Alright, I'm gonna admit something right now. I'm bad at German accents, so, uh, just imagine Kurt has his accent. Thanks! --- Numb, he felt completely numb as he slowly blinked his eyes open. Panic flooded him like a raging river and he leapt off the hard metal table, feet connecting with a cold metal floor seconds before the rest of his body did. Strangely no pain followed but he knew that was because he couldn't feel anything at all. Wide-eyed and terrified he looked around the room as his fear grew and grew.

"Glad to see you are finally awake." A voice spoke from the doorway.

Terrified like a cornered animal, the teenage mutant shifted his wide green eyes toward the speaker. Finding a chocolate skinned, white-haired woman standing just inside the room he felt his heart pick up its pace a bit. It was obviously an infirmary, but how he had gotten there was beyond him. A scared, yet slightly threatening growl escaped him as he scrambled back as quick as he could.

"Calm down, you need not fear me." The woman said soothingly.

*It's alright Child, I can take over from here.* Normal said.

Child could put up no fight against the stronger personality and was forced out of control. The young mutant looked around the room once more and then back at the woman. "Where am I? Who're you?"

"You're safe." A male voice spoke up as a man in a wheelchair rolled in. "I'm Professor Xavier and this is Ororo Munroe."

*Yeah right!* Psycho snorted.

*For once we agree on that.* Normal replied.

"Safe? How do I know you're not gonna skin me for my fur?" The mutant retorted suspiciously.

"You have been unconscious for three days. That is plenty of time to have skinned you." Ororo answered.

"You are safe here Brody. Safer than you have ever been." Xavier said.

Brody's eyes widened even more as a complete stranger spoke his name. It was strange to hear as no one had called him by his real name in years. He had even come to believe his name was Freak, Monster, Gargoyle, or Demon as many times as he heard those insulting names. For a moment he thought of correcting the Professor, but decided against it.

"You--you don't care that I'm a monster, a demon, a freak of nature?" Brody asked, his voice quite a bit softer than before.

"No Brody, all are welcome here. You are not any of those things. You are a mutant and that is nothing to be ashamed of." Xavier explained gently.

*Government! This is the government place!* Psycho exclaimed. *You've let us get taken by the government again!*

Brody's eyes widened again, a look of realization crossing his face. His whole body tensed, black-feathered wings spreading out. His tail whipped around angrily behind him and he bared his fangs in a menacing way. His eyes burned like green fire and electricity sparked out of them.

"I know what this is! This is some kind of governmental facility! Well you've done enough, you're not taking me back!" Brody roared furiously.

*Take over Animal, get us the hell out of here!* Normal ordered.

Neither adult had a chance to reply as he barreled right at them. The electricity from his eyes began revolving around his body and reached out to zap Ororo as he neared them. She flew back and hit the wall hard. Xavier quickly moved his chair out of the way and Brody slammed himself right through the door.

In the hall a big man with metal blades protruding from his hands cut Brody off. Now in complete survival and escape mode Brody attacked fiercely. The man put his blades away and instead lunged at the black furred mutant, but Brody was too agile. Crouched on all fours Brody leapt straight over his attacker and ran down the hall as fast as he could. He felt a pang of déjà vu but ignored it as there was suddenly two more people in his way, this time teenagers like him.

Suddenly he was floating in the air, still trying to run on all fours but of course going no where. When he realized this he suddenly came back to awareness and realized that he had been so focused on escaping he hadn't realized he was being talked to.

".safe now. You're among friends."

It was a nice calm and soothing female voice speaking to him. Blinking a few times Brody relaxed and looked around once more. The rough looking guy with the metal blades was behind him along with Professor Xavier and Ororo. In front of him was a girl with long red hair and compassionate green eyes. Beside her was a boy with brown hair and a pair of ruby colored sunglasses.

"This is far from a government facility Brody. However, if you do not want to stay you are free to leave." Xavier said.

*He's lying.* Psycho sneered.

*Maybe not.* Normal replied.

*You're such a fucking loser Normal! You're going to get us killed you stupid bastard!*

*And who was the idiot that thought we should steal chicken for dinner! You just don't fucking think you asshole! It's your fault those redneck goons spotted us!*

*And it was your idea to run instead of let me kill them!*

*Stop fighting. Fighting bad, fight scare Child.* The young personality whimpered.

*Grrrr.* Animal growled in agreement.

Brody was starting to get a headache. He was so confused about what was going on. One moment he was getting dragged by rednecks and the next he was in a completely new place surrounded by strangers that insisted he was safe. Was he safe though? His instincts told him he was, but his paranoia told him he would never be safe. Never be safe. How could he be safe when he looked like a black furred demon? He was something straight out of people's worst nightmares.

"I'm not safe. I'm not safe anywhere." Brody said softly. "Always hunted, always in danger, never safe."

