New Blood II: Growing Ranks

New Blood
Chapter 18: Getting Involved

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X-Industrial – Training Arena

It had been a week since Julian, Laura, Danielle, and Monet joined the Inner Circle and Xavier, Selene, and Moria wasted no time in getting them involved. With many of the other younger pawns still maturing they were coming in at a good time. Bobby, Kitty, Jubilee, and Sam were fairly helpful. Roberto and Tabitha were too, but only to an extent. They were more inclined to do their own thing. It wasn’t the smoothest transition though. The four new pawns weren’t exactly on the same level. Monet was older and already knew how to use her powers well. Laura also had her share of training at Hydra. Julian and Danielle had some catching up to do and while Danielle did okay for herself, Julian proved to be a bit hot headed.

At the moment they were practicing some combat lessons in the training arena. Julian, Laura, Monet, and Danielle were all present. Logan and Mystique were the instructors, giving James a break so he could do simulations with Alex, Lorna, Roberto, Tabitha, and Jubilee. Bobby and Sam were there as well, helping out by acting as sparing partners. They had advanced further in their training in the others and were given a chance to train others. They jumped at the opportunity, but Bobby had the misfortune of trying to teach Laura a few things.

“Augh!” he groaned as he hit the mat again, “Hnn…I think I just bruised a kidney.”

“You’re fine,” said Laura, “Trust me, if I hit any organs you wouldn’t be conscious.”

“Yeah, that’s comforting,” groaned Bobby as Laura helped him up.

“I warned you, popsicle. Don’t try take down moves against someone faster and stronger than you,” said Logan, grinning at how Laura handled Bobby.

“Well next time, warn me a little harder,” he said, “I seriously don’t get why she’s even in training. She can already fight.”

“It ain’t just about fighting, bub. It’s about discipline and character. If any of you are going to handle yourselves in a place like this you gotta have both.”

It still wasn’t reason enough for Bobby, who was still clutching his sides. Why he volunteered to help Laura was beyond him. He was just curious. She was quiet, but had a reputation for being a bit rough. Now he knew why. He probably should have assumed that after hearing she was Logan’s clone.

Over with Danielle and Sam, it was a bit smoother. Danielle hadn’t learned much in hand-to-hand combat. She took a few lessons upon moving to New York, but she never learned anything advanced. Sam, having been one of the few who really picked it up, helped her with the basics. She was doing pretty well so far and seemed very open to learning new skills. He got the feeling she wanted to prove herself because she felt like the weaker one of the new recruits. She may not look it on the surface, but she was tough.

“There you go,” said Sam as he helped her through some punching motions, “You want to make sure you each move is smooth, but you want to keep your eyes on your target. Make note of their every move and counter it. That way you always have the advantage.”

“I can see that, but what if there is no counter?” asked Danielle as she let Sam position her arms in fists in certain areas to mimic the right rhythm.

“Trust me, there’s always a counter,” said Sam, “One thing you’ll learn here is that there’s always a way. You just gotta be willing to push it. And if you can’t find one, make one.”

“I see,” she said now taking a defensive stance, “So if you were attacking me it would be perfectly alright if I did something like this?”

Suddenly, Sam felt a strange surge in his head. The next thing he knew, Danielle disappeared. She just puffed out of thin air as if she were a ghost. Not only that, but everybody else around him disappeared as well. He quickly felt disoriented and dazed. Then suddenly, he felt something grab his arms and force them around his back. Then he was pushed to the floor and pinned hard.

“Ugh! What in the hell?” he grunted.

Then suddenly, everybody reappeared. And then he looked around and saw that Danielle was the one who took him down and using that takedown maneuver he just taught her to do it. At first he was confused, but then he realized what happened.

“Dang…you just cast an illusion on me, didn’t you?” said Sam.

“You did say there’s always a way. This is the best one I could think of,” she said with a mischievous tone.

“Well that wasn’t quite what Ah meant.”

“Hey, if it works it works?” she shrugged.

Sam laughed as she helped him up. Danielle may seem unimposing on the surface, but she was a feisty one. She was also catching on quick. There were a lot of possibilities for someone who could cast illusions like that and he had a feeling she would have plenty of opportunities to contribute. But he did have to make a note from now on to be careful around her. What he saw might not always be what’s real.

While Danielle seemed to be picking things up quickly, Julian was a bit less accommodating. Mystique was the one giving him lessons and she had him spar against Monet, who was no expert in hand-to-hand combat but possessed the advanced reflexes to make her a naturally strong opponent. She tried teaching him some basic moves, but he didn’t seem to be using them very much. He was just lunging towards Monet, trying to take her down with a barrage of acrobatic punches and kicks.

“Hya! Hah! Hyya! Damn it, hold still!” grunted Julian in between shots.

“You’re not even trying,” said Monet as she effortlessly dodged every blow, “Have you ever done this before?”

“Damn it! It’s not fair! You have superhuman reflexes! How am I supposed to counter that?” he exclaimed.

“Maybe if you actually tried using the strategies I taught you, it might help,” said Mystique dryly, “But if you want to keep making a fool of yourself, go ahead.”

Julian muttered a curse under his breath. He took another aggressive stance, eyeing down the older and more powerful Monet. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down, but it was hard when Monet was giving him that taunting look. It was that stuck up, I’m-perfect-and-you’re-not look that he didn’t like. She seemed to be messing with him so for the sake of shutting her up he tried again. This time, he was a little more controlled.

“You’re going down, princess!” he warned.

“We’ll see about that,” said Monet.

Julian attacked with another aggressive combo, but this time he didn’t lunge at her like he had been doing. He tried getting a few blows at her face, which she vigorously defended. Mystique taught him to go after whatever the opponent valued and he had a feeling a girl like this valued her beauty more than anything in a fight. This forced her to block high, leaving her mid section and legs vulnerable. So when he went for the face and she pulled him into a grapple, he countered by kicking her in the knee and then kneeing her in the gut.

“Augh! You little…”

“Oh no you don’t!” grinned Julian.

She rose up to counter with her reflexes and strength. Knowing he couldn’t possible match her, Julian played a little dirty and used his telekinesis to trip her up. This caught her off guard and she tumbled to the mat. Then he tried to pin her, using some extra telekinetic force to keep her from using her strength. Monet was clearly frustrated, not to mention surprised. He actually outsmarted her this time. And that was saying something against someone with a genius IQ. Mystique was sure impressed, but Monet wasn’t about to let some punk upstage her.

“Face it, princess, you’re out!” taunted Julian.

“I…don’t…thinks so!” grunted Monet.

In a sudden burst of strength, Monet broke through Julian’s telekinetic field and threw him off her with her superhuman strength. The young mutant grunted upon feeling his field break and could only watch as she effortlessly threw him across the mat, landing all the way over towards Logan and Laura. She made no effort to hold back either. Even though Mystique stipulated that powers had to be used at a minimum, Monet wasn’t about to let him upstage her.

“Little punk,” she grunted as she got up.

“Monet, what the hell was that?!” exclaimed Mystique, “I thought I told you to watch your powers!”

“I draw the line at being made a fool,” said Monet snidely.

“That’s not an excuse! Part of this training is to teach you to fight both with and without your powers! The Hellfire Club requires that you know both and you won’t always have those perfect mutations to fall back on!”

“Why not? They serve me well and they get the job done. Isn’t that what you people are all about anyways?”

“There’s more to it than that! There’s also discipline!” shot Mystique.

“Oh be reasonable, Miss Darkholme. You’re making this a bigger deal than it is,” scoffed Monet.

