Chapter 2: The Unforeseen
Disclaimer: I do not own and Marvel Characters or Logos.
A fork of lightning streamed across the cosmos as cloud gathered overhead, their dark, brooding presence blocking out the sun as they closed in over the forest below. With clap of thunder, a torrential rain fell from the dingy skies, a downpour so fierce it appeared as though the earth itself had begun to weep. It had been several years since the state had experienced such a fierce storm, the excess rainfall overflowing from storm drains in the nearest town as they reached full capacity, running directly into the nearby river, which cut through the forest like a raging tide.
Very few people would voluntarily leave home in this weather let alone enter the wilderness, but it seemed that at least one person did not have the luxury to choose. A young girl ran through the falling rain, her long brown hair sticking to her back as the large drops of water clung to her already drenched mane of hair. Although many of her characteristics were akin to those of an average teenager, she was far more than what she appeared to be.
The girl appeared to be about fifteen years of age, with long brown hair and dark eyes, her skin bearing a slightly tan complexion from spending so much time outdoors. Although seemingly ordinary at first glance, her clothes consisted of gloves, shoes, and a black jacket and a pair of matching pants that clung tightly to her waist and legs. A tiny pair of slits were present on the knuckle side of each of her gloves, each article of her footwear bearing a similar opening to accommodate her superpowers.
Were it not for her style of dress, she may have appeared to be a normal girl, but the sense of anger and suffering that always lingered in her eyes seemed to imply that she had been through more than most people could imagine. She was born with special abilities and conditioned to be the ultimate weapon against the enemies of those who had funded her creation. There had never been a moment in her life when she had been allowed to be a normal child, even to the point where her creators had not even given her a real name.
In all honesty she wasn't even an original weapon, more like an enhanced copy of something that had come before. Her powers and abilities were a duplicate of an old government creation known as Weapon X. She was X-23, a mutant created to be the ultimate agent for the criminal spy network, HYDRA. They had worked hard over the years to bleed her of all emotion and individuality, yet here she was living her own existence away from the controlling environment, which she had so long been forced to endure.
Not long ago she had met the man whom she had been cloned from… A mutant named Logan, alias Wolverine. For a while she believed that he was the reason she had ended up the way she was, but after meeting him it was obvious that this was certainly not the case. She spent a while fleeing from HYDRA, but managed to lure her creators into a trap and eventually destroyed them in a fiery explosion, faking her own death in the process.
However convenient and satisfying it had been to be rid of those who would want to do her harm, the young mutant had been wandering the wilds of North America for several months now, hunting for food and generally keeping out of sight, both of which were hardly a challenge due to her animalistic instinct and intense training as a spy and assassin.
Although hardly an expert when it came time to other people, she had seen glimpses of what it was like to have real friends and family, and deep down she knew that even her current freedom was no way for most people to live life. Then again, she wasn't like most people by any means whatsoever.
Using her claws, X-23 tore through the undergrowth as she searched for a place to spend the night. Even with her enhanced endurance and immune system, even she was bound to feel ill side effects from staying out here in such terrible conditions. The young mutant remained silent as she made her way through a grove of bushes, only pausing every now and then as the sharp barbs ripped at her clothing. With an angry growl, she seized hold of the nearest tree and swung upwards, landing gracefully an a higher branch seconds later.
Taking advantage of her new viewpoint, the young mutant searched the area for signs of shelter, but to no avail. The lights of a nearby town still burned brightly in the distance, but she had no desire to see other people for the moment. Grunting in annoyance, a pair of knife-like blade extended through the openings of her gauntlets, and she thrust them into the bark of the tree on which she stood, ripping them downward with an angry slash.
Sensing someone close by, she sniffed the air cautiously, but soon found herself standing in an imposing shadow. She was paralyzed in shock for the moment, someone had never managed to get so close to her without detection before. The man floated beside her like a malevolent shadow, his face concealed by the darkness, but eyes seemed to pierce through the night like prison beacons.
