XMen: Fate

by Yusho MinChao

After devastation, the X-Men and the Brotherhood navigate a chaotic world. With new recruits, both organizations make moves against an uncertain future on a path riddled with friends and allies from the past and shocking enemies.

17. Stormageddon

X-Men: Fate

Stormageddon

"You want to go for stealth whenever you can," Remy advised Reth, Reva, and Adrian, but then he tossed a playing card and used it to cause an explosion. He blew the door into pieces. "This isn't one of those times."

"Remember," Reth told Reva and Adrian, "we've got to stop the Brotherhood, release the captive mutants, and protect the Purifiers."

"Follow me," Remy instructed, and they did.

No reason to stay quiet because explosions and screams were happening all around them.

"Did I mention how much this mission sucks?" Reva questioned.

"Yes," Adrian said. "Let's go. They might be ignorant as fuck, but they don't deserve to be broken or worse."

"I rather be here than back at the mansion," Reth said coldly.

"Don't think about him," Adrian said. "It's only going to piss you off."

"Maybe we should let him get pissed off," Reva said. "These Purifiers do deserve some of this. They brought it on themselves. Not all of them will have the change of heart others have. I also meant nothing by that."

"I'm glad we decided to take you all on missions," Remy said. He laughed. "You three are definitely a source of entertainment. I've got to channel Storm for a minute. No matter what's going on in your personal lives don't lose sight of your mission's goal."

The three of them nodded in agreement.

Only a week had passed since Reva, Adrian, and Reth had been inducted into the X-Men, and that day a lot started happening and hadn't let up yet.

Last Monday.

It had been a long day that left them exhausted. After their classes, Logan tried to have them killed in the Danger Room. The three of them had been so tired they skipped dinner and went straight to bed.

Reva had heard rumors of the new girl in school from her hall mate from across the hall before she had gone into her room, but she hadn't been able to really focus on what her hall mate was telling her. Ororo had told them the names of the transfer students, but Reva had a hard time remembering those names. Apparently, the new girl was pretty sweet, loved fashion design and cooking, and had both a strong and elegant ability. Reva didn't catch the name of it but found herself curious, and she kept dozing off while standing in the doorway until her hall mate sent her to bed.

Before he went to bed, Reth had to check on Jean. They chatted for a few moments before Logan came and asked him if he needed more time in the Danger Room. Reth immediately left. After a quick shower, he lay in bed before he went to sleep thinking about his chat with Jean. He asked her what she wanted to do next. She told him she thought about teaching or maybe working with her friend Hank, Beast, in the political arena. However, she didn't know how much she could or should do, especially after having been the face of chaos. Whatever you want to do, Reth told her, you know we'll support you.

Adrian, a light sleeper from growing up with his dad and his Purifier days, woke up when he thought he heard two car doors slam shut. He used this opportunity to get food from the kitchen when he didn't see anything or anyone outside his window. Besides, Forge had already set himself to work in improving the security system of the mansion after the events of last night. Adrian expected they wouldn't have much to worry about anymore now and once Forge really finished with the security system. He managed to catch a glimpse of an older gentleman and a young guy following Ororo while he finished a turkey, apple, and brie sandwich on sourdough bread before he went back to bed. They piqued his interest, but because Logan planned to train them even harder later today after classes again he hurried back to bed.

Tuesday.

Ororo called an X-Men team meeting early in the morning. While Reth looked full and rested and Reva looked high on life, Adrian dragged. He didn't blame the physical exertion but the major use of his ability. He had never used it that much that many hours straight. He had been out of it, but when Ororo began telling them about the government and the Purifiers it drew him from his haze.

"According to Hank," Ororo said, "some of you might know him better as Beast, the government has been monitoring our actions ever since we pulled together to rebuild."

"This is not a surprise," Emma said.

"What might be news is that they have a plan to make use of the Purifiers should there come a time we appear out of control," Ororo continued. "When it comes to the Brotherhood, they have decided to defer to us, but they will step in if deemed necessary."

"This is because of me," Jean said.

"It's a result of numerous actions," Danielle said. "You can't take the blame for everything. This is how people are about mutants. We'll do what we always did: change their thinking."

"While they have been monitoring us," Forge said, "they are not for certain that the X-Men have reunited. We want to try and keep it that way."

"The government plans to overlook the actions of the Purifiers then," Logan said. "Don't care how they handle us or any mutants for that matter."

"My men have been keeping tabs on the Purifiers," Remy said. "They're in shady business, but if they make a move toward us we'll know they're coming."

"What kind of shady business?" Adrian asked.

"Is it outside of what they were already doing?" Reth asked.

"Evan reported that a number of Purifiers have begun to kidnap mutants," Ororo said, "specifically those who are homeless."

Reva looked confused.

"Headmistress Munroe's nephew Evan used to be a member of the X-Men," Reth told Reva. "He went by Spyke then."

Adrian listened to this too.

"He moved on and began to both act as guardian and eventually one of the leaders of the Morlocks," Reth said, adding, "which are a number of mutants who have decided to live a part from humans and human-passing mutants."

"I'm starting to think training should include taking a class from you," Reva said.

Adrian stifled a laugh.

"The Purifiers are trying to get rid of their X-gene," Ororo said, "which rarely works and has been resulting in their deaths." This caught everyone's attention.

"They decided to go through with that," Adrian said. His eyes shifted to the floor as if he didn't want to see how the others might be looking at him. "That was a plan my father wanted to implement. Can't believe they're following through."

"If the Brotherhood gets wind of this," Forge said and didn't add anything else.

"We need to hit them hard," Logan said.

"We have to be strategic," Emma said. "The X-Men need to function as a group, an organization, that promotes and works for peace. We cannot continue to be associated with chaos and death."

"Hank will work on the men and women who are in power in both the government and in the Purifiers that are against the mutants and for these horrid countermeasures," Ororo said. "Warren plans to look into the business and financial side of their ventures."

"Hitting them in their pockets will always get 'em," Logan said.

"If they can't afford the manpower and equipment," Danielle said, "it might not stop them but it can at least slow them down until we can."

I didn't say anything, Adrian thought. I thought the idea would die with him, but ideas don't die as long as there is someone to carry them on. He started talking to himself. I was stupid. Why I didn't I say anything? Fuck… Fuck!

While his face showed nothing, Reth began to pick up and read Adrian's tumultuous emotional state: a mix of anger and depression.

"What this means going forward is the next few missions will revolve around rescuing those captured and possibly even fighting against the Brotherhood," Emma said.

"That means be prepared for fights on two fronts: humans and other mutants," Ororo said. "For now, you should try to avoid engaging the Purifiers. These shall be covert missions. You will need to accomplish them, leaving no evidence of your identities behind."

"I think Kurt and I should be on standby for every mission," Kitty suggested. "If Rogue and the others send their new acolytes, they know we'd be hesitant to go up against them. However, if the veterans get involved, we should be there."

"We must not hurt anyone, human or mutant, if we can help it," Kurt said, "but we must do what's necessary."

"Agreed," Ororo said. "Do you all understand?" She spoke to the newest members.

Reva, Adrian, and Reva nodded in agreement.

The meeting convened.

Kitty introduced Sorcha to Reva's Chemistry class and assigned her to become Reva's lab partner. They eyed each other and didn't say a word for a few moments. Reva pushed out the chair for her.

"You're the new girl everyone's been talking about," Reva said. "You can sit. Despite what you might've heard, I'm pleasant."

"I've heard you're the hothead with an explosive ability who's always hanging with two of the hottest guys in school," Sorcha said. "What's your ability?"

"It's called Solar Mutagen," Reva said, a little surprised Sorcha's first question wasn't about the guys. Too many of the girls around here only wanted to talk about guys and how hot they were. "I absorb solar energy and put the hurt on someone with it, and I can also mutate other organisms with my touch. In other words, it's like I can act as a catalyst to facilitate growth."

"Sorcha," Sorcha said, sticking out a hand.

Reva eyed Sorcha a moment and her hand before she shook it.

"Reva," Reva told Sorcha her name.

Sorcha took the seat.

"Your ability is amazing," Sorcha said. "I'm new to all this. I never knew anything about mutants, except from what I'd heard from my parents, who would talk about it from time to time after they watched the news. When my mutation, I guess you would say manifested, my dad and I thought it was awesome. My mom, on the other hand, was a little worried. I started doing research, found this school, and I decided to come here."

"Don't leave me in suspense," Reva said. "Tell me about your ability."

"Right," Sorcha said. "I can't say if it has a name. My dad and I call it Arbor Embodiment. I have an organic tree form, which heightens my strength and allows me to endure anything that might hurt me, and I can control whatever my body produces: leaves, fruits, nuts, berries, medicinal herbs, spices, vines, and flowers." She laughed, and Reva laughed with her. They drew Kitty's attention, and they both quickly apologized. "It's strange, but it's so fascinating. I want to learn more, do more, and I want see where my mutant ability and being a mutant can take me. I'd like to understand what it means or what it can mean."

"I sort of felt the same way when my ability manifested," Reva said. "I wanted it to grow. I wanted to use it and not be afraid to use it, and I wanted other people to marvel at it not tremble in fear. I got to say though it does feel good when I can use it to make anti-mutant people give messing with mutants a second-thought."

"Maybe we can work together?" Sorcha asked. "Get stronger together? That would be fun."

"Now that's an idea," Reva said with a nod and smile.

They decided they better focus on the class before they missed something important like their homework. They bonded over discussing their abilities and how they felt about their manifestations, and Reva found while she rarely had gotten along with girls she liked Sorcha.

Adrian skipped Professor LeBeau and Professor Moonstar's afternoon classes, teaching Pre-Calculus and American History respectively, and Reth, not wanting to intrude, asked Kurt to check on Adrian and make sure Adrian didn't get lost in his emotions.

"Professor Wagner can I ask a favor of you," Reth said, finding Kurt raiding the kitchen fridge.

"Sure," Kurt said. "Is it about the theology homework?"

"No," Reth said. A couple other students came into the kitchen. Reth didn't say anything more.

"I understand," Kurt said. He placed a hand on Reth, and he teleported the two of them to his room.

"What do you need from me?" Kurt asked.

"Sometimes I can't necessarily control what I hear and pick up from other people," Reth said. "I'm worried about Adrian. I don't want to say anything to him because I don't want to come off like I purposely pry into his mind or emotions. This probably isn't much better, but I was hoping either you or Forge could speak with him. Today's meeting is still on his mind, and I don't know what I can say. I think he'd be more comfortable talking to one of you about this Purifier business because you guys are familiar with who he was when he used to be one. You were with him when he came out on the other side of it."

