Deal with Sinister

"So… something going on between you two?" Howard asked as his eyes revolved around me and Peggy. 

"Maybe?" Peggy didn't give a direct answer and I just shrugged my shoulders. Howard stared at us for a solid minute but ended up sighing.

"I still think that both of you are hiding something from me." I still need him… well I mostly need the Stark Industries, so I stayed quiet, as for Peggy… She most probably doesn't want to destroy our friendship. 

I don't give a shit about such things… but it would be annoying if this gets him to withdraw our partnership. 

He shook his head. "Anyways, have you heard about WSO and their intention of bringing S.H.I.E.L.D under their control?" 

I nodded as I already knew about it. "We cannot go against the World Security Council, and S.H.I.E.L.D was created to maintain the safety of the world wasn't it? So, it is not a big deal." And I already have moles within the council so I don't have to worry about their involvement. 

"True. But have you heard that the Stallion Corporation is involving themselves with the military? And they are claiming that their weapons are going to be better than Stark Weapons, can you believe that?!?" He scoffed. "I would love to see them try making better weapons than me." 

Ah, yes. Stallion Corporation… I have got some really interesting information about them. 

"Don't worry about them, they won't be doing that." This made him look at me. 

"Oh! Now, I remember. They challenged you as well." He raised an eyebrow. "You are not going to take any action against them?" 

This made me smile. "I will. And it will be pretty soon. I am waiting for something right now." I looked at Peggy. "Do you know when the meeting with WSO is?" 

Peggy nodded. "It's on Wednesday." 

Today is Sunday so I have three days. Perfect!

I turned to look at Howard. "My friend, this meeting might not be that boring after all." 

"What do you mean?" He asked. 

"You will see when the time comes. But for now, we need to complete the project that we started." 

He nodded. "This is without a doubt our most expensive and most interesting research… If it succeeds, it will be a major step for humanity."

Indeed it would. And, I will make sure that it succeeds… unless some external forces try messing them up.

Peggy eyed us curiously. "What are you two working on now?"

"It's a surprise!" Both of us said at the same time which made her roll her eyes.

"Whatever."

…

…

[[Nathaniel Essex]]

"More! Bring me more blood!" The minion rushed towards the containers as I roared. 

"What the hell are you, Marcellus?" 

"A mutant?" My focus instantly shifted towards the voice. He has gotten sneakier. Despite me not focusing on my surroundings at all, his presence shouldn't have escaped my radar. He has improved.

"Did you know about it?" I asked as he puts on a confused face. 

"Know about what?" His mask could have fooled even the most experienced actors and criminals… but not me.

"You are still a few centuries younger to be able to fool me." He laughed at my statement.

"I wouldn't be that sure about it. But yes I knew." This made me smile for reasons unknown.

"And you dared to fool me?" 

He laughed. "You don't hate that… now, do you? A little challenge is never a bad thing. The challenge is to crack my genetic code, which I was unsuccessful in doing. If there is anyone that can crack it, it's you and I would love to see you succeed."

He is not simple… Hell, even his DNA is complex. 

"As for the other problem. I am working on it just like you are. But neither of us would be able to do anything if he wakes up before 30 to 40 years." He sighed. "At this instant, it mostly depends on our luck." 

True. If Apocalypse wakes up now… Even I won't be able to figure out a way to stop him. But my estimates say that he shouldn't be waking up before half a century.

"My DNA is very complex yet the adaptability makes it extremely precious. If you succeed in extracting that adaptability from my blood and are successful in creating clones. We might have a chance in defeating the Apocalypse. But you know as well that we cannot fight him depending on that alone." That's why I am working on 12 backup plans. "We 'must' stop Apocalypse to be free. And for that, I will help you."

He is not lying but he isn't exactly telling the truth either. 

"Let me ask. What brought you here?" 

Now, this was the smile that I knew very well. The sinister smile. 

"I have something that you would like." This got me curious. 

"And what would that be?" His smile grew even bigger. 

"This." He said as he pushed a vile of blood towards me. I have worked with blood for my whole life so I can say this for sure… It's mutant blood.

"What's so special about it?" He laughed and walked closer.

"Well…" What he whispered in my ear made my whole body shudder.

"That's impossible!" 

The smile didn't leave his face. "Oh, it is very much possible my friend." He looked at my minions. "I cannot work with it, but you can. And with your endless amount of lab rats… it shouldn't be very difficult."

That was true.

"You know that this is a very stupid move from your side, right?" What he just gave me... is enough to kill him and get rid of him.

"Yeah, but you still haven't cracked my DNA and you know this very well that if I am able to provide this to you, then I must have many more things that are similar to this as well." True. Only a fool would give away such a precious blood sample if that was not the case. 

"Tell me the truth. What do you want?" Sometimes not being able to read his mind is a major annoyance. 

"Remember when I asked you if there was an element that could work as an insulator to prevent the poison from leaking out?" 

I nodded. "You did and I said that you have to find an element that is able to hold such toxins while not making the adamantium weaker." Wait! "Did you-"

He shook his head. "No, I haven't found such an element yet… but-" He pulls out an item wrapped in clothing from his pocket. "What if we can create a type of nullifier that can prevent the toxins from entering the blood flow by killing it the moment it is released from the metal?"

"What do-" my eyes widened. "Is that Antarctic Vibranium?"

He nodded. "Indeed it is. I am unable to remove the poisonous nature of adamantium, but I believe you can do it with this metal. It destroys any metal that comes in contact with it, but I believe that you can figure out a way to prevent that from happening and just remove the poison." 

I can indeed do that. "I can. But I will be keeping that rest of the piece." This item is priceless!

He chuckled. "Of course. I need the adamantium and not this. So, feel free to keep it."

Marcellus, you are truly an interesting mutant.

But he suddenly frowned. "I need another thing from you."

"What is that?" I asked.

"I need all the information that you have on the Summers and Grey family." How did he? Ah, of course, he does know about them.

It made me smile. "I am fine with that. They are useless to me now." After all, I have far better options. "Joshua!"

One of my assistants came running towards me. "Yes, sir?"

"Bring me the files 46 and 83." 

He nodded. "Alright."

Marcellus smiled. And extended his hand towards me "Pleasure doing business with you, my friend." 

I shook my head. "No, the pleasure is all mine."

After all the things that I received today… Of course, I am pleased!

___________________________________________

[A/N: It is impossible for Sinister to crack Marcellus's genetic code and Marcellus knows that. As for whose blood Marcellus gave to Sinister? It will be revealed later.

And Stallion is going down soon… as for S.H.I.E.L.D and WSO… I have plans.]