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 Vicki Byrne belong to Stacey Lofton. Aliana LeBeau belongs to Aliana LeBeau. Mithra Gale belongs to stormelle. I reserve the rights to this fiction, its story line, Leila Stone, Leonora Traviata, Carolyn Darjay, Niccolò Traviata, Pricilla Kenes, Christopher Swainison/Meltdown, Toby McGrathe/Phantom, Karl Angler/Armour, and Emmeline Hayes/Glint.
A/n: Thank you to everyone who stuck around for chapter 14! I still can't believe I've made it this far. Since this is such an important chapter, I won't say any more, I'll just start the story for you.
Confessions of a Future PastChapter 14: Questions
2015-Aliana, Lelia, and Stacey's Condo
"Okay, forget about the bloody book already," Lelia said after much conversation about the burned diary. "Right now I think we need to concentrate on Mrs. Lenoir. I think she could be tied in with the Futurians."
"How? We haven't seen those aliens in months, probably went back to their home planet or something," Stacey commented.
"I know we hav'n't, but I sensed something very strange around her. I sensed something similar around the Futurians in the first attack. I just figured it was because they were aliens, but then I sensed the same thing with Mrs. Lenoir and again over Mutant Town," she tried her best to explain.
"Well, what d'ya think it means?" Aliana asked.
"I'm not sure yet, that's what I intend to find out," Lelia said, not sure how she was going to do that.
"Okay, then tomorrow we'll go talk to Mrs. Lenoir at the museum. But can we get our dinner now? It's getting late and I'm getting hungry," Jamie decided, looking at his watch.
"Yes, Jamie, we can get dinner. And I suppose going to the museum is a good idea, but I want to see someone else first," she relented and stood up to get her jacket.
"Who?" he asked, also rising to leave.
"Caliban," Lelia replied as-a-matter-of-factly.
"The morlock? What reason could you possibly have for seeing that guy?" Stacey said over the small clatter of her keyboard.
"Well, he has the same powers as me, and he's more powerful. I just wanted to ask him something about this all," the red head answered and opened the door. "And you two will be fine for dinner?"
"We're ordering a pizza right now," Aliana said as she picked up the phone.
---
"You sure it's him?" Jamie asked suspiciously as they stepped off the subway onto the platform in Mutant Town.
"Yeah, it's actually easier to sense him that almost anyone else. Our powers sort of attract the signals of those around us; it's strange, but helpful. He'll definitely be there," Lelia explained.
"If you say so," he said as they walked above ground into the dim light of a street lamp.
"Come on, Caliban's this way," she said, pulling Jamie's sleeve and dragging him towards a nearby building.
"What is it with this guy and dark alleyways? Can't he meet someplace normal?" Jamie complained as he was brought into the darkness between two brick buildings.
"Caliban? I need to ask you something," Ghost said bravely and walked farther into the alley, leaving Jamie to guard the entrance because Mutant Town wasn't as safe as it once was.
"You wish me to find someone for you? Can you not find them yourself?" a pale man hissed from the shadows.
"No, I don't need to find someone. What do you sense for my powers?"
"I sense you have the same as I do. And you have telekinesis as well," he said tiredly.
"Yes, I do, but it doesn't seem like regular telekinesis does it, it's almost like a strange new power, yes?"
"Yes, it is different."
"I thought so. Does anyone else have this sort of strange mutation?"
"Yes, there are a few, but you must find them on your own. I must be going," Caliban said and slowly retreated into the shadows.
"Thank you," Ghost said before he left, then turned around and walked back to where she had left Jamie. "We can go eat now, Mr. Hungry."
"He is so creepy," Jamie commented silently before talking to Lelia. "That's all you wanted to ask him about? He didn't even tell you anything!"
"In a way he did, he confirmed my suspicions about Lenoir. The reason I couldn't tell if she was a telepath or not was because it wasn't a power she was born with. It was an odd strain of a mutation, just like my telekinesis. It was a half-power," she replied, proud of herself.
"She's back, isn't she?"
