X MEN : AoA Redux: Weavings In A Tapestry
Author: Javed Chaudhry
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-men, Muir Isle, The Hellfire Club, AoA, Human High Council, Avengers, or Marvel. Marvel owns all of the above. I do own Sammael, Archanfel, Asmodeus, Galaire, Behamen, Gilgamesh, Shaman, Nidlen Halfbane, Renegade, Astaroth, the Prelates (other than Scott, Alex, Deathbird, Erik the Red, Bedlams and Lorna,) the Uber-leutnants, and the commanders as well as Roulette.
Authors Note: This is the sequel to AoA: Redux. It is in the same setting as the first, i.e.: it is set in the world of AoA, but is A/U to that. E.G: the External's running crazy, Roulette as being the name of Gambit's team (which is called the X-ternals). Again to anyone who might think I've copied their stories, I haven't, this story is of my own making, inspired purely by the X-men. The prequel was written after reading three other stories, but if you want to know about them go read my first stories note. Oh and please be kind in your reviews, I really don't know much about Hellfire Club therefore some ppl might be OoC. Oh and I know I didn't make any reference to Apocalypse's death camps or the Infinites processing centers, but I will in this.
Things have changed so I'll again make clear what's what.
The Good Guys: X-men: Magneto: Erik Magnus Lensherr Rogue: Marie Lensherr Phoenix: Jean Grey Weapon X: Logan Colossus: Piotr Nikolaivitch Rasputin Archangel: Warren Worthington III Shadowcat: Katherine Pride Nightcrawler: Kurt Wagner Scarlet Witch: Wanda Maximoff Quicksilver: Pietro Maximoff Iceman: Robert Drake
Roulette: (An affiliate of the X-men) Gambit: Remy Lebeau Psylocke: Elizabeth Braddock Marrow: Sarah Storm: Ororo Munroe Renegade: Gavin Fury Jr. Mystique: Raven Darkholme
On Muir Isle II: Emma Frost Banshee: Sean Cassidy Helena Kahn Know-it-all
Human High Council: Moira Trask Mariko Yoshida Brian Braddock Susan Richards Dr. Victor von Doom Jonathan Storm
The Bad Guys:
Apocalypse: En Sabah Nur
The Externals (Apocalypse): Sammael: Kar' Toman Selavayne Sinister: Nathaniel Essex Candra Exodus: Bennet Du Paris
Holocaust: Nemesis Mikhail Rasputin
Prelate Havok: Alex Summers Prelate Polaris: Lorna Dane Prelate Lumina: Sylvia Ferguson Prelate Quja: Kan Berrona Arch-Prelate Deathbird: Cal'Sayee Neramani Prelate's The Bedlam Brothers: Jesse and Terry Prelate Erik the Red.
Dark Beast: Henry McCoy
Wild Cards: (Against Apocalypse or X-men)
Cyclops: Scott Summers
The Externals: Gilgamesh: Kairan en' Ulas Asmodeus: Argorion Devinrok Behamen: Sonnara Delnoman Galaire: Meghann Blaise Astaroth: Yakker Kurenti Nidlen Halfbane
Sabretooth: Victor Creed
Bishop
Forge
In Avalon: Destiny Blink: Clarice Ferguson Douglas Sunfire: Shiro Juggernaut: Cain Marko Black Tom Cassidy
Previously:
The Age of Apocalypse is on. Apocalypse rules what is left of the America's with an iron fist, his second-in-commands, the powerful External's governing for him. Xavier and his X-men run from the forces Apocalypse sends against them, hiding desperately from the military genius of Apocalypse's armies, the High Prelate Cyclops. In a titanic clash between the Prelates and the X-men, Xavier is killed by Cyclops. In a rescue mission to save Psylocke, the two teams of Roulette and the X-men send their best covert operatives to get her out of Apocalypses new base, the Tower. Unfortunately, Jean is captured during the rescue. Cyclops questions Jean, only to find that he knew her long before. They fall in love, but the Externals find out about Cyclops's betrayal and torture both. Cyclops powers are augmented by his surrogate father, Mr. Sinister, in the addition of gauntlets linked directly to his brain, which allows him to use his energy blasts through his hands as well as eyes.
Meanwhile the Externals against Apocalypse have made plans to rid themselves of the most dangerous ally of Apocalypse's the External Sammael. They employ Juggernaut in that endeavor.
They manage to escape while the X-men return to assault the tower and rescue Jean at the same time. Weapon X leads a team into the base, while Gambit leads another. Gambit manages to destroy much of the Towers weapons. Weapon X finds Jean alive and in love with Cyclops. He doesn't trust him, but Cyclops proves himself later. Gambit is captured by Sinister and Rogue leads a team to find and rescue him. Emma Frost meanwhile leads another team to destroy the force field of the Tower, holding all rescue ships in place, and preventing the X-men from damaging the Tower too much. Scott senses Jean's trouble and heads of to find her.
In the final battles of the assault, the crazed External Archanfel manages to blow up a chunk of the Tower in an effort to kill his most hated enemy, the new leader of the X-men, Magneto. However Magneto survives, though Archanfel dies. Emma and her team consisting of Psylocke, Nightcrawler and Mystique fight against the External Exodus and Prelate Rumik. Rumik turns against Exodus, as Psylocke used to be her best friend long ago. Emma and her team fight back against her former lover, but Exodus proves to be a tough adversary. The explosion manages to help them, as he is badly weakened and needs to flee to recover. He goes after promising to kill them one day.
Scott fights Dark Beast again, and Dark Beast leaves after a short sparring. Sinister and Candra are too strong for the X-men come to rescue Gambit. Weapon X fights against Sabretooth, who came with juggernaut. Juggernaut fights against Sammael, who is being overwhelmed by Juggernaut and his allies Black Tom Cassidy, Toad, Mastermind and Blob. However Apocalypse finally comes from his chambers to see what's going on. He makes short work of Juggernaut and throws his allies off the tower. He then sends his kill-droids, coldly efficient killer robots designed to kill anything threatening the Tower. The kill-droids turn the tide against the X-men and Human High Council forces.
With Scott's help and gambit's recovery the X-men manage to defeat Sinister and Candra. They escape, and the X-men as well as Scott leave the laboratory. Weapon X seems to finally accept that Jean loves Scott, who has changed. Jean makes short work of Dark Beast. They all leave and head for the X-men's massive airship, the Hybrid. They escape.
