I.
The next morning, Ethan Sellenger, Paige Guthrie, Michael Lawson, and Kiana Asahara were seated in Emma's rather large office. Tom Corsi and Sean Cassidy were present, listening intently to Ethan's retelling of the circumstances surrounding their visit to Dr. Cain's house. The others would chime in if any details were missed, but for the most part, he had it covered. When the story was done, all three adults had concerned frowns on their faces.
"Yuir lucky th' lot o' ye weren't hurt," Sean said, sounding more like a reprimanding father than a chastising faculty member. His blue-green eyes scanning the students, he asked, "Ye must be careful when goin' out on yuir own. Especially with th' Corporation still after ye."
Kiana explained, "If anything, I think we may have stumbled on Mina doing her own investigation. If she were truly after us, she would've had a much better chance when we were separated. But when she realized I was there, I think she decided a fight was in order."
Emma nodded. "I have to admit that sounds quite plausible given the situation, which means the Corporation isn't nearly as organized or aggressive as I thought they would be. Sean has a valid point—you have to exercise extreme caution, especially when dealing with anything that may have to do with Dr. Cain or the Corporation. Now, let's talk about the episode with the police."
"Ms. Frost," Paige replied, "We weren't trying to attract police attention. Luckily, Chief Authier was there, and he said that he wouldn't file a report as long as we came back and talked to you about what happened. But we were going to tell you anyways."
"I appreciate the honesty, Paige. Since you did find some clues, I'll let you tend to analyzing those with Cerebra. I would recommend keeping your investigations few and far in between until we can get a good idea of who our enemy is. That will be all."
The four teens rose and quickly exited the office, while Emma sat back, folding her hands across her body.
"A penny for your thoughts," Tom said.
"Things are already beginning to intensify, and I don't think they'll be slowing down anytime soon. I just hope that we can balance—" Emma stopped suddenly. "Oh hell. Of all times…the exact person I didn't want to come is here," Emma said seconds before the melodic chimes of the doorbell resounded through the school. "Tom, can you gather the kids in the gym, and give them a quick intro followed by a Danger Room session? Forge should be done with the installation by now. Sean, let's greet our guest with kind smiles and a warm heart," she said more for herself than him as a knot of dread formed in her stomach.
It was just yesterday that the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters acquired six new students, at the behest of Professor Charles Xavier himself. Springing into action, though reluctantly at first, Emma Frost and Sean Cassidy led their young charges to save the new recruits from a well-timed ambush. But slowly, they came to realize that the danger surrounding the new students had now spread to the members of Generation X.
In addition, the State Educational Standards Board recommendation still loomed overhead, after Ms. Pickwick, who was solely responsible for the recommendation, had a heart attack, triggered by her increasing shock and anger over the perceived disarray of a supposedly prestigious academic institution. Due to the efforts of the team, she made it to the hospital and they were able to treat her appropriately.
However, Emma suspected that the secret of the school was revealed since Ms. Pickwick was psychically connected to her and mentally witnessed the efforts that ultimately saved her life. Emma would have erased the memories but the board member's condition was much too fragile, so they simply waited for her to recover.
Obviously, they didn't have to wait long.
Sean made it to the front door and upon opening it, stared in surprise at the woman sitting in front of him. "Ms. Pickwick!" he exclaimed. Outside of being in a wheelchair and a young medical attendant behind her, Ms. Pickwick looked no different from before—a permanently stern expression, gray hair pulled into an angry bun, piercing dark eyes, and thin lips.
The older woman frowned. "Don't act so surprised. If I didn't know better, I would have presumed you folks would've written me off already. Trust me, you're not that lucky."
Sean gave a sheepish grin, trying to cover his tracks. "Ach! Ah was jus' surprised—pleasantly surprised—t' see ye!"
"Cut the malarkey, Cassidy," she snapped. "Mark, if you could, please wait in the vehicle. There's some business I must attend to here."
He shot Sean a snooty glare before responding, "With pleasure."
"Aren't you going to invite me in, or is that sort of thing a bit too old-fashioned?"
Sean attempted a hospitable smile. "M' apologies. Ah was jus' wonderin' how ye were farin' after what happened."
"I'm well enough to do my job, if that's what you're asking."
He stepped to the side as Ms. Pickwick wheeled herself inside then closed the door, making eye contact with Emma as she strolled down the stairs. "Dinnae plan on leavin' me alone too long with th' lass," Sean directed the thought at Emma.
"Now, darling, do you really think I would do such a horrible thing?"
"Aye."
Emma suppressed an amused smile. Closing the gap between them, her cold demeanor had already resurfaced as she coolly greeted their surprise guest. "Ms. Pickwick, what a surprise."
"Well, at least you don't hide your disgust like Cassidy here." She gave another curious glance around before continuing. "But despite what you may think of me, I'm here to complete the review of your school. I had to return because I seem to have caught a mild case of amnesia, which left me with some holes in my memory, mainly of my visit here."
"What a shame," Emma replied sarcastically.
Sean shot Emma an accusing glance. "Yuir doin', Emma?" he projected his question, knowing she would pick it up telepathically.
Returning with a withering stare, Emma telepathically replied, "Though I was tempted, I can't possibly take credit for it. There is such a thing as amnesia without it being induced by a psychic, Sean. Care to go for round two of false accusations?"
"M' apologies, lass. But dinnae act too innocent. Ah know what yuir capable of."
"So do I."
"That being said," Ms. Pickwick continued, unaware of the psychic banter, "I would like to have another tour of your school. Maybe it will help jar my memory. If not, I'll just evaluate you based off what I see today."
Emma shuddered as she remembered the debacle of the last visit like it was yesterday (it had in fact only been a few days ago!). The old woman tore through their records they did have and lamented on the lack thereof so vehemently that she gave herself a heart attack. She prayed that today wasn't a repeat episode.
"I believe we can accommodate you, Ms. Pickwick. And at least there's a medic right outside this time," Emma said, offering a hospitable smile.
Sean circled around Ms. Pickwick and ignored her protests as he began to push her gently through the halls, following Emma. Realizing, she wasn't going to stop him from wheeling her through the school, Ms. Pickwick settled down and pulled a black notebook out of her bag. Almost immediately, she began to make annotations, noticing Sean trying to peek over her shoulder.
"Cassidy, if you're going to peek over my shoulder like a child—"
"Ach. Tis a bad habit. Keep writin', and Ah'll keep pushin'. Ye dinnae have t' worry about me."
Emma led them through the living room area, making a comment about the other common areas such as the kitchen, dining room, and computer room. She also mentioned the dorm rooms on the second floor, with the staff rooms on the first floor, for those that elected to live on the grounds. As she spoke, Jubilee, Angelo, and Rico dashed by, obviously late for the gym tour with Tom. Michael, Vanessa, and Paige were at the end of the hallway waiting for them, and they all disappeared into a doorway.
"I don't believe I remember so many students being here before. Of course if could just be my amnesia," Ms. Pickwick followed her statement with a hollow chuckle.
Emma explained, "Actually, we did have an increase of students, which can occur before the academic year starts. Despite what you may think, Xavier's is renowned for its rigorous academics and usually gets quite a few applicants even throughout the year. This school is younger than the Xavier's in New York, which is why we have such the small student body. In addition, the faculty is very selective about who attends here."
"I see. Well, remember that I can't exactly recall our tour from before. Please, take me through as if it was my first time," Ms. Pickwick said as she made a few more annotations. Emma found herself tempted to look but refrained from doing so.
"Agreed. One of the first things I want to address is the apparel. The faculty came to a consensus to allow the students to wear normal clothes within tasteful guidelines."
