Chapter 18

At the Institute...

Bobby's camera work is pretty awful. Poorly focussed, jumping around all over the place but what becomes clear as time progresses on the tape is that everyone is acting like they're intoxicated...which they've already mostly dismissed. Alcohol has no effect on Clark. It also has little effect on Logan thanks to his healing factor and it wouldn't explain the complete memory loss. Whatever affected them wasn't alcohol. It was something else but nothing they had seen so far explained what happened.

Right now Chloe has her head in her hands and is cringing at the fact that she, Lois and Wanda did a little Chippettes impression singing 'Hot 'n Cold'. Chloe can't believe Lois, next to her, is finding this funny. She is destroying this tape Chloe swears to herself. If that ever got out no reputable media organisation would hire her. It would be the end of her career.

Chloe looks up and sees herself on the film walking in a sultry pose towards the camera and Bobby as she sings to him. She guesses that might explain how she ended up in bed next to the mutant ice generator if she found him attractive in her obviously mind altered state. No way in hell does Chloe ever want to be a Chipette. She outgrew that phase when she was 3. Really she did.

Everyone else is thinking about what happens when Wanda sees herself acting like she was on this tape. They should probably be far, far, far away when it happens...or they may just value their health too much and not tell her.

After that and a few jokes from from both Peter and Domino the video jumps a little as in was turned off for a period of time and then turned back on. By whatever time it was things have changed. Lex is no longer anywhere to be seen and neither is Lana nor Wanda. The video focusses in on Ray, now dressed in a Hula skirt. There are many snickers and jokes from the watching audience. Ray, on the video, clears his throat and makes an introduction.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, Mutants of all ages please welcome, for their reunion tour, the Bayville Sirens!"

"Oh God," Jean groans as her head falls into her hands. That explains why her Sirens outfit was lying across the floor of the room she woke up in this morning. Scott places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Whatever happened it can't be that bad.

On the tape the 5 Sirens walk into the room. Jean, Kitty, Rogue, Amara and Tabby. They strike a Charlie's Angels-esque pose and the music starts.

#I'm just your sweet next-door neighbour
I do what I'm told
And I never cause any trouble
I'm so much more than meets the eye
But there's something that I keep hidden deep inside#

#Don't mess with my kind
Don't play with my mind
I'm only a girl
But I can move the world
Don't put me down
Or kick me to the ground
I'll be up in a flash
My superhuman blast#

While singing the 5 girls all dance sexily. Tabby comments abut how damn good she looks. After the 1st time the chorus is sung the girls split up and move. Jean moves to Scott. Rogue moves to Clark. Tabby moves to Sam. Kitty moves to Peter while Amara, sadly she notes to herself, moves to no-one because the only person she would dance for isn't here.

What follows next is all 4 girls dancing in a blatantly sexual manner for the 4 boys.

Watching this Scott, Clark, Peter and Sam all turn beetroot red as do 3 of the girls. Tabby just grins while Amara is sort of indifferent about it.

"Where were we?" Jonathan has to ask and he doesn't just mean himself and Martha. None of the adults can be seen by this point. Even intoxicated Jonathan is pretty certain he would have put a stop to this.

"That's an answer we don't have," the Professor has to regretfully say. It must have occurred during the part that is far too conveniently missing from what they have seen so far.

Clark watches in shamed horror at himself. He cannot believe he did that because he is dancing right up against Rogue. Her rear grinding up against his groin. He didn't even think he knew how to dance in that manner...ok well there was him under red K in Metropolis he supposes but normally he's too shy. He's pretty certain it's illegal to dance in way that is that blatantly sexual.

"Ya know," Rogue on the tape says, complaining a little about the lyrics she's singing. "Ah'm not really a girl any more. Ah'm a woman."

In response Clark nuzzles into her neck. "That's because I made you one," he says in a blatant sexual tone.

"Ya sure did sugah!" Rogue confirms. "Many, many tahmes over."

"Feel like becoming one again," Clark makes the suggestive offer.

Rogue grins a wicked, sinful smile. "Ah thought ya would nevah ask." She then grabs Clark by the hand and drags him away. "Don't wait up!" she shouts with a flirtatious wink to the rest.

The tape is paused and everyone looks at Clark who has buried his face into his hands, horribly embarrassed by what everyone knows now.