"I'm never not going to look like this," Kurt said. "It's a part of who I am. You might never be able to control what you receive or perceive, but I hope you don't see that as a bad thing. It's all a part of the gifts God gives us. Sometimes, they can be perfect, and other times they can be perfectly imperfect. You get my meaning?"

"That not necessarily being able to control it might be for me to fulfill a purpose with it," Reth said. "Being able to be attune to people, places, or things, leaving them better off, could be one of them…"

"Exactly," Kurt said. "You go ahead. Don't worry about this. Pray on it if you're a praying man; I'll speak to Adrian."

"I am," Reth said. Before he left, he asked a question: "Can you make sure he doesn't know I sent you?"

"This'll stay between us," Kurt told him. "Wouldn't hurt you to tell him eventually though."

"Thanks," Reth said with an added brief smile before he left.

Kurt teleported into Adrian's room.

Adrian sat on the edge of his bed, staring intensely at the floor with his fists clenched. Kurt could see this, even though the room was completely dark.

"I could've done something," Adrian mumbled to himself. "I could've done more."

"You could've only done so much," Kurt said, making Adrian jump onto his feet. "And when you think about it, you ended up doing a lot. You helped save the world, and you decided to join the X-Men."

"Doesn't stop me from feeling responsible," Adrian said, sitting back on the bed after seeing who it was.

"Only you can stop yourself from feeling responsible," Kurt said. "And if you're not going to stop yourself from feeling that way, what are you going to do about it? Sulk here in the dark? Or stop them before anyone else dies?"

Adrian tried not to smile, but he couldn't help it.

"You really know how to bring it home for a guy," Adrian said. "I just wanted to sit in my room and wallow, but you pop in here and make me feel like an idiot."

"Well," Kurt said and laughed briefly, "it wasn't my attention to make you feel like an idiot, but I don't want you sulking in the dark anymore. We've had enough darkness in our lives." Kurt teleported to the light switch and turned on the light. "Next time, instead of trying to drop off, can you count me? Can you count on Reva or Reth? Forge or Emma? God… It doesn't matter who I just don't want you to think you're alone anymore. You wanted change, and now you have it. You just got to be the one to remember it."

"It's been a long time since I had anybody…" Adrian tried to express what he meant or felt. The words got caught in his head and in his emotions. "I'll do better."

"Good," Kurt said. "If that matters settled, you better get to the Danger Room. Logan will find a way to torture you if you skip training like you skipped classes today. And you better skip any more classes."

Adrian laughed before he nodded. Kurt nodded in return before he teleported from the room.

Kurt talked to Adrian, and Adrian went to training as a result. Reth and Reva were glad to see him and in better spirits than trained. Another day of exhaustion sent them straight to bed.

Wednesday.

Reth, Adrian, and Reva went on their first mission with Danielle. While on their mission to simply free captive mutants, they heard about the Brotherhood destroying a Purifier base of operations. The mutants they saved spoke of a trio that were becoming known in a few circles: Nova, Obsidian, and Phantom, and Renegade, Tenebrae, and Sparrow were reprimanded by their fellow mutants for not hurting the Purifiers as opposed to detaining them for local law enforcement, who many believed the Purifiers were in league with.

Professor Xavier and Mr. Lehnsherr were on Reth's mind when he returned home. Because of the many books and articles he had read and the many talks he had with Jubilation and Evan, he felt he had an understanding of their relationship and their relationships with mutants and humans. Professor X and Magneto both had what they felt were the best interests in mind for mutants in their efforts against each other. While Magneto had been more selfish, he ultimately believed humans would never accept mutants to the extent that coexistence and acceptance would prevail the way Professor X believed they would.

This mission rattled Reth. Charles… Erik… They had worked for decades, long before he was born, in secret and out in the open, trying to make movements and progress mutantkind. Some mutants wanted peace. Some mutants wanted chaos. Innocents were caught in the crossfire. Tess… If this conflict had created a never-ending cycle, didn't that mean it could never be broken?

Reth had finished dinner and was headed to Adrian's room to hang with Adrian and write an article about this cycle and conflict while Adrian played video games when from across the dining hall he saw someone he thought he would never see again: Armod Bishop.

Without knowing it, Reth had paralyzed the auras of everything and everyone around him.

Get him. Reth hadn't heard RJ's voice in a few days, but he heard him clearly in that moment. Make him suffer.

Reth moved: fast. His hand was around Armod's throat. He pulled back his fist, encompassed by whitish, bluish flames, but before he struck Reth found himself unable to act.

Jean stood at the entrance of the dining hall, and using her Telekinesis she prevented Reth's action.

"Reth," Jean called to him, speaking softly. "We should go see the Headmistress."

Reth glared into Armod's eyes, and Armod stared back into Reth's.

Everyone else stared at Reth in disbelief.

"I knew you would hate to see me again," Armod said, "but I'm here. I'm not at fault; neither are you."

"Tess would disagree," Reth told him. "We're at fault. You're at fault. You're responsible for the evil you commit." He released Armod and walked toward Jean. He stopped beside her and took a deep breath.

Reth ran into Armod, and Jean had to prevent him from taking out his past pain and aggression on him.

Jean saw Reth's fists clenched hard at his sides. They walked for the Headmaster's Office.

"You're angry," Jean said when they reached Ororo's doors.

"I am," Reth said without looking at her.

"You shouldn't bottle it up or push it down like that," Jean said. "That reaction to Armod didn't seem like you."

"I don't have the luxury of anger," Reth told her. "That was me. I became what people expect, and I can't allow that. Thank you for stopping me, and I apologize that you had to." He opened the door before Jean could reply, and he entered the office with Jean behind him.

"Ororo," Jean said. "A situation arose in the dining hall between Reth and the new transfer student Armod. I brought him here, so you could speak with him."

"Thank you," Ororo told her. "Would you call Reva and Adrian to my office? I need to speak to all three of them about Armod."

Jean nodded and left the room.

"I apologize for my behavior Headmistress Munroe," Reth said, "but I won't apologize to him. I can't say this won't happen again."

Ororo said nothing only nodded, which puzzled Reth.

In a couple minutes, Reva and Adrian had joined them.

"You got another mission lined up for us?" Reva asked excitedly and eagerly.

"I do," Ororo answered her. "Today, Reth almost hurt another student. Neither of you were there. However, this concerns all three of you."

The two of them glanced at Reth, but Reth did not look at them.

Reva laughed.

Adrian shook his head.

"Uh," Reva said, "Headmistress Munroe, I think you got the wrong guy."

"Reth gets along with I want to say everyone," Adrian said. "I can't think of a single person to say anything bad about him."

"It was me," Reth said. "Guess my Boy Scout rep is ruined now." He briefly expressed a sad smile.

"What?" Reva questioned. "Why?"

"What happened?" Adrian asked.

"I expected this would happen," Ororo told them, regaining their attention. "It was a test any of you could have faced, but Reth encountered him first. He did fail, but I know he, and the rest of you, are strong enough to overcome this test and trial and see the benefit in it."

"You knew…" Reth said. "You know. When you said his name, I didn't think it possible he could be the same person."

"Evan did not tell me about your shared history with him," Ororo said, "but when he applied to come here I did learn about his ties."

"Can someone catch me up?" Reva asked. "I need a little more to get what's going on."

"Armod Bishop, the second transfer student, is the first non-mutant we decided to accept into the Xavier Institute," Ororo explained. "He attended Reth's previous school, and while he tries to hide it unlike Adrian he is a current member of the Purifiers."

This revealed a little about Reth's past, and Ororo explained she knew about Armod.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Adrian said in response.

Reva's mouth dropped open at Adrian's words. Reth started pacing the room and shaking his hands.

"He's on assignment investigating us," Ororo said.

"That's crazy…" Reth said a few times to himself. He tried to understand what this meant and how it would benefit the X-Men.

"I'm very sorry Headmistress Munroe," Adrian said and bowed his head. "I meant no disrespect. You have to get him the fuck out of here. I'm sorry again. I mean no disrespect."

Reva turned and headed for the door, and Adrian went and grabbed her.

"What?" Reva questioned. "I was about to get him out of here." He pulled her back. "Let me go Adrian."

"He's the reason…" Reth said with anger and pain, which drew Reva and Adrian's attention.

"He is not," Ororo told him. "You say yourself there are multiple sides to every story. You have not told me yours, but he did tell me his."

Reth said nothing more. He could say nothing more.

"You were appointed leader of your team," Ororo said to Reth, but then she turned to Reva and Adrian, "but as you can see even leaders have much to learn. A team is about support. Either you all have to step up, or when that is not possible one of you has to step up. His attendance and involvement at this school shall not be an issue. It will benefit our team, whether you want it to or whether you like it or not."

A short silence passed.

"With a word," Adrian said, "he could bring the Purifiers down on us when we're most vulnerable." He shook his head and stood at attention. "Understood Storm."

"He's investigating us," Reva said. "We're investigating him. I'll let him be, but-" She paused. "He does something or says something to somebody I don't like? I'm beating him down. That has nothing to do with the team. We've got work to do I'll do it."

"You're making moves to integrate the school," Reth said. "If the school, the X-Men, impact Armod, it in turn could impact a lot of people in Armod's sphere of influence. I see it." He took a deep breath. "It would be suspicious if I was suddenly friendly with him… I'll be a good example for the team. I'll pull myself together for the good of the team. I understand I'm a leader."

"You get to be a person," Reva said. "Don't forget that. Don't stray from your leadership style. It works for you and us."

"No matter what happens or what happened we've got your back," Adrian said, giving Reth's shoulder a squeeze. He still hadn't let go of Reva.

"While the X-Men could survive anything thrown at us," Ororo told them, drawing their attention from each other, "we disbanded previously because we could not survive each other." She turned away from them to look out her window. "Perhaps, you three will do us proud by being able to survive each other, even survive everything thrown at you, but will you be able to survive fate… You three are dismissed."

For the first time, Reth, Reva, and Adrian felt as though Ororo came off cryptic. They didn't know what she meant, but they didn't exactly want to ask either.

Thursday.

Because Logan had business to which he had to attend, the trio had a day off from training. Reva took this free time to march for the gardens, where she learned Armod would be. Rumor had it Armod spent his time in two places after classes. While he was friendly and sociable, he kept to himself either working in the garage on cars and motorcycles, he had started making a little money off of students already, or in the gardens because according to his granddad the work would keep him honest. Armod didn't talk much when he was in his work, whether acting as a mechanic or a gardener, but apparently he always had plenty of onlookers who enjoyed watching him work. Reva saw them, some girls and some guys, pretending to be doing something else as they watched a barely dressed Armod, shirtless and barefoot wearing only a pair of cargo shorts, drench himself with a hose because it was so hot that the asphalt nearby was smoking.

