Mutant High Returns!
Having completed their movie obligations during Winter Break, the stars of "Mutant High: Revolutionary" return to for the four final episodes of the season.
Season Two, Episode Ten: Paradise
Recreation Room, Xavier Institute, Salem, New York
"Batman has it so much easier than us," Bobby bemoaned, shaking his head at the TV screen where the Caped Crusader was busy romancing an undercover Catwoman.
"Batman has no powers," Kitty argued, shifting in her seat on the Rec Room couch next to the ice-powered mutant. "He has to do everything on his own, with just gadgets he's built."
"Yes...his gadgets," Sid murmured dreamily.
"Yeah, with his millions of dollars that he has," Bobby countered. "And his secret identity. I mean, the guy gets to go out and fight crime at night, and then come home to a butler, a mansion, and a bevy of beauties all ready, willing, and able."
"Bevy of beauties?" Kitty repeated, raising her brow.
"Oh, shut up," Bobby grumbled, situating himself more deeply into the couch. Kitty chuckled and looked to catch Rogue's eye, from where she was sitting on the opposite side of Bobby. Unfortunately, the Mississippian mutant was preoccupied with watching her gloved hands lace and unlace with those of her red-eyed boyfriend.
"Remy, can you pass the remote?" Bobby questioned. "Remy? Remy!"
"Huh? Oh, oui," Remy replied dazedly, tossing it to Bobby, while Rogue shook herself.
"I understand what Bobby is saying," Jubilee put it, from her spot on the floor near the screen. "I mean, Batman gets to hide his identity, so he could have a more normal life if he wanted to, as Bruce Wayne. He has millions of dollars, he could go out and have fun, he doesn't have to deal with everyone suspecting him or attacking him. Plus, he chose to fight crime. It's not like he has powers he was born with that push him to do it."
"Yeah, and havin' powers ain't always a blessin'," Rogue offered. "At least Batman can quit if he wants to. Spend his days divin' into piles of his money."
"He saw his parents killed though, chere," Remy reminded, his voice dropping with his gaze. "Might feel he can't quit, him."
Rogue again laid her covered hand against the New Orleans native's, and shared a glance covered from the others by their hair.
"Well, then let's find something less controversial and depressing to watch," Jubilee recommended, grabbing the remote and changing the channel to news. "See, that's —"
"Another day, another tragedy associated with the rising tide of anger over the so-called "mutant problem," said the news caster on the screen. "At four-fifty P.M., a gunman opened fire on Sanders Elementary, a school which had recently opened its doors to mutants. Preliminary reports say that at least six children and two teachers are dead, and over twenty injured. While no one has stepped forward to claim responsibility for the shooting, there are a number of mutant-hate groups which have advocated violence against both mutants and those humans who chose to help them. Our people are on the scene, and we're hearing that—"
"Turn it off," Bobby demanded gruffly. Jubilee fumbled hurriedly to do so. There was silence among the young X-Men.
Kitty shivered, sniffling, and Bobby put an arm around her shoulders. Sid bit the inside of his mouth, hard, while Rogue and Remy tightened their grips on each others' hands.
Jubilee shook her head slowly, eyes on the blank screen. "We have got," she whispered, "to get out of here."
Professor's Study, Xavier Institute
"Things are getting worse, Chuck."
"I understand that, Logan," Professor Xavier demurred. "But we cannot allow ourselves to be drawn into every battle."
"Well, yeah." Scott snorted. "We wouldn't be able to. There's about a hundred new ones every damn day."
"Things are gettin' worse," Logan stated, pacing. "More attacks against mutants, more reprisals . . . everything's blowing up all at once."
"Like it's leading to a war," Scott said flatly. "And we all know how happy that would make some people."
Xavier closed his eyes briefly, smiling sadly, before again looking at his agitated X-Men. "Indeed, it would. But I cannot sense Eric's hand in this. Sadly, this seems to be merely an overflow of hatred on both sides, between people who do not believe we can share this world."
"And so they think destroying it so no one can have it is the answer?" Scott snorted. "Face it, Professor, if we can't get ahead of this thing, we might be facing World War III, and—"
The Professor's phone rang, and Xavier held up a hand. "I apologize, Scott."
The optically-empowered mutant nodded his acknowledgement, and Xavier answered the phone. "Yes?"
Logan moved in closer to his sometime friend, oftentimes rival. "Look, I don't know how to deal with the rest of the world trying to self-combust, but I think we should think about what to do if someone decides to target here again."
"We've got security beefed up," Scott replied. "I don't know if we—"
"Scott?"
"Oh, sorry, Professor," Scott said, turning away from Logan sheepishly. "We can go, we were—"
"No," Charles Xavier interrupted. "I think you should stay. This call is for you."
Scott frowned and stepped forward to take the phone from Xavier. "Hello?"
"Scott. God, it's somethin' to hear you again," said the voice on the other line.
Scott frowned more deeply, glancing at Xavier. "I'm sorry, who is this?"
