[Disclaimer: I still don't own X-men Evolution.]

A few days later, the Institute had settled down with the celebration of Paul's

victory over Kitty, and things got back to be a semblance of normal, or as normal as

things could be at the Institute, with everyone attempting to defeat Paul at pool. As the

record stands, only Logan's been able to beat him fair and square. (Jean came close, but

under suspicious circumstances) At this point of the day, everybody was gradually

returning from school, by means of the bus, walking, carpooling, or personal

transportation. The vehicles in the lead, predictably, were Scott's convertible and Paul's

motorcycle, which now were side by side at the stoplight right by the Institute. "Hey

Scott, those extra two wheels slowing you down?" Paul yelled over the noise of traffic.

"Nope, I'm just being nice to you, wouldn't want to leave you behind!" Scott yelled back.

Both of them grinned as they returned their gaze to the road, and the gate leading into the

Institute. Scott reached over and thumbed the button that remotely opened the gate as the

other lights turned yellow, then red. Scott's knuckles cracked as he gripped the steering

wheel tightly, causing Amara, Evan, and Jean, who were riding with him, to grip their

seats. Likewise, Paul was revving his motorcycle's engine lightly, causing Kitty to

tighten her death-grip that she already had around his waist. The light before them

flashed green, and both vehicles were off. At first, Paul was way ahead as they pulled

into the Institute Grounds, but Scott was able to successfully pull ahead just before they

entered the garage. "I win." Scott said simply as they headed inside. Upstairs, Paul passed

Evan, who was on his way to his own room. "Hey Paul, a bunch of us are going to go

into town in a little while, you wanna come?" Evan asked. "Sure, just let me drop off my

stuff." Paul said. He headed into his room, dropped his backpack on his bed, and was

about to leave when he noticed a black cell-phone sitting on his dresser. Confused, he

walked over to it and flipped it open. "Huh, a number's already inputted." Paul said aloud

as he hit the 'Send' button. It rang twice before somebody picked up. "Hello?" Paul

asked. "Hello indeed, Surge." Came a low, sinister, and all too familiar voice from the

other end of the connection. Paul's eyes narrowed dangerously, his free hand clenching to

become a fist. "What do you want." Paul asked bluntly. "For you to come back." The

man replied. "My answer stands, no." Paul said, and was about to end the call when he

heard a low chuckle. "How cute, thinking you have a choice." The man said. "We took

the liberty of kidnapping your sister as an added incentive. You don't do what we ask,

you can say goodbye." The man said. "Alright, Riker, you win. What do you want me to

do?" Paul said with a resigned tone in his voice. "Excellent. All you have to do is copy

Cerebro's files and come to the docks at midnight, tonight." Riker said. "Very well." Paul

said, before hanging up.

* * *

Later that night, Paul went downstairs to steal the Cerebro files, he was able to

make his way down the elevator and through the halls and doors without much difficulty,

but his plan fell apart when he saw Logan and Xavier in Cerebro's chamber, waiting for

him. "Hello Paul." Xavier said. "Uh, hi Professor, Logan." Paul said hesitantly. "I know

why you came down here Paul." Xavier said. "You.do?" He replied. "Yes. I was able to

read your thoughts and that's how I found out about the Shadow organization." Xavier

replied. "Shadow? What the hell is Shadow?" Logan asked. "Shadow. probably the

biggest mistake I ever made." Surge said. He leaned heavily against the wall, sighing

deeply. "It happened only a few years ago, back when my powers were only just starting

to emerge.."

~Start Flashback~ {}=Narration

{My powers first emerged when I got in a fight with a few thugs, I suddenly zapped

every one of them.}

Image- A Younger Paul fighting a trio of street thugs. He is getting badly beaten when

his plasma energy flares and zaps all three.

{After that they kept coming out in the oddest of situations, until I was afraid to go to

school because I was afraid I might seriously hurt somebody. That's when I met Riker.}

A younger Paul is sitting on the edge of a park bench. A muscular man clad in all-black

clothing (think Nick Fury, but minus the eye patch and with blond hair) walks over.

"Hello Paul." He said. Paul looked up at him, "You know my name?" He asked. "I sure

do, my name is Sam Riker. I also know that you have a gift, a gift you can't control. The

thing is, I want to help you control your gift, if you will come with me." Riker said,

holding out his hand. The image fades as Paul hesitantly takes it.

