Disclaimer: The standard don't own anything but my own imagination, etc, etc applies.

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Sinister Intentions

A X-Men: MovieVerse Fanfiction

Written by RogueMoon

Chapter One

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"They call themselves the Morlocks," Ororo Munroe's voice flowed over the dark lecture hall as the screen behind her flicked through pictures of mutants who could give the needy kids in Africa a run for their pity money with the squalor they apparently lived in. "They reside in the sewers beneath New York City as well as the natural tunnel network that riddles the cliffs of Westchester County. They choose to live beneath ground, where they feel they are free of the prosecution rampant in the streets above. Hundreds of your fellow mutants."

A mummer seemed to rumble like a wave through the student body, followed by the sound of pencils and pens scratching at paper. Note taking. Sociology Class.

"The X-Men first encountered them two years ago. Since that time we have helped to create a tunnel network that links the Morlocks' home to the below ground facilities of the School where we now help them with regular health check ups and studies for the children and adults that wish it. They, in turn, help with the study of nocturnal and underground bio-systems. And whatever else they can, including rebuilding the school when necessary."

A small chuckle ran through the room. Intensive Rebuilding the Mansion was a required shop course whenever the upper floors happened to be torn down. With Magneto's powers neutralized by the Cure, the students had gotten a break from the credit hours. He had been the most destructive when it came to enemy 'house calls'.

"The Morlocks were hostile towards us at first. Can anyone tell me why that might be?"

Several hands raised. Ororo smiled and pointed at a girl with pink hair and bones sticking out from her body, "Sarah."

The other hands went down and the girl stood, "Because the other hands of friendship the Morlocks had been extended in the past were only ruses to try and get in our confidence and then betray us. Several of the betrays were done by the pretty ones and it was hard for any of us to believe that there would not be a price to pay for accepting help from the prettiest of them all."

Ororo's smile widened, "Thank you, Sarah. You may sit down."

Once the girl had done so, the teacher continued, "It was an issue of trust. The entire culture of the Morlocks is based on trust. The 'pretty ones' as they call those mutants who can blend in with regular humans were just as untrustworthy to them as regular humans. Based entirely on the groups' interaction with a very select section of the above ground mutant population. The Morlocks had only existed for approximately five years prior to the X-Men's first encounter with them and the shared experiences, whether together or on an individual basis, helped them as a group develop unstated social rules. A culture unto itself, just as deep and developed as those expressed in older societies.

"The X-Men had to prove to them that they could be trusted. Part of that came from an exchange of goods and services. The Morlocks learned never to take anything at face value. Within their culture, there is always a price. Even amongst each other. More so with outsiders.

"By asking for an exchange of goods and services, we established a mutually beneficial alliance. Just as countries like the United States and Britain have. What do you believe the most beneficial exchange has been? On both sides. The most beneficial good or service the Morlocks have gotten from the exchange and the most beneficial good or service the X-Men and the School have received. And do leave your hands up, I want multiple opinions on this. Yes, Mr. Cassidy."

The boy lowered his hand and nodded towards the screen, "I think the Morlocks benefit most from access to the School."

"And the School?"

"I don't really know. Students to teach?"

Ororo chuckled and pointed at a different student, "Ms. Lee."

"Like... I think they both benefit from having a safe haven."

"Do elaborate."

"Well, like... you know... The Morlocks have a place to go when then need to get out of the tunnels and the School has a great place to evacuate to when people decide to try and blow us up or kidnap us or stuff."

Storm smiled broadly, "Well thought out, Ms. Lee. Mr. Drake?"

Bobby shifted in his seat, lowering his hand, "I think the Morlocks benefit most from the aid they receive. The health care and supplies so they don't have to live in really bad conditions. The School benefits the most... I think Jube's answer is a really good one. But the School also gets free labor if necessary And what extra food the Morlocks can provide from whatever it is they can grow down there. The School benefits by being able to operate at full capacity on a shoe-string budget."

"That is an excellent observation, Mr. Drake," she glanced at the clock and waved her hand to have the lights brought up by the student nearest the switch. "Homework for the weekend, class. I want a three page paper on what you believe the Morlocks and the School get from their relationship and if it the benefits are fair to both sides. Why you feel this way and what you would do to correct it if you do not feel the relationship is fair. Eleven point, Times New Roman, single spaced. Title and by line cannot take up more than four lines on the page. On my desk at the start of class on Tuesday."

The bell rang and the students tucked their supplies away, heading to the next period.

