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#13
MAY 12 |
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“When the Pharaohs Rise…” Part Four
Bangladesh
Lightning rained down from the sky like a bag of marbles being opened across a floor. The electric strikes tore through the marketplace and burnt citizens to a crisp. In a panic, people ran over one another and did their best to get away from the onslaught of nature. If they had taken the time to look up they would have seen the African woman with white hair descending down from the sky and they would have seen the malicious frown she gave all of them.
“Pathetic humans. They are weak and unworthy,” Storm, newest of Sekhmet’s Pharaohs, said as she summoned up gale force winds to tunnel into the market like small tornadoes. The fast air knocked people to the ground and tossed others into the air. It turned fruits into deadly objects that knocked men unconscious and made the dresses of women become unwieldy obstacles to freedom. Pharaoh Storm paid no attention to their plight.
On the ground below, a swirling pink portal opened and six figures stepped through it. They were led by a woman dressed in white linen and in the headdress of an ancient Egyptian royal. Sekhmet took in the air and laughed. “Yes, my Pharaoh! Fill the air with the stench of the weak.”
“This Storm strikes with a terrible ferocity,” Serapis said, impressed with his new comrade.
“Indeed. I will enjoy having her as part of us,” Nikare said, stopping for a moment to look at a charred skull. He smiled.
Holocaust still had his reservations about Storm and Blink being made part of the Pharaohs, but he was biding his time with Sekhmet until an opportunity to strike arose. “She is an X-Man. They are warriors, if nothing else.”
Sekhmet saw through Holocaust’s statement even amidst the screaming people. “You do not wish them to be here?”
“I meant only that I have seen my father attempt to twist the wills of these X-Men before, and it has always blown up in his face.”
Blink looked at him, insulted. “We are loyal to Sekhmet. She is our Queen and we are her servants.”
Holocaust stayed silent for a moment. “That remains to be seen.”
The Mansion
Everyone was in the War Room the minute they received the telepathic signal from Professor Xavier. He looked clearly distressed but he didn’t let his feelings of apprehension stop him from quickly outlining the problem. “Sekhmet and her Pharaohs have struck in Bangladesh. The CSA and S.H.I.E.L.D. are already en route to the country. Since we now lack a teleporter, Tryp’s soldiers are going to be providing us with quick transport.”
“They are already waiting for us outside,” Emma said, cutting anyone off before they could ask the obvious question.
“So what’s the plan once we get there?” Lorna asked.
Stress worked its way across Xavier’s features. “We hit them as hard as we can and try to save Storm and Blink, but the first priority has to be the civilian population.” He saw Logan begin to lock into a steely expression. “I promise Logan, I’m not walking away until we have Storm and Blink back with us.”
“Glad to see we’re on the same page, Chuck.”
“So, we know Sekhmet’s telepathic abilities are more defensive than offensive. That means Charles and myself should avoid her and focus on her Pharaohs who don’t quite have her telepathic prowess,” Emma said.
Charles nodded. “Emma and I will be focusing on trying to break the hold that Sekhmet has on Storm and Blink, or at least take them out of the fight so as we can avoid seriously attacking them.”
“We’ll work on the rest of the combat assignments en route,” Lorna said. “Right now, we need to get to Bangladesh and protect those civilians.”
Bangladesh
Holocaust ripped a frail woman practically in half with one well-placed blast from his arm. The body flew satisfactorily into the crowd of running humans. They were so weak and their filth could no longer be allowed to pollute the planet. The stench of their fear was like a fine perfume to the son of Apocalypse. This work was indeed a righteous cause.
The sounds of mayhem were quickly replaced with roaring engines. Stopping his attacks, Holocaust looked up and saw almost fifty giant monoliths of red and purple. They were accompanied by humans piloting flying platforms, nearly every inch of metal protruding a weapon. Eagle emblems on their shoulders and chest indicated who they called master. On his native world, there had been no such thing as S.H.I.E.L.D. He gave the humans one thing, they had courage to face them.
“Perhaps this day might be interesting after all.”
“Oh, you can count on that punk!” Strong Guy said. Holocaust turned just in time to receive a fist to the face. He stumbled back a few feet but the blow hadn’t been enough to knock him to the ground. Guido didn’t want to admit but his fist was throbbing, and he wished at least one of Sekhmet’s goons would crumble under a punch for once. “You’re not walking away this time. I got two fists with your name on them!”
