Bright fluorescent lights glare into yearning hazel eyes trapped behind thick glass. Gentle tugs of energy call out to her in tantalizing wisps just beyond her reach. However, the bruised brunette knows better than to succumb to temptation or typical self-destructive defiance. Previous failed attempts already caused the smell of burning flesh to permeate the holding cell. It's a cruel slap as a reminder of her helpless situation.

Kaeha weakly glares at the heavy manacles curled around haggard ankles and wrists. The infernal devices are prototypes of energy inverters specifically designed to turn her energy mutation into a double-edged blade instead of salvation. Anger bubbles in her veins as all the mutant can see is furious red.

I'll destroy them all, I swear it. She vows grimly.

Her keen senses, dulled marginally by captivity, picks up the quiet creak of a door. Muscles inevitably lock up to brace for an oncoming burst of energy from the endless maze of wires and tubes. Her captors were fond of watching the mutant thrash and scream until she passed out once the scientific experiments got tiresome.

Stubborn will forced them to utilize high voltages of energy to elicit even the smallest reaction. Kaeha always refused to grant them an easy victory. Thus, the energy mutant looks up to glare defiantly at her tormentors only to blink in confusion. Despite her vision being warped by dense layers of glass, she still recognized the slender blonde standing before her.

Catherine Evans; the only researcher that blatantly refused to intentionally inflict harm upon Kaeha and instead tended to some of her more severe wounds secretly. She's a secret miracle Kaeha treasures and one that should be asleep instead of sneaking into laboratories. Catherine glances over her thin shoulder warily before turning back to the mutant.

Pale hands form the signs for Silence. Danger. Wait. Brows furrow in bewilderment as her auburn head dips into a wincing nod due to a broken neck clavicle. Catherine stoically mirrors the gesture, striding over to the flashing controls before commencing a system override. Hazel eyes widen when glass walls sink back into the floor and the bonds pinning Kaeha to the wall retract. Drugged limbs crash to the floor in a messy heap and she gasps when energy slams into her neglected form.

Well now, that was unexpected. And painful. She muses dryly.

Her head spins wildly from the unexpected surge of adrenaline fueling her veins. However, Catherine deigns a second to recover her breath as unnecessary by grasping thin shoulders and hauling Kaeha to her feet. The world meshes into a whirl of colors but she handles it better this time. Fresh wounds jar her concentration with spikes of pain but she feels her skin knitting back together. Good; she hated looking at arms riddled with needle marks.

"We don't have much time. They intend to start on the children tomorrow." Catherine hisses.

Kaeha takes a moment to appreciate the righteous anger lacing each syllable before snapping back into focus.

"What do you need?" She hoarsely questions, voice cracked and raspy from the last session.

"My associates are freeing the children but they are still weakened by drugs. I need you to remove any and every obstacle." Catherine calmly replies.

The brunette fixes her a level gaze for a solid minute before tapping into her mutation. Invisible fingers stretch across the compound and reach out to pick up all forms of life. Thrumming dots of light fill the three-dimensional mental view of the confidential facility she was held in. The children with a mildly different energy wavelength from their mutations cluster about at a lower level of the building.

"Are you certain?" Kaeha murmurs after sensing an armada of militant staff blocking their escape route.

Despite her concern, the energy user is already running through a series of battle plans and worst-case scenarios. Judging by their weight and gait, the guards are fairly hefty. She had to be sure to generate enough electricity to knock them out when she commences her attack. Catherine nods and tightens her grip around Kaeha's shoulders.

"I'm sure." She answers, her voice neither wavering nor faltering.

Kaeha needs no other confirmation. The brunette steps out from Catherine's grip and turns towards the door to act as a shield for the researcher. Concentration sweeps across her delicate face as eyebrows narrow and chapped lips form a taut line. Slowly, but surely, pure, unadulterated energy crackle along her knuckles before folding into multiple orbs of lethal power.

Now, alarms start to blare in shrill wails and Catherine berates herself for being careless. The room was embedded with energy sensors directly wired to the alarm system she forgot to disarm. Kaeha, however, ignores her rant by focusing on splitting the orbs into smaller versions that slowly fill the room. Feet thunder into harried action as muffled barks of orders echo beyond thin walls.

It's now or never. She muses.

Kaeha takes in a deep breath before emptying her mind of her conscience and emotions and just lets go.

