Conner

"I don't like the idea of this sparring, Conner."

I look at Erik. "Uncle, the only reason most of them are here is because we want to test ourselves against them."

Erik sighs. He is out of that horrible costume, but I'm still wearing mine. It's become a habit, for it suits me very well. "Conner, I don't want to worry for your life each time a prisoner wants to spar."

I shrug. "Traci is in charge of the prisoners. She has experience with holding people down in one place. If you want, I'll take the privilege from her and—"

Erik sighs. "No, no. She is best in that field."

I incline my head. "Opal wishes to fight with Jubilation."

Erik raises and eyebrow, but nods. "Let Traci know I approve it."

I leave his office and pass Pietro and Wanda. "Why are you here?" I ask warily.

Pietro's eyes narrow. "We're here because we want to see the prisoners momentarily. Do you mind?"

I put on my best bland face. "No, but Traci might. Uncle Erik gave her control over the prisoners."

Pietro seems about to start a fight with me, but Wanda restrains him. "We'll talk with Erik, Pietro."

I leave them, walk past Victor, and return to our quarters.

Traci

"The Professor enrolls us and we learn about history, math, any subject you normally learn in school."

I cock my head. "What do you learn in school?"

Kitty looks at me and says, "Math, history, geography, literature, biology, chemistry, foreign languages, fine arts, physical education, and geometry."

"Oh. Yeah, we learn that, too. What else do you do?"

She shrugs. "Tactical lessons, strategy, zoology, physical sciences; it depends on our interests."

I nod. "Yeah, same here. Alex took spy-work classes and I took psychology."

Alex comes over to me and places his hand on my shoulder. "Traci, Pietro and Wanda want to talk to you."

I look up at him. "Alex, sit here a minute, and outline why we dislike humans. I'll go deal with them."

His body stiffens and Kitty leans forward, pressing her hands against the transparent force field that prevents her from coming out. "Traci, I'd rather not." His voice is cold and hard.

I smile gently and turn to Kitty. "Let's keep it basic. Those scars? They're from nails, knives, chains, and whips. Humans hammered them into his skin. One nail chipped his cheekbone, and he nearly lost his right eye. There is no way that he, or I, will ever cozy up to humans."

She shakes her head. "There is no way Logan will do that either, but he understands that killing them isn't going to solve the problem."

Alex shakes himself free of memories and pokes at me. "Pietro and Wanda?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll come back, Kitty."

As I walk away, Alex asks, "Why are you talking with her?"

I walk quietly. Not one of us is in our normal clothes; our 'costumes' are more comfortable than any other outfit. Opal is making variants in the same material, yet along the same lines, so that we aren't limited to one change of clothes. "I'm not sure. Maybe I just want a friend."

Alex looks at me, something unknown in his eyes. "I thought I was a friend."

I smile and poke him playfully in the ribs. "You are."

He returns the smile, for some reason relief in his expression, but our conversation is cut short by Pietro.

"Traci! I want to take Gambit and Jubilee for a while, and you need to release them."

I raise an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

Wanda steps forward. "Mystique's group wants to take a few hostages as well. We only need them for a few experiments, and they will be returned to you shortly."

I lean against a wall; in fact, the wall that separates Jubilation's and Remy's cages. All the prisoners are listening. "What do you have to offer me?"

Pietro snarls, "Your life!"

I smile. "Isn't that mine? I meant something of yours."

Wanda steps forward. "Any information found will be copied and given to you, and you will have us in your debt."

Pyro suddenly comes down the stairs, lead by Conner. "Traci, he wants to talk to you, too."

I spare Conner a nasty glance before turning to Pyro. "Yes, Pyro?"

He looks over the prisoners. "Mystique would like a prisoner. Perhaps Summers."

I chuckle and shake my head. "I don't think you understand why I'm holding them. And until you do understand, and make an offer catering my wishes, I don't think you have a claim on either them or me. Pietro, Wanda, Pyro, good day."

Pietro leaps at me, but I drop to the floor and allow him to hit into the wall. I grab at him, catching his arm, and twist it backwards. He winces but doesn't make a sound.

"While they are here, they are under my protection! No one will leave a scratch on them without my permission, and if you truly want to get a hostage, beat one of them yourself!" I hiss in his ear. Ace steps forward, glowering ominously at Pyro and Wanda.

"Traci?"

I turn and see Sean standing on the steps. He looks a bit woozy, and he's definitely pale, but he asks me, "Do you need help?"

I give one final tweak to Pietro's arm and let go. "No, Sean, I'm fine. Are you? I don't think you should be up."

He walks in, slowly, and Alex goes over to steady him. "I need to talk to you privately, if you wouldn't mind," he whispers.

I look around. "I think they can wait for a moment before they eat. What do you need?" I ask as I take him up the stairs.

He looks at me, very seriously. "I know Opal and Conner, and maybe even you, are mad because I didn't watch my back, but Katherine said that Uncle Erik's answer was not the correct one."

