Finally, we arrived at the determined facility. It appeared to be a CIA office or research community. Charles and I lingered a moment by the car. Projecting my thoughts so he could hear, I asked, Are you sure about this? By going forward, we begin to expose mutants to the world.
I know, he replied. But maybe we can prevent the fear and violence before ignorance takes hold by aligning ourselves with them.
"Welcome to my facility," Agent Foster announced. "My mission has been to investigate the application of paranormal powers in military defense."
"Or offense," Erik put in dryly.
They continued walking towards the large glass doors.
"This guy Shaw, Schmidt, whatever you want to call him, he's working with the Russians.-We might need your help to stop him."
"Marvelous," Charles said
I had to admit, the facility was quite impressive, and the potential to use our abilities to help the country was intriguing. Yet...something nagged at me.
Projecting my thoughts in a way I'd learned he would notice, I asked, Are you sure about this? By going forward, we begin to expose mutants.
I know, he answered. But maybe we can prevent the fear and violence before ignorance takes hold by aligning ourselves with them.
He started walking away. We followed Agent Foster to a large open room, an impressive jet model hanging from the ceiling. I stood between Charles and Arik as we gazed in awe at the replica.
"It's supersonic," a strange voice called out. "The most advanced plane ever built."
I turned to find a young man, hardly over than Raven, striding toward us. He wore glasses and a white lab coat. Pride and excitement greeted my probing senses.
"You should see it in real life," he continued with a small smile. "It's incredible."
"It sure looks like it," I said brightly.
"Hank, these are the new special recruits I was telling you about," Agent Foster said by way of introduction before turning to us. "This is Hank McCoy, one of our most talented young researchers."
A wave of excitement washed over me from Charles as he strode up to the young man, hand outstretched.
"How wonderful!" He gushed as he shook Hank's hand. "Another mutant already here. Why didn't you say?"
"Say what?"
He turned to Agent Foster who stared at my brother in confusion. The truth, however, was painted all over Hank's face.
Well done, I thought dryly.
"Because you don't know," Charles sighed guiltily, turning back to Hank. "I am so, so terribly sorry."
Hank didn't feel angry or upset, more uncertain and fearful.
He's scared of how Agent Foster will react, I informed my brother.
He doesn't need to worry, he answered with a small smile in my direction.
As Foster took a couple of slow, hesitant steps forward, Hank pointedly avoided eye contact.
"Hank?"
"You didn't ask, so I didn't tell..." he muttered.
"So your mutation is what?" Raven asked, stepping forward. "You're super smart?"
"I'll say!" Charles said brightly. "Hank here graduated Harvard at the age of 15!"
Hank tried a modest smile before a fleck of uncertainty rose in my awareness. He emanated a strong self-consciousness.
"I wish that's all it was."
Quickly informing Charles of what I was sensing, he said encouragingly, "You're among friends now, Hank. You can show off."
Slowly, uncertainly, Hank pulled off his shoes and socks with a nervous glance at Raven. Charles chuckled in excitement as I gasped, staring at Hank's feet, which more resembled a pair of hands.
"Splendid," Charles muttered under his breath.
Raven beamed at the young mutant before he maneuvered around them. With a soft grunt, he sprung from the ground, flipping upside down. His mutated feet latched onto the nose of the model jet, allowing him to hang easily in the air. Finally, Arik reacted. He strode forward, eyes fascinated he stared at Hank in wonder, mouth slightly open. Everyone was laughing in astonishment, faces bright, but none brighter than Raven's.
"You're amazing!" she praised.
He stared at her as gratitude and shock filled him.
"Really?" he asked.
She didn't respond but merely smiled widely. From there, Hank and Agent Foster continued to show us the facility. Yet, as we were shown more of the CIA's equipment, I couldn't help but hang back as my fears surged once again.
I jumped slightly as Arik stepped up beside me saying, "Terrifying, isn't it?"
"What's that?" I asked innocently, fighting my own apprehension.
"Recognizing yourself and those you love as a minority, and seeing the majority's power."
"The world is about to change, Arik, and we're on the brink of that change. We can't predict what will happen, but Charles insists on walking that line.
"We have to protect ourselves...no matter the cost."
A violent flash of anger shot through my barriers. Shock glued my eyes to Arik. No single person's emotion had ever been strong enough to permeate the walls I had built around my heart.
Before I could stop myself, I asked softly, "What immeasurable hurt have you endured, Arik? To make your heart so cold yet burn with so much anger?"
He stared down at me with open mouthed surprise. But for some reason, I felt embarrassment at my words, despite being gawked at.
"You really feel everything I do."
It wasn't a question but a sudden realization. I nodded.
"Your emotions have proven far more...potent than most," I admitted.
He locked his deep brown eyes with mine, obviously contemplating some great decision. Finally, he tilted his head sharply in the direction of the outer door.
"Walk with me," he said suddenly.
I glanced quickly in Charles' direction. After finding him happily engaged in a conversation with Hank, I followed Arik out into the courtyard. As we circled round and round the bronze statue, Arik haltingly explained the pain of his past, the source of his hatred. And I, unexplainably unable to block his emotions, relived every single moment with him. His sorrow and grief was quickly calloused with a powerful anger, an anger that consumed him, fueled his every decision.
