I met the next morning in the kitchen with my laptop (the X-Men are very welcoming), finishing my eighth cup of cocoa (the cocoa here is good) and eating my third pack of cookies (I must admit, Americans know a lot about chocolate chip cookies). I didn't feel like sleeping in the room assigned to me, the idea of reading in the library met with serious resistance from the cocoa that was running out and my laziness to trudge back and forth across the entire mansion, but I was karmically doomed to loneliness, so everything was fine here.
On the Internet, I mainly searched for data on the world and iconic personalities in order to finally establish what historical period I was in. I managed to watch Tony Stark's famous press conference, where he admitted that he was Ironman, that is, Iron Man. Everything matched, starting from Downey Jr.'s face and ending with a long pause before the admission. It was two months ago, and passions had already died down, but there were more than enough links to all sorts of expert assessments and hangers-on, although they did not bother me. I also found Doctor Strange, though for some reason not Stephen, as I remembered from the films, but Stefan, but Cumberbatch's face was in place, once again convincing me that I was in the Avengers cinematic universe. This worthy gentleman was still a practicing doctor at the moment, specializing in neurological surgery, and worked in one of the clinics in New York, making good money on his operations. Traces of Bruce Banner were also found, but there was no word on the Internet about where he currently works, under what circumstances did he stop active scientific work, and there was no sensible information about the Hulk, only rumors, water and all sorts of mystifications. But at least they wrote about him, but neither Nick Fury, nor Victor von Doom, nor Reed Richards were here, as if in sight, and if with the first it could be easily attributed to the secrecy of the identity of the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., then the absence of the others was telling. And by the way, Susan Storm in the first two Fantastic Four films was a real beauty and just an ideal hit in the image of a sexy female character from classic cartoons, downright eleven out of ten. Alas, I was unlucky here too...
I also looked at local legends about Asgard and Loki personally. I can't say that I was a big connoisseur of legends about him in a past life, but a couple of moments, just in contrast to Marvel, remained in my memory. In particular, on my Earth, Loki was always considered a jotun, whom the Aesir allowed to live in Asgard, and Laufey was not his father, but his mother, according to some versions even an Asinya, and not an ice giantess. But his father - yes, he was a jotun, but I no longer remembered his name. Here, there was nothing like that, Loki was considered the youngest son of Odin, and no double interpretations for you. However, this is where the differences ended, and then the same nonsense began, which all primitive savages, from Japanese Shintoists to ancient Greeks and Scandinavians, adored making up about their gods. Here you have chaining to a rock with a drip of acidic poison above the crown of the head for... well, basically calling on the gods to have a sense of proportion and stop stuffing themselves like pigs at some feast; and a Swedish family with a giantess and an Asinya, and a bunch of stoned children, including the wolf Fenrir and the serpent Jormungandr; and the generation of all witches through conception by the charred heart of an evil woman... I honestly don't understand how, but, apparently, it was assumed that Loki himself carried and gave birth. In general, having dug into this choice delirium of a sexually obsessed schizophrenic zoophile, I began to sincerely understand why my predecessor hated the Vikings personally and people in general. If they had made up such things about me, I would also have agreed without any special questions to lead an army of evil aliens to seize the homeland of the writers.
While spending my night's leisure time in this way, I did not forget to think about what to do next. The idea of getting out of Asgard was correct and timely, but interim, and the words about finding methods to leave this universe were too vague a formulation. Specifics were needed, but they were difficult to come by. And no, let's not remember Deadpool, who after the credits in his film jumps around parallel universes and kills his copies, including the actor who played him in my world. This is Deadpool, he doesn't even need to get drunk to catch a squirrel, and in general Deadpool is something that is better not to touch even with a ten-meter pole.
Thus, I did not have many options, and Kamar-Taj was the first. This association of earthly magicians possessed very impressive methods of working with space and the dimensions closest to this plane of existence. Based on memories of the film and Loki's magical knowledge, I could well imagine how some of the techniques of local sorcerers worked, but only some, while others made even the God of Magic respectfully perplexed. Thus, the idea of contacting Kamar-Taj and offering an exchange of knowledge looked promising. Even if the principles of their portals cannot be refined to interuniversal transfer, this skill itself will be useful to me.
