A Night On The Town

Two nights later…

"Well other than Jubilee's little shoot 'em up adventure we haven't seen any mutants here," Tabitha groaned. The girls were on a night out again. This time Jubilee was driving.

"Come on guys," Paige said. "It's not like this trip was a total loss. We got to hang out at the beach and see the sights."

"Speaking of sights," Rina noticed something. "Is that who I think it is?"

"Shane? So it is," Jubilee pulled the car over. Shane was dressed up in a more snazzy blue shirt and gold chains. "Hey."

"Right on time I see," Shane grinned.

"What is he doing here?" Kitty asked.

"I kind of invited him," Jubilee admitted. "He called me the other night. Wanted to make it up to me so…"

"How did he get your number?" Tabitha asked.

"There's this amazing invention," Shane looked at her. "It's called a phone book."

"Come on guys give him a chance," Jubilee said. "I mean we all put up with Lance."

"She's got a point," Danielle admitted.

"I know a place where we can have some fun," Shane told them. "Come on, you girls wanna dance?"

"Now you are speaking my language," Tabitha grinned. "Lead the way."

Soon Shane and the girls were standing on the streets waiting to get into an under 21 nightclub. "Evo-Motion?" Amara asked. "Is this a mutant hangout?"

"Believe it or not there are some streets in LA that are mutant friendly," Shane told them. "You just gotta know the territory."

"I gotta admit, you came through for us Shane," Kitty blinked as she noticed one of the bouncers had horns and a tail.

"Yeah well there are a lot of norms that like to play dress up too," Shane coughed. "So don't go recruiting for every mutant you see."

"Right now my mind is on dancing, not work," Tabitha admitted.

"Your mind is never on work," Rahne told her.

"True but what kind of mutant would want to work on a night like this?" Tabitha grinned.

Meanwhile on that very street…

"I swear my sisters are the most irresponsible…" Althea cursed under her breath. The Misfits were on foot looking for the Runaways. The younger girls were left behind at the Pit. "Working our butts off walking all over town…"

"Don't be too mad at 'em Al," Lance said. "To be honest I probably would have done the same thing."

"Yeah it does kind of bite that we've been sent to do to them what the adults have been trying to do," Pietro agreed. "Think about it."

"I have," Althea said. "I'm not crazy about it either, but that's our mission. We don't have a choice. Besides those kids are rank amateurs. You saw what happened the other night. What if we weren't there?"

"The street wouldn't have blown up?" Fred asked.

"Besides that Fred," Althea sighed. "I just have this bad feeling these kids are headed for something they can't handle."

"I know but…" Lance sighed. "I also know exactly what they're going through. I didn't want anybody to split the Brotherhood up or send us back into the foster care system."

"Maybe we can work something out?" Angelica asked. "Persuade them to join the Misfits?"

"Yeah, no offense guys but we could use a few more humans on the team," Arcade said.

"None taken," Xi nodded. "We are supposed to represent humans and mutants working together."

"At least that's one thing we've got up on the X-Men," Lance agreed. "I may not trust all humans but at least I'm willing to work with 'em. Well now anyway."

"Speaking of which…" Pietro noticed something. "You guys are not going to believe this. Look over there."

"Hey guys!" Angelica called out to the X-Girls. "Over here!"

"Is that who I think it is?" Amara looked at the approaching mutants.

"It figures," Jubilee sighed.

"Is there ever a place we can go where they won't follow?" Rina asked.

"Not a chance," Tabitha rolled her eyes.

"Who?" Shane turned around. "Oh no…"

"Hey! Kitty!" Lance bounded over. "Funny meeting…YOU!"

"Well look who we've found with the X-Girls," Pietro snickered.

"You know these maniacs?" Shane asked Jubilee.

"Unfortunately," Jubilee folded her arms. "What are you guys doing here this time? What there weren't enough people at the Institute for you to annoy?"

"Weren't there anyone else besides wanted felons for you to hook up with?" Pietro scoffed.

"What?" Kitty glared at Shane.

