X3: The Ace Of Spades

Disclaimer: X-Men is owned by Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. I do not own X-Men, nor am I making a profit from this work of fan-fiction. So don't sue me! Not that you'd get a whole lot from me anyway ;)
A/N:Hey everyone, thanks for the great feedback last chapter. This chapter we get to see plenty of character interaction, a bit more on some lesser-explored characters, and of course some ROMY fun. Oh, and a few discrete nods to some comic book characters – see if you can catch them! :D Anyway, enjoy, and please review, let me know what you think!

Chapter 31: Development

“Hey Neena,” Logan said, moving around the table she sat at. “Red alright for you?” He asked, placing a tall glass in front of her.

“Logan,” she said with a smile, the low lights of the New York City bar emphasizing the dark skin around her eye, and the purplish-black lipstick against her pale white skin.

“I was wondering if you’d make it,” she said, eyeing the deep reddish beer with a tall head of foam in front of her. “I’ll drink anything, long as you’re still buyin’.”

Logan chuckled, and sat across the small table from her, taking a sip of his own glass. “Yeah, yeah, I’m still buyin’.”

“Good.” She took a long gulp of her beer, and swiped at her mouth with the back of her hand.

“You know… you guys surprised me the other day – with the Abdol thing I mean. Well, not really you – I knew you could handle yourself, but the other three I’d been a bit leery of. Figured they’d need a lot of training time with us – I guess your Professor’s taking things a bit more seriously than I thought to train them like that.”

Logan shrugged and played with his glass. “Well, the Cajun can take care of himself pretty good. Nearly kicked my ass when we first meant, an’ he’d taken several bullets and lost a few liters of blood at the time. From what I can gather he’s been in some serious shit in the past.”

He shook his head. “And Rogue, ‘specially since she got her new powers, can handle things pretty well. She’s been in a lot of stuff with the team since I met her.”

Domino nodded. “I’d heard. Ellis Island, the Mutant Blackout, Alcatraz. Still, hadn’t been sure how she’d handle things.”

Logan grunted. “Only one I was wonderin’ about was Kurt. Guess he’s a bit more experienced then I thought.”

“And he seems to fit in just as well.” She said.

“We’re a hardy bunch, Neena. Glad we’re with you now, plenty more opportunities. I… I’m glad to run into you again, even if it’s been years.”

She smiled, her lips quivering slightly. “Me too.”

“So, what happened? I wanna know everythin’, darlin’. When’d John die?”

Domino looked down at her glass. John, while he was really only her stepfather, had been more of a parent to her than either her mother or her real biological father. Her genetic father had run out on the family before she was born, and her mother became an alcoholic after she gave birth to her.

Her mother was abusive, harsh, abrasive, and nearly always drunk or on her way to that state – Domino wouldn’t dare try to count the times she’d had empty liquor bottles thrown at her, or been given bloody lips for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Her mother had met John when Domino was six. He’d seen something in the woman, and tried to get her clean, and even succeeded for a few short months for their wedding, until she died just months after of cancer that had begun in the liver. John hadn’t abandoned Neena after that, and had become everything her biological parents hadn’t been, the first time she’d been truly loved and cared for.

“Few months after you left.” She finally said. “It was a robbery. Some couple was getting held up, an’ he passed them on his way back home from work. He tried to stop it – you know how he was, always trying to make things right – an’ he got shot for his trouble, left to die.” She swiped at a single tear as it tried to escape her eye. “Didn’t even get to say a proper goodbye – he’d already been pronounced by then, never saw his body until the funeral.”

Logan grimaced. “Shit. I’m sorry, Neena. He was a great guy.”

She nodded, and forced herself to continue. “There was no one else for me. Well, there was my mom’s sister, but she wanted nothing to do with me. So I got put in a kid’s home for a few months until they got through all the legal stuff and started putting me in foster homes.”

“I’ll admit, I was a pretty difficult kid, but for the most part none of them could handle that when you added in the being a mutant part. I think my record for shortest stay was two days before that couple sent me back.” She said, rolling her eyes.

Logan reached out his hand and placed it on top of hers. “Sorry. Wish I’d been there. Even if I wouldn’t have been the best parent to ya, ‘least I wouldn’ have shuffled you from home ta home like that.”

She gave him a warm smile. “I know Logan, but you can’t change the past.”

She downed the rest of her glass. “I finally got fed up with it, just before my fifteenth birthday. It was when they put me in this one home – the couple were members of the Church of Humanity, must’ve been just a year after they started up.”

She shook her head. “ I realized they were starting to just get desperate, tossing me with anyone. Guess I was too much trouble, and they just wanted to throw me anywhere and ignore it until I was a legal adult and they’d be rid of me.”

“Cheryl and George,” Domino grimaced. “That was the couple, still remember them clearly. Started off pullin’ the whole ‘mutants are an abomination’ sermon, and even took me to their church where they could get their buddies to insult me. When he started hitting me…. That was the last straw. I was gone that night, I took some money they had stashed and ran.”

“I was on the streets after that, nearly a month. Started up a sort of street performer business – you know, games of chance, card tricks, that sort of thing.”

She smiled, her eyes unfocused in remembrance. “That’s when I met Nathan – ran into him at one of my favorite street corners. He was in his early twenties, but there was something…. hard… about him. Reminded me of you, and John, so I tried to get him involved in my game.”

“He was amused by my claims that I’d call every dice roll – that’s what I was doing by that point. He figured I’d rigged my dice so he went to this dollar store nearby, got his own dice.” She chuckled. “He lost a good three hundred dollars to me before he gave up. He realized I must be a mutant – he was too – and the next day he came back and asked if I wanted a job.”

“Guess he’d been in the Army – got discharged when he saved his squad by revealing he was a mutant – and then he got into the bounty-hunting, mercenary business. So he took me on as his apprentice.”

“I was with him ‘till about three years ago when we went separate ways. He’s off somewhere in Africa, private merc company. I wanted to stay in the States, and break away for a bit to start my own career, and that’s when Nick found me.”

She tapped her fingers against her empty glass. “That’s my story. Why don’t you get us some more, and you tell me how you’ve been?”

Logan nodded and stood up, and moments later he was back, this time with a darker brown ale for each of them.

He leaned back in his chair. “Well, my story’s probably not quite as colorful as yours, but it’s close. I left you guys because someone I knew, someone I got sent to prison, had just got out on ‘good behavior’, and I heard he was huntin’ for me, and I didn’t want you two t’get hurt.”

“Moved around for a while, till he caught up with me in Minnesota, and we settled our score.”

Domino raised her eyebrow. “Settled it?”

Logan grunted. “Yeah – I’m still here, he isn’t. To be fair he certainly tried, but I heal pretty quick from a few shotgun rounds to the chest. Claws to his didn’t heal quite so fast.” He said grimly.

