BACK TO SCHOOL

CHAPTER 21: DAY IN COURT

In a darkened room filled with the smells of gunpowder, cleaning fluids, there was a tall broad man with dark hair looking at the news with interest. On the low table in front of him there was an assortment of weapons in various states. Some of the weapons were nearly complete and others were stripped down to their essentials.

A few of the weapons had been customized to his preferences, sometimes he had to make his own unique types of modifications as well. At the moment there was an M4 carbine that looked a lot like the old M16 model only it was shorter and a much better weapon. He was attaching a hand grip to the stock of it for more precise shooting.

Across from him was an old beat up TV set that was currently playing the news. There was the usual stuff, traffic, a fluff piece to help brighten the day then it got to the more hardcore stuff. A place that was thought to be a mob hangout was shot up with an untold dead.

The man didn't need to know after all he had been the one to clean the place out. Then the news got to that Spears guy, and how he had been trying to poison mutants under the FOH or at least that's what the evidence said. He had managed to get a copy of that from the news people in his own unique way.

From what he read this guy was a real piece of work, trying to make a weapon that killed certain people and not others. Personally he didn't have anything against mutants unless they got to be trouble and then he would take them out without thinking twice about it.

It didn't matter to him what race, faith, color or whatever. You were a problem and he would go and take care of it.

The news was once again saying how the evidence might be thrown out of court. The man in the shadows gave a disgusted small laugh at how impendent the 'law' was these days. A man tried to commit genocide and what happens? He gets a fancy lawyer and gets to walk on a technicality.

Maybe he should have to get involved in this after all maybe it was time for Spears to truly get punished for his crimes.

-Xavier's Office-

The Professor was in his office at the moment thinking on matters as he had just been given a call. It had been the lead prosecutor of the Spears trial. Although he was sure of it he knew that this call was a last call for the woman who was trying to send Spears to jail.

Apparently the evidence that was leaked might be put into question. They had actually contacted Xavier given his stance in the mutant community for any information. After a very long talk on what had happened thanks to Spears he was willing to give any and all data they had compiled on when everyone was sick.

Unfortunately this may not be enough and he was left with a choice. He was asked to testify to the effects of this as well as any important witnesses to this. Xavier did wanted to have some justice done as well as have this trail send a message that mutants had rights but he hadn't wanted to have his students be exposed to the media like this either. It had taken this long for things to just settle down as they had with the Sentinel that they fought on the news.

He already knew that Hank had to go given his experience but he would also have to pick a few more, and those that he could trust not to lose their temper on the stand. Some would most likely want to go to support the others and he saw no problem with that.

He sat back in his chair as his thoughts turned to Betsy, she was starting to settle in. In fact she was doing her first Danger Room session today as well as the little experiment as well with splitting up the teams. He already was trying to schedule in lessons that would help her with her mental powers. Thankfully Jean had agreed to help with those as well. He assume it was because Jean knew what Betsy was going through with her powers as well and having another telepathic woman around close to her own age to bond with.

So far the students have been a bit awkward around her but they were slowly coming around he didn't expect it to be easy although Rogue was completely shut off with Betsy around. He knew that Rogue still carried emotional scars from Risty and this would have to be either deepening those issues or finally getting some healing from them depending on how she dealt with it.

He would keep an eye on Rogue and try to help her out she had been doing so well as well. She was happier then he could remember seeing her but this may set her back a bit. He sighed sometimes he felt that all of his students were like his children and he hated seeing them like this.

He just hoped that things would get better soon.

-Danger Room-

Betsy meanwhile was only in third day here and they were already putting her through the training. She was thankful that she would learn her powers although she admitted that she hadn't thought when they told her they trained in a giant metal room with death traps they had been serious.

She was in a standard 'Recruit' uniform that had used to be the New Mutants original suits but since they all got their own now they used those for the new arrivals. They said once she managed to make her own and had earned it she could wear something else. It wasn't that bad it was very limber and it showed off her figure nicely given a few stolen looks she got. Not to mention a few mental impressions, she tried not to think about those although it was a bit flattering given how her reception when she got here started out.

The first team had been led by Sam with Roberto, Ray, Tabitha, Clarice, Paige, Jubilee and Gale. She was now in her own team with Alex leading them. She noticed that he had on an all black uniform with a strange white circle pattern symbol on his chest with some type of special looking gloves and a belt with the X sign on it. They said it was Forge's latest thing that would help Alex with his powers and the gloves were to help ease the tension in his hands with his powers slightly.

Amanda was there in her all black outfit that had a large red X on her chest as the tips touched her hips and shoulders they merged with the mirrored X on her back and a red line went down her arms and legs. Her hands were gloved too with short shoes.

Rahne was there in her navy blue uniform with yellow on it. There was an X-symbol over her heart and her arms were bare along with the legs of her uniform ended at her thighs this was designed for her were-wolf form mainly.

Amara was next in another all black only on hers the arms ended at the elbows and her midsection was showing. She had on a yellow x-men belt with matching combat boots as well. She didn't wear gloves as they sometimes got in the way of her powers.

