Writer: Rowland Wells

Disclaimer:  I am in no way any part of Marvel Comics or any affiliation of their enterprise.  I do not own the X-Men or any Marvel Characters. 

Alternate

X-Men

#04

"the ties that bind"

Xavier's students were stuck outside a city on the coast of Croatia, sent to rescue the President's daughter who had been captured by the Brotherhood.  They demanded that the Sentinel contingency be halted or the girl would be executed.  In the ensuing chaos, the X-Men managed to let the Brotherhood agents slip through their fingers and out of sight, while they were left to contend with the Croat soldiers, who had tracked the illegal entry from miles away.  Jean and Logan took the Blackbird out of reach from the soldiers, while Warren followed them, but the other students were not so lucky.  Scott was pinned down in a closed alley, gunfire echoing around outside it, while Tessa relayed the news that Hank had been crushed by falling rubble.  'Set it down there, outside that fenced area – careful now, we don't want to get in the way of Wings out there.'  Logan pointed to Warren, who was landing opposite them in the dilapidated garden of a worn-out house.  The ramp came down, and Jean ran out, immediately searching for the conditions of the others in the area.  Gunfire could be heard off in the distance, and Logan raised his head to the sky.  'I hear a chopper comin' in.  We'd better get in the 'Bird again, Jean.  No sense in having ourselves held down too.'  Logan took her by the shoulder, but she shook him off, angrily.  'We've got to find the others – I'm picking up on some serious anguish.  It's hard to focus on them, when they're so emotional… I can't find Hank.'  'Why don't we just get in – can't you hear the helicopter?  I ain't gonna leave you all by yourself in the open.  It could mean more of those Croat pigs.  You'd be safer with me, Red.'  She brushed off his arrogance, in distress, and ran further away from him. Warren stepped up to them, brushing his blond hair out of his eyes.  'He's right Jean, we can't stay in the open by ourselves.  Let's take the Blackbird nearer.' Jean resisted, walking into the street.  Her eyes blinked open abruptly, and she dashed off across the area.  'Jean!'  Logan shouted, but she had gone.  Trying to block out the increasingly unnerving splits and crackles in the brick beside him, Scott concentrated on trying to hear Tessa, who was rooting uncomfortably underneath the collapsed house, trying to rescue Hank's crippled body.  Bullets lodged themselves in the ground as the snipers knew Scott was still trapped, but not showing himself.  The ground burst and ripped apart as he peered around the corner quickly.  'Scott!  Oh my god!'  Bobby yelled as his leader was struck in the chest.  Bobby rounded the corner, barely able to stop as the bullets flew in all directions.  He freaked, and ran toward Scott, who was lying half-insensible on the ground, his flak jacket torn wickedly.  The concrete above his head shattered, showering him with loose rubble.  Tessa dragged Bobby, screaming, over to the shelter of the collapsed house, and he turned to look at her, his face an awful pale white.  'Get me out of here – Tessa – get me out of here!'  She shook his limp form, and he struck her away, landing painfully on his back.  The rubble exploded in pieces, bits of plaster, mortar and wood flying all over their bodies.  She took a hold of his arm, but lost control in it as a stray shot bit her in the shoulder.  She slumped over, the momentum pulling her under.  'Christ – Tessa, Scott – wake up – we've got to leave – I don't care about these people, I don't care about anything – just let's leave please…' A grenade went off behind them, more of the debris showering his animated form.  He wouldn't stop screaming until Ororo ran into his view.  She grabbed him, holding his body tight to hers.  He didn't seem to hear anything of what she was saying, but it didn't matter anymore.          

Ororo pulled the other students underneath the shelter, and with all her power, summoned the best distraction she could.  Scott started to come around, rubbing his head, the blood trickling from his impact with the dirt path.  The rain poured down onto the earth, none of them able to distinguish between it and the sound of the gunfire.  The line of soldiers who had taken up their nests behind the railway line was sat just above the tops of the houses.  The wood in front of his view burst open and Scott ducked as the splinters tossed over his head.  He sat up again and took off his visor, letting his eyes wide open.  The red flare shot from him and shattered the walls, crumbling the nests.  The soldiers dropped out, but Scott was shot at again, and he placed the visor back on, wary of the extreme danger.  'We're stuck – I can't help out!'  He shouted. 

