The sound of metal groaning under strain echoed through the Brotherhood's warehouse as Magneto surveyed the towering mountain of mutant machinery waiting to be transported. Thick coils, generators, and metallic pods gleamed under the dim overhead lights. Brotherhood members loitered near the edges, giving the monstrous contraption a wide berth as though it might come alive at any second.
Magneto stood in front of it all, his helmet gleaming, his arms crossed with grim determination—until he spotted Mystique casually leading Kara and Rogue into the chamber. He straightened slightly, his sharp eyes immediately locking on Kara with a look of calculated interest.
"Kara," Magneto said, his tone dipped in exaggerated importance as though addressing royalty. "Since you're with us now, perhaps you could assist with transporting this machine to Liberty Island. It would be… far more efficient." His hand waved grandly toward the mass of coiled death rays and humming wires like he expected her to spring into action.
Kara stared at the mutant-conversion machine like it was something out of her worst nightmare, her arms slowly folding across her chest, her brow knitting together in a look that made Magneto hesitate mid-sentence.
"What do I look like to you?" Kara said flatly, her voice sharp as a blade. "A mutant U-Haul?"
Magneto blinked, clearly thrown off. "I just thought—"
"You thought wrong," Kara cut in sharply, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
She stared off into the distance suddenly, her expression growing distant and haunted, her eyes unfocused as though seeing something none of them could.
"That damn Kryptonite Express Space Delivery Van…" Kara muttered under her breath, a chill running visibly through her body as her shoulders tensed.
She exhaled slowly, her tone colder now. "Do you know what happens when you trust a transport vehicle, Magneto?" Her voice dropped as her gaze turned razor-sharp on him. "You get slapped into another universe. You get isekai'd."
Rogue, standing to her right, pressed her hand casually against her lips, her eyes dancing with restrained laughter. Mystique, leaning in the background, examined her nails as though the entire scene was merely an afternoon distraction, though she watched Magneto's reaction with sharp eyes.
Kara took a step closer, her arms still folded tightly. "I'm not your glorified moving truck, Magneto. Find someone else to play FedEx for your little mutant revolution."
Magneto's hand twitched slightly, and he adjusted his helmet with slow, careful precision as though buying time to think. "Fine," he grumbled under his breath, his voice low and rough. "I'll do it myself."
With a loud creak of metal and the sound of magnets humming under strain, Magneto raised both hands and began lifting pieces of the massive machine. His body tensed as coils and gears groaned in protest, his jaw tight as he struggled to keep them afloat.
"Don't mind me," Magneto muttered bitterly. "Nobody help the old man. No, I've got it. Sure. I'll just rearrange my spine while I'm at it."
As he floated a particularly heavy generator toward the exit, he paused to breathe heavily, wiping sweat from his brow. "If anyone needs me, I'll be hauling thirty tons of death rays across the city. I'll also need a sandwich and some ibuprofen. Maybe a back brace."
Mystique watched him quietly, her head tilted slightly, her expression calm and composed like a parent watching a stubborn child insist on carrying something too heavy. She stepped closer to him, her tone soft, persuasive.
"Erik, you'll need supplies for Liberty Island," Mystique said smoothly. "If we're going to house a new mutant future, we'll need food, materials—discreet arrangements."
Magneto paused, shifting the floating metal awkwardly, his face tense as if weighing her words and the growing pain in his back. "Yes, yes… of course," he muttered, "take care of it. Whatever you need."
Mystique's eyes gleamed faintly as she took a careful step closer. "You'll let me use your account, then?" she asked softly, her voice silky.
Magneto, sweating now as he balanced coils of cable above him, waved a hand tiredly. "Fine. Use my card. Just… don't overdo it."
Reaching into his coat, he produced a sleek black platinum card—Magneto's official villain credit card, no limit attached. Mystique took it delicately, her fingers brushing the edge like she was holding a dagger made of gold.
Kara watched the transaction unfold, her eyes lighting up with quiet amusement as Mystique slid the card into her coat with calm ease. Mystique caught Kara's gaze briefly, her eyes gleaming with silent understanding and wicked intent.
Magneto, having finally floated one piece of equipment to the door, set it down with a grunt of effort, standing straight and wiping the sweat from his brow. His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the machinery like it had personally offended him.
A cold chill crept down his spine, and he hesitated, a flicker of realization dawning on his face.
"Why…" Magneto muttered under his breath, glancing around, "why do I suddenly feel like I'm going bankrupt?"
His eyes scanned the room suspiciously, but Mystique was already walking casually away, her hand resting protectively over the card. Rogue followed, her expression soft and innocent, whispering something to Kara that made her smile faintly.
Magneto rubbed the back of his neck, turning back to the machinery with a deep sigh. "It's probably nothing," he said to himself, though the doubt was clear in his voice. "Mystique would never… right?"
He shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought as he lifted another chunk of metal, gritting his teeth against the strain.
As Mystique, Kara, and Rogue stepped out of the warehouse, Mystique slipped the card deeper into her coat, her face calm but her eyes bright with anticipation.
"So," Kara said casually, hands on her hips as she walked beside them, "what's first? Shopping for mutant world domination supplies?"
Mystique glanced sideways at Kara, her posture relaxed, a faint glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. "Something like that."
Rogue chuckled softly, adjusting her gloves as they walked toward the waiting car. "Maybe we'll grab groceries too. After all, if Magneto's footing the bill, might as well get snacks for the revolution."
Kara laughed under her breath, crossing her arms. "It's going to be a fun day."
Behind them, Magneto could be heard grunting as he strained to levitate another impossibly large coil of equipment, his voice echoing faintly through the steel walls.
"If anyone needs me," Magneto muttered to no one, "I'll just be over here building a mutant empire on a bad back and empty wallet."
As the three women climbed into their transport, Kara glanced back toward the warehouse, her lips curling ever so slightly.
"Let's go make history," she said, her eyes glimmering.
And with that, they drove off into the city, Magneto's black card burning a hole in Mystique's pocket—and Magneto, none the wiser, dragging himself toward Liberty Island.
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