disclaimer: The X-Men and associated characters are owned by Marvel Comics Group. All others belong to me, you'll know who they are.

The Three
by Dizi

Chapter1

They began their existence from the same egg.

They were born within minutes of each other.

They lived their lives in each others pockets.

They knew each other better than they knew themselves.

They had identical features but were individuals.

They argued about the most minor matters yet agreed without speaking on the most important.

They always thought they would die as they were born.

They were one and three at the same time.

This is their story.

"I hate comin' here," Logan grumbled.

"Like you don't say that every time." Jubilee rolled her eyes. "The prof just wants us to do a pickup. No big deal."

"Still don't like it."

"Well, suck it up. You're bummin' me out."

"If he an' Paige hadn't broken up we wouldn't have ta be here," he mumbled.

"Don't go there," she warned. "Paige is my best friend and she's heartbroken. I should be at the mansion letting her cry on my shoulder instead of here with you. I could still leave and let you do this on your own."

Clamping his lips shut, Logan was quiet the rest of the elevator ride to the top floor of Worthington Enterprises.

When the doors opened they were in the plush world of the ultra rich. The carpet was thick and soft under their feet and the room was a showcase for antiques from the Ming vase in a place of honor to a Monet over a plaque clearly visible on the opposite wall. Interspersed was the modern technology. Securitiy cameras took in every inch. Heat and motion sensors were discretely placed, recognizable only by a knowledgeable eye. At a Louis XVI desk was a state of the art computer, a large LCD monitor, and a multiline telephone.

And a brunette.

She was wearing a designer suit, her hair in a neat chignon. Her features were delicate. Perfectly coiffed and made-up, the woman complemented the room as though she were another decoration.

Jubilee braced herself. She knew what was coming. It would go one of two ways. The woman would either show an interest in Logan and he would blow her off, or she would make her disinterest known and become an instant challenge. She hoped it would be the first. It would be quicker and wouldn't turn her stomach.

He was her partner and had been for years. Jubilee trusted him more than anyone else in the world. They had put their lives in each other's hands since the moment they met. She knew him, and she really didn't need to see him go into ladykiller mode again. Besides she had a friend waiting for her.

She approached the desk with a smile on her face. No need to be impolite. "Hello, I'm-"

"Jubilee and Logan," the woman interrupted in a matter-of-fact manner. "Mr. Worthington has been expecting you. I'll let him know you're here." She rose gracefully to her feet and went into the door behind her before Jubilee could recover from her surprise.

"Well, that was quick." She wasn't sure whether to be insulted or relieved. "See? We'll be in and out in no time."

"Huh," Logan grunted. "Keep yer eye on her. She's carryin'."

"Sure. You think she's the one Paige says he's having an affair with?" Jubilee had heard the details over and over again for the last two weeks. Which was why she had volunteered to go with Logan - not that she had let him know that. Despite what she'd said to him and her duty as best friend, she didn't think she could listen to it all again.

"Nope. She don't smell like Wings. That perfume o' hers couldn't hide it from my nose. She's single an' free." His voice was smug. "Don't know if he's playin' around or not, but last time I was here few weeks ago he had a man at the desk. She's a real improvement."

She almost groaned. He hadn't spoken to her, hadn't spent more than a few seconds in her presence, and already he was more than interested. Why couldn't Warren have kept the male secretary? It would have prevented all kinds of problems for her.

The woman returned and Jubilee blinked in shock. It was the same woman but now she was different. Her hair was down, her suit jacket gone, and her blouse almost indecently unbuttoned. Even her make-up was different. She'd only been gone a few seconds.

Covertly, Jubilee snuck a glance a Logan. His eyes had sharpened and his body language said something was up. In the back of her mind, she thought, 'Duh!'

"Mr. Worthington is ready for you now." The voice was the same but different just like her appearance. Where before she had sounded professional, now she was more 'friendly'.

Too friendly, in Jubilee's opinion. Logan didn't need any encouragement and this new version might just give him some. Without waiting, she strode confidently into the office. Wolverine would let her know if something was wrong instead of just up.

And there was the male secretary standing by Warren's right elbow. That answered one question but brought up several others.