'What are we gonna do, man?  They won't stop until we're dead, now that they know we're mutants too!'  Ororo shouted back.

From the safety of his field bubble, Magneto rose above the scene, and watched as the train sped into view, cutting the city in two.  He brought his hands to the sky, and lifted the colossal carriages from their tracks, the metal grating furiously as it grinded along.  His power was enough for him to maintain the enormous object, and he suspended it in the air, above the soldier's heads.  Ignoring their howls of fright, he released the carriages from his iron grip, and sent the train down onto the lines of soldiers.  Scott and Ororo watched as the shadow loomed over them, blocking the sun temporarily.  They stared, speechless.

The soldiers cried out, and scattered, but their voices were silenced forever as the colossal construction touched down with the ground they stood on.  An immense crash sounded throughout the area, but Magneto didn't register as he stepped onto the ground before the remaining soldiers.  They fired at him, not even bothering to run for cover first.  He swerved the bullets away from his body, and they stuck fatally in the soldiers. 

Logan, Jean and Warren ran into view, and Magneto gave his spy the smallest of small looks, before walking over to the wounded students.  Delgado hauled the rubble and debris away from Hank's limp body, and picked the man up in his giant grip.  'What are you going to do to us now?'  Scott asked, standing up to Magneto shakily. 

'I cannot believe you tried to rescue the girl, Cyclops.  Did Charles really think I would kill her?  I'm not a monster, contrary to what you all may think.'

'You haven't given us reason to think otherwise so far!'  Ororo shouted, tears welling in her eyes.  'Give Hank back to us.'

Cortez checked the X-Man out, and started to give him CPR.  'He's not dead yet, Lord, but he soon will be, if we can't administer some fluids and perform surgery.  I can't be certain he'll live.'

'We'll take him with us; I believe you don't have enough medical supplies onboard your toy.'  Magneto pointed to the Blackbird, off in the distance.  He raised the craft with a wave of his hand, bringing it over to them.  Cortez then took hold of Hank, and carefully pulled him onto a stretcher.  The rotor blades of his helicopter started up once more, preparing to depart the scene. 

'When will we see him again?'  Scott asked, almost defeated. 

'We shall travel back with you, and once you land, so shall we.'  Magneto turned to go, but paused.  His face went black with anger, and he raised his gloved fist to Scott and the rest of the broken team.  'Never get in our way again, or you shall live to regret it – tell Charles to leave me alone, or he will suffer the ultimate consequences.'

The two teams boarded their aircraft, abandoning the area once again.  The Blackbird flew out of Croatian territory, the Brotherhood's helicopter tailing at speed.  'Do you think Logan's gone soft on us, father?'  Wanda asked, stitching her cuts with a thin needle.  'You don't think he's become a turncoat, do you?' 

Magneto directed his attention to his daughter, scruffy and bruised.  'I think the only reason Logan hasn't killed Charles yet, is because he's trying to seduce someone.  The man has only three vices, Scarlet Witch – killing, cigars and women.  I doubt he's ready to switch sides – I seemed to get the message that he was looking forward to getting rid of his new mentor.'

                                                *        *        *               

Jean walked out of the operating room, exhausted.  She had just performed extremely dangerous surgery on Hank to try to save his life from the slow suffocation of a crushed torso.  The risk was too high to even consider, especially as the procedure was still conceptual, and as yet, only tested in animal labs.  The Professor had returned from Deerfield as soon as they set down in Brazil, bringing a new arrival with him.  Both he and Jean went straight to work on Hank, who was in critical condition to the point of death. Charles tapped into the minds of the best surgeons all over the Earth, linking with Jean to discover the most efficient and safest way to save their team mate's life.  In that way, the two of them had been able to adopt the skills and performances of every one of the surgeons put together, and although the meds used, and procedures performed were experimental, it had worked successfully, but now all they could do was to watch and wait.  Hank would either slip from their grasp and go brain-dead, or he would recover.

