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Chapter 16 – The Meeting with Fisk
New York City, Fisk Tower, Wilson Fisk's Office, evening
Wilson saw the silver globe float towards his penthouse office balcony. It transformed into a platform, and on it were Magneto and a blue skinned woman. 'That can only be Mystique.' Thought Fisk. He pressed a button on his desk phone.
"Raise security level to Crimson: Meta-human 7.2. Begin." He commanded, then pressed another button, automatically opening the balcony doors.
"Welcome, Magneto, and I can only assume this lovely creature with you must be the infamous Mystique. Welcome, welcome. Would either of you like a drink? Please sit..." he said, motioning to two chairs in front of his desk.
"We can dispense with the formalities, Kingpin," Magneto said, saying 'Kingpin' like he was talking about dirt. "Why not just tell me why you asked me to meet with you. Do you want to pledge your services to my cause?"
Wilson smiled patiently. "No, I want to hire you, and your Acolytes, and your Brotherhood. I want you to work for me, Magnus." Fisk leveled a stare at Magneto.
"So you know about my growing army, and you know my name," smirked Magneto, "hardly private information." He made to get up. "As for working FOR you, petty crime is not my business, and I seriously doubt even you have enough money." He said, getting up.
"Sit down, Magneto." Fisk said, pushing the button to close the balcony doors. "I don't intend to offer you any monetary compensation whatsoever."
"Open the doors, Fisk." Commanded Magneto
The Kingpin went on as if Magnus hadn't spoken. "I intend to offer you power. Political power, to be precise."
Magneto looked at the Kingpin, who stared right back at him. "What do you ask of me?" Magneto demanded.
"Simply rescue a fellow mutant whom is imprisoned in a facility I know of," Kingpin stated, "and, I need a sample of this mutants' DNA. After that, do with her what you wish. Then you will remain on retainer for a one year period. I will help you set up puppets in the New York State Government."
"Does this mutant have a name, and why do you need mutant DNA?" Magneto demanded.
"I need the DNA because of it's power. I plan to combine it with my own," Kingpin glared, "and the mutant is called X23. She is a clone of the mutant X-Man known as Wolverine."
Magneto slowly smiled. "If you truly know where this mutant is, then we have a deal, Wilson." He turned to Mystique and smiled chillingly.
New York City, Building across from Fisk Tower, evening'Man, it's chillier than Tombstone's toes up here. What a slow night. Not that I'm complaining' Spider-Man thought. 'I wonder how old Willy Fisk is doing this evening. Hello, what's this!?"
A silver platform was materializing right off Kingpin's balcony. The doors opened and two people walked out, and on to the disc. It changed into a sphere, zoomed off.
'I'll bet MJ's undies that was Magneto and Mystique,' thought Spidey, 'but meeting with the Kingpin? I know old fur face will love this news!'
The Institute, the Kitchen, the next day, around noonLogan was in the kitchen with Pappy, fixing some frozen pizza's for lunch. Pappy was going on about Rogue. Yesterday, she had run around hugging and kissing all the adults at the Institute, including Pappy. He was sure that she was falling for him, because of the haircut and beard trim he had gotten a few days ago.
"I be tellin' ye this would happen, Wolvie, and mark my words, the lass couldn't stop herself!" he cried, holding his hands up. "She's smitten with ole Angus I tells ya! Smitten! Curse my worldly charm, tis the cross I must bare!" He covered his eyes in frustration.
"Paps, bub, I told you already; she couldn't touch anyone before the bonfire. The girl was just freakin' out a little. She kissed everyone, even 'Ro, and it's not like she swings that way." He cocked his head to the side, hearing a motorcycle coming down the drive. 'Gates closed, and Pappy's here. How'd this goon get in?' he wondered. He sniffed the air. 'Oh, it's Webs. What the heck is he doin' here, I wonder?'
"Pappy, someone's comin', a friend of mine. Go answer the door while I put these pies in the oven."
"Open the gate, Pappy, get the door, Pappy – Can't you see I've a crisis here laddie!" Pappy got up, shaking his head, and went to the door. He returned in a bit with Peter Parker in tow.
"Peter Parker to see you, sir..." Pappy mocked, bowing low, then sitting down again.
