"Just what is the significance of this meeting?" Charon asked as he waddled his way alongside his lord and master, Abyss. He hated having to walk long distances and having to play bodyguard to Abyss. He knew the man was more than capable of protecting himself, but Abyss liked to have a show of power when dealing with the seedy types.

"We are meeting with the leaders of HYDRA. I'm going to offer them something that'll prove very beneficial to our needs," Abyss replied with his resonating voice that shook Charon to his core. Every time he heard it he swore that he felt his entire body shiver.

"Forgive me sir, but HYDRA has proved only to be an incompetent organization over the years," Charon said.

Abyss laughed and Charon nearly passed out from fear, "That is the entire point. I know HYDRA has failed time and time again. Even now they are already set up for a brutal fall."

Instead of asking a question Charon just kept silent and continued to walk with his master until they reached the gates of the facility where Mieko Ko and her fiancée, Mikhel Fury, were waiting for them. Mieko Ko spread open her arms as if she were Vanna White and said, "Welcome to my abode Abyss. I'm sure your stay here will prove to be profitable for the both of us."

Abyss walked by the two leaders and looked out into the mostly empty courtyard. He nodded his head, "Yes it shall be an interesting visit."

"Damn, I wish I could have been in that fight," Bishop complained as he chugged down another glass of beer.

Shard laughed, "Bro for the sixth time you really weren't missing anything special. It was as boring as the Philadelphia mission. Just a bunch of rookies shooting guns they didn't know how to handle."

Bishop smiled as nostalgia overtook him, "You're right. That mission was trash, but still you know I don't like being put on the sidelines."

"And I'm sure Fury didn't either. You two must have talked each other's heads off. I'm surprised the two of you didn't try to see who had the bigger…" Shard trailed off as she looked down at Bishop's pants.

"Well, according to this century I would have automatically won that contest," Bishop replied.

"Hey big boy! Ya looking for a lil fun tonight," a chunky white woman said as she seductively tried to walk over to Bishop. She was too drunk to be sexy and her face was too drugged out to be even remotely attractive. Walking behind her was a skinny white woman with a buzz cut and a dingy wife-beater on. Her jeans were full of holes and she was missing her two front teeth.

"You looking pretty fine yourself hun," the almost bald woman said to Shard as she poked out her tongue between the gap in her teeth.

As the two women got closer the stench of alcohol and cigarettes was overwhelming. Bishop maintained his cool despite his sister's disgusted expression and said gently, "We're just trying to have some brother/sister time here. So we're not exactly looking for anything."

"Oh so you get down like that huh? That's a major turn-on," the chunky woman slurred as she reached out to touch Bishop's shoulder. A snap kick from Shard knocked the woman's hand to the side.

"I think my brother said we weren't looking for anything," Shard glared at the woman.

"Damn gal. You too aggressive for me," the skinny woman said as she backed away from the siblings and sat down at her table.

The chunky woman gripped her wrist, but laughed, "Whenever you get rid of your uptight sister I wouldn't mind letting you lay down some of that black pipe."

"I wish I had my gun," Shard said under gritted teeth.

It was Bishop's turn to laugh, "The other one had a thing for you. Maybe you should give her your number."

"Bamf that! I wouldn't let her touch me if I was getting paid for it. Uggh the thought of it makes me want to puke," Shard exclaimed.

The memory of what happened to that mutant girl during Genesis' little test trial still made Mikhel puke at night and he could only hope that Abyss wasn't bringing something that brutal to the table. Mieko Ko could care less how the power of HYRDA grew. She only cared that it did indeed grow. Abyss was a name that was being talked about in various circles and it seemed he was amassing resources quickly. Mieko wanted to cash in on this man's success and use it to help HYDRA.

"So do you remember our deal?" Abyss asked as he knelt down to the ground and grabbed a handful of dirt.

Mikhel Fury nearly pissed his pants at hearing that voice. Freddy, Jason, and Pinhead had nothing on this guy. You couldn't see his face except for those piercing yellow eyes. All of his skin looked like one big shadow. There was no texture, no scars, or anything that would distinguish him. What could be his hair was pointed up like a character from a Japanese anime and he had a tattered blue cloak wrapped around his body. White bandages were wrapped across his hands and wrists.

