Back to GatefoldIssue #8 by Ed Ainsworth
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"High Sapiens Bottleneck"
“I really appreciate everything you've done,” Mark said, touching Andromeda's shoulder gently. The last two hours had been a very trying experience for all involved. The Godstalker had come to visit, to destroy Mark and his little operation, and without Andromeda and her apprentice Stephanie's intervention, they would have died.
Although the major lifting was done by Requiem, a retooled Celestial Gatherer, Mark was grateful for the Environmystics before him. They covered the tracks of their vessel before the SHIELD Environmental Division had appeared.
“The last thing we wanted was for that lot to get involved,” Mark said, holding a bag of ice against his face. Andromeda smiled and touched his chin gently with her thumb and forefinger.
“Most definitely. Look after yourself, Mark. Tsk. If you need us again, just call.”
Stephanie turned to Andromeda as they both took off into the sky, their long cloaks billowing out behind them. Mark waved them off, and turned around, anger wiping his face clean of any emotion beyond rage.
Mark began Storming down the length of the ship setting his sights on Josef Huber. He stood in silence, waiting for his retribution.
“You called them,” Mark said, his voice raising at the end of the sentence. His anger growing.
“We had a situation beyond our control, Mark,” Josef replied, trying to defend himself. Mark threw the icepack into the man's chest, and balled his fists. Josef took on the properties of the ice as it touched his bare skin, giving his already shiny bald head a brighter sheen.
“Kate, and SHIELD and God knows what else were nearly here. You nearly blew the entire situation, because you gave your damn phone to that idiot child down there. What were you thinking, Josef?” Mark screamed, throwing his hands in the air like a lunatic.
“I wanted to save us all, Mark. I did not want us to die. Not you, not Amalgam, and especially not Sharon. Have you seen what that thing did to her? She is loosing plates like we shed skin cells,” Josef said, as Mark pushed him into the railing.
“I don't give a shit, Josef. You nearly blew it. Do you have any idea what sort of trouble we'd be in if we were caught with half the things we have on this boat? What SHIELD would do to me, to the others, God, even to you for helping us?”
Josef nodded and tried to respond, reaching out to Mark, who batted his hand away.
“I don't think you do. Kate might turn a blind eye to your involvement but Fury wouldn't, Josef. This boat would be the first to go. The Children would be detained, the weapons we've collected would be taken from us, into those idiots hands to reverse engineer. We'd. Be. Fucked.”
“I understand,” Josef said, calmly which only infuriated Mark even more.
“If it wasn't for Andromeda and Stephanie we'd be in their custody right now. I don't like operating under the radar any more than you do, but this is the way things have to be until we're ready.”
“I've yet to see you operate within the radar, Mark.”
“Get out of my sight, Josef.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Mount Wundagore
“Is he even going to say anything?” Mattie looked over at Boost, who was piloting the small aircraft towards the huge mountain before them.
“I doubt it. He's livid,” Boost replied, gently easing the craft towards the huge Mountain Fortress before them. It was an impressive sight. Huge spires that reached into the Heaven's, caped with snow. A central tower which was much taller than the rest soared above, as New Men with wings circled around it, screeching to each other. Mattie smiled, and looked at Boost, who's face was a picture of serenity.
“Why do you think we're here,” She asked him, looking at the console underneath her slender figures. Boost shrugged.
“Hell if I know, but I trust Mark, so it's probably something Important. Something we need for this big battle.”
“It is,” Mark said, making his way into the bridge of the craft, along with the final members of his crew, Serafina and Chrome. Chrome faced away from Mark, and the others, sitting and looking out the window, his jaw clenched and his eyes alight with anger.
“You need to calm yourself,” Serafina said to Chrome, who shot daggers back at her, his eyes narrowed. “There's a limit to our patience.”
“You need to keep your opinions to yourself,” He retorted.
Mark said nothing, as his fist landed in Chrome's chest, throwing him against the bow of the ship.
“Hey!” Boost yelled, as the unwanted motion destabilised their descent.
“Watch your damn mouth,” Mark said, his eyes slits of anger. Chrome said nothing as he pulled himself up, his skin shifting to metal, as he levelled his fists off at the shoulder.
“Come on then, you fucking hippy prick,” He shouted, as Mark made a move towards him.
“HEY HEY! Stop that!” Boost yelled back, twisting his controls of the ship, knocking it's movement heavily to the side, throwing everyone who wasn't strapped down into the bulk head.
“No violence while I'm trying to guide a water melon through a grape sized hole, thank you!” He whipped his head over his shoulder, a disappointed and worried glance meeting Mark's irritated eyes.
“Let me know when we're there,” Mark said, turning away from the sights of his oldest friend.
“Count on it,” Chrome snarled in return.
“What the hell was that about?” Mattie whispered to Boost. He shrugged again.
“I don't know, but he's looking more and more...haggard, don't you think?” He responded. Serafina said nothing, as she set herself into her seat the other side of Boost. She cast him a sideways, embarrassed glance.
“Sorry,” She said quietly. Boost shook his head to dismiss it.
“Don't worry, that kid has a serious attitude problem,” Boost responded, backed up by Mattie nodding knowingly in the back ground.
“I can still hear you, you know,” Chrome said, in his seat towards the end of the ship.
“I know,” Boost said, with a quick wink and a cheeky smile to Mattie. She giggled quietly, and continued to plot their course into the computers, as Boost guided them slowly.
