BACK TO SCHOOL

CHAPTER 20: DARK INTENTIONS

Magneto was in his personal sanctuary in the citadel of his city in the Savage Land, it was covered in metal with various pieces twisted into fine works of modern art. There were a few paintings around the place from more classical tastes as well. There was a large bed in one area where he slept as well as a computer unit that he used for his work.

One of the walls was nothing but glass for him to look out on his people. He had discovered this area many years ago by stumbling upon references from and old explorer. It had interested him and when he found this hidden land he had found much more then he thought. There were even a small population of mutants here it turned out.

He found that the weather of the Savage Land was actually controlled by giant generators that were far older then humans. In fact he had already guessed they were alien in origin as was this city. He had found this city abandoned and in ruin and it was the perfect place to build a home for mutants. The reconstruction of the city was still going but it was working well as more and more mutants joined him.

At the moment though he wasn't too happy as he was drabbed in a very extravagant chair looking at a screen on the wall that was tapping into a satellite that was hacking into other ones this was from a news feed. He had been following the Spears event and he wasn't pleased at all, he never expected them to say he was guilty of course this was just all a show.

His helmet was sitting next to him on a small stand since this room was telepath proof he could walk around without worrying about it plus it was nice to get that thing off now and again.

"Sources say that since the information on Spears was not legally obtained the evidence might be thrown out of court," The reporter stated as she was reading off her report to the viewers. "Also with other mutants attacking other facilities there were said to have made this were damaged any evidence can't be linked."

Magneto grew angry at this people were turning a blind eye to genocide once more. Even today there were those that refused to believe that the Holocaust existed but he knew he had lived through it. Well no more people like this needed to be taught that there will be repercussions for their actions. He would go to that trail himself as well as his most trusted Acolytes and they would show the world that if you tried to start a war with mutants, then mutants will finish that war.

He turned off the screen and put on his helmet as he strode out into the corridor. He walked to the main room. It had high ceilings with smooth pillars, large red banners along the walls as well. There were many mutants now working on restoring the Citadel as well as other parts of the city but they were building up this audience chamber for later.

He saw one of this newest Acolytes a red haired young man named Fabian Cortez, his mutant ability was to increase or decrease another mutant's powers. Not the most useful at times but he was very committed and loyal as far as he could tell.

"Hurry up with that, we are behind schedule as it is and this place must reflect the glory of our leader and of his dream of us mutants as the superior species." Cortez said now dressed in his Acolyte suit it was all black with a red V over the chest and gold coloured shoulder plates with a cape.

"Cortez," Magneto simply said gaining his attention.

The young man turned around and bowed his head, "Lord Magneto what do you need?"

He had to admit that the young man's attitude was a bit over the top at times but at least he was more trustworthy then some of the others. Mainly Sinister, his lap was very well protected and he spent a lot time in there as did his new assistance the once human Morbius. He was worried that Sinister might be planning to bring more mutants into his own fold.

He wasn't completely sure what his motives were but he knew that Sinister only did what was best for him. So far he was a very powerful ally the Seeker they built from stolen plans of Cerebro had helped them locate many new mutants since it became fully functional.

But he was up to something, Magneto was no fool and he would fine out. He knew that he left the Savage Land many times through a teleportation device. Sinister most likely thought that device was well hidden but thanks to a mutant genius named Brainchild in this place he had accidentally stumbled across that kind of energy signature.

He would give Sinister a little more rope but he would hang him from that when the time came but there were more important matters now. He looked at Cortez, "I want you to call a meeting all Acolytes for later today, meet us in the War Room we are going to make our presence known to the entire world very soon."

The joy on the young man's face was as clear as day as he bowed again, "Of course my lord whatever you wish."

-Elsewhere in Sanctuary-

Pietro was alone for the moment in the city, Lance was off with that Static girl again although to be fair he liked her a lot more then Kitty so he didn't mind. Although how Toad of all people got a hottie like Leash was beyond him, hell the guy was even bathing more regularly that is when he wasn't hanging out with the Amphibius that frog looking mutant. Fred was doing well also fitting in with a few of the other mutants and there was the fact that Lupa didn't mind him either.

All in all life was pretty sweet here, no school, no humans giving them crap. They even started up their own economy here and thanks to being Acolytes they got a good deal of cash. Of course he also used his position to get a few dates. In fact girls were lining up his doorstep sometimes, who cared if they were there because he was Magneto's son or was one of the chosen few?

