"I don't suppose you want to stay down here, do you?" Kurt asked Wanda.
"Depends. What are you going to do now?" asked Wanda.
"We're going to try and help that mutant, if we can," said Kurt.
"Just the two of you?"
"No, Professor X and the X-Men are waiting for us outside. So are Lance and Fred,"
"They actually came here?" asked Toad and Wanda simultaneously.
"I was just as surprised as you," said Kurt. "I guess you're not the only one who wants to get at Magneto,"
"Seems like that list gets a little bit longer each day," said Wanda. "So what's the plan?"
"First, we need to find out exactly why I can't use my powers in this castle," said Kurt.
"It's his security system," she replied. "It's set up to block mutant powers. You have to have your DNA coded into the machine to be able to use your powers,"
"And let me guess, I'm not on the approved list,"
"We've got to find that machine and destroy it before the others can help us,"
"I've got something that should do the trick," Kurt said, patting the pouch that Logan had given him. "Where's this machine?"
"It's at the top of the castle, in Magneto's lab. If I'm right, we should be able to find Livewire close by," replied Wanda.
"Then let's get going," said Kurt, and the three mutants took off up the stairs.
X
Gambit shuffled his cards as he and Mindbender sat in the lab's living quarters. Gambit blew the steam off of his coffee and took a swig of it.
"Hmm, not bad," he said. "Even if it is imported. So, tell me exactly how Magneto plans on using this girl again," he asked Mindbender.
"She is only a test subject, to make sure our procedure is not safe," Mindbender replied. "Magneto believes that Apocalypse's return is inevitable, but that he is vulnerable. Are you familiar at all with the Unification Theory of matter and energy?"
"I got expelled from school before I even took physics," Gambit said. "Why don't you sum it up for me in fifty words or less,"
"That would be impossible," Mindbender chuckled. "But I shall try to be as succinct as I can. Scientists have theorized that all of the physical forces in the universe originated from one unified force. As time passed after the universe's creation, these forces slowly separated into their own entities: electric, magnetic, gravitational, and nuclear. Magneto believes that the separation of these forces is partly responsible for the diversity of the X-gene among mutants, as well as all the variations of mutant powers that we have observed so far,"
"So you're saying that the reason I can charge things up, you can mess with people's minds, Magneto can do all his magnetic tricks and so on, is all because of the way a few atoms here and there split and collided billions of years ago?" asked Gambit.
"There are so many variables, so many unexplored mysteries to resolve. But it may be possible that that has some small part in the differences between your powers and mine," said Mindbender. "Clearly, it will take a considerable amount of time and research to answer,"
"In that case, I don't expect it's something either of us will live long enough to see," said Gambit. "Given humanity's 'understanding' of mutants, as well as Magneto's impatience,"
"Indeed," Mindbender mused. "But we may not have to worry about humanity's perceptions of us for too much longer. With this procedure, Magneto is hoping to combine his own magnetic powers with the force of electricity. This will make him an incredibly powerful mutant, strong enough for him to contend with Apocalypse if he does return. He also believes that he can use his stronger powers to reseal the dimensional barrier that is holding Apocalypse prisoner long enough for him to fully control the Unified Force. When he accomplishes this, he will have the power to control matter and energy at the subatomic level. He will be able to make and unmake anything he wishes. In essence, he will become a god,"
Gambit sat in awed silence as he listened to Mindbender's theory. "Such power," he said. "It seems impossible to believe,"
"Magneto has found a way to make it possible, with time. Soon, he will be the master of the universe!"
"And we'll be right there by his side," Gambit grinned and flipped a card up in the air. "Sounds like fun," he said. The card, the ace of spades, landed face up on the table. Gambit swept it back into his deck and stood up, leaving Mindbender alone at the table.
X
Thanks to Wanda's help, she, Kurt and Toad had been able to stay out of sight while they made their way up to Magneto's lab. Despite Toad's injuries, he was doing a good job of keeping pace with them. After several minutes, they reached their destination. The room was filled with all sorts of computers and other equipment.
"We're here," said Wanda as she looked at the machinery throughout the vast room.
Kurt walked up to one of the computers. "I can't make any sense out of this," he said. "Do you know which one it is?"
