Chapter 3:

There was Will Vandom. Staring at her mother in shock at what she just told her. She then stared at John and Angelo scared of what they would think of her now that they know she's a Mutant. Those most normal people call a freak or monster. Part of her also felt betrayed thinking that her mother told John and Angelo about her being a Mutant.

"You... You told them!?", Will shouted as she backed away from them. "Why, Mom!? Why!?", Will yelled as she headed upstairs to her bedroom.

"Will, wait!", Susan called out only to be stopped by John.

"Easy, Susan.", John said to her. "Maybe it's best if Angelo go talk to her."

"But..."

"Don't worry, Aunt Susan.", Angelo said heading for the stairs. "It'll be okay.", he said before heading upstairs.

"It's going to be okay, Susan.", John said as they sat back on the couch. "Just give her time."

"I hope you're right, John.", Susan said to her friend. "Will can barely touch anything with a current without frying it half the time. ", she said as she looked down at the fried DVD player that was in the box next to the couch.

"Then let me tell you about the Institute.", John said. "If you allow Will to go there, she'll get the help she needs to control her powers.", he said as he held Susan's hand giving her comfort to which she smiled at John.

Meanwhile, Will was in he bedroom laying on her bed crying as she held one of her many stuffed frogs. Actually the stuffed frog she had was one that Angelo gave her on her birthday. It had a thing of red hair with brown eyes and was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a baby blue shirt. She actually named it 'Lil Will'. As she was holding the frog for comfort, one thing rang through her head.

'He hates me! They hate me!', she thought to herself as a lone tear ran down her face. 'Why would he want to be friends with a freak!?', she thought as a knock came at her bedroom door.

"Go away!", Will shouted as she curled up on her bed.

"It's me, Will.", Angelo said through the door. "Can I come in so we can talk?"

"Why would you want to talk to a freak!?", Will cried as she sat up in her bed.

"Because we've been best friends since we were kids.", Angelo replied. "Now can you please open this door so we can talk. Or I can knock it down! And believe me when I say that I can do it!", he said in a tone that said he'd do it.

Not wanting to make her best friend mad, Will got up from the bed and opened the door letting Angelo in.

"Thank you.", Angelo said as he walked into the room. "Wow! This place hasn't changed to much.", he said as he sat with Will on her bed.

Will then grabbed her stuffed frog and sat in lotus position while looking down at her frog.

"You want to talk about it?", Angelo asked only for Will to keep her head down.

"I... I can't believe Mom told you and Uncle John about this!", Will said. "I thought I could trust her!"

"Will, Aunt Susan didn't tell us about you being a Mutant.", Angelo said getting a look of surprise from Will.

"But if she didn't tell you, then how did...?", Will began to question.

"We know because of where I live at now.", Angelo began to explain. "I live at the Drakar Institute of Higher Learning, for Gifted Youngsters.", he said getting a raised eyebrow from Will. "It's a school for Mutants to help them control their powers and abilities. And the man who runs the school is one who has a way of finding other Mutants."

"And that's how you found me.", Will figured getting a nod from Angelo when she gasped as she figured something else out. "Wait a sec! Are you a... a... a..."

"Mutant? Yep.", Angelo said. "And so is Uncle John. I became one at thirteen, just like most Mutants. And that's why Uncle John and I are here, Will. We want you to come and live at the Institute. There you can learn to control your powers."

"Isn't there a cure to all of this?", Will asked.

"Sorry, but no.", Angelo said. "There's no cure. The best you can do is learn to control your powers."

"And I can learn control at this Institute?", Will questioned getting a nod from Angelo. "Why doesn't the government do something?"

"Oh, they do.", Angelo said. "They try and get Mutants to go with them so they can take and turn our kind into living weapons.", he said surprising Will. "We actually have someone who the government did some experiments on. She can be a bit moody sometimes, but man can she fight!"

"So is this Institute the only place that helps Mutants?", Will asked.

"Well there are some other places, but they like to charge a lot of money.", Angelo replied. "Plus, there are other groups that would want you to fight for them. But the Institute is different."