"Oh, c'mon, Scott," said the voice again. "Don't tell me you already forgot your brother?"
TITLE SEQUENCE:
TITLE SONG: "Evolutionary" Composed By Emilie Autumn
Cast:
Wolverine: Hugh Jackman
Storm: Halle Berry
Professor Xavier: Patrick Stewart
Jean Grey: Famke Janssen
Cyclops: James Marsden
Beast: Kelsey Grammar
Rogue: Anna Paquin
Gambit: Taylor Kitsch
Iceman: Shawn Ashmore
Shadowcat: Ellen Page
Colossus: Enver Gjokaj
Jubilee: Julia Ling
Forge: Rudy Youngblood
Written By Jane Espenson
Directed By James A. Contner
Created By Joss Whedon
War Room, Xavier Institute
"So, it's a whole island just for mutants?"
"Not for mutants, Bobby," Xavier explained, carefully eyeing the X-Men ranged around the War Room. "But one which prides itself on its enlightened view of them, and its lack of conflict between mutants and humans."
"How come we ain't heard about this magical island before?" Rogue asked skeptically. Remy raised an eyebrow in agreement.
"I've heard some stuff about it," Kitty said, frowning in concentration. "It's been a buzz on the internet. But I thought they didn't let outsiders in? Something about being able to manage their population so they can keep their conflict down?"
"That has generally been their policy," the Professor agreed. "But Genosha wants to open its doors selectively, to show that their way of peaceful human/mutant relations is possible. One of my . . . former students has been on the island for some time now. He has been able to extend us an invitation."
"So we're supposed to go there and, what, see if they're legit?" Bobby questioned.
The Professor smiled. "That would be the purpose of your mission, yes."
"So, this is a, uh...tropical island, right?" Jubilee ventured.
Charles Xavier smiled gently. "Yes, Jubilee. Genosha is situated off the coast of Madagascar, and it is indeed within the subtropics. Now, I understand that some of you may not wish to leave your studies for this mission, but if any of you wish to volunteer . . ."
Five pairs of hands shot into the air. Xavier chuckled. "Very well then. I suggest you all prepare. You will leave on the Blackbird tonight."
Front Hall, Xavier Institute
"Don't forget to pack your suits! I mean, your suits suits, X-Men suits, not just your bathing suits!" Ororo called up to the collection of rambunctious young mutants packing their belongings. "Goddess, they are too excited."
"I believe my explanation of the serious nature of the mission may have been undone by the revelation that this island has beaches," Xavier said, chuckling.
"I fear for the beaches," Ororo groused and Logan snorted. "Are you sure you don't want to come, Logan?"
"What, to supervise a gang of teenagers in a resort town?" Logan's voice was as dry as sandpaper. "No thanks. You and Scott enjoy yourselves."
"Indeed," Xavier acknowledged. "I believe Scott is preparing the Blackbird. I have some things to discuss with him. Excuse me."
"Of course, Professor," Ororo said, smiling as he wheeled away. Logan stepped in closer to the weather witch.
"I hope I don't need to tell you to keep your eyes open, and that if something sounds too good to be true it probably is," Logan reminded in a low voice.
"You don't think it's possible that a place may have found a way to keep peace between mutans and humans?" Ororo questioned.
"It's how they keep that peace that's the issue," Logan said grimly. "People fight — humans, mutants, it's how we're built. Anyone trying to change that is probably using some force of their own to do it."
Ororo opened her mouth to respond when there came a high-pitched cry from up the stairs.
"Where the hell is my damn swim suit?" Kitty shrieked. "Jubilee, did you steal it?"
"Me? Why do you always assume it's me?" Jubilee's scream echoed back. "Ask Rogue!"
"A. Rogue could never fit in it, she's got bazoombas for days, and B. you were the one who borrowed it!" Kitty hollered back.
Logan and Ororo winced as the screaming match continued. "I think I'm more worried about what force I'm gonna use to keep the peace between our mutants," Ororo muttered.
Logan grinned widely. "Better you than me, 'Ro."
The Blackbird, 3000 Miles Above the Atlantic
"I can't believe I have to bring my yellow suit," Kitty grumbled, frowning at her pack. "The blue one looks best on me."
"I swear, I didn't take it!" Jubilee whined.
"Girls, please," Ororo said from the cockpit, her words a statement, not a request. "Cease and desist."
"Hey, don't worry," Bobby recommended. "Maybe this island will really be a volcanic center of doom, with no beach, so you don't even need the suit!"
Rogue, Kitty, and Jubilee shot Bobby looks that could melt a volcano. Remy moved closer to Bobby, and stage whispered, "Don' t'ink that's helpin', friend."
"Well, I mean, maybe you'll be able to buy another suit there!" Bobby offered.
Kitty's eyes narrowed."Are you saying I look ugly in my yellow suit?"
