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Tailing Mutants

Erik felt ambushed. He had been especially chosen to be part of an elite group of cops for a covert mission. They were to trace, find, but not kill, the impersonator. It was a fantastic chance to prove his abilities but the mission itself did not have his approval. And Charles? What would he have to say about it? The briefing had been filled with nonsense about mutants. They supposedly ate children to increase their strength. They hated cops and soldiers—this was likely true—and skinned them when captured to use their skin as wallpaper—blatantly false as far as Erik was concerned. The raging anger in his fellow cops increased the anger inside himself. He should join this team. If he would be the one to find this mutant, who could or could not be Raven, he might be able to help.

Meanwhile, Charles was being followed by another mutant. She resented it very much but had promised Mystique that she would. Another telepath, just like herself. Emma resented this even more: she preferred being special. She had been working with Mystique on and off; they both liked to carve their own destinies and didn't take orders too well, but so far their cooperation had been useful. On the larger operations, it was nice to know there was back-up. Emma was itching to read him, this Charles Xavier. Mystique was delighted to have traced him and would already have made contact, but for herself. Emma didn't trust him. Mystique's feelings were based on an friendship long ago which very well could have clouded her judgment. Just because he was a friendly kid at the time, didn't mean he would be an ally now. He worked for the DA for God's sake! He could have been responsible for the conviction of many mutants only to save himself! So Emma had talked her 'round. They would follow Charles, see what he was like, before making any kind of contact. Emma longed to read his mind, but had to be careful not to be found out herself.


"You have been asked to capture the impersonator?" Charles asked surprised. "What did you say?"

"I, I, well, I thought it over and agreed." Erik replied hesitantly. "It's pretty much a promotion and a very important case."

"It could put you in the lime light though…" Charles mused, "and could potentially reveal our relationship…"

"How so? I don't see how that would be possible. I thought you would have been upset about, well, your childhood friend…" He let it hang in the air, anxiously awaiting Charles' response.

The minefield again. Charles sighed. How could he explain this to Erik without revealing anything? Maybe they should have the mutant discussion; see what they both really thought…

"What do you think of what she is doing? If it is her?" he answered, posing the dangerous question.

"Me? I'd like to know what you think? She was your friend…?" Erik's eyes seemed cold and angry. Charles didn't know what to make of it.

He decided to stay as neutral as he could. "Her ability to impersonate could potentially be very dangerous, however, she has, as far as we know, only used it to advance mutant rights. Impersonating officials and influential people to give credit to her ideas."

"You're saying you don't think she is a threat?" Erik was amazed at this sudden change of heart. Surely Charles the righteous—his private nickname from the early days of their acquaintance which Charles was fortunately oblivious to—would want justice to prevail.

"Not really. She could be a hell of a lot more of a threat than she is…"

"You're a bit flaky here, Charles," Erik teased him. "This is not the Charles I know… A different rule because she was a friend at one time?"

Charles looked relieved. "Yes, I suppose you could say that. That isn't too strange, now is it? I find it hard to imagine her as something evil and threatening…"

"It shows you do have a heart underneath that law book of a mind of yours…" Erik grinned.

"Oh, you of all people should know I have a heart…" Charles pretended to be offended. "You'll have to make it up to me!"

"Really? How? What do you have in mind?"

"Well, we could…." He whispered into his ears.

"Sounds good to me... Why don't we start right now?"


Emma could see the curtains being closed from outside. He sure knew how to have fun, this Charles. With a man, no less. She giggled; Mystique didn't know anything about this for sure.. She wondered if it would shock her. The man might become a complication though… However, she could… The chances of him being a telepath were non-existent anyway…

What she saw in Erik's mind showed that he wasn't a telepath. He was a mutant, a very angry one. And he didn't know Charles was one either. So two more loners.. even in their relationship. Emma felt bitter. They had found someone to be with, someone of their own kind, and were still unable to be free and happy. She hated this society that made them this way. Always alone, on one's guard. Isolated, even when dating or making love.

Emma had been lonely her whole life. Fortunately, she was tough. She didn't care much for anyone, human and mutant alike, though she fought for the latter, but her careful, uneasy, and delicate friendship with Mystique had given her a glimpse of what it could be like. To be friends with someone. It was sure powerful, powerful and dangerous…


"They are coming after you… You should call it off." Emma warned Mystique. Her trip in Erik's mind had told her about the special efforts to find Mystique. They were meeting in an old abandoned factory amidst old and broken machinery and water puddles from the leaky roof.

"I'll be fine. This is the biggest one yet!" Mystiques eyes were wide with pleasure at the thought.

Emma found her eyes fascinating: Mystique's body was unapologetic. She looked like a mutant, except in disguise. For Emma, it was the other way around. She looked like the perfect beauty queen, blond, pretty, and conventional. Emma hated it. She could use it—and did—she could make men drool if she wished, but preferred her diamond form. Her real personality. The one that showed her capabilities. She didn't need any weapons as her body was a perfect weapon in itself.

"Just think about it." Mystique continued. "Their very own President declaring mutants as allies." Her face altered into the president's and so did her voice. "Decreeing their release from bondage! It will be a blast!"

Emma wasn't so sure. It sounded too difficult, too risky. She was all for risk-taking but not for suicide missions… "Just be careful. You want to be alive and kicking if you want to reunite with this Charles fellow…" Mystique's face changed again but not before she mocked Emma with her stuck-out tongue.

"He has a friend you said? A mutant too? What does he do?" Mystique sat down on a rusty chair and took a drink out of her bag. This had been her hide-out. Nothing too fancy but definitely of the radar. Emma did not envy her accommodations. She had a travelling life herself, from hotel to hotel, and only the better ones at that.

"I'm not sure. Something to do with metal…"

"Fascinating. We're so diverse; no wonder they have difficulties tracing us." Her eyes glinted as she swallowed the first sip of her drink.