Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Chapter 31


Charles let out a sigh. ‘Yes, Jean. I understand. You did what you had to do. We’ll be waiting for you.’

He looked up, seeing concern on Hank’s face.

“Well?” the big man said. “How is Kurt?”

“Unconscious at the moment. Jean had to put him out. His rage has taken over and won’t release him.”

Hank nodded. “The rage keeps the despair at bay. The boy can’t take much more, Charles. He’s strong, but nobody has an endless supply of inner strength.”

With another sigh, Charles said, “I agree. Mystique has crossed the line to the point of no return with Kurt...with all of us, I think. The damage she’s done to the lad may be permanent.”

“Does Mystique know what Kurt’s been through though?” Hank asked, settling his big bulk into a chair. “You offered to speak to her, but she’s not come to my knowledge.”

“No. And I wonder...somehow I think she knows and she’s using that as an excuse to punish Logan. As I’ve said before, Mystique is a difficult one to fathom. Her motives are complicated and she holds a grudge for a very long time. I believe she and Logan have had confrontations before.”

“Before his mind was wiped clean of his past?”

“Yes. And she may hold a grudge against him for his involvement in defeating Apocalypse.”

“Ah...of course.” Hank cleared his throat and averted his gaze. “I know it’s late, but...would it not be a good idea to call Ms Martin and alert her to what has happened? Her presence may be beneficial to Kurt.”

Charles suppressed a smile. He had sensed a mutual attraction between the two, an odd enough coupling appearance wise, but Henry McCoy was a gentle soul, a lover of the arts and of the mind. Under normal circumstances, Hank and Cassie would have made a lovely couple and no one would have thought different of it. He’d not dissuade either of them from thinking so now simply because of Hank’s mutation.

“Yes, would you please call her, Hank? I wish to wait for Jean and the others to arrive.”

Hank brightened. “Yes. I can handle that task. I’m feeling a bit helpless right now anyway.”

Charles reached out and touched Hank’s arm. “Never think so, my dear friend. Your presence is a comfort in difficult times and a pleasure always.”

Hank rose and smiled down at Charles. “Thank you. I’ll go call Ms Martin now. Probably wake her from a sound sleep.”

A wave of foreboding rolled over Charles as he watched Hank pick up the telephone and place the call.

Why? Why had this sense of danger and fear rushed over him now? Was it his concern for Logan? His concern for Kurt?

After a long moment, Charles heard Hank speaking, but not as if to Cassie...as if to a machine. Then Hank punched another number and got the same, leaving another urgent message. Hank returned, a frown creasing his brow.

“She didn’t answer her home phone or her cell phone,” Hank said. “That doesn’t seem like Cassie. She’s always been available before.”

“Perhaps she’s had another emergency,” Charles suggested, but still that feeling of imminent danger filled him up and overflowed. Yet he wasn’t certain of whom the feeling encompassed.
“If you’ll try her again in an hour, I’d be most appreciative...if she hasn’t returned our call by then.”

The frown hadn’t left Hank’s face. “Yes, I’ll keep trying.”

The sound of vehicles pulling up outside caught Charles’ hearing and he glanced at Hank who was obviously deep in his own thoughts, oblivious to the sound. With a cursory scan, he touched Hank’s mind and found Cassie at the forefront, worry the prime thought. Then Hank noticed the sound of doors shutting and his thoughts instantly snapped back around to Kurt and Logan.

Jean came first, opening the door and holding it for Scott who had Kurt over his shoulder. Hank bounded over and took Kurt into his arms, holding him as if holding a child.

Rogue and Gambit came after, Gambit holding back and leaning against the wall, watching them... gaging their actions.

“We tried to calm Kurt down, Professor,” Scott began to explain. “He was just too far gone and I can’t say that I blame him.”

