Disclaimer: If you have heard of these characters or ideas, they aren't mine. The characters: 'Phantom X', 'Sable', 'Viper', 'Charm', 'Rosethorn', and 'Sonic' aren't mine either, they belong to a friend of mine, Kris Jones. I own characters Natalie, Kevin, and Camille. And together, we helped to create 'Tracker', 'Blacklight', and Michele.

a new note from an author friend of mine; she has decided to change 'Viper' to 'Sidewinder'.

Author's Note: This story is a mix between the X-Men movies, comics and the cartoon (X-Men: Evolution). I have only taken characters and small ideas. So, don't be alarmed if none of the story fits with any of the movies or comics or cartoon's plots.

Summary: Magneto has made a machine that either amplifies or creates new mutant power and has used it on four already. But now those four have turned against him and made new friends at Professor Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. To reclaim his loss, Magneto kidnaps the four runaways as well as two young X-Men.

Chapter 5: Settling In

Kevin and John looked around their new home. It was a cozy room with four twin beds each having it's own nightstand and two dressers on opposite walls. David sat down on his bed, but Jet remained standing. Assuming that the bed next to David's was Jet's, the two boys took the other beds.

"It's not real big, but it works," Jet said as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the only desk in the room.

"This is great," John, replied as he lay on his new bed, " so, I noticed your accent…"

"Oh, well David and I came here to America as foreign exchange students from Europe," Jet explained, "I from England…"

"And I'm from Sweden," David finished. "Jet's been here a while and I came about 3 years ago. We both were supposed to go back home but, decided to stay here and…" David trailed off because he was watching Kevin who seemed to be more concerned about something under Jet's bed. David had boxes and trunks underneath his, but under Jet's was a light. David glanced at Jet whose full attention was on Kevin. John was also watching Kevin, but in total confusion.

"Kevin, I think--" David tried to say, but Jet quickly silenced him by putting his hand over his mouth.

"What's goin--" John was interrupted by a surprised yell from Kevin.

"Snakes! He's got snakes under his bed!" Kevin yelled as he scooted away from the bed as fast as he could. And at this, Jet and David both burst out laughing.

"Sorry, but since you know, I have snake characteristics. I like having my 'friends' around." Kevin glared at Jet.

"Well, you could warn a guy first," Kevin, said exasperated. Jet only grinned bigger.

"And miss that expression," Jet replied. As the boys continued their talk, John went over to Jet's bed and kneeled next to it. He lifted the blanket and looked underneath. Under Jet's bed the floor was cut out three feet long, two feet wide and about four and a half feet deep. The wall by the bed head a hole was cut in the wall leading to the wooded area behind the mansion. A heating lamp was tied to the bottom of Jet's bed and the floor was a slab of rock holding at least four snakes.

John, interested, reached down to pet one of the snakes. The snake picked up it's head as if it was going to strike. Suddenly the snake lunged forward, but bit nothing. "Hmp, gotta be faster," John taunted.

"Fun aren't they," a voice called John back to the world.

"Yeah." John looked up at Jet and David. David took a double glance at John as did Jet.

"Hey, wait--" David started seeing that John's eyes now matched Jet's eyes. They were now a slited pupil match, but brown instead of purple.

"Whoa how? No, wait. Shape-shifting…didn't you say something about shape-shifting?" Jet asked al little perplexed.

John smiled. "Yeah, I can turn into different animals."

"Awesome. You can talk to them too?" David said intrigued.

"Well, not telepathically. But I am able to understand body language and emotions, which is pretty much the same." John explained. David nodded in understanding that was followed by silence.

"You know, I used to run with his group too." Jet stated breaking the awkward silence. John and Kevin shot Jet an astonished look. "It was a long time ago but I was there. I used to be his assassin type person, since I can move very stealthily and swiftly. I have to tell you; he took very good care of me. I mean he gave me a place to live, food…"

"So, why'd you leave?" Kevin asked flatly.

"I took an assignment that led me here, to the mansion. I was to kidnap someone, Kris to be specific. But um…she fought me; she didn't come quietly like I wanted. So, I bit her. I poisoned her." Jet stood, ran a hand through his dark hair and sighed as he repeated his unpleasant memory. "The X-men…they dropped everything to help her…everything. They didn't act like the grand force I was trained to believe them as. Instead they were a team no…a family. No one in the Brotherhood did or acted like that. I wanted that. I wanted more of myself. I wanted to become more than just some hired gun, something hidden from the world." Jet finished and looked at John and Kevin. When none of them said anything, David spoke up.

"It took Jet a long time to actually open up to anyone. But I think the more he told his story the more comfortable he felt." Jet nodded in agreement and David continued, "So, you may not tell us every detail, but there's got to be something you can get off your mind."

John sighed and looked at Kevin. "You know her better." And at this David and Jet looked at John quizzically.

Kevin stayed silent for a moment then said, "First off, you should know Tamiko is…should we say proud. Very proud. She doesn't like to ask for help and if she does; she's desperate."

"Sounds like Kris," Jet whispered notably to David.

"The four of us were taken when we're all about nine or ten. We spent the next six years training and using our powers to steal and raid warehouses, universities; anything with some sort of advance science technology. We didn't know what for because all the plans were kept between the 'head leaders'. One of the team mutants found about the plans and really didn't sit to well with them. This mutant decided it was time to leave."

