DECLARATION OF WAR

Part I

By Brent Lambert

Shatterstar pushed open the door and searched with his hand for a light switch, but he couldn’t find one. Turning to Rictor he said, “There isn’t any light in here.”

“Well, this is the emergency safehouse Wisdom told us all to go to,” Rictor replied looking around at the dingy bunker that was full of dripping water and moldy sinks.

“Yea, it’s not much of a place, but this is Wisdom we’re talking about here,” Warp Savant said as he walked out of the shadows with Sunspot on his shoulder. Savant wished he had convinced Psylocke to come with him, but she was a stubborn woman. Trying to make her do something was like trying to take on Atlas’ load.

“It wouldn’t be much of an emergency house if it was high-tech and obvious,” Fantomex groaned.

“How many survivors are there?” Shatterstar asked directing his question to Fantomex. He knew the white-clad man to be a warrior like himself and he had respect for this creation of Black Womb. They both shared the fact that they were genetically engineered warriors bred to create death. The two of them were kindred spirits.

“Us three, you two, and Xorn along with Northstar,” Fantomex answered.

“You think we should go to the X-Men with this?” Rictor asked.

Fantomex shook his head; “We don’t need to bring them into this. Shaw will be looking for us to run to them. We need to stay to ourselves at the moment. Go to places where Shaw might strike next.”

“Black Womb,” Xorn stated softly, but he still managed to get everyone’s attention, “The governments wanted Black Womb to fall. He has to appease them.”

“Yea Black Womb was next on their agenda after Noh-Varr. They’ll get back on track soon enough once all the fallout from the incident is taken care of,” Rictor said.

“Breaking into Black Womb is not like slicing through some cake. Don’t make it sound easy,” Northstar snapped as his injuries were still bothering him.

“Just give me some time to get myself together and I’ll be right there with you. A trip from Savant’s mind can be a bit tiresome,” Sunspot groaned.

Shatterstar sheathed his swords behind his back and sat on the ground Indian style, “We’ll wait for you Roberto. Our need to jump into battle is not so great. We need to make a plan before attacking.”

“Agreed. If we’re going to attack Mueller I want to do it knowing we’re doing it right,” Fantomex replied.

“So how goes the interrogation of Sunpyre?” Shaw asked Ahab as he took a sip of his morning coffee.

“She’s a strong one. I’m afraid to get the answers we need, we’ll have to use the Hound process on her,” Ahab reported. Along with his cybernetic enhancements he now carried a large metallic harpoon in his right hand and a gun in his left. His right eye glowed a bright red and it was now able to fire optic blasts.

Shaw inhaled the steam coming from his coffee, “Do what you will with her. I just want those who escaped from the European attack captured immediately. We have to take out the smaller forces before moving in on the bigger targets.”

A grin curled up Ahab’s face, “I assume you’re referring to the X-Men.”

Shaw nodded, “Not just them though. The Avengers. The Fantastic Four. They’re all on the list. Superhumans are not going to be tolerated by the UN anymore.”

“Damn right and it is about time they realized it. For far too long superhumans have ruled the fate of this planet. No more! We take our stand today!” Ahab exclaimed.

“Now if you’re done with your glorified speech I have some business to get done with Shaw,” Astra interrupted.

Shaw laughed, “Don’t let my kindness and regality fool you, woman. I don’t like childish outbursts.”

“I think in this case, I’m more than warranted,” Astra snarled.

Shaw nodded his head and maliciously smiled, “You may leave now Ahab. Astra’s need to discuss things with me seems to be overwhelming her manners.”

Ahab left quickly knowing that it would best for him not to incur the wrath of Shaw. He was a man with tons of power at the moment and he could reach out to touch Ahab in more ways than one. Astra must have immeasurable testicular fortitude.

When Ahab closed the door, Sebastian turned to face Astra. “I assume that your unladylike intrusion implies that you have managed to discover that which I seek.”

“Oh I’ve discovered exactly what you were looking for Shaw, but I need to be certain of one thing. I need my place at your side to be assured. You know what I require,” Astra replied with her arms folded across her chest.

Shaw laughed, “What you require is some tact my dear, but I shall indulge you. A beauty like yours is too useful to try and double-cross, but lets make one thing clear between us. I am the superior here. Don’t ever forget that.”

Astra tried to keep her stern look, but in a contest of stares Sebastian Shaw would always be the winner. So she dropped down her arms in submission, “Agreed.”

Shaw smiled, “That’s a good girl. I’m glad we understand each other. So when I should I expect my cargo to be delivered?”