~~~~~~~~~~
The craft had been landed, expertly, by Boost. Those years as a pilot had been good to him, especially when it came to matters such as this. However, being an albino mutant covered in thin, white fur limited his job opportunities.
As the “crew” of the ship disembarked, Mark led the way. It was clear he was angry about something, and woe betide anyone who got in his way.
“Diering!” Came a call across the huge expanse of the metal and rock formed loading bay. Encircled by guards, a man in Red and Silver armour, stood with his arms open.
“Come! Come, as guests of the Evolutionary!” He swept his guards aside, and began to almost gallop down the stairwell towards the group, grabbing Mark's outstretched hand and shaking it firmly. It was clear they were old friends.
“I haven't seen you in many years, please, please. Tell me what you've been doing, of the things you've seen!” The Evolutionary began. Mark offered him a forced smile.
“Ever the man of science, Wyndham?” Mark teased, coming out of himself a little more.
“Of course, Of course. You know me!” He replied, slapping a hand on the back of Mark, and guiding him towards the stairwell.
“Please, we've all missed you. There have been so many new additions to my New Men since you left. Sadly, we have lost a few as well, we had a horrific out-break from the Bacterium a few months ago. My new experiments are looking into the homogenisation of aglae matter when combined with...”
Mattie watched as Mark nodded, and seemed interested and absorbed immediately by the High Evolutionary's experiments.
“Wow,” She said, looking at Boost, as he cast a glance around. The guards moved down the stairwell towards them, lowering their spears and sheathing their swords.
“Yeah. We're guests of the High Evolutionary,” Boost responded. Serafina said nothing looking around, and feeling a little out of place. Mattie took her hand gently, feeling for her.
“There's...very little technology I'm familiar with here,” She said, looking around with more fear in her eyes than Wonder. Chrome was the last to come, bringing up the rear with a look of contempt for all the New Men that surrounded them, busying themselves with closing the huge doors to the loading bay, and the other jobs that went with their day to day lives.
“I am Lord Tyger, of the Knights of Wundagore,” The large feline stated, bowing deeply, and swinging his arm into his stomach. All but Chrome responded in kind, which led to an arched eyebrow from the Tiger man.
“It seems that only the hairless male is bereft of manners, perhaps it is to do with his age,” Tyger began, “Or his station?” He offered a cheeky smile to Mattie, who covered her mouth. She liked him already. Boost shot a sideways look to the Tiger, before looking at the rest of the knights. A Horse Woman, an Owl Man, A Snake Man, and Swarming around them, Six tiny Bee People.
“Incredible,” He whispered to himself.
“Isn't it just,” Tyger responded, his ears twitching, “I have spent some time in the Human world, amongst your kind. There are very few wonders in the mundane human world that rival the wonders of the Evolutionary's loading bay!”
The Tiger's arms were opened with in an ironic gesture of grandeur. Boost laughed and offered his hand to the Tiger, who took it eager, gripping it tightly.
“I'm Boost, This is Mattie,” He gestured behind him to the young girl, who bowed again, “The other young lady is Mark's Girlfriend.” Boost's comment was met with mutterings amongst the people.
“Girlfriend?” Tyger repeated, looking behind him at the Horse Woman. She said nothing, turning her head to the side.
“Yes, is that a problem?” Serafina asked. The Tiger shook his head slowly.
“It should not be any more. It has been a long time since Diering was here last.”
“Oh.”
Serafina knew exactly what that meant.
“Come, come. Bring your servant and follow us. There is a grand feast in preparation for you. Perhaps you may be graced with the presence of your leader and ours! Until then, let us show you the splendour of Wundagore!”
~~~~~~~~~~
“So, you think you'll be able to help us?” Mark asked, sitting down heavily on a chair, and holding he cup of tea awkwardly in his hands. He wasn't used to this refinery. At least he'd got out of the habit of it since he'd left Wundagore the first time.
The Evolutionary paused, looking out of the huge ten metre tall Gothic windows. He turned slowly and smiled at Mark.
“I will think about it. Will that do at least?” Mark sighed at the Evolutionary's response, and sipped his tea before he regained his composure.
“I think it will have to do, this time, Wyndham. I warn you though, you've heard my pitch. You know how important this is not just to me, but to the Earth itself,” Mark scolded, as the Evolutionary simply waved his hand at the man.
“Oh, Diering. Everything is so melodramatic with you. I will digest the information you have given me. Do you expect me to make a decision based on a few moments of conversation?” He turned to the hero and offered a smile as he removed his Helmet.
Mark smiled and rubbed his forehead.
“Sorta hoped you might this time, Wyndham.”
“Thus proving that you haven't really changed at all in our time apart, Diering,” He placed his helmet down and sipped on the tea gently.
“I suppose you have, Wyndham?” Mark questioned, which was met with a broad smile from the Evolutionary.
“Well, now that you mention it, I did spend a few months stuck in the form of a Great Ape...”
~~~~~~~~~~
“This place is amazing,” Mattie said quietly to Boost, who smiled and touched her shoulder gently.
“It really is, why can't we have something like that?”
“We have the Conquistador,” Mattie replied, and Boost smiled, shaking his head and re-aiming his pink eyes.
