"That is most unfortunate," Apocalypse said. He frowned deeply.
"Shampoo very sorry," Shampoo said in a voice that was anything but sorry.
"Most unfortunate," Apocalypse said, his frown curling upward into a grim smile. "For you."
"Ehh?" Shampoo asked, blinking.
"You see," Apocalypse said. "The process is much more painful when it is unwilling."
"Shampoo no go e...AHH!?" Shampoo gasped as cables appeared from the walls of her cell and pulled her toward the wall opening up behind her, revealing a kind of metallic cocoon. A moment later and she was sealed inside and restrained.
"I found that quite easy, actually," Apocalypse said.
He knew the Amazons and they knew him, admittedly under a separate name from a time before they were more than a few generations old. He had a deal with those ancient, powerful Amazons, daughters of Artemis, Morrigan and Kali, that he was loath to break, not for any retribution that might come, but because he did have a sense of honor, unlike some of his enemies.
As such, he'd been able to watch as the Amazons diluted their blood further and further, not by their marriage laws which he wholly approved of, but by their acceptance of any female of moderate skill that sought protection. It was nearly to the point that the genes of those original Amazons was completely gone.
He'd been waiting for a chance to rectify that situation. Only it was more difficult than merely collecting any Amazon that happened along.
The Amazon had to be an exile, else he would break his word to their ancestors. The Amazon had to be of the original stock, like the great-granddaughter of a matriarch. And their had to be some magic within the body of said Amazon, mere genetics would not suffice. The Jusenkyo curse, however, was perfect.
He smiled and watched as the machine went to work, listening as the Amazon tried, unsuccessfully, to stifle her screams. Within hours, the blood of three goddesses would be awakened within the young girl, bringing her a power above and beyond the demi-gods he originally made the deal with. And, of course, she would be programmed to obey him.
Such brainwashing was unsecure, as had been proven in other cases, such as Archangel, his former Horseman of Death, and Wolverine, his last Horseman of War. Apocalypse would have it no other way. If the subject proved strong enough to break free of his control, then they were certainly worthy to exist within the world.
Apocalypse valued the fighting spirit and tenacity of all mortals, even humans. All he did was, in essence, a test of those in the world. A test to see if they were worthy of survival. And his own servants were as tested as those they were set upon.
****
Shampoo stumbled weakly out of the cocoon as the process finished. Every corner of her pale, silvery white skin ached as she moaned weakly. Dark purple, almost black, hair cascaded down around her shoulders. Now that everything was finished, however, she felt her strength recovering quickly.
Shampoo firmly braced her four arms against the floor and shook out her wings. As she rose she didn't even consider these changes, all her attention as she recovered completely was on her lord and master.
"Lord Apocalypse," she said, kowtowing before the ancient mutant.
"Better than I expected," Apocalypse said. "And you shall see that I'll still grant you the original offer."
After all, Apocalypse thought as his new Horseman of Death smiled in gratitude before her god, the genes that could weild both light and darkness would truly make a powerful servant.
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(Posted Thu, 19 Dec 2002 18:05)
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