1 To be a Thief Part Two

The night was young for Dr. McCoy so he decided to work in the lab. Ever since he joined this team the lab was always where he was. It was like Beast couldn't find his niche in this team because to be honest he was never exactly in love with them trying to keep things from Xavier, but he could also understand where they where coming from also. The future is a very powerful thing to hold in your hands and Xavier didn't need that pressure on him. Hank couldn't help wondering though if Storm or anyone else needed that kind of pressure on himself or herself. He wasn't sure of the answer. Hell, he wasn't even sure if he wanted to stay on this team. Beast didn't want to focus on that right now so he decided to get to work on what he was in the lab to do. He started up his computer with a voice command, typed in the password and open up Microsoft Word. Beast was going to start working on a research project that was inspired because of the efforts of Tessa. Maybe it was just his pride, but Hank hated to have someone else work on something interesting and him not doing a thing. He had to decide on a title for his research, but since it wasn't going to be done for a bit he decided to give it the preliminary name of Mutant Level. It was going to explore the classification of mutants into the power levels Beta, Alpha and Omega.

Notes: Classification (Excerpt)

Over the years various entities have classified mutants into three levels; Beta, Alpha, and Omega. A definite definition for these three levels has never been truly reached. In some cases there have been misinterpretations. The simplest way I can break it down is somewhat like this. A Beta Mutant is a mutant whose mutation affects their physical form. An Alpha Mutant is a mutant whose mutation involves some type of energy absorption or projection. An Omega Mutant is a mutant whose mutation affects the fundamental forces of the universe. Now any mutant has the potential to move up the ladder from Beta to Omega.

Now my theory will defiantly cause some changes in classification. For instance both Wolverine and Colossus would be considered Beta Mutants albeit with extremely potent mutations that would put them on par with Alphas which has caused confusion with their classification over the years. Classification doesn't necessarily determine potential or fighting potency because if that was the case Leech, an Alpha, should beat Wolverine, a Beta, easily. Which is not at all the case.

A Beta with multiple mutations like Wolverine is on the verge of being an Alpha and an Alpha with multiple mutations is on the verge of being an Omega like Tessa. Through extensive and intensive training Tessa could control the evolutionary processes of every living thing. Easily I might add.

I will shortly begin the reclassification of certain mutants and send all my notes to Xavier. Hopefully he will accept them.

Beast tired of staring at the computer decided to take a break (something he rarely did). He wasn't going to tell any of his friends about him taking a break because he knew without a doubt that they would have a field day with him. So with rapid speed he leaped out of the laboratory to get some coffee. When he had vacated the laboratory Bishop's body began to stir ever so slightly. The medical machines monitoring began to beep and bleep, but no one was there to hear it. Bishop's mind was being a great deal more active than his body. Memories were stirring in the mind of Bishop and they were memories he didn't even knew he had.

2 8 Years Ago (Bishop's time)

Bishop, Shard, Malcolm and Randall knocked down the door of the slum apartment. A loud crash followed along with a loud metal clink as the hinges hit the rotting floor. Bishop had heard on an anonymous tip that there were supposedly some members of a radical eco-group hiding in the building. Bishop wasn't going to let them get away especially if it was the eco-terrorists he was looking for. They had already killed two X.S.E. agents by making a false call of arson. One of them was a good friend with Bishop in the mutant camps. The guy had even saved the life of Shard when a human radical tried to assassinate her.

"Upstairs," Bishop whispered under his breath. The building was horrendously shaggy and it looked like a beach girl with a bad suntan. Everything was peeling and the stairs were even worse. As the four mutants began to ascend up the stairs they creaked and creaked with every step. The stairs seemed almost alive as if trying to yell out that the X.S.E. were here.

