Chapter 6 – Help him, stop me

Pietro was walking down the hallway, John at his side. Pietro had finally gotten through to the firebug. Well not completely.

"So tell me again how come you remember me", John asked in a whisper.

"I've already told you I can't tell you… Who knows what my father can make Mastermind do to your mind."

"Yeah… that guy's creepy."

"You telling me", Pietro said as he pushed a button and the door slid open. "Oh sorry Centaur." Before them was a man around 25. He was one of the new Acolytes and Pietro's most hated thing and the feeling was mutual. Centaur's power was that when he wanted to he could transform into a centaur. His hooves were almost as strong as diamante but Centaur himself wasn't so strong yet. Something Pietro had told him while they were practicing and the guy had gone ballistic. Centaur didn't trust Pietro.

"You should watch where you're going Quicksilver. You may be the boss's son but that doesn't mean you can act as you want around the rest of us."

"Ha", John said. "Yes he can you're just too stupid to see why."

"Pyro why do you hang around this weak mutant?" Centaur asked. "All he can do is run."

"Oh I'll show you what I can do", Pietro growled and John flung his arm around his chest to hold him in place.

"He's not worth it Tro!"

"Quicksilver report to my office right away", came over the intercom.

"Looks like someone is in trouble", Centaur smirked.

"No I'm not", Pietro smirked back. "If I was he should have called me Pietro."

Pietro twirled around and his cape hit Centaur's face. The guy transformed and ran after him. But Pietro was long gone when Centaur threw himself at him. In shock he transformed back and landed on his face.

"You know mate", John said happily. "You'll never catch him."

"One day I will… One day I'll show the world the traitor he is!"

"Traitor?"

"Yeah", Centaur rose. "He is one I can feel it!"

"You could also feel that Magneto was Christen and he snapped at you and said he was Jewish and you've felt numerous other things so forgive me mate if I doubt ya."

In the meantime Pietro entered his father's office.

"You called dad", he said as he walked up to the desk.

"Yes… Pietro sit."

Pietro sat down on the chair.

"Pietro…" Magneto said and ran a hand through his hair. "I think we have a spy among us."

"What a spy?"

"Yes… someone is working for the X-men."

"Who would sink so low that he would work with low lives like that? Doesn't he have any common sense at all?! Who would want to work with kidnappers and tortures?!"

"Exactly my point."

"Do you suspect anyone father? Say the word and I'll have them out of here!"

"I'm thankful for that son. That's exactly why I called you here."

"So you know who it is", Pietro smiled grimly.

"Yes well I have two suspects."

"Who?"

"Pyro and Mastermind."

"Pyro? Sir I'm sorry but it can't be him."

"How so?"

"Firstly he is always around me and is always surprised seeing the X-men, secondly he's a too bad actor to be and thirdly he is damn right stupid!"

"Yeah you got a point… Keep an eye on him though."

"Won't be a problem. I'll make him think we're friends and take him with me everywhere."

"Aren't you doing that already?"

"No he's just following me."

"So that only leaves Mastermind… I've never really trusted him anyway."

"Where do you want me to dump him?"

"I want you to take him away from here… and kill him."

"Kill him? But father you said you would never kill a mutant."

"Mastermind is working for murders I bet it was he who helped the X-men kidnap Wanda and torture her with lies and threatening her with rape."

Pietro's eyes flashed. "I'll do it."

"Good report back as soon as he is dead. Put a telepath collar on him."

"Yes sir!"

Pietro stood up and left in a hurry.

In his room he started to pace.

"Shit, shit, shit double shit", Pietro cursed as he paced back and forth. He sighed and took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello", came a voice over the phone.

"Ma'am O?"

"Oh P-eter", she answered making Pietro realize she wasn't alone.

"Yeah I have a big, big problem."

"What is it?"

"I'm ordered to murder a traitor…"

"What?!"

"Well he isn't really a traitor, my father just thinks so. I'm gonna take him to a wood in Canada and I want you to stop me."

"But Peter how will we find you?"

"I'll let the traitor knock my helmet off at… 17.30 make sure that Chuck is searching for me with Cerebro."

"I'll see what I can do… dear be careful."

"Of course mom."

