Only three are alive who know the name he was born with. One is a mutant, the other an Eternal and the third but a man. He wields more power than can be measured. And yet he follows the dream of another.

He is Paris Bennet. He is Exodus. And he has learned who betrayed his lord Magneto on Avalon.

His name is Erik Magnus Lehnsherr. To most he is known as Magneto. He recently has tried to become more than he was. He tried at first, by lying about his memory. Now since he lost a challenge, he was forced by honor to reveal the truth.

Magnus still does not know if he lost because he wished to end the charade. And he still does not know if he should feel anger towards the one who defeated him.

His name is Charles Francis Xavier. He is the founder of the X-Men. He has been a mentor to many mutants over the years. He has taught them to be soldiers for his dream. A dream of a mutant/human peaceful co-existence.

He has done many things in his past that he is not proud of. He has left many things unresolved. Xavier has also failed several of his students.

And now he is forced to reveal what it is he has done. So far, no one has asked why he did it.

Her name is Sarah. She is called Marrow. The one who is closest to her is gravely injured. She may die. She wants but one thing.

Callisto wishes to see Piotr Rasputin before she dies.

His name is Peter Nicholas. It is not the name he was born with. He is a mutant. He to is trying to become more than he was.

He will learn, as Magnus has, that the past has a tendency to never let go.

Private Journal, Leonard Samson

This morning I learned that my work with Piotr Rasputin has been immensely complicated. The blocks on his memory have been opened and he has regained the knowledge of his persona as Peter Nicholas. Blocks placed by Charles Xavier for his own purposes. At least that is what Peter claims.

I have been told that at the moment, Storm is talking to him. Logan, Scott and Jean have been talking to Xavier for the past hour. For now, the majority of the people at the Mansion are not aware of the accusations labeled against Xavier. Soon though they will be told.

I wonder if they will forgive this. They forgave Xavier for becoming Onslaught. How much more can they forgive?

"Why did you wish to become Peter Nicholas? So much progress was being made in your therapy." Ororo was sitting on her couch facing Peter who was seated in a chair.

"Ororo, you must understand. Of those of us who went through the Siege Perilous I was the only one who was changed from what I became. Elisabeth attained the warrior spirit that she had always aspired to. Alison became the star she always wanted to be. Rogue became separated from Carol Danvers. Alex came out of his brother's shadow. Then the Shadow King took control of me. And to save himself, Xavier tried to wipe my personality and return it to what he felt was right. But what he has never understood is that this is me. I can never change. I am Peter Nicholas."

"But who is Peter Nicholas? And where is Piotr Rasputin? You must understand, Piotr was one of my friends."

"I do understand. You wish to know who Peter Nicholas is? Very well then, I am the artist in the soul of Piotr Rasputin given shape and form. I am as he wished he could have become if he had not met the X-Men. Remember, the Siege Perilous takes you to your heart's desire and allows you to achieve it."

"So you arrived in New York and became an artist. You answered my first question. Now answer the second. Where is Piotr Rasputin?"

"Ororo, Piotr Rasputin is no more. Emma Frost left me his memories to draw on. And unlike the last time, I do remember how to use my mutant ability. But the man himself is no more. Ororo, can I ask you something?"

"What is that, Peter?"

Peter got up from his chair and sat on the couch next to Storm. He took her hands in his and looked her in the eyes. "Why is this so traumatic for you? Was there something you never told me or him?"

Ororo looked at Peter. "I felt Piotr was like a brother to me. That is why I am so concerned."

"That is the only reason? Ororo you have nothing to be concerned about. In some ways I am still the person you knew. I still have some of the same feelings. I am not that different."

"What feelings? You do not still desire Kitty?"

"No. Not Kitty. Can I ask you something else?"

"What?" Ororo looked into Peter's eyes.

"Do you know where I can find Callisto?"

"Professor, why did you prevent the Peter Nicholas persona from regaining control? Peter was happier then."

"Jean, why I did this is no concern of yours. As in all things I had a reason. Eventually you will come to realize why I did this. For now, I will say nothing."