Tabby's expression is priceless and she is seeing Clark in a whole new way. "Care to explain that one CK," Tabby says barely able to contain herself at the idea that sexual exploits have been going on under her nose.

"No," Clark says in a dour tone.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later you know," Domino points out to Clark that he would be discovered.

"Wait!" Kitty shrieks, still in shock at learning her best friend has been getting some...or a lot if this tape is any indication. "You knew?" she asks Domino.

Domino smiles to herself. "Yeah. It was kind of obvious if you know the signs."

"How long?"

"Back in the woods after you guys rescued us from the dam."

"That long!" Kitty yells in disbelief

The Professor steps in at this point. "Please everyone calm down," he instructs in a stern tone. "Now I know you will no doubt have questions for Clark and Rogue but lets save them for after we have found the others."

That sobers everyone up and they all nod in agreement.

"Please restart the tape," the Professor asks. They should see it the whole way through just to be thorough.

The tape is restarted and it swings round to Jean dancing round Scott like he is a stripper pole. Scott can't believe just how sexy Jean can move. He is getting a little turned on. He needs to watch that.

If Jean thought she couldn't get more embarrassed here she is. Unfortunately it is about to get worse.

On the tape Jean giggles and wraps her arms around Scott's neck as she grinds up against him. "You know Rogue's not the only woman around here is she stud?"

On the tape Scott grins. "Definitely not. You're all woman Red."

"Thanks to you."

The tape is stopped again and now everyone looks at a very embarrassed Jean and Scott.

"Oh ho!" Tabby proclaims in delight, grinning, at what could be the greatest day of her life. "Well now we're just learning all the dirty little secrets today aren't we. So come on Jean spill. When did this start?"

"I am not talking about it," Jean states bluntly, her face as red as her hair. Scott's face matches hers perfectly.

Domino decides to fill in the details and answer Tabby's question seeing no reason not to. "Same time as Clark and Rogue in the woods."

"I don't believe it!" Kitty says in total shock at how she missed both Jean's and Rogue's exploits and complete astoudment at the fact Jean did that. Rogue, yeah, at a push but Jean and Scott? Kitty thought they were far too uptight to do that sort of thing. "How did you manage to keep this a secret?" Kitty asks her friend Jean, whom she is thinking, a little miffed, is not as good as friend as Kitty thought she was if she kept that a secret from Kitty.

Lois snorts. "They weren't that good at it. Me and Smallville caught them trying sneak out a room this morning," she relays to everyone.

"Lois we will talk later," Tabby promises to her new friend because Lois was great. She was a whole bundle of fun from what Tabby can remember of yesterday. "But someone press play!" she demands. "Lets see what other juicy bits of info we can learn!"

"Be careful what you wish for," Amara mutters quietly because Tabby has her own secret in relation to Sam.

The tape is restarted. Jean and Scott follow Clark and Rogue in departing the party. Best guess for that room they found themselves in when they woke up this morning.

The camera shifts to Kitty and Peter. Peter sitting down and Kitty giving him essentially a clothed lap dance.

"Oh my god," Kitty says in a horrified whisper. She places her hands over her face but has to peek through her fingers just to see the disaster of Titanic proportions.

On the tape Kitty sits down on Peter's lap and wraps her arms around his neck. "So what about you Pete? Want to make a...dishonest woman of me?" she asks him in a deeply bad girl tone.

Kitty's eyes widen in horror that she, the sweet girl next door, would just ask Peter to punch her V-card.

On the tape Peter's lips curve up into a bad boy smirk that makes the him here and now shiver in revulsion where he stands as it reminds him too much of when he was under the influence of the symbiote. 'Oh please God don't let me have done something else terrible?' he mentally asks of the Almighty.

On the tape Peter then kisses Kitty deeply, his hands roaming over her leather clad frame. "Well you wouldn't be the first girl in black leather I've made a dishonest woman out of."

'Oh Jesus!' Peter swears in his head. For once this morning he had been mostly quiet, by his standards, apart from the occasional joke. Now he is rendered into complete silence. He really hopes he didn't take Kitty up on her offer because that would just be beyond low.

On the tape Peter continues. "And I would be more than happy to make a dishonest woman out of you...after we date a little."