Ms. Pickwick nodded, scribbling another note in her black binder. "And I suppose as long as the dress code is enforced, uniforms aren't necessary. Though most private schools such as this do have uniforms."
Emma gave the woman a sideways glance. "Well, we're not exactly like other private schools."
"Obviously. Let's move on," Ms. Pickwick replied.
Sean kept moving forward, as Emma continued, "We're in the process of searching for an academic counselor as well, to assist the students with college prep and course selection. They will maintain proper academic records on each student to include outside transcripts. All of the students here are transfers."
"I wasn't aware of that before. Please, continue."
When Emma reached the end of the hallway, she opened the sliding door to allow Ms. Pickwick to view the gymnasium, where the students that had passed by earlier were currently encircling another faculty member. They watched as Tom gently demonstrated how to break out of a wrist hold.
"What do we have here? A self-defense class?" Ms. Pickwick critically asked.
"Just one of many mandatory physical education classes we have. The best institutions require such classes, and we are no different in that aspect. Mr. Tom Corsi, as a former policeman, has extensive hand-to-hand combat training as well as an instructor's license. He is currently finishing up a degree in sports medicine but has had years of experience under Dr. Moira MacTaggert."
"The famous geneticist? Not surprising," Ms. Pickwick murmured.
"Since most of the students arrived early, we're simply giving them an orientation to the classes they will have."
"This gymnasium is quite extraordinary considering the small amount of students."
"Professor Xavier believes in providing his students the best facilities to learn and grow in." Emma motioned for Sean to follow her out of the gym and down the hallway. "Because of the increase in the student body, we've expanded our classrooms from one to five, with a special class for our younger students. We want to focus on a small classroom size to enhance individual learning as well as more freedom for the instructor to address individual concerns and learning needs. All of our instructors will be commuting from the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, most of which have advanced degrees in their field of expertise. Guest lecturers will ensure the material stays fresh and that the students don't grow bored."
"That's quite a novel idea," Ms. Pickwick complimented as she scribbled more annotations in her binder.
"I just want to reiterate that this school is a newly established academic institution, specifically established for college-bound students. The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning is more focused on adult students wishing to further their education. With that being the case, many of the normal administrative aspects of the school are still being established. I can assure you that the faculty members here are working overtime to ensure these processes are created and maintained. And we also are dedicated to giving these students the best education the nation can offer."
Ms. Pickwick cracked a smile for the first time since being there. "Well, you certainly sound as if you know what you're doing."
Emma stopped and faced the woman. "Ms. Pickwick, I think I failed to impress upon you how important these students are for me. I had a group of students once, and due to circumstances I'd rather not discuss, I lost them. From that point on, I vowed to use every ounce of strength that I had to ensure no other kids had to even remotely face such challenges. These kids will have a chance to grow and live, and I'll go to great lengths to ensure their future isn't threatened."
Ms. Pickwick locked eyes with Emma. "I have no doubt in your resolve, Ms. Frost. I suspect that you could erase my memory right now just as easily as you eased the pain on the way to the hospital. But I would like for you to hear me out first."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "So you know."
The older woman smiled as she began her story. "At first, I thought I was hallucinating due to the pain and shock of the heart attack. But when Chief Authier came in to question me about the vaporized trailer of an overturned eighteen-wheeler, felled trees in a particularly odd pattern, a flying girl, a floating jeep, and an uncanny sense of doctor's premonition, which happened to occur in tandem with my arrival, I knew that what I had seen was quite real. I came to realize that there is more to this place than being just a school. Despite your attempts to keep the other part hidden, you risked not only your secret, but also your own safety in order to save my life. You and your faculty are much more than teachers—you are mentors, shapers for youths with unique attributes and challenges. Unlike other academic institutions, you teach ethics, morals, and values, something that will stay with them long after they forget the advanced calculus and MLA formatting."
"Ye really dinnae have amnesia, do ye?" Sean asked.
"No, I'm afraid lying is not something I'm particularly fond of or even good at," Ms. Pickwick admitted. They were all silent for a moment, then she announced, "Frost and Cassidy, I am giving your school the highest recommendation possible. And if you continue on the path you're on, Xavier's will become one of the top schools in the nation hands-down."
Emma, genuinely surprised, was almost speechless. "I don't know what to say."
"Well, Ah do…thank ye."
"These children's lives and futures are in your hands. You can thank me by not wasting it. Good day, Cassidy, Frost."
Mark suddenly appeared at the door, ready to take control of Ms. Pickwick's wheelchair. Sean stepped out of the orderly's way and let him wheel her out of the door. He closed the door behind them, feeling as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
"Aye. Ah'm glad that's over."
"So am I. Let's just hope that everything calms down a little bit so we can actually follow through. I would hate for that old cow to come back here and berate us again. If that happened, I probably would mind-wipe her without a second thought."
Sean let off an uneasy chuckle, unsure if Emma was joking or not.
II.
The gymnasium was actually more like a large athletic facility, with a weight room, aerobics room, and a gymnastics room attached. The basketball court was brightly lit with a high ceiling and a rather oddly-placed observation booth about twenty feet from the floor. But thinking about it logically, Michael couldn't exactly remember such a large gym being visible from the outside, though it should have been since it was near the front of the school.
Michael barely heard Tom explain that Sean and Emma were currently attending to Ms. Pickwick, a visitor from the State Educational Standards Board. But the hushed conversation that ensued from the older students told him it wasn't a normal visit. He listened intently as Everett, with interjections from Jubilee, quickly retold the circumstances surrounding Ms. Pickwick's first visit, which tied everything together for him.
Only a few days ago, he watched the news story on the situation, surmising that Graylon Walsh was simply exaggerating the story. But now, he saw that there was truth to what the reporter said and so much more.
Refocusing the conversation, Tom said, "It may not look it, but this is also your new Danger Room."
"So this is the fabled Danger Room?" asked Michael, not even attempting to hide his disappointment.
"I've gotta agree with Miguelito here. There's nothin' dangerous about this place. It's a gym," Angelo said.
Thoughtfully, Paige offered, "Well, maybe there are lasers and traps hidden in the walls. That's how the first Danger Room was—no technology at all, just simple gadgets that still tested the X-Men's powers in a less-than-friendly environment."
Tom smiled, surprised at the girl's knowledge. "Looks like you've been doing some research in the archives. What Paige said is true. The Danger started out as nothing more than normal traps and gadgets, but through the years, the Danger Room was upgraded with various technologies to provide a realistic, yet relatively safe training environment."
Michael frowned. "Let me guess—alien technology, right?" To him, it seemed that every piece of equipment in the place was some kind of mysterious alien technology, which for some reason annoyed him.
"Well, since you already seem to know, yes. But I'll let the designer explain that further."
Jubilee glanced around. "So we're takin' back to like the ol' school with booby traps? Great. Lemme get my record player out so we have some like tunes to jam to."
Before anyone else could comment, the ground erupted and a large mechanical monstrosity rose out of the chaos. Without a word, the Sentinel opened its hand, and an amber energy beam shot out, barely missing the group of teens. Then from both sides, similar Sentinels tore out of the ground and commenced to attacking the students.
"Dios! Sentinels!" Angelo yelled as the leapt out of the way, a laser barely missing him.
"What the hell is a Sentinel?!" Rico shouted above the explosions and laser blasts. It seemed that everything around them went from calm to hectic in a matter of seconds.
Everett immediately stepped into a leadership role, realizing the vast danger they were in. "Everybody, listen up. We've got to move fast. Vanguard, Skin, Lightwing, and Oracle, take Sentinel one from the left. Marvel, Husk, Chamber, you've got Sentinel two. Void, Helios, Gaia, M, take Sentinel three. Jubilee, Penance, Tempest, and I have got Sentinel four. Let the flyers distract the Sentinels, while the ground forces take out the arms and legs. The core processor's located in its head."
