Chapter 4

Alexander watched the mansion from his perch across the courtyard. He frowned internally, as he saw that some of the targets were not present. He decided that this time, he would wait, and use a more strategic approach. He was unsure if the mutant called Wolverine was killable, he had wasted too much time the last time fighting him. He waited for one of the easier targets to approach. He watched quietly as the young girl who had disabled him the last time left the mansion's haven to water some flowers in the garden.

Alexander quietly moved from his hiding spot, creeping up behind the young woman. as he neared her, he reached out, grabbing for her. His hands closed around her shoulders and he pulled her back, before shoving her foward. The momentum of the push shot her near the cement flower pot she had been tending. Just as she approached she passed through, tumbling to the other side. Alexander leapt over the pot, blades extending mid-leap and sliced through her mid-section. The blade passed through her with frustrating ease. She screamed for help, turning to run away. Alexander kept up with her, cursing himself, as they got closer to the mansion. The wind around him suddenly picked up, thunder echoed through the sky. Alexander turned from his prey to face the mutant Storm. He was certain that the witch's powers held no effect on him, until the relatively small tornado picked him up and launched him into the side of the mansion.

Alexander hit the wall with a slight grunt, before sliding down and slumping to the ground. He groaned, and activated his armor. While it didn't make him much heavier, the metallic skin was heavier then his flesh. He stood, hopping that the added wait would keep him on the ground, before running full speed directly at his foe. Storm's eyes widened at his speed, and she tried desperately to avoid the attack that was eminent. Losing her concentration, the storm around them died. Alexander launched his fist foward, connecting solidly with her stomach. She grunted in pain as her body doubled around his fist. He pulled his arm away, and Storm fell breathlessly to her knees. Alexander looked down at her, a sick grin crossing his lips. A shkkt sounded as his forearm blade extended. He raised his hand, about to deliver a killing blow.

A small voice inside Alexander raged against the action he was about to take. Though the distraction was short, it proved enough to save Storm's life. A moment after the blade would have fallen, A yellow and blue blur impacted with Alexander, sending him, and the blur, tumbling back in a flurry of powerful blows. In his classic Berserker rage, Logan tore into Alexander. He punched, kicked, clawed and bit anything that came in range. Alexander, for his part, merely hit back at his leisure, his armor absorbing most of the blows. A lucky hit landed on Alexanders temple, scoring a line down the metallic surface of Alexander's face. While it did no damage to Alexander himself, the visor he wore was shredded. Leaping back, he took Wolverine in once more, his now naked eyes glaring at the regenerating mutant. Wolverine had not come out of the battle unscathed, several deep puncture wounds, mostly healed, were shown through the tatters of his costume.

Just as they were about to begin their battle once more, Alexander stiffened. Confusion crossed his features as he tried to move but found himself unable to. A moment later, his body began to rise off the ground. A slow, steady clapping echoed through the mid-day sky.

"Oh, Bravo," A voice came. "Anyone who can make our dear Logan this angry, can't be all bad, right?" Magneto stepped into Alexander's line of sight.

"Eric," Logan growled.

"Oh do calm down, Wolverine. Charles phoned, he asked me if I would be willing to help. I agreed. Now... what to do with this marvel of modern technology." Eric said, a dangerous hint to his voice. Alexander groaned as he felt his limbs stretching. "All that metal, to fight mutants? I must say, I am vastly hurt. Did you're government forget about me boy? I suppose I must send them a message to make them remember."

"Eric, stop." Charles Xavier said, as he wheeled out onto the porch of the mansion.

"Why? After all this, you still don't believe that I am right? Charles, they will never leave us alone." Magneto said.

"That is beside the point. That boy is here against his will, Eric. Will we force those who have no say to pay for the crimes of those that do?" Charles asked. "Extend you're senses, there is something inside that boy that has removed his freewill."

"I don't care Charles, they need to be taught a lesson." Eric said.

"That boy has spent years fighting the darkness, the darkness we both know doesn't care if one is mutant or human." Charles said. Eric looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Fine, Charles. You win. I will help the boy." Eric Magnus said, concentrating for moment. "This is going to hurt, child. It is going to hurt very much."

A moment later a small metallic object burst from the back of Alexander's skull. A grunt of pain followed it's exit. Another moment later and another object join the first. Then with a scream of agony, a third object floated beside the other two. Xander slumped into unconsciousness while the nanites healed his battered brain and skull. Magneto, showing some humanity, ease Xander to the ground gently. The objects dissolved and the minute ashes floated to the ground.

