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MARVEL 2000 PRESENTS..."TOKYO NIGHTS"
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THE CAST Storm- Weather manipulator. Former member of the X-men. Ozymandias- A former servant of Apocalypse. Due to manipulation by Onset he has been granted a powerful prophetic slight. Dania- Bursts of super-speed, mutant detection, and able to heighten mutant abilities. With Storm to find her brother. Ramirez- Body growth and wind manipulation. Friend of Dania. Genzo- Body chemistry manipulation, incest creation. Friend of Dania. Red Lotus- Mutant ability allows him to best anyone in hand-to-hand combat. Ally of Yukio. Yukio- A ronin samurai. Longtime friend of Storm. Mario DaVingi- Mutant slave trader. Somnus- Bodyguard of DaVingi. Able to emit nocturnal gas and has superstrength. Noveau- Bodyguard of DaVingi. Healing factor, skilled fighter and able to sense danger. Triad- Bodyguard of DaVingi. Able to split herself into three people and each always has different abilities. Jadianna- Alternate reality daughter of Storm and Wolverine. N24- A creation of Sinister. The genetic son of Deadpool and Storm. Z12- A creation of Sinister. The genetic daughter of Iceman and Vertigo. “I zought you had business to attend to in Kenya. What made you change plans Adama?” Mario asked as he poured himself another glass of wine. DaVingi didn’t consider Rulke his best customer, but he was by far one of the most entertaining. They saw eye to eye on many of the finer things in life. The Egyptian’s unexpected arrival had pleased the slaver a great deal. “A recent setback has made me rethink the people I decide to keep around me. I want to up the ante,” Adama replied to the chagrin of his Disciples of the Shadow. They were still upset about their defeat at the hands of Storm. Truthfully, their defeat was only Adama’s surface reason for making an appearance in Japan. Other forces dictated that Adama come to the Far East. “Well, we have plenty of interesting merchandise zat will be able to assist you in that task. Zere are quite a few items that I am intrigued to see in actual combat.” Rulke gave DaVingi a fake smile that held back his genuine rage. Mario was a mutant who freely partook in selling his own people. Adama had been a customer a few times and maybe that made him just as bad, but he took no pleasure in it like DaVingi did. He parlayed his fellow mutants about like stuffed trophies. It reminded him too much of Amahl and his possessive nature. His stomach turned at the thought. “I’m anxious to see these items as well,” Adama said. Rulke truly cared nothing for what DaVingi had to offer, but he had to decide on something regardless. It was what he had been commanded to do. What he truly desired was to bring the building down around the Frenchman’s head. That sick bastard deserved the worst treatment that Rulke could muster, but he had his orders. Suitable mutants were to be acquired for the struggle ahead. Besides, a reliable source had informed him that an old friend would cut DaVingi’s event short. She would be enough wrath to put Mario in his place. DaVingi finished his drink and sat it down on his extravagantly large dining table. He pulled out a chair and said, “Please zit. I can’t have you on your feet.” Reluctantly taking the seat, Adama listened to DaVingi droll on. “We have one belle from America who’s quite impressive. She’s a massively powerful telekinetic. Zere is a lack of control, but good brainwashing is more zan enough to get rid of that.” “Telekinetics are tricky, but manageable over time.” The slave trader nodded in agreement. “She’s not zee
only standout we have up for sell. Doing his best to ignore the inhuman comment, Rulke said, “Are you going to want to use my Disciples?” “Of course. It is a gracious offer and I appreciate it. Do you know if zee other System members will be coming? Zeir presence would make me more at ease.” The System was an international alliance of mutant drug lords whose goal was mutual benefit. Vanisher and Adama were two of their members. The others were Lenka of Montevideo, Korach of Ankara, Vizenor of Jakarta, Bemidji of Manila, Keun of Hanoi, and Kenior of Mogadishu. They weren’t the strongest criminal bloc on the planet, but they were quickly growing in power. As the drug Abysmal rose in value so did their strength. DaVingi wanted to make in-roads with them while they were on their rise to power. “Unfortunately, they are all attending to other business. Vanisher wanted to come, but affairs in Genosha have him tied up at the moment,” Adama said. He saw DaVingi for the snake he was. The slaver wanted to be able to claim The System as allies to the global underworld. It would award a large boost of respectability to his trade. “Vanisher should be careful to not let zat island consume him whole,” Mario