Elsewhere in the twisted, dark world that Rogue had entered, the players were beginning to plot, the pieces were moving towards their ultimate goal. But some pieces were doing so with greater reluctance.
"Sir I must protest. We have not yet charted the full side effects of the Rebirth process. We have no idea how..."
"You have your orders, Agent Fury," replied his superior, making the gray-haired agent stiffen angrily. "Carry them out."
"You must understand," said another. "We are desperate. If nothing is done soon, the mutants will continue expanding, and we will be cut off. And already morale among the troops is low."
"Do as you are told, Agent Fury," intoned a third.
"Yes sir," said Fury, storming off to go and do what he'd been told.
Didn't mean he had to like it.
So it was that Fury stormed down the hallway of their secret fortress, marching past guards and soldiers, scientists and doctors. Their base was located on the edge of the city of London, which had been declared the central city of the world powers at the start of the war. All humans now fought under a single banner. And together, they stood against Magneto and his mutants, and tried to preserve their racial purity, slaughtering any and all mutants at birth.
"What's the word, Patronete?" he asked, storming into the lab without any preamble. Patronete, his resident scientist and geneticist, glanced up in surprise upon his arrival.
It was a simple, big room, long and rectangular, with all manner of steel beds placed down upon it in two long rows. And lying on them were the unconscious forms of boys and girls, no more than teens and young adults. And the Council had just given orders for their lives to end.
At least, the lives they'd had.
"We've been given the green light," grumbled Fury, drawing the toothpick from his mouth and twirling it absent-mindedly in his fingers. "For at least fifty... units," he added, spitting out the last word like it was distasteful.
"That'll take no more than a day," replied Patronete, his voice trembling only a little. Like Fury, he had qualms about experimenting on children or using the terrible Rebirth machine to destroy them. But the Council didn't... as long as he saved his species from annihilation at the hands of their mutant enemies, it might be worth it. Hell, Patronete might even be awarded, decorated as the hero who saved the human race.
Fury's hoped the two of them were doing the right thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elsewhere in England, in a secret facility deep beneath the ground. Formerly the passageway beneath the English Channel, it had been sealed off in an effort to isolate the earth powers and their home city from any sort of sneak attack. Now if the mutants came they came in full view of the army, the navy, and the air force that was assembled before them. Not a fly could sneak in and out of the tiny island of England without being noticed.
None of this concerned the man known as General Wraith. All he wanted was privacy from prying eyes and the continual funding of the government. Both of which he received. Though they had added a rather unfortunate addition.
A partner.
"General. The subjects are ready. We know the first will do fine but..." stated Dr. Risman.
"But what?" he asked angrily.
"The second has no such immunities. The surgery could potentially kill him," she replied, her voice softening. Compassion. He snorted. He'd done away with it ages ago. It got in the way of progress.
"We only need one. Two will be ideal. Besides, out of the original subjects these two have shown the best chances," he stated, tapping the video screen before him. On it, the images of two mutants thrashed in pain, strapped as they were to metal tables in a lab. It was in another part of the facility.
"Yes sir, but need I remind you..."
"If you are so concerned, do the second one yourself. I see more hope in the big fellow anyway," added General Wraith with a grin, adjusting his eyeglasses. In the dim green lighting of the room they almost seem to glow with an eerie light.
"Yes sir," she replied, nodding her head. Together, the two of them stepped out of the room and made their way down the corridor to their subjects.
"My project may be going well, but I haven't received a report lately on the work with the Phoenix Project. All is going according to schedule?" he asked as they walked side-by-side to the lab.
"With one minor setback, yes everything is fine. We'll be ready in less than a week," she replied.
"And my subjects in less than twenty-four hours," he stated with another proud grin.
"IF they survive," she replied sharply.
"Oh they shall," he stated, as they entered the lab. Both patients were thrashing about, but neither was able to make much of a sound. They'd been muzzled. General Wraith and Dr. Risman grabbed their surgical coats, gloves, and masks. This promised to be, at the very least, messy.
