*X-Men: Mutant Academy* Starts (LSUs Welcome!)

[Cferra]

Samchu

Sara
~~~~

I turned to Bobby, “I’m going to go and check on the students. I just realized, we haven’t been able to properly introduce our new guest.”

“Alright. I’ll just…keep flying I guess.”

I laughed, “good idea Bobby.”

I stepped into the back of the plane. Our new guest was sat at the far end of the plane and the others were giving him a few uncertain looks. I felt kinda bad, I should have introduced him after the fire but I was so focused on the thing with my mum that I just forgot. I’d have to make amends for that now.

“Everybody, this is James. He’s our new member so I expect all of you to treat him well, you got that? James here doesn’t have the knowledge of mutants that you all do and has only just discovered that he isn’t the only one of his kind so you’re going to have to help him settle in. Okay?”

“Okay.”

I went to see James as the others began to talk amongst themselves about the fire and everything.

“Hey James, how are you doing.?”

“Okay I guess.”

“I know you’re probably feeling pretty nervous about everyone but they’re alright. You’ll fit in quickly, you’ll see.”

“I dunno…I still don’t understand a lot of things.”

I sat down beside him, “well James, what would you like to know?”

“Everything. About mutants, this professor you told me about and especially the X-Men.”

“Alright. I’ll explain what I can.” I thought for a moment, these questions were tougher to answer than I had first expected them to be. “Mutants are just regular people with something about them that is different. A part of the DNA has been genetically altered which means we can do things that others can’t. Does that make sense?”

“Sort of. I’m still a bit confused on some things.”

“That’s alright, we all are. Over time you’re bound to learn more about yourself and your abilities. It just takes a while that’s all.”

“Okay. But what about this professor and the X-Men?”

“Don’t worry I’ll explain everything. The Professor is the founder of the X-Men, he’s a mutant too and he tries to find a way for us to exist in society without being hated or rejected. The job of the X-Men is that we use our powers to help people, like back at the fire. We make use of the fact that we can do what other people can and that maybe, if people realize that we aren’t the enemy, they will accept us.”

“I see.”

“The Professor can explain it better than I can. You’ll meet him when you arrive, don’t worry he’s very nice.”

James nodded.

“There’s one thing you have to know though James, just like people, not all mutants are good. There are some who would seek to destroy this Earth and us, those who do not believe that we can ever live amongst the ‘normal’ people and thus try to destroy them. These are the ones we strive to stop and the best way to do so if to remember one thing, no matter how bad things get, there is always hope.”


GL:

Julia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After having breakfast at the hotel, and paying our bill, the group headed out to the park, where the Blackbird was currently cloaked.

As we were preparing to leave, a woman and a young girl. They talked to sara, and Bobby explained who they were, somewhat inadvertantly and nervously. The one who approached sara was her sister.

I wasnt so sure about this, and judging by how some of the others were staring, i could tell they didnt like this either.

After a few words, and some parting talk, we split and got into the Blackbird.

While bobby was flying, everyone was sitting around in the back chatting.

Sara came back and talked to James, our newest companion. She explained to him about the school, and mutants and such.

After a while, we reached the mansion. The group exited excitedly as, after all, we were home.

Bobby called to the group, "Professor Xavier would like to meet with us."

The group murmured a grunt of general assent and we headed down to meet the professor.

Once we reached the conference room, he welcomed us back.

"Now........"


LX:

Bobby
-------------

After docking the Blackbird and closing things down, Sara and James went to go talk to the Professor about the school and I came out after I shut things down. It had been an interesting couple of days. We met Sara's mom and dealt with the android Human Torch. I came out of the blackbird wondering if the students knew something was up. They sort of scattered after I docked and let everyone out.

I was met by the other founding members of the X-Men in the locker room. I had to put the spare clothes away and change into my regular clothes. Scott, the guy who was like my big brother came up to me and I guessed he wanted to talk.

"Bobby." Scott smiled. "Good job on the mission. I think you're finally coming on your own there."

"Thanks, fearless leader." I replied with a quick smirk. "But, I'm wondering something. Tomorrow I'm going to have a class with all the students I'm helping and I'd like you guys to be there."

"So, you want us originals to show the kids what it's really like?" Warren asked. " I'll bring the embarassing video of you looking like a snowman."

I laughed it off. Warren's been back to his normal self after he got his original wings back and his skin color. I guessed now that he was free of anything to do with Apocalypse's designs, he'd be himself again.

" I think what Warren's trying to say, Bobby is that we'd be happy to help. We'll meet you guys tomorrow morning and we can start a special class." Jean explained.

"Certainly, my frigid friend we'd be happy to help." Hank grinned. "I can give them the ride of their lives in the Danger Room."

"Ohh no you won't.." I chuckled."Let's just show them some old stuff and we can teach them things about being an X-Men."

"Alright." Scott nodded. "But, how's Sara? Did the meeting with her mom go okay?"

"Sure did." I smiled. "Had to bs a few timeswhen her mom visited the hotel and hugged Sara. We're gonna have to tell them at some point. I think they're getting suspicious."

"Time will tell, Bobby." Jen smiled and motioned for the others to go. "Right now we should let you get changed. Oh and Bobby?"

"Yeah, Jeanie?" I asked.

"Next time you guys wanna romp..make sure you turn off the camers in the uniforms!" Jean winked.

I turned and saw Scott, Hank and Warren all laughing. I smirked and threw snowballs at them. It was good to be home! The group left and I changed into just a t-shirt and jeans. I went off to see how Sara, James and the Prof were doing with orientating James to the new place. Plus I had to tell Sara that our teammates are pervs. I loved them anyway. They're the best.

[Cferra]

Mewtwo-d2

Katie Leigh
~~~~~~~~~~
I was alone in the library, curled up in a large red velvet chair. It hid me from view completely, though I knew it wouldn't hide me from those I feared meeting again. I was frankly afraid of Professor Xavier, even though he had rescued me from the asylum. Jean Grey was also a terrifying figure in my mind- she had, no doubt, been briefed on my case. And even if she hadn't... well, my quadrupled aura probably stood out like a beacon in a fog.
Coward... I heard Abbadon whisper.
I narrowed my eyes and forced her back into the rarely touched corners of my mind. She rebounded from the mental slap and retreated sulkily.
"And stay there," I hissed after her.
"Katherine?" a soft voice came from behind my chair. Over it came a sense of peace, which I was sure simply came from her powers. Slowly, I uncurled and sat up straight.
"Yes, Mrs. Summers," I replied, wary of the telepath standing behind me.
"Jean, please," the red-haired woman gave me a friendly smile as she settled into the chair across from me.
"Katie Leigh," I returned stiffly. I knew she must be probing my mind, though, oddly I felt nothing.
She held up a hand. "I'm not here to read your mind. I just wanted to talk about your powers. Trust me, I understand powers that are a bit... overwhelming."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Jean," her voice was gently insistent.
"Jean."
"I just want you to know if you have any questions, I'm available to talk anytime. Truly anytime for you, isn't it?" she smiled again.
I nodded a little dully. The library was strangely empty, probably due to Jean's influence. She probably influenced the dreamers to stay out of the room. I found it very disconcerting, but it did make it easy to see she was the only one addressing me. Her smile wavered a bit at my detachment. So she knew my case file. She was probably thinking I was the next Proteus too. She stood up and put a hand on my arm.
"Please remember, I meant it. I'll talk to you later."
"Thank you... Jean," I managed a weak smile of my own before she turned and walked out the door. Dreamers began to stream in again, and I was left with company of my own sort. I had never before realized how much I missed solitude, when even my own mind was a crowd. I sighed and burrowed back into my chair, unshed tears pricking my eyes as I watched the dreams unfold around me. Again, I was alone in a crowd.

Oulaw
----------------

Kip Jude, Gargoyle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They heard voices and sprinted down the hall towards the elevator. When they reached it they could faintly hear a few voices below them. Kip dropped to the floor and gripped at the seam in the elevator doors and planted his feet firmly. He pulled with all his might and the powerless doors slid open.

He looked down into the shaft and saw the elevator was just about one and a half floors below them. While he was looking Aidan simply stepped into the shaft and floated down to it effortlessly. A rosiness came to Kip's cheeks as he watched Aidan flying down. He could not have felt more embarassed.

When she looked back up to see if he was coming he shook it off and hopped down to the roof of the elevator. They shouted for everyone to stand clear of the ceiling hatch and Kip ripped it out with some effort.

"Alright, lets get you people out of here," Aidan said as she peeked into the elevator.

She held her hand down and they started helping people up. She would assist them out of the elevator and Kip carried them up to the open floor. There were six people in all.

While Aidan shuttled the people down to the street with her wind abilities, Kip went back into the building to continue searching for survivors. They had only covered the top three floors.

At the moment, Kip felt it best he continued searching alone. He felt like such an idiot after seeing Aidan could fly. He went through all that effort to carry her up there and she could fly all along.

Even as he searched the building for survivors, finding three more people in need of aid, he couldn't shake those thoughts from his head. By the time Aidan and him both agreed the building was cleared he felt downright mortified. He couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye.


--------------an hour later--------------

Kip stared at the hotel from on top of a lamppost across the street. He blinked as some of the other students entered the lobby and looked up at the buildings towering height. He had never even been in the basement of a place like that before and he was supposed to stay there?

"It's just a hotel," one of the male students said before entering but he didn't see who.

To Kip it was not just a hotel, though. It was a building crowded with normal people who were not accustomed to seeing freaks walk in the front door. He didn't want to cause a scene so he decided the best thing to do would be to have Gav open his room from the inside and Kip would just fly up to his room and enter from the balcony. All the room had balconies, afterall.

Once he was in he found a nice spot on top of the rooms entertainment center. He curled up on top of it and looked down at his room for the night. He still wasn't used to sleeping in a bed. That would probably take some time.

When morning came, Kip found himself wondering what he was going to do for breakfast. Aidan had stopped by to tell him everyone was going to the hotel's restaurant but he couldn't exactly just walk in the front door. Much to his relief Gav showed up with a solution. Sort of anyway.

Kip reached ground level the same we he arrived at his room. Through the air on the exterior of the hotel. Gav met him in an allet near the hotel with a very sizable trench coat and a big hat. It was long enough that it even covered his haunch-like feet and big enough that his tail and wings just made him look a bit stocky. The hat did a decent job of hiding his face but he still felt nervous about it.

"It'll be fine Kip. You'll see," Gav sounded optimistic but it didn't help much.

As he entered the lobby slowly he caught a few people glance in his direction. There were many odd looks but the outfit hid his appearance enough to not cause a scene. He hadn't gotten halfway across the lobby though when Iceman tapped him on the shoulder.

"Bobby..umm.." he started nervously.

Even somewhat disguised he didn't feel right being in the lobby. No one was pointing or scoffing but enough people gave sideways murmurs. He was clearly out of place.

"Want an image inducer?" Iceman asked as he handed Kip a small circular watch-like object. "Press the red button and you'll appear normal. You should be okay, then. It cloaks your true appearance."

Kip put it on his wrist hesitantly and pressed the red button. Much to his surprise his hand suddenly looked normal. He clasped his other hand and could feel the claw-like fingers but they looked like anyone elses hands. Carefully he looked under his cloak to find he looked like a normal kid. Allbeit a little chunkier than he actually was but he guessed that was to better hide the tail and wings..

As he made his way to the table to join the others he managed to work up the courage to take off the coat and hat. Apparently it made his hair look blond. Kip didn't like being blond but it would be fine for now. Maybe he could ask Hank to customize it later.

When he sat down at the table Aidan was caught off guard. He had to show her the device three times before she finally excepted he was Kip. Gav was equally surprised.

He still felt out of place but at least the image inducer let him feel a little less alien long enough for him to eat breakfast in public. Kip didn't truly approve of hiding who he was but it was a new thrill eating in a restaurant in public like a normal person. Sitting and talking with normal people. He would probably be greatly conflicted over using the image inducer but for now, he was just enjoying the biggest breakfast he had ever eaten.

[Cferra]

Mire
------------------

Mire
----------

= Scout =

Being a mutant almost took some of the pride out of saving people from certain death, whether it was by doing spy work or by directly being there facing danger. Directly being in combat was something I hadn't bothered to do since my first days of recruitment in the Reconassaince Branch, when I myself was the one that was the Rookie. Here though, it brought back old memories. Old memories before I had ever been one of Xavier's "students."

I had been paired up with Amplitude but insisted on going alone; working with another person was something I had been strictly absent of as part of the Eastern Branch. Contact was sparse there, and so having a partnership was something I heartily refused despite the possible need for me to learn cooperation. I was used to surviving alone and it had created a sort of breach between myself and the mutant and outside world. I could see it even more now that being with the rest of the team was something done on a daily basis and not on rare occasion, given time I noticed how my personality subconsciously avoided the rest of them. Katie had been something of the same, reclusive due to her secret, and what had led me to discovering it. By now Jean Grey had a wind of it too, but not by my doing. It was really a whole different ball game here in America.

Regardless, back to the present. The building I had chosen was tall, at least twenty stories (and also within several buildings of Amplitude's smaller take and my assistance if he should come under fire), and so I had thought it best to start from the top. It was even more the challenging in the dark of night. I gently floated past each floor, and neither sight nor sound emenated from any of the higher floors. Upon reaching Floor Eight, however, a distant whimper brought my attention. I smashed through the window I was at and took a last breath of fresh air before plunging into the blazing and smoke filled room.

The coughing was distant and so I proceeded through each room with most haste, dodging falling flaming projectiles at the same time with my precognition and floating over any obstacles. I finally reached the source of the sound and a feminine wheeze accompanied by a feeble yell of, "Help!" Unfortunately, a broken door beam blocked the door's threshold. I unsheathed my sai and imbued it with a bit of energy, slashing a deep uppercut through the beam and dislodging it with another kick. Rushing through the door I found a woman wrapped in a fire blanket who looked up at me with a thankful gaze, she even tried to mouth it. "No time," I prompted, closing her mouth. I threw her over my own shoulder in the classic Firemen style and rushed through the door. I flew through the window and after overcoming her shock, the woman pointed towards the sixth floor and managed, "My daughter is in daycare and the stairs there have collapsed!" She wheezed before continuing with a moan, "Save her please!"

I focused my precognition as I lowered the woman to the ground where more refugees from the fire were standing and I saw that in a minute's time the building would surely collapse. It must have been one of the first ones to go up in flames and it was weakening as I spoke. Part of the structure was wooden, I could see, and that would surely mean it was falling soon.

With a renewed heroism, I flew past each floor in turn quickly and picked up now sound or movement. The only remaining noises came from the sixth floor, where the employee had said the daycare and her daughter were. I broke through the weakened window with ease and followed the noise of sobs and coughing until I reached a room containing not just the mother's little girl but two employees that had been trying to escape when the fire had blocked the stairwell. They employees were sheltering the girl with their bodies and attempting to find an exit and the girl just shouted, "Mommy!" at regular intervals. I had no time for calming anyone and I could only rush into the room and take the little girl and the closest employee to me, the third person would have been too much weight for me to fly. I hastened through the window of the daycare and deposited the two on the ground with the others, the nearby mother rejoicing at her daughter's return and praising me with thanks. I gave a wave of acknowledgement while flying and quickly flew again to sixth floor where the window was broken. Before going inside, though, an instant red flag went off in my head like the throb of a headache, a signal of precognition so strong that I must have been very focused on the task at hand not to see it. The building creaked and I watched the other refugees across the road to safety. It wouldn't be a fire without a clincher, I supposed. My eyes were welling up with both the fear that I wouldn't make it in time and from the fumes.

