Chapter 66

Elsewhere...

In a vast library of mystical tomes, books come flying across the room and land with a loud thump upon the stone floor. This is no ordinary library. It is the collective wisdom that Selene Gallio has acquired over the centuries and right now her daughter was not so carefully searching through the books, some of which are hundreds of years old, for something...anything that could aid her in her quest.

When defeat had become inevitable at the Hellfire Club, the Countess Margaret Isobel Thoreaux had had enough wisdom to tactically retreat. Her mother was off somewhere recuperating. Isobel could still feel her due to the fact it is her mother's magic that binds her to this body so she knew her mother had definitely survived...not that she really ever believed that her mother wouldn't.

However with her mother in this state, this gave Isobel a window of opportunity to try and find some way to retain her presence in this world without her mother's magic. To find some way to break free of her mother's control. Only it was a very short window. Her mother would recover soon but more urgently Clark had 2 of the stones and would have the 3rd shortly. In fact for all she knows he could already have it. However she does not believe he has united them yet. She is certain she would sense power on that scale.

Therefore she still has a chance, albeit she might concede it is rapidly becoming a slim one, to claim the stones for herself. She will claim them she keeps telling herself. It is her destiny. 400 years. Death. Limbo. Rebirth. She hadn't suffered all of that to be defeated by some farmboy and his mutant friends.

Isobel flicks through the pages of another book. No. This is not what she seeks. She tosses it aside. Isobel is starting to get aggravated. She puts her hands on her hips and blows her dishevelled hair out of her face. She probably looks a state.

Isobel's eyes fall upon a crystal ball sitting on a shelf. She walks over and picks it up. She has to smile actually. From Lana's memories she knew what a terrible cliché this object had become but truth is they have their uses. She wonders what this one does precisely.

Isobel gazes into it and surges her magic into her fingers. The ball glows and the mist within swirls.

"You seek knowledge, Countess," an echoing voice from within the ball speaks to her.

'Hmm. Interesting,' Isobel muses. A speaking crystal ball. This could be useful. "Yes," Isobel replies confirming she seeks knowledge.

"You seek the means to gain your heart's desire."

"Yes!"

"Your final chance...your final stand nears. Which it is remains unclear."

"Oh seriously a rhyming crystal ball," Isobel complains. "Show what me what you mean," she demands.

"The Star Child has the 3rd stone but there is still a chance for you to get it."

"Show me!" Isobel demands desperately.

The ball shows the image of a place. "Be here at the precise time I state but be warned."

"Warned?"

"The Master of Metals...he too will be seeking his last chance."

"Magneto? How can he be there?"

"A Seer...young...powerful."

So that's how he knew to be in China, Isobel figures. Cursed Seers. They're always trouble in Isobel's experience.

If Magneto is there then so will be his Acolytes. Then there is the X-Men and Clark. Isobel can't fight them all.

"Top shelf, 5th from the left," the crystal ball advises.

Isobel looks at it puzzled for a moment before she looks up and to the left. Her hand reaches out and the book comes to her. The pages flicker open. Upon reading the spell in front of her a dark smile forms on Isobel's lips. The stones shall be hers!

At one of Magneto's bases...

There is a strange smile on the lips of the young mutant seer known as Blindfold. A speaking crystal ball. How silly. She wonders if she could get one for her birthday...no wait. That horrible, world-ending thing occurs on her birthday.

She wishes she didn't have to know that but that is her curse. She always knows what is coming. Her only trouble is that the future, to her, feels as real as the present and she can have trouble discerning where she is...when she is. Is she here? Is she in the here to come? Is she in both places at once? She just doesn't know.

Her thoughts are interrupted as she sees with her non-existent eyes she has a guest. Magneto's coming...or is he here already...or is he she only seeing that he's here already...or is she only seeing that he's coming. To her, the past, the present and the future are the same thing, happening at the same time. This is her gift. This is her curse.

"Hello again," she says and hopes she isn't talking to herself. That would make her look like she's crazy.

"Hello Ruth."

Huh. She guesses he is here. Score one for her. "Thank you. Yes. I have seen Superman. He has the last of 3. One final chance you still have to claim what you seek. You're welcome," she answers his first 4 questions before deciding it would be rude to have the whole conversation before he has spoken.

"What have you seen Ruth?"

Ruth hands over a piece of paper she doodled on earlier. "That's where the final stand will be. The ghost, so very desperate, beware of her, please."

"I shall. Is there anything else?"