The second option was to search for a technical solution, but I did not remember the names of the scientists who invented similar devices in other variations of the universe, and I would hardly be able to find them on my own. The X-Men were not my assistants in the developments, since even Hank McCoy, who was always responsible for the state of the technical part, was more of a competent technician with a broad outlook than a brilliant inventor. And he was not visible in the vicinity, so he may still be struggling with the external manifestations of his mutation somewhere and other projects are simply not relevant for him. But in this world there was Tony Stark, who, judging by the stylish glowing circle in Iron Man's chest, will soon begin to bend over from radiation sickness. If I am not mistaken, and it is difficult to be mistaken in such things, this matter made him very nervous, to the point of almost trying to commit suicide beautifully, having previously rewritten the company to his beloved woman. But whatever you say, even the local Tony Stark is actually a genius. Why "even"? The original Tony, not from the movie universe, twisted all sorts of SHIELDs around his genitals and never caved in to any Fury, rather he caved in himself and everyone else, so much so that the US government was afraid to croak. And he had his own team of supers, and he created the Avengers himself, in partnership, by the way, with Xavier and other Players of world politics, behind each of whom stood a personal and personally loyal paramilitary organization, and the Avengers themselves, created by him, were not a team of adventurers running errands for everyone, but rather a coordinating council and the highest governing body for the defense of the Earth. But okay, that was a long time ago and not true, practically in the old days, when the hero had to be pumped up, the heroine had to be beautiful, and white characters were not replaced by blacks according to the tolerant quota. The local Stark is also quite a serious comrade and will certainly be able to organize the search and work of scientists in the field of space distortion technologies. All I need is to convince him to help me, and what could be easier than to negotiate with a person who has one foot in the grave and understands it perfectly well? Radiation sickness and, forgive me, Go... ahem... Note to remember: figure out to whom I can now address my appeals for the gift of spiritual strength and patience. The Universe is not suitable, I hate this one - I need an analogue. So, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, radiation sickness and shrapnel fragments near the heart (my common sense, forgive me!) - this is certainly unpleasant, but with the use of magic it is quite possible to cure it, and then there will be no need to carry a reactor in your chest around the clock. Is it really possible that Tony will refuse to allocate a little money for a new promising direction for such a luxurious gift?
Of course, there was still the pressing problem of Magneto, and after him, Stryker, but these were already problems of local importance, which only concern me to an extent. The second one is quite easy to resolve, given my capabilities, and the first one, one way or another, will have to be resolved first and foremost by the X-Men. Well, and Wolverine, as a free shooter. Speaking of him...
"Early bird?" Logan greeted me, looking slightly rumpled as he entered the kitchen. He clearly hadn't slept well, and although there were no bags under his eyes, he didn't look rested, and that was with his healing factor.
"I didn't go to bed," I responded, continuing to read another news article.
"So carried away by some website?" the man teased.
"I can easily go without sleep for a couple of weeks," I pretend not to get the hint.
- Physiology?
- Physiology, magic... cocoa, - I salute the regenerator with the cup and take a sip. Tsk, it's cold, I need to brew some more.
"Oh yes, magic..." the mutant nodded with expressive "understanding."
- You still don't believe that I am the real God?
"You fight well, but you're not enough for God..." he ran his hand from his chin to the middle of his stomach.
- Beards? - I raise an eyebrow, finally looking up at him.
"Yes," the regenerator confirmed, clearly enjoying himself. "And also sandals and a toga," the man headed toward the refrigerator.
"Original," I had to admit. "Will that do?" I assume the form of Odin in the snow-white robes of a Roman patrician.
"Better already," Logan nodded his gaze in my direction, opening the refrigerator door and delving into the contents. "Got any beer?"
- Maybe in the Cyclops' room. But you can pour yourself some water - I'll transform you, - returning to my previous appearance, I graciously offer a solution.
"In wine?" Wolverine closed the door and turned to face me, raising his eyebrows in disbelief.
- Into beer. I can also put it into ale and mead. It can't be compared to the real Asgardian ones, but it'll do for our deplorable situation.
The mutant silently found a glass and, having poured some liquid from the teapot into it, handed it to me. There was still an expression of distrust on his face, but he was ready to test his skepticism experimentally.
Without taking the dishes, I raised my hand and performed the key gesture, channeling the magic. A second later, the water darkened and filled with bubbles, and the smell of strong beer began to spread through the kitchen.
- Hmm-m-m, - the mutant sniffed the provided substance with suspicion and, with the look of a man who has nothing left to lose, sipped the drink. For a second, doubt reigned on his face, but then it smoothed out, replaced by satisfaction. - Even if this is another illusion, then your illusory beer is great.
- It's not an illusion, but something like alchemy. Transformation magic, to be precise, - I spread my arms, between which the word "Magic" shimmers like a bright rainbow. - Well, and a bit of Divine Miracle, of course, - I can't help but wink at the mutant.
"Keep up the good work and I'll actually believe you're God," Logan agreed graciously, sipping his drink.
"You know, I basically assumed the possibility that sooner or later a nice girl would appear who would be able to twist me around her finger, who would use my divine power for all sorts of everyday trifles..." I close the lid of my laptop and turn my gaze to Wolverine with a grin. "But the key words here are 'nice girl.'"
"Well…" Logan thoughtfully shook his head back and forth, rolling the beer around on his tongue, "we're similar in that way."
In honor of this discovery, I raise my cup of cocoa, after which, with an important expression of solidarity on our faces, Wolverine and I clink glasses and each give credit to our drink.
Alas, such decorum did not last long - less than five minutes had passed before "the forester came and dispersed everyone." The role of the said forest ranger was played by Storm, who suggested that, firstly, we not set a bad example for the younger generation by guzzling beer in the morning, while this same "younger generation" would now come running for breakfast, and secondly, follow her to the underground floor for research and to figure out why the hell Magneto needed us.