“Soon Shaw. Very soon. It’s taking a lot out of me to leave them grounded in this reality. I won’t have to eventually, but I think it’s best I keep them until they are completely grounded,” Astra answered.

The leader of the Hellfire Club nodded, “That works for now. Just keep them safe from harm. There is no need for anyone to come across them.”

Astra laughed, “You think me so simple Shaw. Of course I have them hidden in a safe location. No one will know of their existence until you feel the time is right.”

“By that time I should have the UN completely wrapped around my finger.”

“Do you have any idea where Black Womb’s main base might be?” Sunspot asked Fantomex. His head was beginning to stop spinning from his trip in Savant’s psyche. It was an experience to say the least. He needed to pull Warp to the side and thank him for the naked women that accompanied the trip. It definitely took his mind off of the Psi-Sentinels.

“I have a very strong idea of where the main base may be, but it’s only an idea. Black Womb is an organization of deception and illusion. I can’t be 100% positive about anything in regards to my creators,” Fantomex replied.

“At this point I don’t think we can be concerned with 100%. We need to make a move before Shaw can become anymore powerful,” Rictor said.

Northstar was in agreement with Rictor, “And while we’re doing that we need to find some resources to aid us against Shaw. Black Womb has to have something useful.”

“Nothing from Black Womb is useful!” Fantomex growled.

Shatterstar looked to Fantomex, but remained silent. He knew that he would be angry if someone had made mention of Mojo in the way that Northstar had discussed Black Womb. Nothing useful could ever come from Mojo and Shatterstar was sure that Fantomex felt the same way about Black Womb.

“Look man I know that Black Womb isn’t your favorite place, but we gotta be realistic here. We’re outmatched. If Black Womb can be useful to us somehow I think we don’t really have a choice. We gotta go for it,” Warp Savant directed.

Fantomex scowled at Savant, but stopped himself from saying something rash, “You’re right. We need to do what we can to defeat Shaw…even if that means using Black Womb.”

“So we’re agreed then? We finish off Black Womb, but take what we can from them before we get out?” Xorn asked wanting to be absolutely sure that everyone was on the same page. They couldn’t go charging into Black Womb without all having the same agenda. Otherwise they made themselves vulnerable.

“Yep that’s the plan. Fantomex here will lead the way. I’ll call us in some transportation. Shaw may have bought out the Damocles Foundation, but I still have assets in other places,” Sunspot reassured.

“Let’s hurry. My guns are itching for Black Womb,” Fantomex said.

Amanda Mueller was the decrepit woman who commanded Black Womb and had been running its operations for decades. Her age was unknown to many though most guessed it to be over a hundred years. Her skill in the field of genetics was to be respected and though her body was frail her mind was strong. Diseases ran through her veins and it was enough to kill the world six times over.

She usually floated along the hallways of Black Womb and checked on her various operations. Recently, her organization had seen a large increase in activity due to the growing number of super powered beings. Every nation wanted their own team of super soldiers and Black Womb was the place to provide it. Today was a bit different for Amanda Mueller as she was overlooking the creation of a group of clones that would serve as her personal bodyguards.

Mueller entered the observatory room of the laboratory and floated along the floor with her hover chair. Her head scientist in the room was Dr. Joanna Mason and so it was to her that Amanda first spoke, “What’s your current progress on the project? Give me a percentage.”

Joanna was an older woman herself so she could handle the wrinkled appearance of Mueller. Most of the other scientists looked down at the ground when they spoke to Mueller. Joanna was one of the few he always looked Amanda in the eye. Dr. Mason grew up in the roughest black neighborhood Chicago had to offer. She had seen scarier things than a wrinkled up old woman.

“We’re 78% done with The Marauders. They should be ready within a matter of about 30 minutes at the current rate we’re going.”

Amanda smiled, “Excellent. My personal guard shall prove useful in the coming days. I feel that a storm is headed our way.”

BLARM! BLARM! BLARM! INTRUDER ALERT! BLARM! BLARM! INTRUDER ALERT!

Amanda’s pleasant expression quickly turned ugly, “Intruders! Get our security on it! Right now!”

“Yes Dr. Mueller,” Joanna said as she turned back to two of her assistants and snapped her fingers. The two young men quickly ran off to get security on the problem.

Joanna turned back to Dr. Mueller, “We need to get you to a safe location.”

“I’ll be fine here. Once the Marauders are done I want them unleashed. I’m sure they can take care of whatever this intrusion is.”