The New Brotherhood
Issue #1 – Blood Ties - Part One
Florida – Miami Hospital
"I'll be right back," a beautiful nurse with blond hair says as she steps away from her patient and looks out the exam room's door and into the hallway.
She looks back and forth and sees patients, families and hospital staff running like crazy screaming in a panic. She can hear loud sounds coming from all around. She quickly runs into the hall and stops a RN in a dead run. "What's going on?"
"Evil mutants are attacking the hospital," the RN shouts as he dashes off in a dead run.
The nurse watches him run off and turns round when she hears a loud crushing noise. Soon the wall a few feet down the hall explodes and two figures step through. A few seconds later a figure dressed in red and purple with a matching helmet and cape floats through and rotates facing her. The nurse takes a few steps back as she gasps at who is before her.
"Magneto?" The nurse begins to ask and then realizes that the figure before her is not of a man but of a woman.
"Pyra, Super Sabra, secure the area while I deal with her," the floating woman commands as the other two figures dash off in the other direction.
"What are you suppose to be, Magneta the wanna-be Magneto knock-off?" The nurse laughs as she goes to call on her powers.
"No, I'm someone more deadly than he could ever be," the woman laughed as she hovered closer to the nurse.
"What, why won't my powers work?" The nurse panicked.
"Oh, you can thank my new best friend, Blindspot. While you were examining her she used her memory manipulation powers on you and made you forget how to use your powers," the floating woman laughed as the patient the nurse had just been with walked out into the hallway smiling.
"What do you want from me?" The nurse asked as she tried looking for an escape route.
"Well, my dear Amelia Voght, you were one of Erik's most trusted followers and one time lover and I'm in need of some information," the woman said lowering herself to the ground.
"Over my dead body," Amelia said as she turned and ran.
"That can be arraigned," the woman in the red and purple helmet said as she flicked her wrists causing two hospital beds to fly through the air and pin Amelia to the wall. Amelia screamed as the woman levitated and floated right at her.
"Just leave me be. I've nothing to do with Magneto. I haven't seen him in years and last I heard he was killed during the attack on Manhattan," Amelia said trying to struggle against her prison.
"Oh, I'm sure you follow the man as closely as I have. He was sighted on Genosha with Charles Xavier, another past lover of yours, am I correct?" The woman dressed as Magneto said lowering herself inches from her prisoner.
"That's none of your business and maybe I heard rumors of Magneto's escape from death but last I heard Genosha was attacked again and everything and everyone on it had been destroyed," Amelia said cursing both men for pulling them into their lives.
"See, I knew you kept tabs despite your retirement. I'm sure you know as well as I do that the Magneto that died in Manhattan was an imposter. The real Magneto had been on Genosha the whole time and even with its destruction, Magneto was not there at that time. Word is that he and a group of other mutants have gone missing," the woman in the helmet said.
"Is that what you're up to? With him gone you want to take over his legacy and be the next Magneto with your band of evil mutants? Sorry, but I wont be any help to your power play. I quite that life and have started over. I despise the man and like I've said, I haven't followed that man in years," Amelia said continuing to struggle to remember how to call on her powers.
"Oh, I have no desire to take over his legacy. Actually, my goal is to destroy it and him. My Brotherhood, if you want to name it that, all have one thing in common, and that's the death of Magneto. Like me, they have had their lives ruined or impacted by the man who easily seduces mutants and then tosses them aside like garbage.
"For this he and his legacy must be punished. First, I must start with his followers, the Acolytes. They will be made an example of. Any one who worships and supports the man called Magneto will die," the woman said with anger in her voice.
"Acolytes? They haven't been active in years. What are you going to do, hunt down anyone who was an Acolyte and kill them? Is that why you're here, to kill me?" Amelia asked.
"No, you are wrong about that and you know it. There is a group still active and in hiding waiting for his return. Those are the ones I want. Just the ones who still worship and follow the man called Magneto. See, that is where you come in. My source tells me you know where to find them," the woman in red and purple smirks nodding to the mutant named Blindspot.
"How could you betray me like this, Blindspot? I helped you go into hiding and start over," Amelia said glaring at Blindspot. "Hate to disappoint you but I don't know where they are and killing them won't make you feel better or hurt Erik," she said turning back to face her captor.
"Oh dear foolish woman. I know you know where they are, and I will get you to talk. You see, once they have been dealt with then I will continue on until all that is left is Magneto and his family. Then, like he did to me and many others, I will take his family from him and in that moment of despair and loneliness, I will kill him. Then, and only then, will I be happy," the woman said squeezing her fists causing the snack machine on one side of her and a trash can on the other to crush inwards.
