Boston, the next day:

            Erin rushes into the living room, where Dave is playing with Lego's.  She lists the remote with her mind and switches it to the news.  She sits beside him, taking his hand.  They watch together in silence, seeing security footage from a hospital in New York.  They recognize the cat-like figure slinking around the establishment.  Dave finally turns it off, unable to see anymore.  "She joined the Brotherhood.  She… what the hell would she do that for?"

            "Who would do what?" Liz asks.  She sees the grave expressions on her friends' faces.  "What?"

            "Kristi's one of Magneto's hounds," Erin says bitterly.  "Apparently she thought that joining his Brotherhood, she'd avoid all the fighting.  Obviously."

            Liz clenches her fists weakly, then traces a thin scar over her ear with a finger.  That's where the Marauder known as Scalphunter, had tried to cut off the cat ears she'd morphed when trying to save Kristi from Harpoon's attack.  She looks at the others.  "When'd you find this out?"

            "On the news, there was a security tape made of their attack on the Agee Institute in New York," Dave says.  "They kidnapped Agee himself."

            "The guy that can cure mutations?" Liz asks.  "Why would the Brotherhood kidnap him?  Why not just kill him?"

            Erin shrugs.  "Who cares?  They're a bunch of nuts anyway.  Starting a war between humans and mutants.  We may have powers beyond the humans' but they outnumber us.  We're all going to be killed because of him and his maniac brood!"

            "Hey," Dave says gently.  "Not all of them are maniacs… you saw the people in that tape.  They're all kids.  Our age, maybe younger.  Maybe they're just desperate.  Happy people don't kidnap, kill, or destroy things.  Discontent, miserable, frantic people do.  Maybe that's how Kristi feels."

            "So what?" Liz snaps.  "She left us, remember?  She left us when we tried to be there for her, after we nearly died trying to make sure she wasn't hurt!  We proved to her that she had people that care about her, no matter what and she left us!"

            There's a knock at the door.  Liz shakes her head and storms over to the door.  She swings it open angrily.  "What?  Oh my--"

            At the door is a tall woman with gray skin and huge wings.  She is dressed in a dark business suit which makes her monstrous form almost more human.  Her light brown hair is pulled into a tight bun and her face is obviously very friendly.  She smiles warmly.  "Hi, my name is Donovan Milady.  Might I have a word with you?"

            "Donovan Milady?"  Erin asks.  "Aren't you… I've heard your name before."

            Donovan nods.  "I'm an executive for Worthington Enterprises.  As you can see, I'm a mutant.  I need to talk to you."

            Liz glances back at the other two, who nod.  She steps back and lets Donovan in, though they all keep close watch on her.  Donovan walks through the apartment easily and grins.  "Nice place.  Mommy's bank account keeps you all happy, eh?"

            "Hey, I pay the bills, all right?" Dave says indignantly.  "What do you want?"

            Donovan smiles.  "The same thing you want, my friend.  There's someone in the Brotherhood that I want to get out badly.  I'm sure you want to get your friend out."

            "Why would we?" Liz asks.  "She's apparently happy there."

            "Pissed because she took off on you?" Donovan asks.  Liz scowls but doesn't respond.  "Look, the kids working in the Brotherhood don't generally have the big picture.  Magneto's using them to further pursue the enslavement and possible genocide of humans everywhere.  But they don't believe that.  They think they're reclaiming the world because it's their rightful place as the next step in human evolution.  That's what they're being told.  Obviously our friends both were persuaded the same way.  Bad things had happened to them and they saw no other alternative but join his terrorist group."

            Dave frowns.  "How would you know anything about it?"

            Donovan sighs.  "My friend… she left the Brotherhood during that brief time Magneto was out of his mind.  She stayed with me and then left again when he came back.  She believes his story hook, line, and sinker.  But I know he's wrong.  And I know she'd agree if she realized that she has someone who cares about her very much at home.  Someone who'd do anything for her…" she pauses wistfully.  She shakes her head.  "I think your friend's in the same plight.  If we work together, with a couple of buddies of mine, I think we can get them both out and thinking clearly again."

