Author: Logan Berry
Summary: Lewis confronts Korrigan with the evidence from Charles
Rating/warning & pairing: PG-13 language, Lewis Williams and Korrigan Tweed
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to any Marvel Characters. Kaylan O'Connor, Lewis Williams and Korrigan Tweed are fictional characters and are owned by the above author.
Feedback very welcome
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"I'll be going alone from here, Anderson." Lewis Williams announced, turning to his PA as they stepped out of the limousine.
The tall, well-dressed man looked bemused, "Sir?"
"It's alright Anderson; this is a personal visit, why don't you take the rest of the day off." Lewis tried to smile at the younger man, but the thought of what he was about to do made his stomach turn and a cold shiver pass down his spine.
"If your sure sir." The assistant queried, surprised by his boss's sudden offer of a days holiday.
"I'm sure. I'll give you a call when I need you." Lewis added as he looked up at the glass sky-scraper. The reflections of white clouds passed over its dark-smoked surface giving the illusion that the world was slipping sideways. Lewis wobbled a little from the strange feeling of motion, as he took a tentative step. He straightened up and sucked in a deep breath to restrain the bilious taste growing in his mouth, as he strode purposefully towards the revolving doors of building; the black car pulling away from the curb behind him.
The entrance hall of the New York offices of the Tweed Corporation were palatial; a wide concourse set with large sofas and plush carpeting, all surrounding a magnificent water feature with a large silver revolving 'T' at its centre. But it was nothing Lewis Williams hadn't seen before and even though he had never been in this particular building, the grandiose surroundings did not even register in his mind as he headed for the elevators.
As the doors gently closed and the compartment shuddered as it rose, Lewis contemplated what he was about to do. Nothing in his whole life had prepared him for this moment. He had in his time crushed rivals and destroyed huge conglomerates, but never had he been as scared as he was now.
PING
The lift shuddered to a stop and several people stepped into the compartment. Lewis stepped back, a wave of claustrophobia passed over him. He questioned his motives for being there. Was he doing the right thing? Would he get what he wanted? What would he do when it was all over?
PING
The lift stopped again and the group alighted, this was his last chance to back out; to walk away as if nothing had happened. The doors closed. Too late, alone once more, the small confining box ascended. He tried to run through the plan in his mind.
After his evening with Charles, the Pandora's Box of secrets he had kept hidden for so many years had been reopened and he had no choice but to put them to rest once and for-all. He had cancelled all but a handful of meetings that week; choosing instead to sit in his office and brood. The plan which he was now intent on following had manifested itself in those long days and nights as he sat alone. He would carry it out with the cold, calculated focus of the battle-hardened businessman he truly was.
PING
The lift reached its destination. The doors eased open and Lewis Williams stepped out.
The penthouse floor of the Tweed building stretched out before him. A wide mahogany reception desk filled one wall, over-shadowed with yet another silver 'T' hanging behind it. "Tweed's ego is stamped everywhere." he thought wryly.
He was greeted by the bright-white fake smile of a receptionist, with an equally fake tan. "Good morning sir, welcome to the Tweed Corporation, how may I help you?" The woman asked in an almost robot-like patter.
"My name is Lewis Williams; I'm here to see Professor Tweed." Lewis answered quietly.
"Do you have an appointment sir?" The woman twittered.
"No, I do not, but he will see me."
The woman tilted her head abruptly and grinned, "I'm sorry sir, Professor Tweed is extremely busy. I'm afraid you'll have to make an appointment, what company are you from?"
Her fake jollity combine with the sickness he felt in the pit of his stomach was beginning to wear on his nerves. The blood rushed in his temples. Leaning over the counter he grimaced at the receptionist. "Now listen here, woman." He hissed. "I don't have time for your repetitive drivel. I am Lewis William and I'm in no mood to be explaining myself to you. Now get Korrigan on the phone and tell him I'm here."
The smile was wiped from the woman's face as Lewis made his demands. Gingerly picking up the receiver she pressed the intercom button. Lewis stepped away from the counter and straightened his jacket, the redness draining from his face. After several moments of hushed conversation the woman replaced the handset.
"Err, one moment Mr. Williams, Professor Tweed will be right out."
Lewis nodded and stood facing the large double doors at the end of the corridor. Time passed, he hated to be kept waiting; it was not the treatment he usually received, but he knew Tweed had his reasons. He drew in another deep breath, the longer he waited the more his brain told him to leave. "No, I have to see this through, no matter want the consequences." He told himself.
The click of door handles shook him from his thoughts and the doors opened. "Ahh, Lewis Williams, what an unusual surprise, it's been just too long." Lewis' stomach knotted at the sound of the sickly-smooth voice he had hoped he would never hear again even if he'd lived to be a hundred.
