New X-Men: Lords Cardinal #2
Old Ideas Given New Life: Part 2 – Black and White
Washington, DC – The Omni Park Suites
Emma Frost slipped into a white silk nightgown and sipped on the smooth liquor in her crystal goblet. She got up from her sofa and walked out onto the balcony overlooking Washington's riverfront. Kai-Alexander had definitely made an impression on her. Too bad he was far too young for her to pursue, well that hadn't stopped her before she reasoned. What stopped her from this potential conquest was Scott. How much longer will Jean allow their affair to go unnoticed? Even still, her fellow faculty would not appreciate her getting involved with a student. A small smile formed on her face. She was fawning over a mere boy like a schoolgirl.
"Well, he wont' be a boy for long." Emma mused then she felt a chill as her cell phone rang. "Emma Frost."
"Emma, darling. It's been awhile, hasn't it?" The voice on the phone said. The voice was cold and strangely dead despite its cheerful tone. "Cat got the bitch's tongue? Yes, I'm still alive despite the rumors. It's time to collect on an old debt, dear Em. I honestly can say, I wish I could be there to see you face seeing as it would last time I'd see you." The woman paused reveling in her Emma's shock. "Alive." She added with finality and then Emma heard the phone disconnect.
Emma shook her head dropping the phone running for the door to her suite. The door was locked. She knew whatever had been planned it wasn't good. She'd better get out of that room and soon. The only other exit was the balcony. As she reached the glass doors the first of the plastic explosives went off the force from the blast pushed the telepath through the doors and over the railing. The last thing she remembered before losing unconsciousness was the feeling of free fall as her body rushed towards the pavement below.
Elsewhere
Where am I? The question hung heavy upon Ashton Kale's mind. The sounds of machinery drowned out most everything else. Nothing had changed since he was brought here. But everything had changed when his powers went out of control. That's what brought this about. These damned mutant powers they were to blame. His parents had hid his mutation from everyone. They'd made him take an experimental drug to slow the manifestation of his X-Factor genes. But that didn't help him or his brother. His brother was dead because of him. He looked around he was in some kind of lab being held in some kind of tube filled with some kind of liquid. The mask over his mouth seemed to provide him with oxygen and yet it also made him feel lightheaded. Probably gas sedative. The sliding doors to the lab opened, the light from the outside was blinding considering the dimmed lights of surroundings. He saw two men dressed in military gear carrying a girl in restraints. She was motionless and appeared to be unconscious. Following them into the room was a woman he'd seen somewhere before but couldn't place her face. She had a riding crop in her hand that she was playing with. Ash turned his attention back to the young girl. They were loading her into a large tube the lights from the machinery shown on her face. She was Asian with soft beautiful features. As the liquid filled her tube she woke. Pounding on the glass. The goons that had put her in the tube laughed. One of them flicked a switch on the tube's control panel that must have controlled the sedative, because she her movement slowed and her head slumped. Then there was a rap on his tube that made him jump. The woman that had been supervising the men was staring him right in the eye. Ash had only been truly afraid of two people in his whole life, his parents. He'd met his third. Her glaze felt like it was gnawing at his very soul. He wanted to look away but he could not. She bent down her eyes never leaving his and pressed a button on the panel in front of his tube.
"Ashton, I'd go back to sleep if I were you. Because no matter how bad your dreams may be, its nothing compared to your reality." The woman said with a maternal warmness that made Ashton sick to his stomach. Then he felt the haze of the drugs clouding his thoughts as the sedative took hold of him.
"Mistress, the reports are in. Frost's suite was decimated." The guard said listening to the report coming through his headset.
"I don't give a damn about reports. I want her body. Have my crews scour the area. Emma is a White Queen after all. We, of the Inner Circle, are hard to kill."
