It was deathly silent in the cockpit of the Blackbird. Apart from the steady hum of the ships engines (a quiet purr compared to most air vehicles of similar sizes) and the steady tap of keys, no one made a sound. They were all mentally preparing themselves for a fight. Or, more likely, preparing for the worst possible outcome. Danger Room training was useful and most of them were considered experts at hand-to-hand combat (you had to be, with Logan as your sensei) but they were going up against telepaths. The mental battlefield was a lot more unpredictable than the physical one.
Still, didn't mean they hadn't taken precautions. The team in Bayville was protected by psychic attack from a now rested and strong Professor Xavier, arguably the most powerful telepath in the world. And the team in Russia had members who did not easily succumb to the power of a mindbender. But this team at the Luna station had no such protection in the form of their own willpower or a fellow telepath (and not for the first time, they were reminded that Jean was not fighting at their side) but they did have something else. When Mesmero had attacked and taken control of the X-Men before, Professor X and Beast had taken it upon themselves to find a defense against his mental attacks. They'd come up with a rather ingenious idea. Utilizing the same technology found in Magneto's red helmets, they'd constructed headbands that safely shielded its user from most manner of telepathic attacks. Truly strong and powerful telepaths might be able to break through, but only with considerable difficulty.
The Blackbird slid effortlessly out of the atmosphere and into orbit, and Scott shifted them to a matching orbit with the station Luna, allowing everyone a chance to experience firsthand their new weight-less environment. The station had rotating rings, so once on board they'd have gravity again, but the Blackbird was not so equipped. Still, at least it had oxygen for them to breath.
"Alright, everyone get set... we don't know what we're up against here, so stay frosty," ordered Cyclops.
"Always do," replied Iceman, though without his usual humor.
The Blackbird slid effortlessly through space and towards the orbiting space station. It was a top of the line vehicle and it had a top of the line pilot in Cyclops, who had aviation in his blood. Thus, it parked alongside the orbiting station with little trouble as he used its secondary landing gear (useful for non-flat terrain) to clamp gently on to the side of the white station, like a lamprey sticking to a great white shark. The doors locked, the tube extended, the air pressurized, and the X-Men prepared to do battle.
The doors slid open, and the X-Men quickly filed in, Cyclops and Rogue taking point, followed by Colossus, Nightcrawler and Shadowcat. Iceman came in behind them. They were tense, they were ready for anything.
But the station was empty. There were no signs of life on board.
"Okay, anyone else but me feel this is a trap?" asked Iceman.
"Iceman," ordered Cyclops. "Wait in the Blackbird. I've a feeling we'll need a quick exit if things get ugly."
Iceman grunted, stifling the complaint that nearly came free of his mouth. He hated this, he hated being left behind an important mission, but he'd been an X-Man long enough to know when Cyclops was being serious, and now was definitely one of those times. He was worried, realized Bobby. Worried about Jean. "Yeah, sure... everything'll be ready. If you guys need back-up though..."
"... we'll give you a call. Shadowcat, Nightcrawler, take point. See if you can't find the people who were supposed to be stationed here," ordered Cyclops. His teammates nodded, one slipping down into the floor as graceful as a ghost, the other vanishing in a puff of sulfuric smoke and a muffled 'bamf.'
Cyclops walked along, hand resting on his visor, sweeping every corridor, every room they came across. So far, no one and nothing. To his tactical mind, it was screaming ambush, but he couldn't find any evidence of anything. The entire place seemed utterly abandoned.
"I found the scientists," said Shadowcat, slipping up through the floor behind them and crouching down behind Cyclops and Colossus. "They're all down in this storage bay... sleeping."
"Sleeping?" asked Colossus.
"Totally out of it," she replied, breathless. "I did everything short of beat this one guy on the head with a tire iron, and he wouldn't wake up."
"Nobody take off your bands," ordered Cyclops, as if such a reminder was necessary. The group trudged on. Station Luna was big, but it didn't go on forever... where was everyone?
There answer came in the form of Nightcrawler making his appearance.
"I found someone. They're up at the control station. I didn't know what to do so I 'ported back here."
"Lead us there," ordered Cyclops. The team moved out, and in seconds Nightcrawler had led them effortlessly to the control station, where the center of the space station was able to control all of its functions via computer. As Nightcrawler had said, there was one guy there, a scientist, but he sat in the dark, staring at the screen as it scrolled before him... he didn't even blink.
