Chapter Two: Back in White
"So why did you buy Logan beer?" Bobby asked dubiously as Sabere sipped gratefully from the bottle. Bobby, having just turned twenty-one a month ago, was enjoying his own spoils from his team's victory in the Danger Room. Apparently he'd bet Rogue a six-pack of Samuel Adams – an okay beer, in Sabere's opinion, but the boy had his hometown loyalties.
"He was broke and he promised me half the case. It's Kurt's favorite beer and he figured we'd want a few bottles to ourselves."
"He's already tried to get me to buy him booze," Rogue said. "I haven't fallen for it yet."
Sabere drained the bottle and floated it into the recycling bin. "He likes you too much to push you. I'm still manipulatable…is that a word?"
"You're a lightweight, aren't you?" Bobby asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I didn't get lunch," she retorted. "And I'm a little distracted by the telepathic hooker who's currently in a top-secret meeting with Xavier."
"A hooker? What?"
"Rogue hasn't seen her yet," Bobby explained.
"Ah. In that case, I won't spoil the surprise."
"Xavier hired a hooker?"
Sabere spotted a flash of movement in the hall. /Come quietly. Don't let the kids suspect anything./
"You explain," she told Bobby, and left the table as casually as she could.
Outside the kitchen, Kurt was waiting with Jean. She spoke telepathically to both of them as they stood silently off to the side.
/I have to explain this way because a full broadcast to the X-Men could easily be eavesdropped on. You two are the last to be filled in. Emma is here because her organization has picked up evidence about a new anti-mutation drug in development./
/Stryker's drug/ Sabere asked.
/Similar./
/But the research from that drug was destroyed – SHIELD took care of that./ SHEILD had also brought Kurt back to them, and Sabere wholly approved of the agency. But if they'd let something slip…
/The Hellfire Club doesn't have much to go on, which is why Emma is here. We've never exactly gotten along in the past, but they have a plan to infiltrate and they need our help./
Kurt looked dubious. /I do not trust her./
/And she doesn't trust us – I got what I just told you from Xavier, not Emma, and they're both monitoring each other's communications as closely as they can. The last time Emma saw me I was still struggling with my telepathy, and I can't tell if she thinks I'm a threat or not. No matter what, keep your guard up and your thoughts quiet. We should all be filled in soon./
With that, Jean broke the connection and went back down the hall. Sabere raised an eyebrow at Kurt, and he wrapped his arms around her. She didn't like 'porting, especially with beer on an empty stomach. She had her eyes squeezed shut until she felt ground under her feet again, and even then, cautiously cracked one to take in the sunshine. He had taken them out to the lake, which was empty except for some ducks. Just a few days ago, this lake was crowded with students, but since classes had adjourned for the summer, most of them were home. Kurt and Sabere spent quite a bit of time here, Kurt telling stories about his youth in the Munich circus, Sabere trying to think of something half as interesting to share.
"We are probably not out of her range here, but at least we are not a distraction," Kurt said, sprawling out on the grass. "So, what do you think she really wants?"
"What do you mean?" Sabere sat down beside him, watching the lake.
"It sounds like this woman is about as welcome in the mansion as Magneto. I have been here for five years, and I have not heard of her – but neither has Logan, which is more concerning."
"What has me concerned is that an international organization of mutants needs us for their mission," Sabere frowned. "If the rest of them are anything like Emma, they're powerful, but not just because of their mutations."
"They are cunning and ambitious," Kurt agreed. "They probably knew about our personal vendetta against Stryker and his drug, and want to manipulate that."
"But that was years ago, and we still don't know why that stuff wasn't destroyed."
"Stryker certainly did not get the chance to share his discovery," Kurt said wryly. Sabere felt a flash of anger that still occasionally hit her – Scott, not Sabere, had been the one to kill Stryker after Stryker himself had shot Kurt. The fact that Kurt had survived – and that over two years had passed – did not dampen her fury. He sat up, knowing what her silence meant, and brushed her cheek.
