February 25, 1974
"I couldn't do anything," Alex said.
Charles sighed and Alex rubbed his temples. The team had arrived in the early hours of the morning. Alex had gone to him for a debriefing while the rest of the team had gone to rest. They had earned it. He'd go over their performance in a few hours.
Carly had hurried to meet Hank and flung herself into his arms. He'd been about as far away from the action as he could be though. Alex had tried to tell her that on the radio, but it appeared that words were trumped by sight.
The same went for Terry. Moira and Charles had stared at the little girl who refused to leave Sean's side, even though he was on a gurney. She'd asked about Black Tom, her expression fearful. He'd told her that she was never going to have to see him again.
She'd asked Alex about Lorna too, and it had taken Alex a few minutes to figure out who Lorna was. Magnetrix. Her real name was Lorna. He'd had to tell her that she'd had to leave before she could say goodbye. He didn't feel like he was up to telling her what had really happened.
"There wasn't much you could do," Charles said, "You say that Raven attacked him suddenly and without warning."
Alex ran a hand through his hair.
"I know," he said, "But…professor, I just feel-"
"There wasn't anything you could do," Charles said, "It's difficult, but sometimes you just have to accept that."
Alex shook his head. Charles cocked his head.
"Alex, this is about more than what happened with Black Tom, isn't it?" he asked.
Alex snorted. He could never get anything past Charles.
"I spent a few days with Magnetrix," he said.
Charles waited and Alex took a deep breath.
"She became a friend."
There was a silence.
"I tried not to," Alex said, miserable, "But it happened anyway."
"And?" Charles asked.
"There's no and," Alex said, "There's just a 'what happens next' that I'm scared of."
"You mean fighting against her," Charles said.
"Exactly," Alex said, "I think…I think I might understand why you still call Magneto and Mystique by their names a little better now."
He clasped his hands together and bowed his head.
"Charles, she was shocked when Mystique killed Black Tom. The expression on her face Charles," Alex said, "I'm never going to forget it. And…the way she talked about things…"
He closed his eyes.
"She's not like the rest," he said.
His breathing became shallow. He didn't want to say the next words that were on his mind, but he had to. Alex didn't like thinking about it.
"There was this one time that I was threatening this man, you know how it is."
Charles nodded, his expression reluctant. Unfortunately they both knew how it could get at times.
"She actually got angry," Alex said, "She didn't like the idea of anyone getting tortured. She was getting ready to stop me when I revealed it was a farce."
There was a long silence.
"Perhaps the Brotherhood is changing," Charles said.
Alex took another deep breath. One of his hands instinctively went to his shoulder. He opened his eyes and removed his hand.
"I'm not sure they have," he said.
"She thinks they have," Charles said.
"Yes, she thinks that," Alex said, "And it's obvious she's devoted to her family. I just wonder…"
He lifted his head.
"I just wonder when she's going to realize that the Brotherhood aren't the good guys," he said.
"You're not going to punish her?" Lorna asked.
Her father frowned. His expression confused her: surely he understood why she was upset. Anyone would be upset about what had happened. They had broken their promise to Alex, had murdered a man in cold blood. Lorna wanted to scream and shout, wanted to hear the people she trusted denounce what had happened.
Instead no one had said anything. Even Angel had seemed unmoved by the events. Her father would understand though. He would see why he had to do something.
"I have punished her," he said.
"No you haven't!" Lorna said.
Her father's frown deepened.
"It's not like you to be so vindictive," her father said, "I've removed her from the missions roster for a month and made sure that she knows that if she ever touches you again she will feel my wrath."
His hand clenched into a fist.
"If not for all her years of service she would have felt it already."
She made an impatient gesture.
"Not that," Lorna said, "That doesn't matter."
"That doesn't matter?" her father demanded, "Lorna, she hit you!"
He touched her cheek where a bruise was rapidly forming. She shook her head, jerking away from him.
"If she has to be mad at someone it might as well be me. I know what happened, and I've made my peace with it, no matter how painful," Lorna said, "I dont care about that. But she killed Black Tom!"
Her father sighed.
"Lorna, we both know he deserved it," he said.
"That's immaterial!" Lorna said, "We'd just agreed not to! We'd just agreed to be the better people!"
"We are. Mystique simply decided to seek justice for the man she loved," her father said.
"That wasn't justice!" Lorna said, "That was revenge!"
Her father sighed again and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Listen to me Lorna. You'll learn one day that they're much the same thing," he said, "It was better for us to kill him. I don't like that Mystique disobeyed me, but her actions were the right thing to do."
Lorna took a deep breath.
"It wasn't," she said.
Her smiled before shaking his head.
"You're still so young," he said, "You did well on this mission, although you too disobeyed me."
She sighed, wondering how he could change the subject so easily. She couldn't.
"Still, it seems like I should start giving you some more responsibility," he said, "You seem to be able to work with even the…less savory types."
She looked at her father, a mixture of emotions swirling inside her. Her father was proud, and his pride in her was something she had always craved. However, she was still feeling that strange feeling of her world being turned upsdie down.