Jean stepped over to the sink, washing the stains from her hands.  Her neck cracked satisfyingly, and she closed her eyes, so weary that she could collapse.  Logan was the first into the surgery, but to see how his favourite red-haired young surgeon was doing.  'I hear you and Xavier did it properly.  How's he holding on?'

'It's pretty much too early to tell, but we think we've raised his heart rate, and got him on the road to recovery – if he can do so.  We used some special techniques on his body – something used only in labs.  We think it might turn his hair blue.'  She undid the tie in the surgical gown and let it slip over her arms to the floor.  Logan picked it up with one of his claws, and tossed it into the waste bin.  'And how are you holding on?  Everyone else has gone into some sort of shell, shielding themselves from anymore hurt.'

'I've been through it before – they'll get better too, it just takes time to pull through without any scarring.  What about Scott?'  She asked, exiting the dismal halls of the surgery.  'I don't speak to Slim, Red – he and I, well we don't get on right.  Must be his problem, I guess.'

They entered the lift, which brought them up to ground level.  'Is there anything I can do?'  He asked, concerned at her lack of bouncy enthusiasm. 

'I don't think so, Logan, I just need to sleep.'

Tessa took Kitty around the halls, showing her the entire Mansion, while her arm was still out of commission.  'This is cool; I never really thought it would just be a huge house, with no-one around.'  She said.

Tessa peered into Charles office, half-expecting him to be there, when she knew he wasn't.  'We're all a bit wounded from the last set of incidents – so don't mind anyone if they seem a little unresponsive.  This isn't going to be like any other school you know.'

'Where's the Professor then?  He was the one that persuaded me to come.'  Kitty said, the smile on her face radiating through the halls.

'He's away at the moment – trying to pick up another mutant.  He knows we need more students to make this whole thing work.  I know we do.'  She stated scratching at the bandages on her arm, underneath the dark shirt she wore.

                                                *        *        *

Somewhere in the district of New Jersey, at an airstrip just off from the commotion of the main streets, a light plane was making its landing on the tarmac runway.  In the mid-afternoon, a large family car pulled up alongside the small radio shack, and the doors opened, the breeze blowing through the deserted area.  Five Russian arms dealers closed their car doors, and waited for the plane to stop.  The leader, Andreyev, held a large black briefcase to his leg, and motioned for his cousin, Piotr to come over, while the plane doors breezed open.  A group of Arabic men stepped out, opposite them, their dark trench coats waving slightly in the wind.  'Keep close to me, Piotr – you might learn something about how to keep yourself among these shady people.'

The leader of the Arabs came over to them.  'I see you have briefcase there – that for us?'  He asked, laughing to his comrades.

'Yes, Ahmed – this is for you – everything you asked for.  Where is the money you owe us?'  Andreyev asked, stretching his arm out with the briefcase. 

Ahmed pulled another dark briefcase out from behind his back, and gave it to them.  The Russian's inched closer to Andreyev, completely on edge.  A cold wind blew between the two groups.  'This is full of nothing but paper!  What are you thinking?'  The Russia leader shouted, shoving his case behind his back.

The Arab followers pulled out Uzi's, and proceeded to bring down the Russians.  The splitting sound of fire echoed around the desolate airstrip, and screams were suddenly silenced.  Andreyev collapsed to his knees, sinking quietly to the floor.  Piotr, his cousin was propelled back into the car, smashing through the window.

Ahmed breezed over to the dead bodies, clutched the handle of the new briefcase, and marched his henchmen into the plane quickly.  As it doubled round and flew off into the distance, Piotr picked himself up from the damaged car, his silvery metal skin stained from the bullet marks.  He crawled over to the body of Andreyev, and sadly, went quiet.