Growling in anger, X-23 extended her claws and swung with all of her might, but her target floated backwards, weaving left and right to avoid each consecutive strike. Seeing his retreat, she leapt from her tree branch and continued her attack, but this new adversary seemed to be toying with her rather then actually attacking. Realizing that her reaction wasn't working, she jumped from the trees and touched down on the ground, breaking into a run seconds later.
She took off into the woods at a full run, unsure of whether or not her pursuer was an agent tasked with her capture. Of course, it wouldn't matter either way as long as she managed to get away now. For someone like her who was constantly being hunted by HYDRA, it was better not to take any risks. Once she had reached the boundaries of the forest, she hurtled over a metal gate, but before she could properly react, the object sprang to life and wrapped itself around her ankles.
The girl did not care how it happened and decided to sever the obstruction with her adamantine claws, but as she extended them to perform the task, they curled and twisted so that the points were instead facing her own wrists. Although the terrible experiences she endured in the past usually kept her calm, a small gasp escaped her lips.
"You needn't flee, I merely wished to speak to you." A powerful voice rang out through the patter of falling rain. He raised his hand, causing her claws to bend back to their normal shape. "They call me Magneto… I have come here to help you."
X-23 scowled as her captor released the binds on her legs, allowing her to stand once more as his hovering form swept through the trees. He was a reasonably tall man wearing a helmet that concealed large portions of his face and what outwardly appeared to be red armor. A billowing purple cape adorned his shoulders, flowing in like a flag in the wind, and making him seem much larger than he really was.
"Leave me alone!" she stated very clearly, her eyes narrowing with annoyance.
"I know how you feel, child… Alone, misunderstood, an outcast doomed to live life outside of human society." He continued on as if he hadn't heard her dismissing comment. Lightning struck again as he moved closer, his facial features becoming visible to her.
"You couldn't possibly understand me! No one understands me!" she screamed, her enraged features and wet hair making her look slightly deranged.
She into a dash again, only this time she was headed in the direction of her adversary. Kicking off of the ground, she pushed herself into a leaping kick, a small claw extending out of the end of her foot in the process. The shadow-like enemy clenched his fist, causing the metal fence to restrain her body like a wrap.
"Enough!" Magneto replied, his deep tones betraying a note of irritation. Fearing that his actions would make her more difficult, he gently freed her with a small movement of his hand. Settling his feet down onto the wet ground, he attempted to appear less offensive. "You have my apologies if I offend, but there are others like us that I want you to meet."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Leave!" she reiterated in much the same manner as before.
"I can tell from your movements and demeanor them that there are people chasing you." The imposing man replied. Slowly but surely he reached out his hand in a fatherly way. "Come with me, and I will grant you sanctuary."
Rather than accept his offer or attempt to attack him again, the volatile mutant turned her head with a grimace. "You can't help me! Nobody can!" she hissed painfully.
"On the contrary, I know who and what you are, child. I have heard stories about you while traveling the underground." Magneto's decided to try another method of gaining her trust. "You are the result of an experiment created to emulate Weapon X, alias Wolverine. The horrors they must have put you through are something that no mutant should ever have to endure… Don't you deserve to have your revenge?"
X-23 stopped herself from attacking her unwanted visitor as she pondered his question, but after several moments of silence she shook her head. "This has nothing to do with you." She stated bluntly, turning her back on him once more.
The master of magnetism clenched his fist in a display of anger, causing the nearby fence to crumble as if it were a soda can on the floor. His expression betrayed a powerful sense of internal anguish, but he suppressed the urge to harm the girl.
"A pity… This world despises mutants, as well as those who would desire to aid them." His tone remained calm, but gave off a dangerous vibe. "Mark my words child, you will soon regret this decision."
