We Are the Future
Warren looked vaguely uncomfortable, which amused Emma more than a little. The boy could fly under his own power, and he was uncomfortable in the cockpit of a helicopter. Perhaps he felt cramped?
Miles of empty ocean stretched beneath them. The helicopter – no doubt a generous contribution of Worthington's own company – had a cockpit constructed entirely out of transparent material. No doubt its primary purpose had originally been sightseeing, a wasted extravagance thus far.
Finally, the previously endless expanse of water was interrupted by a speck of green. As they got closer, Emma finally saw the purpose behind the sightseeing helicopter.
"Oh." The exclamation, though toneless and controlled, was unusual enough from her to betray her astonishment.
"The island of Genosha," Magneto narrated with evident pride. "A U.S. territory by mere formality, owned by the Worthington Corporation. By combining his resources with yours, my dear, we shall forge a sovereign mutant nation." He smiled wistfully. "I was thinking of calling it Avalon."
xxxx
Magneto's castle – "headquarters" was probably the correct term, but "castle" seemed much more appropriate – was as impressive as the rest of the island. In the grand hall, a vast chamber full of columns, two obviously irate young man faced each other. Fire blazed in their eyes, quite literally in one case.
"I am so sick of you!" Quicksilver was yelling in evident exasperation.
"Where the hell do you get off?" Pyro shot back. "Just because Magneto's your father doesn't mean anything! I've been fighting with him longer than you have! Where the hell were you?"
The sound of scornful laughter drew both of their attentions to the entrance. Magneto was entering, flanked by Emma Frost and Warren Worthington. But the laughter had not come from any of those three impressive-looking figures.
Instead, it had come from Alex Summers, who stood in Emma's shadow – literally and figuratively. "This is supposed to impress us, Magneto?" Alex practically spat. "Your subordinates ready to tear each other's heads off?"
Pietro's lips curled back in a sneer. "Right. Because we care what a lapdog thinks."
And suddenly all three young men were crouching in combat postures, ready to tear each other's heads off. Havok's hands glowed with energy, Pyro's with flames, and Quicksilver's muscles were tense, ready to spring into blinding speeds at the first move from either of the others.
Emma stepped forward and lightly placed her hand on Alex's chest. Magneto calmly added, "Please, children. Not in front of the guests."
All three men glared at each other, but reluctantly powered down and stood in normal postures.
"Did you at least complete your errand?" Magneto inquired mildly.
"We ran into some trouble," Pietro answered with a shrug. "X-Men and S.H.I.E.L.D. But we handled it. I think we even took one of them out."
"I took her out," John corrected.
Pietro glared at him, and it briefly looked like another confrontation was about to start.
"Enough," Magneto interrupted sharply. "Did you complete the objective? Did you release him?"
"Yes," Pietro assured him. "Xavier should have his hands full."
"Excellent! Now then," Magneto continued, waving Emma and Warren after him into the next room, "if you three can behave yourselves for five minutes, the grownups need to talk."