IN CHINA, HE WAITS

By Brent Lambert

“I hope this information you asked for is worth me coming all the way out here,” Thomas Fireheart said as he climbed up the rocky hill to reach the summit where an old associate was waiting for him. Puma was garbed in the traditional clothing that had been part of his tribe for ages.

“Trust me, Thomas. It is,” Forge said turning around and greeting his old friend with a firm handshake. He had been waiting for Thomas for around two hours and now the sun was beginning to set sending an orange glow around the desert scenery. It was here in a calm, peaceful setting like this one where Forge felt the most at peace with himself and the world. And it had been far too long since he had the chance to wear some casual clothing.

“So just who is this Dark Beast character you had me dig up information on?” Puma asked as he pulled out a golden disc from the inside of his shirt that had the letters DB in black marker. Handing the CD to Forge, Fireheart looked at the ingenious mutant with a bit of concerned curiosity. Forge had done corporate work for his company and others before. The man tended to get too wrapped up into his work and got in over his head.

“An insane geneticist who has taken one of my teammates captive,” Forge explained as he slipped the CD into an opening that appeared on his bionic arm. His bionic arm quickly wiped the CD of all hair fragments that Puma might have left behind. Forge loved Thomas to death, but sometimes the boy wasn’t always the brightest. Putting a CD in a mess of fur was just asking for trouble.

“Sorry to hear that, but how will knowing what corporations he might have dealt with help in that search?” Puma inquired wondering just where Forge was going to try and take all of this. The man’s mind seemed to work at a whole different level than most and one could never be sure just what he was up to.

“Honestly, it won’t. Right now though I feel the need for some retribution and having the government come crashing down on these corporate bastards might make me feel a little better,” Forge said clenching his fists together tightly in anger. He hated the fact they had abandoned Fatale and if nothing else he needed to find some way to redeem himself. He should have fought harder against Lorna and Val. No member of X-Factor should have ever been left behind. Would Storm have ever left one of her teammates behind? Maybe if the situation called for it. Ororo was a tough leader, but she was also a righteous one. She wouldn’t have left Fatale to fend for herself.

“You look overworked Jonathan. You’re sure you’re not working yourself too hard?”

“This is an easy week compared to some of the things I’ve been through. Humm…it seems that Dark Beast has been providing all of these corporations with Mutate technology,” Forge said as his arm analyzed the information and began to send it into his brain.

“Isn’t that the Genosha stuff? How did he manage to get his hands on that? I thought the technology behind the process was top secret?” Puma asked not knowing the full deal on the process, but having a general idea about it. Some of the more cutthroat corporations had been trying to get the technology for years. Now it seemed someone had given it to them on a silver platter. A platter that when eaten would only lead to disaster.

“It is, but Dark Beast has been chummy with the creator of the process lately. And it seems he’s been providing a major figure in Genosha with a bio weapon of some sort as well.”

“This sounds like something you can use my help with.”

“Trust me you don’t want to get involved in anything dealing with the government. Let me handle this Thomas,” Forge assured not wanting Fireheart to fall into the rabbit hole he had fallen into the day he joined X-Factor.

“Look Jonathan you’re my friend. Besides it could be like the old days,” Thomas laughed remembering the times when him and Forge worked through all hours of the night trying to get a project off of the ground and running. Or the times they bought truckloads of food to the hungry children on the reservations. Not to mention the few lessons Puma had given Forge in hand to hand combat. He wanted to help Forge in this new problem he was facing. Together they had always been an effective team and this time could be no different.

“There is one thing you can do for me…”

“Hello. Is this Yvon Rendom?” the bald, caramel colored man asked as he talked into the old fashioned Thomas Bell looking phone that had been issued to his office. It was meant to give off an antique look, but instead annoyed the piss out of Valerie Cooper’s commanding officer.

“Who wants to know?” the screechy voice asked.

“Director Nathan Nero,” the African-American man replied with a firmness that would assure his identity to the mutant slave trader. With people like Rendom you could never waver otherwise they would suspect treachery. Those types don’t trust much because they themselves are hardly worthy of trust.

