Chapter Ten:

Around nine o'clock, the unexpectedly large group of guests and the two hosts headed out for a night on the town. The mood was pleasant and fairly boisterous considering how close a few of the guests had come to attacking each other earlier in the evening. Fortunately, the situation had calmed, though no one could really say anything had been resolved. For now, two automobiles carried the guests peacefully into the heart of New York City.

Toad was sitting in the front passenger seat of Rebecca's blue sedan and was scowling uncomfortably. He was all too accustomed to being the driver of vehicles when he was traveling or on a mission for Magneto. However, it did give him time to study the electronic list he was carrying before they reached their destination. And, he was grateful not to be stuck in Pyro's place right now...even though Pyro seemed to be having the time of his life.

The group had divided itself easily between the two cars. Mystique had not hesitated in choosing the vehicle Sid was driving, which also would be transporting Remy and Mary. Toad figured she wanted to keep a close eye on the mutants from Xavier's school, though she probably would be more hesitant to start an argument without back up from her teammate.

So, that left Toad and Pyro to fend for themselves with the three other females. Since Rebecca was driving, Pyro was stuck riding bitch between one angry witch and one hormonal vampire. He had a ridiculous grin on his face as the two attractive young women bickered back and forth, occasionally tugging on his jacket or his arm as they called out for his opinion on their argument.

"That's not true..." Harmony said, drawing out the last word for emphasis, "Just because they say hell dimensions are full of fire doesn't mean people like John or Becca are part demon..."

Nancy glared at the blonde vampire and grinned, "I'm not saying they're part demon. I'm simply saying that in the past their ancestors must have had some unnatural influence on them that created their power over fire."

Harmony blew exasperated air through her lips, "No. You're so wrong. I know about being a demon...trust me...and John is not part demon..."

Nancy sighed, "I didn't say he was. I'm just saying there a little demonic influence in his past," Then Nancy grinned wickedly, "Take the bitch driving right now...she's got an evil streak."

"Agreed," the driver chimed in amicably and then glanced over at Toad and whispered, "There're muzzles in the glove box if we need 'em."

Toad smirked, "How about ear plugs?"

Rebecca chuckled and noticed he was staring intently at a small handheld computer.

"What's that?" she asked curiously. Toad considered stowing the device away quickly, but instead continued to read the list of names and powers. He did not look over at her as he replied.

"Magneto wants a report about this mission," he offered in partial truth, "He wants to know what sort of mutants Pyro's been meetin'."

"Taking notes?" Rebecca asked with a grin, and then glanced at him again, "Well, don't count Harm and Nancy. Neither of them are mutants."

Toad's jerked his head to the left and frowned with surprise.

"They're not?" he asked sharply and Rebecca shook her head.

"Nope," she replied, noticing his tone but keeping her own conversational, "Harmony was just an average high school chick when she was brought across. At least, she never told me she had any powers before hand. Mutants lose their gifts once the change to vampire is complete, and I'm sure Harm would've complained about it if she had..."

Rebecca shrugged and took a breath before continuing. Toad was staring straight ahead as she spoke, absorbing her revelation. He had just assumed anyone who was friends with the twins had to be mutants because...well, the twins were mutants. The idea of associating with normal humans never occurred to him and he felt disconcerted...almost deceived...by the fact that the two young women in the back seat were, or had been, only human. He wondered what Magneto would think about his Brotherhood taking company with the enemy...

"Nancy, on the other hand," Rebecca finally said, "She's a different story. When Harm said she was a witch, that was the truth. Nancy is a witch in every practicing sense. She began dabbling when she was young and she was...unprepared for the consequences. She's been through a lot and worked very hard to control the powers she has gained..."

"Gained?" Toad asked darkly, "Wha'd'you mean gained?"

Rebecca frowned and glanced at him again. His sudden changes in mood continued to catch her off guard, and the anger in his voice was scathing.

"Dabbling usually has bad effects on people," Rebecca answered, "People can get lost in the magics if their not careful..."

Toad was shaking his head, and glanced down at the small computer again before he let out a soft, irate, slightly unstable laugh.

"Humans...who wan'to be mutants..." he muttered to himself.

"No quite..." Rebecca replied with a soft frown, "I'm sorry if you didn't realize...there was no way you would've know they weren't mutants."

Toad did not reply. He stared down at the scrolling names on the screen and noticed one mutant's code name was 'Scarlet Witch.' He frowned and wondered if that witch was truly a mutant...or just another human trying to be one.