"Vengeance does not become you, Liebchen."
She leaned in to his caress, feeling his hand cup her cheek. "It's the world we've fallen into – kill or be killed." She turned her head to meet his eyes, yellow and frightening only to strangers. "Take or lose."
"Everything will be made right," he said quietly. "Have faith."
She nodded and kissed him. He had been the one to help her adjust after her late mutation and they'd fallen quickly in love. Despite Kurt's odd – to put it lightly – appearance, the entire mansion knew that the demonic face hid a pure soul and no one had questioned their relationship. Well, Logan had…but Logan had trouble keeping his hands to himself. Sabere could tell that no matter what he said, he was still in love with Jean; but she also knew that, given the opportunity, Sabere would make a decent substitute.
They sat for another minute, enjoying the stillness. Sabere, as Sami, had never imagined herself living the life of a soldier, but as an X-Man that was what she did. It seemed like every week they were fighting Magneto or infiltrating a military base to rescue an imprisoned mutant or rescuing potential students that Xavier sensed from all corners of the world. All on a teacher's salary, she thought wryly. Tuition was a nonfactor at the Institute – if you could pay, you did, if you couldn't (which was more common), you were exempt. It was simple and it worked. The X-Men lived comfortably, offering what talents they had to the mansion and the next generation. Mostly they were teachers – even Kurt taught German and self-defense, and while Sabere hoped to simultaneously finish her PR studies and begin teaching communications here, she was mostly, as Xavier had put it earlier, a lackey. She ran solo missions occasionally – small errands like picking up a student from a safe situation, and even larger tasks like helping the Red Cross evacuate emergency areas. Her healing gift was unique, from what Xavier had told her, and he made sure she was useful around the world.
A sudden stronger breeze brought Storm down to the lake's edge, her silver hair loose and flowing everywhere. She was not smiling, which in itself was unusual, and the wind did not die down with her arrival.
"Xavier and Emma are ready to fill us in," she announced. "I want her out of my mansion, so let's make this quick."
She would have much preferred to fly back with Storm, but instead Kurt 'ported them directly into Xavier's office. If Emma was surprised, she kept it well-hidden. She stood arms akimbo, framed by the window. While her sexuality was daunting outside, it was downright intimidating indoors, especially surrounded by Xavier's decadent office. She kept her face still, not even acknowledging their arrival besides a distrustful flick of her blue eyes. Xavier promptly introduced them both, and Emma deigned to shake both their hands. Her hands were encased to the elbow in smooth white gloves, and the handshake felt (appropriately) like touching ice. Storm landed on Xavier's balcony and let herself in, her head erect and her face just as proud and impassive as Emma's. Freud would relish this, Sabere thought. Women fighting for dominance and men fighting to stay focused. Or unfocused, as may be in the case of Emma's protruding cleavage.
When the rest of the team arrived, Emma leaned against the front of Xavier's desk, crossing her legs so that the slit in her skirt exposed both. Sabere remained standing, as did Storm, hoping to keep some semblance of dominance in their own mansion. She was surprised to see Scott take a seat, but she supposed he was just trying to be diplomatic. She let her stance relax a little, realizing she had been standing stiffly. Emma did not wait for an introduction before launching into her speech.
Kurt was used to being detached about sexuality – he'd had to be, growing up as a circus child, the world assuming he was wearing elaborate makeup – but he found his eyes opened by this bizarre visitor. Everyone had trouble keeping their eyes off her ample cleavage, and meeting her cold blue eyes was far less pleasant. It was interesting – while the men had very mixed reactions towards her, the three women seemed determine to prove themselves against her. Storm's eyes were flashing and the wind had not died down, indicating her very great dislike for their visitor. Kurt was balanced on the back of Jean's chair, but he could see her hands were tightly folded in her lap. Sabere stood next to Xavier, unconsciously putting herself in the role of bodyguard, her eyes just as wary and her stance firm. Scott, of all of them, appeared completely nonchalant, seated casually and looking attentively up at Emma.
