Chapter 9: Vortex

Tank attempted to discern the weaknesses of the mutant he was about to battle. He stepped into the ring and fans and enemies cheered alike. Juggernaut stepped in on the other side. The mat was filthy with sweat and blood.

Where had this guy come from? He wore a fucking helmet, which he refused to take off. Tank guessed that's where he'd find this guy's weakness. And he wanted to find it! He was small in comparison to the Juggernaut, whose real name no one knew, but he was a big guy standing on his own. He used to be the guy that nobody wanted to get in the ring with, the guy who remained the undefeated champion of Vortex. He did not want to lose to this seemingly unstoppable Juggernaut.

The bigger man shot him a wide smile, a set of clean white teeth mocking Tank. Juggernaut had defeated every opponent he'd faced since he'd mysteriously arrived at Vortex. He claimed he could beat anyone that opposed him. At Vortex, each mutant makes a bet on himself, which he must give up if he loses. Juggernaut had bet it all. He was tireless and he barely sweat and never bled. His confidence in his own abilities astounded everyone, but it was not misplaced. He had broken the record for fastest knockout and he had killed two people in the span of a week. Then, he had broken his own record for fastest knockout. And then, he had done it again.

Less people were turning up to challenge Juggernaut, but they all came to watch whatever poor fool did. Tank was the next and last fool. No one else was in line to challenge the Juggernaut and if Tank lost, Juggernaut would be paid a sum of five thousand three hundred and twenty one dollars, with Death Fees already deducted. In short, he would win his bet: defeating any and all that opposed him.

"Mutants, to the center of the Ring!" There were all sorts of people here for this, every conceivable kind of mutant. Weather mutants, fire mutants, mutants with animal characteristics—and all of them hushed, desperate to know which undefeated Champion would win this bout. The Ring Master raised his hands, commanding the crowds. "Ladies and Gentlemen, since there are no further contenders, this will be the final fight for the Juggernaut. His challenge has been met by many members of the Vortex. Tank is the final opponent. After tonight's fight, either Tank or Juggernaut will go home with the prize. This is your last chance, ladies and gents, place your bets!" He paused, as some latecomers hurriedly made their wagers.

Tank's upper lip beaded with sweat.

"Not nervous, eh mate?" said the Juggernaut.

Tank shook his head. "I ain't nervous. It's hot in here."

Juggernaut leaned in a little, "It's about to get a lot hotter, mate."

The Ring Master raised his hands again. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, I introduce the Juggernaut!" The crowd roared, the crowd booed, the noise was incredible. The Juggernaut did not seem to care either way. He never took his eyes from Tank. "Aaaand," drawled the Ring Master, "the undefeated Tank!" The crowd screamed again. They pounded their feet, and clapped their hands. Some of the animal-like ones roared like lions, the ones who could fly perched themselves in the high beams above the ring to get a better look, the ones who could scale the walls did so, also to get a better view.

The Ring Master lowered his voice so that only the two of them could here him. "I swear to God, you two better let me get out of this ring before you start, or I'll take it personally." His fingers morphed into long claws and his mouth glistened with smart, white fangs. "Alright?"

"Whatever," said Juggernaut.

Tank nodded.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, let the battle BEGIN!" He ducked out of the ring and Juggernaut, as was customary for him, waited for Tank to start the fight. They circled each other for some time until the crowd began to boo. "Come ON! TOO SLOW! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!"

Tank, with speed that obviously surprised Juggernaut, slipped around behind him and jumped on his back. Juggernaut went to thrust him off. Tank grabbed hold of the helmet and yanked at it.

"Oh, that's how you wanna play!" Juggernaut let himself fall back on top of Tank. Tank felt his own ribs crack under the bigger man's weight. He would not let go of the helmet, he pulled and pulled.

Juggernaut grabbed his hand and crushed his fingers. Tank roared and the helmet came loose at last and he flung it out of the ring. He got out from underneath Juggernaut and readied himself. The helmet bounced off the mat and onto the floor.

He hoped that would throw the Juggernaut, just enough to give Tank a desperately needed advantage. But it did not. No, the Juggernaut was smiling! "One thing you're gonna learn tonight, mate," he said cracking his knuckles, "DO NOT fuck with the helmet!"

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"You're too late to place bets, old man," said the guy at the door. He was pierced, tattooed, filthy looking and wore too many chains.

"I'm not here to place a bet, I'm here to see someone," Eric answered derisively. He heard the roars of the crowd inside the Vortex.

"What is this place?" Eden asked, drawing closer to him.

The doorman leered at her. "We've got a ladies night on Wednesdays. Your girl should come and try her luck. We always get big crowds when the girls fight."

Eric summoned what he could of his power and used it to wrap the man's own chains around his throat. "Is there a man called the Juggernaut here?"

