Sins of the Father

Sins of the Father Chapter Thirty Seven (NC-17)
Disclaimers Apply

A/N Goddess Foxfeather, Queen of Mad Plotbunnies, BUSIEST WOMAN ALIVE (tm), Prophetic Muse, Hamster Witch and Uberbeta... now I want tea, lol... *wanders off * InterNutter, TC, Maxwell Pink and Dracena are sparkled for archiving/hosting. :) ProPhile: * additional titles pending * Morgan: *anxiously awaits the ficcage * ;) Readers/Reviewers: The ducks are back...and they've got sweaters. Odd. *glomps * for reading/reviewing!


Professor Xavier stared at his interlaced fingers for a long moment before saying carefully, "I am well aware of your objections, Logan, but this cannot be helped."
Logan shifted and barely kept himself from growling. Barely. "Listen, Chuck...I was against the stunt we pulled last month. I was against letting those kids in here...saying I object to this is an understatement. I'm so fucking against this that..."he paused, trying to reign in his temper. "No," he finally said. "No."
The Professor did not let his reaction show on his face. Instead, his glance flicked to Sean and Forge. "And you? Are you against this as well?"
Sean sighed. "The intent is there, Charles but..." He opened his hand as if letting water slip through his fingers. "My daughter is in this now. I cannot say that I agree entirely."
Forge shrugged. "I'm okay with it."
Professor Xavier shifted in his chair and sighed infinitesimally. "Thank you all. If you'll excuse me, I have some calls to make."
Logan put a heavy hand on the phone receiver, his eyes narrowed to slits. "Don't even think of keeping us out of the loop on this one, Chuckles."
The older man raised a brow at the appellation. "I've told you all that I am at liberty to reveal."
Sean and Forge exchanged looks. The Irishman cleared his throat deferentially and began, "We understand the need for some secrecy as your position in the project is...tenuous, but we deserve more answers than what we have been getting. As it is, we are finding it very hard to trust you." It pained him to admit it, but it had to be said.
Professor Xavier nodded. "I understand. But I must be truthful and say that I would rather leave you all in a state of plausible deniability."
Forge grunted. "So we won't lie to the psychics?"
Logan did growl then, low in his throat. "I stood by you all this time, Chuck. I think you could show me...us...a little more trust than you have been."
He closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them, they were lit with an odd expression. "You're right. I need to be more forthcoming with all of you. For too long, I've played this close to the vest and see where it has gotten me. I was trying to protect you...all of you," he added, including the students, "from things I felt were too far away to effect you or that you might not understand. It was foolish pride, I'm sure..." He colored slightly and continued. "I will tell you the facts as I know them and as they stand..."
Sean frowned. "The facts as you know them? They might not be true then?"
"Truth is subjective, bub," Logan said tersely, sinking into the chair nearest the Professor.
Professor Xavier made an acknowledging gesture with his fingers but did not otherwise address the comment. "You know about my involvement in the Pantheon Project and our efforts to close it down, make sure no remaining subjects were available for...missions... and that those who were functioning were placed in situations where they were to be acclimated to what passes for a normal life. Doctor Beck felt it was best that Ernie, Annie and Aggie come here as they are so young in terms of their project generation and we are the only facility in the world right now which serves young mutants."
"But they're not mutants, not really," Forge objected. "I mean...they're lab creations. Not...er...the real thing."
"They have powers like us," Sean sighed, "and have to learn to use them properly..."
"They're not like us," Logan put in. "Not even close."
"I would think you, especially, would have some degree of compassion for them, Logan." The Professor's gaze rested meaningfully on the other man's knuckles, where the metal claws came out, and he continued, "The problem arises in this. Magneto has a silent partnership with some disaffected members of the project, some who do not wish to see it end. He has funded a new research facility in a private location. This has come to light only within the past few weeks. Unfortunately, he has been working with them since the Mexico incident. The project has not been ended as we had strove so hard to do. It has merely continued under a new aegis."
Logan eased his posture somewhat. "And what's this got to do with us?"
"At the moment, quite a lot. The original objective still stands, which is to rid the world of mutantkind. However, there is a bit of a new...twist, to be quite inappropriate about it. Magneto is in charge, after all."
Understanding lit in Sean's eyes. "Oh, bloody Hell..."
Logan caught on, too. "His own little mutant army, one that ain't gonna have a problem with the Brotherhood."
"We're number one on the hit list, aren't we?" Forge sighed. "Man, he doesn't do things by halves..."
"It isn't as simple as all that," Professor Xavier interrupted the dawning notions. "He is mad, not insane. The entire intent of this scheme of his seems to be ensuring that the Brotherhood lives on, despite dwindling numbers."
"That sounds a bit simple for him," Forge objected. "Too easy."
"True," Professor Xavier allowed, "but that seems, and I stress seems, to be the case, at least in some form."
Sean shook his head impatiently. "This is ridiculous. We're sitting here discussing this and downstairs, the kids are in mourning." He sank lower in his seat. "This is the most bipolar place I've ever been."
Professor Xavier looked decided uncomfortable. "Ah, yes...that..."
Logan sat up. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Things," Professor Xavier said carefully, "are not always as they seem."