-1Author's note

All right everyone here's chapter 11, btw I know the numbering is a little off, but just go with it it's a lot easier. And as we all know, I don't own Marvel, though I've heard that if you rub the bald spot on Stan Lee's head he gives you three wishes.

Chapter 11 Growing Pains

"Ughhh...who turned out the lights?" Scott groaned as he regained consciousness. Around him the other teens were also getting up, attempting as he was to shake off the effects of whatever that weird girl had done to them. All but two.

"Alex!" Scott cried rushing over to his fallen brother who had still not risen.

"Come on bro, wake up this isn't funny!" he said desperately as he shook his younger brother trying to awaken him. A few feet away Bobby and Jubilee were going through a similar ordeal with Jean.

"Jean get up!"

"Alex!"

Slowly and painfully the two sat up groaning as they felt the aches all over their bodies.

"Ughh man Scott, next time you see a hot girl we are definitely going to introduce ourselves from a safe distance."

"Aw man you had me scared there for a minute!" Scott said as he graciously wrapped his brother in a bone crunching hug.

"Ow! Hey I'm alive! Don't kill me by hugging me to death!"

"You sure you're alright Jean?" Jubilee asked with an air of uncertainty, as she helped her friend to her feet.

Jean rubbed her head slightly, trying to think, it felt like she was missing something, like she had the pieces to a puzzle but she couldn't quite figure out how to put them together. She needed time to think. She needed time to concen-

"JEAN!!" Bobby and Jubilee screamed in unison, concerned expressions covering their young faces.

"Wha-Oh! Sorry you guys, guess I just spaced out there for a sec, really I'm fine." she added trying to soothe the worried look on Jubilee's face.

"Anybody know how long we were out for?" Bobby asked to no-one in particular.

Looking down at his watch, Alex told them that they had been out for ten minutes.

"Crap!" Jubilee said slapping her hand to her forehead, "Storm's gonna kill us!"

"Which is why we need to get back, right now!" Jean said taking charge, then addressing the two strangers that had saved her, "Sorry we have to cut this short, but if we don't get back, a headaches's the last thing we'll have to worry about."

"Don't sweat it, it's cool." Scott said in a slightly disappointed voice, "I mean we've got to get going to. Our uh..chaperone-" he said for lack of a better word, "-is not exactly the kinda guy you keep waiting."

Jean smiled at him, and Scott felt his insides churn as she waved goodbye, while inside his head a struggle was taking place.

"Well, can't say it's been fun meeting you, but still take care!" Jubilee said as she started to exit with Jean.

For some reason Alex wore a look of mingled annoyance, and pity as he looked up at his older brother.

"Yeah, it's been fun." Bobby added as the three turned the corner, and out of sight.

Scott stood there for a moment with a far off look in his eye.

Sighing, Alex thought, He's way worse off than I could of thought. And then looking down he spotted Bobby's baseball, and got an idea.

"Hey bro," he said, and getting no response he nudged his brother in the ribs snapping him back to the real world, "That kid left his baseball, why don't you return it to them."

"Yeah great idea!" Scott said snatching up the ball, his face shining, practically sprinting out of the alley to catch up.

Good grief, Alex though as he strolled behind Scott.

In a few moments Scott managed to catch up, out of breath he doubled over, while Jubilee shot him a quizzical look, Bobby eyed him with the same pitiful look Alex had, and Jean merely smiled.

"You forgot your ball." he said panting, and then straightening up, he brushed past the two younger mutants.

"Jean I know you're probably busy, but I was just wondering, if you'd wanna..I don't know hook up later or something." he blurted out, sweat gathering in his palms.

Jean contemplated for a minute, as she tried to ignore the sly looks Bobby and Jubilee were shooting over Scott's shoulder.

"Today's not really that good-" she began

"Oh, that's cool I mean-"

"But tomorrow ,I'm free!" She said brightly interrupting Scott, "How about the foodcourt in the mall?"

"Yeah the foodcourt that'll be great!" Scott said positively beaming, as Bobby and Jubilee both groaned at the thought of the mall. "Six O'clock sound good?"