- Eh, - I sighed sadly, finishing a new portion of the sweet drink in one gulp, - if only the pretty girl had invited me to a secluded dark corner for a more thorough acquaintance, but instead they offer me to follow them to a secret laboratory, where the complex of measures for my study, - I wink slyly at Storm, - will clearly not be as I would like. Life is pain, and the universe is full of sadness and sorrow.
"Well, well, don't worry, your day will come," Wolverine patted me on the shoulder with feigned sympathy.
- If you've finished expressing your feelings to each other, - Ororo was clearly embarrassed, and therefore somewhat aggressive, - then please follow me! - Correction, she was very aggressive. But I appreciated the jab, yes.
The path down the secret corridors of the mansion, and then the "underground base" took another three minutes. But then our journey ended, and we found ourselves in the right place, suspiciously reminiscent of a medical laboratory. The professor, Jean, Scott and Rogue were already waiting for us there.
"Good morning," the telepath nodded to us.
"Uh-huh," I nod to those around me, "it's quite possible that it is."
"So, why are we here?" Wolverine didn't waste any time on words.
- I want to conduct a general study, so we can understand why Magneto is interested in you. I assure you, it is completely safe and will not cause you any harm. Do you agree?
"Okay, let's get this over with quickly," Logan nodded.
"If that's what it takes, I don't mind," Rogue confirmed.
"That will be interesting," I said, not pretending to be a white crow, looking over the equipment.
And so the "research" began. X-rays, a tomograph (poor Logan was stuck to the top of the ring), a blood test (I distinguished myself here - the needles simply bent and broke, unable to pierce the skin), and so on. Four hours later, we gathered in a small conference room to discuss the results. A full X-ray of Logan hung on the "board". The adamantine skeleton looked impressive, but the fact that his joints were also covered with this metal personally stunned me, because at the same time he could move freely, without experiencing any discomfort or limitations in mobility! And the generation of blood and other work of the bone marrow? This is some kind of organometallic, not a banal coating. However, the team was much more amazed and interested in my testimony, since there simply weren't any. Yes, that's it. The X-ray didn't shine through, the tomograph didn't scan, the ultrasound didn't pick up the "echo" of the body, and blood couldn't be taken either.
"One is more interesting than the other," Dr. Gray stated, looking at the excerpts for Logan and me.
"Tell me, doctor, will I live?" I asked the telepath, adding more drama to my voice.
"Um… probably," she responded uncertainly.
- That's wonderful, - I smiled and began to study the X-ray of Wolverine's claws with deliberate enthusiasm, - I'll definitely have to celebrate this! Yes, five liters of cocoa will be enough for me...
"Do you like sweets?" Cyclops couldn't help but ask.
- Not really, but cocoa beans don't grow in Asgard.
- Ahem, - catching Scott's expressive look, once again telling everyone who wanted to know what he thought about my mental health, the red-haired girl coughed, - it doesn't matter. As for Wolverine, here we can see deep modification and coating of the entire skeleton with an unknown, but extremely durable metal. It's a miracle that you survived such an operation at all, - she turned to the man, - most likely, you should thank your regeneration.
"Yes, I am resilient," Logan muttered reluctantly in response.
"Experiments on mutants," Xavier pursed his lips, touching the control lever of his chair to move closer to the pictures, "I've heard of it, but I've never seen anything like it."
"Who did this to you?" Ororo turned to Wolverine.
"I don't remember anything about how it happened," the mutant said, shrugging his shoulders with a hint of displeasure. "I don't remember anything at all before fifteen years ago… Although I'd really like to remember."
"I can help you with that," Xavier turned the chair towards him. "If there are even fragments of memory left in your brain, they can be restored into a single whole."
Logan clasped his hands over his chest and looked into the telepath's eyes for a few seconds. It wasn't hard to guess what thoughts were going through his head, but in the end the assessment was made in Charles' favor, and the mutant jerked his cheek in some semblance of a nod. Obviously, he was ready to discuss this topic, but our presence was unnecessary.
"I think the adamantium was applied in liquid form, literally soaking the skeleton," I decided to share my knowledge, and at the same time tactfully change the subject. "And the amnesia is caused precisely by the prolonged heating of the brain upon contact."
- Adamantium? - Wolverine frowned. - Do you know this metal?
- I personally see it for the first time, but I've heard about it. It's a certain alloy, very rare in nature, and it's harder to process it in a solidified form than neutronium, which is what the cores of some stars are made of.
"And where on Earth could he have come from?" Storm asked.
- Fall in a meteorite, for example, - I shrugged. - But the bigger question is how they managed to melt it and pour it into the skeleton? Even the temperature of the star's corona wouldn't be enough, and magic was definitely not used.
"Um… magic?" Cyclops asked.
"Why are you so sure about that?" Xavier asked him to be quiet with a gesture, looking at me with interest.