“No, you’re just making light of it,” she said in a threatening tone, “Keep it up and it may come back to haunt you.”

Monet scoffed and decided she had enough training for one day. She made her way towards the exit, leaving the others to take in the scene she just made. Sam and Danielle stopped to watch it unfold. Logan and Laura did as well. Logan cast Monet a threatening glance. She didn’t like that girl’s attitude. She was smart and cunning, but she took that whole perfection routine too far. As if Alex, Tabitha, and some other rebellious pawns weren’t bad enough, now they had Miss Perfect making a mess.

Julian, who was still reeling from the blow, groaned as he struggled to get up. Laura walked over to him, taking his hand and helping him up.

“Are you alright?” she asked him.

“Yeah, just a few broken bones and majorly bruised ego,” groaned Julian.

“Broken bones? Are you sure? I don’t see any sign of broken bones.”

“It was sarcasm, Laura. I don’t really have any broken bones. I was just saying.”

“Saying what?” she asked, confused by his words.

“Nothing, it’s just an expression.”

She still looked confused. Julian forgot that Laura was still learning a few things. The subtleties that most people took for granted weren’t quite there yet for her. She was working on it, but she still had a ways to go. He cast her a smile as he shook off the lingering soreness. She didn’t smile back, but she did blush a little. Julian wasn’t sure what that meant since this girl was so hard to read, but he considered it a good sign.

“Are you okay?” he asked her in a humored tone.

“I’m fine,” she said, “Just…I’m fine.”

Julian snickered. Then Logan gave him a look, which quickly silenced him. Even though she just came into his life, Logan was very protective of Laura. Julian had to remember that. If he was to be hanging around Laura, he would probably have to deal with Logan as well. It wasn’t a very comforting feeling, but he didn’t let that dissuade him. As he watched Laura return to her training he continued smiling. That girl may be dark and a little off at times. But he had to admit she sure was cute.

X-Industrial – Observation Deck

As the training session for the newest pawns unfolded, many of the others watched from the observation deck. Among them were Scott, Jean, Rogue, Pietro, Piotr, Warren, and Emma. Sage was also there, but mainly as a data collector. She stood at the console as stoic as ever, typing away on the control panel and gathering data on their newest recruits. They all showed promise in their own way, but many were surprised when Xavier announced that they were bringing in a few more pawns. They were still trying to develop the other young pawns and bringing others in at this stage was unusual, if not curious. This being the early stages of their training, they all had their opinions.

“Not bad for their first week,” commented Scott, “Although it looks as though Monet has issues with teamwork.”

“That’s putting it lightly,” said Rogue, “That gal just doesn’t know the meain’ of trial and error. If that’s how she’s gonna react to every training session we may have a problem.”

“Oh I wouldn’t say that,” said Emma with a grin, “You have to admit she has the right attitude.”

“You mean the kind of attitude that makes her thumb her nose at authority and doesn’t follow even the most basic guidelines?” said Pietro.

“Look who’s talking,” quipped the attractive blonde, “At least she backs up what she boasts.”

Pietro shot her a look, but Emma’s just kept with that snide grin of hers. She had a point about the attitude, but authority was important here. If she didn’t follow orders just because she didn’t like them, that was going to be a big problem. Pietro should know. He got into his fair share of trouble because of it.

“Well I think Monet will be fine,” said Jean, “She just needs to get accustomed with our way of doing things. But based on what I’ve seen, I say Laura has more promise.”

“Are you just saying that because she’s Logan’s clone?” questioned Emma, “Because wouldn’t that be horribly bias on your part since you’re so ‘close’ with the man?”

“Don’t push it, Emma,” said Jean with a harsh scorn, “Not every judgment I make stems from my personal life.”

“Of course it doesn’t,” said Emma dryly.

“Emma…”

But before they could get into another argument, Scott stepped in to stop them. Emma had a talent for pushing Jean’s buttons and she had been pushing them a lot more lately it seemed.

“Easy you two. Let’s not turn this into another shouting match,” coaxed Scott, “But I agree with Jean. Laura definitely has a lot of upside. She’s got Logan’s skills, powers, and killer instinct. She has his attitude as well, but she seems a lot less hostile to authority.”

“You mean our authority or Logan’s?” said Warren skeptically, “Just look at her. She’s obviously following his lead. She’s like his pet or something. What do you think she’ll do when we start giving her orders?”

“I think you’re making light of her situation, Warren,” said Piotr, “Lord Xavier told me a bit about what she’s been through. I can’t imagine her turning to anyone else for guidance. I think it is good for Logan.”

“I agree,” said Scott, “She may be rough around the edges, but she looks up to him and he has a genuine desire to nurture her. I say it’s good for both of them. Not only does Laura have someone to guide her, but Logan has something else to do with his time than pushing everybody’s buttons.”

“Speak for yourself,” teased Jean, “You’re the only one who still lets it get to you, Scott.”

“Even so, I say Laura’s presence will help us all.”

“I’m sure it will,” sighed Jean.

Scott gave her a look, but she just kept smiling. On some levels, she had a point. He would have approved of anybody who distracted Logan enough from making his life more difficult. It also helped that Laura was young and would no doubt give him a lot to work on. Anything that kept him from looming around Jean was a good thing and while she didn’t call him out on it, he didn’t deny that it did affect his attitudes towards Laura.

Emma, however, wasn’t so optimistic. Logan being occupied with Laura may be good for Scott, but not for her. She constantly reminded him of her offer to help him get with Jean. If he kept spending time with Laura then he may lose interest. That would only make her job of getting Scott a lot harder. She may have to find a way around that. But that was a plan for another time.

“I’m sure Logan and Laura will be fine,” muttered the attractive blonde, “I’m more concerned with that Julian boy. He seems to have a problem with patience and subtlety.”

“He’s a teenage boy, Emma. What do you expect?” said Rogue, “Ah think he’s got what it takes. Just look at how he took down Monet.”

“Yeah, only after what? Eight tries?” said Pietro skeptically.

“At least he’s persistent,” she shrugged, “Heck, Ah was the same way when Ah was his age and mah mama was able to work through it. And if Ah can do it, so can he.”

“I’m sure your mother is thrilled to have another rebellious teenager to look after,” said Warren, “She does seem to attract them.”

“Seein’ as how Ah could snap those wings off with mah pinky finger, Ah’ll let that slide Warren,” said Rogue with a menacing grin, “But if Lord Xavier sees somethin’ in this kid who are we to argue?”

“I don’t know. I hear he’s cozy with Julian’s rich parents so of course he’s got a leg up,” said Pietro, “The Inner Circle isn’t above playing favorites.”

“Hey, you shouldn’t make light of that, Pietro,” warned Jean, “Were it not for playing favorites, he never would have let you and Wanda join.”

“That’s different,” said Pietro, his tone becoming bitter at the mention of his father, “Wanda and I were already hardened to the Hellfire way. Julian’s grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth all his life. He may not be able to stomach our methods.”

“Then he’ll just have to learn like the rest of us did,” said Warren, “I should know. I didn’t think I would be able to handle this place, but I’ve come to embrace them.”

“You sure have,” said Scott, “Almost to an extreme.”

“Who says that’s a bad thing?” quipped the winged mutant, “If it worked for me why can’t it work for Julian?”

Scott turned to Jean, who shared his concern. They remembered early on how Warren took to Hellfire. He came in a bit reluctantly, but once Selene got her hands on him he became a different person. While he did come to embrace their ways, it changed him. He served the Inner Circle, but he was dark and arrogant. While they sought balance, he sought extremes. It was a part of Selene that seemed to rub off on him and that was never a good thing. Hopefully Julian wouldn’t go down that same path. They had enough problems dealing with Selene’s influence already.

