Sinister's London, Undiscovered Location
The Past, Seven Weeks Ago
Five was spending less time lost in a fog and more time facing the harsh and terrifying reality of her existence. As she became more and more self-aware, she felt the danger increasing. Her need to escape became more urgent. She did not know where she was, except that she was in a portion of underground tunnels carved by Moloids, those underground denizens of The Mole King who had long been ousted by Sinister.* Five feared that by using her telepathy, by overextending her abilities, she might draw unnecessary attention to herself. Five both feared and loathed His Majesty, the Sinister Prime, and his insidious clones. Her hatred extended to the three other duplicates of herself as well, each of them some variation of the worst aspects of her personality. Five wondered which character flaw she embodied. She wasn't the controlling, domineering matron. She wasn't the jealous, power-starved harlot. Nor was she the apathetic, unfeeling person represented by clone Number Three; the one so cold and aloof that she allowed indignities and unfairness to pass by without an eye blink. All Five felt was fury and fiery defiance. She supposed that made her The Angry One, but it was an anger she had to keep in check until she could discover a way to escape. Five had no intention of acting as one of Sinister's receptacles, either as a host for the Phoenix Force or one of his repellent offspring. Unfortunately, failsafes planted within his clones prevented them from turning against him. Even the fantasy of Sinister Prime's death gave Five a terrible headache.
Until two days ago, Five had not seen the clone, Poppet, as Sinister Prime insisted on calling him. The last she had seen him was the day she'd spied him in the library. He had disappeared, apparently on some mission to do Sinister's bidding. Five had to wonder if it wasn't foolishness on Sinister's part to send the brain-addled clone out into the world and risk discovery. Perhaps desperate times called for desperate measures. Five realized Sinister must have known that Poppet was capable after all. The clone spontaneously reappeared to the delight of Sinister Prime and the amusement of no one else. Five had since seen Poppet trotting faithfully after his master like a happy puppy or antagonizing the rest of Sinister Prime's staff. Five didn't want to know what Sinister Prime's intentions for Poppet were. It didn't do her any good to feel empathy for another clone.
From her bedroom window she watched as Sinister Prime led the simpleminded Poppet into the stable for some nefarious purpose. She turned away from the window and returned to her bed. She lay down on top of the covers fully clothed and folded her hands over her stomach. She had a single selfish thought: as long as Prime's attentions were on the clone, she could have a momentary respite.
When she roused herself a few hours later it was to the sound of some commotion out in the courtyard. Five sat up and smoothed her red hair back from her face. She wandered to the window and peered down. Below was the cook, a stocky version of Sinister, dressed in an apron and white hat. He was shaking a portly fist in the air and shouting. Five's eyes rose to the far courtyard wall to see Poppet there, happily capering about the top of the wall like a monkey. He had a cleaver in one hand and a ladle in the other, apparently stolen from the cook who was ranting below. The butler appeared shortly after to add his own verbal abuse to the cook's tirade. Poppet responded by hurling the cleaver in their direction and laughing merrily as the pair dove to either side. Poppet then turned and presented his posterior to the angry cook and fuming butler.
Five heard herself laugh, an unexpected sound considering her circumstances. She put her hand to her mouth to cover her mirth. She thought that maybe the view from her room wasn't so bad after all. Poppet spun, welding the ladle like a saber and then fell off the wall to disappear over the side. Five gasped, suddenly concerned. The cook and the butler were apparently satisfied with this conclusion. They picked themselves up from the cobblestones and departed back to the kitchen. Five imagined that Poppet had dashed his head on the ground outside the courtyard walls. Later she found she shouldn't have worried.
Poppet turned up in the morning room, where Five's sisters were. She supposed this shouldn't have come as a surprise, however his presence was unwelcome. Two was entertaining the clone, mostly with her décolleté since her personality left something to be desired. One was at the desk, fuming to herself over a very boring book (as approved by His Majesty so as not to incite the female mind). Three was staring into the fireplace, ignoring everyone. Five nearly turned around and fled at the sight of Poppet standing there being patted and fondled by Two, who was crooning to him.