"I want to gain control before I hurt somebody.", Will said as she looked down at her hands.

Angelo then took her hands in his and smiled at her.

"Then let's get you that control.", Angelo said giving her a smile that she returned before throwing her arms around him in a hug that he returned. "I'll take that as a yes.", he said getting a small laugh out of Will.

Back downstairs, John had told Susan about the Institute and what they stood for. As much as she wanted Will to stay, she knew that the Institute was the best place for her daughter.

"I know you want to keep Will safe, Susan.", John said. "But you and I both know that as a Mutant, she's going to face all sorts of problems. Problems that she can better face with fellow Mutants."

"I supposes you are right, John.", Susan said knowing her daughter needed help. "Will needs help. And if this Institute can help her, and if she wants to, then she can go."

"You mean that?"

Susan and John turned to see Will and Angelo standing at the stairs. As Susan got to her feet, Will ran up to her mother and gave her a loving hug that Susan returned.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you, Mom!", Will said as she held on to her mother. "I should of known that you wouldn't betray me like that."

"It's okay, Sweetie.", Susan said as she held her daughter close. "I love you no matter what. Always remember that."

"I will.", Will said as both women back away from their hug smiling at each other.

"So, I take it that you'll be coming to the Institute with us, huh?", John questioned getting a nod from Will. "Good. Then go pack a bag. I know this sounds rushed, but we have to leave as soon as possible."

"Will the government really try to come after Will?", Susan questioned. "I know you told me that the government has agents in a lot of cities and towns watching for any signs of Mutant activity, but this is Fadden Hills."

"Fadden Hills, Heatherfield, Open HIll. One agent or ten. It doesn't matter. There are a lot of agents out there.", John explained. "But we can wait and leave tomorrow afternoon.", he said getting a hug from Will.

"Thanks, Uncle John.", Will said.

"No problem, Kiddo.", John said as he returned the hug.

"Well, seeing as this is your last night here, then I'll be cooking one of your favorite meals tonight for dinner.", Susan said to her daughter.

"Spaghetti and meatballs!", Will said making her mother smile before going tinto the Kitchen. "So can you tell me more about the Institute?", she asked Angelo as they sat on the couch.

"Sure.", Angelo said. "First off, the whole place is actually a mansion. The backyard is huge! There's a pool with some hot tubs and a tennis court, a basketball court, a game room, and lounge."

As Angelo was telling Will about the Institute, John went into the kitchen to help Susan cook, when he saw her at the counter about to make some meatballs. He noticed that her hands were shaking and he knew why. He walked up to Susan and took her hands in his surprising her. Susan looked up at John who gave her a kind smile that she returned before she burst into tears as she buried her face in John's chest.

"It's okay, Susan.", John said as he stroked Susan's back. "Just let it out. Let it all out.", John said knowing this was something she needed.

Now outside the Vandom's home, there was a figure that had been listening to everything that was going on. He was about 5'6 with white hair and green eyes. He was dressed in a pair of tan cargo pants with brown shoes and a white tank-top with a dark blue jacket and a brown hat. After he had heard enough, he crouched down on all fours and began to hop away like a frog. But when he did this, he was able to hop away at a great distance into the nearby forest. Once he was far enough into the forest, he came to what looked like a small cabin. Once in the cabin, the man went over to what looked like a CB radio and began to press some buttons and turn some dials until he got a good signal.

"Jecht to base. Jecht to base!", the man known as Jecht said hoping someone would hear him. "Anybody there?"

"Dash here. What is it, Jecht?", came a voice through the reciver.

"Jecht have news about Mutant girl!", Jecht said. "She want to go with Drakar's people! They leave tomorrow!"

"Good job, Jecht.", Dash said. "Stand by for further instructions. Dash out.", he said before the connection was cut.

On the other end of the line was a teenage boy with brown hair and blue eyes dressed in a blue uniform with gray boots, gloves, belt and round shoulder pads. After cutting the connection with Jecht, he ran at super-human speed out of the room he was in and down several halls until he cane to a set of double doors that opened when he stopped at them. He walked into the room to see a man in a gray casual suit with black shoes sitting in a large throne with a helmet sitting on a stand next to him and a cape hanging off a pole that was also next to him. At the moment he was looking over something on his iPad before he noticed Dash walking up to him.

