The wind rustled silently, being oblivious from the quiet crowd in the tent. A soft cry became louder and louder inside the tent. In the sky above, lightening flashed. Thunder sounded like a laughter mocking the people in the tent. Two men stepped outside the tent, to get some air. The birth had been a dangerous one. There had been complications.

<"Going to be quite a storm,">* one of the men said.

(* Translated from Arabic -- Adnan)

<"Looks as if it will be a big one,"> the other replied

<"How fares the newborn?"> the first one asked.

<"Not well, it appears it will be still-born.">

He went on to say something else but was interrupted by three different galloping noises. The horses appeared. The first two were up front, wearing dark, black robes, and the third, in-between them yet behind, wore make up on his face. It was odd, a huge purple streak, making it seem as if he had long lips. He had no pupils, and wore a helmet with horns atop it. He was bare-chested, his muscled clearly visible, and his lower body only had a loincloth, which covered his private. And he had sandals. The three people formed a triangle of sorts.

<"Who are you?"> One of the men asked, suspicion in his voice.

<"I am someone who wields more power than you could imagine. I am a demi-god."> He smiled, after he said that with his low, demonic voice. <"I am what some call En Sabah Nur. I am more widely known as--">

<"APOCOLYPSE!!"> The man said in fear.

Apocalypse smiled and nodded toward the other two men. The dropped from their horses and blinked for a moment. Then they drew out Arabian type swords and with two slashes from each man, the two tribesmen were dead.

The demon looked around, and then got off his horse. He started going toward the tent, when three men who had witnessed the fight, attacked him from behind. They had seen the fight from a neighboring tent. En Sabah Nur merely swung his fist around and smacked two of them in one fluid motion across their faces. They quickly dropped to the ground, their skulls crushed. The third man swung his foot out in a roundhouse kick which was blocked by Nur's forearm. The man was quick, and he dropped down to a crouch and attempted a sweep. His foot hit Apocalypse's huge foot, and bounced back. Apocalypse lifted the man into the air and looked at him.

<"YOU DARE ATTACK ME HUMAN!?!??!"> he yelled in rage, before cracking his neck. He threw the man away like a rag doll. The man was dead.

He stepped inside the tent and looked at the women standing around a baby. One of them was lying down, obviously the mother, fore she was panting. Apocalypse looked at the baby. So this was the baby who was to become like him. A demon from the farthest pits of hell. Apocalypse placed his hand on the child's forehead. His hand glowed a bright green color. When he removed his hand, there was a word atop the child's forehead.

The evil known as En Sabah Nur left, obviously pleased. He said a word to the other two men, and they all got on their horses. Apocalypse would play no further role in this child's future, but he would observe. The horses galloped off into the night. The sky cleared suddenly, revealing the beautiful stars once again.

The mother died that night. A total of six people died in one night, in less then five minutes. Abyssnia had heard of Apocalypse, but had never been visited by the madman. This baby meant something. In the future, perhaps, it would play a great role.

Atop the child's forehead, was one word. This one word had many different possible meaning for the child. For anyone else for that matter. But it was in hieroglyphics, the ancient language of the Pharaohs. This child's destiny was written on the forehead. Somehow, in that one word, it was written all there. A fate of an immortal! Destined to live throughout time, without ever dying!

The word....?

Death.

Black Panther

War Machine

Nearly 2000 years later

Egypt.

Vroom! Vroom! The car engine stalled, and then blasted off. The speed reached 70 mph in just a matter of three seconds. Two other cars followed it. All of them black and traveling at speeds over 80. Three police cars appeared from behind a building, and they started speeding toward the three first black cars.

The cops had finally got a lead on the terrorists who had bombed a busload of people, almost twenty killed. They were also suspected of being connected to almost ten other bombing. A count of almost 60 people dead.

Suddenly, above the police cars, a huge shadow passed. The shadow dropped to the ground in front of the police cars. He had a huge chain gun on his shoulder. Gun shots were heard and the next thing the cops new were that they had flat tires and where out of control.

"Well, that takes care of that" The man grinned. "Now to cash in, big time." He was wearing a heavy, strong armor, which contained more weapons than anyone had ever seen on one man.

He turned on his CD player inside his armor. Bombs over Baghdad...he thought, thinking of the new OutKast CD. How fitting, though I'm not over Baghdad. Bombs over Cairo. That's better. He laughed to himself over this lame joke.

The armored man flew over the other cars, flying almost as fast as a jet. He first grabbed the car that was last in the line, and looked inside. Not in here. He dropped the car, which shattered on impact. He flew at the next car. Did the same thing again. The person he was looking for wasn't in that car either. He dropped the car. This one shatter also, glass shards flying all over the men inside, cutting them up.

I bet I can take wild guess and figure out where he is...He laughed to himself yet again. He fired a blast out of his palm at the last car, which shattered the trunk of the car. The car swerved out of control into a street lamp pole. Ouch, that had to hurt. Indeed, it did. They had been traveling over a hundred miles per hour, and had a collision.

He flew in for the kill. He landed and tore open the roof of the car. His armor read for life signs. One of them was dead. It wasn't the man he wanted.

"Who are you?" The on in the backseat asked. "And what do you want from me?" He said it all so calm.

"Who am I?" The armored man asked, repeating the question. "I'm hurt. Surely you've heard of War-Machine."

"The mercenary?" The man asked another question.

"They hire me, I do the stuff. Big money. Now as for what I want? My clients want me to take you to them--."

"Who are your clients?" He said, interrupting War-Machine.

"You didn't let me finish. They wanted me to take you to them, or," He emphasized the "or". "They want me to bring you their head. That is, if something unfortunate happened to you." With that, War-Machine grabbed the man's neck. He tried to make a fist, using all his strength. The marked man's neck was crushed and died instantly.

That was fun. He flew off into the sky, leaving bystanders wondering what the hell just happened.

Later that night.

A figure leaped across the roof tops. He wore all black, and had two gold bracelets on his wrists. He stopped on a specific building. Approximately five stories high. He got to the edge and climbed down on the outside wall. His fingered gripped, and had stuck their claws into the wall, enabling him to do this inhuman act. He finally found a window he had wanted, and opened it.

He stepped inside. The only light there was was the light seeping through the crack underneath the door. The man looked around in the dark, using his senses to avoid things that might be in his way. He found a desk, and walked to it. He had known idea what to look for, but he knew whatever he found, would be important. He heard a noise outside the room. The black figure looked up, and realized someone was going to walk in. He looked around for a place to hide.

