Brian awoke to the feeling of being sharply kicked in the ribs. 

When he opened his eyes he found himself face to face with a rather large black combat boot. The sure woke him up. Trying to scramble into a sitting position, he got knocked down by the boot.

The owner of said boot turned and gave a yell out the cell door. A short, Hispanic man gave quickly in. "Si?" He asked.

The boot's owner, whom Brian was beginning to assume was a woman, pointed a gloved finger towards him.

The little man apparently understood her.

He promptly walked in and knelt down behind Brian's head. He forced Brian up into a sitting position. First he tied a blindfold over Brian's eyes. Then he got to work removing and replacing the handcuffs. A few moments later, he stood up and left.

"On your feet, freak," The Boot Woman commanded with another kick.

Grimacing, Brian learned the difficulty of sitting up when one's hands are tied behind one's back and also blindfolded. But he did manage to eventually stand up, and was then grabbed and led out by the Boot woman.

When they reached the exit, they were met with a wall of hot air. Brian coughed, having not expected the heat. Back up in Seattle, it was cold and rainy this time of year. Well, not that it wasn't also like that the rest of the year, but for heaven's sakes it was February! It should be cold! But at least it was a small clue about his location: really hot and there was a Hispanic guy… . . . Ok, he had nothing.

The woman behind him continued to march forward, barking orders at any unfortunate bystander.

Finally, she stopped. She still gripped the back of Brian's arms, but she seemed distracted by something.

Suddenly, there was a sharp creak and Brian sensed something moved. Then they were able to continue onward.

The woman pushed him through what he assumed was a door, for once inside wherever he was, there was a distinct drop in temperature. Definitely caused by air conditioning.

"Stand still! Try anything scum and I'll be more than happy to leave you out there in the sun to fry." She declared loudly. Brian obeyed. He could feel the cuffs being checked again, and then the blindfold was taken off.

He blinked a few times, his eyes trying to adjust to the sudden light change. Once the brightness level of the room returned to normal, he was able to look around.

The building was fairly large, or at least this room was. There were several rows of worn looking desks clumped together on the far side of the room. Closer to where Brian was, there was a line of a few metal chairs surrounded by different forms of restraints. One chair had a three-inch thick bar circling it, like an amusement park ride. Another chair had chains draped around it; while another was completely surrounded by bars. Although, there were a few just plain chairs, except these had been moved over enough to show a distinct separation between groups.

Brian stood in the opposite corner, still held by the Boot Woman.

A group of young military personnel walked through the door, it clanging shut behind them.

Boot Woman signaled for them to come over. They obeyed, yet seemed quite reluctant to do so. She commanded them to hold her 'assignment' while she checked it in.

Doing what they were told, one grabbed Brian from each side, with another supervising this from the front. Brian yawned.

Boot Lady gestured for them all to come over.

The two holding him simply dragged Brian over. Brian only vaguely noticed the following proceedings. He was tested, as by usual protocol. He was certified as Brian Tandon, and of having entered at the day's date. The person who had performed the test, a secretary of sort, handed the boot lady a slip of paper.

With that, he was led away, or more dragged away.

The small procession must have been quite a sight. Led by the Boot lady, followed by the lieutenant and finally followed by Brian, wedged between the two personnel whom were dragging him.

The dust was getting in his mouth and eyes-- heck, it was getting everywhere!

In the distance, rows of silver pointy things were visible, but Brian couldn't tell what they were. Some large buildings where closer, but he was being led away from those so he was unable to determine their purpose.

They reached a small building.

Boot woman and two of her new assistants remained outside while one led Brian in. The entire building appeared to be a large series of showers. The floor and walls were covered in sand colored inch-square tile, with borders a shade darker. The water then came down from the ceiling, like an indoor sprinkler. Brian's clothes got soaked, and the bit of dust covering him turned to a diluted form of mud. Brian greedily tried to drink in the water. He had been taken before dinner the night before, and wherever he was, the sun was already getting high in the air.

Deciding the prisoner had had enough, the private gruffly turned off the water and led him back out. Once outside, his clothes dried nearly instantly. His captors led him off again, returning to their former positions.

This time, they headed towards the pointy things Brian had seen earlier. As they got closer, it was clear what they were. Bunkers.

The bunkers stretched on and on, as far as Brian could see. Granted, that wasn't very far by comparison, but it was far enough.

He was led into the second block, and after Boot Lady went through the security codes to open the doors. The doors slid open mechanically with a hiss. Inside it was dark; only small beams of sunlight were allowed in here and there.

They led him down the long, main hall that seemed to divide up the cells. On each side of the hall were dark, dirty cells about six-foot square at the most. The cells had mainly solid walls, with two or three foot tall strips of bars, and of course a door. Outside the door there were what appeared to be handprint scanners, most likely operated by the guards.

When one of his guards caught him looking around, Brian decided to keep his head down.

Finally they reached his cell. Brian was put in a bit more gently this time, and the cuffs were removed. With that, though, the door slammed shut.

He sat on the cold cement floor, dazed. Slowly he began looking around. He noticed on the sides of his cell, about three feet off the ground there was a one-foot high strip of bars, allowing him to see into the other cells.

Gathering up his strength, he sat up on his knees. "Hello?" He called timidly. There was no answer. Curious, he looked up through the bars. There was nothing in the cell. Disappointed, he turned to the opposite cell on his left.

This time he looked before calling.

"Hey!" A voice snapped back. Brian jolted backwards in shock. The voice gave a short laugh. "That's what you get," It said simply.

"Sorry," Brian apologized but got no reply. "If you don't mind me asking, what's going on?" He asked hurriedly.

There was the sound of something moving.

