A/N: Thoughts spoken in the mind or through telepathy are in italics. More often then not that will be the only way since they took away my other use. If there's a single word in a sentence italicized then it's to be emphasized or pointed out. This chapter's ending will cause quite a bit of confusion but it's not meant to explain much; they're experiencing the last moments before their deaths but not the entire thing.

Xavier Institute Medlab (Rebuilt) 5:00 p.m.

Russ watched the other members of their alliances and the X-Men's faces, real and cloned, throughout the process of discussing what would happen. He tried to avoid looking at Rogue for the majority of it because he could see the hidden pain in his eyes, much like his mother before her disappearance. He could see that she wanted to say something but refused to even when Hank asked if there were any questions.

There was silence at first then Jubilee asked her question.

"Will it hurt?"

For the first time, Russ saw that she was truly a teenager, scared and unsure. He felt ill at the thought of the lives they were about to take; it wasn't their fault they'd been chosen for someone's cruel experiment.

Hank shook his head, slowly. "If I've worked everything out then there won't be any pain except a sort of tingling feeling. Some of you, mainly ones with empathy or telekenesis, might re-live their deaths."

Remy's head shoot up from his single playing card. Ace of Hearts. "Y'want to explain that, homme?" he asked, seeking out Rogue but not saying a word.

"It means that because of the lock on your powers-empathy and telekenetic-you will experience things as though you were dying. You'll feel everything you felt then and see yourself go through it...I couldn't change that."

Are we any better then Icon? We're destroying mutant lives. They're not the real deal but until two days ago, they thought they were perfectly normal mutants. It couldn't be an easy adjustment yet they'd all come willingly except for the Maurders.

Russ, don't torture yourself. There's no solution that makes sense and helps everyone.

There should be. It's not fair that we can decide that they die.

I know, but I don't think we can change it.

How are you so calm, Angel? And don't give me those bullshit lines about 'i'm used to it' or 'can't miss what you've never known'. I want an honest answer.

Angel's next reply was tinged with anger and an understandable sadness. I don't know. Maybe it's because I was trained to be and I've dealt with it accordingly. You want to see what I'm really feeling?

Yes, he answered, taking the challenge he could hear in her voice.

Russ noticed that Nanaki had jammed one of her elbow's into her ribs, driving her into silence and a blank expression. Her gaze wandered to his but she simply shook her head, at a loss.

"How long will this take?" Juilus' question this time.

Hank looked down at the keypad in front of him. "No more than a few minutes. It should be one of the quickest deaths in well written history."

Landon's voice broke into their talking from where he sat on top one of the tables. He hadn't moved from his spot since he'd entered with his previous employer. His head had remained down and his hands in the pockets of his brown jackets while he himself said nothing.

"Can we get this over with? Some of us have something like a life to get on with once our employers deceased...mine starts in another state," he said but there was something hooded in his words. He still didn't look up.

Logan started forward but Rogue's grip stopped him in his tracks. He remained at her side, resting his hands on the table behind him; he flexed them, itching to get his claws out, no doubt.

Mystique met Landon's eyes then nodded, conveying something through her eyes. He returned the nod with a smile just before Hank stepped away from the device after pressing a few buttons. He joined the other mutants inside their 'containment cell' to wait. Logan finished locking the cell then took his place beside Rogue again. She moved at the last minute and gripped his hand, tightly from the way Logan's hand turned almost completely white with her pressure.

Six thoughts came into Jean Grey's head as she stared at her hands and the bloody nails there. They were a variation of teenagers and new adult mutants but all conveyed some type of meaning. It brought back the first truth and sign of sanity that she'd seen in herself in almost a year.

This isn't fair. Russ

I don't care about any of these peple. I barely know them; they mean nothing to me. Julius

The circus all over again. Tara

I wish I could cry. Angel

Let it be quick. Corey

Maybe this is what would have happened if I hadn't gotten out in time. Kellie

She turned a gentle, even normal, smile toward them, offering one hand toward them. "I understand. Stop measuring things with fair and unfair, Russ. Allow yourself to cry, Angel. Stop hurting yourself, Julius. Don't dwell on bad memories, Tara, Kellie. Corey, no one can make it any less painful then it is," she said seconds before her eyes turned completely red and she sank to her knees, clutching her head.

Russ couldn't tear his eyes away but knew something was happening. Her entire expression was pained and he could see the reddish glow emitting from her eyes; her scream shook the medlab and shattered the glass in the closed, metallic door.

FLASHBACK

Jean closed her eyes, fighting the pain that coursed through her body. Her nails dug into her palms, tearing the flesh there but she refused to cry for herself. The others were suffering more through her. She was being used to destroy them.

Another jolt coursed through her and she saw a vision of water. It was only there an instant then was taken from her by the needle that had been stuck into her arm, delivering it into the mind of the mutant in the tank. There was a screaming like sound, muffled as though under water then silence.

The body was removed.

