Maybe I deserve this. Maybe what I did was wrong, but I just wanted to keep them alive. Maybe I was wrong, maybe I was lying to myself.

I tore myself from their lives and Charles never got over it. I guess Raven didn't either because now she's some kind of assassin. Is that what you call her, an assassin? When I left she was just a kid, but imagine the things she's seen. The things I tried to shield her from, but it's better this way. I just hope that my friend is still in there, and of course I hope her reaction is better than Charles reaction.

Ugh anything is better than his reaction!

His reaction was horrible, it was good at first, but I think it just took a few minutes for everything to sink in. Why did it have to be like this? I thought he would be happy to see me, maybe was gone too long, or maybe I made the wrong decision.

Honestly why did I do this, it wasn't just because he would die. I think deep down it was something else, something more selfish.

Sea spray misted over my face as I ran through the ocean. Wind tore at my hair, making me wish that I had something to pull it back with, then again I should worry more about how much longer I can keep the running up. I was starting to get tired, and what I was wearing was weighing me down. I was still wearing the security guard uniform, which is probably another stupid thing, but when I get there I will find a better outfit. Plus now that I have telepathy again I can influence what people are seeing.

Ugh yet another thing I did wrong. Why did I have to take his power? Why did I have to piss him off even more? Then again I really needed his powers, but it probably made it so much worse. Why is my life this twisted?

Then again, his life is even more twisted than when I left. He gave up his powers because of me! I left and the pain became too much and now...

I will get through this, and I will pull him through with me.

I was making good time, and I knew that soon I would be on land and zooming towards Paris. But what would happen when I got there was fuzzy. Still trying to figure everything out. Honestly I'm more worried about Trask getting me again. I'm not going back to that cell, and neither is Raven.

When I finally got to Paris, I easily found where the meeting was going on. And I must say that Trask got a good crowd. As I walked down the street many people stared at me. It could be because I didn't have any shoes. I had to leave them behind before I left because they were much too big to run in.

Okay so maybe even I can't rock this look...

The security guard uniform was ripped and I had lost a lot of the gadgets that had hung on the belt. More importantly the gun, which I wished I had so that I could keep a low profile on my powers.

I passed a shop window, promoting the newest fashion and sighed.

I have no money, how am I going to get clothes...Oh wait.

I face palmed and remembered that I could run faster than anyone else and that I could just take what I wanted.

But what should I wear? Something I can run in, something that won't blow around when I run. Then again I could just get something absolutely fabulous and figure it out later...

I looked at the boots in the window. They were black and laced up the front tightly. I used to have a pair just like them, a long time ago. I quickly ran into the store then out into an alley. I laced them up, admiring them. They were firm on my feet, but not so much that I couldn't run if I needed to.

So how about a nice dress, nah. I need something I can run in.

I stalked into a different store admiring the styles, of the clothes. The saleswoman was eyeing me the entire time, judging my outfit.

Honestly I don't blame her. I look like a hobo, but a very cute hobo.

While I was inside, a woman walked in her hair pulled back into a severe bun. Her fingernails were perfectly clipped and her shoes shining in the light. She was wearing a military uniform, a hat rested under her arm. I quickly ducked behind a mannequin.

A plan began to form in my head, as I watched her roam through the store. She didn't buy anything, but instead stomped out the door. I followed her silently, out the door and down the street. The pavement was hot, burning my feet.

Ow, ow, ow. Hot, hot, hot.

She didn't turn around, just continued to stride confidently down the street. I could see an alley approaching ahead of us.

I put the idea in her mind to turn right down the alley. The cobblestone road beneath our feet became dirty and grimy, finally turning to dirt. She finally turned around and looked at me, taking in my ragged appearance. I took control of her mind and made her undress out of her uniform. I quickly snatched it up, and threw her my old security uniform. She put it on, a glazed look in her eyes. I pulled on the uniform carefully, making sure not to rumple it.

"Now sleep!" I ordered her telepathically.

She dropped to the ground at once, and I didn't bother to catch her. I dragged her into the corner and stuffed a dirty rag into her mouth that I found, and reached through the trash can nearby hoping to find some old rope or something. I manipulated the metal pipes on the wall to break free and wrap around her. No one would find her if they weren't looking for her.

Okay, Erik's power is awesome. Such a great decision to take it.

I blew my hair out of my eyes, then thought better of it, and reached into her hair. I tugged out the hair tie, letting her hair cascade down her shoulders in waves.

I pulled my hair back, relishing how it felt to not have it in my face for once.

I can't remember the last time I had my hair up.

Note to self: Cut hair later.

I took a deep breath, calming my nerves as I stepped back out onto the street. I looked at the stolen watch on my wrist. I had 15 minutes to get to the meeting. I walked down the street confidently, pushing the image of the woman whose clothes I had stolen into the minds around me.

Nobody glanced twice at me, and finally I was in front of the building.

Okay, here goes nothing...

I walked up to the security officer at the door. He immediately stepped aside letting me pass, his hand moving in a salute.