The chains loosened of their own accord as Eric lost control. But the doorman did not need to know that. "Yeah," he said, rubbing his throat, "he's fighting right now. Tonight's his last fight."

"Thank you," said Eric. They entered the main floor in time to see Juggernaut throw his opponent directly into the crowd.

"That's it, ladies and gentlemen, it's over! Juggernaut is the new undefeated champion of Vortex!" cried the Ring Master. Cheers, screams, boos, cries of all sorts followed this announcement. The Juggernaut left the ring without so much as a bow and disappeared into a back room. Eric followed, holding onto Eden's hand. They pushed through the crowd of mutants until they found their way to the door.

He was there, mopping away blood from his face with a towel. The blood was not his own. He turned when he heard them and seemed surprised. "You!" he said. "I don't believe it. You made it out, eh?"

Eric smiled amicably. "I'm glad to see that you also escaped."

"Bad business mate," said the Juggernaut. "Real bad. Didn't quite work out as we expected, did it?"

"Not exactly."

The Juggernaut walked towards Magneto. "What's it all about then? Come to talk about old times? I just won myself a nice chunk a change. Buy you a pint. Oy," he looked past Magneto and down, at Eden, "who's the bird?"

The 'bird' was far from offended by this quip. She smiled knowingly, as if she was aware of something the other two were not. "This is Eden," Eric introduced her. "Eden, Juggernaut."

She extended her hand. "A pleasure."

The Juggernaut reach to take her hand, heard her voice, and stopped just short of grasping it. "Do I know you?"

Again, the same smile as she took his hand, "I'm glad to finally meet you." The Juggernaut continued to stare at her and then a kind of realization washed over his face as he maintained his grip on her hand.

"Right…" he replied vaguely.

"How did you get out of Alcatraz anyway?" Eric asked, trying to get back his attention.

The Juggernaut turned towards Eric reluctantly and let go Eden's hand. "Indestructible skin, mate. Comes in handy."

"I don't doubt it."

The Juggernaut wiped more sweat from his forehead, his eyes flitting from Magneto to Eden. "So, Mags, what brings you to Vortex? Come to try your luck in the Ring?"

"I've actually strictly come to see you," said Eric. "And if you're offering, I'll take that pint and we can talk."

The other man looked him over, trying to gauge him, figure him out. "Right, well, let me collect my winnings," he said with playful pride. "Stay here."

When he was gone, Eric turned to Eden. "You seem strangely happy. Do you know something I don't?"

She looked up at him, smiling wide enough that, though her lips were closed, the tips of her fangs poked through. "He will help us," she said confidently.

"What makes you so sure?"

"He's the mutant that escaped and allowed me to escape too." She looked towards where the Juggernaut had exited. "I never thought I'd be able to thank him."

This news stunned Eric. "Are you saying that the Juggernaut was a victim of The Guard?"

Eden shrugged. "I'm wondering if that isn't the reason he has to wear that helmet. The Guard takes your weaknesses and, I don't know, makes them worse, somehow." She grinned. "In the end, really," she said, thinking about it, "The Guard was a victim of the Juggernaut."

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"Are you serious?"

The Juggernaut was on his sixth pint, but being what one would call a big man, he was only just feeling buzzed. He heard what Eric was saying and understood it. "You're absolutely serious?" he asked again.

"Absolutely," Magneto confirmed.

He swallowed. "Well." He downed it. "I'm flattered. But why do you need me? Can't you just level the place? It's no Golden Gate bridge, but it's gotta have a steel frame, eh?" He caught on quickly, knowing that Eric was hiding something from him.

"The truth, Juggernaut, is that I was struck with four vials of the Cure. My powers are quite limited, though they are coming back in small quantities."

"The Cure doesn't work," Eden chimed in. "Other mutants are also gaining back their powers."

Juggernaut leaned back into the chair. When Eden had spoken he had smiled at the sound of her voice, though, looking back at Eric, his expression grew more serious, though hardly sympathetic. "Tough break, Mags," he said ambivalently. "Don't know what you want me to do about it."

Eric let Eden speak. It was clear she wanted to. "We need you, Cain," she pleaded. His face shifted. "You're the only one who can help us. And," she continued, slowly, "The Guard is holding someone I know. Someone I…love. Please help us."

He downed the rest of his drink and pushed the empty glass away. "Get us another drink, love," he said to Eden, "I wanna talk to the boss man."

Eric waited until she had gotten to the bar and focused on Juggernaut. "So? What do you say?"

He leaned forward and looked Eric in the eyes. "I say yes."

Eric raised an eyebrow and looked doubtfully at the other man. "Just like that? No conditions?"

"None."

"May I ask why?"

The Juggernaut crossed his arms. "I'm gonna tell you this once and don't ever ask me about it again."

