Title: The Edge
Author: Pinkbishie
Email: feelingpink@alloymail.com
Rating: PG-13
Summary: AU of X-Men Evolution team as teenage spies
Note:
I've revised parts of the story a bit. Simple things really, no major changes in the
plot. A few characters have been discarded and if you want some mutant power action, go
watch the cartoon.
----------------------------------------------------------------
((Kitty))
Lunch at Bayville's high school was something close to Chinese Water torture. Kitty
Pryde stared at the cafeteria food suspiciously, as if she expected it to move at any given
moment. With a sigh, she pushed the tray across the table and glanced up, instantly
regretting it and losing her appetite at the same time.
Todd Tolanski sat only a few tables away, indulging in a Sloppy Joe. Bits of meat and other
forgein substances went flying out of his mouth and showered the plate in front of him.
He wasn't nicknamed 'Todd the Toad' for nothing.
Kitty pointed in his direction with a plastic fork, "Is *that* what a teenage assassin looks
like to you?"
Jean Grey sat next to her in neatly pressed cargo pants and a faded pink t-shirt. Her red
hair rested neatly on her shoulders like a sort of flaming veil. It sometimes made Kitty
sick how undeniably beautiful she was without even trying.
Jean nibbled the edge of a tidy looking sandwich, "Hmm, Scott would have a fit if he
heard you say the 'a' word at school."
Kitty only rolled her eyes, dropping the fork onto the table with a plastic thwap. She
looked at Tony again who was busily slurping a soda. She wrinkled her nose in disgust,
"If the great scheme doesn't kill off everyone, his personal hygiene will."
Jean continued as if she hadn't heard her, "Besides, he's the best lead we've had in
weeks. You should be grateful he's such a screw-up."
Kitty didn't nod but she definitely agreed. Jean did have a point. It had taken so long to
get some good solid evidence against the rumored 'teenage assassins' that she was
starting to think of other forms of employment. Kitty tilted her head in thought. Funny,
only 16 and thinking about the next gig.
She'd been with this particular department of the CIA for only a few months after having
been caught for computer fraud. Computers were never her speciality anyways. The CIA offered
her a deal. Service in substitution for punishment. She'd often like to think of it as
community service. In a way it was true, her jobs always involved protecting the ignorant.
She didn't mind so much, after all, she'd only been protecting herself up until the
world of espionage was introduced to her.
Kitty sighed, absently twisting a brown bang on a finger. She often found herself
daydreaming about a regular life where she'd be crammed with homework and
reapplying nail polish on a Thursday night. Or maybe she'd be grounded for having gone
out too late with a date. Instead, she went to the same "dorm" every day for briefing with
other young recruits just like her.
She couldn't really call where she lived a home, but then again, she couldn't really
remember what a home was like. Her parents had died at an early age leaving her
penniless, homeless and practically worthless. Tiring from the orphanage routine, she
took matters into her own hands. It's amazing what one can learn and do with access to a
computer.
The bell ran loudly, jerking Kitty from her thoughts and snapping her into focus.
"Calculus is next for me." Jean said, slinging a gray Old Navy pack over her shoulder.
Kitty offered a sympathetic look. Calculus was hell and a half. Even the online courses
couldn't fool Kitty into thinking she could actually understand the stuff. At least she
didn't have to worry about it for another year. Being a sophomore did have its quirks.
((Kurt))
Kurt Wagner came to a skidded halt in front of Bayville High School's double doors.
Late again. If there were one thing he could be relied on, it would be his unreliability. He
bounded up the stairs and all but barreled into his Anatomy class.
"I'm glad you could join us Mr. Wagner."
"My pleasure." Kurt mumbled, his German accent light.
Spotting Kitty in a seat near the window, he grinned and dropped his things in the empty
seat behind her. There was nothing he enjoyed more than sitting in Anatomy class for 90
minutes staring at the back of Kitty Pryde's head. Although, having her actually turn
around would be pretty nice too.
Ever since Kitty was recruited into the little kiddie spy team the CIA put together, Kurt
had been pursuing her relentlessly. He leaned back, smiling at her hair. Yup, she was his,
she just didn't know it yet.
He'd read up on her past activities to discover she was nabbed for a computer crime. It
sparked an interest he hadn't known existed for the cute girl with the brown done-up hair.
Everyone in the team had a trick of the trade and computers were definitely his territory.
