New Blood

New Blood
Chapter 5: Old Friends

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Hank McCoy’s Lab

It was past midnight and Hank McCoy was going on his tenth hour of non-stop work. He hadn’t moved from his desk ever since the experiment began. He just kept pouring over endless streams of data, searching for the results he needed. Years of work and research had gone into these experiments. Hank, once a star athlete and aspiring academic, had cut himself off from the rest of the world in pursuit of a way to save himself. Every day was another tick on the proverbial genetic clock. Every day he grew closer to becoming what he truly was.

He didn’t ask for this. This was something he was born with. His father, Norton McCoy, worked at a nuclear power plant and was exposed to high levels of radiation. That in turn affected his reproductive material, hence passing on mutated DNA to him. He was born with unusual limbs, hands, and feet. As he grew older, his body proportions became more ape-like than man. At first he thought it was a gift because it granted him skill and agility, but then he started feeling uncontrollable fits of rage. He tried to control them, but as he learned more about himself he realized the awful truth.

In addition to his physical endowments, he was blessed with a genius level IQ. However, it was times like this he wished he didn’t know everything. Ever since he began studying his mutation, he knew there was a monster inside him. A raging, primal beast lurked within his DNA and the more it developed, the harder it was to suppress. He didn’t want to become a monster, but with nobody to help him it was getting harder to avoid. So he did his own research, borrowing money and living in absolute poverty in order to conduct research at a lab in his hometown of Dunfee, Illinois. Progress was slow, but time was running out.

Suddenly, he felt it. The burning pain inside flared up again.

“Augh! No! No not again!” he groaned.

Keeling over his desk, Hank clung to the floor in agony. The monster within was trying to come out. The only think keeping it from showing itself was his sheer will-power. But without help or guidance, that wouldn’t cut it much longer.

‘Pull yourself together, McCoy! Don’t let it happen now! Not when you’re so close!’

He grit his teeth in anguish. He could feel them transforming in his mouth, turning form normal human teeth to the fang-like teeth of a gorilla. His skin was burning. More changes were trying to force their way into his body. But he wouldn’t let it.

It took five minutes of continues deep breathing and a few more pained yells, but Hank managed to hold it back. It was the longest it ever lasted and it was sheer agony. When he finally rose up, his face was drenched with sweat. Looking in his reflection in the computer screen, he saw a desperate, unshaven man with hair that had seen better days. He didn’t look like a beast, but he didn’t look like much of a human either. He looked downright pathetic.

“I’m out of time,” he told himself, “This ends tonight!”

Turning off his computer, Hank rushed over to his chemistry area where a small purple concoction had been brewing for the past three days. This was what he had been analyzing and studying for the past few months. This held his last hope for a chance at controlling his transformation. If it failed, his life as Hank McCoy was over.

He turned off the burner and poured the still simmering serum into beaker. He held it up to the light and stared at it for a moment. This may be his last chance. It was now or never.

“I will not become a beast of a man.”

The desperate man closed his eyes and downed the bitter fluid. He had to hold onto the side of the table in order to keep himself from gagging. It tasted awful and burned the insides of his mouth horribly. But he shut that out. All that mattered was the results.

Suddenly, the burning returned. This time it was even worse than before. His whole body broke out in hot sweats. His pupils constricted, his muscles throbbed, and he began thrash wildly, knocking over beakers and chemistry equipment. He felt the monster brewing inside him again. It was angry at him and fighting what the serum was trying to do. And it was not only winning, it was becoming stronger.

“No! This…this wasn’t supposed to happen!”

He stumbled back over to his desk just in time to see the final report from the data. The screen read in bold letters: compound unstable. It was just what he feared. The serum wasn’t going to suppress his mutation. It was going to accelerate it by agitating it. His greatest fear was about to become reality.

“RRRRRAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

He kept thrashing and screaming, knocking over anything that got in his way. Every muscle in his body bulged and grew. The color of his skin shifted from pale to blue and hair exploded out from every pore. His disposition, already ape-like, became even more arched and pronounced. His hands and feet grew and his teeth were now permanent fangs. All the while, his mind burned in agony. Everything inside him was resetting itself. The man and the beast were becoming one. And there was nothing he could do about it.

“No…NOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Hellfire Manor

It was a typical morning in Manhattan when a yellow cab pulled up in front of the mansion. Inside was a desperate man dressed from head to toe in a trench coat carrying little more than the clothes on his back. The driver was clearly suspicious of him. He had his eye on him from the moment he picked him up at JFK airport. But a fare was a fare. He just had to be careful.

Thankfully, Hank McCoy was in no mood for a confrontation. He was here out of necessity. Now that the beast inside him was here to stay, his options were limited. Reaching into his pocket, Hank pulled out thirty dollars and gave it to the driver.

“Keep the change,” he told him as he stepped out.

That was the last of his money. He was officially broke, homeless, and a mutant. He needed help and there was only one person willing to give it to him.

He walked up to the gate and pushed the buzzer. From just above where he was standing, a camera zoomed in on him and confirmed his identity, although not without encountering an error in the process. It had been a while since Hank had been out in public, but the figure behind the camera was not dissuaded.

“Come on in, Doctor McCoy. I’ve been waiting for you.”

The gates opened and Hank made his way up to the entrance. He kept his trench coat firmly over his body, not knowing who else might be watching. But his associate assured him that his appearance would not be an issue here. He hoped he was right. His career in academia was over and his spirit was in shambles, but Hank McCoy wasn’t ready to give in yet. He still had hope that he could do something with his life.

