He breathed in deeply, taking in the fresh, cool air from the riverside. It was a refreshing sensation, after spending months on end in the lair, recovering. Plus, it gave him a chance to think, not something he had a lot of time to do lately. Not since Sabretooth had brought in their entertainment.

I hope Mystique is enjoying herself, he thought glumly, as he watched a small boat skim along the shimmering water. Ripples were sent across the surface.

Toad looked about, having heard a minute sound, scratching absently at a wart. He could just make out three figures shrouded in darkness, sitting in the boat. The distant putputputput of the outboard motor drifted to him on the wind.

A hulking great figure sat in the centre of the overcrowded vessel, as not to capsize the craft, a smaller person in front and behind it. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the massive one was Juggernaut, and let's face it; Toad wasn't exactly going to win any prizes for brainpower.

There was a slight bump as the dinghy hit the bank.

An obviously female leg extended out over the boat in a fashion that film directors usually accompany with a smoky jazz solo.

The figure finally finished getting out and pulled down the hood of her overcoat, showing off her long, blond hair, blue eyes and pouting red lips. This had to be Serena. Not a bad looking girl, if you discounted the way her arms and legs seemed to be much longer than they should be.

"Hi," her voice was rich and throaty, "you must be Toad."

"Yep. Ya' gonna introduce me to your friends, sweet cheeks?" She gave him a scowl that could have soured milk. Eventually she looked away and pointed to the human mountain. Now that Toad could see him up close up, he could see that he wasn't quite as tall as Sabretooth, but was hugely muscled, and must have had the strength of a dozen men.

"This is Juggernaut." He was wearing what looked like a red leather sleeveless shirt with no front opening and what looked to be metal bands around his arms and upper fingers and knuckles. He seemed strangely out of proportion compared to his smaller, younger companions. Every part of his massive body was almost twice the size of a normal man's.

But he is a mutant, Toad reminded himself before diverting his attention to the third member of the party. The last seemed to be smiling somehow, but his expression showed neither happiness nor sadness. Black hair rested lifelessly above his eyes, shining in the moonlight. His dark eyes stared at Toad blankly. As he rose from the boat, Toad realised just how tall he actually was; a good foot taller than himself when he stood to his full height. The mysterious third mutant moved over to Serena and put one masculine arm around her small shoulders, glaring at Toad.

"And this," Serena stated, a wide grin crossing her pretty face, "is Warp." She turned to the man, kissing him passionately, disregarding their company. Juggernaut rose from the boat, grunting absent-mindedly as he passed by the couple. He crossed the short distance between himself and Toad, and came to an abrupt stop in front of him, looking down.

"So," he growled, "are you gonna just crouch there gawping all day, or are you gonna take us to see this Magnet-man?" He glared down at Toad suspiciously.

Toad rose slowly, revealing the burns on his body, and retorted, "I think you mean Magneto, pal."

"Whatever."

Toad nodded slightly and turned on his heel, pointing to a small space across the way.

"The chopper's over there."

* * *

Magneto's mind raced with mixed scenes, all seeming to blend together in one confused, meaningless image. He dismissed them... all but one. The look he expected to see on Charles' face when he confronted him with his small army; Sabretooth, Mystique, Toad, Warp, Serena, Juggernaut and Cyclops. What an army they would be. All with advantageous capabilities that would hopefully give them the upper hand in the inevitable battle. Some needed further training, especially Scott. He was not yet convinced, and Magneto had decided to give his mutants a couple more 'teaching' sessions with the young mutant.

He looked forward to the battle between Scott and Wolverine; this would be most entertaining to all. Especially when Scott would kill Wolverine viciously.

He couldn't wait.

Footsteps echoing down the long hallway awakened him from his happy daydream, and brought his attention back to the present. He recognised some of the footsteps as his own team, but the others must have been the new arrivals.

They entered his office quietly and halted in front of the huge, metal desk. He glanced up at them, looking straight to the recruits. He turned his attention to a couple; a tall, blond, attractive woman close beside a man with black hair and a blank expression.

"You must be Serena and Warp," grumbled Magneto loud enough for the pair to hear. The woman nodded enthusiastically. Magneto took an instant liking to the girl, knowing that she would be a good fighter, would always be loyal. Essential criteria for his team. Unlike Charles and his mongrels.

He turned his head to the final member. "Juggernaut, I presume?" he said.

"Yeah, that's right. You must be... Magneto." He looked to Toad, who grinned, then continued, "Do you feel like telling us the reason we're here?"

"I thought he'd never ask," purred Mystique, smiling evilly.

Magneto glanced at the newcomers and chuckled. "My associates would like to show you their... how should I put it? 'Toy' perhaps? I suppose that is an accurate statement." He rose gently from his chair and came around from the table, and led the way to the cell.

He could almost sense Mystique's excitement building up, the anxiety overcoming her as they neared the room. Sabretooth grumbled happily, while Toad just sighed.

The door hissed open, and the room was instantly illuminated. Magneto waited for Serena, Warp and Juggernaut to enter before standing aside to reveal the captive... soon to be recruit.

Scott did not raise his head, just knelt staring at the floor, his breathing unsteady and heavy. His right leg was rested in a strange position compared to his left, and his cuffed wrists were sore and bloody from being restrained for so long.

For a brief moment, Magneto almost felt sorry for him. He instantly banished the thought, remembering that he was the reason that his original plan had failed. He had had Wolverine frozen, unable to destroy the machine, and the wave was not far from the island... when Cyclops had delivered a painful blast to his shoulder, knocking him away.

