STORY STARTS

Chapter 3

Xavier and the others watched as Logan and Sara left the office, Logan supporting most of the detective's weight. They waited until the pair were well out of earshot, and then Xavier nodded to Jean who used her gift to close the door.

"Well, that was interesting. She is more than Logan said. Of course, his memories of her are of a 10 year old girl who craved her father's attention. I am certain that she is not exagerrating the danger she finds herself in because of that gauntlet she now possesses." He steepled his hands on under his chin. "During the conversation, Logan sent me a few images of the people she is most concerned about. I think it might be a good idea for us all to familliarize ourselves with Kenneth Irons, Ian Nottingham, and Bruno Dante." He mentally cast the images of the three men into his dearests friends and students. "Also, I think it might be a good idea to include Rogue, Bobby, Jubilee, and Piotr in any further briefings. Warn the four about Sara's . . .gift, and have them start a rotation of the children so that at least two of them are within earshot of her while she is on the grounds."

Scott added a suggestion of his own. "Perhaps, sir, it might be a good idea to have one or two of them go with her when she returns home? No matter how much Logan might wish it otherwise, I have no doubt that she will only be here for a few days before she feels the need to return to her own home and face her problems. She herself said that she hated running from her problems, and I doubt we can convince her to stay more than the weekend and certainly no more than a week at most."

Jean also added her opinion. "I agree with Scott, Professor. She doesn't seem the type to wait while her problems solve themselves. Though I hesitate to send any of the children with her. That would place them in unnecessary danger. Perhaps Logan can stay with her until the major problems are ended."

Xavier frowned at the undercurrents in Jean's voice. Something about the detective was rilling her temper. He'd look into the cause later, for now they had other concerns. "Logan will soon be leaving on a task that requires his special skills and background, Jean. I too, hesitate to put the children in danger, but for our subterfuge to work, the person accompanying Sara must not be known. That rules out yourself, Scott, or Ororo. Kurt is unable to pass as normal, and Hank is similarly bound to the school as myself. No, it will need to be one of the children, but one who has not been exposed during that incident last year."

"Who do you suggest, then, Professor?" Scott asked.

Xavier rolled out from behind his seat and over to the bookcase. He stared at the ancient works and pondered the question. "It will need to be someone capable of defending themselves and the detective. Someone who might pass as a relative or family friend. Someone who's gifts are not so drastic as to force them into hiding."

"Collosus." Logan stated as he entered the office. "Send him and Rogue. He's the muscle and Rogue has the clearest head of any of the brats. The Popsicle has been spotted and has been exposed because of the problems at his parents, but Rogue was never shown. Have her dye those streaks or change her hair, and wear slightly different clothes and no one would suspect her. Piotr is her backup. He's even tempered, but knows when to fight and his power would be the most usefull. That steel skin of his will come in handy, and if needed Rogue can borrow it and the two could hold off a small army.

Throw in Sara and that weapon of hers and I think she'll be well covered. But that's only a delaying tactic. We have to stop the source, and that is Kenneth Irons." Turning to the wheelchair bound man, he cocked an eyebrow. "I know him. He was there, with Stryker. I need you to go back in and find out more about him. It's the only way we might get him to leave her alone. Plus, I'm sure that his bodyguard, the stalker, has described me to him and Irons knows who I am. He'll come looking for me."

BREAK

"What do you mean you can't find her?"

Ian winced and moved the phone slightly away from his ears. Not for the first time, he cursed the genetic enhancements and drug therapy he had undergone. His hearing had become more acute over time, which had at times aided in his duties for his master, but also made it more difficult to withstand his master's anger.

"She is not in her apartment, nor is she at the gym she frequents. I have also gone to the precint, the home of her deceased partner, and of McCartey. Her cellphone, weapons, and badge are all in the apartment. Regrettably, we have not been able to place a tracker on her motorcycle, due to her obsessive habit of checking it for such devices or for tampering. I have bugged her cell, placed a microdot tracker on both her weapons, and even managed one on her badge, but as I said, she has left those here in the apartment. I suspect that she left with the man who was here earlier. If I can locate him, I will find her." Ian waited a moment to allow his master time to assimilate his words before continuing. "There must be records about him somewhere, master. He was obviously military trained."

"I told you Nottingham, I do not want you to make contact with him yet. And you might have been right, but all records regarding him have been erased. Not even his birth records remain. He is an unperson, completely off the system and thus better able to perform the duties he was recruited for." Irons voice was as calm as ever, but there was a faint quiver of worry in it, enough for Ian to detect, which worried him. Ian had never before heard his master express such unwilling emotions, and it worried him. Anything that could possibly worry his master so much, had to be both dangerous and important. Perhaps it was time for him to once again disobey his master and conduct his own research on the man.

