"Please take a seat Kitty," the Professor said as she arrived at his office. She had been called out of class by the Professor's mental voice earlier and now found herself wondering if she had pulled something that she had forgotten about already. Scott and Nightcrawler were seated in the room looking a bit dire as Buffy would have called it.
Kitty walked over and sat in one of the many chairs in the Professor's office. "So what's going on?" Kitty asked.
"Buffy might have told you about this but when we found Buffy in Seattle, she was watching over two very young mutant girls, who had been viciously attacked by a group of Drug dealers. Buffy had already dealt out proper punishment but that did nothing to change the fact that her charges were grievously wounded and had to stay in hospital. Buffy only agreed to come here because we promised to take care of these children as we offered to do her," the Professor explained.
"We wouldn't have left them there even if she had asked for it. Those two by no means deserved the situation they were in. In either case Logan spotted a problem recently and we're here because you could help us resolve it," Scott explained.
"I don't understand," Kitty said.
"Kitty, I understand that you have not signed on to be one of the X-Men yet, but I'd like to have you join Scott and Kurt in the field to help evacuate the girls," the Professor said.
"No problem I'd love to help but what was the problem Mr. Logan spotted?" Kitty asked.
"A group of heavily armed men have stationed themselves in and around the hospital with what we believe is the express purpose of catching Buffy as they have been asking about someone who fits her description. I have decided that you three along with Wolverine should attempt a stealthy extraction, removing the girls from danger and only then will Cyclops and Wolverine attempt to ascertain the reason for these men to be seeking Buffy, while you and Nightcrawler keep the girls safe," Professor Xavier explained.
Cyclops looked up at the Professor, "There is one issue that we haven't decided on, Professor."
The Professor gave Cyclops a curious look.
"Buffy more or less promised these girls she'd come to pick them up, they have no idea about us. I know you don't like the idea, but I think if we're to accomplish the mission safely we need to bring Buffy along. She doesn't need to know exactly why we're pulling a quiet extraction just that we are. I'm sure Kitty can help me deflect any curiosity," Cyclops explained.
"I am not certain that taking Buffy out of here now would be wise. She seems a bit skittish and while I cannot be certain with her, I think she has at times considered leaving here as soon as the girls make it here to safety," the Professor said.
"Honestly Buffy might have thought that. But she is lost. I don't think she knows it herself, but she needs someone and some place maybe even a purpose to fight for. She seems antsy all the time. She reminds me of my dad. He just can't relax you know. He hates vacations and always needs to do something, to have some project. Buffy is a bit like that. I think she is used to being busier... well not with school I guess but with something at least. Also if she promised to pick up the girls or you promised her that she could do that then she will be angry if you didn't at least ask her. I can tell that just from how she reacted when Jubilee forgot to tell Buffy about it being Buffy's job to vacuum. She expects people to be honest and true to their word," Kitty said.
The Professor studied Kitty for a while and while she doubted he was reading her mind she was never really certain with him. He wasn't nosy, but at times he was a bit better informed about the students than he should be.
"Kitty, I believe you and Cyclops are both right. Now Buffy is not trained in her power at all so I don't think it prudent to let her know about the dangerous people looking for her, but how about we ask her to help Kitty and Nightcrawler which is natural as they're going to handle the girls anyway... I'll ask Storm to send over Buffy," the Professor said.
"So we leave as soon as she is here, except of course we have a surprise for you in the changing rooms downstairs," Cyclops said.
"That sounds like you have a uniform for me," Kitty said.
The Professor and Cyclops gave each other a look and a grin. Before either of them answered there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," the Professor called out.
Buffy walked in. Kitty noticed something as the girl walked in. Buffy entered a room differently than most of the other kids at the school. Most people gave a room a quick look or didn't look at all. Buffy entered a room almost like on a prowl, she methodically looked around not by whipping her head around but shifting her glance by the way she moved. Kitty wondered who this reminded her off, but she couldn't put a finger on it.
"Buffy, there are police looking for you and there is talk of moving the girls from the hospital. I have decided that Kitty and Nightcrawler will help you bring the girls back here, while Cyclops and Wolverine will cover you from any difficulties. But you'd have to leave now," the Professor explained, the white lie not even registering on his face.
Buffy smiled brilliantly. "I am so there. No offense but you need to let us out more, we're not going to wilt in the sunlight," Buffy said.
"I am not concerned about the sunlight. However there are other issues as you might know. And believe it or not teenagers with awesome powers are not safe for other teens to hang out with some of the time especially if a certain amount of racism becomes involved," the Professor replied but kept his tone light.
"Okay, but this is not the last time we've had this talk," Buffy fired back as everyone got up.
As a group they headed for the elevators and through the basement tunnels past the Danger Room to enter the X-Men changing room. The group stopped. Buffy a few steps later than the rest. The girl turned and looked at them.
"What's up," she asked.
"We'll be a moment. Please go wait in the hangar," Cyclops said. Buffy studied them for a moment then turned and left for the hangar.
"This one was made for you," Cyclops said and held out a uniform he had just removed from a sealed locker. Kitty realized she always thought of Scott as Cyclops, when he became gloomy and focused like he was at the moment. She had seen it before in the Danger Room. From now until they were back Cyclops was in charge and he had no time for fun and games. Although if she was honest with herself, there were times when Kitty thought that Scott had become Cyclops fulltime since Jean had gone. In her growing up at the School Scott and Jean had become somewhat of the heads of the family with the Professor as the larger than life ideal hovering above them. The loss of Jean had hit them all but none more so that Scott. Very recently he had seemed better, but Kitty wondered as she picked up the suit from its rack, if Scott Summers would ever really be okay again.
"Thanks," she said and wished Storm had been coming along. The woman was the closest thing to a mother in Kitty's life and Kitty kind of wanted her to be there when she put on her X-woman suit for her mission.
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A hologram of Buffy hovered in the middle of darkened room. "Okay listen people the target is Buffy Summers. We've been sent here to capture or kill her, but she hasn't shown her face at the Hospital for a while. However we have ascertained that the two girls she brought there for treatment can be moved now and that both actually expect Summers to return. We will extract the girls using a Chameleon net programmed to make the wearer look like Summers allowing us to secure leverage over her when she eventually appears. We will await her return at this safehouse and offer the exchange of the girls' lives and freedom for Summers' unconditional surrender. Now there is a chance that the target might be a mutant or something similar given her previous escape. So when we face the target in a combat situation I want you to only take a couple of trial shots with the tranqs and if that doesn't work all forms of ordinances are given free. Also intel indicates that SHIELD might be interested in Summers too and our employer is emphatic that should we get into a situation where SHIELD takes custody of her, then everything including Summers must be obliterated, everyone clear?" the yellow uniformed man looked around at the other equally dressed AIM enforcers who all nodded.
"Good the extraction is set for 10.00 o'clock local time," the leader set a timer that ticked away beneath the hologram of Buffy and turned towards a computer behind him.
