Howdy everybody! Hopefully I haven't massacred any characters yet. If you thought last chapter was confusing wait till you read this one. Still no action in this one, but soon I promise. I must however address something about people's questions. Look I haven't finished putting in the characters yet. So just calm yourselves and wait. I'll let you know when they are all put in. Second, no one has really mentioned this but this is another unedited chapter. It got a once over from a friend but thats it. I just had to get this one out so that way the story can revolve around more characters and bring in new ones. Now on with the story.

Disclaimer: Well marvel didn't pick to make my story a movie but I continue on! Again I only own my characters, and the others go to their respective creators/authors.

Chapter 3 - The Mutant Complex

The MutantApartments

The live in residents of the apartment building filled with mutants are all resting for the day ahead except for a few members, in the room inhabited by the mutant Animala or Katie Sanders. She sits in the glow of her television set as she tries to keep herself awake, the excitement of Jessica coming in the morning has quickly faded as she fights to keep her heavy eyelids held up. Sleep quickly wins and she becomes unconscious with the T.V. still on.

In her room she is not alone however as a hooded figure steps out of the shadows and into the television light. The figure walks to the girl's room and fishes in his pocket for the reason it was in the girl's apartment. The figure pulls out a small black box and places it on Katie's nightstand and quickly returns to the television set. The figure turns off the T.V., picks up Katie, lays her down in bed, and pulls a blanket over her. The figure then leaves the way it came in, through a window.

S&S

On the 6th floor in the eight room is yet another insomniac. Her name is Bailey something or other. She was the most recent addition to the apartment building. It had been about three months and she was currently in the middle of her "ritual" for sleep. Which was actually just listening to the radio until she passed out, tonight for some reason though she could not sleep on the count of her mind being busy.

What's it matter? He lied anyway he just wanted to shut me up like they all did. She continued to think in her head. All he said was we'd see each other again. It's not like it was romantic, I mean I was still with…let's not think about that. God! I…I need some sleep.

Bailey opened her eyes and blinked a few times as the sun peaked in through her blinds. Had she slept? Was it all some kind of dream state? Well everyone else would be up soon she might as well join them. After all the others left to for some new mutants they should be back soon. So it was decided she'd get up, shower, and try her hand at being friendly.

S&S

Katie woke with a yawn as she sat up and stretched. She felt rather energized for such few hours of sleep. She turned her head to check the time but what caught her eye was not the red colored numbers but the black box sitting next to the alarm clock. She picked up the box and opened it. Inside was the most amazing moon stone ring she had seen. There was no note, or sign of who had left it.

"I have a secret admirer." She squealed. Katie slid the ring on her right hand and jumped up from bed ready to face the day. "Oh my gosh! Jessica's coming to visit I must hurry!" And with that the young girl was off and to the shower.

S&S

I hate…mon-no Tues-no Well I hate whatever fucking day it is today. Chill Bailey just breathe. Bailey currently stood at her apartment door her hand holding the doorknob. She was not looking forward to turning the knob but she promised she'd go through a change and since all the people here had been so nice she didn't see why she wouldn't be nice. All the girls are prettier then I am, and blonde! She took a deep breath again. She felt as a redhead she was at a disadvantage and being the person she was everything was wrong and everyone was better than she.

She turned the knob opened the door and stepped out. Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped and she was speechless at the sight before her.

S&S

Paul had just finished putting his stuff away into his apartment. He liked it. Better than his room at the orphanage. This was an actual free apartment! He jumped on the bed and rolled around on the sheets until static electricity kicked in and he ended up covered in the clothes he had just put away. With a groan he got up and began to put his things back.

After finally putting away his stuff Paul decided he'd go check on Zack and since he had chosen the floor below the shape shifter he took the elevator up. He counted the numbers. "1, 3, 5, 7, and…" At number nine on the sixth floor Zack was standing outside his door, slack jawed and eyes widened at a red head across the hall had a similar look on her face. He approached the two and waved his hand in the air, nothing. He jumped in front of them, nothing. Finally he gave a zap to Zack's hair and still nothing.

