CHAPTER 7
Darkness
Deep in the heart and surrounding areas of Tibet lie several mountain ranges. Within these ancient thrones of nature thousands of caves hollowed out by centuries of erosion have been formed. The majority of these are used by monks as places of sanctuary or training, others are used by villagers as storage houses. However there is one cave near a long deserted village that no one monk or villager would go near. Dark legends revolved around this particular cave, legends of a great evil that destroyed almost all of the great civilisations of the past including the Atlanitans and Babylonians. The evil had been trapped by powerful magic but it was said that anyone who went into the cave returned insane shouting and raving about the end of all, the Apocalypse. For eons the winding narrow path that led to the cave had lain unused but recently footsteps could be seen in the dust.
Hyato Nagata walked alone across the old path his snow-white ponytail whipping back and forth in the ice-cold breeze. He was obviously young despite the colour of his hair with dark black eyes and a thin hard muscled body. The young man scowled darkly as he walked, he was not looking forward to reporting his failure. In fact he wasn't looking forward to going to the cave in general. He despised what he was doing and more than that the one who sent him to do it, but he had no choice anymore he had made his decision long ago.
Stopping outside the entrance Hyato sighed, his master would not enjoy what he had to say to him. Failure of any kind was not tolerated. Gathering himself he walked into the gaping mouth of the cave.
'Our master is displeased with you for your pitiful failure Ying.' Hyato scowled distastefully at the figure in front of him.
'Leave me Cortez I have no time for your ravings.'
Fabian Cortez was the first and only of the disciples of Apocalypse. He claimed to have been rescued by Apocalypse from an island called Genosha, just as he and his master would rescue the world from humanity. It didn't take a genius to realise he was truly mad.
'Ravings, RAVINGS!' Cortez's eyes glittered with an insane light. 'The words of our master are no mere ravings. Perhaps it's time you were reminded!' The disciple spat raising his hands. Hyato dropped into a wary fighting stance. Cortez had the ability to increase or decrease a person's lifeforce and mutant power but his 'skill' was temporary and extremely addictive, frequent exposure could leave someone completely in his power through the withdrawal symptoms they experienced. But he had powers too. Ones Cortez had no idea existed; especially now he was near his brother.
'Enough!'
The two mutants turned to face the source of the command. A tall man dressed in simple purple robes walked towards them his cowl lowered so the dark green tattoos on his face were plainly visible. Hyato said nothing Mesmero as he called himself was a coward by nature generally using his limited psychic powers to control the weak minded, even the augmentation he received had not changed his methods. So it would take something drastic to make him speak out against anyone. Especially Cortez.
'You do not rule me Mesmero.' Cortez growled
'No but our master does,' the psychic said simply. 'And he is curious as to why you are not following the orders he gave you.' Cortez snarled wordlessly and then turned and left the two his bright gaudy robes flowing. 'Come Ying our master awaits.' Hyato nodded and started to follow Mesmero down the cave. Any other time he would have been angered by the use of the codename he hated so much but there was something different about Mesmero, obviously something had happened to make him feel safe from the others. As they reached the main chamber Hyato gasped staring. The chamber wasn't much just a large rough room, but at the back was the cause of the superstitions about this cave. A large door dominated the room covered in archaic designs. At the centre of the door a massive keyhole much too large for any normal key had been placed. Or at least it had, for now the first door of Apocalypse stood open. Now what seemed like a simple steel door with a large spider design on it stood in its place. Hyato knew now why Mesmero was so confident; his mission had been a success, the only success. Hyato looked around the room Mesmero had withdrawn, probably back to his chambers in the lower catacombs but his brother was there. A genetic copy of him except his hair was jet black. And Hess was also standing near the second door a leash held tightly in one hand connected to the neck of a small figure cowering in the shadows. The German was rarely seen without at least one of her 'trophies'. Children raped and tortured past the brink of insanity, once she had held the Wagner child in her grasp only to have him attack and terrify her into hiding for reasons she had never disclosed to anyone. Hyato would have killed her on the spot but the knowledge she possessed on the Wagner boy was invaluable and although he was ashamed to admit it he was afraid of her. That she was insane there could be no doubt but unlike Cortez her insanity was cold, methodical and corrosive. It was said that staying near her would eventually infect the person with her sick insanity, and the evidence pointed true. Hess had contacts and lieutenants all over the world; most of the information they received came from her.
