Disclaimer: Don't own X-Men and the OCs are owned by their respected owners.

X-Men: Retaliation

Chapter Eight: The New Brotherhood

-The *New* Brotherhood House-

Marcos and Sean heaved a breath as they landed in the Brotherhood House, they climbed out of the outlet. Marcos shook off the electricity that ran through his body while Sean was trying to get the static out of his clothes. They turned and gazed around the house. Unlike in days past where the Brotherhood House was a pigsty, the new home actually was clean. Aria ruled over it with a heavy hand. She had spent a lot of her life in the sewers and before that in medicine reeking labs of The Institution. She had a scarred past and now she wanted something clean and homey. The Brotherhood welcomed her in with open arms when she got out of rehab. Sean and Marcos had gotten out three months earlier than her because of good behavior which was surprising since the both of them were always fighting over something. They had all gotten out over two years ago but they wanted to keep a low profile until they would strike and then an opportunity arose that attracted them. It was Eric and Camlin's baby. They wanted to kidnap her and hurt the X-Men from the inside…but that was only step one.

"Did you guys get the little reign of terror?" Aria asked, propping her feet up on the table. The old, blue radio she used to listen to police codes through was now retired, sitting on a side table for décor. Aria was a force to be messed with because she could translate anything on the fly. She was in tune with face and body emotions, even telling the person's actions by what they were doing in a split second. They said nothing as Sean gazed at his hair which was burnt on the ends.

"You look like you just ate some vegemite for the first time, mate." John said standing in the shadows. Pyro who was new to the group had joined when he heard there was a new Brotherhood. He was a unique fellow and that was all she could say. She even had to set up rules in the house for everyone's sake. They had to get a fireplace so he wouldn't burn the house down when he was on one of his fire rants. At one point, Marcos and he got into a battle which wasn't fun at all. She had to throw them out of the house before everything was fried with electricity or fire. Sean just sat there the whole time quiet.

"No, we couldn't get her. They have too many people in the house protecting the little gruesome thing. She singed my hair!?" Sean said irritatingly.

"Wait are you saying she has some fire power?" Pyro grinned. "Now that I can work with." Aria stood up glaring at the buffoons. They bunch of them weren't even that complicated to translate and intercept. Sean was the only intelligent one in the bunch but he left his brooding thoughts to himself, silence his golden friend. The only thing that came out of Sean's mouth every now and then was snarky comment about everyone's flaws which got on Aria's nerves. Aria knew that he was a loner and that he really didn't care what the Brotherhood or anyone for that matter thought of him. Aria, however, appreciated that he took his job as a member of The Brotherhood seriously unlike the other jokesters in the gang.

"You all are just idiots. Do I have to do everything myself?" Aria groaned slapping her face in misery. The group she had put together was useless. Napier and Ian still had another month to go for rehabilitation since they were acting up every other day. They were all senseless idiots. She needed RJ but there was no way he was coming back into this mess. No way. He had even turned against her his friend when she was locked up.

"I am calling in a few people I know. If any of you talk I will cream you all." Aria yelled at the three guys standing about the room. She walked over to the telephone as she sadly observed the room. Sean just sat there stunned as he lifted his burnt hair and hoodie; Marcos was talking to himself about his nemesis, Eric, who she had never heard the end of. John…was just being John. There was a knock at the door. She put the receiver down, sighing. She shrugged going to it and opened it up…to be very surprised.

There before her were two people she never expected to see.

"Hello, you were about to call?" Pietro said. Wanda, his sister was behind him.

"I'm impressed. They let you out early?" Aria said. Wanda brushed by her and sat down on the couch. Pyro's eyes lit up. Wanda glared at him. Pyro stayed where he was.

"We weren't in there for long. So you are Aria Hawkins?" Pietro said, trying to size her up. Aria crossed her arms in response.

"Yes. That's Sean and Marcos. You know John." Aria commented pointing to everyone.

"They will never know what hit them."Pietro laughed. Aria smiled for the first time in a long time. She knew she had something to smile about now when her team was just starting to come together. Next, they would recruit and take away from the large manpower the X-Men already had on them. She moved to dresser where a state of the art police scanner sat on top of it. She cracked her knuckles and began to turn the dials finding the channel where a lost, hopeless mutant would be cornered by police officers.

