*A/N: Look! An Author's Note! Lol... I hope that all of you are enjoying reading the sequel as much as the first one! So did everyone see X2? Pretty wicked, huh? I saw it twice- once on opening night and then again on Saturday. Hehehe... awesome stuff. Anyway, Enjoy the next chapter, and if you have time: Can you try to read my new fic: 'Rogue'? (Ikobe, I think you would like it!) I understand if you're not interested in that stuff... but it would be nice! Oh well, time to get readin'!

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John sat blankly against one of the padded walls and looked at the opposite wall in front of him. For who knows how long, he hadn't blinked, he hadn't moved, and his breathing was very subtle. Only his thoughts seemed to move at all.

Mystique. Mystique was alive. What were they going to do to him?

But the thoughts only made everything worse. His situation was not one to envy and he was still puzzled about why he was even in this predicament in the first place. He barely had time to ponder this further when the solid metal door creaked open and three men, clad in white suits, appeared. Pyro looked up with no expression on his face. He felt the men lift him up, felt the touch of the gloves on his skin, but he did not say a word, nor did he object. All he wanted to do was escape.

The three pairs of rough hands dragged him down the long corridor and led him into another room. This one was the same blinding white as everything else- exactly the same. If he hadn't gotten used to the pristine and sanitary sights, he might have gone blind. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: was anyone in as much pain as he was? The thought then was savagely forced out of his mind as Pyro's body was flung through another door and into different room.

The metallic click of the steel lock on the heavy door sounded and Pyro took in his surroundings.

This room wasn't white. "Thank God," Pyro muttered to himself. There was furniture around but scarcely; huge replicas of buildings had been constructed here and it appeared to be New York City. John narrowed his eyes as he inspected each structure with his fingertips, running his hands lightly over the carved wood and metal. It was only then when he realized how extensive the room really was.

There was central park.

Pyro curiously inspected each tree and felt the mock-wood that they were so intricately composed of. Every perfect flaw had been noted; every branch had been given its wonderful imperfections. John felt he could have lost himself inside the thick foliage when a loud voice flooded his ears from a hidden intercom:

"Well, well, well, Mr. Allerdyce. I'm glad to see you up and ready. We shall begin the trials in a matter of moments; you need not to worry."

As quickly as it had come, the voice vanished from audibility. John stood with his hand laying absently on a tree-replica. 'Trials?' He thought worriedly. 'They're going to...' And then realization hit.

This wasn't an insane asylum.

This wasn't a prison.

This was a laboratory of some kind, and he was the experiment.

John gulped and furiously whipped his head around, looking for an escape route. There were vents on the ceilings, but way out of reach. The ceiling must have been thirty feet high; there was no way that he could reach them! Even if he could, he didn't know where they led, and he certainly didn't know the way out. Frantically, the mutant ran to the opposite side of the containment area and groped at the walls, searching for something, anything, that resembled a way to escape. Sadly, the room was sealed perfectly, and alas, the fire had been captured.

___

Logan lied languidly on his bed, both arms flung to either side of him and his legs hanging off each side of the bed. Screw modesty- he was tired! Inhaling deeply, he took his sweet time releasing the air. Each sweet breath flowed out of him as his naked chest rose and fell methodically. Relaxation claimed his entire body until, "LOGAN!"

Immediately, the Wolverine sprung up and ran to the door, his mind fiercely reeling with questions about what had happened. Flinging open the door, he came face to face with Rogue, Storm, and Jean Grey. None of them had worried or horrified expressions. Logan frowned at each of the women and practically growled, "What is it?" The tone of his voice could have bit through his adamantium claws as he glared at the mutants in front of him, but none of the three even flinched.

"Hey, Logan, we were all gonna high-tail it and go see John. The Professor knows where he is and we just thought we'd pay him a visit... Gee, you look angry! What's wrong, shugah?" Rogue winked at him but Wolverine just rolled his eyes, "Yeah, sure. I'll come with; I don't mind seein' the kid."

"Great! I'll go get Bobby!" Logan watched as Rogue ran back down the hallway and out of sight. Storm and Jean now stood before him. "Logan, you don't have to come with us if you don't want to. We just figured since we haven't seen him in so long..."

"I'll go," Wolverine cut in. "There's nothin' else to do; just uh..." He looked down at himself and noticed his particular lack of clothing. Only a pair of jeans accented his body and nothing more. "...let me get dressed." As he walked away he heard the two women snicker behind his back but he only rolled his eyes, "Women."

In roughly an hour, the group of five mutants arrived at John's apartment. Logan brought the car to a stop and looked upward. "Is this the place?" Ororo held up the small piece of paper and replied, "Yes. This is it; the Professor wrote it down exactly. He should be here." Silently, they all poured out of the vehicle and walked up the stairs (some evidently more excited than others).

When each mutant had reached the indicated door, Jean knocked and they all waited.

And waited.

Nothing.

Jean knocked again.

Still, nothing.

"Maybe he's at work," Bobby supplied, his voice faint and unsure. Jean shook her head, "No, the Professor gave us exact information. He should be here." Every mutant exchanged glances and it was silently decided that something was not right. Wolverine gestured everyone away from the door as he positioned himself in front of it. With one sound kick the door fell, defeated to the carpet inside.

"You know, I could have just unlocked the door," Jean smirked at Logan. He only gave her a playful smile, "Yeah, but my way is so much more fun."

Cautiously, Wolverine entered first. He didn't sense anything out of the ordinary, so his claws stayed inside of him. But at the slightest hint of danger, they would be unsheathed and his fury would be unleashed upon all who threatened them. Everyone spun around as Jean began to speak.

"Another mutant was here. John answered the door for them... but something went wrong." Bobby and Rogue stood petrified, but Storm and Logan stepped toward her. "Jean? What else happened?" Dr. Grey simply shook her head, "I'm not sure. Wait..." She closed her eyes and focused her mutation on John.

Her mind seemed to fly in every direction, branching off to every corner of the world. Then in a flash, every sensor joined together and formed one straight telepathic line toward one area. A bright circle of energy and light surrounded the one point in her mind and suddenly it all disappeared. Jean's eyes flashed open as she breathed heavily, "He's been taken by someone... he's in trouble."

Storm immediately stepped forward, "Jean, do you know where he is?" Her beautiful voice stung with fear and anxiousness. Jean nodded her head, "I believe I could lead us there, but I really can't be sure. It's been a while since he first left. I can say that much for sure; his aura is strong in this house, but still diminished."

Each of the five mutants nodded. They were going to save Pyro.

___

John now stood in the center of the room, his eyes full of hatred. Why were they doing this? What were they planning to do? His every question would soon be answered as the voice boomed over the loud speaker once again:

"Mr. Allerdyce: Trial will begin in five, four, three, two, one..."