WHAT’S HIS IS HIS

Part II

By Brent Lambert

Much like Black Womb, Sinister had his fair share of strongholds where he could conduct his experiments to his heart’s content (that all depended on if one though that he even had a heart). Over the past few months these myriad laboratories had been inactive because Sinister wasn’t in the world of the living. A breath-taking excursion through the miracle called Wonderland had brought the Victorian geneticist back to life. It was a second chance that Sinister had absolutely no intention of wasting.

Having that motivation behind him had prompted Sinister to get all of his bases running back up at full capacity. If he had any intention of removing his enemies from the board he would need to be as well equipped as they were. Just being able to hold his own wasn’t enough for Essex. Never again would he look death in the eye, so he was resolved that all who opposed him would be ground to the dirt like Carthage of old.

The protein tanks of this particular base were lined up and stacked in such a way that it was reminiscent of ancient Greek architecture. Illuminating the base was the green glow that came from each containment vat. Reaching easily two hundred feet, the roof seemed a distant chase to the visiting Sinister and Gaunt. Metallic feet clanked loudly as the two men walked through a vast hallway.

“So how has Crown been adjusting to his new surroundings?” Sinister asked, finally making a silent journey more comfortable for Gaunt.

“Rather eagerly actually. He’s eager for revenge against Mother Matrix,” Gaunt replied.

“And he shall have it,” Sinister smiled. “We will be going to Pakistan shortly.”

“You found her location!” the techno-organic man exclaimed.

Sinister continued his steady walk and the air grew thicker as he said, “I always knew the location. My own telepathy had taken it from Rax’s mind before Stryfe made his attempt. The Neo are resistant to telepathy, but nowhere near that strong. My abilities were enough to throw Stryfe off.”

Hearing Sinister’s deception made Gaunt realize just how far the war of egos had gone. Stryfe and Essex were in a game of dominance with each other that Gaunt knew would yield nothing positive for those in its wake. He trusted Essex to win the game quickly and without much unfortunate fare. Still, with someone like Stryfe as an opponent he couldn’t help but to be worried. He was new to the world Sinister played in.

“Stryfe needs to be put in his proper place. He is useful to me, but a man with that much power can grow arrogant. That is why I have brought you here. I want you to be the first to witness my newest creation,” Sinister said as they began to reach the end of the eerily silent walkway.

Gaunt wasn’t sure what to make of what Sinister was talking abut. “Why am I the first?”

“A good question. You have loyalty. I did not value that as much before, but death has a way of making you look at things differently,” Sinister replied as the two made it to the end of the hallway. Before them was a jet-black wall and on both sides of them was the green glow of the protein vats. Moving his wrist to his mouth, Sinister said “Subject: Vulcan activate to full capacity.”

Smoke erupted from the wall as it cracked open to reveal a hidden protein vat. Tubes, to reveal a young man with ebony hair and glowing orange eyes, were quickly draining the green solution away. Hissing like a jealous lover, the top of the vat opened and the thick glass sunk into the ground, giving Vulcan air for the first time.

Sinister quickly moved forward and caught the stumbling creation in his arms. “Easy child. Your legs are not quite yet ready for walking.”

Gaunt stepped forward to help Essex shoulder the load. “From who was this man grown?”

“A powerful combination,” Gaunt mused.

“To be sure,” Sinister agreed.

Vulcan was going to be Sinister’s fist in this coming war. Too many were fashioning themselves to be gods and Sinister intended to cut them down. Ironic—

“Cutting the weak from the strong. I have taught you well,” Apocalypse laughed from behind Sinister.

Essex spared the most slight of glances and said to Gaunt, “The examination station is on the basement. We need to take Vulcan there to make sure he is completely healthy.”

“Ignore me if you want Nathaniel. I know you now and I knew you when you were a mere mortal. Your mind is more like mine than you would ever care to admit. Wage your war and prove me right,” Apocalypse said.

Sinister kept his gaze straight ahead. Whatever had re-empowered him also put an imprint of Apocalypse in his mind. He had yet to find a way to remove it. Changing subjects within himself he asked Gaunt, “Do you wish to be part of the group that goes to Pakistan?”

“Whole-heartedly,” Gaunt replied. “I have been longing for the chance to see combat.”

“Then it shall be yours. Mother Matrix has something of mine and I want it back,” Sinister snarled.

