Chapter 2

Spears' Pow-R8 Factory...

It was lunchtime before Clark could find the time to come and look around. That's school for you and he has to attend no matter the fact his lessons with Jor-El mean he could pass his exams in his sleep.

Course Clark had been deliberately letting his grades slide slowly all year in any case so as not to stand out.

So anyway he had to attend school as usual and endure the usual 'mutie lover' nonsense he gets every day and have to watch his friends picked on every day and just to contrast that, after Smallville, Superman is getting a whole lot of extra love...especially from gaggles of giggling girls. Please someone shoot him.

At least Rogue was never like that.

Clark sighs. Yeah, his love-life is a bit of a mess isn't it? It never seems to end well with any girl he dates or shows an interest in. What's it's been now? Over 3 months, nearing 4, since he and Rogue broke up. He's starting to really notice the loneliness again. God even Claire has a girlfriend and he's single and lonely. It's pathetic.

Ok. Enough about his sucky romantic life. He's here to do a job. Dressed up in his Superman costume he gets to it.

Most of the police are gone, their work done. Just a couple left on guard. He superspeeds past them easy enough and starts using all his varying visual gifts to look around. He comes to the hole in the wall.

Clark bends down and trails his fingers over the edge of the hole and the crumbling concrete. Looks like an acid reaction of some sort. There's some residue left behind. He rubs his thumb and finger together and can feel the acidic residue left behind between them. He lifts his finger and runs it over his tongue, tasting it. What? It's not like it can harm him but he can get an idea of what sort of acid it is from its taste...and don't ask him how. It's kinda a weird story.

Clark frowns. It's not like any acid he knows. It's...strange.

Clark steps inside and takes in the wrecked machinery. He places his hands on his hips, slightly annoyed. Trouble with being here after the police is that all those extra people running around drag in their own scents and cover up trails he might have been able to follow. Nonetheless he has a thorough look around...which doesn't get him any leads.

Except one thing. The way they smashed it. It just seems...personal somehow. It's hard to explain. More a feeling Clark gets.

"Was wondering when you would turn up."

Clark turns his head to see his friend in the Bayville PD, Detective Maggie Sawyer. "Detective," he greets her.

As she said Maggie had a feeling Superman would show up eventually so she's been hanging around waiting for him. "Superman. I see you're famous now," she remarks. Was hard to miss.

"Don't remind me," he grumbles.

Maggie arches a curious eyebrow, intrigued by his response. "You don't want to be thanked? You stopped a nuclear missile. Saved an entire town."

"I'm not a celebrity. Don't care to be one. I don't do any of this to be praised or thanked. I don't really care how people view me. Hero, villain..." he shrugs in indifference. "Doesn't make a jot of difference to me as long as I know I'm using my powers the way they should be; to help people."

Maggie views him. She must admit to know the man...no the boy in front of her flew into space and stopped a nuclear missile...along with everything else she has seen him do...he was amazing and yet there is no ego...or not much of one. She was really unsure of him when they first met. Thought he might bring more trouble than he was worth but he has really changed her opinion round since then and now she appreciates their...partnership she guesses she could call it.

"How are you?" Superman asks, shifting topics off him and because he genuinely wants to know how she is. "Haven't really talked since we took down that arms smuggling group."

"Oh fine. Karnowsky is still swearing bloody revenge on me for his lost right arm."

"Well someone should tell him about the dangers of bullets and explosives," Superman points out. Philip Karnowsky was the leader of this group of arms-dealers and during the fire-fight to take them down there was an explosion and he lost his right arm up to the elbow and he blames Detective Sawyer mostly because they were fighting when it happened. Not that he wasn't above swearing some sort of vague promise of vengeance on Superman because Clark got that threat too.

"Still can't believe a group like that chose Bayville to operate out of," Maggie remarks because it was unusual for Bayville and trust her she's been doing this job for awhile so she knows what she is talking about.

"They were supplying the weapons for New York's current turf war between the crime bosses," Superman supplies what he knows. "Bayville's convenient. Not too far away but not in the midst of it either with good transport links to smuggle their weapons in. I doubt Karnowsky's group will be the last."

"Sadly I think you're right," Detective Sawyer agrees. "But enough of that. Lets talk about this shall we," she gestures around them. "Where were you last night?" she wants to know.

"Busy, sorry," is all Superman says in reply. "If you're here they must suspect mutants," he assumes because Detective Sawyer was a member of the Special Crimes Unit the X-Men were helping train to deal with mutants and other superhumans who might commit crimes. "Why?" he asks.