Though it was their first battle together, the teams worked efficiently, following Everett's directions with their own flair, ultimately defeating the four Sentinels within minutes.
"Now that was some amazing teamwork," a voice sounded from somewhere above them. An almost secret elevator descended from the control booth, and a man wearing the standard blue and gold X-Men training uniform stepped out. Tall, muscular, and broad shouldered, the dusky complexioned man smiled at the teens, despite the destruction surrounding them. And behind him, Tom stepped from the elevator as well, an approving expression on his face.
Not noticing Tom, Michael pointed an accusing finger at the man heading toward them. "Is this your doing?!"
Jubilee rolled her eyes. "Dude. You gotta chill out. He's totally not one of your Corporation goons. How's it goin', Forge?"
"Jubilee, it's been awhile. Ororo told me you had transferred down here. Are you enjoying it so far?"
Jubilee shrugged nonchalantly and replied, "It's cool." But a huge smiled erupted across her face, letting Forge know that she really was enjoying herself.
"For the rest of you that don't know him," Tom introduced, "This is Forge. And you can thank him for building your new Danger Room."
"Computer, end simulation," Forge commanded. Like a fading dream, the felled Sentinels and razed gym dissolved right before the students' eyes, morphing back into the immaculate gym that they were standing in only minutes ago, as if nothing had happened.
"Totally bad ass!" Rico marveled.
"Amazing," said Paige.
"Wait, Tom," Ethan suddenly interjected. "Weren't you in here with us when everything started?"
"Nah. It was a holographic image of me, courtesy of Forge."
"Cool!" Angelo grinned.
"It looked exactly like you!" Lily excitedly said.
Forge explained, "This room can generate solid holographic images, as well as an infinite landscape for training purposes. The simulations are run from the control booth up there," Forge pointed to the room. "Everything that happens in this room is programmed into the Danger Room computer, which is also linked to Cerebra."
Rico asked, "Seeing as how it's called the Danger Room, can we get hurt in here?"
Tom answered, "It's possible to get hurt in here, so I would advise that all of you treat this like the real thing. For our training sessions, the damage measurement will not be high, so essentially, getting hit with a car will like you were pushed to the ground by the school bully. However, none of you are authorized to use the Danger Room without supervision."
"Seems that everything's functioning properly. And I must say that I've had the chance to see a lot of teams interact on the battlefield, and what I just saw was one of the most cohesive, smoothest executions of orders with such a young group."
Tom added, "Considering this is your first time working out in the Danger Room together, I have to say I'm impressed too. So let's take a look at your performance from a strategic view. Everett, why did you split the team up the way you did?"
"They were Mark I Sentinels—limited mobility, ranged hand weapons, optical nodes sensitive to light, central processor located in its head. We have enough flyers to serve as a distraction, since the Mark I's can usually only manage one target at a time. The strong-arms of the group could take down the Sentinel, while the energy wielders could quickly destroy the central processor."
"Commendable, Everett. Now, who can point out a flaw in that plan?"
Monet immediately replied, "The execution was uncertain to say the least, considering we've never fought together before. We do not know the full scope of each other's abilities nor the manner in which others are proficient in wielding them. The foremost assumption made was that each member could utilize his or her powers to a sufficient level to subdue the threat, thus making the plan a success."
"Good observation, Monet. Any others?"
"It seems like we only addressed the immediate threat," Ethan observed. "Instead of all of us engaging, we could have split into two teams—one to actively engage the Sentinels and the other as back-up or a rescue squad for any bystanders."
Tom nodded in agreement. "Ethan, glad to see you're thinking outside the box. There are times when the immediate threat isn't the greatest one. You always have to be aware of what's going on both in the battle and outside the battle. Any questions?"
Gaia raised her hand, as she had seen others do. When Tom motioned to her, she cleared her throat and asked, "Is something like that really going to happen though? I mean, giant automated machines tearing out of the ground? We're not really going to be attacked in such a manner, right?"
"As Emma said, we're definitely out of the superhero business, but the fact that you're mutants makes you a target by humans and other mutants alike. There's no telling when and where an attack can occur and most will be unannounced, unorthodox attacks. Reactions minimizing collateral damage, protecting innocent bystanders, and protecting yourselves while subduing the aggressor should be like second nature."
Tom had an immediate flashback to his time with the police force. There, he was in charge of training the newest recruits for duty on the streets and used many of the same terms with them. Remember Tom, these are just kids, he told himself. However, the danger they faced was mortal, regardless of age, and in this capacity, Tom felt he had the responsibility to ensure that they had the skills needed to survive.
He continued, "I'll be your combat skills instructor. I'll send out an e-mail with the syllabus. Every week, you'll have a different battle scenario to analyze, as well as evaluations within the Danger Room. This will also double as your physical education block, so you can workout during the second hour of class. This will probably be the only class that you'll have together, so take advantage of each others strengths and help your classmates when they need it. Any other questions?"
Vanessa asked, "Should we wear workout clothes then?"
"Glad you mentioned that. Emma ordered new training uniforms for all of you. I'm sure they're from the super-secret manufacturer of superhero costumes, so they'll probably have built in body temperature regulators, impact shielding, and molecular adaptation to your specific mutant abilities."
"We're getting X-Men uniforms!" Rico excitedly whispered to Vanessa.
"So we're ditchin' the red an' yellow?" Angelo asked, secretly rejoicing.
"Looks like it. I think she went with a dark red and black combo. A little more subtle than the old uniforms. She ordered plenty of different styles, so you can mix and match whatever combo you like, but you will report to his class in uniform. Only this class. Your academic classes will be in your normal street clothes."
Not missing a chance to make a comment aimed at Monet, Jubilee said, "Hmph. Like I don't think Miss Priss over here owns any street clothes."
Monet gave a weary sigh, rolling her eyes pompously. "You could only wish to have the fabrics and designs of Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, Christian Dior, Hermés, and Louis Vuitton, just to name a few, hanging from your rather lacking frame."
Jubilee's mouth fell open in shock. "Wait! Are you like calling me flat-chested?!"
Everett shook his head, rubbing his hand across his smooth crown. "I think the conversation took a wrong turn somewhere."
Kiana commented, "Personally, I was quite impressed with her knowledge of high-end fashion."
"She was simply listing her closet inventory," Paige clarified.
"Really!" Vanessa said, her eyes lighting up. She was well known amongst her peers for her keen eye for fashion, but really hadn't had anyone to really go shopping with. Someone like Monet would be a great shopping partner, if only Vanessa could get past Monet's attitude. "I do need to check out the latest fall fashions from Christian Dior and Donna Karan."
Clasping her hands, Monet smiled, her attention on Vanessa. "How refreshing it is to hear someone that understands and appreciates finer apparel. Anytime you want to accompany me on an excursion to New York's finest fashion boutiques, you may."
For a moment, Vanessa was pleased that she had made a connection with the most standoffish member of the team, but at the same time, Monet's offer wasn't exactly as nice as Vanessa would have hoped. In fact, she wasn't sure whether she should appreciate it or be upset.
"Thanks, I think," she said, still pondering over how she felt.
Jubilee was till fuming and said, "Hold up! Don't like flip the script on me that fast. Let's get back to you and me, Monet. I totally wanna know if you were like callin' me flat-chested!"
"If you want me to throw in my two cents, Jubes…" Angelo grinned as he winked at Jubilee.