“Mutants, I mean. Why can't we have a big castle society somewhere, instead of living on a Beach in Cornwall?” Mattie blushed. She didn't know what to say. She didn't get the hate Mutants got, but she didn't exactly live a life of persecution either.
“I'm Sorry...” She trailed, as Boost rubbed her shoulder gently.
“Don't be, this is just something that I dream about, it's not me blaming anyone for it.”
“Pardon me, if I may...but I give to you...Wundagore!” Lord Tyger pontificated, throwing open the huge doors before them and showing the group the massive expanse that stretched into streets which lined the side of a mountain.
“Whoa,” Mattie said, as even Chrome was lost for words.
“It's amazing...” Serafina said, stepping out into the sunlight as a Butterfly woman came swooping down with her shopping, followed by six children, all darting through the air playing with each other.
“This is...incredible...” Serafina added, as Lord Tyger linked his arm with hers.
“You are not like the others, Dear Lady,” Tyger began, as the others looked about the area, “I smell on you the same scent as the Machines in my Masters Laboratory.”
Serafina blushed and looked to his apparently smiling feline face.
“I am sorry, I don't mean to offend...”
“You are not offending, my dear lady! You are about to receive something that many have dreamed of!” Tyger beamed, pausing for a moment to place his hand on his hip and spread his legs apart, “A Guided Tour! Under the watchful eyes and paws of Lord Tyger!”
“Come, Come...” He said, pushing their way through a small precession of New Men, as they reached a cobbled and railed viewing outpost, apparently one of many that lined the edges of the central road leading to the side of the mountain.
“Below is the Main Square, but the city itself holds nearly Nineteen Thousand New Men, and grows more every day. Our Master delights in not only creating New Men from Animal, Plant, Fungal and Bacterial life, but also strives to allow us to develop our environments.”
“...This is so overwhelming...your city is so...large, how did you accomplish this without the technology that I would understand to create it?” Serafina asked, as Tyger smiled and touched her chin with his thumb.
“We are nature itself, my Dear. We are animals given the minds of men, and whilst some, such as myself, appreciate women, word and wine, others give themselves to building. Or designing. Or serving. We are a society of Sentient human shaped animals, and we wish to live as such.”
“So, you built all of this using your hands and minds?”
“This is correct, my lady. Those of us who wish to live in trees and towers live in them, those of us that wish to live under ground, or underwater, or underneath the blanket of snow, can do so. Truly, our little slice of the world covers it's great expanse.”
“That is...amazing...just...mind blowing,” Serafina said, leaning on the railings to watch the New Men go about their business below.
“It is isn't it?” Tyger said, leaning next to her and smiling.
“Does he love you?” He asked after a moment. Serafina smiled, and blushed again.
“I believe he does,” She replied, looking to Tyger. He smiled and touched her hand gently with his large paw.
“Then that is all you, he, or she needs.”
“She?” Serafina inquired, as Tyger smirked, and turned from her.
“Ask your boyfriend when he returns. I do not wish to return to my former name of town gossip!”
“Tease,” She smiled, as the pair returned to silence to watch the City below them.
~~~~~~~~~~
“So...” Mark began, standing behind Lady Equid. The Horse woman looked more morose than Mark had ever seen her. She turned her head towards him, neighing gently, and continuing to stare out into the great expanse of Europe beyond her. Mark leaned against the railing and sighed heavily.
“Your new girlfriend appears to be very...Simian,” She began, looking down at the gathering of Mark's group below, in the main courtyard.
“Yeah. Although, looks are deceiving,” Mark replied, he turned around, leaning his back and elbows against the railings.
“I'm sorry you're hurting, Eky, but things ended between us.”
“Did they?” She turned to him, irritation on her face, “You left US Mark, not the other way around. I waited for you, and waited for you. I turned down the advances of many New Men, waiting for YOU,” She pushed him with her three fingered hand, and he stumbled back.
“We fell out, Eky. You wouldn't see me. My time here came to an end – I learned all I could from Wyndham, so I went off. I continued my adventure and my learning elsewhere.”
“You continued to lie and cheat and fuck others elsewhere, you mean,” She hissed, turning on her hooves and walking towards the door.
“I never cheated on you, Eky. We were over, as far as I knew. You told me you never wanted to see me again!”
“I didn't actually mean it, you ape!” She screamed, turning on the fronts of her hooves, “I wanted you to hurt. I was a filly, I was scared of what happened between us.”
“What did happen between us?” He asked, curiosity getting the better part of him.
“I was pregnant, Mark. You'd been put out to stud, and you impregnated me.”
Mark stood in silence for a moment, completely aghast.
“I did what?”
“You're a Father to a very fine young Soldier in Wyndham's army. He's worked very, very hard to work his way up the ranks – Only a few know his heritage,” She sighed, softly. Mark walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her. She struggled against his grip, but eventually just let it happen.
“Why didn't you contact me? Tell me sooner?” He asked, looking up into her deep brown eyes.
“I tried. You were off the planet, or something. Nobody could fine you, Where did you go from here?”
“I ended up in Africa, Eky. It's where I met Boost,” He replied, remembering how heart broken he'd been when he had started his voyage across the African Continent.
She pulled away from him, and sat herself down heavily against the wall.
“I do not want you too talk to him, I do not want him to know you're alive or a part of this world. You have no contact. Are we clear?” She got to her hooves slowly, and placed a small gentle kiss on Mark's cheek.