"Candy pants?" Zack asked finally blinking as his eyes tried to register the sight.

"Zack…" Bailey looked him up and down and he was just as she remembered though the clothes were different and he was a bit taller.

"Paul." The electricity manipulatorsaid with a smile, which quickly turned into a nervous smile. Neither the boy nor the girl averted their attention to one another. Paul sat there awhile until he felt uncomfortable and decided he'd get out of the hall. "Hey Zack got any food I'm starved." The mutant walked passed his friend and into the apartment. It was just a different decoration and color then his. Each wall was a different color. He made his way into the fridge and pulled out what looked like guacamole. "Better than nothing."

Outside in the hall the red head girl continued to stare at the sight before her. He was here but…how? Unless…he didn't lie, was that it? Did he find her? She opened her mouth to speak but the words didn't happen.

Zack was having an equally hard time. He had wondered if he'd see her again. He had gone back to visit but she had gone, no doubt here. He knew just to say. "I didn't lie." He said giving a small grin.

"You're here."

"Yeah, I wish it meant I kept my word, which I planned on doing! However, its simply fate. Jack picked me up."

Bailey felt a slight bit of disappointment to the fact he wasn't here for her, but he was here that was true. She began to speak but the words that came out weren't hers. It was someone calling her name.

"Bailey! There you are!" Called the small blonde Katie. Bailey knew her well enough. Nice girl, her power was talking to animals…seemed a little Power puff Girls to Bailey. "You're my sparring partner today. Did you forget?"

Bailey smacked herself on the head. She had forgotten. Even before this morning she had. Oh well she gave her word. "Later?" She asked looking at Zack.

The boy just continued to stare at space that was once occupied by the red head.

Back in Zack's apartment, which he picked cause of 6 and 9, he found Paul eating something with his finger over the counter. Food? I didn't buy any food. He shrugged it off thinking that food was supplied

"Pretty girl." Paul said with a mouthful of the guacamole he had found.

"Beautiful." Zack replied as he walked over to the island in the kitchen. He walked to the fridge opened it and found it empty, he turned back to Paul "You know…they didn't give us food and I didn't buy any." He said as he lifted the jar and read the words written on the piece of tape. 'Raine's Face Mask' "Well it's not quite food." Zack replied as he turned the jar around for his friend to read.

Paul stopped with his finger in his mouth as his stomach gurgled. "Oh man MOVE!" he rushed the bathroom shutting the door behind him.

"You know I don't have any toilet paper either, and turn on the fan!" The shape shifter's response was that of a groan and the sounds of a bodily function thereafter. "I'll get you some. Hang in there buddy."

S&S

Elevator

"He's cute." Katie said as she nudged Bailey.

"Who is?" Bailey asked playing dumb as she pressed the button to elevator again. She did not want to have this conversation.

"Don't play dumb Bailey. I saw the way you two were looking at each other. You like him. You want to marry him!" Katie continued to go repeating herself over and over.

"You forget one thing. My powers can be used to hurt you without animals, yours can't exactly do that now can they?" Bailey replied as she cracked a few knuckles.

Katie's attitude quickly changed and she shut up. She knew she wouldn't have to fight but this meant it was annoying her friend so she stopped. After all she was there to make friends, at least that's what she told herself. "Fair enough. So you ready for this? Cause I'm going to kick your butt!"

The elevator dinged and the girls stepped out into the room that was dubbed The Dome. It was the training center for the mutants that wanted to fight. It would run holograms that felt real enough. They even gave pain. They would mimic anything you wanted at any certain levels. The girls were not alone today, for another mutant occupied the Dome.

Griffin Riley or as he dubbed himself Knockout was doing what he does best, spending time alone. Today that included beating into a punching bag, even if the two girls interrupted it. He hadn't turned on the machine only to create a punching bag so there was no reason to keep others from getting in.

