Okay, here's more new people I'm gonna add from the comics. Some of them are from very different sources but since this is an AU universe, why not throw them in? See if you can guess which comics I'm borrowing characters from.
Everything Old is New Again
Late that afternoon the newly formed main X-Men team met in the briefing room. The team was now consisted of Scott, Jean, Rogue, Remy, Kurt, Kitty, Peter, Hank, Ororo, Bobby (His probationary period was now officially over) and Rina. It had been decided that Rina's fighting skills took precedence over her social skills, which were actually developing surprisingly well.
Due to all the new changes Xavier had decided it was time to do some major restructuring of the teams. The only reason Logan wasn't on the official X-Men team now was that he was needed more as a combat instructor. Especially now.
"It has been several months since 'Stryker Sunday'," The anchorman on the news spoke as the X-Men watched. "And it has been estimated that nearly two hundred people with dormant X-genes have been activated. The X-gene as we all know, is the random chromosome of DNA that gives mutants their powers. After Stryker Sunday mutant sightings in New York have become more and more frequent."
A shot of a female mutant with white skin and catlike ears being led into a courthouse was shown. Two other female mutants were with her. "It is now believed that mutant prostitution has now become a thriving business, with rival crime factions fighting over territory as well as several independent gangs operating."
A few other random shots of people with obvious mutations going into homes or hiding in alleys running from people were shown. "The police have reported that since the Bayville riots, violence against mutants has been slowly increasing. Not surprisingly, there are also reports of mutant gangs fighting back. To counteract the violence, the governor is proposing a new mutant control task force to handle the situation."
"As you can see the situation is becoming dangerous," Xavier hit the mute button. "It's imperative that we X-Men prepare for what lies ahead."
"I have a question. Cerebro detected a lot more mutant signatures than what they said on the news," Kitty said. "Why is that number so low?"
"Stryker Sunday affected hundreds of people," Scott said. "But most of them are trying to hide. Some are able to. Others aren't so lucky."
"Tensions in New York aren't at a breaking point yet but that could change at any day," Jean said. "There's already a few blocks of the city that seem to have more mutants inhabiting it than the rest of the city. It's being called District X."
"You mean a mutant ghetto," Rogue frowned.
"Pretty much," Scott sighed. "Only it's not exactly enforced as mutants only."
"Not yet," Logan said as he walked in. "Chuck I brought in that new girl. She's a real piece of work by the way."
"New girl?" Jean asked. "So we are taking new recruits."
"It's become a necessity," Xavier said. "It's part of the negotiations I'm making with the Mayor of New York on how to handle the increasing new mutant population."
"What do you mean by 'handle'?" Rogue asked.
"People are frightened," Xavier said. "Both humans and mutants. All those mutants manifesting their powers right at the same time…It was a traumatic event. We've been lucky so far that there have only been some minor fights between humans and mutants in New York City. And most of them have dissipated quickly."
"Yeah, well New York's a lot tougher town than most cities," Logan pointed out. "Compared to Bayville, New York is almost paradise. They don't have any mutant bans in that city."
"But we all know all it takes is just one event to change that," Scott pointed out. "One gang fight that gets out of control or one mutant nut job to cause trouble."
"Or the FOH and some of their friends," Bobby pointed out.
"So how many mutants are there really in New York now?" Kurt asked.
"Our last estimate is about eight hundred and thirteen mutant signatures," Hank told him. "I believe we may need a bigger mansion."
"That goes without saying," Xavier said. "Right now we have five new recruits this semester."
"Out of all those people only five showed up at our door for help?"Kitty was shocked. "How could that be?"
"Well for one thing it seems the Massachusetts Academy managed to grab a lot of 'em," Logan grunted. "Not to mention Magneto."
"Wonderful," Rogue moaned. "Just what we need."
"Plus as Cyclops stated before a lot of them are hiding," Xavier continued. "Afraid to reveal themselves as mutants. Or they do not wish to be affiliated with us."
"Gee I wonder why?" Rogue grumbled. "I mean we only get attacked every other day and some maniac is always trying to kill us plus the fact we have so many lawsuits against us. Who wouldn't want to be an X-Man!"
"It's just as well," Scott sighed. "We barely have enough room as it is."