In the end of it, Rogue reveals to Magneto she is pregnant, and that Cyclops and Rumik have joined them.
Apocalypse confronts his forces, and warns them he will kill them all if another assault like this is allowed. He warns the Externals later that he is now going to take a more active role as his project that has kept him occupied for so long is nearly completed, and it will rid him of all his enemies, not just the X-men. The Externals are chilled by this.
Prologue: The Horsemen Ride
The Tower was being rebuilt. The mighty Tower that had nearly fallen, was once again being made whole, its battlements being restored. It was still a mighty sight, despite the gaping hole in its side, where the crazed External Archanfel had killed himself in a vain attempt to destroy his greatest enemy and the leader of the rebels. Even that hole seemed to add to the Towers menace, a symbol for all to see that even with a wound so devastating the Tower had withstood the assault by the rebels. The Towers new guardians stood at the top of the Tower, slumbering until next called upon by their master. The extremely efficient kill-droids had taken apart what was a sure victory for the rebels, into a victory for the Tower. A hundred had been launched and eighty four still remained. However, with all these good factors, there was a flip side to the coin. An External was dead, no matter by his own hand; the Tower had lost a valuable weapon. Another blow to the morale of the Towers forces had been the loss of their High Prelate, who had been arguably the best they had had yet. Cyclops's defection had been something that no one could have foreseen. Another Prelate had turned as well, Rumik. Another blow to the morale of the Towers forces. Prelates could be replaced with fair ease, at least compared to High Prelates. However there was no replacing an External.
All these problems weighed heavily on Apocalypse's mind. He had grown careless, and had been distracted these last few months. When he had first seen the High Prelate with that rebel woman he should have crushed her. Instead he had been curious as to what had been that resonance. He understood it for what it was now and he knew that he would need to work fast. Work fast to change a future in which he would surely die. His kill- droids would provide ample protection for the Tower, but would not be able to prevail in a prolonged assault on the rebels themselves. For that he needed something more. Something far more unique and powerful. Something that he had been 'cultivating' for centuries now. Apocalypse rose from his throne like chair, and walked towards the four casket like chambers that faced each other in an adjoining room. Large tubes snaked their way across the sides of the room towards the chambers. The chambers front glowed with ethereal light, four different colors; blue, red, green and purple. A distant humming sound came from somewhere. Apocalypse smiled, this was what he had prepared for all those years.
Four beings of power, controlled by him personally. Finding bodies had proved difficult in itself, it appeared only mutant bodies would have done, and that too those mutants that had a very large life span, like himself or the Externals. He had killed four of the most powerful Externals, and brought them to his pyramid in what used to be Egypt. Using technology that he had taken from a weakened Celestial, after killing him, he had begun the process of change and mind distortion. He had had seven chambers such as these before, but the External Shaman had destroyed three of them. Apocalypse had killed him and taken his body for use in the chambers. He looked over at the chamber which housed Shamans body. Apocalypse smiled even more widely, his enemies fell before him and soon he would be rid of many of his enemies. Killing all of course was not probable; enemies would always be present where there was success. Indeed keeping some alive was ultimately beneficial to him. He took one last glance at the four chambers before leaving the room. There were still a few hours left.
x----------------- ------------x
Scott Summers sat on a bench, a few feet away from a cliff that overlooked the sea. So this was Muir Isle 2, the stronghold of the rebels. This was the one place that he had expended his energies towards finding the most. It wasn't a particularly large island. However it wasn't all that small either. It was mostly made up of a dead volcano, which rose up in the middle of the island. The base itself was underground, and hidden from any radar sweeps by very sophisticated repulsion fields. If the most intense radar check was taken on the island it would only show an uninhabited island, with nothing of any interest. It was powered by wind and hydro- electric power, whose plant was in the center of the island, under the ground of course. Even the bench he sat on would fold into the ground in the event of a radar sweep. The installation was massive, housing living quarters, a school for mutants, a normal school for rebel children to study in, a massive training complex for rebel soldiers, and another massive training complex for mutant rebels. However the X-men had a separate training room, less than a quarter of the size of the others, and powered by some machine. They had not told him what it was, however he guessed it was the Cerebro machine that he heard so much about. Sinister had called it the rebel's single greatest weapon. Rebels.. He had to stop thinking of them that way. There were far more rebels than he had expected. It would not be too long before they could muster up an army to assault the Tower again. The Human High Council and X-men had not remained idle.
He grimaced as he saw children who were walking towards the cliff suddenly spot him and turn around and go another direction. While the residents of Muir Isle had not been exactly hostile, they had not been all that friendly either. They had not been too friendly towards Helena either, but they had not gone out of their way to avoid her either. With him they had hurried away as though he was some evil monster out of a nightmare coming to eat them. His mouth twisted at that, to these rebels he probably was some monster, the man who had made their life a living hell. He stared out at the sea, watching the seagulls soar through the air. So free from life's pressures, the most they had to worry about was whether some creature from the depths wouldn't make a snack of them when they swooped down to catch a fish to eat. Scott smiled then without humor; the life of a seagull wasn't too different from the rebels in that sense. They had to survive the constant threat of Apocalypse and his forces, especially if they ventured out of the sanctuary of this Island. Scott adjusted his visor. He could feel a headache coming on; he had been sitting out here too long. He shook his head; he would go in when it became unbearable. He looked out at the sky again. He wouldn't be staying here for much longer. He wasn't welcome, that much he was certain of. The only person who fully trusted him was Jean, and that too he figured was because of their link. It had only been one day since the battle at the Tower; most of the people had recovered. The powers that be at Muir Isle had been in conference for nearly an hour now. He knew that his fate would be decided by them, and that galled him. After being controlled for so long, he realized that he hated it. Hated it with a vengeance. He vowed to himself, that whatever the decision taken by the X-men, he would leave the Island. He didn't fit, and he still didn't trust them. They were rebels, he had thought them to be his enemies all his life, and he wasn't sure now. *What you really need Scott is breathing space, time to think and sort out your life.* Scott was decided, he would leave. If Jean wanted to come with him she was welcome to it, in fact Scott knew he wanted her to come with him. What he wanted he knew was to be free of it all, all the worries, the troubles, the anxiety; he wanted to be rid of them all. What he wanted was a life of peace with Jean.
