Chapter 3:

Professor Charles Xavier, the Principal of the Xavier School for Higher Learning wheeled himself down the long white corridors of the Moscow Institute for the Mentally Handicapped and Insane slowly, looking at the occupants of each cell bank. Most were normal cases, insane or unstable but they were not the ones Charles had come to see, this errand concerned another occupant of the grim place. Beckoning one of the workers over, he whispered in her ear and she nodded before wheeling him down the corridors until they passed through the maximum security section barrier. Stopping at a window, Xavier blinked as he looked into the stark white cell at the sole occupant. He was gazing at the form of a white-clad girl, her arms tied in a straitjacket and her vacant ice blue eyes staring out lifelessly. The aide shrugged and shook her head at him.

"Three weeks and still no sign of improvement. She is too young to go through that all..."

Xavier frowned. "Is it common practise to put your patients in straitjackets?"

The aide frowned. "She is in it because she is dangerous. She sent five of our best orderlies into intensive care when they touched her and we used five full rounds of high potent sedative to keep her from attacking again."

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Five rounds....Is she still sedated?"

The woman nodded slowly. "We constantly keep the supply up; she would go on a rampage if we didn't load her with sedatives, sir."

"How could she act like this? Is she deranged or suicidal?" asked the worried man as he looked at her again.

The woman shrugged. "I am Natalya by the way, sir. Natalya Sergeiovna Vasilly. That girl is mutant, so I am told by my superior. Maybe that is why..."

Xavier shook her hand. "I am Charles Xavier; I run a school for those like her in America. I am interested in her, very interested in fact..."

Natalya bowed slightly. "We would be happy to take you up on our offer, we cannot keep her here and she is a danger to the Russian way of life. I shall check with my superiors..." She saluted and marched off as Xavier tried to communicate with the sedated mutant.

---

Half an hour later, Natalya marched back with a thick folder under her arm. Handing it to the Professor, she pointed where to sign as he did so. Then, she ordered an orderly to drag the girl out and restrain her with special cuffs. Then, she handed the chain to Charles and bowed as she wheeled him and the mutant out of the Institute. Then, she turned back without a word as Charles led the girl down the road and into an alleyway. Then, he looked around furtively and undid the manacles and the straitjacket quietly. Sensing something, the girl turned towards him and snarled as she blinked and her pupils dilated to that of a wolf's. Xavier backed away as she lowered herself onto all fours and her hackles rose before entering her mind and touching it to calm her. Looking at him, she growled slightly as she felt her mind soothed and stared at him.

He spoke in English to her but got no response, neither was there one in Lithuanian, Russian or any other language. Then, he activated a mental link to her and spoke to her that way. :::What is your name, young lady?:::

The girl shook her head in confusion and her mind flashed questioningly. :::What did you do to me?:::

Xavier smiled. :::I made you calm down, that's all. What are you so afraid of?:::

::::I am NOT afraid::: came back the quick approach and she glared at him.

Charles held up his hand carefully. :::I was just asking, why did you not respond to my question? Do you speak Russian?:::

The girl frowned. :::I speak the language of my wolf pack, nothing else. Why do you speak so strangely?:::

:::That is how we speak in my country:::: came back Xavier's amused reply.

The girl smiled slightly. :::Are you the alpha male? I will respect you if you are, that is our way. It is the way of the wolves, the way of my pack.::::

Xavier frowned then nodded. :::Yes, I am the Alpha male.:::

She rubbed up against him at that point and he patted her head before leading her towards the airport for the private jet to take them back to America and the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning...