Subject: Brotherly Hate 6/14: A tale of the AOA Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996 02:43:42 +0000 From: Snowlock Organization: Corporate Communications Newsgroups: alt.comics.fan-fiction Here we go, tonight's edition. ________________ Brotherly Hate: Chapter 6 Night has fallen over Kiev, the second since the strike time went to Minsk. Mikhail Rasputin is asleep, though not peacefully. He is currently having a nightmare. In it, hordes of humans, millions of them, are piling one on top of the other to try to drag down a powerful figure towering above them. Like maggots climbing on a corpse, the humans seek to claw their way up this figure's powerful silver and blue armor-clad legs. A massive sword is in the giant's hands, but he seems ill-disposed to use it against those weaker than him. Compassion proves his undoing, and the human vermin overwhelm him, covering him in their naked filth until the honorable warrior is buried at the last, only one blue and silver gauntleted hand uncovered. Soon that too, now clenched in a fist, is gone. The dreamscape shifts to an idyllic scene. He and his brother are back on the collective, which has been rebuilt, repopulated. Mutants, freed at last, have come to Urst Ordyanski and changed it to utopia. A figure walks up the sidewalk toward the Rasputins. She is tall, beautiful. Her golden hair gently swaying with her hips. A tiny hand is in hers, just as beautiful, hair just as golden. Laynia and Illyana. "She does not have to die, Mikhail." Mikhail's eyes snap open. That was no voice from a dream. That was real! Out of the shadows of the corner of his room, the Soul Skinner steps into the light. The mutant horror is again disguised as the simple Russian, Yuri Androv. Mikhail: So you survived, Illyietch. Skinner: Only because you wanted me to. Mikhail: I promise you, if you do not leave now, you will not find me again so charitable toward my enemies. Skinner: I am not your enemy, and you know it. You are surrounded by your enemies. Mikhail: The humans? Perhaps, perhaps not. But one thing I know for certain, my sister is not my enemy, though she too is human. Skinner: It was a... mistake, to force you to choose between your brethren and your sister. It will not happen again. Mikhail: No, it will not. I will not be tempted again. Skinner: The offer will not be made again! Listen to me, Nicoleivitch, the days of your allies are numbered. The forces arrayed against you up to this point are nothing compared to what is coming. Mikhail: Do not be so foolish as to threaten me! We know all about Scimitar... Skinner: You know nothing! Your prescious strike team to Minsk has been discovered! They are all dead now. Kiev will fall, Rasputin! En Sabah Nur would not like to see you fall with it. I have another message for you, Mikhail. One from a person very dear to you. If you will submit yourself to my talents, I shall deliver it. It is from Darkstar. “Laynia!!” Mikhail: Be very carefull, prelate. I will allow it, but do not think you are powerful enough to control me. The Soul Skinner places his hands, returned to reptillian green, on each side of Mikhail's head. Mikhail sucks in his breath sharply as the Soul Skinner enters his mind and begins the process of pealing away the outer layers of Rasputin's pysche so the message may be delivered. In his mind's eye, Rasputin's memories and thoughts begin to swirl colorfully as the Soul Skinner invades. Suddenly, the swirls coalesce into a figure Mikhail has beheld in his day dreams ever since she left him, months ago. Laynia Petrovna. Darkstar. She is clad in a white gown, a wedding gown? Her hands reach out to her and she begins. Laynia: Mikhi, my love... Suddenly, she is gone, as is Androv. The door to Mikhail's room opens and in steps his brother, Piotr. Mikhail: Colossus! Get out of here, now! Colossus, not Piotr? Piotr: Mikhi we need to talk. Your sister and I are very worried about you. Mikhail: To hell with you, and Illyana! Piotr: What?! Surely, you do not mean to say such things. Mikhail: Who are you to say what I mean and do not mean. You interupted me in the middle of something very important!! Piotr: What? Sleep? Mikhi, there is no one else here!! He is right. The Soul Skinner is gone. Mikhail: What do you want, Colossus? Piotr: I was speaking with our sister, earlier. She said she has no recollection of your encounter with Nicodemus's prelate back home. I was wondering if you had anything to do with it. Mikhail: What encounter? I have never met any of En Sabah Nur's men, and neither has Illyana. Perhaps you misheard her. "En