Twelve hours ago the island nation of Genosha, a mutant paradise ruled on high by the master of magnetism himself, Magneto, was destroyed by Apocalypse. Sixteen million people died the moment of his attack, hundreds die every hour since from the tremendous amounts of radiation surrounding what's left of the island. Deep beneath the rubble, a small contingent of survivors rush quickly to gather there forces. The world's most powerful mutant telepath, Charles Xavier begins to regain consciousness and hears snippets of conversations he doesn't understand.
"Lord Magneto, the damage is total. There are simply none alive save those within are range to rescue during the initial explosion."
Xavier raises his head and sees Magneto talking to one of his Acolytes that Xavier doesn't recognize. Magneto stands over a injured mutant with Sally Blevens, the mutant known as Skids, and he quietly answers his Acolyte. "Keep searching. Find all the survivors you can. Find those able to fight and those who need to be saved. Apocalypse wants a war and now he has one."
"Mag… Eric, how… how are we still alive. All I remember… is seeing the explosion and then nothing. I assumed we were about to die. How are we here, and where is here?"
"You are awake, Charles. There is little time for you trying to convince me not to do what must be done. You asked for my help, you asked for the people of Genosha to stand and fight with you. We few gathered here are Genosha. Gather your X-Men. Apocalypse will soon learn the pain he has caused here this day."
"Eric, how are we… why are we not dead? How did we survive?"
"Charles, since I have become the ruler of Genosha there has been more than one attempt on my life. Measures have been in place since I first came to sit on this throne to protect me. Namely Gamemaster, who uses his ability as an omnipath to scan the minds of anyone who approaches the island and warns the others. Skids, you know, used her shielding ability to protect the two of us as well as Vought transported us here. We are under what's left Genosha. Welcome to the war room Charles."
*****
Twenty three and a half hours ago, deep within the bowels of Apocalypse's lair. Mister Sinister has just finished examining and testing the limits of Apocalypse's new body. Amazed at the readings and the potential Apocalypse now possesses, Sinister begins contemplating the upgrades which can be made to his master's already impressive powers.
"We've known that Summers' body held limitless potential, but since you've used your powers along with the techno-organic cells already present to increase the x-factor within the dna, the telepathic and telekinetic abilities used to hold the techno-organic cells at bay are now increasing dramatically. With the knowledge I've obtained of every mutant on this planet, there will be nothing you can't do."
Sinister slowly turned back towards Apocalypse, who sat up from the examining table slowly eyeing over his servant. Sinister nervously smiled, knowing that their time was soon drawing near. Apocalypse's only reply before leaving Sinister's lab was-
"You know what must be done than, Essex. Afterwards, ready the Horsemen."
Apocalypse leaves Sinister alone to gather his information and to gather his elite that have been hidden within the mutant population for generations. Sinister brings up file after, after file and collects the data he will need. Using his ability to teleport within moments Essex is transported from his laboratory to the home of Alex Summers, the mutant X-Man named Havok.
The moment Sinister stepped from the teleportation portal he created, the mutants Havok and his live-in girlfriend Polaris both readied their powers. Havok dove from his coach and fired an enormous blast of plasma, Sinister shrugged it off and fired a wave of psionic energy directly at Havok. Alex Summers was knocked off his feet and thrown across the room.
"I have no time for such a disappointment as you Alex."
Sinister then looks towards Polaris who has run to Alex's side, trying to make sure he is still breathing. She finds out that Alex is still alive just unconscious, and then suddenly she realizes that she has no chance of defeating Sinister and powers up fully to protect herself.
"I am not going to allow you to take Alex, Sinister. I will fight you until there is nothing left in me, I will not let you take him."
"Mrs. Dane, I am not here for Alex. He has been such an enormous disappointment, and I have finally given up on him."
"What… what are you talking about, Sinister?"