"It's hit the fan now…" Shane groaned. "Uh…I just remembered I gotta…"

"What did he do?" Kitty asked.

"He and his gang got caught in the crossfire between us and the Runaways when tried to steal from some warehouse!" Lance told her.

"Warehouse?" Jubilee glared at Shane. "Is that why those guys were trying to kill you the other night?"

"They were members from a rival crew," Shane admitted. "Just a little turf war that's all."

"The cops got a file on you a mile long," Pietro told him.

"Sounds like it almost rivals your police record," Kitty said.

"You're friends with Army mutants?" Shane was shocked.

"Depends on your definition of friends," Jubilee sighed.

"What's wrong with Army mutants?" Althea asked.

"Besides the fact that you're all led around by a leash?" Shane snarled. "You're like some kind of pets."

"Keep talking and you'll see how domesticated I really am," Althea got in his face.

"Would you guys just chill out?" Jubilee got between them.

"She's right," Angelica said. "Why don't we just take a break?"

"Why not?" Althea sighed. "This night is a bust anyway."

"You mean we are not taking him into custody?" Xi pointed at Shane.

"Let's just say he's lucky the adults aren't here," Althea shrugged. "Besides we're supposed to be hunting the Runaways. Not petty thugs."

"Seeing is how you're not arresting me or anything I'll let that slide," Shane grumbled. "Besides I hope you do get those nutcases. Half the crimes in town have been ruined because of them. And because of that little fracas the other night, half my gang is either in jail or on some kind of religious conversion trip."

"Oh then we're definitely taking our time to find them," Pietro grinned. "Come on, let's go inside!"

Soon the gang was inside. Although the situation was tense between the groups, it was quickly forgotten as several of the mutants decided to dance instead of fight. Althea and Todd were dancing up a storm.

Shane was dancing with Jubilee when Kitty grabbed her and took off to the bathroom. Lance walked up to him. "They're going to be gossiping about us for hours you know?""

"Yeah I figured that," Shane looked. "You're Lance right?"

"Yup," Lance nodded. "Why what have you heard?"

"A lot," Shane snickered.

"Great," Lance rolled his eyes.

"Well at least you're not half as uptight as your leader here," Shane pointed.

"I wouldn't knock the Army around Althea if I were you," Lance folded his arms. "She was raised on an army base. The Joes are like family to her and she's proud of what she is."

"In other words she doesn't know of any other type of life huh?" Shane cocked his head. "What about the rest of you?"

"Simple, the Joes took us in when the rest of the world shut us out," Lance explained.

"So you owe 'em huh? Guess I can understand that," Shane shrugged. "Still wouldn't wanna be one of you."

"So you wanna be an X-Man and join up with the Institute?" Lance raised an eyebrow.

"What gave you that idea?"

"The way you're looking at Jubilee," Lance pointed out. "You've got it bad."

"Man you don't know what you're talking about," Shane grunted and turned away.

"Oh yes I do," Lance laughed. "Believe me, I am an expert on this subject. I once joined the X-Men in order to get closer to Kitty. Man was that a mistake!"

"What too hard for you?"

"Actually there were a lot of trust issues," Lance admitted. "Not to mention a little incident with the Air Force and the X-Jet."

"What?"

"Don't ask, it's a long story," Lance groaned.

"So how come you ended up in the army?"

"Another long story," Lance waved. "In my case I was whacked out on drugs Magneto pumped me up with."

"I know that guy," Shane frowned. "Tried to get me to sign up. Told him no thanks. I don't take orders. I give 'em."

"Smart move," Lance growled. "So he was trying to recruit you and just let you go? Doesn't sound like him."

"Well I had a few friends with me at the time who wanted to go with him," Shane sighed. "Magneto must have figured three outta four wasn't bad. I guess I can't blame 'em for joining up. They had it really hard being mutants."

"Yeah things ain't exactly a bed of roses right now," Lance sighed.

"You know the saying," Pietro skidded up to them. "When life gives you lemons, smash them in your rivals' face. Which is what Misfits do best."

