New chap...school 's been out for a while, so either this summer you'll get an a$$load of updates, or close to 0. I'm not sure. tell all your friends!

PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE review. there, you've reduced me to begging. I hope you feel empowered.

"All the circuits are fine…but look at the tape," Scott said, pointing to the bank of computer screens that showed different angles of the Academy. At 9:57, every screen shorted out, leaving nearly thirty seconds of gray transmission snow. At 9:58, a picture of a high-backed desk chair flickered into view. At 9:59, the chair slowly turned, revealing a smirking Magneto. Waving nonchalantly with the tips of his long fingers, the mutant spoke.

"There once was a man who told only lies. He says to you 'I am telling you a lie.' If he always lies, then what he means is that he speaks the truth. But if he speaks the truth, he is still telling a lie…" He paused here, raising an eyebrow. "Perhaps I am planning a full-scale attack on your little kindergarten. You have seen how easily I override your pathetic security system." He spread his hands in a smug gesture. "Or maybe a visit from your friendly young copycat is all I wanted. Her company can be so…enlightening." Magneto leaned back in his chair, folding his long fingers into a peak. "The board is set, Charles. The next move is yours."

At 10:00, the screen descended once more into that terrible, crackling frost.

The X-Men turned to their leader, their faces drawn and silent. Bobby reached down and grasped Rogue's gloved hand.

The Professor closed his eyes, breathing deeply to settle himself. "We must call his bluff. Ororo, ready the children. If we are attacked, Magneto will receive much more than he bargained for."

The sliding silver door hissed opened as the pair was admitted into the chill laboratory. Mystique leaned against the wall, her curvy blue form becoming rigid with hostility.

"We did not send for her! Why did you bring her here? Or can't you handle her by yourself?" she hissed, her yellow eyes flashing with irritation as she eyed Johnny's bloody face and shirt.

"She tried to escape, so I decided she would be safer here," he replied coolly. "Speaking of escapees…One of your wards was wandering the halls. Came after us. Aren't you the one that's supposed to make sure they stay where they're supposed to be?"

Mystique drew back, narrowing her eyes. Her hair rippled angrily, as though it had a mind of its own. "Go on, then. You face his wrath," she scoffed and waved her hand dismissively.

Rolling his eyes, Johnny drew his unusually quiet captive through the door. A short hallway stretched before them, either side lined with safety glass that gave view into the rooms that led off of it.

In each of the six rooms, a flaking creature raged. They tore painfully at their flesh, their bodies in varying states of decay. They pressed their deformed faces up against the glass, howling plaintively.

Morgan's eyes widened in horror. She unconsciously moved closer to her captor, disgust, fear, and something like pity scattered across her face. "What are they?"

"The Fly, Darknesse, Mirrora, Seismic, Cobra, and Muse," Johnny replied dully, averting his eyes from the twisted monsters. "All mutants that willingly promoted the way of science."

Morgan stopped walking, jerking him to a halt. "What did you do to them?" she asked, a tremor of fear in her otherwise calm and collected voice. "Why are they so…"

"Science is a beautiful thing, Miss Oleander. But not everyone is enlightened enough to see that." Magneto stood at the other end of the hall, his gray eyes never leaving her face. "Soon you will understand, young Mimic. For I have discovered a way to make us all equal…all invincible."

"Like your mutation machine, you mean. Yeah, I heard about that," Morgan growled, her fingernails digging into Johnny's arm. "Worked real well, didn't it? I can't think of anything else I'd rather be when I die than a giant, water-filled slug."

Magneto nodded in acknowledgement. "I have made a few mistakes in the past, it is true. Our friends here are a testament to that." He gestured to the beings behind the glass. "But this time I cannot fail. Not with genes like yours…They will have to be modified a bit, of course." He was close now, grasping her shoulders. She struggled, but he easily overpowered her. The head of the Brotherhood dragged her forward, past the disfigured mutants and into a chrome room with a large hospital bed in the center. The chair's restraining straps and the tray of syringes reminded Morgan horribly of the lethal injection chamber she had once seen on TV. This did not bode well.

Sabertooth marched forward, looking decidedly awkward in his clean, sanitized lab coat. His shaggy hair was tied back away from his face and his nails clipped. In short, he looked miserable as he forced the young mutant into the chair, clipping the straps and locking them tightly.

Magneto drew one of the syringes toward himself and proceeded to fill it from a bottle of silver liquid. He rotated it in front of the light, a smug look on his powerful face. "My latest invention…the Darwin drug." He glanced at Morgan who was struggling against her bonds. "Allow this to settle within the blood of a mutant for a mere five minutes, and then all traces of her powers can be siphoned out with her blood. The DNA can then be multiplied and administered to others…giving them whatever abilities the former mutant possessed. Pure…genius."

Johnny squirmed uncomfortably. All of the other trials have failed, creating…Why should this one be any different? The picture of her, her skin flaking off and her limbs deteriorating as her hair dropped off in clumps, was unbearable. He closed his eyes and tried to look away.

Morgan saw this reaction, and if nothing else had been requiring her attention, she would have been flattered. As it was, she figured it was best to concentrate on getting free. Keep him talking, Oleander. That's obviously what he enjoys. "Why can't you just extract the DNA normally? That seems like a long way to go when you could just grab a bit of blood."

"Mutant blood can be very dangerous…this serum dilutes the suspension and…" Morgan ignored the rest of the answer. If only she could get rid of these bindings…!

As unobtrusively as possible, she began to levitate the lighter out of Johnny's pocket. Most of the chemicals in the lab looked flammable…she hoped she was right. She saw him start as he felt the lighter rise against his leg; she jerked it out abruptly, flicking it open. The flame leapt high…

A roaring blaze flew forth, growing as it approached the shelves of substances. Magneto and Sabertooth turned towards the flames in mild surprise, as if in slow motion. Johnny dove out into the hallway quickly. The groping tongues of flame reached out for the numerous vials and jugs. Morgan closed her eyes.

The laboratory exploded from within.