Reva walked straight up to Armod, who smiled when he saw her, and punched him in the face. Armod went down. Reva heard the audible gasps nearby. Someone called her name. She heard someone say they were going to get a professor. Armod stared at her in disbelief, but then he stroked his jaw and smiled.

"I'm not sure what that was for," Armod said, climbing to his feet, "but you know how to throw a punch."

"I know what you are," Reva said. These words wiped the smile off his face. "I came to relay a message. Why am I sugarcoating it? I came to threaten you. If anything happens to my friends or this school, I'm going to kill you. I don't care who else might be responsible or who does this damage. You, first and foremost, will die at my hands. I'll be gunning for you."

"Killing me won't be that easy," Armod said.

"Good," Reva said. "I like a challenge."

"Why don't you finish me right here?" Armod asked her.

"Don't tempt me," Reva said, narrowing her eyes.

"You know how to take people by surprise," Armod said. "You know how to use your mutant abilities to hurt people. How about a fair fight? Ever win one of those?"

"Does someone like you even know what a fair fight is?" Reva questioned. "I can't say I've seen you and your buddies in one."

"I can show you one right now," Armod told her. "I fight my own battles: alone."

"When I make you cry," Reva said, putting up her fists, "I don't want to hear that nonsense about you not wanting to hit a girl."

"When a girl threatens my life," Armod said, "she's no longer a girl. She's an opponent. Come at me."

Reva punched Armod a second time. She connected, but this time he didn't fall to the ground. She went for a third jab; he grabbed her fist. She got inside and kneed him in the stomach. His pain was audible, but he grabbed her up and slammed her onto the ground. Reva quickly punched him in his stomach and then across his face. He grabbed her by the arm and twisted it behind her back, but she recovered, turned to meet him, and punched him in the face again, using her free arm. He grabbed her other arm, lifted her up, flipped and slammed her into the ground again. She jumped up and tackled him, noticing that when he would slam her into the ground he never hit her while she was down. She respected that, but it angered her. She straddled him, punching him in the face after she saw him lick the blood from his busted lip. She got in maybe two or three hits before he grabbed her arms and stopped her assault. She struggled against him. She wouldn't admit that he was kind of a strong. They were breathing heavily.

"I can't see you," Armod told her. "You punched out both my contacts. I can't see you, we're both covered in dirt and mud, and I'm hoping we can call this a draw and schedule a rematch."

"I think my fists said all that needs to be said," Reva said. "Your face will prove that next time you look in a mirror. No need for a rematch. Admit I won."

"We can keep going then because I'm not going to admit defeat," Armod said.

"You won't have a choice if I refuse to fight," Reva said.

"So," Armod said, "you're going to give up like that? I'll take it."

"No," Reva said. "You said you wanted a fair fight. I wouldn't hit a man, or in your case a cowardly little boy, who can't see."

They glared at each other.

Logan lifted Reva off of Armod.

"I'm glad you've got a lot of fight in you," Logan said. "Head straight to training."

Everyone knew that she and Professor Howlett boxed together, so it wasn't suspicious when Logan actually was sending her to the Danger Room.

Reva stared at him, and then lowered her head and groaned. She should've seen this coming. If any other professor had come, she would've got off lightly compared to the torture she would now have to endure.

"He deserved it," she muttered under her breath.

"Go ahead and blindfold yourself too because of that comment," Logan said.

Reva clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, even though she knew her punishment could've been worst still. Logan wouldn't tell Ororo. She knew that much, which was a tiny relief. As she headed back to the school, she glanced back and saw Logan help Armod to his feet.

"Get cleaned up," Logan told him. "Try to avoid that one. She's unforgiving. She'll hurt you."

"I got that," Armod said. He grabbed the hose to rinse himself off. "But avoid her, I don't know that I'll be able to do that." He looked in her direction.

Reva turned back around. She wondered what he meant by that. If it meant he wanted to fight again, good. She would look forward to their second conversation, and she would make sure the next one would for certain get her point across.

Reva confronted Armod and threatened him. They fought; they left an impression on each other.

Reth was in the library. He was determined to maintain his grades and stay up on current events in spite of his team trainings and missions. While he used this time to study, he also did some extracurricular reading. He went over Professor Xavier's Oxford University Thesis On Human Genetic Mutation for the umpteenth time in his life. To think, about a year ago he saw himself as human and had no ability. Now, he was considered a mutant. Had he always been a mutant, or had he changed into one? Genetics. Mutation. His world changed in an instant. It was the reason he was alive, but the reason he lost his best friend. Half the people who had been for him were against him, and the half that had been against him became for him. Not many back home had known the truth, but they made assumptions. He grieved, and then he did his best to survive and move on. However, he wanted the same for humans and mutants too. Yes, mutants were dangerous, but humans were dangerous too. Reth got up from his table in the back of the library to search for one of Professor Xavier's books he had read multiple times over the past three years - Symbiosis: The Integral Relationship Between Humans and Mutants. He tried to find where he had returned it by memory, so while trying to read the call numbers and find the book's spine in an aisle, repeating the title under his breath, he ran into someone.

"Excuse me," Reth said.

"You're here," the new girl said. "You're here alone…Reth Whitfield."

"Sorcha," Reth said. It took a second. He recognized her as the other transfer student, but his ability brought her name back to his mind via her thoughts.

"Symbiosis," Sorcha said, pulling the book from the shelf. "You're going after the same book?"

"I was," Reth said. "If you're going to read it, you can keep it. You did get it first, and I've read it plenty of times already. I just wanted to…get back in it again I guess. It's a good read."

"Thanks," Sorcha said. "I'm trying to learn as much as I can. I wanted to learn more about Charles Xavier after reading a little bit about his school and the X-Men. I read his thesis, and then I tried to get my hands on everything he wrote, especially before I came here. This was next on my list."

"He speaks to the importance of his philosophy," Reth said, reminded of when he used to speak with groups of students his age. "He explains the existence of the X-Men and the Brotherhood and why neither group would ever cease to exist, especially because of the failure of humans and mutants to rise above their conflict to coexist and protect one another on a societal and global scale. That's some of it." He brought himself out of the memories of those times.

"Fascinating," Sorcha said, "Professor Xavier's book and your explanation and communication of the subject. I started reading your archived blog you used to write and wondered why you ended it. It's because you discovered you were a mutant, wasn't it?"

"Thanks for reading my work," Reth said. "You weren't one of the ones who thought I had been lying about being human all this time." He sidestepped her question.

"To be honest," Sorcha said, "I didn't really pay too much attention to the conflict. I never mistreated anyone. I never helped or harmed anyone. I believed it was none of my concern. Now, it is. There's so much to learn and understand. I see the anger and fear and hate on both sides, and I can't begin to decide how it would be best to help everyone move forward. I believe we should work toward peace, but I can't see how peace won't happen for one group and chaos happen for the other."

"I've been trying to ignore the fact that a win-win scenario might not be possible," Reth said. "Professor Xavier's hope has kept me hopeful."

Sorcha saw as Reth gazed upon Professor Xavier's book: a short smile spreading across his face.

"You are beautiful," Reth said, lifting his eyes and resting them on her. "That caught me by surprise. I wanted to compliment you. I hope you don't take offense."

"No," Sorcha said. "Not at all. You're not bad on the eyes yourself." They both chuckled. "I'd love to talk to you more. I know you're usually busy. Am I keeping you?"

"I was studying and reading," Reth said. "You're not keeping me at all."

"Unfortunately," Sorcha said, checking the time on her cellphone, "I actually have to go. If possible, let's get together again, talk, get some coffee."

"I don't drink coffee," Reth said, "but if you don't mind a tea lover let me know and I can make it work. I enjoyed our conversation, and I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on my work and more of your thoughts on Professor Xavier's work."

"I don't mind a tea lover," Sorcha said, shaking her head and smiling. "That would be great. Let me get your number." They exchanged phone numbers. "By the way, that was me asking you out on a date."

"We can go out," Reth said, "but we can't go out on a date. I'm taken."

"That makes sense," Sorcha said. She sighed. "Do I know her?"

"It's new and private," Reth said. "I'm not even sure if he's comfortable with other people knowing about us."

"You're gay?" Sorcha questioned.

"Bisexual," Reth said.

"You prefer one more than the other?" Sorcha continued her questioning. "Pardon my curiosity."

"You're fine," Reth said. "I'm mostly an open book. I know some prefer one over the other, but that's not me. I'm attracted to people or rather drawn to a person's character. I feel just as strongly for my new boyfriend as I did my ex-girlfriend, but as with anyone you become involved with you feel for them for different reasons and in different ways. Hope that made sense."

"It did," Sorcha said. "The way you talk about how you feel…It just makes me wish I would've gotten a hold of you first." They both chuckled. "I look forward to us being great friends." She stuck out a hand.

"Me too," Reth said.

They shook on it.

Reth met Sorcha. They talked, flirted, and had a significant discussion. They parted ways.

Adrian had never been in the same room as Cerebra, but when he arrived there at Jean's request he finally got a chance to see it.

"I'm glad you came," Jean said when she turned around to face him.

"You asked me to come via my mind," Adrian said. "I had to come. I suspect this is about something serious."

"It is," Jean said.

"Why ask for me?" Adrian questioned. "Why not the others? Why not Reth or Reva?"

"Before you three came into my mind," Jean said, "I heard your voice. You reached me. I've since wondered why that was. Was it because we're similar in some way? Are we afraid of our abilities? Are we afraid of the darkness of our pasts and meeting that darkness again?"

"We both hurt a lot of people," Adrian said. "We're both still trying to recover from those experiences. That's something we might share. Sounds right."

"I have a theory," Jean said. "Would you care to hear it? I think it will explain why I asked you here and what I'm going to ask of you."

"Tell me," Adrian said.

"The three of you work," Jean said, "and while it doesn't make sense after observing you three I understand why. The three of you exist traveling on separate roads, in your own worlds, coming from different directions. Reth's road might be considered peace and hope. Reva's might be considered action and courage. Yours might be considered skepticism and love. Your three roads converged. They always converge: when you three are together, when you meet, and when you share one mind to accomplish a goal. An example would be my rescue. My theory is you three will always be successful because you put each other in balance."

"That's not true," Adrian said, even though he could see where she was coming from and what she meant. "We haven't always been successful. We're very different people, and a chance exists that those differences could end us in the future."

"Your skepticism…" Jean said. "However, you care about them both deeply, but you're afraid you'll be the one to ruin it." She shook her head. "I don't believe that will happen. The three of you have separate roles to play like with any group. Every person and every action has its purpose, even the dark ones. The people who care about you will forgive you and keep you, especially when they know where your true loyalty lies."

"What is it you want me to do Jean?" Adrian asked.