"Hey Wolfman Jack, keepin' those claws sharp, or you been cuttin' the cheese with them?" Peter smiled.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, bub. And next time you come like this, bring that foxy wife with ya." Smirked Logan.
"How about if I just bring Triple J with me? He'd love what you've done with this place." Peter said. "Is that pizza a smell?"
"Yeah. You have lunch yet, bug?" Logan asked.
"Why no, I haven't, and yes, I'd love one." Peter invited himself to lunch. "Beside, I've got some info for you. Big info." He said, sitting down at the table with Pappy. "How do you put up with short, ugly, and fuzzy all day long, Mr. O'Bryanson?"
Pappy knew the voice, but he couldn't place the face. "The patience of a saint my boy, of a saint I tell ye."
They talked about stuff while eating the pizza's, ordinary B.S., then Logan asked Peter a question.
"So this big info, should I get Chuck in here or what?"
Peter thought about it. "Yeah, I guess maybe you should."
The Institute, entrance hall, after lunchMally and Forge came in thru the front door, talking about class.
"That Todd bloke is an ass. I mean, I even tried to say I was sorry about what happened at the movies that night! The ding-dong threatened to spit on me watch again! Why does he have to be in our class, of all things?" Mally complained.
"I know, and St. John is an ape too. Thinks he's so cool with that stupid zippo. And even though you and he kind of have the same accent, his gets on my last nerve." Forge agreed. "Lucky we only have half a day."
"Too right, mate. So, you gonna hang out with Rogue for a while? She's here, showing Clarice around ya know."
"No, I have to finish the new visor I'm working on for Scott. He asked for one that read his nuero impuses, so he wouldn't have to reach up all the time. It's almost done. I also got to fix an inducer for Clarice. I'll see Rogue at PT with Mr. Logan this afternoon." He frowned. "Don't you have to help Beast catalog and file those CT scans?"
"Right," Mally moaned, "I never thought I'd say it, but I can't wait for PT time today."
The Institute, Girls dorm, around one o'clock"So you've been on ya own since you was 13?" Rogue asked, helping Clarice get her bed put together.
"Yes, that's right. My Dad told me to leave after my mutation started. It didn't help that I had stayed out all night, and when I came home, I was covered in blood." She sighed. "I still don't know what happened."
"That's awful. Non-mutants can be so mean, even parents." Rogue said. "Heck, even when ya have mutant parents, it can stink. Don't even get me started 'bout me and Kurt's Momma." She blew her bangs out of her face.
"You mean, the blue boy and you are related?" Clarice asked, her face puzzled.
"Well, yes and no. His mamma adopted me, so yes. We have different birth parents though, so no. Ah love him like a brother, he's really great. But don't tell him Ah said that, he'll get a big head." She winked at Clarice.
Clarice smiled. "Ok, I'll keep your secret. Say, is breakfast time always as hectic as it was this morning?"
"Only when school is in. Used ta be worse; everybody used ta fix food for themselves. Now that Mally's Daddy cooks in the mornings, it runs a little smoother. It's the same everyday, but Ah must say he knows how to make omelets, bacon and toast. You can always have fruit or cereal, too. Ah think Ah freaked him out when Ah kissed him yesterday." She giggled. "But yeah, it's still crazy, everybody runnin' 'round, the Doc an Ms. Munroe helpin' with last minute homework stuff, and the Professor givin' out lunch money an signin' stuff to be signed. An the youngin's; Mr. Logan has to drive them to Bayville Middle, and they gotta be there a half hour earlier." She explained. "Have you decided to stay yet?"
"Well, for a while at least. The Professor said I could stay and get used to being with people again. He said school wasn't a problem, and if I wanted, I could do home study with Ms. Munroe for a while. He's a very nice man." she said. "What's it like when he reads your mind? That kind of scares me a bit. I have things in my head that I don't want to remember, let alone tell someone else."
"Well, Ah don't really know. He's never read my mind. It's not really like that, anyway. Ah mean, it could be Ah guess, but he won't do that. Sometimes, when he calls a house meeting, ya jest 'hear' him in ya head. It's kinda spooky, but it don't hurt a bit." She smiled. "An when ya go to see him, he'll say 'Come in, Rogue' before ya even knock. But you can talk to him 'bout anything, an he always listen. He's not like most people either; if ya don't want help, jest an ear, he knows. Sometimes, if he picks up on your feelings, he'll send somebody to you, someone who has the same problems."
