Post by Spider-Man Beyond on Aug 21, 2007 17:15:26 GMT -5
The Uncanny X-Men #6
The Sentinel War
Part 3
The Tangled Web
The Sentinel War
Part 3
The Tangled Web
Written by KM Jones (Wonderphoenix)
Edited by Daniel Dyer (Spider-Man Beyond)
Camp Wide Awake
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Camp Wide Awake was the name of the unmarked three story building nestled at the foot of a mountain about nine miles outside the city limits of Richmond, Virginia. With its paint chipped, wooden frame, drape covered windows, and a roof in desperate need of repair, the building provided cover for what really went on inside. Built in the 1960 by the United States Marines, its original purpose was to house and train black ops agents and did so until the division was annexed by S.H.E.I.L.D. in the late 80's. Its original front, a half-way house for former war veterans, served its purpose to explain the presence of the military as well deterring unexpected and unwanted guests - with the exception of the occasional thrill seeking teenagers over the years.
The building remained unoccupied for much of the 90's but remained the property of the United States government. Then, in the winter of 2001, a covert military operation resumed operations and two bunkers with state-of-the-art Stark Enterprises tech were built below ground. An up-and-coming inventor by the name of Bolivar Trask placed in charge.
Trask, the widowed father of two sons Larry and Laurence, attended MIT and worked briefly with the son of industrialist Howard Stark before a disagreement in philosophies sent them in different directions. During his early career, Trask made key contacts and later used his influence in Washington to help fund and elect Graydon Creed, a relatively unknown Senator from Oregon, to the Presidency. This, in return, ultimately placed Creed in his back pocket – or so he believed. However, after his last meeting with the President - a meeting where he had seen a side of Creed previously unknown to him - Bolivar Trask was anything but pleased.
Trask arrived in the early morning hours via helicopter and proceeded through the side door. He picked up a small flashlight lying on the floor just inside and walked slowly to the back of the room. A large metal cabinet stood in the corner. Trask reached in his pocket, produced a key and unlocked it to reveal a hand recognition device. Trask rested his hand within the outline and, after a few seconds of scanning, a portion of the back wall slid away to reveal an elevator. Trask rode down to Bunker Two. The elevator opened. He stepped out and was quickly greeted by the production manager.
“Glad to have you back, Sir,” the manager said as he began to walk with Trask. “How did your meeting with the President go? What was his response to the news?”
“How the hell do you think it went?” Trask muttered as he continued to walk, barely acknowledging the man. “I was lucky that I was even allowed back here after that fiasco with Magneto.” He turned. “I want answers, Mr. Green.”
Trask began to walk again only to stop at the end of the hall to begin looking at the dozens of men and women working on the Sentinels below. “I want to know why the Sentinels were so easily defeated by Magneto but weren’t by the X-Men.”
“Mr. Trask,” Green timidly began, “don’t forget that Magneto controls metal. We always knew that there was a risk that he would be able to bypass any security we setup within the robots.”
“Don’t take me for an idiot, Green,” Trask replied as he continued to observe. He turned to the portly man and noticed the sweat beading upon his brow. “Something went wrong. That was obvious and I specifically warned Creed that we faced that possibility.” He shook his head and took a breath. “I just don’t understand his reaction and I didn’t expect this nor did I expect to be spoken to the way I was.” Trask restored his resolve. “Creed needs to remember that he is where he is today because of me.”
Mr. Green followed along behind Trask. “Well, at least we were able to capture three of the outlawed X-Men.”
“Yes,” Trask smiled, “that is one consolation. How goes the interrogation?”
“We are analyzing the visor worn by the older one, who will only give us a name of Cyclops, and plan to incorporate any findings into our programming sequence. We believe that the visor is made of refined ruby quartz that somehow acts as a deterrent to his mutant eye blasts,” Mr. Green proudly boasted of his findings.
“What about the demon and the cold boy?” Trask asked. “What have you found from them?”
Mr. Green hesitated.
“Well, tell me.”
“Uh, well,” Mr. Green slowly responded, “we haven’t actually started interrogating them.”
“And why not?” Trask demanded.
“They are children, Mr. Trask.” Mr. Green looked at the floor, to the production line down below, and back to Trask. “The boy with the cold power couldn’t be any more than fourteen and the demon boy, as best I can tell, is most likely around sixteen or seventeen.” He tried to compensate by saying, “We have them in holding with power dampening collars.”
Trask stared down at the man in front of him. There was a tense moment of silence before Trask began. “I assume that you are telling me that you see these mutants as human children?”
Mr. Green slowly nodded in agreement.
“Green, you have a job to do for me, yourself, and your country. These are mutants and they do not have the rights guaranteed to you and me by the Constitution. If I am not mistaken, I do not believe that it reads ‘all men and mutants are created equal’. Mutants are not human, Mr. Green. They are no better than the meat from chicken, cows, and all the other meats you eat from the look of you.” Trask laughed and turned away.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Trask,” Mr. Green weakly stated.
Trask looked back at him and knew that his demoralization of the man was a success.
“It won’t happen again.”
“Rest assured that it does not. I would hate for you to lose your job as I know it helps to pay for your daughter going to Harvard.” Trask smiled. “How is Janet? I trust she is doing well.”
“She is, Mr. Trask,” Mr. Green answered as he turned and began to walk away. “I will see that the interrogation of the other two begins shortly. It won’t happen again, Sir.”
Trask nodded and began to walk to his office.
Mr. Green entered the elevator, pressed the button to take him to Bunker One, and ran his hands through his thinning hair. God forgive me for what I am about to do, he thought. God forgive.
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