He suddenly felt small cool hands on his shoulders, pulling him back. He relaxed into the embrace easily, and looked up at Jeans face. She smiled at him. A loose strand of hair slipped down and tickled his nose. He shook his head to get rid of the offending hair and blew air out of his nose. Jean laughed lightly.
"Hey Scott."
He smiled, "Hey Jean."
She came around the bench and sat next to him, leaning against him.
"You're summoned to the council meeting Scott. They want to judge you."
Scott's face tightened almost imperceptibly, but Jean felt the change in his emotions.
"I know what you're feeling Scott, but you have to go. It's the only the way you'll ever be allowed to be an X-man."
"Oh, really, that's great; I've always wanted to be one of those."
"Can the sarcasm Scott."
Scott stood up.
"Let's get this over with."
Jean looked at him.
"Come on Jean, let's just go."
The room was a large one, in the centre of which was a large table, built into the ground. All the X-men were in the room, at least all the ones who were in any condition to attend the meeting. At the head of it sat Erik and next to him were Moira Mctaggert, the Human High Council head, and Logan. Even Ororo and Remy were there. The X- men sat in random order around the table, Kitty and Kurt sitting next to Rogue on the left, and on the other side sat Ororo, Warren, Betsy and Wanda. Piotr stood behind Erik, and Remy leaned against the wall on the right. When Scott and Jean came in they cut off whatever they had been saying. Apparently a heated argument had been taking place. Jean stood next to Scott, her hand squeezed his lightly, then she went and sat down next to Moira.
"So Cyclops, we have debated long on what is to be done about you. Should you be convicted for your crimes and made to serve time in prison or be executed, or should you be absolved of all sin and allowed to become one of us? You have the complete support of Phoenix, who makes it perfectly clear that you are trustworthy and a good man. She also loves you. Psylocke believes that you are a good person at heart but is not too sure how far you can be trusted. Your old comrade in arms, Rumik, believes that you may be telling the truth, but that you should be imprisoned until it is certain you should join us. She of course has been our ally for some time now," Scott's eyes widened at that, he hadn't expected that. He also found all this talk pointless. Erik continued.
"Dr. Mctaggert here was out for your blood. She has no trust for you at all. You killed Xavier, who was our leader. You have killed many of our number, however inadvertently. You were also under no mental conditioning by Dark Beast, unlike Rumik. Whatever you did was by your own free will. Weapon X says that you helped them in the Tower and that without your help they may all have died. You attempted to return Jean to us; you also risked your own life and position. These things have been taken into account, as has been your link with Jean. However we have also come to understand that some things can even be withheld within you, secrets can be kept from the other. Thus we can disregard the link to some extent. Many people who were with you however do not trust you. Many are inclined to think it is all some twisted scheme to finish us. After looking over all the facts and all the information we have been given and consulting all the people gathered here on their own opinion and what instinct tells them we have decided that you should be free to do what you will. We shall not imprison you. However you cannot be part of the X-men. You must also leave this island. Your presence is unsettling and there may be some who would decide to take revenge for what you have done in the past. Do you wish to say anything?" Scott smiled, he could not have expected better.
"I have nothing to say. I am satisfied with what decision you have made for I had no plans on staying here. I cannot go back to the Tower that is certain. I am probably as welcome there as any of you are. I cannot reconcile myself to your beliefs, but I also don't believe in what I have been taught all my life, that you are rebels and should be destroyed. I am done with all of this. With the Tower and with rebels. I wish you luck in what you do."
Scott turned then and walked out of the room. Jean got up and excused herself before following him. The X-men turned to Erik.
"Now what, Erik?" Ororo asked him, "Do we trust the High Prelate? Should he not be watched?" Erik sat in his chair thinking. After a short while he looked up.
"No. I don't think he intends to return to the Tower and I m certain after watching him that he is probably telling the truth. I am still not too sure of this bond Jean has with him, even Charles was unsure about this 'link' business. He researched it for many years, but found no clue as to how it worked. He had no idea of its limits or boundaries, if there are any. No I think we shall have to trust him, and if the bond is as powerful as Jean thinks it is she will be able to keep a better watch on him than any we could ever."
Remy grimaced, but at a warning glance from Ororo he kept silent. Erik looked up at him.
"Remy, will Roulette remain here?"
Remy hesitated, then spoke, "For th' time being we'll stay put. Moira has de best facilities to care for Sarah. Besides, our main base was destroyed, an' our mobile base would be detected too easily. Non, we're fine here. T'anks for letting us stay."
Erik waved his comment aside, "Nonsense Remy, you're an X-man, even if you don't want to be called one. So is all of your team."
Suddenly Logan spoke up.
"Good that's finally been settled. The only question I have, and I think everyone here may have thought of it at some point, is whether Jeannie is going to stay with us or go with soldier boy?" The thought raised several exclamations, but they were all hushed by Erik.
"That would be most distressing, but I think she will stay. She knows how much we will need her."
x----------- ------------x
"So I guess this is goodbye then."
Scott stopped in front of the steps heading down towards the small pier. Jean stood behind him, hands behind her back, looking up at him unhappily.
Scott nodded slowly. She would be able to read nothing from him; he was keeping his thoughts to himself as much as possible.
"You don't have to go you know. I could force the X-men to keep you here. I could threaten to quit and leave until they agreed to let you stay."
Scott smiled then, "No Jean, they need you more than I do. You know you couldn't leave them. You have to stay, just as I have to go. That's why I haven't asked you to come with me. I know you would always be thinking of the X-men. No Jean I have to go, and I have to go alone. You'll know where I am always, through our bond, as I will know about you. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
Jean stared at him for a second, then Scott felt weary resignation through their link, and a strange determination. Jean walked up to him and pressed herself hard against him. Her arms curled around his neck and she stood there, her face buried in his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her. Suddenly she kissed him hard on the lips, and a telepathic message slammed into his forehead. If you fall, I will fall with you. I will love you. forever.
