The Dakest Metal

[Erik Lehnsherr]

It seemed she had not known. Good. Let this be a lesson to her. "Trask Industries, a government funded industry, engaged in cruel and violent experimentation on mutants. None survived." They had rounded up as many as they could, picked them off one by one. Erik knew how that felt for Shaw had tortured and used him for experimentation while at the concentration camp when he was younger. His tone was not one that was breaking the news gently to her. He was angry that they were dead. Because there were those out there who could have stopped it. Charles. And even she could have done something. But they all preferred to turn a blind eye because it was safe for them. "Several more were experimented on, tortured, died in the name of humans science." And other mutants out there did not care. It was shameful to know how they could just live their life in such obliviousness. "They were separated from one another. Vulnerable." He had been in prison, desperate to get out to help them, but no thanks to her, he had not succeeded in his attempts.

"There are those out there who could have helped them. Had others come together, stood together, so many lives could have been saved." But they hadn't. So many lives had been lost, and this was just the beginning. The genocide had begun. "Others like you," he added, angry that she had done the cowardly thing. "I did not ask you to fight for me. I asked you to fight for others. For them." It was not about him, it was about mutant rights. "Because you can. Because you have the strength and ability to do so." She was a strong mutant but did not care to use her gifts for the greater good. Like Charles. Where was he when others were dying? Where was he when Banshee and Alex had been taken? "But you turn a blind eye and pretend like you can do nothing to stop this. You live in a sheltered world, afraid to take a risk if it means saving hundreds of others. It is cowardly and I was wrong to ever believe you could be part of the Brotherhood in all that it stands for." Mystique had single handedly saved many mutants from an army camp, ones who would have shared the same fate as the others: death. So he firmly believed that Lana could have done something; she was strong enough to have done something. But selfish enough that she chose not to.

[Lana Kane]

"The only thing I could have done was end up just like them!" She snapped back, but not in anger, in a mixture of sadness for her friends and tiredness from going in this circle. "I can't fight! I feel EVERYTHING, Erik. I get overwhelmed and it weakens me. You know that! All the emotions and sweet talk in the world would not have saved them."

"I hate that they died, but they were strong then I could ever be. They had talents that let them be of use in a fight, where as mine are good for what I do with them. You claim you let everyone make their own choices but you damning me for mine. You think I have to fit into your idea of who I should be . . . but I never that girl. If I pretended for a while, it was to fit in. I wont regret making a choice that kept me alive."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik was already aware of the fact that he had overestimated her, but he never had over estimated her powers. He'd merely overestimated her loyalty to their worthy cause. The fact that she was doubting herself was interesting. He did not doubt her. Even now, when he was displeased with her, knew she was powerful. He had told her that, repeatedly. He had helped her hone her skills so that in the state of extreme terror, she still had control over her powers. Yet she saw herself as weak. He supposed that that was how some mutants saw themselves, but he had not expected her to. "Combat is not just about physical fighting. It is about using your abilities. And you have the potential to overcome an entire army with yours." He had that much belief in her gift, though she seemed to lack it. "Yet you choose not to, because you prefer the path that is easier. You prefer the path that is safer for you, inconsiderate of others who are not as privileged." Was she not even willing to consider the possibility that she could help so many mutants?

"If you truly believe that you could have done nothing, and you conscience is clear, then continue to live in your world of denial. I know I did everything I could to save them. Did you?" No. She didn't. It was a rhetorical question. She had done nothing because she abandoned them when they needed her most. He would not let that go; not let her forget that. "I am damning you for yours because you abandoned us when we needed you!" Erik was losing his composure and in the height of his growing anger, felt his powers slightly slipping. It caused the metal bike racks, the metal dumpster, everything metal in their surroundings starting to shake violently. Erik often had excellent control over his powers, yet right now, thinking of all the death, of all they had lost, and the anger he felt for homo sapiens . . . his powers were exposing themselves. He didn't even care that they were; he was too consumed with anger.

[Lana Kane]

"What could I have done, Erik?! You through cars at people! Every one of them had talents that lead them to be useful, and strong. Should I have put fear into them? Because fear is why they hate us already. I can't make them run away, they could have turned more aggressive and killed you or all of us that night if I pushed too hard."

