Uncanny X-Men #3

The Ties That Bind

Part One

Talia Josephine

Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, Westchester, New York

Wanda tossed her long poker straight brunette hair and she looked mournfully at a picture on her desk of her and her daughter, Talia Josephine. Her daughter was beautiful or maybe mother's just always thought that.

Wanda couldn't believe her luck. She had had an utterly amazing daughter and she had brought her to this cursed school. She sat down the picture she was caring for some of Samuel Guthrie's students for half an hour.

Santo Vaccarro's Room

Santo sat alone in his room his rocky body putting pressure on his bed. His bed was made of a very strong metallic ore but still crackled under his enormous weight. His roommate, Mark Sheppard had just left for the mall with some friends and left him alone.

Santo had made no effort to get to know these children even though they were his peers. Santo should try to make more of an effort with Mark, his powers where cool and he was a potential X-Man.

There was a knock on the door and a small boy with sandy hair walked in, he was a bout fourteen but looked nine. He was the school doctor's son, Carter Ghazikanian and he had telepathic abilities from what Santo had heard.

"Is Mark here?" the young telepath asked timidly.

"No," growled Santo.

Carter rushed from the room and down the hall. Santo would make friends but now wasn't the time. He was busy at the moment and he turned on his stereo and Fallout Boy 'Dance, Dance' was one the radio.

Xi'an Coy Manh's Parents House

Xi'an sat at the table in her parent's nearly antique house. She tossed her lengthy black hair her mother had discovered her mutant ability and had summoned her here to discuss it.

"Well," her mother sighed, "why did you feel that…you couldn't confide in me?"

"I just," Xi'an couldn't even explain, since joining the ranks of an X-Man she felt as if she had or was started to become a little emotional.

Xi'an no longer felt like she was the confidant woman she had once been, especially around her rather arrogant teammate, John Proudstar. She didn't know why, Xi'an had always loved being so in control with her academic and social affairs.

"What, can you do darling?" enquired her mother.

"Well," started Xi'an, "I can psionically manipulate the thoughts of people by over-riding their brainwaves with my own so I am in full control."

Her mother was a well-known solicitor. She was Anna-Theresa Cummings, she was roughly forty and had a stern face but you couldn't have met a kinder woman.

"Interesting," smiled Anna-Theresa caringly.

"Thanks mom."

"For what?"

Xi'an walked around and hugged her mother tenderly and this surprised her mother, it had been a long time since she had received a hug from Xi'an. It was a pleasant surprise though.

"For being there."

Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, The Gardens

Julio lay under the burning sun he was slightly protected by the large tree that hung overhead. He noticed a very attractive girl walk by, she had pink skin and hair and fluorescent yellow eyes.

She turned and noticed him. Her name was Clarice Ferguson and she waved and walked closer smiling politely.

"Hey!" Clarice smiled.

"Ola!" smiled Julio turning on his Spanish charm,

She settled down beside him and as John walked away the two seemed pretty close, after only 20 minutes.

"Boy," moaned John, "that must be some kind of record."

Alberta, Canada

Cable stalked through the forest of the Canadian wilderness, he was searching for the spot his portal had first arrived, as he was eager to return home, to his wife, Aliyah.

"Go away!" he growled.

The Scarlet Witch emerged from the shadows.

"I can send you home if you wish. I wouldn't like to but you did save me and my child from a Sentinel," Wanda glared at him.

"What's your problem lady!" Cable growled again.

"I want to invite you to teach at our little school," she flirted, "you could live in peace."

"I have my own timeline," Cable said to her warningly.

"Which I will personally return you too. In exactly a year if you come to the school with me," Wanda pulled her last card, "you can't get back without my help anyway. So are you in?"

Samuel Guthrie's Kids

John stood in the centre of the most chaotic scene he could have imagined. He was looking after a few of the kids that Cannonball usually cared for. Wanda had asked for a favour, he had never expected this.

The kids currently present were Julian Keller, Paige Guthrie, TJ Wagner, David Alleyne, Kevin Ford and Joshua Foley. They had nothing to do with him, yet he was struck here until Wanda relieved him.

The door swung open just as John was about to hit Joshua Foley on the head for disrespecting him. Xi'an walked in and closed the door firmly behind her, she noticed what John was about to do and sprung into action.

Her eyes shone of a fuchsia pink colour, she pushed her own brainwaves over John's and she was in control of his body. John dropped Joshua to the ground and there was a loud smash as he fell (he knocked over a table).

"Hey!" screamed the young boy.

"Don't hurt him!" David defended his fallen peer, "X-Men don't attack the pupils here!"

"Josh deserved it David!" Paige snapped.

"Boys and girls!" shouted Xi'an, "this class is now over! Move on!"

Paige, Julian, TJ, Joshua, David and Kevin walked from the room. Joshua was still rubbing his butt vigorously as it ached with sharp pains. Xi'an turned to John and gave him a stern glance she seemed to have regained her confidence around him.

"We need to talk John!" Xi'an scolded him.

