Note; This chapter contains some mature language.
The urge to save humanity is almost always
a false-face for the urge to rule it.
H.L. Mencken
1956
The present
It isn't everyday that you return home to find an e-mail from Mr. Sinister waiting for you on your PC.
What a fucking way to end the day.
The unpleasant surprise consisted of an invitation to meet as well as a comprehensive and completely fascinating account of recent events involving both Sinister and other members of the X-Men -- including Cable. She assumed that these little known details were supposed to vouch for the identity of the sender. There was a hook of course -- this was Mr. Sinister after all. That probably more than anything else confirmed whom it was from. At the end of the correspondence was a promise to disclose information -- hidden or forgotten facts about a certain someone's history. That's what brought her to this place.
It figures an arrogant bastard like Sinister would pick this spot to meet, Domino thought to herself. She couldn't understand the allure of places like this and would never waste any of her free time, or money, by spending it at such an ostentatious hotel. And the people...she'd rather have ten hangnails than socialize with any of the clientele. It was a public enough place though, plenty of people -- or innocent bystanders, she thought cynically.
She had considered both the pros and cons carefully before deciding to meet with Sinister, but in typical fashion consulted no one about her decision. There was a fair amount of uncertainty and danger even when considering the inexplicable truce between Sinister and other members of the X-Men of late. She had certainly put herself in a respectable amount of stupid and precarious positions over the years, but accepting an invitation from Mr. Sinister -- well that was an altogether different sort of thing. But her curiosity had won out, so she thought she might as well make the best of it.
She did one last inconspicuous check of the single and small firearm she carried -- not that it would be of any use against Sinister. Although you never knew what other more vulnerable villains might show up on any given day. She maneuvered past a few slow moving pedestrians and decided to use the posh Park Avenue hotel entrance to the Waldorf-Astoria.
She walked up the double wide marble staircase, an elegant Hermes gown accenting her finely sculpted figure. This was the first time she wore the dress, which was a gift given to her many years ago by an overly grateful client. She was surprised that she had accepted it, and was even more surprised that she had kept it all these years. And despite opinions to the contrary, she did have good fashion sense and knew that her normal wardrobe would draw some unwanted attention in a place like this. Additionally, she had to admit that the dress looked pretty damn good on her. It fit perfectly and a dress of this caliber was always in style.
Her heels didn't make a sound as she quickly crossed the plush floral-carpeted lobby, which extended a full city block to Lexington Avenue. She passed variety of large rooms, famous for the notoriety of the patrons. The Hilton Room, Peacock Alley -- both of which commonly held and entertained celebrities, royalty, and even presidents. A gilded sign marked her destination -- the Empire Room.
In typical New York fashion the hotel was mobbed, but she quickly spotted Sinister seated at a medium sized table at the back of the room. He wore a light gray suit that was both subtle and elegant.
It was so strange seeing Mr. Sinister dressed like a conventional New York businessman and relaxing in so normal a setting. But there was no mistaking the aura of power and prestige that emanated from Sinister and distinguished him even in this room filled with wealthy and powerful men. She wondered if they knew that there was a lion amongst the wolves. It occurred to her that a number of these so-called powerful men knowingly or unknowingly did Sinister's bidding. Cable had told her more than once that nothing and no one was beyond his reach.
Sinister stood as she approached the table and pulled a chair out for her. He towered over her; the strength of his personality was immediately augmented by his physical size. "You look lovely this evening," he said in a deep rich voice as a charming smile graced his face. Fresh flowers decorated the table; mossed roses and nosegays -- her favorites. She wasn't impressed.
Domino disdainfully declined Sinister's offering and borrowed another chair from an adjoining table and sat herself as far from Sinister as the table allowed.
A look of mild amusement briefly flashed across Sinister's features ignoring the deliberate affront. Sinister made no overt signs to signal any of the staff, but almost immediately a serving tray was wheeled over covered with assorted shellfish, caviar, red meat, and a number of exotic looking dishes that she could not identify. Several bottles of wine were presented by a wine steward, a 1945 Mouton Rothschild Pauillac among them. OK, she was a little bit impressed, but still declined his attempt at hospitality.
