CHAPTER FOUR

A war council of sorts was taking place in Xavier's office. Aside from the professor, those present were Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Iceman, Cable and Bishop. "So what are we going to do about Longshot?" Storm wondered.

"And Angel,"Cable added.

Xavier sighed. "I have a feeling the first problem will be more easily solved than the second."

"Warren's just so down all the time,"Rogue agreed. "I don't know what's going to happen to him."

"We can merely offer him support,"Xavier replied,"and hope he comes through this on his own."

"Provided he doesn't self-destruct along the way,"Wolverine commented.

"There is that risk."

"So much for Warren,"Bobby remarked. "What about Longshot?"

"Again, there is very little we can do at present. We have offered him sanctuary here. There is little we can do to learn of his past."

"Do you think he's telling the truth about not remembering anything?"Rogue asked.

"I very much suspect he is."

"Dazzler seems close to him,"Bishop remarked.

"I'm not sure how I feel about that,"Storm admitted.

"It should be safe enough,"Xavier replied. "Now…" He paused, looking in pain.

"Professor, what's wrong?"Storm asked.

Xavier looked at her seriously. "Something is coming. Something dangerous."

Longshot and Dazzler walked across the grass outside the mansion. Longshot looked about him. "It's very nice here."

"Does it remind you of anything?"Dazzler asked.

"No…and I don't think it could. I've a feeling I've never known anything like this place before."

"Slave!"snarled a piercing voice. Their attention was drawn to the entrance to the mansion grounds. Mojo was approaching, his exo-suit carrying his enormous bulk, with Major Domo and Spiral flanking him. "It is the slave!"

Longshot shook slightly. "Spineless ones! I told you, spineless is bad."

"I'm getting that feeling too,"Dazzler admitted.

Whatever might have followed was interrupted by the appearance of Professor X, Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Iceman, Cable and Bishop, arraigning themselves around their comrades. "This man is under our protection,"Professor X told the intruders. "You have one chance to leave peacefully or we will use force."

Mojo looked confused and turned to Major Domo. "What's he saying?"

"I believe he is threatening you, sir."

"Threatening me? Threatening me?!" Mojo sounded affronted. "That's not allowed!"

"Perhaps you should explain that to them, sir."

Mojo smiled. "Show them."

"Don't know if you've noticed, big guy,"Wolverine interjected. "But you're kind of outnumbered here."

"Oh yes." Mojo pressed a control on his wrist and a dozen guards, dressed in armour and carrying energy weapons, appeared around him. "Fixed."

Wolverine extended his claws and dived at Mojo but found himself swatted away. Rogue also flew in with similar results. Storm and Iceman found themselves under attack from Spiral, who struck both of them on the side of the head with her swords. Cable and Bishop exchanged fire with the guards and found themselves shot down.

Professor X focused on Mojo's mind, trying to influence him somehow. What he sensed was confused, like the mind of an overgrown child. Mojo winced in annoyance. "Someone in my head. Is that you, metal man?" He gestured to a guard. "Deal with him." Weapons fired and Professor X wound up on the ground as well.

Longshot and Dazzler had been backed up against a wall, battling guards. Longshot was throwing his weapons while Dazzler was firing off laser beams. "Do you know this lot?"she asked.

Longshot hesitated. "I think so."

"So how do we stop them?"

"I couldn't."

Before Dazzler could respond, they too were gunned down.

Inside, Leech, Cypher and Moonstar were sheltering a group of younger students in the lounge. "Is there anything you can do?"Moonstar asked Leech.

Leech shrugged helplessly. "They don't seem to have powers for me to negate."

A group of guards burst in. Moonstar generated a psychic illusion of a bear and forced it to attack them. The guards' weapons took care of first the illusion and then the students.

Upstairs, Jubilee ran into Angel's room. "Warren! We're under attack!" Seconds later, an energy blast struck her in the back and she went down. The guard burst into the room. Angel sat on the bed and waited. Moments later, a beam claimed him too.

Spiral entered the room, a scanning device in her hand. She waved it over Angel and nodded at the result. "Bring him."

"But he didn't even put up a fight!"the guard protested.

"He will. Bring him."

It was some time later that bodies in the lounge started to stir. Moonstar slowly sat up. "Jimmy? Doug? Paige? Is everyone all right?" She received a series of murmurs in exchange. She heard a crying from upstairs. "Harmony!"

She ran to Rogue and Bobby's room. Harmony, their daughter, was sat on the bed, crying. Moonstar scooped her up and cuddled her. "It's all right,"she said gently.

Leech and Cypher came in. "Where are her parents?"Cypher wondered.

"More than that,"Moonstar replied,"where are all the X-Men?"

Leech could only shrug helplessly. "They're all gone."