Wanda took a look around, baffled by all the equipment. "I don't know," she said. "You'll have to guess,"
"I don't think this package Logan gave me is strong enough to destroy everything in this room," Kurt said. "We can't afford to guess wrong,"
"Hey, c'mon," said Toad. "There's got to be a clue around here somewhere," He started walking around the room, randomly pressing buttons on machines.
"Toad, maybe you shouldn't just go messing around with stuff like that," said Wanda. "You might set off an alarm,"
"Oh, what's the worst that could happen?" he asked.
"Like you even need to ask," Kurt said. "What did I tell you about listening to me?"
Toad ignored him and reached for another lever.
"Toad, wait!" Kurt shouted. "Don't pull that!"
He was too late, as Toad grabbed the lever and pulled it down. A bright blue light lit up on the side of the room and a panel in the wall began to slide back.
"I told you not to, woah! What it that?" Kurt started to yell, then stopped as he saw a blue and yellow energy field secreted in the wall behind the panel.
X
Kurt walked closer, and he made out what looked to be a human form lying down behind the field.
"Is that the mutant?" he asked.
Toad walked up and took a closer look. "Yeah, that's her alright," he shuddered.
"What did Magneto DO to her?" Kurt asked.
Livewire stirred.
"Um, hey," said Kurt. "Can you hear me?"
The mutant slowly sat up and looked at Kurt and Toad. "Who are you?" she asked softly.
"I'm Kurt, and this is Toad," Kurt replied. "We're here to rescue you,"
"Rescue me?" she asked.
"Yeah, you know, bust you out, spring you loose," said Toad.
"But why do you want to rescue me?"
"Cause Magneto's holding you prisoner! Hello!" Toad shouted.
"My father isn't holding me prisoner," she said. "He's just keeping me here while I recover my strength,"
"Your father?" asked Kurt. "Magneto's not your father!" he said.
"Must be more of Mindbender's handiwork," said Wanda.
Livewire heard Wanda's voice and jumped as far back as she could. "No!" she shouted. "Don't let her hurt me again!"
"What is she talking about?" Kurt asked.
"I had to hex her to keep her from killing Toad earlier," Wanda said. "I guess it must have really hurt her,"
Kurt turned back to the mutant in the field. "Um, Livewire, just relax, ok? Nobody's going to hurt you. We just want to talk to you,"
"I don't want to talk to her!" said Livewire.
"Look, maybe you'd better wait outside for a minute," Kurt said to Wanda.
"Alright," said Wanda. "Give a yell if you need any help,"
"Will do,"
Livewire spoke again. "I can't see anything past this field. Is she still out there?"
"No, it's ok," said Kurt. "She's gone. I'm going to shut down this field now, alright?"
"Alright,"
Kurt found the controls for the force field and deactivated them. Livewire stood up and stepped down to the floor. She saw Toad and walked up to him. Toad took a step backwards, still hurting from his last encounter with her.
"Wait," she said. "I'm sorry for what I did to you earlier. I didn't want to, but I had no choice. My father would have hurt me if I didn't obey me,"
"He doesn't sound like a very loving father to me," said Toad.
"How is he hurting you?" asked Kurt.
Livewire turned around. "This collar," she said. "Somehow, it drains my energy away,"
"Would you like me to help you take it off?" he offered.
"I don't know if my father would like you doing that,"
"Livewire, listen to me," said Kurt. "Magneto is NOT your father. Somehow, he altered your memories after he transformed you,"
"What do you mean?" asked Livewire. "Of course he's my father!"
Kurt was frightened to hear this. "You really believe it, don't you," he said.
"Why wouldn't I believe it? It's true," she said. "Why are you telling me this,"
"We don't have time for this!" said Wanda, walking back into the room. "Magneto could come up here any minute,"
Livewire shrank back into the hole in the wall. "No! Make her go away!"
Wanda walked up to Livewire. "Listen to me," she said. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I am NOT going to hurt you now. I just want to show you something that will help you understand what's happened to you,"
She walked over to one of the computers and cued up a tape from a security camera. "Come here and look at what your 'father' did to you," she said.
"It'll be alright," Kurt assured her. "Trust me,"
Livewire hesitated, and then walked over to the computer. Wanda stepped back so the mutant could see.
"What is happening?" she asked.
"Just watch," said Wanda. Soon, the tape began to show footage of Livewire's transformation.