The door's knob twisted and the door opened. Two men stepped into. The second one to come in turned on the light switch behind him. The first one looked around the room. Something was out of place. No one was there, so he just thought it was nothing. He went to his desk but did not sit down.

"Now, what is it you want Mr....Johanson was it?"

"Yes. I want those documents you stole from me." Mr Johanson replied. He had an English accent.

"Quiet an accusation, no?" The second man was obviously a native of Cairo. His accent was thick and heavy. "I do not steal."

"LIAR!!" He yelled at the Egyptian. "THOSE ARE IMPORTANT TO ME! I MUST HAVE THEM!!"

"I do believe you are raising your voice. But that's not the point. Do you want the files because you just wanting to see them, or maybe to cover up something."

"Like what..." Johanson growled.

"Fraud maybe? No? Maybe a scandal? Not that either? Maybe...something to do with mutants?" The man grinned, and stepped away from the desk with a file in has hand. It was fairly thick, about 2 to 3 inches.

"LIAR!! YOU LIE SO MUCH!" He yelled, leaping at the Egyptian.

The Egyptian merely sidestepped him and stared at Englishman's body, which flew threw the air. All of a sudden, it stopped. "Accept that you are a mutant. Like me!"

Johanson's body flew backward toward a wall. He slammed into it, and then dropped to the ground. There was a giant crack on the wall. Johanson simply got up, pointed his hands out toward the Egyptian. Claws grew out of his nails and his teeth began to grow.

"Oh Mr. Johanson, what is wrong? Or mabye I should call you...Savage!"

The Black Panther had heard all this. When the men had stepped into the room, he had ducked underneath the desk. The Egyptian man had not noticed him since he had not sat down. The king of Wakanda realized it was time to step into the fray. He shot out from under the desk as The Savage leaped into the air and attempted to tackle the Egyptian. The Egyptian grinned and then he suddenly floated into the air. He swung his foot around, using his telekinetic powers to increase the force on it. It slammed into Savage's face while he was in mid-air. The animalistic mutant's body just dropped to the ground. Just as the Egyptian went down to stomp on Savage's body, he was nailed in the back.

The Egyptian's body flew toward a wall, but he used his telekinesis to land himself on his feet. He looked around when suddenly the light flickered off. His face was suddenly punched, which was followed by a fist hitting his stomach. The Egyptian went down to the ground. Who was this? All of a sudden, his head was hit on the back, and he went down, unable to move. The lights flickered back on. The Egyptian looked up at the mysterious man. They wore all black and had small horn-like things on his mask.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"I am the Black Panther." He said, "And I can not let you harm this mutant."

"A-and why is t-that?" The Egyptian was stuttering.

"He has information I need." Panther looked at the documents on the desk. He grabbed them and looked at Savage, who had been so easily defeated by the Egyptian.

He heard a noise behind him and then he was knocked down. Undoubtedly the Egyptian's telekinesis at work here. When he got up, he saw the Egyptian was gone.

The following morning.

A body slammed onto a man's desk. The man looked up and saw War-Machine standing there. He could not see his face, but he could tell War-Machine was grinning.

"Where's my money Shwali?" War Machine asked.

"You will receive it in due time. I want you to do something else though. Then you receive twice the payment you want now added to your money that you should have now." Shawli replied simply.

War-Machine thought this over. What was this guy pulling here? He finally decided that if Shwali didn't give him the money at the end of this next mission, well, let's just say Shwali would have a face only a mother could love. And that's pushing it.

"Fine, what do you want me to do?"

That night.

A tall, silent figure walked down an empty street of Cairo. He wore clothes that could not be seen in the dark night. This street had no lights, no houses. Just a tiny shop at the corner of it. The man stepped into the shop. When he stepped into the light of the shop, his clothes wore fully shown. He wore a long black cloak, which could not be seen inside, and had a huge hood over his face. The only features of his face that were revealed were that of his dark, ebony chin.

<"Can I do something for you?"> The man at the counter asked. He was a little frightened, but he still wanted to help a customer.

The man said nothing. He stared at the man at the counter. The black man stepped up to the counter.

<"Do you have....someone?"> He said in a deep throaty voice.

<"I do not understand the question.">

<"I need...you.">

<"I am sorry. Homosexuality in this country is illegal.">*

(* Author's note: In Egypt, it is. I hope no gays reading this will get offended, though, I don't see how they would. But you always need to be careful.)

The man laughed.

<"I am not gay..."> He said. He then repeated something. It seemed like an ancient language. Old and forgotten.

<"I do not und--URK!!"> The storeowner's body was lifted into the air. His mouth was forced open. The cloaked man opened his own mouth. Something flew out of the Cloaked man's mouth.

<"From this day onward mortal. You will serve me. You will serve me in my goal. It is a simple goal, yet it will be hard to achieve. You will obey me. As I have done now, you will do to others. After the week's end, bring them to the old end of Cairo. The ancient part. You will no where to go from there.">

<"Yes....my lord."> The storeowner replied. He was exactly like a zombie. His voice had no expression in it whatsoever. <"I will serve thee, Al-Aziz!">*

(* Arabic for "The Mighty" -- Adnan)

Black Panther

Storm

War Machine

The Cairo Airport

The noise was enormous at the airport. Planes were landing, lifting off, and refueling. Inside the airport was quiet and calm, but it was about to get a lot louder. A short, African man was standing at a gate, looking out the window. He was waiting for someone who was supposed to meet him there. A noise was heard of a clearing of a throat behind him and the man turned around.

<"Glad you could make it, sir,"> he said to the arrival of the man he was supposed to meet. The new man was dressed in a long black robe, which had a large hood over his head. No features could be distinguished because of the shadow that appeared from the hood, other than his dark skinned chin.

Uncomfortable, the obvious lackey asked why they were waiting for a woman.

<"Just wait..."> The man in the robes said. No one stared at him because what he was wearing was not out of the norm in Cairo. <"She will be here."> His voice was deep and throaty, and it did not sound human at all. More...demonic.

<"Yes.....very well then."> He said, and went silent. He stared back out the window. What was so important about her? He wondered silently.

5 gates down..

