Hello everyone, I'm traveling right now so my updates will be a little sporadic…but please try to bear with me and enjoy the story!

Bellion woke up in a bright cold room. He shivered and tried to remember what had happened to him. His mind was in blinding pain from a headache. He couldn't understand why he was in this pain and during this moment of weakness his captor struck. He heard a rough slightly accented voice say "It's always better when they're awake."

There was a sharp burning pain in the back of his neck and then nothing.

XXX

Scott thought that there was never a time when the team had assembled faster. Soon almost everyone had arrived at the mansion. There was the addition of the rouge mutant whom Jean insisted was not dangerous. Storm supported this statement and so Scott had no choice but to let this 'Nightcrawler' in.

While Scott was informing the team what had happened the Professor was sitting in a quiet corner. It had been assumed that during the invasion Cerebro had been corrupted and he had no time to try to repair it. He was using all of his ability to focus and find Bellion. With the Shaman's power he was easier for the Professor to find than any of the other missing children. He was certain that when they found Bellion they would find the others as well.

Scott wrapped up just as the professor was coming out of his mediation "We still can't find Logan, but one of our vehicles is missing and it's safe to say he would have made sure to take as many students with him as he could." His fists clenched as he said "We have to find him."

Jean was silent as she watched her lover. She had not shared with him what she had seen. The Professor and she had decided it was best to wait until there was a calmer time to share the news. She felt her heart soften as she heard Scott's passionate words "We have to find him." She wondered if he even knew that he was really talking about Bellion.

She stepped forward, deciding that that revelation was something Scott would have to discover for himself. "If he took one of our vehicles he has a transmitter on him. We can follow the signal to his location."

XXX

Logan wished he had the time to slap Pyro upside the head for antagonizing the police who had come to 'rescue' the captured family. He knew there was no doubt that if the Police got them they would not walk away easily. He sighed and unsheathed his claws, he was tired from healing the bullet wound but it seemed that a hero's work was never done.

He was about to create a human shield for the kids to get them past the cops when the weather changed and he smiled at the familiar entrance. He looked up to see the jet lowering and the Police fell back as he hurried the students into the jet. He watched as Iceman gave one last look to his family. He wished that he had comforting words for the kid…but he best he could do was give him one last shove towards the Jet as they prepared to take off.

XXX

Scott watched Logan get on board and was surprised to see he only had three older students with him. He felt his trepidation grow, if that was all Logan was able to get free then their attacker must have been powerful and organized. He frowned and tried to organize a strategy with what he had. Of course it didn't take long for Logan to lock onto the one thing that would press Scott's buttons the most right now.

Logan looked around the jet, surprised by the new face but he didn't comment. He figured that the fragmented team had all been busy and they had other things to focus on right now. He frowned when he noticed there was one person missing "Where's the Shaman?"

Silence met his question. It was obvious at this point in time that those who were not on the jet were part of the group that was captured. Logan growled as no one responded and Jean said softly "He is assumed to be one of the ones that were captured."

Scott couldn't hold his silence "It's not assumed…we have footage of him being taken away."

Jean had wished that Scott would talk to her, they had a physic link but he wasn't responding to her soft inquiries and it seemed as if he had closed down her access for now. She sighed and looked to Logan, hoping to stop any rash comments he might want to share.

Logan snorted at the look Jean was giving him and shook his head "Spectacular… our impression on him gets better every passing day." He looked out the Jet's windows for a moment. He had no desire to look at Scott right now. He wouldn't admit it but even though the Shaman's unflappable calm irritated him. He respected and could even see himself liking the Shaman. Of course that was of very little use right now.

XXX

The Professor led them to an abandoned dam in the wilds of Canada. He said that Bellion's mutant signal was strong, hopefully an indicator that the Shaman was not in bad condition, and the same hopefully went for the lost students as well.

They landed the Jet and observed the area for ideas on a possible strategy. Scott frowned, wondering what could possibly be found here. It looked as though no one had been in the location for over a decade. He realized that just because above ground was abandoned, didn't mean that underground was in the same state.

Their speculation was interrupted when a helicopter landed next to them and one of the last people Scott wanted to see stepped out. Magneto.

Magneto looked over the assembled X men and said "Oh… it seems that I am too late to inform you of the plans Charles…my deepest apologies." He smirked as he watched the irritation he caused amongst the X men.

Xavier didn't respond; he knew his old friend well. Magneto was truly sorry he hadn't been able to stop the attack on the school. If anything he assumed that all the X men had been taken and had come in some attempts to perhaps help them.

"It is unfortunate; however what is done is done… now we can only try to get the children back safely." Xavier looked Eric directly in the eyes as he spoke. He didn't care if Magneto was here to help them or attack those who had attacked the school. He just knew better not get in the way of rescuing the children.

