"Welcome to my facility. My mission has been to investigate the application of paranormal powers in military defense." The man with glasses said.

He won't tell us his name because it breeches "national security". I think it's because he doesn't want to tell us his name is Francis.

"Or offense." Erik said.

I was holding Charles's hand tightly, afraid to let go. Something about this place is unsettling. Charles seemed to sense my uneasiness, because he didn't let go.

"Everything is going to be okay." He said telepathically. I nodded.

"I hope so. I'm having flashbacks." I replied.

"I won't let anything happen to you!"

"Usually that's my line." I said unable to contain my smile.

"There it is."

"There what is?"

"Your amazing smile." He pinched my chin. I smiled wider and looked up at the massive jet hanging above our heads.

"This guy, Shaw, Schmidt, whatever you want to call him, he's working with the Russians. We might need your help to stop him." The man with glasses continued, oblivious to Charles and my conversation.

"Marvelous! So we are to be the CIA'S new mutant division, yes?" Charles exclaimed excitedly.

"Something like that." The man replied. Charles began admiring the jet as well.

"It's supersonic. The most advanced plane ever built. You should see it in real life, it's incredible!" A voice said. I looked away from the ship, towards the voice. A tall brown haired guy was standing a few feet away. He was wearing a white lab coat, and was staring at us through black glasses. He was obviously nervous, slouching slightly, holding his arms at his sides awkwardly.

Wow even his voice sounds nerdy.

"Hank, these are the special new recruits I was telling you about." The man with glasses paused, considering his next words. He turned to us. "This is Hank Mccoy, one of our talented young researchers." I looked at Hank closely. A bright golden aura was shimmering beneath his skin.

Yep, definitely mutant. I'll say about class one. Maybe extreme intelligence? Definitely smart, but something else. I looked closer noticing how Hank shifted from foot to foot as if anxious, almost as if his shoes were uncomfortable. Oh, it's his feet isn't it? I looked into his mind confirming my suspicions. Well, at least half of his mutation. Wow this is exciting, I met a guy with super feet, Yippee. I smiled at looked at Charles.

"What?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"He's a mutant." I replied rolling my eyes.

"Really?"

"Can't you hear it?" Charles looked at Hank, his face scrunched it concentration. A wide smile broke out across his face. I saw what he was going to do too late. "Charlie don't" I thought trying to stop him. He stepped forward, towards Hank.

"How wonderful! Another mutant already here!" He grasped Hank's hand tightly and shook it firmly. He turned to look at the man with glasses. "Why didn't you say?" The man with glasses was obviously confused. A stupid look clouded his face.

Honestly what's new.

Charles sighed. "Because you don't know. Hank I am so terribly sorry."

I face palmed. Now he has manners. "Charlie just you can't just do that. Just because you know something, doesn't mean you just blurt

it out." I scolded him telepathically. Charles rolled his eyes at me.

"Hank?" The man with glasses questioned.

"You didn't ask, so I didn't tell." Hank said sheepishly, bowing his head shyly.

"So your mutation is what? You're super smart?" Raven asked stepping out from behind Erik. Hank's eyes widened as he looked at her. I saw his thoughts drift to how beautiful she was.

Oh brother. Yet another suitor. How exciting!

"I'll say. Hank here graduated Harvard at the age of 15." Charles said scanning his mind further.

"I wish that's all it was." Hank said quietly.

And so humble. What a keeper.

"You're among friends now Hank. You can show off." Charles said excitedly.

Hank reached down and removed his shoes and socks, unveiling his feet. Now that's a power that I don't envy. Instead of having normal feet on the ends of his legs, he had what looked like hands. That's just too weird.

Hank moved around us. "I'm sorry." He said as he pushed by Raven. He jumped flipping mid-air catching the jet hanging above us hanging on by his feet. "Ta-da!" He exclaimed smiling. Raven moved closer to him a wide smile on her face.

"You're amazing." She said.

"Really?" He said blushing. His hair was hanging around his head wild. What have we gotten into?

"Why are we waiting out here again?" I asked Charles.

"Because we are waiting for Erik. I know he's going to try to leave." Charles said sighing.

"And why is that a bad thing? I've never felt that much hatred in someone before. The things that Shaw did to him, Charlie, it changes a person, and after me, Erik was his favorite lab rat. Having a person around that has been twisted in that particular way is not a good thing." I said crossing my arms across my chest. The image of the beach flashed through my mind.