"Can we bypass the pomp and circumstance and get to why you called me here?" she said not trying to hide her impatience.
"I presume the hustle and bustle of the modern world doesn't allow for food, drink, and the simple exchange of social pleasantries. It is quite possible that I am the only bon vivant in existence. How terribly sad," Sinister said shaking his head.
Domino's expression was hardly sympathetic and her silence prompted Sinister to get to the point.
"As you wish," Sinister responded amicably, again not showing any signs of being insulted, feigned or otherwise. "The reason for my invitation will involve a short explanation."
"I'm listening," Domino said brusquely.
"Excellent," Sinister answered seeming genuinely pleased and began immediately. "During some of our past -- I'll call them encounters, I have intimated that we share a common history so to speak."
"Nice choice of words. 'Encounters' is the way a shithead like you would put it. Yeah, I haven't missed some of the lines you've dropped my way," Domino said, clearly angry. "I remember when you waltzed in and almost killed all of X-Force and tricked Nate Grey into entering that sewer you call a mind. I can see you now lauding over all of us, and hear your voice with that condescending tone...'Don't you find it the least bit ironic? That you of all people would stand against me, Domino?'(1). Then in Genosha, right after you were nice enough to knock me out, you implied to Cable that you knew a lot more about me than he did. '...what do you really know about our enigmatic Domino anyway? You don't even know her real name...'(2) I guess if you were trying to be a fucking home wrecker, that's a pretty decent way to go about it."
Sinister just looked at her, an innocent expression on his face. He was silent, knowing that she had more to say.
She glared at him, her lips curling with disgust. "What do they call that...a flare for the melodramatic? I call it a master of mysterious bullshit. And what about the first time we met? When you dropped that little bombshell that Cable was the real Nathan Christopher Summers and that crazy fuck Stryfe was the clone.(3)I know I didn't know you -- I'd never seen you before. But you seemed to know me. It wasn't what you said as much as the way you looked at me -- the familiarity. I got the impression that you were trying to convey something -- deliberately trying to creep me out." She felt ill just by thinking about it.
"Ah, yes. Those are some of the...encounters, nicely laced with your colorful metaphors, which I was referring to, " Sinister said sounding almost embarrassed.
His expression changed and Sinister actually chuckled for a second, obviously amused by what she just had said. "My, aren't we pedantic?" Sinister said as his eyebrows rose to the top of his forehead. "I had no idea that I made such a lasting impression or that you possessed an eidetic memory."
"Yeah, I'm just full of surprises -- kind of like you," she said acerbically.
"Indeed. Another of your unexpected talents that will save us both some time." Sinister paused and then simply shrugged. "The reason I made allusions to having a common history is irrelevant. But the fact that we do indeed share a past while no doubt is an unpleasant revelation to you, is extremely relevant."
Domino's expression was both confused and irritated. "Maybe if you were a bit more specific I'd know what the hell you were talking about."
Sinister raised a single eyebrow and then continued. "Fair enough. Your work with the NSA and the task of guarding a man named Milo Thurman, a genius who could predict the future by analyzing past historical trends was of particular interest to me personally.(4)
Domino swallowed reflexively and felt immediately uncomfortable at the mention of Milo's name. She promised herself before this meeting that she would not give Sinister the satisfaction of seeing anything he said get to her -- but shit, Sinister pushed a button that she never expected.
"I see you recall the name," Sinister said almost as if he was surprised, but with a clever malicious undercurrent that tinged almost everything that came out of his mouth.
"Score one for you Mr. Fucking High and Mighty," Domino said more flippantly than she felt by far. Milo Thurman was indeed a man from her past, a special man -- probably the only other man she ever loved.
It seemed so long ago -- and utterly strange sitting here in front of Sinister recalling how she met Milo. While working for the government, she had been tasked with protecting him, and unexpectedly fell in love. His special ability made him extremely valuable and there were many dangerous parties interested in using Milo...and would stop at nothing to get him. One such group did just that and tried to steal him. She foiled the attempt saving his life, but for some reason, he had never tried to contact her again.