When he reached the entrance, Sage was there to greet him as she did all guests. This was unusual for her though because this wasn’t a visitor arranged by Charles Xavier. This man was brought in by Mister Sinister.

“Right this way, Mr. McCoy,” she said in her usual mechanical tone.

“Thank you,” said Hank politely.

“Oh, and you can lose the trench coat if you want.”

“That’s okay. I’ll keep it on for now.”

Sage shrugged and led him into the mansion. This man seemed nice enough, but if he was associated with Sinister there was no way that would last. She never held him in high regard. She often avoided having to associate with him. She never showed it though. Xavier brought him in to do work for the Hellfire and for years he had served them well. He was part doctor, treating members and workers so they were immune from disease. He was part researcher, developing new technology and treatments to help them in their activities. He was even part surgeon, helping Hellfire’s numerous sex workers develop better bodies. But there was just something about him that never sat right.

But if this man wanted to trust him, that was his problem. She sensed in Hank a desperate man. Judging by how hard he was trying to hide his face, he would probably take help from anybody. But Sinister was never a man of charity. He only helped those who could help him. Whatever he offered must be something, but with Sinister that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Sage stopped at the end of the hall near one of the private elevators. She then placed her finger on a scanner and inputted a five digit code into a keypad. This activated the elevator and opened the doors.

“Mr. Sinister is waiting for you downstairs,” she told him, “I’ll leave you from here.”

“Thank you, Miss. I appreciate your help. And send my regards to Charles Xavier.”

Sage nodded and left him to his fate. If he wanted to get help from Sinister, who was she to judge? But she had a feeling that Charles would want her to keep a closer eye on his activities from now on.

Hank entered the elevator and waited for it to move. He couldn’t help but be a little nervous. There was a time not long ago when he was optimistic and idealistic about the future. He thought that he could use his genius and his mutation to serve mankind. But when he needed help, nobody was there for him. Nobody bothered to lend their support in his darkest hours. Now the idea of serving humanity seemed a little less appealing. After what he had been through, he questioned the notion of such idealism. This was the real world. True advancement could only happen with the proper circumstances.

But he tried not to think about such conflicts as the elevator began to move. Sinister was his last hope. He was supposed to be the most brilliant genetic scientist in the world. He wasn’t a well-known figure in the academic world. In fact, the only way he was able to get in contact with him was through his old research from England. Most of it was buried, hidden, or even in secure areas, but Hank was resourceful. He wasn’t above simple computer hacking. Desperation made him do crazy things, but this man was the only one with the know-how and resources to help him.

The ride felt like an eternity. When it finally stopped, Hank took a deep breath in anticipation for what lay ahead. The doors opened and Sinister was right there waiting for him.

“Doctor…Dr. Essex?” he said nervously.

“Greetings Henry McCoy,” he greeted in his dark tone, “Glad you could make it. And please, call me Sinister.”

“Of…of course. My apologies.”

“Save them. We have much to discuss. But first, get rid of that unsightly coat. It’s hardly appropriate for a laboratory setting.”

Hank was still nervous, but judging by this man’s appearance it was hard to believe he would judge. He told him in his email that he was physically different as well, but he never expected him to be this different. His jet black hair, pale white skin, and shark-like teeth was pretty telling. He could see how he got the name Sinister. But at the same time if anybody could understand what it was like dealing with an inhuman appearance, it was this man.

He removed his trench coat, revealing his blue, fur-covered body. He tried to make himself presentable, but with no money and few clothes in his size that was not easy. His large, ape-like limbs stretched his shirt and pants with bulging muscle. No regular shoe could fit him so he had to use an oversized ski boot. It was hardly good fashion sense, but Sinister didn’t seem turned off.

“Much better,” he said with a grin, “Come…let me show you the lab.”

Hank anxiously followed Sinister into his work area. It didn’t take long for him to be amazed by his setup. He had worked in labs before, but none of them were this advanced. He had equipment that was only supposed to be on paper. Some of it shouldn’t have even existed. It was almost amusing to see the look in his eye. He rarely had visitors and even when he did they never showed this kind of enthusiasm. It showed Hank had an appreciation for science and that was a big deal for Mr. Sinister.

He started with the basics, explaining to Hank the nature of his work. He told him about his history with mutants going back over decades of research. He went into great detail about some of the complex experiments he carried out to uncover the secrets of mutation and to his surprise Hank understood every word of it. He didn’t ask many questions. He just let Sinister talk until he got around to telling him his major goal for mutant research. This was what caught Hank’s attention the most.

“So you say it’s possible to accelerate the genetic progression of mutant DNA in only one generation?” inquired Hank as he looked over some of Sinister’s research and gene models, “Does this extend to the physiological progression? The metabolic rates in the cellular functions seem to be lagging.”

“A very astute observation,” grinned Sinister, “And you’re right. It does extend beyond genetics. I believe it goes all the way to the mind and even the proverbial soul if you will. But at this point in time it is merely theory. On paper it works. In reality, however, it has yet to be perfected.”

“But you’re working on it.”

“Indeed I am,” said Sinister, “I’ve dedicated my life to unlocking the secrets of life. I believe that humanity unique in their ability to understand their own nature, yet flawed in their failure to accept it. Even in the face of such a wealth of knowledge, they do not understand. And as I’m sure you know full well humanity fears what it doesn’t understand.”

