|
#7
AUG 10 |
 |
“A Party Fit for Doom”
Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Moses continued to follow Medea through the open market filled with people until they reached a small fruit stand. Behind it was a sinewy man who looked like he stood at about 6’2 with numerous scabs covering his chest and arms; from what Moses could tell they looked like stab wounds. Well, it seemed there latest recruit knew what it was like to be in a brawl. Moses took some comfort in that because the last thing they needed was a wimp gumming up the works. It was hard enough putting up with Medea and her airy attitude.
The man looked up with intense amber eyes. They looked like they belonged to someone twenty years older. “Is there something I can help you with?”
Medea replied perfectly in the young man’s language. “Yes, Obi, we were looking for you.”
The shirtless Obi tensed up and attained perfect posture. His tight jaw line was as sharp as a buzz saw. “And why would you be looking for me?”
Medea moved closer to the fruit stand and said, “I know of your gifts, Obi. You are a part of something beautiful.”
Obi didn’t relax. In fact, he looked posed to strike. Moses wasn’t threatened by the posture at all. He could see his reflection in Obi’s glistening baldhead and imagined knocking his fist across it if the boy got out of line. The thought made him smile slightly. Obi cut his eyes at Magnum and said, “Why should I trust you? His eyes tell lies.”
Medea ran a finger through her white and as she did so it turned black. “We have gifts like you, Obi. We are the powerful that stand amongst the weak. I can show you in your mind the truth of everything I say.”
He flinched back as Medea’s slender hand reached out for him, but then he relaxed. He couldn’t explain it but something felt right in the words of the woman. There was a truth there he couldn’t deny in his spirit. He would listen to her. And so her hand caressed his face and he was made to understand.
Castle Doom, Latveria (Three Days Later)
Pietro walked into the banquet hall with Crystal on his arm and two of his X-Factor members behind him. Slipstream and Thunderbird were both attired in tuxedos delivered from Italy while Pietro was garbed in a custom made blue and white suit that had the emblem of Magnus on his pocket along with matching silver cufflinks. Crystal wore a sleek, glittering yellow dress accompanied with a translucent yellow shawl and black clutch. They were the official envoys for Genosha to this diplomatic shindig.
Quicksilver kissed his wife on the cheek before they entered into the throng of diplomats. “Thank you for making nice with Alpha One. This should make our dealings in the U.N. much easier.”
“I doubt it. He’s every bit like Doom and that man changes with the wind.”
“But right now it’s blowing him to our side,” Quicksilver as he shook the hand of the Russian ambassador of Latveria. “Mr. Petrovich, I assume? It is very nice to meet you and you have a lovely wife.”
Pietro was forced to indulge in the same complimentary political drivel through five more ambassadors before someone he felt was of real importance approached him and his wife. She walked like she was completely uncomfortable in a dress and, given her history, the silver-haired mercenary probably was.
“President Maximoff, a pleasure to see you in such elevated places,” Silver Sable said with a bit more snipe at the end than the couple liked. “A pleasure to see you as well, Crystal. I heard about our little UN incident. Your skills are to be complimented.”
Crystal put on a smile that screamed ‘screw you’ in giant neon colors. “Where’s Doom? We would like the chance to speak with him.”
“He’s speaking with T’Challa and Andromeda. I’m sure he’s waiting on you.”
“And I assume you have no interest in such a conversation?” Crystal asked.
Sable shrugged. “Victor tells me what I need to know when I need to know it. We’ve been friends long enough for me to know how he works.”
Pietro looked back at Slipstream and Thunderbird. “You two enjoy yourselves. My wife and I are going to speak with Lord Doom.”
“Are you sure, Mr. President?” Neal asked. He had heard enough about Dr. Doom’s reputation to make him more than nervous about leaving the President alone with him. “We can stay close by.”
Crystal playfully shooed him off. “Run along now, we can handle this. My husband and I have been Avengers; a fight is nothing new to us.”
Pietro nodded in agreement. “She’s right, of course. We can handle ourselves.”
Slipstream slapped Neal on the back. “C’mon, man, I saw some waiter walking around with crab legs and I haven’t had any good ones in months.”
Crystal watched the two walk away. “You should have brought Polaris if you were going to bring anyone. Those two are inexperienced.”
