Mind Power I

Two hours ago. Some unknown hideout in New York, Queens.

"Damn it! DAMN IT ALL!"

*BAANG!*

In front of a group of mutants, a man wearing a helmet banged everything to the ground and yet no one dared to say a word. 

He had been so close to achieving his objectives. Just a small push, and then out of nowhere, 'All the progress shattered to the ground by some telepath slut!'

He lost his sponsor, Carter Banks. His ally, Obadiah Stane and his retainer, Victor. All in one night, to the same person.

Magneto truly had no luck with telepaths. That was precisely why he asked specifically for a weapon to deal with them.

"…"

Mystique stood up to the side, still patched up from the fight, in silence... watching the volatileness of the man she once respected and considered imperturbable. 

"It must have been Shaw. If Emma Frost was involved, who else could have been? At least tell me you got the device from Stark Industries," He asked with hope, a hope that frightened the rest of the mutants in the hideout. If the answer were negative, someone would have to pay for it.

Mystique knew as much, and she braced, "We got a prototype of the zooming grenade from Obadiah Stane. But we used it to fend off Emma Frost-".

"And you still lost!?"

"Ugh!"

The metal of the gigantic structure bent at ridiculous speeds; it wrapped around her neck and pulled her up like a prisoner ready to get sacrificed. Mystique, who was injured, held her neck with tears in her eyes, not due to sadness... but perhaps due to disappointment and also pain.

What was worse was that even in the middle of this scenery, those powerful mutants all remained silent.

Magneto seemed Mystique nearly suffocating, released her, and pathetically allowed her to fall to the floor. 

"Forget it".

*cough!*

*cough!*

"I'm sorry... who was the other mutant who fought together with Emma Frost?" He knelt down with a now kinder voice and asked her, holding her chin up. But Mystique didn't eat that crap.

She recalled 'his' words at that time. 

'There has to be something better than this...'

"… I don't know, *cough!* h-he was wearing a balaclava. He had powers that allowed him to create some weird black balls that erased everything within it. He was also quite physically strong… and shrewd. He has at least three mutations; one is the one I mentioned, and the other allows him to phase through things; he concealed that until the end, and that's how he got Victor. And lastly, he has physical regeneration".

She said what was convenient to be said and stood up, ready to depart.

"Where did that monster suddenly pop up? Shaw must have kept him on a tight leash".

Mystique walked away with two other mutants. Pyro and Juggernaut watched her go. They didn't like that treatment, but they couldn't go against him on this power ladder. 

"Where are you going?" Magneto asked her.

"To investigate him," she answered, although the purpose of her investigation was completely different from what he expected.

'All I have is a name, Ray…'

...

Magneto watched her go and addressed the crowd of mutants, "If we, mutants, want to create a state in which we are respected and venerated for our obvious superiority against humanity, Discipline is primordial. Mistakes can not be allowed! We hold an advantage but this is their playground. Errors like Mystique's and Sabretooth's severely strip the progress we have worked so hard for so long".

"Yes!".

"And most importantly, save it in your heads. The loss of each of our own is an important loss of assets to our already limited army. Our tasks are imperative, but your lives are also a priority. Stay alive".

"Yes!"

Like a proper villain, he waved his cape and headed back into his office. Leaving a crowd of gullible, brainwashed mutants from which the majority were teenagers or young adults seeking a revolution.

He entered his office and collapsed on his chair, thinking. 

'I still don't know when the first round will start... but I must be prepared. If Charleston Industries is not the way, I only have one option... even if it means working together with that bastard of all people. Together, we can outsmart Charles'.

He then frowned, thinking about the mutant that had worked alongside Emma Frost according to Mystique's intel. 

'Black balls that erase everything within. Gravity... no, void? If so... he is troublesome'.

**

**

"You're gorgeous, beautiful, perfect! Next pose, next pose!".

In the middle of flashing lights and reflectors, a lady posed in a blue bikini, smiling brightly and captivating everyone in the set, even her rivals. A body carved by the gods, completely natural, and a smile so foreign and uncharacteristic that it confused everyone acquainted with her.

Veronica, Christian Dior's top model, shone brightly. Hundreds of photos were taken before she covered herself back up with a gown, sweating.

Another more mature lady offered a bottle of water with a smile, "We're done for tonight. Your facial expressions today were better than ever, Veronica. Something good happened with Jonathan?~"

"Nothing, in particular, Amelie. Jonathan and I are finished," Veronica said neutrally, though her lips curled up at the end.

Amelie froze, "A-Ah... it must have been a strenuous relationship, darling".

Veronica would usually get depressed whenever she broke up with any of her lovers; she looked so happy during the shoot that Amelie believed Veronica was getting married. She didn't expect this answer.

"No, he was a good man, but we just didn't get along. I'm happy for a different reason~" Veronica answered and entered the changing room.

'D-Did she find someone already, so fast?! Ugh, forget it. Seeing such an expression in her; it rarely pops up'.

"By the way, Amelie. Do kids these days... boys... what do they like to eat the most? like... for dinner?".

"... d-don't tell me you got yourself a young boy-" Amelie shivered. 

"I'm asking for my son!".

The manager sighed in huge relief, "Y-Your son? Since when do you car-"

She covered her mouth right away; there was nothing but silence coming from the other side of the door in the changing room. Amelie knew the story, and although she didn't blame Veronica, she didn't side up with her either, often feeling pity for her son, whom she had yet to meet.

"Sorry, that was not the right comment".

"It's okay, you're not wrong. So? what do they like? If I want to make him happy... what should I bring him for dinner?"

"What would you like to eat yourself?"

"I'm a model. I'm always on a strict diet, Amelie. I don't think Ray would like something like that. I don't even think he eats well most of the time; I hope he can have something tasty tonight. Since, huh... we're making up".

As a mother herself, a smile couldn't help but pop up on Amelie's face when she saw the raw motherhood exuding from Veronica's expression.

'She's finally growing up...'

"Or should I take him to some expensive restaurant? What do you think?"

"Kids, especially teenagers, are quite simple, Veronica. Why don't you just get pizza and coke? Of course, I'm talking about you, hehe~ most of the time, the best would be for you to cook something nice for him."

"Cook... I can cook... but I feel a bit tired this evening. I'll get some Pizza then. What flavour do you think he would like?" Veronica's eyes brightened up, leaving Amelie at a loss. 

"I can't help you that far. Do you know if he has any allergies? Or if he prefers chicken or beef? or pineapple?" It was like teaching a little kid; Veronica should have known those things by now since her son was about to turn fifteen.

"Then I'll get one of each and let him choose".

'H-How many pizzas are you going to get?'

"... just make sure you share it." She sighed.

"Ugh, I can't eat pizza; we have another shoot tomorrow at Harlem", Veronica groaned on her heels, ready to go.

"Rather than just buying him a pizza. It would probably make him happier to eat it with you, Veronica, and watch some movies or something while you're at it. Just have a few slices".

"... I'll try".