“No need to prove yourself there. My life experience, particularly in the past few years, has been an extemporaneous experiment in injustice. You can probably gather from my disheveled appearance that my own scientific research has been difficult at best.”

“Oh I understand. Believe me, I understand,” said Sinister, placing a hand on the burly shoulder of the young man, “I started my research at a time when most people still believed the Earth was created in six days. Humanity is capable of remarkable feats, but when it comes to accepting new science their progress is nothing short of glacial. Only men like us who truly appreciate the potential of nature can grasp its potential.”

“I’m…flattered,” said Hank, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“You should be. I’m not one for compliments and small talk. I’m a man of strict discipline…which brings me to why I invited you here.”

Hank held back more nervousness. This man was clearly more a genius than he could ever hope to be. He had a lifetime of experience while he was just a young man still learning. His grasp of science was unlike anything he had ever seen before and through him he saw the potential to help himself.

“You’re a brilliant man, Henry, but you’re focus is your greatest shortcoming,” said Sinister, “You have the knowledge and the drive, but not the guidance. The world works in mysterious and complicated ways and if you don’t know how to work with them they will crush you like an insect. That’s where I come in.”

“I see,” said Hank, growing more intrigued, “What exactly are you offering me, sir?”

Sinister grinned and led Hank over towards one of his experiments that he had stored on a slide in his microscope. He turned on the main screen, bringing up an image of DNA.

“I want you to be my assistant and confidante. I want you to help me carry out my grand vision for the mutant race. Just imagine what our minds can accomplish together. Imagine the possibilities!”

“That’s a…tempting offer, sir. But the reason I came here was…”

“Your mutation, yes I know. You want to reverse the damage you did by taking that serum you so hastily consumed. But I’ll tell you right now that you’d be making a mistake in doing so.”

“What?!” exclaimed Hank, “But look at me! How can I be of any use to the world looking like this?!”

“Oh I am looking at you,” said Sinister in a strangely calm tone, “That’s exactly why I know it is a mistake.”

Hank was outraged. He blew the last of his money to come and meet this guy and now he wouldn’t even help him be human again? What kind of scientist was he? He wasn’t normal, but that was a given due to his appearance. But even with all his resources he still wouldn’t help him.

“I…I just want to look human again,” said Hank in a calmer tone.

“No you don’t,” scoffed Sinister, “Why be normal when you’ve been given this extraordinary gift? You look in the mirror and see a monster. I look at you and I see a marvel of nature. Why not embrace it?”

“But I don’t want to embrace it! I want to control it!”

“This is what you are, Hank McCoy. Do what you will to your appearance, you will never change that. Control is only relative. Despite what men like Charles Xavier would have you believe, we are all products of nature. You can either fight it or accept it.”

It was the cold hard truth. Sinister was a blunt man. He didn’t mince words. But harsh as they were, Hank understood what he was trying to say. It just didn’t feel like he could live like this.

Sinister moved closer to the confused young man. There was so much potential in him and he wanted to squander it. It shouldn’t have surprised him. Youth had a way of clouding the mind. But at the same time, his youth was an asset. He was still learning about the true workings of the world and he just happened to be in need of a helping hand.

“Forget about your appearance for now,” said Sinister, “Join me. Help me with my work. As brilliant as I am, I am only one man. I need someone of your intellect to further my research. You’d not only be my pupil, you’d have access to all the wealth and comforts of the Hellfire Club. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I implore you to take it seriously.”

Hank studied the strange man’s expression. He was hard to read with those penetrating red eyes of his, but the brilliant man trapped in the body of a beast was not afraid. He had already lived his worst fear. Deciding whether or not to take up such an offer was merely a matter of reason.

“And what of this research?” asked Hank, “What do I get out of it in the long term?”

Sinister smiled intently.

“A chance to evolve beyond the realm of beasts and men…and become gods.”

Hank’s expression changed. He sounded pretty ambitious. Whatever this vision of his was, it was truly grand. And he always wanted to use his gifts for something of such magnitude. Perhaps this was his chance to do so and move beyond his past mistakes.

“Gods, you say?” he said with a half-grin, “You know in Greek mythology, whenever man sought the power of the gods they cursed mankind with new afflictions.”

“Is that a yes or a no?” said Sinister.

“I’m just making the point that should we get to that level we must be prepared. Even nature can have a temper of mythological proportions.”

“So that’s a yes then.”

“Affirmative, Mister Sinister,” said Hank proudly, extending his gorilla-like hand to the mysterious man, “I’d be happy to help unlock the power of the gods.”

Sinister smiled once more and shook the young man’s hand. Xavier had his pupils. Now he had one of his own. And he would need him. There was a lot of work to be done.

Brotherhood of Mutants Lair

It was an exciting time for the Brotherhood. Magneto’s plan was set to begin soon. For months he and his team had been gathering information. The target was a major United States military base located in Colorado not far from NORAD. This was where a significant portion of America’s nuclear might was stationed. These weapons of mass destruction were born out of the fire of the same conflict that took his family from him. It seemed fitting that they would be the means of humanity’s destruction and the stepping stone for mutant liberation.

The Master of Magnetism would leave nothing to chance. Everything had to go perfectly. Wanda and Pietro had been coordinating with Toad, Blob, Avalanche, and Pyro to gather intelligence on the layout and surroundings of the area and he sent special agent infiltrate NORAD from the inside, obtaining classified schematics outlining their security system and personnel. They knew everything they needed to know about the target and the forces they were up against. Given their power and resolve, he was confident nobody would stand in his way.