Holocaust raised his rifle arm up at his attacker. He recognized the mutant from his world; Apocalypse had manipulated the mutant into betraying his friends and delivering to him the son of Magneto. It was good to see the man had a bit more back bone here. With the simplest of thoughts, a ball of bio-nuclear energy erupted from his arm. The blast tore through the air, aimed at Guido’s face.
But, before the strike could find its home a man in golden armor stepped in front of the blast and seemed to absorb the blast in its entirety. “You might want to watch where you aim that thing!” Maverick said unleashing Holocaust’s absorbed energy from his fists.
The twin blasts struck the son of Apocalypse head on, sending him through the wall of an abandoned home. Brick and mortar crumbled on top of Holocaust as the entire building gave way. Maverick really hoped that no one was in there. His line of work often brought collateral damage with it, but there had been enough death here already. He could taste its rank odor, the destruction like a poisonous miasma. These people didn’t deserve this. “Hope the bastard stays down.”
Sekhmet roared as she battered against the tight magnetic cocoon wrapped around her. It took all of Polaris’ concentration to maintain it, but she knew it wouldn’t last long. Standing behind her were three of Damien Tryp’s men, garbed in black and gray fatigues. Each of them tensely wielded energy of their own, waiting for Polaris’ signal. She wasn’t sure how much she trusted the men; there was a brutal glint in their eye but that was the least of her concerns. Sekhmet had murder in her eyes and Polaris was the likely target of it.
Lorna wondered why the alien mutant wasn’t using her energy attack. There must be a limit to it, Lorna thought as four Sentinels touched ground and surrounded the struggling Sekhmet. It was strange fighting side by side with the metallic monstrosities that were responsible for so much misery. Times truly had changed. Feeling that her concentration was at an end, Lorna turned to Tryp’s men and they looked ready for combat. “When I drop the shield, hit her with everything you have. Be careful, keep your distance and look out for each other. Understand?”
The center man looked cross. We can do our jobs.”
Lorna nodded and dropped her shield. “Now!”
Energy burst forth from the three men and slammed into Sekhmet at the same time as the Sentinels’ palm repulsors. The alien mutant was bathed in a shower of blue, red and green light. Lorna, exhausted, had to pull back and watch the attack. This was one of the few times in her life she felt completely comfortable attacking a pregnant woman.
“Are you alright, Lorna?” Xavier asked, walking up from behind.
“Tired, but ok. Where’s Storm?”
Charles pointed up and they both watched Storm dipping and diving through the air. A dozen Sentinels were on her tail. Times really had changed as Lorna was actually rooting for the Sentinels. “Were you able to reach her?”
“I’m trying now, but Sekhmet’s brain washing run’s deep. It will take a few minutes to break through.” Professor Xavier could feel Sekhmet’s taint all through Storm’s mind. It had wormed and burrowed in there like some violent predator making a nest. He’d underestimated the amount of time it would truly take to reverse the damage. Ororo and Clarice could be brought back, but they would never be the same.
The barrage on Sekhmet continued without ceasing and none of her servants could come to her aid. All the forces they brought with them were proving to have been the answer in holding their own. Polaris finally began to believe that they might have a chance at putting Sekhmet down. She chalked it up to Xavier’s leadership. He was always willing to do what must be done for the greater good.
“Enough!” Sekhmet shouted.
She let loose a powerful blast of blue light from her chest that propelled all the energy away from her. Rocketing up into the sky, she slammed straight through the chest of one of the Sentinels. A blue light still beamed from her chest as she stretched out her hands and two of the Sentinel heads imploded. It was an awful thing to watch as the metal scrunched like an empty can. Lorna turned to Charles. “What is she doing?”
“If I had to theorize, that energy she’s projecting is coming from a localized star in her chest, and she’s manipulating the gravity of that star to attack the Sentinels.” Charles put his hands to his temples. “She’s trying to penetrate your minds. You have to attack her now.”
Polaris, even though she was exhausted, knew she had to do what Xavier asked. Reaching out to the Sentinel wreckage, Polaris ripped it apart and began to lob it at Sekhmet. The alien mutant blasted away whatever Lorna sent at her.
