<div class="floatleft">(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V9XKgV6M6Qw/TIw5G2g3aEI/AAAAAAAAAEs/vMRf_ijo9js/s1600/apocalypse+1.jpg)</div><br/><hr/><hr/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>  Name:</strong>       En Sabah Nur<br/>  <strong>Title:</strong>          Apocalypse<br/>  <strong>Affiliation:</strong>  The Vision<br/>  <strong>Location:</strong>   Giza Plateau, Cairo<br/>  <strong>Tags:</strong>         Selene, Blink, CLOSED<br/><br/></span></span><hr/><hr/><br/><div style="text-align: justify;">     The two pale-skinned villains had just reached the top of the ancient stairwell and began down the longer wider main hall of the largest Giza Pyramid when a pink and purple vortex snapped open in front of them. In a fraction of a second the visible energy was gone and three newcomers stood before Apocalypse and Sinister. <br/><br/>     Reflexively Mr. Sinister reached out with his mind, quickly assimilating a wall of mental defenses for himself and of course - his master. Apocalypse could feel the immediate increase in telepathic energy as Sinister went to work and Selene's fury reached out in their direction - <em>his</em> direction. She began to speak almost immediately upon arrival - reporting diligently as always, before moving on to mouth her personal concerns. <br/><br/>     The towering grey-skinned mutant listened patiently to her qualms and remained silent even as Blink began to lash out with her own reasoning, though whether it was to defend herself or further attack Selene's reputation was anyone's guess. As his granddaughter finished with a request of her own, his eyes narrowed just slightly at the two of them - clearly unhappy with both. <br/><br/>     He dropped a heavy multi-colored hand on Sinister's shoulder and stepped forward, pushing Sinister back as he did - clearly indicating this would be a personal matter. The well-known white-skinned villain practically fell backwards in the wake of the powerful motion. Apocalypse's voice boomed with supernatural strength. <strong>"SILENCE!"</strong> His fury could be felt by them both - it permeated their skin like the hot, damp air. His mind reached out and gripped them both, stealing their strength and ability to react to what was about to come.<br/><br/>     His arm closest to Blink swept out, backhanding her hard and sending her into the tunnel wall just behind her. It was more than enough to knock the wind out of her - not to mention leave a mark on her face. He ignored the petulant child for the moment and strode forward towards the Black Queen. He towered over her, enough so that his chin nearly touched his massive chest as he looked down upon her. <strong>"If not for your success, you would be feeling the hard stone of these brick walls as well!"</strong> he snarled, a wave of air hitting her paralyzed form as his voice boomed in the narrow corridor. <strong>"I understand your fear to lay hands on my own blood, but insubordination is unacceptable. You will never allow it to happen again, even from her!"</strong> His left arm snapped up to point towards the still-slumping Blink, who was conscious but still unable to rise due to his mental hold on her.<br/><br/>     That was when he stepped away from Selene - releasing her from his mental hold - and moved towards Blink. As if scooping up a pebble or coin from the ground, Apocalypse gripped her by the throat and lifted her limp body so that he could look directly into her eyes. <strong>"Starchild, I have stressed the importance of our destiny countless times - <em>never</em> think your personal desires are above it."</strong> His eyes narrowed coldly, but there was a deep and buried softness in them that she might see if she looked hard enough. <strong>"You have committed a crime against the Vision - <em>our </em>Vision, and the penalty for such is <em>death</em>."</strong> He said the last word very coldly, as if he was conveying the message that nothing would restrain him from introducing her to it.<br/><br/>     <strong>"However, I will not watch the blood of my blood let all over this sand to prove a point to baked bricks."</strong> His tone lost none of its chilled edge as he continued. <strong>"I do not believe in 'mercy' Starchild. It is never deserved and can never be earned. It is an illusion, the most deceptive mask that weakness will ever wear."</strong> He lowered her to the ground and also released her from his mental hold, allowing the strength of her own limbs to hold herself aloft once more. <strong>"When I give you an assignment, that mission takes highest priority, do not forget what we are striving for."</strong><br/><br/>     Apocalypse turned his back to them both as he walked towards the prone form of Magneto - whom was still groggy from the suddenly frightening turn of events. The massive blue and grey being reached down and plucked his helmet from his head and tossed it aside. <strong>"Rise Lehnsherr."</strong> he commanded, his voice booming once more - ripping the man back into reality. <br/><br/>     With much reluctance, Erik climbed first to a knee, then eventually standing to both feet. "What <em>mutant</em> sends his grand-daughter to do his dirty work?" he replied - clearly detesting that Apocalypse could be one of his own kind. Erik was a leader, a strategist, and often delegated tasks to underlings - but he would never shy from the battlefield. He led from the front-lines. He led by example - not by ordering people around like a coward. <br/><br/>     <strong>"Do not be such a simple fool Erik, I am no coward."</strong> he shot back - showing Erik immediately that he had the power to read his thoughts and feelings. <br/><br/>     Magneto almost took a step back as the surprise hit him - that was why Apocalypse had removed his helm, not just to see his face - but he stood his ground instead. He glared up at the massive mutant, a fire burning in his eyes. "Simple, maybe... but a fool I am not." he growled back boldly.<br/><br/>     Apocalypse shattered the tension in the air with what appeared to be a laugh, a real one. The sudden outburst of deep-toned laughter died down to a chuckle before he spoke again. <strong>"Ahh yes. I see now how you were able to eliminate Shaw. You are no coward either, are you Erik?"</strong><br/><br/>     Magneto continued to glare, the fire in his eyes not even beginning to abate. He had seen Apocalypse's atrocities - he had seen the assault on, not only humans, but on his allies... his <em>brothers</em>.