"No. Yes. Transition...transference. What will be, will not be and what is not, will. Eyes open. Shoes don't fit. True nature wins through."

"She's getting nuttier," another voice mutters.

"Head rolls off. Cut by greatest enemy. Not bad for a runt," she says with a smirk.

There is an angry growl.

She smirks more.

"Creed," Magneto's tone is chastising.

"She does that just to annoy me!"

"Don't be ridiculous," Magneto dismisses Sabretooth's complaining. He asks Ruth about what she has doodled on the paper she gave him. "Numbers? What are they Ruth?"

"People, are funny, yes, no. They use numbers to describe places. You're welcome."

"Co-ordinates! They're co-ordinates," Magneto understands. "Thank you again, Ruth. I'll make sure you're rewarded."

"Can I get blue jell-o?" she asks, sounding very oddly like the 12 year old girl she is all of a sudden.

"You can have any coloured jell-o you wish," Magneto promises her.

"Blue," she insists upon.

"When I return."

"I was asking her. Not you."

"Her who?"

"The girl that is coming to visit."

"What girl?"

"Oh...is she not here yet? Sorry."

"Uh...should we take that as serious?" Sabretooth asks.

"It's hard to say," Magneto replies. "She could be seeing something months from now, years even."

"But you'll double the security on me just in case, thank you, please," Ruth says what Magneto was going to do anyway.

"I'll triple it."

"I knew you were going to say that," Ruth says with a childish glee.

"She's messing with us!" Sabretooth cries.

"Apparently so," Magneto accepts with more calm than Creed is capable of. "You're not leaving us are you, Ruth?"

"I am where I am. I was where I was. I will be where I will be."

"Oh that makes so much sense," Sabretooth complains. Seriously this girl gives him a headache.

"It will have to do for now. We must leave. Gather the Acolytes," Magneto commands.

Ruth cocks her head and listens to them leave before words once more spill from her lips. "Red falls upon black. Fire rains from the sky. A great evil shall come to unleash a greater evil. Beware, beware for Zod...he is coming."

Nova Roma...

A few hours later and Charles and Hank are still reviewing Jor-El's research into Selene. It was brilliant stuff. Genius. You could only admire the mind of the man.

"Hmm," Hank says.

"Something on your mind, Hank?" Charles asks.

"Jor-El identified a unique genetic discrepancy between Selene and normal humans outwith her x-gene. An esoteric component to her genome," he reiterates what they have found out.

"That seems to be so," Charles says, wondering where Hank is going with this.

"This has the effect of creating a cellular structure that, while closely resembling human cell structure, has unique morphological properties that Jor-El concluded was what allowed Selene to channel magical energy."

"What are you getting at Henry?"

Hank points out what he has seen in Jor-El's research. "Jor-El was a very thorough scientist," he credits Clark's father. "He actually tested a representative sample of Nova Roma's population and discovered a tiny percentage with the similar genetic discrepancy. Selene was the purest subject but his conclusion I have to agree with."

Charles cottons on. "If a percentage of the population shares this discrepancy then..."

"You can argue that, in fact, they are a distinct subspecies of humanity as distinct as mutants are from Homo Sapiens."

"Imagine that. Another species of humanity," Charles says with wry humour.

"The good Lord, in His infinite wisdom, obviously enjoys adding variety to His creation."

"Indeed."

Hank pauses over as he looks at the section of DNA Jor-El identified as being unique to this species. "I may be mistaken but I am certain I have seen this sequence before."

"In whom?"

"Wanda." After her magical properties emerged Hank did a more thorough investigation of her DNA out of curiosity but must admit he missed what Jor-El found...or more accurately never thought of it as anything but the normal variation you get from person to person.

"That would make sense. What about Amara?" Charles wonders.

"Can't recall off the top of my head but she only has ¼ of Selene's DNA so she may not have inherited it fully."

Still, with Amara's permission, they could investigate further, Charles considers. What an incredible discovery it was though, to be enlightened that there is in fact a 3rd species of humanity. More than that, though, Jor-El was able to classify what magic was, in a sense, in scientific terms. If the man was still alive Charles would be compelled to congratulate him on what is an astounding piece of research. Like the revelation of mutants it would shake the world...but Charles thinks it might be better to keep this revelation under wraps for now. The world still hadn't come to terms with the existence of mutants yet. It is almost certainly not ready for another bombshell.

