The New Mutants

By: Joey

Disclaimer: Sorry, I don't own these characters, Marvel Comics and I believe KidsWB! (or at least they do for the Evo version) does, and I'm only using the characters for entertainment only, no harm meant.

will be used for Doug/Cypher's language translations and regular language translations as well.

Chapter 10

"Legion, Part 2"

Previously: The combined team of The New Mutants and four of the five core X-Men accompany Professor X to Muir Isle Research Center in Scotland, to investigate several mysterious incidents involving the Professor's son, David. Also, the team found out about the tragic past and rough upbringing of Rahne Sinclair. At the end of the day however, Rahne and her foster mother, Dr. Moira MacTaggert were caught in a ghostly explosion!

******

Once upon a time, when Charles Xavier's world was new and full of infinitely joyous promise, Moira MacTaggert was the most important thing in his life. They were young, and so very much in love. Then he went off to war and then something terrible happened to her and it was ten years before he saw her again. In that interim, both had been scarred by tragedy, and while their passion was no more, they were no longer in love, the need was just as great. So they became first colleagues, and then the truest of friends.

Now, holding her in his arms, trying to find a pulse, probing desperately into her mind for the slightest thought, Xavier fears he's lost her for good, and feels as if someone has torn out his heart.

"Moira! Moira!!" he yelled out in a vain attempt to try and wake her up, as nearby, young Doug Ramsey is attempting to revive Rahne Sinclair, with similar results.

"I don't understand it, she's still in her transitional form, but before, when she's been kayoed, Rahne would revert to human." Sam said, as he stood for Doug and the unconscious Rahne.

"Mr. Xavier, sir, I found a heartbeat, she's still alive!" Doug said, looking up.

"Excellent. Thank Heaven, Moira still has a heartbeat as well." Xavier said. His thoughts then turned back to Moira. *This section of Moira's lab looks as if it was firebombed, and she and Rahne must have been at the core of the explosion, and yet they weren't touched. I've psi-probed as deeply as I dare, but there's no trace of self-identity, in either the conscious or unconscious mind, she's become a blank slate, I've sensed similar, though far more temporary effects on those people who have been absorbed by Rogue. Beast and Storm are in an identical state, the attack on them was the reason Moira summoned me and my X-Men here, and I brought Sam and my other former students here as well because I sensed they're aid would be needed, has the same force or entity now spirited away Moira and Rahne as well? But only an extraordinarily powerful telepath could be capable of such an action.....*

He then wheeled himself and Moira over to a nearby gurney, and set her down on it, and then he closed his eyes and concentrated, sending his astral form, unseen by the others, to explore the medical complex until he found David's room, where the young boy was sleeping like a baby. *And I fear that you are that psi, my son.* he thought to himself. *You've been an autistic schizophrenic for most of your life, and although I am refuted to be the strongest telepath on the planet, when I tried to enter your mind yesterday, you threw me out. I'm beginning to suspect that you are a telepath, a telekinetic, and also a pyrokinetic, but could it also be that each power represents a different personality?* he then left to return back to his body.

"Jean, I want you to help me attempt something." He said as he motioned the girl over.

"Alright Professor, what's your idea?" Jean asked as she walked over.

"I know you dislike using your telepathy, Jean, but this is a critical situation. We will both enter David's mind and attempt to breach through his defenses, our combined abilities should be able to get the job done.

"All right Professor. Let's do it." Jean said, determination on her face.

******

Everyone crowded around Jean and Xavier as they stood and sat next to David, respectively. Soon Jean and the Professor moved themselves onto the psychic plane, and then into David's mind.

"Wow, Professor, you're actually standing up!" Jean exclaimed once they were in David's mind.

"Yes, on the psychic plane, people are able to be as they picture themselves, and so I am able to walk." Xavier explained. He then looked around. "There's no sign of the wall I encountered last time, the way into Jean's mind is completely clear!"

"Um, Professor, I wouldn't say completely clear!" Jean yelled out, pointing to a snarling wolf. "I say that it must be that Rahne girl, but why is she like this?!"

Jean! Don't believe what you see, it's a trap!" Xavier yelled out, but to no avail, as the wolf pounced onto Jean, knocking her to the floor! Xavier quickly attempted to pull off the wolf, but he had only just managed to get a proper grip when the wolf creature burst into flames!