----------
"Well, you're getting around the US Miss Rosenberg," General Fury said as he walked onto the strange aircraft that was taking them to Seattle. He was not dressed in a formal uniform, but instead wore simpler gray black pants with lots of pockets, black wool shirt and a weapon holster with some sort not normal looking gun in it.
Willow had been couped up in her hotel room with Allan Quartermain for a while and she had to admit she was plagued by the thought of her parents telling her to go away without them even after having days to think about it. "Yeah, General," Willow agreed.
"Listen, kid," Fury said.
Willow looked away from the window to stare at the General.
"I know this is tough on you. If we're lucky today you won't be on your own any more. I am guessing that your friend Buffy wouldn't mind coming with you at least for a while. If we can get her to give SHIELD what information she has then we can arrange things so you could go home soon. But it all hinges on us finding her. Fortunately the lead we have on her in Seattle has solidified greatly. We have the photos of her and the witness statement made by one of the nurses that one of the two girls that were delivered to an emergency room mentioned to the other that Buffy would come rescue them. We'll stake out the hospital and when she shows up we will apprehend her and together you and I will convince her to give us what it is she is being hunted for," Fury explained.
"Sir, excuse me, but I have to ask. Do you know who is after Buffy and me?" Willow asked.
"We have intel pointing in two directions. It looks like two terrorist groups are independently looking for her. One of them called AIM hired the people who tried to capture you. The other one seems less active so far sticking with watching instead of acting. I am afraid they must have some idea that Buffy might be in Seattle because over the last few days electronic surveillance in the Seattle area has confirmed the presence of several high level mercenaries with known ties to AIM," Fury explained.
"Okay," Willow said and wondered if Buffy's being hunted had anything to do with her Slayer past or if it was something new. Willow had in the past repeatedly pressed Angel for more information but hadn't really gotten anywhere with him. She had known Angel was withholding things about Buffy from her, and now she regretted not forcing the issue.
Outside they climbed above the skies and the engine whine grew. Unbelievably the jet increased its speed almost making Willow feel like they were taking off again. "Wow," she said.
"Stark Quinjet technology we could even overtake a regular fighter jet right now," Allan said with pride in his voice.
"Okay," Willow said only recognizing the name of Stark Industries a tech company home to the man, who she was sure vastly outdid her intelligence wise: Tony Stark. She had hero worshipped him after his recent revelation that he was the new technological super hero nicknamed Iron Man. In her opinion that exonerated him for being a part of the military industrial complex.
----------
"Esme," Xander called out. He had just finished his mandated physical training and he was scheduled to meet Mystique to train for his next undercover job. But he had half an hour to spare and so he had decided to go look for his new friend with benefits.
He turned and ended up in a different room than expected. It was the cavernous and quiet office of Magneto. The elderly man was sitting in a padded metal chair staring at a fancy looking hologram hovering in mid-air. The picture was of the Earth with several red dots glowing all over it. Magneto turned his head slightly casting his steely eyes towards Xander.
"Come in please," the elderly man said just as Xander was about to beat his retreat. He had barely known the man for weeks and already he respected Magneto more than anyone other than maybe Giles.
"Sure," Xander said and edged inside. He expected his leader to say something but the room remained silent as he stopped to the left of Magneto and the holographic globe.
Finally Xander said, "What does it show?"
"Military facilities, American Military facilities. I had considered destroying one of them as retribution for what was done to you and the other we freed. But I am unsure. What good would it do? The government might just hush it up. And really unless those men and women there had participated in something akin to Neverland they are not yet our enemies," Magneto said.
"Is there anyway we can find someone responsible? A backer? Someone behind it all? Wouldn't that be more of a statement especially to those who did this?" Xander said.
"Yes as a first step. That was good suggestion Xander. Someone in government knew about all this. I believe Mystique and a few of the other new recruits will be able to find something or someone for us to strike at. But it will only do as a first step. We need to grow Triage, both as a group and as a cause," Magneto explained his eyes back on the globe.
"Yeah," Xander agreed not really sure what else to say.
"But a discussion about that is for a later date. I have tasks for everyone in the meantime including you. I cannot send you to the US yet. Your appearance on TV is still too recent, and I think even if your level of training is somewhat lacking, you can be of great help to our brotherhood already. So I want you, Pyro, Avalance and Toad to go to Great Britain and make contact with a mercenary group of mutants that I believe would be willing help replenish our finances and might even join our efforts outright. Toad will be your leader for the trip. Triage, I want you to keep an eye on Pyro and Avalance. I do not want any upsets while you are there and unlike you I don't trust that they will be able to contain themselves even while working undercover. There are many hidden factions of power in Europe, so for now let's hold off opening that front. You'll leave tomorrow. Also you should say goodbye to your girlfriend. She'll leave for her mission while you are away or maybe earlier depending on Mystique securing her transport," Magneto said.
"Thanks," Xander said and felt glad at the thought of being able to do something for the cause. He totally forgot to tell Magneto that he and Esme hadn't really formalized their togetherness as a relationship of any kind.
----------
The Blackbird X-Jet gently switched to hover mode and they descended into a cordoned off area that looked like it had been bombed recently. Kitty knew that outside in the clear day all that would be visible of their arrival would be dust thrown up by the Jet's exhausts otherwise they were covered by the holographic projections that kept their aircraft unseen.
They unbuckled in silence. "What are we going to do about transportation from here to the hospital," Kitty asked glancing at Kurt who shrugged. Buffy released the quick snap on her seat belt and got out too.
"Wolverine was told to fix us up with something," Cyclops answered. His red visor glowed slightly in the gloomy cockpit as he looked out over the sights outside. Kitty moved up and looked out with him.
"Wow, Seattle looks like a bomb site," Kitty commented.
"Buffy's handiwork," Cyclops replied. Buffy winced.
Kitty looked over at Cyclops in surprise then over at Buffy who seemed to be studying the damage herself. Buffy had never really talked about how strong her powers were. They had just assumed them to be powerful enough to merit coming to Xavier's. Kitty had never figured on them being enough to level buildings.
"Logan is here," Cyclops as the leather jacket clad mutant appeared out of a van that had just parked just outside the ruined area.
They got out of the aircraft and Logan waved them over. Kitty felt a little self-conscious running around in the full light of day in a tight black leather suit so she walked to the van as fast as she could. "This is ridiculous," Kitty berated herself as she was half-way there. She had nothing to be ashamed about. The uniform was tasteful and practical. Besides hadn't she just a few hours earlier been happy just to be allowed to wear the uniform. Kitty slowed her advance on the van slightly and let herself become comfortable in her clothes.
"Get a move on, you're in the open and there are people in town looking for unusual people and her," Logan said while pointing at Buffy.
"Right, just head for the hospital," Cyclops said.
"Are we talking plural?" Buffy asked as they got inside.
"You and Charlie didn't tell her, that was stupid," Logan said with a glare in the direction of Cyclops.
"Not now Wolverine. Yes, Buffy there might be other people here looking for you, which is why we moved the schedule up and brought both Kitty and Kurt. They will make sure we can get in and out without any trouble," Cyclops said.