"Look, your buttons are all done wrong," Two told him and began to unbutton Poppet's shirt.
"This is beyond the bounds of propriety!" One said, aghast.
"Oh, hush," Two said and glanced over her shoulder at One. "He's wearing an undershirt, see? It's perfectly all right." She leaned in close to Poppet and continued to work her way down his chest. She breathed: "Let me fix you up."
One stood abruptly. "Get him out of here!" she commanded.
Three slowly regarded her, then turned to examine her nails.
Five felt in agreement with One. If Poppet was here, he would likely draw Sinister Prime's attention. The horrible man seemed to enjoy Poppet's company a little too much. Five told herself it was because he didn't have anyone to condescend to other than his four female clones. Talking to women was beneath him. And he could hardly patronize the clones he'd made of himself.
Two had finished unbuttoning Poppet's shirt and was holding his two shirt-tails in either hand. "I'll get you all straightened out, Poppet," she said coyly and tugged his shirt. "Ignore these prudish spinsters."
Two smoothed her hands over Poppet's chest while he stood there looking somewhat bewildered but exceedingly happy. Her hands slipped downwards to his trouser pockets. "You haven't anything for me, Poppet?" she asked, her head ducked low and her green eyes peering up through her eyelashes.
Five strode forward to seize Two's hand and pull her away.
"Leave him alone," Five snapped. Two's smiling countenance froze into a mask of disbelief. Her lascivious smile turned cruel.
"You speak out of turn, sister," Two said dangerously. "Take your hands off of me."
Five instead jerked her sister's arm forcefully, pulling her away from Poppet. Two was startled, and stumbled a few steps in her heels. Something fluttered from Poppet's pocket to land on the carpet before Five's feet. Five looked up to see Poppet staring at her raptly.
"What is this commotion?" asked a voice from the door. Five felt her blood turn to ice. "This is most disgraceful, ladies."
Five reluctantly turned to see Sinister Prime at the door to the morning room.
"I told the others he had to go," said One pompously.
"Did you?" Sinister said and coolly appraised One. "When once you were all in such perfect accord. I wonder..."
Five looked down at the carpet and placed her foot over the object that had fallen from Poppet's pocket. She spoke softly: "We agreed as well. It was Two who contradicted us."
Two glared at Five indignantly, her lip curling with disgust. "You little bint."
Sinister strode forward and took Two's arm, his hand curling around her bicep. "You mustn't try your delicate constitution, my dear," he told her. His other hand beckoned to Poppet. "Come along, Poppet," he said. Sinister departed with Two on one side and the hapless clone trailing behind him.
One slapped her book shut and turned away to stare out the mullioned window at nothing. Three continued to sit and do nothing. Five moved the toe of her shoe aside and slowly crouched to pick up the fallen object. When she rose, she turned away to face the wall, the item held covetously in her hand.
It was a feather. The feather was dun-colored with a white tip; a robin feather. There were no robins in Sinister's London, certainly not American robins. Five held it in her fingertips, turning it slowly by its quill. Poppet had found the feather somewhere, somewhere outside of Sinister's London. Poppet knew a way out. Of course he did, if he was doing Sinister's bidding. Perhaps Five could use him as a means of escape.
~ oOo ~
Five went looking for Poppet early the next morning, before the inhabitants of the upstairs rooms roused themselves. The downstairs staff would already be at work. She had never gone to the lower floors and was cautious when approaching the narrow side stairs that lead downwards. Five had a vague idea of the direction she would go in, moving west towards the back of the manor where the courtyard was. At the bottom of the stairs was a dimly lit hall. Five heard the clattering sounds of cookware from the room at the end of the hall. She paced slowly towards the open door, a bright blueish-white rectangle of light. Blinking her eyes in the light, she peered into the kitchen. She spied the cook at the stove, his back facing her.
