Another update for you guys~ Hey, hey~ Just a shoutout for all you followers, favoriters, and reviewers. I never expected this story to get the reaction it got. So really, thanks guys. ^-^

And to Anon again, thank youuuu! I was really hoping not to come off as rude in my previous reply. I felt like I was, idk. And don't worry about the super long review, it's enjoyable to read~ On another note, you guys are just on point, aren't you? You guests, and anons, and people with accounts. Your predictions may or may not be correct~ But it's certainly close.

Oh, and question. Anyone know how long DOFP is set after First Class? Is it 10 years? I feel like it's 10 years. Idk why. Anyone got a final answer?

The next morning, the group got dressed and gathered at breakfast, aware of the strange absence of Hank. Even if he always stayed cooped up in that lab, he always ate together with everyone. Amaya glanced over to Raven to see if she knew anything, but she was just as confused. Did it have anything to do with what happened last night between them? Unlike before, the girl was now in her natural blue form. Of course, the others were surprised at first, but it wasn't like they truly minded. That made Amaya smile. Nevertheless, they still continued on and had a quick breakfast. Time was of the essence and they had to get moving as soon as possible. As soon as everyone was done, they had all gone up to the lab to see what was wrong with Hank.

Charles paused outside the door, taking the note off of the wood.

Gone to the airbase, bring the crate marked X.

Hank

He hesitantly opened the door, completely taken back by what was behind it. Charles carefully made his way through as everyone took in the scene. The room was a complete wreck, everything was broken, tables overturned. The furniture was in pieces and the equipment shattered. Papers were everywhere. It was as if some rampaging beast tore through the place. Was Hank okay?

"What the hell happened here?" Erik asked, glancing around.

Raven visibly stiffened. Something had obviously gone wrong, and she had a feeling she knew what. Amaya took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She didn't know what was wrong, but she knew that Raven needed the support at the moment.

Charles merely glanced back at them and shrugged before continuing to the crate on the other side of the room with a duct taped 'X' on it.

"What happened?" Amaya whispered to Raven as they made their way over.

"Hank... He made this... This serum," she replied quietly. "Something went wrong..."

Amaya glanced over to the pile of indistinguishable objects that used to be lab equipment. "Very wrong."

They gathered at the now opened crate and peered inside, surprised at the contents. Erik smirked to himself. "Hank has been busy."

"Just look at them..." Amaya reached in, taking one of the yellow and blue suits and felt the fabric before looking at the slip of paper pinned onto it. "There's one for each of us."

"Do we really have to wear these?" Alex asked.

"As none of us mutated to endure extreme g-force or being riddled by bullets, I suggest we suit up," Charles replied.

Amaya put the suit back in the crate and smirked at Alex. "Don't worry, Havok. I bet you'll look absolutely dashing in it."

"Oh shut up." He rolled his eyes and got ready to help the other men carry it.

"Wait, wait! I want to try something," Amaya quickly cut in.

Charles raised an eyebrow. "What do you want to try?"

"This." She placed a hand on the smooth top of the object and focused. Her eyes darkened and the shadows around the crate curled around it until it completely swallowed it and disappeared. She grinned at its success.

Erik blinked. "What did you just do?"

"I shadow traveled it to the truck. It should be there... Or in the tree next to it. Either or."

Sean whistled. "Can you do that with people too?"

She scratched the back of her head. "And get them there alive and in one piece? Not really... The shadows would tear at their mind and render them in need of help. Objects they couldn't care less."

Raven laughed. "How long have you been able to do that?"

"About a day, in all honesty. Still working out the kinks."

"Still full of surprises, love." Charles slipped her hand in his. "Let's not keep Hank waiting."

They continued on outside, the mood slightly lighter than it was before, but the seriousness remained. Now they were worried about Hank too. What had happened there wasn't something to just ignore. Sure enough, when they got to the truck, the crate was already there in the back, off to one of the walls and out of the way. Amaya grinned even wider and got in at the fact that it was a success. Charles chuckled and got into the front with Erik and Moira, taking the driver's seat while the rest got in the back with Amaya.

The hanger wasn't too far from the mansion, so it didn't take long to get there. As soon as they did, they took their respective suits and went to change. Amaya, Raven, and Moira changed in the truck while the guys changed elsewhere.

"You know what I wonder? How Hank even got our measurements. I mean, these fit. Well," Amaya commented, fixing the fabric around her arms.

Moira nodded in agreement. "Though, Raven. You can transform into anyone. Did you help him?"

Raven transformed into Amaya in response, copying the girl's movement. "Mhm, but I wasn't really sure what kind of suits he was making," she said in Amaya's voice.

The girl grinned. "That's the first I've ever seen me before. That's fuckin awesome. Hey, hey, do this." She blinked and her eyes were surrounded by black.

Raven's eyes flashed yellow for a moment before copying her.

"Oh sweetie, why have we never had some fun with this? I wanna try something..."

.:-:-:.