South Africa

Making its way to the border of Africa was a tiny jet being piloted by Maverick and Meltdown. Psylocke had used here telepathy to make sure that every X-Corps operative was quickly made into a trained pilot. North would normally have Nightcrawler as his co-pilot in such a grouping, but he needed Kurt for something else. Like many Black Womb bases, the one they wanted to get into was in its own pocket dimension. The organization was very good at where they dispensed their base locations.

“We’re going to pull down over there,” Maverick said as he pointed on the green computer screen between him and Meltdown.

Tabby popped her gum and asked, “Wouldn’t that put us pretty close to where we think the Black Womb hole is at?”

North nodded. He appreciated her observation. People were too quick to write her off. “It would, but the tech on this ship is Shi’ar based. It’s more than enough to stay out of the range of whatever Black Womb might offer.”

Turning back to the rest of the group, he added, “We’ll be a hundred yards from the dimensional point of entry. Northstar and Mimic will be up front. Omega, stay with Nightcrawler and once the point is open you’ll be the first to enter the base. Meltdown and myself will make up the rear. Got it?”

Everyone nodded as the plane came to a gentle landing.

“Okay people. Disengage. If things get crazy, Omega will use that noggin of his to push Kurt’s powers and get us the hell out,” Maverick said, undoing his safety belt.

“First time coming to Africa,” Quire said as he rose from his seat and looked out the pilot’s window. “Beautiful place.”

Pakistan

After Amanda Mueller’s death, Mother Matrix had offered her skills to the Pakistani government in the form of The Facility. It was a proposed organization that would have Matrix as its head and conduct a variety of experiments throughout the country. She considered herself to be a considerable geneticist and her abilities to be on par with some of the greatest in the field. The government of Pakistan could honestly have cared less about her ranking in the Who’s Who of geneticists. They just knew that she was a former Black Womb scientist and they couldn’t afford the prices Black Womb was demanding.

So now they had her own personal scientist and Matrix had a population of 162 million to experiment on. She had been given a carte blanche by the Pakistani government in regards to what her work could entail. As long as viable weapons of super human proportions were produced for the government, she could do whatever was required.

With that mandate in front of her, Mother Matrix proceeded to build bases of operation in the cities of Sukkur, Nok Kundi, and Quetta. The largest of the bases was in Nok Kundi, which was close to the border of Iran. It was to that base that Matrix was being taken by helicopter. In the vehicle with her were her three personal bodyguards.

The first of them was Kimura. She had found her after her defeat by Namorita.* Matrix hid herself in various American cities with aliases and false accounts to avoid the authorities seeking her capture. Eventually, she became old news and was able to be more open in her activities. One of the first people she came upon was a destitute young runaway who had been barraged with physical and emotional trauma. Matrix took this young woman and through a painstaking process transformed her into a warrior of fierce brutality. The Asian woman was given a mutation that gave her density control and invulnerability. Amanda had been fond of Kimura during Matrix’s time with Black Womb.

*(Mother Matrix encountered Namorita in Marvel Comics Presents #155-158)

It was early into her career with Black Womb that Mother Matrix ran across an extremely depressed wealthy businessman. He was hateful of his current lifestyle and looking for something worthwhile. Taking the time to study him, Matrix was able to determine the true ruthlessness of his nature. Using Black Womb tech, she experimented on him and provided him with a sixth sense that allowed him to predict what someone was going to do before they did it. Then through steroids and more DNA grafts she was able to implant a degree of superhuman strength into him. The World was able to provide him a place where he was able to train in nearly every form of martial arts without ever losing a biological second of his life. He began to call himself Mister X after his training was complete.

The last of the bodyguards was someone with whom she had a relationship with from the beginning. Her right hand man, Zandroff, had served her well and when she began to work with Black Womb he volunteered to be enhanced. Matrix took great care with him and created a true omnimorph. She and he had been immensely impressed with the process. It was Zandroff in whom Mother Matrix placed the most trust and knew would give his life for her. He was a true loyal German and would let no harm come to his mistress.

“I hope that when we arrive that Professor Harkins has secured the security forces properly,” Mother Matrix said as she took a sip of coffee from her dark green thermos.

“Do you really think the threats of The Neo are credible?” Kimura asked.

“Oh it’s more than credible. I have complete confidence in the fact they will make a move against me,” Matrix replied as she took another drink from her thermos. “But that’s not the only reason I’m having Harkins step up security.”