******

At the same time, in David's room, fire suddenly bursts out and surrounds the real bodies of Xavier and Jean, much to the alarm of the others.

"Jean!" Scott cried out, and would have run out to her had Logan not stopped him.

"Hold on kid, those flames are the real deal, I can feel the heat!" He said, a grimace on his face.

"Look out!" Doug yelled as the flames suddenly shot up and engulfed the group itself, soon, the flames die down, and everyone crumples to the floor, as motionless as Rahne and Moira.

And through it all, David remained asleep, a blissfully innocent smile on his face.

******

Back in David's mind, Xavier stood by helpless, as one by one, his students, past and present, plus Wolverine, fell into a tunnel going deeper into David's mind, thanks to a sudden Maelstrom. He then noticed that the wall had returned, and was beginning to close in.

"No! I'll not allow it!" he yelled out, unleashing his psychic powers. "If you can hear my thoughts David, I've no wish to do you harm, but neither will I permit you to abduct and prison my students and myself!" He struggled against the outpour of power being sent against him. "Your raw power makes you a formidable adversary son, but my power is tempered by skill and experience, you are no match for it!" he yelled out as he destroyed a section of the mental wall.

* I don't want to have to do this, sledge-hammering an assault onto my own son's psyche, David is an innocent, I'm sure of it, but I must strike him as hard as I would Magneto!* he thought to himself before unleashing an incredibly wave if psychic energy, demolishing the wall completely.

He was tired from exertion, and certainly did not expect to be confronted with his own sons chilling scream.

"That scream, it's like it was torn from his own soul!" Xavier said, steeling himself. "I must try to calm him, I will not allow those I care about to be lost in his mind!"

Suddenly, David's face appeared, and began to cry out.

"Father! Why are you hurting me?!" it yelled out, NO MORE HURTING PLEASE! MAKE THE BADNESS GO AWAY! HELP ME, SAVE ME, FATHER!"

The face then blasted Xavier back, sending him deeper into the maelstrom.

*No! I just barely have the strength, but if I leave now there's no guarantee that I can make it back to aid the others!* he thought to himself as he struggled back up. He was soon stopped however, as three visages appeared. The first one was an older male, his face ruggedly handsome in a Jon Wayne sort of manner. The second was the young Arabian boy, and the third appeared to be a young teenage girl, anger evident in her features.

"Them's the breaks, pardner. Comes with the territory. "The first one said, as if answering Xavier's thoughts.

Beware, BEWARE! You're lives, and the boy's, are in deadly danger! The second face yelled out in Arabic. Merciful Allah, he hears but he does not understand!

"Who cares?!" the final face said, sneering. "It's better this way, y'know? Kinda lame seein' the same faces all the time, be good t' bring in some new blood to play with!"

"Who are you?!" Xavier yelled out at the faces, anger in his voice.

"You got the education Prof., you tell us." The first face replied. "We are many....so call us, LEGION!"

With that, the maelstrom picked up again, and this time, Xavier could not fight back, and was sent helplessly into the deepest recesses of the maelstrom, trying not to hear the mocking, malevolent laughter that fills the area in his wake.

Meanwhile, back on Muir, the sleeping David Haller stirs, his eyes gleaming and hateful, reveling in the youngster's anguish. He smiles, and then sleeps once more...the better to play with the new toys in his mind.....

******

When Xavier awoke, he saw Scott and Jean, plus two of Sam's friends, the large Native American boy and the young Russian girl watching over him.

"Glad to see you're awake Professor." Scott said, offering his hand to help him up,

"Thank you Scott." Xavier said, as he stood up. He also noticed that Scott was not wearing his glasses. "I see that on the psi-plane Scott, that you have control over you're powers."

"Yeah, even if it temporary." Scott said. "But Jean says she thinks brown eyes suit me."

"Well, this place is a real piece of work, I'll say that." James said. "Just take a look around.

Xavier nodded, and went up to a nearby hill. What he saw astounded him. It was madness, like a child's crazy, quilt-like synthesis of the world's landmarks. Near him was Mount Rushmore, far off in the distance were the Hollywood Hills, complete with the "Hollywood" sign, to far right was the statue of Liberty, and near the middle of it all was the Eiffel Tower. All of this would be eerily beautiful if not for the fact that a war was ravaging throughout the area.

