Chapter 9: Department Dealings
"Do you still believe in taking the high road?" Mystique asks Hank when they have regrouped in the forest. "Yes, but only if it's possible." "What will you do with the chips?" "Analyze them. Perhaps I'll destroy them afterwards or keep them for posterity." "You should keep them as a reminder of the treachery of humankind." "I think I will. Tomorrow I'll contact the Department of Health and Human & Mutant Services and see what I can do." "You can't mention any of this; Charles wiped their memories." "I know, I'll think of something. Perhaps I can make a deal with them." "There's only one way to deal with these people."
"I suppose this is where our cooperation ends." Magneto states the obvious. "Yes, I believe so. There's just the matter of…" "Why don't we ask him himself?" Pietro is called and comes running. "We want to ask you something, but you should consider it carefully…" Charles begins. "Do you want to stay with us or go back to school?" Magneto says bluntly. "Can I stay?" He looks hopefully at his father.
"I can't believe you allowed that." Hank is furious. "It is not in his best interest." "They've been separated long enough." "His head is going to be filled with hate and rage." "It already is, believe me." "So! It shouldn't be encouraged." "Look, we can continue arguing about this for a long time. It wasn't my call to make. Pietro longed for it and so did Erik." Hank continues to sputter. "Hank, he would only have run away again. He is safer with them, than out on his own searching for them." "Can't argue with that." "No, you can't. Let's focus on tomorrow's plans, shall we?"
Hank needs to convince the Department of Health and Human & Mutant Services that the use of chips is unconstitutional. He will use the usual arguments of liberty, the fourth and fourteenth amendment, but if all else fails, he will have a surprise in store. Charles and he had worked all night, what was left of it, on the chips and the information they contained. It had been quite shocking. All the powers were precisely described, but also known associates, a DNA profile and other relevant data. The entire history was recorded including school friends, teenage pranks, drug and medicine use, all manner of habits. The information was endless.
"Mutants aren't citizens. They shouldn't have the same rights. They don't need protection; we need protection against them." "Anyone born in this country automatically becomes a citizen." "Maybe we should change that." "It's about one's autonomy. Isn't this a country that takes pride in individualism? In freedom to be one's best?" "They shouldn't be one's best. Stripping their powers would be best, but this is the next best thing." It's not going to happen, Charles. Hank communicates to him, watching from afar. Time for plan B.
"You'll need to think of a new name for yourself, Pietro. We all have names that reflect our abilities." "How about… Thunder Lightning? Or… Greyhound?" "You don't want to compare yourself to an animal?" Mystique laughs. "They will do that for you, no need to encourage them." "Storm has already been taken, I believe, and Cyclone sounds like Cyclops." "We'll think of something," Magneto says, proud to finally have his son beside him.
"I have a deal for you to prove that most of us are willing to resolve this matter peacefully. The damage that Magneto and his Brotherhood have caused, has created a plague of vermin in this country. The rats are quite destructive and the mice are killing people with a low resistance to radiation. Would you like to have a solution for that?" "Of course, but what do you want in return?" "I think you know very well what I want." "That's blackmail, that is!" A negotiator becomes enraged. "It's simply politics. I trade you something for something in return." "They are not dangerous to mutants are they, these lab rats?" "No, they are not. So, for us, it is not necessary to eliminate them. It's not really our problem anyhow, since we aren't responsible for the creation of these animals." "But you are for releasing them." "I am not. But still, they would not have existed if there hadn't been any experiments in the first place. However, as a gesture of goodwill, we are willing to take the problem off your hands." "That's a deal." The others are murmuring. "End of discussion." The main negotiator snaps at his fellows. Having a solution to this plague is far more important than the chip business, especially since the first trial had gone awry and no-one could fully explain why.
The cop had been delighted with his promotion and had continued keeping an eye out for the Brotherhood. When he heard of Magneto having a wife and children, the unfairness of it all pierced his heart. Magneto was hardly ever alone, and a difficult target at that, but his wife, on the other hand…. He considered making it official, getting permission for a mission, but eventually decided against it. This was personal. There would be no records. His partner was willing to help and the both of them devised a plan. Very simple. All that was needed was fire exhilarant, a couple of axes, but most of all, patience and the right timing.
The boy had slipped through the net. Magneto had been an outcast with internal struggles, but was on the rise again. The secret agent thought his taste for vengeance had been satisfied, but he was wrong. The child and his father had been reunited and were apparently playing happy family, whereas he… It would be more challenging this time around, so perhaps more fulfilling as well.