<br/><br/>     <strong>"It had to be done. Do not waste your emotions on the weak Erik. The world would never willingly accept its fate on <em>your</em> terms."</strong> Apocalypse crossed his arms and eyed the confident Master of Magnetism standing before him - showing no signs of fear, not even in his mind. <strong>"It would be such a pity to put down a man of your strength; of your... willpower."</strong> He grinned at the purple-and-red clad tyrant. <strong>"My Vision could use a leader like you. A man without fear. A man who knows the destiny of the Earth that I seek to advance."</strong> His eyes then grew serious as he stared back down at Magneto. <strong>"I know the future Erik, and I know what must be done to achieve such a goal as ours."</strong><br/><br/>     "No, you are wrong En Sabah," Erik used his real name to prove that he knew many things as well "about the future of this Earth, as well as about me." Magneto took a step forward, his fists clenched tightly. "I do fear. I fear a world without friendship, without... Brotherhood." His voice began to rise with intensity. "You only seek power. You have no vision. You and I want very different things!" His voice began to rise to a shout "You want victory, you want ascension. You want illusions!" Erik's arms shot forward, he could feel every metallic particle in Apocalypse's very unconventional body. "I want a world where brothers may stand together without fear of genocide from those that do not yet understand us!" He took a step forward and Apocalypse's body rose slowly from the ground. "You took that chance from me when you murdered my brothers! When you murdered my friend!" Erik lunged forward, and fully extended his arms - launching Apocalypse backwards against the pyramid wall - sending him through it.<br/><br/>     The whole building trembled with the impact, and Apocalypse's form disappeared in a cloud of darkness, dust, and fallen stone. Sinister instantly moved towards Magneto but suddenly froze in place. <strong>"FOOLS!"</strong> Apocalypse's voice boomed from the shadows. <strong>"Don't you ever dare to intercede again Sinister. You insult me!</strong>" A grey hand extended from the rubble, gripping the side of the hole in the wall as Apocalypse climbed out. He flicked his wrist and launched Sinister tumbling down the corridor like a ragdoll before storming towards Magneto in rage. He had been so arrogant he hadn't actually expected Erik to assault him.<br/><br/>     Magneto held his ground, calling out again to the metal in Apocal... wait. There wasn't any! It was gone, vanished. "How...?" Was all Magneto managed to get out before Apocalypse gripped him by the throat. <br/><br/>     <strong>"You have entered a battle far beyond your abilities Erik."</strong> His eyes narrowed as he yanked Magneto up so he could look him directly in the face. <strong>"It is obvious that you have no place among my ranks in your current state."</strong> Apocalypse's forearm muscles bulged as his grip tightened, suffocating Magneto in his raised grasp. <strong>"But it is not the end for you, my judgement will open your eyes..."</strong> He laughed as Erik's eyelids drooped, as he slipped into unconsciousness. <br/><br/>     Once Magneto grew limp, Apocalypse dropped him to the ground and shouted down the long pyramid hallway. <strong>"SINISTER!"</strong> <br/><br/>     Mr. Sinister came sprinting frantically back towards the four of them - Apocalypse, Magneto, Selene, and Blink. "Yes Master?!" He was bloodied and battered, but already the wounds were healing themselves rapidly as he spoke.<br/><br/>     <strong>"Take Erik to receive his judgment."</strong> Magneto was already superhuman, but the blood of apocalypse would rejuvenate his wounds and renew his strength. And then, of course, the mind-control chemicals in the serum would create the perfect lieutenant to carry out his orders. One without fear, and one who was of a like mind... even if not the same heart. <br/><br/>     How he hated that term, what it described... what it represented. It was weakness. It was death. Apocalypse's beating heart inside his chest transformed then - into an electrically powered mechanical pump, feeding off of the energy in his veins - which looked almost like circuitry through his pale skin. It was just to clear his mind of the fact that he could be anything like Magneto. <br/><br/>     No. En Sabah had to be stronger than that flawed man.<br/><br/>     Finally he looked back over towards the two women who had observed the violent and dramatic conversation. <strong>"Despite your individual flaws,"</strong> Apocalypse said coldly to them both, <strong>"you have each earned what you have requested."</strong> First he looked to Selene. <strong>"You have done well in Moscow, you may take a reprieve from your duties and take a couple days for yourself. You may go wherever you wish, Blink will transport you there. Return to me in forty-eight hours. I will trust that you will continue to pursue our goals, even while you amuse yourself."</strong><br/><br/>     Then he turned towards Blink, the mark on her face growing into a dark bruise.<strong> "Starchild..."</strong> he started, saddened that he had to punish her so - but he did not regret his actions. <strong>"You will go to Los Angeles and check in on Pestilence. Report back to me with good news from that region. You may also take some freetime for yourself, I will require your presence again in twenty-four hours."</strong><br/><br/>     <strong>"Hopefully by then I will have returned from Port Said, where a sizable force has given our most inexperienced soldiers some <em>minor</em> struggles."</strong> Mr. Sinster was already carrying off Magneto when a call beeped in to Apocalypse. He lifted his palm as it simultaneously shifted into a small portable screen. He watched as Tony Stark himself recited a speech, directed just as much at himself as it was the rest of the world. Having thought he'd already eliminated the Avenger, Apocalypse lips tightened in rage. He had assumed far too many things from the success of his initial assault. Apparently there was more of a Resistance to his Vision, than he had hoped for.<br/><br/>     It mattered not. They would all perish. He would kill them all one at a time himself if he must.<br/></div>