"What I am about to tell you Lorna you will know as the truth. All the conditioning you have underwent will mean nothing. The loyalty you have gained in your years with the X-Men will mean nothing and your true loyalty will be shown. Lorna… I am your father."
Polaris stands stunned, her mutant power dissipating into nothing. She tries to find her voice and simply can't. After several minutes, Polaris finally speaks to Sinister. "That's… that's not possible. My parents… they died, weeks after I was born. I was adopted by my mother's sister. You will not fool me Sinister, your plan isn't going to work."
"You know of my attempts at using the Summers' dna to create the perfected body for Apocalypse. Is it that hard for you to believe that Scott was my only choice in a host body. Alex has always been my first choice. His ability to harness solar energy would have provided limitless potential. Throughout Alex and Scott's childhoods I watched the both of them and learned from each. I combined the genetic structures of Alex's childhood sweetheart with that of the mutant Eric Lensherr, Magneto, and that is how you were created.
Several months later, you were released and on your own met Alex Summers. You were programmed to eventually fall in love with him and have his child which would begin your programming to bring me the child. As the years went on, it became apparent that Alex could not father children and I was forced to move on to his brother Scott to claim an heir for Apocalypse. As I began the process of cloning Jean Grey, I was on the verge of disposing you, but Apocalypse informed me of the possibilities to be had with you and we allowed you to live. That time has come, Lorna. It is now time for you to take your place as one of his Horseman."
As Lorna still stands in shock, Alex awakens to see Sinister reaching out his hand to Lorna. He is too weak to even stand, using his powers doesn't even seem like a possible. He screams at the top of his lungs, "Noooo!!! Get away from her Sinister!!! If it's me you want then come and get me!! Leave her out of this!!"
"Tell him Lorna."
Alex doesn't understand what he is seeing before him. He questions Sinister at his command, "What… what are you talking about Sinister."
"Tell him Lorna. Tell him that your sorry."
Lorna walks over to Alex and knells in front of him. She raises her head and with tears in her eyes, in nothing more than a whisper, "I'm sorry Alex. I'm so sorry…"
"Lorna… I'll save you from him. I promise you, I'll save you," Alex says to her. He raises his hand and touches her shoulder. Like he has done so many times before, Alex tries to use the strength of Lorna's love to make him stand despite any obstacle.
Lorna quickly knocks Alex's hand away and spits in his face. "This is your fault. I was created to carry your child and you could never give me that, Alex. I will become what I will because of you… and I can never forgive you for that." Lorna rises to her feet and turns back towards Sinister.
Sinister opens another teleportation portal and Polaris walks through without looking back. Before Sinister enters he looks upon Alex, who sits sobbing on his knees, his world destroyed, and tells him, "Warn your fellow X-Men. The Horsemen will soon ride and the world will tremble." Sinister then turns and takes a step into nothing, leaving Alex more alone then he has ever been.
*****
Now. The mutants known as Rogue and Gambit have only recently returned back to the X-Men. Four years ago, after a cataclysmic battle and a near death experience for Gambit, both were left without any powers. They left the X-Men to live their lives and Rogue gave birth to their only child. Several months after Cable's death, both of their powers returned more powerful than ever. They returned to the X-Men more out of necessity then want.
Both mutants sit in a park outside of Salem Center, playing with their child, Charles Renee LeBeau. The boy swings innocently upon swings, while his parents sit and watch over him. Unaware to either of them, a familiar portal opens behind them and Sinister steps from out of the shadows.
"The time has come, Remy. All debts must now be paid."
Author's Notes
Ok, I've finally figured out how I'm going to end this, and hopefully everyone will be surprised. That's not going to be for awhile though. Next couple of chapters deal with the formation of the new horsemen and after that I will introduce the rest of the riders of the storm. Anyway, keep on reviewing, I need feedback. Let me know about the pic you guys wanna see. Review this, review this, review this. Next chapter, the truth behind Gambit and the horseman Famine.