Episode 4: Mutant Crush

Caldecot County Hospital, ER wing, a familiar young man lies bandaged in a hospital bed. A doctor is checking the IV equipment when another enters shortly there after. The new doctor is African American and bares a striking resemblance to the patient.

"How is Victor doing?" the seconds ask with concern in his voice, eyes darting back and forth between the first doctor and the patient.

"Not good I'm afraid Dr. Stone. When the car crashed into him it wrapped them both around a tree, virtually every bone in Victor's body was shattered and several organs punctured. All we can do is ease the pain until-"

Dr. Stone put of his hand to cut the first off, "Let me have my son," tears in his eyes, "L-Let him die at h-home, you know I have the equipment to keep him comfortable. Let him at least be with family."

The first doctor nods, turning to leave, "I'll make the arrangements."

Slowly Dr. Stone took a seat next to his son holding his hand comfortingly, his voice low, "Don't worry son, I'll save you...at any cost."

At a monster truck rally a behemoth of a truck rolls over several cars to a roaring crowd before a large arm emerges from the drivers window to wave to the people.

"All right, let's hear a big cheer for the lady of monster trucks, Shirley Ray!" the PA announces as Shirley's truck engine growls, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the main attraction of the evening. Let's give it up for the world's strongest teenager, Fred 'The Blob' Dukes!"

The crowd cheer even louder as a large teen boy with a Mohawk and a white jumpsuit suitable for Elvis and Evil Kenevil put together emerges on the scene, wrapping heavy chains around each arm, each chain tied to a different monster truck. Fred growls.

"All right, Fred. Let's show 'em what you got!"

Fred grunts, the engines of the trucks rev before they pull away, each in a opposite direction, "Hyah!" Fred shouts as he pulls the trucks together. The force enough to launch him skyward. As the two truck crash he lands on their back ends and takes in the cheers but the moment ends quickly as he loses his balance and falls. The crowd cheers turning to laughther. "Oh...Yeow...Whoa! Grrr."

Fred turns to the laughing crow with building rage, "STOP. LAUGHING. AT. ME!"

Shortly in Fred's is dressing room he rage still hasn't abated and he is destroying the place as Principal Raven Darkholme enters.

"Grr! Rraahhrr! Rr hyuh! Grrr!"

"Something wrong?" Ms. Darkholme says calmly.

"Yeah. These small-town hicks. They've laughed at me for the last time. I'm getting out of here for good!"

"That could be arranged. In fact, I know somewhere where your talents would be truly appreciated."

"Listen, lady, if you're from the circus, you can forget it!"

"Oh, no, no, no, no. I have something far more interesting in mind. Care to hear more?"

"Huh. Yeah, sure. Why not? Grr."

He shuts the door as Logan and Jean arrive outside, Logan balks a moment at the sight of Ms. Darkholme.

"Can I give you a lift." Mr. Wayne says passing Tori as they leave the institute.

"I wouldn't want to trouble you." Tori says with a smile, now dressed in casual clothes.

"No trouble at all," Mr. Wayne offers slinging Tori's bag over his shoulder as they come to his limo, Alfred waiting to open the door.

"Going back to high school at your age are we sir?" Alfred's dry humor not lost on anyone, his only other reaction a raised eyebrow. "Shall I swing by the Galleria to pick you school supplies." Before opening the door for the two to get in.

"So what was it like," Bruce opens casually as they begin driving off.

"What was what like," Tori asks confused.

"The Mortal Kombat Tournament?"

Tori falls silent a long while, her voice dripping with venom, "We won."

Bruce pauses, putting a hand on Tori's shoulder comfortingly, "You lost someone? Didn't you?"

Tori holds back tears as she balls her hands into fists, "Two...Ermac and Tremor."

Bruce's tone softens, "I-I'm sorry...I trained with the Lin Kuei for several years when I was younger...they are a strong, noble Clan."

Tori's eyes grow harder, "Not any more."

Sensing the building tension Bruce quickly changes the subject, "So how do you know Logan?"

"He's one of us."

Sensing things can only get worse Bruce changes subjects again, "What do you know about Scott Summers, is he still up for adoption, I know it's a bit late but."

Tori's tensions start to ebb and she starts to smile again, "Wow you start late, just skipped the entire 'raising' part of being a parent didn't you."

Bruce laughs, "Scott and I are two of a kind, I'm sorry I didn't know about him sooner and I know he's almost a adult but that only makes it that more important. He's going to be having his own life soon, I want to give him a leg up."

Tori looks Bruce up and down critically, "You're the son of THOSE Waynes?"

Bruce nods.

Bayville High, Ms. Darkholme's office.