"You asking me out?" Kitty wants to know.

"A smart, hot chick like you? That's a no brainer. That guy who dumped you was obviously the world's biggest moron. I would date you in a second so yeah I'm asking you out."

"I accept!" Kitty announces merrily. "Now just sit there and let me give you a taster of what dating me means!" She then kisses Peter and they proceed to make out. "Hmm. Warm me up Pete," she murmurs in sultry tones.

Peter's eyes widen slightly. That's what Kitty said in her sleep this morning. Maybe a subconscious remembrance...although Professor Xavier said the memories are there, only blocked. He raises a hand to his head and blows out a breath. One of relief that he didn't cross the line and screw Kitty's life up. He mentally thanks God for once not screwing him over. He glances over at Kitty who glances back looking shy and more than a little embarrassed. Peter knows the feeling.

"Come on Mara. Join the party!" Tabby's voice on the tape can be heard and the camera is swung round as Tabby pulls Amara over to Sam where both proceed to dance around him.

"Dude that is so unfair," Evan complains in a whisper to Roberto sitting next to him. So far they hadn't been any images of girls dancing over him.

"I know," Roberto says in agreement.

Sam just goes a deeper shade of red. What would his momma think if she saw her son acting like this?

"When I'm your girlfriend Sammy this will be just a taste of the good stuff I can bring!" Tabby on the tape promises as she playfully nibble's on Sam's ear.

"Told you," Amara mumbles at being proven right.

Sam looks at Tabby wide-eyed. Did she just say she wants to be his girlfriend?

Tabby laughs a litter nervously for her. "Lets talk about that later. You know after we find the others," she says because yes she wanted to become Sam's girlfriend. However this was not how she planned it.

"Oh now you don't want to talk about it," Jean grumbles because when it was her Tabby couldn't wait to hear about it. Hypocrisy anyone?

The rest of the tape is full of more singing, more dancing. At some point it seems practically everyone joined in the fun giving everyone their small moment of embarrassment.

Kurt and Amanda get their turn to cringe in embarrassment when they get caught on tape making out heavily in the corner giving Tabby more ammunition for teasing later. As for their missing clothes Kurt and Amanda found them in Kurt's room so at least they get to avoid explaining where they woke up this morning.

The tape in the end, while revealing many embarrassing acts, it, however, does not reveal what happened to the 3 missing girls or explain the memory loss...or so it appears on the surface.

After the tape is finished the Professor goes to help Hank with Cerebro while everyone else really just has to hang around until they get a lead. For quite a few people that leads to awkward silences as they try to absorb what they witnessed themselves doing on that tape.

"I still don't see how I ended up out in the pool," Roberto points out.

"I don't see how I ended up in a bathtub of baked beans," Domino replies. "Oh...those are still there by the way," she suddenly remembers and announces.

"Grab a bucket," Martha says to her. They'll have to get that cleaned up.

"Me?"

"You have something better to do?" Martha asks her, with a raised eyebrow, daring Domino to contradict the fact that until Cerebro is going Domino doesn't have anything to do really.

Domino opens her mouth but the stern expression on Martha's face stops her. Now there's a women you don't mess with Domino decides...which makes her respect Martha all the more than she already does.

Logan finds that a little amusing but he is also angry and confused about Rogue and Wanda being missing and the circumstances of where he woke up this morning. Until Chuck finds something he's going to wreck a few things in the Danger Room.

Clark is a little relieved that, at least, he did nothing 'super' on the tape. He goes over to speak to Lex. "We'll find Lana, Lex," he promises.

Lex frowns. Something is wrong about this but he can't quite put his finger on it. "Clark how did we end up here?"

"What do you mean?"

"In this place where we seem to barely know each other any more."

Clark sighs and stuffs his hands into his pockets. "Time passes Lex. You have your life in Smallville running your company while mine ended up here."

"Yes. Here...living with mutants."

Clark's eyes narrow slightly. "Lex please don't tell me you've joined your father in hating mutants," he almost pleads.

"Hating mutants no? But my father wasn't wrong in that some method of controlling mutants is required. After all don't your friends have to obey the law?"

"They do obey the law."

"But for arguments sake lets say they don't. With their powers what jail exists that can hold them? You can't stand there and say that facilities to hold mutant criminals don't need to be created."