With abound I flew through the building with such speed and grabbed the last, the daycare employee screaming as he flew just inches from falling debris and with my help managed to just avoid falling obstacles. He coughed in the middle of his screeching and I couldn't help but jump a little myself as a piece of wreckage just whizzed past my head. We were at safety in ten seconds on the other side and I flew across with much speed to where the others stood sheltered and looking up at the creaking building with acute suspense. I roughly dropped the man on the ground and turned my eyes to it myself. Suddenly, the whole middle seemed to give way and the structure groaned a final time and collapsed downward, a spiral of dust causing myself and all the refugees and firemen and police to hit the deck in fear of injury. When my senses signalled the collapse was over, I wearily raised my head and observed the building. It was miraculously intact, but debris covered the street, having been expelled by the cloud of dust and collapse. All floors below the eleventh seemed to have been crushed by the floors above them and the building had lost roughly half of its height. I managed a small smile in triumph and blinked into camoflauge just as the first head from the rescued rose. I didn't want the unnecessary attention (whether it would be positive or negative towards mutant kind) and the call had already went out for a rendezvous of the team.

I rounded the next bend and found Amplitude with his saved, breathing heavily after having just exited the building with a woman in tow. He had done his own share and I quickly became visible and ushered him into a nearby alley. We had both wanted to split, both because he wanted the challenge, and because I refused to work in a team. His need to be in control of a situation was easily manipulated to work this way and we had communicators should anything had gone wrong. Apparently it hadn't, but promises needed reaffirming at times. "Amp, you aren't going to tell right?" I pressed all my charisma into the statement, I didn't want to get on anyones' bad side through slightly disobeying orders and leaving a new recruit alone.

"Don't worry. Nothing is slipping past these lips. I'm metal, man, and no one's going to break this dude's confidentiality." He smiled as he said this and made a zipping motion over his lips.

"Good." After that simple agreement, I snatched him up in flight as we would get to the hotel much quicker if I carried him. He had refused this at first, but realized it was for the best after I convinced him so. The call had gone out for the rendezvous already, and I didn't really care if he would have protested anyway.

===

On my way to the hotel I continued to use my power during a slow and leisurely flight. It was taxing to camoflauge and fly with a passenger and use my tracking at the same time, but it was only apt for the situation. Yesterday I had saw a report on the Blonde Phantom in Los Angeles and my memory had registered me browsing her file among the superheroes of the old world. Something was wrong with the fact that she couldn't exist without having deaged in some way and it was my duty to explore. During our fire escapades today we had received contact prior that Iceman (Bobby) and Sara had had some "business" to take care of. My heart was trying to convince me that the appearance of the Phantom and Bobby and Sara here was just coincidental. Well, it was working until my mind told me there were no coincidences.

I tracked Bobby and Sara and I had the beacon of the Blonde Phantom set as well. I was able to track other beings that I could get implanted rigidly enough and visually enough into my memory. I had spent the night before secretly pouring over files and histories of the Blonde Phantom, pictures and online news of her sudden appearance. Sure enough, I could track her just as well.

I had had the vague sensation of what those two were doing all through my rescuing and prior, but now it was really working on my nerves. An alarm sounded in my head the tonight when the beacons culminated in a rendevous together. There was to be no mistake. My sight did not reach that far, but it was certain now what their "reconassaiance mission" had been.

Suddenly I was shaken from my reverie at the shout of, "Building! Building!" I turned my eyes toward the path quickly and noticed a building right smack dab where I was flying. I started a little and almost dropped Amp who quickly prodded me with, "Watch it," before taking wing and almost clipping the building top.

"Nice one bird brain," he scoffed, making puns about my flight ability. I returned with merely a smirk, still attentive to what I was witnessing. The Blonde Phantom, Sara, and Iceman. What was the connection?

===

After a lovely breakfast at the hotel and a change back into my uniform from normal clothes, we boarded the Blackbird for the trip home. My suspicions had almost been quieted about the meeting between the three that I had been tracking, but my hunch returned when Sara's "sister" appeared to visit her.

When we boarded for the ride home I made sure to get a seat nearest to the cockpit. I scanned the rest of the area, and my seat was quite seperated from the rest of them. No one was watching me at all, all chatting amongst themselves. I induced camoflauge again and got as close to the door to the cockpit as possible, standing stock still and listening. They had sorely underestimated me if they thought I wouldn't act and learn on suspicion. I was a spy after all, it was my monocre and job.

"Blackbird 2 to X-Mansion." Bobby stated into the radio in his hand. "Mission accomplished. Fires gone and..things are looking up."

"Alright, Bobby." I heard with a voice that could only be Cyclops at base. "Warren got the bill huh? The credit bureau just called."

"Eh..it's not like he can't afford it." Sara interjected as take off began and I braced myself against the wall.

Bobby shut the door to the cockpit, making it all the more obvious that there was something private going on here. I pressed my ear to the door and though the sound was muffled, I could only think again that it was horribly easy to eavesdrop.

"Close call back there with your mom." Bobby voiced and I started a little against the door making a muffle cuffing noise.

"Yeah, I'll say. Nice work on this whole 'sister' thing but I think the students might be getting a bit suspicious," Sara continued and my shock deepened into total attention to the conversation.

"Yeah." Bobby agreed. "We'll tell them when the time is right. If they get too nosy, then we can explain things. But, now it might be best to wait." "If" we get nosy, hah. I was already nosy so I could only wonder how long it would take the others that were a little less invasive than I would take to realize what was happening.

"I think that'll be best." Sara ended, surely realizing the subject would surface again later.

I went back to my seat and leaned over, unzipping my bag and mussing it up a little, making any onlooker think I had been going through it. All the while thoughts went through my head. So this was what they had been keeping secret? It made perfect sense, Sara's features were evident on her "sister," a name at which the woman had first raised an eyebrow before joining the act. The question was, though, why had she resurfaced now and how had she been deaged? What importance did this have? I clenched up a little and sunk in my seat as Sara reentered the passenger area to speak about the new mutant on the team. It was only a matter of time I supposed. Only a matter of time.

When the plane finally landed I scattered quickly in fear that they would somehow realize I knew more than they were letting on. Paranoia wrenched through me and I felt the familiar throb of precognition. Things seemed too calm around here and even my minute ability to see the future made me tremble as the sun moved behind the clouds.

[Cferra]

Bobby
-----------------------

After a quick shower, I caught up with Sara and James talking to the old Prof. He was just telling Jim all about the true purpose of the school. We trained mutants to protect a world that feared and hates us and control over powers. We've helped so many mutants and many of them joined. Hell, our roster rivaled the Avengers!

"So, James the Institute can help you develop your powers in ways you've never imagined. We can help you control them and help promote better human-mutant relations." Sara explained.

I stood behind Sara and smiled right at her. She was the newest X-Man and even though she's been with us a while, she got the hang of it fast and it's like she was always here.

" Robert here will be teaching you." the professor explained as he motioned toward me. "He's one of my original students. He himself has changed in many ways after joining."

"Yeah." I chuckled. "From a pile of snow to solid organic ice."

"Precisely." the Professor nodded. The man was more of a father to me than my own dad. He looked at myself and Sara with tremendous pride and wheeled away.

"I guess we'll let you explore the grounds on your own." Sara explained."If you have trouble, I'm sure one of the X-Men can help you or even one of the other students."

Sara must have told him where his room was, all about the Danger Room and other stuff. She was getting really good at oreintation. I took her in my arms and gave her a hug.

" I got good news and bad news, Sara." I sweated a bit."Good news is Scott, Jean, Warren and Hank are going to help us in a class tomorrow morning."

"What's the bad news?" Sara tilted her head and smirked.

"They caught us on tape, baby." I winced.

"Tell me you're kidding." Sara looked at me plainly.

I shook my head. "'Fraid not. Hank caught us."

With that, she let go and ran toward Hank's lab like she was Quicksilver.

"Hurry before he puts it on Ebay and the tabloids read "Iceman gets caught in frozen encounter!"

My cell phone soon rang and I answered it.

"Baxter Building?" I said aloud as I checked who called.

I answered and a familiar voice was on the other end. It was Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch. I wondered why he was calling here.

"Johnny! What's up? The Sentinels are playing Godzilla out front." I quipped.

"Cute, Drake." Johnny chuckled. "I was actually calling to see if you and Sara want to come to the city tomorrow after you teach those kids a thing or two about being superheroes."

"Sounds like fun." I responded. "I mean we'd have to be Human Torch's groupies for a day."

"Pretty much but hey.."Johnny started. "If anyone gives ya greif, I'll send Ben after them."

"Deal." I nodded as we settled on a time and I hung up.

It was going to be a blast hanging out with Johnny. He's been a good friend of mine. Of course, he talked to Spider-Man more seeing as both were in New York.

I went to go look for Sara again and tell her about the trip to New York after class tomorrow. We were going to have a nice time in the city. I also figured I'd run an old mission in the Danger Room and see how they do against some lame villian from the past. I couldn't have them go against Magneto of course.

Still, I had to look forward to seeing friends outside the mansion. I only had a few of them like the Torch and maybe Spidey. We had to prove that not every hero gettogether is the cause of some battle

