Days of My Past

And PBS

We get back to the house and the air is filled with a mixture of tension and awkwardness. I didn't speak to anyone after my talk with Hank. Logan mainly just mumbled to himself. The only word I could make out from the cigar muffled words was childish. Charles however didn't say a thing. He just stares out the window solemnly. I want to speak with him but there really isn't a right time right now.

We walk inside and almost instant Charles collapses. He groans in pain clutching both his back and his head.

"What happened? Why can't he walk?"

"The drug is wearing off." I say as Hank helps him.

"Hank I can hear them. Make it stop." Hank runs upstairs as he leans against the wall.

"Hey pull yourself together. It's not over yet."

"You don't believe that." He says looking at him intently.

"How do you know that?" He points to his legs.

"As these go, this comes back." He points to his head. "They all come back."

"Charles he's still here and Raven is out there somewhere." I reassure him. He unrolls his sleeves not listening.

"We need your help Charles. Not like this. I need you. We can't find Raven. Not without your powers." Hank brings down the drug. He wanted me to take it in the beginning but I refused. I don't want the nature of my powers to be controlled by a syringe.

"I added a little extra dose."

"Charles? He's right. We need you." I say. He takes the syringe ready to inject. I look at him with pleading eyes and he drops it.

"Will you help me to my study please Hank?" Hank smiles and we lead him there. We get inside and I open the closet.

"Are you sure about this?" Hank asks.

"Absolutely not." We sit him down in the chair and we head to Cerebro. I try to keep my thoughts of him out just in case he tries to be sneaky. I stay to the rear. I know he is powerful in what he does but he did just get them back after not having them for a very long time so he must have temporary limitations.

"How long since the last time you were down here?" Logan asks.

"Since we last searched for new students." Hank answers for him.

"A lifetime ago." We stop at the door. It scans his eyes and the doors open. It does seem like forever since I was in here. He gets to the panel and it's covered in dust. He brushes off the helmet.

"Raven is wounded. She won't be moving fast." Hank says turning it on.

"These are muscles I haven't stretched in a long time." He puts on the helmet and the wall surrounding changes to a bright beam of light. So many voices. He starts yelling and everything shuts off. The panel glass starts to break and Logan shields me from the glass that flies our way.

"Thanks." I say quietly. He nods and Charles rips off the helmet breathing heavy.

"I'll check the generator." Hank says. He leaves and I kneel next to Charles rubbing his shoulder.

"Hey it's okay."

"It's not the machinery is it?"

"No I can't do this. My mind can't take it."

"Yes it can." I argue.

"You're just rusty."

"No you don't understand it's not the matter of being rusty. I can flip the switches, I can turn the knobs. My power is in here." He points to his brain. "And it's broken. I feel like one of my students. it was a mistake coming down here. It was a mistake freeing Erik. All of this was a mistake. I'm sorry Logan but they sent back the wrong man." He turns around and leaves. I sigh sadly.