The wind howled as the remnants of the battle lay scattered across the desolate landscape. The once bustling town of Ironwood was now a fortress—a stronghold against the relentless onslaught of Sentinels and the ravages of a world turned against its own. High above the battlefield, on a secluded balcony of what was once the town's tallest building, Magneto stood, his eyes scanning the horizon, as if searching for some unseen enemy.
Beside him, Mystique emerged from the shadows, her form shifting seamlessly into the blue-skinned woman she was most comfortable being. She moved with a quiet grace, her sharp eyes glancing over the devastation below.
"You're thinking again," Mystique said, her voice cutting through the whistling wind.
Magneto remained silent for a moment, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. Finally, he spoke, his tone heavy with the weight of his thoughts. "And I have much to think about, don't I? I am a leader to these people, and we are at war, how can I not worry."
Mystique moved closer, her presence a calming contrast to the storm of thoughts raging in Magneto's mind. "Worrying won't change what's coming, Erik. But it's natural. We're fighting for our very survival, after all."
Magneto turned to face her, his expression a mixture of determination and concern. "Our survival has always been at stake, Raven. But now, the stakes feel higher than ever. The Sentinels are relentless, and with every battle, we lose more of our people. We cannot afford to be complacent, not when the odds are stacked so heavily against us."
Mystique's eyes softened, but her voice remained firm. "We've faced worse odds before, and we've come through stronger. The Sentinels are dangerous, yes, but they're machines. They lack the one thing that makes us truly powerful—our spirit, our will to survive. That's something they can't replicate or adapt to."
Magneto nodded slowly, but his gaze drifted back to the horizon. "I guess you are right as always. Another matter though, this battle, was… clean, with barely any wounded, and no losses at all."
Mystique raised an eyebrow, her sharp mind quickly picking up on the significance of Magneto's words. "You're thinking about the Foundation, aren't you?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.
Magneto sighed, his shoulders heavy with the burden of leadership. "Yes… they surprised me, I hadn't expected them to be so… so strong, I mean that Banner alone could match most of us, and even the rest wasn't much weaker then someone like Logan." He said in a serious voice.
Mystique crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing as she considered Magneto's words. "Banner is more than just strong. That... thing he turns into, it's not just raw power. There's something terrifyingly primal about it, something that even the Sentinels seemed to struggle against. And the rest of them—they're more than just soldiers. They're trained in a way that suggests they've faced threats like this before, or worse."
Magneto nodded, his expression darkening. "That's what concerns me. We've dealt with humans who've underestimated us, who've feared us, who've hated us. But the Foundation... they don't seem to fear anything. They're calculated, prepared, and that makes them unpredictable."
Mystique stepped closer, her voice lowering as if the wind might carry their conversation to unwanted ears. "You think they have their own agenda? Beyond just helping us?"
Magneto's gaze was distant, his thoughts clearly troubled. "I know they do. No one invests the kind of resources they have without a clear objective. The question is, what is it? Are they here to learn from us? To use us? Or perhaps... to eliminate us once we've outlived our usefulness?"
Mystique considered his words carefully. "Hmm, they seem to be split into three camps; there are the soldiers, Rogers, and the other two; from what I know, those are all friendly enough; at least, they seem the most honest about helping."
"Then there is the second group, the scientists, I guess." She continued. "That's Banner and his girl. They are harder to get a read on. They seem kind enough, but that woman seems very interested in mutants, not afraid at all, she is fascinated by us."
Magneto's brow furrowed as he absorbed Mystique's assessment. "Fascinated, you say? That's rarely a good sign. Fascination can lead to dangerous curiosity. What do you think they want?"
Mystique shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "It's hard to say. But if she's as interested in mutants as you say, she might be looking for something specific—something that could be exploited. Information, genetic material, though honestly it doesn't feel like that. She seems pure in her motives, which is rare."
Magneto was no stranger to people being interested in mutants; plenty of times, he had been too late to save someone who had been captured; all he would find was their desecrated remains after they had been experimented on.