"There isn't much use in subterfuge. I'm sure they've already heard us!" Bishop yelled as he charged up the stairs. The creaks were now deafening almost as if the stairs were now in pain. Shard and her fellow X.S.E. followed behind him hoping he wasn't getting them into trouble again. Malcolm especially because Bish damn near got him killed in a shoot- out with a bunch of cyborg drug dealers. They were lead by some guy named Greg Pierce. Bishop had a rivalry ever since Greg dropped out of the X.S.E. training. Malcolm didn't know the details, but he was almost positive it had something to do with his grandmother and Neal Sharaa.

"Over here!" Bishop howled when Shard had finally got up the stairs. After a quick check of other rooms down the hall the three mutants convened with Bishop.

"Holy shit!" Malcolm yelled as he saw what Bishop's gun was pointing at.

It was glowing a bright blue and its skin was stringy and interconnected. It seemed to float and billow above the air. It didn't have a mouth or eyes for that matter. The only semblance of a face was an elongated nose that looked more like a tree branch than a nose. The creature's arms looked like the wings of a stingray except they glowed with an intensity that could block out the Moon at night.

"Enter," the creature said in a raspy tone.

"Don't try anything stupid," Bishop said still holding the gun towards what he assumed what was the creature's head.

"What kind of mutant are you?" Shard asked not realizing what had slipped out of her mouth.

"I'm not a mutant Shard St. Croix. You must wonder where that name comes from. Well listen and I will explain," the creature said as beaming, yellow vines came out of the ground and wrapped around Bishop and the four mutants. Bishop didn't even have time to shoot off a blast nor would he be able to reply to the comments to come.

"Heritage has always been something that eludes many mutants isn't that right Bishop St. Croix; direct descendant of four influential mutants in the dream of Xavier. You believe your grandmother to have been an X-Man when in truth she was only a dancer that physically trained the X-Men. She survived to this era through a horrible compact with a man that was almost the Devil himself. Of course she had her reasons and one of them was to find and raise you. Witness helped her with that. She learned much from this Witness and that's how she knew everything about them. Shocking isn't?"

"Don't think I have forgotten about you Malcolm Drake and Randall Darkholme. Malcolm you are the direct descendant of one of the founding X- Men, Iceman, and one of the Hellfire Club's elite members, Emma Frost."

" Randall you are descended from two of the X-men's greatest foes; Mystique and Sabertooth. This information will be of great validity to all of you after the resurrection of the lives of Malcolm and Randall."

" Now I shall conclude my tale by saying unto you that you will have no memory of this event until the time is right. Oh Bishop by the way beware of the dragon," the blue being said as it disappeared into nothing leaving an unconscious Bishop, Shard, Malcolm and Randall on the rotting floor.

The Present

The night of Australia was different to the man known as Gambit. He had never been to this place and to see the stars in different places than they were in the Big Easy fascinated him. Gambit pulled his jacket in front of his face as the sands of the Outback blew in every direction. After a long walk and some encounters with local animals he finally reached the base he had to steal the book from. This book obviously had to be of some great importance to this man for him to send someone all the way to Australia to get the thing! The base wasn't too great looking though. Actually Gambit thought the base looked like a crocodile that had been beat over the head with a bunch of bats. No, he thought the crocodile looked better than this base.

Gambit slowly opened the door to the banged up base with his skills as a thief. He wished he had Storm with him though because this would probably be a whole lot easier. When he first got through the door he thought it was far too dark inside. It reminded him of some of Sinister's bases, but that probably didn't bother Sinister too much since he has enhanced senses. Well, he did until.never mind that's not important. There was enough light to get him around. The base certainly looked different on the inside than the outside. The walls were sleek and smooth. Most of them were a metallic gray color. Sort of like the basement levels of the Mansion. Remy was starting to think that he had gotten himself into another situation yet again. Nothing good ever came out of these types of bases. Gambit thought about it a bit and realized nothing good ever came out of any base. All of them always contain something man doesn't need or isn't ready for.