Scott stumbled backwards as she released him and stepped back. Scott stared into her eyes for a second drinking in her every feature, then turned and walked away from her, heading down the steps.. He turned around once aboard the boat, a small speedboat actually, the X-men had provided him with. He raised a hand in farewell, and then started the engine and sped away, leaving a small figure watching him from the top of the cliff.
x----------------- ------------x
Asmodeus walked into the brightly lit room angrily. That fool Juggernaut had failed in killing even one of the Betrayers, much less Sammael. Now Sammael had already begun to put in extra effort in bringing them down. Three of his fellow Externals were there. They would not be pleased at the news he was bringing. Juggernaut had escaped from the prison they had sealed him in after he had brought them the news of his failure. Behamen, Galaire and Gilgamesh sat around the table. Asmodeus was slightly nervous. Over the years he had managed to bring the remaining Externals together, and had kept a tenuous hold on some sort of leadership over the group. However that could all change. At best they would keep him in the coalition, however as an equal member. At worst they would kill him and the coalition would dissolve, leaving Sammael to pick them off easily. He prepared to teleport at a moments notice, though he might not even have that. It was good that Astaroth wasn't here. He would take Juggernauts escape as a personal insult. He himself had sealed him with the most unbreakable substance he could make. However, some outside source had freed him, and Asmodeus, who had been guarding the prison, would be given the blame.
"Ah, you are finally here. We have been waiting for you." Asmodeus didn't like the look on Gilgamesh's face as he said that.
"I am sorry to have been delayed. I have dire news."
If anything Gilgamesh's face grew even happier, as far as Asmodeus could tell from how Gilgamesh's face was hidden.
"Do tell Asmodeus." Galaire sounded bored. She usually did though.
"Juggernaut has escaped."
"What?" Behamen cried.
"That's impossible! Astaroth made it as strong as he could. No one, not even a Celestial himself could have broken through that."
Gilgamesh watched patiently, and now Asmodeus was sure Gilgamesh was smiling.
It is annoying news at best, however we can let it pass. We have more pressing -"
He was cut off by Gilgamesh, "No. We cannot let it pass. You have been making far too many errors recently. I do not trust you to be able to complete any objective we have set. This job of guarding The Juggernaut was your last chance as far as I am concerned. I think we should just rid ourselves of you."
Asmodeus stood in anger.
"Are you insane? Sammael is already going insane; you would not survive without my massive network of spies."
Gilgamesh was about to answer when Behamen's small beringed hand touched his lightly.
"He is right, Gilgamesh. We need to work together. However, you have no more leadership Asmodeus. You have proved to be inept. You will work with us."
Galaire nodded regally, her eyes cold. Gilgamesh hesitated and then nodded his assent, grimacing.
Asmodeus bowed his head. In truth he was heartened by the news. He had to make sure he didn't slip up again.
"I shall of course, bow to the consensus."
"What consensus?" Astaroth enquired walking into the room.
Galaire briefed him on the events and Astaroth frowned. He wasn't too angry though.
"I have good news though. Perhaps news that may offset this misfortune. I have felt the presence of some power, another External perhaps."
The others greeted this news with varying degrees of shock. Asmodeus's mouth dropped open, Galaire stopped tapping her fingers on the desk and stared at Astaroth. Behamen squealed; but Gilgamesh nearly fell backwards in surprise. The hooded man's cloak slipped a little, showing grayish tinged skin and glittering black eyes widened in surprise.
"How is that possible? All except us were wiped out in the first two strikes of Apocalypse's armies. If any were alive we would have found him by now, or at least the Tower would have." Galaire nearly spluttered.
"I don't know, all I know is that I felt something familiar, a trace of power that I knew centuries ago. It is . unsettling."
"We must find this 'power' and convince him to join us. Perhaps then we could attack Sammael, not to mention Apocalypse." All the others looked at Gilgamesh.
"You are right. Let us not waste time," a broad smile spread across Behamen's face, "The Hellfire Club shall finally have its revenge."
x----------------- ------------x
"It is time."
Apocalypse strode towards the chambers. They had begun glowing more and more brilliantly as time had passed, but were now glowing very faintly and emitted a low hum. Apocalypse stood between all the four chambers and smiled. He pressed a switch on his gauntlets and the four chambers rose slowly till they were almost vertical.
"Come my horsemen, the call to arms has sounded, and the horsemen are needed."
The doors of the chambers emitted a low hissing sound as they opened.
"Death, to take the souls of the enemy."
The first chamber, that emitted a blue glow opened and a figure stepped out, in robes as black as midnight. Its face was hidden beneath a hood; all that could be seen were two glowing blue eyes. Something stirred beneath the folds of its robes and a hand emerged, surrounded by the same blue glow. A hand wrapped in a black gauntlet, which glowed from the inside, and skeletal fingers could almost be seen, glowing blue, beneath the black metal. Clutched in the fist was a staff, at the end of which was a scythe like blade, also glowing in the ethereal blue. As it moved to stand before Apocalypse, it's boots clanked on the ground.
"Plague, to decay their bodies and minds."
The green glowing chamber opened and another figure stepped out, this one garbed in a leathery sort of armor, beneath which green-hued, mottled and rotting skin could be seen. Its face was gaunt and the skin was stretched tight over the bones. Two gleaming green pinpoints stared out of the dark hollows of the eye sockets. Long wispy hair streaked back from the temple and hung below the shoulders of the figure. A cape flared behind the figure, which it swung around to shroud itself. A cowl slipped into place over the figures head. In the darkness of the room the dark-green cape looked almost black.
"War, to bring down the fires of might."
The purple glowing chamber opened and another figure stepped out, the most human so far. It was a lusciously beautiful woman, with long raven black hair. Her generously proportioned body was wrapped in black skintight leather. The leather was covered, in some places, with dark purple colored armor. Her eyes were a smoky purple, which gleamed as she walked forward. The armor was spiky, with long blade like protrusions coming out at the shoulders and elbows and smaller protrusions coming out at the knees and ankles. At her side swung a scabbard, from which the copper-skinned woman drew a purple gleaming sword, holding it point down in front of her, as she took her place beside the other two figures. As she stopped her petulantly smiling mouth became flat, and the two bangs that framed her face stopped swinging to hang still. The point of the sword struck the floor, sinking a few centimeters into the reinforced metal.
"And Beast, to turn their cities to ashes!"
The final chamber opened and a hulking figure approached. Its eyes glowed red, as did its claws. As it walked forward the room shook with the force of its weight. It opened its mouth and a growling sound emerged from the depths. It unfurled its tattered wings, and then folded them again after stretching them. Its tail snaked around the small tables. Its skin was coated in reddish brown hair and two large horns sprouted from behind its ears. As it took its place in front of Apocalypse, its wings unfurled slightly to sweep around its body, covering all but its face.
"At last, ride my four horsemen of the Apocalypse. The end of the world, as people have known it is at hand."
