Erik watched as the helicopters vanished, his expression emotionless. He allowed them to slip away, quickly shifting his focus back to Atomic, who was struggling to stay airborne. It was clear that the surge of power he had summoned to save the pilots had completely drained him.
"You didn't disappoint me, Wyatt… Such incredible potential. You've reached heights most can only dream of in just a year." Erik's lips curled into a predatory grin as he envisioned an adult Atomic wielding unimaginable power, capable of decimating entire cities with a mere flick of his wrist.
The thought of a fully realized Atomic—an indomitable force of possibility—sent a sinister chuckle rippling through him.
"It would be a shame to extinguish such potential," Erik remarked, allowing the concealed spiked steel pillar to crash down with a deafening thud, shaking the ground beneath them.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Erik glided toward Atomic, who instinctively tensed. After a moment of hesitation, he raised a hand defensively in a flicking pose.
Don't make me use this, Magneto. Atomic thought, a heavy resignation settling in his chest as he prepared for the worst. I still haven't mastered this, but I'm spent. I have to use the last of my energy on this move. I can't let Magneto kill these people!
"I believe the games are over, Wyatt," Erik said, his smile almost mocking in its warmth. "I've reconsidered your fate. Though your ideology is... misaligned, I believe it is malleable. One day, you'll see that I was right all along."
"Fat chance," Atomic shot back.
Erik's demeanor shifted slightly. "I will give the young mutants a choice: to join my cause willingly or they can refuse—no coercion. After everything they've endured, many may find my Brotherhood's vision enticing. Those who decline? You can take them to Charles if you wish." With that, Erik turned on his heel, ready to depart, but paused to cast a lingering glance over his shoulder.
"Oh, and take good care of my disobedient daughter. Like you, she'll come to understand one day."
Atomic blinked, taken aback by Erik's unexpected civility. The silence stretched between them, thickening with unspoken tension, leaving Atomic unsure how to respond.
"This is goodbye. At least for now," Erik said, his voice low yet heavy with threat, before soaring off, leaving Atomic grappling with the weight of uncertainty and dread.
With his statement made, Erik soared into the sky, hovering over the vast, jagged crater that marked the remains of the MRD facility. Mystique cast one last piercing glare at Wanda before transforming into a majestic hawk, her wings stretching wide as she swooped to join Erik in the air.
Erik's gaze lingered on Wanda for several heartbeats, his expression a mix of contemplation and frustration.
Unfazed, Wanda raised both hands defiantly, flipping him off with a smirk.
With a resigned sigh, Erik turned away and flew toward the throng of mutants gathered in the distance, intent on fulfilling his promise to Atomic. After delivering his message, half of the liberated mutants chose to ally with Erik, while the other half opted for their own paths.
Once the chaos subsided, Atomic glided back to the remnants of the facility, landing shakily beside Wanda. As he released the gravitational hold that had aided his flight, he stumbled forward, only to be caught by Wanda's steadying grip.
"Whoa, easy there," Wanda said, her voice a blend of concern and amusement as she helped steady Atomic. "What was that?! Why did you and that deadbeat fight? Weren't you two supposed to be working together?"
"We were," Atomic replied, shifting uncomfortably as he settled onto a large chunk of concrete. "But that's about the extent of my relationship with Magneto." He paused, pretending to be unaware of the connection between Wanda and Erik. "What do you mean by 'deadbeat?'"
"Oh, right… Well, that old bastard is technically my father—biologically speaking," Wanda confessed, taking a seat beside him, her expression a mix of exasperation and resignation. "So… 'Deadbeat.'"
"I see," Atomic replied, nodding slowly as he processed the revelation.
"Yeah..."
Silence enveloped them, punctuated only by the occasional groan from the unconscious agents sprawled nearby. The quiet was abruptly broken by a loud, rumbling growl from Atomic's stomach.
"Seriously? You just had this epic showdown with that deadbeat, and you're hungry?" Wanda asked, a teasing smile curling at the corners of her lips.
With a playful glint in his eye, Atomic reached down and picked up a fist-sized rock. In an instant, the rock transformed into a steaming bowl of shrimp fried rice, the mouthwatering aroma wafting into the air. "When I use my powers, a lot of the energy comes from my caloric intake," he explained, conjuring a set of gleaming chopsticks as he undid the lower part of his helmet. "That's why I make it a point to eat a lot each day. After that fight, I'm practically starving. If I'm going to take everyone out of here, I need to refuel."