Another mutant was placed within the cell. Her mind recognized this one and fought harder against the machine. Storm.

Storm!

The image rushed forward of falling but she fought, struggling to hold it in even as it faded with the needle's work. Her tears flowed, freely this time, at the scream from one of her best friends. She wanted to scream but something had been tied across her mouth to keep it shut and she could muster the ability to remove it even with her telepathy.

Her silent sobs turned into gun-wrenching sobs at the sight of her once best friend, lying on the floor, bloody and with many bones broken. Her tears continued to flows but none of the others effected her in the same manner until the next one. Scott Summers. Her husband.

Jean didn't bother to fight this time, knowing it would be useless. She tried one trick by changing the path of her thoughts, trying to trick the machine into using a different memory instead of the one Scott sent. She sent another right before the moment she knew he would die.

I love you, Scott.

END FLASHBACK

Remy couldn't feel anything except the pain tearing at his insides. His thoughts ran through the last time he'd seen Rogue. He saw her abandon their line then her cradling the little girl in her arms, rushing to get to the little girl to safety. He jerked in pain at the pain he saw in her eyes when she turned back and saw the blame in his eyes; he hadn't been aware he'd shown it.

He smiled, getting another image. A crazy, last thought type image that he'd had right before he lost conscience. Rogue was holding another little girl, a beautiful child, theirs. He knew it would never happen because he would die and she would live, live forever.

FLASHBACK

The collar tightened around his neck, blocking any use of his powers but Remy Lebeau didn't fight it. He fixed his eyes on the last thing he'd remember before the pain. Rogue, running to protect the little girl and the pain in her eyes when they met his own blaming ones.

One of the guys herding him and other mutants along jammed his gun into Remy's side. He fell to his knees, demon eyes blazing but unable to do anything. He staggered to his feet and took a breathe, struggling remain standing and walk with the others.

One side of his face was swollen, including the eyes swollen shut. Blood was running from numerous wounds that were a combination of self-inflicted and guard-inflicted. His clothes were torn in most parts but the worst was his side. The skin had torn, exposing his ribs; it was the exact place that the guy with the gun kept slamming it into.

He hadn't seen any of the others except Pyro, Shadowcat, and a few brief confrontations that appeared like other members. He wasn't sure how much of that was hallucinating. He didn't think he wanted to know what happened to any of the others but he'd figured out there were different ways to die.

There was something like a scream from up front but he did nothing except walk further up in the line.

Remy reached the head of the line and watched the mutant in front of him die. His hands were cuffed behind his back then a needle, like a drug needle, was pressed into the skin of his neck. After a moment, it was extracted and the man was forced to kneel with his head on a stump-like board. An executioner dropped the axe, slicing his head from his body.

At least mon femme Rogue won't see dis.

Remy didn't flinch or look away when the needle was pressed into his neck. He allowed it all with the steady following of his red on black eyes; his eyes never wavered from the 'executioner's' face. He watched the man's cold, no soul, black eyes until the axe swung down.

His last thought was. Remy's sorry.


END FLASHBACK

GUYS ROOM #1 7:00 p.m.

"Do you think they've buried them by now?" Corey asked, staring at the ceiling above him. His expression was noticeablly dark but no one said a word about it. He fixed his eyes on a crack and followed it across the ceiling.

"It's safe to say," Angel replied, leaning back away from the window where she sat. She dropped one of her feet down, hitting Julius in the stomache in the process. "Sorry, Kanteon."

"Hmm." He made no other comment.

Julius hadn't said much of anything since Jean had spoken to them. Her words had had an immediate effect when he'd turned and walked out. Angel had tried to go after him, but Nanaki had kept her in the lab with a shake of her head; she'd dropped the subject but showed up in their room, attempting to make small talk.

Russ shifted to sit on the edge of his bed, closing his eyes at the sudden dizziness.

"Problem...?"

"Head rush. I think dinner's about ready; I'm going downstairs. Either of you two coming...?" He shifted his attention to the two sitting at the window, Angel on the sill and Julius below it with his back to the wall, then walked out without hearing a response. He was almost sure they'd sit upstairs in total silence until Julius talked or she gave in and left.

He met Russ and Kellie at the bottom of the stairs and walked with them to the dining hall. It was strained silence the entire way and even more strained during dinner. He noted that several of their usual diners were absent, including Angel, Julius, Tara, Logan, and Rogue. It was midway through the meal before Logan and Rogue put in an appearance along with the guy that had come along with the brotherhood, Landon.

Logan was the first to comment on their lack of people. "Where's Kanteon, Angel, and Tara?" he asked after one quick look around. He settled on the empty chair, noting that two were side by side.

"Julius and Angel are talking." Corey felt obligated to mention that they were upstairs in the room he now shared with Juilus. He also mentioned his suspicion that they wouldn't be down for the night or if they did it would be later. "I'm not sure Tara is."

