In the red corner…
Pope Sidious, Bishop of Rome and Supreme Ruler of the Vatican
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 140 pounds
Age: Lots
Resources: A fortified, walled city state. Incalculable wealth. Tremendous political power and influence over other nations.
Troops: The Pontifical Swiss Guard, Joe and the Vatican Special Ops, 1.2 billion followers worldwide (many of them fanatics who would die to defend the Pope).
Weaknesses: Pope Sidious is physically weak and near death.
In the blue corner…
Anna Thorne, ReGen Corp CEO
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 130 pounds
Resources: A fortified island base and labs throughout the world. Political power gained from making Jesus heal relatives of world leaders. Anna has full control of ReGen Corp, a major chemical company with a focus on genetic engineering. They have access to or could create chemical weapons and genetically engineered soldiers or viruses.
Troops: ReGen Guard (a Blackwater-style security team). Tentative control over Damien (aka Antichrist) and all the freaks on the island, including Pariah, Inquisition and Goliath.
Weaknesses: While the ReGen Guard is unfailingly loyal to Anna, Damien and the freaks serve her reluctantly. She would have to count on Damien hating the Vatican more than he hates her.
Fight breakdown:
This week, we’re trying something a little different. Instead of a couple mutants slugging it out hand to hand, we’re using the entire planet as a battleground. In an open war, who would win? Anna’s cutting edge technology and barely controllable horde of mutants led by the Antichrist… or Pope Sidious and the full might of the Vatican?
Although frail and clinging to his fading life with a white-knuckled grip, Pope Sidious is still a tremendously influential figure. At his service are Joe and the Vatican Special Ops, an off-book team that travels the globe as the personal enforcers of Pope Sidious. The Vatican itself is extraordinarily well protected by the Pontifical Swiss Guard and would be tough to breach by force.
By seizing possession of Christ, Sidious will have access to unlimited healing and could thereby extend his reign for many more years.
First, he’ll have to get Jesus from Anna Thorne and ReGen Corp, who hold the Son of God captive on one of their remote island testing facilities. Anna has devoted nearly twenty years to Project Savior and has no intention of letting some old guy in a dress and a pretty hat take what is rightfully hers.
In addition to the ReGen Guard (a vicious crew of mercenaries who obey Anna without question), Anna is personally protected by Goliath and a quartet of badass Eastern European female bodyguards, including the beautiful and deadly Aleksandra, Captain of the ReGen Guard.
Both sides in this battle can exert tremendous influence on countries in very different ways. The Pope can rally his followers and make them force their governments to assist him. Anna trades in favors with the most powerful people in the world. In return for a leader providing her with what she asks, Anna can ensure that his/her loved ones live in perfect health to their maximum potential age. Sidious extorts world leaders using politics. Anna prefers a personal approach.
The ReGen Guard has more soldiers than the Vatican Special Ops crew, but they rarely see any battle. Most of their time is spent keeping the mutants under control. Damien and his mutants are a huge X factor in any battle. He gives Anna a lot of firepower, but can he be controlled?
It’s Anna Thorne versus Pope Sidious. ReGen versus the Vatican. Who would win?
((Mutant Deathmatch is a hypothetical exhibition match with no connection to the events of Escape From Jesus Island.))
Escape From Jesus Island 