**Author's note: I reposted this Episode because of a few typos and a few phrases that were driving me nuts. I am going to triple check the next episode to get rid of the typos. GRRR!!
Suit of Armor
The football arched through air, looking misleadingly lazy as it spun about. Bobby Drake threw up his arms and shouted loudly, "I GOT IT!"
A wall of ice shot up from his hands, curving in such a way that it would deliver the ball right to his outstretched extremities. Bobby grinned wildly. "And Robert Drake saves the day, again!" he thundered triumphantly.
"I think not comrade!"
Peter Rasputin crashed through the ice wall in his steel form and caught the ball in one deft movement. Bobby, stunned by the sudden loss of his impending glory, didn't realize what had happened until Peter was well in front of him.
"Hey!" he shouted. "That's not fair!" He immediately began to give chase, but for such a large teenager, Peter was surprisingly fast.
Beast, watching from the front steps called out jovially, "All's fair in love and football, Mr. Drake!" He applauded as Peter crossed over the crudely made goal line. His teammates, Amara and Jamie, ran over to him.
"All right!" Amara cried, eyes sparkling. She gave Peter a big hug and he blushed. "Way to go big guy! You're great!"
"I do not think I hev done much," he said slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was nothink. . ."
"Are you kidding me?!" multiple Jamies said as one. "I can cover half the field with clones and never pull that off!" Jamie, Jamie, Jamie, Jamie and Jamie gave him high fives while another three or four Jamies patted him on the back.
"Comrades, I-" he began. He was interrupted by that shouting match between Ray and Bobby.
"Pushovers!" Ray shouted. "Pushovers, you say! 'Don't worry Ray, Amara and Jamie got nothing on us, and the new guy's from Russia, what could he possibly know about football?'" Rays hands began to spark. "What now Iceman? They're winning because of the Russian who 'doesn't know' how to play!"
"Hey, how was I to know he was going to pick up on the rules so fast?!" Bobby snapped back at him. "I mean, he never struck me as clever, since he stayed so long with that bucket-head!"
Peter's head turned and his face fell. All of the Jamies snapped into one and looked at him. Amara also wore a bemused expression.
"Whoa, take it easy boys," Beast said, coming between Bobby and Ray and placing a hand on each boy's shoulder. Once he had pushed them apart he glanced at each in turn. "Bobby," he said in a low tone, "you don't know the story, so please, keep your comments about anyone's previous alliances to yourself." Bobby and Ray both looked a bit thrown by the warning. "Ray," he said loudly, "you should know better than to start acting like a sore loser. Temper, temper," he chided.
"It is all right, sir. I don't mind so much," Peter said, recovering. "What deh others do not know is zat in Russia my older brother and I would play game like football when we weren't workink on deh farm." His smile seemed hollow though, his thoughts, preoccupied.
"Hey, what's going on out here?"
Roberto and Sam landed silently on the lawn, panting a bit from an aerial race they had been involved in. Roberto was looking curiously across the field.
"What?! Don' tell me y'all are havin' a football game an' ya didn't call me!" Sam said in a hurt tone. "Now that jus' ain't fair at all."
"I tell you what comrade," Peter said generously, "I was joost going to cut out of deh game for lunch. You take my place, and Roberto can join too az partner for Bobby and Ray. Is good plan, no?" He thumped Sam on the back, some of his mirth returning.
"Hey, thanks," Sam beamed at him.
"Is pleasure," Peter returned. "I see you later, Jeemy, Ahmarah."
"Yeah, see you Pete," Amara said, a bit of worry creeping into her tone.
Beast watched with a furrowed brow as Peter retreated into the house. Bobby came up behind him and asked, "What was that all about?"
"Men at some times are masters of their fates; the fault, dear Robert, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings," Beast quoted softly. He then added, "But sometimes we cannot choose who we are underlings for. . ."
"Uh. . ." Bobby looked up at him, "Is that on our quiz later?"
Beast sighed.
Peter pushed open the doors to the mansion and made his way to the kitchen.
"Hey Pete," Warren said, as he spread a generous amount of peanut butter across a piece of white bread. "Whazzup?"
Peter, who had just reached for the handle to the fridge, paused and gave Warren a look of complete bafflement. "I- I'm sorry comrade. I do not think deh professor hez taught meh zat word yet." His brows furrowed in thought.
Warren's face lit up in amusement. He chuckled and as he saw Peter's face redden in embarrassment he said, "It's slang. I'm asking you 'what's up', you know; how are you, what's new?"
"Ohhhhh," Peter nodded, opening the fridge and pulling out the cold cuts. "Eh, noothing mooch. I hev plans to call my family to-night." He set the cold cuts down on the counter and looked at the bread. "May I?"
"Sure!" Warren said, pushing the bread towards him. "So, your family's still in Russia?"
"Yes, well, my parents and sister Illyana. My brother. . . He died a few years ago in an accident. He was a cosmonaut, there was a problem weeth deh spaceship. . . It exploded," Peter murmured.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Warren said quietly. "I never had any siblings, and my parents aren't around so much, so I can't imagine what losing a family member that you were so close to was like."
"It was a livink nightmare," Peter said, closing his eyes. "I could not bear to lose any more of my family."
He had been functioning almost automatically, slowly putting together his sandwich. Warren noticed this. He remained silent until Peter spoke again.
"Does deh school hev a football team?"
Warren looked at him and blinked. "You're interested in playing for the school?"
"Eef there is a team, yes."
Warren looked him over and said, "Well, you certainly have the build for it. Yeah there's a team. Mr. McCoy actually coached it while he was still a teacher at Bayville, and he was on the team when he went to high school. You could probably ask him about how the school runs the program."
"I think I will," the Russian nodded. He took his largely stuffed sandwich and set it down on the table. With one swoop he scooped up all of the cold cuts and replaced them inside the fridge.
Warren looked at the large teen and the large sandwich and muttered with a chuckle, "It almost makes me feel inadequate. . ."
"Eh?" Peter turned around, looking puzzled again.
"Nothing," Warren explained. "I was just talking to myself."
*
Tabitha had commandeered one of the mansion computers and signed into AIM. Her screen name, 'BoomKat' flickered across the screen as she typed in her password. She immediately entered a private chat called 'X-Gurls', and smiled as she saw the names that were all ready in it. They read 'Firecracker688' and 'MoonlightChanger'.
I'm here! The party can start now! ;) Tabitha typed.
Oh, like you're the life of the party, yeah, right, came Firecracker's reply.
