A/N: If this seems familiar it is because I'm using an idea that the author known as Vine has started and am using with permission.

Disclaimer: I do not own X-men: Evolution, any of the characters and/or settings and anything I have not come up with myself.

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Heightened Ability Virus; it's only a virus in the same sense as Autism or Cystic Fibrosis. Yet, it is something for which a person can be arrested for, which is how I, Dennis Cooper, ended up in a special holding cell.

Because some people with HAV have destructive abilities which can be harmful to the public at large, the government decided that the best option was to take all the people with HAV and hold them in special "controlled environments." Of course these people were still citizens and as such they would only be arrested if they were a threat to the public; this meant you were safe so long as the carrier stayed in their home at all times. Unfortunately, some carriers don't even know they have HAV until a random sweep team comes along and scans them. This is how I was 'caught.'

Now I'm awaiting a trial, although why they put up the charade I didn't know, because the moment someone tested positive for HAV they were guilty. While my parents are supportive, they have their own problems to deal with, including a failing business and grandparents that wanted my parents to disown me; so while I didn't see them often, he at least knew they weren't against me.

What sucked though, was that I'm a c-0, which means I'm HAV positive, but the gene isn't active, in other words, no powers. That's right, I get arrested, put in a special holding cell, and am about to be sent away for life, with no compensation. I wouldn't mind turning blue and fuzzy if it meant I get something for having my life taken away, but I get nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

I've serious doubts about my court appointed lawyer, I think he gets depressed about all these HAV cases. I feel for the man, I really do; he loses every single time, and in all honesty, there isn't a thing he can do.

So, day after day, awaiting my 'trial' I've yet to get to know some of my fellow inmates, mostly because they're dealing with problems of their own. The girl in the cell next to mine has been screaming at the top of her lungs, or so I gather, but I'm not sure because her cell is sound proof, probably something to do with her powers. I've tried to communicate with her but it isn't working.

The guy across from me is a big guy, a very big guy. I think he said his name was Fred, and he seems a nice enough guy, but I can tell that the place is getting to him. If it weren't for the neutralizing cuffs, he'd probably be able to bust through the wall, and would in a heart beat. My last neighbor doesn't seem to speak a word of English, or at all. I've tried to talk with him but all I get is staring. He's an even bigger mystery then the girl.

It was during one of many conversations I've had with Fred, because talking about anything gets my mind off of being in these cells, when I noticed something.

"Hey, Fred" I interrupted him.

"Yeah?" In the following silence I strained to listen, "What is it Cooper?"

"Do you hear that?"

Fred strained to listen, but after a moment looked confused, and I know he doesn't like to be confused, "I don't hear anything."

"I know, it's quieter like something's…been …turned…" I realized what was missing, the hum of the neutralizing cuffs. "Fred bust us outta here."

"With pleasure." With a mighty heave he knocked open his cell. When the girl saw this she smiled, took a deep breath and screamed again, this time there was a difference; her cell started shaking then exploded outward. Everyone caught on and the jail brake was in full swing, but just as Fred was about to open my cell, all hell broke loose.