Bluish light arced from one end of the room to the other and the target exploded in flame. More followed. Voltana was now a master of her ability, able to summon great reserves of energy from her tireless practice. Her accuracy was almost flawless. Each one she imagined was Wolverine or Xavier. They died, over and over again. There was a light footfall behind her.

Voltana spun and unleashed a barrage of electricity at the approaching person. It slammed into the metal wall, warping it. She looked down at the ducking person.

"Well, Remy *was* going to ask if the cheri would like to go shopping with him..."

She lowered her hands, blushing a little. "Sorry. I'm a little tense."

"Which is why Remy thought you would like to come with him. Plus he thought you might like some clothes." He stood up, brushing off his coat.

She looked down at her self. She'd been there for nearly a week, with only one outfit. //I wish I were a cartoon... Then this wouldn't be a problem!//

"Okay."

**********

The trip was short. As they were re-entering the tunnel that they had taken to get out, Voltana voiced her minor issue with the expedition.

"This is stealing... And I know that's not right."

Gambit didn't stop walking, but his voice did take on a note of bitterness. "Voltana, this world hates us. Do you think we'd even be able to walk into a store if they knew what we were? No, they would attack us!"

"Not all-"

"Don't you remember what I saved you from?" His use of first person showed his irritation.

She considered it. Maybe he was right. Normal people wanted to kill her just for being born. And other mutants wanted to kill her for reasons she couldn't remember. Amongst all of that, what was a little theft?

**********

*ZAP* *CRACK*

*ZAP* *CRACK*

*ZAP* *CRACK*

She was bored. The targets were almost laughably easy to hit. She needed something new, something harder.

"You marksmanship is impressive." Magneto's deep voice echoed through the chamber. Voltana spun around, not having heard him approach.

"Thank you."

"But I wonder how you would fare against a moving object?" Before she could respond, several targets rose up and launched towards her.

Her instincts kicked in and she zapped them down. More followed, from all directions. By the time Magneto was satisfied, she was panting from the strain of ducking, dodging and zapping objects.

"Good. Perhaps you're ready."

When he didn't say anything more, Voltana looked up. He was walking away.

"Hey, wait! What the hell do you mean?" She let anger and frustration creep into her voice as she stormed after him.

He whirled around, his cape swishing. His glare bared into her, and suddenly Voltana felt a tingling spread through her, and was unable to move. Her muscles strained, but she was held fast. He leaned down to her. "*Never* raise your voice to me." He leaned back, and she could move. "Direct your anger in more useful directions. Soon you will have your chance for vengeance."

**********

Voltana smiled thinly as she dressed. She'd kept this outfit for a special occasion. She figured that battle was special enough.

She wore black and red. Darkness and blood. Loose black pants with red stitching, and sleeveless red shirt. She wore fingerless gauntlets, laced with red string. Around her neck hung the necklace - her necklace. The dark glass pendant gleamed dully in the light. She tied her blonde hair back in a single pony tail, the severity of the look accentuating the hard lines of her determined face.

Looking in the mirror, she called on her anger, letting it flow through her. Right on cue, the scar on her face split open, trickling blood down her pale cheek. It dripped down onto her shirt, disappearing into the dark red fabric.

She made her way to the roof, to the waiting mutants. She looked at them all, fire burning in her eyes.

"So let's go."