The older pawns watched as the training with Julian, Laura, and Danielle resumed. Now that Monet had left, Bobby began working with Julian. He seemed to take enough of Laura’s punishment and was ready for someone a bit less ahead of him. He seemed to do a little better with him since they were around the same age. They even saw them laugh together. That seemed to be a good sign, but they noticed they were just looking at Danielle and Laura. That showed they were still teenage boys and in the Inner Circle that was always a useful feature. Teenage girls like Danielle and Laura were always a bit more difficult. And Danielle was someone they all had mixed feelings about.

“Well at least Julian keeps it basic,” said Rogue, “But Ah gotta wonder why Lord Xavier invited Danielle on.”

“Yes, I was thinking the same thing,” said Emma, “We already have a number of highly advanced psychics and a shape shifter. Bringing in an illusionist seems a bit redundant.”

“I’m sure Lord Xavier has his reasons,” said Scott, “He wouldn’t have brought her in if he didn’t think she could contribute.”

“Of course YOU would say that, Scott. You always take Lord Xavier’s side,” scoffed Warren.

“And what’s wrong with that?” said Scott sternly, “He’s usually right, you know?”

“That’s giving him way too much credit,” said Warren, “I say he’s up to something. Recruiting Danielle just seems too out of place.”

“I’m inclined to agree,” said Pietro, “Monet and Julian, I can understand, but Danielle?”

“Perhaps there’s more to her powers than illusions,” said Piotr, “Perhaps it just hasn’t manifested.”

“I don’t know,” said Warren, “Unless there’s something about her Sage hasn’t told us.”

They all turned to Sage, who was stoically typing on the command counsel. She felt all their suspicious eyes on her, but she didn’t even turn around or stop her work to answer.

“I didn’t leave out any details,” she said, “Danielle’s powers are exactly as stated. She can cast vivid illusions and has a unique bond with animals. That is all.”

“Are you sure?” said Emma, always suspicious of Sage.

“Have you ever known me to miss details?” she quipped, “I’m sure.”

They all directed their attention back towards the arena where Danielle was still working with Sam. She seemed to be catching on okay, but she was still struggling a bit. She wasn’t a natural fighter, nor was she physically gifted in any way other than an attractive appearance. She didn’t seem too dark or too weak. Other than her powers, she was quite normal and that wasn’t enough to warrant her entrance.

“Ah don’t know, she seems nice enough,” said Rogue, “Ah’m with Scott on this. If Lord Xavier says she’s got the right stuff then that’s good enough for me.”

“Yes, he does seem to have an eye for these things,” said Jean, “And we have to remember he doesn’t tell us everything.”

“Da, and he usually has a good reason for that,” said Piotr.

“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be curious about it,” said Pietro.

“You’re right,” said Scott, “But it’s not something we should worry about either.”

That seemed to convinced the speedster. As reckless and thick-headed he was at times, he had a great deal of trust in Lord Xavier. He helped take down his father and give him and his sister a second chance. He also helped him reunite with Lorna so he was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Most everyone else would agree. Scott, Jean, Rogue, and Piotr always sided with Xavier. They trusted him with their lives and understood that there was always logic behind every decision he made.

Emma and Warren, however, were not so convinced.

“You guys are real tools, you know that?” said Warren, rolling his eyes, “Xavier does something that doesn’t make sense and you guys just write it off.”

“We’re not writing it off, Warren,” argued Scott, “We’re just trusting his judgment.”

“You’re just brushing it off without thinking. That kind of stuff will get you killed around here,” said the winged mutant ominously.

“Indeed,” said Emma, “While I have always trusted Charles in his every decision, I am a bit uneasy about him keeping me in the dark with this. I’ve scanned Danielle’s mind and I do not sense anything special.”

“That’s no reason to believe his intentions are malicious,” said Piotr.

“That’s easy for you to say. Charles doesn’t usually keep secrets from me. I’ve known him longer than all of you.”

“Maybe you just haven’t been on his good side lately,” smirked Pietro, “When’s the last time you did him any ‘favors?’”

“Pietro, one more remark like that and I’ll make you spend the rest of the day thinking you’re Chihuahua,” warned Emma.

The speedster didn’t say anything else, but he continued grinning in amusement at Emma’s disgruntled state. Warren’s suspicion was a given. He may have respected Lord Xavier, but he always had more of an affinity for Mistress Selene. But Emma’s change was a little surprising.

“I wouldn’t worry about it, Emma,” said Scott in a friendlier tone, “Even if you have known Lord Xavier better than the rest of us, has he ever done anything behind our backs without good reason?”

“No, but still…” she said.

Emma didn’t go on. Scott’s reassurance was enough to set her at ease a bit. Besides Xavier, he was the only one who seemed to be able to keep that charming personality of hers in check. The reason for that wasn’t always clear, but some had their theories. Jean didn’t always like it, but so long as she didn’t try anything she kept it to herself.

While she seemed more or less convinced, Warren remained skeptical.

“You guys are pathetic,” he told them, “You think that just because Lord Xavier is all wise and shit he’s always got our best interests at heart. You never even consider the possibility that he may be plotting against us or that he may be holding us back.”

“That’s crazy, Warren!” said Rogue, “Lord Xavier is no saint, but he serves us just as well as we serve him!”

“Keep telling yourself that,” said Warren, “But there may come a day when he isn’t here to hold us back. And on that day we’ll all see what we’re truly capable of and just how much of it was under his control. Maybe then you’ll reconsider your attitude towards him.”

Before anybody could argue against him, the winged mutant stormed off. He wasn’t going to stick around and listen to everybody just brush this off. There had to be another reason behind these new recruits. Mistress Selene was definitely intrigued, but she was often occupied with other duties. So he took it upon himself to ponder this situation. He had a feeling there was more to it than anybody was willing to believe.

But he was the only one with that suspicion. After he stormed out, the rest of the pawns exchanged glances and looked back down at the arena. Bobby and Julian were caught up in another fight with Julian fighting dirty again, using his telekinesis to overpower Bobby. It left him pretty embarrassed, but Sam and Danielle sure got a laugh out of it. Even Laura cracked a bit of a smile. Whatever Warren was seeing, it was hard for anybody to imagine them being part of some shadowy plot for Xavier.

“Guess Ah ain’t sleepin’ with him tonight,” sighed Rogue.

“Probably a good thing too,” said Jean, “Just leave him. Warren’s always been a bit…off.”

“Tell me about it,” said Piotr, “But do you think there is any truth to what he said? Could he have other reasons for bringing someone like Danielle in?”

“Who knows?” shrugged Emma, “But Warren was right about one thing. We are writing it off a bit too precariously.”

“Don’t tell us you’re going to start undermining Lord Xavier,” said Scott.

“Of course not, darling,” she assured him, “Let’s just say I’m keeping an open mind.”

Her answer was hardly reassuring. But then again, Emma Frost loved to throw a little ambiguity into everything she did. It was part of what made her such a wildcard. Even if she did adore Lord Xavier, she wasn’t about to take any chances. She always wanted things to go her way and wouldn’t let anything stand in her way. It was a bit disconcerting, especially given the nature of Inner Circle conflicts. But at least she wasn’t as extreme as Warren.