Buffy looked a bit nervous for a moment, "who's here looking for me?"
"Guys with guns and power armor," Wolverine replied ignoring the annoyed look on Cyclops' face.
"Listen they shoot to kill if it is who I think it is. You should let me go alone," Buffy said.
"No, that is not how we do things," Cyclops cut Buffy off, "We will work it like this. Kurt will move you up to the girl's room, so you can get them ready. Kitty will get to you using her power and together with her and Kurt you'll come straight back here. Those guys won't know anything is happening by the time we're done. And Kitty and Kurt I want the both of you to stay in radio contact with me the entire time just in case. Should a fight develop Wolverine and I will handle it, you three will stay out of it and guard the girls."
Kitty noted Buffy was about to say something but the girl sank back after thinking for a moment. Their van rumbled through the Seattle downtown traffic.
----------
"Okay I normally would never bring a civilian into the field, but I am pretty sure you're my best chance to get your friend to talk to me Willow," Nick Fury told Willow as the armored 18 wheeler headed through downtown traffic. Willow almost didn't hear the General as her eyes kept getting distracted by the loads of super-advanced computers and the five agents the general had brought along, who were strapping on body armor and weaponry that Willow had never even suspected existed. The sheer amount of widgets and gadgets was almost making Willow giddy.
"We scout the hospital location where your friend was spotted, then set up base at a nearby federal building until we spot her. This might take a while so we will be staying in some improvised rooms in the federal building," Nick Fury said.
"Do we have time wait for her, she might not even come back sir," Allan said and ran a hand through his stark blond hair.
"I will supervise for a short while, but if the surveillance lasts more than 3 days I will leave it and Willow to you Allan," General Fury said.
"Okay," the agent said as they drove up and parked in a lot just across from the hospital.
"Sir, a minor note from Listening Post Washington, latest computer analysis indicates that atmosphere disturbances point to the likeliness of a very high speed stealth aircraft is 70 percent likely to have crossed the continent a half hour ago almost outdoing a Quinjet at full speed. The analysis also indicated that touch down could have occurred somewhere in the Seattle area," one of the agents Willow didn't know the name of reported.
"Check with the imaging offices see if one of the birds snapped a shot of the UFO and remember if it is alien SWORD has jurisdiction," Fury said.
"Alien?" Willow gave the general a surprised look.
The general sighed and nodded. "That's just as secret as the other stuff you read, so don't tell anyone."
Willow agreed with a nod and a smile.
"We're ready to deploy, sir," Allan said.
"Uhm, Allan if Buffy sees wearing all that gear, she'll run and probably won't come back. I think I should go with you," Willow said after studying the heavily armed agent.
"Willow this is a field mission, there is a chance that some of Buffy's terrorist enemies are waiting too. I cannot allow you to put yourself into the line of fire," General Fury said.
"You're a general I don't think you're not supposed to be here either," Willow said.
"No, but I at least know how to defend myself. You will stay back, my agents will handle any initial contact you just be ready to provide them with information and maybe a voice that your friend can hear over the radio. In other words for now you're staying inside the truck with me," General Fury said.
Willow nodded not sure if she should be annoyed or relieved.
----------
The beaten up old van Logan had brought to the party eased into its parking spot, but Buffy was more worried about what was about to happen. She had been a bit unclear on how the very sweet Nightcrawler was going to move them into the hospital, so she had asked a moment ago and he had answered, "Teleport us."
"Are we ready?" Cyclops asked. Kitty nodded and together with Wolverine she jumped out of the car and headed for the hospital. Cyclops looked toward
Kurt took hold of her in a close hug and said, "Take a breath." There was a moment of darkness and fire and then a bang as they appeared somewhere else. Buffy felt weightless, they were free falling outside windows then there was another abrupt and disturbing shift in her perception of as they teleported again.
Buffy dropped to the ground and fought to keep from vomiting after they touched down in the room where Dream and Singer were recovering from the attack according to Wolverine.
"Fraulein Buffy, we have a problem," Kurt said in his German accent.
"What the hell was that. We were outside... falling. Why?" Buffy complained from her position on the floor.
"Ach, I needed to have a look at the room before taking us inside, but really there is a problem," Kurt said.
Buffy fought against her rebellious stomach and got up to look around. The room was empty. The beds in the room where Wolverine had claimed her girls were in, were empty. "Did we get the wrong room?" Buffy asked.
"Nein... I mean no. It is exactly the room that was pointed out to me," Kurt said then activated the radio headpiece he was wearing to tell Cyclops what was going on.
"Stay here, tell the one-eyed Big Brother, I went to see a nurse," Buffy said and headed for the door. The room looked like it had just been vacated. The beds were unmade.
Buffy walked into the hallway looking around. There was a nurse desk down the hall and no police guard in sight. Buffy quickly walked to the desk. A nurse looked up at her and frowned.
"Back so soon?" the nurse asked.
"Soon? Never mind. The girls that were in that room back there, have they been released or something?" Buffy asked.
The nurse gave her a confused look. "Are you making a joke? I just let you and that Social security guy take them out of here. You just left," the nurse said.
Buffy was confused, "Excuse me, but huh?"
"Buffy," Kitty yelled and the brown haired girl ran up next to her.
"What?" Buffy asked as Kitty pulled her back from the desk and whispered, "there is a dead police man in the bathroom of the girls room. He was shot with something weird maybe a laser of some sort."
"Oh no they won't," Buffy said and turned to dash towards the elevators. It sounded funky but somehow someone had faked her looks and was making off with the girls. There wasn't a moment to spare. Buffy dashed for the elevators.
----------
"Sir, something is definitely up. Sensors indicated two tiny explosion a moment ago and our tap into the Hospital computers indicate that the two young females we expect Buffy Summers to come by to meet have been prematurely removed from the hospital by a social worker. There is no such action planned by the Seattle City Social department," the technician next to Willow said after several windows had popped onto his screen in short order.
"Quartermain, get your team out there I want those two girls in SHIELD protective custody as of one minute ago," Nick Fury ordered.
Willow meanwhile studied the camera images from outside.
----------
Morris was glad the job was running smoothly as he watched the cameras their forward scouts had placed in the hospital looking for their target's return. These included several mounted outside. He saw the target having somehow avoided their sentries running to the third floor nurses desk from the bait's room on one screen while on another a combat ready SHIELD team emerged from a nearby parking lot. "Team leader this is Camp, both target and SHIELD interference is confirmed. Target is on the sixth floor. SHIELD tactical team advancing rapidly on main ER entrance suggest egress along route two," he said into their radio.
"Acknowledged," the teamleader said. "Primary team, assault and delay SHIELD. Agent K-972 and K-345 head to the elevators to my location, we will go up to negotiate the surrender."
"Acknowledged," several other people intoned.
----------
Kitty's voice appeared in Scott's ear, "Buffy is running off after whoever took the girls. I don't think I can stop her. She looks angry, she is already sheathed in her flames."