The girl leapt over the remains of the crushed fence and continued onwards without even a backwards glance. What he had said was true, and she knew it for herself from experience. While hiding out in plain sight during her brief stays in small towns, she had seen some prejudice against mutants in general in the form of signs and political protests centered around anti-mutant sentiment. Still the last thing she wanted right now was company, even if what he said was the truth. Running from HYDRA was difficult enough, but having someone else around would only make things more difficult for them and for her.
Magneto watched his possible recruit leave, his eyes narrowing slightly. With a swish of his cape, he turned in the opposite direction, gently floating through the cascading raindrops. To think he had come out in this storm to find that the girl they sought to recruit was just as stubborn as Wolverine himself. It was not entirely unexpected, even though he had hoped to prey upon her past experiences.
There was a time when he might have punished his victim for refusing to join his cause, but such behavior would likely make matters worse in that regard. Last year's incident with Apocalypse had taught him some humility, but little had changed otherwise. The world's view of mutants had not changed, and neither had his desire to face whatever terrors the future held for his kind. Whether Xavier wanted to admit it or not, they would have to be prepared for the worst.
Meanwhile
It was midnight in New York City, but many sectors of the city were still alive with activity as some people headed home from late jobs, and law enforcement took the streets for their lightly patrols. Petty criminals sold drugs from their street corners and those who were wanted by the police surfaced from their hiding places to move about by darkness. Far from the red-light district, most of the town's major businessmen had already left for the night, but a few areas in the business district remained alight.
On the top floor of the one of New York's many skyscrapers, a team of scientists sat conducting some questionable research. The room was rather large with metallic paneling covering the walls, each of which had been insulated with soundproof paneling to avoid suspicious noises from escaping the confines of their laboratory. Several tubes lined one of the walls, each of which was filled with a strange fluid, which seemed to preserve the contents.
Several men wearing standard white lab coats were tending to the experimental robotic technology that they had developed while several others seemed to be involved in the creation of mysterious serums and poisons of all different kinds. It generally looked like a place that any mad scientist would find inviting, especially one with a nefarious purpose in mind, yet the people involved seemed completely unperturbed by the projects they were working on.
It was as if the very room was dedicated to the creation of science without he morality enforced by government policies. In many ways what they were doing was similar to HYDRA, but instead of hiding to avoid detection, they performed this research and development undetected right in the heart of New York City.
The leader of the research team sat on a large chair in the center of the room, carefully monitoring each experiment through a device in his hand. Half of his face was noticeably disfigured, his features oddly distorted, and his skin a sickly green color. Although he wore a suit jacket with long sleeves, one of his hands was bestial in appearance and similar in color to the mutated half of his face, ending with his clawed fingers.
He watched the experiments with a critical eye, making sure that everything was going the way he believed it should. They had been working on a number of projects for their employer's use, and so far the results had been less than they had hoped for.
His name was Herbert Landon, a brilliant scientist who possessed a burning desire to eradicate all of mutant kind. To this end he had found himself in the employ of some questionable individuals over time, specializing in the creation of technology for others while his benefactors funded his own personal research.
Tonight had been one of those times in life where his job crossed with his personal desires, and now he had been given a mission to capture a mutant. Of course the downside was that this new subject was not his to experiment on, but that was of little consequence to the current situation. He let out what sounded like a small strangled hissing noise as he reread the files that Madame Hydra had sent to them a few hours ago.
They contained information concerning her escaped subject, an experimental mutant code-named X-23. According to the information presented, she was highly volatile and slight unstable, and these aspects of her personality combined with her training in the art of assassination made her a highly dangerous adversary.
Landon had been working for hours attempting to figure out a way that he could use the technology at his disposal to find a single mutant, especially when they had very little idea where she could possibly be, let alone how they were supposed to track her down. If this girl really was as dangerous as the reports indicated, things were bound to be much more difficult than they had originally anticipated.
