Mildred Watts stepped out of his car and proceeded down the sidewalk towards his house. Just as he had arranged, a man was there to greet him just outside the front door.

"Is it Sebastian?" The man asked.

Watts nodded.

"Does he know about the Red court?"

Watts shrugged and showed him the files.

"Damn." He swore. "If The White Queen had these we have to assume that her allies are aware of the plot."

Watts nodded.

"All right." The man said. "I'm off to wipe them out. Sebastian, Clark, Mountebank… All the old timers if I have to."

Watts nodded contentedly.

"And I trust that my loyalty will be remembered my liege?"

Watts let a long smile draw itself slowly across his face.

"That's what I thought." The man said happily. "I thought the title of Red Bishop might appeal to me."

Watts could see the greed and hunger in the mans eyes.

"Is that a suitable reward for a job this size?"

Watts nodded and stuck out his hand, which the man shook happily.

But Watts didn't let go. He held the man's hand and looked him, warningly, right in the eyes.

"Don't worry." The man told him. "Andrew Teppish doesn't fail at anything."

And Watts let go of his hand, as though his faith in Andrew had been restored.

Williams sat quietly next to his window watching the exchange.

Oh, sure… you won't say a word to him, will you? He must be one of your chosen ones. Your inner circle. For them, you shut up. But for the rest of us…

He shook his head. You're late tonight Millie. That's not like you. I hope you're staying in, because I only get one chance at this… And I'm taking it tonight.

He stood up and crossed over to the refrigerator and opened it.

He drew out the blood bag and an IV needle.

Crossing back over to his chair he sat down and hung the blood bag behind him on the wall.

He rolled up his sleeve and tapped a vein to the surface as he tied off his arm with his necktie.

He let the blood run slowly through the tube and out the end of the needle before progressing.

Then he sank the needle in slowly and painfully, but he made sure it was properly positioned in his arm.

We're the same blood type… He told Rogue in his mind. I hope that's enough.

He sat back slowly to watch Mildred and the other man talk.

Wouldn't it be something…? If this was all for nothing... And your blood killed me before I ever got a chance for my revenge?

He sighed and eyed the bag. Already it looked slightly drained. Of course it would be my own fault. I more than asked for this…

I just hope I can survive it.

He pulled out a pen and a piece of paper while waiting for his transfusion to be complete.

"To whom it may concern," He began. "My name is Jamie Williams. I am a resident of England but was born in the USA. I am a mutant who has the ability to mimic other mutants abilities after genetic exposure. Tonight I have taken an entire pint of another mutants blood in to my system in order to adopt her power."

He paused and rubbed his hand then checked his tube and needle.

"She is a dangerous mutant and the process might kill me or leave me mentally damaged. In the event of a medical or civil situation I request that Excalibur is contacted, as under their published charter, they have clear jurisdiction over my handling should I become volatile, unstable or vegetative."

He paused for another long moment before continuing. "In the event that I am rendered without brain function or without the ability to live my life as a productive and active member of society I ask that no life prolonging or saving methods be applied to my case as I knew full well the risks before I took action."

He swallowed. "Should this condition need to be applied, please refer to my specific instructions left on the next page, only to be shown to Kurt Wagner, head of Excalibur."

He started on the next page.

"Kurt,

You don't know me but I am more than aware of you and your 'sister' Rogue. It was hr blood that I used in my transfusion. I tricked your mother, Mystique in to stealing it for me from the Xavier Estate in Bayville.

Please do what you can for me if this experiment has taken a negative turn. I know you can contact all the necessary experts to discuss my problem. Please do so and then seek out the best course of action.

And when you've run out of ideas, if there is no help for me, then please let me go. I have lost many good friends in this life and I've no fear of joining them. In fact I would prefer it to living on as little more than a broken meat puppet.

Just promise me one thing. If I'm not getting any better, if I can not be saved, please – take up my cause for me.

Mr. Mildred Watts of London England is a vile little man. As a child we discovered he possessed the power to sway people's minds. And as I watched him grow I saw him become a small and petty man who used this great gift for nothing more than the manipulation of others for profit and power.

Although I can not prove it, three of my friends drove their car off the bluffs and in to the ocean several years ago. I know in my heart it was at his 'suggestion' that they did so –, as they too were suspicious of him and quite vocal.

When last I saw him I pretended to recall his gifts as the fantasies of youth and I made jokes about it and my own gullibility. I do not believe he suspects me of anything.

Hopefully you will never receive this letter.

Hopefully Rogues blood will allow me to absorb his gifts permanently and my mutation will allow me to mimic his ability indefinitely.

Hopefully… I can put an end to this chaos myself, tonight, just as I swore to do when I heard about the 'accident'."

He sat back and eyed the page before adding:

"I have nothing but the highest respect for both you, your office and position. I trust that you would make the humane decision should you have to. And should it come to that, please know that… I forgive you for whatever you need to do. And I thank you for considering my words."

He signed it: "Sincerely, Jamie Williams."

And then he folded it over in thirds and lit a candle.

He wrote "Excalibur" With a great flourish and then "Attn: Kurt Wagner" in smaller script under it.

And when the candle was hot enough, he poured the wax over the fold and sealed it closed.

Then, in lieu of a wax stamp, he used his thumb and left his fingerprint glistening back at him.

I hope this is close enough to legal. He shrugged and looked back at the bag. How long has it…?

But the bag was close to empty.

Wow. How long has it been? He looked out the window. Mildred and the man were gone.

I totally need to see if he's home or not. He looked at the bag again. Just a few more minutes. It's no worse than waiting for Scott to pick me up from school.

He stopped and considered that thought. Scott? Who…

And then he realized Oh my God! It's working!

Then a shiver passed through him and he grew suddenly fearful.

I… I can't go… outside. I can't… there's too many people… Too much touching… I need mah gloves and…

He drove the alien thoughts from his mind. "NO!" He said out loud. "Just… finish the plan!"

He folded the other page over as well and tucked them both in to his jacket pocket. Just then he looked at the blood bag. It was almost empty.

"No tihme lihke the present." He said in a country twang as he pulled the needle from his arm. "And besides... If I can take on Apocalypse or Magneto, this guhy Whatts cant be much of a threat."

And he stopped again as he looked at the door while pulling on his jacket. Apocalypse? He shook his head. Watch yourself Jamie. If you're not careful you're going to start believing you are this girl!

He shook his head. And lets face it, you're really not Scott's type, now are you?

And he chuckled as he drew on his scarf and slipped out the door.