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Rated M for Mature
Appropriate for readers 18 and over. May contain extreme violence, sexual themes, nudity, or profanity.
Note- This series takes place after the events of Project X: The Birth of Wolverine.
Marvel Genesis: Wolverine, Chapter 95- The Purifiers, Part 5
It was the year 1953 A.D. At the heart of the cold war, one man who stood the most of all the assassins out there, had taken a job of killing powerful people, which was later recorded in his book. But of course, he had certain contacts with his clients, who had ties with several organizations that wanted more power than anything else in the world. For that reason only, they hired the best assassin they could afford in working under their radar. One man named Matthew Risman took great risks in assassinating powerful men and women, who could severe ties with the other World countries, and that also included Russia. But Matthew didn't care about all that. He only needed the money, and hoped to retire soon.
One of the crime lords of Las Vegas had just arrived from the casino. He brought a beautiful escort with him. Matthew remembered those days of wanting to live with his old girlfriend, who tried to persuade him to have a normal life. But that kind of life wasn't for him. His parents used to be religious by the time, and that Matthew didn't know what the future would bring for him. He raised his rifle, and pointed towards the crime boss. One of the high-ranking mobsters in the city, was seen laughing along with his escort, and they both approached the black limo. A huge bodyguard opened the door for them. Matthew knew that he shouldn't take him out because it wasn't necessary when the main target was getting himself inside the car, since he was too fat by the way. Then a shot cracked the glass window. People screamed on the streets, including the escort, who already sat on the passenger seat. The bodyguard looked everywhere, and Matthew was about to shoot him, but then decided not to. He lowered his rifle, and contacted his client. "Target eliminated." He took the rifle apart, and placed it back inside his handbag.
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Several hours later, he returned to his rented room. He felt so tired already that he wanted to have a hot shower. But he thought, First... a drink for today's success. Yes, Matthew would want that. He stared at the Bible, which was laid down on the dining table. He sat down on the chair, and opened the black book. Reading the passages, he remembered that his mother used to read him, when he was a young child. How often he would wonder that he could become a priest someday. But that day would never come. He had always been a killer, nothing more. Religion wasn't for him, probably not yet. Matthew closed the Bible, and placed it back on the wooden table. He was currently living in an old apartment, just outside the Sin City itself. It used to be hot outside, but now it went cold. Matthew was getting hungry at the moment.
A sound of footsteps came nearby, and the assassin immediately raised his gun at the unknown person, who hid himself inside his apartment from plain sight. What Matthew didn't realize that the man himself, had worn a cross around his neck. He was a man of high importance and religious order. For most clients that Matthew had worked with in the past, this holy stranger came here for a very different reason. He also didn't come here to change Matthew's old ways.
"Ah, Mr. Risman. I'm sorry to disturb you. I hope you don't mind me coming here. It is imperative that I must speak with you."
"How did you get here?" Matthew still pointed his gun at the stranger. He was pretty sure that he had closed all the windows and doors before he left the apartment for his last mission. The old man smiled at him. "Please... Don't get too excited about my sudden appearance. As you can see, Mr. Risman. I know you very well. That is if you allow me to continue my conversation."
Matthew sighed and lowered his weapon down. "Alright. Take a seat." The old man shook his head. "That won't be necessary, Mr. Risman. I have some business to attend. This won't take long. But I must warn you though that there is someone that I want you to kill. It's very important that you must do this. Would you like to live long enough to see God's mission at hand?"
Matthew didn't know what the old man was asking of him. He wanted to laugh at the thought because he didn't think that the mysterious, holy man would want him to kill someone. It was unbelievable.
"You must be joking. Why would you want me to kill your target? It doesn't make sense."
The man laughed a bit. "Would you believe me if I were to tell you that the target is quite dangerous so to speak? Let me tell you something, my dear friend. Do you believe in God?"
There was a moment of silence. Matthew knew that this was a foolish question. But of course, he had believed in him. He always did, ever since he was a little child. It was just that he never allowed God to control his life more than he wanted freedom from anything else in the world. Much less the opportunity of killing people in his line of work.
"Yes, I do believe in him."
"Then, Mr. Risman... You must know that the target should be eliminated at all costs. You must also understand that a dark future lies ahead of us. Now, please... Don't ask me who I am or where I come from. What it matters is that I'm the part of a holy crusade that goes against anything of deviant nature, or shall I say the nature of a sinner."
"Aren't we all sinners? I'm a sinner too. I have killed a lot of people in the past. You expect me to kill more? Don't make me laugh."
"Hmm..." The old man looked out the window. "There are far more interests than money, Mr. Risman. We of the holy crusade conduct in certain investigations of these so-called deviant beings that are hidden from the real world. And I have seen them with my own eyes. Here... Let me show you something." The old man handed the photo of a beautiful woman to the assassin. Matthew looked at it for a while, and asked, "Who is this?"
"That my friend is Irene Adler. She's a deviant who can predict the future. I have one of my holy agents spying on her at this very moment. But you must know that she can see every possibility there is to witness a future event that may come true, especially when it comes to the end of the world. So to speak. That is why we operate out of existence, Mr. Risman. Because the government wouldn't believe us. Rather, they would think us mad of doing such a thing. There's a scientific word for deviant, my friend. And that's a mutant. Irene Adler is one of them."