"No!" Bobby proclaimed, his voice rising a few octaves. "I mean, it's just you don't seem to like it, and I guess yellow isn't usually a flattering color, people say it makes them look heavy—"
Rogue and Jubilee drew in sharp breaths as Kitty's gaze hardened even more. "Are you saying I look fat in that suit, Bobby Drake?"
"No! No!" Bobby felt a shiver go up his spine. "It's just people — you! You said you didn't like the suit because you thought it made you look heavy!"
"Jus' diggin' yo' grave deeper," Remy murmured, snickering.
Kitty's eyes flashed. "So you're agreeing with me? That I look heavy?"
"No! Not at all! I disagree! I think the blue one made you look too skinny!" Bobby insisted.
"Oh, so now I'm too skinny? I'm a stick, is that it? Not enough curves?"
"No!" Bobby shrieked. "I, uh . . . I . . . I—"
"I almost hope Genosha isn't clean, because I think our kids might just smash it anyways," Ororo said, chuckling. She glanced over at Scott, who sat in the co-pilot's seat, his hands white-knuckled, clenching the dashboard.
"I, uh . . ." Ororo fiddled with the dial controlling their shielding. "I heard the Professor say our contact there is your brother."
Scott's expression was as unreadable as ever beneath his dark shades. "Yeah. He is."
"Did you know him well?"
Scott's mouth tightened. "No. After my — after our parents died we were placed in foster care."
"But he went to the school?" Ororo followed up. "He met Xavier? He was a student?"
"Yeah." Scott adjusted his gloves. "Before me. A while after I came, he . . . he left."
"I'm sorry," Ororo sympathized. "You know, if you need—"
"I think we might run into some turbulence up ahead," Scott stated flatly. "It's getting to be storm season in this part of the world."
Ororo pursed her lips. "Yeah. We probably will."
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Lion's Paw Resort, Genosha, 1700 Miles from the Coast of Madagascar, Indian Ocean
"Welcome to Genosha. We hope you will enjoy your stay," said the brightly smiling young woman as she checked in the X-Men.
"Thanks," Scott said stiffly. Ororo moved in to return the woman's smile, taking the room keys from her hands. Two bell-boys moved in to take the bags from the X-Men. The young mutants shucked off their small packs easily.
"Is this it?" one of the bell-boys questioned.
"Yes," Ororo answered nicely. "We're probably not staying very long."
"Oh, well, we hope you'll like what you see," the young man offered brightly. He grinned, and two flaps appeared on either side of his neck, giving him the appearance of a raptor.
"Oh, you're a mutant," Jubilee remarked baldly. Kitty widened her eyes in rebuke, and Jubilee huffed. "What? He is!"
"Yeah, it's okay." The boy laughed, his teeth white against his coffee-colored skin. "I know mutants usually are not so open in other places, but things are different here."
"So we've heard," Scott said drily.
"Well, you heard right," the bell-boy continued. "My name's Amir. Hopefully I'll see you all around!"
"Sure thing," Scott said again, in the same flat voice. Ororo elbowed him surreptitiously.
Amir moved away, but leaned over towards Jubilee. "There's a game of mutant volleyball on the back beach in ten minutes. You and your friends should join us. I'm on my break . . . I might see you?"
Jubilee blushed and nodded. "Sure, definitely. I—"
Scott cleared his throat, and Kitty tugged a smirking Jubilee back to face their team leader.
"I don't want any of you to forget why we're here," Scott said grimly. "They're putting their best face forward for us right now — the nice hotel, the pretty beach. We're gonna see a lot of happy people. That doesn't mean everyone's happy, or even that the ones you see are. Remember, Haiti has nice pretty beach towns too. Keep your eyes peeled, and your senses on alert. Think about your training, stick together, and remember, we aren't here to have fun."
Remy raised a hand. "What?" Scott asked.
"Is it okay if fun has us?" Remy asked earnestly.
"As long as it doesn't have you near me," Scott growled, frowning around at all of the gathered X-Men before turning and marching away.
"Remy," Ororo scolded with a pointed look.
"What?" Remy responded. "Jus' was askin', me. To make sure. I didn't think the very idea of fun would piss him off."
"Okay, okay," Ororo said, putting her hands together. "Now, he is right. It's good to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. If you—"
Ororo looked out over the faces of the anxious teens, their bodies shaking with restrained energy, and mentally threw up her hands. "Okay, one lecture a day is enough. Go ahead, have your fun."
There was an audible release of excitement as the young X-Men rushed past the weather witch and towards the shining African sun.
"You're awesome, Professor Monroe!" Kitty praised as she tried to pull off the shirt covering her swimsuit while running.
"Oui, elle est vrai! Tu es le premier femme!" Remy said, winking after her as he and Rogue stumbled away.
"Yeah, yeah," Ororo brushed off. "Be careful!" Almost as an afterthought she added, "Play nice! Don't kill anyone unless they try to kill you first!"
Lion's Paw Resort Beach, Genosha, 1700 Miles from the Coast of Madagascar, Indian Ocean
"Now that's something you don't see everyday," Bobby whispered.