“Ahh good Mr. Nero. I couldn’t be sure it was you. Never can be sure these days with all these super types running around and what not.” Yvon responded quickly knowing just how fast Nero could get pissed off with someone. He had been dealing with the man for months now and Nero liked his conversations to be short, brief, and to the point. Little chitter chatter wasn’t his thing, but Rendom couldn’t help but to spew it when he was nervous. And there wasn’t a thing about Nero that made him feel comfortable.

“Understood. I would like to ask a favor of you though,” Director Nero said as he held the phone up to his ear and pressed downward on his shoulders allowing his hands to be free to type the horrible mass of staff evaluations he was going to have to do and turn in directly to the FBI, CIA, and CSA.

“Fire away. Anything for you. As long as you have the right kind of money of course.” Yvon laughed weakly. From the minor groan Nero expressed Rendom was sure his attempt at a joke had only served to irritate the American.

“I need you to extract a certain mutant from Feng Tu for me,” Nathan said preparing himself for the predicted response.

“Anything but that. Do you have any idea how heavily guarded that place is! Anybody I send in there would be chopped to pieces!” Yvon exclaimed knowing good and well just how tight China’s mutant prison camp was guarded. It made Fort Knox look like first-timer practice for thieves. The only way you were getting into Feng Tu was pure force and it was simply force that the Russian did not possess in his arsenal of mutant stock.

“Do this for me and I promise you 78 million along with a few others goodies.”

“What might these other goodies be you speak of comrade?”

“I know you have had various clients who haven’t paid up on your services. I promise to help you track down, and eliminate those who have yet to pay you. Not only that I’ll give you a very large list of potential new clients. Enough to make your profits triple,” Nero promised knowing that from the hesitant silence of Yvon that he had convinced the slave trader to do what he wanted. If there was one thing that Director Nero knew was that everyone could be bought with the right price and scum like Rendom even more so.

“80 million and not a penny less then you have yourself a deal.”

“You drive a hard bargain Yvon, but I’ll budge this time. Just get my mutant. I’ll send you all the information via the Internet.”

“Understood. Nice doing business.” Yvon said hanging up the phone with a click leaving Nero to his pleasant thoughts of the cogs of victory being set in motion.

“Polaris has been moping around lately. Do you think she feels bad?” Elena asked as they watched Lorna from a distance. She was in the snack lounge and they were across the hall in the tiny makeshift library the staff had been given. Ms. Witch wasn’t even looking at the book covers let alone trying to read one. Seeing one of her leaders in a very visible slump made her stomach tighten up.

Vargas looked up from his book on the ancient war techniques of Attila the Hun and was surprised to see that Elena was still staring at Polaris like she had been ten minutes ago. Totally ignoring that fact he replied, “About Fatale? I highly doubt that. I think more than anything she’s hurt by Shard and Forge’s seeming loss of confidence and respect in her. She’s worked with those two for quite some time.”

“And knowing that they deeply resent you has gotta hurt. I heard she went through a bad break-up some months ago as well,” Elena said as she rested her head on Vargas’ shoulder as he tried to go back to his reading. She was no longer staring down Polaris and was simply taking in the view of the breezy day from the window in front of her.

“I don’t think the break-up factors into this. Lorna just doubts herself. She’s not sure if the decision she made was the right one,” Vargas predicted not fully knowing, but having had experience with a variety of people in the political arena it starts to become second nature to read into people.

“Maybe someone should talk to her.”

“No. Leave her alone for now. Lorna’s a very strong woman. She’ll pull herself together,” Vargas assured setting down his book for a moment to stroke Elena’s hair gently. He knew as long as Elena was bothered he wasn’t going to be reading anything anyway.

“How can we be certain?”

“Stop worrying so much Elena. She’ll be fine,” Vargas promised.

“I know I just hate seeing people in pain.”

“That’s why I care about you so much,” Vargas smiled as he lifted Elena’s head up to his and kissed her deeply.

“I’m rather busy so this had better be important,” Valerie warned as she picked up the phone figuring the person on the other side to be someone of who was of little to no importance to her. Usually it was the same bureaucratic bullshit she had to shovel through day in and day out. If there was some way for Cooper to cut through the red tape and get what she wanted accomplished without hassle she’d damn near give her soul for it. Right now though she was just going to have to deal with whatever secretary or assistant that was on the other end of the line.

