Kingdom In the Sky
"Winters, report," Magneto ordered as his butler walked into his office.
"Concerning the North Korean operation we have liberated a total of 87 mutants," Winters informed Magneto in an emotionless voice. "Their powers are as follows: 14 have telepathic abilities, five are empaths, nineteen are telekinetics, 27 are ferals or have some kind of animal abilities, two have abilities concerning the growth of plant life, three are pyrokinetics, and two are shapeshifters. In addition one girl has an ice creating ability similar to the mutant known as Iceman. Another is a healer, and another has the unique ability to paralyze people by breathing on them. The rest have no added attributes other than the fact that they look like mutants or have extra limbs. In one case, tentacles."
"Good," Magneto nodded. "Now tell me the bad news. I want to know how many are actually able to fight for me right now."
"Fifty-five of them are either seriously malnourished, have broken bones, under the age of ten or all of the above combined," Winters reported. "One of the empaths has Down's Syndrome. Another telepath was blinded by the guards."
"Animals…" Magneto growled.
"Fortunately the remaining ones were only in the camp less than a week," Winters continued. "Apparently the North Korean government had done a quick purge of some sort within seven provinces. They are beginning a program of genetically testing their citizens for the X-Gene. Two of the children have not even developed their powers yet and did not know they were mutants."
"Yes I hear China and Cuba are experimenting with similar programs," Magneto sighed. "Even in the United States many corporations are thinking of implementing such a policy or have already instated one. Several politicians are volunteering to be tested after the Shore incident. It's become the latest craze."
"Sir I estimate with proper guidance and medical attention about 64 percent of the North Korean refugees will be ready for combat or other duties within at least a month and a half," Winters replied.
"That's quite a high number," Magneto commented.
"Several of the refugees have expressed intense gratitude for you rescuing them sir," Winters informed him. "The blinded telepath was first to offer to sign up."
"Interesting," Magneto thought. "Winters, including ourselves and the new refugees how many mutants are currently inhabiting our Arctic Circle base?"
"There are now four hundred and fifty eight mutants here sir," Winters said. "This does not take into account the fourteen mutants you currently have as field agents and it also does not count Mystique. Sabertooth returned at exactly 8:26 PM last night."
"Good," Magneto nodded. "With Mystique out of circulation we will need all the help we can get."
Your council is in the war room as requested," Winters told him. "Will that be all?"
"I want you to come with me," Magneto said. "I may need you."
They entered the war room to meet with his council. His 'Inner Circle' now consisted of Lorna, her aunt Mender the healer, Mastermind and Sabertooth. Also added to the group were the mysterious British telekinetic Jack Wayne, nicknamed Blackjack and Amelia Voght. Amelia had the ability to transform her body into mist and move it with her thoughts directing her to where she needed to be. "I take it you've heard the latest figures?" Amelia asked.
"Yes," Magneto sat down. "At least it's a start."
"It's still not enough," Amelia looked at the facts on her paper. "True it was a good rescue attempt but most of the new recruits are nowhere near ready to help with the real fighting if it comes to it."
"Which is just as well that right now our strategy is to build our numbers and prepare Haven," Magneto pointed out.
"We're going to need it with nuts like Stryker and Creed running around," Blackjack pointed out.
"Well those two are out of the picture," Lorna said.
"Nobody's out of the picture until they're good and dead girl," Sabertooth hissed. "And I mean dead."
"Yes they both have a large following despite what happened," Mender frowned. "I can't believe something like the Madison Square Garden incident has gotten by us!"
"Not…entirely," Magneto admitted.
"You knew what Stryker was doing?" Mastermind asked.
"I had an idea," Magneto told him. "I have some spies and contacts other than Mystique you know. I just didn't think his plan was that thorough."
"If that's true why didn't you help Xavier or warn the Hellfire Circle?" Lorna asked.
"Because quite frankly I still haven't forgiven the Circle for what they did to me!" Magneto snapped. "Leaving me frozen in stasis all those months…" (1) He then softened. "However I had no idea they were going to attack the school itself. From what my agents gathered I believed they were going after the Institute and attacking one of the Hellfire's other assets."
"And Xavier?" Lorna raised an eyebrow.
"Some people have to learn their lesson the hard way," Magneto scoffed. "Charles' foolish dream would be the death of us all."
"It nearly was his death," Mastermind pointed out.
"But the X-Men took care of the threat, as I figured they would," Magneto waved.
"And if they didn't?" Mender asked.