He paced the floor for several minutes as he contemplated ways in which he could take advantage of the organizations many resources, but a familiar noise coming from the back wall of the room quickly garnered his attention. The groaning sounds of a moving elevator hade him slightly nervous, seeing as he hadn't expected his employer to show up so soon. With a metallic clang, the unit came to a complete stop on the top floor, the doors sliding apart to reveal the large form of his superior.
The giant of a man wore an expensive-looking white suit with gold buttons, his purple undershirt visible through the opening in the jacket. He wore black shoes and a pair of dress pants that covered his legs. The man was bald and had no visible facial hair, but his face was large and full, which seemed only natural when compared to his imposing size and mountain-like frame. Although the public knew him as a wealthy businessman, he was feared in the world of crime as a man of great influence and power… The Kingpin of Crime!
"Have you devised a method to accomplish the task I have assigned you?" The large individual questioned.
Landon sat down and began typing furiously, quickly bringing up the files they had received earlier on X-23. "Our task will be difficult, but we have made it our top priority to devise a way to locate the mutant."
"Do you have any ideas on how to accomplish this goal, or will this require time that we do not have." The towering man stepped forward aggressively.
The disfigured researcher turned to face his superior. "If I may be so bold, why exactly do you wish to help these people take back what belongs to them? HYDRA has done nothing for you in the past… They must have offered you something!"
"Madame Hydra possesses information that I desire concerning the super soldier formula used during World War II. Her agents are actively searching for their lost experiment, and if they manage to succeed, I doubt that their leader will be so willing to divulge the information I desire without reason!" Kingpin barked irritably. "If you are incapable of devising a plan that we can act upon, I will happily replace you!"
The mad scientist looked simply distraught by his superior's display of anger. "Forgive me, but it is not a matter of what we can or cannot do. I fear that even if we find the child, it could very well prove difficult to enact her capture."
The much larger man leaned over his subordinate's shoulder to get a better view at the computer monitor, but his eyes gravitated towards an envelope on the table. "What is this package that you have yet to open?" he questioned, pointing a stubby finger towards the corner of the screen.
"That is merely a sample of X-23's DNA, but I am not sure if we can…" his eyes widened slightly as he clicked open the file and realized something that he had not before.
His actions did not go unrecognized by the crime boss, who watched him suspiciously. "Have you thought of something?" he asked.
"I've got it!" Landon looked positive ecstatic for the moment, something that was rather rare for him since the accident that caused his physical disfiguration. "During my anti-mutant crusade, I stumbled upon secret government files stolen from the Sentinel program. One moment…"
His fingers pounded the keyboard in a fast rhythmic motion as he brought up a set of familiar files containing the information that he had stolen from SHIELD during one of his superior's raids on the main base. Very few people would be willing to do something so bold, but they had not only done the deed, but gotten away with it as well. After a minute, a diagram of a basic robot appeared on the screen.
The Kingpin looked slightly amused by this new development. "Ah yes… The government once designed robots to hunt down mutants and eliminate them. Those units were used during a major incident last year."
"Of course, and I never believed that these blueprints would be useful to us until this very moment." His head researcher wore a triumphant expression.
"Even if this technology has the ability to accomplish my objective, I believe that building such a machine would not be wise. The government would most likely be suspicious if we were to implement their technology for my own usage." The criminal boss mused. "Second of all, one of the few people capable of building such a machine is Alistair Smythe, and he left my employ months ago."
Herbert Landon merely shook his head in response as he focused on a single part of the Sentinel diagram on his monitor. "That will not be necessary… We only need to duplicate the part of the weapon that allows the robot to track mutant life signs. I believe that if we combine a DNA scanner with this technology, we can make it so that the scanners only target X-23."
Kingpin's dour expression twisted into a satisfied leer as he imagined the prospects. "It seems you have devised a solution for now… Do you believe it is possible to install these devices into our own units?"
"From what I have learned concerning this experimental mutant, cybernetic soldiers may not be enough to ensure a successful capture. You seem to forget that this girl was the final result of a long line of failed weapons." The scientist explained.
