The Bad Guys They are A Plotting
"Calm down Gyrich," Eddington spoke into the phone. "The important thing is that they haven't connected you to Trask. Well not yet. Only a select few people know about Project Widewake. So you're perfectly safe. Don't worry I've already found another location for Trask to start up again overseas. Where? Some backwater little island of the coast of West Africa. No you won't have any problems with the natives. Trust me, they barely know how to make soap, let alone…Will you stop complaining? Think of it as a working tropical vacation. You're only going to be there until Trask gets settled in. You'll be out way before the monsoon season hits. All right maybe not the monsoon season, whatever they call the bad weather there. No I don't think they have an active volcano. I'm pretty sure it's dormant. I'll send you the details. Goodbye!"
Eddington shook his head as he looked at the report from General Hawk. "I can't believe Trask botched up a simple thing like keeping a Joe hostage! No wonder he's worried about a mutant takeover. They're slightly smarter than he is. Of course a wet banana peel is slightly smarter than he is so that's not saying much. But this report about what sonny boy saw that bothers me."
"This is not good," Eddington thought aloud as he read. "Not one but two precogs seeing the same visions? Perhaps I should look into alternatives just in case the Sentinels fail. They are machines after all. And machines aren't always reliable. Perhaps I should have mutants of my own? That's not a bad idea."
He punched a few buttons and made a call. "Hello Malcolm? Eddington here. You were talking to me about a certain old project you were working on. I'd like to restart it. That's right, a new and improved Weapon X. And in return I'd seriously consider your other project you described to me. Project Neverland…"
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Emma Frost glided down the hallways to her corporate office. Well what used to be her office. "You selfish little witch," Emma barged in. "You're not even here a week and already you're trying to take over my company!"
"Our company dear sister," Adrienne Frost, her older sister purred as she rearranged the files on the computer. She was wearing a conservative tan business suit and had long ash blonde hair. She took a casual glance at Emma's white halter top and white low-rise jeans. "And people think that our little sister is the exhibitionist of the family."
"I built Frost International all on my own," Emma snapped. "Without any help from Father's money or anyone else's!"
"No, you just used your telepathic abilities," Her sister snarled.
"In business you take what advantages you have and put them to work dear sister," Emma purred.
"Oh I know that lesson. I've learned it well," Adrienne glared at her. "And I also know the importance of making friends in business. A concept you never grasped."
"There are no friends in business," Emma snarled. "Merely allies. I brought you into this company so I could give you an opportunity."
"No, you allowed me in so that you could have more time playing teacher to those children you are so fond of," Adrienne snorted. "I thought Father broke that ridiculous fantasy of yours, but again he underestimated you."
"Training the future generation of leaders and soldiers is a very large task," Frost told her. "Someone has to do it. And I can't mold their minds and run my company full time now can I? Besides it's not as if you had anything better to do. Since Father's company was going bankrupt anyway."
"That was not my fault!" Adrienne snarled. "By the time Father died and I finally got control of the business those back stabbing leeches on the board of directors had siphoned off nearly everything! It took me over two years to get out of the red!"
"And it would have been longer if I hadn't given you the money and allowed both corporations to merge," Frost pointed out. "Yes you do get to run the business, when I need you to. But the bottom line is that I am in charge. You are merely a high priced underling. Have I made myself clear?"
"It really galls me that Father never knew what you really were," She snarled at Emma. "He died before realizing what kind of person you are!"
"No what really galls you is that even though you were older you were always considered second best to me," Emma snarled. "Actually Father preferred Christian and Cordeila to you. And you know how he felt about them."
"Even he wouldn't have turned his company over to a freak!" Adrienne snapped.
"He gave it to you, after I turned it down!" Emma snarled. "Oh no wait, that was after Cordelia turned it down. First me, then that charming executive who had a heart attack after sleeping with those prostitutes, then Cordelia, then you."
Adrienne fumed silently. "I don't need to read your mind to know that you're miffed sister dear," Emma continued.
"You can't read it thanks to Cordelia," Adrienne glared at her.
"Why she agreed to put those shields in your mind I will never know," Emma sighed. "Oh well it doesn't matter. As long as you know your place. Have I made myself clear?"
"Crystal," Adrienne said tersely.
