New chapitre...still not getting a whole lot of reviews...tis a bummer. I know I'm being weird about the way I update this, but really guys...all you have to do is click the little button and be like "you rock," "you suck," or "fix this." Tisn't hard.

Not a whole lot of new developments in this one but oh vell. The next chappie is good, if i do say so myself...and i do. :D

Still don't own Marvel, still wish I did. Oh, and my lax team won state! WOOT! ahem.

Moving on. Enjoy!

"I understand your concern, Logan, and we're doing all we can," Ororo said, her forehead wrinkled with worry and disapproval. "If we cannot locate her, we can do nothing for her."

Logan paced the hallway outside of Cerebro, fuming silently. Why did she have to go and get herself caught AGAIN? Can't we leave her alone for thirty seconds without…

The door hissed open and the Professor wheeled out, rubbing his temples. "It is as we feared."

"How did we let this happen? They were HERE, on the grounds, in the middle of the night…!"

Xaiver nodded. "We are lucky that they did nothing else. Soon, we must find out where they got in and how. For the time being, we must help Morgan."

Logan nodded curtly, massaging his knuckles. "Where we going?"

"For the moment, nowhere." He held up a hand to stay Logan's outburst. "This could be a diversion. It would not be beyond Magneto to capture young Morgan and then catch us with our pants down. We must be cautious, and we must plan. Do you think she would want us to compromise the rest of the children's safety to charge blindly forth to rescue her? I should think not," he said sternly as Logan seethed. "Miss Oleander is perfectly capable of taking care of herself for a time. As it stands, we can neither all rush out nor send only one member to track her down. Magneto has undoubtedly taken her to his new fortress; we know neither where it is located nor how many mutants he might have waiting for us when we arrive. Our last outright assault was nearly a disaster; since then, his ranks have only swelled."

"We can't just leave her!" Logan growled, his eyes narrowed. He refused to allow the Professor's logic to penetrate his thoughts; they would not, they could not just let her fend for herself. The Professor raised an eyebrow.

Logan lowered his eyes, still seething quietly. His mouth set in a grim line, he turned.

"I'll go check the sensors."

"So what has your bossman got planned for little ol' me this time?" Morgan asked as she was hustled along the corridors at Johnny's side. "Just a wild guess, but its probably not an all expenses paid trip to paradise."

Pyro grunted but did not respond, his grip tight on her upper arm. The scattered remains of his conscience seemed to be regrouping, nagging at the back of his mind. This will be the end. No matter what he says, the drug will only destroy her. No more lopsided smile, no more soft brown hair…

Shut up! he thought, trying to silence the voice.

…No more Morgan Oleander.

He slowed his pace, trying to fight the feeling that was stirring in the pit of his stomach. He glanced at her, admiring the way her hair fell across her face. He couldn't do it.

He stopped walking, his eyes closed. Why was this so difficult? She was the enemy, for Christ's sake! Everything she did was against what he believed; wasn't that the reason he had left Xavier's Academy in the first place? Her sacrifice would benefit the lives of mutants everywhere…

You don't believe that. You never did. When did you become a pawn, John Allerdyce?

He gritted his teeth, starting forward again. He clutched her arm ever tighter, flicking his lighter open and closed with nervous repetition. He would complete his duty, and she would cease to be a problem. No more failures. No more disappointment.

No more Morgan Oleander.

He swallowed angrily, leading her on towards Magneto's laboratory.