Heehee, Iz gotz a mallet from Red Witch! And haz been reeding lotz of Lolcatz . . .

Panthera: Why am I doing this again?

Because I'm supposed to do this every chapter and I forgot. (Swings mallet)

"Right . . . Okay, ShivaVixen only owns the outcasts and any other oc's that don't have an alter identity in G.I. Joe, Marvel, or any future crossovers she may do. Althea and the Misfits are the brainchild of Red Witch, so please, don't bother suing her as she owns practically nothing." Panthera crossed her arms. "Happy?"

Much, and now:

Settling in, Kinda

"How are the Outcasts adjusting?" Xavier asked Hawk a few days later.

"Well enough . . . we're still trying to assign the kids parents, and right now, there's a slight problem with Panthera. Her legal guardians are still alive, and while she claims to be eighteen, we have her pegged for a little younger, and needing their permission to stay . . ." Hawk shook his head. "She's being a little problematic, but we can deal with it. But she doesn't like Lifeline for some reason."

"That's strange . . . Lifeline's the only joe over there that I'd have a hard time seeing anyone not like."

"She doesn't like Doc, Psyche Out, Bree or Dragonfly either, so we're pretty confident it's a 'don't like any medical personel' type thing. Leatherneck thinks she was experimented on by Cobra, and Zarana hasn't denied that question either. She just won't open up about it."

"Do you want my help?"

"No, She hates Telepaths. Won't get near Foresight, and after Dial tone slipped up and mentioned Lifeline's gift in her hearing, she's got a double reason to avoid him." Hawk sighed. "To put it bluntly, she's a little unstable, but until we can get her trust, there's nothing we can do about it. She's already attacked Quicksilver and Arcade, and we've given her extra training with Sgt. Slaughter, which seems to be working a lot better than KP. All the others are settling down, but we had to put Zandar in the infirmary, unofficial diagnosis is a seizure, and we think it's from the experimentation Cobra did to him. On another note, do you know who that Psychic was?"

"Yes. His name's Mindflare. He's a bit eccentric, but isn't something to worry about. He prefers being under the radar as much as possible and will not cause any trouble if he can help it." Xavier sighed. "It's a bit distressing that he actually sought me out. He's a scholar that specializes in hunting down rare and mystical artifacts. Like the M'Kraan crystal, the Destiny stone, gem of Cryottak, things like that." Hawk tensed, relieved it was just a phone call. "But we'll see. It's been over five years since I've seen him." The topic turned to other matters, such as Storm's potential for a restraining order, and which liquor was better for which situation, before closing.

"General Hawk, I'm afraid I've some bad news." Storm Shadow entered the room. Hawk looked up at the ninja. He was going to get a headache today, and an excuse to open up his new bottle of scotch. He just knew it.

"What is it, Storm Shadow?"

"It's about Snake Eyes . . . there's been an incident." Hawk's eyes widened. "You know how Snake Eyes went off on a mission, then was going to the Arashikage clan base to work? Well, he helped train two apprentices . . . but Cobra, probably Zartan, tracked him down."

"What happened?"

"The apprentices were captured with Snake Eyes . . . He was only able to save one."

"How is he taking it?"

"Hard . . . they were both the Misfits age. Unfortunately, Cobra is already aware of the survivor's identity. Would you allow Snake Eyes to continue training him, on base?"

"We can work something out . . . You'll be heading back to your clan?"

"Yes . . . As soon as Snake Eyes makes it back here and we can get the apprentice settled."

"Extra training with Sgt. Slaughter?" Pietro snorted. "That's it? No KP, no anything else? She could have damaged my face!"

"And have killed me." Arcade deadpanned.

"About that. What did you two hombres do to her?" Long Range interrupted. "She rarely strikes first unless you're a cobra agent or a target."

"Pietro had fuzzy sock on the carpet again. He was messing with Static electricity, and he tapped her shoulder-"

"Dios, no wonder she threw him." Long Range shook his head. "You're the idiot who messed with her first."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Althea crossed her arms. "She over reacted!"