Kingpin leaned forward again to see the screen. "Exactly what kind of information do we have on this living weapon? Did our benefactors provide that which we require for this mission?"
"According to the information given to us by Madame Hydra, the experimental subject was given superior regenerative abilities and an adamantine skeleton. She has the ability to willingly extend and retract metallic claws from her hands and feet, capable of slicing through virtually any substance." Landon explained carefully. "She also has been trained as a master killer, and has worked as an infiltration unit for HYDRA in the past."
"If that is true, then it appears I was correct to call in reinforcements." The crime boss replied with a smirk.
His expression changed into an unpleasant look of satisfaction as he heard the elevator moving again. The room's occupants turned towards the doors expectantly as they the familiar sound of sliding doors filled the room. With a small creak, the metallic doors parted once again to reveal a stocky man wearing what appeared to be a green and yellow jumpsuit, which covered most of his body. A pair of dark glasses covered his eyes from view and his brown hair was arranged in a simple cut. The most prominent feature of his were the four metal arms protruding from behind him, moving as naturally as any ordinary limb would.
"You sent for me, Mr. Fisk…" the newcomer commented with a look of mild interest.
The Kingpin turned to greet the multi-armed villain. "I require your services for a very special mission, Doctor Octavius. If you will consent to listen, I will begin…"
Next Morning
Logan had planned to leave the institute the previous night to begin his improbable search for X-23, but the Professor had personally advised against his decision to varying degrees. He had been perfectly prepared to start last night, but the weather had proven to be a major impediment, and his motorcycle needed fixing anyway. Wolverine had spent the entire night tuning up his prized vehicle, silently wondering what exactly he was supposed to do upon his arrival in New York. Needless to say that he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep the previous evening.
It was truly a vexing question, seeing how the rain would probably have washed away any footprints or scents that would have made his job easier. Wiping down his motorcycle with an old rag, he put the finishing touches on his ride and prepared to leave. Several tools lay abandoned on the cement floor of the garage, but he paid them no mind, knowing that someone would eventually clean up his mess at some point. Having so many students around really helped once and awhile, especially when they were forced to help out with the daily chores.
Although he would never admit it out loud, Charles had been absolutely right about leaving yesterday. Of course being who he was Wolverine probably would have done so anyway, but perhaps it was a good thing that his ride was in pretty rough shape from a previous run. Being forced to fix it before setting out had prevented him from riding into a dangerous storm.
As irritating as it had been, the job gave him some time to clear his head and consider his mission. By the time he finished replacing the broken parts and inspecting the rest of his bike to make sure that it didn't cause him problems on the road, it was almost sunrise, and he had decided it was best to kick back and rest a few hours before leaving. No matter how it happened it looked like Charles had actually won this time.
It seemed as if the man had sensed his thoughts as a familiar wheelchair rolled into the garage, supporting its telepathic owner. Xavier wore an expression that suggested he was in high spirits as he raised his head in greeting. Wolverine raised an eyebrow as he watched his old friend approach, looking rather indifferent to his presence.
"I take it you came here to see me off." The ill-tempered mutant questioned.
The Professor calmly placed his hands together. "That was my intention of coming here, but before that you are more than welcome to join the others for breakfast. Getting something to eat may prove beneficial at any rate, even to someone with your astounding abilities."
Wolverine glanced out the window and sighed as he saw the sun coming up, the blue skies leaving very little sign of what they had endured the previous day. While the ground and roads were still soaked by the previous downpour, the skies were perfectly clear and displayed no indication that they were going to experience another storm anytime soon. It was the perfect day to start the search and he was itching to hit the road.
"Thanks, but I had better get going as soon as possible. This job's already giving me a major headache as it is." He replied.
"Very well, I understand." Xavier commented with a neutral expression.
Logan let out a small sigh as he scratched the back of his head. "Speaking of which, did you check Cerebro this morning for the kid?"