“His Father died in a battle outside the walls of this Castle. That is all he knows. Let us keep it that way,” She turned away from him and walked away, down the cobblestone alleyway that made up the entrance and exit of this observation point.
Mark sighed and sat down against the railing, pushing his face against the corrugated metal to look out at the world below.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Beginning of the Second Day
“Wyndham!” Mark banged against the metal of the laboratory door. “It's been over a day. You said you'd give yourself an hour to think about it!”
Mark's fist banged on the door again, as he began to loose his temper even more.
“WYNDHAM!” He yelled again, lightning crackling off his knuckles and grounding itself through the metal plated door. He grit his teeth in anger.
“Wyndham, I'm giving you one more chance to open this damn door,” Mark said, more calmly, putting his hands behind his back as a huge crash and the sound of a small explosion rocked the Evolutionary's Laboratory.
“Fine,” Mark drew his fist back, the ground underneath him swelling and punching clean through the Metal door that led into the Evolutionary's Lab. Leaping through the hole, Mark landed and spread his weight evenly across his four limbs.
“Oh...Crap.”
Hovering in the air, the Evolutionary in his clutches, a man apparently made from rock and plant matter turned to face Mark.
“I believe that you were looking for me?” The man asked, as Mark swallowed loudly and got to his feet. The image of the Earth, that turned within the man's chest reminded Mark of exactly what was at stake here.
“Humus Sapien, Right?” Mark asked, holding his hands up to show he wasn't trying to attack.
The man turned to face Mark, dropping the High Evolutionary onto the ground. The scientist coughed and held his throat tightly.
“I think it's time we spoke about this like people, right?” Mark asked, as Humus began to hover towards the hero.
“He IMPRISONED me. Against my will!” Sapien yelled.
“That's kind of the point,” Mark responded, as the gravity around the floating man-child ramped up, almost knocking him off his feet. Small, loose objects began to orbit him.
“Should have brought Monopole...” Mark muttered, as he leant backwards against the pull.
“Look, I came here to try and get you away from him. I think you can help me with...”
The fist came seemingly from nowhere, throwing Mark backwards into a wall of computers. He coughed and rubbed his jaw.
“Nice punch,” He smiled, and got to his feet about to spout off another quip as Humus elbow connected with his jaw, sending him sliding backwards.
“Shit, Okay.”
As Humus shot forwards, Mark electrified his body, sending a jolt through the mutant before him. The boy cried in pain, but resisted, lifting Mark off the ground by his long hair.
“OW! Christ! Get the hell off you little dick!” Thrashing out with both of his feet, Mark slammed them into the floating mutants head. Locked in dead heat, Humus eventually released Mark to the ground and reared backwards.
“Wyndham, Thoughts?” Mark asked, as blasts of energy burst the equipment around Mark into flames and spurts of liquid metal.
“No currently,” He responded, with bursts of energy into Humus.
“Great.”
Mark leapt forwards, lumps of cobblestone and mortar adhering to his fist as it glanced off the side of Humus Face. The man fell backwards after delivering a kick to Marks stomach, sending him bouncing off the ceiling.
“For Fu...” Mark hit the ground face first, and was sent sliding across the surface into a far wall by another kick from the Earth bonded mutant.
“This is getting a little tiresome...” Mark coughed, pulling himself to his feet, as another burst of Gravity threw the High Evolutionary, and his footing away from the ground and into the walls.
“YOU USED ME AS AN EXPERIMENT!” He yelled, the walls beginning to creak and scream in protest from the forces exerted on them.
“Don't fault him, kid. It's what he does!” Mark yelled back, as Humus expression grew from angry to furious.
“WHAT HE DOES?!” He screamed, shooting through the air towards Mark and punching against his already bruised face.
“S'What I said. You deaf or something?” Mark mocked, as another blow hit.
“Don't Mock Me! It really Hurt!” Humus screamed, as Mark spat some blood against his chest.
“You can't be angry with the Earth for turning, Kid. Wyndham over here, experiments on Everything – Even himself.” The Evolutionary nodded very calmly, as though he were noting down everything that was happening and being said mentally.
“That doesn't make it right!” He yelled in Marks face.
“It don't, but it does give a motivation right? It means that you can understand from his point of view why he did it now. It's his addiction, his drug. Knowledge is what fuels him, and it's difficult to have knowledge without using it.”
Humus released his grip on Mark a little, as the hero released his grip, a sliver of something glowing iridescent sliding from his palm in between his fingers. Mark swallowed and balled his fist, the sliver sliding perfected between his knuckles and protruding outwards.
“Sorry Kid,” He said, as he rammed his fist into Humus Sapien's forehead, leaving the glowing rock in place. The trio fell from the air and onto the ground. Mark landed heavily, as Humus hit the decks hard, shortly followed by the ungainly Evolutionary.
“What have you done?” He asked, scooting over to the crystal and examining it.
“That was Isotope K, Diering. That was my next greatest achievement! The Pinnacle of evolutionary acceleration!” Mark shook his head and curled his lip in annoyance as he lifted the young man from the floor.
“This is a boy, Wyndham. He's barely even into his late Teens and you're experimenting on him, you wouldn't release him and you made me stab him in the head with a glowing rock which might have any number of weird affects on him. I don't think you have room to judge, do you?”
The Evolutionary said nothing as Mark walked from the room.
