not talking at all. And he looks completely gone. Like part of him died."
We-keep-an-eye-on-him." Pietro said. "Try-to-get-him-to-talk."
"And make sure he doesn't kill himself." Mike added. "Betsy picked up on some huge emotional trauma, but couldn't get anything else. His Psi-shields are to well developed."
"If it's emotional, then the Cat has to be involved somehow." Todd pointed out. I'll ask Laura to snoop around while she's at Xavier's."
"Good idea. Freddy, keep an eye on Betsy for me." Mike asked.
"She's not staying here with you?" Blob asked.
"We're not on speaking terms right now." Mike responded quietly.
"Ouch." Todd mused.
"Yea. I'll catch you guys later." Mike said as he walked away.
"So. Homeward bound anyone?' Wanda shrugged.
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Next Time on The Brotherhood Chronicles: Law and Order. Dr. Cooper meets with the new head of the Mutant Control Bureau and discovers that there's legislation on the docket to force mutants to register.
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Later all,
Descendent
