A/N: I'd appreciate some reviews, here, people-maybe I should just close this story down! Thanks to my single, very faithful reviewer, Romulan Empress. You totally rock!
Kitty had shown Lizzie around the school, and which classrooms were which ones, et cetera, and then they went outside so that Kitty could show her the grounds. Finally, however, school was out, and she could finally see Gordo.
Lizzie first saw him when he came outside, blinking in the harsh sun. "Hey, Gordo!" Lizzie waved to him. He waved back and came over to where the two girls stood. "Hey, you finally woke up!" Gordo greeted her.
"Yeah," Lizzie said. "How've you been doing?" "Okay," Gordo said in that lofty way that Lizzie knew meant something was obviously wrong. "Don't lie to someone who has psychic abilities, Gordo," Kitty laughed. Lizzie was already probing his mind, and Gordo knew it.
"Ooh," Lizzie moaned. "Yeah," Gordo said. "They seem to enjoy picking me up with their minds and twirling me around." "So, tell 'em to put it up theirs," Kitty said. "Whoa!" Lizzie said.
Just then, Lizzie received a telepathic thought message from Jean, whose thought seemed tentative, probably because she was afraid of being thrown against a wall again. 'Lizzie-please do not throw me against a wall again.' 'Sorry', Lizzie thought apologetically. 'The professor wants you and Kitty to report immediately to the lower levels. Contact Rogue and Kurt as well. Do you know them?' 'No, but I can find them,' Lizzie told her. 'No big.' 'Good,' came Jean's reply.
"We gotta go, Gordo," Lizzie said. "The professor wants us in the lower levels." "Okay," Gordo said, seeming a bit disappointed. "I'll see you later, I guess." "'K, bye!" Lizzie and Kitty started off towards the school.
"What's up?" Kitty asked. "Not sure," Lizzie answered. "Jean just says that the professor needs us in the lower levels, and to get Rogue and Kurt." "Oh, okay," Kitty said. "I'll go find Kurt. You get Rogue." "Um...okay," Lizzie said, watching as Kitty disappeared inside a wall.
As she walked briskly down hallways, she let her mind zip in and out of other minds until she found the one she was looking for. 'Hey, Rogue', she said. 'I'm sending you a telepathic message. You won't be able to answer. My name is Lizzie McGuire, and I'm new here. The professor wants us down in the lower levels, so report there immediately. Much luv!'
She could vaguely sense Rogue's confusion and anger at having someone poking around in her mind, but didn't really care as she headed downstairs.
She then encountered a problem, the same one that had bothered her earlier about getting to the jet. Lizzie sighed. She'd have to wait until someone came down to use the handprint and retina scan.
Finally, Kitty came floating down through the ceiling, and there was a clap of air rushing in as Kurt appeared out of nowhere. "Whoa!" Lizzie stumbled back. "Sorry," Kurt apologized. "Hi. I'm Kurt, also known as Nightcrawler." "Hi, I'm Lizzie," Lizzie introduced herself, shaking his hand.
Kitty opened the doors, granting access for the three. There, the professor and Jean were sitting, quietly talking around a conference table. "Ah, welcome," the professor smiled. "I'm glad you could make it. Please, sit."
The three sat, Lizzie a little speechless, the other two a little careless and bored. "Do you have any news on Miranda?" Lizzie asked, suddenly aware that she had nearly forgotten about her friend. "Well-"the professor stopped as Rogue sauntered into the room, followed by Storm and Scott.
"Well, now that everyone is here," the professor said, "we can start. We have several things to discuss. The first of which is you, Lizzie McGuire." "Me?" Lizzie squeaked out. "Yes," the professor nodded. "We have a proposition for you, a decision that should not be taken lightly." Lizzie's pulse sped up as she anticipated the question. "We have seen your determination, your very good fighting skills, and the skill in which you use your powers," Jean continued. "You seem to genuinely care about people, you would never purposely want to hurt anyone unless it was in self-defense or for someone else who was hurt. Despite the fact that you stole a jet and stole powers without the owner's assent, it was all for a good cause."
"And so," the professor finished. "We have decided that we would like to ask you to join the X-Men. Think about this carefully." The room was silent, and all eyes were on Lizzie, including the indifferent Rogue's.