The older pawns continued to watch the young new pawns train. They commented here and there, assessing their execution and contemplating the possibilities with them. Scott was already planning how Laura’s skills could affect his strategy for missions and how Julian and Danielle could contribute at this early stage. Rogue, Emma, and Jean also contemplated how Danielle and Laura would do as sex workers. They already knew Laura was a prostitute so it shouldn’t be too big a transition for her and Danielle seemed a bit new to the erotic so they would have to tutor her a bit. But overall, they had potential. It was just a matter of fitting them into their way of doing things.

For Sage, however, it was more than just fitting in. While the others discussed how they would welcome their newest pawns into the Inner Circle, she was crunching numbers on the new recruits and assessing their status. Julian Keller, while impatient and arrogant, definitely had the will and power to be in the Inner Circle. He wasn’t afraid to use his powers to get what he wanted and he knew how to be creative with them when he had to be. That alone gave him the right mentality and Sage could understand why Xavier would want develop him at a young age. He still needed to learn other skills like hand-to-hand combat, negotiating, and teamwork. But those would come with time. And with any luck, his impatient, childish nature would turn Selene off.

Laura was already a well-developed prospect. She was a well-trained, well-disciplined fighting machine who wasn’t afraid to kill if she had to. That would allow her to skip much of the conditioning the others went through to get them accustomed to killing. It would also allow her to go on missions sooner rather than later. As an assassin, she had already proven herself. But they had to be careful. Logan and Xavier didn’t want her to associate them with the likes of Hydra. They had to get her to the point where she would carry out her tasks not just because she was ordered to, but because she believed what she was doing would help the organization and reward her efforts. It helped she had a weakness for pleasure and that she looked up to Logan. But with a little training and the right conditioning she definitely had what it took to do well in the Inner Circle.

Monet presented a different challenge though. As Sage looked over her stats, she was encouraged yet cautious. Her readings were every bit as perfect as her personality implied. Everything she did was done with the utmost concern for perfection. She definitely knew how to wield her powers. With all the abilities she had there were any number of ways she could contribute. She could help Emma with their finances, use her genius IQ to help develop new technologies, and use her physical gifts to carry out specialized missions. But while physically she had everything they could want in a prospect, she sensed her attitude may be a problem. Her perfectionism might not make her very popular with the others. She was also very ambitious. She did well as an executive at X-Industrial, but the Inner Circle was different. She was someone Mistress Selene wanted to pursue and she could see why. That ambition and perfectionism Monet fed on made her very vulnerable to her influence. She would have to be careful with her because if she favored Selene then she would undoubtedly help her in whatever plans she had going on.

Last, but not least, on her list was Danielle Moonstar. While Julian, Laura, and Monet had the potential to contribute in their own right, Danielle was a special case. She was someone Xavier specifically had her seek out. He didn’t give her all the details as to why, but he was very much intrigued by her illusion casting abilities. Based on the numbers she was getting so far, Sage surmised them to be quite potent. Unlike the illusions and holograms cast by machines, Danielle’s illusions were much harder to distinguish from reality. They went all the way to the quantum level. Her control over these illusions was still a work in progress, but there was no reason why she couldn’t take them further. It may take some work, but Lord Xavier placed a high priority on her. She was still to train like the others and get into their sex business, but he definitely had bigger plans for her.

‘I hope you know what you’re doing, Charles. You’re placing an awful lot on the shoulders of a teenage girl who can barely defend herself without her powers. For all our sake, I hope you succeed with her. Because if we don’t, Selene surely will.’

Selene’s Chamber

After her less than stellar training session, Monet changed into her Hellfire uniform and returned to Hellfire Manor. She left early so she avoided the debriefing and no doubt a stern lecture from Scott Summers and James Poundstar. While she admitted she could have handled the incident with Julian a little better that little punk was asking for it. As far as she was concerned, she did nothing wrong. That probably would not go over well with the others, but she could care less about what they thought. She wasn’t in this organization to make friends. She was in this organization to get ahead.

Upon her return she planned on soaking in a nice hot bath for a while. Maybe she could even invite some of Hellfire studs to keep her company. She couldn’t help but smile at the prospect of having a bunch of mindless, obedient men catering to her every sexual whim. It was one of the perks about the Hellfire Club she never got at any other job. Being so busy and meticulous, she never had much time for a personal life. Most men were turned off or intimidated by her meticulous nature. Opportunities for male company were rare and good sex was even rarer. But that wasn’t a problem with these studs. They didn’t ask questions, complain, or give her an attitude. They just did as she asked.

She was just about to ascend the stairs to her quarters when a cold voice from behind stopped her in her tracks.

“You’re back early, Monet. I take it your training didn’t go so smoothly.”

Monet turned around to see the Black Queen standing at the end of the hall, eyeing her with that dark, penetrating look of hers.

“Oh, Mistress Selene. I assure you it wasn’t like that,” said Monet, always protective of her reputation, “There was just a little disagreement between me and Mystique.”

“That’s not what I heard,” she said as she walked up to the young woman, “They say you were quite rude with them. You were stubborn, unfocused, and uncompromising. That kind of attitude will get you into a lot of trouble here.”

Normally, Monet would have scoffed at such notions. But under the cold eyes of this woman, she was silent. Few people could ever make her feel this nervous, but Selene had a presence all her own.

“I…I assure you, I will improve. I have every intention of making good on the offer you gave me.”

“Oh no need to reassure me, Monet. Did I say I disapprove?” said the Black Queen, “It takes a lot of guts to stand up like you did. And I like a girl whose willing to cross the line every now and then to get what she wants.”

Monet smiled meagerly and shifted. She wasn’t sure how to react. Even someone as smart as her couldn’t figure this woman out. But Selene just kept smiling.

“Come, there’s something I want to show you,” she told her.

“Um…okay, but I’m supposed to meet with Emma Frost later for some business deals.”

“That can wait. This can’t.”

Monet took her word for it and followed the Black Queen through the elaborate halls of the manor towards her chamber. She maintained a confident poise as she always did. But she couldn’t help but feel a little anxious around this woman. She never met anybody like Selene before. She was so dark, yet driven. She grew up believing that the best way to get ahead was to work within limits and boundaries. Selene was the complete opposite. Limits were just obstacles to her. She didn’t let anything stand in her way and didn’t hesitate to take drastic measures when she had to. She already witnessed some of her cruelty when she showed her and the other new pawns her torture chamber. There was no telling what else she was capable of.

Once at her chamber, Selene led her inside where Kurt and Wanda were there to greet her. They weren’t in their usual uniforms. They were wearing the thin black robes everybody wore during rituals. Looking around she noticed they had a bit of a setup. It wasn’t as elaborate as the one she and the others experienced on their first day, but there was definitely a strange energy in the air. There were no candles or strange lights, but she noticed the pentagram in center of the room had different symbols on it. It looked as though they had just been painted on. She didn’t know much about magic, but there was definitely a feeling that there were other forces at work in this room.

“Hello, Monet,” greeted Wanda, “I’ve been looking forward to getting to know you a little better.”

“Ja, me too. Mistress Selene has told us so much about you,” said Kurt, who stood by Wanda’s side as he so often did.

“I hope that’s a positive sign,” said Monet as she shook both their hands.

“Oh it is, my dear,” said Selene as she closed her chamber doors and locked them, “I told them you have relentless ambition, but you were directionless, naïve, and self-handicapping at times.”

“I uh…hope that’s not everything,” said Monet.

“Oh there’s plenty more,” said Wanda with a suggestive grin, “She also told us you’re trying to change that and so far it’s not going over well with the others.”

“I don’t see why I need their approval to do what I have to do,” scoffed Monet.

“You always need support, Monet. Even someone of your power cannot accomplish everything on zheir own,” said Kurt, “But fear not. If you do not get along with zhe others, zhen maybe you’ll get along vith us.”

Monet shifted uncomfortably under their gazes. They were all looking at her so strangely. It was as if they were sizing her up or something. Then Selene came up behind her and placed both hands on her shoulders. Her touch was cold, yet firm. Then she leaned in and whispered into her ear.

“The others may not understand you, Monet…but I do. I know what it’s like to be a god among insects. You can outmuscle, outsmart, and overpower just about anybody you come across. And yet you feel empty inside.”

Her voice sent shivers up and down her spine. But her words rang true. They reached her on a much deeper level and she remained stoic as the Black Queen walked around in front of her and led her to the center of the room.

“I’ve lived many centuries and seen many amazing things,” Selene went on, “I’ve gained wealth, control, and authority over many. Like you, I am in a different class of perfection. There’s only so much this meager world can do to fill my desires. There is but only one thing that can fill that void…one feeling that makes me feel complete in a world as wretched as this.”

“What is it?” asked Monet intently.

Selene stopped her right at the center of the room where the pentagram was painted on the floor. Her grip on her shoulders tightened as she gazed intently into her eyes.

“Power,” she said strongly, “Raw, unabated power. And I’m not just talking about the power of authority or the power of wealth. I’m talking about real power…the kind that real gods use to judge unworthy mortals.”

“Real gods?” she asked curiously, “What kind of power is that?”

The Black Queen grinned, her hand never leaving her shoulder. It sent another wave of shivers down her spine. Yet she remained poised, trying not to let her nervousness show.

“I could try and describe it to you, but I assure you it would be a futile effort,” she said ominously, “The kind of power I’m talking about must be felt. And I can give you a taste. But I must warn you…once you feel it you’ll never be the same.”

Monet looked over at Kurt and Wanda. They each bore Selene’s ominous dark look. She surmised they must have felt whatever it was she just described. It sounded irrational that some kind of power would make her feel more fulfilled. She was already a powerful mutant. What other power was there? But looking into the Black Queen’s cold eyes she couldn’t help but wonder. She came here in hopes of becoming something more. Maybe this was the key.

“Okay,” said Monet, “Let me feel it.”

“Is that a yes?” said Selene.

“Yes,” she affirmed, “What do I have to do?”

Selene’s grin widened. She had a feeling Monet’s ambition would be a factor. Now here was her chance to bring her to the side of darkness.

“Take off your clothes,” the Black Queen ordered.

“Um…why do I have to be naked?” she asked, blushing at such a request.

“Don’t question me, Monet. Just do it.”

Her tone left no room for negotiations. Monet did as she requested and slipped out of her Hellfire uniform. Once she was completely nude, Wanda and Kurt collected her attire and cleared it away. She tried not to look shy. She had already participated in an orgy on her initial visit here, but being alone like this under Selene’s watchful eye was a little intimidating.

The Black Queen gazed approvingly at her appearance. She casually walked around her naked body, tracing her finger over her curves. Monet’s perfectionism personality definitely extended to her looks. She had a nice, shapely figure that struck a good balance between a toned athletic frame and voluptuous curves. She had nice hips and well-developed breasts, but it didn’t match the perfection the other girls had with surgery. But that was a matter for another time. After sizing her up a bit the Black Queen backed away until she was no longer in the pentagram. She then turned to Wanda, who nodded to let her know she was ready.

“Just stand still, Monet. This won’t take long,” said Selene.

Monet didn’t say a word as she watched Selene and her apprentice stand near the two lower points of the pentagram. Kurt remained in the back, watching attentively as the next step unfolded. Wanda and Selene closed their eyes and began chanting a series of verses in an unknown tongue. Monet spoke multiple languages and she never heard anything like it before. It sounded like a mixture of Latin, Sanskrit, and Persian. But it was impossible to decipher. And with every word they chanted, an ominous feeling grew around her.

“Here it comes…” said Kurt as he watched intently.

The pentagram and the symbols around it began to glow. All round her, a bright blue light began pulsating up from the floor. The air around her grew hotter and a mysterious gust of air began swirling around her. Monet began to get a little worried. He knees went weak and her breathing grew ragged. She was overcome with a mix of anxiety and excitement. She wasn’t sure what to expect. She just stood there and watched as the light grew brighter.

Selene and Wanda’s chanting grew more heated. Their voices boomed through the chamber walls. Soon the bright blue light was pulsating intently. The air swirling around Monet grew sharper. It was as if the wind had a mind of its own and it was converging on her. It blew through her hair and nearly knocked her off her balance. She hugged her chest, holding on and trying to appear brave in the face of something she didn’t understand. Whatever this was, it was building up around her. It was like a strange kind of energy she never experienced before. It simmered around her, as if to tempt her. It was as if there was someone or something that was longing to get inside her.

Then Wanda and Selene’s chanting stopped. As soon as they uttered the last word everything changed. The winds stopped and the pulsating slowed. At first Monet thought it was over. Then suddenly, the light emanating from the pentagram shifted from blue to blood red. And as this transpired, the mysterious energy that built up around her surged into her from all directions. As soon as she felt it, her body went ridged and she let out a sharp gasp.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Can you feel it, Monet? The power flowing inside you?” said Selene.

Monet tried to answer, but she couldn’t. Every fiber of her being was consumed with this energy and it overwhelmed her to the core.

“That is the power of darkness,” said the Black Queen, “And it is the only power that truly fulfill us!”

It was like having an orgasm, only multiplied many times over. A wave of sensations coursed through her body. The red glow from the pentagram seemed to coalesce around her, as if to consume her. It was intoxicating, invigorating, and exhilarating. It was unlike any other feeling she had ever experienced. It was almost inhuman. She almost felt god-like with this energy. All her other abilities, her strength, her intelligence, and her reflexes, all paled in comparison to this. She felt as though she could hold the world in the palm of her hand and crush it. For the first time in her life she felt truly perfect. This is what was missing. This was what she needed to truly be complete.

As she bathed in this power, Selene and Wanda watched on approvingly. Monet was reacting just as they hoped. But this wasn’t the end. Selene turned to Kurt, who obediently approached her carrying an elaborately decorated dagger. It was the kind she used only in rituals involving the blackest of magic. And with some creative use, Monet St. Croix would be theirs.

“Is she ready, Mistress Selene?” asked Kurt.

“She’s ready,” assured the Black Queen.

As the red light continued to fill her, Selene walked into the pentagram carrying the dagger. With each step she took, the light brightened. She walked up until she was mere inches away from Monet, who still looked overwhelmed by the experience. The power continued to surge through her as she gazed up at Selene intently, her mind lost in a twisted daze.

“Now do you see?” said Selene, “The power you’ve always craved? The emptiness you’ve always felt? This is it. This is what you desire.”

Selene then tentatively trailed the tip of the dagger down her face and around her breasts. Monet was still too dazed to make sense of what she was doing, but she listened intently.

“This is but a taste,” she went on, “Swear you’re allegiance to me and you can have this and so much more.”

Monet panted hard as energy around her intensified, further overwhelming her. She watched as Selene trailed the dagger down her chest, over her nipples, and down past her core. Then a sharp surge of right light burst up from the floor. She looked over to see that Wanda’s eyes were glowing, showing that her hex powers were in full force. It made the feeling even more intense. It seemed especially patented around Selene. Her eyes glowed intently as she gazed deeply into Monet’s eyes.

“Do it!” she commanded, holding the dagger up to her chin, “Swear you’re allegiance to me!”

“I…I…” she struggled to say.

“I can’t hear you!”