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So? Like? Don't like? Please review.
Author: Javed Chaudhry
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-men, Muir Isle, The Hellfire Club, AoA, Human High Council, Avengers, or Marvel. Marvel owns all of the above. I do own Sammael, Archanfel, Asmodeus, Galaire, Behamen, Gilgamesh, Shaman, Nidlen Halfbane, Renegade, Astaroth, the Prelates (other than Scott, Alex, Deathbird, Erik the Red, Bedlams and Lorna,) the Uber-leutnants, and the commanders as well as Roulette.
Authors Note: This is the sequel to AoA: Redux. It is in the same setting as the first, i.e.: it is set in the world of AoA, but is A/U to that. E.G: the External's running crazy, Roulette as being the name of Gambit's team (which is called the X-ternals). Again to anyone who might think I've copied their stories, I haven't, this story is of my own making, inspired purely by the X-men. The prequel was written after reading three other stories, but if you want to know about them go read my first stories note. Oh and please be kind in your reviews, I really don't know much about Hellfire Club therefore some ppl might be OoC. Oh and I know I didn't make any reference to Apocalypse's death camps or the Infinites processing centers, but I will in this.
Things have changed so I'll again make clear what's what.
The Good Guys: X-men: Magneto: Erik Magnus Lensherr Rogue: Marie Lensherr Phoenix: Jean Grey Weapon X: Logan Colossus: Piotr Nikolaivitch Rasputin Archangel: Warren Worthington III Shadowcat: Katherine Pride Nightcrawler: Kurt Wagner Scarlet Witch: Wanda Maximoff Quicksilver: Pietro Maximoff Iceman: Robert Drake
Roulette: (An affiliate of the X-men) Gambit: Remy Lebeau Psylocke: Elizabeth Braddock Marrow: Sarah Storm: Ororo Munroe Renegade: Gavin Fury Jr. Mystique: Raven Darkholme
On Muir Isle II: Emma Frost Banshee: Sean Cassidy Helena Kahn Know-it-all
Human High Council: Moira Trask Mariko Yoshida Brian Braddock Susan Richards Dr. Victor von Doom Jonathan Storm
The Bad Guys:
Apocalypse: En Sabah Nur
The Externals (Apocalypse): Sammael: Kar' Toman Selavayne Sinister: Nathaniel Essex Candra Exodus: Bennet Du Paris
Holocaust: Nemesis Mikhail Rasputin
Prelate Havok: Alex Summers Prelate Polaris: Lorna Dane Prelate Lumina: Sylvia Ferguson Prelate Quja: Kan Berrona Arch-Prelate Deathbird: Cal'Sayee Neramani Prelate's The Bedlam Brothers: Jesse and Terry Prelate Erik the Red.
Dark Beast: Henry McCoy
Wild Cards: (Against Apocalypse or X-men)
Cyclops: Scott Summers
The Externals: Gilgamesh: Kairan en' Ulas Asmodeus: Argorion Devinrok Behamen: Sonnara Delnoman Galaire: Meghann Blaise Astaroth: Yakker Kurenti Nidlen Halfbane
Sabretooth: Victor Creed
Bishop
Forge
In Avalon: Destiny Blink: Clarice Ferguson Douglas Sunfire: Shiro Juggernaut: Cain Marko Black Tom Cassidy
Previously:
The Age of Apocalypse is on. Apocalypse rules what is left of the America's with an iron fist, his second-in-commands, the powerful External's governing for him. Xavier and his X-men run from the forces Apocalypse sends against them, hiding desperately from the military genius of Apocalypse's armies, the High Prelate Cyclops. In a titanic clash between the Prelates and the X-men, Xavier is killed by Cyclops. In a rescue mission to save Psylocke, the two teams of Roulette and the X-men send their best covert operatives to get her out of Apocalypses new base, the Tower. Unfortunately, Jean is captured during the rescue. Cyclops questions Jean, only to find that he knew her long before. They fall in love, but the Externals find out about Cyclops's betrayal and torture both. Cyclops powers are augmented by his surrogate father, Mr. Sinister, in the addition of gauntlets linked directly to his brain, which allows him to use his energy blasts through his hands as well as eyes.
Meanwhile the Externals against Apocalypse have made plans to rid themselves of the most dangerous ally of Apocalypse's the External Sammael. They employ Juggernaut in that endeavor.
They manage to escape while the X-men return to assault the tower and rescue Jean at the same time. Weapon X leads a team into the base, while Gambit leads another. Gambit manages to destroy much of the Towers weapons. Weapon X finds Jean alive and in love with Cyclops. He doesn't trust him, but Cyclops proves himself later. Gambit is captured by Sinister and Rogue leads a team to find and rescue him. Emma Frost meanwhile leads another team to destroy the force field of the Tower, holding all rescue ships in place, and preventing the X-men from damaging the Tower too much. Scott senses Jean's trouble and heads of to find her.
In the final battles of the assault, the crazed External Archanfel manages to blow up a chunk of the Tower in an effort to kill his most hated enemy, the new leader of the X-men, Magneto. However Magneto survives, though Archanfel dies. Emma and her team consisting of Psylocke, Nightcrawler and Mystique fight against the External Exodus and Prelate Rumik. Rumik turns against Exodus, as Psylocke used to be her best friend long ago. Emma and her team fight back against her former lover, but Exodus proves to be a tough adversary. The explosion manages to help them, as he is badly weakened and needs to flee to recover. He goes after promising to kill them one day.
Scott fights Dark Beast again, and Dark Beast leaves after a short sparring. Sinister and Candra are too strong for the X-men come to rescue Gambit. Weapon X fights against Sabretooth, who came with juggernaut. Juggernaut fights against Sammael, who is being overwhelmed by Juggernaut and his allies Black Tom Cassidy, Toad, Mastermind and Blob. However Apocalypse finally comes from his chambers to see what's going on. He makes short work of Juggernaut and throws his allies off the tower. He then sends his kill-droids, coldly efficient killer robots designed to kill anything threatening the Tower. The kill-droids turn the tide against the X-men and Human High Council forces.
With Scott's help and gambit's recovery the X-men manage to defeat Sinister and Candra. They escape, and the X-men as well as Scott leave the laboratory. Weapon X seems to finally accept that Jean loves Scott, who has changed. Jean makes short work of Dark Beast. They all leave and head for the X-men's massive airship, the Hybrid. They escape.
