Emma stirred slowly and took a long look around her apartment. I'll have to go soon.

She had allowed herself to sleep in and enjoy her last day in this life.

I can't face Illyana in combat at this point. If they've agreed to let her challenge me then I need to be on the move. I can't let our fight destroy my future as well as my present.

She sat, wallowing in self-pity for a long moment.

Then the phone rang.

She reached over and answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Emma." Sebastian began. "Have you seen or heard from Illyana since last night?"

"I… no. I haven't." She said. "What's happened?"

"She's vanished." He said softly. "And we thought YOU might know something about it."

She laughed. I wish. "No Sebastian. It wasn't me."

"Then I'm afraid it may have been Wagner. He appears to be flexing his muscle."

"If he's responsible." She reasoned.

"Emma…" He hesitated. "You have seen a television today, haven't you?"

"No." She said. "I haven't."

"Perhaps you should consider it. There have been certain advertisements that may interest you. The program itself starts in one half hour."

"The program?" She asked hesitantly.

"Yes. It seems that Mister Wagner is coming out of the closet so to speak. He has given an interview."

And Emma swallowed. "I'm on it."

She hung up the phone and grabbed the remote. The television burst on to reveal Lucy's smiling face as she sat on the steps of the lighthouse.

"What can you tell us about the Mystery Mutant?" The reporter asked.

"… I live with him." She smiled.

And the scene was interrupted by a sound effect and voice over. "Tune in to discover what this young woman has to say that will forever alter your view of the world! Coming up next!"

Emma flipped the channel. It was a live talk show.

"Now…" The man said to his perky blonde partner. "Have you seen the ad's that channel twelve is running?"

"I have Dennis!" She smiled wide. "And did I hear right that they're claiming that they've uncovered a government conspiracy?"

"That's right Kathy and, God Bless him! The Mystery Mutant who saved that missing girl earlier this week – Seems to be at the heart of it."

"Well, how could that be?" Kathy asked in a mockingly simple tone.

Dennis laughed. "Well, we've got a clip that Channel Twelve sent over. They're promoting the story – which is set to air in just a little bit. And based on this clip – our station manager has decided to go live to Channel Twelve's feed when they break the story."

Dennis looked at the studio audience. "Do you all want to see the clip?"

The audience went wild.

"Roll it!" Kathy yelled and Dennis eyed her like he had wanted to say that.

The clip appeared on the screen.

It was the young girl falling from the building in slow motion.

"What can you tell us about the Mystery Mutant?" The reporter's voice was dramatically superimposed on the scene as the young girl flailed her arms and screamed silently in the distance.

"You mean Kurt Wagner." Lucy's voice answered.

"The New Mutant Advisor? What's he got to do with the Mystery Mutant?"

The young girls wild eyes seem to plead in to the camera.

"They're the same person." Lucy's voice was light, airy and carefree.

And Kurt suddenly appeared . His form streaked out in to the night like a beam of light through the darkness.

"He used to wear a disguise to fit in."

He reached out in agonizing slow motion towards the terrified girl.

"What can you tell us about the charges that he's a womanizer and a cretin?"

He snatched the girl from the air and the audience heaved a great sigh of relief.

"I think…" Lucy's voice was still happy and upbeat as Kurt swung himself and the girl to safety.

"I'd like to meet the woman who said that." Lucy finished.

And the scene cut to Lucy sitting on the stairs of the lighthouse.

"Because she's a liar." Her face was calm, strong and genuine. No one could argue with her expression and the scene froze on that image as her voice continued.

"Kurt's not like that."

"I know."

"I live with him."

And the scene slowly faded to black.

"Hello dere " A voice said, the screen coming back in to focus on a close up of the Mystery Mutant's face.

"I'm Kurt Wagner." He smiled sheepishly and shot the camera an intensely intimate glance. "I'm the new Mutant Advisor."

And the scene froze on his undisguised face and he too slowly faded to black.

They cut back to Dennis and Kathy.

"WOW!" Dennis exclaimed. "WOW, WOW, WOW!"

"And so, what we've heard about the Mutant Advisor…" Kelly began.

"Lies." Dennis added. "It appears that there was a conspiracy afoot, we don't know exactly what kind yet, but they were looking to discredit the new Mutant Advisor and we're told that the charge he's leveling against his attackers is treason!"

"Wow." Kathy added. "That is something."

"And you know what?" Dennis asked her.

"What?" She replied.

"I believe that little girl."

"Oh, I know!" Kathy gushed. "The look in her eyes!"

"I believe her! I work in television, I pretend to like Kathy every day folks, So, you know I know all about acting, and I think she was telling the truth!"

Emma flipped off the set.

Damn! She thought. What's happening?

Back in Bayville Xavier sat speechless, staring at the television.

Scott's eyes went wide. "Oh my god."

Beast began laughing hysterically in amazement and disbelief.

"JEAN!" Scott called. "Everyone!"

Xavier began turning up the volume over Scott.

"Scott." Xavier licked his lips. "Alert everyone. The program starts in twenty minutes."

"Students and instructors?" Scott asked.

"Yes." Xavier swallowed, half terrified, half excited. "And hurry."

Beast shook his head and began walking away.

"Where are you going?" Xavier asked.

"I'm going to make the popcorn." He said.

Xavier looked stunned. "Oh… Just … right … Carry on… then… I guess."

Then Xavier whimpered slightly and looked back at the TV.

And Beast chuckled himself to the kitchen.