Another ebony skinned man stepped into the gate. He, however, was not from Africa, but America. The man was in a cheerful mood; smiling and waving to people he did not know. The American walked over to a seat and sat down. He was wearing jeans and black t-shirt and was looking around and grinned when he heard the announcement.

"Now arriving...Flight #2120" The announcement was repeated again before the door opened and people started pouring out. The man looked around and left. But not before he left a message with the person at the desk in the middle of the gate.

A white man stepped out the door, and smelled the air. He seemed to love the smell of the airport. He sighed, loving the country. A woman in a hijab (covering over the head which Muslim women wear) stepped up to the him. She whispered a few words to him, and the man appeared surprised. He sat down, waiting for something he did not know.

A few minutes passed before he heard a voice behind him. It seemed robotic. "Mr. Tarinto, it's time." The white man turned around and saw a huge figure standing there. He was wearing black and gray armor, and he almost seemed as if he were a robot.

"Dear lord!" War-Machine's hand shot out and grabbed the man's neck. He lifted him up into the air, choking him. People began screaming and running all around them.

"You shoulda known better before you stole money from my current boss!"

"Who?" Tarinto asked but it suddenly dawned on him. "Oh God no!"

War-Machine slapped him across the face. "Oh yes! I don't care how much you took but alls War-Machine know is, he's gettin' paid." He raised his arm, were there was a double-barreled blaster attached to his for-arm.

"LET HIM GO!!" A lightening bolt shot out from nowhere, hitting WM in the side which made him drop Tarinto and sent him flying. His body hit the wall, and then bounced off, leaving a mark there. When he looked up, he saw a white-haired woman, standing--no floating there.

"Storm..." WM recognized her instantly. "Da hell you doin in Cairo?"

Storm appeared not to hear. "I do not know who you are, but you are not the War-Machine I know!" She raised her right hand, and a gust of wind flew out and hit WM in the chest, and the gust sent him twirling back into the wall. WM got up, and looked at Storm.

"Don't got time for this..."

His boosters on his boots turned on, as he ran toward the window. He flew out the window, shattering it. Storm looked at the new WM leave the airport. She turned around and looked down the hall, seeing two men, one who seemed oddly familiar.

Down the Hall

<"You fool! You guided me to the wrong gate!"> the dark and mysterious guttural voice said.

<"Sir, it was an accident! I didn't know!">

<"Your shoddy excuses have no meaning to me. You have failed your lord, and thus you shall be punished accordingly.">

Before he could finished, a scorched body appeared where he once was. The man looked up and saw Storm look directly at him. He saw her mouth the words "Oh my god". She lifted her hands as lightening shot out from her hands and hit him in the chest. All the happened was the bright energy from the bolt spread around his body and disappeared. The only sign of a hit was a scorched part on his cloth of his cloak.

He looked around the airport, at the people who were staring at him. His body all of a sudden turned into raw energy of lightening and disappeared.

Elsewhere

The tall British man known as Johanson was nervously waiting at his desk, with a disk in front of him. There was nothing else, no computer, no pencils, no paper, nothing. He was sweating as light shown down on him from the setting sun which shown though the large window behind him.

"Do you have it?" A voice said from the shadows.

Johanson looked around nervously, and then saw him. A man wearing all black, with two white slit holes for his eyes, and small horns on the top of the mask he wore.

"Black Panther?" He asked in a British accent.

"Yes. Before you give the brief on the Trial of Wakanda vs Shnieder, why are you so willing to give it to me?"

"Because you know my secret. I'm a mutant...not only that, but a savage when I revert to my other phase...just as the Egyptian himself said..."

Black Panther sighed. This was not one of the people who could embrace their powers, not shun it. He would help the man, but it was not his mission. His mission is to save his country from a war between his country and the rest of the world. "Very well.." He took the folder from him. As soon as he touched it, the glass shattered and two figures emerge from the setting sun.

The Panther instantly gets in battle stance as he looks up at them. One wears all black, covering head from toe. Only two eye slits are seen through the darkness, a glow emerging from them. A glow of evil, Black Panther thinks. The other, a tall woman wearing tight leather clothing all over her body, carries a bow-staff. He long red hair goes down to her shoulders, part of it covering one of her eyes. She wears a black mask, which only covers her eyes. Her jade eyes look at Black Panther, before her body is hurled into the room by the man, who was obviously carrying her by telekinesis. Her body flips into the room before landing silently, her right hand holding her bow-staff out in front of her. Suddenly, two scythe blades come out, each one on opposite sides.

The man looks around the room and notices Johanson. "Ignore the Black Panther...we are to take him." He points at Johanson. He says nothing else as his eyes glow a dark blue color, which shoot out an energy beam, which is really a telekinesis beam. It hits Johanson who is flung into the wall. Just as he collides, BP and the woman attack each other. The man remains there, just floating there, not saying a word.

The woman spins her bladed bow-staff around her body with an abnormal speed, the light which glares off the blades from the sunset, make it seem like she carries a circular shield. The Panther looking for a way to get inside to attack her, flips backward to gain more space to fight this foe. He throws a spear-like glowing yellow arrow at her. As it impacts her shield, it explodes a tiny blast. Nothing happens, fore her staff acts as a shield.

She finally stops and jumps two feet into the air and sends her foot into BP's skull. T'Challa's head snaps backward, followed by his body. He hits the ground hard, but he ignores the pain, enabling him to spin his body while on the ground into her legs. His legs hit the back of her knees, making her lose her stance, which makes her fall. The Panther flips into the air, his legs out, about 4 feet into the air. He uses his strength to make his body turn, making his feet face toward the woman's body. As soon as he makes impact, he notices that she had rolled over away. A huge crack appears underneath T'Challa, just as the woman's blade hits the crack, making it rupture. T'Challa's body fell suddenly into the floor below, but not before grabbing the woman's leg, bringing her down with him.

"Bastard!" The woman yells as the two fall. The Arab archeture had been used in this building, making the ceiling far from the floor. It would take about two seconds to hit. BP, not answering to the woman's insult, musters up enough strength to swing his body on top of hers, making her hit the ground. The impact makes her take the brunt of it, knocking her out. BP stands up, hurt, and looks upward, seeing the man floating there, staring down at him. T'Challa tries to stare him down, but the glare is to much for him. Unwittingly, the Panther looks away. When he looks up again, he feels his body being gripped from the inside. His skin starts tearing away, his costume tearing with it. Black Panther screams in pain and then suddenly, the pain stops. At least the tearing of the skin does. He falls on the ground, and looks up. The last thing he sees is Johanson, who is now Savage, being tore into. He had apparently distracted the man away from BP.

