Fourth Chapter, and the second I've written while has me on their naughty list. Oh well. Before we get started I would like to say from the 3rd of March to the 13th I'll be off on vacation, so no updates during that time. Other than that, enjoy.

When ignorant that the army should not advance, to order an advance or ignorant that it should not retire, to order a retirement. This is described as 'hobbling the army'.

-Sun Tzu, The Art of War

James' first shower in six months had cleansed him all the grime, dirt, mud and assorted things that had caked his body and hair. It felt refreshing to be so clean after living in a most filthy environment. His once messy brown hair now fell straight behind his back, reaching just past his shoulders. Stepping out of the shower he grabbed the nearby towel and began to dry himself off. Once satisfied he placed the towel in the wash bin and opened the medicine cabinet until he found a small container of dental floss.

Breaking a length of the white string and setting the rest back he used the floss to tie back his hair into a ponytail, ensuring it wouldn't cascade around his face for the time being. Then he looked through the clothing he was given, placing the boxers on first, followed by blue jeans that were a size too big for him, that was corrected by the belt that was with his clothes. Next came a simple light grey t-shirt that he pulled onto his body. White socks and an old but comfortable pair of shoes followed. Lastly he picked up his necklace, which was hidden under his sweater back on the streets to keep people from trying to steal it, from beside the sink and hung it around his neck. He thumbed the jewel in the centre lightly. His mother had given it to him, the jewel set in an eight-pointed star looking like a little compass. His mother had said it was a Celtic design. "When your feeling lost or afraid just remember, you can find your way." It was something he had taken to heart.

He closed the still open medicine cabinet, using his hand to clear steam off of the mirror and pausing to look at himself. He knew he had lost weight that was to be expected. But to him it looked as if his own face had changing. He had always looked very boyish, and still did; yet there was an underlying maturity in his face now. No doubt from living in among the poorest conditions Halifax had to offer.

He shook his head of those thoughts for the time being. Instead he opened the door to the bathroom and stepped out into the hall. He peered around and saw the red-haired woman from earlier, Jean. She smiled warmly and walked up to him. "Hey there, Scott managed to get your room set up. Come on, I'll show it to you."

As she led him down to the male wing he couldn't help but stare at everything around him. The carpet, portraits and art, the mansion had dozens of pieces of arts of all kinds. It was a little overwhelming for someone who spent half a year staring at a half ripped and faded World War Two poster.

In an alley inside the roughest part of New York a gang of six men charged a young woman. At first their intent was to rob and perhaps... peruse a little fun.

After two of their number was unconscious after the girl pointed her palms to their chests of her attackers and sent ripples of air at them the would-be-rapist turned into a mutant-lynching mob.

The green hair girl hadn't waited for the four remaining targets to recover from their shock though, knocking out another two soon after. The remaining two charged, the girl sending yet another two air blasts out. The first man was merely clipped and fell to the ground, slowly getting back to his feet. The second had evaded her blast and swung a clumsy fist at her head. In response she ducked trusting her palm into the man's gut. Her opponent's abdomen, however, sported a solid six-pack and he shrugged the attack off without effort.

The same could not be said for the point blank blast of compressed air that was slammed into his gut, causing them both to scream in pain and launching him a solid four feet off the ground before he fell to the ground unmoving. The close range blast wasn't without a cost however, the back-blast of her attack went through her arm sending pain from fingertips to her shoulder blade and had enough force to make her turn around. She fell to her knees, clutching her sore arm to her. It wasn't the first time she used such a painful assault since her powers formed and she was sure it wouldn't be the last, but it still hurt. She rubbed her arm trying to ease the soreness from it as she silently basked in the glory of victory.

It was quite short lived as the not-quite-unconscious man grabbed her from behind, lifting them both up to a standing position as his arm squeezed her throat, cutting her air supply. She gasped for breath as she kicked her legs behind her, trying to hurt the man enough to force him to realise her but with no purchase and her air fading fast she wasn't able to do it. So she reached back behind herself with her already battered arm until her hand griped the man's crotch. The man's face took on a shocked looked at first.

Then half of Brooklyn listed to two simultaneous screams. One from the girl whose arm was forced to endure most of the back-blast of a second air attack, her buttocks and lower back taking the rest of the force.

The second was much louder as the man dropped to the ground, squirming around wildly while clutching his destroyed family jewels. Gasping and limping the girl cradled her arm and decided that she had won and it would be a good idea to leave before someone else came looking for a scrap.

She didn't think she could pull another one out of her hat today.

Envee Waterman rubbed her sore shoulder again as she stepped into her apartment, locking the door behind her. The place was a few steps above a dump. It was cold in the winter, hot in the summer, and had ten holes in the shower-stall that she knew someone had peeked through so she taped over them. She guessed the perverted landlord probably had other ways to peep on her but no need to make it easy.

