Part 6

" In other news, a single building in the industrial area caught fire today. Firemen quickly put out the fire, before any other building were damaged. No was injured , but the police suspect Arson. If you have any information regarding this incident pl....."

" Marco.watching news. Wow something spooky's going on." Ryan grabbed the flicker from his hands and started changing channels.

" Maybe if you start watching the news you won't look like such an idiot all the time Ryan ." He shot back

" Yeah...ooooohh Lord Of The Ring's. Excellent.I love these old movies."

Ryan sat down on the couch and propped a pillow under her head.

" Uh huh. So what did Storm say about the recruit? " Marco asked, suddenly interested in the topic.

Ryan shrugged.

" Nothing much really. Too busy to talk about it now that Logan's back. Why you so interested anyways?"

Marco shrugged. He wasn't really that interested.

" Just wondered. Just enjoying our day off "

Ryan nodded. Since today was basically for training the newest member, and not everyone was needed she and Marco had volunteered to take the day off. Storm was too busy to object and Rosh didn't care.

" Yeah. I needed this so much. God I hate training the newbies. I hope they are all having fun it there."

Marco rolled his eye's and snorted.

" With Logan.Hell no "

" Yeah your probley right. " Ryan seemed lost in though " do you ever wonder if we're living up to the whole x-men standard? I mean the old team..well there was a lot more of them. And they all new exactly who they were. Why are we so different from them anyways ? Maybe it's because we havn't been together for very long."

Ryan took a second to flick off the T.V then continued.

" I don't question anyone capabilities in this group or anything. I love you guys, but there like..it's like there's something were not all being let in on. The old X-men were like family. Most were real close. And then there's us and it feel like were all wearing masks. No one really know's anyone else. " She finished

Marco nodded.

" Yeah that's true. It does seem like there's something going on here we don't know about. But really who cares. We all just need more time to get to know each other that's all. Everyone has there own secret's." He made a quick grab for the remote, snatched in and turned the T.V back on.

Ryan stared at the screen. But something we bothering her.

*Yeah Marco everyone has secret's but some people have more than other's *

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

" What's the matter with these kid's. He's been letting them slack while I was gone ! "

Logan watched the training session from the control room above. Storm paced behind him.

" They had not been 'slacking' Logan. They've actually worked quiet hard while you were gone. Rosh is a strong leader and makes them work. There are taking it easy today, because Ellie. "

Logan leaned backing the chair.

" Ellie?"

"New member " Storm explained " Her parents left her on the street when she was 12. She heard about the school and came here. She's 16 now. This is her first training session."

" It's not reason to go easy on her. FOH won't be easy on her just because it's her first mission. Rosh has no idea what he's doing " Logan snapped

Ororo sighed. What was it with those two anyways?

" They will follow him to there death's if need be. I have faith in the team. Maybe you should too Wolverine."

Logan heard the door behind him slid shut.

It was like a slap in the face. Wolverine... He got the point. He was a X- man. Still was.

*So Storm. You think I need to remember what I am. That I'm still a team member. I'm not going to let these guys fall apart like we did at the end *

Logan sat in the control room watching over the session, remembering the good old days. When Jean still knew he was alive, and the Professor was still kick'in .Before Scott died and the Professor pass on and everyone became distant. Before the new team...

They were good memories.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

" So what's is problem anyways?" Ellie said nodding towards the control room.

Mai shook her head.

" Who know's. Logan's pretty secretive. Pretty soon He'll be down here giving us tip and pointer's. "

Asuka laughed and Ellie joined in.

" So Ellie. Where you from anyways? "

" Canada. Born there, but I moved to much to really be from anywhere. Parents found out I was a mutant when I was 12, ditched me I was in and orphanige for a few years. Free room and board " She grinned

" Then I heard about this place. Seemed better than my other options "

Mai listened closely. Asuka could have cared less.

*Nice sob story kid.*

" So who are those guys? " Ellie asked while picking up some weight's

" Uh." Mai lifted a wieght over her head and held it there " That's Blair and Rosh. Marco and Ryan got that day off. Those bastards. "

Ellie nodded.

" Rosh is sort of hot. Blair's pretty cute too. Wow. I like it here already."