- Because it's pointless, - I turn to Charles. - Despite the beauty of the resulting masterpiece, a magician capable of such a thing, - I point my hand at the photographs, - would not even think of wasting his time on such a strengthening of a mutant with regeneration. Yes, it is a strengthening, and quite significant, but the magician would simply take Logan as an apprentice. Believe me, a magician who heals from any damage with a couple of good artifacts would be orders of magnitude more dangerous than just a tenacious man with claws. Sorry, Logan, - I glance sideways at the mutant.
"No problem," he responded.
- Rogue, - Gina moved on to the third invited participant. - Everything here is quite standard and clear - absorption of life force upon contact, and if the contact occurs with a mutant, then his gift is also taken away. Although the effect is temporary.
"Can you cure this?" the girl asked.
- Rogue, your abilities are not a disease, they cannot be cured, but we will try to help you take control of them.
- Loki... - now it was my turn, - remains a completely incomprehensible and unknown factor. You didn't interfere with our equipment, did you? - a suspicious squint.
- And was that possible? - I feign surprise. - But in general, no, - I switch to a serious tone, seeing that the red-haired telepath is completely devoid of a sense of humor. - I myself am curious what you can find out about me with the current level of technology.
"And Magneto needed one of you three," the professor drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the armrest of his wheelchair, his gaze wandering over our figures until it stopped at Logan. "Experiments on mutants… that could have affected Eric."
- Forgive me for interrupting your thoughts, Professor, but this is unlikely.
"Why?" Charles looked at me.
"Do you think they came for you?" Scott asked at the same time.
- No, I don't think so. Of course, I can start a world war and do a lot of other interesting things, but two days ago I wasn't even on Earth, and with all due respect to your Magneto, he could hardly have found out about me during this time. Besides, if he had known about my capabilities, he certainly wouldn't have sent a brutal fighter to meet me. As for Logan... Sorry, buddy, but with all your brutality, powerful hairy chest and aura of harsh primeval charisma... Magneto already had one like that, and even broader in the shoulders, and the metal on your skeleton, although good, but, with all its merits, clearly doesn't pull off something capable of having a decisive influence on provoking a war between ordinary people and mutants. In the end, even if you break into the White House and cut the president into pieces, although it will be unpleasant, it can be easily attributed to a lone psychopath. And considering the complexity of the operation needed to cover your skeleton with adamantium, they will look for anyone but simple mutants from the streets. And therefore, by the process of elimination, there remains... – I turn to the teenage girl.
- Me? But what's so special about me? - Rogue was surprised.
- Well, given your interesting talent, I can immediately see a dozen options for how you can have a great time and be naughty! - I cheerfully assure the girl.
- Loki! - this was said in several very indignant voices.
- Hey, I meant taking over the world and all that jazz, not what you think, perverts! - I said indignantly, not really hiding my satisfied grin. - And anyway, baby, - I turn to Rogue, - I'm sorry, but you're not my type! - And now a telling look at Storm. - I prefer blonde beauties with a chiseled figure and chocolate-colored skin, - oh, how she turned away and began to pretend that I didn't exist... Universe, I really hate you!
"So…" the teenage girl looked at our faces in fear, "I'm the target?"
"Most likely," I confirm, returning to a serious look. "Of course, this still needs to be checked, but in any case, the attempted attack was not spontaneous, which means Eric Lansher had time to both study the victim and draw up a plan for its use. And here we come to the most delicate moment: they did not try to recruit you in a good way, and this can only mean one thing…" I fell silent, noticing how the faces of the X-Men and Wolverine darkened. They all clearly got it.
- What? What does this mean? - the girl swallowed.
- Will you tell me or should I? - I look at the professor.
"I wouldn't want to worry you unnecessarily, Marie," the telepath looked straight at the girl, having made some decision, "but I have to agree with Loki's analysis. Most likely, the business for which Magneto wanted to kidnap you does not involve your voluntary participation and..." he hesitated, literally for a split second hesitating to voice the next words, but it was almost imperceptible to the ear, "may end in your death.
"What should I do?" Rogue turned even paler.
"Calm down," Charles smiled encouragingly. "Now that we know with a high degree of probability who my old friend is hunting, we can direct all our efforts to your protection. There's no point in getting worked up – even a mutant with Magneto's powers won't be able to get you while you're in this school. Study calmly, meet other students, settle in, and in the meantime we'll get to work on solving the problem."
"Professor," Ororo drew attention to herself, "I think Rogue is hungry and she could use some breakfast, and besides, classes are starting soon."
"Yes, of course," Charles nodded. "Rogue," his blue eyes looked intently at the girl, and there was not a hint of a threat in this gesture, "the best cure for worries is to find something to do. Storm will take you upstairs now and help you figure everything out."
"I understand," the girl nodded.
Then, accompanied by Xavier's fatherly smile, the schoolgirl was led out of the room, and the looks of everyone who remained were filled with concern again. Well, okay, not everyone, I was still feeling good and wonderful. I mean, I, of course, understood that Storm had run away from me with the complete connivance of the boss, her entire facial expression and body language screamed about it, but I had already resigned myself to the fact that everything would be difficult here, and I saw no point in worrying about it.
