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New Blood	By : marvelmaster616 Category: X-men Comics > General Views: 24516 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men comics, or any of the characters from it. I make no money from from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
New Blood
Chapter 6: Pawns and Puppets

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Paris � 17 Years Ago

Raven Darkholme stood at a true crossroad. Before her was an opportunity to change the course of her life. Everything seemed to be going in one direction. It wasn�t a good direction, but so much of it seemed unstoppable. Less than a year ago she was the wife of a wealthy German man and now she was on the run, alone, and taking care of an infant child. Her world was falling apart. The father of her baby was not her husband. It was another mutant whose appearance was anything but human. That appearance got passed on and she knew the second he was born, the truth would be unveiled and her life would be over. So she tried to run from it all. She ran and she ran. And just when it looked like everything was coming apart, a man named Charles Xavier came in and saved her.

Now she was sitting in an opulent hotel suite as the Four Seasons, lying back on a bed while her savior sipped his Chardenn� wine. She knew this day would come. Six months ago he rescued her and her baby from certain death. He helped move her baby into a secluded area in rural Germany and placed him under the care of her trusted friend Irene Adler. He also saved her from the vengeful grasp of her ex-husband�s people. All this was welcomed and appreciated, but it would not come free. Now it was time to return the favor. Xavier just finished laying out the terms of her repayment. And it was too good for anybody to pass up.

�So�are we in agreement, Raven?� said Xavier.

�You�re a tough negotiator, Charles. But I know a fair deal when I see it,� replied Mystique, �Deal�you have yourself an agent.�

�Excellent. You�ll find that I am a good ally. I can be reasonable, but tough. And I assure you I�ll have much greater influence in due time.�

�What makes you so sure about that?� said the shape shifter skeptically.

Xavier set his glass aside, approached the bed where she was sitting, and smiled ominously.

�Let�s just say I have plans. And should you prove to be loyal and trustworthy, I will include you in those plans. You and your son.�

The man sure knew how to motivate. He wasn�t the usual power hungry tyrant who demanded obedience just because he said so. He actually gave her some incentive to be loyal. That was rare in her circles. It hinted that maybe this man was different from the countless others she worked for in the past.

�I don�t know whether to call you generous or shrewd,� joked Mystique.

�I like to think I�m a little of both,� said Charles.

�And what can I expect in terms of compensation for my dedication? Even in your debt, I don�t come free.�

�Oh I have plenty to offer�both me and the organization I represent. If you doubt me, allow me to give you a free sample��

The look on his face shifted and he leaned over her more closely. She saw lust in his eyes. Even for a woman who had given birth six months ago, she had a good womanly frame. Being a shape shifter sure helped with that too. But she barley knew this man and he hardly looked like a stud. She was tempted to just push him off, but then he pulled a trick on her that made her reconsider.

�What are you�ohhhhhhhhhhhh!�

Her mind was suddenly consumed by an intense surge of pleasure. It was like an orgasm, but not one of the purely sexual kind. It was as if someone had just reached into her mind and stimulated the pleasure center of her brain. It was a strange, but invigorating feeling. She loved it immediately and it roused her lustful side from her previous uncertainties.

�I�m not just the world�s greatest telepath, Raven. I�m a telepath who happens to have an active imagination. And I�ve found there are numerous ways to evoke the potential of the mind.�

His telepathic words echoed through her mind as she fell back on the bed, her every muscle ceding to this relaxing feeling that coursed through her body. Xavier then slipped out of his clothes and crawled on top of her, his penetrating eyes still staring her head on as he used his mind to stimulate the deepest recesses of her psyche. The powerful mental shields that usually protected her from telepaths had crumbled. Xavier caught her off guard and he wasn�t going to let her regain her composure. He would ensure she wouldn�t want to when he was through with her.

As he sent waves of pleasure through her body, he kissed her breasts and slipped his hand between her legs. The powerful sensations made her wet with arousal and sensitive to the touch. She had already shifted away her clothes, leaving her nude in all her glory. She rarely had sex in her natural form. But she couldn�t form another body if she wanted to. Her mind was too clouded with pleasure.

�Just lay back and enjoy it. It is only a sample of what I�m capable of.�

Her legs parted and he positioned himself over her, his now erect penis rubbing against her entrance. Xavier held her hands and pinned them to the bed as he thrust his hips forward, entering her tight folds in a single, thorough thrust. The shape shifter moaned to the feeling. Just as he entered her, he sent another psychic pulse through her body. It intensified the pleasure and sent her into a world of ecstasy.

Her body arched as he began working his member in and out of her depths. He was slow and forceful, grunting each time he slammed into her. He built up the feeling, adding pleasure to the mind and body of the shape shifter. Xavier was dominating, his expression seething with lust and contentment. Sweat poured down his face as he kept pounding into her, his naked skin grinding against her hot flesh. The usually cold and calculating Mystique lost herself in the feeling. She cried out blissfully, wildly rocking her body and tensing her inner muscles with each motion. She wanted to climax so bad, but Xavier held her back using his mental powers. He was purposefully building up the feeling to maximize the sensations. It grew and it grew. Mystique had enjoyed her share of lovers, but none of them were as creative as this when it came to making her feel good.

Eventually they rocked the bed with their rhythm. Xavier was near his peak. Watching Mystique thrash wildly underneath him was a real turn-on. He loved it when he could drive women crazy like this. It was a testament to his power and knowledge of its use. Every sensation was his to feed off of and enjoy. He savored it for as long as he could until neither he nor Mystique could hold out anymore. She was practically screaming every time he plowed into her. She was on the verge of her release and when Xavier let her go, the feeling washed over her in a wave of euphoria.

�UH-UH-UH-OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!�

Her insides throbbed as she arched her back and clenched the sheets. She gasped for air as the throbbing pleasure overtook her body. She heard Xavier let out one final grunt as he thrust in hard and sprayed a load of his cum into her. It was so intense. Never in a million years would she have believed a man so physically unimposing could be capable of delivering such amazing pleasures to her. And if this was just a taste of what he had to offer, she could only dream about what he was truly capable of down the line.

�Oh-oh fuck�oh fuck,� panted Mystique as she lay limp on the bed, bathing in the afterglow.

�I trust I�ve made my point,� said Xavier as he rolled off of her and gathered his clothes.

�I�ll say. If you deliver the goods half as well as you fuck, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership.�

Xavier grinned, always glad to get a little bonus when sealing a deal. And he had a good feeling about this one. This woman was legendary in mercenary circles and now she was on his side. He saw Mystique playing a significant role in his future plans. With his ambitions and list of allies growing, he was poised to take the Hellfire Club by storm. And once he was done, the organization would never be the same.

