Sneakin' In

[ECKS]

9:27 p.m.

(Night sets in, snow starts falling, too, as ECKS slowly makes his way through the trees and up to the new home for the Weapon X Project. The same four guards still stand post outside the checkpoint, ECKS figures that works in his favor, they'll be more tired than if they had changed shifts. The trees he's using for cover end about twenty feet from the the door, so he decides to use a little misdirection to get the jump on the guards. He moves away some of the snow around the last tree and finds some rocks underneath. After scooping up a few of them he tosses one into the wall to the right of the main gate.)

ECKS: "Come on guys. Take the bait. Come just a little bit more this way."

(The sound of the rock hitting the wall lures the guards to check it out, so he throws a second rock to get them even closer, then a third. Finally one of the guards stops following the rocks and starts using his light to look toward the trees. He spots something out of place and calls to his friends.)

Guard 1: "Look, there in the trees! Something moving!"

Guard 2: "I see it, come on, let's check it out."

(Soon all four guards are running to the spot the first one saw, as they close in they begin yelling.)

Guard 1: "You, there in the trees!! Come out with your hands up!"

Guard 4: "Sir, we are allowed to guard this base using any means necessary. We will shoot you if we have to!"

Guard 3: "If you have any weapons throw them out now and surrend...."

(But to the guards surprise the thing they see is just a back pack hanging from a branch, moving as it sways in the wind. The guards form a circle around it, totally dumbfounded at the site of it. The suddenly, from above the trees branches begin rustling, the guards never see it coming.)

[glow=red,2,300]**SNIKT!!**[/glow]

(Without warning ECKS falls from the tree right into the center of the four guards, claws out and ready. In a flash he stabs the first guard in the chest, the guard drops to the ground. Then he crosses his hands in front on his chest, spins to the second guard, and opens them back up in a "x" like motion slashing the guards chest. Then in one fluid motion uses his left hand claws to backhand the third guard and quickly turns to the last guard and digs his right hand claws deep into his chest. With the other guards down, the last guard drops his gun but is still standing. His right hand claws still in the guards chest ECKS retracts his left hand claws and uses his left hand to push the guard off of his right hand claws, after getting them free and taking a step back the last guard drops to the ground. Satisfied he retracts his other claws and walks to his back pack. He removes it from the branch and slides it back on.)

ECKS: "Looks like you guys won't be gettin' that Christmas bonus this year after all."

(After hiding all the guards rifles in the nearby bushes he starts heading for the door. He notices that there is a smaller door next to the main gate so he walks up to it and places his ear right next to it. He listens for a second to check for any major activity. Not hearing much of anything he turns the handle and slowly opens the door. He looks around seeing two small warehouse like buildings and one much larger on in the center, but no more guards are in site.)

ECKS: "Somethin' stinks. Figure a place like this would be crawlin' with guards. This is lookin' more'an more like a trap by the minute. But Smith is here somewhere. He'll have what I'm lookin' for. And if he doesn't, I got a little somethin' for him... actually, six little somethin's."

(ECKS walks in the gate and starts heading for the main building. No alarms, no more guards, no nothing. Only a few feet from the door and with still no warning shot ECKS' sixth sense starts screaming at him. But what waits on the other side is more important to him than anything else in life. He opens the door and walks into a huge dimly lit room. Several doors line the walls around him and one main door stands in front on the other side of the room. And then he smells it, the same smell Smith lured him in with before, so he follows it's trial toward the main door. But about halfway across the room another smell stops him in his tracks and all the room's lights turn on. Over a loud speaker he hears a familiar voice.)

Smith: "Ah, I see you made it to my new home, ECKS. So glad to see you again. Have you considered my very generous offer?"

ECKS: "Yeah. And I got an answer to. I came here for Ana, I could care less about you or anythin' else here. So you can take your offer and shove it right up your ...."

Smith: "Temper, temper. I'm sorry to hear that. I guess I'll just have to introduce you to my new friend. I payed him a great deal of money for this, but I hear he's worth every penny."

ECKS: "Friend? What are you talkin' abou...?"

(Suddenly, ECKS' question is answered. He turns around to see this new "friend." A very large man who, to ECKS' surprise, is turning his skin from flesh into some kind of steel. The man's skin shines as it changes and his eyes glow like lightning. Trying to sound calm ECKS says the only thing that comes to his mind.)

ECKS: "Holy shit."

. . .

To be continued...

[C. Mass]

Mass: "You know jr., I've heard a lot about you. Most of it just the anti-mutant slander the government sthingy feeds the american, you know 'Mutants are evil, they should be......Blah Blah.' Personally, I agree, speakin' for myself only, the rest of the world could hang their ownselves, mutants and humans. I don't care."

