"You're a very hard man to find, Atomic," Mystique said as she walked up beside him with a sultry smile. She leaned in and whispered beside Atomic's helmet, "Or should I say… Wyatt Wilkins? Let's talk, shall we?"
How does she know my name? The thought ricocheted in Atomic's mind, sparking surprise and confusion. He paused to weigh the possibilities. Then it dawned on him—Wait a minute—the break-in at the Xavier mansion. Could Charles have kept my information hidden away somewhere? The pieces began to fit together, forming a chilling picture. I see. It was Mystique who had infiltrated the mansion that night, using Webber as her pawn to breach Cerebro and steal whatever information Charles had stored within it. Damn it!
Atomic swiped his finger, creating a glowing platform beneath Mystique's feet. The platform swiftly carried her back to stand in front of her allies. Before anyone could attack, Mystique raised her hand to calm everyone down.
"The Brotherhood of Mutants," Atomic stated.
He had heard various stories from his friends at the Xavier Institute about their confrontations with this universe's Brotherhood. While the group wasn't yet at the same level of danger as their comic or movie counterparts, they were not to be dismissed.
"I see that Charles and his students have talked to you about us. Just know that not everything you've heard is true," Mystique replied. "We're not here to fight. We just want to talk."
"Talk? Let's speed this up and carry his unconscious body to the boss," Pietro said, attempting to run but finding himself unable to move. He looked down and saw that his feet were encased in solid steel, stuck to the roof. "What the hell!"
Seeing this, St. John glared at Atomic and was about to unleash a wave of flames when the fireballs floating around him were suddenly extinguished. When he tried to release more flames from his flamethrower, nothing happened. He soon began to have trouble breathing as his body started to shake.
The phenomenon occurred because Atomic siphoned the oxygen from the air surrounding St. John's location and significantly reduced the surrounding air temperature. This drastic environmental alteration effectively extinguished any possibility for the fire-wielder to conjure flames.
Mystique narrowed her eyes at Atomic's quick reaction and discreet use of his powers. He was far more capable than she had anticipated. Charles and his students must have informed him of our abilities. We're at a disadvantage. She thought. "No one here attacks without my say-so. Do so, and you'll face the consequences. Is that clear?"
The young mutants all annoyingly agreed and backed off, with Pietro glaring at Atomic as he tried to pull his feet free.
"Hey! You heard her! Let me go!" Pietro said.
"C-can't breathe… so-so cold," St. John said.
He resembles a young Aaron Taylor-Johnson, but he's behaving quite differently from his character in the MCU. If he's here, then where's Wanda? With a casual wave of his hand, Atomic undid Pietro's bindings, and the controlled environment around St. John shifted. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice firm but free of hostility.
"Like I said, we just want to talk," Mystique said with a serious tone. "More specifically, our leader wants to speak to you."
"Magneto," Atomic stated. "Then why isn't he here?"
"Our leader is a very busy man. However, he eagerly hopes you agree to meet him."
"And if I refuse. From what I've been told, your group isn't exactly trustworthy and peaceful. Especially considering how you tried to trick my friend, Rogue." Atomic said.
Atomic's words hung in the air, prompting a frown to crease Mystique's features.
"Hey! You're lucky we're even asking!" Lance barked, stepping forward with a flash of bravado, but he quickly hesitated, caught off guard by Atomic turning his attention to him. Memories of the video of the fierce battle against the Hammer Drones at the Stark Expo surged through him, stirring a mix of respect and unease. Despite his own confidence in his abilities and powers, the thought of confronting Atomic—whose abilities and skills were known across the country—made him reconsider. "I mean…" he began, trailing off, unsure of how to proceed.
"Enough, Avalanche!" Mystique hissed. "Listen, I'm well aware of our shared history with the X-Men, but our business with you is different. We're extending a friendly hand. If you decide not to speak with our leader... we would understand."
The members of the Brotherhood all turned to her with confused expressions. A fact that Atomic caught on to as well.
This will turn ugly if I refuse. Atomic thought and looked down at the apartment building they were on. If a fight breaks out, the people within it would be in danger. I can't risk that. "…fine. Take me to Magneto. I'll hear what he has to say."