"Okay, follow her and try to keep her safe. Shadowcat, Buffy has no field training so you have to be careful and try to help her the best you can," he said.
"She seems less nervous than I am," Kitty mumbled.
Scott turned and was about to call out to Logan when he saw a group of SHIELD agents head along the side of the trauma center building carrying fancy rifles and surveillance gear. Wolverine had already ducked out of sight.
"The boyscouts from SHIELD are here too. We really need to put the screws to the kid, that bunch doesn't appear because of drugs or a couple of mutant kids," Wolverine said as Cyclops came within earshot.
Cyclops considered their options. While he didn't figure that the people who had taken the girls were other SHIELD agents there was a chance of that being the case. Either way they were not allies of the mutant community, SHIELD was someone the X-Men watched closely. They knew that SHIELD would be a major part of any attempt to fight a mutant war and a great part of the money in the budget for the mutant fighting technology that the humans seemed hellbent on developing went to SHIELD.
"They're not the same as those that were here earlier. Different weapons, different armor, so it is not SHIELD the kid is running from," Wolverine said.
"Is there a back way out," Cyclops asked.
"Yeah," Wolverine replied.
"I'll cover this side, you go there and hurry," Cyclops said. Both men nearly jumped out of their skin when Nightcrawler appeared behind Wolverine.
"Don't ever do that again elf! Do you want to feel my claws?" Wolverine growled.
"Just go," Cyclops said. Wolverine had barely gotten up before there was a small explosion that blew out the entire entrance of the ER just as the first SHIELD agent rounded the corner.
Scott took cover and surveyed the scene, while Wolverine sped off.
"Ach nein, fighting at a hospital. We must help the patients," Nightcrawler said.
"Try to evacuate as many as you can move safely to the furthest end of the Hospital. But remember to scout that before going in and hurry we won't have a lot of time before more SHIELD agents appear," Cyclops said and gave him one from his pocket. Nightcrawler nodded and disappeared with a pop and a black sulfurous cloud of smoke.
----------
Buffy was using old methods with new powers and she knew it might go wrong, but still she jumped over the banister and let herself drop down the shaft in the middle of the stairwell free-falling for a few moments before turning in the air and firing off her flight power like Storm had taught her. Thankfully it worked the first time. But Buffy wasn't thinking about taking insane chances or using Slayer methods with her mutant powers. She was entirely focused on rescuing the girls. She might not be the Slayer anymore but all the Slayer skills she had trained with Merrick and Giles that hadn't been pure instinct were still in her head. She stopped at ground level firing her energy down to stop herself and fought to hover before she managed to make a wobbly landing on the stairs slightly lower than the ground floor and had to run the last bit up to the door ignoring that her landing had cracked the concrete stairs.
"Buffy wait," Kitty yelled way above her. Buffy looked up and saw that Kitty was quickly making her way down but phasing through one floor at a time. Buffy decided she couldn't wait. She dashed through the door into complete chaos. Patients, relatives, nurses and doctors were running around in the halls and there was sharp noises of gunfire in the air, gunfire like that which had killed her dad. Noises suddenly vivid in Buffy's mind. She had repressed and avoided thinking of the traumatic moment of her dad's head exploding all over her for months, avoided facing her pain and loss if not the anger or the actual memory. Now it was impossible. A cold anger like the last time she had been in Seattle came over Buffy and her fire filled the air with stark white light. Her clothes fluttered and her hair danced in the air as she ran forward.
"Move," she commanded and people jumped out of her way as she rapidly made her way down the corridor to get at her enemies. She had to remind herself of the damage she would do to the building if she tried to really fly, because for a moment she was tempted to do just that. A tiny voice in the back of her mind wondered how much would be left of the building if she radiated her power out like an explosion.
----------
"The tactical team is under very heavy fire. This is a potential hostage situation as well sir," the technician told the General and Willow was impressed that he actually dared to tell the black and very angry General anything at all. Fury grabbed a big rifle and a communication's device.
"Broadcast a bulletin on the A channel," Fury said and ran out of the vehicle.
The technician grabbed a plastic chip card with a big red A on the side and inserted it in a slot in his computer, while the door slammed shut. Willow looked at the many camera screens trying to find out what the hell was going on.
----------
Wolverine picked up the scent of rare elements, active power cells and ozone before he saw what he was looking for. A group of two people one looking like Buffy but a foot or so taller and the other dressed up like he was some sort of everyman, but Logan could smell the equipment their clothes concealed and it seemed the girls they were kidnapping weren't as fooled as they were supposed to be. One of them, Dream he believed she was named, was resisting, pulling and yelling to get free. The man stopped and slapped the girl still in bandages hard across the face.
Logan picked up his speed. He was not a nice man. He got angry easily, but it seemed that nothing really ticked him off as much as people hurting kids. He decided it was one of his redeeming features. Almost unbidden his claws erupted through his skin and with a massive roar he lunged forward.
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Buffy turned a corner and almost stepped right into the back of a man in a ridiculous beekeepers outfit in bright yellow. He was crouched behind a desk and saw busy firing out into the reception area of the ER. There were dead people on the floor, nurses, patients and even a little girl dressed a princess costume. Strange blue and orange bolts of energy were exchanged with someone hunched outside the blasted entrance area. If Buffy hadn't been beyond pissed off already, she would have literally burst on fire seeing that. Facing a scene of carnage Buffy felt something of her old nature reemerge while some of her principles faded for a moment and she gave herself over to anger.
Especially against the guy in front of her. Buffy leaned forward and performed the best snap kick to the man's back she could make her non-Slayer body do, turning and leaning forward as the kick progressed to put her entire weight and force behind it. She struck him heel first in the back.
Had Buffy's strength been human it would have hurt. Had it been boosted by Slayer power her heel would have penetrated the man's back. But Buffy's strength was neither. It was mental power, driven by her mutant mind, it was telekinetic and so it had a different effect. The AIM agent plowed through the wooden desk reducing it to fragments and continued like he had been launched like a rocket passing through the reception and the destroyed outer doors moving faster than a speeding car. Buffy meanwhile didn't even care that her kick might have killed its target. She was already focused on her next target.
Another guy in yellow was fighting to turn his huge weapon towards her. Buffy acted and focused the power that filled her at every moment of every day now. She unleashed two columns of white roaring power. The shockwave and white fire carved a four yard diameter hole straight through the building taking her target outside through several walls, launching a good chunk of the hospital with him out into the parking lot.
Buffy felt something cold press against her head and a nervous voice said, "Don't move, don't even blink or I will blow your head off. You're coming quietly or those kids buy the farm." Buffy realized that somehow her shield of fire wasn't as instinctual as she had expected.