Samchu
------------------

Sara
~~~~

I couldn't believe it! The cameras in the uniform caught Bobby and I in the hotel room and now Hank had it for his enjoyment?! Something had to be done and soon. I faintly heard Bobby's cell phone ring as I headed toward the sub basement and found Hank and Warren in the hallway.

"Hi, Sara." Warren began.

"Greetings, Sara." Hank grinned. "How was your trip to Los Angeles?"

I tapped my foot and crossed my arms. I supposed we could have turned it off but we got too caught up in things.

"Where's the tape, guys?" I asked. "I kind of want it back and I don't want you selling it on eBay or anything."

"Seeing as we don't want to incur your wrath, Sara...” Warren motioned to the War room. "It's in there."

I ran as fast as I could to the War room and turned it on. Seconds later, Bobby entered and saw me watching it.

"Mutant on mutant porn?" Bobby asked. "Wait...that's us!"

I nodded and turned it off. I hadn't planned for our encounter to get out and I wasn't sure what to do with the tape now. I looked over at Bobby for some suggestions.

"What do you think, Snowman?" I asked.

Bobby then shrugged and draped himself around me and kissed my neck.

"Well..." Bobby began. "We're going to have to hide it or something. Johnny invited us to go to New York tomorrow after our class. And as for the porn? I dunno."

“Hmmm…I think we should keep it.”

“Are you serious?”

I nodded. “Well you know how lonely I get when you go off on your missions.”

“Well…yeah. But you sure this is the right decision?”

“Don’t worry,” I kissed him quickly. “I’ll hide it safely.”

I pulled away from him.

“Where you off to?”

“Bedroom. You coming?”

Bobby shrugged and ran after me. I hid the tape in a secret compartment in the bottom on the closet and turned off my suit camera.

“What are you up to?” Bobby asked curiously as I turned his camera off too.

“Nothing.”

“Doesn’t look like nothing to me.”

I locked the door. “I think that you are too suspicious.”

“Fine. Then tell me what’s going on.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Well I was thinking, seeing as we’re engaged and all, that we should make the most of our free time while we can.”

He raised an eyebrow, “doing what exactly?”

I smiled slyly and replied, “You’ll just have to wait and see.” I grabbed a pillow and tossed it at his head. “Come and get me iceman!”

LX
---------------

Bobby
-----------

I playfully tossed a couple pillows at Sara and realized she was right. We had precious time together and we had to spend it wisely. I was sure Scott and Jean did the same thing between missions. The other couples here at the mansion did too and Sara was going to be my wife. So, there definitely would be no harm in a little fun.

"Enough with the pillows." I smiled slyly and tackled her and began kissing her all over.

"Hey no fair! You just don't want me to beat you at pillow fighting." Sara quipped.

"I know." I whispered. "I just have this urge to be closer to you for some reason. Very close. I can't explain it."

I leaned into her and she could feel my heart beating. I was feeling warm and that was usually odd for me.

"It's called an obsession. I've got a nice little video I picked up from Hank and Warren that might help you with that." Sara replied betwen kisses.

"Why see that when I got the live demonstration here?" I asked.

"Who says I'm in to live demonstrations?" Sara responded.

"Well.."I said as she flipped me over and pinned me. "Ow..headboard..Umm.I didn't say you were. I'm just into the real thing and not some image. Or mutant shapeshifter."

Sara leaned in closed and began to kiss me. "You're too soft Bobby." She then poked me "I think you're getting out of shape in your old age."

I had to laugh. "Well, you keep me in shape. Keeping up with you is a full time job. But, I'll manage. So, the video get you in the mood before dinner?"

Sara then kissed me, again. "Since when have I ever needed a video?"

After that, we spent a while together in each others arms, kissing. I was so happy to be with her. Nothing else mattered. Some time, later we got a telepathic call to head down to dinner. I figured there I could tell the students about the plan for tomorrow and just have fun tonight.

"So, our dinner awaits." I smirked. "Then a lesson and meeting Torch in the city. I wonder why Johnny called."

"Who knows. It could mean anything when Johnny's involved." Sara responded as she got dressed and I just looked at her. She was so beautiful. She had a great personality and everything I've ever imagined.

"Have I told you lately that I love you, Sara Halloway?" I grinned.

"No you haven't and I hope you intend to make up for the lack of it." Sara replied playfully.

After we got dressed, Sara and I headed downstairs. We quickly fixed our hair and headed toward the students in the cafeteeria. I quickly told them as I held Sara's hand that.

"First thing in the morning, crew we meet in the Danger Room!" I explained. "I got a special class with special friends of mine so don't be late! Any of ya!"

Sara and I found a table with Pete and Kitty. I guessed they wanted to know how we were. I also wondered how soon it'd be before we tell everyone Sara and I got engaged.

[Cferra]

OOC: And now we're up to date. Get to posting! Sorry if I caused problems


Mire
---------------------

= Scout =

The looming feeling of anticipation to some new danger or threat was starting to really get to me. I had been sitting all day with nothing to do except ponder the appearance of the Blonde Phantom, Sara's mother, Katie Leigh's situation and my own memories. I shuddered as the thought of how I had been some sort of article to my father, and how I had been sold. It was something I couldn't seem to shake away from myself.

I needed a distraction. Something to take my mind off what I was thinking. Anything to take my mind off what I was pondering! The first thing to pop into my overloaded head was the danger room. I didn't waste time, and it was only a short walk there.

I smiled at Hank as I entered, and gave a shout to make him turn from the computer screen, "Hello!"

He turned, all ears now that I had made sure he wasn't looking somewhere else and responded with a little wave. I had overheard Bobby talking about how the holograms weren't limited to the robots I had seen before, but the more real villans that the Academy had dealt with over the past years. I had gone over the villans stored in my memory carefully on the way down and I was almost sure I had settled on one that I would consider acceptable to my level. However, practice made perfect.

"Hank do you think you could power up some robots for me in the Danger Room? Just some quick practice?" I gave him my best overbearing smile that seemed to make most comply, and it was no different here.

"Sure Scout, I wasn't doing much anyway. Whatever you'd like, Miss Huron." With that quip he motioned for me to enter the room. It was empty, as I had already seen, and the walls were relatively flat. Metal protruded here and there, but little that could be used for any decisive advantage.

I shouted, "Go ahead Hank!" He promptly nodded and pressed a couple buttons in the technical station around him. Six holographic droids appeared from some mechanism Hank had rigged up and I watched as they shambled across the room, analyzing my movements as they did so. I kept still and stoic and didn't give them the advantage or realizing any of my powers just yet.

The first droid came within arm's reach and it was time. With a splendid slide kick, I flipped it over and onto the ground and slashed off its head with my adamantium Sai. I dodged a Droid swinging its arm inches from where my head had been. I decapitated the next three like the first with a quick circle kick to each and faced the two remaining with a smug expression. They backed off a little and analyzed me, charging for an attack from an angle and two different directions. I grinned and quickly sped just several inches above their heads, landing behind them. I destroyed one with an empowered Sai attack and the other by impaling my arm through its middle and effectively dismantling whatever made it run.

The bodies evaporated and I took a deep breath. After I yelled up to Hank, "Increase the number! Twelve sounds like a proper engagement. I want some increased intelligence also, if you can do that."

Hank responded with a shout of his own, "Twelve and more A.I.? Are you sure Scout?"

"Just press the buttons, techie," I muttered, angry at his condescending tone. So I wished it, so it came. Within ten seconds twelve droids appeared at the end of the room. The droid at the head of the line raised its arm to shoot the goop that had ensnared Rick several days earlier, and it came flying across the room in my direction. The speed of the projectile was surely at least one hundred miles per hour but I used my precognition to slide just left of it with ease. Mockingly, I threw my entire Sai across the room and impaled the same Droid that had launched the goo in the center of its head. I emitted a slight, "Hmph," of triumph and charged at the group. They scattered like flies and attacked me from several directions at once, forcing me to hug the ground tightly and make large use of my precognition. Every direction I turned there was a blue blast or an arm or leg extended, but I just kept dodging. I tripped three up with my leg and promptly impaled each of them with my Sai to assure their deactivation. Pulling my other Sai from the head of a now evaporating hologram, I dispatched the Droid nearest with it and gave a sigh of relief as a large blast of blue slime whizzed past my left arm and dribbled several drops onto it on its way through.

Out of my line of vision I could sense three Droids attacking from my rear as I repelled the four in front of me. They were forming quite cohesive groups now and guarding each other well, though I managed to pick off one of them with my Sai before being backed further towards the wall and the other three Droids. They hadn't analyzed the full extent of my power, obviously, and with my acute senses I could hear the gentle clopping of metal on metal and paint a mental picture of their exact location at my rear. I waited until they were within range and spun from my facet towards the four remaining at my front, slicing through the legs of two behind me on my way. The third at my rear seized the opportunity and shot a gargantuan dosage of the blue slime in its arm, hitting my hand straight on and nailing it to the floor.

The situation had worsened. I was one against five with one ample hand and stuck in a kneeling position. The first came towards me and I managed to dispatch it with a quick upward kick to the stomach, knocking it over and impaling it with my Sai. The others all came at me at once and just when I thought I'd be overwhelmed, I used my flight to pull lose of my predicament and soar several feet above their heads. Initiating an aerial dive, I sliced completely through two and decapitated their robot craniums, tackling one of the two remaining to the ground and impaling it in the stomach. Eleven down, one to go.

With the most grace I could muster, I rolled from the holographic body of the Droid I had just impaled and under the legs of the one remaining. Reaching from the back I managed to sever one arm before it turned and nearly struck me to the ground. I analyzed my remaining options within a fraction of a second and realized that I was in perfect position for an uppercut. Imbuing my Sai with enough ethereal energy to make it glow brightly, I released a angular upward strike right through the middle of my mechanical enemy. It reached for me for just a second before collapsing into two halves.

"Bravissimo!" Hank teased from his chair up above, "Care to try twenty four today Madam?"

With a chuckle and sweat dribbling from my face, I shouted back to him, "Maybe after lunch!" After lunch, hmph. I wouldn't fight Droids anymore. Eighteen was enough practice for one day and I wanted a real challenge. Yes, yes, that was the perfect villan to bring into holographic form for a duel. I would indeed be back later, but Droids were nothing to the foe I wanted to target in the Danger Room. I just hope Bobby had meant what he said when he noted that old missions could be replayed.


TML
-------------------
Aidan
---------
The trip back to New York was quiet, or at least to me it was. I stared straight ahead at the front of the ship, trying not to mutter aloud my thoughts, which I had a tendency of doing. There was just so many things on my mind: Kip's new look, Sara's "sister" who looked at her like a mother would, the possibiliy of Sara and Bobby being engaged. I wanted to scream at the both of them that it was painfully obvious how close they are, that it doesn't take a genius to figure their relationship out; but then again, I already snapped at Bobby once. I had to learn to keep some comments to myself.

Movement ahead of me caught my eye as Scout turned around to stare at everyone behind her. I quickly flicked my eyes towards the wall and propped my hand under my chin, making it appear as if I was in deep thought. Out of the corner of eye, I saw her disappear in thin air, leaving no trace of her whereabouts. It was doubtful that she left the plane - no, she was probably living up to her nickname and spying on someone for reasons only she knew. Not like I cared though. I didn't like for her one bit at all. She had an arrogant tone to her, as if she knows more than everyone else did but doesn't care to reveal any of her secrets. She was alienating herself by shunning the others away and didn't seem like a teamwork person once it came time for a mission. Most likely, she went off by herself during those fires and rarely thought about anyone else.

I got myself more riled up by the minute and only the return of Scout and the entrance of Sara made me release a quiet sigh of indifference.
Only focus on the people who will care about you and take care of them, I thought. The others will soon learn that they can't do everything by themselves.

After the debriefing from Sara about our new classmate and the landing of the plane, quickly exited and flew into my room to change into a bathing suit. A good swim was what I needed to clear my head

[Cferra]

OOC: Leaving it open for anyone to catch us in the act.

Bobby
------------

Dinner was uneventful as usual. Pete and Kitty discussed their mission to Washington to check for anything concerning Terra Nova. Apparantly Storm took them, Kurt and Logan to scope things out down there. They didn't get that far in getting info.

"The Torch's antics are being investigated by the Avengers so there's not much we can do but wait." Kitty explained as she worked on her salad.

"Don't worry, comrades." Pete reassured us. "We'll find them and we'll make them pay."

That was Pete Rasputin for you. Always willing to help friends. He lost a lot in his life but still managed to pull a brave front.

"I know we will, Pete." I smiled as Sara and I finished up. "Well, right now I got a Danger Room training session waiting for me. How about you, Sara?"

"Sounds good to me." Sara smiled slyly. I wondered what she was cooking up.

We made our way to the locker room and put on training uniforms. They had no camera and resembled the uniforms my friends and I wore when we started here. Black and Gold. There were no cameras r anything. The old suits were now just exercise clothes.

We passed Scout on the way to the Danger Room. I wasn't sure why but she gave us a quick look and went on her way. I wasn't sure what to make of her.

Hank wasn't in the control booth but that was okay. As X-Men, we didn't need to be watched and I wasn't about to let anything happen to Sara. Sara grabbed her katana and swung it a bit. It glowed with each swing and that was well..weird.

"So, any program you want to run?" I asked.

"Not particularly. Just make sure it's something fun." Sara replied.

"Okay, even though you look so hot with that katana and..." I started as Sara gave me a look and I iced up. "Okay..Computer run Drake 156."

The blank walls of the Danger Room changed color and spheres were bouncing at us. Our job was to deflect the spheres in the given time limit. Sara and I faced these blue spheres coming at us. She swatted them away with her sword and that produced a wave of light. I on the other hand practiced flash freezing them. Going for a ball I bumped into her.

"Oops, sorry hun." I smiled since I grazed her chest with my icy arm.

"Don't worry." she kissed my cheek. "I'll get you back."

We had another round of balls coming at us and Sara was breathing heavily after swinging the balls away and deflecting them.

"Ooh.." Sara said as she unzipped the top of her uniform a bit. "These old uniforms are sooo hot. How about you stop the program? Girl's gotta rest."

"Okay." I nodded. "Computer create the Sunset Beach."

"Acknowledged." the computer replied and we were at a nice beach. Computer generated gulls flew overhead.

Sara walked over to me. This was the program where we had another date. I wasn't sure what she was planning but I was certainly getting warm. And that for me was just not natural.

"Close your eyes." Sara smiled.

I smirked and de-iced. "Okay, Sara."

I wasn't sure what she was up to but I felt cloth on my lap as I sat down. I opened my eyes and saw her topless. She arched her back and pounced. She then kissed me all over as the waves lapped us. She undid my uniform, which was beyond wet now because of the water. I didn't know what brought this on but I didn't care.

We rolled around for a bit kissing and I heard the Danger Room door open. Standing in the doorway was one of the students. The "sun" was so bright that I couldnt make the person out.

"Little early for tomorrow's class aren't ya?" I asked.

[Samchu]

Sara
~~~~

What more proof do you need that there is little privacy within the Xavier household than to have someone walk in on you when you're rolling around, bare naked, with your tongue down your fiance's throat. Unfortunately, that's how Bobby and I found ourselves that evening when someone accidently walked in on us whilst we were...'training'...in the danger room.

"Don't supposed there's room for another is there?" It was Tank's voice.

Bobby instinctively created an ice wall in front of him, fortunately it also clouded his view of the istuation. I got up and dressed quickly and Bobby did the same.

"I think we should lock the door next time," I said.

"Definately."

Once we were fully clothed we were still left with the daunting task of dealing with Tank. I walked up to the ice and placed my hand against it, irradiating just enough heat to melt it. I turned to Bobby, "you can deal with this. I'll meet you back at the room."

"Hey-"

"If Tank was a girl I'd handle it but you're better at guy talks than I am. I'll see you upstairs." I left the two of them in the danger room and headed to the cafeteria to get some fruit. I was lucky in that I didn't bump into anyone who thought me walking around was suspicious. I really didnt want to deal with this on top of the video tape.

I headed back up to the room and curled up on the sofa with my fruit and wiated for Bobby to show up. He took ages. I actually fell asleep I was waiting for him so long but I heard him come in and woke up right away.

"What took you so long?" I asked.

He sighed, "Dealing with Tank was harder than I thought." He collapsed onto the bed.

I headed over to him and he sat up slowly. I perched behind him and massged his shoulders gently. "You're all stiff I said quietly."

He laughed. "What do you expect. You left me hanging back there."

I kissed the back of his neck softly. "It was nothing you couldn't handle."

"You're becoming a very bad girl Ms. Halloway."

I grinned and hugged him. "I've always been a bad girl, you just haven't noticed before," I replied slyly, a mischevious glint in my eye.

We didn't do anything more that evening. It was too late and we were too tired. I didn't know what was going on with me, I was acting so unlike myself. It was creepy.

We spent the rest of the evening curled up together on the sofa, just kissing and doing nothing, it was the perfect end to the evening. I fell asleep on top of Bobby, the two of us still there on the sofa and his arms wrapped softly around my body. What more could I wish for?

[Mire]

= Scout =

I discarded my danger room task with a wistful sigh and a passing thought of "Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?" I ignored my interrupting conscience pleading, "What is today but yesterday's tomorrow?" I had had enough for a little while and the danger room would certainly still be there, like the sun. I wouldn't forget. A photographic memory never forgets.

Instead, the day was hot and a refreshing swim in the pool was what I needed. Next to the danger room, it was the next best thing to take my mind off other matters. I wasn't a huge fan of water, but I was okay with swimming pools, and the rhythm of swimming laps calmed me.

Entering my room, I went to my bottom drawer and flipped my eyes hesitantly between two bathing suits. One Piece, bikini... one piece, bikini... The one piece was more sensible, but I just couldn't resist pulling on the bikini and admiring myself in the mirror for several seconds. Aware of how conceited I must have looked, I grabbed my googles, no longer really intending to do many laps. I wasn't even concerned about a cap to prevent my hair from being mussed up. I picked my things up and set off at a slower than usual pace down to the pool.

Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to forget all my troubles. When I reached the pool Aidan was also there, briefly sitting on the tiled edge with her feet dangling in the water. I gave a wave and a smile, but she returned with naught but a quick glare of recognition. I hope she wasn't under the impression that I was inattentive enough to not notice her distrust and repulsion towards me. I was the human global positioning system, after all, and I could sense emotions almost as easily. Suddenly I regretted wearing the bikini, it wasn't exactly professional.

Slowly, I eased into the pool with Aidan entering near to me. Did I deserve to explain myself to her? I didn't want to make rivals when I had just arrived here. I slowly swam towards her to offer an aquatic apology, but was less obliged when she gave a sharp kick which may or may not have been intended during her laps and sent a tide of cold water straight into my open eyes. "Ouch," I muttered aloud. Still, though, I thought I'd try to be the better person.

"Aidan?" I offered, but she blatantly gave me the cold shoulder and continued swimming. I swam closer to where she was doing laps and waited at the shallow end for her to touch the wall with her hand to keep the repeats going. As she neared, I tapped her on the shoulder and said a little more forcefully, "Aidan?"

She eyed me calmly and I sighed a little. I hated it when I gave the wrong impression. "Yes?" She asked, waiting for a response.

"Aidan, I think we've got off on the wrong foot. I know you think I'm pompous and I've noticed you seem to hate my spying aptitude. It is my job, after all, to pick up on human emotion as well as human activity." I paused a minute, and her eyes urged me forward. "I don't want to give that impression of myself, Aidan, but I've had two years experience and seen the death of humans, worked as an assassin, and sometimes a bit of my colder side slips out in arrogance. I hope you understand, though I suppose I can accept if you can't forgive that. The way I've been raised and the path my life has followed has left me with a distant attitude towards, not just humans as I first thought, but mutants too." I smiled and offered a hand, which she pushed away.

"So, you think that justifies the fact that you shun the rest of us and leave people alone during missions?" I had left Amp alone and it had tore at my conscience. I shrank a little before carefully and gently replying.

"You see, the shunning isn't something I do consciously. My subconscious is that of an assassin and an infiltrator, and the first rule of that field is to keep as little human contact as possible. No one was supposed to know I was there when I did reconaissance, and it has made cooperation be an aspect of my life that I was sorely missing. You have to understand that I'm reluctant to try it. My conscience has been tearing at me for leaving Amp alone, but still, I was within reach. The building next to his and with a communicator. If needed, I could have been there in a flash and it had been his doing as well that we weren't together. Still, I know the fact that he wasn't reluctant to split does not quite get me forgiveness, but it's something." She nodded indifferently, obviously expecting something a little more. I continued as careful as ever to prevent her from blowing up on me, as I wasn't sure what kind of temper she had. "I considered asking you to partner with me," I mumbled almost incoherently. It was true, and she obviously heard the honesty. I admired her talents. "If I hadn't already noticed you were angry with me, I would have asked you." She calmed a little more at this, and I sincerely hoped I was getting through, which I was almost sure I was.

I started on a new more upbeat tone, and went for a little humor, "If this is about the paper thing... I'm just quirky like that. My idol is Henry David Thoreau and my environmentalist and anticonsumerist attitude manifest aggressively at time. It was nothing personal, and I bet you were going to put it in the recyling bin anyway." I pulled out another of my warmest and most sincere smiles, a full white grin, and offered, "What do you say we start again as friends? Even acquaintances? I don't want to be your rival and I think that once we get to know each other that you won't either."