Sabah Nur instead of Apocalypse? My God, Mikhi, what is happening to you?" the X Man thinks. Piotr: No. I did not. Nor did I mishear you relate these events to me at our reunion earlier this week. I am not imagining this either. Mikhail: Are you saying I am crazy, Tovarisch? Piotr: You have been under much strain, Mikhi. Perhaps you should have someone look at you. Mikhail: You _do_ believe I am going crazy! Get out of here, Colossus, before I forget you are my brother!! Piotr: Mikhail, please. I am your brother! Mikhail: No longer!! GET OUT NOW, X MAN!! Mikhail raises is left hand, his fingers splayed out, pointing towards his brother. Before Colossus can react, a teleportation portal opens directly behind him and he is pushed through by an unseen force emenating from his brother. The portal closes and Mikhail lays back in his bed, sweat beading down from his brow. He calls for the Soul Skinner with his mind, but the prelate does not answer. He is gone. Laynia is gone. All is gone. Their gambit has worked. Screaming in rage, Prelate Cyber and his band of killers take off in pursuit of the fleeing bowman. Nightcrawler takes Romanova's hand and they teleport across the street into the KGB building as dawn breaks over the city of Minsk. Natalia has been here before. She quickly leads the X Man upwards and soon they are in the main computer center. Natalia flicks the lightswitch. Nothing! Natalia: No. Nightcrawler: What? Natalia: They cut the power to the building. I can not even turn the terminals on. Nightcrawler: Then I shall go get Barton. Romanova grabs the mutant before he teleports. Natalia: And then what? Right now, we have free run of the city. Cyber thinks I am dead and does not know about you. We must head for the prison now. Nightcrawler: And Barton? Natalia: There is nothing we can do for him right now. Besides, he will only wish to free his comrades. We do not have time for that. He will have to remain on his own. Nightcrawler: Damn! Natalia: I am sorry. Nightcrawler: Me too, I loved that sword. Weapon X is disgusted. He's spent too much of his time on this caper in jail. Not only that, but the process of removing the metal sheethe that encased him also took away his clothing. Lying naked in a cell not dissimilar from the one in Lenningrad with his hand encased in the same adamantium bindings, the X Man wonders at the ease with which he was captured and the rest of the party was ambushed. It can only mean one thing, they were betrayed. Only one guy who had the chance to do that. Nightcrawler. Weapon X: I'm gonna kill that elf, if it's tha last thing I do. In the cell next to him, this particular set not equiped with sensory dampeners, Kraven growns as he rolls over. Kraven: I do not think you will have the opportunity, comrade, though I would very much like to help you do it. Henry Peter Gryich has at last come around. After a night of nervous shaking, the soldier has risen to a sitting position on the floor. He looks over at his to compatriots. The first words out of his mouth? Gryich: Hey, why are you guys nekked? The the door to the cell block opens and through it comes the Horseman Nicodemus, flanked by guards from the MLF. Nicodemus: Ah, I see you have come around, Mr. Gryich. That is good. You have a long journey ahead of you. Weapon X: Tha only place any'a us're goin' is outta this cell and in yer face, 'Demus. Nicodemus: Weapon X, it is the middle of the night and I am weary; as such, please spare me your bravado. You will not be leaving these cells of your own free will, ever. Gryich: They did last time. Nicodemus: You were allowed to escape, mortal. Weapon X: And why was that? Nicodemus: For two reasons. The first no longer concerns you, and for the second, let's just say I find you particularly intresting, X Man. Once my suspisions were confirmed, I allowed you to go. Weapon X: Ya still haven't told me why? Nicodemus: Let us instead change the topic to one you will find much more interesting. Your respective fates now. Gryich: I knew you'd get around ta that. Hey, X! Ever notice soon as the bad guy gets the upper hand, he immediately wants ta reveal his plan? Nicodemus snarls in rage at the mortal's impudence. He raises a gnarled hand and his eyes burn crimson. An unseen force lifts Gryich four feet into the air and hurls him backward into the far wall. Nicodemus: I am not one to trifle with, mortal. I would suggest you hold your tongue if you would like to survive your trip. Weapon X: Where's he going? Nicodemus: The United States, the same as you. It seems Mr. Gryich and a compatriot attempted to assisinate