The guys waited outside of the truck impatiently. Of course, they'd gotten dressed fairly quickly. There were only three girls after all, what was taking them all so long? It wasn't like they had to get their hair and make up ready or something. They were going to stop Shaw, not a ball. Finally, one of them hopped out of the truck.

"Finally, Amaya," Alex sighed. "What takes so long?"

She snickered. "Shut it. Lookin' sexy there, Havok."

He rolled his eyes. "Where's Raven and Moira? Come on."

"Someone's getting antsy," she commented, moving to Charles' side. She smiled and wrapped an arm around him. "Hey."

"Raven, where's Amaya?" he asked.

She raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"I think I would know my girlfriend, Raven."

She sighed and stepped back, transforming into her normal blue form. "Jig's up, Amaya. We didn't even last a minute!"

"Seriously?" The real Amaya hopped out with Moira trailing behind. "I thought we would've at least made it to the jet."

"What made you think you'd be able to fool me, love?" Charles chuckled, pulling Amaya to him.

She grinned back. "Because we've never done that whole twin switch thing and we just remembered to do it now. How'd you know it was Rae and not me?"

"She missed that tattoo on your neck," he said as if it were obvious. "It's a birthmark, isn't it?"

Amaya smiled. She never expected him to notice that, she made sure to hide it often anyway, whether under make up or hidden with her hair. "Strange birthmark, but it's not uncommon for mutants to have."

Charles smiled back for a moment before turning to the rest of them and nodding. They walked over to where a large, black aircraft was, an exact copy of the one they saw in the CIA facility, only it was life size. They lined up next to it and waited, glancing around for any sign of Hank if anything. Nothing. No Hank. Not even anything that indicated he was even ever there. He said he had gone to the air base, so where was he?

"Where's Hank?" Raven asked, voicing everyone's thoughts.

Before anyone could reply, a large figure came into view. "I'm here," it said, the voice familiar. The figure was far too large to be Hank, yet... It was. The voice was unmistakeable, but the silhouette looked nothing like him. The closer he got, the more their eyes widened. Not only was he large, but he was blue and his skin was covered in fur. Yet he still donned his glasses. "It didn't attack the cells. It enhanced them. It didn't work."

"Yes, it did, Hank. Don't you see?" Raven gave him a small smile. "This is who you were meant to be. This is you. No more hiding."

"You never looked better, man." Erik lightly hit his arm. Almost instantly, Hank's arm shot out and he gripped Erik's throat tightly with a threatening roar.

"Hank-" Charles warned.

He merely growled at Erik. "Don't mock me!"

"Hank, put him down immediately," he said as Erik wheezed to get air into his lungs. "Hank- Hank!"

Finally, he released him and Erik fell to the ground, gripping his throat. "I wasn't," he breathed, giving him a look.

"Even I got to admit you look pretty badass," Alex said. "I think I got a new name for you. Beast."

"Rockin' that blue, Hank," Amaya commented with a grin.

Sean looked up at the plane in front of them warily. "You're sure you can fly this thing?"

"Of course I can. I designed it."

Alex looked at him, impressed, and whistled. "Damn, Hank. You made these suits, you made the plane... Not such a bozo anymore, Beast."

"Let's get on the plane, it's already begun," Hank replied, heading towards the open entrance.

The inside of the plane was as impressive, if not twice as impressive as the outside. There were enough seats for everyone and it was so advanced for the time. Hank had installed several gadgets, most of which they didn't even know, but he had no problem using it at all. Hank took his seat as pilot, starting up the engine. Everyone else sat along the walls of the plane where their seats were lined.

"Why is it always me who gets choked?" Erik grumbled, taking a seat next to Raven.

"Maybe it's because you're infuriating," Amaya laughed.

Erik shot her a look which only made her laugh even more. "Amazing. Even in the face of impending danger, you seem not to care. Everyone else is at least nervous or freaking out."

"Oh sweetie, I care. I'm freaking out inside. The fact that I'm so calm just proves it."

"Everyone seated and ready?" Hank called from the cockpit.

Charles took a quick glance around and seeing that everyone was buckled in, nodded. "Ready."

The plane began take off, Moira began to flip different switches and push certain buttons, working with communications. Amaya rested her hand on top of Charles', taking a deep breath. She never liked flying, which is why she always made sure she was knocked out if and when they ever had to take a plane before. Of course, she'd had no luck recently with that, not only with the plane they took to meet the CIA, but also this one. She was sure she couldn't and wouldn't be able to sleep for this ride. Unfortunately. Feeling her apprehension, Charles turned his hand to meet hers and interlocked their fingers, giving her hand a squeeze. She glanced at him with a small smile which he returned.

"We'll be okay."

"I just hope so." The uneasy feeling she felt the night before had only grown stronger since then. She didn't say anything, not wanting to worry them. She took another shaky breath and rested her head against Charles' shoulder, shutting her eyes. She shouldn't focus about that now. She focused on calming herself down, despite the impending storm she knew they were flying into.

Who's excited for that beach scene, guys? I know I am, even though I know what's going to happen and how things are gonna play out. Shhh.