Everything is larger than life, as it would be for a child, David's influence extending to the weapons and machines that ravage the mindscape, making them monstrous and daemonic.

Xavier's eyes wander to the middle of it all, where a huge, darkly brooding dome dominates the madcap metropolis, and he senses instinctively that it holds the answers he seeks. The trick, of course, will be surviving long enough to reach it.

"Everyone, I have a plan. We will attempt to reach the black dome. I have a feeling that it holds the answers to this mystery." He said to the others as he turned back around.

They nodded in agreement to his plan, and began their long trek to dome.

******

Elsewhere, Moira, along with Rahne, Doug, Kurt, and Rogue, were being chased by demonic helicopters, which were firing bullets recklessly, trying to not just hit their targets, but anything else in the way as well.

"If only we could figure out some way to stop these thing!" Kurt yelled out as he deftly dodged another shower of bullets. He was unable to teleport, since this was in the astral plane, so he had to rely on his acrobatic skills instead. He was still blue and fuzzy as well, his brief time with Tabitha and his current relationship with Amanda had helped him become more confident in his appearance.

"We Ah don't know about you, elf, but Ah'm out of ideas!" Rogue said as she broke down a nearby door. "Everyone in here!" she yelled out, and quickly the others followed her in, hiding inside the abandoned building until the demon helicopters passed them by, allowing them to stop outside into the open again.

"Madness, it's madness." Moira said, looking at the carnage. "The parents shove their own children into the line of fire, using their bodies as shields, yet it's the parents who are always killed." She wiped away a few stray tears.

"They say love you, but when it's your life or theirs, they'll dump you every time." A voice rang out from behind the group.

Everyone turned around to see a young, disheveled girl sitting on a fence, chewing on an apple.

"You ask me, the scum get what they deserve." The girl added as she took another bite out of the apple.

"Who are you?" Doug said, looking at the girl.

"Cyndi." The girl replied nonchalantly.

"Can you help us?" Moira asked the girl.

"Sure, but should I?" The girl said, taking another bite.

"For David, and perhaps yourself?" Moira responded, hope in her voice.

"Yeah, right lady, next time, don't lie through your teeth. Ol' Davey is the only one you care about, and he's in the big dome." She said, pointing her thumb at the large structure. "I'm nothing to you, after all."

"But if David dies, you do too, is that what you want?" Moira asked "His powers are out of control, all of this chaos could tear him apart, and we want to prevent that!"

"Watch how you talk to me lady, " Cyndi snapped back, as a demon plane flew by. "I'm one of those powers!" she then turned around and casually snapped her fingers, and the plane suddenly exploded in flames!

"The pyrotic!" Moira gasped out.

"She's the spalpeen who blew up yuir lab?!" Rahne asked, anger in his voice.

"Yup." Cyndi replied, taking one last bite out of her apple before casually tossing the core at Rahne, who growled, " So mind yer manners and treat me nice, fuzzy, or I'll singe yer fur."

******

Meanwhile, the third group was in serious trouble. Once everyone had woken up and gotten their bearings, Amara had spotted a boy that looked remarkably similar to the ghostly visage that had been spotted by both Beast, Storm, Rahne and Moira. The group had tried to give chase, but ended up falling into an ambush full of demon soldiers near the Eiffel Tower area of David's mind. Now the group was fighting as best it could, despite Dani's powers being ineffective against their opponents and Roberto unable to draw upon his own powers.

"Like, Wolverine, now would be a really good time to come up with one of those genius battle plans of yours!" Kitty said, phasing to dodge an attack by one of the soldiers.

"Sorry half-pint, but it looks like we're gonna have to slug this one out without any fancy moves. Wolverine replied, cutting into two opponents with his razor sharp adamantium claws.

"Droga!" Roberto cursed out in Portuguese. "These trash just keep coming, they don't know when to quit!" he had been using a steel pipe to fend off the attackers.

Suddenly however, the opposition exploded into flames, allowing the team to finish off the remainder of the demon soldiers.

"Great job, Amara!" Sam said as he landed from a blast. "Ah don't know how ya did it, but you saved us!"

