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On the way to the USA!
Chapter 3 - Up and away
Moira was on edge once again. There were two reasons for that and they were both sitting a couple of chairs away from her. Not next to each other. Heaven forbid. Charles and Ann had clearly gotten off on the wrong foot and Ann was not one to forgive and forget easily. Moira had a first-hand experience with that.
The CIA agent leaned forward a little until she could see her friend better. Ann was currently reading a book, her legs crossed and her lips moving a little as if she was reading out loud. A part of Moira still couldn't believe that she was there with them on their way to the United States. Perhaps Charles Xavier had another power aside from reading minds. Like some sort of persuasion power.
She wasn't sure what Charles had said to her exactly, apart from the bit where he told Ann that the CIA would pay for all of her expenses. Which was highly unlikely to happen. However Moira wasn't even a hundred percent sure why she was feeling nervous about all of this. The real concern was what would happen once they reached CIA Headquarters.
Somehow Ann's presence always made her feel anxious, mostly because Moira could never fully predict what she was going to do next. But Charles Xavier was the other reason for her uneasiness, despite him having been incredibly helpful and easy-going from the moment she met him. Not to mention kind, polite and a bit of a flirt.
Again the slight unsettling feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. She now knew Charles Xavier had the ability to read minds. Did this mean he could hear them all the time? Everybody's mind? Or only if he focused on the person whose mind he wanted to read? Moira had a lot of questions, but she wasn't really sure if she wanted to know the answers. From hereon out she would also have to be careful of what she was thinking, especially thoughts she preferred to keep to herself.
She turned her head to look out of the window, but her view mainly existed of blue water and some clouds. There were still five hours left until they'd reached the states. Moira puffed her cheeks. This was going to be a long trip.
::::::...::::::
"You're awfully proud of yourself." Raven noted casually as she averted her gaze from the window to the person next to her.
"I wouldn't say proud, but I am pleased with today's happenings." Charles replied not looking up from his book.
"Oh, is that what it is?"
Charles finally lifted his head and turned to her. "Something on your mind?"
"I haven't seen you this 'pleased' as you call it in a long time. No, no, that's actually not true." She corrected herself. "Ever since you became professor you've been on a pink cloud, but today it's different."
Her brother let out a sigh and shut his book. "Is that disapproval I hear in your voice? I thought you'd be happy to go to the states?"
"It's not disapproval, Charles. I'm just concerned about what we're getting ourselves in to. Convincing the you-know-who people about us, what we are?"
"No, not us. Not for the time being, alright?" Charles assured her, hearing the obvious worry in her voice. "If push comes to shove, I will only mention myself as proof. Not you, got that?"
Raven nodded. She had been mauling these thoughts over in her head, what could happen should the CIA discover they had certain gifts. She had no desire to become some governments lab rat for tests. Luckily Charles's words seemed to relax her a little bit. Raven leaned back in her seat. But as soon as Charles opened his book again, his sister opened her mouth once more.
"So what do you think she can do?" She asked. Her question could only refer to one specific person.
"Why are you asking me when you could ask her yourself?" Charles suggested.
"I can't ask her here on a plane. We're not exactly in a private place." Raven whispered.
"You're not suggesting I search her mind for it, are you?"
Raven huffed. "As if you haven't already done that."
"For your information, I haven't." He paused for a second and threw a quick glance over his shoulder before leaning forward towards his sister. "Alright, maybe I peeked a little, but I'm not fully sure yet."
"You might as well, because at this rate she'll never tell you herself."
Charles arched an eyebrow. "Now why would you say that?"
Raven didn't reply, instead she raised her hand and pointed her index finger at her brother's eye. The cut Ann had inflicted upon him would probably be visible for at least a couple of days. Instinctively Charles touched it for a second. Perhaps she had a point.
"I'm sure she'll come about at some point." He said.
Raven shrugged and turned her head away from him. "If you say so. You're the professor."
::::::...::::::
Ann took a long and hard look at herself in the airplane bathroom mirror. Was she being stupid here? Going back to the USA to help Moira with a case? However, Professor Charles Xavier assured her that she wasn't obliged to help, but at least attend the meeting to hear what was going on and then make a decision.
He had also promised that if she were to say no, that he would not bother her ever again. That latter bit was rather tempting. But for now it was too late to turn back. And if she had to be honest, she was a bit intrigued to be around someone who was like her. Although she didn't care much for what it was that Charles Xavier could do.
Read minds. Communicate without saying words. Ann shivered a little. Compared to him, her own so called gift almost sounded like a joke. She could do none of that. She wasn't even sure if she would want to.
Ann let out a deep breath and rubbed her face. She'd been reading for most of the flight now, not even trying to socialize with the others. She knew Moira wouldn't appreciate it if she bothered her, the woman absolutely hated to fly and would much rather spent her time alone without too much talk. Ann felt no need to talk to the other two. With one last glance in the mirror, Ann stood up and left the lavatory compartment.