“That was about a year after I left, and by then I was getting’ by on my own, didn’ want t’burden you or any of my other friends, so I moved along. Odd jobs here an’ there, movin’ companies, bodyguard, that sort of stuff.”

“Ended up headin’ to Canada. Don’ know why, just had this sort of pull to there, like I belonged there. Somethin’ in my past maybe.”

Her eyes softened, knowing that he could remember little of his early life. “Could be. You find anything?”

He shook his head. “No. I moved from city to city, eventually ran into this couple that worked for a Canadian mutant team - called themselves Department Alpha. All covert – this was back before governments admitted they had ‘em. We became friends an’ I joined up. I spent about a year or so doin’ that.”

“Eventually Britain came out as the first country to reveal their team, but Canada kept hidin’ theirs, an’ when some documents got leaked the public was pretty angry at it bein’ hidden like that, so they disbanded the team. Wasn’ till last year they started one up again.” He said with a shake of his head.

“After that I was wanderin’ again, mainly small towns. Found cage matches, they were a good way of takin’ out my aggression, and keepin’ me fed, so I started goin’ to bars an’ underground bettin’ places an’ fightin’ in those.”

“This one town, I met Rogue – she was runnin’ because of her powers – an’ ended up lettin’ her ride with me. We got attacked by one of Magneto’s goons, th’X-Men stepped in, an’ that’s how I ended up at Xavier’s.”

“So you’re settled there now? Done being a vagabond?” She asked, a hint of dubiousness in her voice.

Logan stared off at the wall behind her for nearly a full minute before answering. “Yeah,” he said, slightly surprised himself at the conclusion he’d come to. “Yeah, I think I’m done. Chuck’s helped me get some answers on my past, an’ there’re a lot of people there I care about. An’ now there’s this thing, an’ meetin’ you again. I’m not leavin’.”

Domino gave him a pleased smile. “Good.”

He nodded slightly, and looked away. “So. There a Mister Domino ‘round here? Boyfriend or somethin’?”

She blushed slightly. “No, there’s not. Not that I’d tell you if there was: you’d probably track him down an’ scare the life out of him.”

Logan laughed. “Probably. So there really isn’t anyone? Not even Jamie? Thought you might have a bit of a thing, way you teased him.”

She flushed even brighter. “Logan!” She said indignantly. “No, I don’t have a thing for him. We’re just teammates. Sure he’s cute, but he’s just not my type.”

“An’ what’s your type?” He asked, amused by her reaction.

“Guys who remind me of you,” she said, winking at him. “You know I had a crush on you back then?”

It was Logan’s turn to blush. “N-no, I didn’t. Neena, you don’t still…”

She laughed and swatted his arm. “Don’t worry, it was just a young girl thing – I had a crush on my English teacher then too. That doesn’t mean I’m not attracted to men that act like you. It’s just – you’re a bit too old for me,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

Logan grumbled at the last part, and grabbed his beer, ignoring her trying to hold in her laughter.

“L-Logan,” she said, trying to compose herself.

“Yeah?”

She gestured over to where a group of men were playing darts, some of them visibly drunk. “What d’ya say, you want to go win all their money?” She asked, grinning wickedly.

He downed the last gulp of his beer, and watched them for a minute. “Yeah.” He said, a laugh in his voice.

*****************************************************************

“Non, you guys don’ have to worry ‘bout dat,” Remy said. “I barely been teachin’ here, an’ anyway I don’ know what I’d have you do for an’ end of semester exam for shop class. Y’all got enough on y’minds with de tests in your other classes, so dere won’t be a test for dis class.”

Carter – who had asked the question – and the others in the garage looked relieved at his answer. Remy had seen a number of students, especially those in the high-school class, beginning to panic as the last week of the school year arrived, and with it tests in each of their classes, and decide not to burden them further.

Remy stood up from where he’d been leaning against one of the workbenches, and clapped his hands together. “Alrigh’, dat’s all I got – I’ll let you out early today so y’got some more time for studyin’. It’s been fun teachin’ you guys – you’ve all been great students. I’ll still see most of you ‘round de next few days an’ at de of de week, an’ some of you dis summer if you stay ‘round.”

A small cheer went up amongst the students at being let out early, and they began to file out of the room.

Rahne walked over to him, smiling.

“Hey Rahne, what’s up?” Remy asked her.

“Thank ye for teachin’ us, Professor Gambit.” Rahne said. “Are ye going to teach next year?” She asked softly.

“You’re welcome, Rahne. An’ I’m plannin’ to still teach. Not sure exactly what I’ll be teachin’, but I’ll be here.”

“Good,” she said, leaning forward to give him a quick hug before pulling away and blushing brightly. “Yuir my fav’rite teacher,” she said, and then turned and darted from the room.

Remy chuckled to himself as he watched the redheaded girl go. He’d seen her come out of her shell quite a bit since he’d arrived, and especially after Sarah and Jimmy had befriended her, but she was still rather shy from time to time, especially around adults.

He flicked off the switches on the wall, shutting off the bank of lights in the garage, and moved back into the mansion and found Sarah waiting for him by the computer lab.

“Hey petite, how you doin’?” He asked her.

She’d been a slightly reserved for the rest of the day after he’d told her about the Tunnels – which had worried him slightly despite her reassurances that she didn’t care about what he’d done – but she had been back to her normal self on Sunday, simply needing a little bit of time to fully assimilate what he’d told her about the Tunnels.

“Good,” she said, smiling. “A little tired of gettin’ ready for the tests.”

Remy nodded, and placed his arm around her shoulders. “You still sure you want t’do dis? You came in pretty late, barely a month of class b’fore dese tests. I c’n still talk to de Professor ‘bout lettin’ you out of takin’ dem.”

She shook her head, and looked up at him as they walked out to the main hall. “No, it’s fine, Remy. I’m doin’ okay, I just hafta keep studyin’ to make sure I’m caught up. An’ your flash cards are helpin’ me a lot too.”

“Alrigh’, ma mignonne, if you’re sure. You need any more of dose cards or jus’ want m’help, let me know.”

She nodded. “Well, I have my first test – in Storm’s History class – tomorrow mornin’, so can you make me a big breakfast?”

Remy grinned down at her. “Of course, already planned it, petite.”

“Alright – I might have ya quiz me later tonight, too.” She stopped walking at the entertainment room. “I’m gonna meet Rahne, Sally, an’ Jimmy. We’re studyin’ together, an’ now we’ve got a half an hour before our next classs b’cause you let us out early.”

Remy leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Alright’, see you later, petite. Have fun, or ‘least as much fun as studyin’ can be,” he said, and she giggled as he watched her turn and walk up to the slightly closed door and enter the room where her friends already were.