Warren glanced up, nodded at them. "Good to see you. Paul, if you would get on that, I'll get back to you once I finish." He waited for the man to silently leave and close the door behind him before rising from behind the desk. It was imperative the man have no detailed knowledge of their meeting. "Forge is waiting, Amy. If you would be so kind?"

"Sure." Taking out a cell phone, the woman now identified as Amy went into what Logan knew was Warren's private bathroom.

"What's this about? Thought we was just pickin' somethin' up." Logan grumbled when they were alone.

"You are, but it's a bit more complicated than that." Warren pressed a hidden button on his desk, gestured to the chairs, and sat on one of the front corners. "I didn't explain to Charles over the phone in case the line was being monitored."

"So yer keepin' secrets from yer friends now?" Logan didn't sit, preferring to take whatever news Warren had on his feet. "Gettin' a bit paranoid, ain't ya?"

"Being as we've had two prototypes stolen within eighteen months, I would call it caution," Warren said calmly, not taking offense.

"So you want to send it to the mansion for safe-keeping?" Jubilee asked, getting comfortable.

"Not exactly. The mansion has been infiltrated. You're going to take back a way to discover who the traitor is so they can be neutralized. Then we'll be able to find out who the thief is." He held up a hand to prevent them from speaking. "I know it doesn't seem likely, but the only one who knew about this particular project of Forge's was Hank. It was shortly after he was consulted that the first device was stolen. Security was tightened and the only way someone could have stolen the second device was someone who was able to get into both Hank's lab in the mansion and Forge's lab here. That mean's an X-Man."

"It still doesn't sound right," Jubilee said emphatically, and asked, "What kind of device was it?"

"That's the key. It's a cloning and progression chamber. They stole the initial research along with the device during the first theft. Our theory is they followed the research to the next stage. The traitor is a clone." Warren paused to let them take in the information before continuing. "Or he was. It wasn't perfected and the clone would have had a very short lifespan. In fact, it wouldn't have been more than a shell. That's why the second theft. Whoever it is doesn't have anyone as good as Forge and Hank. They had to steal the improved model. They didn't get the research that time, only the equipment. They can now make a better clone. One who is almost an exact copy."

His brow furrowed in thought, Logan demanded, "How do ya know it ain't one of us, then?"

"You were scanned in the elevator." Warren stood up. "Look, time is short. I'm sorry to lay this on you, but today could have gone a couple of ways. It could have been the clone who came and none of this conversation would have been necessary. We didn't specify who was to come deliberately. Whoever it was is the one who gets to be in on this. You two came, so you're it."

"We're supposed to spy on the other X-Men?" Jubilee asked, standing too. "No way."

"No, you just need to assist my people in any way they ask. They'll do most of the work. They should be here any minute. Amy is bringing the others. Carrie had to get some things and Beth was still getting her instructions from Forge." He looked at his watch. "I'm sorry I don't have time to bring you fully up to date but they'll take care of that."

"If she's supposed ta be doin' somethin', she better hurry up in the bathroom," Logan pointed out.

Warren chuckled. "She's not using the facilities. There's a secret elevator in there to Forge's lab."

"What about yer guy? Don't he think somethin' funny's goin' on if people're comin' an' goin' from yer bathroom?"

"Paul? He's being kept out of this particular loop but he learned long ago that things aren't always what they seem here." Warren shrugged. "Besides, the bathroom also connects to a bedroom. He knows the ladies are allowed to use it. The only ones who come and go from there are them and me."

"There's something odd about that girl," Jubilee began. "How did she change so quickly? She-"

There was a knock on the bathroom door, interrupting her.

"Come in!" Warren called. "I think this will explain it, Jubes."

The door pushed open hard enough to hit the wall and bounce back. There was the sound of a harsh curse, causing Warren to wince and Logan to grin. But Jubilee just stared.

There were indeed three of them. Looking exactly alike. Sounding exactly alike. Using the same gestures and tilting their heads the exact same way as they chatted while carting luggage into the office. Jubilee couldn't believe it. The possibility of twins had occurred to her, it was an obvious answer. With all the talk about clones, she threw out the obvious.