"What is it, Dash?", the man asked as he continued to work on his iPad.

"I have news about one of the Mutants you had our teammates spy on.", Dash reported. "This one, like the one in Sesamo, has decided to join up with Drakar and his bunch."

"And which one is this one?", the man asked still focused on his iPad.

"The one in Fadden Hills.", Dash answered.

"I see.", the man said as he put the iPad down. "Take Lazer with you and go after the girl with Jecht."

"What about the girl in Sesamo?", Dash questioned.

"Nerissa is there. She's to powerful for you and Lazer. "Your best bet is to go after the one in Fadden Hills. "And with Charger, Knockdown, Clubber, and Cedric in Heatherfield, our forces are spread a bit thin with the others on another mission."

"Very well.", Dash said with a bow. "We shall do our best to get the girl from Fadden Hills, Magus."

"See that you do, Dash.", Magus said before returning to his work on his iPad.

Dash then left the room to complete his mission.

"You move fast, Himerish.", Magus said. "But in the coming war, against the Humans, power shall be the winning factor.", he said as he went back to what he was doing.

Later that day in Heatherfield, the Hales were having an important talk about the future of Cornelia.

"So what do we do?", Cornelia asked as they all were sitting in the living room of their penthouse apartment home.

"We have to think about what's best for you, Dear.", Harold said. "This Drakar fellow, seems nice, but we don't know anything about him."

"Well, I checked out the place he runs from the online site he has and it seems on the level.", Elizabeth said. "He doesn't charge much money unlike the other schools I've been checking out. So that's a relief."

"I don't care about the cost.", Harold said. "I care about our daughter's safety."

"I do too, Dear.", Elizabeth said. "And from what I've read, this Institute Dr. Drakar runs seems like a good place for Cornelia."

"What do you think, Cornelia?", Harold asked his daughter who was looking through the different places on the lap top.

"Well, the Institute does look nice from the pictures online.", Cornelia said. "And the price is pretty fair, like Mom said. And I may even get a roommate. Maybe... Maybe they can help me learn to control my powers. I don't want to lose control and end up hurting somebody!"

"Well, if this is what you want, then I'm okay with it.", Harold said making his daughter smile as a knock came at the door. "I'll get it."

Once he answered the door, Harold saw that it was a man in a black suit with matching shoes and sunglasses were standing there looking very serious.

"Harold Hale. I'm Agent Miles, with the FBI.", the man said as he took his shades off. "I'm here because we, at the FBI, believe that you and your family have had an encounter with one Himerish Drakar. We believe that he came here in regards to your daughter, Cornelia Hale. Is this true?"

"Maybe.", Harold said remembering what Himerish said about other factions wanting his daughter. "What if he has?"

"Well, if you would allow me to come in so we can talk, Sir, I'm sure we can come to a better understanding of things.", Miles said with what looked like a sad excuse for a smile Harold has ever seen.

"Let's cut to the chase, Agent Miles.", Harold said. "We both know why you're really here. And seeing as you don't have a warrant, I DON'T have to let you into my home. So please go away for I will not let you turn my daughter into a weapon for the government."

"Suit yourself, Sir.", Miles said as he put his shades back on. "I'll give you forty-eight hours to think about working with us.", he said as he pulled out a card and slipped it in the pocket of Harold's shirt. "Think wisely about this before I am forced to get that warrant and... take your daughter by force. Good day, Sir.", he said before turning to walk away.

"Why that little...!", Harold snapped as he slammed the door.

"What happened, Dear.", Elizabeth asked as Harold took the card and ripped it up.

"It looks like the FBI is interested in Cornelia.", he said causing both women to gasp in shock. "Pack a bags, Cornelia. You're going to the Institute!"

"Harold?", Elizabeth questioned.

"I'd rather our daughter get taught in a safe environment than being turned into a weapon!", Harold said making his wife and daughter smile.