Mieko Ko stood fearless with her hands on her hips. She had the green lipstick and eyeliner like Viper, but she simply refused to dye her black hair. Ko was wearing a sleeveless white shirt with the HYDRA insignia at the front. The image was colored red to match her red thigh-high boots.

"Of course I remember our deal Abyss. I tell who you bought those damn Protocols and you provide me with a better soldier."

"At least your memory is good. My master hates forgetfulness," Charon warned as he folded his arms across his chest. His entire body seemed to shake as he did so. It was almost comical, but one had to remember just whom he served.

Abyss, still crouched on the ground, looked back to the leaders of HYDRA, "Then let this deal begin."

Mieko Ko had never really been able to solidify her position within the HYDRA organization. She had hoped run-ins with Iron Man and Captain America would have helped in boosting her up, but in truth it was utterly pointless. All she had done was make enemies of two of the world's most well-known heroes and created a bitter hatred with Sharon Carter. Tricking someone into doing things that were against their principles wasn't exactly a way to make allies.

With those setbacks in mind she decided to take a hiatus and re-think things. Fortunately, Viper and Shadow King didn't feel like she needed dealing with when they assumed control of HYDRA. Mieko took advantage of that downtime to improve herself physically and mentally. She learned the arts of Tai Chi and Hapkido while studying the philosophies of the great Eastern thinkers. During that time she could only hope that Viper and her telepathic master fell and fell hard. Luck worked in her favor and the two were soundly defeated.

Quickly, she worked her way back into the organization and met Mikhel Fury. The two hit it off quickly and were soon engaged. She decided that together they could control HYDRA and rebuild the broken powerhouse. They had went about that rebuilding by first buying the Mutant Extermination Protocols from Genesis. Mieko knew they would need weapons in case another Shadow King decided they deserved control of HYDRA. Now she was meeting with Abyss to garner new troops to help bolster her lacking numbers. Ko had heard of Abyss and how he was quickly snatching up power. Perhaps she would deal with him later, but right now she needed to take what she could from him.

"I'm still not sure if I like this character," Mikhel Fury whispered to his wife-to-be. In truth Mikhel was a spy for SHIELD and fooling Mieko Ko into falling for him was all part of the plan. His father wanted to smack down HYDRA before it even had a decent chance to stand up again. The more Mikhel listened and talked to Mieko the more he just wanted to burst her over inflated balloon, but he couldn't blow his cover just yet.

Dr. Eve Sando strolled down the prison block of the SHIELD detainment facility looking over the inmates held within very carefully. Recently, a few additions had been added after a major battle within the borders of Canada. Sando had seen the news reports and saw a few mutants involved in the fight that captured her attention. She subsequently reported those mutants of interest to President Magneto and he made a deal with SHIELD. He would allow SHIELD to send aid to make sure the search of those who held the Mutant Extermination Protocols was "lawful". In exchange he could get the mutants into his custody that he wanted.

Sando walked alongside a few SHIELD agents and pointed to each mutant that she had been sent to bring back to Genosha. The first mutant was a pink-skinned male who had a disgusted look on his face. He hated the thought he was stuck in this prison and he had a failed leader to blame for it. The second mutant was a blonde-haired, hazel eye individual who seemed to have a slight glow coming from his person. The two mutants were known as Glance and Babylon respectively.

"Are you sure these are the two you want? Fury says they're extremely dangerous," one of the SHIELD agents said.

Eve laughed, "Few mutants aren't my dear. Yes I'm sure. These are the ones I want."

Abyss held out his hand and began to chant a spell under his lips. Green light flew forth from his palm and began to circle his body in a spiral pattern. His chanting grew more rapid as the ground in front of him began to rumble and shake. Suddenly, four identical figures exploded from the ground. They were cloaked in black like ninjas, had large red eyes, and two white dragons on their chest. Gold metal trimmings wrapped around the top of their arms and each one held a shadow sword in their hands.

