Chapter 45
Academy of Tomorrow...
Down below her academy Emma had her own set of levels, not unlike the ones she remembers at Xavier's. She sits in the darkness in the War Room watching over recorded footage on the large screen on the wall of everything the X-Men have been up to recently and their ally Superman. 1 week ago she made her offer to Charles and today he and his X-Men were coming. She knew Charles would come. The old fool could never resist the opportunity to try and unite mutantkind.
"Obsessing a little aren't we," a voice to Emma's right criticises lightly with a strong French accent which the person speaking has stopped hiding since there is no longer any need to.
Emma scowls slightly and turns her gaze to the figure to her right dressed in black top and black leather pants and black boots. The figure's appearance makes her look very much like her mother. "Studying my enemy," Emma counters. "A lesson I thought you would need after they defeated you...Isobel."
It's Isobel's turn to scowl and glare at the woman in white. "I did learn," she replies, still sounding bitter and sore about her previous defeat. "That's why I reconciled with my mother. That's why I'm here. To observe them."
"Just be sure they don't observe you," Emma says back.
"I'm cloaking myself. No-one outside this room can know I am here. Not even Superman," Isobel states confidently.
Emma gazes closely at Isobel. When she showed up yesterday it had been a surprise...but not an unhelpful one as Emma had desired to know more about the long lost and deceased daughter of the Black Queen. The daughter whose spirit resides in the body standing next to her. Emma wished to see if there could be an alliance between them. After all if anyone knew what Selene's secrets and weaknesses were it would be her own daughter and there was obviously less than the perfect mother/daughter bond between them. If Emma could exploit that tension to push Selene out of the way of her goals then she would take it. If Emma could get this power Superman is the key to she would take that as well...and if she can persuade Superman to join her that would be a bonus. Then Isobel would be...surplus to requirements. Emma must remember to find out how to exorcise a spirit for when this alliance, should they manage to form one, ends.
Isobel turns her gaze to the images on the large screen, some of which include her battle with the X-Men in Bayville. She had come here for a few reasons. One, to see if Emma could become an ally against her mother. Oh yes Isobel is already plotting how to get herself out from under her mother's control. Two, to spy specifically on Clark...especially because she found it odd that no-one could see he was Superman. Seriously she had discovered in her time since rejoining her mother that no-one could see it. No-one even seemed to consider the possibility that the so-called human boy living at the mansion was in fact nothing of the sort. Isobel doesn't know precisely what Clark is...yet but she'll find out.
Isobel's point is that it makes no sense that no-one can see it...unless some kind of spell had been cast that hides Clark in plain sight. It would be a clever spell. Her mother had come to the same conclusion. They had both decided not to tell anyone and keep it a secret. Why? Knowledge is power and by keeping this knowledge to themselves they held power over the others, particularly her mother's fellow members of the Inner Circle. None of them could be trusted. Isobel could feel their greed and lust for power whenever she was in their presence. Emma had the same urges but they were much better controlled and focussed. It is what potentially made Emma, apart from the fact her mother hated the woman, a good prospect for an ally. Temporary ally. After what happened with Madeleine Isobel is never trusting anyone again so 3rd reason she is here is to judge what Emma's flaws are so she can exploit them when the time comes to end this alliance, after she has gained possession of the 3 stones.
"Tell me Emma are your students up to the task we are asking of them?" Isobel queries airily.
Emma scowls lightly. That sounded like a critique on her teaching. "They have been instructed to play nice with the X-Men. Beyond that I have told them nothing in case they let their thoughts slip in the presence of Xavier or Grey. All I require is time to work my way into the X-Men's trust."
"Time is limited. My mother has little patience."
"Which is strange for an immortal," Emma remarks about someone who is over 30 centuries old(as far as Emma has been able to figure about Selene's age) that she would have so little patience. "Surely as someone as long lived as your mother would be well practised in patience," she would have thought.
"My mother bores easily. Always has. As soon as she tires of one little plaything she simply moves onto the next one. It's a character flaw...especially for an immortal," Isobel critiques her mother.
"And do you share this flaw?"
"I spent 4 centuries waiting to return to the living world Frost," Isobel says in suddenly harsh tones. "You cannot begin to imagine what that entails."
"A simple no, would have sufficed as an answer, dear," Emma says with a smile.
Isobel scowls deeply.
