Special thanks to the wonderful Beaubier, who did the unthinkable and beta read my chapter.
Anything but ordinary3: Thanks! I'm glad you like it so far. Ah, X-Factor! I adore old X-Factor issues. Since I'm not thrilled with the way certain characters are being written in canon (Iceman, Cyclops) I'm rereading those issues as well. I miss the family feel to the X-Men. But to answer your question, no the man in question is not Cameron Hodge. As much as I love giving a nod to the old school stories I do not plan on writing Mr. Hodge anytime in the near future. LOL! Mrs. Talbot is based on Mrs. Molly Weasly from Harry Potter, the mother who let's her opinions be known. I am looking forward to writing the 'other' X-Men. Though I have to admit that so far JPs' been the most fun to write.
Ducky: I have to agree that there are not enough fics about the original X-Men. So since I can't find many I just write my own. I hope you like the rest of the story.
ighted eagle: Thank you. I try to update regularly.
Chapter 2: Uncertainties
Scott Summers was not in a good mood. Four members of one team were injured, Jean-Paul had been complaining on the state of the school, again, and the children were being infuriating lately. Needless to say, he was quite pleased that they had a school break starting the next day. It had been awhile since he had been able to relax, as that required that he let his guard slip. He hadn't allowed himself that luxury for sometime.
"Hey Scott!--" The said mans' turned abruptly about the empty hallway.
"Uh…Cyclops?" Kitty Pryde lowered herself from the ceiling, gracefully landing a few feet away.
You're losing it Summers if you're caught off guard this easily. You should know better than letting yourself get lost in your own thoughts, Scott silently chastised himself.
"Yes Kitty?" She gave him a quick searching glance taking in his damaged uniform.
"How are things going?" She asked as nonchalantly as she could. "With the training I mean."
"Not so well. These outdoor training sessions are far too reckless; I think I prefer to have the situation controlled better." He hadn't particularly enjoyed being on the receiving end one student's explosive panic attack. The girl was too used to the idea of staying inside away from the 'flatscans'-- to the point where the outside world frightened her.
"Any luck with the new settings?" Scott inquired. She shrugged.
"There's nothing else I can do till I have that new chip Forge made installed. Until then the Danger Room is off limits." He frowned.
"Then why didn't you install it?" Kitty's eyes narrowed, not liking the tone she was being addressed with. It reminded her of a certain Professor's condescending manners when she had been demoted to the New Mutants. She hated that annoying tone with a passion…
"I didn't install it," Kitty said with false patience, "because we don't have it."
"Yes, we do," He corrected, "I sent you the memo when it arrived. It was--"
"I checked and no one has seen it." She interjected, obviously furious that he couldn't seem to understand. "Now if you don't mind, I have a class to look after."
"…Right…" He muttered more to himself than her.
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The man smiled, satisfied, at the screen before him After a few minutes of hacking, he had been able to set up the system so he could access it from any computer. Including a laptop, which would make it harder for them to locate him once their little game began anew. There were many things he had to take into account when dealing with the X-Men. The first being the school grounds, though that was no longer an issue. He had memorized all the entrances and exists before he left…
Oh no, I will not be reminded of that now. He chided himself, trying not to shudder with revulsion.
The second task, however, would prove more enjoyable. Learning about the newbies. Who they were, what they were capable of, and who was currently at the mansion. Since securing a position out of harm's way to do his hacking he had learned much. The X-Men had grown, increasing in number since he had last seen them. Not only were there three actual teams, but mutant teachers as well.
This doesn't seem to bode well for me. Not that it worried him, far from it, he was more amused than upset. It wasn't as if he would be foolish enough totake them all on at once-- not yet. But it was interesting, none the less. And such fascinating recruits Xavier has picked. A couple of thieves, former enemies and a ruthlesskiller. My this, Wolverine seems intriguing. I do wonder how the boys feel about having him around.
Checking the names on the 'away' team again he did a double take before pulling up the file on one of the mutants.
Marvel Girl
Real Name: Rachel Anne "Ray" Summers
His eyes widened as he read on. It was confusing enough to figure out how Cyclops had a daughter of that age (he hadn't been gone THAT long) but the thought of other realties was a bit much. After he had finished his job he'd attempt to understand the complex nature of the Summers family, but at the moment it gave him a headache.
"Well it seems at least a few of you have been hurt recently." He mused taking in the medical record. "Ah,and a leader as well, Storm…"
What ever he was about to think was forgotten as a loud screaming issued from the corridors. Cursing this horrible turn of luck he bought up a screen to see what the monitors from the hallways were filming. Five evidently drunk young men stumbled about made an effort to screech along with some strange lyrics. Both the singing and the horrible noises they were yelling along with sounded atrocious to his ears. He was uncertain, but he guessed it was meant to be music. If so, it was strange how much it had changed since he had last heard it. He vaguely recalled it being at least intelligible.
Though he was sorely tempted to teach those children a lesson about aggravating their elders' nerves, he refrained. They were not important and would be gone soon enough. They all would leave the mansion tomorrow and he would have a clear field to work out his plans.
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Ororo was troubled. Most would say that was nothing out of the ordinary but that was not exactly true. She did get upset with how things were faring for Mutant/Human relationships, and the hard choices being the leader forced her to make. Yet she had always felt some hope before. Kitty would have distracted her, or Jean would have teased her, and she would have forgotten. For awhile at least.
The decisions were no longer so clear-cut now that they could be avoided so easily. The black and white that had defined Magneto and Charles Xaviers' dreams had turned gray. How far was too far? At what price would peace be achieved? Or would they all end up fools in the end?
Ororo sighed, and with the smallest flick of her wristthe small rain cloud she had created moved along tothe rose brushes.
"S'thing bothering you darling?" A gruff voice asked from behind. Not bothering to turn to face him she continued her work as if uninterrupted.
"What makes you believe that my friend?"
"The sky fer one thing." She glanced up briefly, slightly irritated, as always, that she had let her emotions affect her so.
Though, she thought humorlessly, it does reflect my concerns well. The heavens stubbornly remained gray.
"Do you mind if I ask you a question my friend?" Logan shrugged. "Lady's' choice." He said before taking a puff of his cigar.
She hesitated uncertain how to ask such a question. Or even if she really wanted to hear the reply she knew would come. Regaining her resolve Ororo faced him.The effort of making such as a normally simple movement caused her to wince slightly as a new kind of pain erupted from her spine. It was a token of her last mission that flared up every now and then. This time she chose to ignore it, in hope that he would too.
"In truth there are two questions I wish to ask you. Though I know the first is moot." She remarked regally. Logan gave her a subtle look to indicate for her to continue. "Have I changed so much from the woman you first met?"
He was silent for an unnerving moment, gazing ather in a mildly puzzled way. "'Course you changed 'Ro.We all have."
"Is it for the better?" She asked quietly.
"That you changed or that all of us have?"
"Both I imagine."
"Yeah. In most cases, I'd say so. We've all been thrown through the wringer but we've come back stronger."
Ororo glanced back at the school. It really had changed so much over the years, almost as if it mirrored it's occupants. Still, no matter how many times it has been destroyed it was always rebuilt.
Raising from the ashes, she smiled wistfully. "Do--"
Logan's sudden movement halted her. His body tensed as he sniffed the air heavily.
"'Round up the troops 'Ro, looks like we got trouble."

Next Chapter: What has Wolverines' nose found? What's the intruder up to? And if I can fit it in next chapter, where is Bobby Drake?