Once Again Things Get Worse

"Blood was spilled at the Xavier Institute yesterday when..."

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"One of the deadliest mutant related incidents on American soil..."

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"The media is having such a field day with this," Tabitha grunted as she flipped through the channels in the living room. Almost everyone at the Institute was there the following day. "How the hell did they know about Autumn and Jesse anyway?"

"One of the cops must have tipped the reporters off," Sam grumbled.

"We're lucky they didn't arrest Jesse and Autumn," Everett sighed.

"Although maybe they should have," Paige glared at Autumn in the corner, who simply didn't care. "At least one of them anyway!"

"The cops didn't arrest a lot of people," Ray snapped. "Out of the hundred or so armed FOH guys and protestors they only took in eight of 'em! And half of them are already out on bail!"

"And some of them are probably right back out there in front of the Institute," Amara grumbled.

"No, I don't think so," Logan looked outside.

The front gate and wall were completely destroyed. There were still metal scraps left over from the fight from the previous day. There were soldiers in Jeeps and tanks guarding the front of the Xavier Institute. Not that they were really necessary, for what few protesters out there were wisely staying on the other side of the street.

"How's Madelyne doing?" Logan asked Betsy.

"She's fine," Betsy said. "Her telepathy hasn't really manifested yet. But she was able to sense something. Something so powerful that it brushed against her latent abilities and almost triggered them. Fortunately her telepathic abilities are still dormant. So we don't have to worry about her powers getting out of control just yet."

"That's a relief," Logan sighed. "Without Charles and Jean a new telepath with her potential power is one the last things we need right now. No offense Bets."

"None taken," Betsy nodded. "I may be pretty good. But with her potential I'm nowhere near ready to take on training her."

"But we weren't ready to be left on our own," Paige sighed. "Without the X-Men and the Misfits we're in real trouble."

"Hey we did pretty well defending ourselves," Tabitha said. "Well…Mostly until things kind of blew up in our faces."

"How could things get out of control so fast?" Warren sighed as he patted Jesse's shoulder.

"I'm sorry Angel. This is my fault. didn't mean to kill him! I swear it!" Jesse was close to tears.

"I know you didn't Jesse," Warren told him calmly. "It was an accident." He glared at Autumn. "Unlike some people you wouldn't deliberately hurt anyone."

If Autumn was offended, she never showed it. "Hey don't you think you people are being a little harsh?" Jubilee asked softly. "I mean they were shooting guns at us."

"You weren't there Jubes," Paige told her. "You didn't see the faces of those men…Her face as she killed them! Yeah I saw it! You enjoyed it you sick little…" Paige made a fist.

"Hold on girlfriend," Jubilee held her back. "Uh hitting her, not a good idea if you get my point."

"I don't know why you morons are making such a fuss about this now!" Starla put her hands on her hips. "It's not like this wasn't ever going to happen! From what I've seen since day one you've been training all of us like we're soldiers in some private war or something. So when some of us start acting like soldiers in war all of the sudden you get upset! I mean you train someone to fight and blow stuff up, they're going to fight and blow stuff up! And people get hurt or killed! It's that simple! What shocks me is that it's taken this long for it to happen around here! I tell you though, personally I'm glad for what they did! They're dead, we're not. I can live with it."

"What the hell do you know about it? You weren't even out there!" Jubilee shouted. "You were hiding in the mansion while the rest of us were fighting!"

"What the hell was I supposed to do? Fly around and make myself a target?" Starla snapped. She glared at Jesse. "Unlike some people I know my limitations! I would have been just another liability out there!"

"Why you little…" Tabitha made a fist.

"She's right," Jesse stopped her. "I am a liability as long as I can't control my powers. I had no business being out there. And Starla isn't as powerful or hasn't been trained as much as the rest of us. I should have thought things through myself."

"Maybe you have a point, but at least you didn't kill people on purpose!" Paige glared at Autumn.

"They were trying to kill us!" Tim shouted at her.

"Yeah get over it Paige!" Roberto agreed.

"The point is that we're supposed to be better than that," Sam backed up his sister.

"Stop it!" Candy snapped. "This fighting isn't going to solve anything!"

"See just what I told you," Starla threw up her hands. "That's the only thing that we do around here! Am I the only one who notices this?"

"I see you guys are holding up as well as can be expected," General Hawk walked in. "I'm sorry about all of this. I should have known someone would have tried something like this sooner or later and sent you some support."

"Don't blame yourself Hawk," Logan told him. "In the first place it ain't your job to baby sit us twenty four hours a day. Cobra's still a pretty big threat and you gotta handle it the way you see fit. And secondly nobody could have predicted that the FOH would pull a stupid move like that."

