Chapter 2:
The stolen helicopter followed along the Sentinel's path, and Mystique sat angrily in the pilot's t ter followed along seat, flying the aircraft skillfully towards their target. It was just in range of the helicopter's onboard radar and she paced its speed easily.
Mystique glanced to her right at Magneto and saw him sitting in focused thought. His arms were folded across his broad chest and his brow was creased. A small smiled played on his face as he stared intently out the front windows. It was pleasant, almost serene, but the hard glint in his eyes betrayed any placidness his face may have implied.
The look was one she had seen often, one she admired, and her current ire was not in regards to the man seated next to her, nor the other two members of the Brotherhood accompanying them on the craft. With Toad and the Lady Deathstrike currently 'accompanying' the Sentinel to its destination, Magneto's present forces were narrowed in number to herself, Pyro and Sabertooth.
More than enough, she thought confidently, in the same frame of mind at the Lady. Their forces were divided, but not weakened. Some of the Brotherhood within, the rest of them closing in from the outside and one simple fact…their enemies were surrounded.
However, Mystique continued to have a lingering feeling of intrusion after being halted by Xavier on the lawn of the ruined house. She did not like being controlled, losing command of her own body. The helplessness of those forgotten, frozen moments under Xavier's power created a fury inside of her that shone out through her bright yellow eyes.
The radar on the console beneath her right arm chimed as the Sentinel moved out of range. Mystique adjusted her course to a lower altitude and Magneto grinned with approval.
"Excellent," he said to her, "The machine must be landing. Maintain this distance and monitor where it finally settles."
Mystique nodded, but did not reply. Magneto glanced at her curiously and noted the second aircraft detected by the radar, one following them in the same cautious manner which they were following the Sentinel. He gave her a long glance, but Mystique either did not notice or did not care.
Her mind was preoccupied, and her anger at Xavier was not solely the result of his earlier control over her. Magneto was the only other person alive who knew why else the beautiful blue woman was distracted by the approaching X-Men.
Mothers…Magneto had said to her earlier, Always know what becomes of their children…they know if their children are among the enemy…
Mystique tightened her fists around the helicopter's controls and ground her teeth together audibly. She fought to concentrate on their mission, and ignore any other thoughts that may prevent her from being at her best for Erik.
However, unbeknownst to her, those thoughts were not alone in her mind.
Xavier carefully glimpsed into Mystique's mind, listening to the conversation she heard, which was very scarce. He did not attempt to dominate her mind yet, biding his time until a chance came to speak to Erik.
Mystique continued to lower the helicopter after the Sentinel, her eyes never leaving the dark horizon. She reached above her head to make an adjustment to the controls, and her blue skin shone in the dim light. She resisted the urge to change it, mold her arm into something else. Using her power always grounded her into reality, even if what she became was an illusion. It reminded her why she stayed by Erik's side, reminded her of who she was. A mutant…fighting for her people. But, in the blue pigment, she was reminded of someone else.
Why not stay disguised all the time? the soft voice echoed, You know…look like everyone else?
Her gestures as she maneuvered the craft were quick and angry, as she fought back the memory…and all the other memories that voice stirred.
Xavier's face creased in a surprised frown as he remained focused on Mystique's mind.
What was disturbing her? The anger towards the X-Men was obvious, but why these other memories when she thought of them.
Xavier listened…
"The Sentinel has stopped," Mystique said, and Magneto nodded.
"Let's do a sweep of the area," he replied, "Find the best place to land. No reason to hide though, my dear. I'm sure they are expecting us."
He sounded pleased at his last words, and Mystique gave him a small smile. She could hear Sabertooth rumbling from the back passenger seat, preparing for the possibility of conflict. Pyro snapped his lighter once, watched the flame for a moment and grinned.
They were ready for whoever should prove to be the creator of the Sentinel. And for the enemies behind them…
Mystique once again was shaken by a memory of a soft voice and fought it away as a vicious grin spread over her face.
The enemies behind them…
Xavier inhaled sharply as an image passed through Mystique's mind.
"Why not look like everyone else?"
"Because we shouldn't have to…"
Kurt…why was she thinking of Kurt?
A second voice echoed in her mind, speaking in German.
"Why didn't you tell me?" the voice shouted with angry hate, and it was followed by a sob…a female voice…
"Because it shouldn't matter! He's your son!"
"Not mine! Not mine!"
The vision of a young woman appeared, a visage of illusion…pink skin…blonde hair.
