Disclaimer: X-Men: Evolution doesn't belong to me.

Chapter Nine – Ground Zero

August 1996

It was the last week of a golden summer and the streets of Bayville were more or less deserted, as everyone had flocked to the city or the beach, determined to make the most of the last rays of summer before children had to return to the day-to-day monotony of school.

Normally, Rogue would have been glad of the isolation as she hurried home – it would give her a chance to think rather than constantly worry about brushing against someone – but today she found herself wishing there were more people around.

Recently, she had begun to get a sense of impending…something. Doom sounded too dramatic, she scolded herself; she wasn't Kitty, after all. But something bad was going to happen, she could feel it.

She didn't know what and she didn't know when.

But it was coming.

Maybe it was the trip to the Redwoods Kitty had taken a few weeks previously with Dr. McCoy and some of the New Recruits, where they'd seen, first-hand, just how prejudiced some people could be.

Maybe it was the sudden presence of Pietro's sister, Wanda in the Brotherhood; no one could quite work out how she had escaped from the asylum in which she had resided for the past seven years and, when they had gone to check on her, the Brotherhood had beaten them in a fight for the very first time.

Maybe it was the fight itself; Jean was adamant that Lance had started the fight and Kitty was just as certain that he had been with her when the fight started. If it was Scott, Rogue would have brushed off his statement and agreed with Kitty, but Jean had nothing against Avalanche. Why would she make something like that up?

For that matter, why had it turned into a fight anyway? It was Wanda who had beaten them; the boys had seemed almost…reluctant. And why hadn't Tabitha been with them?

"Rogue?"

Speak of the devil. Rogue turned around, but any response was lost at the sight of her former team-mate. "My God, Tabby, what happened?"

Tabitha looked a mess; her hair was dishevelled, her clothes were dirty and her face was pale. "You haven't got anything to eat, have you?"

"Hang on." Rogue rooted through her bag and pulled out a candy bar. "Here. It's not much, but…"

"Better than nothing." Tabby finished, taking it. "Thanks."

"What happened?" Rogue repeated. "Have you been sleeping rough?"

"Sort of." Tabby muttered, not meeting her eyes. "I need to talk to someone. Wolverine or Storm or…someone."

Rogue frowned. "Wolverine's hunting down Sabretooth and Storm won't be back until tomorrow morning. I'm sure Professor X would…"

"No." Tabby cut her off. "It's not that bad; I just…I'll come by tomorrow, shall I?"

"Yeah." Rogue said slowly. "I'm sure that'd be fine. Will you be alright?"

"I'll be fine." Tabby smiled weakly. "Just be careful…and don't trust your eyes."

"Don't trust my…what does that mean?!" Rogue called after her, but Tabby didn't look back. Now what was all that about? Frowning after the younger girl for a few minutes, Rogue finally gave up on interpreting the cryptic message and continued on her way. She had barely gone a few steps when a shiver ran down her spine.

Someone was following her.

Had she been anyone else, she may have dismissed the feeling as paranoia, but she had never done that before and, like all X-Men, she had learned to listen to the little voice in her head. She spun on her heel, but the street behind her appeared completely empty. Her green eyes travelled the deserted pavement, searching for any sign of company, but she was alone; even Tabitha had since vanished round the corner.

Giving the street a last probing sweep, Rogue turned again and headed back on her way, but she still wasn't convinced. Keeping as close to the buildings as she could, she slipped in and out of shadows, changing her normal route back to the mansion, occasionally doubling back on herself to throw any observer off her trail. Because of her potential stalker, the trip through the woods seemed to take twice as long as usual, but she finally emerged into the relative safety of the lane.

Then…

"Mon dieu, chérie. I've met spies who were easier to track than you."

Rogue froze, turning slowly on the spot to see Remy LeBeau gazing down from one of the tree branches. "What do you want, Gambit?"

"Nothing from you, chérie!" Remy insisted, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Pyro asked me to give this note to his little girlfriend, but I'm sure you can get closer to her."

Rogue eyed both him and the note warily, trying to find a trick, but couldn't. "Fine." She took the note and watched him leave, refusing to turn her back on him until he had vanished into the trees.

"So you and Lance still aren't a couple?" Amara asked.