"And this will be your schedule for the semester. Any questions, Mr. Dukes?"

"I don't know if I can do school again. I didn't much fit into the other ones." Fred say nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

"You won't have that trouble here. As the principal, I can make sure of it."

Fred nods and exits the office with his new schedule out into the hall looking very confused, "First period is...um... Man, this is complicated. Hey! Hey, you!"

Fred grabs Duncan Matthews as he walks by, "Wha-?"

"Where...where am I supposed to be?" Fred say pointing to his schedule.

"I dunno. How about a sideshow?"

Fred's rage builds as he growls, "Grrr. Don't you... Make fun... Of me!" ripping a set of lockers off the wall. He advances towards Duncan with them just as Jean comes around the corner.

"Hold it! Hey, hey, whoa!"

"Hi. You must be new here." Jean injects with a calming voice.

"Huh? Uh..." Fred starts to fluster as Jean looks at him.

"I'm Jean Grey."

Slowly Fred puts the lockers back against the wall, though they are quite dented, Duncan runs.

"Oh. Yeah, I am. New, I mean."

"I figured. Welcome to Bayville. So...what do your friends call you?"

"Don't know. Never had any friends. But my names is Fred, Fred Dukes."

The lockers shift and make a lot of noise as they settle, Fred laughs nervously.

"Well, Fred, I want to apologize for Duncan. He can be a real idiot sometimes. Hey, did you need any help figuring this out?"

"Yes. Uh, please."

"Ok. Hmm... Your first class is... Right over there!"

"Huh. Thanks."

Jean smiles and waves as she walks away, "Don't worry. The first day is always the roughest. It gets better. I'll see ya around!"

"Ya sure will." Fred coos as he watches Jean go, not watching as he knocks Tori over, rather then fall Tori rolls getting back on her feet quickly.

"Hey watch where your going big guy."

Fred's anger starts to build, "Are you making fun of my size?"

Tori throws up her hands disarmingly, "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What ever gave you that idea. I was just saying watch where your going." she sighs, rubs her eyes and extends her hand, "Let me start over, Tori Hanson. New Student."

Fred smiles sheepishly as he rubs the back of his neck, "F-Fred Dukes."

Tori slides over glancing down at Fred's schedule, "Well would you look at that, we have the same first class."

English class, among the normal students are Scott and Rogue.

"All right, for this drama exercise, you'll each be doing a scene with a partner. Since a few of you haven't chosen partners, I'll be pairing you up myself. Taryn, you and Paul are going to do Laura and Jim from the Glass Menagerie. And that leaves you...and you." The teacher says pointing first to Rogue then Scott.

Scott heaves his shoulders and sighs, "Oh, great."

"you two will be doing Shakespeare's Henry V. I've marked it. Henry and Katherine, daughter of the French king."

Another student, Paul, one of Scott's friends "Lotsa luck, Scott. I don't think miss small, dark, and sullen Has ever said two words. You're going to have to play both parts yourself, man."

The class laughs.

"All right, class. All right. Now, I want you to get together with your scene partner and rehearse. You perform on Tuesday."

"Uh...hey, you ok with this?" Scott says turning to Rogue with a casual tone.

"I'm not afraid of you."

"I didn't say you should be."

"Just tell your weirdo friends to keep their distance this time."

Scott sighs.

"Oh, yeah, she likes you. She's just playing hard to get."

"Shut up, Paul!"

In the cafeteria people are milling about as Fred enters.

Tod glances at Fred, as he sits with Jean, Kurt, Scott, and Tori, "Is wide load over there the one you and Logan went to see Saturday night, yo?" With his new Image Inducer Tod looks much cleaner and more attractive.

"Yeah, Fred. He's ok. When he's not ripping the lockers off the wall."

"Yo, he's the one who did that?" Tod smiles, "I like the new guy!"

Another student is getting lunch until Fred shoves him out of the way, "Ohh!"

"Fill 'er up!" Fred orders, but as the lunch lady grabs a plat Feed waves his hand, "Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa! Who said anything about a plate? Now, load it up. Heavy."

The cafeteria lady quickly exhausts herself filling Fred's tray. Satisfied he waves and walks away.

Back to the X-Men table now it's Kurt's turn to speak, "You and the rogue? Ach! Now that is a strange combination, ja?"

"Yeah. I got to play a romantic scene with a girl who thinks we tried to kill her. Man, she's going to have to be some kind of actress."

"My friend, you've got to invite me to the rehearsals!"

Fred walks by and sees Scott and Kurt laughing, his rage building, "Huh?"