"What are we going to do, Professor?" Scott asked first.
"We need to understand why Magneto needs her," Xavier began to speak with concern, looking down at the floor. "What can a mutant who takes over powers do that a mutant who has those powers can't do? If Eric wanted to use her combat potential, he would have acted differently - he would have made her his supporter, convinced her of the rightness of his ideas. But for some reason he didn't do that, which means the goal is not a combat action, but something else..."
- I think it's pointless to guess here, and it's better to just put her under surveillance, - to confirm my words, I create my illusion, which immediately heads for the exit. - If your friend needs her so much, he will try to kidnap her. And it would be best if we ourselves offered him such an opportunity, and not let the matter slide.
"What?" Jean was amazed.
"You want to use her as bait?" Logan frowned.
- Oh, my friends, I think you forgot one small detail, - a gesture with his hand, and an illusion of the girl in question appears next to me, who immediately smiles timidly at the mutants. - You have the God of Intrigue and the Lord of Magic on your side. So tell me, professor, can we play out a scene where the new girl's abilities will cause a small accident, after which the young impressionable girl decides to run away home? - a sly grin crawled onto his face.
Eric Lansher.
- ... everything is according to plan, wait for her at the central station. A parting gift has been left, - the phone informed the head of the Brotherhood of Mutants.
- Excellent work. Wait for us at the evacuation point, - the mutant turned off the device.
Magneto's heart was uneasy. Even since the open hearings on the registration law, he had been plagued by minor and not so minor troubles. First, an inopportune meeting with Charles right in the congress building, when he, on a wave of emotions from the speech of that neo-Nazi Kelly, had poor control over his thoughts, resulted in his old friend learning part of the plan. Then, Sabretooth's disappearance on a simple mission to capture an unsuspecting girl ended with this girl ending up under Xavier's protection. Even the successful capture of Senator Kelly did not bring the expected effect, because he had barely gone through the operation, as he managed to escape that same night. Fortunately, the news from Mystique inspired optimism; it was not for nothing that he sent her to visit his old friend. It was a pity that it was impossible to keep her there for long - even her talents for changing her appearance and controlling her consciousness would hardly be enough to hide in a house with two telepaths for more than a day or two. But this was enough, and when Charles tries to use Cerebro after kidnapping the girl, he will be in for a "pleasant surprise". After all, they developed this machine together, Magneto knew the principles of its operation perfectly well, so finding a chemical to neutralize the "thought damper" was not a problem for him. However, he believed in his old friend and understood perfectly well that he would be able to cope with the overload himself, despite his venerable age, but this would give him a head start of several days to a couple of weeks due to Xavier's elimination from the game. More than enough.
Having put on his suit, he ordered Toad to prepare the helicopter - it was time to move out for the most important detail of the plan.
Finding Rogue wasn't hard. She was sitting on a train to Denver, alone, lonely, and lost. Unwanted by those she'd only just begun to trust. More than the right frame of mind to carry out his ideas.
"Hello, Rogue," he said, standing in the aisle and greeting the girl.
"Who are you?" she looked up at him warily.
"Your brother," he replied, "is a mutant," he explained, seeing the confusion on his face.
"And what do you want from me?" the girl cautiously moved her back closer to the window, unconsciously wrapping herself in her green coat.
- You, - short and clear.
- And... And if I don't want to? - the fugitive's gaze darted around, and a lump clearly formed in her throat.
"I'm afraid you have no choice," he shook his head sympathetically. "I wouldn't like to use force, but…" A mental effort, slightly raising his hand, and the carriage squealed with torn metal. The section of wall the girl was pressed against was turned inside out and crushed into even steps, shattering glass. The resulting descent to the platform clearly indicated to the young mutant the direction in which it was better for her to go.
The air was filled with the belated cries of people, luggage fell from the shelves, but the panic that had begun did not have time to turn into a crush, because the next moment all the passengers were tightly chained to their seats by the warped handrails.
"Okay," Rogue pushed herself out of herself, her face pale and glancing sideways at what had become of the window she had just been pressing against. As he had expected, the ordeal had broken her, and even this small thing was enough to nip her will to resist in the bud. It was a pity that she had to do this, especially towards a representative of his species, but… this was war, and there were casualties in war. The only thing he could do for her was to promise that future generations would remember her as the heroine who had started the victorious march of mutants across the world.
The captive did not resist and obediently went where they told her. She also obediently sat down in the prepared helicopter and allowed them to put handcuffs on her. Neither the police nor anyone else had time to react, and they had already left for the base, deviating slightly from the course on the way to pick up Mystique, who had played her role.
- What are you going to do with me? - the girl made her first attempt to pull herself together, meeting the appearance of a blue-skinned woman with red hair in the salon with huge eyes.
"You will learn about it in due time," Magneto replied.