Looking to Mieko Ko the dark figure said, "You have your soldiers. They will multiply to our agreed 3,000 in about two hours."

"I wish to test these soldiers before our deal is finally sealed," Mieko Ko replied.

Charon looked wearily at his master. He was growing entirely bored with this whole deal. Mieko Ko actually possessed the gall to ask more of Abyss. He was helping rebuild HYDRA quicker than she could ever hope to. Now she wanted him to prove the worth of the soldiers he was creating for her. He could just imagine the anger of Abyss.

"You shall have your test then Mieko Ko. I don't mind pleasing a splendid woman such as yourself."

Mikhel shivered once again at hearing Abyss. Only he could make a cordial compliment feel like hearing a blood curdling scream. Damn, if that voice didn't make him want to hide in a corner.

"Good Abyss. I'm glad to see you're such a gentlemen," Mieko Ko smiled.

2 Hours Later…

"I'm sorry to have called all of you back so soon, but you know how business goes. Right now we have two unidentified enemies attacking one of our detainment facilities. They're superhuman so we need you all to handle them," Fury explained to the assembled X-Force team in front of him.

"Ahh its not a problem. Bishop and I were getting assaulted by lesbians anyway," Shard laughed.

"That's a story I'd love to hear," Siryn smirked.

"Hopefully Raven can just mindwipe them and we can be done with it," Shadowcat said.

"I hope things are that simple. Good hunting team," Fury ended.

The SHIELD agents tried to batter the attacking warriors with bullets, but they never were able to make their mark. One of the warriors landed behind a group of agents and slashed through all of them with his shadow sword. Each and everyone of the agents dropped to the ground and began to convulse violently. Foam formed at their mouths and spilled onto the bullet shell covered floor.

"I think that'll be quite enough blokes," Wisdom said as he flung a hot knife at the center of one of the warrior's chest. The blade formed of pure heat was simply absorbed into his body and came back out again, but as three blades of blue energy.

The blades were moving Wisdom's way, but Shard stepped in front of him and deflected them with her photonic blasts. The blades shot off in different directions, but like heat seeking missiles they turned back around. One hit Bishop head on and he crumbled to the ground and another struck down Siryn. The last one came at Shadowcat and she tried to phase herself, but the weapon still struck her despite that.

"Kitty!" Wisdom yelled as Katherine fell to the floor unconscious.

"Look out Wisdom!" Marcus yelled as the other warrior leaped through the air and landed behind Peter. Before the leader of X-Force had a chance to turn around the warrior struck him down with his shadow sword.

Seeing that his teammates were quickly dropping around him he used his telepathy to invade the minds of the two warriors. He planned to rip through their minds like a hand through a wet paper towel. Unfortunately, it didn't quite go as planned. The minds of the mysterious soldiers were like jumping into a pool of hot tar. It was too thick from him to pull himself out quickly and the heat was searing.

"AHHH!!!" Marcus yelled as he fell to the ground leaving Shard as the last member of X-Force standing.

Finally one of the warriors spoke, "Telepaths are not permitted."

Shard was strategizing some way to combat the obviously superior warriors, but they weren't making any kind of move on her. The two warriors bowed to Shard as they said, "The test is complete. Abyss will now have what he wants."

With that proclamation the bodies of Wisdom and Pryde both faded away and the warriors along with them. Shard looked around at the many disabled bodies and sighed, "Damn it."

"So what do we know about these new figures?" Fury asked.

"They're strong, super fast, can teleport, have those sword things, and seem to be able to redirect and change energy," Shard summed up.

"Don't forget they're telepath resistant," Marcus said rubbing his head.

"And they work for Abyss," Shard added.

Fury shook his head, "Nope. A tape was just sent to the White House and various other governments from Mieko Ko."

"Mieko who?" Siryn asked.

"She's the heir apparent to SHIELD. Mieko claims the warriors are hers and my son affirmed it for me. Abyss and Mieko made a deal it seems and those busters you just faced are her brand spankin new foot soldiers."

