Disclaimer: no character, setting, tv show or movie belongs to me.
Unexpected, an X-men2/Numb3rs crossover.
Chapter 1
Don stopped next to the classroom door when he heard Charlie's raised voice.
"Colonel Stryker, I don't work on projects like yours. Not now, not ever."
"You've worked classified projects before, Dr Eppes. The only difference is that this is military, instead of NSA. You have the expertise and the security needed and we can make it more than worth your time. I really don't see a problem here."
"The problem, Colonel Stryker, is that I use math to find killers, not children. The problem is, I try to teach people, I don't force my ideas on them. Find someone else to help build your machine Colonel. And if you try anything to make me help you? Just remember that NSA clearance. Now please leave, I'd like to clear the air in here before my next class."
Don watched, shocked as the aging colonel left his brother's classroom. He'd known Charlie could get riled up about things, but he'd never seen his brother that angry before. Don wondered what this Colonel… Stryker, had wanted Charlie's help with?
Some kind of machine Charlie had called it. Don listened closely as he heard Charlie speaking again.
"Charles? It's me."
…
"I'm fine. I just had William Stryker in here with a project for me. He asked me how hard it would me to reverse engineer a computer capable of increasing mental abilities. He implied he'd have some parts soon."
…
"I'm not sure. I think he's been talking to Eric."
…
"I know, but he may not have been willing. Stryker doesn't always obey the law, as you well know."
…
"Yeah. Just make sure the kids know how to get out. And where to go. I know it's pretty far, but you know where to find me."
…
"Yeah. I'll see you next time I'm over your way. Bye."
After a moment, Don heard a chair scrape across the floor, and the quiet scratching of pen on paper. He thought about what he'd just heard. There had been a lot of rumours while he was growing up, finally confirmed in the last few years. And although the FBI had no official policy, Don had already transferred two agents for 'unacceptable behaviour'. He wished he could find it surprising that someone wanted to build a machine to track people. Charlie, at least, wouldn't be helping make it. As he walked away, leaving his brother to his thoughts, Don wondered if he could convince their father to put a few beds in the basement. If, one day a bunch of kids did turn up, they'd have some where safer to sleep.
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