"You realize that Peter is going to say something if you do not."

"Of course. Let him. Now if you will excuse me, I must prepare for the day."

"Lord Exodus, when are we going to move on Rasputin?"

"When he is off the Mansion grounds. I want no interference for as long as possible. He has already had his trial. When we face him, kill him."

"As you command, Lord Exodus."

Peter Nicholas went to the room he had been given as Piotr Rasputin. Before he reached it he found Meggan waiting for him. "Hello, Meggan. Can I help you?"

"Who are you? You do not feel like Piotr. You are different."

"I am Peter Nicholas. The explanation is complicated but I am both the man you knew as Piotr Rasputin and I am not the man you knew as Piotr Rasputin."

"Why aren't you Piotr? I liked him."

"He liked you as well. However, he would never do anything about it because he respected your love for Brian Braddock. Even though Brian has never respected you. Meggan, I am like the man you knew in certain ways. But in one thing I am different."

"What is that?"

"If I like someone, I will tell them. But, like Piotr, I too will respect your feelings for Braddock. Even though he doesn't deserve you. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get some sleep."

Peter then closed the door. Meggan stood there thinking. I hope he realizes that saying that you are happier doesn't always make you happier. He does seem more confident though.

Psylocke was in the Danger Room with Cannonball. He was trying to work it so that he could prevent telepaths from taking him over. Which so far was the quickest way to knock him out of the battle.

His idea was in combining the training he had received in blocking mental attacks from Professor Xavier, Magneto and Cable. It hurt to do it but it did seem to work. So far, it had prevented Jean from reading his mind. Now he wanted to test it against Psylocke's psychic knife.

"All right, ma'am. Remember to use everythin' you got in this. Ah don't want you to hold back in the slightest. Just try not to kill me."

"Are you sure about this, Samuel?"

"Just do it, ma'am."

Betsy shrugged and then jabbed her fist at Sam's head. The knife was stopped an inch from his skin. Betsy concentrated even more, bringing more of her will to bear on the knife and it still didn't move. She finally dropped her hand down.

She then swept his legs, knocking him down. She then tried again to nail him with the psychic knife but it was stopped. Betsy smiled and held a hand up to Sam.

"It worked, Samuel. Congratulations."

"Thank you, ma'am. You aren't going to nail me when Ah stop concentrating are you?"

"No, Samuel, I will not. Don't you trust me?"

"Yes, ma'am, Ah do. Ah just hate being attacked after folks tell me the fight is ovuh."

"I won't do that, Samuel."

Sam accepted Betsy's hand and let himself be pulled up. Betsy smiled at him and then said, "Let's try one more thing."

"Ready when you are, ma'am."

Betsy smiled again, then quickly undid the top part of her costume, letting it fall forward. While Sam gawked, Betsy slid the knife into his mind. She used just a small part of her power. This was still enough to knock him down.

"I guess you weren't as ready as you thought, Samuel. You might want to work on that."

"Who am Ah goin' to get to flash me durin' a Danger Room session? Besides yuhself, Ah mean. It was worth the pain, though."

"Samuel, are you flirting with me?"

"No, ma'am Ah am not. Ya'll might want to covuh yuhself up though. Some people may get the wrong idea."

After Betsy had refastened her top, she helped Sam up again. Betsy kissed him on the forehead. "I read your mind after I connected with my psychic knife. Thanks for the compliment. You will make some woman very happy someday. Now go take a long, cold shower. You need it."

Sam blushed then went to the locker room.

In the control booth unobserved, Bobby Drake stopped the video recorder. He thanked all the gods he knew of for Professor Xavier putting a comprehensive video system in the Danger Room. Bobby made several copies then thought of where to strategically place them. He didn't notice the person step out of the shadow behind him.

"Having fun, Robert?" Psylocke asked.

"Betsy, I can explain everything."

"Please do. After you destroy all the copies you made."

