Disclaimer: Dude, I don't own the x-men. Do we really need to go over this again?

There have been a lot of random filler conversations lately, and I sincerely apologize for the lack of interesting plot development. It's coming soon, there's a bit in this chapter and loads more in the ones to come. Also, the dialogue is pretty crummy. I'm working on it. Bear with me.

It was another training session in the danger room for the rest of the X-men, but for their newest member, Caroline; it was her very first with the team. She was wearing the black and gold uniform she'd just been issued, like the one that Faerie wore. Shadowcat, Colossus, Wolverine, Vampira, Nightcrawler, Storm, and Rogue all wore their individual costumes. 'Guess I'll need a codename too.' "Ready guys?" Rachel was running the session from the control booth. Caroline nodded. The program was set to go easy on her, and she had instructions to freeze anything that came at her. She still didn't know the extent of her powers, but she had confidence in what she did know about them. The ice didn't hurt people, but wouldn't melt. The fire acted like normal fire, but was harder to control. It was all so confusing. She'd been in here before for two or three warm ups but this was her first time with the team. "Start it up Ray!" The guy with the claws winked at her. "Don't worry kid. Ya get used to it. Nobody's died in here before." Before Caroline could come up with a witty remark, the session started. She didn't have time to see how the others were doing; she was too busy dodging the things flying at her. Then her instincts kicked in. Not fighting instincts like the rest of them seemed to have. She just put up an ice shield. That left her two things to improve: fighting villains and snappy remarks to say while doing so. She was neither achieving her practice 'mission' nor impressing the others. But she was alive and more or less safe. That was good. Inside her un-meltable igloo, Caroline laughed.

So did the rest of the X-men, when the session was finished. At her. Caroline was trapped in her igloo and inexplicably couldn't melt it or summon fire to do so. It was pretty funny at first. After letting Caroline yell at them, or rather wave her arms at them since they couldn't hear her through the ice, Wolverine cut a hole for her to get out. Glaring, Caroline spat out "People, this is not funny. This stuff doesn't melt, and I can't control it!Sure, you can cut through it this time, but what about this?" Caroline raised her arm in front of her and an enormous ice block appeared, narrowly missing encasing Rogue. "This is dangerous! Hello, am I doomed to always be playing the adult in these kind of situations?" 'I'm totally freaking out on these people who just saved me from the foster care system. But how can they be so dense?!' The x-men looked at her in stunned and puzzled silence. Wasn't this girl supposed to be shy? A little while ago she'd been nervous about her first Danger Room session. Now she was a total spaz, though her reasons were actually sound. "I'm locking myself in my room until I can do something about this, because you guys obviously aren't." With that peculiar statement Caroline left the danger room. 'Why do so many bizarre scenes take place in this damned room?' Kitty wondered. Aside from the many, many villains and possessed friends who had previously used this room against them, for the classic "Brwahaha I'm going to kill the X-men in their own danger room!" there'd been the 'Driani is a really good fighter' episode, the 'Faerie points out that Logan and Driani are in love' event, and now the 'shy new member tells off senior teammates' incident. But then again, with the kind of weird life the X-men led, was it really that much of a surprise that the various team members acted strangely so often? The weather goddess looked thoughtful. "Hmm. She does sort of have a point. Anyone know how to train ice/fire mutants? What'd they do for people like Bobby and Pyro?" No one knew. "Perhaps we should call someone, like the Professor or Moria?" Kurt responded to Ororo's question. "Actually, we might want to look into finding a permanent doctor too. We've been lucky these past few months, but in our profession we have a tendency of getting severely injured on a regular basis. I can tend most minor problems, but any thing big would require more training than I've got." "Anybody in mind, 'crawler?" Wolverine seemed skeptic but Kurt continued. "There is a woman, Doctor Kayla Keiting I think her name is. I'm pretty sure she's a mutant, though she's not powerful enough to come up on Cerebro's warning program. Kitty, have you heard of her?" "She's got limited telekinetic powers but at a molecular level, so she's doing extensive research on disease cures. She could probably help Caroline." "Let's pay her a visit." "Right. So we waltz into the apartment of one of the world's most brilliant scientists and offer to let her be our multi-purpose doctor, then ask her to train a psycho teenager in her lethal mutant powers?" Rachel was more skeptical than Logan was. "Yeah. It's worth a try." The phasing mutant grinned wickedly. "I can dig up enough stuff on her to make her beg to join us." The telekinetic telepath shrugged nonchalantly. "Okay. By the way, hacking is wrong. So is blackmail." "Uh-huh. I know."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

The following note appeared on Caroline's door, frozen to the wood.