As for Amara, she and Clark had been walking around the palace gardens, talking more than she thinks they ever have in the year since he arrived. Yeah, he's a little off and his mind seems to wander down strange tangents, which concerns her, but she can see why Rogue fell for him. He really is a great, genuine, funny guy. He has managed to lighten her mood and make her feel much better about herself.

He also managed, somehow, to convince her to go back and speak to her parents. Amara doesn't quite know how he did that but he did so here they are heading back into the palace.

When they get inside Amara's mother rushes over. "Amara!" she cries, delighted to see her daughter. She had been worried that their relationship had been irrevocably damaged. Her father soon joins the reunion

"I'm still mad at you, just to let you know," Amara informs her parents. "But I understand why you did it," she says with a glance over at Clark who helped her see the reasons behind her parents' choices.

Lucius noticed the glance his daughter gave to Lord Kal-El. He has only a few faint memories of Jor-El and the uprising but it seems the young man standing in front of him is very much like his father. "Lord Kal-El, did you find what you came here for?" he wonders.

"I did...and thank you for all your assistance."

"It was an honour. Now you must stay, have dinner and see what Nova Roman hospitality is like."

"I'm sorry but I must decline your kind offer," Clark refuses as diplomatically as possible. "I must continue my quest before the others come."

"Others?"

"The stone is being sought by many others. They will come eventually if I stay and that would put your people at risk which I will not do."

"But...surely they would be foolish to challenge you," Pomona says and Clark can hear the unspoken finish to that; because you're a God.

Clark almost sighs loudly. This is why he must leave. So far only Amara's parents and the temple High Priest know who he is. If he stays he is afraid others will find out and Clark doesn't know how to deal with masses thinking he is some sort of deity. "Perhaps it is foolish," he concedes the Queen's point, "but people who lust for power do foolish things. They may not be able to hurt me but in any attempt to try I can't guarantee others around me wouldn't be harmed. That's why I must go."

Lucius and Pomona are truly honoured to be in the presence of such a kind and considerate God who cares for the well-being of those much less than himself.

"I'm surprised they haven't shown up already," Amara remarks because that seems to be the way of things lately. "Especially Isobel."

"Who is Isobel?" Lucius asks.

Amara screws her eyes shut and cringes. She forgot that, technically, Isobel is her father's sister. Her and her big mouth. She looks to Clark for help.

Clark grins. "Oh no. You got yourself in this mess. You get yourself out of it," he tells her, refusing to aid her.

Amara whispers so low she knows only Clark can hear her. "3 words. Worst. God. Ever."

"Ooh does it come with a trophy?" Clark asks with false excitement.

Amara glares at him.

Lucius and Pomona are very confused.

Amara rubs her head and tries to figure out how to break this news. "Father...you may want to sit down for this," she advises.

Some time later Clark and Amara enter the chamber where Clark left the X-Men with Amara's parents in tow.

It had been a shock for Lucius to learn he had a sister...and a bigger shock to learn she was some sort of spirit that had hijacked the body of an innocent girl. The sad part is that, as he let it sink in, it really shouldn't have been much of a surprise. He is well aware of what his mother is like and if she had had the chance to raise him who knows what she would have twisted him into. His sister is much like his mother it seemed. Doing whatever it took, no matter how hideous, to cheat death.

Now he has another surprise to deal with by seeing inside the chamber he knew existed but was always sealed off.

Pomona looks around in awe at the crystal like pillars. Only Gods could create such magnificence. "This is what keeps us safe?" she asks.

"It is what keeps Selene out, yes," Clark confirms. "When she approaches, no matter through which method she uses, the barrier detects her and rises," he can report from Jor-El's memories which flow much easier into his mind now. Jor-El even made it impossible for her to teleport through. The barrier extends into multiple dimensions...Clark thinks that is what it all means what he sees in his head.

"So we going home now?" Evan asks, sounding impatient and bored. They've been basically hanging around with nothing to do.

"If the Professor and Mr McCoy are done?" Clark asks of the two adults.

"Yes, we are," the Professor says. Part of him would love to remain and read more but time is pressing.

"Indeed," Hank confirms.

"We will arrange an escort back to your flying conveyance," Lucius offers.

Being polite the offer is accepted.

"Just need to put this back," Clark says, holding up the pendant.

"What is it, anyway?" Rogue asks about the pendant since they never have gotten a real explanation of what it is.

"Hmm...journal," Clark decides is an appropriate description. "Think of it like a journal. Instead of writing stuff down, though, this stores a copy of someone's memories. Jor-El left it here because he felt it held too many bad memories. I think...perhaps, there might be more stored in it than I have seen but I also have a feeling that that is for another day."

