Chapter 14: Lost
Quicksilver is patiently waiting or trying to. It takes the guy terribly long to get back with his fried fish. For a second, he's worried that the agent is on to him and has escaped, left the town. But only a few minutes later, he sees him coming down the beach. There he is. The showdown is about to begin.
"That was a nice game." "You're only saying that because you've won." Charles is a bit sour about it. If he would've had Erik win on purpose it would have been different, but he'd actually won. In the past Charles was usually better, but sometimes let Erik win to enhance his mood or not to dampen his spirits even more. Erik's mind was often in a dark place and Charles had been privy to that. Not anymore; the helmet is fixed on his head and seems to have grown attached to his body. "Even so, time for business. Let's see if we can find us an agent on the run."
Quicksilver has learnt his lesson. He will be suspicious of all humans, like he should have been. The agent is slowing coming towards him. Quicksilvers will finish what he started with Dr. Lovely. Hopefully this time the party won't be spoiled by interfering X-men. Soon the agent is on top of a whirlwind, totally petrified. A few people see what's happening but are powerless to stop it. When Quicksilver has had enough he suddenly stops his circling. Immediately the cyclone dissolves and the special agent is thrown in the ocean from many feet above. With a large loud splash he hits the water. Some bystanders get him out of the water and try to reanimate but he has already left this world. Quicksilver is still standing nearby, shocked by what has happened. Together with his father it seemed like a fun game, but now… Reality sinks in. He has actually killed for the first time. The dead man before his eyes is on his conscience. The others point their finger at him. "Grab the boy. He's a mutant," they yell. Quicksilver sprints as fast as he can, although he's worn out by all the events of the evening.
"I can't find him. I can't." "Don't take me for a fool, Charles. I know how this thing works, remember?" "I'm not kidding. I can't." "Just try harder. Don't test me, you won't like the outcome." "I don't know what's going on myself, unless…" "Unless what?" "He might already be dead. I can't trace the dead with this; they're quite untraceable." "He's not dead. He should be, but you let him go!" "Erik, I'm sorry I really can't." "How about we let that protégé of yours, Jean is it?" "It's not a matter of ability. Wait, I could… Are others in the Brotherhood out looking for him?" "Of course, it's our main objective at the moment, thanks to you." "Maybe they got to him without you?" "They know to leave him to me." "Erik…" "What?!" "I was right. I'm sorry; you're too late. He is gone." "Gone, gone how?" "Pietro." Charles whispers his name. "He got there first and the man, the agent, he's quite gone." "Quicksilver. My boy did it all by himself?" "I'm afraid so." "Don't be. That's magnificent. Of course, I would have preferred it to have been present, but.." "Unfortunately Pietro isn't as pleased as you are." "Why ever not?"
Quicksilver is on the run. Police cars are trailing him. A car happened to drive by and the people on the beach had informed them about the murder. They are slowly gaining on him. He gets off the road towards the harbor hoping to ditch them there. His mind is occupied with two quarrelling voices telling him precisely the opposite. How he was right to do what he just did and that he had made a terrible mistake. He jumps on a fisher boat, the cars can't follow him here, but he becomes trapped in the nets. Three fishermen grab him and hand him over to the police. They cuff him immediately and sedate him. One can't be too careful with these mutants.
Erik is still boasting about his son when Charles calls him out of his triumphant monologue. He gently tugs at his hand. "Erik….Erik!" "Yes, yes, you're not happy about this, I know Charles, but for me.." "Erik, you need to listen. They've arrested him." "Quicksilver can outrun, outsmart any of these pathetic excuses for .." "They have arrested him. He has been taken to a maximum security facility on account of him being your son." "When did this happen?" "Earlier this evening. They are questioning him now."
Over the years they had learnt how to deal with various mutants. They all had their soft spots. Members of the Brotherhood were well known and Quicksilver's arrival had not gone unnoticed. Catching them was quite another matter, but every once in a while, they were lucky. This young mutant boy doesn't seem to be the greatest risk, but his father would definitely go after him. Perhaps this was a possibility to catch Magneto; a chance they'd been waiting for.
Quicksilver is interrogated. Although these things are limited by rules, for mutants they can easily be bended. He is mainly questioned about the Brotherhood's whereabouts, not the murder of the agent. They hit him repeatedly but he doesn't give in. He feels guilty about his actions but this treatment makes him defiant.
"What should we do?" "You can't go there, Erik. It's a trap devised especially for you. That's why they've taken him there, to such a secure location." "Then you will have to help him." " I don't have to do anything. Perhaps it is exactly what he deserves. He did just commit a cold blooded murder." "You don't mean that. He is just a child." "If he is just a child, why did you let him join the Brotherhood?" "I wanted to have him near me. My only boy." "Perhaps this is what you deserve. It's the second time in a few weeks that someone tries to get to you through him. You're the real reason all of this is happening. Pietro is only trying to gain your respect, your attention, by the only way he knows how." "Quicksilver was just as much set on revenge as I was. This is not my fault."