-Rec. Room the next morning-

Our favorite mutants in training had a long day. Being savagely beaten, issuing the savage beating, and long tiring trips, caused enough fatigue for retiring early the previous night. Pietro sat in the middle of the couch with his left arm around Lorna who was leaning against him. Rahne sat to his right with her head resting lazily on his shoulder. Guido sat on the floor eating a pop tart and Jamie sat in an armchair with his legs thrown over the side to face the TV. Pietro claimed that the Brotherhood bonded over watching a very important documentary that would train them to beat the X-Men. What he neglected to tell them, was that said documentary was entitled Superman. He justified watching the documentary with the Brotherhood, by saying, 'That if kryptonite could stop Superman, it just might have worked on Mystique.' His logic of course being that she was a super bitch.

Footsteps could be heard approaching the door. No one turned because of indifference, but Lorna's curiosity got the best of her. She noticed a tall brunette boy with red sunglasses, slacks and a blue t-shirt, behind him stood a redhead with a white long sleeved shirt and cargo pants, and blonde dark skinned boy wearing an unbuttoned black shirt, baggy shorts and flip-flops. She turned to her brother and asked, "Pietro, who are they?"

Pietro got up and turned around, but before he could answer her, "Pietro's here! Jean quick tell the X-Men to be on alert for the Brotherhood, and make sure they put back whatever they stole." Scott shouted while pointing a finger at Pietro.

Jean nodded, "Sure thing Scott."

Before she could complete her task, Hank walked in eating a Twinkie. "That will not be necessary Ms. Grey, Mr. Maximoff and his sister have joined us. They will be on the same squad as you Alex," He smiled as he completed his sentence, or at his Twinkie no one will ever know.

Alex only nodded, before Scott began panicking, "Wanda is here too!"

Hank's blue fury hand rose indicating for him to be calm. "No Scott, Wanda is not here. Lorna please meet Scott Summers, his brother Alex, and Jean Grey."

She smiled and walked over to the group and stuck out her hand, "Hi, I'm Lorna Dane." She paused, "I'm Pietro's little sister."

Alex stepped forward and took the girl's hand, "Alex Summers. See Scott, you should be more trusting, she's not going to attack us or anything."

Scott may or may not have rolled his eyes, as no one could see them behind his glasses. "Alex when the Brotherhood attacks you on the battle field, in the mall, outside the mall, in various parking-lots, at the park, in the express lane at the supermarket, in the front yard, and at school," He listed off on his fingers. "Then you get to decide who's dangerous and who's not." He finished by smiling and crossing his arms.

Alex did not like this, he was always taught to get to know someone and not to judge him or her, "Well Scott, I guess it's a good thing Pietro and Lorna are on my team. I wouldn't want you or the X-Men watching my back if that's the attitude you had with me."

Pietro smirked, "I think I just found my roommate. Take a seat and watch this documentary with us. It's part of our bonding exercise."

Rahne rolled her eyes, "It's Superman Pietro."

Pietro sighed, "Doesn't mean it's not educational." Everyone took his or her original seat and Alex lied on the love seat kicking his feet up on the armrest.

Hank smiled at how quickly the six students became friends. "When your documentary is over, I would like to run the entire squad through a few danger room sessions."

Jamie smiled, "Sure thing Doc."

As Hank left the room he took Scott and Jean with him. Jamie spoke up again, "Hey guys I've noticed something important."

Guido turned to look at him, "What, that Jean and Scott haven't gotten their revenge on us yet?"

Jamie shook his head, "No not that. I noticed that we don't have a name for out team."

Everyone now realized that what Jamie said was true. They had only been referred to as new recruits, the squad, and a team. Everyone appeared deep in thought, quite possibly to come up with a team name.

Alex jumped up from his seat and stuck out his hand, "X-Factor."

Jamie and Guido both smiled and put their hands on top of his. "X-Factor," they shouted in unison.

Lorna and Rahne looked at each other and then got up to place their hand on top of the pile, "X-Factor."

Pietro shook his head and smirked. "Pietro?" Alex asked while the other four mutants looked at him. He got up and sped to the other side of the group and placed his hand on top of everyone's hands. "X-Factor," he stated in a calmer voice.

Jamie then smiled, "How about we go see what the Doc has in store for us?"

Everyone nodded and followed Jamie to the sub-basement.

-Med-Lab-

"X-Factor here ready to start training," Rahne said with enthusiasm.

Hank looked up from his experiment and smiled, "Excellent name, go suit up and meet in the danger room."

