Chapter 3: First Conversations

1962, somewhere in the USA

Before driving to that offsite facility, Evie stopped at her motel room to fetch her things. She had brought Raven along, who would fetch hers and Charles' things from their rented room in their hotel. The night had been quite eventful, and all they had wanted to do was sleeping, which is why they would meet early in the morning.

"Is everything alright, Evie?", Raven asked her as they waited at their previously arranged meeting spot in their car for the others to show up.

"I don't know. I'm thinking of what Erik said."

"But that was another you."

"I still worked for the bad guys. A few months ago I would have done everything to get my memories back. I'm not sure if I still want them." Raven put her hand comfortingly on Evie's shoulder. "We'll figure something out, don't worry. Erik's already apologised for his rash reaction, I don't think he'll hold something that you don't even know of against you. None of us can picture you as a bad person." Evie smiled thankfully. "Thank you, I appreciate your concerns."

Raven was smiling sweetly when something came into her mind. "I promised you earlier that I would show you what I really look like. But please, don't be shocked."

Evie assured her that she wouldn't be scared by her looks, whatever she would look like.

She was a little surprised though when Raven's hands began to form into a bluish pattern which spread to her head. The white in Raven's eyes was now yellow and her hair was shorter than before, red and slicked back.

"I don't really know why I should be frightened. Raven, you look gorgeous." Raven blinked a few times and smiled looking at her feet. "Thank you", she muttered, biting on one of her lower lip.

They were interrupted by dimmed lights that they could see in the exterior mirrors. Raven immediately turned into her everyday-form with blonde hair, As the car came closer, they could see it was the others. Their car roared to life to follow them.

"Welcome to my facility", suit-guy said as they got out of the cars. It surely was an offsite base, they had been driving since 7 a.m. and it was now already midday. "My mission has been to investigate the application of paranormal powers in military defence", suit-guy continued.

"Or offence." Evie was walking behind Erik who know waited for a response of suit-guy. "This guy Shaw, Schmidt, whatever you want to call him, he's working with the Russians. We might need your help to stop him."

Evie looked at Raven who now had the answer to the question she had asked earlier on the US Coast Guard.

"Marvellous", Charles said. He had his left hand in his pocket and was walking in between Erik and suit-guy. "So we're to be the CIA's new mutant division, yes."

"Something like that."

They entered the building and went straight into a big lab, the replica of a plane hanging in the middle of the room.

"It's a supersonic. The most advanced plane ever built. You should see it in real life. It's incredible."

Moira stared at the replica, seemingly impressed by it, while the others were rather interested in the man in the lab coat. He looked like a typical scientist.

Evie stood next to Charles and Raven as suit-guy introduced them to the scientist. "Hank, these are the special new recruits I was telling you about. This is Hank McCoy, one of our most talented young researchers."

Charles went right up to him, holding his hand out for the scientist to shake it. "How wonderful. Another mutant, already here." Hank's smile died and he looked at Charles, shocked. "Why didn't you say?", Charles asked suit-guy. "Say what?"

Charles' smile died like Hank's had. "Because you don't know. I am so, so terribly sorry", he said apologetically to Hank. The scientist looked at him, shaking his head as if it was no big deal.

Suit-guy went up to him. "Hank?"

"You didn't ask, so I didn't tell", he answered, averting his eyes. Evie wondered just how many mutants there were actually.

Raven spoke up. „So, your mutation is what? You're super smart?"

"I'll say", Charles answered for Hank. "Hank here graduated Harvard at the age of 15."

Evie caught the way Hank looked at Raven. He seemed to be stunned by her. "I wish that's all it was."

"You're among friends now, Hank. You can show off", Charles said. Moira and Raven had joined suit-guy, Charles and Hank which left Evie and Erik alone a little offside. They both looked excitedly at Hank who was undressing his shoes. He revealed his feet, which looked like the ones of an ape.

Charles chuckled. "Splendid."

Evie could see how long Hank looked Raven in the eyes. She couldn't see her expression, but she heard her laughter. Hank smiled and looked away shyly.

"I'm sorry", Hank said and positioned himself under the replica. It didn't even take him a lot of effort to jump up and hold himself headfirst with his feet. They all began to laugh. "Ta-da!"

Raven went to him, and admired his ability. She was quite close to him as their faces were on the same level. "You're amazing."

He exhaled. "Really?" Raven smirked at him.

Evie looked at Erik who had raised one eyebrow at that scene and smiled.

They spent their day exploring the facility after eating lunch together. Raven had gone off with Hank, earning a smirk from Evie. Erik had gone god-knows-where, suit-guy was busy with business, Charles had excused himself earlier and she didn't know where Moira was.

Which is why Evie wandered the endless corridors all by herself. She had gone lost, though. Evie knew she had started in the room that was some kind of lounge. She had taken the door to a floor that she had thought would take her outside, which it didn't, however. She had found herself in a floor with offices on each side.

