Chapter 15: An Anonymous Visitor
Que continued to meet with the Professor daily over the holidays. Most of the time they'd just play a game of chess, but sometimes he would get her to open up a little more. It was a little easier to share with a medium of some sort like chess or food, and she felt a sense solidarity with the man, in fact that he knew at least some of her past. She had shared something extremely personal, something that had shattered her, and left her still picking up the pieces. He hadn't turned her away. It meant a lot to Que. Last night, she had told him about Franco and the pit. She told him how it was just a training exercise, but the officers in charge had surprised them with sound of a disturbance to see their reactions. Que had found out later that they were being tested for, not endurance as she thought, but reactions under duress and resolve to follow orders. She share with the Professor how Franco was killed by falling and breaking his neck, and how she had immediately jumped down to help him. She was punished swiftly after because their orders had been to stand their ground regardless of disturbances, and the other unsaid rule the children had learned early on was to finish the mission at all costs. If someone went down in a mission and could not be quickly reconned, then they were to take all evidence and leave as quickly as possible. They were trained to be cold, calculating, and detached.
She contemplated these things, watching the snow fall. Here she was accepted, wanted even, and people cared about her. This would be her first Christmas with anyone in almost a decade too. It had always been a time of depression and solitude for her in the past, but this year she wanted to honor her new found friendships at the mansion. They had all been so kind to her, even when she did not return the favor. What could she do?
"Charles, I have some news on the dark matter we discussed earlier this year. You're not going to believe this," Hank said as he strode toward the Professor in the library.
"Hank, can we take this somewhere more quiet?" the Professor replied, glancing toward the door. He and Hank headed toward his study.
As he closed the door, Hank continued. "Charles, it's incredible. I don't even know how it has survived."
"Wait, slow down Hank. What do you mean?" Charles asked looking perplexed.
"The dark matter is some form of living entity! It's amazing. It's as if the corporeal body has been dispersed as this matter. Whatever it is, it is trying to reform!" Hank said excitedly.
"Hank, how did you find all of this information?" the Professor asked, equally intrigued.
"Well, that's the thing. A few nights ago, I think it was the night the rest of the students left, I got a strong localized reading on the dark matter. I hadn't checked it until today," he explained. "Remember how the matter didn't extend along the east coast? The patterns have changed. It has now localized itself over the New England area. Whatever it is, is more concentrated, and get this, a few nights ago it briefly took form in our area. The computer couldn't pinpoint its exact location, but it was close. I think it could be mutant. Maybe he or she is trying to make contact with us!"
"Hank, is amazing! You said it happened a few nights ago?" Charles paused.
"That was the same night Que had her incident. She said she thought there was a man in her room! While Storm and I were trying to calm her down, she kept talking about a man being there and darkness. I thought it was something from her dream. Do you think there could be a connection?" the Professor asked more concerned than excited now.
Hank's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he took on a look of contemplation. "That is possible... I will need to run some tests. I can even check her room if you like, and if the events are connected, I have a theory. We can discuss that more later when I have some more information. How are we going to tell Que about all of this?"
"Let me worry about that. Get whatever equipment you need ready, and Que and I will meet you in her room at five o'clock," he replied.
"Wait, you're saying you think there actually might have been some creepy man in my room that night! What the hell was he doing there?" Que said in alarm.
"We don't know anything for sure. It is just speculation, but Hank would like to run some tests in your room to find out for sure," the Professor explained calmly.
Que sat criss cross on her bed in stunned silence as Hank set up some strange looking equipment around her room. There were several tripods placed in the corners around her room, each with its own sensor and wires connecting to Hank's laptop. If Que hadn't been so anxious about the possible intruder, she might have gotten up for a closer inspection.
"We are just being cautious Que. Hopefully, the events were unrelated. This was where you thought you saw it right?" Hank asked, placing a sensor near the end of her bed. Que nodded with a look of slight irritation. The men seemed perfectly alright that someone possibly invaded her space and totally creeped on her!
Hank turned on all the sensors and set his laptop on Que's desk.
"If this entity was here, we should be able to pick up some residual dark matter from it," Hank explained to Que and the Professor.
"Dark matter! Prof you didn't say anything about dark matter! That's like black hole stuff!" Que said in distress.
Charles gave Hank an irritated look.
"Let's just see what the data says," Charles said before wheeling closer to the laptop and Hank.
Not long after, Hank's computer screen started filling with code and data. Lines upon lines, filled the screen, quicker than Que could read from her vantage point. She hopped off the bed and moved toward the pair of adults by her desk.
"What's it say Hank? Was I visited by a dark matter entity?" Que tried to sound nonchalant, but her voice was a bit too squeaky to fool anyone.
She almost wish she hadn't asked because when Hank turned around from his computer his face was pale.