Livewire gasped as she relived her transformation. The screen showed her being strapped to the operating table, stripped naked, and injected with chemicals. Then she saw the screen light up. When the light faded, she was no longer looking at a human being on the table but a glowing mass of energy.
"It's true," Livewire said softly. She dropped to her knees and began to make sobbing noises, but no tears came out of her eyes. "Turn it off! I don't want to see any more of this,"
Wanda shut off the computer.
"Do you remember who you are?" ask Kurt. "Can you tell us your name?"
"Yes," she said. "My name is Electra Barrows. I'm a college student from California. I was just about to graduate before I was kidnapped, and, and this happened to me,"
She recounted everything else that had happened to her after her transformation.
"Mein gott," said Kurt when she finished. "That monster!"
"Kurt, why do you look the way you do?" Electra asked.
Kurt sighed. "You're not the only one Magneto has experimented on. He did this to me when I was very young,"
"Is he your father?"
"I don't know. I hope not," said Kurt. "My mother rescued me from him and took me away before he could do anything else to me,"
"And you're not the only one who's had her mind warped either," said Wanda. "Magneto locked me up in an asylum when I was five, and he tried to alter my memories because I wanted to kill him when I found out what he did to me,"
"He's a horrible man!" said Electra. "I want to stop him from hurting anybody else,"
"Join the crowd," said Toad. "Seems like Magneto's got the whole world mad at him,"
"How can I help?" asked Electra.
"Do you know anything about these computers?" asked Kurt. "We're trying to shut down his security system so I can use my powers. Once we do that, we can contact my friends and they can help us,"
"You have friends here? Are they like you?" she asked.
"Yes, sort of," said Kurt. "I live with several mutants in America. If you like, you can meet my Professor. I'm sure he'd let you live with us if you wanted,"
"I'll think about that," said Electra. "But right now we need to get these computers shut down,"
"Do you know which one's the right one?" asked Toad.
"No, but I can find out," she said. She walked over to a power socket. "There's something else I can do that you haven't seen. I haven't tried it out yet but it should work. I'll be back in a minute,"
With that, she placed her foot against the empty socket and disappeared inside of it.
X
"Depends. What are you going to do now?" asked Wanda.
"We're going to try and help that mutant, if we can," said Kurt.
"Just the two of you?"
"No, Professor X and the X-Men are waiting for us outside. So are Lance and Fred,"
"They actually came here?" asked Toad and Wanda simultaneously.
"I was just as surprised as you," said Kurt. "I guess you're not the only one who wants to get at Magneto,"
"Seems like that list gets a little bit longer each day," said Wanda. "So what's the plan?"
"First, we need to find out exactly why I can't use my powers in this castle," said Kurt.
"It's his security system," she replied. "It's set up to block mutant powers. You have to have your DNA coded into the machine to be able to use your powers,"
"And let me guess, I'm not on the approved list,"
"We've got to find that machine and destroy it before the others can help us,"
"I've got something that should do the trick," Kurt said, patting the pouch that Logan had given him. "Where's this machine?"
"It's at the top of the castle, in Magneto's lab. If I'm right, we should be able to find Livewire close by," replied Wanda.
"Then let's get going," said Kurt, and the three mutants took off up the stairs.
X
Gambit shuffled his cards as he and Mindbender sat in the lab's living quarters. Gambit blew the steam off of his coffee and took a swig of it.
"Hmm, not bad," he said. "Even if it is imported. So, tell me exactly how Magneto plans on using this girl again," he asked Mindbender.
"She is only a test subject, to make sure our procedure is not safe," Mindbender replied. "Magneto believes that Apocalypse's return is inevitable, but that he is vulnerable. Are you familiar at all with the Unification Theory of matter and energy?"
"I got expelled from school before I even took physics," Gambit said. "Why don't you sum it up for me in fifty words or less,"
"That would be impossible," Mindbender chuckled. "But I shall try to be as succinct as I can. Scientists have theorized that all of the physical forces in the universe originated from one unified force. As time passed after the universe's creation, these forces slowly separated into their own entities: electric, magnetic, gravitational, and nuclear. Magneto believes that the separation of these forces is partly responsible for the diversity of the X-gene among mutants, as well as all the variations of mutant powers that we have observed so far,"
"So you're saying that the reason I can charge things up, you can mess with people's minds, Magneto can do all his magnetic tricks and so on, is all because of the way a few atoms here and there split and collided billions of years ago?" asked Gambit.
