Stryker and Zero landed on the runway of LAX where a car and driver met them directly to take them anywhere they wanted to go. About half an hour later, they pulled up in front of the Three Clubs burlesque club where Natalya Ivanov danced. Both men walked inside and were bombarded with the blaring music and the dimly lit atmosphere.

"Twenty bucks, please." A high-pitched, girly voice spoke from behind a wooden podium. Stryker looked over at the small, blonde with a shocked face.

"Are you serious?" the girl nodded."Do you think you could waver the price a bit for members of the military?"

"Nope, twenty bucks, please. Each." she answered, all with a smile on her face. Zero rolled his eyes while Stryker handed her two, crisp twenty dollar bills.

The men found a table in the very back of the club and tried to hail a waitress. Finally, a tall, red headed woman stopped.

"What can I get you gentlemen?" she spoke in a smooth, sweet tone.

"We need to speak to Ms. Ivanov." Stryker's tone rather stern.

"Oh, well," the waitress looked to a clock on the wall and then back to the stage where the girls were dancing. " she's dancing right now, but I can get her once she has a break. She is the one on the far left of the stage, in the front wearing the sailors outfit." she said, pointing to a small blonde with sparkling blue eyes.

After about twenty minutes, the bouncy blonde bonded out from behind the wall of mirrors that lead to the dressing rooms and the entrance to the stage. Natalya was even smaller up close, she couldn't have been taller than five foot or weighed more than 100 pounds. She looked around the area until she spotted the men sitting across the room. She stared at them for a few seconds and then finally walked towards them with a confident stride.

I had just finished my longest set of the night, four dances in a row, and even though I had been dancing here for two years, I was out of breathe. I was changing into my costume for my next dance when Emily came up to the dressing rooms.

"Natalya, there are two men asking for you." Emily called to me, and upon hearing this, there was a series of giggles from the other girls.

"Did they say what their names were?"

"No, but they are military." I froze and immediately knew these were the men from my vision.

"Okay," I answered in a shaky voice." I'll be down in a second."

After changing into my next outfit, I made my way down to the bar and club area. Opening the mirror door, I walked across the hardwood floor, my heels clicking against the wood. I looked around the room until I spied Major Stryker and Agent Zero.

After several seconds, I walked across the room towards them. I was a little nervous for reasons I could not understand.

"Hello, Ms .Ivanov. My name is Major William Stryker, and this is Agent Zero." Stryker spoke while nodding toward Agent Zero, a tall man, of course almost everyone was tall compared to me, who looked Asian and had a cold look on his face.

"Hello. Well, it's obvious you know my name. How can I help you?'

"Well, I have put together a special team for people like you, and I would li-" he began to explain, however I cut him off midsentence.

"What do you mean people like me?" Of course I knew what he meant. I just did not want anyone other than the people I knew I could trust to know what I was, and I knew what team he was speaking of, but I decided to play dumb.

"Now Ms. Ivanov, you know exactly what I mean and don't bother denying it. I know that you are a mutant and I would like you to join my team, Team X."

I was rather baffled by his bluntness, but I wanted to project an aura of confidence and strength, even though I was a little nervous.

"Well, what is the teams purpose exactly?"

"Our missions are sometimes far too dangerous for the human divisions of the military, so it is better to train people like you that are more designed for these situations."

I did not want to join this team, but I had a feeling that Major Stryker was not someone you said no to. Also, I could sense that this man might not have the best intentions when it came to these missions.

"Are you Russian?" Zero's voice interrupted my thoughts, he must have picked up on my accent. It was the first time I had heard him speak since sitting down at the table. When I nodded, Zero's face became, if at all possible, even colder. "Damn it."

"Be nice." Stryker turned to Zero and gave him a reprimanding look. Turning back to me, Stryker plastered a smile on his face."So, Ms. Ivanov, what do you say? You would be doing a great service to your country."He seemed to forget that I am from Russia, but I decided to let it go.

"I, ummm," I did not want to be a part of this team, but I still had that feeling that I would not have a choice. " I will join you. But I have to finish my dancing for tonight and gather some of my things."

"Very well." Stryker did not look to happy about having to wait, but did not voice his thoughts." Once you are done, we will get your things, and fly back to the base."

After nearly three more hours, I was ready to leave for my apartment. Strutting out to the parking lot, I found Stryker and Zero leaning against the brick wall, waiting for me.

"My car's over this way. Do you need a ride?" I asked in a small voice. When they nodded, I lead them to my '67 crimson red California Special Mustang convertible. " Someone will have to ride in the backseat, sorry." I already knew that it would be Zero.

"Zero, in the back." Stryker commanded. Just as I had suspected. Zero stared at my car and then turned back to me with an icy expression.

"It's a little small, isn't it?" I stared at Zero for several seconds. No one spoke against my car, even if it was just to piss me off. My car was like my baby.

"Well, it is the perfect size for me, but the trunk accommodates well." I answered in a sugary, sweet tone. Zero stared at me in what I guessed to be shock, he must not have expected me to be such a smart ass.

"Both of you, shut up!" Stryker interrupted our bickering. Zero and I glared at each other for a few extra seconds before I turned away and unlocked the car. I slid into the front seat while Stryker and Zero made themselves comfortable. It was a clear night, so I decided to leave the top down as we drove to my condo in Malibu.

When I pulled to the condominium, the smell of salt water and the sound of the waves softly lapping at the shore infiltrated my senses. I loved living at the beach, it was always so relaxing here.

"Nice place." Stryker's voice brought me out of my reverie. I looked over to see him and Zero staring at the tall, clean, marble building sitting directly on the beach.

"Thank you."

We made our way up to the top level where my apartment was. "Just give me a few minutes to pack, you can just make yourselves comfortable." I told the men while I made my way to my bedroom.

After about a half hour, I was packed and ready to go. When I walked into my living room, Stryker was putting my phone into the cradle and I gave him a questioning look.

"I hope you don't mind, but I called for someone to drive us to the airport."

"No, that's fine. I will leave my car with my landlord." I was actually relieved, my landlord liked me a lot and would make sure my car and condo were in perfect condition while I was gone.

"Good, are you ready?" When I nodded, we left my condo and made our way to the lobby where I told the employee at the front desk that I would be gone for quite awhile. When I turned around, Stryker waved me towards a black car in front of the building. I took a deep breath before I climbed into the car and headed towards the airport.