Jubilee remembered Angelo's raid of her underwear drawer only a few days ago, and even more anger rushed to the surface. "Dude, one word an' you'll be like tastin' fireworks for days. Got it?!"
Tom felt a headache growing somewhere behind his eyes. With these kids, who needs kids of their own, he thought then smiled in spite of himself. Honestly, he did regard the wards of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters as his own children in a way. And he found it amazing to watch them learn and grow as time progressed. But right now, the scene in front of him reminded him why he didn't have kids.
Raising his voice slightly, Tom said, "Okay, let's get back on track. The uniforms came in this morning, so Emma's got them on a rack in her office. All of you should head up there from here."
Lily smiled pleasantly. "Thank you, Mr. Corsi."
"Okay, last thing. In here, you guys can just call me Tom. None of this Mr. Corsi stuff. Deal?"
"Deal!" Angelo gave Tom a high-five.
"You guys are free to go. Remember, uniforms on Monday. And don't be late!" Tom called after the teens. But they were already chattering excitedly as they headed out of the Danger Room. Tom watched as they left, and noticed Forge chuckling.
"Sounds like a good bunch of kids. A bit energetic. And youthful. But good nonetheless," Forge commented. Like Tom, he didn't have children of his own, but seemed to gravitate towards the latest incarnation of the younger generation of X-Men. He had a flashback of the New Mutants, a diverse group of young mutants that took up residence at Xavier's.
"They are," Sean replied as he and Emma strode toward Forge and Tom. They had entered only moments after the students had exited the Danger Room and overheard Forge's assessment.
"So far," Emma added.
Tom shook his head, always amused at Emma's dry wit. Then, Tom realized they were without company. "How did the visit go?"
"After berating Sean and I, she claimed to have amnesia—"
Tom's mouth opened in an O of surprise. "Did you—?"
Emma crossed her arms in annoyance. "I will to the next person that asks me that. Now, if I could continue without any more asinine accusations. She claimed to not remember her last visit, so we gave her another tour. In the end, we discovered she remembered everything, but still gave us the highest rating."
"Without any mental manipulation," Sean gladly added, ignoring Emma's paralyzing stare. "Looks like we're staying open."
"Have you told the kids yet?"
"Not yet. I figured they're already brimming over with excitement over the Danger Room and the new uniforms. I don't want to send them completely over the edge. A school full of over-excited teens isn't exactly my cup of tea."
"Well, congratulations," Forge offered. "I can't imagine the challenges that come with running a school like this. It makes you wonder how Charles has done it all these years."
"I tend to wonder that every day," Emma replied.
"So, it sounds like th' lads love th' new Danger Room," Sean said to Forge. "Ah know it was kind o' short notice, but thank ye fer takin' the time out t' do this."
"No problem. It's been awhile since I've been able to do a project like this, so it was good for me too. And from the preliminary dry-run, it looks like everything is functioning properly. I'm actually heading up to extrapolate the battle data if you're interested."
Sean, Emma, and Tom followed Forge back to the well-hidden elevator, which whisked them up to the control room. Stepping into a room lined with monitors and consoles, with three large panel windows looking out into the gym, Sean and Emma marveled at the complicated equipment, all of which appeared foreign and much too complex for anyone who wasn't a genius to use.
"Ah shouldnae be surprised ye did this all in one day. But ye did some amazin' work, Forge."
Sighing loudly, Emma said, "Am I going to have to hire my own team of one-hundred pound heads to operate this equipment?"
Laughing, he said, "Not at all. Most of the consoles and controls are similar to the ones at the mansion, so anyone with experience should be able to operate it. I've already been showing Tom a few things, and it shouldn't take Sean too long to familiarize himself with it. One of these two fine operators can easily show you how to do it."
"On second thought, I'll stick to the finances. You guys stick to the technical stuff. Deal?"
"Works for me," Tom grinned.
"Aye."
"So what exactly are we seeing here?" Emma asked, perplexed by the various bar graphs and point charts on the screens.
He explained, "This is a chart mapping out the power output levels. Basically, it measures their internal processes when using their powers coupled with a measurement of the raw energy output. The system can manipulate the data in several ways, but here, the two measurements are mapped against each other. As you see, there's a correlation with the chemical changes and energy output. For those that don't have energy based powers, this doesn't necessarily apply. So for students like Paige, her internal processes measure higher than others."
Emma posed another question. "Why is the internal measurement so high for some of the students? Particularly, most of the psi students. Jono and Michael's measurements are off the charts."
"Well," Forge relied, "Hank has theorized that Jono may simply exist as pure psionic energy. But maybe due to his own mental limitations, he simply opts to remain in a physical form."
Sean's mouth opened in surprise. "Remain in a physical form? So yuir sayin' that th' lad could either exist without his body or simply rebuild his face and chest?"
Nodding in agreement, Forge said, "That's what Hank thinks, and that's what I think too. But he's so guilt ridden over the incident that crippled his girlfriend that on some level, he's probably choosing to remain that way. Or he just doesn't know how to reform himself."
Emma frowned. "We'll see about that. Jono's self-loathing and moping around is really getting old. What about Michael?"
"I don't know much about him," Forge admitted. "But I'm impressed by the level of psionic power he has at such a young age. He's only a few notches below people like Jean and the Professor."
"So I supposed that I'm chopped liver now?" Emma flatly said, cocking an eyebrow in disapproval.
Forge laughed. "Of course not. Sometimes, I forget that you're quite formidable yourself, Emma."
"Maybe regression to a five-year old girl will help you remember."
Sean placed a hand on Emma's shoulder. "Aye, lass. Ye get so cross so easily these days."
Emma sighed, realizing that her words came off much harsher than she meant. "My apologies. I suppose I haven't been sleeping well lately."
Sean made a mental note to ask her more about it later, but for now, he turned his attention back to Forge.
"There really wasn't anything else abnormal, but judging from old data, it looks like the older students' power levels are increasing. I still find it amazing that you have as many Alpha-level mutants here as you do—Jono, Michael, Everett, and Monet."
Emma said, "Tom, looks like you've got your work cut out for you."
"No problem. This is few more students than I thought I would have, but I'll make it work. I would recommend power specific training with the pros though."
"If I can drag them from halfway around the world," Emma rolled her eyes. "I'll propose the idea to Charles when we see him next, though I'm not necessarily looking forward to the spandex types tromping all around the school."
"Ach, lass. Ye still got somethin' against Jean, Bobby, Ororo, and Kitty?"
"More than just those four. But they are at the top of my list. That dead-alive again tart and the iceboy that never quite grew into a man. The holier than thou weather witch. And the ghostly brat that doesn't know the first thing about respecting her elders." Emma sighed heavily, heeling a headache forming behind her eyes from the thought of having to interact with any or all of them. "I suppose if it's for the betterment of the students, I should suck it up, as you would say, right, Sean?"
"Aye. Looks like yuir leanin'."
"Painfully so."
Forge laughed. "I'm sure the X-Men will be glad to help. And I'm always around if you need a sub as well."
"Ah thank ye, Forge. Th' Danger Room is impressive. I think th' students will get a lot o' trainin' accomplished."
"Always glad to help. Call me if you need anything at all."
After a few more minutes of small talk, Sean, Emma, and Tom walked Forge to the front door then he was gone.
III.
"That Danger Room was awesome!" Rico exclaimed as the Danger Room doors shut behind them. The students barely noticed Emma and Sean walk past them and enter the Danger Room just as they filed out.
Lily smiled. "I've never seen anything like that before."
"Psshht," Jubilee replied. "You haven't like scoped anything cool yet. When I was with the X-Men—"
Angelo and Jono groaned simultaneously, and Angelo quickly interjected, "Not another one of your stories. Nobody wants to hear—"
Rico's mouth was open in awe. "Whoa! You were with the X-Men?!"
