Post by DEATH97 on Dec 7, 2006 2:13:57 GMT -5
ASHES TO ASHES
New York in the not to distant future...
Pigeons fly high above the buildings, as cars rush by on the streets below. The sun shines brightly across the horizon, disrupting the darkness of night and painting the sky in a brilliant display of colors. Another day begins, and high above the landscape the scene is peaceful and serene. The Humans below rush about their business, appearing as ants. Still early, but already hundreds can be seen below, coming and going from work and living out their lives. Warren flaps his wings giving himself more height, the cool morning breeze passes gently through his feathers.
Those on the ground that look upward could see the silhouette of the Angel above. He closes his eyes and inhales the air deeply. Warren often liked to get out of the mansion to stretch his wings in the morning. Up here the world seemed to slow to a snails pace. The sounds of traffic and mindless banter are replaced by the songs of the passing birds, and the symphony of the wind. Warren opens his eyes and spies something unusual off in the distance. Sound becomes muffled as time seems to stand still. The horizon is lit up in a flash of dark orange as a large mushroom cloud can be seen within the city. "What the hell?"
Warren whips his wings behind him and dives toward the ground gaining speed, before swooping back up towards the clouds and off into the direction of the blast. The cloud can be seen from miles away, as it continues to rise towards the heavens. Many thoughts run through Warren's mind. He needs to get to the mansion.. Warn the others. "No" he thinks to himself. "The Professor would already know, and anyone caught near that blast is going to need my help." Just then Warren's thoughts are interrupted as a massive shockwave knocks him backwards. Lights flash before his eyes, as darkness overcomes him. He fades in and out of Consciousness, but can still feel the wind hitting him heavily, as he plunges towards the earth. He manages to win his battle to remain conscious as he opens his eyes to see the ground rushing towards him.
Twenty Six Years Later...
"GET DOWN!" Maverick dives at his companion, knocking Zoe Culloden to the ground as metal spikes shoot from the surrounding walls missing them by mere inches. Zoe gets to her feet shakily and watches the blades retract into the wall. She quickly checks herself for injuries. "Whoa, that was a little too close. Do you think they know were here?" She looks nervously over to her masked partner. Maverick pauses, listening to their surroundings. "No.. It was just a trap. I ran into a few of those myself when I was escaping."
Zoe gathers herself and follows Maverick as he begins walking again, only now she keeps a much more keen eye out for anymore traps. "So you were a prisoner? I wondered how you knew your way around here so well." Zoe is actually relieved by the idea. Paranoid thoughts had been traveling through her head of the possibility that she was being led into a trap by the Mercenaries. Maverick ignores the question, hoping Zoe can take the hint, that he doesn't want to talk about it. He glances from Zoe to the desolate landscape of rubble around them. He can still hardly believe that this madness... This utter destruction, is the handiwork of a single being, and that this pile of rubble was once the magnificent Empire State Building. Once filled with tourists, human and mutant alike from all walks of life. Now the human are an endangered species. This woman from an underground company called Landau, Luckman, and Lake believes they have a way to end Apocalypse's reign before he kills everyone. Luckily, she had the means to pay Team X's modest fees.
Maverick glances back to Zoe who appears to be counting down to something. Suddenly a ruckus can be heard in the distance, followed by shouts and running towards its direction. Zoe and Maverick continue to move, their entrance masked by the disturbance to the east. "Your boy's diversion worked." Maverick says, the slight hint of admiration in his voice. He didn't think they'd actually pull it off. Zoe smiles. "I told you it would." Her attempts to lighten the mood go unnoticed it seems. What can be seen of Maverick's face beneath his mask looks steely. His lips are pressed together tightly in a straight line. She can almost feel the ice on his breath. "We're not through this yet."
Zoe sighs pulling on her dark jacket and running one hand through her short blond hair. "I thought we were suppose to be hiring a team, but so far I have only seen you." Maverick bristles at the implication. "You think were just after your money?.. I have a team here. I have someone scouting ahead, one posted between the towers to the West, and I have a man waiting for us at the gate." He says irritated. Zoe looks to the half fallen buildings to West. "Who, are they?" She asks curiously, shocked to see Maverick become angered. He speaks in a Fierce whisper. "You ask a lot of questions, Lady. You are getting what you paid for. I suggest you tone it down some, Black Wolf's lair is just over that last rise of debris. I am going to double back and move in from the left. Someone else is moving in from the right."
Zoe looks alarmed again, she whispers in a panicked tone. "Wait! Do you have a plan in case this doesn't work?" Maverick gives a mischievous grin and whispers to Zoe, "Sure do... We get the hell out of here." Zoe rolls her eyes and mutters. "Great." She sees that Maverick is already gone. She whispers to herself, "Oh Zoe, what have you gotten yourself into?" Taking a deep breath, and gathering her courage, she switches on the small electronic device on her belt, and climbs the last mound of rubble, making her way to the battered door in front of her.