"You're crazy," Amelia whispered as she stared at the Magneto impersonator.
"Magnetrix, hospitals being surrounded by police and radio scanners indicate national guard being called in. Shall we deal with them?" A woman in silver armor with black gloves, boots and face mask appeared out of thin air with another woman in green armor with red boots, gloves and face mask.
"No, I'm not ready for us to be exposed on that level. We have what we came for. Take Amelia here back to the base and then get back here for the rest of us," the impersonator named Magnetrix said to the woman in silver as she vanished with a screaming Amelia. "Aumente, summon the others back here," she then said to the woman in green.
"Now, Blindspot," Magnetrix said as she turns to the mutant standing off to the side.
"I held up my end of the deal," Blindspot said as she looked from Magnetrix to Aumente.
"That you did and I shall honor my end," Magnetrix said as she began to turn away.
"She plans on betraying you to Magneto," Aumente suddenly said glancing at Blindspot.
"Out of my head, telepath," Blindspot spat as she grabbed Aumente, threw her into Magnetrix and bolted toward a doorway marked exit.
"Lady Mastermind," Magnetrix shouted as she and Aumente crashed to the ground.
Blindspot laughed and then gasped when she reached for the exit and bounced back instead. With a shimmer of light the door and exit sign vanished to reveal a woman in violet armor with black gloves, boots and face mask and a man with identical armor with white and blue standing in front of a solid wall. Blindspot quickly round kicked the woman identified as Lady Mastermind sending her to the ground. She then pulled out a knife and swiped at the man's face cutting his cheek. The man in white cried out as he cupped his cheek with his hand. Blindspot now noticed the real exit door right by her.
"Better luck next time. Now to mind wipe you as a little parting gift," Blindspot said as she reached out and touched the man's face with her hand and called on her powers.
"Nice try," the man smiled as a white light flashed from his eyes and Blindspot stepped back suddenly.
"Who are you? What am I doing here?" Blindspot asked in true confusion and fear.
"You okay, One-Eighty?" Lady Mastermind asked as she got to her feet.
"Yeah, just gave her a taste of her own medicine," One-Eighty said as he tried to stop his cheek from bleeding.
"You really think you could double cross me?" Magnetrix asked as Astra reappeared and Pyra and Super Sabra came running down the hall.
"What are you talking about? Who are you? Please don't hurt me," Blindspot cried as she looked at the group of strangers gathered before her.
"Oh, I won't kill you. We made a deal. If you helped me I would not kill you and I always keep my word. Pyra, take care of her," Magnetrix said as she lead the group away from the woman.
"Are you sure? Her minds been erased, she can't do any damage," Pyra said glancing at the woman who suddenly began to scream in terror and run.
"Pyra, I only have two things to say to you. One, don't ever question my commands again. Two, she tried to kill your boyfriend," Magnetrix said as Pyra saw the cut and blood on One-Eighty.
"Not again," Pyra shouted and turned toward the fleeing woman.
A pulse of white hot energy emitted off of Pyra as Blindspot and the entire corridor she was in burst into an inferno of flames. With a nod, Aumente closed her eyes and sent a wave of energy over Astra. Astra then waved her hands in the air causing Magnetrix and her new Brotherhood of Mutants to vanish from sight leaving the corridor completely empty except for Blindspot and her dying screams.
Brotherhood Origins: Astra & Lady Mastermind
A woman walked up to an empty warehouse. She wore a red and purple outfit with a matching cape and face mask. She knew the minute she walked into the building that there was no going back or changing her mind. There would be no rest until the man called Magneto and all that he holds dear were destroyed. It was a vow she had made and would see to the end. Especially now, with the message she had received of her father's death.
She had devoted her life to researching, watching and tracking the evil mutant called Magneto after her mother, against her father's wishes had revealed to her how this man was responsible for taking her family from her and leaving her with the life she had. As the years went on and she read more and more of what Magneto had done to others and the world her anger and hatred for him grew. She soon became obsessed and made it her life's goal to find a way to make him pay.
She then came to the United States to watch and do more research on the evil man. The resources here made it a lot easier to find out everything she could about him and his family. She kept herself hidden as she planned and learned, waiting for the right time to make her move. A part of her was almost afraid to make that final step and she always found an excuse to not make the final move of her plan, until she got a message from back home.
Her father had been killed. Her mother believed that Magneto had done it because he had discovered what she was up to in the United States. Her mother cursed her for not listening and letting it go and would never forgive her. Her mother's final words were that she will always love her but she was now going to go into hiding in fear for her life and wanted no contact from her daughter ever again. Something snapped in her as she threw the message away and donned her new costume.
