BLACK WINGS Chapter 24 - Gods And Monsters by Justin Anderson
"...for it is a world of gods and monsters!" Saturday, March 1st, 2003. 11:06 PM, Manhattan Carnage ran before the Blackbird could find a suitable landing spot. He was gone by the time its passengers began to exit. "Nice going, you scared him off!" the Black Wings shouted. He ran off, hoping to pick up Carnage's trail. Odds are, Carnage would at least kill a few people. "Carnage can not run forever..." Magneto said. "That is not why I am here, however. I decided to examine Screl's laboratory once more. I found this." He handed Jake a small black book. "Names, cities, and phone numbers. He was keeping a list, it seemed." "Okay... wonder if any of these people concern us?" Jake asked. "Only one way to find out," Wolverine replied. 11:31 PM, Westchester Jake had his light on, examining the book. He heard a knock at the door. "It's open," he said. Beast entered the room. "Perhaps you should study that tomorrow. I am concerned you are developing poor sleeping habits." "Like it'll matter. I know what happens to clones. Take a look at this..." he said, handing the book over. "He had quite a list. Contacts in various cities." "Look at the next three pages. Notice anything?" Beast flipped through. "A few names in other countries." "I know that, but look at the countries!" Jake said. "Hmm... I see. Germany, Spain, France, and one in Japan. I think we know why you speak those languages." "Most likely," Jake said. "I might want to start calling these people. What time is it in Tokyo right now?" Sunday, March 2nd. 9:12 AM Jake entered the meeting room. "I've been up all night calling people, and I'm still not done with the US names. Scientists in five separate countries, a few knew Screl personally, either through medical school or they worked with him. The rest knew who he was. I think you can guess what ties everyone in the book together?" he asked. "Omnitech," Logan said. "It's not all I got. Screl was employed with them for six months until he went to work with Jacobs. Omnitech ordered his transfer. They funded a number of his projects. The immortality serum was probably one of them. A few weren't willing to say much, but they hinted that Omnitech was also funding a few other groups. Peterson's information checked, they did start as All Technologies until they were bought out. "I don't know why this woman's done this, or what an ex-CIA agent would be doing with a corporation, but they're developing weapons, creating cyborg killers, they shot up a neighborhood in Los Angeles, who knows what else. It gets worse, too." "I dread to hear it," Beast said. "Well, brace yourself," Jake replied. "I talked with Peterson before the meeting, he thinks even Bush knows what Omnitech is doing, he just doesn't care. He discussed it with Colin Powell, Powell's convinced Bush knows something. They both went to confront him, he threatened to have them thrown out." 10:19 AM, Manhattan The guards tried to restrain Octavius, who fought them aggressively. "I want my arms back!" he shouted as sedatives were injected. He was lifted off the floor. "Hey, wait..." The guard felt his temple. "There's something under the skin!" 12:32 PM Cletus followed Carnage. He'd slowed down, making it easy. He wasn't completely surprised to see Carnage head for Osborn Industries. Carnage entered through the roof. The Black Wings kept his distance, crawling in through a ventilation shaft. He found the laboratory. "I'm tired again, Osborn..." "I know. It's why you came back, to sleep. So he can't find you. He's just like Spider-Man, he can't leave well enough alone. None of them can..." Osborn said. "It's why they'll all be destroyed. Omnitech will destroy them for us. The mutants, and the humans!" The Black Wings kicked the vent in, jumping into the room. He had guns trained on them. "You flipped, Osborn. You been helping Omnitech?" "Why not? Osborn shouted. "It's TIME for everyone to die. It is time for the Goblin to rule! No more humans, only the Goblin!" The lab door opened. The Hobgoblin walked in, juggling an explosive. "Take my friend here. Screl's clones are falling apart, but I saved Macendale!" "Yes. I'm not some guy in a mask anymore. I AM the Goblin!" Macendale shouted. It was true. His skin had changed, his face that of the Hobgoblin. Pointed ears, large teeth, and his tongue flicking in and out of his mouth as he spoke. "I got him out. He killed Kingsley in prison, you know. There will be no false Goblins, and as soon as Norman Osborn's face is no longer needed, I will become the TRUE Goblin!" Osborn explained. "And I get to sit and pick the remains," Carnage said. Cletus dropped his weapons. "Okay. You win. Just one question. Mind if I smoke?" "Be my guest," Osborn said. Cletus reached into his pocket. He pulled a remote explosive, hitting the timer button. Flinging it like a Frisbee, he ducked inside the ventilation shaft, covering his head as the bomb went off. He left quickly. 