disclaimer: The X-Men and associated characters are owned by Marvel Comics Group. All others belong to me, you'll know who they are.


The Three
by Dizi

Chapter 3

His mouth dropping open, Sam Guthrie stared at the three women entering the diningroom. He had been told they were identical triplets but but seeing them was still a shock. He couldn't help thinking they should at least dress differently. Perhaps to fit in with the X-Men, they were all wearing what could only be described as a costume or uniform in knee-high black laced boots, black fitted pants, and a rust corset style top with mesh sleeves which looked like it might have body-armor embedded. All had minimal make-up and their hair was in ponytails, though he supposed that was where slight differences occurred if one were to pay close attention to how high up it was on their heads or how loose.

They were all beautiful and no one had mentioned that. Three beautiful women in tight clothes wasn't unusual around here, but these were in triplicate. He couldn't look away. Not as they filled their plates with food from the table set-up buffet style, not as they greeted him as they passed by, and not as they sat down by Hank and Scott giving him amused looks.

"Shut yer mouth, Guthrie, before we all drown in the drool," Logan barked, passing by on his way out.

Embarassed, Sam's mouth snapped shut and he surreptitiously touched his hand to it only to find there wasn't really any drool. He sat down beside his sister Paige who was glaring at the three women he had just been admiring.

"It has to be one of them." Venom dripped from her voice. "I know Warren's been working with them. I'm sure one of those bitches is the slut he's sleeping with."

"Now, Paigey." Sam was careful not to allow his own voice to show any of his admiration nor any of the exasperation he felt on her bringing up this topic again. "Yah said yah didn't catch him doin' nothin'. Yah can't be that way less yah know for sure."

"I do know it, Sam! He started giving me the cold shoulder and staying at the office at night. This is Warren I'm talking about! I ought to know the man I've been sleeping with well enough to know when he's playing around on me!"

He winced as her volume rose significantly. "Yah said he's had some problems. We all know Warren's been keepin' things close an' somethin's wrong. He sent them herah an' Scott said we got tah talk to 'em. So you have tah be nice."

"Don't talk to me like I'm five!" Paige stood up with a flounce. "I will be nice to them. Just as nice as I have to and that's it."


"So, how about you ladies show us what you can do?" Scott asked. If the lives of some of his people were going to be in their hands, he wanted to know more about them. The three women had Warren and Hank's trust, which told him a lot, but he didn't feel easy without knowing how much of a hindrance or help they might be in a fight. There always seemed to be a fight at some point. "The Danger Room can be ready in minutes with a basic simulation."

"Oh, I don't know," Amy replied coyly. "A girl has to have her secrets."

Taking that for a refusal, Scott was willing to let it go. He had no authority over them, all he could do was ask. He did, they refused, and that was the end of it. He didn't take into account that one didn't always speak for all.

"I don't see why not," Beth declared. "Warren told us about the Danger Room and I'm willing to give it a try. Can't be worse than what Uncle Nicky would put us through."

"That is not necessary." Hank gave Scott a look that spoke volumes. "Such a demonstration could, in fact, be unwise. It is unknown who might learn from a session of that nature. To show your abilities at this time may be a bit premature."

"We don't have to do everything," Beth protested. "Just enough to show we're not push-overs."

"What he said." Amy agreed with Hank. "A place like this can have lots of eyes and ears. And I don't feel like putting out that much effort."

"Which means you need to. It's one to one, let Carrie decide."

Frowning, Hank looked at the third sister. "I was assuming her silence meant she agreed with my reasoning as well."

"No, she's not listening." Beth nudged Carrie who was looking over the room lost in thought. "What are you looking at?"

Not moving her eyes, Carrie took another bite and swallowed before answering. "Warren's ex doesn't seem happy and she was paying way too much attention to us for my liking. Don't you wonder what's up with her?"

"Who knows and who cares." Amy wiped her hands on a napkin, pushing her plate away. "She's the one who broke up with Warren not the other way around. Paul told me all about the screaming fit she threw."

"She loves him." Beth's sad eyes followed Carrie's gaze in the direction Paige had gone. "I'm sure whatever happened hurt her just as much as it did him. Not that it's any of our business."