No-one argues with Clark as they depart the chamber which seals up behind them. Clark then returns the pendant to its storage spot in the wall. It hasn't explained everything to him like why Jor-El carved all this writing on the walls. Maybe one day it will.

If Clark is to look at the positive he leaves this place with a deeper understanding of his father than before but still so many questions about how Jor-El changed from someone...well Clark could actually see himself for the first time in his father. How did Jor-El change from that to what he speaks to in the cave?

Clark wishes he had an answer but like he said that is for another day.

When they reach the jet they are surprised to find a large crowd has gathered near it.

"What is going on?" Lucius demands to know from one of the guard left to protect the jet.

Before an answer can be given one of the crowd points and shouts. "There he is!"

The crowd surges forward. The escort with the X-Men form a protective line in front and the crowd stops.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Lucius demands to know of his people.

"Is it true?" a woman asks.

"Is what true?"

"That He is the Son of the Child of the Stars, the Son of the Saviour," a man points at Clark.

"Oh Pluto's arse," Amara swears. "Someone must have blabbed," she concludes. Most likely one of the guards or servants who were there when her parents dropped to their knees thinking Clark was Jor-El.

Clark looks near panic-stricken. This...he doesn't know how to handle this.

"Remain calm, Superman," the Professor says, seeing Clark's expression.

"What do I do?" Clark asks in a desperate, whispered plea for advice.

"Tell the truth. There is little else to be done," the Professor must reluctantly advise. This is precisely what he was wanting to avoid which is why he was so insistent of Clark not saying anything but it's too late now. They're stuck.

Clark steps forward through the line of guards. He takes a shaky breath. "Yes. I am," he confirms what they ask. What else can he say? It's the truth.

The second he says it Clark can see it in the people's eyes. The awe of being in the presence of a being they ordain to be a God. A memory flashes in his head of Jor-El facing the same thing before he left Nova Roma. Words come to Clark's mind of what to say. "My father saw greatness within you that Selene stifled with her cruelty because she was afraid...she knew if she let you become what you could be that you would no longer need her. He chose to confront her so you could be free to achieve all you are capable of. I know if he was here now he would be very proud of everything you have achieved since that fateful day."

Charles looks on with some pride at Clark. He's doing amazingly well handling this so far.

"Are you staying?" someone asks and you can hear hope in their tone that wishes that the Son of the Child of the Stars would stay.

"As much as I would wish to stay I cannot," Clark tries to let them down as gently as possible.

"Why?" another voice asks in desperate disappointment.

"Because the same evil my father fought is still out there, beyond the shores of your island and I have to protect the people out there from it."

"But you can do so much for us!" yet another voice argues.

Clark takes a moment to consider what would be a good response. "I can," he concedes. "I can do much most people can't but just because I can do something doesn't mean I should. Hand in hand with great power comes a responsibility to use it wisely."(Peter's never going to let Clark hear the end of using that line!)"One of humanity's greatest qualities is your drive, your desire to do the impossible. If I was to do it for you then you lose that quality which my father admired most in you. It would make me no better than Selene because, however unintentional it was, I would stifle that drive. Always strive to do good and to make the world a better place for yourselves and your children and I will always be around to protect you from that which you cannot protect yourselves from."

Some of the people look a little misty eyed at his words.

"I have to go now," Clark announces to them. "I do so without worry. I have to come to know your Princess well and I believe her to be a shining example of what the people of Nova Roma are like. Therefore, I know you will achieve the great things my father believed you could."

Clark turns his head to look behind him at his friends. "Time to go," he says...pleads really. He can't stay in a place where people worship him.

The X-Men step forward and Clark leads them towards the jet. The crowd simply parts in front of him. A small girl is knocked over. That seems familiar. Like the memory of his father. Clark bends down and picks her up. "Are you hurt?" he asks her at the same time he scans her over.

She shakes her head vigorously but says nothing. Too shy. Her mother steps forward and takes her daughter back. She thanks Clark, bowing as she does so and moves back into the crowd.

"No, wait! My toy!" the little girl cries suddenly.

Clark looks down and there is a little metal sphere with a long handle...a broken handle. Clark bends down and picks it up and hears the noise it makes when he picks it up. It's a rattle he realises. Clark brings the two broken pieces together and his eyes glow red before he welds it back together. A quick burst of freeze breath cools it down. He hands it over, back to its owner. "There we go. Good as new."