Washington, DC:
Control, that was the one thing that Kai-Alexander Silver valued, enjoyed, and most all needed. His family and friends knew that about him and just assumed that being control freak was yet another manifestation of his egotist personality. However, the root of his obsession was quite deeper. The thing he prided himself on was also the only possession that could shatter the veneer of cool calm control with which he surrounded himself, his psychic powers. Telepathic since birth, Kai had to master his mutant talent or be driven insane by myriad of mental voices of Earth entering his mind. Kai loved the freedoms afforded him by his telepathy, but as he grew so did his powers resulting in some frightening results. There were the premonitions of things to come more often than not terrifying. There were the visions of the sins and pains of the past walking through the historic corridors of his city. Most frightening was the consent awareness of the astral plane. The astral plane is the convergence of all minds and the source of power for psychics and mystics alike. Any disturbance in its delicate fabric could spawn the emergence of a new power or disrupt the fragile control of the abilities he already had.
Kai sipped on the coffee in his mug desperately trying to get warm. It was nearly eighty degrees outside and the sweltering DC heat was having zero effect on him. He knew it was happening again. His heart began to race; his hands began to shake loosing fine motor control the mug fell to the floor. His vision began to blur and instead of the images of his study, he could see Emma Frost in her suite. He could hear nothing. All was eerily silent. She turned to the phone. He felt the urge to warn her. But he even though it was as if he was there he physically with her, he knew it was his astral projection that was in the room. Like the audience viewing a horror film, he could feel the suspense building but could do nothing to save the victim. Emma's expression soured after she picked the phone. Then her visage of anger turned to fear. She raced to the door and struggled with it then ran to the balcony then there was a flash of light, and he witnessed her body being jettisoned form the room. Then there was no more. Instead of the out of body experience ending as Kai's visions normally did, he had the strange sensation that his very being was being drawn into the astral plane. For an instant he could see all the billions of minds that create the meshwork of the astral plane then just as the sensation had begun it was over. Disoriented for a moment, Kai realized now that he was floating out side the Omni Park Suites. That was the hotel in which Emma Frost had been in his vision. He heard an explosion and saw Emma falling from the balcony. Willing himself towards her his body pivoted in the air swooping downward. Catching her Kai sighed with relief and drifted to the ground. Thankfully most of the people in the area were too busy running in terror or speculating if a person had survived the explosion to notice a flying teenager. Laying her on the lawn, Kai checked her vitals as he'd been taught. Seeing that she from what he could tell physically sound. Kai decided he would do a mental scan. He could check her mental state and maybe while he was there; he could get some inside information on one of his families biggest competitor's company.
"Thank you for saving me, child but I would not go looking for trouble if I were you." Emma projected opening her eyes.
"Me. Looking for trouble never, Emma." Kai smiled.
"Ms. Frost, will do. How did you know?"
"Well, Ms. Frost, I think this conversation would better had at my home." Kai said noticing two groups of men combing the crowd. They tried to fit in with the local onlookers and officers, but their demeanor gave them away. "I think whoever started your evening off with a bang wants to make sure it ended with it as well."
"Oh, god an X-Man in the making." Emma said rubbing her temples as she got off the ground trying to move inconspicuously away from he crowd.
"Really what makes you say that?" Suddenly feeling as sense of pride, Kai asked as he flagged down a cab."
"You couldn't resist making a tacky quip as we make our get away." Emma said with a small smirk as she slid into the cab.
Donovan Williams dreaded what he had to do next. As a contract assassin he didn't fear many thing. But he could help the trembling in his hands as he dialed the numbers.
"Pantheon Enterprises." The secretary answered. "Hello? How many help you?" Donovan swallowed and tried to steady his voice but as he spoke hear the apprehension his voice.
"Selene Gallo. Tell her its Donovan. She'll know what this is about."
"Okay, hold please." The secretary replied. Although, it was only a few seconds it was an eternity to him, because he knew that tonight was the last night anyone would see him alive.