"Panthera has an aversion to electricity." Techno spoke up. "It stems from her being in a genetics lab. They used a shock collar and tasers to subdue her if she ever fought back. She can work through it if she has too, but otherwise a sudden shock can trigger a violent reaction." She held up her metal arm, revealing four scratches. "When I had a short circuit, I accidentally touched her. She slashed at me before realizing who I was."

"Oh . . ." Althea blinked. "Like how Storm reacted to being locked in a closet." She verified for Fred, who was looking blank.

"Oh, when she zapped everyone involved and actually managed to throw us all out of the mansion, while being really scary?" Althea nodded. "I get it now." It was the only prank the misfits would never do again to Storm. It was also a great lesson on how fast a bolt of lightining can cross a distance and strike a moving object, namely, Quicksilver. Even the Triplets had fled in fear. Storm really and truly angry was terrifying.

"Throwing someone through a window is a pretty tame reaction, actually." Marina responded. "Normally she'd have broken or ripped off your arm."

"That makes me feel so much better." The two teams entered the mess hall. "What the-"

"Hound Dog!"

"Kitty cat!" Red Dog and Panthera were growling at each other.

"Break it up you two!" Sarge yelled at them.

"He/She started it!" They glared at each other. Taurus was laughing.

"Aw, Panthera made some friends." Long Range laughed. Panthera turned and glared at him.

"Don't make me kill you." Long Range kept his smile.

"That would be another game of cat and mouse then, wouldn't it?" Marina shook her head.

"Mmhmm, and maybe I'd win again." Long Range kept moving even as Panthera gave a low growl. She still sat next to him though. Crash, Marina and Techno closed off the table.

"I see why they're called the outcasts . . . not very social, are they?" The misfits sat at one of the longer tables.

"Wouldn't 'Outcasts' denote unwanted by someone?" Lina glanced over her shoulder. "They all look- well, I just don't see any parents refusing to deal with Panthera's mutation." Fred put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't forget, she was in a genetics lab . . . maybe she was rejected as a subject?" Lance kept eating.

"Maybe. I'm surprised Hawk's letting them renovate one of the hangars on the outskirts of the base to be a home. Even the New Mutants stick with the X men." Angelica frowned.

"That's because they're considered the same group. These guys don't want anything to do with us." Wanda scowled. "and to be honest, I don't think I want anything to do with them either. That Human took out ten vipers without batting an eye. And he's not that much older than us."

"I don't think any of them thought twice about fighting." They watched as Marina laughed.

At the same time "So, how was the drilling?" Long Range smiled.

"Great. You do realize that I have to do it for the next month though." Panthera scowled. "Guess they're not that foolish to trust me afterall."

"Who in their right mind would trust you?" Long Range reached over and rubbed her shoulder. "You're a thief, assassin, and extremely cunning when you want to be. Not to mention you don't like being bossed around. And the constant death threats." She leaned into the shoulder rub. A soft growl leaking out.

"Aw, you're purring." Marina laughed. Panthera glared but let him continue.

"I'm supposed to give you a lecture on PDA at some point, but seeing what Althea and Todd are doing probably negates that." Zarana walked over to them, holding Terri, Mutt and Junkyard had a few things to take care of. "What's going on?"

"Panthera purrs!" Marina smiled.

"We're talking how Panthera has a bad rep, and the only thing you remember is 'Panthera purrs'?" Techno deadpanned. "Are you glitching or something?" That set the entire table off laughing, including Zarana. Terri growled and reached for Panthera.

"Hey . . ." Marina acted mock hurt. But she couldn't stop the smile.

"How's Zandar?" Panthera took Terri, letting the little girl tug her hair. No one commented as Terri eventually drifted off to sleep, Panthera still 'purring'.

"Recovering. He'll be out soon." Zarana smiled. "And on that line of thought- do the five of you have to keep going into each other's rooms?"

"We've lived in a basement and a tool shed and then we lived in a van for two months, Rana." Crash spoke up. "It's weird not being able to sleep with each other."

"Way to make it sound awkward, amigo." Long Range got up.

