psinex@yahoo.com Fires of Tomorrow 7/60 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: They're all Marvel's, except for Aidan, Danny, Deanna, David and Melanie, who're mine. Please don't sue. ------------------------------------------------------- 1/29/2004: Location unrevealed: 20:00 hrs EST: ------------------------------------------------------- "B-but - but you were erased when Sinister fought you - I mean us -" Erik stammered as Magnus helped him up (SEE Chapter 3). "I was entrapped in Sinister's subconscious," Magnus replied, shaking out his cape. "One of the Acolytes has the mutant ability to translate mnenonic impulses into electronic impulses. I was 'downloaded' into a clone body after the Acolytes intercepted Sinister's prisoner transport from Falls Edge to the Vault." "And Sinister ?" Erik asked, fighting back fear. Magnus just glowered and said, "He can pay for his crimes against our people by going to prison. I am not in the mood to anger the great powers needlessly." "Oh," Erik gulped. "So ... heh heh heh ... now what ?" "Now," Magnus said, nodding, "you pay me back for saving you from getting tortured in Tahiti. And if you still want to leave afterwards, I won't stop you." "Pay you back ? How ?" Erik asked. "I am still getting used to this new body," Magnus frowned, donning his helmet and walking to the center of the room. Erik could see a giant circle there, with cables running from boxes surrounding it and running to the outside of the cavelike chamber. "Therefore, my powers are not what they should be," Magnus continued. "With your assistance, I can lift this new Asteroid M into orbit, where the Acolytes and I will live out our days in peace away from the meddling humans." "And you promise not to cause any more trouble ?" Erik asked sarcastically, walking to stand beside Magnus. "If mutants need us, we will be there," Voght replied. "Those who wish to come to Avalon voluntarily will be welcomed." "Otherwise, we will stay out of human affairs," Magnus added. "I ask so little, Erik. You can even have the name if you want - I have ever been Magnus before my birthname." The boy looked at Magnus doubtfully, but muttered, "OK, let's get this over with." He stood beside Magnus, synchronizing his magnetic field with that of his older self, and waited. Finally, Magnus nodded and said, "Now." They let out a huge EMP together, and Erik watched as the field entered the boxes. Green energy crackled along the cables to the outside of the room, and the entire chamber began to shake. "It's working, m'lord !" a black-haired Acolyte with a red arrow tattooed on his forehead and silver sunglasses called. "500 feet and rising !" "Thank you, Milan," Magnus grunted. Erik noticed beads of sweat trickling down his face and increased his magnetic output. "Thank you," Magnus whispered to the boy. "I dare not rely upon our prisoner to return me to my full levels ..." "Cortez ?" Erik asked quietly. "Very good," Magnus chuckled. "Yes, he is rotting in a cell on the lower levels. I will deal with him after we get to geosynchronous orbit." "So how'd they get the cloning tech ?" Erik asked, easing off on the power as the top of the chamber opened to reveal a giant bay window and a starfield beyond. "Left over from the Antarctic base," Magnus said. "The anti-grav generators have enough energy - power down." Erik did so and stepped away from Magnus, finally saying, "Well. I guess this is goodbye." "You could stay and learn about your powers," Magnus offered. "You are a second chance for both of us." "Or I could go and learn about my powers and be happy," Erik replied. "Look, I just wanna be a kid. And I got a girlfriend waiting ..." "Farewell, Erik Lehnsherr," Magnus nodded kindly as Voght teleported the boy away. He looked at one of the main screens along the computer banks and said, "At last ..." -------------------------------------------------------- "Erik !?" "Guys !" Erik grinned, seeing the Mutants come running up to him in the X-Men's War Room. "Wait'll I tell you what's -" "We know," Xavier murmured from where he, Frank, Scott, Ororo, and Sam watched CBNC on the main viewscreen. "The great powers are still in shock, but that won't last long." "Sir ... I just thought that if we got Magnus off the planet -" Erik began. "I agree with your actions, if not your outlook," Xavier said gently. "Sadly, Erik, I cannot trust Magnus any longer. Even if he did leave Sinister to the United States penal system, he is still a threat." "So what about me ... ?" Erik muttered, leaving with Alexa behind him. "What do we do, sir ?" Sam asked. "We wait," Xavier replied, shaking his head. "For now, Magnus has the upper hand. If he stays true to his word, we may be all right ... but he must be watched." -------------------------------------------------------- Asteroid M: -------------------------------------------------------- I suppose I should be concerned with the communiques we have received. Frankly, I am just happy to be corporeal and in my own body. Sinister's subconscious was a cesspool with a Victorian veneer. I review the calls; the United States is calling for a global laser grid satellite network, the Russians are screaming with threats, and the Chinese are considering offering us full diplomatic recognition. And Latveria ... I would be a fool to ignore Von Doom's offer of information exchange and diplomatic recognition. But I would more a fool to accept it. Genosha's statement is both infantile and rather amusing. "Tried in absentia of crimes against the state" - how droll. The death sentence would make me laugh, were I not so tired. Ah well. Another day, perhaps, I will deal with them. For now, I recline on my bed and admire the stars, savoring the taste of victory. At last, we are free. A home large enough to hold every mutant on Earth comfortably, carved from Antarctic bedrock and bearing enough water ice and recycling systems to never have to rely upon Earth again. I briefly toy with the idea of creating a generational starship and leaving for the Great Beyond. But that would be unwise ... ... after all, if the precognitives among us are correct, the Earth may fall into our hands through human stupidity. And I would hate to miss an opportunity to pick up the pieces they leave behind. Especially the New Mutants ... the best of a generation. -------------------------------------------------------- NEXT: Is she or isn't she ? Joe wants to find out ... PLUS: The return of the journalistic werebear ! -------------------------------------------------------- end _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? 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