Aidan had been contemplative and quiet all through the conversation, and finally she offered her first hand in it. "Alright, I'll be your friend..." I didn't like the quick cut-off or that nuance that made me think there was a catch, "if you tell me what you were doing when you went invisible on the plane." My face went white and all my charisma vanished. I concealed it on the surface, but my defenses had just gone down. I quickly pulled my confidence back up, but questions went through the back of my head. What do I tell her? What do I tell her... I had to be careful, I didn't know if it was my right to snitch. I wasn't supposed to share information like that, and if a spy gave something up in torture it would completely discredit them when the situation, like all my missions, was do or die. I shuddered, only visible for a second or two, but I was still afraid she noticed. It wasn't a vandal's ultimate fear to get caught, but it was still close.

For once I was speechless and I went through the possible replies in my mind. Should I tell her? Was it my right to tell her? As much as I hated keeping things from a team member and possible friend, I wasn't sure if it was morally correct to break confidentiality. An obvious awkward silence passed as we stared into each other's eyes mutally and I brooded on what was the most justified response.

With a final and extremely painful sigh, I gave in. "Alright," I pressed on her with visible annoyance, "but if you let this loose than I want your promise that it will not be blamed on me. I will hold it against you and swear to completely tarnish any honor you have if you break this confidentiality between the two of us."

She nodded her head several times, noticing the truth behind my threat. I could intimidate when necessary. Still, I wasn't convinced. Despite the disgust in using the practice in this day and age, I needed something more. A pact in blood. "I want to make a blood pact. I prick your finger and mine and we rub them together. Trust me, I have no disease and I would assume you don't either. This transfusion should be completely safe, but if we share information, it is as all spies would do. By tradition." She seemed thoughtful, "Know that this is also a bond of friendship," I continued, "that we will come to each other's aid. If either of us break the pact in either way, as confidante or as a companion, that retribution will come back to you tenfold with no room for excuses." I laced my voice with as much mystery and obvious foreboding as possible, making sure she knew what she was doing if she ever broke what we would have by initiating a pact in blood. I waited patiently for her response as she mulled over the words. This pact was not mine to enforce lightly, but I would not tell her unless I had the insurance of the utmost promise I knew. Then, only then, would I tell her that the Blonde Phantom (aka Sara's sister) was actually her mother and of the darkness that had been clouding my precognition of late. The darkness that I knew would probably soon be coming closer and closer to fruition.

=====

I was going to respond to you, Ledian_X, but the whole intercourse thing was not quite my style, heh. TML, sorry if I forced too much on your character, which is why I put the blood pact in there so it wasn't me controlling you, but Scout will absolutely not tell you if you do not make a pact. Make sure that if you choose to agree, that she tells you of both Sara's mother and the meeting between her and Iceman, but also about the foreshadowing of a new enemy arising. At least, I would assume Ledian_X has some larger plan for Sara's mother, the recruits, and a future greater enemy. You better! XD.

On a more important note, the part about the swimsuit scared me too! Trying to delve into the minds of women is a difficult and terrifying thing to do, so, I now very respect anyone that tries. Good thing I only play one and the rest are males like myself. Phew. I'd hate to have to do that more often. After the hating to do it more often, I do slightly wonder if I'm pulling off the woman's mentality.

[Cferra]

OOC: Yeah. I got something planned. Trust me. This is the lull before the storm. I just thought we'd have a class or two beforehand. I mean this is a school. But, there is stuff happening. There'll be a couple more hints here and there but right now we're going to go into classtime. Also, I really want to see this suspicion thing develop more before the next thing.

Bobby
--------------------

Ten years of being a superhero really paid off when I made the ice barrier so Tank couldn't see me and Sara get back into the old uniforms. Sara wanted me to talk to the guy after he saw us. I took him aside as Sara took off to go back to the room. Locks were definitely needed when there's a peaceful simulation on.

"Tank..I ahh.." I began.

"Heeey...say no more, dude." Tank waved his hands. "Teach was getting his freak on with his girlfriend. What's a guy like me supposed to say?"

I turned a little red. The students all knew we are a couple and such. However, they didn't know we were engaged. The only one who did was Psylocke and that was good enough for now. Things were going to have to wait.

"It's not that." I explained. "It's just you know we needed time together. Our lives are complicated here and sometimes privacy can be an issue."

"Cool." Tank nodded. "Can I use the Danger Room now?"

I rolled my eyes and nodded. I wasn't even sure he was listening. As I left, I noticed he created a hologram of some nightclub and he started to play guitar. I smirked. This kid was trying to be the next Rick Jones or something.

"Wait a sec teach.." I heard Tank call and I spun around. "I won't tell anyone what happened unless..."

"Unless what?" I asked as I tapped my foot. I really wanted to get back up to my room and pray for Galactus to step on Tank for making me stall and keep me from catching up to Sara.

"Well, you could jam with me." Tank suggested.

"Not really good at instruments. I never really had time to practice." I explained as Tank smirked. "However ,I will listen to one song."

Tank grinned and started to play his guitar. I could feel the soundwaves shaking the holographic furniture and he began to sing a bit. He was at it for a good ten to fifteen minutes and I decided to call it a day. He stopped once I stood up.

"Wel, that was very old school." I chuckled. "You and the others are going to know the true meaning of that tomorrow morning."

"Cool. So, I won't tell everyone what happened." Tank smiled. "Of course Chuckie probably knows."

"Uh huh.." the blood drained from my face. Jean, Betsy and all the other telepaths probably knew! "Well..I ahh..will see you tomorrow!"

I left him with a confused look on his face and made my way back upstairs to my room. I wasn't worried about what the Prof or Jean might think. I was pretty sure they wouldn't pry. I just wanted to get back to Sara. It was too long! Some of the others were turning in and I passed a window to see Aidan and Scout by the pool. I wasn't sure what those two were up to but I hoped they were making peace. I got to my room and saw Sara sitting on the couch.

"What took you so long?" Sara asked.

I sighed, "Dealing with Tank was harder than I thought." He collapsed onto the bed.

Sara headed over to me and I sat up slowly. Sara perched behind me and I felt her breathing through the thin fabric of the uniform. She then massaged my shoulders gently. "You're all stiff" Sara said quietly.

I laughed. "What do you expect. You left me hanging back there."

Sara kissed the back of my neck softly. "It was nothing you couldn't handle."

"You're becoming a very bad girl Ms. Halloway."

"I've always been a bad girl, you just haven't noticed before," she replied slyly, a mischevious glint in her eye.

We didn't do anything more that evening. We spent the rest of the evening curled up together on the sofa, just kissing and doing nothing, it was the perfect end to the evening. Kitty walked through the room just to say hi but that was the most excitement we had. The others were doing their own thing. Sara fell asleep on me and I could feel her heartbeat and I smiled.

"Mr. and Mrs. Halloway.." I looked up at the ceiling. "Thank you for Sara."

I closed my eyes and just dreamt of life with the most perfect lady on the team. I wondered though when I'd be able to tell everone. I wanted to so much. Tomorrow was going to be an old school Danger Room session with Scott, Warren, Hank and Jeanie. I hoped they weren't too reliant on Shi'Ar holograms.

[The_Missing_Link]

Aidan
--------------
A stoic look was plastered onto my face as Scout explained the blood pact but inside, anxiety was lacing through my body. I had heard of the ritual before, but never saw it or a situation in which the sacred promise was broken.
Why would she need to do this with me? Are the secrets she holds deep within so confidential that she needs a way to make sure I would never tell?

As I still contemplated my decision, Scout was staring at me - mouth set in a straight line but eyes showing something. No one could probably tell what runs through Scout's mind. As a spy and assassin, it was probably running a mile a minute. That was what mine was doing until now. Now I knew my decision.
"No," I said firmly, finality in my eyes.
"And why is that?" she replied coolly.
"Because if you wanted to be friends with me, you wouldn't have needed to go so far as to using the blood pact. As someone with a colorful past as yourself, trusting people is different, not something you're really used to. If we were to be friends, there would be no need of the pact, just knowing that deep in your heart, you could trust that person. I barely know Kip and yet I feel as if I could entrust him with any secret I hold within me."

I hoisted myself out of the pool and grabbed the towel to wrap around my body.
"All I wanted from you was an apology and a sign of friendship. And you did offer me that, as well as your secrets and protection in the future. But it's just at a price I can't accept. I don't need a blood pact to know that I would come to your aid or shed blood to save you. I'm just not sure if you would do the same for me, without the pact and all."

I looked back at the mansion and then at Scout.
"I'm heading back to change and grab a bite to eat. You'll know where I'll be if you want to talk some more."
I flew back into the room and changed before going down to the cafeteria. As I ate a BLT with chips, all thoughts were on the blood pact, shoving all my suspicions about Bobby, Sara and her sister to the back of my mind.

[Mewtwo-D2]

Katie Leigh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"There now, doesn't that look better?" I asked the slightly hazy figure of a woman sitting at my dressing table. I had piled all her hair atop her head in a series of elegant coils, and pinned it with ornamental butterflies. She was dressed in a corset, pantalets, and silk stockings, the undergarments of a proper belle.
"What would you like to wear tonight, milady?"
"The pink gown would be nice, I think. Cool enough for a summer party, but more fashionable than anything Lady Dunmore has. She'll be green with envy."
I gave her a thin smile. It had been years since I had played along with another's dream. In life, she was most likely a mousy old matron who had fallen asleep reading a romance novel. When I had returned to my room, she had been sitting at my dressing table, not noticing that she was in the room of a present-day teenager. When she had spotted me, she had given me an indignant 'So there you are, Cecile! The ball is tonight and I need your help!' So I helped. I began an elaborate pantomime of pulling out a hoop skirt and petticoats and saw the dream clothing materialize in my hands as the woman dreamed them. I helped her into them, before starting the ritual of preparing a silk ball gown. It was pink silk, and decorated over every inch of fabric. I had never seen such a stunningly nauseating crowding of bows, laces, and trim. But to the woman, it looked lovely, and that was what mattered.
"Isn't it the loveliest thing, Cecile? And it will look so becoming with how you did my hair tonight."
"You're sure to be the belle of the ball, ma'am," I returned, starting to get a little bored with the role of ladies maid. I laced her into it, and suffered through her transports of delight at her reflection in the mirror.
"I think I shall wear the diamonds tonight, Cecile. The pink ones, not the white."
I sighed a little to myself as I played along with her. I fastened on a necklace and bracelets, and pinned a tiara on her hair. Quickly I handed her a lace handkercheif and a fan of fluffy pink feathers, then helped her into a pair of dancing slippers and fetched her kid gloves.
"I'm just so sorry I can not attend," I tried to through genuine-sounding regret into my voice. Soon this mperious creature would walk out of my room and into a castle in her mind. And I could have some peace. It had been fun at first, but I was tired of this game.
"But you must, Cecile. Who will fix my hair if it should fall? Come on," she snapped as she swept out the door. By all rights, I should slam it behind her, but she could just come back in. I looked down and found that my worn pajamas had been replaced with a neat gray maid's uniform. I was wrapped up in her dream now, and there would be no escape until she woke up. Fine, I'd follow her. But I didn't have to be happy about it. Fuming at my own silliness for playing along in the first place, I swept after her. I hoped no one asked why I was walking two paces behind empty air, answering questions.

[Samchu]

