Author's note: A friend pointed out that I shouldn't make politicians in this story sound too similar to real politicians. So, from now on, Sen. Fence is Sen. Francs.

Chapter XIV: The Brotherhood of Evil Muta-Humans! Part 3

Washington, D.C. The White House

President Catlin Walter walked into the oval office with an exhausted look on her face. Despite winning the popular vote, most of the American populace still didn't like the idea of a Native American woman being president. Now she was put in an impossible situation; if the Muta-human Registration Act had gotten enough positive votes, it would be up to her to pass it. But the truth was; she wanted to give the muta-humans the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, no one else in Congress, save for a few members of her respective party, felt the same way.

When she walked into the office, she noticed that everyone inside was frozen in place. Walters waved her hand in front of one senator's face, thinking it would entice a reaction. But no matter what she did, they wouldn't move.

"Good evening, Madam President." Walters spun around on her heels in shock. Right behind her was an elderly balding man in a wheelchair.

"I recognize you…" Walters gasped. "You're Professor Niles Xavier."

"I'm afraid we have no time for pleasantries, Madam President. I believe your life may be in danger." As Xavier explained the situation, he sent a mental command all the way back to Westchester. To me, my X-Patrol.

Unknown location in Delaware: Three Hours Earlier

Senator Francs had been tugging at the ropes around his wrists for some time now. He had no idea what Deathgrip and his freaks had planned for him, but he wasn't going to stick around to find out. At last, he had managed to loosen the ropes and got up from his chair. Laughing hysterically at his own success, Francs barely managed to take four steps before Jadestar appeared right in front of him. In a flash of green light, Francs found himself back in the chair, with the ropes tied even tighter.

"Going somewhere?" Jadestar crossed her arms.

"No…" Francs lied. The emerald muta's eyebrow lifted up. "Yes. What do you freaks expect me to do? What do you even want with me?!"

His question was soon answered as Deathgrip and other members of the Brotherhood entered the room. Deathgrip removed his helmet and addressed his guest. "You should feel honored, Senator Francs." He said with a sinister grin. "My friend Gremlin has a theory about genetics that you are going to help him with."

At the wave of his hand, Deathgrip summoned the shortest muta to his side. He carried a strange device over to them and planted it right in front of Francs. With the push of a button, the machine hummed to life, and a stream of light pierced Francs' skin. For three minutes, he was bathed in the warm light until the reptilian muta shut the machine off.

At first, nothing happened and Francs felt a small amount of relief. But then, the entire room was filled with the triumphant laughter of the mutated terrorists. Francs' anxiety spiked; he demanded to know what they were laughing at. Darkstar was the first to stifle his laughter and so he volunteered to explain the situation. Lifting up a portion of his cloak, he focused enough of its darkness into a reflective surface, revealing the senator's face to him.

And then Francs screamed. "WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!" His flesh had been transformed into a rugged, leathery complexion.

"Gremlin…" Deathgrip smiled. "This is your shining moment. Would you be so kind as to tell Senator Francs about your discovery?"

"My pleasure!" Gremlin cackled. You see, Senator, many years ago, I hypothesized that within every human being possesses a dormant muta-gene that will transform them into muta-humans! The light show you just witnessed was actually concentrated doses of radiation that unlocked your muta-gene! This device, combined with the mento computer from Xavier's school, will make everyone in the world like us!"

"Let me out of here!" Francs demanded.

"That would be rather pointless, don't you think, Senator?" Deathgrip chuckled. "After all, who would help you now that you've become one of us?" With a wave of his hand, Deathgrip dismissed his followers, leaving him alone with the mutated politician. "By now you undoubtedly see me as a monster, Senator…" His expression became more menacing as his eye pierced Francs' soul. "But I've met some of history's greatest monsters. And they all started out just like you…"

Francs felt a sharp pain in his chest and began to choke. "But people like you don't like to learn from history, so perhaps instead you'd like a lesson in biology." Francs tried to speak, but it felt as if his throat was closing up. "Do you know why blood is red? It's because it contains iron. Not much, but enough for me to reach out and manipulate." Deathgrip's hand was now a few inches away from his victim's chest, and it appeared that something was trying to break free from his body. "When you get to Hell, Francs… tell them Maxine Eisenhardt's son sent you." At last, Francs' heart burst from his chest and flew into the muta's grip.

