Disclaimer: Mice are cool.
Chapter 7
A Few Friends
Jake stared out the window as they landed in the Sea-Tac International Airport.
"What are we doing here again?" Raven said.
"We have to get Phoenix Night with us. That's the only way we'll have any chance to beat this guy. Alex, you have any idea how we get back to Seattle?" Jake said.
"Of course. You don't think I'd run across the country without a plan to get back do you?" Alex said.
"Well, I'm pretty sure you did that once."
"So? That was years ago."
"That was last January."
"So?
"So that was about six months ago."
"Eh, I don't care."
"Well, what's the plan?"
"I have some contacts within the Orange Cab Taxi company. Just let me make a few phone calls and everything will be fine," she said as she fished in her pockets for some spare change. "Uh, I don't have any money for the payphone. Anybody want to help me out?"
Nobody spoke up.
"If anybody has some metal I could probably make something passable," Jake suggested.
"I got you covered," Cyborg said and reached into the pocket of his trenchcoat. He brought out a sheet of aluminum. "I always have some incase something takes a turn for the worse."
"Thanks," Jake said as he took the metal. "Uh, better not do this is public. I'll be right back," with that Jake rushed off to the bathroom.
When he reached the bathroom, he checked all the stalls. It was empty.
He stepped into one of the stalls and closed the door. He put the lid of the toilet down and put the sheet of metal on it. He put his hands on the metal and it began to glow. He was able to bend the metal enough so it was about the same size and thickness as a quarter. He walked out of the stall.
As he walked out of the bathroom he noticed a woman with ruby hair staring over a newspaper at him. Jake probably wouldn't have noticed her if he didn't remember all that stuff Red taught him about total awareness. She obviously didn't know he'd spotted her. She just kept following him with her eyes. He knew who she was.
As he walked over to Alex he muttered "We're being watched."
"Who?" Alex asked.
"An old friend. The redhead reading the newspaper."
"What's she doing here?" she said with venom in her voice.
"Keep your cool. They'll confront us eventually. Here's your change."
"Thanks," with that she walked over to the payphone.
"Who's the redhead?" Beast Boy asked.
"You'll see."
They all waited for Alex to come back.
"Good news everybody. I got us a ride to Seattle. The bad news is that it'll be here in about two hours," Alex announced upon returning.
"Well, seeing as how there are five of us and we haven't eaten in nine hours, let's go get something to eat," Jake said. As they walked out the door, Jake noted the redhead standing a ways behind them in the reflection, watching.
They found a Denny's about a mile from the airport. It took them about ten minutes to get there. It took them another ten minutes to order their food. Jake had biscuits and gravy with a Cherry Coke. As they were waiting Jake noticed a girl that looked about nineteen watching them from one of the tables across the room.
"So does anybody have any idea where we go from Seattle?" Raven asked.
"Yes, but I'm not sure we'll be able to get there even with Phoenix Night," Jake said.
"You think it will take that much to get where we have to go?" Alex asked.
"I know it will. I just hope that it won't come to an all out attack on his stronghold."
"Who are we up against anyways? Did I just miss that part?" Beast Boy asked.
"I'll brief you guys when we get Phoenix night with us."
"How do you know where we have to go?" Raven asked.
"Remember that night I went missing that I told you guys about, and how I couldn't remember anything about what happened between when we got tranqed and when I was running through those woods?" Everybody nodded. "Well, I remember what happened.
"I was being kept prisoner in a fortress made from metal and stone. I tried breaking out a couple times but I kept getting caught. I eventually decided to just let whatever was going to happen, happen. The leader talked to me a few times. When they finally let me go, they released me in those woods with some of his lesser goons hunting me. Then he somehow wiped my memory and let me run. That's when you guys stepped in."
"You say you met their leader. Who was he?" Raven asked.
At that moment the waitress came back with their food. She passed the food around and when she got to Jake she gave his a couple sausages and winked at him.
"Those are on the house since you're cute," she said. She was about seventeen with dark skin, rich brown hair, and brown eyes.
"Thank you," Jake replied. She gave him another wink and walked off. Jake turned back to the table to find everybody but Alex gaping at him. "What?"
"You didn't even try." Beast Boy said.
"I did say he was the greatest chick magnet I ever met," Alex reminded them.
"I have got to start hanging out with you more," Beast Boy said. Raven hit him over the head. Hard. "Ow… I mean, nice job with the ladies Jake."
They ate silently. When they had finished they paid cash and left a twenty-five percent tip on the table for the waitress. They still had about twenty minutes left until the cab would be there.
"Let's go back to the airport now," Jake suggested. They walked slowly back to the airport and got there just as the cab pulled in from the other direction to pick them up.
The cab ride to Seattle was pretty uneventful. Although when they hit a big bump Jake hit his head and burned a hole in Raven's cloak.
They arrived outside Jessie's house and exited the cab. Alex reached into her pocket to pull out some money but the driver stopped her. "This one's free, Alex. Say hi to Jessie for me will ya?"
"Sure, Chris," she said and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Who was he?" Jake asked as they walked up to the door. "A little old for my little sister, isn't he?"
"He's Jessie's boyfriend. And I can have a relationship with whoever I want thank you very much."
They knocked on the door three times. They heard crashing and a fire extinguisher, then coughing. "Be there in a minute," they heard someone say. They heard the fire extinguisher a few more times then footsteps rushing towards the door.
As the door opened a voice said "Sorry about that I was just- Jake!" It was Red. He was about Beast Boys height with chocolate covered skin. He gave Jake a big hug and then shouted into the house. "Hey, guys, Jake and Alex are back!"
Hugs were exchanged and introductions were made. Then it went on to business.
"Okay, look," Jake said. "I know why nobody remembered that night at the bank and why I never came back. That's why I'm here. Two of my new friends have been kidnapped. I need you guys to help us get them back.
"Now, this is not going to be easy. Far from it. They are being held in a fortress the size of a military base, but with better defenses. They also have guards with some- unique- abilities. I need you guys to come with us," Jake said. "Questions anybody?"
"If this is who I think it is, we are not going to be able to get in with just the nine of us. We're going to need help," Psyche said.
"And you have it," said a voice from the door. A man in a wheelchair sat there. He was bald and old but still had a commanding air about him.
"Hello, Professor," Jake said.
"Hello, Jake. The X-Men are by your side."
"Wait, the X-Men? What are they doing here?" Beast Boy asked.
"We were looking for Jake," Xavier said. "We had to inform him that his brother was active again."
"I know. He abducted me already," Jake said.
"Your brother? Since when did you have a brother?" Cyborg said.
"Since I was born. He's my twin."
"Ah, the evil twin thing. Very original," Beast Boy said.
"Jake I'm still not sure we are going to be enough," Xavier said.
"I know, but I have someone in mind who could take out most of us here.
"Who?" Xavier asked.
"I believe you know her, Wolverine. A mutant by the name of X-23?" Jake said.
A/N: Look at that a little X-Men crossover. That's cool. Please note that this is X-Men: Evolution not the normal X-Men. And if you object to the X-Men being here, I figure that this universe includes all Super Heroes ever.