Not the Messiah (Magneto semi-SI) (Patreon)

[Latveria, Doomstadt]

Max Eisenhardt

I am a man looking for redemption. Many times I have tried to lead my people, to be the ideal man, worthy of following, just, incorruptible, a man incapable of breaking…but the truth is I am broken…I have been broken for a long time.

the mental scars that mark my being as a survivor impede me from being the leader I want to be. The exemplar of justice I want to be.

Today I will meet a man who I know that given time and opportunity, will create a world where mutantkind can live peacefully among humans until Homo Sapiens and Homo Superiors become something else entirely, today I meet Victor Von Doom with an offer.

I will offer him fealty, my fealty and that of those who fight beside me and in return he will create a world, a pocket dimension like the one the dragons in China made our own version of K'un-Lun, the result will be that of a world connected by gates on the seven continents of this world into another where we can leave free of persecution by those who hate us.

I cannot be the messiah my people need, but I can become something else, the guide to a promised land where they will be free to be themselves, free to love themselves no matter how different they look and free to build something better. I have long since abandoned religion, ever since I was in the camps but I can see the parallel I will create.

To become the Moses of mutants, to lead them to the promised land until it is time to reclaim the earth and like him, I will never set foot on that land.

I will not poison it with my hate, I will not taint it with my grief. It will be free of the things that ruin this world.

Like the Iron Fist I will guard a gate until the time comes for another to take my place as protector.

A protector…even in my mind it sounds funny, I have never been a protector, not even when I wanted to, like it or not my path is one of bloody vengeance.

My sins are as big as those of who I fight, my rhetoric mimics the hateful words of a tyrant that sought to put the world beneath his heel.

My path marked by the names of all of those I failed, those I continue failing even now, all over the world my people die, accosted by the ignorance of humanity, by its hate, by its fear.

This world will be a monument to my sins, the grand effort of a life steeped in blood. It cannot fail for it to fail will mean the end for hope, the end to my redemption.

Today I change the course of history, as I walk the silent halls of this castle, as I walk every step leading me closer to the answer I once thought didn’t exist, the master of the castle is waiting, as I enter the room, I see him sitting on his throne looking familiar and the images of another life give me the answer.

The spirit of vengeance. How fitting for a man so famed for his wrath to look like God’s rage.

I am not afraid, he doesn’t know why I’m here. I’ve arrived unannounced but he doesn’t care. to him, I’m as threatening to him as ant is threatening to an elephant for all I once disdained humanity, never once did I thought of him as an inferior.

Finally I kneel before him, he is surprised, I can tell from the way the magnetic waves change in the air, even as he is protected by his armor, I can tell.

“Magneto why do you bow”

his voice distorted by his armor is filled with curiosity he makes a gesture allowing me to rise and I do so.

“it is customary for a supplicant to bow before the monarch of a country when he is in his court, even more if this supplicant has entered uninvited”

for the first time our eyes lock, in an instant I feel his mind as he tries to pierce into mine

“Telepathy doesn’t work on me even one coming from magical means, after all I have battled some of the greatest psychic powers on the universe”

a servant appears beside me with a goblet and I take it without hesitation.

“You said you come before Doom as a supplicant but Doom is not your king, there is no such relationship between us”

rising from his chair he descends the steps of his throne to meet me in even footing.

“I have a proposal for you, if you care to hear it” taking a sip of the wine I continue

“I would offer you my fealty and the fealty of my subordinates, nay of all mutant kind if you do something for me” he laughs as I say this

“You would kneel before Doom willingly, why would you do this why offer me something Doom will eventually possess, this planet and all who inhabit it will be Doom’s subjects”

he moves around me like a shark waiting for a weakness for a reveal of something sinister I’m sure

“Because it would be easier and more rewarding, I believe you are the man that can lead the world to a path peace but my people suffer every day, your future subjects are one bad fight away from disappearing completely, we would hail you as our ruler master of this planet if you help us, build me a dimension where mutants can leave freely and once you conquer the earth we will come back to live in the earth that only you can build”

“YOU DARE TRY TO LIE IN DOOM’S PRESENCE” he prepares to fight his hands light up in a green glow of magic but I don’t move

“You think I will build you a world where you can rule and be mine in name only, Doom will never accept that”

“I will open my mind to you so you can see I speak the truth, so you can feel my intentions”

not a second passes and he finally sees that I mean every word I’ve said. He laughs and laughs, he laughs until he can do it no more.

“Very well your plan is not without its merits, but tell me will you not fight for Doom?” I have been expecting that question

“I will now only fight to protect it is a vow of atonement for the innocent lives I’ve taken, I will defend with whatever means I have and even attack if necessary” that’s what I decided this is the only path.

“Attacking to defend yourself is what you have been doing before, but Doom sees the meaning of your words, it is acceptable” I relax as he doesn’t seem confrontational about my position. But he continues

“However self-made vows are easily broken, the one we make will not be, are you prepared?”

“Yes, I know you are not a man to be crossed much less one to be betrayed but so am I if you ever put my people in danger because of pride, that will be the moment your reign ends” magic once more appears in his hands but this time to bind our agreement, the pact is struck the deal is sealed and the world changes.