She wasn't sure why he assumed she could take over an army. She didn't have the power to make anyone do anything, just play with their emotions. When she was close to someone, and could read their face, and say pretty words then yeah, she could get them to play her tune--but an army of so many? She couldn't do that! The best--or worst--that she could do would be to whip them into an enraged frenzy and watched as they used their fear as an excuse to kill more of them. "I can't kill someone, because I feel them die. I don't want that life. I don't want anything to do with it! I hated leaving my friends, but they were following you, and not caring if they died to honor the cause--or you."

"I cared! I still care! I don't want to live in a place where I am constantly blocking out the fear from everyone, or the hate. I don't want to fight. I thought I could. I thought I could do it, for you. You saved me, and I tried. But that night, when we were losing I knew this was it. We were not stronger then them, and we never will be. I can't forever live in that mental hell for me, when I wasn't even sure I believed we were doing the right thing."

"So yes," She told him, feeling confidant in her answer, "My conscience is clear. Just because you disapprove, don't mean it's not."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Not long ago she was boasting about her gifts, showing him that she could make everyone fall to their knees in submission and do nothing but just stay there. And now, she was acting as if she couldn't do anything helpful. The hypocrisy of her words and actions it just angered him even more. It wasn't about what abilities mutants had, but how they used them. He felt it building as the surrounding metal continued to tremble and shake . . . until she said something that calmed him down. Suddenly, his powers were back in full control. Everything stopped shaking, and he felt the anger slowly diminishing. He looked at her, void of anything really. No longer was he disappointed with her. No longer did he lament in how she had abandoned them. No longer would he try to make her understand his point of view. Was it because he had forgiven her? No. It was because she no longer meant anything to him. Absolutely nothing.

"Thank you," he said, his voice meaning his words, but not with friendly gratitude. "For finally showing me who you truly are." It was her words about how humans would always be stronger than mutants that had calmed him down; that made her nothing to him. "You are a defeatist." That was all he needed to know. Had he known that when he first met her, he never would have put an ounce of his effort into her. "You would do well living with humans, because you are a disgrace to the mutant race." She denied her gifts or that she had the ability to do something to change the future for mutants. She didn't even want to try to stand up for them. But worst of all, she would only side with those who were winning and who she saw as stronger. And in her point of view, humans were stronger. Now, he knew where her loyalties lay. With homo sapiens. She did not believe in standing up for mutants, and for that reason, he regretted having wasted his time with her.

[Lana Kane]

"I . . . don't even know what that words means." She said with a shake of her head as if it didn't matter either way. Let him bring out his big words, she knew what she was and knew what she wasn't. He called her a disgrace and she only shrugged, "Says you, but you don't speak for the mutant race, Erik. You want lead, then let me give you some advice . . . don't become what you hate so much."

"You can hate me for what I did to you, but to call me names like some child on a playground because you disagree with what I feel it is in my right as a person and a mutant to want and do . . . makes you only slightly better then the leaders who tried to win the last war you fought in." The World War, "So call me names. Call me weak. Do whatever makes you feel better."

"Meanwhile I am going to do what I know how to do; and what I feel I can do best for me and our kind." Reaching up she wiped at her eye, before it could spill over. She wasn't going to cry before him so she was grateful to see it was mostly dry. "I've said all I can say. You can leave now." She was dismissing him, just because she knew it would piss him off. Besides, this might not be where she lived but it was more her's then his.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

He may not speak for the mutant race, but he was the only one willing to advocate for them. She should know that by now. For everyone else stayed in their sheltered world, too afraid to speak up against for other mutants. Her advice fell on completely deaf ears. He was a leader, but not one who would create genocide. The fact that she used the last War was even a new low. If he felt remotely anything for her in this moment, he would have been furious. For the entirety of the war he had been brutally tortured, living nearly every moment of consciousness in pain, just so that his powers would be exposed. The only one who knew this, was Charles. For perhaps he was the only one who understood. No one else did. No one, except for a certain someone who was forever in his mind. And it certainly wasn't Lana. She would be the last person he ever expected to understand. So he did not bother. He would not argue with her. She was nothing to him. No hate filled his any longer; no anger, no feelings of betrayal. Just, nothing. He wanted to tell her not to bother to do anything, because she wasn't helping mutants.