“Keep at it. She’s losing concentration.”
Flinging her arms upward, a green magnetic field appeared around the two crunched Sentinel heads. Mustering up her whatever effort she had left, Polaris flung the bus sized heads at supersonic speed. They slammed into Sekhmet before she could even react and sent the woman skyrocketing into the air. Satisfied, Lorna fell to her knees and said, “That should about do it.”
Xavier nodded, turning his attention back to unweaving Storm from her mind control. “She won’t be gone for long.”
Serapis swung his scimitar at Domino, but she flipped over it and planted two bullets into the man’s head. Brain matter splattered out of the exit wound and Serapis fell to the ground, black blood pooling underneath his head. Domino landed gracefully and admired her handy work. She wiped a thick patch of sweat off of her forehead, while still holding her guns. The humidity of Bangaldesh was oppressive.
“Don’t count him out yet,” Warren said, as he landed behind her. “Sekhmet’s men don’t go down easy.”
A pink portal opened above the two mutants and Blink dropped out of it. She landed between the them in a low crouch. Kicking out one leg, she struck Archangel in the knee and, using the momentum she flipped off of him and planted both her feet in Domino’s chest. The impact sent her guns flying out of her hands and she landed on top of Serapis.
He wrapped his arms around her and said into her ear, “You’ll need more weapons than what you have to put me down.”
Blink turned her attention to Warren, a charged javelin in each hand. Archangel was trying to stand to his feet to get into a flying position, but his injured knee prevented him from doing so. Blink reared her arms back and flung the javelins at the blue-skinned mutant. A blur passed in front of her eyes and her javelins were snatched out of the air. She followed the blur until it materialized into a woman with black and gray fatigues.
The woman was holding the javelins without effect. It looked like all the energy had been drained out of them. Blink narrowed her eyes at the interloper. “You should not have gotten in my way.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” the woman said as she threw the javelins down to the ground and got in a battle stance.
Blink shook her head and her green eyes flared up. The woman cried out and suddenly gripped her stomach in terrified pain. In front of her, was a bloody mass that had once been a few feet of her intestines. Blink pulled out another javelin, charged it up and threw it at the woman’s head. The weapon struck true and scattered the woman’s body into a hundred bloody chunks.
“Finish this one as well,” Serapis said, standing to his feet with Domino still tight in his grip.
She struggled against him, kicking and thrashing but he was just too strong. “You’re not doing shit to me!”
Blink smiled at Domino and it was completely alien. This wasn’t the shy girl they all had sympathy for. Sekhmet truly warped her. “We’ll do whatever we like.”
As Blink reached for a javelin, a buzzing golden blade ripped through her chest. She cried out and fell to the ground, revealing the source of the blade. Warren was on his feet, favoring his knee. The energy blade’s hilt sat on top of Blink’s back so he no longer had any weapon to defend himself with, but that didn’t stop him from working to save Domino. “Let her go and let’s have a rematch. Surely you’re aching from the last ass kicking.”
Serapis had squeezed Domino tight enough to deprive her of air and knock her unconscious. He threw the woman to the ground and picked up his staff. Stepping over Blink, he removed the energy sword and tossed it to Warren. “I’m going to kill you, but I don’t want it to be easy.”
Four metallic tendrils tore through the air and wrapped around Serapis. Two Sentinels had come to Archangel’s aid and had entrapped the mutant. Electricity surged through the tendrils and flowed freely into Serapis. Taking a cue from Blink, Warren reared his arm back and flung his energy sword through the air. It landed in Serapis’ neck.
The combined electrical attacks along with the synaptic overload of Warren’s sword knocked the Pharaoh out cold. Half walking, half stumbling, Warren checked Blink and Domino’s vitals. The two of them were still breathing. Pressing his chest communicator, Warren said, “I have three down over here. Might want to move fast. Not sure how long one is going to stay down.”
Strong Guy knew he wasn’t going to get the drop on Khufu, but at least this round he had twenty S.H.I.E.L.D. agents backing him up. They surrounded the Pharaoh in a circle, but no one made a move just yet. Tension hung in the air as the battle roared all around them. Honestly, Strong Guy wasn’t used to this.
“Surrender now and I’ll make your deaths swift,” Khufu said, as he spun his staff in front of him.