            "You know a lot about the Brotherhood…" Erin says suspiciously.  "How do we know you're not trying to trick us into doing something reckless?  We could get killed going into something like the Brotherhood with no background in this sort of thing."

            Donovan nods.  "Good point.  But my buddies are X-Men.  They'd be there to cover your backs while you convinced your friend to get out of there.  How's that sound?"

            "You've got ties with the X-Men?" Liz is impressed.

            "Yeah.  They helped me out a while back and if I help them deal with the Brotherhood, I'd be returning the favor," Donovan says.  "So, what do you say?"

            Dave shakes his head.  "Hold on a second.  Why us?"

            "You survived a deadly attack by one of the most ruthless killing teams ever coordinated.  With no training, background, or weapons…" Donovan says.  "You also have someone important to you stuck in the Brotherhood.  You've proven to be formidable and we share a common goal.  Why not work together?"

            Erin sighs heavily.  "I suppose we should call Ian, huh?"

Brotherhood's base, the Savage Land:

            Synch, Pyro, Rogue, Sunspot, and Cataclysm kneel before Magneto, surrounded by the other members of the Brotherhood.  Magneto stands above them, his face cold and stern, even as he commends them on their recent exploits.  "I am very proud of you, my Acolytes.  You have proven yourself worthy of joining the ranks of the Brotherhood.  Rise and take your rightful place among the warriors of our glorious revolution against the human tyrants! 

"You have earned your position among your brothers and sisters valiantly, for the capture of Dr. Aubrey Agee will launch our campaign to new levels.  We will not allow the humans to destroy that which makes us superior to them.  We will not allow our oppressors to beat us down again and again!  Your feat last night has produced an opportunity to use their own technology against them and prevent them from developing more despicable methods of destroying us."

Magneto's speech has grown to a feverish rant.  Synch and Sunspot exchange skeptical looks.  This is a bit more than they'd planned.  They just wanted to make the world a safer place for mutants.  They aren't very sure about the ruling and destroying part.

Pyro's eyes are gleaming excitedly.  He flicks his lighter eagerly, having not been allowed to bring his flamethrowers into Magneto's hall.  He practically leaps up in excitement when Magneto touches his shoulder as he passes.

Rogue and Cataclysm keep their heads down as Magneto passes.  They can hear him stop directly in front of them.  "All may leave now.  A grand feast has been prepared.  However, I would like Voght, Cortez, Rogue, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch to remain with me for a few minutes."

Everyone else leaves the chamber except the ones asked to stay.  The new Brotherhood members wait outside.  Cataclysm starts to leave when Pyro grabs her arm.  "Y' ain't interested in knowin' what Mags has ta say t' our fearless leader?"

"Not in the slightest," Cataclysm says coldly.  "Whatever he has to say obviously doesn't concern us.  Besides, I'm hungry."

Sunspot grins.  "C'mon, Cat.  What're they saying?  Is she getting special praise for our work?"

Cataclysm frowns.  "She's probably telling them what she found in Agee's head, moron.  Can we please go eat?"

Pyro flicked open his lighter.  "Who're ya callin' a moron, kitty-cat?  Who's the one who nearly buckled last night when y' had t' go face the good doctor himself?"

"Lay off, guys," Synch says.  He puts an arm over Cataclysm's shoulder and leads her off.  Cataclysm resists the urge to shrug him away and they walk into the long dining hall.  "You okay?" Synch finally asks.

"Fine," Cataclysm says, faking a weak smile and sitting down at the end of a table.  She sighs when she sees that Synch isn't moving.  "I'm just tired from last night, Everett, okay?

"Kristi, it's more than that," Everett says.  He sits down across from her.  "What's going on?"

Kristi shakes her head.  "Nothing I want to talk about, how's that?"