Lizzie's mind raced with possibilities. A few days ago, she would have accepted in a heartbeat, but now she had seen the difficulty and hurt that came with this decision, having fought evil face to face. If she said no, she would never have to worry about dangers, or being killed before she reached the age of 21. 'Do I really want this?' she asked herself. She was about to say no, when she saw Miranda in her mind's eye, weak, helpless, and sobbing for Lizzie to help her. She imagined dozens of other people who also needed her help, and finally, her mind was made up.
"Yes," Lizzie answered. "Are you sure?" the professor asked her. "Once you say yes, it will be hard to turn back." "I'm positive," Lizzie answered. "Very well," the professor answered. "Welcome to the X-Men." Lizzie felt Kitty's hand on her shoulder, and could almost see her grin.
"Now, onto the next subject," the professor continued. "Your friend, Lizzie. Miranda." Lizzie's blood ran cold at the mention of her friend. "Is she..." Lizzie gulped, trying to keep tears from forming in her eyes. "Is she dead?"
"No," the professor said. "At least, not yet. We have to decide what to do, and if we dare rescue her." "We must!" Lizzie stood up, starting to mildly panic at the thought of not helping Miranda. "I agree," Kitty said. "So do I," Rogue admitted, and Lizzie glanced over at her in gratitude. Kurt agreed as well, much to Lizzie's relief.
"Very well," the professor said. "This mission calls for only a few, to get past Magneto's guards, as we are going straight to his hideout." "Do we know where that is?" Lizzie asked. "We're doing research on areas where we think he might be," Storm told her.
"Any volunteers?" the professor asked. Lizzie raised her hand, and a few seconds later, Scott and Kitty did as well. "Any others?" the professor asked, and finally, after a few tense seconds, Rogue raised her hand. "Very well," the professor repeated for what seemed to be the third millionth time.
"We'll do research, and get going. Meanwhile, Lizzie will be trained for her role in the X-Men, and all of you be ready to go." The X-Men started leaving the room, but Lizzie remained in her chair, a little amazed at what had just happened. She had joined the X-Men, and her first mission was to rescue her best friend. Never in her life had she expected for the move to a strange little town to turn out like this.
......................................................................................................
Lizzie lay on her bed upside down, watching Kitty floating in the air turning cartwheels and Rogue surfing the Net on Lizzie's laptop, which she had borrowed.
"Why did you guys volunteer?" Lizzie asked. "I mean, you didn't have to." "Lizzie!" Kitty admonished her, turning upside down to face her. "You're my friend! I'll do anything to help you or any of your friends! Besides, Gordo's kinda cute..."
Lizzie laughed. Rogue turned away from the screen to look at Lizzie. "You seem like a good person," she answered. "Besides, I've never turned down a chance at having my head blown off." Lizzie and Kitty laughed, and Rogue smiled slightly as she returned to her Google search.
.......................THE NEXT DAY..............................
"Okay, here's your suit!" Kitty said, showing Lizzie where her X-Man suit was hanging up. "I can't believe I'm actually doing this," Lizzie murmured softly. "It's like...a dream come true. I only wish it wasn't Miranda who was in trouble." "Life is funny like that," Kitty said. "It gives you what you want, but always for a price." Lizzie looked at her. "That actually makes sense!" she said, slightly astonished.
"I can make sense if I want to!" Kitty grinned. Lizzie fought back bubbles of laughter, and Kitty helped her get her handprint scan into the computers so that she could open the doors on her own instead of needing someone to do it for her.
"Do you think there's anyway I can speed this process of waiting for news up?" Lizzie asked Kitty. Kitty shook her head. "Doubtful. Unless you can tap into Magneto's brain, which I wouldn't suggest, as it is severely twisted."
Lizzie's smile unnerved Kitty. "Lizzie? What are you thinking? Oh, no. Oh, no! Lizzie, please-"
By now Lizzie wasn't listening as she waltzed up the stairs and to the room they all shared, locking herself in the bathroom and sealing up all walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and windows, so that Kitty and no one could dare try and enter. And so, she sent her mind wandering, searching for Magneto.