No Clark can't stand here and say that. "Those things are for the government to decide and legislate on Lex. Not for one person to go on a mutant hunting rampage," he argues, making the best point he can.

"Ah back to my father."

"I know he's free."

"Of course you do. Your friend...what do the press call him now? Oh yes. Superman. He told you right."

"Yes."

"Did he tell you he almost killed me?"

"He was under the control of someone else. It wasn't his fault."

Lex chuckles sadly at Clark's naivety. "Still so willing to believe in people aren't you Clark?"

"Most people," Clark corrects.

"Back to my father," Lex assumes.

"Lex what are you doing with him?" Clark asks in reference to Lionel. "I know you don't like nor trust your father."

"I can't go into that."

Huh. And people accuse Clark of keeping secrets. Lex has been no better over the years Clark has known him.

"Did you notice Lana on the tape?" Lex suddenly asks.

Clark is a little caught out by the sudden change of subject. It seems Lex doesn't want to talk any more about his father. Clark replies to Lex's question, after a short pause, "A little. She seemed to stay to the edges up to the point where you and she seem to disappear."

"I noticed that too...and also she didn't seem quite as intoxicated as the rest of us."

Now that Lex mentions it Clark can't argue that he's wrong. "Lex you suspect something don't you," Clark guesses.

"Lana's not been quite...right since she returned from Paris. She's been acting a little odd." Not to mention the fact she got that strange tattoo on the small of her back but that's not important information that Clark needs to know about Lex determines.

"Odd how?"

"It's hard to describe. Just not quite herself. Almost as if it is someone pretending to be her."

"Could it be?"

Lex looks at Clark oddly.

Clark shrugs. "Uh...well you know I live with mutants. We deal with shape-shifters," he explains why he asked that question. "Not to mention Tina Greer," he says in reference to the girl back in Smallville who impersonated Lex once.

"After Miss Greer I took measures to ensure that the people around me are who they claim they are. Lana is Lana."

"How do you...did you test her?" Clark asks, appalled that Lex would do that.

"It was a simple swab," Lex plays that off lightly, giving away the fact he did a DNA test. "I do what is necessary Clark. I thought living here would have taught you something."

"It did. That people with powers are just people and more over are good people who are my friends."

"Still trying to see the best in people aren't you."

"I try...although some times they can make that very hard," Clark accuses Lex of doing that exact thing by his actions. Clark cannot believe Lex is so paranoid he would test Lana just to make sure she was Lana.

"Clark what are you doing at this school?" Lex just comes out and asks him directly.

"You know what. We explained it to Congress. We bumped into the Professor and wanted to help him."

"That simple huh?"

"Sometimes it is Lex but people by nature sometimes think there is always something more. That's why you get all these conspiracy theories about historical events. I'm here for exactly the reasons I and my parents said we're here and I hope you'll see why I consider my friends good people when they rescue Lana from whatever it is that has transpired here."

"We'll see Clark. We'll see," Lex says in a flat tone, not showing any true belief in Clark's assurances. He's only going along with this for now because Professor's Xavier's mutant finding machine is his best chance of finding Lana and Lex does genuinely care for Lana. That's why he tested her to make sure nothing had happened to her.

Lex will give these X-Men a chance but should they fail...then he might have to take more extreme measures himself.

"You're concerned," Hank comments at the Professor's expression as they work together to get Cerebro up and running. Hank is under the control panel at the moment.

"I am," Charles confirms. "We have no idea really of what transpired for a 17 hour period. We have no idea what any of us may have done or what was done to us." Not to mention his deep concern for the 3 missing girls.

Hank must admit he shared the worry. None of it made sense and as a scientist he has an intrinsic need for events to have a logical order to them. Hank continues his work trying to rewire Cerebro to work with jury-rigged parts he put together.

The delay in the proper parts being delivered had been becoming an irritation. They kept getting excuses about why everything was delayed. If one was suspicious one might think it was being done on purpose possibly because they're mutants.

Hank makes the last connection and the control panel lights up. He moves to it and checks the readings. One or two worrying power spikes. "It's working but I would keep it to minimal power," he advises.

Charles nods and places the helmet upon his head.