"Ah… that's neat, I guess," Wanda said, still bemused by the sight of food materializing out of thin air. "…Can I have some?"
With a tired smile, Atomic conjured another pair of chopsticks, offering them to her as the enticing aroma of the shrimp fried rice filled the air, mingling with the remnants of battle.
••o••o••o••
"Alright, let me make sure I understand this," Samuel said as he and the other mutants who had refused to join Erik stood at the edge of a secluded area of Lake Tahoe. They were no longer dressed in their dull facility jumpsuits; they now wore comfortable, loose clothing created by Atomic. "So, you're saying we have two options: we can either go home, where the government would most likely come after us again, or we can go to an institution in upstate New York that protects mutants from the government… Did I get that right?"
Atomic nodded. "I understand that the choices are limited. But as far as the government is concerned, you are all escaped fugitives they will want to recapture. While I know you all want to go home, I don't believe that's the safest choice."
"But… we've been gone so long," a young girl said, clutching her arm. "I miss my mom."
"Yeah! I want to go home!"
"I'm sick of being placed in places I don't want to be!"
A chorus of angry voices erupted among the crowd. Tensions were rising as everyone wanted to express their feelings. The noise ceased abruptly when a loud crack echoed from a nearby tree that had been torn down.
Wanda's hands stopped glowing as she climbed on top of the fallen tree. "Listen! Atomic just fought tooth and nail to free us all. I've been trapped in that place like everyone else, so let me make myself clear: I understand. We all have homes we want to return to. But some of us don't…" she said softly, shaking her thoughts away and gaining Atomic's attention. "Even if we go home, the government will just come back for us."
"But what guarantee is there that they won't come for everyone here at this institution? This Charles Xavier guy might have an agreement with the President, but won't harboring them break that?" Robert asked Atomic, gesturing to the large gathering. "How can you ensure their safety?"
A chorus of agreements filled the forest. Atomic nodded and turned to everyone. "Trust me, my plans to help you all go far beyond just freeing you from that facility. From this point on, things will only get harder from here, but I promise you all, I will fight for your freedoms every step of the way. I will ensure that no mutant will ever again be taken from their home simply for awakening the X-Gene. You have my word."
The forest was bathed in a serene hush as Atomic finished his speech, the echoes of his words lingering in the air like a gentle promise. Shadows from the firepit flickered playfully among the trees, illuminating hopeful expressions on the faces of the assembled group.
"What do you mean, 'things will get harder from here'?" Jubilation asked.
"Is it because of this?" Robert asked as he brought out his personal phone from his pocket.
On his screen flashed dozens of news articles from a wide array of news organizations spanning the country, each accompanied by vivid images and striking headlines that demanded attention.
Amidst the clutter of information, several headlines stood out boldly, emblazoned across the pages in dark, commanding letters, drawing the reader in like moths to a flame. Yet, despite their varied tones and angles, they all revolved around a singular, controversial figure.
[Atomic: Hero or Terrorist?]
[New York's Local Hero, Atomic, Strikes Back—Attacks US Government Research Facility!]
[Urgent Calls for the Immediate Arrest and Capture of Atomic from the DOJ and Law Enforcement Agencies Nationwide.]
[The United States Supreme Court Issues a Mandate: Atomic Must Appear Before the Senate Judiciary Panel to Answer for His Crimes.]
That was fast. Too fast. Atomic thought as he read over the headlines with acceptance. "That's exactly right," he murmured, his voice low but steady. "If I want to ensure that the government no longer goes after innocent mutants, I have to show everyone the atrocities the MRD and the US government have committed against you all. When I stand before the world at Capitol Hill, that's when I'll reveal all the everything I've seen. Everything. They won't be able to hide once it's all out in the open."
"But how do you plan to do that? Isn't it just going to be your word against theirs?" Wanda asked.
A knowing smile cracked beneath Atomic's helmet, a spark of confidence shining through. "Trust me. It'll be their word against their own."