She wasn't one of them; not in the heart anyway. She had lost the right to include herself in the category of those who were persecuted, because she didn't believe them to be strong. She had no hope for them. Erik began to take his helmet off, clutching it in his hand. Why? So that she could sense his emotions. So that she could feel that nothingness he felt for her. Perhaps it would deter her from ever approaching him again. Standing there, he let himself be exposed to her for a few moments. He did not need her to dismiss him. He would leave when he so wished. But right now, he wanted her to feel what he felt: nothing for her. "One day you will wake up, Lana; and see the world for what it truly is." With those words, he placed his helmet back on his head and left her presence, back into the warehouse. Though he did not stay for much longer. He spoke with a few more mutants, exchanging relevant information, and made the promise of returning. Then, he was gone, ready to make plans for the future, because no one else would.

[Lana Kane]

He pulled off his helmet revealing how much he subconsciously trusted her. She could own him right now. Make him comatose in her void, and unable to use his powers. It was a testament to her respect to the man he was that she did not.

That and the surprise of his emotions. Closing her eyes and looking away, Lana tried to ignore what she felt from him, his words and how easily he walked away. "When I do, I can only hope it won't be one under your control." She returned, not sure if he was even close enough to hear her.

Even a week after their meeting, she was still out of sorts from it. From the indifference she felt from him. Hate would have been better. Another few days later she felt that hate, not from him but from the same safe house. Lana managed to help a few others escape, but Manicore- a new and uprising corporation- took her and many others. At firsts she fought desperately, but even with her powers they remained strong, even icing her a shot that kept her sleeping sometimes to prevent her from using them.

She was going to die. Alone. With no one to come for her.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Manicore. This was Magneto's latest focus. They seemed to be continuing what Trask Industries had been attempting to do. And Magneto would not let them do so at the expense of mutants. This time, he would be better prepared for their attacks. He was not confined in a prison. He had a group of mutants who were willing to fight alongside him. So in the following days, since his visit to the shelter, he had been gathering information. Doing his research. They had a facility where they were planning on performing more dangerous and experimental tests on mutants. But it wasn't just about destroying the lab in which they worked. It was about destroying all of Trask Industries research. So that they had no starting point. So that if they wished to experiment, they would have to start from the beginning and Magneto wouldn't let them get very far. He had been collecting such information when word got out that Manicore had made their first attack: they had taken mutants from the shelter that Magneto had just been at not too long ago. This immediately made him prepare to get them out. He could not waste a moment. He had a fairly good idea of where they were being held. A few more mutants joined him, having friends that had been taken. While Magneto was receiving a list of names, one in particular peaked his interest. Lana. Well wasn't that ironic. He gathered the mutants with him, delivered a speech for morale, and went over the strategy. It would not be a massive army approaching the holding area. About ten mutants were captured. If they were wise about who went where, using their abilities to add to that strategy, then it would not be difficult to get them out.

When everything was ready and the plan was prepared, they set out on their mission. Thankfully, Magneto's research had proved to be effective. They found the facility the mutants were being held in and Magneto led the line, going to where majority of them were. As each guard was taken down quite effortlessly, Magneto's searched the prisoners for Lana. She was not here. One of the mutants said that they had taken her to a separate area: because she was the first to be tested. Erik told them to ensure no one was left behind, and he went to find her. Much to his delight, the facility was mostly made with metal. So each barrier he came across -- be it a guard or a locked door -- he could overcome it effortlessly. Finally, he got to a room, seeing her in what appeared to be a glass box. No matter. He looked at her from the other side for a moment before walking up to it, directly in front of the box she was being held in. He then raised his hand to motion for one of the sharp tools on the tray near the examining board, to start cutting a circle around the glass. When it was deep enough, he moved the cutting tool to the center, penetrated the circle and pulled out the glass. It was big enough for her to easily step out of. He extended his hand to her to help her out. "What did you realize when you woke up today?" He asked her, his words in reference to their last conversation. Did she still believe that mutants weren't as strong as humans? Did she still not see the world for what it was? Unjust, dangerous, and oppressive.