{I soon learned that great things like Riker's aid come with price tags. I had to pull

various jobs in order for him to continue to help me, but it was when he ordered me to kill a man that I ran for it, that was a few months ago.}

~End Flashback~

"How he found me now, and more importantly, how he got in here to deliver the

cell phone to me is a mystery." Paul said. "Well, we can't let you go to the meet with

Riker tonight." Logan said. "But I have to, he has my sister and he's holding her hostage.

If I don't come, he'll kill her for certain." Paul protested. Logan seemed thoughtful for a

moment, before nodding slightly. "Ok," He said, "but we're going to do it my way."

* * *

(11:59 p.m.)

Paul wandered around on the fog-enshrouded docks, looking for any sign of

Shadow soldiers or Riker. His watch beeped, signaling that it was midnight. At almost

the same time, a foghorn blew, long and low. Paul sprinted over to the tanker ship that it

was coming from, going onto the helipad that was surrounded by dozens of cargo

containers. "Riker! Where are you? Come out!" Paul yelled. Suddenly, floodlights

mounted on the catwalks overlooking the deck snapped on, bathing Paul in its harsh

white light. "Hello Paul, so kind of you to join us." Riker said, appearing on the catwalk

that was outside of the bridge. "Where's my sister you bastard!" Paul yelled. "She's here.

Now just give yourself up." Riker suggested, snapping his fingers. Instantly, the sound of

running footsteps was heard as Paul saw black shapes darting through the fog atop the

cargo containers and along the catwalks. More spotlights snapped on, revealing the

shapes to be Shadow soldiers. They trained their weapons on him, lining up their laser

sights and making Paul's body like a pincushion for the tiny pricks of red light. "Your

men are impressive Riker, but I want to see my sister." Paul said, raising his hands to

shoulder level. "Fine. Bring out the girl." Riker ordered. A searchlight mounted atop the

bridge snapped on and the beam swiveled, focusing on a pair of commandos that stood at

the other end of the helipad. Between them was an unconscious 15-year-old girl with

long blonde hair and wearing a black tank top, fatigue pants, and combat boots.

"Michelle!" Paul shouted, but his sister didn't stir. "She's been sedated, she kept trying to

flash-fry my soldiers, so we had to tranq her." Riker said with a smirk. "Damn you!" Paul

took a step towards his sister, but a gunshot rang out, the bullet striking the helipad inches

from Paul's foot. "Not another step in her direction, or my friends here will cut you down

without a second thought." Riker ordered. "Sorry Riker, but I too brought some friends

tonight." Paul said, then he stuck two fingers in his mouth and let out a shrill whistle.

Almost immediately, several black helicopters swooped in on the ship, their rotors eerily

silent. They flared above the cargo containers, disgorging S.H.I.E.L.D. commandos from

their holds, in seconds Riker's men were outnumbered at least three to one. "Interesting,

but I'll leave you kids to fight it out amongst yourselves. Kill them all." Riker ordered.

Instantly both sides started shooting, but Paul ignored all gunfire as he raced towards his

sister and her two captors. One saw him coming and started firing madly at him, but the

other took out his gun and held it to Michelle's head. "Another step, and your sister is

dead." He threatened. Paul stopped, watching the soldiers laugh wildly as they

congratulated themselves on besting him, right up until Cyclops dropped both of them

with a powerful plasma beam, heralding the arrival of the X-men as they dropped to the

jet. "Paul, ze others can protect your sister, lets get that bastard." Kurt said, holding out

his hand. Paul smiled and grabbed it as they disappeared.

* * *

On the rear deck, Riker's helicopter was starting up its rotors as he hastily

strapped himself in. The helicopter started to rise, but it had barely risen a few feet before

a large plasma blast enveloped the helicopter, crashing it forcefully against the deck.

Riker crawled out of the wreckage, sprawling facedown, when suddenly Paul's boots

appeared right next to his head. With a cry of anger, Paul kicked him in the face before

grabbing him by the neck and lifting him. With Riker gagging and struggling, Paul

walked to the edge of the deck and lifted him out over the water. "How does it feel to be

at someone else's mercy, huh? How does it feel to have to beg for your life?" Paul asked

crudely as he slowly loosened his grip. "Paul no!" Came his sisters cry as she ran towards

him and grabbed onto his other arm. "Two wrongs don't make a right, they never do."

Michelle whispered. "Yeah, I guess so." Paul said. He threw the sobbing Riker back onto

the deck before enveloping his sister in a tight hug. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

[End]