“Guess it's time to work on Isotope L, eh?” Mark turned to the Evolutionary, who got up from his kneeling position and eyed Mark with contempt.
“I think it's best if you were to leave now, Diering.”
“Already on it,” Mark replied sarcastically.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Although the major lifting was done by Requiem, a retooled Celestial Gatherer, Mark was grateful for the Environmystics before him. They covered the tracks of their vessel before the SHIELD Environmental Division had appeared.
“The last thing we wanted was for that lot to get involved,” Mark said, holding a bag of ice against his face. Andromeda smiled and touched his chin gently with her thumb and forefinger.
“Most definitely. Look after yourself, Mark. Tsk. If you need us again, just call.”
Stephanie turned to Andromeda as they both took off into the sky, their long cloaks billowing out behind them. Mark waved them off, and turned around, anger wiping his face clean of any emotion beyond rage.
Mark began Storming down the length of the ship setting his sights on Josef Huber. He stood in silence, waiting for his retribution.
“You called them,” Mark said, his voice raising at the end of the sentence. His anger growing.
“We had a situation beyond our control, Mark,” Josef replied, trying to defend himself. Mark threw the icepack into the man's chest, and balled his fists. Josef took on the properties of the ice as it touched his bare skin, giving his already shiny bald head a brighter sheen.
“Kate, and SHIELD and God knows what else were nearly here. You nearly blew the entire situation, because you gave your damn phone to that idiot child down there. What were you thinking, Josef?” Mark screamed, throwing his hands in the air like a lunatic.
“I wanted to save us all, Mark. I did not want us to die. Not you, not Amalgam, and especially not Sharon. Have you seen what that thing did to her? She is loosing plates like we shed skin cells,” Josef said, as Mark pushed him into the railing.
“I don't give a shit, Josef. You nearly blew it. Do you have any idea what sort of trouble we'd be in if we were caught with half the things we have on this boat? What SHIELD would do to me, to the others, God, even to you for helping us?”
Josef nodded and tried to respond, reaching out to Mark, who batted his hand away.
“I don't think you do. Kate might turn a blind eye to your involvement but Fury wouldn't, Josef. This boat would be the first to go. The Children would be detained, the weapons we've collected would be taken from us, into those idiots hands to reverse engineer. We'd. Be. Fucked.”
“I understand,” Josef said, calmly which only infuriated Mark even more.
“If it wasn't for Andromeda and Stephanie we'd be in their custody right now. I don't like operating under the radar any more than you do, but this is the way things have to be until we're ready.”
“I've yet to see you operate within the radar, Mark.”
“Get out of my sight, Josef.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Mount Wundagore
“Is he even going to say anything?” Mattie looked over at Boost, who was piloting the small aircraft towards the huge mountain before them.
“I doubt it. He's livid,” Boost replied, gently easing the craft towards the huge Mountain Fortress before them. It was an impressive sight. Huge spires that reached into the Heaven's, caped with snow. A central tower which was much taller than the rest soared above, as New Men with wings circled around it, screeching to each other. Mattie smiled, and looked at Boost, who's face was a picture of serenity.
“Why do you think we're here,” She asked him, looking at the console underneath her slender figures. Boost shrugged.
“Hell if I know, but I trust Mark, so it's probably something Important. Something we need for this big battle.”
“It is,” Mark said, making his way into the bridge of the craft, along with the final members of his crew, Serafina and Chrome. Chrome faced away from Mark, and the others, sitting and looking out the window, his jaw clenched and his eyes alight with anger.
“You need to calm yourself,” Serafina said to Chrome, who shot daggers back at her, his eyes narrowed. “There's a limit to our patience.”
“You need to keep your opinions to yourself,” He retorted.
Mark said nothing, as his fist landed in Chrome's chest, throwing him against the bow of the ship.
“Hey!” Boost yelled, as the unwanted motion destabilised their descent.
“Watch your damn mouth,” Mark said, his eyes slits of anger. Chrome said nothing as he pulled himself up, his skin shifting to metal, as he levelled his fists off at the shoulder.
“Come on then, you fucking hippy prick,” He shouted, as Mark made a move towards him.
“HEY HEY! Stop that!” Boost yelled back, twisting his controls of the ship, knocking it's movement heavily to the side, throwing everyone who wasn't strapped down into the bulk head.
“No violence while I'm trying to guide a water melon through a grape sized hole, thank you!” He whipped his head over his shoulder, a disappointed and worried glance meeting Mark's irritated eyes.
“Let me know when we're there,” Mark said, turning away from the sights of his oldest friend.
“Count on it,” Chrome snarled in return.
“What the hell was that about?” Mattie whispered to Boost. He shrugged again.
“I don't know, but he's looking more and more...haggard, don't you think?” He responded. Serafina said nothing, as she set herself into her seat the other side of Boost. She cast him a sideways, embarrassed glance.
“Sorry,” She said quietly. Boost shook his head to dismiss it.
“Don't worry, that kid has a serious attitude problem,” Boost responded, backed up by Mattie nodding knowingly in the back ground.
“I can still hear you, you know,” Chrome said, in his seat towards the end of the ship.
“I know,” Boost said, with a quick wink and a cheeky smile to Mattie. She giggled quietly, and continued to plot their course into the computers, as Boost guided them slowly.
~~~~~~~~~~
The craft had been landed, expertly, by Boost. Those years as a pilot had been good to him, especially when it came to matters such as this. However, being an albino mutant covered in thin, white fur limited his job opportunities.