Logan, as Kurt expected, looked like he knew he should shred the woman's innards if he had to, but didn't want to damage such fantastic abs. Kurt started to think a very impure thought on that subject, but was stopped not by fear of God but by fear of what Emma would do to him if she picked it up. His tail twitched at the thought.
Her cold gaze swept the group as she began her speech.
"Over two years ago, this team took on Geoffrey Stryker after his drug poisoned your school," she said. "With SHIELD's help, you managed to destroy Stryker and his base, but not his evidence. It was recovered by a wealthy and less-than-scrupulous pharmaceutical company – we don't know when – and they have been researching a more practical drug, an injection, and planning a more public-friendly release for it."
Kurt was not the only one who resented the implications at letting the evidence survive. Storm spoke up. "Why didn't SHIELD do their job, and how did this company get their hands on it?"
"That hardly matters at this point," Emma said dismissively. "Your concern should no longer be about a defunct military operation. What needs to concern you now is that some very dangerous people have the research, the PR, and the resources to manufacture and distribute an anti-mutation drug on a massive scale."
"Too massive for you, I assume," Logan interrupted, glowering from his sprawled seat. Kurt guessed he was only faking his relaxed stance.
"Too massive for us to manage all the details," Emma conceded. "I – my organization and I – need your help infiltrating their headquarters. The company that has the research is called Bishop Pharmaceuticals, and they are hosting an end-of-the-year fête at their facility in the Cascades. My organization has provided a good portion of their funding over the years, so we have garnered a few invitations."
"You're funding the guys who plan to wipe out mutation?" Storm demanded.
"Obviously, if the rest of the world knew the Hellfire Club was a society of mutants, it would demand far less respect and therefore lose all of its influence," Emma retorted. She re-crossed her legs, letting the skirt float around her boots and drape off her toned legs. "As far as the humans know, we are an alliance of wealthy individuals seeking to play the game of life on a larger and far riskier scale. Rest assured that if your mission fails – "
" – our mission?" Logan broke in.
Emma's eyes flashed dangerously. "The mission fails, Bishop will be losing a good deal of its funding due to a more promising venture elsewhere."
"What do you need us to do?" Jean asked calmly.
A smirk crossed her face. "The annual Bishop company ball is two weeks from this Saturday. All the higher-ranking members of my organization will be attending, and you will be coming as our…shall we say, entourage. Get in, destroy their plans, and leave."
Kurt glanced at Logan, certain that he would loathe this kind of infiltration, and sure enough, his arms were folded and he was glowering even more.
"So…" Sabere broke in tentatively. "I'm sorry, but wouldn't it be easier to just do what we do best? Slip in, do the job, get out?"
"You mean like what you did at the ocean base?" Emma retorted, and Kurt felt a flare of anger. "No. They may not be expecting trouble, but if they expect anything it will be 'your best.' They won't be watching the front door, so you'll all be walking in with me."
She turned back to the group. "The full plans will be worked out later, but our tailors will be sent to your mansion shortly to prepare appropriate attire, and – " As her gaze swept the room, her cold blue eyes stopped on Kurt. "As your powers do not allow you to conceal your appearance, I'm afraid you will have to sit this one out."
"Emma, I believe we discussed – "
"Reading powers is second nature, Charles, and you know it as well as I," Emma interrupted. "Don't worry, my blue friend, you will play a key role in this game even though you can't escort a lady. Charles, I will be in contact as we receive more intel."
"You are welcome, as always, Miss Frost," Xavier replied, with no hint of a smile in his eyes.
Emma swept out of the room. To his own amazement, Kurt's eyes didn't follow her – instead, he stared at the desk where she had once stood, feeling, for the first time since coming to this mansion, empty.