"It might be." Carrie relaxed and turned her attention back to the table. "Logan told me last night she's been crying all over Jubilee that Warren played around on her. We know he hasn't had time for that kind of thing, but what women has he been spending time with?"

"Well, none really." Amy's eyes widened and then she became amused. "None but us, that is."

"Exactly." Carrie also smiled, though she didn't seem as amused as Amy. "Miss Guthrie might be a problem."

"But we wouldn't do anything like that. Warren and Paige were seeing each other before..." Beth blushed, not finishing the sentence. All three knew she was about to say 'before I became interested in him'.

"Speak for yourself, Beth." Amy's smile was pure seduction. "I would have been willing if he'd given me a hint he was interested."

"No, you wouldn't. You would have just thought about it. A taken man or one on the rebound is a bad bargain, you always say."

"Only if I'm thinking of keeping him."

"Okay, fine. You might have, I wouldn't, and Carrie wouldn't, and none of us did. We can just tell her that."

"Geez, Beth." Leaning back, Amy rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "Sometimes you are so naive."

"No, I'm not," she protested, getting a bit shrill. "I just think it's best to be honest, it keeps me out of trouble."

"How honest do you want to be?" Carrie asked archly. "If we hadn't all been busy, now Warren is 'free', would you have turned him down if he'd asked you out or for anything else? I don't think so. Paige doesn't seem the type to like that either."

"Too bad for her." Amy was no longer thinking of herself and what she would do. The conversation had turned to Beth. Only she could pick on Beth, because ultimately her sister knew she didn't mean to be cruel. But Amy also knew Beth's feelings for Warren were real. Perhaps not reciprocated, but still real. In actuality, that was the only reason Amy wouldn't have slept with him. "She broke up with Warren, practically threw him away because of her jealousy. He dates Beth or anyone, it's her own fault and I won't feel sorry for her."

Completely forgetting where the conversation had started, Scott was listening in fascination. Since he had become leader of so many people, the weight of responsibility had kept him from letting himself listen to gossip. However, EVERYONE had heard Paige bemoan her problems with Warren. Because Warren wasn't here - and he wouldn't have told all and sundry about his personal life if he was - no one had heard his side, leaving the majority feeling sorry for Paige.

On top of that, the topic alone wasn't what held his interest, though he was naturally curious. The women of the X-Men very rarely talked like this where the men could hear them. He wondered if their conversations twisted and turned in the same manner when they were alone. Another element was three identical faces and three identical voices with three different expressions and tones. It was uncanny to watch.

Even having known the three women for some time now, Hank too could become absorbed trying to differentiate between them while they talked in this manner. They had many fine attributes and characteristics, but the one he liked the most was the way one would completely change their stance in favor of the other due to that one's feelings on the subject. One certain thing he had learned from them - which he had known but not really understood being as he was an only child - was the complicated relationship siblings had. Set from childhood, it had deep roots with a closeness that enabled them to be less inhibited with each other. This was not always positive. Irritation could quickly turn to anger, and anger to rage on a level higher than that for a hated enemy. Many times such rage - at least with these - often lead to quite physical confrontations. He had witnessed it occur during the most innocent of conversations.

With this in mind, Hank cleared his throat. "Perhaps, it is enough to be aware of Miss Guthrie's feelings and be on guard."

"Just what I was trying to say." Carrie beamed at him.

"Okay." Amy shrugged. "Leader man here wants us to try out the Danger Room. What do you think, Carrie?"

"Sure. Make it a good work out but nothing so complicated as to show all. We haven't had much of a challenge since last time we visited Uncle Nicky."

"Good, give me half an hour." Standing, Scott paused, looking at them curiously. "By the way, who is 'Uncle Nicky' that you practice combat with him?"

All three smiled brightly at him, saying as one, "Just a friend of our mother's."

"I see."


From the control booth, Charles Xavier considered the three women living in his home for the foreseeable future as they waited to enter the Danger Room. Unless he chose to use excessive force, their minds were closed to him. He could sense a bond so tight they had the potential to think as one. Perhaps more than potential, but the bond could be damaged if he delved where he did not belong - or possibly damaging to the intruder if it was strong enough. It seemed to be more than that of normal twins or triplets. Deeper, yet not invasive. Natural, but not at the same time. Though unable to determine which it was, he got the feeling one of them was trying very hard to hold onto the others.

