Disclaimer.  I do not own X-Men Evolution. I swear on my MP3 collection that I am just borrowing some of the characters and promise to return them all when I'm finished playing…alive and relatively unharmed.  Except Scott Summers…I need to remove the stick from that boys ass.

Chaos and Destiny

One

The scene outside the window could have warmed anyone's heart; several of the students from the Xavier Institute were playing a friendly game of touch football, smiling and laughing as if like normal teenagers they had the world by the tail.  But it didn't warm Magneto's heart, he knew that the children he watched were anything but normal-mutants like himself ostracized by society and feared by those born without incredible 'gifts'.  Instead of soothing him the innocent play chilled the fraction of his heart still left open to be hurt by the injustice of the world-these poor children didn't realize they were in the middle of a war for survival. 

Spinning he faced the office's other occupant; "I suppose I should thank you for taking such good care of my employee Charles.  It was rather impulsive of them all to play detective without telling me where they were going."

"Nonsense Eric," Charles Xavier shook his head and offered his former friend a ghost of a smile, "Asli felt she had to help her 'family' and nothing you could have done would have stopped her.  It was just luck that I sent my team to search for the mutant murderer…"

"And you refuse none in need." Eric Lensherr's voice was cold, "Even sworn enemies.  One day Old Friend your philanthropy will be your undoing."

Xavier shrugged looking down at the motorized wheelchair that was his means of transportation, "Some would say it already has.  Cypher sustained a dislocated right shoulder, a not too deep cut on her throat and severely exhausted her powers with the energy shockwave she produced.  With luck she'll be up and around in a few days and ready to rejoin you."

"But for now you'd like her to stay here am I right, Charles?" Underneath his helmet Magneto lifted an eyebrow, "If I didn't trust Cypher's loyalty I would wonder if your motives were purely innocent."

Ever used to keeping a blank face Xavier cocked his head curiously, "That's strange Eric I thought you mistrusted all of your employees."

"Not Cypher."

"And why is that?" the telepath couldn't help himself, he had to know.

Even hidden Magneto's smile was a dark, grim thing; "Because she knows very well that I would kill her if she ever betrayed me.  Fear is a powerful motivator."

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

Absently, Asli lifted her left hand to scratch at the dressings covering the right side of her neck where three nights ago her father's knife had almost punctured her artery.  Her burst of energy had destroyed his robotic life support in effect killing him-again-but as a reflex he had pressed down; just not hard enough to kill Asli. Apparently good-or not so bad as the case was-had won the day because Asli and her friends were still alive.

She had awoken in the Med lab of the Xavier Institute while the resident doctor Hank 'Beast' McCoy had been stitching the shallow wound.  The hacker hadn't been allowed to leave her bed since.  One didn't argue with fuzzy, blue ape like men who had the power to dispense heavy painkillers especially not with a relocated shoulder that throbbed whenever one moved.

Memories of happier times drifted the hallways of Xavier's; they were beginning to make Asli feel more than just a little stir crazy.  She knew Magneto had arrived to check on her wellbeing, which meant it was time to return to his base with the other Acolytes.  "I don't know you." A small voice called from the doorway.

Asli shifted and set down her book to get a better view of her visitor-a skinny, dark haired young girl-if Asli hadn't known who the only girl her age in the building was the eyes and accent would have given it away.  Illyana Rasputin-the little girl she had traded her freedom for.  Asli smiled thinly at Pitor's little sister, "That's because I don't live here.  I'm just staying until I'm better."

"Are you sick?" Illyana moved closer obviously pleased that the stranger wasn't treating her like a child.

The hacker shook her head trying her best to keep the sadness from her eyes, "No, I had an accident and got hurt.  The X-Men brought me here so I could get better."

"My brother is an X-Man!" Illyana smiled widely jumping on to the end of Asli's bed without being asked, "They call him 'Colossus' because he is big and strong.  Do you know him?"

Against her will Asli smiled at the vivacious little girl, "Yes I do.  That would make you Illyana, right?"

The dark head bobbed and she beamed, "Uhuh, I'm eight…who are you?"

"I'm Cypher," she bit down a gasp of pain from her shoulder as she tried to get comfortable again, "But my friends call me Asli."

Illyana scrunched up her face, "Are you an X-Man too? Is that why you have two names like Pitor?"

"Sort of," Asli hedged-there really wasn't a need to let the kid know she was a lackey to a despotic Mutant terrorist.

"I've seen pictures of you in Pitor's room-he hid them but I was snooping for presents," Illyana blurted our looking very excited; "Do you know my brother?  Do you know his girlfriend Kitty?"

In normal circumstances Asli could keep a poker face with the best of them but this caught her off guard; Pitor still had drawings of her? Slowly she considered what the best answer would be, "I do Illyana, we used to be friends a long time ago…"

"But you're not any more?" Illyana cut in-not limited by her brother's taciturn nature, "Did you guys fight? Is that why you aren't friends and you don't live here with everyone else?"

"How'd you get so smart?" Asli asked lifting one dark eyebrow.

"Logan says it's because I ask a lot of pesky questions."

The hacker laughed unexpectedly; Wolverine would find an eight year old's curiosity 'pesky', "That's the best way to learn."

For a second Illyana looked thoughtful then launched into another round of questions, "Asli why were you sad when I came to the door?"

