Chapter Text
When Rogue was done absorbing everything she could they retreat back home to go over their next move.
/So X-Men and X-Force team up?/ Rogue asks.
/I'm not bringing the team to this. I can't./ Erik thinks. /Jean, Scott, Morph. I won't have them face them. Beast is….not suitable for this. Storm would try to stop me. Roberto and Jubilee are too.young to begin this dirty work./ Erik said
/What about Logan?/ Rogue asks.
/I won't have Logan dirty his hands. The old me would justify it by telling myself that he would be getting justice for Morph./ Erik thinks. /And I won't have Logan lie to them./
/Character development now sugah?/ Rogue smirks.
/I believe it is./ Erik said.
Erik then programed the danger room for both himself, Rogue and oddly enough Gambit.
“I want you and Rogue to join me as I go investigate a possible lead on where Trask is.” Erik said.
“He knows?” Rogue asks, surprised.
“He knows.” Erik said.
/Does he know that yer a telepath?/ Rogue asks.
Erik shakes his head. /No./
“So anyone else goin?” Remy asks.
“Madelyne and Nightcrawler have volunteered for this mission.” Erik said.
“No one else from the council?” Remy asks.
“No. I don't trust them and Banshee is too loud.” Erik said.
“So we find him. We get one step closer to Sinister.” Remy said.
“Precisely.” Erik nods his head.
“Anyone ever tell ya it's weird seeing you two get along?” Rogue asks.
“It's worse than that I'm afraid. We're FRIENDS.” Erik said.
“Jesus Christ.” Rogue said.
“It's as bad as you think it is.” Erik said.
Soon enough Erik activates the blackbird and loads up the jet. Naturally of course the other x-men started acting questions.
“Where ya goin bub?” Logan asks.
“Genosha council stuff. Making sure all my ducks are in row before the transfer of power.” Erik said.
“Uh huh. Funny that's what Rogue said.” Logan said.
“Well you heard the man mon a mi. Maggie is very busy.” Remy shrugs.
“And you're taking the Swamp rat.” Logan said.
“Yes.” Erik said.
“Yer up to something. And for some reason. All of ya are involved.” Logan glares.
“Logan as your leader I'm ordering you to take Morph out on a beer run.” Erik said.
“And now yer trying to distract me by forcing me and Morph out on a date.” Logan chuckles. “Holy shit this is about Sinister.”
“....Yes.” Erik said.
“And you're not telling the team.” Logan said.
Erik shakes his head.
“Smart.” Logan admits.
“It's a lead. I don't know if it's true and I need the team to defend this place if it's a trap.” Erik said.
“Don't have to tell me twice.” Logan said.
*****
After they land the blackbird they meet up with Maddie and Kurt and prepare to go inside. Obviously Maddie is there so Erik ca. Get away with using his telepathy more openly in the field because Remy will assume it's Maddie.
Then they track down the man in question and he is…..about to jump.
“Oh holy shit.” Remy said.
Erik looks at him with a raised eyebrow. Yes he read his mind and saw what Sinister did to him. However…there's something else there. Something inside of him.
“I never wanted this. I never wanted….wanted.” Trask said.
/Something is wrong./ Erik said mentally. /I sense metal./
Then before anyone knew it he jumped. Then Rogue caught him.
“Tell us everythin you know.” Rogue said.
When he gives her nothing. Rogue sighs.
“Damn it.” Rogue mutters.
Then to everyone's surprise she drops him. Erik of course quickly catches him which also surprised them.
“No Rogue.” Erik said.
“This bastard was the reason you all died!” Rogue said.
“I know.” Erik said. “It's just that it's not your job to take lives. You're not a murderer. You're not a monster.” Then he gives Trask a cold stare. “But I am.”
Erik drops him and the human falls once more. Only this time nobody stops him. Nobody saves him. All there is a thump. And then there are screams.
“Ya shouldn't have let me do it!” Rogue said.
“I will not allow my X-Men to dirty their hands.” Erik said. “That responsibility is mine and mine alone.”
“And you think only you should carry the burden of team monster?” Remy asks.
“Yes. I'm your leader and your future king.” Erik said.
Then the screams from below get louder. Erik immediately placed the team in a magnetic bubble. As Trask suddenly begins to fly back up.
“I knew it.” Erik glares.
“Is he a fucking Cyborg!?!” Remy asks.
“It appears so.” Erik said.
Trask then aims at the group. Erik sighs at the sigh. Then with a snap of his fingers he turns him off.
“Holy shit!” Remy said.
“Indeed.” Erik said.
“What the fuck!?!” Remy asks.
“It would appear that we have a new kind of sentinel. One that is able to hide in plain sight.” Erik said.
“This is…way worse than we thought.” Maddie said.
“I know.” Erik said.
“What the hell do we do now?” Remy asks.
“Rogue and I will have a chat with Cooper.” Erik said.
“Because she's the nice one?” Remy asks.
“No. To distract Raven.” Erik said.
********
Once again Valerie Cooper enters her home. Only this time she hears a sound and immediately assumes it's an intruder. So she pulls out her gun.
“Wow, nice weapon you have there.” Erik smirks. “Tell me did Raven get you that?”
“Oh god what the fuck do you want?!” Val asks.
“We need to talk.” Erik said. “Tell me about Sebastion Gilberti.”
“What?” Val asks.
“You heard me” Erik said. “And based on your reaction. You know what I'm talking about. However, unfortunately for you I am on a time schedule.”
Erik's eyes glowed and then he reads her mind and sees some very unpleasant things. Not only does she KNOW him but she is fucking WORKING with him.
“Figures.” Erik scoffs.
“What are you talking about?” Val asks confused.
“Do you know what was supposed to have happened on Genosha?” Erik asks.
“I don't understand.” Val said.
Erik's eyes glowed and he SHOWED her. Val was then overwhelmed with the memories. HIS MEMORIES.
“Oh my god.” Val said horrified.
“The only reason it didn't happen was because of time travel and very selective planning.” Erik said.
“But…you're Magneto. You're not a telepath!” Val said.
“I am now. Because I witnessed my own fucking deaths!” Erik said. “Blood oozing from the mangled remains of their charrion flesh sizzles across the smoldering debris. A knife piercing skin, a scream and then silence.” Then he adjusted his posture. There's sound. There's light. You see their regrets. Their whole lives. Then there's silence. There's absolutely nothing. Nothing but darkness."
“W-why are you telling me this?” Val asks.
“Because NOW this is the part where I'm blackmailing you.” Erik said. “Congratulations, you're officially dirty now. Well Dirtier.” He scoffs. What would Jubilee say? Ah yes from now on you're my bitch.”
“You're using modern slang now!?!” Val said.
“I died. My X-Men died. Genosha burned to the fucking ground.” Erik said. Then he gets up. “I want you to understand my position. The emotions I am feeling. It's why I am going to be a terrible Chancellor. Kings have honor. Soldiers have bravery and Poets have heart. But all I have is RAGE!”
“I'm sorry- Val said.
“You're sorry. Well look at that. You're sorry. You're sorry for what happened to Storm. You're sorry for this.” Erik said. Then he chuckles. “I am power. I am Magneto.”
“What are you-?” Val asks.
Then Erik walks closer and grabs her face with his hand and forces her to look at him. “I am power. I am Magneto. Go fuck yourself.”