On the wide expanse of white sand nearly a hundred people milled around; dancing to music blasting from speakers, playing volleyball with a wide net, sunbathing, swimming, and otherwise enjoying themselves. And of the many present, more than half were mutants.
"It's like if school were way bigger," Kitty marveled. "And tropical. And awesome."
That many were mutants was clear not only by their free use of powers to blast the volleyball over the net, launch themselves into the air, and propel themselves through the water, but by many stark visual characteristics. Mutants who would have shunned company back in America frolicked openly, unselfconscious of multi-colored bodies and extra appendages. A young boy who seemed to be wearing his veins outside of his skin danced, laughing, with someone who appeared to be human. A girl with a face half-finned like a fish was diving up and down in the waters, giving friends rides on her back.
"It's like we've died and gone to mutant heaven," Bobby whispered. "Like we—"
Bobby's sentence was muffled as Kitty covered his mouth with her hand. "Swallow it. Swallow whatever sensible, smart, fun-jinxing thing you're gonna say, Bobby Drake. You're gonna ruin it."
"M' m'fot!" Bobby tried to protest against her skin.
"Oh, yes you are," the little mutant corrected firmly. "No talky. Talky bad. Dance-y fun. Swim-y fun. Volleyball fun. Now, nod."
Bobby frowned, his eyebrows veering down.
"Nod!" Kitty demanded again, eyes flashing fire.
Bobby sighed and nodded. Kitty grinned brightly and removed her hand. "Good! Now follow me."
Bobby shook his head forlornly at Remy, Rogue, and Jubilee as Kitty dragged him into the milling bunch of mutants and humans. "Don't I get any say in any of this?"
"No!" Kitty crowed happily, finding her way into a dance cipher. She earned cheers from the surrounding crowd for her slick moves as she twisted in her tiny bikini top and swim skirt.
"We should probably stay together . . ." Bobby began, when Jubilee gasped loudly into his ear, her eyes lighting up.
"Amir!" the youngest member of the X-Men team called out. Jubilee waved ecstatically before blushing at her own exuberance. She turned to Rogue. "I—"
"Go on, Juju," Rogue said with a slight smirk. "He's just about as excited to see you as you are to see him."
"Well, it's hard to hide it in trunks," Bobby mumbled as Jubilee ran off, giggling. I—"
The blue flaming volleyball heading straight for Bobby's head cut him off. He threw up his hands and iced the ball upon impact. He blinked at it; though soggy, it was somehow still intact.
"Hey, nice reflexes," praised a tall, ebony skinned mutant man to the right of Bobby. He had a cat's slitted eyes. "Sorry that almost hit you — that's Haja, his aim is so bad." The cat-eyed mutant gestured to a widely grinning teen on the other side of the net whose hair appeared to be smoking. "I'm Mahmoud. Want to join? Mutant volleyball, all powers allowed?"
"Uh . . ." Bobby began.
"Have some fun, Bobby!" Kitty ordered, executing a smooth high kick for her circle of admirers. "We already have one Scott!"
Bobby rolled his eyes, but he visibly relaxed. Blowing into his hands, he spiked the volleyball hard, sending it flying at Haja, whose eyes widened as he caught it and yelped at the new coating of ice.
"What about you, Remy?" Bobby asked, grinning now. "Wanna show these islanders how it's done?"
Remy smiled back, but he glanced sideways at Rogue. The touch-phobic mutant was dressed in long swimming trunks and a long sleeved swim shirt. She hung off to the side, away from the crowd.
"Maybe later, okay?" Remy stepped back with a little wave. "Gonna see 'bout the ocean, oui?"
Bobby shrugged and saluted, and turned to confer with his new team.
"You goin' swimmin'?" Rogue asked with a soft, sad smile as Remy came up to her.
"Not by myself," Remy proclaimed, taking one of her wet-gloved hands and pulling her towards the shoreline.
"Rem', I can't," Rogue protested.
"Why no'?" Remy asked merrily, dragging her carefully down the banks through the wet sand. "You wearin' you suit. Ain' for tannin', so you gotta be plannin' to swim."
"I— I can't, there's other people in there . . ." Rogue glanced nervously around at the mutants and humans by the water's edge.
"And we'll stay away from them," Remy promised. "Just you an' me, et la mer. C'mon."
"Remy, no!" Rogue protested, but she was laughing a little now, if only at his coaxing smile.
"Rogue, yes!" Remy asserted, and grabbed her firmly around the waist to drag her into the water. Rogue gasped with shock, fear, happiness and exhilaration as a large wave grabbed them and dragged them out to sea. Sputtering, choking, and laughing, she clung to him instinctively as the salty water coursed over their heads. Realizing after the fact the danger of her position, Rogue pulled back, letting him slip from her grasp.
"Remy, I—" Rogue choked on more ocean water, and looked around for her boyfriend, who had yet to come to the surface. "Remy?"
Rogue's panic level was rising. She didn't remember touching his skin, she would have felt it . . . he wasn't knocked out, but he was somewhere under water and she couldn't go looking for him—
"Remy!"