“We just drafted a line of succession and Lorna is third in that. I don’t want our whole government sitting in Doom’s home. Do you?”
“No…but she’s more powerful and could—”
“But Slipstream could get us of out of here much faster, well, you anyway; as if I’d need help. But trust me, honey, I did think about this some,” Pietro said as he slightly squeezed her hand. The couple moved to where Doom was circled by Andromeda and T’Challa.
Doom might have smiled beneath his mask as he took notice of the two. “Welcome to the grand country of Latveria! I know it has been to your liking, Maximoff.”
“Of course, Doom, of course,” Pietro said as he shook the hand of Doom and worked his way around to Andromeda and T’Challa.
T’Challa gave a courteous nod to Crystal while Andromeda maintained a cold stare. It was that way with Atlanteans; they’re attitudes were as cold as the depths of the oceans they ruled. Crystal took no offense to it. “So what would have all these heads of state sequestered away from the rest of the party?”
Doom raised his wine glass in salute to Crystal. “Straight to the point…Doom much enjoys your wife, Maximoff.”
“We were discussing the matter of XSE and them asking for jurisdiction in some of our countries,” T’Challa answered knowing Doom would skirt around the issue for ten minutes before they actually got anywhere. Besides, he wanted to see where Genosha’s President fell on the issue.
Pietro wondered exactly what they knew. “Funny you should bring that up…”
X-Corp Building, Press Corp Room
Hammer Bay, Genosha
Amelia took a deep breath. She knew what she was about to say was going to piss off a lot of people very quickly. The reporters from various countries hung in front of her waiting on the first word to fly out of her mouth. This was still taking some getting used to; she sometimes wondered how the hell she end up here. Amelia went from being a nurse to the Vice President of a nation. She could just imagine how history would paint her.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as I am sure you are all aware, a historic move was made by Interpol with the creation of the X-Gene Security Enforcers, otherwise known as X.S.E. in most circles. Genosha applauds this leap forward in granting mutants autonomy in their own affairs and creating better harmony with the human race. With that said, Genosha must consider its own burgeoning cultural identity and its own security issues. So with no malice, I am afraid Genosha has declined to grant jurisdiction of any sort to the X.S.E. program here in our country. While X.S.E. is a step in the right direction for mutant autonomy in the greater globe, Genosha has already achieved said autonomy.”
Amelia could see a furious Xavier in the back of her mind. “To allow the X.S.E. any sort of power here in our country would be to allow in influences we may not desire, and it would be a step backward in the progress that Genosha has made thus far. It is not the wish of our country to create a divide in the mutant community, but the integrity of our country cannot be sacrificed or compromised.”
With that out of the way, Amelia took a deep breath and dove into the plunge. “I’ll open the floor for questions.”
A reporter from England shot up his hand. “So, are X.S.E members completely banned entry from the country?”
“Of course not, they will simply have no judicial power while in our borders. Genosha is a land of all people and how could we reject a fellow mutant?” Amelia asked with a practiced smiled as she pointed to a reporter from Spain. “How about you?”
“How do you think the organization will react to Genosha’s decision?”
“I believe they will react with all the poise and character I expect from those in the organization. They are people of common sense and will understand the position Genosha has taken. Please, I do not want this to be seen as some slight against the X.S.E. because it is simply not the case. My country has simply taken stock of their goals and decided that having the X.S.E. involved does not suit those.”
Castle Doom, Latveria
“You do realize that anyone that calls Xavier friend is going to have a problem with you now?” T’Challa asked. He knew Pietro to be a rash man at times and wondered if this decision to reject the X.S.E. was not spurned by that trait.
“Well, are you allowing them into your country?” Pietro asked, a bit of red rising up his neck.
“Only with limited functions, but yes; I have always seen the plight of mutants as one of humanity’s greatest injustices and, while Wakanda has mostly been isolated, I see no problem allowing them to operate on a very focused basis.”
The fact T’Challa had allowed them in made Pietro even madder because he was hoping to have something to throw back in Black Panther’s face. “That’s fine for Wakanda, but you don’t have to worry about people calling you a puppet king. Everyone seems to think Xavier is running Genosha and—”
“So is that what this is about?” T’Challa asked with a bit of surprise in his voice. “Pietro, you will quickly learn that letting yourself make decisions based off the opinion of the world is not how we monarchs handle things.”
