Chapter Thirteen:

As the music began, everyone in the club fell into a strange silence.

The opening chords were slow and melodic, as if lulling the audience into a captive trance. Then, there was a deep rumble as the bass guitar began to challenge the lead's calm pace. The amps shuttered but not entirely because of the music. As the song continued, they audience began to clap and scream as the very ground beneath their feet seemed to move. The lyrics would have been lost over the crowds cries had most of the people not been singing along.

As they band played, the cycle continued through each song on their set list. The melody...the rumble of the base...the haunting lyrics that everyone instinctively seemed to know.

Only one figure in the club remained completely silent as the sounds filled the air around him.

Toad crouched in one dark corner away from the crowd, though caught his concentration constantly slipping from the small computer in his hands to the controlled chaos around him. He frowned and read the names and descriptions on the screen over and over again, trying to spot any familiar traits in those who passed him. But then the music would draw him in again, and he would catch himself nodding rhythmically to the beat.

Even though he did not express himself with the same wild shrieks and applause as the rest of the spectators, he was surprised to find that he was actually enjoying what he was hearing. It certainly matched Pyro's taste, he decided, grinning slightly as he remembered the boy's first scolding by Mystique about blasting the noise through the Island. Fortunately, the kid had the Lady Deathstrike as a supplier, since she knew how effectively the promise of music motivated Pyro to complete tasks.

Toad had never really thought much about music, both during his harsh childhood and his time with Magneto. It had always been just something that was either there or not...like the tapping of rain or the constant hums from the Island's machinery. But it was different, sitting here listening to the sounds live rather than a recording. There was a passion behind it, or an anger, whatever the song was about at the time.

After a while, Toad finally admitted to himself that he would not be able to do a proper search with all the noise around him and he put the small computer back into the depths of his jacket. He did not admit to himself that he had begun tapping his fingers to the rhythmic percussion. He leapt to his feet and went in search of the others.

He also did not notice a pair of cold eyes watching him from the bar. Mostly because the owner of those eyes was not her typical blue-skinned self.

Mystique had kept careful track of everyone in their little entourage. Most of them were gathered in the private booth to her left, while Sid Malloy and Remy LeBeau busied themselves by catching willing young ladies and coaxing them onto the dance floor. It had taken her a little longer to spot Toad in the shadows, but it came as no surprise to her that he had immediately hidden himself. He was being as watchful of the situation as she was.

However, when a strange, soft glow had shone against his green face, Mystique and shifted her entire attention to him. She wondered what he was staring at over there in the privacy of his lonely hiding spot. It could not have been a cell phone or a Palm Pilot or any nonsense like that. The Brotherhood had their own communication devices to stay in contact with each other, and Toad had no reason to keep a personal organizer or address book. Yet, as she watched him, she found curiosity nagging at her. If Magneto had given Toad some other instruction for this mission, he would have told her. Their leader kept nothing from Mystique...

But what if he did? It had been a question she had been asking herself ever since this foolishness with the Malloy family began. With so many young mutants appearing everyday (she had picked out several in the crowd herself tonight), then why was Erik so insistent on finding older powerful mutants, who may prove more of a threat than allies.

Mystique continued to watch her teammate carefully, until Toad finally got to his feet and walked toward the Malloys' private table. She had seen him tuck something into his pocket, and she narrowed her eyes suspiciously.


The band was wrapping up their set by the time Toad found his way to the private booth where Pyro and the others were sitting. They greeted him in loud voices so they could be heard above the music and he took the end seat next to Rebecca and the girl from Xavier's school who had introduced herself as Mary. Pyro, Harmony and Nancy were also still seated around the table and they all began to clap loudly as the band finished their last song, and announced that they needed a little breather.

Toad frowned as two members of the breaking musicians wandered over to the table and greeted the others with surprise.

"Hey, you guys made it," the shorter of the pair said, smiling appreciatively.

"Well, duh, Oz!" Harmony replied happily, "When Pyro told me you guys were playing here tonight, we had to come. After all, we're both from the same town so that almost makes us something..."

Oz nodded politely in return, taking note of the annoyed expression on Nancy's face as her friends chattered on.

"And what does that make me, babe?" the second musician asked with mock offense. He was taller than Oz, and several piece of his dark hair fell over his face. Before Harmony could reply to his question, Nancy offered her own explanation.

"The illegitimate love child of Ozzy Osborne and the San Andreas Fault," she spat, sneering up at the dark haired young man daringly.

"Nice to see you too, Nance," he replied with a grin, and then turned to Rebecca, "Saw your bro tearing up the crowd...tell him that's a great jacket..."

