Hi...I am ashamed to say that I have not much time and you shouldn't get mad at me...I don't deserve it...It's just that I have problems with time and inspiration...So...Enjoy if you want...

The Brotherhood was assembled back at their rusty headquarters. The normal activities had been taking place, card playing, watching TV, and eating.

"So, uh, what do you wanna watch?" Toad asked Magneto, who looked completely out of place in his armchair.

Toad didn't receive an answer to his question so he continued to watch The Price Is Right.

"When's Smiley getting back?" Lance asked.

"Locust should be back soon," Magneto replied.

"Yeah, well, he's missing a good game in here," Paste commented.

"Oh, yeah," Zombie said sarcastically, "Gambit's winning again."

"And this is the TV room," Blob was finishing his tour with Nyoko, Tony, and Sludge.

Toad caught sight of Sludge and grinned, "Hey! Come up here and sit next to your Uncle Toad!"

Sludge happily did as he was told while Tony followed Blob into the 'Poker Room'.

"You can sit by Uncle Toad, too," Toad offered Nyoko.

Nyoko gave him a dirty look and took the seat furthest away from Toad. Toad shrugged and went back to watching the tube, while stroking Sludge.

Nyoko felt uncomfortable being the only female in the Brotherhood. Most of them found satisfaction in trying to win her over. Tony and Sludge seemed happy in this place, but she couldn't match their feelings.

"I'm baaaaaaack!" Locust called from the doorway.

"Get in here!" Pietro shouted, while the poker players entered the TV room.

Locust made himself comfortable in an armchair while the rest of the Brotherhood stared at him impatiently.

"Ok, where was I?" Locust asked.

"You haven't started yet!" Mosquito informed him angrily, while Pyro flicked open his lighter threateningly.

"Calm down," Locust said, grinning, "So I was hiding in the dumpster when our good friend, Massacre, pulls up in his fancy car. He gets out of the car, looks around, and starts to go back…"

Locust paused dramatically.

"Cut that out!" Photon shouted accompanied by a growl from Hammerhead.

"Ok, ok," Locust continued, "So then, a big van pulls in, blocking Massacre's way out, right? Then our other good friend, Nucleo, gets out of the van with his cronies. Massacre's all like 'don't bother me, I didn't do nuffin'. And Nucleo's all like 'No, man, I wanna be friends'. And Massacre's all like 'yeah, why?'. And Nucleo's all like 'Cuz I don't like Magneto and you don't either'. And Massacre's all like 'Ok, man, that's cool'. And Nucleo's all like 'We're staying at Xavier's joint'. And Massacre's all like 'No way, man! I hate that place!'. And Nucleo's all like 'It's alright, man, we won't be there forever'. And Massacre's all like 'Ok, fine, but it sucks'."

There was a pause.

"That's exactly how it went?" Pillbug questioned.

"Yeah, somethin' like that," Locust nodded.

"So they're staying at the Institute," Magneto said to himself, "Charles is choosing sides now, is he?"

"Who are these Xavier people?" Nyoko asked.

"Mutants, only nice ones," Paste explained.

"Well, I suppose we've got no choice than to attack," Mosquito said wearily, "Am I right?"

"Get yourselves ready," Magneto replied.

Short...sorry...there will be more...I actually have more chapters written, but I didn't want to post them because I was afraid it would catch up to my writing, but it doesn't look like it matters now, so I'll see what I can do...
(asterisk) disappears mysteriously (asterisk)