Yo, peoples! Enjoy chapter four of Grade 5! Took a while I know but... sorry?
Chapter Four
It was not long before we had reached our destination, which according to Xavier is a covert CIA Research Base. The car stopped and I stepped out into the sunlight. It was definitely a very large place, clean too. Also the structure was pretty modern and a pale sandy colour. Both Erik and I were kind of frozen just looking at the place. When I looked at Xavier and MacTaggert, they seemed just as in awe as we were. MacTaggert was of the CIA right? She must have been here before... maybe she's the newbie.
"Charles!" I glanced at a sprinting blond. She had leapt out of another car and was running straight for Xavier. They hugged and I felt obliged to look away. Girlfriend? I felt a strange feeling in my stomach as I though this. Hold on, I mean yes he's handsome but could what I be feeling... I brushed it off.
"Raven! You made it." Xavier turned to us and smiled, "This is my sister, Raven." I inwardly cursed. I should stop making random assumptions.
"I'm Erik Lensherr... and this is my sister Ebony." I looked at Erik. He said 'my' harshly and I could tell he was glaring at Xavier. Weird. I looked back at the gorgeous blond girl and smiled slightly. Poole interrupted any further introductions by clapping his hands together.
"Right, welcome to my facility." He started to walk towards the large front doors, "My mission has been to investigate the application of paranormal powers in military defence."
"Or offense." Erik and I simultaneously said. We smirked at each other. Wasn't paying attention to whether anyone else was giving us weird looks.
"This guy Shaw, Schmidt, whatever you want to call him, he's working with the Russians." Poole informed us.
"Shocker." I said sarcastically. I liked sarcasm; some say it's the lowest form of wit, I say piss off.
"We might need your help to stop him..." I rolled my eyes at Poole. He was being ever so slightly corny. Note the sarcasm.
"Marvellous. So we're to be the CIA's new mutant division, yes?" Xavier asked, a hint of mirth detected in that British accent of his.
"I like the sound of that." I admitted, smiling.
We entered the building and as expected, it was very modern. Metal and the colour white seemed to be a big favourite as well as immaculate, concrete floors. I didn't care much for the look. Modern really wasn't my thing, you know? Preferred the old stuff. Still, I kept my mouth shut as we walked the corridors. Xavier kept glancing at me. He was trying to read my mind. I could feel the push of his attempts into my head.
"Quit doing that Xavier." I said. He looked away and I felt the pressure release, but my annoyance didn't waver. In fact, it only amplified. Why? I haven't the foggiest. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man whom I didn't know, collapse. I could feel my telepathy crumble and give way momentarily as others rushed to his aid.
I did that. For some reason, my telepathy had caused that man to faint. My emotions were doing this and I could feel it before it happens. I breathed in and looked forward, rebuilding the wall within my mind slowly but surely. I won't let it happen again. Xavier was watching me, though and I could still feel his mind against my own. I glared at him, but he ignored it.
――――
Eventually, after a silent walk, we reached a large open room. In the centre was a large model of a grey plane hanging from the ceiling. It was truly magnificent. The others thought so too, by the looks of amazement in their eyes. Xavier and Erik looked more impressed than anything. I admit, whoever designed this was incredibly creative. An architect? Mechanic? Well, at least I tried.
"It's a supersonic." A voice said. I looked and saw a young man in a white lab coat, "Most advanced plane ever built." He came to stand in front of us. "You should see it in real life. It's incredible."
"I can imagine..." I murmured under my breath. Erik nudged me and I elbowed him. Poole looked at us funny before turning to the young man.
"Hank, these are the special new recruits I was telling you about." Poole gestured to us promptly, "This is Hank McCoy, one of our most talented researchers." I smiled politely to the boy, but I was never one to smile 'politely' so it was stiff.
"How wonderful, another mutant already here!" I went to grab Xavier as he walked over to Hank but I was too late and bit my lip in apprehension, "Why didn't you say?" Poole looked lost.