Salem Center, NY
It was strange how the Xavier School had become more a home for her than her family's ranch in Wyoming. Danielle had so many memories associated with this place, for the most part happy ones. She smiled to herself remembering when she and Sam Guthrie used to fight over who was really the leader of the New Mutants and the late night games of truth or dare. She missed those days. She turned to look behind her at Timothy Nguyen. No matter how hard he tried to look tough. He was just a kid at heart and she recognized that genuine look of awe on his face the first time he saw the Mansion. Maybe, he'll get the care he needs here, and he'll make the kind of friends she did. The kind of friends that would follow you to hell and back if they had to.
Tim tried to hide his surprise, the girl had mentioned she was taking him to some kind of school for mutants; he hadn't thought it would an upscale mansion. He had envisioned something more along the lines of one of the juvenile detention centers he been in an out of since he was twelve. He realized he must have spaced out of something since, the Native American was staring at him. He picked his duffel bag and walked through the archway's thick oak doors.
"I had that look on my face the first time I was here too." Danielle said trying to ease the nervousness that would be apparent to someone even with out her empathic powers.
"Whatever, I ain't impressed. What do I look do I like some kind of Fresh Prince ass mother"
"You must be Timothy Nguyen." Tim heard a voice behind him he turned to see and beautiful tall redhead. "Welcome, I'm Jean Grey-Summers, the director of the generation next program. Which we hope you'll take advantage."
"I ain't got much choice do I? If I turn you down it's back to jail and the death penalty, probably. California doesn't take juvy offenders with records lightly and a mutie one at that. I don't have a chance in hell." Tim said deflecting her welcome. Jean while shocked was resolved to help him. The Professor had faced many young people like Tim.
"Tim, even if you don't want to stay here, we'll help you find a place were you could feel safe. You always have choices. But give us a chance and you'll see that there are people out there that own want to help. It wasn't your fault that Dan died. You tried your best. You know in your heart that even your power wouldn't have been enough to save him." Jean taking a page from her mentor, she used a bit of the person's past to reach them. She put her hand on his shoulder.
"How did you know? There was nothing in my file about me trying to help him. The cops thought I was trying to finish him off…" Tim turned fighting back a tear.
"Dani, why don't you see if Tim's room is ready for him?" Jean directed hoping that he might feel better if he only had to confide in one person.
"Sure." Dani said leaving the two in the hallway.
Sitting down on the bench Jean looked into the young man's eyes. Behind the angry eyes she saw a surprising sense of innocence and naiveté that Tim had seemingly well guarded. When he spoke again it seemed that he was speaking from that place.
"I didn't kill him."
"I know you didn't. You see, Tim, I'm just like you a mutant. My gift is that I can read the thoughts of others…" Sensing the boy tense, Jean continued. "But because of my training with Professor Xavier I use my powers respectfully of others."
"So this Prof. Xavier taught you to control your powers? Is that why you're here cause you owe him or somethin'?"
"No, I'm because of young people like you need someone to help and protect them." Jean then got up feeling that she's gotten through to him.
"Yeah, Thanks." Tim said.
"Sorry to interrupt, Jean, but there is phone call for you." Dani said entering the foyer. Jean could tell by Dani's voice that it must be serious.
"I'm going to have to take this Tim. Dani, why don't you take Tim into the kitchen for some pizza." Jean went in the office Dani had emerged from and sat down at the desk. She hit the hold button. "Hello"
"Ah, Jean darling. This is Emma. I think we might have an issue. I was nearly murdered tonight by my old friend, Selene. I surmise, Selene was trying to kill me in an attempt to get revenge and divert attention away from something she's planning."
"Selene, I thought she was dead?"
"So did I. But you never know her. She is like a rash that keeps coming back."
"Well, with Selene involved there is bound to be something larger. It's good that you and the young man who saved you are on your way here." Jean finally said before hanging up. As the private jet's captain announced there final approach to Salem Center's airstrip would be within minutes.
