Magneto was beyond enraged.
He was absolutely furious.
The leader of the mutant resistance stormed into the medical lab, barely sparing the injured mutants or the body bags so much as a glance. His attention lay in the second lab. The metal door shuddered, slamming open before he even reached it. He stepped inside, his face twisted with rage.
"What on earth has happened here?!" he demanded.
"We had a break-in sir," replied Magma, standing at attention. "Mindbender was captured, we've got at least two deaths and we're checking for more. We managed to capture one of the intruders though," she added, indicating the unconscious form of Kurt lying on the table next to her. Rogue nodded in agreement with Magma's explanation.
"Why isn't he restrained?" asked Magneto, indicating Kurt's lack of bonds. All that lay near him was some tranquilizers.
"Wouldn't do any good," replied Rogue.
"Why not?" asked Magneto, whirling on her angrily. She stood her ground however, and returned his glare with one of her own. She had certainly changed, thought Magneto. The old Rogue could never look him in the eye without quelling like a child. Perhaps her amnesia had been fortunate after all.
"He's a teleporter," she said. "Believe me, I know."
"You know this mutant?" he asked.
"Not exactly," she replied. "But I know what's he capable of."
"How?" asked Magneto.
"Trust her, she knows what she's talking about," replied Cyclops as he stepped into the room. "We just finished our sweep, no one else is here, and the only dead we have are the two outside."
"Send out Quicksilver. Have him find Mindbender. We will retrieve him now," stated Magneto quietly.
"Sir with all due respect Mindbender might as well be dead by now, I don't see a point..."
"DO IT!" roared Magneto.
Cyclops frowned, nodding at Magma, who ran off to do as ordered. Cyclops continued to remain impassive, staring at his leader.
"Sir, if I may ask, what makes you think Mindbender is even still alive?"
"He is alive," replied Magneto, turning his back to those in the room and sighing mightily. It looked like the weight of the world was upon his broad shoulders.
"He's important somehow, isn't he?" asked Rogue. "There's something more about him, isn't there?"
"This is none of your concern," stated Magneto darkly, his voice filled with venom. "Both of you, return to your duties."
"What's his name?" she asked quietly.
Magneto whirled on her darkly, his violet cape swirling around his body as he turned to face her. Again she stood up to his wrath. "His name is Mindbender."
"Ah meant his real name," she replied, not giving an inch. She stood her ground, her eyes meeting his. And for the first time in his life, Magneto had met his match, and his gaze dropped first.
"We don't use those human names anymore. We are mutants. We are superior. We don't need names."
"What is his name?" she asked again. Not demanding, just asking quietly. But her eyes bored into his, and eventually Magneto caved.
"David," he replied, hoping to buy her off with just that tiny bit of information.
"David who?" she asked.
"David Xavier."
"David... Lucas! Oh gawd, why didn't ah notice it earlier?" shouted Rogue, slapping herself in the forehead. Oh course, that explained everything. Why his features looked so familiar to her. Why he has such telepathic power. "Damnit all ta hell."
"What are you talking about?" asked Magneto. And Rogue winced... realizing she'd let something slip.
Cyclops, quick to take charge of the situation, ordered in Berzerker to watch over their prisoner, then directed Rogue and Magneto into a nearby empty room, closing the door behind them both.
"Sir... there's something you need to know..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They told him everything. About Rogue's origins, about her knowledge of the alternate universe. A world where Magneto's old friend, Charles, still lived. Where there was a small slice of peace between the warring races. A world where his daughter lived. Magneto absorbed all this information, taking it in. Not that he doubted either of them for a moment. He'd known for some time something had been up with Rogue's unusual behavior. He loathed employing spies in his own organization, but some things were necessary in war. And what they'd told him only confirmed all of this.
"It's all rather much to take in," he remarked, after they'd finished.
"Well it's all true," remarked Rogue. "But I know that prisoner out there. That's Kurt Wagner. I know him well."
"You know him in your dimension," stated Magneto.
"Some things are universal. You had two kids in my world, you had two kids in this one. And ah will tell ya right now, Kurt is no killer."
"He didn't seem to have any problems murdering one of my guards," remarked Cyclops.
"Then he must be controlled... or..." and suddenly a thought occurred to Rogue. "That's it."
"What's it?" asked Magneto.
"Cyclops, get Forge... I know how we can help him."
"Help him...?"
"Just trust me!" she said, rushing out of the small room.
Magneto and Cyclops paused a moment, regarding one another. The room almost instantly filled with tension. Thick tension. The sort you couldn't cut with an adamantium knife.
"You have lied to me, commander," stated Magneto darkly.
"I felt it best under the circumstances..."