"Indeed, and yet it appears as though she has been openly using her powers to survive in the wilds. Nevertheless, her position is further away from the main city than I originally thought, which could make your search easier since she seems to be avoiding larger settlements of people for the most part." The telepath explained carefully.
Wolverine looked uncharacteristically thoughtful for the moment. "Hmmm, I guess that means I should check the wilds first. The kid's probably hiding out in the woods somewhere in an attempt to avoid detection. Can't say I blame her considering the rumors floating around the criminal underground lately. They say that HYDRA is back in business…"
The bald telepath looked pensively at his old friend. "This could prove problematic if they know that X-23 survived the explosion of that airbase and is currently on the loose. The only reason that we are aware is because of Cerebro's ability to discern familiar mutants that have already been entered into the archives."
"Even if they know she's still alive I don't see those guys as being much of a threat since most of top dogs and a load of their goons were fried in that explosion earlier this year. Although it would make me feel better of Nick Fury had found the Supreme Hydra's body." Logan replied.
"I believe they may cause problems if you are to encounter them, but they are not our only concern at the moment." Professor Xavier wore a dour expression at the prospect. "With Magneto still out there we may be faced with more opposition in the future."
Wolverine shrugged with a grimace. "Maybe we'll run into him, but he hasn't caused any trouble since that catastrophe in Mexico."
The Professor seemed to hesitate before answering. "I do not believe that Magnus would be so quick to change his views, even after enduring the wrath of Apocalypse. There is a good chance that he will come to see the truth one day, but even I must admit that his extremist ideologies have some truth to them, and therefore I can also understand why many mistreated mutants would flock to his cause."
"Let's just hope not." Reaching for a switch, the short-tempered man opened the garage door and prepared to leave.
"Magneto will most likely attempt to convince any potential followers that seeking vengeance on those who brought them misery is the only way to find peace. I daresay that the prejudice that faces our kind will most likely prove to be his greatest weapon." Xavier replied with a frown.
Wolverine cracked his knuckles. "Were I still in that position, I would probably join up with him. Let's just hope that most of these mutants aren't as stupid as I used to be."
"Yes, but we are fortunate that he does not possess technology like Cerebro. It will be more difficult for him to find recruits, but with the number of individuals with an active X-gene growing on a global scale, I would not be surprised if his forces have already begun to grow."
"I'll keep that in mind…"After putting on his boots and jacket, Logan mounted his motorcycle and turned to face his old friend. "Either way I should probably get going before the little pipsqueak finds another place to hide."
The bald man relaxed his shoulders and nodded in approval. "Nevertheless I wish you luck, old friend"
"Hopefully this won't take too long, but if by some chance I can't find her in a week or two I'll probably be back." He replied.
Professor Xavier watched as Wolverine pressed down on the accelerator and rode off into the institution grounds, passing through the gates of the compound and into the streets seconds later. All the while he wondered why his sense of dread was beginning to grow. It wasn't his telepathic powers that spoke to him this time, just a sort of sixth sense. It didn't mean much in terms of logic, but he felt as if some big trouble was brewing on the horizon.
With a small sigh, the telepath maneuvered his wheelchair out of the garage and into the main house. Although he passed many of his students on the way, he remained relatively silent and did not address them as he usually would. Rather than join the others for breakfast, Xavier headed back to his study. Opening the door with his telepathy, the mutant mind master moved over the threshold and back to his desk to begin the daily proceedings.
The printed reports given to him by Hank this morning hadn't yielded any information on their old nemesis, Magneto. It wasn't a surprise considering how advanced his cloaking technology really was. However there were some disturbing incidents briefly involving registered mutants disappearing without a trace. He had not yet shared this information with anyone else yet, but the information was deeply disturbing nonetheless.
"Hmmm…" Xavier picked up a stack of papers and began to thumb through the printed profiles of all of his students, causing him to smile inwardly.