As he spoke of his mother's murder, my hand instinctively reached for his. His returning grip sent a pleasant tingling warmth up my arm and into my chest. I fought to ignore this added breach of my barriers as Arik described how Shaw had manipulated and used him throughout his adolescence. Again, sadness swelled within me. Though, at this point, I couldn't quite tell who the emotions belonged to. This greatly disturbed me, as the majority of my barriers were still in place. These walls were meant to dull and even eliminate the other's emotions whenever they were in place.
Arik's voice eventually trailed off as his horrible tale came to a close. We continued to walk a few minutes in silence, still holding hands, as I contemplated doing something Charles would not approve of. Abruptly making up my mind, I stopped in my tracks. Still tightly gripping my hand, Arik stopped too and turned to face me with a quizzical expression. Lowering my barriers completely, I laid my hand against his cheek, staring deep into his heart. Bypassing his layered walls of hurt and anger, I discovered a disused corner of his heart. Peace. Pulling away emotionally, I dragged the peace to the forefront of his consciousness. He took a deep breath as I drew my hand away, a startled expression on his face.
"What did you just do?" he asked breathlessly.
"Gave you peace...at least for a time. Rest. Clear your mind."
Gently, I pulled my hand from his and strode away, leaving him alone to his thoughts. My brother raised an eyebrow as I approached.
"Stay out of my head, Charles," I immediately snapped.
He grinned mischievously but turned away. Falling into step beside Raven, we followed Agent Foster to a hall of prepared rooms. They were small, bare, and altogether uninviting. As the others continued on, Raven and I stood together in the doorway of the room we were to share.
"Not quite home, huh?" I muttered dryly.
Raven groaned in response. A wave of her disgust and uncomfortableness reminded me I had yet to replace my barriers. Jumping onto the bed, I crossed my legs, straightened my back, and began my meditative breathing. Raven leapt onto the bed beside me.
"What'd you try to feel?"
"Nothing," I replied with a grin.
Raven smiled mischievously. Her skin rippled, changing color and height and size until Arik was sitting on the bed beside me.
With a dispassionate glance, I responded dryly. "That doesn't startle me anymore, Raven."
"No, but it still makes you smile!" She responded in Arik's voice.
With a start, I realized Raven was right. I was sitting there with a stupid grin on my face. Raven's concentration broke as she melted in a fit of giggles, sending her back to her true, blue form. Her laughter was infectious and soon had me doing the same. A soft knock at the door interrupted our mirth.
"Come in!" we chorused.
After making eye-contact, we burst into another fit of giggles. Charles poked his head into the room, a curious and bemused expression on his face.
Raven sobered in an instant, pointed at him, and ordered, "Stay out of our heads! This is girl stuff!"
He shook his head and said, Believe me—I really don't want to know."
He let us work the fit of giggles out of our systems for a couple minutes before saying, "Jenny, I need to talk to you. But you should pull your wards up first."
"Oh ya! Raven interrupted me."
I folded myself back into my meditative position. My elbow nudged Raven as she started to laugh once again. Inhaling deeply, I retreated within myself, trapping y own emotions within and expelling the emotions of others. My mind filled with mirth, and I finally realized the laughter was not my own-but Raven's. My eyes snapped open, and I glared at my closest friend. Innocent eyes blinked back at me.
"You did that on purpose, you little rat!"
"Oh come on, Jenny! Your mutation is so much fun to play with!"
I rolled my eyes and shoved her off the bed. With a broad grin, I darted for the door.
"Alright, we can talk now."
Charles shook his head. "You know...sometimes I wonder if you remember how old we are!"
Both grinning, we strode down the hall, side-by-side.
"So what's on your mind?" I asked.
He hesitated then said slowly, "I just wanted to make sure you're protecting your heart."
I cocked my head, frowning slightly.
"You know I do, Charles. What's prompted this, really?"
Again, he hesitated. "You've grown very...comfortable with Arik. I'm just not sure he's one to share or appreciate your affections."
I saw where he was going and stiffened.
"I know my danger, Charles," I snapped. "I live my life knowing that for me to love is the equivalent of you jumping from a building not knowing if there's something there to catch you. I'm destined to live a life alone. That's not something I'm likely to forget."
"Jenny..." he protested.
"Don't waste your breath."
"Very well." He paused but, of course, his silence did not last long. "Arik is full of anger. You know as well as I do that is what drives him. He will forever choose violence."
"You don't know that! Violence is all he has known. You don't know what he could be!"
"And neither do you," he snapped.
We both came to an abrupt halt, each glaring at the other. He wiped a hand over his face.
"I didn't want to fight..." he sighed.
"But you knew we would," I interrupted.
He grinned wryly. "I just want you to be careful. You're my sister, my twin. I know you better than anyone and seeing you get hurt is the last thing I want."
My heart swelled. I had thought he was trying to control me as he had when we were younger. But he was trying to give me space to make my own choices yet still try and protect me.
"Charles," I sighed, embracing him. "I'll protect myself. I promise."
He returned the embrace, murmuring, "That's all I ask."