Meanwhile at a Warehouse

"YOU IDIOT!" Shwali yells at War-Machine. It was the next morning, and apparently Shwali had heard of WM's failure. "How can you, a man who is virtually a one man army, be defeated by a woman! A black one no less!"

WM winced under his mask. He had met racists and sexists in the past. It wasn't anything new to him. "It was an X-Man...Storm."

"Bah...you will have to complete this mission, if you want to live."

"You threatenin me?" WM asked, taken aback. Who the hell did this guy think he was?

"Yes, yes I am. " He made a glance to the left. WM heard clicking and he realized it was the loading of guns. "What are you gonna do about it?"

WM looked around. He grinned under his mask. This was gonna be fun. He loaded his shoulder chain gun. "You wanna fight Shwali? You gonna get it."

Instantly, a gun war erupted. WM was hit numerous times while firing his shoulder gun. Bullets flew rapidly at his enemies. The gun swiveled, firing at everyone. The bullets that hit him only caused him a tiny bit of pain, but most of it was blocked by his armor. He turned on his boot thrusters and flew toward the ceiling. He needed an advantage. Parnell opened his glove compartment and three tiny balls slid out. "EAT THIS YOU BASTARDS!" He threw all three down. The explosion was enormous and sent his body reeling into the ceiling. The armor smashed through it, with him in it. In mid air, he boosted his thrusters, which made him regain his balance. He looked down at the flames of the warehouse. Screams and yells were heard, as men were burned alive. Jacobs looked around and saw Shwali get in a Benz and jet off.

Oh no you don't. He boosted his thrusters and flew off toward the car, at the same time turning on his built in Napster program. He shot off listening to Nelly's "EI".

They arrived. Three people. One was conscious, carrying the other two with his special powers. Telekinesis. He dropped one of his victims, a white Englishman, known as Johanson. He carefully put the other person down. She was not a victim. The man landed and bowed to a man standing there. He wore a black robe with a hood over his head. Al-Aziz looked at the three. He smiled in the shadows of his hood. It was all coming together. He had been on the planet for nearly three millenniums, and he had never found the right moment. The right moment for what? Everyone on the planet would know soon.

He asked the only conscious one of the new arrivals.

{WENT WELL?! Llianya has fallen in battle!} The man yelled in telepathy. Normally, the yell would have caused any man or mutant to black out. Aziz barely felt it.

Aziz said. He lifted his arm out of his robe with a sack in his hand. His forearms were massive, unbelievably built with power. They would have made Arnold Shwarzenager look like an anorexic. He threw the sack to Yuru. He caught it and looked at Aziz.

{What is this?}he asked quietly.

He said nothing more. Aziz turned around and looked at his first genuine creation. It was a skinny man, sitting at a large stone chair. He wore only a white cloth which covered his genital area. He was so skinny; his insides could be seen through his skin. All over his body were black splotches. One would have thrown up, seeing such a disfigured being.

Aziz said. The man looked around and then laid his eyes on the man. The plagued man sat there, hoping the eyes of Aziz would not lay upon his own. It happened, and he turned away. No one on the planet could look directly into those eyes.

*kaff* It repeated over and over. He was deteriorating. Why was he being tortured like this. He had been an honest storeowner, nothing more. Why?

Aziz said. Nothing more.

Black Panther

Storm

War Machine

Outskirts of Cairo.

It had taken nearly a day to get out of the city. Storm was exhausted. There was always so much traffic in the capital, but it seemed like today, it was at an all time high. This could've been because she had not been here a while, becoming used to the U.S, where traffic was not nearly as great.

The dirt road they were on right now was nearly empty. An occasional man or woman walking the streets was seen, but nothing more. It wasn't unusual, since rarely anyone went to her destination. The place she was born. Anyone who lived there, rarely owned a car.

She finally arrived, expecting to see people walking about. Getting ready for the coming night cold. The coldness in deserts was amazing. People usually thought of them as places of heat and burning. Still, they were cold at night. Something was wrong, she realized as soon as she got out of the car. It was wrong. Huts were empty. A number of fires burning all over.

Storm got out of the car and looked around. She was worried. Very worried.

<"You gonna pay lady?"> the cab driver asked Ororo.

<"Oh, I am sorry."> Storm turned around as she said this, and paid the man. She looked once again at the village. Her village. She heard a moan at the far end of the village. She quickly ran toward the moan. While she was running, she saw something disturbing. Huts were stacked on top of each other while others were ripped to shreds. Those weren't the only things in shreds. She reached the top of the small hill she had been running up, and saw the most horrifying thing in her life. Over the hill lay bodies. They were all strewn about, body parts in wrong places.

"Oh my god!" She heard the moan once again. She looked around and saw a man sitting, body against two bodies stacked on top of each other. His arm and foot were missing. Both his eyes had been gouged out. Who could have done such a thing?

She ran to him and asked him what had happened.

<"It has begun..."> He was obviously a boy.

<"What has?"> Storm asked.

<"I hear... rd... some o... f... the... e-elde... rs... ta... lk a-about it..."> He struggled while talking.

<"Sh... let me get you some help.">

<"No... i... t's... too... late fo... r... me.... He...'s r... eady. He w... ants t... o k... ill..."> His mouth sort of stopped making noise and then he continued, as if nothing had happened. <"...and ot... hers as... well.... He h...as wa... ite... d for... a... long..."> He gasped as he continued to speak. <"Look... at... your computer Storm... yo... ur c-erebro... look... at Apoco... lypse..."> The boy obviously had heard of the X-Men and their amazing computer from someone Storm had told. He grunted as he tried to speak. <"Hesgatheringhisforces"> Amazingly he managed all that in one gasp. <"His... nam... e..."> The boy's eyes widened as he saw something behind Storm.

Monroe turned around and saw three people standing there. One of them wore torn and raggedy clothes. He had huge claws and fangs, and long hair. The woman stood there, dressed in black, holding a bo-staff with two scythe-like blades on each end facing opposite directions. The man, also in black, just floated above the two others, staring down at Storm.*

(* Those dudes from last issue who fought with Black Panther -- Adnan)

<"Take her... I will take our target. Kill her if needed."> He floated off toward an undamaged tent while the other two leaped at Storm.

