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Chapter 23 of
A Simple Favor:
On June 2nd 2002, about 1:30am CST, Magneto flew through the air, toward the peaks of Makalu. At Rogue's request, trailing behind him, was a silver sphere he maneuvered which contained Mesmero. Along with four other spheres composed of solid iron. He was personally glad to be rid of the car, for the time being. They'd left it at his base while obtaining the metal they were required for whatever task laid ahead.
On his person, he carried a small bag with some provisions. Just some water bottles and apples he had on hand at his base, to help them keep going throughout the day. And, thus far he hadn't bothered turning off the Image Inducer. Initially, it had been due to Wolverine following them and then he had simply forgotten. Now, his instincts told him to leave the device active while Mesmero was still their captive. The last thing he needed was Charles to track down Mesmero in the future, read his mind, and remove all ambiguity from their narrative. As long as Max Eisenhart was meant to be in Anna-Marie's company, the disguise stayed.
In front of him, leading the way, was Anna-Marie. She was rendered invisible to the naked age, as was he and everything they brought in their wake. Neither of them desired any unwanted attention. He was tracking her flight path through the fibers he designed in her garment. The metal, crafted by his own hand, was utterly unique and easy for him to pinpoint, even as they traveled at such a high speed.
He'd advised that traveling within the spheres may be faster, but she stated she needed to view landmarks with her eyes to ensure they were in the correct location. Flying over sea and land, watching as day turned into night as they passed through several time zones was rather a delightful experience as they traveled over seven thousand miles.
It had certainly allotted him time to think and so the gears in his mind had been grinding relentlessly for the past several hours as he deferred to Rogue's judgment. Little details he dismissed in passing as trivial suddenly screamed out at him, like an alarm echoing in his mind, begging his attention. It certainly had his attention now.
How had he not seen it? It all seemed so apparent now. How Anna-Marie could spot him when he was invisible; his initial indication she had a greater comprehension of his own mutation.
Then there was the first time they spoke of his abilities, she stated she'd never absorbed someone as powerful as him. What he'd assumed was flattery was her honest assessment of what she understood magnetism to be under her control. To think about the practice she gained that very day, at the school and aboard the X-Jet scanning for landmarks at Mach five.
'Her skills must have increased tenfold,' he realized. In retrospect, he knew that for a fact, with how she tracked his position when he dealt with Risty and the firearm. He recalled being impressed with her capabilities. How little he knew then.
'A few thousand feet must have been child's play compared with Tibet,' he huffed, before his eyes widened. 'Or Siberia,' he thought, astonished as the girl changed her trajectory, angling her body downward. They must have been getting close. To be fair, he hadn't been paying as much attention as he might have, had he been escorting her.
He returned his mind back to his train of thought.
Could that be right? Had she not guessed his course of action, of seeking out Odekirk, but rather knew where he had been through the use of magnetism? But with the time difference it would've been nearly three or four in the morning. Why would she be awake at that ungodly hour?
'The girl never ate dinner. She must have been famished,' he discerned. 'And Charles all but told me he'd spend the evening traversing the labyrinth. He might have followed her into the kitchen that morning and- Rogue said she doubled down, that must have been when,' he deduced as his boots touched down onto the snow-covered ground.
He paused for a moment, reflecting on his assumptions, as Rogue allowed her body to become visible. She chose to hover above the ground, keeping clear of the wet snow. He was quick to follow suit as he affirmed, 'My logic is sound.'
Not that he could confirm it. They didn't speak about the X-Men or her conversations with Charles. She wouldn't volunteer the information and he couldn't pry. It was something to ponder on later.
"It's at the top of this ridge," she informed him, pointing up.
"By your lead, Anna-Marie," he said with a nod. A smile graced her lips before she faced forward, gliding across the terrain. He and the spheres he controlled shadowed behind.
It wasn't long before they were in front of a large stone wall. There seemed to be a door concealed there, made of stone itself. He watched as Rogue's eye glowed white with the use of magnetism and the rock, now lined with a thin strip of metal along the bottom, was lifted up and out of sight, granting them access to the cave. Glancing within, it was a somewhat small interior with pillars and other structures carved into the stone. What caught his attention was the innermost wall and the large red spider made of bright red jewels, that gleamed even in the dark.
"I need ta talk to Mesmero," Rogue told him as they entered the cave. She flew up to and landed in front of the wall, while with a wave of his hand he landed the spheres on the ground.
Magneto pulled the metal back, revealing their captive and took hold of the cuffs securing Mesmero. As he floated backward to stand next to Rogue, he tugged the mutant forward. Mesmero let out a groan as he was dragged to his knees before them both, shivering from the cold. With another wave of his hand, Magneto produced a small ball of energy and sent it toward the ceiling, brightening the room.