The water before her pooled and bubbled, and then a shaggy head emerged, red-eyes gleaming wickedly.
"Remy, don't do that!" Rogue scolded. "You scared the hell outta me!" She pursed her lips. "You look like a damn drowned dog!"
Remy smiled peaceably, and then blew a stream of water in her face.
"Argh, Remy! God, you're just so—" Rogue sputtered.
"So what?" Remy prompted. "Lovable? Charming? Handsome?"
"Incorrigible," Rogue pronounced.
"Now that's one I'm gon' hafta look up."
Rogue rolled her eyes, but she was smiling as she treaded water. "You do look like a real Swamp Rat now, don'cha?"
"Wouldn't be pointin' no fingers, River Rat," Remy teased back. "You look like skunk that went and got itself drowned."
"You callin' me ugly, Remy LeBeau?"
"Never in a million years, chere."
"Things seem fine, Charles," Ororo said into her communicator. The weather witch leaned against the desk where the accommodating elf-eared mutant staff member was handing her a towel. From her vantage point, Ororo could look out over the beach as she stood just out of the sun, keeping a careful eye out to sea where two of her charges floated. She made sure the winds pushed inland to prevent them sailing away. "They rolled out the welcome wagon for us, but it looks like we aren't the first. It's like they're gearing up for a big opening night. I think they're gonna position themselves as the new resort island for mutants."
"Perhaps. They certainly couldn't support whole waves of mutants coming to their shores," Xavier said on the other end. "I am still unsure why they would be planning to let so many mutants in, when it seems they have quite enough on their own."
"Maybe there'll be a quota?" Ororo suggested. "Some states have been doing that, making mutants apply for citizenship, and only taking those with powers they think would be useful for the economy, or the police."
"It is possible," the Professor agreed. "If any of them try to recruit you, that would be an answer."
"Nothing like that yet," Ororo supplied. "Professor . . . I'm worried about Scott. This assignment . . . it's hitting pretty close to home."
Ororo could practically feel Xavier smile through the tiny device. "I expect so. The call from his brother was . . . unexpected. They did not part well. I was hoping for a long time that they would be able to mend fences, but Alex did not reach out. If it accomplishes nothing else, I would hope this trip allows Scott to come to terms with some of his past."
"I don't know how much of that he'll do sitting in the Blackbird," Ororo noted drily.
"Perhaps little. That is up to him." Xavier gave a wry chuckle. "I hope he doesn't intend to abandon you with the children for the duration of your mission."
"He'd better not," Ororo muttered darkly. "Five rowdy teenagers on a resort is hard enough, without adding super abilities and a possible government conspiracy."
Xavier's laugh warmed Ororo's ears. "Well, we'll pray for an uneventful, relaxing mission for you all."
"Amen," Ororo said with a smile, as she closed off the device. Shaking her shoulders slightly, Ororo let the tension relax out of her back with a sigh.
"Gonna enjoy the sun?" asked the elf-eared staff member with a smile. Her white blouse and vest seemed heavy apparel for the weather, but the band of silver around her neck appeared cool to Ororo.
Ororo squared her shoulders and nodded. "Yeah, I think I am." Smoothing her white hair, she slid her sun glasses on and strode out into the full sunlight.
Behind the counter, the staff member's smile faded. Swallowing, she wiped down the counter, glancing at the upper corners of the room. Slowly, carefully, she undid one button of her shirt. Moving her hand up her collar bone, she wiped away droplets of sweat. She glanced again at the upper corners of the room.
The dim boom of dance music and laughter wafted through the open doors.
The staff member inched her fingers up her neck, tapping gently along, her nails just touching the silver collar.
At the contact, the collar tightened. The staff member gasped as a violent shock seized up her body. "No . . . please . . ."
Another shock, and then another tore down her delicate neck. Her pointed ears turned a brutal dark blue as she collapsed onto the counter. Her eyes darted back and forth between the upper right and left corners of the room.
"Please," she begged. "Please . . . please . . ."
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Blackbird, Ami Cove, Genosha
Scott tapped his fingers together restlessly on the dashboard of the plane, sitting up straighter as the communications panel lit up. He pressed the speaker button. "Hello?"
"Don't think you're getting out of watching these kids," Ororo said on the other line. "It's your job tomorrow."
Scott grinned wryly. "Hopefully someone will attack before then. Aliens, or angry encyclopedia salesmen . . ."
"No, no, no," Ororo denied, chuckling. "You're definitely on beach duty, and you—"
Scott frowned as the connection went static. "Ororo? Ororo?" Scott leaned in and tapped the panel. "Storm?"
Suite 492, Lion's Paw Resort, Genosha
"Scott? Scott?" Ororo shook the communicator slightly and pursed her lips. "Damn." Standing on the balcony off the edge of the suite she had been given she sighed, and sniffed the air. This close to the ocean moisture could have some effect on their electronics. She closed her eyes to better sense the fluctuations in the atmosphere, spreading her awareness on the winds.
