"Excellent." Xavier praised. "You'll take Beast with you; his computer skills will be required. The rest of you will stand guard outside the building." With the briefing finished, Xavier rode into the hallway, where he was approached by Cyclops.
"Professor Xavier." Cyclops said. "We've been together for a long time, and I strongly believe, as you do, in the peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants. But when you formed the X-Men, was it not to teach us to use our powers to benefit mankind, so ordinary people would learn not to fear us? Professor, aren't we-"
"I know what you're going to say, Cyclops," Xavier interrupted, "but I'm afraid that we have no choice."
"What's the matter?" Wolverine taunted. "Teacher's pet got cold feet?" Cyclops flashed his visor as a warning, but Wolverine was undeterred. "Anytime, pretty boy."
"Cyclops!" Jean ran to them. "I just went to check on Jubilee. She's gone."
"What!" Danny cried. "Oh no! I've got to go find her." Cyclops grabbed Danny's arm.
"We've got a job to do; we need your help." Danny was about to say something when Wolverine beat him to the punch. "I'm going after her."
"No way, Wolverine." Cyclops protested. "We need you as well."
Wolverine pulled out his claws and growled. "I go where I wanna go." He pushed his way past Gambit. "Out of the way, gumbo."
Gambit glared at Wolverine, charged a card, and was about to throw it when Cyclops stopped him. "Gambit, let him go." He ordered.
The Cajun tossed the card behind him, where it exploded with little force. "He's not worth it."
Danny was looking at Wolverine retreating when he got an idea. He created a duplicate, startling the others.
"Go follow him." Danny ordered the duplicate. It nodded as it obeyed its orders.
"I didn't know you could do that." Cyclops was dumbfounded. Danny just shrugged his shoulders.
The duplicate followed Wolverine as they went down the sidewalk in the neighborhood.
"So you decided to ditch one eye and follow me. I like your style, kid." Wolverine complimented.
"I'm actually a duplicate that the original sent after you." The duplicate revealed.
Wolverine blinked in surprise. "Huh, you're just full of surprises, aren't you, Casper?" He sniffed his nose as he stopped. "The trail ends here."
"Do you smell the scent of the one who took her?" The duplicate questioned.
"No, my guess is another one of those machines took her."
"Great, how are we going to find her now?" The duplicate was worried over the fate of his sister.
"We'll meet with the rest of the team and continue from there." Wolverine and the duplicate took off.
In the night sky, a large jet flies by as it lands in a small clearing in the woods. The side door opened, and out came Danny and the X-Men as they started walking on foot.
"Everybody stay close." Cyclops ordered.
"Not too close." Rogue said. "You know, I remember when I was thirteen. I had me a boyfriend til I kissed him. Poor boy was in a coma for three days. That was when I realized if I touched anybody, I absorbed their strength right into me."
"That sounds rough." Danny said awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. To think that he thought he had it bad. At least he could touch people.
"Yeah," Rogue agreed before smiling at Danny, "well, at least you're immune to my touch, spooky."
"Spooky?" Danny exclaimed oddly.
"Well, you are part ghost, aren't you?" Rogue teased.
Danny snorted. "Better than what they used to call me."
Rogue was interested. "What did they use to call you?"
Danny sighed. "Invisobill." Rogue chuckled. "Yeah, I know how it sounds, but you try expecting something from a town of idiots."
"Consider yourself fortunate, Rogue." Beast joined in. "I had dandruff."
"Hey, whenever I got into trouble at school, I used to turn myself into the principal." Morph laughed.
"I'd like to kill my daddy when he found out I was a mutant." Rogue admitted. Danny gave her a look of sympathy.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Rogue smiled at Danny.
"Don't worry about it, sugar. What about you? What was it like with you hiding your powers?"
"My parents were ghost hunters, and they hated my alter ego." Danny confessed. "They would always talk about how they would capture him and dissect him. My father vowed that he would tear me apart molecule by molecule."
"Ouch." Rogue commented. "Did they ever find out?"
Danny shook his head. "They died before I could ever tell them."
"We all had to face that problem." Cyclops stated.
"Hold it. We are here." Storm said. There, the group saw a tall building with a fence around it; there were spotlights and guards with powerful guns on each side.
"You're supposed to know everything, Beast. What makes us like we are, anyway?" Rogue asked.
Beast listed all the things that he could think of. "Gamma rays, pollution, ozone depletion, television."
"Progress." Morph suggested.
"Lousy luck." They all turned to see that it was Wolverine who said it, as he stood on a tree branch. "You sure make a lot of noise."
"You decided to join us, eh?" Gambit asked sarcastically.