-15 minutes later in the danger room-

All six members of X-Factor were wearing sweats, even those who had New Mutant uniforms. They didn't want to be associated with their rivals. Hank walked into the command center, "Okay X-Factor you will go through various team building exercises, afterwards we will decide on a field leader."

-An hour later-

"Excellent job," Hank stated with pride. "Please come up to the command center."

-Command center-

Hank looked over his squad, "Okay who thinks they deserve to be the field leader?"

Jamie spoke up first, "I don't want the job, because it seems like to much responsibility."

Guido nodded, "Yeah, and you have to think on your feet."

Hank crossed his arms and nodded, "Lorna, Rahne what about you?"

Lorna immediately shook her head no, "I couldn't possibly lead. It's all just too new to me."

Rahne sighed, "I think I'm too hot-headed to lead."

"I'd like to give it a shot. I'd like to shut Scott up for once." Alex stated, letting the sibling rivalry show.

Pietro sped over to him and smirked, "Well I don't want you to think you didn't earn it. So how about a little challenge?"

Alex raised an eyebrow, "You're on demon."

Hank clapped his hand together, "Excellent, Pietro since you offered to share your room would you mind helping Alex settle in?" Pietro nodded. "Outstanding afterwards you two may rest for an hour or so and meet back in the danger room."

Both potential leaders nodded.

-One-hour later-

Pietro stood across from Alex, with his arms crossed tapping his foot impatiently. Alex had his hands on his hips and his chest puffed out a little.

Alex looked up at the control room, "Looks like Jamie's been busy getting everyone in the mansion here to watch us."

Pietro looked up and smirked, "He sure has. Rahne told me he did the same thing with Guido."

Alex's eyebrow peeked, "Really now?"

Pietro only nodded in response.

Hank's voice came over the loud speaker, "Alex, Pietro, you will be fighting for leadership of X-Factor." Up in the control room voices could be heard placing bets on and against the competitors, "You may begin."

Quicksilver ran away from Havok leaving him confused because he expected a frontal attack, "What are you scared already Quicksilver?"

Quicksilver smirked from across the room, "Nope just need to get a little distance before I do this." Quicksilver ran at Havok. Before he could fire at him, Quicksilver turned. Havok was immediately swept up into a whirlwind. "Like my new trick I've been working on it for a while?" Quicksilver suddenly stopped allowing Havok to fall.

Before Havok could slow his fall with a shot of plasma, Quicksilver kicked him in the chest. Havok went flying across the room. He got up and smiled wiping a little blood off his lip, "Nice trick." Quicksilver smirked and decided to try it once more. "Now here is mine."

As Quicksilver began his whirlwind he was hit by a radial blast of yellow plasma. Quicksilver then tripped and fell to his hands and knees. He tried to get up but soon realized it was useless.

Havok walked over to his teammate and helped him up. They walked back to the locker room to change. As the duo stepped outside, the X-Men, New Mutants, and X-Factor immediately bombarded them. Pietro smirked and grabbed Alex's hand raising it above their heads, "Ladies and Gentlemen, and of course you Ray," Ray glared at the speed demon. "I present to you the leader of X-Factor."

A few people applauded, others were upset because Pietro had lost. It was now apparent that many of them had placed substantially large bets on Pietro, what with the glares he was receiving.

Hank muscled his way through the crowd and placed a hand on both boys' shoulders. "Well done boys, very impressive displays of power from both of you," he stated showing great pride in his students, "Now if X-Factor would follow me to the med-lab."

-Med-Lab-

Hank had just finished sterilizing and bandaging Alex's wounds when he asked, "Pietro I believe you don't have any bruises do you?"

"No I don't. They're more like burns," Pietro responded a little depressed that he lost so quickly.

Hank began to sterilize and bandage Pietro. "That is because Alex does not fire concussive blasts like his older brother. He emanates heat." Hank got a confused look from everyone except Alex. Hank cleared his throat, "His plasma burns instead of smashes." A collective 'oh' could be heard from X-Factor.

Pietro sighed, "That still doesn't explain how he beat me so fast."

Hank adjusted his glasses, "Yes, his more powerful discharges can cause objects to shatter because of the extreme temperature change, and on lower levels cause disorientation, headaches, and a loss of equilibrium."

Pietro smirked, "Yeah learned that first hand." Everyone chuckled.

Hank went further with his explanation, "Alex you may also be able to absorb heat as well as radiation."

Alex sat there amazed at his potential. "Wow, and my blasts still have no effect on Scott."

Rahne walked up to him and slugged him in the arm, "That's why you got us, to help you out."

Alex smirked, "Yeah."