In the end of it, Rogue reveals to Magneto she is pregnant, and that Cyclops and Rumik have joined them.
Apocalypse confronts his forces, and warns them he will kill them all if another assault like this is allowed. He warns the Externals later that he is now going to take a more active role as his project that has kept him occupied for so long is nearly completed, and it will rid him of all his enemies, not just the X-men. The Externals are chilled by this.
Prologue: The Horsemen Ride
The Tower was being rebuilt. The mighty Tower that had nearly fallen, was once again being made whole, its battlements being restored. It was still a mighty sight, despite the gaping hole in its side, where the crazed External Archanfel had killed himself in a vain attempt to destroy his greatest enemy and the leader of the rebels. Even that hole seemed to add to the Towers menace, a symbol for all to see that even with a wound so devastating the Tower had withstood the assault by the rebels. The Towers new guardians stood at the top of the Tower, slumbering until next called upon by their master. The extremely efficient kill-droids had taken apart what was a sure victory for the rebels, into a victory for the Tower. A hundred had been launched and eighty four still remained. However, with all these good factors, there was a flip side to the coin. An External was dead, no matter by his own hand; the Tower had lost a valuable weapon. Another blow to the morale of the Towers forces had been the loss of their High Prelate, who had been arguably the best they had had yet. Cyclops's defection had been something that no one could have foreseen. Another Prelate had turned as well, Rumik. Another blow to the morale of the Towers forces. Prelates could be replaced with fair ease, at least compared to High Prelates. However there was no replacing an External.
All these problems weighed heavily on Apocalypse's mind. He had grown careless, and had been distracted these last few months. When he had first seen the High Prelate with that rebel woman he should have crushed her. Instead he had been curious as to what had been that resonance. He understood it for what it was now and he knew that he would need to work fast. Work fast to change a future in which he would surely die. His kill- droids would provide ample protection for the Tower, but would not be able to prevail in a prolonged assault on the rebels themselves. For that he needed something more. Something far more unique and powerful. Something that he had been 'cultivating' for centuries now. Apocalypse rose from his throne like chair, and walked towards the four casket like chambers that faced each other in an adjoining room. Large tubes snaked their way across the sides of the room towards the chambers. The chambers front glowed with ethereal light, four different colors; blue, red, green and purple. A distant humming sound came from somewhere. Apocalypse smiled, this was what he had prepared for all those years.
Four beings of power, controlled by him personally. Finding bodies had proved difficult in itself, it appeared only mutant bodies would have done, and that too those mutants that had a very large life span, like himself or the Externals. He had killed four of the most powerful Externals, and brought them to his pyramid in what used to be Egypt. Using technology that he had taken from a weakened Celestial, after killing him, he had begun the process of change and mind distortion. He had had seven chambers such as these before, but the External Shaman had destroyed three of them. Apocalypse had killed him and taken his body for use in the chambers. He looked over at the chamber which housed Shamans body. Apocalypse smiled even more widely, his enemies fell before him and soon he would be rid of many of his enemies. Killing all of course was not probable; enemies would always be present where there was success. Indeed keeping some alive was ultimately beneficial to him. He took one last glance at the four chambers before leaving the room. There were still a few hours left.
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Scott Summers sat on a bench, a few feet away from a cliff that overlooked the sea. So this was Muir Isle 2, the stronghold of the rebels. This was the one place that he had expended his energies towards finding the most. It wasn't a particularly large island. However it wasn't all that small either. It was mostly made up of a dead volcano, which rose up in the middle of the island. The base itself was underground, and hidden from any radar sweeps by very sophisticated repulsion fields. If the most intense radar check was taken on the island it would only show an uninhabited island, with nothing of any interest. It was powered by wind and hydro- electric power, whose plant was in the center of the island, under the ground of course. Even the bench he sat on would fold into the ground in the event of a radar sweep. The installation was massive, housing living quarters, a school for mutants, a normal school for rebel children to study in, a massive training complex for rebel soldiers, and another massive training complex for mutant rebels. However the X-men had a separate training room, less than a quarter of the size of the others, and powered by some machine. They had not told him what it was, however he guessed it was the Cerebro machine that he heard so much about. Sinister had called it the rebel's single greatest weapon. Rebels.. He had to stop thinking of them that way. There were far more rebels than he had expected. It would not be too long before they could muster up an army to assault the Tower again. The Human High Council and X-men had not remained idle.
He grimaced as he saw children who were walking towards the cliff suddenly spot him and turn around and go another direction. While the residents of Muir Isle had not been exactly hostile, they had not been all that friendly either. They had not been too friendly towards Helena either, but they had not gone out of their way to avoid her either. With him they had hurried away as though he was some evil monster out of a nightmare coming to eat them. His mouth twisted at that, to these rebels he probably was some monster, the man who had made their life a living hell. He stared out at the sea, watching the seagulls soar through the air. So free from life's pressures, the most they had to worry about was whether some creature from the depths wouldn't make a snack of them when they swooped down to catch a fish to eat. Scott smiled then without humor; the life of a seagull wasn't too different from the rebels in that sense. They had to survive the constant threat of Apocalypse and his forces, especially if they ventured out of the sanctuary of this Island. Scott adjusted his visor. He could feel a headache coming on; he had been sitting out here too long. He shook his head; he would go in when it became unbearable. He looked out at the sky again. He wouldn't be staying here for much longer. He wasn't welcome, that much he was certain of. The only person who fully trusted him was Jean, and that too he figured was because of their link. It had only been one day since the battle at the Tower; most of the people had recovered. The powers that be at Muir Isle had been in conference for nearly an hour now. He knew that his fate would be decided by them, and that galled him. After being controlled for so long, he realized that he hated it. Hated it with a vengeance. He vowed to himself, that whatever the decision taken by the X-men, he would leave the Island. He didn't fit, and he still didn't trust them. They were rebels, he had thought them to be his enemies all his life, and he wasn't sure now. *What you really need Scott is breathing space, time to think and sort out your life.* Scott was decided, he would leave. If Jean wanted to come with him she was welcome to it, in fact Scott knew he wanted her to come with him. What he wanted he knew was to be free of it all, all the worries, the troubles, the anxiety; he wanted to be rid of them all. What he wanted was a life of peace with Jean.