"And you left obviously," David finished softly.

"Yeah, and left behind a lot of friends…and family," John added sadly.

"Hey, um…if I remember Virginia or 'Rosethorn', called you 'brother'. Right?" Jet asked gently.

"I tried convincing her to come with us, but she didn't want to," John said as he hung his head as if in failure.

"and if I remember right, I saw Amanda or 'Charm' next to her the whole time," David put in setting a friendly hand upon John's shoulder. "And we all know that Charm isn't really charming, but…devious." All four smiled slightly found the word that fit the subject almost perfectly. With the atmosphere more relaxed, the boys started another conversation only to be interrupted by a soft buzzing sound coming from above the door. A small red light bulb blinked on and off timed with the buzzing and below it was a tiny black lettering. It said 'danger room'.

"Of course," Jet grumbled as he and David got up with the other two following, "I was wondering when we were going to be called down."

On the opposite wing of the mansion, the Tamiko and Michele followed Kris and Lauren into a dark room.

"Usually it has lights," Lauren commented, "but I think…and yes she's here." Lauren nudged Kris and Kris looked up. The new girls' eye followed up as well and saw a figure floating several meters in the air underneath the ceiling which sparkled like a clear night to where all the stars were seen. A book flying from a nearby desk broke the trance the girls were in as it came to the figure.

"Hey Mem!" Kris hollered. Startled, the figure dropped suddenly several feet before catching herself though unfortunately the articles surrounding her did not stop. Books and papers rained down upon the girls as Lauren flipped the light switches.

"You could've been more subtle," said the floating girl shortly. She floated down to sit on the nearest bed and brushed a loose red curl from her shoulder as she stared aggravated at her roommates. "I thought you had a mission."

"We did," Kris replied nonchalantly, "We came back around a half an hour ago. Sorry if we disturbed you."

"Yeah, sorry," Lauren added with humor, "Did you find the cure to world hunger yet?"

"No," the red head retorted making a face.

"This is Natalie. We also call her 'Mem'." Kris said energetically. "She's telekentic and has a huge memory."

"You mean like a photographic memory?" Michele asked couriously.

"Sort of. More long term though. I never forget anything plus it makes my brain think faster and more in depth." Natalie answered.

"Nerd," Kris coughed.

"Egotist," Natalie shot back with a smile. But instead of making a comeback, Kris suddenly grabbed Lauren's arm.

"Quick thought…what time is it?" she asked looking as if trying to remember something of great importance.

"Quarter to four," Lauren supplied giving her friend a skeptical look.

"Huh…um, if you guys don't like needles, you might want to step out or something," Kris said to Tamiko and Michele as she walked over to her bed. She reached underneath and pulled out a black cooler. Opening it, she revealed rows of tiny vials of a bright green liquid and several syringes. Kris filled one syringe with the green substance and injected it into one of two small scars on her wrist.

"Monthly meds," Lauren said to the two very confused girls. "It's an anti-serum for Jet's venom." Lauren quickly glanced at Kris giving her an apologetic look for saying anything unwanted.

"It's alright, Sable," Kris said softly, "they would have found sooner or later. You see, Jet wasn't always running with our group; he used to run with Magneto. Well a while ago, Magneto sent Jet here to…acquire something. He and I crossed paths and…" Kris trailed off as she touched the scars on her wrist, "it's nothing now, that's all past. I just have to take an anti-serum. It used to be where I had to take it every two hours, but now I only have to take it once a month. The Professor said something about my body making its own anti-serum and soon I'll be immune to Jet's venom as well as all other snake venoms."

"And they've been closer than ever," Lauren added with a smile. She turned to look at her friend only to receive a face full of pillow.

"Is it always this crazy?" Michele asked Natalie as they watch Kris pummel Lauren with pillows.

"Nah," Natalie answered. Then with a with a smirk she added, "just 24/7. Besides Kris, aren't you and Jet going to the fair later? No, wait…that's right you're going with David." Kris stopped chasing Lauren and turned on Natalie. She threw a nearby pillow and was headed for Natalie, but stopped a few inches in front of Natalie's face.

"You can't do that remember." Natalie said from behind the pillow. And the pillow shot back at Kris who dodged blindly to the side and crashed head-on with Tamiko. Tamiko laid on her back slightly dazed with Kris across her belly. Kris looked over her shoulder at Tamiko.

"Sorry," Kris said with an apologetic face.

"No problem," Tamiko replied, "I grew up with a brother." The girls laughed as Kris helped Tamiko up.

"Oh yeah, um…Michele you're not really staying in this room," Lauren cut in, "See, with Tamiko our room is full, but you'll be staying with Rogue, who you met, and Kitty, she can walk through solid objects, and Alec, she can manipulate things…kinda mold things like clay. Its kinda strange but then again look where you are."

"If you don't like that, if you want to stay with Tamiko, I'm sure Jean and Storm can arrange it." Kris added.

"No, it'll be fine, besides better to get to know more people if we're going to be here awhile," Michele said with a shrug, "and Tami's a big girl I think she can take care of herself." The girls laughed but were interrupted by a soft buzzing and a blinking red light.

There it is folks! Get ready for another Chapter! Thanks for the reviews and enjoy!