Although he probably would kill for Kitty's skills as a martial arts thief any day.
Kurt sighed, running a hand through his dark, unruly hair. Was that a split end in Kitty's
perfect ponytail?
Brown hair whipped about and Kitty's face appeared, "Look dude, I don't cut. I don't
dissect and I don't wear the snappy latex gloves."
Kurt blinked. Obviously he had missed a large part of some conversation, "Huh?"
"We're dissecting a pig," She replied, wrinkling her button nose, "And you're my lab
partner."
He grinned like an idiot and she snorted at his expression, "Don't get excited. It's bad
enough we have to put up with this high school kid thing."
"But, Kitty, we are high school kids."
She turned around, "Whatever. Technicalities."
Kurt smiled but he knew what she meant. It felt more than awkward to wander around
pretending to be just another struggling student than an undercover agent. Before the CIA
approached him, he hadn't even imagined that his computer skills would ever take him
this far. Still, it was nice catching up on a part of life he would have probably passed by
without a second thought. He had a job to do, but he was going to enjoy being 17 while
he could.
For a fleeting moment, he thought of his parents and Germany. The small apartment
building with the leaking roof and the rotting plaster. He missed them but he knew he'd
never be able to return to that life. Besides, he was wanted in Germany for more serious
computer crimes than Kitty could ever pull off by accident. Discreetly, he always set
money aside from his pay-offs to send to Germany. It was an anonymous transfer, but he
felt his family knew exactly where it was coming from. He didn't expect them to be
proud, but his intentions were good. Besides, he was always the good guy in every job.
((Scott))
Scott Summers pulled his red shades from the collar of his shirt and slid them on easily.
He scanned the campus for his teammates as well as their current lead, Todd Tolanski.
After being briefed that morning, Scott figured Todd was a sloppy character hardly
worthy of becoming anything more than an underdog. A messenger boy, maybe. They
still had no idea what Todd's role was in anything. The only thing they were running on
was a few suspicions.
"Hey Scott." Jean greeted with a smile. She looked beautiful as usual.
"Hi Jean." Before he could ask, she interrupted him.
"Yes, Kitty and I tracked him at lunch. He was in the middle of a covert meeting with a
Sloppy Joe." Jean smirked, "Sir."
Scott nodded, "I just don't get it. If he's running errands for anyone, he's not doing it at
school."
Jean shrugged, "We'll just have to wait it out."
Kitty appeared through the crowd of students with Kurt trailing behind her.
"Hey guys." She said brightly.
"Any news?" Scott asked as they began walking.
"Todd wasn't in 4th period today."
"Where did he go?"
Kitty lifted a shoulder, "No idea, I was about to look for him when the teacher hassled me
in for being late."
Scott frowned.
"Maybe he was doing the world a favor by taking a shower." She muttered, ignoring
Kurt's bark of laughter.
"The Professor isn't going to like this."
"Relax, Scott." Jean said, smoothly, "At least we have a lead."
They turned the corner, entering downtown Bayville. The streets seemed to roar and
screech with the sounds of cars and people darting between the traffic. Scott loved the
hustle and bustle of it all. It made him feel as if the world were turning and things were
getting done. Accomplished. People were selling and buying. Cars were pulling in and
away from the curbs. The world was turning according to life in Bayville.
It made him think of his father, who was a CIA agent killed in action just before Scott's
12th birthday. His dad always had strange philosophies about life that constantly changed
every time Scott questioned him about it.
Look around and observe. What you see, hear, smell and feel will remind you that you're
still living.
Scott had always thought that was strange advice. He never understood how people could
forget they were alive in the first place. Breathing was an involuntary thing. You couldn't
stop it without trying.
"Are you all right?" Jean asked, her brow wrinkling in concern.
"Yeah, just thinking about things."
He hadn't even noticed that they had left the busy main streets of the city and heading up
an ally dotted with family owned resturaunts and quickie marts.
She nodded and said nothing else. Scott stared at her for a moment and wondered what
she would say if he invited her out for a date.
((Jean))
Jean Grey studied Scott's profile while she nibbled on a piece of pepperoni. Kurt had
suggested they stop at Jono's Pizza Parlor for a bite to eat before heading back to work.
It seemed a little funny, coming to work after a day at school. Wasn't it the same thing?