Charles wheeled up beside the damage, and surveyed the tragedy.  'Piotr,' he called, and the Russian faced him, a look of complete incredulity plastered on his face.  'Don't be sorry you've been ousted from your family – you're part of the X-Men now.'

                                                *        *        *

Outside the Oval office, Charles Xavier sat drinking his cup of black coffee from the blonde secretary.  She smiled at him happily.  His thoughts trailed over the recent proceedings; trying save Hank's life, picking Kitty up and depositing her at the Mansion, collecting Piotr, and then finally, of him not getting enough sleep.  He rubbed his temple tiredly, wishing things were different in the world for the fifth time since he had stayed put outside the office.  * Things have changed so much since the days when the dream was still a fantasy.  How can I be sure, in a world that's constantly changing?  The political, moral, philosophical and ethical aspects of my vision are all too real.  Can I endanger the lives of the children to whom I entrust this power?  Would Erik and I still be friends if I hadn't argued – would he have gone to such extreme lengths to prove me wrong? *

Charles was pulled out of his reverie by the bubble of a secretary, who politely informed his that the President was now free.  * Is it worth it, in the end? *  He asked himself, before the door opened, and the recently appointed President showed him in.  'Professor Xavier – it's good to see you again.'  He shook Charles firmly by the hand, and sat opposite him, behind the desk.  The bodyguards stood patiently at the doors.

'I know I've already spoken with you on the matter, Sir, but I am hoping the Sentinel contingency will soon be shut down.  I'm afraid matters will only escalate if you persist with this course of action.'

The President leaned back in his chair, pushing a file over to Charles.  'I thought you might be coming to talk to me about this.  It's underway, Professor.  I've contacted the producers and the organisation, and it's releasing the scheme.  You have your wish, my friend.'

'I know your predecessor felt differently about the mutant situation, but I'm hoping you are a man of your word.'  Charles stated, almost adding condescension to the sentence. 

The President chuckled under his expensive suit, and flattened his tie.  'There's no doubt that this entire project is coming to a close.  It's not likely to be resurrected for a while now – if ever.  Every Sentinel unit has been deactivated, and the programming redesigned.  If they're still on the streets in the meantime, they'll be used as giant lampposts.  I realised the strength of the situation now, Professor, you don't need to remind me of it.'

'I understand that, it's just I'm fighting for the right to survival, Sir, and if it wasn't a given that mutants need to live like the rest of the Homo Sapiens, then it should be.'

'It's a little more complicated than that; once other countries saw the success of the oppression of the terrorist communities, they took notice and were therefore contacted by the same organisation we were.  Of course, the organisation originates in this country, so I put a stop to it throughout the world.'

'So any other "dangerous" activity will be judged on a fair and equitable basis – exactly like the human people of America?'  Charles asked.

'Yes.'  He replied, leaning over his desk toward Charles.

'And what of the Brotherhood?  What treatment do you intend to give them?'

The President got up from his large chair, and walked slowly around the desk.  He picked up a small document lying on his corner of the surface, and held it high.  'This is a copy of my daughter's interrogation report, Xavier; an interrogation report.  Do you know what kind of relevance that brings to my mind?  My daughter had to be held by the Federal Bureau people until they had gathered her details.  Do you know how that makes me feel as a father?'  He said, outraged.

'How does that make you feel as leader of the United States?'  Charles replied quickly.

'This government office was informed by SHIELD that they had set up the Magneto Protocols several years ago in order for his activity to be quarantined.  I don't feel that was absolutely the best course of action to take, when a man who could kidnap and threaten to execute the President's daughter is running around the world playing God to every nuclear power on Earth!  He took her in the middle of the night, from our state home in Washington.  They broke in without anyone knowing – it was only later when he told us, that we were forced to label him as a threat to the nation.  Magneto is not welcome in this country, and soon enough, he won't be a threat to anyone else in the world.'  The President sat back in his chair, agitated, and drank his coffee bitterly. 