Colorado Springs, NORAD � The Present

The stage was set. Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants arrived on sight ready to make their move. It was past midnight so the surrounding areas were quiet. The sky was cloudy and there was no moon, offering perfect cover for their attack. Mystique was inside, manning her post as Magneto had instructed. She hadn�t given them the signal yet. The time wasn�t right yet. They would have a narrow window to make their move so they had to make it count. And until they got the signal, they remained on the perimeter of the base.

�How much longer?� groaned Toad, �This waiting is killing me!�

�It�s been fifteen minutes, Toad,� chided Pyro.

�Fifteen? Sure seems longer,� groaned the amphibious mutant.

�Be patient, my boy. Times of great change are worth waiting for,� said Magneto as he surveyed the base through binoculars.

�If you say so boss,� said Avalanche, �When are we supposed to hear from the blue chick again?�

�Yeah, I�m ready to start busting heads!� said Blob, cracking his knuckles in anticipation.

�Her name is Mystique,� said Magneto sternly, �And she�ll contact us when the time is right.�

It seemed simple enough, but some weren�t convinced. Pietro had a bad feeling about that woman. He had a bad feeling about this whole operation. Wanda did as well. She hadn�t said a word since they arrived. He wasn�t sure if it was for the same reasons, but he was pretty sure she had the same reservations he did. And if she wouldn�t speak up, he would.

�Father, are you sure we can trust this woman?� he inquired.

�For the last time, Quicksilver, yes!� said Magneto in an annoyed tone, �I am tired of you bringing this up all the time! I thought we laid it to rest.�

�I�m sorry, but I�m just not convinced about her or the rest of this operation. It feels wrong.�

�There�s nothing wrong about taking what is rightfully ours,� said Magneto, �Mutants must be free. Humans must learn to respect us.�

�That wasn�t what I was talking about,� said Pietro in an annoyed tone.

�Give it rest, brother,� said Wanda.

�But��

�Listen to your sister, son,� said Magneto, �All you need to think about now is doing your part.�

Pietro was about to say more, but Wanda silenced him with a hand to the shoulder. It was no use trying to dissuade Magneto. He was beyond being reached at this point. Wanda stopped trying long ago. A lifetime of tragedy, loss, and hardship had hardened him. It made him a strong leader. There was no man better equipped to lead mutants to a better life. But there were times she feared he was going about this all wrong. Everything about this plan felt wrong. But there was no turning back now. This man was their father and they were going to follow him despite their reservations.

�I have a bad feeling about this,� the speedster confided.

�So do I,� said Wanda, �He�s still our father though. We can�t turn back now.�

�I know. But it would be a whole lot easier if I at least believed in this plan of his. It feels��

�I know,� said Wanda, placing a hand on her brother�s shoulder, �But what else is there for us? Can you think of any other option for us after everything we�ve been through?�

�I sincerely wish I could, Wanda. But at this point I don�t think it matters.�

The Maximoff twins fell silent and turned their attention back to their father. The final moment was at hand and whether they liked it or not they were going to see it through. It wasn�t like they had a choice.

Inside the elaborate mountain base, Mystique was preparing to make her move as well. For the past few months she had been working under the guise of a female officer who had a high security clearance that gave her access to NORAD�s security systsms. In order to make sure her clearance checked out she used the Hellfire Club�s connections to find a real one and kill her just as she was being transferred. It was a harsh tactic, but necessary if she was to do her job.

At the moment she was working at a station in the main room that oversaw a large map with America�s nuclear arsenal from every silo to nuclear submarine. It was all neatly laid out and organized. And if given the order it could wipe out a good chunk of the human race. Tonight may put it to the test, but not if she had anything to do about it. She was close to creating the window Magneto had asked for. She already installed a program that would cause surveillance and alarm systems to go out. It would also cut the power briefly.

But that wasn�t all she had in store. Magneto had no idea the kind of forces he was up against. And after tonight, he would think twice about pulling a stunt like this again.

�Is everything okay, Lieutenant?� asked one of the officers.

�Everything�s fine,� said the shape shifter with a deceptive grin, �Looks like it�s going to be another quiet night.�

Hellfire XR-77

While Magneto and his Brotherhood were preparing for their attack, the Hellfire Pawns were positioning themselves for a strike of their own. The Black King and Queen had equipped them well for the mission. They were being flown to the scene in one of the most advanced aircrafts in existence, the XR-77. It wasn�t supposed to exist, but the Inner Circle had their connections. It could fly anywhere in the world in under an hour and it was stealthy, even to someone like Magneto. It also contained an assortment of advanced equipment that would allow them to coordinate their efforts and keep in touch with Xavier, who was back in Manhattan monitoring everything from his central hub.

In addition to the plane, Scott, Jean, and Warren were each given a few weapons to help them in their task. Scott was given a special visor made by Beast and Sinister that could amplify his optic blasts and make them as lethal or non-lethal as he saw fit. For Jean, her mind would be her main weapon. But just in case, she was given an adamantium knife and some ingredients for some spells courtesy of Selene. For Warren, he was given two advanced weapons. His main weapon was a miniature rail gun that fired devastating grenades and lightning-like strikes. It was also made out of unique composites so Magneto couldn�t control it with his powers. His second were special gloves that delivered a similar shock, but at closer range. They trained briefly with this equipment in the simulator, but it was hardly enough time to master it all.

They were also wearing different uniforms than they did back at the manor. Scott and Warren wore all black body suits with Hellfire emblems on their chest and Jean wore something similar, only hers had a cut off around her waist that showed off her core and was slightly reddish in color. Overall, they were fancier than the uniforms worn by the guards, but still a far cry from the elaborate dress of the Inner Circle. As nice as they were, it was hardly functional in combat scenarios like this.

Supporting them in the jet was Hank and Emma. Hank, being a technology whiz and aide to Sinister, was tasked with flying the jet and keeping it mobile so they could make a quick exit. Emma, who was in her usual Hellfire uniform, was there primarily for telepathic support. Her job was to give real-time updates as she sensed them in the minds of the Brotherhood and the guards at NORAD. They were also told they would have support from within and outside, but they weren�t given the details. They were just told they would know it when they saw it.

�How much further, Mr. McCoy sir?� asked Scott as he readied his visor.

�Just five more minutes and we should be over the target. And please, call me Hank,� said the beastlike man, �If we�re going to be working together we might as well be on a first-name basis.�

�Fine by me,� shrugged Warren, �But why did Sinister send you instead of coming himself?�

�That is a matter you do not need to know,� said Hank, �Just know that my associate had other matters to attend to tonight.�

�Matters more important than stopping a bunch of renegade mutants from launching a nuclear strike?� said Jean skeptically.

�Importance is but a relative meaning. What�s important to Xavier and Selene isn�t always what�s important to me and Sinister. And I serve Sinister.�

Scott, Jean, and Warren shook their heads. Hank was nice and all, intelligent and well-mannered, but his loyalty to Sinister was somewhat contentious. They understood the whole science connection, but that was about it. Sinister was a creepy loner by himself and if this guy was working with him, that couldn�t bode well for his influences.

