Fatal Attraction

I ducked, and Mystique sailed over my head. I then immediately Launched myself upward, and watched from the ceiling as she shot through the space I had recently vacated.

I saw Scott taking aim at her.

"Scott, go! I can handle her."

"Oh, I'm sure."

I dropped to the ground in time to avoid a California Kingsnake that was shooting at me. "A deadly snake. I can't help but think that that's appropriate."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Mystique said, advancing on me in her own form. "I'm going to tear you limb from-AGHHH!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you wanted one of Kitty's muffins."

Mystique looked like she was try to hang on to her last meal. Anyone else would have given her a chance to recover. Not me. I know how dangerous she could be.

I launched a barrage of aerial kicks rarely seen outside of films. Mystique didn't have a chance. She folded like a house of cards.

There was a chuckle from behind me.

I turned. Before I could complete the motion, however, a steel girder tore out of the wall and wrapped around me.

"Magneto. I was wondering where you'd got to."

"Eternal. I'd wondered where you went after you declined my offer."

"Now you know. What are you going to do about it?"

"You refused the chance to change the world for a Xavier and his pets. I do not take that lightly." Magneto raised a hand.

The girder squeezed tighter, and the world went black.

I revived seconds later. I was laying on the floor, and Magneto was hovering in front of me.

"I get the message. I surrender."

Magneto looked surprised. "You do."

I got to my feet. "Yes. I know when I'm outclassed."

"That is well. For you."

Magneto turned and hovered away.

"And it isn't now." I dived at Magneto, ripped his helmet off, and hit him with the feeling of a blowtorch across the eyes.

He didn't scream. Instead he grabbed my arm and threw me over his head into the wall.

"A good effort. Unfortunately for you I am immune to you primitive power."

I bristled. "What are you talking about? I am the oldest human on the face of the planet!"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

That did it. I was not going to deal with this. Magneto was going down. One way or another.

I launched myself at him. He hit me with the girder he had used earlier.

"I do not have time to tarry here. My followers have recovered what I came for. We will continue this battle later." Magneto turned and floated away.

In a blind rage I got to my feet and ran after him. It was irresponsible. My experience inside Rogue's mind must have loosened my control over my emotions.

I chased Magneto through the mansion, and out through the ruined front doors. The Acolytes and the brotherhood were already there, although Gambit, Pyro, and Quicksilver were looking distinctly worse for the wear.

Magneto floated over the heads of the X-men already present, and faced us.

"I cannot permit you to follow me."

"You can't stop is either."

"Mastermind?"

I tried to run. I didn't get far enough.

Just before I reached the assembled enemy mutants, a voice sounded inside my head.

Sleep, It ordered. I managed not to succume.

Behind me I could hear the X-men falling, overcome by Mastermind.

"You have had a long history." A voice said. "If you will not sleep, then you will Remember."

And the world changed.