Tabitha grinned. Of course I am! I mean, what were you two talking about before I got here? Anything?
We were actually talking about Jubilee being offered a spot at another school for mutants, Changer butted in.
"Whoa!" Tabitha said out loud. 0.o Another school for mutants? I thought Xavier's was the only one?! Where is this place? What's it like?
I don't know what it's like yet, Firecracker typed. It was originally started in Boston, but for some reason it moved when the headmistress heard about Xavier's school. She made up some cock-and-bull story about how the 'increased tensions two large groups of mutants would cause would make an unstable and unsafe learning environment. Now the school's based here in California.
What's the headmistress' name? Tabitha asked.
I don't know; something snobby and cold. Winters or Frostbite or something. I really, really think I should just try to hitchhike back to Bayville, Firecracker said in exasperation. California's no fun when you're stuck at home because the 'rents don't want anyone to know their baby's a freak. I have a whopping zero friends here.
I'm sorry to hear that you're miserable in California. It's lovely here in Scotland.
"Hey Tabitha, who're you talking to?" Amara asked, peering over Tabitha's shoulder.
"Jubilee and Rahne," Tabitha said looking back. "Jubes hates being stuck in California, and there's some other school for mutants trying to rope her. Rahne was just about to tell us all about her wonderful life in Scotland."
"Ooo," Amara pulled up a chair.
How lovely is it? Tabitha typed mischievously. Any really hott Irish guys?
No, Changer typed in rapid reply. But Moira (that's me 'mum') has taken up dating a man named Sean Cassidy. He's a mutant, calls himself Banshee. That man's got a set of LUNGS! His power is supersonic screams. And his daughter is the same way. You should see me run whenever I think they're going to have a row. For some reason though she doesn't wan Professor Xavier to find out about it. They're really good friends, I can't figure it out. . .
I sense intrigue :), Tabitha grinned. I might have to do some investigating.
Oh please don't, Changer said. If mum finds out I told you then she'll have a fit.
Amara giggled. "Oh fun. A little intrigue and suspense. I wonder what's going on. . ."
"Me too," Tabitha agreed.
"Hey, tell them I say hi!"
Tabitha nodded and typed Amara sends her love, while laughing at you losers for leaving.
"Hey!" Amara punched Tabitha's shoulder. "Gimmie that!"
They wrestled over the keyboard during which time Jubilee and Rahne were forced to try and decipher That notverkrjgncvda98 she's #$%#@ FGNYu5p98fq tryinge4q to ste taaerft She liekujhad. . .
Uh. . . .
We can't understand a word you're saying. . .
Finally Amara managed to type I am not laughing at you- but that gave Tabitha enough time to flick a glowing ball at her face. Amara yelped and jumped back and Tabitha took over the keyboard once again.
Humph! People are so hostile!
Lol, the two other girls responded. I wonder why, Jubilee added.
Ach! I'm sorry girls, I have to go now. I'll ttyl? Changer asked.
Absolutely! See you Rahne!
Ciao Wolfy, Tabitha threw in.
Bye!!
MoonlightChanger left at 1:32 the chat room host informed them.
*Sigh* I guess I should probably be going too. My parents hate it when I'm on the computer and they aren't watching. They're worried I'll blow it up like I did to the last one. I'll ttyl too okay Tabitha?
Sure, Tabitha typed. Do me a favor though. If there are any hott guys at this other school, call me. I will transfer there soooo fast. . .
Lol. Sure Tabitha. See you later!
Firecracker688 left at 1:34
Tabitha sighed. "Damn. It sucks so much that they're gone. We need more girl power here!"
Amara echoed the sigh. "Yeah. I agree. Maybe their parents will let up now that things have settled down a little?"
"I dunno. I bet Jubes' family stick her in this other place because it's 'closer to home'. It kind of surprises me that Rahne's 'mum' hasn't let her come back here yet."
Amara shrugged. "Well, we don't know what her motives are. Maybe she feels Rahne is safer under her watchful eye."
"Yeah, whatever," Tabitha shrugged. "I never liked begin under my parent's 'watchful eye'," she said bitterly, "but I'm sure that she doesn't have that sort of problem with her mum."
"Aw Tabby-"
Tabitha shoved her. "Don't you 'aw Tabby' me. I'm perfectly fine with what happened. My dad's an asshole, and I always knew it and I'm glad I'm out of there! Now come on, let's go get some lunch."
*
Beast scratched his chin. "So you're thinking of joining the football team?"
"Ah, yes," Peter murmured softly. "I- I miss playink weeth my brother. I haven't played football since- since before he died."
"This was your older brother? The cosmonaut?"
"He was my only brother. I miss him terribly. . ."
"Like you do the rest of your family, no doubt?" Beast added after a second.
"Yes." He said nothing more, but his face was etched with worry.
Beast watched the boy's shoulders slump and his fists clench on the table. Beast picked up an apple from the fruit bowl and bit into it, letting the boy have a moment to himself. "Did Magneto threaten them?"
"No. Eef he had I would hev killed him!" Peter said passionately. "No, he approached me and told me that he wanted to recruit me. At first I thought it was a good idea. . . And then I started hevink doubts. . ." He frowned. "But I was in too deep. . . And to fight my way out I would hev needed to be in steel form. . . And Magneto is master of Magnetism. . ."
"I understand," Beast said gently. "So instead of keeping your family hostage, he kept you hostage."
"Basically. Eef I did not do as he asked he would not let me go back to my family." Peter sighed. "But back to what we were supposed to be talking about. . . Do you think I hev any chance of gettink on deh team?"
"Well if you play like you did today all the time Mr. Rasputin I think they'll be begging you to join." Beast smiled broadly at him.
Peter smiled softly back. "Thank you. You do not know how much your con-fee-dance means to meh."
Beast's smile grew greater. "Your English lessons are going well I assume?"
"Yes. Deh professor is helpink me greatly. I did not talk so much weeth deh Acolytes because sometimes their quick speakink eluded meh. Now that I am having language 'cram lessons' as deh professor calls them I feel I am doink much better. I understand more. . . But I hev to get him to teach me more 'slang'. Warren confused meh weeth deh word. . . 'Wazzup'. . ."
Beast chuckled. "Trust me, you'll hear enough of that word if you watch the right commercials."
Peter gave him a funny look. Beast thumped him on the back heartily. "If you want I'll take you out back and toss around the old pigskin with you later- so you can practice for tryouts."
"That would be nice," Peter said, nodding.
"Great. I'll see you after dinner then?"
"Sure," Peter nodded again. "I hev to go call my family, but I will be there after dinner."