"Alright," Eric shrugged.

"That girl, Eden, you call her. She was in at the same time I was. And let's just say that I remember a voice coming from the other side of wall telling me not to loose it, to keep it together."

Eric nodded. "Her voice."

"That's right. When you're in that place, only one Voice you're supposed to 'ear and that's The Voice. I never saw 'is face that I know of and I never saw 'ers either, until tonight, but I know that if she hadn't of been the second voice in my head, reminding me who I was, I wouldn't've gotten outta there. Understand? 'You are Cain Marko,' she always said. Reminded me of my name, who I was."

Eden returned with filled glasses. "We was just talking about you Jaida. You look right fit," said the Juggernaut.

"Jaida?" Eric repeated, frowning.

The Juggernaut pulled Eden onto his lap. "That's her real name, Mags. Ain't that right, Jaida? See, I remember you."

She smiled. "And will you help us?" she asked looking up at him.

He took a swig of beer. "Yeah, why not? I've got noffing else to do. Besides," he finished the second beer, "sounds like fun."

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The lateness of the hour combined with alcohol made Eric restless. The Juggernaut had decided to stay with them for the night. They would leave tomorrow morning for The Guard's facilities, located in a coastal town called Brookings at the base of a mountain range called the Klamath Mountains. Luckily for them, the Brotherhood had kept a car in a lot near to this apartment. It would take them some hours to get there.

The stars were covered in a haze of humidity and the air was heavy and thick. He liked to come here to think, on the roof of this paltry building. It was freer up here.

"It's not like you to keep secrets from me, Eden," he said aloud into the darkness.

She stepped out of the shadows to his left. "Secrets, sir?"

He looked wryly at her. "I never knew your name wasn't Eden, Jaida."

Eden crouched down next to him. "My name was Jaida, but I am the Serpent of Eden now. As you know me, that is who I am. And who I will always be."

He turned away from her and crossed his arms in front of him. A star appeared beyond the smog and was quickly disguised again. "Eden, I don't know if what we wish to accomplish tomorrow will work."

"I know."

Eric looked back at her. "My doubts do not concern you?"

Eden sat next to him. Their shoulders touched. "Of course they do. And if you think we shouldn't go, then we won't go."

"You would sacrifice this chance on my say-so?"

She looked into his eyes. "I would," she responded. "You're Magneto."

He covered his face with his hand and sighed. "My one concern in this, my dear, is you."

"If we go, I go too."

He started to protest. He had so many things to say to dissuade her. She cut him off. "Sir, I'll stay with Cain. He'll protect me. He feels he owes me something."

"He feels he owes you his life," Eric interrupted.

"In any case," she continued, "he will protect me. All I want to do is save Toad and kill the Voice. Nothing else matters. Nothing. Please say that we'll try."

Her eyes—he could not tear himself away from her eyes. The insistence, the will power. She could not survive the proposed operation—he knew it!—and yet… "If that is what you want, we'll go. We'll go."

Eden brought her face close to his and kissed him. "Thank you, sir. Thank you."

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He could feel something different. Movement. He could smell something different. Outside. His senses were dulled, but he knew that he was outside…or in a vehicle. In a vehicle outside! They were moving him.

Where?

Why?

Into the deep woods, to kill you, stupid…he answered himself. Like a dog. Fucking Nazis.

It did not bother him as much as one would think impending death would bother someone. In fact, it meant so little that he felt no fear, no anticipation.

Why now though? Had he finally spilled all his secrets? Had they figured out a way to tap him at last, without his cooperation? He hoped not.

Bump. A bump in the road. He jostled uncomfortably. I bet I'm supposed to be knocked out right now. But I'm not. Somebody, hit me with another shot.

No one did. It didn't really matter though. He knew he was blind. His eyes were open, he could feel air moving over them. He blinked. He could not feel his arms or legs and he couldn't move his head. He could be wide awake and it wouldn't matter. There were people near him, he could smell them. I can still smell…

For now.

He felt his face move into a grin. "Over the river…and through the woods…"

A man's voice. "Shut up, mutant."

"To grandmother's house we go…"

"Did you hear me?"

"There's men with guns…it's lots of fun…they're gonna kill the To-oad!"

A sharp, adequate blow to his head with the butt of a gun silenced The Toad. But it did not kill him. Would they never kill him?

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I waited…

And I waited…

But you did not come…

You haven't found me…

Did you even try?

Am I fated

To be baited

By a promise undone?

It's all around me.

Am I going to die?

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"There's nothing here, Jaida!" The Juggernaut watched painfully as she ran around the forsaken lab, opening doors and turning over beds until she had exhausted herself. "Jaida," he called to her. "Stop."