“Not a chance partner,” Strong Guy said.
He reached out with his powers and surged the ground underneath Khufu. The Pharaoh leaped into the air and landed on one of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents’ platforms. He struck the agent in the head with his pyramid staff, caving in the man’s head. The agent fell to the ground and Khufu took control of the platform. He pointed his staff at Strong Guy and a red beam zipped out of it, cutting through the air and nearly striking Strong Guy in the chest.
Guido was knocked to the ground by Sage. She looked at him like a scientist reading over a report. “The laser’s temperature would have reduced your flesh to a gaseous by product.”
“Yea, thanks,” Strong Guy said, a bit weirded out by her matter of fact manner.
Sage turned away from him, pulled out a gun from her belt and fired a single shot at the platform Khufu was on. It struck the bottom of the vehicle and the machine started to sputter and spin in the air. Khufu leaped out of it right as it crashed to the ground and exploded. The other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were on top of him with laser fire in moments. Strong Guy reached out and violently began to shake the ground around Khufu to keep him off balance.
“Keep up the attack,” Sage said as she pulled out another gun. Steady and calm, she aimed the weapon at a running Khufu and fired. Her brain allowed her to calculate the probability of where he would move in a matter of seconds and the bullet struck the Pharaoh in the chest. She looked back at Strong Guy and said, “Nullifier bullet.”
Khufu’s mutant abilities were snatched away from him, making him completely susceptible to the laser fire of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. The hot beams sizzled through various points across his body, leaving him a hole-riddled mess. Sage and Strong Guy quickly moved to the unmoving and smoking body. Bending down, Sage analyzed the mutant with her red sunglasses, taking in all necessary information about his vitals. The readings passed through the back of glasses in a series of fast moving white letters.
“He will live. His powers will kick back in before he dies of his wounds.”
Strong Guy shrugged. “As long as he’s not trying to kick my ass, I don’t care.”
Storm had destroyed half of the Sentinels that were on her tail. She knew Sekhmet’s power was true because in the past twelve Sentinels would have overwhelmed her. Now it seemed like an obstacle she was entirely capable of overcoming. She turned her very body into electricity and sent out hundreds of bolts into the air. They struck into the metal bodies of the Sentinels, sending pieces of shrapnel flying and frying circuitry.
With that barrage, she removed three more Sentinels from the battle. Turning her body back into flesh, she dipped into the air and flew out of the grasp of one Sentinel’s hand. She turned gracefully and looked skyward as tornadoes came down from the sky. They struck the remaining Sentinels, sending their navigation systems into disarray. The wind whipped around her body gloriously.
You are stronger than this, Storm. Fight against this madwoman. I know you can.
Storm recognized the voice, but held no consequence to her now. Charles Xavier was an enemy of Sekhmet and thus an enemy of her. She would destroy him as easily as she destroyed those Sentinels.
You will not lay a hand on him because you love him, Ororo. Now fight!
She knew that voice as well. It was Emma Frost, Xavier’s lover. Oh, she would take such pleasure in annihilating that woman. There were many grievances she owed her for and she would collect her pound of flesh.
The telepathic interference kept her from seeing three of Tryp’s men flying at her. By the time she spotted them out of the corner of her eye, it was too late. Two of them grabbed her arms and one grabbed her legs. She could feel her eyes getting heavy as their touch pumped sedative into her system. Her control over her body was completely lost and she fell into unconsciousness.
The three men laid Storm at Emma and Xavier’s feet. Charles put a tender hand to Ororo’s cheek. “This should not have happened to her.”
“We’ll fix it, Charles, I promise we will,” Emma said. She’d never had a great love for Storm but Charles’ pain was her own. Any good teacher lamented harm coming to their students and even though Storm long ago stopped being a student, the connection never stopped being there.
She would do whatever she had to in order to see Storm and Blink restored to normal.
Nikare realized he was alone. Wolverine, Proto-Goblin, Sentinels and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents had him backed against a wall. He knew that victory would be elusive, but he had no intention of giving up. Pharaohs of Sekhmet did not yield to defeat. If today was his last, then he would bring glory to her name to last through the ages.
“Come and face me. I’ll be glad to cut you all down to nothing.”
Wolverine smirked. “I’ll give ya one thing, bub. You got balls.”
