Chapter 3: Memory Lane
Several years have passed. Pietro has become an excellent student and has his father's charm and wit. Erik has not been in contact with the school but Charles follows him from afar. The Brotherhood had united various renegade groups and they were stronger than ever. Brotherhood Bashing became a game the kids played in which various members were ridiculed and whoever could make the most ingenious insults won. Charles had forbidden it, but that didn't keep the students from playing. Hearing his sister and former friend be trashed like that hurt him more than he would have thought possible, especially considering Pietro. So far, no-one had found out about Pietro's real background, including Pietro himself. But with him on the edge of puberty, about to enter his teens, perhaps it was time to change that. He would have a discussion with Hank about it.
"It's an impossible dilemma." Charles vents his frustrations. "We shouldn't keep it from him, not for much longer, but putting a burden like that on a young boy… Especially with this game being so popular." "Bro B., I've heard of it. All in good fun though." Hank had played a few rounds himself with the other teachers; Sean being the best at it. "I know, I know, but for him to find out at a time like this. His father is growing in strength and could, I don't know, stage a coup of some sort." "We should remain silent. When he finds out, Pietro could decide to run away, or hero worship his father." Memories of Raven and Erik cross his mind. "You're probably right. It is too soon. Although I hate to think what will happen if Magneto shows up to claim his son and finds out about this." Hank cannot help but laugh. "You'd be in so much trouble…"
Magneto may not have visited his son, yet his sole interest is in making the world a better place for the likes of him. Pietro is often on his mind. Sometimes the longing to see him, to receive word from him, is excruciating. Why doesn't he? Surely Charles could have let the boy contact him. A feeling of distrust is building. An idea pops in his head and he calls his most trusted, his right hand woman. "Mystique, I've got a job for you."
Mystique has mixed feelings about her task; cheerful and anxious feelings fight alongside each other. Seeing Charles again after all this time. Reporting on Pietro: the boy she had brought into safety but also torn from his family. She is extremely curious to see what has become of him.
"Charles, have you heard about the rumors?" "Which ones?" Charles smiles, but his smile fades as he looks into Hank's worried eyes. "Hank, what's the matter?" "There are rumors about Magneto. About a child. Some say he has sacrificed his own child for a higher purpose, others say he has abandoned his twins. The school is soaked with sudden stories and a few are dangerously close to the truth." "How can this be? What's the cause?" "It started with another game of Bro B. which turned out into numerous speculations about Magneto's plans for world dominion. I'm afraid that sooner or later the boy will hear the truth." "We should tell him. It's a lot better coming from us. I wonder how much he remembers."
"Pietro, could you please come into my office after class?" "What's that about, Pietro?" his friends ask him. "I've got no idea. Perhaps he found out about the mutilated statue?" he whispers back. If only, Charles thinks to himself.
"Take a seat. I've got something to share with you. Maybe I should have told you sooner. It was a difficult decision to make." "Okay, what's it about?" "Pietro, how much do you remember of your childhood? From before you came here?" "Not much. Didn't you tell me, or was it Dr. McCoy, that I grew up on a farm, that my parents died in an accident and I was brought here by the neighbors?" "Yes, that's right. I hope you won't hold it against us, but you see, we wanted you to have a pleasant time here." "You're saying that it isn't true?" "Parts of it are true, parts, well, aren't. There was an accident, a fire which killed your mother and twin sister, but your father…" "I do remember a fire. I often dream about it. About screaming voices and beams slicing through the air." "Would you like me to… I could bring you under hypnosis and give you an opportunity to visit your past yourself?" "That's fine. Will it help me get rid of the nightmares?" "It might. It has happened in the past." You're a coward, Charles, backing out at the last minute. Biding your time.
"Do you think this is a wise idea?" Hank isn't too sure about it. Charles had requested his presence, in case a confused or angry Pietro would make a run for it; Hank might keep up with him. "I wonder if the memories will trigger his abilities, like they did in real life." "Charles, you haven't answered my question?" "Fine, you'll get your answer. I wasn't able to tell him. I chickened out, all right, and then this seemed like an opportunity. Pietro wants to battle his night terrors and it saves us the trouble of telling him. Lord knows we're still left with plenty of explaining afterwards." "No kidding."
Pietro arrives on time and the session begins. "Slowly count backwards from 20 for me, would you please?" Soon Pietro starts to tell them about that fatal day. In this rare state of hypnosis, he can access his unconscious memory while being present with a clear conscious mind. No need to video the experience, since the boy is not in trance. The morning had been uneventful. Magda was baking cookies and the kids were playing and occasionally arguing about a red ball. Shortly after lunch, the fire began and the house was alight in a matter of minutes. Pietro had seen his mother get stuck under the beams and had tried to pull her out at her request. When more beams started falling he had ran away, extremely fast. He had witnessed the collapse of the house and walked around it several times that day. When his father finally arrived, it had started to grow dark. The boy was crying and rocking himself. Magneto, Mystique and the others had looked after him and, since then they had been on the run. "Time to stop, I think." When the spell of the hypnosis is broken, Pietro stares at them. His face is ashen and his eyes darken. "Magneto is my father? Magneto, the evil metal wielding mastermind who is behind the recent assaults of government medical research facilities?" "The one and only." Hank replies. "You might see why we thought it a good idea to spare you that particular piece of knowledge," Charles offers an explanation. "I would have been torn to shreds if the others knew about it." "Something like that," Charles mutters. Although he prefers to think of himself and his students as tolerant and respectful, raising Magneto's son as Magneto's son might have been pushing even their limits. "Are you all right?" "I don't know." Pietro trembles. "It's a lot to take in, all at once. Seeing my mother and Wanda…" He begins to sob uncontrollably and the two men try to console him.
