More Fun With The Bad Guys

Magneto overlooked the progress of his latest project from his office. "Magnificent."

Winters his butler nodded. "Sir fifty nine percent of construction has been completed. At this rate Avalon will be completed in less than two years. If we find more mutants with the right powers to assist us, we may be able to finish it in one. Depending on luck of course."

"Luck has nothing to do with it Winters," Magneto told him. "Careful planning does. Despite our recent encounter with Charles' students we have been progressing rather well in the recruitment of others to our cause."

"Yes, last week's recruitment went well in Los Angeles," Winters said. "Seven new mutants to our cause. A 99 percent success."

"But you're upset it wasn't a hundred aren't you?" Magneto made a wry grin. "I can tell when you're annoyed you know?"

"You can honestly say sir, that you are not put off by that brash upstart who insulted you?" Winters asked.

"For every loudmouth and deluded fool that has refused me, three more mutants are more than willing to join," Magneto told him. "Times have changed. I no longer need to recruit every single mutant I find. And I especially do not need some two bit hoodlum questioning me."

"He did seem to be full of himself, sir," Winters nodded.

"Mark my words, Shooter will regret turning down my offer of sanctuary to lead a gang of worthless human trash," Magneto told him. "If he wishes to waste his talents, let him. I now have more than enough mutants with similar powers anyway."

"If I may be so bold sir," Winters coughed. "We still have less than a thousand mutants to our cause. We still need all the mutants we can obtain, regardless of their powers. I do not trust the alliance with Cobra. Their assistance with your breeding program is moving at a snails' pace. And even if they were more successful, once the subjects are born it will take years before they will be capable fighters. Years we may not have if the humans have their way."

"You have raised many valid points. Perhaps I should step up my recruitment campaign?" Magneto thought. "Winters, what was the name of that Morlock we heard about? The one who can detect other mutants?"

"Caliban, sir."

"Caliban…" Magneto thought. "Yes…A mutant with his talents might prove quite useful. Very useful…"

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"This is outrageous!" Pierce screamed as he slammed his bionic arm into the desk, causing it to splinter in half. "Four hours and the damn thing literally melted! It wasn't supposed to do that!"

"Pierce…" Shaw was bored and looked up from the computer screen. "That's another thousand dollars in fines to your account!"

"If you keep breaking our things at this rate you'll have a debt bigger than the National Deficit of France," Harry Leland chuckled.

"Shut it fatso!" Pierce snarled. "I'm not in the mood!"

"Let me guess, you lost another contraption in order to retrieve the crystal?" Leland mocked. "That makes five so far."

"There has to be a way! There just has to be!" Pierce shouted.

"Calm down Pierce. What you need to do is think outside the box. I think we've just found a more practical solution to our little volcano problem," Shaw grinned as he reviewed the files. "Tell Frost I want to see her. I have a little job for her and her Hellions. It involves the Xavier Institute. There's one mutant he has that will do the job perfectly for us."

"Which one?" Leland looked at the file. "Magma, eh…Of course! Why didn't we think of this before?"

"To be fair we were a little distracted," Shaw said pointing to Pierce.

"Selene's not going to be happy we're doing this," Leland said. "Didn't we promise her that all future dealings with Nova Roma would be her territory?"

"Let me worry about the Black Queen," Shaw waved. "It's not like she can do anything about it anyway."

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Selene heard everything in her chamber as she looked into her crystal. "So the fool thinks he has everything under control, including me?" She hissed. "He has no idea. It appears I have no choice."

Two Bacchae spies appeared at the doorway. "Report," Selene said.

"Mistress, the object you seek is no longer in Japan," One of them told her.

"I figured it would not be," Selene said. "Did you at least figure out which ninja clan is in possession of it now?"

"Yes," The second one said. "The Arashikage clan. However due to many past…developments the clan is scattered at best. There are several rogue members that have split off from the clan."

"I know of the situation of the Arashikage clan," Selene interrupted her. "Once they were the most powerful of ninjas. Even the Hand feared them. But this century has not been kind. Much of the clan is either dead or gone rogue. Many have disappeared. I do know where we can find a few of them. First, see if you can find the ninja called Darkshadow."