Beast smiled and led the boy to the door. Peter gave him one last smile and then retreated down the hall. Brows furrowed, he mumbled, "Americans are odd. Why do they throw around a pig for football practice?"
*
"Jubilation, you are going to love it at the Academy," Jubilee's mother said to her daughter as they zoomed down the highway.
"But mooooooooom! I loved it at Xavier's! Why can't I go back there?!" Jubilee protested, pushing her headphones off of her ears. The rock music her CD player was playing could be heard faintly.
"We want you closer to home honey," her father said. "Especially after all the things that have been happening with those. . . people lately."
"Those 'people' are my friends!" Jubilee said fiercely.
"You'll make new friends," her mother interjected.
"I like my old friends. I don't want some stupid uniform-wearing-preps as friends," Jubilee snapped. "This school is going to bite."
"Well 'bite' it may," he father grumbled, "but you're going to have to realize at some point that we're only trying to do what's best for you."
"No, you're trying to do what's best for you. . ."
"Jubilation!" Her mother chided. "We haven't even gotten to the school yet. It's just a visit for God's sake. Heaven forbid you give the school a once-over."
"At least Heaven's on my side," Jubilee grumbled.
"Young lady-" her father said in a warning tone. Jubilee wisely shut up and put her headphones back on.
As they pulled up to the school Jubilee grumbled incoherently and turned off her CD player, placing inside a book bag she had brought with her. She shrugged it onto her back and got out of the car.
"Well," her mother said also getting out as Jubilee's father turned to car off, "it's a beautiful old place isn't it?"
The house was an exquisite old Victorian, the kind that loomed majestically over the land around it. Jubilee grunted. She was impressed, but that didn't mean she was going to show it. Standing at the door was a woman dressed in an elegant white outfit. She was wearing an majestic white woman's business suit with a matching white skirt. She had short, platinum blonde hair, ice blue eyes, and blood red lips. Jubilee felt a shiver run down her spine.
"I'm so glad you could make the trip," the woman said extending her hand to Jubilee's mother. "I'm Emma Grace Frost, the headmistress of the Academy." Her icy gaze turned on Jubilee. "And you must be Jubilation."
Jubilee could say nothing, so she nodded.
After Jubilee's father had joined the little crowd at the door Ms. Frost led them inside. "At the Academy we strive to help our unique student body become the best they can be, academically and with their gifts."
Jubilee glanced over her shoulder as she entered the old house, half expecting to see the door swing shut of it's own accord. Instead Ms. Frost invaded her line of sight and closed the door. Jubilee felt that it would have been more comforting if the door had shut because of some spirit.
"Now, I had a little afternoon planned for the three of us," Frost said to Jubilee's parents, "discussing the way the Academy works, et cetera. Since I know Jubilee would be more interested in seeing some of the students I have arranged for one of my top pupils to show her around." She led them into her office and offered Jubilee's parents a seat. Then she pressed a small button on her desk and spoke into an intercom. "Mr. Anderson, if you could show Mr. Starsmore into my office?"
"Of course Ms. Frost," came the crackling response.
Jubilee faced the door as two men entered the office through the large mahogany French doors. One, forty some-odd and graying at the temples, was clearly Mr. Anderson. He tweaked his glasses nervously and blinked a few times with his watery eyes. "Mr. Starsmore," He said, presenting the brown haired teenager besides him.
Jubilee gave 'Mr. Starsmore' a once-over. He was dressed, unlike Ms. Frost, in mostly black. He was wearing a long black leather coat and the entire front of his face was wrapped in some type of black cloth. Jubilee wondered why, and if it had to do with his mutation for a second, but found herself wondering about other things as he spoke for the first time.
"It's a pleasure to meet alla you."
Her parents spun around to face the boy and for a second Jubilee could have sworn she saw a smug smile on Ms. Frost's face. Before she could confirm it the smile had faded and Ms. Frost's was presenting Mr. Starsmore to Jubilee and her family. "This is Jonothan Starsmore."
"His. . . Voice-" Jubilee's father stammered.
Now it was Jubilee felt smug. Her parents had never heard Professor Xavier's mental voice. Jonothan has spoken telepathically. They were confused by Jonothan's way of speaking, while Jubilee was not.
"Jonothan's powers first manifested in a rather violent manner. He was deprived his ability to speak verbally so he has to speak psychically," the Headmistress explained.
"Ah," Jubilee's mother said as if that made perfect sense to her and her husband when it was clear that it did not.
"I'll be showing you 'round the place," the boy nodded towards Jubilee.
Jubilee smiled faintly. He made her feel much more at ease than Ms. Frost did.
"And we three can discuss the details of our program," Ms. Frost said, touching each of Jubilee's parents in turn. They nodded, wanting to get away from the psychically communicating boy whose powers had manifested violently.
Jonothan heaved a great mental sigh, that Jubilee realized only she could hear when she didn't see her parents react. "You can call me Jono. Most people do."
"Jono, cool. I'm Jubilee," she said grinning. She felt much better now that she was out of the sight of Ms. Emma Grace Frost. "It's a nickname that doubles as a code name."
"Very versatile of it. My code name is Chamber," they shook hands informally. "From what Ms. Frost has told me you shoot off fireworks. My power is telekinetic blasts. And, obviously, telepathy . . . Which you seem pretty used to all ready." He raised an eyebrow in question.
"Professor Xavier- the man who ran my last school- was a psychic. One of the older girls was too. I'm used to it by now," she explained.
"Ah," he said. "Well, then, you should get along fine here."
She looked at his face again. "What's with the mummy wrappings?"
"Eh, well, you heard Ms. Frost talk about my unfortunate first experience with my powers correct?" When she nodded he began unwrapping the bandages and let them hang loosely. His entire face from the nose down and the greater part of the front of his chest was a swirling mass of gold and orange energy.
"Whoa!" Jubilee gasped.
"Yeah. . . My power blew most o' the front part o' my body off. Not the most pleasant experience I've 'ad by any stretch of the imagination."
"I can only imagine," Jubilee rolled her eyes.
"However. . . I took it much better than my parents did, I assure you of that. . ." Jono said. He began to wrap his face back up but Jubilee grabbed his hand.
"Hey, don't do that. I'm not freaked out by it or anything. I lived with a couple of blue furry guys who were much scarier looking."
Jono's eyes sparkled. "If you're sure you're okay with it. . ."
"Absolutely."
"Thank god. I always hate being wrapped up all the bloody time. Unfortunately, it's the only way I can be out in public. . ."