"Vincent?" Rogue asked as she kneeled down on her heels, putting herself at eye level with him. "Can you hear Apocalypse's voice in your head, right now?" she asked. Magneto felt his eyebrow arching, wondering who she was referring to.
"You know I cannot," the man answered begrudgingly as he avoided her gaze.
"And do ya understand why?" she asked next, her head cocking slightly, her voice far gentler than he anticipated, like she was attempting to soothe a wounded animal.
"The helmet evades telepathy," Mesmero supplied dully, keeping his eyes cast upon the cold ground. He clearly didn't want to answer her, but really, would he fight her with the Master of Magnetism standing to her side? Even if he still had the Image Inducer active.
"Yup, it sure does," she said as she stood and turned to look up at him. "Can ya feel the sarcophagus down there?" she asked him. Magneto reached out with his senses and felt the room, about fifty feet down. He could feel the metal object in question and the man lying inside the tomb, surprisingly living and breathing within its prison.
"That's Apocalypse, I presume," he stated, as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Ah-huh," she confirmed regardless. "And we need to encase that sarcophagus in that," she said, pointing at his helmet. And he nodded with appreciation of what the iron spheres were for. Converting them into the particular metal would take time, but having any metal in bulk would speed up the process considerably, compared to seeking out raw materials in their current environment.
"Apocalypse's wrath will be severe," Mesmero said, shaking violently. His chains clattered with the force of his trembling as if to restate this as fact.
"How?" Rogue asked, shrugging down at him. "En Sabah Nur reached out to you telepathically. Once me and Max make that impossible, he ain't gonna have anyone else ta do his bidding, now will he?" she asked. Magneto watched as that thought registered with the other mutant, though he was attempting not to react, even as his eyes darted back and forth in thought. "What's ta keep him from spending the next five thousand years locked away in there?" she added, her head gesturing toward the door. The other mutant remained noticeably mute, the helmet having been closed around the base of his skull so it couldn't 'fall' off.
"Perhaps, Memsero, we should be grateful that decision is not yours to make," Magneto stated dryly. He turned to Anna-Marie. "Shall we?" he asked her.
"Yeah, this is gonna take a while," she agreed. "Don't you go anywhere, Vincent," she said, her eyes looking up to Magneto, silently asking. It was a simple task. Magneto promptly formed a metal chain, embedding it in one of the stone pillars along with Mesmero, ensuring neither of them needed to actively guard the other mutant.
There was work to do.
On June 3rd 2002, about 7:30 am CST, Rogue stood with Magneto outside of the sealed door, the metal from the iron spheres was mostly spent and their task completed. At least, it would be after they gave the work one last once over. Which was more difficult than she would have liked. Scanning over the metal they had siphoned into the rocky chamber, bit by bit wasn't the problem. Even if the process had taken hours. It was Apocalypse, he was thrashing violently against his containment.
Telepathy seemed to be the only weapon in the ancient mutant's arsenal as he laid in the sarcophagus and having it denied to him was- she imagined he was screaming as well as he thrashed about. Powerlessness. She knew the ancient mutant was grappling with the reality that his freedom would never be regained.
"En Sabah Nur's imprisonment is secure," Magneto stated confidently.
Opening her eyes, she pulled back her senses. She wanted nothing more than to agree with Max and leave the cave, intent on putting all thoughts of En Sabah Nur far from her mind. She hadn't put in the sarcophagus, and she wasn't entirely sure who had or why. Though if his treatment of Mesmero was any indication, then she could assume he wasn't exactly a gracious leader.
She glanced over at Mesmero, as he sat up against the pillar he was chained to, next to him an empty water bottle and apple core. He seemed resigned to his captivity, but she wondered if he wasn't a tad bit relieved. She knew she would be once they were done with today. She couldn't wait to go to sleep.
'Soon. Ya just gotta do this one last thing,' she told herself, hyping herself up for the last step as she walked toward Mesmero. She took a breath before waving her hand and his cuffs were released, falling with a thud to the ground. She kneeled down beside him as he rubbed his wrists.
Rogue felt Magneto come to stand behind her. She had a feeling her friend was staring dagger at Mesmero, silently warning him of what would happen if he even thought about attempting to harm her, not that Mesmero could. With another wave of her hand, Magneto's helmet was lifted from his head, restoring his access to his mutant powers.
"And now?" she asked him.
"…it is quiet," Mesmero answered, keeping his tone carefully neutral.
"Guess he can't threaten you anymore, huh?" she asked, knowingly, cocking her head slightly.