As the “crew” of the ship disembarked, Mark led the way. It was clear he was angry about something, and woe betide anyone who got in his way.
“Diering!” Came a call across the huge expanse of the metal and rock formed loading bay. Encircled by guards, a man in Red and Silver armour, stood with his arms open.
“Come! Come, as guests of the Evolutionary!” He swept his guards aside, and began to almost gallop down the stairwell towards the group, grabbing Mark's outstretched hand and shaking it firmly. It was clear they were old friends.
“I haven't seen you in many years, please, please. Tell me what you've been doing, of the things you've seen!” The Evolutionary began. Mark offered him a forced smile.
“Ever the man of science, Wyndham?” Mark teased, coming out of himself a little more.
“Of course, Of course. You know me!” He replied, slapping a hand on the back of Mark, and guiding him towards the stairwell.
“Please, we've all missed you. There have been so many new additions to my New Men since you left. Sadly, we have lost a few as well, we had a horrific out-break from the Bacterium a few months ago. My new experiments are looking into the homogenisation of aglae matter when combined with...”
Mattie watched as Mark nodded, and seemed interested and absorbed immediately by the High Evolutionary's experiments.
“Wow,” She said, looking at Boost, as he cast a glance around. The guards moved down the stairwell towards them, lowering their spears and sheathing their swords.
“Yeah. We're guests of the High Evolutionary,” Boost responded. Serafina said nothing looking around, and feeling a little out of place. Mattie took her hand gently, feeling for her.
“There's...very little technology I'm familiar with here,” She said, looking around with more fear in her eyes than Wonder. Chrome was the last to come, bringing up the rear with a look of contempt for all the New Men that surrounded them, busying themselves with closing the huge doors to the loading bay, and the other jobs that went with their day to day lives.
“I am Lord Tyger, of the Knights of Wundagore,” The large feline stated, bowing deeply, and swinging his arm into his stomach. All but Chrome responded in kind, which led to an arched eyebrow from the Tiger man.
“It seems that only the hairless male is bereft of manners, perhaps it is to do with his age,” Tyger began, “Or his station?” He offered a cheeky smile to Mattie, who covered her mouth. She liked him already. Boost shot a sideways look to the Tiger, before looking at the rest of the knights. A Horse Woman, an Owl Man, A Snake Man, and Swarming around them, Six tiny Bee People.
“Incredible,” He whispered to himself.
“Isn't it just,” Tyger responded, his ears twitching, “I have spent some time in the Human world, amongst your kind. There are very few wonders in the mundane human world that rival the wonders of the Evolutionary's loading bay!”
The Tiger's arms were opened with in an ironic gesture of grandeur. Boost laughed and offered his hand to the Tiger, who took it eager, gripping it tightly.
“I'm Boost, This is Mattie,” He gestured behind him to the young girl, who bowed again, “The other young lady is Mark's Girlfriend.” Boost's comment was met with mutterings amongst the people.
“Girlfriend?” Tyger repeated, looking behind him at the Horse Woman. She said nothing, turning her head to the side.
“Yes, is that a problem?” Serafina asked. The Tiger shook his head slowly.
“It should not be any more. It has been a long time since Diering was here last.”
“Oh.”
Serafina knew exactly what that meant.
“Come, come. Bring your servant and follow us. There is a grand feast in preparation for you. Perhaps you may be graced with the presence of your leader and ours! Until then, let us show you the splendour of Wundagore!”
~~~~~~~~~~
“So, you think you'll be able to help us?” Mark asked, sitting down heavily on a chair, and holding he cup of tea awkwardly in his hands. He wasn't used to this refinery. At least he'd got out of the habit of it since he'd left Wundagore the first time.
The Evolutionary paused, looking out of the huge ten metre tall Gothic windows. He turned slowly and smiled at Mark.
“I will think about it. Will that do at least?” Mark sighed at the Evolutionary's response, and sipped his tea before he regained his composure.
“I think it will have to do, this time, Wyndham. I warn you though, you've heard my pitch. You know how important this is not just to me, but to the Earth itself,” Mark scolded, as the Evolutionary simply waved his hand at the man.
“Oh, Diering. Everything is so melodramatic with you. I will digest the information you have given me. Do you expect me to make a decision based on a few moments of conversation?” He turned to the hero and offered a smile as he removed his Helmet.
Mark smiled and rubbed his forehead.
“Sorta hoped you might this time, Wyndham.”
“Thus proving that you haven't really changed at all in our time apart, Diering,” He placed his helmet down and sipped on the tea gently.
“I suppose you have, Wyndham?” Mark questioned, which was met with a broad smile from the Evolutionary.
“Well, now that you mention it, I did spend a few months stuck in the form of a Great Ape...”
~~~~~~~~~~
“This place is amazing,” Mattie said quietly to Boost, who smiled and touched her shoulder gently.
“It really is, why can't we have something like that?”
“We have the Conquistador,” Mattie replied, and Boost smiled, shaking his head and re-aiming his pink eyes.
“Mutants, I mean. Why can't we have a big castle society somewhere, instead of living on a Beach in Cornwall?” Mattie blushed. She didn't know what to say. She didn't get the hate Mutants got, but she didn't exactly live a life of persecution either.
“I'm Sorry...” She trailed, as Boost rubbed her shoulder gently.