"The security guards were paralysed by an unknown toxin through the skin. It's only barley begun to wear off but one of them was muttering about 'the freaks'," she quotes, using air-quotes.

Clark sighs. Oh nuts. This could cause trouble. "He was speaking in plural so a gang?"

"Maybe but he was rather delirious," she cautions from just taking his words at face value. "So what have you got?"

"Apart from the fact Mr Spears is dumping his off-spill straight into the sewers illegally?" Clark queries, jerking this thumb in the relevant direction.

"I'll pass that on to EPA," Maggie promises. "Any leads?"

"Nope. You?"

"A few prints. Got one hit. A dead girl."

"Dead?" Superman questions.

"Never found the body but they found a pool of her blood in an alley. No way she survived that much blood loss. Not possible unless..."

"She's a mutant," Superman can easily guess. "You got a name? Picture?"

"Raquel Kevyn Garey," Detective Sawyer answers and to show how good she is at her job hands over a picture she brought.

Superman takes it and stares, slack-jawed.

"Yeah. Pretty wasn't she," Maggie comments, guessing, wrongly, that his expression is due to the girl's looks. "Teenage model. Was going to be the next big thing. Arrested for under-age drinking which is how we have her prints."

Well pretty is an understatement. Beautiful would be more accurate. An almost inhuman level of perfection but that's not what has Clark slack-jawed. He recognises her. Add an eye-patch over the right eye, a few scars around that eye and perhaps a more human level of beauty and what you have is Callisto.

Son of a bitch! They have an agreement! Him and the Morlocks. He leaves them alone and in return they cause no trouble. Yet Clark knows them well enough to know they don't do this unless provoked. What could...

Clark's eyes go to that off-spill. That makes no sense either if it is the cause. Sure it's strictly speaking illegal but it's just a sports drink isn't it? Or is it? "I'll look into it," he says, his voice a little gruff.

Maggie grabs his arm as he is about to leave. Sure she couldn't really stop him if he wished to go but she has to because his tone of voice tripped off her cop instincts. "You know something."

"I know a lot of things. You have to be more specific."

"No," she says sternly, pointing a finger in his face. "Don't give me that evasive bullshit. I'm a cop. I can see right through it."

"It's...complicated."

"And I thought we had at least earned a little bit of trust with each other."

Clark smiles sadly. "Detective...you have no idea how many secrets I keep."

"Your personal secrets aren't my business but this is. This involves the law. Now you tell me here in private or I arrest you and we can do this at the station."

"You," Superman says, his face lit up in amusement. "Arrest me?" he chuckles.

"Damn straight I will."

Clark...has to admire her gumption. It's endearing if foolish. "I have conditions," he lays out before he even considers it.

"I'll consider them."

"Tonight. You off shift?"

"Yeah."

"Then tonight. Corner of Eighth and Maple. Come alone, agree to only do what I say and I'll show you what you want to know. Take it or leave it," he offers.

Maggie's eyes narrow as she tries to judge him. Well she was just talking about trust and he wasn't saying no so she guesses she has to trust him. "Alright," she agrees.

"Good. I'll see you there. It'll have to be late...say 11?"

"Fine," Maggie agrees.

Superman makes steps to leave before stopping and turning halfway back to look at Detective Sawyer. "Oh and bring some crayons and paper. She loves crayons," he says mysteriously with a small warm smile. With that he vanishes in his usual gust of wind leaving a rather perplexed Maggie Sawyer behind.

"Crayons?"

At the Institute...

Jonathan knocks on a closed door. "Douglas," he calls out to the boy inside. "It's Jonathan. Can I come in?"

There's no response. Not that Jonathan was expecting one. None of them have been able to get more than an odd word out of the boy since he arrived. He opens the door and enters anyway to find the young blond teenager sitting by the window staring out. It breaks Jonathan's heart to see the boy so burdened and subdued. He can only imagine the hurt and betrayal Douglas must have experienced in his young life.

"It's lunchtime," Jonathan says which he was using as the pretext for this entire attempt at striking up a conversation or at the very least perhaps get Douglas to leave his room. "And you know I don't think you've met Wanda yet," he also mentions.

Nothing.

Jonathan goes and sits on the bed. "I know I can't imagine what you've been through but others can. Wanda can because her father is Magneto."

Douglas' head finally turns to look, his eyes searching for something.