He was glad to see that even the students that had withdrawn following Magneto's exposure of mutant kind had returned since then. Perhaps their parents had realized that it would be no better for them at home and thus allowed them to attend, but either way it pleased him to see the young mutants standing united at his institution. Even if the outside world was still not ready to accept them, it was comforting to know that they could rely on each other for support.
Flipping another page in his stack revealed a long list of bills for the institute and a number of things that he had to have repaired. He willingly allowed young mutants to attend and live at the institute, but living expenses were still a big part of the package, including the damages caused by each of them during training sessions. It was sometimes a tough job mentoring a house filled with super-powered humans, but it was what he had always wanted to devote his life to, and he wouldn't have had it any other way.
With a small sigh, he pulled out a small group of papers held together by a clip, and placed them in the top drawer of his desk. They were profiles he had made for potential students, but he intended to wait until the children were willing to accept their powers, and in some cases it seemed to be the parents that were hesitant to send their loved ones abroad. He couldn't blame them for feeling reluctance, but for the time being it was not his direct concern.
He spent an hour or two reviewing reports filled out by his instructors concerning the institute's students, and found that things were going rather well. According to Beast, the younger students were beginning to act more responsible than before, while his older charges had begun to mentor them. Scott and Jean had certainly proved to be a big help in the past, but with the new school year approaching they would be heading off to college soon, leaving the institute short-handed again.
As these thoughts entered his mind, a knock on the door jarred him from his thoughts, and he prepared to welcome whomever it was. With a quick thought, he opened the door and looked up to greet his guest, but was surprised by what he saw. Two people sauntered into his office, the first of which was a large and imposing individual wearing a shirt revealing his large muscular arms. He had expected to meet with Colossus today, but his visitor had not come alone.
A man with a smaller build wearing dark clothing and a shabby coat stepped out from behind his comrade. He had brown hair and his eyes were a peculiar color that seemed to betray a sense of mingled mischief and malice. Xavier recognized his uninvited guest as another one of Magneto's former Acolytes, Gambit. Rather than raise any objections, he turned to the first man for an answer.
Colossus cast him an apologetic look in return. "You have my apologies, but when I left the hotel this morning I ran into an old comrade who also expressed an interest in joining your institution. I hope that you will forgive me for not alerting you ahead of time." He explained in his Russian accent.
The explosive mutant raised an eyebrow in amusement. "I just figured it wouldn't be such a bad idea to try something new. It was only be chance that we ran into each other, but seeing how you would allow a member of Magneto's old team to hang around here, I figured it wouldn't be too much of a push for me."
"Your old acquaintance came to see me ahead of time and told me that his service to Magneto was not a willing decision for reasons beyond his control. Although I would like to believe that your desire to stay with us is genuine, I have not yet had a chance to hear you out." The Professor replied.
"Being Magneto's lackey loses its charm after awhile, and ever since I ditched that scene I don't really have a place to go." He explained.
Professor Xavier eyed his new visitor suspiciously, his eyes focused as if he were scanning the object of their scrutiny. During one of his visions he had seen Gambit as a member of the team as well, but right now he wasn't sure if it was absolute. While he did not pry into the other man's mind, Xavier simply chose to observe his mannerisms for any sign that he was lying. He was always the kind of person who saw the good in other people, and while he sensed no lie in the other man's voice and movements, he wasn't entirely sure if he could trust him yet.
The telepath relaxed his gaze and exhaled a held breath. "I understand, yet wonder if there is another reason for your actions? Perhaps a deeper source of motivation as to why you want to join the X-Men…"
"Let's just say that I have my reasons…" Gambit added with a sly expression. "Still, Colossus told me that you needed some new instructors. Maybe I could teach the mutant kids a thing or two if you'll allow."
The telepath hesitated for a moment before giving his answer. "I shall take this under consideration, but you must admit that your past actions make it difficult for me to make a proper decision without having some time to deliberate. I also think it best that we get the message out to the rest of my staff, and perhaps some of the older students. This way your case will be known before any arrangements are made."
