Carlie entered Professor Xavier's office, solemnly glancing around the the spacious room, tastefully decorate in a classic, debonair style. The walls and ceiling were all painted pearl white, lined with a carved, polished mahogany trim with a matching floor, set off by a thick Oriental rug, accompanied by long drapes. Two tall shelves lined with tidily arranged leather-bound books and exquisite, expensive-looking ornaments sat directly opposite one another on the left and right side of the room. Elegant European ceiling lamps illumined the massive, ornate desk.
Carlie scanned the room, searching for any clues that might help her. She wore a peach-colored, button-down silk blouse with a ruffle-trimmed V-neckline; a preppy, fashionable, emerald green Abercrombie & Fitch blazer that had brass buttons and a crest sewn onto a pocket on the left side and three-quarter sleeves; a woven, yellow, border scarf with a pattern of pink flowers, worn around her neck in a manner similar to a kerchief; a pale yellow, crochet, floral lace miniskirt with eyelet detailing that was smocked at the waist with a wide satin ribbon that formed a floppy bow on the side of her left hip; lacy, nude, over-the-knee, silk socks; and a pair of vintage, leather, burnished ankleboots of the sienna shade of brown, with stacked heels that laced up the front.
Her jewelry was a great and fashionable addition to her outfit: a pair of pink, floral stud earrings with beaded and pressed details and an antique finish; several pressed bangles of various sizes on each wrist, some silver, some gold; and a filigree, gold flower pin attached to the lapel of her stylish blazer.
The door opened again, and Carlie whirled around, looking sharply at the figure who had entered.
Shadows seemed to elongated to hide his face, but there was no mistaking those icy blue eyes: it Northstar.
He was dressed in all black, from his dark jeans and thermal shirt to his laced black workboots. The only other shade on his person was the thick white wool that covered the interior of his leather jacket.
"Hello," Carlie said, smiling slightly at him.
He didn't respond, only gazed at her. Strangely, his appearance was closer to that of a corpse animated by supernatural means than an actual living person; had it not been for his graceful, fluid yet vaguely threatening movements and astonishingly handsome face, Carlie would've believed him to be another species entirely.
He walked over to the enormous fireplace and it lit nearly instantly, before he had even completely reached the hearth.
His actions were very curious, Carlie observed, but she was losing patience. "Hey." She cut her eyes at him. "What's your problem?"
Northstar remained in front of the fire, not looking at her, instead casually watching the flames. Abruptly, he strode to Xavier's desk, removed a sheath of papers, and tossed the pages into the fire. The white papers blackened in the flames as twilight settled outside. Carlie moved closer to the fire , and she could read the words "Bella", "Edward", "chagrin", "masochism", and "Renesmee" -which sounded startlingly similar to a Pokémon creature- which all consumed by flames within seconds.
"What was that about?" Carlie questioned, utilizing her skills as an investigator.
"Useless trash Xavier probably confiscated from some student for her own safety," Northstar responded, tone indicating boredom, perhaps just trace of impatience. He closed his eyes briefly; his notable gaze was ringed by black shadows, as if it had been weeks since he had last rested. "Ultimately insignificant. But someone needs to eradicate weakness if no one else is willing to deign to dirty their hands."
A frown upon her gorgeous face, Carlie watched him. "Jean told me that you're not really a student here," she informed him.
Northstar studied her for a moment, rather reminiscent of a tiger stalking its prey. "That's not what you should be concerned about at the moment," he replied impassively.
"Oh, really?" Carlie challenged. "And what is the issue that so desperately demands my attention?"
"Professor Xavier's abduction," Northstar riposted, gazing at her unwaveringly as he moved toward the desk with a feline grace. He reached on the desk and held up a business card. "I think we know our kidnapper."
Carlie rushed over to him and elegantly ripped the card from his still palm and read the contents:
"Herr Dr. Sharp Strange, Official Head Gangster of Yancy Street, under the authority of HRH, Criminal Kingpin W. Fiskie."
A note had been written on the back of the card:
"Greetings, mutants: I have taken your benefactor until you bring me what I demand. Contact me at 1-800 MATT FRACTION CHARACTERIZATION for details. May the dark forces of gothic power reign forever."
Carlie trailed her finger over the index card. The material was thick and high quality, indicating money was squandered on something as simple as a reinforced paper card. Carlie's blood boiled. Criminal scum; how she hated them all, with their Rolls Royce, lobster dinners, female escorts- all purchased through blood money gained by robbing hardworking people of their rightful entitlements.
She would find this "Sharp Strange" and ruin him.
"What are you planning?" Northstar asked her quietly.
"What about you?" Carlie arched an upswept eyebrow as she turned the tables on Northstar.
"I just want to help you," Northstar said.
Carlie considered Northstar with her eyes. True, he had entered the Xavier Institute under false pretenses and soon afterward, her greatest potential ally had been kidnapped, but she saw no reason not to trust him. "Sure," she said generously, her beautiful wisteria eyes kind. "You can come with me to confront these mobsters."
The other Crimebusters rushed into the room.
Northstar grimaced and surreptitiously prowled over to the stately armoire, understatedly removing a bottle of brandy and an antique glass.
"What's going on?" Scott demanded.
"Selene was right," Carlie said seriously, her mellifluous still smooth as honey. "Professor Xavier has been kidnapped, but I found a clue that might lead us to where he is." She showed the business card to them; Northstar said nothing to protest her false statement, just watched them intently and sipped his alcoholic beverage.
"Wow, Carlie!" Lance exclaimed. "You're a genius!"
"We're lucky to have you here," Jean agreed. "I don't know what we'd do without you!"
"We'll to take you out to dinner to celebrate your success," Lance said excitedly. "Only the best for an amazing and beautiful girl like you!"
"Thank you," Carlie said modestly. "But first . . ."
The Crimebusters turned toward the fireplace, posing in a formation not unlike the Justice League, looking really cool and ready to fight.
Carlie raise her fist into the air. "I vow to destroy these corrupt gangsters, no matter what the cost!"
Her teammates unhesitatingly pledged their support.
Northstar rolled his eerie eyes and drained his brandy.