Disclaimer: All characters are the products of Marvel's imagination however
the story is ours. They are being used without consent and for no profit. If
it was for profit then maybe we could pay you off if you sue us.
Archive anywhere but please don't change anything
Author's notes: Please feel free to critisize us (or praise if the term
fits) by e-mail to skruse@snd10.med.navy.mil All comments are greatly
appreciated since we are still new at this.
All X-Men history up to Creed's assassinated is considered law all else is
null and void. If we do make any mistakes on the history let us know so we
can correct where appropriate.
Recap: After Creed's death the X-Men decide to relocate the mansion and
Beast is trying some new experiment with the Legacy Virus.
Part 2
Bobby Drake sat at his father's bedside with his head held in his hands.
His father's condition hadn't deteriorated in the last week but
unfortunately it hadn't made any positive progress either. Whenever he
wasn't posing as Drake Roberts in Creed's campaign party, Bobby could always
be found at the hospital. He had just recently severed all ties with the
X-Men, the only family he thought he had until being utterly shocked by his
father's blatant protesting of Graydon's antimutant bandwagon campaign. For
years Bobby thought his father resented, even hated the X gene he picked up
at birth, unknowing that he was still considered his father's son at heart,
regardless of the harsh words.
Recently Creed made threatening statements about the sins of the father
passing down to the sons. Bobby knew without a doubt that Creed was the one
who had pulled the strings that led to his father's condition. Without any
proof there was nothing he could legally do and what would stop the same
from happening to him. He decided to stay with the campaign, no longer to
help the X-Men but to avenge his father and find the proof he needed to
humiliate Creed at the most opportune time. However, that proof had yet to
come. With Election Day nearing and Creed slowly rising to a majority in the
polls, he needed to do something fast. Who would believe him if he made his
accusations if or when Creed became the President.
The patient sitting in the next bed was singing along to the 'Soft Hits
of KEZZ.' His voice, though slightly hoarse, could have been mistaken for
the vocalist on the radio. Bobby caught himself listening to the older man
when the mellow DJ came on the air. "KEZZ listeners," he paused and the only
sound in the room was the steady beeps from the IV machine hooked to his
father's left arm. "This may come as a shock to you but not more then twenty
minutes ago, presidential candidate, Graydon Creed, was assassinated in
front of several hundred people in Atlanta. The culprit has not been
identified but each of our sources has agreed that a mutie was definitely
involved. Though you may or may not have supported Creed's campaign it's
always a shame when mutant lawlessness causes..."
Bobby blanked the rest of the DJ's update out and his mind began racing
with the repercussions that were bound to happen. With Creed dead, it almost
proved his platform. Now it was just a matter of time until his supports and
fellow FOH members begin mutant hunting in earnest.
His hand unconsciously drifted towards the telephone but stopped just
before grabbing the receiver. No, he told himself. I've broken my ties with
the X-Men. They would know by now anyway. I have to think of my father's
welfare first. He doubted anyone knew he was a former X-Man or that he even
possessed a mutant gift. There was nothing he could immediately do but wait.
Hank was the first to leave the War Room. His mind wasn't completely on
the meeting after Cyclops said they were relocating. The only thing he could
think of was his equipment and experiments that would have to be put on
immediate hold. How would they transport half the things he had in the labs.
And even if they could, he doubted less than half would remain intact.
"Hank, could you perhaps spare a minute to talk before rushing back to
your work," Joseph asked from down the passageway, interrupting Beast's
brooding.
"Huh. Certainly Joseph. What is the pressing problem?"
"I think I've discovered a way to help Rogue inhibit or at least gain
some semblance of control over her mutant ability."
Hank stopped allowing Joseph to catch up with him before continuing
towards the lab. "How might we accomplish this? I was aware Magnus possessed
schooling in various fields but didn't know it included knowledge pertaining
to genetic experimentation Joseph."
"Actually my theory has nothing to do with genetics. More of like a
trial and error experiment that we would have to ask Rogue if she is willing
to participate in."