Sara
~~~~

I awoke the next morning to find myself alone and a tray of food sat beside me with a note attached. I took the note and read it; it was from Bobby:

Hey Baby, you were sleeping so soundly that I couldn't bare to wake you so I brought you breakfast in bed. Meet us in the danger room when you're ready. I'll come get you if we finish.

I smiled and sat up. He was so sweet, I was lucky to have him. I took the food and ate slowly, it was unlike me to sleep in so late, especially for two mornings in a row. But then again, I wasn't acting like myself much lately. I mean, I wasn't normally this...active. I dug into my breakfast hungrily before climbing in to the shower. After last night I definately needed one.

Showered and dressed, I gradually headed down to the danger room where Bobby and the others were. When I got there I saw Jean, Warren, Scott and Hank walking our newest members through one of the danger room's set training programmes. Bobby was watching from above so I snuck up behind him and wrapped my arms about him.

"Morning snowman."

Bobby chuckled. "You mean afternoon."

I blinked and looked at the clock. 1pm...I'd slept half the day away. Now that was definately unlike me.

"Are you alright?" Bobby asked concerned.

"I feel just fine. Maybe I'm just tired out from...you know."

He hugged me tightly and stroked my face. "Are you sure."

"Yeah, no need to worry about me." I assured him. "I'm a big girl, can take care of myself."

We looked down into the danger room to see the others packing up.

"Look's like it's time to visit Johnny and the others."

I nodded. "I'll preapre the blackbird and meet you and the others there," I said, kissing him lightly.

"Alright baby."

I smiled at him and headed downstairs to prepare for our trip.

[Cferra]

OOC: Let's fill the gap in shall we with an old school Danger Room session. Gonna need a few participants before my character can go.

Bobby
--------------------

Morning was finally here and there was my angel sleeping on me. I stealthily shifted myself off and put a pillow under her head. I kept thinking "Don't wake up. Please!" It was 7 am and I had to get things ready for the training session. I quickly jotted a note and ran down to get breakfast for Sara. I placed thee tray near her, kissed her forehead and cleaned up.

" Sleep tight, angel." I grinned as I left. I then knocked on the doors of all the students in my class. Everyone had to be downstairs ASAP.

Tank, Aidan and Julia were the first to be awakened. Katie needed coaxing and for some odd reason Scout looked at Aidan strangely. I wasn't sure what was going on with those two. Kip, Dennis and Jim woke up too and we all made our way to breakfast. Corelia was late in getting downstairs and I shook my head. I really wanted this to work. We were going to work with the original X-Men. We were X-Men when most of this crew were little!

After breakfast, we went down to the Danger Room and I was met with the other members of the original team. They were decked out in their current costumes. Our old unifoms wouldn't fit. Still, my mind flashed back to those early days of gold and black uniforms.

"Ahh Bobby.." Hank smirked. "Come to travel into the perilous past of the strangest team of all?"

"I would, Hank but the Avengers said not to call them again and that you owe them a new toilet." I retorted.

I turned to face the students, who all changed into their uniforms. I always joked with Hank. He and I were always a comedic duo. It certainly made things better when dealing with our fearless leader with the laser eyes, the billion dollar rich kid and of course Jeanie.

"As some of you know, the five of us are the original X-Men. Back then, we didn't have the fancy Shi'ar Danger Room. We had trap doors, flamethrowers and obstacle courses. Needless to say, it was rough and very real. " I explained.

" Bobby asked us to show you a classic Danger Room session featuring the five of u" Scott explained. "We're going to show you what it was like before the Lilandra gave us the technology and make sure you all don't get complacent with the new gadgets."

"For you fliers.." Warren motioned to Aidan, Kip and Julia. "We have an obstacle course with several loops, moving objects and projectiles. I learned to fly better than most of the other flying X-Men that way."

That was true. Warren's large wings certainly aided him in many hairy conditions.

"For the telekinetics in the house, I have a table down there with objects you can try to move and I believe Hank, Scott and Bobby have other ways to umm treat you." Jean smiled.

Now than that was settled, our group walked down into the room itself. It was already set up like the old danger room. The class now had to stand back and watch us so I iced up and got prepared for anything they threw at me.

"Blast from the past, X-Men!" Cyclops shouted as the machines turned on. "Go!"

Scott started first by firing an optic blast at me. I instinctively created an ice funnel that redirected the blast at the wall. While that happened, Warren was flying in the air dodging flame jets and moving around objects. The blast neared him and he divebombed at me. I ducked in the nick of time and shot an ice blast.

"Nice one, Bobby!" Warren called. "Here I come!"

"Oh no you don't!" Jean called and telekinetically held Warren in place whiile Hank jumped around the obstacle course with ease. He made his way through hoops and over trap doors.

" I do hope you young'uns appreciate the perilous prediciment your teacher has thrusted upon you." Hank called. "It's only so you'd learn to appreciate what went before you!"

"Ack! Jean!" Waren laughed. "Shouldn't you be watching Scottie?"

"Watch yourself!" Scott zapped Warren lightly.

"Guys check out this trick!" I laughed as I created my ice slide and ducked the flamethrowers. After that, I did a back flip and in the air slid down a pole of ice. I then did a nice bow.

It all took about 10 or so minutes. The five of us regrouped in front of the students. It was time to test themselves against the classic Danger Room. This room was tough. No danger settings at all. No holograms.

"Alright." I smiled. "This is what's known as old school. Let's see how you all do!"

[Plantae]

Call me... Mire. Okay, don't; I'm filling in for him though.

= Scout =

Was she right? Could I just toss away the blood pact? It wasn't just a thing from the reconaissance branch, but as far back as when I was... well... better not delve too deep into memories. What Aidan was suggesting seemed almost ridiculous to an old spy's mind. No Pact? Absolutely no bind between us but a mutual bond of trust? It was like marriage between two people, one very wealthy and the other poor, and then completely ignoring the prenuptual agreement! Hell, it was a poor but beautiful blonde marrying a rich old man!

During the time I had been pondering my thoughts, I had also been changing out of my swimming gear. It wasn't long before I heard the first sign of Iceman initiating our next training session. Time for a split decision.

Could I really just tell her? Was I going to give up on all my previous challenge. No. I needed to quiet my spy side and give life to what I was going to have to be now that I was here. This was not reconaissance. This was action. I didn't have the time for hesitation, and we needed to immediately respond to any crisis that might arise. I could be friends with Aidan. I could tell her. I did not need a blood pact. Trying to race with the older team members and avoid the call to training for just another couple minutes, I rushed into the cafeteria to find Aidan just retiring from her BLT and chips. I sighed in relief. I had caught her in time. I sped to her shoulder and tapped it violently. She turned and I grabbed her arm and before she could say no I silenced her with, "We need to talk. Now." She dropped the empty bag of chips she had in hand and I winced. This was more important than recycling. Before she had much time to protest, and with great difficulty, I whisked her to my room and locked the door with utter briskness.

She opened her mouth to speak, looking visibly annoyed, but I didn't take much notice. "Forget the blood pact!" I shouted it, not realizing the volume of my voice, and she gave me the sign to quiet down. "I want to be friends, I want to make sure I don't have any rivals on this team. To respect you as my coworker, I have to trust you," I continued, offering my hand. "So, friends?"

Aidan looked a bit surprised by the suddeness of it all and shook my hand tenatively. "Sure," she replied, brooding what change had overtaken me.

"Down to business. There is something about Sara's 'sister' that you need to know-" I stopped abruptly as I heard Iceman on his way up the stairs that led to this hall. With more even more haste than before, I shuttled the lock out of place and almost threw Aidan through the door. I was in luck that her room was across from mine. We both shut our doors quietly as Bobby took his first step into the hallway.

He knocked on our doors no more than five seconds later and we opened them simultaneously. "Time for you two to see what real training is. Ready?" Aidan and I nodded, and Bobby got the hint. I walked next to Aidan as we made our way downstairs and mouthed to her, "I'll finish later. Do not forget." Bobby didn't catch the lip reading, but he did catch the look of secrecy I shot her on the end of it. Shrugging, he turned back around.

As we neared the Danger Room, I strode up to Bobby who had made some headway and was about twenty feet in front of us. "I need to stop in the bathroom," I lied, though I did feel nausea from something. I feared that it might be that. He nodded, obviously wondering why I even bothered to ask, and I quickly strode out of that hallway. I clutched my head as I turned the corner and into the Ladies' Room.

Upon entering, I placed my hands on either side of the first sink in the row and leaned against it. My head was like wildfire. It was burning and throbbing pain at the same time, and I knew it could only be one thing. It was a blatantly obvious warning from my deep precognition. I groaned as a particularly ailing rebound of my headache caught me off guard. I was perspirating and out of breath, and my eyes suddenly slid to black.

It only took a millisecond, but in that short spanse I saw fire. Fire consuming everything. A gigantic explosion. Death. Fear. During the time my nostrils cringed at the pungent and noxious smell of sulfur. I suppressed a scream as I watched the explosion tear out and felt it touch me for one brief moment at my soul; this was the future. One of many possible scenarios. It only took one, though.

Never in my entire life had I ever felt an image, no matter how brief, manifest from my danger sense. Sure, I had felt the nausea and the terrible ache in my head, but there had never been an image. That could only mean one thing. The worst. The Blonde Phantom? Apocalyptic Visions? Two secrets was too many. Upon opening my eyes to a hazy reflection, I found that I had slumped over on the sink. Using a paper towel, I wiped away the sweat on my brow. Regaining my composure, I exited the restroom and looked almost as if there was nothing strange about me at all. Not a thing misplaced. Someone that looked close might have seen the horror in my eyes and the slight tremor in my limbs. Nothing more.

I was quick to get back to the Danger Room and as I entered Aidan, already easing into the role of team member, gave a questioning look. Her eyes darted from the single bead of sweat left on my head to my eyes, and I was sure she must have seen something slightly odd. This wasn't something I was just going to tell Aidan, no. The Blonde Phantom could wait, but premonitions were something everyone needed to know about. Or at least Bobby.

Bobby spoke and demonstrated the old methods, but I didn't listen and barely watched. I hardly needed to, either. I had had more fatal training than an obstacle course. No, I was too absorbed watching bits of my vision flicker past my subconcious and just touch my mind long enough to give a tiny pixel of that image again. I heard Iceman finish with, "Let's see how you all do!" Finally, my tolerance gave out in one gargantuan motion. The image appeared in my mind in its entirety and my eyes glazed white. This time, the fire had no mercy for where I was in time. On the surface I was trembling and sweating again, on the inside, I was screaming. I whipped around and collapsed, puking onto the metal floor and almost landing in it myself. I flailed backwards from the pool of vomit, and reeled at the stench. Only slightly visible for a second, and ethereal, the pile steamed. It smelled like sulfur and smoke. Ash. It had taken all my strength to stay conscious. As it was my duty and with such a hardy constitution, I did an instant save. Everyone was already looking or turning to look by now. Aidan was hesitantly reaching out a hand to pat my shoulder.

"I'm sorry everyone," I grimaced and maintained as much charisma as I could muster. It was important that they not know until it was their right to. "It seems my cold has finally caught up to me from a couple days ago. I'm alright now." I could see that they seemed mostly convinced, except Aidan. Aidan had seen my eyes glazed and the trembling. She knew more than that and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the older members around hadn't seen it too.

Iceman spoke briefly with someone standing next to him, someone I couldn't see. He was far away and my vision was quite blurry. He waved his hand in a direction, and I heard a voice announce. "Alright everyone! Come with me for training!" And they went. All of them... except Aidan. She lingered and asked, sounding slightly muffled, "Are you alright?" I couldn't read her expression, or her emotion, but the comment sounded genuine.

"I'm okay," I voiced, much to her dissatisfaction, "go with the others." She obviously was curious or concerned, but she sensed the forcefulness in my voice. Bobby, Sara, and I were the only ones remaining after Aidan left. Bobby carefully approached; I was now completely upright and somewhat composed.

"Is that smell-" he questioned quietly but I interrupted.

"Yes," I answered for him and sighed, "sulfur."

=====

I hope I didn't go a bit far, and that this works for you, Ledian_X.

[Green Lanturn]

Julia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a real nice rest, it felt kind of...bittersweet to be waken by Bobby.

Peaceful,peaceful sleep, until RAP RAP RAP on the door.

I got up slowly and went to the door. Bobby was standing there.

"Time to get up. Get ready quick and meet with the rest of the group down in the danger room.....we are going to have a bit of fun."

"Joy. Ill be down in a sec, um, regular mission atire?"

"You know it" and with that, he left to go knock on some of the others' doors.

It took me a couple of minutes to get ready. I left my room to find Dennis was heading down as well.

"Any idea what Bobby has in store for us?"

"No clue," I told him. "I was surpised to see he wasnt with Sarah.

"Yeah, they're inseperable."

heh.....

We walked into the danger room to find Kip and several others there, as well as the original X-Men.

I noticed something though, the danger room seemed...changed.

Bobby went on a little explianation aided by Cyclops about the old danger room, the room before Lilandra.

"For you fliers.." said Angel, beckoning to myself, Adrian, and Kip, "We have an obstacle course with several loops, moving objects and projectiles. I learned to fly better than most of the other flying X-Men that way."

I looked at the obsticle course with interest. So this is what I would be facing. It looked dangerous, but at the same time, fun.

After a little more talk, the x-men, well, the original x-men went into a little demonstration.

I watched Warren with intense interest as he weaved in and out throughout the hoops, the flamethrowers, the projectiles, plus the barrage of attacks from his peers.

It was a breath-taking performance, and then, it came.

"This is what's known as old school. Let's see how you all do!"

Several of us stepped forward.

"Thats the key," said Bobby. "Ready, set, go!"

I immediatly took off towards some of the obstacles, as did Kip at my side.

A large projectile came hurtling towards us, and we split. I no longer knew what was going on with kip.

I passed through a hoop and shot a light beam at another projectile, blasting it.

With that, I looked down quickly to see what else was going on.

[Outlaw JT]

Kip Jude, Gargoyle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kip rubbed his side as he perched restlessly on the large dresser in the corner of his room. He was supposedly fully healed but he could somehow still feel the soreness from the spot Wolverine had nailed him during their private training session the previous night. It was rare the pain remained once the bruise was gone so the blow was definately not one made while holding back. He supposed he should be thankful he was getting the benefit of Wolverine's best in training.

Much as he had anticipated a knock came to his door shortly after sunrise. Breakfast and then their first official class training session. Kip had not been looking forward to it but guessed it was necessary. He had to learn to work with others sooner or later.

After a few minutes of perusing the wardrobe that had been prepared for him Kip finally decided on a simple ensemble. The pants were black with a blue stripe on the outside of either leg and it was made of a tough stretchy material that formed nicely around the sharp bony protrusions from his knees. The shirt was also simple and black, form fitting and sleeveless with a barely noticeable shadowy grey X spanning almost the entire front. It took some effort for him to get his wings through the slits in the back of it. To finish out the look there was a sturdy thick belt that clipped together in the center with a circular blue X symbol. Kip noted the X as a recurring theme of everyone's wardrobe around here.

Once dressed Kip finally exited his room and leapt up to the ceiling. He crawled along, shifting to the wall to head down the stairs. Once downstairs he shifted back to the ceiling to make his way to the dining hall. It was a little crowded for his taste so he simply hung down to grab a plate and he carefully carried it outside.

After he finished eating he returned the now empty plate to the kitchen. He quickly made his way to the sub-basement and to the danger room. He found himself to be the first student there, though it seemed many of the older X-men were present. Kip just stood awkwardly off to the side, letting a wry and uncomfortable smile.

After a few minutes of waiting all of the other students managed to file in one by one or in pairs. When Aidan entered Kip, for reasons still unknown to him, diverted his eyes to the opposite wall from everyone. It was strange and odd to him. He wanted to look at her but for some reason he could not. When Iceman asked for volunteers he quickly stepped forth to divert people from the hardly noticeable redness of his face.

"Ready, Set, Go!!!!" Iceman shouted and Kip leapt up and glided towards the obstacles quickly alongside Julia.

Know your environment! Kip chanted in his head as he glided. He watched every obstacle and crevice in the wall as they flew, making sure to take in everything before he got too close. The key to any battle was knowing your environment so you could be prepared for attack from any angle. At least, that was the first lesson Wolverine had stressed to him.

As a large projectile came hurtling towards Kip and Julia, whom he found himself next to, they both split to different sides of it. She seemed to veer wide and head towards other obstacles but Kip was aware of the flamethrowers starting to emerge from the wall ahead.

He slid to the side of the large projectile but instead of letting it pass he reached out and grabbed with his clawed hands and feet. The opposing momentums spun both Kip and the object sideways in midair. Kip threw it with full force as they spun at just the right moment and the projectile was reverse, hurtling towards the wall. Just as two jets of fire were beginning to spew at him they were crushed, causing a brief explosion as the projectile collided with them.

Before he could be pleased with himself for the clever maneuver he had to push backwards with his wings to avoid the massive pillars that were sliding towards him from directly above and below. Having barely slid out of their way he grabbed hold of the top pillar to stabilize himself. It immediately started drawing back up into the ceiling. Kip pushed off of it backwards and upside down. He tucked his wings in and went straight through one of the seemingly floating loops. He then twirled rightside up and dove to avoid another projectile that was moving much faster than the first one.

The aerial acrobatics continued as the danger room began moving faster. It was a complete rush as he seemlessly navigated the old school danger room! Projectiles hurtling towards him with monstrous speed, pillars slamming at him from all directions, loops placed inconveniently to try and deter his movement, flamethrowers spewing at him from all heights and angles. As he twirled and glided around and through the obstacles, occasionally turning them against themselves to take out particularly evilly placed flamethrowers or projectile launchers, Kip forgot all about the people observing those participating in the exercise. He was focused solely on the dangers around him and seeing that he and his fellow teammates made it through unscathed and he was loving every second of it.

[The_Missing_Link]

Aidan
---------
I took a step back after Scout threw up, appalled by her sudden sickness. Right before we left for the danger room, she felt fine but something troubled her now. It didn't feel right, just like her current mess. Most of the time, it had a certain smell to it but this was different. I couldn't put my finger on it but it was a potent smell.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
"I'm okay," she tried to smirk. "Go with the others."
I honestly didn't want to go but it looked like she would recover. Plus, it looked like Bobby would help her if anything went wrong.

We moved onward toward the main training room after the teachers explained the advantages of training the old way. Volunteers were summoned and Julia and Kip stepped up first. I had wanted to go myself but they were quicker to the bat. In fact, it seemed Kip went out of his way to ignore me as he didn't even acknowledge me when I entered with Scout. It was puzzling, to say the least, but I'm sure he had his reasons.

It was rather entertaining to watch the two of them dodge and fight off the obstacles just to get through the hoops. It was like watching an agility competition, just more hazardous and with people instead of dogs. It was rather interesting to see Julia use light attacks in a forceful way and for Kip to shove off a preconception of being slow moving and fly faster than I've ever seen him before. Only after did he come out did I come up to congratulate him.
"umm...thanks...," he said softly, showing a hint of red on his face.
Was he blushing?
I pondered his sudden exposure of emotion but Cyclops asked for more volunteers. I didn't see who else stepped forward but I ran into the room as fast as I could.

While the hoops were still floating in mid-air, the ground was littered with broken pieces of metal equipment and whatever else they could use to throw at us. As I took to the air, I thought there would be more more flamethrowers or pillars but I was wrong. Right away, a spew of flames came straight at me and only a quick reflex brought up a shield to negate the attack. Heading towards the nearest hoop, discs came flying out of nowhere, causing me to dip downwards, straight down into a pillar that was coming up from the ground. I instantly stopped and righted myself before the pillar caught me in the chest. Riding it as it traveled upwards, a backflip off the hazard saved me from being crushed but a disc hit my head mid-stunt, ruining the moment.

As I massaged my head, more projectiles came flying at me, including metal spheres the size of a softball. I sighed and made straight for the nearest hoop, but of course, they were homing devices and followed closely behind. As I passed through my first hoop, flamethrowers tried to smoke my body. Only shooting upwards saved me and in the process, rid myself of a metal ball as it was melted away by the fire. I sailed through the next hoop closest to the ceiling and then stopped. Shooting electricity at one of the discs, it shattered and then proceeded to destroy the other two discs, including the one that hit me in mid-flip. That left only two metal spheres and they were coming closer and closer by the second. Nervously rubbing my palms together before putting them forward, I felt dead air swirling around me as I summoned it as a forceful gust. Thrusting my hands towards the spheres, the air pushed forward and knocked both of them away, one into the wall straight ahead and the other askewed, only catching it on the side. An electrical net caught it before it came back and was thrown into the ceiling. As pieces fell, I finished going through the rest of the hoops without anymore incidents.

I felt rather disgusted with myself as I walked out of the room, but like Bobby said, it was a good way to train with real objects and hazards.

[Cferra]

OOC: The adventure begins...

Bobby
----------------

The training session went better than expected. The team worked really well with the old style Danger Room. Dennis and Tank used their skills against several ground based obstacles while Jean taught Corelia how to move objects more efficiently. I noticed Scout was bleeding and de-iced to see what was going on. She had the smell of sulphur on her and I wasn't sure what to make of it so, I told her to have Hank check it out.

Everyone was packing up to leave the Danger Room when I saw Sara coming into the room. She had to have overslept as it was close to 1 pm and we were due in New York pretty soon. As Sara and I got out, Kitty came running toward us with some news.

" Guys." Kitty began. " The Prof wanted me to tell you that he had an emergency call to Genosha. Something weird's happening there. He took Storm, Havok, Gambit, Rogue, Nightcrawler and Jubilee with him. The rest of us have to go see the Avengers later. He didn't say why."

" The rest of us?" I asked as I looked at Sara and then back at Kitty.

" Well, more or less.." Kitty shrugged. " You two go on ahead to New York. Pete, Logan, Betsy and I can watch the students till you get back. I guess we're guarding the mansion or something."

" This wouldn't have anything to do with what we found in the Morlock tunnels would it?" Scott asked.

"Dunno but the prof did say for Bobby and Sara to go on to New York despite anything happening here." Kitty nodded.

This was odd. The teams were split up. The Prof was in Genosha of all places. Genosha was a place where mutants were enslaved. That is until Magneto took over and the place was nuked. I was there more tmies than I care to count. It wasn't like the Prof to order us to go to New York and visit the Fantastic Four. Things were kind of odd. We looked down into the danger room to see the students packing up. Cyke, Warren, Hank and Jeanie were already making preparations to defend the mansion. Whatever was going on, Sara and I were in the dark.

"Look's like it's time to visit Johnny and the others." Sara leaned on my shoulder. "Prof basically wants us to go."

"Okay." I nodded as we both went upstairs and placed our civvies on. "I bet we're gonna-"

I heard a distinctive humming sound outside the window and looked out to see what could be best described as a flying bathub. Of course, it was one of the Fantasticars created by Reed Richards. At the helm, I saw a blonde guy in a blue and black uniform. It was Johnny! Why wasn't he flying under his own power?

Sara and I exchanged a look and made our way back downstairs. Who knew why he was coming to pick us up. Johnny approached the front door and began to yell.

"Okay mutants! Come out with your hands up!" He said jokingly. "Bring out Iceman and Sola and no one'll get hurt."

I opened the door and stood toe to toe with the Human Torch. He was just standing there looking pleased with himself for some reason. He crossed his arms and made a little flame with his hand. I promptly doused it with a small snowball.

"Sorry, flamebrain." I smirked. "Slipped."

"Nice ride, Johnny." Sara smirked. "But, I think Warren's gonna provide a ride."

"Aww come on! between Stark, Worthington and my bro in law we superheroes got it made. But, you wanna ride in style don't you?" Johnny retorted as he shook the snow off his hand.

I had to hand it to Johnny. He really knew how to get to us. He's a great friend. A lot of us were good friends basically because we started out around the same time. We were teenagers when we started out. Him, Spidey and the original X-Men were pretty much the teen hero crowd and it was ages ago.

We left the mansion in the fantasticar and worked our way to New York City. I told Johnny all about how the Prof wanted us to go to the city while everyone else had jobs to take care of. Johnny's expression told me that maybe Reed was acting similar.

"Reed's still at the Baxter Building." Johnny explained. "I dunno what's going on with him. But, here's our spot."

We were over New York City in the blink of an eye. I felt something attach to the underside of the Fantasticar and looked over to see a figure in red and blue spandex. It was Spider-Man and he was on a strand of webbing climbing our way!

"Uhh..." Spidey waved. "Hiya heroes! Room for one more?"

[Samchu]

Sara
~~~~