She and Scott had been the first ones recruited into the CIA's new team of young
operatives. The mission was simple; Bayville High School was under strict surveillance
for a new kind of threat. Assassins as young as her, posing as students and setting up
hits for some of the most influential people in the united states. Maybe even the world.
But for what? And who was planning all this?
Jean sipped what remained of her watered down coke, focusing on Scott. She could
worry about work once she got there. Right now, there was a handsome guy before her
and a delicious half-eaten pizza under her nose. She wondered when Scott would
summon up the nerve to ask her on a date.
"Hey Kitty, are you going to finish that?" Kurt asked, looking at her extra slice.
Kitty rolled her eyes and pushed it over to him, "Who invited him again?"
Kurt only smiled and shoved half the pizza in his mouth.
Scott sat back in his seat, "All right. So what do we know so far?"
"That Todd's a disgusting toad and I'd be surprised if he even knew how to spell CIA."
Kitty replied.
Jean rested her chin in her hand, "Well, we know he skips class often and and is constantly
transferring boxes and envelopes in and out of his lockers. His homelife is unstable and
I doubt his family even knows he's alive. He's definately up to something and he has nothing
to lose."
Kurt wiped his mouth, "And we know he's not doing this alone. They're just smart
enough to stay out of sight."
"We follow the creep and we get more information." Kitty finished.
Jean looked at Scott for his response. He seemed to be in deep concentration before he
simply nodded and said, "That's not too bad for 2 weeks worth of watching and waiting."
Jean perked up. Two weeks? That reminded her of her parent's anniversary which was
coming up fast. She wondered how they were doing without her and felt a pang of
loneliness. They were under the false notion that she had moved to Westchester to attend
college there after her senior year in high school. She'd felt a little funny, lying to her
parents but once she had discovered the lives that could possibly be at stake Jean felt
justified in her decisions. She was practically changing the fate of the government, wasn't she?
At least, she was protecting what she could.
She was good at what she did, and what she did was help people even if they didn't know
they needed it.
((Professor X))
His real name was Xavier, but as far as the new recruits knew, he was to be addressed as
Agent X or Professor Charles. The mansion served as a dormitory for the agents and a warehouse
for all things espionage. Computer equipment, training rooms, and libraries were just a few
of many rooms the new agents had access to.
Xavier had a large amount of respect and confidence in his new team of co-ops. They
were young, enthusiastic, bright and resourceful.
"Kitty, I would like you to access Tolanski's locker and report anything of significance.
He may be careless but let's not assume that he's stupid as well."
They sat in a semi-circle in one of Xavier's large conference rooms that were furnished in
old English antiques and famous oil paintings.
Xavier wheeled around expertly, careful of the table corners and chair legs. He handed each
of the young agents a folder which contained Todd's full biography and photographs of
past acts linked with The Brotherhood. A mysterious organization with so many causes to fight for,
they had their own file in the CIA databanks.
"These are all photographs of attempts taken on Senator Kelly's life. Although all of these
incidents are unrelated to each other, this is proof that there is obviously a price on his life
and we have reason to believe that The Brotherhood is plotting a deliberate and percise
assassination.
Scott studied a photograph, "What for?"
Xavier smiled thinly, "This is politics, Scott. There's always a reason to kill someone running
for office."
The french oak doors swung open as Xavier's wife, Ororo Munroe, walked through. Her hair was pulled
away from her face in an elegant scarf that matched her ambient outfit. Xavier gazed at her warmly.
"If you are all done playing James Bond," She teased, "I've prepared dinner and it's waiting in the
dining room."
Xavier wheeled to where she stood and took her hand gently, placing a chaste kiss to her palm.
Ororo was also one of the CIA's top agents, fluent in 7 languages and in the process of learning two
more. He met and fell in love with the ebony goddess after being assigned to her drug smuggling case.
That was when he still had the use of his legs. Although he was fully aware of Ororo's sophistication,
he felt he had nothing to offer her after "the incident" and expected her to leave him. Ororo was
always full of surprises.
"Jean, I understand it's your parents aniversary." Xavier said, after finishing desert, "Would you
like to see them?"
Jean blinked a few times before responding, "Is that even possible?"
He thought for a minute and nodded, "I suppose I could arrange it, yes."
"I'm not sure." She replied, glancing around the table, "We are in the middle of an assignment."
"This weekend I'm sending Scott and Logan in for observation. You have two days."
Jean took a breath, "Thank you so much."