Westchester, NY: Present

After Nightcaster, Tempest, and the Refugees had returned to the school, they were shocked to see how much damage had been inflicted. Sooraya used her powers to drift through tight areas and find survivors and Tempest summoned strong winds to lift the debris. At last, they reached the bunker. Meanwhile, the teleporting muta found a familiar face lying unconscious on the ground.

"Bobbi! Are you alright?" Nightcaster checked on his old friend. After giving her a few gentle shakes, Ice Maiden finally stirred.

"I'm fine, Ed…" The Norwegian groaned as she rubbed her head, cringing at the feel of unsterilized blood on her palm. "Just a little cut. Where're the kids? Where're Amara and Henrik?"

Her worries were soon put to rest when Tempest called them over to her. Henrik was in his steel form, holding up the debris so that the students could safely climb to the surface. Bobbi was relieved to see Amara, helping a wounded Shayera to safety. Just as things started to calm down, Edward saw Raymond's car approaching. The Summers family was dumbfounded at the sight of the ruined school. Lilith looked like she was on the verge of tears as she cradled Rip close to her chest. Ray rushed to see that his brother was safe, and then checked with everyone else.

"To me, my X-Patrol…" Niles' voice echoed throughout their minds, warning them of the coming threat. Ray, Lilith, and Shayera glanced at Edward, Ororo, and Bobbi. The six friends nodded in silent understanding.

"Amara! Henrik! Come with us!" Ray shouted. "Grant, stay here and keep the others safe!"

"Where are you going?"

Unfortunately, Grant didn't get an answer. Amara and Henrik were given standard flight suits inside the X-Jet and Lilith took the controls. When they finally got in the air, Tempest explained the situation to their newest teammates. Safe to say they were both surprised and afraid.

"Madre de Dios!" Amara cried. "This whole thing is muy loco! You're tellin' me some group called 'the Brotherhood of Muta-Humans' took somethin' called 'the mento helmet,' an' now they're gonna use it to do God-knows-what in Washington D.C.?!"

"Yes!" Dove snapped as she adjusted her cowl. "Tempest just said all that! And why are you making quote marks in the air?"

"I believe she is trying to cope with the stress." Henrik replied calmly. "My name shall be Comrade Steel."

"Excuse me?" Nightcaster craned his head.

"My X-Patrol codename. Comrade Steel." He activated his powers for emphasis.

"Okay, sure, whatever, you're Comrade Steel." Dove rolled her eyes.

Washington D.C.

Over thirty soldiers stood outside the President's oval office, waiting for the threat to appear. Garth stood close to his mentor, prepared to shed his skin if the need arose. The only sound in the room was a ticking clock, as everyone else was speechless. But their patience wouldn't last.

"This is ridiculous!" One Senator finally said. "If these terrorists were going to attack us, they would have done so by no-!"

The entire room shook with a devastating force, as if something were pulling it out of the building. The White House's foundation fell apart, and everyone screamed in panic. The oval office soared through the air, crashed through the gate, and landed just a few yards away from the reflective pool. Niles lay helpless on the ground as he saw Deathgrip break the room to pieces. The rest of the Brotherhood had gathered up ever news reporter and cameraman they could find, ordering them to broadcast their leader's message across the world.

"For centuries, those who are different have been met with unrelenting bigotry." Deathgrip's helmet lifted off of his head revealing his calm demeanor. But Niles knew that his calm hid a storm. "I learned that myself when my mother and I were captured in Poland. They took our home, they took my mother, and then they took my eye. This has gone on for years. Because you homo sapiens always fear that which you do not understand. But my brothers and sisters are here to tell you – to tell the world – you will soon have nothing to fear! We are the future! We are the ones who shall inherit this Earth!" Gremlin giddily fiddled with his invention, preparing to activate it.

"Shut it down, now!" The Brotherhood turned to see the X-Patrol standing before them. Blaster led the group, his fingers gingerly brushing against his visor. "You're not gonna hurt anyone else, Deathgrip!"

"Oh, come now…" Deathgrip reasoned. "Surely, you, of all people can appreciate what we're doing. Just imagine; everyone who feared you, everyone who hated you, they will all become you! Everyone on this planet will be mutated, just like us! Now, are you really going to stop us?"