Bishop's visage was one of prideful anger. He should have been able to absorb the blades yet he couldn't. Something was different about the energy and trying to absorb it had damn near killed him, "Just when you think you get rid of a problem."

"Two of those guys were able to manhandle us. I can only imagine what an army of them might do," Siryn said shuddering at the possibilities.

"HYRDA just got a lot more dangerous. That much is obvious, but we need to find Wisdom and Pryde. I don't know what this Abyss could want with them, but it can't possibly be anything good," Fury remarked.

"Wake up you monsters!" Fatal said as she kicked both Wisdom and Pryde in the side to stir them to life.

"Where the hell are we?"

Fatal laughed, "You're in hell Wisdom. The hell you have long deserved to go to."

"Dallas is that you?" Shadowcat asked.

Grabbing Kitty by the throat she lifted her off the ground and slammed Shadowcat into the wall, "You have no right to call me that name EVER!! I am Fatal to you and I always shall be."

"Leave her alone!" Wisdom exclaimed.

A resonating dark laugh came from atop the stairs that were a few feet away from the two members of X-Force, " I think Fatal is more than entitled to her sense of justice after all you've done to her."

Looking up Wisdom saw the blue-cloaked man with Vortigen Walker and the chubby Charon on both sides of him. Rising to his feet Peter said, "Let me guess. You must be Abyss."

"Correct. Long have I waited for this moment," Abyss said as he lifted up a hand and Wisdom suddenly found himself stuck to the nearest wall and held their like a fly to fly paper. Fatal backed away from Shadowcat and she was then entrapped in much the same manner.

"We did what we did under the control of Shadow King," Shadowcat mumbled.

"You were coerced yes, but you loved every minute of it," Vortigen said coolly.

Abyss nodded, "All of you leave. Except for Vortigen. I need you for this."

Charon nodded and Fatal stared daggers at the captives, but they both left quickly so as not to anger Abyss.

Once they were gone Abyss came close to Wisdom's face, "You don't like being caught do you? You hate feeling helpless? Well, you both made me feel that way. I despise the two of you. I despise her most of all."

"Why? What the hell have we ever done to you?"

Abyss laughed, "I think it's time you learned the truth. Vortigen please."

Vortigen Walker nodded his head and his body shattered like a million pieces of glass leaving just Abyss alone. Slowly the nearly blank face of Abyss gave form to the face of Vortigen.

"I am Vortigen Walker. You let me intertwined with another person you bitch! Do you have any idea how long it took me to get out!! Do you!!" Abyss yelled spit splattering across Shadowcat's face.

"Walker you wanker. Too damn pathetic to own up to the fact that you just couldn't cut it. We did you a favor you stupid bloke," Wisdom mocked.

Vortigen stepped back from Wisdom and laughed, "Yes you did do me a favor. You helped me to realize that I needed to be like the man who took control of you. So I did so. I've been working quite hard to build up my power base as I'm sure you know. I had hoped to capture you sooner so I could show you some of it, but Black Tarantula probably wasn't up to that."

"You were behind that?" Shadowcat asked shocked.

"Yes, I had no idea he would make such work of Bishop. I was impressed, but Tarantula was needed to help in the spread of my new drug, Abyssmal. I helped myself in making quite a market. Genetically engineering humans that were already addicted to the drug and throwing him out across the various streets of the world. It helped in making my Abyssmal an overnight success and providing me plenty of money."

"How could you? Your drug has caused crime rates to drastically spike all across the globe!"

"You must have great chaos in order to create great order."

Wisdom licked his teeth, "You insane bastard…"

"You mistake my power for insanity fool. Let me show you just how powerful I am," Abyss said as he backed away from the two SHIELD agents. A column rose up from the ground in front of him and inside of the column was someone Wisdom never thought he would see again.

"Romany!" Wisdom yelled.

"Yes, with my magic I was able to bring her back despite what Jaspers did to her. Once I'm done with her she'll be working for me. I've also managed to bring back all my former Proudwalkers and she will lead them," Abyss explained.