But they shook those concerns off for the time being and focused on the mission at hand. Emma had been in a meditative state, keeping track of all the nearby minds including the Brotherhood and their hidden allies. She couldn�t track Magneto due to that helmet he wore, but if everything went according to plan she wouldn�t have to.

�This is, Emma. Mystique�Storm�check in.�

�This is Storm hearing you loud and clear, Emma. I�m in position and the clouds are giving me cover.�

�Mystique here, everything is set. I�m just about to signal Magneto. The fool still doesn�t suspect a thing.�

�Be sure to keep it that way. And once I give the word, spring the trap!�

�I know what to do, Frost! No need to get bossy. You�re not Charles.�

Emma held back a sneer, but left it at that. The pawns didn�t know about Storm and Mystique, but they knew about their involvement. Xavier and Selene wanted to wait and see if they were worthy before they met more of their allies and this was the perfect opportunity for them.

�I just got confirmation from our inside friends,� said Emma, �We�re all set.�

�Good. By any chance are we going to meet them?� asked Jean.

�Probably not, but trust me. You�ll get a chance after this is over.�

�I�m sure they�re charming,� said Warren sarcastically as he readied his weapon, �So are we doing this or not?�

�Easy Warren,� said Scott, �We have to wait for the right moment. We�ll make our move when the time is right.�

He remained calm, but Warren was anxious to get out there and fight these thugs. Rescuing cats from trees and damsels in distress as Avenging Angel were nothing compared to this. He was actually going to stop some madman from literally blowing up civilization. That resonated strongly with him. It resonated strongly with all of them. This was part of the reason they joined the Hellfire Club. If they were to shape the course of history, they had to stop those who would disrupt it. And in true Hellfire form, they would show no mercy.

Back with the Brotherhood, the time was almost upon them. Mystique should be giving them the signal at any moment. Toad, Pyro, Blob, Avalanche, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch all stood behind Magneto, who stood tall as he gazed menacingly at the base before him. He could feel it in the depths of his being. This was his destiny. He was the one who would lead mutant-kind to overthrow humanity. He was the one to lead the new mutant order. And it began tonight.

He watched the base intently. The lights were still on. The guards were still making their rounds. Nothing looked out of place. Then he saw it. The lights flickered, causing the guards to look around in confusion. Then they went completely out, plunging the base into darkness. Then atop the fences, the yellow alarms started blaring.

�The hell?� said one of the guards.

�It�s a yellow alert!� said his partner, �Something�s wrong inside the base!�

Acting according to protocol, the soldiers abandoned their posts on the perimeter and scrambled towards the front entrance. If something was attacking the base from the inside, it was their job to find the source and neutralize it. What they didn�t know was that they were leaving themselves wide open for attack from the outside.

�That�s the signal,� announced Magneto, �Brotherhood, attack!�

�Finally some action!� grinned Blob.

�Here we come, humans! Ha-ha-ha!� exclaimed Pyro as he lit up his torches.

Magneto took to the air, manipulating the magnetic fields around him and leading the way for his Brotherhood. He started the attack by clearing a path, ripping the large metal gates to shreds and warping them into a pile of scrap metal. Then his Brotherhood took charge, charging head first into the base and bowling over anything that stood in their way. There were several checkpoints, none of which were manned. But they destroyed them anyways. Blob ran one over, Pyro set one ablaze, and Avalanche shook one to the ground even after Toad leapt on top of it.

�Hey, watch it!� he yelled.

�If you can�t keep up, go home!� said Avalanche sternly, �I�m just getting warmed up!�

They soon caught up to the guards, who were now in complete disarray. Not only were the lights out and the alarms blaring, but their communicators weren�t working so they couldn�t radio for backup or find out what was going on. By the time they saw Magneto and his team, it was too late.

�Who the hell are those guys?� asked one.

�I don�t know, but they picked the wrong place to go trick-or-treating!� said the lieutenant in charge of perimeter security, �Company fall back! We�ve got intruders!�

�What about the attack inside? I still can�t reach the general on the CBs!�

�Fight the battles in front of you, soldier! Now fall back! We need to regroup fast!�

But just as the military officers and their men tried to reform their unit, a silvery blur streaked past them at blinding speeds, creating a wind sheer that knocked them off their feet.

�Not fast enough!� taunted Quicksilver.

A few men tried to shoot the super-fast mutant, but he was gone before the bullets even left their guns. They only got off a couple of shots before their weapons were magically ripped from their hands and shattered like glass by a glowing hex bolts. The Scarlet Witch was making her presence known now as well and her job was neutralizing weapons. So far, these humans weren�t putting up much of a fight.

�Oh hell�� groaned one of them.

�You don�t know the half of it, G.I. Joe!� grinned Toad as he swooped in and drop kicked the two men.

More soldiers began firing wildly into the night. The darkness and disorganization made aiming all but impossible. Pyro and Avalanche further spread them out. Avalanche caused tremors large enough to split the ground, trapping a few men in the crevices and forcing teams to split up. Others were forced to hit the deck when Pyro formed large fireballs from the flames in his torches and sent them flying towards the defenseless men. Those unlucky enough to be near vehicles or munitions crates had to move fast because the second the flames it, a deafening explosion followed.

�Ha-ha-ha-haaaaa!� exclaimed the pyromanic mutant, �Like fish in a barrel!�

�Fall back! Fall back!� ordered the lieutenant.

�That�s right, run! Run all you want! You can�t stop the Brotherhood!� taunted Blob as he bowled over guards with bullets bouncing off him.

The bewildered soldiers had no choice. They ran for cover in the mountain-based complex. But it wasn�t lost on them that they were only leading these freaks towards a nuclear arsenal capable of creating a worldwide holocaust. It was their job to defend this facility and they were terribly overmatched, but they wouldn�t give up just yet.

�Pathetic,� scoffed Magneto as he floated towards the base entrance.

It was all going just as he hoped. The outer defenses were falling back and the mountain complex was dark and powerless. That meant the nukes in the silos were his for the taking. Once he launched them into the air and guided them to their targets, there would be no stopping them. He flew in closer to the entrance where the soldiers were regrouping. Many who had lost their weapons were re-arming themselves with new gear. They should have kept running, but they chose death instead.

Magnetos approach caused even more chaos among the soldiers. Half of their security force was being held up by the rest of those costumed freaks. They would need a lot more than the several dozen men they had to guard the huge tunnel entrance. From the looks of it, that�s where this man wanted to go and they weren�t going to let him. Hopefully these new guns that just came in would help tip the balance.

�Everybody grab a gun! I don�t care if you�ve never shot one before, just take it and shoot the guy with the cape!� yelled the lieutenant.

Magneto scoffed as the men positioned themselves behind crates and vehicles and took aim at him. This was becoming a joke.