"No…" Blaster answered. "Not stop you…" A powerful beam of optic blasts sent Deathgrip flying into the arms of his allies. "Crush you! X-Patrol, attack!" The two groups charged at one another, unaware that the cameramen were still filming.

Tempest and Nightcaster once again attacked Darkstar and Jadestar. But this time, the X-Patrolmen stuck close together, just as they had since entering the school. It didn't take long for them to put their former students in their place. "Let them go, Edward!" the shape-shifting muta known as Madam Mystique stepped toward the teleporter.

"I will never follow your command again, wretch!" Edward snarled.

"Oh, c'mon! Is that any way to speak to your mother?"

"I don't have a mother! I have a family."

"Do you mean the entire X-Patrol, or just that Kenyan whore?"

Edward's eyes flared with anger as he teleported him and Mystique around the area multiple times, punching her in the face each time. "That's! My! WIFE!" When Nightcaster let his foe's unconscious body fall to the ground, Tempest walked over and kissed him on the cheek. "You're cute when you get protective."

Ice Maiden and Amara were up against Tremor and El Fuego. Amara transformed her entire body into solid magma and went up against Tremor. Ice Maiden and El Fuego canceled each other out with streams of fire and ice, until they got a good look at each other's faces.

"Juan?"

"Bobbi?"

"Oh, my God! I haven't seen you since-!"

"Graduation!"

"I thought you got deported!"

"I came back!"

"Man, good to see you…" The old friends hugged each other. "But still…" Bobbi knocked Juan out cold with a single punch, then she went to help her girlfriend.

Comrade Steel and Dove were busy with Behemoth, unaware that Gremlin was close to activating his machine. But before he could throw the final switch, a scaly fist struck the back of his head. Creature gathered up all of his strength and brought both of his fists down on the machine until it was destroyed. Deathgrip saw this and he was angered. Summoning shards of scrap, he created a metal maelstrom around the X-Patrol's top scientist. Luckily, Blaster spotted him and with a precise hit, he blasted Deathgrip's helmet off.

"He's all yours, Omen!" Omen reached out with her mind, ceasing control of their enemy. Deathgrip redirected his metal shards and used them to restrain the Brotherhood. Just then, Tempest and Nightcaster carried Xavier out into the open, with a group of soldiers close behind them. Omen released Deathgrip's mind, and the muta-human terrorist looked around. He sighed in defeat as his gaze fell upon Niles.

"If you let them take us, we're as good as dead. You know that."

"I know…" Niles complied.

"Goodbye, old friend." Deathgrip began to lift his Brotherhood away.

"Goodbye, Wilson…" Was all Niles could say in return.

Later, Back at Westchester

"And after the heroic display by the group known as the X-Patrol, President Walters has permanently suspended the Muta-Human Registration Bill." The broadcast gave everyone in the school a spark of hope. Niles Xavier wheeled himself into his private study, thinking that they had come much closer to achieving his dream.

Rebuilding the school was easier than anyone expected, thanks to Omen's telekinetic abilities. All the students had been returned to their dorms, including the Refugees. Ororo and Edward personally saw to it that they went to bed on time.

"So, Nimbus…" Noriko said. "What happened to Billy? Is he cool with you being a muta and a Muslim?"

"I don't think so…" Sooraya said sadly. "After I explained what really brought me to this country he went back to Fawcett City with his uncle."

"He didn't say anything to you?" Cisco's heart sank for his friend.

"No, he just smiled and walked away after giving me this code." She held up a piece of paper to her roommates. At first, they looked shocked, but then a broad smile crept over Noriko's lips and she started to giggle.

"Oh, my God… Oh. My. God. She doesn't even know what that is! Oh… my God!"

"What? What's so funny?" Sooraya sounded genuinely puzzled.

"Sooraya! That's his phone number!" Cisco laughed. "He wants you to call him and talk to him on the phone!"

Sooraya looked back down at the paper in her hand, and smiled contently.

To Be Continued!

Stay tuned for a very exciting one-shot episode, as we finally reveal the secret origin of EOBARD SHCMIDT AKA RED ZOOM, THE REVERSE-FLAG!