“You better believe its important honeypie,” the voice replied appearing to be fighting the urge of laughing to Valerie. It didn’t take long for the government agent to figure out who had called her. If she had taken the time to look at her phone she would have known immediately, but she had been so busy filling out paperwork that her eyes never thought to glance in that direction.

“Genemaker. What do you want?” Valerie hissed. If there was one person that she would hate to talk to more than the bureaucrats it was Genemaker. That piece of pond scum had nearly compromised her team’s mission, nearly killed Elena, and not to mention the fact that only a few years ago he left her at the altar. He wasn’t exactly a stand up kind of guy in Cooper’s mind.

“I have information for you. There is a mutant in China named Hokuten who’s running a bunch of underground mutant terrorist cells in that country. There are other warlords in the country who’re controlling mutant cells as well. Hokuten is on the verge of waging war on the other warlords,” Genemaker informed hoping to get the attention of Valerie. He knew the woman didn’t respect him a lick, but he at least needed her to trust him enough to realize how credible the threat was that he had just presented to her.

“And this has what to do with me and X-Factor?” Valerie asked not seeming to care in the least about what Genemaker had to say and she hoped it pissed him off to no end.

“Hokuten and the other warlords have begun to form mutant cells in other countries such as the United States for instance. If Hokuten is allowed to begin his little war he’ll effectively start a mutant civil war across the globe. A war that will come to your doorstep,” Genemaker said driving his last statement home. He hoped the message was now getting across to the thick-skulled Valerie. If it wasn’t Ricki feared he would probably have to turn to the X-Men or some other mutant group for help. The problem with that was Ricki didn’t want to expose himself any further than he already was and contacting a high profile group like the X-Men would just open him to all kinds of exposure.

“Where did you obtain this information?” Valerie inquired as she set down the phone and put Genemaker on speaker setting.

“Yvon Rendom recently sent in an order of 100 mutants to me. He claims that they were going to be shipped directly to Hokuten. I did more investigation by heading into a mutant gladiator pit in Moscow and one of Rendom’s goons while drunk spilled the beans. So are we going to play 20 questions or are you going to get X-Factor in there?” Ricki asked growing more and more annoyed with Valerie’s attitude, but he knew that to get the woman’s help he was going to have to play it cool. She was testing him right now and he was going to hold up under the woman’s scrutiny.

“I don’t just send my team into deadly territory on the whim of a scumbag. I’ll look into the matter and make my decision,” Valerie replied nearly ready to hang up the phone.

Ricki decided that he would have to give out more information than he wanted, but to get Valerie’s help he needed to, “You had better look into it quick. Cuz if you don’t you’re going to have a war on your hands that will be hard to contain once started.”

“Genemaker you are underestimating my resources and the resources of the world’s governments,” Valerie said almost ready to hang up the phone again before Genemaker once again spoke up to stop her from doing so. Despite her dislike of the man she wanted to milk as much from him as she could. Whether it was through direct or indirect statements.

“Trust me. I know plenty about your resources. People within your own organization are dealing with Rendom.”

“You lie,” Valerie replied nearly yelling.

“I haven’t found out who it is yet, but believe me I’m going to. There’s no way I’m going to have Elena be around a traitor of any sort,” Genemaker promised. He had given out the information he didn’t want to, but now there was no turning back. Ricki was setting wheels in motion he knew he couldn’t stop once started. He had to do it though. If for no other reason than to plant even a seed of suspicion in Valerie’s mind. Maybe she would uncover the traitor or there was a distinct possibility Cooper already knew. Either way he knew that now he was playing with the big boys.

“I’m sure she’ll be touched,” Valerie laughed disdainful of what she perceived as Genemaker’s false compassion and caring for her high school friend.

“Despite what you may think I do care about her.”

“Good day,” Valerie said finally hanging up the phone and leaning back in her plush leather seat. She had a lot to think about and so much paper work to finish. Though reporting Genemaker’s information would be a top priority. Director Nero had to be informed of what she now knew.

