The Dark Phoenix had dealt with the father who had abandoned her, leaving her heart in a state of turmoil. Instead of fleeing, she remained in the neglected house, adrift in the memories of her childhood.
The tranquility was short-lived.
A concerned neighbor, noticing the old drunkard Summers had vanished, called the police. When detectives arrived to investigate, the Dark Phoenix casually blasted them away. The quiet town erupted into chaos. Learning that a mutant had infiltrated their town, residents frantically packed their belongings and fled with their families. Police reinforcements soon arrived, dozens strong, surrounding the house.
"The person inside, come out and surrender immediately, or we will be forced to use lethal force!" an officer warned through a megaphone. In truth, they were terrified, their palms slick with sweat. Magneto's recent televised display of power had taught them that even fully armed officers were mere decorations against such might.
Inside, the Dark Phoenix sat silently in a chair. She had no desire to leave. She could feel a presence approaching, a pull of destiny she knew she had to wait for. She was indifferent to the mortals outside; a single thought could reduce them to ashes. But some ignorant humans always insisted on testing the forbidden. A heavily armed tactical unit arrived, ready to storm the house, their goal not capture, but elimination.
At that moment, Magneto descended with a contingent of mutants. The X-Men and the Brotherhood, in a temporary alliance, had come to resolve the Dark Phoenix crisis. Seeing the heavy police presence, Magneto acted without hesitation. With a wave of his hand, he tore their firearms and armored vehicles to scrap.
"Leave!"
A single word sent the disarmed and terrified officers scrambling for their lives. No one was willing to die for a few thousand dollars a month.
"Well, well, old friend, putting on another grand show," a familiar voice remarked. Apocalypse and his followers teleported onto the scene. Three days had passed; the Dark Phoenix should have calmed down. It was time to recruit her. By sheer coincidence, they ran into Magneto's group.
"What are you doing here?"
The atmosphere crackled with tension. It was obvious both sides had come for the Dark Phoenix, albeit with vastly different intentions.
"Whatever you're doing, we're doing," Alan said amicably. "We've fought side-by-side. No need to be so tense. I was so scared I nearly wet myself."
"..." If you're so scared, go home and change your pants. And you say that without a shred of shame?
"Jean Grey is unstable right now. Do not provoke her," Magneto warned.
"Don't worry, we're not here to fight," Alan said, removing his mask and flicking his hair. "Old friend, do me a favor. Let us go in and talk first. If we can't reach an agreement, we'll stay out of it."
"I don't trust you." Magneto wouldn't let them act recklessly. If they triggered the Dark Phoenix's dark side, the situation would become uncontrollable.
"As a sign of good faith, only my boss and I will go in. The others will wait outside. How's that?" Alan said, hands on his hips, his tone arrogant. "You don't have to respect me, but you must respect my boss."
Magneto glanced at Apocalypse. After a long silence, he relented. "Just the two of you. And remember, do not anger her."
"Who do you think I am?" Alan promised readily. I don't trust you at all, Magneto thought. We're not friends. He only agreed because he still owed Apocalypse for enhancing his powers.
"Boss, with me handling this, you're about to gain a powerful new general," Alan assured Apocalypse.
"We shall see," Apocalypse nodded, pleased. He was impressed with Alan's performance so far. He had helped him build a formidable force and eliminate the Hellfire Club. The Sentinels and the Dark Phoenix were unforeseen complications, not part of his original plan.
Alan and Apocalypse walked to the door.
Knock, knock, knock…
Alan knocked politely. "Open up! Water meter inspection! Your gas line is connected to your water pipe!"
Without waiting for a response, he twisted the knob and pushed the door open. Inside, the Dark Phoenix sat on a chair, her gaze questioning.
Alan raised a hand, stopping Apocalypse from speaking. "Boss, let me handle the negotiations. This is a job for a professional."
"Be careful," Apocalypse warned. He always felt a sense of dread in the presence of the Dark Phoenix, a stark reminder of the terrifying power of a Level 5 mutant.
"We're all adults here, so I'll be direct," Alan began, wiggling his fingers in a grand introductory gesture. "This is my boss, Apocalypse. Don't mind his face; I also think he's ugly."
"What did you say?" the Dark Phoenix frowned.
"It's simple. My boss has taken a liking to you. Don't be ungrateful," Alan said, adopting the lecherous expression of a bully eyeing an innocent maiden.
"Alan, you—" Apocalypse glared at him, furious. This was not the smooth-talking approach they had discussed. This was a threat.
BOOM!
Before Apocalypse could finish, the Dark Phoenix erupted.
Black flames engulfed the two of them, incinerating the house around them.
"You will pay the price for insulting me," her voice was glacial, laced with bone-chilling killing intent.
As the black flames surged towards them, Apocalypse threw up a protective force field.
"Listen to me! That's not what I meant! I'm here to recruit you!" he pleaded, struggling to maintain the shield.
"Forget it, Boss!" Alan yelled, completely unfazed. "There are plenty of fish in the sea! Why fixate on this one? This kind of woman just needs a good thrashing! There are plenty more out there!"
"Shut up!" Apocalypse was on the verge of tears. He was horrified to discover he couldn't teleport; the black flames were interfering with the fabric of space itself.
Outside, the house had vanished, reduced to ash. The other mutants stared in terror at the enraged Dark Phoenix, unable to comprehend how Alan had managed to provoke her so instantly.
"You dare yell at me!?" Alan's eyes widened, and he turned on Apocalypse, a look of pure grievance on his face. "You yell at me?! I help you, and you yell at me?! What the hell, you thousand-year-old fossil, you gray-skinned buffoon, you bald-headed idiot number one…!"
Apocalypse was dumbfounded. The madman had picked the worst possible moment to have a complete breakdown.
The Dark Phoenix was equally confused. Why were they fighting amongst themselves?
The onlookers were flabbergasted. Weren't they on the same side? Why was the second-in-command screaming at his boss?
Alan suddenly spun towards the Dark Phoenix, his face a mask of fury. "You wicked woman! You've ruined the bond between my boss and me!"
"Alan, stop! What are you doing!?" Apocalypse cried out in alarm as Alan began to walk towards the Dark Phoenix. But he was trapped, his full power focused on maintaining the shield. He was powerless to intervene.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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