Part 12

Buffy laughed. She couldn't help it. Willow was trying very hard not to look at her or she would join in the laughter.

Buffy got herself back under control and looked over at Kitty and Tara. "I'm sorry. I really appreciate the person you got me to become but um . . . can you really see me as trying to pass myself off as someone that does finances?"

Tara started grinning. She really didn't know Buffy that well, just through her friendship with Willow but she had to admit she couldn't really see Buffy in the accounting field.

Kitty sighed. There had been one other option that would fit Buffy's physical description. "The only other one was a Stephanie that was going to join as a Business Development intern."

"What's that?"

"Marketing."

"Ooh, I could do that. I shop, I watch TV, I know what people want."

Kitty rolled her eyes, "The important term here is Business. You have to go out to the customers and tell them how great Frost International is. You might spend a lot of time OUT of the office."

Buffy nodded enthusiastically. "Even better. Not stuck in an office nine to five."

Willow nodded, "It will be okay. Buffy will probably have access to information that we won't be able to get to. I mean if she has to tag along with the sales pitch guys she'd hear rumors about the office, right? And probably about Emma in particular."

Kitty nodded, "Yep that could be good, but the bad is that she might not be close to you." Kitty didn't doubt that Willow could take care of herself. Just the little bit she had been around her she noticed Willow's sharp mind.

"True but Remy would be at the Hell Fire Club where the transformations would probably be taking place anyway. The interns are to stay at the Massachusetts Academy so we'll be together there. I doubt Emma Frost would risk doing anything at Frost International itself."

Tara had only one concern about the whole thing, "W-what would happen if they injected Buffy. I mean she's going in there as a potential mutant would the injection do anything to her Slayerness?"

"I don't think so. I have really rapid healing and that one time I took that dose of bacteria to catch that Der Kindestod at the hospital it didn't take long for my body to adjust to it."

Tara reached over and took Willow's hand, "You sure you want to do this? Hank hasn't been able to find anything that can reverse what Emma has done."

Willow squeezed Tara's hand, "I'm sure. If I do get injected I have you to show me how to control my new cool superhuman powers, right?"

Before Tara could answer Willow they were interrupted by Marie. "Sorry to interrupt but the Professor needs to see us now. They've found Pyro."

Buffy, Willow, Tara and Kitty followed Rogue to the briefing room. Remy was there all ready with Wolverine and the others.

The Professor waited for everyone to sit down, "I'm afraid there might have to be a change in plans. Buffy and Willow, John has been located with Emma in Massachusetts."

Charles waited for the implication to set in for everyone.

A muscle ticked in Wolverine's jaw while Bobby and Rogue gasped in shock.

Remy gripped Willow's hand, "When was the last time any one saw John? Did John see Willow?"

Buffy's mind was whirling. "I know we were to together at Hardcase's Place when I played pool with Logan so he knows Willow is here but I don't think he ever saw her and I know I didn't talk about her."

Marie bit her lip in concentration. She knew she talked about Willow but not with Pyro but had he overheard her conversation with Jean and Storm?

"I can do a glamour spell." Tara softly said.

"Thank you, Tara." The Professor smiled and continued, "But that won't be necessary. I was able to put an idea into Pyro's mind that he wanted to show Emma how useful he can be. A plan formed in his mind to go find a particular mutant that Emma had her eye on. Coincidentally, Logan the mutant is located very near your cabin in Canada."

The Professor smiled over at Logan who nodded. He'd go after Pyro.

Buffy just looked at the Professor with wide eyes. Lesson number one the Professor is sneakier than he lets on.

"John may not have seen me but would Pyro have told them about me?"

"I don't think so, Willow. I think he probably rushed over there to tell them about the vision that Maya saw."

"So, now they know that we know about Mystique, Emma and Magneto?"

"It's very likely, yes."

"I say we still go on with the plan."  The Xmen turned surprised eyes to Buffy.

"It's better to take the fight to the bad guys. They aren't expecting to be hit on their own turf."

Wolverine smiled at Buffy. This was a fighter. Not a strategist like the Professor and Scott.

"The stakes have gotten higher. Emma and Erik know that we know about them. Buffy you should go in first. If they suspect Willow at all you'll be able to find that out before Willow and Remy arrive."

"Can't you use that Cerebro thing and get in Emma and Magneto's mind like you did Pyro's?"

"I'm afraid not, Buffy. Erik's helmet has been able to block Cerebro and Emma has psionic energy that makes a solid shield that it is difficult for Cerebro to penetrate. Any attempt on Jean and my part would alert Emma more than she already is."

Crap. She really didn't want to go to Frost International without Willow. Buffy turned to Kitty, "Well, I guess you should fill me in on everything about this Stephanie person so I can pretend to be her." Buffy turned to the Professor, "How are we gonna pull that off anyway? Won't they get suspicious if this Stephanie shows up a week or so later wanting her intern spot?"

"Actually, Stephanie won an all expense paid trip to study in France for the summer so she won't be accepting Emma's kind offer."

Buffy and Willow followed Tara and Kitty back to their room to get all the information on Stephanie. "You know that really bites. I mean not that I want Stephanie to have turned into a mutant by Emma but do I ever get an all expense paid trip to France? Noooooo. I get demon goop for my troubles."

Willow smiled over at Buffy, "Hey, you got an all expense paid trip to New York and as an added bonus you're staying in a mansion full of some quality hotties."

Buffy perked up at that. "True. Plus I bet I can convince someone to take us shopping in New York City before this whole adventure is over."

Jubilee stuck her head out of her door as they passed, "Did someone mention shopping in the city?"

"Do you have super hearing besides those pretty fireworks?"

Kitty laughed, "Nope, she can just hear the word shopping in a five-mile radius."

Jubilee stuck her tongue out at Kitty.  Buffy grabbed Jubilee's arm and pulled her along, "I knew I liked you for a reason. So any idea who we can convince to take us on this shopping excursion?"

Jubes looked over at Willow, "Well, I'm thinking a certain Cajun would probably do anything for a certain red head."

Willow turned innocent eyes to Jubilee, "Huh. I didn't know Jean had Gambit wrapped around her finger like that. Think she'll tell me her secret?"

The girls' laughter followed them down the hall as they entered Kitty's room.