Bobby used his cold powers to destroy the tapes. Psylocke smiled. "Thank you, Robert. Say hello to Emma when you see her."

"I'll tell her you said hi." Bobby told her.

After Psylocke had left, Bobby took the original tape out of the recorder. "She said destroy the copies. This isn't a copy. I wonder what Logan and Remy are doing..."

She moved silently through the forest. Cautiously creeping past the sensors set into the area. She finally came to the door that led to the kitchen. Marrow entered the Mansion.

After quietly closing the door, she turned to find that she was not alone. Bishop, Storm, Cannonball, Wolverine and Psylocke were waiting for her. "You want to give up, darlin'?" Logan asked.

"I'm not here to fight. Callisto sent me. She's dying."

"She want us to get her healed?"

"No. She wants to talk to Piotr Rasputin before she dies."

"Does she want to see me as well?" Storm asked.

"No. Just Rasputin."

Jean concentrated for a moment. "He'll be down in a second."

Peter came running into the kitchen thirty seconds after receiving the summons. He looked at Marrow. "Where is she?"

"In the Morlock tunnels. She doesn't have long. You're different from when I saw you last."

"That's not important. Storm, is the tunnel from the Mansion to the Morlock tunnels still open?"

"No. For security reasons it was closed. Sam can fly you and Marrow to New York in the PACRAT. You'd be there in a couple of minutes."

Peter turned to Sam. "If you would?"

"Sure. Ah'll meet you at the hangar."

Peter turned back to Marrow. "Follow me. Storm, I'll be out for a while. Let Kurt know. I don't know when I'll be back."

"Of course, Peter."

Marrow and Peter both went to the hangar.

"Lord Exodus, Rasputin is going to New York. The External is taking him and a Morlock named Marrow to the tunnels."

"Good. Scanner, follow them. Keep in contact. We follow and when they get to their destination, we hit them. Prepare."

The gathered Acolytes bowed and then went to prepare.

Sam Guthrie hated the Morlock tunnels. They reminded him of the mines in Kentucky. Especially the mine were he first used his mutant ability to escape a cave-in. He was in no way claustrophobic, he just hated them.

Now he was to make sure that Colossus, or the guy who was supposed to be Colossus, got out in case this was a trap by Gene Nation. Sam didn't trust Marrow any further than he could throw the Blob. Colossus on the other hand was only worried about seeing Callisto.

Sam had never been in this part of the Morlock tunnels before. He also couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched. When they arrived to where Marrow was leading them, Colossus was the first one through. Sam let Marrow go in first. He then followed.

Lying on a bed was Callisto. She looked worse than at any time Sam had ever seen her. He'd seen the look on Callisto's face before. Sam had seen it on his father's face when he was dying of black lung. Callisto was not long for this world.

Colossus sat beside Callisto on the bed. He took one of her hands in his. "Callisto, it's me, Peter."

Callisto opened her eye. "Peter? Sarah found you then?"

"Yes. I'm sorry I didn't stay with you after I first came back to New York. I wasn't myself. Don't lie to me. How long do you have?"

"Not long. You act the same as when I met you as Peter Nicholas..."

"I am Peter Nicholas, Callisto. I'm back to what I should be. You're still as beautiful as I remember."

"Liar. I need you to take care of Sarah for me. Teach her that there is a better way than what she learned from your brother and from me. Peter, there is one more thing..."

"What is that?"

"Bury me with the other Morlocks. I belong here with them."

"I don't want you to die. Especially now when I can remember so much about us."

"You can't stop this Peter. It's my time. Will you do as I asked?"

"Yes, I will..." Peter was grabbed around the neck by Callisto who pulled him forward into a kiss. Sam watched them hold the kiss for more than a minute, then Peter pulled back and put Callisto's hands down from his neck. Callisto wasn't moving.

Sam was shocked to see that Peter was crying. Peter wrapped Callisto in the blankets of the bed and then picked her up. He turned to Marrow. "Whereis this graveyard at?"

"Follow me."

"Wait. Is there anyone else that she would want to be here?"