He watched as Korrigan Tweed sauntered down the corridor to greet him, his thin lips drawn into an artificial grin masking the hatred that he knew lurked in that twisted mind of his. Lewis tried to feign a smile but he knew it was a grimace. "Korrigan." He answered curtly.
"To what do I own the pleasure of such a visit?" He didn't wait to get an answer, turning instead to the over-tanned receptionist. "Gloria, please bring tea through to my office. Now where was I? Ahh yes, what brings you here, Lewis?"
Lewis scowled; he could see the game Tweed was playing; trying to keep him off guard. Well two can play that game Korry. He thought bitterly.
"I don't think this is the place to be discussing business do you Korrigan?"
"No, no you're quite right, please step into my office."
Lewis followed him down the corridor and through the double doors. The office took up one half of the penthouse floor; windows on three sides, looking out across the city skyline with all its sky scrapers. The furnishings were even more expensive than those in the lobby; deep red carpets and large sofa chairs and a large oak desk piled with documents dominated the room.
"So, what do you think of the public face of Tweed Corporation?" Korrigan oozed as he closed the doors behind Lewis. "The pinnacle of pharmaceutical sciences; drug development, gene therapy,
"…Genetic rape you mean!" Lewis spat.
"Now, now Lewis, that was uncalled for. The Tweed Corporation would never consider carrying out genetic manipulation, not unless it was to the benefit of all." Tweed smiled at the bare-faced lie he was so used to regurgitating for the press.
"There's only one person this all benefits," Lewis muttered. "and we both know who that is, Tweed."
Tweed shrugged it off, unwilling to take Williams' bait. "Please won't you sit?" Tweed smiled as he took the seat behind the desk.
"I'll stand, thank you." Lewis answered tersely.
"Suit yourself. So, do tell, what is it that would make you come all the way down here after all these years, don't tell me you want to apologize for your behaviour?"
"HA!" Was all Lewis could reply to the audacity of Tweed's question.
"Well I suppose not. But it must be important for you to come here personally, how long's it been? Ten years? But I have to say, it's not unexpected. I knew one day you'd show up." Tweed's face contorted into a grin.
"Yes, you're right, maybe I should have done this sooner, but I've had my reasons." Lewis responded, his brow furrowing at his weakness.
"Ahh yes, our little arrangement. Well it seems to have worked out for all the concerned parties doesn't it, you get to keep your precious life and I get this." Tweed extended his arms indicating the wealth that surrounded him. "You know, leaving your research facility was the best thing I ever did, thank you Lewis." Lewis shuddered as Korrigan's nauseating gratitude.
"Kicking you out was the best thing I ever did Korrigan, you're a sick waste of resources, not to mention the fact that you murdered my wife." Lewis snapped.
"Tut, tut, Lewis, now you of all people should know that at the cutting edge of technology there are always some unfortunate results; collateral damage, so-to-speak."
"Why you…" Lewis launched himself across the wide oak desk at Tweed. He had tried to restrain himself as Tweed has goaded him, but no longer. Ten years of pent-up anger and guilt at the death of his wife by this man came bursting forth. Tweed pushed back his seat as Lewis reached out to grab his collar, causing him to sprawl full-length across the table.
"Your tea Professor Tweed." The voice of the receptionist resonated around the room.
"Ahh thank you my dear." Tweed answered. Unruffled by Lewis' attack, he rose from his chair and headed over to the small table where the woman, unaware of what had transpired, had placed the tray. "Tea, Lewis?"
Lewis, dragged himself up off the desk, straightening out his suit and turned to face Tweed, the redness of his anger still showing in his face. "No." was all he answered.
Korrigan poured himself a cup and made himself comfortable on one of the sofas. "Please Lewis, won't you have a seat. Let's discuss this like two grown men."
With round one going to Tweed, Lewis conceded and made his way to the other seat. "What's the saying Korrigan, 'what ya give out comes back to ya ten-fold'? You will get what you deserve."
"I'm sure Lewis, but till then." He raised his cup in mock salute. Lewis glared at him, the sickening feeling filling his stomach again at the sight of this evil being in front of him. "Now let's get down to business, what do you want?" Tweed hissed, his demeanour changing in an instant. The nauseating smile faded, replaced by an emotionless expression of contempt.
"I know what you did Korrigan, nothing can change that," Lewis began, "but your up to something new, I know and now others know."
"Others?" For the first time a fleeting expression of concern crossed Tweed's face. "What others?"
"That I won't tell you, but believe me they are not to be trifled with." Lewis got straight to the point. "I want to know what you were planning to do with Kaylan?"
"Ahh, Kaylan, how is the lovely young woman? Well I hope? Living a normal life?"
"Yes, no thanks to you." Lewis retorted.