Charles quietly wheels himself down a darkened hallway and smiles absently at the steady thrum of unconscious minds blanketing him. The only active mind besides his is Hank who's busy toiling away at Cerebro and her recent errors. Rolling to a halt by the window, the telepath gazes out at sprawling lawns and absently brushes his immobile legs. The gesture is slowly forming into a habit and each time it happens, Erik flashes through his mind.

"I believe I miss him." Charles mutters to himself, wistful smile reflected against the glass.

Erik may have crossed a few unspoken lines between them but the telepath missed his brilliant mind nonetheless. It was surprising how narrow the world appeared without his friend to constantly challenge and expand his views. He would never admit to being lonely but that's exactly what it feels like. However, before delving too deeply into the complex emotions, Charles snaps out of his ruminations when Moira's familiar mind suddenly surges into life within his.

Moira, please, calm down. He urges towards her frantic mind.

Erratic thoughts continuously shift their focus in lightning-fast snaps. All he manages to gather from the whirlwind frenzy are glimpses of a Californian lab, auburn hair and high-tech cells embedded with tubes of glowing liquid before reaching a winded Moira. The agent falls into a plush chair and spreads out jumbled folders across an oak table as she gulps down air.

"California. Rogue mutant. Dangerous. Erik." She whispers breathlessly, finger stabbing separate files with each word.

Cerulean eyes flicker up in interest at the familiar name before settling back on the folder he picked up. He cringes at the gruesome details of experiments conducted on young mutants and visibly flinches at various photographs. Unable to withstand more, the telepath drops it atop a manila pile while color drains from his skin.

"What is this?" Charles murmurs, face pale with nausea.

Moira graciously pushes aside gorier documents and instead flips open two. Curiosity spikes at the photograph under his gaze: auburn tresses, serene expression, sharp jawline and intelligent hazel irises. Kaeha Malik titles the page, paltry details in short lines occupying the page beneath the picture. Quietly absorbing the information, he nods silently for Moira to explain the unknown variables.

"There has been a new unnamed anti-mutant organization. They capture mutants, orphans or those that could be missed for experimentation. Their intent is to discover ways to neutralize mutations." She explains, regaining her composure when Charles relays soothing cues into her despairing mind. "A few unlisted laboratories were utilized for their 'cause'. We were in the midst of collecting intel to shut them down until each lab started blowing up one by one."

"A mutant." The scholar nods in understanding, the brunette's biography now falling into place.

"Erik intends to recruit her." Moira reveals when Charles opens his mouth to speak.

He laughs in surprise before smiling guiltily. She didn't need to be a telepath to read his mind. Well, it was either their friendship was good enough to warrant similar thought patterns or the disturbing notion that his thoughts were transparent to the intelligent agent. Discomforted by a feeling it was the latter, slender fingers steeple together as Charles glances through Kaeha's file once more.

"What does this have to do with me? She seems to veer more towards Erik's beliefs." He hesitantly remarks.

For a long moment, Moira merely gazes at the professor in quiet deliberation. Charles, refusing to squirm under her piercing stare, stares at a coffee mug stain and makes a mental note to get that fixed. A heavy sigh announces Moira's defeat on maintaining the silent treatment at his resistance.

"Erik runs a high risk of getting hurt if he pursues this alone." She finally answers.

Charles chokes on his breath at the implication.

"You want me to help him? You cannot be serious." He sputters in disbelief, fingers grasping his chair hard enough to turn knuckles white.

The simple request seamlessly tossed his normal world into a figurative blender. Moira leans over to gently pry pale fingers off of the armrests and loosely cradles them in her palm. The broken rules and lines of his world slowly mend themselves by centering around the warmth of her calloused skin. It grounds him and returns some color to chilled skin.

"This is entirely your call, Charles. I would appreciate your help in securing her and I think Erik would appreciate the unwanted help no matter what he says." She cajoles brightly,

Meddling in Erik's affairs once was her favorite pastime as the pair never got along. Pale lips twitch upwards to reflect her smile despite memories from a year before cut into emotional scars. Focusing back on the task at hand, Charles contemplates the possible scenarios and outcomes that could occur if he didn't intervene. The conclusion elicits a sigh of resignation; escape is impossible.

"What do you need?" He murmurs.

Author Mini Rant:

Oh my, I can't believe I've actually written an entire chapter. :O

Alright, so I have a vague idea where I want to go with this but forgive me if there are a few errors and OOC-ness going on. I haven't ironed out all the kinks yet but hopefully I'll actually complete a story and make history. *crosses my fingers*

By the way, please do message me if you notice any grammar errors or typos. I tend to miss those since I'm a derp like that. *rolls out*