"If she wanted anyone else, she would have had me get them." Marrow then started walking. Peter and Sam followed.

"Lord Exodus, they are traveling to the Morlock graveyard. They will be burying the one called Callisto."

"Wait until after they are through. Then we attack."

Sam watched Peter dig the grave with his own hands. Peter then lay Callisto within it and covered the grave. Sam watched from ten feet away. He hadn't been asked to help and knew that this wasn't the time nor place for him to say anything out of turn.

Marrow was trying not to weep. Sam considered trying to comfort her, but realized that it might be taken the wrong way. Sam really hated funerals. Because he was looking away, Sam was the only one to notice that they weren't alone.

"Colossus, some friends from Avalon have arrived. Ya'll might want to get armored up."

Peter rose to his feet. He looked at the gathered Acolytes, then armored himself. "The last funeral I was at, Magneto arrived. Tell me, Exodus are you that much of a dog that you can't think of ways to deal with others on your own?"

"Rasputin, it matters not what you think. No one trusts or believes a traitor. You have been judged. You betrayed Lord Magneto on Avalon to Xavier and his ilk. You have been found guilty. Your sentence is death. Acolytes, kill him."

Cargill was the first to move in. She threw a punch which Colossus easily blocked. He then locked his hand around her forearm, swung her around and into the wall of the tunnel. He then threw her towards Unuscione.

Marrow grabbed two of her bones and went after the Kleinstock brothers. They hadn't merged yet. She jabbed a bone into the hamstring of each of them and then ripped out. They both dropped to the ground, holding their legs and screaming.

Cannonball activated his blast field and rose off the ground. He quickly analyzed the situation. Recognizing Exodus as the most dangerous of the group, he started to utilize the mental disciplines that he had been working on, then started towards him. Exodus rose to meet him. Cannonball immediately started firing blasts at Exodus to weaken his shields. Exodus used his own power to try and weaken Cannonball.

Colossus moved in on Unuscione while she was busy moving Cargill. Easily breaking through her psionic exo-skeleton, he hit her in the stomach and then finished her off with a punch to the face. Cargill was shakily rising to her feetwhen she saw Colossus down Unuscione. She attacked before Colossus noticed her. Cargill hit him in the left kidney. Spinning, Colossus nailed her with a backfist to the temple. He was amazed at the improvement in his fighting since Emma Frost had implanted the skills into him.

Marrow had jumped out of the main battle. She was watching the shadows for the other Acolytes. She saw the one known as Cortez lurking on the outskirts of the battle between Cannonball and Exodus. Stealthily moving behind him, she jammed one of her bones under Cortez's jaw and into his brain. She twisted her wrist, then left the bone inside and went looking for more prey. Cortez dropped to the ground, shuddered twice, then didn't move. Marrow didn't even look back at the corpse.

Exodus was learning what Gladiator of the Imperial Guard had learned. If you give Cannonball a chance, no matter how slim, he'll use it. The first serious attack Exodus had tried was to psionically overwhelm Cannonball. He was shocked when his mind wouldn't take hold of Cannonball's. In the half second that Exodus was confused by that, Cannonball rocketed in and knocked him across the tunnel. Exodus felt the blow through his shields. Before he could mount another attack, Cannonball once again started to fire concussive blasts at him. Exodus felt his shields weakening.

Cargill rolled with the backfist. She threw another punch at Colossus, trusting in her superior fighting skill. The Colossus she knew was immensely strong but had little skill at fighting. She figured his block earlier had been lucky. It was when her arm was blocked again, that she realized that maybe he had gotten better. Colossus pulled her forward into a bearhug. Raising Cargill off the ground, he squeezed as hard as he could. When it looked like she would collapse, Colossus released her,then he punched her in the jaw, knocking her across the tunnel. She didn't get back up.

Scanner watched the fight. She really didn't want to get involved. If the fighters of the Acolytes couldn't win, what chance did she have? Scanner returned her spirit to her body. Marrow jumped through the space that Scanner's spirit had been. She rolled and then disappeared into the shadows again.