In her arms, she held an infant, one blue hand reaching for her long curls with his three fingers.
"GET OUT!" the voice shouted.
The young woman ran off into the night. Her body returned to its true form, her blue skin hiding her easily in the shadows.
My God, Xavier thought, He is her son…
Somewhere in Mystique's subconscious, she heard Xavier's voice and her mind began to scream…
Mystique jerked forward violently, gasping for breath as she was overwhelmed by the invading presence in her mind. The others of the Brotherhood looked at her with startled surprise, as the normally composed woman cried out in distress.
Reaching for the controls, Magneto called to her with true concern.
"Mystique?" he said, firmly but not unkindly, "What's wrong?"
Her long arms supported her against the control console, her eyes wide with outrage and fear. She gnashed her teeth together again, and turned her head to look at Magneto.
"Xavier…" she said, "In my head…I won't let him…Tell him to get out…"
Magneto took her face in one hand and looked into her eyes.
"Charles," he said viciously, and Mystique forced her body to relax as Erik chastised their enemy, "Let her go."
Xavier heard Erik's response and debated how to reply. He knew his presence was causing Mystique's fury to grow, but his need to speak to Magneto was too great.
"Not until you listen to what I have to say," Xavier said aloud, and his words echoed from Mystique's throat.
She struggled as Xavier's words choked from her. Her subconscious screamed again, and she felt the invading psychic wince slightly.
Magneto tilted his head slightly, and ran his hand through Mystique's hair. Her eyes were half lidded from Charles's influence, but her eyes remained sharp and focused with rage.
"Let her go," Magneto repeated and flexed his free hand purposefully.
From behind them, the X-Jet shuttered.
"What the hell?" Cyclops said with alarm as the jet was jerked out of his control.
"What's happening?" Wolverine demanded and then glanced back at the Professor, who was gripping the arms of his wheel chair with white knuckles.
"The machine took one of my people also, Erik," Xavier began, and Mystique's voice spoke again…
"…we need to work together to…" Mystique was involuntarily saying.
Magneto tightened his fist, "No, Charles, whatever union you thought we had at Alkalai Lake died beneath those waters and shares company only with your Jean Grey."
He shook the following jet again and grinned as Xavier's surprised gasp escaped from Mystique's throat. Magneto knew his words would strike deeply into Charles's mind, and he debated whether or not to simply destroy their jet before the X-Men could interfere further with his plans for the future.
"We're going to be torn apart if this doesn't stop!" Cyclops shouted over the loud vibration of the jet's metallic walls.
Xavier focused his mind again, "Erik! Stop this now!"
Mystique's eyes grew wide as Xavier's demand rang from her throat. Her eyes shot between Magneto's eyes and his clenched fist controlling the jet. He could destroy them, crash the X-Men's jet and kill their enemies…
"Erik…" she said, grasping at the hand touching her face, "Don't…"
Magneto scanned her eyes, and recognized the words as her own, and not those of Charles Xavier. In his own anger, he had forgotten Mystique's secret…her child was aboard that jet.
His fist loosened, and he looked at her knowingly. Fine, in deference to Mystique, he would not tear apart their ship. However, his control over the jet had been a warning…which would only be given once.
"Charles," he said, looking into Mystique's eyes again, "I know you can control my Brothers, use their strength to attack me from within, but remember what I can do to the ones with you. Interfere again, and my regard for the woman you now hold with your mind will not be enough to stop me from ensuring that you follow us no further."
The jet stopped shuttering and Cyclops sighed with undisguised relief. Wolverine was still glaring at the Professor. Xavier opened his eyes slowly, and looked at the floor.
"Alright, Erik," he said aloud, "We will accomplish nothing by killing each other. But, we will not turn back from the Sentinel's path. Not until those lost are found."
Xavier blinked as the connection with Mystique was suddenly cut off. He sighed and glanced at Wolverine.
"Magneto?" he asked the Professor, who nodded sadly.
"He will meet this new enemy on his own terms," Xavier said, and then his eyes became hard and determined, "And we will meet it on ours. Let's focus on finding the three that were taken…and learning what we can about the people who created that machine."
"What happens if we do get in each other's way?" Wolverine asked with a cynical grin and Xavier looked grave.
"Let's hope…we have the strength then, to remember why we are here," he said, "Hopefully, conflict with the Brotherhood will not prove necessary…"
I doubt that, Wolverine thought, loudly, and Xavier could not help but raise a slightly amused eyebrow at the other man's annoyed sarcasm.