Sometime in the past.

He walks down the streets. He has one goal in mind. He never really felt as though psychologists could ever help, they were doctors for the mind. Piotr is strong, his family needs him to be strong. Today, he has no family to rely on him, and his "friends" are people he no longer feels he needs to talk to, or can talk to. 175 Davenport Lane. The sign reads "Doctor Michael Wortheim" and below it in the right hand corner there is an X. It is that sign that lets Piotr know it is safe inside.

He swings the door open and proceeds up the steps. He is stopped by a woman working at the front desk of the psychiatric office. He doesn't say a word, instead he places his hand down on the desk in front of her, on it he wears a ring with the insignia of an X. She lets him right in.

The good doctor sits at his desk speaking on the phone. "Yes Mr. Chillingsworth I understand completely. Remember she left you, and you must move on, do not worry about Hesther, you are a young man. You have your whole life before you. Listen... come into my office tomorrow around noon. We will talk it over.

"And who would you be?" inquired Dr. Wortheim.

"You may call me Piotr sir. I saw the sign on your door and I needed someone to talk to."

"Ah, please sit Piotr. How do you know Charles? I take it you are a part of his underground too? It is that wonderful institution that has given me an overwhelming sense of safety. Thank god for Charles Xavier."

"Yes his underground is a magnificent thing. I am pleased that it takes little more than one letter to ensure that us mutants can recognize each other."

"Yes, yes. Take a seat Piotr, what would you like to talk about?"

"Recently I lost someone very close to me. She lost her life as a result of the Legacy Virus. My sister, Illyana. She was so dear and precious to me, my little snowflake."

"I am sorry to hear that Piotr."

"But you see Doctor, I could have prevented it. If I hadn't allowed her to stay in the United States she would have been safe from such harm."

"Piotr, you can not blame yourself for her death. Any number of incidents could have led to her death. By allowing her to go to America, think of all the things you may have granted her."

"But was it worth her life? I sit at home sometimes and I wonder what it is like to be dead. To know what she and so many others have gone through. I change my body into its metallic form, that sir is my mutant power. The organic steel engulfs me, every cell stops, my heart does not pump, my lungs do not breath. It is only nourishment as a result of an energy force that keeps me alive. It is so strange to feel your body stop. To see your life end. It makes you realize that your body is no more than a vessel. I sit there for hours wishing that the energy would stop flowing. It does not happen. But I can still understand what it is like to be dead."

"Piotr... tell me a little about your past."

"I come from Russia, you could not guess this?" he says with a chuckle. "It feels good to smile. I left my people and family because a man claimed he needed me. I understand that. I left it all behind. But my little Illyana came. She recently died. That is my life."

"So why are you here Piotr what do you gain from talking to me?"

"Well sir, I do not know where I belong now. I have no home to return to, I have no Illyana to take care of. I can not go back to where I came. I miss my simple life in Russia so much. It was hard work, but it was worth it to give up responsibility. Every thing was taken care of. I had no worries. I left that behind and took on so much so fast. I left my people behind! How could I do this? How could I leave those who needed me? And drag them into the world I left to? The pain the suffering, the death and destruction. Is this the curse of being a mutant?"

"Sometimes."

"All so often it is much more than sometimes. I let her down. I regret too many things I regret leaving my people and family, I regret leaving behind my son in a far off land, and I regret not being there to stop the death of my sister."

"Piotr, I do not wish to end this. However I have a meeting, I do not wish to arouse suspicion. Perhaps you could come back later today, or tomorrow."

"No, I know what I must do now. I can not live with more regret. A long time ago a man approached me and asked me to turn my back on my own people to help a different dream. I foolishly agreed. Recently I have been given the opportunity to return to my people. Not the people of Russia, but mutantkind. I can no longer fight against my own people. I know where I must go. Thank you good doctor. How much money do I owe to you?"

"You wear an X on your hand. There is no payment necessary, just say hello to Charles for me."

"I am sorry, but I don't believe I can do that."

Piotr stands and shakes hands with the doctor. He slowly walks out the door. He walks down the steps and out the front door. He walks aimlessly into the streets and it begins to slow. As he does he slips the ring off his finger and tosses it aside. He places his hand into the air and a snowflake falls onto his gloved hand. A tear begins to fall from his eye. He utters one word.

"Magneto"

Jay Corafa