1When we had straightened that out, I made Ash sit down and talk with me.
"Okay, Ash. If you want me to give up my secrets, you'll have to give up some of yours." He seemed amused, but agreed with my reasoning.
He began. "I told you my name is Michaellane Ashlar." At my puzzled nod, he continued. "What I didn't tell you is that I am...well, please don't take this the wrong way, but I'm a mutant." He quickly continued before I could react.
"I'll show you my powers, but not yet, let me finish first. My brother is also a mutant, as is everyone in this community. Our powers vary, but we do have one thing in common: we all admire Magneto, though some of us not as much as others..."
He trailed off, then picked up his storyline again, not seeing the horrified expression I wore. "This compound where we live is in New York city limits, but some of us use our powers to disguise it as an old warehouse, and we have sufficiently scared away the few vandals that they never bother with this place anymore.
My parents have lived here ever since I was born. They moved in here with my older brother when my mother found out she was pregnant with me. My brother always adored Magneto, and insisted on watching any news broadcasts that he was featured in. He never believed that what Magneto did was really wrong, just wrong by human laws. When he and some of the other teens began chafing under the need to hid, we sent them to Magneto. I haven't heard back from him since, but I know he's happy. Mother watches the news for any sign of him."
He looked back at me, and finally saw the expression I wore. He immediately cut off his tale, coming to my side. "Anna? Anna, what's wrong? What did I say?"
I looked up at him, but didn't really see him. My eyes were watching the long-suppressed memories swirling through my head. Voices echoing from what had already happened...
"Don't worry, Hannah, we'll be home soon. There's just someone I need to pick up first. A friend of mine. Is that alright with you?" Six-year-old Hannah Carter looked up at her uncle, still a little overwhelmed and unable to believe she was out of the orphanage. Shyly, she nodded. Her uncle smiled, and she felt better.
They stopped by an alley, and a heavily coated man flowed out of the shadows to the car. He slipped into the seat, and her uncle locked the doors. A simple reflexive action in this part of town, but it put Hannah on edge. Her uncle turned his head slightly to the man. "Did you bring what I requested?"
At the man's nod, her uncle smiled, but it was not a reassuring smile this time, but rather a cold, calculating one. He glanced back at her, still huddled on the seat, and answered, "I have the girl. She's everything we will need. I'll hand over her training to you. Do as you like, but keep her alive."
The man turned his gaze on her, and Hannah found herself looking into two un-shining dark gems. He regarded her with the same calculating gaze her uncle had. He spoke. "There are others who would be willing to join your cause." Her uncle slashed his hand down in a gesture of negation. "No, I have no need of their talents. Your's is a power for greatness. Their's is not."
"Then what of my younger brother, Michaellane? His power, at least, could be used for greatness." Her uncle glanced at her in the rearview mirror, and then at the traffic. "Perhaps. But for now, all I need is you, and her." The man threw back his hood, revealing a hauntingly cruel face that she would learn to fear. "Who is she?"
Her uncle calmly shifted gears. "My brother's child, Hannah Carter."
I came back to myself, feeling my body shake as Ash tried to wake me. I opened my eyes, and he quit. Still keeping a firm grasp on my arms in case I slipped back int memories, he asked me, "What happened?"
I forced a smile, and kept my voice light. "Nothing. It was just a memory." he looked as though he wanted to press me for answers but I forestalled his questions. "It's part of the secrets I will tell you when I leave, I promise. Please, continue your story."
He didn't look convinced, but did as I requested. I only half-listened to the rest of what he said, too astounded by the fact that Sabertooth was his brother. I vowed to myself not to hurt Ash, no matter how much I hated his brother.