Heir of the Immortals Resurrection
Chapter 10
Herald sat at the peak of the Rocky Mountains, his eyes closed, his breath coming out in a slow rhythmic fashion as he sorted through all the knowledge, he received from replicating the powers of Tora Drake, Sharee Collins, Ororo Munro, Clarice Ferguson, Joshua Foley, Wolverine, Madison Jeffries, and Lionel Jeffries.
All but the last two abilities came to him easily, having replicated similar powers before, but Lionel Jeffries and Madison had the ability of intuitive aptitude. The acquisition of these powers changed his mindset ever so slightly while giving him an intuitive understanding of how machines and the body worked. On the plus side, it worked in tandem with Joshua Foley's Biokinesis so he could also use it more effectively.
On the negative side, it meant that he needed to center himself before he continued. He opened his eyes, falling leaves shifting as a gentle wind curled around his body. Below him stretched acres of forest, a crystal-clear lake in the center of the foliage.
Raising his hand, he slowly extended it towards the water, pushing his will outward's, his red eyes flared as his will washed through the forest. His lips thinned as his power just barely brushed the edge of the water two miles away. Curling his fingers, a strand of water the length and width of a human hair flowed towards him.
As it touched the tips of his fingers, power flared out of him, freezing the strand and causing it to crack. His eyes followed the crystalline water that fell to the forest below. This was a good reminder, he had a lot of power, but even he had his limits.
Climbing to his feet, the wind picked up around him, pulling at his pale white T-shirt and jeans, his dark blue toes dug into the softened earth as dark clouds crawled across the sky overhead. Thunder rumbled, sending flashes through the clouds.
Flicking his fingers forward, a sizzling crack echoed through the air as a bolt of lightning struck the lake. Small bolts danced across the frothing water as steam rose into the air. Allowing his hand to fall, the clouds dispersed in the wind died down.
Turning he began making his way deeper into the forest. His eyes flicked from side to side, watching the animals as they watched him, their dark eyes reflecting the light of the sun above. When he locked gazes with them, twigs snapped as they turned and fled deeper into the trees.
–XX –
Emma Frost stared out the large glass window that overlooked Massachusetts capital city. A flute of champagne dangling from her fingers. It'd been a week since she returned here and contacted Cecilia Reyes to look over what Herald had given her. Her fingers curved to cradle the bottom of her glass.
"Herald Gallio," she muttered, warm sunlight bathing the skin not covered by her white business suit. He was definitely powerful. What were his ambitions, and would they conflict with her own? Diamond crawled across her skin. Red eyes stared back at her from the large window.
Slowly, she rose to her feet, the added weight of her diamond form pressing them down into the grey carpet. The glass of champagne shattered against her hand; glittering shards rained to the carpet.
In the end, it didn't matter the only thing she could do was prepare and react, at least until she found out more about him.
Flicking the champagne off her fingers, she willed her diamond form away. Her left hand reaching for the phone on her large glass desk. Just before her fingers touched it a red light flashed, and a female voice with a slight buzz to it paused her hand.
"Ms. Frost, there is a Cecilia Reyes here to see you."
Pressing the flashing button, Emma lowered herself down into her chair, "Send her in, and when she leaves, tell the janitor to come here." Releasing the button, she looked around her office.
Grey carpet covered the length of the room. A small bar sat beside a large screen TV. On the opposite side, two small couches on either side of a glass coffee table formed a sitting area with two white high-backed chairs at either end of the table.
The large double doors that led into her office opened, gliding smoothly across the carpet.
A dark-skinned woman in her early thirties strode into the room, her back straight, her head held high. Her Brown eyes quickly assessing the room. Brown dreadlocks tied into a ponytail bounced as she stopped before the desk and crossed her arms over her chest.
The motion highlighted her small breast beneath the black blouse. A red skirt complimented the blouse. Both were half-hidden by a white lab coat.
"Ms. Reyes," Emma greeted, her gaze flicking to the folder trapped between the woman's folded arms in her chest, "you are looking better than the last time I saw you." She gestured to the chair before her desk, "Please, have a seat."
Cecilia lowered her 5'7" frame into the chair, crossing one leg over the other as she laid the manila folder on the desk. Leaning forward, Emma rested her chin on her interlocked fingers, "How are you feeling, any relapses, any urges?"
Cecilia stared at the blonde before her, trying to discern whether the concern in her light blue eyes was genuine or not.
Two years ago, Emma Frost had found her at her weakest moment, shaking from withdrawal as she tried to get over her addiction to the drug Rave, a drug that temporarily boosted a mutant's abilities, but was highly addictive. Using her telepathic abilities, Emma removed the addiction from her mind.
She was grateful for that. It was the I will ask a favor in the future as she left the room that left her wary. It's why she worked so hard over the last week to decipher the drug Emma asked her to look at. She wanted to be out from under the woman's thumb.