"Can't say I expected anything less from you guys." the younger man replied.
"Somehow I believe that you have a good reason for wanting to join the X-Men, but you seem reluctant to share it with me." Xavier returned the expression before resuming his normal façade. "Still I have no desire to pry, so perhaps with the approval of the others we can allow you a small trial period as a teacher at the institute."
Gambit flipped a finger through the standard deck of cards in his hand. "Merci…" he replied with a crafty smirk
Xavier gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. "You two gentlemen may sit down." As they cooperated, he turned his attention to the visitor he had actually been expecting.
Colossus had remained relatively silent while his former comrade gave his case to the Professor, but seemed ready to speak. He cracked his knuckles and seemed to sit a little higher before addressing the bald man. "I came to speak to you tow days ago concerning a position among the X-Men. What is your decision?"
The telepath inclined his head with a shadow of a smile. "I actually spoke with some of the others and they were happy to accept you into our little family. If you desire a place among the staff, I will grant you a position and schedule classes for you to work with immediately. With Logan's occasional absences, your help with the younger students will be most well appreciated."
"Thank you very much, Professor." The muscular man replied with a bow of his head. "I promise not to let you down."
"So long as you do the best you can to help my students, I don't believe you can." Xavier reached out, and they shook hands. Once they were finished, the Professor pulled a small key out of the draw of his desk and handed it to the much larger man. "I believe you'll find your lodgings somewhere on the second floor in the East Wing. It will be the room with the number that corresponds to the digit inscribed on that key."
Colossus nodded to signify that he understood and pocketed the key immediately. "Am I free to go?" he asked.
His new superior nodded in agreement. "I daresay that unlike your time serving Magneto, you may find that living here grants you many freedoms. You may go wherever you want so long as you have no prior obligations to the institute, and since the others have already been alerted of your appointment to the team, there won't be any complications."
The metallic mutant stood up from his chair and inclined his head politely before exiting through the wooden doors. His absence created an awkward silence, during which neither of the remaining individuals spoke to each other as they listened to the sound of the larger man's footsteps dying away with each step. Although it took him some time to find the words, the telepath found himself breaking the silence at last.
"Do you require lodgings while the decision is made concerning your own membership?" Xavier asked. "It would be my pleasure to pay for a hotel if that is what you desire."
"No need… I've already rented a room in the motel near the outskirts of town." He replied with a shrug. "Not the best place to stay considering that they charge by the hour, but at least the price is right!"
After a few extra moments of silence, the former Acolyte stood up and withdrew a deck from the inside of his jacket. He took a step forward and placed a single card in front of the man behind the desk. Charles Xavier accepted the offering, his eyes scanning the surface of the card as he held it between his fingers. He was unsure to think of it at first. The card was a king of clubs with several numbers inscribed below the printed picture on the front.
"My card…" Gambit explained with a clever expression. "When you've got an answer, give me a call and we'll talk."
The uninvited guest waited for his host to nod before turning his back on the Professor and crossing the room. Once he was close enough, Gambit slipped through the door and was also gone, leaving Xavier to his thoughts once more. At this moment he thought of his visions, and for the moment it seemed like some of the more positive things were coming to pass already. With a contented expression he returned to his work, silently hoping that Wolverine's mission would succeed as well. The feeling of dread returned as he considered the situation, but for the moment he decided to think positively for his own sake.
Note to Readers: Well here's the second chapter… Sorry for the spelling or grammatical errors, but it was generally late when I wrote this. Tell me how I'm doing, and please read and review if you want me to continue writing this story. I haven't received much support
I said in the summary that this story would mix X-Men Evolution into the rest of the Marvel Universe, so I hope I did a decent job. I considered using someone else, but sufficed with using Kingpin's assistant from the Spider-man cartoon because he was a noted anti-mutant enemy. I was also planning on expanding Magneto's Acolytes to include more people not used in the show.