X-Men

What Has Gone Before: After a deadly attack by the forces of Weapon X on the Xavier Institute, it was decided that a new team needed to be formed to keep watch over the Mansion and tie up any loose ends the other teams couldn’t tackle. This team’s first threat came in the form of Sekhmet, ancient lover of Apocalypse. She and her Pharaohs laid waste to Sudan and Bangladesh. They were only held back by the X-Men calling in a number of allies to do battle.

“Sinister Aims and Aspirations” Part Two

By Brent Lambert

Washington D.C.

Professor Xavier could feel Senator Simmons glaring down at him. She waited tensely for an answer to questions about the incident at the Boston Hospital. He knew her questions attempted to lead him into a situation where she could use his own words against him. That was how these politicians worked; their best tactic involved twisting words and spinning half-truths.

“I do not like the insinuation that my X-Men would use the psi-emitter. If this proposal came from Reed Richards or Captain America would these questions even be raised?” Xavier already knew the answer, but he hoped the Senators would think about it. He didn’t count on Senator Simmons considering it.

“Captain America holds the rank of a four-star general and the Fantastic Four haven’t caused a fraction of the damage created by the mutant problem.”

Another Senator sighed at Simmons. “Forgive my fellow Senator’s bigotry. The United States government does not see a mutant problem, but with any group there would be security concerns with such technology.”

Xavier nodded, thankful for the aging Senator’s sensibility. Charles remained grateful that some parts of the government weren’t raving lunatics. He still believed in changing hearts, but women like Jane Simmons made it hard. She spun hate into her every word. Still, he had to believe even people like her could be changed…many of his own X-Men were prime examples of people choosing a better road.

“I understand the government’s concerns, Senator. We would be more than willing to relinquish control of these potential devices. Our primary concern is making sure that an attack of this scale never happens again. But we want to make all sure mutants aren’t forced to carry the blame for Stryfe’s despicable attack.” Xavier meant every word, but Senator Simmons worried him. She had this prim and proper smugness on her face that made him think he had just walked into her trap.

“We all appreciate your passion for saving lives. So, if that is truly your primary concern, you should have no problem with Sigrid Trask and the CSA having control over these emitters.”

Emma felt Charles and Warren’s anger, but she had expected something like this from the moment she spotted Sigrid present in the room. The woman was every bit like her Uncle Bolivar: opportunistic, fanatical, power hungry and a raging bigot in the most polite terms. But unlike Bolivar, Sigrid lived for the spotlight. Emma intended to show her exactly why that was such a bad hubris to have. “The CSA is an upstanding organization and Frost Industries would be more than happy to work with them. We understand that Ms. Trask would be very sensitive to mutant issues given the fact her two cousins were both mutants.”

A gasp went up from many members in the crowd and a number of cameras turned to Sigrid Trask. Emma turned back to the woman with an ice cold smile and devoured the horrified expression on Sigrid’s face. Even Senator Simmons flashed a momentary look of disgust Sigrid’s way. Emma could only imagine what the next few days on the media and internet would be like. It was a well deserved verbal slap in the face Emma had itched to deliver.

Another Senator took advantage of the moment, much to Emma’s delight. “So it would seem that Ms. Trask and the X-Men have much in common so any speed bumps with this program could be easily ironed out. Given Senator Simmons’ close ties to Ms. Trask, I’m sure she’ll be happy to facilitate these negotiations. Are there any other questions that my colleagues would like to pose to Professor Xavier and his associates?”

Senator Simmons, trying to overcome her flustered mind, leaned forward into her microphone and spoke with only a fraction of the confidence she had before. “Given your association’s ties with Genosha and their posturing against Wundagore, can we trust you to be an impartial party? If this country is seen as your friend we could suffer an attack from Wundagore through mere association.”

“Our work with Genosha is solely one of a humanitarian nature. The X-Men are a non-political entity. We go where we are needed and protect where we can. The men and women under me recognize this and will abide by that edict. It would be foolish to suspect anything less.”

Outside the Capitol Building
15 Minutes Earlier

Risque tapped her right ear piece, hearing everything that was going on with Professor Xavier and the Senators. She tapped her left ear piece and said, “I think we need to move and fast, Boss. I don’t think Trask was counting on Frost dropping that bombshell. If she’s going to have any kind of a reputation by the time this is over then we need to move fairly quickly. The Marauders are ready to go the moment you say.”

The voice that came through on the other end was powerful, regal and slightly scary. Risque feared it because she knew the source of it and that source was a man not to be trifled with. “I want you to lead the charge, Risque. The rest of the Marauders will hold back to give my new tools from AIM a bit of time in the sun. I am confident you will make sure that they are wonderfully effective, yes?”

“Of course,” Risque said. She knew it wasn’t really a question. Sinister expected her to do exactly as he ordered, and the man’s seeming politeness was a mask for his utter cruelty and rage. Risque knew that disappointing Sinister was a foolish mistake not many walked away from. She could only hope that these creatures he had procured from his newly controlled sector of AIM would not make a fool of her…these were the X-Men she was about to take them up against after all. And for Sinister’s plan to work, they needed to last against the mutants longer than a few minutes.

Risque looked down at the metallic gray seeds sitting in the palm of her hand. They glistened a bit under the glow of the sun. She clasped her hand tightly around them and looked toward the Capitol Building. This was it. Here she would prove her worth to Sinister and gain the trust from him that she so desperately needed. So many plans hinged on her gaining his trust and a successful mission was the only way to do that.

“I’m going in.”