There was a long wooden counter at the center of the kitchen covered with a dusting of flour and various pots, pans, and bowls. Beyond the counter was a large window overlooking the courtyard. Light spilled through it and into the kitchen. A door permitted entry to the courtyard. While the cook was stirring something vigorously (probably the horrible porridge that was fed to Five and her sisters every day), Five tiptoed lightly to the door. As she neared the door, she reached out with her telekinesis to turn the knob and pull the door open. It swung inwards silently and closed as she slipped through it.
She now found herself in the courtyard. Looking behind and upwards, she could see the window of her room. Five walked lightly across the cobblestones to the garage. The wood sliding door was slightly ajar and Five was able to sidle through the opening. The interior of the garage had a hard packed earth floor. Bits of straw where strewn about. Above, she could see the dusty loft where bales of hay and straw were once kept. Now bits of machinery were hung on chains from above. She saw the dark black limousine sitting in the middle of the open stable. It had been largely dismantled. Towards the rear of the stable was the rough construct of some sort of machine. Five walked forward to the first of several empty stalls that lined either side of the stable. She peered through the rusty bars and into the stall. It was empty save for the moldy straw heaped up in the corners. The rest of the stalls were empty as well, though one contained a pile of blankets and a wooden crate with the driver's cap set on top.
At the back of the stable, she found another wooden door. It was standing open. She saw it led to a narrow alley between the back of the stable and the courtyard's outer wall. There was a trickle of water running down the alley. Five stepped carefully on the uneven stones, trying to avoid getting her slippers wet. She looked to the right and left. Seeing that the right hand side seemed slightly brighter, Five turned and walked in that direction. One hand touched the stable wall on one side, the other felt along the rough stone courtyard wall. At the end of the alley, she found herself to be in a square alcove framed on all sides by walls. It was a small shade garden with mossy stones and a fountain. Above was the open air which let in the dim watery light from the cavern beyond. There was an iron gate in the wall. Beyond the bars, she could see the flash of movement.
Five walked to the gate and wrapped her hands around the bars. The gate swung open. She had never left the manor before, and now here she was looking at an open doorway. Outside there was a small dirt patch carved into the earth by the swinging gate. The rest was green grass. The light was significantly brighter beyond the wall, seeming to come from nowhere and everywhere. In the grass were several white chickens. They walked about, pecking and scratching in the grass. There was a coop along the back side of the courtyard wall. A man stepped out from it, walking backwards as he did and ducking so his head did not strike his head on the low doorframe. When he righted, Five saw it was Poppet. Poppet was holding a chicken by its scaled feet. The chicken flapped its wings and squawked angrily.
Poppet turned and saw Five. He stood still save for the bird flapping around in his hand. After a moment, he looked down at the chicken, righted it under his arm, and held it pinned to his side. He looked back at Five.
"Y'caught me with my cock in my hand," he said and gave her a laughing grin.
Five was taken aback. She didn't know the clone could speak, let alone make a joke. "Wh-what are you doing?" she asked him.
"Makin' soup," he told her. His hand wrapped around the chicken's neck. "For His Majesty's dinner."
"You're going to kill it?" Five asked.
"Cock's ain't good for nothin' but fightin', crowin', and makin' trouble," Poppet told her. He adjusted his grip on the bird.
"Please, don't," she said and held out her hand to stop him.
He stared at her, seemingly at a loss for what to do next. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked.
Five was hungry. She ate little of what was put on her plate. She detested everything Sinister served her. "You can...do it after. After I leave," Five told him.
Poppet seemed agreeable to that, and he patted the rooster's chest. It tried to peck him viciously.
Five took a few steps towards Poppet. He was dressed in a rough cotton shirt, a dark green vest, a brown overcoat, and dark trousers stuffed into his tall boots. There was straw in his hair, which was cut short on the sides, but longer on top, neatly parted and brushed back from his face. His face was smoothly shaven. Five supposed that Sinister Prime preferred him to look tidy. He was dressed and groomed very unlike the man he was cloned from.
"Do you remember anything," Five asked. "From before?"
"Before what?" he asked.
"Before you were here."
Poppet shook his head to either side.
"You don't have any memories?" she asked.
He shrugged noncommittally.