He was getting upset again. He felt like a caged animal with three on one side and two on the other. The one still had his blades out and he had a feeling the others were just as dangerous as him. Here they were telling him lies to get him to relax, to calm down and make him vulnerable.

*You are in no danger here Brody. Please calm down.*

Brody's reaction was something completely opposite to what Xavier had expected. Whereas most mutants calmed down or became curious about the voice, Brody's eyes flared bright green and he was suddenly in a wild rage.

*It's the voice again! I told you we aren't safe!* Psycho yelled.

"NOT THE VOICE! STAY AWAY FROM ME! I WON'T BE CONTROLLED!"

With that Brody charged toward the two blocking his escape and was slightly surprised as they jumped out of his way instead of trying to stop him. He kept going as fast as he could, too afraid to look back and see if he was being followed. Swinging around the corner he came to a stop as fast as he could to avoid running into a blue creature that had just appeared in his way. Breathing hard he looked into calm yellow eyes and felt himself start to calm down just a little as he backed a few steps away.

"Calm down, you're safe here. If I can be safe here, surely you can as well."

*What? No questions about if we're really safe?* Normal questioned when Psycho made no skeptical remark.

*Well...he is fuzzy like us.* Psycho said. *Maybe, um, maybe we are finally safe.*

Brody stared at the speaker, not at all frightened by the blue demon in front of him. Rather he was awed at the beauty of the blue fur and indigo hair that almost hid soft yellow eyes. At second look he realized the demon looked more elvish, with the exception of the tail of course.

"I'm Kurt Wagner and you are?"

"Brody Pierce." The black furred mutant replied. "What is this place?"

"This is the Institute for Gifted Youngsters." Kurt answered. "It's a place for mutants to learn about their powers as well as how to control them."

"Then this isn't a government place?"

"Nein, far from it."

Brody sat back on his haunches much like a cat would. "Then, I really am safe?"

"Ja, probably as safe as you're going to get." Kurt replied with a friendly smile.

*Ugh, he may be fuzzy, but this guy is much too.sugary for me.* Psycho commented. *You need to find us a bad boy, y'know like that gruff guy with the blades.*

*Don't even tell me you think that guy is cute.* Normal groaned.

*Well...he needs some fur.*

*Oh shut up, I don't wanna hear this, ya hear me? I like Kurt.he's got a cute accent and...well...he's probably the only one in this place that halfway understands what we've been through.*

Kurt was about to say something else when Brody's stomach rumbled fiercely. Instead he laughed and took a step toward the mutant that looked for all the world like a gargoyle. He watched as the black furred mutant took a step back.

"Hungry, huh?" Kurt said with another laugh.

"Yeah, but I don't want to trouble you." Brody replied.

"You're no trouble. You can't possibly eat more than me."

"If you can then we're in trouble." A voice said from behind.

*Grrr.* Animal snarled.

*Calm down buddy. We're safe here, remember.*

*And if not, I can just zap them all, right?* Psycho asked hopefully.

*No kill. Kill bad.* Child scolded.

*Shut up you brat! I'm tired of your whimpering!*

*GRRRRRRRRRRRR!* Animal growled in response, somewhat protective of the young personality.

Brody turned to look at the people behind him. Despite the arguments going on in his head he kept an emotionless mask over his face and eyes. For one reason or another Normal really did feel safe. He was pretty sure that reason came in the form of the blue furred mutant standing behind him.

"I'm Scott. This is Jean and Logan." The boy with the rose quartz sunglasses said.

"I'm Brody." He said politely. He then turned his green eyes over to Ororo and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry for the shock ma'am."

*Kiss ass.* Psycho taunted.

"It's alright. I understand you are scared." Ororo replied kindly.

"Now, if you are feeling a little more relaxed, why don't we have Kurt show you to the kitchen and then maybe around the Institute." Xavier spoke up. "When you are done I would like to talk with you, if that is alright with you."

"Depends on what you want to talk about." Brody replied cautiously.

"I will not make you talk about anything you do not wish to." Xavier assured him.

*He's lying.* Psycho snarled.

*Shut it you, I don't wanna hear you flapping your mouth.* Normal snapped.

*I haven't got a mouth.*

*Be quiet smartass!*

*Better than being a dumbass.*

Sensing Brody's hesitation, Xavier quickly spoke up. "Why don't you eat first, then you can decide if you feel like talking?"

"Okay." Brody agreed softly.

Xavier watched Kurt and Brody walk away. Something about Brody's mind puzzled the professor. Unlike any other mind he had ever come across Brody seemed to have four different personalities, four distinct presences. It was as if four people were inside that one mind. He was puzzled, yet excited by this new turn of events. Something told him being around Brody was going to be an interesting experience.