"Of course." It was imperative that the agents, at such an age, have a feel of familiarity and
normalcy as often as possible until they became of age to accept the strict rules of the game.
Besides, Xavier thought candidly, they've grown on me.
((Logan))
Logan sat hunched over a cold plate of stale fries and a burger. There were hardly any joints
around Bayville that served good liquor or a place away from teenagers.
He gritted his teeth. It seemed like everywhere he looked were kids and more kids. Even
Westchester was chalk full of them and here he was; a feared assassin hired by the CIA to baby-
sit 4 of them. He could've taken this mission as an insult but figured he could manipulate it
into a twisted vacation. A vacation where he had to constantly keep an eye on a couple of yuppies.
Logan grabbed some fries and shoved them into his mouth. Nope, he wasn't one to complain, but he
sure as hell wasn't going to spend every waking hour in the mansion with them.
He pulled a 20 from his pocket and threw it on the table, prepared to leave. A thick Brooklyn accent
made him pause and listen.
"C'mon Roguey, I know you need the money bad."
Logan cast a quick glance behind his right shoulder. Yep, the little punk Todd was only a few feet away.
Adjusting his jacket, Logan sat back down and strained to hear more.
A female voice, hard and traced with a southern accent replied, "Maybe. What do I need to do?"
"All you gotta do is take some packages down to Alphabet City and wait for the guy's call.
Ain't nothin' to it."
"Why can't you do it?" The girl replied, her tone resolute and unconvinced.
"Hey, I'm a busy guy. I've already got plenty to do. Besides, you know that crummy side of town
like the back of your hand."
"Packages, huh? Three grand is a lot for a couple of packages. What's it for?"
"You wanna know? Then you gotta say yes."
There was as stretch of silence until the girl asked, "Just wait at the phone booth?"
"That's all."
At that moment, the jukebox in the usually quiet diner flared up for a perky song, drowning
out the conversation going on behind him. Logan swore and got up to leave, but not before he got a
good look at Todd's new partner.
She was deathly pale, donning dark make-up and a grim almost bored expression. Her clothes seemed to match
her dark attitude. Two white strips of dyed hair interrupted the natural brown. Logan shook his head. Goths.
Author: Pinkbishie
Email: feelingpink@alloymail.com
Rating: PG-13
Summary: AU of X-Men Evolution team as teenage spies
Note:
I've revised parts of the story a bit. Simple things really, no major changes in the
plot. A few characters have been discarded and if you want some mutant power action, go
watch the cartoon.
----------------------------------------------------------------
((Kitty))
Lunch at Bayville's high school was something close to Chinese Water torture. Kitty
Pryde stared at the cafeteria food suspiciously, as if she expected it to move at any given
moment. With a sigh, she pushed the tray across the table and glanced up, instantly
regretting it and losing her appetite at the same time.
Todd Tolanski sat only a few tables away, indulging in a Sloppy Joe. Bits of meat and other
forgein substances went flying out of his mouth and showered the plate in front of him.
He wasn't nicknamed 'Todd the Toad' for nothing.
Kitty pointed in his direction with a plastic fork, "Is *that* what a teenage assassin looks
like to you?"
Jean Grey sat next to her in neatly pressed cargo pants and a faded pink t-shirt. Her red
hair rested neatly on her shoulders like a sort of flaming veil. It sometimes made Kitty
sick how undeniably beautiful she was without even trying.
Jean nibbled the edge of a tidy looking sandwich, "Hmm, Scott would have a fit if he
heard you say the 'a' word at school."
Kitty only rolled her eyes, dropping the fork onto the table with a plastic thwap. She
looked at Tony again who was busily slurping a soda. She wrinkled her nose in disgust,
"If the great scheme doesn't kill off everyone, his personal hygiene will."
Jean continued as if she hadn't heard her, "Besides, he's the best lead we've had in
weeks. You should be grateful he's such a screw-up."
Kitty didn't nod but she definitely agreed. Jean did have a point. It had taken so long to
get some good solid evidence against the rumored 'teenage assassins' that she was
starting to think of other forms of employment. Kitty tilted her head in thought. Funny,
only 16 and thinking about the next gig.
She'd been with this particular department of the CIA for only a few months after having
been caught for computer fraud. Computers were never her speciality anyways. The CIA offered
her a deal. Service in substitution for punishment. She'd often like to think of it as
community service. In a way it was true, her jobs always involved protecting the ignorant.
