AN: Mason Eckhart and the GSA came from Mutant X and are not mine.

BACK TO SCHOOL

CHAPTER 10: EVEN MORE PROBLEMS ON THE RISE

-Xavier's Mansion-

Things weren't going well at the mansion a few of the students were getting even sicker. Havok and Roberto were running a fever and were in their bedroom trying to fight it off. Amanda was getting a bit worried at this. Her parents were already getting very worried and had wanted her to stay with them for a bit after she told them what was going on.

She had explained that it was most likely already too late for that but she promised if things got worse she could call them. After all that had happened over the summer her parents were still worried about her but they also knew that they had to start letting her make her own decisions. At the moment though she was scared, things weren't getting better and Beast was working himself sick in the lab.

Training of course had been cancelled, that was mostly good since not everyone was up for DR sessions or outdoor training. The tension was really something in the mansion, as everyone was a bit more quiet, she herself had talked to Wendy and Carmen a few times and both of them had been thankfully supportive. She had seen Bobby trying to lighten the mood of course as he had pulled off a few pranks.

Amanda though wasn't sure what to think, she hadn't been this scared since in that room trapped by Trask. She had a few nightmares of that place but she had come out stronger for it, they all had to some degree. She walked into the kitchen and smiled seeing Kurt there. "Hey what are you doing?"

"Oh just the usual," He said but she noticed how he looked tired, he wasn't his usual energetic self. When he sat down to eat his sandwich and placed a hand on his forehead, he jerked back but she had felt it long enough.

"Kurt! You're burning up!"

"I'm fine," He said, he really didn't want to worry her. He knew he wasn't feeling well but he didn't think it was that bad. There was no need for anyone to worry, "It's nothing."

"Kurt if you were any warmer my hand would have been burned."

"It's just mien fur makes me warmer," he shrugged. Normally he'd like the attention but not this time, his mood wasn't that great because of a nasty headache that wouldn't go away and he felt weak all the time. Even after eating usually his energy goes up but only a bit now.

She didn't know what to do, she was getting worried but there wasn't much that they could do at this time. Kurt went up to get some milk and she noticed him looking like he was losing his balance. First he just kind of swayed the next he hit the ground hard. "Kurt!" She ran over to him and shook him but he didn't respond. He was breathing a bit hard and the skin under his fur was really warm. She grabbed hold of him as she teleported them to the medical ward.

Elsewhere in the mansion Vincent had finished with his homework. So far school hadn't been too bad, there were of course the usual looks and jokes that he had heard from back home when he was exposed. And of course a few times in Bayville but he had learned to take it a bit more, it really helped that he wasn't alone in this anymore.

"Ah crap," He muttered as he felt a sharp pain hit his brain, "God this sucks…" He went up to go to the bathroom to get some pain pills. He had a few bills actually mainly because he could only tolerate certain kinds of medicine and he felt it best to keep that handy just in case. Over the years he had learned that his body couldn't tolerate and since coming her he learned that once again his problems stemmed back to those damn experiments done to him.

His blood chemistry was permanently messed up to say the least. Certain medicine wouldn't really effect him while others could be lethal to make him sick like he was having an allergic reaction to it. He was thankful for a photographic memory for that, the last thing he needed was to kill himself because he didn't know the damn cough medicine was lethal.

He just entered the small personal bathroom when he felt a strange taste in his mouth, like his saliva changed, then his head swam and he bolted to the toilet. He immediately started to empty his stomach, he just kept on going until he was dry heaving. He hated it when this happen when he caught the flu, the dry heaving hurt like hell.

He flushed and noticed he had broken out in a cold sweat, he just laid on the floor not being able to move as he gasped for air trying to ignore the vile taste in his mouth. He just closed his eyes feeling too weak to move.

Some time later Piotr came to check in on his old roommate. He knocked once and then entered, "Vincent you in here?" He looked around, he wanted to ask him a favour to help him look after Kitty who was sick and he had been taking care of her and Dani. He wanted to go out and get a few things for them and wanted his friend too look after them while he was gone.

He looked around, there were his school books opened and there was no real sigh of him. He was going to leave when he heard a small moan. It was coming from the bathroom and looked in, he was shocked to see the Canadian boy there almost in curled up into a ball on the floor. "My friend what is wrong?" He saw the sweat and felt his forehead.

It was burning up, he knew he had to pick him up and get him to Mr. McCoy and fast.