Shard walked into the door and looked on as Red Lotus flipped through channel after channel on the TV. Hearing the crunch of potato chips and the guzzling of soda made the solider in Shard want to yell in rage, but she knew that Red Lotus was always such a ravenous glutton. As long as he stayed good in a fight that’s all that mattered. Though her visit wasn’t about proper eating habits.

“I heard about your power change Red Lotus. How are you doing?” Shard asked taking a seat next to Red Lotus as he continued flipping through the channels.

“Fine. Are you here to make fun of me too?” Red Lotus questioned as he pressed the channel button more rapidly than before. He really didn’t feel like talking to anyone right now, but even if he did want to talk Shard wouldn’t be very high on his list.

“Why the hell would you think that?”

“Oh maybe because every staff member in this building has been taking pot shots at me. And Valerie has even gone so far as to say its my fault for allowing myself to be bitten in Mexico,” Red Lotus exclaimed.

Shard reached over and put her hand on Red Lotus’ thigh, “I’m not here to make fun of you or blame you. I know what its like to go through a change and to not be sure what to do with yourself. Try going from being made of flesh and blood to light. Its not exactly what I’d call a walk in the park.”

“Maybe you should be apologizing to Polaris instead of pitying me,” Red Lotus replied sharply pushing away Shard’s hand.

“Your attitude is a bit more pissy than normal,” Shard hissed getting irritated very fast with the former hitman’s ‘down on his luck’ attitude. She was better at dealing with people than Bishop, but she still wasn’t exactly a fountain of social skills. Trying to reach out to Red Lotus was a hard enough task without him being a damn jerk about the whole thing.

“Look I’m just irked by Valerie. She’s been acting cold as hell to me lately.”

“Director Nero has been on her ass about you and Vargas getting captured in Madrid. Her blowing up on you is probably her just transferring anger,” Shard said trying to get Red Lotus to think from another perspective without being too blunt about it. In truth, Shard understood why Valerie would be upset. X-Factor was supposed to be a smooth cohesive unit that operated efficiently and quickly. Instead in just two missions they had managed to get three members captured. One of which was not coming back at all.

“Something doesn’t seem right though. I can’t put my finger on it but there is more going on with Valerie than just her superior riding her case.”

“You might be right, but you should be focusing on getting a handle on your new powers and not trying to pry into Valerie,” Shard said getting up and walking to the door.

“Not like we have any missions lined up anytime soon.”

Stopping dead in her tracks the former XSE turned around and said, “One thing I’ve learned about being with X-Factor is that you always expect anything to head your way.”

“Director Nero if I may have a moment of your time,” Valerie said opening the door of the Director ever so slightly.

“Please come in Valerie,” Nero replied looking down at paperwork and waving for Cooper to come in.

“I have information regarding a potential mutant problem in China that could end up being global,” Valerie said sitting down in the chair in front of Nero’s desk. She had to concentrate to keep her eyes from wandering to the papers that were lined up in a neat row.

“Well then brief me on it already,” Nero replied looking up from his reading and staring down Valerie with a look of authority.

“One of my sources has told me that the mutant underworld cells in China are about to ignite into war. And the conflict could easily spread into other countries including here.”

“I assume you want X-Factor to go in there then,” Nero said stating what he thought to be the obvious.

“No sir, I feel having X-Factor going in there would only serve to increase the already strained relations between the US and China.”

“Then what would you suggest?” Nero asked his eyebrow perking up a bit at the idea of Valerie wanting to go at a problem without involving X-Factor.

“Have Shroud’s organization go in and take care of the problem. It’ll keep anything from being tracked back to us and diplomatic relations won’t be strained in any way whatsoever.”

“Shroud only has three superpowered beings within his criminal organization. Mongoose, Will O’ Wisp, and himself. While they do possess a good bit of power together I hardly think it qualifies to take on this problem. Send X-Factor in there.”

“But sir-“

Nero quickly interrupted Valerie and made sure his point was clear, “I’ve made my decision. Your team will go in there and take care of business. If they fail it’s on your head Cooper. I don’t want another member taken down or captured. Otherwise I’m going to have to take steps to improve the program. Understood?”

“Of course sir,” Valerie replied getting up out of her seat with military precision and walking out of the door.