*****************************************************************

Remy wiped the sweat that was beading on his brow from the intense heat. “Damn good weather for this,” he said to Logan who stood next to him.

The weather outside was warm, a sign of the coming summer, and just cloudy and breezy enough to keep it comfortable. ‘Perfect grilling weather,’ Remy thought to himself.

“Yeah, it is.” Logan said, leaning forward with his metal spatula to flip several burgers.

They were standing in front of an enormous grill – similar in size to the grills he often saw at big tailgate parties that could be hitched up to a truck and driven around.

The metal of the grill in front of them was covered in burgers, hot dogs, bratwurst, and even a number of large portobello mushrooms.

“Are we about ready?” Ororo asked, coming up between the two of them and slinging her arms around their shoulders.

“Oui, we got some well done, some medium, an’ a few rare, an’ everythin’ else is about ready t’come off.” Remy said.

Ororo nodded, and then walked around the grill to face the expansive grounds of the mansion. The kids were playing basketball, tag, Remy had even seen a small game of dodgeball going on past the basketball court. Those that weren’t playing were sitting around, talking with one another.

It was the last day of school, the exams were finished, and Xavier had conscripted Logan and Remy to man the grill for a cookout/party that was apparently a tradition at the mansion.

Of course, they’d had to haul the grill out from storage in a corner of the garage. That had been an unpleasant task due to its size and weight, and once they’d hauled it out to where it stood now, Remy had just about slapped himself in the forehead at not asking Rogue for help.

“Alright everyone! Food’s ready, get in line!” Ororo said, her voice echoing out across the field.

Remy grinned slightly to himself – she’d done it more than once to him, tugging at the wind and air currents to amplify and direct her voice, although it was mainly when she was angry, at least when he was on the receiving end.

The noise quickly died down as the students all hurried over toward the long tables to grab the plates resting there along with a large assortment of chips, watermelon slices and other fruit, and buns, and then brought them over to Remy and Logan to be served the food of their choice.

*****************************************************************

Remy wiped his fingers on a napkin and set aside the empty paper plate. “Nothin’ like a summer barbecue, eh Chére?”

Rogue nodded, glancing up from a textbook that lay near her as she finished off the rest of the chips on her plate. “Yeah, Ah miss ‘em. Mah daddy used to have half the neighborhood over ev’ry few weeks for a Sunday cookout like this durin’ th’summer. An’ if it wasn’ that, we’d be over at someone else’s cookout.”

Sarah smiled wistfully on the other side of Remy where they sat on the cool grass of the lawn near the basketball hoops, various groups of students and teachers spread out around them. Ororo had brought Jean to the event, and Jean was catching up with both Ororo and with Hank, who she’d not even seen since he’d come to the mansion.

Sarah grabbed Remy’s now-free hand. “That was tasty, Remy. You should make burgers more often. I didn’ even need ketchup or anythin’ on them.”

Remy grinned. “Dat’s how dey should be. Just a bit of seasonin’ before dey cook, an if you cook it right dere’s more’n enough juices so y’don’ need anythin’ else. I c’n cook dem more often if y’want.”

Sarah grinned. “Good.”

“She’s right, you and Logan are pretty good cooks,” Lorna said, from where she sat across from them, near Jubilee and Dani.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I’d like to say a few words,” Xavier’s voice echoing in their heads for a moment got everyone’s attention, their gazes turning to him.

He cleared his throat. “Thank you. Yet another year has passed, and another year of school is over. I’d like to thank all of you for being excellent students.”

“I’d also like to thank those who taught this year, especially those who have filled in for some absences and gaps we’ve had the last few months.”

A short round of applause broke out amongst the students after that, and Xavier waited until they’d quieted once more before continuing.

“For many of you, this day marks the end of your time here until school starts again in the fall, and I wish all of you safe journeys home. To those who are staying, I’m glad to accommodate you, and I believe we may hold some short summer courses to keep you occupied, if you’re interested.”

“In either case, all of you will be back here this fall at the beginning of the next semester, and you will be back to a very changed school. You will have at least fifty new classmates, of varying ages, attending with you.”

“We’ve been a small school, and in just a few months, our size will nearly double. There will be many changes to class structure, many new classes you can elect to take, and new teachers.”

“I’m sure next year will be just as fruitful as the one we’ve now ended, as we begin to see the future of both our school, and relations with mutants and humankind. I hope you all have a good summer, and I’ll see you next semester,” He concluded with a smile as the students applauded.

The party wound down soon after, and people began to get up to throw out their plates, and say their final goodbyes for the summer.

Remy shot a smile at Rogue, and leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Jus’ think, Chére, you’ll be done dis time next week, an’ we’ll have de summer to ourselves.”

Rogue blushed at the look he gave her when he said that. “Ah know. Just a lot of tests b’fore that.” She glanced over to Lorna. “Hey Lorna, you’re stayin’ this summer too, right?”

She nodded. “That’s the plan. Who else is staying?”

Rogue shrugged. “Not sure. Ah think Bobby is. Warren too. Jubes is goin’ back to California for a few weeks an’ then comin’ back. Kitty, Pete, an’ Dani are all gonna be gone for most of the summer Ah think – lot’s of the younger kids too. School’ll feel a lot smaller with ‘em all gone.”

Lorna smiled. “Well, if you go riding anytime, let me know. I kinda liked it.”

“Sure thing,” Rogue said grinning. “Poor horses need more exercise. B’fore you, Remy, an’ Sarah, it was jus’ me, Dani, an’ sometimes Sam that would get ‘em a good ride.”

Remy nodded. “You’re always welcome, Lorna.” Then he smirked slightly. “I’ll let y’go, looks like Warren’s waitin’ t’talk wit’ ya,” he said, nodding to where Warren stood near Kurt, talking with him while darting furtive looks in her direction.

Lorna blushed. “Alright, see you guys later,” she said, quickly standing and grabbing her plate before making her way toward the two.

Sarah suddenly stood up, and dashed several feet away to pull Rahne into a hug. “Bye, Rahne, I’ll miss ya. Y’should get me your address, an’ we can write each other over the summer,”

Rahne returned the hug, a large smile on her face. “Really? Ye’d like tae? Aye, that sounds fun, Sarah. I’ll miss ye an’ the others.”

Remy felt a slight tingle on his skin and then felt his powers subside, and he glanced behind him to see Jimmy standing nearby.

The young boy was startled when Rahne ran over to hug him as well. “G’bye, Jimmy. Yuir a good friend – I’ll see ye in the fall,” she said.

He smiled warmly. “Bye, Rahne. Have a good time at home.”