----------
Wolverine felt the warm blood of his opponent on his hands even through the leather of his gloves and a large part of him gloried in the feeling of it. He pulled the claws through the man's chest the ever sharp edges passing through flesh and bone with ease. The girls were not happy, but they hadn't fled yet. The street was complete chaos from people fleeing the main hospital building and his nice little scrap. He turned towards his other target and saw that the Buffy look alike he had wounded first had run up the street but no further that he couldn't run her down. But the rational part of Logan knew he didn't have the time to follow the bleeding fake. He had two girls to try and herd to their van, which would have been hard on a good day, but near impossible given what they had just seen him do.
"You two are coming with me," he commanded trying for intimidation.
Both girl whimpered and pulled back against the wall. They were looking for a route, a way to dash away from him.
"Listen you knew that wasn't Buffy. I can take you to the real one," he offered, but it made no difference they were still edging back towards a nearby alley.
"Die mutant," someone yelled behind him and a powerful jolt of something akin to electricity hit Logan. On instinct Logan dodged right. For a moment Logan couldn't feel anything in his left side. It arced all along the wall after passing by him. Logan stumbled forward and grabbed the two girls. He dashed with them in his arms towards a gap between a couple of the hospital buildings. It would take him around to the parking lot.
The arcs followed them as several bursts were fired off in their direction. Logan caught a glimpse of the Buffy lookalike with a strange gun in hand who was firing at them. Logan heard one of the girls tell the other, "Singer, please share the bad song with her."
Logan heard a distant noise in his head not his ears, it sounded atonal and disturbing. The arcs stopped following them and there was a scream filled with both pain and fear. Logan carried the girl through the opening and emerged onto a path that gave him a view of the parking lot. There was a ripping explosion and a man in an AIM uniform was propelled through a concrete wall by a white torrent of fire. The yellow guy slammed into a car and was covered in dust and debris which just missed burying a big black guy in a SHIELD uniform. The AIM agent slumped unmoving. Logan for a moment thought he had seen the black guy before and even felt almost like he had seen that guy in a situation like this before. But then one of the girls wriggled and the concrete dust obscured the black guy who had been staring back at him rattling Logan out of his deja-vu.
"Cyclops I have the cargo!" Logan yelled.
Several of the SHIELD agent who had been ducked next to the entrance looked in his direction. There was a wide red blast of energy and the agents were slammed against the wall. Several smaller rapid red bolts followed pummeling the SHIELD agents unconcsiou. Logan could not hear what Cyclops was yelling to him as his sensitive ears were momentarily ringing from the roar of the blasts and their impact. But Logan decided Cyclops taking shots at SHIELD had been the signal to leave.
----------
Willow was studying all the screens because she had noticed the technician seemed more focused the screen showing the General who had gone to join his agents. Willow thought it was a bit careless of a General to go into battle, but somehow she figured the SHIELD field agents appreciated having a leader like that.
She saw something unexpected but not unwelcome on one screen. One of the cameras covering the backside of the Trauma wing showed Buffy limping along. She looked hurt and beaten. Willow knew that there was no one available to go fetch Buffy, but all the fighting was on at the front of the hospital so she figured she could safely run over and get Buffy to come back to the truck where they'd be safe. The fact that it would also be a big step towards Willow and Buffy getting back home was not lost on Willow either. Willow left without noticing the blinking light next to the com console where the chip card had been inserted.
----------
Buffy was trying to figure if she could give off a blast of energy without blowing holes into other rooms where there potentially were patients. She was already afraid that her earlier blast might have hurt more than the terrorist from AIM. "Well do you?" the terrorist said.
There was a loud bang and a bright scarlet flash followed by several more from the front door.
Suddenly the touch of the gun disappeared and Buffy ducked right and turned to face her opponent only to see a weird scene. The AIM guy was twitching and his limbs moving in angles that a human body couldn't handle. He was being held down by a winded looking Kitty.
"Funny thing about phasing through power suits and electronics stuff like your gun. It kinda kills them," Kitty said. There was a ghastly crack from the foot of the man as his power armor twisted it in an angle not even a contortionist would emulate.
"Thanks," Buffy said. The guy in his no longer functional armor tried shooting Kitty with the arm that wasn't bent at an odd angle, but the gun only made a few sparks. Buffy walked over and calmly kicked the man so hard he flew up and embedded himself into the wall ass first. He stopped struggling with his out of control armor after that.
"Cyclops says Wolverine has the girls, but we need to leave immediate," Kitty said listening to the earpiece she wore.
"We head for the van?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, Cyclops says we can go out the front," Kitty replied and they ran out through the smashed up reception area, past knocked out people in blue sci-fi gear that Buffy had no idea who were and towards their van. Nightcrawler appeared midway there running along the top a car and then disappeared again in a puff of smoke. The van rocked slightly making Buffy guess he had teleported inside. She meanwhile fought to disable her aura. There was a distant roar above them but it stopped. Buffy wondered about it as she slid inside and smiled as she was met by two girls jumping over to embrace her.
----------
Willow ran in the direction she suspected Buffy had gone. There was a noise high above that she didn't recognize. She spotted Buffy her sleeve and left side covered in blood.
"Buffy stop! I have a safe place for you. We'll get that looked at too," Willow yelled.
Buffy turned and pulled something from her right pocket. It looked like something of a cross between a gun and a tuning fork.
"Buffy, it's me. Willow," she yelled. A roaring noise approached her from behind.
Suddenly Willow felt her entire body jolt and she passed out for a moment in pain. She fell onto her back and saw something gold and red flash by her eyes. There was a loud bang and a sound like gravel raining on the pavement. Willow fought to get up, but her muscles wouldn't obey her. At least the pain had stopped.
There was a roaring noise and then the sound of metal on stone. The noise became metallic footsteps approaching rapidly. Willow felt strange almost like she was slowly gliding on her back down a black hole the sky above getting increasingly distant and blurry. A blob of gold and red slid into view and she heard a distant apology, "I am sorry."
----------
"Check for someone tailing us, there is sure to be something. They might also try to track the Blackbird later. We can't let SHIELD tie this to Xavier's," Cyclops said.
"Nothing yet," Logan said as they drove carefully through the Seattle traffic making sure not to draw undue attention.
"Nemo... I mean Buffy, is it really you this time?" Singer asked Buffy.
Buffy smiled and made her eyes glow, "It is."
"Dream look it is her," Singer told her sister who rolled her eyes like she had known all the time that Buffy was who she said she was.
"That was total chaos back there," Kitty replied.
"Yeah, what a mess," Buffy agreed.
"We're not out of it yet, kids," Wolverine said eying something in the rear view mirror.
"There was something strange flying around back there. I didn't get a good look, but it was carried by rockets of some sort," he continued as the van turned off the main roads towards the warehouses near the abandoned rails where their jet was parked.
"I'll keep an eye out, you focus on driving," Cyclops said and turned to look out the window.
----------
Nick shook off the last pieces of cement and yelled, "Assault team report in!"
There was a crackle on the radio, but all around him pained voices replied by groaning. "We're present and accounted for sir. If more than a bit worse for wear. There might still be hostiles inside," Allan Quartermain reported after staggering up from a thorn bush growing next to the outer wall which he had been thrown into by the red blast coming from an ambusher in the parking lot. Nick got up to a crouch and tried to see if their attacker was dumb enough to show himself.
