THE OMEGA MUTANT

Part V: Buried Secrets

By Dino Pollard

London

The eyelids of Hank McCoy slowly open to reveal a large, stocky creature with chalk-white skin and yellow eyes standing over him. Hank reacts with shock, and the creature moves back. Hank sits upright and rubs his eyes as the memories come flooding back to him.

“Ugh…” he mutters. “You… Caliban, right?”

“Yes… that Caliban’s name,” he says. “Welcome to Caliban’s home.”

“Where are we?” asks Hank. “Where are my friends?”

“They elsewhere,” replies Caliban. “You kept separate.”

“Why?” asks Hank.

“Mistress want to speak to you,” replies Caliban. “I go get her!”

“Wait!” exclaims Hank, but the stocky creature has already ran from the room. Hank takes stock of the room he’s in. It’s small, and his “bed” consists of a beat-up old mattress placed on the ground. There is a small table by the side, which his glasses sit on. He takes them off and slides them onto his face as the door opens. Caliban walks in, followed by a tall woman with short, black hair and an eyepatch.

“I assume you’re the mistress,” says Hank.

“I am,” she says. “My name is Callisto, queen of the Morlocks.”

“Morlocks?” asks Hank.

“Mutants, like yourself and your friends,” replies Callisto. “We live in fear of persecution above ground. So we live beneath the streets of London.”

“Interesting,” says Hank. “Well, if you simply show me to my friends, we’ll be out of your hair shortly.”

“What’s your name?” asks Callisto.

“Beast,” he replies.

“Is that your birth name?” asks Callisto.

“Does it matter?” asks Beast.

“No, I suppose not,” replies Callisto. “Your female companion wouldn’t tell us her real name, either, just called herself Dazzler. Some down here recognized her as a former pop star from the States.”

“Leave her alone,” says Beast.

“We knew of John Allerdyce, he has some reputation in London,” says Callisto. “Interesting crowd you’ve fallen in with, Beast. And interesting clothing you wear. Wouldn’t have taken you for the S&M type.”

“I’m a government agent,” says Beast.

“What government?” asks Callisto. “No agency I know of has an X for a symbol.”

“The government of Avalon,” replies Beast. “The first ever mutant nation.”

“A mutant nation, hmm?” asks Callisto with a raised eyebrow. “Somehow, I find that hard to believe.”

“Believe it,” says Beast.

“Why do you do it?” asks Callisto.

“Do what?”

“Why do you live above?” she asks. “Where you have to run and hide? Where you have to live your life as a freak of nature?”

“Is there any alternative?” asks Beast.

“There’s always an alternative, my friend,” says Callisto with a grin. “Come with me.”

She walks out the door and Caliban motions for him to follow.

“Come!” he exclaims. “Come come come!”

Beast sighs and stands from the mattress. He stretches slightly, then walks out the door and steps up to Callisto’s side. His eyes go wide with shock as he sees a veritable community of mutants living here beneath the sewers.

“These are the Morlocks,” says Callisto. “All of us, too freakish to fit in above ground. Not normal enough to hide our appearence. So we come here, to a place where we can be accepted.”

“My god… so many…” says Beast.

“Yes, we are growing,” says Callisto. “But times are difficult for us. We have very few Morlocks who are able to blend in above ground, who can secure food and supplies for us. We need help, Beast. We need mutants who won’t be chased by fearful humans. We need someone like you.”

“Me?” asks Beast. “Why me?”

“You’re called Beast,” replies Callisto. “Somehow I doubt you chose that name. Judging from your friends, I imagine you are looked on as the outcast, even among your peers. Down here, you don’t have to worry about that. Down here, you can live as a king. And you can help out your fellow mutants.”

“…I think I’d like to see my friends now,” says Beast.

“As you wish,” says Callisto.

Muir Isle

“Talk,” says Phoenix. Her hand is extended outward. Surrounding her arm is what seems like flames that are used to pin Doctor Moira MacTaggert to the wall. However, these flames do not seem to cause the young geneticist any harm. “Or I’ll fry your mind, understand?”