He was born and raised in Idaho and proud of it. At six he was left at a children's home and he always yearned for being adventurous and seeing the world. The one good time in his past was at age 10. The orphanage took part in the 'Big brother' and 'Big sister' program. Griffins 'Big Brother' was a 30-something amateur boxer. He began taking Griffin to the man's gym and taught the young mutant all he knew about boxing. Griffin remembered those days well. What ever happened to his 'Big Brother' he wondered. It didn't matter though he was at a place he could call home. Then he remembered the age of 16.

He ran away from his "home" of the time. He left on his BMX wanting to travel. Though he never really got the adventure he was seeking he continued onward. He was a sort of late bloomer his powers activated only a month after running away. He had run to a cargo train and made his way to Chicago. There he met a street gang who wanted his bike and when Griffin refused they were ready to kill. He put up his hands to defend himself and that's when his power kicked in. His fists began to tingle and there they were, his red force fields around his hands like his own personal boxing gloves. He hit one gang member, knocking him out cold, and sped off on his bike. He continued moving around, getting rides and food whatever way he could. Then when he arrived in Cleveland Jack approached him and offered him a home and that's where he'd been ever since, and as he looked back on it now it really was a good decision that was of course until Jason.

"Hey Griff." Said Katie with a smile and a wave.

Griffin had to laugh. The girl was always…happy, giddy and seemed to just jump around everywhere. She was a pain on certain days when you just wanted to be miserable. "Katie, Bailey." He said with a nod as he made his way to the elevator to let the girls do what they came there for.

"Ooh hey did you know? Bailey's got a boyfriend!" She yelled and was quickly met with a slap to the stomach forcing her to clutch her stomach in pain.

"Oh really?" Griffin asked as the door closed and he let out another laugh with a shake of his head. "Kids." He said and realized he was beginning to buy into this whole, 18 you're an adult thing but that was something he refused to do! He would worry about that later now he was sweaty and needed a shower. Today was the day where the new mutants would be there so he had to be ready.

S&S

The top floor of the apartment building is devoid of any living quarters it is however the laboratory, medical wing, sickbay, and the occasional control room for the Dome. It was run and practically lived in by the mutant named Chance. He called himself Scope, his mutant powers had to do with his eyes, his eyes worked like binoculars or a telescope zooming in and out, his eyes were able to see in the dark like night vision, he even had a twinge of heat vision. Though to him this was all useless since he couldn't go into battle. So he spent most of his time on the top floor.

A smile grew on the young 15 year old mutants face as he watched Bailey and Katie "spar" in the Dome. The truth was they were just sitting in a field talking. The boy changed the computer back to a program he was working on to create a pair of glasses that would do some of the things his eyes could do. There were just a few more kinks to work out and he'd have it.

Chance and his sister Lissa were the only relatives of the Mutant Apartments. They were also the first to be brought to the apartments after their parents had gone missing. It worked out for them because his sister liked to have a little too much fun back in their hometown and a few people were slightly annoyed at the girl.

Lissa's eyes were Gray where Chances were a swirl of blue, green, and the occasional red would shine through. Lissa's hair was long curly dark brown hair with light brown highlights, Chances was a messy unkempt light brown hair. At 15 he was 5'8 and growing so he had passed his sister up in that field, and that he would never let her forget. The powers were a definite distance. Lissa could hold her own in battle; she was regular Ms. Marvel, Superhuman Strength, Speed, Agility, and even flight. She had brawled with Jason the mutant who considered himself their leader.

The elevator door to the lab opened and out stepped Chance's sister smiling brightly. "Your being nice…what do you want?" he asked knowing she had something up her sleeve.

"I got another ticket. I need you to make it disappear." She replied still smiling.

"Fine. Just quit looking at me like that!"

Lissa wrapped her arms around her brother's neck. "I love you too. Come on it's almost time."

"Time for what?"

"The new mutants are here we got to go greet them."

With a reluctant sigh Chance stood up from his chair and walked with his sister to the elevator. "This is going to be a long day."