"No." Kitty sighed, tucking her hands underneath the pillow. She was lying on her stomach on the spare bed in Amara's room that had once been Tabitha's.

Amara was sat opposite her on her own bed, her back braced against the wall. "Why not?"

"I don't know." Kitty rolled her eyes. "Because he doesn't want to get me into trouble, I guess."

"And I suppose you want him to get you into trouble?" Amara guessed with a smirk.

Kitty lifted her head. "Get your mind out the gutter!"

"You didn't deny it." Amara pointed out slyly.

Before Kitty could retort, or throw something at her (which she was seriously considering), there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." Amara called.

Rogue slipped through the door. "Note for you. Hey, Kit."

"Thanks." Amara took the offered paper and read it through. As she did, her face paled and her hands began shaking.

"Amara?" All traces of earlier joking evaporated, Kitty pushed herself up and hurried to her team-mate's side. "What is it?"

The note dropped from Amara's hands and she leaned into Kitty's offered hug.

Kitty tightened her hold and scooped the note up, feeling Rogue move so she could read it over her shoulder.

Dear Amara,

Magneto's up to something; I've no idea what at the moment. I just wanted to warn you that we're unlikely to see each other again. It's probably for the best, but there's something I must tell you first. I wish I could tell you in person, but that's probably suicide right now.

When I saved you in March, I had no idea that it would lead to this, especially when I found out that you were in the X-Men (and a princess to boot; had no idea I knew about that now, did you?) but it has. I've fallen in love with you, Amara.

I have never felt this way about anyone or anything before in my life. You don't have to feel the same way, but it would be fantastic if you did; I guess none of it really matters anymore though.

I'll never forget you, my fire goddess.

All my love,

John

The next morning, as arranged, Tabitha sped towards the Institute in Lance's 'borrowed' jeep. At Mystique's return, she had promptly made herself scarce at the Boarding House, but had stayed nearby, camping in the mess they called a back yard so she could keep an eye on 'her boys'. After the fight at the mall, Mystique had vanished, but Tabitha had stayed where she was.

It all seemed too easy.

The blue-skinned woman had given the boys a hard time for never beating the X-Men and then disappeared right after they finally had?

Tabby had debated for the last few days over whether to tell the X-Men about Mystique's return; whether the boys liked working for her or not, it felt like a betrayal.

But now, against her better judgement, she was pulling up outside the gate.

Before she could get out the car, however, she noticed something very, very strange.

Amara was standing outside the front door of the mansion, dressed in her X-uniform and hammering on the front door to be let in.

Confused, Tabitha hesitated. She knew Bobby had a habit of pulling practical jokes, but this seemed strange, even for him.

Then slowly, the mouth of the statue on the fountain that stood in the middle of the sweeping driveway opened and a something began moving up and up…

Good God, it's a laser gun!

"AMARA, WATCH OUT!"

Amara spun around and dived out the way just in time as a red beam hit the spot she'd been standing in seconds before, leaving a scorch mark on the ground. Scrambling to her feet, she created a ball of fire and threw it towards the fountain.

In the same instant, Tabitha formed a handful of cherry-bombs and threw them at the gate, blowing it open. Starting the car again, she sped into the grounds, meeting Amara half-way. "Get in!"

Amara didn't need to be told twice; she jumped into the front seat and Tabitha turned the jeep sharply and drove them out of the grounds.

"What happened?!" The blonde demanded.

"I don't know." Amara answered shakily. "We'd best get Scott. The others went off to fight Magneto with the Brotherhood."

Tabitha nearly crashed the jeep. "Wait, the boys are with them?"

"Well, yeah." Amara grabbed the door. "Just remember this side doesn't have a seat-belt. I thought you said they hated Magneto; why are you surprised?"

"They may hate Magneto," Tabby agreed darkly, "but not enough to take the fight to him and definitely not enough to team up with the X-Geeks. No offence." She added as an afterthought.

"None taken." Amara assured her. "What's going on then?"

"I don't know." Tabby muttered. "Mystique showed up a few days ago."

"Well, maybe she told them to come." Amara suggested.

"Maybe." Tabby conceded reluctantly. "But that doesn't make sense either; she…did you say Scott wasn't with them?"