Around the lake, everyone was filled with a mix of anticipation and hope as they took in Atomic's words. While some skepticism still flickered within them, a wave of collective hope washed over the mutants. They had little choice but to believe in the hero, because in the end, that was all they could do. With the remaining embers of hope within them, they decided to believe in Atomic.
But until the fateful day when Atomic would step onto the steps of Capitol Hill, ready to unveil the truths hidden by the MRD. They all would embrace the safety of Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters until the day they could be truly free arrived.
"Wait, so how are we all supposed to travel across the country to get to this school? Last I checked, I don't think they allow fugitives to buy plane tickets," Jubilation said.
Atomic grinned under his helmet and turned to the grand lake beside them. Holding his hands out, he closed his eyes and focused.
Everyone watched in awe as a brilliant light shone over the lake. Pulses rippled across the water's surface as the lake rose and transformed into a massive, concentrated object. With one final flash of crimson light, an elongated version of the X-Men's Blackbird, made of pure energy, flew above the lake.
"Did he just… make a plane?" Samuel whispered in disbelief.
"I think he did," Jubilation nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Yup... That's a plane."
"This isn't a real plane," Atomic explained. "I just reconstructed and repurposed one I scanned a while back, and recreated it using my own energy. It's taking a lot of my brainpower to keep it tangible, but it will hold strong until I get you all to the mansion." With that, he commanded his glowing Blackbird closer. With a thought, the side of the jet opened up, and a set of stairs extended down in front of the group of mutants.
"Everyone have their plane tickets?" Atomic joked.
With childlike excitement, everyone quickly stepped inside the grand jet and looked around in awe. As they climbed aboard, they all touched every surface and the rows of seats, marveling at how real and tangible everything felt.
Wanda stepped beside Atomic and watched as her fellow mutants boarded the plane. "I'm starting to wonder if there's anything you can't do," she said.
"There's a lot I can't do," Atomic replied, glancing down at the urn floating beside him. "But that doesn't mean I won't try my best."
Wanda nodded and looked at John's ashes. "You're a weird guy... But you're a good person. You remind me a lot of my father. My real father. He was a good man, like you."
"Was?" Atomic whispered.
"He… died. He and my mother died in a boating accident two years ago," Wanda admitted quietly. "Not long after that, I found a letter in my mother's closet while packing away her things. The letter said that I had a brother in the United States. I had family here... It's why I decided to move here... only to be locked up as soon as I landed when my abilities awakened."
"I'm sorry," Atomic said softly.
"It's okay. Well, not really. I'm still furious that they kept me locked up for a year, but at least I'm free now," Wanda smiled as the last person boarded the jet. "Do you remember that favor you owe me?"
"Uh… yeah?"
"I want to help... I want to be like you," Wanda said, her voice a whisper as she stared at her glowing hands, a mix of hope and uncertainty washing over her.
The flickering images of Atomic's surface memories of him saving lives and coming to the aid of those in distress played in her mind, each one sharper than the last.
"My father always told me my destiny wasn't meant to be spent in our little town in Sokovia. He believed I was destined for something greater, something better. I sometimes wondered if he only said that because he knew that my biological father was a powerful mutant, or if he dreamed of a brighter life for me. I guess I'll never know... But what I do know, deep in my heart, is that I want to use these abilities of mine to help others. To save those like myself from people who want to hurt them. I want to become the person my parents always envisioned me to be." She added, her once dull eyes were now bright and electric.
Atomic nodded as he listened, absorbing her words without interruption.
This Wanda was vastly different from her MCU counterpart or any other version of her that he's seen in his other lifetime. Sure, she looked like her on-screen MCU counterpart, but her personality and mindset were utterly different, likely due to being raised by two loving, kind natured parents.
Ultimately, it didn't matter why she was who she was; this Wanda was her own person, and she wanted to forge her own path away from hatred and Erik. That, Atomic could respect. After all, he was still forging his own path as well.
After a moment of consideration, Atomic nodded.
With a thought, he altered the windows in the jet so no one could see outside. In a flash, he removed his helmet and smiled at Wanda.
"I'm probably not the best person for the job, but if you're fine with me, I'd be happy to help you, Wanda," Wyatt said, extending his hand. "I'm Wyatt. Wyatt Wilkins. New York's local hero and now terrorist."
Wanda blinked as she took in his appearance, and after a moment, she chuckled and shook his hand.