"That sucks. . ."
They went on chatting liberally as Jono pointed out a few things about the house.
*
The phone had hardly rung once when Peter's mother picked up the phone. Her voice was full of worry. She spoke quickly, in Russian, as if expecting something, "(Hello?)"
"(Hello mama,)" Peter said. "(It's Pitor. Is everything all right?)"
"(Oh! Oh, Pitor!)" His mother gasped. She started sobbing over the phone. "(Pitor it is horrible!)"
"(Mama, what is wrong?! Did something happen to Papa?!)"
"(No-! It is Illyana. . .)"
Warren, who was looking for Peter to ask him how his talk with Beast went, saw Peter's face turn sheet white as he entered the room. He asked what was going on but Peter didn't seen to hear him.
"(Oh god- Illyana. . . Is she hurt? What happened?)" He questioned her frantically.
"(We were outside. Illyana was playing with the doll that Papa made for her, and all of a sudden we heard her scream. We both came running over, and the scream abruptly cut off. We only found the doll. She's been missing for hours now!)"
"(You never saw anyone?)"
"(No one was around as far as the eye could see across the fields.)"
"(Should I fly home? The professor- maybe he can help locate her. . .)"
"(Oh, Pitor, we're so worried that she might have been kidnapped. . . We don't want people arriving at the house and scaring away anyone who might know something. . .)" His mother stammered.
"(I promise Professor Xavier would be a great help. . .)"
"(But what if that is what they want? What if they're really after you?)" She fell silent for a moment than said, "(What if it was that man- Magneto?)"
Peter's mouth went instantly dry. Magneto, kidnap his sister? To what end? To bring Peter back under his wing? That might explain the fact that his parents saw no fleeing forms across the endless fields. "(Mama, I will find out if that is true. Don't you worry. I will find Illyana. She will not be harmed. . .)"
"(Oh Pitor, I hope she is all right,)" his mother moaned.
"(If she isn't there will be hell to pay," Peter said firmly. "(I love you Mama. Send my regards to Papa, but I think I am going to talk to the professor right now.)' Peter hung up the phone and on his way out nearly ran into Warren.
"Comrade-?!" Peter blinked as he stopped just short of plowing Warren down. "I am sorry I hev no time to talk!" Peter said very quickly.
"What's going on?" Warren shouted at Peter's retreating back.
"I hev to save my sister!" Peter cried out running down the hallway. Warren darted after him. He thought he might be able to head Peter off by jumping off the balcony and landing on the floor below as Peter raced down the steps, but the big Russian was surprisingly fast. He took the steps in threes and had made a sharp turn into the professor's office before Warren even landed.
Alex was in the office and, from the look of things, had been discussing his recent power developments with the professor. He was rubbing his hands, which were glowing slightly even through the thick leather gloves he had taken to wearing in the past few days.
"Peter?" Charles looked up at him with worry lines etched along his face.
"Professor, I need your help- it is urgent," Peter gasped, at a loss for breath.
The professor did a quick mind scan to asses the situation and frowned. "Alex has been needing to speak to me for some time. . ."
"My sister's life might be in danger!" Peter practically burst.
"I understand that Peter, however, given the circumstances-"
"Prof, hey, it's cool," Alex said standing up. "I'll be okay for a while, and family is important. Believe me, I know."
Charles smiled ruefully. "I suppose you're right Alex. Maybe you should talk to your brother for a bit while I help Peter."
Alex nodded and escaped from the room. Warren, half in, half out of the room looked a bit baffled.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Magneto may hev kidnapped my sister," Peter said shortly. "And I will NOT allow that!"
Warren followed Peter and Xavier as they made their way down to Cerebro. "Professor, how exactly are you going to find Peter's sister with Cerebro if she isn't a mutant? Isn't Cerebro attuned to mutant brain waves and powers?"
The professor looked up at him as the doors to the elevator slid open. "Illyana Rasputin is a mutant. A latent one, but a mutant nonetheless. Her powers are dormant, probably because she's still so young. Only ten. . . Am I right Peter?"
"Yes. . . She turned ten over deh summer," Peter said, willing the elevator to go faster.
As the elevator doors slid open to allow its occupants to leave, Peter hurried past the professor. When they entered the Cerebro chamber Xavier wheeled himself up to the main computer consul and placed the helmet onto his head.
"I noted your sister's brain pattern as soon as I realized she was a latent mutant. It should only take me a second to find her Peter. Don't worry," Xavier reassured him. "Now, I'm going to need absolute quiet. . ."
Peter fidgeted slightly, his face etched with lines of concern. Warren folding his wings with a sigh of feathers and watched Peter's and the professor's expressions carefully. Xavier's brow furrowed suddenly, in intent concentration. His lips pressed together and he squeezed his all ready shut eyes. Finally he removed the helmet and turned back to Peter. Peter couldn't even speak his concern before the Professor said, "I'm afraid something it wrong."
Warren placed a hand on Peter's shoulder to prevent him from jumping on the professor. "What do you mean 'wrong'? What has happened to my sister?!"
"As far as I can tell. . . Nothing. . . Or. . .the worst."
Peter's eyes widened. "Deh- worst?!"
"I am totally unable to detect Illyana's brain waves. That means she is either in a place that prevents my psychic waves from getting in, she has developed some sort of mental block that prevents my discovering her, she is not on the planet anymore, she is brain dead. . . or deceased." Xavier watched sorrowfully as Peter's facial expression turned to one of horror. "The one thing I can tell you for sure is Magneto does not have her."
"Illyana. . ." Peter whispered. "NO! I refuse to believe it! I must find out what hez heppened to her! I will not lose her like I lost Mikhail! I can do somethink- anythink!" He grabbed the professor's shoulders. "Please- I need to go bek home, to Russia, to find out what heppened!"
"All right Peter, but Warren, Ororo, and some of the others will be coming with you. If something did happen to your sister I want you all to be prepared to face it," Xavier said slowly. "Warren, if you could kindly find Sam and Amara for me while I summon Ororo and discuss the situation with her and Peter?"
Warren nodded and walked swiftly out of the room. Xavier, now helmet-less, put two fingers to one of his temples and called out, Ororo, if you could join me in the Cerebro chamber it would be most appreciated. Within minutes she had answered his call and was down in the Cerebro room. "Thank you for coming so promptly Storm," he said as she arrived. " I'm afraid that due to extreme circumstances you're going to have to take a very sudden trip to Russia." He explained the situation in detail.
