Chapter 9: Birth of a TOAD

The days of training quickly turned into weeks and the weeks into months as the team developed and perfected new techniques and skills. In fact the team had become so good that the Professor had ceased training sessions stating that there was little more that he and Forge could teach them he replaced the Training sessions with one to one development sessions where he helped all the students to continue to develop their abilities. However after a few weeks development classes ceased and nobody got one to one sessions with the professor except for Jean. However the ceasing of the development sessions did not mean that the use of the Danger room ceased as well. Forge made sure that every student clocked a good amount of time in the danger room.

As well as mastering their powers the students had learned to work as a team often undergoing Danger room exercises where they had to work together to complete the sessions. Charles found it imperative that they work together as a team even more so than it was for them to completely master their individual powers. Something was brewing Charles realised he also realised that it was the perfect excuse for Erik to start the war he had prophesied would come. Erik. Charles hadn't seen his friend in almost four months now but he knew he would use this opportunity to spearhead the war he has always wanted. Charles had spent his life trying to avoid a war, but now the very people he had defended against Erik were now preparing for a war for that was what there actions would lead to. Charles might have been able to quell Scott's anger and thirst for bloodshed but he knew he would not be able to quell Erik's or any other mutant like him. Not when they were experiencing firsthand the atrocities committed by the Friends of Humanity Charles needed to find a way to shield mutantkind from the apathetic world they had found themselves in. He would have to find a way to give sanctuary to oppressed mutants in the area, he would talk to Forge at length to find a way to advertise to mutants that his home was a sanctuary whilst staying under, the Friends Of Humanity's radar.

He would have to be especially careful since the Friends Of Humanity were growing in numbers as well as popularity it had the support of the public and the government. Graydon Creed was supposed to be working with politicians to think of ways to deal with the 'mutant problem'. Sometimes Xavier wandered whether people like that wanted mutants to retaliate, if they did then Xavier knew that the battle that would follow would lead to the devastation of the world, a war where no one wins and everybody suffers, this was the war that Charles was trying to fight against but he had to do more.

The students burst into Charles study disrupting his thoughts. "What's the matter?" he asked the foursome.

"Nothing, Professor." Jean replied, "It's just that Ororo doesn't have a lot of clothes that belong to her so we were going to go to the Mall and buy her a new wardrobe."
"Okay," the professor said, "And you two?"
"We just want to go out and get some air. We've been stuck in this mansion for so long." Scott answered
"You too, Hank?"
"Yes, professor."
"Very well then you can go," the professor said, "Though why you thought to ask me permission in the first place baffles me, after all you aren't confined to this house you may leave whenever you wish to."
"Well, it is because we respect you." Ororo said.
"And need money off of you." Scott said bluntly.
Xavier chuckled, "So that's the real reason."


Scott walked behind Jean and Ororo and watched them talk about girl stuff for some time. He'd been meaning to talk to Jean for a long time about what happened to her and her powers the day he tried to leave but he had never got the chance. Between Training exercises and development lessons he barely got the time to talk to her. He waited for a break in the conversation and when one came he quickly spoke, "Jean can I talk to you?"
"Sure," she said waiting for him to continue. Ororo walked back to fall in step with Hank, who was wearing a large over coat and gloves in an attempt to disguise his appearance, and started a conversation with him.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I've been meaning to talk to you ever since the incident last month."
"What do you want to talk about?" Jean asked
"Well has it happened again? Have you told the professor about it?"
"No it hasn't happened again." Jean lied, "And no I haven't told the professor because there's nothing to tell him about." she said rather too harshly, but she calm her tone she didn't, "Listen Scott thanks for the concern you have for me but I don't need it." Jean walked off increasing her pace. Scott watched her go, dumbfounded unaware of what he had done or said wrong.

They reached the mall and the foursome separated into pairs, Ororo and Jean went to explore the closest retail store and Scott and Hank went to find them the food court.