"Perfect!" Jean said scrawling done her number quickly on a piece of paper and handing it to him, "Now I really need to be going. I can't get grounded if I have date tomorrow!"

She then flashed another smile as she ran back to the van, where a clearly irate Storm awaited.

"Guess we'll be seeing more of each other then!" Jubilee yelled to Alex who had hung back the past few minutes, before she ran to catch up with Jean.

"Guess we'll be seeing more of each other then!" Bobby said bitterly mocking Jubilee as he too made his back to the van, but before he had gotten out of ear-shot, he heard Alex mention something about needing to get back before Magneto kills them.

Hopefully he will. Bobby thought spitefully recalling how Jubilee had looked at Alex. The less I see of that Alex guy the better.

A few feet back the Summers brothers ran back o the rendezvous point where Magneto's orbs would pick them up, while Alex berated Scott for wasting so much time. To tell the truth though Scott could care less, Magneto was the last thing on his mind, he had gotten a date. And with that thought warming him, he jumped high in the air pumping his fist in triumph. while Alex gave him another pitiful look, before smiling in spite of himself.

----------------------------

Hank paced around morosely before settling back onto the couch.

I did the right thing, it only would have ended in heartache. He thought firmly trying to convince himself. On top of his coffee table was a solitary white rose sitting in a vase. Trying to cheer himself up he lifted the rose out of it's home as gently as he could, but still his grip was too hard and the stem snapped.

"RAARGGHHH!!!" he cried in rage and frustration flinging the now dead flower across the room.

"This is why I cannot be with Storm, or with people for that matter! They'll only end up like that flower!"

As Beast was going to resume pacing a series of loud knocks echoed at his door.

It's only her again. He thought wretchedly, I can't go through that, not again.

He tried to ignore the knocking, but for the next two minutes it continued unceasingly until he relented.

"Alright, alright I'll open it-"

He stopped short of finishing his sentence when he opened the door and was shocked at what, or rather who he saw.

He was a tall man in his late teens or early twenties, he stood with hands in the pockets of the trench coat he was wearing. When Beast had opened the door he was tapping the toe of one his white boots against the frame while he rapidly shuffled a deck of cards between his hands. Hank's first reaction was to think that this man looked like a stray dog, rough yet savvy.

"You lookin' mighty blue today Doc, whatsamatter lady troubles?" he spoke in a southern drawl, that belied the intelligence in his curiously red eyes. The shock was plain in Hank's face, but still he managed to recover his wits and tried to lunge for the stranger.

"Oh come on, now dat's no way ta be treatin' a client!" The man said as he flipped over Hank's back, and into the apartment with sprite like agility.

"Who are you!?" Hank snarled, his heart pounding like a jackhammer in his gargantuan chest.

"You never gave me a chance ta introduce mahself," he said with a smirk, "Where Ah come from, folks consider it rude ta invite someone in when ya don' even kno' their name. But Ah s'pose ya'll doctor types are like dat sometimes." he added giving an appraising look to his surroundings, mentally trying to calculate how much some of Beast's valuables would be worth.

"Nice place ya got here."

"Leave now, and forget what you've seen!" Beast hissed through gritted teeth, trying to contain his animal instincts, that told him to rip the smart mouthed punk to shreds.

"Can' do dat Doc," he said shaking his auburn head, "Like Ah said Ah'm a client o' yours."

"I've never met you before in my life," Hank answered savagely, "And if you don't leave cooperatively, I shall be forced to throw you out!"

The man chuckled for a moment before speaking again.

"Me and you Doc? We kindred spirits you kno' dat," he said ignoring Beast's threat, before taking a card out of his deck, the Ace of Spades and holding it in front of his face staring at it intently.

"Both unable ta touch the things we love, outta fear o' destroyin' em," he continued speaking ,dropping the nonchalant manner of speech he previously used, and switching to a more sincere tone. And as he talked the card began to glow bright red, until the man decided to let it drop to the carpet. Once it hit, it went up in flames taking about a square foot of carpet with it.