As soon as she stepped out however, someone bumped against her. She stumbled back, but the person who had walked into her so rudely didn't even seem to notice she was there.
"Excuse me?!" She said, throwing the man a disapproving glare.
He stopped and looked at her. "That's alright." He quickly said before walking away from her.
Ann stood there absolutely gobsmacked. That had not been an apology. With an angry stride she made her way back to her seat, all the while muttering under her breath the audacity some people had.
When she reached her chair, her already aggravated mood only got worse. She lowered her eyes at the seat next to her, which was no longer unoccupied. Charles Xavier moved his head and smiled at her.
"This is a beautiful piece of literature." He commented as he raised his hand which held the book Ann had been reading throughout the flight so far.
Ann pressed her lips in a tight line, but managed to let out a short and distant. "Thank you."
Charles cleared his throat and set the woman's novel aside. Already he was regretting his decision to come over and see if they could redo their first encounter in a more civilised manner. Although that was something he probably should have done before entering the airplane. Still, it was better to reattempt now than wait until they landed on solid ground.
"Please,-" He motioned for her to sit down.
The disdain was more than visible on Ann's face. With a sour look she took her seat and crossed her legs the moment she sat down.
"Miss Weber,-"
"Ann." She quickly said. "I don't go by that name anymore."
Charles blinked, but complied. "Ann. I came over to apologise. Clearly we got off on the wrong foot and I feel it is necessary to make peace or at the very least restore some form of harmony between us." He eyed her expectantly.
Ann's mouth twitched a little. His boldness made her very uncomfortable. But she could understand him coming over and trying to mediate matters between them. If they were to eventually work together and help Moira with her case, they would have to be able to at least communicate on a normal level with each other.
Ann nodded at him. "In that case, I accept your apology." She said trying to sound as sincere as possible.
"You do?"
Charles frowned at her with minor disbelief. Her words said one thing, but her eyes said another. The urge to take a quick peek into her mind if she was being sincere nudged him in the back of his head. But he refrained from prying. As far as that was possible or necessary. Her current demeanour told him more than enough.
"Yes." Ann repeated.
Charles gave her a small smile. "Thank you, Ann. It really is most appreciated. Now if I may ask you something, you see, I've been wonde-"
"Actually I was hoping on catching a little shut eye before we reached the states. If you don't mind, of course?" The woman replied swiftly before Charles could finish his sentence.
However, Charles did mind. He honestly could not understand why she was still this short towards him. Aside from their initial meeting, he had been nothing but kind to her since then, had he not? He'd even apologized just now. Apparently that did not entitle him to socialize with her during the flight.
"Sure. I understand." He answered.
But Charles didn't make any attempts to get up and, if he had to be completely honest, he rather enjoyed the stupefied look Ann was currently giving him. He took her book, which he'd placed on his lap earlier and opened it.
"You wouldn't mind if I read this while you sleep, would you?"
He didn't need to read her mind to know that she probably did mind it. But unexpectedly Ann slumped back into her seat and closed her eyes. "Be my guest."
Langley Virginia, CIA Headquarters
Ann's eyes drifted into the direction of the two people next to her. It was clear from their wide eyes and slightly opened mouths that they'd never been here before. The entrance of the CIA headquarters had rendered them speechless. Finally...
It wasn't until the plane went into its descent that Ann realized she had managed to fall asleep with the telepathic man sitting beside her. Something she'd been thankful for, the falling asleep part that was, not Charles Xavier sitting next to her. She had no clue for how long she'd been sleeping, but the professor had managed to finish three quarter of her book by the time she woke up.
And now finally, after having travelled for hours on end through the air, followed by a long car ride to Langley, Virginia, they had reached their destination. CIA Headquarters. Ann still felt rather tired and the desire to attend this important meeting was the last thing on her mind right now. Was it really that important for her to be present at it?
From what she gathered Charles was planning on giving a presentation on genetic mutation. This was supposedly necessary to convince Moira's boss that what she had seen at the Hellfire Club was very real. Of course more things would be discussed, such as how to proceed next, but that was something Moira could surely tell her herself instead of attending said meeting.
"Okay, here are you visitors badges." The CIA agent stepped away from the reception desk and handed Charles and Raven each a plastic card attached to a silver clip.
Moira then proceeded to Ann and extended her hand with the visitor's pass, which she took a little reluctantly. With a sigh Ann attached the rectangular object to the front of her blazer. When she looked back up, the brunette was staring at her with a furrowed brow.
"Something on your mind?" She asked.
"Any chance your desk is still on the same floor and in the same room as it was last time?" Ann said with an almost pleading look.
The agent's shoulders dropped. "You're not coming?"