Mortimer Toynbee ran for his life his two friends following close behind. He searched the streets looking for a place he could hide but he found none. He heard screams and the sound of running behind him they were gaining on him. He continued to run pushing past pedestrians jumping over cars and all while urging his companions to keep up the pace, "Come on they'll catch us if we don't run faster."
"I see them," Mortimer heard somebody shout, "I see the muties. Get them!"
"We got to run faster." he encouraged, "Come on!"

Mortimer sprinted down the streets periodically spitting out green muck hoping earnestly that one of their pursuers would trip on it.
"We're not going to make it!" one of Mortimer's companions, an African girl with short black, hair said.
"Yes we will." Mortimer said.
"No we won't. Not without a distraction." she said then stopped running, "No, keep going!" she said when Mortimer stopped running.
"No, I'm not going without you, Alison."
"I'd love to stay and play but I'm out of here." the other of Mortimer's companions said before fleeing as fast as the wings that grew on his back, could carry him.
"Are you sure about this?" Alison asked. Mortimer nodded.
"We won't survive."
"Let's try and stay positive." he smiled.
"I love you." Alison said. She kissed the green mutant passionately before they were interrupted by a squadron of Friends of Humanity members all brandishing guns and wearing the Friends of Humanity uniform, which consisted of green khaki trousers and a white top with the FOH logo and a bandana over their heads.
"Look at that," one of them said, "these things actually know how to kiss."
"Or is that how scum like them communicate." another said.
"Who cares just kill the fuckers." the group of twenty or more cheered at that last statement and aimed their guns on the mutant couple.
"Time to fight," Alison whispered.

Mortimer jumped into the air and stuck his incredibly long tongue out it wrapped around a lamp post, he tugged on it and he was pulled towards it he released his tongue hold on the lamp post and landed on the post with his feet. Mortimer succeeded in drawing the attention of the squad and the surrounding crowd of people, while they all eyed him Alison attacked. She clasped her hands together as if she were praying and maybe she was to the god of mutants but whether he was listening or not made not difference they were getting out of this predicament by themselves. Her clasped hands glowed, heat seeming to be emanating from them. She held them out towards the mutant 'policing force'.

A fire dragon appeared the fire coming out of her palms to form the creature that appeared in the skies. She directed the dragon towards the group and it complied swooping down towards them it attacked the closest target, the man that had made the kissing remark. The fire dragon burned the man to the core leaving only a crumpled pile of charred bones and burnt flesh. The crowds dispersed people running for their lives. The streets were empty save for the two mutants and the Friends of Humanity. They retaliated the only way a human would they aimed and fired their weapons at the dragon oblivious to the girl controlling it.

Alison commanded the dragon into the middle of the group burning three more of the mutant hating pests. The Friends of Humanity separated when the Dragon attacked again they dived behind cars to protect themselves.

Mortimer, still sitting on the lamp post, watched the Friends of Humanity shoot aimlessly at the dragon. But they continued to be burned down by Alison's power. He used to wonder why Alison refused to fight often with the powers that she had. She alone could destroy a good number of these Friends of Humanity before they even noticed but, Mortimer had grown to know that it was not her nature to kill. In fact her attacking now would lead to a bout of nightmares that night. It was her weakness but her vulnerability despite her incredible power was what attracted Mortimer. He loved her with every fibre of his being, she was the reason he still wanted to live, she was the reason he didn't pursue a life of the rebel mutant attacking groups like this daily. She wanted him to live so he wanted to stay with her.

A bullet zoomed past him missing his ear by mere centimetres he turned to see one of the humans aiming at him with his gun standing behind an upturned car. He wouldn't miss again. Mortimer leapt to action with all the grace of a toad he lunged towards him his tongue wrapping around his weapon and pulling it away from him. His feet aimed at his chest, Mortimer landed on the human knocking him unconscious.

Mortimer watched Alison give her free cremating service he caught her eye and smiled, she smiled back but then her face turned worried. Mortimer immediately stiffened he hoped she wasn't losing control of her powers. She had lost control of it once before and it hadn't been pretty. Since then whenever she used her powers she was in one-hundred percent concentration, she couldn't even speak when she was using her powers as that took too much focus away from controlling her powers. As Mortimer pondered on why Alison seemed worried he was oblivious to the hulk of a man that stood behind him.