- But I didn't do anything to you, why? What am I guilty of?
"It's not your fault, but this is a war, and your power must serve the purpose of the mutants' victory in this war.
- What war?
"The one that is about to flare up," Eric shook his head, catching the captive's confused look. "People will never accept us, and if we don't strike the first blow, they will."
- But... but... there are more and more mutants every year, they even talk about it in the news, doesn't that mean that in a few years there won't be any ordinary people left or we'll become the majority? Why fight then?
- Do you really believe that? - Magneto smiled patronizingly. - Do you believe that they will allow us? Believe me, I know people. I know their nature. Even when there were only a few of us on entire continents, the people in power were afraid of us and did everything to either control us or drive us so deep underground that we did not dare to stick our noses out. The very idea that there could be individuals who could spit on all their armies and systems of state control over society terrifies them. And when people are afraid, they attack. As soon as mutants really emerge from the image of urban legends, tales of the yellow press and incomprehensible theories of scientists, they will start to catch us and destroy us. "And they've already started to act," Lansher leaned forward, noticing the effect his words had on the girl, "all it took was a dozen young mutants whose powers were exposed, innocent teenagers like you, and the Senate is already holding hearings on the mandatory registration law. Today they'll pass the law, tomorrow they'll create a special police force for mutants, and the day after tomorrow - concentration camps," Rogue's eyes were increasingly filled with fear and understanding. "I've been through this before," he continued, feeling a dark pleasure from the way his words found their way into the listener's heart, "I remember how it was in Germany in the thirties, and I won't let that happen again on a global scale... Even if I have to go to extreme measures to do so.
At this point the conversation died down. An oppressive silence, broken only by the sound of the helicopter's working blades, fell on the cabin, and Rogue no longer wanted to ask about anything. Mystique was about to report in more detail, telling what she shouldn't have trusted over the phone, but the older mutant stopped her with a short gesture - there was no need for the girl to know that the "rejection" from the rest of the school's inhabitants and Charles himself was just a staged performance. And so, an hour and a half later, they flew and landed at the base.
"Let's get out," Toad jumped out of the pilot's seat and opened the helicopter door for the passengers.
- Where is everyone? - the girl looked around fearfully, her gaze sweeping across the empty area.
"Everyone's here!" the pilot grinned.
"Toad," Magneto barked at his chattering subordinate.
- Oh, really? Excellent! - the fear disappeared from Rogue's face as if it had never happened, but Magneto didn't have time to notice anything else, much less do anything - the heavy blow to the helmet, as if Sabretooth had hit him on the head, was a complete surprise, and then darkness fell.
And again Loki.
- First one goes! - Watching Eric fall like a sack at my feet, I even worried that I had gone too far and the mutant would never come to his senses. However, this did not stop me from grabbing the guy named Toad by the head and yanking him towards the helicopter. The pilot's head collided with the skin of the aircraft with a booming sound, and the mutant fell helplessly to the ground.
- What? - Mystic managed to step back, distorting her face into a confused and surprised expression. - Who are you?
- Oh, just a humble traveler with immodest goals, - I smile at the girl, throwing off the illusion of Rogue. - And don't try to kick me in the ear during a representative speech - it's very uncultured! - I bend down and kick the metamorph's supporting leg, but she, obviously, in addition to talents for changing forms, also had increased physical characteristics. In any case, I doubt that an ordinary person will be able to spin a backflip while standing on one leg, and especially in a split second between a blow to an opponent and a counter-blow from said opponent.
- Hsss... - landing on all fours in an interesting pose, Mystic bared her teeth and hissed.
- Your snake has a terrible accent, - I stand up straight and, without ceasing to smile charmingly, take a step towards her, imperceptibly releasing magic. - Maybe you will be a good girl and just let me tie you up? I promise, I will be gentle! - in response, demonstrating incredible flexibility even for an Asgardian, they tried to beat my kidneys with kicks, twisting my body like a spring in one movement and literally shooting myself, transmitting the impulse to the blow from the very tips of the fingers from the opposite limbs.
I wouldn't have had time to dodge, I would have had to block, however, I wasn't originally planning on dancing with the shapeshifter for long, and so her blow passed through the illusion, while my real body was already bringing its fist down on her head.
The enemy's disappearance, which coincided with the unexpected attack, caught Mystic off guard, but did not take her out of the game. As I had assumed, the girl's body was stronger than a human's, since the effort, calculated based on the condition of an ordinary mortal of her build, only made the blue-skinned one "float". But her resistance did not last long anyway, since I was not going to give her time or engage in small talk and quickly "calmed down" the stunned woman.
- Well, but won't the feminists and others declare war on me? After all, a woman, and in the face, and three times... - I thought into space with a bit of self-irony. - Although, wait a minute... I am an evil God! - With this life-affirming revelation, I began to tie up the prisoners, and first of all, I took the helmet from Magneto, placing it in a subspace pocket.
