A/N: Ok, I'm going to try and get a chapter done and posted at least every 2 weeks.  If I don't… well then… I'll punish myself somehow until I get it up.  ;-)

Another A/N: The President and the government sound a little corrupt in this chapter, but oh well.  And sorry this chappy's short.

SOs to reviewers… I love you guys!  *hugs*

DZ Dillinger: Thanks for the tips, especially the one about giving the mutants each one power.  I would change the characters, but most of them don't belong to me…

XM6: lol, here's more for ya!

Jean-Grey/Phoenix: More for you too!

Quartz1: Hmmm… the novelization doesn't sound like the movie… 'cause Jean died in X2.  In what way is Kaeldra weird?  If you can tell me why you think so, I can probably fix the problem.  And I think I might write another story about Saria, so look for it when this is done if you like her.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey!  It's on!" hollered Blade from the TV in the common room. 

Kaeldra look up from the air hockey table where she had been playing with Rogue, Bobby, Saria, Piotr, and Kitty's younger sister Sophie.  They abandoned their game and crowded around the TV with all the other students and teachers.

            "And now, word on the President's decision about the mutant problem," the reporter was saying.

            "Sure, mutant problem," said Sophie scathingly.  "What about mutant dilemma, or-"

            "Shhhh!"

            "As many of you know, after the attempt of my life by a mutant, I have done a lot of thinking.  After much thought, I have decided-" (the students held their breaths) "-to reinstitute the Mutant Registration Act recently proposed by Senator Robert Kelly."

The students began to mutter amongst themselves and several of the teachers very clearly swore.

            "-will be brought into custody and registered.  If their mutation seems at all dangerous to the public, you can be sure that they will be detained under medication as long as necessary.  We-"

            "'As long as necessary'?!  What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Sophie asked angrily.  "That's not fair!  Even something like mine and Kitty's power could be considered dangerous!  Just because we could walk into someone's house doesn't mean we would."

            And what about me? Kaeldra thought.  Am I 'dangerous'?  Probably not, she concluded.  But even if they didn't take me, where could I go?  Almost everyone here would be gone.

She looked at the people around her.  Rogue would be "dangerous", as would Jenna, a girl that could control fire like her brother John, who had joined Magneto a while ago.  The teachers, too, would be deemed harmful.

            In fact, she supposed, if they really wanted to, the government could come up with some reason for every mutant to be dangerous, even me!

Now that the initial shock of the announcement was wearing of, anger and panic were beginning to settle over the room.

            "He knows!" Storm whispered frantically to the other teachers.  "The school was in Stryker's files that we gave him!  He'll come for us!"

            "You're right.  Kurt, go alert the Professor," instructed Scott.

Kurt nodded his head and disappeared with a loud BAMF.

            "Students!" Spike yelled, trying to be heard over the murmuring of the crowd.  The room went silent instantly.  "Please return to your dorms and pack a carriable bag with essentials.  It may not be necessary, but it's good to be prepared… just in case."

As they watched the students exit, Blade said, "You didn't have to scare them.  We might not have to go into hiding."

"It's good to be prepared," Spike repeated.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope ya like it!  The next chapter should be up in at least 2 weeks!  Review please!  ()--- Ermine/Tree ---()