“Mr. Slade! We weren’t expecting you for another hour,” a short, bumbling Greek man said as he nearly stumbled over his white laboratory jacket coming up the three stairs that lead to what was the exit and entrance for the entire facility.

The man he wasn’t expecting was a 30 something Italian man wearing a pair of shades and a suit that probably cost more together than most people’s cars, “I decided to stop in for an early visit. The executives at Durklan Inc. are anxious to see the results of your work.”

“Of course Mr. Slade. The M-Core Virus experiments are proceeding nicely,” the Greek scientist said directing the young executive to the hallway where the facility’s most secretive experiments were being conducted. Slade found himself fasincated with the diligent work of the staff and the many liquid filled test tubes that seemed to surround each separate laboratory cubicle. Two scientists were each assigned to one cubicle and made to work together. It was the way the head of this operation made sure that teamwork between his scientists was strong.

“So what kind of programs are we looking at so far?” Slade asked stopping at door with the keypad for a doorknob. It would lead to the sublevels of the structure. Slade knew the code, as did all Durklan Inc. executives did, but he let the little scientist push in the combination if for no other reason than to boost his ego.

As the door slid open with a hiss the nearly bald scientist replied, “We have four programs that we are currently working on. Retribution, Shadow, Grave, and Network. Each one is proving to be quite promising.”

“Indeed, but what of our prize clone. How does she fair?” Slade asked getting right to the point of his visit here. Retribution and the others were important to the company’s plans, but this clone was going to be their lynchpin. They needed her for everything to be accomplished properly. Walking down the dark steps that lead to the sublevels made Slade feel a bit foolish wearing his sunglasses, but he had just received a black eye from a scorned lover only a few days before. Physical appearance was of the utmost importance to Slade and a black eye being seen in public was completely unacceptable.

“Extremely well Mr. Slade. She’s been up and about in her containment room for three days now. The memories we uploaded into her are working like a charm. Dr. Osman and Dr. Lydia are real pros at this type of thing,” the scientist replied as the two of them finally reached the bottom of the stairs. Opening up the door a whole new world was revealed to Slade. There were no laboratory cubicles in this sublevel. Everything was wide open and in the center of the floor was a room sized clear cube which held the prize Slade was hoping to catch a glimpse of.

Not wanting to show his awe with body language Slade turned the subject back to the two doctors in charge of running this building, “They’re the best my company has to offer. I want to speak to the woman if you wouldn’t mind.”

“Of course not Mr. Slade. Right this way,” the 45 year old man replied as he lead Slade on a path to the cube that wouldn’t result in possibly interrupting any of the scientist’s work down here.

“Her containment field is over there sir,” the Greek Man said stopping only a few short steps of the clear cube and using his hand as a guide to help Slade complete the rest of the journey.

“Indeed. Thank you,” Slade said fixing his tie and taking the steps that would put him face to face with the woman he had come all this way to meet.

Tapping the clear box the executive said, “Hello in there. My name is Slade. What’s yours?”

“Lorna. Lorna Dane. Why am I here? What do you want from me?” the young woman screamed leaping up on the box pounding her fists on it. Slade didn’t flinch once. He knew there was no way the clone was going to escape her prison. Not until they felt it appropriate to release her anyway.

“What’s the last thing you remember? I think that would be a good place to start,” Slade said beginning to pace back and forth slowly along the side of the box.

“The Avengers and I were fighting off Deathlok. He set off an explosive and that’s all I remember,” Lorna replied plopping herself on the ground with a defeated thud. She didn’t know why she was in this place and she didn’t understand why the Avengers hadn’t come for her yet. Could they think she was dead?

“Well, I can tell you without a doubt that you’re in an alternate dimension now. We can get you back home, but it might take time,” Slade revealed getting a very shocked reaction of his company’s clone. That was what he had been hoping for, but he was surprised to see that just as quickly she had regained her composure. Maybe Osman’s memory implants had worked a bit too good.

“How much time?” Lorna asked rising to her feet things starting to become a bit more clear to her now. Being in another dimension would explain why the Avengers haven’t come and why Osman is a doctor in this universe. In her home he had died of a drug overdose. Now things were starting to make sense.

