Disclaimer: Don't own member of Mutant X they belong to their respective owners.

I do however own the people you don't recognize.

CHAPTER 2

New Mutants were a rarity in this time; most of them had all but disappeared from the face of the earth. They were the hardest to find to say the least. Some of their stubborn stature had made the dividing even tougher to deal with; the next jump in each of their mutant growth spurt had come hand in hand with the darkness, it was more of a curse than a gift. It had begun back in the years before the war, before the Master's arrival… when her father was still alive. When Mutant X had still been around…

The children of the new mutants had begun to suffer from a new virus; an Optic infection Dr. Kane had called it. Parents had begun panicking they figured it had something to do with the raving loony known as Gabriel Ashlock. He had been the first mutant, a hybrid if you will… he had the abilities of a feral, pscionic, elemental, and molecular. Lost his mind really, he had actually mind warped poor new mutants into joining forces with him they called themselves the Links. They had been more dangerous than ever, at the time Gabriel had drawn an interest in the mutating children as well.

After many test and failed treatments on the children, it was discovered that the infection was in fact part of the 'growth spurt' in their mutant DNA. Causing each of the children to develop a special sight, that would later prove to be life saving…

The young female's ears perked up as she was brought out of her thoughts by sound, light footsteps. Her father had trained her well. Lowering her shades the two dark pools that were her eyes now swirled in a mass amount of gray liquid. sparks flared changing the natural color. Her entire pupils were now engulfed in a Metallic Silver film; one would never have known that her eyes were dark brown. She was the spitting image of her father all right, from the dark hair, and eyes to the defensive stance. Both her hands were down at her sides, her fingers flexing as she let her Silver eyes scan the desolated valley below. Than swept back up the steep hill to her left side, straining to pick up any sound. There was none. After a few minutes she let herself slip into a relax state, but still alert.

Her thoughts went back to those poor children that had not been as lucky as she had. Those who had been fortunate to survive the change had not necessarily been all right. Most of the parents, adoptive, foster or biological had freaked. Children with Silver eyes, it was bad enough they had been new mutants but now it showed. Some had taken drastic measures; they had been foolish enough to take their children to have the problem fixed surgically. Causing the deaths of maybe hundreds of kids. They had not understood that their had been a reason why these kids could not do with out the sight. The children who had run away hadn't exactly been fortunate either. Gabriel Ashlock had different ideas of how he wanted to deal with the 'New Ones' as he dubbed them. They were to be brought in for further testing, needles to say if you didn't pass… you didn't live.

She traced the small thin scar that cut into her brow; she had been one of those kids. If Mutant X hadn't come and got her when they did… it was hard to suppress the shiver that shook it's way down her body.

Yet she couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if they had still been around today, maybe things would have been different. Her father would still be alive… Gabriel wouldn't have found a way back, and her mother. 'Mommy.' They could have had a fighting chance against the Master, with Mutant X yeah they would have had a chance, it was all in the past now. Shaking her head she tried to think of the 'What was it that he uncle Jay had told her?' Ah yes the Silver lining in it all.

The crunch of gravel broke through the thick silence it had caught her ears. On reflex her leg shot out in a sharp deadly sidekick. It didn't surprise, as much as it angered her that her foot had cut through the air, warm air that tingled with a certain charge around her leg. "Dam it Eddie." She grounds out letting her leg slowly back down. Her heart was rapidly pounding in her chest, making the separate beats sound as if her heart was humming. "That isn't funny you jerk."

Laughter fills the air, as a young man in his mid 20's materialized in front of her, dressed in camouflaged pants, and a form fitting black shirt that showed off a well-structured torso. His short blond hair was spiked in the front, removing his shades revealing the most haunting blue green eyes. "Got to keep you on your toes kid." he said grinning at his long time best friend. He stands a good foot taller than her.

"I should zap you're little butt into ashes you creep." she shoved him backwards onto the pile of logs.

"Hey… my butt is not little." he retorted. "Take it easy it was a joke alright." his grin fading as he peered at her, his blue eyes taking on a familiar expansive expression. "Something's happened…" Eddie frowned as he dusted himself off. One didn't have to be Pscionic to know what she was thinking about.

The young man glanced down at the once cherished city with a halfhearted grin. "I can remember when all this was filled with people. Milling around as if everything was all right. Don't know if you remember this but your dad use to take you for joy rides when you were barely two. Your mom use to go ballistic on him all the time, but once she saw your happy little face she would just melt, forgetting whatever wrong thing your dad did…"

She never broke her gaze on the sight below them, it was almost as if she were trying to replay the memory out down there. "I don't remember." She had cut him off harshly, lying through her teeth, but before he could call her on it, she continued voicing what so many survivors had been concerned about in the past few weeks. "They're hunting." her voice was so low that he had to strain to hear her correctly. She had been referring the Miners that had been controlled by the Drones.

"Lexi, Miners don't hunt, there programmed to collect. Like scavengers."

"No, there changing." she said in a calm manner.

"Lexi they can not change. Once programmed that's it."

"Eddie listen to me, unless some massive Pscionic was spared the Termination project, and has found a way to warp the entire area, these things are now hunting." Lexi sighed heavily regretting the words as soon as they had left her mouth. Pain flashed in the young man's blue green eyes, this had affected him the most. Remembering the terror that had swept the entire country when the Master had collected all the well-known powerful Pscionic's, and had them slaughtered. Another nightmare that 'till this day Eddie had night terrors about.

"Eddie man I'm sorry…" she could have kicked herself for that statement. None the less she continued. "We were in the valley a few days ago, there were people roaming the top lands. The Miners only took 2, out the 9 that were out there. They didn't even bother eliminating the rest."

"What would make them do that?" he asked avoiding her still Metallic Silver gaze.

"I don't know, but word from the out lands is that the same thing has been happening everywhere else. The Miners are different. They're looking for something…. or someone."

"That isn't regulation, the Drones would never allow that." Eddie said glancing at her. "Who'd have the balls to do something like that?"

"Someone incredibly smart or incredibly stupid." she replied pushing the shades back up covering her eyes.

TBC…

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Ok again sorry for the short chapter but once again the structure on this story is a bit shaky. So bare with me. Glad people are enjoying this piece. Thanks to those who read and reviewed, God Bless U!

As always please R/R. I love reading comments and questions.