Severing Ties

Summary: Things are looking up for Peter. It had been a few months since Doctor Octavius passed away, and Peter was getting his life on track except for a few things that wouldn't let him be. That's all about to change as someone, somewhere, needs Peter, and he's going to be in for a wild ride.

Chapter 10: That Hateful Virus

Jackie had heard all about Magneto, but she didn't think she'd ever actually meet him. She, along with the rest of the X-Men, prayed that she never would get the chance.

The car's manual locks went down, and though Jackie and Inigo tried to pull them up, they wouldn't.

"He's trapped us in here," said Inigo.

"Well, we could break the windows and try to run," Felicia suggested.

Then they saw the helicopter. It was parked, and people were coming out of it. A boy, no older than Jackie, had a ball of fire in his hand. He made a show of it by manipulating it into interesting shapes. The message he sent was 'Break the windows and you'll get burned.'

When the car stopped in front of Magneto, the locks came open. Jackie jumped out of the car and tried to send an energy blast at Magneto. Though she missed and jumped wrong so that she twisted her ankle, a large, blonde man with black eyes and sharp teeth grabbed her from behind. "LET GO OF ME!" she shouted.

Magneto smiled. "He will, if you promise not to try that stunt, again," he said.

Jackie glared at him. Inigo and Felicia just stood there. "I won't do that, again," Jackie promised. She had better things in mind. The big man dropped her to the ground. MY ANKLE! her mind screamed. JUST MY LUCK TO LAND ON MY ANKLE! "What do you want with us?" she asked tensely.

"Well, you know of the events happening in New York at this moment. We need mutants who are 'registered' to do what we need."

"I'm not a mutant," Felicia spoke up.

"And I'm not 'registered'," Jackie added.

"But he is." Magneto indicated Inigo.

"What makes you think I'd want to help you?"

Peter enjoyed working with the kids. It took his mind off things. When the class was dismissed, all the X-Men were called to a meeting. Storm told him that he could follow her. They all met in a large room that had a big table in the middle. There were numerous chairs. Peter saw Scott, and Logan. There were others he didn't recognize.

There was a girl with two gray streaks in her hair, and sitting next to her was a boy her age that looked normal. A man with blue skin sat beside Ororo, and Professor Xavier was at the head. Three seats were empty. One of the seats was next to the blue-skinned man.

"You can sit down, you know," the man said with a thick German accent. "I won't bite." He smiled, and large incisors were made visible.

Peter gulped and looked for a different seat. That's when he noticed the man had a tail. He hesitated sitting down. When he noticed that people were looking at him strangely, instead of the blue skinned man, Peter sat down.

"I am Kurt Wagner. They call me Nightcrawler," he introduced.

"Peter Parker." He couldn't bring himself to say he was Spider-Man. Compared to everyone else's second name, Spider-Man now sounded increasingly silly. He resented that he'd changed it from the Human Spider.

"Welcome to the X-Men," Nightcrawler said.

"Thanks."

The seat on the other side of him was empty, too.

"We are waiting for one more," Professor Xavier said to Peter. He nodded back.

"Professor, you know how Dr. McCoy gets. Do you think I should go get him?" Scott volunteered.

"Someone say my name?" said the person who just walked in. Peter's eyes almost popped out of his head. He looked like a blue monkey. He caught Peter looking at him. "New, huh? I understand. You'll see a lot more people who look more unusual than me, trust me," he said as he sat next to him. "Dr. Hank McCoy, or the Beast. Whichever you prefer," he said as he shook Peter's hand.

"Peter Parker."

"Don't have a second name, yet?" Dr. McCoy asked.

Peter gulped. It was now, or never. "It's Spider-Man," he admitted, feeling the blood rush to his face in embarrassment.

"I wonder how you managed that," the Beast said aloud. He thought the boy had powers like a spider, and he didn't know how he got them.

"I was bitten by a genetically altered spider."

"Then you're not a mutant?"

Peter shook his head.

"That makes all the sense in the world," Dr. McCoy said with sudden understanding.

"We have just gotten word that Magneto is at it, again," Xavier explained. "And he's got more fire power than before." He cast a meaningful look at the girl and boy. "But we all don't know each other, yet. I think it would be wise if we went around, saying our names. I'm Professor Xavier."