She swallowed, "I'm fine."
Emma leaned back in her chair one leg bouncing. She knew what Cecilia was thinking, if her body language didn't scream apprehension, her thoughts did. The woman wanted to hide what she was, she wanted a normal life, and she felt owing her a favor put that in jeopardy.
"You know," she began slowly, "I'm not going to destroy your life, it is my goal to help mutants rise, to help us thrive when others would see us dead, or as slaves."
Cecilia looked to the side, "That's all well and good, but I want no part of that, I just want to be a doctor."
"I think you want to be more than a doctor, or else you wouldn't have gotten addicted to rave."
Cecilia's head snapped to her, her Brown eyes somewhere between angry and fearful.
Emma waved her hand, "None of my business," she pulled the file to her flipping it open, "I will read this, but tell me what you've found."
"Whatever it was you gave me seems to increase the regenerative factor in the human body. Cut scab over in a few minutes, and there seems to be no mutation within the cells. Granted, we need to keep testing to see if there any side effects from prolonged use."
A light appeared in her eyes, the most fascinating thing is it seems to suppress major diseases, while they still exist in the body. They no longer cause it any harm.
"How fast do you think we would be able to get it on the market?"
"If you go the legal route two or three years. If you want to use your abilities, I would recommend still waiting a year just to see how it would affect people."
While it would give the company a massive revenue boost to get it on the market quickly. She did not want to put an untested drug on the market and be sued for adverse side effects later. "Your favor to me is done."
Cecilia relaxed.
"However, I would appreciate it if you would continue testing the drug. See if you can find out if there are any side effects."
Cecile nodded slowly, "I can do that." She rose from her chair, stepping around it, she leaned on the back to look at her "I appreciate what you did for me Ms. Frost, but beyond this drug, I would prefer not to have any more dealings with you. I want a normal life, and I don't think that is conducive for whatever your plans are."
Emma inclined her head, "Fair enough Ms. Reyes." She watched Cecile leave the room. As the door clicked shut, she slowly shook her head. "She is so afraid of being ostracized for being a mutant, she shuns those that would offer help, a community, and friendship." Reaching into her right pocket, she pulled out the slip of paper Herald had given her.
Grabbing the phone, she cradled it between her neck and shoulder as her fingers danced across the number pad. Before the first ring even finished, a red oval-shaped portal opened in front of her desk. Slowly, she hung up the phone, her eyes never leaving the portal.
Despite her mental barriers, he knew exactly where she was and was able to open a portal in her office. A shiver of fear ran down her spine. Her jaw tightened. Grabbing the file, she stiffly moved around the desk, if he thought he could intimidate her, he had a lot to learn. With her back straight, and her head held high, she stepped through the portal.
–XX –
Emma Frost stepped into a forest clearing, grass rustling against her clothes and leaves crunching under the heel of her shoe. Crisp cool air filled her lungs and chilled her skin as the wind blew her hair behind her.
"Welcome, Ms. Frost."
Herald Gallio sat in the center of the clearing; a variety of technological components were scattered throughout the clearing. As she watched a computer fell from an oval-shaped portal pausing in midair to disassemble.
His red eyes scanned each component. Thin thread-like streams of fire lashed out at certain components, carving unknown symbols into them before joining together in a loose shape.
Tearing her gaze away from the electronics, she looked at the man controlling it all. He was dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans, his bare feet tucked under his needs. "Mr. Gallio…" The words felt strange. He was younger than her, yet she showed him the same respect she would an equal.
Herald waved his hand, "Call me Herald." Grass shot up behind Emma, weaving into an approximation of a wicker chair.
Emma tensed as the grass moved, her eyes widened as she watched it come together into a new form.
"Have a seat, I take it since you're here, you have information on the drug I gave you?"
Slowly Emma lowered herself into the chair, her posture stiff as she replied. "Yes, my associate got back to me today…"
"Cecilia Reyes."
Emma tensed diamond crawling up to cover her right hand, "Yes, how did you know."
"Your mind may be closed off to me Ms. Frost, but those who know you don't have the same protections. I think I've gotten a pretty good idea of the kind of person you are, but I wanted to be sure, so I've been listening to those around you." He glanced at her, letting his eyes roam up and down her body, "Sebastian Shaw really doesn't like you. To that end, I would keep an eye on your family."
Emma's teeth ground together, her pale blue eyes bled into red, "Are you threatening my family?"
"Of course not, there's been enough mutant blood spilled for a lifetime, and I don't hurt the innocent, I just wanted to know the real you. Not the façade you portray to others," a redeye glanced in her direction, "and as far as I know, you only have a brother left." He turned back to his work, "Not that I blame you."
