Hello again. Here is another chapter to my sadly still titleless story. If anyone can help me out with that, great! I will do my best to figure it out. Thanks to my review and let's get on with the show!
...
Soleanna was confused by the look of the mutants on the way back to the mansion. Cyclops, Jean, Nightcrawler and Colossus seemed surprised to learn her identity, and she had no idea why. The car ride was silent, but Sole preferred it that way. She only wanted to tell the story once and get back to her dad asap.
She was astounded by the mansion when they drove up. She had only heard stories, had small pieces of memories taken from her father and uncle. Her eyes drifted to the clear sky above her, knowing that soon she would be able to soar freely. She smiled for the first time in years, wishing it would be like this when she returned home. First, she had to take care of business. There were children, mutant children, running around, completely free. This place... why couldn't they return with her? They could have the life they always wanted. She wouldn't cry, not now, not ever.
They stopped in front of the massive building, Sole getting out quickly. Being inside a confined space didn't appeal to her so much. A bald man in a wheel chair was waiting at the door, flanked by a younger girl with brown hair. Sole knew that he had to be Xavier, but her mind couldn't focus on him yet. The sky, it beckoned to her. Business first. She looked into the eyes of the Professor. They were wise, kind, and curious. She knew he was a telepath, one of the most powerful in the world, so getting him to believe her story wasn't going to be much of a problem. The girl next to him seemed to have a haunted look on her face. Sole sighed. Her eyes seemed to have that effect on new people. It was hereditary, and she didn't feel like she should hide them.
"Hello child. I am Professor Charles Xavier, and I welcome you to my institute," the Professor spoke.
"We need to talk. It's very important," she said, trying not to be rude. He nodded in complete understanding, turning his chair around and leading her inside. They arrived in a room that she could only assume was his office. He pulled up to his desk, seeing as he was already seated, and waited for her to sit. She was painfully aware of the other five mutants in the room, but her father said that the X-men would help her. Taking her seat, she searched for a way to begin. It was such a long story, filled with such hardships she hated thinking about it. She'd only have to tell it once, just once, and then it would all be over, she could focus on her mission.
"My name is Soleanna Marie LeBeau. I come from a world in the future, one completely in chaos. Mutants are hunted, kidnapped, and taken in for who knows what. Humans are non-existent, its us versus the sentinels. My father, he sacrificed everything to keep us safe, my uncle busted us out of the lab. We were fighting, we're always fighting. I don't know how long it's been, the days go by so fast.
"We reached our lab, the secret base of operations. It's the only sanctuary we have. They sent me back, hoping to change our future. The problem is, all files have been deleted, the records completely gone. Whoever or whatever the cause is, covered their tracks completely, no way to figure it out. They don't want this to change. I often wonder why someone would want this kind of world...
"My father and my uncle sent me back here. They told me Xavier and the X-men could help. I can't fail. I don't want to go back, I want to save my family," her tone was level and unemotional.
"What happens to us in your future?" asked Jean.
"The X-men don't exist. Most of them were killed, captured, or disappeared. I need to find a mutant named Forge, and I need your help to keep this mutant paradise shit out of play. From what I heard, that's when everything started to fuck up. It took place around my birth, so I can't be certain when it's going to happen. I had four or five good years, and then the war started. I watched everyone die, and then around age eleven, we were captured. My mother, father, and uncle. I remember seeing them all strapped to chairs. I don't know what they're doing to mutants, and I don't want to know. I want to stop it before it happens."
"How did you survive?" asked Xavier.
"Sheer will power, and the help of my father and uncle."
"One action to plummet the whole world into utter chaos. It's all so unreal..."
"I need to find Forge."
"Understood. I will begin my search when the other X-men return. We'll need all the resources we can get to find the source of this disturbance. In the meantime, Jean will show you to your room. You are welcome to stay here as long as needed."
"Thank you."
Soleanna stood, following the red haired woman out of the office and towards the elevator. She wondered why a two story mansion needed a secret elevator, but she supposed there was more than meets the eye. Instead of going upstairs, Jean pushed a button to go into the lower levels. Sole narrowed her eyes slightly.
"I don't need to read your mind to know that you're curious," said Jean, breaking the silence.
"I didn't think rooms would be in the basement," she stated in her flat tone.
"Your life has been so unhappy... I'm sorry for your suffering."
"You have no idea."
"Who are your parents?" asked Jean, stepping out of the elevator.
"Don't worry about them, it's not your burden."
"It's not good to keep everything inside."
"My father knows everything. He's the only one I can talk to."