"He betrayed her too. Locked her up in an asylum even though there wasn't anything wrong with her simply because he couldn't be bothered trying to be even a half-decent father. I don't usually mention this because I think you can understand it's a sensitive area for her but I needed an example to show you that you're not alone in experiencing what you have."

"You're sick," Douglas says.

"Sorry?"

"I read body language. You hide it well but you're sick. Your heart I think."

"Yeah," Jonathan just decides not to lie about it. The boy has probably been lied to far too much already. "I damaged it."

"How?"

"Saving my son. Bargain at any price."

Douglas can also read in the man's language how much he means that. "A-are you going to die?"

"Medication has it under control but I need a transplant. I'm on the list but since I'm walking and talking I'm not a priority case. Though everyone dies one day. Can't do anything about that."

"Why did you do it?"

"Do...save my son you mean?" Jonathan inquires that is what Douglas means.

Douglas nods.

"Because he's my son," Jonathan explains it like it should be obvious. "I would do anything for him."

"My father is a member of the Friends of Humanity. He wouldn't lift a finger for me."

"Then he's not a very good father," Jonathan says it bluntly. "I'm sorry if that seems harsh but I can't excuse nor respect any man who wouldn't be prepared to lay down their life for their family let alone one who rejects his son for being something he can't control. Nor can I excuse any man who would abuse the trust of a young boy under their care," he mentions since that is what is most relevant to Douglas right now.

Douglas returns to gazing out the window. "I just wanted to help. That's all," he says his voice distant and cracking with emotion. "I just wanted to help Magneto defend our kind. I just wanted to help Lionel because he promised it was about having a second chance to do what was right."

"I'm not going to promise you anything about defending anyone or doing what is right. That second one in particular can be very subjective to your point of view. What I will promise is that I, and the rest of the staff here, are here for you Douglas. Day or night, whatever you need. You aren't alone," he says with heartfelt truth.

Jonathan sighs and rises to his feet. "Whatever you wish to be Douglas you can be. We'll support you...short of it being highly illegal."

Douglas' lips twitch for a very brief moment.

Jonathan grins. That's progress. "In the end it is all about choice. Probably sounds really clichéd but it is true. Everyone here is here by choice. No-one forces them to stay or be part of the X-Men or join the cause so to speak. If all you want is help having a normal life out there in the world then we'll help you do just that. No need to be part of this whole struggle of ideas for the future. The choice is yours."

Douglas turns his head back to the older man and blinks a few times.

"Well like I was saying lunch is ready. You can come down or I'll bring it up. Again the choice is yours," Jonathan says with an ironic smirk and then turns and departs.

Douglas stares at the door for several moments...before rising out of his chair and heading for the kitchen.

Bayville High...

The bell rang for the end of the day and Scott was the first to leave his class. He is nervous and on edge, looking in both directions as if he expects to be pounced on at any moment...and for once it wasn't the Hellions he was worried about. Though to be fair to Emma they had been on fairly good behaviour just like she promised.

Anyway this wasn't about them. He cautiously walks down the hallway and turns a corner before he darts back round because he saw her was heading in his direction.

Scott turns round and inadvertently bumps into Jean.

"Euh!" they both groan as Scott slides past her.

"Whoa. What's going on?" Jean asks him, being able to sense his panic.

"Kitty's coming this way!" Scott says in frantic worry.

Jean's eyes widen in the same panic. "Run!" she says as she grabs Scott by his shirt and yanks him as they both scarper for it.

Mere moments later Kitty comes round the corner. "Scott?" she queries. She was sure she saw him. She lets out a small sigh. "Now where did he go?" she wonders out-loud as she resumes her search.

Elsewhere in the school Evan is heading for his locker to put his books away and pick up the ones he needs for his homework. He hadn't had any other problems with his powers all day so chalked it off as he was right about it not being a big deal...though he does feel a little off. Maybe it's just nerves about tomorrow.

As he approaches his locker he sees it is partially open.

'Man not again,' he mentally moans. It wouldn't be the first time this happened. It was probably one of the anti-mutant lot...which is a lot of this school. They break in and mess it up or leave anti-mutant graffiti or something like that.

Evan sighs as he opens the door to see what the damage is this time...only to be shocked and fall on his ass by something that springs out at him. He looks up to see it is the image of a skateboarder holding a Pow-R8 bottle. It's off one of the promotional posters. Someone stuck it to some cardboard, put a whole bunch of nails through it and attached it inside his locker on a spring. It's obviously aimed at him. The nails, no doubt, represent his spikes. He hates this school!

The perpetrators spring out from round the corner and point and laugh at him.