Alison watched in horror as the man sneaked up on Mortimer she needed to warn him but if she did she would lose control of her powers the dragon would swoop down destroying everything. Mortimer look behind you!

The man slammed the but of his gun on the side of Mortimer's head, he would have shot him but he had used up all his bullets shooting at the dragon. However that did not mean that he would not avenge the death of his friend. The attack was strong enough to knock him unconscious but the man quickly followed his attack with several punches in the stomach. The breath was driven out of Mortimer a few more punches later and he was bordering on unconsciousness. The man grabbed Mortimer, who didn't weigh a lot, and threw him so far that he smashed through the glass of the mall ahead on the other side of the street.
"No!" Alison screamed. She directed the dragon at the man and watched him burn ignoring his screams and pleas for mercy.


Jean and Ororo had spent the past forty minutes shopping at different retail stores within the mall. They had so far bought Ororo a good amount of clothes and accessories made evident by the multiple shopping bags that each of them held. They had walked into another retail store hoping to buy more item's for not just Ororo's wardrobe but Jean's too.
"How about this dress it looks nice on you." Jean said pointing to a summer dress with an abstract design of different colours.
"It seems alright," Ororo said, "but I like to wear dresses that make me look sophisticated after all I was a Princess."
"Oh, I'm sorry your highness." Jean said bowing sarcastically.
"Oh, please." Ororo said, "Call me Your Majesty." both she and Jean laughed as they scoured the other racks and shelves looking for something else to buy.

The girls finally picked out what they wanted from the store and bought at the counter after bagging and paying for their items they headed to the exit. As they walked past the glass windows were smashed as a green skinned boy no older than them was thrown through. The people in the store screamed and ran in different directions. Jean and Ororo walked closer to the mutant boy but am African girl ran through the smashed in window towards him crying her eyes out.
"NO!" she cried, "Mortimer." Jean and Ororo continued their advancement towards the mutant and the crying girl.
"What's going on?" Jean asked, "What happened to him?" before the girl could answer a group of men armed with guns ran into the store their guns trained on the green skinned mutant and the African girl.
"Excuse missus' but you're going to have to leave while we reprimand these mutants." one of them said
"No!" the African girl screamed, "I won't let you hurt him." she raised her hands her left hand facing the Friends of Humanity soldiers standing by the store entrance and her right facing the ones in front of the smashed windows. The air in the room warmed and the fiery face of the dragon appeared once more this time with a partner.

Jean and Ororo immediately backed away when the dragons appeared swirling in their fiery grace. They watched as the girl commanded the dragons to attack the two groups of humans. As one the humans fired with their guns their attention on the dragons but their target on the girl. "They will kill her." Ororo said.

"Not while we're here." Jean said. She threw her hands in front of her telekinetic grip extended to the guns once she thought she had all of them in her power she pulled them towards her some held on to their guns but most of them were pulled towards her another hand gesture from Jean directed the guns to land at her feet.

The dragons burned through the Friends Of Humanity soldiers turning their bodies to piles of bones and charred skin. "We have to stop her," Jean said, "She may have reason to hurt them, but she can't kill them. She'll regret it. I can sense that from her."
"I will see if I can stop her." Ororo said, "You should try to contact the professor, Forge and the boys."
"Okay," Jean nodded, her hands on her head and her eyes closed.

Ororo ran up to the African girl shouting out as she ran, "Stop this, you have to stop. You cannot kill all these people." the girl didn't say anything but she didn't stop either. The flame dragons attacked the remaining Friends Of Humanity soldiers.
"Run!" one of them said.
"Get out of the way."
"Call for back up!" the other said.
"They're on their way." another screamed before he was engulfed in the flames of the dragon.