Apocalypse's very son, Nemisis, some time ago. An adamantium shafted arrow was fired over some distance, lodging itself in the heir-apparent's chest. Of course, their attempt failed, no trifle such as a mere arrow could fell that man, but the would-be assassins escaped. Nemisis will be very happy to meet you face to face, Mr. Gryich. Gryich: Ulp! Nicodemus: As for you, Weapon X, Apocalypse would very much like to meet such a vaunted member of Magneto's band of traitors. I am sure you will have much to talk about, you and he. Gryich: Double ulp. Kraven: What of me, abomination? Nicodemus: You? You are nothing, Russian peasant. You die at dawn for crimes against the High Lord. Nicodemus smiles as he searches for some reaction from the cassock. He gets none. With a frown he and his guards turn back toward the door. Nicodemus: Good day, all. Gryich: You too, Nico. Weapon X smiles in spite of himself as Gryich gives the horseman the finger behind the immortal's back. Gryich: Well, what now? Weapon X: We leave, of course. Gryich: And how we gonna do that? Our teleporter ratted us out, remember? Weapon X: The binders around my hands have been unlocked. Kraven: How! Weapon X: Don't know. They were closed tight before Nico showed up. Kraven: So how do we got out of here? Weapon X: I'm workin' on that. In the meantime, here's a better question for ya both ta chew on: if Cyber and Nicodemus are both in Minsk, who's leadin' tha attack on Kiev? It is a dismal morn. The leader of the joint forces of the MLF and the Provisional Army looks on as this giganitic miltary force completes the process of arraying themselves around the city's walls. "Poor souls," the leader thinks, but he knows Apocalypse is the way. If only it weren't so hard on those others less genetically fortunate than he. His reverie is broken as one of his subordinates, the rather distastefull mutant named Spoor, coughs rudely for attention. Spoor: Prelate Cyclops, the troops are in position. The newly promoted prelate nods in satisfaction. Scott Summers only wishes he truly was satisfied. Cyclops: Prepare to begin shelling on my mark. Oh, and tell Huricane and Monsoon I want to know as soon as their people are ready. Spoor: Very good, sir. Simon Williams hasn't been feeling well since he was freed from the prison at Leningrad, though for the past week he has tried not to let it show. Now, however, as the rest of the citizens leap out of their beds in alarm to find the MLF at their doorstep, Simon has not the strength to rise. What has been for the past few days lassitude and weakness has now turned to something else. He growns as another tremor of pain wickedly runs the twisting course of his nervous system. His chest feels as if it is on fire. His head seems about to burst, and his midsection, dear God! It feels like there is something alive inside him, something alive... and waiting. The morning sky had been blue for only a few moments before it turned black again. Cumulo-nuimbus clouds rolled in, completly unforcasted, generated by the company of weather manipulating mutants from outside the walls. Colossus stands high above the main gate. He has been awake all night, supervising the final preparations of the defense of the weakest part of their wall and at the same time, ensuring that all of the stragglers from the surrounding area made it in safely. Colossus: Boize Moi! Renee Majcomb: Yeah, muties can make it get dark pretty quick, shiny. Look, I just got confirmation that the last of the Magistrates are ready. I suggest you find a safe place. We'll be attacked any minute. Colossus: A safe place? I lead this contingent of defenders. Why would I seek safety when the rest of my command is endangered? Majcomb: This is my command! Don't forget that mutant. Just beccause some leaders within the conference decided it would be politik to have an X Man at the walls doesn't mean I accept it. Colossus: I will not leave my post. Majcomb: Suit yourself. Here they come. A crack of lighting and the skies burst open, torrents of rain spewing forth, carried by huricane force gales. Troops caught in the open are thrown off their feet by the force of the wind, blinded by the rain. The civilians fare far worse. Hastily erected tent city's in Kiev's former market district and municipal parks are shredded. Innocent villagers are suddenly exposed to natures rage. For some, the force of the rain is too much. They fall, some to drown because they are pinned to the ground by the down fall. From the center of the city, a bright beam of light suddenly strikes upward. It seems to cut a whole