Selene's plans were nearly complete, yet her sister still lived. It seemed fit that fate would have her deal the fatal blow to her rival personally. Although furious that the overpriced assassins had botched the job, she smiled conceding to the fact part of her wanted to be the one to extinguish Emma's life. Her mild smile spread Cheshire style over her face as Donovan Williams was brought to her, hands bound and his mouth tightly gagged. His eyes wildly darting about the dark room, resting or more accurately transfixed finally on Selene. Selene slowly got up from her divan, which was completely out of place in the middle of a warehouse however; Selene somehow made the absurdity of an ornate piece of black lacquer furniture sensible. She was dressed in what at first appeared to a black business suit, but it upon close inspection Donovan could see that low cut blazer and skintight plants were made of latex or vinyl. Selene slid behind him, breathing seductively on his neck, her body pressed firmly against his. The effect was frightening and sickeningly erotic. Selene's tongue lashed out gently and playful behind his ear. On reflex Donovan closed his eyes and leaned his head back in pleasure, what was she doing to him? Would she kill him or have her way with him? The former it would seem as he felt the cool edge of a blade against his jugular and with a kiss on his neck that would have otherwise sent him into orgasmic heaven, Selene slit his throat. Dropping to his knees in the few conscious seconds he had left her before death, Selene leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "What did you think would happen? I don't fuck losers." And then she righted herself and kicked him over with he stiletto boot. She yawned replacing her knife to the inside pocket of her blazer, and with her free hand she motioned to the body before. "I'm tired with this toy bring me another."
Elsewhere in the Complex:
Mina Sueng awoke to the sensation of floating. She thought maybe she'd been dreaming a terrible but when she opened her eyes she realized the stark truth. She had been taken from her home. Unsure what had happened to parents and what laid ahead for her, she trashed about in panic. Mina found her liquid prison increasingly terrifying when she looked around her to see to that she tube wasn't the only one. She was in laboratory containing eight similar modules containing other youths. She looked to her right and was surprised to see a pair of brown eyes meeting her green. The young man smiled a nervous smile.
The girl is awake Ashton thought and she's freaking out. I hope she doesn't draw the attention of the guards or worse yet that woman. Ashton hated that fear seemed to rule him. Looking over at girl he saw her face and that she was worse off than he was. If he couldn't do anything to facilitate their escape at least he could try and convey some hope. So he smiled. That little gesture seemed to help her. She smiled back. And probably just as he was, she was feeling the effects of the time released sleeping agents. He could feel the haze returning but before his eyes shut he noticed the other tubes in the lab. Had he just overlooked them due to his own terror or had they'd been knocked out long enough for their captor to bring in more victims. Ash was grateful for the unconsciousness coming over him to escape the despair that was returning to his mind.
Westchester, NY; the Xavier Institute
Kai sat in the den. He had to admit he was impressed with the furnishings and technology that the X-Men had. The den was outfitted with a front projection theatre system. Apparently they liked to play as hard as they worked. Emma had left him to debrief the three resident X-men. Dani and Bobby, and the sexy redhead, Jean or Jane or whatever her name was. More stunning than her curves was that she was a powerful telepath, his probe bounced of her defenses, and she gave him a sweet but cautious smile and suggested he join these two clowns in the den. He hated being dismissed by adults and it was a transgression that he would not forget. The clowns turned out to be Ian Sorensen and Tim Nguyen. Kai sized them up as he entered into the den. Tim looked like he's just spent a day as extra on the set of "Romeo Must Die". Oh great, a wannabe Triad, Kai mused. Then the cornball, the mid-westerner, Ian he seemed nice enough although, if it hadn't been for their shared genetic status they would never have traveled in the same circles. Kai silently prayed to the powers that be he would never have to find out what it would be like to discover the softer side of Sears. Tim didn't introduce himself or really acknowledge Kai as much as look him over. Kai could sense that the boy had already taken a disliking to him. Kai caught himself laughing out loud. He certainly wasn't going to lose any sleep over it. Ian and Tim must have agreed before he got there on watching "28 Days Later." Kai had seen the film before, so he settled into his chair and pulled out his iPod. Closing his eyes, he listened to medley of pop tracks and let his mind wander. He was still tired from the saving Emma and the plane ride, expending energy on pleasantries was the last thing he wanted to do.