"Thank you, Dad!", Cornelia said as she ran up to her father and gave him a hug that he returned followed by his wife and youngest daughter making it a family group hug.

"Can I have Cornelia's room?", Lillian asked getting a laugh out of everyone.

"We'll talk about it.", Harold said giving his oldest daughter a wink making her grin. "But right now, I have a call to make.", he said as he took the phone and the card Dr. Drakar gave Elizabeth and dialed the cell phone number on the card.

"Come on, Squirt. You can help me pack.", Cornelia said as she took his sister by her hand and led her upstairs and to her bedroom.

"Can I have some of your stuffed bunnies!?", Lillian asked.

"Oh brother.", Cornelia said with a small smile as she rolled her eyes.

As for Harold, the phone rang a few time before it was answered.

"Hello. Dr. Drakar.", came the voice of Himerish on the other end. "How may I help you?"

"Doctor. This is Harold Hale.", Harold said. "We've made our decision. We'd like for our daughter to go to your school."

"I see.", Himerish said. "Very well. I'll call you and let you know when we'll be leaving. May I suggest we all meet up at the Silver Dragon on the day of departure?"

"That's works fine with us.", Harold said. "But I think you should know that we just got a visit from the FBI right after we made our decision to let Cornelia go to your school."

"I see.", Himerish said. "And did they give you forty-eight hours to think about working with them?", he asked.

"Y-Yes they did.", Harold said. "How did you know that?"

"It's how they work.", Himerish said. "But the truth is that they act within thirty-six hours. I hate to say this but we must act fast! Can you have Cornelia ready to go in twenty-four hours?"

"Of course.", Harold said. "She may not like it, but I take it that this must be done for her own safety."

"Yes.", Himerish said. "Meet me at the Silver Dragon tomorrow, at the same time we first met today."

"Very well.", Harold said. "And thank you, Doctor."

"You are welcome, my friend.", Himerish said before they hung up their phones. "That's one down. Now I only hope my X-Men can convince the other children to join us. One can only hope."

In another part of Heatherfield, Hay Lin and Yan Lin were sitting at a table in the Silver Dragon having some tea as Yan Lin had just told her little cousin about the Institute. Well, what she could tell her for the moment.

"It sounds nice, Cuz, but I... I don't know if I'm ready for something like this.", Hay Lin said. "I mean, I'm only fifteen. This is just way to much."

"I understand, Hay Lin. Really, I do.", Yan Lin said. "But if it wasn't for Dr. Drakar, who knows where I'd be right now. Ten to one the government would be training me to be some kind of weapon doing who knows what."

"How can you be so sure that the government would do that?", Hay Lin questioned.

"Because we have someone at the Institute who was once a test subject of the government.", Yan Lin said as their grandmother came up to them with another thing of tea. "They really did a number on her."

"How bad was it?", Hay Lin asked.

"So bad that she's lost her memories.", she said making Hay Lin gasp. "The Doc has been using his telepathic powers to help her recover her memories but no such luck there. He only gets bits and pieces that show places which she searches for in hopes of finding any clues into what happened to her."

"Sounds rough.", Grandma Yan said as she poured her grand-daughters more tea and sat with them. "I do hope your friend finds what she's looking for."

"Me too.", Hay Lin said. "So, do you think Irma and Cornelia will be going with you and Cassidy?"

"Maybe.", Yan Lin said. "Not sure. But right now, I'm more concerned about you coming with me, Hay Lin. I'm not trying to put any pressure on you, but I also want you to be safe while learning to control your powers.", she said as she took her cousin's hands in hers. "I don't want you to end up as a living weapon of the government."

"I don't either.", Hay Lin said. "But..."

"Listen, Hay Lin.", Grandma Yan said getting her grand-daughter's attention. "Your cousin is taking a great risk coming all the way here knowing that she too can be picked up by the government."

"What!?", Hay Lin questioned in surprise while looking at her cousin. "But why!? You're with the Institute!"

"It's... complicated.", Yan Lin said. "Let's just say that the government would like to be rid of Dr. Drakar's Institute. But thankfully, he has some friends in high places and with deep pockets."