Ororo continued in her efforts to stop the girl, she grabbed her arms and pulled them down the dragons evaporated in the air as the girl's concentration was lost. The girl sobbed loudly as she tried to fight of Ororo, "Let me go!" she cried, "I can't let them hurt him."
"They will not!" Ororo said confidently. "I am a mutant also and I will not allow them to hurt you or him in any way." the girl's sobs softened and Ororo let her go looking her in the eyes. "They are gone most of them have fled." Ororo said referring to the Friends Of Humanity soldiers. "You are safe now,"
"Thank you," she said, "My name is Alison by the way."
"I am Ororo, my friend there is Jean."
"Thank you Ororo." Alison ran up to the green skinned mutant who was gaining consciousness. "You are safe now." Ororo whispered. She made her way back to Jean.
"Did you manage to contact them." Ororo asked
"I reached Scott and Hank, but the professor and Forge are too far away for me to contact them."
"It doesn't matter now," Ororo said, "The problem has passed." it turned out that she had spoken too soon as crowds of men and women, all wearing the Friend's of Humanity uniform and armed to the teeth, stormed into the store forming a semicircle round the four mutants.

They all trained their guns on Alison and the green-skinned mutant next to her. The green skinned mutant stood up standing in front of Alison and the barricade of armed men in front of him. Just standing up caused many of the Friend's of Humanity terrorists to flinch gripping their guns more tightly.
"Go ahead," one of the men in front said, "Give me a reason."
"Look," Mortimer said resigned, "You've got us trapped. What do you want with us?"
"Your dead bodies." the same man replied. He cocked his gun and aimed at Mortimer. "NO!"
Jean acted before the man could fire, she quickly threw out her hands and pulled all the guns towards her but this time many held on, leaving only a few guns to land at her feet.
"They're mutants too." one of the terrorists shouted. At once half the soldiers still carrying guns aimed and fired at Jean and Ororo. Jean held out her hands to stop the bullets in mid air shocking the terrorists and herself as she didn't know she could control her power that well.

The amount of bullets stopped in mid-air increased as the Friends of Humanity continued to fire at her. Jean quickly thought on her feet using her right hand to gesture at the bullets levitating in front of her she directed them to fall at her feet, while her left hand was still raised stopping more of the bullets in mid air.
"How far away are the boys?" Ororo asked.
"Not far," Jean gritted her teeth, "but they can't get to us because of the police barricade."
"Then we are on our own."

Mortimer dodged the bullets that were following him jumping to extreme heights to avoid the ricocheting bullets. Beneath him Alison once again summoned the dragon attacking all in her way. However this time the Friends of Humanity were prepared they dodged most of the attacks and made one of their own. One of them threw a small silver ball the size and shape of a pomegranate whilst shouting, "Die mutie!"

The pomegranate landed by Alison's feet and instantly exploded the shockwaves that emanated from the explosion knocked everyone off their feet.

Jean and Ororo got steadily to their feet among the first to stand up again the only other person that had got up was the green skinned mutant. He ran up to Alison calling her name and sobbing. But no matter how hard he cried or how loud or how many times he said her name Alison would stay dead. The lower part of her legs were completely blasted off. Her upper body wasn't any better her clothes torn, blood oozing out of every natural part of her body.
"No!," the mutant screamed,. "Alison!" whilst he grieved over his dead friend the people responsible for her death got shakily to their feet retrieving their guns.

Mortimer stopped crying and stared hard at the Friends of Humanity his anger brimming his thirst for revenge unquenchable. He knew no matter how many people he killed today it wouldn't be enough, but regardless he was going to kill them all. Every one of them. He lunged at the closest Friend at an intense speed his feet connected with his head. Mortimer grabbed the gun of the unconscious man and emptied it into him and the men that immediately surrounded him. Once they fell he attacked the others moving with speed and attacking with skill. His tongue lashing out as if it had a mind of its own.

