This is where I apologize for the quickly moving plot that comes with this chapter…Yep, everything happens far too quickly and with not enough questions asked, but…Eh. -shrug- Mebbe I'll eventually fill it out. For now, though, this is my bad, speedy chapter.

As promised, a jet arrived that was surrounded by a thick, almost unnatural cloud of fog and landed atop the cathedral's smooth center. Kurt kept an arm before both women, backing them against one of the towers. Absently, as she stared in momentary wonder as the cloud lifted, Kat placed her hand atop his arm, gripping it tightly. Kurt didn't allow either to see the smile. His arms reluctantly lowered, however, as the door to the jet opened to reveal a white-haired dark woman alongside a man with a strange, red visor across his eyes. Both regarded the women behind Kurt with suspicion for a moment, though their gazes both came to rest with an equal intensity upon Viikayri. Not for long, however, for both knew how deceiving looks could be. That was not to say that Viik had not caught their looks. Stepping from the jet, Ororo Monroe offered a hand to Darke, which the black-haired young woman accepted readily, still nursing an injured arm. She offered her name in a weak voice, clouded with exhaustion.

"Katherine Darke. Call me Darke. Math teacher."

"Really?" This seemed to interest her considerably. "Ororo Monroe. Call me Storm. I teach geography and history at Xavier's school. This is-"
"Scott Summers," Scott stepped forward and offered her a hand, but his eyes were on Viik. "Cyclops. You are...?"

Viikayri had to keep herself from chuckling once more. "Viikayri DeLorian. Professor of Music."

"And a happy bunch of teachers we must all be, but we'd better be off if we're to see Darke and Viikayri to the mansion safely," Kurt spoke rather formally for the first time. Darke cast him an odd glance, which he met squarely, purposefully.

With a nod, Scott adjusted his visor, took a look around, and turned to move into the jet. The others followed, even Kurt, though he hesitated at the door. Darke found herself waiting for him, watching the blue mutant as he looked rather wantonly at the cathedral, though she was unaware that he was merely lamenting lost prayer time. He turned in toward the jet, caught her watching, and smiled reassuringly.

Once the jet was in the air again, Ororo skillfully taking the helm, Scott turned back and gave both a regarding glance. It was returned, twice-fold, and in silence. Finally, he spoke.

"So…What happened to your shoulder?" He inquired, watching Darke.

The mutant shrugged, then moved her hand and slowly, carefully peeled away the sweatshirt fabric, hissing when it stung. Glancing at the injury, she saw the bullet had gone all the way through the fleshy part just below her collar bone. She wasn't about to test her arm's new limits. "Troublesome cop. He regretted it, though." She normally would have said that proudly, but it came out rather quietly, as though she was not pleased with she had done.

Kurt watched this with interest, but remained silent. Scott continued his questioning.

"What brings you to the School for Gifted kids?" Translation: What the hell do you want with us?

An exchanged glance passed between the women, but not discreet by any means. Finally, Viikayri spoke up.

"We've been pursued by cops for some time now, because of our refusal to Register. We've heard rumors that it's no longer required…?" She remained pointedly silent on the kills of the cops, for that was Darke's tale to tell, should she ever decide to tell it. She feared for her friend with the multi-colored eyes when it was found out what her abilities, or rather, inabilities, happened to be, but she'd fought alongside Darke before, and they'd come out of it just fine. She was sure they could do it again, even in a school full of mutants.

But perhaps this Professor X is more understanding than others…? Viik heard the voice within her head, and turned sharply to Darke. It'd been a long time since her friend had felt the need to speak without speaking, and for a moment, she looked questioningly at the younger teacher, who merely shrugged, an expressionless look upon her face. Viik returned the shrug, the surprise disappearing to let a more hopeful expression take over her hardened features.