[Lana Kane]

She could hear the steady steps of someone closer, but Lana didn't look up until she heard the sounds of fighting. When she did . . . he was there. Standing in the middle of her box, wearing a stark white lab pants, and tank top, she watched as he began to cut her from the glass.

He'd come for her? Why? She'd had left him here--even knowing he'd have come for her, she would have left him here. What did she realize? He wanted to rub it in before she even could step from the glass. Her tone was hurt, and like steal. "That I was utterly alone. That no one cared I was here." Lana would not give him the pleasure of anything more. He wanted to hear her regret what he saw as a betrayal. She reached for his hand, but paused an inch from it, then continued to reach for it.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Her answer didn't come as a surprise. Had she still been with The Brotherhood, she would have been protected. They would have known about this far sooner and been able to stop it before it ever got to this level. "This should prove you wrong." Because she was not alone, despite his previous actions. Because obviously he cared, otherwise he wouldn't be here. He didn't expect this to regain her loyalty; he did not expect her to join him. He merely was showing her how a mutant helps a fellow mutant; and that was not done by fleeing when it became dangerous. Though, the lesson he had for her was not yet over. When she took his hand he helped her from the box and turned toward the door, though paused before moving any further.

"The other mutants are weakened because of the sedatives they were given." To keep them under control and contained. "Any moment now, a group of at least three dozen armed men are going to block our exit, and round up the other mutants, including the ones who came here with me." Why was he explaining this to her? He did not answer his own question as they made their way through the hall and sure enough, they were greeted with approximately the number of men he had predicted. Behind them, were the mutants. They had not managed to escape, and Magneto was not surprised. While he would not let any of them die, he was not going to do anything right now. "Don't move!" One of the humans demanded. Magneto complied, but not because he was told to, but because it was part of the plan. "Go ahead," he urged her. "It is your turn." For her to stand up, and fight against a common threat.

[Lana Kane]

"This should prove you wrong." Because he had come for her, even after she'd had left him. Grateful she went with him, but soon enough she began to loose that feeling and started to feel the panic rise. What was he doing?! "The other mutants are weakened because of the sedatives they were given." "And I'm not?!" She bit out, but he continued, still dead set on making his point.

"Any moment now, a group of at least three dozen armed men are going to block our exit, and round up the other mutants, including the ones who came here with me." More panic. Fear. She wanted to beg him to stop them! Why were they doing this! They needed to escape!

And as he said, it happened! "No!" "Don't move!" "Go ahead," "This isn't a game!" "It is your turn." Her turn?! He was mad! He had gone mad!

Reaching up to hold her head, one hand on each of her ears she closed her eyes, "I can't!" She could hear the guards yelling orders, freeze, get down on the ground; but all she could do was whisper "Stop them, stop them, stop them," over and over again. Then her mood shifted, and she dropped her hands while looking up at Erik and for the first time felt rage of her own making! "YOUR MAD! YOU BASTARD! STOP THIS! STOP THIS!" The louder she yelled the more the guards did, and they closer they got! Still Erik did nothing to stop them!

The fear from the mutants behind them grew, and all the storm of emotions hit her, onslaught after onslaught from both sides! It was boiling and brewing, yet on the outside she had nothing to stop it. "YOU ARE GOING TO KILL US ALL!" She yelled at him, channeling all her anger at him but his damn helmet stopped her from attacking him! Damn him! Damn his lesson! His mission! His stupid----fooking-----face----

Lana screamed at him, just as the guards opened fire at the group of mutants; letting everything she felt go and the rage she felt turn her gaze red! She screamed a long almost unended scream before she felt it and the rage trail off, leaving her blindingly staring up at Erik as the darkness took over and Lana slipped into it.

Lana's powers control emotions, but the way it does so is by playing with the pheromones and chemicals in the brain that make others feel. Spikes in some of these, can even be harmful, and kill. Unknown to Lana, she had just rendered everyone within a half mile into a coma like state . . . all but the protected Erik . . .