"I'm planning on making a few new additions to the school," Xavier said. "Until then our new students as well as some of our newer recruits will be going to Muir Island for training."
"So some of the New Mutants are gonna be transferred to Generation X for a while?" Rogue asked. "Which ones?"
"We're still working on it," Scott admitted. "Needless to say things are gonna be cramped for about a month or so."
"Our last student will be arriving later this evening," Xavier said. "Right now I think we should give our new students a warm welcome."
Soon all the X-Men were in the main living room. "Man, I can't believe how many of us there are here," Kurt said to Rogue. "And now there are gonna be more students!"
"Yeah and to think I used to complain when there were only six of us," Rogue smirked. Then winced in pain.
"Are you okay?" Kurt asked.
"Just a little headache, no biggie," Rogue said. "I've just been a little tired lately."
"Tired?" Kurt asked. "Let me guess, all that extra homework keeping you up at night like the rest of us?"
"Yeah it's great that we'll be able to graduate at the end of the year together and all but all the class work they're giving us really bites," Kitty groaned.
"Says the genius," Rogue rolled her eyes. Xavier had made arrangements for the three of them to pass the state requirements for a high school diploma along with Peter and Remy.
"Just think though," Kitty said. "We'd be the first actual graduating 'class' of the Xavier Institute. That's pretty cool."
"Yeah, thrilling," Remy grumbled.
"Oh quit your bellyaching Swamp Rat," Rogue told him. "It will do you good to get an actual diploma the way most folks get it rather than forge one."
Three teens entered into the room. "Everyone I'd like you to meet our new students here at the Institute," Xavier said. "This is Tim Fitzgerald, codename: Skullfire. He can retain and release any type of energy," Xavier introduced a tall 17 year old who had shaggy auburn hair, glowing white skin with black circles around his white eyes. He was wearing a white T-shirt, torn jeans, fingerless gloves and a black leather jacket.
"Hey," Kurt waved. "Welcome to the Institute. Glad you decided to join the X-Men."
"Well it was either this or jail," Tim grumbled. He was clearly not happy to be there.
"O-kay…" Kurt blinked.
"Everett Thomas, Synch," Xavier introduced a familiar looking young black teen.
"Wait a minute…" Kitty stared at him. "Didn't he die in the Purist attack on the Massachusetts Academy?"
"Yeah I could have sworn he disintegrated right before our eyes!" Rogue blinked.
"That was my twin brother, Emerson," Everett explained. "I thought only he had mutant powers until the attack. So…I decided since my powers were the same as my brother's, my name should be the same too."
"Wow," Kitty blinked. "Hold it, you have the exact same powers as him? Is that possible?
"It's extremely rare for two mutants to have the exact same powers," Hank said. "Even if they are siblings. But it can happen. Of course with all these new mutations popping up the chances of new mutants having similar or the exact same powers as we do has increased dramatically."
"You…saw my brother die?" Everett asked.
"The nanites," Rogue said softly. "We couldn't get to him in time. It wasn't pretty."
"Yeah well," Everett sighed. "I decided to give the X-Men a try and see how that went. Kind of different than my brother's path you know? Still a hell of a way to go though."
"Well death is a bit of an interesting trip," A young woman with sickly green skin and short black hair spoke up. "I should know." Her eyes were mostly white with a red retina. Her clothes were rags and torn but she didn't seem very concerned about that. She was oddly defiant about what she wore.
"Like what happened to you?" Kitty blinked.
"What didn't happen to me?" She grinned back. "Sorry I'm a bit of a mess. Just literally dug myself up a few hours ago."
"Everyone this is…Uh…" Xavier seemed at a loss for a moment.
"Call me Dead Girl," She said. "Because that's basically what I am. My mutation showed up after I was murdered."
"After?" Bobby blinked. "You mean you're…"
"Dead, yes," Dead Girl said. "Hence the name, 'Dead Girl'."
"What do you mean dead?" Kitty looked at her. "You're standing right here talking to us."
"I'm also dead," Dead Girl told her. "Dead as in deceased. Passed on, no more, medically ceased to be, I've expired but I haven't gone to meet my maker. If I weren't here I'd be pushing up the daisies. I've rung down the curtain and joined the choir not so invisible. I am an ex-person! Any more Monty Python quotes I need to mangle before you believe me?"