"Ian, I want you to trail young Gabriel. It is likely that the lovely Sara will attempt to contact him at some point in the near future and I want you nearby to hear what she has to say. Also, try and place both a tracker and a tracer on his phones. Perhaps we can locate Sara through that. I am working on other contacts at the moment, and I want you to put all your efforts into finding the Wielder. Jenkins can perform your duties here adequately until Sara is returned to us."

Ian nodded as the line cut off. Turning in the dark apartment, he started to make his way to the window when a light across the table drew his attention to a enveloppe on Sara's table.

Making his way over, he lifted the enveloppe and grinned in the darkness. The enveloppe was addressed to Sara, from person going by the name Logan, and the return address was for a private school upstate. Xavier's Institute for the Gifted, 1300 Greymalkin Lane, Westchester NY, to be precise. And if his idetic memory served him, he had overheard conversations between his master and several different unknown parties regarding the institute. He also recalled several news reports. The Xavier in Xavier's Institute was Professor Charles Xavier, one of the leading figures in the fight for Mutant Rights. Rumor had it that he was also the founder and leader of a mutant group of guerilla fighters known as the X-Men.

Deciding that his master was partially right and that visiting the young entrepaneur might be a usefull use of his time, despite his already having tapped his phones and hacked his email accounts, Ian leaped out the window, twisting to shut it behind him as he begun the freefall to the ground five stories below.

BREAK

Sara sat on the edge of the king sized bed in the palatial guest suite that had been assigned to her and stared at the wall mindlessly. She had attempted to protest against the opulence of the room, but Logan had grunted and shown her his room, which was next door. If anything, his room was even more elaborate than this one, and Logan had snorted at the expression before explaining that Xavier insisted that his instructors and staff have the best of everything, even if it meant having $1000 designer sheets and blankets when he was more comfortable with the thrift store wool blankets and a thermosleeping bag.

So now, she sat and waited, too tired to think about the problems affecting her life. On her wrist, the witchblade was silent and dark, showing neither approval or anger about current events. Aside from the display in the professor's office, it had been rather quiet. It had not prompted her with any visions since Logan's story back in the loft.

Slowly, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to collapse backwards onto the mattress. Breathing slowly, she tried to keep her mind in it's quiescent state, not wishing to once again be bombarded by how out of control her life had become. It had been one disaster after another, starting with the death of her best friend, Marie. After that, she chased Gallo's stooge into the musuem were the Witchblade attached itself to her and then Gallo killing Danny in the Rialto. During those, she'd picked up a freakish genetically enhanced stalker who worked for an obsessive billionaire intent on controlling her and the ancient weapon.

Joe Sirri retired and Dante took over. Danny came back into her life as a ghost and instructed her to talk to Joe, who gave her a box of her father's things. Including a video he had made naming names and giving testamony regarding a secret corrupt force within the police ranks called the White Bulls. Not surprisingly, she'd learned that Dante was the head of this corrupt group and that he had hired Gallo to kill her father. Now it looked like he had killed Joe to keep him from testifying or talking to her about the stuff in that box, and he seemed to be doing his best to get her killed or fired.

And here she was thinking about it again when she was trying not to. Desparate to think of something else, and starting to feel a little hungry, she decided to go in search of the kitchen, or at least, see if she could find a vending machine or something.

She left the room and made her way back down the hall to the main stairwell. The teens that had been hanging out on the stairs were no longer there, and judging from the echoing laughter ringing from down the other hall, she guessed there must be some type of communal gathering room there, possibly a rec room of some type. Not feeling up with having to deal with too many screaming hormonally unbalanced teenagers and giggling prepubescent tykes, she decided against further investigating and quietly made her way down the stairs. She recognized the way to the garage, and decided to go down a side hall.

The hall was empty, and glancing into several of the rooms, she grinned as she realized why. Logan had said that this was a school, and she had now found the classrooms. Realizing that it was unlikely that the kitchen would be near this part of the building, she turned around and made her way back to the main foyer. Taking the other branching hall furthest from the main doors, she perked up as she smelled something that reminded her significantly of her one true addiction and vice: Coffee!

She nearly sprinted down the hall, her grin growing as she recognized that the slight stir of air was indeed bringing her towards the life saving beverage. She had to reign herself in as she reach a set of swinging doors that reminded her of the restaurants with the IN/OUT doors that lead into their kitchens. Tentatively pushing the door, she peeked in and scanned the room, her eyes and nose leading her directly to the just finished brewing pot.