Now

A large clamor came from the back of the room as Professor Xavier continued to defend his X-Men against Senator Simmons and her wild accusations. People were knocking over chairs and trying to rush forward towards where the Senators and the X-Men were. The only people running towards the commotion were news reporters and their camera crews. Xavier shifted in his wheelchair and looked over his shoulder, taking in the new scene of chaos. “Emma, Warren…find out what is going on.”

“Of course,” Warren said, standing up from his seat and spreading his wings. He floated up in the air and smiled. “I was getting tired of sitting down anyway.”

“Never a boring day in our lives is there, darling,” Emma said, stepping toward the chaos like she was about to walk the runway of a fashion show. Her telepathy came out from her in waves and touched the minds of the frenzied crowd. Please calm down, dears, and orderly exit out of the building.

Xavier closed his eyes and reached out across hundreds of miles into the mind of another telepath. Betsy, we have a situation in Washington. Have Clarice bring in the team immediately before things get out of hand.

An ethereal image of Psylocke appeared in front of him. Of course, Professor. We’ll be there momentarily.

Outside

Warren soared above the chaos that was the panicked people of the Capitol pouring out into the streets. It wasn’t hard for him to figure out the source of the commotion. A number of metallic-skinned monsters were knocking aside civilians and damaging property with an almost violent craving. There didn’t seem to be any reason to their madness until he spotted a woman who clearly looked out of place in the business attire of Washington D.C.

She was wearing a tight, body fitting black leather suit. An earpiece nestled perfect in her ear and she commanded the beasts with confidence. Pulling out the hilt of his energy sword, Warren pressed a button to bring the weapon to life. He watched her until he was positive he could make a move without her noticing. Swinging through the air, Warren dove at the woman like a gigantic bird of prey.

At the last moment, the woman rolled out of the way of his attack and clipped Warren across one of his ankles. He rolled through the air and crashed into a car, shattering glass and sending it in every direction. The world was spinning around him as he fought to stay conscious. Wobbly rising to his feet, Warren tried to spot the woman again.

“That wasn’t very chivalrous,” Risque said as she smacked Warren across the cheek. As his head jerked from the attack, she flipped back onto her hands and wrapped her legs around Warren’s neck. She flung him over her and sent him rolling out into the street.

“Kill him!” Risque roared to the monsters under her command.

The hulking entities with blubbery faces and sharp teeth surrounded Warren, prepared to rip him to pieces with their claws and jaws. Warren could smell their breath and it nearly made him gag. He refused to be devoured by these animals. Pulling in his wings tight as he could, he let loose a roar and flared them out. The white appendages batted back a few of the monsters and allowed Warren to take to the air. As he started to soar, he spotted a pink portal only a few yards away from the cluster of monsters.

“About damn time they got here!”

Risque saw the same portal that Warren had and tapped her earpiece. “Sir, the X-Men are here.”

Then it’s time for you to leave. Drop the gas and get out of sight. The other Marauders will be en route to get you.

Risque nodded, dropping a canister of gas and ran away from the impending battle.

Wolverine pointed towards the monsters charging at them. “These punks are dumb as a box of rocks. Hit them hard and fast!”

“A sound strategy, Wolverine,” Omega Sentinel said as the gun ports on her shoulders opened and fired off dozens of tiny missiles. The weapons roared through the air and struck the monsters head on, but to little damage. Whatever holes and injuries that the weapons created were instantly healed, and any flesh that had been detached from the body was quickly growing into an entirely new monster. Omega Sentinel’s sensors scanned the air and detected what was causing the growth and healing. “There is a mutagen in the air and it’s enhancing our opponents.”

“Their minds are too scrambled for me to get a solid lock on,” Psylocke said.

Storm started to rise into the air. “Then perhaps lightning will put these beasts in their place!”

The sky darkened and there was a series of loud rumbles of thunder followed by lightning strikes that struck the metallic beasts head on. The X-Men watched the display of power with a mixture of feelings, knowing that Ororo had been forever altered by the machinations of Sekhmet. Psylocke saw the worry of Wolverine’s face.

“I never seen ‘Ro put out that kind of voltage before,” Wolverine said.

“And it’s still doing little to stop the beasts,” Psylocke said, watching the creatures writhe under the attack, but not die.

::MUTANTS, HALT AND CEASE ALL ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN PROPERTY AND POPULATIONS::

The X-Men turned to the source of the voice and let out a collective groan. They could see precisely twenty black and gray, human-sized Sentinels all pointing weapons at them. Blink most of all seemed to tremble under their armed gaze. She remembered world after world where versions of herself were forced to confront these monstrous machines. In a few, she had fought alongside them, but even then it was always known they were not friends.

“New models, I take it,” Warren said, landing in the midst of the heroes. “Ororo has those beasts locked up. Maybe we should take care of the metal scraps.”

::THREAT ANALYZED. TOO DANGEROUS TO BE TOLERATED::

A barrage of bright, wide lasers came flying towards the X-Men.

Wolverine groaned as the X-Men scattered. “You just had to open your slick ass mouth, Warren!”

Logan ducked under the blasts and came up close to one of the Sentinels. He struck upward and sliced off one of the robot’s arms. In a matter of seconds, the Sentinels had repaired itself.

“Shit,” Logan said as he was smacked across the face and sent flying through the air and into the path of Storm’s lightning.

Elsewhere

“It’s going as planned,” Sigrid said on her cell phone. “The new models will engage and provide me with all sorts of new opportunities.”

“I was glad to help,” Sinister said over the phone. “This is the beginning of very prosperous collaboration.”

To Be Continued...

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