Mystique looked momentarily surprised at his acceptance, but she quickly looked pleased with herself. "Excellent. Your time won't be wasted, I assure you."
We'll see about that. Atomic thought and raised a hand to Frederick. The large mutant braced himself, but at the glow behind him, he saw the brick wall he broke through be fixed in an instant.
"Wow," Frederick muttered.
"Holy crap. He really can make anything he wants…" Todd whispered, a storm of ideas of how to become rich raging in his mind. "Like gold!"
Atomic ignored their chattering and created a large platform under them all. The Brotherhood watched as the platform began to float into the air with Atomic flying beside them.
"Lead the way," Atomic said.
Let's hope this doesn't blow up in my face. Atomic thought as Mystique guided him.
As he soared through the skies, he took meticulous care to replace any metallic components in his suit, swapping out the resilient adamantium plating and helmet for non-magnetic alternatives. He chose durable ABS plastics and lightweight carbon fiber.
While these substitutions might not offer the same level of protection as the formidable metals, they were a calculated precaution—an essential adaptation in case he encountered the formidable master of magnetism in the heat of battle.
••o••o••o••
It didn't take long for Atomic to arrive at the location Mystique had directed him to. As he gently set down the members of the Brotherhood, he lifted his gaze to behold the imposing silhouette of the Statue of Liberty against the twilight sky. The statue, a beacon of hope and liberty, stood in stark contrast to the tension brewing in the air around them.
"Atomic. I'm pleased you decided to accept my invitation," a deep, resonant voice cut through the evening stillness, drawing Atomic's attention upward. There, silhouetted against the dark heavens, was Magneto, Erik Lehnsherr, his figure regal and commanding as he floated effortlessly, suspended high above the gathering below. "You've been a very busy... man ever since you discovered the extent of your powers."
Erik's eyes glinted with a mix of intrigue and something darker as he surveyed the scene, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the charged atmosphere.
It seems that only Magneto and Mystique know about my identity. Atomic thought.
Atomic frowned from behind his helmet and flew up to float in front of Erik. They were now eye to eye. "It shouldn't come as a surprise that I don't trust you, Magneto. What is it that you want?"
"Ah, yes. Charles and his X-Men have undoubtedly filled your head with tales of our… encounters. But let me be clear: I am not here to fight. I'm here to extend a powerful invitation—an invitation to join the Brotherhood of Mutants," Erik stated, confidently extending his hand. "With you by our side, the future where mutants can live without fear and embrace their true freedom is not just a dream; it is a certainty within our reach."
Atomic frowned, hearing that. "You're a powerful man, Erik. I'm also assuming you're a well-informed man. You must know that I'm not a mutant. I don't have the X-gene."
A small chuckle escaped Erik. He floated over to stare out at the glowing city in the distance. "That, my young friend, is where you're wrong. At least, to a degree. Like Charles, I have friends everywhere. It wasn't hard to… convince a few laboratory scientists to change the results of a test."
Atomic was taken aback by Erik's statement. Were the test results he received fake? Could it be that he was actually a mutant all along?
"You're saying… I'm-"
"A mutant? Unfortunately, that remains unconfirmed," Erik confessed, his tone revealing his intrigue. "You see, your blood seems to lack the X-gene. However, traces of it still exist strongly in your DNA. It's almost as if the X-gene is evolving beyond its current form! Isn't that fascinating? But before my team of scientists could uncover the truth about your DNA, your blood somehow eradicated itself. It was as if it had a delayed defensive mechanism, leaving us without any biological information to analyze or explore."
What? What is he talking about? So, I'm a mutant but not at the same time? That doesn't make any sense! Atomic thought, growing more annoyed. "What's your point?"
"My point is that you are one of us. You're our future! The abilities you possess are meant to help us claim our rightful place as the dominant species on this planet. We shouldn't be living in fear, treated like second-class citizens at the mercy of these humans, and dragged into government facilities just because they fear what we could become! With you on our side, we can assert ourselves as the dominant species on this planet!"
"That's… that's wrong. Just because mutants have powers, it doesn't make them, us, you? Whatever! It doesn't make mutants any better than regular people!" Atomic said. "The people are just afraid of what they don't understand! If we can show the world that mutants are no different from regular people, then their misguided fear will go away!"