"Ya see Doc, Ah'm a mutant too jus' like you."

Beast stared at the singed carpet for a moment before closing the door behind him.

"Who are you?" he asked again some of the anger gone from his voice.

The man smiled and went back to his normal slick way of talking, but Hank made a mental note of the way he sounded when he spoke before.

"Name's Remy, but mos' folks jus' call me Gambit."

"Gambit...Gambit...I've heard that name before.." Hank said scratching his chin searching his brain.

"Perhaps it was from the lips of a pouty faced stewardess, Ah travel alot." Gambit responded trying to cut Hank off.

"No that's not it...it was a paper! I recently read in America's Top Science weekly that a museum in New Orleans had to cancel their grand opening because their prized exhibit, a rare Diamond from the mines of Sweden had been pilfered! They say the thief has struck several other areas in New Orleans and across the south, and that he always leaves a playing card behind."

"My my," Gambit said slightly bemused, "Ah'm glad ta see news of mah exploits have spread dis far."

"You seem proud." Beast said with a sneer.

"Why shouldn't Ah be? It's who Ah am." he responded now leaning on his telescopic staff for support. "Man who raised me always used ta say, 'Remy you be proud o' who you are, you may be a thief, but dat don't mean dat you ain't jus' as good as anybody else,' "

Beast was taken aback by the thief's words, while in his head he kept thinking, who I am, who I am.

"Ahem," Gambit said clearing his throat loudly, "Ah hate ta break up your egghead train o' thought but Ah really mus' get down ta business."

"Ah yes," Beast said awakening from his trance, "What does the master thief want with a simple ogre like myself?"

"Firs' o' all, Ah kno' that behind that blue fur, is one o' the leadin researchers in genetics in this country. An' Ah also kno' dat you're probably de only one dat can help me." he said changing his tone once more into a business like drawl.

What a capricious individual. Beast thought.

"Go on."

Now that Hank seemed more interesting in helping, and less interested in throwing him out of the window Gambit opened up a little, letting a small amount of sincerity slip into his voice.

"It's mah powers, lately it's like they been on overdrive or somethin', Ah can't touch nothin' without it blowin' up."

Beast considered for a second, before speaking.

"How long have you had your powers, when did they first manifest."

"Shoot, since Ah was 14 ,so bout five years now."

"Hmm.. are you under any stress, work related, love life, children?"

"Ho! Ol' Gambit ain't got no rugrats runnin' round, an' don' plan on it neither. As fo' love well, there was dis one girl dat had me wrapped up pretty tight, fore it all went ta hell. But hey Ah'm over it, there's always another one round de corner. An' work well, ah ain't never had no problems gettin mah hands on mah merchandise, but now Ah gotta worry bout keepin mah hands off lest Ah wan' it to blow." he said.

For a moment Beast paced back and forth thinking deeply.

"And you say you've had your powers for about five years now?"

"Uh-uh."

Beast paced some more before speaking again, this time more kindly and slowly, similar to the way a Doctor tells a patient bad news.

"I can't be certain without running a wide spectrum of tests, but...I suspect that this..ah..lack of control over your powers is the next stage in your evolution."

"What are you sayin' McCoy." Gambit said dangerously his face falling.

Hesitating for a moment but refusing to be intimidated Hank continued.

"I'm saying that this may just be the nature of your powers, Remy I'm sorry."

"Heh, Ah get it, it's de nature o' mah powers right." Gambit said harshly a sardonic smile marring his otherwise handsome features, "Ah though Ah had you pegged different, guess ya'll scientist types are de same. Alright, why don' you jus tell ol Remy what it is dat ya want, and ah'll steal it for ya, after ya mix mah powers."

Beast eyes narrowed dangerously and his voice grew colder as he spoke.

"I'm not that kind of person Gambit, and I'd appreciate it if you'd leave I've had a rough day and I would enjoy nothing more than too just curl up with the Bard and waste away the evening."

Gambit gave a short bark like laugh.