Cannonball was starting to strain with both keeping his mental shields up and keeping Exodus off balance with constant concussive blasts. His nose and ears were starting to bleed from the pressure on his brain. He reached into his reserves and found the level of power that he had as an External. Focusing all his attention on Exodus, he doubled the force of the blasts. The blasts knocked Exodus into the tunnel wall and pinned him to it.

Colossus turned to see Exodus plastered to one of the tunnel walls. Breaking pieces of masonry off the wall near him, Colossus started throwing them at Exodus. He kept ripping off masonry and throwing them while moving forward.

Exodus knew he was losing. He was at the point where he could he either attack or defend, but not both. And soon, he wouldn't even be able to do either of them. Exodus felt the wall behind him start to weaken, then he went through it. Using the opportunity, Exodus fled the battle.

Cannonball started to follow but collapsed to the ground. When he got up he saw Colossus and Marrow rounding up the remaining Acolytes. The Kleinstock brothers were still shrieking at what Marrow had done to them. "That was almighty painful... Colossus, what we goin' to do with these folks?"

"Call SHIELD. Sarah, you might want to be out of sight while they are here. Sam, go call them in. I will guard the prisoners. And wipe off your face. It has blood on it."

Sam wiped his face with his shirt, then rocketed towards an opening to the surface.

Exodus returned to the staging point for the Acolytes. Scanner was the only one there. She looked at the leader of the Acolytes. He was bruised, bleeding and had a look of rage on his face. Scanner moved forward with the med-kit, but stopped when she saw the person that had followed Exodus to this point.

"Lord Magneto?" Scanner asked.

Exodus turned to see his lord standing front of him. He immediately kneeled to the ground.

"Yes. Exodus, listen to me and listen well. I understand why Colossus betrayed me. He had no choice. In my eyes he has redeemed himself by saving me when Holocaust destroyed Avalon. You will seek no more revenge against Colossus. Or you will answer to me. If any one is to get revenge, it will be myself. Have I made myself understood?"

"Lord Magneto, they killed Cortez!" Exodus cried out.

"So what if he did? Cortez was less than vermin. He tried to kill me and use you all as his slaves. Whoever killed him saved me the effort of doing it myself. Now, listen one more time. Leave Colossus and the ones who were with him alone. Or you will face my wrath. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Lord Magneto."

"Very good. Leave now, before you are recognized."

Exodus rose, bowed then left. Scanner looked at Magneto. "Lord Magneto?"

"Yes, Scanner?"

"You forgive Rasputin for what he did?"

"Just go, Scanner. I will deal with Rasputin and decide the proper punishment for him."

Scanner teleported away.

"I'm getting too old for this..." Magnus muttered.

G. W. Bridge looked at Cannonball. He knew the boy was leaving something out of his statement. Exactly what, he didn't know. He was tempted to arrest both him and the Russian but he hadn't brought enough men to do that. He could get that many men in, but the resulting battle would destroy a large part of the area around them. And he still wasn't sure if it would be enough. And if he captured them, the odds were good they'd be out in a day. One of the X-teams would break them out. It just wasn't worth the embarrassment.

"Well, thanks for the gift. Tell Cable I said hi."

"You're welcome, suh. We'll be leaving now." Sam grabbed Peter by the arm and led him out. They rounded a few turns and then met up with Marrow. They made it to the PACRAT without further incident.

"Samuel, Peter has said that you fought Exodus?" Ororo asked.

"Yes, ma'am. Ah think you need to talk to Colossus though. He's in a bad way, right now."

"What do you mean?"

"Callisto died, ma'am. A few minutes after we got there. She's buried with the other Morlocks."

"Callisto's dead?"

"Yes, ma'am. She died in Colossus' arms." Sam told her. He started walking away when he stumbled. Rahne caught him and then looked into his face.

"Yuir white as a ghost! Wha' happened?"

"Ah ovuhextended mah powers. Ah had to, Exodus would have won otherwise."