"There are so many variables, so many unexplored mysteries to resolve. But it may be possible that that has some small part in the differences between your powers and mine," said Mindbender. "Clearly, it will take a considerable amount of time and research to answer,"
"In that case, I don't expect it's something either of us will live long enough to see," said Gambit. "Given humanity's 'understanding' of mutants, as well as Magneto's impatience,"
"Indeed," Mindbender mused. "But we may not have to worry about humanity's perceptions of us for too much longer. With this procedure, Magneto is hoping to combine his own magnetic powers with the force of electricity. This will make him an incredibly powerful mutant, strong enough for him to contend with Apocalypse if he does return. He also believes that he can use his stronger powers to reseal the dimensional barrier that is holding Apocalypse prisoner long enough for him to fully control the Unified Force. When he accomplishes this, he will have the power to control matter and energy at the subatomic level. He will be able to make and unmake anything he wishes. In essence, he will become a god,"
Gambit sat in awed silence as he listened to Mindbender's theory. "Such power," he said. "It seems impossible to believe,"
"Magneto has found a way to make it possible, with time. Soon, he will be the master of the universe!"
"And we'll be right there by his side," Gambit grinned and flipped a card up in the air. "Sounds like fun," he said. The card, the ace of spades, landed face up on the table. Gambit swept it back into his deck and stood up, leaving Mindbender alone at the table.
X
Thanks to Wanda's help, she, Kurt and Toad had been able to stay out of sight while they made their way up to Magneto's lab. Despite Toad's injuries, he was doing a good job of keeping pace with them. After several minutes, they reached their destination. The room was filled with all sorts of computers and other equipment.
"We're here," said Wanda as she looked at the machinery throughout the vast room.
Kurt walked up to one of the computers. "I can't make any sense out of this," he said. "Do you know which one it is?"
Wanda took a look around, baffled by all the equipment. "I don't know," she said. "You'll have to guess,"
"I don't think this package Logan gave me is strong enough to destroy everything in this room," Kurt said. "We can't afford to guess wrong,"
"Hey, c'mon," said Toad. "There's got to be a clue around here somewhere," He started walking around the room, randomly pressing buttons on machines.
"Toad, maybe you shouldn't just go messing around with stuff like that," said Wanda. "You might set off an alarm,"
"Oh, what's the worst that could happen?" he asked.
"Like you even need to ask," Kurt said. "What did I tell you about listening to me?"
Toad ignored him and reached for another lever.
"Toad, wait!" Kurt shouted. "Don't pull that!"
He was too late, as Toad grabbed the lever and pulled it down. A bright blue light lit up on the side of the room and a panel in the wall began to slide back.
"I told you not to, woah! What it that?" Kurt started to yell, then stopped as he saw a blue and yellow energy field secreted in the wall behind the panel.
X
Kurt walked closer, and he made out what looked to be a human form lying down behind the field.
"Is that the mutant?" he asked.
Toad walked up and took a closer look. "Yeah, that's her alright," he shuddered.
"What did Magneto DO to her?" Kurt asked.
Livewire stirred.
"Um, hey," said Kurt. "Can you hear me?"
The mutant slowly sat up and looked at Kurt and Toad. "Who are you?" she asked softly.
"I'm Kurt, and this is Toad," Kurt replied. "We're here to rescue you,"
"Rescue me?" she asked.
"Yeah, you know, bust you out, spring you loose," said Toad.
"But why do you want to rescue me?"
"Cause Magneto's holding you prisoner! Hello!" Toad shouted.
"My father isn't holding me prisoner," she said. "He's just keeping me here while I recover my strength,"
"Your father?" asked Kurt. "Magneto's not your father!" he said.
"Must be more of Mindbender's handiwork," said Wanda.
Livewire heard Wanda's voice and jumped as far back as she could. "No!" she shouted. "Don't let her hurt me again!"
"What is she talking about?" Kurt asked.
"I had to hex her to keep her from killing Toad earlier," Wanda said. "I guess it must have really hurt her,"
Kurt turned back to the mutant in the field. "Um, Livewire, just relax, ok? Nobody's going to hurt you. We just want to talk to you,"
"I don't want to talk to her!" said Livewire.