12:57 PM "... it's believed the explosion was a lab accident, but fire investigators are unsure. Norman Osborn is believed to have been killed, but no body has been recovered at this time." Natasha turned off her television. "Osborn's dead. Too bad," she said, laughing. Her office door opened. "Ah, you're here, mister Gargan." The Scorpion stood in front of her desk. "I have another job for you. Find this Black Wings and kill him. Do whatever you have to. I don't think Carnage is going to do his job." 1:19 PM Her office doors were broken in, SWAT agents training assault rifles on her. General Peterson walked in, gun aimed at her. "Natasha Hensley, you're under military arrest. The charges are murder, conspiracy, terrorism, and I'm sure I can make about twenty other charges stick." 4:28 PM "And do you have any actual proof that either Miss Hensley, or her corporation, have broken any laws?" the judge asked. "We have eyewitnesses, your honor!" the DA replied. "At best, you have one reliable witness. In light of the lack of evidence in this case, I'm releasing the defendant on her own recognizance." General Peterson was growing fed up with the legal system. He drew his pistol, aimed at her. Bailiffs drew their guns, Agents drew theirs in response. "Order! General, I'd advise you to lower your weapon. The same goes for your men." 4:47 PM 'Just hope I can get in here...' Cletus thought, checking the outer perimeter of the Omnitech Industries building. "Need some help?" He turned. Jake and Toad were standing behind him. "Sabretooth's back at the mansion. We heard she was arrested, doesn't look like security lightened up though," Jake said. "No," Cletus replied. "It got worse. They probably expected something. But it's slacking some, General called, judge released her." "We're going in with you," Jake said. "No!" "You might want us along," Toad said. "You may wanna take some stuff out. Besides, I brought some equipment to tap into their security video feeds. Might be interesting!" "Okay, but it's probably suicide!" They snuck in easily through a rear entrance, carefully holding it open a crack as a guard passed through. They crept down the halls. Toad stopped at a wall panel. "Now, to disable a few cameras, put the video on loop, they won't spot us." He tinkered with the device, attaching it to the wires, punching buttons. "There. We'd better hide though," he said. They went up several flights of stairs, avoiding security. Cletus found the records on the fifth floor. "No lights... lets check it." They entered. Filing cabinets, flickering computer monitors, all waiting for them. They began checking the filing cabinets. "Okay, here we go... something on the photon cannon," Jake said. "A photon setting to combat mutants. Stun setting for human targets, ion for mechanical devices." Toad inspected another. "Sales records of equipment. Wait... what?" The records showed sales to named he recognized. "A few of these were in the Brotherhood at some point. All mutants!" "What?" Jake asked. They looked over several more filed. Sales records to known human terrorist groups, and to known mutant terrorists. "Al-Queda, the Klan, militia movements, even to members of the Brotherhood." "What are these assholes up to?" Cletus asked. "I thought they were against the mutants?" "Apparently not. Looks like they're arming whoever buys. Both sides lose, they profit..." Jake said. Cletus grabbed a few files. They left the room, finding a lab in similar condition. Equipment lined the tables. "An operating room," Jake said. Blood stained operating tables. "Cyborg manufacturing," Cletus said. Small electronic chips sat in a rack beside one table. He opened a large cabinet. Several pairs of mechanical arms were waiting for him. "Holy!" Jake shouted. The other two ran to him. "Oh, thought this was... it's another cybernetic torso." "With that artificial skin," Cletus said. "Creepy," Toad commented. "Think we could take this with us?" Jake asked. "Why not?" "You two finish here, I'm gonna install that security tap," Toad said. Jake picked up a steel case. Cletus had gone back to the mechanical arms. Opening the case, he inspected the device. "I'm taking this with me," he said. "What is it?" "Another photon cannon," Jake replied. "Hey, check this out," Cletus said. Jake looked at the small device. "Instructions with it. Look at this!" Jake took the report. "So this is how they match the artificial skin to the real thing..." "Take it," they said in unison. 5:35 PM, Westchester Cletus sat the torso on the lab table. "I see we have a better sample of the artificial skin," Beast said as he entered the room. "Among other things," Cletus said. "Files. They've been arming anti-mutant groups, anti-human groups, terrorists, you name it! Weapons, electronics, medical supplies! On the plus side, I got rid of Carnage. The explosion at Osborn Industries. He was helping Carnage, it's why he would disappear for days at a time. He mutated the Hobgoblin, was gonna do the same to 'imself. If we're lucky, they all bought it. "This is going too far," Xavier said. "I agree, actually," Cletus replied. "Osborn was helping Omnitech too, he wanted humans out of the way for his goblin race. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a video feed to check." He left the mansion in a hurry. Sabretooth watched him leave. "We'd better get goin'," Toad said. "Eh. I'd like to snap the runt's neck first, but..." Several miles down the road, Cletus was attacked. He recognized the tail. "I'm gonna hurt you BAD, Kasady!" Cletus drew a gun, the Scorpion dodging. A car slammed on its brakes nearby, the driver firing from his window. The Scorpion ran. "Who the hell-" "You have powerful allies. Keep that in mind," the driver said before speeding off. The Scorpion had vanished. He propped the Harley on its wheels, speeding down the road. 5:47 PM, Manhattan "Dammit, where the hell is it?" Natasha screamed, expecting no answer. She searched the lab. "What the hell happened to the dimensional displacement activator?" "Bad news," a guard said as he ran into the room. "Several files are missing from the records room." "The Black Wings... had to be, he's Peterson's dog. And even if I got rid of Peterson, he'd STILL be after us. It's time we began moving the project forward..." 6:18 PM The video screen came on. Natasha adjusted the camera. "Good to see you're awake, Mister Mohammed," she greeted. "What are you calling me for?" "Because you owe me. I'm moving ahead of schedule, it's time you and your group pulled your weight!" she shouted. "We do not work for you. In our country, you would hide your face, you and your kind would bow to us-" "SHUT UP! I'm not IN your country! And in case you've forgotten, you only smuggled your agents into THIS country because of me. If not for me, you would never have been able to fly those planes into the towers. I gave you money, I gave your men flight training, I gave your men papers, tell me why I should let YOU have all the credit?" "Because we fight for Allah and for retribution against the infidels!" he said. "Oh, please... you still believe in God? Go ahead, soon enough, I'll be the only God, because people will have to do as I say. And in case you idiots have forgotten, a Norse God is a member of the Avengers. In fact, he helped clean up your damage. I don't see YOUR God doing anything to help YOU..." Cletus sat in the ventilation shaft, watching the small video monitor. The security camera in her office was showing him everything. He wanted to finish the job, shoot her now. But he was only on the sixth floor, getting to the top would require too much. He wasn't armed properly, he couldn't take on everyone. As soon as her conversation ended, he removed the tape from the device. 9:32 PM, Washington, D.C. "We need to get this on the air, now," Cletus said, handing the tape to General Peterson. "Okay... what is it?" "It'd be best to get it on the air, live feed. It'll explain everything." "All right," Peterson replied. "I found out something about Miss Hensley we missed earlier. She left the CIA after being wounded about four years ago. While she was hospitalized, her superiors learned she was a mutant. She wasn't let go, she just quit. She bought All Technologies a year later using a large inheritance her parents had left." 10:04 PM, Manhattan The tape aired from D.C. news stations, copies quickly being passed on to other cities. It aired in Manhattan. The city watched her confession. It had all been her fault. If she had not given them the money and the opportunity, the damage would not have happened. Natasha shot her office television. "The Black Wings... this whole city will be after me. Prepare the Sentinels..." 10:38 PM, Washington, D.C. "I'm sorry, but you can't go in right now," the guard said. "Why not?" Cletus asked. "Because, it's a private Congressional hearing." Cletus nodded, turning away. He quickly spun, firing a tendril at the guard, binding him to the wall. He kicked the large doors in. He stood before Congress. "What is the meaning of this?" "You saw the video. It's why you're meeting. I just wanna know what you're planning on doing, that's all. After all, I recovered that tape, I wanna know what's gonna happen now." "So you're the one who exposed Miss Hensley. All right, you can stay. Now, as I was saying, it's time we took action. It is time we ignore the constitution and save this country." "I agree," another member said. "It is TIME we did something about the Muslims, the Atheists, the Jews, and the mutants!" "EXCUSE ME?" Cletus shouted. "Be quiet or leave," someone shouted. "This does not concern you." He looked around. It was not a full meeting. Only select Congressmen had arrived. "Where's everyone else?" he asked. "We have minor opposition, younger fellows who are too stupid to make the right decisions. President Bush ordered us here to make preliminary decisions. We've known about Miss Hensley for some time now. She has helped the president's approval rating, I think it's only fair to keep her as long as she has a use to us." "We are merely putting into motion new laws that will bring solid Christian values back to this country, nothing more. We will not tolerate perversions!" another said. "I see," Cletus replied. "I see what this is. Let me tell you something, a good man died recently. He was an example of what a good Christian should be. You're just an example of religious control. Hateful, intolerant, this'll be the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition all over again, breaking all the rules, rules you say you believe in just so you can push some agenda. Have you ever even READ the Bible, or would what's IN the Bible go against your grand plans?" "That's enough, Mister Kasady," the