There was nothing moving in the parking lot.
A familiar roar and a clang announced someone Nick was happy to hear. He turned and saw Iron Man walk resolutely past the SHIELD agents headed for the entrance. "Excuse my late arrival. I had to take care of a wounded girl," his robotic voice announced. The man in his powersuit turned and faced the plasma and explosives scarred entrance way to the ER. He walked inside.
The SHIELD agents shook of the shock of the red blasts of them slowly and while two covered the parking lot and one of their comrades who needed medical attention Nick directed two other to go around the hospital and try to catch other attackers. He hoped there weren't a lot of casualties. He knew the only reason neither press nor police had come yet was that he had ordered his technician to cut off all emergency phone, cell and radio communication in the area temporarily. He needed to get this area secured and swept quickly because before long word of mouth would bring the press any way. And SHIELD needed to be gone by then.
"General Fury to Emory. Order in more support troops from SHIELD Northwest and tell them to call in some FBI Counterintelligence officers we're going to need witness statements. Also I want you to send the video feeds out to the Carrier for analysis. I want to know exactly what happened here," Nick said.
"Sir, the civilian you brought. Miss Rosenberg. She ran out to rendezvous with the target. However the target shot her and Iron man had to intervene. She looked wounded," Emory reported back.
"Fuck.... Link me to Iron man immediately on channel six and I want the line encrypted no listening in," Nick said.
"Yes sir," Emory said.
There was a click noise as Nick changed his radio channel and said, "Tony, what happened to the civilian you rescued?"
"She was shot by some sort of overcharged Disruptor gun. I disabled an AIM agent in a chameleon suit shooting at her, but it was too late. I brought her to a different ER. I can't tell you how she is though. It looked bad. I am so sorry. I failed her. I was a few seconds too slow," Tony Stark said.
"No I failed her not you. I should never have brought her here. That girl is a witness under federal protection. Or she was supposed to be. As far as I can tell everyone in her life has turned from her or betrayed her lately. And now she gets shot on my... on our watch. She... I will have to go see her immediately when this is over," Nick said.
"Wait a moment, there are more targets inside," Tony said and the line was cut. Nick changed back to the main SHIELD channel.
"Fury back online," he announced.
"Sir, North west reports a full tactical squad on the way in a hover transport. They're asking if they have weapons release," Emory said.
"They have full weapons release on AIM targets only. Brief them on the target we were trying to acquire and tell them to detain her if spotted. Also alert the Airforce. I want any sign of that invisible vehicle's reappearance checked by some Raptors," Nick said.
There was a dull boom noise and part of the hospital shook. Nick began running. Iron man had engaged whatever enemies were left inside and Nick didn't want to watch from the sidelines.
----------
Buffy and Kitty strapped in the girls and then got into their seats. The sleek black jet took off vertically and quickly started gaining speed. Buffy looked outside watching as Seattle disappeared below.
"We have company up here," Cyclops said.
"What?" Logan asked.
"There are two F-22s in the air. Let's hope the upgrades Hank came up with work or we'll end up in a firefight. This time we don't have Storm around to throw tornadoes at them," Cyclops said pointing at a radar screen.
Buffy turned to Kitty, "Last time? Does this happen a lot?"
"No, but there was this incident several months ago, the President was attacked and he got angry so when the government found out a group of mutants were flying around in an unregistered high tech jet they tried shooting the Blackbird down. There was a firefight and everyone aboard nearly died. Rogue got blown out a hole and Kurt had to get her back by teleporting and Storm scared the crap out of everyone by throwing instant tornadoes at the Raptors on their tail. In the end they got shot down anyway but Magneto caught them. Not out of the goodness of his heart, but because we had Kurt and Jean aboard. He needed them to find and stop the guys that had arranged the attack on the President," Kitty explained.
"Okay, so then the obvious question is who is Magneto?" Buffy asked.
"What? You don't know who Magneto is? But he's been on the news several times," Kitty said.
"I've been kind of distracted by some other crap for a few years. Who is he?" Buffy asked.
"He's a mutant that hates humans. He is afraid that they'll try doing to us what the Nazis did to the Jews in World War Two. But instead of trying to build bridges and making things better he's trying to make his own army and get ready for the war he is sure is going to happen. He's officially considered a terrorist a lot like someone from Al-Quada," Kitty explained.
"Oh... I've never to focused on history and stuff. I'm all about here and now," Buffy muttered feeling weird for not having heard about something that sounded like she should have heard about.
"Buffy, back there. Those guys were there for you and I recognized them from the archives. They're AIM, a group of scientists and weapon dealers up to no good at all," Kitty said.
"I know," Buffy replied. There had been fighting and trouble. People at the hospital had been hurt. Her dad had died. And she was keeping secrets from people who had just been in battle for her and the girls. She felt a bit rotten. Besides she found that having not kept her old secret from Xander and Willow had helped her, so maybe not keeping secrets now was a good idea. The X-Men knew about AIM so then maybe they could give her a safe place to be. They already knew so they were already in danger. She could tell them. Buffy felt her body relax from some tension she hadn't even noticed.
"Okay when we're back at the mansion I'll tell you everything. But I want Storm and the Professor to be there too. And there is gonna be stuff I'm gonna tell you that you won't want to believe but it is all true," Buffy replied.
"Good," Logan replied having apparently been listening to their conversation from afar.
----------
Over an hour since they had secured the hospital, more than an hour of doctors working on the pale red head he could see through the observation window. Nick was there officially because Willow Rosenberg had a head full of national secrets. But he knew that wasn't the truth. He liked the quiet and brilliant girl. He had liked her since meeting her. He had sensed a relentlessness in her when he had first met her. And while she lacked the strength and athleticism needed for a SHIELD field agent she nevertheless reminded him of one of his recruits. A door opened next to him Nick recognized the face of Tony Stark in the reflection in the glass.
"How are things going?" Tony asked.
"Too early to tell me apparently," Nick replied not trying to hide his impatience.
"I know the guy on the left. He's one of the foremost experts on neurological damage on the Western Seaboard," Tony said.
"Yeah I had him flown in," Nick replied, "why are you still here?"
"Why are you?" Tony asked.
"Guilt. Her getting hurt is just as much my fault as it's her own. Besides her parents seem to care about as much about her as they do for their houseplants. I actually had this vague idea that I wanted to recruit her, when she was older. That girl is probably the most talented computer hacker my security department has ever seen. If we hadn't been looking for a breach we would never have detected her and that is saying something. She's a bit like you except for the billions and the bad habits," Nick replied.
"Really," Tony said and studied the girl inside.
Nick noticed that one of the doctors left the room and a few minutes later he came in to see them.
"General," he said looking worried.
"Just the facts Doctor," Nick said.
"The weapon has destroyed several major nerve paths in that girl's spine. She'll never walk again and it will take a lot of therapy to restore full motion in her left arm. We're trying to rescue what we can but most of the spinal damage is beyond surgery," the doctor said.