He smiled at his discomfort, and whirled to face the new members. Confused expressions were plastered across their faces, but then Serena smiled sweetly, reminding Magneto of Mystique.

"Who the hell is that?" Warp grunted, his voice staying on one tone.

Mystique walked over to Scott, and paced around him, like a predator.

"May I introduce Scott Summers," Magneto replied, voice increasing in volume.

Mystique stopped pacing behind Scott and took hold of his damp, matted hair, yanking his head up violently. Scott's face was bruised and cut in several places, and he kept his eyes shut against the seemingly bright lights.

"Also known as Cyclops," Magneto persisted triumphantly.

Serena cocked her beautiful, young head and asked, "Why is he here? What does he have to do with anything?" And then she added, "Unless he's just here for fun, in which case, that's okay."

Magneto walked up to Scott and crouched in front of him. Scott opened his eyes, and Magneto still found himself shocked slightly at just how blue they were. Erik stared coldly into his pained eyes and thought.

Just how much damage can be repaired?

"I told you that you would wish the drug had worked," he whispered into Scott's ear as he leant forward. Then he stood, looking into Cyclops' face. The silence from him was unnerving, but Magneto discounted it for fear of what may happen to him if he were to say anything.

He moved aside to stand next to Mystique and continued, "We captured him a few nights ago. He leads a band of mutants who fight to save mankind. He is associated with a man named Charles Xavier."

The reaction from Juggernaut was both understandable, and expected. He moved forward and delivered a devastating kick to Scott's obviously broken leg. There was a loud crack.

Scott gave a loud cry of pain. Mystique released his head and marvelled at Juggernaut, a potential 'teacher' of Cyclops. There would be a problem with the more delicate work, though.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" Serena's perfect brow creased with a scowl. "Are you trying to show us up in front of our new boss?" Juggernaut turned on her with a glare.

"It's personal," he rumbled.

"People, people, please." Magneto didn't raise his voice, a usual occurrence, even when he was angry.

Different people could make other people quiet in a multitude of ways. Some shouted. Some threatened. Some removed painful looking instruments from their containers. Magneto just became very, very quiet.

"Let's not argue amongst ourselves, we are forging a new alliance, an alliance which will create a new world, a world in which mutants can live without the threat of extinction by humans, where the evolution of the race can continue unabated, and we shall rule that place, my friends."

The man he only knew as the synonym Warp gave a tiny wry smile, one he almost missed.

"Forgive my impertinence, friends," Mystique murmured. "But how do we know you're as powerful as you say you are?" she inquired of the newcomers.

"My dear, I've been studying them for some years now, Mystique, and I can testify to their prowess in battle."

"That's as may be, but- Huh?" Mystique gasped as she felt the cold metal floor rise up and grasp her upper thighs and waist. Looking up she saw an even blanker than usual look on the face of Warp, his fingers twitching slightly as he concentrated on what he was doing. She rose up into the air, her weight on the chair shape she was now sitting on. Soon she was more than eight feet up in the air. Magneto was satisfied that Mystique would be impressed with that little show.

"That's enough Warp," Serena's crystal voice rang out in the room. Warp's grey, almost dead eyes returned to the world of the living. Serena reached out an arm, as if to help Mystique down from a step. It seemed a futile move, until Magneto realized her arms legs and torso were elongating until her hands reached the flame haired woman, and gripped her around her bare blue waist. After what seemed an age of Mystique floating down, Serena set her down. "Anyway, getting back to what I was saying before," Serena said off-handedly, as if nothing had happened, "what is he doing here?" she pointed at the prone Cyclops, yet did not look at him. Scott moved slightly, as if he knew she was referring to him, but did not raise his head.

"I see you are a curious young woman," Magneto replied. "That is good." He looked to his original team, who were still not entirely sure of Magneto's intentions. He decided it would probably be a good idea to clarify whilst everyone was present, even Cyclops, who was not yet converted.

"He is an important part of my plans," Magneto began seriously, "I have a machine that is capable of controlling mutants' minds, and basically altering a mutants' personality."

Scott looked up at the old man in realised horror, but remained silent. Magneto continued, holding an intimidating glare on Scott. "He knows his friends' weaknesses... and he will be the one to destroy them."

An even greater look of horror crossed Scott's face as he mumbled, "No." he stared directly into Magneto's cold eyes. "I won't."

Magneto gave a small laugh and told him, "I'm afraid you will have no choice in the matter." A wide, evil grin was plastered across his aged face as he continued, "You will watch their painful deaths through your own eyes, and you will be powerless to prevent it. You will kill all of them; Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Xavier."

Toad gave a small chuckle, and Sabretooth grumbled happily, almost smiling.

"No," Scott repeated, louder this time, more confident.

Magneto pushed his torment to the extreme; "Even Jean."

"No!" Scott shouted, struggling against the restraints.

"I'm guessing this Jean is kinda important to him," Serena offered.

"Very," Magneto informed her. "She is his weakness."

Serena nodded. "Oh," she muttered simply, "I see." She glanced at Cyclops, who was beginning to look extremely distraught at hearing his fate. Magneto was expecting this reaction from the young mutant. He knew that Scott did not believe in himself, and that he would feel that his friends would blame him for his own capture, torture and conversion. That was just how Scott was: weak.

Just how Magneto wanted him.