“Phoenix!”

Jean glances behind her and sees Magneto and Thunderbird enter the room, followed shortly by Wisdom, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Colossus.

“What’s he doing here, Nightcrawler?” asks Wolverine, pointing to Colossus.

“I found him in one of the cells,” replies Nightcrawler. “I couldn’t just leave him there.”

“Sure y’ could’ve,” says Wisdom. “Now we’ve got two dangerous mutants on the loose.”

“One,” says Colossus. “Relax Wisdom, I have no interest in snapping your neck. At least not yet. Kurt informed me of the situation, I’m here to help.”

“Good,” says Phoenix. “Right now, we’re trying to get some answers from the good doctor here. How about it, Moira? Are you going to speak, or do I have to tear the information from your mind? And since it’s that time of the month, I’m feeling like a bitch, so if you want me to resort to that, I promise I can make it very very unpleasant for you.”

“Okay… just… just let me down…” she says.

“Do it,” says Magneto.

Phoenix releases her hold on Moira, and the scientist drops to the ground, gasping for breath. She coughs for a few seconds, then stands up slowly, leaning against the wall.

“Proteus…” she begins. “His real name is Kevin, Kevin MacTaggert. He’s my son, mine and Joe MacTaggert’s. Joe’s a politician, running for Parliament. He was nae too happy about having a kid, so he left. Divorce was never finalized, even after all this time. When Kevin was in his early teens, my boyfriend at the time… he…”

“Her boy toy beat the kid, an’ the kid used his powers,” says Wolverine. “Guy ended up with his head in his ass.”

“Ouch,” says Cyclops.

“I was already working with Black Air, and we arranged to keep Kevin under sedation in order to prevent him from using his powers,” says Moira.

“You imprisoned your own son…” says Magneto. “And they call us monsters.”

“Don’t you dare…” mutters Moira.

“I beg your pardon?” asks Magneto.

“Don’t you dare pull that self-righteous shite on me, Lehnsherr,” replies Moira. “I did what I had tae! Y’think I wanted my only child to be locked away? O’ course not! I did this for the good of himself and those around him! Kevin’s powers burn out his body, accelerate the aging process. His host body moves into a state of decay in a matter of hours. When he’s conscious, his powers are active. His only hope is to be kept sedated, in a state o’ suspended animation so that his powers lay dormant. The lot o’ you think you’re so much better than I am. But whether y’ like it or not, my actions saved lives. Both my son and others. So don’t you dare try an’ judge me.”

“Right now this is getting us nowhere,” says Wisdom. “Proteus has escaped, and capturing him is our top priority. We have to find a way to stop him. Wolverine’s claws seemed to hurt him. Maybe he’s got an aversion to adamantium?”

“No, he also bypassed Colossus’ cell,” says Nightcrawler. “When Colossus was in his metal form.”

“So it’s not just adamantium, it’s any kind of metal,” says Cyclops. “That gives us an advantage when we’ve got Wolverine, Colossus, and Magneto on our side.”

“Which means we just have to find out where he might go,” says Colossus.

“If you were a homicidal mutant with more power than God, where would you go?’ asks Thunderbird.

“His father…” replies Phoenix. “He’s going after his father.”

“How do you know?” asks Wisdom.

“I can sense a lot of hurt and betrayal from him, like a beacon,” replies Phoenix. “He blames his father for everything that’s happened to him. He believes that if his father never left him, Moira would never have found a boyfriend who abused him. And then his powers wouldn’t have emerged and he wouldn’t have been imprisoned.”

“We go to MacTaggert, then,” says Magneto. “Come.”

Morlock Tunnels

Callisto leads the Beast to a small door and stands to its side. She points towards it.

“Your ‘friends’, as you call them, are inside there,” she says. Beast moves past her and enters the door. Inside the room, he sees both John and Dazzler sitting in makeshift cells. Leech sits before them, watching them with great inent.

“What’s going on?!” exclaims Beast. “Let them go right away!”

“I’m afraid that’s impossible,” says Callisto. “This is for your own good, my friend.”