"I understand. Thank you and your team for their hard work," Nick said. The doctor nodded and headed for the door.
"Doctor, is the damage confined to her spine or does it extend into the legs?" Tony asked.
The doctor stopped and gave Nick a questioning look as if to ask him if he should answer. Nick nodded.
"The weapon what ever it was grounded out through her lower spinal area and completely destroyed the nerves there but the nervous system extending out into the extremities look like it's intact," the Doctor replied and left after Tony turned back to studying Willow.
"Nick, if you'll authorize this I'd like to have the hospital send me all records on the damage to that girl's spine," Tony said.
"Sure, but why?" Nick asked.
"The weapon that AIM used on her is a Stark design that Obidiah sold them," Tony said and waited for a while. "I think I can use some of the Iron Tech to give her some mobility back maybe even full function," Tony said.
"If you need parts or money just give me a call, I'll hide it in my budget," Nick replied.
"That won't be necessary. Listen I think we should let her recuperate with a good nurse. I'll have to work from New York in connection with the Avengers project for a while so why don't I lend her my house in LA for a while. Jarvis and Pepper will take good care of her," Tony said.
"I'd like to have one of my agents look after her as well. Just so that she won't lack company or protection," Nick agreed.
"Perfect," Tony said and soon after left.
Nick put a hand against the glass as he watched the doctors and nurses finish their work. "I'll make it alright again kid," he said before leaving too.
----------
Buffy shuffled into the upstairs lounge usually occupied after dinner by just the teachers at the school. Now it contained them and on Buffy's request Kitty as well.
"Alright," she said and sat down. Buffy had just seen to Singer and Dream, who had been welcomed to the school by the other young kids there and who had at least seemed very happy.
"You do not have to tell us anything. This is your choice," the Professor said.
"I know, but I want to," Buffy said and wondered if they were going to send her off to the asylum later. She noticed Logan was standing looking out the window, while everyone was sitting around waiting.
"I guess I should start with the basics. My name is Buffy I'm sixteen and I'll be seventeen in a few months. I grew up in Hemery that's in Los Angeles, but last year my mom and I moved to this town called Sunnydale. And when I was barely fifteen an English guy turned up at my school and told me that I had a destiny. Capital letter like Destiny. I was the next Chosen One. I guess most of you won't believe this but magic and monsters are real," Buffy said.
"No way," Kitty said.
Xavier and Scott looked doubting. Kurt looked thoughtful, but both Ororo and Logan had very unexpected reactions. Logan looked over his shoulder at her with a lifted eyebrow not in disbelief as much as to study her, while Ororo looked sorry.
"I was the next in line to be the Slayer. The Vampire Slayer. You see there is one girl, who is the Slayer at a time. She's given mystical mojo by destiny or fate or some such. Anyway she can kill vampires and keep them from killing people, making too many new ones and ending the world. There is actually all sort of monsters that a Slayer has to stop but vampires are the worst. They're like rats," Buffy explained.
"You're the Slayer," Ororo said and walked over to sit next to Buffy.
"No, not anymore. I became the Slayer at fifteen. And you stay the Slayer until you die. Just this May I fought this powerful vampire... He kicked my ass and drank a lot of my blood. Then he left me to drown in a puddle of water, but my friend Xander brought me back with CPR. We defeated the vampire, but not long after that the Slayer power left me. I had actually died for a short time in the puddle. Some other girl is the Slayer now," Buffy said.
"She is delusional," Scott said. Buffy gave him a glare.
"I'm not," she reiterated.
"She's not," Logan agreed.
"Huh," Scott said.
"I've fought vampires and demons before. And I am sure they weren't just ugly mutants," Logan said.
"I am descended from a line of sorceresses. I've seen magic performed both in Cairo and in other places," Ororo said. "I have also heard the legends about mankind's great protector," she continued and gave Buffy an admiring look. "In Tanzania it is said that the Daughters of Sineya are chosen from the purest and strongest females in this world, those willing to fight and destined to win. They are the lonely warriors in the darkness and many ancient people sing the praise of the Slayer each day the sun comes up because she has kept the dwellers in the dark from stopping its return."
Professor Xavier studied both Logan and Ororo for a half minute then turned to Scott and said, "They are telling the truth. Go on Buffy please," he said.
"I was the Slayer for a while... almost two years. After I died it was strange. As a Slayer you're stronger, faster, tougher than most vampires and even some demons. And you can fight with any weapon using any technique you're taught or study a little. You need less sleep which is good because the night is when you have to fight. I used to go out and try to walk around near graveyards and the like looking for new vampires or trying to look innocent to attract older ones. That is I got to do that when I wasn't trying to stop some sort of plot to end the world... Which literally did happen. Twice. I think," Buffy paused and sighed. She was dredging up memories painful and bittersweet times. Merrick and Giles caring and careful mentors both. Willow and Xander injecting light into the dark of her life. Angel stalwart and worried, beautiful but distant.
"Then suddenly that power was gone I felt weird almost as if I had lost something I wanted to keep, which honestly I really didn't. Being the Slayer is a guarantee that you'll die young. I was a bit out of it so maybe that was why I thought that. I had died... So my mom sent me to my dad in LA. They're divorced. I had a few happy days then I stumbled across the fact that my dad was the lawyer for AIM or a company that is a part of that. They were making a deal with something called HYDRA an even worse group of psychos. They were transferring weapons in the Middle East, really advanced stuff and my dad had set it all up so that no one would find out. I found the evidence and confronted him. But they had the house bugged. Suddenly they I mean AIM came running in, shooting. We, my dad and I, fought back. I didn't have my mutant powers then. We still won though. My Slayer powers were gone, but I remembered all my training. We were about to escape and they blew my dad's head off... It sprayed all over me. I just can't forget that part. The bits were all over me. I can't remember if I was angry or sad then but my power broke out and suddenly I was flying... Well after I had reduced my dad's house to dust and rubble," Buffy said.
The room remained silent.
"I woke up and I remembered my dad earlier had told me that anyone I told was in danger, so I ran away. I didn't go home. My dad's house had blown up so my mom had to think I was dead I figured as would my friends and other people that knew me from my Slayer days. I decided on a whim to hitchhike and that's how I made it to Seattle and met the girls," Buffy explained.
"I see. And you're telling us now because they're here safely?" Xavier asked.
"No, I'm telling ya, because you already know about AIM and HYDRA and stuff like that right? So it was finally safe to tell someone," Buffy said and felt like a slight weight had left her shoulders.
"Right," Scott said his voice held a new tone of trust that Buffy really liked to hear. All around the room the faces were filled with sympathy and what she could only hope was the seeds of trust. It all convinced her that she at least had made a good choice in telling everyone. It had felt good too.
"So you're combat trained from your time as a Slayer," Xavier said.