Both Scott and Kurt had seen all this, Kurt having turned to face them in curiosity when Scott had asked his question, but they knew better than to inquire. Especially when such expressions went between female faces. Both knew how stubborn Jean and Ororo…Were. Scott 's expression didn't change behind his visor as the memory of one particularly serious fight between himself, his wife, and Ororo was entertained for a moment. Of course, this fight had occurred when they were but students of the school themselves, but its after-effects had taken rather long to recover from. He instantly remembered how Ororo and Jean had sided together, becoming an indestructible team as they grew slowly into X Men, and only then it was maturity and common sense that allowed Scott to be forgiven and rejoin their circle. And if he knew women, and the situation this Darke and Viikayri were in, they wouldn't even entertain the thought of saying what was going on in their heads. He tipped his visor in a tiny motion of thanks and turned back to the front, not allowing them to see the satisfied smile on his face. Xavier would take care of that. Not a damn thing went on in that school that the headmaster didn't know about. Well…Save an invasion of anti-mutant scientists and their cronies…But that could be overlooked, all things considered.

"No, it's not, actually. The bill failed as soon as it reached the Senate." Scott withheld the fact that having Mystique holding an esteemed position in the Senate had pretty much guaranteed the bill's death.The empty halls echoed softly with the group's footsteps, though Kurt performed a quick disappearing act when he remembered the kitchen and its contents, bidding farewell to Darke and Viik first. Darke jumped when he bamfed away, Viik catching her good shoulder and hissing "Relax!".

Darke glared up at her in reply, but said nothing. They halted, nearly running over Ororo and Scott as they'd stopped in their tracks as well. Their gazes flew to the fore, and both recognized the bald man in the wheelchair immediately as the Professor Charles Xavier, Headmaster of the School for Gifted Youngsters.

"Professor Xavier!" Darke exclaimed quietly, eyes widening in surprise. Of course, she'd expected to meet the man, but nothing could have prepared her for this moment; the meeting of such an esteemed and revered educator.

"Ms. Higgins. Mrs. DeLorian. A pleasure. Come with me." He eyed the growing stain on Kat's hooded sweatshirt for a moment, but as they were severely lacking in a medical professional, he could only suggest that Ororo wrap it when they were finished. Skillfully, the professor manipulated his wheelchair to turn around and began heading down a different corridor, towards his office. "Scott, Ororo, thank you for picking them up."

Both mutants took their cues and moved off to their own particular destinations.

Once inside his office, Professor Xavier moved behind his desk, turning to give both a regarding stare for a moment. Both shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, even though he was a mere man in a wheelchair, and both women were trained and experienced warriors. Not to mention the fact that they were teachers, used to dealing with a hoard of excitable and hormonal kids each day. It was the intensity of his eyes, the feeling that he wasn't only looking at them, but through them, into their very souls and minds. This wasn't at all far from the truth.

"We haven't been told much. Perhaps you would like to tell me why you have come to confer with us here."

Darke gulped. This nervousness was completely uncharacteristical of her. Perhaps it was his searching gaze, perhaps something more, but she couldn't know for certain and that might have been the very thing that was driving her to near madness. "Well…Er…Professor Xavier…Y'see…We'd run from the Registration Act. And while we've heard rumors that it's been denied and is no longer effective, we've attained a few…Enemies…Since then."

The thought never occurred to him to accuse them of placing his children in danger. He knew well how the mutant students and teachers handled a crisis and was proud of them, confident that they'd be able to take care of themselves should anything more happen.

"Enemies." His tone clearly asked for an explanation. Or rather, demanded one.

"There are a few detectives that would like to see us dead." Viikayri calmly interrupted. "And a few other mutants whom we've met up with in our travels. Not-so-pleasant people"

"Oh?" He leaned forward. Something was still bothering him. With any other mutants, he'd been able to reach into their minds, pull their thoughts and emotions and examine them himself. He'd seen Viikayri's thoughts, her concerns about Darke, her students, and her family, all of whom save Darke that she'd had to leave behind when the Registration Act threatened to come into play. What he couldn't read was any further into the situation with Darke herself. When he searched, he found nothing…Blank, open spaces. But the gears in her head were more than definitely turning.