"Well they're not if I have anything to say about it," General Hawk growled. "Low Light and Spirit will be returning immediately here after the mission. In the meantime I've assigned a few Joes and Greenshirts to guard the perimeter."

"Greenshirts?" Candy asked.

"Troops that support the Joes," Hawk explained. "Since you no longer have a front gate or wall we might as well make sure nobody else attacks. At least until it's rebuilt."

"Thanks Hawk," Warren sighed. "Without the others we need all the help we can get."

"I'm afraid that's not the only reason I'm here," Hawk sighed. "You see…"

"What's that commotion out front?" Sam noticed something. "More press? What's going on?"

A huge armored truck with some kind of yellow insignia was being let through the gates. "I gave orders to let no one in!" Hawk snapped. "Not even X-Factor!"

"X-Factor? The government team of mutants?" Forge asked.

"What are they doing here?" Everett asked.

"Oh no…" Hawk also noticed that the press was also gathering outside. "No! I can't believe that backstabbing Valarie Cooper would do this to me! Wait yes I can!"

"Do what?" Logan asked. Then he realized.

"It wasn't supposed to go down like this Wolverine," Hawk told him.

"I know you wouldn't set us up like this General," Logan growled. "You're not that kind of man."

"Set us up for what?" Danielle asked. "Wolverine what's going on?"

"Something really bad is about to go down," Hawk told them. "I don't know if most of you kids should be here for this."

"Let them stay," Logan said. "It's too late to do anything anyway."

"For what? What's going to happen?" Sam asked.

"Hello Wolverine," Karma, the Vietnamese born telepathic/possession leader of X-Factor walked in. She was wearing the black and yellow uniform of X-Factor.

"Karma," Wolverine nodded. He looked at some other members of X-Factor. "I see you brought you goon squad."

"This isn't exactly our idea of a picnic either," Strong Guy, a huge muscular mutant with only one white tuft of hair on his bald head grunted.

"Cooper thought that it was best that an all mutant team handle this," Telek, a tall Native American male with black hair told them. (He was a telekinetic.) He had two mutant inhibitor collars in his hand.

"A legitimate mutant team," American Eagle folded his arms. He was a Native American with super strength and quick reflexes and an uncanny aiming ability. He had long black hair down his back. He was carrying some shackles.

"You too Dazzler?" Logan looked at Alison Blaire, a one time member of the X-Men that had left the team for X-Factor.

"I'm sorry Wolverine," Alison sighed, absently pulling at the gloves of her uniform. "Willow and Medic are in the truck."

"Just more glory press for you guys huh?" Logan snarled.

"It's not like that and you know it!" Karma snapped.

"I was told I was going to handle this," Hawk glared at her. "Quietly!"

"Sorry General but as you can see from these signed orders we are charged with this now," Telek handed him a piece of paper. "It comes straight from the top."

"For the record we didn't want this assignment," Alison told them. "It just…"

"I know how it goes Light Show," Logan growled. "Believe me."

"I'm sorry," Karma said. "We have to take them into custody. Jesse Aaronson and Autumn Rolfson…You're to come with us. American Eagle…Telek…Cuff them."

This sparked a row of protest from the students. Except ironically from the two students that were going to be taken away. "They were just defending themselves!" Tim shouted. "And the school! This bites!"

"You're arresting our friends for defending themselves?" Ray shouted. "In case you didn't notice, those FOH creeps had guns, clubs, knives, grenades…TANKS!"

"They were trying to kill us all and burn the school to the ground!" Roberto agreed. "And you want to arrest them for that?"

"We're not arresting them," Karma told him. "Just taking them into protective custody."

"There's a difference?" Roberto scoffed.

"Kid's got a point," Logan growled.

"Look Logan," Karma sighed. "I know this is hard. But people are starting to talk. And I don't mean the people on morning talk shows. This place is supposed to be teaching mutants how to control their powers and to have two mutants whose powers are out of control…Well…That and having Xavier and the rest of the X-Men missing isn't exactly helping your case if you get my drift."

"So you're showing the public that the dangerous mutants are being carted away to somewhere they'll be placed under lock and key never to see that light of day again," Tabitha snarled.

"Well maybe if you people were practicing how to control your powers like this school is supposed to teach you instead of blowing up everything in sight we wouldn't even need to be here!" American Eagle snapped. "It's maniacs like you that give the rest of us a bad name!"

"The Institute was created to help mutants and encourage peaceful coexistence with humans!" Candy shouted. "Even I know that!"

"Yeah and a bang up job they're doing lady," American Eagle snorted. "How many lawsuits and scandals have you gotten yourselves into? I know there's at least ten of them stemming from Worthington alone!"

