Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape, or form own X-Men, X-Men: Evolution, or their characters; all of it belongs to Marvel Comics and their individual creators. The characters of Stacey Lofton and Vicky Byrne belong to Stacey Lofton (read our Evo/PotC crossover story on her name!). Aliana LeBeau belongs to Aliana LeBeau. Mithra belongs to stormelle. I reserve the rights to this fiction, its story line, Leila Stone, Leonora Traviata, Carolyn Darjay, Niccolò Traviata, Pricilla Kenes, and Glint.

((A/n: Well…I told you this might be a little bit late. Sorry, I had no computer access and was really busy. Um…this chapter may start out a little bit boring, but it's NOT a filler chapter! Enjoy.))

Confessions of a Future Past

Chapter 7: Press Conference Catastrophe

2015

"Stacey? What're you doing here?" Leila asked as she walked into the small conference room at the National Evolutionary Museum. Leila worked there as both a researcher and a public speaker and was used to large press conferences and her weekly presentations about the evolution of mankind and the universe in general. What she was not used to, however, was having her best friend show up right before one of these.
"Well, I am a reporter after all, and I want to make sure your presentations get more advertising. Maybe if I can get people to come to these, you can convince them we're not evil. Besides, I'm doing some more P.R. for that new pro-mutant rights politician, Angela Wainright. She's really interested in this museum for some reason and wanted me to scope it out for her. So, why not write an article on it if I already have the info?" Stacey replied with a big grin. She stood from the chair she'd been waiting in and placed a small notepad and pen in her handbag.
"So, basicly you're here so you don't have to do the bookwork for research, right?" Leila joked.
"Exactly."
"Cool," she exclaimed, using the out-dated expression. "Well, if I had known you were coming I'd have shown up sooner to give you a behind-the-scenes look. I can still give you the tour afterwards if you want. We'll spice up that article of yours."
"Sounds good, but I can't stay too long. I've got to get back home and write this article. It's due tomorrow night so it can make the Sunday paper," Stacey said as they both sat down at the rectangular table. They still had to wait for a few people to show up: two board members, the museum director, and a guest speaker.
"That's fine, I'm meeting someone for dinner tonight anyways."
"Jamie, no doubt."
"As a matter of fact, it is. He says he has something important to tell me," Leila confirmed her friend. At this Stacey gave a knowing smile and an eyeroll. "And I've got something important to tell you guys later. Oh, and I'm not making dinner tonight, so you and Aliana will have to fend for yourself; if she shows up in time for the meal that is."
"Rockin', we're having pizza again," Stacey said and set both girls into peals of laughter at memories of too many pizzas during their stay at the Xavier Institute. At this moment the large figure of a man appeared in the doorway. Leila sensed his presence behind her and quickly spun on her heal to face him.
"Oh no. This was a set-up, wasn't it? I'm not here to give a speech on the mutant geneology at all, am I?" the man chuckled. When he stepped forward to sit at the table it was clear to see that he wasn't what you would call a man at all. He was more of a big, furry blue cat-creature with glasses.
"Hi, Mr. McCoy," both girls said in unison with big smiles.
"Don't worry, you know we're on business today. Besides, our danger room privledges are a bit limited these days. But I'm sure if you were along we'd be able to get in," Stacey said, giving him a wink.
"Logan's run, level twelve this time?" Leila played along.
"Perhaps some other day ladies. Now, are we ready for this presentation?" he asked and set his briefcase on the table.
"Totally. The audience is in for a real treat today. They get to hear the expert on evolution, Dr. Hank McCoy, himself," insisted the regular presentor as she stood and smoothed her hair in the mirror to ready for her speech.

----------------------------------

Some time later...

The winged woman, the bespecaled blue man, a tall man in a blue suit, and a shorter man in a similar gray suit shuffled back into the conference room with their heads lowered. They had come right off the stage from their speech and were followed by a tall, slender woman in a blue business suit. She made a motion for them to sit down.
"Miss Lenoir, please, we-" one of the men, a board member started before she raised her hand to quiet him.
"Did not have a hand in this endevour. I know. It was a set-up of wretched intentions," she spat out the words.
"Please, let me appologise. I fear this catastrophe was my fault. I was the one that found the extinction code in the human dna. It's only to be expected that they want answers for it," Hank pleaded.
"I won't hear of it. It's as much our fault for not being prepared for this as it is yours. No one is blaming you. Let us hope they don't blame our association for this blunder of the press," Miss Lenoir concluded.
"Miss Lenoir, I promise I'll find out who was beind this. They attacked us with questions on the extinction code. They blamed us for it. And they pinned it all on the museum. I'm just thankful the few mutants in the audience didn't have outer mutations like ours. But, I will find out who it was," Leila promised.

A few minutes later

Stacey met them in the hallway outside the conference room. After both girls bid adieu to their former teacher they started walking down the hall.
"I probably shouldn't be here now. You guys will have a lot of work ahead of you after that," Stacey offered.
"No, I promised you a tour," Leila insisted.
"It's okay, some other time perhaps."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, you guys have your hands full. I'll just run over to Cole's house, he's only a few blocks away. Then I'll head home and try to make this article smile in your favour."

"Thanks Stace. I'll see you later."

-------------------------

2005

The Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters--The Recreation Room

"Stacey? Are you okay? What'd you read?" Ghost said as she walked in the room with mugs of hot chocolate. It was still early January and no matter how warm the school was kept, she insisted on the hot drink on windy nights such as this.

"Yeah. I'm fine. I just read one of those diary entry things. Says some day there's going to be a museum dedicated to evolution. Where'd you find this thing again?" her friend answered her.

"Upstairs in a classroom," Jamie answered.

"Do you really think it's what's supposed to happen?" Aliana said as she took a mug and breathed in its sweet aroma.

"It's not unlikely. There's bound to be a time-traveling mutant out there, right? But it does say we can change that future. I hope we can, I hate to think our fates are already written out and cast in stone," Ghost commented.

--------------------------

((A/n: Okay, this is not where I wanted this chapter to go, but it'll make a little more sense later. I hope it wasn't too confusing for you. Again, sorry for the lateness. But at least it wasn't months in between this time, right? Please review!))