chairman said. "May I ask, what religion do you belong to? What Church?" "Me? I don't. I've been to other worlds, I've met other races, I've been to other realities, I've seen too much to believe your lies when I know the truth. And you, what do I see? Oppression, hatred. You said the Japanese internment was A necessary thing! YOU'VE tested chemical weapons in subways. If being a patriot means being a hate-mongering, blinded, ignorant murdered, then no, I'm no patriot. Thousands died because of your so-called morals, I'll be damned if thousands more will die for it." "That's all well and good," he replied. "But President Bush is already leading troops to deal with the mutant problem here, soon we will wipe out Iraq, and anyone else who does not meet the proper standards. So tell me, what do you expect to do about it?" "Hmm... good question. Can I think it over? Mind if I smoke?" he asked. "Be my guest, take all the time you want, we're not going anywhere." He reached inside his coat, quickly drawing an Ingram. He opened fire in a wide arc, his right hand drawing a second as the left swept the room. Guns blazing, he had killed them all in less than a minute. 'Bush? Oh, no... Xavier!' 11:14 PM, Westchester. The meeting room was quiet. Logan couldn't take the silence. "Who are we goin' after first? That woman, or her army?" "Both," Jake said. "Please, we must not become angry, or we will not win," Xavier said. Scott shouted, "It's too late, professor!" "He is right," Beast replied. "We know what she's done, and what she will do." "I'm starting to believe Magneto was right," Jake said. "You can't mean that," Jean shouted. "I know this is bad, but we can't give up." "I'm sorry, Jean! You're the closest to a mother I've ever had. The only one who I could talk to when I couldn't make sense of anything, even when I couldn't talk to Xavier. Stuff I couldn't say to Xavier, but I could to you. But it's over... I was brought into a world of hatred. You people are the only hope left, but what do we have to fight for? More fighting?" He left the room. On his way to the kitchen, a powerful force shattered the hall windows, sending him against the wall. The others poured out of the meeting room. "Some sort of concussion grenade..." Jake said. He could see the troops gathering on the front lawn. Helicopters preparing to land, vehicles pouring out. The X-Men gathered on the front lawn, prepared for a battle. President Bush walked to the front of the gathering. "Charles Xavier, order your men to stand down." "What is the meaning of this?" he asked. "It is simple. Your kind is an abomination to decent men and women. If you cooperate, you will simply be deported. If not, we will have no choice but to execute you." Artemis stared straight ahead. "He's lying. He'll kill us all either way." "I don't need to read his mind to know that," Jake said. "Can we fight them?" "I doubt it," Xavier replied. More helicopters approached the mansion grounds. "I see General Powell is arriving on time. I'd advise you to surrender immediately," Bush said. The helicopters landed, men pouring out, training their guns on Bush and his men. "Drop your weapons and leave them alone," a deep voice ordered. Victor Von Doom had a Luger trained on President Bush. "Unlike the rest of the world, I can assassinate you, Mister President," he said. "And people call me evil?" "Stand down, Doom. This does not concern you," Bush said. "I think it does. Should I become your ally, or simply expand Latverian territory?" A helicopter was sent flying through the air, crushing several United States troops as it landed. The hulking form ran towards Bush, bullets bouncing off. "You messed with the wrong man, Mister President! I thought this had something to do with that news broadcast!" The Juggernaut headed straight for him. Latverian soldiers fired, US troops firing upon the Latverian soldiers and running from the Juggernaut as he cut a path through the crowd. Bush ran. A large tail knocked him over. "So, my new boss was behind the World Trade Center. And you went after The X-Men right after it came out. I doubt it's a coincidence," the Scorpion taunted. Bush ran again, hoping to avoid Gargan. A pair of steel arms wrapped around him. Ravencroft prison guards stood around Octavius. "They found something interesting inside my head, Mister President. You won't believe what they found out about it, either!" He was carried to the front lawn. His troops laid down their arms. More helicopters landed. More US soldiers poured onto the lawn. They stood motionless, guns shouldered. Colin Powell was the last to exit. "Hold him here," he said. He made his way to the lawn, standing only feet away from Bush. "Mister President, you are under arrest for murder, treason, conspiracy, and other crimes too numerous to list. Take him away." Octavius released him. Free, he waited until he was being led away, drawing a gun from his jacket. "I've had enough of this. Shoot them!" he said. A single shot rang out. Bush's arm had been grazed. He dropped the gun. His assailant pulled off his face mask, followed by his face. "Chameleon," Scorpion stated. "Yes. I did not mortally wound him, I believe that would be too good for him." Bush was taken away. Xavier