Disclaimer: Anyone or anything you
recognize the name from a Marvel comic book, does not belong to me. I have no money, sue if you want you can't
get blood from a stone. Any likeness of
people you recognize, I may know them as well and they know I have no money and
they can't get anything from me.
Ultimate
verse
Darkened Visions; Part 2
By
NoHaven
Athens Texas is your average medium sized city in eastern Texas, with a population of around 60,000 people; its major claim to fame is as the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World". Being 75 miles southeast of Dallas they get a lot of people coming through town traveling on I-175. However lately they have had their share of interesting visitors. Ororo Munroe would be one of these travelers, a young woman of striking beauty she was also one person passing through town that would be remembered. Dressed in a pair of baggy jeans and a white t-shit that left her mid-drift exposed, she also had a small fashionable backpack on, and she walked through the parking lot of the local Wal-Mart on East Tyler Street. Through rows of pickups and SUV's she made her way to the entrance of the store. Passing through the large automated double doors she looked over the layout of the store. She had been in town for two days and done quite well at lifting things from the people of the city, from wallets to clothes. She was planning on leaving tomorrow but she was determined to get the last of her necessities before departing. Walking down the aisles she could feel the eyes of the strangers in the store on her, taking in her figure, her natural beauty.
Reaching the electronics section of the store she quickly canvassed the area, seeing that few were paying attention to her. Swiftly she picked up several CD's and with a small device she had stolen a day earlier she disabled the security pieces from the CD's and pocketed them. Moving to a small case she quickly picked the lock and removed 10 small portable MP3 players, and placed them in the small backpack. Feeling content with her haul she started to leave the store. She knew she could fence her take if she could get to Dallas, and as she quickly passed trough the store to the doors again she was figuring out what she could get for money for just this haul. Approaching the doors she felt the familiar sense of apprehension pass over her as she passed through the security sensors. Passing through the door she moved quickly through the parking lot. As she was nearing the bus stop just beyond the parking lot two individuals approached her. One male and one female, the man was average looking accept for his head of gray hair that stood out on him as he appeared to be fairly young. The female seemed as tall as Ororo, roughly 5'11", with crimson red hair.
"Excuse me, miss Munroe you do not know me but I know of you if you would join me and my brother we would like to speak with you, we can give you a ride to where you need to go." The red haired woman said confidently.
Ororo looked over the two individuals; she figured that if they knew of her they could only be two things, cops or criminals. Deciding they didn't fit the mold of the cops you would find in east Texas she accepted the offer of a ride. The three of them made their way no more than thirty feet to a large black Ford Excursion with tinted windows. Climbing into the back left seat of the large SUV Ororo was seated directly behind the woman as the man got behind the wheel.
"The Motel 6 out on I-175." Ororo said curtly.
"No problem." The young man with gray hair said.
As they pulled out of the parking lot onto East Tyler the woman turned around in the front seat to face Ororo and spoke.
"Well let me introduce myself Ororo, I am Wanda Maximoff and this is my brother Pietro." Wanda said pointing to her brother in the driver's seat. "We wanted to speak to you because we both have similar…concerns as you."
"Is that a fact?" Ororo said quickly raising an eyebrow. "What would those be? How much money you get for lifting MP3 players."
"Not quite…you see, we are mutants like yourself." Wanda said confidently.
Ororo's breath caught, no one could have know she was a mutant, she had told nobody. Who were these people? What did they want with her? How the hell did they know she was a mutant?
"What exactly is going on here? Who the fuck are you two?" Ororo said nervously.
"You have no need to be concerned, we wish you no harm. You see we are members of the "Brotherhood", we fight for the rights of mutants across the globe." Wanda said with poise.
"You guys are part of that terrorist group…"Ororo stammered be fore trailing off.
"We prefer the term freedom fighters." Pietro quipped.
"Ororo as you may know, mutants are feared in this country and across the globe, we are persecuted because we are different. We the members of the "Brotherhood" seek to change that. You see we are mutants, we are the next step in human evolution, we believe that by fighting we can gain what is truly ours…dominance over mankind, we will never again hide in the shadows and fear that we may be attacked because of who we are…there is a war coming, and we are preparing to win that war." Wanda said with passion. "We would like you to join us, join our fight against persecution Ororo and never be scared again."
Ororo sat in silence as they pulled into the parking lot of the Motel 6. Stopping the truck both Pietro and Wanda turned to face the young woman in the back.
"So what will it be? Fight for your freedom or hide in the shadows?" Pietro said sternly.
"Uh…I…I can't join you, I can't be part of what you do." Ororo said while going to open the door.
"If you don't join us, you will always live in fear Ororo…join us and stand up and be proud of who you are. Do you really want to be a thief for the rest of your life? Wouldn't you rather be free, free of being hated for who you are?" Wanda said self-confidently.
"No, I can't…I can't be part in what you do, just leave me be." Ororo said angrily before jumping out of the large truck.
Rolling down the window Wanda spoke once more. "Ororo, a war is coming, you must choose a path to walk, either one side or the other. There will be only one side triumphant, why not choose the inevitable winner?"
"I will choose my own path to walk, I will not be forced to something I do not believe in." Ororo said confidently.
"You have made your choice, let us hope when we meet again Ororo it is not as enemies." Wanda said quickly before rolling the window back up.
Ororo watched as the large black vehicle started to pull out of the parking lot. One thing was for sure she had to get out of town quick, by nightfall she thought. That meant she needed a car. Looking around she saw a red 1978 mustang parked on the other side of the parking lot. She could pack her things, steal the car and be in Dallas in an hour, it would also give her more money to use to get out of Texas, to get away from people like Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. She went to her room and quickly started packing her things.
Across the Interstate just out of sight Wanda and Pietro watched her as she went into her room. Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel Pietro spoke.
"She's gonna run Wanda, I guarantee it, she'll leave tonight."
"Yes she will, and when she does we will make sure she is caught by the authorities. Then when she is in jail and desperate we will again make her an offer." Wanda said as she put on a pair of sunglasses.
----
In Salem Center New York a sleepy town has been abuzz with the fact that a private school is being constructed in the town. On a large estate a man named Xavier was erecting a beautiful school. Many in the town were quite happy about this; a private school meant wealthy kids would be entering the town, which meant wealthy parents would visit from time to time. This meant improved commerce, which meant improved lives. Or at least this what they thought would happen.
At the actual school Charles Xavier sat in his wheel chair in front of a Television and watched CSPAN as the senate approved the limited use of so called "Sentinel" units to defend the country from dangerous mutant threats. Shaking his head he wheeled himself into his study where his only two students waited for him.
Jean Grey was a young girl of spectacular beauty, her hair cut to a short length; she sat dressed in a baggy pair of khaki cargo pants and a tank top. It was easy to see that she was in very good shape as clearly visible on her arms were the defined muscles of an athlete. Next to her sat Scott Summers, his brown hair cut short, he wore faded blue jeans and a black t-shirt, his eyes hidden by a pair of goggles containing a single ruby quartz lens. He had a muscular build and an air of confidence about him.
"Scott, Jean…the time has come for us to begin gathering allies. The Senate has approved the Sentinel program and it is only a matter of short time before the house and the President approve them. My old partner Magneto is sure to strike soon and is likely to be gathering his forces as we speak. A desperate time is approaching children, a time of darkness and pain, through our actions we can prove that not all mutants are a threat." Charles said in an ominous tone.
"So what do you need us to do Professor?" Scott asks quickly.
To Be Continued.