�Fools,� he taunted, �Don�t you know there�s no stopping the master of magnetism?�

He unleashed a magnetic pulse to strip them of their weapons. But to his shock, nothing happened. Their guns didn�t budge. The jeeps and metal tools did, but not the guns. It caused the men to hesitate briefly, but not enough to stop them from firing.

�What?!� exclaimed Magneto.

�FIRE!�

Shots rang out, jolting the master of magnetism out of his false state of security. He instinctively flew higher and to the right. Two bullets tore through his cape, one grazed his ankle and another hit him right in the shoulder. He let out a pained yell. He put up a powerful magnetic shield, but for some reason it didn�t protect him. And when he grasped his shoulder and felt the bullet, he found out why.

�Plastic�� he said in a bewilderment.

�Father?!� exclaimed Wanda, �Is everything okay?�

Magneto looked back to see the soldiers regrouping. When they saw that their weapons could have an effect, they were emboldened and rightfully so. It had been a long time since he had been hurt like that. This was definitely unexpected. What were the chances of this base having specially crafted guns and bullets that just happened to be immune to the forces of magnetism? Something didn�t add up.

�No�something�s wrong,� he dreaded, �Something is very wrong!�

Inside the Base

While the battle was raging outside, the commanders and officers inside were scrambling to find out what happened. One minute everything was fine. The next minute they had a blackout and a code yellow alert. All communication had been cut and perimeter defenses, all of which ran on power, was offline. The nukes were still silent, but since they ran on an independent power source they could still be launched. It was a race to get everything back up and running again. For all they knew, they were already under nuclear attack.

�Colonel, get those emergency lights on! Major, get those short-wave radios working! Captain, get to the silos! Make sure those nukes are ready to go, but don�t launch without direct orders from the President! And would someone please tell me what the hell happened to our system?!�

The commotion was deafening as everybody scrambled for answers. The only one not worried was Mystique, who slipped away into an office where she could avoid the commotion and keep an eye on things. So far everything was working perfectly. No doubt Magneto and his boys were having a ball outside. Hopefully someone would have shot him by now. But just in case the second phase of the plan was about to go into effect. And this was the part Magneto didn�t know about.

It would all follow the program she used to shut down the system. She told Magneto it would take them at least half an hour to get it back up and if she had done what he asked her to do, that would have happened. But she only did part of the job. The program had a special built in clock that would bring everything back online in just a few minutes.

�Here it comes�� said the shape shifter as she gazed intently at her wrist watch, �Ten seconds. 5�4�3�2�1�so long, Erik. It was nice knowing you�not!�

Just as she planned, the lights and systems flickered back online. The bewildered officers outside looked around in shock, not knowing if someone had fixed the problem or if it had just been a fluke. But it quickly wore off. The first priority was to make sure a nuclear weapon hadn�t gone off. The large map in the center of the main area didn�t show any signs of a strike so they could breathe a sigh of relief there. But the system quickly registered the attack outside.

�Son-of-a�what is with this thing?� groaned the general.

�Sir! We�ve got a breach outside! Some mutant nutjobs are attacking!� announced one of the corporals.

�This night just keeps getting weirder and weirder,� he said, �Well get our defense system back up and get the word out to every surrounding base in the state! I want whoever�s behind this taken down!�

From the office, Mystique grinned. Looks like the military was going to do their part. Now it was time for the pawns to do theirs. Taking out her communicator, she hit a button on the side to send the signal. Then she made a quick dash for the rear exit.

�It�s all on you, newbies. Let�s see what you�re made up. You might prove to be a worthwhile influence for my kids.�

Outside the Base

The tide was turning for the Brotherhood. Moments ago they had every human on this base shaking in their boots. Then their leader took an unexpected hit and they were forced on the defensive. Pietro had to dash over and run his father out of firing range from the soldiers while Wanda and Avalanche covered him. It forced them to refocus their efforts, allowing the guards they had been hounding to regroup with their friends and rearm themselves with new gear. And now that the element of surprise was gone, they were fighting back in full force.

�Keep shooting! Don�t let them get away!� yelled the lieutenant.

Bullets whizzed by as Pietro helped his father limp behind a pile of rubble that had once been a check point. Blob joined them to provide cover, using his body as a barricade. Magneto was dazed, but still determined to fight. The plan wasn�t going as smoothly as he hoped.

�You okay, boss?! Their starting to get a little pesky!� yelled Blob over the gunfire.

�I�m fine,� panted Magneto, �Turns out they were more ready for us than we expected.�

�I thought this was the kind of thing that Mystique woman was supposed to warn us about!� exclaimed the speedster.

�This is not the time to argue over such matters, Pietro!� yelled the master of magnetism angrily, �We will still complete our mission! Even if it means my life, I will see to it that the human race is humbled at our feet!�

The old holocaust survivor was determined, but their mission wasn�t getting any easier. At that very moment, the lights came back on in the base. It was a full 57 minutes ahead of schedule. Along with the power came the defenses. NORAD was one of the most secure bases in the world. It had a full assortment of mechanized machine-gun turrets and laser fields to protect the inside and they were now fully operational. Many were underground and rose up along the area where the Brotherhood had the guards pinned down. Now Magneto was really angry. Either Mystique had done a lousy job or she betrayed them. Knowing her, it was probably betrayal.

�Ah hell,� groaned Pyro.

�That can�t be good,� said Toad, now actually feeling scared at the sight of so many guns and armed men.

�Retreat!� yelled Avalanche.

�No!� exclaimed Magneto.

The master of magnetism watched as his Brotherhood ran for their lives, taking cover as a hail of laser and bullets filled the area. The guards advanced, taking positions behind the defenses and fortifying themselves against another attack. Toad, Blob, Pyro, and Avalanche just tried to find cover. Wanda helped by deflecting some of the bullets, but a few from the turrets found their way through and one hit Avalanche right in gut.

�AHHHHHH!� he howled in pain.

�Avalanche!� yelled Toad.

The nimble mutant tried to come to his teammate�s aid, but it was hard under so much fire. He managed to pull him back a little further, but the damage was pretty severe. He could always see blood gushing from his torso. None of them expected to have to take any wounds. Magneto was supposed to have disarmed everybody at this point. But with non-magnetic weapons, fully powered defenses, and poor visibility nothing was going to plan.

�Oh man, blood!� groaned Toad as he looked at Avalanche�s wound.

�Easy, buddy, I�ll cover you!� said Blob as he got in front of the gunfire.

�Even you�re not big enough to shield us,� said Pietro, �We have to get out of here!�

�No! We will NOT be defeated by a lower species!� exclaimed Magneto, �We�re going to regroup!�

�But�� began Toad, growing concerned about Avalanche�s wounds.

�No buts! Wanda, start disabling the defenses! Pyro, take care of the guards!�

�Consider it done, boss!� grinned Pyro.

