<div class="floatright">(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/jotunusmc/pestilence2.jpg)</div><hr/><hr/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>  Name:</strong>       Solara Judy<br/>  <strong>Title:</strong>          Pestilence<br/>  <strong>Affiliation:</strong>  The Vision<br/>  <strong>Location:</strong>   Exposition Park Science Facility<br/>  <strong>Tags:</strong>         Apocalypse, Hurt&amp;Harm, Blink, CLOSED <br/><br/></span></span><hr/><hr/><br/><div style="text-align: justify;">     The moment Pestilence entered the conference room she strode towards the center table that housed the holographic projector. She looked back over her shoulder. <strong>"Do not speak unless you are asked to speak. Do not fidget. Do not even breathe if you don't have to. He has very little tolerance for foolishness."</strong> She was speaking primarily towards Hurt&amp;Harm, though she did make sure to throw a sharp glare at Cackle when she said 'foolishness'. She punched in the passcode and took several steps backwards towards the assembled group of people - one of her top scientists, Hurt&amp;Harm, as well as Tangle and Cackle.<br/><br/>     The projector flashed a red blinking light at them - indicating it had begun recording, but was still waiting on a return signal. After a minute or so of deathly quite silence, eventually the light changed to a solid blue and a hologram appeared on the opposite side of the room. The projection was massive. Apocalypse's head was nearly into the ten-foot high ceiling. In fact, the top of his forehead was cut off because it was outside of the projector's display angle. The intimidating image glared at the group and he crossed his arms when he stopped walking towards them. The muscles on his arms bulged, each limb as big as any one of them, easily.<br/><br/>     As if it were some sort of cue, Pestilence immediately began to greet her master with fine words and a seductive flash of her eyes. Apocalypse rudely interrupted her extended greeting, "Save me your petty banter Plague. What have you accomplished?" His eyes were cold and calculating, and they were focused on Pestilence alone - despite her accompanying party. Hurt &amp; Harm were present - foolish little children, but useful.<br/><br/>     Pestilence didn't even waste the time apologizing - and with good reason, as it would have only further irritated the grey-skinned tyrant. <strong>"A new success, master. The first shipment of DNA from the Amazon and Africa have produced intriguing results."</strong> She swept her arm to the side to offer the images of Cackle and Tangle as tribute. <strong>"Tangle and Cackle. The first two successes - though the fatality rate of the new serum is substantially higher..."</strong><br/><br/>     Apocalypse narrowed his eyes as he took in the new specimens, they looked good. They looked strong. And more importantly - they had been hand-designed, each given a specific set of animal DNA mixed in with some version of serum derived from Apocalypse' own blood. When Pestilence mentioned the higher fatality rate, he just smiled. "Perfect." He'd already amassed an incredible army, and most of his enemies had already been decimated. The world's strongest governments had been destroyed, the rest had collapsed into anarchy. Every major superhuman organization and stronghold and been hit hard and fast. There were survivors, but they were scattered and divided. However, they were no longer leaderless... Apocalypse growled slightly as he recalled something. "Set them hunting immediately. Stark has survived the initial assault - I believe he may be hiding in your region." Stark's home and original base of operations had been in California, after all. With his tech at Stark Tower in ruins, he'd have to resort to older models... though there was no telling how many secret stashes Tony had hidden around the globe. It was a start at least.<br/><br/>     <strong>"Yes Master."</strong> Solara answered obediently. She waved Cackle and Tangle off camera and then turned to regard Apocalypse again. <strong>"And what new duties would you have for myself sire?"</strong> she asked, an eager gleam in her brilliant yellow-green eyes. <strong>"I'm assuming our success on the new serum would mean that I know longer need to personally supervise it?"</strong><br/><br/>     A wave of energy burst from Apocalypse then and Pestilence clutched her head and dropped to one knee, a short shout of pain barely escaped her before she managed to hold the rest in. "Never assume what my commands may be, Plague. You have served me well, don't give me reason to slight your efforts." He said coldly, hardly flinching as she was racked with his mental attack. "But you are correct..." he said with a smile, releasing her from the painful assault. "too many foolish beings dare to resist us. I would squash them out before their pitiful flame even has the chance to burn. Search out any superhumans in your area..." <br/><br/>     Pestilence fell to the ground as another wave of pain hit her mind. "And do not think that you can hide your failures from me..." he had dug through her memories and seen the Serum survivors that she let escape. She had managed to recapture some, but two still evaded her. Apocalypse was particularly upset about Wreck's escape. He had been a worthy survivor and shown such promise among Pestilence' ranks. Now, he would have to die with the rest of them. Apocalypse took a few steps forward, standing almost directly above Plague's prone form, his body blocking several of the projector lasers and causing her image to flicker. "Find them. Kill them, and perhaps I will not follow through with the punishment that I will begin fashioning for you... Blink is coming to aid you, and to receive a FULL report. Try your best not to omit any important facts the next time around..."<br/><br/>     Solara slowly climbed to her feet. She was shaky, and dazed for a moment; but she quickly regained her composure. <strong>"You heard him girls... we have work to do."</strong> She reached up and placed a delicate hand against her pounding forehead. <strong>"Remember that if you fail - I fail; and should I survive my deserved punishment, your own will be no-less merciful."</strong> She half-staggered over towards the projector before she clung to the table for support. She clicked off the machine and tried to stand a little taller. <strong>"Cackle and Tangle will search the city outskirts. I want the two of you to search the core. Take any resources or troops that you feel you may require."</strong><br/><br/>     She grimaced before forcing the remnants of pain to the back of her mind. <strong>"Your top priority is finding your wayward brother."</strong> She said with a scowl - the pain still burning behind her gaze, despite her efforts to dismiss it. <strong>"I will search for Stark with Tangle and Cackle."</strong> and with that she stalked out of the room, gaining strength with every step. Apocalypse had attacked her brutally. If it was possible to bruise or scar the mind, then he had probably done both. Solara was strong though, and had a willpower forged through decades. She would regain her composure and not disappoint the second time around. She was confident her newest creations would keep her from becoming Apocalypse's next victim. They had to. It was too soon for her to perish. There was still so much of the world yet to burn... An angry glimmer flashed in her eyes as she passed the two "pets", before she motioned for them to follow her.<br/><br/>     She would repay those insolent rebels for abandoning her to the brief - but potent - torment. Their escape had cost her... and she would ensure that it cost <em>them</em> much more.<br/></div>