said. He poured himself another glass of wine. “Magneto would push zee world to the brink of war.” “I’m sure that Vanisher knows what he’s doing. You don’t run a cartel by being stupid,” Adama replied as he admired the emerald place mats laid out across the table. They were trimmed in gold and had a picture of a lion’s head in the center. A lion usually implied some idea of courage and DaVingi had no understanding of that. “Magneto’s ideas aren’t as controversial as you might think. There are those who want mutant liberation world wide.” “To hell with zat! Mutants make for a lucrative business. Zat requires a slightly corrupt system. I can’t have my affairs going up in smoke. You should understand.” Adama bit back the snarky comment he had on the tip of his tongue. Instead he said, “Our businesses are steeped in chaos, but the idea of mutant freedom is not such a disgusting one.” “Mutant freedom would make me very broke,” DaVingi replied with a tinge of anger at the possibility. He had worked too hard and too long to establish his business. Crackpots like Magneto would only tear down all that energy and effort. Would Adama really throw away all he had accomplished for the foolish hopes of a broken minority? “Our money won’t matter when humanity decides to turn on us all. Now will it?” DaVingi paused a moment before replying. There was indeed some truth in Rulke’s bold statement. Wars often had a way of re-distributing wealth and resources. “If worse came to worse zen perhaps I would aid mutants in zeir fight, but zere are always alternatives.” ` Sniveling snake, Adama thought to himself as he focused on relaxing the twitching muscles in his face. The Frenchman would take any measure he could to keep his hands from being bloodied in conflict. DaVingi was a coward to the core. He had no honor. Before the conversation could be continued further, Triad walked into the room and said, “Lenka and Bemidji of The System have arrived. We may not have room for them.” DaVingi gave an expressionless glance to Adama and said to his bodyguard, “Zen bump someone less important off of the guest list. Zee System members have priority.” Triad removed herself from the room and Adama cleared his throat before saying, “Perhaps my previous assumption was wrong. It seems that I am not the only one after all.” “Well, your presence is much appreciated,” DaVingi said as he stood up from his chair. “If you’ll excuse me I have other matters to attend to. Have your men report to Somnus. He will tell zem where to go.” At that moment, Adama’s anger knew no limits. He had been assured that no one else from The System would be here. Things had become more complicated. Womb Tokyo Womb Tokyo was one of the cities’ hottest nightclubs and it was where the weapon’s dealer had told Storm he was supposed to meet a representative for DaVingi. After the destruction that Professor Power had brought down upon Tokyo, Womb Tokyo had been one of the first nightclubs to rebuild. People, at the end of the day, needed places where they could unwind and Womb Tokyo was one of the premier ones. The last time Storm had been in a club she had met quite the charming man. She didn’t except anything like that tonight. Yukio was wading through the crowds of the club beside Ororo and yelled over the loud music, “You know you stick out like a sore thumb in here!” Ororo smiled at the comment and said, “That’s the point. This contact according to our weapons dealer has no idea who they’re meeting. I look like the obvious choice now don’t I?” The ronin shrugged. “Whatever you say. I still don’t like leaving our people outside.” “We didn’t need an entourage following us around. It’d be too suspicious. Besides, I remember me and you working quite well together.” Yukio bumped into a sweaty man and pushed him away in disgust. “Don’t try to butter me up. This could get ugly and I wouldn’t mind having some serious back-up.” “They’re not far away. If we’re not out in 45 minutes they’ll be blaring their way through here. So relax,” Ororo said. She understood her friend’s anxiety. Yukio was use to operating in the shadows and being here in Womb Tokyo put them in the open. She had to deal with a large crowd of people in a place where there were plenty of opportunities for sneak attacks. Ororo continued to scan the club for who her weapons dealer was scheduled to meet. A well-built Japanese man matching the description that the dealer had provided was at the bar. Reaching behind her, Ororo grabbed Yukio’s wrist and said, “That’s him. I’m going in alone. Cover me.” “Always babe,” Yukio replied as one of her dearest friend’s made her way to the bar. Gracefully working her way through the crowd of drunken dancers, Ororo sat next to the man and just as the weapons dealer had said to do, she asked, “How is the rain on the Southwest Islands?” The man