Corporate Building

"Ugh.." T'Challa moaned as he woke up, body bruised and obviously sore. He found himself in a stretcher, being carried out of the building. His mask was still on. These people obviously respected his privacy.

<"He's awake!"> someone yelled around him somewhere. Black Panther got up while being carried.

"Put me down..." he growled, still angry from his fight.

"Forgive me sir, but you are injured," a man said in a strong accent.

"Put me down..." he growled again.

"Yes sir," was the reply.

BP got up and walked around the place before stepping into the shadows and disappearing from the sight of the people around. The man looked around, wondering how someone could disappear like that.

On top of a building a few blocks away, BP took out his Avengers card. He contacted the mansion, wondering if anyone was there.

"Hello?" BP was glad to see the familiar face. He wore blue and had a large A on his forehead. Above his ears were wings which were small. This man was the symbol of a nation. The greatest nation on the planet.

"Captain, can you do me a favor?" BP asked.

"Sure, what can I do?" the living legend replied, Captain America!

"I need you to look up some people. I think they are mutants, so it could help asking the X-Men for their help," T'Challa replied. "Uh... hold up a sec... describe them..." T'Challa described them the best he could, face and everything. The Captain showed him a picture and asked if it was him.

"Yes... who is he?"

"His name is Yuru te Omagaski. Nationality is Chinese. He usually hangs around his girl, Llianya Lee. Together they are unmatchable. Yuru's powers are obvious while Llianya's aren't. Reason for that could be because she rarely uses it. It wears her out."

"What is it?" BP, unsure whether he should be worried, asked.

"Apparently she can... this can't be right."

"What?!"

"It says here, using the Avenger's database, that she can send out a wave of some sort of black shadow from her body which kills anything it touches," he said. "I'll contact X-Men Alpha and see if I can get more information on this."

"Oh... okay..." This was gonna be a big mission for him. BP was gonna need help, but from who?

As if his question was being answered, he heard a huge blast just one mile north of him.

"This cannot be good," he said, leaping to the fire escape and then traveling up to the roof.

Black Panther

Storm

War Machine

Cairo

"Gawd... I'm so tired of this shit. I just wanted to make some money, but noooo, I have to save the world!"

T'Challa sighed, his mask off, leaning on his chair at his desk. War-Machine just wouldn't stop complaining. "Go watch some television."

"Don't mind if I do." War-Machine walked toward the couch and sat down. He turned on the T.V. and flipped through the channels. Nothing on. He suddenly stopped when he saw a news report about something. "I think I found something."

"What?" Black Panther stood up and walked to the T.V. He saw what was on the news and stepped back. It was a report about Storm being found unconscious at a local tribal village. Everyone in the village was dead and the bodies had been piled up on each other. Police were still looking for survivors but none had been found. "Oh my god."

"I'm guessing we are gonna visit Storm at the hospital."

T'Challa had already put on his mask and was leaping out of the window.

"Guess so." War-Machine ran after him and turned on his bootjets.

*breep*

*breep*

Storm sighed after looking around. She was still mourning the death of all her people. She was past crying, but she still remained upset. She heard a window slide open and looked up.

"Ororo." Black Panther looked at her and stepped into the room from the window. Storm leapt out of her bed when she saw War-Machine come in after him. She was almost healed from the attack by the others.*

(* Last Issue -- Adnan)

"T'Challa! Behind you!" Black Panther whirled around and saw only War-Machine.

"He is on our side."

"He tried to kill a man."*

(* Issue #2 -- Adnan)

"Oh... well about that--" War-Machine started but stopped. He realized she was too upset to listen.

"Who attacked you?" Black Panther asked.

"I am not sure. Two wore all black and the other looked like a beast."

"Yuru now has Savage on his side." Black Panther turned to War-Machine and then back to Storm. "We believe there is someone behind all this. We thought it was Apocalypse, but his mind was shut down.* So it is someone else. I am not sure if it is someone we know or someone new all together."

(* See the climax to M2K's Apocalypse: Ageless Fury maxi-series -- Russ)

"Hey king, we better go now. Who knows what they'll do next."

"I'm going with you!" Storm stood ready in her hospital gown.

"You're still weak, you should rest."

"They killed all of them," she said through her teeth, referring to the massacre.

T'Challa looked at her for a moment. "Fine. Come on."

Elsewhere

Johnny Delniro did not like this country. He didn't like this city. He didn't like this neighborhood. It was his own fault though. He had gone on a killing spree in the U.S. He had to run from the cops. Getting on a boat, he had ended up in Africa. He traveled to Cairo. All the other countries "sucked". That's what Johnny thought.

"Johnny Delniro," a voice said from nowhere, yet it was there.

"Whos dere?" he asked, his eyes flashing as he floated into the air.

"I am..." A man in black appeared in the room. His eyes sparked with energy.

"YOU DARE ENTER MY WORLD!!" Johnny yelled, trying to sound deadly while sophisticated. He raised his hands toward the man and out came an aura of green light.

Yuru's world went black instantly. Silently, he heard the noise of a yell. The noise became louder and he saw an Oriental woman lying on the ground. Her body was surrounded by a pool of blood, he noticed as he walked to her. He checked it and realized she was dead.

Where had this psycho transported him to? He heard a noise behind him. He looked up and saw a man standing there, a pissed look on his rugged face. "Boy, you come here to die?"

"No... it can't be you..." He looked down at the body and saw who it was. "No.! No! NO! NO!" he yelled.

"Son, it's too bad you had to see me here, but here we go." He took out a gun and started shooting him. He started screaming and yelling while the man laughed with an evil look on his face.

Yuru's body fell to the ground as he gasped on last word. "Faaatheeer..."

"Where do you think we can find Poccy? I mean, he's got some sort of secret hideout don't he?" WM asked.

"Yes... I think I know where it is, but I am not sure..." Storm looked back at Parnell. He had the Black Panther on his back, who could not fly. She now wore her costume after she had convinced Black Panther to let her go. She still had bruises, but she ignored the pain.

"Are you telling me we're on a wild goose chase?!" Jacobs yelled, suddenly pissed off.

"Calm do--" The Panther was cut-off by a sudden pain in his mind. It was enormous. He struggled to keep conscious as he turned and saw a huge dark blue aura blow something apart. He looked closer and saw it was a building. The thing was, he saw it clearly though they were across the city from the blast.