(Mass takes a few steps toward ECKS. Dallas turns quickly and walks back through the door. He disappears into the darkness as the door slides shut. Raising his massive steel arm, he combs the hair out of his face with his hands. He stops a few feet from ECKS.)

Mass: "But you, no no no, you're different than them. I've heard about you and your 'student', paradin' around and beatin' screw-ups like the The Morlocks, well lemme just say one thi-"

ECKS: "No, you let me say one thing. I ain't got nothin' with you."

ECKS raises his arms end extends his claws.

ECKS: "And trust me, bub, you don't want nothin' with me."

Mass: "HA! HA HA!! HA HAHAHA HAHAHA. You see that's what I'm talkin' about. Right there. I like that. Such rage. Too bad it's wasted, all on you."

(Mass raises his arms over his head, flexing the muscles in his arms and chest, and stretching as if preparing for a work out. He then puts his arms out like the "fightin' Irish", and taunts ECKS, beckoning him with his outsretched hand. )

Mass: "Business is business, let's get this over with."

ECKS: "I warned ya once, you don't get more than that."

Mass: "I haven't moved yet."

(ECKS charges the big man and throws a quick right-left jab combo to Mass' face. Mass, aptly dodging the blows sidesteps to the right and lands a hard shot to ECKS' ribs. Flinching from downward from the blow, ECKS groans deep. Mass grabs him by the waist, and around the neck and hurls him at the wall. His body slams into the wall with a metallic "thud", cratering it. EKCS lays for a minute regaining his senses. Choking for air he looks up at the Mass.)

ECKS: Cough.... cough cough...."well, that all you got, cause that won't be enough."

(Mass then lets the steel disappear from his skin. Seeing this as an advantage, he leaps to his feet and charges Mass again. As he closes in, he feigns a blow to Mass' stomach. He looks down and ECKS connects with a hard right hook to the side of his face. The adamantium knuckles on ECKS' hand stun the big man, giving him a chance. He takes the opening, jabbing Mass twice in the face, and then following with a spinning round house. The combo sends Mass to his knees. ECKS steps back. Dropping his hands he extends the claws. He can't see the grin on Mass' face. He then quickly stabs Mass' in the shoulder with his left hand's claws. Screaming with agony, Mass fights the pain and slowly rises to his feet, revealing the twisted pleasure on his face. ECKS raises his arm for the next strike, aimed at the big man's heart, when he stops and gasps. Mass skin begins to turn into metal again, only this time it's not steel, rather another metal that ECKS recognizes all to well.)

ECKS: "Oh no...."

(Then he feels an electrical surge flow through his body and temporarily stun him.)

Mass: "Oh don't mind the shock. Tha's just to hold you still while I finish this. You see, earlier, when I said you were different."

(Mass grab ECKS by the jaw and moves him close to his face.)

Mass: "It's that anger of your's, you really gotta watch that. Gets you into a world of trouble."

(Mass then grabs ECKS' left arm and slowly pulls the claws out. He then raises him into the air and grins.)

Mass: "Thanks."

(He then punches ECKS in the stomach, with a solid adamantium fist. Dropping him to the ground ECKS collapses to his knees. Mass then land another solid uppercut to ECKS' chin, flipping him to his back. The adamantium colliding with his own skeleton, is like nothing he's ever felt. He groans loudly, then stops moving. Mass stands there, with the light gleaming off of his new "skin". He lets the adamantium, slowly disappear. Then he closes his eyes, and concentrates for a moment. The adamantium slowly appears again.)

Mass: "Hmmmm, I love the way that feels."

(The door slide open again, and Mass regains his human skin. Dallas rushes in, and quickly signals his guards to shackle ECKS. Dallas walks to Mass and extends his hand.)

Dallas: "Let me just congratulate you on-"

Mass: "My money, that's all I want."

Dallas: " Well, straight to business. In the room you've been residing in, there is a briefcase affixed to the underside of the lid on your foot locker. I'm sure you will find that all is in correct order."

(The guards pick ECKS up and carry him off into the doorway.)

Dallas: "Is there, uh, anything else, sir?"

Mass: "Yeah, what's he looking for? He mentioned not havin a problem with me. What's he here for?

Dallas: "Foolish love, that's all. Always getting in his way. He always was a failure. Why do you ask?"

Mass: "Cause if she really is here, then you better not be when he wakes up. He's gonna tear this place apart, and I reckon once he's done with this place he's gonna do you next, only a lot slower. You can't compete with his power, it's a wonder I did. You're in way over your head man."

(The older man scoffs at this, and the two turn from each other and walk into the darkness. .")