"Rogue and I had a private conversation in this room when she took me," Jean said. "The attack on the mansion was much more than a plot to kidnap and obtain me. She was searching for someone she needed my help to find. I can't reach Rogue from here, and she asked me to keep it between us. Knowing Rogue, her actions I want to believe serve a greater purpose. Whether on your next mission or by tracking her down, I want you to speak with her and find out what she knows and has gained about the man and mutant Matthias Calhoun - Codename: Siphon."

"Our next mission is with Forge," Adrian said. "I'm uncomfortable with keeping information from Reth and Reva, the other X-Men, and relaying messages between you and Rogue."

"I understand," Jean said, "but I've killed people I grew up with and loved. If there is a chance that I could bring Rogue back, mend her relationship with me and the X-Men, without causing trouble for the others, I would appreciate your help. They don't hate me, but Rogue is right. I caused the damage and the losses, and I would like the chance to fix things and make things better for everyone."

"Emma probably heard all of this," Adrian said, stalling to think about what taking this on would mean.

"We've had this conversation via my mind," Jean said. "My mind is a labyrinth to Emma. If you choose to help, it will stay between us. I'm not forcing you. You do have a choice. I would only ask that you say nothing about it to your mentors or anyone."

"I'm going to help you," Adrian said. "I have a condition."

"What is it?"

"I'm going to tell Reva and Reth," Adrian said. "I don't mind keeping secrets from everyone else but not those two. I'm done doing things alone, and those two will help me get this mission done."

"I accept your condition," Jean said. "Don't tell them here at the mansion. Emma would be listening."

"I know how I'll handle it," Adrian said.

"Thank you Adrian," Jean said.

"You're welcome Jean," Adrian said.

Adrian decided to become the liaison to speak on Jean and Rogue's behalves during the next mission, which he would go on with Forge for intel. Adrian wanted to speak with Reth and Reva first, so he was relieved they didn't run into Rogue on the mission. They learned two old Brotherhood members might be making moves; although they were unsure whether they were making moves together, for themselves, or the Brotherhood.

Friday.

Adrian, Reva, and Reth stood near the mansion doors.

"Don't take this the wrong way," Reva said, speaking to Adrian, "but I never thought I'd see the day you invited us to go out, especially to the mall." She turned to Reth. "And you, I can't believe you invited Armod."

"I wouldn't have had to if you hadn't beat him bloody yesterday," Reth said. "We can't add fuel to the fire and prove his point, the Purifiers' point; we make headway with him he might make headway with others."

"I hear you," Reva said, but this didn't stop her from rolling her eyes.

"This was meant to be a private outing," Adrian said. "Reth invited Armod, and you invited Sorcha Reva. This wasn't a social call." He whispered. "This was something deeper."

"You should've mentioned that before now," Reva whispered back as she watched Sorcha come down the staircase. "If Armod's coming, she's coming." She walked toward Sorcha. "I'm glad you're coming; I need to talk to you a minute." Reva took Sorcha's hand; Reth and Sorcha waved at each other as Sorcha was dragged off and she and Reva walked for the bathroom.

"If Reva's thinking what I think she is," Reth said under his breath before facing Adrian, "it's better Sorcha come. I'm thinking whatever you need to tell us is big, so Sorcha can keep him busy long enough for you to talk with Reva and me."

"This fell on me," Adrian said, "and I'm not much of a talker."

"Some would consider that a gift," Reth said, "being able to say a lot by saying a little."

"Not you though," Adrian said. They laughed together. "The two of us need to talk." Reth nodded in agreement.

"Not today," Reth said. Adrian nodded in agreement.

""Are you going to be good with Armod?" Adrian asked.

"I got to be," Reth said. "I'll be fine. I'm surprised he agreed to come, but he seemed just as surprised I asked."

"Adrian," Armod called to him, jogging from the back of the mansion. "You're a hard man to get a hold of."

Reva pulled Sorcha into the bathroom. She checked all the stalls, and seeing that they were empty she locked the bathroom door.

"You're acting weird," Sorcha said. "What's this about?"

"Armod is coming to the mall with us," Reva said, leaning on the sink as Sorcha checked herself in the mirror.

"You're not going to start another brawl with him," Sorcha said, "are you?" She turned toward her, and Reva gave her a look.

"I can't," Reva said. She rubbed her back. "I don't think I could handle the consequences again."

"I wonder why he's coming after what went down between you two," Sorcha said. "He's not a mutant. He's attractive. Why did you fight him? You didn't tell me. You think he likes you?"

"I wanted to tell you," Reva said, "which isn't like me, but I couldn't. And no, guys don't like me, and he wouldn't if he knows what's good for him. Now, I want to know; can you do me a favor without asking any questions?"

"Sure," Sorcha said without missing a beat.

"Just like that?" Reva questioned: not expecting her quick reply.

"I'm a smart girl," Sorcha said, "remember? When someone like you checks bathroom stalls and locks doors, it generally means there's some kind of situation on the table. You trust me, and I make it a habit not to let down the people who do. What do you need?"

"Can you keep an eye on Armod?" Reva asked. "Let me know if he does or says anything suspicious: not just for today but for a little while? On top of that, when I give you a signal, might be a look or a text, can you keep him busy at the mall? Take him around? Give Reth, Adrian, and me some time to talk? I'll owe you one, maybe two."

"I love it," Sorcha said, maneuvering her purse from one shoulder to the other. "You don't have to owe me anything. I'm just glad you're letting me into your world."

"What do you mean?" Reva asked. Sorcha definitely kept her on her toes.

"People have always had this habit of keeping me at arms length," Sorcha said. "They had their walls, and they seemed like they were always trying to protect themselves from me. I think they thought at any moment I would dismiss them or dispose of them. I read a lot because books were more inviting."

"You want to know me?" Reva questioned. Sorcha nodded smiling broadly. "Then, you will. Baby steps though. I've been told I'm not much of girl."

"Screw them," Sorcha said. "You're a great girl!" She hugged on Reva, and Reva let her and returned the hug.

"Thanks for your help," Reva said.

"Any time," Sorcha said.

"Reth," Armod greeted him.

"Armod," Reth replied in greeting. "You know Adrian?"

"Adrian Luca," Armod said. "He was a fellow Purifier, and he was the son of a great leader, Javier Luca. I didn't know him, but I knew of him. He showed us the importance of protecting ourselves from mutants."

Only Reth noticed Adrian uncomfortably shift his weight from one leg to the other.

"That life is behind him," Reth said.

"That life might be behind him," Armod said, "but he hasn't lost the lessons he learned from it. You ignore the facts, but Adrian knows if the Bastion and Dark Phoenix catastrophes proved anything it's that whether they have control or not mutants have the ability to destroy everything and everyone."

"Some Purifiers are full of hate," Reth said. "Others are full of fear. They don't seek to understand."

"Can you blame them?" Armod said. "Some mutants want humans to die. Others want to be left alone."

They stared each other down.

"Neither can see the good in the other: only the potential danger," Adrian said, drawing both their attentions.

"We can table this discussion," Reth said. "Today's not about this. Let's just have fun. Adrian, you want to get your truck?"

"I'll be back," Adrian said. "Armod, I hear you're good with mechanics. Want to check out my ride before we go?"

"That'd be great," Armod said. He opened the door.

Reth winked at Adrian before Adrian turned and left behind Armod.

Armod told Adrian his truck was in great shape for being such an old model.

"Why are you here?" Armod asked seriously once he and Adrian had finished examining the truck and got into it. "Why did you leave the Purifiers and join with the X-Men?"

"Why are you here?" Adrian asked without looking at Armod, starting his truck. "To bring me back?"

"That's one reason," Armod said.

"You're going with honesty," Adrian said. "You going to tell me the other reasons?"

"The Purifiers are a family," Armod said. He took off his glasses and wiped them with his shirt. "You aren't the first Purifier to have manifested mutant abilities. You're still one of us. The Purifiers are expanding. Mutants believe in our cause. Some of them want what they had. They have free will. They're free to choose. They have. Do you understand what I'm saying? You changed, Javier Luca's son, and with Mr. Luca's death you brought growth, and the next level, to the Purifiers."

"Mutants are sacrificing themselves to find a cure," Adrian said more to himself than Armod.

"They are," Armod said, "but every family has its black sheep. Some Purifiers are using extreme measures, but they don't speak for all of us. Just like the Brotherhood don't represent all mutants. You can't fault all Purifiers based on the actions of a few."

"Is this confidence or arrogance?" Adrian asked, turning toward Armod. "You have to know you're being heard and watched."

"I do," Armod said, "but that won't stop me from success."

"I joined the X-Men because of the Bastion event," Adrian said. "The world was at stake."

"All that is over," Armod said. "They disbanded; you're free to go. Come back to the Purifiers."

"I'll think about it," Adrian said.

"I know," Armod said. "Don't let your boyfriend cloud your judgement."

"Reth hasn't told anyone about you," Adrian said, "which tells me he's either afraid of or ashamed of what I might think or anyone might think of his shared history with you. Care to tell me about it?"

Armod said nothing.

"You're good Armod," Adrian said. "Dangerous. But I was raised by Javier Luca. I've seen better. I've seen worse. You want to know why I decided to attend the Xavier Institute? Why I'm here? Bad people…" He shook his head. "No. People who are wrong are dangerous, but people who try and struggle to do right they can bring down the world."

"You're saying they're worse?" Armod questioned. "The Dark Phoenix catastrophe is what you're talking about. Are you saying you're here to watch them?"

Adrian focused on the truck, pulled out of the garage, and headed for the mansion's entrance.

"I'll make sure Reth doesn't test you," Adrian said without looking at Armod, "but you better make sure you don't test him."

By the time Adrian pulled his truck around, Reth, Reva, and Sorcha were gathered together waiting outside for them.

"Reth and I are going to climb in the back," Reva told Adrian, ignoring Armod. She didn't even look at him.

"This is Sorcha," Reth said, introducing her to Adrian and Armod. "She'll be sliding in with you guys."

"Yes it is I Sorcha," Sorcha said, hopping beside Armod. "Suck in your rippling muscles and make room." She brought a smile to their faces. She stuck out her hand. "Reva's my bestie, and Reth's my buddy." She brought a smile to their faces. "We haven't had the pleasure. Adrian, Armod, nice to meet you two." They shook her hand, and they said they were glad to meet her as well.

Adrian is introduced to Sorcha and is surprised by Armod. Reva asked Sorcha to keep an eye on Armod. Reth attempted to understand Armod. They all headed to the mall.

After 10 minutes walking around the mall, the small group came to the same realization, but Reva was the one that voiced it.

"Why are we here?" Reva questioned. "We don't have any money. We can't buy anything. We're broke." She said this for Sorcha's benefit because she knew exactly why she, Reth, and Adrian were there: to have a private conversation.

"We all could use a day out from the school," Adrian said.