"Yeah?" Wolverine replied.
Danny pried Wolverine for information. "Did you find Jubilee?"
"Her trail went cold outside the house." Wolverine paused. "Got bit by a dog too."
"We think that she could have been kidnapped by one of those robots." The duplicate guessed.
"Oh no." Danny said in terror.
"Relax, sugar." Rogue comforted him. "After this, we'll go and find her, I promise."
"You made your point." Danny absorbed the duplicate back into him, then he grabbed Beast as they turned intangible and invisible. They flew towards the building, with no one else the wiser. Phasing through the walls, Danny looked around for a bit until they found the room. Locking the door, Danny made them visible and tangible again.
"Take care of the computer; I'll destroy all the files in the cabinets." Danny said, putting his hand through the locked drawers and throwing them into a pile. Once finished, he blasted them, burning them.
"Wake up!" A voice demanded. "Wake up!"
Jubilee woke up with a start at the harsh tone. Trying to move, she found that she was strapped to some kind of table. Where was she? The last thing she could recall was taking a bus home, but she got caught by one of those machines before she even made it to her house.
"I want to ask you some questions, Jubilee." The voice said. "I want to know about the mutants that helped you at the mall.
Jubilee tried to break out of her constraints, but it was hopeless. "I don't know anything. Why are you doing this to me? I haven't done anything. I'm just a kid." She pleaded.
"You've already made life miserable for your foster parents." The voice snarled. "And as your mutant powers grow, you'll become a danger to everyone around you."
"It's not my fault!" Jubilee yelled. "I can't help the way I was born!"
The voice disagreed with that sentiment. "You can help, Jubilee. You can help us identify the most dangerous mutants of all. Who are these so called X-Men?"
"Gyrich!" Another voice shouted. "Why did you bring that mutant here?"
Henry Gyrich, who was currently interrogating Jubilee, saw a man in a lab coat approaching him.
"Who is she?" The scientist pressed.
"Just another name from the files." Henry answered. "A test to see how easy it will be to capture the rest of them."
The scientist was bewildered by Henry's plan. "I thought we agreed not to strike the mutants until we had a hundred Sentinels."
"Well, you're building them too slow, Trask." Henry reminded him. "Aren't I paying you enough? What are you waiting for?"
Trask merely glared at Henry.
"That's all of them; how's the virus coming?" Danny probed.
"Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry," Beast quoted, "John Wesley." Soon the files on the computer were deleted, and Danny took Beast and got them out of the building and regrouped with the rest of the X-Men.
"They're all destroyed; let's go." Danny told them. They all got back on the Blackbird and flew back to the mansion.
"Gee, that was pretty easy." Rogue commented.
"Yeah, Gambit thought it would be a bit more challenging."
"Let's just be glad that nothing went wrong tonight." Cyclops recommended. He looked at Danny. "Great work tonight, Danny. We really appreciate your help."
"No problem, now can we go look for Jubilee?" Danny asked.
"We'll head back to the mansion and plan our next move." Cyclops said. Once they arrived, they turned on the TV to see how the public had been reacting to the recent events.
"My fellow Americans." The president addressed the audience. "Last night, it is believed that a renegade mutant attacked the headquarters of the federal security agency. There was also a confrontation at the New Salem Mall between several mutants and the experimental robot police called Sentinels."
"Sentinels." Cyclops growled in disgust. "I bet that wherever those things are being developed, that's where Jubilee is."
Danny's full attention was on Scott. "You think so?"
Cyclops nodded. "Yes, how would you like to locate the Sentinels home base?"
Danny smirked. "It would be my pleasure."
"You wanted to see me, Madam President?" Henry Gyrich walked into the oval office to see that the president was currently exercising.
"I wanted to congratulate you and Dr. Trask. I also wanted to tell you to stop all activities involving your privately run mutant registration program."
"Why?" Gyrich was outraged at the president's lack of concern over the threat that those freaks presented.
"Those mutants were willing to infiltrate a highly guarded building in order to destroy those files." The president responded. "Did they have a good reason to be threatened?"
Henry clenched his teeth as he stormed out of the room. "Fools. They're all fools." He threw his binder of papers to the floor in anger. No matter, he would still work to rid the world of those abominations, even if the president wouldn't help him.
His cell phone rang, prompting him to answer it. "Gyrich here." He heard the other voice on the phone. "Is he still there?"
"I'll keep him here as long as I can, Mr. Gyrich." Steve said hesitantly as he put the phone down. He walked toward his guest.
"Soda." Steve offered, carrying a tray of glasses with him. On the couch sat Martha, Danny, and Scott.