“At least before I come in there and rip them off,” Proto-Goblin said.
Nikare had no doubt that the red monster would try to castrate him. He looked savage enough to attempt it, but the brute would be without a head before succeeding. Holding his white sword at his side, he motioned for his enemies to come. “Try to destroy me. I promise I shall take many of you to the underworld with me.”
No, Nikare. Not this day. We have underestimated these warriors.
A purple metal scarab crawled across the ground and touched Nikare’s sandal. The robotic insect began to glow and Nikare could feel himself being pulled from this location. Wolverine realized what was happening and pointed at the man. “Take him out! He’s trying to get away!”
The Sentinels and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents opened fire but all they hit was air.
Maverick ran up to them and looked at the spot where Nikare had been. “Holocaust is gone too.”
Wolverine grunted. “What about–?”
“Everyone else is in custody. Emma and Charles have already taken Storm and Blink back to New York via one of Tryp’s men. Serapis and Khufu are going to be taken to Proklyatyi.”
The evaluation was hardly satisfying to Logan. “She’s still out there, David. We should have taken her out.”
“Maybe, but we put a dent in her. She’s going to have to lick her wounds.”
“That’s what bothers me, Mav. Folks like her always come back with a bigger punch and look at what we had to put together just to hold her back the first time around,” Wolverine said motioning to the Sentinels and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents along with the members of X-Factor. “What are we going to have to put together the next time?”
“I don’t know, but you X-Men always manage to come out on top. You’ll do it again.”
Logan slapped his friend on the shoulder. “Glad to have your vote of confidence.”
Maverick nodded. “You should let us clean up here. Get home to Ororo. I have a feeling she’s going to need you.”
Wolverine nodded. He knew Maverick was right.
Akabba (A Few Hours Later)
Sekhmet floated around Holocaust’s underground abode laughing as if she was some blood drunk warrior just walking away from a glorious victory. He wanted to point out to her that she had lost over half her forces, but he had a feeling that wouldn’t leave him in a corporeal state. Looking over at Nikare, he could see the Pharaoh was just as confused as he was by the behavior.
Stopping her reverie Sekhmet came down to the ground to address her remaining two soldiers. “Yes, we were dealt a blow today but I am at fault. I did not think the humans would go to such lengths to stop us. And oh what lengths! They brought an army against us.”
Holocaust stepped forward. “So what do we do next?”
“We have other forces we can call upon. I think it is time we call upon them,” Sekhmet said.
Proklyatyi Detention Center (A Day Later)
Husk waited outside of the facility with a thick jacket wrapped around her body to keep away the blistering cold. She saw the approaching S.H.I.E.L.D. agents being led by Brent Jackson. Behind them on two floating gurneys were the two captured Pharaohs. Paige felt uneasy about mutants that powerful being contained here, but they had Cassandra Nova locked down so the precedent had been set.
“These guys give you too much trouble?” Husk said as the gurneys came into view. She got a good look at the two captives, who looked like they didn’t take crap from anybody.
Brent Jackson gave her a flirtatious smile. “Nothing much, besides for f’ing up Sudan and Bangladesh.”
Paige eyed him narrowly. “I wouldn’t call two countries being messed up not much.”
“In my line of work, I call it a good day,” Jackson said.
The Xavier Institute
Wolverine looked through the glass of the infirmary, standing next to Charles Xavier. Through the glass, he could see Storm and Blink resting peacefully. “How is she Chuck?”
“They’ve both been through a lot. Sekhmet’s mind control ran deep and rooting it out took me and Emma hours. She’ll need you, Logan, they both will. Of all of us, you understand the most what it’s like to be used and manipulated for your powers.”
Logan sighed. “Maybe, but I ain’t always been the best at dealing with it.”
“You underestimate yourself, Logan. You’re one of the strongest men I know. And there’s more.”
Logan perked up an eyebrow. “Bad?”
“Not necessarily, but it will take time. Sekhmet’s enhancements on their abilities could not be removed. They both are far more powerful than they were a few days ago. Maybe even dangerously so, but that remains to be seen.”
Logan looked down at his hands. His claws were an everyday reminder of someone trying to ‘enhance’ him. More power could sometimes be just as traumatic as losing it.
“I’ll do what I can to help them, Chuck.”
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To Be Continued...
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