Storm came over to the both of them. "Rahne, make sure that he gets to his room. Put him in his bed. Don't leave until he actually falls asleep."

"Aye. Coom on, Sam." Rahne then led Sam away.

Peter was talking to Logan. "You would have been proud of him. He did quite well. Logan, can you keep an eye on Sarah? There is something I need to do."

"Sure, Petey. I can do that. Come on kid. You can tell me and Storm what happened."

Peter left them and went to his quarters. He set up his easel, his paints and then put in a CD of classical music into his player. Setting it to Barber's Adagio for Strings, he hit repeat. Then he started to paint.

Peter heard the knocking at his door. He ignored it. The only thing that mattered was the canvas in front of him and what he was trying to create upon it. Trying to put on the canvas what he hadn't had the time to say.

He'd been painting for more than eight hours without pause. Kurt, Jean, Ororo and Kitty had all tried to get him to open the door. Kitty, at least, respected his privacy enough to not just walk into the room.

The only difference now, was that he had finished. Turning the canvas away from the door, he removed the paint from his hands and then opened the door. Standing in front of him was Magnus.

"Can I come in, Peter?"

"If you must." Peter stepped aside to let him in.

Magnus sat on the bed while Peter sat in the only chair in the room.

"Peter, I know what it is like to lose someone you love. I know that feeling all too well."

"You mean with Rogue?"

"No. I mean with Magda, my wife."

Peter sat there for a moment. He looked at Magnus. "Does the pain go away?"

"It just hurts less as time goes on Peter. But it never goes away. You still have the memories of Piotr Rasputin, yes?"

"Yes I do. Just none of the emotional attachments to them."

"Then you'll understand the point I am about to make. You have two choices in continuing your life Peter. You can look for a woman who reminds you of Callisto. Like Scott did when he started dating Madelyne Pryor when he thought he had lost Jean. And you know how that ended. It solves nothing to do it that way. Or you can find someone who is nothing like Callisto, in looks and temperament. You find that person and you love them. But you never forget Callisto. Because you can't."

Magnus looked to the easel pointed away from him. "May I see what you have done?"

Peter thought that over. He rose to his feet and turned the painting towards Magnus. Magnus rose to his feet and viewed the painting from different angles, making sure that what he had seen was actually there.

The painting was an amalgam of all the phases that Peter had known Callisto in. His first meeting with her as Colossus, his meeting her as the artist Peter Nicholas and then his final viewing of her. The transition from one phase to another was so subtle that unless you knew what to look for, you wouldn't see it.

"Is it ready for others to view?"

"Yes. Please take it down to those who knew Callisto. And please make sure nothing happens to the portrait."

"Won't you be there?"

"No. I need to go into town. Do you know where Gambit is?"

"Losing to Sam at poker. You trust me with the portrait?"

"Yes I do. If you will excuse me?"

"Of course. Don't do anything stupid, Peter. You're getting your life back. Besides, we need to talk more."

"I'll see you tomorrow then Magnus."

Remy was deciding if trying to draw for an inside straight flush was worth it when Peter Nicholas came into the room. As long as Remy had known them, neither Piotr or Peter had ever played poker. So what he was doing here was anyone's guess. The man was dressed differently than at any time Remy had seen him. He was wearing blue jeans, a black shirt, cowboy boots and a leather jacket. He also carried himself more easily than Piotr ever had.

"Gambit, a moment of your time?"

Remy looked at his hand one more time then tossed them in with a muttered "Merde!". "'Ow can Gambit help you?"

"Are you through playing for the evening?"

"Oui, I am done. Wha' you need from me?"

"I need someone to drive me to Harry's. Will you take me to it?"

"You serious? Den follow me." Remy grabbed his coat on the way out.

Logan and Kurt met them on the way to the parking lot. "We're going with you."

Peter looked at them both. "Very well then. Let's go."

To be continued in Redemption: Payment

Note: Barber's Adagio for Strings was the background music for the movie "Platoon".