"But it wasn't me Sam!" Amara protested. "In this is horrible place, I can only generate blasts, not do something to that order!"

"Well, I can." a mocking voice rang out, and the group turned to it. Coming up to them was the group of Moira, Rahne, Doug, Kurt, Rogue, and Cyndi. "And was that cool or what?!" Cyndi practically crowed out, thrusting her fist out into the air. However when no one immediately replied, as they were to busy checking on their friends. She rolled her eyes and grumbled out "Hmph. Don't everyone thank me at once."

Soon introductions were made, and the now large group decided to go explore the black dome, figuring that it must be the major part of the area.

******

Xavier's group had finally managed to make it to the black dome, and were now trying to figure out how to get inside of it.

"I can't seem to find any entrances." James reported.

"And my optic blasts aren't having any affect either." Scott added.

"There must be a way inside, I'm sure of it." Xavier said.

However, before they could investigate further, Jean and Illyana came running to the group.

"Professor! One of those demonic planes is coming this way!" Jean yelled out.

"We think it's on patrol." Illyana said. Her English had improved immensely thanks to her sessions with Doug. "But it will spot us soon."

True enough, the plane soon came into view, however before anyone could react, the plane suddenly halted in midair before being slammed thunderously into the ground.

"What the heck?!" James yelled out. "Did you do that Jean?"

She shook her head no. "I certainly don't have the necessary skill to do that....professor?"

"No, I did not do it either." He said.

A voice then rang out. "Howdy! I thought you all could use a hand!" Immediately a person came into view from around the corner. He was an older man, who looked to be about Beast's age, and who's features were a cross between Jon Wayne and Matt Dillon.

"And you are?" Xavier asked cooly.

"Name's Jack Wayne." The person replied, an amiable grin on his face.

"I recognize you." Xavier stated. "You are one of David's personalities. The telekinetic, I believe." Although his face was as unreadable as a block of ice, on the inside, Xavier couldn't stop himself from warming to the man, who was so like the wild west cinema heroes of his youth.

"Right on both counts Prof." Jack said. " I just figured you all could use some help, so I volunteered myself."

"Yeah but if we fix David up, doesn't that you get wiped away?" James asked. "So why would you want to help us?"

"Hey, it's the right thing to do Hiawatha, besides, I'm still basically part of the kid's mind, so it's not like I'll be really dead, just fixed up." Jack replied, still retaining his grin.

"Hiawatha?!" James grumbled, "I'll show him Hiawatha the lousy..." He'd only spoken a few words with him, but already James wanted to punch the guy in the face.

"So I'm guessing that you know the cause of all this?" Scott asked, trying give James some time to calm down so he didn't maim the man.

"Yep. You know the Arab personality, right Prof?" Jack asked. "Well, he's the cause. This is David's head, and the creep gives him nightmares, which causes all of this, Lord knows what he does to the kid's mind inside the dome."

"I see." Xavier said. "David is my son. I will put a stop to this, somehow."

Before they could formulate any plans however, they were soon greeted by the large group being lead by Moira McTaggert and Wolverine.

"Company." Jack stated, plainly.

"Indeed." Xavier said, "These are the rest of our group."

Once introductions were made, everyone started to conference as to how to gain entrance into the black dome.

"We can try hitting it with everything we have." Kurt suggested, "That could make bust a hole through it."

"Nah, I've hit it with everything from rocks to those demonic plans, kid, nothing even scratches it." Jack answered. "So that idea is right out."

Doug cleared his throat. "You know, I just remembered this episode of the original Star Trek series.."

"Oh gimme a break. blondie wants to go talk sci-fi at a time like this?" Cyndi grumbled aloud.

"Oh, why don't y'all shut up for change." Rogue snapped at her. The girl was seriously annoying her.

"Well, anyway, like I was saying, in the episode Kirk was kidnapped, and the crew had to try and bust him out, right? But their phasers didn't work, even at full power." Doug continued, "Thing is, the phasers worked all along, it's just that the villains were telapaths, who wouldn't let the crew see that."

"An impressive deduction Douglas." Xavier said, impressed, as realization slowly dawned upon his features. "We too face a telapath, and this dome is barrier...but only if we let it be."

He then slowly walked towards the dome, and to everyone's surprise, actually melded into it.

