Disclaimer: Yes, we own no X-Men, we own, no X-Men, today! I'm using the royal we, here in case you were thinking of calling the schizophrenia hotline.

Well, here's the reviewers responses:

Light Derived From Darkness: Uhh... you lionise me too much. There are much better stories out there on fanfic which are infinitely better than this, but thank you, regardless. Oh yes, thanks for the quote!

Red Witch: I hear you! Thanks for the review. By the by, I do not wish you to think that I am copying you in any form. I had decided a long time ago who was going to be the 'hidden villain' in this story before I had read chapter 19 of 'This Soap Opera..."

&&&&&&

Letter from President to Governmental Association: SHIELD

As per stated to your previous letter, we have considered your request for additional funds needed by your department in order to secure and improve your standing throughout the world's 'hidden forces'.

Despite your usual department income of -classified- US dollars, we have taken into account your recent exemplary sorties, most notably dealing with the main leaders of HYDRA, your activation of the Sentinel program in order to deal with the Apocalypse incident, and your subsequent, albeit controversial, utilisation of the privately-funded 'X-Men' in order to overcome said incident.

Hence, we have approved your request for -classified- extra US dollars to your budget.

Signed...

Raven looked up from the letter at the man in front of her. "So your basic plan is to get this money for yourself? How do you intend to do it?"

The man sat forward and smiled. "This is not the actual letter, you understand. This is a copy sent via one of our spies. SHIELD are well aware that they have been given extra money from the government..." he trailed off, and made a disgusted snort. "So much for tax cuts, huh? That's the last time I vote for him. Where was I?"

"SHIELD have been given extra money..."

"Ah yes. Well, in order for this money to be exchanged from the Treasury, SHIELD need a recipient, one Colonel Nicholas Fury, to approve the transfer. When he inputs his 'recipient code', there will be an exchange of hard currency, in used bills, from the government to SHIELD - It seems that your precious government wish not to be linked with SHIELD - basically, we have to wait for Fury to make the exchange, then take him out of the picture, taking the money for ourselves. As it is used money in small notes, we will be perfectly safe in spending or storing it."

"Won't Fury be heavily guarded?"

The man let of a slightly exasperated smile. "Unfortunately, yes. You see, the transaction will take place within SHIELD headquarters."

Raven felt her mouth drop. "You're intending to rob a government agency dealing with counter-terrorism and security of their budget inside their headquarters? Are you crazy?"

"No, my dear, just very ambitious. Like Julius Caesar."

"Yes, but he was betrayed and killed."

"'The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars but with ourselves...'" the man quoted, then smiled. "No my dear, this is not only robbery, but a form of revenge. By stealing this money from under their noses, not only do we rob them of their money, but also their pride. And credibility. Just what my bosses – and myself, after all, they do sign my pay check – want."

"So what do you need me for?"

"We need you to 'replace' Fury, ensure that when the actual Fury is out, you mimic him, and take the funds out of the building and into our hands. A risky strategy, but a worthy gambit nevertheless."

"I couldn't get within five feet of Fury without raising some kind of alarm, you must know that."

"Indeed. This is why we have arranged a little.... distraction for our esteemed rivals to deal with, Miss Darkholme..."

&&&&&&

"Choppers!"

Logan looked up at Jamie's cry, and saw the distinct shapes of SHIELD helicopters flying towards the institute grounds.

"Jeeze, kiddo. We're going to hafta start calling you Radar if you keep that up..." he muttered, getting to his feet. With a few curt orders, the new recruits were given an early break from their practise, leaving Logan on his own. The aircraft lowered to the ground, and the unmistakable shape of Nick Fury hopped out.

"What do you want, Fury?" Logan yelled over the still-moving blades. "I assume you aren't dropping in for a quick coffee break, huh?"

Fury smiled humourlessly. "Actually, I believe this is something you might find a bit interesting."

"Spit it out."

Fury hesitated, then told Logan about the transfer of money from the government to SHIELD. "...The exchange will be taking place in three days in our headquarters, and I am asking for your help."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Why? I'm part of the X-Men, not a banker." He shook his head. "You've asked the wrong person for help. I work for Chuck, not for you. Besides, shouldn't your people be able to deal with security? After all, that's why we pay our taxes." He began to walk to the institute

Fury shrugged. "Normally, I'd be convinced our security was fine, but we've been getting pretty disturbing information. About HYDRA."

Logan paused. "What about HYDRA?"

"There have been multiple terrorist and international embezzlement fiascos occurring recently across the globe. We've managed to track some of the funds gained from these crimes, but the money seems to have just vanished off of the world market."

"What, you think HYDRA is trying to confuse you to death using bad economists?" Logan quipped.

"Money spontaneously disappearing from private loans and accounts is a typical HYDRA move. They seem to have been growing in strength recently."

"How? Their leader was killed when X23..."

Fury looked at Logan despairingly. "What, the name HYDRA doesn't give you a clue? Mme. Hydra may have been the head of the organisation, but the power of the entire group was spread between multiple sub-leaders. They've recovered from X23, and they want revenge."

"What makes you think they'll attack you now?"

Fury paused. "They aren't as unsubtle as they used to be. Instead of being thuggish and aggressive, they become slightly more insidious. They'll have heard of this transfer, no doubts about it. It's a lot of money. With it, they could buy whole caches of weapons. Maybe even re-start the Weapon X program..." Fury trailed off seeing Logan glower angrily.

He continued. "We know that if they manage to embezzle us of our funds, we'll be humiliated as well as starved of funds. Then they can attack. We know for a fact that they've got several new agents on the field. They could cause serious chaos if they get us now." Fury held up a finger. "But if we manage to get them now, we could annihilate them in one go. They'll have employed a lot resources on this mission. With your- with the X-Men's help, we could finish them off in one go."

Logan paused. "I'll need to think about it."

"Take your time. Remember, three days, and that's it."

Logan walked back slowly as the helicopters flew off. He had cut his links with SHIELD a long time ago. Despite their 'secret protectors' aura they liked to generate, he knew they were not as snow-white as that.

After all, they had reinstated Trask and the Sentinels. And they had tried to hunt down X23...

Re-start the Weapon X program...

It wouldn't be a surprise if they did. One of their weapons was now 'defunct'. They'd need a new one. One that was controllable. One that could be the deadliest person on earth...

But how could he trust Fury? Certainly, he had tipped them off about Magneto's plan on the Rebirth project, but them both would benefit from the destruction of the device. And, if things went wrong, Fury could easily have washed his hands of the whole matter.

That was the main reason he left, Logan mused. They were not willing to take responsibility of their actions, successes and mistakes. They always wished to say; 'behold us, we have been wronged,' and be innocent of all charges while some other chump becomes the scapegoat and they continue their off-screen manipulations.

Logan was never sure of SHIELD, even when he was an agent. Now, he was less sure of them. Scott would be suspicious. Chuck would be suspicious. Everyone would be suspicious. Was Fury trying to set them up to be the fall guys?

Even so...

Re-start the Weapon X program...

Could he really take a chance with that?