He and Wanda moved up towards Blob, keeping close to him in order to avoid the lasers and bullets. The oversized mutant then began advancing, shielding his face with his massive arms as bullets whizzed by him. Wanda kept diverting other projectiles that found their way through. It was hard to do that and focus on attacking the defenses. She did manage to hit a few, but there were so many and she would never be able to break through without a little help. That�s where Pyro came in. He prepared a ball of fire that he hoped would cook every soldier where they stood.

�Step back, sheila! Let ol� Johnny help you out!� he said confidently.

But just as he was about to unleashed a fiery fury, the skies above erupted with thunder. It broke his concentration briefly. He tried to shake it off and refocus, but then a torrent of rain started falling. It came out of nowhere as if it had been timed and targeted against him. Whatever the reason, it put out his flames and rendered him powerless.

What neither of them knew was Storm had been watching them trying to regroup from above. That was her cue to carry out her next task, further demoralizing the Brotherhood. This was almost becoming comical. These guys had spunk, but clearly had no clue as to what they were up aginst.

�You�ve got to be bloody kidding me!� exclaimed the Australian mutant.

�This night just keeps going from bad to worse,� said Blob, �What are the odds, huh?�

�Way too great,� said Wanda suspiciously as she looked up at the sky, �Something is very wrong here.�

Suddenly the gunfire lessened and the defenses went silent. And from above, three figures floated down before the bewildered mutant radicals.

�Wanda Maximoff, you�ve got a talent for understatement,� announced Scott in a commanding tone.

�Who the hell are you?!� exclaimed Blob.

�We�re the ones who are going to be taking you down,� said Jean in a threatening tone, �You can either surrender now or do this the hard way. But I have to warn you�we�ll show you no mercy.�

The three Brotherhood mutants scoffed. These guys not only had the nerve to fight on the side of humans, but make threats as well? Not much had gone right so far, but this was one instance they weren�t going to let get out of hand.

�You talk tough, girl. Bet you can�t back it up!� taunted Blob.

�Bring it on, fat boy!� grinned Jean.

But Wanda wasn�t so eager to fight. Whoever these figures were, they knew them. The boy called her by name. That confirmed to her that their misfortune tonight wasn�t a coincidence.

�Wait!� she exclaimed, �You�re mutants, aren�t you?�

�You think these wings are just for show?� scoffed Warren.

�Then you should be on our side!� yelled Blob, �We�re trying to��

�We know what you and your Brotherhood are trying to do,� said Scott, �And we won�t let that happen.�

Before the Blob could say anything else, Scott concentrated his optic blasts into a sharp, non-lethal burst and hit Wanda head on. It sent her flying and knocked her out. It seemed wrong to kill her because she tried to be reasonable. Maybe when this was over they could have a little chat with her because chances were the others weren�t going to be so abiding.

Scott, Jean, and Warren�s arrival didn�t go unnoticed by Magneto. He, Pietro, Toad, and the wounded Avalanche were still taking cover behind the rubble of a check point. Watching Scott blast Wanda away was enough to get Magneto and Quicksilver out from their cover. Fighting their team was one thing, but when part of their family was hurt that rekindled their resolve.

�You asshole!� yelled Pietro, �Nobody does that to my sister!�

The speedster sprang into action and charged towards the three mutants. But they were ready for him.

�Jean!� yelled Scott.

�I�m on it!� she told him.

The young psychic concentrated her telekinesis and unleashed a wave of force wide enough so that even Quicksilver couldn�t avoid it. It tripped him up and sent him tumbling back. It didn�t knock him out, but it did show them they meant business. Magneto, who was still stinging from the bullet that grazed his side, rose up in anger. These fools were messing with destiny. Whoever they were, they were on the wrong side of this conflict.

�That was a most unwise move!� he bellowed, �I don�t know who you people are or how you found out about my plan, but I will not let you stand in our way! This is evolution! This is the destiny of the mutant race! I will see to it that civilization is��

But Warren didn�t let him finish.

�Oh shut up!� he yelled, �Your destiny is six feet under, bucket-head! I�ll see to that!�

The winged mutant flew swiftly, attacking the master of magnetism head on. The old man was surprised as Warren tackled him angel style, forcing him up into the air and away from nearby metal debris so he had the advantage. Magneto could only hold on at first, watching as he was forced into the air with torrential rain still pounding around them. The young man had a good grip on him, but not enough to restrain him.

�Errrrrrrrrr! You�re testing my patience, boy!� yelled Magneto.

With a burst of renewed strength, he broke Warren�s grip on him. His powers took over, keeping him level in the air while Warren regained his balance in the air. Xavier told him that this man was one of the most dangerous mutants in the world. He could control magnetism and all he could do was fly. It didn�t seem like a fair fight, but that wasn�t going to stop him. Xavier wanted him to prove himself. This was how he was going to do it.

�Why do you aid the humans, boy?� shot the old man angrily, �Don�t you know they�ll lock you in a cage and take away everything you�ve ever cared about?!�

�Don�t bother with the propaganda, Magneto. It won�t work on me,� said Warren strongly, �You think you know humanity? You think you know how the world works? Well let me break it to you gently old man�you don�t know dick.�

Warren swooped in for another attack, forcing Magneto on the defensive. His words didn�t even phase him. His conflict was miniscule compared to the big picture made up by the Hellfire Club. Magneto didn�t know it, but Warren was going to educate him a little.

Down on the ground Blob, Toad, a powerless Pyro, and an injured Avalanche were taking on Scott and Jean. The odds should have been in their favor because they outnumbered them, but in their current state they were anything but well-positioned. Jean went straight for Blob, using her telekinesis to fling heavy debris at the oversized mutant while staying high in the air so he couldn�t get a shot in. Meanwhile Toad was nimbly avoiding Scott�s optic blasts. He tried firing blobs of his toad-like goo at him, but he could barely get a shot off in these conditions.

�Whoa! Yikes! Wow-shit!� stammered Toad as he avoided the blasts, �This-whoa-sucks ass!�

�You have no idea,� said Scott sternly.

Blob wasn�t having much luck either. He kept having to fight off debris as Jean flung it at her. He tried to catch some of it and fling it back, but the mud had covered his face and was screwing up his vision. Plus, she was hard to see in the rain and constantly moving. It was seriously pissing him off and the more he got hit, the more angry he grew.

�Errrrrrrrrrrrr hold still!� he yelled as he tried to fling a couple of cinderblocks at Jean.

�Boy, your aim sucks,� taunted Jean, �You guys really aren�t that bright, are you?�

�I�ll show you!�

Blob was through playing games. He grabbed the biggest, heaviest chunk of debris he could, which was the main remnants of the security booth. And with great strength, he lifted it over his head and flung it full force at into the air. This time Jean had to move fast to avoid it. It narrowly missed and threw her off in mid-air. She would have tumbled to the ground if she hadn�t trained so hard for stuff like this. Turns out this guy had some fight left in him after all. He wasn�t going to be stopped even as his comrades were retreating. That made taking him down all the more imperative.

