X-Men: Alpha

Episode III

The Anti-Mutants

Part One

Roberto had been told not to trust Americans.

He should have listened.

He hadn't even been in the country for a week before he ended up in this predicament.

The Brazilian native ran around the corner of a barricade and stopped to catch his breath. He had to get away from that thing. No matter where he hid, it found him.

He didn't understand why this was happening to him. He had never done anything to anyone.

Suddenly, an explosion rocked the barricade and debris began to fall. Roberto was able to narrowly avoid being buried.

As he lifted his head from the ground, he found himself covered in a massive shadow. It towered over him, it's glowing yellow eyes regarded him without conscience.

Roberto had to act quickly or die. He knew he had the power to save himself, but he had not yet learned to control it.

As the behemoth moved toward him, he reached inside himself and summoned forth all the mutant might he could muster.

Power swept over Roberto as his skin turned black and an orange aura surrounded him. Floating into the air, he was level with the monstrosity's chest.

With a thundering cry, Roberto unleashed a massive burst of solar energy. The attacked plowed into his target, causing a bright flash of light.

The mutant averted his eyes to avoid the flash. When he finally surveyed his damage...

...he found none.

His massive pursuer was seemingly unaffected by the attack.

"Mae holy de deus!" He exclaimed in his native Portugese.

The mutant was so shocked at the futility of his strike that he paid no mind to the large metallic arm that rose and pointed directly at him.

He only stared as a golden light emanated from the palm of his foe. Then, a massive beam of energy shot forward and consumed him.

Roberto da Costa was no more.

-X-

Cold eyes observed the mutant's death on a video screen. The middle-aged man jotted down notes on a small notepad.

"Another impressive test." He said aloud as he adjusted his glasses.

"You think so, do you?"

The voice from behind startled him. He quickly spun around.

"Oh! Colonel! I...I didn't know you were here. Yes, sir. I think the test went perfectly."

The 'Colonel' was flanked by two men with rifles. He seemed unimpressed.

"Perfectly? How could it have not? That mutant was little more then a panicky amateur. He had no idea what he was doing. Just like all of the mutants before him."

"Colonel, with all due respect, you're the one providing the subjects."

"That are tracked down with your equipment. Regardless, I'm tired of wasting my time and resources. You have yet to give me one convincing test against a skilled mutant. This project is finished, Professor."

The 'Professor' rose from his seat. "Wait. There are powerful mutants in this city."

"What the hell makes you so sure?"

The 'Professor' picked up a newspaper from a nearby desk and handed it to the 'Colonel'.

"Perhaps you have heard of an incident that took place at City Hall recently."

-X-

Jean paced back and forth in the school's library. Several students buzzed about looking for books of all kinds.

"He hasn't spoken to me in days. He hasn't called me either. Do you want to know why he hasn't called me?"

Storm sat at a nearby table, rubbing her temples in irritation. "Not particularly."

"Because he doesn't have my number! He has never once asked for my number!"

Storm looked to the entrance of the library to see Peter walking in. He immediately took note of the two of them and headed their way.

"Thank God." She thought. "As soon as he sits down, I'm out of here."

Peter made his way through the busy library. He smiled broadly as he came up behind Jean...

"Why is Duncan acting this way, 'Ro?!"

...and then turned right back around.

Storm shook her head as the Russian walked away.

"Ro? I asked you a question!"

"Jean, sit down." Ororo took a deep breath as her teammate complied. "We're friends, right?"

"Of course."

"Practically sisters, right?"

"Absolutely."

"Forget about Duncan."

"What?!"

"Jean, it has been made abundantly clear that he is not as interested in you as you are in him. You're a great catch. You deserve a guy who can't even fathom the idea of being away from you for days."

"Well, I just..."

A bell rang indicating that it was time to go to their next class.

"Look, Jean, just do what you feel is right." Storm quickly grabbed her things and made for the door. "Oh, and good luck with the try-outs."

"Thanks." Jean slowly gathered her things. Just then, her eyes widened as realization struck. "The try-outs! Duncan would definitely want to go out with me if I were a cheerleader!"

Jean quickly shoved the rest of her things into her backpack and ran out of the library.

-X-

"Alright everyone, settle down." The school's cheer coach was trying to gain some order in the gymnasium.

Dozens of students had gathered earlier. Some to try-out, others to cheer for friends, and a few perverts who just wanted to watch hot girls jump around. They disappeared as soon as the try-outs had ended.

Jean sat to the side of the gym. She dabbed sweat off of her face. A bottle of water suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Here you go, Jean."

She looked up to see her reflection in Scott's red glasses.

"Scott! I didn't know you were here."