grunted and said, “Heavy as always. What length is the Shinano River?” Ororo smiled, “It is the longest of all.” Nodding the man sipped his drink again and slid a sheet of paper to Ororo. He gave a timid, “See you there,” and was gone into the crowd. Storm didn’t get a good look at him, but she didn’t need to. She had the information that she needed. “Judging by your smile I guess you got what we came for,” Yukio said into Ororo’s ear from behind. They had too strong a connection for Storm to be startled by the ronin’s sudden appearance. In fact, she had almost expected it. Yukio would lay down her life for her just as she would lay down her life for Yukio. That was how deep their friendship ran even if they barely saw one another nowadays. Holding up the piece of paper, Storm said, “I suggest we get out of here before our friends get anxious and blow this place apart. I know mines would do it.” “Lotus too,” Yukio said. “That boy has too much damn energy for his own good sometimes.” Ororo laughed, but it was silent under the roar of the techno beats. “Weren’t we all like that at one point Yukio?” “Yea, but we were cooler about it,” Yukio said. “I mean you got a crazy ass Mohawk!” Ororo rolled her eyes. “Younger days. Can we not bring that up again?” As they walked towards the exit door, Yukio play jabbed Storm in the ribs. “Aww admit it! You want the Mohawk back.” The room that DaVingi had provided for Adama was lush and accommodating, but the Kenyan crime lord could enjoy none of it. His mind was racing as he paced back and forth in front of the golden satin bed that had been provided for him. He had been sent here for a specific mission and had been promised certain conditions that he would be able to perform that mission under. Two members of The System being here was definitely not part of those conditions. Now he had to think of some way around his dilemma. Going back to Kenya wasn’t an option. He would be furious if Adama returned and the mission hadn’t been completed. If the mission was completed though he would potentially be putting himself at odds with all of The System. Doing that could very well cost him his life. The combined resources of The System were enough to snuff him out. Right now he was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t. There had to be a way out for him. If he could get back in contact with Kenya a solution might present itself, but he knew that DaVingi was monitoring all communications. There was no way that anyone could make a call without Mario knowing about it. He was determined to smoke out any potential rats and keeping them under surveillance insured his event went off without a hitch. Stop all your pacing Adama. Everything will work itself out. Adama’s face curled upwards and he turned to face the behemoth Kuragari behind him. “So it seems that he has been paying attention. I was assured that none of The System members would be here!” The dark, muscular figure appeared unaffected by Rulke’s ranting. He stood at least three feet above Adama and might have been imposing if the Egyptian didn’t hate him so much. The two had had a rocky relationship from the start and the current situation did nothing to make it better. Things have changed. That’s why I’m here. I will execute the plan. “Assassinating DaVingi shouldn’t be hard for you. His security isn’t as well planned as I had thought. My Disciples will provide the interference and I’m sure Storm will create her own amount of trouble,” Adama said. The master demands it and I will do it. Have no fear in that Adama. “I don’t,” Adama said. With a sneer he added, “You’re the perfect little slave after all.” Watch yourself. You border on insulting the master. Adama waved a dismissal hand. “Oh please. The only one insulted is you.” Kuragari’s eyes were full of rage and in another time he would have struck Adama down. Unfortunately, Kuragari was not in such a high position any longer. Adama was a fellow minion of his master and as such he couldn’t cut the weakling down. The smug look on the Egyptian’s handsome face filled Kuragari with detest for him. Kuragari longed for the day when Adama was no longer useful to his master. Then he would indulge in the Egyptian’s screams. I will do your job for you. “This isn’t my job,” Adama said. “It’s your master’s will. I suggest you do as he asks.” You were saved from failure, but your time is coming Adama. It may not be today but it will be soon. I promise. Rulke watched as Kuragari disappeared into the shadows. He was the last remnant of the Crimson Dawn and in truth Rulke owed something to him. The power of the Crimson Dawn had been passed along to him and his Disciples. It had allowed his business to grow in depth and made him look reputable enough to join The System. Still, he hated the over muscled brute with a passion. The arrogance he exuded