Rahne pulled back, looking somewhat embarrassed. “I’m goin’ tae mail Sarah durin’ the summer. Would ye like me tae send ye letters too?”

Jimmy grinned. “Sure.”

Rahne suddenly gasped as she spotted someone walking toward the mansion behind him. “Och, I have tae say goodbye to Dani before I leave! See ye in a few months, I’ll write,” she said, running off past him toward Dani.

Remy exchanged a grin with Rogue, when Sarah moved over to Jimmy’s side and started talking with him.

Remy then stood up, stretching as he did so. He reached down and grabbed Rogue’s hand, pulling her to her feet. “Alrigh’, Chére, jus’ one more thing, an’ I’ll let you get back to studyin’, hein?”

“An’ what’s that?” She asked warily.

“Well, I was wonderin’ if my big strong girlfriend wouldn’t mind movin’ de grill back to de garage for me,” he said, grinning.

Rogue rolled her eyes. “Alrigh’, if you an’ Logan can’ handle it, Ah guess Ah can.” She said with a slight smirk, and twinkle in her eye.

He placed a hand over his chest. “You wound me, Chére. Ain’ dat we can’ handle it, just thought it’d be easier if de girl dat can throw cars around did it. Dere’ll be a reward.” He said, leaning forward to kiss her lips. “Maybe several,” he murmured as her eyes fluttered shut.

“Mmm… Better be several. But t’morrow, after mah tests. You’ll distract me too much from studyin’ otherwise.”

“You have a deal, ma belle Chére,” he said, pulling back slightly, to give her an exaggerated bow.

She smacked him on the back of the head, and thrust her textbook into his hands. “C’mon swamprat, let’s move this grill.”
*****************************************************************

“Haha! I loved the look on Julian’s face when he asked if you’d think about going on a date with him going this fall, and you said that between him and his ego, there wasn’t room for a third person in the relationship,” Mindee giggled, clinging to the arm of her sister, Celeste.

Celeste grinned, and Phoebe, the third of the psychic triplets, nodded in agreement next to them, a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter as they walked down the main hallway of the mansion.

“I know, I thought his head was going to explode, he turned so red,” Celeste said, laughing. “He’s so stuck up it isn’t even funny, and you’d think he’s learned, trying to get us to date him. Sometimes I wonder if he even knows that it’s me he’s asked the other two times, or if he can’t tell us apart and thinks he’s asking each of us.”

Phoebe’s eyes widened at that. “You know, I bet he can’t –“

She broke off as they entered the living room, and found that it was occupied – the large, African-American teen they’d seen around the mansion sitting on one of the couches, his legs crossed, and hands laid out on them, palms up in a meditative position.

“Oh, sorry, we didn’t think anyone would be here,” Celeste said when he slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the trio. “We can go, if you’d like.”

He shook his head, the light gleaming off the silver-grey lines tattooed across his skin, and spoke – his voice deep. “No, you are welcome here. I was just meditating. It helps me clear my mind and control my powers.”

“You sure?” Mindee asked, and he nodded, so they walked further into the room, settling down next to one another on a couch nearby.

“I am Nezhno,” he said, inclining his head in greeting to the girls.

“Hi,” Celeste said. “I’m Celeste, this is Mindee, and this is Phoebe. Don’t worry if you can’t tell us apart, just say one of our names and we’ll answer, we’re pretty used to it.”

A small smile appeared on his face. “I can see why. So you are not leaving for the summer? Not going home?”

Phoebe shook her head. “No, this is our home,” she said gesturing at the room and the mansion around them.

Mindee nodded. “We grew up in an orphanage until Professor Xavier found us. We don’t have a family that we know of. Even when the Professor tried to investigate he couldn’t find out who dropped us off at the orphanage or really find any record of us. No one reported us missing at least.”

Nezhno frowned. “I am sorry.”

Celeste shrugged. “It’s alright. We’re our own family. What about you? I know you’re pretty new here, are you going home?”

He shook his head. “No. My mother was killed by the Purifiers, and my father died several years ago. And I would not be welcome in my mother’s home country. Her family believes she dishonored them by marrying a Russian man instead of one of her own people. Professor Xavier has offered to let me stay here and attend college.”

“Wow.” Mindee said.

“Pretty harsh.” Celeste agreed.

Nezhno nodded. “Yes, I find much of the culture here in the United States to be more… palatable, I think is the right word, to me. But, then that may be partly due to how my mother and father raised me.”

“Well, how are you settling in around here? Do you have questions about anything?” Phoebe asked him.

He shook his head. “No, your Professor has answered any questions I’ve had. I am.. ‘settling’ alright,” he said – his syntax and hesitation at certain words made the triplets realize English hadn’t been his first language.

“I came with Lorna – we were both prisoners of the Purifiers for some time and came to know one another, but I have not met or talked to many people around the mansion. They seem to be intimidated by me – perhaps by my size,” he said, gesturing at his large body with a hint of embarrassment on his face.

Celeste nodded. “Yeah, probably. You’re like the tallest, biggest person here. Used to be Piotr, but you’re bigger than him. Give it some time, and try approaching other people and that might help,” she said with a smile. “This summer there will be fewer here, so they’ll be more likely to run into you. And if you’d like to talk, at least one of us is always around.”

His face broke into a genuine white-toothed smile. “Thank you.”

Mindee looked curiously at him. “So what are your powers? All those tattoos?”

He shook his head. “No, they are actually there because of my powers. I am extremely strong, and I can increase my muscle mass and size and become stronger. But… It is not very healthy for me to do so – I get seizures afterwards. The tattoos are made with a pigment that contains a special metal found in my country that absorbs energy and slowly releases it, so they help me keep control. Along with the meditation of course.”


Mindee nodded, and frowned. “Well, we sort of know how that feels – it’s not like we get seizures or anything, but we have telepathy, and our minds are linked. When it first manifested, we went into comas – it was just so hard to deal with the thoughts and emotions all around us. Our minds linked closer during the coma, and eventually we pulled each other out of it, and we’ve grown closer ever since – we can help each other block things out.”

“That would be interesting, sharing your mind like that with others.” Nezhno said.

Celeste nodded and laughed. “Yeah, sometimes it can be frustrating, knowing everything the others are thinking, but on the plus side, any fights between us are over pretty quickly. And when you think about it, it’s sort of just an expansion of the close bond that siblings, especially those born at the same time like us, develop.”

“We all like the same things, too – we usually dress the same so that’s probably why everyone has trouble telling us apart-“

She broke off and looked over to the door where Dani was standing when she cleared her throat.

“Sorry you guys – Cessily was looking for you three to say goodbye? Her parents are here, and ready to take her home, and they want to get going, so…”

“Alright, thank you, Dani,” Celeste said.

