Thank you reviewers. As previously stated, I live to read them. Any questions/comments, feel free to drop me a line at marthehoffmann@hotmail.com OK, here we go…

Disclaimer: Never will own 'em, don't really think that's possible with a dollar a week allowance…don't sue. (even though it is highly doubtful in my mind that any marvel staff would be at this site reading my fic.

Chapter 5

Marrow's POV

When I reached the west corridor, everyone was already assembled outside, as if they were waiting for me. A pack of dogs waiting for the cat.

"Sarah, this is the Danger Room, where you will complete a certain number of hours allotted each week in training," said the professor wheeling up behind.

I acknowledged his words swiftly, afraid to fail to look one place while I may be attacked from another.

The team began filing in, for some reason, half of them carting bags of popcorn, chips, soda, and any other kind of junk food conceivable. A pile was built up along the side wall, and chairs were drawn up, much to the disapproval of Logan, who stood waiting for Xavier to give the word to begin with his arms folded.

The professor finished his chat with Storm in undertones before giving a meaningful look to Logan.

"Right. The object is ta seek out the rest o' the team in a landscape of MY choosing, and try ta render them defenseless without killing anyone We will introduce ya one at a time to the landscape, and giving ya all time to hide without your peers viewing. Powers are fair game. Now if you'll turn to the wall…"

I really don't know what to make of him.

This was a game of thumbs up seven up. Logan tapped me on the shoulder, and pointed towards the hatch that would take me down to the belly of the beast: the innards of the Danger Room. I walked swiftly, not wanting to show the fear that I was feeling inside, slightly embarrassed that I was feeling this way. Probably needn't have bothered. I know now that he could smell my emotions reeling off of me, like flies on a dead rat carcass down in the sewers where I once lived.

As I stepped in, all I saw was a huge, rolling cityscape: a concrete jungle. Were they joking? This was too perfect…half my life had been spent wading through the muck and grime in alleyways after dark. Hah…I knew how to find the best hiding places in any city…uh oh.

I saw a fiery red head walk right past my alley…and then backtrack. I sunk into the shadows next to a trash can full of rotting garbage. The smell didn't bother me…but it bothered red…

"Ugh! Yuck that's disgusting…"

I pinned her pretty hands right above her head, and stuck two in the fabric that enveloped her legs for good measure.

"That's a GOOD pretty girl. You stay nice and still now, and keep nice and quiet for Sarah. I'll be back…"

"SCOTT! KURT, EVAN, KITTY, SOMEBODY!!! She's here!!!!"

I lifted my hand to put a red mark on that face of hers, when a mechanical voice rang out through the area, reverberating.

"Interference. Jean Gray no longer operational. Terminate her from program."

I smirked…I won't deny it.

"So…being a self righteous bitch has its consequences, eh red?"

She sent those bone shafts flying right back at me, before leaving the danger room. I didn't care…because I could hear her getting a tongue lashing from Logan…something that I KNEW I wouldn't want.

"YOU DO NOT GIVE AWAY YOUR POSITION!!! That's the whole point of the EXERCISE Jean…"

My Jubilation was short lived.

"Güten tag, fraulein!"

Tendrils of smoke and brimstone encased me, as with a soft BAMF the blue boy, Kurt appeared. I feel guilty about what I said…he can't help his appearance…but I was being manipulative. Great…that's the way to defend yourself. 'I was being manipulative.'

I knew that I couldn't deal with him the same way I dealt with red…HE had a brain. I surveyed him analytically. His large, yellow eyes were narrowed in suspicion, his legs bent almost into a crouching position. His hands were ready to attack if I did, and his tail was tensed up, looking for a way to help. Perfect white fangs, glinting in the flashing of the neon lights above our heads were bared in a snarl.

I held in my hands two bone sheaths which I had pulled out of my back moments before. I made as if to spring on him, while only digging the deadly sharp weapons into the wall and starting to scale it.