�That was close,� she mused, �I better take this guy out.�

Then she heard Emma�s voice in her mind. Her job was just to use her psychic talents to keep the guards from interfering. But she was also to provide backup if necessary. And this may be one of those instances.

�Easier said than done, Jean. You can�t beat him by flinging mud at him all day.�

�Then I�ll go for his mind. I�ll give him a full-blown mind attack.�

�You sure you�re ready for that? You might want to leave it to a more experienced telepath.�

�Relax, Emma. I can do it. Just keep the guards occupied. Let me prove myself.�

She shut Emma out. She had a feeling she would get a mouthful from her afterwards, but she could care less. Emma didn�t have a lot of faith in her skills, but she was determined to prove her wrong. Xavier and Selene trusted her and her friends to prove themselves and she wasn�t going to let them down.

She swooped in closer, narrowly avoiding a swipe from the oversized mutant. He was angry and irrational, making his mind vulnerable to attack. While Xavier had focused on her telekinesis more than her telepathy throughout her training, she knew she had the potential to do something like this. And seeing as how this was a trial-by-fire mission, she was going to put her mind to the test. She just needed to get Blob in the right position.

�Get back here, bitch!� he yelled.

�That�s some mouth you�ve got, Blob. I think it�s time we silence it�permanently!�

Jean used her telekinesis to fling a glob of mud right in his face. It hit him head on, forcing him to wipe it from his eyes. This gave her a narrow window. She flew in fast, coming up behind the oversized mutant and grasping his temples. Then she closed her eyes and focused all her psychic energy into an all out mental assault. She wasn�t going to hold back. This guys mind was going to face the full force of her power.

�Take�this!� she yelled in a determined tone.

�AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!�

It was like someone stuck a hot knife right into his brain. Blob, the immovable man who could withstand the force of a freight train without budging, was hit harder than he had ever been hit before in his life. His large limbs went stiff. Every nerve, muscle, and tendon flared wildly. It hurt like hell. It was like every cell was on fire. Soon he lost all sense of being. His memory, personality, reflexes, and overall mental structure was shattered with relentless fury. His face contorted in a mix of pain and discomfort. His pained screams echoed over the thunder and rain, but Jean wouldn�t let up. She kept digging and digging, hitting every part of his mind she could. She went so deep that blood started trickling from his ears and nose. His brain was literally blowing itself up.

Finally, he gave out. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and his body went limp. And in an unceremonious whimper, the once mighty mutant fell to the wet ground with a hard thud. Jean was still short of breath, her mind reeling from so much exertion. She had to grasp her temples for a moment, not just from the pain but from the knowledge she had just killed a man with her mind. This raging brute may still have a beating heart, but his brain was gone and so was his mind. She killed him without mercy, just as Xavier and Selene said she may have to. It was a strange feeling, one that took her a moment to digest. But it was what the Hellfire Club was about.

�Holy shit�� gasped Pyro in disbelief, �She just�she fucking killed Blob!�

�We�re�screwed,� choked Avalanche as he coughed up more blood.

It wasn�t looking good. Pyro ran for cover while Jean recovered from so much mental exertion. As long as the rain was falling, his powers were useless. He scanned the area for an escape, but the soldiers were re-fortifying the base. They must have been ordered to cut off all escape routes. Why they weren�t coming after them was strange, but then again everything about this was strange.

Meanwhile, Toad was still trying to avoid Scott�s blasts. But he was running out of things to leap on top of. Scott was blowing away anything he got behind. The special visor he wore allowed him to concentrate, amplify, and control the power of his bursts so that nothing would get in his way. He could never have been this precise with just his powers alone. It was exhilarating. He never got a rush like this before. That rush made him all the more determined. Toad could never hope to match him. He just ran for his life.

�Oh man! Oh shit! Oh shit!� panted Toad as he narrowly avoided another blast.

He tried leaping behind another pile, but this time it wasn�t thick enough to protect him. The blast blew right through, sending him tumbling into a ditch. When he landed, some of the debris landed with him and one heavy chunk of concrete pinned him right on his leg. Now he was trapped.

�Damn it! My leg!� he grunted as he tried to push the chunk off.

Scott saw his chance. He had to end this. Toad wasn�t the strongest adversary, but he chose to follow Magneto. He would have to accept the consequences. Leaping into the ditch he walked up to the downed mutant with his visor glowing bright red. He had just adjusted the setting so it would deliver a single, lethal blow.

�Uh�a little help?� said Toad meekly, �I surrender okay? I�ll go quietly.�

But Scott would have none of it.

�Do I look like a soldier? Or a cop? Or anyone else you can thumb your nose at?� said Scott in a stern tone.

�But�come on, man! Give a fellow mutant a break! Have mercy!�

�Sorry, Toad. Where I come from�we show no mercy.�

Then in an unceremonious gesture, Scott fired the lethal shot that hit Toad right in the chest. It was concentrated and forceful so it killed him instantly. He didn�t even have time to scream. There was only a sharp gasp and then his face tensed. Afterwards everything went limp.

For a moment Scott gazed at the body of the former mutant thug. Like Jean, killing was an unfamiliar act. But the Hellfire Club trained him to expect these situations. They also trained him to carry them out without hesitation. He did as they asked, but it still took a moment to process. He killed someone, a misguided mutant, and that was that. There was no going back. And for all the thoughts that coursed through his mind, he was okay with it.

At this point, Pyro was feeling very vulnerable. Not only were these guys tough, they were willing to kill. This was not what he signed up for. He joined for a shot at getting back at the humans who wronged him and a place in Magneto�s new order. But that order was looking increasingly threatened.

�I gotta get outta here,� mused Pyro.

Suddenly, there was a hard thud right in front of him. The battered body of Magneto had just plummeted to the ground after taking a heavy blow from Warren. They had been exchanging punches and choke holds, but Warren had youth on his side and was able to wear him down. And with no metal on him Magneto couldn�t use his powers to stop him. Add to that his hand-to-hand training at the Hellfire Club and the old man didn�t stand a chance.

�Ugh�� groaned the master of magnetism.

�Had enough?� taunted Warren as he landed beside him.

It was at this point Pyro had seen enough. He would rather take his chances in the custody of the soldiers than stick around with these guys.

�That�s it! I�m outta here!� he said, shooting up and making a break for it.

�Wait�� gasped Avalanche, who was still mortally wounded.

But Pyro didn�t show any compassion for his teammate. He knew the risks when he joined up. If Magneto lost it was every man for himself. It pretty much summed up Brotherhood loyalty. To the loyal pawns of the Hellfire Club, it was pretty pathetic.

�We�ve got a runner!� said Jean.

�I got him,� said Warren.