"They are not going to GRSO if that makes any difference," Karma told them. "We've been instructed to take them to X-Factor Headquarters."

"At least they'll get better treatment there," Alison said quietly.

"And they won't be tortured like lab rats," Tabitha acknowledged with a growl.

"Guys it's okay. I understand," Jesse voluntarily allowed himself to be shackled. "I am dangerous."

"We'll find a way to get you out of this Jesse, I promise!" Warren said.

"I know Angel," Jesse sighed. "Don't blame yourself. At least you tried to help me. I guess I'm just a lost cause."

"There's only one lost cause around here," Paige growled as she watched Autumn being shackled. "Not so tough now are you?"

Autumn merely shrugged. "It makes no difference to me really."

"Is that really necessary?" Hawk shouted. "You don't have to parade them in front of the cameras like it's some kind of sick show! At least let me use the Mass Device to take them directly to X-Factor Headquarters! It's quicker and safer!"

"I'm sorry General but orders are orders," Karma looked sad. "We have to put on some kind of united front and appease the public."

"Guys I'm so sorry about this," Alison pleaded. "This is not the type of show I wanted to put on."

"Save it Dazzler," Amara growled. "I thought you of all people would understand how damaging publicity like this would be."

"Magma! Quiet!" Logan barked harshly. Then his tone became much softer. "They have their orders. There's nothing they or anyone else can do. We don't have a choice."

"I am going to talk to Ms. Cooper right away," Hawk growled. "And to see if these children get proper representation and treatment!"

"She's in her office in Washington DC," Telek said.

"Believe me I know the way!" General Hawk turned on his teleportation watch and transported out.

"Come on," Strong guy guided the two prisoners. "We'd better get going."

"Don't worry guys," Jubilee tried not to cry. "We'll get you out! I promise!"

They followed their friends to the door. Although the press was contained behind the military and police barrier at the end they were snapping photos with their high powered cameras and shouting questions. Overhead a news helicopter was flying trying to get shots. Autumn acted like she was merely going out for a while, nothing affected her. Jesse on the other hand looked like he was going to prison for life. They were put in the back of the armored vehicle and X-Factor left.

"This is not happening," Danielle sniffed. "How could this happen?"

"I don't care about Autumn but Jesse doesn't deserve to be humiliated like this!" Paige yelled.

"This is humiliating for all of us!" Lorna shouted. "We were attacked and they're treating us like criminals!"

"I tell you one thing if the Professor and the others were here they'd never even think about pulling a stunt like this!" Jubilee agreed.

"Well they aren't," Starla told her. "They're off to God knows where and we're on our own!"

"I tell you one thing, my father may be an insane maniac but he would never allow this to happen to any of his people," Lorna growled.

"It's days like this I can kind of get where Magneto is coming from," Ray growled.

"Don't talk like that!" Amara snapped.

"Well it's true!" Ray snapped back at her.

"Chuck, where the hell are you when we need you?" Logan growled.

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"I tell you Alison, the smartest thing you ever did in your life is to get out of that nuthouse while the getting was good," American Eagle grunted as he drove the armored vehicle.

"Knock it off Eagle," Alison grumbled as she sat in the passenger seat and looked out the tinted window. "The X-Men aren't bad you know?"

"With all the insanity they cause they might as well be," American Eagle grumbled. "I mean they give the Misfits grief about the stuff they pull…Okay the Misfits are a few bullets shy of a gun but that's to be expected. They're army mutants. They have to be nuts in order to survive the missions they get."

"And what are we?" Alison asked him. "Glorified role models?"

"Hey we've done a lot of good," American Eagle said. "And more importantly we follow the rules. We don't just run off someplace to blow something up without getting the proper clearance and intelligence. The X-Men aren't doing anyone much good going out playing cowboys. No pun intended."

"I understand what you're saying Eagle, it's just I was one of them once," Alison said.

"I'm not saying they don't have their uses," American Eagle said. "I just wish Xavier would act more like a teacher and less like the head of his own private mutant vigilante army! That's half the reason why a lot of people don't trust us right there!"

"And what about what happened when the Institute was attacked?" Alison asked. "If they hadn't learned those skills they wouldn't have survived!"

"And if the Institute was in a more secure and isolated location attacks like that would never happen in the first place," American Eagle told her. "Or if they did at least no innocent civilians would suffer."

"So that's your answer? Put us all on a reservation?" Alison asked icily.

"No, I'm just saying that if Xavier wanted to build himself an army he could have chosen a better spot than the suburbs!" American Eagle snapped.

"Will you two knock it off?" Karma sent a telepathic message. "I can hear your thoughts a mile away! How's the road looking?"