Fred growls and walks over to a table as Tori stands, "Excuse me a moment. Gonna talk shop with the other new kid." Tori says quickly excusing herself before the others can interject, rushing over to Fred's side and quickly creating a ice block under his seat just as he is sitting. The Chair immediately cracks and gives way, grinding into the ice block and sending up some ice chips. Jean catches this and quickly distracts the cafeteria with a telepathic 'everybody look the other way'.

Tori drops into a seat next to Fred, "Sorry about that, chairs in here are crap."

Fred glances down at the ice block as he begins to eat, "Y-You did that?" he smiles, "Y-Your like me."

Tori smiles, "Well not quite..."

A mix of rage and confusion crosses Fred's face.

"Relax," Tori smiles, "Man you need anger management issues. All I was say is you were born with your powers. I trained for mine."

"It's just, when they laugh at me, I kind of explode inside, you know?" Fred says lowering his head then perking up a moment later, "You trained to create ice? You could totally pound someone with that kind of power."

Tori smiles, "Yes, I could. But that's would be the absolutely worst thing to do with them. You train to know when to fight and when to walk away. I could kicks half this school's but if I wanted to but what does that prove?"

"That your top dog."

Tori smirks as she grabs a burger from Fred's plate, "I already know that, I don't need to prove it."

"But if you kick their butts, their not going too make fun of you!" Fred growls.

"They make fun because they know they are not all that. I don't need to prove it."

Fred falls silent a while, "B-But still."

Tori turns the burger over in her hands a bit, "You know this stuff will kill your arteries. I mean don't get me wrong I love a Gut Buster as much as Kurt but you should eat healthier...you'll live longer."

"More of your your peaceful fighting junk?"

Tori smiles, "Peaceful Ninja junk."

As Tori walks away to rejoin the X-Table Fred watching her go with a smile.

After school, outside, Taryn and Jean walk by talking about homework, as Fred lumber up to them.

"Like, there goes my weekend. I can't believe how much homework I've got."

"Yeah, me, too." Jean pauses as Fred walks up to them, "Oh, hi, Fred. This is my friend Taryn."

"Yeah. Hi."

"Hi."

"Jean...would you happen to know where Tori is?"

"Tori? I think she was going to the Gym, get some after school working out done."

"Thanks Jean." Fred says lumbering off.

"Your new friend is kind of freaky."

"He's just new to socializing," Jean says casually. "He'll get better."

At the Gym Tori is doing punches and kicks to a punching bag as Fred lumbers in, she stops mid kicks and back flips to face Fred, "Oh, hi Fred."

Flustered Fred avoids Tori's direct look, "Uh, gee, would you, I mean... Would you like to... Want to get a soda or something?"

"Sure," Tori says with a shrug, heading for the woman's locker room, "Lust let me freshen up first."

"Uh yeah," Fred rubs the back of his neck as she walks off, "Right...sorry." lumbering over to loom by the door. "H-Hey Tori, you think I could make a good ninja?"

Fred waits a few minutes as Tori changes and showers, when she reemerges she has changed out of sweats back to her casual clothes, "It isn't easy Fred. And you need a lot of self control. You up for that."

Fred rubs his neck some more, "Yeah. Sure...why not."

She pokes his stomach playfully, "And your going to need to go on a strict diet, get up early. It isn't easy Fred. Half the kids who try wash out in a week."

Fred take in a deep breath to buff himself up, "I'm no quitter, I'm the Immovable Blob." Fred rummages in his overall pocket pulling out a poster of him from the Monster Truck circuit.

Tori smirks as she looks at it then give a excited shout, "Alright! So I got something to work with."

Fred smiles.

As Fred emerges from the burger restaurant with two large bags in hand and takes a seat at a outside table it creaks under him and hold, Tori waits opposite him as he hands out a burger, fries and a drink to Tori, his own bag seeming to hold more then should be humanly possible.

Tori points this out, "The first thing we are going to have to change is your diet, most of that is empty calories."

Fred frowns, "But I'm so hungry...like all the time."

Tori flips her hair and shrugs, "Might be a part of your powers, you know like Kurt's blue skin."

"Kurt has...blue...skin?"

"Long story."

This seems to perk Fred up, "So I;;m not fat, it-it's just how my power work."

Tori shrugs, That's more the Professor's thing then mine, but yeah could be.

"Professor? As in Xavier?" Fred deflates, "I already made a commitment to the Brotherhood just to get up here."

Tori smiles, "Hey it's ok, I'm sure it'll work out, it's not like it's our way or the highway. The Prof is all about helping your...our kind."

Fred smiles again.

"Hey, what's that?" Tori points behind Fred to a shadowed figure with a mob of guys spray painting a wall. "Be right back Freddy, Gotta introduce someone to my foot."

