Anything but Ordinary3: Why? Because I love the thought of you feeling bad for the person you hate....it could be Storm. Think about that logic and then comment again.

Takamo: Not the ending but close...it's getting close.

JANUARY 26, 2005

GUY'S ROOM #1 1:30 a.m.

Angel laid on her back, staring at the ceiling and trying not to listen to the person beside her that had almost stopped breathing, trying to convince her to leave. She knew he was delibertly trying not to breathe so she'd think he was asleep; he must have forgotten that even breathing meant sleep not no breathing.

"What's got you so silent, Julius?" she questioned without looking away from the ceiling. She raised one hand over her head and traced cracks along the ceiling, waiting for him to respond.

"It's none of your concern. Leave it alone." His voice held little emotion beyond extreme depression and something like anger.

She sighed. "You've been sullen and silent since the medlab. What did Jean mean by 'stop hurting yourself, Juilus'?" she asked, dropping her arm onto the bed. She noticed that he stiffened when her hand touched his arm; she pulled back without a word, knowing it would be useless.

"I have a right to be sullen. Why can't you just leave me alone, Angel? I don't want to talk..."

Fine. He can sit here and sulk all alone. I have to go see Nanaki off at some point. It's not like she ever sleeps except a few hours. I'll have time to talk to her then catch a little bit of sleep since Logan has decided we're all meant to report to the Danger Room at five o'clock, again; he wasn't even mad at them this time, just commanding.

She sat up, slipping her shoes back on since Julius wouldn't let her wear them on his bed. It was a stupid rule but one she followed, none the less.

"Wait, Angel. Will you just stay here?" Julius asked, catching hold of one of her hands. He held it between both of his and waited for her answer.

Angel chewed on her bottom lip, hesitating to do it. She had promised to see Nanaki off and she'd been warned about Julius. She knew Velicion didn't like the relationship, but she felt a kinship to him; they'd both been decieved for most of their lives. Maybe it was just her own stupidity making up the reasons.

"I have to see Nanaki off..."

"Do it later."

She nodded and went back over, sensing the turmoil and also anger that he felt. She laid down beside him when he refused to release her hand by tightening his grip; she tried not to pull away at the tight grip.

"What happened to your parents, Angel?" he asked after a moment of laying in silence.

She shrugged. "I'm not sure. When I was about a year or more, they gave me to my aunt one day and ran off, just out of the blue. I can't remember them except my subconscience remembers that my mom used to hum some song whenever I cried; my father's nothing but a memory, even though I do carry his death announcement with me," she explained, reaching behind her back and sliding her hand into the pocket where the crinkled, yellowing clipping was stored. "It's all I have except what Aunt Kris says."

"How do you have your father's death announcement if he abandoned you as a kid?"

"It came in the mail on my thirteenth birthday. There was no return address or anything...just a yellow manila envelope with my name and the house's address." She was silent a moment. "What happened to your parents?"

Julius was silent a long time. He stared at the ceiling then began to speak. "My dad still lives in Canada with my little demon spawn of a sister. Mom died when I was a kid...I don't think Dad ever really got over it especially with me and the brat around," he said, stopping after that and just staring at the ceiling.

"You don't like your sister...?"

"It's more or less that she has no mutant gene. I can cause mass destruction with a thought and she just has to bat her eyelashes and whine to get what she wants....it's pathetic, Angel."

"I never had a sibling, brother or sister."

"Or maybe you just don't know it..."

"I'd know."

"How?"

"I'd feel it."
KITCHEN TABLE (BREAKFAST) 5:30 a.m.

Russ stared through bleary eyes at the bowl of cereal in front of him. He spooned his mouth full of the soggy mass then worked on chewing, listening to the low hum of voices from the next room. It was obviously a good-bye of some sort from the one phrase that was repeated several times "behave".

"Stop listenin' so hard or ya ears are gonna fall off," Rogue said from where she leaned against the counter with a mug of coffee. She was getting quite addictive if the three cups she'd already drank were an invitation along with her fourth one. "Angel's just saying good-bye to Nanaki. Leave it at that."

"Where's Landon?" Corey asked from where he sat, staring at his mug of coffee. He'd poured it himself a few moments ago and had added sugar and milk but hadn't taken more then a few drinks.

"He's already in the Danger Room. Unlike you lot, he got up without a wake-up call and went straight there, claiming he wanted a bit of extra practice." She took another sip from the mug then a few more, testing it's warmth on her tongue.

This Landon guy is really starting to get on what nerves I have left. He seems too perfect with his getting up early and going for extra practice.


Or maybe he's just afraid of being hurt.

I thought you were going to stop listening to my thoughts?

You're projecting.

Angel came into the kitchen, wiping a few drops of water from the lower part of her eyelid. She'd been crying; that was a new development. She was also without Nanaki's company or even the usual smiling smirk that was present with the other girl around.

