CRADLE ROBBING

Part II: The Plot Thickens

By Dino Pollard

Pasadena, CA; The apartment of Alison Blaire

The mysterious woman known only as Domino keeps her handgun trained on the man before her and her teammates. He is dressed from head to toe in white, complete with a mask that reveals only his eyes, with a white leather trench coat covering his body. The X-Men squad she’s currenly in command of, consisting of Havok, Wolverine, Scanner, Moonstar, Ecstacy, and former X-Man Dazzler, stand behind her.

“You have exactly ten seconds to explain yourself,” says Domino. “After that, I start shooting reproductive organs.”

“Please, just relax,” he says. “As I said, my name is Fantomex. And I’m here to help.”

“Clock’s ticking, whitey,” says Domino. “Tick-tock, tick-tock.”

“As I said, I’m only here to hel-”

“You’re boring me, time’s up,” says Domino. Before she can pull the trigger, however, Fantomex moves forward with lightning speed and slams the gun out of her hand. He drives his elbow into her face, and pins her arms behind her back, then forces her to bend over. He extends his free hand, and a gun slides out from the inside of his sleeve and into his hand. He then points the gun at Domino’s head. All this happens within a matter of seconds, too fast for any of the X-Men to react.

“Stand back,” warns Fantomex. “If I see one mutant signature, just one, then Mister Logan will have to use those fabulous claws of his to remove a bullet from Miss Domino’s skull.”

“Who are you?” asks Dazzler.

“Do you people listen at all?” asks Fantomex. “I am…”

“Yeah, we got that part,” says Havok. “We just want to know what the hell is going on here. And maybe if you release Domino, things will cool down just a bit.”

“That’s all up to her, Mister Summers,” says Fantomex. “What do you say, madam? Can you resist the urge to release your sexual tension through your gun for five minutes?”

“Are you trying to push my buttons, asshole?” asks Domino. She receives her reply in the form of a pain that shoots through her arms.

“You do realize that I have you in a very compromising situation, don’t you?” says Fantomex. “Now, once again, I ask you, can you please take a deep breath and relax?”

“Fine, just let me go.”

“As you wish,” he says. He releases her arms and she pulls away from him quickly. A mechanical arm of some sort extends from his sleeve and grabs the hilt of the gun, then pulls it back inside. He sits down in a nearby chair, crosses his legs, and folds his hands neatly on his lap.

“Now then… shall we begin?” he asks.

“Talk,” replies Domino.

“I discovered word of the kidnapping of Miss Blaire’s daughter from a report she filed with the Pasadena police department,” begins Fantomex. “I’ve been monitoring cases such as these for quite some time, and Miss Blaire’s in particular proved very interesting.”

“Why?” asks Dazzler. “What’s so special about my case compared to the other missing children cases?”

“Quite simple, really,” replies Fantomex. “Alison Blaire, formerly known as the Disco Dazzler. Also a one-time member of the mutant band of outlaws known as the X-Men.”

He looks around the room at the X-Men dressed in their leather uniforms.

“Case in point.”

“Funny guy,” says Wolverine.

“Your appreciation of my dry wit warms the cockles of my heart, Mister Logan,” says Fantomex.

“How do you know all this about us?” asks Havok.

“I have made it a point to monitor the various mutant organizations across the world,” replies Fantomex. “Although I am a bit puzzled by the appearence of the young lady with snakeskin.”

“I’m new,” says Ecstacy.

“That explains it,” says Fantomex.

“Why?” asks Scanner, taking a seat on the couch. The other X-Men follow suit and begin to find seats as well. “What do you have to gain from keeping tabs on us?”

“Whoever said I gained anything, my dear Scanner?” asks Fantomex. “It is simply a hobby of mine. I like to be kept informed.”

“I don’t buy it,” says Wolverine. “Dani?”

“Do not bother attempting to read my mind,” says Fantomex. “There is a reason my name is Fantomex. In addition to my peak-human agility, speed, and stamina, my mutation also makes me virtually invisible to psionics and most conventional forms of surveillance. My mind also processes and stores information at a rate that is approximately twenty-five times faster and more efficient than the average human brain.”

“Thanks for the bio…” mutters Domino.

“This is all great info, really,” says Dazzler. “But what does it have to do with my baby?”

“Your case is unique, Miss Blaire, because you are a mutant, and a high-profile one at that,” says Fantomex. “I have reason to believe that the disappearence of your daughter is due in part to the presence of the X-gene in your body.”

“Care to share your info?” asks Domino.

“You are certainly a strange one,” replies Fantomex. “First you attempt to kill me, then you insult me, and now you want my assistance.”

“You know who I am, right?” asks Wolverine. Fantomex nods. “Good, then you also know what I can do. An’ you know that I’ve got a pretty short temper. So either you start talking, or I start slicing. That sound like a deal, bub?”

“Your attempts to threaten me are laughable at best, Mister Logan,” says Fantomex. “Your true age is beginning to show, you seem tired and weaker. As if you’re pushing yourself. I’ll theorize that your healing factor no longer works.”

“You see a lot, Fantomex,” says Moonstar. “Now how about telling us what you see with this situation?”

“Very well, Miss Moonstar,” says Fantomex. “I witnessed your little display of power earlier, quite impressive, I might add. It is my theory that these children are being captured by, as Domino suggested, by a covert operations unit.”