was not pleased. "What is going on here? Where did you all come from?" "I think I can explain," General Powell replied. "General Peterson contacted me about the President's actions. I immediately gathered several armed soldiers and came to help. En route, we met Von Doom's helicopters. He was coming to meet with Peterson, he chose to help us." "That's correct," Doom said. "But that does not explain the others." "I was in the area," Scorpion said. "I saw the choppers heading for the mansion. When I saw Bush, I figured he wasn't here on good terms, probably had something to do with Omnitech." Juggernaut said, "I was in Manhattan. Spider-Man found me, told me he'd heard Bush was heading here. I don't know how." "The prison guards found a small device had been surgically implanted in my temple," Octavius said. "It was removed. My records were checked. Sometime before escaping with Carnage, I was taken to the medical room for a slight cold I'd had. Someone used it as an excuse to implant that thing. It explains why I would work with the monster! But they checked personnel records for the day of the operation. They followed a few names to the White House." "That still doesn't explain the Chameleon," Doom said. "Simple. I've been watching Omnitech ever since my imposter showed his face. I trailed their connections quite fast!" "But why would Peterson side with us? I thought he was loyal to the President?" Doom asked. "He's kept it secret," Powell replied. "The only ones who know are myself and one other. I can't tell you why, just understand he has his reasons. And I sided with you because I can not allow the government to do as they please if it means doing the wrong thing. I know what I'm fighting for." A limousine pulled up to the crowd. Wilson Fisk climbed out. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting, gentleman, but something is happening in the city that may require your attention!" Monday, March 3rd. 12:32 AM, Manhattan Several hundred men, muscular, mechanical arms, and under her control, waited for their orders. She stood before them. "I want you to march into that city and kill everyone. Leave no one alive. Get to it." She got in the limo, leaving the mindless killers to do their job. They marched down the streets attacking anyone that got in their way, steel arms crushing the life out of their victims. The X-Men led the first assault on them, Latverian troops assisting. Juggernaut began knocking them away, Scorpion and Octavius joining in. There were too many. They kept coming. It seemed to be over a thousand marching through the streets. Police, civilians, and the combined might of the gathered heroes seemed to matter little. Between the X-Men, Spider-Man, Daredevil, the Avengers, and even the villains who fought back, they were losing. Large shadows could be seen moving in the night sky. "What are those?" Fisk asked. Jake studied the sky using all the available filters his implants allowed. "...Sentinels." Six large Sentinel robots headed for the city. "No, wait..." Jake said. "Is that a helicopter?" In the sky, General Peterson watched the city. "Get those Sentinels down there now!" he ordered. Immediately, the robots flew to the surface, firing their weapon batteries. The cyborg Sentinels fell quickly, the blasts cutting through them as if they were tissue paper. From above, a single body jumped from the copter. The Black Wings fell, firing a tendril as he hit the proper altitude, swinging into the fray. He unloaded his Ingrams. Her Sentinel army fell in only ten minutes. As the last cyborg fell, both hero and villain alike knew that the tides had turned. The ones they thought to be evil were not as bad as one would have believed. And the ones thought to be good, the ones people trusted, were far worse than anyone could have imagined. The Black Wings stood before them. "Octavius... Scorpion... everyone," the Black Wings muttered to himself. "Everyone, stay here, help the wounded," he said. "Someone has to find Natasha Hensley. She won't live long enough to seethe sun rise today!" 12:58 AM, Washington, D.C. Carnage was glad the attention was focused on Manhattan. It made his job of tearing into the research facility much easier. He found what he was after. He dangled the necklace from his finger. "So... you're this Domientius I've heard so much about. A complete failure... oh well, I'll let you come along for the ride." Notes: Set within the Marvel universe, I will be using my own continuity, mixed with new characterizations for some established characters from Marvel's story universe. These stories are a sequel to my fiction series Maximum Carnage. Cletus Kasady, Carnage, and others are copyright Marvel Comics. Jack Arden, Raicaak, and others are copyright myself. Other characters appearing may be owned by separate parties. I make no claim of copyright on any character I do not own, only on these stories and those I do own. Characters used without permission/not for profit. These are strictly fan stories. Permission to reprint extends to placing this text, unaltered, elsewhere online. It may not be altered, and especially NOT TO BE SOLD, unless Marvel wishes to license this series from me. Black Wings song and lyrics copyright Tom Waits.