Evidence and Escapes

During one of the breaks in Evan's trial not long after the episode at Madison Square Garden, Xavier, Kurt and Logan visited Evan as Jack was going over some strategy in the defense room. "Well it's about time you guys showed up," Evan snapped. "Geeze, way to stand by your friends. Nearly every day since the brawl in the courtroom I hardly ever see you guys."

"You know it's not as if we weren't doing anything else you know?" Kurt told him. "We have been a little busy fighting for our lives."

"Yeah I heard all about Stryker," Evan sighed. "Not to mention what happened in DC. Sorry man. I guess I've been going a little stir crazy in here."

"We didn't forget you Evan," Xavier assured him.

"I guess you guys stopping a religious nut who wanted to wipe out all the mutants in the world does take priority," Evan agreed. "I understand. It's just that this trial is getting to me. I mean this is my life we're talking about and I've never felt more alone."

"How is it going?" Kurt asked Jack.

"DNA wise we're at a stalemate," Jack told them. "However we may have a break when it comes to witnesses. I've just found out that Graydon Creed is going to testify against you."

"And that's a good thing, how?" Evan asked.

"Let's just say I've just gotten a new ace up my sleeve," Jack grinned.

"Well that's nice to know," Emma Frost spoke as she entered the visiting room.

"What the…?" Jack gasped.

"Emma…" Xavier frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"To deliver this," She handed Jack a tape.

"What's this?" Jack asked.

"It's something we've come across that might help you," Emma told him.

"You're the second person to hand me a tape today," Jack mused.

"Second?" Emma asked.

"I received an anonymous tape about a certain FOH meeting," Jack grinned. "I think it might clear Mr. Daniels."

"Really? Well this tape came from the Power 8 plant itself," Emma said. "Let's just say I know someone, who knows someone who threatened someone."

"I don't think I wanna know any more," Jack grunted.

"Trust me on this," Emma said. "Show this tape to the jury and they'll instantly lose any sympathy for Guy Spears whatsoever."

"You're helping us?" Kurt was surprised.

"This is merely a repayment of a debt," Emma told them. "Nothing more. In a way we are all on the same side, it's just that our methods are different."

She left the room. "Well this is worth viewing," Jack said. "I'll have to do it tonight though."

"Anything to get me out of here," Evan sighed as he jiggled his shackles in dissatisfaction. "I'm getting sick of these shackles. How's Auntie O doing?"

"Much better," Xavier said. "We've all recovered from Stryker's attack."

"Yeah Mom and Dad were really freaked out about that," Evan sighed. "Well one good thing about the whole thing is Stryker got those three to stop screaming at each other."

"I know this has been a huge strain on you and your family Evan," Xavier said. "But we're going to get through this. We'll get you out of here."

"It would be easier if you could get any one of the Morlocks to testify," Jack sighed. "But since that isn't going to be happening soon we're just going to have to make do with what we have."

"Why would you need them to testify?" Kurt asked.

"The Prosecutor is saying that Power 8 was not harmful to mutants after all," Jack said bitterly. "Despite the test results we showed them. He's claiming it's nothing more than an allergic reaction."

"You're kidding?" Kurt gasped.

"I wish," Evan grunted. "They're trying to cover up what Power 8 was doing to us! Making the Morlocks look like maniacs! I mean what do we have to do to convince 'em? Drink the stuff in public?"

"Let's hope it won't come to that," Jack sighed.

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"So how's Evan?" Rogue asked when they returned.

"Holding up pretty well considering," Kurt shrugged. "They're now arguing about whether Power 8 was really poisonous to mutants in the first place."

"Wonderful," Logan shook his head. "Man they take forever to go through every little thing at these trials don't they?"

"Speaking of which did you hear the news about Stryker?" Rogue asked. "Not only did he get indited on the murder charge the government got him on some illegal weapons charges."

"Well that's some good news," Logan grunted. "Sounds like they've got enough to put him away for a long time."

"It gets better," Rogue told them. "Not long after they made public that Purists killed a cop and several gang members one Purist hangout got raided by the cops and another was firebombed."

"Magneto?" Kurt asked.

"Nope," Rogue shook her head. "This time it was definitely not the work of mutants. Seems those murdered gang members left a lot of friends behind. Friends who want payback."

