Disclaimer: Tell me any avid fan of Mutant X that doesn't know I don't own them. LOL. I don't know how powerful these characters are and I don't even know if they are really like this. All of the actions mentioned below are just my imagination.

Authors Note: Hey! Every one… did you missed me. It has been a while. I was busy with my school works… *sigh* Ok. I'm back now and I used my remaining brain for this (since the school work ate half of my brain already. LOL)

            Those who have donated some Jesse and Emma photo for my web site, will you please email me… I forgot to save the names so I couldn't write the credits correctly. Anyway, the site is not yet finished but I promise to work on it as soon as school is over…that means 3 more months. LOL

Okay, I'd like to thank:

Brigitta: your review for chapter 18 came late but thanks anyway…

Spikes_storm: I still haven't received any email from you. I hope you could get your pc fixed soon. Thanks for the review.

Aur: Thanks for posting your review, man. LOL. You really shouldn't worry about Emma and Jesse. Eventually they will get back…

Goldstranger: Hehehe! What could I say? You keep on reading me like an open book. I know what you mean. Emma's love is too strong to be ruin just like that. I mean, even if she and Jesse are apart, her love would still be there. Thanks for posting you review. Keep it coming… see ya!

Bjvision: LOL! Well in that case, I won't get them back soon so you would stick around. *winked* Keep your reviews coming… thanks….

Okay! I'm a bit angered when I remembered how the writers wrote Emma's character in the episode "Sign from above". She was so vulnerable… Well this time I'm writing her the way her character should be (at least in my opinion. Emma is still not mine. Tribune still own her so please don't sue me.)

Here we go now!

Underestimated

            ~Thought ~

            Memory

            /Sounds/

            "Conversation"

Chapter 20

            The secret community inside the Psi-Power (the mutants) is excited to watch the match that is happening that same day—the Mutant Friendly Combat. It was Emma's most awaited day; the moment were she gets to use all that she had been working on; all the moves and fighting style she learned. Yes, she is ready.

            All the thought about the Sanctuary and the Mutant X were confined in one part of her mind. She chose not to think about them. She decided to face that part of her life later; later when she has definitely moved on.

            Facing the mirror, she looked at herself. She admired herself and the way she look in her battle suit, as she like to call her kimono. She smiled and breathe out. She could do this—she chanted to herself. ~I could do this! ~

******

The MX's Black Camaro parked outside near the building where everything seems to be normal. Brennan wanted to drive but Adam insisted in letting Jesse because of Brennan's condition.

"You're still weak!" Adam told him.

"No Adam. I can drive. Besides, I drive faster than anyone here. That means we could get to Emma as quick as we could." Brennan defended.

"I am not requesting you, Brennan. I'm telling you. YOU ARE NOT DRIVING!" Adam firmly said.

So there they were. Jesse parked the car and they started asking everyone where they could find the said building until Shalimar found something.

"Is that what we're looking?" she asked as she point a billboard that read: "Psi-power: Mind and Body Clinic" she cringed her forehead and thought for a while then she faced the team. "Is it me or is this building sounded like it is owned by a psionic?"

"It is!" Jesse bat in.

The team looked at him and Brennan posed a sarcastic look. "Do you mean to say that Cole own this building?"

Jesse nodded. "Actually, he and his sister." He explained.

"Let's not waste time." Adam said and he led the group to the building. Shalimar walked beside Brennan as to support him and Jesse walked just behind Adam, getting ready to defend his creator. As they were about to enter the building the guards run scans on them. Adam was no problem. He got in easily but the scans for Brennan, Shalimar and Jesse showed something different and as a tradition in the building, the guards called the owners to attend to these special individuals.

The guards stopped them. "Sorry sirs, ma'am. But you'll have to wait here…"

"No! Let them in!"

The team whipped around to face the owner of the voice and they were greeted by a strangers face but not for Jesse. Jesse knew the woman.

Being protective that she is, Shalimar jumped in front of Jesse so as to protect him for the stranger.

"I can see that you're a feral," the woman said. "You must be Shalimar!"

Shalimar jerked back and she was amazed how this lady knew her. "How did you…"

"Meg?" Jesse finally recognized and he cut in Shalimar's sentence. "Meg? Meg!"