In War Room:
Jean Grey swept a truant strand of her auburn hair from her face as she tried to piece together what Emma was telling them. Her gut was telling her that somehow Selene's attack on Emma tonight was somehow connected to the near abduction of Ian Sorensen, and the ultimately these new crop of mutants Professor Xavier had been selected to enroll. When Emma finished detailing the events of the evening, Jean spoke.
"Something tells me the incident earlier today with Ian and the attempt on your life are connected."
"How so, Jean?" Bobby Drake spoke up not seeing the connection.
Emma smiled realizing Jean's unspoken conjecture. "What I think she means, Drake is that there may be a connection between my Selene's attempt on my life and our missing potential students. Selene doesn't do anything without an audience. These particular students have omega class potential an d that may be her aim to capture them, to create her own Hellions." Emma's smile faded thinking about the first group of young people under her charge. These students and their untimely deaths were the reasons she decided to reevaluate her life and join the side of angels. Her only regret since then was the loss of another student Everett Thomas. The boy had a lot of promise, he was very much the epitome of textbook Xavier ideals. Realizing that Emma was in bad place and it didn't help her or the situation any if they sat there staring at her Jean tried to keep the meeting moving.
"Dani if you would?" Jean said asking the young woman to bring up the file that she'd been working on earlier. The room's lights dimmed and the holographic projectors displayed images of two young people. "Ashton Kale and Mina Sueng. These two were amongst our prospects. Ashton was abducted 48 hours ago and Mina was just reported missing 12 hours ago. My attempts to track them via Cerebra have failed."
"Jean, I've done some cross referencing with news services for unusual abductions." Dani interjected. "I've come up with seven possible others. All these younger have manifested mutant powers recently and had been contacted or have contacted by the Institute."
"Damn, what is going on here?" Bobby said to no one in particular.
"What's happening is that Selene has risen from whatever hole she's been and has decided to screw with us once again."
The den:
Ian and Tim were enthralled by the horror flick; neither of them had seen the film and the superior audio system of the room made them feel as if they were there with characters. Kai still listening to his selection of tracks opened his eyes swearing heard a familiar voice calling him. But that was impossible he said himself. My mind must be playing tricks on me. I am tired and it's nearly three in the morning. He reasoned with himself. Then, there it was again louder; it was his friend Ashton's voice. Kai turned off the mp3 player and focused on the voice. And suddenly he was no longer in the mansion's den; he was floating in a tube. He was pounding on the glass desperately trying to get out; then he looked down at his hands and by the reddish brown complexion he could tell it wasn't he that was pounding. He could now see reflected in the glass his friend's Indian features twisted in frustration and fear. With that realization Kai realized he was reliving a recent memory or dream of his friend. Why, what was the meaning of this vision? When he saw Selene's face he knew the truth. But Selene was abducting mutants what would Ashton be doing there. He wasn't a mutant. Was he? For whatever reason Ashton's subconscious had reached out to him he had to make the most of the connection. He pushed further into Ashton's memories. Trying to find some clue of where was. He saw through Ashton's eyes, as he was loaded on the helicopter. The next memory was that of Ashton looking out a window, he could barely see an island formation beneath them. Kai tried to push further but something was pulling him back to his body. He resisted but the force was too strong.
"I think he's coming to. Get some tissue Bobby." Jean said looking down at the boy. His nose was bleeding and his eyes were fixed and dilated. As Emma rest her hands on his head establishing a link between Kai and herself trying to pull him out his trance. Kai blinked his eyes finally and sat up holding his head then looked around with an annoyed look on his face.