"Logan and Jubilee, this is Carrie," Warren pointed out the newcomer dressed in jeans and a tshirt, "Amy," the friendly one, "and Beth." The original woman nodded to them politely.

Logan looked like a kid in a candyshop, thinking he'd be able to score with at least one of them. The idea of more than one was better, and more than one at once would be a dream come true.

Jubilee was incredulous. "You want us to take clones to the mansion?" she exclaimed. "Are you insane? Nuh-uh. Nothin' doin'. I won't be part of that. The X-Men have had bad experiences with clones."

"Jubilee-" Warren began.

But he was cut off by Beth, who said reasonably, "You already have a problem with clones."

"No worries, though," Amy added. "We're not clones. We just look like it."

"We're sisters," Carrie said firmly.

"Good 'nuff fer me." Logan grabbed a couple of the bags and headed for the door.

Shaking her head doubtfully, Jubilee followed sans bags.

"Clones. Does everything have to be clones?" Carrie humphed. "I'll be so glad when this is over and I never have to hear that word again."

"You're the one who pushed for this job, Carrie," Amy pointed out, taking firm hold of two of the remaining bags.

"Don't start with me. I'm the one who's been in the lab night and day. We were supposed to be switching off." Carrie's tone was bitter. "But nooooo, you-"

"Ladies," Warren said loudly. "Let's hurry along, hmm? Do you have everything you need?"

"Yes, sir." Beth smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. We'll find any and all clones and work with the X-Men to get their people back."

The women chattered a little more on their way out. Once they were gone, Warren sat down in his chair heavily. He let out a breath and stared at his desk, contemplating the serious problems within the X-Men.

"I hope you can in the time you have," he murmured, before turning to his computer and getting back to work.

"Okay, there's a few things I need to get straight with you," Jubilee said. She had remained silent for the first fifteen minutes after they had started the journey to the mansion, thinking about the situation. "I think we have to tell the Professor and Scott. Anyone else you want to keep out of it is fine, but they should know."

"We're supposed to fill in Charles Xavier right away," Beth agreed.

"But we're going to have to veto Cyclops," Carrie stated directly after, then qualified, "or at least not until we rule him out."

"You see, the higher mental functions of mutants don't conform to the cloning process in the prototype that was stolen," Amy explained. "So telepaths, once they have shown their powers, are in the clear. We're pretty sure your leader man is safe because of his mental bond with his wife. Jean Grey would have known immediately if he was removed from her mind. But we want to be sure."

"So all the telepaths are safe?" Jubilee clarified. "Jean, Emma, Betsy, and Charles?"

"As long as they've been in mental contact with someone - anyone - to show they have their powers, then yes." Carrie shrugged. "As we understand telepaths, it's difficult for them not to and it would send up warning flags if they didn't."

"But just about anyone else is fair game," Beth warned. "And just because they are telepaths doesn't mean we want them to know."

"Makes sense," Logan said approvingly. "Less who know, less who can accidentally give warnin' ta the target."

"I still don't like it." Jubilee folded her arms. "Why can't they all just be mindscanned?"

"It was suggested." Amy's opinion of the younger woman went up a notch. "But Warren said he didn't think Xavier would go for that. Something about it being unethical for the innocent parties."

"Not to mention it wouldn't work." Carrie shifted on the seat of the jeep trying to get comfortable. "The clones have a good portion of the original's memories. They're not just physically the same, their thought patterns are the same too. A telepath would have to scan dangerously deep to find out they are not the same person. If the clone's mind was booby trapped the telepath could die."

"Yeah, that sounds bad." Jubilee was finding this to be a bit surreal. The X-Men being infiltrated in such a manner was hard to believe. That there was nothing they could do about it was even worse. And they were supposed to just trust that these women could take care of the problem? Uh-huh, that was going to happen. Riiiiiight.

"We know this isn't easy for you." Beth was sympathetic to her feelings. "For now, all you have to do is act like normal."

"Do all the things you'd normally do." Amy picked up Beth's intention to put the Asian girl at ease. "We're not saying this just so you don't tip off the clones. You don't want to turn-off your friends with undue suspicion. If you suddenly treat them different they won't understand."