He suddenly felt small cool hands on his shoulders, pulling him back. He relaxed into the embrace easily, and looked up at Jeans face. She smiled at him. A loose strand of hair slipped down and tickled his nose. He shook his head to get rid of the offending hair and blew air out of his nose. Jean laughed lightly.
"Hey Scott."
He smiled, "Hey Jean."
She came around the bench and sat next to him, leaning against him.
"You're summoned to the council meeting Scott. They want to judge you."
Scott's face tightened almost imperceptibly, but Jean felt the change in his emotions.
"I know what you're feeling Scott, but you have to go. It's the only the way you'll ever be allowed to be an X-man."
"Oh, really, that's great; I've always wanted to be one of those."
"Can the sarcasm Scott."
Scott stood up.
"Let's get this over with."
Jean looked at him.
"Come on Jean, let's just go."
The room was a large one, in the centre of which was a large table, built into the ground. All the X-men were in the room, at least all the ones who were in any condition to attend the meeting. At the head of it sat Erik and next to him were Moira Mctaggert, the Human High Council head, and Logan. Even Ororo and Remy were there. The X- men sat in random order around the table, Kitty and Kurt sitting next to Rogue on the left, and on the other side sat Ororo, Warren, Betsy and Wanda. Piotr stood behind Erik, and Remy leaned against the wall on the right. When Scott and Jean came in they cut off whatever they had been saying. Apparently a heated argument had been taking place. Jean stood next to Scott, her hand squeezed his lightly, then she went and sat down next to Moira.
"So Cyclops, we have debated long on what is to be done about you. Should you be convicted for your crimes and made to serve time in prison or be executed, or should you be absolved of all sin and allowed to become one of us? You have the complete support of Phoenix, who makes it perfectly clear that you are trustworthy and a good man. She also loves you. Psylocke believes that you are a good person at heart but is not too sure how far you can be trusted. Your old comrade in arms, Rumik, believes that you may be telling the truth, but that you should be imprisoned until it is certain you should join us. She of course has been our ally for some time now," Scott's eyes widened at that, he hadn't expected that. He also found all this talk pointless. Erik continued.
"Dr. Mctaggert here was out for your blood. She has no trust for you at all. You killed Xavier, who was our leader. You have killed many of our number, however inadvertently. You were also under no mental conditioning by Dark Beast, unlike Rumik. Whatever you did was by your own free will. Weapon X says that you helped them in the Tower and that without your help they may all have died. You attempted to return Jean to us; you also risked your own life and position. These things have been taken into account, as has been your link with Jean. However we have also come to understand that some things can even be withheld within you, secrets can be kept from the other. Thus we can disregard the link to some extent. Many people who were with you however do not trust you. Many are inclined to think it is all some twisted scheme to finish us. After looking over all the facts and all the information we have been given and consulting all the people gathered here on their own opinion and what instinct tells them we have decided that you should be free to do what you will. We shall not imprison you. However you cannot be part of the X-men. You must also leave this island. Your presence is unsettling and there may be some who would decide to take revenge for what you have done in the past. Do you wish to say anything?" Scott smiled, he could not have expected better.
"I have nothing to say. I am satisfied with what decision you have made for I had no plans on staying here. I cannot go back to the Tower that is certain. I am probably as welcome there as any of you are. I cannot reconcile myself to your beliefs, but I also don't believe in what I have been taught all my life, that you are rebels and should be destroyed. I am done with all of this. With the Tower and with rebels. I wish you luck in what you do."
Scott turned then and walked out of the room. Jean got up and excused herself before following him. The X-men turned to Erik.
"Now what, Erik?" Ororo asked him, "Do we trust the High Prelate? Should he not be watched?" Erik sat in his chair thinking. After a short while he looked up.
"No. I don't think he intends to return to the Tower and I m certain after watching him that he is probably telling the truth. I am still not too sure of this bond Jean has with him, even Charles was unsure about this 'link' business. He researched it for many years, but found no clue as to how it worked. He had no idea of its limits or boundaries, if there are any. No I think we shall have to trust him, and if the bond is as powerful as Jean thinks it is she will be able to keep a better watch on him than any we could ever."
Remy grimaced, but at a warning glance from Ororo he kept silent. Erik looked up at him.
"Remy, will Roulette remain here?"
Remy hesitated, then spoke, "For th' time being we'll stay put. Moira has de best facilities to care for Sarah. Besides, our main base was destroyed, an' our mobile base would be detected too easily. Non, we're fine here. T'anks for letting us stay."
Erik waved his comment aside, "Nonsense Remy, you're an X-man, even if you don't want to be called one. So is all of your team."
Suddenly Logan spoke up.
"Good that's finally been settled. The only question I have, and I think everyone here may have thought of it at some point, is whether Jeannie is going to stay with us or go with soldier boy?" The thought raised several exclamations, but they were all hushed by Erik.
"That would be most distressing, but I think she will stay. She knows how much we will need her."
x----------- ------------x
"So I guess this is goodbye then."
Scott stopped in front of the steps heading down towards the small pier. Jean stood behind him, hands behind her back, looking up at him unhappily.
Scott nodded slowly. She would be able to read nothing from him; he was keeping his thoughts to himself as much as possible.
"You don't have to go you know. I could force the X-men to keep you here. I could threaten to quit and leave until they agreed to let you stay."
Scott smiled then, "No Jean, they need you more than I do. You know you couldn't leave them. You have to stay, just as I have to go. That's why I haven't asked you to come with me. I know you would always be thinking of the X-men. No Jean I have to go, and I have to go alone. You'll know where I am always, through our bond, as I will know about you. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
Jean stared at him for a second, then Scott felt weary resignation through their link, and a strange determination. Jean walked up to him and pressed herself hard against him. Her arms curled around his neck and she stood there, her face buried in his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her. Suddenly she kissed him hard on the lips, and a telepathic message slammed into his forehead. If you fall, I will fall with you. I will love you. forever.