Matthew looked back at the photo. "I see. So you think her future might bring the fall of mankind?"
"Yes, that is true. And in exchange of killing this woman, you can have the Chalice of Youth."
Matthew was confused about that word, as if he had never heard of it. "Chalice of Youth?"
"Yes, my dear friend. It's an old relic that gives a man the eternal youth that he deserves. You're aware of the Last Supper of Christ?"
Matthew nodded. The old man smiled at this expression. "Then you will know that this Chalice of Youth can bring you forward to the future at hand. Only if you kill this woman that is. You must do it, Mr. Risman. And I know you will."
Matthew sighed again, thinking that this new mission was free. After all, the assassin never took missions for free. "So, I suppose this isn't for the money that I would ask for?"
"Well... if you want money that is, I can give it to you, once your mission becomes successful. But if you want more than that, then I shall give you the Chalice of Youth. That is to say, God willingly."
Matthew thought for the moment. He didn't know what else to say to this strange, holy man. He figured that this was some sign that led him to believe that money wasn't that important. His parents used to say that there were things which were far more important than just a piece of note. If he performed this job successfully, he could achieve immortality at the greatest ordeal. He thought, This crazy, old man thinks that I would kill this woman, just for... an old relic? No matter. I'll do it anyways, money or not.
"Alright. I'll do it."
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I woke up and found myself that the entire place of the X-Mansion was ruined. I could see the blazin' heat comin' outta the ashes and whatnot. And that I couldn't believe it. I called out to others to see if they were alive and all. I walked slowly, shakin' my head. I felt so dizzy all of a sudden. It must be the damn heat or somethin'. I called out again. "SCOTT! HANK! DOM!" I called out to the kids as well. But there was no noise, comin' anywhere. Here and there, it was just peace and quiet, except it wasn't peace at all.
"Logan..." There was that familiar voice and I thought I was hearin' things. It couldn't be. I turned around to see the devilish mutant, standin' in front of me. Kurt was still alive. I went closer to him. "Kurt? Thank God, you're okay."
"Yes... I just woke up after that thing..." Yea... I figured that he saw the evil version of Hank McCoy earlier, and then was able to teleport himself in time. But then again, it's good to see him alive. "I didn't think you would wake up anytime soon, bub. I thought you were dyin'."
Kurt shook his head. "No, Logan. I... I am dying. I can still feel the pain... Ah!" He went down again as usual, and I caught him. "Come on, Kurt. You're okay with me. We'll have to find the others." Kurt looked around the ruined place. "That won't be necessary, Logan. I... I was able to teleport them out of the X-Mansion before the explosion."
"I see." I looked at him, wonderin' that he had to go to great lengths of savin' the X-Men because they were his only family. At the time, I didn't think that he could do it in his weakened state. It was good that he was able to do it. Otherwise, we would've lost the X-Men fer good.
"Yes, Logan. I knew it was a risk. After waking up, I've realized that I had to save them in time. That red light... What was it? Where did it come from?" Yeah, that's what I wanted to know. After all, that damn Matthew should know the answers by now. I told Kurt about the evil priest, and he said that he was also teleported. I was kinda surprised he would do that, because Kurt was the kinda guy, who wouldn't leave his enemies behind. I asked him where the others were. He pointed towards the far backyard of the X-Mansion. We walked over there, and saw that the X-Men were fine, includin' Scott Summers himself. He looked at us. "Kurt, you okay?" Kurt nodded at him. "I will be fine, Scott. What about the others?" The X-Men leader looked at them. "They're alright. But Hank is still unconscious. At least, he's back to normal." Yeah, thank God fer that.
"Hey guys!" Steve Camden said outta the blue. "He's waking up." I didn't know what the kid was talkin' about. But then I totally forgot about Matthew Risman. He did wake up after the big blast on the X-Mansion. I moved slowly away from Kurt, and came closer to the evil priest. When Matthew saw me, I stabbed him on the shoulder. He screamed in pain.
"Logan!" Kurt cried out behind me. "Do not kill him!" I turned around to look at my priestly friend. "Don't worry, bub. I ain't gonna do that. I just want some answers." I looked back at Matthew. "Okay, pal. You betta tell us what really happened here. Got that?"
Matthew snickered at me. "I wouldn't tell you, Logan. Even if it's my last breath."
"I'll take that breath outta yer mouth after I slash yer b@ll$ off." I looked at everyone, and they stared at me. "Sorry."
Matthew sighed. "Very well, Logan. But you must know that you can't win this holy war. You are a deviant just like the rest of them."
"Sure, bub. Just keep talkin' and I'll let you live."
He told me everythin' about what happened. I was shocked to hear that William Stryker was still alive. And then he mentioned about a scientist named Dr. Steven Lang, who operated the Rapture device and used it to blast us off. At that point, Dom came closer towards us. She said angrily, "What did you just say?" Matthew looked at her and smiled. "Ah yes. I forgot that Dr. Lang had a daughter."
To be continued in Marvel Genesis: Wolverine, Chapter 96- The Purifiers, Part 6.
What? Dom's father is Dr. Steven Lang? Find out in the next chapter of Wolverine. Didn't know that Dom's father was a mutant hater. SNIKT!
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