Emma muses about what else she can get Isobel to say in an outburst of temper. It's obviously there. Always makes the mind more vulnerable and may allow Emma a way in to what, otherwise, is a very impressively fortified mind Isobel possesses. Emma would love to know all about Selene, Superman and what this power is he is the key to as soon as she can. A beep beep sound means that will have to wait for another day. The radar has picked up an approaching craft. They're coming.
A week ago the X-Men had spent the day thinking it all over and eventually had decided that, yes, they would accept Emma's invitation and play the game with the Inner Circle. These people were coming for them anyway so they might as well play to win. Now the x-jet had flown to the coordinates Emma had given when Charles confirmed they were coming. It circles once over the academy and Spyke lets out an impressed whistle. "Wow. This Frost lady sure went all out when she built this place."
Jean's perma-scowl on all things Emma related returns. This last week she and Scott had done some talking and they were in a better place than a week ago but there was still stuff needling her like Scott's inability to see Emma for what she really is. He still seemed to hold out some hope Emma was still like the girl he use to know. God knows why he thought like that. Jean found that Emma intolerable and now, considering what the Professor has told them about the Inner Circle, Emma seems to be worse than ever.
Sitting behind Jean Kitty lets out a sad sigh. "I can't believe I like had to put off a date with Peter for this," she says forlornly. Date with Peter or playing a game of who can deceive who with the Inner Circle. Kitty knows which she would prefer. The one that involves making out. Her cheeks blush slightly as she recalls the kisses she and Peter have shared.
"No-one is enjoying this Kitty," Rogue points out. Hell, she too would rather be on a date, with Clark but they were here to play along until they could find out the reasons why the Inner Circle had turned an interest to them...and in particular, it seemed, Clark since Superman got a special invite. Rogue turns to look at her boyfriend, lost in thought, staring out the window.
Clark's face was a mask of focus. If Emma wanted Superman to come than he would come if only because she probably does not realise the full extent of his powers. If anyone was going to overhear a loose conversation it was going to be him...and on the outside chance this was indeed a trap of some sort well then his friends would need his power. Clark's thoughts drift momentarily to his mother. It had not been an easy week for her as she tried to come to terms with learning what type of man her ex-fiancé actually is.
The jet lands on the front lawn of the Academy. The Professor turns to address everyone. "Remember what we have focussed upon this last week," he reminds them of the particular training they have had to prepare for this encounter. "Keep your mental defences up at all times. Emma will not be the only telepath you have to worry about I am certain."
"How come you don't know vhat students she has?" Kurt wonders.
"Because when Emma gave me the coordinates I did try to scan this location with Cerebro. I got a null reading. Emma obviously has her school shielded."
The X-Men disembark from the jet and walk towards the main doors. As they do the doors burst open and Emma strides out to greet them, dressed in her typical uniform of white boots, tight pants, tube top that accentuates her ample curves, long white gloves and cape.
Emma smiles. "Charles. Delighted you could come," she greets him.
While being careful with his thoughts Charles returns her greeting in warm tones. "Thank you Emma. I must say this is a very impressive school you have here."
"Thank you," Emma takes the compliment. She turns her attention to the rest of the X-Men. "And thank you all for agreeing to come." Emma stops at Storm. She walks over to in front of the white haired woman. "Ororo!" she greets her former teacher. They embrace slightly and exchange air-kisses. "You're looking well. I don't think the passage of time has touched you at all," she lavishes compliments on Storm.
"Thank you Emma," Ororo says with a smile before reciprocating with a comment of her own. "You're looking extremely well and have been well I hope."
"Just the usual stress headaches brought on by my rumbustious students. I'm sure you understand."
"I'm not sure rumbustious is the word I would use to describe you Emma," Ororo teases, her smile growing.
Emma chuckles lightly at Ororo's teasing insinuation. "I was not that bad."
"You were worse," Logan says in his gruff tones.
"Oh and nice to see you too Logan," Emma says sarcastically.
Charles rolls his wheelchair round. "Perhaps a few additional introductions. This is Dr Henry McCoy."
Beast takes her hand and kisses the back of it. "Delighted to finally meet you. Charles has spoken of you in fine terms," he greets her in his cultured tones.
"Charmed," Emma says back and she seriously doubts Charles said pleasant things about her but why waste time on minutia.
"Domino," Charles introduces the next person in line.
"Nice place ya got here Fridgy Frost," Domino says, deliberately choosing a strange nickname.
Emma arches a perfect blond eyebrow at the monochrome coloured mutant woman. Domino had been one Volcana knew nothing about and Emma couldn't find anything out either. It was like the woman didn't exist...which was very curious. "Yes, quite," Emma says in reply.
