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.
Author's
Note: Before I anger all of East Texas the
information about Athens, Texas in my previous fic came directly from the
Athens, Texas homepage…please don't kill the messenger.
Ultimate
verse
Darkened Visions; Part 3
By
NoHaven
The Savage Land, a sanctuary to prehistoric species that once dominated the face of the globe, now living here undisturbed. Overlooking this Sanctuary a large fortress rises from the swamps of the eastern edge. Huge steel walls with large glass windows that create reflections of sunlight visible for miles in all directions, its cold exterior hides its true role, and it is a sanctuary to one man. Magneto, feared mutant terrorist and head of the Brotherhood of Mutants, an anarchical terrorist group bent on wiping Homo sapiens from the face of the earth so that Homo sapient superior may take the role as the dominant species on earth.
Standing
alone in front of a large window overlooking the swamp stands Magneto; despite
his graying hair he still appears quite fit, the muscles of his body quite
visible through his blue and red garb. A man of short stature enters the room
quietly, even cautiously, stopping just inside the doorway he stands quietly.
Without turning to face to short man Magneto speaks, his voice deep and
chilling.
"Have
you completed the task I gave you Toad?" Magneto says in an almost regal tone.
"Yes
Magneto…I informed Wolverine of his task, gave him the information and his fee
and left. I just don't understand why you pay him, surely members of the Brotherhood
don't need to be paid for such tasks." Toad said sheepishly.
"Wolverine
is unlike any other member of the Brotherhood, his loyalties do not lay with
our cause but with his desire to survive." Magneto said striding towards a
polished stainless steel table located in the middle of the room. "I endure his
requests for monetary reimbursement in exchange for his services, because he
serves a purpose for me, men with his skills are difficult to come by. If I must
give him some money so be it, it means nothing to me, only the tasks he performs
matter."
As
Magneto lowered himself into a chair at the head of the steel table a large
television flickered to life. On the screen was the face of his daughter Wanda
Maximoff aka The Scarlet Witch. Raising his eyes to the screen he spoke with a
sense of authority.
"Wanda,
have you completed the task I gave you?"
"No,
Father the girl refused to join. We are sure she will flee soon, we plan to
have her caught by local authorities and then offer her assistance in escaping
in exchange we will ask her to join." Wanda said confidently.
"Have
her caught, but do not offer assistance." Magneto said in a casual manner.
"Why
father? Why not use this as a time to gain her alliance?" Wanda said in a bemused
tone.
"Do
not waste you time trying to convince someone to join us, move to your next
target, then return here." Magneto said in an authoritative tone.
"As
you wish father."
The
face of Magneto's daughter flickered out of sight, for a moment the great room was
filled with a pale sunlight. The great screen flickered a second time and CNN
was visible on screen. The anchor was discussing the attacks on New York and
Washington D.C. by Magneto and the "Brotherhood of Mutants" that had occurred a
month ago. The attacks had been the flash point for the Senate's passing of a
bill authorizing the use of robotic "Sentinels" to hunt and kill mutant
threats. A thin smile grew across Magneto's face. The war was approaching
quickly.
---
In
Salem center another man sat watching the CNN broadcast, shaking his head he
turned the TV off. Turning to face his two students Charles Xavier spoke.
"We
must bring others into our fold to protect them from the Sentinels and from
Magneto. Jean I am giving the task of recruiting two individuals to you." Professor Xavier said tossing two manila
files on his desk.
"Professor,
why does Jean have to go alone? Why can't I go with her?" Scott blurted out.
"You
enthusiasm is appreciated Scott however I am afraid, that your appearance in
this situation would not be useful in keeping the task quiet. Plus if the
sentinels are deployed then Jean and another mutant stand a better chance of
going unnoticed then a small group would." Charles said in a sympathetic tone.
"Who
are the mutants you wish me to contact Professor?" Jean asked.
Handing
one of the folders to Jean the professor began to speak. "The first is Henry
McCoy, a student currently in San Diego, he is a mutant possessing superhuman strength and speed,
extraordinary endurance. His hands and feet are far larger than a normal person
giving him extraordinary balance and agility. He is also a certifiable genius. His father was abusive to him as
a child because he was a mutant, in response he has a sense that mutants and
humans must grow to tolerate each other for their differences." The Professor said.
"And the other?" Jean asked.
Handing the second folder to
Jean the Professor again began to speak. "The second is Piotr Nikolaievitch
Rasputin, formerly a simple farm boy from Siberia he now works for the Russian
Mafia as a enforcer to pay off the cost of his moving to the United States. He possesses
the mutant ability to convert his body into an organic steel-like substance,
granting him superhuman strength and a high degree of resistance to injury. He does not want to continue on
the path he is already on, he is a gentle soul." The Professor finished.
"Alright, well I guess I better
get started." Jean said with an overwhelmed tone.
"Take the Blackbird and
remain in constant contact with me so that I can make you aware of any
situations. If you get into any trouble notify me immediately." The professor said.
"What kind of situations?" Jean
asked.
"If any other mutants are in
trouble and you can assist them, I will notify you." The Professor said.
"Ok" Jean said leaving the
room.
"Good Luck Jean." Scott
called after her. Jean simply turned her head and smiled at the young man.
"Good Luck Jean, and be
careful." The professor said in a concerned tone. As he watched the young woman
leave the room and make her way to the hanger where the Blackbird is housed.
Moments late a low rumble could be felt as the large black aircraft took off
smoothly and head into the sky.
Turning towards Scott the
professor spoke. "You need not worry Scott, she will be fine." The Professor
said trying to reassure the young man and though he did not let on reassure
himself.