That night, Irene ran down the hallway to the familiar door and started to bang on it like a mad woman. She was panicking and was just about to blast her way in when she heard the locks becoming undone. Her younger sister opened the door and stood there, perplexed as she didn't know what to do with Irene. Irene smiled to her and thrust her arms around Maria in a tight hug as she kissed the back of her head.
"Okay, no-"Maria pushed her sister off of her, "What the hell has gotten into you, Ren? Where have you-"
"I had to see you"
"You see me nearly every day" Maria looked at her sister carefully, "What's going on?"
"I need you ask you something, Maria, did anything weird happen at your work today?" Irene asked.
"Nothing that I've noticed. We're still trying to get new equipment back into our facility"
Irene looked to her sister full of confusion until she stopped and let out a low sigh. She walked over to the couch and nearly sank into it in her daze.
She slowly moved her hand through her hair as she knew this step all too well when she was working with Jared. Maria watched her sister as her eyes slightly squinted at her. The younger sister walked over and sat down on the coffee table right in front of Irene. From there she could tell perfectly that Irene was in such turmoil that it frightened Maria.
Maria didn't know whether she wanted to know what Irene had on her mind. She already knew that whatever was going to come out of Irene's mouth next wasn't going to be a good thing. Maria took in a slow breath as she braced herself. She was, after all, trained to deal with this kind of situation.
"He's laying low before he strikes" Irene finally said softly.
"What?" Maria questioned, "What are you talking about? Who are you talking about? Who's laying low?"
Irene let out another low sigh as she ducked her head down into her palm, the way she always used to whenever she was stressed. Maria sat there perfectly still as she balled her hands up into little fists.
"His name is Jared" Irene spoke up.
"What are you talking about, Ren?" Maria urged.
"He is the one that you are after" Irene told her sister, "He's the one that's been wreaking havoc all over your facility. And now, in six days, he will open up hell onto you guys. God knows how many mutants he's already rallied up"
"How do you-"Maria stopped, "Did you go back-"
"Of course not!" Irene yelled out, "He found me"
"And he told you all of this" Maria finished, "He found you to tell you this. And his word is truthful? You and him- You know that what he's saying is the truth"
Irene sighed, "I don't know. Maria, he usually keeps the secret missions to himself. I'm guessing that he told me his distraction but he didn't mention anything of what his objective was"
"Ren, why didn't you use your power?" Maria pointed out.
"Maria! I froze!" Irene yelled out again, "I didn't know what to do! At first, I didn't know what he was talking about. But then he mentioned SHIELD and you and all these threats! I didn't know what to do at that time! I don't want my baby sister to get hurt, Maria"
"You did the right thing" Maria only said as she placed her hand on Irene's shoulder.
Irene looked at her, "What are you going to do?"
Maria only gave a small smile as she got up and took a hold of her phone as she dialed a number she already knew by heart. Irene already knew who she was going to talk to as she watched Maria pace the room as she talked in a formal manner. Maria glanced over to her sister as she muttered something into the phone almost like as if she didn't want her sister to freak out. Irene watched as Maria ended the call and went over and joined her sister back on the couch.
"Fury is going to schedule a meeting" Maria told her, "We'll go over everything that you said. I'm sure after what I told him, he'll send in some reinforcements. Things like this, Fury wouldn't let just fade away. He's very paranoid, if you haven't noticed. He'll do anything to protect his own"
"Really? I haven't noticed"
"Trust me, after what you just told me, he will have to take your side" Maria told her.