Kellie interjected, "She's in the garage, Logan. I think she wanted you to meet her there. She said you two needed to talk."

Russ made no comment but continued to eat, barely glancing up at their 'chaperones' and the boy with them.

Rogue cleared her throat, earning all of their attention. She didn't look like someone grieving until one noticed the fresh dirt on the knees of her jeans and that there was a slightly blood-shot look to her eyes. Three pairs of eyes fixed upon the two of them and Landon.

"Temporarily, Landon'll be staying with us," she stated, motioning him slightly forward. She waited until he was standing closer to the table to finish her thought. "Ah expect y'all to treat him accordin'ly, alright? Ah don't expect a problem."

"Yes, Rogue."

Logan motioned to a seat and the boy hesitated before taking a seat and looking around at them. His expression was far too reminiscent of Julius and his entire persona gave out an anti-turst vibe.

Within moments, he was intent upon eating with the rest of them along with Rogue and Logan. Logan hung around long enough to shovel some food into his mouth then split, mumbling some excuse about 'going to check on the kid', meaning Tara since she was the only singular one missing.

Corey noticed that Rogue hadn't eaten much and started to ask if she was alright. Kellie's foot connecting with his leg. He looked at her, scowling, but she just shook her head, tapping the table as though in morse code. He didn't get the message.

"I think we're having a communiation problem."

"We'll talk about it later..." Her tight-lipped, giving nothing away expression said everything he needed to know. A glance at Russ showed that he'd been included in that 'we' group. "Tara, too."

"Not Angel and Juilus...?" Russ asked with little suprise from the tone of his voice. It wasn't exactly pleasant or offering any insight to his thoughts or emotions.

"...I think they'll be a little busy later..." There was a smirk in place on Kellie's face, but it vanished when she noticed that Landon was studying her with vague interest. It was like seeing an interesting bug under a microscope but not knowing what to do with it. He unnerved her, forcing her to stare down at her food.

XAVIER'S INSTITUE GARAGE 7:10 p.m.

"Hey, kid, what do you do in here all the time?" Logan asked once he'd managed to get into the garage. He walked back from the door then noticed that the kid had installed several different forms of locks, including a sliding bolt upon the door. He almost asked about it but chose not to. "Prepare for global war?"

Tara shrugged, leaning against the table behind her that was covered by a giant white clothe. It looked like an old bed sheet from the Medlab; looks were decieving, though so he didn't bother to ask. Several tools were scattered around on the floor and in the rusted tool box that was underneathe the table, barely able to be seen.

"I work on stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

She shrugged again. "I've been working on something for the last while and it's finally ready...it's a thank you present, Logan," she said, judging by his expression how he'd react.

Logan was right on the mark when he straightened and shook his head. "You didn't have to do that, kid. No one deserved to go through that, darlin'."

Tara shook her head, showing him not to say anything else.

"No one deserved it, but you were the first to take the time out of your life to help the abused mutant kid. You did a hell of a lot better than anyone else ever bothered to even attempt. I'd probably still be there today, if I'd lived that long, if it weren't for you. Will you please just take the gift, Logan?" She tensed, waiting for his blatant denial of her wish.

He just stood there, waiting.

"Does that mean you'll accept it...?" she asked, still ready to his denial.

"I'll humor you. What is it, Tara?" he asked, using her real name rather than kid, darlin', or Tadpole. He'd always called her those but rarely by her given name.

Tara removed the cover from the table and showed him the modle she'd made from all her work. She'd taken care to paint it black with hardware paint from the money she'd recieved from Angel who pawned the whole thing off as 'a late christmas present since they hadn't got to exchange gifts'.

The model almost matched the real thing except for it's size and the fact that it was a more natural, glossy black. It had been crafted so that it stood up with it's wheels flat and inside was a small motor-like engine that made it run for real. She'd started to work on constructing a track for it but had decided to give him that part.

Logan didn't say anything until he'd looked over the entire model. "Why, kid?"

She'd expected the question and answered with an honest answer.

"You care, Logan. You're the first and I think the last one will probably be Angel...if it weren't for you I'd have probably been dead by now. Thanks, Logan."

His expression couldn't be called a complete smile but he was no longer scowling. He nodded, turning to face her.

"I'll accept it. You did a good job; how'd you get the detail so perfect...?" he asked, inspecting it then picking it up.

Tara smiled, inwardly, knowing he liked it. It was a small victory and one that none of the others would know, not even Angel, but it would let her at least begin to pay her debt back to Logan for what he'd done.

She spent two and a half hours explaining how the model worked and talking to him about it. He didn't mention what had happened years before with the circus or them but instead concentrated on talking to her. They discussed the model but then moved on to the other members in the growing alliance and how things had been for her since he'd abandoned her again. It was slightly strained but at least now they understood that he'd done it more to protect her then abandon her again.

Logan didn't say it, but he was proud of how the kid had turned out. Damn proud at that. She was better off then most kids would be after suffering what she had.