Ororo and Jean watched as the mutant attacked with deadly efficiency never missing a target and only leaving one, when he was sure that they were dead. The remaining Friends, numbering almost thirty, fired at the mutant on bullet found its mark on the mutants right arm, but he continued without letup.
"We can not let him fight them alone he will die." Ororo said.
"But he's killing those people," Jean protested.
"I have never been one to support the whole 'eye for an eye' ideal," Ororo said quickly, "but we must admit he has every reason, they did just kill his friend." Jean found herself agreeing with Ororo. Jean did not like the idea of killing but if they joined they could be able to save some lives if they drove their attackers to uncosciousness instead of death, the mutant could leave them once they were down.
"Alright," she said, "what should we do?"
"Make sure he doesn't follow his friend." Ororo ran into the fray her hands outstretched her eyes already white.

The winds she summoned were directed at a group of four of the Friends of Humanity. They quickly directed their guns at her but they were pulled away from them by Jean. The winds circled the four and lifted them up the four squirmed and struggled against the winds but it only managed to turn them upside down in the air. The winds carried them slamming them into onto the high ceiling, and if that did not do enough damage then Ororo ceasing the winds and watching them fall onto the floor, did.

Jean used the guns she had taken telekinetically and slammed them into three of the Friends of Humanity. She watched them fall to the floor and turned around looking for her next opponent. She spotted one and with her hands outstretched she pushed him backwards slamming him into a car outside, she breathed in heavily as the effort it took to move a fully grown man was strenuous. Two more of the Friends of Humanity advanced on her and she dealt with them lifting them up and throwing them into each other. As she fought them she was unaware of two more of the friends sneaking up on her from behind. One slammed the but of their gun on the side of her face screaming, "Fucking bitch!" as he did so. He levelled for another attack when a red beam blasted him into another unsuspecting Friend of humanity. Another beam of red energy blasted into the other of the Jean's attackers. Scott quickly ran up to Jean helping her up, "Oh god," he cursed, "Are you okay?"

Jean nodded, "Yes I'm fine don't worry about me help that mutant." Jean pointed to the green skinned mutant, he was defeating his opponents with a flurry of attacks including lunges, leaps and devastating kicks.
"He don't look like he needs help."
"Trust us when we say he does." Ororo said walking up to Scott, Hank and Jean. "He just witnessed the murder of his friend, he needs a lot of help."
"Have you contacted the professor?" Hank asked Jean.
"I can't get through to him, he's too far away." Jean explained.
"Then we take matters into our own hands." Scott said. He ran forward his glasses pulled off his deadly glare directed at a group of humans surrounded the green-skinned mutant.
"Scott, I'm not sure that's a good idea." Hank said
"There's noting else we can do." Jean said, "We have to fight for the life of that mutant." Hank reluctantly agreed pulling of his large gloves and overcoat. He also pulled of his boots and socks and felt immediately exposed. When the Friends of Humanity glanced at Hank they immediately aimed at him. Great! Hank thought and joined the fight.

Hank used his speed to his advantage dodging attacks and bullets and throwing lightning fast punches, however his punches were not strong and his opponents were still standing when he finished his attack. He resulted to throwing his opponents and kicking them out of the way. During his training with Forge in the Danger Room he had developed a more agile style of fighting however implementing that style in a real fight was proving hard as his mind struggled to remember the skills he was taught.

The fighting grew more intense as it reached its climax or so the group thought. When only a few of the Friends of Humanity remained they had their ranks bolstered by another group of reinforcements this time bigger and more prepared. The humans soon overwhelmed the mutants with their numbers and experience in fighting. Soon Ororo, Scott, Jean and Hank were ready to surrender but the wrath of the green skinned mutant only seemed to increase he attacked with renewed valour. However soon he was bested in battle punched through the unbroken glass of the store slamming into the wall of the building opposite.

"I'll deal with him." A female Friend of Humanity said. She walked closer to the green skinned mutant. As she approached loaded gun in hand and a smile on her face she suddenly turned around shooting at the front line of the Friends of Humanity who were advancing on the four students. The bullets bit into flesh killing or injury every target it hit. The Friends of Humanity were shocked as they watched one of their own shoot at them and did not fight back. Dark blue scales appeared on the woman's skin, her eyes turned yellow and her skin a lighter shade of blue than her scales. Her final transformation was her blood coloured hair. The blue mistress clad in her white body suit and mini skirt.

