"Hello Charles. Long time no see." Erik smiled as he turned around to face his old mentor.
"Hello Erik." Charles returned coldly. "What are you doing here?"
"Do I need a reason to visit an old friend?" Erik asked walking around Xavier's desk.
"Everyone else wouldn't. But you usually do." Charles wheeled his chair the rest of the way into the room and stopped when he was behind his desk. "What sick ploy are you working on this time?"
Erik looked shocked. "Charles, I'm hurt that you would ask such a question. Besides, haven't you read my mind by now?"
"I thought we could have a normal conversation." Charles still had a stern look on his face; he wanted this meeting to end as quickly as possible. "How was Europe?" He asked.
"Quite pleasant. Met some old friends. Collected some debts. Mind if I sit down?"
"Please don't." Charles answered. "Now what do you want?"
"The same thing you do Charles… Toad." Erik took one of the seats in front of the desk anyway. "We're in the same business Charles. We both want to look after mutants who have lost their way." He smiled slightly. "I see you have started up quite a collection here already. No doubt you've become a father figure to them, like you tried with me."
"And succeeded."
"Yes." Erik's smile disappeared. "There was a time when I did look up to you." He paused; his face seemed to lose focus for a moment before he regained composure.
"I want Toad."
"From what I hear, he refused you offer."
"A slight mistake on his part." His breath was getting heavy; his forehead was starting to sweat.
Charles had slowly started to probe Erik's mind. "A mistake you deem to remedy?"
"You peaking around up there Charles?" Erik asked, wiping some sweat from his eyes. "What are you looking for?"
"Answers." Charles spoke softly. He eyes looked more focused than before, like they were staring through Erik's soul.
"Answers?" Erik asked. "Answers to wha…" He stopped. He felt Charles' presence in his mind. He knew what he wanted.
"You're creating an army." Charles stated.
"Trying to." Magneto felt Charles slip out of his mind.
"Why?"
"So mankind can finally be put in its place." Erik spat. "And mutants can rise up as the next dominant species on this planet."
Charles breathed a heavy sigh. "You've finally given up all hope."
"I've never had any to give up Charles. The minute they took my parents from me, the minute they made me a lab rat… an outcast, my hatred for man was fueled." Erik practically leaped out of his chair; his voice was filled with anger.
"And now, you want that same hatred to run through Todd and any other mutants you may come across." Charles' stern look returned. "Create an army of mutants. Declare war on the human race. And how many lives of mutants are you willing to sacrifice in this fight. How many mutants are you willing to use as pawns in your personal revenge game?"
"HE IS AN OUTCAST!" Erik slammed his fist down on the desk. "You know it Charles. You've had to sense it inside him by now. The minute he fought in the cafeteria his life was ruined. He can never go back to his friends or whatever family he has left."
"He can learn to adapt Erik. Learn to embrace his powers."
"Yes, embrace his powers to destroy mankind." Erik paused. He regained control of his anger and sat back in his seat. "Or are you still hoping for peace? Hoping that man will come to his senses and embrace mutants as equals. How many years are you willing to wait? How many years of slavery and wars must we suffer before we reach any level of equality? No… we cannot afford to wait any longer. We must strike at mankind while they are still weak and un-expecting of any danger." Erik stood back up and walked back to the window. Charles was sitting still and silent. Erik knew his words had affected him. "You know what lies ahead of him Charles. Everything he has known and loved has been taking away from him. The darkness in his heart will grow. It will begin to fuel a fire in his heart."
"There is still hope that he won't stumble down that path."
"But he will Charles." Erik turned and kneeled down beside his old mentor. "I know what he is to you. What they all are. A second chance. You failed with me. And now you feel you can learn from your mistakes and raise them up to be nice, human loving mutants. Always hoping for peace… but never willing to fight for it." He leaned in closer to Charles' ear. "I can bring you the hope you want. I ask for only one thing in return. Don't get in my way."
"I can't promise that."
"Then we have a long hard road ahead of us Charles." Erik stood back up. "A road I hope we both live to see the end of, whatever it may be." He walked to the door and placed his hand on the knob. "Good day Charles. It was good to see you again." He opened the door and stopped again. "I'll let my self out." He left the room and quickly exited the mansion.
Charles sat still in his office. He didn't want to admit it, but deep down he knew Erik was telling the truth. He had felt the anger already building up in Todd. Anger at humanity, and anger at himself for the mutant he was.
Charles knew he would have to act fast if he had any hope of saving Todd from the same fall into darkness he had seen happen to Erik.