"Looks like you were right kid." Wolverine said. "Nice one."

Soon, one by one, each person, including Jack and Cyndi, walked into the black dome.

As he walked, Xavier began to think to himself. *Of All the things I've encountered, this remains one of the most wondrous, and the most sad.* As he walked, the pitch black darkness slowly receded into a bright light, which gave way to a room full of stain glass pictures, each one containing a memory of David's. *Wonderous because of the mind's infinite potential, sad because of has for so long remained unfulfilled. The core of a living person's being, the seat of memory and awareness, perhaps even the soul. Here, I pray, I can find my son."

Soon he was joined by the others, the large group filing in.

"There should be more." Xavier stated.

"What was that professor?" Kitty asked, as she looked around.

"There should be more windows, more memories. Usually people at David's age have more than this. It's sad." Xavier said as he explored.

"Professor!" Rahne called out. She was kneeling on the floor. "Some of the crystals have been shattered!" Xavier nodded and walked over to investigate for himself.

"OW!" James yelled out as his arm was sliced by a floating shard. "That thing went right through me, and I'm supposed to be invulnerable to most injuries. Be careful, those things are sharp!"

"It's got to be the doing of that Arab punk." Jack spat out. "He's trying to destroy the boy's consciousness so he can take over."

"Perhaps, Jack." Xavier said as he looked at the broken shards. "But I doubt it. I think that this was caused by the initial trauma. What's strange though, is that many of these crystals seem to have been repaired." He then goes into deep thought. *Only a telepath is capable of doing that, yet the only other psi is the Arabian boy, but why save a person he supposedly hates, why does he not destroy everything and take over, like Jack keeps suggesting he is doing? Have I misjudged him?*

Before he can think things out further, Moira points up above and yells out, "Look!"

Spiraling out of the darkness comes another crystal cluster, with the young Arab boy, a look of pure pain on his face as the shards tear into him, in the center of it. Before anyone can react, the cluster smashes into a large group of serene crystals. Many are broken, spraying shrapnel everywhere. None, save for Jack, which Dani noticed, escaped unscathed, using his telekinetic forcefield to protect only himself. Sam and Kitty were unable to blast and phase respectively, in time, Jean was also unable to bring up her own TK shield, and Scott's optic blasts had no affect. Similarly, Cyndi's flames also had no affect, and the young girl screamed out in horrible pain, and to his own amazement, Doug Ramsey springs to her aid, he himself getting cut more as a result. Now, only Jack was left standing, and he pulled a knife out of his boot.

"Not it's only you and me left, boy." He said. " And that won't be for long."

He the flipped the knife around so that it faced down, and readied himself for the strike.

*He's gonna...knife that kid!* Doug thought to himself. "Leave him alone!" he yelled, and as he fought through the pain, Doug leaped up and tried to tackle Jack, who simply tossed him aside telekinetically.

"Mind you're own business, punk!" he growled, before focusing back on his target.

"Showing your true colors huh?" Dani said, as she stood up.

"Hey, I'm trying to save you're collective butts, the kid just got in the way." Jack replied.

"Well, surprise, I think you're lying!" Dani said, because reaching out and bringing out Jack's worst fear to life.

Dani wasn't sure to expect, so she was surprised when Jack's deepest, most primal fear turns out to be Xavier, looking like a loving Father, holding a young boy who can only be David, close to him in a loving embrace. The mere sight of this sends Jack running to the shadows in terror. Dani kneels down and tries to revive the boy, and soon she is awarded.

"W-where..." he asks, groggily.

Soon explanations are made, and the boy is finally able to tell his side of the story.

"So how'd you finally learn English?" Sam asked.

"The boy named Doug, his conscious was open to me, I was able to scan it, and eventually the information was assimilated, and I could understand you." He explained. "But still, what a disaster. Years of work and effort, separating the images and mending them, trying to repair the damage..."

"So you were trying to heal my son." Xavier said. "You said your name was Jemail, correct?"

"Yes," Jemail answered. "At first I was angry at him, I felt that he was hampering me, not allowing me to really live and experience, but as I slowly gained my own self-identity, I saw the error of my ways, especially after I read David's mind and found out what an innocent soul he was, and tried to fix things, even it would mean my own undoing."