"Hey," Reth said. "While we're here, why don't we try to get jobs, so we can have some money."

"I like that idea," Sorcha said after a short laugh. "I'm not really broke though." She sighed. "It's time I brought in my own money and stop counting on my parents for everything."

"We can get a job together," Reva told her. "Then, we won't have to suffer from boredom and tediousness."

"You sure you wouldn't get sick of me?" Sorcha questioned her.

"No," Reva said. "Not possible."

"I'm not broke either," Armod said. "I have a lucrative business back at the school. I get paid pretty well."

"Nobody asked you," Reva said without looking at Armod. Adrian and Reth turned around and gave her a look. She shrugged.

"How about food?" Adrian asked the group. They ended up walking in front of the food court. "Everybody got enough money to eat?"

"I could eat," Reth said.

"After we eat," Sorcha said, "we can start our job search."

"Let me take a leak first," Adrian said.

"I think I'm going in for the pizza," Sorcha said.

"I hear a bacon cheeseburger calling my name," Reva said.

"I'm going to get in the Chinese food line," Armod said. "I'll grab us a table."

Reva and Sorcha shared a look, and Sorcha nodded as Armod began to walk across the court for his food.

"Actually Armod," Sorcha said, "wait up. Orange chicken would hit the spot. Plus, I can make sure you pick a good table." She caught up with him, Armod smiled and gave her a slight nod, and they walked together.

Adrian, Reva, and Reth walked for the restrooms when Sorcha and Armod kind of disappeared into a crowd. They found a janitorial closet on their way to the restrooms. Reth used his ability to force open the door, and when they had a little privacy they slipped inside. They knew they didn't have a lot of time.

"What's this mall crawl about?" Reva asked Adrian.

Reth waited to hear, listening for the answer and explanation.

"We had to talk somewhere we wouldn't have to worry about Emma listening," Adrian said. "Jean spoke with me. She asked me to complete a covert mission, keeping it from the other X-Men. I told her I would on the condition that I could tell you two."

"Out of all the things I thought might come out of your mouth this wasn't on my list," Reva said. "What's the mission?"

"I know we kept our first mission private," Reth said, "but do you think this should become a pattern? Especially when this mission is coming from another member of the X-Men and would go against the others?"

"We talked about fate a few days ago," Reva said. "Is it possible that this is the purpose of our team? We do what the others can't whether because of trauma, the past, or out of necessity."

"It's possible," Reth said. "I'm not against it, but out of the three of us someone has to ask these questions. In the end, we will have to explain and justify our actions whether they have a positive or negative outcome. Adrian already decided, and you agree with him. Our team votes: two out of three. I'm with you guys, and if there is any fallout I'll accept it."

They shared silence. Reva seemed to realize what Reth being their leader meant, taking the responsibility for their actions and losing his role as an X-Men team member to keep the team intact. Adrian seemed to feel guilt for making this decision before talking to the them, even though he had considered it his own mission he had known these two would assist him in it.

"As team leader," Reth said, "I could go to Storm and explain everything, but whatever the mission I know we got it."

"Consider it done and with a positive outcome," Reva said, "Soon as we learn what it is we're doing."

Adrian could see what Jean meant when she had described them. Reth and Reva turned their attention on Adrian.

"One of us has to meet Rogue in secret and find out about a mutant codenamed Siphon," Adrian said. "When Rogue took Jean, that's who they discussed. Her attack with the Brotherhood was more about this mutant than Jean or the Phoenix. He serves a purpose, and while Rogue takes issue with Jean for the Dark Phoenix event Jean thinks I or we might have a better chance of gaining the truth from Rogue, and then Jean can tell the others and they might be able to do something about it. Jean wants to make amends."

"Jean asked you," Reth said, "so it'll be you."

"We'll create a window," Reva said, agreeing and voting with Reth on this one. "We'll make sure whichever mentor is with us keeps their attention on us, so you can get to Rogue if she turns up on a mission."

"In the meantime," Reth said, "maybe we can try to track down Rogue and the rest of the Brotherhood outside of missions."

"No one has been able to pinpoint Rogue's location," Adrian said.

"I see where he's going with this," Reva said. "We might not be able to track her, but maybe we can get to her through her new acolytes: Nova, Obsidian, and Phantom."

"They'll have more of a presence," Reth said.

"They're our age," Reva said. "I can't imagine they haven't snuck out every now and then. If we can get a hold of security footage, we can use it to ask around about them."

"Even better," Reth said, "once I get a look at their auras again, any of the Brotherhood members, I can track them."

"Focus on those three," Adrian said. "They probably won't be as active, so they'll be easier to find."

"That was my thought too," Reth said. "We'll have to find a better place to meet and have private conversations."

"I'll see what I can do," Reva said.

"I'll leave that in your capable hands," Reth said, "and we better get back. We don't want Sorcha asking too many questions or Armod getting suspicious. We'll get our food and text them to find the table after." Reva and Adrian agreed.

Adrian left first, followed by Reva after a couple minutes, and then Reth when he let a few more minutes pass.

Using his ability to close the door behind him, Reth had only taken a few steps when a girl about his age rounded the corner. They immediately recognized each other.

"Reth…" Aimi called his name softly.

"Aimi," Reth said, thinking she must've learned his name from Leon because of the Phoenix.

"This was a good idea," Lupita said, talking to Leon. "I'm glad old Betsy girl let us have a day off. We probably won't have another one for a while."

"I won't complain," Leon said. "We get paid at least. Never expected we'd get money."

Aimi stopped Leon and Lupita behind her when they saw Reth and made moves toward him.

"We're not doing this here," Aimi said. "You guys, I want to talk to him. Go shop. Pretend you didn't see him. Wait outside. I don't care, but I'm asking you not to cause a scene and to let me speak with him."

Leon nodded without saying a word and walked off. Lupita didn't move, but Aimi looked to Lupita and mouthed please. Lupita brushed into Reth, but she kept walking.

Reth was going to ask Aimi why she wanted to talk to him. She didn't give him a chance. She grabbed onto his arm and walked with him. He let her take him. He knew she was about to tell him.

"I like to avoid violence when possible," Aimi said.

Reth got that from their earlier encounter a few nights back. Walking with her now, he wondered, if she thought this way, why she wasn't with the X-Men?

"My father was one of the X-Men briefly," Aimi told him. "His codename was Sunfire. This was years ago. I might've followed in his footsteps had he and my mother not smuggled me out of Japan on a tanker. I understand why they did it, but the Brotherhood became my family after I arrived here. Mutants understood me and didn't try to kill me. Humans were the reason I had to make that journey alone from Japan." She stopped them during their walk as he listened. They faced each other.

"You don't seem like a person who goes out for revenge," Reth said.

"This isn't about revenge," Aimi said. "It's about justice. I wanted to talk to you because your team and my team are different from those of the past. You've always been about change. You believe in a better world and future. We both detest violence. What if we combined the X-Men and the Brotherhood for the greater good?"

"I love the idea Aimi," Reth said, "but I have a lot of experience trying to bring discordant groups together. I'm thinking the X-Men and the Brotherhood are like the Hatfields and the McCoys. They're going to go down… together." This seemed to leave Aimi disheartened. "However, I'm not saying it's impossible. The two teams have come together before many times to face threats greater than their opposing views. Even if a problem presented itself great enough to bring them together, the challenge would be and has always been keeping them together. Once we figure out how to make their views align, I see this as possible."

"You're willing to try this with me?" Aimi questioned.

"I am," Reth said.

"You trust me?" Aimi questioned him. "This could be a ploy."

"If you want radical change," Reth said, "you have to do something radical. This is a good idea. It's not in me to think you would come up with it to hurt or harm people: to destroy who I consider my second family. If that was the case, you wouldn't be the person I think you are."

"Thank you," Aimi whispered in his ear after she bit her lip and quickly embraced him before she let him go and walked away.

Reth looked after Aimi. Leon and Lupita rejoined her. Reth caught sight of their auras before he turned away to rejoin his team.

Saturday.

Ororo had called a meeting. Everyone was in her office, except for Emma, who was on a mission in Alaska to take the newest members on the team through harsh weather conditions, and Kurt, who, upon Ororo's orders, monitored them all from a safe distance as potential backup.

"Before we get started," Ororo said, standing before he desk, "Jean has some news to share."

"It isn't much," Jean said. "First, I wanted to apologize to you all again for everything that transpired with the Dark Phoenix and everything that happened with the Phoenix a few days ago. I hope this time it's finally out of our lives for good. Second, I decided what I wanted to do. I won't be teaching here at the school, but I will open up a clinic or maybe medical facility is more accurate to help the sick, especially mutants who are dealing with mutations that do harm to them. I'm a doctor, and I want to make up for the lives that were lost at my hands. Charles and Scott left me more than enough, and I don't want it. It isn't right. I'm going to use it to help the school, runaways, and any and everybody who comes to these grounds seeing and seeking it as a sanctuary."

"That's a great idea Jean," Danielle said. "This will be the last time you apologize. We don't want to hear you apologize anymore. It can't become our past if we keep bringing it up."

"It feels like the X-Men are expanding," Kitty said, "you know? We're becoming a lot more than we used to be."

"Anything you need we'll get it done for you," Logan said.

"I did ask Ovid if he would handle the construction," Jean said. "Ororo and Forge, I hope it's okay that I asked him. I offered to pay him, and although he wanted to turn me down I didn't accept that. I figured he could use that money for school."

"He's his own man," Forge said. "He's been trained. He knows his limitations."

"I will see that he takes the necessary precautions before he begins this project," Ororo said. "Our son has a habit of taking on more than he should at times: a habit he inherited from his father." She glanced at Forge, and Forge smiled.

"'We are getting old," Kitty said. "Ovid is 19 now, right? I can't believe it. Can't wait to see him."

"He'll arrive today," Jean said. "He believes he'll finish and recover by Monday morning if he starts as soon as he gets here."

"Progress report on Reth, Reva, and Adrian," Ororo said. "How is their training? How are their mental states?"

"Emma and I working together on debriefings and counseling sessions," Jean said. "The debriefings are going well. They understand their missions, what they need to do and how, but they do tend to have heightened emotional responses to some of what they encounter, which is a normal development at their ages. We'll start the counseling sessions Sunday night. We agreed they all have pasts that require unpacking in order for them to continue in this work."

"That's not necessary," Logan said. "They're strong. They prove themselves time and time again. They work hard and push each other to improve."

"I agree," Remy said, "but I want to say that it's better they have the option to get their pasts off their chests so we can know what might be a problem for them down the road. We already know that Reth has a past he won't talk about. We know what Adrian's issues are, for the most part, and even though he's dealt with them Armod could stir them up. Reva's probably the most stable, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have her own problems she keeps to herself."