in the clouds, quickly driving them apart. On the far side of the city, Australian soldiers huddled against the driving rain only moments before look up to the sky. Their leader, Skullbuster, turns his masked face to his companion, a lieutenant in the Mandarin's Imperial Guard named Chu Lo Yin. Skullbuster: Wha's happening?! Chu Lo Yan: It is my master! He uses one of his rings to wrest control of the skies from the mutants! Indeed, as Colossus looks up back at the gates, he is relieved to see the densest of the clouds breaking up, though none of them are completely banished. The rain keeps up, though reduced from its gale force now that the wind has slackened off some. Majcomb: Look! Someone is coming through the horde! Indeed, like the parting of a sea, the masses arrayed before Kiev split evenly down the middle to let one lone mutant walk forward to just before the gates. Herald: I am Havok! I am the herald of holy En Sabah Nur. Lay down your arms and surrender! You are all far outmatched. Accept your fate, throwbacks! A new era is upon us. The Age of Apocalypse is upon you!! Before Colossus can restrain her, Majcomb leeps out of cover and faces this herald. Majcomb: Never! We will never submit to you, or your petty tyrant! Havok: Then you will die! The herald brings both of his arms together and extends them, pointing at Majcomb. Although her battle-honed reflexes enable her to duck behind the wall for cover, it matters not at all. Havok has the ability to fire sustained energy bursts, and Renee Majcomb, along with the section wall sheltering her, is destroyed. The force of the explosion also topples a long section of the scaffold upon which the defenders stand. It is a long fall to the ground for Colossus, but in his armored form, painless, though that is not the case for at least two squads of defenders, their broken forms now litter the base of the wall. The X Man springs forward, again climbing the scaffold as the troops remaining on the wall begin firing their weapons downward as the horde moves forward. The Battle for Kiev has begun. Weapon X: I ain't sure this is such a good idea, Gryich. Gryich: You come up with anything better? Silence. Gryich: Alright then. At dawn, guards came and took Kravinoff away to meet his destiny, leaving the remaining two captives to not so much ponder their own fate, but to figure out how to place it again in their own hands. Now, hours later, guards have come for Gryich and Weapon X, honoring their request to witness the death of their comrade. They are led out into the cold gray morning of the parade grounds before the prison, still inside its ringed walls. In the center of the field, a gibbet has been erected of young pine logs. A rope and noose have been attatched to the knotted crosspiece. Kravinoff, a black hood over his head, is marched up the stairs, followed by Nicodemus and four guards of the MLF. Apparently, the art of gibbet making is lost on these soldiers, for instead of having the condemned stand over a trap door, they have him climb onto a wooden crate, to be kicked out from under him when the word is given by Nicodemus. Nicodemus: Attention, all assembled! The being brought before us today is a criminal, and his crimes are many. His name need not be spoken, nor will it be remembered after today. Today, this day, Apocalypse has reached across the vast ocean to dispense his fair judgement. Let all who be here today know, terrorism and treason will not be tolerated. Let all who be here today know, this is the Age of Apocalypse and his power is absolute. Gryich: Now! In a flash, Weapon X sheds his mysteriously unlocked restraints, and popping his claws, so frees Gryich. With a snarl he turns on his captors, gutting the first, impaling the second, and throwing the third off the balcony. Gyich, as planned, reaches down and picks up one of the fallen guards plasma rifles. He takes aim at the noose around Kravinoff's neck. Weapon X: Ya sure ya c'n make this shot? Gryich: Well, hanging around with Barton so long's bound ta rub off, ain't it? He fires. Gryich: Guess not. The impact of the blow spins Kravinoff around, his legs flailing wildly, knocking into first Nicodemus and then two of the guards to the floor of the platform. Gryich takes aim again, and his second bolt passes by the noose, striking a guard charging onto the platform to come to the aid of the horseman. Gryich: @&#$ it!!! He sets the rifle on full auto, and sprays the pine cross- piece the rope is attatched to. The whole structure falls, taking the hapless Kravinoff with it, slamming into the squad of guards