The girl's eyes light up and she smiles delightedly. "Thank you," she says.

"You're very welcome."

"Thank you, my Lord," the mother says, bowing her head once more in reverence.

"Just take care of her," he says to the mother. He looks at the girl and points at her nose. "And you be good and listen to your mother. Mothers always know best," he says with a playful wink quoting the exact words his mother has used at him.

The girl giggles at that.

Clark can only smile at the fact he brought a little happiness to the girl.

This act only makes everyone in the crowd look at him with more awe than before at the power he just wielded. Also the fact, that despite being a God, he showed incredible humility. It only raised him up in their opinion.

Clark resumes his journey into the jet followed by everyone else. As soon as the ramp is closed up and no-one can see him he lets out a breath. He is going to raise a hand to his head when he pauses at the fact his hand is shaking, almost violently. He feels a hand on his shoulder. It's Storm.

Ororo knows all too well what Clark is going through. She takes his shaking hand into her own and helps steady it.

"How do you cope?" he asks her.

"With being seen as a God, you mean?" Storm guesses he means. Back home in Africa, her tribe saw her as a Goddess because of the power she wields.

Clark nods.

Storm takes a moment to compose her response. "It's complicated. It's flattering at first. Having people elevate you in such a way and then you realise the dangers. That they start to become reliant on you instead of seeking within themselves for the answers to overcome their problems. In the end I suppose I can admit I didn't cope...or at least I didn't know how to make them understand what they should be doing without destroying their faith. Faith is important. Faith can be good...but faith can be blind."

"What did you do?"

"Ran away," Storm confesses. That's how she ended up on the streets of Cairo with her sister. "Not my best decision but I was very young and couldn't cope. You did a far better job than I," she compliments him.

"Did I?" Clark asks in all honesty, not sure he did. "I was just trying to do what you said. Not destroy their faith but equally not having them sit around and expect me to fix their problems."

"There might have been better words...more impactful words but I believe you got what you were trying to across. It is a difficult balance to strike. I have been trying for many years to strike it without ever quite succeeding. In the end the best solution I have so far is the why I don't go home very often. If I'm not around they can't just sit and wait for me to solve their problems. It's harsh sounding, I know but by not being there I force them to think of their own solutions. I do keep an eye on them to make sure they're alright. They are my extended family. Like you said to the Nova Romans my interference is limited to protecting them against that they can't protect themselves from."

"I never wanted this."

"Neither did I," Storm shares Clark's feelings exactly.

"I just wish I could make them understand what I am."

"One day, perhaps. When they're ready," Storm says, expressing her personal wish about herself as well as advice for Clark.

"We're going. Get strapped in," Logan orders, thinking he's given them enough time. As Storm slips into the co-pilot chair next to him he glances over at her. He's never asked her about that her being a Goddess stuff. It's just a reminder of how far apart they are yet he can't imagine not continuing this slow, gradual process of dating they're going through. He's pretty sure that's messed up...but then again messed up is normal for him.

Clark sits down and tries to absorb what has happened. His hand reaches for his jacket pocket and he feels for the stone that is still there, safe and sound. It was done. It was over...almost. They had to go back to the mansion, pick up the other 2 and then go to Smallville. The caves were probably the safest place to unite them.

The jet takes off and Clark leans over to Amara to say something. "I meant what I said. If your people ever need me I'll be there," he promises her.

"Thank you, Clark," Amara says with a smile. She already had a smile at his words to that crowd. She liked how he seemed to believe how her people could rise up to greatness.

"Is it me or is this going too well?" Evan suddenly asks.

"What are you on about Evan?" Scott asks, with a light scowl.

"We have the stone and haven't been attacked once."

"Ya have ta admit, that is a little weird," Rogue says, in agreement with Evan for once.

Kurt and Kitty murmur in agreement. It was almost creepy how well this mission had seemed to have gone.

"Perhaps we'll catch a break," Hank says.

Logan snorts. "Yeah and maybe Magneto will call off his war and set up a flower shop," he pours scorn on that idea. "I ain't taking anything for granted until we put those stones where no-one can find them."

"We shall remain alert," the Professor says.

"Clark?" Jean queries.

"Yes, Jeannie?" Clark says, unusually using that nickname.

Jean looks at him peculiarly for a moment. Only his alter ego Kal called her 'Jeannie'. "How did you come up with what you said back there?" she wonders.

"Some of it was from what Jor-El said when he left and the rest I just improvised. Now if I could just make myself forget it all that would be good."