At the moment Magneto was looking over a digital map of the United States and a list of target that the warheads were primed to hit. The rest of the Brotherhood was with him, having worked hard to make sure everything was in place. They were a collection of outlaws and outcasts, but under Magneto’s leadership they were going to be at the top of the mutant hierarchy once the order of homo sapiens fell.

“So this is it, huh? This is where it’ll all go down,” commented Toad.

“Indeed, Toad. This is where the old world order dies and the new order begins,” said Magneto in a stern, commanding tone, “This is where mutants everywhere take a stand.”

“And it’s about bloody time!” grinned Pyro, “I can’t wait to burn me some humans! It’ll be a regular outback bar-be-que! Ha!”

“Don’t waste too much fire, Pyro. The nukes will do most of the burning,” said Pietro.

“All the more reason to burn as much as I can!”

“Don’t hog them all, flame brain. Leave some action for the rest of us,” said Avalanche.

“Oh rest assured, my Brotherhood, there will be plenty to go around,” said Magneto, “But remember the plan. We must make it so the rest of the world believes the nukes are an act of aggression by the United States. That way every other country with nukes will retaliate. The resulting loss of life should severely trim humanity’s numbers and nuclear winter will take care of the rest.”

“Sounds like natural selection at its best!” grinned Blob, “I always thought the world was overpopulated anyways.”

“But what about the other mutants?” asked Toad, “What makes you so sure they’ll join us when the dust settles?”

Magneto scoffed. These concerns were only minor in the grand scheme of things. His Brotherhood was strong, but there were still things they had yet to grasp.

“Oh don’t worry about that,” he said, “If they value their lives, they’ll join us. I’ve already laid the foundation for a new settlement to wait out the chaos that will surely follow. And when the dust settles, a new order shall rise…one where mutants dominate and humans are the outcasts.”

It was an ambitious vision. Magneto wanted to reset the hierarchy of the entire world and Brotherhood would be there to witness it. For Toad, Avalanche, Blob, and Pyro it was more grand than anything they ever thought they could be a part of. For Wanda and Pietro, however, the feeling was mixed. They believed in their father’s dream too, but his means were questionable. They remembered how he told them stories about the horrors of the holocaust and it looked as though he was about to incur a holocaust of his own. It seemed somewhat unfitting, but they didn’t speak up. All they could do was adhere to the words of their father.

“So we’re set then,” said Pietro as he looked over the plans.

“Yes, my son. Everything is in place,” affirmed Magneto as he zeroed in on the target on their map, “It all begins tomorrow. We’ll have a narrow window to operate under. My agent reported that she has infiltrated security. She’ll knock out communications and we’ll make our move.”

“Sounds easy enough,” shrugged Pyro, “By the way, are we ever going to meet this agent you’ve been going on about all these months?”

“Yeah, if she’s so important why haven’t we met her?” asked Avalnche.

“And more importantly, how do we know we can trust her?” said Wanda seriously.

Magneto was about to answer when he was abruptly cut off by a new presence.

“Because anonymity is key in any infiltration. And if I’m to do my part, I had to keep my distance.”

“Ah Mystique,” greeted Magneto, “Glad you could make it.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Erik,” grinned the shape shifter.

Raven Darkholme had encountered some tough assignments, but none were quite like this before. The Brotherhood of Mutants was a collection of misfits and outcasts, much like herself at one point. The only difference here is they were following a man with more ambition than sense. But that didn’t matter. Soon enough he and his little crew would see the world for what it was.

The sight of the blue skinned shape shifter came as a surprise to the rest of the team, even Wanda and Pietro. The men were largely drawn in by her appearance. Even for a woman of her appearance, they had to admit she was pretty attractive. For Wanda, however, something didn’t feel right. But as usual, she didn’t speak up. If her father trusted her then she didn’t have a choice. That didn’t make her feel any less suspicious, but she set that aside for now. Tomorrow was a big day.

Xavier Tower

Warren Worthington III stepped out of the elevator and into the training arena. He was going on his second day without sleep, but it didn’t show in his demeanor. Ever since he joined the Hellfire Club, he took on a stern, stoic poise that commanded respect. The cynical, bitter young man who was once the Avenging Angel had given way to a new, more mature persona. But this new side to him wasn’t without a touch of darkness.

“Warren, is that you?” a voice called out from the west end of the arena.

“What is it, Scott?” he replied, “I have to get started on my training.”

“You’ll have to put that on hold. Lord Xavier just gave me some updated protocols. Apparently, our time tables have been accelerated.”

Warren groaned. He feared this might happen. He’s barely gotten into his training and already something comes up. He was supposed to expect the unexpected. The Hellfire Club had already shown him a lot of things he once thought were impossible like real magic, worldwide control networks, and technology at least fifty years ahead of the rest of the world. But he was still learning.

Over at the south end Jean and Scott were waiting. Since joining they started working with Warren, training together and getting to know one another. Seeing as how they were part of a new class of recruits, Xavier saw fit to have them function as a team. It was supposed to make things easier down the line as they matured into part of the Inner Circle. But they were already encountering obstacles.

“So what’s this about?” asked Warren.

“What else? Our first mission,” said Scott as he handed Warren an unmarked folder.

“Already? But I haven’t even made it past level four training.”