The three turned back to look to Nezhno. “Sorry, she’s one of our best friends, we should get out there. See you around?” Celeste said

He nodded, smiling. “Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. Other than Lorna, Gambit, and some of the teachers, I’ve not really spoken with anyone for some time.”

“It’s not a problem at all, Nezhno – It was nice to meet you. We’ll leave you some quiet to meditate,” Mindee said smiling before the three left the room arm in arm.

Nezhno watched them with amusement as the door closed behind them. He then slowly let his eyes close, his tattoos beginning to glow slightly as he slipped back into his meditative trance, allowing him to slowly purge his excess energy through the safe medium of the metal pigment of the lines tattooed across his body.

****************************************************************

“Hey Sugah,” Rogue said, her face lighting up with a smile as Remy entered the slightly opened door of her room.

She was lying on her bed, an open notebook resting on her lap, her finger resting on the spot she’d been last reading.

“Hey Chére, how you holdin’ up?” He asked.

She shrugged tiredly. “Alright. Ah’m pretty tired now.”

“You look it,” Remy said. He noted the dark circles under her eyes, and how she looked about ready to fall asleep.

She smiled weakly. “At least Ah’ve got three of mah five classes done. Now Ah can spend more time on the other exams.”

While she still had a final scheduled on Monday and one on Tuesday, the college also held exams on Saturdays, and she and most of the others had just gotten back from a grueling schedule of three of their final exams on a single day – one early in the morning, one just after lunch, and the other ending an hour ago at eight-o’clock at night.

Apparently the exams were scheduled differently each semester, and they’d had the misfortune of having the classes that were bunched together for Saturday finals.

Aside from briefly at breakfast, it was the first he’d seen of her since yesterday. He knew she’d been up late Friday night – possibly all night – because he’d visited and Carol had been studying. Then Rogue and the others had stayed on-campus between exams to study up for each next one.

“How’d they go?” He asked.

She shrugged. “Alright Ah guess. Should be gettin’ at least a ‘B’ on them all.”

Remy walked over to her bed, and sat down on the edge of it next to her before he leaned over and kissed her cheek gently.

His eyes slid over her, and he noticed then what she was wearing. “So you usin’ my clothes for y’pajamas now?” He asked with a slight grin.

She blushed and glanced down at the long poker-themed t-shirt and the boxers he’d given her the day after she’d absorbed Carol. “Yeah, Ah hope yah don’ mind. After we got back from your apartment that day, Ah just tossed them in mah laundry pile, an’ Ah didn’ even remember Ah had them ‘till this week when Ah got around to doin’ laundry. Decided they’re pretty comfy for sleepin’ in….”

Remy shook his head, his eyes locked on her long bare legs. “Non, I don’ mind one bit, Chére. Y’look a damn sight better in them den I ever could.”

He broke his gaze from her legs, and shifted to lean back against the headboard next to her. As his legs swung up onto the bed next to hers, she tensed visibly at his proximity to her bare legs.

He glanced at her knowingly, and scooted even closer to press his right leg against her left, and she relaxed at the feeling of his jeans.

“Sorry,” she muttered softly, glancing down at the notebook in her lap.

“S’okay, Rogue.” He said just as softly.

He reached down and grabbed the notebook from her, tossed it onto her desk chair against her protests, and grabbed her gloved hand. “Enough studyin’. You’re gonna burn out.”

He reached out and cupped her chin with his hand and turned her face to his, leaning forward to kiss her gently, the tip of his tongue flickering across her lips and teeth.

She sighed contentedly and leaned fully against him, returning the kiss with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. Which, unfortunately, wasn’t a lot given the fact that she’d spent the last two days awake and studying, aside from a four-hour break Carol had insisted on giving her.

Her hands sparked with purplish energy much sooner than usual because of her lack of concentration, and Remy quickly grasped them and returned the charge in them to himself.

Remy pulled back, and grinned when she made a small frustrated noise in the back of her throat at the loss of contact. “You’re exhausted, ma Chére. We’ll have plenty of time for dis after your exams.”

She pouted half-heartedly. “You’re right. Can Ah have one more goodnight kiss, though?”

He chuckled, and then left her breathless with a sudden kiss.

She sighed as he pulled back once more. “Hold me ‘till Ah go to sleep?”

Remy nodded, and let her slide down the length of the bed until she was lying down fully, her head on her pillow. He did the same and turned on his side next to her so he could move his arm around her and pull her closely against his body.

She breathed in deeply against his chest, and closed her eyes in enjoyment at the warmth his body gave her. “G’night, Sugah.”

“Good night,” he said softly, his hand stroking the back of her head until she slipped off to sleep, and her breathing evened out against his chest.

Remy closed his eyes, and just laid there for several minutes, finally pulling away when he was sure she’d fallen completely asleep.

He pulled back, rolling over onto his back, and reached a hand up to stroke across her cheek with his fingertips, the dim light of the room casting an almost ethereal glow across her skin.

He felt his chest tighten, and he smiled when she tried to roll closer to him, and then groaned in her sleep as he stood up from the bed and she felt the loss of contact.

He leaned down and planted a short, featherlight kiss on her lips. “Fais de beaux rêves.” He whispered as he stood once more, to leave the room.

*****************************************************************

Warren looked up from the monitor of the school laptop he was typing on, at the television as the news hour closed with a story about mutants.

“Now we have a rather shocking, and dare I say touching story from Oklahoma City, where our reporter Trish Tilby taped an interview on some events involving mutants that occurred early yesterday.”

The screen switched to the pretty young reporter, standing near a graveyard, dressed smartly in a snug blouse and long skirt. “It’s quiet here today at the Oklahoma City Wecha Cemetery, but things were much different this time yesterday.”

“Recently Oklahoma City has been the site of one of the Cure distribution center bombings sweeping across the nation in recent weeks, and two mutants were killed in the recent bombing. Yesterday, the family of the mutants held a joint funeral service for the brother and sister that were killed while waiting in line to get the Cure.”

“As we’ve reported, the Houston branch of the Church of Humanity has taken to protesting at these funerals, and this was no exception. A large group of church members used a bus owned by the church to transport themselves here for the funerals, and began to march around the small cemetery, chanting anti-mutant slogans, and holding signs, protesting the event as it began.”

“The local police cordoned off the area, keeping them out of the cemetery itself and on a narrow path around the fence surrounding the cemetery while the service went on at the grave site.”

“Then, shortly after the service ended and the family was left to say their final goodbyes as the coffins were lowered into the ground, a group of nearly fifty mutants and humans arrived in a bus chartered from a local company.”

“This group, each member wearing a long piece of tape over their lips, and large metal cross necklaces, entered the protest route, and silently marched the opposite direction that the Church of Humanity group was moving.”