Monet tried to form words, but she couldn’t. This power was so intense. Everything around her was surging through her. It was as if it was filling her very soul. And the more it filled her, the more she yearned for it. Her mind, body, and everything in between was giving in. This is what she wanted. This was what she needed. It left only one logical answer.

“Y-Y-Yes!” she stammered.

“What was that?” said Selene, trailing the dagger down her neck.

“I said yes!” exclaimed Monet, “I swear my allegiance to you, Mistress Selene!”

It was music to Selene’s ears. Few things got her off more than hearing someone pledge themselves to her like that. Monet was a tough one. It took an extra push from Wanda to send her over the edge. But her desire for perfection was her weakness. She was willing to do anything to attain it and now her soul belonged to her. All she had to do was seal the deal.

Using the dagger, Selene lightly trailed the tip down her chest along the area between her breasts. It opened up a long cut about a two inches long. Streaks of blood formed along the cut, which Selene gathered on her finger. Then while gazing intently into Monet’s eyes, she licked up the blood and then leaned in to kiss her firmly on the lips. The color of the light changed again, shifting from red back to blue. Monet felt another strange wave of sensations. She had never kissed another woman before, but this was different. As soon as she felt Selene’s lips on hers, the energy began to fade and the power began to leave her.

She felt different. It was as if she realized the answer to a question that had been plaguing her all her life. The light around her faded and the air cooled. As soon as Selene’s lips parted from hers everything returned to normal. There was no more glowing and no more energy. The overwhelming feeling was gone, but the mark it left behind was undeniable. That emptiness she once felt was gone. In its place was a new feeling…a very dark feeling.

“How do you feel now, Monet?” asked the Black Queen.

“I feel…great!” she said with a dark new undertone to her voice, “I’ve never felt better in my life!”

Even though she was still naked, Monet flexed her powerful limbs. She had been confident and self-assured before, but now she was on a whole new level.

“It’s all so clear to me now! I know what I want! I know what I must strive for now!”

“Then you understand now,” said Selene, “You know what you must do.”

“Yes, my mistress,” said Monet respectfully, “Please, teach me more! What must I do?”

“Oh you’ll learn more, Monet. You’ll learn plenty more,” grinned Selene, “But for now, you must do your part. Smooth things over with the other pawns. Become an asset to the Inner Circle. Do not draw anyone’s suspicion. Can you do that?”

“Of course,” said Monet confidently, “But what else? Surely there is more I can do?”

“Oh there will be plenty for all of us to do very soon,” assured Selene, “But for now, we must keep to our roles.”

Monet didn’t question Selene’s will. This new resolve she felt was now tied to her. All her old goals about money and success seemed meaningless now. She had a new goal in life. She wanted the power Selene offered her and she was going to do anything to get it.

“It will be done, mistress,” she told her.

“Excellent,” said Selene with an approving grin, “Now go with Kurt and Wanda. They’ll explain a few more things to you.”

“What about you, mistress?” asked Kurt.

“I have a doctor’s appointment,” she said cryptically, “That’s all you need to know.”

Kurt, Wanda, and Monet nodded, accepting that there was only so much their mistress could tell them. It was the mark of loyal minions and few things made Selene more content. Her ranks were growing. Kurt and Wanda were doing their part as they always had. Warren continued his duties behind the scenes. Roberto and Tabitha were showing promise and now she had Monet. Selene hadn’t forgotten what Blackheart told her years ago. If she was to gain ultimate power she had to have help. Her supporters were growing and she had plans to reach out to others. But for now she had to check up on another important associate of hers.

Xavier’s Office

Danielle Moonstar was nervous. After her training session with the other new pawns, Sage told her that Lord Xavier wanted to see her in his office. She didn’t give her any reasons. She just told her to go as soon as she showered and changed.

As she made her way through the elaborate halls of Hellfire Manor, the young Native American girl couldn’t help but marvel at her surroundings. She was a part of something so much bigger than she imagined. In only a week she learned that this organization had its hand in nearly every affair that governed this world. It was remarkable to think that she had a chance to be a part of it. But looking around at the other prospect she couldn’t help but feel a little outclassed. That girl, Laura Kinney, was light years ahead of her in terms of combat skills. She could barely defend herself against Sam and even he was still a novice. Julian and Monet also outgunned her in terms of powers. Julian had telekinesis, which he could use when his combat skills failed. He could even fly with them if he had to, something she could only do in dreams. And there were any number of ways Monet could outdo her. She was super strong, super smart, and had reflexes that defied the laws of physics. She had no idea how she could compete with that. All she could do was cast illusions. It felt as though she was destined to be left behind.

At least many of her new allies seemed nice. Sam was really sweet to her and pretty cute as well. Kitty and Jubilee were cool too. It was nice having a couple girls her own age that she could hang out with and talk seriously about. The older girls like Rogue and Jean were nice as well and promised to help train her both in the arena and with sex. That part was still new to her, but after she got a taste of it on her first day she was eager to experience more. Emma Frost offered to teach her a few things as well, but something about that woman seemed very unfriendly. Then there was James, who promised to help her along with the conditioning part to being a Hellfire woman. Being a fellow Native American and the man who first approached her with this opportunity, she felt a certain kinship with him. She was confident that he and everyone else could help her adjust to her new surroundings.

When she reached the door leading into Lord Xavier’s office she noticed it was cracked a little. She was about to knock on it when suddenly she heard his voice in her head.

‘Come in, Danielle. I’ve been expecting you.’

Danielle shifted a bit at first. She still hadn’t gotten used to the feeling of a telepath talking to her in her mind. But she shook it off and carefully entered the office of one of the most powerful men on the face of the planet.

“Lord Xavier, sir?” she said nervously.

“Please, come in my dear. And be sure to shut the door behind you,” he told her.

Danielle did as he asked and closed the door. She timidly approached the imposing man, who was casually admiring the view of Manhattan out his window. As she stepped closer he turned around and smiled, which helped set her mind a little more at ease. He seemed excited by her presence. Why he would be was beyond her. He had so many other much more interesting and much more powerful pawns to be around and yet he was intrigued by her.

“You’re looking well, Danielle. How do you like your new uniform?” he asked her casually.

“It’s different, that’s for sure,” she said, looking down at her appearance, “But I could get used to it. It’s been a while since I wore anything that made my butt look this good.”

“You’ll have plenty of opportunities to show it off. That I can assure you.”

Danielle blushed a bit. Her uniform was not unlike the other younger pawns. It consisted of a short black mini-skirt and a revealing camisole that tightly hugged her breasts in a way to show off her cleavage while also showing off her mid drift. She never really had a chance to explore her sexual side, but she was enjoying it so far. She still had a lot to learn with stripping and the art of great sex, but she had a feeling that wasn’t what this was about.

“Allow me to forego the usual pleasantries and get to why I called you here,” he said as he walked up to her, “I’m sure you’re wondering why I asked you here and you alone.”

“I admit I am curious. Are you meeting individually with all the new pawns?” she asked.

“No, only you,” said Xavier, “There is a very important matter we need to discuss. You may not know it, Danielle, but you’re far more valuable than you think.”

“I uh…I appreciate the sentiment, sir, but I think you’ve got a lot more stuff that’s more valuable than me,” said Danielle, “The suits you wear alone must be worth more than anything I could ever contribute.”

“Oh, don’t be so humble, Danielle. You have something much more valuable than even I could ever attain. What you can do…casting illusions so real that even a telepath can’t distinguish them…it is extraordinary. And it is something I find very intriguing.”