"Are you sure about this Charles? In this condition if there is a power spike you are risking severe brain trauma," Hank worries about his old friend.

"It must be done," Charles says with determination. He turns Cerebro on, closes his eyes and concentrates.

Hank monitors the power readings constantly in case he has to shut it down. He flinches every time there is a small power spike fearing it won't settle back down.

Charles' mind expands outward. Cerebro, at its simplest, is a giant amplifier of his telepathic powers. His mind reaches across Bayville as he filters out the extraneous noise of the minds he isn't trying to find.

He finds the minds of the most of the Brotherhood down-town in a group and there are the 2 girls. Rogue and Wanda are with them...although their brain patterns seem...suppressed?

Charles removes the helmet and takes a moment to refocus. He hears the door open and senses Scott walk in.

"Professor!" Scott says, sounding agitated.

"Yes Scott?"

"It's the Brotherhood. They're on the news wrecking the shopping district down-town," Scott reports.

Charles frowns and turns round to face the leader of the X-Men. "This may be related to what has occurred with us."

"How?" Scott asks at that.

"Because I found that Rogue and Wanda are with them."

Scott's expression becomes puzzled. That doesn't make sense...just like this entire morning so far.

"Get the X-Men suited up Scott. We have to stop the Brotherhood and find out what has happened to Rogue and Wanda."

"Yes Professor," Scott replies, instantly slipping into leader mode, before he turns to go gather the others together. While Scott was not fond of violence the fact they had a mission of a sort was a relief. It gave him something to focus his attentions on rather than just the confusion and purposeless sitting around most of this morning so far has been.

"Hank I'll need you to stay here and keep Cerebro working," Charles asks of his friend because he'll need to use it remotely from the Velocity.

Hank nods, wishing to go and help but understanding his skills are needed more here for the moment.

Trying to get down-town turned out not to be entirely simple when Lex showed up down in the lower levels where the Velocity was kept demanding to go with them. One question that hit them was how the hell Lex managed to get down here since the elevator is locked with a code.

The Professor tries to calmly rationalise with Lex. "I appreciate you are concerned about Miss Lang," he says first off, guessing what it is that is driving Lex. "But this is a critical situation and we are going to have enough on our plates without adding an unfamiliar element to the scenario."

"Nicely put," Lex commends the Professor for his use of language. "However I am coming with you," he insists strongly.

Charles rubs his brow in frustration. It had already been a trying morning and he didn't need to waste more time arguing with Lex Luthor.

Clark is here watching on. He too was frustrated because with Lex around he couldn't find an excuse to vanish to go be Superman and go down-town. However Lex may have given him a way around that. Clark makes his way over to Jean who is at the bottom of the ramp to the Velocity and whispers to her. "You know if Lex goes, me and Peter could help," he points out because then Lex wouldn't be around to notice their absence. Amanda, Paul and Taryn knew who Clark was and as for Peter...well they could think of something to say. Lex is too smart and too canny not to see through paper thin lies.

Jean looks at Clark sceptically. She could see his point but still. "Clark...that's not a great idea," she has to caution for the same reasons the Professor was still trying to argue with Lex about.

"I know...but if he promised to stay on the helicopter with the Professor that would minimise the danger he could get into," Clark suggests. "At least send it to the Professor...please," he asks her because without that Clark is struggling to find a way to help Rogue without blowing the months of effort his friends have put in to protect his identity.

Jean sighs and relents only because she knows how worried Clark must be about Rogue. She closes her eyes and telepathically sends Clark's suggestion to the Professor.

Charles hears it and can see that might work. He makes the proposal to Lex. "If you come you must do what we ask no questions asked. No debate," he lays out the terms that are not up for discussion.

Lex agrees because he has to go. This is partially his fault. He knew Lana was acting odd yet he came here anyway...only Lex still can't remember how Lana managed to talk him into that. He is pretty certain when she first proposed it he was all ready with numerous reasons to refuse but they all melted away in the face of...well that's the bit Lex can't remember.

Lex passes Clark on the way on board the helicopter. "You're not coming?"

Clark puts on the act for Lex's benefit, pushing his glasses up his nose. "No."

Lex looks surprised. "Clark Kent who always seemed to dive in back in Smallville no matter what is not going to save his girlfriend?"