Amara shook her head. "Refused to work with them. He wasn't in the mansion, so I guess he must be up at the cliffs; he goes up there sometimes to think. Why doesn't it make sense?"

"Well, I got the hell out of there when she turned up," Tabby admitted, "but she went off at them about how they never beat the X-Men and how Lance actually joined you. It just doesn't make sense that she'd do all that and then say, 'Okay, now work with them'."

Amara frowned thoughtfully. "You're right. Left here."

Tabitha took the turn and pushed the speed up, hoping there were no traffic cops around. That's the last thing we need.

"There!" Amara shouted, pointing to Scott's red convertible.

Scott was sat on the hood of his car, staring out over the sea. At Amara's cry, he stood up, turning towards them as the jeep pulled in next to him.

Amara didn't bother opening the door and vaulted over it. "Scott, the mansion's gone nuts! It's gone into lock-down, the others are trapped inside and now it's attacking us!"

Scott paled. "Oh God…Switch cars, girls; I know mine's faster than that thing."

Tabitha didn't argue; as she strapped into the back seat, she told Scott about Mystique's return. "She told the boys to take Wanda to the mall; they weren't looking for a fight."

"The mall was closed." Scott pointed out. "And Avalanche started one anyway."

"Kitty said he was with her." Amara disagreed. "It's not like her to lie."

"Would you take Wanda into crowds of people?" Tabitha asked rhetorically. "Lance wouldn't have done that, Scott; he doesn't care about whatever's going on between the two teams now. All he cares about is keeping us safe and together."

Scott didn't respond, but took a sharp turning that took them a different way to the way they'd come.

"Scott, you're going the wrong way!" Amara protested, but Scott ignored her, pulling up beside a waterfall that flowed into a river that led down to the bay.

About halfway up, a large rock protruded from the cliff. Tabitha squinted up at it, sure it looked familiar. "Wait a second…Isn't that…?"

"That's the exit from the hangar!" Amara cried. "That's where the Blackbird comes out!"

"That's right." Scott confirmed. "And it's the only way in."

After that morning's disastrous training session, Jubilee had barricaded herself in her room and curled up on her bed with a good book. She knew that Bobby was annoyed at being treated like a kid again and rightly so; he's only a week younger than Scott and Jean.

When she had first discovered her powers, she had panicked. When her parents discovered her powers, she had run to the park and collapsed crying on one of the benches.

That was when she had met Bobby.

By some strange coincidence, his powers had appeared at the same time and the X-Men had picked him up in Colorado before carrying on to California, where she was.

When her parents told them that she had run, Bobby had volunteered to find her. She hadn't expected to meet her soul-mate that day, maybe just a friend.

And yet that was what he was. She knew that now.

And, as much as she liked him – love him, Jubes; you can admit it to yourself – an annoyed Bobby wasn't a fun person to be around.

Things are getting complicated. She realised, not really taking in the words in front of her. It's not a game anymore.

The fight the others had had with the Brotherhood had shaken everyone, partly because the Brotherhood had won, but the New Recruits had been the worst affected.

It was the first real fight they had experienced and they hadn't even been there. That night, Jubilee had gone to talk to Kitty about something and had found her with Jean, who was cleaning a wound on the younger girl's shoulder.

At Jubilee's gasp, Kitty had smiled and told her she'd had worse from a Danger Room session and not to worry, but the reality had come crashing home.

People could, and would, get seriously hurt.

Finally giving up on her book, she sat up and stretched, noting that a good hour had gone past and she couldn't remember anything she'd just read. That'll teach me to try reading after a Danger Room session.

Then she frowned. Her room was too dark for the amount of time that had passed. Turning towards the window, she saw the reason; the glass was covered with some kind of metal.

Foreboding gathering in the pit of her stomach, she left her room and hurried down the hall.

Now she could hear a loud, continuous thudding noise, which, she realised when she reached the staircase, was Sam, cannonballing against the door over and over again.

"What is going on?" Jubilee demanded, making her way down the stairs.

"Jubes, watch out!" Without warning, Bobby dived across the room, colliding heavily with her. They both hit the floor, but, before she could question him, a laser beam hit the carpet where she'd been standing seconds earlier.