“Neither do I, Scott. You all did what you could. You made the right decisions.” Charles turned and rolled down the hall, beckoning them to follow. “Hank bring Kurt into the first parlor room. We’ll bring him around slowly and try to soothe his thoughts and fears enough so that he can control his rage.”

“Yeah,” Rogue said with doubt in her tone. “Maybe enough to keep ‘im from disappearin’ again.”

“You’d better do it, Professor,” Jean said, standing near him while Hank gently laid Kurt out on the sofa. “He’s pretty angry with me and I’m doubting he’ll be any less angry with me when he wakes up.”

Charles took Jean’s hand for a moment and gave it a squeeze. “Oh, I think he’ll understand once we get his rage under control.”

“I hope so,” Jean replied. She stood at the end of the sofa, her empathy for Kurt’s plight radiant on her face. “I’ve never seen Kurt like that. It’s as if...I don’t know...it’s just so alien to him.”

Charles nodded and rolled closer, reaching out to lay a hand on Kurt’s hair. The lad’s stillness might seem troubling to some, for Jean’d had to put Kurt into a deep unconsciousness, but Charles sensed all was well. Now, he needed to deal with that alien force Jean had spoken of...the power of blinding rage.

He slipped into Kurt’s mind, sending out soothing thoughts, quelling those rampant fears trying to devour Kurt’s rational thinking process. The swirl of chaos inside Kurt’s mind battled for supremacy, a formidable foe, but Charles reinforced his control.

‘Professor?’

‘Yes, Kurt. I’m here. Relax and let me help you gain control again.’

‘But Logan!’

‘We will find Logan. I promise, Kurt. But we need your help. Logan needs your help. And only a quiet, rational mind can help him now. Your love and devotion to Logan is admirable. Even your outrage is admirable, but not helpful. Do you understand, Kurt?’

Silence. Was he getting through to Kurt or would the chaos win control of Kurt’s mind again?

Finally. ‘I understand, Professor. I...I...thank you.’

‘No need, lad. Now, I’m going to bring you back to consciousness. Please do not be angry with Jean. She was only trying to help you. She did what was necessary.’

Charles sensed embarrassment.

“I...of course. I understand.’

Charles slowly pulled out of the boy’s mind, allowing Kurt to rise out of unconsciousness. Pulling back, Charles watched Kurt stir, eyes fluttering open, gaze unfocused at first. Then yellow eyes took in his surroundings and a sheepish expression washed over Kurt’s features.

“I’m...sorry,” Kurt said, putting his hands to his face and rubbing, fingers pressed to his closed eyelids. “I...acted like a crazy person.”

“You were a crazy person, Kurt,” Scott replied, keeping his voice light. “You put the fear of god into Alvers and the rest of the brotherhood. If it had been under any other circumstances, I’d have probably enjoyed it.”

Kurt looked up and offered Scott a lopsided grin then glanced back further to see Jean at his head. “I’m sorry, Jean. I didn’t mean to be angry with you.”

She reached down and smoothed Kurt’s hair. “I know. I’m sorry too. I just had no other choice.”

Kurt nodded.

“Now, you promise not to go anywhere without our knowledge?” Charles asked, his tone gentle yet stern. “We work together. All right?”

“Yes. I promise, Professor. I just don’t know what to do. Mystique will hurt Logan...she’s hurting him now and it’s because of me.”

Charles sensed Kurt’s panic rising again, the chaos working to invade the boy’s mind.

“Kurt. You are only one of Mystique’s excuses for kidnapping Logan. I believe there is a history there that we are unaware of...that Logan is unaware of.”

Kurt pushed up to sit, running his fingers back through his hair. Charles noted the gashes in Kurt’s arm, making a mental note to have Hank clean and bandage the damage Mystique had done to Kurt physically.

“She said as much,” Kurt replied. “She said she knew more about Logan’s history than he knew. She called him an animal...a killer, even if the killing was sanctioned by the government. I didn’t know what she meant by that and when I told Logan about it, he didn’t know either.”