Meanwhile in the shadows, Neal was watching the thief creep down the hall. All Neal saw was Gambit's backside so he had no clue it was a fellow X-Man. He slowly crept up on the thief floating in the air so the scoundrel wouldn't be able to hear his footsteps. As Neal came upon the thief he pounced on him, sending him to the floor. The man hit Neal in the gut with his elbow and when he turned around he saw that he had just punched his ally, Neal.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Gambit asked shocked and surprised.

"Gambit?! I could ask the same of you. I knew you were a thief, but breaking into your friends' home."

"This is where you live mon ami?"

"No my friend. This is where Storm, myself and the other reside."

"What?! So you mean Rogue is here too?" Gambit said his once loud tone turning into a low one.

"Yep she sure is and."

"What's all that racket bout?" Rogue exclaimed as she came down the hall still wiping the sleep from her eyes.

"Hi chere. Long time no see," Gambit smiled.

"Gambit! What tha hell are ya doin here?"

"I could ask the same of you."

The Next Morning

"My friend I think I speak for all of us when I say it's good to have you back albeit for how long you might be around. But in that same token I would like to know what your purpose is here," Storm said calmly hoping she would get an honest answer from Remy.

"Well I was hired by some guy who wanted something called the Book of Truth from this base. When he first sent a letter asking for my assistance that's what he said anyway. I couldn't believe at first that someone would want a book all the way from Australia, but I didn't really care because I needed the money," Gambit said as he smoked on a cigarette.

"What fo' Remy?" Rogue asked almost as if she was disappointed.

"Don't sound like that chere. I need the money for a friend who's undergoing chemotherapy. I'm willing to help her in anyway I can. So do you know where I can find this book?"

"My friend we have them, but we can't give them too you. The books are of the utmost importance."

"Ororo surely you know that the life of someone is more important than a simple book! Instead of you all spending your time hiding out here guarding these books you should be in Genosha helping your fellow X-Men fight the Neo!"

"You obviously don't understand the importance of the books. They hold the entire history of humanity in them and who are you to tell us where we should be?! By the way I don't see you in Genosha. I think the Professor and his group can handle themselves well enough."

"Neal I just think you're afraid to fight the Neo again. You haven't been too much of an X-man to begin with," Gambit snickered.

"Why you egotistical asshole!" Neal yelled as jumped across the table to grab Gambit throat. Rogue stopped the fight by grabbing Neal's collar.

"Remy are you just here to create tension! We ain't givin you the books and that's final! I feel bad for your friend and all, but ya can't us expect to jeopardize the future of the world for one person."

"Would you jeopardize it for me?"

"Remy what kind of question is that!"

"Well, would you?"

"I'm."

"Remy please! We have more important things to focus on right now."

"Like my friend," Gambit pleaded.

"I believe that I have devised a way to save the books and get the money for your friend," Storm smiled.

"I'm all ears," Remy smiled devishly back at Storm. Rogue for some unknown reason was green with envy.

Beast meanwhile was watching over his fallen comrades. As he stared at them one by one he began to notice something wrong, or maybe strange is the better word, with Bishop. The cuts and the bruises on the large man were beginning to disappear quickly. The rate was so rapid Beast dropped his coffee because he had seen healing like this only with Wolverine.

Bishop eventually rose from the bed he was in with IVs and all still attached to him. Beast leapt quickly to Bishop's side trying to calm a hysterical Bishop down. Beast pressed down Bishop with his strength, but the man was like a tank. He actually made Beast put some effort into his push. Inevitably though Bishop's strength was only that of a human so Beast was able to push him down. As Beast was trying to reattach the IV's back into the large man someone walked into the lab. It was Storm, and Beast couldn't help but to notice that she was getting sexier and sexier everyday. Of course she probably wasn't even interested in him and he had Trish anyway, but he wasn't even sure about her anymore.

"Beast what was that ruckus going on in here?" Storm asked a worried look on her face. Beast thought she looked beautiful even then, but of course he could never let her know that.