"Between the cops and the gangs the Purists made a lot of enemies," Logan grinned broadly. "Not to mention Frost and her Hellions. Something tells me they're not going to wait long before striking back."

"Yeah right now other mutants are the least of their problems," Rogue grinned. "Well at least it'll keep 'em off our back for a while. Even the FOH is backing off them."

"Yes," Xavier sighed. "I want everyone in the mansion to assemble in the library. I need to discuss a few things with them."

Soon everyone complied with the order. Even Dr. Reisman and Doop. "Where's Mr. and Mrs. Daniels?" Tabitha asked.

"They've…gone looking for a hotel to stay at," Ororo sighed. "They won't be back until later tonight. Let's just say we're trying to give each other a little space."

"Speaking of space how many are we taking to Muir Island and for how long?" John asked.

"I'd like to say now that I cannot go to Muir Island," Ororo told them "I've already spent too much time away from Evan as it is."

"That's understandable Ororo," Xavier said. "I'd like you to be in charge while I and the others are gone."

"I'll stay with her Professor," Warren said. "I figure she could use some help."

"Very well," Xavier agreed. "As you know Muir Island is a refuge for injured mutants as well as a research center. With all the conflict going on in our lives it might be a good idea for some of us to get away for a few days. Students and Faculty going on this excursion are Wolverine, Thunderbird, Cyclops, Jean, Shadowcat, Iceman, Wolfsbane, X23…er…"

"I still accept X23 as my code name," Rina informed him. "For now."

"All right," Xavier continued. "Colossus, Jubilee, Mirage and Nightcrawler as well as Dr. Reisman."

"Why is she coming with us?" John gave Dr. Reisman an icy glare.

"Foresight will be accompanying us as well," Xavier informed them. "He needs to do some recovery. Muir Island has some equipment that can help him and Dr. Reisman will assist."

"So the Misfits are going?" Scott asked.

"No they've all been assigned to something else," Xavier said. "Hawk wouldn't tell me what. Due to the nature of Foresight's condition however he can't be transported via the Mass Device. It would interfere with his life support system."

"Oh well isn't that fun," John said sarcastically.

"Hey with no Misfits around, how bad could it be?" Bobby asked. "At least it'll be peaceful."

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Hunger…That was all he had ever known.

For so long he had felt nothing but the emptiness gnawing at him. Even when he was asleep he could feel it. Trapped in that cylinder it grew even worse. For so long the only other thing he could feel was the intrusion of that old man in his mind. It was almost a relief when the visitations stopped.

But he was free now. He wasn't exactly sure how or why but that didn't matter. The only thing that did matter was that he was free to do as he wished. And he wasn't going back. He would die first.

Of course that might happen soon if he didn't get some energy soon. He could feel this body he currently inhabited deteriorating rapidly. "Stupid powers…" He grunted. "Why did I choose the old man of all people…"

He heard something outside the cabin door. "I mean drug smugglers are one thing but an escapee from Muir Island?" The voice of a Scottish Policeman grunted. "That's where all those freaks are being kept. Everyone all along the coast knows it. We're not trained to handle something like this!"

"Now calm down," Another police officer spoke. "Look the kid has been kept in some kind of containment unit ever since he was thirteen. He's deathly ill and has no experience with his powers whatever they are. He's got less than 24 hours until he drops dead and we have special instructions on how to handle him so…" He opened the door to the cabin. "Oh my god!"

"Bloody hell," Another policeman gasped. "They're all dead!" He looked at the bodies littering the cabin.

"Call Doctor MacTaggert at the hospital," The policeman in charge spoke. "Tell her there's no sign of the boy and the crew he's attacked are dead."

"I'm right here you stupid copper…" He hissed, eyes glowing. "And as for that 24 hours crack, that's 24 hours longer than you all have…"

"What?" The leader gasped. It was the last thing he could do or say.

Ten minutes later the two sailors left behind on the police tugboat saw their captain walk out. "Captain, what happened?" One asked. "We heard something. Is everything all right?"

"It is now," The 'Captain' pointed his fingers at them as if he was holding a gun. "Bang…"

CRACK! HISS!

The two men dropped dead due to the energy discharge. "Now this is much better," He breathed. He kicked the bodies into the water and took charge of the small boat. "Now to get to shore. I'm bloody starving. I wonder if this jerk has any money."

He scrounged in the Captain's pockets and found a huge wad of cash. "I'm going to Burger King," He grinned.