-Washington DC-

In a facility in Washington DC there were a few men and women walking in the metal halls of the complex. They were a mix of military officials and political ones as well as they were taking the tour of the new place. One of them was the newly elected Senator Kelly who won thanks to his anti-mutant stance. Kelly shifted his glasses as he looked over the impressive construction.

There was another government official there, he was slim, short red hair cut with glasses in a suit. His name was Henry Peter Gyrich, he worked with the National Security Agency but now he was part of the newly made Commission on Superhuman Activities. It was a new commission that was made to over see any and all superhuman and of course mutant threats and activities.

"You know I have to wonder about this, I mean who is this Director Eckhart?" Kelly asked no one in particular.

"He came highly recommended since he does have experience in dealing with mutants," A General in a US Army uniform.

"And what experience is that?" Kelly asked him, he hadn't been briefed on anything in fact the file he was given since his appointment to the Committee on Superhuman Activities wasn't finalized yet. Mainly it was because he was new but the fact that he had first hand dealings with mutants and his proposal for a Mutant Registry Act was starting to gain some attention.

"I'm sorry but that's highly classified," Gyrich told him, it wouldn't do to have a civilian know just some of the black projects and programs that just the US government had been involved in would not be smart. Kelly and the other civilians need to be slowly drawn into the more dark aspects over time.

They continued to be led through the facility as other people in black and red uniforms went through the place doing keeping to their work. They came up to a door into a reception area; a young woman at the desk who had been waiting for them buzzed them in. Through the double doors they came into a very large and somewhat stale room.

It was as clean as a clinic and just as stale, there weren't many personal objects other then a few paintings behind thick glass, a few pieces of abstract art but the grey metal room was pretty Spartan. There was a large desk with a computer set up, a large screen was behind the desk. There were a few doors on either side of the walls but they were closed shut.

There standing behind his desk was Director Mason Eckhart. He wore a dark and finely made black suit, he had on black leather gloves there were cut to end above the wrists as underneath he had on surgical gloves. His skin was deathly pale he had a lean face and pure white hair on his head. Behind black glasses his cold dark eyes spoke of both intelligence and deadly. He had a presence about him, he stood like a man with perfect poise a man of high education but one of power as well.

"Gentlemen," He said in a refined voice and nodded his head to them. "Welcome to the Genetic Security Agency."

He looked them over as he recalled them from the files he had been given. Most he could tolerate but there were others he just knew would be problems. Sticking their noses into his business and trying to offer 'opinions' on how to run things. He knew how to take care of those types at least but this was the price for working with the government.

He just hoped that they weren't incompetent if there was one thing he couldn't stand it was that. Of course now he had to play the nice guy and play to the bureaucrats. He wanted this over quickly so he could get to work.

"Yes well before we announce the official formation of this place I believe that a final inspection is in order," Gyrich told him. This of course was just one of many different projects going on to deal with the mutant threat.

"Yes, well as you know the public even though misguided is somewhat diverse on the subject of mutants." He moved away from his desk and picked up a remote. Images of the day when mutants showed up battling the first Sentinel was on the screen. "As you know the Sentinels may be our only weapon against mutants at the time. But as you see they are large, expensive and are almost a danger to the civilian population as the mutants themselves."

"Yes I never liked that, you take the man out of the equation and you only run into problems," An Air Force General spoke up. He had never really liked the idea of machines taking the place of thinking and feeling humans.

Eckhart nodded once more, "I agree which is why we need an agency that will be trained to handle mutants." He clicked the remote as a training area was shown with men in green armoured combat suits and strange weapons were there. "We've taken men and women from the Marines, Navy SEALs, Delta Force, Rangers, special forces and many others from this nation's military arms. All of them are being trained in anti-mutant tactics."

"You do know that the President and the Joint Chiefs came to the decision that only mutants that are a threat to this country are to be targeted?" One of the civilian members asked.

"Of course, they may be military but they are above all else to be used for sanctioned 'police actions'." Then the Director put up images of Apocalypse, Magneto and his forces, "But not all mutants are willing to live peacefully and that is why this agency exists. We will fight and capture any and all mutants that break the law and remove them from the public."

That got a few nods from everyone there, "Yes it is a good start. But what exactly do we do with these mutants?" Kelly asked him and the pale man looked slightly amused but only slightly.

