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phoenixburningeternal · 1 year

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FIRE & NIGHT

Jean remembered agent Roth well, from years passed when the Phoenix Force consumed her, promising ruin and destruction. Raven smothered out that blazing light and nearly suffocated Jean in the process.

The minute Rachel entered the room, a surge of energy flashed through her body. A raw power that fueled a flame of fury.

She pushed the anger back and recomposed herself as agent Roth sat down. The institute had eyes on them, ever since it came to light that the school shared its research with Think-Tech's research program. The question whether they were involved in the disappearances now became public debate.

Jean couldn't rationalize how any of these critics believed the X-Men would murder anyone-- much less one of their own. Then again, the institute's enrollment had dropped drastically since the incident with the Dark Phoenix. Parents lost trust in the X-Men after learning that she had killed Scott and several dozen people.

"Over one hundred of the Mutants who went into the research program were students of your school." Rachel stated the data as it read on her reports. Like Jean, Rachel felt that raw spark. She however held a poker face. Rachel could see Jean's discomfort around her and Rachel remembered why. To destroy the Phoenix, Rachel had to embrace Pride, her demonic self and rip the Phoenix apart from the inside out-- no one-- not even she could survive that.

Resurrection was a strange thing for a demon and sometimes disturbing. Whatever hell she had to go through to return to the Midgard, Rachel rationalized was worth one of her memory potions, she couldn't remember anything after dining with Lucifer.

"Yes I believe that's correct." Jean answered, trying to decipher where this conversation was headed. Were they accusing Charles of some involvement?

Rachel pulled out a series of numbers and pointed to them. "This doesn't account for the minorities, but compared to other mutant based institutions, your numbers are the highest in the United States. What we're wondering is if the X-Men has partnered with Think-Tech officially."

"No of course not." Jean explained. A jolt of offense shot through her. "We sent them notes on how to treat different mutations and we ensured that the practice was conducted ethically. Beyond that we had no involvement."

Rachel believed someone in the X-Men held ties and was coercing young students into the program. There were too many deaths and most of the victims were with the institute.

Rachel handed her her tablet and showed Jean the full picture she saw. "Ms. Grey, my team and I want to help these kids as much as you and the X-Men. But until you tell me what you know, we can't." Every part of Rachel wanted to reach into Jean's thoughts and extract the information, but, to go against a powerful telepath like Jean would be a war of minds. No, to get to Jean Rachel had to play a chess match of legalities. Break down her barriers and wear down the information.

"I realize that, agent. But our institute only assisted in the research and funding for Think-Tech. We reviewed their records and saw that they were operating above the board." Jean countered as she reviewed the data. She and Charles had no connection to the crimes, but, all evidence was leaning into the contrary. At this rate, Rachel and her team were going to have them on trial. Finally, Jean looked into Rachel's eyes, stern and unwavering. "Look into my thoughts, decide for yourself."

Rachel didn't trust the gesture, Jean was powerful and could easily pick and choose what she saw. Besides the fact she didn't trust her own abilities after Loki's stunt. Still, getting the evidence was critical to determining their involvement. What choice did she have but to trust her at her word.

"Just so we're clear, if you attempt to cover up evidence or thwart our investigation, you will be charged with obstruction of justice, are we clear?" She growled. Her eyes darkening in emphasis.

Rachel tapped into her abilities, letting herself sink into a trance. The lights in the room dimmed and flickered. Her power reached out, tendrils sinking into Jean's mind as she extracted her memories. Rachel's mind burned, with her instability she felt sharp pangs stab at her third eye where the Aether once stood.

Jean's words were true. The lights returned to their normal luminosity and Rachel pulled back having found Jean's memories confirmed her statement. Still, Rachel wasn't convinced. Jean Grey's powers mirrored her own-- if not rivaled them. She ended the questioning and rose to her feet to leave.

Jean was lead out, the silence between her and Rachel was unnerving. She couldn't tell if Rachel believed her or not but didn't ask. The Phoenix incident had soured their former friendship too much, nothing she did or said would undo the damage done.