"Why would you want to forget it?"

"Ok in my best Kitty impression it goes something like this. Um hello," he imitates Kitty's Valley Girl accent. "I saw my dad like totally do the dirty deed with the evil dudette."

"Oh," Jean says, looking a tad embarrassed at forgetting that.

"I so totally don't sound like that," Kitty insists with a frown.

"You're right. I was watering it down by at least 1000%," Clark quips which makes Rogue snigger. "See," he points at Rogue. "She agrees with me."

Kitty scowls...which comes off more as a pout. Kitty just can't look scary.

Rogue sniggers a little more. It was still funny the way Kitty and Clark would rile each other up. No matter how estranged she and Clark were, Rogue could still find humour in it. Her gaze turns to him. Storm said she needed to be patient and try and understand. They just need a chance to talk. Rogue wants to try...she has to try and see if they can work it out. As soon as they get a chance she'll let him explain his side of the story.

The next few hours pass by. They are back over the American mainland, heading for home. Kitty is asking Amara something that occurred to her about Nova Roma. "I may be mistaken but didn't Rome, like, really hate the idea of Kingship," she recalls from reading it somewhere.

"The last King of Rome was a brutal tyrant. After he was overthrown the idea of Kingship was seen as undesirable, yes," Amara confirms. She is in-between bouts of air-sickness. She really hates flying.

"So how did your grandfazher become King?" Kurt asks, picking up on Kitty's line of questioning.

"It was not just Selene we got rid of. It was the whole structure that had supported her. All those still loyal to her had to be removed from positions of power in the Senate and the army. The uprising could also be seen as a short and brutal civil war. In the aftermath that meant a power vacuum. The old Senate was dissolved and until a new one could be convened some structure of government needed to be put into place. Without a Senate that inevitably meant an autocratic system. The leaders of the rebellion looked into the past for inspiration and remembered that once Rome had been a kingdom so they used that model. Since my grandfather was the hero of the rebellion they gave him the title," Amara tells the story.

"Just that reason?" Scott queries sceptically. He doesn't quite buy it that they would just grant her grandfather the title and prestige of kingship like that.

Amara sighs and reluctantly gives another reason her father was chosen. "There is a myth in our family that we're descended from Hercules, himself, so that gave the role some divine right and lineage. I'm pretty certain it's just a story that was made up by one of my ancestors to elevate himself. All the important families on Nova Roma try to claim some sort of lofty ancestor. It is just the done thing."

"Why don't you believe it?" Clark asks, because it seems a fair point. Amara truly does believe her Gods are real.

"It would be flattering, of course but my grandfather never believed it. I see no reason to argue with his belief." And that is that as far as Amara is concerned.

"How much power does the role of King have now?" Hank wonders since from Amara's story the role having absolute power was only meant to temporary until a new Senate was created.

"Power is shared with the Senate about equally. For a law to pass the King and Senate must be in agreement with each other. It is intended to promote unity through enforced cooperation. My grandfather's idea to try and knit the wounds of the uprising."

"The Senate is elected?" Hank queries.

"Every 4 years, yes. Senators are the representatives of the people. It is to make sure they, who suffered the most under Selene, can have a voice and are never ignored again. The King is allowed to appoint a ruling council...uh, a Cabinet, like the US President does," she tries to give an analogous example.

Fascinating. Truly fascinating. Hank wishes he had spoken to Amara more about her home earlier. An oversight on his part.

"We've got a problem," Logan suddenly says.

"What is it, Logan?" the Professor asks.

"I can't move."

Before anyone can figure out what he means the whole jet jerks suddenly and they find themselves being pulled off course.

Storm is trying the controls. "Something has overridden the controls," she announces, her voice remaining resolutely calm despite the situation.

"Logan can't move," Clark says.

"What was that, Clark?" the Professor asks.

"Logan can't move...like some force is pulling on your bones, right?"

"Yeah. Exactly like that," Logan can report.

Jean figures it out. "That can only mean..."

Scott finishes Jean's thought in grim, grave tones. "Magneto."

Author's Note: Ok so basically here I had Jor-El identify what would be in the DC universe the offshoot of humanity known as the Homo Magi. I like the concept and it makes sense in a world with mutants. In the comics Hercules is allegedly Amara's ancestor so I thought I would throw it in there and also I may have been watching way too much Spartacus on the TV but I just find it funny that Amara, the little princess, would swear in a way Logan would probably envy. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; the fight for the 3rd stone ends up having a most unforeseen outcome.