"Alright, Erin, Aaron. The two of you will accompany Storm and Cyclops to collect our elusive mutant. Consider this a training mission, so I expect the two of you to do your best. Good luck," Professor Xavier wished them well, and the crew hopped into Storm's car.
"Aw, the car?" Aaron complained, sounding younger than his 22 years. "Can't we use the Jet?"
"Nope. That's for emergency occasions, only. Besides, it's still recovering from the last mission." Cyclops said, shaking his head. "How that.that.Wolverine.got his claws into the jet, I'll never know."
The car drove away at surprisingly fast speeds. Mile after mile passed, until the signs read "Massachusetts." Eventually, the car slowed to a halt outside a beaten-down, lonely building.
"This is the place," Storm announced quietly. "The plan-Blade (nodding at Erin), create a boundary with your swords. Protector (gesturing towards Aaron), alert the local animals to look out for a pale girl with short black hair. Cyclops and me will come in, try to catch her by surprise. It looks as though she can phase through walls, so Scott will use a tranquilizer. Understood?" The group nodded. "Alright, let's go."
Erin focused her eyes, and created a huge wall of swords, all kinds, across the door after Cyclops and Storm entered. Meanwhile, Aaron kneeled on the ground, and flexed his hands, mentally addressing the birds, foxes, and all others beasts nearby. They heard a scream in the air and the sound of a gun being fired. Cyclops leapt through the newly missing swords, holding the slim figure of a girl in his arms, Storm following closely.
"Get in the car! Now!" Cyclops yelled, and the group jumped in the car, Cyclops putting the unconscious girl in the back. She shivered slightly, and there were strange shapes encircling her, ghostlike shapes.
"What the hell is that?" Erin gasped.
"Spirits, or at least something resembling spirits," Storm answered, voice trembling slightly. She head faint voices from around the girl. _What have you done? Is she alright? Oh, I hope she's okay. What did they do?!_ The voices faded into the distance, leaving Jade in a dazed state. Her eyes fluttered, and she looked around confusedly.
"How is she awake? Those tranquilizers last quite a long time!" Storm whispered. Cyclops shrugged, noticing the girl seemed almost content.
"I'll field that question. Ghostly floaty shields.You're not the cops. I can tell. Don't mind them, they'll settle down. You know, I've got good feelings about you.Where am I?" Jade asked, dazed.
"You're with the X-Men. Don't worry; you're perfectly fine. We just want you to listen to what we have to say. You see, we help mutants with their powers. And if you decide not to join us, that's perfectly fine as well," Cyclops said calmingly. The car drove into the night, hitting the Institute within hours.
By the time they arrived at the school, the drugs had worn off, and Jade looked distinctively wary. Her sunglasses blocked her furtive eyes as she glanced at the topiary. "So. This is the mutant school? Hm."
Jade walked through the doors much in the same way she had left the bank, phasing with a peculiar confidence. The spirits beside her seemed to gain a pleased aura as Jade stared at the mutants surrounding her. Professor Xavier smiled, and Jean Grey looked very polite. Jade gave a smile to Rogue, and her eyes passed right over Nightcrawler, halting on Wolverine. No doubt he noticed her eyes, even hidden behind the sunglasses. "Hey," Jade said noncommittally. "My name is Jade, and I'm an alcoholic. Sorry, little loner joke. Um, hi there. So, can anyone tell me a little more about this place other than it's a school for the.differently-abled?" Jade remarked, with a hint of sarcasm.
"Well, Miss Morgan, we teach mutants to train their gifts and use them to their full ability. We also attempt to teach responsibility and moral use of powers," Professor Xavier said.
"Where's the fun in that?" Jade responded, but gave a smile. "But, I could use a place to stay. You guys have good heating, right?" Jean cocked her head, looking slightly confused. "I lived in Massachusetts for a while now. Gets a bit cold up there."
"Well, let me show you to you room," one of the younger mutants said. "Luckily we have a spare, so you may have your own. Follow me." Jade followed the student hesitantly, holding on to one suitcase. The spirits around her seemed tense and scared. Jade looked around the bland, small room. "Cozy, huh?" she remarked to the spirits around her. They seemed to remark in consent. Jade placed her clothes inside one of the few pieces of furniture in the room, and sunk onto the bed. She sighed, and took a book out of her suitcase.
"Hi," announced a British voice. "My name's Erin. Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, hi. My name's Jade, but you probably know that already. You English?" Jade asked.
"Yes. Born in London, but this place is really my home now," Erin replied. Her eyes went cold, almost confused, when she mentioned London. "But how about you? Where do you come from?" Jade shrugged. "You don't know?"
"Nope," Jade said quietly. "No memories till age 16. Don't know who my parents are, don't know where I'm from. But hey, beats bad memories, right?" Erin smiled sadly.
"So, um.Erin, right? What's your.gift?" Jade asked with a wry smile.
"Swords. I can create them, fight with them. Not a bad gift, I must say. Oh yes, I'm called Blade. You've seen Aaron; he was the other boy with us. He can call animals. With more training, he'll be able to transform into one. He's called Protector. Then there's Trent, the boy with the goatee. He can freeze people in time, so we call him Pause," Erin finished, realizing she may have spoken for too long.
"I see," Jade replied. "Who was that, um, scruffy man outside?"
"You mean Wolverine? Yes, he is pretty 'rugged,'" Erin giggled. "But, um, he's a tough guy. You ought to be careful around him." Jade ran her fingers through her hair.
"Yeah, careful."