"Say what?"
"He didn't know, dumbass." I said to myself, but they all heard me. Xavier's eyes widened and a look of guilt dashed across his face. He turned to Hank, who looked pale and flustered.
"I'm so terribly sorry..." Xavier said, but Poole was already stepping towards the pair.
"Hank?"
"You didn't ask, so I didn't tell." I felt sorry for the boy. Not so much for Xavier.
"So your mutation is what? You're super smart?" I began to ponder Ravens intelligence. Eh, she's only young...
"I'll say. Hank here graduated Harvard at the age of-"
"15." I cut in, smirking at Xavier, who didn't look particularly happy, "I'm a telepath too, Xavier."
"I wish that's all it was..." Hank was clearly talking to Raven. I knew that lovesick look in his eyes.
"C'mon! Show off a little. We're all friends here... well, now we are." I gave the boy the warmest look I could muster and it worked.
He worked off his shoes and then his socks, placing his feet on the cold floor. The only way I could describe them was that the toes were far more similar to fingers. Xavier chuckled and so did I at the startled, but fascinated expressions worn by everyone else... with the exception of MacTaggert, who quite frankly looked indifferent.
"I'm sorry..." Hank muttered as he moved underneath the wing of the model plane, the rest of us moving out of his way. He stood still for a moment, then he did a sudden flip and BANG his feet clutched the edge of the wing and he hung there easily. We all laughed and clapped.
"You're amazing." Raven said as she walked up to him, watching his upside-down form.
"Really?" He asked, sceptical. She only grinned and nodded.
He dropped to the ground again and was grinning like a fool, face still red. He continued to talk to Raven, while Erik looked around the room and MacTaggert conversed with Poole. I looked at Xavier and he was watching me, a strange expression on his face. I raised an eyebrow and cocked my head to the side.
"Your turn." He said.
"What?"
"Show me what you can do."
"Maybe another time."
"Maybe not."
"Maybe yes."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to do it now."
"I want you to do it now."
"Shut up."
"Just do it."
"Fine, but somewhere private."
"Okay."
"And Erik has to be there."
"Okay- wait, why?"
"He's my brother."
"Fair enough."
With that, our little banter ended as he lead Erik and I into a little square conference room of sorts. I really didn't want to do this. It's never easy admitting your mutations. The fear of being ridiculed and picked on because of what you are stays heavy with you even after so many years. As Xavier shut the door, he gave me a comforting look and his eyes were soft as we sat down opposite each other.
"Let's get started shall we?"
Charles POV
I watched Ebony carefully as I lead her towards one of the conference rooms. It was easy to find an empty one, Mr Poole's mind was very open.
I opened the door and let Ebony and Erik go through first. She smiled slightly, and I was tempted to smile back if it weren't for Erik's glare. I sighed quietly and shut the door.
I was suddenly very eager to know her power. Other than telepathy, she must have something else. She's just too…complicated to only have one. I'm intrigued by her. She wanted to show me in private while only her brother was allowed too. Something must be up.
"Right, when you're ready." I said and sat down opposite where she had sat beforehand. Erik stood stoically in front of the door.
I watched her every move. To say I was shocked when those green eyes turned into a deep chocolate brown colour and her hair turned jet black. So she was like Raven?
Not quite. I can only change my hair and eye colour. This is my real hair and my real eyes. She spoke into my mind and I nodded slowly. This certainly was intriguing.
"Do you have any water?" She asked. Confused I shook my head. Why did she need water? I tried reading her mind, but she quickly pushed me away.
"I'll go get some." Erik said before leaving the room. I looked at Ebony again. She smirked and I gulped.
"While we're waiting, Xavier, how about we talk." She said. I inwardly groaned, it wasn't nice to be called Xavier instead of Charles.
"Please, call me Charles." I said. She almost smiled. Almost.
"Fine… Charles." My name sounded nice with her voice.