“Don't be, this is just something that I dream about, it's not me blaming anyone for it.”
“Pardon me, if I may...but I give to you...Wundagore!” Lord Tyger pontificated, throwing open the huge doors before them and showing the group the massive expanse that stretched into streets which lined the side of a mountain.
“Whoa,” Mattie said, as even Chrome was lost for words.
“It's amazing...” Serafina said, stepping out into the sunlight as a Butterfly woman came swooping down with her shopping, followed by six children, all darting through the air playing with each other.
“This is...incredible...” Serafina added, as Lord Tyger linked his arm with hers.
“You are not like the others, Dear Lady,” Tyger began, as the others looked about the area, “I smell on you the same scent as the Machines in my Masters Laboratory.”
Serafina blushed and looked to his apparently smiling feline face.
“I am sorry, I don't mean to offend...”
“You are not offending, my dear lady! You are about to receive something that many have dreamed of!” Tyger beamed, pausing for a moment to place his hand on his hip and spread his legs apart, “A Guided Tour! Under the watchful eyes and paws of Lord Tyger!”
“Come, Come...” He said, pushing their way through a small precession of New Men, as they reached a cobbled and railed viewing outpost, apparently one of many that lined the edges of the central road leading to the side of the mountain.
“Below is the Main Square, but the city itself holds nearly Nineteen Thousand New Men, and grows more every day. Our Master delights in not only creating New Men from Animal, Plant, Fungal and Bacterial life, but also strives to allow us to develop our environments.”
“...This is so overwhelming...your city is so...large, how did you accomplish this without the technology that I would understand to create it?” Serafina asked, as Tyger smiled and touched her chin with his thumb.
“We are nature itself, my Dear. We are animals given the minds of men, and whilst some, such as myself, appreciate women, word and wine, others give themselves to building. Or designing. Or serving. We are a society of Sentient human shaped animals, and we wish to live as such.”
“So, you built all of this using your hands and minds?”
“This is correct, my lady. Those of us who wish to live in trees and towers live in them, those of us that wish to live under ground, or underwater, or underneath the blanket of snow, can do so. Truly, our little slice of the world covers it's great expanse.”
“That is...amazing...just...mind blowing,” Serafina said, leaning on the railings to watch the New Men go about their business below.
“It is isn't it?” Tyger said, leaning next to her and smiling.
“Does he love you?” He asked after a moment. Serafina smiled, and blushed again.
“I believe he does,” She replied, looking to Tyger. He smiled and touched her hand gently with his large paw.
“Then that is all you, he, or she needs.”
“She?” Serafina inquired, as Tyger smirked, and turned from her.
“Ask your boyfriend when he returns. I do not wish to return to my former name of town gossip!”
“Tease,” She smiled, as the pair returned to silence to watch the City below them.
~~~~~~~~~~
“So...” Mark began, standing behind Lady Equid. The Horse woman looked more morose than Mark had ever seen her. She turned her head towards him, neighing gently, and continuing to stare out into the great expanse of Europe beyond her. Mark leaned against the railing and sighed heavily.
“Your new girlfriend appears to be very...Simian,” She began, looking down at the gathering of Mark's group below, in the main courtyard.
“Yeah. Although, looks are deceiving,” Mark replied, he turned around, leaning his back and elbows against the railings.
“I'm sorry you're hurting, Eky, but things ended between us.”
“Did they?” She turned to him, irritation on her face, “You left US Mark, not the other way around. I waited for you, and waited for you. I turned down the advances of many New Men, waiting for YOU,” She pushed him with her three fingered hand, and he stumbled back.
“We fell out, Eky. You wouldn't see me. My time here came to an end – I learned all I could from Wyndham, so I went off. I continued my adventure and my learning elsewhere.”
“You continued to lie and cheat and fuck others elsewhere, you mean,” She hissed, turning on her hooves and walking towards the door.
“I never cheated on you, Eky. We were over, as far as I knew. You told me you never wanted to see me again!”
“I didn't actually mean it, you ape!” She screamed, turning on the fronts of her hooves, “I wanted you to hurt. I was a filly, I was scared of what happened between us.”
“What did happen between us?” He asked, curiosity getting the better part of him.
“I was pregnant, Mark. You'd been put out to stud, and you impregnated me.”
Mark stood in silence for a moment, completely aghast.
“I did what?”
“You're a Father to a very fine young Soldier in Wyndham's army. He's worked very, very hard to work his way up the ranks – Only a few know his heritage,” She sighed, softly. Mark walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her. She struggled against his grip, but eventually just let it happen.
“Why didn't you contact me? Tell me sooner?” He asked, looking up into her deep brown eyes.
“I tried. You were off the planet, or something. Nobody could fine you, Where did you go from here?”
“I ended up in Africa, Eky. It's where I met Boost,” He replied, remembering how heart broken he'd been when he had started his voyage across the African Continent.
She pulled away from him, and sat herself down heavily against the wall.
“I do not want you too talk to him, I do not want him to know you're alive or a part of this world. You have no contact. Are we clear?” She got to her hooves slowly, and placed a small gentle kiss on Mark's cheek.
“His Father died in a battle outside the walls of this Castle. That is all he knows. Let us keep it that way,” She turned away from him and walked away, down the cobblestone alleyway that made up the entrance and exit of this observation point.