She found a water dispenser and got herself a glass of cold water to kill time. Someone will come by, eventually.

"If you want something to drink, you can just go to the kitchen."

Evie turned around to look at Moira who was just closing the door to one of the offices. "I would love to if I knew where that was."

Moira chuckled and joined Evie's side. "I know where it is, I'll show you."

"Thats very kind of you, thank you."

Moira led her back the exact same way she had come to the lounge and took another door, which of course also led outside. They were alone in the kitchen as Moira made herself a cup of tea. "Want some?", she asked Evie.

"Yes, thank you."

"So ... is your mutation like Charles'?"

"You can compare it, yes, but it's not really the same. He reads minds, and communicates with them, but my mutation is more about changing something. Whether it's lifting something from it's original place or crushing it."

"But you can also do something with minds as well, don't you? You did that in Oxford."

Evie bit her lower lip. "Yes, it was stupid of me to do that. I don't really trust my powers and if he had been someone else I might have seriously hurt him." Moira nodded and handed Evie her tea. They made their way towards the table and sat down.

"We can be glad then that he's a telepath", Moira said and had a smile on her face. Evie was under the impression that she was fond of Charles.

"But have you seen Hank and Raven? I bet there'll be something going on between the two of them in the next couple of days", Moira said smirking. Evie grinned. "The look on their faces when they left lunch together!"

The two women started laughing.

As they had calmed down a bit, Evie sipped at her tea. Moira looked into the distance and as she looked back at Evie, she could see that the agent had a question burning on her tongue. "What is it?"

"You really don't know who you are, do you?"

"Well, I have told you about the documents, that and the memory that I got when I collided with Charles' mind is all I have. Why do you ask?"

Moira put her cup on the table. "I might be able to help you, the CIA can get a lot of information and I'm sure your involvement with Hydra has left a few marks in history."

Evie furrowed her brow. "How …?"

"Charles asked me to help you with this. It will all be top secret, you don't have to worry that something's going to come back at you."

Evie had a puzzled expression on her face. She would have never dared to think about getting help so easily.

"I don't want to cause you any problems."

"You don't. I have a few tricks up my sleeve. So do you agree?"

"I ah ... yes, of course."

Moira smirked. "I'll start right away with my research."

"I don't know what to say ... thank you so very much."

Moira lifted her hands. "I haven't found anything yet."

"But still, it means a lot to me."

They turned around as they heard another person entering the kitchen. Charles looked surprised when he laid his eyes upon the women. He wore something different as he did when they arrived. He had discarded himself of his jersey and wore only his shirt. He had rolled up his sleeves and his hair looked like he just came out of bed.

"Good evening, my ladies. How fortunate that I find you here, Evie, I wanted to speak with you. May I borrow you?", he asked with his scottish accent. Evie looked apologetically at Moira. "I wanted to go anyway." Moira stood up, but before she exited the room, she looked back at Evie. "I'll inform you right away when I find something."

Evie nodded. "Thank you very much."

Moira smiled and left the lounge, nodding at Charles who was going to fetch himself a glass of water.

"I should probably thank you as well, hm?" Evie didn't need to explain herself, Charles already knew what she was referring to.

"I told you I would help you, but that's not why I wanted to talk to you." Charles joined Evie at the table and sat across from her, where Moira had sat just a few moments ago.

Expectantly, she waited for him to continue.

"In Oxford, outside that bar, when you tried to get into my mind, I did the same with you. I tried to find information about you, who you are, but you blocked me. I did manage to get that memory of you and your father, however." Evie could see where this was going. "I think that if we try that again, under more comfortable circumstances this time, we might be able to pull your memories from your subconscious mind into your conscious mind." He waited a moment for her to say something, but Evie wasn't sure what to respond. "I would understand if you don't want that. You seemed pretty confused back then."

Evie released short laugh. What an understatement. She had panicked and messed with all their minds to get away from there, but she hadn't known them back then. She already was more relaxed now.

With his lips slightly apart, he waited for her response.

"I do want to get my memory back. At least I think I want to."

"You're referring to Erik, aren't you?" Evie nodded. "I think I have done terrible things back then. But I also think I should know. Whatever I have done, I should take responsibility for it." She didn't look him in the eyes when she said that. "I won't think any less of you, Evie, nor will any of us."

Evie frowned and looked at him now. "How can you say that? You don't know me."

His expression was sympathetic, but also apologetic. "I have read you mind, and I am very sorry that I did that, but I have seen what you want and who you are now. You are not a bad person, Evie."

She cracked a smile. It meant very much for her to hear this from someone who she knew meant it. He had seen her mind, if anyone knew it, it was him. "I am not going to read your mind without your permission again, and should you decide we should give it a go, then just say a word and I will stop immediately."

Evie nodded. "Let's do it."

Charles beamed. "Fantastic. Would you like to start now?"