She must be pretty important. I saluted him back and strode down the hall, trying to figure out exactly where I was going. Many people tipped their hats to me politely, but no one spoke.

I started following a dark haired person in front of me. He was medium height, and wore a hat that shaded his face.

I entered his mind, and realized that this man was Raven.

I froze and looked at him. It was the walk that gave it away, a minuscule detail but just enough that you could see it only if you were looking for it, and especially if you knew Raven.

When Raven mimics the outside appearance of someone, she often forgets to change her walk. Which is a weird detail, I know, but Raven has a very distinctive walk. She taps her hand against her thigh when she walks. Which might be a small detail, but every time I know it's her.

I wanted to reach out and hug her. Tell her that I'm right here, tell her that she doesn't have to do this alone.

Because she is not going to kill Trask, I am.

I followed her to the board room upstairs, and sat across the table from her. She eyed me suspiciously, and I saw her sizing me up in her mind.

I chuckled low under my breath and wished that I could tell her who I was. The room was completely filled with men and women all wearing military uniforms, all here to listen to Trask. I started to think about how I would tell her, if I should tell her telepathically.

Just at that moment Trask walked into the room, a young man carried a giant black box behind him. He set it on the table.

White hot rage burned through me as I watched Trask. Nothing would make me happier than to snap his neck right here, but I had to keep my cool. I had to make sure he didn't get me again. Above all I didn't want him to get Raven, her powers are just as exquisite as mine.

Trask launched into his speech about mutants and the genetics behind it. I zoned out, until he started talking about the giant metal robots. A PowerPoint appeared on the board in front of us, showcasing the blueprints for a giant robot.

Well that's not good.

He reached into the box and pulled out a large rectangular remote. It was so big that he used both hands to hold it. He pulled out the antenna slowly.

Okay that's weird.

"This is the processor inside one of my sentinels. It can sense a mutant to up to 5 miles away, and I will activate it to show you." Trask drawled.

Shit.

"Now this is purely a demonstration, and I doubt that the alarm will sound. There aren't any mutants in here, of course." He continued, beginning to walk around the room.

Well not that he knows of.

The young guy in military fatigues stood stoic by the door.

I looked across the table at Raven. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair, I could feel her distress.

Trask flipped the switch on the remote, and it immediately started beeping.

Oh boy. Here we go.

"Wait a minute. It seems that we have a mutant here with us. Well, lets see who it is shall we?" Trask said happily moving around the table towards Raven.

Whispers exploded all over the room, heads turning to their neighbors trying to figure out who it was.

Finally he stopped beside Raven, the remote blaring as loud as it could.

Big surprise...

"Well there must be some mistake." Raven said confidently from her seat.

"My machines don't make mistakes ." Trask taunted moving closer to her.

I saw her swallow.

I heard the man by the door cock his gun.

"No don't shoot it." Trask ordered, a sick smile on his face.

Raven threw her chair back into Trask, knocking him to the floor. She let the facade drop, revealing her true form. The man by the door fired a shot at her.

I caught the bullet mid -air and whipped it back at him. He screamed in pain as it sunk deep into his shoulder.

I jumped to my feet, throwing my chair into the general behind me drawing his gun. I let go of everyone's minds and let them see who I really was.

Trask stared at me in horror, his face paled.

Raven was in shock. She stopped what she was doing and looked at me.

But now wasn't the time to stop.

I grabbed the guy behind me and slammed him on the table. Raven snapped out of her daze disarming the man beside her and swiping his gun onto the back of his head. I looked at the remaining people in the room all drawing their guns.

"Go to sleep!" I ordered, and the remaining generals slumped into their chairs.

Even I had to admit Raven was a badass. When we trained her technique for fighting had been sloppy, but she had really stepped it up. I was kind of proud actually. Now is probably not the time.

She had a gun in her hand pointed at Trask, but she wasn't looking at him. She was looking at me.

"Andy how are you here?" She shouted.

"You can thank Trask for that. He's kept me in a facility for the past 11 years." I summarized.

Her eyes widened.

"I thought-"

"Yeah I know a lot of people thought I was dead. Trask covered up his tracks well." I responded evenly.

Now wasn't the time for the full story.

"Does Charles know?" She asked.

"Yes, but he's not taking it well." I said slowly.

She rolled her eyes. "Of course he's not, he loved you."

"Now really isn't the time to talk about this. Can we just go?" I responded, motioning to the door.

I saw the young guy in the corner shift his other arm, his gun raised. I flicked my wrist sending he gun spiraling through the air into my hand.

Raven turned back to Trask. I could feel her anger surging through her, any second she would pull the trigger.

"Raven wait-" I started to say.

The doors behind us burst open and Charles, Erik, Logan, and Hank ran inside the room.

It was enough to distract me from the soilder in the corner of the room. Enough to stop me from seeing him pull the taser from his belt and fire a shot at Raven.

"Raven!" I screamed.

She started convulsing, dropping to the floor.

Erik flicked his hand and threw the tasers off Raven and onto the soilder.

