It has been three days since the evil genius known as Mister Sinister kidnapped the mutant Rogue, with the help from the father of her child, the former X-Man named Gambit. Three days Sinister had been trying to alter Rogue's genetic make-up, making her more powerful than she ever would have been able to achieve on her own. Three days of the most pain Rogue had ever endure. Several times she had passed out for hours due to the extreme amounts of stress her body was being forced to endure, as Sinister's machines rewrote her very dna.
Sinister calmly looked over computer screens that were monitoring Rogue's process, with the scrutiny he would if she was simply any other of his experiments. While Sinister continued his work, Gambit entered his laboratory followed by two others hidden in the shadows.
"Essex, they have arrived."
His concentration broken, Sinister looked up from the computer readouts and replied, "Thank you, Mr. LeBeau. I'm certain the accommodations I have provided are efficient enough for you and yours?"
"We'll manage," Gambit answered as he turned and walked from Sinister's lair, leaving him with his expected company.
Sinister rose from his work and strode closer to the two figures. As they stepped from the shadows, Sinister greeted them both, "Ozymandias, it is good that you have returned. You as well, Caliban. I hope you both know why you have been asked to join us here once again."
"Caliban has come here of his own free will, him believing in what Apocalypse plans on doing. I, on the other hand, have been bound to Apocalypse for far longer than I would have ever wished. I am not here because I choose to be, Essex."
"That is not the point. You shall both share in the glory that Apocalypse will soon bring. He has returned and wishes for you to 'see' for him. Be prepared. As for you, Caliban… your final ascension shall now begin," Sinister said as he placed his hand upon the pale white shoulder of the monstrous mutant. "Leave us… there is much work to be done."
*****
While Sinister was greeting his latest arrivals, aboard the Blackbird, a rather large contingent of X-Men were headed towards the destruction once known as Genosha. All aboard were in there own way simply trying to deal with what their Professor had told them hours before. That being that Magneto and himself had survived the attack by Apocalypse and he had just recently been informed of Magneto's preparations for such an attack to occur.
The first of Xavier's X-Man, the mutant Cyclops sat at the controls as his teammate Bishop sat in the co-pilot chair. "I knew we couldn't trust Magneto. We should have been keeping a closer eye on him. How do we know he hasn't been gathering this army for his own reasons? This is not going to turn out good any way you look at it."
The weather goddess Storm then walked to the front of the aircraft and placed her hand upon Bishop's shoulder, "Innocent until proven guilty, Bishop. Magneto has been a friend as well during our history together. There are those with him who would not partake in such a task as you foresee happening."
"Don't forget that Magneto's also tried to kill close to all of us, on more than ten occasions, Ororo," the mutant Iceman answered from his seat in the back of the cabin. "I'm with Bishop on this one. It just looks like somebody threw the first stone before Mags got a chance to do it himself."
Cyclops, being the consummate leader tried to steady his teammates, "None of that matters now. The Professor is there, and until we get him out we will listen to what Magneto has to say for himself. We may need all the help we can manage, and this army Magneto has recruited is a blessing. Touch down in ten minutes. Be ready… just in case."
Storm walked back to her seat, and rejoined her conversation with Bobby Drake and Sean Cassidy, the Banshee, and his daughter Siryn. Cyclops began to establish a telepathic link with his wife and fellow X-Man, Phoenix. //Jean, how is everything at the mansion.\\
//Scott… is that you?\\ came back her reply. //It's so hard to hear you… the radiation from the blast must be disrupting the astral plane around Genosha.\\
//Can you work through this?\\
//I'm the embodiment of the Phoenix, Scott. I can work through anything. Everything is fine here, so far. It's just that… well, tensions are sort of high around here. With Logan and Juggernaut pushing everyone else in the Danger Room so hard, Hank and Dr. Reyes are working overtime to patch everyone back up.\\
//How's Alex doing?\\
//He's still hurt by Lorna leaving. He keeps wanting to believe that Sinister kidnapped or brainwashed or something. He says when the time comes we won't be able to keep him from fighting with us.\\
//I wouldn't think of it. We'll get Lorna back, we leave no one behind. Any word from Rogue or Gambit?\\
//None. They haven't been back here or tried contacting anyone. I've searched with Cerebra and can't even get a trace on either of them…\\
Scott and Jean's telepathic conversation was abruptly brought to an end and all Scott heard in his mind was, //Quite sorry, Summers. On orders from Lord Magnus, there are no secrets on Genosha,\\ stated the telepathic voice of Gamesmaster. //To enter his land, is to play by his rules, which I am quite able to enforce.\\
Scott begrudgingly quieted his thoughts and prepared the Blackbird for landing upon what was once Genosha.