The Headmasters Office

Santo stood in front of the acting headmaster, Wolverine. He was being told something he would prefer not to hear. How could this be happening to him all he wanted was to be an X-Man.

"I'm sorry Mister Vaccarro, we need you to do at least a year of training before we can allow you to participate in full-time missions. You will be able to join once you have completed your training," Wolverine consoled the youth.

"I can use my powers now!" Santo stormed from the room, knocking the door of its hinges.

"Wanda, go after him and send Proudstar in," Wolverine told the Scarlet Witch, "We need to talk."

Wanda strode from the room wondering what her new recruit could have done this time. She couldn't help but want to punch that man with all of her heart, but he would probably slaughter her if she tried it.

"We need to have a serious word," he muttered.

The War Room

Wanda had just returned from escorting John to the office of Wolverine. Wanda had gathered her 'new' team to the War Room to discuss tactics and start a training session in the 'Danger Room'.

Cable was the only new addition to the 'Uncanny' X-Men. He sat crossed leg staring at the simulation Wanda had chosen for them. They were acting out a traditional mission scene including the briefing.

This time they were fighting the threat currently or previously depends on whether you count the aftermath as part of the threat. Cable did and so he wanted to prove he was worthy of a place on the team.

Wanda turned to the globe and let the positioning system be set into gear. She was wearing a slightly new costume, it consisted of a red corset with a long red cape and a scarlet tiara, and it had a yellow X on the right breast.

Cable was wearing the traditional X-Men's uniform it was red and black. This had been the traditional one whilst he had attended the Xavier Institute. That would have been ten years previous in his world.

Karma and Thunderbird (who had just arrived) wore the current traditional uniforms, which were yellow and blue the only exception was that Xi'an's had a short skirt over the lengthy trousers. Rictor also wore a yellow and blue uniform that was just as simplistic as Thunderbirds.

The Lounge Area

Santo had attempted to make friends by asking Mark to show him around the Institute. They had been joined by Carter Ghazikanian (the small boy Santo disliked from first appearance).

They were walking past the massive cinematic T.V when Santo noticed Roxanne. Roxanne Washington was a millionaire's' daughter and had grown up in a life of privilege.

She slightly resembled British hip-hop star, Rihanna. He waved gently and she just smiled and walked off with an attractive though seemingly blind brunette. They were holding hands and Santo wished he could hold her hand in a more tender way, as Roxanne was lead into the crowd by 'Blindfold'.

"Who's that sexy piece of meat?" he asked a passing blonde girl rudely.

"Who?" the blonde girl stared where he was pointing, "Bling. I mean Roxanne Washington."

"Andrea!" called a strangely patterned skin.

Andrea and Alani (the patterned girl) walked off leaving Santo to stare absent-mindedly were Roxanne had formerly stood. Mark grabbed his shoulder and forced him to snap out of it.

"Come of it dude," Mark moaned, "She's not that hot."

"Oh but she is," Santo smiled.

The Danger Room

As Magneto began to form in front of the latest to come from the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. Wanda stepped forward and with a BAMF her husband Kurt Wagner stood in front of her. He wore a nice tuxedo and a silky tie.

"I'm going to the funeral now," he said.

"Okay honey," Wanda kissed him, "be strong."

"I will."

BAMF

The Scarlet Witch turned to the team and she smiled weakly and she moaned something and ran from the room. She stared at her hands in shock and anguish that she had to deal with this.

"What's up with her?" enquired Karma.

"I don't know," said Cable walking after her, "but I attend to find out."

"Is everyone in this school psycho?" asked Rictor impishly.

The Hall

"Cable! Just listen," Wanda said forcefully, "Just round up these kids okay. I'll be fine I just need to speak with my daughter."

Wanda stormed off in search of Talia Josephine whilst she left a rather bewildered Cable staring after here. He walked off reading his sheet of paper with a lot of names on it and he knew a quick way to round them up.

The Danger Room

Rictor seemed to finally snap and he ran from the room in a bad temper, all Karma and Thunderbird had done was give each other a quick hug. They had realized that the interest in each other was mutual.

"What's up with him?" snapped John.

"Maybe Blink turned him down?" Xi'an offered her piece.

"Most likely," John said turning back to her, "Would you like to catch a movie babe?"

"Of course, let me get ready," Xi'an skipped from the room chirpily.

John smiled realizing that he had just got a good catch there with the luscious Xi'an Coy Manh. He fixed one of the spikes in his newly cut hair and thought about the few minutes he had spent with Wolverine.

The Empty Lounge

Julio turned his back to the door as he talked on the payphone and he did so ever silently as a shadow passed the window, he gasped and hid in the shadows.

"Is it ready?" he whispered.

He seemed to pause for a few moments,

"I'll be right over."

He hung up and grabbing his jacket moved towards his car and drive off the front street of the Xavier Institute and made his way to Manhattan.

Next Issue: Wanda's plan is set in motion. Xi'an and John have their first date. Julio reaches his destination to disastrous results and Cable makes a shocking decision.