“As opposed to letting your own decisions destroy it,” Andromeda said. “Atlantis has not forgotten how close you pushed us all to the brink of world war, King T’Challa.”
“Both points are valid in the eyes of Doom. One cannot, with the exception of Doom, think one’s will can dictate the course of the world alone. But one cannot so easily fall to the opinions of the world like a giggling school girl either.”
Pietro was seething under Doom’s last comment. “Genosha shall decide its own fate. Even if Xavier fashions himself to be some king of mutants, he shall not rule Genosha.”
Andromeda only saw a whiny, vengeful child in front of her. “And I’m sure all this animosity has absolutely nothing to do with Xavier’s role in your Father’s death?”
“Of course not,” Pietro said dismissively, for it was truly how he felt. “Xavier and I have a good working relationship, but boundaries must be set. And with someone like Xavier, they must be set firmly.”
Crystal sat a hand on her husband’s shoulder while holding her clutch with the other one. “Mutantkind will be firmly together in the days to come. This is all just new territory. New lines are being drawn, but we all are working towards the same purpose, including Xavier. As I hope all of us here are.”
Doom enjoyed the political savvy of the Inhuman. “Of course, Lady Crystal. Is that not ultimately why you came here, Maximoff? To tell Doom and his guests of your Genosha Compact.”
Pietro’s eyes widened and he could barely find the words so Doom filled them in for him. “Yes, Doom knows of your planned alliance. As I have said before, Doom knows all. So tell us, Maximoff…tell us all about the Genosha Compact and how it will forever alter the face of Doom’s planet.”
X-Corp Building, Main Conference Room
Chicago
Wisdom walked through the door and for the first time saw a Xavier more pissed off than he was. It was a bit unnerving to see the man with that kind of a scowl, but at least it meant he was walking into friendly territory. “Take it you saw the news, eh?”
“Indeed,” Xavier said from across the room with his girlfriend, Emma Frost, at his side. “It would seem we have come across a major roadblock and from a fellow mutant, no less.”
“Knew giving that bugger a country was a bad idea,” Wisdom said as he took a seat only a few down from Xavier and propped his feet up on the table. “So what are we going to do about it?”
“I have a few ideas in mind,” Charles said. “I have already spoken with Director Bridge; we’re both going to speak to Pietro together and see if we can sway him.”
Wisdom laughed as he lit up a cig. “You got to know that’s pointless mate. The bloke has asshole stamped on his forehead. You knew his father.”
Xavier folded his hands together and stared at Wisdom intensely for a few moments until the X.S.E. agent got the hint and put out his cigarette and Charles continued. “The meeting is less about convincing Pietro to change his mind as it about outlining the consequences of his actions to him. As for how to change his mind, there are other approaches being taken.”
“Approaches I guess I’m not privy to?” Wisdom asked.
Frost gave an icy up and down. “Was it that obvious?”
“No offense, luv, but the X.S.E. have a vested interest in being able to access Genosha’s borders. We should know about any efforts being made to allow that to happen.”
“My people have many friends on Genosha and we shall simply leave it at that,” Xavier said.
Wisdom kicked his feet off the table and stood up. “Fine, have it your way…I won’t do a full court press, but you better make it happen. Oh, and you owe me a cigarette.”
An already weary Xavier said, “Good day, Mr. Wisdom.”
Sage’s Laboratory
Genosha
Dr. Sando stood in the open doorway of Sage’s lab and knocked on the nearest wall. Sage looked up from her work, pulled back her goggles, and stared blankly at Evelyn. It was an empty stare that made her seem more robotic than human. Sando had grown use to the expression. “Do you mind if I come in?”
“As you wish.”
Sando stepped into the lab a bit precariously, as if afraid something Sage was working on might go off. She was even more careful with her steps because of the red stilettos that she was wearing; rolling her ankle would not make administering her duties fun. She was wearing a red skirt to match with the shoes and a tight black tank top; not the usual attire of a country’s Head Geneticist, but Sando wasn’t your usual scientist either.
“I have something I want to ask you Sage.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To Be Continued...
Previous Issue | Next Issue