Mai snorted.

" Rosh is way to serious. Blair's sweet though. Really shy. I wouldn't recommend got after either of them. Relationships between X-men hardly ever work out." Asuka said penitently " Example the Jean,Scott and Logan thing."

Mai agreed but then added

" Remy and Rogue are pretty much the only exception to the rule. "

Ellie nodded, although she had no idea what was going on or who they were talking about.

Her gazed drifted and landed on the guy's who seemed to be having some sort of argument.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

" I hate that guy "

" What's with you two anyways man? Get over that shit and pay attention " Blair already sick of hearing Rosh freak over the fact that Logan was back.

" Get over it? He's only here to criticize me, and point out my fault's. He's gonna pounce on the Aurora thing."

Blair sighed.

" Aurora was a team decision Man. You keep forgetting that. If he starts in on it we'll all back you. Screw him. Forget about it. "

Rosh finished his warm up in silence before yelling out.

" Alright. Training simulation R 45. "

In the control room Logan punched in the right keys, and the danger room came to life.

The first thing he noticed what that the Ellie, was ready. she stood on the balls of her feet ready to

move either way. She didn't hesitate or stop when the lazers started blasting. She was lightning quick,

and looked like she had been a X-woman for years.

Logan smiled.

She was good. Very good.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx XxXxXxXxXxXx

The house was large even in the distance. As it got closer the fine details were what made it

beautiful. The hegde along its side was expertly clipped, and the gates were extragent, carved into

elaborate shapes and design's. On its deck had iron patio furnature painted black to black to match the

fence. A BBQ sat next to it. It was a modern touch on a house that really gave her the old south feel

as she approched it.

" Here you are Miss. It'll be 57.78 for the whole trip."

Aurora grabbed her wallet and threw him some bills.

" Keep the change " she pulled her store bought canvas bag onto her shoulder and slammed the door

before he had a change to reply.

The air carried the scent of magnolias, mixed with that of the river. she could hear it but not see the

muddy body of water. Aurora walked up the stairs and knocked twice with a craved brass knockers.

From inside she could hear the sounds of footsteps, heavy and quick. Someone coming down a flight

of stairs maybe.

" Give me a minute! "

The was some jinglling on the other side of the door, before it finally opened.

Aurora quickley smoothed a smile onto her face.

" M'ah M'ah look what the cat dragged in! Hi sug'ah !"

" Rogue! "

They embraced for a moment, careful to aviod any flesh on flesh contact.

Aurora gazed at Rogue for a few moments.

She wasn't that old really. Her green eyes still held thier determination and her smiled was

still full of life. Even her hair seemed to retain its youthful appearance, the streak still white without a

single grey hair invading. Minus a few crow's feet she had barely changed.

" How are you Rogue? "

" A'hm great. Come on in! "

Rogue lead her to a living room. Aurora sat down on a worn Lay-zee boy.

" Look Rogue I can't stay very long. "

Rogue nodded.

" Did you get a lead at that adress A'h gave you? "

Aurora shrugged.

" A very small one. nothing actually. But I thought maybe Remy could help with it. "

" A'h see. He's just upstairs. Should be down in a few seconds."

After a few second she hollered up the stairwell.

" Remy get yourself down here! "

There were some sounds overhead before Gambit's form emerged at the top of the stairs.

" Aurora. Dis is a surprise "

It wasn't really. He'd expected her to show up sooner of later.

" Yeah i guess it is "

For his age, he was still pretty hot.

" So what what do you need from 'ol Remy, petite?'"

Aurora reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.

" Just a name. I thought maybe, if you still had ties to the thieve's guild you could help me, because

you'd have contacts."

Remy nodded.

" Gambit might be able to do somethin' for you, what's the name? "

" Bakura Long."

Remy leaned back against on of the couches in the room.

" Never heard of him. But I know someone who might of, Dis " He grabbed apeice of paper and

scribbled something down " Is where you can find him. Name's Jake Ledux. Usually knows where to find

people "

Aurora stared at the peice of paper.

" Thanx "

Aurora got up to leave.