Taking out his mini rail gun from a holster in his hip, the winged mutant took aim at the fleeting pyromaniac and fired a lethal shot. The gun sparked, initiating a high impulse of electricity that sent the small grenade round flying towards him at great speeds. It hit head on, impacting the Australian mutant right in the back. The high speed shattered his spine, killing him instantly. And when the grenade exploded, it burned and scorched his body into an unrecognizable charred corpse. It was a pretty grotesque, but somewhat appropriate way for a mutant named Pyro to die. But unlike Scott and Jean, Warren showed less conflict in ending someone�s life. Being touched by darkness with Selene did a way with that.

�So much for firepower,� said Warren as he turned the weapon on Magneto, �You�re finished, Magneto. That�s the last of your team.�

Magneto was still reeling, but upon seeing what happened to Pyro he was actually starting to worry.

�Who�who are you people?!� he grimaced.

�Nobody you need to know,� answered Scott, �We�re just doing our part. You�re stunt here is upsetting the natural order and the people we represent don�t like it.�

�And trust me, these are NOT people you want to cross,� added Jean.

These punks talked tough for kids in their late teens. But even the master of magnetism had to admit they were strong. They would have made a much better Brotherhood than the recruits he ended up with. But there was no time for hindsight. He didn�t care who they represented. He wasn�t about to give up on his destiny.

�You misguided fools,� he said as he struggled on the ground, �You will not stop me!�

The metal guard rail from the security booth suddenly rose up and sped towards the three Hellfire pawns. They instinctively avoided it, but it gave Magneto a enough time to get up and take to the air. Scott tried to shoot him down, but he was moving too fast and the rain limited his range. But he wasn�t getting away from them this easy.

�Sneaky old prick, isn�t he?� commented Jean as Scott helped her up.

�No kidding. And he�s heading for the silos. Warren�� said Scott, turning to the winged mutant.

�I�m on it!�

Warren took the sky in pursuit of Magneto while Scott and Jean gathered themselves. There was still one Brotherhood member left they hadn�t fought, but Avalanche was in no condition to fight or even run away. He was still clinging to the rubble, clutching his gut as blood gushed out. He was already pale. There was no way he had the strength to use his powers, let alone cause a tremor. He was officially done for.

�Damn�you,� he cursed as he gazed up at Scott and Jean.

�Speak for yourself,� said Jean.

�We have a saying where we come from, Avalanche�.you work for the devil, you better be ready to die for him,� said Scott, �You brought this on yourself. This is the result.�

�Hnn��

He didn�t get out anymore words. He passed out in a pool of blood, slipping into the darkness Magneto had led him to. Scott and Jean weren�t going to save him. This was what happened when people rose up against the natural order. All they could do was watch as he passed away before their eyes. It was a lot to take in, but after the killing they had already participated in they were becoming hardened to it.

With Avalanche dead, it was all on Warren now. Magneto didn�t have to carry out the bulk of his plan. He originally hoped to get into the base, hijack the system, and launch every nuke in the country�s arsenal. But that was no longer an option. Instead he would settle for launching one missile and nuking a few cities with the warheads inside. That should still be enough to trigger a war that would lead to humanity�s downfall. He was still hurting, but not enough for him to be stopped.

But Warren was hot on his trail. He had activated the power gloves Sinister gave him. he just needed one blow and he should be able to knock him out. He didn�t use them earlier because of the rain, but now that they were further from the initial battle area the air was clear and he could use them safely. He just had to stop him before he activated the missiles.

�My Brotherhood may have failed, but I won�t!� he declared.

Upon reaching one of the silos, he concentrated the full force of his powers on the blast doors. They were thick and heavy, but had a lot of steel in them and steel was a potent conductor of magnetism. Once he wedged it open enough, he flew inside where one of the dozens of missiles on the base was poised to launch. He immediately went for the controls, which were currently being manned by some personnel who were trying to lock the system. But when they saw Magneto, some ran while others tried to fight.

�It�s him!� exclaimed one of the guards.

�Shoot him!�

But Magneto wouldn�t make the same mistake twice. Using his powers, he tore up some of the metal wiring from the ceiling and used it to restrain the guards and get the technicians out of the way. He was really pushing himself now, but he didn�t care. All he wanted was for this missile to go off.

�Want a job done right, you�ve got to do it yourself,� he mused.

He landed by the control panel. It wasn�t locked yet. It still needed a code to activate, but not for the clamps to be undone. He could activate the nuke himself with his powers. He just needed the systems online so he could do the rest.

After a few commands on a keyboard, the rest of the top seal opened and the clamps were undone. The main thrusters of the missile were now active. It was ready to launch, but instead of being launched by command from the highest ranking officers, it would be launched by him. Flying up from the console, he concentrated on the main engines and prepared to ignite the rocket.

�This is it!� he proclaimed, �Mankind�s reign ends here!�

�Not so fast!� came a voice.

Magneto looked up to see Warren swooping in, his electric gloves now active. But the master of magnetism was able to evade him this time. He learned from the first fight that he couldn�t match the young man�s vigor. But he could definitely match his power.

�Not this time, boy!� he said as he flew back out of range of Warren�s punches, �While I admire your resolve, you are on the wrong side. We should be allies! Our kind should stand united against a tyrannical worlds that hates and fears us!�

�News flash Magneto�that tyranny you mentioned is not what you think,� grinned Warren.

Magneto didn�t have time to question the boy as he flew in for another attack. This time he was ready for him. he was through trying to get through to a fellow mutant. If he had to kill this boy to do what he had to do, so be it. He ripped off nearby metal siding from the silo and sent it flying at Warren. The winged mutant was forced to dodge it. A few large pieces narrowly missed him, but he was able to get up higher so he could put more space between him and his opponent. With so much metal around him now there was no way he could get close. Is only choice was to go back to his rail gun. And he would have to make this shot count.

While flying around the master of magnetism, avoiding his onslaught of metal, Warren charged up his weapon and took aim. He may not be able to hit him directly, but the grenade should stun him. At least that�s what he hoped. This is where the Avenging Angel and the new pawn of Hellfire came together. If he could take this man down, it would prove that the side of Hellfire was the side for him.

�I will crush you!� exclaimed Magneto.

�Crush this!�

Warren took his shot. Magneto saw it coming and tried to shield himself with a sheet of metal, but the explosion was close. The blast wave knocked him back against the wall of the silo and sent him falling to the floor. In the process, the metal shard dented his helmet and when he hit the ground it came falling off. It was the break they needed. When Warren saw this, he knew it was over.

�My helmet�� said Magneto, feeling his exposed head.

�It�s over, Magneto. You lose,� said Warren.

Right on queue, he heard Emma�s voice in his mind.