"Got tired of all the girls shooting you down," Lance folded his arms.

"Speaking of shooting," Pietro looked at Shane. "What was all that about the other night?"

"Subtle ain't he?" Shane looked at Lance.

"He's also Magneto's son," Lance told him. "Which pretty much explains everything."

"Look I was trying to take down this other gang leader who was working for this Chinese dude who's trying to take over for the Pryde," Shane told them.

"Him and every other guy in LA," Pietro snorted.

"Exactly," Shane nodded. "We were just gonna steal a few things. You know make a dent in his operation."

"Speaking of dents…" Someone growled. Shane turned around and saw several large thugs behind him. "Been looking for you Shooter."

"Well now you found him," Pietro mocked. "Maybe you can find Waldo now?"

"You think you're so special creep?" One snarled.

"Mommy always said I was special," Pietro used his super speed to give one of the gang members a wedgie. "Ha ha! HEY!"

Suddenly Pietro was lifted up into the air. "So did mine," Another gang member with glowing eyes telekinetically lifted him into the air.

"Oh crap…" Pietro gulped.

"Put him down!" Lance growled.

"Or what?" Another gang member sneered.

"Or I rock your world," Lance grinned an evil grin.

Meanwhile on the other side of the club the other Misfits were oblivious to Pietro's plight. "I tell you how long does it take a guy to go to the bathroom?" Althea grunted.

"Well look who else has showed up!" Wanda pointed. Two of the Runaways, Gert and Chase were in a corner. "Guess tonight wasn't such a bust after all!"

"Looks like they're on a date," Althea said. "Which means it's a perfect time to talk to them. Let's go."

Before they could get any closer someone flew right past them. That someone was Pietro. "Yikes!"

"Ow…" He shook his head as he sat up.

"Pietro what did you…?" Wanda looked around and felt a tremor. She saw several thugs waving guns and being toppled by a tremor. "Oh boy…"

Ten seconds later the club was pure pandemonium. Gunfire was everywhere and soon a round of energy bullets streaked over the heads of people. Then more tremors. "THIS IS CRAZY!" Jubilee shouted. She and Kitty made it out of the bathroom and were now on the floor.

"Sorry Jubes I gotta get outta here before the cops come," Shane ran by. "Or worse I get killed!"

"SHANE YOU JERK!" Jubilee snapped.

"Would you prefer he stay and make you a target?" Angelica fired off a blast in self-defense. It hit a rafter and caught on fire. "Oops…"

"Okay time to go!" Fred gulped as the fire began. "EVERYBODY OUT!" No one argued with him.

"Avalanche! Make an extra door!" Althea ordered.

"Got it!" Lance did so creating a tremor big enough to open a hole. Everyone managed to run out of it.

Meanwhile Chase and Gert were racing for their lives. "The one time we were able to get away for a date!" Chase groaned.

Soon everyone had gotten out of the club. They saw the Leapfrog take off into the sky. "There they go again," Althea sighed. "We'll never catch them at this rate."

"This is like what? The second or third shoot out we've been in since we got here," Todd groaned. "LA is a rough town, man."

"Yeah and Jubilee was in another one," Tabitha remarked. "And all of them involved Shooter!"

"Where is the rat anyway?" Amara asked.

"Who cares?" Pietro asked "Let's go before the cops get us!" The Misfits ran off and teleported away.

The X-Girls ran off as well, not wanting to get caught. "Oh we're seeing the sights all right," Rina grumbled at Paige. "And if we get captured we'll be seeing the inside of a jail cell!"

Unknown to them some of the gang members were lurking outside. "Great. Shooter got away."

"Forget Shooter," One gang member noticed the group. "I think I just spotted a bigger prize. Take a look at the Chinese chick in the yellow jacket. Look familiar?"

"Isn't that…?" Another was shocked. "Mantis' niece?"

"Yup," The first one grinned. "Follow 'em and call the boss. Tell him we've finally tracked his renegade assassin down."