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#5
JUN 09 |
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“Deadly Deals” Part Five
Previously: Selene broke free of Abyss’ body and was subsequently attacked by Marrow and Dr. Reyes. They managed to hold the sorceress off, who vanished to make her way to the meeting between Mikhail Rasputin, Dark Beast and Savante Adel. She has no idea that Havok, Pipeline, Madrox and Blind Faith are going to be there. Meanwhile, a lieutenant of Adel’s is scheduled to deliver some advanced technology to a man calling himself the Genegineer.
The old drunkard watched the collection of purple lights form into a damaged woman who collapsed by a trash can only a few feet away from him. He wiped his lips with the back of his hand and mumbled, “Fairies.” Getting up with a bit of a stumble, he made his way to the woman and asked, “Are you alright?”
The woman he believed to be a fairy was crying profusely and he moved in closer. “You don’t have to be scared ma’am. I’ll take you somewhere.”
A burnt glove reached up and wrapped itself around the old drunkard’s throat. Through the shadow of the night, violet eyes glared at him. “Where could you possibly take me you, old fool?”
He began to gag and struggle against the woman’s grip as he felt the very life being drained from him. This was no fairy that had latched onto him; it was a dark demon reaching up from the underworld to pull him in. Valiantly but futilely, he fought against the woman. There were many more bottles of vodka he intended to empty before he called his life quits. Too many prostitutes were out there for him to pleasure.
“Oh just die already,” the false fairy said as she drained away the last inch of the drunkard’s life, leaving him a dried husk. Dusting her hands together, Selene said, “Good riddance. People like you only impede the world.”
The burn wounds inflicted upon her were mostly gone and by the time she reached the bidding meeting she would completely healed. Selene had no intention of looking anything less than fabulous when meeting with Adel and her competition. She was leaving this barren country with the Phalanx in her possession. The External had more to offer than her competitors and she had feminine charm on her side; charm that would be hampered by a diminished appearance. If an old drunk fool could help her along in returning her beauty then it was probably the first real purpose he had ever had.
Once this matter was resolved, Selene had every intention of tracking down the mutants who ransacked her home and kidnapped her. She had no doubt that they were of Xavier’s brood and she would make them pay dearly for crossing her. Despite that, she had to give them credit for one thing: they had proven themselves more violent than Selene would have thought anyone under Xavier’s banner would ever be. Perhaps the world had finally broken through Xavier’s pitiful walls of peace and harmony. She respected his power, but nothing else. If Shaw, Magneto and him had not spent all their time bickering but perhaps working together, there was no telling the power they would now possess.
Selene had no problem with attaining such power for herself. She had lived long and had seen the rise and fall of many powerful people. For centuries, she had ruled her own kingdom and, if not for Xavier’s brood, she would still be ruling it. Still, there was a certain charm about the modern world; it was so deliciously deceitful and full of opportunity for a woman such as herself.
As she stepped into the Russian night with clothing that would do any dominatrix proud, Selene took a deep breath and said, “Time to show these men how it’s done.”
Mikhail’s limo pulled into the empty parking lot slowly. Inside, Mikhail had his eyes closed and was concentrating on his surroundings. After a few minutes, Rasputin looked up and said, “Doesn’t look like we have to worry about any explosives.”
“What were you doing?” Madrox asked.
“Part of my mutant abilities allows me to alter the molecular structure of matter. I’ve learned to focus that to feel out the very essence of my environment. A sort of sonar if you will.”
Blind Faith smiled. “Very clever. Always nice to see mutants not forgetting they had a brain before they had their powers.”
“It’s kept me alive many nights,” Mikhail said. “I think that is probably the best hope for our kind. The more we can apply our mutant abilities the better we’ll be at surviving.”
Havok knew that not every mutant had that option available to them. Some mutants were cursed with abilities that sometimes proved fatal or were completely uncontrollable. Alex had struggled with controlling his powers for some time and was just now coming to a place where he was having some mastery of them. That had taken years and being around other mutants who had their abilities in check. He thought of Ororo who had to keep her emotions under control at all time lest she create a giant hurricane in the Atlantic or tornado in Central Park. Then there was Angelica, whose powers had nearly made her sterile at one point. Not all mutants were blessed.
