The mission
Celine walked out of her garden to the passage between the houses and looked around with a smile before her eyes landed on her friends and walked to them. Blink and Eclipse were already bent over a plant in Blink's garden. She wasn't exactly the best gardener so most of the work was left to her best friend. The spanish guy had a scolding look on as he let a stream of light envelope the poor rose branch which was placed somewhere in a corner out of sunlight. He said something to the other without looking up his eyes sparkling with mischief. The girl slapped his shoulder and stood straight puffing air out of her chest. She tucked a pink strand of hair behind her ear before she spotted Celine, a grin speeding on her face before she waved at her. She smiled back and moved to join them.
Life in Ganosha was far more peaceful than what the outside world assumed. During the short time the island has gained quite a population. Every day new people arrived and soon they needed all the requirements of a real city to be built . It was a messy and complicated process, there was a lot to do and too many children to control, although Erik had told her he could find them some help with education part for the time being, soon they had some students shipped to the Xavier school for the gifted. She was surprised to see how easy Erik did that, apparently he had a close relationship with the rich and not so easily reached professor which was odd as they used to be obviously on different sides as far as she could remember.
They were not an official country, yet, but the titles have never mattered to them anyway. There, they had all they desired. They were free to be who they truly were, no more hiding, no more discrimination. It was simply home. One they built on their own. Besides there were perks in living in mutant island where people shared and used their gifts freely. The technology was ahead of time, The water was always clean, the weather was always right, they didn't get sick or always someone healed them fast, they could go anywhere in no time, it always snowed on Christmas, they had every kind of vegetables, fruits, animals and wild life in their lands. Their minds was always protected and they had a super army to keep them safe. It took them a while to figure how to make the dynamics work. They had leaders of course before, each tribe had a different one. There was Forge , Bishop, Emilia and they all worked under Celine's supervision, then there was recent resident Erik Lehnsherr. They all knew him of course. But seeing something on tv was different from seeing it in person. He heard of them and came to their aid without a second thought or asking for anything in return. Celine noticed that if there was a top five most powerful mutant list somewhere, which she suspected that was one already in CIA, Magneto would probably get in top three. His aid didn't end there in their liberation. He made them houses using any metal he found, which were far from perfect but functional and unique , he helped them anyway he could and he stayed to make a home of his own alongside them. Soon they called him their leader after they realized he had no intentions to claim the part on his own. Life was indeed peaceful in Ganosha, it didn't mean it would be any less exciting than before for people to see a warplane which they somehow came to posess suddenly appeare in an empty area near the town every single time. It was however quite usual. Erik and his team freeing another laboratory. Celine, Eclipse and Blink moved towards the spot already getting ready to get settled the new residents. Lorna joined them as well planting a kiss on the boy's lips quickly before greeting them. She was the only one with magnekinesis on the island or the world, she actually did checkvwith her powers, aside from Erik which had turned out to be one of the rarest powers she had ever encountered. Ever since Magneto arrived, Polaris has been drawn to him. They became like father and daughter in no time, spending hours training their powers together, or just hanging out. She looked out for him when he did not and he has taken it upon himself to scare Marcos every chance he got. It was quite adorable specially when they both got awkward and freaked out when someone pointed it out to them. The door opened and two dozen kids rushed out a very not amused Bishop following behind.
"What the f..." The green haired girl started.
"Language!" The boy stopped her as some of the kids passed them. "What's going on?" He stopped Bishop as the man walked pass them.
"Don't get me started" the older man grunted annoyed as he shouted after one of the kids to not run to a garden.
"I'll help him" Blink said with an amused smile following them. Soon Forge and the rest of the team came out as well a group of five adults and five teenagers in white lab clothes with them. They were all too skinny and drained from color. Their minds were a jumbled knot of fear, terror, paranoia and pain but there was relief here and there two, little but there. She pinched the bridge of her nose as the thoughts washed over her as the group got closer. They new guys regarded them with anticipation ready to flee or fight of needed at the sight of new people. She didn't blame them.
'Welcome home' she sent their way telepathically. It was always better to let them know there is a telepath first hand. They seemed surprised but not disturbed. She let her gratitude wash over them. And was caught off guard as the same wave was returned. The group parted revealing a three identical Blonde girls. Not older than fifteen. They were holding hand a small blue flicker in their eyes anticipating, the Frost sisters she recognized. And there was three of them.
'don't say a word' came a sad voice projected her way through the permanent mental bond she had with their leader.
' are you stalking ?' she asked but there was no response. She kneeled in front of the triples.