“That’ll have to do,” said Jean, “Lord Xavier was explicit. This mission is to be our top priority. He also says it’s where we must prove ourselves.”

“Trial by fire, huh? So much for easing into things,” commented Warren.

The winged mutant read over the files. There were detailed accounts of a group known as the Brotherhood of Mutants. He didn’t bother with the whole thing. He just skimmed it to get the gist of it. There wasn’t too much to it. Some renegade mutant extremists were out to destroy human civilization and rebuild it from the ground up. It sounded like something right out of a comic book.

“Are these guys for real?” he scoffed.

“Don’t take them lightly, Warren. I’ve actually read the whole thing,” said Scott, “That man with the helmet…he’s an old friend of Xavier’s. And he’s dangerous.”

“How dangerous could he be? The guy wears a bucket for a hat.”

“That bucket makes him immune from psychics, Warren,” said Scott in a serious tone, “Which is why we have to follow a plan. Mr. Sinister and that new assistant of his have already programmed some training scenarios. We’re going to be working on them for the rest of the night so be ready.”

“Fine by me,” shrugged Warren, “I was always more for learn by doing anyways.”

“Well you’ll get your chance here…we all will,” said Jean, “So let’s do Xavier and Selene proud.”

Warren nodded and made his way to the preparation area where his instructors were waiting. He should have been nervous. He hadn’t been at Hellfire that long and already he was going on a mission. Scott and Jean had done a lot more training and he was still learning the basics. But time was one of the few luxuries Hellfire couldn’t afford. Charles Xavier was a patient man, but when it came to threats he was ruthless in his handling of them. That kind of ruthlessness was still sinking in for Warren. Maybe by experiencing it first hand he could understand it.

As he went about his preparations, Scott and Jean exchanged concerned looks. They were still getting to know Warren and for the most part he was a pretty nice guy. Scott trained with him, played cards with him, and hung out with him. Jean also spent some time with him. It was a little easier for her because she had sex with him during his initial recruitment, but she noticed there was something different about him now compared to when he first showed up. And she suspected it had to do with what happened with Selene.

“He doesn’t seem too nervous,” said Jean.

“Should we be worried?” asked Scott.

“I don’t know. I guess having extra confidence couldn’t hurt.”

“That’s not what I mean,” she said, “He seems a little…dark since Selene went to town on him.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed that too. But then again he was a little stubborn about giving Hellfire a chance.”

“I know, but still…I’m worried. He’s got the drive. And Selene is…”

Jean trailed off, not wanting to speak ill of the Black Queen. Scott nodded in understanding. She had a point. While it was nice that Warren was taking to the ways of the Hellfire Club, he may run the risk of losing himself in the process. They couldn’t have that. They were the future of the Hellfire Club. They had to stay true to their path.

“I know,” said Scott, placing a hand on Jean’s shoulder, “We’ll just have to be there for him. We’re all in this together.”

His words were strong and definitely rang true. They had been in the Hellfire Club long enough to know that it was impossible to survive without allies. Even Selene wasn’t foolish enough to go it alone. But they were lucky. They got along pretty well from the moment they met. Warren’s circumstances were different. He had tried to be a hero and make a difference, but failed in the process. Now he was doing something similar with them. They couldn’t blame him for being a little messed up about it. Hopefully this first mission went well and they would all be stronger because of it. Should they win the day, it would entrench their role in the Hellfire Club for a long time to come.

New Orleans

“Eight ball…back pocket.”

The confident voice of Remy Lebeau signaled the defeat of yet another unfortunate hustler at Cajun Country Pool Hall, a small hangout and popular destination in the darker parts of the city. Holding the cue skillfully between his thumb and index finger, the young Cajun struck the cue ball in a crisp hit, sending it on a perfect path to the eight ball. The cracking strike sent it ricocheting off the front end, off the side, and into the back pocket. It was the kind of shot only an experienced pool shark could make on a regular basis and Remy definitely qualified.

“You son-of-a-bitch,” said a big, burly man who had just lost the game.

“That’s another fifty bucks,” said Remy triumphantly.

“How about best three out of five? Double or nothing?”

“How about you pay up, homme? You don’t want dis to get nasty, do ya?”

“Ha! You threatening me, punk?”

“If you gotta ask you’re either too dumb or too scared. Which is it?”

“Why you…”

The man was about to teach this punk a lesson in respect. But then he pulled out a playing card from his pocket and when it touched his fingers, it started glowing brilliantly. It caught the burly man off guard. Either he was seeing things or this guy had more too him than messy hair and an annoying accent.

“Careful what you say next, mon ami. Don’t call Remy’s bluff if y’all don’t have de hand to back it up.”

The burley man studied his face. It was hard to read because his eyes had this strange hue to them. He wasn’t sure if he was wearing some strange contact lenses or if those were his actual eyes. If they were his then that was a bad sign. And judging by the way that card was glowing he had more than just an ace up his sleeve. As much as he hated to admit, he was out of his league. He didn’t stand a chance against a freak so he grudgingly reached into his pocket and pulled out fifty dollars.

“Smart move,” grinned Remy, “A good player always knows when to fold.”

“Yeah whatever,” he grunted as he grabbed his coat and stormed out.

“Aww, don’t be a spoiled sport,” he teased.

“Shut it freak.”