For a time, she consoled herself by believing that it had something to do with the secretive nature of his work for the government, or that maybe he felt that he was just too much of a danger to her. But she finally reconciled herself to the fact that maybe he didn't feel the same way about her. Her own seemingly inherent fears about relationships that involved serious commitments kept her from trying to contact him. Or the fact that she was just plain fucked up when it came to relationships.
Years later she discovered that some of the more shadowy elements of the government had marked him for termination. Without any hesitation, she decided to come to Milo's rescue once again. Another group of nuts got there before her, kidnapping him. She tried saving him from the kidnappers and fucked up -- and he died because of it.
"I see I've caused you a bit of discomfort and that was not my intent. I meant no disrespect and understand your feelings of guilt pertaining to his demise."
"You don't understand shit," she snapped with more emotion than she would have liked.
"What I mean," Sinister responded firmly, "is that I feel that I am partially responsible for his death."
"What the hell do you mean by that?" Domino's face darkened, her tone deadly serious. She felt herself leaning out of her chair, Sinister's throat her target.
"Please calm yourself," Sinister said recognizing her posture. "You realize full well that you can do nothing to harm me, and I do not wish to see you or anyone else get hurt."
There was an implicit warning in those words and they were spoken with such an inhuman calmness, that for the first time she realized how truly helpless she was against Sinister. She hated that and hated him -- and his aura of invincibility, but wasn't stupid enough to believe he was making an idle boast. She had seen him physically manhandle Cable like he was a toy, and had watched as he took out all of X-Force with no more than a passing thought. Sinister was way out of her league.
"Why...what did you have to do with Milo's death?" Domino asked reluctantly, not quite keeping the anger completely out of her voice.
"His ability would have been somewhat useful to someone like myself," Sinister went on in an even tone. I had meant to intervene on his behalf during his stay with the Government. Then that fool Pierce set a chain of events in motion that resulted in an unfortunate outcome for your friend Mr. Thurman. I was distracted at the time and moved too late to prevent what occurred."
"Big shit. You would have just used Milo just like everyone else," Domino said disgustedly.
"Perhaps, but he would still be alive today if it were not for my uncharacteristic procrastination. Although I did meet with him once, long before you'd ever heard of him. I told him a bit about myself, attempting to determine if his gift could apply to the future of individuals as well." Sinister smiled as if he was recalling a pleasant memory. "After our little conversation, certain things -- about me disturbed him to a respectable degree. You may recall he had an odd obsession with Dante's Inferno, which you might say could be attributed to me." Sinister looked contemplative for a moment and then shook his head. Perhaps there are some parallels between Dante Alighieri's droll sense of humor and my own, but I got the impression that it had more to do his description of the underworld -- the circles of hell, and its proprietor."
Sinister waved his hands dismissively. "Don't mind me. I tend to read into things much more than I should."
Domino regarded Sinister with both anger and amazement. Was there anything this son of a bitch didn't know? She had such a fond recollection of Milo's love for Dante's Inferno. She had kept his copy of the book, treasured it, and committed his favorite passages to memory. She couldn't believe Milo's devotion to the book had anything to do with Sinister. She would not believe it. Just another petty comment meant to hurt or unnerve her.
Domino glanced down at a knife sitting on the table in front her and felt her hands clench and unclench. She would have literally leapt across the table and cut out Sinister's heart right then and there...if she thought he had one.
"Let me return to the matter at hand," Sinister said evenly, as if he what he had just said was nothing more than a passing comment. "I am not trying to assuage your guilt nor am I attempting to placate my own conscience, but I did try to salvage something from that unfortunate episode."
A terrifying thought suddenly sprung into her mind. "You didn't fucking clone him...?
"No, no" Sinister said shaking his head adamantly. "Cloning genius, especially the rare variety of Mr. Thurman's genius is next to impossible. And despite what you might think of me my dear, I would not invite you here to reveal something with the express purpose of hurting you. No doubt you will find what I am about to say most distasteful, but it is nonetheless the truth."
"Get on with it," she said, both hostility and trepidation shading her tone.
"I saw to it that the government told him you were dead," Sinister suddenly said bluntly. "He believed that you were killed saving his life -- that you sacrificed yourself for him."
A deadly silence fell between them. "Why would you do that?" Domino said slowly, her eyes and tone sharpening.
