The Red Star

Chapter 5

Crystal was waiting in Steve's 1966 Mustang as he grabbed his coat from inside of Xavier's school. However, when he walked out, none other than the professor followed him in his wheelchair.

"Professor?" Crystal started, "Why---"

"I am in need of an adventure. Teaching does have its downsides." Charles added with a smile.

Crystal gave up her seat in the front to Charles and seated herself silently in the back. Pulling out her phone she dialed Jay's number. As Steve started off, all she heard was ringing and nothing else the five times that she had tried.

"Ok, she doesn't have her phone." Crystal said.

"I felt her presence a while this evening, but i didn't realize it was her until i connected with Cerebro. She is very powerful." Charles said.

"If i know Bucky, he's probably taken her to a safe house." Steve added.

"How do you know he--" Crystal began, but she cut herself off as she noticed Steve's blue eyes find her in the rear-view mirror.

It was then that she realized she had the immense pleasure of being in the car on a search, with two immensely attractive men, one of which seemed to have feelings for her.

Crystal looked at Charles and let out a sigh. it was a good thing she had a barrier around her mind that was there naturally, otherwise she wouldn't dare to think about him. Just then she found that she had let her mind open and she felt a presence with her. She gasped lightly and blushed as her barrier went up again. She looked up at Charles, to see him smiling as he looked out of the window.

She looked forward again, into the rear-view mirror to find Steve's bright blue eyes looking at her, but she only caught them for a split second before they returned to the road. Yeah, this was going to be one heck of a road trip. She grinned to herself and then set her head back. They were on the road through a small town near the school and she could see the mountains, with snow on top of them in the distance. then a thought came to her.

"Charles?" she began.

"Yes Crystal?" he replied.

"Do you remember the conditions in which you felt her presence?"

"It was cold." he said.

She looked out the window at the mountain and said,

"Captain,"

"Steve," he reminded her.

She paused a moment as Charles looked him over, obviously bothered by potential competition.

"The mountains. Bucky likes the cold and snow right? But Jay hates it, she could die in it. We should see if we can get a trace of her powers with Charles and search the mountains."

"If we don't she'll die." Charles added.

"How long does she have?"

"I don't know. It depends on how long she has been up there, if she's up there at all." Crystal ended.

Sudden dread filled her and she looked up into the mirror, her gaze resting upon Steve. He returned the gaze and said,

"Don't loose hope, Crystal. We'll get to her."