As Abyss said this five ghostly figures appeared behind him and took shape. The first of the Proudwalkers was Herne the Hunter. He had an Adonis physique, but antlers grew from his head. Next to Herne was Gwent who looked like a Viking king with a glistening crown. Besides Gwent was Gameal who could have been Robin Hood if he just had the hat. Gameal was standing next to Bran who was garbed like an ancient druid and the last of the Proudwalkers was Gael who looked like ancient Irish fury given form.

"Like hell she will. Let her go now!" Wisdom exclaimed at the thought of his sister leading such a pack.

"You should be thanking me you ungrateful bastard. I bought your sister back from death!"

Then a thought suddenly snapped into Wisdom's mind, "Do you really think Merlyn will let you get away with this you sod! He'll be down on your header so fast…"

Abyss laughed, "Merlyn didn't care to save me or the Proudwalkers from the hands of Black Air. What makes you think he'll care now? Hell, what makes you think this isn't even part of his plan? You presume to know so much Wisdom."

"You're a manipulator. You brainwashed poor Dallas…"

Abyss cut off Shadowcat, "Dallas is perfectly fine now! She was poor after you and Wisdom came along. Did you two even take the time to visit her while she was in the hospital? Did you apologize for what you had done? You deserved to lose your child you selfish bitch!"

"Shut up!" Shadowcat said as she began to sob.

"Leave her alone!"

Abyss smiled, "Oh I will leave the both of you alone for now. I just wanted to let you know that I was out there and I could play with you at anytime I please. My power continues to grow Wisdom and do you know the irony of it? You shall never be able to utter my identity to a single soul. It shall be entrapped in your mind and torture you endlessly. And why? Because with the curse I have placed upon you anyone who hears you utter my true name will die."

"Give me Romany! Give me her!"

Laughter erupted from Abyss. It was sinister laughter that was born from hatred, "You will never have her you fool. She is still dead. The Romany you see before you is simply part of your sister. I brought back all her darkness and hate. The darkness and hate that is in every human. She'll never be the woman you once knew."

"I will kill you," Wisdom snarled.

"Never Peter. You can't ever hope to reach me. I'll always be the one to find you," Vortigen smiled as he took on his Abyss visage once more.

"Wake up Peter. Wake up," a gentle voice said.

Looking up Wisdom saw the image of Shadowcat, "Hey babe. Where are we?"

"Back on the Helicarrier. I'm not sure how, but I'm assuming Abyss sent us back here."

"That's our guess too. We just found you in your rooms. What happened to the both of you?" Marcus asked as he entered the room with Siryn next to him.

"We met Abyss. He's terrible," Shadowcat said wanting to tell the two of them that Vortigen Walker was the villain. The words refused to come forth from her mouth. She wanted to tell it so bad, but she just couldn't. She wouldn't risk the deaths of her friends.

"He has Romany," Wisdom mumbled.

"What? How?" Marcus asked shocked. He knew how much Peter loved his sister.

"Magic. It seems he's way more powerful than any of us thought and he's only growing more powerful as the days go on," Shadowcat answered.

"First HYRDA's souped up soldiers and now this," Siryn sighed.

"I know one thing," Peter said as he rose up from the bed, "I will get my sister back one day."

Shadowcat hugged Peter, "But first we got to make sure we're capable of handling Abyss. He's powerful. We can't jump in blindly."

Peter nodded, "Normally I wouldn't agree with you, but you're right. Abyss is too much of a threat."

Shadowcat and Peter shared a glance that said it all. Neither of them could say Abyss' true identity and it was killing them.

"Well I think we need to talk to Fury. It seems he has a new mission for us if the two of you are up to it."

Shadowcat pushed her lip to the side, "I don't know, but I guess…"

"Anything to take my mind off of Romany right now."

"Alright then. I think he said it involves a few renegade Gene Droids being spotted in Iran."

Peter smiled, "Some easy butt kickin then."

"Done in the way only X-Force can," Marcus replied.

P.S. CHECK OUT FALLEN ANGELS!!!