As she circled out into the main hallway, she brushed past one of the other agents; the first agent who talked to her early on in the investigation. "Dr. Reid?"

Spencer's hands were full with folders, his light breakfast consisting of yogurt, and his coffee. He all but ran into her as she exited the behavioral science department out into the main hallway. "Dr. Grey, what are you doing here?" Nobody told him they were following up on the X-Men, but, he'd been keeping his head buried in paperwork surrounding Think-Tech's contracts and research, trying to find anything that explained the murders. So far they were running their research program ethically.

"Agent Roth wanted to follow up on Anne Marie's recent murder." Saying it stung. Losing Rogue was the hardest thing she'd experienced since the Phoenix incident, part of wished she'd still had that power, she could've saved Rogue-- brought her back-- and maybe even find the killers in the process. Rogue's decision to try and "cure" her X-Gene wasn't something she agreed with, even after the tragedies they'd faced over the years, she believed being a mutant wasn't something to be cured but to embrace and learn how to control. Nonetheless she supported Anne Marie's decision and did everything she could to help her out.

"Oh." Reid swore they'd cleared the X-Men of their involvement but perhaps there was another lead he didn't consider. No, that wasn't it. He'd noted Rachel held a particular bias against the X-Men but he couldn't figure out why. He couldn't recall there being a direct investigation on them in the past. "Well, she's being thorough."

"Right." Jean nodded and forced a smile. Then tilted her head as he struggled with the folders. "Do you want some help with that? I was hoping I could ask you some questions about the case."

Reid shook his head, "I got it, thanks." His brows furrowed at her question. It wasn't uncommon for sophisticated unsubs to try and insert themselves into the case, by asking law enforcement about it, or trying to use red herrings to help take the heat off them. Jean however he had doubts she was part of the murders. Even with Roth's evidence pointing to them, the profile didn't add up. Why would a professor for the institute dedicated to Mutant research willingly kill their own students? "Sure. What did you want to know?"

"Have your agents talked to the Hellfire Club and the Brotherhood about the missing mutants?" The Brotherhood especially had a history of radicalization, while Erik Lehsnerr's mission had been to eliminate humanity in favor of letting mutants thrive, he wasn't above killing them to obtain that goal. The Hellfire Club also had it's shady histories as Emma Frost's missions had been focused on power. She and her group had tried to take the Phoenix Force for their own agenda and in doing so, nearly got them all killed.

"We've been trying to contact them but haven't been able to reach anyone." Since the investigation started, many mutant groups have gone underground in fear of persecution. The FBI and other law enforcement had a rough history with mutants.

It was a long shot if not dangerous, but, she was determined to figure out who was responsible. "What if I took you to meet them?" She and Charles had their methods of getting contact with Magneto, Emma Frost was a harder point of contact, but, Cerebro could find Frost, if not her than the Stepford Cuckoos to be sure.

It was a risk for sure. Not only was working with the victim's associates against protocol but to work with active vigilante groups wasn't something the FBI often did. "I don't think that's a good idea." He started, then again, getting they were getting nowhere contacting the other mutant groups. Even if they did, these groups wouldn't be forthcoming like the X-Men were. "Well, wait here, maybe we can." It was a long shot but this could be there only chance.

He darted off into the office and went to his desk to put his things down, then, went up to his supervisor's office to speak to agent Prentiss about the offer.

"No, that's too dangerous." Agent Prentiss said, there were too many risks not to mention red tape that could get her team in hot water if things went wrong. Reid however, managed to talk her into it. Against all odds, this was their best chance to gather more evidence on the case. "I'll draw up the paperwork, Miss Grey will need to sign a waver and confidentiality agreement." If this came back to bite her in the ass, she'd at least want the documents in place to lessen the blow.

Reid went back with the paperwork in hand for Jean to sign. This was high risk, but he was confident this would give them something to work with. With the paperwork signed, he lead her out of the office. "Are you sure they'll talk to us?"

Jean sighed, "I can't promise it'll be the leaders but I can guarantee we'll reach someone. Just follow my lead, all right?" She smiled.

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