"Finally! I thought you forgot about me." Meg smiled.

"You know her?" Shalimar asked him.

"Yes. She's Meg. Cole's sister" He said softly.

Hearing this, Shalimar raised her guards higher. She thought that if this woman is Cole's sister then she might be working with him and Gabriel too.

Meg smiled. "It's alright. You have all the right to feel what you are feeling right now. But I wish to remind you that we didn't completely stole Emma away from you."

"You know Emma?" Brennan hissed. "Where is she? Is she alright?"

Meg giggled and sighed. She knew how the group love and worries about Emma. It's obvious anyway. She smiled. "Don't worry Brennan, Emma's fine!"

Brennan cringed his forehead and looked at Meg for a while. "You know me?"

"Only from Emma's memory." Meg replied.

Then Brennan cringed some more. What does she mean? How did she know them?

"She's a psionic Brenn. A pre-cog and empath to be exact." Jesse explained.

Adam remained silent through this exchange but he listened carefully. Analyzing Meg carefully. He shook his head. ~No, she could not be working with his brother ~ Adam thought.

"You're right! I'm not here to destroy you." Meg answered Adam's mind question and it amazed him. Meg could feel the uneasiness the Mutant X is transmitting. She knew they wanted to see Emma at once. She thought for a while. ~Will Emma be happy to see her teammates? ~ She really doesn't know. But what she knows is that Emma needs them. "Come! I'll take you to her." She finally decided.

**********

            Cole sneaked in Emma's room and he found her in front of the mirror. "Hey Ems!" he called out. He smiled at her as he admired her kimono.

            "Hey there!" Emma called back.

            "Still getting ready?" Cole asked as he headed his way in and towards a seat.

            "Yeah!"

            "You know what?" Cole again.

            "What?"

            "You really don't need to be in complete make up when you're fighting!" Cole grinned as he noticed that Emma spent much time in front of the mirror.

            "Uh—huh!" Emma dropped her jaw open and her eyes widened. "I'm not doing that!" she protested as she gave him a light slap on the back.

            "Ouch!" Cole reached behind him where Emma slapped him, slightly caressing it.

            "You're mean!" Emma pouted her lips.

            "Really! You don't need make up. Besides, you're beautiful in your simple way." He added.

            "."

            Emma was stunned and then she blushed. "You really know how to make a woman blush, do you?"

            Cole looked at her and he raised his shoulder. How he treasured the moments he spends with her. How he wish it wouldn't end.

            Emma tore her eyes away from Cole. "Thanks!" she said.

            "For what?"

            "For being a friend when everyone whom I've always trusted fail me." Emma swallowed to hide the lumps in her throat. She was happy to be here. But she'll lie if she said that she doesn't miss the Sanctuary.

            There was a pang in Cole's heart. If only Emma knows about what he has done. He sighed and forced a smile.

            /Knock! Knock! Knock! / They heard a knock on the door. "Ems! It's time!" a fellow mutant came in and informed them.

"Ok! I'll be right behind you." Emma replied. She faced Cole again as soon as the mutant was out. "I should be going now."

"Yeah! Be careful out there and remember that we're just around." Cole consoled her.

"I know! Thanks! Don't worry. I'll do just fine!" and with that, Emma left.

************

            Meg led the group to a crowded place. The Mutant X team was a bit confused and Shalimar shook her head when her eyes caught something that looks like a… ~A combat ring? ~

            This site frightened the team. What is happening? Why did Meg bring them there?

Brennan's heart pounded as they heard a voice from somewhere…

"…Ladies and gentlemen, the newest member of our group; the most powerful empath we had ever had; the newest part of our family; the challenger; miss Emma DeLauro."

If Brennan had the power of fire, he could literally burn the whole building down. He wanted to jump in the middle of ring and take Emma away from the crowd but Adam stopped him.

"Brennan!" Adam's voice was firm and his hand was digging into Brennan's flesh.

"What?" Brennan screamed.

"Stay here!" Adam ordered.

"Stay here? Are you telling me let Emma alone?" Brennan hissed as he snatched his arms back from Adam.

"No! I'm not telling you to do that. But for just once Brennan, why don't we let Emma defend herself?" Adam explained and he tried to pacify the elemental when Shalimar stood up so suddenly.