"Aw come on Doc, you can' play me. Rough day huh, Ah saw dat firm piece o' loveliness step outta here a few minutes ago. What happened she say she didn't care if you had a rubber, she jus' wanted a bag to go over ya face." he said viciously. However as soon as Gambit had said the words he knew he had instantly crossed the line ,because Hank's eyes grew dark and he started to bare his fangs a little.

"Alright, Ah'm sorry fo' dat one it was cross de line. An' now ah see dat you ain't de type to be bought off. But there's gotta be somethin' Ah can do fo' ya Doc, Ah'm desperate here." he said and indeed the desperation was tangible in his voice, but Hank merely remained silent and glared at him.

"Ah mean maybe, I could help you out with dat lady friend o' yours, you know whisper in ya ear what to say."

This time it was Hank's turn to give a harsh laugh.

"The day you are my Cyrano ,Gambit, is the day I dye my fur purple and start calling myself Barney. Now I suggest you leave."

Knowing he had lost ,Gambit strolled past Hank and stood in the doorway for a moment before turning back towards Hank.

"You're makin' a mistake McCoy." he said in a deadly whisper.

Hank chuckled a little.

"The only mistake I have made my dear Fagan, was opening this door, goodbye."

SLAM!

-------------------------

Storm slammed her door in anger before turning to glare at the three offenders sitting in her van, struggling to look innocent.

Uh oh Auntie Em, there's a storm coming. Jean thought.

"Now correct me if I'm mistaken, but I could have sworn that I left you explicit instructions, to remain here and refrain from using your powers." Storm said dangerously as the three teens cowered slightly, clinging to their seatbelts for hope.

"And yet, when I return lo and behold you're gone!" she continued as she stuck the key in the ignition with a little more aggression than normal. She then took several steadying breaths knowing that if she let her anger get control, it would mean trouble, Storm usually had little problem controlling her emotions, but her talk with Hank had thrown everything out of whack.

"What you did was brave, noble even." she began a forced calm in her voice, while the faces of her passengers began to rise slightly, "But it was also incredibly reckless, and dangerous!"

She finished staring at Jean.

Feeling guilty Bobby tried to defend Jean.

"Look Storm it wasn'-"

"No, Bobby it was my fault Storm told me to stay put, and regardless of the circumstances I disobeyed her and put us all in danger. If you're going to blame anyone blame me." Jean interrupted.

A silence fell through the vehicle as all three of the teens hung their heads. Storm sighed before cranking the engine and pulling out of the parking spot. For a few minutes no-one said anything until Storm turned off the radio and spoke.

"I am not blaming anyone, and certainly no of you will be punished for helping a defenseless girl, but I just wished that you all could comprehend the gravity of the choices you make."

The others lifted their heads as they listened to her words.

"I suppose it's my fault, sometimes I forget that you are young, and with youth comes a certain...need to act ,rather than think. What you all did today was heroic, but you could have been killed, or worse. Don't get me wrong I am not discouraging the behavior, but I just wish you would have put more thought into it that's all. Running off half-cocked is a good way to die, believe me I've seen it happen." she finished darkly.

"We know Storm, and you're right. Trust us when we tell you that it won't happen again." Jean said graciously as the other two nodded their heads in agreement.

Storm smiled slightly as they drove on.

"So, the just the three of you against five armed men huh?"

And for the next few minutes they told Storm with much enthusiasm, the details of their adventure.

"I see." Storm said clearly amused by their antics, "And what of the two boys that saved you.?"

"They didn't save us Storm come on, that whole damsel in distress crap is so last century." Jean said with a playful roll of her eyes. "And anyways after they helped us and we woke up they said they had somewhere to be and left." she finished quickly turning her stare away from Storm.

"Are you sure that's all that happened Jean?" Storm asked coyly.

"Yeah pretty sure." Jean said still avoiding looking directly at her.

"Really, Jubilee, why don't you tell me what happened."

Jubilee hesitated for a second, and gave a nervous glance to Jean before blurting it out.

"Jean's going on a date with the tall one! And I think the cute one with the surfer accent might be there too, so I'm tagging along!" she said quickly and excitedly ignoring Bobby's scowl, "Sorry Jean," she finished apologetically.

