Author's Note – I do not own any of the characters, Marvel and DC do.
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Chapter Five
Awakenings
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"Pietro." Magneto said almost absently as he concentrated on dabbing some paint on the canvas. Pietro waited for his father to remove the brush before speaking.
"Dad, Tekmage says it's time. You want me to tell Doom?"
"That's Von Doom or Doctor Doom." Magneto corrected as he put the lid back on the paints before swishing the brush in a beaker of water set on the table for just that purpose. "Yes, please give him my respects and tell him that his heir is about to be born."
"Gotcha." Quicksilver replied before vanishing in a blur of speed. Magneto sighed and shed the artists smock he was wearing before using his powers to dress himself in his normal outfit.
The metal fabrics split and reformed around him before he turned and strode out of the door, his cloak flaring dramatically.
"Eric."
Magneto nodded to the armoured figure entering the main hall. "Lord Doom. You got here faster than I expected."
"I recently… acquired the designs for a Kryptonian anti-gravity generator." Doom said in explanation. "By integrating it into my armour and tuning the output, I can now fly at speeds in excess of Mach 3. However, the energy cost is… limiting."
"All technology involves trade-offs." Magneto agreed. "Materials, cost, time, power…"
"And what do you intend to do with yours?" Doom asked curiously. "I hope that you do not intend to move against me."
"Perish the thought." Magneto chuckled. "If all countries were like yours, my cause would not be needed. Others may claim that Latveria is a tyrannical state, but you have the closest I have ever seen to a pure meritocracy."
Doom nodded. "I have worked hard to encourage my people to think about what they can do for the country."
"And it shows." Magneto noted as they entered the warehouse-sized room filled with various constructions of technology. In the center of the room, three three-meter-tall cylinders were arranged, each glowing slightly and with an indistinct figure floating inside while support equipment wrapped around the top and base. Two of the cylinders were marked at the base with the green-and-black insignia of the Von Doom family whilst the third one which was set to one side had the styalised scarlet helmet-in-a-blue-circle that marked Magneto's organisation. Walking over to the first two cylinders, Doom activated the status screens and scrutinised the data before nodding approvingly.
"My children are ready. Soon, Connor will rule with me as father and son, while Cynthia will be my emissary to the world and my weapon. And what of your creation, Magneto? What will you name her?"
"I was thinking… Galatea." Magneto mused and Doom nodded slowly.
"An excellent name, Eric. You truly are an educated man."
"Do you wish to decant them now, or do you wish my aid in moving them to your castle?"
As if in answer to Magneto's question, the doors opened and half a dozen men walked in, all wearing black bodysuits with metal chestplates, boots, greaves and pauldrons.
"My men will handle it." Doom said as one of the newcomers touched the two cylinders and frowned in concentration. Magneto raised an eyebrow as two more men moved to each cylinder and lifted them as if it was weightless.
"You are not the only one who utilises the powers of mutants." Doom noted before he turned to stride after the moving cylinders. As he reached the doors, he paused.
"Eric, I must know, was it your people who stole the Statue of Azrath from the Chicago Museum last week?"
"I do not believe so." Magneto said after a moment's thought. "Why?"
"There are certain… legends about it being a key for a being of enormous power." Doom said. "I have already ordered my people to look into it."
"I will do the same." Magneto promised. Doom nodded and strode out of the door.
"The statue of Azrath…" Magneto mused. "Interesting… I'm sure I've heard about it before…"
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"…awaken, my son." The voice said. "Conner, it is time to awake."
Connor slowly opened his eyes and looked round. His memories seemed somewhat disorganised and fragmented, but he knew the important things. His name was Conner, he was male, he was in a hospital…
…and the armoured figure by his bed was his father, Victor Von Doom.
"Good morning, my son." Doom said as Connor looked round, then he helped the teen to sit. "How do you feel?"
"Alright, I think…" Connor said, lifting up his hand and staring at it. Flexing his fingers, he slowly made a fist, then opened his hand again.
"Excellent." Doom said approvingly. "You should be able to move by yourself, so there is a shower through there. Once you are done, meet me in the Great Hall. One of my people will show you the way."
