X-men assemble in the library. Cerebro has located an out of control mutant. Xavier's thought-voice echoed out across the mansion. The X-men stopped whatever they were doing suddenly. Logan jumping up from fixing his bike, Kitty from emailing Lance, Rogue from exercising in the training room. Hurry. Xavier's voice sounded worried. Several of the approaching X-men began to run, the Professor never sounded worried.

The library was packed, as even the New Mutants had come running. The Professor created a steeple with his fingers in front of him.

"Cerebro located a mutant attacking the Sisters of Charity hospital earlier today. I believe the mutant is a telepath and simply lost control" His voice was steady and even, different from his thought-voice.

"Professor?" asked Jean "Why do you think it's a telepath?"

"Because" Said the Professor turning towards Jean, "Several of the doctors and nurses no longer remember who they are"

"Oh" said Jean quietly

"I've had Cerebro locate her. She's been gradually heading north towards Bayville but seems to be tiring" The Professor shook his head "For reasons unknown to me, she seems to think someone in Bayville will help her"

Scott shrugged "Maybe she's heard of the institute?"

"I highly doubt it," said the professor "We have concealed the institute too well. You need to head her off before she reaches Bayville. If she does, she risks exposing us all. The world is not ready." The others nodded.

"Are you sending all of us?" asked Jean. The professor shook his head.

"Logan and Storm will go as well as Scott, Rogue, Kitty, Kurt and you, Jean" The X-men named nodded. "Be careful and hurry"

"Come on kids" Growled Logan " We got a job to do"

They hurried through the mansion, none of them speaking but all of them casting worried glances at each other. When they finally reached the hanger, everyone climbed in the X-Jet and strapped themselves down.

I'm sending you her co-ordinates now. Said the professor's thought-voice as a slow moving dot appeared on the jet's radar.

"Got her" growled Wolverine as the jet took to the air.

A few moments later it pulled into land outside Bayville. Kitty phased through the bottom of the jet and there was a loud "Bamf" as Kurt teleported outside the Jet. The others walked out of the jet warily. It was getting dark and the many trees cast long shadows.

"Fan out" said Storm quietly "and be careful" the X-men slowly began to move apart. Suddenly they heard a wordless scream from in the trees and young woman, maybe early twenties, stepped from the enclosing shadows of the birch trees. Logan, Scott and Kurt looked away, her shirt hung from her body in torn pieces.

Storm stepped forwards, her hand spread wide in the universal sign of peace,

"We don't want to hurt you. We just want to talk" Storm's voice was gentle. The woman said nothing but gestured violently to her right. Storm went flying, her body hitting a tree and crumpling to the ground.

"Ororo!" Wolverine called. When she didn't answer he turned to the young woman. "You'll pay for that," he said, his claws coming out. He snarled as he leaped at her. Her hand came up, stopping him in mid-air. The woman was sobbing, her face streaked with tears.

"Where is he? He can help me! Where is he?" Her voice was rising becoming louder and more angry. "Is he dead?" Her voice was hysterical. "Did you kill him?" Her hand shoved forwards throwing Wolverine into the X-jet with a thump.

Scott's blast hit her hard, knocking her to her knees and apparently her senses. She held her face in her hands and the X-men could hear the sounds of sobbing. She raised her head, the tears finally drying up.

" I'm so sorry," she sobbed "I can't control it! So angry…" Jean crouched next to the woman.

"Whatever it is we can help you! Teach you control it!" Jean rested her hand on the woman's shoulder. The woman flinched at the touch. She reached up and removed Jean's hand.

"Don't," She said quietly "I…" She threw her head back and screamed as something ripped itself from her body. At first the X-men couldn't see it but they could feel it. Slowly it became more real forming into a body. It was the woman but without the tears and with a kind smile.

"Hello" It said kindly when it noticed the X-men "My name's Catherine"