"Maybe... Maybe I can come there for a month to see how it's like.", Hay Lin said. "You know. Like a trial run."

"I can live with that.", Yan Lin said with a smile that Hay Lin returned. "So you want to tell Uncle Chen and Aunt Joan?", she asked getting a nod from Hay Lin.

The two cousins went with their grandmother to tell Chen and Joan about their daughter's declension. But what they didn't know was that they were being watched. Watching them was a man with short black hair with blue eyes dressed in a business suit with a brown leather belt that had a small side pouch that you really couldn't see. He was sitting two tables away from them but was able to hear everything they talked about. After they left their table, he paid his bill and left the restaurant and headed down an alley. Once down the alley, he suddenly changed his form to that of a man with blonde hair that went down to his shoulders with green eyes dressed in a green uniform with black boots and the same leather belt and pouch. He then pulled out a cell phone, from the pouch where he also had a wallet, and pressed a few buttons.

"What is it, Cedric?", came a familar voice.

"It seems that the Lin child has decided to go to the Institute, Magus.", Cedric reported. "She is also close friends with the Lair child who may be going with them as well seeing as she's related to one of Drakar's students like the cousin of the Lin girl."

"I see.", Magus said. "Then I guess we'll have to change both of their minds. Return back to base. I can't risk you getting expose yet. I'll send word for my other forces to retrieve the girls."

"By your command.", Cedric said before hanging up and putting his phone back in the pouch.

Cedric then transformed into a man with brown hair and blue eyes dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a black shirt with brown shoes and leather belt and pouch. He then left the alley and headed for the bus stop to catch a bus. Now elsewhere, in some part of Alaska, there's a Japanese woman wandering somewhere in a forest where it had snowed. She has short black hair that goes down to her shoulders and yellow eyes. She dressed in a pair of black jeans, belt, boots, gloves, and a black leather jacket with a white t-shirt. She comes to a facility that is clearly abandoned as she had to kick open the door to the place. Once she searched the place, she finds an elevator but it doesn't work. It doesn't matter to her as she pushes the doors open and slides down the cables to the bottom floor. Once down there, she sees that there's a lab at the bottom floor. She's not a fan of this kind of lab. For it's the kind that once did test on people. Namely Mutants. Like her. She soon finds the main computer to the lab and turns it on and is surprised that there's enough power to turn it on.

"Let's see what you've got.", the woman said as she punched in a few commands.

Soon a file came up that the woman clicked on. Once she did, a video began to play. The woman was surprised to see that she was on the video.

"What the...!?", the woman questioned just before a male's voice was heard from the video.

"Test subject ten.", the voice said as the camera is pointed to the "X" on a circular clear tank that is filled with what looks like a strange green liquid. "Name, Orube Wong.", the voice says as the camera's view backs away to show the woman floating in the tank with a mask over her mouth that has a tube leading up to the top of the tank.

In the video, Orube sees that she's dressed in a black sports bra and underwear. She also sees that there are four metal bands around both of her arms and legs. Along with one wrapped around her stomach, ribs, chest, and forehead with wires attached to her body with a thing of goggles over her eyes.

"What are they doing to me!?", the woman known as Orube questions as she continues to watch the video.

"This Mutant has some extraordinary abilities.", the voice said. "Regenerative healing factor along with superhuman senses, strength, agility, stamina, reflexes, and longevity. She's highly intelligent and fluent in various languages. And she's a great fighter. She truly is a thing of beauty. I don't know why we didn't use her as our first test subject. But then again being our tenth test subject goes well with the Roman number "X". "For if this goes well, she will be called Weapon X."

"Weapon X, huh?", Orube questioned as she continued to watch the video.

"Now we'll begin the process of bonding the adamantium to the subject's skeletal structure.", the voice said as the camera turned to focus on the source of the voice. "Hopefully, with her healing factor, the adamantium will bond to her skeleton making it nearly unbreakable.", the man said. "Which will go well with the bone claws she already has in her hands."

The man was bald with a thing of goggles on. He was of slim build wearing a lab coat and white pants and black shoes. Seeing this man did not make Orube happy for some reason.