"Why we detain them in specially designed holding cells," Images of specialized cells were shown although empty. "We have different types for different types of powers we come in contact with. Most are using a new experiment device that our people assure me that will nullify their powers."

"But what do you plan to do with them when you capture them?" Gyrich asked him that was another good question that needed to be talked about. He didn't want to see this nation's resources used to keep these mutants locked up for the rest of their lives. It would be just a drain on the people to feed and cloth these abnormalities.

"We plan to…re-educate them, if we can make them serve the government instead well then that would be better. I plan to use converted mutants as agents that will help, fight fire with fire as a man once said." Eckhart explained to them the procedure that would be used, mainly psychological tactics as well and prying on any weakness that they have. If they were trouble because of lack of money or they need an outlet for their more violent urges then a job that would offer both would appeal to them.

"But then again this is all speculation until we are officially up and running. But I have an aid outside that will take you on a tour of the facility and you can make your own judgements." He watched them leave and sat down at his desk and gave a deep frustrated sigh. Perhaps now he could get some work done, as they were taken on a tour. Not all of the facility of course, such as the experiment labs that would be used to study mutants and their abilities.

Mutants were dangerous but he knew first hand that their powers if control, could be harnessed for the advantage of the human race. There was no telling what secrets you could gain from certain mutants. He accessed his personal computer and started to look into the new profiles of certain mutants that had come to his attention. He would need his own mutant agents soon, with civilian groups like X-Men, SHIELD's new team, and forces like Magneto he would need to level the playing field.

He was busy looking through the data when his main door opened he was very annoyed since his secretary had instructions that he was to be left alone. He looked up angrily but then froze as who was walking in. A man that looked in his late thirties although he knew that man was much older. He wore a simple black suit similar to him, with short dark hair and a small goatee.

"Ah, it's always nice to see old colleges, you are doing quite well Mason," The man said with a grin.

Eckhart leaned back in his chair regarding the man a little coldly, "Dr. Nathaniel Essex, it's been a long time. Nearly ten years and yet you haven't aged a day."

Essex smiled and nodded, "I am long lived as you very well know."

"I must say you are either insane or very foolish to just walk into a place like this given what you are…Sinister." Mason leaned forward, he knew full well what he was and just how dangerous the man before him was. But then again Mason himself was a dangerous man only he didn't have the advantage of any kind of powers. "Last reports I had placed you working for that Magneto."

Essex's face lost its good humour to it and turned a bit colder, "With him, I work with him. As you well know I only work for myself and my own interests in the end. And he serves my purposes for the time being."

Mason nodded in understanding, "Yes I suppose in the end we all serve ourselves. So I take it this isn't a social call." It wasn't a question, for ten years he had never heard of this man and now he suddenly shows up out of nowhere just as he was given command of this place. He didn't believe in coincidence especially when this man was involved.

"Right then, to business," He sat down in a chair and reached into his top and pulled out a few items. One was of a CD Rom disk the other was a small metal container. Mason took the container and opened it seeing several small injector devices.

"These hold a substance known as Booster. A chemical compound that has its origins back in the old Project Prodigy days," He began as Eckhart thought back to that, he had been much younger then, he wasn't pale and his hair wasn't white. He had been healthy and was part of cutting edge research into mutants. It was a pity that the facility had been attacked by SHIELD.

"It will temporarily increase the powers of any mutant agents that you will have, all the information in on the disk," He continued and Mason raised and eyebrow, that would certainly give his people an edge.

"So you give me this little gift and for what in return to I give you?" He asked him knowing that everything this man gave came with strings attached.

Essex grinned at him, "Why any and all research data you get over mutants of course."

"I think not, you will need a lot more then this to get that from me," Mason said in distain and threw the container on his desk.

"Well then how about this…I will share any data I have as well as we share certain specimens and to top it all off…I'll help you solve that little problem of yours." He smiled as Mason stiffened a bit.

Mason knew that the man in front of him was a genius in the field of science. Back at Prodigy he had found out that Dr. Essex had not been totally human, it took him years but not only did he find that but tried to synthesize the man's DNA. He knew that Essex also known as Sinister, was practically immortal and had tried to bond that gift to himself.

It backfired to say the least, instead he was weaker now his immune system nearly totally collapsed. That was why he now wore the gloves, the sterile environment he needed and also the second skin. It was a special plastic that he designed that allowed the skin to breath but also helped to keep out any germs. He had to constantly replace it and for ten years he had tried to find a cure.

