Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or the characters

"You have to be careful...Tina is a very scared and powerful new mutant. She can flip your powers between any of you if you are standing too close to each other. She doesn't have complete control over her gift so she might accidentally hit you and your powers will change. " Adam said with the look of concern he always gives to the team before they leave for a mission. "Now I know this is going to be a difficult and trying task, but stay spread out. Do not get within 10 feet of each other or she can swap your powers. Besides having different powers I don't know what that can do to your genetic makeup."

"Yes, we know Adam, we'll be careful...we understand what's at stake here," Brennan said with his arms crossed.

Shalimar smiled and said teasingly, "Can you picture Emma as a feral with actual strength...she could finally kick some GSA's --"

"Ha ha," Emma interrupted before Shalimar could finish her sentence. Placing her hands on her hips she gave Shalimar a pointed look sending her an image of her head stuck on a muscle man's body.

Shalimar laughed and lightly pushed the side of her hips into Emma's. Emma giggled as she crossed her arms and nudged the feral back.

Jesse rolled his eyes, "You two have got to stop having private conversations with each other, it drives me crazy!"

This made Emma and Shalimar laugh even harder.

"I think we are getting off the topic at hand here," Adam said gently raising his voice.

"We got it Adam, I'll watch out for Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb... we will grab the girl, calm her down and bring her back here so she doesn't swap new mutants powers anymore," Brennan replied smiling at the girls who were trying with all their might to keep a straight face.

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In the Double Helix Brennan decided to take charge. "Okay, you guys know what Adam said, we have to stay apart from each other. She doesn't know who we are, so who's to say that she won't try and switch our powers on us accidental or not...and no offense but I like being an elemental."

Shalimar glanced over at Emma with a smile on her face and rolled her eyes. Emma covered her mouth to suppress a giggle. "Well who wants your powers anyway Brennan," Shalimar teased.

Brennan turned his head around so that he was facing the feral and gave her an appointed look. Jesse announced, "We are almost there guys...what's the plan Bren?"

Brennan turned his head back around and sat a moment thinking. "I think that Emma and Shal should go in first, and we will follow behind them. We might look less intimidating to her if the girls are in front...we don't want to frighten her and have her zap us."

"Zap us? Nice way of putting it Brenn. Once we bring her back to Sanctuary Adam can explain and teach her how to control her powers. You remember what it's like, not understanding how or why you have this weird gift," said Emma with a look of concern on her face.

Shalimar smiled, "Always the compassionate one."

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Just outside the warehouse the team split up. Emma and Shalimar were the first to enter the dark building. Brennan and Jesse followed. Shalimar's eyes easily adjusted to the pitch black surroundings. Emma forcefully blinked her eyes trying to attune them to the lack of light. Brennan opened his palm and let the electricity flow from his finger tips. Jesse decided to stay close to the door.

Emma shuddered, she hated the dark, her worst fear was not being able to see. She could see Shalimar's yellow eyes glow in the dark from across the room. It gave her a little comfort knowing her friend would keep an eye on her. Must be nice to be feral she thought, always the strong one, able to fight anybody and win, never letting your emotions get the better of you... Emma softly sighed, and brought her mind back to the task at hand.

Shalimar knew Emma was terrified of the dark and wanted to be by her side. She had to constantly remind herself that she could not run over a grab the empath's hand to offer her some reassurance just in case Tina was close by. At least Brennan is creating some light she thought, that might help calm Emma down. Suddenly Shalimar's feral sense picked up a presence across the room close to Emma. Before she even had time to think about the consequences Shalimar leaped across the room to protect her friend.

Tina saw the yellow eyed person leap towards her and in self defense threw her hands up shielding her face. Accidentally a thin electric line left her hand and shot towards the feral in the air. It struck Shalimar and connected with Emma who was in the middle of them. Immediately both girls dropped to the ground a few feet from each other. Tina realizing what she had done turned and hid further in the dark. Brennan saw what was happening but was unable to stop it, it was just so fast. He yelled for Jesse and ran to the girls sides. He picked up Emma's lifeless body and put her over his shoulder. He needed one hand free to create some light for Jesse and himself.

"What happened?" a bewildered Jesse asked.

"Shal was trying to protect Emma and acted without thinking, she got too close to Tina,"

"We need to get them back to Sanctuary. NOW!"

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Emma awoke with a start gasping for air. Sitting up in the chair she scanned the room. She was in the lab. Adam turned away from the computer and smiled, "Welcome back. Lay back down so I can finish running the tests."

Wide eyed Emma looked around the room and saw Shalimar lying down in the other chair. She jumped off the her chair and ran to her friend's side.

"Emma! You need to lie back down!" Lowering his voice Adam continued, "I am not sure of the damage the shock had on you and Shalimar, please let me finish the tests."

Emma placed her hands on Shalimar's head to scan her to make sure she was okay. Nothing. She felt nothing when she touched her friend. Emma slowly turned around to face Adam. "Adam, I can't feel her, what happened? I don't remember anything."

"Brennan and Jesse filled me in... Shalimar thought she was protecting you and was hit by one of Tina's shocks. Since you were the closet person to her you and Shalimar's powers I believe are switched." Adam walked over to Emma and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"I can't feel?" Emma whispered.

"I am afraid not, but don't worry hopefully I can reverse this. We just need to locate Tina first."

Emma stared directly into Adam's eyes as he was talking, letting the information sink in.

"I am going to stay by Shal's side." Emma turned around and took Shal's hand in hers.

"Emma, I said I needed to finish the tests on you, come lay down."

She slowly turned her head and looked at Adam, her eyes flashed a golden yellow, "And I said that I am going to stay by her side until she wakes up. Then you can finish your tests."

Adam let out a small gasp as Emma's eyes flashed.

End of Chapter 1 Too confusing???