Five reached her fingers into her sleeve and withdrew the feather. "Where did this come from?" she asked, showing him the feather.
"The park," he told her.
"What park?" she asked, trying to be patient.
"The big park," he responded.
"Is there a big park here?" Five asked and extended her arms to indicate their cavernous surroundings.
Poppet shook his head. "No, upside."
"Upside?" Five pointed upwards. "Above ground?"
He nodded.
"Can you tell me what the park looks like, Poppet?" she asked.
Poppet was happy to comply. "Trees and grass. Lots of animals."
"Birds?"
"And lions and monkeys. In cages."
Five blinked. "What else?"
"Alice."
"Who is Alice?" Five asked.
"De girl who fell down de rabbit hole."
Five withheld her excitement. "Is there a city? Tall buildings?"
Poppet nodded.
Five knew of a large park surrounded by buildings, with a zoo and a statue of Alice in Wonderland; Central Park. "Do you think you could take me there?" she asked evenly.
Poppet shook his head again. "It's far."
"That – that's okay. I can walk. I'd like to see the park. Please take me."
"I can't," and he looked somewhat sad at this. "You have t'stay here. I was told. Stay here, except encase."
"Encase?" Five repeated, not liking the sound of that. "Encase...what does–?"
"Encase of emergency," Poppet said.
"In case," Five said softly, then asked. "What happens if there is an emergency?"
Poppet shrugged. "Then we run."
~ oOo ~
Five went to the library and selected a book from the lowest shelf. She opened it and tore one of the end-pages from the back cover, folded the paper, and tucked it into her sleeve. She found an ink pen on the blotter on top of a nearby desk. Five picked it up and tucked it into her hair, where it was hidden in her snood. Five was walking past the ornate dividing screen and into the main hall when she was brought up short by her sister, Two.
"What are you doing?" Two asked her, her eyes narrowing.
"Looking for a suitable book," Five answered and moved to walk past Two.
Two stepped into her path. "You lie," she said softly. "You don't fool me." Two reached out and snatched at Five's wrist. Five jerked her arm back, but not before Two heard the soft crumple of paper from within Five's sleeve.
"What do you have?" Two demanded, her hands now clawing at Five's arm as Five backed away.
"Don't touch me!" Five said, pushing her twin back with one hand.
Two opened her mouth to protest when suddenly, something dropped from above to land with a splat on Two's head. Two shrieked. Yellow yolk ran down the side of Two's face. Five craned her neck to look at the balcony above. Poppet was sitting on the balcony rail overlooking the main hall, his legs dangling. He grinned down at Five, then lobbed another egg into the air.
Two skittered back and the egg landed on the floor tiles, splattering over her shoes. She glared up at Poppet. "Wretched creature," she snarled. There came a flapping sound and the rooster appeared upon the balcony rail as well. It strutted down the railing, paused, and then crowed. Two wiped egg from her face with one hand. She made a disgusted sound.
Five put her hand to her mouth to hide her smile. She looked up at Poppet who was juggling an egg in either hand. He made as if to throw another, making Two flinch. Five laughed. Two stared daggers at Five.
"Do you think yourself my better?" Two asked heatedly. "You're wrong. His Majesty favors me." Two put her hand to her belly. "And I will be the queen."
Two turned in a huff. She fled from the hall, leaving Five and Poppet behind.
Five started up the staircase to the balcony. Poppet turned to watch her progress, straddling the railing. The rooster continued down the railing, his head bobbing. Five came to a halt in front of Poppet and he hopped off the railing to stand. He held out an egg. Five took it in her palm. The egg was slightly warm. He held out the other egg in his right hand with his index finger and thumb. He covered the egg with his opposite hand and when he drew his hands apart again, he revealed that the egg had disappeared. Poppet made a gulping sound, cupped a hand over his mouth, and suddenly, the egg reappeared in his hand.
"How did you do that?" Five asked, amused.
"Couldn't say," Poppet said and tossed the egg to his opposite hand.
"Because a magician never reveals his secrets?" Five asked.