"Well, somebody had to be. The others thought that if you had wanted us here you would have said so. I thought that you shouldn't have to say so. Nonetheless, I'm the only one who showed."

"Well, thank you."

"Don't mention it. You were great. I guess all of those sessions back at the Institute can keep a person in great shape."

"Yea. I didn't do as well as I had hoped."

"Don't worry. You were a lot better than some of the girls."

"I guess so. You didn't happen to see Duncan around, did you?"

Scott sighed. "No. I guess he had other things to do."

"Oh."

"Alright, everyone." The cheer coach walked to the center of the gym. "If I call your name, it means you made the squad."

Jean stood and stepped toward the center, but didn't care to fight her way through the mob. Scott followed alongside her.

"Ok, here we go. Marge Evans, Lisa Dennis, Maggie Morgan, Patty Doane, Selma Paulson, Sherry Andrews, Terri Drew, and Jean Grey."

"Oh my God!! I did it! I'm on the squad!" Jean jumped up and down and then into Scott's arms.

"Congratulations!" Scott hugged her and hoped the moment might last.

Wishful thinking.

"Hey, Jean."

Scott released his embrace so that Jean could turn around to face Duncan.

"Oh. Hi, Duncan."

"Congratz on making the cheer squad."

"Thank you."

"Listen, you free tomorrow night?"

"Sure."

"Cool. We're going out." Scott noticed that was more of a statement than a request.

"Ok."

Duncan nodded and then walked away.

"Uh, Jean. Didn't that seem a little peculiar."

"What do you mean?"

Well, you don't hear from him for a while and then just as you become a cheerleader, he wants to go out again."

"No, Scott." Jean smirked as she watched Duncan leave. "That had never occurred to me."

-X-

"You made the squad?! That's great!" Kitty sat with Jean outside the Institute while Scott, Bobby, Peter and Storm played a game of basketball.

"And that's not even the best part. Duncan wants to see me again."

"Wow. What a day! Oh, oh, let's double! You and Duncan, me and Bobby. It'll be great!"

"I don't know, Kitty."

"Oh, come on. We can excuse ourselves and Bobby can tell you what Duncan says about you when you're not there."

"Really?"

"That's what double dates are for."

"Ok, then."

Kitty claps her hands. "Yay!"

"I really hope Duncan asks me to be his girlfriend. You know, Kitty, I've never had an actually boyfriend."

"Really? Oh, wow. Having a boyfriend is the best. You end up learning everything about them. For example, I know two words that cause Bobby to fly into a rage. Watch. Hey, Bobby!"

Bobby holds the ball and looks over. "Yeah, babe?"

"Johnny Damon."

"Hey, screw him!! He's nothing but a back-stabbing, sell-out, son of a...!!!"

"Bobby!" Scott interrupted. "You want to focus here? We're losing!"

"Well, of course we're losing! He's tall and she's black!"

A loud thunder crack echoed.

"Like I said, he's tall and she's talented."

-X-

Peter stepped up to the door and took a deep breath. The sounds of hard rock were barely audible through the wood. After making one last check to be sure he had wiped away all of the sweat from the game, he knocked.

It took a moment, but Rogue opened her door. "What?"

Peter noted that she did not sound as though she were pleased to be disturbed.

"I was just wondering if you would like to get something to eat. With me."

"Pass." Rogue shut the door.

Peter waited for a moment and then started to knock on the door again.

Just before his knuckles strike, he stopped himself.

If he was going to win Rogue over, he would have to do so slowly and patiently.

Just as he began to walk away, the door opened.

"Peter."

"Yes?"

"Look, I didn't mean to be rude. I just ain't hungry."

"That's alright, Rogue. We will do it some other time."

"Awright. See ya."

As Rogue closed her door again, Peter smiled.

Perhaps it wouldn't take so long after all.

-X-

"Of course our offensive line last year sucked, so I had to scramble, break a few tackles and scored the touchdown myself. I single-handedly sent us to the playoffs."

Jean and Kitty both smiled as Duncan finished his story. The quartet sat in a booth in a popular teen hangout. Bobby leaned back and stared at the ceiling. He looked incredibly bored.

"You were quite the hero. Right, Bobby." Kitty kicked her boyfriend's shin under the table.

"Ow! I mean, wow...you were like Superman."

"I did ok." Duncan noticed a few people across the room. "Hey, Jean, you want to meet a few friends of mine?"

"Yea, that would be great."

As the two got up and walked across the room, Kitty glared at Bobby. "I cannot believe how you're embarrassing me!"

"What the hell are you talkin about?"

"You've just been sitting there like a zombie!"

"Well, excuse me. I didn't want to do this!"

"We're here to help Jean. You need to be nice to Duncan."

