Hey all! Welcome to the revised edition of my story The Problem with Invisible Mutations. If you've been keeping up with the story thus far (and I hate to do this again), I'd suggest you re-read it. Some important changes have been made. These changes affect the development of the story as a whole. I really want to make sure I'm putting my best work out there, so that's why I keep revising. A massive thank you to all those who put in the time and effort to read my story. You all motivate me to keep writing.
Joanna, Charles, Erik, and Angel, hopped out of the standard issue black car. They had returned to the facility. The ride back from "the club", was well spent by Charles's standards. He had utilized the time to explain their mission directive and goals to Angel, even though she didn't seem all that interested. Joanna wondered what the two could have possibly said to convince her to join them.
Charles had ushered Angel inside within a matter of seconds. He was already describing Hank and Raven, and how she was bound to get on with them swimmingly.
It was just Joanna and Erik, again. The two of them also headed inside, in silence.
Joanna paused in the doorway.
"Err, I guess I should be giving you your jacket back? Wait right here!"
Before he could even reply, she hurried off to get it. She had left it on a coat hanger...somewhere, before the meeting.
Locating the jacket, she headed back toward Erik, bumping into several obstacles on her way. She wasn't sure why, but she was glad he decided to stay. Still, his actions earlier were a tad unnerving. Kind, but unnerving.
"Here," she returned the jacket with a sheepish smile. "Thank you, for... everything last night."
He took it and nodded, heading toward one of the facility's many endless hallways. He turned around after a moment, just as Joanna was about to walk in the other direction.
"I should be thanking you."
Her eyes grew wide and if it was even possible, she was sure her jaw had dropped to the floor. Erik Lensherr was by far the most emotionally unaffected person she had ever met, and he had just thanked her.
By the time she had recovered enough to ask what for, he was gone.
"Remind me again, why are we taking a cab to the airport, only to be driven back to base in another cab, again? Forgive me, but this seems rather pointless."
Charles rolled his eyes.
"How many times do I have to tell you, love. Our next recruit is a cab driver. What better way to connect with him on than on the job? Besides, It'll be a long drive back to Virginia. Plenty of time to discuss our goals for this little operation with him. Wouldn't you say Erik?"
The man to her left nodded. He was much too absorbed in his book, The Origin of Species, to pay attention to the conversations of his companions.
Joanna sighed. Erik was going to be of absolutely no help in this situation.
"Charles, I'm only going to say this once more. There is an easier way to do this."
"Well, love, the easiest way isn't always the right way."
And that was that. Some three hours later, Joanna, Charles, and Erik found themselves waiting on sidewalk about ten blocks away from the airport, they had just left. Charles had narrowed down the time (within near minutes) when the particular cab driver would pass their location. Somehow, his mental powers allowed his to figure out the cabbies route.
"Are planning to tell us what he looks like?"
Erik finally broke the comfortable silence, with much to Joanna's relief, logic. Their unofficial leader had told them next to nothing about their newest potential recruit.
"Everything will be revealed in time."
Erik rolled his eyes.
"You know your attempts to be mysterious will only hinder our progress."
Charles snorted.
"That's ironic, coming from you and all."
"I really hate to interrupt your lover's quarrel, but I think that might be our man."
Joanna was pointing to a young man who had just stepped out of a parked cab. His ears were large, synonymous to those of… a jack rabbit.
"Ah! You found him. Excellent work, Jo!"
Charles stepped forward eagerly. Joanna stuck out her arm to stop him.
"Before we proceed, what exactly are his abilities?"
Erik looked at her critically.
"Does it matter?"
"No, not really. But, I don't see how abnormally large ears will help us defeat Shaw. No one who can't protect themselves, should have to risk their life."
"Trust me, the extent of Armando's abilities extend far beyond large ears."
"Do you want to recruit him or not?"
"Well of course! Why do you ask?"
Charles seemed confused by Erik's question, which was really more of a statement. Then again, so was everything else Erik said.
"Because he's about to drive away."
"Why didn't you say anything earlier?"
Charles suddenly began waving his arms up in a ridiculous manner, simultaneously calling out "Taxi!".
"Calm down! He's the only cabbie on the block. He's practically bound to see us," Joanna chided.
Sure enough, the long-eared man turned the cab around and pulled up to their location, sans the ears. He rolled down the front window and peered out of his car, giving them a warm smile. His ear had returned to an average size.
"So, where can I take you three today?" He asked as they got into the car.
"Richmond, Virginia please," Erik replied.
The driver frowned.
"Right. So you want like an airport, station, what?"
"We were rather hoping you could take us all the way."
This time, Charles was the one to reply.
"I would give us plenty of time to talk," Erik added.
He flipped the toll fare lever downward. His face held an expression of surprise, but it soon gave way to a smile.
"So y'all are different too?"
Joanna shot him an apologetic smile.
"Damn! I thought I was the only one. This is grea-"
Charles quickly cut him off.
"Well, Armando is it?"
Armando nodded.
"How'd you know that, man?"
"Allow me to explain. You are not the only mutant alive, as you previously thought. There are many others out there, Armando, like you, and me. That's why we want to talk to you."
Charles stuck out his hand for the other man to shake.
"Charles Xavier. I'm what you might call a telepath. And these are my friends Erik Lensherr and Joanna Storm. has a certain affinity for metal and Ms. -Agent-Storm has a knack for disappearing. They're very curious about your mutation."
"So that's what it is then, a mutation?"
"The scientifically correct term, yes," Joanna answered.
"Whoa. Anyway, you guys seem to already know my name, so yeah. I basically just change in order to better suit my surroundings?"
"Interesting," Erik murmured.
"Well, unless you two have any more questions for Armando, here, we'd better head back to Virginia."
Armando whipped around to look the telepath in the eye.
"Wait! You were serious?"