Scott stumbled backwards as she released him and stepped back. Scott stared into her eyes for a second drinking in her every feature, then turned and walked away from her, heading down the steps.. He turned around once aboard the boat, a small speedboat actually, the X-men had provided him with. He raised a hand in farewell, and then started the engine and sped away, leaving a small figure watching him from the top of the cliff.
x----------------- ------------x
Asmodeus walked into the brightly lit room angrily. That fool Juggernaut had failed in killing even one of the Betrayers, much less Sammael. Now Sammael had already begun to put in extra effort in bringing them down. Three of his fellow Externals were there. They would not be pleased at the news he was bringing. Juggernaut had escaped from the prison they had sealed him in after he had brought them the news of his failure. Behamen, Galaire and Gilgamesh sat around the table. Asmodeus was slightly nervous. Over the years he had managed to bring the remaining Externals together, and had kept a tenuous hold on some sort of leadership over the group. However that could all change. At best they would keep him in the coalition, however as an equal member. At worst they would kill him and the coalition would dissolve, leaving Sammael to pick them off easily. He prepared to teleport at a moments notice, though he might not even have that. It was good that Astaroth wasn't here. He would take Juggernauts escape as a personal insult. He himself had sealed him with the most unbreakable substance he could make. However, some outside source had freed him, and Asmodeus, who had been guarding the prison, would be given the blame.
"Ah, you are finally here. We have been waiting for you." Asmodeus didn't like the look on Gilgamesh's face as he said that.
"I am sorry to have been delayed. I have dire news."
If anything Gilgamesh's face grew even happier, as far as Asmodeus could tell from how Gilgamesh's face was hidden.
"Do tell Asmodeus." Galaire sounded bored. She usually did though.
"Juggernaut has escaped."
"What?" Behamen cried.
"That's impossible! Astaroth made it as strong as he could. No one, not even a Celestial himself could have broken through that."
Gilgamesh watched patiently, and now Asmodeus was sure Gilgamesh was smiling.
It is annoying news at best, however we can let it pass. We have more pressing -"
He was cut off by Gilgamesh, "No. We cannot let it pass. You have been making far too many errors recently. I do not trust you to be able to complete any objective we have set. This job of guarding The Juggernaut was your last chance as far as I am concerned. I think we should just rid ourselves of you."
Asmodeus stood in anger.
"Are you insane? Sammael is already going insane; you would not survive without my massive network of spies."
Gilgamesh was about to answer when Behamen's small beringed hand touched his lightly.
"He is right, Gilgamesh. We need to work together. However, you have no more leadership Asmodeus. You have proved to be inept. You will work with us."
Galaire nodded regally, her eyes cold. Gilgamesh hesitated and then nodded his assent, grimacing.
Asmodeus bowed his head. In truth he was heartened by the news. He had to make sure he didn't slip up again.
"I shall of course, bow to the consensus."
"What consensus?" Astaroth enquired walking into the room.
Galaire briefed him on the events and Astaroth frowned. He wasn't too angry though.
"I have good news though. Perhaps news that may offset this misfortune. I have felt the presence of some power, another External perhaps."
The others greeted this news with varying degrees of shock. Asmodeus's mouth dropped open, Galaire stopped tapping her fingers on the desk and stared at Astaroth. Behamen squealed; but Gilgamesh nearly fell backwards in surprise. The hooded man's cloak slipped a little, showing grayish tinged skin and glittering black eyes widened in surprise.
"How is that possible? All except us were wiped out in the first two strikes of Apocalypse's armies. If any were alive we would have found him by now, or at least the Tower would have." Galaire nearly spluttered.
"I don't know, all I know is that I felt something familiar, a trace of power that I knew centuries ago. It is . unsettling."
"We must find this 'power' and convince him to join us. Perhaps then we could attack Sammael, not to mention Apocalypse." All the others looked at Gilgamesh.
"You are right. Let us not waste time," a broad smile spread across Behamen's face, "The Hellfire Club shall finally have its revenge."
x----------------- ------------x
"It is time."
Apocalypse strode towards the chambers. They had begun glowing more and more brilliantly as time had passed, but were now glowing very faintly and emitted a low hum. Apocalypse stood between all the four chambers and smiled. He pressed a switch on his gauntlets and the four chambers rose slowly till they were almost vertical.
"Come my horsemen, the call to arms has sounded, and the horsemen are needed."
The doors of the chambers emitted a low hissing sound as they opened.
"Death, to take the souls of the enemy."
The first chamber, that emitted a blue glow opened and a figure stepped out, in robes as black as midnight. Its face was hidden beneath a hood; all that could be seen were two glowing blue eyes. Something stirred beneath the folds of its robes and a hand emerged, surrounded by the same blue glow. A hand wrapped in a black gauntlet, which glowed from the inside, and skeletal fingers could almost be seen, glowing blue, beneath the black metal. Clutched in the fist was a staff, at the end of which was a scythe like blade, also glowing in the ethereal blue. As it moved to stand before Apocalypse, it's boots clanked on the ground.
"Plague, to decay their bodies and minds."
The green glowing chamber opened and another figure stepped out, this one garbed in a leathery sort of armor, beneath which green-hued, mottled and rotting skin could be seen. Its face was gaunt and the skin was stretched tight over the bones. Two gleaming green pinpoints stared out of the dark hollows of the eye sockets. Long wispy hair streaked back from the temple and hung below the shoulders of the figure. A cape flared behind the figure, which it swung around to shroud itself. A cowl slipped into place over the figures head. In the darkness of the room the dark-green cape looked almost black.
"War, to bring down the fires of might."
The purple glowing chamber opened and another figure stepped out, the most human so far. It was a lusciously beautiful woman, with long raven black hair. Her generously proportioned body was wrapped in black skintight leather. The leather was covered, in some places, with dark purple colored armor. Her eyes were a smoky purple, which gleamed as she walked forward. The armor was spiky, with long blade like protrusions coming out at the shoulders and elbows and smaller protrusions coming out at the knees and ankles. At her side swung a scabbard, from which the copper-skinned woman drew a purple gleaming sword, holding it point down in front of her, as she took her place beside the other two figures. As she stopped her petulantly smiling mouth became flat, and the two bangs that framed her face stopped swinging to hang still. The point of the sword struck the floor, sinking a few centimeters into the reinforced metal.
"And Beast, to turn their cities to ashes!"
The final chamber opened and a hulking figure approached. Its eyes glowed red, as did its claws. As it walked forward the room shook with the force of its weight. It opened its mouth and a growling sound emerged from the depths. It unfurled its tattered wings, and then folded them again after stretching them. Its tail snaked around the small tables. Its skin was coated in reddish brown hair and two large horns sprouted from behind its ears. As it took its place in front of Apocalypse, its wings unfurled slightly to sweep around its body, covering all but its face.
"At last, ride my four horsemen of the Apocalypse. The end of the world, as people have known it is at hand."
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