Clark tries to remain calm. "If you're trying to imply I'm not worried Lex or don't care you're wrong. I'm worried out of my mind for Rogue...but I trust in my friends to save her just like I said for you to trust them. I would only get in the way."

Ok that does not sound like the Clark Kent Lex remembers at all but there isn't time for a debate. Lex gets on the helicopter and as soon as everyone is on-board it takes off for down-town Bayville. As soon as it is gone Clark vanishes in a blur of motion and changes into his costume.

He comes to a stop next to a certain red and blue clad webslinger on the roof. Peter had been waiting for the signal to go.

"You sure you want to help?" Clark asks Peter. "It's not really your fight."

"What are friends for?" Peter asks back. He was not...never going to standby and do nothing when innocent people are in danger.

"I can't believe you brought your costume along," Clark has to remark that Peter brought it to a party.

Peter shrugs. "One thing I have learned so far in this hero biz is when you least expect something to happen it invariably does."

"And it did."

"I think my point is made."

Normally Clark would love to banter with Peter a bit more but they need to get going. He has to find Rogue. He picks Peter up and leaps high into the air over the fence before as soon as he lands blurring off in the direction of down-town Bayville.

Down-town Bayville is chaos as the Brotherhood, all of them, bar Mystique and Haze, are causing destruction in every direction.

Clark comes to a stop atop a rooftop and deposits Peter down. Peter takes a moment to let his stomach catch back up. No matter the fact he swings at perhaps 60mph through New York the speed Clark moves at takes a lot of getting use to.

"Is it me or do they just seem to be instigating random violence?" Clark asks Peter as he surveys the sight below.

"You noticed that too huh?" Peter says wryly.

"Seems to be just to draw attention," Clark observes.

"Yep. All they're missing is the big 40 foot neon sign saying 'Trap'," Peter jokes, pointing out how obvious a lure this is.

"Well I would hate to disappoint them by not showing up."

"Ah the glamorous life of a superhero," Peter mock praises. "Where we get to walk into traps so obvious it would make comic book writers blush."

"Well there's also the protecting of the public."

"That too," Peter agrees.

"The X-Men will be here in a couple of minutes," Clark informs Peter.

Peter rubs his hands together in anticipation. "Shall we?"

"After you," Clark offers.

"You're too kind," Peter remarks. "Tally ho!" he shouts, in a poor English imitation accent, as he leaps over the edge, fires a webline and Spider-Man swings into action.

Clark shakes his head in amusement and chuckles before he bends his knees and pushes off after Peter. The thing that is bothering him, beyond this being a set-up, is that there is no sign of Rogue or Wanda despite the Professor saying they were here. He wonders where they are and how they are being hidden from his senses.

Since they got here this morning the Brotherhood have been acting as they were instructed to by their Countess and that was just to create general mayhem knowing the X-Men would come. Neutron was having a ball, laughing joyously as he throws one of his energy balls into a shop causing a loud explosion. Why Magneto never allowed him to do this he doesn't know but all that has changed now with them working for the Countess.

Plastique was wandering along the sidewalk brushing her fingers over anything she happens to walk by. Fire hydrants, mail boxes, rubbish bin, street lamps. Several seconds later they explode after the charge Plastique imparts into them. This was fun she has to admit. Not as much fun as getting revenge for her father but fun nonetheless and the Countess had promised her her vengeance in time so Plastique will simply enjoy herself for the moment.

Toad's powers are not the most destructive by nature but helping himself to some goods from the shattered shop windows was on his resume. Perhaps if he gets some swanky clothes he can impress Wanda. Toad just knows there is some way to her heart.

Puzzler, standing in a form that resembles pure silver, raises her hand and jigsaw shaped pieces of herself detach and she wills them at a parked car. The shoot through it as if razor hot metal peppering it with holes. The Countess told her that she can make herself useful to Magneto if she shows him what she can do and Puzzler wants to impress Magneto, the closest thing she has to family left in this world, so listen to the Countess she will.

Avalanche clenches his fists and focusses his power as he tears up the main street bursting water mains, gas lines and power cables as he does so. The Countess had told him he was special and that Kitty was a fool for not seeing how special he was. Well Lance would show Kitty what she missed out on and in doing so prove himself to his Countess.