"Unlike when we were members, younger," Danielle said, "we want to monitor not only their physical health but their mental and emotional health too, which I believe is a great idea. I can't say for sure, but times are and problems are becoming harder now then when we dealt with the world. They don't have sentinels to fight, but they might appear on the scene… more deadly and improved."

"The government monitors us," Forge said, "but we are monitoring them as well. If the sentinels, or anything like them, cross our radar, we will put an end to that idea or project as soon as possible."

"Reva, Adrian, and Reth have us," Ororo said. "They are inexperienced and young, but once they mature and grow and we are gone they can take our place. The X-Men can continue. The X-Men will be necessary. For how long, we cannot be sure, but Charles brought us together and his legacy, this legacy, will continue as long as the world needs us."

The device in Forge's hands flashed yellow, so he tossed it into the middle of the room.

"This meeting concerns some information Bobby wanted to relay based on his field surveillance," Ororo said.

Everyone in the room watched a hologram of Bobby appear.

"Hey all," Bobby said. "Man. It's been a long time. You're all looking pretty good. You're looking well."

They all greeted him with nods, smiles, and kind words.

"Where are you Bobby?" Kitty asked.

"I'm actually in Brazil," Bobby said, "visiting with Roberto. Got to say I'm loving the perks of being an international pilot." He winked at her.

"Let's stay on track Bobby," Logan said.

"Yes sir," Bobby said. "I'd like to ask one more thing before I get started. What do you guys think about a name change?"

Logan shook his head.

"What is it Bobby?" Ororo asked.

"Instead of the X-Men," Bobby said, "maybe we should make moves to become X-Men International. Hear me out. I've been meeting with former X-Men all over the world, and some of them have mentioned wanting to get involved again. We could make this happen if we became better connected. Based on what I've seen, mutants and humans needs us on multiple fronts, and the previous X-Men could do more if they had more support."

"That's a great idea," Danielle said. "I'm surprised we never brought it to the table before. It would be a lot of work, but it's a possibility we could make happen."

"The distance would be an issue," Forge said, thinking about it, "but Ovid and I could create a machine or devices that would account for that."

"I would be less worried about the distance," Ororo said, "and more worried about the leadership and safety of each team."

"Taking a page out of your book," Remy said, "we evaluate situations, put together missions, and send whoever would be most effective like we've been doing with the young ones. We get Emma and Jean to act as mission controls, and I see all of this coming together nicely."

"We're just getting ourselves off the ground," Logan said. "Jean hasn't been out of her coma that long. How bout we take a few steps back before we try to tackle problems and have her monitor teams across the globe."

"Just a suggestion," Bobby said. "I know we've got a few things we've got to take care of, but we should look into this more when we can."

"We will," Ororo said. "Go ahead Bobby."

"A couple of the veteran Brotherhood members have been making moves," Bobby said. "Their behavior is strange."

"Who are they?" Danielle asked. "What's been strange about their behavior?"

"Lance and Wanda have met," Bobby said. "I'm not sure what they discussed, but they've been in contact ever since they parted ways. They've been assisting mutants and humans in a few locations whether from natural disasters or man-made ones. Wanda seems to travel all over. Lance seems like he might be heading back to the states."

Danielle glanced at Kitty when Bobby mentioned Lance's name. She watched Kitty stare past Bobby outside the window at the sky.

"If Lance is coming back into the states," Danielle said, "you think he'll meet up with Rogue?"

"Maybe," Kitty said softly. She drew everyone's attention. "I think he'll come see me first."

"If that's the case," Logan said, "we can make it so that doesn't happen."

"No," Kitty said, shaking her head. "If he comes or contacts me, I'll talk to him and see what he knows, find out what brought him back, and why he and Wanda are in contact with each other."

Several hours later, once they had returned from their mission, Ororo and Forge met with Emma to discuss the details of the earlier meeting and the intel Emma gathered while in Alaska.

"They did well," Emma reported, taking a seat on the edge of Ororo's desk. "Reva had the biggest obstacle to overcome because of the lack of sunlight and the blizzard conditions, but she adapted quickly. She pulled the team through this mission. However, she did complain quite a bit. Reth and Adrian are drawing closer, and I worry about their involvement with each other in regards to their team's dynamics. Even now, I am concerned about their spending time alone in each other's rooms."

"Every team we have had has come across that challenge," Forge said. "Emotions run high. People connect because of the high adrenaline atmosphere in which they continually find themselves. They're young, but those two appear to have suffered through a lot. I don't think they'll rush into anything."

"I believe you underestimate the sex drive of young people," Emma said and chuckled.

Forge couldn't help smile at her comment.

"I don't think we have to worry about their team dynamics," Forge said, "especially with Armod here."

"As I expected," Ororo said, "Armod has and will connect them further. Based on their previous missions and this, I agree with everyone's assessment that they are on track and progressing well. I can come to a better conclusion after Sunday's psychological evaluations. What did you learn?"

"The Brotherhood had been there," Emma said. "I must correct myself. Rogue had been there. She wasn't alone though. She and a mutant called Siphon were searching for information on another mutant called Gravedigger. Rogue knows us. She and Siphon didn't speak to each other throughout their mission and destroyed the surveillance footage before they left. While I was able to observe the mental images of their time in this military facility, I could only hear and understand a little from those of which they did interact: rather I should say interrogated."

"You will look into this Siphon and Gravedigger," Ororo said.

Emma nodded in agreement.

"These are unknown mutants," Ororo said, "but I have no doubt they will soon become a problem for the X-Men."

"How can you be certain?" Emma asked.

"Siphon is already with Rogue," Forge said, answering because he knew Ororo would not. "He might be behind her agenda, or he might support the Brotherhood's agenda. If they are looking for Gravedigger, I want to say it's safe to say they will invite him to join their cause."

"I need my rest," Emma said, "but I will look into this in the morning. Siphon might have some connection to Charles. Charles' past has always been a bit of a mystery, and Siphon looks like he's around Charles' age. I'll try to use Cerebra to learn Siphon's true identity and perhaps that information will give us more answers about him, Gravedigger, and Rogue's intentions."

"Rogue's intentions are clear," Ororo said, "and they must be stopped."

Emma slightly nodded. She pushed off the desk and waved goodbye behind her. Forge went and shut the doors after she left.

"I presume you didn't tell them about Irene because your trust in them wavers," Forge said.

"According to Irene, Destiny," Ororo said, "Reva, Adrian, and Reth can put an end to this. This is not about a lack of trust. If we interfere too much, we will all die."

"You didn't tell me that," Forge said. "Are we now keeping information from each other?"

"I refuse to allow anything or anyone to decimate the X-Men again," Ororo said. "With Charles gone, I took it upon myself to ensure we all would survive."

"I know," Forge said. "You don't have to take on that weight alone."

"Fate has many moving parts," Ororo said. "I doubt he cares about the treacherous path he has set so many on."

"Fate is a concept," Forge said, "yet this is the first time you've spoken of it as if it's a person."

"Must have picked that up from Irene," Ororo said. "We only have pieces of Fate's puzzle. We must proceed with caution. We will guide the next generation as we were guided, and we will ensure they are ready for whatever Fate has in store."

They stood across from each other. Forge took several steps toward her before he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

"I believe there is more to be said," Forge said.

"Believe what you will," Ororo told him, looking him straight in his eyes.

Sunday.

Reva heard a knock on her door right after she entered and closed it and had thrown her book bag on her bed, coming back from her last morning class.

"Reth if you're going to come get me every time I'm going to need you to start bringing me snacks," Reva said as she opened her door. She usually took a nap before training, which sometimes caused her to oversleep. Reth had taken it upon himself to make sure she wasn't late, so Logan wouldn't try to make Danger Room training worse than it already was. She found that it wasn't Reth but Sorcha.

"Hey friend," Sorcha said.

Reva couldn't help smile. She went and lay on her bed. Sorcha came into her room, shut the door, and locked it. She went and sat at Reva's desk, placing her purse, which doubled as her book bag, on it and pulling out a small composition notebook.

"You locked my door," Reva said. "Everything okay?" She watched her from the bed, wondering if she might still catch a nap.

"I thought you might want an update, you know, from that favor you asked of me," Sorcha said. "I would've talked to you yesterday, but you disappeared again. I'm starting to wonder if you don't already have some type of underground job that you can't tell anyone about." She laughed. "I know we don't know each other that well and you asked me not to ask questions, so I just want to say I hope one day you can trust me enough to tell me if anything is going on with you." She reached into her purse again and pulled out a joint and a lighter. She placed the joint between her lips, lit it, and took a puff after returning the lighter to her purse. "I grow it myself." She chuckled, puffed it again, and then offered it to Reva. "Care to partake?"

Reva climbed from her bed and took the joint and a puff from it.

"Nothing's going on with me," Reva said. "Nothing you have to worry about anyway. If anything came up, know you'd probably be the first person I'd talk to about it."

Sorcha couldn't help grin from ear to ear.

"Alright Irene Adler," Reva said, after taking another puff and passing the joint back to Sorcha, "give me the good stuff."

"I prefer Veronica Mars," Sorcha said and chuckled. "I'm glad I agreed to do this. It hadn't occurred to me until you asked me to do this, but Armod is a mystery: one I became interested in solving. At the risk of seeming suspicious or looking like a stalker, I kept my distance, which really worked in my favor because many people have questions for him, ones I would've asked, so all I had to do was listen. Armod doesn't talk about himself much, but he doesn't want to be rude or disrespectful. He actively tries to keep everyone happy, even people who are wary of him because he's a human some believe are encroaching on a mutant safe space."

"If he doesn't talk about himself much," Reva began, "how did you learn anything about him?"

"Just listen," Sorcha told her. "I quickly discovered he doesn't have much of a social media presence, so I couldn't travel down that road, but while he doesn't tell his life story he did supply threads I was able to look into, track, and follow."

"I put the right person on the job," Reva said, patting herself on the back.

"You did," Sorcha said. "I don't know if I should tell you the exciting part or the depressing part first…"

"Start with the depressing part," Reva said, bracing herself for the nonsense.

"He was pretty much raised by his grandparents," Sorcha said. "He stays in contact with his granddad almost all the time, and he was talking to him a lot the other day about a certain someone. Focus. Armod's parents raised him and traveled with him for many years working to rid the world of mutants. They became a part of the Purifiers. When his father was arrested, his grandparents managed to get custody of him. His grandparents are rich; they had to pay a lot to make that happen, considering his grandparents are seen as mutant sympathizers."

Reva stared at Sorcha in disbelief.

"You learned all this…" Reva said. "What are you, a hacker?"