“Our police sources say they were worried at one point when the two groups met, fearing an outbreak of violence between the groups, but the mutant group silently and calmly walked amongst the Church of Humanity members, ignoring a number of anti-mutant slurs shouted at them. The family left the cemetery shortly after, and the mutant croup left the same way they’d come, leaving what some describe as a very stunned Church of Humanity crowd.”

“We requested an interview with the Houston church, but our calls were not returned. A number of photos were taken of the event by some onlookers, which can be seen here,” she said, and the screen flickered as it showed a small slideshow of viewer-submitted pictures, showing the two groups meeting along the protest cordon.

“We attempted to contact the mutants and humans of the second group, a small organization that calls itself Genetic Equality, made up of members from Oklahoma as well as nearby Texas, Kansas, and Missouri, but most declined our interviews.”

“We did manage to speak to one young woman who was part of the counter-protest, who was willing to speak briefly with us – a young mutant named Heather Cameron who was there with her brother. Here is the clip where she describes in her own words, the meaning of the march.”

The screen changed to show another recording, this one showing a close-up of the face of a pretty young woman with completely golden skin and identically colored hair that she wore held back by a red sweatband.

“Several of our Houston members heard about the planned protest by the Church of Humanity, and we decided to organize a march of our own. We’ve been watching these poor families be humiliated, intimidated, and insulted by these so-called ‘Christian’ groups on the day they are burying their loved ones, and we felt we needed to get out there and show them they’re not alone, and that there are people out there that understand what they’re going through.”

“Our silence, and the tape over our lips symbolizes the silent suffering of mutants and their families throughout this country under the bigotry and hatred tossed around by groups like the Church of Humanity. And our crosses, though not all of us are Christians, represent the real message of Jesus – Love for one another – which is appreciated by us all whether Christian or not.”

“We’ll do the same at any future protests, and I hope we can inspire others across the country to do the same. But we don’t want to see rioting and fights – don’t be mistaken. We follow philosophies set forth by Martin Luther King Jr. and by other great people throughout history, like Ghandi. Non-violent protest speaks volumes more than any sort of violence against these people.”

The interview ended there, and went back to Trish. “So, we’re seeing a new face to this mutant debate and protest issue, and we’ll keep you up to date on any future events. Trish Tilby, reporting from Oklahoma City.”

“Very interesting,” the news anchor commented to the woman sitting next to him at the news desk. “That’s unfortunately all the time we have today, but our CNN sister station is going to have a more in-depth discussion on Trish’s report this evening on Anderson Cooper 360 if you’re interested in hearing more. Have a good night, your local programming is up next.”

Warren switched off the television as a sitcom he didn’t care for started playing its opening credits, and focused back on the laptop, and the document he was typing up before he went to Xavier with his idea. He now a fresh drive to get it done having seen the story and the interview with the young mutant woman about the small pro-mutant group.

*****************************************************************

“Jean?” Rogue asked when she saw the familiar red-head leaving the back door of the mansion.

Jean stopped as the door began to close, and grabbed it, looking back into the mansion at her. “Hi Rogue. I was just going to go for a walk. I’m feeling a little…. caged… right now, and wanted to get out. You want to come with?”

Rogue studied her face for a moment, and then nodded, and walked out the door, which Jean then let swing shut.

“So how’re yah doin’, Jean?” Rogue asked, shoving her hands in her back pockets as she walked along next to her.

“Pretty good, actually. Getting out has done wonders – wish I’d never holed up in my room like that.”

Rogue smiled slightly. “Ah think Ah know what yah mean. Ah used t’do th’same, but Ah’m sure yah remember that. But ever since Remy came around, it’s been like Ah’ve started a new life. Ah’ve become better friends with Dani, Piotr, all th’others, an’ Ah don’ hide away anymore.”

Jean nodded. “That’s good. It seems like he’s been good for you. I have to say you’re lucky. I knew him for a while back when Ororo was staying with him. He’s… I don’t know. He could be infuriating and cocky, but… those eyes, that grin of his, that body, the whole package can sort of take a girl’s breath away.”

Rogue smiled, her eyes glazing over slightly. “Ah know,” she said in agreement. “Y’won’ get any disagreement from me there,” she said with a small laugh.

Jean shook her head. “God, he made Scott so jealous when he was flirting around…” She closed her eyes for a moment, and reached out to put a hand on Rogue’s shoulder, changing her train of thought. “I’m a little surprised, actually, at how much Remy’s changed. He seems to be a lot more settled down and mature.”

Rogue chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. “Ah think it’s Sarah.”

Jean looked up at her curiously. “That girl that was hanging around you two at the cookout?”

Rogue nodded. “Remy saved her – Ah don’t know if anyone ever got ‘round to tellin’ you about it but there was this big massacre a few months ago in New York. There was this group of mutants that had made a sort of community for outcast mutants in some tunnels left over from the Cold War, an’ th’Purifiers hired these mercenaries to kill ‘em all. She an’ another girl here are the only two that made it out alive.”

She smiled sadly. “Remy’s been takin’ care of her since then, an Ah think that might be th’thing that changed him the most. She’s basically become part of his family, like a daughter.”

Jean’s eyes widened slightly, and she nodded. “That’s probably it.” She shook her head then. “So much has happened, it’s crazy how it hits me when I hear about something else that happened while I was… well wherever the hell I was.”

She raised an eyebrow then, and looked carefully at Rogue as she broached the next topic with her. “I don’t think I ever really thanked you for stopping me that day in the lab. I hate to think what might have happened if you hadn’t. Who I might have killed, what I might have done.” She shivered slightly.

Rogue smiled slightly, and shrugged. “Yah welcome. Jus’ did the first thing Ah could think of.”

Jean’s forehead creased, and she shot Rogue a look of concern. “Are you… doing alright? After she… after Phoenix was in your head?”

Rogue nodded. “Yeah, don’ worry about it. Th’Professor got her outta there an’ Ah think that he got everythin’. Haven’t found any leftover bits at least. An’… She actually kinda helped, y’know? Ah mean, she did a lot of damage, but she burned away a lot of the psychic tangles in mah mind. It’s sorta like a wildfire. It burns away all th’underbrush, an’ keeps the forest healthy.”

Jean looked at her, relieved. “Good. I… I’ve hurt enough people with this, I’m glad you’re okay.”

Rogue stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “What about you? Yah doin’ okay with her? Ah can’t imagine living with her, even after just a few minutes.”

Jean smiled weakly. “I’m doing okay. Some days are better than others. You know how I told you I was feeling caged?”

Rogue nodded.

Jean glanced down. “That’s because I’m caging her. Sometimes she tries to get to me, broadcasting her feelings to me, trying to trick me into letting her out again. Coming out here helps,” she said, gesturing toward the open grounds around them.