"Welcome home my dears. " She said as she opened her mind to them. A peace offering. The girls relaxed, their hands letting go of one another and so did the rest of them. The others stepped forward as well. Eclipse started. "I'm Marcos, this is Lorna. You can call us Eclipse and Polaris " He offered a hand to one of them who seemed to be the leader shaking his hand with glee. "Thunderbird" the leader introduced himself
"c'mon let's get you all settled" he looked at his girlfriend with a raised eyebrow as if ' your turn'. She huffed before turning around and saying " this way" a smile tugged at the wide shouldered young man as he gave a meaningful look to two other teenagers , a twin she noticed, who huffed and moved forward before they all trailed after Polaris and Eclipse. A couple stood behind hesitantly making a group stopping halfway. 'Twins parents' she saw in their surface thoughts. The man was a powerful mutant ,and Celine was going to have a long discussion with Erik later for bringing a Strucker to their home , and the woman....
'Oh!' that's when it clicked ' she's human, a nurse.' And she was afraid if they would let her stay if they would separate her from her children or if they all were going to be kicked out. The husband was sharing her worries for another reasons though, he definitely was aware of how his family had messed up the mutants.
' do you even have an explanation for this?' she sent to Erik annoyed. 'why the fuck is he taking long anyway' she thought to herself keeping her worries out of their bond. She trusted him but the guy was an enigma. The fact that the couple were waiting for her approval meant they were told to.
'Working on it' He responded and there was amusement and worry there. ' but we do not separate any child from their parents no matter what' he responded his thoughts suddenly shadowed by something dark and painful and cold before it was tucked back behind a shield that surrounded their bond. It looked as hard a metal and as sharp as diamond. ' I can find them somewhere else if you wish them gone.' there was an iron like determination there and authority.
' they're home' she said and didn't push further. "Go ahead" she told the waiting couple. "Don't keep your children waiting." They smiled with relief as the group leader projected his pure gratitude her way before they all left. As if waiting for the moment, Emilia and Erik walked out of the ship. There was a young girl, asleep, in Emilia's arms covered from head to toe.
" What took you so long, the information told us about eight kids and seventeen adults. Have even got the right place?" She demanded explanation. She didn't miss the fact that the number was two people short and the ages were almost all wrong. " There is an explanation " Erik answered ," but first thing first, the child needs medical attention, take her to your lab" he told Emilia.
"Join me after your done? Forge and I could use the help" she asked Celine after nodding to Erik.
"Of course"
The red hair woman took off as well disappearing in pink smoke. " Please inform everyone that no one is to come to any skin contact with the kid or visit her before informing you, Forge, Emilia or myself directly, and anyone under the age of thirty-five shall not make any kind of contact at all" he said right after. She nodded her eyes going white for a second as she projected the statement and made sure everyone was informed.
"C'mon, there is a lot to discuss" Erik motioned with his head towards his place which was made of a half part of a ship sticking out of the ground. He was tense just like every other time he went on a mission. She could feel the memories and feelings lurking around his head, Erik was a kind of person who had an organized mind at the surface but deep down she could feel the wiring was forced and tight and not willingly designed, and there were spirals, holes she never ever dared to get close to, they smelled like pain. She also saw another mental bonds almost pushing the edge of hers. she never digged in or tried to touch them but it was hard to ignore another telepath's presence. One was Sharp almost cold like diamonds, it was the one wrapped around Erik's shield protecting it offensively. She didn't miss the fact that it was not used for ages and felt dead. Celine also noticed that it felt somehow similar to what she just felt in the Frost sisters mind. The other bond was bright and warm, it almost balanced all the sharp edges, yet very powerful and still very alive and deep, it was the oldest. Also protecting the man yet not violently and not even consciously, it did so like it was the most natural instinct. It almost made her feel jealous. She entered his place and sat on a bench as Erik stripped of his armor. "We did get to the right place. " He said pouring them both a drink from an expensive bottle she was sure didn't came from inside this island. " It's nine in the morning" she pointed out with a raised eyebrow accepting the glass regardless.
"It's happy hour somewhere" the man shrugged downing his in one go before pouring himself another and sat down on the space inside the window frame stretching his legs . She raised an eyebrow, 'huh that bad!' the man leaned back against the wall. " Two of the sisters had already died when we got there. I could only save Esme, Sophie and Phoebe." He was referring to the identical telepaths she saw. There were supposed to be five of them but she saw only three. Her heart broke a little at that. They were too young. Erik's sadness was genuine and deep. He sounded a bit guilty "You never told me how you knew them."
"Long story...Look, I know you have your doubts about Strucker family, but his father and brother almost killed him and his children. Like they already killed his other mutant brother." The poison dripping in his voice was enough evidence of how disgusted he was. "Celine..." He said seriously and alarmed. " You ever heard of Fenris?"