S&S

Jason Alan Morris, the self appointed leader of "his" group of mutants, was not himself a mutant. His powers came from his past. When he was a tiny baby the doctors gave him three months to live before his heart failed him. His parents did find a geneticist who injected Jason with a chemical that would have altered his body in order for his heart to survive. It clearly was a success but the chemical continued to alter him. It increased each of his five senses, and increased his entire physical prowess as well.

His parents sent him to this place when his powers became too much for them. He quickly adapted and appointed himself the leader of the team who was at the time only 3 young mutants along with the three older members. He had gotten into a few fights and he still continued to pick fights for only the one girl could stand up to him in his mind. He took in the sight of the cityscape and smiled. Today he would get two new mutants for his team.

Surprisingly he hadn't made any friends here. Maybe it had to do with hitting on each of the girls, picking fights, or as a few of the people have called him being pig headed. That didn't matter he was Sentinal and he had helped enough people. He threw on his clothes and made his way across the floor he lived on. No one else lived on the floor so he often would do what he liked. He made his way to the elevator and began his descent to the bottom floor.

Streets of New York

A limo pulled up to the apartments occupied by the mutant Jack and the others under his care. Inside a driver of no significance occupied the limo and in the back was a woman with shoulder length red hair and green eyes. A necklace around her neck connected to half of a medallion. Her name was Jessica Soranido a benefactor of the mutant apartments. She is extremely wealthy, though in the way she dressed it didn't show that entire well. The only sign was that of the limo that escorted her, though this would be the last ride for a while.

Jessica had taken over the duties of caring for the mutant Katie Sanders, after an incident in their hometown. Katie was left under the care of Jack and his mutants so they could make sure she'd be safe, for Jessica's job had her leave quite often for week stretches. She had just gotten back from one of those trips and was going to spend some time with Katie and the others.

"Miss. We're here." Called the limo driver.

"Thank you driver." Jessica said with a nod to the man as he opened the door for her and she stepped out. She took in a breath of somewhat fresh air of New York and walked into the Underground Café on the bottom floor of the Apartments. She helped pay for the café that, by the way things looked, was doing very well. She had let the children name the café, which they quickly came to the conclusion of 'The Underground Café.'

Jessica's ears were quickly assaulted by a giddy squeal, which was then followed by a tight hug from Katie.

S & S

Paul's apartment

Zack sat outside Paul's bathroom waiting for the mutant to finish what had to be his fifth shower today. They were expected to be on the ground floor or the café in just a few minutes. They would be late for sure if this continued.

"C'mon Stevenson let's go. It doesn't matter how many times you shower your still going to be ugly." The shape shifter stated hoping that would urge his friend to hurry up.

"Some of us have to make ourselves look good, instead of cheating and using our powers. Besides if it's that big a deal go by yourself." Paul replied through the door of the bathroom.

Zack smiled, it was true he was blessed with his power. "Yeah good times. But seriously, I'm not going on my own man they're new people and I get nervous by myself I need a wingman." He replied as he looked down at his watch.

The bathroom door opened and out came Paul and the strong smell of entirely to much deodorant and cologne mixed. Zack began to cough and wave his hand in front of his face to divert the smell. "What? Not enough?" Paul asked as he sniffed himself.

"At least your fully dressed. I thought all Canadians were always on time?" Zack answered quickly walking to the door and opening it walking straight for the elevator without looking behind him.

"Your like this cause of that girl huh?" Asked Paul as he locked his door and made his own way to elevator.

"Don't be ridiculous" Zack replied with a scoff. "Am I that obvious?" Zack asked as he began to rethink his attitude. Paul just shook his head in response.

S&S

Bailey and Katie made their way downstairs and just as the elevator doors opened Katie bolted out of the doors and immediately hugged a red headed girl Bailey didn't recognize. But from the stories Katie told this had to be Jessica. Bailey hadn't met her in the months she had been here, but the way Katie was hugging the girl the doubts were quickly gone.

"Did you miss me? Did you have fun? Did you buy me anything? How long are you staying for this time?" Katie continued to bombard Jessica with questions that made Bailey laugh slightly.