Pushing himself to his feet, Bobby spun around and fired an ice-beam at the gun that had appeared in one of the corners. Almost immediately, a jolt of electricity fizzled over their heads and hit the corner behind them.

"Are you two alright?" Ray asked, helping Sam to his feet.

Roberto sprinted in from the rec room with Rahne and Jamie following close behind. "There's no way out!"

"Maybe not on this floor." Bobby offered Jubilee his hand and pulled her to her feet. "Alright, huddle up! We're going to split up, alright? Cannonball, Berserker, you take the top three floors. Multiple, stick with Wolfsbane and Sunspot; you three take the lower three floors. Jubilee and I will search the lower levels. If you find anything, yell; if not, meet us in the control room."

Receiving nods from everyone, he grabbed Jubilee's hand and split off for them, sprinting for the stairs.

"Why aren't we taking the elevator?" Jubilee asked. "It's quicker."

Normally, she would pull her hand from his, avoid giving him any indication that she liked him more than a best friend, but she was scared, dammit. So, instead, she tightened her grip and he responded by pulling her closer.

"Because I don't know what's in there." Bobby answered. "Come on."

As soon as they emerged into the cold, metal corridor, they were faced with adversity; three more laser guns came down from the ceiling, aiming at what they took for intruders.

Without a second thought, the two aimed and fired three times in quick succession, hitting each one in unison, finding out exactly what happened when ice and fireworks mixed.

"This place is getting way too unfriendly." Jubilee muttered.

"Tell me about it." Bobby took her hand again. "Come on. Do you think we should check the Danger Room?"

"Uh, no." Jubilee shook her head. "That's bad enough on a good day. And this is not a good day."

"Point taken." Bobby veered off down a side-corridor, pulling her after him.

Room after room, corridor after corridor…even Cerebro wasn't spared their search…they all told the same story.

They were trapped with a home that had turned into their enemy.

Finally, Bobby and Jubilee reached the doors that led to the mainframe computer.

"The control's fried." Jubilee warned, checking it.

"There's nothing that can't be fixed," Bobby disagreed, grasping one of the doors, "with brute force and ignorance." He pulled hard, but the door didn't budge. "Give me a hand here."

Taking hold of the other door, Jubilee pulled as well. Slowly but surely, they managed to prise the doors open.

It was then they realised just how much danger they were in. Directly opposite them, the mainframe computer screen held a harrowing message.

SELF-DESTRUCT MODE ACTIVATED…20 SECONDS REMAINING….19…18…17…

Jubilee could hear the others' footsteps echoing down the corridors towards them, but it seemed unimportant now. Feeling Bobby take her hand again and squeeze it reassuringly, she glanced over to meet his eyes.

"You're my best friend, Jubes." Bobby whispered. "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry about?" Jubilee demanded. "This isn't your fault."

"I don't have a plan." Bobby admitted. "For the first time, I've got no idea what to do."

"Guys?"

Without looking behind her, Jubilee reached back with her spare hand and pulled Jamie to her. "It's alright." She moved towards Bobby a bit more to let Ray pass her.

"How do we shut it down?" Ray asked.

"I don't know!" Bobby sighed. "I can't see any way to override it!"

…14…13…12…

Ray formed a ball of electricity. "We'll short-circuit it then."

"Do that and you'll blow us all to pieces."

At the familiar voice, Bobby dropped her hand and spun around. "Scott!"

Cyclops pushed through them to join Ray at the monitor. "Who did this?" He pressed a few keys and the warning message was replaced by a CCTV image of Mystique changing the security arrangements, before morphing into Professor Xavier and walking away.

Scott gritted his teeth. "Never mind. I've got my answer. Let's move!"

No one needed to be told twice.

Pushing Jamie ahead of her, Jubilee sprinted after Tabitha and Amara, who had appeared with Scott, through the hangar, dodging the missiles and projectiles being thrown at them.

Small explosions could be heard as the mainframe of the mansion began to blow.

…5…4…3

Sunlight could be seen ahead…

They were almost there…

BOOM!!!!

AN: Thanks to annam8td and Kereea for reviewing this fic so far, but out of 303 hits, that doesn't quite add up. So review please!