Attention: Generation X and their villians, as well as any other mutant mentioned in this story, is property of Marvel Comics. The character Richard Cale is named after family relations. Any other reference to anything copywrighted is a chance happening.

Win Some, Lose Some

Setting A Trap In Motion

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I. Elane
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Elane dared to leave her room. She felt she was spending too much time in there, but given her condition, her beloved didn't want to take any chances. She slowly made her way over to his chamber. When she entered, she noticed that he was focused on a note. She made her way over to him and said, "My dear Marius, what has you so intregued?"

Emplate looked at her and said, "This note we received, my love. It appears that that my dear sister has a plan that I will benefit from. She says that I may soon be recipient of our father's biggest gift. The only way that can be is if he dies."

She looked over at her lover and said, "That could make life terrible for Generation X, as well as Richard. I do hope she succeeds." She gave Emplate a quick kiss on his forehead and then said, "Now, on to other matters. Which of the girls shall be helping me when the time comes?" She knew he knew what she was referring too. She then said, "Will I get Britney?"

She watched as he shook his head. "No my love. I have promised her to Freeze Frame. You may have one of the other two girls, but as you know, we must keep Christina alive."

Elane understood why they needed her alive. She just smiled and said, "Of course, my love. Any word from Britney? Has she given us a clue on when to attack?"

She was disappointed when he shook his head and said, "No, and what make you think I'll let you come along? It would be very risky to you in your situation." She knew how much he cared for her, especially now.

She just smiled and said, "True, but think of the blow it would send to Rich and Yvette if they found out." She watched as his eyes hinted at an evil smile under his respirator. He liked the idea. She then said, "Can I join you when the time comes?"

She heard him laugh with delight. "You may love, you may. It may put Rich and Yvette into a bit of depression to find out about our good news." She started to laugh with him. This was going to be a golden moment for them.

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II. Quinn
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Quinn stood at her post, watching the front of the town's only comic book store. With all that Claudette had known, she could not tell them what time Yvette would arrive. She watched as two guys entered the store. One looked langly, while the other looked tough, and in need of being taken down a few notches. As they continued to watch, she heard Claudette say, "Those two may be useful, or at least one will be. I think you can put the other one to good use. I bet he doesn't know what a real kiss is like."

She smiled at that thought. She then said, "The one does look like he'd be no great loss to the world. And it looks like our star is just arriving." She watched as everyone watched with her. Yvette had arrived and just entered the store.

She then heard Black Tom say, "Alright, let's do a quick recap. Quinn, you and Golden head in there and scare her out the back. Juggernaut will steer her toward our surprise member for the capture."

Quinn nodded and said, "I understand. I just hope everything goes without a hitch. I don't want her giving me a scratch." True, she had given Yvette one of her kisses. She even enjoied having the body Yvette had, but she wanted to see Rich lured to his death. She motioned for Golden to follow her to the door.

Now was the all important first part of the plan. She had to set the ambush in motion. She waited a few moments, and saw that Yvette had paid the man at the register and was looking around in the back of the store. This was her chance. She motioned for Golden to stay outside and walked in. When she reached the counter, she heard the man there gasp. She knew why, especcially with the outfit she picked. As she stood there, he leaned over the counter and said, "May I help you?"

It was pathetic, but she knew how to handle a guy like this. She leaned forward, face to face, and said, "Yes you can." With that she kissed him. Right away, she knew he wasn't a mutant. She felt his lifeforce enter into her. She could feel him trying to get out of it, but she wouldn't let him go. When she felt the last of his life leave him, she let him go. She watched the figure fall to the floor, and motioned Golden in. As what little sound in the room died, she knew that soon Yvette would panic.

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III. Yvette
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Yvette had heard Weasel and Dorian talking when she entered the store. She also knew that they weren't the best people in town, but they weren't the worst. Rich had even told her once that Weasel seemed to be able to think on his own, he just seemed to have low self-esteem. As she looked at some of the shelfs, she found some of the manga comics. She picked up one of the Tenchi series when she heard Weasel say, "Hi Yvette. This is the second time you've been in town without Rich. Where is he?"

Neither of the two knew that they were mutants, but she sometimes wondered if either suspected or if events would cause things to happen. She just smiled and said, "He's been under the weather the past two weeks. He should be alright by next week, but he does want to keep up to date." She watched as Weasel smiled, seeming to understand. Dorian, however, looked like he could care less.

She then heard Dorian say, "Damn, never thought we'd ever see that here." She followed both Dorian and Weasel's gaze to the counter. The owner was kissing someone, and Yvette felt her heart stop when she realized who it was.