"Naive… just like Charles. What do you propose we do about our fellow mutants being ripped from their families and homes? Are we just going to turn a blind eye to their abduction and abuse? Ignore the reality as we're thrown into camps?!" Erik's voice thundered, causing the nearby Statue of Liberty to tremble with his fury. He took a moment, inhaling deeply to regain his composure and halt the shaking of the statue. "I've heard of your so-called heroics, Atomic. Let me ask you plainly: when the day comes that you witness an innocent mutant being dragged away by the Department of Mutant Affairs, will you stand idly by and let it happen? Or will you take a stand, defy this oppressive regime, and become their enemy?"
"I'd do the right thing," Atomic said without hesitation. "Humans, Mutants, it doesn't matter. I'd step in and help anyone in trouble. No matter who I could make an enemy of by doing so."
From under his helmet, Erik smiled. "I see," He then floated to the ground and approached Mystique, who had a laptop in her hands. The Brotherhood all grew nervous at Erik's presence, even Pietro, the man's son. "Prove it to me, Atomic. Prove it to me and everyone here that you truly are the hero you say you are."
Atomic narrowed his eyes, a flicker of suspicion igniting within him as he descended to the ground. Erik gestured toward the laptop's glowing screen, urging him to look closer. When Atomic's gaze fell upon the images displayed, he paused, his breath hitching in his throat.
The screen revealed a collection of grainy photographs, captured from awkward angles, showcasing a sprawling government facility shrouded in an air of foreboding. The images depicted a diverse group of people clad in drab grey jumpsuits, each emblazoned with stark, unfeeling numbers across their chests. Among them were primarily youthful faces, though interspersed were middle-aged and even elderly people.
What captured Atomic's attention were the horrifying and inhumane conditions in which these people were imprisoned. Straitjackets twisted and contorted their bodies, rendering them helpless. Full metallic face masks, with only small breathing holes, obscured their features, transforming them into mere shadows of their former selves. Their hands and arms were encased in cruel, unyielding steel that restricted any semblance of movement, turning them into mere objects of confinement. The government's oppressive effort to suppress their abilities and autonomy was palpable.
As the photos scrolled to reveal the slivers of space where these individuals were confined to sleep, Atomic felt a sinking despair. Small, claustrophobic rooms crafted from jagged chains, cold concrete, and unforgiving steel appeared, offering barely enough space for anyone to stretch their arms fully. The stark reality of their suffering pressed heavily upon him, and he instinctively looked down, unable to bear the weight of what he had just witnessed.
"What will it be, Atomic? Will you help me free these mutants, or will you turn away from their suffering?" Erik asked.
"You don't have to worry about being persecuted for something beyond your control! How many mutants get taken away by the government for no other crime than existing?! And what do you do about it, hero? You fly all over the city, but not once have I seen you stop those fascists from taking my people away! Are we not worthy of help like everyone else, or are you just blind to it all?!" Scott's words to him echoed loudly in Atomic's mind.
The Brotherhood watched as Atomic gazed back at the laptop's screen. Their uncertainty about his expression hung heavily in the air.
Finally, Atomic reached out and closed the laptop's screen. "Where is this facility?"
Erik smiled victoriously and extended his hand toward Atomic. "Welcome to the Brotherhood."
"This does not mean I'm joining you. I'm only doing what needs to be done to help those people," Atomic stated, his voice unwavering. "I'll work with you this time, but let me make this clear: I don't trust you."
"That is understandable. However, trust isn't necessary for us to work together to free our fellow mutants," Erik replied, nodding as he placed his hands behind his back. "By the end of our rescue operation, I believe I will have earned your trust."
I doubt that. Atomic thought as he shook Erik's hand. To him, it felt as if he were making a deal with the devil.
Even with the weight of the decision heavy on his shoulders, Atomic knew he had no choice.
The sight of those desperate people, their faces etched with fear and hopelessness, haunted him. He could feel their pain resonating within him, a relentless tug on his conscience. Ignoring their plight was simply not an option; he couldn't turn his back on those who needed help.
The consequences of his future actions were not lost on him, but in that moment, their need outweighed whatever drawback he would undoubtedly receive.