So why wasn't he happy?

He was just in his normal clothing jeans and a T-shirt, leaning on a railing that overlooked part of the city and the jungle outside of it. He sighed and knew what it was, it was Wanda.

He still hated how things left off between them, it wasn't like he liked lying to her about her memories but she seemed happier so what was the point? He really hated how things were going well, they were back on speaking terms and everything then she had to go and get her memories back and it all fell. Now she was with the X-geeks of all people.

"Well aren't you looking depressed." Came a female voice as Pietro turned around to see that girl Crystal again. He had been chasing this girl ever since he saw her and he was barely any closer. He never had this much trouble with a girl but then maybe that was part of the reason he wanted her. He loved challenges and she was proving to be the ultimate one.

Didn't help she was beautiful in snug jeans that showed off her figure and a yellow top. Her long strawberry blonde hair with two tied off sections over her shoulders.

He immediately went to cover up what he was feeling with that usual cocky smile of this, "Hey why should I be depressed?"

Crystal looked at him hard for a moment and Pietro felt like she was looking right through him. She signed and leaned on the railing, "Look Speedy I'm not going to talk to you if you're going to be all 'macho' on me and put up a front like that. So either drop it or I walk."

He leaned on the railing with her, "Oh you can walk but what if I chose to follow? Not like you can run faster then me."

He looked at him and then at the ground seeing the rock and granite that made up the ground and focused. Pietro looked down surprised when his feet suddenly sank into the ground and then he was stuck. "Hey! What the hell is this?" He asked trying to pull his feet free.

"I can control all four elements now if you'll excuse me I think I'll go," She gave him a small wink, "Don't worry I'm sure someone will come who can get you out eventually."

"Okay! Okay you win alright!" He shouted at her and sighed. She went back and with her powers let him out. "Why do you care anyway?"

Crystal just shrugged, "Don't know but you're not always what you seem to be, I can see that you put up this façade at times and it got me wondering just what kind of person you really are. So then what's the problem?"

Pietro leaned up on the railing and signed hanging his head, "It's Wanda…My sister…" He went into the entire sordid history. How when they were kids everything was good then all of a sudden her powers manifested and they just grew uncontrollable. He had to watch as they took her away crying and asking for help.

He had cried himself to sleep for a few months after that, then how one day his 'loving' father was too busy for him and pretty much dumped him off for awhile. That had really hurt him but he tried not to show it, even after everything that his father did he still couldn't bring himself to hate the man.

Then when Wanda finally came he had hoped to patch things up with, then when her memories got altered things got easier and he found that he could be with his sister more easily. He knew it was selfish but he had really missed her all these years and just wanted her back. Then he told her all about how she had left them for the X-Men.

Crystal listened in not interrupting him the entire time. She bet no one really saw this side of him, the side that was just some hurt child wanting affection from his only parent and his sister but never really got it. She felt bad for him and she guessed that he must be absolutely alone. "Is that why you act out the way you do? All cocky and smart-alecky all the time, to keep people from getting too close so you'll be hurt again?"

"No!" He said turning away from her he couldn't look at her face and see pity there.

"If it makes you feel any better I can't remember ever being loved either."

He looked at her now as she was looking over the valley with a sad look on her face. "How can that be?"

She gave a shrug, "Simply being I have no memories. You see I woke up with a major injury to my head here. They said I was being attacked by a mob because I used my powers and a few mutants there that I was defending said so. I got hit on the head pretty hard, apparently I was in a coma for two weeks as well."

Pietro never would have guessed this but then again he didn't know much about her but then neither did she, that had to be freaky not knowing who you were.

"Anyways I only had this bracelet on that said Crystal on it so I guess that was my name. Other then living here I have no real memories." She always wondered who she was and where she had lived. Did she have any family or did they throw her out?

"Well sorry to say this but that really sucks." He said flat out to her.

She only laughed a little and nodded, "Yeah doesn't? A boy with a crappy past and a girl with no past boy what a pair we make huh?"

That actually got him to smile a little, "Oh yeah but look on the bright side. We're both totally hot so at least we got that going for us."

Crystal just burst out laughing she wasn't sure why it wasn't that funny but in a way it was maybe. "That does take a bit of an edge off at least." She smiled and then looked at him and she really looked at him not at the surface but under it.

Pietro felt this and for a moment he did the same, sure she was really hot but there was more to her. He wasn't sure what but this girl was different and not just for seeing through him or actually ignoring his advances in a playful manner. Sure there was that bit of sadness in her in not knowing who she was but there had to be more too.