She didn't mind so much, after all, she'd only been protecting herself up until the
world of espionage was introduced to her.
Kitty sighed, absently twisting a brown bang on a finger. She often found herself
daydreaming about a regular life where she'd be crammed with homework and
reapplying nail polish on a Thursday night. Or maybe she'd be grounded for having gone
out too late with a date. Instead, she went to the same "dorm" every day for briefing with
other young recruits just like her.
She couldn't really call where she lived a home, but then again, she couldn't really
remember what a home was like. Her parents had died at an early age leaving her
penniless, homeless and practically worthless. Tiring from the orphanage routine, she
took matters into her own hands. It's amazing what one can learn and do with access to a
computer.
The bell ran loudly, jerking Kitty from her thoughts and snapping her into focus.
"Calculus is next for me." Jean said, slinging a gray Old Navy pack over her shoulder.
Kitty offered a sympathetic look. Calculus was hell and a half. Even the online courses
couldn't fool Kitty into thinking she could actually understand the stuff. At least she
didn't have to worry about it for another year. Being a sophomore did have its quirks.
((Kurt))
Kurt Wagner came to a skidded halt in front of Bayville High School's double doors.
Late again. If there were one thing he could be relied on, it would be his unreliability. He
bounded up the stairs and all but barreled into his Anatomy class.
"I'm glad you could join us Mr. Wagner."
"My pleasure." Kurt mumbled, his German accent light.
Spotting Kitty in a seat near the window, he grinned and dropped his things in the empty
seat behind her. There was nothing he enjoyed more than sitting in Anatomy class for 90
minutes staring at the back of Kitty Pryde's head. Although, having her actually turn
around would be pretty nice too.
Ever since Kitty was recruited into the little kiddie spy team the CIA put together, Kurt
had been pursuing her relentlessly. He leaned back, smiling at her hair. Yup, she was his,
she just didn't know it yet.
He'd read up on her past activities to discover she was nabbed for a computer crime. It
sparked an interest he hadn't known existed for the cute girl with the brown done-up hair.
Everyone in the team had a trick of the trade and computers were definitely his territory.
Although he probably would kill for Kitty's skills as a martial arts thief any day.
Kurt sighed, running a hand through his dark, unruly hair. Was that a split end in Kitty's
perfect ponytail?
Brown hair whipped about and Kitty's face appeared, "Look dude, I don't cut. I don't
dissect and I don't wear the snappy latex gloves."
Kurt blinked. Obviously he had missed a large part of some conversation, "Huh?"
"We're dissecting a pig," She replied, wrinkling her button nose, "And you're my lab
partner."
He grinned like an idiot and she snorted at his expression, "Don't get excited. It's bad
enough we have to put up with this high school kid thing."
"But, Kitty, we are high school kids."
She turned around, "Whatever. Technicalities."
Kurt smiled but he knew what she meant. It felt more than awkward to wander around
pretending to be just another struggling student than an undercover agent. Before the CIA
approached him, he hadn't even imagined that his computer skills would ever take him
this far. Still, it was nice catching up on a part of life he would have probably passed by
without a second thought. He had a job to do, but he was going to enjoy being 17 while
he could.
For a fleeting moment, he thought of his parents and Germany. The small apartment
building with the leaking roof and the rotting plaster. He missed them but he knew he'd
never be able to return to that life. Besides, he was wanted in Germany for more serious
computer crimes than Kitty could ever pull off by accident. Discreetly, he always set
money aside from his pay-offs to send to Germany. It was an anonymous transfer, but he
felt his family knew exactly where it was coming from. He didn't expect them to be
proud, but his intentions were good. Besides, he was always the good guy in every job.
((Scott))
Scott Summers pulled his red shades from the collar of his shirt and slid them on easily.
He scanned the campus for his teammates as well as their current lead, Todd Tolanski.
After being briefed that morning, Scott figured Todd was a sloppy character hardly
worthy of becoming anything more than an underdog. A messenger boy, maybe. They
still had no idea what Todd's role was in anything. The only thing they were running on
was a few suspicions.
"Hey Scott." Jean greeted with a smile. She looked beautiful as usual.
"Hi Jean." Before he could ask, she interrupted him.
"Yes, Kitty and I tracked him at lunch. He was in the middle of a covert meeting with a
Sloppy Joe." Jean smirked, "Sir."