"If you have time." Evie finished her tea and brought the cup to the sink.

"We should go somewhere more private though, I don't want anyone to walk in. Let's go to my room."

Charles tried to make the situation as comfortable as possible for Evie, because he knew that what she was about to experience would probably scare her. It won't be much fun, anyhow.

Evie sat on the couch in his room, legs crossed and watched him as he explained what he would do. "As I said, I will stop immediately when something's off. Just relax yourself, it will be easier for both of us then."

She nodded. "Alright."

"Alright." He sat down next to her. She turned to him and switched her position so that she sat cross-legged. He as well sat with one leg under him so that he could look her in the eyes. Charles lifted his hand to his head and touched his temple with his index and middle, as he always did.

"Are you ready?" Evie nodded.

They were looking at a big world map, some areas were painted in different colours and patterns. Evie was standing next to her father as they listened for their next instructions. "Oh, and Clarke." The man was addressing her father, they never really talked to her directly. "I want you and your daughter there as well. There she will prove if she's worthy of becoming a full-fledged member."

"Of course, Mr Schmidt. Just say the word and she will do whatever you want." Schmidt looked pleased at him and then at his daughter.

"That will be all, then. Hail Hydra!"

"Hail Hydra!"

Schmidt left the room and so did most of the other members.

"Have you understood everything he wants you to do?", Evie's father asked. She nodded and played with the hem of her clothing.

"But, Dad?"

"Yes?" He waited for her to continue but it took her a lot of courage to speak of her concerns.

"I am not sure if I want to do it."

Her father had been prepared for her worries. She had showed more doubts than usual lately. "My dear, we have been waiting for this chance all this time, you can't back away now. Don't you want to make me proud?"

A pained expression made its way on her face. "But it has never been about killing someone." Her father exhaled deeply. "Alright dear, come with me."

They were in a dark, terrifying room. In the middle of it, Evie could see a chair with a lot of strange apparatuses to it.

She somehow felt like she had been there before, but she couldn't really remember it.

"Sit down", her father said and led her to the chair. She didn't question her father, she never really did, so she sat down.

Other men were coming into the room. Two of them were tying her wrists and ankles to the chair as her father told her to calm down. He pressed her upper body back and put something between her teeth. Her hands began to tremble. Something cool was brought down to her face and an agonising pain spread through her body.

Evie jumped and dragged whatever had touched her to the ground.

Charles had seen the pain in her memories before her and wanted to soothe her, so he laid his hand calmingly on her arm.

He should have figured that she would react that way. She had been raised as a soldier, after all and old habits died hard. Even if they were lost in subconsciousness.

Charles now found himself on the ground, between coffee table and couch, hands wrapped tightly around his throat and a body pressing him down. "Evie, it's me", he choked out.

Realisation made itself visible on her face and she winced back. "I'm so, so sorry." She leaned back against the wall and avoided his eyes. "It's nothing, don't worry about me. Are you alright?"

She nodded slightly. "I think so. I think I remember more than ... whatever that just was, I just ... I can't get it together."

"May I help you?", Charles asked. Evie nodded her consent. He again touched his temple and reached into her mind. Calming her, he tried to organise the images as best as he could.

"At least we know now that I wasn't the cold blooded killer I feared I was." Charles cracked a smile for her.

"What they did to you is awful."

She didn't say anything and he wasn't sure what else to add, so they sat there for a few moments in silence. Looking at the clock, she quickly stood up. "We should go to dinner now."

Charles stood up as well. "Go ahead, I'll join you there." He smiled sympathetically at her as she left his room.

He felt pity for her, she was a lost soul, her character had been broken several times. He just hoped she decided to stay with them. Charles was sure they would be able to cheer her up, give her a family that they all needed, actually. Then there was Raven, she made him worry as well. Her latest concerns about her body were gnawing on him because he had initiated them. But he had seen the way she had looked at Hank earlier, maybe he could help her getting more comfortable with her body.

And thankfully she wouldn't try to hit on him out of desperation now. It was just that he couldn't think of her that way, she was his sister, it just felt wrong. Maybe that was why he had problems with seeing her naked. He just felt responsible for her.

He shook his head and adjusted his clothes to leave for dinner.

Evie had overheard the conversation between Hank, Raven and Erik and waited at the door to which the latter was heading now.

"Now, that was mean", Evie said. Erik huffed as he walked past her.

"But I agree with you. They shouldn't wish to hide themselves."

Erik didn't say anything, but stopped a second in his track, however. He continued on his way then.

A moment later, Raven came towards her. She seemed annoyed, to say the least. "Don't say a thing."

Evie had actually wanted to talk with her about her body issues, but she saw that this was probably not the best situation. She made a mental note to herself that she would approach Raven about that topic anytime soon, however. Hank seemed to be a nice guy, but he shouldn't support Raven's insecurities.

Evie followed Raven to the dining room.