" It was good to see you again Rogue. Can you do me a favor? I don't care if you tell Storm I was

here. Just don't tell her this adress. I don't want anyone comming after me. "

" Sure. But be careful around Jake. He's alot like I was when I was younger "

Aurora smiled.

" I can take care of myself Remy don't worry "

They said there good-bye's, and Aurora went on again alone, but with a single peice of hope.

An address written in black.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx XxXxXxXxXxXx

" Whaaa..."

" Marco..MARCO! "

Marco opened his eyes and blinked a few times.

" Mai...if you wanted in my bed so much you just could have asked you know.." He winked slyly.

She smacked him over the head.

" Shut up, dumbass" she stilfed her laughes " Im sleeping on your floor tonight. Alright? "

" Uh...ok sure. Sleep away. " Marco shrugged " Why? "

Mai rolled her eyes.

" Ellie was reading me. Its freaking me out."

" Reading you...how? Damn it...I just want to sleep "

" She's empathetic. Emotion's. She hasn't got the hang of controling it yet. So she read's what I'm

feeling but at the same time she's mixing her feelings with mine. She told me about it. It's extreme.

Like...."

Marco pulled his pillow over his head to block out the rest of her speech.

" If you had a cut on your hand, she would feel your pain. and if she touched the cut would open

on her hand. Once when she was at the orphanage a girl was being raped by on older boy, and Ellie

accidently obsorbed all her pain, and feelings. "

Marco sighed.

" I got it. You know your only sleeping in here because your hot. But if you dont shut up I'm kicking

you out. Tell me tomarro."

She wacked him with a pillow.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx XxXxXxXxXxXx

" 56 Ave South, New Orleans. "

Aurora stared up at the sign on the building. The triple x's gave it away.

" A strip club. Great...just great...."

She walked around back to the rear entrance. The alley was totally deserted. She slipped in.

Inside it was crowed, the air heavy with cigar smoke and body oder. Still it was a pretty nice place, for a

strip club.

* VIP lounge. Score.*

She slipped inside. It was a lot darker, and continued to to get more and more so as she approched the

back of the room.

Probley 5 guys and twice as many girls sat around a table in the back.

* My cue *

Aurora went invisable.

" Your bluffin " A large man looked up from his hand of cards.

" Why don't you take a chance and find out then ?"

" Oh, Jake your one of a kind " Some blonde sitting on the guys lap giggled.

* Bingo *

Aurora pulled out the knife she had placed in her pocket since getting to New Orleans.

Slowly she approched the table, the knife seemingly floating on air.

" Oh my god. Thats such a neat trick! " Another girl cooed, looking at the knife.

" It won't be so neat if I carve you up with it "

The girl shut up.

There was a general confusion in the room.

" What de hell! "

" Lets get out of here! "

" Don't leave the money! Shit guys! "

" Get out your guns! "

Aurora let out a laugh.

The woman fled so did most of the guys. The 2 who stayed both pulled out handguns.

The whole time the man Aurora assumed was Jake Ledux sat in his chair watching quietly.

Quickley she disarmedone of the men who fired wildly around the room, since they could not see his

target. she slit the others throut.

She let the knife slip out of her hands.

" So you are Jake Ledux right? Or did I just kill a man for nothing? " she demanded before appearing.

He seemed more amused than anything.

" I'm him. And Lester was hardly a man. I'm going to assum you want something."

" Just your help. I was told you have connections. I need to find someone. "

Jake sat back and considered. He looked at Aurora imploringly. She was obviously a mutant. He'd heard

some things in the news latley about them, but then again they were always in the news. His eyes

looked her over. Long hair, full lips, large breast's, long legs. Her eyes however......dark and unsettling.

his thoughts were interupted.

" If your done checking me out, I want your help now."

He nodded.

" Have you ever heard of a man named Bakura Long? Probley a doctor?"

He thought for a minute or too.

" No, but I have heard of someone named Alex Long. A geneticist. He come down here sometimes.

Same last name. Might be conicidence, might be what your looking for. Lives in Miami."

Aurora nodded. Any information was good.

" Great. Thanks. Sorry about the carpet. Blood dosn't come out,"

She started the walk away from the table.

" Whats your name? "

She stopped. What was the harm in giving him her name ?

" Aurora. Bye Jake."

Then she was gone.