“What are you talking about?” asks Beast.

“You call these… things your friends?” asks Callisto. “People who keep you around so they can boost their own egos? Is that a life for you?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Callisto,” replies Beast. “Let them go. Now.”

“Or what?” asks Callisto. “Even if Leech wasn’t negating your powers, there is no possible way you could stand up to all the Morlocks.”

“Then do it as… as a wedding present,” replies Beast.

“What?” asks Dazzler.

“A wedding?” asks John. “I love weddings, drinks all around!”

“Shut up,” says Callisto.

“I’m serious,” says Beast. “If you let them go, I’ll remain down here. I’ll accept your offer to be your king.”

“Heh,” says Callisto before chuckling a bit. “My dear Beast, I said you could live like a king, I never said you would be a king. Despite your intellect, you’re still nothing more than a child. I don’t want or need a husband, I just need someone who can blend in above ground.”

“Then I’ll do that for you if you let them go,” says Beast.

“No,” says Callisto. “They know too much of our existence. They must be eliminated.”

“What?!”

“I’m sorry Beast, but your friends are not like us,” says Callisto.

“Neither am I,” says Beast.

“Umm… I can be like you, actually—I don’t mind,” says John. “Just don’t kill me.”

“Shut. Up.”

“Shutting up, luv,” says John.

“Callisto…”

“Oh?” asks Callisto. She steps towards one of the cells. “So the pretty one speaks?”

“You’re a bitch,” says Dazzler. “How’s that for speaking?”

“Predictable,” says Callisto. She turns and walks towards the door. “We kill them at dawn.”

“You’re also a coward,” says Dazzler.

Callisto stops dead in her tracks and turns around, glaring at Dazzler with her good eye. She steps back up to Dazzler’s cell, her faces mere inches from Alison Blaire’s.

“What did you call me?” asks Callisto.

“You heard me,” says Dazzler. “You’re a coward. You’re afraid of us, so you want to kill us.”

“You must be joking,” says Callisto. “I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Put your money where your mouth is, then,” says Dazzler.

“What are you saying?” asks Callisto.

“Let’s see how tough you really are,” replies Dazzler. “You think you’re such a good leader? Prove it.”

“Fine,” says Callisto. “You and me in a fight to the death. No powers. If I win, you and your friends die.”

“And if I win?” asks Dazzler.

“You take my position as leader of the Morlocks,” replies Callisto. “What do you say?”

“Bring it on,” says Dazzler. “Bitch.”

“Wait… what’s that about me being killed?” asks John. “I’m not friends with these people, I don’t even know these blokes.”

“Open her cell, Leech,” says Callisto.

“Goody…” says Leech as he opens the cell. “Been so long since I’ve seen a good spot of violence.”

“Dazzler, what are you doing?” asks Beast.

“Saving your ass, Beast,” replies Dazzler. “You can thank me later.”

“I can’t thank you if you end up dead!” exclaims Beast.

“Hey… I’m not with these people, y’know,” says John. “Really, I’m not!”

“Follow me,” says Callisto. She exits the room and walks into the center of the Morlock tunnels, into a large clearing. Dazzler follows and stands before Callisto, ready for anything.

“MORLOCKS!” exclaims Callisto. At the sound of her voice, what seems like hundreds of disfigured mutants emerge and surround Dazzler and Callisto, intrigued by the situation. “This outsider has dared to challenge me for leadership of the Morlocks. As you know, I cannot refuse a challenge. A fight to the death then, Dazzler. To determine who leads the Morlocks.”

“Let’s just get this over with,” says Dazzler. “I’m looking forward to kicking your dyke ass.”

Callisto draws a dagger from her belt and throws it into the ground before Dazzler’s feet. She crouches and pulls it out as Callisto draws a dagger for herself. Dazzler gets into a fighting stance, as does Callisto.

“Oh god…” mutters Beast. “She’s going to kill Dazzler…”

“Hey, there’s an upside to this,” says John.

“And what would that be?” asks Beast.

“Well, maybe she’ll cut Dazzler’s shirt off,” replies John.