"He's gonna get himself killed, and he's a good edition to the team. He needs us Andy." Charles responded, pleading with his eyes

We were leaning against the outside of the facility. Charles dragged me outside to try and stop Erik, who was trying to sneak out quietly with Sebastian Shaw's file.

Honestly, trying to sneak out with 2 telepaths in the area. He really isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

The doors opened and Erik strolled out, passing us quickly. "From what I know about you, I'm surprised you've managed to stay this long." Charles said pushing himself off the wall.

I sighed. "You're such a drama queen Charlie."

"What do you know about me?" Erik asked frowning.

"Everything." Charles said stoically.

"Then you know to stay out of my head." Erik growled out whipping around. I stepped in front of Charles protectively, narrowing my eyes at Erik. He turned to leave once more.

"I'm sorry Erik, but I've seen what Shaw did to you. I've felt your agony, I can help you." Charles said calmly.

"I don't need your help." Erik spat turning around, his eyes flashing.

I felt my eyes shift to gold. Phoenix was brimming below my skin, begging for a fight. I took a deep breath, gaining control. My eyes shifted back to normal.

Alright fine, maybe we do need him. I'll play nice, for now, and if he double crosses us, I'll just kill him and take his powers.

"Yes you do Erik. You've been on your own for so long. Please, let us help you." I said, trying to calm him down. He pursed his lips. Charles put an

arm around my shoulders and pulled me back a few inches so I was no longer in between them.

"Don't kid yourself. You needed our help last night. It's not just me you're walking away from. Here you have a chance to be apart of something bigger than yourself. We won't stop you. We could, but we won't." Charles turned around and steered us towards the door.

"Shaw's got some friends, you could do with some." I said as Charles and I walked to the doors.

"Do you think that he will stay?" Charles asked me.

"Nope, not a chance."

Charles glared at me. I laughed. "He's going to stay. I know that for sure." I said moving one of my fingers under his chin. "Now, let's see if they

have any Apple Pecan pie here." Charles chuckled and followed me to the cafeteria.

"I call it Cerebro." Hank said leading us up the stairs.

Erik was back, big surprise! Honestly I don't know why Charles doubts me. He knows I can see the future. Maybe he thinks I'm crazy. I am crazy, you would have to be after dealing with my father for so long. Ugh, why is everything so messed up?

Charles and Erik have convinced the man with glasses to let them head up the new mutant division.

Woop-de-Doo! So basically we are all screwed, and the future on the beach is solidifying. Plus, as much as I like playing house, a huge part of me wants to go after my father, and take him down. I sighed.

We were in the installation Hank had made behind the facility, because Hank wanted Charles to test it. Charles like the good sport he is, was more than happy to comply.

He's such an idiot sometimes, well a cute idiot.

"Cerebro, as in the Spanish for brain." Hank said clarifying. He walked over and began fiddling with a very complex technical panel. I looked over at Charles. He had a ridiculous smile on his face, enjoying every second of this. Hank walked over and led Charles over to a marked spot on the floor.

He reached up and pulled down a helmet-like contraption with wires attaching it to the ceiling onto Charles's head.

"Okay so the electrodes connect Charles to the transmitter on the roof. When he picks up a…" He paused clearing his throat. "Mutant, his brain sends a signal through a relay and then coordinates of their location is printed out here."

"You designed this?" Raven exclaimed, her eyes open wide with wonder, absorbing everything in the room around her.

"Yeah." Hank said smiling.

I saw her fascination with Myles completely fizzle out, and then was replaced by a flame that was Hank. Ugh maybe it's the nerd that attracts her. I mean, she has grown up with nerds her entire life. First Charles and then me, yes I am a HUGE nerd, and now Hank.

Charles squirmed under the helmet, trying to get comfortable. He was still smiling.

"What an adorable lab rat you make Charles." Erik said smirking.

Charles rolled his eyes still smiling. "Don't spoil this for me Erik."

"Oh we've been lab rats. We know one when we see one." I said sarcastically to Charles, bumping my hip against his.

"Don't be so sarcastic." He said frowning for a second.

I smirked. "Then don't be so adorable." I said pinching his cheek. He blushed all the way to the roots of his hair.

Damn he's so cute.

"Okay. Great, everything looks good! Are you sure we can't shave your head?" Hank said as he checked all the systems. A steady beeping noise

echoed through the room.

"Don't touch my hair." Charles said quickly. I laughed thinking of Charles's future hair problems to come. Everyone was staring at me like I was crazy.

"You will all get why this is funny later." I said smiling.

"Ooookkkkaayyy." Hank said turning around towards the control panel, flipping a switch. The helmet began to glow. Charles groaned and grabbed the railing in front of him. "It's working!" Hank exclaimed excitedly. Suddenly the machine focused Charles's mind. His eyes widened with knowledge. I reached over and touched Charles's hand where it rested on the railing, attempting to comfort him. I gasped as I was pulled into his thoughts. People flashed by me, different minds, too many! It was overwhelming.

Then I felt them, mutants everywhere, powerful ones, mutants overflowing with power. The phoenix woke up. I could feel her stirring under my skin. Trying to claw her way to the mutants begging me to set her free.

"It would be so easy. The machine prints out exactly where the mutants are. Think about how powerful we would be. Your puny father wouldn't be able to touch us. All you have to do is set me free." She whispered to me. "There is already so much power in this very room. A shapeshifter, a man who can manipulate metal. Let's take their powers and use it to find others. Take the list of locations from the weak one. Then we can leave this wretched place and finally be happy. Just let me have the reins for a little while." I paused watching their faces pass by, all happy, all so full of life. I wanted that, I needed that.

"Yes. We can be happy forever, with all the power in the world. We will be happy just like all of them." She whispered. I pulled myself out of Charles's mind. By now I could see her. She truly is me in everyway. She was glowing brightly under the florescent lights, her hair blazing. She was standing inches away from Charles.

I gritted my teeth. "I don't need you to be happy! I am happy, just the way things are with Charles and Raven."

She threw her head back and laughed. "Oh you're happy now? Pining after a man that will never, ever, feel anything stronger than friendship for you. A man that will never look at you as more than a kooky old friend." She ran one of her hands down Charles's face, caressing his cheek, leaving a trail of gold under the skin of his face. "Just wait until they find out what you really are." She grinned wickedly. "I can't wait to see their faces when they see what you really can do." She sighed and placed a kiss on Charles's cheek. The glow under his skin grew brighter with her every touch.

"You're wrong." I said my anger growing hot. "Stay away from him!"

She laughed loudly, tossing her flaming hair back. "Then why don't you tell them right here, right now." She taunted. "If I'm so wrong, then why wait?"

I bit my lip and shrunk back from Charles, not wanting to touch him. "You are so sad. Instead of embracing your true power you cower away from it. The mundane life you have with Charles and Raven will get boring, and when you finally rip into Charles and Raven I will be there. Face it, you were never meant for the quiet life." She said shaking her head back and forth slowly.

I swallowed, and thought about the plans I had with Adrien.

"See even a life with him would have been mediocre, and besides, you would have gotten bored and then killed him. It's probably a good thing that your dad took him when he did. Adrien was putting too many ideas in your head." She sighed. "Well, ta-ta darling. I do enjoy our little chats." She blew me a kiss and winked before dissolving into thin air.

I could breathe again. I stood there for a minute, watching Charles and Raven. She has a point. Why keep this from them?

Hank picked up the list printing from the machine, and examined it. I helped Charles remove the electrodes from his head and lifted the helmet off of his head.

"You okay in there?" I asked him smiling.

"Yeah, just a little dizzy." He said softly giving me a weak smile. He took a step forward, towards me, and stumbled. I caught him around the waist and held him up. He wrapped one of his arms around my shoulders, using me to stay upright.

"Charlie?" I said. My eyes widened with worry.

"I'm okay." He mumbled into my shoulder. I looked at Hank.

"So now what?" I said easily supporting Charles's weight. "You drain him to find other mutants!" I exclaimed angrily.

I'm such a hypocrite.

"No, it's not like that." Hank sputtered eyes wide.

"Andy, it's fine. I'm fine." Charles slurred. He made a feeble attempt to push me away to try to stand up alone. I gently pushed his hands away and continued to hold on to him. I was afraid to let him go. I took a deep breath.

"So, what do we do now?" I said pulling Charles against me.

"Now we get some friends." Erik said smiling.