"I did," Sorcha said, "and there's more." She smiled to herself. "No, I'm not a hacker; I'm rich too. One thing you have to know about rich people, they're connected, and quite a few of them enjoy gossiping about the misfortune of other rich people. I called into the upper class information highway, my parents, and they found and provided me with all the information on the Bishop family."

"Are you sure it's true or just gossip?" Reva said.

"They might embellish from time to time," Sorcha said, "but old money families don't gossip about lies. You cannot go around lying or those lies can ruin you. If it's true, you don't give it attention, so people can't say for certain that it's true."

"That's confusing…" Reva said.

"That's the game," Sorcha said. "This is what else I uncovered through my own research." She was flipping through the pages of her notebook. "Before he came here, he went to school with Reth. He was a Purifier, and basically joined the group at that high school that was against mutants. Reth had begun the human-mutant alliance group there, and so the two of them were always at odds. They would both write pieces in response to the human-mutant conflict and each other for their school newspaper, online blogs, and for the city newspaper. Here is the kicker, which I believe is the reason Reth had such a reaction when he saw Armod again. The two of them were a part of a court case because of their involvement in an incident, which left one of their fellow classmates in prison and another dead."

"There is no way you found that out," Reva half shouted.

"Seriously," Sorcha said, "watch Veronica Mars. I learned quite a few things from her. Gathering info isn't that hard because a number of people aren't that smart… What I mean to say is with the right voice, attitude, and can do spirit, a splash of honesty, you can find out a lot. Just got to get people started."

"I can see that," Reva said. "Reth has never mentioned it… I'm curious, but I don't want to pry. It must have hurt him deeply."

"I was curious too," Sorcha said, "but neither Armod or Reth went into much detail about the incident. No one knows if they don't remember or if it was really that traumatic that they don't want to speak of it."

"Is that it for the depressing news?" Reva asked. It more so angered her than depressed her: everything she learned.

"He's still a Purifier," Sorcha said. "I'm thinking that's why you wanted me to watch him. He doesn't want anyone to know, even his grandparents think he's no longer a member of the group, but he is."

Reva didn't respond either way.

"For that information," Sorcha said, "I had to get more hands on. Don't ask. However, hanging from my own ivy outside his window was involved."

"Did you hear him planning anything?" Reva asked, hesitantly yet intensely.

"He's on the grounds of a place bursting with mutants," Sorcha said. "Of course I didn't hear him planning anything. He's a smart one. He reports. I suspect he's reporting to his superiors. He, she, or maybe they listen. He's uncertain, but he believes, this is what he told them, that any plans they would have might be stopped by the X-Men."

"What?"

"I've heard of them," Sorcha said, looking through her notes. "I read a little on them. They're a mutant group that acted as law enforcement toward radical mutants. That's a little of what I read. They supposedly disbanded after the Dark Phoenix event where one of their members almost brought about the end of the world. I don't want to get off track, but he thinks that they're recruiting or have recruited and because of this the Purifiers won't have the necessary countermeasures to face any of the new members that might be a part of the team."

"How could he possibly know that?" Reva questioned. "Where would he get information like that?"

"A mole?" Sorcha questioned. "Who would gain the most from helping a group like the Purifiers?"

The Brotherhood might benefit, Reva thought, but after she and Adrian spoke with Reth about his late return to the group at the mall the other day they believed that the Brotherhood was working on coming together. Even members of a group have their individual agendas, Rogue proved that.

"I'll read more into the X-Men and the Purifiers," Sorcha said. "I find myself curious, and I'll continue to look into Armod too if you want me too."

"I would appreciate it," Reva said, "but Purifiers are dangerous Sorcha. Armod is putting on an act. I don't want him to discover you and try to hurt you."

"I'm not worried," Sorcha said, waving her off. She closed her notebook and returned it to her purse.

"Why is that?" Reva questioned.

They had passed the joint back and forth between them until they had finished it.

"That's what the exciting news is about," Sorcha said, standing and grabbing onto Reva's hands. She was grinning and started laughing. "I know we don't do girl talk, but indulge me a moment. Besides, this will allay your fears."

"All right," Reva said after rolling her eyes, "spill it."

"I don't think Armod would hurt me," Sorcha said. "From talking to him and listening to him, he seems like a good guy."

Reva scoffed.

"Good people get wrapped up in bad things all the time," Sorcha said. "Maybe he needs help. Anyway, I don't think he would hurt me because that would hurt you, and I think the boy is half in love with you." She couldn't help grin.

"What are you talking about?" Reva said. She couldn't help laugh.

"Remember I told you he stays in contact with his granddad?" Sorcha said. "Well, apparently, and this is the most animated I've heard him be in the time he's been here, he couldn't stop raving about this girl who dang near kicked his butt. Reminded me of how you and grandma met. She's hot, feisty, and definitely doesn't have a problem speaking her mind. She had my heart beating and my dick hard: his words." She giggled. "I don't think he wanted to curse in front of his granddad. Isn't that cute?"

"You're nuts," Reva said. "That sounds so crazy."

She and Sorcha went and laid on her bed.

"Sounds honest to me," Sorcha said. "I don't think you know how sexy you are, but on top of that here's a guy who wasn't going on and on about your looks but about how awesome and kickass you are."

"Even if I was interested," Reva said, "which I'm not, he's not a good guy. He's got a past, and his present and future aren't looking too good either."

"All I'm saying is we can use how he feels about you against him," Sorcha said, which surprised Reva, "but you know if you were interested nobody would hold that against you."

"He's against mutants," Reva said. "He's against me and everything I stand for, and everything I'm against he's for."

"I didn't say marry him," Sorcha said. "He's got all that body. Find out what he's packing. Ride it out."

Reva and Sorcha fell out laughing, and Reva started punching Sorcha in her arm.

"Stop smoking your own stuff," Reva said. "You're getting too wild." She laughed out loud.

"I'm sorry," Sorcha said seriously. "Becoming a part of the mutant world has opened my eyes. I was oblivious. I didn't want to see or understand. I can't believe what's in this world: the evil and hate. I want to believe better. I want to believe people are better. How can this guy who thinks the world of you also want to hurt you because of a gift that's a part of you?"

Reva sighed. She wrapped an arm around Sorcha and pulled her close.

"I forget you're new to all this," Reva said. "You have me fooled sometimes." She chuckled. "This world is dangerous, even more dangerous, but you met me. I got your back. I won't let him or any of the Purifiers hurt mutants. I won't let them hurt anyone."

A moment of silence passed, and that's when someone banged on the door.

"Ive been sent to retrieve you," Adrian said. "Reth says he knows you forgot we had to dress appropriately, and if we're late we all suffer the consequences. So, get your ass up."

"You guys leaving?" Sorcha said.

Reva leapt up and quickly unlocked and opened the door before she leaned her head out.

"Sorcha is here," Reva whispered. "I won't be late. Go."

"Can I go?" Sorcha asked, appearing behind Reva. "You look snazzy Adrian." Reva turned around to face her. "I'll make sure the both of us are looking good."

"You'd have to ask Headmistress Munroe," Adrian said, and Reva narrowed her eyes at him.

"I'll go do that," Sorcha said, and she left the room.

When Sorcha disappeared down the hall, Reva grabbed Adrian by the tie and pulled him into the room.

"She doesn't know about our extracurricular actives," Reva said after she shut the door. "I'd like to keep it that way."

"Headmistress Monroe will turn her down," Adrian said. "That way neither of us has to. Maybe she should come."

"Why?" Reva asked.

"The original X-Men team started with five members," Adrian said. "We're good, but the Purifiers have grown into an organization that spans not only the United States but the world. I'm just saying if our opponents are gaining members in the hundreds and thousands every day it wouldn't be bad to start looking at a few more potential recruits to join us."

"What does Reth think?" Reva asked.

"Haven't talked to him about it," Adrian said. "After yesterday's mission and our conversation at the mall, it's an idea that's been crossing my mind. Knowing him though he'd probably be glad to have her.

"I wouldn't be against it," Reva said, "but I rather wait. I don't know how this might sound, but I like our trio. I don't know that I want to expand yet."

Adrian gave her a look of understanding.

"Also," Reva said, "if we were to look at her as a candidate, I'd want her to have more time as a mutant before we try to send her into battle against some truly horrible humans and mutants." She glared at Adrian a moment. "I hate how easy it is to talk to you."

"Join the club Reth started," Adrian said. He laughed. "He likes that he can't always know what I'm thinking, and you like that I keep to myself and know how to keep my mouth shut. At the end of the day, you both like me. Don't deny it."

"I don't like you," Reva said jokingly. "Now, get out of my room, so I can get dressed. I'll meet you two in the Headmaster's Office."

Reth, Reva, and Adrian walked for the Headmaster's Office. Figuring Reva would run late, which she did, Reth decided it would be better if they all went in together instead of waiting on her. They all dressed well. Reth dressed more formally and Adrian dressed more casually while Reva dressed radically. Several students stopped and stared in awe.

When they entered the office, the trio was surprised to find an elegantly dressed Headmistress Munroe standing with a gorgeously dressed Sorcha.

"Reva," Sorcha said, moving toward her. "I'm so glad Headmistress Munroe allowed me to come. I'll probably never see you dressed like this again. You're beautiful. And you two fellas, a handsome angel and a handsome devil."

Reth and Adrian glanced at each other already knowing which was which.

Adrian nodded his appreciation of Sorcha's comment.

"Thanks Sorcha," Reth said, "you're stunning."

"I enjoy getting dressed up thank you very much," Reva said to Sorcha. "However, an occasion has to call for it."

"Headmistress," Reth said, "I thought only three students could attend this function."

"I decided to make an exception," Ororo said. "Today is about tact, diplomacy, and public relations. This will be a good learning opportunity for the three of you and Sorcha. Mutants in the states and worldwide will see us today. You all will represent the school, who you were and who you are now, and I represent the X-Men, who they were and what they stood for. For being as young as you are, you three have plenty of life experience, and today you will express to everyone through your words, actions, and lack thereof what a future of mutants might look like. Sorcha wants to learn and experience more. This will expand her world view."

"This is a test," Adrian actually channeled his thoughts toward Reth so that he could hear them.

"Sorcha will see the good and the bad at this luncheon," Reva channeled her thoughts toward Reth too.

"You know your mission," Ororo channeled her thoughts toward Reth. "The three of you will have to operate with Sorcha in your midst, keeping an eye on her as well."

"Because these are my people," Sorcha said, "Headmistress Munroe said I could probably teach you all a thing or two." She was grinning until she became serious. "My advice is to be careful. Conversation is a game to them. They will try to push your buttons. Their objective is to take you off guard and then use that opportune moment to find out information, in this case, about you, the school, or the X-Men that they might use for…or against…mutants "

Ororo, Reva, Adrian, and Reth all observed Sorcha recognize a new depth to the danger mutants faced.

