The Master of Magnetism clicked his cell phone off, a satisfied grin slowly spreading across his face. Acquisitions such as the potential offering before him pleased him greatly, and his mind was already racing through ideas on how to approach this.

"MindDancer," he spoke the name out loud, rising to his feet from the small sofa in one fluid motion to step out into the cool afternoon air on the balcony of his hotel room. The sounds and scents of New York City rose up beneath him, and he mused how convenient his timing on this trip had been.

The girl was young, he believed her to be close to the age of his original Brotherhood members, which placed her somewhere between twenty-five and twenty-eight. It was an odd age to be questioning the belief's of a lifetime, he doubted she had chosen to defect strictly on the basis of her morality or goals. Some outside influence was pushing her, and if he played this well he could have her, mind and soul.

The timing was too convenient for young Toad's situation to be a coincidence, and he picked up his cell phone and dialed Lance Alver's home on Genosha. A few concise questions revealed that MindDancer had maintained a surprisingly close friendship with Toad during their high school years and beyond. Lance even went so far as to venture that Toad had refused Genosha because MindDancer had chosen to remain in America, but that it was merely his take on the matter. Magneto, however, didn't doubt it. Toad had been abused and neglected all his life, if someone had shown him honest affection and asked little in return, that person could own Toad's soul, just as he hoped to own a part of MindDancer's.

This could work out very neatly for him, two mutants in one simple act. Not to mention it would show that he wasn't about to allow them to railroad mutants in this manner.

A cooly amused smile crossed his face then, as he poured himself a small drink and raised it to the sky. "To you, Charles. For allowing your beliefs to finally hand one of your precious telepaths into my service."

He would offer whatever she was looking for, he had a good idea that their paths coincided. MindDancer had come to him, because only he would be willing to give her what he was increasingly sure she wanted. And once she crossed the lines between Xavier and Magneto, he knew others would follow. Mutants in America looked up to her, working so hard to improve their lives and allowing the public to consume hers. Even he'd admired the girl's determination to the common cause he shared with her and Xavier, even if his methods were different. He took a long draught of the sweet wine, opening his laptop to call up all the information his people had entered on her.

It was always best to enter such talks prepared. An hour's study found him dialing the number she'd given. He was careful to come across as cordial and concerned, telling her he was in the City and surprised to learn she had remained in the City rather than returning to the Institute after her errand. Pleased, however. He set up a meeting, and left the room, still smiling. He'd waited a long time for one like her, not to mention the sheer power and force of will she commanded.

"Welcome to the fold, Arica."


Arriving at the coffee shop first, Arica was relieved to have a few moments to herself to get ready for this. It had been a long time since she'd seen Magneto, six years if she had the dates right in her head. And he'd been less than pleased with her at the time.

Gathering her determination, she ordered a double hot chocolate. Chocolate was a good thing, she firmly believed. It had gotten her through some strange and painful times, but usually in the comfort of her friends. Well, she was on her own now, and would get through it alone. At least, until she got what she wanted. Then she would have a friend again, she hoped.

Please forgive me, it's not throwing my life away. It's not, I promise. You're worth it to me, maybe I can make up my cowardice to you now, she mused. She was more than a little afraid he wouldn't forgive her this, even though she was doing it all for him. But if that was the price for this, it was still worth it. Todd's life. Now, it was in her hands.

The concept terrified her. She'd always had older guidance to rely on. Even when making her own decisions, it had been comforting that she could get the benefit of their wisdom to help her choose her paths. Now, abruptly, she'd cut the ties herself. And being completely on her own with such a stake...

Another long, savoring sip of the chocolate along with a determined effort to clear her mind and shove her emotions to the back of her mind helped. She didn't have time to second-guess, couldn't afford to hesitate now. She had no idea what in hell was going on in Genosha, what Magneto wanted and was planning, but she would deal with it. She could do whatever he needed, she knew she was strong enough to adapt. She would survive.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Jenner," a smooth voice greeted her as the man himself sat down across from her, holding a steaming cup of his own. Her stomach twisted painfully as she took in his impeccable suit, neatly groomed white hair, and cool steel blue-gray eyes.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Lensherr," she replied, allowing the rote of social courtesies to carry her through the initial fear of realizing she was actually sitting here, across from Magneto, betraying everything she had been taught and worked for during the last ten years. Good god, he came. I actually called to him, and he answered me. And now he's here, and now I'm about to switch sides. God help me, I think I need it. If you're there, just help me do this. "Thank you for agreeing to see me."
He smiled warmly at her then, studying the nervous expression in her eyes so at odds with her confident body posture. Yes, Charles had done well training this one. An excellent acquisition for his island nation. "Of course, I could hardly turn away one of my own kind," he told her, careful to keep his voice gentle, welcoming. The fact that there was no hint of sensation in his mind encouraged him, she really was looking for something and not acting on Xavier's orders. "And call me Eric, I know we've been on different teams, but we are ultimately all on the same side."