Rogue folded her arms around herself, shuddering slightly at the thought. “Glad you’re doin’ better. Listen…. Ah’m sorry but Ah gotta get back to studyin’. Ah was jus’ stoppin’ by the kitchen back there for a snack, an’ Ah got finals….”

Jean laughed, and nudged her with her elbow. “Well go on then, you should have told me, I wouldn’t have dragged you along with me.”

Rogue glanced down, embarrassed. “Ah didn’ mind.”

“Well, go on back, I’ll be fine out here on my own.” Jean said.

As Rogue turned, she stopped her one final time. “Oh, Rogue – Remy cares about you. I mean really cares about you. And that’s just from watching the two of you and listening to him, because I can’t read him with telepathy. If I could, I know what I’d see.”

Rogue flushed slightly. “Ah… Ah know, we’re just takin’ things as they come right now, tryin’ not to get too serious too fast.”

Jean nodded knowingly. “I guessed. You haven’t really told him how you feel, have you?” She smiled at Rogue’s momentary glance of surprise. “I felt it radiating from you when you talked about him. Love mixed with fear of rejection. I’m not trying to push you or anything, but you should tell him how you feel about him. You never know what’s going to happen, and… I know what it feels like to have regrets, with Scott and everything…. Just think about it, alright?”

Rogue glanced at her sympathetically, and nodded. “Okay. Ah will. See yah later?”

Jean smiled, and raised her hand in a slight wave. “See you around.”

Jean sat down on a nearby bench and stared after the young woman who’d saved her sanity by risking her life to absorb the Phoenix. She turned her face to the sky and closed her eyes, their conversation once more bringing to mind the thoughts and doubts she had about how things had ended with Scott.

Did he know she loved him, that she’d chosen him, or had he still wondered if she was going to choose Logan back then? It was something she’d wondered often in the last few weeks, and something she’d likely never know the answer to.

*****************************************************************

“Warren, please come in. You wanted to see me?” Xavier asked, looking up to the open doorway that Warren had knocked on.

Warren hesitated at the door. “Are you busy, Professor Xavier? I – what I wanted about could take a while.”

Charles smiled. “I have don’t have anything planned for the next few hours that can’t be pushed aside for later, school is over but for the college students – you have all the time you need. Please, come and sit.”

Warren walked in, and sat in the chair in front of the desk, his wings rustling to move to either side of the armrests. “Thanks,” he said, inclining his head toward Xavier.

Charles nodded. “Now, what is it you wished to speak to me about, that’s gotten you so nervous?”

Warren’s eyes widened. “Sorry, just, hoping you’ll hear me out about an idea I had.”

Charles smiled again. “Alright, just take a breath and relax – despite what the other students may have told you, I don’t bite.”

Warren chuckled, and let himself relax. “Alright.

He set a small folder on his lap, which he’d been carrying as he entered the room. “I was talking to Rogue a few days ago – actually it’s been more than a week now. We were talking about mutants, and she said something – something that got me thinking. She said that as long as we hide ourselves, to ease the fears of normal humans, the ones out there that spread that fear – Friends of Humanity, Purifiers, Church of Humanity, all those – are really winning.”

“I – I don’t mean to disrespect the school or your philosophies, but I think mutants need to step up now, more than ever. Show people that we’re really out there, and not something to fear. I definitely understand keeping this school like you have – people that hate us might decide to attack the children – but mutants in general? We need to start being just as vocal as the bigots out there.”

“I… talked to my father,” Warren said, swallowing heavily. “I received a rather large trust fund from my grandfather, and I got his help in getting full access to it. And I’ve been doing a bit of planning – I want to start an organization to champion mutant rights in this country, and I wanted your advice. Like, is it going to even work? And will you help me?”

Charles nodded slightly, but his face remained impassive. He steepled his fingers under his chin. “Well, tell me your idea, and I’ll let you know what I think.”

Warren’s face switched to what could best be termed a ‘professional mode’, and Xavier knew he’d likely learned it from his father, how to switch it on and off, schooling his expressions completely.

Warren scooted forward, and laid the folder out on the desk and opened it so it faced Xavier.

“I’ve been doing some research on charity and other organizations like this, and I’m thinking what I’d be starting is a Non Governmental Organization. As an NGO it would have a lot more pull, and be able to address a lot more.”

“It would start small, but in a few years with enough support from pro-mutant groups out there, this could be big. The real emphasis would be on lobbying for change in laws, and against discrimination and discriminatory policies against mutants, but I was also thinking of some sort of humanitarian branch, sort of like the mutant version of the Red Cross: mutants helping out with their powers, during natural disasters, that sort of thing. Show people we’re no different from them, and that this country, and this world is ours too and that we care about it and about them.”

“Here’s my basic outline,” he said tapping the first page, and then turned it. “It goes on for a few pages, mainly organization goals, and then back here is what I have right now to put into this – it’s all of my trust fund, seven million.”

Charles raised an eyebrow at that, and then reached out to grasp the folder. “May I?”

“Sure,” Warren said, releasing his grip on it.

Warren sat quietly for the next ten minutes as Charles carefully read through each page before he finally set the folder down and sat back. “Business school, with a bit of law?” Charles asked him.

Warren looked startled at the question. “Y-yeah, that’s right.”

Charles grinned slightly. “It read like it – and believe me that’s a compliment in my opinion,” he said. “Thankfully it wasn’t law with a bit of business, or it would have bored me to death.”

Warren smiled slightly, but looked on anxiously. “So, what do you think?”

Charles pursed his lips for a moment. “You do know this will be a long, hard process? Most if not all of your time will be dedicated to it if you go through with this, at least for the next few years?”

Warren nodded. “I… I’ve always lived in my father’s shadow, done what he wanted of me. Now I’m free, and have little to do unless I want to do it. And I really want to do this. I’ve… never really felt a drive toward something until now.”

“Well then,” Charles said. “I wanted to make sure you were really dedicated to this. I think it is truly an excellent idea, Warren. You seem to have thought this out rather well, and have made a strong case.”

He sighed. “This is a topic that I’ve struggled with for years, and I have given much thought to making this school public knowledge. I may do so in the future, but right now we’re simply not protected well enough. But this,” he said, tapping the folder with his fingers, “this could be the way to do it without endangering them.”

Warren grinned. “Really? You think it’s a good idea?”

Charles nodded. “I do, and I think this could be the way, as you said, to counteract those that hate us. I especially like the humanitarian aspect of it – I think that more than anything has the most power to change people’s minds.”

“I would be willing to get you in contact with one of my friends – he’s a lawyer who specializes in these sorts of things. He could help you with the paperwork you’d need, and get you accredited, and set you up as a non-profit organization.”