The Black King placed a hand on her shoulder and led her over to his desk. There he pressed a couple of buttons, which closed the blinds on the window and dimmed the lights. It also cut off the power and the security feed. What he was about to tell her could not leave this office.

“I am going to be frank with you, Danielle. There is a good reason why I asked you here over the countless other mutants working at X-Industrial. And it’s a reason I’m not afraid to admit is a bit simplistic. So I’ll come out and say it…Danielle, I need your help.”

The young Native American mutant was taken aback.

“My help?” she said in shock.

“Yes…I, the Black King, need your help, Danielle. And so does everyone else in the Hellfire Club,” he said, gripping her shoulder strongly.

“I…I don’t understand. You have so many people here who are older, stronger, and more powerful than me. What could I possibly do that they can’t?”

Xavier let her go and smiled. She was clearly having a hard time believing this so he tried to simplify it for her.

“Have you ever heard of Harry Houdini?” he asked her.

“Houdini? Of course, he was a magician,” said Danielle.

“Oh he wasn’t just a magician, my dear. He was a true master at his art,” said the Black King, “You see, he didn’t use real mystical powers to perform great feats. He used something much more persuasive…something that could get an entire audience to believe that an entire monument had disappeared.”

“And what was that?” she asked curiously.

“Deception,” said Xavier strongly, “He understood that what the eye sees and the ear hears, the mind believes. As a telepath, I can appreciate such feats. I can enter someone’s mind and make them believe they’re seeing something that isn’t there. I can make them feel things without anything real stimulating them. And while that level of deception is powerful enough, that which you are capable of is far more promising.”

Danielle wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but then she watched as Xavier turned towards his desk and shifted his computer screen so it was now facing them. On it was a simple readout of a few security camera feeds from X-Industrial. It seemed innocent enough, but she had a feeling there was a purpose to this.

“You see, I can make someone think they’re in an entirely different place,” he went on, “I can make any mental image seem indistinguishable from reality. Yet if I were to try the same thing with a camera, my efforts would be futile. For cameras, security systems, and motion sensors do not have minds. And no telepath, no matter how powerful, can ever deceive them. But you can.”

“I…I can?” said Danielle.

“Oh yes, and you can do it quite convincingly,” said the Black King as he turned the computer off, “I’ve studied your powers. The potential is definitely there. The illusions you cast are not mere tricks of the mind. They can alter the very quantum properties of a given area, creating illusions so real that even the most sensitive of security systems cannot tell the difference.”

“Are you sure? I’ve never tried creating illusions for a machine before.”

“Oh I’m sure, Danielle,” said Xavier strongly, “You just haven’t done it because your powers are not advanced enough. Just think about it. First you were able to only create illusions in dreams. Then you were able to create illusions consciously. Then you were able to manipulate those illusions. The next logical step is clear. The illusions you’re capable of creating are vast. And it is a skill I most desperately need.”

“I can understand the potential, but why? Why do you need me to create these illusions?” she asked.

Xavier’s expression shifted to one of dread. This was the part where he would have to let her in on things he hadn’t told the others. It was putting a lot of trust in a teenage girl who had only been with them for a week. But with the situation becoming increasingly complicated, he needed her help.

“Because the Inner Circle is in danger,” he told her, “I’m sure you’ve realized by now that Mistress Selene isn’t the friendliest person in our organization.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” commented Danielle, “That woman gave me bad vibes the second I saw her.”

“You’re in good company. And I suspect she and a few other devious associates may be up to something. I fear they are plotting to take over the Inner Circle or worse. This is something I cannot allow. I have worked too long and hard building this organization to see it torn apart from within! That is why I need your help in fighting them!”

Danielle immediately felt like she was on the spot. This man, who had so much more power and wealth than anything she could ever contemplate, was asking for her help. It was a strange feeling, but looking into those dark eyes of his she couldn’t turn away.

“But what I can I do?” she asked, “I just make illusions. Real or not, what can that do against someone like Selene?”

“It can act as a safeguard,” he told her, “One that I must have should my efforts to thwart her fail.”

“A safeguard? What kind of safeguard?”

“I cannot give you the details, my dear. Just know that while I am working hard with my allies to oppose Selene, I require a backup plan…one that will catch her off guard and give me the upper hand.”

“And how would that work?”

Xavier moved in closer to her and smiled ominously.

“Remember what I said about Houdini and deception? Think of your illusions as his best kept secret. And think of Selene and everyone working with her as the audience.”

It took her a moment to wrap her head around it, but it then it came together. What he was asking her to do was still a daunting challenge. He was asking her to put on an elaborate show for a group of people who were older, smarter, and many times more powerful than her. But if she really did have the kind of power he said she did then it might just be possible. She would have to push her powers to new limits and place her trust in a man she didn’t know that well. She looked down at her hands, which contained the power he needed and then back up at the Black King. Her grandfather always told her she was destined for great things. Maybe this was her chance.

“What do you need me to do, Lord Xavier?” she asked him with newfound confidence.

Charles Xavier smiled. This girl may be young, but she had heart and determination. She was going to need that and much more if she was to carry out the tasks which he had planned for her.

“First of all, I need you to do one thing above all else…tell no one about this,” he said strongly, “I will place mental blocks on your mind so not even other telepaths can catch wind of it. You must also make it seem as though nothing is amiss. As far as everyone else is concerned, this meeting between us never happened.”

“I understand, sir. What else?”

“Second, I need you to start meeting me here at specified hours for the next several weeks. You’ll be working with me and Moria MacTaggart on developing your powers. And once they’re at the appropriate level we’ll give you the next instructions.”

“Okay, sounds easy enough,” she said, trying to hide her nervousness.

“Let’s hope so because make no mistake, Daninelle Moonstar…our margin for error is non-existent. We must make sure we have the necessary safeguards in place before Selene or anyone else makes their move. Because their success may spell doom for more than just the Hellfire Club.”

Sinister’s Secret Lab

It was finally coming together. Over 150 years of hard work and preparation were coming to ahead. Mr. Sinister felt his ultimate goal was finally within his grasp. At last, he would sew the seeds of a new evolutionary order, governed by a new dominant species. Over 100 years of life had since taught him that the human race was unfit for survival. They had long outlived their evolutionary potential and were destined for extinction. But rather than wait thousands, if not millions, of years for natural selection to take its course, he was going to help nature along with a push in the right direction.

The elaborate machines he had been assembling using the stolen hardware acquired by the Hellfire thieves was about halfway operational. There were still a few key components left, but the first few steps were already underway. He had the necessary computing power and the proper tools for what he wanted to do. This stage was critical because this was where he was most vulnerable. If Xavier or Moria got wind of what he was doing he would be finished. But thanks to Selene’s help, that wasn’t nearly as big a problem as he thought. He had to admit as much as he disliked that woman personally, she was good at keeping his enemies off his back.

At the moment she was with him, watching impatiently as he worked on the next critical step. Being a mystic and not a scientist, she had only a vague idea of what was going on. His meticulous care was agonizing and every time she looked over his shoulder he was annoyed.

“How much longer?” she asked for what seemed like the tenth time.

“As I said, Selene, this delicate procedure cannot be rushed,” said Sinister in an irked tone, “Science is not like your magic spells. It must operate under specific rules.”

“You said that six hours ago!”

“And I’ll say it as many times as I have to. Just be patient. I’m almost finished.”

The Black Queen grunted as she sat on the desk across from where Sinister was working. How a man could spend every waking hour in a place like this doing menial tasks was beyond her. It explained a bit why this man was so off. Anybody who stayed cooped up in a lab for decades at a time had to be a little unstable. But slow or not, she needed the fruits of this man’s labor if she was to further her plans.