Tara looked up from her glass of orange juice. "Nanaki gone?"

"Yeah. She had to get back..." Angel shrugged and sat down, staring at the table and it's checked place mats. Her expression was again blank.

Corey tipped back his mug and drank the remaining coffee then pushed away from the table. "It's almost time for training, guys. Let's go."

"Yes, master." Russ rolled his eyes and ate the rest of his cereal then dumped it in the sink. He walked past the others and into the hall. He walked upstairs without any distraction or detour; he pulled on training clothes -jeans and an older t-shirt- then wound through the halls, entering the Danger Room at the same moment as Kellie and Tara.

Tara's complete attention was upon watching Landon as he leaned against the wall, eyes closed and breathing raggedly. Kellie was just watching up at the control room window where Logan and Rogue's reflections could be seen, shadowed by the dark room.

"Do you all train together?" Landon asked, drawing his attention away from their leaders.

Russ nodded. "Usually. We spar, in pairs of two...we've played duals before, but they're more of a game."

There was silence for a few moments before the others filed in dressed and rather tired looking, especially Juilus. He didn't appear to have slept much but then again he'd had Angel spending the night with him. Corey had showed up in his room, announcing that their room was locked and Angel was obviously still in there since Tara's room was held only by her.

He didn't like the relationship and had heard similar comments from the others, including Rogue. He was worried that it was a 'just for kicks' relationships until Juilus bailed out or pulled some stunt that got them all killed.

"If you're through catching flies, Russ, we'd like to train."

He blinked and looked at Logan. "Sure, whatever."

Logan shook his head then turned back. "Tara, you're with Landon today. I expect you both to fight fair and don't use your powers, excessively. That goes especially for you, kid," he said, glowering at Landon to get his point across. Landon just shrugged. "Kellie and Angel are together. Corey and Russ are together. Juilus, you get to spar with me today."

"Oh, joy. Oh, rapture." Julius turned and walked out, pushing past them all out the door.

DANGER ROOM/TRAINING ROOM 6:25 a.m.

"Your name's Tara, isn't it?"

Tara nodded, trying not to be distracted by his obvious need to talk through the entire thing. She concentrated on actually fighting and wrapped her tongue around his leg, jerking hard enough to knock him off balance.

"You have one of those damn codename things?" Landon got back on his feet fairly easy and grasped one of her arms, trying to switch their positions. It didn't do any good since she managed to turn it and get out of his grip. "Like Wolverine, Rogue, Mystique, and Toad. You know what a codename is?"

"Tadpole," she answered before driving her foot into his stomache. She almost smiled when he fell back, but it vanished as in the next instant he'd reversed their roles and now held her against one wall; something rough and sharp touched her neck.

"I really don't like people that insist upon being mean."

Tara froze, staring down at the white claws pressed against her neck. They were identical to Logan's except they were white and made of pure bone; the fact that they were against her skin was another shock. She knew Logan would never do that to her, no matter what.

"That's enough. Let her go, Landon. Now," Logan commanded from the giant glassed-in room. His expression wasn't pleased but it had the desired effect when Landon's hand pulled away and the bones slid in. Something dark was still coming from his fingers and spreading down his hand; some of it had dripped off onto her neck or the upper part of her chest.

"Are you bleeding..?"

"I just shoved bone rods from my hands, Tadpole. What did you expect? No blood?" He held up his hand to show the streams of red.

Blood. It's actually blood on me. The little voice inside her head whispered back. But it's not yours this time. It's someone else's.

She felt sick and shoved past Landon, bolting out of the room and down the hall into the bathroom. She bent over the toliet and began to throw up but after a moment, she stopped and gagged for a few moments then sat back on her heels. One hand rested against her stomache and the rest of her skin was incredibly pale even with her green complexion.

After a few moments, she was joined by a second person who stood beside her then offered a hand, helping her up.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Fine. The sight of blood brought back some memories..."

"Bad ones?"

"Not the good ones."

"Landon got a good chewing out from Logan and Russ smacked him for you. He said it was immature, that Landon should grow up, and that...I don't remember the third point."

"You're weird. I wouldn't want you to be late for sparring...go on. I'll be fine."

"Kay. Have fun..."
DINING ROOM 7:30 p.m.

Rogue looked down the table at the alliance of teenagers and young adults. Most of them were intent upon their food or talking while their newest member-Landon Keller-was missing. He hadn't showed up to their meal, but had been down earlier to get something to eat.

"How come we're not allowed to have alcohol here?" Julius asked, tipping up his glass of coke and taking a drink. He made a face then ate some of his food.

Logan just shook his head. "Think about your behavior and also the amount of damage you kids caused to that bar, without intoxication. Ask me again after thinking about it."

The others laughed at Julius' expression.

Corey interrupted the silence once they had begun eating again. "How long will this alliance thing last?"

The others fell silent and their eyes went first to around them then to either Rogue or Logan. Angel was the only one that didn't make eye contact; a sly, half smile was starting but she stared down at her food, shoveling more into her mouth.

Ya're not supposed to listen to mah thoughts, sugah.

I'm sorry, Rogue. I needed closure.

It's okay. Ah guess we're gonna have ta tell the others.

Go ahead.

Rogue stood, keeping her most emotionless expression present. She looked around and made a point to meet each of their eyes by staring at their heads until they turned in her direction. She didn't say anything for a long time then looked at Logan.

"How long do you guys want it to last?" Logan's question.

"As long as y'all wan' it, Logan and ah'll hang around," she said then took her seat to the joy of the others and a groan from Julius.

The others looked down the table at him.

Kellie was the one to question his actions. "Problem, Julius?"

"Yeah. My problem is that you're all willing to just hang up your lives and start this whole thing. The only one in this entire house with any sense is Landon because he isn't here."

"It's not mandatory that you stay, Kanteon. If you want to go back to Canada and pick-up your life before this, we'll pay the ticket and wish you off," Logan said, picking up his beer bottle and taking a drink. He sat it down after a moment to the stunned silence of the others. "No one will force you to stay here."

"Even if you do leave, you have a place here."

Julius nodded and stood. "I don't know yet. I'll tell you later..."

Don't worry, Angel. I think he'll make the right decision.

Rogue was met with a wall that was more of a fortress. It was huge and scanned the area with guards that held something like toys but deadlier looking; the gates were shut with no way of opening them or moving them from the outside.

"Anyone else have an objection to staying...?" Logan's eyes moved around the table in search of someone else that wanted to leave. He wouldn't stop them nor would she.

Corey shook his head.

"I'm here for good even if I will vanish from time to time. Family business." Kellie returned to eating her food.

"Where else would I go?" Tara asked, smiling toward Logan before dropping her eyes.

Russ sat there in silence a moment then shrugged. "I need to clear a few things up, but otherwise? I'm here to stay."

Angel laughed, quietly. "Y'all are stuck with me."

"Then it's just Kanteon..."

The rest of dinner passed in bouts silence and loud talking then the dining room was abandoned. It's calm was interrupted for the next couple of hours with the sound of voices, people taking showers, and people running up and down halls or stairs, probably both. Sometime around ten o'clock the mansion fell silent and it's chaperones went out to speak with long gone friends...
JANUARY 27, 2005

HALLWAY BETWEEN THE BEDROOMS 2:30 a.m.

Julius Kanteon walked through the halls, flinging doors open and knocking vases or lamps over and onto the floor in his haste. He used his power to make enough noise to have everyone running, worried that something bad had happened.

"Kanteon, what the hell are you doing?" Logan demanded upon his own entrance, scowling and with his blades unsheathed.

He shrugged, smirking at the assembled, half asleep people. "I made a decision," he offered but didn't bother to elaborate.

Angel stared at him a moment. He remained silent, waiting for someone to ask, knowing that one of them was bound to ask.

"Well? You stayin' or goin', Kanteon?" she finally demanded, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at him in a way that would make anyone else give a response.

Julius smirked. "I have a few things to fix at home then you losers are stuck with me..."

"Welcome to the team, Julius," Russ said then held out one hand. It was accepted and shaken then released.

Rogue smiled then went back into her bedroom along with the others, closing her bedroom door between the hall and her room.

Logan stared at him, almost disbelieving. "You woke us all up at half past two to tell us you're staying...?"

"Uh-huh."

"I wish you would have said no because then I could have killed you."

"Sorry, Wolverine. Maybe next time."

"Go to bed before I change my mind, Kanteon."

"Of course, Wolverine. Aren't you Canadian...?"

"Go. To. Bed. Kanteon. Now."

"Of course....plane ticket within the next few days. I need to tie up some loose ends then I can come back and make everyone's lives miserable..."

Logan stood there a minute then walked off, shaking his head. "You're hopeless, Kanteon."
A/N: And that's the end of Alliance:Anti-Trust. You now know what happened to them all and there's an opening so there could be more added later or another story. Who knows? Leave a review or let me know that you liked it, hated it, or just want me to go away. If you're looking for more reading check out Bayville, Intergrated (most of the same cast along) or my other series with Tara and Angel.

I also highly recommend the entire Retribution X series by Anything but Ordianry3 and Takamo's story, An Unforgiveable Past. The second tells the slow moving story of Nanaki, Angel's 'nanny'/friend while the other is a funny little series about....well, you just have to read it. I'm not leaving this story form and vanishing or just going to work on something else. Later, y'all.