Hank liked the way his squad was unified. "X-Factor," he said in a tone resembling a general issuing order to his troops. X-Factor quickly fell into line, "Your orders are to have a late lunch and rest your tired bodies, dismissed." X-Factor saluted their furry blue general and walked out of the med-lab.

-Kitchen-

Paper-plates, crumbs, empty chip-bags, and cups littered the kitchen table. Alex sat between Guido and Rahne. Pietro sat across from Alex, with Lorna in front of Rahne and Jamie in front of Guido.

Pietro leaned forward, "I was thinking, if we're going to challenge the New Mutants, sweats are not going to cut it."

"Pietro has a point, we need uniforms or something," Guido stated leaning back in his chair crossing his arms.

At that moment Hank walked in holding six black duffle bags, "Excellent point Mr. Carosella." Hank distributed the bags, "Try these on and assemble in the back yard for one last session."

-Back yard twenty minutes later-

The first one out was Guido. He seemed to be proud of his uniform. It consisted of a tight black t-shirt with a giant gold 'X' on his chest, tight black pants, with a gold belt and gold boots along with fingerless gloves.

Next Jamie stepped out of the mansion. He was admiring his uniform the entire walk down the path. His uniform was solid green with six gold circles on his chest with a gold belt and boots.

Rahne ran out of the house in lupine form. "Um, nice collar," Guido chuckled. Rahne transformed back into her human form. As she transformed the collar stretched across her body. Her new uniform was basically a yellow one-piece swimsuit, with small blue shoulder pads, and a black 'X' on her chest. She had no gloves or shoes. "Better?" Rahne growled. Jamie chuckled, "Yup."

During the transformation Pietro and Lorna took their places. Pietro pointed at Rahne with his thumb, "She's feisty." He was wearing what appeared to be his old brotherhood uniform, minus the shoulder pads, and a lightning bolt traveling from his left shoulder to his right hip. The top of the uniform was light blue, and below the lightning bolt was a plain blue color. He still had his white boots. Lorna's uniform resembled Jean's except sleeveless. Where Jean's uniform was green Lorna's was purple. She also had black gloves that traveled to her elbows.

The final person out of the house was X-Factor's fearless leader. Alex's uniform was black, with a white circle on his chest. He also had white bands on his wrists and wore white boots.

Hank smiled at his squad, "I trust the uniforms are to your liking?"

Everyone smiled and nodded.

Hank clapped his hands together, "Time for your last session of the day."

Everyone waited expectantly for the blue man to continue. Hank smirked, "Turn around and get to know your enemy."

X-Factor turned around to see the New Mutants standing around Ororo in full gear. X-Factor walked up to the New Mutants and immediately started to pair off. Strong Guy stared down at Cannonball while he just crossed his arms. Multiple smiled at Jubilee and she just rolled her eyes at him. Wolfsbane flashed her teeth at Roberto who did nothing to flinch. Polaris smiled cheerfully at Berzerker, who looked very confused at this gesture. Quicksilver smirked at Boom Boom, until she hugged him and ruffled his hair. Havok then crossed his arms at Magma, who just let her hair flare up to show she was not intimidated.

Ororo cleared her throat to gain the attention of her squad, "New Mutants to the pool, we will be focusing on aquatic rescue today." They followed her to the pool, only after delivering heated glares to X-Factor.

Guido spoke first, "Guys how are we going to beat them?" Everyone looked at Guido suspiciously, "I mean cause they've been training together a lot longer than we've known each other."

Realization sunk in with X-Factor. Lorna asked doubt apparent in her voice, "We don't stand a chance do we?" Everyone was about to agree with her, until Alex spoke up, "Come on, sure they're better trained, sure they have better team based skills, but you know what we have that they don't?"

Pietro sped behind Rahne and tickled her, "A Mascot?" Rahne transformed and took a swipe at him. Naturally he sped back to where he was standing, "She's really feisty."

Alex sighed, "We have a plan." Everyone looked quizzically at Alex. "Listen meet me in the rec. room in ten minutes." Everyone nodded at the fearless leader.

-Pietro and Alex's room-

"So you really think we can beat all of them," Pietro asked with a smirk as he waited for Alex to finish getting dressed.

Alex pulled his shirt over his head, "It's not a matter of thinking Pietro. It's a matter of knowing, and I know we are going to beat them."

If at all possible the smirk on Pietro's face grew even wider. "I knew I picked a good roommate."

-Rec. room-

Rahne rolled her eyes, "That is the dumbest plan I've ever heard. A lot of New Mutants are going to get hurt." She smirked, "I'm in."

Pietro smirked, "And what will you be doing fearless leader?"

Alex stood up and smiled, "Fearlessly leading of course."