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Sid's car was keeping pace with Rebecca's as they drove through the city. He and Remy were in the front seats, comparing notes on the fine art of 'wenching' and discussing various female conquests each had made over the years...keeping their dialogue appropriate, of course, in consideration of the ladies riding with them.

Mystique kept a pleasant smile on her face, quietly amused by how innocently smug the two men seemed to be, though her eyes stayed sharp and wary of the other passengers.

Mary was seated next to her, and kept glancing at the blue mutant. Mystique mistook her expression for anxiety, but Mary was really just trying to decide whether or not to ask the other woman the question that was nagging in her mind. Mary's power did that sometimes; she would not have a real vision, but just a lingering feeling that there was something very important she did not know or understand yet. Every since her first encounter with Mystique, the impression of Kurt kept jumping into Mary's mind, and she was beginning to doubt it was solely due to the lady's outer resemblance to him.

"Afraid I'm going to start a war before we get there, my dear?" Mystique finally asked in a low voice, and turned her head to look at the girl complacent smile, "Don't worry. As long as you two don't call the rest of the X-Men here and don't interrupt our dealings with the Malloy family, you won't have any trouble tonight."

"I'm not one of the X-Men," Mary said firmly, "I went to the Professor for help with my power. And I know he was in support of Pyro training with Rebecca..."

"His support is unnecessary and unwanted," Mystique replied without losing her agreeable tone, "Xavier had warped the boy's perceptions enough before he came to the Brotherhood."

Mary repressed her own angry retort, and decided to test her theory about the blue woman directly.

"Kurt is doing well there," she said simply, not surprised at all as Mystique's arrogant expression cracked with shock. It was quickly replaced, however, by utter fury.

"I don't know what you're talking about..." she replied harshly, but not convincingly.

Mary sighed and looked apologetic, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just thought you would want to know."

"How did you know?" Mystique asked sharply, "Xavier would never..."

"No," Mary interrupted, "He wouldn't. He'd never tell a new student anything too personal about anyone else in his care. And, as far as I know, Kurt doesn't know. That's what my power is...seeing things other people can't. When I passed you in the Malloys' home, I just got the sudden impression of him in my head and..."

"Stop," Mystique said quietly, her features softening with regret, and her eyes looking tired, "Please...stop..."

"I'm sorry," Mary repeated, "I just thought it was fair to tell you. But, trust me when I say your secret is safe with me. Even from Xavier..."

"Can you keep things like that from him?" Mystique asked, glancing over at the girl, who shrugged.

"I don't know," Mary admitted, "But...Kurt's curious about you though. About both of his parents...where he came from. He wants to know."

Mystique glared at her, "Is that what you think? He would want to know me, who I am. I'm his enemy. Would he want to know his mother is his enemy?"

"Kurt has no enemies," Mary said firmly, and the conviction in her voice was resolute. Mystique did not reply, but watched Mary for another moment before turning to look straight ahead again.

Sid and Remy had not noticed their conversation, and were talking merrily as Sid pulled the car into a hidden parking garage. Mary wondered uncertainly if she should have reveled her knowledge of Kurt's origins to his mother, but it suddenly felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her chest, and Mary took that as a sign she had done the right thing.

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As the pair of cars, along with many others, gathered in the private garage of the Muddy Duck nightclub, dozens of gleeful and menacing eyes watched them from one dark alley.

King Relish had his hands on his hips as he stared up as the neon sign, as the words 'night' and 'club' blinked on and off enticingly. The other trolls were fascinated by the lights and the pounding beat echoing from the stone building.

"Night...club..." Relish said with a large grin.

"I love ducks!" Blue Bell exclaimed in anticipation, "Even raw! With feathers!"

Relish and the other trolls rumbled in laughter as they watch their victims file into the club's front doors. There were two large men at the entrance, allowing some people in and turning others away. Relish frowned deeply and ground his teeth in thought.

"Guards..." he mumbled unhappily, "I should have know..."

"What do we do now, dad?" Blabberwort asked loudly, and Relish glared at her.

"Quiet..." he said and then turned back toward the neon lights, "We'll wait for the crowd to enter... then...we attack..."

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Author's note: Since the next few chapters have to do with music from the late 70s/early 80s, I dedicate the next few chapters to funk master Rick James. R.I.P.