"Now Charles, are you going to offer an old friend a cup of Tea?" Eric asked, walking towards the mansion. Wolverine picked Xander up and carried him into the mansion.

Control Room, Texas.

"Sir, we have a problem." The technician said.

"What is it now," Ross asked.

"Alexander was confronted by Eric Magnus, Sir" The tech said.

"And?" Ross asked.

"We believe Magnus has removed the chips from Alexander." The tech said.

"Wonderful," Ross said.

Xander woke up slowly. The first thing he noticed was his head was throbbing. He sat up, blinking a few times, as he took in his surroundings. For a moment, he had no idea where he was, a blissful moment. The next moment, the memories assaulted him. The memories of the night his life ended, what that woman and the other men did to him. The months he spent with General Ross, preparing for his attack on the X-men. The men he killed. It was all too much, and before he could stop them, tears began to pour from his eyes.

Xavier watched Xander break down from his position in the control room. The camera in the infirmary picked up the tell-tale sobs better then the actual tears. He was at a loss, he could not read Xander's mind, he couldn't tell what he was thinking. That made his job so much more difficult, not impossible, but much more difficult. Someone had to coach this young man through the horrors he had been forced to commit.

Xander's first thought, after he finished crying, was to bolt. He got off the hospital bed he was on, finding he had no clothes on, he searched around. In a conveniently placed closet nearby he found a set of sweat pants and a tee-shirt. Throwing them on he attempted to sneak down the hallway. He ducked around a corner just as some children came down the hall. He made it to the door, and just as he opened it, he heard a voice.

"Where ya gonna go, kid?" Logan said. Xander whirled, automatically adopting a defensive stance. Logan leaned into the corner of the walls opposite Xander. A lit cigar hung from his mouth, his burly arms crossed over his chest.

"I don't know," Xander admitted, relaxing only slightly.

"You should stay, Chuck can help you," Logan said.

"You don't know what I have done," Xander said.

"It can't be worse then what I have done kid, at least you can say you had no control over your actions." Logan countered.

"I need to figure things out," Xander said. Logan nodded, knowing how that was.

"If you ever need a place..." Logan started, to which Xander nodded, before heading out the door.

"I can't believe you just let him leave, Logan" Kitty Pryde said to the stocky man.

"You can't make someone stay, Kit, Or he won't get better. He has to come 'er cause he wants to." Wolverine said.

"Logan is right, if Alexander chooses to work his problems out alone, we will let him. However, if he becomes a threat, we will do what is necessary." Charles Xavier said.

"I hope that he stays on the path of the light," a quiet, still bruised Storm intoned.

"Me too, 'Ro. Me too." Logan agreed.

For the second time in less then a week, Xander found himself wandering the streets of New York. He was in a better state then on his previous visit, if only slightly. He took in the giant buildings, taller then the eye could see. He ignored the pollution-filled air and saw instead the beauty of the people, working together, living together. What would my life be like, he mused to himself, if I never met Buffy? If I never found out about the darkness that eats away in the night? Would I still find this place full of people as beautiful as I do now? He knew that some people did evil things, people killed each other, stole, and were generally mean. But the people who were killing others did so because they did not want to be killed. And those that stole, for the most part, stole to eat or have clothes to wear. And those who were mean, were usually mean because someone had been mean to them. A naive point of view, he conceded to himself, but when you have seen the things I have, you come to believe that there is hope for human beings.

But sometimes, in order for that hope to continue, those who kill, whose who steal, and those who treat others like shit, have to be stopped. Xander thought for a long time, I now have the power to fight the darkness, but everywhere I look, darkness is all I see. Human darkness, supernatural darkness, mutated darkness: Where does one begin? Can I hope to fight all three and survive more then a week? How do others do this? How can they handle it? It was so much easier, before. When, while what I did mattered in small ways, but had little affect on the big picture.

Xander's musings were stopped when, in broad daylight, two men mugged a woman. Dozens of witnesses turned away, acting as though nothing happened. Xander himself, was stunned into inaction. A single, small teenage stood between the men and their ultimate getaway.

"Give the lady back her purse," She said, fear evident in her voice. They barely took notice of her, as they walked by. One reached over and shoved the girl, hard, into the building beside them. They kept walking, right towards Xander. Determination settled on Xander's face.