"We'll figure this out and you can go back to him soon enough. What's your mutant power?"
"Whatever I inherited from my mom."
"And I assume you have your father's eyes?" Jean smirked.
"Well yeah... How did you know?"
"Lucky guess. This is the danger room. I wanted to show you this in case you need to blow off some steam. I know you probably don't want to fight anymore, but I also know it's the only thing your life has been."
"Thanks. But I really want to get in the air. I've never seen a blue sky or the sun before."
Jean smiled sadly, "I'll take you to your room. The rest of the tour can wait."
"Thank you."
...
Soleanna looked around the room provided to her by Xavier. It wasn't a guest room, this seemed more permanent. It was spacious, very spacious. On-suite full bathroom. She couldn't wait to get into that tub. She couldn't remember the last time she showered. The room was clean, it had its own television. She couldn't remember what it was like to see non-threatening reports on it. Sighing, she would need clothes before she could even think about cleaning herself. She opened one of the drawers, and noticed there were already clothes in there. She found that strange, going into the bathroom, noticing there were no personal items in there. So this wasn't someone's room accidently given to her. Then why would there be clothes already in the drawers? She pulled out a pair of pants, knowing they would fit. Strange.
-Consider it a gift. I noticed you didn't have any bags. Don't be afraid to ask for anything you need- she heard Xavier's voice. She smiled for the second time that day. Her father was right about the Professor. He would do anything to take care of her. He assured her she would be safe, and in good hands.
She sat on the bed, taking out the last thing her father gave her. It was small, silver, and irreplaceable. She looked at the box. It was locked, like it always was. She had never seen it open, never knew what was inside. He told her she had to figure it out. Only then would she get answers, understand why she was so important. The box had a puzzle to it, and she couldn't for the life of her figure it out. She tried only once, and knew that she could't get it.
...
"What is it dad?" she asks him. He is playing with the silver cube. She is young, no more than ten.
"Dis petite?" he places the box in her small hands, "Dis be de answers t'all your questions."
"How do I open it?"
"Not yet. Soon, it give you everyt'ing you need t'know. You more important in dis life den anyone else. You my whole life, petite."
She leans her head in his lap, "Will we ever be free again?"
"Soon, belle, soon. You meet de Professor soon, and he help you."
"Will you be with me?"
He stroked her long strawberry coloured hair, "I be wit' you always, Sole. Y'can' get rid o' me."
...
He sacrificed everything for her, even in the sick world they lived in. Unlike her mother. She betrayed them, abandoned them. That woman would never earn her forgiveness. For all Sole cared, she wished the woman dead. It was harsh, yes, but Sole didn't owe the woman anything. She left them to die in that lab, didn't even look back once. How could she care about someone like that? Sole wished she'd never see the woman again.
Sole ran the water in the bath. She had gone through all the clothes and found very few things she liked. She would have to talk to the Professor about acquiring more. She would need more than three outfits if she was going to be here for a while. Warm water, something she rarely ever experienced. It seemed so unfair that she was in paradise while her family was stuck struggling to survive. She laid her head back, letting the water take its toll. She had never felt so clean before, the dirt literally falling off her. She let her whole face flow under water. She didn't dare close her eyes. If she slept, it would bring back all the memories. There was no way she was going to let that happen.
Maybe an hour later, dressed in fresh clothes, she frantically searched for her cigarettes. It was the only secret she kept from her father, for fear of disappointing him. Finally locating them, she opened the window, deciding it would be in poor taste to smoke in the mansion. She lifted herself off the ground, a smile on her face. She let herself fall freely, the wind and warmth of the sun making her feel relaxed. It was the first time she didn't feel fear about being so out in the open. It was invigorating.
She regained control of herself and settled on the roof of the mansion. She lit her cigarette the way she'd seen her father do it thousands of times. She peered into the window beside her perch. The room was gorgeous, plant life everywhere. The smell, despite the window being closed, was indescribable. It put her mind at ease, only temporarily. This world, time period, it was what her father always wanted for her. Her only regret was that he wasn't with her.
Sighing sadly, she looked into the sky, seeing a small jet and a bigger one circle the mansion. They were preparing to land, her senses finding something strange in the air. Perhaps it was the feeling of her mission starting, the first step towards freedom. Taking her last drag, she got off the roof and flew back into her room. She kept the window open, liking the idea of fresh air for a change. She used her telepathy to find the Professor, making her way to him.
The other X-men had to be back, the search for Forge being her top priority. As much as she didn't want to leave this place, she wanted to return to her father. She tried not to think about it, think of it as abandoning them. She wasn't going to be like her mother.
