Magneto traveled alone. So it had always been, so it would always be. He trusted no one. True, he often recruited evil mutants to suit his fancy and do the occasional dirty work, but he trusted none of them… except perhaps Wanda. Even one as evil as Magneto had trouble fighting the paternal feelings that all fathers feel deep down. But he still traveled alone.
He had left Mesmero back at the base for a good reason indeed. He knew from experience that the Gray woman was a powerful force to be reckoned with. After all, she possessed the same powers he had and more. He could lift metal, and she could lift anything. He found himself feeling sorry for anyone that got in her way when she was once Dark Phoenix. If she ever grew as powerful as he had become…
He swept the thought aside, concentrating on the job at hand. He had a strong feeling that he would need to fight an X-Man sooner or later, judging by the luck of his lackeys. He only hoped he would find Wolverine first. The capture of him was vital to his plan, and, well, a man made of a metal skeleton stood little chance against the Master of Magnetism.
He relished the thought of what he would do if he did find an X-Man. Kill them? Capture them? Torture them? The possibilities were seemingly endless. He was holding out for it to be Cyclops. He could just imagine the look on Xavier's face when he found out that his precious Scott Summers had been beaten by his greatest foe. But Xavier was with the Shi'ar for now, and had no time for gloating.
But if he did find Cyclops, he would grind his bones into the dust, and dance on them in joy.
Scott Summers and Hank McCoy were getting along fairly well for a happy-go-lucky goofball and an always-brooding boss. They had, after all, been friends for quite a while, and knew everything about each other--- which in Scott's case was not necessarily a good thing.
"So Scotty, still afraid of girls?"
"Hank, I'm married now," said Scott uncomfortably.
"And you and Jean were courting for how long? Let's see, she came to the Institute 1960-something and you got married now in the year… 1989?"
"I like long courtships…"
"Long!!! Hahahahaha!!!"
"Hank, quit making fun of me, man, I know I'm old-fashioned!"
"I like long courtships!!! Hahahahaha!!!!!"
"Oh leave me alone, Hank or I'll make fun of you!"
Hank paused, and his smile vanished. "Like what?"
"Remember when you first became fuzzy, and you were moping around everywhere on a 'woe is me' trip? Huh, remember?"
"Yeah, I remember…" muttered the Beast.
"You should've seen yourself. 'I'm a monster, everyone'll run when they see me, I'm a freak.'"
"Okay, okay, I get it. Cut it out!"
"Then we're even."
"Deal."
They continued walking towards where Nightcrawler had radioed in when Cyclops heard a soft humming noise. "Beast, was that you?"
"Nooo…" said Beast. "But I heard it too. What do you think it is?"
"I don't know, but be ready for a fight. Anything could happen."
A voice from behind them chilled their souls as it spoke. "Indeed."
Cyclops whirled around and raised his hand to his visor. "Magneto!"
Magneto moved his hand and Scott felt himself being pulled upwards. "My belt!" he shouted. "Beast, do something. You don't have any metal on!"
Beast gave a smart salute. "Righteeyo, boss-man!" He flung himself upon Magneto, who responded with a backhand across the blue mutant's face. "You dare defile me with your touch?! For that you shall pay!" Grabbing the struggling Beast by the throat, he flung him into a tree behind him.
Cyclops, given the distraction he needed, fired a fast optic blast at his enemy, knocking Magneto to the ground. Magneto struggled to get up, but was knocked back down with a stronger blast. Cyclops jumped down from where Magneto had placed him and grabbed his enemy by the collar. "This is what happens when you mess with the X-Men!" he spat, punching the Master of Magnetism across the mouth.
Cyclops left Magneto lying on the ground and went to check on Beast, but was stopped in his tracks. He struggled to make his feet move, but they refused. He then felt himself being pulled down by his belt to the earth, try as he might to refuse. He looked to where Magneto stood as he attempted to free himself, and saw the evil mutant sticking his hand out towards himself. "Simple rules of magnetism, Cyclops. If a magnet attracts another metal, that metal can be turned into a magnet as well. And there's quite a bit of iron deposit beneath your feet right now."
Cyclops saw Magneto's eyes grow bigger for a moment, and felt himself being pulled down forcefully to the earth below him, his belt totally magnetized. Suddenly, he got an idea as he lay there upon the ground. "Simple rules of magnetism, eh Magneto? Then in that case…" He rolled over and felt Magneto draw closer to him. "What's happening!?!" shouted Magneto. "My belt's magnetized now, Magneto. And your wearing quite a bit of metal yourself!"
Magneto resigned his plan to save himself, letting Cyclops free of his invisible grip. "You are smarter than I had thought, Cyclops," he said. "But can you fight and save your wife?!" He directed all of his attention to the Blackbird, rocking it violently from side to side. "I am too powerful for you to contend with, Cyclops. Give it up, or Jean Gray dies!"
"Oh shut up!" shouted Beast. He leapt from his hiding place onto Magneto again, grabbing his arms like a policeman. "Hit him, Scottie!"
"Just a minute, Beast!" shouted Cyclops. Aiming his visor towards the diving Blackbird, he fired his most powerful optic blast and hit it right on the bottom of the jet, putting it back on its course. It shuddered violently for a moment or too, but stayed steady after a few seconds, with the help of Jean he was sure.
"Okay, Beast, just a few seconds more…" he said, watching Beast struggle with his cornered victim. He fired a concussion-level beam and watched it make contact with Magneto's chest, knocking him out instantly.
Radioing in his team, he pressed the button on the com link. "Okay, team, everyone listen up. Meet in the Blackbird's briefing area asap. Magneto's involved in this little scheme, and I want a plan. Cyclops, over and out."