'What, Mr President, do you suggest is the best course of action to take?  These Magneto Protocols – they aren't enough to secure him?'

'We've tracked the Brotherhood to a small Island off the coast of Antarctica.  With the remaining power of the Sentinels, it's planned that they will go and take out his base of operations before anyone else can follow his example.'

Charles looked dumbfounded, but quickly recovered his posture, concealing the extent of his concern.  After a while, he spoke.  'Are_you_absolutely_sure that trying to kill him would be the best bet?'

'It's my personal duty as leader of this great country, to eliminate forever the possibility for insurrection of mutantkind.  We don't need a civil war raging in our own borders.  I think I've made my point, Professor.'

Charles thanked him, before leaving, but his pleasantries were hollow, and without any real meaning.  Although Magneto was their enemy, he was their friend also. 

                                                *        *        *

In the underground basements of the Mansion, Tessa sat in the control box overlooking the two new students with their headsets on.  Her arm was slowly starting to feel normal again, the bullet having been taken out.  The bandages itched, but she could put up with that, being able to control her mind on a limited basis.  Although not the greatest telepath in the school, she had some ability with it, but her main skill was the incredible memory she had.  Tessa Niles was practically a living computer, able to store and retrieve any information almost instantly.  Right now, she was using that knowledge to work the danger room controls to the extent of their capabilities.  She had Kitty and Piotr crawling through a narrow sewer, walls all around and very dim lighting, to find their way out.  She spoke through the microphone.  'You're coming too a junction up ahead – it's large so stay frosty.  Make sure you don't lose your way.'

Stepping lightly, Kitty made sure she wasn't down in the sewage, but rather on the brick rails that ran the length of the dirty, grey walls.  'I never thought in a million years, that I'd be doing something like this with my power.  I can't believe they've got us walking through crap!'  Her voice reflected off the walls, and bounced down the tunnel.  The burly young Russian walked in front, hardly saying a thing as he tried to make out the path ahead of them.  She stumbled and grabbed hold of his shoulders.  'Sorry – I was gonna fall into the water, and it doesn't look all that nice.'

He turned around to her, and she stood balancing atop the rails, hair flailing.  'It's not that nice – how about I carry you?'

She grinned to him innocently in the lowlight.  'You could do that…'

They were interrupted as the left wall collapsed to the side of them, and as the dust cleared, a bulky metal construct lurched through the open space, locking onto them.  Piotr picked up a large brick, and smacked the construct against the side of its head.  It recoiled from the assault, and raised the two guns on its arms.  The Russian changed his skin into the metal outer layer, and braced as the slugs broke against his body.  Kitty phased herself, allowing the rest of the slugs to pass through her transparent body.  Piotr hoisted the construct up by its neck, and smashed the skull plate into the brick ceiling.  Kitty ran through him, and on towards the junction.  'Here they come, keep on your toes, girl!'  Tessa shouted through the mic.  Several more of the machines slumped into view, their joints and mechanics clinking harmoniously in the echoing tunnels.  They blasted at her, but she phased again, and ran to the first one, passing her hand through its circuits.  Kitty took a bunch of the wires, inside the compartment, and then went whole again, ripping the circuits through the machine's own body.  She dropped into the water, aware of the gunfire coming her way. 

Piotr watched as more of the fire stuck into his chest and stomach, so he charged two of the main attackers, breaking them apart, then swung his arm into the headpiece of the final robot.  It crumbled, and he picked Kitty up off the floor, continuing on.  Tessa sat back and watched through the remote headset cameras.

                                                *        *        *

Remy found Rogue sitting alone in the middle of the courtyard gardens under a wooden shelter, drinking idly from a cup in her bare hands.  The rain was pouring down over her roof, and she spotted him coming, finishing up the drink.  The cut in her wrist had healed completely, but her emotional state of mind was the most damaged.  He sat down opposite, without saying a word, and stared at her for a while.  'I'm sorry, chere, I didn't wan' to spoil a thing.  Perhaps it would've been better if I'd kept my mouth shut.'