Scott took one. "Thank you."
"He thinks that Jubilee has been kidnapped by those things the president talked about," Martha told Steve, "those giant Sentinels."
"What?" Steve said skeptically. "Why would anyone do something like that?"
"Because people fear what they don't understand, Steve." Danny was irritated that he didn't seem worried at all about Jubilee possibly being abducted by the U.S. government.
Steve frowned. "Danny I think your friend should leave; they said we should call them if anyone came asking about Jubilee."
"Who?" Danny demanded in a harsh voice.
Steve was nervous. "He just said that he worked for the government and kept asking us about Jubilee and if she was hanging out with other mutants." He started shedding tears at the fact that he might never see Jubilee again.
Scott tried to calm him down. "You've done nothing wrong. You just want to help her, and you have." Danny and Scott turned to leave.
"Danny wait! Where are you going?" Martha queried.
Danny silently looked at his foster parents and transformed into his ghost form, causing them to gasp at the sight of their son.
"Jubilee isn't the only one with powers." Was all Danny said as he left the house with Scott. A few feet away from them was a Sentinel.
"Surrender, mutant." The Sentinel ordered. Danny and Scott blasted it, tearing off its arm. "Sentinel fourteen damaged by unknown mutant. Returning to base for repairs."
The two men then ran down the street and went between two buildings, where they met up with the others at the Blackbird.
"I have the Sentinel on radar." Storm reported.
"Let's go get them." Cyclops declared. The Blackbird lifted off into the air and gave chase to the fleeing Sentinel.
"This chicken's going home to roost." Rogue joked.
Trask was overseeing the construction of more Sentinels when Henry Gyrich walked into the room.
"Start packing, Trask." Henry commanded. Trask turned off the conveyer belt and regarded Henry.
"What?" Trask said in puzzlement.
"The president has cancelled the government support of mutant registration." Henry notified. "The Sentinel program may be next. We're moving the operation overseas."
If that bad news wasn't enough, the damaged Sentinel crashed through the roof and landed on one of the generators. This resulted in Jubilee's restraints being unlocked.
"Alright." Jubilee said in approval. She raised her arms, charging her powers. "Time to blow this joint."
"What's that?" Henry pointed to the explosion before taking off. "Get out of my way." Trask followed him in retreat.
Jubilee started running but was cut off when a Sentinel landed right in front of her.
"Uh oh!" She said in alarm. "Wrong way!" She was about to turn around, but the Sentinels surrounded her from all sides.
"Halt mutant." One ordered.
Jubilee fell to her knees in despair. "I just want to go home."
When all seemed hopeless, Jubilee heard a familiar voice.
"Jubilee duck!" Doing what she was told, Jubilee ducked, allowing Cyclops, who was standing on one of the beams, to launch his laser at a Sentinel. Focusing on him, the Sentinels tried to apprehend Cyclops but were all shot down.
Gyrich and Trask watched as their work was destroyed.
"Come on, Trask!" Gyrich grabbed Trask as they fled. "Our work is just beginning."
Another Sentinel was chasing Jubilee until it was blasted by several green blasts of energy.
"Miss me, Jubilee?" Jubilee smiled at seeing Danny behind her and embraced him in a hug. "I guess so." Danny quipped.
Soon all the X-Men appeared and engaged in battle with the Sentinels. Storm used her lightning bolts to overload their systems while dodging their attacks. Gambit was throwing his exploding cars. Wolverine was slashing them apart with his claws.
Rogue was flying around and bashing them to pieces with her fists. Although she was putting up a good fight, one of them snuck up behind her and punched her, sending her to the floor hard enough that she made an imprint with her body.
Rogue just got up, dusting herself off. "You ought to learn how to behave." She grabbed it and threw it over her shoulder, smashing it. Danny saw what Rogue did and was impressed.
"That is so hot." Danny said quietly as he kept destroying Sentinels.
"What?" Jubilee asked.
"Nothing." Danny said too quickly. "Looks like that's the last of them." The team then all met up in the middle of the factory.
"Is that all of them?" Cyclops asked.
"Ain't that enough?" Rogue bantered.
They all heard several mechanical footsteps. Several more Sentinels were approaching them. The X-Men were outnumbered; there was no way they could get out of this.
"What do we do?" Jubilee freaked. Danny got in front of them, staring down the Sentinels.
"Everyone, cover your ears!" Danny barked out. The X-Men were confused but did what they were told.
Danny took a breath before he let out his most powerful attack. The Sentinels were bombarded by massive waves of energy that pushed them back and broke them down one by one.
When they were all destroyed, Danny stopped the attack. The X-Men were mystified by what they had just seen.
