The Mansion sat peacefully, its only occupants being, the Professor, Storm, and Doctor McCoy. Logan was picking up some of the students from their last day of school. Others were catching a ride with Scott. The peace didn't last long. The fancy, open roof car appeared first. Behind, an old battered black van followed.
The moment both vehicles stopped, students of all ages threw themselves out with excited cries.
"Oh Yeah, no School!" Cheered Bobby. He turned to Kurt and they high fived. Someone high jacked Scott's car speakers, and started playing, 'Schools out'. Within moments, an impromptu dance party had started.
After about three songs, the dancing died down. Instead, people began talking and heading into the mansion. Bobby and Amara slipped away without anyone noticing.
Jamie hadn't really joined in the dancing. If someone crashed into him or he tripped, he would have to deal with about six multiples. While he wasn't broken up about it, it added another small thing to a pile of things that had been piling for a long time.
When the dancing broke up, he saw Bobby and Amara leave. And of course he thought it would be fun to follow. Jamie trailed them through the trees to were one could get a good view of the sea. The two teens stood looking out at the water. Jamie crouched down in the bushes.
Amara glanced at Bobby,
"So are you visiting your parents at all this summer?" She asked awkwardly. He shrugged.
"I don't know. What about you?" Amara smiled bitterly,
"I doubt they would want a girl with my kind of powers hanging around their house." Bobby nodded. After a moment Amara asked,
"So are you fighting with Jubilee? You two haven't spoken in a week." She tried to sound casual, but failed. Bobby answered readily enough though.
"Yeah, we had an argument. Why?"
"No reason." Amara said quickly in a tone that showed she cared but didn't want to show it. Bobby however didn't notice.
Jamie winced. Sometimes the older kids were so obtuse it was untrue. He was so focused on Bobby and Amara that he didn't notice that someone was behind him until it was too late. A hand went over his mouth and someone sprayed something up his nose. Jamie thrashed, but not hard enough to summon a duplicate. He heard Amara shout and Bobby yell. Black spots danced in Jamie's vison. As he passed out, he mentally shouted, PROFESSOR! And that was the last thing he thought.
Professor X couldn't help but smile at the sounds coming from all over the mansion. The sound of children having fun was such a good sound. Xavier made a mental note to ask Logan to give them a few days of before they started summer training.
Roberto came running by, pursued by an angry wolf.
"HELP!" shrieked Roberto in panic. Rahne howled. Roberto fled.
Xavier chuckled and shook his head. He started to wheel his way toward Cerebro. He wanted to check for any new mutants. On the way he ran into Scott and Jean, saved Ray from being reduced to fried bits, courtesy of Jubilee.
Eventually he met Ororo and Logan. He smiled, about to greet them when a panicked thought flash across his mind, PROFESSOR! He clutched his temples in surprise. Jamie, is that you? What's wrong? Silence.
He immediately started again for Cerebro.
"Charles?" asked Ororo.
"Something has happened Storm. I am going to check Cerebro." Ororo and Logan followed to the room which housed the computer. The Professor placed the helmet on his head and did an amplified search of the area. Not only couldn't he find Jamie, but Amara and Bobby weren't showing up either. He reached up to remove the helmet, when he saw what looked like a video call pop on the screen.
"Interesting, I didn't think anyone knew how to send messages to Cerebro." He pulled it up as a projection in front of all of them. It flickered slightly. Then a face appeared.
He had short blond hair with tinge of grey. His face appeared to be in a permanent state of self-satisfaction.
Wolverine took one look and immediately pictured wiping the smug look of his face using methods that are best not described.
The Professor nodded to the image.
"Hello, I am Professor Xavier. Who are you and how are you able to send this message?" The Man smiled and answered in a soft calm voice,
"Greetings Professor X. I'm sorry I cannot answer either of your questions. However, I can tell you why I am calling."
Logan growled,
"You'll tell the Professor what he wants to know, Bub." The man shook his head pityingly.
"You are in no position to instruct me on what to do." Xavier interrupted before Logan got going,
"Why are you calling then?" The strange man smiled,
"I want your X-Men to do a job for me."
Logan huffed,
"And what gives you the bright idea that they are gonna do anything for you?"
The man burst out cackling. It sounded like a crow dying. When he recovered he answered silkily,
"They will do as I say, and so will you. You will have to because I have three of your precious students."
Throughout the conversation the Professor had been getting a sinking feeling. At the caller's words, his fears were confirmed. The man stepped back to reveal the three missing kids. Bobby, Amara, and Jamie were shackled by their wrists to the wall behind. Their feet were about twelve inches from the floor. All three were unconscious.
Storm gasped.
The man chuckled again and stepped towards them.
"It would be a shame if something happened to such young people." He reached out and gently stroked Amara's cheek. Logan bristled.
The Professor frowned at the man,
"What do you want us to do?"
"I want you steal the Andvaranaut."