"The great Apocalypse is destined to return to rule the land. He did not threaten me, he commanded as is a Pharaoh's right. Those that defy fate will suffer dearly," he retorted haughtily.
"And those that obey En Sabah Nur will be rewarded?" Rogue asked, trying to hold his gaze. "But he never offered you a reward, now did he?" she asked.
Silence. From both of them. She felt a wave of gratitude for Max. He barely understood what was going on, but kept deferring to her, letting her handle the situation. She'd explain fully once they didn't have a captive audience. That would only be if she could convince Mesmero to stand down.
"Vincent, look, I was raised by a woman who calls herself Destiny. Now she knows a thing or two about the future. And she always told me that no path is set in stone. What's ta come ain't predetermined. It's the choices we make that shape fate," she explained as Mesmero finally met her gaze. "So, I'm asking ya, as a fellow mutant, do you want to be ruled by Apocalypse or did he not give ya an alternative?"
"And what is your alternative?" Mesmero asked, his eyes narrowing as he gazed up at Magneto behind her.
"Mercy and freedom," she answered succinctly. She watched Mesmero open his mouth, though no sound came out as he seemed at a loss for words. "But it comes with a couple of stipulations," she informed him and his gaze was cast to the side once more. "Ya never try ta open the doors or control anyone else ta do it for ya again. Apocalypse stays where he is."
Rogue watched as he glanced down at his wrists. Something she'd said had resonated with him. She was sure of it.
"... And the second?" Mesmero asked.
"Ya don't use your powers to control other mutants," she answered. Mesmero's eyes narrowed and Rogue felt a sense of doubt with her second request.
She wished there had been time to talk to Max, get his opinion, but they had been on the move all day; driving, flying, converting iron to the metal they needed. And the copy of Magneto's consciousness hadn't spoken up since he agreed to reestablish the maze. He was likely in the far reaches of her mind, working diligently to protect her.
From Mesmero's reaction, maybe she was going too far with this. Maybe, she couldn't expect everyone to play by her set of rules. And maybe she couldn't attempt to enforce it with those she engaged with outside of the X-Men.
"What of humans?" Mesmero asked.
That would be a step too far and she knew it. If she tried to keep him from using his powers on anyone, then why wouldn't he agree, turn on her the moment he left her sight and seek out his former master. She'd be denying him his existence as a mutant, altogether.
"Fair game," Rogue answered, trying not to sound reluctant. She'd deal with this, just like she'd deal with how the Professor and Logan would deal with her.
All in a day's work…
On June 3rd 2002- CST, in the early morning, Magneto stood in a cave and listened to Anna-Marie as she wrestled with that damnable, admirable morality of others. This wasn't the first time she engaged in such a practice, but the day was taking its toll on the girl; she was getting tired. He could see it; in her slowed movements and her weary delivery. Thankfully, as she was not alone and quite certain of what needed to occur next, he could ease her burden.
To that end, he placed his hand on her shoulder and felt her jump slightly before he moved his thumb and squeezed at her shoulder blade, attempting to comfort her. Anna-Marie turned to glance up at him and her eyes were swelling with emotion, practically begging him to take over. He nodded sternly, more than willing to help. He gripped at her shoulder, pulling upward, and she in that next moment was standing next to him, nodding herself.
"Within reason, of course," Magneto stated, his gaze on their captive as his hand slipped off her shoulder. "And need I remind you, Mesmero," he said, glaring down at the man as he crossed his arms over his chest, "it was you who attacked the X-Men; you who attacked the Acolytes. Not the other way around," he said firmly. "Though if a fellow mutant were attempting to harm you, I very much doubt Rogue is suggesting you choose grave physical injury over promises made," he said, adding a bit of nuance to their stipulations. "If we're to release you, Rogue and I simply need assurances that we will not regret our generosity. Do you understand?" he asked and then he waited.
"...I would like to return to my carnival," Mesmero replied.
"That is adequate," Magneto agreed, before stepping forward and offering the mutant his hand. Mesmero glanced at Magneto's hand. A huff left him before he took it. "Would you like a lift to any particular location?" he asked, as he helped Mesmero to his feet. "Your carnival, perhaps?" he offered, as their hands parted.
"No," Mesmero replied as he turned to leave the cave. "I will find my own way home," he said, as he got to the exit. "My means will be reasonable," he added.
"Very well," Magneto said as he took out his cell phone and glanced at the time. There was no reception, but the clock was active: 7:37 pm EST.