Sorry I freaked out at you guys. This whole mutant super hero thing is still a shock for me. I'm used to taking care of myself. Don't worry. I'll be out in a couple days, when I put out the fire.

Carry

Sariceia had pointed it out to Kurt after they'd gotten changed back into civvies. He stood there frowning at it. "I think we should just let her be. She'll come out when she's ready. In the meantime, do you want to go see the Keiting woman?" Kurt smiled at her. "I think it's best to call her Dr. Keiting if we want her to help us, but yes, let's go."

As she had promised, Kitty did some extensive research on the doctor. She briefed Kurt and Sariceia in the garage. It wasn't a real mission; jets and uniforms were unnecessary. "She's got degrees in medicine and psychology, and is currently working independently in her own lab. Kayla has vehemently denied being a mutant or having any mutant family members several times, but here's the kicker: her sister is a mutant who discorrporated herself not longer ago."

The door bell rung. Sighing, Kayla Keiting put down the microscope and glanced at the display next to her to see who was at the door. No one she knew, but heck she needed a break. Being able to mentally manipulate molecules didn't make it any easier on her eyes. She walked out of her lab, the door sealing shut behind her as always. Maximum security, nobody could ever break into her workspace. Shrugging off the lab coat she finally got to the door. "Hello?" "Good evening Dr. Keiting. May we come in?" There were three people, two women and the man who had just addressed her. Something wasn't right about him, but she didn't feel threatened. "Of course." When he got closer to her she was able to distinguish the anomaly. He was using some sort of image inducer, what she saw was not his true form. The molecules were wrong. Who were these people? "Have a seat. What do you want?" They sat. One of the women spoke now. "Dr. Keiting, are you familiar with the mutant phenomena?" Kayla smiled. She was almost relieved. They were blackmailing her. It wasn't like it hadn't happened before. Even that woman who offered to help her write a tell-all book about her mutation, K.M. Bennet (1). She pulled out her checkbook. "How much do you want? I'm still working on the cancer cure but this account can't be traced." They looked startled. She laughed humorlessly. "Let's be blunt, people. I'm a wealthy woman. I'm accustomed to having my secrets held over my head. Out of curiosity's sake what kind of information do you have on me?" The woman who hadn't spoken yet was attempting to hide a smile, the other two looked shocked. "We weren't blackmailing you. But you are a mutant, yes?" "Of course I am, idiot. And so are you, aren't you. I though mutants were supposed to 'stick together' and here some of my own kind attempt to bribe me. Drop the image alteration, I can tell it's fake." Kurt glanced at Sariceia. She nodded. "Why not? I will too." Pressing the buttons on his wrist that Kayla had assumed to be a watch Kurt dropped the illusion. Sari shuttered for a moment and then wings sprouted from her back. Kayla was mildly surprised. "Well, well, X-men. You're Night...something with a c, and I don't believe I've seen either of you before. Maybe you're sensible enough to wear masks; I've never understood that. I suppose you weren't asking for money. You've piqued my curiosity. What is it?"

A short while later they'd explained their situation. Kayla looked thoughtful. 'Which helps humanity more? Cures for diseases only I can provide, or a doctor and trainer to these people? I believe in their cause. Why can't I continue my research there? Besides, it's best for Lauren.' She looked up. "I'll do it on two conditions. We make the appropriate changes in your lab space so that I can continue my research, and my sister becomes a student at your school." Kitty smiled. "Deal."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

A pattern had formed. Every so often she awoke, covered in blood from the intricately inflicted cuts. The pattern was precise and would have been beautiful in a sinister sort of way if they hadn't been carved into skin. As it was, they were horrifying yet miraculously not painful. Before she could take in her situation completely, she fell 'asleep' again. There was something that she had to do, it was urgent. But what? The room was sealed with no visible light source, but she could see. She always wore the black dress. The silk was unstained. It reminded her of something. She had no idea what. In fact, she had no memory whatsoever.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Haha. The suspense is killing you isn't it? Sorry. I'll tell you who she is. Alyssicate. Who is that? Wait for the next chapter. Evil laughter Also, the Enigma is still out there seeking revenge. Somewhere, cameras and microphones are still recording. And, most interestingly, someone is possessed. Not telling where, why, or who. "More evil laughter.

(1) This is the third time I've mentioned her. Kudos to whomever figures out the forming pattern here.

Go on, press the review button. I'll answer any questions you've got and take your suggestions into consideration. Come on, you're dying to say something.