"Look, maybe you'd better wait outside for a minute," Kurt said to Wanda.
"Alright," said Wanda. "Give a yell if you need any help,"
"Will do,"
Livewire spoke again. "I can't see anything past this field. Is she still out there?"
"No, it's ok," said Kurt. "She's gone. I'm going to shut down this field now, alright?"
"Alright,"
Kurt found the controls for the force field and deactivated them. Livewire stood up and stepped down to the floor. She saw Toad and walked up to him. Toad took a step backwards, still hurting from his last encounter with her.
"Wait," she said. "I'm sorry for what I did to you earlier. I didn't want to, but I had no choice. My father would have hurt me if I didn't obey me,"
"He doesn't sound like a very loving father to me," said Toad.
"How is he hurting you?" asked Kurt.
Livewire turned around. "This collar," she said. "Somehow, it drains my energy away,"
"Would you like me to help you take it off?" he offered.
"I don't know if my father would like you doing that,"
"Livewire, listen to me," said Kurt. "Magneto is NOT your father. Somehow, he altered your memories after he transformed you,"
"What do you mean?" asked Livewire. "Of course he's my father!"
Kurt was frightened to hear this. "You really believe it, don't you," he said.
"Why wouldn't I believe it? It's true," she said. "Why are you telling me this,"
"We don't have time for this!" said Wanda, walking back into the room. "Magneto could come up here any minute,"
Livewire shrank back into the hole in the wall. "No! Make her go away!"
Wanda walked up to Livewire. "Listen to me," she said. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I am NOT going to hurt you now. I just want to show you something that will help you understand what's happened to you,"
She walked over to one of the computers and cued up a tape from a security camera. "Come here and look at what your 'father' did to you," she said.
"It'll be alright," Kurt assured her. "Trust me,"
Livewire hesitated, and then walked over to the computer. Wanda stepped back so the mutant could see.
"What is happening?" she asked.
"Just watch," said Wanda. Soon, the tape began to show footage of Livewire's transformation.
Livewire gasped as she relived her transformation. The screen showed her being strapped to the operating table, stripped naked, and injected with chemicals. Then she saw the screen light up. When the light faded, she was no longer looking at a human being on the table but a glowing mass of energy.
"It's true," Livewire said softly. She dropped to her knees and began to make sobbing noises, but no tears came out of her eyes. "Turn it off! I don't want to see any more of this,"
Wanda shut off the computer.
"Do you remember who you are?" ask Kurt. "Can you tell us your name?"
"Yes," she said. "My name is Electra Barrows. I'm a college student from California. I was just about to graduate before I was kidnapped, and, and this happened to me,"
She recounted everything else that had happened to her after her transformation.
"Mein gott," said Kurt when she finished. "That monster!"
"Kurt, why do you look the way you do?" Electra asked.
Kurt sighed. "You're not the only one Magneto has experimented on. He did this to me when I was very young,"
"Is he your father?"
"I don't know. I hope not," said Kurt. "My mother rescued me from him and took me away before he could do anything else to me,"
"And you're not the only one who's had her mind warped either," said Wanda. "Magneto locked me up in an asylum when I was five, and he tried to alter my memories because I wanted to kill him when I found out what he did to me,"
"He's a horrible man!" said Electra. "I want to stop him from hurting anybody else,"
"Join the crowd," said Toad. "Seems like Magneto's got the whole world mad at him,"
"How can I help?" asked Electra.
"Do you know anything about these computers?" asked Kurt. "We're trying to shut down his security system so I can use my powers. Once we do that, we can contact my friends and they can help us,"
"You have friends here? Are they like you?" she asked.
"Yes, sort of," said Kurt. "I live with several mutants in America. If you like, you can meet my Professor. I'm sure he'd let you live with us if you wanted,"
"I'll think about that," said Electra. "But right now we need to get these computers shut down,"
"Do you know which one's the right one?" asked Toad.
"No, but I can find out," she said. She walked over to a power socket. "There's something else I can do that you haven't seen. I haven't tried it out yet but it should work. I'll be back in a minute,"
With that, she placed her foot against the empty socket and disappeared inside of it.
X