"But she's not really dead is she?" Bobby asked.
"And people think corpses are hard to reason with," Dead Girl moaned.
"Let me explain," Hank waved his arm.
"Please don't or we'd never get it," Sam moaned.
"She not only has the ability to rebuild her body's molecular structure," Hank explained. "She can animate it even though her body's functions, well…no longer really function."
"I can also communicate with the dead, who by the way are a lot smarter than you would think they would be," Dead Girl said. "Then again they do have an advantage. I mean they're privy to a lot more information and know more about what kind of goes on in the universe than the living do. Trust me, you could be the smartest guy on the planet and you wouldn't know half the things the most clueless dead guy knows."
"I still don't get it," Bobby said.
"She's a zombie stupid!" Jamie groaned. "Sheesh! How hard is that to understand?"
"I prefer the term Living Impaired American," Dead Girl grinned. "But it's close enough."
"I still don't get how she can be dead yet talk to us at the same time," Paige said.
"Fine let me show you," Dead Girl sighed. "You with the shades, Cyclops is it? Could you do me a favor and blast a hole through me?"
"WHAT?" Scott shouted. "But I could…"
"Kill me?" Dead Girl looked at him. "Hello? I've just explained twelve times that I'm already dead! Just shoot me okay?"
"It's all right Scott," Xavier nodded. "Go ahead."
"Come on," Dead Girl moved back and let everyone else move away. "Hit me with your best shot!"
"I dunno, I don't want to hurt you," Scott hesitated.
"You're not! Just shoot me already," Dead Girl told him. "I want you to blast me as hard as you can!"
"Are you sure…?" Scott asked.
"YES!" Dead Girl shouted.
"Oh for crying out loud!" Tim groaned and shot out an energy beam straight at her midsection with his hands. "I'LL DO IT!"
"No!" Scott shouted as the beam went right through Dead Girl, tearing a hole right through her. "ARE YOU CRAZY YOU…"
Everyone stared as the hole fixed itself immediately. "There. Good as new," She said. "Now do you believe me or do I have to cut my head off for you to get it?"
"Gross…" Jubilee gagged.
"That is totally creepy…" Kitty cringed.
"I think its cool," Jamie said excitedly. "Can I try?"
"NO!" All the other X-Men shouted at him.
"That…didn't hurt?" Rina started at her.
"Well I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a little uncomfortable but it's not as painful as it looks," Dead Girl said. "In a nutshell, my powers keep me alive even though my body isn't."
"Yes, well now that that's settled, finally…" Xavier noticed someone was missing. "Where…?"
"She's hiding in the back," Tim pointed with his thumb. Someone was hiding in the back room. "And people think I'm not very sociable."
"It's all right Penny, come on out now," Xavier said soothingly. Timidly an eight-year-old girl with pink skin, completely blue eyes and wild pink hair poked her head out. As she ventured into the room on all fours they could see she was wearing a black X-Man spandex outfit with black boots and her little hands had very sharp pink claws on them.
"This is…Penance, Penny for short," Xavier said. "Storm picked her up this morning. She's unable to speak but her body has a super dense molecular structure that is nearly invulnerable. And her claws are sharp enough to cut through stone."
"She's a little shy around people," Everett explained. "Poor kid. Must have been through a lot on the streets."
Penny blinked at them and remained in an apprehensive crouch. She moved over and hid behind Xavier's chair, peeking her head out. "Aww, poor thing," Kitty went down to her level. "She's scared. Hi there. Don't be afraid." She reached out to touch her shoulder. However a stray hair of hers brushed up against Kitty's hand. "OWW!"
"Yes," Xavier winced. "I forgot to mention that her hair seems to have the same properties as her claws as well."
"Now you tell me!" Kitty looked at her hand. "It's just a scratch but it's bleeding!"
Penny made worried sounds. Everett calmly walked over to her and patted her on the head. "It's okay Penny, you didn't mean to hurt her."
"How come you can touch her?" Tim asked.
"I'm able to copy another mutant's powers when I'm near them. You know, get 'in synch' with them, remember?" Everett said. "Since my body copies her density, she can't hurt me."
"Hey, Professor you said we were gonna get five new recruits. Who's missing?" Paige asked.
"Miss Elizabeth Braddock," Xavier told her. "She's arriving on a private plane from England."
