Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men. Ilehana Xavier belongs to Corrinth. All other characters belong to me.
A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers out there; you really are all stars.
Scene 25"...A curfew has been imposed today in New York City, and dozens of bars closed until further notice, after the city's hospitals have been overwhelmed with cases of party-goers becoming ill on nights out..."
"...It has been speculated that many of the cases of sickness are actually mutants. We go now to Dr Daniel Choy at..."
"...A mutant plague, proving that..."
"... Friends of the President's daughter..."
"Hank is that your phone ringing again?" Storm interrupted the TV's constant dribble as various news channel anchormen squabbled for Scott and Hank's attention, whilst Cyclops flicked channels. Beast sighed and nodded. "It hasn't stopped ringing since all this 'news' started to be broadcast. They want me to go live on air with my views on the supposed crisis."
"Supposed?" Scott chimed in, stopping flicking and leaning forward in his seat to scowl at pictures of violence in the streets. "This carries on much longer, there won't be much supposed about any of it. People aren't taking well to the idea that mutants might all be carrying some kind of disease. They could sure use someone to tell 'em otherwise Hank."
"And how would you like me to do that, Cyclops? On the radio?" Beast's voice was sarcastic, but his body language betrayed his angst and unhappiness. "I have a reputation, I can't arrive for a studio debate looking like this..."
"Hank," Ororo came and sat elegantly besides her friend, her long hand resting gently on the soft fur of his shoulder. "It doesn't matter what you look like. Maybe it will upset some people, yes, but what you can tell them may..."
"They wont hear what I have to say, Ororo. They will be too busy judging me a hairy blue freak..."
"So what, you're going to hide out here for the rest of your life? Give up everything you've worked for all your life because now you can't keep hiding that you're a mutant?" Cyclops accosted Hank with a bluntness Ilehana would have been proud of.
"I once asked a wise lady why, as a shape shifter, she did not pass as a normal human everyday." Kurt had been strangely quiet up until this point; perched on top of the windowsill, tail twitching. "She replied that it was because we should not have to..." Kurt smiled. "It may not be easy, but have faith. You should not have to give up a life you love because you do not look the same as everyone else. God, in His wisdom, has made you different for a purpose, and He loves tremendous variety."
"You're right." Hank spoke slowly, as if trying this new idea out in his head to see if it fitted. "Of course you are right Kurt. Thank you. Now if you will excuse me, I have a phone call to make..." And he left, mobile already in his large furry hand. Storm and Cyclops turned on Kurt with confused expressions.
"Mystique?" Scott asked incredulously, "I can't believe you just called Mystique wise."
But in reply Kurt could only grin wickedly...
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"Blaze was right." Ilehana told her father matter-of-factly. "The virus is in the whiskey. It's a brilliant plan; the fermenting of the alcohol provides perfect conditions for the virus to survive. And of course a cunning mechanism to enter the preferred hosts, humans, or more specifically, mutants."
"I've been checking up," Bobby dropped in effortlessly, clicking mouse button and pulling up a map of the United States on a computer. "This particular brand is brewed in a distillery here, in Tennessee. What we don't know is if the workers or management know anything about the virus, or whether it's someone else who's spiking the drink, maybe working undercover for another agency."
"So what you're saying is it might not be the wisest course of action to charge in there all guns blazing... Which I suppose rules Logan out at least." Xavier replied with humour in his tone despite the seriousness of the situation. Ilehana smiled; both at the small tease of her choice in partner, and that her father was well enough now to make it. "What do you suggest?"
I'll go." Bobby piped up. "I can disable the security systems, hack into the computers and see what I can find." He folded his arms, as if daring either Xavier to question his ability. Neither would ever dream of it.
"Very well, but take Gambit, Kurt and Blaze too. Ilehana, tell Scott, Logan, Jubilee and Storm I want them in New York City, trying to calm the situation there."
"Sure Dad. A little rough weather what you had in mind?" Ilehana knew she was being left out of both missions, a fact that stung but made sense. Someone still had to try and come up with a cure for the virus, no matter how hard that was proving.
"It sounds a very good idea." Xavier Senior agreed. "And Bobby?" He addressed Iceman just before Bobby left the room. "Good luck."
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"I'm not arguing with you Gambit." Bobby stuck his chin out stubbornly, so like Scott Kurt couldn't help but stifle a snigger. "You're not flyin' the jet."
"An' who put you in charge, mon Ami? You even old enough to drive yet?" They were crossing the hanger, the X-Jet looming ominously above them as their adrenaline began to pump ready for their mission. Scott's team had already left for the city on bikes, the garage very nearly a crime scene as Logan and Cyclops had fought over who got to ride what, until Jubilee had got bored and fried the bike in question just to get things moving. Neither man had been impressed, but she had proved her point.
"The Professor did, and yeah, I'm plenty old enough. More than that, I actually showed up to my flight training without a hangover..." Iceman pointed out none too gently, marching ahead of the rest of them.
"I could fly it." Blaze pointed out. "Photographic memory, I've seen Storm fly this hulk so often I could fly it in my sleep..."
"You drove your car off a bridge, Blaze." Bobby teased, spinning round and walking backwards so he could still talk to her. "I don't even wanna know what you could do with a plane, and I don't particularly wanna find out either."
"He got a point, Petite." Gambit risked a smile at Blaze, who scowled back at them all, pouting. "So we just let Gambit drive an' everyone'll be happy, eh?"
Bobby didn't answer as he shook his head and strode up the steps to the cockpit. He'd thought Xavier's good luck was for the mission, but compared to leading this lot, the mission was gonna be a piece of cake. Just as he thought he'd secured his driving seat, there was a sudden poof! of smoke, and a familiar blue-skinned elf was strapping himself into the pilot's chair with a grin.
"Kurt!" The other three moaned dramatically, then had to grab hold of something quickly as Nightcrawler deftly launched them onto their newest mission...