He could definitely see why Forge and Hank had felt the need to study them. They were the most extreme example he had ever seen of identical triplets. He had heard of them, of course. As small children they had been a medical curiosity. Doctors from several parts of the country and fields of interest had paid for the opportunity to study their DNA, watch them interact, try to find out what it was about them that made them different from other triplets.

Not a medical doctor himself, he hadn't paid much attention at the time. Charles hadn't found out until much later that tests had stopped once those doctors discover the girls had the x-gene. Then their uniqueness had become explainable and the doctors were no longer interested. Not creditable ones, anyway. Suddenly other doctors wanted to study them for other reasons. Such as either stopping or controlling the spread of the x-gene. Afterall, it was thought by many, if they were willing to let them use the triplets for one type of test, why not another? It was still science, right?

Luckily the courts hadn't thought so when their mother sought to put a stop to it. Their father's willingness to go along with the proposed atrocities had ended their parent's marriage. Which was all he had on their background. There was more he was sure, but that was what was public knowledge and all he'd had a clear right to. Before now.

Because now he was being told by three trusted friends - Warren, Forge, and Hank - to place his trust in these three women he really knew very little about. He didn't even know what mutant abilities they had, if any beyond that deeper mental bond and being physically identical.

The scenario planned would most likely not tell him all the wanted to know. However, it should provide more knowledge than he had now about them.

Below was a maze disguised as a warehouse. Filled with 'adversaries', traps, stun lasers, and machine guns with rubber pellets for bullets, everything was non-lethal. This particular gamut was designed to be versatile enough for multiple purposes. Depending on the parameters set for those going in, it could be used for individuals or groups training their body or powers, alone or together, stealth or brute force, pitting them against each other or having them work for a common goal. The possibilities were endless.

Today, Amy, Beth, and Carrie had only been told to go from one end of the maze to the other, by whatever means they chose. He expected for this initial visit they would work together. They were also allowed any equipment and weapons they wanted.

A light above the doorway came on, indicating the program was starting. In the control booth filled to overflowing, Charles, the X-Men, and any students who were deemed worthy, leaned forward to watch.

The machine gun fired first, causing the women to duck and scatter in different directions. It oriented on one while another took the opportunity to disable it. The third woman went on to the next obstacle.

'Listening' for any telepathic communication, Charles knew there was none. The bond was 'active' but not with conscious thought, only a sort of mental 'touching' which he'd recognized the day before. So he was unable to glean any more information about any mental abilities they might have.

Their strategy was unplanned, a pattern they knew and acted out naturally with none having a set position. One would scout, falling into a trap or meeting the challenge. Then another would assist as the third took the first one's place. In this manner, they were always changing around. With them dressed alike, it was impossible to keep track of any one sister.

An ambush containing seven of the 'enemy' occurred. All three fought them off with graceful movements and agility, showing a high skill in hand-to-hand since they had chosen not to bring weapons. But then, they didn't need weapons of their own since one of the women relieved an 'adversary' of his rifle.

When the stun gun fired, glancing off one of the women enough to put her down but not out, the rifle was used to destroy it. Without hesitation, they resumed their progress, favoring the 'wounded' woman by only the other two trading off until she had recovered fully.

The only time Charles felt an out of the ordinary emotion from them was as a pit dropped open with a flamethrower on the other side. It was the most dangerous obstacle in the scenario and panic immediately ran through all three of their minds. Even then it did not show in their actions. They dealt with the obstacle easily by actually going into the pit and helping each other out of it. Then they simply disabled the mechanism in control of the flamethrower.

Last challenge overcome, the women exited the Danger Room. Now relaxed, though tense would not have been an accurate description throughout the scenario, they acted as normal. Their carefree chatting was the first words they spoke since entering the room.


"That answered some concerns and raised others," Scott stated ruefully, once he, Logan, Charles, and Hank were alone.

"Indeed." Charles looked up from a printed report of the session. "Their first exercise was little more than a walk in the park. I would not wish them as enemies."