rushing forward. Weapon X leaps down from the balcony, slashing into the guards, cleaving a trail to the gibbet as Gryich follows, blasting away with the pulse rifle. Hours have passed since the fighting for the outside wall the keep began, but already many of Genosha's magistrates have fallen. Entire sections of the wall have been blasted away by energy weapons. The storms have risen in power again, and the defenders can barely see, many of them being blown off the wall by powerful gusts of wind. Mutants lead by Cyclops's subordinate, Spoor, have repeatedly attempted to scale the wall, many of these attempts are successful. Hand to hand combat rages atop the wall. Colossus is everywhere where he is needed. He grabs mutants off beleagured magistrates throwing the attackers off the wall. His metal fists slam into his enemies, knocking them into unconsciousness, or worse. The mutant Spoor employes his power to invoke in his men, as well as the magistrates, into a killing rage. For the mutants, it enables them to fight even more savagely. For the magistrates, it provokes them to fight among themselves, slaughtering each other at the slightest bump or stumble. Colossus grabs one of his men: What are you doing?! Do not fight amongst yourselves! Battle the mutants! The soldier, a red glow of rage in his eyes, simply snarls at the X Man and tries to bring his gun around. Colossus is forced to throw him off the scaffold, hoping he will survive. Reinforcements arrive as Alexi Vahzin and his troops charge onto the scene. Vahzin: What is going on?! Colossus: They are killing one another for some reason! Get your men off the rampart. It is too late. Spoor's killer frenzy wash over the Russian rebels, and they turn on one another. Vahzin, under Spoor's control, draws his knife and tries to stab it into the X Man's armored mid-section. It snaps off at the hilt. Colossus backhands his comrade, carefull not to kill him, and backs away from the berserker Russians. More mutants are climbing up the wall, these led by a cat-like mutant named Thornn. Claws rend, pulse rifles and AK-47's fire, knives stab, swords cleave, soldiers miraculously heal, other inevitably die. As Colossus knocks aside two crazed magistrates and then throws a mutant over the wall, tipping his ladder backward after him, he spots Spoor, and realizes he is the architect of this maddness. The X Man charges through MLF soldiers and magistrates alike, throwing all before him out of the way, trying not to kill the magistrates, but knowing in his heart he has killed a few. He had no choice. The mutant before him, covered in brown fur, long soaking wet bangs in his yellow eyes, gave him no choice. The closer he gets to knot of humans and mutants battling one another in a free-for-all nearest the savage mutant, the greater the maddness. Although Piotr has been trained by Magneto to resist psionic attacks, the power of Spoor is starting to get through his defenses the closer he gets to the manipulating mutant. Spoor is revelling in the chaos he has created. Magistrates kill not only mutants, but also their own, as well as the Russian rebels who have rushed into the fray. This is what he was born for; the purveyance of blood lust. He concentrates his ablilities on the charging X Man, trying to distract him, trying to use him. The powerhouse that is Colossus would wreak such havok - he would be Spoor's master piece. Alas, the defenses of the X Man are too strong, metal hands reach out for the junior prelate, who attempts to leap backward out of harm's way. He is too slow. Strong steel is around his neck. His eyes bulge. He hears a crack deep inside him as the steel grip of Colossus tightens like a vice. Psionically, Spoor calls for his thralls, and they attack the X Man, but to no avail. Their weapons are ineffectual, the strongest of them not strong enough to pry Colossus off of their leader. Colossus hears a second crack and gives Spoor's lifeless body a little shake before throwing it off the wall. The defenders are released from his thrall. Through the blinding wind and rain the genoshans and Russians begin to feel the return of their fighting will, inspired as they are by their gleaming leader. Perhaps not all mutants are evil, think some. Others wish they need not depend on any mutants to fight for them, even after they have been saved by one. Vahzin: Thank you, Nikolievitch! Sons of the Rodina, to me! Attack!! Renewed, the defenders on the wall throw themselves at the MLF, and the battle increases in intesity now that the Russians and magistrates have refound their direction.