“Gather Doom’s subjects here, Doom’s home will be the first gate and the gate for Europe, you are dismissed” with those words Doom leaves to accomplish his side of the bargain.

For the first time in a long time, I have hope for the future, now I must make my vision reality. And pay the debt I owe to those who gave me the opportunity.

________________________________________________________________________________

[US, New York]

Charles Xavier

Mutants have been disappearing everywhere around the globe, in what can only be described as mysterious circumstances, two months and no leads about where they were taken to.

My heart fears the worst, they are already dead a new enemy arming himself with their power, or simply another religious group that has taken the mission of the Purifiers.

Cerebro always shows me how they arrive at one of seven points and are disposed of, when the first movements they had towards Latveria ended in the sparks of their minds vanishing I immediately sent the X-Men to Doostadt, seeking Dr. Doom to explain his action but he revealed nothing, he had no part in this new plot against us.

In a moment of weakness, perhaps even simply for comfort I use Cerebro to reach for my old friend Magnus, finding him where he was before in China, no doubt also looking for answers about the missing mutants, in such a populated country the number of our brethren should be the highest but for a month now its numbers are the lowest.

Touching his mind gently I feel him react to the touch with a surprising gentleness.

“Hello old friend, it seems we are in quite a spot of trouble”

I speak out loud even if it is not necessary, I like to think that with this connection he simply is across me in this room.

“Charles, it is good to hear your voice my friend”

there is a melancholic tone In his voice, but the most surprising is how young it sounds, a voice that takes me back to my youth.

“What has happened to you? Your mind is the same as ever but your body” before I can continue he interrupts me with a laugh

“HA, yes my body is young again, but don’t worry, I have no plans to use my new found youth to cause trouble”

even as he reassures me, I start making plans, magneto with all the vitality of youth and all the experience he has maybe the most dangerous opponent anyone could ever face.

“You will forgive my lack of tack but if you are now restored to your youth, why haven’t you attacked humans for what they are doing, why have I not heard of you ripping China to pieces for our mutant brothers?” the moment I finish the question I realize my mistake

“is that an invitation Charles? have you finally seen the ineffectiveness of your philosophy and seek to goad me into acting?”

The mere thought of a rampaging magneto is enough to momentarily break my concentration on his mind but he surprisingly clings to it keeping us connected

“NO, I meant to say its simply strange that you are so calm with the events surrounding the disappearances”

trying to feel his emotions I get the sense of pride from his being, horror is reflected on my face.

Is he the one doing this, killing mutants to spare them from a greater suffering.

“Magnus whatever you are doing you must stop, killing will never solve anything” all I can feel from him is amusement

“Charles, relax, I will open my mind in full to you, look upon my works and rejoice”

I-it is beautiful our own world in the shadow of this one, thousands upon thousands of mutants habituating in peace without any to make them suffer, a perfect land where they can concentrate on healing their minds, on healing their hearts, on finding happiness.

They are not oppressed, they are flourishing. But I cannot see more beyond the entrance.

“why can’t I see more of that place?” my confusion being carried clearly in my tone

“Because I don’t deserve to enter that place, I cannot contaminate it with my hate. I will stay on this side doing what I’ve always done, protecting mutantkind” his conviction is amazing, his fortitude and resolve have never felt like this before.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” there are things that must be addressed but the idea isn’t bad

“I didn’t think you would approve” that hurts, more than I thought it would

“Do you think I’m so entrenched in my ideals that I cannot see the good thing that you’ve done?” my tone angry and unyielding

“Yours is a dream of coexistence this would separate our race from the humans” how ridiculous, any previous thought of him being an impostor is gone.

“Your plan ends in coexistence, that may be good enough for me” after Genosha, my ideal of coexistence seemed nothing but the foolish hopes of a dreamer, while I may not approve of his compliance to Doom, there are certainly worst things

“Come to my home, I would like for you to explain this to the rest of them, and I would like to see you too”

“Perhaps you may even see it old friend, the gate of North America is in New York after all”

what a great idea to feel the minds of mutants that can be themselves without any fighting, to feel happiness across all of them

“I can hardly wait” with those words I cut the connection and start turning off Cerebro.

The illuminati may have a problem with this, Reed Richards and Tony Stark most of all as they are without their own people, they can think as individuals while the rest have duties that prevent us from taking individualistic stances.

Perhaps I should reach out to Namor and Doctor Strange, they would understand and perhaps even approve of this new development, Black Bolt will remain neutral as the happenings of the earth are not important to him as long as they are not a global or universal threat.

Forming a plan and thinking about concessions we can make, I make my way back to the main part of the school, it has less students but those that remain are some of the most resilient and powerful mutants in the world, also the luckiest, but not all of them have the conviction to fight.

Mm perhaps some will go live in our new world.

The school could become the place to train the guardians of the gates as well as a place where we can deploy teams to rescue new emerging mutants, what a bright future this brings.

I will stay here with Magnus ensuring he keeps this new attitude and helping more youngsters, perhaps once I’m old enough I could retire there.

“Professor you are back what did you discover about the missing mutants”

Kitty Pryde runs over to me as she talks, smiling I answer her

“There is nothing to worry about, I found them, they are perfectly fine” as I continue moving through the hall with her at my side I continue

“Call a meeting with everyone so they can be informed”

The future is bright indeed.