The X-Men, led by Cable approached the entrance of the tower.
"Stop right there." said a booming voice, from within the tower.
From the tower's entrance stepped a man with long hair and white coat.
"Shatterstar." growled Cable.
"I suggest you all turn back." said Shatterstar, pointing his blade at the X-Men.
"We need to see Magneto." said Cable.
"He doesn't want to see you." Shatterstar retorted.
"Shatterstar..."
From behind the curtain covering the entrance of the tower came the same booming voice from earlier.
"Lay down your blade Shatterstar." Magneto ordered, stepping outside to reveal himself.
"But sir..."
"That's an order."
Shatterstar sheathed his blade, allowing the X-Men to walk in.
"I did not expect company." said Magneto, leading the X-Men through the entrance hall of the tower.
"What's with this place Magneto?" asked Wolverine.
"I created it as a safe haven for all mutants who are helping in the fight for mutantkind." answered Magneto.
"What about Genosha?"
"The Purifiers came... destroyed it."
Magneto enters a room with a long table and several seats.
"Take your seats everyone." said Magneto.
"I thought you weren't expecting company." said Cable "From the looks of it it seems you were expecting someone."
"Let me rephrase." Magneto started "I was expecting company... but not your company. Please have a seat."
After an hour and twenty minutes of talking, Magneto chose to help the X-Men, but there were a few who didn't trust this alliance would bode well for them.
"Nathaniel, are you sure we can trust him?" asked Beast, leaning against the wall of the barracks.
"Magneto has been through a lot, just like us." said Cable.
"But what if he turns against us?" asked Beast.
"He won't."
"But WHAT IF he DOES?"
"HE. WON'T."
Beast lowered his head as Cable headed for the door.
"Beast..."
Beast looked at Cable.
"You must trust me."
"I trust you." sighed Beast.
In the armory, Wolverine and Sunfire check out the firepower that's in stock.
"Logan?"
"Yeah Shiro?"
"Do you feel like it was a mistake to come here?"
"Personally I have no say so in the matter, but if I did I would have dealt with Stryker Junior a long time before now."
"Ahem."
Wolverine and Sunfire turned to their gaze to the doorway. Standing before them was yet another former X-Man, Nightcrawler.
"Kurt." smiled Wolverine, grabbing Nightcrawler's hand as he came into the room.
"It's good to see you Logan." Nightcrawler greeted "And you too Shiro."
Shiro shares a handshake with Nightcrawler and the three sit down to talk about life.
"What have been up to Kurt?" asked Wolverine "Why're ya in a place like this?"
"Magneto took me in after I married Wanda."
"You married Wanda?" asked Shiro.
"Yes." answered Nightcrawler "And we have a child."
"How is Wanda?" asked Wolverine.
"Purifiers."
"Purifiers?"
"The Purifiers killed her and took me prisoner. Magneto rescued us. Even though I never saw eye to eye with him, I was thankful because he saved Talia as well."
"Talia?" said Shiro "Is that your daughter?"
"It is." said Nightcrawler "Come, I will let you see her."
As Nightcrawler leads Sunfire and Wolverine to the next room, within the hallway Psylocke and Blink speak with Shatterstar.
"Your rooms are beyond the nursery." said Shatterstar.
"Why does a place like this even exist?" asked Blink.
"I know it's not too homey, but it's all we got." Shatterstar responded.
"Shatterstar, why did you join Magneto?" asked Psylocke.
"Because Magneto wants to protect us." said Shatterstar.
"Everything he's done is for our protection?"
"I know you question his methods, but he truly does want what is best for us Betsy."
Psylocke looked at Blink, she too began to think that Shatterstar may have had a point.
"I think it's best we trust Magneto." said Blink, surprising Psylocke.
"I'm going to bed." said Psylocke, before storming off, leaving Blink and Shatterstar alone in the hall.
"Yes. Uh huh. Thank you."
"Who was that?"
"That was one of our allies. They called from the Tower."
"We hittin' it?"
"We'll give them a little time… then we'll hit them."
"Why wait Jason? Why not get them now?"
"Because Mr. Creed, unlike my father's Purifiers, we must plan these things carefully and delicately. Besides, our little spy is gathering all the information they can."
"I'll trust you Stryker… for now."
"Oh Greydon. Please list me as a reference after our alliance dissolves."
"Watch what you say Stryker. Remember, you're working with mutants."