"Scott and Jean you know," Charles continues.
Emma smiles widely at Scott and deliberately plants a kiss on his cheek, knowing it will rub Jean up the wrong way. "It's always a pleasure to see you Scott, darling."
Scott rubs the back of his neck. He can feel Jean's ire. Heck he can feel her glare boring a hole through him. "Hi, um, Emma. Nice place," he says in reference to the school.
Emma turns to Jean. "Grey," she says in positively frigid tones.
"Frost," Jean says back in the same spirit, her eyes narrowed in annoyance at seeing Emma kiss her boyfriend. She's almost tempted to grab Scott and kiss the life out of him to show Emma that Scott's hers now. Jean restrains the impulse.
Charles moves on quickly with the introductions before something untoward transpires between Jean and Emma. "Evan Daniels, Storm's nephew."
Emma's mood lightens as her gaze falls upon the boy. "Oh yes. Yes. I can see Vivian in you," she lightly teases although Emma had met Ororo's sister a couple of times and can see a little of her in the boy.
Evan isn't sure how to take that. His mind was barely getting over just how how hot Emma Frost looks. "Uh...thanks. I'm sure mom will be glad to hear that."
"I'm certain she will," Emma says with a coy smile.
"Katherine Pryde," Charles makes the next introduction.
Emma looks the brown haired girl over not seeing anything all that special really. "Welcome," she says formally.
"Like thanks!" Kitty says in her perpetual cheerfulness.
Emma restrains the urge to roll her eyes. Peppy people annoy her. That's why she tends to leave Tarot's teaching to others.
"Kurt Wagner," Charles moves on.
They were all in their X-Men uniforms so Kurt was his natural fuzzy blue. He waves his 3 fingered hand. "Hi," he says in a somewhat goofy manner.
"Willkommen an meiner Akademie," Emma greets him in perfect German.
Kurt is pleasantly surprised. "Sie sprechen Deutsch, Frau Frost?" he replies.
"Ich beherrsche viele Sprachen," Emma tells him. Basically she speaks many languages.
"Rogue," Charles introduces next.
Rogue has her arms folded across her chest and a sceptical gaze on the woman. Seriously who dressed like that. Only someone with absolutely no shame.
"Interesting name," Emma remarks as she takes in the Goth girl. Rogue too was a bit of a mystery. Her life was difficult to trace back and, like Domino, Emma had tried to.
"Well we don't all get lucky enough ta get born with a silver spoon in our mouth. Some of us have ta live interesting lives," Rogue sasses.
Of course. Claire mentioned Rogue was the one full of sarcastic knock downs. Emma wonders if she is vulnerable to switching sides. They would probably get along.
"And last but certainly not least, Superman," Charles introduces the last one in the line.
Emma's smile grows here as her eyes gaze over the 6 foot plus of muscled gorgeousness. She knows Charles is here but she can't help a light telepathic skimming of Superman's mind. Nothing Charles would notice...but she frowns slightly when what she detects is thought patterns that are completely...well, alien to her. She holds out her hand. "Hello I'm..."
Superman never lets her finish. "Emma Grace Frost. Father Winston, deceased. Mother Hazel. Brother Christian, deceased. 2 sisters, Adrienne and Cordellia. Owner of Frost Industries and are worth what could be deemed an obscene amount of money by some people," he rattles off a little of the research he has done into Emma this last week.
Emma is for once caught speechless.
Superman takes her still offered hand and kisses the back of it politely. "Pleasure to meet you Ms Frost. Thank you for the invitation."
Emma soon finds her voice. "Thank you for accepting it...and an obscene amount of money?"
"Some people might think that."
"Does that include you?" Emma wonders.
Superman smiles coyly. "I'm reserving opinion."
"You know a lot about me," Emma observes.
"I'm a person who tends to like knowing as much as possible. Thirst for knowledge you might say."
"Am I a person of particular interest in that quest?" Emma queries, flirting slightly.
"You are a very interesting person Ms Frost," Superman replies in stoic tones.
Emma grins. "Naturally...and please call me Emma," she requests.
"Emma," Superman acknowledges her request. "I was curious about my invitation."
"A trait we share. I was curious about you. Not many of our kind are as open about being seen as you are."
Clark doesn't correct her notion that he is a mutant. "What is the point of power, Emma, if it is not used to help those less fortunate than you or I?"
"That's an interesting idea. Perhaps we can discuss it more during your visit."