“That would be great, Charles.” Warren said.

Charles cleared his throat. “Now, you will, of course, need a board of directors, a group of people willing to invest in this organization, who will help to guide it in the right direction and make sure your goals are being worked toward.”

Warren nodded. “I know, I was hoping to invite you as a member, if that would be alright, but other than that, that’s one of the few things I’m stuck on right now.”

Charles smiled. “I would be delighted to serve on the board. And… it just so happens that I recently came into a large sum of money for our… services here. While I’m putting a large amount of it toward paying in full for the recent building projects here for next school year, and for a security system, I believe I will have around two and a half million I could invest in this organization of yours.”

Warren’s eyes widened at that, and Charles continued. “I believe I know a number of people who would be rather interested in this as well, a number of them from other countries. I’d suggest we start this right away as an international NGO – more pull, and more attention that way. And, in a few years, you’d be eligible to apply to join the ECOSOC council at the UN, and affect policy there.”

“That…. Wow, Charles, all of that would be perfect, I really don’t know what to say…. Thank you.” Warren said, nearly speechless.

Charles smiled again. “I’ve begun to realize that soon myself and others of the ‘Old Guard’ will eventually be surpassed by younger mutants with the same ambitions, and you may very well be one of them.”

Charles tapped the folder again. “One last thing, Warren. Do you have a name for it?”

Warren glanced away, slightly embarrassed. “Well…. That’s the other thing I’m sort of hung up over… Right now I’m just calling it X-Corporation, but I don’t think that’s the best, or most descriptive name. Most people would probably have no idea what it’s about.”

Charles chuckled softly. “Yes, the name could use a little work. But your plan is very solid. You work on the name, and the next few days I’ll start contacting some friends, seeing about getting their support, okay?”

Warren nodded and stood up. He leaned forward and firmly shook Charles’ hand. “Thank you again.”

“My pleasure,” Charles replied, as the young man walked from the office.

Charles shot one last glance at the folder as the door clicked shut. Warren had truly impressed him, and Charles now believed that he might just be the person that could pull something like this off and make it work.

Charles nodded to himself and turned to his phone. He picked it up and dialed a number he knew by heart. The line rang for several seconds, and then went to an answering service – after all, it was three in the morning in Scotland.

“Moira, this is Charles. I just had the most interesting conversation about something that I think could be big for us. I’d like to talk to you about it, so give me a call back when you get this. Oh, and make sure Sean is there with you. It’s an investment opportunity that I think will pay off in a large way for mutants everywhere, and it could use both of your resources. I’ll talk to you later, hope I didn’t wake you up with the call.”

Charles depressed the talk button, and then turned his wheelchair to roll to the edge of his desk to access a small drawer. He opened it and pulled out a small black address book. ‘Now to decide who else to call, ’ he thought as he flipped it open.

*****************************************************************

Stephen Lang scrolled down the computer screen, which was covered in long lines of code, computer programming language that he knew just as well as English. He searched blearily through it – he’d been doing so for hours now – trying to find a single line out of place that was causing the malfunction in operation they were experiencing.

A soft knock sounded outside the large Master Mold station he’d built in this Purifier base – identical to one being built in Montana where the main operation would be started as soon as more S.E.N.T.I.N.E.L.s were manufactured, and much larger and more comfortable than the Master Mold trailer he’d been cooped up in for months over the last year.

“What is it now?” He snapped irritably. “Don’t tell me we’ve got another problem.”

“Problem?” The voice asked from the doorway.

Lang looked up to see Ron Maldrone standing in the open door, and straightened up.

“Sorry Ron, thought you were one of my assistants. Wasn’t expecting you here.”

Ron nodded. “Well, Graydon wanted an update, and I was in the area on campaign business, so I decided to stop by. Still having problems?”

Lang nodded. “This is the last major one at the moment, I think the rest will be little things. It’s hard to develop code and not be able to test it until you steal the robots to test it out in.”

“What’s the problem?”

Lang sighed. “We’ve tested the S.E.N.T.I.N.E.L.s with the new code out here in the base on a few mutants the boys picked up on the streets. They have both capture and kill orders working, but we ran into a genetic detection error on mutants that had energy projection abilities. For some reason the units detected the mutation, but that detection isn’t being passed along to the decision center of the ‘brain’ of the S.E.N.T.I.N.E.L.. So, they’re just standing there, staring at the mutant.”

“Doesn’t sound good.” Ron said.

“It isn’t. Fortunately we discovered it working with a weak mutant, so there’s just a few scratches on the armor. It’s good we discovered it now rather than in the field or we could have lost the units. So now I’m just trying to find where I went wrong in that part of the code which is unfortunately several thousand lines long.” Lang said.

Ron nodded slowly. “I see. Any idea on when we can get a live exercise going? Gray would really like to get this going soon, start picking up mutants. We could use them for some of the Montana projects – we’re beginning to run low.”

Lang rubbed his forehead. “Give me…. Give me two days, alright? We should be over this bump, and all the other little ones popping up by then. I’ll work around the clock if I need to.”

Ron nodded, smiling slightly. “Alright, that sounds good. I’ll tell Gray. You’ve done good, Stephen. When you’re done here, we’re thinking of moving you out to Montana to oversee the production lines.”

Stephen grinned slightly. “That’d be nice, get away from the damn city and out into nature more.” He turned back to his computer screen, and held up two fingers. “Two days. See you then.”

He listened to Ron’s receding footsteps, and then focused in on the lines of code with fresh eyes after the short interruption. ‘Where the hell are you? ’ He asked, as if hoping the answer would leap out at him any moment.
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A/N: Well, not a whole lot action-wise, but I enjoyed writing this chap. Finally get to see what Angel is up to. And yes, three finals all on the Saturday of Finals Week is a dreaded thing, and one that I have had the misfortune of experiencing twice during my years here at college. So I simply had to let our young X-Men friends experience it. :D

Decided to throw the Stepford Cuckoo trio and Nezhno in there for something a bit different, explore a few of the characters here that have gotten less attention. That’s the real challenge with a cast like the one in this story, giving attention to everyone, even some to the more minor characters, and as I near the end of this story and reflect on my writing, I’ve felt I have neglected the younger students a bit over the course of the story.

I definitely plan on correcting that the final chapters here and in the sequel – we’ll see more of the background characters. Plus, there will of course be the new students and teachers to explore. While there’ll still be plenty of action, there’ll be a lot of character exploration chapters in the sequel.

Next chapter things ramp up in action, and some big things happen. The X-Men go on a mission and run into a bit more than they expected :D. Coming in to the last few chapters – only four left. See you guys next week!


P.S. French translation for this chapter:
fais de beaux rêves – Sweet dreams (literally something like: have beautiful dreams)