"You remember the new girl I told you about? Her name is Bailey. She's in love her boyfriend just came here." Bailey amusement with the girl quickly changed to annoyance and her face grimaced.

"Boyfriend? Aw do I have competition?" Asked Zack as he stepped next to Bailey grinning widely. "Cause I'll kick his ass." Zack punched his fist into his palm

"No, no competition." Bailey replied. "Hint. Hint." She said before walking towards Katie who had finally let go of Jessica.

"Time to face the jury huh?" Paul said as he and Zack looked at the group of mutant group inside the café.

S&S

The day had winded down the two newest members of the Mutant Apartments had been introduced and everyone had been introduced to them. Night had fallen, the day had passed and the newest members currently sat in the closed café on the ground floor of the apartment. With one light on at the single table the electric manipulator and the shape shifter sat recapping.

"Well that was…interesting." Zack said as he spun around the empty coffee mug on the table.

Paul stayed silent staring at his reflection in the table. Ever since his fight with Angela the day previous he had wondered how their former friend was. "How do you think Angela's doing?"

"Yeah I thought about her too. I'm sure she's fine she's got the whole healing factor thing going for her."

"I just don't understand why she went with the other team and not us."

"Maybe she's a lesbian." Zack replied with a shrug then lifted his head and began to stare off into space as he thought about it. "Oh man we should find out where they live cause if its true…growl!" Zack shook his head and looked back at his friend. Paul just continued to stare at the table. "If your worried you hut her she can heal remember? So she'll get you back for it she'll probably castrate you."

"Yeah your right. At least its us two here."

"That's right! Who needs a third person. We could always add..." Zack began to count on his fingers. "Uh alot more to our duo."

"Alright I'm going to go to bed and maybe have a little more of that face mask." Paul then got up and left the café and into the elevator.

S&S

Her mind was racing. It would not let her sleep or even keep her eyes closed. And so here she was, at his apartment, or his door to be precise. She had been knocking for a while now but he didn't answer. She said she'd talk to him later and since she was still up at this ungodly hour she might as well make the most of it. However it seemed the mutant on the other side of the door had other plans, or so she thought.

After ten minutes of knocking she had given up and made her way down to the café for some late night sustenance. The elevator door opened and she walked into the café hitting the light switch on her way.

Bailey quickly made her way behind the counter and began rummaging for something to eat. She became so occupied in the search she failed to see the figure of Zack asleep with his head on the table in a puddle of his own drool.

After settling on a bag of pop tarts she made her way out and flipped off the light. Then she heard a large crash followed by a groan. "Ah! Zombies!" She screamed and quickly activated her powers disappearing in a puddle of silver liquid.

Zack picked himself up off the floor and looked around the café only to find darkness, save for the few streetlights outside. His eyes finally adjusted and he stumbled to the light switch only to trip over himself and land in a puddle.

"Ow!"

Zack quickly got up and turned on the light and looked down to see a silver puddle that began to rise and take the form of something. It was Bailey! Uh… Zack tried to contemplate what he had just seen. "Candy pants?"

Bailey now looked like her normal self stood in front of Zack glaring. "You fell on me!"

"You were a puddle! And you turned off the light!" Zack replied.

A few more choice words were shared between the two and in the end they were sitting at a table, Bailey eating her pop tarts and Zack just fiddling with his thumbs.

"So what have you been up to? Last time I saw you, you had hit me with your car." Zack inquired all the while smirking.

"That was an accident!"

S&S

Inside the mutant apartments one shadowy figure entered the room number nine on the sixth floor. Meanwhile in the apartment directly above another shadowy figure was creeping into the bedroom of Paul Stevenson. As both shadowy figures made their way to there objectives, the bodies of Paul and Zack, slight grins grew on their mouths as each body was grabbed by their feet and lifted into the air.

S&S

(Okay it looks like my dividers and such vanished...so I had to use the S&S don't worry next chapter I promise will at least look more professional.)