"My lady our comrade Bishop has awoke from his slumber just not with a kiss. I believe I've stabilized him," Beast replied not telling her anything about the advanced healing Bishop underwent. He decided to keep that to himself for now until he could do some more independent research on it. Beast leapt from Bishop's bed to Storm's side so she wouldn't bother to come to Bishop's bed and see the healed cuts and bruises. Storm was slightly startled at how fast Beast moved. He had caught her off-guard.

"Glad to see at least one of them has recovered. I was going to request your services on our next mission, but since you have Bishop to worry about I want you to stay here. We will return shortly," Storm said as she walked out of the door. Beast found himself staring at Storm's butt. Luckily she hadn't noticed, but what if she would have? Beast would have been speechless and that was something that rarely happened to him.

3 Base Hangar

Storm was the last to get to the Hangar and she found Rogue, Gambit and Neal waiting impatiently for her. She smiled to break the tension and unfortunately it didn't have any effect.

"Too much tension," Storm thought to herself. Rogue and Neal were mad at Gambit. Gambit was mad at everybody and Beast was acting peculiar around her. He was obviously hiding something, but she couldn't put her finger on what. Hank had never been one to hide things so she was at lost as to what he could be hiding. She really needed a vacation.

"Storm are we getting on this plane or what?" Gambit asked as he walked up the stairs that led into the plane.

"Lets go guys! Gambit's right. We need to get going. The plane should take us to New Orleans in an hour," Storm commanded as she flew onto the plane behind Gambit.

When Neal, the last one, got on the plane they were all ready for take off. Storm switched on all the bright color controls, which activated all the plane's systems. The plane was a little more advanced than your usual TWA one because of Tessa's workings on it. The plane now had a very large database in it that allowed contact with S.H.I.E.L.D. and other secret organizations. Of course the database is only to be used in emergencies. Also this plane could travel out of the atmosphere and a limited amount into space if necessary.

"Is everybody strapped in?" Storm asked as she started up the plane. Everyone simply nodded and Storm showed her acknowledgement of their nods by getting a serious look on her face and taking off.

4 New Orleans

Storm guided the plane into a safe landing area in the swamp a few miles away from the pier where Gambit was to meet Vargas in a few hours. All the X-Men could hear the wheels of the plane squish as they landed into the swamp mud.

"This place smells awful!" Neal yelled as he grabbed his nose trying to keep the stench of the swamp from entering into his nasal passages.

"It's methane homme. Get to use to it," Gambit said coldly. His expression softened as he saw a worried Rogue staring at him.

"What's wrong chere?" Gambit asked as he sat down by the unmoving Rogue.

"I'm just a little afraid, I guess. I mean every time one of the X- Men, my friends, go charging into battle I get nervous though I try my best not to let it show. You know what I mean bub? Damn! See that's another thing I'm worried about mon ami! Oh lord now I'm starting to have your accent! Bozshe Moi! Can things get any worse?" Rogue cried as she began to break down. Just as Gambit was about to try and give her some semblance of sympathy he was blasted into one of the plane's walls by a TK blast from Rogue.

"See what I mean runt?" Rogue asked as she let out a growl all to similar to Sabertooth. Then her body burst into flames just like Johnny Storm. Sabertooth's mind was in control now and as she was about to lunge at Gambit a bolt of lighting struck her down.

"Sometimes she gets like that Remy. Lately though it hasn't been happening too often since Tessa has been helping her gain control. Luckily, though Rogue has Logan's healing factor so she'll be fine soon enough," Storm said with a look of distress on her face. This team was beginning to wear her down like no other team she had lead before did. Maybe she gathered the wrong people together. Jean or Wolverine probably would have been a lot better to have around of course Jean would never come because she was glued to Scott, who followed Xavier's dream blindly and ignorantly. Scott sometimes acted as if Xavier was the only person who ever contributed something to the dream and that only Charles had a stake in it. That's why she was always more than a little uneasy following Cyclops into battle. He would do whatever Xavier asked of him except on certain occasions. She needed to stop thinking about Cyclops so she could explain to her teammates why she so indiscriminately would take down Rogue with a bolt. They all had flabbergasted looks on their face and it had been almost seven minutes since she had done the deed.