While normally the inquiring stare was delivered to Viikayri, usually because of her odd appearance, this time it was directed at her, and Darke couldn't say she much appreciated it. His stare unnerved her like none other had; Usually she was the one with the penetrating glare and the upper hand.

"Miss Darke," Professor X began after a moment. "Have you ever encountered a Telepath before?"

Darke nodded as the realization of what was making him so unhappy began to dawn. "Yes…They have difficulty using their abilities on me. I don't know why; I'm not in control of it. Every once in a while they're successful, though. But most of the time, no. They can't get in." She tapped her head for emphasis before returning her hand behind her back.

One of his brows rose inquisitively, and he beckoned for her to go on.

"I had a student…His elder brother often spent time in my classroom as a volunteer. He was a telepathic mutant with…extraordinary abilities."

"So then, you too are a teacher."

Darke nodded, not giving a flicker of a thought yet to the fact that Kurt hadn't spoken into the cell phone about their professions. It hadn't exactly been the primary concern on all their minds. "Mathematics, mainly, but I can also teach social studies. I have certification for up to high school education in both." She didn't bother to hide the hopefulness that perhaps her education would be of some use to the school. She snuck a glance at her partner, who didn't seem to notice, other than flickering an ear in her direction.

Finally, the professor sat back, folding his hands and resting his chin upon the fisted result in thought. His mind shifted to the school's previous math teacher, his protégé, Jean Grey. He forced thoughts of her from his mind, focusing instead on the present situation. After a moment he leaned forward once more, nodding. "We need both a musical professor and mathematics teacher, coincidentally. Though, since the invasion, we've been quite in need of a teacher for most every subject." He chuckled almost silently to himself, though what he spoke of wasn't really funny in the least. Closing his eyes, he spent a moment calling for Scott and Ororo, before he smiled and opened them once more. "Welcome to the school. You'll begin teaching within the week, so be sure to be prepared."

Darke relaxed and released the breath she'd been holding in relief. She glanced to Viikayri, who grinned back at her with one ear pointed horizontally, giving her a rather comical, relaxed appearance. Scott and Ororo arrived promptly, Ororo's stance relaxed while Scott's appeared to be more official; Military.

"Scott, Ororo, please show Viikayri and Katherine to their respective rooms. They'll be coming on as the new Music professor and mathematics teacher." Xavier gestured to them, and it looked for a moment that Darke was going to make an objection. A second thought later, and she was silent.

Ororo's smile was brilliant. Looking from the Professor to Darke, her grin widened. "Wonderful! We've needed another for quite a while now. You'll be teaching alongside me. Maybe we should have a better look at that shoulder?"

"Thanks, Ororo…I'd appreciate it. It's beginning to get kinda painful..." They were in conversation before they even began heading down the corridor.

Scott looked to Viikayri. Viikayri looked to Scott. Both blinked, then turned and followed the other two. They remained silent, Viik because Scott said nothing, and Scott because he was turning the whole idea over in his head. To him, the finding of a new mathematics teacher finalized Jean's death. Could it be that she was really never coming back? He had been a fool, a sentimental fool, to think that somehow, some way, she'd survived the destruction of the dam.

Passing the kitchen once more, Darke was able to sneak a glance inside and spot Kurt wolfing down some chips with salsa dip. An older school-aged boy with sandy-blonde hair was staring at him in something between disgust and awed admiration. She tried to stifle a chuckle, but unsuccessfully. Both turned to face her, and she grinned sheepishly at Kurt and waved. The smile on her face indicated Xavier's answer to their queries, and so the dark mutant came out into the hall and fell into step beside her, still holding the bag of chips. The sandy-haired boy followed, as though through pure detached disinterest.

"So, Darke," Kurt spoke through mouthfuls of chips. "You're staying then? Both of you?"

"Yes…Professor Xavier made us teachers here."

"We have a music teacher now?" The sandy-haired boy inquired. It was apparent that he and Nightcrawler had been talking. His gaze had, as all others, lingered on Viikayri's face for a few moments before he remembered himself. That, and her scolding glare. She smiled as soon as his stare ceased, offering a clawed hand.

