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I think starting from now I will update regularly everyday, because the outline of the story is now quite clear to me.
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Chapter 2. No Choice.
2 days later
Raven drew a long breath, looking out of the window with unseeing eyes.
Mutant and proud… Taking stance against the whole world….No more hiding…
And all that smashing to pieces just as soon as some tiny insignificant memory flashes in her mind. Never- the beach. Never - the Charles of that day. No.
Other memories - little, homely, foolish little incidents… Charles laughing over the pages of Jerome - scolding her for refusing to stay in bed with a cold – unashamedly borrowing the better half of her cake –throwing his arm around her shoulders so that the soft wool of his cardigan brushes against her cheek – smiling at her words, scribbling away at his thesis…
And now- it was ridiculous! - just a few words written by his hand - a stray old note - and that was enough to make her throat tighten with physical pain, to make everything she was standing for now- so remote, so unreal- unimportant…
No, no! No mote glimpses, no more.. No more - Raven.
Her face hardened. Slowly, carefully, she tore the note in two.
Mystique walked away from the window.
Two rooms away Emma glanced at Magneto.
" Is there anything- or rather anyone - else?"
Magneto`s answer came in a few seconds.
"Yes. Xavier. "
" He will feel my presence immediately" she warned him.
"Let him." He answered shortly.
Emma concentrated. In a few seconds her expression changed.
"What is it?" the closely watching her Magneto demanded.
"I don`t know. There is- something wrong."
XXX
The measured voice went on – weightily and with a sort of not unkind sternness.
"MacTaggert, let me explain something to you. This is not about helping the government, this is about helping Charles Xavier. We need his cooperation and we are going to get it. There are some methods, you know- or, rather, you don`t, - that I am extremely reluctant to use on him."
His last words did not in the least sound like a threat- rather, she thought tiredly, as if the man was actually unhappy about the whole thing.
He paused and Moira swallowed before answering.
"But you… would do it."
"Eventually. If he doesn`t change his attitude," he answered evenly. She was silent, and meeting her eyes in a second, he suddenly exploded, " Yes, yes, I am perfectly aware that the man is a hero and all that, but, damn it all, he leaves us no choice. "
She threw her head back.
"There is a choice, and - I will make mine."
After a moment`s silence Joelson went on , his voice even and quiet:
"If the department is supposed to choose between the intactness of Charles Xavier and the safety of the world- than, I tell you once more - there is no choice."
"Do you realize what you are asking him to do? Playing false might be the standard over here, but Charles Xavier is different from us in more than just one way!"
Joelson understood her implication and for a second his level gaze left her face.
"It was a decision none of us relished taking."
"But you took it. You fired on us."
" Your all- clear didn` t come across in time, we had no idea what the hell was going on there."
Moira was silent for a moment and then very calmly she asked:
"But if it had? It would have made no difference, would it?"
Now he me her eyes once more.
"Moira, look. " the switch to her name was unexpected, as was the tinge of sorrowful, unmistakably genuine earnestness in his eyes, his voice, "When we enter the department we all realize our job here may one day claim our life. It is something we all live with, something we are prepared for."
" What we are not prepared for, perhaps, is a breach of loyalty" there was no bitterness in her voice –she was past that.
"Yes, it is all about loyalty. To this country. To the people we guard. To their safety. "
There was silence.
"You are right. There are choices and we take them, " he finished, and Moira understood the finality in his words.
"When can I see him?" she asked dully.
"Now if you like"