They soon walk off, only one skinny kid with brown hair sticks behind. Not someone Evan knows. Evan just sits there his knees drawn up a little, utterly fed up of this crap.

"Oh real funny," the kid says sarcastically as he plucks the image off the spring. "This school's full of clowns," he continues his sarcastic commentary. "I kind of just learn to shrug it off. Otherwise they keep picking on ya," he says as he offers Evan a hand up.

Evan is mildly surprised by that but takes the offered hand anyway. "Yeah," he says, sort of agreeing with the kid as he gets back to his feet. He grabs his bag from within his locker with his skateboard. At least no-one stole it this time.

"I-I know you. Evan Daniels right? You're one of the mutants."

"What was your first clue?" Evan says a tad snidely in his anger as he grabs the image off the kid.

"I've seen you guys on the news," the kid says as he follows Evan down the hallway who puts the image in a bin. "And I was thinking whoa, superpowers, how cool is that? If I could do half that stuff..."

Evan barely suppresses the groan as the kid follows him, still going on, clearly not having any clue what it means to be a mutant or have powers.

Kitty exits the school still on the lookout for Scott. He has to here somewhere. She has a very important question to ask him. She wanders round a little before realising she'll just have to catch him at home.

Not too far away Scott's red convertible is parked and although it looks empty from a distance it's not. Him and Jean are just ducked down, hiding from Kitty.

Scott peeks up and looks around warily.

"See her?" Jean asks, as she slowly raises her head.

"No," Scott says in audible relief. "All clear."

"Get us out of here!" Jean says with her own small smile of relief.

BAMF!

Kurt appears suddenly sitting cross-legged on the hood, startling Scott and Jean. "Hi!" he greets them in his usual cheerful manner, raising his right hand in a wave. "Did you hear zhat Kitty actually got her driver's permit? Unbelievable isn't it?"

"We know," Scott and Jean says morosely.

"And she's looking for anyvone who's over 18 to ride vith her," Kurt continues as he leaps down to the ground with his usual agility.

"We know," Scott and Jean says again. Scott starts the engine and begins to drive off.

"I bet zhe Professor vill ask vone of you to do it!" Kurt shouts after them because after Kitty's first couple of attempts the adults had sworn off trying so next in line was Jean and Scott.

"We know!" Scott and Jean shout back. Why do you think they're trying to avoid Kitty like the plague. They have no death wish and if you've ever seen Kitty on the simulators for the X-vehicles, the simulators she somehow managed to break, which should be impossible, then you would know one thing you never do if you wish to live is let Kitty near the controls of any sort of vehicle. Jean had to spend an hour one night helping Mrs Kent calm down after giving Kitty a lesson. The poor woman was shaking like you would not believe. When it comes to driving Kitty is a menace and a disaster waiting to happen.

They drive past Kitty at high speed. "Hey! Wait! Let me drive! I want to drive!" she calls out after them but they don't stop. Kitty pouts and huffs a little. Mustn't have heard her. She has to find someone to help her learn though and everyone else she has asked so far today was suspiciously busy for some reason and her boyfriend can't. Peter's not 18 yet either. Kitty can't stop her cheeks going slightly rosy at the thought of Peter considering...

"Oh Betsy!" she suddenly calls out spotting the purple haired girl. "Do have a valid driver's licence for this country?!" she asks, running to catch up.

As for Evan he was slowly making his way to the skate-park on his skateboard. A little more practice then an early night.

That kid, Andy Black as Evan had learned his name, was running, keeping up with him. Evan couldn't figure out why. "You know most kids don't want anything to do with us," Evan says to Andy. Sure there were a couple who did but really not very many. "What's up with you?" he asks, trying to see what Andy's game is.

"Nothing. Just being friendly."

Evan looks at Andy suspiciously. Somehow he's not buying it. They come across 3 of the seniors...3 of the bullies of Bayville High. Evan knows them well. What kid doesn't?

"Hey tough guys!" Andy calls out to them. "Remember me? You threw my books into the dumpster yesterday!"

A tall lean boy with black hair who was leaning against the street lamp stands up straight. "And...

"What?" a well built African-American boy finishes it

"You want us to throw you in today?" the first boy asks, an amused look on his face at the prospect.

"Why don't you just try it fathead!" Andy insults the boy. "Cause see I got a mutant friend," he jerks his thumb at Evan.

Evan, whose eyes go a little wide. "Whoa!" he protests. "This is why you're hanging with me? So I'll fight your fights" he asks, the pieces falling into place. "I've got enough problems. I don't need yours." Evan then makes move to leave.