"Oh my god!" Shalimar exclaimed and she caught Adam's attention.

"What is it?"

            Shalimar didn't say anything. She just willed the others to look at the ring.

            "…And now our champion; an Ursine feral…"

            "Oh my god!" Adam uttered.

            "Now could we help her?" Brennan interrupted.

            Adam was about to join Brennan when Jesse stopped them.

            "Get out of the way Jesse!" Brennan warned him.

            Jesse shook his head. "No! Emma always wanted this. Let us let her alone." He stood there with his hands on his hips.

            "Are you suggesting we stay here and watch her die?" Brennan demanded.

            "NO! I think what Jesse wanted to say is…" Shalimar stopped and looked at the ring. "I mean, look guys. Look at Emma." Shalimar pointed at their friend. "She looks ready for this."

            "I am not hearing this!" Brennan shook his head and raised his hands. "What? Are we going to watch this feral beat the hell out of her? What if she can't take the pain?"

            "Then we'll be here!" Jesse exclaimed. "I'll be here!"

            There was a short silence between the team and then they finally convinced Brennan to stay and let Emma alone.

            ************           

            Emma looked at her sparring mate—Ricky and they shook hand.

            "Hey! Don't be afraid to throw punches at me!" Ricky said at their handshake.

            Emma smiled at him. "Don't worry Ricky. I won't!"

            The referee gave them all the instructions and then…

            /clang! Clang! Clang! /

            The bell sounded and the fight begun. Emma prepared herself as she waited for Ricky to attack. Then there he goes. Ricky's eyes glowed and he gave a loud purr. Ricky did a somersault and he was aiming to land on top of Emma to pin her down but Emma successfully avoided him.

            Shalimar and Jesse were holding on their seat and they were holding their breath while Adam closed his eyes as not anticipating that Emma would get so lucky and avoid the feral. But Brennan kept on cursing again and again. ~If something happen to her…God forbid it but I can't forgive myself. ~ Brennan thought.

            Emma didn't waste her opportunity. When Ricky landed on the floor and was still trying to gather his strength, Emma bent on down on the floor and she slid her foot and swept Ricky off his feet. Ricky landed on the floor with his butt.

            Ricky smiled at her. "You are so good."

            "Thank you!" Emma replied with a twinkle in her eyes.

            "Would you mind?" Ricky asked permission about using his powers fully.

            "Not at all!" She said as she tried to stand up.

            With that, Ricky roared louder than before and he run towards Emma. Giving her punches.

            Everything happened so fast that Emma did not have time defend herself from the punches. Her vision started to blur but her mind screamed at her. ~It should not end like this. This was too quick. You need fight back! ~

            Ricky was quite amazed when suddenly Emma grabbed his fist and pushed him away from her. He really thought that Emma is finished, oh, but he was wrong… so wrong. Emma stood up and spat the blood out of her mouth.

            "My turn!" Emma confidently said. With that Emma gave him a forty-five degree kick followed by a roundhouse kick and it sent Ricky twisting in pain. Emma didn't stopped there. She followed him and then she grabbed him by his collar and gave him Psi-blast, sending him five different emotion at a time—pain, hate, fear, weakness, confusion; driving him crazy.

Ricky went ballistic. He sees Emma in five different ways and it is driving him insane. He wanted to punch her but he feels afraid. He wanted to stand up and fight but it feels really painful and the throbbing went on and on like an unending beating of his heart.

Emma let go of him as she let him alone for a while. Letting him gather his own wits. And then she concentrated all her powers to him and Ricky couldn't move in his place. Then Emma gave him a more engrossed feeling of fear and Ricky started purring like a frightened bear.

            Ricky backed away, still purring and then he turned his face away from Emma. ~This is just an illusion. ~ He told himself. ~This fear in not real. ~ His heart added. And then his nails grew longer and his fang showed.

            Shalimar stood up and it frightened the group. "What is it?" Brennan demanded but Shalimar didn't have a chance to answer. She was breathing fast and she was really panicking that she didn't care anymore. She paved her way towards the ring screaming at the top of her lungs. She wanted to get in the ring but the tall bars stopped her. Then she screamed again "No! Emma! Get away from him!"