Of course, I couldn't get rid of all the metal in the area, and the island we landed on was literally stuffed with it, perhaps intentionally. But without his telepathy-protecting helmet, Eric Lansher could be neutralized by a single thought from Charles, who was already flying here with his team, guided in real time by my illusion. However, I still didn't plan to give him the opportunity to wake up before that time, and so the mutants were subjected to mental spells from the area of enhancing shutdown. There was a temptation to quietly wring Toad's neck - I didn't like him, but, on the other hand, he was the coolest Toad of all his incarnations that I had ever heard of, and he hadn't managed to do anything to me personally yet, so the guy was lucky - I decided to give him a chance.
But after all the captives were securely packed (well, as securely as a woman who can arbitrarily change the proportions of her body can be packed), I began the most interesting part - viewing Magneto's memory.
Not long before, Westchester, New York.
"Is your presence here some kind of copy creation?" Cyclops asked, looking at the guest with puzzlement.
"No," the young man in an impeccable suit shook his head, "what you see is a phantom under direct control."
- But how can you control your body here and there at the same time?
- I distribute my attention. My brain is more perfect than a human's, and I can afford to do several things at once.
"How are things with Magneto?" Xavier intervened in the conversation with a note of concern in his voice.
"While we were flying," Loki shrugged, looking at satellite images of New York and its environs on his laptop screen, "we just had a heartfelt conversation about his political program. I can't say I heard anything new, but I was pleasantly surprised by the strength of his position."
"Do you agree with him?" Cyclops asked, folding his arms across his chest.
"He says the right things, he relies on solid facts and draws the right conclusions from them. To be honest, I expected much less from a terrorist hunting an innocent girl.
"And yet he's wrong," Jean shook her head.
- Not at all, Doctor Gray, - Loki tore his gaze away from the screen and chuckled slightly, - he is absolutely right, but that is the root cause of all real conflicts, that there is much more than one correct decision and correct answer. If it were otherwise, any hostility would be extinguished at the level of checking the logic in the clashing glances.
"How can starting a war be the right and correct decision?" Storm joined the conversation.
"It's very simple," the man who calls himself God shrugged, returning his eyes to the screen. "If World War II had started with Britain and France striking Hitler when he just started occupying Czechoslovakia, then of course there would have been casualties and losses, but these casualties would have been an order of magnitude less than they turned out to be in real history. Then the war and the first strike would have been the right decision, capable of saving many millions. So your Southerners, in the Civil War, should have struck first and taken Washington, without waiting for the enemy to gather strength and go on the attack himself. But they preferred to play at diplomacy and peacefulness, which ultimately ended in rivers of blood and the enemy's victory. So you can always find a moment when a preventive strike will bring more benefit than its absence. Another thing is that there is almost always a way to do without war at all, for example, if the Americans had not given money to Hitler, the Third Reich would never have risen." True, America would not have become the first power on Earth, having enriched itself with military orders. In a word, in geopolitics everything is always complicated and interconnected, and the good for one is not equal to the good for another.
"What…" Scott shook his head, trying to process what he had heard. "What did you just say about America helping Hitler?"
- M? And you don't know? - Loki was surprised, raising his green eyes to the assembled group. - I didn't say anything then, - he immediately shrugged his shoulders and returned to the computer, teasing the audience with a smile hidden at the corners of his lips.
- Were there such moments in the history of Asgard? - stopping his students from further remarks with a gesture, the professor spoke, looking intently at the guest.
"Of course," he nodded. "If Odin hadn't struck the Jotun army when they first invaded Earth, your world would now be a ball covered in a solid crust of ice with no trace of humanity. And if Odin's father, Bor, hadn't attacked Svartalfheim, our galaxy would have had every chance of being destroyed by a weapon that alters the physical laws of reality."
"Do you believe it yourself?" Wolverine chuckled skeptically.
– I have been to Svartalfheim and Jotunheim. If in the first a person can survive for a while on the food he brings, then in the second he will die in two minutes even in very warm clothes.
"I'm curious," Professor Xavier cupped his hands in front of his face, resting his elbows on the arms of his chair, "you're an outside observer in this conflict, Loki, so based on what you've said, who do you think is more right? Now that you've spoken to both of us personally? Eric, with his desire to start a war by acting preemptively, or me, the one who 'plays diplomacy' and prevents this war?"
- As I said, there is always more than one right decision, - the dandy brunette smiled at the owner of the house. - You are both right and, to be honest, this world needs both of you at the same time. Magneto is a bogeyman for the authorities and a leader who can unite and lead the mutants into battle if things go according to the worst-case scenario. You are a buffer between the radicals on both sides and a way for the common sense to reach a compromise where blood would otherwise be shed. Each of you, fulfilling your role to the proper extent, can make this world a better place, the only bad thing is that, despite all your strength, you are not the only ones playing this game, and the actions of other players can ruin any good initiatives.
"Alas," Charles sighed, letting a bitter smile appear on his face, "even without the machinations of other players, good intentions too often go awry."
Suddenly, the sound of a doorbell came from the corridor, forcing those gathered in Professor Xavier's office to interrupt their conversations.
