Carlie and her friends walked into the forest. Carlie was wearing a light blue lacy dress that had a scoop neckline with a light yellow cardigan with gold brass buttons that was longer than normal and a pair of white patent leather ballet flats with a trim of black grosgrain ribbon that also made a bow over the toe. She also wore a white leather belt with pink flowers patterned on it and an antique buckle. Her necklace was a small golden heart pendant with a light blue sapphire in the middle and it hung on a delicate golden chain. Her long golden hair was loose and she looked like Quinn Fabray from Glee before her pregnancy started to show.
All of her friends complimented her on her outfit before they went into the forest to meet with Northstar.
"I wonder what Northstar wants," Lance said in speculation.
"I'm not sure what he wants, but we should be careful of him," Scott cautioned. "He seems to be dangerous, going around and blowing up trees that aren't his property and whatnot.
The rest of the group nodded fervently in agreement with Scott's statement.
"I agree with Scott," Jean spoke up.
So they went to the grove of trees and waited for a while. Northstar didn't seem to be there yet.
While they waited, Carlie told them about the mystery she had helped her father solve when she was a child.
"I was at the crime scene with him," she explained clearly, "and I noticed that every window of the bank that had been robbed was open. So I concluded that the robber must have had claustrophobia and had opened the window to create the illusion of more space."
"Wow, Carlie," Pietro said, impressed. "The criminals out there better watch out, because they don't stand a chance against you!"
"Yeah," Lance exclaimed. "We should, like, form a club or something to stop crime."
"That's a great idea," Carlie realized. "When I was working as Spider-Girl, I was actively helping out the community. I would love a chance to do that again."
"Let's do it, Carlie!" Jean exclaimed. "Let's form a club against crime! We it the Bayville Sirens!"
"What are all of you talking about?" Asked newcomer to the group.
"Oh, hi Selene," Carlie said, recognizing the girl she had met last night.
Selene was an older student at the Xavier Institute. She looked rather Victorian, with long black hair and pale skin, and she wore a bright pink tank top with a glittery purple in the middle under an unbuttoned, loose, purple silk blouse dotted with tiny pink flowers, a pair of light blue jeans that were stylish and faded, and a pair of lilac Uggs. She was tall and slim and very pretty.
"Selene! We're forming a club! Would you like to join?" Asked Kitty excitedly.
"What kind of club?" Selene asked with a smile.
"It's like a community service club," Carlie explained. "We're going to go out and fight crime." She knew that Selene was kind-hearted and always concerned about the environment and the problems of the local community.
"I'll think about it," Selene promised good-naturedly. "But right now I have to go help out at the Bayville Soup Kitchen."
"Okay," said Carlie. She turned to her friends. "What should we call our club?"
"The Sirens!" Kitty suggested.
"Too girly," Pietro objected. "Let's be the Watchmen! I can be Rohrshach!"
"That's sexist," said Jean.
The solution appeared in Carlie's mind. "How about we be the Crimebusters?"
"That's a great idea!" Scott exclaimed. "What a perfect name!"
"Do you think Northstar will want to join our club?" Lance wondered.
"I don't know." Pietro frowned. "He hasn't showed up yet, has he?" He asked.
"Also, he said that he was a criminal," Carlie said, the gears of sharp mind whirling. "He might oppose a group such as ours."
"I've been wondering about that," Jean admitted. "I asked the professor about Northstar, and it was strange, because he didn't even seem to be aware that Northstar attended this school. Actually, he didn't even know who I was talking about."
Carlie snapped her fingers. "That's it! I bet he gave us a fake name! No wonder I couldn't recognize him!"
Pietro scowled. "That punk! I can't believe that he would try to deceive us like that! Who does he think he is?"
"Well, obviously he's not Northstar," Kitty said. The other Crimebusters nodded in agreement.
"Why did he lie, though?" Scott questioned. "Seriously, to lie to a bunch of people he was planning on living with for the next few months . . . he's either insane or perhaps an idiot."
"He could be morally insane," Pietro proposed. "I've heard that happens to people."
"Is he really even a mutant?" Kitty queried. "'Cause the only thing I've ever seen him do is blow up a tree. I bet Captain America could blow up a tree if he tried hard enough."
"But why would a person who isn't a mutant attend a school specifically designed for mutants?" Scott questioned.
A frown descended upon Carlie angelic face, but she still looked really lovely. She rose from the ground gracefully, dusting herself off. "I don't know what Northstar's deal is, but I hate to be kept waiting. I'm going to find out what he thinks he's doing."
"We'll come with you to protect you, Carlie," Jean said. "We still don't know if Northstar is a Satanist or if he's crazy or if he's a human."
Carlie and the other Crimebusters found Northstar sitting in the library. The lights had almost been completely dimmed, leaving the room almost totally not illuminated, except for the fire burning in the hearth.
Northstar leaned back into an overstuffed armchair in the center of the room, twirled a long Bowie knife between his fingers and staring off into space. The flickering flames cast odd shadows over his alabaster face, leaving his icy blue eyes uncannily glassy and pale.
But Northstar didn't even acknowledge their presence. He simply sat there, entranced by the empty air, his facial expression blank.
Carlie was beginning to get annoyed with this boy. What kind of game was he playing with her?
But just then, a figure burst in through the window, sending shards of glass flying everywhere.