"Wait up," Fred says lumbering after, "I'll help."

The duo rush toward the vandal chasing them into a alley, "Ain't no where to run."

The figure, a girl, emerges from the shadows, 3 hoods emerge with her, she has a face like a cat and a tail and ears to match, "Who said anything about running." she hisses as storm clouds gather overhead.

"Good night, sweet Prince."

Before Tori and Fred can react they are hit by several lightning strikes until they pass out.

At the X-Mansion Tod and Kurt playing keep away football, Logan and the Professor are watching.

"Yo, I'm to slick for you elf!" Tod jokes as he bounds between the trees, Kurt hot on his tail.

"That's it, stink-fly. Keep the ball away from the elf. But you've got to concentrate, or-"

Tod is clothes-lined by a branch he doesn't jump high enough to avoid, loosing the ball, "Ungf!"

Kurt get the rebound and the ball, "Ha! It's all mine now, Toad!"

"Give me that, yo!"

Kurt 'ports onto a tree branch which breaks a moment later, Tod snags the football with his tongue.

"Watch where you're 'portin' elf!"

As Kurt falls and hits the ground Tod rolls on his back and starts laughing.

Logan grumbles, looking disgusted, "What kind of move was that?"

"Hmm. Innovation. Adaptation. It's what they're here to learn."

Suddenly the professor grunts in pain and hold his head, then turns to Logan, "It's Tori, she and a friend, Fred Dukes, have been kidnapped.

'Tori ...stay calm. We'll find you."

Logan snarls as he snaps at Kurt before running off, "You! Elf! Get Cyclops! I got to ride."

Logan runs off, suiting up and hoping onto his bike.

In the park near school Scott and Rogue rehearse.

"Do you like me, Kate?"

"Pardonnez-moi? I cannot tell what is 'like me'."

"An angel is like you, Kate, and you are like an angel."

Rogue giggles, "The girls are right. You are a charmer."

"Look, I'm just reading the lines, ok?"

"Yeah, I know. It's just, sometimes... I wish..."

"Yeah? Wish what?"

Rogue looks away, a lost look in her eyes, "wish... I could get close to somebody. But you know what happens when I do."

Kurt 'portsi in at that moment, "Whoo! Tender moment here? Sorry to interrupt."

"I swear, he's like an annoying little brother." Rogue protests as Kurt sticks his tongue out at her.

"What's the problem?"

"Tori and Fred's been nabbed!"

"What?" Scott suddenly stands and grabs Kurt by the shirt.

Rogue also stands, grabbing Kurt, "Freddy? What have you X-Men done to him!"

"Ooh! Easy on the exquisite costume, mein freund! Wolverine's On the scent, but I'm supposed to collect you Scott."

Scott hits the table, glaring at Rogue, "You coming or what. Fred's your guy right?"

"Just try and stop me."

"Come on!" Scott grabs Rogue's wrist and places it on Kurt's shoulder, "Teleporter to maximum, Mr. Wagner."

"Aye, captain!"

"Engage."

In a pop of smoke the 3 vanish.

Out on the road Logan stops his bike and sniffs the air. Then he starts up again and keeps driving.

Back at the mansion in the briefing room the Professor is running mission control, 'I've been in mental contact with Tori, but she has no idea where she is. All I can tell is that she and Fred are somewhere in this area.'

'We're on it' Scott projects back then looks to Rogue, "let's move."

"Wow! Y'all really look out for each other, don't you?" Rogue comments.

"Yeah. Yeah, we do." Jean answers.

Jean has now joined them as they piling into Scott's car as he peels out.

somewhere amid old warehouses.

"Your good, but not good enough." the catgirl growls as one of her boys tosses a stick of dynamite at Blob, he smothers it between his hands while Tori knocks out one of her goons.

"Oh a strong one," An new thug emerges from the shadows, big, muscled, tattooed and wielding a iron chain that he uses to retrain the Blob's arm, "But are you strong ENOUGH?"

"When did HE come from," Tori gaps as she launches at the cat girl, only to be re-buffered by a cyclone of wind around her body. 'Professor Storm got any relatives with cat ears, This girl got her own storm clouds and pocket hurricanes, I can't get close.'

Logan pulls up outside, sniffs the air, and charges in, "Grrr." he pauses only a moment to talk on a wrist communicator, "I found them. They're at the old ironworks at the south end. I'm going in."

"Logan, wait for backup."

Logan ignores the professor, and the Professor quickly contacts the others 'Wolverine has the location. I'm transmitting coordinates.'

'Got it, professor. Be there in 3!' Scott returns quickly, as he makes a sharp U-turn.