Giving Angelo and Jono a smug glance, Jubilee turned her attention to Rico. "Well, I mean, since ya asked an' all, I was totally rollin' with the X-Men for a bit."
Angelo elbowed Rico playfully in the side. "Hombre, don't encourage her. She'll go on and on with her adventures with the X-Men."
"But I really want to hear this," he responded.
Vanessa shook her head. "Hey, everybody, aren't we supposed to be getting our training uniforms in Em—Ms. Frost's office?"
Everett said, "Yeah. Let's head up that way. By the way, everybody looked great in there. I think that's one of the best training sessions we've had in a while."
"I wish we could've done that last week against Mina Laroché," Kiana said.
"Did something happen?" Rico asked.
Michael answered. "We didn't want to tell everybody at once and get everyone alarmed, but we went to Dr. Cain's house. We as in Paige, Kiana, Ethan, and I. We found a few clues, but we ended up attacked by someone named Mina Laroché. Let's just say we didn't fare so well."
"You went to Dr. Cain's house?!" Vincent took an aggressive step towards Michael. "Why the hell didn't you tell me? With my flames—"
Michael silenced him with a look. "Don't give me that if I had been there, I would have kicked her ass. You're not that good. You could barely defend yourself against someone half your size. We're fully capable of investigating something without dragging everyone in the school along. If you expect to go on missions then you're attitude is going to straighten up, Vincent."
"Whoa. I didn't know ya had it like that, Mike. Here, I thought you like a push-over, nice guy," Jubilee commented.
"I don't think it's the right time, Jubilee," Paige warned.
"Shut up, you," Vincent shot towards Jubilee. Then to Michael, "And I'll take you on any day."
"Really?" Michael said, crossing his arms. "Then you're stupider than I thought. I outclass you in everyway possible, but you still think that you can act like an ass toward me, and I've had it—"
"Enough!" Ethan snapped. He gave Michael a chastising glance, but shot Vincent a glare he only used in the worst of situations.
Kiana said, "Really, Vince, you should cool down. Realistically, Mina's better than most of the people standing here right now. She's experienced, and she won't hesitate to take a life. Are you willing to do that?"
"If I have to. If someone stands in between Dr. Cain and I—"
Kiana shook her head. "I can see it in your eyes. You're not a killer. You wouldn't stand five minutes against her."
"Which is why I'm glad we're here," Ethan stated, hoping to calm the situation down. "Everett, I know that most of us are new, and I don't want any lines to be drawn between us. Dr. Cain is missing, and the way things are looking, we're not going to be able to rescue him on our own. I would like to ask for your help in helping to find him."
"Ethan, you don't have to ask something like that. Old students, new students, whatever—we're all one team. We support each other. We fight together. No questions asked."
Jubilee stepped in, waving her arms obnoxiously. "Like enough with the after-school special, heartwarming stuff, already. I've got dibs on the uniforms!"
The teens broke out in a mad rush for Emma's office, a feeling of warmth and togetherness binding them all.
IV.
As almost an afterthought, Emma mentioned to Sean, "I've got an interview this morning with someone interested in the butler position."
"Really? That seemed t' be fast."
Emma nodded in agreement. "I placed the ad last week after we spoke—" the doorbell chimed, cutting Emma's sentence short. "That may be him. It shouldn't take more than ten minutes. We'll give the children a little more time to rummage through the uniforms then meet them upstairs."
"Aye, Ah'll see ye in a few. Dinnae give th' lad too hard o' a time," Sean warned as he disappeared down the hallway leading to his own room.
Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, Emma strode toward the front door, unconsciously smoothing her slacks and low-cut blouse. Emma quickly opened the door and found a tall, lean gentleman standing in the doorway.
The older gentleman was dressed in stylish dark brown slacks with a matching tie and vest, a white button-down shirt, and a brown fedora. His dark, graying hair was combed straight back, not a single hair appearing out of place. His mustache and goatee were groomed nicely as well, giving his stern features an additional edge, and even through his clothes, Emma could tell he had a muscular frame. He carried himself confidently, yet with an unmistakable posture of someone that had seen a good share of combat.
"You must be Miss Frost. Good afternoon, I'm Robert Noble. I'm here for the job interview," he tipped his fedora and lowered his eyes courteously.
Emma smiled, already impressed by the gentleman's demeanor. "Welcome to the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters," Emma extended her slender hand, and Robert returned with a firm, but not overwhelming, handshake. "Please come in. We'll do the interview here in the living room." Emma stepped farther inside, letting Robert past before shutting the door.
As soon as Robert crossed the threshold of the doorway, he took off his hat and did a wide sweep of the school. "Miss Frost, I must commend you on the exquisite furnishings and décor. For a private school, such care has been given to the overall living accommodations."
"A keen eye for style, I see. Only souls such as you and I can truly appreciate items like this. To the kids and even some of the facility, there's no difference between imported furniture and the junk sold at Walmart."
Robert smiled in response as he followed Emma to the couches. He waited until she had sat down before taking a seat, placing his fedora and bag next to him.
"Mr. Noble—Robert—I have to apologize in advance. Classes start on Monday, and there are still several administrative tasks that I have to complete before then. So if you don't mind, I'm going to skip all the pleasantries and useless questions and get straight to the point."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he politely responded.
"As of now, we have seventeen students that live and attend school here. We're looking for someone to accomplish normal upkeep of the common areas, meal preparation, groceries, and any other related tasks that are necessary. The meal times will correlate with class times during the weekdays—weekends, you can set the meal schedule however you like, if you so choose. I would rather the kids not use you as a short-order chef, but I'll let you handle it as you see fit. We have several faculty members living on the grounds, myself included, so I can offer you the same opportunity, but with strict guidelines and conditions, which we can discuss if you accept the position. There is an on-site doctor, Cecelia Reyes, who will be taking up residence here as well. Transportation will be provided at no cost, but you have the option of taking your own. I think that covers the main aspects so far. Questions?"
"Not so far. As you said, it sounds straight-forward enough—cook and clean for the students and faculty. I am genuinely interested in the position, Miss Frost. But I have to wonder if the conditions and guidelines you spoke of have to do with the news stories about this school that tend to arise every now and again."
"I'm going to be honest with you, Mr. Noble. This is a school for young mutants to learn academically, as well as glean knowledge about their unique abilities, so they can be beneficial members to society. This isn't a mutant training camp or any other nonsense that the local media likes to drum up. We are private because people don't understand that, and I will not tolerate anyone endangering my students because of some unfounded prejudice or imagined danger."
"I completely understand. And if you'll have me, I would like to work in such a capacity for you and your school."
Emma gave a suspicious smile. "Forgive me for saying so, but it surprises me that a man of your stature and poise would simply work as a butler for a mutant training camp. Aside from that, you haven't asked about pay or benefits."
"Trust me, I have no secrets that will endanger your school, Miss Frost. But I have things in my past that are better left there."
"I can relate and understand. Trust is going to be of the utmost importance. I'm a psychic. I can read your mind easily, but I won't do that. I'm going to trust that your intentions are true and that you're intending to do the best job that you can. I don't expect anything that goes on here to go outside of the school grounds."
"I understand and appreciate your trust. So it's safe to say that I'm hired?" Robert asked.
"On a month-long probationary period. During that time, I'm going to evaluate how you fit in with the kids and the job that you do. At the end of that month, we'll meet and I'll give you feedback. But if you're not performing up to standards, we'll be meeting much sooner than that."