"One less obstacle in our path," Blackjack said. "And one more reason mutants would flock to us."
"Still you gotta admit Xavier pulled off one hell of a public relations coup," Sabertooth told him. "It does put a damper on things."
"No matter," Magneto said. "Soon Avalon will be completed. It will be a place where all mutants can live freely from human oppression and intolerance."
He pressed a button and a huge window opened up. It revealed a gigantic rocklike substance being built by hundreds of mutants in the underground base. "When Avalon is completed it will be able to house over one million mutants," Magneto told them. "Not only will it have nuclear capabilities it can attack the Earth with magnetic pulses."
"Impressive," Blackjack nodded. "I hope it has a movie theater."
"It will be perfectly suited to sustain life," Winters said. "It will have recreational as well as medical institutions. Schools, a training base as well as a breeding facility."
"Breeding facility?" Lorna asked. "I don't like the sound of that."
"It's not as harsh as it sounds," Magneto explained. "We need to create more troops as well as other support services. Using DNA we are planning to create more mutants and give them to mutant families to raise. This will in no way replace the natural process of things nor will citizens be conscripted for breeding. This facility will merely…Speed up the population growth."
"In other words grow what mutants we need," Blackjack said. "So that's why you're trying to make nice with Cobra Commander the other day."
"As much as I despise that evolutionary throwback and his minions they are capable of producing interesting technology and resources," Magneto shrugged.
"It's not like we're keeping them around once they've finished being useful," Sabertooth shrugged.
"They're probably thinking the same thing about us," Amelia pointed out.
"Yes but we're going to stick it to them first before they stick it to us," Blackjack said. "How's the production schedule on Avalon going?"
"Quite well actually," Lorna said. "That mutant you found that can change rocks into any basic element has come in quite handy. Thanks to him we're ahead of schedule."
"Yes within two years Avalon will be ready instead of three," Magneto nodded. "Most impressive. Unlike some people I could name."
Everyone at the table knew exactly who Magneto was referring to. Still Lorna pushed it. "Legion told me he didn't mean to offend you, Father. He just…"
"Disobeyed my orders?" Magneto glared at her. "Attacked a defenseless hospital? Let loose a maniac that nearly destroyed half of Scotland?"
"Oh Legion's smart to be lying low," Blackjack grinned. "Especially after the mess he made."
"Hey at least he managed to keep the X-Men occupied while we pulled off our operation, which is more than you've done!" Lorna snapped. "By the way where were you during the North Korean operation?"
"I had things to do," Blackjack scoffed. "Contacts to make."
"More like dates to keep, you womanizer!" Mender snapped.
"Enough!" Magneto shouted. "Blackjack has explained his absence to me and I have accepted it. That is all you need to know."
"Well if I'm not needed someone has to go check on the new recruits," Blackjack stood up. "If I may be so bold?"
"Yes go on," Magneto dismissed him.
"More like check on the new female recruits," Mender folded her arms.
"I don't quite trust him," Lorna said.
"I trust your boyfriend Legion even less," Magneto hissed. "I specifically told him to leave Muir Island alone! And what does he do? He disobeys me!"
"Why do you have such a soft spot for that MacTaggert woman?" Amelia asked.
"We were friends a long time ago," Magneto admitted. "And she does do good work helping mutants. For a human she's…."
"AIEEEE! GET AWAY FROM ME YOU NUTCASE!" A loud female scream could be heard.
"He's at it again," Mastermind sighed.
"Who's his target this time?" Sabertooth looked out the window. "Oh it's that Cyndi chick."
"Blackjack's little secretary?" Lorna snorted. "Figures." (2)
"LORD ALMIGHTY, I FEEL MY TEMPERATURE RISING! I'M JUST A HUNK-A HUNK-A BURNING LOVE! OH YEAH! A HUNK A HUNK A BURNING LOVE!" Pyro sang as he chased Cyndi around with a flaming heart.
"It never fails," Amelia grunted. "If it's female and can set something on fire Pyro goes after it."
"You should see the shrines he's got of both Magma and Firestar," Sabertooth scoffed. "And people call me obsessive! That kid scares even me sometimes!"
"Out of all the Brotherhood, you kept him?" Mastermind asked.
"I know, I know…" Magneto winced as he put his hand to his head. "Like I said we need all the help we can get. Even his!"
Way back in Parallel Lives! Remember?(2) Remember Jack and Cyndi from 'I Hate New People'? They'll show up in more fics. I promise.
Next: Back to the trial, but some other stuff is going down as well! Read and see !