"Like hell! I can't stand that guy! He just goes on and on about himself!"

"Well, just do it!"

"Hey, if you think I have nothing better to do than humor this jackass..."

Jean and Duncan returned to the table.

"...hey, you two, how did it go?"

Jean remained standing as Duncan sat down.

"Fine. Well, I going to step to the ladies room."

"I'll go too." Kitty jumped out of the booth and shot Bobby a hard glare. "Why don't you two chat."

As the girls left, Bobby and Duncan sat in silence.

Finally, Bobby spoke. "So, Jean is really great."

"Yea, she is. That Kitty is something. How long have you two been together?"

"About 7 months."

"Nice." Duncan glanced toward the rest rooms. "Listen, Drake. It's nothing personal, but could you and your girl take off?"

Bobby immediately perked up. "Why, yes! Yes we can!"

"Good."

"Great!"

"Ok, boys, we're back."

"That's great, babe, cause we've gotta go."

"What?!"

"I think I'm coming down with something."

"But..."

"No time for buts, Kitty, let's go." Bobby practically pushed Kitty out of the restaurant.

"Well, thanks for coming, you guys."

"Hey, don't sweat it, Jean. You know how into you we are. We're your friends because we're into you."

Jean smiled happily as she caught Bobby's message. 'Thank you', she mouthed.

Bobby winked to her as he stepped out.

-X-

Outside, Kitty glared at Bobby. Her face quickly turning a beet red. "I...cannot...believe you!!"

"Hey, cool your jets. Duncan asked for us to leave. He wants to be alone with Jean."

"Oh, right, like I'm supposed to believe that!"

"Are you saying I'm lying?"

"Like it would be the first time!"

"Listen up, babe! If I just wanted to up and leave, I wouldn't have to lie! I'd just do it!"

"Oh, of course! Because God forbid Bobby Drake ever do anything that didn't benefit him!"

"Man, screw this! I'm not gonna stand here and listen to you rant about what a horrible person I am!" He turned and walked away.

"Fine, jerk!" Kitty turned and walked the opposite direction.

-X-

"Colonel. We have a target."

The Colonel stepped over to the video screen that his subordinate was watching. "That girl?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, pick her up."

"Yes sir."

-X-

Kitty's head had always been quick to cool. She was already regretting some of the things she had said.

He could have been telling the truth. And he was certainly right about Duncan being in love with himself.

She was so lost in thought, that she didn't notice the man walking behind her that was slowly but surely etching closer and closer.

Suddenly, a man popped out of the alley in front of her. Though surprised, Kitty was able to notice the gun he held. The man aimed and fired.

A dart shot from the gun, passed through Kitty and hit the man behind her. She turned to see him collapse.

As she turned back, the first man tried to grab her. Shadowcat phased through him an kept running.

As she reached the corner, a black van came to a screeching halt in front of her. Kitty quickly doubled back and ran through the wall of the building on the corner.

Once inside, Kitty hid under a desk and pulled her cell phone out of her purse. "Bobby...Bobby...Bobby" She found the correct name in her phone book and made the call.

-X-

Bobby walked down the street at a brisk pace.

"Who the hell does she think she is talking to me like that?!"

Suddenly, his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and saw it was Kitty.

"Oh, I see! I'm supposed to just get over it, huh?! She probably needs help getting a cab! Sorry, babe,..."

He shoved the phone back in his pocket.

"...I don't see how that benefits me."

-X-

"Hey, this is Bobby. I'm busy or whatever so..."

"Oh, for God's sake, Bobby, answer the phone! Please!"

"She's over there!!"

Kitty saw two men with guns heading her way. She ran from her hiding spot and darted through the wall.

She exited into a walled off area. She could go through them easily, but her attackers could not. She had a few moments.

"Scott! I'll call Scott!" Kitty fumbled with her phone but found Scott's number.

Just as the phone began to ring, something hit the ground nearby. She didn't know what it was, but she phased anyway just to be safe.

The object emitted a shrill piercing sound. Kitty tossed her phone aside so she could cover her ears. The noise made it impossible to concentrate.

She didn't even notice that she was no longer phased...

...or alone.

One of her pursuers stepped up behind her and struck her in the back of the head with the butt of his pistol.

Shadowcat fell to the ground, unconscious.

-X-

"Aahhh!!" Scott threw his cell phone across the kitchen. Rogue was barely able to avoid it as she stepped in.

"Hey! Watch where yer throwin' things!"

"Sorry." Scott shook his head. "Damn cell phones!"

"What happened?"

"Kitty called, but when I picked up all I heard was this loud shriek." Scott walked over to his phone and picked it up. "Must have been interference or something."