Curious, Cyclops moved in closer, the team following behind him to examine the other inert computers, as Cyclops tapped the guy's head with his finger. He didn't even flinch, his eyes didn't blink. He was awake... but he wasn't there.
"Nightcrawler, Shadowcat..." Cyclops said at length. "... both of you, get to the storage bay and grab up all the locals, take this guy with you. Get them back to the X-Jet and..."
Suddenly the entire place lit up, and the X-men tensed, glancing around. The doors slid shut, sealing off the room, even as their opponents came into view. They'd been hiding in the shadows, by one of the doors that led off further into the station. But now they were revealed in all their terrible glory.
Mesmero was of course a well known among the X-Men, recognized instantly by his bald head and dark green tattoos covering his face. His eyes burned red as he regarded his enemy, those who had defeated his master Apocalypse and consigned him to the river of time. He was dressed as he always was, in his robes of dark red and royal purple, and in his hands he held a great golden staff.
Standing on the far side of the group was a man recognizable only by Cyclops, that of Mr. Jason Wyngarde. Mastermind, or so he'd been identified as such by Mystique. So his entire form was an illusion. Quite a powerful one too, if it still managed to penetrate their psionic-protective bands. He'd exchanged his normal business suit for a 19th century Englishman's clothes, all as black as the night. It didn't fool his former comrade in arms, Colossus, for more than a moment.
And the third member, standing languidly in the doorway to the room, was the most impressive of the other two, and cut from quite a different mold, all light to their darkness. Her clothes were as white as snow, her skin smooth and perfect. And due to the nature of her white, skin-tight suit, a great deal more than could generally be considered modest was on display. Her blonde locks fell to her shoulders, just brushing against the white cloak she'd added as an after-thought. Unlike the others, her baby-blue eyes were focused on Cyclops alone.
"So nice of you to join us," she said, her tone casual, as if she'd been inviting them over for tea. Unlike Mesmero and Mastermind, she was completely at ease, despite having five very powerful mutants facing her.
"Emma..." stated Cyclops, both to get her attention and identify her to his teammates. "What're..." he started to say. Clearly he was going to ask what she was doing there. Part of him knew, but he had to be sure. He'd trusted her, after all.
But all his doubts were cast aside when she threw back her head and laughed. Not even just a normal laugh, like when someone made a joke. No, this was a cruel laugh. It mocked him, mocked everything he stood for and everything he'd done. She took one look at Cyclops and reduced him to nothing with that laugh.
"Alright, all of you surrender and we'll take you peacefully," ordered Cyclops, even as his teammates took up fighting stances. With the bands in place, they were telepathically safe from attack. Thus, their worst danger was from Mesmero's staff. They'd all heard about the last time he'd used it, in the Tomb of En Sabah Nur.
But to their surprise, none of them attacked. Mesmero's stance actually relaxed, and their brows furrowed in concentration. They were about to make a psionic attack.
"Might as well not bother," said Cyclops darkly, venom leaking into his voice at Emma's betrayal. "These bands protect us from your telepathy. Now come quietly and nobody has to get hurt."
"Aww come on Scott, can't we hurt 'em just a little?" asked Rogue teasingly, cracking her knuckles. In addition to a person grudge against Mesmero, Rogue really had a thing against betrayal, and thus she wouldn't have minded giving the white bitch a black eye before they hauled her off to prison.
Their reaction, however, startled all of them. They were laughing. It started out like a little chuckle, then became a full blown laugh as the three members of the Circle regarded their opponents. They didn't look scared at all. They looked almost triumphant. And then, something happened, and the X-Men realized why they were so damn confident.
Someone else was laughing with them.
Suddenly Cyclops found the ground beneath his feet slip away, and he slammed hard against the far wall. The other X-Men found themselves in similar straights. Before any of them could properly react, the metal bands around their heads completely snapped, broken by an unseen force. The bands floated through the air and slammed into the wall on either sides of their necks, pinning them all to the wall and leaving them defenseless to mental attack. Growling, Colossus and Rogue tried to reach up and rip off their restraints (they were only metal, after all) but found their arms refused to act on their commands. Nor could any of the other X-Men. Nightcrawler tried to teleport but found he couldn't. Something was blocking that almost instinctive though-process required to move from one place to another instantly. Shadowcat couldn't phase either. The Circle had stopped them.
