Homecoming Preparations

The next day a large group of students started working on the gym for the Homecoming dance. Most of them oblivious to the social chaos that was surrounding the country. Taryn was one of them. She was far more concerned on her own social life was in chaos. She couldn't help but stare as Scott and Jean flirted with each other as they put up decorations. "That should be me with Scott," She fumed.

"I know," Anya put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "She doesn't deserve a nice guy like Scott. Now you're sure about that schedule you gave me? It shows just when she's going to be at track practice."

"Yeah," Taryn nodded. "But I don't see how this is going to help me get Scott."

"Don't worry Taryn," Anya smiled. "If my plan works Jean won't be anywhere near the homecoming dance Friday."

On the other side of the gym, Ms. Ark was directing Kurt and Amanda. "Hang that banner nice and high kids!" She called out. They were both on ladders.

"Careful Kurt," Amanda called out. "You're gonna fall!"

"No problem!" Kurt called out. "See I've got it."

"Okay now come on down before you hurt yourselves," Ms. Ark said.

Kitty came up to Ms. Ark. She had a weird look on her face. "Uh…Ms. Ark, Mr. Logan up at the Institute just called and asked me to tell you he'll be a half hour late tonight."

"Late for what?" Kurt asked.

"Um," Ms. Ark said. "Well as a matter of fact Mr. Logan and I are seeing each other tonight."

"You mean you two are going out on…some kind of date?" Amanda asked.

"What's wrong with that?" Ms. Ark asked. "Teachers do go on dates you know. We're people too." She looked over. "Maximoff stop tying Fred up with the crepe paper!" She went over to stop Pietro's latest antics.

"Ms. Ark is dating Mr. Logan?" Amanda asked.

"Yeah," Kurt shuddered. "Weird."

Kitty asked. "Like what do teachers do on dates?"

"Only one way to find out," Kurt smiled. "Ladies are you up for a little intelligence gathering."

"Kurt are you saying we should spy on our teachers?" Amanda looked at him.

"That is so wrong!" Kitty said.

"But fun," Amanda pointed out.

"It's a total invasion of their privacy!" Kitty said.

"They do it to us all the time," Kurt said.

"Okay I'm in," Kitty made an evil grin.

"We'll meet at the Institute," Kurt said. They put their hands together in a circle.

"Let's do it," Amanda smiled.

Meanwhile Ms. Ark had given up trying to do anything with the Brotherhood. Most of them only volunteered in order to keep from getting detention. With the exception of Lance of course in his quest to impress Kitty.

"Give it up Lance," Pietro whined. "It doesn't matter how many stupid paper flowers you put up, she's not gonna care!"

"We should have done what Wanda did and ditch school," Fred grumbled as he tore up some of the crepe paper off him. He looked like a mummy.

"Should have taken the detention," John grumbled.

"Oh come on guys this isn't that bad!" Lance told them. Then resumed on flirting with Kitty. "This is gonna be great! Kitty agreed to go with me to the dance! I have a feeling that this is one dance we aren't ever gonna forget!"

"Hey turn that up!" Someone shouted. They all listened in as someone turned up the volume of a nearby radio.

"The body was discovered behind an abandoned warehouse," The announcer said. "It was in the same condition as the others. This is the eighth police officer that has been murdered in this fashion in Chicago. Authorities now believe that these murders are being committed by a mutant in response to the shooting of a young mutant months ago."

Several students reacted in different ways. Many were silent, others were grumbling among themselves. Scott growled and glared at Lance and the other members of the Brotherhood. He went up to Alvers. "You know about this?"

"Are you crazy? This is the first I've heard of it!" Lance snapped.

"If you're lying and this is some sick twisted plan of Magneto's…" Scott snapped.

"Hey! There's no proof of that!" Pietro snapped. "Besides, Magneto's not exactly the only mutant that was ticked off at what happened in Chicago. For all we know someone new could be involved."

"Yeah Magneto's no assassin," John said.

"But Sabertooth is," Scott told them.

"Yeah but that doesn't prove it's him!" Lance snapped. "Or that Magneto had anything to do with it! So unless you have some concrete evidence get out of my face!" Lance shoved Scott. "Come on guys, let's go." The Brotherhood stormed out.

"Can you believe that jerk!" Pietro spat as they roamed the hallways. "Those X-Geeks blame us for everything! They'd blame us for the ozone layer if they could!"

"I wonder who's really killing those cops?" Fred asked.

"Well whoever it is I'd like to shake their hand," John chuckled. "It's about time we struck back."

"Hey you four!" Guyrich appeared. "You're wanted in the nurse's office!"

"What for?" John asked.

"You boys need to get your flu shots," Guyrich told them.

"Says who?" Lance looked at him.

"New school policy that's who!" Guyrich snapped. "It's mandatory! Get going!"

"Jawhol!" Pietro saluted. They went off to the nurse's office only because Guyrich was following them to make sure that they went. "This is so lame!"

"Well maybe we'll get a lollypop?" Fred asked as Pietro went in to get his shot first.

"Oh brother," Lance rolled his eyes.

"Hey can I help it if I always look on the bright side of things?" Fred defended.

"You always look on your stomach's side of things," John cackled.

"Next!" The nurse said.

"I hate shots," Lance grumbled as John went in to get his shots.

"Hey I just thought of something," Fred gulped. "I have invulnerable skin…what's gonna happen when that guy tries to give me a shot?"

"Oh yeah that's right," Lance said. "That's gonna be a trouble! Maybe you can say you already got your flu shot? Hey I should try that!"

"Next!" The Nurse called out. Lance grumbled and went in.

"Oh boy what am I gonna do?" Fred pouted. "I gotta think! Gotta think! Hey Pietro what do you think…? Pietro? John? Lance? Hey where is everybody?" He went into the office. "Guys what's taking so long?"

To his shock he saw all of them unconscious on the floor. Several men in white surrounded them. "Hey what's going…." Fred started to say something when one of the men in white covered his face with a huge towel soaked in chloroform. He struggled briefly, but not even he could fight against it. He passed out.

"Excellent," Dr. Mindbender chuckled over the unconscious bodies of the Brotherhood. "Ninjas are very handy assistants. Remind me to thank Darkshadow for lending you all to me. Get them to Lab number one downtown." He ordered the ninjas. "Now all we need are a few X-Men."