"Silence."
Cyclops immediately shut up, against his better judgment. A lifetime of discipline tended to do that to a person. He stood at attention, ready for Magneto to chew him out.
"Why?" asked Magneto softly. So softly Cyclops blinked hard, stunned. He'd been bracing himself for a full-throated yell.
"Because I couldn't bear to let you kill her for... some stupid, senseless plan. To use some goddamn machine to end this war. To... to sacrifice her like she's just some pawn in your global game of chess," replied Cyclops. Then he added darkly "I did it because you would do the same thing for your children if our situation had been reversed... sir."
"You're right... I would have..." remarked Magneto quietly. Angrily he blinked his eyes, trying to keep the hot tears from falling. He dropped his head down, placing it in his hands. "What have I become...?"
"Eric..." said Cyclops softly, getting his attention.
"I haven't been called that in... years..." he said softly. All his power dropped away, and for once he looked like he truly was. Just an old man who'd lost almost all of his family.
"Eric. You're needed, sir."
Magneto nodded, lifting himself back up to his feet. He had to be strong... for his people. Strong like the metal that obeyed his will. Strong like steel.
But that did not mean he had to be as cold as steel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Aha... ah was right."
"So it seems," remarked Forge, lifting his head up and sliding the magnifying glass eye back to the side of his head. One of his cybernetic enhancements. "That chips amazing. Sends out a low resonance that most people can't hear. At least, on a conscious level. That's how he's being controlled. You were right."
"Can you get it out?" she asked.
"I think so," he replied, morphing his arm into the appropriate tools.
"Do it," stated Magneto, as he entered the room. Once again, he looked in full command of the situation. Cyclops strode in behind him, giving Rogue a nod. All was well, he was saying.
Forge waste no more time, ushering out the others and began the somewhat delicate surgery to remove the electronic chip in Kurt's brain. Rogue had known exactly where it was, as well as what it did. She'd seen it before. Logan had a similar chip in his head when Colonel Wraith had tried to restart the Weapon X project. From what she'd heard, the Logan of this world was long dead. But if Victor and Kurt had both come here... then the Weapon X project seemed to be up and running.
That also explained how Sabertooth had been able to injure her, she thought as she held her wounded arm to her chest. Adamantium claws. Definitely the Weapon X project. Great. And I was looking forward to going home, she thought.
Forge emerged only moments later, triumphantly holding up the annoying little chip.
"Got it out, no problem..." he said.
"Hand it here," stated Rogue, holding out her hand. Shrugging, Forget tossed it to her. She caught it, and with the barest flexing her fingers, crushed it into powder.
"Uhm... alright..." remarked Forge, a little miffed such a high tech device had been broken. Turning back to Magneto, he said "The patient will be out for about another hour. After that I think we can question him."
"Better put him in a restraining collar," said Cyclops. Then, seeing Rogue about to protest, added "Not your Kurt, Rogue. He might've been born the same, but he ain't the same. Until we know for sure, I don't want him to be able to go where he pleases."
Rogue nodded. The idea did make sense.
"Lord Magneto! Lord Magneto!"
Rogue turned, seeing another one of the Morlocks running up. The yellow-skinned fellow who'd fought alongside Spyke during his confrontation with Duncan. He seemed excited about something. He was completely out of breath. Quicksilver jogged (at a regular mutant's pace) alongside him.
"Lord Magneto... news from the field! I have... information pertaining to... to the war effort...!" the yellow mutant said, barely able to stop and catch his breath before he passed out.
"Grab him a chair," said Magneto. Quicksilver zipped over, had one ready before Magneto had drawn another breath. The yellow mutant gladly sat down.
"Found him in Rhode Island, heading this way," stated Quicksilver. "I couldn't follow the people who took Mindbender though. Flew over the Atlantic. I tried to follow but lost them. I'm sorry father."
"It is not your fault, my son," he returned, laying a comforting hand on Quicksilver's shoulder. "This attack was cleverly planned. The lure to draw out our troops, the controlled mutants, their escape... all planned. Once our guests has awoken I will question him further. For now," he said, turning back to the yellow-skinned mutant. "State your name, soldier."
"Façade sir... your infiltrator."
"You've been successful?" asked Magneto, his eyes open wide with shock. Infiltrator was an almost polite term for a suicide soldier. None had ever returned from the job before. This -was- vital.
"No one knew I was ever there," he replied. "And I found out... about... Operation: Annihilation..."
"Tell me everything," stated Magneto, ordering all but Cyclops and Rogue to leave the room. "I want no detail spared."
And Façade told them.