with his every movement insulted Adama on a level he couldn’t explain. He hated Storm almost as much, but he didn’t have to spend all day with her. So he hoped that whatever she had planned would embarrass Kuragari to no end. “Here’s the plan,” Storm said. She was in the center of a circle that included her allies, Yukio, and Red Lotus. “I have the location of DaVingi’s secret fighting arena. It’s located outside of Okinawa, but it only covers an area about as small as a fig tree.” “How’s that possible?” Dania asked. “No way he could house anything in that amount of space.” “Dimensional folding,” Storm said. “Not sure how he got his hands on that kind of technology. There is a specific time we have to meet with another DaVingi agent to enter into the base. We’re going to have to attack this base head on and try to take out as much as we can.” Yukio smirked. “So basically ‘Ro is going to cut loose.” Storm sighed. “I would really prefer a better approach to this, but we don’t have much choice now. DaVingi has to go down and hard.” Genzo nodded. “They agree with your plan. They think it best to attack and free as many mutants as possible. If we create a riot then we stand a chance.” “Precisely what I was thinking,” Storm said. “A riot would provide us with enough background noise to capture DaVingi and bring him to justice.” Storm wasn’t a big fan of the plan, but it was really all they had to work on. If she entered into the base alone there was no telling if she’d be able to open another vortex to allow Yukio and the rest in. Being sneaky was going to be hard if she showed up to the rendezvous point with extra guests and then nothing would be accomplished. DaVingi might have a failsafe shutting down any entrance into his base and he could slip away through some back door. The only way for them to make any grab at DaVingi was to hit his base hard and fast. “I have a friend from Interpol who’s supposed to be meeting me somewhere tomorrow. If we have DaVingi we can deliver him then,” Yukio said. “And what about Dania’s brother?” Ramirez asked. His caring for Dania was evident by the harshness in his tone. “He will be freed. Once the riot starts we can look for him more vigorously. Genzo should be able to provide enough insects to cover a large enough area. We’ll find him,” Storm replied. “Good,” Dania said as she narrowed her eyes specifically at Yukio and Storm. “Because none of us are leaving until we do.” “What about transportation? Okinawa isn’t exactly around the block,” Red Lotus said. Yukio gave her patented daredevil grin. “Just leave that to me. We’ll get there in no time.” Storm felt like her hair was in a Mohawk again. INTERLUDE 1: Kenya Centurious felt Storm’s excitement hundreds of miles away. He had been in tune with the magic in this land for some time. He had been following it, tracking it down until he found the center of it. Memories lost to him were now his and he would burn everything in his way until he got his revenge. A revenge that revolved around Ororo Munroe. “Oh Ashake you made a mistake the day you crossed me,” Centurious said. Elsewhere… DaVingi had a bad vibe about all that was going on. Adama wasn’t himself at all. Going on about mutant freedom and the like. That was hardly what a customer of Mario DaVingi talked about. Perhaps Noveau was right. Maybe there needed to be extra security for this event. For some time, the slaver had been holding on to a secret weapon. A few months back he had discovered a jewel* that provided him with the ability to resurrect one person. He had determined that one person to be someone of great ferocity. Someone that would send fear into his opponents. It had taken time for DaVingi to gather all the necessary ingredients for the resurrection, but now the time felt right. (*Check out THE EXILES for DaVingi’s first appearance in the M2Kverse) His secret weapon had been waiting to rise long enough. Now the time was at hand. This event was too important to have anything go wrong. He wouldn’t allow it. “Zee time is now,” DaVingi said to himself as he gripped the resurrection gem in his hand. All would stand in awe of his newest weapon. Silas Burr. And woe to any who had forgotten his name. NEXT ISSUE: Storm and company start a riot! And just what does Centurious have against The Wind Rider? Keep reading to find out. AUTHOR’S NOTES Sorry it’s been so long since an issue. I’ve been putting a lot of work lately into an original story I’ve been constructing. Loads and loads of fun on that end, but it doesn’t hurt to take a break and come back to the fanfic side of things. I’ve got a couple of interesting characters coming up in the next few issues so be on the look out. I love what I have going here and I hope you do too. I’ve always been an advocate of a greater M2K bond and I hope my writing reflects that. -Brent Lambert   |