“He’s coming for The Rapture,” Zandroff guessed.

Mother Matrix nodded. “Yes and he’s quite angry about me applying the technology for my own uses.”

“Who’s he? Perhaps I can dispose of him,” Mister X suggested.

Matrix laughed. “I appreciate the enthusiasm, but trust me when I say you would stand no chance against him.”

Mister X scoffed. “You must be joking. My hands can defeat any combatant.”

“Not Sinister.”

South Africa

“This is too easy,” Omega said as he used his telepathy to force a contingent of Black Womb guards to lay down their weapons. “They barely have any psi-blocking at all.”

Northstar came to a halt next to Omega and said, “My sweep found nothing. No perimeter security systems seemed to be activated either.”

Nightcrawler shook his head as he scanned all around them. “Something is amiss, mein freunds.”

Maverick tossed a Black Womb agent into the nearest wall and walked over to his teammates. “I agree. There is something wrong here. Either Black Womb has become supremely lax or they’re expecting us.”

“It’s neither. Security has been moved from this base because there is some type of ambush about to take place. This base has been cleaned out,” Omega said as he turned to Maverick. “Including Severus.”

At the mentioning of that name, the roof tiles opened up and tiny red lights dropped down. Beginning to blink violently, a computerized voice issued a warning.

::INTRUDER! INTRUDER! UNAUTHORIZED MENTION OF SEVERUS! SECURITY LOCKDOWN! INTRUDER!::

Meltdown patted Omega on the shoulder and smiled. “Good work Quent. We could have just walked out of here.”

Mimic took to the air; ready for whatever the base was going to throw at them. “But fun would that be? I been itching for a fight.”

Floor tiles began to split open and gun turrets appeared from beneath them. Maverick looked up to Mimic and yelled, “Telekinetic field! Now!”

Erecting a shield just in time, the gun turrets went off and littered the hallway with bullets and noise. Meltdown covered her ears from the onslaught. North grabbed Quire’s shoulder and said, “Scan the base. Look to see what else is here.”

“Already ahead of you boss. After the turrets are done unloading the security systems will be sending in some nasties to take care of any potential survivors.”

Maverick took in Omega’s information and said, “Ok. Meltdown, get to work on making two bowling ball globules for us. I want to hit whatever comes next hard and fast. Nightcrawler, when they come I want you to teleport Mimic behind them and let him unload. Northstar—

“Oh and we have another problem,” Quire interrupted.

“Spill it,” Maverick replied.

“Neo are here.”

Undisclosed Location

Sinister looked at the minions he had assembled before him. He was standing at the end of a long gray table. Seated to his right were Perfection, Sorrow, and Funeral. To his left were Requiem, Gaunt, and Crown. In the center of the table was a green holographic topographic map of Pakistan. Four red dots were pinpointed across the country.

“There are those who feel that they are on my level of genius and have done mediocre work that is a blasphemy to the science I love. I will not stand for it! In this country lies one such person,” Sinister said with cold anger. “Her name is Mother Matrix. The harlot runs The Facility. A mockery to genetics. I want you all to kill her and destroy her bases.”

“Is there absolutely nothing of value to be gained from this woman?” Funeral asked.

Sinister smiled. “I am glad you asked that. There is no subject of hers that is of worth to me. His name is Armando Munoz, a mutant with great adaptability who has been in Mother Matrix’s clutches since before my return. I want him brought to me.”

The map switched to the image of a lanky man with white bug eyes and pale brown skin. He looked very much like a Martian from War of the Worlds. Perfection turned her nose up at the sight. She didn’t question Sinister’s judgment though and if he claimed the horrid looking man to be of worth, then he was such.

“We will claim him for you,” Gaunt said. “I’m sure he would gladly accept us over the remnants of Black Womb.”

“I except nothing less from any of you,” Sinister said. “But there is someone else that will becoming with you.”

Funeral and the rest of Sinister’s soldiers looked back to the door entrance and saw a tall man with jet-black hair and glowing orange eyes. Essex smiled. “I would like to introduce you to my son, Vulcan.”

NEXT ISSUE: Wisdom and Warp Savant meet with The Shiver Man! What does he have to offer the two? Maverick’s team finds themselves in a Mexican standoff and the walls close in a little tighter on Mother Matrix. Be there!