"You do realize that none of this can be found out." Eckhart finally said, he needed that cure above all else. It was one of the things he hoped experimenting on mutants would result in.

Sinister smiled at the man, knowing that he couldn't resist that offer. It was always nice to have friends in other places, with Magneto and Eckhart he would have even greater access to mutants and to any DNA specimens that he would need. Also any information on the little experiments here that Magneto wouldn't allow in the Savage Land would be another bonus. "Of course men like us know how to keep secrets Mason. I believe that this will prove to be a very…interesting alliance."

-Bayville-

Night had just fallen in Bayville and it was the perfect time for Evan to reach the surface. He hated how he and the others couldn't just walk around like everyone else could. It really burned him up how they had to live and it was times like that he just thought that Xavier's dream was just that. The world was a lot harsher then he ever thought it was when he was an X-Man, and his eyes had been opened.

But the fact was that he needed their help, they had the equipment and the brains to help figure out what is wrong. He made his way to the woods where he could slip in to the mansion's property. He moved through the woods trying to remember where it was, he rarely went in here unless it was to sneak out for some skating.

It was also hard to see and when he tripped over a root and swore he was temped to pull out a fire bone but he didn't want to set fire to the place around him. He would have used the front gate but he wasn't in the mood for people to start throwing things at him or call the cops just cause of his looks. He most likely would have fired a few bones just to prove his point too.

When he finally managed to get through the forest he was shocked by what he saw. "What the hell?" He saw the mansion but it didn't look like the mansion he knew. For a minute there he thought he got the wrong place but he noticed a few familiar things like the central area, that fountain and a few other things. "When did they do this?"

He just shrugged and moved on, he made it halfway through the lawn when he heard a buzzing sound. He turned to see a familiar device shoot up from the ground. 'Damn it, they must have changed the security sensors too!' He thought before jumping out of the way of a razor blade. He countered with his bone weapons jamming them into the device.

He knew he had to keep moving and hoping someone would turn off the security system. He ran but ever since his mutation 'evolved' he had been slower thanks to all the extra mass. He quickly found that he had to work harder to be able to keep up, and those sparing matches with Marrow sure kept him motivated. That girl would hurt you if she thought you weren't putting all your effort into it.

He saw another device shoot up from the ground but this was a bit different then anything he remembered. Then a pair of bolos came out at him, he quickly fired a single sliver of bone in the center of its path. It wrapped around it and he saw sparks from an electrical discharge. "Great they added new things, why do I get the feeling I can thank Logan for this." He muttered as he went on.

He ran hard dodging and counter attacking along the way. He just made it to the front door and looked around, not seeing anything else there. He was about to go in when he was tackled by someone who came out of nowhere.

Evan rolled and came up surprised to see some Japanese kid in dark clothing. "Hey what's the big idea Bruce Lee?"

That irritated Kai, when the alarm went off he traveled through into the shadow world to see where it was coming from to see this gaijin insult him. He really hated it when people called him something other then Japanese. He formed a shadow katana as his enemy created a spear like weapon out of bone with a flaming tip.

Kai blocked a high strike and kicked out, the other person's chest being solid bone hurt and took most of the power of his kick. He went into a defensive stance, thankfully it was night and that was his element. His powers and skills worked the best in the dark.

When Evan leaped forward to attack it was like the guy just melted into the shadows. He looked around trying to see him. He listened for him like Callisto taught but when the blow to the back of his knee hit sending him to his knees he never heard it coming.

"Why you, I'm gonna-" Evan was stopped short as the feel of a blade on his neck was felt.

"Now you will explain to me why you tried to infiltrate this place and who you are working for," Kai said to him, with all the enemies they had for all he knew this was an agent sent after the X-Men.

'That is enough, please stop.' The telepathic call from Xavier entered their minds. 'Kai this is Evan a former student. Evan this is Kai he is our newest member.'

Kai immediately let the other teen up and his weapon vanished, "My apologies I thought you were an enemy."

Evan glared at the guy for a bit and just shrugged, "Yeah whatever you're just lucky he stopped us before you got hurt." He just walked into the mansion as Kai wondered if that was Western humour or just bravado. He put is aside for now, he already felt a bit foolish in attacking an friend and he didn't want to make it worse. Although the other boy it seemed to have as they said here 'a chip on his shoulder'. He just silently went back inside wondering what all this would lead to.

NEXT UP CHAPTER 11: MEET THE MORLOCKS