A/N: Hmm... conspiracy theory. (not a bad TV movie. of course, it's got Mel Gibson in it.... ::drools:: uh heh heh, n/m) Jeriko ain't corrupted. @ least I hope not. Nah, he ain't. (Remember, he didn't tell the Prof about the presence!) I'll admit it..... XAVIER NEEDS TO DIE!!!!!!! Which is kinda like a given. But he's better than the dude from the old cartoon. That guy was weird... anyhoo, onwards! (and hopefully upwards!)


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The next day was Saturday. I woke early, from sheer force of habit. I never needed much sleep, only a few hours. At home, I would often stay up all night then when dawn came around 5 o'clock or so, I would sleep until around 8 or 9, then get up. My mother always scolded me for doing so, but never did anything to change it. My father did it himself sometimes, but that was becoming rarer with age.


It was becoming warmer now, spring coming fast on the heels of winter. The snow had all melted the night before, and hadn't even turned to ice, for it was to warm to do so. Which meant that before everyone else, I was on my balcony, staring out at the water. It was still cold of course -- but like I had mentioned a while ago, I was used to cold weather. I lived in Ireland, remember? Many a chilly, windy day.


As I stood there, watching the sun rise over the lake, I wondered about what was coming. Something dangerous was not far off, but just how long I did not know. But it was coming. I could feel deep inside of me. I also knew that the presence was somehow connected with the appearance of Mystique, as well as her disappearance. How, though, and why where my greatest questions.


When the sun had fully rose, I went downstairs to the kitchen. To my surprise, Logan was there. I had never seen him get up this early before. But there he was, sitting at the bay window, drinking coffee and reading the paper. I didn't even know the paper came this early. He seemed equally surprised to see me.


"Whatcha doin' up so early? On a Saturday?" He asked, folding the paper up.


"I could ask ye the same question." I said. "I be always getting up early. Don't sleep a lot."


"Ya sure ain't American. We like to sleep in." He got up and went over to the coffee maker, filling his cup up again. I sat down at the table.


"Ye didna answer me question."


"Huh? Oh. I'm takin' off for a while." He said. "Don't want no trouble, so I leave early." He explained. He finished fixing his coffee and sat down across from me at the table.


"It best be that ye didna." I told him.


"Why? That sighting of Mystique got ya shook up? Don't worry none 'bout her. She ain't hard to defeat if ya watch yer back and keep yer eyes open."


"I no fear her. It be he I fear." I figured I didn't need to elaborate on who 'he' was.


"Don't blame ya, I guess. Ya'll were fine before, ya'll gonna be fine now." I said nothing more. I wished to mention Sabretooth, but said nothing. (The Brotherhood had told me about him.)


"Where ye be going?" I asked instead.


"Don't know. Find out when I get there." He finished his coffee in one gulp, and stood to leave.


"Mr. Logan? Be careful." We may need you I added silently. He nodded, and was about halfway through the door when he stopped.


"Jeriko? Just Logan. None of this Mister crap." I smiled, and nodded slightly. He left. As soon as he did my smile faltered and faded away. If there would be a war, we would need him. I just hoped he didn't go too far.


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My worries were making my head hurt. So, to keep my mind off of it, I figured I would make everyone an Irish breakfast. A large one, not the small average ones that were used weekly. At home, we would all eat a grand breakfast on Sundays. It was carry over from the Catholics that lived around us. Sundays were holy days to them. My mother loved to cook, so she declared it our lucky day and fixed us a special breakfast. Me, my sister, and my father didn't mind. She was a fabulous cook.


I must brag, I wasn't half bad myself. For three hours, starting at 6 AM, I cooked. And cooked. I thought I was going to wake everyone up, but to my second surprise of the day, no sooner had I finished putting everything on the table and setting all the silverware out, than everyone came down and marveled at what I had done. Kurt was especially delighted.


"Vas is das?!" He said as he walked in. I had learned from the others that it meant 'What is that?'.


"Irish breakfast." I said proudly. "Come, sit ye self down."


20 minutes later, everyone, including the Professor and Storm were gathered around. I joined them, and told them what everything was. To name a few: Irish bacon, soda bread, scones, and for a little sweetness, potato cakes. (A/N: Those cakes are GOOD!!) We all ate heartily, myself accepting compliments every few minutes. My worries were almost gone. Almost. And it didn't last.


I cast out my senses, and I'm still not sure why. I had no reason to, but I did. And I felt the presence. So familiar. I felt two others. One was very close, and the other was distant, like the presence. I froze as I recognized the close one. I had never met her, but I knew by what I picked up on who she was. Mystique. Before I knew what I was doing, I shimmered to the front door, and threw it open. There stood a woman, huddled inside a cloak. Her arm was raised in the manner of getting ready to knock. I had interrupted that manner. It fell to her side.


"Why ye here?" I asked. By this time, the others had arrived behind me.


"Who is that?" I heard Evan ask.


"Please, let me in." An exhausted voice begged. She faced the ground, not looking up. I glanced back at the Professor. He nodded, and moved aside.


"Who are you?" Scott demanded.


"Please, I come not to fight. But to help." Mystique threw back the cloak's hood and revealed herself. Red hair, blue skin: I wasn't quite prepared for it. But I showed no emotion.


"Oh? How so?" The Professor asked.


"He be coming." I said quietly. Mystique seemed shocked.


"How did you get here?" She asked me, her white eyes wide. I tilted my head in confusion.


"I always be here." I said.


"What? No, no, you were just.... I thought you were.... Just who are you?" The others looked even more perplexed than I did.


"Jeriko Yue Athayn, of the coven of Star of the Dawn of Etinaridh, Ireland." I gave her my full title. "You may also call me Gealach."


"But how....? And how did you change.....? You're not him. No, you're not. But you look exactly like him."


"Like who, Mystique?" Storm asked.


"He said his name was Kiro Etu Rowen. But he calls himself Grian. You look exactly like him except.... Except his hair blonde and his eyes a dark blue. He's Magneto's right hand man. His knowledge in magick is deep, and he is helping Magneto with his purpose of war." She seemed to remember why she was here. "They are coming, and fast. They are not alone. Magneto has many followers. He's taking 15 of his greater warriors, and launching attack upon this place tonight. I suggest you get ready, for this is no child's play. He has trained these warriors hard and great. I know quite a few that could hold their own, even against Wolverine."


The knews was more than I had expected. And the mention of Kiro. That is why it was so familiar. Perhaps I should have mentioned this earlier: I was adopted. I did not travel far, for my "mother" was my real mother's cousin, and they both lived in Etinaridh. I had long suspected I had a twin. Why, I don't know, but I was always absolutely sure of it. Now, it seems, I have been proven true.


"Why did you warn us? How do I know this isn't a trap?" The Professor asked. The others nodded in agreement.


"I have my reasons, and my own revenge on Magneto. Please, you must accept this and believe me. He believes I am on his side. He sent me here to scout the mansion and wait for his attack. As you can see, I am not. Disobeying him is very dangerous, and very deadly. I am risking my life for you." She said. The others looked very doubtful of her.


"I believe her." I said. "If no one else, so be it. But I believe her."


"I trust you Jeriko. So therefore I will trust your opinion." The Professor told me. I only hoped I was right.

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A/N: Um, I need a good codename for Jeriko. Gealoch ain't gonna work. I was gonna use Moonshine, but ya'll can see that double meaning. Ugh. If I can't find one I like, I'm gonna sink down to using Strider (the Ranger dude from Lord Of The Rings). Sooooo.... HELP!!