"Perhaps," Superman answers cagily.
"Also as I was explaining to Charles, with our exposure, we need to be as united as possible. If Charles and I can resolve our minor, petty, difference of opinion on a few issues I would hope that you would be an ally in the same way you are with Charles."
"I'm a friend to everyone who simply wants to live in peace and prosper to their full potential."
Well he certainly had a way with words. Emma would give him that. Also easy on the eyes. Emma would give him that too. "I'll think you'll find my views are quite similar," she says and up to a point she is speaking the truth. She certainly wishes her students to be everything they can be. The elite of the future.
"Well I do hope that is the case Emma," Superman genuinely wishes.
"As do I," Emma says, adding a light purr to her tone. "But please tell me, Superman is so formal, is there another name you go by?"
Rogue's eyes narrow, slightly annoyed at the fact that this Frost woman is flirting with her boyfriend.
Clark thinks it over for a moment before deciding he is better keeping his secrets as closely guarded as possible around Emma, considering what the Professor told them about the Inner Circle she belongs to. "Superman is fine."
Emma takes that momentarily failure in her stride and turns to address the whole group. "Now since you've been so polite to have been introduced why don't we step inside so I can reciprocate. My students have been quite looking forward to this."
"I bet they have," Jean mentally grumbles to Scott.
"Easy Jean," Scott cautions. "Remember the role we're here to play," he reminds her.
Jean steadies herself. It wouldn't do to let her dislike of Emma allow the bitch an easy way into her mind.
Emma leads them in through the main doors into the entrance hall where the Hellions are all lined up waiting in their red and black uniforms apart from one in a traditional Muslim black robe and veil.
There are a few audible gasps of surprise when the X-Men spot a certain redhead in the line.
"Firefly?" Logan exclaims.
Emma smiles slyly. "Oh yes. Of course. Claire use to be with you. I found her living in a rather rough part of Boston and offered her a more secure roof over her head," she reels off the explanation before the question is asked. "There will be plenty of time for you to all catch up as the day progresses," Emma heads off any other questions. "Now let me introduce you to my students."
Emma simply goes down the line listing their names and they give a nod of acknowledgement. "Apart from our dear Volcana we have Christopher Aaronson(King Bedlam), Buford Wilson(Beef), Sharon Smith(Catseye), Marie-Ange Colbert(Tarot), Jennifer Stavros(Roulette), Fabian Marechal-Jublin(Bevatron), Julian Keller(Hellion), Sooraya Qadir(Dust), Manuel Alfonso Rodrigo de la Rocha(Empath), Angelica Jones(Firestar), Haroun ibn Sallah al-Rashi(Jetstream)." Emma takes a momentary pause before listing the quintuplets of the Five-in-One, "Celeste, Mindee, Phoebe, Esme and Sophie Cuckoo...and saving the best for last, Monet Yvette Clarisse Maria Therese St. Croix(M) and her twin sisters Nicole and Claudette(the M-Twins)."
Well Monet did have to agree she was the best so can accept not being mentioned first.
Charles' eyebrows rise slightly. Emma had been busier than he imagined gathering together this many mutants. This is a kick for him to get cracking on a new recruitment drive.
Emma briefly introduces her staff before she claps her hands together. "Well now how about we all go on a tour," she proposes.
None of her students look all that thrilled at the idea and neither do the X-Men but they all suck it up and play the role they've been told to.
Emma points off down a corridor. "This way," she says. "And please feel free to mingle," she suggests to them. "We're here so we can become friends and hopefully one day teammates in the common cause."
Most of the people present give Emma the same look of disbelief at what she is suggesting.
"A tour sounds like a wonderful idea," Charles says, playing along. "We're ready whenever you are Emma."
Emma fakes a pleasant smile and begins to lead off with the varying mutant teams following on behind in virtually separate groups apart from the odd exception. Roulette slides her way next to Superman, lacing her arm around his elbow. "Hi!" she bats her eyelids at him. "I'm Jennifer. How about I escort you?" she proposes, suggestiveness lacing her flirtatious tones.
Rogue glares at the blond but knows she has to act cool. Superman ain't her boyfriend. Dang this secret identity stuff is annoying some days...but if the girl tries her luck Rogue swears she's draining the bitch.
Clark can feel that nervous twist in his stomach because he can practically feel Rogue's glare. He clears his throat. "That's a very kind offer," he says, trying to be polite.
"Oh I'm full of all types of offers," Roulette promises him, her voice deeply husky, her hand stroking over his bicep.