"Well, well do I hear wedding bells for my favorite student?" Storm said enjoying the embarrassment she was inflicting upon Jean, especially considering her earlier remarks.

"Ughh, this is why I didn't want to tell you," Jean said her cheeks going pink, "I knew you'd use it to get me back after what I said about you and Hank."

Wincing slightly at the thought of Hank, Storm aimed to steer the conversation into less intimate territory.

"I'm actually surprised I haven't met him before. From what Bobby and Jubilee tell me he's a mutant too." Jean continued thinking along the same lines as Storm.

"A mutant?" Storm said her curiosity piqued, "What was his na-"

Before she could finish her question her phone rang, answering it with her free hand she began speaking, and the longer she spoke the darker her expression became, after about thirty seconds she hung up the phone, and took a u turn back to the mansion.

"Where are we going now?" Bobby asked.

"That was Forge." Storm answered tersely her expression still dark, "He says that there will be no need to visit Ms. Dane at her home. She's decided to pay us a visit." She then turned towards Jean, "I hope you haven't lost that fighting spirit, she's not happy."

And with that ominous statement she sped off towards the X mansion.

-------------------------------------------

Alex lay back on his bed that evening, reflecting on the day as he listened to Bob Marley. Magneto hadn't been pleased by their tardiness, and he assured them that if they were to remain on Sanctuary they needed to show more maturity. Alex had felt slightly uneasy when they had told him what they were up to today. For some reason Scott had left out the part where the girl did something weird to them and knocked them all out. He also left out the fact the other three teens were mutants too.

What gives man? Alex thought as he remembered questioning Scott about why he had lied to Magneto. His brother's response was a shrug of the shoulders and a nonchalant, "he didn't need to know."

This is bogus man, Magneto's done so much for us, we shouldn't be lyin' to him like this.

He then began to sit up slowly, he still had a huge headache, when he saw that he had an audience. Turning off his headphones he spoke to his would be fan.

"Need help with something man?" he said coldly not getting up from his bed.

Pietro chuckled as he leaned against the frame for support.

"Just-saw-you-dorks-getting-chewed-out-by-Magneto-earlier,-thought-you-could-use-a-shoulder-to-cry-on." he said a smirk on his face.

"No thanks bro, I'm cool, now if that's all you ca-"

"Listen-up-bro." Pietro said, the smirk sliding from his face leaving an ugly , vindictive look, "Magneto's-not-some-dumb-fieldtrip-chaperone-he-knows-when-he's-being-lied-to,-I-know-him-better-than-any-of-you-he-won't-tolerate-that-kinda-crap-for-long!"

Alex got up finally wincing as he felt the bruises all of over his body.

"What gives? Why are you telling me this ,I thought you didn't like Magneto?" he shot back trying to use aggression to hide his puzzlement.

"I-don't." he said simply, "I'm-just-giving-you-a-little-advice-from-someone-that's-fallen-out-of-his-favor,-it-ain't-pretty. Mess-up-one-too-many-times-and-he'll-drop-you-faster-than-I-can-talk. That's-the-kind-of-person-he-is-pure-scum!" he finished disgustedly.

Alex shook his head violently, which only caused more pain before speaking.

"How can you say that he's your father isn't he!?" he said angrily.

"Cause-it's-the-truth."

Alex grunted in frustration, the thought that someone could hate their father infuriated him.

"If you hate him so much, then why are you helping him!?"

"Working for, and respecting someone are two different things." Pietro responded coldly and slowly, "Besides-I've-got-my-reasons." he finished with another smirk.

Alex couldn't think of anything else too say, so he just laid back down and turned his ipod back on.

"I-see-I've-given-your-little-brain-alot-to-think-about. I'll-let-you-sleep-on-it." Pietro said as he exited the room, the automatic door closing behind him.

For a second Alex sat there fuming, then without warning he ripped the device from his ears and flung it at the door, shattering it.

"Jerk."