She stood, signaling the interview was over. "I'm usually not so spontaneous with such decisions, but something tells me that you're a good man. Please don't disappoint me."
Robert stood, taking his bag and fedora in hand. "Well, I hope that I can exceed your and the students' expectations. And I will take you up on your offer to stay on the grounds."
"Well, I can get you taken care of right away. Use tonight and tomorrow to get yourself settled then Monday, I'll expect you to be in the full swing of things, unless you tell me different. Besides, one of the students convinced me to give them a day out before classes started, so it will be a good time for you to take care of your business in the city."
Emma handed him a key and gave him quick directions to his room on the first floor then Robert departed, intending on retrieving his personal belongings. They parted ways, and Emma breathed a sigh of relief. Hiring him was much easier than she thought it would be, and she was glad that there was nothing even remotely suspicious about him. Still, she made a mental note to do a little research on Cerebra just in case.
One task down, ninety-nine to go, Emma said to herself.
IV.
"My outfit is totally kick ass!" Jubilee stated, admiring herself in the full length mirror behind Emma's office door. She adjusted the mid-drift jacket over a halter top, which showed off her well-defined abs and pierced belly button. The form fitting, almost spandex shorts ended right above her knee, with a thick, fastened belt dangling from the waistline. She decided on combat boots, which made the entire ensemble more edgy. To top it off, Jubilee placed black rimmed sunglasses with pink tented lens on her head.
"It suits you," Paige complimented, wearing a simple body suit with boots. She had chosen some wrist bands to accent her choice in uniform, but suddenly felt it wasn't enough as she studied Jubilee. Though Monet had a similar body suit, it seemed to match her personality—sleek, smooth, and flawless. The only noticeable difference was that Monet decided that she wanted gloves.
"I think Gaia's is pretty cool though," Vanessa commented.
Gaia had an asymmetrical top, one long sleeve and one short sleeve, which was cut high on her neck. She had a thick belt around her waist, and pants that disappeared seamlessly into boots. "Thank you for the compliment. Is it appropriate to give you one back?"
Vanessa looked puzzled. "Well, I mean, if you feel it's necessary. I'm not fishing for compliments or anything."
"Okay," Gaia said then turned away.
Paige, noticing Vanessa's confusion, explained, "She's still learning."
"That's the second time today that I don't know whether I should be mad or not."
"You get used to it. But you do look great."
Vanessa's low rise pants and high cut shirt showed off her toned abs as well, the shirt conforming to her athletic shape. Around her waist, a dangling chain belt swung languidly, while behind her, a cloak billowed in the cool breeze that floated in through the windows.
Rico made a disapproving face. "But why a cape? What superhero wears a cape?"
"Not a cape. A cloak. Big difference."
"Hood. No hood. I get it. You still didn't answer the question."
"Well, I'm sure there are still heroes out there that have cloaks and capes."
Jubilee said, "I totally agree with Rico Suave, it's kinda ol' school lookin'."
"I think it looks nice on you," Michael said in contrast. "It adds to your mysterious aura."
Vanessa smiled, embarrassed. "Oh. Thanks. I think…"
"Ooohh…Mike's got the hots for Vanessa," Jubilee poked.
"What?!" Michael felt the temperature in the room cascade to an unbearable heat. He felt the uniform compensate by circulating cooling air between his skin and the outfit. "Shut up!" he said, over-exaggerating his anger.
"Anyways, how does this look, Vanessa?" Kiana asked. She wore a vest, arm bracelets, gloves, figure-fitting pants that disappeared seamlessly into boots. A choker finished off the outfit.
"Good choice," Vanessa said.
"Yeah, you look pretty tough now," Rico grinned as he dodged a playful swipe.
"Well, I would give you the same compliment, but it seems your outfit is a combination of clothes you rolled out of bed and threw on," Kiana shot back.
Rico had on a long sleeved shirt with a dark red stripe up the sleeves, gloves, loose cargo pants that fell over combat boots. "Hey, you gotta wear what feels comfortable, right? Not like stuffy Mike over there."
Michael's tight-fitting, short sleeved shirt showed off the fact that he had been working out, trying to get to the same body size as Ethan. His pants also meshed seamlessly with his boots. His gloves had a dark maroon X on the backside, along with a small encircled X on the left side of his chest, and on his belt buckle.
"I am not stuffy!" Michael shot back, feigning anger.
Rico shrugged. "I'm just saying. I mean, Vinnie and Ange have the right idea."
Vincent wore an outfit similar to Rico's—a three-quarters sleeved top and cargo pants bloused over combat boots. Angelo wore a short sleeved t-shirt, skull cap with a dark red X in the front, cargo shorts, and combat boots.
"I think Mike and Ethan are going for the X-Model look," Rico joked.
Ethan gave Rico a withering glance. He wore a sleeveless shirt, showing off well-defined muscles, a tattoo on his right arm, wrist braces, and normal pants over boots.
"You blokes are puttin' way too much effort into this," Jono said. He looked as though he hadn't even changed. He donned a full body suit, along with a special part that covered the lower half of his face, and a long leather jacket. The dark red trim was the only thing that made it different from his normal clothes.
"Well, everyone should be comfortable in their training uniform," Everett said. He wore a full body suit, similar to his old uniform with boots and wrist braces.
"I think I'm okay with mine, and I think Yvette is too!" Lily said. She wore a top with flowing sleeves and an open back, fitting pants tucked into boots. Yvette crouched beside her in a full body suit, leaving only her head, hands, and feet exposed.
"If you kids are done playing fashion show…" Emma sauntered in the room, wearing a dazzling white outfit—long white opera gloves, white leather pants that disappeared seamlessly into white boots, a white belt and choker, and a white leather bodice. Her toned abs were exposed as well as a bit of upper chest as well, gaining the attention of both the boys and girls.
Sean had reverted back to his blue and gold basic X-Men training outfit, complete with the striped cape connected between his arms and legs.
"See, Ms. Frost and Mr. Cassidy both have capes. I'm definitely keeping the cloak," Vanessa whispered.
"Glad to see that most of you have some sense of taste and flair. These will be your training outfits, which Tom has instructed all of you to wear to his class only. These uniforms will not be worn to any of your other classes. When we are with you in the Danger Room, Sean and I will be wearing these uniforms, which double as our X-Men uniforms."
Rico slapped his head. "Of course! It totally makes sense. You and Mr. Cassidy both are X-Men. This is so cool!"
"Someone, please calm the fan-boy down," Emma rolled her eyes. "Now, just to ensure all of you are aware, Dr. Cecelia Reyes will be on-site full time for any medical concerns. I've just interviewed a gentleman who will be taking care of some of the housekeeping chores as well as meals."
"Like our own Mr. Belvedere!" Jubilee grinned.
"I fully expect the same courtesies shown to any faculty members on the campus to include the X-Men when they are on campus."
"The X-Men, here?!"
"If you persist in having an outburst every time someone mentions X-Men, I will completely shut down your ability to talk, Mr. Vidal. Understood?"
Rico nodded, barely able to swallow a sudden lump in his throat.
"These uniforms adapt molecularly to your specific abilities. So for instance, a hothead like Mr. Sellenger won't burn his uniform completely off when he's throwing around fireballs. And Paige dear, though you love the thrill of fighting naked, your uniform will shed with your skin and reform underneath, taking on the same molecular qualities as your skin."
Paige's face turned a deep red and she returned with a quieted, "Oh." Her powers allowed her to shed her outer form, which usually included her clothes, to a new form underneath. However, she could only generate the effect for her body and could not duplicate clothes. Though when in another form is wasn't obvious, Paige was actually fighting naked, and usually had someone with good timing to cover her before she reverted back. Paige couldn't remember anyone else really commenting on it until now.