Superman gently removes her hands from his arm without seemingly being too overt about it. "What is your power?" he asks, hoping to find a topic she can't turn into a suggestive remark.
Roulette's hands are almost instantaneously back touching his arm. "I can alter the laws of probability, bestowing good or bad luck upon a target subject. Personally I prefer bad. Fits in with the type of girl I am," she says with a naughty smile and cheeky wink.
So much for not finding something she can't turn. Clark inwardly groans. He has a feeling this is going to be a loonnnggg day.
Claire briefly looks down at herself still wondering how she ever ended up being persuaded to dress in one of these Hellion outfits. That is when she feels a presence move in next to her as she walks. She doesn't even need to see who it is to know. In all actuality she was surprised it took him this long to move next to her. "Hello Logan," she says in flat tones.
"Kid...what are you doing here?" Logan asks, still trying to get his head around the fact Volcana is here and trying to work out how she ended up here.
"Choosing a place I fit in better," Claire responds to Logan's question.
"You fitted in just fine with us," Logan argues. "Do you know how much effort I put in to trying to find you?"
"I told you in my letter not to bother trying. I needed some personal space. I thought you of all people would understand," she says in accusing tones. "After all how often do you go off alone on your bike and away for some 'Me Time'?"
"Firefly...no-one blames ya for what ya did," he tries to assure her in relation to the MRD guys she killed.
Claire looks sceptical. "You're just saying that. We know it's not true."
"It is true," Logan insists.
"I killed them and I'm not sorry I did it. They deserved it," she restates her feeling on the issue. They hurt Amara. No-one hurts her best friend(maybe more than merely best friend) and gets away with it.
"And you think I have never done and felt the same? I could list a lot of scumbags I ain't sorry I buried," Logan argues, trying to get her to see that her actions don't mean she can't come back to the Institute. In fact her words and attitude means she should be back at the Institute where they can help her like the Professor has helped Logan deal with a lot of the stuff he has done.
"It's not the same," Claire insists even if that might seem illogical. "Stryker was right. I..."
Logan cuts her off with an indignant snort. "Stryker! What did he...he got in yer head didn't he," he realises. "Dammit kid that is the last man on Earth ya should be listening to."
"It doesn't matter if what he said was true...which it is."
"He's done a number of you hasn't he," Logan assesses.
"No!" Claire protests that accusation. "It is just...I...it's...I'm not talking about this. This is where I belong. End of discussion," she states coldly before speeding up and away from Logan before he can confuse her any more. Nobody did any number on her. This is her choice. This is where she belongs. Now if only she could actually convince herself totally of that her life would be a lot easier.
'This ain't the end kid,' Logan thinks to himself. Not by a long way is this the end. No way in hell is he letting Stryker succeed in messing up the head of one of his kids. He may not get through to her today but one day he'll make her see the truth. Logan swears it.
"Are you as creeped out as me?" Evan asks Kurt at a whisper as he discreetly points at the 5 identical girls.
"Ja," Kurt says in agreement because those 5 gave off major league creepy vibes.
"All this seems relatively new," Charles observes about the clean white lines of the Academy as he rolls along beside Emma. "How long has your school been up and running Emma?"
"About a year," Emma happily admits and it is genuine happiness. Emma truly enjoys teaching. It is the one adolescent dream she has never been able to dismiss.
"It is very impressive."
"I'm always impressive. Surely you remember that about me," Emma quips.
Charles chuckles lightly. "Indeed."
Down in the War Room Isobel sits, with her feet on the table, sipping on a glass of wine as she watches all of this through the security monitors. She had to confess that Emma had good taste in wines. She brings the glass up to her nose and smells the flavours. Reminds her of home.
Isobel watches as the tour continues. The slutty blond was practically throwing herself at dear old Clarkie who was doing his best to try and fend her off without being offensive. He never changes compared to Lana's memories. Always the boyscout.
Isobel truly did not believe she would learn much today. The X-Men would surely be too guarded in an initial meeting but it would be interesting to witness all the same and who knows someone might let something slip.
Isobel can be patient, unlike her mother. 400 years in a purgatory teaches you a level of patience few can match. Patience will deliver Clark into her hands and soon after him the 3 stones and once she has them...well her mother better watch her back Isobel muses to herself with a sinister gleam and dark smile.
The tour had been going on for an hour. Empath had learned what being a perverted lech gets you around Rogue. A painful limp that was not going to be simply walked off.