"Wha- oh!" He turned red. "Not what I meant."

"We know." The girls chorused at the same time.

"Okay, anyone else thinks it weird that Panthera is acting really relaxed?" Angelica was ignoring Althea and Todd, who were having a moment to themselves, in a nice separate bubble of reality. "It's like she's doing a 180."

"I don't think so." Lance glanced at her. "That's her team. She's comfortable around them. But it's us she won't trust. Like how we were when the Joes first rescued us."

"I can see that."

"What happened to Trickster?" Doug Ramesy, alias Cypher looked at Mindflare.

"He avoids certain states." Mindflare shifted. "He's pretty hush-hush on his real shape, and past."

"He? You were calling him a her yesterday."

"That's because he called me using a masculine voice last night. It's easier just to call him whatever gender he turns into." He turned off the highway. "Sycamore Grove, GA, here we come." The town they drove into over an hour later was small enough not to register as important, but large enough that you didn't know everyone in it. It was a suburban paradise, with buildings left over from the fifties. "Quaint, isn't it?"

"Yeah . . . where do you live?" Cypher shifted.

"I live a bit out of town. I actually started a school for people like us, but it's small and uncredited. Mostly highschool kids." He smiled. "You can keep secrets in a small town, you just have to be careful how you do it."

"How do they . . . treat mutants?"

"Some think it's a hoax by the government, others think it's real and mutants are out to get them, and a few others don't care either way. Thankfully, it's the neutral people who are in charge. But there were –are a few problems with the KKK resurfacing to persecute known mutants. Mostly farther south and into Alabama." He smiled as he drove through town, and then went up a hill. "Mutant Plantation, here we come."

"You call it that?"

"Nope, two of the kids went to Six Flags, and went on the Monster Plantation ride, when I recruited them and told them it was on an old plantation . . . well, you can see how it turned out." They drove up the drive, and into the barn/garage. "I'll introduce you to my treasure hunting team. Then Gizmo can show you to your room."

"Gizmo?" Doug blinked.

They entered to a large entrance hall. It was an old style plantation, a breezeway with rooms off to the side, but it had gained electricity and plumbing, as well as a kitchen. There was a second floor, which had room numbers on the doors he could see.

"Oh, are you afraid of ghosts?"

"What? Not really . . ."

"Good, we got a few that won't move on, they won't bother you too much, but they get nosey. Plantation down the road is full of ghosts, too. We just have four, they have ghosts all over the place. Some will come over, from time to time." Mindflare saw him pale a bit. "Relax, they don't hurt, we just can't get an exorcist and there's only so much one can do before messing with stuff you don't understand."

"Tell him 'bout our undead friends, comrade?" A man with dark hair and Russian accent walked up.

"Ah, Cypher, I want you to meet Mikhail Rasputin, he can jump dimensions, though he got lost the last time he did it."

"Finding home dimension isn't easy, had to make a few stops, and the monkeys weren't helpful." He noticed the look. "Trust me, as insane as it sounds, it's nothing compared to what really happened."

"Mikhail, you're back!" A blonde girl raced from a room and hugged him. "Oh, whose this?"

"This is Doug Ramesey, a.k.a. Cypher. Meet Maria McPhillips. Codename Gizmo. Super reflexes, and the ability to dismantle anything electronic, including bombs and cars. She's also a kick butt driver."

"Hello, welcome to Mutant Plantation." Her southern accent thickened a bit as she smiled. "I'll take your bags while you meet the rest." She picked up his duffle and slipped off.

"If she plays a dumb blonde southern belle when asking about what you're working on, she's flirting." A voice called out from the sitting room/parlor.

"Says you, Jack." Gizmo called back from upstairs. Entering the parlor, four young men were playing poker.

"Woman, you've tricked me one too many times!"

"Who's fault is that?" Gizmo's voice had gone faint.

"Alright, this is Jack Ridge, no codename yet, we can't think of a good one." A boy with sandy brown hair and clear blue eyes winked at them, he had a track star build. "He's got strength and he's pretty fast, clocked him at a hundred miles an hour one time."