"I've got no problemo with Paige here doin' a little nude samba with some baddies," Angelo grinned.
Paige, her face still burning, slapped his arm. "Not funny, Ange."
Jubilee slapped his other arm. "Way ta be a total perv! Again!"
Another hand smacked the back of his head. Angelo spun and saw Rico retracting his hand. "Oy! What was that for?"
Rico shrugged. "I don't know. Everyone else was hitting you so—"
"I'm sure Tom already mentioned the body temperature regulators and impact shielding. I know I shouldn't have to say this, but do not put these in the washer. They are self-cleaning and self-repairing, the technical details of which completely elude me."
"Man, I wish all clothes were like this," Angelo said.
"Though I hate to usher you out of my office, Sean and I have some business to tend to for the next few minutes."
After a few more words and nods of thanks, the students filed out of Emma's office. As the last one left, Emma gave a relieved sigh. She could relate to how Charles possibly felt throughout his tenure of managing the various schools. It felt like she had done a lifetime's worth of work and she still had more to do. Not to mention the arrival of the newest students, with their potentially dangerous powers, starkly different personalities, and enigmatic enemies.
She glanced up to see Sean beaming at her. "I take it you're enjoying this?"
"Lass, this is what we're here for. Th' new students didnae come here under th' best o' circumstances, but they're here an' th' lads want t' learn. An' it's our job t' teach. And with everythin' returnin' to a somewhat normal pace, we may be able t' do jus' that."
"Yeah, you're right," Emma said rubbing the back of her neck.
"You said you dinnae get any sleep. Is everythin' alright?"
"Not really. I didn't want to tell you until I was sure, but the funds that support the school are dwindling. I really can't figure out how, but right now, I don't think that we can keep the school open financially."
"Ach. First, th' school board, now this. But Ah thought th' school fell under Xavier's bottomless pot o' gold."
"It does, kind of. When I asked to take over this school, I also took over the financial responsibility for it. I created a separate account for the funds, which is aligned under the Byrne Company. So all the textbooks and school-related costs and taxes are paid out of that fund. But from what I can tell, either it's been overdrawn or someone has been filtering money out of it. But that's next to impossible. Only a few people at the Byrne Company have access to this account."
"Is it somethin' ye need me t' look into?"
"With school starting, an investigation would take time. I don't like this idea one bit, and I'm sure you're not either. But," Emma drew a deep breath, "I'm going to have to ask Adrienne for money for the time being."
Sean was lost. "Adrienne?"
Emma let out a deep, regretful sigh. "She's my older sister."
"You're right—I don't like the idea." He knew there was some type of complication to the situation. When Emma's younger sister, Cordelia, came on the scene, she brought nothing but trouble to the school. He had the distinct feeling that the same type of trouble was going to emerge.
"For the short-term, that's our only option. I can simply head to Boston tomorrow and talk to her in person. We need money quickly, and she's the only legitimate source I can go to. Of course, I can just use some of my methods—"
"No, there'll be none o' that. But when was th' last time ye talked t' th' lass?"
"Years. We—we're not that close."
"Ah dinnae like th' sound o' it, Emma. And Ah dinnae want ye puttin' yuirself in danger. Maybe Ah can work somethin' out." Sean rubbed his chin in deep thought.
"I don't like the idea of Adrienne being my backup plan, but I was caught off-guard by this. With everything going on, I just…"
"Dinnae worry yuir head about it. Let's jus' concentrate on what we can do t' help th' school. Let me see what Ah can do before ye ask Adrienne."
"I have to go to Boston anyways, so I'll just pitch the idea to her and see where it goes from there. I won't commit to anything. Sound fair?"
"Aye. We'll deal with th' rest tomorrow. Ye should get some rest tonight."
"Yeah. I just need to make a call to Cecelia, and I'm going to take it in early."
"Emma, we're doin' good here. Yuir doin' good here. Dinnae forget that."
"It gets hard, Sean. But I'll remember that. Thanks," she sincerely replied, though in her mind, she didn't feel as sure as Sean. And before the night was out, she would be making a decision that would totally contradict everything the school stood for.
V.
Emma went to bed that night still distressed over visiting her sister. She and her sisters had never been very close growing up, and when their powers developed, it distanced them farther. Cordelia only came to her when she was over her head in trouble, which usually meant trouble for Emma. Adrienne hadn't even spoken to her in years.
Both of them were successful business women, and actually, their two companies were rivals, Frost International and Meridian Incorporated. Both of the companies were well known throughout the business world.
Emma realized that she had changed. She was no longer the White Queen—she was finding her place as Emma Frost. No longer did she have to be ruthless and cutthroat to obtain what she desired. The school gave her what she thought she could never have again—a second chance.
Emma felt herself getting lost in the state just before sleep. Her eyes closed slowly, staying closed longer and longer until they didn't open again. Emma was sleep.
"Emma," a strange voice called out to her.
Startled at the new, yet somehow familiar rasp, Emma found herself surrounded by an infinite darkness. "Who's there? Show yourself."
A chuckle responded and the darkness melded together forming a figure—Nightmare. The background became a conglomeration of colors, an indescribable, ever-changing backdrop making everything surreal and disorienting.
"Emma, oh how I have longed to see you again," he walked closely, making an obvious show of smelling her neck, while tracing his bony fingers across her bare shoulder.
"I thought that we were finished playing games," Emma said, stepping out of his immediate reach as she spun to face him.
"Am I not allowed to visit one of my favorite women sometime?"
Emma snorted. "I would rather you not come traipsing into my dreams like this. Besides, your visits usually aren't cordial. So spit it out, what do you want?"
"I know that you're thinking about going to see your sister, and let's just say that it will be the end of your school if you do. Just consider this another free gift from me."
Emma was ready to reply, but suddenly everything around her buzzed and shook. She grasped her head as flashed of images erupted behind her eyelids.
…Generation X being overcome by minions of Dark Beast…
…Emma embroiled in a tense battle with the alternate universe mutant known as Nate Grey…
…Artie trying to create an accurate picture to properly relay what happened, and Emma finally realizing that Artie's trying to tell her that Sean's been kidnapped…
…Emma, with her hand around Adrienne's throat, pinning her against the wall and demanding the whereabouts of Generation X…
…the students of Generation X inexplicably dressed in the Hellions' old training uniforms, alongside the X-Men who were also dressed in older uniforms. And just as things were calming down, Trevor Fitzroy suddenly appears, killing Jetstream. And it seems that history it about to repeat itself with the members of Generation X…
…Jubilee, tears streaming down her face, staring numbly at her room as flames erupt from the doorway. On the walls surrounding it, she can see anti-mutant graffiti scrawled everywhere…
…Everett racing down the hallway and a large explosion catching him off guard, throwing him forcefully against the wall. Emma could see that the life in his eyes was completely gone…
"No!" Emma screamed as she fell to the ground, sapped of all her strength. "What are you trying to do to me? What are these images? Nothing like this has happened."
"Ahh…you don't know the future when you see it?"
"Future? No. None of that could possibly be. I don't—"
"But you can't be sure, can you? For all your psychic prowess, you can't see into the future. But I can, your highness. And I show you these events as a warning."
"A warning of what?"
"Adrienne of course. She's the common thread among most of these images. And it all starts from your visit today."
"Nonsense. Your trickery—"
"Your highness is much too clever for me to deceive. Have I steered you wrong with my visions of the future before?"
Emma had to reluctantly admit that Nightmare's gifts had been accurate. If she would have taken the last one seriously, she could have possibly saved her students. And now, even more than before, she had to ensure their safety.