"Yo, kitty, you cool?" WM asked, unaffected.

"Huh, yeah... but I think I know where they are."

"Really?" Storm asked turning around. "How do you know?"

"I had a... an... image... a vision come to my mind."

"Very well, let us follow it."

"Da hell? Now we gonna follow this guy's visions?" WM asked, turning his body around in the air, while keeping BP on him. "Where to sire...?" he said with sarcasm in his voice.

"Get away from him!" Llianya yelled at Johnny.

"Why should I? He came after me." Johnny stood there, with Yuru's body on the ground, coughing up blood.

He was suddenly knocked forward, followed by a kick to his back. As he stumbled forward, he turned and saw who it was. "FOOL!!" His body suddenly glowed a green aura and he turned into a giant T-Rex. He ran toward Savage, who was the attacker, and swung his tail around, which knocked him into the air and back the ground.

The dinosaur then turned around and looked at Llianya. He turned into a huge snake and then snapped his tail forward knocking Llianya back toward the wall.

A sudden surge of plasma hit the snake in its stomach. The snake screeched as it dropped to the ground. Savage looked up, regaining his strength, and saw three people, all floating except one.

"Black Panther?"

"Johanson..." War-Machine floated there, smoke coming from his palm blasters, while Storm floated to the ground to stand next to Black Panther, ready for battle. Johnny lay on the ground, unconscious, while Savage helped Llianya up so they could help Yuru, who's body was regaining consciousness. This was the scene, which was not going to last, because one hell of a battle was going to break out.

Elsewhere in Cairo

The boy opened his eyes expecting to see the dark night sky of his home, but to his shock, he saw something else. A man sat there, on a throne-like chair, barely breathing. He was obviously dying. A dying old man. In truth, the man had been a healthy store-owner.

The boy heard a rustling of wind and then, before him, stood a magnificent being. He wore a large black robe with a hood covering his head. He walked... no... seemingly he floated toward the boy.

The boy asked.

the boy said, sitting up, after realizing he had been on a wooden bed.

he said, pointing toward the old man.

he said, throwing an amulet toward the boy. The boy caught it, and looked up. The man in the black robe was gone. Somehow, the boy realized he knew how to use the amulet. He raised it in the air and it glowed bright white. He vanished.

Black Panther

Storm

War Machine

"Urrrrrrggghhhh" War Machine woke up, his head feeling groggy. He thought back on the events of the last few hours. Most of all, on how he had gotten his ass kicked by a skinny, anorexic looking boy. Not cool at all.

Jacobs then realized something. The usual scanners in his helmet were not there. He looked around and saw his helmet, instead of being on his head, resting to his side, like it had been placed there.

"Shiiiit!" Jacobs said as he grabbed his helmet and quickly put it on his head. The armor booted up as soon as War-Machine put on his helmet. Through the eyeholes, War-Machine looked at Black Panther, who was sitting next to Storm, waiting for her to wake up.

"Yo B-P! She okay?"

"Yes... but she has been out since the battle. Other than that, she is good."

"How long we been unconscious?"

"One hour. I woke up about a half hour ago seeing her and you, still unconscious. I am glad to see you are awake."

"Yeah yeah, but we gotta handle some shit. Y'know, Yuru and his posse."

"Uh-huh," T'Challa muttered as he noticed Storm waking up.

"Whaa?" she asked when she saw Black Panther gazing down at her. "What happened?" She yelled as her body sat up quickly.

"Calm down, Ororo. Everything is okay. Just, Yuru and his team got away..." Black Panther looked toward the city. "And we have no idea where they are."

The Caverns of Aziz

"Lord! We were succesful once again!" Yuru yelled as he entered the caverns from an entrance which was only known by him and Aziz.

"So I saw from the arrival of Rekaro," Aziz said as he saw him enter. "The boy is interesting, and powerful."

"Yes... one would underestimate someone with the simple power of extending his limbs. But you, oh wise lord, knew his strength," Yuru said with praise. "One question, how are your plans going?"

"The plague which nearly wiped out Europe in the Middle Ages will be unleashed soon. And 'soon' shall be within the hour," Aziz said under his cloak as he looked over to the center of the cavern where a man was sitting, deprived of food and the other necessities of life.

"Let us be ready!" He exclaimed, as Llianya, Rekaro, and Savage came from another door, ready for battle.

"And you," Aziz said to the starving man. "With your latent transfer powers, we shall unleash a Hell on Earth!"

Yuru grinned. His master was usually quiet and dark. But now he was glowing with pride and happiness. It was different, but an excellent improvement. Of course, good things don't always last.

"Hey kitty, how'd you know the ol' psycho Chinese plus British and African dude gang was here?"*

(* Referring to the Panther's correct prediction on where to find Yuru and co. last issue -- Russ)

"I am not sure." Black Panther said. "I, with no other line that best describes it, had a vision."

"Oh yeah, like you said before. Y'know what would help right now? Another one of those damn visions."

"I don't know when it happens. I can't control it."

"So the king of Wakanda is a mutant now." Storm said, with no point. She was just pointing it out.

"I don't think so. It's something else." He took off his mask. "It feels like it has a certain purpose."

"So mutants with powers have no purpose?" Storm sneered.

"What? No... that isnt what I meant. I me--"

"What? What do you mean by saying mutants have no purpose?" Storm looked him in the eyes. "You always believed its okay to be a mutant, yet when you are one, you go into denial?"

"N-no. I don't know what I meant! It's not like I fully understand what's going on. And if I was a mutant, wouldn't I have noticed it before?"

"Mabye it was dormant since pube--" Storm looked at him. His face was totally black with stars all over them. His eyes were plain white, with no sign of pupils anywhere.*

(That's what's called Cosmic Awareness. Guess it's not a mutant power, huh? -- Adnan)

"Whoa!" That's all War-Machine had said in the past few minutes.

Suddenly, his pupils appeared and his face went back to normal. "I know where they are."

<"Anyone who is not ready for the final step. Come foward now!"> Aziz yelled. He knew there was doubt in his warriors. All except for Yuru and Savage. The boy could be included, since all he cared about was revenge. Llianya didn't like the idea of wiping out the world. And Johnny didn't even want to be here at all. The illusionist kept struggling with his collar, which kept beeping.