Brian watched a head topped with short, blond hair rise up slowly above the bottom of the bars. It stopped when he was face to face with a pair of ice blue eyes. "You don't know?" the voice said slowly, seeming not to comprehend.

Brian nodded.

The man on the other side of the bars let out a cross between a laugh and a sigh.

"Boy, have I got a story for you." He began. "First off though, introductions. Are you a mutant or an InVie?" He asked. InVie was a short term for invalid.

"InVie," Brian admitted.

"Ah," The man replied.

"How'd you know I was one of those two?" Brian asked curiously.

The man paused, "Because you wouldn't be in there if you weren't."

To this, Brian was silent.

The man continued, "Anyway, you can call me Ice."

Brian nodded.

"So you don't have any clue why you're here?" Ice asked.

Brian shook his head. "I'm guessing it's because I'm and Invalid or will-be Mutant." He stated.

"Bingo."

And so Ice began to tell of the new law and the raid of the school where he had worked…

_______________________________________________________________________________

Bobby, Rogue, Scott, Nightcrawler, and Ororo were all gathered in Xavier's office. Logan would have been there too, if he hadn't already left. A few days prior, he had announced he was leaving. Perhaps it was Logan's animal instincts that told him to leave then. The animal yet again eluding the trap the hunter had set. Or maybe it was just Logan's time to move on. They may never know.

In the meeting with Xavier, they were assured that no one would touch the school, and they would be safe as long as they stayed there. Bobby gripped Rogue's gloved hand at hearing this. Everyone feared an incident similar to what Stryker had done. If only they could have been so lucky…

Early that evening, Ororo and Rogue, who had both taken over the 'lady of the house' role quite nicely sent him to town to pick up a few things. As he left, he saw the students gathered around Xavier's chair. He was reassuring them that nothing was going to happen- that they were safe. The scene brought a smile to bobby's face.

Once in town, he quickly picked up the desired items and was on his way back to the mansion. A cop pulled him over. Shining a flashlight in Bobby's face, the man squinted at him. "Are you," He paused to read something in his other hand. "Robert "Bobby" Drake?" He questioned.

"Yes," Bobby slowly replied.

The man thrust a testing device at him. "Show me," he demanded.

Bobby went through the procedure of the testing, and the machine verified it as positive. There was something on his identification that he had never noticed before. In a bright red, underneath his name there was a bold 'MUTANT' label, with a small star underneath. Below that, there was a long serial code-like number.

The officer read this, and nodded. He turned the device off, "You're under arrest for being a mutant, Mr. Drake." The officer state calmly.

"What?" Bobby asked in disbelief.

The officer repeated it, slower this time, as if bobby was not only a mutant but also an idiot.

"That's preposterous! I know my rights." Bobby declared, staying in the car.

"You thought you did, mutie. Now, let's make this easy. Out of the car." The officer shot back.

Bobby stared up at the man, then slammed his foot down on the gas. The car- thankfully one that Scott had modified- roared forward.

He heard the cop yell from behind, but booby kept going. He still had a little bit of time left. Panicking, he felt around the passenger seat for his cell phone. He found it, and with a deep breath he called the mansion.

The phone rang. And rang again. No answer.

'Pick up, someone pick up…'He silently begged.

On the fourth ring, someone did. "Bobby? Oh god, please let it be you," Rogue's southern accent laced voice answered.

"Rogue!" Bobby yelled.

"Bobby! You need to get back here. Soldier's came. " She began to sob. "They were shooting, Bobby."

Bobby froze. "Are you ok?"

Rogue's voice wavered. "Bobby, they're going to find me. I'm hiding under the Professor's desk…"

"Just stay there Rogue! Be as quiet as you can, I'm coming…Did any of the children escape?"

Another muffled sob escaped Rogue. "I…I don't know. They killed Jones, Bobby. He…he was just sitting there watching TV when the back of his head exploded. That's how we knew." Her voice was wavering again towards the end.

"Just stay quiet Rogue. I love you, I'm coming to get you." Bobby said, trying to reassure her.

There was silence from Rogue's end of the line.

"Rogue?" Bobby questioned, worried.

"They're here Bobby, on this floor. I can hear them getting nearer. Oh God, Oh God." She whispered.

Bobby opened his mouth to say something when Rogue suddenly screamed and the line went dead.

If he thought he was panicked before, then Bobby was in a state of near hysterics. He drove like a madman, putting Scott's modifications of the car to the test.

As he neared the school, what he saw was a mini-war ground.

In the lawn around the mansion, were dozens of police cars and several vans. A few military vehicles as well. There were a few students chained together and held by armed soldiers. A helicopter circled above, casting a searchlight in every direction.

As Bobby stared, shocked at what was unfolding before his very eyes, he failed to notice when the searchlight fell on him. It was too late when he finally started the car.

Armed officers quickly surrounded him, all with their guns pointed towards him. The apparent lead officer stepped forward. They read from a sheet of paper the declaration that had been made only hours before. All mutants, InValids, and any other persons at risk of mutation were hereby under civil arrest. They were being relocation until further notice.

Bobby was then handcuffed and tested once again. Once this was over with, he was injected with something, and promptly fell asleep. When he awoke, he was at the camp, in his cell.

___________________________________________________________________

"Wow," Brian said, impressed with Ice's story.

Ice shrugged. Of course, he had left out a few of the real details in what he told he kid, so he wasn't bugged with questions of who all those people were, and such.

"Yeah kid, so why don't you tell me a bit about yourself," Ice said, leaning away from the window. He was obviously tired from telling his story, and wore a semi-haunted look on his face.

Brian began to tell of his last few days, feeling rather inadequate by comparison to Ice's story.