"There's a very nice window office down the hall," Emma told her. "It's almost as big as mine. You should be quite comfortable there. I expect everything of yours moved out of my office by evening." Emma left.
Adrienne waited until she was gone before she picked up a coffee cup and threw it against the wall. "Don't be so sure, sister," She growled. "I'm not going anywhere! Not if I can help it." She took a deep breath and then punched in a number on her cell phone. "Hello. It's me. Oh you're welcome. I'm always happy to make a donation to a worthy cause. But right now I have something more important to give you. Some information you might find very interesting…" Adrienne grinned a sinister grin.
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"Ah another day, another step closer to Cobra's glorious conquest of Earth," Cobra Commander hummed as he walked into his quarters. "This new plan of Destro gave me sounds brilliant. Attacking the nations from within! Soon computer networks will come crashing down, power outages, rampant chaos in the streets. How I love it so."
"Oh really?" A dark skinned blonde woman wearing a skintight cat outfit appeared. "That sounds like fun."
"Who are you? Oh wait that's right, I requested some entertainment for the evening," Cobra Commander nodded.
"Oh you're going to be entertained all right Hoody Baby," The woman purred as she slunk up to him. "That's what Candy does best."
"Ooh! Cobra Commander likes Candy," He grinned underneath his hood. "Just one question, are you being paid by the hour or is this one of those frequent customer deals?"
"Don't worry," Candy put her arms on his shoulders. "All you need to think about is how good this is gonna be. Destro sent me."
"He's paying! Good!" Cobra Commander nodded. Then he stopped. "Wait a minute, Destro never pays for my…uh, dates!"
"Oh he wanted to make sure you were well taken care of," Candy grinned. "So why don't you sit down, relax and have a seat!" She immediately kneed him in the groin and followed it up by whacking him in the face.
"AAAAGGHH! YOU CRAZY WHACK JOB! YOU'RE GOING TO…." He heard the click of a rifle behind him. "Pay?" He looked up and saw Destro and two of his guards pointing rifles at him.
"Excellent work Lilian," Destro grinned.
"Anything for you babe," Lilian removed her wig to reveal her long black hair.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" Cobra Commander screamed. "Guards! Seize him!"
"Not a bad idea," Destro snapped his fingers and several guards ran in, surrounding Cobra Commander.
"What is going on here?" Cobra Commander screamed.
"It's called a takeover you moron," Destro grinned as he aimed a huge gun at him. "Don't worry, this won't hurt. Much…."
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"Does anybody know what the hell Cobra Commander is thinking this time?" Firefly snarled. He and several other Cobra elite were in the planning room. "We've been here for over an hour! Time is money."
"Some of us get paid by the hour," Scrap Iron grinned. "So that statement is very accurate."
"Yes, well others of us…" Xamot began.
"Have a company to run," Tomax ended. "Do you have any idea how many lawyers…"
"And other politicians," Xamot added.
"We could have paid off by now?" Both of them snapped.
"Oh shut up and enjoy your free drinks," Mindbender snapped as he sipped the wine several young beauties were handing out. "You're going to need them when he starts talking."
"Speaking of talking where's the Baroness?" Tomax asked as he took a sip.
"Probably with Destro," Xamot said to his brother.
"Those two are joined at the hip," They remarked.
"Look who's talking," Scrap Iron huffed. "Now that I think about it where are the Dreadnoks? Not like Zartan and his ilk to be late."
"Yeah those blighters wouldn't miss any chance to charge Cobra with overtime," Major Bludd snarled. "If I wanted to sit around I would still be in prison."
"Don't worry Major," Destro walked in flanked by Lilian, Zartan, Mystique and Sabertooth. "This will be worth your while I assure you."
"WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY DOING HERE?" Mindbender screamed as he pointed at Mystique and Sabertooth.
"Now Doctor is that any way to speak to your former boss," Zartan tisked.
"Boss? You tricked us by pretending to be Cobra Commander!" Tomax yelled.
"You cost us millions of dollars and nearly ran Cobra into the ground!" Xamot snapped.
"I lost my position because of you!" Scrap Iron snapped.
"You were lucky! She sent me to the Xavier Institute where I nearly got killed," Firefly grunted.