She quickly tap the two of them on the shoulder and said, "Guys, I think it would be wise to get out of here, and by the back door." She pointed to a closed door in the back of the building.

She then heard Dorian say, "What good would ...." That's when it stated. She knew Golden had entered the building. He was killing the sound in the room. She motioned to the back of the building. She could tell both were trying to talk, and were getting frustrated with the situation. When they finally got to the door and closed it, Dorian's words finally came out, "kinda freak is she? Was that chick one of those mutants?"

She could tell that Dorian was not open minded at that point. Weasel, however, was open minded when she heard him say, "They both must have been, but what made them evil?" Weasel had a brain.

As she made her way to the back door, she just said, "Don't know what made them evil, all I know is that girl is the one Rich told me about. She commited some murders at the one school he attended. I think we just saw how she does it. She tried to attack Rich recently and she might be after me." She noticed that both were is some sort of shock.

She was glad when Weasel said, "Don't worry about it Yvette, I'll help keep them out." She saw a look that could have shot daggers come from Dorian. Apparently, he didn't want to risk helping.

She openned the rear door and said, "Thanks guys. Hopefully, they won't head back here." She ran out ther door and closed it slowly, to hide the sound it would make. She smiled when she finally had it closed. Maybe running a few back alleys would help ditch them.

She turned to head down one when she heard a voice behind her say, "Hello girl." She felt her blood go cold. She turned just so have an armored fist send her flying toward a wall. She looked at the armored form to hear him say, "Here's Uncle Juggy."

She start to move when she realized something held her to the wall. She was trapped. She hadn't tensed up, and didn't want to risk it yet. She kept strugling to get free when she heard the voice of Claudette say, "Well, well, well, I never thought of you as a wall flower, Yvette." She glanced over at Claudette and almost froze in horror when she saw who was behind her.

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IV. Black Tom
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Black Tom watched the shock when Yvette finally saw him. He slowly approached her and said, "So lass, it seems yur a bit surprised to see me. Did ye think I was dead?" He watched as the girl slowly nodded in fright. "Well lass, if you figured out the one Mondo was a clone, did ye ever think I would have sent a clone to the school"

He watched as she struggle to get free from the wall. She still had no idea that they had one extra person there. He watched as she looked at him and said, "I can't believe your still alive. What are you up to?"

He just smiled and said, "Vengence lass. I had a feeling that the clone I sent originally to the school has gone soft. So I sent a clone of meself with another clone. However, yur friends and that Richard Cale lad. Now Mondo, if ye'd please."

He saw the shock on her face, especially as arm morphed out of the wall and applied a sleeper hold to her. He smiled when she gasped out, "You always had Mondo, we had a clone." It was the last words she had said before going unconscious.

He watched as Claudette placed a power nullification collar on Yvette. He then said, "Mondo, get her to the hideout."

After Mondo left, he heard the girl named Quinn say, "We caught two others boss." He remembered seeing the two enter before Yvette. He wondered what Claudette had planned for them.

Tom looked at Claudette and said, "What do ye have planned for them?" He had a feeling that Claudette had some incidious task planned for them.

He watched as Claudette walked over to them and said, "Now, one of you boys are going to deliver a message to Rich for me."

He heard the one boy say, "I ain't doing anything for any mutie freak." The lad obviously had no idea of the situation he was in.

He watches as Claudette had a wicked grin cross her face. She then said, "Quinn, maybe that one needs a lesson in manners. Juggernaut, if you could hold him still."

He saw Juggernaut do it, and he then saw the fear in the boy's eyes. He watched the other boy shake in horror as Quinn kissed the first boy. He watched as the life slowly drained from the boy. He heard the other boy, being held by Golden, say, "Oh my God."

He waited as Claudette walked over to the other boy and said, "Now, I need you to deliver a message to Richard Cale. Tell him we have Yvette, and if he wants her back, he has to come to this location." He watched as she handed the boy a piece of paper. She then said, "Just tell him what happened to your friend, and he'll know who sent this. Now go."

When the boy ran off, he just said, "Good plan lass, now what about this boy?"

She just smiled and said, "We make it look like he fell." He saw Juggernaut smile.

Juggernaut just said, "Leave that to me. I punch him, and people might think he got hit by a car." He nodded and they left for the hideout. Before they moved any farther, he watched as Claudette ran into the store, and then come out with a tape. Before he could say anything, she motioned him to keep silent. He wondered what she had planned, and wondered if it was something that their prisoner would not like.