"We have news of him my lady," The first one spoke. "He is dead after a falling out with Cobra."

"Well then that's where we should start looking for more leads," Selene said. "Infiltrate Cobra and see if you can find his journals. Anything that will lead us to our quarry. I will investigate the clan members affiliated with GI Joe. Like it or not they seem to be my best lead. You may go."

"As you wish," The two Bacchae left the room.

"The Destiny Stone will be mine," Selene spoke. "And I will not rest until I have it in my possession. But first…" She looked at the crystal. "I believe I have time for a little payback. Magma is it? Well well…Looks like I will be able to thwart Shaw's plans and get my revenge on Nova Roma at the same time…"

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"I will not rest until they are in my possession!" Cobra Commander hissed.

"We've almost got the damn thing open so please stifle yourself!" Destro snapped. "With all due respect Cobra Commander."

Cobra had infiltrated a bank and was now trying to open a bank vault. Destro, a few Iron Grenadiers, and the Baroness were with Cobra Commander. "I can't believe we've even sunk this low," Destro grumbled. "Why the hell couldn't we let our lackeys do this? That's what they're paid to do!"

"You need the exercise," Cobra Commander snapped. "Besides, these jewels will sell for a lot of money on the black market and I'm not taking any chances of any screw ups. With me personally supervising this mission, nothing will go wrong!"

Suddenly the wall exploded. Through the hole appeared Madame Hydra, Gauntlet and several Hydra soldiers. "You were saying?" Destro sighed.

"Out of our way fools!" Madame Hydra snapped. "We are taking this treasure for the glory of Hydra!"

"Fat chance Lady!" Cobra Commander snapped. "We got here first!"

"I've heard of you," Gauntlet looked at Destro. "You're Destro. And that must be…"

"Cobra Commander yes," Destro sighed. "From what my intelligence states you are Gauntlet."

"And I am Madame Hydra!" The woman hissed. "Leader of Hydra."

"Oh yeah," Cobra Commander folded his arms. "Also known as Viper. I've heard about you and how you've fallen on hard times. It's sad what they're saying about you. But then again to have your organization nearly destroyed by one of your own research subjects…"

"At least none of them were able to take over my job!" Madame Hydra snapped.

"You take that back you…" Cobra Commander began to advance when he was stopped by the Baroness.

"You know we really shouldn't be fighting," The Baroness said sweetly. "Especially since we have so much in common."

"Oh yes we should," Cobra Commander snapped. "It'll be fun!"

"Not so fast," Destro said. "My dear Madame Hydra, it's clear to me that we can both benefit from an alliance."

"WHAT?" Cobra Commander shouted. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Commander…" Destro warned. "Let me be frank. I know your organization is faltering. Cobra can help you regain your former glory."

"For a price," Madame Hydra growled.

"A partnership," Destro said. "A secret partnership."

"Why so secret?" Gauntlet grinned. "Would it have anything to do with the alliance you have created with Magneto?"

"How do you know about that?" Cobra Commander snapped.

"It is our business to know these things," Gauntlet said. "I take it though one day you would tire of your alliance with Magneto?"

"It is a possibility," Destro grinned.

"Wait a minute are you suggesting…?" Cobra Commander began. "Yes…Yes I like it…"

"It would seem that in our time of need we could use an ally," Madame Hydra thought carefully. "Perhaps we should forge an alliance…For now…"

"And who knows?" Destro grinned. "Perhaps we can both get revenge on the X-Men?"

"Yes," Madame Hydra grinned. "Especially on a certain Weapon X and his little clone too…"

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"THIS PLACE IS A DUMP!" A very pregnant Mystique stormed into the middle of the Dreadnoks' rec. room. "There's soda cans and donut boxes everywhere!"

"Yeah like you didn't contribute to the mess Ms. Piggy," Zanya grumbled.

"Zartan!" Mystique kicked the chair he was sitting in. "ZARTAN! CLEAN UP THIS PIGSTY NOW!"