"Not in any sense that will make it easier to use my powers, but the entire chaos of combat, improvise because the plan goes out the window when you meet the bad guys deal, I know that part. I guess with a bit of a refresher I could fight hand to hand as well. I might not have the Slayer knowledge thing but it seems from time to time like I can react like a slower version of who I used to be the past. My aim sucks compared to the old days, but I guess that might improve too," she said.
"If you were worthy to be chosen, you must certainly have the innate talent in you to be a great warrior. If you want to, we can tap into that in the Danger Room Buffy," Ororo said.
"I guess. I can't say I want to go back to fighting for my life every night, but for self-defense I'd train. I guess those AIM guys might not be giving up any time soon. Oh and to avoid blowing up more warehouses I'd like to know my powers better," Buffy replied.
"Then let's do that. Buffy why don't you and Kitty go eat? I want to discuss a few things with the teachers," Xavier said.
Buffy nodded and the pair got up. They walked out into the hallway.
"You were really this badass vampire killer and now you're stuck here at the mutant high geek production facility," Kitty said.
"Badass? There was no fun involved. Well not much. Besides this place is better than every high school I've been to until now. If I had my mom and friends around I wouldn't give two hoots about seeing Sunnydale or having been the Slayer ever again. But I still can't tell my friends or my mom. So for it's Xaviers for me. You know I still hope my mom would be proud if she knew all about me," Buffy said.
"One day it will have blown over and it'll be okay for you to tell her. You can bet the Professor will begin checking for that. He's like that," Kitty said.
"Should I tell everyone else?" Buffy asked.
"I would stick with the last part about AIM and your dad. The other thing might not be something for general consumption," Kitty said.
"Probably not," Buffy agreed.
----------
"She's more of prize that we thought originally," Storm said.
"This Slayer thing is a big deal then," Scott said.
"Legendary, there are secret societies existing only to protect the Chosen One, volumes of prophecy about her and no complete account on how many times a Slayer has saved the world from being cast into Hell. If Buffy was chosen by the Goddess to be a Slayer she is a person of great integrity and we should be thankful to have her," Ororo said.
"And having been a Slayer you can be sure she knows how to both fight and kill. And I don't believe that she will have lost as much of that as Buffy seems to think. Skills and instincts like that don't just go lost. They become a part of you like memories," Logan replied.
"You know about Slayers too?" Scott asked. He often wondered how far and how long Logan had wandered in his life. Logan ignored his question.
"Do either of you believe she is dangerous to the children?" Xavier asked.
"What? No, she would never be a danger. The Slayer is a force for good," Storm said.
"Buffy's a person. She's sure not the type to let anyone die on her watch, but to anyone here... No not unless someone tries to do something monumentally stupid," Logan agreed.
"Fine, I want to move up her Danger Room training and we'll start including her in team scenarios as soon as she has mastered basic control of her powers," Xavier said.
"I think you have to be careful with her. She might have battle fatigue," Logan said.
"What?" Scott asked. Battle fatigue was something you saw in soldiers who had been on the frontlines of war.
"Yes, she has probably fought every night for the last few years and she's not exactly old. The Slayer I met was practically suicidal. She took chances like she had my powers. Buffy seems to be in a better shape. But she's died once. She shouldn't be training real battle scenarios for a while," Logan said.
"That's very sensible thinking Logan," the Professor said.
"Just looking out for the students," Logan muttered and turned towards the window again.
----------
Xander leaned back from the kiss and felt like he was supposed to gasp for air. He felt hot and he was sure that he was starting to sweat. Esme smiled. He was about to run his hand up under her short tank top when there was a knock on the door.
"I'll just blow, whoever it is, brains all over the floor and be right back," Esme said.
"Go away!" Xander yelled and hoped that it would work.
The door opened and Magneto strode in. "Excuse me," he said with a indulgent smile on his lips. "I must interrupt but Esme your transport has arrived early."
Esme glanced at Xander. Xander sighed. He knew he had fallen hard. That overly beautiful brilliant telepath has quickly become his everything. She barely had to look at him and his heartbeat a happy dance in his chest. Along with the fact that Toad had promised to get one of their allies in LA to send a note to Willow and Buffy things were definitely improving for him.
"I have to go," Esme said after Magneto had left. She grabbed the pre-packed bag. "We'll pick this back up when I am done with those deluded fools in New York," she said.
"Good luck," he said and they kissed.
"I really have to go," Esme said after breaking their lip lock.
"See you soon," Xander said as she dashed out the door.
"Life's treating me better for once," he said and checked his watch. He had training in a few hours. They were leaving for the land of tweed and afternoon tea in a day or two. He was getting pretty good with his latest trick: selectively disabling parts of the body and the transfer was getting faster too. He figured he'd soon be able to heal his teammates using the life energy of their enemies in the middle of a battle. But until he had other things to do maybe trying to focus on his training would take him mind off of Esme and her long term mission.
----------
Willow looked up at Helen her nurse. They had explained everything to her yesterday. The screaming and her first temper tantrums since she was a kid was behind her. She was now sullenly lying in her bed and was about to use her only working arm to feed herself. She had only been treated to the pitying look of a nurse for one and a half days and already she hated every time it happened. Worst of all was that there wasn't any way for her to get rid of all that pent up anger. She wanted to hit something. She wanted to scream. But she also didn't want to make a scene again.
There was a knock on the door and General Fury strode inside.
"So mistreating your nurse already or is it too early for that," he said and unceremoniously dropped into a chair near the bed.
"I am sorry. I shouldn't have left the truck. But I thought I could get to Buffy. I never believed she would shoot me," Willow started crying. She still couldn't understand how her friend could do this to her. She was crippled for life. She knew that the only feeling she had in her heart for Buffy now was hate.
"Buffy didn't. Iron Man took out that one who shot you. It was an AIM agent wearing a special kind of suit allowing for a limited form of shape changing. We have her in custody. She'll be tried by a tribunal as a terrorist within a few weeks. No your friend seems to have fallen in with a very different crowd. We got hold of both AIM and hospital surveillance that confirms it. Buffy Summers is a mutant and she has joined a mutant underground group calling itself the X-Men. No one knows much about them, except that they're incredibly powerful even capable of reaching past our best defenses and speak with the President within the White House in person without anyone on his security detail realizing it until later," Fury explained.
Willow felt the pain in her heart lessen for a moment. Buffy hadn't shot her. It had been a trick. Buffy was a mutant. Then she wondered how she could have missed both Xander and Buffy being mutants. Buffy had never revealed having any other powers than the Slayer powers.
"Willow, I want you to know. SHIELD is taking full responsibility for you now. I've arranged for your recuperation at a very special location near Los Angeles," Fury leaned forward and took Willow's hand.
"Willow. Look at me," Fury commanded.
Willow blinked away her watery eyes and looked up at the black man that now more than ever seemed like a giant to her.
"Do not give up hope. We'll get you back on your feet. I am not out of tricks just yet," Fury said.
Willow was about to say that the doctors swore she had no hope, but she stared into the convincing and sincere eye of the general and nodded. "I trust you," she whispered. And for the first time in a long while Fury smiled.