Disclaimer- don't own x-men evolution

(Italics means past discussion of where to find people)

Bar brawl

"Tabitha hated Scott for what he did to the team, that's one of the main reasons she left, to be honest I doubt she would help. A fair warning she hates you. A lot. However, Tabitha took off before the Bayville Sirens returned, she owns a club called 'the red dragon' in New Bath in Ohio (making this up as I have never been to the states) as far as I know she still owns the club under Aployapse who uses it as a way to keep the locals under his watchful eye. Remember if you convince her to your cause send her back to the institute. I wish you the best of luck in re-forming the x-men"

Jean entered New Bath which honestly looked like the city had seen better days, the buildings were in need of desperate repair as many looked they were about to crumble to dust. The habitants of the city were rough to say the least, (most looked they should be in the pirate port in pirates of the Caribbean) drunks lay in the gutters in the street, hookers and thieves roamed the streets. Pictures and posters posted all along the walls of Apocalypse with the slogan 'obey or die'. Most the buildings Jean noticed were either brothels or clubs. Tired of walking to find the club, Jean decided to ask a very drunk man for directions.

"Excuse me, where can I find the red dragon?"

"Hello luv, go down to the subway keep walking cant miss it luv. Now what do you think of me and you going to…"

The rest of his sentence was lost as Jean used her telekinesis to throw him into a wall as she had lost patience with him, especially since he kept moving closer to her with each word. Following the drunk's direction she found her way down into the subway and onto a pavement which lead to a back alleyway with clubs littering either side. The biggest club at the end of the alley was 'the red dragon' which was massive. Painted all red including the windows which were tinted red, on either side of the door stood 2 huge red dragons with 2 huge bouncers beside them guarding the door. The club itself was 3 stories high with a Chinese style roof, loud punk rock music was blaring out of the club down through the alley.

"ID please" on stepping near the door both bouncers stopped her with an evil look in their eyes.

Before she could answer the bouncer, she used her telepathy to manipulate the bouncer into believing she was a VIP on the list.

"Sorry, Miss seems the boss is expecting you."

Smiling to herself she entered through the double doors gasping at what she saw. In the centre was a dance floor with a few couples dancing, surrounding this was round tables with posh table clothes and cutlery, behind the dance floor was the bar with a few more tables round the back for smokers. Above the dance floor was a balcony which lead around the room with rooms leading off. What surprised her were posters hanging round the club which were of the x-men with crosses through them with rude slogans written across them, the dart boards were of a picture of Jean.

On stepping into the light out of the gloom from the doorway, the club's music died and all the occupants stared over at her. Slowly walking to the bar with every ones eyes looking at her.

"Do you know where I can Tabitha Smith?"

"You have no business here red, best thing for you to do is back out the club."

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Before Jean could answer the barman, Tabitha's voice boomed from behind her, whipping around she saw Tabitha emerge from her office beside the door. She was a young woman now, as she was in her early 30s, she had let her hair grow long as it reached below her shoulders which was bright blond. She was dressed in blue skinny tight jeans and a red t-shirt with a sort of cheetah style dressing gown.

"Tabitha, I came for your help…"

"Little miss perfect wanting help ha. You walk out on us and you expect me to help you? Get lost."

At this she throws a mini bomb at Jean, unfortunately for Tabitha Jean deflects the bomb onto a nearby table full of drunks. The bomb explodes a pint of beer sending the beer onto the occupants. The youngest of the drunks and shouted:

"You did that on purpose!"

And punched another drunk onto the floor, the drunk beside him shouted:

"That's my friend!"

And he punched the younger drunk to the floor, at this nearby tables sensing a bar brawl on their hands start to punch each other.

"BAR FIGHT"

At this the entire club erupts into violence as everyone starts to punch one another. Some drunks decide it would be fun if they used chairs against other people, others used broken bottles to take down their victims.

"DIE BITCH."
Before Jean could react Tabitha tackled Jean to the ground sending both flying into the bar, using her telekinesis Jean lifted both of them over the bar out the back door into a gloomy courtyard. Tabitha 'summoned' explosives in her hands and threw them at Jean, which she blocked by a bubble shield. Both stopped fighting as a one the bouncers from the club was launched out of the backdoor into a couple of bins, both looking back into the club they saw the club completely trashed with one of the dragons in the side of the wall, several people lay unconscious on the floor. Sitting down on the gravel, head in her hands Tabitha broke down into tears.

"Tabitha, I need to get back to the past to alter this future, to do that I need to get into Aployapse's fortress."

"Back to the past? You left us for 20 years ago and yet you haven't aged one bit."

"I didn't leave you, Cerebro teleported me somehow to the future. I need to get back to stop this from happening."

Tabitha didn't answer for a while as she stared at the ruined bar, staring off into deep space. Looking back to Jean, Tabitha started to talk.

"When you left Scott went crazy, he drove everyone way too hard with his danger room sessions every bloody day on every hour. That's how he drove most of the senior members and a few of the younger students away. After that Xavier banned the team from going on missions, I left at this time as well, I came here to get away from all the x-men and that maniac Scott. I blamed you for the mess as without you Scott went overboard and drove the team to insanity. I kept in touch with some of the old team, after the Bayville Sirens resurfaced I lost contact with everyone I assumed no one wanted anything to do with me. By the time of Apocalypse, I owned this club when he came to power over the earth, his agent Mesmero, offered me a choice. Help Apocalypse keep the locals from rebelliousness or be destroyed. I offered my services in return for enough money and power to run this city. I haven't regretted it since, money and power equals a safe passage in this world. So I ask you, what do you want?"

"I'm reforming the x-men to break into Aployapse's fortress to use Cerebro to teleport me back to the past to alter this future."

"Teleportation to the future, breaking into the forbidden fortress. You are out of your mind. Leave now."

"But..."

Tabitha 'summoned' her hand full of large bombs, before Jean could continue. Knowing she meant business Jean turned to the main entrance walking past the debris of the fight past the unconscious bouncer, out into the alley. Behind her Tabitha stood in the middle of the club watching her, thinking of the mistakes she has made in her life.

(Phone) "Hello?"

"Forge, Tabitha won't be joining me on this one."

(Pause) "Fine then, next person to recruit is Wanda who is part of a circus in Massachusetts. She will be more understanding than Tabitha, I think she will join you in your quest. Good luck."