He heard chuckle from her. "I mean it boy."

"I know… I know…"

Pietro found Mastermind in his room.

"Oh Quicksilver what can I do for you?" he asked and rose.

"My father wants you to come with me for a mission Mastermind. Hurry we'll leave in five minutes."

"Oh… where?"

"A wood in Canada there is said to be a powerful mutant hiding out there and after the fiasco at area 51 my father wants you to make an illusion to trick this mutant into our grasp to get sanctuary."

"Of course boy… let's go."

At 17.20 Ororo walked into Charles' office.

"Charles have you searched for Pietro recently?"

"No there is no chance to find him."

"Charles please for the students' sake. They are getting really worried and you say that there is always hope."

"Ororo I'm sorry but in this case I think there is no return."

"Charles he is just a child still. Please try it?"

"As you wish" he said with a heavy sigh. "I'll try it."

"Thanks Charles."

In the meantime Pietro was leading Mastermind through the woods.

"So Quicksilver where is this mutant of yours?"

"There is none…"

"What?"

"Mastermind… my father asked me to take you here to kill you."

"W-what b-but why?"

"He thinks you're a traitor."

"You mean he's found out?"

"No", Pietro shook his head. "In that case… do you think I would stand here?"

Mastermind smiled. "No of course not… so what do we do?"

"Firstly I want you to hit me so this stupid helmet is knocked off… and put this on." He held out a collar.

"Okay I'll do it to keep the illusion believable."

Mastermind put it on and then sighed.

"I'm sorry my boy… good luck."

He struck out hitting Pietro with a branch. Pietro fell to the ground and the helmet fell off.

"Ororo I'm sorry but", Charles began but interrupted himself. "Wait… I got a reading."

"Where", Scott asked being present as well with Lance.

"In Canada… he's not alone… he was attacked by Mastermind."

"Shit something must be up", Logan growled.

"You don't think they're after someone?" Lance asked.

"They are… well Pietro is", Charles explained. "I can only read Mastermind now… he's scared of Pietro. Magneto… he… he thinks Mastermind is a traitor. He sent Pietro out to… to kill him!"

"Shit", Scott said. "I'll bring Berserker, Jean, Amara, Tabitha and Roberto with me."

"I want to come", Lance said.

"No Lance. We might be forced to hurt Pietro and I don't want to put you, Fred, Remy, Piotr or Todd through that."

"Thanks Scott…"

"Come out come out wherever you are Mastermind", Pietro taunted. "You can't hide from me." Pietro zipped around the woods.

"Why are you doing this Quicksilver I'm only loyal to your father", Mastermind said looking at Jean who smiled friendly at him. "I would never help anyone against Eric."

Pietro ran towards the voice and stopped when he saw Jean.

"Traitor", he yelled angrily. "I knew it! My father was right you are helping the X-men!"

"That's where you're wrong", Jean said and smiled. "We're only helping him."

"At least he want to accept our help", Berserker said angrily.

"Oh look it's the walking toaster", Pietro taunted. "And the walking frying pan!" Amara glared at him. Scott came up from behind and grabbed his shoulder.

"Now let us take this nice and easy", he said. Pietro spun around and threw Scott to the ground.

"I don't think so one eye!" he screamed and smirked. "Hold on to something…"

Pietro zoomed away and then back and started to run in a circle creating a tornado and sucking up the oxygen.

"Jean", Scott called. "We have to stop him! Keep him off the ground! Berserker hit him with all you got. We have to knock him out."

"Why", Berserker asked.

"We want to try to help him."

Amara was still mad and planned to help Ray hit him.

"Now Jean", Scott ordered and she stopped Pietro.

"Hey no fair!" Pietro yelled and at once Berserker fired so did Amara and to his shock Scott found Sunspot making his shades fire too.

"No", Scott yelled when he saw all three blasts hit Pietro sending him through the trunks of five threes. When Pietro landed his helmet was knocked off and he had a gash on his forehead and his hair was stained too and he was bleeding from his nose and mouth. Scott hurried over and saw Pietro gingerly reach something to his mouth.

"Quicksilver to base… I'm attacked… Repeat I'm attacked… Mastermind got the enemy's attention… I'm hurt."

