Author's Note: Thank you all for the replies, here's another chapter :)


Chapter Three

Downstairs there were about sixteen people. Eight of them were Xavier's. The other eight were new. Peter Rasputin (Colossus) had managed to keep together his group that had escaped the night of the Mansion invasion. Out of the seven new ones though, two looked out of place with all the kids. Nightcrawler recognized one to be Henry McCoy from the television. He was in his late 30's or early 40's and he was fairly tall with glasses. The other one Nightcrawler had never seen before. This one was quite the character. He was tall and in his early 20's. He had bright red eyes, like a demon's and auburn hair. All fifteen looked at the Professor as he wheeled towards them.

'Good morning everyone,' he said cheerfully.

'Good morning, Professor,' Peter said. 'I was rather surprised to see err, Kurt here. He took us all by surprise.'

'Yes, we have had new members and a few have been taken from us. You'll find that you missed a lot since you were gone.'

'I had to make sure it was safe to come back. It's habits I have.'

'And they are excellent habits to have, Peter. I will always greet you with open arms.'

'We had some that tagged along with us.'

'That's quite all right. It's always a pleasure to get new people. Why don't you eight go up to your rooms? You'll find that you still have the same rooms, that hasn't changed. I'll welcome our new guests.'

The eight of them started to make their way to the stairs.

'If we're causing you any trouble-' Hank started.

'Think nothing of it, Mr. McCoy.'

'Just Hank.'

'Well, Hank, if you don't already know, I'm Professor Charles Xavier. If you are curious, I am a telepath. Rest assured that you have made the right choice coming here. Those of you who are still in school will find that we have classes daily. You'll have others your own age as you've probably guessed. You can learn here, be accepted by the others, not feared. Now, I suspect that you may have many questions, but I would first like to learn everyone's names.'

'Well den, I'm Remy LeBeau,' the early 20's something guy said in a thick New Orleans drawl. 'But if you big telepath guy, it would be easy jus' lookin' in our mind an' learnin' our names from dere, non?'

'One of the first things you all need to know about me is that just because I have the power to read your minds doesn't necessarily mean I will,' Charles said as he smiled.

'I'm David Townsend,' a boy piped up. He was about 13 at 5'6 with blonde hair and blue eyes.

'I'm Draven Anderson,' a boy about 16 said. He was 5'10 with black, shoulder length hair and brown eyes. He was sporting a black Slipknot shirt.

'I'm DeLeigh Martinez,' a 16-year-old said. She had black hair with red streaks in it and green eyes. She was 5'3 and she and Trey were the only two in solid black and had chains. She sported a Atreyu shirt.

'I'm Carrie Lash,' a girl the same age said. She had shoulder length hair with brown eyes and she was 5'7.

'And I'm Drake Godwin,' a boy about 18 said. He was 5'11 with dark brown hair that had two strands of bangs in his eyes and the rest of his hair was in spikes. He had greenish-blue eyes and had a silver cross around his neck. He wore a red trench coat with black steel-toed boots.

'Well, Kurt, why don't you go and get Rogue? She should still be in the kitchen,' Xavier said.

Kurt nodded and left with a bamf. A few minutes later, Rogue appeared.

'You called, Professor?' she asked.

'Yes. Would you kindly see these four to some rooms? I still need to talk to these two.'

'Sure. Follow me you guys.'

The five kids left with Rogue.

'Why we special?' LeBeau asked.

'So that I can give you a little run down of the place. We're only merely a school to the public. Storm and Cyclops were two of my earliest students; you will meet them later. I taught them and protected them. Now, they are teaching and protecting others. But the school is only a public face. Down on the lower levels is an entirely different matter. Come with me and I shall show you.'

They both followed the Professor to an elevator. A few minutes later the elevator door opened to reveal the 'lower levels'.

'Whoa . . .' LeBeau gasped.

'When I was a young boy, I discovered my mutant ability. If I wanted to, I could make people do or think whatever I wanted them to. When I was 17, I met a boy named Erik Lehnsherr. He too was a mutant. He could control metal and create magnetic fields. He soon become angry with the world and all its beings that were not mutants. In the end, he became Magneto. He is still a very powerful mutant. He still believes that a war will take place between us and the rest of humanity. But the X-Men and I have a different view.'

'Who are they?' Hank asked.

'They are a group of mine that help me keep a watch over Magneto and others like him. Rogue is now one of the X-Men. You will meet the others soon. We all share a different opinion about the world than Magneto does. We believe that one day mutants and humans can live harmoniously with one another. But enough of my dreams. I have an offer for the both of you. If you would like, I can offer you both a place among the X-Men. If you decline, I fully understand. My doors will still be opened to you, nonetheless. The choice is yours.'

LeBeau looked at the Blackbird and the suits. 'We git one o' dem?'

'Of course.'

'Since dere ain't nothin' better t'do, I 'pose I'll join den.'

'Count me in as well,' Hank said.

'Wonderful. Now, you will find the first door on the left side of the hall on the second floor to belong to Logan. I'm sure if you knock, he'll show you to some rooms. I will have a meeting of the X-Men at noon time in my office today.'

Xavier then wheeled to the elevator.

The two followed him. When the elevator took them to the second floor, they got out. Xavier stayed and the elevator closed, taking him back to his office.