He knew she killed her sister. He knew she inadvertently caused her father's death when he had a heart attack after she took over the company.
Emma set there for a long moment, part of her wanted to armor up and attack him. However, his show of power stayed her hand. "What is it you want? I assume you already have the information Cecile gave me from the woman herself?"
"You would be correct. I just didn't have a way to get my creation into the hands of someone who could look it over. It's a shame that it will be a while before it can go on the market, but it is better to test for side effects. As for what I want."
The pieces on the ground swirled together, forming a sleek-looking helmet with a cable trailing from it that connected to a small box. Its silver metal gleamed in the light.
"I want a safe place for mutants. A place where our people no longer have to fear being different and can use our abilities freely without persecution or enslavement." Grabbing the helmet with his left hand, he lifted it off the ground, "but an endeavor like that takes money. Hence why I came to you."
"There are wealthier and more connected people than I."
Rising to his feet, he slowly made his way over, "True, but they don't care about the mutant species as a whole, or if they do, they want to guide them down a path that could be detrimental."
"Coexistence is all well and good, but you have to be ready to defend yourself. Defending yourself is good, but attacking unprovoked leads to hatred and fear, which exasperates the prejudice we face in the world already." Stopping before her, he offered her the helmet.
"What is this?"
"According to the mind of a man called Forge, Charles Xavier built a device called Cerebro that helps him find mutants. I have created this portable version which will record the minds of the people it detects. This will allow you to get to know the people if you decide to help any more of our kind."
"Why give this to me?"
A red oval opened up behind her.
"You are a woman who cares about the mutant race. To that end, you've tried to do right by them, even if some of your ideas or methods are questionable. This device will help you with that, you've also seen the darker part of the world and understands subtlety." He stared into her eyes, "there are more than just humans hunting us Ms. Frost, and it will take subtlety to keep them all from working together. If that happens, I fear we may not survive"
"Who are these enemies?"
The wicker chair she was in spun to face the portal, "I doubt you would believe me if I told you, but use my gift to watch our people, and you just may find out."
Standing to her feet, she stepped towards the portal her mind reeling. This meeting had not gone as she had envisioned it, and he was nothing like she expected. Without looking around, or saying a word she stepped through the portal. Confident that it would take her home, after all, he wouldn't give her a gift then turn around and kill her. It sounded like he needed her
She glanced at the helmet as half of her body passed through the portal, that didn't mean she wasn't going to have her people look it over.
–XX –
Mary shimmied through the vent. Her elbows were tucked close to her sides so she didn't bang them against the metal. Placing her finger on the great before her, she pushed a little power into it. A blue outline surrounded the great, flex of black circulating through it as it floated upwards and moved aside.
Sliding her body through the hole, she planted her hand on the desk, papers crinkled under her touch as she flexed her abdomen and legs. Her body tilted as she pulled herself free of the vent. She fell sideways, performing a partial somersault as she landed on her feet. Pulling her gloves tighter around her hand, she moved around the desk, sweat ran down her face beneath her balaclava.
Sitting down in the chair behind the desk, she turned on the computer, Forest Hills Bank flashed on the screen. She had originally planned to go to Vegas and use the $800,000 Harald had given her to make more money, and while she had taken half of it to the horse races. She got a better idea after watching two of the people there and reading their minds.
Helena Carlson and Benedict Ryan were both human supremacists. Helena Ryan was a former model, who became a millionaire through beauty products. In her mind, Mary discovered she had been testing her products on mutants, because she viewed them as less than human.
Benedict Ryan was much the same, he supported a terrorist group called the purifiers, who went around hunting and killing mutants. It was then Mary decided if they weren't going to use the money responsibly, they weren't going to have it.
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small flash drive. With his new Technopathy ability, Herald was able to create a device for her that would scour a banking system for anyone who supported terrorist or illegal activities. Plugging the flash drive into the computer, a blue light blinked rapidly as multiple screens popped up and disappeared.
Keeping one eye on the screen, Mary leaned back in her chair. To keep them safe, the money would not go directly into Herald's account. Over the next few days, it would travel through a multitude of countries before finally appearing in his account.
As she waited, she glanced around the office, dark blue carpet covered the floor. Wooden chairs with plum-colored padding set in a neat row to one side. Small black filing cabinets sat beneath the room's only window.
A picture of an elderly thin man hugging his wife from behind sat on the desk.
The computer beeped.
Mary glanced at the final tally of the number that would be transferred, a small smile curled her lips. "Congratulations Herald, we've just become billionaires."
Removing the flash drive from the computer, she stood to her feet. As the money transferred to a new location, it would delete its trail, or at least that's what Harald told her. Slipping the flash drive into her pocket, she glanced at the open grate in the ceiling with a sigh, "It's going to be a long climb back to the roof."
Wrapping herself in telekinetic power, she floated upwards.