Scott kicked to radio away and saw Pietro look up at him with angry eyes.

"No fair", he said. They heard a roar coming through the woods and Scott looked at his team.

"Let's go", he yelled angrily.

"What about Pietro", Tabitha asked.

"His friends are coming for him… we can't stay. Mastermind come with us."

"Thank you Cyclops… thank you so much."

When the X-men had left Pietro turned his face to the side and saw Wanda run towards him with John.

"Pietro", Wanda exclaimed in horror and ran over and fell to her knees beside him.

"I… I can't feel my legs…" Pietro said.

"Oh Tro", she said and pulled him into a hug and he yelped.

"Aw shit his back's broken", Pyro said. "Healer where the hell are ya?"

A girl with pink hair and pink eyes ran over. She moved her hands to Pietro's chest.

"We have to get him back to base", she said. "I can't help him here."

"But if we move him he… he might lose his legs", Wanda stuttered out.

"Yes… but do you want him to lose his life? My lady I can't help him down here."

Jean gasped in horror as she'd been listening in.

"Oh my God Scott", she said and felt tears in her eyes. "Pietro's back is broken."

"Fuck", Scott swore and turned to the younger students. "You three are in deep shit!"

"But he's the enemy now", Amara said. "Isn't he?"

Mastermind smiled a bit. He knew about Healer's powers.

"Yes but he was our friend and there might be hope to get him back!"

"Mastermind", Charles said and smiled. "Welcome here… Scott why do you look so upset?"

Everyone's attention was on the X-men field commander and Scott sighed.

"Pietro was there", he explained. "He attacked us and we were about to knock him out to take him back with us too."

"Like why", Kitty asked.

"Beacuase Cherie", Remy said. "Now that we got Mastermind he might be able to change Pietro's mind back."

"We could if we had him", Jean mumbled.

"What happened", Logan asked alarmed. Scott shot an angry glance at Ray, Roberto and Amara.

"Someone used all their powers and caused me to fire at him… that sent Pietro through five tree trunks and…"

"And", Lance asked alarmed.

"That broke his back…"

Horrified gasp went through the room and as one Piotr and Fred's arms shot out and grabbed Lance. This was about to jump at the three other mutants to beat them to pulps.

"You bastards", he yelled. "I'm gonna kill you."

"Don't worry", Mastermind said.

"Don't worry", Todd yelled. "Pietro broke his back!"

"Yes but on his team Magneto has a mutant called Healer. He can heal anything, including broken backs. Pietro would be her third patient with broken back. She saved Shotgun from a broken neck."

"So", Lance asked still glaring daggers at the younger mutants. "He will be alright?"

"Yes."

"Mastermind", Charles said. "I want to talk with you in private and Ororo and Logan that goes for you too. Remy, Piotr make sure Lance won't kill anyone or anyone else."

"Can I come too professor", Scott asked.

"No… but Hank you may come."

"What have you done to him Mastermind", Charles asked sternly.

"Who?"

"Pietro Maximoff."

"Nothing. I couldn't his thoughts were running so fast I couldn't get through to his memories."

"But", Hank interrupted. "Then why is he acting as our enemy and as if he's forgotten about the Brotherhood boys?"

"Yes Logan", Charles turned to him annoyed. "Why is that?"

Ororo and Logan shared a look.

"Because he wanted to act as a spy for us", Logan said. "And he's done so ever since."

"So he's the one hinting where Magneto has been going", Hank asked.

"Yes."

"Then comes the hard question", Charles said. "How are we going to get him out of there?"

In the base infirmary Pietro was lying watching his sister sleep at his side. Wanda hadn't left him since they got back. His back was fine but Healer wanted to keep him there for safety. Suddenly the door opened and Magneto entered.

"How are you doing son?" he asked.

"I'm fine father. Just a bit tired?"

"And Mastermind?"

"Should be dead by now. I managed to cut his throat and pierce his chest."

"Good. I'm so sorry you got hurt Pietro." He bent down and kissed Pietro's forehead. "Sleep now."

"Yes father… I love you."

Eric blinked. "I-I love you too." And left.

"Sick bastard", Pietro mumbled and drifted off to sleep.

TBC