And strangely he wanted to know more about her, from the first time he met her there had just been something about her. She was unique and unlike any girl he had met. "So…Now that we did the whole boring baring our souls part and the depression that goes with it. How about you finally let me take you on a date?"

He made a thoughtful expression, "Well what do I get out of that?"

"You get to be with a stud like me of course."

She snorted although she did admit he was really cute but that ego of his needed to be taken down a bit. Although that whole side of him that he had shown her kind of made her see him in a new light. "Well how about only and only if you drop that 'act' of yours."

His face fell at that, "Oh come on, I can't go all touchy feeling around others I do have a reputation to keep up…Plus I really don't need the guys ribbing me about this for the next six months."

"Tell you what then, we go on one date and just one I'm not promising anything else mind you." She wanted to make clear of that point she really didn't want him bothering her for another since she wasn't totally sure about him yet.

"But when we're alone then you let the walls down, I think I can suffer through the 'jerk act' of yours but not all the time." She crossed her arms and kind of hoped that he would agree to this she wanted to know the real him not the mask that he wore.

Pietro gave it a lot of thought but given how fast his mind worked that wasn't too long for anyone else. "Okay fine…But if you have a good time you have to go out with me again." He smiled at her.

"You really think you can impress me enough on a first date for another?" She teased him.

He grinned back at her, "Oh trust me I love challenges and let me tell you…I think you're the best challenge I came across and I really hope to find out more about you and I don't mean just the whole past part."

She smiled warmly at him that had earned him a couple of points there. "Well okay then, then I'll see you later tonight then."

"Oh you can count on it," he smiled at her and he was looking forward to it. He just hoped the waiting didn't drive him nuts but he got the feeling it would be so worth that and being more honest around her at least when they were alone.

-New York Area-

Graydon Creed was not happy at all, he had just got back from a meeting from those higher up on the food chain in the FOH then he was. What was worse was how disappointed they were that the Spears project had leaked out like it did.

Not only that but the fact that the FOH were behind this was hurting them, already recruitment had dropped as well as several politicians had stopped taking calls from any FOH official. Then of course there were the investigations as well so everything had to be put on the back burner and hidden away in case the Feds stumbled upon something else.

This was a major set back and what was worse was that they were no longer in touch with Spears. Creed was going to offer him a lawyer as not only a sign of 'friendship' but also to make sure he kept his mouth shut. So far the evidence wasn't too concrete so he could get off but out of nowhere he already had gained more high price lawyers then he had seen at the OJ Simpson trail.

He looked into those lawyers and they had pretty steep prices so far whoever was founding Spears was well connected and had deep pockets and this worried him more then ever. He didn't know who was behind the curtain and that really bothered him.

He was in his office taking a nice steep drink before he decided to think of a new course of action. He ran a hand through his hair as he thought. Things weren't going well at all at the moment and Spears had become a liability. He would have to be dealt with but how to do it without people knowing it was the FOH?

What they needed was someone to take responsibility or at least take the blame. If they could get a mutant to kill Spears like in front of the court house with witnesses that would help a lot. It would take care of Spears and also paint mutants as evil a bit more as well. The only problem was who to get to do this?

He couldn't force a mutant to do this those Morlocks had gone quiet at the moment most likely hiding out after the attacks for things to cool down a bit more. Maybe he could hire someone for this there were a lot of mercenaries out there and some had to be mutant or at least pass for mutant. They didn't have to be totally mutant just some guy with powers might be enough.

But the question was still who? Deadpool was an option but that lunatic hadn't done a great job with those mutants, after all somehow he let them escape with the data. Gauntlet was another choice although he might be unreachable at the moment. Bullseye wasn't reachable lately so he was out but then again he might not be enough.

He would have to make some inquiries but his bosses made it clear that they can't afford to have Spears implicate them in anything during the trail. It would be very damaging and Graydon was going to have it handled.

There were rumours of others like that Mr. 47 but he might be just a myth. There were other rumours he could look into but he needed to act fast. Either he had to get a mutant or someone mutant like to deal with this and soon or his ass would be next and he just knew that his bosses would make an example out of him. It was just a good thing that no one knew of his parentage, he hated mutants with a passion and his parents were proof of that.

Graydon finished his drink and went to his desk to his computer he had a lot of work ahead of him and had no time to waste.

NEXT UP CHAPTER 21: DAY IN COURT