The Puppeteer - X-Men

Eighteen

Everyone in the jet was silent, no one daring to even breathe too loudly. The lights of the jets were an unfortunate but necessary risk as the jet landed. The temple door opened, revealing a dark-skinned man with a large black and red gun by his side, he didn't smile but it was clear he was relieved at the arrival.

The first to emerge from the plane was a bronze-skinned woman with close-cropped ivory hair and eyes of a summer storm. She looked around, and once satisfied that she was safe, despite how relative that term was nowadays, Storm, as most called her, stepped off to the side.

The next was a large, hulking man who wore a sour expression and streaking black hair that jutted from his face similar to the puffs of smoke he breathed from his cigar.

The next two to come down the steps were the ones the young mutants had been waiting for. A young-looking woman with striking white hair and brilliant blue eyes that practically shone against the night sky walked alongside an older man who was sat in a wheelchair hovering a few inches off the ground.

A small smirk played on his lips, so faint it was practically invisible, and his eyes seemed to speak a thousand words. Professor Charles Xavier was weary and tired, although he refused to show it, as his need to be strong and brave for his students and friends outweighed his need to be himself.

The last one to emerge was a man no one could reason with apart from one person. The very person he hurt the most is the only persona alive who could make him see reason. He was a man filled with conflict and rage, and more powerful than all but two in his company. Erik Lehnsherr walked silently, his shoulders set and his head down.

~

"This might just work, Charles" Erik muttered and everyone sat up straighter at his words.

And so, Charles Xavier explained what happened in the seventies with Bolivar Trask. How he was one of the world's leading weapons designer. And how he had begun experimenting on mutants. "It all started that day in 1973. The day Raven first killed. The day she truly became...Mystique" Charles spoke.

"You want to go back there" Kitty said. "If I can get to them, stop the assassination, keep them out of the government's hands, then we can stop the Sentinels from ever being born" Charles spoke. "And end this war before it ever begins" Erik continued.

"I-I can send someone back a couple of weeks, maybe a month. But you're talking about going back decades. You have the most powerful brain in the world, Professor, but the mind can only stretch so far before it snaps. It would rip you apart" Kitty explained. "What if I could keep the mind intact?" Lily Xavier spoke for the first time that night.

"Lily, you have no hope of surviving long enough" Charles immediately denied it. "Surely giving my life is worth saving millions?" she protested, a fury in her eyes that had been there for years. "What if someone's mind has a way of snapping back? What if someone can heal as fast as they're ripped apart?" Logan spoke.

"I could keep your mind intact if you started to grow tired. It's the best possible solution" Lily nodded.

~

"So I wake up in my younger body, god knows where. Then what?" Logan asked. "You'll need to go to my house. Convince me of all of this" Charles replied. "Won't you just be able to read my mind?" Logan frowned. "I didn't have my powers in 1973. Logan, you're going to have to do for me what I once did for you. Lead me, guide me. I was a very different man then. You'll have to be patient with me" Charles explained.

"Patience isn't my strongest suit" Logan scoffed. "You'll need me as well" Erik stepped forward. "What?" Logan said. "After Mystique left Charles, she came with me and I set her on a dangerous path. Darker path. It's going to take the three of us, side by side at a time when we couldn't be further apart" Erik continued.

"Logan, I'm going to warn you. The second you even mention Erik's name to my younger self, be prepared for either a lot of pain or a broken nose" Lily said. "You hated him that much?" Logan raised an eyebrow. "He took everything from me. I still haven't forgiven him, Logan" Lily spoke. "I was very conflicted in '73" Lily continued, glancing at Erik.

"So where do I find you?" Logan asked Erik. "Well, it's complicated" Erik then proceeded to give Logan terrible news. Logan laid down and Kitty explained the rules of time travel. "Keep your mind clear" Kitty spoke.

"Think peaceful thoughts" she continued. "I don't have any peaceful thoughts" Logan quipped. "Yes you do, you just can't find them. That's where I come in" Lily sighed. "Lizzy, are you sure?" Logan spoke softly and Lily closed her eyes, smiling at the name.

"I'm sure" she nodded, standing next to the table and placing two fingers on her temple. She had learned from Charles that it did, in fact, help her focus. She entered his mind, wincing hard and gasping in pain, causing her to grip the table with all her might, her knuckles turning a shade of white similar to that of her hair. Kitty's hands lit up and Logan screamed out.

"Oh...motherfucker" Lily breathed as she searched for the happiest memory she could, bringing it to the forefront of his mind. "He's in" Kitty said after a moment. "You've got him?" Lily asked. "Yes" she nodded and Lily sighed before exiting his mind, practically collapsing to the floor.

Erik caught the woman, keeping her upright and she nodded in thanks, regaining her balance. "And now we wait" she muttered.