"Do you still want to attend?" Reth asked Sorcha.

Ororo found herself pleased with Reth for questioning Sorcha to gauge whether Sorcha still wanted to engage with this world.

"You guys will be there," Sorcha said and nodded. "I've stood still long enough, and I don't plan on going backward. Let's go."

Sorcha had worn a hat with her ensemble in order to avoid too much attention. Many people were in attendance at this luncheon, and she recognized the new money, old money, politicians, and the like. No one who knew of her family name knew she was a mutant, and she didn't want to bring trouble to her family. She was happy with the chance to stay in the background and watch over Reth, Reva, and Adrian as they navigated this environment. The X-Men had disbanded based on what she had read, but based on her surveillance of Armod and Reth, Reva, and Adrian's behavior and disappearances she had a hunch that the X-Men were still in action and that the trio were members of the team. She wanted to learn more, about the X-Men in general but especially about these three, and that required her to spend more time with them without it looking suspicious. Plus, she didn't want to ruin her friendship with Reva by being too pushy or snoopy; Reva was a private person after all. Sorcha wanted to learn the truth, and once she did if she was right she planned to keep it to herself.

"While ex-members of the X-Men continue to work tirelessly in regards to the efforts of mutants and human and mutant relations," Ororo said, addressing the crowd, "they continue to do so peacefully while monitoring mutants to ensure those with more dangerous gifts receive the guidance and support they need to gain control and keep themselves and others safe."

"I was surprised when you stopped writing your articles Reth," an older man spoke with him. "I used to read them all the time. Did you stop writing because you realized your efforts were futile, or was it because you became a mutant yourself and then decided to become a soldier in the X-Men army? Rumor has it you were always a mutant, and I was also surprised you never addressed the rumors."

"I stopped writing because it took me a little while to recover from the death of my best friend at the hands of a human," Reth said. "At the time, I didn't believe it was my place to speak on the matter. I don't believe you would find fault in me wanting to respect her family in handling their loss. I've always believed in Professor Xavier, as you already very well know from my work, and I didn't want to just write any more. I wanted to do or at least become a part of his legacy. After becoming a mutant, I felt there was no better way to do this than to attend his school and learn from the people he worked with and considered family." He ended it with a smile.

Sorcha was a little impressed by Reth but not surprised. Reth addressed the man's questions in such a way that left the small gathered group speechless and dumbfounded. She guessed Reth's experience with mediating conversations between highly emotional teenagers and facilitating discussions between people online as well gave him the tools necessary to handle these adults, who were in essence big kids with money.

Sorcha worried about Reva, who Sorcha recalled had fought with Armod a few days ago because of his past deeds and connection with a group whose ideology was destructive to say the least. Some of these people, not all, probably had similar ties to the Purifiers and probably had done worse than she herself could imagine. They had the power that Armod didn't. Their hearts were probably tainted far more than Armod's too, considering it was clear Armod's grandparents tethered him to a more rational and empathetic way of thinking.

"Correct me if I'm wrong," a woman a few years older than Reva said, "but you're Indian but moved her from Great Britain."

"That's right," Reva said, glaring at the woman to express she needed to choose her next words carefully.

"You left Great Britain to attend school here," the woman said. "Why not stay in your own country or go back and solve its problems? I'm sure they have enough of their own. I've heard they're actually worse. I would think you would want to have a larger or make a more significant impact there."

"Listen," Reva started, "before the Dark Phoenix and Bastion events, the X-Men were there for mutants. They did more work to help others and save lives than anyone back then." She started raising her voice and drawing the attention of others. Sorcha wondered if she should step in, but as Reva continued her tone and words became softer but they were still just as strong. "When the world was against mutants, almost on the same level as it is now, I can admit the world has come a little ways, the X-Men were for them. The school was for them, and it became a safe haven for many over the years to learn, to grow, and to feel safe. So yeah, there was no other place like it in Great Britain, India, or anywhere. So, I came here, so I could learn, grow, feel safe…safer. It's been the best decision of my life." She crossed her arms. "Maybe, if you use some of your money, you can build similar schools like it in Great Britain. Maybe then, I'll go back."

Sorcha couldn't help chuckle.

"You don't have to be hostile," the woman said.

"That was not hostile," Reva said. "If you knew anything about me, you'd know that."

Sorcha knew Reva had no problem putting people in their place, and she should've known Reva wouldn't do anything that would hurt the school or make mutants look bad. Many eyes were on this events, and apparently Reva didn't plan to be a reason why more humans went out and hurt mutants or join the Purifiers and groups like it. Sorcha had never asked Reva why exactly she came to this school or how she ended up there, but it became clear now. Reva admired the X-Men, and she wanted to be in a place where she could have her ability and be herself as opposed to being seen as a monster or a weapon of mass destruction.

Sorcha had lost track of Adrian. After Headmistress Munroe introduced the students and gave her speech, the trio had dispersed, and people, of all ages that were at the event, tried to meet and speak with them. While Reth had embraced the crowd that met him and tried to address all their questions in a polite and timely manner and Reva had allowed the crowd to come to her and accepted and rebuffed people and questions at her leisure, Adrian appeared to have disappeared. As Sorcha searched the crowd, she heard the people whispering about him.

"I cannot believe they invited Adrian to the school," Sorcha heard a woman say. "He is his father's son: a danger to mutants."

"Adrian helped saved the world," Sorcha heard a young man say. "He's also part of the reason it needed saving."

"He was a Purifier," Sorcha heard an elderly woman say. "You know what they say: a leopard doesn't change its spots."

Sorcha managed to find him when she realized the place Adrian would've gone to avoid people and too many questions. She headed for the restrooms, but before she reached them she found Adrian in a conversation with a married couple several years older than him.

"You decided to attend the Xavier Institute," the man said. Sorcha listened from behind a wall. "We're proud of you. You infiltrated their facility. You're following in the footsteps of your father. He would be proud."

"We didn't know what to think after you began working with the X-Men," the woman said. "It finally makes sense: you and Armod working together to bring them all down from the inside."

"Whatever you need let us know," the man told him. "We have plenty of money, and we can provide plenty of resources in order to help you two complete your mission."

"It's hard to change," Adrian said after taking a deep breath. He leaned against the wall. His behavior and words confused the couple. "That's the reason most people don't. My boyfriend worries about me because I don't talk about me. He recognizes that I'm a strong person, but he realizes I've gone through a lot. He knows why I keep most of my life to myself." The couple didn't say a word. They watched him, listening. They wondered where he was going with this. Sorcha watched, listened, and wondered the same. "It's strange. He hasn't known me long, but he gets that about me. You, the Purifiers, you all thought my father was such a great man. My mother didn't die during childbirth. He killed my mother because he learned she was a mutant: right after I was born." Sorcha covered her mouth to keep herself from gasping or making a sound. That was terrible. "My grandmother informed me of that truth: to help me get past the decision I made that I felt had betrayed him."

"You believe your grandmother, a woman who grew to hate her son, over the man that raised you?" The woman questioned him.

"What are you saying?" The man asked him. "Are you telling us the X-Men still exist: that you're one of them?"

"I'm saying a lot of mutants were hurt and killed under my father's watch," Adrian said, "and I contributed. I was his blunt instrument. Never gave it a second thought. Don't think I can ever make up for the damage I've already done. I'm with Armod, but my father's gone. Now, I'm going to do things my way."

"You can't stomach the deaths?" The man asked.

"I've seen enough dead bodies," Adrian said. "I've watched enough people die. You and your wife wouldn't know anything about that. You just provide the money. Talk to me again after years of getting your hands dirty."

The man said nothing. The woman gasped. Adrian walked away.

Sorcha watched after Adrian when he passed by her. She overheard the couple before she left them behind.

"I definitely see his father in him," the woman said.

"You're right," the man said, "but there's more. He's a force to be reckoned with. Glad he's on our side, even if he is a mutant."

Sorcha took some stairs so she could look over the entire event. She saw Adrian go and stand by the front railing, Reth join him, and Reva slide up beside them. She couldn't hear anything they said, but Reth placed a hand on Adrian's chest for a moment, over his heart, and Reva nudged Adrian in the back. They made him smile. They made him laugh. He didn't say a word or express anything, but they instinctively knew.

The X-Men might have disbanded, but these three either had or planned to rebuild it. That was why the three of them continued to disappear. This was why Reva asked her to look into Armod, why Reth studied Professor Xavier and kept track of the others, and why Adrian lied about his involvement with Armod to collect intel for the team. It was a working theory; she believed it was true. She believed she might want to be an X-Man if it meant she could work with people like them: people who had been through a lot but made it their mission to be good and do good in the world.

Adrian, Reth, and Reva saw Sorcha watching them from above.

"We better be more careful," Reth said. "Sorcha is smart; she'll figure us out."

"So what if she does," Adrian said.

"That might not be such a bad thing," Reva said.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Reth said.

"The X-Men made moves in the past without informing the government," the trio heard a familiar voice. "Despite this conference and luncheon, I know they still exist, even if there isn't any substantial proof. Their secrecy almost proved fatal not only to the American people but also to people around the globe. Mutants are dangerous. This is a fact. I find it interesting that mutants themselves are the most oblivious to it." They heard Armod, and he looked to them while he spoke to a crowd as they looked to him. "If mutants truly want the world to change its mindset toward them, they need to learn to trust and come out of the shadows."

Adrian grabbed Reva's hand when she made a move for Armod.

"Why is he here?" Reva asked in a harsh whisper.

"The Purifiers brought him here," Adrian answered her. "Reth…"

Reth had taken a couple steps forward, but he stopped himself. He and Armod's eyes met for a moment, and then Reth observed Armod as he continued speaking with and attending to the guests.

"I can't hate him," Reth said.

"Why?" Reva asked.

"I've been mulling over that same idea myself," Reth said, without looking back to Reva and Adrian, "and I'm afraid of what that means or what that says about me if I believe he might be right."

"You can hate him," Reva said.

"He might be right," Adrian said.

"But we're going to put an end to the Purifiers," Reth said.

Monday.

Remy left the trio to accomplish their mission while he set about ensuring no surveillance footage was left behind. The Brotherhood would want the same, considering the Purifiers hadn't released the fact some of their facilities had been taken out of commission by them. Remy had planned to be hands off, and he believed the trio would be good on their own. Besides, Kitty was somewhere nearby, watching as well. Those acolytes were around, and it was up to their recruits to handle this mission in their own way.

Phantom possessed a mutant in order to start choking Sparrow.

Obsidian grabbed hold of Tenebrae and began to squeeze him tight.

Nova appeared before Renegade, and unleashed a blast of energy that sent him flying through glass.

Reth, Reva, and Adrian were down but not out. The mission wasn't done; the day wasn't over.