It was undoubtedly unexpectedthat Spider-Man would choose to drop in during our ride in the Fantasticar but that didn't mean we objected to having his company. It was always cool for us superheroes to hang out together, we were, after all, in the same boat. Even though we didn't know his real identity, Spidey was a cool dude and we didn't mind his company one bit. All he asked of us was that we drop him by the Daily Bugle and Johnny was happy to oblidge with his request.

"Matchstick! Icicile! How you guys doing? Mind if I hitch a ride? almost outta web fluid. And hey Sara! Lookin' good!" He managed to slip in a charming comment before we dropped him off.

Eventually, we landed our flying tub and grabbed a couple of seats at a nearby cafe. It was Johnny's idea for the three of us to hang out a bit before heading to the Baxter building. Apparently Reed had been acting a bit...unlike himself and Johnny needed a break.

"What a day in the big apple." Johnny began. "Nice day out for us. You sure Storm isn't doing this?"

"Pretty sure, flaimebrain." Bobby smiled and motioned over for the waittress.

"Hey if anyone asks.." Johnny smiled. "You two won a special radio contest to hang out with the Human Torch. Shame you X-guys don't get the press the Avengers and the FF get. Feel kinda bad about it."

"We manage," I replied as the waitress headed over.

We ordered some food and drinks for ourselves and were slipping into a quiet conversation when a group of girls approached Johnny. All of them were gigling, barely clothed and blushing red. Johnny, who appeared to be used to this sort of attention, merely sat there smirking as they tried to stop themselves giggling and push one another forward to make some kind of speech.

"Umm...are you..."

Johnny merely grinned, he seemed to enjoy the attention. Of course, Johnny had always been that way and attention had never been in short supply. "I most certainly am and what can I do for you lovely ladies?"

"Can we have your autograph?" They thrusted tones of merchandise at him and he took each one and began to autograph it.

I shook my head and turned to Bobby who, to my surprise, had his head stuck under the table, trying to get a better look up the already short skirts. He pulled his head back up and I slapped him hard right across the face. Neither Johnny or the lovestruck schoolgrils seemed to notice.

"Sweetie...I dropped my napkin." he picked up a napkin from the ground.

"You were taking your dear sweet time about it."

"Untied shoelace I swear. Why would I want them when I got you? Besides. I think they're too into Johnny to notice us."

"Little help.." johnny whispered.

We laughed at Johnny and I said no more about Bobby's mishaps. He could look, he was a guy after all. Once Bobby was finally given some peace, he scolded us on our failure to help him out but we just laughed at him and kept eating. I didn't eat much, after about five minutes I felt sick and ended up laying my head on the table to ease it.

"Hey what's wrong?" Bobby asked.

"I don't feel so good," I said quietly.

Bobby frowned, I knew what he was thinking. Things had been weird with me lately and this was just another in a long line. Johnny took some action, paid for our meals and took us over to the Baxter building, a short four blocks away where I was quickly ushered into a small med-bay with Sue.

"So apart from sick, how have you been?"

"Okay I guess."

She showed me over to a machine and asked me to lay down but I had to remove all metal first. Which meant the engagement was no longer a secret.

"How long?"

I blushed slightly. "A couple of days."

"I'm happy for you."

"Thanks Sue."

I had to lay back on this bed and this machine ran over me a couple of times. Apparently it was to check for anything irregular in my body, that's the way I understood it anyhow.

As the results came through I sat up and looked at Sue. "So what's wrong with me?"

"Well you're perfectly healthy, so it's no disease..." she seemed to be smiling at something but all I could see on the paper were some images of cells, it meant nothing to me.

"So? What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing's wrong with you," Sue said, still smiling. I just cocked my head to the side as she started to explain everything.

A little while later I stood waiting in the hallway. Bobby, Johnny, Ben and Reed were in the next room and Sue had just gone to get Bobby for me. A few moments later Bobby came out and I pulled him into a spare room.

"Sara? Baby what's going on? Is something wrong?"

I turned to him and took his hands in my own. "Bobby..." I took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant."

[Cferra]

OOC: The guy who shows up at the mansion will be a powerful mutant. No one would be able to take him out except for certain people. So, no one person can defeat him. He's gonna be really hard to beat. As for his powers, he is superstrong, agile and is impervious to Iceman's powers. He can adapt to most other mutant powers, too.

Bobby
---------------------

" I'm having another baby? " I thought to myself as I hugged Sara. This was going to be the greatest wedding present ever! I hoped whatever happens the baby was going to be happy and healthy. I had been waiting for news about Sara as I hung out with Ben and Johnny. Reed was busy with some calculations in the lab and joined us after Suzie came to get us.

"Sara." I kissed her. "I'm so happy! I can't wait to be a dad. This time it was done the right way and well..We're going to make things work. This is the best wedding gift ever!"

Ben's orange rocky hands were placed on my shoulder. Course, it took up more than the shoulder itself as those mitts of his were really, really big.

" So, youz guys tyin' the not, eh?" Ben's gravally voice echoed. " Real happy for ya, Drake!"

" Thanks, Rocky." I grinned as I removed the hand.

" Susan..I'm a bit.." Sara began. "Nervous."

Susan Richards, the Invisible Woman had two kids, Franklin and Valeria. She and a few other heroes were parents already and I guessed she was the one to talk to about kids. Susan walked over to Sara and held her hand.

" It's only natural to be nervous, Sara." Sue's demeanor was so friendly and motherly almost. "I was a nervous wreck when I was pregnant with Franklin. But, it took Reed, Johnny and Ben to help me through everything. Your friends'll do the same. Yes, you'll face hardships as X-Men but you guys aren't alone."

Reed then extended him arm around both Sara and Susan. " Given the variables of your friends and especially Logan, your child will be very well protected."

I looked up at the ceiling. "I can see it now..Logan giving the kid beer drinking lessons."

"Then he'd comb the kid's hair." Johnny continued.

"Not to mention the hat.." I added. "Our child's gonna be a mini Wolverine.."

Sara laughed. "It's not going to be that bad! I do feel better though. Besides, let's hope she's healthy at least, boys."

"Yes ma'am!" I saluted and elbowed Johnny in the ribs so he did the same.

I looked over at Reed typing furiously into a large palm piolet like device. He seemed worried over something.

" Hate the cut the visit short, Sara, Bobby but I think you two better head back to Xaiver's via transporter." Reed explained. "I'm picking up an energy signature heading toward the mansion at a fantastic speed. It was coming from Genosha."

Sara and I exchanged a look.

"That's where the Prof is!" I exclaimed.

"What's he doing there?" Johnny asked.

"It's the same signature we found in the Morlock tunnels. Whatever was there, is back!" Reed exclaimed.

"Dunno, Johnny." I started. "Are any of the X-Men at the mansion? They can help."

Reed stretched over to the GPS station to locate the X-Men. A map appeared on the screen and it showed only two mutants that were X-Men in New York. That was Sara and myself. The other X-Men wern't here! I wondered where the others went.

"The students!" Sara started. "We have to get back!"

"Yeah." I nodded. "I dunno how long they'd hold out. Reed, can you send us home?"

"The transporter can only send two and it's experimental." Reed explained." I can try, though. You two must hurry!"

Sara and I got onto the transporter. The fantasticar would take too long to get there and we were sure if the students could hold out. Electricity began to fluxuate for some reason as well. It went off and on. We had to hurry!

"So much for our visit." Sara smiled as she placed the ring back on. "But, we'll see each other again!"

"Of course!" Reed continued as he started the transporter. "I'm energizing! If you guys need help, contact us and tthe Avengers."

"Got it, chief!" I smirked.

The transporter hummed and we were on the front lawn of the Xaiver mansion in no time. The FF only used the transporter in emergencies and whatever was coming was coming fast. I could see a meteor racing in our direction. It soon took humanoid shappe and landed in front of us. The being had black scaly skin with red eyes and spikes all over his body. He had to have been ten feet tall.

"I am from Terra Nova." the creature murmured. "I'm here for the girl. My name is Daedlus. I am your death. You are lucky to escape New York City as it is sealed off by a force field. All of your precious heroes are now otherwise occupied!

I instinctively iced up. The mansion and the students inside needed us!

[Outlaw JT]

Kip Jude, Gargoyle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the old school training session came to an end Kip was much happier than usual with himself. Everyone did a good job with the exercises but he had done exceptionally well. All of the original X-men had praised his performance. Warren even offered to work with him one on one with Kip's flying to improve his ability at lower speeds.

Everyone slowly filed away from the danger room and split to go about their own business. Feeling better about himself than normal he decided he should talk to Aidan. Since the Morlock tunnels he had been feeling something about her or for her and he didn't know what to do with it. He wasn't even sure about that much until she walked into class this morning and he felt his chest tighten up. He had to tell her something though he didn't have a clue what.

Much to his relief she did not turn off with anyone so he could go talk to her alone. He quckly made his way to the ceiling and took off after her. He followed her through two hallways till he was sure no one else was around and then he picked up his pace and passed her, dropping to the ground about six feet in front of her. She stopped abruptly, looking at him with an inquisitive gaze.

He drew himself up as straight as he could manage comfortably and his wings fell around him, clasping in the front like a cloak. He opened his mouth to talk but suddenly it felt very dry. Without noticing he made an audible gulp and cleared his throat. He stood there like that for almost half a minute before Aidan finally broke the silence.

"Hi Kip. Did you want something?" she said pleasantly but still with an awkward inquisitive look.

"Ummm.........I think......... " Kip began speaking but quickly his mind was shutting down. Words were flying away from him at top speed and he couldn't think of hardly anything. "Since......... you see........."

He was obviously becoming flustered and his face began to grow red even though it was almost impossible to tell given the orangish tone of his skin. His open hand had climbed up as though he were trying to illustrate or explain something and it hovered over his heart. Aidan looked at him and gestured with her hands for him to continue, craning her neck forward. She didn't seem quite sure how to respond.

"Ok....." Kip took a deep breath and then finally pushed on. "Since the tunnels I've...... I kinda....... I get this feeling in my chest........when...well, when you're around. It's like when...... when something really good happens.......... like something you've been waiting for finally arrives. I dunno what it is. I just.......... I think that.......... I think I........."

Kip starter to stammer again and once again words began to leave him at frightening speeds. His eyes pleaded with Aidan to say something. He could no longer find any words and his heart was beating so loudly he almost thought she could hear it. The momentary silence was painful for him until Aidan finally let out a confused sigh and began speaking.