"Good I'm glad. Now what were you saying? What was I going to do with her? I really don't know what you mean Lewis; I haven't seen her for years." Again, the sickly grin passed across his face.
"Don't lie; you know perfectly well what I'm talking about. You tried to have her kidnapped." Lewis spat.
"What, are you accusing me?" An expression of innocence spread over tweed's face.
"That's exactly what I'm doing."
"Well I'm down right shocked Lewis that you should even consider I would do something so awful" Tweed added calmly.
"Don't play the innocent with me, I know it was you, I have witnesses who saw those two thugs of yours." Lewis answered.
"What thugs?"
"Come on Korrigan, there's no point playing charades with me. They were at her apartment, several weeks ago." Lewis related the information Charles had given him.
Tweed sat back in his chair and sipped the tea. "Exactly were does this slanderous accusation emanate from my friend, and exactly how do you intent to link me to this erroneous information?"
"I will not reveal my sources…" Lewis replied.
"Whatever, it makes no difference. I have nothing to do with this. So thank you for coming down here, it was nice to see you." Tweed rose from his seat, placing his cup on the table and heading towards the door in an attempt to show Lewis out.
Lewis remained in his seat. "You came here for a reason, come on Lewis make your point." "How much?" Lewis whispered looking down at his hands in a show of submission.
"What?" Tweed's curiosity was piqued.
"I said how much? How much will it cost to get you out of our lives Korrigan?"
"Ha, ha, ha, did I just hear you correctly?" Tweed scoffed, "Did you just offer me money Lewis?" Tweed returned to his seat. "Please Lewis don't demean yourself, what on earth would I want from you that I don't already have?"
"Kaylan!" Lewis' head snapped up and he fixed Tweed with a hateful stare.
Tweed rolled his eyes back into his head. This was getting boring.
"What do you want with her Tweed, to carry out more of your sick gene research?"
"You have no idea do you Lewis," Tweed exclaimed, "You and your little world of take-overs and mergers. You have no concept of the things going on in the world; you just want what you can get your money-grabbing hands on."
"What, and money isn't your driving force!?" Williams spat back.
Korrigan ignored him, he detested this man with a passion; Tweed had spent years, as he'd seen it, bowing and scraping to him, whilst Williams had gained all the glory for his 'wonderful contributions to medical research'. But now he had the upper hand. The hatred grew in him along with a need to finally set Lewis straight. "There's a wave and its rising Lewis, and that wave is the growing mutant population, and if something isn't done, they are going to take over everything."
"So, finally the true comes out, your ego can't help itself can it Korrigan." "So you're going to make sure they don't eh?" Lewis answered gently coaxing Tweed to say more.
"Yes, I started it all those years ago…with Kaylan."
Lewis shifted in his seat, the fight between him and Tweed still fresh in his mind. "And just how many others did you 'doctor'?"
"Enough, at the time, but now…." Tweed looked deep in thought.
Lewis pushed a little further. "So you intend to continue your work…by kidnapping Kaylan?"
"The work has to continue, it's them or us." Tweed looked up from his thought, Lewis had caught him off guard in a moment of reverie and he'd all but admitted his involvement.
"What do you intend to do…with her ….and the others?" Lewis continued his face a blank mask.
"Do you honestly think I'm going to tell you?" Tweed sneered, realizing what Lewis was trying to make him do.
"Yes, if its not money you want, I want your assurance she will be safe." Lewis now had his chance; lull him into a false sense of security, offer him the thing he most wanted. If there was one thing Lewis Williams was an expert at, it was making them believe they were getting what they wanted. The trap was set; he just had to wait for the right moment to close the door.
Tweed's eyes shone; would he really give Kaylan over that easy? What was he missing? "My assurance, are you offering a trade Lewis?" He questioned subtly.
Lewis maintained his cold exterior, whilst all the while his stomach churned and the blood in his temples throbbed. "I'm offering you what you want, but I need assurances. If I let you have her, what do you intend to do with her?"
Without realizing it Tweed's ego was not only getting a massage, it was getting the full top to toe treatment as well. The deeply self-possessed man could not resist the opportunity to gloat over the deviousness of his current project.
"I'M GOING TO MAKE NEW MUTANTS OF COURSE! What do you think all I'm interested in is locking them away so they can't cause trouble? Dear-god Lewis you are just too naive." He laughed hysterically. "It's fat-wallet idiots like you that will see the sharp end of what is to come if the mutants get their way, and I intend to be there, right at the front of the line with my own personal army when all hell breaks loose."
Lewis finally had the truth after all these years, and he was flabbergasted at what he was hearing. "What are you talking about Korrigan?" He added gently pushing him on to explain his plan.