"What about Storm and Mr. McCoy?" Kitty asked.

"They are safe, I've been taking care of them as well." Jemail said. "But all of this damage, it will take too long to fix things, and with David's real world powers out of control, I fear I may have to take control in order to save the boy."

"Maybe not." Xavier said. "I am still weak, however if you work together with Jean and Jack to telekinetically shunt the crystal's to their proper place, then the you can fix things rapidly."

"It makes sense, but do you trust him?" Jemail asked.

"No more than I do you, son." Xavier said.

"But he is evil!" Jemail yelled out.

"He states the same thing about you." Xavier responded flatly.

"You don't trust me sir, even after all that I said?" Jemail asked, confusion in his voice.

"Yes, even after that. However I believe your mutual hate plus Jean's moderation will balance things out." Xavier said. "Though for what it's worth, I trust you slightly more than I do Jack."

"And if he refuses?" Jemail asked.

"Leave that to me." James said, one of his hands wrapped around Jack's throat. "You're going to be a good boy and cooperate, right?" he asked. "No trick either...Or do I have to get nasty?"

"Whatever you say, big man. I'll do it." Jack stated, realizing that he was in no position to bargain.

******

Xavier awoke on a hospital bed, Moira nearby.

"Moira? I'm back?" he asked groggily.

"Aye, back in normal reality, on Muir Isle." She said. "Everyone is safe and sound now, you're the last to come out of it."

"How long was I out?" he asked.

"Only about a fortnight." Moira said. "We were worried at first, but I knew you'd come out of it."

"I'm relieved that my idea worked." Xavier said. "But I'm very proud of Jean, as well as the others. They've all come very far from when I first brought them to the Institute."

******

Much later, when Xavier was able to move back into his wheelchair, Moira allowed him to visit the newly reawakened David.

"I don't wish to intrude Moira..." Xavier said, almost timid.

"It's all right Charles." Moira said, before turning to David. "You're father's waiting lad. Go say hi."

"It's good to see you again David." Xavier said.

"H'lo sir." David said shyly. The boy looked to be as much of a nervous wreck as his Father.

"I...I really don't know what to say." Xavier said, trying to fight back tears.

"Me neither." David said, before his face changed a bit, his mannerism's becoming more masculine, and sure of himself. "So what's the problem, already?! You're the mindking after all, Charley, ain't like you to be tongue-tied."

"That voice...those mannerisms...Jack Wayne?" Xavier said, taken aback.

David's expression changed again, this time more sullen, and rebellious.

"Man's as lame as Davey." he said, " An' who knew the real world was this dull?"

"Cyndi?" Xavier was starting to get worried.

"Forgive me Professor, I lacked the strength and knowledge to deal with the other psi-selves, but David's mind is healed otherwise." Jemail responded through David's body." I fear Jack arranged things without my knowledge, to ensure his and Cyndi's survival. I have failed both you and you're son. I am sorry."

"You did the best you could, Jemail, and I thank you." Xavier said, "There is nothing to be ashamed of.

David's face then softened back into what it was when David was in control. "Dad...it's really you, right?"

"Yes, David. It is." Xavier said. This time, the tears could not be stopped.

"An' you'll always be with me, right?" David asked as he hugged his father for the first time in a long time.

"You have my word..." Xavier said, as he hugged his son, "I will never lose you!"

End of Chapter ten.

Author's notes: Well that was kind of fun. Hope you all liked the plot twist involving Jemail and Jack Wayne. This two-parter is based off of an actual three part story in the New Mutants comic book, issues 26, 27, and 28, in case you're curious. They're a little hard to find, but excellent reads (though without the huge cast). Next up, is "The Real Folk Blues" which not only has the Hellions returning, but one last guest appearance by the X-Men, AND the Brotherhood (Lance's team) is in it too, PLUS be ready for one heck of an ending! The next chapter, titled "Paint it Black" (from a song by the rock band the Rolling Stones) will be a lead-in the from the end of that one, and will talked about more next chapter. As always, C&C is greatly appreciated!

Next Chapter: The White Queen is hosting the Hellfire Club Ball. The largest upper-class party around, and the New Mutants, X-Men, and even the Brotherhood are invited! But when an anti-mutant group crashes the party, expect the unexpected in "The Real Folk Blues"!