By dawn, the decision had already been made.
Charles barely slept. Neither had Moira. The implications of what they had discussed the night before were too large, too dangerous to ignore. Mutants weren't theoretical anymore. They were real. Active. Organized.
And Sebastian Shaw was already moving.
The jet lifted off early, slicing through the pale morning clouds toward Langley, Virginia. Ryan sat comfortably near the window, Raven beside him—quiet, observant, feeling a lot comfortable and energetic with her new evolved mutation ability and not having to always maintain the human disguises she was forced to wear previously.
Charles, on the other hand, was vibrating with restrained excitement.
"Convincing them won't be easy," Moira warned, reviewing files in her lap. "The CIA doesn't like ideas it can't control."
Charles smiled faintly. "Fortunately, ideas are rather my specialty."
Ryan glanced at him. "Just remember—fear outranks curiosity in rooms like that."
Charles nodded. "Then we'll give them something they can't afford to dismiss."
Langley, Virginia – CIA Headquarters
They arrived at the concrete-and-glass fortress of CIA headquarters as dusk settled over the complex. Armed guards waved them through after Moira flashed her badge. Inside, the air was crisp with air conditioning and tension—fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, men in suits moving with purpose.
Moira led them to a secure briefing room on the third floor. A long mahogany table dominated the space, surrounded by high-backed chairs where senior CIA officials sat waiting, expressions ranging from bored to openly hostile. At the head sat CIA Director McCone, flanked by stern-faced deputies, Agent William Stryker Sr., and another one in the back corner of the room. The man in the black suit was A CIA agent and head of a division doing advanced scientific research.
After everyone got introduced and seated, Charles stood at the front of the room.
The projector hummed to life.
Slides changed—genetic charts, radiation exposure timelines, evolutionary projections.
Charles gave a similar presentation to his Thesis presentation and finished it with the following lines as he turned off the projection.
"The advent of the nuclear age," Charles began calmly, "may have accelerated the mutation process."
Silence followed.
Then the CIA Director leaned forward, unimpressed."MacTaggert, you really expect me to believe that some crackpot scientist is going to convince me about sparkly dames and vanishing men?"
A few restrained chuckles echoed.
"You've just bought yourself a one-way ticket back to the typing pool," he continued. "This meeting is over."
"Uh, please sit down, Agent MacTaggert," Charles said pleasantly.
The Director froze mid-motion.
"I didn't expect you to believe me," Charles continued, unbothered, "particularly given that all you could think about during my presentation, you were far more interested in was what kind of pie they were serving in the commissary."
The Director stiffened. "What did you say?"
"It's apple pecan," Charles took a breath, replied helpfully.
A ripple of murmurs spread across the room.
Charles sighed softly. "I haven't been entirely honest with you, luv, I'm sorry. You see, one of the many spectacular things my mutation allows me to do… is read your minds."
Agent Stryker scoffed. "I've seen this in magic shows. What now—think of a number between one and ten?"
"No," Charles replied mildly. "Though I could ask you about your son, William—whom you were just thinking about. But I'd rather ask about the Jupiter missiles the United States is currently placing in Turkey."
The room erupted with Director McCone's shouts and he reached for the telephone in front of him to dial a number.
"He's a goddamn spy!"
"You brought a spy into this facility!"
Ryan exhaled slowly. "And here comes the overreaction."
Before anyone could take another step, Raven stood.
She didn't speak.
She changed.
Her skin rippled like liquid glass, features melting and reforming in a heartbeat. Blonde hair darkened. Her posture shifted—broader, sharper, unmistakable.
Agent Stryker stood where Raven had been.
The guards froze.
Every paused halfway in their actions, confusion rippling through the room as eyes snapped from the real Stryker to the other one standing calmly beside Charles.
"What the hell—" someone whispered.
Silence.
Then Raven shifted back to her normal form, the blond beauty.
Charles smiled faintly. "How's that for a magic trick?"
The Agent sitting at the corner, Oliver broke the silence, "Best I've ever seen."
The CIA Director stared, face drained of color. "I want them out of here. And. Locked down until I figure out what to do."
"My facility is off-site," Oliver's voice said eagerly. "I'll take them."
Oliver stepped forward, eyes bright with wonder. "You're going to love my lab."
Charles smirked and headed out with Oliver, accompanied by Raven and Ryan. Leaving Moira to get orders from Director McCone.
Random Corridor, CIA Headquarters
After some time, Moira and Lavene were walking in a random corridor in the building with Moira continuously complaining about the actions and thoughts of the Director.
"I can't believe this. You'd think the director of the CIA would have a little more composure."
"We should be going after Shaw right now."
"But instead, he's out there worrying about the wrong mutants."
"What are we going to do, Levene?"
Lavene had no words to tell, still shocked from the revelation. And bent down to have some water from a tap.
"Levene? Levene, what's wrong with you?"
Time stopped.
Everyone froze in the nearby area mid-step, mid-breath—except Moira.
"Absolutely nothing," Charles said mildly. "I've just frozen him for a moment because I'd like to talk to you."
Moira's eyes widened as she could hear Charles in her head clearly, but couldn't find him nearby as she looked around her.
Charles continued, "It's good, isn't it? I'm as interested in this Sebastian Shaw as you are. If you still want my help, meet me on the third floor of the parking garage."
Time snapped back.
3rd Floor Parking Lot
The scene shifts to the parking lot.
Oliver's excitement in his voice. "I've always known that there were people like you out there."
"I've been the laughing stock of this agency for years, but I knew it! You are going to love my facility."
Charles interrupts, "That's going to have to wait."
Oliver asks, "Why?"
Charles replied, "Agent MacTaggert has a lead on Sebastian Shaw, and if we don't move now, apparently, we're going to lose him."
Right on cue, a car stops in front of them, driven by Moira.
Oliver, "What?"
Raven helps Oliver understand Charles's abilities better: " Not only can he read minds, but he can communicate with them as well."
Charles, "Moira and I have just had a lovely conversation."
Moira, "Yes, we did."
Oliver, "That is incredible!"
"But I cannot take you anywhere else without permission from upstairs."
Charles, " Would you like to see one more magic trick?"
Oliver says, "Okay."
Next second, Charles convinces him using his ability, " Get in the car."
Oliver says, "Good idea," and gets into the car.
The car pulled out of the garage, disappearing into the night—Ryan following close behind in their second vehicle, which they used to come here.
Langley faded behind them.
The real hunt had begun
=============================================
Author's Note: After completing the X-Men: First Class movie, I am planning to wrap this Volume and reopen it again in the next MCU Volume.
Next Volume to write, I am thinking about any one of the below:
Stranger Things
Wednesday
The Vampire Diaries
The Walking Dead
DCEU - Arrowverse (The CW Universe) + SnyderVerse (DC Snyder Universe)
Please Vote Your Choice!!!