"Evan wait!" Andy pleads.

The tall boy with the black hair grabs Evan by the shoulders. "Yeah Evan wait," he mocks as he steals Evan's rucksack and shoves him into the grip of the African-american boy who then shoves him into the 3rd blond boy who shoves him back into the black haired boy. "Evan, Evan, Evan...hey aren't you that spiked freak?"

Evan is trying very hard not to lose his temper like they're told not to but they're pushing him. "You want to find out? Keep pushing," Evan says in threatening tones.

"Come on! Where's your thorns? Show us what you got!" the black haired boy goads Evan before shoving him around some more.

Coming upon this scene, walking, hands held, are Kurt and Amanda, also just making their way home. Amanda was going to spend some quality time with her boyfriend by going to the Institute for a few hours. Kurt's eyebrows rise in worry at seeing Evan being shoved around by the 3 boys.

"Come on Evan, fight back!" Andy pleads with him.

Evan...Evan...he's been feeling off and then suddenly it's like he can't control his temper any more nor his power as bony spikes rip through his clothes down his spine and along his arms. The shock of seeing it makes the 3 bullies pause. It is all the time Evan needs. He grabs the black haired boy first by the shirt and just physically throws him into a nearby dumpster...with one hand, showing strength he didn't know he had.

Evan pulls out a long spike to use like a fighting pole. His face is twisted in fury and the other 2 bullies start to back up in fear. With a single, well-practised sweep he takes the African-american boy's legs out from under him. Planting the spike on the ground he uses it as leverage to leap and hit the blond boy with both feet squarely in the chest, knocking him down too.

A crowd starts to gather and Evan suddenly realises what he's doing. He drops his spike, almost in shock at himself.

"Kurt you better get him out of here," Amanda whispers to her beau, sensing this may end badly.

Kurt nods in agreement and rushes over to Evan. "Ok show's over," he says lightly to the crowd. "Thanks for coming," he finishes as he takes Evan by the arm, pulls his still spiky friend into the nearby alley and teleports them both away.

At the Institute...

Shortly after arriving home Scott and Jean were summoned to the library by the Professor. They find him sitting, reading...and to their mild surprise in the far corner they spot Douglas also reading, Mr Kent keeping him company. Well that was progress on that front.

"You wanted to see us, Professor?" Jean queries politely.

"Yes," Charles says. "I have a very special assignment. Could be challenging."

Scott and Jean shift uncomfortably. They know what this is. Kitty.

"So I need someone with nerves of steel," Charles finishes.

"Sounds dangerous," a familiar gruff voice says as Logan walks in. He was just passing by when he overheard with his enhanced hearing and you know he could do with a workout. It was his coping mechanism for his anger. It was either this or one of his Danger Room sessions...or a night with Storm...but it was too early for that last one...no matter how much he might want it...her.

"It very well could be," Charles says, trying not to smile or laugh too much.

"Then I'll do it," Logan volunteers. "I could use a good adrenaline rush."

Jean puts her hands behind her back trying to look innocent and sweet as she gives Scott a knowing smile. "He doesn't know what it's about," she telepathically says in amusement.

Scott has to hold back his own smile. "O-ok," he agrees, seeing his escape path from hell. "No problem. It's yours," he tells Logan.

Jean grabs Scott's arm and starts backing out of the room before Logan finds out the truth. "But you owe us Logan," she says, putting on an act.

Logan is suspicious for a moment before shrugging it off and turning his gaze to the Professor. "So what needs doing? Any explosives involved?"

Charles, to his credit, manages to keep a straight face. "Hopefully not," he remarks before holding up the set of keys for the x-van.

Logan looks puzzled for a moment before the true horror sinks in.

"Yeah!" Kitty cheers as she slams her sandal covered foot on to the accelerator, screeching the tyres as the van sets off. "Alright!" she continues, overflowing with enthusiasm. "Lets practice some freeway driving!"

Logan is already gripping the plastic moulding in front of him so hard his knuckles are turning white. "Wait for the gate!" he pleads with Kitty to slow down. "Wait for the gate!" he practically screams like a little girl.

Kitty doesn't wait for the gate and just phases the whole van through it before turning hard, making the tyres screech more as she and Logan hit the open road. May God have mercy on his soul.

Back in the mansion Evan is heading for his room. His spikes still haven't retracted...and he's still pissed off like hell at being used by Andy. That his life...hell that's every mutant's life. They either hate you or want to exploit you. What's the point? Evan is asking that question right now.