Mark sighed and sat down against the railing, pushing his face against the corrugated metal to look out at the world below.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Beginning of the Second Day
“Wyndham!” Mark banged against the metal of the laboratory door. “It's been over a day. You said you'd give yourself an hour to think about it!”
Mark's fist banged on the door again, as he began to loose his temper even more.
“WYNDHAM!” He yelled again, lightning crackling off his knuckles and grounding itself through the metal plated door. He grit his teeth in anger.
“Wyndham, I'm giving you one more chance to open this damn door,” Mark said, more calmly, putting his hands behind his back as a huge crash and the sound of a small explosion rocked the Evolutionary's Laboratory.
“Fine,” Mark drew his fist back, the ground underneath him swelling and punching clean through the Metal door that led into the Evolutionary's Lab. Leaping through the hole, Mark landed and spread his weight evenly across his four limbs.
“Oh...Crap.”
Hovering in the air, the Evolutionary in his clutches, a man apparently made from rock and plant matter turned to face Mark.
“I believe that you were looking for me?” The man asked, as Mark swallowed loudly and got to his feet. The image of the Earth, that turned within the man's chest reminded Mark of exactly what was at stake here.
“Humus Sapien, Right?” Mark asked, holding his hands up to show he wasn't trying to attack.
The man turned to face Mark, dropping the High Evolutionary onto the ground. The scientist coughed and held his throat tightly.
“I think it's time we spoke about this like people, right?” Mark asked, as Humus began to hover towards the hero.
“He IMPRISONED me. Against my will!” Sapien yelled.
“That's kind of the point,” Mark responded, as the gravity around the floating man-child ramped up, almost knocking him off his feet. Small, loose objects began to orbit him.
“Should have brought Monopole...” Mark muttered, as he leant backwards against the pull.
“Look, I came here to try and get you away from him. I think you can help me with...”
The fist came seemingly from nowhere, throwing Mark backwards into a wall of computers. He coughed and rubbed his jaw.
“Nice punch,” He smiled, and got to his feet about to spout off another quip as Humus elbow connected with his jaw, sending him sliding backwards.
“Shit, Okay.”
As Humus shot forwards, Mark electrified his body, sending a jolt through the mutant before him. The boy cried in pain, but resisted, lifting Mark off the ground by his long hair.
“OW! Christ! Get the hell off you little dick!” Thrashing out with both of his feet, Mark slammed them into the floating mutants head. Locked in dead heat, Humus eventually released Mark to the ground and reared backwards.
“Wyndham, Thoughts?” Mark asked, as blasts of energy burst the equipment around Mark into flames and spurts of liquid metal.
“No currently,” He responded, with bursts of energy into Humus.
“Great.”
Mark leapt forwards, lumps of cobblestone and mortar adhering to his fist as it glanced off the side of Humus Face. The man fell backwards after delivering a kick to Marks stomach, sending him bouncing off the ceiling.
“For Fu...” Mark hit the ground face first, and was sent sliding across the surface into a far wall by another kick from the Earth bonded mutant.
“This is getting a little tiresome...” Mark coughed, pulling himself to his feet, as another burst of Gravity threw the High Evolutionary, and his footing away from the ground and into the walls.
“YOU USED ME AS AN EXPERIMENT!” He yelled, the walls beginning to creak and scream in protest from the forces exerted on them.
“Don't fault him, kid. It's what he does!” Mark yelled back, as Humus expression grew from angry to furious.
“WHAT HE DOES?!” He screamed, shooting through the air towards Mark and punching against his already bruised face.
“S'What I said. You deaf or something?” Mark mocked, as another blow hit.
“Don't Mock Me! It really Hurt!” Humus screamed, as Mark spat some blood against his chest.
“You can't be angry with the Earth for turning, Kid. Wyndham over here, experiments on Everything – Even himself.” The Evolutionary nodded very calmly, as though he were noting down everything that was happening and being said mentally.
“That doesn't make it right!” He yelled in Marks face.
“It don't, but it does give a motivation right? It means that you can understand from his point of view why he did it now. It's his addiction, his drug. Knowledge is what fuels him, and it's difficult to have knowledge without using it.”
Humus released his grip on Mark a little, as the hero released his grip, a sliver of something glowing iridescent sliding from his palm in between his fingers. Mark swallowed and balled his fist, the sliver sliding perfected between his knuckles and protruding outwards.
“Sorry Kid,” He said, as he rammed his fist into Humus Sapien's forehead, leaving the glowing rock in place. The trio fell from the air and onto the ground. Mark landed heavily, as Humus hit the decks hard, shortly followed by the ungainly Evolutionary.
“What have you done?” He asked, scooting over to the crystal and examining it.
“That was Isotope K, Diering. That was my next greatest achievement! The Pinnacle of evolutionary acceleration!” Mark shook his head and curled his lip in annoyance as he lifted the young man from the floor.
“This is a boy, Wyndham. He's barely even into his late Teens and you're experimenting on him, you wouldn't release him and you made me stab him in the head with a glowing rock which might have any number of weird affects on him. I don't think you have room to judge, do you?”
The Evolutionary said nothing as Mark walked from the room.
“Guess it's time to work on Isotope L, eh?” Mark turned to the Evolutionary, who got up from his kneeling position and eyed Mark with contempt.
“I think it's best if you were to leave now, Diering.”
“Already on it,” Mark replied sarcastically.
TO BE CONTINUED...