A squall was building over the sea, soon to reach the mainland. The warmth and humidity enveloped the weather witch like a cloak. She pulled her awareness back in and frowned. Behind her the air was disturbed by a figure. She turned around quickly.
"Jubilee, what are you doing up?"
The tiny mutant shrugged, her nightshirt ruffled by the wind. "I couldn't sleep."
"Well, you had a very long day," Ororo said drily. "Did you and what's-his-name hit it off?"
"Who?" Jubilee tilted her head to the side.
"Oh, okay," Ororo said with a small smile. "I'll pretend to be the blind old teacher. Just be careful."
Jubilee blinked and then smiled, the edges around her eyes crinkling. Ororo frowned, and for a moment the air around the girl's streaked hair shimmered. "Are you alright?"
"Of course. I'm fine. Of course," Jubilee said. She gave another smile. Again the air around her shimmered.
Ororo's eyebrows creased. "You don't look it."
"Maybe you're not looking hard enough."
The image of Jubilee's face shimmered, revealing red skin and yellow eyes. Ororo reached out her hands to call upon the forces of wind and water in the air. But just as the wind began to rise the weather witch gasped, her breath stolen by the tiny dart sprouting from her neck.
The mutant wearing Jubilee's face watched the white-haired woman go down, and then raised her hand. The mutant disguised as Jubilee waited while three black-clad, masked figures took charge of Ororo's fallen body. One of them gestured back into the suite. 'Jubilee' nodded.
Moving through Ororo's room, the mutant made its way to the door connecting it to those of the other X-Men. Opening it as silently as possible, it surveyed the two beds within, scanning the two sleeping mutant boys.
Moving again, it padded silently over to the bed on the left side, where long brown hair covered the pillow. Angling into position, it fingered the tiny syringe resting in its palm.
Remy's eyes opened at the rustling of movement behind him, his thief's senses sending adrenaline coursing through his veins. He pulled out and charged the card he always kept under his pillow in one smooth, deft movement. He used his other arm to push himself up and into readiness as he whirled to face his potential attacker.
"Rogue?"
Soft, plush red lips spread into a warm smile. "I'm sorry if I scared you," 'Rogue' whispered. "Just wanted to see you."
"Gotta be mo' careful, chere," Remy said, dazed by his rough awakening and the sudden sight of her. "You know how jumpy this one is 'bout people sneakin' up on him at night."
"I know," 'Rogue' purred. She lowered her lashes and Remy's throat caught. Gently, she reached over and moved to push down the wrist still holding the charged card.
The instant 'her' hand touched his skin, Remy snarled and grabbed the other mutant's wrist. With a snarl of their own, the mutant wearing Rogue's face launched itself onto him, bringing up its free right hand. Remy saw the glint of the sharp needle just in time to catch the other wrist before it plunged the syringe into his neck. The skin of the mutant's wrists flicked, and showed itself red and scaly.
"Bobby!" Remy growled as the surprisingly strong mutant now wearing half of Rogue's face strove to stab him. On the bed over he heard a low moan. "Wha'?"
"Bobby! Drake! Merde, get yo' ass over here and—" Remy grunted as the mutant on top of him wrapped its legs around his thighs, resisting every throw Remy tried to use to force it off. "— Come over here and help me!"
Bobby blinked awake sleepily, and then gasped at the scene before him of what seemed to be Remy struggling beneath a thinly clothed Rogue. "Rogue?" he muttered. "Rogue, what are you—"
'Rogue' whipped her head around to look at Bobby. Her hair flying away from her face exposed the other, more red and scaly side of 'her' body. Bobby threw his hands up instantly in an attack. A wave of frost coursed from his outstretched hands, enveloping the horrifying facial combination and encasing it in solid ice.
"God damn . . . Dieu . . . ge' off!" Remy groaned and heaved and forced the en-sculptured mutant off his body and onto the ground on the other side of his bed.
The door banged open and Rogue and Kitty stumbled in. "What the hell jus' happened?" Rogue demanded.
"Yo' evil twin sister jus' tried to kill me," Remy answered flatly.
"My—" Rogue moved to the side and gasped. "What the hell?"
"Let me see, let me see!" Kitty insisted, pushing through to jump on Remy's bed and look over the edge. "Urgh! What is that, and why is it wearing Rogue's face?"
"Looks like a metamorph," Bobby said, breathing in deep heavy gasps.
"Did you say it tried to kill you?" Rogue asked Remy.
"Tried to stick me," Remy said, pointing to the syringe frozen in the mutant's right hand.
"Okay, I guess beach day is cancelled," Kitty muttered.
"Are you okay?" Rogue said, moving as close to Remy as she dared to observe him.
"M'fine, chere," Remy promised. "Jus' barely, thanks to Icicle here."
"Hey, I'm a heavy sleeper!" Bobby protested.
"Yeah, you are," Kitty said slowly. "But you know who's not? Jubilee. So . . ."