Poppet shook his head. "I dont – know...?" He seemed confused and then anxious.
Five put her hand to his arm. "It's all right," she told him. "It's okay if you don't remember. That's probably for the best."
"Weh, ma chère," Poppet agreed.
Five looked into his eyes, his perfectly candid expression. She supposed she should feel pity for him. But he seemed happily oblivious. Maybe she should envy him instead.
"I wonder if you can help me, Poppet," Five said. "I need to send a message to someone. Do you think you can deliver it for me?"
Poppet turned his head slightly and smiled at her slyly. "Mm...maybe," he said. "What's in it for me?"
Five stared for a moment, then cast a glance around. Seeing no one, she reached out and took him by the shirtfront and pulled him down slightly. Five tilted her head and brought her lips to his, leaving a lingering kiss there. She released him and stepped back a pace. Poppet rubbed his chin and looked at her thoughtfully, a smile on his face.
"I would have done it for a please and thank you," he told her.
Five let out a little exasperated sound. She smiled and shook her head. "Can you meet me in my room later?" she asked. "Without anyone seeing you? Please?"
Poppet grinned and nodded. Five took him by the arm and guided him to the clock at the end of the hall. "When the big hand is on the twelve and the little one is on the ten," she told him and pointed.
Poppet opened the glass door in front of the clock face. He adjusted the big hand. When Five looked at him questioningly, he said: "It was a minute too soon."
~ oOo ~
Five was in her room sitting on the stool in front of her vanity. She had the page she had ripped from the book set on the vanity top. The pen was in her hand. She wrote carefully. At the end of the letter, she slowly wrote out the four letters that spelled her name. Her hand trembled and the pen spluttered out a spot of ink. Five picked up the note and fanned it dry. She folded it and looked about her room for a way to seal the letter. She retrieved a needle and thread from her sewing kit. The end paper from the book was stiff. She made a few stitches through the paper. On the outside she wrote: Scott Summers, The Xavier School for Higher Learning, 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, New York. She didn't have a return address.
Five put the letter beneath her pillow. She picked up the egg Poppet had given her from the nightstand. It felt solid to her, so she tapped it on the edge of the nightstand. She found it had been hard-boiled. Five sat on her bed and peeled the egg, putting the shell into a handkerchief on her lap. She held the egg to her lips for a moment, feeling the smooth wet egg white against her lips. She bit into it and chewed with her eyes closed. It had been a long time since she had tasted anything. Five tried not to eat the egg too fast, but soon enough it was gone. She wished Poppet had given her the second egg as well.
She heard the clock chime and she looked at her door, waiting. A minute passed. Five tried not to be impatient. Her hands clutched the handkerchief in her lap, crunching the shells. Finally, she stood and tossed the handkerchief into the fireplace. She turned away from the fire to see a figure silhouetted in her window. Five startled. She put her hand to her chest to still her racing heart and exhaled. Five pulled open the window and Poppet climbed through.
"You're so quiet," she told him. "I can't even hear your thoughts."
"I haven't got any," he said to her, and his smile flashed in the dim light. She saw that he had a gap between his front teeth.
Five stepped back from him to retrieve the letter. He followed her closely, so when she turned around, he was standing over her. He smelled like the inside of the stable, hay and dust and wet earth. She took his hand and put the letter into it. "Take this to the park," she told him. "Give it to someone. Someone who looks nice. A woman. Be your most charming self. Ask her to put it in the post for you."
Poppet smiled down at her, his eyes glowing softly in the darkness.
"Do you understand?" she asked. "This letter has to go to this address. Okay?"
He nodded and put the letter into his inside coat pocket. "Weh, ma chère."
Five was nervous. She was worried Poppet would be caught with the note. She worried he didn't really understand what she was asking. It was a terrible risk, and she had no assurances that it would work and the letter would find its way to the address. She prayed it would. If Poppet was instructed not to take her from this place except in an emergency, then she would have to create an emergency of her own. Who better to raise hell than the X-Men?
~ oOo ~
*Uncanny X-Men Vol. II #14