"I'll open it," Storm started to get ready for the door, only to recoil in amazement just a minute later.
"I need Doctor Jean Grey," the subject, covered in heavy sweat, wheezed through the threshold, struggling with heavy shortness of breath, almost hanging on the door frame.
- Senator Kelly? - the girl voiced the reason for her astonishment, but the late visitor was already rolling his eyes, most definitely fainting. - Damn it! - Ororo cursed at the last moment, catching the falling body.
A thought even flashed through her mind that she wouldn't mind Loki's help now, even though the latter made her wary with his... eccentric behavior, as well as his looks and words. But the half-mad mutant who considered himself a Scandinavian God wasn't here, and so she had to drag the surprisingly heavy body alone.
"Storm, what... Senator Kelly?" Jean exclaimed, seeing the man on the mutant's back, but then Wolverine and Cyclops jumped up to her and quickly relieved her of the burden, dragging her to the nearest chair.
"Doctor…" the politician croaked, looking around the room with a cloudy gaze, "I need help…" and then immediately switched off again.
"Get him to the infirmary, quickly!" Xavier commanded sharply, moving out from behind his desk.
Five minutes later, everyone was in the medical room, and Jean was bustling around the bed, connecting sensors to the senator's body to monitor his pulse and temperature. It turned out that the only clothes the man had on were a sports jacket and pants, with nothing underneath, and clearly visible gills were visible on his back. Finally, when the equipment was connected and the doctor took blood samples for analysis, Kelly came to his senses again and frantically looked around.
"Calm down, Senator," the leader of the X-Men rode closer to him. "You are safe. I am Professor Charles Xavier. Tell me what happened to you?"
"I…" the lying man was still breathing heavily, "I was afraid that if I went to the hospital… they… would…" Large beads of sweat appeared on the man's forehead and bare chest.
"Treat you like a mutant?" the telepath helped his interlocutor find the words. Kelly's eyes froze, glued to the professor's face, and her facial expressions reflected pain and despair. "We are not what you imagine," Xavier said in a quiet but clear voice after a few seconds. "Not everyone is like that."
"Tell that to the person who did it," the patient croaked out in response, swallowing hard.
Charles looked away and sighed. Kelly was breathing heavily and intermittently, as if looking at those around him through a cloudy veil. The others were silent. But the pause did not last long, and, turning his chair, the professor silently walked around the bed to turn back to her at the head of the bed.
- Senator, try to relax, - the telepath's hands rose to the guest's head and froze opposite the temporal regions, without touching the skin. - I will not harm you... - Xavier said soothingly, closing his eyes and concentrating.
A minute later, the telepath finished his task and straightened up in his chair, leaving the unconscious Kelly to settle down on the couch.
"So, what have you learned, Professor?" the illusion of Loki addressed the elderly mutant.
- Magneto created a device capable of turning ordinary people into mutants, - the owner of the estate said, raising his eyes to the students. - Its core is Eric himself, and activating the machine seems to weaken him. I saw how this mechanism emits some kind of field visible to ordinary vision... perhaps some new type of radioactive radiation with a corpuscular-wave structure, like light. This field causes mutation in the body, but not a natural one and proceeds very quickly. The senator was kidnapped yesterday morning, and at night he was able to escape, seeping through the bars.
"And how does it affect mutants?" Cyclops asked with keen interest.
"I don't think so," the professor shook his head.
"How curious," Loki drawled, moving his hand over the senator's forearm, and as he moved, the veins under the latter's skin became clearly outlined. "I can't say for sure without the Soul Furnace, but it seems to me that our guest's body is dying."
"Because of what?" Storm asked, pursing her lips.
"The cells are breaking down," the brunette replied. "But it's not necrosis, they're..." The God of Magic's green eyes narrowed and darted around, as if looking past the man on the couch. "It looks a lot like decay with the release of water. His body is no longer so much human as it is the body of... a jellyfish."
"So why does he need Rogue?" Logan asked darkly, raising his voice.
"Obviously, to work as a battery for this machine," Loki answered without a pause, still staring into space and incomprehensibly examining Kelly. "He'll touch her, thereby giving her the opportunity to use his abilities for some time, and then he'll shove her into the device. Or first he'll shove her in, fix her so she can't move, and then he'll touch her. And I think I heard something on the news about a bunch of big shots from Earth coming to one place…" the guy added with a clearly discernible hint in his voice.
"The UN Assembly..." Xavier said, immediately understanding everything.
"But now he won't be able to do it?" Wolverine raised his eyebrows, questioningly.
"Yes," Charles nodded decisively and looked at Loki. "How are things with Magneto?"
- Um... We're descending, - the "illusion" was distracted, removing her hand from the senator. - Give me a map, and I'll point my finger - where.
- Scott...
- The plane is ready, we can load right now, professor.
"Okay," the telepath nodded briefly and rolled his chair toward the ramp to the hangar, "we need to finish all of this quickly and try to help the senator."
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