Flickering Souls
Chapter Fifteen: Kurt's Vision
Kurt slipped in to the house and pulled off his winter clothes. The house was so warm that it made him sleepy.
He slipped up to the big downstairs TV and snatched the remote on his way to the couch. He tossed himself down lengthwise and keyed the power button.
When the TV burst on, it was on channel four.
"Professor Charles Xavier will be lighting the tree in Rockefeller Center this year – after word leaked out that it was he who donated the tree and funds for it's maintenance this year." The chipper woman smiled as she spoke.
The image jumped to show Xavier, seated in his chair, at a press conference.
"Some of my earliest memories were of seeing the tree lit in my youth." Xavier explained. "And I simply could not see something as simple as a budget problem halting a tradition that – to so many – is THE symbol of the holiday spirit." He smiled and the volume dropped away.
"Professor Xavier has traveled to New York earlier this week but plans to be home with family before the Holiday. Back to you Pat."
Kurt sat alone in front of the television.
"What a great thing to do. Thanks Gwen. And in related events, The Mutant Magneto was sighted near the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Government officials are on the scene but his whereabouts remain unknown. Some officers are skeptical and suspect a hoax."
Kurt hit the mute button.
Right. He thought to himself. Xavier's in the city for the dedication and Magneto just happens to turn up.
And something occurred to Kurt.
The Brooklyn Bridge …
Kurt slipped out of the room and down the passage in to the lower levels of the mansion.
He knew than Hank was upstairs in the kitchen, having returned as early as he could after hearing of Mezmero's attack and it's fatal results.
So Kurt knew he was alone with his task.
He accessed the computer and made his request.
A moment later a map appeared marking all the previous sightings of Magneto in New York.
Sure enough, the Brooklyn Bridge would make an almost complete circle out of the sighting area.
Now … Kurt thought The dedication will happen here and the Professor's hotel …
And Kurt could see it perfectly – in order for the Professor to get to the dedication – he would need to pass right through the area where Magneto had been seen.
It's a set up. He realized.
And he knew what he had to do.
He walked down to the end of the hall and teleported through door in to the experimental weapons locker.
He passed over several pieces of advanced technology – and then – he found what he was looking for.
He teleported again, his prize in hand, and made for the garage.
He was tired of the cat and mouse game. What right did Magneto have to plot and plan against Xavier when Xavier's dream was the more palatable of the two?
Kurt looked at his new toy – the weapon of his choosing.
And he smiled, coldly. He had something important to do.
New York, ready or not, here I come.
And then another thought occurred to him.
I have plenty of time … He reasoned. I could stop over on the way … After all, old friends are supposed to be good for the soul. He sneered at his own sarcasm
And then he turned his attention to the garage, or more appropriately, to which vehicle might be cool enough to steal for the trip.
Less than an hour later Kurt was cruising through town in 'motorcycle style' as he called it – and that's when he saw her.
Mystique! His eyes opened wide as she slipped around the corner, oblivious to him and his approach. She was disguised as Rogue's friend Misty.
Very quickly he pulled over and abandoned the bike to follow her.
Misty … He wondered. Mystique? Vas there ever a real Misty at all? He shook away the thought.
Vat kind of no-good can you be up to here? And in broad daylight? He set his jaw. "I owe you one. For Rogue." He whispered.
He followed Mystique's footprints down along the side of a large brick building.
"Please Irene! You must tell me what you see!" Mystique begged the seated woman just inside first door he came to. "With Mezmero dead, is Rogue safe from Apocalypse?"
Kurt pulled back from the window and listened intently. Safe? How does kidnapping her FOR Apocalypse keep her safe? Duh!
"Great clouds surround us all." Irene told her. "As though everything we do and hope for will be for nothing."
Shallow end of the gene pool. Kurt thought, directing that comment at Mystique. He smiled slightly and kept listening.
"What do you see?" Mystique pushed her.
"I see her in noble arms yet keeping dark company …" She turned her blind eyes toward Kurt's window for a fraction of a second and then turned away as she called him 'dark company'.
"You!" Irene told her. "You are about to swear a final allegiance with one who can master the darkness. When he commands you from the shadows – Do as he says. All of you! Or you shall never live to see peace with your daughter."
Mystique swallowed. "Apocalypse!" She breathed. "I feared he would touch my mind as Mezmero's. I thought …"
"No." Irene breathed quietly. "This will be someone … closer than you could know."
"And what of Magneto?" Mystique asked. "I am due to join him in New York shortly."
Irene smiled wide and serenely. "You need not fear him after this last mission. But you must go."
Mystique nodded at her friend. "All right." She said softly as she turned to leave. "And Irene?" She turned back. "Merry Christmas."
Irene turned sadly towards Mystique. "Let us hope so." She said quietly. "Let us hope so … anyway"
Mystique stepped out the door and looked down, Another set of tracks had traced hers in the snow and then doubled back the way she had come.
She followed them quickly but found only the empty street and the soft, distant noise of a fleeing motorcycle.