<"What? No one... very well then. Let us begin the final step."> Aziz looked away from them and stepped to the dying man. Snapping a collar on his neck, Aziz looked at Johnny. <"It lets me control your power. You will notice it's the same as yours.">

Johnny looked away, ashamed that he had not been able to stand up for himself. He was a powerful mutant.

The shopowner looked up, the first words he had spoken since he had been taken. <"Wha-aaat... do... yoou wa--">

<"Want with you? Your x-factor gene. Your power is to take in any gaseous substance, replicate it, and send it out. I have spent nearly a century trying to make a device that would be able to identify the purpose of anyone's x-factor gene. Modern science says that genes make proteins which enzymes are made from."> Aziz looked at him, insanity blazing in his eyes. <"That is why scientists believe only specific people have the x-factor gene. I found out that the x-factor gene has an enzyme that clings to it. Enzymes clinging to a gene? I have no idea, some anomaly I guess. I found out that the x-factor gene is one of the thousands of useless genes, turned useful. All humans have it. I figured out how to locate the enzyme, which decides the power of the human. I searched for a century for the right power. And I found you... When I put that bug into you, it activated your x-factor. And here we are.">

Aziz looked up, sensing something was wrong. <"My warriors, kill the intruders!">

They all leapt instantly and ran out the door to face what would probably be their last battle as a team.

Yuru charged through the wall and went straight for War-Machine. It was best to take him out first. Using his telekinesis, War-Machine's armor started to peel off. In return, the armored man swung his shoulder chain gun and sent rapid fire at the telekinetic. Yuru twirled around in midair, using the momentum with his telekinesis to spin the bullets around his body and back at War-Machine. It was too late. War Machine had used the bullets as a distraction. The next thing Yuru saw was a huge fist nailing him in the face.

Black Panther meanwhile took on the more physical foes. Savage and Llianya. Llianya twirled around swinging her staff at T'Challa's head, he in return ducked and swung his foot underneath her foot. She was swept off her feet and hit the ground. Black Panther already was using the spinning momentum and sent a hurricane kick after spinning off the ground. It nailed Savage in the head, which sent him spinning sideways. Black Panther grabbed his foot while Savage was in the air and used a lot of his strength to slam him into the ground. The concrete ground shattered from the impact and Savage was out. Meanwhile Llianya was already up and used the staff to propel herself at Black Panther's cranium. The force knocked the Panther forward toward the wall. He tripped over Savage's body and hit the ground hard.

Storm meanwhile took on Johnny and the boy. Johnny spent most of the time trying to get the collar off his neck but was forced to send a giant grizzly bear at Storm. The thing swung around but Storm was already in the air. She sent a huge electric blast from her hand at the grizzly and then nailed Johnny into the wall. The boy meanwhile used his hands to grab Storm's arm and slam her into the ground. He held her on the ground and made his arms return to normal size. He went flying at Storm and banged both feet into Storm's stomach. She groaned and looked around after the boy started beating her senseless.

War-Machine meanwhile was having more luck. His banged his fists at Yuru's head like his life depended on it. No regular human could survive a beating like that. But Yuru had been using his telekinesis to hold back the force until he could send War-Machine off of him. He instantly leapt into the air and sent his body toward the ceiling, making a hole in it. He floated through and grabbed War-Machine's body with his telekinesis and sent him flying back into the warehouse.

"Hey hey! No fair!" Parnell yelled, helpless. He then got an idea. Thrusting his boots and going as fast as he could, he sent a hail of bullets and repulsor rays from his shoulder chain gun and his hand. Yuru was distracted with blocking the bullets when the ray hit him. He lost control of his power causing bullets to tear into his skin. He fell to the ground, unable to stand.

Parnell turned and saw Llianya beating the crap out of an off-guard Black Panther. He quickly ran to his ally's aid and grabbed Llianya's hands. He pulled them back using the super strength from his armor, breaking both shoulders.

"You okay Panther?"

T'Challa got up shakily and looked at Storm, who was unconscious and losing her fight. War-Machine, tired of this, sent a hail of bullets at Storm's attacker. Hearing the bullets coming, the boy turned around and saw it was too late. His body was like a magnet for the bullets, not a single one missing.

T'Challa ran to Storm and saw she was awake. "Wh-y-y'd he kill him?"

"He was killing you, War-Machine had no choice."

"He's someone I know! I don't know who. I could've helped the boy." Black Panther helped her up and swung her over her shoulder. "Now we'll never know who he is," Storm sighed saying the last words.

"Where's that illusion guy?" War-Machine looked around. He found a collar beeping on the ground, broken in half. The restraint.

"Gone." Black Panther answered, worn out. "We still have to find the one who orchestrated this."

"It's a distraction. Of course it is! Something big's abou---" War-machine stopped, the ground shaking below them. A hole appeared in the ground, a huge black mist floating through it and through the roof of the warehouse.

"I am glad you have gotten this far! However, it is too late!" They twirled around and saw who had the voice. "The black plague has been introduced to the world again! This time, I will make sure it doesn't go away! Only humans will be affected, mutants will survive. And then..." He let the words hang.

They all looked toward the sky and saw the sky becoming dark and the mist spreading across the city. Then the dark clouds started falling at the people of Cairo. Screams followed. The three heroes looked at the man who had spoken. None of them recognized him.

"Who are you?" Black Panther asked.

"I am Al-Aziz! Do not think you can stop me! The final days of the human race have begun."

Black Panther

Storm

War Machine

The skies of Cairo darkened, black clouds sweeping over the people. Instant fatalaties occurred. No one knew what hit them, all they knew was their friends were dying, slow agonizing deaths.

"I do not know who or what you are, but I will not stand idly by while all those people die!" Storm rose up into the air, lightening cackling around her body. Wind swept around her, creating a whirlind of powerful winds. With the raise of her hand, the tornado sped towards Aziz.

"Mutant." Aziz simply stood his ground, smiling. His cloak flew off, revealing the glint of his silver armor. Spikes were all over, with a foot long blade protruding from each forearm. Aziz glowed.

*TRICHHIIINK*

A helmet came over his face in one fluid motion, five spikes curving from his head out toward the back. His eyes glowed yellow as he raised his hands toward Storm. In the palms of his hands, two fireballs glowed and then he threw them at Storm.