Remy laughed and shook his head. Some people were just sore losers. Setting aside his cue, he made his way to the bar for a drink. He felt a few curious eyes on him, but he ignored them all. Enough people knew this place well enough to know that mutants came here. Anybody who had a problem with that could simply take their business elsewhere. It was also a popular hangout for thieves, thugs, and outlaws. The famous New Orleans Thieves Guild had a lot of friends in this area. It was the kind of place where Remy Lebeau felt right at home.

As a young, aspiring thief his reputation was on the rise. Once an orphan, he was trained in the art of thieving by Jean-Luc Lebeau, a major figure in the Thieve’s Guild. He took him in when he was just a boy and taught him how to fight, steal, and survive in the criminal underworld. He also had the benefit of being a mutant. He could charge any inorganic material and make it explode. It came in real handy on the job. Plus, it impressed the ladies. And on a night like this with some fresh cash in his pocket and a winning streak to boot, he could use a little action.

Upon getting a drink, Remy started scoping out the bar. There weren’t too many women at the moment, but that’s because it was still early. Usually the girls didn’t come in until after ten or so. But he noticed a few. There was a cute little blonde flirting with a guy near a juke box and a couple of girls who he gathered were sisters sharing a drink and some fries at a table. Maybe he could work his charm and get the sisters to double up with him. It had been a while since he enjoyed a three-way anyhow and tonight seemed as good a night as any.

He was about to get up and walk over when a new presence broke his conversation.

“Remy Lebeau, shooting pool on a Thursday night like always,” said a female voice, “As regular as the setting sun.”

Remy turned to see a tall, elegant African woman approaching the bar. She had long white hair, blue eyes, and mocha colored skin. She was wearing an exotic halter top with tiger strips and skin tight leather pants that really showed off her legs. It didn’t take long for Remy to forget about the twins and set his sights on a new target.

But Ororo Munroe wasn’t about to give into his charms. She was here on assignment and nothing was going to keep her from doing her job.

“Do I know you?” he asked in a cocky tone.

“I know you,” she grinned, “My name is Storm. You’re Remy Lebeau, member of the Thieve’s Guild, adopted son of Jean-Luc Lebeau, and a halfway decent pool shark.”

“Halfway?” said Remy with a cocked eyebrow.

“That’s being generous. But I’m not here to discuss pool. I’m here to deliver a message.”

“A message huh?” he said with increasing curiosity, “Who sent you? The Assassins Guild?”

“Do I look like an Assassin?” she scoffed, “No, I represent something much bigger than your petty little feud.”

“Careful, cherè,” warned Remy, “Don’t be sayin’ words dat’ll earn you de wrath of some very unfriendly people.”

“Don’t try to scare me, Lebau. I know how to handle myself.”

To prove her point, she kicked up a mini-tornado in the palm of her hands. She also made her eyes turn extra white, making it clear to Remy who and what she was and he definitely got the message. And if she wasn’t mistaken, he looked intrigued. It wasn’t so much the message she brought, but her herself. His reputation with the ladies showed. That made her job a lot easier.

“You’re a mutant?” he said.

“I am. Just like you,” she replied, “I speak on behalf of an organization that has a special place for mutants. The Hellfire Club.”

“The Hellfire Club? Word is they went under.”

“Don’t believe everything you hear,” said Ororo, “They’re alive and well. In fact, they’re thriving and looking to expand. And someone with your skills could be a real asset.”

“You tryin’ to flatter Remy now?” he said, flashing her a winning smile.

“I’m trying to get my point across,” she replied in an annoyed tone, “You’re a powerful mutant and a good thief, but that’ll only get you so far fighting proxy wars in the Bayou. Now I’m not going to make you an offer on the spot. My associate doesn’t work like that. I’m merely giving you an option.”

Ororo then reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card that Xavier gave her and gave it to him. It didn’t contain information that was very detailed, of course, but it would link him to a line of communication that would allow him to get in touch with the Hellfire Club. They didn’t pass these things out regularly so this guy better take it seriously.

“Charles Xavier, huh?” said Remy as he read the card.

“That’s his name. And let me tell you from personal experience, the man knows business. If you really want to take your trade to the next level, I’d give it some thought. Until then, have fun hustling pool for chump change.”

Ororo chose to leave it on that note. She turned towards the door, not expecting to see this guy again. From the looks of it, he didn’t exactly seem like Hellfire material. But she was just a messenger. What Charles saw in reaching out to people like Remy Lebeau was beyond her, but that was why she was not in the Inner Circle.

“Wait!” said Remy, stopping her before she left.

“What?” said Ororo in an exasperated tone.

The Cajun mutant shot her another smile. Only this wasn’t his usual seductive gesture. This was something more.

“If Remy decides to ever take up dis ‘option’ as you call it…does dat mean I’ll be seein’ you again, Miss Storm?”

Ororo stared down the rugged Cajun for a moment. Then she smiled. The man was cocky, but he was also pretty attractive. And there was nothing wrong with being a little playful even if he didn’t seem like her type.

“You never know,” she said coyly, “Just hang onto that card. You never know when you may need it.”

It wasn’t a no. That was a good sign in Remy’s book. He watched as the exotic woman made her leave and then turned back to the card. Most of the time he would have shrugged offers like this off. It wasn’t like he hadn’t been approached before to take up new jobs. But this one felt different. This may actually be worth looking into. But for now, he had other affairs to worry about. Maybe down the line he would give this Hellfire Club a chance.