Connor nodded, still staring at his hand.
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The young woman slowly opened her eyes and looked round. Her mind seemed to whirl and spin dizzyingly, but she knew the important things. Her name was Galatea, she was female, she was in a hospital room…
"Good morning, Galatea." A silver-haired man smiled at her. "We have been waiting for you to wake up."
Galatea blinked several times and slowly sat up. "You… you're Magneto… how do I know that?"
"That does not matter at this time." Magneto said calmly, although Galatea could hear his heartbeat increasing briefly. "For now, welcome to the ranks of my Acolytes. With your powers, we shall create a brighter future."
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"…awaken, my daughter." The voice said. "Cynthia, it is time to awake."
Cynthia slowly opened her eyes and glanced round. Her memories seemed somewhat disorganised and fragmented, but she knew the important things. Her name was Cynthia, she was female, she was in a hospital…
…and the armoured figure by her bed was her father, Victor Von Doom.
"What… my mind…" She muttered and Doom reached out, briefly placing his gauntleted hand on her forehead.
"You are still assimilating your memories, my daughter. You will be at full health soon. In the meantime, you will need to wash and dress. There is a shower through that door and a uniform is on the stool there. Once you are done, meet me in the Great Hall. One of my people will show you the way."
"Yes, father." Cynthia whispered.
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*All available X-men, deploy to the Blackbird immediately! Police are reporting a spider larger than an elephant at Pelham Bay and I am detecting a mutant fighting it!*
Scott and Alex both leapt up from their seats, knocking over the chess set, then they paused and glanced at May Parker, who was putting down her book.
"I heard him. Go, I'll tidy up."
"Thanks, Ms Parker!" Alex half-shouted as he scrambled for the doorway, his brother hot on his heels. Sprinting to the grav-shaft which had replaced the old lift, they both dived into it, letting the energy field carry them down to the Fortress levels, then they scrambled into the male changing room where Logan threw their uniforms at them.
"I sometimes think that these things have nanotech to help us don them." Scott joked as he shucked his normal clothes and stepped into the bodysuit before grabbing his visor. Donning it, he tapped his watch and nodded.
"Powered up, let's move!"
"You love that watch, don'cha?" Alex asked as they sprinted down the corridor and into the launch bay where Frank McCoy waved at them from the hatchway of the blackbird. As they ran up the ramp, Hank hit the controls to retract it.
"All aboard!" He shouted.
"Siddown and stap in!" Logan replied from the cockpit. Scott hurled himself into a vacant seat, then glanced at the blue-furred mutant.
"Hank? I didn't think that you were an X-Man."
"If I am to aid my fellow mutants, then I need some field experience." Hank said as the acceleration pushed them into their seats. "Besides, there are three whom I have been asked to lead."
"Ya got thaht right!" Rogue called and Scott turned in his seat to see her, Laura and Chris near the back of the compartment.
"This is going to be cool!" Chris grinned and Laura rolled her eyes at him. "Oh, come on! Giant spider? How cool is that!"
"Where's Clark?" Alex asked.
"Stadium collapsed in China due to shoddy construction, several hundred trapped." Logan supplied. "Clark, Lara and Karsta headed straight there to provide help."
"Ouch." Alex winced. "Sounds like they're going to have another corruption hunt over there."
"Chuck, take over." Logan said, unstrapping himself and Scott's eyes widened behind his visor as he realised who the co-pilot was. "Havoc, deploy now."
Alex nodded as he pulled himself out of the seat and pressed a recessed button that opened a hatch in the central walkway. Lying down, the platform descended as the hatch closed over him.
"Launching." Charles announced as a small vibration shook the Blackbird, then the plane dived and Scott briefly spotted his brother racing away, the thrusters in his boots leaving glowing contrails.
"I gotta get me boots like those." He mused as he was pushed into his seat again, then Logan hit the control to open the ramp.
"Let's move!"
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The spider reared upwards, screeching as another small explosion hit it, then a metal fist pounded against one of its legs.
