Chapter 124

Ace sat in his cell on Asteroid M, his brow furrowed in frustration. He tried to summon his powers, but the dampener clamped around his neck prevented him from accessing his abilities. Gritting his teeth, he stared at the metal walls, his fingers tapping against the cold surface. The familiar weight of the dampener was a constant reminder of his captivity. Ace longed to break free, to transform into a hero like the ones he admired. But for now, he was trapped, his powers beyond his reach.

Ace heard the familiar sound of footsteps approaching his cell. Expecting to see Magneto again, he tensed, ready to confront the master of magnetism. But the figure that appeared was not the imposing Magneto. Instead, a young woman with vibrant green hair stood before him, her expression a mix of nervousness and curiosity.

Lorna Dane, Magneto's daughter, fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve as she regarded the captive Kamen Rider. Her emerald eyes, framed by dark lashes, held a hint of apprehension, betraying her discomfort in this unfamiliar situation. Her slender frame was draped in a simple yet elegant dress, the color a deep forest green that complemented her striking hair.

Ace studied the young woman, his own demeanor cautious yet intrigued. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice tinged with wariness.

Lorna shifted her weight, the metal floor beneath her feet clanging softly. "I'm Lorna Dane," she said, her voice soft yet steady. "Magneto's daughter." She paused, her eyes briefly darting away before meeting Ace's gaze again. "I've heard a lot about you, Kamen Rider."

As Lorna spoke, Ace's eyes widened slightly. This was the first time he had seen Magneto's daughter in person.

Lorna's eyes brightened as she revealed her admiration for the Kamen Rider. "I'm actually a huge fan of yours," she admitted, her cheeks flushing with a hint of embarrassment. "I've collected all the posters and merchandise I could find. I was hoping..." Her voice trailed off as she retrieved a rolled-up poster from a satchel at her side. "Could I maybe get your autograph?"

Ace was dumbfounded, his eyebrows raised in surprise. He had expected the daughter of his nemesis, Magneto, to be a fierce, unyielding adversary. But the young woman before him seemed more awestruck fangirl than formidable mutant. A chuckle escaped his lips as he realized the absurdity of the situation.

"You want my autograph?" Ace asked, a lopsided grin spreading across his face. "I have to say, I never expected Magneto's daughter to be a Kamen Rider fan."

Lorna's shoulders relaxed slightly, relieved by Ace's amicable response. "Well, you're kind of a hero to me," she confessed, unrolling the poster and offering it to him, along with a pen.

Ace shook his head in amusement, accepting the items. Despite Lorna's familial connection to his adversary, he couldn't help but see her as a young girl meeting her idol. He set aside his reservations and quickly scrawled his signature across the poster, handing it back to her with a genuine smile.

"There you go," he said, his voice warm.

Lorna beams a smile and is happy to receive the poster. "Thank you so much!" she says, her emerald eyes sparkling with delight as she carefully rolls up the poster and tucks it back into her satchel.

Ace replied, "No problem." He couldn't help but be charmed by her genuine enthusiasm.

Lorna pauses for a moment, then asks, "If you don't mind me asking, what's your name?"

"Ace," he responds, offering her a friendly nod. "Ace Ukiyo."

"Ace… It is finally nice to meet you. Although… I guess this is not the best place to meet." Lorna sees Ace behind bars, her brow furrowed with concern.

"I guess." Ace chuckles, the sound echoing in the confines of his cell. "But if it is to meet one of my fans, situations like this won't stop me." His gaze held a hint of mischief, despite his captive state.

Lorna blushes, the color rising in her cheeks as she averts her eyes momentarily. She couldn't help but be struck by the Kamen Rider's casual charm, even in the face of his current predicament. Steeling her nerves, she looked back at Ace, her expression a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.

"I'm sorry for what my father has done to you," she said, her voice tinged with genuine remorse. "I know he can be... difficult."

Ace shook his head, offering Lorna a reassuring smile. "You don't need to apologize for your father's actions," he said, his tone calm and understanding. "I know you're not responsible for his choices."

Lorna felt a weight lift from her shoulders, grateful for Ace's understanding. She opened her mouth to speak again, but the sound of approaching footsteps drew her attention away from the captive Kamen Rider.

Lorna saw her father, Magneto, approaching them. The powerful mutant's imposing presence filled the room, commanding attention.

"Ah, Lorna. I see you are getting acquainted with our guest," Magneto said, his gaze shifting from his daughter to the captive Kamen Rider.

Lorna bowed respectfully. "Father, I'm sorry for coming here without telling you," she said, her voice laced with a hint of trepidation.

Magneto waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense, my child. You are free to go wherever you want." He turned his attention to Ace. "Now, I need to speak with our guest. Would you give us a moment, Lorna?"

"Yes, father," Lorna replied, casting one last glance at Ace before leaving the cell.

Magneto's lips curled into a thin smile as he regarded the captive Kamen Rider. "I see you're getting along with Lorna."