“For what purpose?” asks Moonstar.

“And what do you mean by ‘children’?” asks Dazzler. “I only have one child.”

“Yours is not the first child to be captured, Miss Blaire, nor will she be the last,” replies Fantomex. “As for what purpose, I have not figured that out, yet. But I believe it may have something to do with the belief that the children of mutants will evolve into another species.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding,” says Domino.

“There is no scientific proof to back up these claims, but it is a belief held by some that if more humans are giving birth to mutants, then perhaps mutants are giving birth to something… advanced,” says Fantomex.

“And you think that this covert ops unit is kidnapping the children of mutants to study them and see if they’re evolving?” asks Havok.

“It’s a possibility that we can’t rule out,” replies Fantomex. “There are other crime scenes I would like to investigate, however. You X-Men are welcome to accompany me, of course.”

“Oh trust me, we’re going with you,” says Domino. “There’s something I really don’t like about you, Fantomex. So I’m keeping a close eye on you.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Shall we go?”

“Heh…” says Ecstacy. “Hahahaha!”

“What’s so funny?” asks Scanner.

“I get it,” replies Ecstacy. “Like Phantom X. That’s pretty clever.”

“Just keep moving,” says Domino. She walks out of the apartment, and the X-Men, plus Fantomex, follow her. After taking the elevator down to the ground floor and going around the back of the building, Domino presses a small button on the side of her watch. Seemingly out of nowhere, the Blackbird jet appears atop the black asphalt of the building’s service entrance. Domino opens a small panel by the hatch revealing a small keypad. She strikes the proper keys, and the ramp lowers.

“Impressive,” says Fantomex as he walks up the ramp and into the Blackbird. “Modified from the SR Blackbird technology developed by the military. Some of this is far too advanced for conventional technology – I suspect its origins are alien?”

“Guy sure knows a lot…” mutters Scanner in a voice only audible to Havok.

“A little too much if you ask me,” replies Havok.

“Where are we going?” asks Domino.

“Don’t worry, I’ll fly,” replies Fantomex.

“The hell you will,” says Domino. “I think I’ve been pretty damn hospitable up until now, especially for me.”

“Very well,” says Fantomex.

“Where are we heading?” asks Domino.

“The next crime scene I had planned on visiting is located in Woodland, California.”

“You get that, Moonstar?” asks Domino.

“Yeah,” replies Moonstar. “Flight plan’s programmed into the Blackbird’s navigational system.”

“Good,” says Domino. The Blackbird rises in the air and rockets off towards the next scene.

The Xavier Institute

He is Ever, formerly of the Morlocks. In addition, he was also a one-time member of the terrorist group known as Gene Nation. Following that, he served alongside Havok as a member of the Brotherhood. Now, he is an X-Man.

He sits in a laboratory, and a matter of moments pass before the door opens. The large, lion-esque figure of Henry McCoy enters the room and pulls out a chair and sits before Ever.

“Well?” asks Ever.

“I’ve done a full analysis,” replies Beast. “And you’re right, your powers are growing.”

“That explains the headaches, then,” says Ever.

“Yes, but there’s more,” says Beast.

“You don’t need to finish,” says Ever. “I already know what you discovered an instant before you realized it yourself.”

Woodland, CA

Fantomex watches closely as the images of the mother’s death play out before his eyes. The images are courtesy of Moonstar, who focuses her powers in order to make those images tangible.

“Deja vu,” says Ecstacy. “This look familiar to anyone else?”

“It’s almost the exact same situation,” says Dazzler.

“It is the same,” says Wolverine. “It’s just like at your apartment, darlin’. Someone’s kidnapping babies.”

“Not just any babies,” says Fantomex. “These are the children of mutants.”

“What do they want with mutant kids?” asks Scanner.

“To harvest the genetic material, of course,” replies Fantomex.

“You knew about this, didn’t you?” asks Domino.

“Yes,” replies Fantomex. “But I had to be sure.”

“Who’s behind this?” asks Dazzler. “Where’s my daughter?”

“I don’t know,” replies Fantomex. “At least… I’m not positive.”

“I don’t like that answer,” says Dazzler.

“That makes two of us,” says Domino as she reaches for her gun. “I think our little phantom buddy should start coming clean.”

“Do you really want me to embarass you again?” asks Fantomex.

“Dom’s right, you’re holding out on us,” says Wolverine. “An’ yer starting to piss me off.”

“Ditto,” says Havok. “Start talking.”

“It’s an organization called Black Womb,” says Fantomex. “They harvest the genetic material of mutants and superhumans for research purposes. To try and engineer new species.”

“What’s your stake in this?” asks Dazzler.

“They have my son,” replies Fantomex.

“Oh…” says Dazzler. “I’m sorry… I didn’t know.”

“Your sympathy isn’t necessary,” says Fantomex. “I just want to ensure that we stop Black Womb.”

“How do we know where to find them, though?” asks Havok. “We have no method of tracking them.”

“We don’t need one,” replies Fantomex. “I know the location of one of their facilities. We can discover more clues there.”

“How do you know so much about Black Womb?” asks Moonstar.

Fantomex glances over the gathered X-Men before offering his response.

“I was born there.”