"It had to be done. She could have jeopardized the mission and we would never find out anything about Gambit's employer," Storm said sternly. Gambit and the rest soon flabbergasted stares intensified into ones of anger.

"What has to be done has to be done and that's final! Now Gambit I suggest you prepare yourself because your charm might not work to its full effect if you are angry over nothing."

"Nothing! You just shot down Rogue and you say it's nothing! Woman you have gone stark mad! I think we should be worried about you and not Xavier," Gambit commented his words like a rattlesnake bit to Storm. She pushed back her anger and turned her head slowly towards her Gambit her eyes completely white.

"You only have a few hours. Prepare yourself."

Australian Base.

Bishop had been strapped down by the Beast to keep him from hurting himself, but he was perfectly fine now expect for the fact that a large chunk of his past had been thrown in his face. Bishop St. Croix. That was M's last name so was that who his grandmother was. Maybe it was one of her sisters. He couldn't be for sure. Too many thoughts were swirling in his head. One question that bugged him though was that the creature had said the memories would come back when the time was right. Well, then if he was suppose to have these suppressed memories unleashed today why would the creature tell him to beware of the dragon when he knew the memories would be unlocked after Psylocke's attack. Maybe he is referring to some other dragon or it could be symbolic of something. Too many questions and not enough answers.

"Beast," Bishop called out his voice hoarse because he was still recovering from the cuts in his throat. Just as he was about to call out again Beast leaped by his side.

"What is it Bishop?"

"I'm leaving this team and so are you," Bishop said quietly and quickly.

5 New Orleans

Gambit slowly crept up onto the pier with careful efficiency. He did so almost with a sense of confidence because he knew his teammates would not abandon him. The air of the pier was murky and misty much like in the old detective movies.

Gambit reaching the rendezvous point waited patiently for a long time, almost an hour when finally the Spaniard cloaked in black came out of the shadows. He stood tall and walked with a haughty arrogance only a knight could carry and he had an aura of solemnity that only an abbey could have. The man looked about the pier as if waiting for some abject person to come out and attack him.

"Do you have them?" the man asked. Gambit smiled a sly smile and pulled out the books. The Spaniard's face went ablaze with excitement. He grabbed the books from Gambit swiftly and hid them in his cloak.

"Now where's my payment?"

"Of course. I put the money in the account just like you asked and here is the extra 10,000 you wanted in crisp bills," the man said unimportantly as, he handed Gambit the suitcase, because he was totally absorbed into the fact that he had the books.

"Thanks."

"Vargas is the name. You have done well Gambit. I thank you, but know this. Tell no one of this mission or I will make your life short and abrupt. Is this understood?"

"Completely," Gambit smiled for the second time tonight. As he began to walk away from Vargas a lightning bolt and plasma blast came out of the swamp and hit Vargas square in the chest. The blast simply dissipated and they seemed to have no effect at all.

Vargas still was disoriented nonetheless. Where had the blast come from? Was Gambit trying to double-cross him? Was Ushido after him yet again? Whatever it was Vargas would be able to handle it.

6 Australia

"Are the guys and gals stable?" Bishop asked as he packed away his guns in a gym bag.

"Yes, they will all be fine within a couple of days. Let us leave this veil of tears," Beast said with a slight chuckle as he sat down the note on the table.

Dear Storm and Friends,

It is with sad regret that Bishop and myself are leaving this team. We have come to the realization that this team is founded on the wrong principles. If we would have left the books with Xavier he might have been able to interpret things that we couldn't and he surely would better able to guard them. Be warned we did think about taking the diaries back to Xavier, but we decided to trust in your judgment. That is another thing I would like to address. Storm you are starting to become what you feared Xavier would be when you first began this sojourn. Beware because if you get out of hand we will shut you down and if we deem it necessary we will disclose every bit of information about you to Xavier. As for how you will take care of the medical facilities at the base I have left an invention for Rogue, which may be of some use.

