This is a prelude to Strategy X (Season 1, Episode 1) and features a character I made up: Leanne Tyler. I don't own X-Men, even though I want to. The only things I own that are involved in this fanfic are:

the plot
Leanne
my laptop

or, in other words, not a lot.

If you're wondering why Leanne is also in 'Birds of a Feather' by Twilight and pokemon queen, it's because Lyndz is a friend from school

How and why Leanne is in Jump City and Bayville at the same time will be explained eventually (we're doing a TT-Evo x-over)

This is a re-write of the original, I'm very sorry if your review got deleted along with the old story but I decided that just messing with the chapters wasn't enough and a new start was in order. Again, I am very sorry.

The rather grubby girl walked up to the gates of the Xavier Institute and looked over the lawns to see a tall, dark-skinned, white-haired woman apparently throwing lightening bolts at a boy with a wearing pair of sunglasses and a girl with long, red hair - both of whom were dodging them with surprising accuracy, all three wearing bizarre costumes made of some sort of tight material. It seemed familiar, oddly familiar. Leanne was pondering this, watching through the iron bars until the red-haired girl looked right at her. There was a tense moment as Leanne gasped, quickly kicking her powers into action, vanishing from view. The girl looked away again, her mouth framing inaudible words to the boy and woman and the trio went inside the gigantic mansion. Once she was sure that the coast was clear, she began to scale the wall around the Institute, taking a very small amount of time to do so. The low rumble of an engine sounded behind her, and Leanne, still invisible, looked over her shoulder before she dropped over the other side of the wall and saw a man in a strange orange suit made of the same material that the white-haired woman and the two teenagers' costumes were made of, riding towards the mansion on a motorcycle. Leanne let go of the wall and landed lightly on the other side, not noticing the man's ears pick up at the slight thud of her feet landing on the grass. Seconds later, the gate just a couple of metres to her right opened and the orange-suited man rode through and up to the mansion. Leanne ran towards the mansion, overtaking him by a long shot but remaining unnoticed, or so she thought. She stopped just before the steps leading up to a set of double doors. Taking a deep breath, Leanne pushed them open and walked into the foyer.

Scott and Jean were sitting in the Professor's study, waiting. Finally, the Professor wheeled into the room. "Scott, Jean, Cerebro has picked up a new mutant, one that is using its powers right now," he explained.

"Well?" Jean began, "Why do you look so concerned?"

The Professor took a deep breath. "It - she's - inside the mansion right now."

Scott's forehead creased into a frown. "How did she get past the security?"

"I deactivated the security systems. Logan is arriving-"

The door opened and Wolverine walked in.

"Now?" Jean finished.

Logan merely grunted as greeting to the teenagers before turning his attention to Charles. "Someone's here, Chuck," he said urgently to the Professor, "I smelled 'em in the foyer."

"I know, Logan. Cerebro already detected them."

"We can go and find them, Professor," Scott offered.

Jean nodded in agreement.

"It's okay, Scott. She's right outside the door."

The door swung open, revealing an apparently empty hallway.

"Are you sure she's out there, Professor?"

"I'm here," a quiet, English-accented voice said. "How did you know?"

"I am a telepath, I could sense your brainwaves, my dear. Logan, here, could smell you."

Jean looked interested. "You can make yourself invisible?" she asked the hallway.

"Among other things," Leanne said, reappearing, "I can pretty much control my powers, though. I wouldn't be here if not for... what happened."

"Jean, will you show you to your room. What's your name, my dear?" the Professor asked Leanne.

"You couldn't read my mind to find it?" She was becoming more confident (her sarcasm showed it), her super-computer-like brain analysing everyone.

"I make a point not to invade others' minds without their permission."

"It's Lea-Ailsa. Ailsa... Rhodes," Leanne said.

"Very well. Jean, will you please show Ailsa to her room?"

Jean nodded but Ailsa didn't look too happy.

"If you just tell me where it is I can find it myself," she said, all traces shyness completely gone from her voice.

"It's a bit difficult to nav-" Jean started, but Ailsa interrupted.

"I don't need help! I can do things on my own! I've done it on the streets for the past two years!"

Jean looked pointedly at the Professor. He nodded to Ailsa. "Up one floor, third door on the left."

Ailsa turned on her heel and walked towards the stairs, leaving Scott and Jean's bemused expressions staring after her.

Almost an hour later, Jean stuck her head around Ailsa's door. "Hey!"

Ailsa, who was lying on her bed with her legs leaning against the wall, looked up from the book she was reading, raised her eyebrows in acknowledgement and went back to reading.

"You like books?" Jean asked, desperately trying to make conversation with the new girl.

"Get lost," Ailsa said shortly.

"Look, I know the transition is difficult, I've been through it myself, but at least try to make friends. It'll be easier that way."

"I said get lost."

Jean sighed. "I'm just along the corridor if you want to talk."

Ailsa merely pointed to the door without even looking up.

"Okay, I get the message. The Professor asked me to let you know that you start at Bayville Middle School tomorrow. Don't worry though, I'm sure you'll make loads of friends and you'll be at Bayville High with me and Scott next year!"

Ailsa dropped her book, rolled onto her stomach and stared at Jean. "I can't go back to school." There was a tone of genuine panic in her voice now.

"Why not?"

"I - I just can't! NOW LEAVE. ME. ALONE!"

Jean backed out of the room, hearing what sounded like a muffled sob before the door clicked shut.