She stood beside the green skinned mutant helping him up onto his feet. The transformation from human to mutant was enough to awaken the senses of the Friends of Humanity. They aimed and fired but the bullets never fired instead the guns were pulled out from their hands and tossed aside. "Foolish humans," a man wearing a red and black body suit and red helmet with pink decorative patterns. Behind him his red billowing cape blowing in the wind. The man was levitating in the air his hands raised, "I am the master of magnetism and the only reason I won't kill you now is because I want you to run and scream my name to your leader. Tell him that Magneto and his Brotherhood," as he said the word 'brotherhood' a young woman and a pale older man moved to stand beside him. "the Brotherhood let you go now but will not be as lenient the next time we meet." Most of the Friends of Humanity ran but a few brave runs remained determined to stop the 'brotherhood'.

One man threw one of the silver pomegranates that had killed Alison he threw it at magneto and it stopped in mid air, "What part of master of magnetism do you not understand?" Magneto clenched his fists and the pomegranate exploded killing the man. The rest still did not run determined to face the mutants till the end.

"Very well." Magneto said, "If you are determined to be martyred then you'll get your wish." he turned to face the young Latino woman with long black hair, she wore a black leotard and matching colour boots. "Divine finish them." The woman stepped forward her hands stretched out, black bolts slamming into the chest of the remaining Friends of Humanity.

Mortimer was stunned at the strength of the group and what they stood for he had no idea that Mutant rebel groups were growing. "I know you have lost a lot, young mutant." Magneto said looking at Mortimer. Mortimer did not answer instead he allowed a tears to come down his cheek. "That is why I ask you all of you. He turned to the Students to join me."

Jean and Scott trembled as memories surfaced in their thoughts, the man they were speaking to now, the one that called himself Magneto was Erik.
"I see you remember me, Jean, Scott." Erik said, "why do you look as if a ghost has appeared."
"Because that's what you are a ghost. A ghost that left us months ago." Scott retorted. Scott's frown deepened.
"Calm down, hot head." the blue, shape shifter said. "We're back now." Scott and Jean frowned at that statement at first not recognising who it was that had said it. Then as their minds spun recognition took place. "Raven?" Jean said still uncertain, "Raven, what happened to you?"
"Nothing happened to me." she snapped, "This is my true form, I don't want to hide it anymore." she walked forward towards Hank, "Just like this guy obviously doesn't want to hide his ginormous hands and feet, right?" Hank backed a few steps away from Raven.
"Anyway, the name is Mystique." she returned to Erik's side.

"Do you want revenge, child?" Magneto addressed the question to Mortimer who sat crawled, upon hearing the question he looked up at Magneto."Do you want revenge?" he repeated the question looking at him intently.
"Yes," Mortimer said above a whisper,
"Then you must join me and my Brotherhood of Mutants." Magneto continued, "We'll ensure your revenge is sweet and painful." Magneto helped Mortimer to his feet.
"I will join."
"It is a pleasure to hear you say that. What is your name son?"
"Mortimer Toynbee," he answered. Mystique snorted with laughter showing her pearl white teeth which contrasted heavily with her blue lips. "Mortimer? That's a name." she said between breaks of laughter.
"Be nice, Mystique." Magneto chided and turned back to Mortimer. "Son, in the Brotherhood you make a new identity you create a name for yourself." he explained. "What is yours son? What's your true name."

Mortimer looked into Magneto's eyes thoughts racing through his mind. He couldn't change his name, he couldn't change his identity. Alison had known as Mortimer or Morty at times but the point was that Alison knew him by that identity he couldn't change it, that would be an insult to her. No he couldn't become someone else. He had to stay as Mortimer Toynbee, but Mortimer Toynbee was the person that couldn't stop her death, the person that couldn't save her life, he couldn't be stay that person, no he needed to be someone else. He needed to become the person that would not rest until he had avenged the death of his love.
"I am Toad." he said.
"Not any better." Mystique whispered to Divine.
"Well then, Toad welcome to the Brotherhood."