"First I think we should discuss the details of this endeavor before
approaching Rogue with the query. There's no need to get the girls hopes up
without warrant. Come," Hank said, placing his hand on Joseph's shoulder.
"Let's take this up in my lab."
It was a work of art. Despite the fact that the assassin had made that
scum sucking anti-mutant freak, Graydon Creed, a martyr, Domino had to admit
that it was a perfectly executed hit. In broad daylight and in front of
millions of viewers, he or she had gotten away with it and managed to
escape. The covert espionage training in her wanted to congratulate the
murderer but the mutant in her made her despise the bastard.
"Nate, you haven't said a word since we saw this footage ten minutes
ago. Why are you running the segment in a continuous loop," Domino asked
Cable who was sitting in front of a large monitor, staring intently. She
stood behind him with her hands on his shoulders. It was an odd feeling to
touch both his cold cybernetic metallic arm with one hand and the warm flesh
with the other.
He turned to face her, his bionic eye blazing. "I noticed something on
the initial run that I don't think too many others realized." He placed his
organic hand over hers. It was a simple gesture but from such a hard as
nails warrior, it meant a lot to Domino. She knew that with the power he
possessed along with his incredible amount of military training, he was one
of the most deadly humans on the planet. It wasn't too often that he showed
a softer side to his lover.
"What exactly did you see?"
"I'm not quite sure. It's just something about the film that bothers
me," he said as the tape rewound itself to repeat the assassination. If
something was bothering Cable, Domino knew it was serious.
"Dom, could you hand me that bag," Cable said, pointing towards a
jumbled mess of electronic equipment lying haphazardly on the floor. She
recognized almost half of the bizarre devices. Piled on top was a half open,
military green duffle bag. Labeled on the side was "Misc. Prof. Parts." She
grabbed both straps and lifted the surprisingly heavy bag.
Nate was shifting a mouse around until he blocked off a square on the
screen in the proximity of the killer. Dom laid the bag on Cable's lap and
he rifled through it's contents. "Yes," he cried pulling out a square shaped
box Domino had never seen before. One side contained a small television tube
while the others were an array of small lights and buttons.
Cable pulled two wires from one side until the cords were at their full
length. The ends were similar to large phone jacks. Cable ran his fingers
along the consul in front of him until he spotted the ports he was looking
for. He lined them up and plugged the wires in. Instantly, a line of red
lights lit up on the box and slowly went off one by one in sequence. "It
should only take about five minutes max."
"What does this doohickey do?"
"If you look at the main monitor, you can barely make out a slight
shimmer where the attacker had stood. I'm guessing that it's some sort of
camouflage device that bends radiant light around the wearer, rendering them
nearly invisible. I didn't think that this had been invented yet so I'm
using an advanced decloaker or photo developer, in layman's terms, I rigged
from left over parts from Graymalkin. Hopefully it will be able to pull the
image up that I blocked off, enlarge and clarify the picture. Normally the
process is instantaneous but that's if the gadget used in conjunction with
sentient computers."
"Then the guy we are dealing with is a definite professional."
"As well as well funded. Whoever he is, it makes me wonder if we should
go back to being the covert strike team."
"Why is that?"
"With the hysteria this is going to cause, it may be more benificial
for the team to strike first, ask questions later to avoid this type of
incident in the future."
"Similar to our days as the Six Pack," Domino asked, a smile of
remembrance creeping across her face.
"First things first. We are going to take down this mutant scum ball
who has just pushed mutant rights back fifty years. His methods were
professional but his timing was downright amateur."
Domino watched the small video screen on Cable's device as a faint blur
slowly arranged itself to resemble a human form. The pixels shrunk until an
obvious mutant costume appeared.
Domino's hand once again reached out to Cable's and she squeezed
gently. "Well it looks like our assassin hits a lot closer to home than we
could have imagined."
Cable didn't respond. His eyes were focused on the familiar visage on
the screen.
End Part II
Next: X-Factor feels the repercussions.
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