"Time for surgery," announced Wraith, picking up a surgical saw...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The air was alive with clicks, whirrs, sounds of machinery in motion. The air crackled with electricity, the ground shook with motion, the sparks light the room every so often as metal was being given shape.
Shape and, more importantly, purpose.
Trask was truly a blessing to the Council. Soon he might sit on the Council himself, if his work continued to impress the earth powers as he had the past few years. His inventions had been invaluable in learning how to control and capture mutants. And now, the very pinnacle of his work was nearly completed.
"Mastermold," he stated, turning back to the computer screen behind him. "What's the progress on the first batch? How soon can they be ready for voice activation?"
"Three minutes, forty-two seconds," replied the monotone voice of the computer.
"Excellent... I'll see to them myself," he stated, zipping up his coat and riding the elevator the short distance to the upper level. It was colder up there, with the wind blowing freely, but it was the only place his machines would be able to stand up properly.
Ah... and there they stood.
Row upon row of black and red metal, sleek and deadly. Their shoulderplates all bore the symbol of the American flag. And they would make efficient, deadly weapons against the mutants. They would be driven back with his creations.
"Activate," he ordered.
As one, their yellow eyes lit up, and their heads swiveled to regard the puny, insignificant being that had created them.
[Subject Identification: Creator]
[Voice Recognition: Confirmed]
[Awaiting Orders]
Trask grinned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How do you feel?" asked Patronete, as the first of their subjects emerged from the Rebirth machine. He looked only a little different from when he'd entered. Stronger, sleeker. More powerful.
"I feel fine," he replied, testing his limbs, stretching them out. "Better than fine, actually."
"Follow Fury then," stated Patronete. "He will see you are properly suited up, Mr. Mathews. Ms..." he paused briefly, scanning his papers for the name of the next subject. "Ms. Fujioka, you're next. Please step into the machine."
"Yes sir," she replied. With crisp, military precision, she stepped into the rebirth tube, clad in little more than her boxers and a tanktop. She'd get her new uniform soon enough.
Sighing, Patronete adjusted his glasses, punching the appropriate buttons and letting the machine takes it course, bathing the room in light and the subject within in energy as it altered them. Made them stronger, made them more agile, made them more powerful. But kept them human, kept them controllable. This, the Council had decided, would be the next stage of human evolution. Not the inferior, freakish, dangerous and unpredictable mutants. Superhumans.
As Ms. Fujioka underwent the procedure, Fury led their very first new superhuman over to his wardrobe. He winced involuntarily as he suited up. The memories of his old buddy Steve Rogers were still strong in his mind. And now they had him in a slab of ice in the middle of their Antarctica base. Poor bastard.
Mr. Mathews finished, tugging on his red gloves and examining his new uniform. It was almost like the old Captain America's uniform. With one important difference. There had been only one Captain America, thus his uniform had been more of a costume in nature. He'd been a symbol more than he'd been a soldier. But now these boys and girls had to be soldiers. Thus they were given ranks over the characteristic stars and stripes of their uniform. Ranks and names.
"Mr. Mathews," stated Fury, getting the young man's attention. "You're now captain of this squadron. As soon as your team is complete, head down to C barracks and get some rest. You'll have the rest of your mission in the morning."
"Yes sir," he replied, giving a precise salute.
Ms. Fujioka soon joined in next to Mr. Mathews in a similar (if slightly smaller and modified) uniform. Fury watched, watching in a mixture of pride and horror. He and Patronete had created an army alright... but as he looked into the dull black eyes of his soldiers... he wondered what the cost truly had been.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You hate mutants. Mutants are your enemy. You will kill mutants. You will save humans. You hate mutants. Mutants are your enemy. You will kill mutants. You will save humans. You hate mutants. Mutants are your enemy. You will kill mutants. You will save humans. You hate mutants. Mutants are your enemy. You will kill mutants. You will save humans.
Over and over the mantra droned on and on, until finally the patient fell limp. But even unconsciousness would not save his mind. The endless words continued in his mind... on and on... driving him to the brink of madness.