The laughter from the three present died away, and then only one voice could be heard. None of the others recognized it... until Cyclops finally placed it. Tucked away in his memories of three years ago, just another punk mutant at the time. But now...
The Black King strode into the room, grinning triumphantly.
"Lucas," spat Cyclops darkly.
"Took you long enough to figure it out," replied Lucas in his usual Scottish accent. He spread his arms wide. "All these years, I've been working, and none of you or your precious friends had even a chance to uncover me. Tsk, tsk. I'm disappointed. I was half expecting a... worthy... rival."
"Let me down and I'll show you a rival," growled Cyclops. "Where's Jean?!"
"Ah, always concerned with the girlfriend," taunted Lucas. "Or should I say, ex-girlfriend?"
Cyclops remained silent, but Lucas could see quite plainly he'd struck a cord with him. A bad one.
"I see you need to be reminded of the precarious nature of your situation," stated Lucas, stretching out a hand. Instantly Cyclops felt his visor slip, and instinctively closed his eyes as it slid off his face and floated into Lucas outstretched hand. "Now feel free, go ahead and blast if you want... although... you do know if you miss, you could easily blow a hole in the station... which would result in a rather messy death for your X-buddies here."
Cyclops frowned darkly. He did know that, and that's why he'd been hesitant to use it before on the others. Now he might not have a chance. For now, he had to wait until the situation changed in his favor.
"Ah, and there's our lovely Queen now," said Lucas, as he and the Circle turned to regard the doorway.
Jean stepped in... but she wasn't their Jean. She wasn't Jean Grey, the X-Man, the mutant who'd fought so passionately by Cyclops' side and worked so hard to protect people. This was someone else. Someone else wearing Jean's face as a mask. She strode in like Cleopatra, her every motion graceful and fluid, her bright red locks had been bound above her head in a bun, her body clad in skin-tight latex similar to the Emma's, though of pitch black rather than snow white. An ebon cloak flowed around her shoulders. She walked around the Circle, ignoring them all and having eyes only for Lucas, as she slid by his side, wrapping one arm around his neck and the other resting against his stomach in a seductive pose. Lucas wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her possessively towards him.
"Normally I'd ask you all bow for your King and Queen," said Lucas lightly. "But I think she'll forgive you this time. Ah, but don't worry, she's in a generous mood, isn't she?" he asked, turning to Jean.
She smiled and nodded, planting a kiss on Lucas's cheek before strolling over towards the technician, who hadn't moved a muscle during the fight or anytime afterwards. Lucas grinned, reluctantly letting her go, though his hand lingered on a certain rounded part of her anatomy for a bit longer than necessary. Jean didn't seem to notice. She flipped a switch, calling up a visual image on the computer screens.
Lucas nodded at Mastermind, who allowed for a similar image to be seen by Cyclops.
It was the XM-Velocity, en route to Russia. It was the New Recruits, heading into the sewers. It was the Brotherhood, heading towards an abandoned mall. And it was the Xavier Mansion, with a single occupant remaining inside. Charles Francis Xavier. Alone and unprotected, his only company a single baby dragon from the stars.
"You were right, Cyclops. Our strategy has been, from the beginning, divide and conquer. But while we're taking advantage of this mess to mop up some mutant trouble-makers," he said, indicating the first three screens. "Our ultimate goal lies here. The one telepath left on Earth stronger than me. Dear old daddy," he added with a sneer.
"And once he's gone, as well as the rest of you... there'll be no one left to stop us."
"No on indeed," he snorted. "No one but a snow man from Boston who doesn't know when to follow orders," he murmured to himself, keeping his voice down.
Bobby had never been one to sit still and wait for long. As anyone at the Institute could tell you, he had an excess of energy that could've easily rivaled that of Kurt or Pietro. Coupled with this was an almost total disregard for orders. Hell, his first mission where he'd been accepted as an official X-Man had been when he'd stowed away on board the XM-Velocity. But Bobby always did what he thought was best in the given circumstances, and when push came to shove, he turned serious and took the situation seriously. It was a subtle difference in his actions, but it was there, and sometimes it made all the difference. Which is why he'd snuck out of the jet and followed behind his teammates, then ducked into a nearby air shaft when he'd heard them over-powered. Now he stood just over their heads, watching them helpless in the hands of the Circle.
So right now, he plotted.