Author's Notes:
And now it is finally revealed the identity of Mindbender. Some of you probably already figured it out, but this is for all those who were unsure. Behold... Legion! A non-crazy, non-MPD Legion. I always wondered what he'd turn out like if Charles and Gabrielle hadn't split. Reminds me of Scott and Jean, in an eerie sort of way. You all remember that chip. From "Grim Reminder." And now Rogue's secret is out, and she's becoming deeply involved in a great plot in this alternate universe. Going home comes later for her. Magneto broke down and cried, and a comparison was made between Cyclops and Magneto. They are similar, are they not? Same as Professor X and Magneto. Just different ideals. But in war, ideals seldom last. And you all remember Façade from earlier? Well next chapter you find out exactly what the humans are planning, and why he's so scared. Believe me, it will blow... your... minds.
Todd fan: Awww, poor Kurt. He doesn't try to be scary, honest. It was all those evil humans who mind control him, just like in X2. But poor Roberto and Lucid. Ah well. Compared to what I'm going to do to some of the characters, they got off easy.
DoubleL27: The superhumans were a distraction to get to Mindbender, and yeah, does kinda open possibilities, eh? Next chapter will clarify everything. Glad you're enjoying the characterization of Jubilee. And of course Rogue is vulnerable. My biggest complaint about characters is when nothing can touch them. Everyone has some sort of weak spot. As for Angel, well, he'll get plenty more action later.
Rogue14: Yes, yes, ma'am, right away, soon as possible, promise. Stop saying ASAP! I feel like you're calling me A SAP! Damn you! Say something new and interesting!!
Nessie6: Poor evil Kurt. Age of Apocalypse Nightcrawler was, before escaping and joining the mutant resistance, an experiment in the Weapon X project. Not fun. I don't think Nightcrawler's had a good hand dealt to him in any dimension, really. I mean in one he was Michael Wagner, shut up in a closet, and eventually was absorbed by the woman he loved... Rogue!
Princess Myra: I try to respond to reviews and clarify things. Sometimes I forget parts of my story are only in my head, and have to remind myself to write it down and explain it to the readers like yourself. I agree, poor Iceman. But in my AU, with no restrictions... heh... poor -everybody.-
Sashi: Oh most definitely, not the Kurt she knows and loves, not by a long shot. As for a few character deaths, that was just to set the stage and emphasize the power of the enemy. Plenty more of those coming. Now we're cooking with napalm.
Sandoz: Don't count on poor David getting rescued anytime in the near future. If at all! Muwahahaha. Glad you're enjoying the insights into Magneto and Jubilee and Colossus. I try to be fair to everyone. And yeah, definitely Evo should've shown some more of Jubilee... and Roberto... and lots of people. Fifth season, I say. Ah well, whatcha gonna do?
Risty: No, he wasn't. But this is Evo AoA Kurt. He's bound to be an improvement, at least. Huh? Huh? Since your first guess was a joke, I shall not tell you that your second guess was absolutely correct. Wait, I did? Damnit. I was mostly starting with Sunspot but yeah Lucid's cool too, whatever you likey.
Spectra2: Triflois? You speak English by any chance? This review makes no sense. I refuse to reply to it! Refuse I say! You can't make me! Stop making me! Nooooo!! Okay fine, but I will continue to make chapters teasing and tormenting! Just be glad they come out as fast as hotcakes, damnit!
Terminatrix T-X: Kurt with a bow? Shouldn't he have a cutlass? Excalibur Kurt used a cutlass all the time, like a swashbuckler. Ah well, I'll have to check out your story first chance I get. As for my AU Kurt... he won't be quite as scary in a few chapters. Relax.
Elrohirthewriter: I thought it might. I know Rogue isn't as strong as say the Juggernaut or Colossus. But she makes up for it with flight. Your movie-verse senses are tingling? Oh, pity I already killed off Jean then. As for Tabby and Amara… I promise nothing!! Besides, it's just AU.
Oracale: Interesting?! Is that all you got?! I poured my heart and soul into this story, and all I get is interesting?! Nah, s'okay, seriously. But I appreciate input for all my stories.
Comet-hime: Awww, don't feel bad. At least you've got one of those… er… whatchacallits… lives, that it! You got important things to deal with like, uhm… what's it called… a girlfriend! Glad you like the Tabby/Amara scene (written primarily for you, of course) as well as DayTripper and all the other characterization floating around. And yeah, torture is the word. Even for precious Tabby and Amara! Muwahahahahaha!
DaughterofDeath: I update at a pace most ff.net authors envy, at a speed that's a chapter a day, matched only by Red Witch, and of the sort of high quality you expect from epic tales… and you tell me to add a chapter?! At my own frickin' pace, missie! I never leave good stories half-done.