Everett reaches across the table to take Kristi's hands in his own.  He avoids looking her in the eyes.  "I think in the past two years, we've gotten to know each other pretty well.  Really well, I like to think.  Since I joined the Brotherhood after my folks… well, disappeared when my power manifested, I always looked to you, as the experienced one.  The one that I could talk to when I was scared, confused, or just lonely.  And now… now, you're the one that's lost.  And I want to show you the same consideration you've shown me."

"That's… really sweet, Everett," Kristi says quietly, looking around for something she can eat.  She finally reaches for the slices of turkey breast and makes herself a sandwich with the bread nearby.  She takes a bite and contemplates her next words.  "I would talk to you if I had something worth mentioning.  I've just been reminiscing too much lately, with all the excitement of the promotion into the Brotherhood and stuff, you know?"

Everett hangs his head and stands up.  "All right.  I'll drop it.  But… well, maybe we can talk about this again later, okay?" he walks away.

Kristi growls in frustration and gets up from the table.  She is about to walk away when she's suddenly surrounded by other young mutants who, like she had been, were waiting for their chances to promote to active members of the Brotherhood.  They are all congratulating her and asking questions.  She quietly speaks to them and excuses herself to go to bed.

"Experimenting on anyone carrying even the slightest x-factor in their genes…" Amelia Voght says, horrified at the concept.  "Including his own sister…" she is a red headed woman who looks reverently at Magneto as she speaks.  To her, Agee's atrocities are fuel to the fire of the upcoming war.  "The monster… that…"

"His blood will oil our war machines and we'll beat a destructive path to the very people that condone his activity," Fabian Cortez sneers, clenching his fists.

"Calm down, Cortez," Pietro Maximoff, Magneto's son, says coldly.  "We have to go about this logically.  Now that we have the doctor in our custody, we can make our campaign known:  that all men with technology like Agee has will not be allowed to use what they've wrought against us or face consequences such as he will face."

Wanda, Pietro's sister, chews her lower lip nervously.  "And what are those consequences?"

Magneto shakes his head.  "That will be discussed at a later time," he looks pointedly at Rogue, who is listening to their conversation intently.  "Start shifts with Toad, Blob, Mastermind, and yourselves to ensure that Agee stays safely in his cell.  "He will receive meals regularly and I will decide when his interrogation is to begin, do I make myself clear?"

"What about mah team?" Rogue asks quickly.  "We wanna be involved, too."

"Your team?" Cortez laughs.  "You fancy yourself field leader?  You made one good run, that doesn't make you experienced enough to take on an important job such as this yourself."

Rogue balls up her fists and starts toward Cortez, her green eyes furious.  "Ah led that team down there an' kidnapped him!  We were chosen cuz our Lord Magneto decided we were ready!"

"Enough!" Magneto snaps.  "While I deemed you worthy of the acquiring of Dr. Agee, I have to agree with Cortez that this is perhaps out of your league for the time being.  Your eagerness has not gone unnoticed, however, and you will be rewarded in due time.  If you'll all excuse me now, it is time I retired to my personal quarters at once.  Start the watch immediately."

Magneto leaves through a back door, leaving his team leaders behind.  Rogue sticks her tongue out at Cortez and storms away.  Cortez cracks his knuckles maliciously.  "If I boosted that little tramp's powers beyond her control, she'd certainly reconsider her position."

"She already has no control of her ability, Fabian," Wanda reminds the zealous mutant.  "Boosting that further would prove disastrous for the rest of us.  Keep your power in check."

Amelia shakes her head.  "That girl is going to be a lot of trouble for the rest of us.  She fancies herself leader quality."

"She survived Weapon X.  She very well may be leader quality," Pietro replies.  He turns to leave himself.  "There will be no more arguing.  Toad has first watch.  Someone let him know."

Cortez knows the order is directed at him and turns with a flourish of his cape.  Amelia follows him while Wanda hurries to join her brother.  Neither pair is happy with Magneto's decisions.