"I hate to say this," Carrie said gently, "but the problem with this variety of clones is that even if they are one of your friends, it doesn't mean they don't have real feelings for you. Remember I said they have the original's memories? They have the original's feelings for you too. If you're friends with the original, then the clone will think of you as a friend."

"All the while they're plotting against us. That makes me feel sooooo much better about it." Jubilee glared at her.

"You're not helping." Amy turned on Carrie. "How could you say that?"

"Hey, I just think these clones have been given a raw deal," Carrie defended herself. "Forge said they have a limited lifespan. The boss men think the clones just want a chance to live longer. They've probably been given the choice between betraying people they really care about and dying! Who can blame them for that?"

"Um, I can," Beth raised her hand.

So did Amy. "Me, too."

"I'm in on that one." Jubilee's hand shot up.

"Darlin', it's nice that ya feel sorry fer 'em but ya said it yerself." Logan looked at Carrie in the rearview mirror. "They're betrayin' their friends."

"Okay, okay. I get it." Carrie slouched down. "It's just that if they're right then they're doing all that under a false hope. There's no way to make them live longer. They are going to die. That's it. Dead. None of us knows what we'd do when given a choice like that. The real person might act the same way."

"It's only a theory. We don't know that for sure. We won't until we catch the clones and find out." Beth sighed. "Don't borrow trouble."

"Wait, wait, wait." Jubilee turned in her seat to look at Beth. It still freaked her out a bit how alike they were, but she was getting a handle on the differences. The different clothes helped. "What do you mean 'clones'? There's more than one?"

"Oh, great!" Amy threw her hands up. "Now you're doing it too. Why don't you just send the girl into a panic?"

"Hush up, Amy! She didn't mean to." Carrie glared at her. "Jubilee, it was a slip of the tongue. We don't think there's more than one, but there's always a possibility."

"I'm really sorry." Beth looked close to tears. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Now, look what you've done!" Carrie put her arm around Beth's shoulders. "It's okay, Jubilee understands. Don't you?"

With Carrie practically daring her to say otherwise and Beth looking hopeful, Jubilee could only nod. She went quiet, trying to take it all in, but it wasn't easy. From what they said it could be most anyone. The school was full of kids and it could be one of them too, couldn't it? She noticed Logan hadn't said much, and turned to him, "Why aren't you freaking out over this?"

"Kid, now's not the time ta get worked up. Once they point out the clone, I'll get plenty mad." Logan stopped at a red light. "What concerns me is what's happened ta the original, as they put it. I'll get good an' personal with the clone ta find out. 'Til then, ain't nothin' ta do but let these gals do their job." The light changed and the jeep moved forward again. "Whats yer first step, ladies?"

"Ruling out the telepaths," Carrie answered. "That's relatively easy, as we said."

"Then making sure Mr. Summers is fine, we talked about that already too," Amy came out of her sulk enough to say.

"The rest will be a bit touch and go." Beth touched Amy's arm in apology. They couldn't stay mad at each other long, it would be like being angry with yourself. "The only other person we're sure of is Dr. McCoy. If they had gotten to him, they wouldn't have needed anyone else. He's had access to everything."

Amy smiled at Beth and squeezed her fingers. "Besides he was scanned when he came to Forge's lab three days ago."

"We'll be working with him a lot. He understands the process better than we do." Carrie looked affectionately at her two sisters.

"Sounds like ya three have it under control." Logan nodded to Jubilee and grinned. "Now, would one o' you gals like ta go ta Harry's tonight? Spot ya in pool..."

to be continued.

note: Alright I'm pretty sure I've got your attention with this one. A few warnings are in order. This is obviously not connected to my other stories in a major way. Some relationships from my other stories will be present and others won't, but even those will be very different from the way those stories went. As an example, Jenny and Nightcrawler are a couple but they didn't get married; the incident with Lacy never happened and there is no Zelig or other children in their lives. Obviously Logan and Jubilee are not a couple but are partners. It has been some years since I actually read the book so do not expect all cannon details to be correct, as in Warren and Paige's relationship especially. This is definitely AU of both my other stories and the book. Hopefully I've explained everything in both this note and in the story.

Oh, and if you're interested I've made Amy, Beth, and Carrie into Sims and have pictures of them available through the link on my bio.

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi