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Question: Okay, does Nightcrawler purr? Because I read in a couple fanfics that said he did but I wasn't sure if it was true. Does anyone know?

Oh, in case any of you are still under the illusion that I own the x-men, hahaha! Boy are you impressionable! I don't own them you silly people! Hahaha! Do I see gullible written on the ceiling?

*Sigh* Uh, as soon as I wipe away the tears of mirth I'll begin writing again…

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The ride home for the X-men was silent and devoid of the usual joking and good humor that generally followed a mission. Each of the teens sat with their own set of thoughts, none of them smiling; Evan wondered who the unknown mutant was, Jean what he had been doing in the truck. Kitty pondered the contents of the vial in her pocket. Rogue gingerly rubbed her aching stomach and Scott reminisced about his ruined convertible.

Storm glanced back from the driver's seat of the x-van and frowned. "Children, you must cheer yourselves up."

"How can we?" Scott burst, "We lost! Plain and simple."

Storm shook her head sadly, "No one in the world can win every time."

"Yeah, we were, like, bound to lose eventually," Kitty added sagely.

Rogue sighed angrily. "But it's not like we even got beaten by the entire Brotherhood! It was only one person!"

The van was silent. Rogue folded her arms angrily and stared out the window. She knew all the others were thinking the same thing. Who was the blue mutant?

Kitty was suddenly seized by a pang of guilt. Should she tell the others about the vial she had found? What if it was nothing? Would they be angry at her for stealing? She shifted nervously in her seat.

The van slowed as the large iron gate barricading the Institute creaked open.

Jean looked as though she was going to speak for a moment, then stopped and turned around to face the others, "You know, we only lost because he had the element of surprise." It was a lame attempt at consolation and she knew it, but she felt obligated to try.

As the van came to a halt in the garage a familiar voice rang clear in their heads.

*Jean, Scott, meet me in the library. Evan, Rogue, Kitty, you should come as well.*

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The professor pressed the tips of his fingers together, deep in thought. Around him the X-men sat tensely on the couches.

"I believe we should begin with the identity of the new mutant."

All of the teenagers sat up, listening.

"Unfortunately, there is not a clear answer to give." The disappointment in the room was evident.

"But professor, didn't Cerebro pick up his mutant signature?"

"I'm afraid not Scott. This mutant is surprisingly powerful. Somehow he must have known of Cerebro and blocked detection." The professor fell silent again. Rogue moved uncomfortably as his eyes locked with hers.

Jean took a deep breath and began slowly, "Professor, I…I felt the presence of another there-"

Rogue felt her tolerance at the red haired girl wear thin. "Yeah Mystique!" she snapped. The others looked at her questioningly. She averted her gaze, stuttering as she attempted to explain, "Ah, ah touched him. The mutant…"

Professor Xavier's study of her face deepened. Rogue felt increasingly uneasy. Was he reading her mind? She opened her mouth, but the professor interrupted.

"Rogue I understand if you don't wish to speak in front of everyone. You may go."

She stood and walked hastily from the room, but stopped, resting her hand on the doorframe. She could feel their eyes on her. A halting breath caught in her throat, a warm, salty tear coursing swiftly down her cheek. Then she was gone into the darkening hall.

"What-" Jean asked, puzzled.

"When she is ready." Xavier's tone was quiet and firm. He turned his gaze to Kitty. "Shadowcat, I believe you have something for me."

Kitty jumped at the mention of her name; she had been lost in thought. "Uh, uh…something? For you? Oh…" She reached into her pocket and pulled out the vial, "I think this came out of the thing he was carrying," she chattered vaguely and handed it over to the professor. He held it for a moment, turning it in his hands.

"Good work Kitty. I believe we should give this to Hank to analyze."

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Mystique held the small metallic box as if she were a child who had just been given a Christmas present. She opened it eagerly, but her face quickly became livid.

"Where is it…" she whispered, her face trembling with rage. Kurt narrowed his yellow eyes. He scowled.

"They took it…I dropped it for a moment and…she…it was that girl! She was holding the box!" He leapt up from his seat and paced across the room, his tail lashing angrily.

Mystique was silent. How much trouble had she through to track the pathogen to the laboratory in Pennsylvania, to convince the lab technician Johnston that he must help her, only to have the damn X-men interfere once again in her plans? They had no idea what they were getting themselves into. She glanced at the hunched form of her son. His face burned with a furious passion, but she knew it burned with much more. She could feel his shame; he was blaming himself for losing the precious vial. The insecurity of his soul flashed in his eyes.

"It was not your fault. We should have considered that the X-men would meddle in our affairs."

He bowed his head. "I failed…"

"No. It was not your fault," Mystique repeated firmly. She stood and placed her arms around his shoulders. He stiffened at her comfort.

"I do not know why they took it, but I do know of a way to get it back…" She smiled in the rapidly descending twilight.

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All of you people who have reviewed, you are my friends! And all of you who have continued to read this without reviewing, you're making me sad   :(   See! See what I mean? Look at what you're doing to me!