Mutants from distant times

Nathaniel Essex was on a carriage ride back from the countryside. He had been informed of a mutant over there and since his team wasn't around, he decided to take the day to check on the supposed mutant kid himself.

Although it just happened to be a deformed kid, in the end, he didn't forget to take a blood sample. The sun was already dropping towards the horizon as he was taking in the sights of the countryside.

Just then the carriage abruptly came to a halt like it was hit by something, Essex was thrown off his seat and hit his head on the carriage walls. He slowly got up, massaging his head and looking outside to see what happened.

Essex saw a figure he would never forget ever in his life, a man who didn't look remotely human. approaching him. The almost 8 feet tall monster ripped the carriage door and looked at Essex as if he could see through him.

"Nathaniel Essex, you are a smart man. Too smart for the current times. I'm impressed by your study on genetics and mutant genes. And although you aren't a mutant yourself, I can make you one. Give you powers beyond imagination. You shall be my first horseman of this era." Apocalypse declared without leaving any room for refusal.

Essex was justifiably confused and terrified. The fear and pressure he felt were almost crushing but he still managed to ask, "May I enquire as to who your Excellency is?"

"I have been known by many names, En Sabah Nur, Apocalypse, Mutant God but for your purposes, you can think of me as the first mutant and the god of mutant-kind." Apocalypse looked grandiose when introducing himself.

Essex wasn't entirely sold on the idea but still, he didn't get disrespectful because he could tell the guy who claimed himself as God was very dangerous.

Suddenly two people appeared out of space and without any word attacked Apocalypse. The guy with the weird visor shot laser energy from his eyes while he yelled, "Jean, try to restrain him! I'll blast him!"

The woman named Jean was floating in the air as her hair was blowing weirdly without any winds blowing. She seemed to be doing something with her hands outstretched and pointing at Apocalypse as he seemed to be restrained.

While looking at all this Essex had fear in his eyes but more than that there was intense desire. A longing for the terrifying powers displayed by these people. He stared at the man and woman, who were attacking Apocalypse like he was staring at the greatest treasure known to man.

"Hmph! Wretched kids. I especially hate time travelers." Apocalypse seemed to be enraged as he suddenly rose into the air and *bam* he hit Jean in the face.

The laser-eyed man screamed and shot another laser but Apocalypse just swatted the laser away and hit the man with lasers from his own eyes. While the man was guarding himself, Jean shouted "Scott!" as she tried restraining Apocalypse again.

Apocalypse then jumped towards Jean and directly smashed through some kind of barrier and his hands stretched out toward her neck. He got a hold of her neck and squeezed hard. Jean was struggling hard and Scott, whose suit was burnt on his arms shot lasers once again.

"This is getting annoying." Saying this, Apocalypse just hit Jean on her head with his free hand and made her go unconscious.

"Nooooo! Jeaaaan!" Dramatic shouts could be heard from the man, Scott.

"Annoying and too loud." With that apocalypse instantly reached Scott and made him unconscious too. He threw both of them to Essex's henchmen. "Look after them!"

"Now Nathaniel, what is your answer? Do you or do you not agree to become my horseman?" Apocalypse asked looking at Essex once more.

With his reverie broken, Essex came back to his senses. He looked at Apocalypse with reverence and spoke, "Your Excellency, it would be an honor to serve you, I am even ready to swear my undying loyalty but..."

"Ah!" A scream was heard from behind them. When they looked at the source of the scream, they saw that the henchmen were looking at the space where Jean and Scott were supposed to be.

Apocalypse only looked annoyed as he looked back at Essex and nodded, "Continue!"

"Yes. I would like to serve you but I have a pregnant wife with a kid coming along soon, they're waiting for me at home. While I want that power, I can't just abandon them." Essex was putting on a brave front but inside he was scared that Apocalypse would just swat him to death.

At this time, even with his evil nature, there was a big part of himself that loved his family more than anything. His turning to evil itself was for his family too.

Apocalypse nodded, he looked at Essex and said, "I will give you another day to think about it and answer me. I will be waiting for your answer in your laboratory looking at your progress."

With that, the group disappeared and directly appeared in front of Essex's house.

************

Streets of London

Sherlock was sensitive to time and space ever since he learned magic and strengthened his control and senses over the time machine pocket watch. He couldn't be accurate but he could still feel the disturbance in space.

Following his intuition and the fluctuation in space, Sherlock was walking around London with no specific goal in mind. He just wanted to see if he could find any clues to the space disturbance.

As he was walking, he came across a couple who were just walking out of the alley. He stopped them right away. "Excuse me. Yes, you two! Could you answer some of my questions?"

"We're sorry. We don't have the time, we are very busy." The woman replied while the man looked to be getting aggressive even though his face was hidden.

"How ironic for travelers of time not having enough time. I'm sorry too but I insist that you stay and answer my questions." Sherlock's words alerted them and the couple took up combat stances.

"Oh. So you are a telepath miss. But it is rude to try and read others' minds without permission, don't you think?" Sherlock's voice was calm but anyone could tell that he was angry.

"I have no choice. I didn't want to but we have to hurry!" Jean who was reeling from the backlash had a pleading voice.

But Sherlock could see a red light under the hood of the man's hidden face. He could feel the danger coming from that light. So, Sherlock quickly moved his hand to create a mirror dimension around them, and an eldritch energy shield formed in front of him.

"Scott! Stop! He is a sorcerer" The woman shouted.

"It seems you know of us. I have been nothing but polite but you've already attacked me twice. If you don't start speaking soon, I'll leave you forever trapped in this mirror dimension." Sherlock's voice resounded in the dimensions as he disappeared.

"I am sorry. We didn't know which side you were on and we are in a hurry to stop Apocalypse before he starts to destroy everything. That's why we came back in time. We just didn't have enough time." The woman tried to explain.

"We are on the good guys!" the man yelled as well.

Sherlock's voice sounded once again, "You certainly don't act like good guys. Hmm… explain to me what or who this Apocalypse is and your situation, and I might even help you."

"Hmph! We don't need any help!" the man snorted.

But the woman gave a short version of everything that was happening, their reasons, and the consequences of not stopping Apocalypse.

"So, a mutant god literally known as Apocalypse was woken up early, you were sent back to put him to sleep. He also has something to do with Essex and him getting powers! Got it" Sherlock spoke as he dismantled the mirror dimension and created a portal instead.

"Get in then! That's where we will find Essex."