"I'd rather not. Besides, I'm positive I won't be of much help during this meeting with your boss."
Moira glanced over her shoulder at Charles and Raven, the first staring in their direction and the other at the ceiling. Quickly Moira grabbed the crook of Ann's elbow and guided her a couple of feet away from the others.
"Remember the picture I showed you of Colonel Hendry?" The woman whispered and Ann nodded.
It was one of the reasons why Moira had bothered to come all the way to England and decided to pay a visit to her familiar contact in the first place. She'd been hoping Ann could do that which she did whenever Moira needed help to find someone. The fact that she mentioned Hendry again could only mean one thing. If Ann wasn't planning on coming with them, then surely she could help out in some other way.
The woman didn't protest as Moira opened the small briefcase she had with her and pulled out the folder she'd showed Ann yesterday.
"If you're really set on this, would you at least consider to...you know. Have another look at it? I wrote some information on him at the back of the last document." She sounded incredibly hopeful and Ann took the file from her.
"I'll see if there is anything." She looked up and gave Moira a comforting smile. "But I can't promise I'll find something."
Moira shook her head and sighed with relief. "Anything is better than nothing. Thank you. I mean that."
"I'll do my best."
::::::...::::::
Ann took a seat at Moira's desk and dropped the file on its surface. She leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. Finally some alone time. She really wasn't a people person. She could pretend she was, certainly, but in the end she always preferred to be alone.
She was unsure how she was going to be able to help Moira out and locate Colonel Hendry for her. Pictures were a tricky things. They weren't a true connection to the person you were staring at. In most cases the only thing that worked best and fastest, was a personal object. Something that belonged to the person she was looking for.
With Colonel Hendry all Ann had to her disposal was just a moment caught on film. Still, she had promised Moira she was going to try and help. The caramel haired woman took a deep breath in through her nose, before sitting up straight, and she quickly pulled the black and white picture out of the folder.
The man was losing most of his hair, the photograph was also a little bit blurry. He was wearing a suit in the picture, something she reckoned he probably didn't do that often. Ann took a couple of seconds to visualise most of Colonel Hendry inside her mind. She put the picture back on the flat surface of Moira's desk and placed her hands upon it.
It took longer than she expected it would, sitting there for at least a couple of minutes before she finally felt that familiar tug as if someone was pulling her forward. Her entire body tingled until her surroundings changed.
'The sky was blue, the sun shining bright and in the background Ann saw a pier, palm trees and sand. Colonel Hendry was on a boat it would seem and he wasn't alone. There was a man standing before him, casually leaning on a counter.
The stranger was tall, wearing a white shirt and a white blazer with a red shawl tightly tied around his neck. He was smiling, but his eyes were obscured by a pair of sunglasses and his brown hair moved gently with the breeze. Colonel Hendry turned his head and Ann saw two more people near him. A young man, also dressed in white, and a blonde woman sunbathing on one of the lounge chairs.
But that wasn't all she saw. There was something in Colonel Hendry's hand. A grenade.
"Or I will pull this pin, and we'll all die." Hendry spoke.
Ann could feel the small oval object, fingers clasped tightly around it and the other holding onto its pin. But as the guy came closer, the colonel still hadn't done as he said.
All of a sudden, the guy with the sunglasses grabbed the grenade and pulled the pin. As if it was the most normal thing in the world to do. Ann couldn't believe her eyes. Seconds went by and then as she counted and got to five, it exploded. She was about to pull away, when something odd happened to the explosion. Instead of everything disappearing, as she had expected to happen, everything and everyone was still there.
A large ball of fire swirled around, as if it was stuck in a fishbowl and couldn't get out. But the fire wasn't being contained inside a glass object, she could see hands holding onto the ball of flames making it smaller and smaller. It was almost as if he was squeezing it until it vanished out of sight.
"I can absorb energy. But that's the boring part. The fun stuff is what I can do with it once I've got it." He raised his hand and reached for Hendry.
His voice sent shivers down her spine and Ann had seen enough.'
Before fully grasping what had just happened and what was about to take place, she pulled out of Hendry's mind and was back in Moira's office. Her heart pounded in her throat and her chest heaved up and down rapidly. She pushed her upper body off of the wooden desk.
Moira hadn't been lying about what she had seen at the Hellfire Club. But what Ann had just witnessed herself through the eyes of Hendry was something she never could have imagined. She couldn't sense what was going through the colonel's mind, but she reckoned he was just as shocked and taken back by what the man with the sunglasses had just done.
She licked her lips and wiped the beads of sweat from her brow. Moira would get what she wanted, which was the location of Colonel Hendry. Only she would never be able to find him as there would be nothing left of him to find. What was Moira getting them into?
Thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoyed.
A glimpse of Ann's power has now been revealed.
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Until next time.