Disclaimer: A whole host of new characters are mine. Please don't use them. Of course, the X-Men and other such characters involved in the comic, books and the movie belong to Marvel, and new ones are mine. Also the plot is my own.

Throughout story:

" " = Speech

' ' = Thoughts

^ ^ = Telepath

Chapter 29

            Logan had pulled himself sleepily from his bed just a short while ago, and he was now upon the corridor again, proceeding, as promised, to the attic door to fetch Phantom. As he walked he saw a figure coming is way along the dim corridor and his eyes narrowed at their approach. As the figure stepped into some sunlight he saw Bandit in front of him.

"Oh! Hey Logan." Bandit said, coming to a halt in front of Logan.

Logan gave a short nod of his head to this.

"Been hearing stuff about you.." Said Bandit shrewdly, his arms folding, tongue slipping to stick out the corner of his mouth as he watched the success of his mild provocation.

Logan's eyes narrowed, "Oh really?" Came the rough murmur of his accent. His eyes scrutinized the man in front of him. Churns of dislike appeared in the pit of his stomach.

Before Logan could work out what was happening, Bandit disappeared from view, a blur of colour whipped round him.

Huh?

Logan turned suddenly on the spot, wheeling round to see Bandit behind him, holding up a black watch to Logan, "I believe this is yours." He said coyly, eyes glinting knowingly.

Logan looked down to his wrist. Indeed his watch had gone. He growled and snapped it off Bandit, slapping it back on over his wrist.

Bandit chuckled softly, "And they wonder where I get my name from?"

Logan snarled softly to Bandit, "Just get your ass movin' bub.."

Bandit raised his brow disdainfully at Logan's words. It appeared he didn't know how well Logan was at completing his promised threats. He just stood, there, arms folded, a smirk on his face, a silent and hidden laughter.

Logan growled lowly. Bandit was really pushing his luck. Only when the sleek sound of his claws echoed round the corridor, did Bandit think otherwise on his attitude. But he had confidence; with his mutation he would be out of there sharpish.

Another threatening noise from the Wolverine. Bandit took a small step back, shrugging, "Er.. Yeah.. I'll see you down at the meeting." He turned and walked away down the corridor, whistling arrogantly. The smirk never left his face.

Logan snorted softly and turned, claws retreating to skin. Logan rubbed over his knuckles slowly as he came upon the steps, looking up to the trapdoor.

            The attic was in the exact same state as last night. Loan heaved himself in and stood slowly, brushing the dust from the knees of his jeans. He looked around, questioning the silence, "Phantom?"

No reply.

Logan took a few steps forward, craning his head in the darkness, "It's me.. Logan.. I said I'd be back." He wandered slowly, carefully. He came open the broken mirror and stared at it momentarily as he saw the reflection of his face sharply split into several cracked images.

A figure stepped mildly out of the darkest shadow.

There she was.

Logan smiled a little, "Hey.. come on. Let's go downstairs. Perhaps you can help us at this meeting."

The figure came closer and the familiar dark skinned face of Phantom lifted to Logan, "Help you?" She questioned.

Logan spoke as he motioned down the steps, "Yeah, with the whole human crisis."

Phantom lingered at the top, "I heard about that.."

Logan stepped out onto the corridor again looking up to her. She was enduring her stay in the attic.

"Come on.." Said Logan, his hands motioning her down, "Not good being stuck up there."

"What if they don't want me down?"

"It's not up to them.. you live here to."

Phantom sighed.

"Come on Phantom.. you deserve a life. Don't waste your living hours in there." Said Logan sternly.

Phantom watched him a moment before timidly shaking her head. She leant on the steps slowly, "I'm sorry Logan.. I'm not wanted.. I – ARGH!"

Logan had taken hold of the steps and had given them a sudden and hefty shake. Phantom had lost her balance. But Logan calmly caught her and walked on, Phantom staring after the bewildering experience. Logan placed her down, but made sure she was following.

Phantom glared at him as she travelled, not particularly pleased with his method of bringing her down. But now.. she was down here.. Phantom was now looking around interestedly, having not been down in the mansion for a long time in the daylight. Only on a few occasions did she enter the mansion itself, and that was in the dead of night.

"Oh great.." Muttered Logan quietly.

Phantom looked up to him then across to a figure coming their way.

It was Scott.

"Logan! What the hell are you doing? Everyone's waiting for you.. Aurora's been up to your room and back looking for you!"

Logan just made an inward groan as the voice came at him, "I'm here now ain't I?"

Scott folded his arms and glared at Logan dubiously, "Hm.." His head then lowered to the woman beside Logan, "Who're you?" He said rather rudely.

Logan opened his mouth to mention that manners could be suffice.. yeah.. hypocritical. But before he had chance to patronize himself, Phantom stepped up.

"Who am I?" She said softly, expression calm, then.. "Who the hell are you?" She said sharply, narrowed eyes upon Scott, her arms folded.

Scott blinked. No one acted like that around the leader of the X-Men.. well.. except Logan, "Excuse me?" Said Scott, trying to swiftly settle into a polite manner.

Phantom sneered, "Are American's really this rude?" She said to no one in particular.

Scott found a grin on his face.. she would have only found that out if she had spoken to Logan earlier in order to judge.

Phantom however turned to Logan and gestured him, "How come this bloke is actually pleasant to me, and you just greet me with your own head stuck up your arsehole?"

Scott's jaw fell open, whilst Logan couldn't hide the smirk on his face. He stepped over to Scott, patting him on the shoulder, "Try learning a few greeting techniques for next time, huh?"