Working with the care of a skilled surgeon, Sinister carefully poked and prodded his target specimen, which was only a small glob of microscopic cells. His hands were steady as he operated the sensitive machines, most of which were controlled by pressure sensitive joysticks and knobs. Everything he was doing was visible on a thirteen inch high definition monitor and a microscope that gave him a first-hand view of his efforts. He was almost ready. Hours of intense labor were coming to ahead and he could feel the excitement growing.

“There! I think I have it now,” said Sinister, looking up from his microscope.

“You’re finished?” said Selene, getting up off the desk.

“Not quite, but the hard part is over,” he said as he took his hands off the controls and began typing on a keyboard, “Using these vast computer array’s I calculated the precise code of the necessary DNA sequence for my creations. But just knowing the code is easy. Synthesizing it is not.”

“Spare me the science jargon and tell me what the next step is.”

Sinister sighed as he feverishly typed in the next sequence of commands on his keyboard. As powerful as this woman was, she had no appreciation for the marvels of nature.

“Without getting too technical, the next logical step is to develop the first prototype mutants that will serve as building blocks for the next step. They’ll still be human mutants, but they will have the genetic potential written in their genes to produce the necessary code sequences I need for my creature.”

“Why not just produce them now? You said you have the code,” said Selene, “Why waste time creating new specimens that are just going to get phased out anyways?”

“Having the code is part of the process. I need viable specimens to synthesize that code into viable genetic material. Furthermore, I need that code to have all the maximum level of mutant abilities if my specimen is to reach its full potential.”

“I thought I told you to spare me the jargon!” said Selene impatiently, “Just tell me in plain English what the next step is!”

Sinister groaned again. This woman was beginning to feel like more trouble than she was worth.

“Simply put, we must breed a group of offspring that have segments of my code in them. And then when they reach a certain level of maturation, we extract that code and blend it to create the final product.”

It was a grossly simplistic view of his elaborate plan, but Selene seemed to understand it. He still didn’t get why she was so intrigued by all this. She claimed these god-like creatures he was trying to create appealed to her in what she was trying to do. But he got the feeling that wasn’t the only reason.

Even though this kind of complicated science was never her expertise, the Black Queen could still appreciate what this man was trying to do. Like her, he saw the faults in humanity and understood that it needed to be cleansed. His method may be different, but his goal was similar to hers. There were some major differences, but she already had a plan for getting around it. For now, she was most intrigued at the prospect of breeding these ’offspring’ as he called them.

“So you’re seeding one generation to give rise to another,” she said as she admired the image on the screen, “Thereby skipping all that messy evolution they would otherwise have to go through.”

“You’re not the only one who’s impatient,” joked Sinister.

“Hold your tongue, Nathanial. You don’t want to tempt me,” she said with an evil grin, “So how exactly do you plan to grow these new ‘offspring’ as you call it?”

“Ah, but that’s where your little pawns come in,” grinned Sinister.

The mad geneticist then entered a few more commands on the control board and brought up genetic profiles of everyone in the Inner Circle.

“As you can see, Hank and I have been keeping detailed records of everyone who has entered your domain. As you probably already know, each one has great genetic potential. That’s why you picked them.”

“It’s one of the reasons,” said Selene.

“It’s the only reason that matters to me. For you see, with their advanced mutations, the offspring they could produce would be quite powerful. That is why I have used their DNA as a base to add parts of my advanced code. This makes it possible to breed a viable offspring, complete with the genetic potential I need.”

“I take it they don’t know that you’re using their DNA for your little experiment.”

“Of course not,” scoffed Sinister, “These past few weeks I’ve been testing combinations and found a number of successful pairs. The combination of Scott and Jean’s DNA is especially potent. The combination of Rogue and James Poundstar shows promise as well. Then there’s Kitty Pryde and Piotr Rasputin, Alex Summers and Lorna Dane, Warren Worthington III and Emma Frost. And that’s just the first few. I plan on using over a dozen combinations with the pawns. Once I have these specimens, then I’ll have everything I need to create the perfect species!”

“That’s a lot of breeding,” said Selene in a sultry tone, “And just how do you plan to breed these offspring?”

Sinister shook his head. For a woman as old and wise as Selene, she sure had a dirty mind sometimes. He found it woefully immature, but given her dress sense and extreme sexual tastes he shouldn’t have been surprised.

“Don’t get any ideas,” he told her, “I don’t plan on tricking the pawns into knocking each other up. That’s too messy and cumbersome.”

“But it’s a lot more fun,” she said with a playful grin.

“Maybe so, but I need specific embryos with specific combinations. And I cannot grow them in a test tube. I’ll need some ‘volunteers’ to act as surrogates.”

“Volunteers, you say?” said Selene, catching the subtext of his tone, “For how long?”

“About two months. They may feel symptoms, but I’ll remove the fetus before it becomes too obvious. I know how sensitive your policies for Hellfire women are in regards to stretch marks.”

Selene grinned. That was the closest thing to a joke Sinister said since they began. It sounded devious and downright manipulative. He was going to impregnate the women and take the child before they even knew about it. It showed just how far this man was willing to go to accomplish his ultimate goal. She may not be all that fond of him, but she admired such resolve. It was also amusing to think that those naïve pawns would be aiding her without even knowing it. It was just too perfect.

“That’s quite a plan, Sinister. I must say you’ve outdone yourself,” she said in admiration.

“Thank you,” he said boastfully, “I had a feeling you would appreciate it.”

“So what more do you need from me?” she asked him.

“Just keep Xavier off my back and make sure none of the women are wise to what’s going on. If possible, hold back their symptoms.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” she said, “But once you have the specimens, how long will it take before they are viable?”

“Best estimates, seven to nine months. I have Remy, Ororo, and Deadpool bringing in the last shipment of materials that will allow me to grow them at the end of the month. Once everything is operational we should be good to go.”

The Black Queen contemplated such a time table. Seven to nine months sounded like an eternity even by her standards. But given what she was planning, she needed that time anyways. Like Sinister, she was very thorough when it came to the steps regarding her goals. And these offspring were only part of that. But this time table would give her a finite window to operate under. If she was to make her move she would have to do something within this span to not only make sure Xavier and the other pawns didn’t get in their way, but to ensure that all the right pieces were in place. And, of course, she had to leave in some room for a little fun and revenge in between.

Selene walked up to Mr. Sinister and admired the image on his screen. It was only a small, microscopic embryo with the combined DNA of a couple of unspecified pawns. But in it lay the hopes and dreams of both of them. It was amazing to think that something so small could hold so much promise. The time was almost upon them. But there was room for only one of their plans. Eventually, one of them would have to yield to the other. And Selene had no intention of letting this man’s foolish visions foil hers.

“It sounds so complicated yet wonderfully poetic in some ways,” she said as she affectionately traced her gloved finger down Sinister’s face, “I look forward to seeing what comes of it.”

“As do I,” he said with a sinister grin, “So can I count on your assistance as I ‘enlist’ the services of the female pawns?”

“Of course, Nathan,” she assured him, “I’ll remind them they have an appointment with you as soon as I return. I’ll list it as a routine check-up, nothing serious. I’m sure you’ll give them a ‘clean’ bill of health.”

“Oh I will, Selene…I most certainly will.”

The next phase of Sinister and Selene’s plan was set to go into motion. The women of the Hellfire Club were poised to play a major role. And they didn’t even know about it.

************************************************************************

Up next: Sinister takes his plans to the next step while Selene makes some preparations of her own.