"Because of Nathan of course," Sinister said, like it was common knowledge and that was all the explanation that was necessary.
"Why don't you help me out a little here Einstein and stop playing your fucking mind games?"
"Many mutants possess what you would call passive powers, ones that they really have no direct control over. While many of these powers are not overtly impressive, I assure you they are extremely potent...yours for instance. The mutant ability that you possess and has been coined as simply 'good luck,' or that 'everything has a way of falling into place for you', is anything but simple."
Sinister went on, his expression one of fascination. "To influence probability to degrees required to keep you alive for instance -- an incredible amount of variables need to be considered and influenced in almost the blink of an eye to affect the outcome of any event. Trust me when I tell you the amount of psionic energy expended is staggering. And do you realize that you are able to influence things on a quantum level to make what you do possible? That in turn translates into effecting the visible and tangible world -- that which we perceive with our senses. For example, a perfectly operating firearm pointed at you suddenly jams. You ingest a poison that would kill ten men and it mysteriously becomes inert. Somehow, you do this all subconsciously or possibly instinctually without any direct use of your power."
"After years of study," Sinister said incredulously, "I have been unable to duplicate it nor have I truly been able to understand it -- even though some variation of your ability exists in two other mutants."
"So how the hell does all of this tie into Nathan and Milo?" Domino asked, her expression one of complete confusion.
"I have invested a great deal of time in fashioning a mutant of Nathan's abilities. As you well know, his lifestyle is rather perilous. How could I ensure, or least improve Nathan's chance of survival? In a moment of divine inspiration, which is quite common considering my intellect, a brilliant idea sprung into my mind." Sinister said, with an insufferably pleased expression. "I wondered if there was a way to have your power somehow extend to Nathan. It would be necessary to augment your power a bit in order to encompass both yourself and Nathan -- have your good luck rub off on him so to speak. But there were inherent problems with that. I needed your ability to bend the laws of probability in your favor and extend only to him and not those around you. If I could not find a means to direct the focus, your probability altering powers would be too diffuse and completely ineffectual. But as I predicted...and planned," Domino could see that insolent gleam of satisfaction in Sinister's eyes, "feelings between you and Nathan formed and grew. From that, a telepathic link blossomed between the two of you. As is the case between the most powerful of pscions, those who share the deepest of emotions for one another, a rare type of psychic rapport forms."
Sinister leaned forward, as if to drive his point home. "Tenuous at first, as the relationship grows, this most uncommon bond solidifies, becoming a permanent link. This link can be so profound, almost spiritual in nature that to lose it, would be like cutting off an arm or a leg. Through that link, which serves as a way for you and Nathan to communicate on so many levels, also serves as a conduit for your rare type of psionic energy. I believe that the bond between you is so strong, your probability altering powers can no longer determine the difference between you, and a portion of your protection is extended to Nathan."
"Of course none of this would have been possible...if you were still involved with Mr. Thurman." Sinister lightly tapped his index finger against his lips, patiently waiting for Domino's reaction.
She knew her mouth was wide open but didn't care. What Sinister had just told her, if true, was incredible. But that wasn't what had her so furious. The fucking audacity -- the balls of Sinister's manipulations knew no bounds. He fucking stepped in and for all intents and purposes, figured a way to cleverly get Milo out of her life so she would...so she would take up with Nathan, she thought incredulously.
Something else suddenly occurred to her. "I... I don't ever remember you doing anything to me..." she stammered disbelievingly. She threw her head back. "I must be an asshole. You're a fucking telepath. You did something to me against my will."
"Quite the contrary my dear. I had your complete cooperation and permission," Sinister said adamantly.
"Bullshit."
Sinister sighed impatiently. "When I first approached you about my idea, you were very intrigued from the start. I explained things about Nathan, his role concerning Apocalypse, much of which you already knew. I explained the rather remote chances he stood at surviving the future he had dedicated his life to. I presented you with a hopeful option, a way to help him -- a way which would put you by his side."
"I can't believe that I...."
"That you would what? Wouldn't you do anything for Nathan, Beatrice, anything?" Sinister asked her earnestly. "Does what I propose sound so outlandish? You would lay down your life for Nathan without a second thought for your own safety. If I offered you the same opportunity today, right now, -- a way to help protect Nathan against all of his enemies -- do you really believe that you would turn me down?"