"I'm afraid so."
2029-2.5 hours to Kelley's speech
"Okay, the holding facility is three blocks up and one block East. Shockwave, you fry the security systems, but leave the cameras alone so they think everything is fine. That's where you come in Phantom, you need to make everyone invisible to sneak them past the cameras. From there on it's up to Ghost what you guys do," Iceman instructed as they stopped on a corner in an industrial part of town.
"Got it. And I've just got one question left," Ghost said before Iceman could turn to leave. "Why isn't Scott in charge anymore? Melty said that Scott gave him the information on the attack."
"Scott did give him the information. He mostly just sends messages these days, he doesn't have that same eagerness to fight for the cause anymore. But is that really important right now?"
"Fine, we're going, we're going," Ghost said and Bobby turned away to start back to the Institute to round up a few more mutants before heading to the speech. "Alright, you heard the man, let's go save those mutants."
When they came in view of the holding facility they stopped walking and ducked into a nearby alley. "Things aren't always as easy as Bobby thinks they are, so here's the plan. They're bound to have security cameras all along the perimeter of the building, so Toby, you'll need to get us past those. You think you can do that?"
"Yeah, but I don't know if I can make everyone invisible then and all through the building," Phantom said.
"You won't need to. Karl, you'll need to hack the security codes to get us in the front door."
"No problem, I can do that easy," Armour commented with a smile.
"That's what I wanted to hear. After you get us in, you'll need to find the fuse box and get into it. Then show Stacey which ones to override for the security system. And then figure out some way to get us past the security cameras without us being seen. You two will need to get creative. While you two are doing that, Toby will be sneaking us in to where the mutants are held. Use your communicator to let us know when we can be visible again, we don't want to waste Mr. McGrathe's energy. The rest of us will free the mutants while Karl and Stacey keep the feds busy. Everyone got that?"
"Got it, but aren't you the one supposed to be sitting around in the tech centre coordinating the whole mission and keeping the suits busy for us?" Stacey said.
"Who needs a coordinator? Besides, I'm the one that can sense the mutants and lead us to them. And I also think it's better for a technopath in the tech centre, don't you?" Ghost grinned.
"Definitely," Stacey agreed, knowing that sometimes rules needed to bent.
"Good, then let's move out."
2029-Press Conference, 25 minutes until Kelly's speech
"What are you talking about? What else could they possibly be—wait! I was supposed to be at the Institute to get all the teams on their way! How am I supposed to do that if I skipped right to the speech?" Bobby asked.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Sorry," Vicki apologized, then waved her hands in front of her until a small orb that grew until it was just big enough for Bobby to fit through. "Go through this portal and you'll arrive inside the Institute about two hours ago."
"Thanks, I'll see you soon," Bobby said and stepped through the swirling purple doorway. It closed slowly behind him.
A moment later Bobby pushed his way through the forming crowd to reach Vicki and Emmeline. "What did I miss?"
"Nothing, you just left," Vicki answered him.
"Oh, good timing. Now, what were we talking about again?"
"I said that the Futurians aren't aliens," Emmeline offered.
"Yeah, how can that be? Ghost and all our telepaths agree that they weren't mutants," Vicki tried to rationalize.
"No, they decided that the Futurians weren't normal mutants. Listen, the government experimented on me and a bunch of other mutants. They were messing with our DNA trying to create some sort of super soldier, like Captain America but much stronger and with mutant powers. They succeeded, that's what the Futurians are. They're a new kind of mutant created from our DNA and extra chemicals and stuff," Glint explained.
"So, the government created the Futurians? That's crazy, why would they attack Kelly then?" Bobby criticized.
"They lost control of the Futurians. Like some mutants, they believe they are better than humans; humans and mutants. I think they called themselves mutanis futura: the future of homo superior."
A/n: I just bombarded you with partial plots, didn't I? Sorry about that. The story's really starting to come to the end where I tie up all the loose ends. Hope you've enjoyed it so far, because I expect it to get better over the next few chapters. Please review and let me know what you think!