However, if there was one person he trusted, it was Raven. He trusted her judgment in people; she was far better at reading people than he was. So, if she said so, it was likely true.
"I guess there are a few of those people, those who are curious but still see mutants as people." He hadn't met many himself, but he knew of a few cases. Sometimes he would learn of secret laboratories studying mutants from someone on the inside who couldn't stand what was going on. Well, not him personally; it was often Raven who knew someone who knew someone.
"And what of the final group?" he questioned, wanting to know her take on the leader of the Foundation team.
Mystique couldn't help but sigh as she thought about the last three members of the newcomers, they were the biggest headache, at least to get a proper read on.
Magneto raised an eyebrow, sensing her reluctance. "Go on, Raven. Who are they? And why are they causing you so much trouble?"
Mystique leaned against the balcony railing, her eyes distant as she recalled the interactions with the elusive trio. "Well, for one, I don't know their names, Charles might, since he was in their head for a bit, but well, you know better than me how that ended."
Magneto very much remembered that encounter very clearly, how the mysterious leader of the Foundation group nearly had his brain fried by a chip meant to keep people like Charles out. "Surely they don't go around using code names all the time?"
"They do, and not even very creative ones either. Really, 1, 2, 3, and well, 1 is also called captain by the other teams or by 2 and 3 if there are others around, but yeah, no names, so very… cold and nonpersonal."
Magneto's expression hardened as he absorbed Mystique's words. "Numbers as names... It's dehumanizing, and it suggests a level of control and detachment that's troubling. People don't give up their names unless they've been stripped of their identity, or they've willingly surrendered it to something greater. Either way, it speaks to an organization that values obedience and uniformity over individuality."
Mystique nodded, her eyes narrowing as she recalled her interactions with the trio. "They operate like a well-oiled machine, Erik. There's no hesitation, no doubt in their actions. They're efficient, methodical, and utterly professional. It's as if they've been trained their entire lives for missions like this."
"They are also the most likely to turn hostile." She continued. "While the first group seems to really want to help, and the second has no ill will towards mutants, those three? They would do just about anything if they were ordered to it; loyalty is clearly something they have in spades." She continued.
"Even that woman, who seems to be in a relationship with Banner, Morris, is clearly afraid of them. Someone who shows no fear in the face of mutants, no fear from a monster like Banner, is afraid of them? clearly, they must have a reputation inside the Foundation." She added.
Magneto's eyes narrowed as he processed Mystique's words, the gravity of the situation settling in. "So, they are not just soldiers, but enforcers—ones who follow orders without question, without hesitation. That kind of loyalty is dangerous. It means they won't think twice about turning on us if given the command."
Mystique nodded, her expression serious. "Exactly. They're the ones to watch, Erik. They don't just carry out their orders; they embody them. And if those orders change, if the Foundation decides that we're a threat instead of allies, they won't hesitate to act. I can see it in their eyes—they're calculating, always assessing the situation, ready to strike if necessary."
Magneto looked out over the battlefield, the remnants of the fight a stark reminder of the ongoing war. "We need to be cautious, Raven. We can't afford to let them get too close, but at the same time, we need to keep them close enough to understand their true intentions. This Foundation... it's not just another human organization. It's something more—something we've never encountered before."
Mystique stepped closer to him, her voice low and firm. "I'll keep an eye on them, Erik. I'll gather whatever information I can, see if I can figure out what their real agenda is. But you're right—we need to be careful. They've shown their strength, and while they're helping us now, that could change in an instant."
Magneto placed a hand on Mystique's shoulder, a rare gesture of trust and camaraderie. "I trust you, Raven. You've always had a gift for uncovering the truth, even when it's hidden behind layers of deception. Do what you must, but be vigilant. We can't afford to be caught off guard."
Mystique nodded, her resolve strengthening. "I'll be careful, Erik. We've survived this long by being prepared for anything. And I don't intend to stop now."