"Why isn't she in here?" Bobby finished.
The four looked around at each other for a moment, and then rushed in unison into the girl's room. Kitty arrived at Jubilee's bed, plump and full as if being slept in, and yanked back the sheets. Two pillows rolled out and fell to the floor.
"Oh no," Rogue whispered.
"Professor Monroe," Bobby said instantly, taking off at a run to their teacher's room. He shoved open the doors and made a bee-line for the bed.
"It's empty too!" he yelled back, as the remaining X-Men rushed in.
"The balcony," Remy stated. He and Bobby rushed out into the cool night air.
"Nothing. Dammit," Bobby cursed.
"No. Not nuthin'," Remy said grimly. He knelt down and brushed a finger against the warm wood balcony floor. "See?" He held up his fingers to the other mutants.
Kitty leaned in and sniffed Remy's red fingers. "Blood," she said weakly.
"Oh God," Rogue whispered.
"We have to get them back!" Kitty said shrilly. "We have to go looking for them—"
"Where?" Rogue asked. "We don't know anythin' 'bout this damn island. They could be anywhere!"
"Meanwhile, whoever done this knows exactly where we are," Remy stated darkly. "They're probably sendin' more people after us right now, them."
"We need backup," Bobby determined. "We need our people." He set his jaw tightly. "We need to make a run for the Blackbird."
Main Floor, Lion's Paw Resort, Genosha
The four young mutant friends moved as silently as their teachers had taught them along the main floor towards the door exiting the Lion's Paw Resort. Hastily dressed in their X-Men suits, they kept to a tight formation, communicating using hand signals. Bobby, situated at the front of their group, held up his hand for them to halt. The X-Men waited in silence for a few moments, on high alert, the door to freedom in sight. Bobby gestured again; the sign for forward.
Kitty let out a soft breath of relief. If we can just make it out of here before—
Four figures moved out from the shadows to block the exit of the hotel.
"That," Kitty murmured.
"You're leaving us already?" said one of the figures. Moving forward into the glow of the moonlight through the glass doors, a pair of golden slitted cat's eyes came into focus. "Very sad. Bad manners."
"Mahmoud," Bobby said in recognition. "Just let us go. We don't want to hurt you."
Mahmoud chuckled bitterly. "You think what we want matters here?" The dark-skinned mutant tapped the silver collar bound tightly around his neck. "I don't want to hurt you, Bobby Drake. But I will."
The other X-Men spread out, each moving to take on an opponent. Rogue faced off against a hooded figure who appeared to have some kind of natural, scaly armor on his hands. Remy eyed up a gilt-haired mutant with a foul scar marring his face. Kitty faced off against the smoking-haired Haja.
"It would be best to give in now, Bobby Drake," Mahmoud repeated.
"Sorry," Bobby said quietly. "But we can't."
Mahmoud let out a leopard-like yowl, and launched himself at the ice-powered mutant. Bobby threw down a sheet of ice on the floor to trip Mahmoud. The other boy slid across it on all fours, recovering quickly and launching himself at Bobby.
Rogue dodged throwing stars tossed by the hooded mutant, gasping when one caught her in the shoulder. Remy turned instinctively at Rogue's cry of pain, and just managed to avoid a blow to the head from his own opponent.
Kitty narrowed her eyes at the smoking Haja, who waggled his eyebrows and then blew a ball of blue fire directly at her head. Kitty closed her eyes and let herself drop through the floor. Haja looked around wildly. Kitty phased up behind the fire-powered mutant, and aimed a kick directly at his head. It connected, but Kitty gasped as the heat from the contact burned her foot.
Haja used her distraction to whirl around and aim a punch at her stomach. Kitty blocked him, but Haja moved around her rapidly, putting her into a headlock. He squeezed her windpipe, burning her throat with his touch. Kitty quickly phased into her attacker. Haja's eyes widened, grabbing the collar around his neck as if in pain. Kitty stumbled out of the mutant, eyes widened, stumbling and dazed. "Bobby, I think—" Kitty choked as she was cut off mid-sentence by a tiny dart sprouting from her neck.
"Kitty!" Bobby screamed as the little mutant went down, clutching her neck. From behind her, several figures all in black moved to gather up her insensate body. Rogue growled, and moved to help her friend.
"No!" Bobby yelled, grappling with the heavy force of Mahmoud as he worked to push Bobby to his knees. "No, don't! Go! Go find Scott! Now! GO!"
Rogue hesitated, but Remy grabbed her shoulder and pulled, urging her out the door. The two took off at a run, the shouts of pursuers fast behind them.
Gasping, heaving, wincing as their cheeks were cut by the sharp thorns of tropical plants, Remy and Rogue bolted out into the dark surrounding growth. They sprinted towards the swamp-like area where the Blackbird was hidden. Glancing over his shoulder, Remy grimly noted that the scarred blonde and hooded mutant were gaining on them.