She refused to answer his question, nor would she openly buy into what he was saying -- although she heard the truth in his words. She also ignored the sting of hearing Sinister call her by the name that Milo used to call her, but would find a way to punish him for it. "But why would you make me forget everything related...?"
"Oh come now Domino," Sinister impatiently cut her off again. "What would Nathan say if he found out you were dealing with the likes of me -- and behind his back after all? Of course you didn't know me back then, but I reminded you that Nathan was from the future -- and that history hadn't painted the kindest picture of me. It was a very difficult decision for you to make. You didn't trust me, yet I displayed some of the technology at my disposal and convinced you that I could do what I claimed."
"You arrived at the conclusion that if Nathan was made aware of what you had done," Sinister stopped speaking for a moment, and seemed to choose a different way to say what he had in mind. "You were afraid that if he knew that I tampered with you, and you did this on your own accord...Well, Nathan believes that I am responsible for so much harm to him and his family. He must have confided in you about how much he hates me. And he is a rather stubborn fellow, is he not? He is also a very powerful telepath and would have eventually read it from your mind. He would never have understood and would have seen it as a betrayal. You know the way he thinks in matters of this sort...there is no middle ground. But you wisely felt you knew what would be best for him, as you always have," Sinister added, in an almost patronizing manner. "You allowed me to augment your power and remove all the memories pertaining to our involvement."
Sinister could see that Domino was having difficulty absorbing everything he had said. "I know this is difficult to believe simply on good faith." Sinister slid a disk across the table, but only far enough so that Domino would have to reach out to take it. "If you wish to regain the lost memories that we spoke of, let Professor Xavier review the contents of this disk. It will enable him to unlock the memories in question. His expertise will also be able to confirm that they are indeed authentic and not fabricated."
Sinister had all his bases covered. What else should she have expected? But what was his angle? Would she have done something like that? To protect Nathan, would she have made a deal with Sinister? "How could you know -- how could you know that Nathan and I...would form that link?"
"If you don't mind me saying, you are a rather comely female and Nathan is a full red blooded...Askani. You are a bit too mercurial for my tastes but we are talking about Nathan, not me. You and he think a good deal alike. You're both alone, needy, and often in life-threatening situations. It isn't that far fetched that you two would develop feelings for one another. I also have a rather good track record for matchmaking if I don't say so myself. Isn't that right...Scott?"
Domino turned and saw that Scott Summers was standing ten feet away watching them both. "Scott I..."
"You don't owe me any explanation Domino," he said not looking at her but kept his gaze fixed on Sinister. "I didn't follow you here either Dom. Sinister obviously made two appointments. You over-booked Dr. Milbury," Scott said caustically.
"Punctuality is a most admirable trait, Scott. Don't spoil it by being trite."
"The reason that you wanted to meet here, in the Waldorf -- wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that this is where I first found out that Jean was still alive, would it?"(5)
"Scott, you wound me. Do you really believe that I am capable of such petty and contemptible behavior? Like many people with refined tastes, I happen to enjoy the simple ambience as well as the exquisite amenities this hotel has to offer. Although, I must admit that this place also holds a special place in my own heart because it is where you were reunited with your lovely wife."
Scott walked up to the table and stood behind Domino.
Sinister continued, an expression of false sincerity on his face. "That must have really come as quite a relief -- for several reasons. I don't think I ever apologized for introducing you, so to speak to Madelyne. That was terribly rude of me and truly inexcusable. I just can't attribute one thing or explain what led that girl astray. Perhaps it was poor upbringing. Who can truly say?" Sinister said, as the corners of his mouth turned upwards slightly, showing the faintest hint of a smile.
"You really enjoy doing this to people, don't you? Manipulating lives, tearing into the most vulnerable and personal places every normal human being has. Like what you did to my son," Scott sputtered with bitter resentment.
"I only told him the truth -- about himself and his life. Why don't you sit down Scott -- so I can do the same for you?"
References:
[1]X-Force #57
[3]Cable #28
[3]Cable #6
[4]Domino LS #1
[5]X-Factor #1