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik watched her. She was saying that she could not, but he did nothing. Said nothing that persuade her. It was not his words that she needed to be prompted with, but rather, the circumstances; the responsibility that was now suddenly thrust upon her. She repeatedly whispered for him to stop them and he looked forward at the advancing men. "No," he stated stubbornly. His voice filled with a strong tone of finality, one that indicated he was not going to change his mind. Nor could she. Everything then began to change. Her voice grew louder, more intense and she began to yell out. Cursing him. Whatever she needed to do, he let her do. Whatever she needed to say, she began to shout it out. And he just stood there, witnessing the scene that was beginning to unfold before them. And then, she began to scream. It was loud, piercing, and almost made Erik want to cover his ears. But instead, he felt the power from it. He embraced it. He closed his eyes, a smile, almost a smirk, formed on his expression as he slightly raised his chin.

This is what he had forced her to unleash. The consequences of it had yet to be determined, but he knew that whatever they were, it would be strong. The aura of such power surrounding them and it was truly exhilarating. When the yelling was over, Magneto waited a few moments before he opened his eyes and saw the scene before him. All the guards were lying on the ground. Incredible. Were they alive? He could see their chests heaving with breath, so they weren't dead. Just temporarily unconscious. Keeping his gaze forward at the scene, he spoke to her. "Good girl," he commended, though she may not be able to hear him. With that, he raised his hands forward, waving them in opposite directions to open up a path; which did just that. The group of guards split into two groups -- as Magneto was able to control them due to the heavy metal they wore. He pushed them against the wall, still leaving them lying on the ground, but now, there was a clear path ahead of them. He bent down to lift her up into his arms, carrying her down the open pathway. When he got to the others, who were also unconscious, he checked to make sure they were all there, before proceeding to carry Lana.

He had known she could do this. He knew she had it within her to dispose of a crowd. All she had needed was the right incentive. With time, she could control that rage within her. After all, it was what he had done in order to gain better control of his powers. She held that potential he had always believed her to. And this was a prime example. Even she could not argue how strong she was. No longer could she disagree with him when he told her she had the ability to eliminate a small army. For she had done so today, and he doubted this would be a memory that ever left her mind. When he reached the exit and looked around. No one else had been alerted. While Magneto was not overly concerned with it, he knew it would be a good time to get the other mutants out. He set her down on the ground next to him and turned to face the building. Unsure of how deep their state of unconsciousness was, he ripped open the metal doors to the facility, knowing it would be easier to get them out if they had more space in their exit. He turned to look at her, and noticed Lana begin to stir. She was awakening. "Best find a way to raise the mutants from unconsciousness. Otherwise, it will be a lot of dead weight to carry," he informed her.

[Lana Kane]

It was too dark when her eyes were closed, and too bright when they were open. The roaring in her ears hurt but not as much as the evil drunken elves who were currently taking sledge hammers to the inside of her head. Oh shite everything hurt! Groaning, Lana pushed to sit up, and blink at the building before her. How had she gotten outside?

Magneto was telling her something but it took a extra moment for his words to connect to her. Like hearing underwater. "What?" Panic begin to fill her, and it was all she could do to hold it back from reaching out. "What?" Looking around she pushed backwards until her back touched something, whatever it was stopped her from moving back more. "I--I--I can't! What happened! What -- oh shite--what . . . I . . . " How had she done this? "I don't know how!"

[Erik Lehnsherr]

He glanced at her as she clearly seemed panicked by recent events. Did she even recall what she had done? She had unlocked the key to her power, realizing the potential of what she could do. Now it was how she would use it that would be most intriguing. How to perfect this aspect of her power so that it was not always brought on by an onslaught of uncontrollable emotions of anger, but rather, something she could summon at will at any given time. But it was not his position to aid her in doing this.

She had left the Brotherhood and there was no vacancy for her. Because not only had she departed from the Brotherhood, she had betrayed the Brotherhood. And that, was not so easily forgiven. "It would be in your best interest to figure it out. Otherwise the lives of those mutants who can't be saved, will rest on your conscience." He could help. He knew he could. He could create metal platforms, he could create a metal box and gather them all in it . . . but he was just pushing her. Pushing her to her limits, as he had done so before.