Jamie was there in a black and grey uniform that also Forge helped to make. There was this padding along the arms and outside of the legs with boots and gloves and a high collar. He had this large grey X on the front and back.

Danielle Moonstar was also there in her new uniform. It was black and red; she wore a red headband with a matching top that had a black X over it and no arms. Black pants with boots with a red line running down the sides. She carried a special bow and arrow set Forge had come up with her.

The final two members were Kai in a black ninja looking uniform with white X's on clothing covering his mouth. Forge was also here in a navy blue and yellow uniform as well. He wore a jacket with the arms cut off that had a small X-Men logo on the front and a larger one on the back.

"Okay team two, the first team just went through and it's your turn," Logan's voice came from the top of the control room as he was watching them. He was putting them through one of the final tests to see if these two teams could work together and if they did these might end up being how the two new teams would be made up with. But they didn't know that and didn't need to know that.

"You got to match them, surpass them or get pretty close to either to impress me. You have to get to the entire team over to the other side and Daytripper and Shadow. Just like with Blink you can only teleport one person at a time and you got a limit of five teleports in this." He saw both nod their heads. "Good now get going!"

A buzzer sounded and they were off. It was a large obstacle course for this one with many different ways to get to the end. Alex told them to split up as they each ran in pairs to different parts, first they would hide behind walls put in place for cover as drones and traps were activated.

Jamie started to make clones of himself and they made themselves into stepping plate form for Dani and Forge to get over the top of the wall. The original was just on the edge and while Dani covered them by taking out a couple of drones Jamie reabsorbed his clones and then fell down for Forge to catch him.

Betsy had to admit these people had teamwork she was behind cover with more sphere drones coming down onto them. Havok and Daytripper were using their powers to shoot them down. "Betsy we need someone to cover us while we move up, can you get in touch with Magma and Shadow?"

Betsy had to remind herself who they were given trying to keep all the code names straight after only just leaning about them. "Yeah just hold them off a sec." The purple haired telepath closed her eyes trying to concentrate. It took her a few tries before she found the rights ones, although if they got the message she wasn't so sure.

She looked up just in time to see fireballs and something that looked like daggers made out of a black substance flew from the left attacking the drones. "Good one," Alex said smiling to her, "Okay move on up."

It was slow going at times as they had to leapfrog their way ahead each grouping covering the other while one moved forward then covering them. Rahne was in her wolf form now as they were moving through a small maze trying to use her senses to make sure they didn't get lost. With her were Mirage and Magma, since they had to switch members at one point.

"You think we're close yet?" Magma asked Dani given Rahne couldn't talk in her form.

"I hope so," Dani said as a drone flew over head but didn't attack them. It had to be one of the ones Forge managed to reprogram. During the fight with Shadow's help they managed to let Forge get close enough to reprogram a few onto their side. The drone saw them and was acting strange, "Is it me or is it doing a Lassie type of thing?"

Rahne let out a small growl at that, "Rahne don't be so sensitive," Amara rolled her eyes in her fire form. "But I think you're right you think Forge is using them to lead us out?"

"One way to find out," Dani said as they followed the drone.

By now the teams were through the small maze and in a wide open area with the finish line in sight. "Guys there it is!" Alex called out and pointed but he just knew it wouldn't be this easy. "Okay Betsy, Daytripper and Wolfsbane cover our backside I don't want any sneak attacks."

Alex was glad that he had watched his big brother in action sometimes, he learned a lot watching how Scott was in the field. At first he just wanted to see what his brother did but then when he saw how well he made the X-Men move he had to admit it was impressive.

So he had watched the X-Men train a few times here and there when he could swing it that is, now he was putting all of that to the test.

As they moved forward that was when a few of the traps kicked in, pitfalls and paint turrets that shot out paintballs. It wasn't like the lasers that hurt a bit when they hit you but paintballs sting like hell when you get hit. Immediately the team moved on forward covering each other the best they could Alex had those with no ranged abilities to get them across first.

Betsy was rushing forward the adrenaline pumping through her, it was both terrifying and exhilarating being in this thing. She would decide about this later, she jumped forward to avoid a few paintballs and gut up running. There were many Jamies running around causing distractions while the others took out the turrets.

She hadn't been paying attention and nearly fell into a pit that suddenly opened up. "Oh bugger!" She shouted trying to gain her balance on the edge and fell onto her butt. She was starting to rub it when a turret popped up out of the ground. It aimed at her and through instinct thrust out her hand in defence.

She couldn't tell but there was a strange purple light that came over her forehead, it didn't last long but she suddenly felt this energy building up in her mind at super speed. The next thing she knew it felt like a river had rushed through her mind and there was this purple energy that just slammed into the turret snapping it off the metal arm holding it.

Betsy was completely stunned not sure just what had happened, if one of the others had done that to save her although she was sure they didn't have any powers like that.

Then she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked to see it was Amanda, then there was this flash of white light and feeling like her whole body was shifting. When it was gone Betsy was at the goal with all the others. There was a buzzard as the simulation ended and she realized they had all made it. "Thanks luv," Betsy said as Amanda helped her up.