But she did not stop. She called his name, the one she said she loved. "Toad! Toad!" She choked and the tears streamed unchecked. She wasn't breathing right.

Magneto walked over to her. His face was ashen. "Eden…he's gone. They're gone."

"No!"

He grabbed her shoulders. She was hyperventilating. She was wheezing. "You have to stop! You'll kill yourself!"

"It…was…here!" she gasped. "He…was…" Jaida slid down along the wall and Magneto followed suite, still holding her. "It said…"

He pulled her into him. Juggernaut would never have imagined him a loving man at all, but, he supposed, all men loved something, at least one thing. And there he was, a man who was considered the most dangerous terrorist of their times, embracing a woman who was weeping relentlessly into his shoulder, comforting her. Stroking her hair. What was it like, he wondered, to feel so deeply? It seemed debilitating. Something caught his eye, suddenly, and he picked it up.

He turned it over in his hands. "Oy, Mags," he called. "S'got your name on it." It was an envelope, white, crisp, with nothing written on it but 'Magneto.'

"What?" Magneto turned.

" 'Ere, look at this. Says Magneto." He handed it to him. "You expectin' something?"

"What is it?" Jaida mumbled breathlessly. Magneto opened it. There was a folded piece of paper inside of it. He unfolded it and read it. "What does it say?"

He read it over once to himself. He looked at Jaida, and read out loud. " 'You'll understand, Magneto, that as long as you remain in the company of the Juggernaut, I cannot, nor will I stay within your reach. I am longing to meet you, though. I have your man, Mortimer. I know he's yours, though he hasn't told me. I also know that you are weak. That you have no power. And that the woman, whose company you also keep, is, like you, sir, weak. My friend Cain, however, would rip us all to pieces, given the chance—"

"Damn right I would."

" 'You, however, can do very little in the way of harming me, or rescuing Mortimer. I only want to meet you, Magneto. Please do me that honor, and I will return Mortimer to you, relatively unharmed, though, I dare say, you may find him slightly altered since last you saw him. I am going to New York City. You will find me there. Or rather, I will find you. You'll recall a certain man delivering a package to your neighbor at your apartment some days ago? He works with me. I doubt you'll even remember what he looks like. I would have waited for you in California, but your decision to enlist Cain's help was unexpected and we had to leave. However, my "delivery" man will wait for you at your apartment in New York for five days. And yes, I know where that is. Mortimer told me. Granted, by telling you all this, I run the risk of never seeing you at all. You could hide someplace new. Honestly, though, sir, aren't you the least bit curious? Meet with me, I beg you. I will do you no harm.'" Magneto looked up. "It's signed 'The Voice.'"

Jaida looked shell-shocked. Her eyes were dry, but glazed over. She looked as if she had died. "Altered…?" she whispered. "Altered."

"He's alive," Magneto said.

Her eyes focused forward on nothing. She shook her head. "No he's not. He's not. He's dead. He's dead."

"You don't know that."

She did not answer. The Juggernaut spoke. "Let's get out of 'ere," he said. "Place is bringing back bad memories." Magneto rose but Jaida did not follow. He offered his hand, but she did not take it. The Juggernaut stepped past Magneto and picked Jaida up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and said nothing.

She was barely breathing. He could feel her chest moving intermittently against his in shallow, ragged breaths. Magneto kept in stride. "What's wrong with 'er?" he asked.

Magneto looked forward. "Whatever they did to her, her lungs don't work as they should. Her bones are fragile. She probably had asthma, exacerbated by the experiments she underwent. We used to have medicine for her…"

"Not anymore?"

Magneto shook his head. "I'd have to take her to a doctor to get it now. I won't do that."

They exited the laboratory and walked towards the car. "What now, boss?" asked Juggernaut.

"It seems that you and I must part company, Cain."

Juggernaut stopped mid-step. "Are you taking this guy seriously?"

"I am."

"You're off your 'ead mate, I know this guy. 'e's not on the level. I know it."

Magneto unlocked the car. "What would you suggest, Cain? If I don't go, she will most assuredly go on her own. I have nothing left Cain," he said suddenly, sounding old. "Nothing left to lose, but her."

Juggernaut placed Jaida carefully in the backseat of the car. She curled up like a cat and stared straight ahead. "Listen Mags, did you get a good look at the audience at Vortex?"

"What?"

"Most of them there was the people with you at Alcatraz. And they are all itching for anover fight. Most of them's got their powers back, full. Let's go get anover army together and tear the city apart. I'd like noffing better."

Magneto looked down at the ground and then up. He put his fingers together and stretched them. "Would they follow me?"

"I'm following you."

The man's mind worked. He could almost see the plots and plans flit like shadows over his face. Juggernaut waited, and he even almost hoped. Magneto released his fingers and opened the driver's door. "Get in Cain. Let's go start another war."