Scott nodded, "I just don't get it. If he's running errands for anyone, he's not doing it at
school."
Jean shrugged, "We'll just have to wait it out."
Kitty appeared through the crowd of students with Kurt trailing behind her.
"Hey guys." She said brightly.
"Any news?" Scott asked as they began walking.
"Todd wasn't in 4th period today."
"Where did he go?"
Kitty lifted a shoulder, "No idea, I was about to look for him when the teacher hassled me
in for being late."
Scott frowned.
"Maybe he was doing the world a favor by taking a shower." She muttered, ignoring
Kurt's bark of laughter.
"The Professor isn't going to like this."
"Relax, Scott." Jean said, smoothly, "At least we have a lead."
They turned the corner, entering downtown Bayville. The streets seemed to roar and
screech with the sounds of cars and people darting between the traffic. Scott loved the
hustle and bustle of it all. It made him feel as if the world were turning and things were
getting done. Accomplished. People were selling and buying. Cars were pulling in and
away from the curbs. The world was turning according to life in Bayville.
It made him think of his father, who was a CIA agent killed in action just before Scott's
12th birthday. His dad always had strange philosophies about life that constantly changed
every time Scott questioned him about it.
Look around and observe. What you see, hear, smell and feel will remind you that you're
still living.
Scott had always thought that was strange advice. He never understood how people could
forget they were alive in the first place. Breathing was an involuntary thing. You couldn't
stop it without trying.
"Are you all right?" Jean asked, her brow wrinkling in concern.
"Yeah, just thinking about things."
He hadn't even noticed that they had left the busy main streets of the city and heading up
an ally dotted with family owned resturaunts and quickie marts.
She nodded and said nothing else. Scott stared at her for a moment and wondered what
she would say if he invited her out for a date.
((Jean))
Jean Grey studied Scott's profile while she nibbled on a piece of pepperoni. Kurt had
suggested they stop at Jono's Pizza Parlor for a bite to eat before heading back to work.
It seemed a little funny, coming to work after a day at school. Wasn't it the same thing?
She and Scott had been the first ones recruited into the CIA's new team of young
operatives. The mission was simple; Bayville High School was under strict surveillance
for a new kind of threat. Assassins as young as her, posing as students and setting up
hits for some of the most influential people in the united states. Maybe even the world.
But for what? And who was planning all this?
Jean sipped what remained of her watered down coke, focusing on Scott. She could
worry about work once she got there. Right now, there was a handsome guy before her
and a delicious half-eaten pizza under her nose. She wondered when Scott would
summon up the nerve to ask her on a date.
"Hey Kitty, are you going to finish that?" Kurt asked, looking at her extra slice.
Kitty rolled her eyes and pushed it over to him, "Who invited him again?"
Kurt only smiled and shoved half the pizza in his mouth.
Scott sat back in his seat, "All right. So what do we know so far?"
"That Todd's a disgusting toad and I'd be surprised if he even knew how to spell CIA."
Kitty replied.
Jean rested her chin in her hand, "Well, we know he skips class often and and is constantly
transferring boxes and envelopes in and out of his lockers. His homelife is unstable and
I doubt his family even knows he's alive. He's definately up to something and he has nothing
to lose."
Kurt wiped his mouth, "And we know he's not doing this alone. They're just smart
enough to stay out of sight."
"We follow the creep and we get more information." Kitty finished.
Jean looked at Scott for his response. He seemed to be in deep concentration before he
simply nodded and said, "That's not too bad for 2 weeks worth of watching and waiting."
Jean perked up. Two weeks? That reminded her of her parent's anniversary which was
coming up fast. She wondered how they were doing without her and felt a pang of
loneliness. They were under the false notion that she had moved to Westchester to attend
college there after her senior year in high school. She'd felt a little funny, lying to her
parents but once she had discovered the lives that could possibly be at stake Jean felt
justified in her decisions. She was practically changing the fate of the government, wasn't she?
At least, she was protecting what she could.
She was good at what she did, and what she did was help people even if they didn't know
they needed it.
((Professor X))
His real name was Xavier, but as far as the new recruits knew, he was to be addressed as
Agent X or Professor Charles. The mansion served as a dormitory for the agents and a warehouse
for all things espionage. Computer equipment, training rooms, and libraries were just a few
of many rooms the new agents had access to.