"Colossus?" Scott called in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Buying new coat for Illyana!" The tall Russian replied. "Spider went on rampage, helping to stop it. This Gambit, know him from Acolyte days!"
"And I have non idea why I am here!" The newly-identified mutant shouted as he poured energy into a card before throwing it at the spider. "I be minding own business in Latveria, then I be here and giant spider being attacking me!"
Scott fired a beam at the spider, forcing it backwards while Laura retreated, whispering to Chris as she did so.
"What the hell is that thing? My beam isn't hurting it!"
A war-cry sounded overhead and Laura dropped onto the spider's back, her claws flashing as she stabbed it. Logan blinked, then looked at the person who had launched her.
"Piotr!" Rogue shouted and Colossus offered his hand to her. One hand-slap later, Rogue's skin turned into metal and the two living statues punched the nearest leg in unison, shattering it.
"Oh la la." Gambit whistled. "I think I'm in luuurrrve."
"Less talking, more fighting!" Logan roared as Chris hurled him into the air to land beside his daughter. Gambit stared at the youngest member of the team in surprised respect.
"Il est fort…"
"C'est un Kryptonian." Hank noted as he picked up a chunk of debris and threw it. Gambit nodded, then leapt back as the spider collapsed. Laura somersaulted down and accepted a cloth from Chris, using it to clean her claws before retracting them.
"Quite a fight." Logan growled as he accepted the cloth in turn and began cleaning his blades. "Gonna hafta programme that one into the Danger Room. Giant spiders."
"What you doing here?" Piotr rumbled and Gambit started to shrug, then paused as a buzz sounded. Motioning them to remain silent, he pulled a small phone out of his pouch and pressed a button on it.
"Gambit here.
"Monsieur! I…
"Non, I don't…
"Pardon? Je ne pas…
"Merde!"
Closing the phone, Gambit glared at it before pumping some energy into it and throwing it at the spider's corpse. The phone exploded and Gambit sighed.
"Mon Ami, perhaps you 'ave… 'ow you say, spare room?"
"Magneto declared you traitor?"
"Oui." Gambit sighed. "Je ne pas comprende… ah well. At least company will be good. Bonjour, mon petite chou-fleur, Je m'appelle Remy LeBeau…"
Rogue gave him a semi-freaked look then stepped back as Scott glanced at her.
"Rogue, why didn't you use your glove?"
"Faster this way and it gives meh slightly more powah." Rogue replied, not taking her gaze off Gambit. "Also, the memory-trickle let meh know where Colossus was plannin' ta punch next."
"Ahhhh." Scott nodded in understanding as Rogue reverted to her human self.
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The cloaked figure looked down from the rooftop at the deceased giant spider, a small, triumphant smile tugging at his lips. The light briefly illuminated the tattoos on his skin as he pulled out a small phone.
"Sinister, Mesmero. It is done, the Guardian is no more. You may open the second Gate whenever you wish."
Placing the phone back in its pocket, Mesmero turned and walked away.
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"…and finally, I would like to introduce our newest resident, Remy LaBeau, who prefers to be known as Gambit." Xavier said, pausing as a round of laughing applause greeted Gambit's overly-theatrical bow, one only slightly hampered by Illyana Rasputin hugging him. "Gambit has agreed to be our new French teacher as he is fluent in it. In addition, he is an adept in staff-fighting and will be running evening classes. Boom-Boom, Gambit will also help you with your powers if you wish as he can generate explosions as well."
"Cool!" Tabitha half-squealed.
"I believe that everything has been said, so dig in."
Illyana pouted as Remy placed her back in her seat, then he turned to Piotr.
"Superman, he is the one who cured mon petite angel?"
"He did." Piotr rumbled as he added some vegetables to Illyana's plate, earning another pout. "I owe him for sister's life and sister likes it here. Many friends and now she has her Uncle Remy back. She miss you."
Gambit looked round and grinned. "I think I will like it here, mon ami. Je pense que je vais l'aime beaucoup."
"Hope so." Piotr replied as he ladled more vegetables onto his sister's plate, ignoring her pout. "I do."