"You freaks got a lot of nerve coming here after what you did!" Major Bludd grabbed his pistol. He was immediately disarmed by Sabertooth who then grabbed him by the neck, starting to crush his windpipe.
"Sabertooth, release him," Destro waved. "I'm afraid after his last experience with mutants, the good major has developed a bit of a phobia."
"That damn freak Toad nearly killed me!" Bludd screamed as Sabertooth dropped him. "I'd nearly been crippled for life!"
"Yes if not for my invention," Destro snapped his fingers and the assistants carrying the trays left. A screen appeared and images of strange robotics were shown on it. "I take it you are all familiar with nanites?"
"Yes tiny little microscopic robots that can be programmed to do nearly anything," Scrap Iron waved his hand. "We know all about that. Fused Bludd's spine together."
"Yes and I used them to help Zartan with his unfortunate skin condition three years ago," Mindbender nodded. "You know, when he was allergic to sunlight? I take it you've found another use for them?"
"Well they are very versatile machines," Destro remarked. "As we speak I have strategically planted them in several areas throughout the United States where they currently will do nothing but reproduce until I send a very specific signal."
"A signal which then will cause the nanites to disrupt and destroy computer networks," Xamot said.
"All over the country enabling us to take control," Tomax finished.
"We know this, Cobra Commander told us about this plan months ago!" The Twins snapped.
"Where is he anyway?" Mindbender asked.
"That is not important," Destro grinned. "I am in control of Cobra now."
"What do you mean you're in charge now?" Mindbender shouted.
"Exactly what he said," Mystique told him. "You really should learn to listen better."
"Where is Cobra Commander?" Mindbender snapped. "And where's the Baroness? Why isn't she here?"
"The Baroness has been…" Destro paused. "Replaced. "Gentlemen, and lady meet Lilian, also known as Mistress Armada, my new second in command."
"Charmed I'm sure," Lilian grinned.
"What the hell is going on?" Mindbender gasped. "Don't tell me you've replaced your paramour for another? And what happened to Cobra Commander?"
"What do you care?" Mystique folded her arms. "Time was when you couldn't wait to get rid of him!"
"She does have a point," Firefly said.
"Let me come to the point," Destro said. "Cobra has needed new leadership for a long time. New blood within its ranks. Therefore I've made a few staff changes to make sure that our newest plan for world domination succeeds."
"And if we don't go along with it?" Major Bludd sneered.
"Well then let me show you something you might find educational," Destro pushed a button on his wrist. "You know those nanites holding your spine together, Bludd? What if they decided to…take a coffee break?"
Bludd fell to the floor screaming. The other Cobras recoiled in horror as Bludd's body made a very unnatural contortion. "Take a good look my friends," Destro kicked the prone figure. "This could be any of you if you choose to defy me."
"Us?" Scrap Iron asked.
"Yes," Destro grinned. "I took the liberty of putting in a few of my nanites in the wine you all were drinking. Did you know nanites can even be DNA specific?"
"I should have known it was too good to be true…" Xamot grunted.
"Cobra never gives free drinks!" Tomax snapped.
"Nearly everyone in this room is now laced with nanites," Destro said. "With the exception of the most loyal," He indicated Lilian. "Those of us with healing factors," He indicated Sabertooth. "And those who have so many enemies they want to destroy and so little time," He indicated Mystique.
"Not to mention paid off," Mindbender hissed.
"And pregnant," Lilian sneered at Mystique.
"I suggest you all think very clearly before crossing me," Destro told them. "We will reconvene in one hour to go over our plans of conquest." He left the room but not before restoring Bludd.
Bludd managed to get to his knees with an agonizing yell. "I knew I should have stayed in jail!" He gasped.
"I hate to say it but Destro's got us right where he wants us," Mindbender grunted. "I knew the man was ruthless but I could never dream he'd be this ruthless!"
"More ruthless than normal if he's willing to dispose of his dear Baroness…" Xamot began.
"For another paramour…" Tomax agreed.
"Something is not right here…" They said together.
"Doesn't matter," Scrap Iron snapped. "If we don't do what he says we're all toast!"
Not me, Firefly grinned to himself. I didn't drink the wine…Now how do I use that to my advantage?