Days of Future Pryde: Chapter Four

The basic summary of what happened next to Kate and the others followed the minute we dried our tears. The remaining humans did not apreciate the Sentinels taking over their planet, and were going to nuke them sometime in the next twenty-four hours. Kate and the rest of the X-Men (those that were still alive) devised a plan to send one of them back in time to stop the assassination, and by extentsion the hell that had followed.

“But vhy vould you choose Keety?” Kurt wanted to know.

“Right now Kurt,” I explained, taking over, “I am the only one who hasn't been trained to block a telepathic attack when I am not expecting it. I am able to turn on my shields instictively if I know there is a telepath nearby, but other than that I am-was-completely helpless.” I was going a mile a minute. Kate had injected some of her urgency into me, preventing me from stopping and processing anything at all.

We need to focus on the task at hand, she told me.

By the end of the explanation, everyone just kind of milled around the jet cabin and waited for the landing sequence because we had reached our destination. Storm had phoned ahead to inform the Professor that we were coming, although she didn't tell him why.

It's not exactly appropriate phone conversation, dearie.

Quiet Kate, I'm thinking aloud to myself here. We were walking down the hall to the conference room where the Senator and Xavier were located. Why do they call you Kate anyway?

She was quiet for a minute. The last thing Kurt said before dying in my arms was, “Keety.” He said it just like that, in the accent of his. He was one of the first to die, I was somewhere in my twenties, but I still acted like a teenager. Even with all the restrictions, I still felt happy and free. This was during my first pregnancy, but before the child died. I no longer felt that I could bear to hear the name that I associated with a time when we were together, happy, and whole. Something in me broke that day. I never let anyone call me Kitty again.

I didn't ask her any more questions. The truth is, I was scared to hear the answer, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to know anything more. We had shared memories, yes, but she hid a lot of stuff from me in the transfer. I think a part of me was grateful for that. I wouldn't be able to handle any more pain.

The room was packed with reporters from all kinds of news stations. They all turned to stare at us when we entered through the doorway. They were mostly whispering about Angel, who is openly a mutant (I guess you could say that he came out of the secret-identity closet), and a billionaire mutant at that. They were also wondering who we all were, but they were mostly focused on Angel. I was glad. The last thing we needed was more attention.

My body started to tingle, and I new that whatever was going to happen was about to happen. They're close, Kate said.

I know, I replied, help me show Xavier? You can block out the need-to-know parts.

What, like your impending marriage to Piotr?

Yes, I shot back, how young were you anyway, if you were pregnant in your twenties?

Oh, she said breezily, I was eighteen.

Oh no....You know what, I don't have time for this. Help me open my mind.

It took a little effort, concealed by Piotr and Kurt gently gripping my arms and guiding me to a nearby seat, but we managed to bring the natural shield I had somehow developed down long enough for the Professor to see what exactly was going on, and who exactly was currently sharing residence in my brain. Once his shock filtered through, we let the barrier snap back around us.

Thanks.

No problem.

We had to wait of course, while they debated about.....whatever they were debating about. Xavier was composed enough to murmur a quick warning to his companion, a Dr. Moria MacTaggert, before continuing to listen to the politicians debate about whether or not mutants should have rights. It made me angry, the way that they talked about us as if we weren't even human.

Believe me, sweetheart, this isn't bad.

You think I don't know that? I know what you know, remember? But right now, this is what's happening. And it makes me angry.

How do you think I feel?

The same as me, considering you are me.

We didn't have time to banter further, due to the very large explosion happening somewhere on my right. Is that....?

Yep. That's got to be them. No one else would be that bold.

Who caused the explosion? I asked.

Avalanche. He can create minor earthquakes and sometimes focus them on specific areas. Like walls. We dated for a little while while I was in highschool and he was posing as a college student.

How many men have you been with? I shrieked.

Don't you mean how many men will you be with? She laughed.

…..Don't answer that. I'm not sure that I want to know.

There are a lot of things that you didn't want to know that you now know. The question is, what are you going to do with the knowledge you now posses?

….......Be better.

Good.

Our little ten-second speed conversation was ended by Kurt shaking our-my-shoulder. Apparently our little black-outs weren't going unnoticed. I placed a hand on his cheek and smiled to reassure him. I don't think that it helped much, because his facial muscles were extremely tense under my palm. “We are the Brotherhood.” a female voice announced. Mystique, our mother. Kurt's and Rouge's as well.

Who's Rogue?

You'll find out eventually.

“We are humanity's future!” she continued. She fascinated me. I knew from what knowledge Kate provided me with that Mystique was a shape-shifter who believed that we shouldn't have to hide or cower. Her methods were highly questionable, yes, but her heart always seemed to be in the right place.

“Now see here!” A man protested. Kelly. “This is a peaceable meeting! What right do you have to barge in here?”

“We have every right.” Mystique said. “What you are discussing at this meeting is whether or not to treat my people like animals. Well I say, NO MORE!” Her cry was answered by others like it, all members of the Brotherhood.

I hear a series of deep footsteps before a bolt of electricity hits the ground. Storm must have shot off at Blob. He's the only person alive who steps that loudly.“Not another move.” Scott warned from his position near the Professor. “If you're smart, you're going to sit down and wait until the authorities get here.”

“Scott,” I called out, “these idiots are anything but smart.”

The room was so full of people that I could never have gotten a clear read on anyone here, and it distracted me so much that up until now I was just focusing my attention inward, conversing with Kate so as not to get a headache. But just then, I swear I heard a small gasp to my left. I think it was Mystique. And I think she recognized me. Or Kurt. One of us anyway.

The air pressure was crazy, and the fact that Storm was currently using her power made it even worse. I was literally, for the first time in a long time, completely blind. I couldn't use pressure, or smell, or sound. I had no idea what was going to happen, and that terrified me. Kate, thanks to the fact that we shared a body, was just as trapped as I was. The pressure grew even thicker, and I knew that Ororo was creating a fog cover for us so that no reporter in this room would know that we were also mutants.

“Who are you anyway?” a male voice asked. Blob.

“We are the X-Men.” Piotr replied.

“You don't look like any X-Men I have ever met, except for the winged bozo” Blob shot back.

“That's right,” Wolverine snarked, “We aren't like any X-Men you have ever met. We're better.”