Hellfire Manor – Xavier’s Office

It had been a busy day for Charles Xavier. The business world never slept and there were always problems coming up here or there. The world was a big place and the Hellfire Club was a big organization. There was never a shortage of things to do, but today was especially momentous. An event that had been brewing for years was finally taking shape and it had grave implications for the Hellfire Club. But as always, he positioned his forces perfectly to take advantage of it.

On his live-feed video, he was chatting with one of his most skilled and well-paid associates, Raven Darkholme. Raven, or Mystique as she was better known, was a notorious mercenary with an illustrious career of backstabbing and deceit. She was cunning and ruthless, yet determined and spirited. For that reason, Xavier sought her out years ago and led her down a new path in the Hellfire Club. She had been skeptical at first, but over the years he convinced her of his ways. Since then, they had been working closely on numerous endeavors and Xavier always made sure she was well-compensated for her efforts. For a time he thought about bringing her into the Inner Circle, but she was more suited for field work.

“So everything’s in place?” asked Xavier upon hearing her report.

“Ready and waiting,” affirmed the shape shifter, “Magneto doesn’t suspect a thing.”

“Good. Make sure you keep it that way. Erik doesn’t take kindly to betrayal.”

“Relax, Charles. I can handle him,” she said confidently, “And even if he does find out, you know me. There’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Don’t get too confident, Raven. I know this man very well. He may be a hopelessly lost cause, but he’s still dangerous. He’ll stop at nothing to carry out his wishes.”

“So I’ve learned,” muttered Mystique, who had developed many headaches listening to that man rant about mutant superiority, “I still think it would be easier if you just let me kill him.”

“That’s not how I do things. You know that, Raven. And you are not to reveal yourself at any point, even after the mission is over. Let our pawns will take care of this.”

“If you say so,” sighed the shape shifter, “But I have to warn you these guys are pretty rough. They may be mindless thugs, but they’re not afraid to fight dirty.”

“Neither are my pawns,” assured Xavier, “Trust me, they need this. You’re my fail safe.”

“When am I not?” she grinned, “And if this goes well, I may just take a second look at that offer you made me earlier this year.”

Xavier smiled. He was hoping she would bring this up.

“Ah yes. You’re…family.”

“Don’t get too ahead of yourself,” warned Raven, “I’ll only consider it after I see the fruits of Hellfire training in action. Got it?”

“I understand completely,” said Charles.

There was a noise over the line. It sounded like there was some activity going on close to wherever Mystique was making this transmission. That was a clear signal that this call had to end.

“Damn, I better go,” said Mystique, “I’ll keep the emergency frequency open just in case.”

“Hopefully we won’t need it,” replied Xavier, “Good luck, Raven. I’ll see you once the mission is complete. Over and out.”

Xavier switched off his computer, leaving the shape shifter to do what she had to do. This was turning into an expensive endeavor. Mystique commanded some major fees for jobs like this, but it would be worth it if his pawns succeeded. Not only would that prove to Selene that he was right in beginning this program, it would help harden his recruits. They were already beginning to embrace the ways of the Hellfire Club. This would entrench them permanently in their hold.

In addition, it might provide him with another source of recruits. Mystique herself was a tough fighter. Hopefully, her kids shared that mentality. It may just prove to be good Hellfire Club material. In the meantime, he had other prospects to started on. There were reports from his contacts in the Russian mob that a mutant with great strength and invulnerability was making a name for himself. It might be worth checking in on.

Selene’s Chamber

The air was thick with activity in the chamber of the Black Queen. Mystical energy simmered throughout the room, guided by the whim of a woman who wielded power on a level even the best mystics could only dream of. What she was about to do couldn’t be done by just any sorceress. It took a refined touch, an iron will, and a heart of darkness. Selene had all of that and then some.

She was completely naked except for a thin black robe that covered part of her body. In front of her was a large drawing of a pentagram on a stone wall. Each side had special symbols etched in and filled with a special mixture of incense, herbs, and the blood of a few ‘generous’ donors. It was built to mimic a gateway, but this gate didn’t lead to just anywhere. It was a portal into a realm of immense power and Selene had spent the vast majority of her life trying to tap it.

“Come to me! I call out to the darkness through the Gate of Orcus! Come to me! Grant me your presence!”

She continued chanting phrases in various languages. The outline of the symbol was soon glowing with great intensity, filling the whole area with intense white light. The power was so great it blew out many of the candles and knocked over her assorted relics and charms. Upon uttering the final phrases, the Black Queen stood fearlessly in front of the glowing symbol and opened her arms in a welcoming gesture.

“I can feel you…now show yourself!” she commanded.

Through the light, a figure emerged. Only this figure wasn’t human. Selene’s maddened expression intensified as she made out the new presence. The creature was tall and imposing, standing at over seven feet tall with dark gray skin. It was built like man on steroids, ripped with muscle and manly flesh. It had blood red eyes, long black hair, and two gray horns extending from its head. In addition, it was completely nude. It was just what she had been hoping for. A real, in the flesh demon was in her presence. It aroused her in a way few things could.

“Selene…”

“Take me,” she said intently.

The demon grinned and summoned more darkness from the gate. Black tendrils shot out from behind the demon and shredded her robe, leaving the Black Queen completely nude. The demon then approached her and roughly fondled her breasts, evoking a deep moan from the powerful woman. She was now breathing intently. Her heart was pounding and the area between her legs became slick with arousal. She craved the darkness and it carved her.