"Smooth as silk, Karma," American Eagle said, knowing she would hear him.

"Just keep your eyes peeled for trouble," Karma told them. She was sitting in the back with the rest of her team and the prisoners. She turned to Jesse. "I'm sorry about the shackles."

"I understand," Jesse shrugged.

"Don't worry Jesse," Willow said. "I'm sure this will get sorted out. Any fool can see you were acting in self defense. Neither of you will go to prison."

"That's why you're being taken to X-Factor Headquarters," Karma said. "In fact that might be a better place for you right now than at the Institute."

"Yeah we can actually help you kids and maybe put your powers to better use," Telek nodded.

"What? You're saying you want us to join your team?" Jesse was shocked.

"Let's not jump the gun just yet," Karma gave Telek a pointed look. "What I am suggesting is that we have doctors and instructors there as well as our team. You two might have the proper tutoring there you've been obviously lacking at Xavier's."

"They do seem to be more preoccupied with their own problems rather than helping us," Autumn spoke calmly.

"Okay they have overlooked me and a few others from time to time I'll give you that…" Jesse thought. "And things do tend to get crazy. And I'm often left behind…But I owe Angel a lot. I mean he did get me off the streets."

"Nobody's saying that you're not grateful or that he didn't help you," Karma suggested gently. "It's just that…Maybe he's not doing enough concerning your powers. We're trying to figure out what's best for the two of you. You will definitely benefit more with individual attention than getting lost in the crowd. Maybe then you'll finally get full control over your powers."

"You have a point," Jesse sighed. "I think my powers have gotten worse not…"

SKRREEEEE! The truck skidded to a halt.

"What's going on?" Strong Guy shouted.

"We're under attack!" American Eagle's voice shouted through the loudspeaker. "They came out of nowhere! They…"

"What's going…" Jesse began when suddenly he felt very dizzy.

And then the whole world went black.

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"Life here so sucks!" Tabitha aimlessly kicked the chair next to her. "All the TV stations have been playing that scene where X-Factor took Jesse and Autumn away for an hour! I'm sick of it! Life just sucks! Now I know how the Hiltons felt."

"Sometimes I'm glad I'm dead," Dead Girl remarked.

"Is there always this much drama around here?" Danny asked Paige.

"Pretty much," Paige sighed, pulling her knees to her chest as she sat on the couch.

"You're really taking this hard aren't you?" Danny said.

"Thank you Captain Obvious," Tabitha grumbled.

"It's all right it's just…" Paige sighed. "Jesse and I came to the Institute on the very same day. I'll never forget it."

"How can you? We got our butts totally kicked by Arcade until the two of you showed up," Ray groaned.

"Another one of those long stories?" Taylor asked as he mentally changed the channels of the television.

"And how! What? Wait a second! Turn that back on!" Tabitha changed the channel back manually.

"Repeat, Jesse Aaronson and Autumn Rolfson have escaped from custody," Trish Tilby reported. The X-Factor vehicle had been shot with some kind of powerful laser and it's doors blown open. "There were no casualties in the attack. Yet X-Factor was unable to stop the two mutants from escaping with their unknown assistants."

"They escaped?" Paige shouted.

"All right! Good for them!" Tim yelled.

"No it is not!" Warren shouted as he walked in with Logan. "It's not good for any of us!"

"Just got off the phone with Cooper," Logan growled. "I told her we didn't do it and she believes us but she has to put on a show of checking the place out anyway. So guess what? X-Factor's coming back here with her to search the place!"

"Oh wonderful! Just when I thought this day couldn't suck any more!" Tabitha groaned. "They bail out on us and we get it!"

"I don't think they went willingly," Sam told her. "Somebody broke them out."

"Do you think Magneto did this?" Danielle asked.

"No, if it was that truck would be opened like a sardine can," Logan studied the footage. "Someone else did this."

"But who?" Paige asked. "Who'd go to the trouble of hijacking X-factor's vehicle and taking Jesse and Autumn?"

"That's what we need to find out," Logan growled.

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"Hey! Wake up! Come on Jesse! Open your eyes man!"

Jesse moved groggily as he sat up. "Ow my head…" Jesse moved his hand to his head. Then he realized he wasn't shackled anymore.

"Sorry about that," A tall African American man about twenty years old grinned as he sat next to Jesse's bed. His curly hair was cut short and he had a goatee and a red leather jacket on over his red shirt. He was also wearing jeans, a gun holster and boots. "I kind of had to knock you out too in order to get you out."

"Who…" Jesse's eyes widened. "It can't be…Chris?"

"Hey little brother," Christopher Aaronson grinned. "A hell of a reunion isn't it?"