"Mrs. DeLorian at your service, kiddo. Call me Viik, though, outside of class. Who might you be?"

He accepted her hand, shaking it mildly but holding on a moment longer. "Bobby Drake…Iceman." As he spoke his X name, Viik felt a chill crawl up her arm and watched her hand in surprise as it began to frost over.

Quickly, she pulled from his grip. "Nice to meet you, Bobby. Mind you keep that skill a bit more leashed, were I you."

Had he not have received glares from both Ororo and Scott, he might have quickly thought up a smart reply. Instead, he shrugged, continuing to walk alongside them. "I suppose."

"Interested in music then?" She inquired, hoping to make it known that the incident was to be forgotten.

"Actually, yeah. I played sax and percussion in my old school band…But that was years ago."

As they entered the teacher's wing, Bobby didn't bother to disguise his uneasiness. Often he'd slipped here undetected to be with Rogue (as close to the teachers as she was kept…It was an obstacle that Bobby had to cross often), though not out in the open like this. But he wasn't about to pass up a chance to see his girlfriend again.

"Bobby…Shouldn't you be in bed?" Ororo brought up, causing an audible sigh of exasperation from the younger boy."Mmmm…Probably. If I wasn't an insomniac," he recovered quickly, sending a knowing grin her way.

"You're not an insomniac, Bobby. You just need to learn to put head to pillow every once in a while. It works, trust me." Scott spoke for the first time since they'd left Xavier's office.

Scowling, Bobby took the hint and turned, heading toward the boy wing.

Darke chuckled. "Cute kid."

"When he wants to be," Scott replied. When they reached a set of wooden doors once having led to Jean's medical facility, Ororo and Darke stepped through, Darke bidding a quiet farewell to Viik. Kurt chose to remain with his dark-skinned, white-haired friend and this new young teacher.

Carefully, Darke removed the hooded sweatshirt to reveal a white tee-shirt stained with red, teeth tightly clenched to hold in the hiss of pain that wanted to escape. Ororo shared a concerned glance with Kurt, but continued working to the best of her ability. She was able to determine that the bullet had indeed exited, and so was of no concern. When she poured the alcohol into the hole to clean the open wound of any residue from the gun powder and any dirt from the shirt, Darke let out a piercing howl that momentarily woke half the mansion and caused Scott to pause mid-step on his way to direct Viikayri to her room.

Viik froze as well, an instinctive reaction to the familiar sound of Darke's physical pain, but reassured Scott with a relieved smile before they continued on.

Ororo had nearly jumped back in surprise, but had anticipated such a reaction. Kurt had to shut his ears from the tortured sound, his face twisted as though he too felt the anguishing sting of the cleansing liquid. Once it had ended, he slowly released his ears, reopening his eyes and allowing his expression to return to some semblance of normal. Mixed with plenty of relief of his own, wager.

After the wound was wrapped, the trio began the walk down the hall, following Scott's footsteps. They moved rather slowly, as even something as unrelated to her shoulder as walking caused pain, especially since the soreness produced by the alcohol. Halting near a wooden door, Ororo pressed her hand to it.

With a short moaning creak of protest, it slid open to reveal a double bed and empty dresser, among other things that couldn't yet be seen because of the small doorway. "Your room."

She smiled and stepped through the entrance. She heard Scott speaking with Viikayri in her room across the hall just before she looked longingly at the bed, then turned to face Ororo and Kurt, who'd remained at her doorway.

"You'll be okay for the night?" Ororo smiled.

"Oh, I'm sure. I'm just going to pass right out here, see...And wake up in about, say, 16 hours? I'm exhausted."

"Couldn't tell," she winked. "You should get to bed. You've got a lot of work ahead of you, I promise. You'll need the rest. C'mon, Nightcrawler." She motioned for him to follow as she moved away, but he lingered.

"Sleep well, Darke," was all he said before slipping the door silently shut.

She nodded her thanks before slipping under the covers, thinking a quick 'Good night," to Viikayri. Viik replied audibly from the open door to her own room.