I sigh. "No matter what Erik did for us, he still is, excuse the expression, human. He can make mistakes. If you're asking if I'm mad at you for not watching yourself, yes, I am a little annoyed. If you're asking if I believe in Erik's belief, no, I do not. I'm not sure if anyone else's is better, though. So I'll go with it for the moment."

He bites his lip and looks off into the distance. I look at him and smile slightly. Poor Sean can never hide his true thoughts; you always know exactly what he's thinking. He's too honest for his own good.

"Go back to bed," I suggest. "Rest a bit, and then we'll talk some more."

He walks away and I return to the cells. Pietro, Wanda, and Pyro are gone, and Alex left the food plates on the floor outside each cell. I lift up the first and enter Scott's cell. The force field is keyed to only my DNA; no one else can walk through the force field without my permission.

"Here's your food, Summers. Hope you like it; Alex is actually a good cook. But don't tell him I said that, 'cause his head is already big enough." I make sure the bathroom has towels, toothpaste, toothbrush, and toilet paper before making sure to exchange his blanket for a fresh one.

"Why didn't you give us to them? What is the reason for keeping us?" he asks, watching me.

"Don't think about attacking, dear Cyclops. Opal has harsher blasts than you do." I walk out of the force field and across the hall to Forge's cell.

Completing the same ritual, I am mildly surprised when Forge says, "The computer has a quantum-alloy drive?"

I shake my head, smiling. "No, a variation I made myself. All the quarters that I have access to has this security system in it, and I made it by hand. You know, to ensure that no one goes in that I don't know and okay first."

He nods and turns to eating his food.

I hesitate before entering Logan's cage next, and when I do enter, I move quickly so that I get his food on the ground and out of my hands before he leaps at me. I twist, making sure not to let him pin me; if he does, I won't be able to get him off. His adamantium skeleton is too heavy for me to lift.

We scuffle together, until I somersault and flip over his head, out the force field. "Fine then. Can you tell me if you need a new blanket and toiletries?"

He snorts, and starts to laugh. "The big enemy, askin' if I need a toothbrush. I'm sorry, that just seems absurd."

I smile sweetly. "It is. But I'm picky in those ways, and I don't care what anyone else says. Do you or don't you?"

He ignores me, and I sigh. Picking up Remy's dish, I walk into his room, repeating what I did in Logan's room. After a quick scuffle, he manages to pin me, but since he isn't as heavy as Logan, I don't worry.

"Why don'tcha open dis f'r me?" he asks, his kinetic card under my chin and his weight over my hips.

I smile sweetly. "How 'bout this, Cajun? You get off of me, and my computer system won't vaporize sweet Jubilation in the other cell, there."

His eyes narrow, and I hear Alex say from outside, "Need a hand, Trace?"

"Naw," I tell him. My hand slips unnoticed into Remy's pocket and I tense my muscles fractionally. While he is a great warrior, and someone I look forward to fighting, he isn't Logan.

I suddenly move my head up to his, licking the corner of his mouth with my tongue. That catches him unawares; I feel his muscles relax fractionally. At that moment, I twist sideways and slam my knee right above his groin, hard enough to get him off. He lets his breath out and I stand, dusting myself off.

"I'd rather not dance like that again, Monsieur LeBeau," I tell him lightly, placing a clean blanket and toiletries on the ground and walking out of the cage.

Alex looks at me in disbelief. "Why do you go through all of this? You are the one who took all those classes."

I look at Remy carefully, weighing the pros and cons of what I'm about to do. "It interests me, alright, Alex?" Without either Remy or Alex noticing, I slide the pack of cards I took from Remy's pocket back into the cage.

Alex sighs. "Whatever you think is best, Traci."

I look at him, placing my hand on his shoulder. "Come on," I say gently, a small smile playing across my lips. "When have I ever put myself into a situation I can't get myself out of?"

He looks at me. "I know you're good with math and calculations, but they're variables. You can't analyze them as you do other opponents. They're dangerous."

"As dangerous as you? Perhaps as dangerous as Victor. Maybe as dangerous as Sinister."

He looks somberly at me. "I want you to return from this job."

My eyes dim at the reference. "I will, Alex. I will."

He leaves as I place Jubilation's food and items in her cell, and after that, I turn the corner to Kitty's cage. "Food and necessities. Logan must like to smell; he refused them."

Kitty smiles. I carefully step into the cage, placing the tray on the ground and placing the objects where they go.

"He likes you, you know."

I look at Kitty. "You mean Alex? We are the most alike, and yes, we love each other. But I don't think in the way you are implying."

She shakes her head, but I ignore her and exit the cage. Looking around, I sigh and walk towards the stairs.

"Traci?"

I turn around, alert, and see Scott leaning against the force field.

"Yes, Mister Summers?"

He looks me up and down. Finally, he says, "What did Erik offer you?"

I shrug. "Opponents that wouldn't be weaklings."

"That's all?"

I shake my head. "I'm indebted to him, and for as long as my leader follows him, I will too. He cares for me, and, whether you believe it or not, truly worries for our well-being."

Scott gazes at me. "I'd like to do those, those 'sparring matches', tomorrow."

I smile. "Very well. I'll arrange them."