"Sure thing but what was that you used back there?" She asked her and Betsy couldn't answer. Mainly because she had no idea what that had been, or how she had done it. That had never happened before so she just shrugged. Although she was starting to think what else she could do that she hadn't known she could do before.

-GSA HQ-

Director Eckhart was strolling through the busy halls of the GSA, since they had been publicly announced his forces were already on the move subduing any mutant disrupted mutant activities. Already four of the special GRSO units had captured ten different mutants. Most of them were being kept in the prison facility until transfer to a better one.

Although three of them were very interesting, one of them had no known family and wouldn't be missed so that one was to go to the lab techs in one of the secure areas that didn't officially exist for further study. The other two looked to have the profile needed to be decent agents from them. He was on his saw to meet with one of them.

In the halls were the usual lab techs and security guards and the occasional GRSO unit in the green combat armour were seen although everyone gave him his space. He valued his 'personal space' given his condition and everyone knew better then to get too close.

Strapped down onto a metal chair was a man in his mid twenties. His name was Joshua and he was a mutant although he had grown up Detroit in the not too pleasant part of town. He had found out he was a mutant with the ability to repel anything that came at him no matter what and send it right back with more force.

It was because of this power that the gang he joined as a teen, he had moved on up to be top dog. For the last few years his crew were nearly unstoppable even the cops didn't know what to do but then the guys in the green armour came.

They came directly for him too, well their weapons had been mostly useless as he had sent everything they shot at him right back in their faces. But then they went and used some kind of knockout gas, the next thing he knew he woke up in this strange room.

There was this green glow in the place and the room looked like some type of reinforced metal but he couldn't get a good look. He spent the last half hour shouting out to be let out but by now his voice was getting worn out so he just waited to see what would happen next.

When the door opened he looked at the man there, some really pale looking guy with white hair and a suit that cost more money the he saw in a lifetime walked in. "Hey what the hell is up with this? Who the hell are you guys anyway?"

Mason looked at the young man his powers were useful for him but he hoped to get rid of that attitude soon. "I am the director of the GSA and you have been a very bad mutant."

"Hey I do what I do to survive with me and my crew."

"How…quaint," He said in a mock tone as he walked around him as a subtle hint that he was the prisoner here. "Well now it seems you're at a crossroads. You see I could use a man of your…Talents in the GSA."

"And if I say no?"

"Then you end up in a mutant prison that is nearly finished and will most likely never see daylight again…That is if you're lucky," The cold tone of his voice and the look in the eyes made Joshua know that this man wasn't kidding at all.

He had seen some nasty guys in his life but this man was just off the scale creepy as hell and he just knew that he was capable of all types of nasty things. This made him pause for a moment, "So why should I other then no prison sentence?" He wasn't stupid he knew he already had a record from before and the cops were already after him as it was.

Mason gave a small smile but with him even a smile was kind of creepy. "You get paid a very generous sum of money, your previous record will be erased and you'll get to use your powers against others. You'll be a big man, bigger then any street thug and you will be able to have things that you would never have had in your old life."

Mason had tailored this little speak to the psychological profile that they were able to get on him on the last minute. Each and everything he had said was exactly what this person wanted to hear although it didn't hurt to throw in some truth now and then as well.

Joshua thought it over he knew that had to be more too it but at this point they had him by the balls and there really wasn't much of a choice. He might as well pick the one that got him out of jail, "Fine, sign me up then."

He knew that he would fight other mutants but then when has any mutant did anything for him? He was out for number one.

Mason wasn't surprised at all by this and then took a device from behind him, "Very good although I will have to place in a Governor."

"A what?" He didn't like the sound of that as a high pitch whine was hear and then a stabbing pain in his neck making him cry out in pain. "Hey what the hell man!"

"I only implanted a small device it will track you with GPS, as well as other functions." Eckhart left unsaid that the device also carried an electrical charge for a punishment setting and a small nerve toxin that would knock a mutant out for a few hours.

"It's one of the conditions all GSA agents will have," He turned off the green field that was a special containment field designed to nullify mutant powers. Now it was time for business, "I suggest you get a suit since I plan on using you soon in the field."

After a small button was pressed the restraints were opened up. Joshua reached up behind his neck feeling a small metallic device there. He was tempted to kick this guy's ass but he got the feeling he shouldn't. But if he ever got the change he would that he promised himself. "So what's the job then?" He asked his anger about the device evident.

Eckhart could care less about how he felt and ignored his tone for now at least. "I have been informed by a…personal source that Magneto is going to try and be at a certain trail taking place. I want you to be there and try and apprehend any mutants that are under him."

What he didn't say was that he had been informed by this from Sinister. He had no idea what that man had up his sleeve, maybe it was a chance to be rid of Magneto? He didn't know nor did he care but if his GRSO unit was there to stop him then it would be good PR for his department. And in the game of politics he knew how good it was to keep a noble appearance to the masses.

And the more good press they had the more people would allow him and his people to do whatever he wanted without someone looking over his shoulder.

NEXT UP CHAPTER 22: JUDGE, JURY AND EXECUTIONER