'A shame you failed Ying.' Hess purred softly her eyes glittering like a cat playing with a mouse it intended to eat. 'I would of enjoyed seeing mein damon again.'
'He was never intended for you Hess, even if I had succeeded you would not be allowed near him.'
'True,' Hess shrugged 'but you failed anyway so it doesn't matter now does it?'
'Yes brother what happened? You should have been able to beat him easily.' Ying turned to his brother Iki Nagata also known as Yang and sighed. Yang's power lay in brute strength rather than skill and speed, but he also lacked intelligence. He was good at fighting and nothing else. So good in fact that he believed himself and his brother unbeatable.
'Our information was wrong brother.' Ying said looking straight at Hess. 'Rather than surrender himself to save his sister he attacked. Instead of being weak his strength speed and skill surpassed mine. And instead of being alone he brought five other Mutants with him!' The last came out as a shout. Hess merely stared but the tiny figure in shadows next to her cringed, huddling in on itself.
'ENOUGH!'
There was no sound but the massive voice reverberated through their minds tearing through their psyche. Hyato and the others dropped their knees bowing their heads instantly; a moment's delay would cost them dearly.
'YOU HAVE FAILED ME YING!' The voice roared. 'YOU KNOWTHE PRICE OF FAILURE!'
'I do.' Ying whispered awed by the force and power of the voice. 'I make no excuse for my mistake. Through my own folly did I underestimate my foe and allow him to escape.' I humbly accept my punishment.' For a few seconds everything was silent then the voice sounded again. 'HOWEVER I WILL LET YOU SURVIVE THIS TIME, FOR ALTHOUGH YOU FAILED ME IN CATCHING THE VESSEL YOU HAVE ALERTED ME TO ONE WHO WOULD GIVE COMPLETE POWER TO ME.'
'Tell me who master' Ying breathed quickly. 'Tell me and I will hunt them down, to the ends of the Earth if need be.'
'NO YING I HAVE ANOTHER TASK FOR YOU, ONE CORTEZ HAS ALREADY STARTED. YOU WILL BRING ME MUTANTS YING, MUTANTS WHO WILL BE BLESSED BY BECOMING MY HOSMEN. WAR, FAMINE, PESTILENCE AND DEATH. TWO HAVE ALREADY JOINED ME.'
Ying glanced upwards and stopped his breath catching in his mouth, two men now stood in front of the door, a true testament to Apocalypse's power since the only way in to the chamber was through the entrance and no one would have been able to get by without being heard or seen. The man on the left stood seven foot tall with purple body armour covering all but his face, which was a sickening white with black lips and a purple diamond on his forehead. Hyato had heard rumours about him a noted scientist who had subjected thousands of beggars and other ner-do-wells to terrible genetic experiments. Most men had forgotten his real name, one Dr Nathaniel Essex in favour of the title given to him by the few who had escaped his clutches, Mr Sinister. But it was the other man standing on the right who held Hyato's attention. He stood just over six feet with an impressive build he wore a green military uniform and a pistol was strapped to his side. But that wasn't what Hyato was staring at; it was the man's face. A grinning travesty, his face had the look of skull painted completely red, but it wasn't. No one knew exactly how but that man's face was real and the very sound of his name had spread terror across the countries that had fought against the Nazi's. The Red Skull stood in front of Hyato saying nothing yet seeing everything and not for the first time Hyato wished he had done the honourable thing and committed suicide all those years ago.
'BEHOLD MY SERVANTS' the voice roared through their heads. 'THE FIRST TWO OF MY HORSEMEN PESTILENCE AND WAR!' Hyato shuddered there was no need to ask which was which.
'NOW YING, CORTEZ HAS LEFT TO BRING FAMINE TO ME. I GIVE YOU THE HONOUR OF BRINGING DEATH TO MY SERVICE.' An image of a young mutant flashed in his head.
'I understand and obey master.' Ying said starting to rise. 'A-and the vessel my lord?'
'I will take care of mein damon Ying.' Hess said smiling, 'after all I have something he will die to protect.' And with that she pulled the leash sharply and the small figure staggered into the light. Hyato gasped then swallowed queasily staring at the child, dimly he could hear his brother retching in the background. He wished they could leave or at least warn the Wagner boy what was coming but he had made his choice and there was no turning back now.