"Don't see the problem." Logan shrugged. "Them girls're on our side an' we don't need ta worry how they handle themselves. Sounds like a plus ta me."

"It is my opinion you are being far too anxious about our lovely guests unnecessarily." Having not realized they had concerns in the first place, a crease formed between Hank's brows.

"We don't know much about them and they are a possible danger, why wouldn't I be concerned?" Scott demanded.

"Combat is only one of the skills they possess. Previously, their occupation ran a fine line between bodyguard and mercenary," Hank admitted with reluctance. "However, the Shrinehold women have future plans which will take them in other directions. I am not free to give details, but there was an occurrence during their last 'job' which caused them to re-evaluate their lives. It was the reason they agreed to participate in our study. To be honest, it was only due to the affection the three of them came to feel towards myself, Forge, and Warren which caused them to agree to their current assignment. They are only a threat to the enemies hidden within our midst."

Considering, Charles admitted, "This threat may be what is at the core of my unease with them."

"Yeah," Scott agreed, clearly troubled. "We've dealt with clones before. Why bring in outsiders? Why didn't Warren and Forge simply tell us? Tell me?"

"The manner in which the concerned parties have attempted to take care of the situation speaks of a lack of faith." Deliberately, Charles did not look in Hank's direction.

Noticing how both men were acting toward him, Hank became uneasy but his voice was firm with conviction. "Most emphatically, I assure you that is not the case. These decisions were not made lightly but with concern for all involved parties."

"I appreciate that, Hank. Really." Scott looked down at his feet, also avoiding Hank's gaze. "But still..."

Becoming more and more troubled, Hank tried again to reassure them. "I admit to not being fully versant in all nuances of the situation. However, I have spoken to Forge extensively. He is of the firm opinion the ladies may be vital for many reasons."

"Reasons he apparently doesn't feel the need to share with the rest of us involved," Charles replied dryly.

"Maybe he gave the job ta someone else so doesn't feel the need," Logan joined the conversation again, his expression thoughtful.

Frowning, Charles asked, "What do you mean?"

"I'm guessin' that's part o' what the gals're supposed ta do. Carrie started in on somethin' on the way here. Said somethin' 'bout the clones havin' feelin's too. She's got a real understandin' of 'em."

"Yes, she does indeed." Hank's throat became tight and he had to swallow before continuing. Some things were best not shared at this point. "I enormously resisted acknowledging this reasoning as valid, however the females of the human species do in all honesty think differently than the males. Being the only women involved in the project, they saw and pointed out aspects we did not at first identify. They insisted it is due to our view being scientific in nature but it does not account for Warren."

"Hell, I coulda told ya that. That's why they're women, otherwise they'd just be men with breasts. Don't matter how much a woman can kick a man's butt, we'll never see things the same way." Logan shook his head in disgust that anyone wouldn't get that in the first place. He wasn't concerned about their abilities but happy three beautiful women were in close daily contact with him and there was chance he might get into one of their pants. Among other things.

"That is an uncouth but accurate way to state the case," Hank agreed. "With the inside information and insights they have, what it comes down to is we think it very necessary for Amy, Beth, and Carrie to be in charge of the investigation."

"I'm not sure I understand the connection." Scott held up both hands to stop Hank from speaking again. "But I'll give them the benefit of the doubt."

"Think yer all missin' the point." Logan again rolled his eyes, a habit picked up from his partner Jubilee. "The women were sent fer a reason. We oughtta be talkin' to 'em 'steada talkin' 'bout 'em."

"It always amazes me when you are the voice of reason, Logan." Charles sighed and inclined his head to Scott. "We may have taken certain things too personally. Why don't we conclude for the time being, take a break, and meet again in about an hour with at least one of our guests?"

to be continued.


note: Well, we're learning all sorts of things by leaps and bound, huh? Getting a little more plot, a little more chacterization, and more questions. Have you been mentally running in circles trying to figure out who the clone/clones are? If so, that okay because I am doing the same thing. Sorta. I mean, I have a vague idea and several candidates, but nothing set in stone yet.

Oh, and uh, the delay? Not my fault! Ffn wouldn't let me upload.

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi