Plots, Plots and More Plots
Back at the Pit, General Hawk was having a weekly briefing with his command staff, Duke, Flint and Beach Head. Mainframe, their computer expert was there as well giving them the data he had found on Cobra's activities.
"So as you can see sir," Mainframe pointed to the data. "According to the evidence there is no doubt that Cobra is responsible for destroying the Dallas branch of the FOH headquarters."
"But wasn't Cobra sending some armed shipments to that area only a few months ago?" Duke asked.
"That's right," Mainframe nodded.
"Wait a minute," Beach Head looked at the files. "First Cobra arms these FOH branches, then all of the sudden they attack them and destroy them? Why? I mean what is their game?"
"Good question," Mainframe nodded. "Here's another interesting tidbit, I managed to find this on the net. Take a look."
On the screen was a Cobra recruitment website. However there was something odd on the screen. Mutants of the World Unite! Join Cobra! Great pay and opportunity for advancement for mutants. The majority of the web page was on how Cobra believed in the superiority of mutantkind and it was time for mutants to take control of their destiny by joining Cobra.
"Cobra is trying to recruit mutants?" Duke asked. "It's gotta be a trick of some kind."
"If it is, it's a doozy," Hawk said. His pager beeped. He looked at the number. "Damn! I need to take this. I'll be back."
He left the meeting room and went to his office. There he saw General Flagg waiting for him. "I take it this isn't a social call?"
"I'm afraid not," Flagg sighed. "This has to do with your 'special project.'"
"Which one?" Hawk smiled.
"The mutants," Flagg handed him a sheet of paper. "I managed to intercept this document. But somehow others got through…"
Hawk read it. "I don't believe it! I could have sworn we had this under tight security!"
"Not tight enough," Flagg shook his head.
"Who knows?" Hawk said.
"Only the people who matter the most," Flagg said.
"The Jugglers," Hawk sighed. "I know some of them already knew but…"
"The Jugglers all know now," Flagg sighed. "And there's quite a bit of discord within the ranks. Ever since the big shake up they don't like keeping secrets from each other. At least the older members. They've called a special meeting about what to do with the kids. Three guesses who leaked the information."
"Bragg," Hawk growled as he crumpled the paper in his hands.
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"Come in Firefly, I have an assignment for you," Cobra Commander said.
"I am at your service Cobra Commander," Firefly said as he entered the throne room. "What do you want me to do?"
"Do you remember the X-Men?" Zartan asked.
"Those mutants the Baroness tried to capture?" Firefly asked. "Yes. What about them?"
"They have become a thorn in my side. I want you to destroy the X-Mansion," Cobra Commander ordered.
"This will take time," Firefly said. "Not only to find a way around the security system but to deal with any freaks that come after me."
"Here are some plans and bios of the mutants," Cobra Commander tossed him a disk. "I will give you exactly one month to do the job. I suggest you start right away."
Firefly nodded and left. Cobra Commander changed back into Mystique. "You're going to have the X-Mansion blown up again?" Zartan asked.
"If at first you don't succeed," She grinned. "Try and try again."
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"Well Destro I must admit that was actually a pleasant dinner," Emma finished her glass of wine. "To tell you the truth I wasn't expecting such an excellent repast."
"I'm glad it pleased you," Destro said.
"First thing that did since I came to this dump," She sighed. "I even got bit by a damn mosquito in my quarters."
"Yes there are a lot of annoying insects that we must contend with," Destro nodded. "But now to business. The sooner we finish the project, the sooner we can vacate this god forsaken place."
"Agreed," Emma nodded. "I take it you have looked over the plans for the improvements in the pulsar cannon?"
"Yes," Destro said. "As well as the new source of energy. I must admit I am impressed. I thought the gems of Cytorak were but a myth."
"They are very real," Emma told him. "Once the modifications are finished, Cobra will have an extremely powerful laser."
"Yes but why bother with a simple laser?" Destro leaned forward. "When they can do so much more?"
"I take it you are referring to the ancient legend of ultimate power?" Emma asked.
"More like the genetic enhancements they can give to the human body," Destro said. "You can create a superhuman army with them."
"Unfortunately the gems' effects are…shall we say too unstable," Emma told him.
"I see," Destro fingered his wineglass. "I'd like to see the research on them sometime if I may. Just out of curiosity."
"Oh?" Emma raised an eyebrow.
"Still if it is as you say perhaps you are correct in using the gems as weapons instead of biological enhancers," Destro told her.
"If it was feasible don't you think I would have used it on myself?" Emma asked.
"Did you?" He grinned.
"What do you think?" Emma purred.
"I think," Destro leaned so that his face was right near Emma's. "That you are a very fascinating woman."
"Well," She grinned. "Tell me something is it true that you and the Baroness are…?"
"We're…temporarily separated if that's what you mean," Destro grinned. "However I am a man who believes in keeping business and pleasure separated."
"I don't know," Emma grinned. "Mixing business with pleasure can be fun sometimes. Do you always wear that mask?"
"It's a family tradition," Destro told her. "A very long old story that can wait for another time. Perhaps when we get to know each other better."
"You don't believe in rushing things do you?"
"It is my experience that the greatest pleasures are the ones that you wait for," He kissed her hand. "It makes one appreciate them better. As well as savor them. If you'll excuse me I must retire for now. I have some minor staffing concerns that I must attend to."
"Ah yes," Emma nodded. "Putting the fear of god into the hired help is a bore sometimes. No matter how much fun it is scaring the stuffing out of them."
"Until tomorrow," Destro bowed. "I bid you adieu." He left the room.
Emma relaxed in her chair. Well this one is a tough nut to crack, She thought to herself. I can't scan his mind. Must be his blasted helmet. No matter. He doesn't know I'm a mutant and he is only a man after all. I'll have him eating out of my hand in no time. And when he finds out what the real plans for the Pulsar Cannon are for, it will be too late.
Meanwhile Destro had retired to his secret lab. "I take it the DNA retrieval was a success?" He asked his assistant.
"Yes sir," He smiled. "Those tiny little metal bugs are very handy."
"Good, remind me to congratulate Scrap Iron for creating them. Computer activate Bio Scanner," Destro said. "Subject Emma Frost. This will tell me if there is anything else I need to know."
"According to her file she is what she says she is," His assistant said.
"Yes she does have a very impressive business record," He scanned the folder. "But my instincts tell me that there is much more to her than meets the eye. Ah the computer has tallied the data."
"Sir according to this she's X-Gene positive," His assistant said. "She's a mutant! Identifying her gene traits now. This will tell us what her powers are." The data soon showed up on screen.
"It seems our Ms. Frost is a telepath," Destro muttered to himself. "Good thing my mask has a special built in shield for deflecting telepathy. Now the question is, what exactly is she doing here? And whose side is she really on?