He passes his aunt who's in the middle of writing out the next shopping list. Ororo pauses and stops at seeing her nephew, spikes all out and his clothes torn and the angry look on his face. "Evan?" she queries with concern.

"Not now auntie O!" he snaps angrily at her.

Ororo's snowy white eyebrows come together. She turns round and follows Evan only to have the door slammed in her face.

She waits a moment, debating whether to go in anyway. She has to know what's wrong. He's her nephew after all. She quietly opens the door to find Evan in front of his mirror...straining to retract his spikes. He manages it eventually with great effort...or seems to anyway.

"Evan...are you having problems with your powers?" Ororo asks, genuinely worried.

"What?!" he exclaims, spinning round in surprise. "No! It's nothing Auntie O!" he insists.

Ororo steps up to him. "Evan...if you're having problems just say so. There's no shame. I only want to help."

"We can't all have perfect control like you!" he snaps.

Ororo's face hardens a little. Perfect control...ha! "Evan...perfect control is the furthest thing I have. My powers are linked to my emotions. I can't turn those off. Lose my temper and Bayville has an unexpected thunder storm or a snow storm...in July. I work everyday to keep my powers in check and even I slip occasionally no matter how long I've been trying." Her expression and her tone softens. "What helped all these years is that I had Charles to help me and share it with. Burdens are halved when they're shared Evan. You're my nephew. I love you and if you're in pain I'm in pain so please, if you're having problems let me help. That's what families do for each other."

Evan tries to calm his temper at hearing his auntie's worried tone. "I know auntie O. I just think I've been overworking myself. I've got an early night planned."

Ororo places a hand on his shoulder. "Alright...but if this continues you'll let me know and we'll go see Hank," she accepts what he is saying...for now.

"Sure Auntie O!" Evan says, making himself sound cheerful when he's not.

"Well I have to go shopping for dinner. We'll spend time together later," she suggests...so she can keep an eye on him.

"Sounds great."

"And, oh, I think your parents might be able to come see you compete tomorrow," she adds.

Evan does manage a real smile at that. "Then I'll just have to definitely win now won't I," he says, having to show his parents how good he is.

Ororo smiles at her nephew. He's not the best student but she never expected that of him. All she wants is him to try his best honestly and no matter what she is always proud of him. She leaves him be.

Evan lets out a breath and pulls off his ruined shirt...only to catch his reflection. The bony plates up his spine are still there. "What's happening to me?" he asks, true worry in his voice that he is losing all control.

A short time later Kitty and Logan return. The van has now seen better days. It's front end is smashed in a little and there are a couple of road signs that are literally sticking out of the van after Kitty phased through them.

"Whoohoo!" Kitty cheers as she leaps out of van happy and joyous, doing a little happy dance. "That was totally awesome! I so have the hang of this!" she enthuses. "I can't wait to show Peter!" she says, imagining some romantic driving getaway she could take them on...and how that getaway could end. Kitty's cheeks heat up at the thought.

Logan steps out of the van, making low growling sounds. He's lucky to be alive even taking into account his healing factor.

"I can't believe the number of crazy drivers on the road...and so rude," Kitty complains, oblivious to the fact that it was her lousy driving that caused it. "So hey!" she calls after a rapidly retreating Logan. "When is lesson number 2?!"

In the mansion Logan seeks out and quickly finds the Professor, crossing his path down a hallway.

"Ah Logan," Charles says, pleased to see his friend well. "How did it go?"

Logan makes a sound between a snort and a snarl as he tosses the van keys down into Charles' lap and keep walking by. "Scott and Jean are right. I owe them," he says, the threat plainly clear.

Charles half-smiles in amusement when Logan stops and turns his head to look back, a determined, threatening look on his face. "And I owe you too...Chuck."

Charles looks a little concerned at that. He may have just miscalculated his actions on this occasion.

Author's Note: Callisto's real name has never been revealed as far as I know so I randomly made that up to give Clark a clue to link it to the Morlocks. Aw poor Cypher but small progress for him. Kitty learning to drive...I just had to include it. It's so funny. Spidey should be very grateful he's not old enough to be asked to help his girl. And I made a few small changes to the episode in this respect. I just didn't buy Storm not checking up on her nephew so I had her follow him into his room. Fun Fact; Philip Karnowsky aka Barrage, future member of the Superman Revenge Squad. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; X-treme Measures part 3 where Superman and Detective Sawyer have a little tête-à-tête with Callisto.