"Yes, actually. Whoever it was, was definitely here," Hank said a bit shocked.
Que's eyes grew wide and Charles wore a blank mask. He was just as distressed by the news as Que. What could this being want and what were its motives?
"Do you think he was in my room by mistake? I mean come on. You said he might have just been trying to get in contact with us for help or something," Que suggested slightly panicky. She could tell by the look on his face he didn't think that was the case.
"Que, I think it may be best if you gather your things. I will make some arrangements for you to stay downstairs in the staff quarters. I also do not want you leaving the grounds alone until we get this straightened out," the Professor instructed her.
"What? Downstairs? Prof. I don't know if a few more walls is going to make a difference. What if it is dangerous? I don't want to draw him deeper into the house with more people!" Que said eyeing the exits of the room. 'What was her quickest possible exit? Where could she go to hide from this thing?' she thought, still panicked.
"Que, you will gather your things and move downstairs," the Professor said firmly. He knew her well enough to know she was planning to run.
"Regardless of its intentions, we will be safer in numbers. We are not going to let it harm you or anyone else here," he said in softer tone.
Anxiety racked though Que's body as she gathered her things. Hank collected his hardware and spoke softly to the Professor. They were not going to leave her alone until they knew she wouldn't bolt.
As she packed, she noticed she had acquired a lot more items now than when she first came to the mansion. She gathered all her parts for their unfinished Christmas gifts and quickly shoved them in her bag. She'd have to finish them soon, but keeping them a secret would probably be a bit more difficult.
The murmur of conversation between the Professor and Hank grew quieter, and naturally peaked her curiosity. She listened more closely.
"I don't like it Charles. Based on the data patterns, it looks like the location was not an accident," Hank whispered.
"Are you sure Hank?" the Professor asked.
"Yes, whoever it was, was definitely here on purpose," he replied.
From her peripheral vision, she saw Hank and the Professor send a worried side glance in her direction before moving into the hall.
Que knew she couldn't let any harm come to these people. She'd gotten in way to deep, and was firmly committed to keeping them safe, be damned the risk or cost.
It had been two days since Que moved into the staff quarters, and Storm had been more than willing to let Que bunk with her. Que had protested that there were plenty of empty rooms downstairs, but she knew the staff had ulterior motives for having her room with an adult X-Men. Regardless, she didn't like encroaching on anyone's space.
It was Christmas Eve and everyone was planning on a big dinner together. Que's worries about the whole dark matter, creeper man, had been stashed away for now, and she had been busy in the kitchen with Roberto all day. The pair had gotten together and unanimously decided they would cook. The Professor was satisfied with this especially since it would keep Que busy in the kitchen without having to be watched twenty four seven. Que hardly had a moment of peace without a senior staff member or one of the boys hanging about.
Dinner was almost ready at 4:30 that afternoon, and the pair of chefs planned let everything set and simmer until six. Roberto told Que he was fine if she wanted to run up and change or get anything. He would take care of putting on the green beans and checking the ham. Que gratefully accepted his offer. It was perfect time to freshen up and grab the gifts she had for them.
She was so excited as she headed to the basement and onto Storm's quarters that she almost blew a few of the paintings of the mansion walls as she ran past. Her gifts were going to be perfect, and she really hoped everyone liked them. Giving gifts this time of year was something she hadn't done in around a decade, and she had forgotten how exciting it was.
Before she got to her shared room, she felt the oddest sensation on the back of her neck. It was kind of tingly. "That is odd," she thought, and it went away once by the time she gathered her friend's gifts from under her bed. She had build a portable holographic photo inducer for each of them and put it in a type of accessory. There were watches, bracelets, keychains, and some were just pocket sized silver disks. She had digitized specific sets of photos for each person's gift to give them each a personal touch. She was quite proud of them, even if they weren't the fanciest things she'd ever made.
She changed out of her flour covered clothes and headed back upstairs. She had decided to make herself a little more presentable tonight too. Que was usually quite strict to here cotton shirt and denim regimine and despised anything that rubbed her skin, but several weeks ago, Raven had dragged Que to one of the local clothing stores in town. She helped Que find a deep purple blouse, still cotton, that Que wouldn't die of scruffy irritation and some nice, new jeans. Even though Que couldn't see the difference, it complemented her skin tone and made her look more mature. Much to her embarrassment, Raven had made quite a scene and loudly announced this when Que had come out of the fitting rooms to show her. Que smiled, thinking back on the memory.
As she headed back upstairs toward the living room, she felt the same strange tingle on her neck as before. It made her feel a bit light headed. She'd definitely have to sit down when she got back to the kitchen. As she placed the gifts under the tree, she could hear laughing coming from the kitchen. "Everyone is ready for dinner," she thought still smiling.
Suddenly, the tingling in her neck became a sharp jolt and everything went dark.