The weather goddess spun out of the way, while War-Machine lept into action. He let loose a volley of bullets from his shoulder gatling gun. Aziz moves his hands out of the way, letting the bullets hit his chest and bounce off.

"I was blessed by Apocolypse himself! I cannot be defeated!" Putting his palms together, ice appeared and a stream of it hit War-Machine before he could react. His body fell to the ground, cracking the ice off of him, along with his armor.

"It is my tur-"

"No T'Challa!" The Panther looked up at Storm. "You must figure out a way to stop the plague. War-Machine and I shall take care of Aziz."

Meanwhile the mercenary was back on his feet, leaping back into the fray. His boot thrusters kicked in as his entire body flew straight at Aziz. "Dun' know if anyone told you yet 'Aziz'," War Machine spat, "but your Apocolypse is dead!" War-Machine tackled him hard, knocking them both into the ground.*

( *At least that's what everyone thinks happened at the end of Apocalypse: Ageless Fury, but check out current issues of Team X for the truth - Dino )

Straddling him, War-Machine sent punch after punch after punch, hoping to crack Aziz's armor. The powerful man merely smiled, jabbing both forearm blades into War-Machine's armor.

"AAARRRRGH!" His armor malfunctioned as Aziz grabbed his throat. He tore off Parnell's helmet and threw it away.

"Nothing but a man, wanting to be like a mutant." Aziz threw War-Machine away and looked up at Storm. "Perhaps you are more of a threat, hm?"

Storm said nothing, letting her actions do all he talking. From her palms a stream of lightening flew out at Aziz, knocking him out into the air and back toward a cave wall. Storm did not relent. Ice poured from the sky, turning to hail. They pelted Aziz's armor with sheer force. Aziz smirked as he focused his mind and absorbed the ice into his body.

"Fool!" Aziz said standing up, armor smoking with some water dripping. "Now that Apocolypse is dead, the world is mine! I am his heir!"

"You and about every other loony, psycho, power-tripped mutant!" War-Machine fired a rocket from his shoulder, eyes blazing with anger, hitting Aziz straight on the back. Aziz stumbled foward, getting annoyed. He turned to face his attacked, only getting tackled once again.

"Can you take a blast from this close, punk?" War-Machine brought his fore-arm blaster straight into Aziz's eyes. "Die."

The blast went straight into his eyes, letting Aziz howl in anger and pain.

Black Panther ran to the starving man, who was letting the plague loose from his body. The king struggled to figure out a way to stop the plague.

"There is only one way Panther."

T'Challa looked up and saw Yuru staggering toward the Panther, his clothes torn.

"What?" He blinked, already knowing the awnser.

"The king has to kill the subject."

"He is no subject of mine."

"You are a king, and he is but a normal man." Yuru smirked, "kill him. It is the only way."

"I do not kill Yuru." The Panther gave his enemy a sideways glance. "Why should it matter to you if the plague is stopped."

"Aziz has killed Illianya with the plague. She was an ordinary human." Yuru rethought his words and then added, "who was a living weapon I admit."

"Do you hate Aziz now?"

"Yes." Yuru said, angrily, "he took away the most important thing in my life. And now he has to die!"

"I will kill you all for that!" Aziz blasted fire at everything in his right from his right hand, while ice at everything to the left of him from his left hand.

War-Machine dodged for cover, struggling to maintain alive. Storm meanwhile ignored the blaze around her, very pissed that Aziz had killed hundreds of people, with the count still rising.

"It is time to end this suffering Aziz!" She flew straight at him, eyes white, lightening streaming from her hands and into Aziz.

Aziz focused his stregnth and futilly fired ice at Storm. The lightening cracked it into peaces as Aziz's body flew backward.

He struggled up when he saw three missiles coming directly at him. "Storm's not getting all the fun." War-Machine cracked.

The three missiles connecting, causing an enormous explosion. When the smoke cleared, Aziz laid there, his armor cracked.

"Kill him Panther!"

"I am not a murderer." T'Chall said, angrily. He was a hero and a king. He would not kill.

"You are a fool T'Challa, king of Wakanda." Yuru rose up into the air, using his telekenisis. "He must die! It is the only way you idiot!"

"There is always another way, Yuru."

"Not this time!" Yuru once again rose up in anger. Eyes sparking. "If you do not kill him T'Challa, then I will do it myself." Yuru picked up a peace of rubble to the side of him, and sent it straight at the man's head.

"It is over." Storm landed next to Parnell, who's face was bruised up badly.

"Yeah, better check up on the Black Panther."

The two heroes staggered over to the center of the room, where they noticed Yuru still alive, picking up a peace of rubble.

"What the..."

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!" The Panther screamed, but inside, he knew it had to be done.

Yuru's body was suddenly engulfed in flames, and he cried in agony as he died.

"Betraying me is punishable by death!" Aziz stood there, looking worn out. He had taken his helmet off, his face literally torn.

"You bastard!" The Panther lept up at Aziz, and was met by a weak blow from Aziz. T'Challa staggered for a second, but he could take pain. He had been through much more. He sent three hard punches at Aziz's face. Aziz staggered and fell over, too weak to do anything.

The Panther huffed as he looked over at the man who was unintentionally killing the capital of Egypt.

*Brrrraaaaaat*

Black Panther quickly turned and saw War-Machine's gatling gun smoking over Aziz. "It had to be done."

The Black Panther was too tired to argue, and Storm was too worried about T'Challa.

"You must kill him?" she asked. The Panther nodded. War-Machine looked on, about to object. He was the one that should do the killing. The others didn't have the stomach for it. As he opened his mouth to speak, he saw T'Challa pick up a peace of shrapnel.

T'Challa had to hurry, or hundreds more would die. He jabbed the shrapnel into the man's heart, not knowing what else to do.

The black cloud began to disipate over the city as it flew back into the dying man, and then disintergrating his body.

"Now it is over."

Thousands of people cried that day. Nearly three hundred lives had been lost, all in the twisted goals of a man who wanted the Survival of the Fittest.

Storm looked on toward the city from the airport. During her battle with Aziz, she had realized who the boy was. Ororo had told T'Challa who consoled her. The mercenary Parnell Jacobs, aka the War-Machine, sat down, rethinking his life. Perhaps he shouldn't be a villain.

This did not feel like a victory for anyone. It was a loss.

Ororo Munroe sighed as she boarded the only flight to the U.S. for days.