Asli opened her mouth to answer but was beaten to the draw, "Illyana-that is enough questions."

Both girls turned to the door filled with Pitor Rasputin's towering body; the little girl jumped from the bed and rushed to her brother.  The love in their eyes made Asli's heart clench, nice to see I did the right thing after all, she watched Pitor lift the girl into his arms with unconcealed happiness.  "It's okay Pitor, I don't mind.  Illyana's my first visitor since the others left."

Pitor ignored her and addressed his sister, "Katya has been looking for you-she wanted to make cookies with you this afternoon."

The face the little girl made proved that she too had been subjected to Kitty's horrible culinary skills already in her short sojourn at the Mansion. "I better go…" Illyana smiled at Asli brightly, "Kitty can't cook but she's big enough to put everything in the oven for me because I'm not allowed to yet."

"It was nice meeting you, Illyana." Asli gave the girl a bright smile that she really didn't feel.

Returning the smile the child slid from her brother's arms, "Bye Asli." She stopped to glower up at Pitor, "Pitor, I don't know why you and Asli aren't friends anymore but I think you should both forgive each other." Her voice dropped to a stage whisper, "She's sad Pitor and I think she needs a friend."

Without a backward glance Illyana skipped away leaving silence behind in her wake.  Awkwardly Asli lifted her eyes to Pitor's face; schooling her own features into blankness, "I suppose I should thank you for saving me."

"It was Katya's idea," His voice was harsh; "I can not believe you killed your own father."

"I won't apologise for doing what I had to." Asli narrowed her eyes.

Pitor's face darkened with anger-Asli supposed she had earned some of it, "Such practicality. And Avalanche was another practical decision of yours?"

Asli flinched as if she had been struck; how had Pitor found out about her relationship with Lance Alvers? "That's none of your business is it?" Closing her eyes to block the hurt Pitor's tone caused Asli sighed, "You and Kitty seem like a happy pair-with Illyana you almost seem like a family."

"You have no right to talk about them."

"And you have no right to judge me." Even to her own ears Asli's words sounded bitter.

"Now, now children play nice." Magneto's voice broke in making Asli wish people would wear bells when walking by the Med Lab to alert the sick to their presence.

The Master of Magnetism was clad in his helmet and battle gear he beckoned to Asli, "I trust you are healed enough to come home Cypher, your team-mates have missed you."

One last look at Pitor's angry face stiffened the hacker's resolve-she had to stop Magneto so that no one else would loose their loved ones to his madness, "Ready when you are Boss."

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

"Relax Chère," Remy sat down next to the Gothic teen and offered her a heart wrenching smile. 

He had been trying to duplicate the intimacy they had felt in New York the week before but in the wake of Bender's death and Asli's kidnapping, Rogue had withdrawn once more.  Perhaps now that Asli would be returning from the X-Men's medical facilities with a clean bill of health, the younger girl would be able to put her demons to rest with a little help from all of her friends.

"I am relaxed Swamp Rat." Rogue's tone however implied anything but.

Remy shook his shaggy head, "If dat's you relaxed I'd hate to see tense Chère…you look ready to spit diamonds."

A buzzer sounded indicating that someone had breached the front door of Magneto's secret base, "Is that them?"

Rising to his feet Remy put himself between Rogue and the door-he knew it was pointless to try and protect an invulnerable girl but he couldn't help the urge.  "Mebbe Chère but Remy don think de bells would go off for Bucket head hein?"

"Well who on earth is crazy enough to break into Magneto's lair?" Rogue put a hand on her hip and glared at him-Remy shivered despite himself.

"We'll see."

The two young mutants readied themselves to face what lay on the other side of the door.  Seconds ticked by as the intruder punched in a security code; then the door slid open revealing their unexpected visitor.  "Momma?" Rogue's jaw dropped; there in all her blue, furious glory stood Mystique.

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Teehee…So this was quicker than I thought it would be…what can I say I was inspired.

Ish-I know there's a scale down of drama and angst here but I promise more…how about the Illyana/Asli conversation?  I make no promises about Rogue not dying…I mean Destiny *could* be wrong…but then where's the fun in a happy ending.  I told you some one was gonna die

Star-Of-Chaos - *Grin* Yep, Scooter's got a good helping of humble pie coming anytime now.  I'm glad you liked the story enough to comment.  I love torturing him.

Pixie Flyer – Hey, better late than never…Just throw me a review once and a while and I'm happy.

All I want for Christmas are some new reviews…new reviews…new reviews.

BTW I don't own the song 'Little Happiness' it's all Aimee Allen and her record company's…I just enjoy the tunes…

Aimee Allen – Little Happiness

When nothing matters now and you're not sure if it ever did
When life is grey or black or whatever color it is
When the sound of his voice screaming in your ear
Melts with the tender vision the noise disappears

You're letting him back in
To break you once again
You're crawling in your skin
You're forgiving him
You hold it in

Her mascara draws his picture on her face
And all these pictures that he's framed take up his space
These awkward elevator moments of happiness
Just keep her open to the cycles of viciousness

Letting him back in
To break you once again
You're crawling in your skin
You're forgiving him
You hold it in

Letting him back in
To break you once again
You're crawling in your skin
You're forgiving him
You hold it in

Holding on
For a little happiness
Holding on
For a little happiness