"Yeah the other few times the watch got wrecked." A guy with brown hair pulled into a low ponytail smirked. "Name's Billy or Coverfire, as I'm also called." He blew slightly and a small flick of fire escaped him. "I'm a firebreather."

"And class clown." Jack teased, ducking a pillow.

"That's Hotwire," An African American with a muscular build nodded, his hair wasn't shaved, but it also wasn't quite an afro. "Real name, John Bell. He's a technopath."

"Why Hotwire then?"

"Cause I got a juvie record for hotwiring and stealing cars."

"Yeah, his parents move here, hoping he'd stay out of trouble." Billy smirked.

"Unfortunately, he met us." Jack laughed as the fourth player called, "Oh look I win." The other card players groaned as Jack collected the pot.

"And that's Jace. Also called Alchemist, he can change matter from one thing to another . . . but he fails at it most of the time. Best he can do for know it tell us what the heck something's made of."

"Hey, I'll master it eventually." Jace looked up from the new set of cards. "Rest of the girls are in the kitchen, my sister kicked everyone else out."

"Still not allowed near the microwave, huh?"

"Okay, it was a freak accident with mine and Sally's powers. Why am I banned and she's not?"

"Because unless your Billy, you boys have no place in the kitchen." Gizmo stuck her head in. "Jack wrecked the toaster, Mikhail crash landed in there, Jace blew up the microwave, Hotwire didn't reassemble it right, so it blew up again later, and Billy hasn't caused an accident yet, and he can actually cook."

"Unlike you." Hotwire muttered. She glared at him.

"I can at least make toast and use the microwave. Who needs the stove or the oven?" She plopped next to him. "I don't. Deal me in." They left the game, Mikhail staying behind to talk.

"And now the girls . . . Anyone there? I brought the new guy."

"Right in here." The three women looked up. "Cypher, right?"

"Yes . . . Pleased to meet you."

"Pleasure is ours, I'm sure." The only other blonde winked. "I'm Chastity, Jace's older sister, I'm called Oracle, cause I can see the past or future of any object I touch. Mostly future, and mostly in random bits I don't get at the time." She smiled.

"I'm Sally. Don't have a codename, but I've narrowed it down to three, which we were discussing. I can control energy, particularly light energy, and mostly in blades. Limited flight, as well." She had thick wavy brown hair, and michevious brown eyes. The third woman was in her forties, and had fairly light dark skin.

"I'm Ms. Jones. I'm the housekeeper, and I can move things with my mind." She smiled. "Unlike the kids, I don't have a codename, but some have taken to calling me 'Keeper.'"She had an English accent. "Would you like something to eat or drink, Justin, Doug? Don't touch that." Cypher's eyes widened as a can of baked beans lowered back to the counter. "Ms. Cook's getting impatient, we better start dinner." As Cypher turned back to look, the girls were joined by an invisible set of hands, and that wasn't counting the times Ms. Jones levitated something into her reach.

" We also have a healer, but she only comes up on weekends, her parents have a strict curfew. You'll meet her eventually." Mindflare smiled at Doug. "Welcome to Vertias Project."

The whole Snake Eyes lost an apprentice thing really did happen. The circumstances were a little different than what actually happened in the comics, and yes, I am paving the way to introduce kamakura . . . using the bio I found online for him, and not the movie (he's not that bad in Sigma Six) however, there may be a bit of a rewrite for parts of his character, as well for an eventual new codename.

Mikhail Rasputin: Yes, this is supposed to be Colossus's brother. From what I understand, he can jump dimensions without any outside aid, and he's the older brother. I could be wrong, and he's just a teleporter that can cover larger amounts of space, but that's his bio for my story and I'm sticking to it.

Oracle: If someone mentions the fact DC has a character named this, I will ignore them completely. Destiny is taken, so is Foresight, and calling her Déjà vu just sounded bad, same thing with 'Seer' and this was the best I could come up with. She, Jess and Crash are the ones with similar powers I mentioned earlier. (back in Outcasts)

See you around!