"You ready to go Hank?"

"Yes my friend I'm ready to go," Beast said as he looked at his med lab one last time.

7 New Orleans

Rogue flew straight into Vargas hitting him with punch after punch. Vargas moved with such speed that he blocked every blow. Rogue was at a loss as to what she should. She pulled back and in desperation kissed Vargas. Gambit who was in the woods watched this with a mixture of anger and disgust. Storm didn't want Vargas to know that Gambit had associations with the X-Men, but only that he accidentally lead them here.

Meanwhile Rogue could feel the energy of Vargas. It was too much. She couldn't handle it! The pain was building inside of her!! She screamed out because of the reeling pain inside of her body. An acoustician wouldn't have even been able to bear the sound.

Storm, who had been knocked to the ground by Vargas, dusted her clothes off and began to pummel Vargas with lightning. She smiled knowing she could play this moment to her advantage.

"I'm almost sorry we followed Gambit here!" Storm screamed adding to the ruse that Gambit had not willingly bought them here.

"You will learn better than to follow my agents soon enough!" Vargas yelled as Storm's lighting turned blue and shot back at her knocking her out cold.

Neal, who had been knocked down in a somewhat harder manner, than Storm got up to his feet and charged directly at Vargas plasma blazing around his entire body. As he came to within three feet of Vargas's face the Spaniard jumped into the air and grabbed Neal's arm. Vargas with a quick and hard snap broke off Neal's arm like it was hot butter.

"ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!" Neal yelled in excruciating and utterly awful pain as he hit the ground blood pouring from his wound. Rogue had finally managed to recover from her pain to see this event happen.

"I hate weak mutants," Vargas smiled as he spat on the trembling body of Neal. This infuriated and disgusted Rogue. Neal was just a newbie. He hadn't even been with the X-Men a year yet.

"Vargas! I shall have at thee today!" Rogue yelled as lighting poured out of her left eye and pink telekinetic energy poured out of the right eye. Her hair turned into a beautiful blonde and her eyes a sparkling blue. Vargas watched in awe as this transformation took place, but he had to compose himself.

"Then have at me young woman!" Vargas yelled. Rogue growled an animalistic growl of anger and pillared her body into Vargas. She delighted in hearing the air wheeze out of his body as she rammed into him. She enjoyed hearing the bones crunch as she delivered blow after crushing blow, but during her spree of madness she looked down at a dying Neal. She suddenly remembered why she was angered in the first and so she threw Vargas into the pier. Using a technique Tessa was teaching her she tapped into one specific power, that of Nightcrawler, and she teleported her teammates away.

Gambit was surprised that Rogue had left him behind. She was changing. Storm was changing. The diaries were like a plague that infected all who beheld their text. It had taken in the Professor for a time and now it was taking in Storm and her team. As he was contemplating he saw Vargas get out of the water. Gambit took off into the woods figuring Storm would want her mini-jet back.

8 Australia

Rogue and the others popped up almost instantaneously into Beast's med lab. Rogue looked around frantically for Beast, but could not find him anywhere. Storm meanwhile with some minor training from Beast himself tried to stabilize Neal, but he would only be stable for a short while.

"Can you not find Hank?" Storm asked, but Rogue did not answer. Just as Storm was about to get ugly on Rogue she handed her the note. Storm took it suspiciously seeing the anger it had caused Rogue. She read over it slowly taking in each and every word. Her body was full of rage, but she held it all in trying to remain cool and collected.

"Find this invention," Storm commanded her voice cracked.

"I already have. It's basically a pair of earphones that will transfer all of Hank's medical expertise into myself. I'll put them on right now and get to work on Neal. Lord help him," Rogue cried as she put on the gray and sleek earphones.

"Lord help Bishop and Beast if I ever find them," Storm muttered under her breath as she ripped the letter apart.