"Wow."
"Incredible."
"You don't see that every day."
"And I thought my daddy could holler."
Jubilee ran to Danny. "Danny, that was incredible!" She praised.
"Thanks." Danny replied, trying to catch his breath. "You okay?"
Jubilee hugged her brother. "I am now that you're here. Let's go home."
"That was one hell of an attack." Wolverine complimented. "What do you call it?"
"My ghostly wail." Danny said proudly, before stumbling a bit. Luckily, Rogue caught him.
"You alright, sugar?" Rogue asked.
Danny beamed at Rogue. "I'm fine; that move just takes a lot out of me. Can we go home now?"
"Well done, all of you." Xavier applauded them. "Thanks to you, we managed to save several mutants from being hunted down by those Sentinels." The professor then acknowledged Jubilee. "I would also like to offer you, Jubilee, a place here among the X-Men, if you choose to accept it."
"I do." Jubilee accepted, making Danny smile.
"Guess you embraced your powers, huh?"
"You were right." Jubilee admitted. "I just have to take it one day at a time."
"I would also like you, Danny, to join the X-Men as well." Xavier said as well.
Danny was flabbergasted. "You really want me on your team?"
"Yes, you have helped us save the lives of hundreds of mutants. I feel that you have a bright future ahead as one of my students."
"I don't know." Danny was unsure. He was glad to have saved Jubilee and prevented anyone else from getting hurt by Sentinels, but he gave up this life for a reason.
"Come on, Casper. What do you got to lose?" Wolverine said.
"I hate to say it, but Wolverine's right." Cyclops agreed. "You did great work out there, and we could really use you."
Gambit also tried to persuade him. "You'd be our ace in the hole."
"I'll say." Rogue agreed, putting her arm around Danny. "Stay here with us, spooky. It'll be fun." Danny blushed.
"Yeah, Danny, it'll be so cool to have you here too." Jubilee said.
Danny chuckled. "Ok, I'll join your team."
They all cheered.
"You guys are the best foster parents I had." Jubilee was standing outside her home across from her parents, bags at her feet, with Danny by her side. "But Professor Xavier's school, it's the best place for people like me."
"You'll come to visit us, won't you?" Martha asked.
"Does a mall babe eat chili fries?" Jubilee hugged her foster parents.
"We want you to know that we're proud of you, Jubilee." Steve said. "You too, Danny. Powers or no powers, you two will always be welcomed here."
"Thank you, Steve." Danny said gratefully. "I'll also make sure to look after her and make sure she doesn't get into too much trouble." Jubilee playfully punched his arm.
"Goodbye." Jubilee said as she and Danny got into a taxi that took them to Xavier's school.
"We love you!" Martha yelled.
"Take care!" Steve cried.
As they rode the taxi to their new home, Danny wondered what life had in store for him now that he was with the X-Men.
It was nighttime. Danny was sitting on the roof of the mansion, watching the stars. It was still an activity that brought him peace.
"I miss you guys." Danny said. "I hope you're all happy, wherever you are." He heard someone moving towards him.
"There you are, sugar." Rogue said.
"Were you looking for me?" Danny asked.
Rogue smirked. "Just making sure that our new member is settling in alright." She sat down next to him. "So whatcha doing up here anyway?"
"Watching the stars, its something that I like to do." Danny answered.
"Sounds nice." Rogue said. "So how are you doing? You look a little shaken."
"I'm just wondering if I should be here." Danny explained. "I just don't want my past to catch up with me and put you guys in harm's way."
"Trust me, sugar. We all have a past that we'd like to get away from." Rogue said with a knowing look in her eyes. "And if anything does try to mess with us, we'll take it on together. Cause the X-Men always look out for each other."
Danny considered Rogue's words. Even if something from his old life came back, he wouldn't be alone. He had a new team and a new family to help him get through it. Maybe Rogue was right. "Thanks, Rogue; I needed to hear that. I owe you one."
Rogue grinned playfully. "Owe me one, eh? What do you owe me?"
Danny snickered. "What is it that you want?"
Rogue hesitated a bit before asking, "Can I hold your hand?" She pulled off one of her gloves, exposing her bare hand.
Danny took it in his hand. "No problem." The two then continued to watch the stars in silence, still holding hands.
Clockwork smiled as he watched the tender scene from his lair. Hearing banging next to him, Clockwork turned to the currently occupied Fenton Thermos.
"Looks like the future isn't as inevitable as you thought, eh Dan?" Clockwork teased. As a response, the banging got louder and more frequent.
Clockwork sighed as he went back to watching the timeline unfold.
"All as it should be."