'I'm not sure what I was thinking, Remy – it's just I've been alone for an awful long time now, and I think my feelings took control for that moment.  I didn't want it to sound like a slip of the tongue.  Oh god – I… I meant what I said.' 

'Do you wan' to be with Remy, chere?  You are the only one here who really gives a damn 'bout me.'  He said, holding his gloved hand over hers.  'I can't touch you, but I can still feel you.'

'I don't want to hurt you…'  She said, turning away to hide the single tear.  'I've never gotten close to somebody.  Always pushed away, 'cos I'm a freak; an' I can't touch no-one.'

He drew his fingers down her cheek affectionately, and pulled Rogue into kiss.

'What are we going to do if push comes to shove, and they kick up a storm in our home?'  Pietro posed to his father.  'We can't survive forever, hiding away in this place.'  Magneto walked back from the huge glass windows, and looked at his followers, sat out to cheer on his cause.  'That will be their error – we can stay safe in the Savage land for as long as we want.  If the worst should happen – the mutants are forced to live as slaves under human domination, then I shall relinquish our threats on the civilised world, for it will no longer be civil enough to satisfy my governing it.'

Wanda interrupted him, and stood, aggravated, behind her father's chair.  'We know that's not going to happen, father, but if we call down the thunder, can we reap the whirlwind – would we come out on top?  When the X-Men arrived, we were almost beaten.  Do you think we could handle it if they decided to take us on for pushing ordinary humans too far?'

Magneto rose, and stared at his daughter, who backed down.  'They haven't met their match in you.'  He walked over to the huge windows again.  'They haven't met me yet.'

'You should listen to your father, children, his ideals serve as a foundation for all of us to build our futures on.  Xavier and his students cannot realise the error of their ways until it is too late, sir.'  Cortez stood behind his master.  Pietro leered at Fabian, despising his fanatical belief in the empty vision.

'Is everyone here ready to bare the same punishment as you father, once we're called for judgement?'  He asked, gingerly.

Magneto said nothing for a while, and then slowly turned to look at his son's gaunt features.  'Why don't you share my faith, Quicksilver?  You're my son in blood only.'  He looked back out of the windows at his glorious land.  'Every one of the people here will get what they deserve when my time has come; including you.'  Pietro left before Magneto knew he was gone.

*        *        *

Jean was sitting in the gardens in the late afternoon, the sun setting amid the dusty clouds that wafted across the sky gently.  The colours illuminated the land, dousing it in salmon pink and a beautiful shade of red.  She was staring blankly at the sky, unaware of Logan's shadow coming up behind her.  He flexed his muscles, and cracked his fingers, before she turned around to look at him.  He stared infinitely back into her eyes.  The sunset light was casting its radiance over her tired body, highlighting the red tint of her short hair, and perfect nose.  Her eyes looked quizzically at him, as if he was wondering what to do.  She caught sight of his bared muscles, twitching as he raised his hand to wave half-heartedly at her.  'What's up?'  He said, finally standing before her.  She squinted as her vision was obscured by the light.  'Want to go for a walk?'  He asked. 

She got up without saying a word.  'Have you seen the others?  I'm hoping they'll get over this soon.  The adjustment is big, but nothing they can't handle in the long run, I feel.'

'D'you get that from readin' their minds?'

'Not really, but it's something I can sense, even without telepathy.'  She replied forlornly.

'Hopefully Mags will calm down after this whole thing – doesn't look like we're enemies.'

'I have no idea anymore, Logan.  It's just become a big mess – even if the Sentinels aren't around anymore, the world needs time to change.  The Professor thinks it's all good at the moment, but I don't.  Not anymore.'

'And what do you think of us?'  He asked, glancing quickly up to the windows.

'Sometimes I think we'd have been better off if you hadn't shown up.  It's all gone downhill since you came.  You're arrogant; and you think you've got all the answers.'  She said, stopping behind the Mansion's walls.