She smiled a little then, as if the mere idea reached something in her she hadn't been aware of before. "I...I need your help, Eric," she said falteringly then, her voice soft under the babble of the other customers around them.

"I thought you might," he replied casually. "Might I inquire what situation has brought you to such desperate measures as to seek me out?"
She laughed a little then, feeling slightly embarrassed as he grinned at her. There was something wicked in that grin to her eyes, but it was playful. She was careful to keep her mind in her own head, but his amusement flooded her senses anyway. It relaxed her, she couldn't feel any malice here. She didn't doubt he was good enough to hide it if he really wanted, but it seemed silly that he would go to such lengths at this point.

"It's Todd Tolensky," she finally told him. "I need your help saving his life."

Magneto leaned back into the soft cushions of the coffeehouse sofa, studying her closely. She actually meant it, she was actually going to throw it all away for Toad. "Ah, yes, young Toad," he mused aloud, watching the play of pain and hope cross her face. "Why now? Why him?"
Her gaze dropped into her lap. How do I answer this? she wondered, trying to find the right path. Finally she settled on truth, things were too delicate here to play stupid games. She leaned forward, keeping her voice low and soft so only he would hear the words. "I love him. And I want him to live a long, healthy life. I have a meeting being set up with him, I find out the time and date today at four. You can make those flying orb things. I thought...you could tag me, or be close and I could guide you to where we are, and we could go to Genosha."

He settled back, considering this. Why tell her he'd been halfway considering rescuing the ungrateful boy anyway, when she was delivering herself so neatly into his hands like this. And the emotional tie was convenient as well, if Toad shared it, or could be encouraged to share it. He encouraged mutants pairing up, and producing mutant offspring. Sometimes they produced normal humans, but always with the latent X-gene required to create more mutants. So he allowed those normal humans born of his mutants to remain, and they would be encouraged to grow up and marry into his mutant society. Yes, another mated pair would be excellent for his future plans.

"I will help you," he agreed, taking in the sheer relief flooding her eyes. He handed her what looked like an ordinary library card, but was actually a tag marker for himself. "This is all you need, when you are ready, push the logo and it will signal me."
"What do you want in exchange?" she asked evenly, dark eyes meeting his without any flinching.

"I want you as a citizen of Genosha, a role model for them as you were here. But I will not be so intrusive on your life with media demands, I will keep it discreet. And if you chose to turn your considerable talents to helping defend our home, I would be greatly pleased. The only other job I would require in exchange, is you accompany me to political summits and meetings, to ensure the honesty of offers being made and the intent of keeping them or betrayal behind those making them. That is hardly a morality breaking choice, now is it?" he asked her gently, smiling openly at her.

"No..." Arica answered slowly, digesting what he was saying. She realized she was being neatly handled, but wasn't in a position to object. Not to mention objecting at this point would be childish, he really wasn't asking her to do anything truly horrible or repugnant. Whether or not her future remained so simple, at this point it was entirely reasonable. That worried her a little, but she knew he was right. She'd come to him, sold herself in exchange for Todd, and really wasn't afraid.

She knew somewhere in the back of her mind she should be, this should terrify her. Instead, she felt oddly free, suddenly relieved by the realization she was going to Genosha. An entire nation of nothing but mutants, from all she'd heard. A nation where she could be herself, the only real rules cause no harm to other citizens. No more ugly black-ops missions by those responsible for the mutant crisis, no more endless streams of people touching her until the point she wanted to die from the pain of keeping their minds out of hers, no more trying ot pretend she wasn't different in a lot of ways.

Freedom. She got Todd, and she got freedom. And may her former teammates and friends forgive her, but she wanted it. She shook Magneto's hand then, writing down the cell phone number he gave her to use to tell him of the time and date once she got them from Mr. Parma, and making notes on the final instructions from him regarding any of her and Todd's material things she wanted to take to Genosha.

Magneto left her to finish off her hot chocolate and think alone before she returned home, getting her tightest shielding around her intentions so as not to leak them to Jean or Charles. She was so close now, she was not going to blow this.

It was late when she finally got back to the mansion, almost stunned to realize that she only had two more nights to sleep in her familiar bed. She would see Todd the day after tomorrow, and the sheer amount of things she had to do between then and now was overwhelming. Move anything she wanted to keep to Todd's home tomorrow, where some members of Magneto's organization would pack everything up and ship it to their new home. Write letters to leave those here she wanted to say good-bye too, and mail them so they would arrive after she was safely gone. Pray they didn't find out in time to interfere, she didn't want to fight any of the people she loved and worked with. Absorb the facts of what she had done.

Get over the fear of leaving her entire life behind, of the regret that she would probably never see most of these people on friendly terms again. Figure out how to explain herself to Todd during a long ride in a little metal ball.