Quicksilver zips about and around innocent shoppers caught up in this rampage. He wasn't looking to hurt them really. Just have a little fun with them which he was. He comes to a stop, looks on at what they have done so far and smiles. The Countess will be pleased. It can only be a matter of time until the x-geeks show up just as she planned...and then they will defeat them for her. As for the police...well the wreckage of the first two cars they sent down here is plenty evidence of how truly pathetic humans are. When more come they'll just crush them too.

Pietro's gaze turns to Blob as the large mutant emerges from a convenience store, guzzling a tub of tutti frutti. Fred literally pours it down his throat before tossing away the carton followed by a large loud belch.

Fred wipes his mouth using the back of his hand. The Countess had promised him he could take and eat whatever he wanted and so far she seems to have lived up to her word so Fred will live up to his and cause chaos. He picks up a car someone abandoned when they were unlucky enough to run into the Brotherhood.

Fred raises the car above his head and prepares to throw it...only to find it resisting. He looks up to see the car snared by a series of webs. A red and blue clad figure spins through the air and lands on the roof of the car.

"Whoa there big fella! If you're going to transport something about, someone of your generous girth needs a 'Wide Load' sign."

Fred's face screws up in puzzlement. Is this guy making fun of him?

"It's Spider-Man yo!" Toad exclaims in surprise at seeing the hero in the flesh.

"Spider-Man?" Spider-Man says in surprised excitement. He looks around. "Where? Where?"

"Are you nuts?" Avalanche asks, completely befuddled at the way Spider-Man acts.

"I ask myself that every day." They all look up as Superman floats down serenely to land softly on the ground. He then looks around at the destruction of the shopping district. "Let me guess. They wouldn't give you a refund," Clark dead-pans.

Spider-Man places a hand to his head. "Man I hate it when they do that. I mean it was so not a curry stain. I swear I never wore that shirt once!"

Peter's spider sense suddenly flares and he leaps into the air, flipping head over heels over what looks like to him a silver jigsaw piece before he lands gracefully exactly in the same spot he took off from. He watches the piece fly through the air in a circle until it merges back into a completely silver-looking girl. Well that was a new one to him. "Let me guess. You're amazing at jigsaw puzzles. I wish I was. I'm still trying to complete this one I got in the 3rd grade. Hey do ya think you could help out this friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man?"

"How about we put a friendly hurtin' on you instead," Neutron sneers.

"I might have to pass on that one but thanks for the offer. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know that people care."

"I don't care!" Neutron snaps. "Because of you I ended up in jail!"

"Really?" Spider-Man questions that.

"You don't remember!" Neutron rages at the fact he has been forgotten so easily.

"Dude I put 2-3 people a night in jail. You're going to have to narrow it down a bit."

Neutron growls and summons a ball of radiant energy into his hand. Clark zips in front of him. "I would advise against that," he says sternly. "Remember what happened last time."

"Oh I remember," Neutron assures Clark. "I remember how I will make you pay."

"You have no idea how many times I hear that," Clark says with a mocking roll of his eyes but it is true. He hears that from the people he stops all the time.

"Tell me about it," Spider-Man says in agreement.

"Why are we just standing around talking?" Blob asks, scratching his head in confusion, wanting to pound something.

"Because they're delaying us until the X-Men arrive," the realisation suddenly hits Lance.

"And you guys are only figuring this out now?" Spider-Man queries in disbelief that it has taken them this long.

"Yep. I think Pietro there will have to rename himself Slowsilver," Clark quips.

"That does it!" Pietro's temper snaps. He charges in at Clark aiming a punch but the distance between them isn't enough for Pietro to accelerate fast enough to prove if he is actually faster then Clark giving the alien teen enough reaction time to dodge the blow. Pietro being completely off balance falls flat on his face.

"Wow you almost got me," Clark mocks.

Pietro snarls with rage, gets back to his feet and charges at Clark once more...who once more dodges, leaves his foot out causing Pietro to trip over and fall down once more.

"Ooh I think I felt the air move that time," Clark continues to mock.

Spider-Man points and laughs at the scene. "Better than a roadrunner, Willy E Coyote cartoon."

Clark smirks. "Beep. Beep," he says in an impression of the roadrunner.

