AN: Sorry about the long wait and the shortness of this chapter. It just felt right to end it here. Now that I have some free time a new update should be coming soon! Thanks for reading.
*All Standard Disclaimers Apply*
****Five Years Ago****
The room was silent as each member of the X-Men looked at Professor Xavier. While normally a calm individual, he was more solemn than usual. He rolled himself to the table and glanced around at all the expectant faces, some coloured with worry, others a faint excitement. Both the senior and junior teams had been called, the Professor not quite knowing what it would take to accomplish this mission.
"As I told all of you when I asked you to meet me here, we have a serious mission at stake. There have been multiple reports of mutants going missing around the globe. There has been faint talk of mutant trafficking, but not enough to lead anywhere, but a dead end. Specifically in New Orleans, there have been an unprecedented amount of mutants going missing. I need you to go to New Orleans and try to figure out what is going on. Try not to let yourselves get caught, and don't make a move unless you are a hundred percent certain you found the culprit. Good luck, X-men."
He wheeled away from the table and handed a folder to Scott before continuing out the door to his office, deeply disturbed by the whole concept.
Scott opened the folder and quickly scanned the contents nodding his every once in awhile. Jubilee was peeking over his shoulder trying to figure out what was going on.
Kitty and Bobby were flirting at one end of the table, talking in quiet tones. Logan shook his head at the stupidity of Popsicle Boy. He better be glad Marie forbade him from teachin' him a lesson. Chewing rather viciously at the end of his cigar, he turned to Marie to make sure she wasn't still pining over the frozen dipstick.
She met his gaze and flashed him a quick smile and wink. He relaxed a bit and tucked the unlit cigar back into the pocket of his jacket. Leaning back against the wall in the conference room, he bent one leg and set his foot against the wall, ignoring Storm's look of censure.
Scott closed the file with a snap and tucked underneath his left arm, as far away from Jubilee's prying grasp as possible. "Looks like we are going to New Orleans. Over 15 mutants have gone missing in the last 18 months. No one has heard a whisper about what's going on. There is no common factor except that it's been late at night and no leads. The police have given up, not that they put much effort into it. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the type of mutant they are attacking in ability or strength. So everybody be careful and keep your eyes open."
He scanned across the room his eyes hidden in their ruby prison making him seem all the more stern. Most of the X-Men nodded with the appropriate amount of discernment, except for Jubilee who smiled and loudly cracked her gum, and Wolverine who rolled his eyes and stalked out of the room.
With that Scott dismissed the team, telling them to pack for a couple of days, suit up, and meet at the Blackbird in 20 minutes.
Scott blew out a sigh as the most of the two teams walked away. Storm and Jean waited until everyone left before approaching him.
"Scott," Jean began. "If I understand correctly, this mission is dangerous?"
"Yes. Mostly because we don't know what in the hell to look for."
Jean furrowed her brow at his answer. She had obviously been hoping for a more reassuring answer.
Storm also looked concern as she asked Scott, "Is this the best mission to take the junior team on then? I mean isn't it best if they stay here?"
"The Professor thinks it's best if they go."
The adults were silent for a moment before venturing to their respective rooms to gather their belongings.
