Chapter 37: Lost Time

After a few minutes of silence and just being there to bring comfort to Yumhee, Moira broke it when Yumhee was able to remain calm. "I can tell you what happened in the decade you went missing right here right now...or anytime you're ready to hear it." Moira held Yumhee's left hand tenderly.

Charles went to hold her other hand. "Or if you want, we can help you reunite with your family whenever you're ready to and then hear the story from them personally."

"No it's fine. I would rather hear it now so I know what to expect when I see them." Yumhee gave them a small weak smile. "Knowing now will give me a chance to know what I should do from here on out."

"Okay...we understand. Before I start, Charles here, although professionally is a geneticist and a biophysicist...a genius really, no jokes there." Moira wanted to roll her eyes. "He's also a very gifted telepath, the best there is I reckon." She said monotonously before changing back to a soft gentle tone. "So you don't have to worry about losing control again because of your emotions."

"That being said, I know you'll understand that if ever you become a threat to anyone, I will be forced to subdue you together with everyone here." Charles seriously said.

Yumhee felt more assured of her decision after hearing everything they have said. "You don't have to worry...I do understand." She gave Charles a more relaxed smile this time. "And it pleases me to know that there is someone capable enough to stop me if I ever go berserk."

Pursing her lips while deciding which questions to ask, she looks at both Moira and Charles alternately, deciding who to ask first.

Finally making her choice, she looks at Moira and finally asked what she knows about the incident a decade ago.

"After you teleported to the abandoned government science facility, an earthquake occurred. There were damages mainly on your home and a meter or so surrounding it. There were injured people but no casualties." Moira started.

Yumhee released a relieved sigh. "That's good to know." She nodded towards Moira to continue.

"Saying it was a natural earthquake wasn't hard to do. While Colonel Phillips stayed to clean everything there, he ordered Agent Carter, together with a team composed of mostly combat medics, and Dr. Erskine to go retrieved you from where you teleported to." Moira paused for a moment, furrowing her brows. "But unfortunately, what they only saw was an endless wasteland. There were no traces of you." Yumhee was baffled. "The team extended their search perimeter, but it was still unsuccessful. Your father was adamant that you are alive and so the government established you as a missing person all around the country. Five years went by and there were still no news. The government decided to stop the search. This of course broke your father's heart. Eversince then his health started to look bad." Moira pursed her lips, not knowing how to deliver the news.

Charles nodded at Moira reassuringly. Releasing a long heavy sigh, she looked at Yumhee sorrowfully. "Dr. Erskine passed away two years ago due to his poor health." Moira immediately hugged Yumhee when tears started to fall from her eyes.

The sorrow, regret and guilt she felt was overwhelming. Charles, although not knowing them, felt her pain while he monitors her mental and emotional stability.

After the silent outburst, Yumhee felt drained. They decided that it was best if they continue the talk for another time and for her to rest for now.

They guided and assisted her to a more private living quarters. Moira went out first to see to her daily needs and gather more recent information about her son. Charles stayed by her side until she finally fell asleep.

When Charles left the room, Erik was waiting for him outside. They went to a corner where they won't be able to disturb Yumhee.

"Will she be an asset or a liability?" Erik questioned straightforwardly when they stopped walking.

"She had been through a lot. Though I didn't want to intrude in her memories, I, however, still did the bare minimum to get a glimpse of the most important and painful experiences she had gone through while I was in there in the room." He gestured to the general direction of Yumhee's room. "And honestly...I am at awe of how well she had held herself until now. I believe she's the most helpful hand in our situation. She have more experience than any of us combined. With her abilities, even if we face hundreds or thousands of enemies, we can safely pull through." Charles seriously assessed, relieved and reassured for the first time since this operation started.

"That's good to hear." Erik gave a genuine smile at that. "Because I don't think any of these kids understood the gravity of our mission. They are all overconfident when they still are inexperienced." His evident irritation of them showing. "They aren't even that serious about training. At this rate, they'll be dead before we even truly begin with this operation."

Charles gave a tired sigh. "Give them more time. Being around their kind and not having to hide themselves is a first for them."

"We don't have enough time Charles!" Erik countered angrily. "And we most definitely don't have time to babysit a bunch of ignorant kids who seem to think this is just a simple game." Before walking away from Charles, he left one last sentence. "You and I both know...you'll just be sending them to their deaths, and countless others, if you continue to trust their inability to even control their mutations."

Charles just stood there looking at the departing back of Erik until he turned a corner. He massages his forehead, a growing headache starting to get worse. Even if he doesn't want to think about it, Erik's parting words lingered in his mind. He went back to his room to take a nap, hoping that the headache will disappear when he wakes up.