Wanda wondered as she walked down the alley, what was everyone's sudden interest in this small town in Ohio. She had heard Magneto was here, and on her way into town she had seen the X-jet land. Xavier had an interest in this poor man's Smallville as well. Why?
"Hey baby!" Toad entered the alley behind her, hoping he went, "My sweetie, what are you doing here?"
Wanda signed, what was his boy's problem, why was he so fixated on her. "Toad!?!"
"That's right....I know you're happy to see me" He giggled as he leaped over her and blocked her from going any further down the alley. "Whatcha ya dooooing?"
"Go away" she tried to push passed him, but as she touched his shoulder she realised her mistake. "Wanda....?" he gasped. "I knew it; I knew you felt the same way"
Deception was not something Wanda believed in, but Toad may have the best way to track down Magneto. He had knack for getting in trouble. "Why are you here, Todd?" she asked in a friendly manor, she had considered flirting, but that would be too cruel, even to Toad.
"I..." he paused, he wanted to think about what Mystique had told him. "Well, Mystique is trying to bag some new mutant, a big-brain"
"That must be why the X-men are here too" she realised
"Yeah...well, she wants the guy before Magneto grabs him", Toad told her everything he knew. "I don't know why everyone's fallen for this kid"
"Toad...." she began, "Why did Mystique bring you?"
"She knows about your relationship, and figured you'd trust me", Toad continued. Wanda decided to hold back from yelling, "There is no relationship", but decided not to, she wanted to pump Toad for information.
"She told me to take you to Magneto", Toad stayed leaving the alley; "She figured you would distract him long enough for her to grab the Omega Kid".
"What about the X-men?" Wanda was sceptical, there had to be more to Mystique's plan then what she had told Toad.
"That's the beauty part. Magneto's own guys will be after them. Magneto takes out the X-men, we distract Magneto, you get to see you Daddy, and Mystique gets her boy"
"So, you're here to take me to my father", Wanda smiled, allowing Toad to lead her away from the alley.
On the building above them, two figures watched.
"I'm glad we are working together again" Magneto looked to his partner. "You have distracted Wanda long enough for the Brotherhood to grab this new mutant....good job Mystique"
Magneto looked to Mystique, he had know her a long time, and suspected there was more to this. "What are you playing Mystique?"
"I have my own reasons", she walked away
"If this about that girl..." Magneto began, "She won't come back to us, not as long as she believes Charles' lies"
"I have already lost two sons, I will not give up on her....she's too important"
Ding-dong
Jean rung the door bell. Scott stood behind her, with Rogue and Kurt. Scott found it hard to concentrate with Jean standing directly in front of him. He hoped this could be concluded quickly. If this boy knew what was right he would join the Xavier institute.
"He's not answering", Jean said
"Is he in there?" Kurt asked, "Want me to go in"
Jean explored the house with her mind, "Kurt, go in" she cried, "something's wrong"
"I'll go with you" Scott said, removing his glasses and placing the visor on over his eyes. "Hold on" Kurt teleported, leaving a puff of smoke where he and Cyclops had stood.
"Wha'd you see?" Rogue asked, walking up behind Jean.
"Someone's hurt. I felt pain"
"You're about to feel some more" Pyro arrived behind them, in time to use his super villain whit. Jean threw him back using her telekinesis. As he flew back he activated his flame throwers, driving fire towards Jean and Rogue.
Without thinking Jean threw Rogue away from the fire, while using her power to slow the flame down.
"Jean..." Rogue screamed as she flew through the air, as she landed she hit her head, and fell unconscious.
Jean fought to keep the fire back, as hard as she could, she knew her power couldn't hold it forever.
~Scott!~ she thought, ~Help me~
Before she knew what had happened, she fainted, and was consumed by the fire.
"Find anything" Kurt asked as he met Scott upstairs.
"No", Scott had his trademark frown on his face, "The boy isn't here, and I can't find any trace of his family. I was about to check that last room..."
~Scott!~ the voice of Jean ran through his head, it hurt...
"I'll check it", Kurt replied, walking away without seeing the pain Scott was going through.
"Jean" he said to himself. Suddenly he felt warm, as if his skin was on fire. "Help me!" he screamed. Falling unconscious.
