Returning to Grace
A Marvel: Avengers Alliance fanfiction
by Jonathan 'KnightMysterio' Spires
Chapter 1: Magneto
All characters not original copyrighted to Marvel and used without permission for non-profit amusement reasons. All original characters copyrighted to me. Agent in this and subsequent stories is male and based on me, but my in-game Agent is female.
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Helicarrier...
Air deck...
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The mighty SHIELD helicarrier loomed large over the city. Quinjets and fighter jets lay on the deck, ready for action at a moment's notice. Blue bodysuit clad SHIELD agents ran back and forth over the carrier's surface, maintaining the vehicles.
And at the very end of the air deck, floating in a bubble of magnetic force and overlooking the city, was one of the most powerful beings on the planet. The Master of Magnetism, Magneto.
His costume cut a striking figure, red with purple gloves, boots, cape, and trunks, his helmet red with purple highlights, designed both to protect from psychic attacks and to shadow his face, making him look even more fearsome. His manner was regal, although if one could look into his eyes at this moment, one could see a tiredness in them.
The other agents carefully stayed out of his way. Magneto had recently proclaimed himself an ally of SHIELD, but they were still afraid of him. He didn't care. They were barely beneath his notice, tools for his ultimate goal, the salvation of mutantkind.
Behind him, a lone agent, clad in a black bodysuit and trenchcoat, walked up to him, his hands in his pockets. He was muscular, like all the agents, and had short brown hair, unease in his blue eyes as he came up to Magento. As he got closer, however...
"What do you want, Agent Towers?" Magneto said, not turning around. "I could sense the metal of your equipment as you got closer."
Agent Towers nodded, having expected that. "Magneto? Sir? Could you... y'know, land?"
"Why?" Magneto asked, scowling.
"I just want to talk," he said.
"Again I ask: Why?" Magneto said, turning and glaring at the Agent.
"You're a part of the team now," Agent Towers said, smiling nervously. "I like to get to know the people I'm working with. Even if they were part of a terrorist faction beforehand."
"Hmph..." Magneto said. "Terrorists... The Brotherhood were meant to be freedom fighters, warriors dedicated to the cause of mutantkind..."
Agent Towers frowned. "Having psychopaths like Sabertooth and in-it-for-the-cash thugs like Blob sort of hurt your arguments there, sir..."
"Sabertooth's murderous impulses can be directed to a good cause," Magneto said, waving dismissively and starting to turn around again. "And Blob, contrary to popular belief, does believe in my cause. You're a human, you couldn't possibly understand..."
"Human yes," Agent Towers said. "but both of my parents were mutants."
Magneto whirled, his eyes widening.
Agent Towers nodded. "My Dad was a flier, and my Mom had green skin and the ability to generate illusions. Dad I lost to Sentinels, and my Mom was beaten to death in an anti-mutant riot that took place around the same time. I joined SHIELD specifically because I wanted to have the power and authority to protect mutants, and the guns to wreck Sentinels whenever I find them."
Magneto stared at him for a long moment, trying to determine if he was lying. He remembered flashes of previous battles, seeing the sheer glee on the Agent's face every time he saw a Sentinel get destroyed, either by his own hands or by the powers of his heroic allies...
Agent Towers smiled, and started to turn around. "If you like, I can go get my personnel file," he said.
"I believe you," Magneto said, slowly lowering himself to the surface of the hovering helicarrier. "My apologies. Perhaps you do understand, at least after a fashion..."
Agent Towers sighed in relief. "I'll still send a copy over later," he said. "That being said, Magento, I..." He frowned, trying to form the words he wanted to say. "...You always struck me as being saner and more reasonable than, say, Mystique. A true believer, but not to a crazy level."
Magneto nodded, frowning. "Yes... Mystique's obsessions get the best of her more often than not..." he admitted.
Agent Towers nodded. "Right, yes. Which is why some of what you've done... it just makes no sense!" he said. "You're a good man, Magneto, I can tell. But forming a group of terrorists like the Brotherhood, and just recently your attempt to ally with the Syndicate..." He shook his head, throwing up his hands in confusion. "I don't know. You just seemed more suited to Xavier's group than the Brotherhood."
Magneto actually chuckled at that. "You truly believe that?"
Agent Towers shrugged. "You never struck me as the truly malevolent type. You've done terrible things, sure, but I never got a sense it was out of the same kind of hatred that Mystique has..."
"Never assume, Agent," Magneto said, pulling off his helmet, revealing the weary expression on his face in full. He ran a gloved hand through his shoulder-length white hair, and looked out over the city again. "While I do not actively seek genocide, as Mystique does, I am more than prepared to go through with it if I deem it necessary to protect mutantkind from humanity's machinations."