Emma leads them into the separate building to the side that was used for training. "And this is our gymnasium and training facility, complete with its own Danger Room, just to make you feel at home Logan," she describes what it is as she fulfils the role of tour guide.
"Thanks Frosty. You're all heart," Logan says a whole lot less than genuinely.
"That is the general consensus," Emma says with a faked innocent air.
"Hey Ms F!" Julian calls out. "How about we have a little simulation and show them how it works?" he suggests.
Emma frowns slightly at Julian's continually glib attitude and later there will be a reprimand for calling her 'Ms F' but his idea is not without merit. After all she invited the X-Men here so she could learn about them and what better way than with a little friendly contest. "A splendid idea. How about a little four on four?"
"Sound good to me," Julian says with a savage grin.
"What do you say Charles?" Emma asks him. "Shall we see how our students match up in a little friendly competition."
"Is that necessary Emma?" Charles queries back, having doubt about how friendly it would actually be.
"Aw. What's the matter? You chicken?" Julian mocks them, trying to gall them into action.
"Ya wish!" Rogue fires back, her temper already stoked by the lech who tried to hit on her.
Cyclops' eyes narrow behind his visor and he frowns. If these losers wanted to see what a real team could do he would show them. "We're up for any challenge, any time," he says.
Jean looks at her boyfriend with surprise. Oh dear god don't let this be some macho pissing contest. If so Scott is so getting a telling off when they get home.
"Excellent!" Emma says, taking Scott's words as an acceptance. Her smile grows sly here. "How about to be fair on you and to give you a sporting chance I allow Superman, who is not an official member of your team, to participate," she proposes.
Superman frowns at Emma's suggestion. Clark has a bad feeling about this.
"Oh that would be so good," Roulette enthuses, still attached to Superman's arm no matter what he tries to pry her off. Jen would love to see him in action up close...and then she would love to see him in action up close and personal with her, all alone, in her room if you get her drift.
"Well Superman, what do you say?" Emma asks him.
Superman looks to Scott.
"It's fine with me. Come on Superman lets show them what real teamwork looks like," Scott says, volunteering himself while he is at it.
Superman shrugs one shoulder and smiles thinly. "Okay," he agrees. They do have to play along he supposes.
"Pick the other two for your team Scott," Emma tells him.
"Jean," Scott says instantly.
"Well there's a surprise," Emma mutters quietly to herself with a roll of her eyes.
"And Storm," Scott picks the 4th member, one of the most powerful mutants on the planet.
"Foul!" Tarot calls. "She's not a student."
"She's a member of my team," Scott calmly counters and stares at Emma, daring her to object.
"Very well," Emma accepts. "Now my 4 picks. Hellion, Bevatron, M...and Volcana."
The shock on Claire's face is clear at being picked. Emma, however knows what she is doing. This is a test for Claire to see how she does against her old friends because if she can't do it in a simulation Emma cannot trust her to do it for real one day. She doesn't expect Claire to beat Storm. Ororo is far too powerful and too good but that's not the point. Picking Monet is obvious. To test her power against Superman. Hellion is to counter Jean and Bevatron's electric blasts is a counter to Scott. Long range fire power against long range fire power.
"Hellion be a dear and show the way down into the simulation room," Emma says.
Julian smirks, with a dark look in his eye. This is going to be good. "Sure teach."
As the 8 persons leave Emma leads the rest into the observation booth. She takes the momentary pause as they wait for them to arrive in the room to step next to the Five-in-One. "So girls what are we learning?" she asks them telepathically in a focussed thought to keep the conversation private.
"They're hiding their thoughts," the hive mind of the 5 girls reports back. "And Superman's thoughts are unreadable. His mind is completely foreign," they add on and sound uncomfortable at that fact.
Emma lightly frowns. She guesses Charles isn't as naïve as she thought and he must have prepared his students to hide their thoughts. Oh well it matters little. This is only the start. In time they will think they are forming an alliance, their guard will drop and their secrets will be revealed...and she can get Superman's from them if she can't get it from his mind directly. Then Emma's own plans can take a major step forward. She so looks forward to that day when she takes the power and position that is rightly hers.
Author's Note: I thought I might as well get an early start with Isobel's plotting to try and be rid of her mother, hence her showing up here. I chose a 4 on 4 contest because I wanted only a small, compact fight that I can keep nice, short and to the point. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; The little 'friendly' 4 on 4 between the X-Men and the Hellions as the visit to the Academy of Tomorrow continues.