"The hellfire club twins before the Cuban missile crisis?" She asked. Erik's face suddenly looked conflicted like someone has punched him. She realized she must have touched a nerve. Deep down she knew something there was related to Erik, the events of Cuba, the end of hellfire club and the rise of the brotherhood but she never asked him. She has came to learn not one's past defines how they should be treated in the present. "Yes they were taken down afterwards. Apparently" he took a sip." It runs in the family."
" The twins are a Fenris?" She was indeed shocked definitely not seeing that coming. A nod.
"Are they safe?"
'Are we?'
" They indeed are. " He answered, " Thunderbird assured it's all under control and trained but I assigned Bishop and asked him to ask Polaris as well to supervise their training"
" That's good. "She observed him for a second as he remained quite " what are you not telling me"
The man downed the rest of his drink.' the worst part apparently' she thought. Erik put down his glass and regarded hers. She barely had taken a sip. He set aside the bottle. " The young girl we found. She has a peculiar power. Her mutation allows her to turn back the clock in one's body on molecular level."
" She can de-age People?" She almost shouted.
"Hmmm"
"Well Fuck"
"You could say that again." He shook his head with a dry humorless chuckle. "Her powers work both at skin level or distance."
"That's why you stated the boundaries..."
"Hmmm"
" And you said thirty five? What happens if your younger?" She already had some ideas.
" It's the amount of time her powers decrease the age. Under that... Well I think death is the closest thing." He looked sad.
"Erik did the girls...?" She already knew the answer.
"I'm afraid so. They made her use her powers so they could bring the mutants before the age that they manifested. It's not just their bodies. They have no memory of who they are or what they could do. Their last memory is The last one of thirty five years ago. Some of them just manifested. If we don't hurry up and find the cure it will be irreversible. " He looked out of the window gritting his teeth.
'if looks could kill...'
'Well fuck indeed'
"So the two dozens kids..."
"Yes"
"How long?"
"A week maximum"
"Shit, Erik do we even have the resources to deal with this, to contain them?" She knew they had but they didn't have enough.
"That's why we could use all the help we can get." He stood up. " Charles is an expert in genetic mutation and Hank is a scientist. I'm sure they can help you guys in the lab besides the school is technically designed to contain hundreds of unstable young mutants."
"Do you trust him with this?"
"I trust him with my life" there was no hesitation in his voice.
"What about here?" She got up as well.
"You, Forge and Emilia will leave with children. Minus the triples and Strucker family. Take Polaris and Eclipse as well."
"I trust you." She said nodding firmly and raised her hands to his temples as his rested on hers. She once asked him if Xavier used some sort of amplifier and if they could build one for her. All he answered was ' yes' and 'no because it was too easy to be compromised'. It wasn't long after when they accidentally found out his magnetic powers could amplify or weaken psychic powers as the brain waves were electro magnetic after all. It took some work so he could find the exact length of her brain waves after that it became easy. He thought the same thing to Polaris as well just in case. She let her eyes go white as his closed. It wasn't hard to locate Xavier if you where strong enough and have already touched his psychic powers. His awareness surrounded hers. It's not like they can use phone but better safe than sorry.
'Hello professor'
' Celine to what do I owe the pleasure.'
Always the polite one. It wasn't like he couldn't look. But Celine wasn't a child and her shields were strong and although he could tore them apart if he really really tried he didn't push , respecting them both.
' there is someone who wants to have a word.' she directed the connection to Erik's mind and it simply fell into place in the bond both men shared as hers fell into what she initiated with Erik.
'Hello old friend'
Something sparked in the older man's mind. 'Charles' she was tempted to withdraw and let them be. 'no you should be here as well' came from Erik. Apparently she has projected the thought. There was a pause.
' Fuck!' said the telepath finally seeing through the events.
'you could say that again' Celine said with a chuckle.
'shall we take it in somewhere more secure?' asked Charles. ' I'd rather not having someone seeking on this conversation.'
He was right, no one knew how many psychics were out there. They had already dealt with something like this once few months ago. It got messy. There was a rush feeling and she found herself in a white room, the walls and ground felt like concrete and plastic with a glass ceiling. It felt familiar but not to her. To Erik. And she noticed it's because they are in his mind.
There was an annoyed huff ' was this really necessary Erik?' Charles said looking both conflicted and annoyed .
'What is this place?' she asked. Few seconds here and she was already getting jittery.
'Somewhere untouchable.' Erik said his arms folded in front of his chest. She wanted to ask where.
' well I see you do have quite a situation. Going on.' Charles changed the topic and the other man relaxed.
' we do indeed. Can your resources provide us with what necessary?'