He followed me. I guess I found out why they call him Nightcrawler

*SHIT*

He was obviously a lot more skilled at this than I, and soon caught me. His tail wrapped around my waist, tightening just enough to force the air out of my lungs. Unfortunately…with no air muscles don't work. As aforementioned, my bonegrowth is random. Yet…as I was trying desperately to get loose…was it a simple fluke that a sharp belt of spikes started to grow out of my waist? Well, fluke or no fluke, it hurt him. I fell ten feet, and landed cat-like on my feet. NO WAY was I going to stay there. I headed out of there. I'd rather make my way out into the open then be there when Kurt regains consciousness.

I took off running down the street, looking only briefly over my shoulder to see if Kurt had gotten up. It was only those brief three seconds that Spyke needed.

"Hey, bonehead. Over here."

Reluctant beyond all reason, I turned to look him in the face. I set my jaw and tried to look tough, but the truth was, he KNEW how to control his power, and I didn't.

He grinned. He was going to win, and he knew it. This was his ground, he knew the city above ground at least as well as I did. Unless…

"You gotta catch me, city boy!"

I set off at a sprint, as fast as I could go. I ran until my lungs felt as though they were on fire and my chest burned, but I didn't stop. I could hear his footsteps behind me, heavily pounding, closer by the millisecond.

"Oh thank God."

I saw what I needed. A Manhole.

Prising the top off quickly, I had just enough time to grin at Evan and blow him a mock kiss before slipping below ground and pulling the cover back on behind me. Seconds after I got down the stepladder, I heard the cover rattling above my head. None of that mattered no, though. I was HOME, back where I belonged. For the time being, at least.

Evan broke the cover off, and headed down that ladder like there was no tomorrow. I saw his nose wrinkle at the stench that I had become immune to years ago.

I jumped into the sludge without a second thought, and ran through it, watching the rats scurry away in my wake. The city boy hesitated for too long. I was into the tunnels, and he would never find me. It was like a maze, and I was the Minotaur. If he was smart, he would turn back, before I ate him alive.

He threw a furtive glance down the tunnel that I had SEEMINGLY disappeared down, and resigned, climbed back up the ladder.

"Coward," I hissed from behind him.

After I got out of my beloved sewers, everything else just…flowed. No one else was much of a challenge, all being used to 'teamwork' and being separated make them weaklings.

I got rid of Scott with a paperclip 'grappling hook' to his visor. I wonder if he ever found it? Well, now that I'd reduced the great and powerful team leader to covering his eyes with has hands, and groping around on the cold, rocky asphalt for his glasses, I KNEW the rest of the team would be a cinch.

"Scotty, to your left," I whispered, indicating the building where I had left the object of his desire.

"Yeah, right."

I left, doubled over with laughter.

This was beginning to get fun….

Rahne's power was absolutely no use in the city. Her wolfish form was of no use, and without it…she ran like a flatscan.

I left Bobby by the heat vent. Oh, well, he'll pull himself back together eventually.

And so it continued, person after person after person disposed of. The x-men were a cinch to take care of when divided…I've got to remember that. Knowledge of strength and weakness always come in handy. Everyone in fact had fallen…all except for one.

Gambit.

"Well, dis be a surprise, chére. De new femme be de one ta beat the rest, but you got a lot to learn. You neva gonna beat Gambit!"

"Well…finally…one person who has a little spark!"

"Oh…I be more of a flame den a spark. Watch.!"

From some little pocket in that long, brown trenchcoat, he extracted a card…which moments later came whistling through the dark at me.

"MISSED!"

He smirked as the plastic pipe came crashing down onto me, pinning me to the ground. Inwardly, I was marveling at the cleverness of his action, but I would never admit it.

"Like I said chére, you got a lot to learn."

He offered me his hand, and I took it, strangely not feeling TERRIBLE about losing. Just REALLY bad.

Logan met us at the door on our way out.

"Good job, you two. Great workout!" he said, though a little gruffly. I looked up at the Cajun, and at the last moment, when his red-on black eyes met mine, I looked away though a lingering smile stayed on my lips afterwards.

I think I'm gonna fit in here. Just maybe.

Okay guys, that was it! REVIEW! If an author can take the time to write the fic, the least you can do is review it.