*****
Caliban laid upon his back while Sinister hovered over him, placing equipment and needles in and on his body. This is nothing new to the former Morlock, he had previously been experimented on by Apocalypse himself to make him more powerful and worthy for survival. He simply sat and tried his hardest to try and understand what Sinister was saying, mostly to himself, as he began his work.
"Years ago, our master, the high lord Apocalypse, gave you a chance to stand at his side. Of all his Horseman, you were favored among all others. Not because of your abilities, which until he modified were nothing exceptional. No, you were prized only because you were the first he confided in. You knew of his grand scheme and still showed him true loyalty. Loyalty which he has rewarded over time. Today is no different.
There was once a time when Apocalypse gained control of one whose strength could not be measured. A monstrous hulk befitting of his name. He was to become the Horseman War, but he broke free of Apocalypse hold over him, but Apocalypse does not give up so easily. For the short time, the Hulk was in Apocalypse's possession many test were run, and much blood taken. This blood was then used to determine the source of his strength, of his power. The answers to all our questions were in his blood.
His blood contains within it the very source of his powers. Powers which can be passed onto others. Namely… you, Caliban. You shall become War. You shall gain strength unmatched by any. Along with your other abilities to emit fear and plague the mind, you shall be unstoppable, but for now sleep. Let the blood become a part of you. When you wake, the world shall fear the War that you become." With that said, Sinister injects Caliban with a vile containing blood from the rampaging beast man has named the Hulk.
*****
Within the War Room, Magneto, along with members from his army, sat and laid plans with Xavier and his X-Men. The tension and stress were almost to the point of unbearable, neither group wanting the help from the other, but each knowing without it they don't stand a chance. Magnus and Xavier, friends long ago, set aside all differences and agree that the mutant underground beneath Genosha shall be the home for their parties.
Xavier sent Cyclops, Storm, and Siryn back to their mansion headquarters to bring the rest of the X-Men along with equipment they will use to train this mutant army. Bishop, Iceman, and Banshee stayed behind to guard the Professor, none trusting his safety in Magneto's home. Xavier, on the other hand, is astounded at the progress that Magnus had made in the last several months. Accumulating such an army of mutants over the years without ever finding out, Xavier wonders what other secrets Magnus might have kept from him.
*****
Apocalypse returned almost immediately after the attack on Genosha and had waited for some sort of retailation from the rest of the world. When none came, he sent word, through his telepathic connection, for Ozymandias to come to him. Being bound to Apocalypse for the rest of eternity, Ozymandias did just that.
He stood before Apocalypse and proceeded to carve. It was his gift, to see the future and know of things to come, as well as his curse, he became a being of living stone enthralled to Apocalypse. For hours he carved, never stopping, never hesitating. Until, finally he dropped to his knees, stone tears dripping from eyes that no longer see. "It… it is… finished."
Apocalypse sat up straighter in his throne, his curiosity peaked. "What does it mean, Slave-king?"
Ozymandias looked upon his work and in the same type of trance he reverts into when he carves, he spoke in a slow, monotone voice, "It shall come from the sky bringing an end to everything. The stars shall come to Earth. The sun will no longer shine. Two become one, one becomes everything. A child is born. Apocalypse risen."
*****
Author's Notes
More reviews!!! Thanks everybody who sent them in, but I still want more. Anyway, I'm really starting to get into this and I think the story is starting to come along. Next chapter- the Horseman Death and we get back to some action.
(New Feature), cause I got some reviews, I'll do it just to answer questions anybody got about the story
Q&A
Mag Carter- hopefully this chapter reads better than the last ones. If not let me know what needs to be changed. Appreciate the help.
Shinigami-chan- everything I'm doing does have a reason in the story. It'll all come together later on. (Hopefully) I do know what happens and it'll be something no one sees coming. Just gotta wait and see for yourself.