'of course, we can indeed train them till the cure is found and our lab if you need to be in close proximity. how many of you are joining us?'
' five , also twelve kids and also some of our devices.' she answered.
'and when should we be excepting you?'
Erik shared a look with her before nodding. 'first thing in the morning'
'very well. I'll inform the others.'
'and Charles. Say hi for me to Peter.' Erik said affectionately.
'not your phone Erik' the man answered with mock offense but nodded anyway. ' Celine' she said respectfully and she responded with a nod as the room they were in faded slowly and they were back in Erik's house. " I'll speak with others." She said.
" Good. I'll go check on the new comers." He said before flying out of the window while she takes the step to the back side and the direction of the lab.
__________________________________
Erik sat around at the dinner table with Lorna and Marcos as The others joined them. Thunderbird sat beside Polaris and the Strucker couple on his left. Celine and the others beside them. "You guys settled down alright?" He asked.
"We did thank you. This place is remarkable. I wanted to thank you for taking in the girls." Said the young man.
"It's not needed. Their mother, Emma , was a great dear friend of mine." He said sadly. Emma was one of the very few good thing that came out of his mission on Shaw. She was the last of brotherhood that was captured by Trask fourteen years ago. Just one year before DC and M day. She was the only one who kept him company in his cell for nine years keeping him sane in solitary confinement. It took a long time for Erik to convince her not to risk herself to get him out. The girls were one when she was taken. And now two of them were gone as well.
"Hey..." Lorna a put a hand on his shoulder as he realized the silverware on the table was trembling. He relaxed letting go of his hold on the metal. He noticed Celine looking at him sadly so he looked away. "I hope you're family is comfortable as well, Mr Strucker."
"Please call me Reed. Kate and I don't know how to repay the people on this island. We owe you all everything."
"I might have some opinions." Emilia started. "You're a nurse right?" She asked Kate Strucker." I am" the woman said hesitantly.
"Good because in order to find the cure I need to leave with the team for few days and as much as our healers are powerful they lack the actual medical experience. Do you think you could cover for me for a while?" Emilia asked taking a spoonful of her vegan stew. Kate's jaw hanged open and even Erik could sense how surprised she was. Apparently she wasn't still sure she was accepted. "Of course."
"What about Lauren and Andy's training if I leave with the team?" Asked Lorna
"You're more needed there. " Erik answered immediately. " Bishop and Thunderbird can cover it and I'll assist if necessary." It was his general tone as Forge teased sometimes and she just nodded.
" Isn't there supposed to be twelve of them?" Asked Marcos. Looking at de aged kids that were led to the dining area. "Where is Wes?" Thunderbird jumped to his feet.
"Celine ?" Asked Polaris. " his illusion making effects his mind I can't locate him"
"Can you inform Forge?" Asked Erik her already on his feet as well.
"He started the electric block hours ago... We have far too many underage telepath rebels." She answered. Aside from frost sisters they already had three of those.
"Let's go then." Said Lorna.
"No... No one under thirty five will come close to the lab and I'm not hearing any buts. Stay here make sure the kids do to. It's better if we don't over react. Everybody stays where you are" Erik said voice commanding and everyone stood not daring to protest. " Celine, Emilia, Bishop" he pointed at them and they all vanished in a pink smoke.
Erik shook his head to regain his focus as they appeared behind the lab doors. "Go search the area" he sent bishop and Emilia away. He entered the lab slowly staying hidden as Celine followed him. Forge was sat in the corner with his back to them working on something. The girl was sat on a bed in the other side of the room eating slowly and quietly. Erik let his power wash over the room before folding it back. He felt the boy standing in a corner near the girl his heartbeat and blood circulation showing his excitement. 'The little bastard, he's right over there near the table.' He turned to Celine who was radiating annoyance.' Inform Forge' he projected. Celine's eyes went white as she focused.
'good let's make it quick ' Erik thought but was caught off guard as a clattering sound and a shout filled the room. It happened all to fast. The same moment Celine made the connection Forge decided to move a boiling liquid and he lost his grip startled the jar dropping on the concrete floor crashing into hundred pieces splashing the hot liquid on the man's foot. Celine grabbed her temples trying to ground her mind as the little girl wailed with fear because Wes, scared of the sudden sound of smashing lost his grip on his powers and suddenly appeared in front of the already terrorized girl few feet away as his illusion disappeared. A ball of light shoot out of the girls hand.
'he's too young to survive.' was all Erik thought before running straight and grabbing the boys shoulder pushing him out of the way. The last thing he saw was the little girl suddenly freezing mid action. He heard his name being shouted but he couldn't respond as a numbness clouded his consciousness and darkness overcame his mind.