"We got some kinda nasty ticks ridin' us," Remy informed Rogue. They increased their speed, but Remy's instincts told them the two would catch up to them soon.
"Logan's rule, then?" Rogue asked. Remy nodded. Grinning, the two X-Men whirled around to face their opponents.
Logan's rule, Rogue thought with a vicious smile, remembering her growling teacher's axiom. 'Better to attack your pursuers, than be pursued by attackers.'
Remy charged up a card and lobbed it at the scarred mutant. He dodged it, and moved to the side to square off against the red-eyed thief.
Rogue moved out to take on the hooded mutant who centered himself in a stance she recognized from her jeen kune do lessons. The hooded mutant threw a hard punch at Rogue, who blocked it with both hands. The mutant made a sound of surprise; clearly, he hadn't expected her great strength. Grasping onto his wrist with her right, Rogue pulled her attacker into her sharp left hand jab, slamming it into his throat. Gasping and choking, he went down. Kneeling down, Rogue quickly found the two pressure points guaranteed to keep him down. Finishing, she turned to look for her boyfriend.
Remy was circling with the gilt-haired mutant in a crouch. "Sure you want another scar to go wi' that one, homme?" Remy asked casually.
The ugly mutant grinned, stretching his broken face. "Don't worry, you'll have one soon, pretty boy."
Remy shrugged, still circling. "Long as I don' have to wear yo' dog collar, mon ami."
The gilt-haired mutant's eyes flashed. He lunged at Remy, his hands sprouting what appeared to be glowing green boils. Surmising that he didn't wish to be touched by those hands if he wanted to keep his health, Remy dodged. The other mutant flipped expertly, landing on his feet. Remy shifted his stance, and saw Rogue moving towards them out of the corner of his eye.
"Don' touch him!" Remy warned. "Don'—"
The scarred mutant used Remy's momentary distraction to leap toward him, hands angled at Remy's face. Remy caught his opponent's covered wrists and stumbled back, working to keep the unappealing digits from his face. For the second time that night, Remy was forced onto his back. Luckily, the blonde mutant wasn't as strong as the metamorph. Gritting his teeth, Remy thrust up his right foot, using the momentum of the fall to flip the other boy over his head. As the mutant moved to recover, Remy sent a charge of energy through his own body, down his legs. As his attacker turned to face him, Remy shot a hard side-kick at the other mutant's chest. The kinetic force amplified the kick, and the scarred mutant went flying backwards, slamming into a twisted tree trunk. Remy pulled out a charged card to finish the job.
"No!" Rogue called out, rushing over to draw Remy back. "We gotta get to Scott," she reminded. "We gotta—"
Rogue's eyes widened and Remy frowned. "What? What?"
"Remy, I—" Rogue choked, coughed, and before the red-eyed mutant's horrified gaze, tumbled forward into his arms. Rogue's grip tightened ferociously before her head lolled and collapsed onto Remy's shoulder, exposing the tiny dart embedded in her neck.
"Rogue! Rogue!" Remy tried to shake his girlfriend awake, knowing it was futile even before another dart sliced through his own skin. "Rogue . . . chere . . ."
Through the haze darkening Remy's consciousness he heard a cool voice tsk in disappointment.
"That's Reynolds and Shinya down. These two better be worth as much as Nathaniel says. Okay, get them into the truck with the others."
Blackbird, Ami Cove, Genosha
Having tried and failed to get through to the Professor, Ororo, or any of his charges, Scott knew something was wrong. Putting on his ruby lenses, he quickly put the Blackbird's defensive systems online. Anyone but an X-Man who tried to fly it now would get a nasty surprise. He pushed down the plank and exited the Blackbird into the night.
Scott felt the first attacker coming, and ducked down to avoid the blow. He hit the black-clad figure once, hard in the sternum, and then in the kidneys. Flipping the stunned body over his own back, Scott straightened up to face off against two more male-shaped figures.
Catching one punch with his left hand, he blocked a kick with his right. He side-stepped so that he was wrenching the arm of his first attacker behind his back. Scott thrust his left heel into the man's lower shin, forcing him to his knees. The other opponent aimed a roundhouse kick at Scott's head; the optically powered mutant caught it and slammed his opponent in the chest with an optic blast.
Whirling around, Scott pressed a hand to his lenses to fire off another blast. He felt a similar powerful thrust of energy smash into his own chest, knocking him backwards. Shaking his head, Scott groaned as he tried to force himself to his feet.
"I wouldn't try it," said a familiar voice. "It hurts more than you think, when you haven't been hit in a while."
Head spinning, Scott felt the pit of his stomach give out as he recognized the figure coming towards him. Choking and gasping, Scott whispered out his name as the figure came into view. "Alex?"
Alex Summers smiled sadly. "Hello brother."
Promo For Next Week: They've lost contact with their companions . . . they're stranded on an island that is beginning to look like the mutant hell . . . and for the X-Men, the horrifying revelations of Genosha just keep coming. Don't miss the final episodes of this season of "Mutant High."