Rebecca laughed in appreciation of his sarcasm and nodded, "I know. It's so embarrassing. By the way, since I'm the only one playing proper host, let me introduce you guys to the others. Mary...Toad...meet Lance Alvers and Oz...um, just Oz."

"Cool..." Oz replied and nodded toward them, "Thanks for coming out. We'll catch you guys again after the show. We gotta get some hydration before the next set starts."

As Lance and Oz walked off toward the bar, Pyro leaned toward Toad and spoke in a low voice.

"He's a mutant," he said, "Lance's the one I was telling you guys about..."

Toad turned slightly so he could watch the two younger men as they walked away. Then, he finally spotted Mystique for the first time since arriving in the club. She had morphed, of course, into a very stunning, very normal looking woman, and he knew she would be watching the crowd closely for recruits.

"What about the other one?" Toad asked as he turned back to face the others.

"Well...Oz is different..." Rebecca replied hesitantly.

"Not a mutant?" Toad asked sharply, remembering the conversation they had in the car on their way to the club.

Rebecca shook her head, but it was Harmony who answered.

"No, he's a werewolf," she said in a matter-of-fact way that made the knowledge of Oz's condition seem commonplace.

However, Mary had been unfortunately sipping at her drink as the blonde vampire spoke, and began to sputter and cough at the revelation. Toad's reaction was a little less dramatic, but no less surprised.

"What?" he said simply, his heavy accent making the word come out like 'wot.'

Rebecca sighed heavily and gave Harmony an uncharacteristic glare, which was customarily ignored. Nancy, on the other hand, was chuckling merrily at her friend's lack of tact.

"Werewolf," Harmony repeated, and then frowned at everyone's strange reactions, "What? Like that's so weird?"

Rebecca sighed heavily and handed Mary and glass of water. After she was certain the other girl was breathing again, Rebecca decided to change the subject.

"So...have you gotten any new ideas about your vision?" she asked.

"Um...no..." Mary admitted, and then shrugged, "To be honest, I haven't really been thinking about it..."

Rebecca grinned, "That could be good, too. I mean you live at a school...I can't imagine how often you just get to go out and chill, right?"

Mary nodded, and then noticed Nancy looking at her with honest curiosity.

"What vision?" she asked before exhaling her last lung full of cigarette smoke.

"Well...it's kind of weird..." Mary began slowly, suddenly nervous with everyone listening to her strange story, but to her surprise, the gothic looking witch gave her an understanding smile.

"Don't worry, chick..." Nancy said with a grin, and held out her arms for emphasis as she spoke, "You are currently in the heart of weirdness. Tell me about your vision."

Mary gave Nancy and the others the condensed version of the dream she had before Professor Xavier sent her and Remy on this trip to New York City. She tried to be as descriptive as she could, from the creatures' appearance to the shoes to the disco music.

After she was finished, Nancy snuffed out her cigarette and said one word before lighting the next.

"Trolls."

"What?" Mary asked, repeating what seemed to be the question of the night.

"Trolls," Nancy repeated, "You just gave the Webster's definition."

"How do you know?" Rebecca asked incredulously, and Nancy scowled at her in annoyance.

"Everybody knows Trolls like disco!" Nancy answered back, angry at the ignorance of those around her.

Rebecca blinked, and glanced to her right at Toad.

"Did you know that?" she asked and then began to grin, earning another glare from her witchy friend, "Cause I didn't know that..."

Toad frowned deeply as he watched the young women discuss Mary's vision. He got the sudden and infuriating impression that this entire club experience was a set up just to play some kind of elaborate joke on people...specifically...him.

"Trolls?" Toad asked angrily, and then glanced at the others, "Werewolves? Vampires? I thought this place was for mutants not bloody Halloween."

"Um...nooo..." Harmony replied immediately, sounding utterly insulted, "That is so cliché!"

Then, her face lit up happily as the lights dimmed and Oz's band once again took the stage.

"Come on, Pyro," she said ducking under the table and taking him with her. They immerged on the other side and Pyro was helplessly drug to the dance floor.

Toad gaped at them for a moment before folding his arms and shaking his head. Rebecca leaned over and whispered loudly to him.

"Now you know why being attacked by the Sentinel never struck me as strange..." she said before calling the waitress for another round of shots.


Author's note: Troll action soon! I promise! Just had to make the introductions! P.S. – I was listening to Breaking Benjamin while I wrote this and I imagine Oz's band sorta sounds like them. But, seriously...keep the disco ready...