Chillin' With the Villains
When Zartan told me I'd have power, I had no idea how much, Mystique thought as she watched the Congressman on the screen. In her disguise as Cobra Commander she had been making calls to several congressmen and lawyers. People who had many secret dealings with Cobra.
She delighted in seeing Congressman Hackle squirming in his seat. "But you told me months ago that when the Mutant Registration Bill came up to vote yes on it!"
"I know what I told you," Mystique hissed. "I've changed my mind. You are to vote against the Mutant Registration Bill."
"But what about my supporters?" Congressman Hackle asked. "My constituents won't be happy!"
"How happy do you think they'll be when they find out you've been using their tax dollars to fund your own personal harem in the Caribbean?" Mystique was enjoying herself. "Not to mention helping Cobra out every now and then."
"You have a point," Hackle gulped. "All right. I just hope you know what you're doing."
"Don't worry. I know exactly what I'm doing," Mystique said. "Cobra Commander out." She shut off the videophone. "That was the last one."
"I swear you get better each time," Zartan chuckled as he emerged from the shadows.
"I have impersonated several people in my time but I must admit that being the head of Cobra is the most fun I have had in ages," Mystique said. A chime told her that someone was at the office door. "What is it now?"
"Dr. Mindbender sir," The guard's voice at the door said.
"Probably here to tell us about the test on the Brotherhood," Mystique said. "Show him in."
Mindbender came in with a tape. "Mindbender welcome," Mystique said, deciding to go with the benevolent Cobra Commander. "So how successful was the test?"
"Sir I regret to inform you that our test on the latest batch of synthoid mutants has failed," Dr. Mindbender bowed. "I believe this was due to the instability of the formula. In fact we couldn't even transfer some of the X-Men's powers to them, such as the ones called Shadowcat and Rogue. Given more time we can create a more…"
"WHAT?" Mystique slammed her fist on the table. "Never mind your excuses! I want to see the footage!"
"Right away Cobra Commander," Mindbender set it up on the monitor. "This was taken using one of our insect spycams."
Mystique could not believe what she witnessed on the monitor. "HOW COULD THOSE IDIOTS BEAT THEM?" She bellowed. "THEY COULDN'T EVEN BEAT THE REAL X-MEN! HOW…."
"Commander…" Zartan's voice was carrying a warning.
Mystique got herself under control. "Obviously the formula was unstable! How long do you think it would take to create a more permanent formula for the synthoids?"
"Do want my honest opinion?" Mindbender asked.
"No Doctor I want you to lie to me!" Mystique snapped.
"If I need to create a permanent, more stable mutated synthoid. One that will not easily destroy under any damage…I will need at least two more years."
"TWO YEARS?" She growled.
"We are working as fast as we can!" Mindbender pleaded. "But even with our technology there are limits! The components we need just haven't been created yet! With more men and resources I…"
"GET OUT!" Mystique threw a cup at Mindbender. He ran out of the room quickly.
One of his assistants was waiting on the other side of the door. "I take it he was not happy?" He said.
"Actually," Mindbender sighed. "He took it a lot better than I expected. At least he didn't try to shoot me this time!"
Back in the office Mystique returned to her natural state. "AAGGGGH!" She screamed. "I can't believe this!"
"Calm down dearest," Zartan went up to her. "It's just a minor setback. That's all."
"That's all?" She snapped. "That's all? I need an army Zartan! We need an army if mutants are ever going to rule the earth and ensure the survival of our species!"
"And we will get one," Zartan walked behind her and held her shoulders. "In time."
"Time? Who has time? Sure we may have sunk the Mutant Registration Bill for now, but how long? There's no way those sniveling cowards Cobra's backed are going to stay in office much longer after that bill falls through. And they will revive it again, I know they will! You know they will!"
"Calm down. Let's do a review shall we?" Zartan said. "On the positive side today we have nearly single handedly stalled the Mutant Registration bill so that it will not get to the Senate."
"For now!" Mystique snapped. "There's no telling when those bigots will try to pass it again!"
"Focus," Zartan rubbed her shoulders. "The important thing is we stalled them and bought us more time. During this time we can work on breeding and recruiting real mutants. And we can still have the good doctor work on his synthoid army on the side. What's two years in the grand scheme of things? Besides, Mindbender works extremely well under pressure. With a little bit of it correctly applied, we may have that army yet in little more than a year. So it's not a loss cause."
"You're right," Mystique sighed. "I had no idea how difficult it was running Cobra."
"Yes I have to admit, the real Cobra Commander may not be the greatest military strategist, but when it comes to organizing and implementing new projects, he does have that talent," Zartan sighed.
"Have you gotten any more information out of him?" She asked.
"No," Zartan grumbled. "The bastard's more resistant to the truth serums than I thought. And regular methods of torture are too risky. He's infamous for setting traps within traps. He'll give us information, but just enough to hang ourselves with. Don't worry. Soon enough we will have all the information we need and then we can dispose of him."
"Well at least that's some news," Mystique sighed as he massaged her back.
"I have more news. I just got word that that our soldiers have now not only successfully infiltrated that Wyoming FOH militia group but they have already eliminated most of the humans responsible for the deaths of those mutants. Not to mention destabilizing that cell. I'm told that the leader is quite jealous of his second in command and now believes that he is sleeping with his wife for some reason."
"Oh really?" Mystique purred under Zartan's administrations. "Is it true?"
"He thinks so. Anyway I wouldn't be surprised if it ends rather messy. Wouldn't you say?"
"Hmmm," Mystique grinned as Zartan kissed her neck.
"Plans are in place for the final steps of Destro's latest creation. Some kind of laser that will help us take over the world. I really didn't get many details but things are going smoothly. So the only little hitch today was the failed synthoid experiment."
"Yes well perhaps that was rather far fetched," She sighed. "I'm afraid we are going to need real mutants to help us take over the planet."
"That may be the first intelligent decision you've made since you started this," The door opened, revealing the shadow of a woman.
"HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE?" Mystique roared as she changed back to Cobra Commander.
"Don't bother," She waved. "I know you're not that egotistical loon. Oh it was quite easy to knock your guards out and find directions to your main chamber," She smiled. "Their minds were like open books. Well in the case of your Dreadnoks Zartan more like coloring books."
"You're a telepath," Mystique frowned as she reverted to her original form. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Don't worry Mystique," The woman said. "I have no intention of exposing you. To be honest, I'm quite impressed with your work."
"Who are you?" Zartan asked.
"My name is Emma Frost," She smiled. "And I think we might be able to do some business."