Ororo looked at Peter and smiled reassuringly at him. "Do not worry, we will find out what happened to your sister. I promise."
"Thank you Storm," Peter said quietly. His eyes were clouded with fear. "Eef anythink hez heppened to Illyana and I could hev prevented it. . ."
Charles, Ororo spoke to him mentally while still verbally reassuring Peter that everything was going to be okay, what do you think about all of this?
I honestly don't know Ororo. From what I can tell the details of what happened to Illyana are sketchy at best. She may not be alive when you find her. If you find her.
I understand Charles. Still it is our duty to help Peter and his family find closure- any closure, Ororo added in a mental whisper.
Xavier nodded slightly. I knew you would understand Ororo. That's why I asked for your help.
Warren poked his head in through the door. "Sir, I've got the others with me and Mr. McCoy offered to prep the jet for us, so we're ready to go when you are."
"Then let us not delay a second more," Ororo said, placing a hand on Peter's shoulder. Xavier led the way to the Blackbird and within minutes they had boarded and were heading to Russia. With every passing minute Peter felt more and more dread about what he would discover when he got home.
*
Jubilee decided that most of the students at the Academy reminded her more of Mystique than any other mutant she had met. They acted conceited, muttered things behind her back, and appeared to be so wrapped up in their own egos that Jubilee could hardly understand how they had the time to do anything else. She felt especially uneasy around the girl that called herself Roulette and her boyfriend Manuel. "Is it just me, or does that guy grin too much?" She asked Jono quietly.
Jono snickered a bit and replied, "Manuel's a bit of a pisser, he liked being a bloody fool and creeping everyone out. His power is empathy, so he likes to play with your emotions if you're not paying attention."
"Charming," Jubilee muttered. "What about his girlfriend? Is she some sort of vampire and feeds only on innocents?" She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Jubilee could have sworn that if Jono had a mouth he would be grinning. "Not quite that bad. Jennifer changes luck."
"So if you get on her bad side stay out of the casinos?"
"Funny you should say that. . . Her father owns a casino."
"Bet her never had a problem with anyone winning too much."
"HAH!" Jono laughed, his fiery face expanding slightly.
"Fssstt!" Hissed a voice. "SparkleMouthBoy make fur stand on end!"
Jubilee turned to find herself face to face with a purple feline creature. She gasped at the suddenness of having two bright yellow eyes looking into hers and staggered back. "Yow!"
"I believe the appropriate phrase for the moment would actually be 'meow'. Jubilee, this is Catseye. Catseye, this is Jubilee," He indicated the cat-girl with a wave of his hand. "She's a human with the ability to turn into a cat-"
Catseye snorted. "SparkleMouthBoy wrong again."
He rolled his eyes and gave a mental sigh. "Sorry. She's a cat that can turn into a human." He added so that only Jubilee could hear, "She's nuts. I'm not sure why Ms. Frost keeps her around. She was actually raised by cats and thinks she's one of them. She's sweet, but she's just a little off, you know?"
Jubilee suppressed the urge to burst out laughing. "Aren't we all?" she said to him.
Catseye looked at her funny, since she had been unable to hear the rest of Jono's speech. "Allwrong?" she blinked. "YellowJacketGirl funny one."
Jono chuckled at her. "She is, isn't she?" he said to Catseye.
Jubilee glared at him. "Bite me SparkleMouthBoy," she said.
Jono's expression turned to one of hurt. Jubilee looked taken aback, unsure of why he had reacted that way. Then she looked at the swirling mass of golden fire again and said, "Oh, I didn't mean it like that! I mean I did mean it like that but I didn't mean to point out that you have no mouth. . ."
As she continued stammering lame excuses and then finally gave up, throwing her arms into the air and saying, "Aw hell, if you can't take it as a joke or my apologizes for being an insensitive ass then it's true what they say and all you Brits have sticks up your behinds."
"Hah! You Americans think we're all a lot of ruddy stiffs but the truth is we just can't stand listening to you brag all the time. 'We beat you in the Revolution, we saved your behind in the World Wars. . .' I mean really, don't you people know when to sod off?"
"Hey, you guys were the ones all like 'Hey, you're related to one of our people, you have to come fight for us' in 1812!" Jubilee countered.
"Yes, but that doesn't excuse the years of acting like a nation of children afterwards," He said.
"Children? Excuses me? Who's acting like the-" she blinked, then paused. "You're baiting me!"
Jono's eyes glittered. "Maybe just a little."
Jubilee glared at him. "You want me to prove your point? Okay then." She rolled up her sleeves and made a fist. "I can be childish. You and me, right now! I'm not afraid of you or your sparkle-mouth!"
"Right-O then, I've been wanting to give someone a good thrashing," He said balling up both of his hands and assuming a ready position.
"Ah, crazy!" Catseye said, throwing in her assessment of the situation.
The two of them stood there, glaring daggers at each other, until they both burst out laughing. Jono's telekinetic chest reacted to it by making small explosions every time he laughed. Catseye hissed and ran away from them on all fours which caused the two to laugh louder. After they had clamed down Jubilee shook her head and looked up at him.
"I don't get it. How di people like you and her wind up schooling with people like Manuel and 'Roulette'? Or for that matter, going to a school run by a woman who's name is as cold as what I've see of her nature? She creeps me out."
"Aw, she's not so bad," Jono said, but it almost sounded as if he was being fed the lines. "She's helped me adjust to my new situation and I really appreciate that. And she's been like a mother to Catseye."
"Humph! She strikes me more as the Evil Stepmother type."
"She comes across as a bit strict and cold, but seriously, she's a good headmistress," he protested.
"All right, I'll just have to take your word for it, because I'm not sticking around to find out," Jubilee said.
Jono's eyes widened. "What? you're not going to stay?"
"Present company excluded I haven't been thrilled with the folks around here- although that guy Skin was kinda funny. . .in an annoying sort of way. . . And I just don't like Frost," she shrugged. "Besides, I have a lot of friends over at my other school that I want to return to."
Jubilee could almost see Jono frowning. "I don't think anyone's ever refused Miss. Frost. She's not a woman to take defeat lightly."
"Well, I'm sure she'll get over it," Jubilee said. "Listen, it was great meeting you-" she scribbled her e-mail address on a piece of paper, "- here's my contact information. Keep in touch that way or drop me a line," she tapped her temple.
Jono still looked like he was frowning. "You sure you aren't going to stay?"
Jubilee's brow knitted in confusion. "What does it matter? Hey, it doesn't have anything to do with you. I- I'm happy where I was and I really, really want to go back there. Sure my parents will mope about it, but they'll cave in. I just have to work on them."