He dialed his phone to call Kitty.

"Hiya! You've reached Kitty's phone. Leave me a message. Bye-bye!"

"Now she's not going to answer."

Rogue munched on a few chips. "Must notta been too important."

"I guess not."

-X-

Duncan and Jean pulled up in front of the Institute. The two stepped out and walked to the door.

"Nice place. Kind of far from the school isn't it?"

"Yea, but the scenery is worth it."

"Yea, it's nice. So listen, Jean."

"Yes?"

"I think I could see you being my girl."

Jean smiled broadly. "Really? Me too."

"Ok, then. Your officially my girl."

Duncan leaned in and kissed her.

-X-

"Hiya! You've reached Kitty's phone. Leave me a message. Bye-bye!"

"Hmm." Scott closed his phone again.

Storm looked up from her homework. "Will you give it a rest. She and Bobby are probably just making out or something."

"Why would she call me and then not answer when I try and call her back?"

Rogue tossed a wadded up piece of paper into a trash can. "Maybe her cell phones busted."

"Maybe."

The front door opened and Jean entered. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it. She released a content sigh.

Storm smiled. "Ok. Out with it. What happened on your date?"

"Excuse me. I think I'd rather go stare at a wall er somethin." Rogue rose from the table and left.

"Duncan just kissed me."

Storm glanced over at Scott. "Well, that's great, Jean."

"Also, I'm now officially his girlfriend."

"Congratulations."

Scott sat down in the chair Rogue had occupied. "Wait a minute. It was peculiar enough when he wanted to go out again after you became a cheerleader. Now he finally decides your good enough to be his girlfriend after you became a cheerleader."

"Scott." Storm held a finger to her lips.

"What are you saying, Scott? That the only reason Duncan is my boyfriend is because I'm a cheerleader?"

"No. I don't know that. I'm just telling you how it appears to someone on the outside."

"Look, Scott, Duncan could have any girl at that school..."

"Not any." Storm interjected.

"...but he chose me. Not because I'm a cheerleader, but because he likes me."

"Ok, fine. I'm sorry I brought it up."

Storm interjected again. "So were Kitty and Bobby helpful?"

"While they were there, yea."

"What? Did they leave?"

"Yes. They made quite a scene outside."

"What did they do?" Scott asked.

"They had a fight."

Storm looked to Scott. "Well, there you go. Kitty and Bobby are making up. That's why she's not answering her phone."

"I suppose that is the logical explanation."

The front door opened again and Bobby walked through. "Hey, guys."

Jean hopped out of her chair. "Thanks for being there tonight, Bobby. Duncan asked me to be his girlfriend!"

"Hey, that's great." Bobby's response was subdued. "Well, I suppose Kitty has already told everyone what a jackass I am."

"Actually," Scott began, "we thought she was with you."

"She's not here?"

"If she was, I hardly think we would expect her to be with you."

"Scott, what do we do?" Jean asked.

"Storm, you go upstairs and get Rogue and Peter. Jean, contact the professor and bring him up to speed. Bobby, you and I are going to see Dr. McCoy."

The team disbursed and saw to their duties.

-X-

The X-Men, minus one, gathered in Professor Xavier's study.

"I'm afraid whatever has happened to Kitty, I can't find her using Cerebro."

"What does that mean, Professor?" Cyclops asked.

"It means that she is either being held in a place shielded from telepathic intrusion, or she is...dead."

"Hey! That's not funny!"

"Indeed it isn't, Bobby. It is, nonetheless, a possibility."

"Why the hell didn't you sense something was happening to her, like you did with Storm?"

"I cannot control my psychic flashes. Sometimes they happen, sometimes they don't. Dr. McCoy is trying to triangulate Kitty's location when she called Scott."

"What do we do till then?" asked Colossus.

"We try and figure out who would have reason to kidnap Kitty."

"Not to mention the means to imprison her." Storm added. "She can walk through walls, after all."

"True. We must do some research and determine who would have the cause and the means to do this."

"What about some ah them hate groups?"

"That's a good start, Rogue. Tomorrow at school, keep your eyes and ears open. See if any of your fellow students has a problem with mutants."

"In my government class, they said that people have tried to have laws passed to hunt down mutants. We could look into that."

"Excellent, Jean."

Dr. McCoy busted into the room. "I have a location."

-X-

Scott looked around the building. He, Storm and Dr. McCoy had arrived and found that someone had already broken in earlier that evening.

He made his way out of the building to a walled off area. Something on the ground caught his eye.

He walked over and picked up a pink and silver cell phone.

Kitty's cell phone.

However, he did not see finding the phone as a good thing.

All it did was confirm their fears, and did absolutely nothing to help them find her or her captors.