Chapter Text
Book 4: This is War
Chapter 1: A Warning
"A warning to the people,
The good and the evil:
This is war.
To the soldier, the civilian
The martyr, the victim:
This is war."
~ "This is War", 30 Seconds to Mars
Charlotte wasn't surprised the field trip ended in having to pause everyone in the food court to wipe people's memory of one of the students' powers. She was, however, at least hoping that the older ones would have had the sense not to be the ones to cause it. Well, the professor told herself as she wheeled into the food court, children are children.
"Bobby, what did you do?" Rogue asked in shock at the sight of the frozen people.
He shook his head. "I didn't do this..."
"No," Charlotte said, coming up to them, "I did."
At least they had the sense to look shamefaced and thoroughly chastised without her having to say more. "The next time you feel like showing off, don't."
John nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Before she unfroze the other people, the television drew her attention.
"...We're coming to you live from Washington, where there's been an attack in the Oval Office of the White House. Details are still coming in but we have been informed that the President and Vice President were not harmed. Sources say the attack involved one or more mutants…"
Scott spoke up. "I think it's time to leave, Professor."
The telepath nodded. "I think you're right." And the food court leapt back to life as she released their minds.
"In my opinion, Magneto's behind this," Scott said stubbornly.
Jean shook her head. "No, I don't think so, Scott."
The professor hummed in thought. "While Erik is capable of organizing something like this from prison, from him this is irrational. It would only hurt his goal of mutant prosperity."
She knew it in her bones that he wouldn't do this. She could feel it.
"You mean superiority," Pietro corrected quietly.
Her lips thinned for a moment. "You're right," she admitted, "If Erik had his way."
Storm spoke up. "And of course, you know how the government will respond. They'll reintroduce the Mutant Registration Act."
"Or worse," Charlotte added, "The President could declare a state of emergency and place every mutant in the country under arrest."
"Do you think the assassin was working alone?" Jean asked.
"Well, we'll only know that if we find him before the authorities do," the telepath said. "I've been trying to track him using Cerebro but his movements are inexplicably erratic. When I have more exact coordinates, Storm, Jean, I'll need you to take the jet to try and pick him up."
They all filed out to leave her to her work.
She didn’t say that she had a suspect in mind of who the mutant was or who he was related to, but she was quite certain nevertheless.
"…We've managed to gather evidence of a training facility in the Salem area of Upstate New York," Stryker informed the President.
That was her sister's school in the photos…
"And where did you get this information?" the President asked curiously.
Stryker looked smug at that. "Interrogation of one of the mutant terrorists from the Liberty Island incident."
Mystique straightened. "Erik?" she said before she could stop herself, but calmed herself. "Erik Lehnsherr? You have access to him?"
He nodded. "Magneto, yes. We developed the technology that built his plastic prison."
If he was willing to give up the location of Charlotte's school, something was wrong. She needed to break him out sooner than planned…
The disguised mutant looked down at the photographs and something twisted in her gut. "This facility is a school," she told them. She owed it to her sister, to her former home, to Charlotte's successful dream, to try and protect them.
Stryker snorted. "Sure it is," he replied doubtfully.
As the President gave his permission for Stryker to proceed, Mystique's plan changed in her mind. Against her and Magneto or not, there were mutant children in that school and. Well. Attacking them, attacking her childhood home, attacking her sister, was something she would not stand for.
"Do you really want to turn this into some kind of war?" she asked Stryker later.
His face hardened. "…This already is a war."