"Who is that guy?", she questioned as she watched the video.

The man then flipped some switches on a panel and pressed some buttons. The cameraman then focused on the tank that Orube was in. Bubbles began to float in the water of the tank just as Orube woke up screaming. And for good reason, the metal bands, that she figured was adamantium, began to sink through her skin and into her body. From what Orube could tell, from watching the video, she must of went through some major pain. After what looked like hours, but was only a few minutes, the man ended the process and walked up to the tank with the cameraman. At first, Orube looked life-less in the tank. But then she woke up.

"How do you feel, Orube?", the man asked.

"I feel... I feel... ARGH!", she began to scream as she lifted up her arms and looked at her hands. "What did you do to me!?", she asked as three metal claws came out from each of her hands.

"Just as I figured.", the man said. "The adamantium has also coated her bone claws as well! This makes her an even better Weapon X!"

Suddenly, Orube used her claws to cut a hole in the tank.

"What are you doing!?", the man questioned as Orube bust a hole in the tank.

Once she does this, the water flows out of the tank allowing her to stand on her feet. She rips the wires off of her and takes off the mask and goggles before jumping out of the tank. She then glares at the man who gave her, her new skeleton.

"What did you do to me!?", Orube asked as she walks up to the man.

"I gave you a nearly unbreakable skeletal structure!", the man explained.

"I... I feel funny.", Orube said. "My head. What's wrong with me? What did you do to me!?", she questioned.

"There was a chance of the process effecting you mind.", the man said. "Perhaps your memories were effected. None the less, they aren't to important."

"They're important to me!", Orube roared. "And you're going to pay for taking them from me!", she snapped as he ran at the man only for him to press a button on the wall causing a thing of steel doors to close keeping Orube stuck in the other room.

"We have to get away!", the man said. "With those claws of hers, she'll cut through that door in no time!", he said as he and the camera man took off down the hall. "Leave the camera! Whatever you filmed is in the computer's memory!", before focusing on the door long enough to see a set of claws pierce through it.

The cameraman dropped the camera before taking off with the man. The camera was facing upward giving Orube the view of the door long enough to see herself cut an opening in the door and walk through it. She then saw herself glared down at the camera before letting out yell and slashing at the camera killing the feed before the video ended.

"So this is where I got these.", Orube said as she held up her right hand and made her claws come out. "So where's the tank?", she questioned as she retracted her claws and looked around the area.

Soon she found the tank that held her and followed the path to the door she cut opened. She gently touched the claw marks before going through the opening. Orube sees the slashed camera and continued to walk down the hall. It all felt familiar to her yet felt like a distant memory. Soon she was at the end of the hall that led outside where it was now snowing. Seeing that there was noting there, Orube turns to go back the way she came. It doesn't take her long to backtrack to the way she came into the place and walk through the forest to her mode of transportation which was a black mini-jet. Orube walks towards the mini-jet when she picks up a scent that causes her to growl as she looks around. She suddenly hears a roar that causes her to look up to see a figure coming down at her. Orube jumps back just in time to dodge the figure as it landed causing snow to fly in different directions.

"Been a long time, Runt.", the figure said with a deep, gruff voice.

The figure stood to be 6'5 with long pale blonde hair and green eyes. He was dressed in a thing of brown pants and boots with a white tank-top and a brown coat that went down to his ankles. He, like Orube, had some sharp canines that he bared with his smirk.

"Frost!", Orube said as she called out her adamantium claws in her hands. "Looks like I'll get to finish our last fight.", she said with a smirk.

"Bring it on, Runt!", Frost said with a smirk as he extended his already sharp fingernails ready to fight.

Both Mutants let out a battle cry before charging at each other!

A/N: That's right, folks! Orube and Frost are the Wolverine and Sabertooth in this story! Cool, huh!? And now Will and Cornelia are going to the Institute while Hay Lin is willing to give it a trial run. Now all that's left is Irma. Will she go or will she be forced to go with either the government or with Magus and his forces? Find out in the next chapter!

Please review.