Beast turns to look at John in surprise. John turns his head and looks at Beast.

“What?” he asks. “C’mon, like you weren’t thinking it, mate.”

“I violently dislike you,” says Beast.

Callisto thrusts forward with her dagger and Dazzler sidesteps. Dazzler drives her elbow into Callisto’s back. Callisto regains her footing and lunges forward again. Callisto swipes forward with her dagger and Dazzler ducks. She drives her dagger into Callisto’s side and her eye goes wide in shock. Dazzler pulls the dagger out and shoves it into her back. She pulls it out again and knocks Callisto to the ground. Dazzler places her dagger against Callisto’s throat.

“You lost,” says Dazzler. “But I’m not going to kill you. As leader of the Morlocks, I’m changing the rules.”

Dazzler stands and turns to the Morlocks.

“Come with us,” she says. “To Avalon. You guys can be free, you don’t have to live down here anymore.”

“No,” says Leech. “London is our home. The humans can force us from the surface, but they cannot force us from the land that is rightfully ours. We stay here.”

“In that case, I’m leaving Callisto in charge,” says Dazzler. “I have other things to take care of, and I’ll return at a later date.”

“You call me the coward… and then you neglect your responsibilities as leader…” mutters Callisto.

Dazzler moves back towards Callisto and holds up her dagger displaying Callisto’s blood on it.

“Remember how close I came to killing you,” says Dazzler. “Now shut up.”

Dazzler stands and drops the dagger. She looks at Beast and John.

“C’mon, let’s go home,” she says. “Mission accomplished.”

Scotland

“I want security upgraded,” says Joe MacTaggert. “Hire outside help if you have to, but just make bloody well sure this place is a fortress. I don’t want anyone getting in without my express permission.”

“Not a problem, sir,” says MacTaggert’s aide. “If I may ask sir, why all the concern?”

“There are some people who aren’t terribly fond of me,” says MacTaggert. “And I’m a paranoid man.”

“You should be, da.”

“What did you say?” asks MacTaggert. He looks at his aide, who’s eyes are beginning to glow brightly.

“I think you heard me, da.”

“Who are you?” asks MacTaggert.

“Oh come now, you’re an educated man, surely it can’t be too terribly difficult. Three guesses and the first two don’t count.”

“…Kevin?”

“Not bad, seems like you’re smarter than I gave y’ credit for.”

“Kevin… listen to me… you have to listen to me…”

“I’m through listenin’. I did me share of it and I’ve grown tired of it. Remember when I was a child? Always quiet, always listening. And you left me. Do you realize what he did to me? Do you have any idea what I had to go through because you couldn’t handle your responsibilities? You were my father and you completely ignored the fact that you had a son.”

“Kevin you have to believe me, I had no idea what happened… I never wanted t’ hurt you, lad.”

“Bit late for that, pops. Y’see, this body is burnin’ out right quick. I’m going to need a new body, and you seem like the perfect choice for it. What better way to get revenge on the man who fucked you over than by forcing him to ruin his own life?”

“Please no…” says MacTaggert.

Before MacTaggert can say another word, Proteus’ essence leaps out from his host body and into the body of Joe MacTaggert. He convulses and grips his head as he cries out in pain and falls to his knees. He writhes on the floor, kicking and screaming until his entire body goes limp. When his eyes open, they glow a bright green.

“This is it,” says Phoenix. “I can sense him nearby.”

“Proteus is immune to psychics, how can you find him?” asks Wisdom.

“I can see his emotions, his anger… his power,” she replies. “Like flames dancing in the dark.”

“What’s the plan?” asks Thunderbird.

“Don’t get in my way,” replies Magneto. He begins to fly towards the MacTaggert home.

“Good plan,” says Thunderbird. He and the other X-Men follow, alongwith Wisdom. Phoenix stops and turns to look at Wolverine.

“Logan, are you okay?” she asks. “I sense a lot of pain.”

“Get outta my head, Jeannie,” replies Wolverine.