"One moment, Sarah, if you would," Ororo called out to the young lady. The girl walked up to the desk and waited until the teacher spoke, "That was first time you've ever volunteered to answer any of my questions in class. I'm very proud of you."

The girl grinned and blushed, ducking her head. One of the Morlock children who chose to attend classes, Sarah was notorious for being silent. This was quite a break through for her.

"You may go now. I don't want you late to English because of me."

Sarah nodded and ran out. Ororo watched, glad to have her in class. It was a difficult elective, but Sarah had insisted on being in it despite being almost three years younger than the rest. The girl had barely passed the assessment with a score that would allow her to take an advanced course. But she was diligent and kept her grades up, and had never been a problem. The staff was no longer worried about her being able to keep up. Outside of some difficulty with being able to write, the child had been an exemplary student.

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After her last class of the day, Sarah gathered her books and headed to the elevator that would take her to the hanger bay with the other Morlock students. Next to the elevator was the door to the tunnels they called home. The X-Men had been really good about making sure the tunnels they had cleared and built were clean and kept that way.

Detentions for a majority of the pretty ones consisted of keeping the passages clean and clear of debris. Sarah giggled as she met up with the thirty or so other Morlock children who would be making the long trek back to the New York Network for the weekend. They tended to stay in the facilities under the school during the week so they wouldn't have to go far for class. But the majority of them had family several miles south, in the tunnels beneath the City.

Once down the elevator and into the tunnels, Sarah jumped on the back of Piper, a mutant who could control animals with sound. He laughed at her and helped her get comfortable as he let her piggy back. Once her legs were firmly around his waist and he was sure she wouldn't fall – this was a regular occurrence for the two – he pulled out his flute and began playing a happy tune.

About the time they reached the edge of the School grounds (had they been above ground), the animals of the tunnels began following the group of kids. Just like the Pied Piper, he called them and had them follow. Protecting the students on their walk home.

A half hour passed, the kids talking about homework and what they would be doing over the weekend as they walked. Sarah's nosed twitched as she found herself getting a feeling that something was wrong. The others didn't seem to feel it, the way they kept talking and walking.

She let out a small 'o' and slid off Piper's back, causing the boy to stop, though his music kept going. Sarah bit her lip and looked around, "Annalee's not here."

The rest of the group paused when she spoke and looked back at her. Piper's eyebrows scrunched in confusion, he couldn't stop playing with the animal guard still there, and looked around the cavern. Annalee usually met them here to walk them back to the encampment.

Sally pushed herself to the center of the group, "Do you guys think something happened to her? Piper, send the animals away."

Piper did so as the rest began whispering to each other about it, all of them now wary of their surroundings.

"Anyone smell that?" Maria whispered, her feline nose twitching as she caught a scent that she really didn't like.

The others shook their head and Sally asked, "What is it?"

"Smells like death."

The sound of rock crumbling down one of the side passages caught all their attention. Two red pinpricks of light, like glowing, evil eyes, stared back at them.

"It is death, mes enfantes," a soft, male voice poured over them like honey from those same shadows. As one, they shivered.

The crunch of a footfall and he took a single step forward. Enough for them to see he wore a long dark coat that shifted gently over what appeared to be steal boots. Enough for them to see his smile. Like a wolf eying its prey.

"If ya don' want de death ta be yours, mes enfantes, I suggest ya turn tail and run as fast as dose little legs can carry ya," his left hand slipped lazily out of his pocket, twirling something in his fingers that after a few rotations elongated into a metal pole. The other hand brought a cigarette to his lips where it seemed to light of its own accord.

He inhaled deeply and blew the smoke out, lazily. The kids hadn't moved. To terrified to think. Or perhaps too charmed by his voice to know what to do. His staff began to glow pink and he slammed the end of it into the ground, causing an explosion of rock where it hit. The room brightening for a moment and revealing him in full to the stunned children.

He grinned like a madman. His devil eyes glowing as he poured on the charm, "Run fast, petites, I can' kill what I can' catch, oui?"

And ran they did. Back through the tunnels. Back to the school. Back for help. His laughter followed them, nipping at their heels and telling them not to stop. Not for anything.

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When the X-men made it back to the Morlock settlement, it was too late. He was gone. Whomever was with him was gone. And every other Morlock, down to the last infant, was dead. Some gutted and hung upon the walls like trophies.

It was Wolverine who dashed their hopes that those in New York had survived. The smell made it more than clear they hadn't. The Morlocks had been massacred.

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End Chapter