"Picky! Picky! Picky! The honeymoon is definitely over!" Zartan shouted.

"You're damn right the honeymoon is over!" Mystique hissed. "I have had it! I am telling you this, as soon as this child is born I am out of here!"

"Thank you lord!" Zarana shouted.

"Behold the power of prayer!" Zandar added.

"You'd better not be thinking of taking my kid with you!" Zartan snapped. "What are you gonna do? Take him on assassination missions? Trust me, it doesn't work!"

"You know how hard it is to aim a weapon while having one of those baby strap on things on your back?" Zandar added. "It's not easy!"

"Relax Pop, it's an empty threat and she knows it," Zanya sneered. "Where is someone like her gonna go with a baby?"

"Well she could run back to Bucket Head," Zarana said.

"Magneto?" Mystique snapped. "I've already lost two of my children because of him, I have no desire to lose a third!"

"You're gonna lose your teeth if you don't stop…" Zanya made a fist. She never finished her sentence because an explosion rocked the room. "What the…"

The door burst in and two ninjas clad in red appeared with drawn swords. One threw throwing stars with his free hand. Zartan got up and shoved Mystique out of the way in time. Before Mystique knew it, Zanya threw a smoke bomb and she was being hustled to the secret garage. "What is going on here?" She gasped.

"Those damn Red Ninjas!" Zanya snapped. "How the hell did they find us?"

"Maybe they bribed another Cobra official?" Ripper said as he shot off another round of ammo, keeping them covered.

"Get in! Get in!" Zartan shoved Mystique onto a motorboat. "Split up! We'll meet back at Temple Beta!"

The next thing Mystique knew they were flying at high speed over the water. "They're following us!" Mystique shouted as she saw two ski jets with two more Red Ninjas trailing them.

"I should have known! You're too tempting a prize for them to let go!" Zartan groaned. "Well at least I know they probably won't go after Zanya."

"Me? Why me? Why would they be after me?" Mystique glared at Zartan. "And why not Zanya?"

"Uh…That's kind of a long story actually," Zartan gulped. "Basically it's a revenge sort of thing."

"Revenge?" Mystique snapped. "You don't mean…"

"They're a bit miffed at me killing their leader and bringing dishonor to one of their clan yes," Zartan sighed. "And they want nothing more than to see me and any male heirs I have skewered."

"You lousy…" Mystique let loose a torrent of obscenities which were overshadowed by the sound of gunfire from their pursuers.

"Could you do me a favor?" Zartan shouted as he handed her a weapon. "Shoot at the ninjas firing on us?"

"You good for nothing…" Mystique aimed.

BAM!

"Pathetic…"

BAM!

"Complete and utter a…"

BAM! BAM!

Despite the nausea she felt, Mystique actually managed to hit the Red Ninja's craft. After a while they were deep in the jungle. "I think we lost them!" Mystique snapped. "No thanks to you!"

"Me? I'm the one who drove us out of there!" Zartan snapped. "We would have gone faster if it wasn't for all the ballast you're carrying!"

"This ballast as you call it, is your doing! Or don't you remember knocking me up?"

"Look we don't have time for this now," Zartan muttered. "This boat is running low on fuel and if I know those Red Ninjas they're probably still after us. The only way to save both our hides is to split up!"

"Can you honestly say you care more about saving your own skin than your wife and child?" Mystique snapped.

"Yeah that about covers it," Zartan said. "No hard feelings?"

"And how do you suggest I get to Temple Beta when I don't even know where it is?" Mystique shouted.

"That is a problem but don't worry," Zartan said. "If you're not dead in a few weeks I'll come looking for the kid and you."

"I hope you are not suggesting what I think you are suggesting!" Mystique snapped.

"Hey, you're a survivor," Zartan told her. "You'll do fine. Just turn into a whale or something. You're already halfway there." He shoved her over the edge and into the water. He turned on the gas and sped off. "I'll lead 'em away from you if I can!"

"ZARTAN!" Mystique screamed. "ZARTAN YOU ROTTEN LOUSY….I WANT A DIVORCE!"