"I'm smart enough to know that help from a character like you comes at a price."
"So are you ready to deal, White Queen? One good turn for another?"
Emma thought for a moment. The school and Generation X were everything to her. It was her way of having another group of students to make up for the death of the Hellions. It also opened her up to the X-Men, her former enemies and showed her a new path she could walk. She knew that it was the fundamental reason why she had changed. Sure, there were times that she could easily slip back into her old self, but it was for protection of her students and the school. She had found something important—acceptance. She would be damned to let anyone take it away.
Emma looked into the empty eyes of Nightmare. "What the hell do you want?"
Nightmare smiled, showing a set of hideous, sharp teeth. "Nothing, as of now. But your sister plans on being your and your students' undoing. And today is where it starts," Nightmare enveloped himself in his cape, disappearing.
Emma awoke suddenly, the visions of Nightmare locked into her mind. No, today is where it ends.
Interlude I.
A diminutive figure made his way down the dark corridor as growls and screams of torment resounded from somewhere far off, yet close enough to make his skin crawl. But he shrugged off the uneasy feeling, the gleeful anticipation of delivering good information to his master quickly taking over. It took all he had to maintain his composure as he briskly navigated through the bowels of their castle.
In minutes, he stood before a chamber door, a thick, heavy wooden construction with an iron handle and beams affixed to it. D.O.A. knocked once before pushing the heavy door open just a crack—far enough for him to peer inside. "Master, are you awake?" he whispered into the darkened chamber.
From somewhere in the darkness, a gravelly, raspy voice asked, "What has caused you to disturb my solitude?"
No matter how many times he heard it, D.O.A. jumped at the first sound of his master's voice. But pushing his nervousness aside, D.O.A. responded, "Master, I have news for you. Grand developments that you should be made aware of."
From a shadowy corner, Emplate's beady, glowing crimson eyes peered out from the darkness. "I care not for any news especially having to do with those wretched St. Croix siblings. And don't bore me with anything else about Generation X either."
For a just a moment, D.O.A. lost his excitement and considered keeping the news to himself. The absolute last thing he wanted to do was anger Emplate, especially since he had not fed in what seemed like ages. And the fact that the news did have to do with Generation X made D.O.A. think twice about sharing it. But surely, Emplate would be even more upset if D.O.A. didn't share this bit or reconnaissance with him.
"Michael Lawson," D.O.A. threw the name out, hoping to draw some interest from Emplate.
"Michael Lawson," Emplate repeated, as if he were searching through his memories. Then he leaned forward from the shadows and said, "A name I have not heard in years. Go on."
The grin on D.O.A.'s face growing wider, he reported, "He has taken up residence at Xavier's with your sisters."
Emplate paused, contemplating the consequences of this new bit of information. "An interesting turn of events indeed. And his power has undoubtedly grown. It will be glorious to sup on his marrow. Dear Monet, I'm sure she has figured out Michael's connection to her brief imprisonment."
Smiling at his master's pleasure, D.O.A. felt his own mood skyrocket. "So then, we're going after them? This would be the best time to get Penance back—maybe Monet and the twins too. Michael would be an added plus."
Without hesitation, Emplate replied, "It seems that there that the time has come for a family reunion."
He smiled at his master's comment, but unbeknownst to D.O.A., Emplate had a secret plan of his own, one that would free him once and for all from his accursed body. But to do it, he would need the combined might of the St. Croix siblings and Michael Lawson. Yes, an interesting turn of events indeed, Emplate smirked to himself. The smirk then grew into an evil guffaw, echoing throughout the halls of the castle.
Interlude II.
I knew you weren't dead.
Angora opened the door to her daughter's room and glanced over everything once again. Everything was in its proper place—exactly as it had been before the accident. When Camille came back, she could feel right at home with her things. Angora smiled as she envisioned Camille's golden locks blowing in a gentle breeze as she gazed out of the window.
"Mother, it's so beautiful outside. We should go for a picnic today!"
Camille had always been so lively and energetic, always looking to explore and do wonderful, memorable things. She was active—almost a natural at whatever she decided her interest was that week. And she was always smiling.
Angora shut the door quickly, feeling a surge of emotion coming over her. She took a deep, cleansing breath, composed herself, and then marched down the hallway, her determination even stronger than before.
"We will be a family once again," Angora said aloud as she gently caressed the mirror, longing for the moment when she could actually feel the warmth of her daughter once again. "Just wait, Camille. Your new home is waiting for you. And mother is waiting for you too."
Interlude III.
Niles Cain barely felt his body hit the hard floor as Lucas Arminthorpe threw him back into the holding cell. Pain racked his body and it took all Niles had just to stay semi-conscious. Drawing strength from somewhere, Niles managed to lift and turn his head toward Lucas.
"You survived another round of testing today, old man. Seems like someone wants you to live. Sleep well. We're starting early tomorrow," Lucas said as he turned and slammed the cell door.
Niles took a deep breath and forced himself to a sitting position, rebelling against his body's wishes to simply lie on the cold floor. As he leaned his torso against the wall, he heard the familiar sound of the food tray sliding open. A dinner of grilled chicken, Italian herb potatoes, broccoli, and a dinner roll greeted him, along with the scowling expression on Trent Arminthorpe.
"Courtesy of Ms. Vaughn," Trent explained.
The aroma of the food gave Niles even more strength that he didn't think he had as he managed to lean forward and pull the tray towards himself. Struggling with even lifting the fork, Niles took a bite and thought he had went to heaven. Never had a meal tasted this good.
Again, Trent watched curiously as Niles ate.
Waiting until Niles had eaten a good portion of his food, Trent commented, "You know, it's only a matter of time before those kids come back to us. They're getting closer to figuring out we're the ones that kidnapped you. So for all the trouble you went through to get them to stay away, they're going to end up right back in my father's hands."
Niles paused eating just a moment, frowning. "You say it as if it's a good thing."
Trent felt his patience already growing short. "You don't know anything about my father's intentions," he sharply retorted.
"Do you?"
The question struck Trent as if he had been physically assaulted. He had to admit that he really didn't know why his father was so intent on getting Cain's kids back. But that was his father's direction, and as his son and trusted bodyguard, it really wasn't his place to question it, was it? "I don't even know why I talk to you," he replied, realizing how weak and unsure he sounded.
Feeling Trent's vulnerability, Niles said, "Deep down, you know that something is wrong with this whole setup. This wasn't my—our original intention. Something changed along the way. And I can't get close enough to Mason to find out why."
Trent suddenly stood. "You should get some rest. Tomorrow's tests aren't going to be any gentler."
Niles realized he had pushed too hard. "Give Ms. Vaughn my regards. And Trent, when my kids do come for me, stay out of their way. I say that only because I'd rather not see you get hurt."
"We'll see who gets hurt. Sleep well, Doctor." Trent slammed the food tray door, leaving Niles alone once again.
He knew that despite his efforts, his kids would come. Forcefully. And they were powerful enough to be a significant threat to Mason Arminthorpe. He didn't want anyone to be hurt, but from the way things were going, it was a guarantee that people would be seriously hurt. He just hoped that when the dust cleared, the right people were left standing.
Notes:
Generation X and all characters related to Marvel belong to them. Any other characters are fictional
The original incident with Ms. Pickwick occurred in Generation X #46. Some of the scenes in this chapter are based off scenes from that same issue.
Forge's original visit and installation of the Danger Room occurred in Generation X #47. Some of the scenes in this chapter are based off scenes from that same issue.
Nightmare visited Emma in Generation X #22, where he eludes to a woman threatening to take over his realm
The images Nightmare shows her are from Generation X #50, #51, #53, #55, #56, and #68
