The next day, I woke up at 9...half an hour late. "Bloody hell," I groaned as I threw the covers off and jumped up. I ran into the bathroom and yanked a brush through my hair, then put it up in a ponytail. I brushed my teeth while I rummaged through my drawers for clothes. I put on a pair of shorts and a tank top because I'd have to put on my X-Men uniform anyway. As I rinsed my mouth out and gargled mouth wash, I abruptly realized that Victor wasn't in the room. I looked around for any kind of indicator of where he went. When I found it, I felt quite stupid. There was a little piece of paper on his pillow. I unfolded it and read the scratchy writing. 'Gone to talk with Jimmy. Be back later. I love you. Victor.' I stared at the note, incredulous, angry, and worried. With a sigh, I made myself attend to my duties. They were grown men…who often acted childish…but that was beside the point.

I ran to the elevator and descended to the lowest level: the X-Men level. I ran to the uniform room to suit up. I had only 10 minutes to design a program. An idea slowly formed in my head. Logan wouldn't have approved of it…but he wasn't here, was he? I ran over to the computer. "Computer, are you familiar with the members of Team X from a past government endeavor?" It was a long shot, but it worked.

"Affirmative."

"All of them?"

"Affirmative."

"I want you to create a scenario. The jungles of Nigeria. All of Team X except the one known as Logan." I reached into my memory and counted. Zero, Bradley, Wade, Victor, Fred Dukes, and John Wraith. 6. Then the people in the class. Bobby, Kitty, Pete, Angel, Kurt, and me. 6. Perfect.

"Simulation complete, Leslie."

"Okay. Do not begin until you are ordered to do so."

"Understood."

I waited as the class showed up. When they all had, I said, "Alright, as I'm sure you all know, Logan won't be here for a while. So, I'm taking charge. Any objections?" They all shook their heads. "Awesome! So, I've prepared a simulation with a mutant for each of us to personally battle. I'm going to assign them once we're in there. The mission is merely to survive and hopefully kick your opponent's ass."

"I'm good with that," Pete said.

"Great! I'm going to try to pair us up fairly. I know the powers of all the opponents, but you find out for yourself."

"Seems fair," Bobby said.

"I'm glad you think so, because even if it wasn't, it's realistic."

"Good point."

"You all ready?" They nodded. We walked through the doors. They were all slightly surprised to find themselves in a jungle, but they got over it quickly and turned to look at the frozen figures of the mutants across the way. I hadn't seen the guys since the Professor had told their story, and it was kind of weird to actually be standing in front of them.

Bobby broke the silence with, "Leslie, isn't that your boyfriend?"

My eyes flitted to the form of Victor. "That's who he was 15 years ago, Bobby. I have to confront that part."

"Alrighty then."

I tore my eyes from Victor and started assigning. "Kitty, I was you to take that guy over there. He goes by Zero. Use your skills and annoy the hell out of him." She grinned in anticipation. "Kurt, I want you with that guy. His name is John Wraith."

"It would be my pleasure."

"Pete, you're with that dude there. That's Fred Dukes. Beware. Angel-boy, you take Bradley over there. He may not look like much, but don't underestimate him. That leaves Bobby with Wade. Dear god, be careful, Bobby. If you've incapacitated your opponent, you may help each other. But I don't want you to help me. I have to do this alone. Take your positions, guys." I walked to a spot in front of Victor and waited for the others to get ready. "Ready?"

"Ready!" they chorused.

I met "Victor's" eyes and called, "Computer, begin simulation." The mutants across from us came to life.

They looked us over and Victor called, "Well, would you look at that. They've already picked out opponents, boys."

In the moment of nothing that followed, I switched my emotion feed from Logan to the real Victor. "NOW!" I screamed. Everyone leapt into action. Whatever was going on between Logan and the real Victor at the time was very useful. A flashing orange beam of frustration blasted out of my hands and into simulation Victor. He flew back into a tree, but it didn't daze him for long. He flew into the air and descended upon me, nails flying. They dug into both of my shoulders as he grabbed me and slung me. I flew and hit a tree right in my lower back and was winded.

He leapt over and picked me up by the front of my uniform and shoved me against the tree. "Not so tough now, are you?" I grabbed his wrists and sent white flicks of shock down his arms. He let out a cry and dropped me. I quickly got up and punched him in the jaw. He laughed. "Got some spunk in you. I like that."

"Oh yeah, big guy?" I lit my hands with more white shock. "I hope you liked this too!"

He smirked. "Oooo. Shiny." I dove at him, hoping to catch him in the chest, but he dodged and slashed me across the back. I hit the ground again and he jumped on top of me, pinning me down. He kept slashing and stabbing me in the back. The pain was familiar. Logan had gotten similar treatment from Lady Deathstrike at Alkali Lake. A huge burst of red anger exploded from all over my body and Victor was blasted off. I healed the cuts on my back and checked on the others. Kitty had Zero up to his elbows in the ground and was now helping Bobby. Kurt and John were disappearing and reappearing so fluidly that I couldn't tell if either one was winning. Pete was all steel muscles and Dukes seemed very annoyed that he wasn't making a lot of headway. Angel and Bradley had taken to just fighting it out, mutant powers aside. I whipped around when I heard Victor's feral snarl advancing on me. He was bounding across the ground like a great cat. I tried to remember what Logan had done in the past. I did just in time. I slid under Victor when he was mid-air and shot a beam of frustration at his legs. He went flipping aside. He landed with a grunt on his back. I ran over and got on top of him.

I grabbed one of the straps on his outfit and pulled him close to my face. "Give up, Creed," I snarled.

He laughed darkly. "It feels good doesn't it? All that rage. Do it. Finish it." My face slowly contorted into horror. How was he quoting himself? He had said that to Logan on the island. I swiftly let go, got off, and backed up. He pushed himself to his feet, but he did not attack. "You can't beat me, Leslie. You care too much."

"How do you know my name?"

"You give up, Chord. It's over." Everyone else had bested their opponent and was now standing around waiting and watching. I was at a loss. I shook my head and spun around to leave. The others followed me. "Leslie!" simulation Victor cried. I froze and slowly turned to face him. "We can't just let you walk away."

All eyes were on me. I opened my mouth, so many things wanting out, but all I could say was, "Computer, end program." Nothing happened. "Computer? Bobby, go turn it off manually. Bobby?" I spun around. Everyone was gone. It was only me and Victor in the room. "You can't hurt me. You're just a simulation."

"Am I? How do you know? I might still be in him somewhere. How do you know I won't break loose like Phoenix did?"

"What are you saying?"

"What do you think I'm saying? You're a smart kid. You figure it out. But be careful. I'm not your friend. I'm an animal that dreamed he was mad. But the dream is over, and the beast is awake. And I will come for you…because it's my nature." Nothing stirred and then suddenly, with an animalistic cry, he lunged at me…and I woke up screaming.