AN: Okay, I haven't written a chapter for this fic in forever. That was because I got stuck in Nova Roma. This chapter will be a re-pickup. It will also be the appearance of Shade, who I've been hinting at. This is also the introduction of Karma, who was in the original New Mutants comic (Marvel Graphic Novel #4, 1982) in the very beginning. I'm trying to keep her true to the comic, but still remake her for the Evolution universe.

First Missions

From the Shadows

A scream ripped through the never-silent night air of New York City. Nobody paid much attention; it was common in their atmosphere. Nobody rushed to the aid of the screamer.

Nobody rushed, but someone did stop to help. This person was only interested because he knew the voice. The skinny, awkward boy was passing the alleyway at the time.

The screamer was one Xi'an Coy Manh, a Vietnamese immigrant, new to the Apple. She hadn't known not to wander around the city.

She had screamed for a reason. Maybe it was because of the two men standing over her brother with clubs.

The boy watching the scene suddenly vanished. Not meaning he turned and ran, he just disappeared.

"Filthy mutie! Die!" yelled the men, beating the Asian boy.

Xi'an screamed again. "Tran!" she cried out to her twin. He didn't answer. He didn't move at all.

The attackers turned to her. "You can do the same thing as your brother, can't you, mutant?" asked one.

She froze. If she said yes, they would surely kill her, too. If she said no...

But Xi'an didn't have to answer. Her shadow started moving on its own.

"What the...?"

It was a little different looking that Xi'an: one, it had curly hair that was a lot shorter than the shoulder-length that Xi'an styled every morning. Two, it had visible eyes, glowing an evil red.

The two bullies prepared themselves. They weren't sure of the girl's powers, maybe this was one. The shadow began to step away from the wall, becoming more than just darkness. It was definitely not Xi'an's shadow. This was a masculine figure. It was taller than her, it had a bigger build, and that curly hair was not hers.

But this was not one of Xi'an's powers. She was just as surprised as the larger youths. Even so, she recognized it...

The shadow stepped toward the other young men. One rushed at him, arms spread for what looked like a not-so-friendly hug. The silhouette didn't try to dodge, but held out an arm. The attacker hit the outstretched limb and froze. What felt like ice entered his chest where the fist had gone straight through.

He pulled backwards. "You're a freak, too!" he gasped.

The red eyes showed almost amusement at the statement. "You might say that," it said from no apparent mouth. From its belt, it pulled out another shadow; this one was long and pointy.

"What's with the toothpick, Shadow-Boy?"

The dark one twirled the sword in his hand. "It's Shade." Then he proceeded to jab it into the man's chest.

Xi'an screamed again. "It's okay, Shan," said Shade. "It's only a shadow."

But to the guy on the receiving end of the weapon, it wasn't "only a shadow". The cold rushed through his entire body. It wasn't exactly like ice, but it was like space, where there is no warmth. He crumpled, unconscious.

Shade re-sheathed his sword and eyed the other man. "Your turn?"

Attacker number two fainted.

Xi'an stood up from her corner and asked, "Who are you?"

"Well, I was expecting a thank-you," replied the shadow. Then it became human, shrinking slightly. It was the thin boy that had heard the scream.

"Jim?" asked Xi'an. They were both in several classes together in junior high.

"Yeah, it's me." Jim walked over to Tran, the beaten boy lying on the ground. He bent down and placed to fingers to the body's neck. "I'm sorry, Shan. He's dead." (Since they had trouble pronouncing Xi'an, most people called her Shan.)

Xi'an sobbed, "If he hadn't used his powers to take advantage of people..." Her voice broke off.

Jim put his arm over her shoulders. "I'll walk you home," he said. "Why are you over in this part of town, anyway?"

"Those guys chased us," replied the girl through the tears that were still streaming down her face. "Why were you over here?"

"Well, I kinda... ran away from home," he said sheepishly.

Xi'an turned and stood in front of him. "What happened?"

"You know how my parents feel about mutants... My powers showed up and I figured there would be a lot less trouble if I left."

"Oh, and what's with the sword?"

Shade grinned and pulled it out. It was a cheap, dollar-and-fifty-cent, plastic piece of junk. "I can turn it into shadow, and it does a lot more damage."

She gave a small laugh, retaking her position at his side as they walked. He kept making jokes, trying to cheer her up. It helped a little, but Xi'an kept crying.

When they reached her house, Jim changed back into a shadow. Before his head blackened, Shan leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. "Thanks, Jim."

He wobbled a little as she walked to the door. She turned and gave a very weak smile and a little wave to the retreating darkness.

* * *

"That'll be $13.67," said the cashier. Jim handed her a twenty. She gave him the change and the bag. He walked out into the sun, squinting against its brilliance. It was almost down, but the last rays were almost as bad as noon. Shade then dashed into an alley next to the sports wear store he had just come out of.

Shifting yet again to his darker look, he slid up the wall, joining with those cast by the other buildings. This was a part of his power: hiding inside other shadows. The only downside was that his eyes turned red and glowed, shining brightly.

On the roof of the building, the remaining light finally died, and Jim could roam freely without having to "shadow-jump", as he had named it. He usually had to do this because of hobos and gangs that used roofs as homes or meeting areas. There was no moon; they couldn't see him.

He jumped down to the ground after a few blocks, fusing slightly with the ground as a shock absorber. Jim had landed in a side-street with a few abandoned boxes.

He opened up the plastic sack he held and pulled out a pair of black gloves and some equally-dark jeans. He flipped over one of the boxes and dumped the rest of his gear out: a black shirt, his sword, and a black knit ski cap.

Shade pulled on the shirt. It was almost a sweater and had red stripes running down the sleeves and encircled right above the elbow. He quickly fused out of his blue jeans and into the black ones, just in case a hobo walked into the alley. He put on the hat over his "white man's 'fro" and the gloves over his darkly-tanned hands.

He knew that he didn't know much about his powers, but what he did know could be used to keep deaths like Tran's from happening.

He slid up the wall and into the night.

* * *

"Psst! Shan!"

It was about half a month later. Xi'an woke to see that now-familiar black shape sitting at her windowsill. "Jim!" she whispered. She sat up as he stepped inside.

"What's been happening?" he asked.

"Well, you were on the news. They say you helped with a drug bust last night."

"Yeah, I showed up, kicked a few butts. That sorta thing. Listen, I just got a tip from one of my sources downtown."

"Sources? You get around."

"Yeah. A nearby gang is being helped by someone with strange powers. Rumors say she's a mutant."

"Really?" said Xi'an. "Anyone familiar?"

"No, but I thought you might be interested. She calls herself Selene. My source also says they're the same gang that those guys that attacked you were from."

Xi'an's eyes filled with tears of rage. "Show me the way."