“No matter how good we get at using our abilities, we’ll still be hunted. We have to try to find some peace with humanity,” Madrox said.
“Spoken like a true follower of Xavier,” Mikhail said. “Not all things are so simple. The Professor has done an amazing job with his X-Corps and I actually find myself quite impressed. Despite that, I don’t think his efforts will ever get the results he truly desires. Humans still hate each other…what chance is there they’ll stop hating us?”
“Doesn’t mean we stop trying,” Madrox said. “Stop trying and you end up like Grimshaw over there.”
Havok jumped in before anything exploded. “Jamie, enough. You keep prodding at Pipeline because of Rahne. I get it, but if you want someone to shoot your mouth at then try me on. I was a Magistrate and it was me that she was attached to.”
Jamie’s eyes narrowed; he didn’t like being laid bare. “You didn’t know what you were doing. He did.”
“Or maybe you’re scared to try me like you keep trying him,” Havok said.
Mikhail laughed. “I hope you all get this out of the way before Savante arrives. I need you as back-up, not a distraction.”
Havok kept his glare on Jamie. “You don’t have to worry about that, Mikhail. Isn’t that right, Jamie?”
Jamie looked down at the limo floor and mumbled, “Right.”
Pipeline gave Alex a silent thank you. He didn’t like Havok coming to his rescue, but his method of shutting Jamie up didn’t involve broken bones. Pipeline wasn’t proud of his past, but he wasn’t going to run from it either. If Jamie had kept going the way he was going, Pipeline intended to show him exactly why he was one of the best Magistrates to ever grace Genosha.
Dark Beast watched the limo pull into the empty parking lot through his binoculars from where he stood on a rooftop a few hundred feet away. Handing the binoculars back to Agent X, he said, “I would assume that is either Rasputin or Adel. No way of knowing for sure with just binoculars.”
“I already did a bio-scan of the vehicle. It is Rasputin in there and he’s brought Havok and the others along with him.”
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Dark Beast said, “It seems things are going to be more interesting than I thought. No matter what I intend to walk away from here with the Phalanx in my possession.”
“If that’s what you want, sir, then that’s what you’ll get.”
McCoy intended Agent X to be instrumental in his walking away with what he wanted. Dark Beast had no illusions about this deal ending peacefully. There were too many volatile elements involved now for that to happen. Agent X had proven himself far more than his previous agents thus far; he had the dedication of Ever, the ruthless efficiency of Fatale and the raw rage of Havok.
“Perhaps there is a way for the two of us to achieve our mutual interests.”
Agent X immediately turned to the source of the voice and fired off five rounds from his gun. The bullets blazed towards Selene, but were stopped right before striking the woman. They turned to dust and the Russian wind caught them in its grasp. Selene, clearly annoyed, said, “I’ve had enough with being shot today.”
Dark Beast grinned and shrugged. “Unexpected visitors do that to him. He gets shaky.”
“Well, I haven’t come here to fight,” Selene said. “You can tell your pet to put down the gun.”
“I’d actually prefer he keep it up,” Dark Beast replied. “I’m not sure I entirely trust you.”
Selene put her hands on her hips. “Fine, but one bullet touches me and I’m draining you of all your color.”
“So, babes, I’m sure you’re hear with some juicy offer to make. Let’s get to it.”
Selene groaned inwardly at the man’s juvenility. “I want to walk away with the Phalanx and you do as well. What I propose is this: eliminate Rasputin and Adel, taking the Phalanx for ourselves and splitting them. I don’t need two Phalanx.”
“And neither do I,” Dark Beast said. “But what intentions do you have with the Phalanx? Doesn’t seem like something you’d get in to.”
“A weapon like the Phalanx would give me a great deal of leverage within the Hellfire Club. My intentions are simple…it’s yours that give me reason to pause.”
“Well, you can wipe that sweat off your forehead. I’m not going to cause Armageddon or anything. I just need them for an experiment in something you have intimate knowledge about,” Dark Beast said.
Selene folded her arms across her chest. “And to think I trusted you with my motives.”
The otherworldly geneticist laughed. “Toots, I know you didn’t tell half of what you have planned. Heads like yours go tick tock in all kinds of different directions.”