"If you're sure then," Jono said, mentally sighing. He held out his hand. "I had a jolly good time. You made me laugh. Quite an accomplishment, since all of us Brits have sticks up our butts."
Jubilee shook his hand. "You're a fun Brit. Your stick must have broken."
Jono laughed again, then led her back to Emma Frost's office.
*
As the fields of Russia raced below the Blackbird the dread that had gripped Peter Rasputin's heart since his mother said the words 'it is horrible' tripled with each passing minute. Warren eyed him nervously. If they didn't land soon Warren worried that Peter would jump out of the jet and take off for home on foot.
Indeed, when the Rasputins' farm came into view below and Storm began bringing the jet around in a landing pattern, Peter unbuckled his restraints and stood up. The professor felt his anxiety building up to the breaking point and beyond as Peter saw two small figures come out of the farmhouse.
"Warren, do you think you could carry someone of Peter's size down to the ground from here? It might take us a while before we find a suitable landing spot," the professor said, with a extra Before he does something extreme, that only Warren could hear.
"As long as he stays in human form I should be able to manage it," Warren said. Peter gave a relieved sigh. They went into the back of the jet, shut the security doors, and then Storm popped open the cargo door using the frontal controls.
"Try not to squirm," Warren advised Peter. He wrapped his arms around Peter's torso and jumped out of the jet.
They dropped down sharply before Warren caught an air current that made their tenuous flight more stable. Warren strained to hold onto the larger teen. Their descent was still too fast. Warren struggled to get the upper hand.
"Let me go comrade!"
Warren looked down at Peter and shouted "Are you insane?"
"Do it!"
Warren shook his head, but then Peter whipped an elbow up into the soft part of his stomach. The air left Warren's lungs with a whoosh and stunned him enough so that he dropped Peter.
"No!" Warren gasped as Peter assumed steel form and began dropping to the ground as if he was made of lead. He flattened his wings to his back and dove towards the ground, but his speed was not nearly fast enough to catch the other teen. He heard a muffled BOOM and saw a cloud of dirt rise where Peter would have hit.
"Madman!" Warren cried out as he landed. A man and a woman were rushing over towards the crater. They were both shouting in what he could only assume was Russian. Warren was struck by a horrible thought. How could he explain to the professor and Peter's parents that Peter had gone headfirst into the ground of his own accord?
Peter's father jumped into the crater and both Warren and Peter's mother peered over the side. Warren's jaw fell a good three inches when his eyes revealed to him the result of Peter's mad dive. Peter was dusting off his metal form while being (as far as Warren could tell) lectured loudly but his father in rapid Russian. Peter made a some sort of reply and his father retorted, and smacked him on the back of the head. He then grabbed his hand in pain, laughing and moaning. Peter helped his father out of the crater.
Peter's father addressed Warren and said something.
"He is apologizing for my actions. He sez that I must hev given you twice az big a heart attack az I gave him," Peter said.
"And what did he say down in the crater?"
"He told me that I was crazy and asked meh whatever possessed me to try and make it to deh ground weethout a parachute. I told him I had a thick skull, so he smacked meh- then he had to agree that it was true," Peter said with a faint smile. He hugged his parents and began conversing with them.
Warren frowned. Besides the occasional name that Warren recognized he was left in the dark as to what they were saying until Xavier landed the jet a few minutes later. The professor gave everyone a crash course in Russian psychically so they knew enough to follow along. The Rasputins took Xavier to where Illyana had last been seen and without warning Storm shuddered and backed away.
"Ororo, what is it?" the professor asked.
"I- I do not know Charles. Something- something has greatly disturbed the balance of nature in this spot." She closed her eyes. "I feel- I feel like the earth has been ripped open. . . "
"I don't feel any disturbances," Amara said. "If something was wrong with the earth I would have felt it too."
"Then something has disturbed nature here to say the least," Ororo amended.
Sam immediately noticed Xavier's facial expression change. The professor flung an arm out and shouted "Scatter!"
Storm had hardly opened her mouth to ask why when a huge hole opened in the air nearby her. A girl, who could not be older than eleven, tumbled out of the hole, a huge demon following on her heels. The girl screamed "PITOR!" as she saw Peter, and if there was any doubt in any of the X-men's minds who she was the simultaneous shouts of "ILLYANA!" by both her parents and Peter put them to rest. Ororo grabbed the girl and attempted to fly away with her but the demon's claws raked along her back and she screamed in pain and fell to earth.
"Illyana! Storm!" Peter shouted, running at the demon and tackling it spectacularly. Amara immediately flared up and Sam began blasting towards the fray. The frantic Illyana, who looked disheveled to begin with looked even worse as she tried to crawl out from under Ororo's limp form away from the pursuing demon.
Xavier reached for the girl's mind to tell her what to do but she was scared, confused and panicked all ready and reacted violently to hearing a voice inside her head. Xavier withdrew but not without gleaning some confusing information from the girl's mind.
Warren grabbed a pitchfork that was lying on the ground discarded and whooped "Try some of you own medicine!" He flew over the creature and threw the pitchfork at it. It lodged in the demon's shoulders and this, combined with the blows being delivered by Illyana's enraged older brother and Sam and Amara throwing themselves into the battle caused the demon to step back.
"YOU- WILL- NOT- TOUCH- MY- SISTER!" Peter bellowed, punctuating each word with a punch that was stronger than its predecessor.
A voice cut through the battle and the demon suddenly ceased hostilities and retreated through the hole it had arrived in. Then, moments later, a red-skinned, horned man and a purple brute of a demon hulk made their way through the hole. Ororo stirred and stood up, and Sam and Amara helped her over towards Xavier. Warren made a move to pull Peter away but Peter grabbed his sister first and yanked her back. The man looked at Ororo and spoke to her in a tongue that was more hisses and whispers than actual words. Upon seeing the bemused expression on her face the man spoke again. "You are not the same woman," he said simply. "That will make this much easier."
Peter stepped in front of his sister. "Who are you?!"
The purple brute snarled. "Hold your tongue, boy! You are talking to the ruler of Limbo, the Lord Belasco!"
The man shot a disapproving glare at the purple demon. "Quiet. I will deal with this on my own." He looked at Warren for a moment, examining his wings, and then shook his head. "You are of no consequence either, Angel. The girl is mine," he said to Peter. "Give her to me."
"Never!" Peter shouted in defiance.
"Very well," he responded lightly. He spit out three words in quick succession. They were more like rasping noises than actual words, but following them a storm of fire raged up around Colossus.
