Author's Note**
So, what happens when a group of up and coming x-kids are given the chance to put their training to the test by investigating a few new mutants Cerebro has picked up? SlverShdws Inc. proudly presents to you. . .
The end of the world.
New York City was only a few hours away from Bayville and its towering skyscrapers stood like metal giants against the blue backdrop of the sky. Thousands of people made their way through the streets, each with a face uniquely their own. So many races, so many nationalities, so many different and interesting people living on a few tiny islands. It was hardly surprising that it was also a hot spot for mutant activity.
Bobby Drake, affectionately also know as "Iceman" (or Captain Idiot, depending on who you asked), stepped through the revolving doors of Grand Central Station and took a deep breath of the air between Lexington and Park. He wrinkled his nose at the sour smell and decided it wasn't quite what he had been expecting. Turning, he grinned at the rest of his group as they came through the doors behind him.
"See guys? Didn't I tell you that we'd be sent on a mission?" he boasted, holding his hands out wide.
"Yeah, but you also told us that you were being slowly devoured by purple turtles whenever you fell asleep, remember?" Roberto recalled, coming up and slapping Bobby on the shoulder. In response, Bobby glared at him. He was still ticked off about Sunspot's comment about his spelling ability. But oh, Roberto would get his in due time. Due time. Just as soon as he figured out how to control those purple turtles, he'd let them loose in his room. And then they would see who would be laughing last . . . .
"Bobby?"
Blinking, Bobby glanced down at little Jamie and seeing the shrimp reminded him of something. "I can't believe Ray couldn't come," he said suddenly, frowning. Jamie raised his eyebrows and wondered if the manic look in Bobby's eyes could be categorized as a bad thing.
"Well, he was unconscious," he pointed out in his chirpy voice. In the same movement, both he and Bobby turned their heads and stared at Tabitha who was already absorbing the city's vibe. She caught the tail end of their conversation and shrugged.
"Hey, how was I supposed to know the ceiling would collapse on him?"
Bobby rolled his eyes. "Maybe because you had thrown one of your plasma balls up at it?" he suggested sarcastically.
"Children." Storm's cool, quiet voice had everyone relaxing and they all turned their attention to her. Well aware that New York had distractions everywhere, she wanted to get the kids through the mission as quickly as possible. That way less things could go wrong. But oh how things have a way of going wrong.
"It's important for you to work together and keep the bickering to a minimum," she stated, sighing when Bobby and Tabitha continued to glare at each other. "Now, the first subject we are looking for is a young lady by the name of Emma Frost. She is a telepath, so please try and watch what you are thinking. If she is either frightened or distrustful of us, her natural reaction will be to probe our minds. Try not to give her any reason to become hostile."
At the sound of the mutant's name, Bobby's eyes lit up. "Frost, huh? She's gonna want to meet the Iceman."
"Storm, maybe Bobby shouldn't go with us," Amara whispered quietly in the older woman's ear. Storm looked at Bobby and started to disagree. After all, despite his moments of immaturity, Bobby was very capable and had a good control over his abilities. Then she started to consider the suggestion when he went into his "Iceman Dance" routine. Arms were thrown up, a butt was wiggling in a very embarrassing manner, and people were starting to stare.
"Do you think he'll go quietly, or do you think we'll need to use force?" she asked back. Smiling, Tabitha leaned over and slung her arms over both their shoulders.
"Oh, please. Let's use force."
******************************************
Finding Emma Frost wasn't too terribly difficult. Before they had left that morning, the Professor had been able to come up with several places she was often seen in. Once they had . . . dealt with Bobby, the group hit the first place on the list; a small café near Wallstreet. And as luck would have it, she was already there, her gaze focused on a group of businessmen seated in the back. As a result, she did not notice the group of strangers that stood just outside the door. Tabitha took one look at the girl's pure white ensemble and shook her head, whistling lightly through her teeth.
"Obviously she takes her name way too seriously. What, is she trying to blind people with that get-up?" she asked to no one in particular. Beside her Amara shrugged and replied quietly,
"I think she looks really classy."
Tabitha snapped her gum. "She's probably loaded. Let's mug her."
Sam had his hands pressed against the windows and his eyes were large as he looked in. "She sure is pretty," he commented and little Jamie bobbed his head in agreement.
"Alright Roberto. When you go in there, keep your mind as blank as you can. Introduce yourself and explain a little bit about the Institute and what Professor Xavier is offering. Remember that she has every right to refuse and be certain to remain non-threatening, okay?" Storm was telling the dark haired boy.
With a grin that could light up a dark room, Roberto gave a little salute. "No problem. Leave it ta me," were his words as he pulled opened the café's door and walked inside. Everyone watched as he approached the young woman's table and got her attention. He flashed another smile and introduced himself and though the girl's beautiful face was wary, she motioned with her hand towards an empty chair. Roberto pulled it out and sat down, resting his arms on the table in front of him. What happened next happened almost too fast for anyone to catch. One moment Roberto was speaking animately, and then next he was running toward the front windows of the café. Surprised, the entire group scattered just as he came crashing through the glass, landing with a thump and an "oomph" and rolling onto his back. Storm ran to the window just in time to see Miss Frost exiting through a back door.
Amidst a sea of sharp glass, Roberto sat up and pressed a hand to his aching head. It felt a bit like she had taken a sledgehammer and beaten him with it. Quite a little gift she had there. Of course, that mind thowmp hadn't been nearly as cool as having her make him run himself through a plate of glass. "Dios mios," he muttered, shaking glass off of himself. "I think she likes me."
With no small amount of disbelief, Storm stared down at the youth as he picked himself up from the pavement. "What did you say to her Roberto?"
He shrugged, happy to find that his bones seemed to all be in one piece. "Just what you told me to. I told her my name and where I was from. Then I started to tell her about the Professor and the Institute."
Clucking her tongue, Tabitha inspected the damaged windows. "Well apparently she wasn't interested in joining up."
"A simple no would have been a lot less rude," Amara sniffed, moving over to check and see if Roberto was really alright. Ignoring them, Storm studied Roberto for a minute or so, thinking. Finally she asked,
"What were you thinking about while you were talking to her?"
He grinned and flipped his hair back from his face. "How she'd look in a two piece."
Narrowing her eyes, Amara gave him a swift knock in the back of the head, the returned to her place next to Tabitha and continued glaring at him. Tabitha shook her head.
"Men are such bastards."
***************************************
Just a few blocks away from Grand Central Station, down an alleyway, there was a green metal garbage bin. It looked as if it had been sealed shut by a blow torch and there was a ring of molten rock around the lid. But since no one ever wandered down the alley, no one noticed. And no one heard the pounding, followed by the muffled voice,
"Hey! Hey this isn't funny guys! Let me out of here! Come on!"