SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Two
Following closely on Magneto's heels Cypher barely spared a glance at the tunnels her lead her through. Even with her body laced with metal the idea of killing Magneto brought a smile to her impassive face. Still cradling her right arm tenderly Cypher was thankful that her new 'master' was not a telepath and therefore deaf to her mutinous thoughts.
What he don't know will keep me alive; she reflected darkly feeling distinctly lost amongst in the rabbit warrens of Magneto's base. Just when she thought he had taken them to the ends of the earth-Magneto paused in front of a door, a wave of his hand sent it sliding back.
Cypher allowed him to lead her into the room so that she could get a better look. It too had been painted an institutional grey; Guess he got a deal on the paint, she mused glaring about coldly. It was a standard bad guy issue briefing room. Seated at the long table that took up much of the space were five men all with their eyes locked on her, their expressions raging from curiosity, to disinterest to complete distrust.
"Quicksilver," Magneto acknowledged the first, a much, much younger version of himself, "Pyro," the blonde looked up from petting his lighter to nod in Cypher's direction, "Gambit," what she supposed was a seductive smile played on his handsome features, "Sabertooth," the huge animalistic man actually growled at her to Cypher's surprise, "And Colossus."
Cypher took more time when she recognised the young man who had been holding her the first time she had awoken. Her fuzzy half formed impressions hadn't hinted that he was as big as he was-or maybe that had been the drugs. Cypher was betting on the drugs, you couldn't miss a seven foot man when you were sober.
Tuning back into the present Cypher watched Magneto glare at his soldiers, "Gentlemen, I would like you to meet the newest Acolyte-Asli Fraser a.k.a Cypher. I want you to brief her on your abilities and get to know hers. I want her to begin hand to hand combat training with you Gambit by the end of the week." Taking a breath Magneto turned to Cypher, "Later they will accompany you to get yourself whatever materials you will need while in my employ. Victor, you will come with me we have work to do."
Sabertooth got up from the table and Cypher filed his real name into her large memory while she watched him rise. He paused long enough to growl at her once more before trailing after Magneto to do whatever it was they were going to do. Maybe some decoupage? Cypher snickered to herself imagining the two mutants playing arts and crafts together.
"Don't take that personal petite, de chat he don like nobody," Gambit spoke with a heavy Cajun accent-another fact was tucked away for future reference.
"And I take it you're gunning to be Miss. Congeniality then?" she smiled dispassionately not wanting to tip her hand too soon in front of her new 'team-mates'.
He flashed a suggestive smile that would have made a lesser woman weak in the knees, "Depends on the prize petite. If it's good enough Gambit be ready to play."
Cypher flashed a genuine smile; no one in their right mind laid on the charm this thick-unless he was trying to mess with her mind. In that case he was in for a surprise. Deciding to test that theory she moved closer to Gambit, then closer still allowing her features to go blank. When she reached him she stood on her toes to whisper in his ear, "The prize is a cold shower...nice try."
The other men laughed and cheered Cypher as disbelief flooded the confident Cajun's face.
"Thank you Sheila It's about time someone put him in his place," Pyro wiped away tears-an Australian accent this time Cypher noted-Magneto seemed to have an international recruiting pool.
Suddenly Quicksilver was at her side staring at Cypher with his cold blue eyes, "So-what's-your-power?" the words passed in a blur.
"Huh?"
With a roll of his eyes he slowed his speech, "So what are your powers?"
"They're hard to explain," she started-how did one even begin to explain all the extras that had been added on top of her original mutation?
"I'm the fastest man on earth," the young boy breezed as if this would impress.
"Last time I checked that wasn't a good thing." Cypher replied without thinking.
This time Gambit was able to appreciate her humour, "Gambit tole de boy that but he don listen."
"No worries Sheila," Pyro put away his lighter and smiled, "You're gonna fit right in here."
"Let me guess," Cypher turned to the Aussie, "Let me guess you control fire? And Colossus over there turns into a brick wall."
"Close," a thick Russian accent corrected her.
Standing Colossus seemed even bigger, more threatening. Crushing her fear Cypher lifted a dark eyebrow in interest. As she watched his muscular body grow and began to turn silvery. "Colossus can be organic metal." he intoned gravely then returned to his equally impressive normal state.
So we know how Mags got that one in line, Cypher frowned it seemed that the Master of Magnetism owned at least two of his Acolytes because of their physiology. That leaves nepotism, blackmail and mercenaries to fill in the gaps, Cypher eyed the room and to her surprise found a computer-time for a demonstration.
The Acolytes were watching her with interest-a captive audience. "I have a few abilities; one I'm a hacker...not too many computer systems can withstand me. Two, I'm a telepathic null-the spooks can't read me. Because of that I was trained in infiltration and sabotage."
"And your mutant power petite?" Gambit lifted an eyebrow seeming very interested in what Cypher had already owned up to.
Without a word Cypher walked to the computer and pressed her hand against the silent CPU tower. Opening herself up to the stored knowledge inside Cypher could feel her irises bleeding to black as she pulled what she wanted from Magneto's woefully unprotected system. Pushing it all back down Cypher refocused on the room and reality. "Pietro Maximoff, age 17 a.k.a. Quicksilver-level four mutation. St. John Allderyce, age 18 a.k.a. Pyro-level five mutation. Remy Labeau, age 20 a.k.a. Gambit-level five mutation. Pitor Rasputin age 19 a.k.a. Colossus-level five mutation."
Cypher took a breath and watched the shocked faces of her 'teammates' as she reeled off a few of the facts she had absorbed from the dormant computer. "As you can tell direct contact with computer systems allows me to 'download' the information into my own brain. It's rather helpful with the hacking sometimes." Cypher's eyes flashed black once more and the computer exploded sending the boys ducking, "I can also short out technology at will..."
"Wow," St. John watched the flames licking the computer dazedly before regretfully dousing them.
"Mebbe you could sort out some bank machines hein petite?" Remy flashed her a wide smile, "Remy would sure like to watch one spit out money..."
"Welcome to the Acolytes Asli," Pitor intoned gravely granting her the barest of smiles.