Illyana screamed and wrenched away from Warren, who was trying to hold her back. A sword manifested in her hands and she lunged at Belasco. The big purple demon intercepted her, but she slashed his hand with her weapon and he dropped her, howling. Belasco, looking more and more irate by the second shouted more words and a small army on miniature demons swarmed out of the warp hole he had entered by. They swarmed the X-Men as Belasco grabbed Illyana himself. She swiped at him with the sword but he nimbly evaded it and struck her on the back of the head. Her whole body went limp and he dropped her. The purple demon picked the girl up and headed back towards the hole.
Colossus desperately tried to beat his way through the demons before the large purple demon got back through the hole. "Illyana!" he cried.
Storm rose into the air, lightning flashing around her. "Be gone wretched demons!" as she shrieked this, lightning crashed down to earth, frying demons left and right.
Belasco took one look at her and laughed. "Save your strength Wind-Rider." He gestured towards the purple demon, who had all ready entered the portal. "It's over."
Storm shouted and threw a lightning bolt at him, but he simply laughed and came away from it unscathed. He chuckled as he entered he portal muttering about different realities. As he stepped inside the army of demons dissipated. Colossus charged the portal. He was unsuccessful- the portal closed before he was able to get to it. He crashed into the dirt face-first and Warren rushed over to help him up.
"Illyana!" Peter moaned. "No!" he shoved Warren away. "Illyana-!"
"Peter-" the professor said slowly. "I know this is hard for you, but your sister is no longer in this world. That's why I couldn't sense her using Cerebro before, as I can't sense her now."
Peter stood up and gripped the handles on Xavier's wheelchair. "How do we get to the other world?!"
"We can't. I suspect that Illyana's powers have manifested- and resulted in some sort of inter dimensional teleportation. She's trapped beyond our reach," the Professor said quietly.
Peter roared in anger and picked Xavier up by the collar. "Don't tell meh that! We have all these powers and you're telling me we're goink to sit here and let my sister die?!"
"Peter!" Ororo cried, "Put him down! WE will not be abandoning your sister! You know we will do all in our power to bring her back- but I do not feel that rift anymore. Before I could. It's gone now."
Peter let go of the professor and looked at his horrified parents that had watched everything from a safe distance. "What am I to tell them professor? That we failed?"
"No, that we will try everything in our power to get her back. And we will Peter. You know that," The professor looked at him seriously.
"Yes. Yes, I do." Peter mumbled. He began going towards his parents, and Amara and Sam exchanged looks and went after him. Warren trailed behind them. Xavier paused a moment, closing his eyes.
"What is it Charles?" Ororo asked, sensing his unease.
"It's- I can't understand-" He paused, collected his thoughts, and began again. "According to Peter his sister has been missing for several days, but in the brief period of time I was in contact mentally with Illyana I picked up on the thought that she had not seen home in a least a month and a half."
"That makes no sense."
"Exactly my point," Xavier said seriously. "Whatever world she is in, time appears to pass at a different rate than in our world. If we do see Illyana again- who knows what age she will be. I'm not sure if I should tell Peter and his parents this or not."
"Perhaps not. If Illyana does come back and she is not the girl they remember who says that won't hurt them more than losing her?" Ororo said quietly, looking at the three Rasputins embracing.
"You're probably right," Charles said, heaving a sigh. "I just wish I could do something more for them."
Ororo patted him on the back and helped him wheel his chair over to the distraught Rasputin family. He offered his condolences and his promises to never stop trying to find a way to help Illyana. They tearfully thanked him. They invited Xavier, Ororo and the rest of the students inside for lunch, and after that the X-Men boarded the Blackbird and began the long, silent flight back to the states.
*
Jono had long gone, and with him so did any sense of security Jubilee had. She was alone in Emma Frost's immaculate office. Alone, with the exception of the Ice Queen herself. Jubilee's hands twitched in her lap and wrung a corner of her yellow jacket.
"Your parents and I had a lovely chat," Emma said to her as she gently fingered the rim of a crystal glass filled with wine. "They want you to start here as soon as possible, given, of course, your consent," she seemed to roll the last two words across her tongue as if it was sour. "I suppose Jonothan gave you the full tour?"
"Yes, but-"
"And the facilities were adequate?"
"Yes, however-"
"And the other students were to your liking?"
"Most of them, still-"
"Then," Frost said with a smile, "you must be ready to join us."
Jubilee, irked by the Headmistress' severe lack of ability to care about what she thought, snapped. "No! I don't want to 'join you'! I want to go back to Xavier's!" she protested.
Emma didn't seem too phased by the response. She sipped her wine delicately and looked at the girl with her piercing blue eyes. "Is that so? Are you sure?"
"YES!" Jubilee said in a flurry of passion. "Positive! I have friends at Xavier's. . . some of the people here are way too creepy! Jono's cool and Catseye, and even that Proudstar kid for the all of three seconds I saw him- but the others give me the chills!"
And so do I, don't I?
Jubilee froze. Frost's voice had been clear as crystal to her but Frost hadn't opened her mouth. She remembered suddenly what Jono had said when she mentioned that Xavier was a telepath. "Ah. Well, then, you should get along fine here." He hadn't been talking about himself! he had been talking about Frost!
It took you long enough to put two and two together. I suppose Xavier doesn't teach much common sense at his little school now does he? Frost said to her.
Xavier's a hundred times better than you! Jubilee thought back at her violently. And I'm going back there! I wouldn't stay here if you paid me!
A grin spread across Frost's features. Who said you had a choice?
Jubilee went pale. "W- w- what are you talking about?" she stammered out loud, totally caught off guard.
I'm a telepath my dear.
Jubilee was going to say something more when she felt he mind being bombarded with thoughts and feelings that weren't really hers. She screamed silently and then passed out on the floor. Ms. Frost stood up and pushed a buzzer on her desk. "Jonothan? Could you please come here and help Miss. Lee? It appears that she has had a dizzy spell and fainted."
Jono entered the rooms slowly in an almost zombie-like manner. He looked at Jubilee's limp form and a strange expression crossed his face. Frost rounded on him as he hesitated.
"Mr. Starsmore," she said flatly and firmly. Jono shuddered and picked up Jubilee and led her out of the room.
"Another lovely catch Ms. Frost," said the boy called Manuel or Empath. "Do you suppose Xavier and his little group of misfits will come looking for her though?"
"Not for a while," Frost said, sipping her drink once more. "But eventually they will. And we will be ready for them." She smiled and laughed briefly. "They won't stand a chance."