“So do we have a deal or not?”
“Don’t see why not,” Dark Beast said. “You can drop the gun now.”
Agent X did as he was told and said, “Sorry. Just making sure the boss doesn’t get hurt.”
Not even taking the time to directly respond to him Selene said, “He’s quite loyal. He must not have known I could have set him on fire with just a thought.”
Agent X looked at Dark Beast with shock and his creator shrugged. “Can’t divulge all the information all the time. Didn’t want you scared of her.”
“As well he should have been,” Selene said. “Still, I give him points for courage.”
“So you could have just iced me from the start?” Agent X asked. He didn’t like being made a fool and he felt like the biggest donkey in the classroom at the moment.
Dark Beast jumped in. “I wouldn’t say iced. She would have put a licking on you, but I built you to be tough. You’d have done all right.”
Selene laughed. “Don’t give the boy false hope.”
“I hope this goes fast. I have too much to attend at home. I don’t want Eric trying to take any of my money,” Adel said from the backseat of his Lexus as his assistant drove him into the empty parking lot. In his lap were two silver canisters labeled DANGEROUS in neon green letters.
From the front seat his assistant said, “If you didn’t trust Eric to handle your affairs, why did you leave him in charge?”
“Because I needed you with me and, outside of you, Eric is probably the only other person capable of manning my operation while I’m globe trotting.”
“Then I would suggest hiring some new help.”
“Is that a roundabout way of asking for a vacation?” Adel asked.
The Moroccan woman smiled and looked in the rearview mirror. “Maybe. A trip to the Bahamas would be lovely.”
“I’ll think about it if we get through this deal in one piece,” Adel said. “I don’t like dealing with these mutant types.”
“Then why deal with them at all, sir?” the assistant asked as she put the car in park.
“Because they always seem to have loads of money coming out of thin air. The point of the game is out to make it out with the money in one piece.”
A vibration rung up Adel’s leg and reached into his pocket to pull out his cell phone. He looked at who the call was coming from and sighed. “Eric.”
Picking up he said, “This had better be good; I’m about to conduct business. What was his name? How much is he offering?! My lord! Are you serious?! I want a full background check. Find whatever information you can before making the drop. I expect something waiting for me when I get back home.”
As he disconnected the call, his assistant asked, “What was that about?”
“Some clown called the Genegineer wants one of our neogenics devices. He’s offering $220 million for it and he’s already delivered $20 million up front. See what I mean about those mutant types?”
“Well then I guess we better get this show started,” the assistant said as she opened up the car door and stepped out to let Adel out from the backseat.
“Just remember the plan if things go sour,” Adel said as he hugged the two canisters tight to him.
The young Moroccan beauty smiled, pulled a handkerchief from her blouse and wiped Adel’s forehead. “Of course, sir. Now stop sweating so much.”
Mikhail looked out his window and said, “He’s getting out of the car. I was only supposed to bring one person with me. Havok, I suggest that person be you. Everyone just hang tight back here and be ready to strike when I give the signal.”
Madrox looked around and asked, “What’s the signal?”
“I’ll mention Putin. Whenever I do, go for it,” Mikhail said.
Havok nodded. “We’ll be ready. Just be careful; Selene and Dark Beast have no intention of relinquishing the Phalanx.”
Mikhail’s expression hardened. “And neither do I. Trust me, comrade, we’ll get what we came here for.”
It wasn’t Mikhail’s resolve that he doubted, but the ruthlessness of Dark Beast and Selene that Havok feared. He had never encountered the Selene of this world in any major way, but the information that Emma had provided to him was enough for him to know that she was not a woman to be trifled with. Dark Beast, on the other hand, was someone Alex had long personal experience with. The man was a monster through and through who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Havok knew the man’s cruelty and malice was only limited by his genius intellect; a frightening thing for a man with a soul like his to possess.
“Why do I get the feeling we’re about to walk into a firefight?” Pipeline asked.
“Like you didn’t know that from the jump,” Madrox said.
“Not what I mean, Madrox. What I mean is I get the feeling we’re not coming out of this one winners. Too many variables involved.”
Havok saw Pipeline’s point of view, but said, “I have an ace in the hole on this one, Grimshaw. Trust me.”
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To Be Continued...
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