She stripped her halter top off followed by shoes and sweatpants and tossed them carelessly away. Socks, a bra and her panties followed them as she stepped into the bathroom, quickly turning the water on for a shower. She paused to look at the old mirror and at her nude form.

Envee was of African American decent with green hair that reached down just an inch over her shoulders. Her formerly brown, now green, eyes hinted at the hardships she had gone through. Her body was a curvy 5'8 with a generous bust on her seventeen-year-old frame. The only mark on her body was a slight bruise on her shoulder that never fully healed, although it had faded somewhat. Regardless, she was a hottie and knew it as well and didn't mind flaunting it if she wanted something. That combined with her waitressing job meant she was able to afford to eat and pay rent.

Still she hated her landlord and the way he leered at her. One of these days...

She stepped into the shower, one part to help ease the pain from her arm, one part to get rid of the smell of the man who grabbed her. The water was warm enough as it cascaded down her hair, sliding down her breasts and flat stomach. They continued down, caressing her body, going over her hips, down her legs and feet then down into the drain.

After a few minutes she was satisfied and turned the water off, stepping from the shower. She snared a towel from the hanger, quickly drying herself off as she walked into the main room. She tossed the towel away before collapsing nude on the couch. She turned her head to the old TV and thought of turning it on. Then she saw her.

A dark blue skinned woman with crimson hair and golden eyes. The woman smiled at her, but in the same manner a crooked lawyer would to a jury. "My, my, such a nice figure."

Envee's eyes narrowed as she stood up, ignoring her nude state. "Yeah? And what's it to you? And what the hell are you doing here bitch?" She flexed her hands, reading her one good arm for an attack if need be against the strange woman.

"Don't worry dear. I just wondered if we could... have a little talk."

"Wow... this is... is..."

"Don't worry James, I know. I was once new here too." Jean smiled as the young teen looked into the room, looking over the plush bed, soft carpets, light blue walls and oak dresser. The balcony gave an excellent view of the back yard and he could see the pool and forest from it.

"And this is... my room?"

"It is. You don't have a roommate at the moment, although that might change. Anyway, I'll let you get settled in." Jean waved as she closed the door, leaving James in the room by himself. After a moment he saw a boom box on the dresser. He walked up to it and turned it on and after a moment of searching he was rewarded with the local classic rock radio station. He then leapt onto the bed, sighing at the comfort of it, closing his eyes as the sounds of AC/DC filled the room.

"OK lady, let me get this straight. You want me to live in a house full of mutant guys, who'll probably get into fights with other mutant guys, and other than that all I really needed to do is go to school?" This 'Mystique' had to be pulling her leg right? She was offering food, board and fights? And she could go to school and get into more fights there?

Damn she was in heaven!

"Yes. You do answer to me, and Lance when you're in a fight, but other than that you have almost no limits."

"Shit! I am down with that! Gimmie a bit to pack... and to take care of something I've been waiting to do!"

Envee quickly slipped on a thong and bra even with the other woman in the room. Hey, she wasn't there to peek, offered her a cool deal and was going to send her into fights!

Envee loved a good scrap, her adrenaline flowed through, her mind turned razor sharp, it's what she lived for!

Mystique smirked as she watched the girl get dressed. The girl would be a wonderful pawn under her control to use against Xavier and later her... ally Magneto.

She didn't like him. He didn't trust her. That didn't mean they were unable to work together however, if it was to bring down the X-Men. Combined her Brotherhood and his Acolytes had the combined ability to defeat the X-Men.

Her only problem was that she knew Magneto had something planned. Something big. At the moment she was unsure if there was a point where she could take control from Magneto or if she would be better off riding his tailcoats.

For now she was willing to pitch her chips in with the Master of Magnetism. If only to see what he had planned.

"There. Done packin'." The now dressed Envee said wearing jeans and the tightest tank top that she could shoehorn herself into. She held a duffle bag out to Mystique. "Ya mind holdin' this for a bit, I got one last thing to do."

The landlord smiled as his new toy arrived. A small camera that he could place inside that Waterman girl's apartment. Sure she was probably a mutie, but with an ass like that why should he care. As the girl of his thoughts came down the stairs he hid his device. He smiled as she walked up to him. "Ms. Waterman, what can I..." He was cut off as she made a swift move.

Her foot swiftly kicking his crotch.

As he fell over clutching his injured reproductive organ Mystique stepped down to ground level with Envee's bag, shape shifting herself into a blonde haired teenager. "Nice kick."

"Thanks. Now let's shimmy on outta here." And together they left the landlord still grasping his injured male pride.