"Anyway, we'll start training early in the morning for the newest recruits and then we'll go on to the firing range and then patrol the city." Eric said going over his notes for the routine for the Silver Guardians the next day. He looked up at Alex who was staring into his coffee. "And then we'll reanimate Serpentera and take over the world." He said smiling.

Alex looked up at him. "Oh, Sorry Eric I didn't mean to ignore you. I've just got a lot on my mind."

"It's Jen isn't it?"

"Yeah, I guess well maybe." Alex said trying to control his speech.

"You still love her don't you?"

Alex nodded slowly.

"Love it's a crazy thing. Makes us do all kinds of strange things."

"Like act like a complete Jerk." Alex said staring at Eric.

"That's a start." Eric answered. "What's going on Alex? Why are you and Jen really here?"

"We're on an assignment. Jen doesn't know it but the whole future depends on the choices she makes here. She doesn't know all the details just that we're after an escaped mutant."

"And you are really after?" Eric asked leaning forward.

"Steelix. Frax has been rebuilt and stole Steelix's pod from the prison X - Vault. Now Steelix is still after Jen and I brought her here to protect her. But I failed. Just before the ship was hit by lightning which is an unusual thing in the time slip I saw a figure outside. I had thought it was just a shadow but now I realize who or what it was."

"Steelix." Eric said reading his thoughts.

"Yes, He's after Jen and we have to stop him without letting her know that he is here in the past. If he destroys Jen the future is going to change dramatically."

"And you're here to stop it?"

"I don't know." Alex answered finishing his coffee. "I just know I am here and now my destiny and the destiny of everyone in the future depends on Jen."

The next morning-

"Are you sure this is safe?" Jen said looking at the pool with trepidation.

"We're positive." Dana answered coming over to the side of the pool "You're ready for this. Because of your unusual body chemistry your body has taken days to do what it would take a normal human month maybe years to do. This is the next step."

"I'll be right behind you." Carter said picking her up out of the wheelchair.

Jen felt uncomfortable being in anyone but Wes' arms. She knew Carter was very capable or he wouldn't be helping Dana. Maybe it was the fact that she was in a bathing suit or maybe it was the fact she actually needed help. The cool water felt good on her skin she actually thought she felt it on her legs. "I must be imagining things." She thought.

Carter carried Jen over to where a set of parallel bars were set up in the pool. "Now what you're going to want to do here is use your arms to carry your weight and put your feet down on the bottom of the pool." He explained.

"And then we'll work on standing for a few days and then maybe take a few steps." Dana concluded.

"All right, I'll try." Jen stammered. The bars were slippery and she held on tightly. She felt Carter let her legs go down.

"Ok now your feet are on the bottom of the pool. Can you feel them?" Dana asked.

Jen shook her head.

"Try to put them together as if you were standing. The water is going to bear a majority of your weight making it easier for you to stand." Dana continued.

Jen ordered her feet to put themselves together.

"Good, Now Carter is going to come up behind you and put his hands on your waist and then you're going to let go when I tell you."

"Okay." Jen said concentrating. She felt Carter's hands on her hips.

"All right Jen let go." Dana ordered.

Jen slowly let go of the bars.

"Now I'm going to have Carter let go." Dana said.

She felt Carter's hands leave her hips. She was alone now standing in the pool. She was sweating. Suddenly she wavered and her legs collapsed out from under her quickly dropping her underwater. Jen panicked but as quickly as she went under Carter pulled her up.

"It's all right Jen I have you." Carter said feeling Jen's body trembling in his arms.

"Dammit!" She cried tears stinging her eyes.

"Jen! You did it! You stood up!" Wes cried hurrying into the pool area.

"How long have you been there?" Jen asked trying to wipe away the tears so he wouldn't see.

"Long enough to see you stand up for a full minute." He answered.

"And there will be many more minutes to come." Dana said reassuringly.

"Do you want to try again?" Carter asked.

"N-no."

"That's all right. It's always hard the first time and I've seen a lot of people do the same thing you did on their first try." Dana said soothingly.

"Why don't we get you into the whirl pool? It'll help keep the circulation going in your legs." Carter offered.

"I think I've had enough of the water for one day." Jen answered quickly.

"What about if I go in with you Jen?" Wes suggested. "I won't let anything happen to you. Do you trust me?"

"Yeah I trust you." Jen said slowly.

"All right, let me go get a swimsuit on and I will join you in the whirlpool Okay?"

Jen nodded.

As Wes turned to leave the pool area his communicator lit up.

"Wes we need you. We've got a mutant loose on the promenade." Eric's voice crackled thorough. "He's taking out the Silver Guardians. We need backup fast!"

Wes looked at Carter and Dana. They nodded. "I'll be right there." He answered. Carter eased Jen back into the wheelchair. She was shivering so Dana put a heavy blanket on her.

"I'll take care of Jen. You should go help Wes and Eric." Dana said to Carter.

"Are you sure?"

"Carter go." Jen answered "We'll be fine."

"All right." He said running out of the pool area.

"Dana you should go too." Jen said taking her hand. "I'll be all right. The city needs you."

"Let me at least get you to your room." Dana offered

"I can do it myself." Jen said. "Go."

Dana looked at Jen she wasn't sure what to do. Jen nodded at her. She nodded back.

"Light Speed Rescue"

Jen watched longingly as Dana morphed. "Be careful guys." She said quietly.