"Like you and I." Clarice smiled at Rogue.
"Ah nevah thought of that. We both been 'isolated' for a long time, in diff'rent ways. Maybe he did, ah dunno." Rogue smiled. She liked the new girl. She was easy to talk with.
The Institute, Xavier's office, after lunch"...and that's when Spider-Man saw Mags and the blue lady come out of Wilson Fisk's penthouse. Whatever they talked about, I doubt it was good. Seems odd that two VERY powerful people had a meeting. So Spidey figured, who better to tell than the X-Men. He couldn't leave the city, so he asked me to come talk with you." Peter finished.
Logan grunted. He didn't like deceiving Chuck by going along with Peter about not being Spider-Man, but Peter was a good friend. He was pretty sure Chuck had put two an two together on his own anyway. "What does Spidey know about Kingpin's recent activities?" he growled.
"Well, he says Fisk has been asking around the science world about prolonging his lifespan. Like, I know he talked with Dr. Connors about his research, and others like him. Does Mags know anything like that?" Peter asked.
"No, but Magnus knows some mutants live very long lives," Charles stated, "Maybe even forever. And he knows about mutants like Logan, with healing abilities. But, other than that, I'm not sure. I wonder, would the Kingpin have the resources to combine mutant DNA with his own?" he asked Peter.
"If anybody would, it would be him. As far as New York and money is concerned, anyway. And that covers a lot." Peter frowned. "Should I tell Spidey you want him to snoop around some?"
"Yes, perhaps you should. And Logan, I think we should do some detective work also, at the Brotherhood House." Charles sighed. "Magnus, will you ever stop?" he said quietly.
The Brotherhood House, Magneto's office, that night"Fisk says his estranged son, Richard Fisk, has her on what used to be called HYDRA Island, in the Pacific Ocean. He is training the girl to be his ultimate assassin, and she definitely has the genes." Magneto smiled. "Imagine, a little Wolverine of my own, with twice the claws, and more brutal than her 'father'. The girl is only 14 years old. Plenty of time to reform her, to reshape her mind." He looked up at Mystique. "Take Gambit and Sabretooth. Do what you have to, get the girl and bring her to me."
Mystique smiled, licking her lips. "It will be as you say, Magnus." She got up, and left to get the others.
"Yes, eventually it will be like I say, eventually." Magnus closed his eyes, smiling.
Outside, a tree branch moved slightly.
New York City, Kingpin's penthouse, that nightSpider-Man hung upside down on an air handler on top of Fisk Tower. The man next to him was whispering what bits he could ear with his ear pressed to Fisk's outside vent.
"Something about a mutant on an Island in the Pacific. About his son Richard, getting what he deserves. Telling someone that they better hold up their end of the deal. He hung up. Left the room." He said, pulling his ear back.
The man listening was dressed in dark red, his face covered by a cowl with horns on it. He was balanced on a strand of webbing, as so not to touch the roof.
"Let's get out of here. I don't any trouble from Fisk in Hell's Kitchen." He said.
"Ok," Spidey said, "Listen, I owe you a big one Double D. And I'll spread the good word about you with the X-Men too."
With that, they both sprung off the roof, Daredevil shooting his line out, Spider-Man his webbing, off to swing into the night.
An Island, Somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that nightA figure lay on a pallet in a pitch dark room, curled in the fetal position. She breathed slowly, in and out, making no noise. Today had been like all other days in her existence.
She learned to kill. She could still taste the blood of the men who had died today. The man she knew as Richard had hosed her down, but the taste was still there.
She learned to hurt. She still ached, although it was fading. She knew it would be gone when they woke her again.
She learned to hate. Whoever she was told to hate. To hate herself, for being what she was.
She learned to follow orders. No longer the Supreme's orders; now just Richard's orders. Follow them exactly, until they were complete. No matter what.
She took a deep breath, concentrated, and fell asleep.
End – Chapter 17 – Rescue?