At this even a few of Pietro's team-mates can't stop themselves sniggering at the sight.

"Can we get back to getting them!" Pietro shouts at his team-mates.

"Finally!" Neutron shouts with glee, pulling his hand back and preparing to thrown an energy ball...only for a crimson red beam to slam into him knocking him over.

Clark and Peter's distraction and delaying had worked as the X-Men arrive on the scene lining themselves up. Superman zips to stand with them while Spider-Man, leaps, swings, and somersaults to a land next to Kitty who can't help but take a moment to be impressed at how agile and flexible he is...and how great he looks in that costume.

The Brotherhood form up into a line opposite the X-Men.

"Took you guys long enough to show up!" Pietro yells, trying to insult them.

Cyclops steps forward as leader to ask the obvious question. "What's this about Pietro? What's Magneto up to?"

"My father has nothing to do with this!"

Cyclops' gaze never wavers even if puzzlement touches his brow. Like Clark and Peter, he figured this was a trap too, judging from the news footage, but if Magneto wasn't setting them up who was?

The Brotherhood step back, creating a parting in the middle of the street, and they stand either side as if lining it.

Everyone looks on puzzled. Clark's brow furrows deeply. "You hear that?"

"Hear what?" Dom asks

"Footsteps," Logan answers, as his sensitive hearing picks it up.

"Ja," Kurt says in agreement. "3 pairs. High-heeled boots I vould say."

They all peer closer when the air in-between the Brotherhood starts to shimmer, like a heat haze. Then 3 blurry figures start to appear, walking towards them. Eventually the images clarify into Lana, Wanda and Rogue all dressed in black dresses, with high-heeled boots on their feet.

"Oh come on!" Spyke complains at the sight "Seriously? We're doing this again?" he asks, the incredulity his tone all too clear.

"That's like so old," Shadowcat agrees with Evan's complaint.

Spider-Man raises his hand. "For those of us not fluent in mutant speak?" he queries.

"Mind control," Storm says in an eerily calm tone. "They're under some form of mind control."

"Which happens to us worryingly often," Superman fills in while dreading what comes next. What comes next is fighting is the girl he is in love with...and he can't argue the mind control part because Rogue would never be caught dead wearing a dress like she has on now.

"Jean?" Cyclops queries from his girlfriend who has her right hand to her head as she concentrates.

"I can't get in. I'm being blocked," she reports at her attempts to penetrate the minds of their friends and shut them down so as to avoid having to fight them.

Lana laughs with a haughty tone. "Don't waste your time mind-walker," she dismisses what Jean is attempting. "You're nothing but a rank amateur who is out of her depth," she then insults Jean.

Jean frowns annoyed.

Cyclops steps forward. "Lana," he addresses her. "Whoever is controlling you, however they are doing it you can fight them. Rogue, Wanda, if you can hear me, fight whatever is being done to you."

Lana, Wanda and Rogue all smirk. "Pretty speech," Lana compliments him. "But you have no idea what is going on here," she says darkly. "My Brotherhood! Destroy them!" she commands.

The Brotherhood step forward ominously toward the X-Men.

Scott inwardly groans. Here they go again. "Try not to hurt Wanda, Rogue and Lana too much," he requests.

"Not hurt them?" Evan exclaims. "Do you remember what Wanda did to us last time we fought her?" he asks Scott.

Sadly Scott remembered all too well the beating Wanda single-handedly delivered upon them. "It's never easy," he grumbles. He takes a breath before ordering, "X-Men! Ta..."

Before Scott can finish that there is a cough interrupting him. He looks to its source; Spider-Man who has his head cocked to one side as if expecting something.

Clark moves over and whispers in Scott's ear what to say.

Scott closes his eyes briefly and starts again. "X-Men...and Spider-Man!"

"Thanks. My fans expect a minimal amount of name dropping," Spider-Man appreciates.

"Smart-ass punk," Logan grumbles under his breath.

Scott can tell he is going to have an enormous headache by the end of the day. He decides to just point at the Brotherhood and issue the command. "Take them down!"

Author's Note: So many little secrets revealed. The lives of quite a few people are not going to be fun once this is over. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; We find out what happened to Mystique and Haze and Isobel's true intent in orchestrating this conflict is revealed.