She made a beeling towards the pot, noting as she did that there were mugs stacked neatly next to the industrial sized machine. She poured herself a cup and downed it in three large gulps, ignoring the burning heat as it coursed down her throat in favor of the near miraculous calming effect the caffeine rich blend had on her nerves. She poured a second cup, this time adding a bit of sugar and taking a small sip. She didn't recognize the brand, but it was better than anything she'd had before. Turning, she almost dropped the mug as she finally realized that she was not alone in the room.

A girl sat at the island counter, grinning at her. The girl hard dark brown hair, except for two white streaks that framed her face. She was almost completely covered, only her face and hands left showing. Before her on the counter were a tall glass of milk, and a plate with a couple of sandwiches on it. Next to the plate were a pair of long, opera style gloves.

"Sorry to startle you, " the girl said quietly, with a southern drawl to her words. "But I was here first." There was a hint of mirth in her voice, as though the girl was amused by Sara's reactions.

"No problem, just gave me a bit of a shock to see you. I didn't notice you when I came in." Sara stated, taking a long, calming drink from her mug.

The girl's grin grew widder and a sparkle appeared in her eye. "I can see why. You homed in on the coffee with the same focus Logan gets when he's in a fight."

Sara was intrigued. The girl before her was young, no more than 18 or 19 at most. She seemed to be familiar with Logan and there was an almost possessive tone to her voice when she'd said his name. Returning the grin, Sara spoke up. "Yeah, well, let's just say it's been a rough day and I'm behind on my caffeine quota." She again looked the girl over while speaking, noting the pleasant laugh and the easy amusement that surrounded the girl. "I'm Sara Pezzini, by the way. I'm visiting for a while." she stated, not sure what else to say. "Hey, I saw you earlier, right? Sitting at the stairs with a few others when Logan and I got here? A big guy, huge muscles, a shorter blond guy, and the Asian girl wearing yellow?" She moved closer to the island and pulled a stool over so she could sit across from the girl. As she did, she noting a slight tensing in the girl, and didn't miss her putting down the sandwich and putting on the gloves.

The girl smiled and nodded. "The big guy is Piotr. The blond is Bobby, and the other girl is Jubilee. I'm Rogue." She held out a gloved hand, and Sara reached over and shook it.

Without warning, the blade flared into life and she was thrust into a quick series of visions.

VISION

FLASH

Sara watched as a younger version of the girl, wearing still modest, but less concealing clothing and without streaks smiled at a boy about her age. They were in a room, decorated in a feminine manner and with a huge map of North Amaerica on the wall. The boy leaned in for a kiss, and Sara could see the anticipation and nervousness on the girl's face.

The pair met and Sara watched as something odd happened. The veins on the boys face started to bulge and he tried to push the girl away, but for some reason, he seemed unable to do so. Eventually, the girl, also seeming to panic as her eyes widdened, pushed the boy away and started screaming, holding her head as though in great pain.

FLASH

The girl, now wearing a thick cloak to ward of the chill of winter, sat at the bar of a rundown shack. Behind her, inside a chainlink cage of somekind, two men fought savagely. Sara recognized one of the men as Logan, and took a moment to marvel at his sculpted perfection, before the action drew her and she found herself wincing as the other man pounded on him. Until his fist swung out of nowhere, slamming into the other man's and Sara heard the two distinctive sounds of ringing metal and shattering bone. The larger man stumbled back, craddled his busted hand as Logan surged to his feet and stalked forward, slamming his forehead into the other man and knocking him out.

The rest moved forward. She saw as Logan reached the bar, and the man behind the bar gave him his winnings. Then she watched the girl shout a warning as the looser of the last fight and several friends approached Logan and a knife appeared. She watched in awe as Logan moved so fast, she didn't see the moves, only the results. She watched as the girl snuck into the back of Logan's trailer.

FLASH

She watched as the girl, now wearing a long nightrobe, approached a thrashing and moaning figure laying on a bed. As the girl drew nearer, Logan suddenly sprang out from the bed, his fists flashing forward and those terrible claws flashing in the dim light as they ran through the girl. The girl flinched and looked down, before raising her face to look at Logan. There was no anger on the girl's face, only acceptance, and Sara felt a well of sympathy for someone so young who must have endured so much to be willing to accept death so easily. There was sickening slurping sound as the claws withdrew from the girl and back into Logan's hands.

She watched as Logan fearfully held the girl, yelling at the kids gawking from the door to get help. The girl's hand slid up and touched Logan's face, and she watched as Logan's veins bulged and he started convulsing in the same manner as the boy. She had a good view of the girls back as the three cuts sealed themselves and soon disappeared altogether, leaving only the blood behind to show that anything had happened. The girl shot to her feet, watching in horror as Logan's body shook and he started foaming slightly at the mouth. She turned to face the assembled kids, yelling that it was an accident. That she hadn't meant it. Seeing the fear in their eyes, she ran for the door, ignoring their scramble to get out of the way.