Eric got the message loud and clear and said "Of course Charles." He took another look at the X Men. They had Storm, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Beast, Rouge, the Professor, two young men who were probably students, and a blue fellow standing to the side of Storm looking as though he would rather not be there.

He only had himself and Mystique, but he was certain that with this group nothing inside could possibly stand a chance against them. He looked to Cyclops, knowing that he was the team leader and smirked as he asked "So what's the plan?"

XXX

With Mystique's help they were able to get through the first doors. Her impersonation got them through the doors. However Stryker knew his own work too well. They were attacked but were able to drive them back and were making their way to the control room.

Scott was surprised when the soldiers fell back so quickly. He was sure that they would put up more resistance. The fact that they didn't made Scott suspicious. His mental alarms when berserk when Stryker came out to meet them personally alone.

Scott stepped in front of his team. He didn't need the pointed looks he received from either the Professor or Magneto to know that this was some sort of a trap. He narrowed his eyes through the ruby quartz and demanded "What do you want Stryker?"

The man laughed at Scott's direct approach, the X men leader thought it was disturbing how the man could look so truly happy at the prospect of kidnapping innocents and children. He waited for the man to finish and then wished he had kept laughing when he heard what he had to say.

Stryker looked at the assorted creatures before him. He would do his best to save his creation, after all Logan had been a very expensive investment and he was certain there were a few uses left they could get from him. He decided a few of them were valuable enough to keep alive, as long as they were under his strict control of course. That reminded him… "What do I want? I merely want to restore the natural order…" He gave another laugh and then added "OH… but there is someone I am certain you want to meet."

Scott held his breath, preparing himself for whatever Stryker might throw their way. Magneto had told them of the drug Stryker had developed. The one he had used in order to gain the location and knowledge of the school.

Magneto would get his revenge for being used by such a tool. He had been taken unawares and had almost been returned to prison but Mystique had ensured his escape. He clenched his fists, feeling the metal hum around him in eager answer. He would get his dues soon.

A figure moved in the shadows next to Stryker and slowly stepped forward into the yellow light. Scott felt his heart ache at the sight of Bellion's beautiful eyes so cold and empty. He knew then that Bellion was under the influence of whatever mind altering drug he had concocted.

He began firmly telling himself that the person before him was not the gentle Shaman he had come to know over these past few months…this was a weapon… one that was being used against him. This had worked before when team members had turned or were forced to fight against him…however this time the ritual was less convincing than usual.

The professor looked in shock at the controlled Shaman "How is this possible? He should be strong enough to resist the effects…" The professor had not shared with the rest of the team his findings on Bellion's abilities, Bellion was a stronger telepath than he was, but had honed his power uniquely through his meditation rituals.

Stryker laughed and ran his hand though Bellion's silky snow white hair making the ornaments twinkle with the movement. His words were thoughtful as he said "Ah yes… he is much stronger than I had first assumed."

He shook his head "It took a few tries…but we finally found a combination that worked… With a certain mutant's help we were able to trap his mind in a world of illusion. While his conscious was distracted his body responded well to the drugs and his subconscious was defenseless." He laughed and said "Though I'm afraid the process was rather painful for him…he doesn't seem to feel a thing now…"

Scott stepped forward and would have done something he could later regret if Jean hadn't calmly placed her hand on his shoulder to pull him back. He took a deep breath to bring himself back under control; but it seemed they would not be getting that reprieve.

Stryker smirked at the assembled group "Mutant 324-2209…Attack." Bellion acted on his command, pulling two blades from the folds of his costume that had never been seen before.

Scott barely had time to respond with a defensive block as Bellion came swinging at him. He grunted with pain but the blades didn't cut through his suit. He was surprised that the Shaman carried such weapons. He remembered seeing the strange handles before in the costume, but had thought they were more of his shaman tools.

He had no time to think but the thought crossed his mind that Bellion could have used those blades before. When he was taken from his home, when the Professor refused to let him go, even when he was getting his medical exam he could have used them to force his freedom, but didn't. That more than anything else told him of the Shaman's character.

Jean watched as Scott was forced to defend against the person she suspected he was beginning to care deeply for "Professor what should we do?" She asked desperate for advice on the dilemma that they were facing.

Magneto snorted and rolled his eyes "He is an enemy of course and should be treated as such. If you can't bring yourselves to harm him at least incapacitate him for the time being."

This answer was met with outrage from the X men, all except Logan who seemed both thoughtful and annoyed by the situation.

The Professor shook his head "We mustn't bring him to more harm… to do so will only give him further reason to distrust us."

While the Professor and the X men were distracted with the situation they didn't see Magneto turn to Mystique with a dark knowing smile on his lips as he said "Exactly."

Thank you so much for your patience with this story! Like I said I am traveling and will do my best to update as much as I can!