He slumped against the door, groaning in pain. I saw Logan look at him, realization dawning on his face, and then he dropped to the ground beside him.

Charles ran to Raven's side, but I ran to Logan's.

Something wasn't right.

He was rolling back and forth on the ground, his claws unsheathed. I planted both of my hands on the sides of his face and attempted to relax his mind, but I only got drawn in.

Memories flashed through him, and a name rolling over and over, Stryker, Stryker, Stryker. Metal bones rising out of his hands, injections, expirementation. Suddenly I saw why he was here, I saw the future he spoke of.

Oh shit.

Metal robots reigned down from the sky in his mind. Mutants were being caged, trampled, exterminated, all around him, but he lived on witnessing it all. This was the future Trask wanted, all of us enslaved, destroyed. I saw myself in his memories, telling him what he had to do, and I understood everything. Why he was here, who he had to save.

And then I saw Charles. Charles in a wheelchair next to Logan, talking to him, crying with him, helping him. Charles and Logan are friends, comrades, and I understood why. Logan is just like me.

He has fought in countless wars, seen death everywhere, and has had to kill to survive. He has lost countless loved ones and friends. He was expiremented on, and betrayed. That's why Charles is close with him, because Logan is me.

I took a deep breath and understood what I had to do. I pulled myself gently out of his mind. I pulled the tasers out of Stryker and let them fall to the floor.

Charles was still with Raven, holding her, but Erik was standing over them, a gun raised.

"Erik, what are you doing?" Charles shouted, suddenly angry.

"What I have to." He responed solemnly.

Raven shot away from Charles and ran towards the window. She jumped through glass going in every direction.

Erik shot the gun, the bullet flying through the air. I tried to misdirect it away from Raven, but it just hit lower than Erik had aimed.

Charles jumped to his feet and moved towards Erik, trying to stop him, but Erik pushed him away and threw himself out the window after Raven.

I helped Charles to his feet.

"Andromeda I-" He began to say.

"Charles now is not the time." I clipped letting go of him and running to the window.

I looked below, and saw Erik using the metal bullet in Raven's leg to drag her towards him slowly.

"Erik please." Raven pleaded, desperately trying to reason with him.

"This is the only way to spare the future." Erik said calmly.

I launched myself out the window twisting mid-air and landing between Erik and Raven. He let go of her leg and focused on me.

"I've given you too many chances Erik." I taunted, manipulating the metal fence behind him to ensnare him.

It's not like it will hold him for that long.

"Raven get out of here." I whispered to her. "I will find you later okay?"

She nodded and limped into the crowd, blending in with everyone else.

A large crowd was surrounding us and I could see the flash of the cameras around us.

Well I guess mutants are out in the open now...

"Andromeda why don't you just stay dead?" Erik seethed.

The metal fountain next to me began to tremble.

I sighed.

To be fair at the moment I wish I had stayed dead too.

The fountain suddenly whirled up in a chair of metal and threw itself at me. I caught it in the air in front of me, the metal spike brushing up against the front of my hands.

Okay that was close.

I could feel Erik's powers pressing against my own, and I knew that I couldn't hold this for long. A wave of weariness washed over me.

I took a deep breath, and tried to concentrate.

This is not going to work, there's no way I can take him. Okay new plan.

I sent a psychic blast at Erik, making his concentration lapse. The metal spike fell to the ground, with a large smack.

I allowed my remaining energy to wrap around me, protecting me. I felt my eyes shift to gold as I launched myself at Erik.

He was still clutching his head in pain, reeling from my psychic attack.

I grasped him around the neck, raising him into the air. Fear was shining on his face, thrumming through his veins.

I felt the metal spike pierce my body, a white hot poker of pain flooded through me, but I didn't care.

I laughed and used one hand to pull the spike from my side.

"Erik you have to figure out that that's not going to work." I sang, taunting him.

He swallowed, anger flashing in his eyes.

"Andromeda don't kill him." I heard Logan shout.

I turned and looked at him.

"Why not?" I demanded.

"He needs to be alive in the future, without him there is no future." Logan explained.

I growled, but slowly released Erik. My energy was fading fast, weariness settling over me. I had used my powers so much today and I was still recovering, but I had to find Raven.

Charles was standing with Hank a few feet away. He was staring at me sadly and I knew he was sorry, but right now I had to make sure that Raven was okay. I

"I'm going to go get Raven, Charles. I promise I'll come back." I told him and ran quickly in the direction she had gone.

I found her easily, with my telepathy. She was holed up in an old apartment building, in an old area of Paris.

I pushed the door in front of me open slowly, leaning on the wood.

"Raven?" I called out.

She was on me in a flash pulling me into a hug.

"I thought I lost you forever Andy. I'm so happy that you are here" She mumbled into my shoulder.

"Me too." I said hugging her back.

She let go of me and began steering me to the worn out couch in the corner.

I took two steps towards the couch, but dizziness settled over me, my vision began swimming in black. The floor came up swiftly to catch me.