*
Logan was drinking a cup of coffee and glancing at the paper in the kitchen. Over on the windowsill sat Kitty, lightly plunking away at her laptop keys. They tended to have 'breakfast' together like this nowadays. Charles and Ororo and the rest of the folks that went to Russia were due back any time, and Wolverine was waiting to hear the sounds of the jet landing when all of a sudden the alarms went off. "RRRaaag!" he shouted, plunging a finger in each ear. "What the hell?!"
Kitty nearly phased through the windowsill. "Is someone, like, trying to break in?" she gasped.
"I- don't- know-" Logan grunted. The two made their way to Xavier's office and looked at the surveillance cameras.
Outside a young woman with flowing blonde hair and a full suit of armor was making a mockery of the laser guns that were supposed to deter intruders. She used a sword to deflect the lasers back upon the originating guns, effectively destroying them. Wolverine grunted. "Crap! What the hell is she, some sort of Jedi?" he grumbled. "This is ridiculous!"
Another warning began flashing on the screen, telling them that the professor and the others had returned. "I'll, like, find the professor and tell him what's up!" Kitty said, phasing down into the lower levels of the mansion. Wolverine nodded at where she had been.
"Smart thinkin' half pint," he growled. Popping both sets of claws he began charging towards the front lawn. "I'll be the welcoming committee for Jedi girl."
He got outside just as the girl destroyed the last gun turret. He growled at her. She held her sword at the ready and glared at him with cold determination. Like a bull he charged her, and she straightened up and bellowed.
A pentagon appeared in midair and suddenly a demon stepped out from a blazing portal. It swatted Wolverine like a bug and he went flying back into a statue. "UGH!" he grunted. He shook his head and looked up. The girl stood over him, demon no where to be seen, but she was pressing her sword to his throat.
"Where is Pitor Rasputin?" she said flatly. "I'm only going to ask you once."
Wolverine snarled and lunged at her despite the sword. She was stunned by this action, seeing as now her weapon impaled his windpipe but he didn't seem all too concerned. She staggered backwards as he pulled the sword from his throat. He leapt at her and pinned her to the ground, eyes flashing with fury and pressed his claws to either side of her head. She gasped out another word and he felt himself being tugged off by his demon friend. The demon pinned him down and snarled in his face. Wolverine tried to slash at it, but his arms weren't at the right angles to get any leverage. The girl scrambled for her sword, recovered it and looked down at Wolverine. "You're a mutant."
Wolverine, unable to speak because his vocal chords hadn't healed properly yet gave her a look that read 'tell me something I don't know'. Suddenly there were shouts from across the lawn.
"Mr. Logan!" Kitty cried. "Don't hurt him!" she nailed the girl with a flying tackle. Ororo gasped as she saw the large demon.
"Not again!" Warren moaned.
Peter, who had been very subdued for the past few hours, flared up. "I will deh-stroy it!" he shouted, swiftly transforming.
"WAIT!" Xavier shouted mentally and verbally. "Kitty, unhand that girl! Peter, hold off on the attack!"
"But professor!" they both began to argue.
"Just listen to me!"
Kitty reluctantly got off of the blonde. She stood, dusted herself off, and waved. The demon disappeared. She turned and saw Xavier and her expression changed. "You-! I saw you six years ago in Russia. When I tried to escape." she looked him over. "You don't seem to have changed all that much- where's my bother?! He was with you that day!"
"Please, Illyana, slow down," the professor said.
The whole crowd of X-Men did a double take. Peter said, "Illyana?! No, it cannot be!" and walked over to her slowly. "But- we just saw you a few hours ago- you were taken away from us by demons!"
"Hours?" Illyana blinked. "You mean years! I was in Limbo for six years after that day!"
Ororo looked at Xavier. "Hours for us, but six years for her!" she shook her head. "What an ordeal!"
Illyana picked up on what Ororo was saying. "Wait- how long have I been missing here?"
"Three days at most," Xavier said to her.
Illyana looked thunderstruck. "Three days?! That's it?!" she looked towards her brother, who nodded. "I- I can't believe it. . ."
"It's going to take some getting used to, for you and your family," Xavier told her gently.
"Are you kidding me?! It's going to be insane! First I have to tell my parents that I'm a mutant and then explain to them that I'm sixteen. . . when the legally I'm still ten!" Illyana said. "I can't believe this!"
She would have gone on, but suddenly Peter took her up in a big bear hug, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Everythink is goink to beh all right Illyana. You're okay and that's what matters. Even momma and papa will know this is true."
Illyana relaxed and hugged her brother back. Charles looked at the both of them and murmured, "Well, I suppose we have to set up another bedroom and make a phone call to the Rasputins. this is going to be hard to explain."
"That's why I'm glad you make all the phone calls Chuck," Logan rasped in an extra horse voice.
Charles sighed. "Nothing can ever be simple when one lives with a bunch of mutants." He felt a light buzzing in the back of his head and looked about in confusion. "Funny. . ." he muttered as the buzz went away. "That felt familiar. . ."
*
Jubilee waved good-bye to her parents from the front steps of the Academy. She was flanked by Jono and Ms. Frost, who were also waving. As Jubilee's parents sped out of sight Frost squeezed her shoulder and smiled. "You'll feel right at home here in no time at all," she said.
Jubilee smiled back. "I'm sure!" she said enthusiastically. For a moment she looked puzzled. Ms. Frost closed her eyes for a second, then Jubilee's face cleared.
"Why don't you and Mr. Starsmore go a few rounds in the training room. I doubt your parents allowed you to practice with your powers in the house."
Jubilee nodded and grabbed Jono's arm. "Come on!" she said. Jono allowed himself to be pulled along and Frost looked out over the horizon to see the rising sun.
"You just wait Charles Xavier. The Hellfire Club has plans for you and your X-Men. Plans," she said, glancing briefly at the retreating teenagers, "that will rip your students out from under you."
She turned on one heel and went back into the school, two guards closing the doors behind her.
The End
Author's note: I hope I did a Russian accent justice. As you can see this has more foreshadowing ^_^!! You're just going to have to wait to see what develops there. I've got a few ideas for the next episode, which might be a two part-er. If it is expect a lot of action!
A special shout out to those of you who are sticking with the story and reviewing every chapter. Another shout out to those of you who have discovered this story and started reviewing each chapter. And if there is anyone out there reading this story faithfully but not reviewing a shout out to you too- and an order- REVIEW!!! PLEASE!!.