A/N Hi. Please don't kill me. I understand that I suck at updating- real life is a pesky distractor :(
This chapter is dedicated to Random Reviewer, who got me to finally update.
Disclaimer: If you've seen this stuff published, its not mine.
The cool air of the hanger permeated through the jet's air vents. Four students, Robert, Kitty, Jubilee, and Pitor sat anxiously in their seats, waiting for their instructor to arrive and take them on their first practical lesson.
In the kitchen Logan and Robin sat, both drinking beer. Well, Logan was. Robin was drinking root beer. "So, you know the plan?" Logan asked before taking a long drag of his beer.
"Yes. We've been over this like six times in the past ten minutes. Would you even let me do this if Hank wasn't making me stay within 100 feet of Bobby?" she asked, irked at the hairy man.
"Nope. You'd be sitting in your room or the lab or doing whatever, not going with us," he replied.
"Great, thanks. It's awesome to know that you have confidence in me," she said, her voice dry.
"Anytime kid. Now get in the jet," he smiled, ruffling her hair.
Logan stalked into the hanger, his voice startling the students waiting for him, "From this moment on this is to be treated as a regular mission. You four are in consideration to become X-Men, so this practice mission will help us assess who is ready to move on and who is not."
"Now, we will be going on a routine bag and tag mission. The target? Toad. Low level villain with few offensive powers. This shouldn't be too difficult. Any questions? No? Good. Let's go."
The five climbed into the jet, some more gracefully than others. During Logan's speech Robin snuck onto the jet and made her way to the closet she would be staying in for the duration of the flight. Well, she hoped not the entire time, but it certainly was possible.
After ten long and silent minutes in flight Logan started to speak. "You're all dead," he said calmly.
"What?" Kitty screeched.
"Someone has snuck aboard your plane and you didn't notice, therefore they have killed you and you are dead. Game. Over," Logan growled.
"I think that's the most I've ever heard Logan say," Robin said, climbing out of the closet.
"Robin?" four confused voices harmonized.
"Yeah. I gave you guys plenty of clues. Bobby should have gotten them at least," she replied, straightening her rumpled clothing.
"I did, but…" he started.
"But nothing. If your power gives you an edge, use it. There is no reason why you should put your team in danger, even if it is just an imagined one," Logan hissed into Bobby's face.
"On a happier note, we're here now. Let's go kick some Toad butt!" Robin exclaimed into the awkward silence following Logan's verbose outburst.
The six got out of the jet calmly and quietly, immediately alert for any and all threats. Robin hung back by the jet, not wanting to get in the way while the rest moved forward towards where they supposed Toad would be.
"Get back here you slimy cretin!" a deep familiar voice yelled.
"Isn't that…?" Pitor voiced what they were all thinking.
"Why would Beast be here?" Jubilee asked, suddenly turning to Logan.
"Focus on the mission," he growled, hackles raised.
A shot rang out across the silent rooftop. Logan moved towards the noise and set the rest of the group up in a formation that would keep all of them safe but allow the all to hear the strange conversation coming from the alley below.
"Where did that slime bucket go?" a feminine voice asked, growing closer to the posse on the rooftop.
"He may have ascended one of the buildings." the voice reminiscent of Beast called.
"When we find him, I'm going to fill that creep with holes!" the second voice replied.
"No, dead bodies can't return money," the first one growled.
"I think….we lost him." the girl's voice replied, panting.
"No, he's got to be around here somewhere." There was a long pause, only the echo of heavy breathing could be heard.
"You're so slow!" the masculine voice yelled in frustration.
"Then you go ahead! I'll meet you at the top of that building," the tired female voice replied.
Logan moved forward cautiously, peering over the edge of the rooftop. There, climbing up the fire escape, was a girl no more than 17 carrying a sawed off shout gun.
Suddenly on the other side of the rooftop there was a squishing noise. Toad had finally arrived. The squishing was followed by a loud crunch of breaking concrete.
"Give me back my money you unintelligent, devolved life form," the dark voice growled.
Robin peeked out from behind the wheel of the jet, peering at the feet just visible below the belly of the jet. A pair of gray furry feet were curled in attacking stance while a pair of gray green feet were prepared for flight. She then saw Logan's leather booted feet appear, followed by the feet of the four trainees. Suddenly a scuffle began, with the X-Men attacking both Toad and the fuzzy man. Robin stood up fully intending to stop the fight when a soft body thudded to the ground just to her right.
"Never climbing a fire escape again!" the voice panted.
"Erin?" Robin questioned, walking out from her hiding spot.
There she was lying on the ground. After months of searching and dead ends Erin had, quite literally, fallen into her sight.
"Erin!" Robin exclaimed, running over to her winded friend.
Erin looked confused, her hand resting on the sawed off shotgun she had. Robin also noticed her feet were completely bare and covered with dirt. Robin ran over to her formally lost friend and embraced her. Erin stood there speechless, she had not had this kind of human contact in a long time.
"Where have you been?" Robin asked her old friend.
"I…" Erin started, catching sight of what was going on, on the other side of the jet. Toad was on the ground, unconscious and bleeding. The team's attention had been turned to the big furry man who, for all they knew, was evil.
"Later…. Right now I'm gonna go stop them from killing McCoy," Erin said almost with a sigh. "He has a knack for getting into trouble." She muttered under her breath.
Erin ran towards the scene, Robin at her heels. Erin jumped out from behind the jet, between the X-Men and McCoy. She threateningly held up the sawed off shotgun.
"Move one step closer and I'll shoot." She growled her finger ready to pull the trigger. McCoy smirked at the X-men, he knew they weren't expecting this.
"And…who are you?" Logan growled angrily, his claws now extended.
"An angry bitch who has had one hell of a day." She raised her gun "So don't mess with me."
"Erin, stop!" Robin interrupted, running into the middle of the scene, unafraid of stepping in front of the gun her friend held. "We can solve this diplomatically."
"Move kid, you don't know what you're doing," Logan growled at her, in complete shock of what was happening.
"Yeah, I do. I know that I'm stopping you from hurting one of the good guys," Robin said confidently.
Her team looked down at her as if she was insane. Catching their gaze she amended her statement, "Erin is my friend, she is only trying to defend her teammate, she has no desire to actually hurt anyone." Robin took a breath and continued. "And I don't think McCoy was planning to fight us."
Erin lowered her gun behind her protector, saying, "She's right. We're not here for a fight; we're just here for that worthless lump." Erin indicated the unconscious mutant on the ground.
"Now, now child. If these imbeciles wish to become involved in a bloody altercation I would not be opposed, especially after the day we've had," McCoy said sweetly.
"No." Erin commanded, looking back at the grey mutant. He hesitated, but backed down to everyone else's immense surprise.
"Excuse me, but who are you?" Kitty asked, confused.
"Guys, this is Erin, the friend I was telling you about, and McCoy, the man I can only assume kept her safe while we looked for her," Robin said. "Erin, MC, this is Bobby, Kitty, Jubilee, Pitor and Logan."
"I know," Erin and McCoy responded at the same time.
"I am so confused," Bobby stated.
"Let's take this back to the Mansion. I'm sure the Professor will have some questions for both of you. All three of you, actually," he added, glaring at Robin.
After some prodding with a sawed off shotgun McCoy agreed to go with them to the Mansion. The jet lifted off, two passengers and several thousand questions heavier.