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#6
MAR 10 |
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“More Than Just Thieves” Part Four
THE MARAUDERS
Genecide felt strange standing side by side with people she had only really met hours ago, but she was a survivor, and if survival required working with these people then she was more than willing to do it. Still, when the opportunity presented itself she was getting the hell away from here. Anyone who willingly called themselves Sinister was not the kind of person she wanted to answer to. She was the leader of her own destiny and preferred to keep it that way.
“Don’t think it,” Wyre said from her right.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t think you can outsmart him. I see the look in your eye; trust me, it’s not going to happen. He has plans within plans,” Wyre said. He was surprised with how quickly Genecide had adapted to the situation. She had gone from being kidnapped and tinkered around on to being a new member of the Marauders. He had half expected her to try to run the minute they loosened her restraints.
“Where is he at? We’ve been sitting here waiting for him for the past half hour,” Genecide said as she folded her arms across her chest.
A glowing blue woman covered from head to toe in tattoos brushed past her. Her voice seemed to vibrate as she spoke. “He is not to be rushed. Sinister works in his own time and in his own way.”
Wyre agreed. “Revelation is right. He follows his own rules and it’s useless to try to figure him out. Just follow his lead.”
And what if he leads us right to our deaths, Genecide asked because she had no doubt Sinister would do just that if it suited his needs. He came across as that kind of man if he could even be called that.
She looked at the woman who was dressed like an ancient Geisha. “What’s her deal?”
Revelation moved gracefully past the two mutants and said to Wyre, “You had better teach her about all of us before she makes a mistake that will find her dead.”
Snorting, Wyre said, “I doubt that. Sinister has an express interest in her and I doubt you’re stupid enough to want to piss him off.”
“True enough, but accidents do happen,” Revelation said as she drifted away from the two mutants.
Genecide watched the woman walk away and asked. “What was her issue? Tired of glowing?”
Wyre smiled. At least he didn’t have to worry about Genecide being run over by the other Marauders. “She is pretty good for decoration at parties. But I think she just gets a kick out of being cryptic like that.”
“And Sinister? What does he get a kick out of?”
Locus walked up to the two picking out her two afro puffs made to look like pigtails. “I’m pretty sure it’s nothing involving women. That man doesn’t even cut his eyes at a daisy duke.”
Wyre laughed. “You’re just jealous that he’s not trying to hit on you.”
Locus waved a dismissive hand. “Whatever, bulky; I can get whoever, however I want. The boss is probably just gay.”
“Well you know I’m still waiting on my appointment with you,” Wildside said as he entered himself into the conversation. He was a short, feral looking man with white hair that stood straight up like a carrot. Genecide wondered just how much hair gel had been applied to make the style work. Red paint was applied to the man’s face like an old Gaelic warrior.
Locus rolled her eyes at the short man and said, “Please don’t think you even have a chance, Richie.”
Wildside growled and shuffled across the ground like a canine, moving in towards Locus. “My name is Wildside!”
“I thought we said no old meatbag names,” Wyre said. He could only imagine what Genecide was thinking about this exchange. The boss would be pissed, that was for sure, but everyone knew how to act around him. He didn’t tolerate stupidity in any shape, form or fashion.
“I only called him by it because he acts like it. “
Wildside gave a low growl. “Call me it again and you’ll find your throat all over your shirt.”
Genecide laughed. “Your evolutionary superiority is assured. Why does it matter what you’re called? We are mutants. We should be above such petty things.”
Sinister walked into the room coolly. “Indeed we should be. We are the future and here we are arguing about things as petty as names. I knew my choice to include you in my conclave was wise, Genecide.”
The woman felt the influence and power that came from Sinister with every step. He was truly a fearful man. She could barely utter a word in the man’s presence. Genecide saw Sinister’s genetic structure and felt a cold chill grip her heart. The man was incredibly powerful. It was clear he had been altered, but what could create such a force? Sinister could mop the floor with all of them and he damn well knew it.
“I have chosen all of you to be the soldiers of a new future…one of genetic strength. Squabbling about namesakes mocks that goal,” Sinister said cutting his eyes at Wildside. The feral man trembled under the harsh gaze, but it was only the slightest motion. Sinister was probably as disapproving of cowardice as he was of bickering.
Essex moved through the room and gave a polite nod to Genecide. “Our newest addition possesses a most useful talent, but there are those who would see her returned to slavery.”