-The New (Yet to be named) Jet-

"Oh my gosh! They have the classic flavor Almond Swirl Blast!" Richard gasped as he pulled out a pint of the beloved ice cream. Eric glanced back at the pint reminiscing about the old days. Marina and Eric's eyes met across the new jet as they remembered the gang; Camlin, Coralie, him and her, Mark, and Grace. They had all been friends and newbies long before everyone else was recruited to the team. It had been ten plus years together for them. They had been to the mall, gotten in enough trouble, and always ended every week with a stop by Creamy Goodness Parlor for their flavor of the week (well, mostly because Camlin dragged them along to try it). Marina bit her lip to keep herself from crying when she remembered Grace. It still made her emotional when she thought about her fallen comrade. She had to stay strong for the others, there were students who looked up to her. She had to be strong for them.

"Do you guys want to give suggestions for naming the jet? Volt? Firewall?" Storm said noticing their sadness as she put the jet on autopilot so she could turn and face them. Laura and Richard were having fun in the back with all of the new additions that were in the jet. Marina hardened her mask and intently looked up at her. Eric stared blankly for a moment lost in thought and then snapped back into focus.

"I have nothing." Marina said. They both looked at Eric.

"Don't look at me X-Jet, Blackbird; what else can we call a black jet with a silver X on the side. I, mean, really?" he replied. They laughed. Storm turned back after the two of them seemed to be in a happier demeanor. Those two were more mature and experienced then the other recruits, sadly with experience in the X-Men, the happiness and joy begins to fade with time…as comrades were lost. She held back her own memories of past comrades and turned back to drive the jet again. They were almost there.

-Chicago Downtown-

Olivia was running down one of the streets as the sirens blared by her. She quickly turned into an alleyway and sprinted towards her destination. She slowed down, recognizing the abandoned building. Jumping on top of a dumpster, she broke a window and slipped into the dark, damp building. She was a bit rusty on her training since she was left to raising Hope whom she loved. She was adopted into a family after her mother died and she was so grateful. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to fight the guy. She didn't want to accidently go blind or deaf.

She heard a sound out of the corner of wide, spacious room. She glanced over and saw a tall boy with shaggy brown hair. He defensively lifted his fists, looking calmer and collected then she expected him. His cargo pants were dusty and soiled probably from running from the cops.

"I'm not here to hurt you," she said.

"Oh, are you here with the cops? An undercover investigator of sorts?" he muttered, he remained in his stiff stance. "I didn't even want this. Who asks for this?"

"I am here to make a request for you before they come and get you." She said.

"What? Who is coming?" he demanded stepping closer to her so that they were several feet apart.

"The X-Men. They are going to help you with your abilities." Olivia replied.

"How do you know this all?" He said. She smiled at him.

"I have dreams about the future, usually vague but all things are clear when my visions are focused on Hope. You came up as the person who could save her."

"Whoah, I don't follow. How do I 'save' her?" He questioned.

"You can cut her senses off when she loses control," Olivia responded. "You have to do this or else she can hurt everyone around her. She is destined to save us all and she must be protected."

"Who says I will join the X-Men?" He asked.

"Well, I don't know what you will decide but if you join the X-Men, they will help you." She hushed to a whisper. "Now it is time for my exit."

"Who are you?" He whispered. "Wait, why are we whispering?"

"I'm just a person." Olivia smiled.

"What's your name?" He stated. She turned away and was starting to climb out the window.

"Olivia." She confessed before disappearing into the Chicago streets. He ruffled his shaggy hair, looking slightly confused.

"I'm Mason," he whispered under his breath before he heard very loud voices outside talking about ice cream. He didn't know what he would do yet but a chance encounter with a stranger that looked like she could put his military training to the test, it could get interesting.

I am really sorry about the very long unexplained wait. I have been in the process of writing a novel for the past several months, however due to writer's block I am committed to finishing this story. Thank you faithful readers and I am going to make weekly updates and hopefully finish this by the end of the summer! I hope this chapter lives up to wait but I doubt anything will.

Sincerely, Anon.