Agent Towers frowned, having nothing to say to that. Anything he could think of he was worried would just anger the powerful mutant.
A long moment of silence passed between the two of them. Eventually, Magneto sighed, and began to speak. "Can mutants co-exist with humanity? Or must mutants dominate the human race to ensure their survival? Such has been the eternal argument between Charles Xavier and myself."
Agent Towers just folded his arms, letting him speak. Magneto continued, "I formed the Brotherhood of Mutants as my answer to that argument: a fraternity dedicated to the superiority and safety of all mutantkind, whether they considered themselves members or not."
Magneto turned, giving Agent Towers an intense stare. "The things I saw at Auschwitz as a boy led me to believe that Homo Sapiens must be restrained, lest they destroy all that is different from themselves. And if the humans are too powerful to fight at first, then simply hang back and wait for your chance."
That's right, he's a Holocaust survivor, Agent Towers remembered. Magneto put on his helmet again, scowling. "These were my thoughts when the Syndicate asked me to join their group. They had need of both my connections and my powers over magnetism, in order to further their study of Isotope-8.
Agent Towers grimaced, looking down at the colorful, slightly glowing crystals embedded into his belt, their energies enhancing his strength and reflexes. The crystals from space had been a problem ever since they showed up, the tiny, colorful gems seemingly having a million and more uses.
Magento saw the Agent's expression and chuckled. "Indeed. Those delightful stones that have caused so many problems. To say nothing of the Syndicate's use of them," he muttered. "I agreed to enter the Syndicate to make sure mutants would not be targeted by their plans, and to work against them from within. Unfortunately, Mystique, my lieutenant in the Brotherhood, saw it only as betrayal."
"Didn't you explain your plan to her?" Agent Towers asked, frowning.
"I tried to," Magneto said sadly. "But Mystique can be remarkably stubborn when she gets an idea into her head..."
Agent Towers sighed. "Yeah... A real bulldog, that one..."
Magneto nodded. "Upon entering the Syndicate," he said, continuing, "I had access to their most secret projects. My worst fears were confirmed when I discovered that they planned to resurrect the Red Skull, the most notorious of the Nazi regime's operatives."
Agent Towers shivered at the mention of the name. SHIELD had recently tried and failed to stop the resurrection of the fearsome Nazi villain. Now he was back, and the world had a new menace to deal with...
Magneto nodded. "Knowing that the Red Skull would stop at nothing to destroy all mutants if given the chance, I began to work at sabotaging the Syndicate. But Dr. Doom must have discovered my plan. I barely escaped with my life..."
"That I'm surprised at," Agent Towers said. "I always pegged you as equal to Doom in power."
Magneto chuckled weakly. "I appreciate the compliment, Agent, but Doom is unfortunately the kind of person who prepares for dealing with beings of my power. Your Iron Man is the same. You've noticed I have never attacked his armor directly in recent battles?"
Agent Towers nodded, understanding. "He was prepared to counter your powers," he said, frowning.
Magneto nodded. "Now, hunted by both the Syndicate and the Brotherhood, I've realized that I cannot afford to nurse my pride. I will do ANYTHING to prevent the Red Skull and his kind from returning to positions of power. Even if I must join forces with SHIELD..."
"Our team is all the better for having you with us," Agent Towers said, smiling.
"Hmph," Magneto grunted, putting his helmet back on. "You seem to be the only one who thinks so, save for Charles."
Agent Towers smiled. "If nothing else, this sets a good precedence. And gives us a goal," he said.
Magneto gave him a wary look. "What do you mean?"
"To get the Brotherhood to join us," Agent Towers said. At Magneto's scoff, he said, "I'm serious. You're one of the top two leaders in the mutant community. Even with the supposed 'betrayal,' mutants are still drawn to you. I'm betting that other Brotherhood members will start to cross over as well. Maybe even Mystique."
Magento stared at the Agent, suddenly realizing that he believed these absurdly hopeful words. And for the first time in a while, Magneto began to feel hope as well.
"Perhaps..." he said, smiling. He floated up into the air again. "Now, unless you wish me to accompany you on a mission, then I want to be alone."
Agent Towers grinned. "There's no missions right now. After the Syndicate broke up, things have been fairly quiet. We'll be heading to London soon, but until then we're good."
Magneto nodded. "Then leave me. I wish to be alone with my thoughts for now..." he said, turning to stare out at the city once more.
Agent Towers nodded, calmly walking away. As he left, Magneto turned slightly to watch him go.
Heh... Optimistic sort, isn't he? Magneto thought idly. Time will tell how long that lasts. Although... although a part of me hopes that he's right, and that the Brotherhood will follow me into SHIELD... He closed his eyes, saying a silent prayer for his comrades.
THE END...