A holographic image of Europe appeared above the mutants’ heads. It was a purple grid map of the continent that had five red dots positioned in different points across it. With a maestro’s hand gesture, Sinister brought the map down to eye level. “A team is hunting for you, Genecide. I leave the choice to you: return to your masters or start a new future with us?”
All eyes were on Genecide, but her decision was final. At GenTech she was a tool, but here she was respected. Sinister offering her a choice was almost too hard to believe. “My place is here, not amongst the genetic filth of humanity.”
Essex smiled. “Good. Then you shall have the opportunity to do away with those who would see you back in bondage. Prepare for combat, my Marauders.”
Wyre patted Genecide on the back and said, “You might fit in around here after all, yea?”
“Trust me, I can pull my own weight.”
Genecide knew that she couldn’t take any flack from her new teammates. Right now they were looking for chinks in her armor, ways that they could push her buttons. All except for maybe Assassin; the android was flat out creepy and probably didn’t have much time for emotions, let alone hazing.
“Hope you can throw a punch,” Wildside said.
“I’ll add in a kick if you’re not careful.”
The always bubbly Locus patted Wildside on the head like a dog she was telling to heel. “She’s a feisty one, isn’t she?”
“Lay off her. We have prep to do,” Wyre said.
He waited until Wildside was out of hearing range and thought back to Revelation’s warning. “Revelation was right, you know. You should tread carefully with everyone.”
Genecide was sick of thinly veiled bullying. “I demand respect. Always have. You will know that as I come to know all of you.”
The Canadian laughed. “You know more about us with a glance than most people can figure out in months. I think I’ll leave you with what you already know for now.”
Genecide wasn’t happy with that, but she wouldn’t get the chance to express it. Locus approached the two again. She was a slender black woman with her hair pulled back into two puffballs. She was sucking on a large lollipop in the most annoying manner possible. Popping the candy out of her mouth, Locus said, “So nice to see someone of my hue around here.”
Thoroughly seeing the inner workings of the woman’s genetic structure, she recoiled from her in abject disgust. “Your family must have a history of breast cancer.”
Confused, the woman looked down at her breasts and grabbed them to perk them up. “Do they look that bad? Might be time for a boob job.”
Wyre laughed heartily; it sounded bestial in a way. “She’s not checking you out. Marlene here reads DNA the way Canadians play hockey.”
Genecide knew that it was her ability to manipulate it that probably brought her the most intrigue from Sinister. She wondered even more what her future held with him. His power was truly terrifying, but something about that cold façade was appealing. She wanted to be more in tune with him. All she could hope to do was survive the experience.
Estonia (Two Hours Later)
Sauron kept at the back of the squad because it was already uncomfortable keeping his wingspan at his side without having to worry about bumping into his fellow mutants. These labs were growing darker and more claustrophobic with every one that they raided. Green tubes akin to vines pulsated along the walls, roof and floor. Sauron was loath to think about what was pumping through them. Sinister was a man with no morals and Sauron’s worst imaginings did the man’s work no justice.
Junta kicked an empty trash can and said, “Is the Director sure he’s responsible? This is the sixth base we’ve cracked and it looks as empty as the last five.”
Lady Deathstrike’s eyes darted back and forth across the laboratory looking for hidden defenses. “The Director knows. She wouldn’t send us on a wild goose chase.”
“Yet we’ve made no contact with the enemy.”
Deathstrike found Junta’s pessimism to be a double-edged sword. It kept you on your toes, but did nothing for squad morale. And in this instance it was starting to become grating. “Be careful what you wish for. One way or another he’s not going to tolerate us raiding his labs.”
Sauron cawed. “All these should be set ablaze.”
“Not scared are we?” Junta asked.
“Scared? Hardly. Cautious? Yes. Sinister’s reputation does him no justice. The Director should have sent another squad with us.”
Deathstrike had to agree with that sentiment. The squad she had simply didn’t have the power to handle Sinister. The Director wanted this to be a smash and grab, but it did little good if they were the ones being smashed. Sinister had battled entire teams of X-Men to a standstill and he had not even committed the theft of Genecide, so that meant he had servants. Servants they had no knowledge of and thus no idea how powerful they were. This whole affair could get ugly at a moment’s notice. All it took was Sinister losing his patience. The Director had to know that, so why throw them into the mouth of the wolf?
Still, Oyama couldn’t show a lack of confidence. “The Director knows what she’s doing. There are vast resources at the woman’s fingertips. She wouldn’t send us out into something we couldn’t handle.”
There was a loud popping sound and the Weapon X agents were suddenly face to face with the Marauders. Wyre grinned at them like a wolf getting its meal. “You guys been breaking up the boss’ shit.”
