If your name is Sebastian Shaw at the end of the day you have one goal, finish it with more power than when you started it. Part of that goal is met by surrounding yourself with others of power who will ultimately do your bidding.
Recently, Shaw has been doing just that.
First, by reforming the Upstarts, then allying himself with the Gamesmaster, and now waiting for an appointment with two former agents of Apocalypse.
The key to any plan is to make sure that you cover all the bases, and Shaw is doing just that. The Gamesmaster, Shinobi, Scalphunter... all individuals with personal goals, some in conflict with his own, Sebastian will do all he can to ensure his goals come first. Smith and Freeland help to make that happen, but you always need a backup, you always have to have contingencies, you always have to hold the trump card. That card is about to walk into Sebastian Shaw's office in the form of the former Horsemen of Apocalypse, War and Famine.
"Thank you for coming," Shaw looks over his newest acquisitions and is noticeable disappointed. The man, War, is in a wheelchair, his legs covered. The girl, Famine, barely twenty, is thin and pale; a gust of wind could knock her over. For agents of Apocalypse, these two are shockingly pathetic.
"Mr Shaw, we understand from Sledge that you were looking for us. We are under the impression that you require our services, as you can see that is somewhat difficult at the present time." War spoke slowly, every breath taking enormous effort.
"I am well aware of your present conditions, I also know of you origins. Needless to say Sledge had very comprehensive files on the both of you. I am actually not interested in your powers, but the technology you may not realize is in your possession. In recent months, I have been involved in the gathering of information about your benefactor, Apocalypse. I am well aware of his goals and, in part, how he has attempted to achieve them. This worries me. The fact remains; however, that Apocalypse is an incredibly powerful mutant and I have no doubt that some of his plans will bare fruit. From you I require knowledge and technology, both of which are trapped in your failing bodies. My scientists will extract all materials pertaining to Apocalypse form your bodies, and replace it with the best we have to offer. War, you will have the ability to walk again; Famine, your powers will no longer consume you. This is what I have to offer, you have ten seconds to say yes or no, then the offer is withdrawn."
In eight seconds, the two remaining Horsemen of Apocalypse, disregarded by their master, with powers and bodies failing due to the grand designs of one of the most powerful mutants ever, sold there souls to Sebastian Shaw.
They were just covering their bases...
Imagine, if you would, how it would feel if you had a child and he disappeared. That child, sitting and playing then gone.
What would you do?
Call the police? Talk to child services? Mourn the loss of the child to an apparent kidnapping?
Then the child returns. In the same place he was sitting and playing, he returns some two weeks later. The relief would be a godsend!
Now imagine if the child disappeared again and again and again. It would most likely drive you mad.
Twenty-seven years ago, a single mother found herself in just such a situation. Her child just kept disappearing. She went quite mad and killed herself; the child was never found.
Smith likes this story, it is his own...
That child discovered his powers at a young age - teleportation. He walks between places in the world through a higher-level dimension. But there is always a catch; this dimension is a way station for more than one person. Aliens, space-fish, little green men, call them what you will, but they are always traveling through higher dimensions. In order to keep track of these travellers, Smith began to develop certain talents, like a very nice eye trick. Smith constantly keeps one eye in the dimension that he travels through, that's why he has one eye covered with a patch.
Because it's important to cover your bases...
Shinobi Shaw walks quietly through the streets of New York, blissfully unaware of who is watching him.
Shinobi likes to plan things. Killing his father, he had a plan. Ruling the Upstarts, he had a plan. This new Hellfire Club, he has a plan... but he will fail.
There has always been one unmitigated circumstance preventing Shinobi form achieving his goals, the undisputed fact that he is a pure idiot. What do you expect when a silver spoon pops out of your mouth at birth?
Shinobi sees a very unique shop and enters. Inside, there is a door basked in light, and he enters. Instantaneously, he is someplace else, the home of Sledge.
You see, Shinobi has a plan - he's covering his bases...
"See the pattern yet, understand the crux to this situation. Everyone is covering their bases, planning and counterplanning to get out on top... to win the GAME. But they won't, they can't because it's my game, and I've made the rules and I say only I can win. Don't get me wrong, I cannot read Sebastian, the drugs shield his mind. I can't read Smith with any accuracy; his mind is between dimensions. So they may well improve their positions in the world. Personally, I care only about Shinobi. He is the one that has been the problem to me. He and his band of Upstarts, they ruined my game and I will have none of that. Do you understand yet, Scalphunter, why I ensured your presence in the club?"
Scalphunter looks into the eyes of the human form representing the Gamesmaster and slowly nods. The mechanical voice starts, "Shinobi goes down, period. The others aren't important. That's what you get out of me, that was the price of our game. Anything else is extra."
"Extra?" says a stunned Gamesmaster, "You lost our game, indian, and you will pay. I am your taskmaster and you have tasks. Your employment to Shaw means nothing to me, nothing!"
The two sit silently across from one another, until Scalphunter rises.
"Shinobi goes down tomorrow, like in the plan. Tonight the queens are unveiled. This Hellfire Club is key to some of our survivals. I've seen what is to come... Apocalypse, Sinister... I intend to cover my own bases, and I recommend you do the same."
That evening...
"The most important tradition maintain in this club is that the Black and White Kings have Queens. The inner circle is not made of two, so, as the Black King, I have decided to belay my appointment of a Queen until a later time. However, it is my understanding that you, Gamesmaster, the White King of the Hellfire Club, have a candidate for White Queen." Shaw spoke as eloquently an able statesman should.
"Yes." Gamesmaster spoke, his body moving swiftly to the side of Sebastian. Around them sat the members of the Upstarts, minus one noticeably missing - Shinobi.
"I present the new White Queen of the Hellfire Club... Lady Tessa!"
At this announcement, Tessa, the woman at the side of Sebastian Shaw for so many years, enters the inner offices dressed in standard White Queen apparel, worn so well be the former person to hold the title, Emma Frost.
At the sight, one word comes out of Sebastian Shaws' mouth quietly, hesitantly, a whisper...
"Damn..."
Following the announcement, alcohol flowed freely. Along with the Inner Circle a few others were present. Smith, Freeland, Scalphunter, a man in a wheelchair, and a very thin girl.
Later in the evening, Shinobi stumbles in, drunk, forever the fool. Shaw approaches Tessa and congratulates her, plans come together slowly. One he thought would not bear fruit, but his surprise, not withstanding, is a good one.
In time, he makes his way to Smith and Freeland, the two members of the Upstarts he finds he can trust.
"Smith, assemble a team, twenty men at least... you alone go to Sledge. Have him make due on a marker for me, have him give you the location of Lily Osaka. Last I heard, she was in Japan."
Smith nods in agreement, "And?"
"Transport the men there, bring Freeland... approach her, tell her I have asked for her to be the Black Queen. She will say yes, of this I am certain. Bring her here, but be careful... Shinobi and the Gamesmaster are not to hear of her arrival. To the main chambers is the best place to bring her. Also, there is a letter on my desk to Tessa, ensure that she gets it."
"No problem, but who is Osaka?"
"My sister-in-law."
In Hellfire Club #4: The final issue blowout! The Hellfire Club is under seige by forces unknown, as Shinobi makes his play for the title of Black King! Plus: The Gamesmaster reveals his most important of games!