Logan stepped round Scott with Phantom following, huffing after meeting Scott, "What a vile man."

Scott could only stare as the two walked away…

            Running down the corridor came Bobby and Rogue; they didn't want to be late for the meeting. They turned corners sharply, skidding slightly on the polished floors.

As they ran – Bobby behind Rogue – Bobby noticed Rogue stumble slightly and slow down from her pace. She staggered, and Bobby had to sharply turn as to not fall over her. But within a few seconds, she had stopped completely and with a defeated groan, fell limply to the floor.

A small crowd had gathered on the patio outside.. as Logan and Phantom joined (Scott arriving soon after) they were met by stares and gasps.

"Phantom?!"

"What's she doing here?"

"Wolverine?"

"Why's Phantom here?"

Logan gave Phantom a reassuring nod, placing an arm round her shoulders, since she looked almost terrified by the loud questions to her appearance, as if she wasn't wanted.

Elizabeth however stood up, and shook her head to the British mutant's questionings, "Ssh.. ssh.." She then looked to Phantom, and then to Logan, "You've finally come down then Phantom?" She said gently.

Phantom looked to Logan and then to Elizabeth, "Yes.." She said, rather uncertainly.

"Good." Said Elizabeth, "I'm glad Wolverine convinced you."

Logan gave a sheepish sort of smile, glancing round the group.. he then met Aurora's face.. she didn't looked too pleased.. He felt as though lead had just dropped into his stomach as he realised why.. he still had his arm around Phantom.

Aw God..

He swivelled his head back to Elizabeth and promptly removed his arm hurriedly from Phantom.

"Are you happy being back down here..?"

Phantom nodded, "Yes.. I can control myself now."

Jayne glanced from Elizabeth to Phantom, stating to simplistic truth, "And can you guarantee no more fatal accidents?"

Phantom sharply nodded, "Certainly."

Elizabeth now smiled, "Well, come and take a seat you two.. let's get this meeting underway."

Phantom took a safe seat beside Elizabeth whilst Logan purposely went in the opposite direction and took a seat by Charles.

Charles nodded to him before looking out across the table, "You all know why me and my students came across to Britain.."

The mutants around the table nodded.

"Well, apart from great gratitude for your welcome.. I'm afraid there is a darker issue upon us." Charles said quietly, "Mutant hating is not yet a trend in Britain, but with reports coming into the British Government every day.. I'm afraid it will not be long."

Expressions around the table had got very serious and solemn at his words.

"I think the sickness.." He gestured round to Aurora, Storm and the others effected, "Is more than a common virus."

"What are you saying Charles?" Said Elizabeth softly, straightening in her seat.

"I'm saying.. that this is a human's work."

Soft gasps travelled round the table, eyes widened and heads shook in a grave manner.

"And with Magneto on the loose.. things can only get worse."

"Well.. what can we do?" Said Storm quietly, eyes locked upon the Professor.

"We need to find Lenny..  stop Magneto.. and find out who is responsible for the virus."

Logan snorted softly, "We've got to now scour the entire country for a prick and a maniac?"

Phantom had to bite her lip in order to not burst out laughing at Logan's choice of description.

Charles sighed heavily, "Yes.. we have Logan. Do you have any problem with that?"

"I just don't see why we have to!"

"Because if we let Magneto loose in Britain he could soon turn this country into another mutant hating country, and with the two most richest and important countries against mutants, we don't have much of a future!" Charles said, growing louder, "And it is us who brought Lenny here.. He's in a foreign country with no money and no shelter."

Logan sat back and folded his arms, eyes dominated by his dipped brow, "Hmph.."

"And how are we going to find out who is responsible for the virus?"  Said Bandit, who was now leaning forward and looking down to Charles.

Charles nodded, "I've psychicly been trailing it. All illnesses have been at a radius round one particular city, and the effects are stronger closer to this point. Some so strong that the victim has been killed by their own powers.. we're lucky, we've only been getting mild effects.

"And which city is it, Uncle?" Asked Jayne softly.

Charles looked to her, "London."

Scott frowned, "But it happened in New York too.."

Charles nodded, "I believe the virus has been sent over. There is a strong possibility it is by the British Government, and so it has been sent to some secret location in America.."

"It explains so many mutant deaths too.."

"They've been shipping it across.. if we stop the virus here, then no more can be sent abroad."

Aurora now frowned, "And how can we get down to London without becoming contaminated?"

Charles now smiled knowingly, "You and Logan have the healing ability."

"But Aurora was infected.." Said Kurt suddenly.

"She had a dizzy spell..  she didn't faint or lose control of her mutation.. I believe you both have the courage and will to fight this."

Logan and Aurora now nodded determinedly., but Aurora was keeping her distance from Logan currently.

"We'll have to go to London first, the rest of us cannot go any nearer to London until we manage to get rid of the virus."

"How can you be so sure that it is destroyable?"

"It's man-made.. and likely to be stored in vats in some large building.. if we destroy the building it is made in.. the virus will be no more."

Glances were exchanged around the table as adrenalin began to pump through their veins.. minds gearing up for the oncoming battle.

"And when do we set off to London?" Asked Logan.

Charles's eyes gave a wise glint as he replied, "Tomorrow."

***

Long chapter!! Over 2000 words! Are you happy LoneEagle? Hehe XD And we indeed shall find out what's happened to Rogue.. and we'll get some interesting encounters with some characters ;)

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