As it was early on this side of the globe, Mesmero would have daylight for nearly ten or so hours and Magneto had to assume this wasn't the first time he made this trip on his own. Or perhaps he would fall off one of the narrow cliffs and freeze to death. Either way, as Mesmero had denied his offer of transport, his safe passage through the Tibet mountain range was no longer his concern. He would track down this carnival tomorrow or the day after and ensure Mesmero was keeping to his end of their agreement, assuming he made it there alive. He would make a habit of that. Just enough to keep the man on his toes.
Magneto tucked his cell phone back into his leather jacket pocket as Mesmero left his line of sight, venturing out into the cold winds by himself. Once they were alone, he turned his head to glance at Rogue.
'Good heaven, she looks tired,' he thought in concern as he walked up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "You did well, Anna-Marie. The threat is contained," he commented before she threw her arms around his waist, hugging him.
"Thank you for going along with everything," she said, as he wrapped his arms around her back, completing the hug. He felt a bit of her weight against him and for once, he knew it had nothing to do with her attraction for him.
"You're exhausted, aren't you?" he asked as spun his fingers behind her back, gathering up the last of the metal they hadn't used.
"Ah-huh, but ya still don't really know what the crisis was, Max," she pointed out, as he formed the iron into a sphere he could use to transport them.
"We can revisit the subject when you're less fatigued," he offered, forming the sphere around them, their shared body heat was a welcomed change from the damp coldness of the cave. As he moved them from vertical to horizontal, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. She yawned, relaxing, as she settled against the sphere, laying by his side, one hand pressed against his side, the other on his chest.
"Thanks," she said, before letting out another yawn.
"You're welcome, dear," he said, as he slowly moved the sphere out of the cave. "And should time permit," he said, another thought coming to mind, a way to confirm what he already suspected. "I think it's best I feed you something more substantial than an apple before returning you to the institute. We wouldn't want you waking at three in the morning ravenous," he said, as he lifted the sphere up, clearing the mountains that surrounded them.
Magneto felt her body tense up against him, before her eyes opened gazing up at him.
"Wouldn't be the first time," she said, staring at him, studying his reaction.
"Let us ensure it was the last," he said, gripping her shoulder tightly as he increased their speed, propelling them forward. He watched her nose scrunch up, disgruntled, like she wanted to figure out where his comment had come from, but was too tired to think. "And I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me next weekend? We can dine at my base. We'll have privacy to discuss all manner of topics," he offered.
"Yeah, okay," she said before yawning. "Ya mind if I nap, sir?" she asked.
"Not in the slightest," he remarked.
"Thanks," she repeated as she closed her eyes. Perhaps it was her exhausted state, the soothing vibration of the sphere, or a mix of both, but it only took a few minutes until she was out like a light.
He was rather concerned about her sudden lethargy. Was she still recovering from her recent ordeal? Was it due to how she overextended herself with his senses that morning? What if she'd injured herself in ways they couldn't see? It wasn't like she could explain any of this to her Professor.
'Perhaps, I should say something to Charles myself. Ensure he conducts a check up,' he deliberated. 'She's been through a great deal recently. It could simply be mental fatigue,' he considered next.
There was still the obvious question that kill needed to be addressed; why was her skills with magnetism greater than his? It wasn't practice. He trained with his powers for years, decades, honing his control, his mastery. Yet the girl had come along and redefined the very word in a matter of months.
There was her age; the largest difference between them. He did recall feeling stronger once he'd de-aged himself the first time. As he'd never had access to his powers as a teenager, he had no basis of comparison. Magneto had been nearly twenty-six when he became conscious of his abilities. Years of malnutrition had delayed his body of its vigor and delayed his mutation; both in the ghettos of Warsaw and Auschwitz.
'Is that it?' Max thought, he felt his blood boil as a new notion sprung to mind.
Had his youth under the Nazi regime robbed him of his potential? Had his body never fully recovered or had the prolonged malnutrition stunted his evolutionary growth? Was the girl a mirror; reflecting the capabilities that should have been his all this time, all these years? Was Rogue the true Master of Magnetism?
Envy rose up like bile in his throat threatening to sully them both. He clamped down against it.
None of this was Anna-Marie's fault, he'd already killed most of those who were to blame and he wasn't about to start up his search for another Nazi for the sake of a catharsis. Anna-Marie would absorb him, at some point, see his actions, and hold herself accountable for any deaths that followed in the wake of this revelation.
'No,' he thought firmly as his gaze fell toward his wrist and onto the Image Inducer he hadn't bothered deactivating all day. He sucked in a breath, a new notion coming to mind. 'I could, couldn't I?' he asked himself before a short laugh escaped him. He'd have his basis of comparison and soon. 'Feed and return her to Charles, as promised,' he advised himself. 'The rest can wait.'
After all, he wasn't getting any older.