What he was implying about Alex was also wrong. He had fought beside her, listened to her even if he didn't agree. He hadn't been the one who had killed Black Tom and then continued stabbing him.
"Thank you," she said, "But I don't feel like Mystique did the right thing."
"She did," her father said, "Try to understand."
Lorna nodded slowly.
"I understand," she said.
Her father smiled and hugged her. She hugged him back, swallowing her pain.
"It's good to have you back," he said, "I'm glad that you understand."
He released her and walked away. Lorna turned her head away once he had left the room.
"I understand," Lorna murmured, "I just don't agree."
Everyone else did though. She didn't know where that left her.
Boots tapped on the ground next to the factory. There were a few scouts looking in the wreckage, picking things up before throwing them away. Several cranes had already been moved to the far east side and were digging. They were taking too long though. Much, much too long.
A few other scouts were murmering amongst themselves. He wondered if he should ban that. Their voices were irritating, like the chatter of bugs. One day he'd find a way to step on them all, but if evolution took the appropriate course he wouldn't have to.
A shout made him turn. He shoved the scouts out of his way and walked down to the crater in the middle of the earth. Something was being pulled out of the wreckage. He stared dispassionately as the broken body, its head burned away, was thrown onto the floor.
Sinister knelt by the body of his last host. He needed to be more careful. At the rate he was going he wouldn't be able to replenish himself soon. Still, he didn't want to wear himself out too quickly. He removed the host's coat and looked it over.
The rust stains were still prominent on it from where he'd spilled the young Summers's blood. Sinister smiled to himself. It wasn't much, but he had their DNA now. He could work with that.
Carefully he cut the rust stains out of the coat before placing them in vials. He hummed to himself as as he did so. This was going to be the start of his masterpiece.
Terry woke up, her eyes wide. She looked around, feeling scared. She wasn't sure where she was, and for a moment she panicked. It took her a moment to remember what had happened, that she had been taken to a mansion where her father's friends lived. It took her a moment to remember that she had a father at all.
She bit her lip. They had told her that she was never going to have to face her uncle again. Terry hadn't pressed for particulars. It was over, and something else was beginning. She wasn't sure just what was beginning, but she was glad that her uncle was gone. She wouldn't miss that part of her life.
She would miss one thing though. Terry had been sad that she hadn't been able to say goodbye to Lorna. She'd been such a good friend, and she'd comforted her when Terry had thought she'd lost her father.
Her father. The idea was so foreign. It was still hard to think of how he'd fought for her, why someone would want to do that. It pressed on Terry's mind much more than any sort of fear about what she had done with her voice. Archangel had told her that her father did that too. Having the ability was just more confirmation that he was her father.
None of it seemed real though. She looked around, trying to find some sort of comfort from her surroundings. The room seemed so big and cold though. There walls were bare and the furnishings seemed so alien. She snuggled deeper into the blanket, but it wasn't enough. She pushed the blanket off of her and tiptoed out of her room.
Terry pushed the door open and peeked out. The hallway was empty and she stepped out onto the plush carpet. It felt nice beneath her feet. The walls seemed much friendlier too, covered with pictures.
Terry continued down the hallway. She inched down the stairs. She could hear a few murmurs from the other rooms. She'd been told that there were other children in the mansion, children that she could meet and be friends with. They'd told her that it was a school and, if she wanted, she could attend.
Her uncle had never sent her to school. She'd learned to read and write in a haphazard way, almost as though it were a second thought. Terry had loved books though, loved the way that they could take her away from her life. She'd curled up with many of them, trying to draw as much comfort from them as she could.
Terry walked down the stairs, holding onto the wooden railings. She peeked down the hallway. It was empty too. Still feeling nervous she walked a few doors down to where they'd told her that her father was. She needed to see him, to remind herself that he was real, that the new life she'd been given was real.
She knocked on the door. There wasn't any answer. Terry hesitated, uncertain as to whether or not she would be allowed to enter. Lorna had let her into her room, but she had been able to ask long before she had first ventured in. Her father hadn't been in any position to answer questions after the furry man had healed him.
Terry swallowed and opened the door, hoping he wouldn't mind. She saw several machines hooked up to him. It was obvious that he had been asleep before she opened the door, but when she did his eyes snapped open. He looked at her and, instinctively, Terry shrank away, her hands clutching the door.
"I'm sorry," she said.
He sat up, wincing as he did so.
"What for?" he asked.
"I…I woke you up," Terry murmured.
He smiled and yawned.
"I don't mind Terry."
Feeling bolder Terry crept up. Her father was swathed in bandages, and something like a brace covered his chest. A bathrobe had been put on over it, and she could see his blue pajama pants peeking out from the disarrayed covers. Terry wondered how soundly he'd been sleeping to kick the covers around like that.
"You okay?" he asked, "Do you need something?"
"I'm okay," she said.
Terry shifted from one foot to another.
"I was…I couldn't sleep," she said.
He didn't say anything, just kept looking at her curiously.
"Can I sleep in here tonight?" she whispered.
She risked a glance up. Her father was staring at her. His expression softened and he held out his hand.