She would go after Magneto, but would make his family and legacy pay first. Before he realized what she was doing it would be too late. All would be gone and he would be left completely alone. Then she would reveal herself to him and kill him. As powerful as she was, she knew she couldn't do it alone and decided to gather her own group together to help her. She would find those that had been hurt by and hated Magneto like her. She new it couldn't be just anyone and those she selected would have to commit to her and her cause unconditionally.
She had spent a lot of time researching but found exactly who she needed. The woman she wanted was a woman calling herself Astra. She was one of the first mutants gathered by Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. They had parted as enemies and she has done nothing but try to kill him since. A few years ago she vanished after a failed attempt to kill Magneto with his clone. No one has heard from her since so she knew it might be difficult to find her. She began by sending word out on the street with a few tips she got from a few people that she was looking for her to help kill Magneto.
She had all but given up hope when she received a message from Astra to meet her here and that she found her motives interesting and pleasurable. So here she was to gather the first of her small band of Magneto haters. She walked into the building and immediately realized that she was not alone. Three large men came charging right at her. All three carrying weapons with the intent to harm and even kill her. Was this a setup or a test? Either way, she was not powerless.
As the first guy opened fire with his machine gun, the woman stood her ground and thrust out her arms in front of her, palms flipped upwards. The bullets seemed to slow and then make a u-turn plunging themselves into the man's other two comrades killing them. The man gasped as the gun was ripped from his hands and found it wrapped around his neck, crushing his windpipe and killing him. The woman then brought her arms back down to her sides and looked up.
"Show yourself or you will join your friends here," the woman called out.
"Impressive," a woman in silver armor and long black hair said suddenly landing in front of her.
"Astra," the woman said to the older woman in silver.
"Yes, and you must be the one destined to kill the mighty Magneto. You dress like him and you have powers like him. Do you plan on replacing him?" Astra asked.
"The best way to get into a person's mind, see how they think and act and be able to anticipate them well enough to kill them is to become them. Now, can I count on your allegiance?" The woman in red and purple asked.
"What makes you think you can succeed where others have failed or that I should bow down to you?" Astra asked in a mocking tone.
In a quick movement, Astra found herself pinned to the floor while a giant metal beam was ripped out of the wall and flew right at her stopping inches from her face. "Because I have the power and determination to make it happen."
"I can see that, but all I would have needed to do was stop the beam with my force field and finish you off with my laser blasts," Astra said as she stared the beam head on without breaking a sweat.
"And if you tried you would have found that I destroyed the mechanism in your gauntlets and your belt so you lasers would not have worked and there would have been no force field to stop the beam from crushing your face.
"I know all about you Astra, and with your teleportation powers and knowledge of technology we will make a great team," the woman commanding the beam said as she flipped her wrist causing it to fly off to the side.
"Oh, and I know just who you really are as well and that is why it will be my pleasure to serve you in your quest to kill Magneto," Astra said as she was released from her hold, got up and shook the woman in red and purple's hand.
A Few Months Later – Astra's Temporary Safe House
The woman in red and purple looked in the mirror as she placed the helmet Astra had made for her on her head. Having worked with Magneto so closely in the beginning she had picked up a few things. Like the technology for the helmet. Not only would the helmet protect her from mental attacks like Magneto's did, but this helmet had some perks the original didn't. It had communication and computer access and abilities. She could communicate with others and also do scans and upload and search data. Along with her new armor plated costume, she was now ready to take command.
"Magnetrix, our new recruit is here," Astra said stepping into the room.
"Are you sure about her?" Magnetrix asked turning to face Astra.
"I know she wasn't on your original roster, but I think she and her powers would be a great asset. Not only was her father one of Magneto's first recruits, but she and her sister have served Magneto or the Brotherhood in one fashion or another," Astra said.
"What makes you so sure she is a good fit and I can count on her sworn allegiance?" Magnetrix asked.
"Her father was killed by the Legacy Virus, but it was Magneto's influence that took him down his dark path. Also, her sister of the same code name as their father died because of a secret mission Magneto sent her and a few others on to infiltrate the Magneto imposter that Attacked Manhattan. She believes Magneto sent her sister to her death as payback," Astra said.
"Bring her in, I would like to meet her," Magnetrix said as Astra vanished and then reappeared with a beautiful lady with long blond hair.
"Magnetrix, may I introduce you to Lady Mastermind," Astra said introducing the newcomer.
"When do we kill Magneto?" Lady Mastermind asked.
"Welcome to the team," Magnetrix said with a smile.
Next: Issue #2 – Blood Ties - Part Two