But that was what General Wraith wanted, as he adjusted the device held in his hand. Increasing the power. The chip implanted in the subjects both began to increase in both volume and rhythm. Not that either could actually hear it, exactly. It worked on a subconscious level. He'd employed a similar technology on the subject Wolverine... before the bastard had escaped and gotten himself killed fighting for the mutant filth. Ah well, these two would do more than replace him. They would make the perfect assassins.
The second groaned one last time and finally fell back as the chip in its brain overtook it. He was ready. Smirking, General Wraith tapped another button on the device.
... You hate mutants. Mutants are your enemy. You will kill mutants. You will save humans. -Obey your human masters- You hate mutants. Mutants are your enemy. You will kill mutants. You will save humans. -Obey your human masters-...
"Wake up," he intoned.
Yellow eyes opened, peering up at the ceiling.
"How would you feel about... killing some mutants?" he asked with a smirk.
Lips drew back in a grin, revealing sharp, pointed teeth.
"I... hate... mutants..."
Author's Notes:
This is probably the chapter that requires the biggest leap of imagination, due to all the Evo names brought together. Now we see the human side of the war. Just as desperate for survival as Magneto and his mutants. Specifically we see glimpses into their military program. But this is just a tip of the iceberg, believe me. There is something far more insidious being planned. And that's pretty hard to top with the Rebirth machine -and- the Weapon X project. Also I wanted to include a lot of the humans in my story who I've been leaving out of my others. Now I've just made some of them a bit more evil. Turning Duncan and Taryn (as well as others) into superhuman soldiers I think was sheer brilliant. As for the Weapon Xee's of the AU, well I think you can figure it out. Phoenix project? A suggestion from a friend... again, I think you can figure out... at least a little about it.
Risty: I purposely wanted to have Destiny missing because she's a mother figure to Rogue, and thus would be comforting. No comfort for her! Yeah, making Colossus mute doesn't change him much does it? And yeah, Cyclops is starting to have doubts. But Amanda just told him its going to be resolved soon.
Sashi: Procrastination is such a wonderful thing, isn't it? Technically I think comic-DayTripper was named Jermaine or some such, the flight attendant disguise of hers was named Amanda Sefton. And yeah, like you I never read the comics. But I think I've given her enough to stay true to both her comic and Evo selves. Especially as you'll see later.
Rogue14: Oh, this is only the beginning, She-Who-Is-Named-After-My-Main-Character-With-A-Fourteen-At-The-End. Rogue has a long way to go before she can go home. As you can see, this world isn't going to let her go that easily.
Todd fan: Can't wait for more of your stories either. Glad you enjoyed the introduction of and Evoish DayTripper. I doubt I'll have the regular universe Amanda learn magic ever, so this is my salute to her comic self.
Nessie6: Uh, yeah... nothing weird about that... nothing... at... all... anyway glad you liked the introduction of Amanda. Or DayTripper, as she now is. I confess I don't know if she was in AoA. I know about Kurt, but I have plans for him, and you'll see him a few chapters from now in all his demonic/elven glory.
Peace215: Oh no of course not, don't hold you breath. You'll pass out. Glad I got you thinking and guessing at the plot and plans. Believe me, that's some of the greatest joy I have writing this stuff. Tormenting you all with teasing plots! Muwahahahahah! Well, here it is. Next chapter. And another coming soon.
Spectra2: Not being a mutant myself, yes this is as fast as I can get chapters out and to my adoring public. Danke for the cookie *scarfs it down.* Mmmmm... almost as delicious as reviews.
Terminatrix T-X: Glad you're enjoying the story and every little twist and turn I've tossed in for the readers like you. You'll see who Mindbender is soon (if you haven't guessed already). But believe me, Logan isn't immortal. There are plenty of ways to kill him. Glad you liked the insight into Rogue's mind, as well as the party scene. Yes, parts of it I grabbed from the 'Martix: Reloaded.' Which was awesome.