...
The returning X-men gathered in the war room for a debriefing. Storm and Wolverine were first, the two of them had been gone much longer. There was a mutant issue back in her home town, Wolverine assigning himself to personally escort her. They found the source of the problem, and made it quiet for now. Hopefully the two of them wouldn't have to return any time soon.
Rogue, Gambit, Beast, and Emma were next. It was a surprise that the four of them were back so soon. They should have been gone longer, gathering as much information as they could. The team sat around, some members choosing not to attend. Professor Xavier seemed to be in deep thought, but the others knew he was listening intently. Finally, he snapped out of his trance, looking briefly to the two southern members of his team.
"Tell me, what did you find over in Japan?" the Professor asked.
"Nothing. It was as if the distortion never happened," explained Beast.
"Any life forms?"
"None. I know Cerebro detected two life patterns, but I couldn't find any trace of it anywhere," said Emma.
"Not'ing in de streets," said Gambit.
"And nothing air born," concluded Rogue.
"It's strange. I was sure there was something else there..." Xavier trailed. He closed his eyes, taking in a breath. This was not the news he wanted to hear. He didn't want to question the new mutant quite yet either, he knew she was enjoying the vacation from turmoil. Besides, he was sure the girl would be along shortly.
"There is nothing more we can do. I'll have to do some more research and see what I can find. You are dismissed for now," the Professor spoke, going back into his thoughts.
Everyone except Jean, Scott, Logan, Hank and Remy left the room. The Cajun thought about following Rogue, but decided to let her be for now. The Professor became engrossed in Cerebro, hoping to find the answers he needed.
"It's strange that this life form so suddenly disappeared," mused Beast.
"Gambit t'ink dat maybe it never be dere in the de first place," said Remy, lazily playing with a deck of cards. He was sitting back in his chair, his feet up and a bored expression on his face. Xavier was silent.
"I measured the energy levels myself, there's no mistake."
"If Emma didn't find anything with her mind, it could be possible that whatever it was could detect Cerebro," said Jean.
"If it can block Cerebro, then we'll have no chance of finding it," said Scott, looking over at the Professor.
Wolverine sniffed a few times, "Who's the new meat?" he grunted, pointing in the direction of the door.
"New meat?" questioned Beast.
"The new girl running around here. She'll be in this room in about five minutes."
"I am amazed, Logan. You sense of smell is truly fascinating."
"Never doubt it."
"She was found near the source of the other disturbance. Turns out we were exactly who she was looking for, and a mutant named Forge. She's a time traveler, trying to save her future," explained Scott.
"Typical. Who blew it this time?"
"No one knows. All records were destroyed, this appears to be a serious threat," said Jean.
"Fascinating. Does she have any other leads? Or just Forge?" asked Beast.
"Something about a mutant paradise. She doesn't know how it starts, but she's asked us to keep an ear open," replied Scott.
"What's her mutant power?"
"She didn't really answer. I do know she can fly and has telepathy. I can't say for sure how developed she is, and I also suspect there is more power. I didn't want to pry," answered Jean.
"Sounds like dis chere be dangerous," said Gambit, not really interested in the current conversation. He didn't even look up when he heard the door open.
"This kid got a name?" asked Logan.
"Soleanna LeBeau," Sole said, walking into the room. Her heart nearly stopped at the sight before her. She had only come to look for Xavier, but she had heard her uncle's voice. She hurried her pace to make sure she wasn't hearing things. But there he was, staring at her in disbelief. His eyes weren't as kind as she was used to, but she had to remember that in this time period, he didn't know her. It made her slightly sad.
But there was yet another reason she was so surprised. Sitting on the other side of the room, her father. He looked directly at her, a look of utter shock occupying his face. Shew as happy to see him, and restrained herself greatly. She wanted to run to him, wanted to throw her arms around him and be engulfed in one of his comforting hugs. But she couldn't, he didn't know her here. She wouldn't cry though, as hard as it was to have this kind of knowledge. She didn't expect to see the only people in her life here. She should have expected it thought, with how often they spoke of this place. But it didn't make any difference.
"I don't believe it," said Logan.
"Merde..." trailed Remy. He looked up at the mutant in question, his ears perked up after hearing his own last name. She was standing in the doorway, long strawberry hair, tall. But it was his own eyes he saw that nearly stopped his heart. This girl, who was she? She stared back at him, and it wasn't helping his nerves. What was going on here?
...
thank you so much for taking the time to read. i promise i will have more remy and rogue, just trying to get through the beginning. thanks again!