"The future Lewis, those that I 'treated' are being recalled. None of them know what they are of course. All they know is that years ago they were treated for some form of genetic illness, just like Kaylan, but they are so much more than that, hey are SLEEPERS! Ready to be woken, they will be trained, trained to penetrate into all walks of life and when I have released their blocked x-genes they will be unstoppable. I will have the business world and governments at my command. But that's just the start, the first wave, with the new breeding program I have planned the rising tide of mutants will be crushed, and in its place will be a hybrid; cross-bred mutants, more powerful then their parents but all very compliant, of course."
"And that's why you need Kaylan, to complete your little army?" Lewis slumped into his chair, the enormity of this revelation finally destroying the last threads of human compassion Lewis had for this twisted soul before him. "I don't know who you've become Korrigan, but your completely bloody insane aren't you?" he whispered.
"On the contrary Lewis," Tweed answered almost cheerfully. "I am just 'edging my bets' as they say. 'Covering all the bases'. With a control on the mutant population there will be no need for the human race to fear them; they will be ours to command." He added in a matter-of-fact way.
"You mean yours to command."
"Well, that depends on your perspective Lewis," Tweed sneered, "put it this way, I don't think I'll ever get a parking ticket again."
Lewis stared blankly at Tweed. The man was quite obviously out of his mind. Everything Lewis had planned to say slipped from his mind. What should he do now? How could he stop this mad-man?
"I can't let you take her Korrigan!" Lewis murmured.
Tweed raised a brow. "You can't stop me Lewis…remember?"
Lewis closed his eyes for a moment, the thought of his cowardice all those years ago; the guilt and shame of hiding what he knew for the sake of his empire cut him to the quick. "It doesn't matter any more Korry," he whispered as a tear welled up in his eye. "I have nothing left to loose, except my daughter and I won't let that happen, not again."
"You don't fool me Lewis, you don't have the guts for it, not when it comes to her, or your precious business. I will have her and the others and I will carry out my work." Tweed scoffed.
"Over my dead body!" Lewis snapped.
The sickly smile returned to Tweed's face. "That can be arranged!"
Lewis had no choice but to reveal his hand. "There are others that know what you tried to do, and I have already left arrangements…if something should happen to me…the world will know Korrigan, I've made sure of that."
It was a bluff, Tweed thought. He knew Lewis would never risk his life's work, not for anyone. "And your precious empire?"
"TO HELL WITH THE BUSINESS! It means nothing, only Kaylan matters to me, and I should have told her that a long time ago." He added sadly, "So, if you want a fight, you got it, either way you're going to jail Korrigan. I'm walking out of this building and straight to the World news office." The game was up, Lewis had played his trump card and, so he believed, Korrigan would have no choice but to give in.
"What, you think I'm just going to let you walk out of here after what I've just told you?" He laughed. A stab of fear shot through Lewis' body, what had he neglected? Tweed continued. "What do you think I am Lewis? This is not the movies; where the bad guy gives up his secrets to the special agent, only to be shot two scenes later. You know, I should have done this ten years ago. MIST! THOR!"
The two grey-coated men entered via a second door in the corner of the room. Lewis leapt from his chair, panic spreading through him. He recognized them straight away, even though they were a little older, and he remembered the pain they had inflicted on him. He had to leave, and quickly.
"Gentlemen, won't you escort our visitor to a more secluded location...hmmm…say…Brazil!!"
Lewis made a dash for the door, but a thick, putrid smell enveloped him and suddenly Mist stood blocking his way. He turned, his eyes wide like a terrified animal; trapped. Thor was behind him, one fist raised. "You won't get away with this Tweed, the documents are well hidden and if I don't show up on a certain day, and they go to press. The world will know what your planning Korrigan, kill me if you like!" His voice trembling as he yelled.
"Boy's, I've had enough of this." The smiled slipped from Tweed's face, replaced by a dark frown.
The last thing Lewis Williams saw was the bright yellow flash of lightning filling his vision. The burning sensation that hit his stomach knocked the wind out of him and he doubled over, then the lights went out. Thor reached the crumpled body on the floor and scooped it up.
"Mist! Take him to a holding cell at the facility, I don't want him loose. We have to move quickly now. How many have you left to collect?"
"Just two sir, Kaylan and Nick Hudson."
"Good, get him tonight, then the girl tomorrow, and no mess-ups. Make sure the shape-shifters are in place, and get one of the shifters to cover Williams as long as possible. I don't want anyone getting suspicious. Find out his routine for the next week. That should give us enough time."
The two heavies left with the limp body of Lewis Williams. Tweed returned to his desk. He had to keep focused, now was not the time to worry about idle threats. He hoped that's all they were, but he could not take the risk. Once he had Kaylan and the others no-one would find them. He smiled to himself as he looked through his reflection and out across the sprawling cityscape. "My plan will succeed."