It was now five o'clock and there was no sign of Kitty Pryde. Rogue paced her room nervously as Jubilee's eyes tried to keep up with her friend's wandering form. "She jumped out of the window!" Rogue screamed, throwing up her hands in a rage, "The window! Why wouldn't she talk to Professor X?"
Jubilee shrugged to herself and then in a stern voice, "Marie, calm down! I'm sure Kitty will come back. She was probably scared to death about getting in trouble with Xavier for stealing that food. Although," she took a deep breath, "we should be censured too. I mean, we ate the food just as much as Kitty did." Jubilee watched Rogue shake her head, "No. I think there's something else going on here that we don't know about. Kitty didn't just steal food, I can tell you that. Something else went on in that kitchen."
The two girls stood or sat in silence for a moment. No sound besides the soft rustling of the leaves outside could be heard as both teenagers found themselves in deep thought.
Rogue knew something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it. A day ago, Kitty had started acting funny. Rogue tried to pass it off like it was nothing, but now it seemed unavoidable; she could not deny the feelings that she held inside of her. Kitty had appeared confused when Jubilee and herself had told her about the exams the next day. That was odd, because Kitty was always on top of things at school. She even looked forward to Exam Day to some extent!
Then there was the matter that Kitty had lagged behind on the way to their dorm room almost as if... as if she didn't know where to go. That had thoroughly confused Rogue. Kitty didn't seem like Kitty at all anymore. Had she suffered some mild amnesia somehow? 'No, that's ridiculous.' Marie thought. But then she considered another option: 'What if she was someone else? But that would mean that...'
Rogue gasped and her body sunk to her bed. Her knees became weak and she couldn't hold herself up any longer. 'To do that, the mutant would have to be a shape shifter. But...' Rogue shook her head in denial, 'was that possible? Could the real Kitty be locked up somewhere or... dead?' She gulped. That had to be it. Kitty was gone, and Mystique had taken her place. But why?
Toad slunk through the darkness and peered into uncovered windows. His agile body scurried up the building with incredible ease as he looked for anything of interest. No such luck.
There were many open windows, but most belonged to many empty rooms. Few of the windows were covered with the thick drapes that hung from metal bars connected to the ceiling.
Toad made his way around to the back of the manor. Surely, there had to be something interesting... 'Toad, let me out. This isn't funny!' Mortimer begged to be in control, but Toad had grown stronger. He sneered, "Right, and let you bugger-up the mission?"
'The mission shouldn't even be taking place, Toad!' Mortimer screamed, but Toad pretended not to hear.
Suddenly, a mechanical screech echoed through the still night. Quickly, Toad leaped to the roof and peered over the edge out onto the front lawns. His eyes darted over the area for a moment and found the source: a large, muscular man exited his truck, casually tossing aside a cigar. For a moment, Toad remained in silence, but the seriousness of the situation sunk into his brain.
The Wolverine was back.
"Bloody hell!" Toad backed away from the ledge and crouched down. 'This was not supposed to happen! Wolverine was not expected back for another day or so.' Toad's head hit his hands in distress and anger.
'I told you this mission would fail.' Mortimer scolded Toad. "Quiet you prat!" Toad's voice was full of venom as he spat out the few words. But the mutant couldn't help thinking that Mortimer was right.
Sticking to the side of the building now, Toad reached inside of his coat pocket and produced a small silver object with a tiny black button occupying the center. Toad pressed the minute button with a gloved finger and waited. There was a small beeping sound coming from somewhere below him. The green mutant snapped his head downward and saw Mystique standing there. With a loud thump he dropped to the ground.
"What the 'ell are you doin' out 'ere? You're supposed to be inside disposin' of the other mutant!" Mystique glared daggers at her comrade, "I'm sure that you've noticed the problem just as I have, Toad, or else you wouldn't have beeped me." The shape shifter held up an identical silver object to Toad's and crossed her arms.
"Wolverine is not supposed to be here. The whole mission is now in jeopardy."