“I’m not in your head,” says Phoenix. “You don’t have to be a telepath to see that you’re sc—”

“Don’t say it,” says Wolverine.

“You shouldn’t be ashamed of your fears.”

“Spare me the new age psychobabble,” says Wolverine. “I’m not afraid.”

“You can lie to the others and you can lie to yourself, but you can’t lie to me,” says Phoenix. “What did Proteus do to you?”

“…He made me remember.”

The walls of the MacTaggert home tear wide open thanks to the power wielded by Magneto. He lifts his hands and metal debris in the area begins to rise and circles around him and incredible speeds.

“Is that supposed to impress me, you great, big poof?”

“Oh shut up,” says Wisdom as he fires off a hot knife that slices through the skin of Proteus’ host body. “Little bugger needs a time out and a good spanking if you ask me.”

“And who’s going to do that spanking, Wisdom? You? Don’t make me laugh.”

With a thought, the furniture around Wisdom suddenly grows larger and begins to attack him. Wisdom dodges around, using his hot knives to set fire to the furniture. Cyclops, Nightcrawler, and Thunderbird arrive on the scene to help him out. Magneto focuses his attention on Proteus, moving the metal objects to attack Proteus. They speed up around him, cutting through his skin as Joe MacTaggert’s body begins to age rapidly with each blow.

“You’re wasting my time, Proteus,” says Magneto.

“Well forgive me, oh wise Magneto. What now, do we sing the words to your blessed mutant national anthem while we lay waste to nations across the globe? You’re such a bloody hypocrite, claiming to be above humans when your solution is the same as theirs—wage war.”

“And how are you any different?” asks Magneto.

“That’s the difference between us, pillock. I can at least admit that I’m a monster. What’s your excuse? That flimsy little helmet might work around other mind readers, but you need more than that to keep me out, Erik.”

“Do whatever you want to me, Proteus, but you can’t change the fact that your life ends today.”

“Let’s see what secrets the great Magneto is hiding inside his head,” says Proteus. “Well… I must admit, I am impressed. That is quite a good secret, Erik. Do the X-Men know of that?”

“Out of my mind,” says Magneto. “Now!”

Magneto erects a magnetic barrier around his body as he pulls metal from the area and slams it into Proteus’ body. Proteus pulls back as he suddenly sees a bright, white illuminating light.

“You’ve gone too far, Kevin.”

“Who the hell…?”

“You asked for fire, and now you have it. You’re being judged, Kevin. You could have been the greatest of us all, but you chose to squander your power. You’re nothing more than a waste.”

“Can’t see your mind… too bright… just who do you think you are to judge me?”

“The Phoenix.”

With those words, adamantium claws tear through the flesh of Joe MacTaggert. Wolverine drives his claws through the man’s throat, killing him instantly. Proteus leaps out from the body into the body of the nearest person.

“Now!” exclaims Magneto.

Proteus’ new host stands and with a thought, his flesh converts into organic steel. A great scream of agony rings out as Kevin MacTaggert is killed by the former terrorist called Colossus.

“It’s over now,” says Magneto. He turns to Wisdom. “You’re next, race traitor.”

“No, he’s not,” says Phoenix. She stands between Magneto and Wisdom. “Black Air helped us and if wasn’t for them, Proteus could have escaped and killed more people. He was very disturbed.”

“Don’t lecture me, Grey,” says Magneto.

“This is not a lecture, it’s a warning,” says Phoenix. Magneto looks into her eyes and he watches with shock as he sees flames dancing inside them. His jaw drops open as he comes to the realization just how powerful Jean Grey has become, and he is overcome with fear at the threat she may pose to him.

“Thanks for the help, couldn’t have done it without you,” says Wisdom.

“Don’t even think about it,” says Phoenix. “We are not your friends, Wisdom. You’ve been spared today, but that’s only because you will have a purpose to serve in the coming trials. But if you ever violate the rights of another mutant, I will be back. Are we clear?”

“Crystal, luv,” says Wisdom.

“Then it’s time for us to return to Avalon,” says Phoenix. “No one ever changed the world by standing around.”