Erik, I need a knife too. She thought, so I could hear it too. I quirked an eyebrow at the annoyed groan on the other side of the door. He obviously just came back with the water. I could feel his irritation as he walked away.
"You did that on purpose." I stated. She smirked.
"Maybe."
"You evil woman." I joked and she laughed. It was a nice sound, her laughter, and certainly something I'd like to hear more of.
"Yes, I guess I am…" She said and we lapsed into a silence.
I don't know how long we sat there, simply reading each other's expressions. Erik finally came back.
"Here's your stupid water and the stupid knife." He murmured, handing her a long steel knife and a glass of water roughly. I raised an eyebrow at her smirk.
"Thank you, dear brother." She said, too sweetly. I watched silently as she set the glass down.
"What's the knife for?" She smirked at me.
"I guess I'll show you that first then." I nodded very slowly.
She brought the knife up and kept her hand flat on the table top. I realised what she was going to do too late and I jumped out of my chair as she pulled the knife down on her palm. Erik pushed me down into my seat again.
Her face scrunched up in pain and I felt a strange pang in my chest at the knife buried deep into her hand. Blood spilled over her smooth skin and I looked up at Erik angrily. How could he just let her do this?
She pulled the knife out sharply and laid it down next to the glass of water. Erik's hand left my shoulder and I immediately jumped up to gently hold her hand. I examined the wound, but it was already healing rapidly.
"I have rapid healing." She stated, voice slightly strained. I sighed and gave her a look.
"But you haven't mastered it enough for the pain to heal with the wound have you." I said. She offered a sheepish smile.
"No. The pain disappears within a few days though, not as long as it usually would take." She explained. I wasn't convinced.
"You could have done something a little less painful…or maybe just told me." I said, shaking my head.
"Where's the fun in that?" Her voice was joking and her eyes glittered with mischief and pain. She certainly was intriguing…
"Now, why did you ask him to bring water?"
I hadn't realised I still hand her hand enveloped in mine until she removed it slowly and reached for the glass. Blushing slightly, I sat back and felt Erik glaring at me.
Ebony hovered her hand over the glass and her eyes flashed gold. My jaw dropped when the water from the glass followed her hand in a spherical blob. I watched the ball of water move towards me and stop in front of me.
"Hold your hand out under it." She said. I complied, albeit hesitantly.
The water instantly froze and dropped into my hand. I chuckled breathlessly as I weighed the solid ball of ice in my hand. She just… I was truly speechless. She had so many amazing powers. There couldn't be anything else, right?
"I also have enhanced senses."
"Fascinating." I mumbled quietly. Ebony chuckled at my awe struck expression.
"I guess it is…" She said.
We sat grinning at each other in silence for a while before Erik cleared his throat. I gave him a strange look and he glared at me. He seemed to have a disliking for me…
"I suggest we find where we'll sleep." He stated. I nodded in agreement and Ebony hummed.
"I think we should find Mr Poole." She said and the three of us left the room.
While we walked, Ebony kept wincing like she was in pain. I touched her shoulder and she looked at me.
"Are you alright?" She smiled half-heartedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine…" I raised an eyebrow, "It's just a headache…"
"Something tells me you know it's not just a headache." I turned and walked over to Mr Poole, leaving a confused Ebony behind me.
Ebony POV
What? Oh, he's a telepath too… My head truly is hurting, but it was because I needed to shift. My body doesn't take too kindly to staying in human form for as long as it has. I had to wait a little longer though…
"Let me show you where you'll be sleeping." Mr Poole said and we followed silently as he brought us too our rooms.
Mine was very spacious, but everything reminded me too much of a hotel room. It had a theme of white, I noticed and I groaned internally. I thanked Mr Poole and once he was gone, I fell onto my bed.
Something wasn't right. The air seemed to shift and I sat up. A knock sounded at my door. Opening it, Erik gave me a strange look and I crossed my arms over my chest.
"We're leaving."
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