'But ya can't deny you're attracted to me.'

'…Yes.'  Jean replied, biting her lip.

He took hold of her, and swept them into a deep kiss.  She fought for a second, but succumbed to his will.

From the view through the first floor windows, Scott watched the two of them.  His hand gripped the window rail tensely, leaving marks.  His mouth clenched shut, and he snapped his head back to walk out of the room.  Piotr watched him go abruptly, wondering what was wrong.  He turned his attention back to the tv, and Kitty watching it.  Scott trudged down the stairs, and straight into Charles' office.  The Professor was pouring through the newspapers casually, waiting for an article on the recent Whitehouse events.  'I'm unhappy with what's happening here.'  He exclaimed tersely.

Charles tossed the paper onto the floor, and turned his chair to face him.  'What's the matter?'

'I'm sick of everything in this damn place – the environment, the city, the whole idea.  I'm sick of the company here.  Our mission – it's pointless, isn't it, nothing's turning out how we planned!'

'What are you talking about?  What has caused you to be so irrational – I talked to the President only a few days ago.  Do you not like someone here, Scott?'  He enquired.

'Jesus, you make it sound like I'm some little kid who can't make up his mind about something – everything here – it's not gonna last!  I can't take being in this place.  My ribs are killing me, my friends are being beaten to the floor every day, I just want out!'

'Calm down – let me help you out, you're not thinking clearly, Scott.'  Charles concentrated, and tried to release some endorphins into Scott's mind, to secure him.

'No, I don't want you to do that!  God, it's just smothering – I can't stay in this cause one minute longer – the humans – they're going to win in the end, and it's no use trying to prolong the inevitable.'

'I can't believe you're saying this, what's given you the idea that we're trying to overcome humans and win the planet back?'

'They're gonna keep coming at us, with their robots, and their laws and their groups; they're going to come up with more schemes and ideas – and then those things are gonna come in here, and they're gonna kill us!'

'Jesus, Scott - won't you at least sleep on it?  We'll see what the real trouble is; you can't seriously believe what you're saying!'  He replied, anxiously trying to prevent the next move.

'You just don't get it, Professor – everything's collapsing in on us.  I'm out of here, and don't try and call me back.'  He marched out of the office, with Charles staring blankly behind him.

He slid the security card through the reader on the wall below the Mansion grounds, and entered the large hanger.  The fluorescent lights buzzed on, illuminating the bay with a flickering glow.  Before Scott was the Blackbird, bathed in luminosity from above; he went underneath, and tapped in a code, lowering the ramp.  It clunked against the metal floor, and Scott paced up the stairs, sitting in the pilots seat.  The Mansion's tennis courts broke apart, the hanger doors opening to allow the jet freedom.  The engines burned, and suddenly it was gone, leaving the wind blowing briskly across the empty courts.  The doors closed, and it was silent once again.

                                                *        *        *

Wanda ran to find her father, coming straight from the control centre of Magneto's fortress in the Savage land.  She found him reading in the main hall, and called for his attention.  'Father – we've found something on the radar – it's trying to stay below our range, and using some sort of dampening field to weaken it's signal, but it looks to me like it's the X-Men's jet coming for us.  I'm wondering how they knew to find us.'  She stopped outside the entrance, and Magneto got up to come with her.

The landing pad was cleared suitably quickly of all the leaves and puddles that accumulated on it by the Blackbird's powerful retro engines.  Hundreds of followers witnessed the jet pass over the Savage land.  Magneto stood proud by the pad, awaiting the arrival.  Pietro and Wanda stood by his side, half-expecting another fight to break out.  The jet touched down shakily, the rain bouncing off its black polished hull.  Scott walked down the ramp as it descended, and walked toward them, his arms open in consent.  'I'm willing to listen to what you have to say, Magneto.'  He said, bluntly.

'Excellent.'  He said, relishing the moment.  'You have done well, my boy.  You won't be judged here.'