A/N: In response to a review from CalmSerene in the last story, regarding Jacqueline. I have nothing against her and I was sad when she died. I almost changed the ending to bring her back, but I decided against it. Hope that answers your question. Thanks for the review and please keep them coming!

Prologue (continued)

SEPTEMBER 2003

There were four of them, all mutants, in their teens, dressed in ordinary casual clothes, standing in a rough line in front of the mahogany desk. Each of them was listening attentively to the old man sitting behind it.

"Neil," Professor Charles Xavier was saying. "I told you during the summer that there was only one other mutant in the world who was like you, who could reach the same level of power that you yourself will achieve. I have not as yet told you anything about him, but I believe that time is now. I have agreed to your wish to let your friends hear about this as well."

Neil Rosiçky nodded, "Thank you, sir."

"I'm afraid there isn't a lot I can tell you," said Xavier. "I've been using Cerebro to try to find out more about him, but that cannot tell me everything. My power is not what it once was. What I do know is that he is a mutant of immense power, but one that was not born with it. Like you, he must have been subjected to mutation implants as a baby. Probing his thoughts has proved extremely difficult – for the moment I don't know why – so I haven't been able to tell much about him as a person. He may not even know he is a mutant."

"Do you know his name?" asked Chloe Scott, her hand tightening slightly around Neil's.

"His name is Constantine Matthews. Neil, it may or may not be a coincidence that the man who used to work alongside your father was also called Matthews."

"One of my father's fellow geneticists, you mean?"

"That's right. Matthews, Van Gaarde and your father were the three who first devised mutation implant treatment. As far as I know, you and his son Constantine are the only two of their experimental subjects who are still alive."

A frown crossed the face of Felicity Arkwright, "So who's more powerful, Neil or this Constantine guy?"

"I don't know," said Xavier. "I can't tell exactly what powers Constantine has. Besides, the true level of their power will not be known until they are at least 18."

"How old is he?" Neil asked.

"The same as you. In fact, you were born on exactly the same day."

"What are you going to do about Constantine?" Chris Garcia asked.

Xavier sat in thought for a moment, then said, "I would like the four of you to try and get in touch with him. It's imperative that we contact him before Magneto or anybody else finds out his true potential."

"Why us?" said Chloe.

"Because Constantine will be most likely to listen to people his own age. Also because he lives very close to where three of you used to live in Edinburgh. And lastly because I am considering making the four of you full members of the X-Men, despite the fact that none of you is yet 18 years of age."

He watched as the four teenagers exchanged glances; Neil and Chloe drew slightly closer together; Felicity flashed an excited grin at an intrigued-looking Chris.

"So this is a test?" Chris asked.

"You could see it that way. Being an X-Man is not just about being able to fight for freedom and strive for peace. It's also about teaching others to believe in the same things. If you four can convince Constantine of our beliefs, and ensure that he does not fall into darkness – and I'm confident you can – then I will know you are ready."

When they had left the office, Xavier sat and reflected for several moments. Had he made the right decision? Were the four of them ready to act alone? He knew they were all powerful, and had all had plenty of experience using their gifts. Hopefully this mission wouldn't require anything other than meeting up with Constantine and talking to him, but still the Professor didn't want to take any chances. He knew that Neil, with his multiple powers, was virtually invincible, as he had proved numerous times in the past, and with the others alongside him there was little they should be afraid of.

But Neil had a weakness, a terrible fragility, that he himself knew nothing about. If that weakness were exploited, Xavier knew that it might unleash a sequence of events that could destroy everything he had ever worked for. It was a risk that the Professor was taking, trusting that Neil would not let his weakness get the better of him. It wasn't the first risk he had taken with this boy; after all, he had trusted Neil not to use his powers to his own advantage and to the world's detriment, without knowing what kind of person he was. That risk had proved to be the right decision, since Neil had agreed with Xavier's beliefs and had joined the X-Men to help promote peace. The Professor hoped desperately that taking this second risk would also turn out to be the right choice. For if he was wrong, and Neil gave in to his weakness, it could be the end of the world as they knew it, and nobody would be able to do a thing about it.