�I�ll take it from here, darling. His mind is mine for the picking.�

�Do your thing, Emma.�

Magneto then felt it. A telepath was attacking his mind. He knew what it felt like. He tried to get his helmet back on, but Warren came in and took it away. Now he was powerless to resist. The world around him started spinning. Whoever this telepath was, they were good. He felt his mental defenses crumble and his mind cede to darkness. The last thing he saw was Warren standing triumphantly over him. Then it all went black.

�That�s what you get for messing with Hellfire,� said Warren.

The old man put up quite a fight, but in the end he wasn�t enough for the forces of the Hellfire Club. He had to hand it to Xavier and Selene. Magneto walked right into their trap. He was every bit as arrogant and thick-headed as they said he was. He was also pretty powerful too. He wasn�t supposed to get this far, but even the best plans couldn�t always go perfectly. It was still a success though. There was nothing left to do, but clean up this mess and report back to Xavier.

Taking the unconscious mutant in his arm, Warren flew out of the silo to meet up with Scott and Jean. While he was taking down Magneto, they gathered Pietro and Wanda, each of whom was still unconscious. They were still alive because they didn�t fight with the same fanatical sense the rest of the team did. In the profile provided to them by Xavier, it said the Maximoff twins weren�t firm believers in Magneto�s cause, but joined him because they were his children. They were supposed to take them alive if possible. What their plans were for them was anybody�s guess. Maybe they would be willing to join them. But they would have to wait and see.

The rain had ceased at this point so the jet could come in and pick them up. When Warren arrived with Magneto, they were ready to go. With the help of Jean�s telekinesis, they were levitated up into the waiting aircraft. The soldiers were still scrambling around them, but they wouldn�t know of their presences or of what transpired. Emma saw to it that the damage done was because of a simple storm. It would be easier this way.

�We did it,� said Scott triumphantly, �We stopped Magneto.�

�I know,� said Jean in a daze, �I feel like an Avenger!�

�Sure beats rescuing cats from trees, that�s for sure,� added Warren, �You think this is enough to prove ourselves to Lord Xavier and Lady Selene?�

�If stopping a nuclear holocaust isn�t enough I don�t know what is,� said Scott, �But we�ll leave it up to them.�

Just as they arrived on the jet, they were greeted by Emma. She didn�t get to partake in the action, but she sensed the whole thing and even she was impressed.

�Don�t worry. I think we�ve made our point,� said Emma, �Keep this up and we�ll all work our way into the Inner Circle.�

�Maybe one day,� said Jean distantly, �But for now, let�s go home. I�m sure Xavier and Selene are eager to hear about our mission.�

�I have a feeling they already know,� grinned Scott.

Once everybody was aboard, Hank kicked in the afterburner and sped off towards New York. Not far away, Ororo made her leave too. She would also have to pay Xavier a visit to collect the rest of her reward. And for a stunt like this, she could easily expect a bonus. Mystique was off as well, having slipped away on a jeep disguised as a guard just as the power came back on. She too would pay Xavier a visit. There was certainly no love lost on Magneto. The madman deserved to rot in whatever hole he and Selene threw him in. But for now she had new concerns involving her children. Both she and the rest of the Hellfire pawns had much to consider now that their lives were firmly entrenched in the Hellfire Club.

X-Industrial Tower

Charles Xavier and Selene couldn�t help but smile. Using the advanced surveillance hardware of the main hub, they watched the whole fight unfold between their pawns and the Brotherhood. It all went so well. Magneto didn�t know what hit him. No nukes were launched. No data was lost. And aside from a few injuries, none of the soldiers were seriously hurt in the exchange. Add to that, they watched Scott, Jean, and Warren come of age right before their eyes. They showed just how much the Hellfire mentality had matured in them. They were able to kill with only minor hesitation and spare those they were supposed to spare. It was the kind of ruthlessness and discipline they had hoped for, proving that Xavier was right to recruit these promising young people.

Even Selene had to admit, this opened the door to many possibilities. These three kids had been nobodies. They didn�t have an ounce of Hellfire spirit in them. But with only a few months of training and conditioning, they had become loyal pawns. While she was still skeptical in some areas, she was largely convinced that this was the future. This is where the Hellfire Club was going. Scott, Jean, and Warren proved they were the beginning. Now they could begin plans for the next step.

�Not bad,� commented Selene, �Not bad at all.�

�Are you going to say it, Selene?� grinned Xavier.

�What? That you were right? Don�t hold your breath. But I admit your little experiment is a success. We can in fact bring young recruits into the Hellfire Club and mold them in our image.�

�And don�t forget they�re still young. Give them a few years and they�ll be ready for new responsibilities in the Inner Circle. Maybe even a new title.�

�Let�s not get too ahead of ourselves,� said the Black Queen, �What about Magneto and his punk kids? I assume you have a plan for them.�

�Oh I do,� assured Xavier, �I�ve already made arrangements with our friend Forge on Muir Island. He�s prepared a special prison cell for my friend that should keep him restrained indefinitely.�

Selene rolled her eyes. Again Xavier was showing how he lacked the kind of ruthlessness necessary for their line of work.

�Indefinitely? Ha! I�d rather we kill him so he can never pull a stunt like this again.�

�No Selene. Erik and I have a history. It would be wrong for me to just let him die by your hands. And besides, he is a powerful mutant. It would be a waste to just throw that away.�

�Oh please, you think he�ll actually be an ally one day?� scoffed the Black Queen.

�No, not an ally. But he may yet be of use,� said Xavier, pondering the many possibilities.

Selene still didn�t see it. But if that was how the Black King wanted to do things, she couldn�t stop him. As long as it didn�t directly threaten the Hellfire Club, she could care less if it came back to bite him. But that wasn�t her only concern.

�If you say so,� she sighed, �What about the Maximoff twins?�

Xavier pulled up their profile and smiled. This was one subject he had high hopes for. He was surprised to find out from Mystique�s reports that Wanda and Pietro didn�t get along that well with their father. Their lack of enthusiasm for his cause was telling. That implied they may be open to fighting for a new cause. And if they kept their father alive maybe that would help things. Part of the business of the Hellfire Club was to turn every potential enemy into a friend and this was a golden opportunity.

�We�ll bring them here and see if we can�t persuade them to take up a new cause,� said Charles, �They obviously didn�t care for their father�s. This may be a good opportunity to open them to our world. And as you well know, I never like to pass up a good opportunity.�

�Neither do I,� said Selene, �But do you really think they�ll join us after what we did to the Brotherhood?�

�Look at it another way, Selene�if they don�t they know what we�re capable of.�

The Black Queen grinned. Even at times when Xavier seemed hesitant, his cunning was never in question. If the Maximoff twins chose to join them, they got a couple of new pawns on their side. If they chose to reject them, she would get a chance to exercise her hobbies in torture. Either way she won. It was all par for the course for the Hellfire Club.

************************************************************************

Up next: Magneto awakes to an old friend and the Maximoff twins are given a new opportunity.

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