"Kip....... I don't think I ......." she began sadly but was interrupted as Scout rounded the corner.

"There you are. I was looking for you after training. I wanted to talk to you about something," Scout said as she rounded the corner on the pair.

Aidan had turned to see Scout walkming towards them. When she turned back it was to find the hallway in front of her empty. Somehow Kip had gotten to the ceiling and around the corner in the three seconds she had looked at Scout. She was at a loss.

"Are you alright?" Scout asked her with a mild tone of concern.

"Umm, yeah. I was just talking to........" she turned again to the empty hallway.

"Who were you talking to? I didn't see anyone," Scout looked around Aidan down the hall.

Their voices faded as Kip crept quickly along the ceiling away from them down another hall. He closed his eyes and shook his head. How could he have been so stupid. And why couldn't he even put a single full sentence together? Aidan clearly didn't want to hurt him but something made him feel like he might get hurt anyway. He wasn't even sure why.

When he stopped moving he found himself watching Bobby and Sara walking out of the mansion and it dawned on him. Seeing them go out hand in hand he started to think about what he had been feeling and why he couldn't talk to Aidan. He really liked her. It was something completely new to him and he had no experience trying to deal with it.

Not wanting to talk to anyone, Kip tried to think of somewhere he could go that none of the other students would likely come to bother him. He decided on operations and returned to the sub-basement. He was thankful to find the room empty so he took a seat in front of all the different security monitors of the mansion. He didn't watch them, he just disappeared into his thoughts.

He couldn't be sure how long he had been sitting there but he was roused from his thoughts when Logan walked in. Logan came over and tapped him on the shoulder. Kip looked around and up somewhat absently.

"Good thing you're here kid. Needed to tell ya that the rest of the X-men need to head off to meet the Avengers. You kids need to stay on the grounds while we're out," Logan said plainly though he seemed upset about something. "Don' want nunna you pups wanderin off while we ain't there. Pete an Kitty are callin all the other students down here to tell 'em."

Logan forced a smile but Kip suddenly shot up to his feet. All the students were coming down here? Even Aidan? He didn't feel up to talking to her again yet so without another word he made for the door.

"Where ya goin?" Logan asked, trying to get in his way but failing.

"I won't leave the grounds. Promise," and Kip was gone.

Hiding inside the mansion didn't seem to work so well so he decided to find somewhere outside to be by himself. As soon as he made his way outside he climbed the side of the mansion and pushed off to glide around the grounds. Finally he settled on a tree and carefully dove into it's lower branches, vanishing into the leaves.

He perched there on one of the heavier branches for quite some time. He watched over the front of the mansion, trying not to think of his failure to talk with Aidan. What did she think about him now? He felt so stupid for thinking he should tell her. Why would anyone like a freak like him?

Much as before, something happened to rouse him from his thoughts. Out of nowhere he saw something appear, streaking towards the front of the mansion. It took humanoid shape as it neared and finally crashed to the gorund. As it drew itself up to an impressive height, Bobby and Sara appeared in front of the mansions doors from nowhere.

"I am from Terra Nova." the black spiky massive creature murmured. "I'm here for the girl. My name is Daedlus. I am your death. You are lucky to escape New York City as it is sealed off by a force field. All of your precious heroes are now otherwise occupied!"

Kip immediately leapt off the branch and soared towards the back of the monster to attack, as if he had the instinct his entire life. Around the edge of Daedlus he could see Bobby ice up but he reached the creature first. He tackled into it's back gripping at it's tough flesh with his claw like hands and feet. They just barely managed to dig into it's scaly skin.

It let out a massive roar, though it seemed more out of annoyance than pain. It twisted and turned, clawing at it's back trying to reach Kip to pry him off. It managed to grab his arm on the third try and it's hand was almost as big as his forearm. It yanked him free and through him through the front doors of the mansion with monstrous strength.

Kip climbed back to his feet instantly as if he hadn't felt a thing. In truth it had hurt a lot but he was quickly becoming feral. He had spent so much of the afternoon buried in his own thoughts and feelings that he had to just let go. Rage at the beast that was attacking his new home and threatening death to his new friends climbed and began to take over.

"Kip, are you alright?" Sara rushed in to his side while Iceman futilely tried to hold Daedlus back with torrents of ice. "Where are the remaining X-men?"

"They went to meet the Avengers," Kip snarled, not even pausing to look at her.

Instead, he bounded back out the entrance on all fours with great speed. He pounced and this time attacked Daedlus head on. He was far outmatched in strength but he was resilient and determined. His claws flew at the monster with lightning speed and he roared defiantly each time as Daedlus grabbed him to throw him away into some other obstacle. Kip would not be tossed aside so easily. Not today, anyhow!


OOC: I would like to get another post in during the fight so please don't end it quickly. Note two things about Kip in your observations when you post also. One, he is getting hurt and taking damage even though he keeps coming like gangbusters, he is just so absorbed in his fury at Daedlus that he doesn't notice. Two, he is getting pretty feral so he isn't going to able to say much and whagt he does say will come out through snarls and growls.

[Plantae]

= Scout =

"All your vitals are fine. Whatever hit you must have passed." I had been sitting in with Hank as the others finished the Danger Room challenge, but his insistence that his computer showed nothing wrong was annoying me.

"Of course it passed! It was a premonition, damn it! This was a really bad one! Tell me, are preparations being made for the defense of the Mansion? Where are the children?" My tone was exasperated, and I was afraid.

"Yes, Scout, we are getting ready. Everyone will be safe if anything arrives, but I bet nothing will anyway." Hank was sincere, but hardly comforting. There would be some entity coming soon and I doubted the Mansion's security would be much. However, it was best to let it go. Hank wasn't budging on the point and I had to rest assured that manpower (at least) could stop any foe coming here. Leaving the Danger Room area, I went to find Aidan. I still hadn't confided anything in her yet, so it was best to do so now.

It walked through the hallways of the Academy purposefully, pinpointing her in my mind's eye. As such, it only took a minute or two before I arrived at her location. "There you are. I was looking for you after training. I wanted to talk to you about something." I had thought it had just been her, but out of the corner of my mind's eye I saw Kip's beacon as well. If he thought I couldn't see him, he underestimated an experienced spy. My peripheral vision told me he had climbed to the celing when I rounded the corner. I avoided looking up at him, regardless, and instead continued to hold conversation with Aidan. Mildly concerned, I asked, "Are you alright?"

"Umm, yeah. I was just talking to..." she replied and scanned her vicinity. There was no one else there, but I knew then she must have been talking to Kip. Why else would he be trying to escape across the ceiling at this very moment? I understood his timidness, but he was so primal in battle. If only he could transfer some of that nerve to everything else.

Acting the fool and attempting to goad her to telling me what they had been talking about, I queried, "Who were you talking to? I didn't see anyone."

Aidan looked puzzled and turned her face away for a second, turning back and taking several steps toward me. Instead of telling me anything, she just responded, "Oh, nevermind." Clearly that would be the end of the conversation, though I hoped I hadn't interrupted anything too important. I would have prodded further, but it wasn't in my right to try and make her divulge her own secrets. Pulling her along just a little, I walked along with her.
She piped up again and questioned, "Scout? What was that early? Before the Danger Room training?" In the silence between "Oh, nevermind," and that question we had already made it to our rooms on the second floor.

"I'll tell you. Step inside, would you?" Opening the door curtly, I gave her a wide berth so she could scuttle inside. I closed the door quickly and quietly, and continued. "That before... that was a premonition. My powers sometimes manifest as danger sense, notions towards particularly bad things that might happen in the future." I turned to her, but she simply urged me on with interest. "Anyway," I continued, "before the Danger Room was the first time I had seen an image to go with that sense of impending doom. The image was fire, and that smell was sulfur. It must have been particularly powerful to manifest in such strong nausea, so I'm under the impression that an impending attack to the mansion might be the least of our problems."

She contemplated for a second and I turned to my window, looking out onto the grounds. I started as I saw a particularly large beast lumber into the courtyard with Sara and Bobby standing below its massive bulk. Tuning my ears as I saw its mouth move, I stretched my perception to reach there. "-from Terra Nova," the beast muttered. Opening his wide black maw again, he continued, "I'm here for the girl. My name is Daedlus. I am your death. You are lucky to escape New York City as it is sealed off by a force field. All of your precious heroes are now otherwise occupied!" Finishing the last syllable with a bellow, Bobby and Sara prepared for battle. Seconds later, Kip joined the fray from a nearby tree.

I turned to Aidan hastily and finished, "Sara's sister is actually her mother the Blonde Phantom." Ignoring her expression, I grabbed her and continued, "There is some kind of creatures outside. We better help subdue it." Flying down the stairs (literally) we floated into the courtyard and looked up at the monstrosity. I didn't see what Aidan did, but I watched carefully for an opening as Kip, Bobby, and Sara attacked the creature. As all three were repelled, I sped over and imbued my Sai with ethereal energy. Face pale, I used the agility of my precognition to strike repeatedly into the thing's tough hide, turning to a blur with the strikes. The monster drew back in obvious pain, but it wasn't long before a huge arm swung around and threw me across the yard. Frantically, I righted myself in the air and charged back in for another go.

===

[The_Missing_Link]

Aidan Stafford
-----------------
"Ummm.........I think......... " Kip began speaking, words flying out of his mouth quicklu. "Since......... you see........."
I looked at him as he tried to talk to me but for some reason, he had a hard time finding the correct words.
"Ok....." his inhaled and continued. "Since the tunnels I've...... I kinda....... I get this feeling in my chest........when...well, when you're around. It's like when...... when something really good happens.......... like something you've been waiting for finally arrives. I dunno what it is. I just.......... I think that.......... I think I........."

He stopped suddenly and stared at me longingly, as if a puppy would at a master to let him go outside. Realizing what he was trying to say, a sudden sadness hit my heart as I tried to explain to him what I felt.
Kip....... I don't think I ......." I started but Scout appeared from around the corner, trying to look for me. I was partly relieved and partly angry at her sudden appearance.
"There you are. I was looking for you after training. I wanted to talk to you about something," she said hurriedly.
I turned around to face Kip again but found him gone. It was unsettling to see him disappear but I understood how he felt.
Are you alright?" Scout asked her with a mild tone of concern.
"Umm, yeah. I was just talking to........" I said, turning again to the empty hallway.
"Who were you talking to? I didn't see anyone," Scout looked around me down the hall.
I turned my head back and started walking. "Oh, nevermind," I muttered.

Instead of dwelling on the matter with Kip, I instead asked Scout what happened back in the Danger Room before the training session. Before she answered, she ushered me into an empty room before talking.
"That before... that was a premonition. My powers sometimes manifest as danger sense, notions towards particularly bad things that might happen in the future."
She turned look at me, but I urged her to go on, interested in her premonitions.
"Anyway, before the Danger Room was the first time I had seen an image to go with that sense of impending doom. The image was fire, and that smell was sulfur. It must have been particularly powerful to manifest in such strong nausea, so I'm under the impression that an impending attack to the mansion might be the least of our problems."
I suddenly went deep into thought and barely noticed her looking out the window.
To have this power must be a gift and a curse, I silently said to myself. To have that bad of a reaction must mean we need to deal with hardships in the future, which almost always culminates in a big battle. We know not the villain nor the outcome, but we have plenty to take on whatever we're to face.

My head jerked towards Scout as she looked back at me with concern in her eyes.
"Sara's sister is actually her mother the Blonde Phantom."
As I openly gaped but happily confirmed my suspicions, she hurriedly talked on.
"There is some kind of creatures outside. We better help subdue it."
Flying out as quickly as we could, we made it out into the courtyard and watched as Sara, Bobby and Kip battled a monster that looked human, but was coated in black reptilian scales and spikes. As they attacked, my eyes settled on Kip, who was fighting with everything he had and didn't mean to be taken out so easily.
Oh Kip, I thought sadly. You like me, but I just don't feel the same way about you. It's just too early to tell.
I stared at him for a few more seconds before resolving to help the team. Rushing into the air, I expelled electricity from both hands at the enemy's face, trying to blind him. With quick reflexes, he closed his eyes raised his arm and growled as it hit his scaly hide. Trying to swat me away, I flew up higher and attacked again, intent on slowing him down.

[Samchu]

OOC: After much pestering...