Charles said nothing and glanced over to Hank. ‘Please try Ms Martin again.’

Hank seemed to sense Charles’ concern for Kurt in spite of the lad calming down, his rage in check now. With a nod, Hank left the room.

“Jean,” Charles said.

“Yes, Professor?”

“In the morning...” He paused and glanced at his watch. 3:30am. “Well, when the hour is decent anyway, please call the other students and tell them of what has occurred. If they are able to return, their help would be most appreciated. If their parents are uncooperative, tell them that we understand and that we will keep them informed of the situation.”

“Yes, of course,” Jean replied.

“What are we gonna do now?” Rogue asked. “We need ta start doin’ somethin’.”

Charles let out a sigh. “I understand your desire to “do something,” but we don’t yet know what that something is. I need some time to consider our options. It would be best if all of you tried to get some rest...but I doubt that is going to happen.”

“Professor.” Kurt’s tone was turning desperate again.

“I know, Kurt.” Charles reached out and patted Kurt’s arm. “Give me some time to think. Please and we will start planning.”

Kurt reluctantly nodded.

Charles looked up to see Hank in the doorway. The man’s expression was grim, bordering on worry. A shake of the head told Charles all he needed to no. But Kurt and Logan weren’t Cassie’s only clients and she may very well have had another emergency situation. He couldn’t chance interrupting her at a crucial moment. He had no right to monopolize her time in that way.

‘Try Cassie again later and try her office when it opens. They should know more about getting in touch with her.’

Hank’s expression didn’t change and the barest of nods followed.

Jean stood beside Charles when he came back to himself. Again, a grim expression, one more intense and worried than Hank’s.

‘Professor, I tried again to contact Logan. I...I can’t find him. What if Mystique’s....’

“Come, Jean,” Charles replied, turning his chair towards the door. “I need your assistance.”

“Professor,” Scott said, stopping him. “What can I do?”

“Keep the others calm. Keep Kurt calm. Consult among yourselves for the moment, but whatever you do, don’t let Kurt disappear on us. He’s in need of you right now. Jean and I need to try to contact Logan.”

Scott let them go then and Charles headed for the elevator.

“She won’t kill him so quickly, Jean,” Charles stated once they were out of earshot of the others. “Mystique will want to drag out her revenge. She wants to hurt Logan, not kill him...not yet.”

“But why can’t I reach Logan’s mind? I’ve tried several times, but it’s like...I don’t know...like he’s just not there.”

The elevator rose, the door sliding open. Cerebro’s chamber opened at Charles’ command.

“I’ve tried as well,” Charles replied. “Logan is either unconscious or Mystique has created a place that shields her and Logan from our scrutiny.”

“Like Trask’s facility,” Jean suggested.

“Yes, possibly. The technology is out there and Mystique would know where and how to find it. My hope is that Cerebro may detect Logan’s mutant signature, but I’m afraid Mystique may have thought of that as well, finding a way to use that same technology to shield Logan’s healing ability from us.”

“Then how are we going to find Logan?” Jean’s fear radiated out, her concern for Logan and for Kurt just a small part of why Charles felt such a kinship with Jean. They shared the same mutant talent of telepathy and in a way, Jean was like a daughter to Charles. “They could be anywhere.”

“Not anywhere. They can not be that far away. Mystique has come and gone from here more than once...and she found a way to lure Logan away from the Institute. She had his motorcycle. That alone has narrowed down the area by a large margin.”

Rolling closer, Charles retrieved Cerebro’s helmet and settled it onto his head. He let his mind reach out, searching for Logan’s mutant signature, enhancing his own ability to touch his friend’s mind.

A dark foreboding saturated Charles and he extended his search, reaching out and yet no trace of Logan could he find. He let his shoulders slump and slowly removed the helmet. Jean’s anxious expression turned to disappointment, but not quite despair.

“Nothing,” Charles stated as if Jean didn’t already know.