Ace met Magneto's gaze evenly, a hint of amusement in his expression. "Well, she is my fan. Couldn't let her hopes down."

Magneto nodded, his steely eyes betraying a glimmer of pride. "Yes, she has talked about you a lot ever since you started a few months ago." He paused, folding his arms across his chest. "I must say, I'm impressed by your dedication to the heroic ideal. It's a shame we find ourselves on opposite sides of this conflict."

Ace's brow furrowed as he met Magneto's intense gaze. "I just don't agree with your supremacist mindset. There are other ways to help mutants instead of mass genocide of people."

Magneto's eyebrows knitted together, a hint of frustration crossing his features. "You have not seen the cruelty I have seen, Rider." His voice was laced with a lifetime of pain and resentment.

Undeterred, Ace maintained his composure. "Maybe, but I like to believe in people. I don't think everyone would like to shake hands with mutants, but there will be people who would offer their hands to help them. Letting those people die because of your supremacy ideology would be wrong."

Magneto's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he considered Ace's words. The Kamen Rider's unwavering conviction seemed to strike a chord, however faint, within the master of magnetism.

Magneto's lips curled into a thin, sardonic smile. "It seems there is no convincing you, Kamen Rider," he said, his tone laced with a hint of resignation.

Turning to leave, Magneto paused as Ace's voice rang out, stopping him in his tracks.

"Wait," Ace said, his brow furrowed with concern. "What happened to Senator Kelly?"

Magneto glanced over his shoulder, a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Oh, don't you worry," he replied, his voice almost casual. "He is being taken care of."

Ace's jaw tightened at Magneto's cryptic response, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. The master of magnetism's words were laced with a subtle menace that sent a chill down the Kamen Rider's spine.

"What do you mean by that?" Ace pressed, his voice firm but tinged with a hint of worry.

Magneto's expression remained impassive as he regarded the captive hero. "You'll find out soon enough, Kamen Rider," he said, before turning and striding out of the cell, the heavy metal door sliding shut behind him with a resounding clang.

Alone in the confines of his cell, Ace's mind raced, grappling with the implications of Magneto's ominous words. The fate of Senator Kelly now weighed heavily on the Kamen Rider's conscience, and he knew he had to find a way to escape his captivity and uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

Scene 2

Rogue paced anxiously near the X-Men's ship, her boots scuffing against the hangar floor. She glanced over at Hank, who was meticulously inspecting every inch of the craft, ensuring it was flight-ready. The minutes felt like hours as she waited, her mind consumed by thoughts of Ace trapped beneath the rubble.

"How much longer, Hank?" Rogue asked, her Southern drawl laced with impatience.

Hank looked up from his work, his blue fur matted with sweat. "Just a few more checks, Rogue. We need to make sure everything is secure before we depart."

Rogue nodded, her fingers drumming against her arm as she tried to tame her growing restlessness. Every second they delayed was another chance for Ace to...

Rogue felt a hand on her shoulders and turned to see Kitty. Her friend's warm eyes met hers, and Rogue felt some of the tension leave her body.

"If you're too tense, you won't be able to help Ace," Kitty said, her voice calm and reassuring. Rogue took a deep breath, realizing Kitty was right. She needed to stay focused if she was going to rescue Ace from the rubble.

"You're right," Rogue replied, her fingers unclenching. "I just... I can't stop thinking about him trapped up there." She glanced towards the hangar exit, her heart racing with worry.

Logan approached, his gruff voice offering a glimmer of reassurance. "Don't worry, Rogue. The kid is tough. Magneto won't rough him up too badly."

She turned to face the seasoned X-Man, her eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and lingering concern. Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps drew her attention, and she saw Professor Xavier entering the hangar, Scott Summers by his side.

Rogue straightened her posture, her expression shifting to one of determination. With her teammates now gathered, she knew they would do whatever it took to rescue Ace from the perilous situation.

Rogue's heart raced with determination as Professor Xavier addressed the assembled X-Men. Ace, the man she had grown to care for, was in grave danger, and she would stop at nothing to bring him home safely.

"Is everyone ready?" Xavier's voice carried a sense of urgency, and Rogue felt the tension in the air.

"Yes, Professor," Rogue replied, her voice steady despite the worry that gnawed at her. She glanced around at her teammates, each one of them ready to risk it all for their friend.

"Ace is a great benefactor of ours," Xavier continued, his brow furrowed with concern. "I don't know why Erik is after him, but we must save him."

Rogue's jaw tightened at the mention of Magneto, the mutant revolutionary who had once been a friend to Xavier. She knew the lengths he would go to in pursuit of his goals, and the thought of him harming Ace filled her with a fierce determination.

Xavier turned to Scott, the team's leader. "I leave the team to you, Scott."

Scott nodded, his expression resolute. "Alright, team, let's move out!" he commanded, his voice ringing with authority.

Rogue fell into step behind her teammates, her eyes fixed on the horizon. She would do whatever it took to bring Ace home, even if it meant facing Magneto himself.

***

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