"Oh yeah," Kurt nodded. "I remember her twin brother, Captain Britain saying something about her having trouble with her powers."
"Why don't all of you get to know each other?" Xavier suggested. No one from either side moved. "Don't all jump in at once."
"So Skullfire," Bobby called out. "What'd you do to get tossed in the slammer?"
"Blew up a couple of cop cars," Tim said casually. "Why what'd you do? I mean I can't picture anybody coming to this place voluntarily!"
"I did," Everett pointed out.
"Why?" Tim asked. "Seriously, why?"
"Because quite frankly I never really liked that woman from the Massachusetts Academy my brother associated with," Everett huffed. "That Frost woman gives me the creeps."
"Well at least the guy has good taste," Roberto shrugged. "OW!"
"Penny! Don't eat his jeans!" Ororo said. "At least while Roberto's still wearing them."
"I think she's after my Skittles," Roberto grumbled.
"Isn't everyone?" Tabitha smirked.
"Man have we got a fun new group," Logan groaned to Xavier. "A semi psychotic jailbird, a zombie, a mute pink living knife and…" He thought. "Actually that Synch seems to be the most normal of the lot. Hell, he's more normal than the students we already have!"
"Now you see why I need you here," Xavier told him.
"Yeah, thanks a lot Charles," Logan grumbled.
"Hey, when do we get to blow something up?" Tim asked. "I'm getting bored here."
"You just blew up your team mate not even five minutes ago!" Scott snapped.
"Yeah, so?" Tim asked.
"And you thought Thunderbird was a pain in the butt, huh?" Bobby gave Scott a look.
"At least I don't smell," Tim glared at Dead Girl.
"Give me a break, there aren't exactly any plumbing facilities in a graveyard you know?" Dead Girl told her. "Blame the guy who put me there."
"Do you…Remember…?" Kitty asked tentatively.
"How I got eighty sixed? Yeah kind of," Dead Girl said. "The only reason the spirits helped me find the guy who killed me is because I made such a racket. So they helped me out even if only to beat up the jerk when he crossed over for sticking them with me!"
"What do you mean 'crossed over'?" Sam asked. "Crossed over what?"
"The bridge to Candyland, what do you think I mean?" Dead Girl gave him a look.
"I thought there was something about you that reminded me of myself," Rina nodded.
"You didn't…" Scott's jaw dropped.
"Body made a nice mattress," Dead Girl grinned. "Made the grave nice and comfy."
"You're kidding right?" Scott gasped. "Tell me you are kidding!"
"Uh, no she's not…" Logan felt a headache coming on. "Trust me on this."
"Whoa…" Tim grinned. "Now that's my kind of girl!"
"I don't know who's sicker!" Scott gasped. "You or her!"
"Professor…" Kurt gasped. "Didn't we just go through this with Evan?"
"Relax Blue," Dead Girl waved her hand. "In the first place I only killed the man who killed me. Second I wasn't exactly his first victim but I made sure was his last. Besides, haven't I suffered enough? I mean hello! I am dead! What more can be done to me?"
"She's…kind of got a point there," Logan shrugged.
"This is a bit of a gray area, I admit," Xavier sighed. "However considering the circumstances…I think it would be beneficial for Dead Girl if we just let her past alone."
"Yeah what do you guys want to do?" Tim asked. "Call up the cops and let them know a zombie bumped off a mass murderer? Yeah, that'll work!"
"Half the cops in this town already think we're nuts," Tabitha said. "This will just confirm it to the other half!"
"Well…" Scott felt uneasy.
"I'll try not to make a habit out of it," Dead Girl said. "No more killing. I'll be a good little zombie. Cross my heart and hope to…Well, you know what I mean."
"This place gets weirder every day," Rogue moaned. The doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Rogue went to answer the door. She opened it and got the shock of her life.
"It can't be!" Rogue gasped. "Not you!"
"Excuse me?" The young Englishwoman looked at her. "I don't think we've ever met. I'm Betsy Braddock."
True her hair was slightly longer and she was wearing a black pantsuit but there was no denying who she was. Or rather, who she looked like. From her purple hair right down to the double piercing on her ears.
It was the face of Risty Wilde.
Next: Rogue's life is gonna get even more complicated as the mansion gets more crowded!