"Of course you can," he said.
Terry smiled and she climbed up the side of his bed. He moved the blanket and tucked her in. She snuggled near him, avoiding the brace and bandages. She felt one of his hands rest on the back of her head. It felt like he was staring at her hair. Terry wondered if he was comparing it to his own. She liked the idea of the two of them having the same colored hair.
"Terry," her father said, "I know that a lot of this is new for you. I know that it's going to be a little scary at first."
Terry didn't say anything.
"I know we're going to have to get used to each other," he said, "But… I want you to know that I was told you died. I didn't know you were still alive. If I had I would've ripped the world apart looking for you."
She ducked her head, her heart clenching painfully.
"Archangel told me," Terry said.
"You can call him Warren," her father said.
She heard him clear his throat. Terry felt sleep begin to weigh down her eyelids.
"I want you to know that you'll be cared for here, safe," he said.
Terry bit her lip. The last time she'd heard that she'd been ripped from her home soon after.
"But more than that Terry, you're going to be loved," her father said, "I know it might seem strange, I mean, you barely know me, but I love you. More than anything I want you to be happy."
Tears threatened even as her eyes began to close.
"I'm going to fight for that," her father said, "I'm going to fight for us to be a family. And nothing, nothing is ever going to tear us apart. I want you to understand that."
Terry snuggled closer.
"I understand," she whispered.
"Good," her father murmured, "Good."
Terry's eyes closed, sleep beginning to cloud her mind. The man next to her was her father. He was going to protect her, love her. It was more than she had ever thought would be possible. He had nearly given his life for her, to protect her from a man who populated her nightmares.
He was a good man, she could tell that. The kind of man who cared for others. If what the rest of the team had said was true, then he was a hero too He was certainly a hero to her, pulling her from danger and offering her a beautiful life.
She loved him, as strange as the concept was to her. Terry knew that she was going to be scared in the upcoming days of what was being offered, scared that it would be taken away. However, she couldn't help but feel that perhaps, just for once, things were going to be alright.
There was a reason for that though. Things were going to be alright because a good man had claimed her as his daughter. She wished she could be like him. Determination entered her. She would make sure that she would be like him.
As Terry drifted off, she knew that one day her proudest boast would be to say that she was her father's daughter.
Sean looked down at the small girl in his arms as she drifted off to sleep. Terry had been through so much. She seemed so small, so fragile. He couldn't believe how trustingly she'd come to him, how confused she'd been when he had put his life on the line for her. Was she that unused to love?
He was going to change that. He was going to bring her up in the safety of Westchester. No one would disparage her for her mutation. She would be able to recieve the assistance that he hadn't as a child.
Alex, who had visited him briefly, had explained that his daughter had exhibited her mutation. The thought brought tears to Sean's eyes. She'd had to see him bleeding and broken, and she had screamed at the world for doing it to her. Sean closed his eyes and swallowed.
No, she would never have to go through that again. He stroked her hair once and looked out the window.
"Maeve, I know you're watching," he said.
There was no answer, just like there never had been when he'd cried her name in grief.
"I've got her now," he said, "I've got her. And don't worry, I'll be a good father."
He turned his head from the window and leaned his head back. For the first time in years, he slept soundly.
A/N: And that's the end! Sorry for the big mix-up with chapters. In a lot of my stories I tend to focus on other characters and Sean becomes a side character. However, the comics furnished him with a fascinating backstory, albeit one that's a littel different from the one I portrayed here. Suddenly becoming a father isn't an easy thing to go through, especially for someone like Sean who was grieving for his family. However, Sean was an X-man and an Interpol agent. He was made of stronger stuff, which is the reason why I loved writing his big reveal in Chapter 31. He was willing to go to any lengths for his daughter. They just weren't the lengths that Black Tom was expecting.
As for Terry, she's fascinating in and of herself. As Siryn Terry did take after her father in many ways. It's interesting since, despite some information I've seen where the X-gene is passed from males to their offspring, few mutant children take after their fathers' mutations. More seem to take after their mothers, or get completely random ones. It just solidifies their connection.
As for some of the other things in this story like Sinister, I was itching to use him after 'The World United' where he played a small but important rule. I thought it was time to bring him to his roots, namely being obsessed with the Summers bloodline. Originally the scene mentioned above was going to be cut and placed in the next story, but I figured that it was best put here, and the mix-up gave me a chance to do so.
I'd been wondering for a while what Lorna might be like if she'd been raised by Magneto when he was in charge of the Brotherhood. I know that some of you might still be curious about her, as well as the rest of the Brotherhood, but I'm not through with them yet.
As some as you know, this is going to be longer than a trilogy. I've actually got several more stories after this one. They're all linked, but they could be read seperately. The next one is called 'Words We Never Say.' It'll be coming out in my standard two week.
Now for the shoutouts! Here's to the ever-constant Princess Amon-Rae, Knight of Wings, QueenoftheSouthernSun, whylime, Chocolate and Caramel, and lovelylittlewren who apparently had been waiting for a Siryn fic from me. You're all awesome!