Junta flipped him off. “Come do something about it.”
Sauron was overjoyed at the idea of getting to relish in combat. He had a new form and was going to make the most of it. There was still a bit of room for him to fly so he expanded his wings from his back and took off into the air. A glowing blue girl was amongst Sinister’s people. He reared his wings back and white acid shot forth from the black barbs littering his wings. The liquid surged towards Revelation and hit her armor. Smoke began to billow from the young woman’s suit as the acid burned through the first layer of her armor.
A short Mexican woman of great beauty stepped in front of Revelation and held up a hand towards Sauron. Her name was Risque and her power was to create matter implosion in whatever she was targeting. And right now she was targeting Sauron’s wings. The pterodactyl man let out a great howl as he felt his wings turning in on themselves.
“Ahh nurts,” Junta said as he quickly picked out Sauron’s attacker. Adjusting his gravity belt, Junta leaped into the air soaring over everyone and landing behind Risque. He whispered a quick sorry to himself as he whacked her over the head with his bo staff.
“Don’t be afraid to hit harder, kid.”
Manuel turned around and found himself face to face with a behemoth man that easily came at 6’8. He was bald, had a hairy body and a moustache to shame the most manly action movie hero. Junta might have actually thought the guy was kind of cool if he didn’t have guns that could probably pulverize tanks pointed in his face.
Junta only managed one response. “Yikes.”
Just as Sluggo let loose his weapons, Kimura knocked Junta out of the way and took the full force of the man’s attack. When the smoke cleared, she was still standing with a grin on her face. “I was hoping to get a bit more out of you.”
Kimura leaped onto Sluggo and forced him to toss aside two of his guns so he could block a punch to his face. He grabbed Kimura by her wrist and flung her into one of the green ‘veins’ running through the lab. Her impact burst it wide open and she was covered in vomit green protein solution. Shaking the sludge out of her hair, she licked her lips and charged at Sluggo again. He thought she was going to high, but at the last moment she dipped low and kicked him in the knee. It was completely shattered.
“Stupid cunt,” Sluggo said as he made a swipe for Kimura.
Meanwhile, Junta had adjusted his gravity device so that he was floating right above Sluggo’s head. Due to the intensity of Manuel’s powers, anyone in physical contact with him suffered severe nausea. It was a property of himself Junta liked to take advantage of from time to time.
Pulling one of his gloves off, Junta touched Sluggo’s head long enough to knock the brute out cold from overwhelming vertigo. Putting himself back into regular gravity, Junta helped Kimura to her feet. “Thanks for the save.”
“It was fun, we should do it again,” Kimura smiled. Looking over Junta’s shoulder she spotted a woman that fit the description of the one they were looking for. “Isn’t that who we’re supposed to be rescuing?”
Junta turned around and saw Genecide as well. “Yeah. I’ll bet Sinister screwed with her dome.”
No my dears that’s not the case. Marlene has made an awful decision I’m afraid. Pull back. I won’t have any more of you hurt
Kimura sighed at the Director’s orders. “Just when I was starting to have fun.”
Junta didn’t quite have the same sentiment, but he figured he owed her a little bit of pity sympathy after she rescued his tail. “Yea, guess we’ll just have to wait till the big bang goes down. That’s when the real fun will go down.”
Weapon X HQ
Nova’s Office
Cassandra Nova waited for the mind that she knew would reach out to her. It was only a matter of time and she imagined that he wasn’t particularly happy.
If you wanted to know Genecide’s status, all you had to do was ask, Madame Nova.
Nova smirked at the thought. Sinister still managed to retain some of his Victorian charm. I had friends who wanted her returned. But if she is happy with you, who am I to deny her that?
Ha! Do not think me blind, deaf and mute. The only reason you pulled back from my Marauders is because the circumstances must have changed. You no longer needed Genecide. Why? What are you planning?
I could ask the same of you, Sinister, but I think it best we keep out of each other’s circles from now on. You might live longer.
Decrepit hags do not scare me any more than the vermin you employ, Nova. I know McCoy is with you and you can’t protect him from me forever. His comeuppance is long overdue.
You’re a smart man, Sinister. I’m sure you have better things to do with your time.
Nova severed the connection at that point and despite how powerful a telepath Sinister was, he wouldn’t be able to penetrate her mind. She had blocked out Emma Frost and Charles Xavier simultaneously, so Sinister was simply out of his league. But he was right. Genecide no longer mattered. There were other plans to be worked on before she could pay her dear brother a much needed visit.
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The End...
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