---------------

Scott lay sound asleep in his bed a few rooms over, the first good night sleep he had in a while. Silently the door opened and a figure stood silhouetted in the doorway. The figure stared at him for a moment before moving in with unnatural speed, closing the door behind him.

"This-one-seems-like-he-has-more-sense-than-the-other." Pietro said to himself recalling how Scott had handled himself in the presence of Magneto. He then stood for a moment seemingly contemplating something.

"But-still-I-don't-think-I-want-either-of-these-dweebs-with-me-they're-way-too-naive." he said nastily. Then he held out two fingers and placed them at Scott's left temple.

"I-wonder-what-would-happen-to-your-little-brain-if-I-vibrated-my-fingers-at-the-speed-of-sound-against-your-head?" he paused for a moment considering whether or not he would kill Scott.

"No,-I'd-rather-you-suffer-through-Magneto. Then-we'll-see-how-high-and-mighty-you-two-are." he answered himself, removing the fingers and moving to the exit. At the door way he gave Scott one last look before leaving.

One more stop. He thought as he moved a few doors down the hall bypassing Logan's door, and stopping at the next one. Mystique's room.

He walked in confidently without knocking, and was greeted with the smell of scented candles burning. He scanned the room searching for Mystique, remembering that she could be anything. He didn't have to look long ,on her bed sat the same cat that had strode into Destiny's house, upon noticing the teen the cat ceased grooming itself and transformed into Mystique who was wearing very little.

"The-candles-are-a-nice-touch." Pietro commented not taking his eyes off her.

She merely smiled at him before stretching into a more revealing position.

"What's-this-all-about-Mystique?"

Mystique smiled at him again before answering seductively,

"Isn't it obvious," she purred, "For someone so quick you are rather slow. Earlier at Destiny's place when you agreed to help us, you said you wanted compensation. Well, here I am you reward."

Pietro raised an eyebrow but didn't move forward.

"Oh come on, don't tell me you've gotten cold feet. I can be anyone you want." she said as she rapidly morphed into a variety of beautiful women.

"Flattered-but-that-isn't-what-I-after-babe."

"Oh," Mystique said smiling again, "Then maybe this is what you're into." she said playfully transforming herself into a variety of men this time.

"Whoa-whoa-whoa-time-out! That-is-definitely-not-what-I'm-after!" he said backing away.

"Then what is it?!" Mystique said dropping all of the tenderness out her voice as she shifted back to her normal blue self.

Pietro reached into his back pocket and pulled out a picture, then walking over to her he handed Mystique the photo.

"I-don't-want-you-to-transform-into-her!" he added quickly.

Mystique studied it for a second, before a flicker of understanding dawned in her eyes.

"I see interesting, and this is what you want?" she asked curiously looking up at him.

"Yeah-I-figure-it's-the-easiest-way-for-both-of-us-to-get-what-we-want."

"All right boy, but she'd better go along with this, for your sake." Mystique said warningly, as she morphed clothes on her body.

"Trust-me-she'll-go-for-it-and-by-the-time-she's-done-all-three-of-us-will-have-what-we-want."

"Now-since-we're-gonna-be-partners-why-don't-seal-the-deal." he added a mischievous grin on his face.

---------------------------------------

Across the hall, Logan sat wide awake having heard everything with his acute animal senses.

So the brat, and Mystique are playin' Magneto for a fool huh?

He snorted at the thought.

We'll see how that pans out. Magneto may be just another trumped up dictator with a Messiah complex the size o' Nevada, but he ain't no fool. It's gonna take a lot ta pull one over on him.

Oh well, won't effect me, either way I'll come out like I always do, on top. Whoever's left standin' jus' better make sure that they stay outta my way. What am I sayin' by the time this goes down, I'll be long gone. Now that' I've got this.

He then helped a folder that had the word "Classified" stamped over it, opening it up he pulled put the first page.

With that info Magneto gave me, I've been able to piece together small fragments of my memories. And a few names keep poppin' up. So startin' tomorrow I'm goin' on a little vacation, and while I'm gone, I'm gonna find these names, and make them tell me what they know. One way or another.

Looking at the first name he read aloud the pages contents.