The Catgirl has just blasted Fred through a wall with a bust of air from her hands when Logan bursts in through the front doors, claws out. "Rraahhrr!"

Fred turns to Logan ready to body check him when Tori leaps between them, "He's on my team, he's here to help!"

"Oh."

"To slow!" the Bruiser tries to body check Fred but he just rebounds off, Fred lifts a large machine over his head and hurls it at The Bruiser, "No one moves the Blob if he don't want to be moved!"

The bruiser dodges, the machine taking out Wolverine who passes out, claws retracting just as Scott, Rogue, Kurt, and Jean charge in.

Cyclops blats the Bruiser as Jean catches several sticks of dynamite in mid air and hurts them back at their owner. "Tori! Fred, out. We got this."

A gust of wind knocks picks up Logan and hurts him at Scott, slamming him against the wall with Logan until he passes out.

"Sorry Scott but we need the fire power," Rogue says kneeling and removing a glove to absorb Scott's power, blasting the Bruiser and Catgirl with her optic blast as she stands back to back with Blob. Jean pins a couple thugs to the back wall and it's taking all she has to keep them there while Kurt is dodging machine gun fire from two more through a series of ports. Toad blinds as many as he can with his slime.

Rogue fires a warning shot at the catgirl, "Leave them alone, you yahoo!"

"What ya gonna do to me? Make me wear bad makeup?"

Rogue glances to Fred, her voice low, "Did Mystique tell you what my power is?"

"No. Should I care?"

Rogue takes a quick hold of him, "My power is your power, and I can take more than one. Now Fast Ball Special I'm ending this."

Fred nods grabbing Rogue as he hurls her like a javelin at the catgirl, She reaches out her hand, barley grazing the catgirl's cheek before the hurricane field knocks Rogue away, but the contact is enough to Break the girls contact, she wavers on her feet, giving Rogue the time to make firm contact and take her out. Rogue sprouting a tail, ears, and features like the catgirl.

"That just leaves the hired help," Tori says getting to her feet.

"Their gone," Jean notes, even the ones she has pinned have vanished.

Tori scoffs, "Seriously Ninja Gang Bangers?" she crosses her arms over her chest, "I'm insulted."

Rogue walks over to Blob as she slips her glove back on, "I only took a short-term dose of your power. You should be back to normal soon." her gaze split between Fred and the waking Scott, Jean cradling Scott as he stirs.

"You are like an angel, Kate." Scott smiles to Rogue.

"My name's not Kate. And I'm no angel."

But you helped us. So thank you."

Rogue throws her arm aroudn Blob as best she can, "Come on Fred, let's go home."

"Hey, wait!" Jean starting to chase after but Logan stops her.

"Easy, red. Let them go."

"But they-"

"...ain't ready. Trust me on this."

"Ok, so maybe their part of the dark, icky side, but I figure we owe them now." Tori jokes.

"Yeah. Yeah, we do. Big time." Scott returns dead serious as he puts his arm around Jean and the X-Men exit together.

It is several hours later before the Catgirl stirs, a figure looming in the shadows, a woman, "You put up quite the fight."

The woman hisses, "What's it to you?"

"How would you like a real place to stay," Mystique emerges from the shadows brushing some debris off her, "Instead of this hovel."

"Yeah? And what's the catch?"

Mystique smiles.

The door of the Brotherhood swings open as Mystique storms in, the collected hoodies gathering, Nala, Marlene, Kitty, Lance, Rogue, and Fred, "Listen up, I found you all a new member."

Mystique steps aside, showing the catgirl, "This is Katherine. She's going to be a great addition to your team."

Lance rolls his eyes, "Another girl, we're going to have to change the name to the Sisterhood at this rate."

"Alright!" Kitty says highfiving Marlene.

"Her!" Rogue growls.

"You!" Fred grimaces, "You tried to hut me and my girlfriend!"

Mystique interposes herself between the two sides, "A miss understanding. Katherine was just looking for easy money, now that she is living here that won't be a problem."

Mystique's gaze cuts through all three individuals, "Right."

Instantly deflating the building tension.

"Well," Katherine smirks, "Now that that is settled...BOYS!"

With a snap of her fingers her 6 thugs swarm into the room, "Right away Kitten." one mushes as he makes his way to a empty room, "Come on F-Stop, boss lady isn't going to wait all day for her room."

another of the thugs nods, leading the others into the room, to the shock of everyone else present, letting Mystique slip away unnoticed.

"Where did those goes come from?!" Fred says confused.

Katherine moves over to kitty purring, "So your the other Kitty-Kat in town?"

Kitty smiles nervously, "Meyow."