Other moments featuring the girl showed how her 'gift' worked. Each person she touched was effected, though with a mutant, she took on that person's powers. The strange events of the Ellis Island incident that had puzzled authorities played out before her eyes and she again felt a wave of sorrow at the girl's misfortune.

END VISION

"Man that sucks." Sara stated after regaining her senses.

Marie shook her head, trying to clear her mind from the summary of her life up to his point. "What did you do?"

Sara grined humourlessly. "You saw it too? Well, that's new. I didn't know Witchy here could bring others into the visions it gives me. Well, other than Irons who had been bonded to it, and Nottingham who has some other weird connection I don't really understand." She gestrued to her wrist and the ancient weapon that she was wearing.

Marie grinned as thinly as the older woman. "It seems we have a lot in common. You see visions of the dead, and I get every memory of the people I absorb. Which, in a way, means I take them into my head. If I hold on long enough, or if it's a strong enough personality, I can even 'talk' to them and get their advice on stuff."

"That must be awkward sometimes. Do they talk to each other, or only answer when you ask them something?" Sara asked, taking another sip of her coffee. She felt comfortable with the girl, more comfortable than she could remember feeling with anyone besides Danny and her father.

Marie snorted. "Well, it's not like they stay there looking out at what I'm doing, but more like a . . .well somekind of talking database. I have to ask them what I want to know, but the answers come from their minds so they are framed by how that person sees things. And when it first happens, when they first get in my head, they are a little active on their own. Some are angry, while a few don't seem to mind. Some, like Eric want to try and 'guide' me to do what they want, while others, like Cody, just want to know what's happening. A few try to take over, and for the first few days after absorbing a new personality, I pick up little traits of that person, even when they fade into the background. Like with Eric. well for a week after wards, I always had a craving for a glass of brandy and a game of chess. I was also attracted to the Prof and kept throwing out little reminders of the times he and Eric had when they were at college together."

"I'm sure that didn't make too many friends with the other kids." Sara said, finishing her coffee and moving to pour herself a third cup.

Marie nodded, then spoke bitterly. "It doesn't help that I can't control it and that whenever someone touches me, it will happen. If someone holds on too long, they can die. And while their minds usually fade into the background until I call for them, if someone dies, they stay there awake and watching. If it's a mutant, I keep their powers, instead of them fading like their thoughts."

Sara frowned at that. "How do you know that? Has anyone held on that long before?"

Marie sighed and looked away from the older woman. "Yes. Logan did, but his powers healed him and now, I have his healing and senses. Nearly drove me insane a few times, and makes me appreciate how much control he has and understand why he's so . . . cranky around others. Another was a woman named Carol, who was dying of cancer. She had learned about me from some associates of Eric's, and knew that if she could make me absorb her, that there was a chance she could take over my mind and body. She wasn't a bad person, really, just desparate and self centered. She worked for a group called SHIELD as a field operative and felt that her survival was more important to the security of the world than that of a mere mutant girl who had ran away from home.

When she managed to get me, she held on until she was dead, and then tried to take over. For almost two weeks we fought and if it wasn't for having Logan and Eric in my head, I would have been swept aside. She had an incredibly disciplined mind."

"Was she a mutant? Did you get her powers?" Sara asked curiously. She sensed that the girl was telling her something intensely private, something that she probably hadn't told more than a handful of people.

Marie shrugged. "Well, not exactly a mutant. I'm guessing that you don't believe much in magic and gods and stuff?"

Sara snorted. "Kid, I've seen things I don't know how to describe except as magic." She thought back to Daniel, and Danny Woo's ghost who was always popping up. The images of past lives that flashed into her mind when the witchblade was trying to tell her something. She held up her wrist and the stone of the blade glowed as the bracelet transformed. "This is a magical weapon as old as civilization itself. I've heard some say that it was made from a branch from the tree of wisdom in the garden of Eden after Adam and Eve ate the apple. So while I'm usually skeptical, I've been forced to keep an open mind. So what does magic got to do with this . . . Carol?"

"Carol was known in certain circles as Ms. Marvel. Her source of powers was an ancient magical spell that was transfered to her during some kind of storm. Captain Marvel was fighting some one and his powers were transfered to her because of a freak lighting bolt hitting a weapon designed to draw his powers from him into one of his enemies. She had been a teacher and the fight was taking place at the school she taught. After wards, she quit the school and was recruited by SHIELD. Then a few years later, she found out she had a fatal case of cancer with no hope of recovery. She started looking for ways to cure herself and learned about me. And the rest is history."