He knew he was no match for the entire Circle. At least, not without back-up. As it was, at least he was the wild card involved in this equation. The X-Men may be defenseless, but the Circle wasn't even aware of his presence yet. Whatever other properties the headbands had, they made someone effectively invisible in terms of mental projections. Thus, unless Iceman was stupid enough to allow them to see him with their own two eyes, he was off their radar, and free to wreak havoc.
Problem was, what to do now?
So Iceman plotted, listening to Lucas's big take-over-the-world speech and how they'd delibertly split everyone up to make Professor Xavier vulnerable. Like the other X-Men present, Iceman had been shocked and deeply hurt to see Jean become their enemy, but he pushed it down and said he could deal with it later.
If there was a later.
Hang on... where was -he- going? wondered Iceman. During the talking of Lucas, Mesmero was quietly slipping out the back, unnoticed by his colleagues. He had that sly look on his face like he usually did when he was up to something. That is, to say, all the time. It was a long while later, but it seemed Lucas had noticed as well.
"Where's Mesmero gone too?" he asked. Needlessly, it seemed. A quick psi-scan provided his own answer. "That damn fool."
"Shall I deal with him?" asked Emma with a playful grin.
"No... Mastermind," he said, pointing to the dark-haired man standing behind Emma. "Deal with him. Feel free to use any methods you prefer just... leave him alive," he stated with a smirk. "If you kill him, he'll never learn."
Mastermind chuckled knowingly, and slipped out of the room. As Iceman watched, the departure of the second telepath was apparently putting more strain on Lucas. His motions were slower, more precise. He was using most of his telepathic strength to keep the X-Men from breaking their rather feeble bonds.
"So there is a weakness," he murmured to himself.
Then an idea came to him.
In the control center, Lucas paused a moment. Something was bothering him, and he swore the hair on the back of his neck was upraised. By the pricking of my thumb, he thought, something wicked this way comes.
"Black King... are you alright?" asked Emma, moving to his side, making him marginally relax. With himself and both the Queen's at his sides, Lucas did feel particularly invincible, and with good reason. Still, the nagging feeling persisted.
Suddenly something caught his eye. Steam, no... mist in the air. Wait a minute... that was his breath.
"What's going on?" he asked. He could feel it more clearly now. The temperature of the room was dropping dramatically. Emma and Jean were both shivering and (as if they still had any modesty left) drawing their cloaks around their bare shoulders to cover themselves more completely. Lucas too was shivering. The room was starting to coat in ice. What on earth had happened. Abruptly he switched his psionic focus from the X-Men to the technician, but according to the computers, the temperature was being kept at its normal, earth standards. So what was going on?
Suddenly he caught a mental thought being leaked. It was quickly gone, and Lucas growled darkly. He realized that one of the captives had just realized what was happening, and tried to cover it up. The brown-haired, petite girl. Lucas angrily grabbed each side of her face and focused his full psionic power on her to get answers. She screamed under the brutal assault, and in seconds he'd pierced into her mind... Kitty's... and found out the cause of the problems.
Iceman.
"We have an intruder!" shouted Lucas, turning his attention away from the now unconscious Shadowcat. Mastermind, Mesmero, get back up here now!
We are betrayed Black King! Mesmero is stealing the vibranium! He believes it can be used to re-open the rift in time! came Mastermind's urgent telepathic reply.
Deal with him! replied Lucas, his telepathic shout piercing Mastermind's skull as easily as a lance would, dealing him damage. It was perhaps too much power, but Lucas was growing desperate. And it was only getting colder in the control center.
Unnoticed by all others, Colossus hand was finally able to move...and it slowly stretched out, inching its way up towards the collar around his neck.
"I am betrayed!" shouted Lucas darkly. "Very well. Then we will put an end to things here, and re-group. Black Queen," he said, again getting Jean's attention. Then he narrowed his eyes darkly, and sent a single thought her way. She nodded, grinning wickedly.
Brushing the technician aside, Jean tapped into the controls of the station. The X-Men watched in horror as the entire structure shuddered. On the screens, in bright red script, they could clearly see what was going on.
[Orbit De-Stabilized]
[Uncontrolled Re-Entry not Recommended. Possibility of Luna burn-up 79%.]
The Circle was going to crash the entire station back down onto earth, killing everyone inside.
In terms of power, Mastermind and Mesmero stood on nearly equal grounds.
However, Mesmero was fueled by a zeal and passion that Mastermind with his fears of life did no justice. Mesmero's psionic blast knocked Mastermind back and onto the ground, as he and his hypnotized technicians grabbed up the last of the vibranium and loaded them into one of the escape shuttles.
"Lucas will destroy you for this!" shouted Mastermind after him.
"The Black King is no match for my true master," hissed Mesmero. "Once I am finished rescuing him, he will be the one doing the destroying. Unless he decides to put you all at my disposal!"
Mastermind's eyes narrowed, and he turned to the technician. Mistakenly seeing the button to re-open the escape shuttle door (to allow them and Mesmero to escape) he instead pushed the wrong button. The one to launch it. Thus it was that Mastermind watched with a smirk, as Mesmero's precious vibranium was launched clear of the station and sent hurtling towards earth in an uncontrolled flight. It could easily land anywhere. If the Circle could not have it, neither could he!
Mesmero whirled darkly on Mastermind, and for a moment the illusionist grew fearful.
Then Mesmero's full psionic wrath came crashing down upon Mastermind, and he cried out in pain, even as he scrambled his own mental defenses. They all failed in seconds.
When it was over, Mastermind's illusions had all failed, and he lay shivering on the ground, his mind in pieces. His illusion was gone, and now all could see his hideous countenance fully. Mesmero scarcely paid him any heed as he ordered his mind-slaves to follow him and escape in another pod. He'd find the vibranium at another date. For now, he had to escape.
Iceman decided now was as good a time as any, and kicked out the grates of the airduct, falling down into the command center with his usual good humor. He even had a smile on his face as he iced up a bolt and took aim at the White Queen, freezing her legs up solid to the ground and preventing her from moving. Lucas growled and turned on Iceman, who stood in his way, and telekinetically slammed him against the wall.
However, his concentration broken by betrayal, imminent death (if he didn't escape), an intruder, and more, Lucas was unable to hold his grip over the minds of the X-Men. And Colossus drove this point home as he transformed into his metallic self and grabbed the metal collar holding his neck to the wall, ripping it clean out.
"Comrade, I believe you forgot this," he stated in his thick Russian accent, taking a swing at Lucas with all of his sixty ton weight behind it. Lucas barely managed to erect his repelling shield in time, but even so he was sent flying back through the air to slam against the far wall and leave a dent. Still, he didn't fall... he didn't even land on his feet. He floated there, and his eyes practically radiated power.
But they also saw.
Saw what was happening, that more of the X-Men were breaking free, that Colossus was assisting to break loose the unconscious Shadowcat and handing her to Nightcrawler to return to the X-Jet. That Rogue was cracking her knuckles dangerously, having just freed Cyclops as well. And that even blind, their leader was there, his expression dark as he sought out Lucas with his ears, preparing to blast him away. His allies were thinning, his enemies becoming thicker and Lucas was caught in it. So he decided on a new course of action.
Retreat.
Roughly grabbing Jean with a telekinetic hold, the Black King and Queen retreated behind the far door, as Lucas roughly slapped the keypad and sealed it shut, then ripped apart the controls with his telekinesis, leaving the doorway all but sealed shut. It wouldn't slow down Colossus or Rogue, but it'd buy him some time. He and Jean took off in a run.
Wait! You cannot simply leave me here! shouted the White Queen telepathically, and even her mind was laced with fear at being captured by the X-Men.
Lucas's reply was as cold as the space surrounding the station. Watch me.
"Here, you'll need these," said Rogue, slipping Cyclops's visor back over his face.
"Thanks," he replied. The station was bathed in red light, and it shuddered again. It was nearing Earth's orbit. Everyone was looking to Cyclops for some orders. And as much as he wanted to go after Lucas and Jean... he knew he couldn't. Not and stay a good leader. He had to put his feelings aside.
"Get the technicians out of here, clear out this station and get them all to the X-Jet. As soon as its ready, I'll break us off from the station." Their orders clear, the X-Men broke off to get the others and escape, but Rogue stopped Cyclops, lingering behind in the command center.
"What about Jean?" asked Rogue.
"We'll... we'll have to hope she gets off on her own," he said, his voice choking. "Come on, Lucas isn't an idiot, he must have an escape... and he'll take her with him."
"Like he did Emma?" asked Rogue, nodding to the captured White Queen. Her feet still encased in ice, she was unable to escape. She stuck out her hands desperately towards her only salvation... those she'd betrayed.
"Help me," she whimpered.
"Why? You betrayed me," said Cyclops darkly. "You betrayed all of us, you stole Jean and messed with her mind, nearly killed all my friends, and you expect me to have even a shred of mercy left for you?!"