Several days later, Mystique has arrived in the school grounds. She eavesdrops her way towards Pietro's room and sees him staring out of the window into nothingness. He looks like he has been crying a lot. This is not good. Anger takes over and she has a good mind to call Charles to explain this situation to her, but it is vital her presence goes unnoticed. She doesn't want to talk to the boy herself at first, but will shadow him as long as is needed to get to the heart of this.
The next afternoon, after classes but before supper, Pietro asks to have a word with the Professor in private. They retire to a quiet corner of the garden and Mystique hides behind the bushes, impersonating a very young mute girl to ensure her complete silence. "I've been reading up on Magneto, but I wondered? Could you tell me something of your own experiences with him? I read somewhere that you were friends before ideological differences got in the way." Mystique is listening intently. What's this about? Charles sighs. "It's not an easy question, Pietro, but one that deserves an answer." He deliberates on the right amount of frankness; how much would be appropriate? "I met Magneto, or as I knew him then, Erik, on a quest to destroy his childhood tormentor. I managed to convince him to join us, a small group of mutants, willing to do the same with help of the CIA. We fought to discover this man's, mutant's, plans and to stop him. Unfortunately, the mission became a personal vendetta for him —I guess it never ceased to be— and in a battle between the superpowers of Russia and these States United, Erik turned on all humankind. He became convinced that cooperation with humans would never bring the desired outcome of peace and prosperity for all." Mutant and proud; Mystique remembers their motto. "And you ceased to be friends just like that?" Pietro asks a bit sullen. "No, we've had some confrontations before that battle and, on that particular day, I lost the use of my legs through a rogue bullet. I also lost my sister, Raven, whom you know as Mystique, to Magneto's cause. I guess we both grew resentful towards each other after that. Each of us had been trying to convince the other of our own world view for weeks beforehand." "Do you miss him?" "Now, that is a very personal question, Pietro, but, yes, I do. Him and Raven." "I don't remember much about him, just little snippets. I've been trying to these last few days."
After a few minutes lost in thought, Pietro resumes his questions: "I've got two more questions, though, if you don't mind?" "Shoot," Charles replies, trying to sound casual. "Why do you think he left me here, if you two had a falling out? And what are some good memories that you have of my dad?" His last question is spoken with the little tremble he so desperately wants to hide. "A note was brought with you. It spoke of your mother's death and of his reasons for leaving you here. He wanted you to be safe. He wanted you to have a normal childhood, not that of a semi-refugee. Magneto hoped I would be able to see past our past and treat you like I would any student. I complied with his request. As for your other question… Your father has a great , rather sarcastic, sense of humor. He has a taste for adventure and is courageous. I remember him taking on several people at once without even flinching. He is not afraid to make tough decisions." "And personal memories, anything?" The boy's quiet hope is written all over his face. Mystique pricks up her ears.
"We've played a lot of chess. I helped him perfect his powers." Which I should regret. "We trained the first batch of students here together. He has helped my sister to stop being ashamed of her true self. We were… We were a good team. We balanced each other out. In the beginning, we recruited other mutants for our cause and that was some road trip." He smiles at the memory.
Mystique wonders about her next move. Should she talk to Pietro herself? Should she talk to him as herself? In order to give Magneto a decent idea of his son's state of mind and treatment at the school it would be wise. But, according to the garden conversation, the boy had only just found out about his father. Mystique thinks it´s odd, but a few more hours hiding in plain sight convince her otherwise. These kids hate them. Not all of them, but a few of the students are very fierce in their disapproval of their objectives. It would have been very difficult to grow up like that, knowing they are talking about your parent. Perhaps it would be best if Pietro would leave this environment. She will probably suggest that to Magneto once her fieldwork is done.
A blue flash of flesh, red hair. No, it can't be. I must be dreaming. He blinks his eyes and sees a hallway packed with students. It's probably because I've talked about Mystique these past few days. But when he sees one student sneaking away at the other end of the hall, Charles is in pursuit. When no-one else is in the vicinity, he calls her: "Mystique, is that you?" No one appears. He hears someone descending some stairs. Ever bound to that stupid chair. He swears and reddens slightly when a passing student gives him a startled look. It must have been his mind playing tricks on him. He could find out, if he really wanted to, but he had promised her in the past not to do so. He'd already broken that promise once.
He'd almost caught her. She should be more careful. Mystique decides, there and then, to talk to Pietro herself and get the hell out of here. She waits patiently outside his room, in various disguises, until he's by himself. She enters as a class mate, but soon whispers that he cannot talk about this to anyone. "Why what's the matter?" "My appearance is a bit deceptive at the moment, Pietro, but I am in fact, the mutant you know as Mystique." "Mystique," he whispers in awe. "Why are you here? Has my father sent you?" "Yes, he has. Pietro, exactly how long do you know Magneto is your father?" Her most burning question falls from her lips. "A few days, now." "A few days!" She is outraged at this sign of betrayal from her brother, despite her previous insight in his intentions. "Yes, it was quite a shock to realize it." "It must have been in a hostile environment like this." "It's not hostile. I generally like it here, although I'm sort of sick of Bro B. now." "Of what?" "Nothing, just a silly game." "I'm to report to your father. He wants to know if you're well. Why you haven't contacted him, why Charles hasn't. What would you like me to tell him? And do you want to leave this place?" "I do want to meet him, but this is the only life I know. I'm happy where I am, and I guess I'm still too young to join you?" "I'm afraid so, but I can see you as a worthy successor of your father one day." "Will you talk to the Professor? He misses you, you know." "I know, but it's best to let sleeping dogs, you know, sleep. I'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about our little talk." Pietro sighs as she leaves his room. Yet another secret to keep.