"The young lady asked you nicely," Xander started, his eyes glinting dangerously. "I won't be so nice."

The normal hussle and bussle of New York lunch-hour continued around them, as if nothing had happened. The two thugs looked at Xander, and gave a smirk, continueing to push past him. Xander's hand closed around the wrist of the man holding the purse, tightly. The man swung his free fist at Xander's face, which he easily ducked. The other mugger roared and threw a punch at Xander, which was again evaded. The blow swept past Xander, connecting solidly into the face of the first man. In his shock the man let go of the purse, and stumbled back, holding his nose. Xander merely turned away, and walked back towards the girl who had been shoved. He helped her up slowly.

"Look out," She exclaimed, as the second thug attempted to sneak up on him. Xander didn't turn around. He held his right hand up, and the blade extended from the top of his wrist. The thug blinked, screamed like a child, and ran off.

"Mutie!" Someone on the street yelled. The words were chorused through the crowd. Great, now they notice something, Xander thought. Without a word, Xander handed the purse to the girl and walked, quickly, from the scene.

Xander found a place, away from the mob of anti-mutant New Yorkers, and sat down. He heard a noise beside him, that was slightly familiar.

"They aren't so bad once they get to know you," Spiderman said, hanging from a line upside-down, beside Xander.

"I bet," Xander said.

"I saw what you did back there, and as a citizen of New York, I would like to thank you," He said.

"No problem," Xander said, sarcasm thick in his voice.

"Look man, no one is perfect, especially not a lot of people. They are afraid of what they don't understand. They are afraid that because you can use those things to hurt people, you will. When I first came here, they hated me. They cursed my name, no thanks to the Daily Bugle." Spidey said, a lot of distaste in his voice."Now I am not going to say they all love me, but a lot of them know I am only trying to help them, and they appreciate me."

"I fail to see what any of this has to do with me," Xander interrupted.

"Well, someone once said to me 'With great power, comes great responsibility'." Spiderman said.

"I think he forgot a part, bro." Xander told him.

"Huh," Spiderman asked.

"He forgot to tell you, 'The more power you have, the bigger your problems become.'" Xander said. Spiderman didn't know what to say to that.

"So..." Spiderman said after a moment of silence.

"So..." Xander agreed.

"What did you do before you got you're power?" Spiderman asked after a moment.

"Hunted vampires," Xander said, not expecting to be believed.

"Met a guy a while back, he was into all that. Not really my thing, I do it when I come across them though." Spiderman said.

"Yea?" Xander asked.

"Yeah, his name was Blade," Spidey replied.

"Never met him," Xander said.

"Oh," Spiderman said, "So mutant huh? How is that working out for you?"

"Not a mutant," Xander replied, an edge in his voice.

"Sorry," Spiderman said, "So... how did you get you're powers?"

"Government experiment, you?" Xander said.

"Radioactive Spider." Spidey said.

"Ahh, hate that," Xander said.

"Yeah..." Spidey replied. A woman screamed in the distance, Spiderman looked in that direction. "Duty calls," he said, and then he was gone.

Xander sat for some time, thinking about what Spiderman had said.

Scott Summers, also known as Cyclops, watched in awe as his cousin tore into a vampire, then in shock as it disappeared into dust. Shortly after their discussion of Xander, Scott had asked Buffy if he could patrol with her, to see what vampire hunting was like. Buffy agreed after a while, reluctantly. Of course, Rogue and Gambit had come as well, and Gambit was mumbling about 'never pissing her off' under his breath.

"And that, my friends was a vampire." Buffy said, dusting herself off. The three mutants just stared, open mouthed.

"Wow," Scott said after a moment.

"Wow," Gambit agreed.

"Wow," Rogue summarized.

"That about covered it," Buffy concluded.

Xander wasn't sure how much later it was, the sun had long since disappeared over the horizon, when he found himself standing in front of the mansion. He walked slowly, deliberately towards the door, before reaching up to knock.

"I knew ya'd come back," Logans voice assailed him before he had the chance to knock.

"What can I say man, you're a genius." Xander said sarcastically.

"Flattery will get ya everywhere, kid," Logan said, his cigar bobbing as he spoke.

"I only plan on staying one night," Xander said, looking at Logan. "If that is alright, I mean."

"Chuck said you're welcome whenever you want, kid. But, I wanna know, what ya gonna do after tonight?" Logan asked.

"I'm going on a road trip, to pay a visit to some old friends," Xander said, anger swelling in his voice.