To this, Emma could make no possible reply. Fortunately, Cyclops wasn't expecting one. With a carefully guided, paper-thin blast of optic energy, he blasted her legs free of the ice. Rogue caught her.
Emma blinked, totally shocked after Cyclops's speech that he'd done such a thing. "Wha...?"
"I'd like to think this makes me a better person than you are, White Queen," he said. Then, without warning, he slugged her full across the face, knocking her unconscious and leaving an ugly black bruise on her otherwise flawless white complexion. "But not by much," he added, feeling more than a little grim satisfaction.
Rogue carried the unconscious Emma in her arms as Cyclops grabbed up the technician and slung him over his shoulder. They made their way to the Blackbird as the station Luna prepared to rather painfully enter Earth's atmosphere, unguided. Already the closest tip to earth was as red as fire.
Author's Notes:
One of my longest chapters yet, and easily one of the best. Action, plot, character development. And betrayal's all around. Not quite how the original Circle fell apart, but Evo's could've easily done this. Lucas's true plot was revealed. The headbands was an idea of mine from way back when I asked myself, why is it only Magneto gets the psi-resistant helmet? Why can't the good guys do it too? Didn't do 'em much good, but still. And Iceman saves the day, using the same trick Storm did in X2. Cold temperatures interfere with thinking. Mastermind was knocked around by a telepath and his illusions crumble? In the comics, Dark Phoenix did that to him after she realized she was being manipulated. And now the stage is set for our little Phoenix to be reborn. Next chapter is thirteen. Brace thyself. That's the chapter where someone will die.
Risty: Definently went a little over-board in the spiked armor department, didn't they? An aquarium not a good battle ground? Trust me, anywhere can make a good battle ground, if used properly. Ah well, poor Logan, poor Sarah. Its their lot in life. Glad you liked the idea to slip in Dorian and show a glimpse of him.
Comet-hime: I'm not a fan of sushi, what can I say? And of course Sarah tried to help her, she's a good kid underneath the tough-as-adamantium exterior. Don't worry, chapters are coming out a bit faster now, and we'll get to all your favorite scenes in little to no time. You're gonna draw the new X-Men (old New Recruits) in uniform? Hooray! We all wuv you Comet-hime!
ViciousAssassin: Gotta love X23, definently. And actually, the scene was written in a manner to -suggest- blood and gore, but never actually confirm or deny it. Its my way of treading the line of a PG-13 rating, just like later you see sexual innuendo. X25 was lied to her whole life by Circle, anything wrong with her, blame them. And actually I was considering using Leech as the deciding factor in the Hydra siblings fight, but decided against it. Its Sarah's battle, not his. Jean turning Phoenix does not count as a major character death. This person in question will die and -stay- dead. Next chapter, actually.
X00001: Well she was more or less dying anyway, as you saw, so X23 did her a favor by ending her misery. But I agree, I liked her character, and I wish I could've developed it more like I did with X24. But ah well, such is life. Glad you enjoyed the catfight between the siblings.
Todd fan: You must be busy with at least three different projects right about now, its understandable and I don't blame you... much... dangles Todd and Forge over a wood chipper. Hope you enjoyed the fight with X25 and of course all the new adult New Recruits.
Star-of-Chaos: Yeah, poor things... maybe I should've used dolphins, they can survive out of water for short periods of time since they're air-breathers. But I wanted sharks to show comparison between human animals and animal animals. Did I succeed? Hehe.
Lyranfan: Well that was the point, to give us an inkling of just how much pain X25 is in on a daily basis. Well, as you can see, that part of you was right, and you should listen to it more often. Glad you liked the brief scene for the Leech family.
Nessie6: Deal. I could bring X25 back easily (this is Marvel after all), but I don't think I ever will. Poor thing needs some rest... rest in peace, that is! Hehe. You know you're absolutely right, Kitty did say he was twelve during third season, so at most he would be thirteen at the end of the series. You're right, my bad. Ah well, its not like anyone's keeping score with everyone on the show anyway (too much trouble). And no, of course I won't make her cheat.
Sandoz: It was also a little cover-up of mine, since I can't seem to think of an appropriate new codename to give to Sarah Howlett, and I doubt very highly she would enjoy being called X23 all her life. So, like Jean, she's just Sarah. Glad you liked the fight and the brief scene for the Leech family. I do try and give everyone their time in the story.