“I can’t be sure honestly,” Slade sighed.

“Then could you at least let me out of this damn cage,” Lorna exclaimed.

“It’s just a precaution for now. We have to make sure your body is adapted properly to this dimension,” Dr. Osman said coming up behind Slade with an uplifting smile for Lorna and a weary one for Slade. The bald Arabian man preferred to work under his own conditions. He didn’t like corporate snoops in his affairs a great deal of the time. And with this project he had seen his fair share of snoops.

“Yes, listen to Dr. Osman. He’s much more of a professional than I am,” Slade assured.

“Fine I give up. Just give me some better food,” Lorna exclaimed picking up her hard plastic plate and slamming it up against the clear wall.

Forge was sitting and reading a novel to pass the time until it was time to depart for China when the phone rang. Quickly Forge flung out his bionic hand and picked up the phone.

“Hey Jon this is Thomas. I’ve analyzed the files and I’ve managed to compile and come up with stats on the data just like you asked.”

“And what did you manage to find? Who’s been dealing the most with Dark Beast?” Forge anxiously asked wanting to get to work right away on bringing that corporation down to the gutter of bankruptcy and obscurity. If he couldn’t save Fatale he was damn sure going to vent about it. And inventive geniuses vented their anger in much more unique ways than most.

“A corporation stationed in Michigan called Durklan Inc. has been dealing the most with Dark Beast and his mutate technologies. Though if you’re thinking about calling in the government hound dogs you just might want to hold off a bit.”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me why,” Forge replied closing up his book and setting it on the coffee table in front of him. Leaning back in his cushioned chair the shaman prepared himself for the worst.

“The staff of Durklan Inc. includes former Senators, Congressmen, US Generals, and even a former Vice President. This corporation has enough ties and connections in the government to stall off whatever attempt at shutting them down you might be able to pull off.”

“Shit. Do you know what they’re doing with the Mutate technology?” Forge asked feeling more than a little frustrated at the turn of events. He couldn’t be sure now if he was just bringing justice to a woman left to her fate or was he digging up a whole new world of problems entirely.

“That I’m not sure of. I just know it has something to do with something called the M-Core Virus. And that’s it.”

“I don’t like any of this. But I’m afraid Durklan Inc. isn’t going to be on X-Factor’s priority list anytime soon,” Forge murmured.

“Hold on. There’s something else I gotta tell you. Director Nero and his department are involved in a joint project with Durklan.”

“That’s my department Thomas! What the hell is going on here?” Forge gasped. The sickening feeling stuck to his stomach like glue.

“You tell me Jon. I’m getting the feeling that our government isn’t going to help you in your cause a lick.”

“So it would seem. I have to think on this,” Forge sighed in defeat.

“Understood. I’ll call you if I uncover anything else.”

“Hold off a few days on doing that. My team is going into China and I’m not sure how long we’ll be in there,” Forge replied.

Stepping off the plane Red Lotus lifted his head and vigorously breathed in the air of China. After taking a good dosage he laughed, “Man I hate this place.”

“Keep your head in the game Lotus. This is extremely hostile territory for more reasons than one,” Shard said keeping her hands close to two plasma guns.

“Kinda hard to keep your head in the game when you grow two feet taller overnight. This whole mutation thing is throwing off my mojo,” Red Lotus complained touching the top of his head as if a trunk-sized growth had recently appeared there.

“Thank our friend Sugar Man the next time we meet him. Right now I need everyone to shut up. Gotta see if we have company,” Polaris ordered as she stretched her arms out and an encompassing magnetic field spread out over a mile radius. The field served as extremely detailed radar covering every tree, shrub, and person.

“Did you see anything?” Vargas asked.

“We got two folks moving our way really fast. They got the builds of athletes so I’m guessing they might be able to hold their own in a fight,” Polaris analyzed.

“Come on they’re just two people! Let me just cook up my magic and turn them both into toads,” Ms. Witch suggested earning a laugh from Red Lotus and a reluctant chuckle from Forge.

“I’ll keep that in mind, but keep in mind Onslaught was just one person. In the world of mutants numbers mean nothing. Now we have business to complete here people. Lets get to work,” Polaris said soaring into the air.