The tendrils then grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up off the floor so she was face-to-face with the demon. Then several tendrils slithered down her legs and forcefully pried them open while two more slithered around her back and started roughly fondling her breasts. Then from the demon’s lower regions, a cluster of muscle opened to reveal a large penis that quickly grew erect. It also slithered about with a life of it’s own, acting like a tentacle and it soon found its way to Selene’s wet opening.

She was so excited. She grasped the heavily muscled neck of the demonic figure. The skin felt cold and rough, yet still burned with a distinctly hellish feel. Normal men never got her this worked up. Only demons, creatures of true darkness, could arouse her in such a way. And as any good sorceress knows, certain demons specialized in sex. They were among her favorite and helped fuel her insatiable appetite for pleasure while adding to her equally great hunger for power.

“Give it to me,” she gasped.

“I’ll do to you as I wish!”

The throbbing dick forcefully plowed into her wet vagina, filling her in a way no normal human man could. The size was great, stretching her immensely. It was painful, but she didn’t care about pain. If anything, the pain added to the feeling and fueled her lust for pleasure. The demon’s eyes flashed red, sending a surge of sensations through Selene’s body that aroused her even more. Then it took her in it’s powerful arms and began relentlessly humping her, its slithery member pounding in and out of her like a piston.

“Yes-yes-yes-YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!” cried the Black Queen in ecstasy.

The demon’s growled with monstrous intent as it fucked this woman long and hard. The slithery tendrils slithered around her body. They were like elongated tongues tasting every inch of her flesh. They slid up and down her legs, fondling her clit and butt. They also traced over her breasts, roughly licking her nipples and squeezing them together. The demon also showed off a slithery, serpent-like tongue it used to ‘kiss’ the Black Queen. Human females were always somewhat of a delicacy for demons and any chance at having one sent them into a frenzy.

Selene’s body bounced and contorted to the demon’s relentless fucking. It squeezed and fondled her with all the lust and hunger a dark being could offer. The Black Queen’s screams intensified. The faster it went, the more intense the sensations. And the more she felt them, the more she craved them. It was pleasure in its greatest form, only laced with darkness. It was the perfect combination for Selene and the demon seemed to enjoy it as well.

The light from the gate started pulsing. The demon used the tendrils to fuck this woman in various ways. It turned her around and rammed its oversized cock into her ass, which made her scream even louder. The tendrils that were foundling her breasts even moved up and worked their way into her mouth where she sucked on them as if she were giving a blowjob. It also stretched her out, giving the demon a full view of her naked body as it ravaged her without mercy, leaning over and licking over her breasts.

Selene climaxed multiple times. But her cries of ecstasy were muffled out by the demon’s continued fucking. When she got too loud, it shoved its tongue into her mouth to silence her. It was close to cumming. While sex demons didn’t cum like regular humans, it was capable of experiencing a sexual release. That release didn’t fertilize a female unless certain conditions were met. It was mostly for the purpose of pleasure and if the woman was of an equally dark soul, she would feel the pleasure as well.

The demon’s eyes widened as it neared its peak. It squeezed her hips with its powerful hands while the tendrils slithered over her breasts, legs, and butt. Selene felt it too and arched her body in preparation for the intense feeling that was sure to come. The growling demon drooled over her, roaring mercilessly as the light from the gate consumed them.

“Uh-uh-uh-uh-oh-the darkness-uh-oh-oh-OH YEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!”

The throbbing member exploded inside her, filling her with a massive amount of cum. It gave Selene her most powerful orgasm yet. Waves of pleasure the likes of which were only possible with the presence of true darkness surged through her body. There was so much cum it splattered onto her breasts and down her inner thighs. The demon’s face contorted with pleasure as well, its eyes flashing bright red at the mortal sensations taken from this beautiful woman.

When it was all over, the tendrils set Selene back on the floor and the demon stepped back through the gate and into its proper realm. As nice as it was coming through and fucking a human woman, too much time in the real world was sickening. There were only so many interactions the two realms could have. It was all part of the balance that kept angels, demons, and humans in order. Selene often resented that order. If she had her way she wouldn’t have to go through this shit to get a good demon fuck. But that was the current state of universe and there was nothing she could do about it…yet.

The Black Queen, covered in sweat, cum, and drool from the demon, was left kneeled over in an effort to catch her breath. Her body was reeling from the pleasure, but she wasn’t done yet. Through the gate, she called out to the forces beyond. She knew few would hear her out, but there were some on the other side who felt the same way as she did about those pesky rules about magic.

“Wait!” she yelled into the gate.

“I’m here, Selene.”

“How much longer until my power evolves to the next level?” she asked intently, “I’ve been studying and training for decades! I’ve reached the peak of human mystical potential! When can I go further?”

“Patience, Selene…patience. There is still much for you to do if you are ever to attain the power you desire.”

“But what more is there?!”

“You’ll see. When the time is right, you’ll have your chance. Until then, continue your rituals. The darkness will eventually lead you to your greatest desire.”

The gate closed, leaving Selene to ponder those cryptic words. It was always disappointing no matter how many times she asked. She had lived many centuries and mastered powers that no human ever mastered before. And yet it still wasn’t enough. She knew she was capable of more, but she couldn’t take that next step just yet. She had to be patient. But being the immortal woman she was, she wasn’t worried. It wasn’t a matter of if she would gain ultimate power. It was only a matter of when. And heaven help all those who dare stood in her way.

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Up next: The pawns undergo their first test and Charles Xavier looks into other recruits.