Xavier had a large amount of respect and confidence in his new team of co-ops. They
were young, enthusiastic, bright and resourceful.
"Kitty, I would like you to access Tolanski's locker and report anything of significance.
He may be careless but let's not assume that he's stupid as well."
They sat in a semi-circle in one of Xavier's large conference rooms that were furnished in
old English antiques and famous oil paintings.
Xavier wheeled around expertly, careful of the table corners and chair legs. He handed each
of the young agents a folder which contained Todd's full biography and photographs of
past acts linked with The Brotherhood. A mysterious organization with so many causes to fight for,
they had their own file in the CIA databanks.
"These are all photographs of attempts taken on Senator Kelly's life. Although all of these
incidents are unrelated to each other, this is proof that there is obviously a price on his life
and we have reason to believe that The Brotherhood is plotting a deliberate and percise
assassination.
Scott studied a photograph, "What for?"
Xavier smiled thinly, "This is politics, Scott. There's always a reason to kill someone running
for office."
The french oak doors swung open as Xavier's wife, Ororo Munroe, walked through. Her hair was pulled
away from her face in an elegant scarf that matched her ambient outfit. Xavier gazed at her warmly.
"If you are all done playing James Bond," She teased, "I've prepared dinner and it's waiting in the
dining room."
Xavier wheeled to where she stood and took her hand gently, placing a chaste kiss to her palm.
Ororo was also one of the CIA's top agents, fluent in 7 languages and in the process of learning two
more. He met and fell in love with the ebony goddess after being assigned to her drug smuggling case.
That was when he still had the use of his legs. Although he was fully aware of Ororo's sophistication,
he felt he had nothing to offer her after "the incident" and expected her to leave him. Ororo was
always full of surprises.
"Jean, I understand it's your parents aniversary." Xavier said, after finishing desert, "Would you
like to see them?"
Jean blinked a few times before responding, "Is that even possible?"
He thought for a minute and nodded, "I suppose I could arrange it, yes."
"I'm not sure." She replied, glancing around the table, "We are in the middle of an assignment."
"This weekend I'm sending Scott and Logan in for observation. You have two days."
Jean took a breath, "Thank you so much."
"Of course." It was imperative that the agents, at such an age, have a feel of familiarity and
normalcy as often as possible until they became of age to accept the strict rules of the game.
Besides, Xavier thought candidly, they've grown on me.
((Logan))
Logan sat hunched over a cold plate of stale fries and a burger. There were hardly any joints
around Bayville that served good liquor or a place away from teenagers.
He gritted his teeth. It seemed like everywhere he looked were kids and more kids. Even
Westchester was chalk full of them and here he was; a feared assassin hired by the CIA to baby-
sit 4 of them. He could've taken this mission as an insult but figured he could manipulate it
into a twisted vacation. A vacation where he had to constantly keep an eye on a couple of yuppies.
Logan grabbed some fries and shoved them into his mouth. Nope, he wasn't one to complain, but he
sure as hell wasn't going to spend every waking hour in the mansion with them.
He pulled a 20 from his pocket and threw it on the table, prepared to leave. A thick Brooklyn accent
made him pause and listen.
"C'mon Roguey, I know you need the money bad."
Logan cast a quick glance behind his right shoulder. Yep, the little punk Todd was only a few feet away.
Adjusting his jacket, Logan sat back down and strained to hear more.
A female voice, hard and traced with a southern accent replied, "Maybe. What do I need to do?"
"All you gotta do is take some packages down to Alphabet City and wait for the guy's call.
Ain't nothin' to it."
"Why can't you do it?" The girl replied, her tone resolute and unconvinced.
"Hey, I'm a busy guy. I've already got plenty to do. Besides, you know that crummy side of town
like the back of your hand."
"Packages, huh? Three grand is a lot for a couple of packages. What's it for?"
"You wanna know? Then you gotta say yes."
There was as stretch of silence until the girl asked, "Just wait at the phone booth?"
"That's all."
At that moment, the jukebox in the usually quiet diner flared up for a perky song, drowning
out the conversation going on behind him. Logan swore and got up to leave, but not before he got a
good look at Todd's new partner.
She was deathly pale, donning dark make-up and a grim almost bored expression. Her clothes seemed to match
her dark attitude. Two white strips of dyed hair interrupted the natural brown. Logan shook his head. Goths.