"What the hell are you doing?" Kai said wiping his nose with the tissue Bobby had given him, turning his attention to Emma.
"What the hell am I doing? I might ask you the same question child. What happened? Ian came running looking for us when he and Tim saw you get up a pass out." Emma returned.
Kai stood up shakily and smoothed the wrinkles formed on his rumpled black shirt. Sighing, he saw that everyone in the room was awaiting an explanation.
"I was listening to some music when I thought I heard my friend, Ash call my name." Kai started but was cut off by Emma.
"Ash? As in Ashton?"
"Yes but…?"
"Ashton Kale?" Emma interjected again.
"Yes. Ashton Kale. He's in grave danger! Selene has him."
"I think you better finish telling us what happened before we get to that." Jean said hoping that this may be the breakthrough they needed.
"You say he saw a formation of islands before Emma brought you back?" Bobby asked once he was finished.
"I might have seen more." Kai answered eyeing Emma, who merely rolled her eyes at his remark.
"There are a millions of islands? How does that help us?" Dani spoke up.
"Yes, but only a few island formations are owned by Pantheon Enterprises. If we had a visual do you think you can identify it?" Emma questioned.
"I should."
With that they returned to the War room. The degree of sophistication of technology blew away Tim and Ian as the entered part of the mansion that few had ever seen besides the X-Men or those closely affiliated. Tim and Ian mouths hung slightly open as they entered the room even Kai who'd been to some of SHIELD's facilities was amazed. After entering some coordinates into the computers Emma turned to the others.
"In my tenure as the White Queen of the Hellfire Club. I became privy to the business affairs of the other members. Selene uses Pantheon Enterprises as a legal front for many of her dealings with the human world. Pantheon acquired a few small island holdings recently from Meridian Enterprises; my dearly departed sister, Adrienne's, former company. It wouldn't surprise me if the cow would use one of them to spite me." The holographic projection of the various islands appeared on the screen and none matched Kai's memory.
"Are you sure?" Jean said her voice revealing her she was at a lost.
"I'm sure. Wait are these all the holdings or just current island real estates?"
"These are five are the only islands Meridian has had…wait, computer display the following location." Emma said after she entered some data into the computer.
"That's it. That the island formation I saw!" Kai exclaimed.
"Clever, Selene, clever." Emma smirked. "This group of small islands, off the coast of Maine, were a private resort for Meridian executives. I inherited it from her and sold shortly it thereafter through one of my real estate brokers. I was so happy to get it off my hands I didn't care who bought the damned place." Emma mused. "Capitalizing on this my old friend, could build a stronghold right under my nose."
"Well, you can congratulate Selene on ripping a page from "Villain Plots for Dummies" later I think we need to get to this island before she makes her next move." Kai said in frustration. "She's got my best friend in there. And it's all my fault." Finished more quietly with concern. The outburst had caught her by surprise. It was easy to forget under the bravado there was a sixteen-year old boy there. And apparently he did have a heart.
"What are you talking about, Kai?" Jean said slowly getting the feeling she wasn't going to like this. She noticed a quick glance between Kai and Emma. "Emma?"
"Kai and I aren't newly acquainted. His family has connection with the Club in particular the original Hellfire Club in London."
"Selene approached me to become her protégé. I'm not angel but I don't want to be touched by anything that evil."
"Why is so interested in you? I mean you're just some kid."
"Why thank you Iceman. I am quite aware of my potential. Can you say the same?" Bobby was stunned into silence. Did everyone know about his issues with his powers?
"We're wasting time, we need to go after this psychotic slag before she it too late for Ashton and the others."
"You're right about that time is of the essence. But what I think is ideal right now is for you to get situated in the dorm and I let you know what happens when we get back."
"What are you saying, I'm to be left behind!"
"Yes. It's too dangerous for a novice." Jean said simply raising to silence Kai further protestations. The last thing she needed to worry about was another child a potential dangerous one landing in Selene's hands.