"Scott."

"Ororo."

"Rogue."

"Bobby."

"Wolverine."

"Nightcrawler."

"Peter."

"Dr. McCoy."

"Alright then. The empty seat is for Jack, when she gets back. When she gets back is the issue at hand, right now," said the professor. "Magneto has captured her, a mutant named Inigo Short, and a woman who got her powers by accident, like Peter. Her name is Felicia Hardy."

At this, Peter choked on a lump in his throat. Felicia was captured? And so was Jackie? Peter thought he'd heard the last of the Black Cat after he got her imprisoned. Apparently, they let her out. And now some creep named Magneto's got them? Great.

They discussed plans on how to get the three back to safety. It wasn't going to be easy, as Professor Xavier explained that they were held hostage at a place that would be hazardous to get in.

Peter was told about everything that happened in the last year or so, and found that these people led hard lives, especially Scott and the girl who called herself Rogue. He didn't envy her power at all. He also didn't know what he'd do with himself if MJ died. He took a deep breath and listened with all he was worth.

After the meeting, he walked out, and almost walked into a girl who looked about seventeen. She has Asian eyes and straight, black hair. He then heard a voice in his head.

Hello, it greeted.

Who are you? Peter asked.

My name is Kiyoshi, she introduced.

Peter thought it odd that this girl Kiyoshi was conversing with her mind instead of her mouth.

It is because I am mute, and I never could understand sign language, she explained.

Do you like this school? Peter inquired.

Kiyoshi smiled a large grin. Oh yes! It is a very good school with caring teachers! Miss Monroe is one of the nicest and kindest people here! she gushed. Then she stopped, and looked Peter directly in the eyes.

You poor man. You are infected with the hateful virus, she said.

He looked at her questioningly.

That hateful virus called love.

It's not that bad…Peter trailed off, thinking of MJ.

It is when you are so sure of your love for someone, but then it stabs you in the back. And then when you realize you love a different person, it is too late, and they will not forgive you. Yes, you are truly afflicted. I must go. I have another class. Nice to meet you, Spider-Man.

She walked away briskly, not looking back, and leaving Peter in a state of confusion. It then dawned on him that that girl couldn't possibly know what she was talking about. She looked much younger than him, what did she know? Peter, strengthened with resolve, turned and made his way to his apartment, where he was planning on writing a letter to MJ, explaining his disappearance.

"So, basically, they're going to kill us the first time you don't cooperate," Felicia said. Jackie couldn't keep still from fear. Her leg was moving up and down in a very fast fashion, and her eyes never rested on the same spot for more than thirty seconds.

Inigo, crestfallen and defeated, replied, "Yeah." He sat down on one of the chairs they provided. The three were given a nice room, but two of the beds were easy to move, or remove, in case of the other two becoming worthless.

(A/N: Guess what, guys? I COMPLETELY FINISHED IT!!! It's all done and ready to go…all nineteen chapters of it! Yay!!! Here I go work on the sequel…:-D

Taco eating person: What does my story remind you of? I'm not very good at filling the blank, sorry. Ummm…thanks for reviewing and I'm glad you like this story.

Laurajslr: I love cliffhangers…they are so fun!The trouble is that you get addicted to writing them…There will be a kind of cliffhanger that won't end the chapter soon. I think it's next chapter…11. But it doesn't end the chapter. Thank you for reviewing and you're welcome for the updating thing! I can't wait to get this all out!!! Hehehe I'm infuriating…hahahaha…poor you! Lol!

Oddball91: I talked to you online about everything mostly…I told you about Inigo…He's funny, but annoying, you'll see. Thanks for reviewing!

DiabloDude1: I meant about the story…jeez, I don't want to know everything that goes on the readers' minds! -shudders- I wasn't planning on having MJ-angst, but I wrote a bit in later cuz you asked…and it's more mystery than angst, but you can see how she's feeling for a bit. =) No! Don't 'serverly jurt' my story! Lol! hahaha. Tell me how the village went! I wanna see it so bad! Thanks for reviewing!

So…what d'you think? I wanna know so please review!!!)