            ~Shal? ~ Emma's attention was caught by Shalimar's loud voice. Her concentration was destructed that he unintentionally released Ricky from her psionic lock.

            Ricky didn't let that moment pass. He run towards Emma, somersaulted and clawed her arms. Emma landed on the floor with her bleeding arms. She bit her lips so as not to cry. The pain was excruciating but she chose not to scream.

            Jesse run towards the ring and he phased in. He continued running towards Emma.

            "Oh God! Emma!" Jesse exclaimed.

            Emma's eyes widened. "Jesse?" she said softly. Her heart started beating fast and her breathing became constricted.

            "I'm taking you home." Jesse started gathering Emma's small body when Emma pushed him away. "Emma?"

            Emma looked at him then to the judges, asking them for a break which they granted. 'Five minutes' they told her. And then she looked back at Jesse. "What are you doing here?"

            "Emma? We're here to…"

            "Wait! Wait!" Emma interrupted Jesse. "WE! You mean…?"

            "Yeah! All of us." Jesse pointed at where the team is. "We're here to rescue you."

            "RESCUE? Rescue me? From where? From whom?" Emma placed her hands on his hips.

            "From this beast!" Jesse screamed. "Look at you. You're hurt!"

            "I'm fine. Thank you very much. Now, could you please leave?" Emma pointed out the exit.

            "But Emma…"

            "Look Jesse, the least that I need right now is you putting me down. If you can't support then please do not underestimate me."

            With that, Emma left Jesse as the guards escorted him out.

            Emma breathed in and out and then she finally heard the referee's voice. As soon as the referee left the ring, Ricky run toward Emma. But she was quick and she avoided him. She jumped off away from him and she landed on the other side of the ring. But the Ursine was quick and he got her by her arm and pinned her down, punching her again and again. Making her bleed mercilessly.

            Emma could swear that she was about to black out and then she thought. ~It can't end like this. Shalimar is here. Brennan is here, and Adam and Jesse… I can't let them see me like this. I have to do something. ~

            Ricky didn't stopped hitting Emma. His feral completely took control and he was no longer rational. He was about to claw her when he froze.

            The noise in the small arena started to die out when the bleeding psionic stood up. And then she screamed at the top of her lungs as she pinned Ricky down and punched him back. Then she stood up and kicked him. For a while, Emma allowed him to stand. Ricky indeed stood up but Emma just gave him little time and then she gave him a roundhouse kick.

            Ricky's body flew across the ring and it slammed on the steel bar that guarded the ring. Emma didn't stopped there. She run towards Ricky; picked up his weak body and threw him up in the air.

            Emma was preparing to hit Ricky as his body comes down when Meg called out to stop her.

"Emma! Stop!"

*********

Emma didn't hit Ricky anymore. She caught him and she placed him down on the floor. "Ricky!" she shook him by his shoulder.

Ricky moaned and he opened his eyes. He smiled at her. "You were damn good!" he told her with a soft voice.

"Thank you. Did I hurt you so badly?" Emma asked him with pure concern.

"Oh no you didn't. I'm fine. How about you? Did I hurt you?" Ricky asked.

Emma shook his head and smiled.

"Congratulations." He said. "I underestimated you." Ricky confessed. "I guess I should have listened to my wife when she told me not to underestimate a psionic." He smiled.

"I think you should have." Emma grinned back and with that the medics took Ricky away.

"Will he be alright?" Emma asked Meg as soon as Ricky was out.

Meg nodded and smiled. "You're the new champion Emma. You did it!"

"What?" Emma was too surprised to react. "I did it!" she echoed. Her mind flew away from the building. She forgot about everything. She didn't even remember that Mutant X was there. For the first time in her life, she has defended herself. She didn't need anyone. She was strong and damn powerful. Now, she is something and she is proud of it.

~I have underestimated myself. ~ She thought. ~But I have proven myself now. ~ Her mind screamed. Yes. Emma has indeed bloomed and she found herself. She was very happy. She had what she had always wanted—power and courage, but is she contended? Why is it that behind this happiness lies a shallow feeling inside her? What is missing?

MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-

***Lyza***

Ok, then. How am I doing? I'm not really good in writing action scenes but…what the hell. Ok. Please continue reviewing and please send me your suggestions. I really need them… PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *down on my knees and begs*