"Born in Russia, soldier for the former Soviet Union, educated in a myriad o' styles. During the cold war he underwent an experimental process, they tried to bond Carbonadium to his bones. It worked, but someone busted up their little victory party and put him on ice. I think that someone was me, but I can't remember." he said rubbing his head trying to jar some memories.

"Well, I'll just have to have a chat with Arkady Rossovich, or should I say Omega Red."

----------------------------------------

Unknown location.

Somewhere in a room that was lined with monitors and screens sat a man in a white lab coat. He was watching the screen in front of him with apparent interest.

"How's she doin Doc?" came a gruff voice from behind. It's speaker was a rough looking soldier of about fifty, he wore a uniform decorated with many ribbons and medals, his most distinctive feature however were the scars across his face. Three slash marks that looked like they were made by a bear or some other animal.

"I said how is she doin' Doc?" he said this time more forcefully. the dotor quickly recovered, he could never quite get over his superiors bizarre appearance.

"Polaris is doing well, Colonel Wraith, it seems Xavier is having some significant trouble breaking into her mind."

The Colonel leaned over the doctor's shoulder bringing with him a smell of tobacco and stale drink.

"I only see two of em'. Where are the others at?" he barked.

"Sir, we've gotten word that they are in route, once they reach the mansion there will be six mutants in total."

"Good. Keep me posted we've gotta know everything Xavier's got ta throw at us before we move on him." he responded as he walked over to the next console.

"How's our little Rogue doin'?" he asked the doctor that was sitting there.

"Sir, the implant in causing her severe stress, I believe that if we don't get it out of her soon she will die."

"That's not what I asked, I wanna know how she's doin'."

The doctor hesitated before answering.

"She's brought in several new mutants in the last 48 hours. Counting Polaris, it is four to be exact sir."

"That's more like it." he said gruffly before raising his voice so that all in the room could hear him. "Let's get one thing straight people, these mutants are weapons, and weapons only. As far as I'm concerned my boots are more valuable than them. In short they are expendable." He finished as a door opened and a man stepped in.

He wasn't dressed like the other doctors, nor did he wear the sniveling expression they wore when they spoke to the Colonel. He was clad head to foot in black leather, except for the red shirt he wore under his leather jacket.

"Trask, how's the search for Weapon X goin'?" the Colonel asked.

"Not well, I'm afraid we've lost track of him completely. It's like he disappeared that night he attacked our soldiers." the man called Trask answered.

"You wanted to use him as a test subject for Project Guardian didn't you?"

"Yes," Trask sighed, "But I suppose some other mutant will have to do."

Wraith smiled for a second.

"You're in luck, the boys at S.H.I.E.L.D, have recovered the next best thing. I'll just have the mutant ordered over here, I'll say that we're the only one's equipped to house a prisoner like that. No one'll be the wiser."

Trask raised a dubious eyebrow before speaking,

"You're positive that this mutant will be up to the challenge, I promise you my creation needs a real mutant to fully test it's capabilities. Anything less and you'd might as well put a small child against a Mack truck."

"Trust me Wraith, this guys a freak all right." he then turned to one of the cowardly doctors, "You, get Fury on the horn, tell him, that Colonel John Wraith is demanding that he turn Sabretooth over to my custody."

The doctor hastened to comply while Wraith invited Trask to watch the first monitor, as an image of a van pulled up towards the X mansion.

"Now, why don't you kick back and relax. While Polaris shows the X men what a real mutant can do."

End of Chapter 11

Alright hope you liked this chapter, now on to an important announcement. I know, I know, I have an important announcement on practically every chapter, but I promise this one won't piss you off. Due to the fact that Wolverine's story is branching away from the main plot, I've decided not to detail his adventures in the main story. Instead, I'll be writing a sort of side story entitled "Wolverine, Retribution." It will cover all of his exploits until he returns to the main plotline. It won't be absolutely necessary to read it to understand the main story, but it will definitely be a good supplement. So until next time I'll see ya'll later.(look out for Wolverine Retribution sometime soon.)