Thank you all for reading and thanks to PurpleFairy92 for the encouragement. I had a very busy but inspirational weekend so hopefully you enjoy this new chapter.
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Disclaimer: The only things that are mine are the characters of Ellie & Ruby. The X-Men in all their glory belong to the brilliant minds of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and all the amazing writers, artists, and staff of Marvel Comics.
Chapter 2: One Man's Dream, is another's Nightmare
After all four were seated Ruby started off by introducing herself and Ellie properly. "My name is Ruby Reed and this is my overprotective friend Eleanor Johnson. But don't call her Eleanor, she hates that," Ruby says with a grin.
"As I was telling Ellie before," Charles says grinning back at Ruby, "I am Charles Xavier and this is Erik Lensherr."
"Nice to meet you," Ruby says.
"The pleasure is all…" Charles starts to explain that the pleasure is entirely his but before he can finish Ellie cuts him off.
"What can you do?" She says glaring at Erik. He grins and lifts his hand. As his hand rises so does the watch Ellie had taken off and set on the nightstand. The watch darts across the room and into Erik's outstretched palm.
"Wow," Ruby whispers as Ellie scoffs. It was Erik's turn to glare but instead he smirks dangling Ellie's watch by the band. She glares, walks over and snatches it away from him. Erik can't help but laugh. "So, what exactly brings two gentlemen like yourselves to our neck of the woods at 2am?" Ruby says trying partially to get the conversation back on track, or at least what she figures on track is, and partially to satisfy her own curiosity.
"Well," Charles begins, "We are here because we are looking for others, not unlike yourself, who may need our help to understand their abilities and train them for their future."
"Train them for what?" Ellie asks without missing a beat.
"Well that is a bit more complicated," Charles says.
"To be part of a covert CIA mutant task force," Erik says in a dull tone. Charles nods.
"The CIA? As in THE CIA?" Ruby asks her doe-eye as wide as they could possibly be as she emphasizes the last "the" in the sentence.
"Yes, the United States Central Intelligence Agency," Charles says.
"Why?" Ellie asks suspiciously.
"Because they are not equipped to properly handle the threat that one individual, a mutant, poses," Charles answers. Erik scoffs and mumbles "Ha, like they could ever be." Charles gives Erik a pointed look then, along with the others, ignores his comment.
"His name is Sebastian Shaw and he has small band of mutants that pose a threat to not only national security but to mankind as a whole," Charles says.
"He must be very powerful," Ruby says meekly deep in thought. What could this guy possibly do that has the CIA asking for our help?
He has assembled a powerful team, Charles' voice responds in her mind. Ruby lets out a shocked squeak, her eyes as wide as dinner plates.
"I'm Sorry Ruby," Charles says out loud and smiles, "Please forgive me, old habits die hard."
"Who is Shaw?" Ellie asks.
"More importantly, what kind of a team has he assembled?" Ruby asks eyes still wide.
Charles and Erik exchange glances.
Shaw first, then the team, Charles silently tells Erik. Erik nods in agreement.
"Sebastian Shaw is a murderer and is very determined when it comes to getting what he wants," Charles says.
"And right now he wants World War III," Erik says.
"Yes," Charles says taking in the fear that seemed to be rolling off Ruby. "But we aren't going to let that happen," he says walking over with a reassuring smile to place a hand on her shoulder. She gave him a weak smile.
"Why would he do that?" Ruby asks.
"Sadly, that we don't know," Charles says.
"What can he do?" Ellie asks.
"It is hard to tell," Charles starts, "his telepath has managed to keep me from getting too close. But whatever his power is, he doesn't seem to age."
"Doesn't age at all?" Ruby asks trying to hide the fear that has manifested as a result all the overwhelming new information she has gained. But Charles, of course, is not fooled. He sits down next to her and smiles in an attempt to calm her nerves.
"Trust me, he looks the same way he did 20 years ago," Erik states with a cold harsh tone that makes Ruby's hair stand on end, and sends a frightened shiver down her spine. Charles wraps his arm around her shoulders. Ellie glares briefly, but turns her attention back to Erik.
"And his team?" Ellie asks.
"His team consists of a telepath, an individual who can create cyclones out of thin air, and if the sources are correct, a teleporter," Erik tells her.
"What about your team?" Ellie inquires, "I know what you can do, and Charles is a telepath, are there others?"
"Yes, there are six others, apart from myself and Erik," Charles responds, "If the two of you choose to accompany us we will more than double Shaw's team."
"So we have the numbers," Erik says, "And we will defeat him."
"Will you join us?" Charles asks.
"No," Ellie says in a cold flat tone.
"Why not?" Erik asks matching her tone.
"Erik," Charles says removing his arm from Ruby's shoulder, "Please, don't push."
"Because I wasn't born yesterday," Ellie states narrowing her eyes at Erik, "I learned really early you can't trust anyone outside your own kin, and that goes double for government."
"Fair enough, but what about you Ruby?" Charles says with a warm smile turning to focus on Ruby, "Would you like to join us?"
"No!" Ellie repeats.
"It is not your call to make Ellie," Erik says.
"If Ruby says no then we will leave you be. But it is her decision," Charles says.
"You said you could help me control my powers, right?" Ruby asks Charles. He nods yes.
"Ruby, you can't seriously be consid…"Ellie starts but Ruby raises a hand to stop her.
"And if I change my mind I can leave, right?" Ruby asks.
"Of course," Charles says with a warm smile, "So what do you say?"
"Okay," Ruby says.
"What?" Ellie shouts standing to face Ruby.
"Ellie, you have to be tired too," Ruby says, "And if they can help me control my powers then they can help you too."
"I don't need them!" Ellie shouts gesturing wildly, "and their government!"
"Ellie, I'm going, end of sentence," Ruby says with a tone that would leave even the most skeptical of juries without a reasonable doubt. Ellie was fuming but said nothing. She knew she could not win. "Please, Ellie," Ruby pleads, "Come with me."
Ellie sighed admitting total defeat and said, "Fine, but just so you know the ONLY reason I'm agreeing is because I made a promise that I intend to keep."
"Great," Charles says with an enthusiastic smile.
"Now," Erik says, "The two of you should pack so we can get on the road before dawn."