Sara
~~~~

There wasn't a moments peace in this place was there? Just when something good starts happening everything else seems to fall apart. Why now? Why right after I found out I'm...I just can't win at this can I?

"Sara!"

I looked over at Bobby, he seemed troubled. I knew why, this thing was too tough for our students to handle.

"Lockdown?" I called to him.

"Lockdown."

I looked over to the three students battling their hearts out on the front grounds of the school. I couldn't let them get hurt, not on my behalf. It was my fault this thing was here, I was the one putting the students' lives at risk, I had to do something about it. As Kip, Aidan and Scout got knocked backed once again I pulled the three of them to the side as Bobby held off the threat.

"The three of you, listen to me. Go inside and get the others together. We're gonna need help."

"But -"

"Go!" I ordered. The status of authority coming in handy for once. I watched as they all ran inside and then set the lockdown, preventing all students from leaving. They couldn't be put at risk, Bobby and I would handle this situation ourselves without posing a risk to the students.

I drew my katana and focused my energies into it. This creature...Deadalus seemed to be absorbing Bobby's attacks.

"Let me try!" I called, running forward and slashing just an inch from Daedalus' face and releasing a wave of solar energy smack into it. With a cry of pain the creature stumbled back, dazed and confused. I landed swiftly, drew my sword and fired a concussive blast straight at him. As he stumbled back, Bobby fired blocks of ice and he stumbled back over them. Eventually he lost his footing and tumbled to the ground.

"This isn't working. It's not having any affect we'll have to think of some-"

"Sara!"

Before I knew what was happening, somethign solid connected with me and I flew backwards, smacking the hard ground with a dull thud. As I recovered slowly, Bobby's battle raged on and he wasn't holding out very well at all. I threw my katana to the side, it wasn't strong enough. To beat this thing...something else was needed, something more.

A sickening thud caught my attention and I turned in horror to see Bobby sprwaled across the floor in pain. Despite everything I ran to him, it was more important to me right then than anything else in the world.

"Bobby? Bobby speak to me!"

"I'm ok.." he groaned, "I'm ok."

I smiled softly at him but then turned and glared at the creature standing over us. "You leave him alone," I growled.

It just laughed. "I'm here for you. I have no need for such filth."

I felt a surge from within me and my eyes flared. "You know nothing of filth." I rose slowly, the energy pulsating from my body. "And I will never go back to that place." Something within me sturned, roaring like an untamed beast within my soul and then, it, struck.

A wave of energy launched from within me. I felt it coursing through my body as it coarsed outwards, wraping the creature in a burning blanket. Another surge came, pounding at the creature's hard skin, peeling it with ease. Wave after wave, pounding away at it until there was nothing but ashen dust.

Slowly, my strength left me and I fell to the ground, my arms clutching my stomach. The agony was intense, I could only bring myself to tears as I lay there. Bobby crawled over, held my head in his hands and stroked my face.

"Sara? What's wrong?"

I bit my lip, unable to bring myself to look into his eyes. "I couldn't control it, I was so angry at that thing for hurting you that I just lost control and..." I winced as another wave of pain flooded over me. "I've killed our baby."

[Cferra]

OOC: Iceman Represent!

Bobby
--------------------------

"The baby?" I gasped as I picked Sara up and carried her back toward the mansion. That battle was tough. Real tough. Whatever Daedlas was was in a class with the Hulk. Even then I bet greenjeans would have a hard time facing the creep. I kicked open the mansion's doors barking orders at the students. If what Daedlas said about Earth's heroes was true then we have a serious situation here.

"Everyone meet me in the med lab, Five minutes ago!" I ordered as I ran.

The others followed me to the med lab and I gently placed Sara on the operating table and ran a scanner over her. This was some nightmare and I wanted to wake up and have this be one of Johnny's weird jokes or something.

"C'mon baby..I can't lose you and the baby. Not again!" I muttered as I scanned and the results was not good. "Damn!"

Scout then asked me a question. I was kind of shocked by it. "Bobby? What's going on? I know the truth.."

"You know, eh?" I turned to face Scout and the others as I typed commands to a device to prepare to remove the baby. "You guys think you know but you have no clue."

Sara was in complete agony and there was nothing I could have done and I could only imagine the pain she was in to lose two babies. I had to support her and make her comfortable. In order to make it a little better, I de-iced. I saw myself in the machine's reflection and my brown hair was covered in sweat. My eyes were red with tears. It was time to tell everyone the truth about the situation and then try to contact the others. I couldn't believe Daedlus.

" The story is this. Sara is the product of two great Golden Age heroes. the Angel and the Blonde Phantom. You saw her de-aged in LA that day the Human Torch went beserk." I looked at Sara and held her hand tight. "The circumstances around her birth is complicated. She wasn't born by natural means. Her parents were captured by this organization called Terra Nova. Terra Nova was founded after the first heroes of World War II appeared and wanted an offspring of two legendary heroes to wipe out any modern hero after her parents were dead." I explained.

I carressed her hand gently and kissed it. The others seemed shocked by what went on. After I did this, I had to try to contact Earth's heroes. Let them know what the status of the X-Men was. Well, despite one being in utter pain and the other frostbitten one waning to rip Terra Nova a new one.

"They captured the two heroes, took their dna and froze the embryo. Erased Sara's parents' memories and..." I paused with tears building up. "Years later they bring Sara to life and train her to be Terra Nova's
assassin to kill all heroes human, mutant or otherwise. They ddn't know she was a mutant but they did exploit
her light powers. And her light powers killed our second child..."

I walked over to the communication terminal to attempt to turn it on so we could try to contact anyone in New York, DC. Anyone. I sighed as I typed in my authorization code and continued talking to the shocked students.

"There's a grave on Breakstone lake to honor our first child and he...He was the result of my DNA
being stolen and combined with hers. I'm an alpha mutant. meaning I have tremendous potential. And the
offspring would be unbeatable. " I continued. "To make a long story short, Gambit found her in New Orleans after she escaped and we've been fighting Terra Nova ever since. They don't just threaten the X-Men. They threaten everyone. FF, Avengers, Defenders and even S.H.I.E.L.D."

As I typed. I found the communication relays still up. Television signals were still being read so if anything happened, the news would have something. Anything. I still needed to try something so I turned on the radio.


"Iceman calling Avengers, Fantastic Four, Excalibur...Professor? Reed? Cap?" I began. "If anyone's out there they need to know the mansion's been compromised. Terra Nova struck first here and.."

I looked back at Sara and sighed.

"We have causualities here. If anyone is out there, respond. Fury? Muir Island? Genosha?"

There was no response from anyone and I programmed the computer to repeat the message on all frequencies. Hopefully someone answers. I turned back at the group of students.

"You guys got any questions? You probably all were suspicious. I mean We left clues everywhere.
The point now is to try to find the rest of Earth's heroes. And there's hundreds of us. Terra Nova made the first
strike here. The X-Men are away in New York. I can't get through to the island to them, the Avengers...no one."

I turned on the tv nearby to see if there was anything that could shed light on the situation and sure enough there was pictures of a pinkish dome covering the city of New York. A reporter named Trish Tilby, who went out with Beast came on tv.

"-is the scene here in New York City." Trish started. "The Avengers, the Fantastic Four and many of the X-Men are fighting some force in Central Park. Meanwhile this pink shield has covered the city."

Trish looked at someone whispering more information and she gasped in utter shock.

"This just in, Kent.." Trish began. "Strange black creatures calling themselves Daedluses have appeared inside the bubble and elsewhere around the world, fighting Earth's heroes. Namor is being overhelemed in Atlantis, the Hulk is fighting them off in the American Southwest. Genosha is under attack too."

Trish looked at the sky and the cameraman zoomed in on what looked like a flying aircraft carrier. It was really the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. appears to be here and.." Trish started as hoards of the creatures jumped onto the carrier and sent it spiralling toward the East River and suddenly Trish's signal vanished and the anchorman Kent was left looking at what he saw with wide eyes.

Kent fixed several papers on his desk and looked at the camera. "Not since Onslaught and Galactus has Earth;'s heroes appeared in ddire peril. Question remains is..How are they going to solve this problem and help us find out who or what is responsible for it. Are the rest of Earth's heroes occupied?"

I turned off the tv and faced the group. Things were getting out of hand and I figured we were the only one's left to face Terra Nova. Everyone else had their hands full.

"You guys wanna be X-Men?" I asked. "Now's your chance. We're all that can stop Terra Nova."

[Green Lanturn]

Julia~White Light
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dennis and myself were just sitting quietly in the mansion. We had been talking for some time when Aidan came running up the hallway.

"The mansion is under attack by some black creature named Deadalus. He is really tough. Bobby, Sara, myself and a couple of others were fighting him, but Sara sent us back to look for the rest of you guys." she said.

It didnt take us a second, we got up immediatly and ran with Aidan, looking for the rest of the team.

After a couple of minutes of searching and running through the mansion, we headed back to the front. As we got there, Kip and Scout also showed up. Through the doors(which had now been set to lockdown) came Sara and Bobby. Both looking as though they had been in a big fight, and were losing.

Bobby yelled out, "Everyone in the medlab, five minutes ago!" He didnt even stop running. We all ran, following him and sara and once we were in the medlab, he placed Sara on the table and began testing her. The results must not have been good. "DAMN!"

"Bobby? What's going on? I know the truth.." said Scout.

Could what Ive been thinking possibly be true? I mean, Ive had my suspicions about Bobby and Sara, but never had I considered them to be absolutely true.


"You know, eh?" said Bobby, "You guys think you know but you have no clue."

This wasnt the bobby we knew, he was different.

And then he began to tell us the story, about Sara and her birth, and the mysterious conditions about which this took place. The more he spoke, the more each of my theories was filled in. I couldnt believe it, yet in my heart, I knew it to be true already.

"Any questions?"....the room remained silent, besides Sara's moans of agony.

Bobby then turned on the television, and we saw it...havoc. The outside world was full of these Deadalus, and Manhattan was the center point of all the fighting. Almost every single super hero was in manhattan, under some force field, fighting.

After listening to a report, Bobby turned off the television and turned to all of us.

"You guys wanna be X-Men?" I asked. "Now's your chance. We're all that can stop Terra Nova."

The silence in the room was deafening. "Suit up!" shouted Bobby.

Immediatly, we all ran out of the room. I ran to my "locker" and grabbed my white battle-suit. Putting it on, it finally hit me. We were fighting to save the world. These monsters would stop at nothing to get their hands on Sara, but we wouldnt allow that. It was beat them, or let the world be turned upside-down in the search. Not only this, but we were alone. Each hero, the X-men, the Fantastic Four, the avengers, all were in Manhattan under that forcefield.

After I got dressed, I ran back to the medlab, where I found a couple other had already returned.

Bobby looked at us. "Our first priority, besides protecting Sara, is to get to the supers, and to do that, we have to go to manhattan."

"And what about that creature outside?" asked Kip.

"Well, he is just one that will stand in our way. No doubt this will be the hardest fight you guys will have to face, but we have to do it."

[Plantae]

For future reference, Scout is capable of handling a combat situation on the same level as Bobby and Sara, having been an assassin since age twelve.

Also, she obeys orders out of politeness rather than obedience, as she has gained rank while at the Eastern Branch. She is not to be grouped as a "recruit."

= Scout =

Terra Nova, the baby, the Blonde Phantom... the pieces fit. I cursed myself silently for not discovering the whole story more quickly and shot a glance at the repeating frequences on the communication relay. We were cut off and the only way to reach the rest of the Earth's heroes was to join the fray. I could sense a greater scheme floating just beneath the surface of Terra Nova's actions.

In the growing conflict ahead, a vital link had already been severed. Without the ability to correspond with the rest of the heroes, we were alone until we reached Manhattan. Even then, it could not be assured that everyone could be gathered so easily.

I was confused as to Sara's outburst of power and grieving at the loss of control, and the baby. Such a horror for two great parents to lose a child; the sorrow wasn't something in my area. My words were in hard reality, not optimistic comfort, so the best I could do to show my utter sadness was a brief and forlorn glance at Sara's agonized form.

Still, there would be time to mourn later. Now, now was time for action. I was almost always suited up, so I did not have to follow the others to do so. Hopefully, that sacrificial energy Sara had given would keep the beast outside temporarily disabled. As the others returned, Bobby returned to orders. "Our first priority, besides protecting Sara, is to get to the supers, and to do that, we have to go to Manhattan."

Kip queried, "And what about that creature outside?"

"Well, he is just one that will stand in our way. No doubt this will be the hardest fight you guys will have to face, but we have to do it." Bobby's words were hard but I could sense fear deep beneath his resilience. With Sara in need, as well as the world, his mind was in overdrive. However, I mused silently at Bobby's reply nonetheless. "The hardest fight you guys will have to face." Such hopeful words, but so meaningless. If this was the beginning, there would be much harder enemies in the future. There was always a greater threat than the last.

Walking up to Bobby, I put my hand on his shoulder and inquired, "You know, if you need a stealth mission done, I'm your mutant. Information is vital in the coming adversity, Iceman, and there isn't anyone better at getting it here. In fact, it's my profession."

===

[Cferra]

OOC: Where is everyone? I thought there was going to be more replies after certain people told Sam and myself to post. People say that they don't know what to post but I've had ideas. I mean Sara's injured, Bobby told a story and suggested a plan. I'm getting us to New York City. I hope more of you reply because I am getting annoyed with people saying to post and they themselves don't.

Bobby
-------------------

"A spy might be necessary." I began. "But, let's just work on getting Sara able to get up. Then we go to New York and scout around."

The group of students nodded and I began to revive Sara with the help of some Shi'Ar medicine. The embryo was out of her body and I cried a little. Slwoly I worked hard and got Sara up and awake.

"Hey, tiger." I tried to smile. "We gotta go to New York. Unless anyone has objections?"

The group didn't seem to object and I helped Sara off of the table and to my arms. She was really tired but we had to take her with us. I led the group back up the stairs and we made our way to a garage. I couldn't help but think about Sara and the fate of Earth's heroes as I got into a sedan.

"A sedan?" Scout asked. "We have a jet."

"Which would be shot out of the sky by a Daedlus. You saw what they did to S.H.I.E.L.D." I started the car and we began to drive to New York City.

Along the way, I noticed the sky turning blood red and a small pink thing appeared on the horizon in the direction of New York City. It had to have been the force field the Daedlus was talking about. Police cars were scrambling all over the place but we managed to get to the George Washington Bridge.

"Guys stay here." I started as I heard sounds of battle from inside the dome and Spider-Man flying into it.

Spider-Man was in the midst of battling a Dadelus inside the dome and I rushed to it to help him out after telling the team to watch over Sara, who was crying in the passenger seat. The dome was thick and couldn't be penetrated. It wasn't magic or anything. Some place nearby had to be generating it. We had to go there to turn it off I figured.

"Spidey!" I called through the field, hoping he could hear me after he beat the Daedlus. "Spidey! Where are the others?"

"In Central Park. I had to lure ding-a-ing here to the bridge so innocents wouldn't get hurt." Spidey began. "Where's Sara?"

"In the car. Where's MJ?" I asked if he knew where his wife was.

"Avengers Tower." Spidey sighed. "I thought you were with the other X-Men."

"I'm not." I shook my head. "As soon as we got to the mansion this happened. Can you get Prof X or Cap or anyone?"

Spidey paused as a news crew pulled up next to my sedan. They began to try to interview the kids and I ran back and told them to get lost. After a couple minuted I ran back to Spidey on the bridge.

"Well?" I asked.

"Yeah, Frostbite. I'll see what I can do. Yoou folks just stay back here. I'll be back in a bit!" Spidey replied and swing back into the city.

I looked toward the East River and saw the Helicarrier still sinking. This was a terrible blow to the heroes of Earth. I soon saw tiny lifeboats coming out of helcarrier. At least the Shield agents were safe for now. I slowly made my way back to the car to check on Sara.

"Well, guys we gotta wait for Spidey and Prof X." I explained."Knowing him Reed and cap will tag along. Anyone got any bright ideas?"

[Plantae]

= Scout =

"I've got the Shield Agents covered," I shouted backwards as I ran. It was minor, but I had just gotten the premonition that the sinking helicarrier was about to explode from a gas leak. Alright, it wasn't completely minor. Still, the important part was that I had noticed. Noting this, I flew across the water at top speed.

There were three floating life boats and I recognized the figure at the forefront of the leading one to be Nick Fury, Former Leader now undercover agent of SHIELD. He was smoking one of his trademark cigars with a rather annoyed expression. Still, in the face of danger he was suave and professional. I noticed a small bit of shrapnel had penetrated the back of his thigh, but his face didn't even acknowledge the fact that it was there.

"Nick Fury?" I inquired and he nodded, taking my mutant status in his stride. "I'm one of the X-Men, as you've deduced, and I'd just like to inform you that the Helicarrier behind you is about to explode in, oh..." I paused to run through the premonition again, "twenty four seconds. You'll be able to avoid it if you jump into the water, but you can't outrun it." He immediately cued the other agents around him, and they signaled the passengers of the other two lifeboats. With military efficiency, the twelve agents jumped into the lukewarm water with a single bound. Fury grabbed the lifeboat, probably intending to dive beneath it when the explosion came. "I'll signal you right before it comes. Fifteen seconds more." I moved far enough back with my flight to avoid the inevitable fireball, and prepared to dive underwater if need be. I waited just a little more and observed that Fury looked perturbed, but then I noticed he had accidentally put out his cigar in the surf. I waited just a few more seconds, and then made an encompassing two-hand gesture, yelling, "Now!" The agents immediately dove underwater. Consequently, the explosion pierced the helicarriers hull and lasted only a second or two but all the lifeboats deflated as pieces of metal pierced their feeble hides. I sidestepped in the air concisely as a large piece of what seemed to be the control panel flew towards my chest. Several more seconds and the ship began to sink much faster with a loud, "Glug, glug, glug..." Several more seconds from that and the agents surfaced. I was glad they could all swim.

The agents grabbed a piece of debris or a somewhat inflated lifeboat without having to be told to do so, and began to swim towards shore. Fury simply started doing the breaststroke. I flew to the East River's beach myself and unceremoniously snatched up Fury as he pulled a somehow-dry cigar from his pocket and lit it. He ignored the fact that he was even in the air, and didn't say a word until I deposited him next to Iceman. Fury looked him up and down and asked, "Are you in charge?" Bobby nodded, and Fury began to explain the Helicarrier's demise.

===