It's Not What You Know... Part Three: Snakes And Ladders

by Sabia

The PACRAT was already humming when they went down the hanger the next evening.
Forge strode down the ramp as they approached. "I've made a few modifications to the cloaking systems, the drives and the communications units."
"Will we still be able to understand it?" Sam asked. "'A few' for you means total rebuild for anybody else."
"For the most part." He patted the hull. "There's no way SHIELD can trace this baby now."
"I think I'd better make sure I can still fly it." said Roberto as he disappeared up the ramp.
Risque smiled at the craft. "You guys lifted this thing?"
"Yeah, a while ago." said Jimmy.
"Everyday you tell me something about this crew that sounds cool." She said.
"Our goal is to snag a helicarrier one day." said Sam straight-faced.
"Donnae be foolish. Where would we park it? They're far too big for in here and Jean would get mad if we ruined the back lawn." Terry asked. "I think we should try for one of those nice carrier ships."
"Ocean cruising sounds good." Risque agreed.
Forge shook his head. I can really tell who trained these kids, he thought.
"Try not to damage anything, okay?" He wasn't encouraged when they seemed to consider the idea like fish pondering bicycles. "How about try not to completely destroy it then?"
"Ah think we can do that." Sam smiled.
"Yer such an optimist." Terry remarked.

Julia strolled in with her rifle slung over one shoulder and boxes of newly-synthesized tranquilizer darts in her arms. "Fake bullets, anyone?"
"I'll take some." said Jimmy. "Is the same stuff you used on Mimic?"
"No, Doctor McCoy tinkered with the mix a bit so this batch should be nearly instantaneous. Don't be shy, there's lots." She encouraged.
"Who's Mimic?" Risque asked as she claimed a box.
"The guy Julia knifed when she first arrived." said Jimmy. "He fell on her so she stuck him in the chest."
She paused in her loading of a clip and smiled approvingly at Julia. "I like your style."

Shatterstar and Tabitha came with a cart of video equipment in tow. Kenton and Josh trailed after them, loaded down with their gear.
"What's all that?" Terry asked.
"My other baby." Kenton said. "It's a duplication and editing field unit."
"If we're going to get the footage on the air for tomorrow morning we'll try to do the prep work right after we get out." Josh explained.

Marcella came in with Cable and Domino. The reporter was the only one in civilian clothes, even if they were safari-style. She looked at the rest of the team preparing their weapons and otherwise milling around in their combat uniforms.
"I feel so underdressed." She said.
"We can probably get you suited up if you want." Cable offered.
"No, I've got to look the part." Marcella said. "As annoying as it is, I've still have to wear make-up and be fully coifed to get on the air. Producers love a scoop but they like a pretty face even more."
"Things we have to do." said Domino. "What else do we have to bring up to the Academy?"
"Just the transmission units if that place has a communications setup like the one upstairs." Marcella said thoughtfully. "We'll call the station as soon as we're ready to send."

Terry glanced up as Shatterstar entered the cabin. She had the feeling something was different with his outfit but she couldn't place it. Same style as yesterday, she thought. Same colour. Then she realized what it was.
"Nae swords, 'Star?" Terry asked with faint amazement.
"No, not for this mission. As we are under strict orders not to cause casualties, Cable insisted that I use only firearms." said Shatterstar.
"I donnae think I've ever seen ye without yer swords." She mused. "How do ye like it?"
"I feel as though I am not fully dressed." He complained.
She laughed. "Do ye realize that most people go through their whole lives without even seeing a real sword?"
"Yes, but I don't wish to suffer the same deprivation."
"There's nae a stun stetting on a sword, what did ye expect?" Terry asked. "We're nae supposed to even hurt anybody on this mission, ye know."
Shatterstar still felt unduly persecuted by the decree. "Julia?"
She looked up from playing with her teleporter belt. This thing is going to get some major use, she thought. "Hmm?"
"What weapons are you bringing?"
"My rifle plus the same two handguns as you. Why?"
"Truly?"
"Yes. Right now I don't even have a knife to my name." said Julia.
Shatterstar sighed. No help there. "I had not expected you to comply so easily."
She leaned over the back of his chair. "There's not much I can do if I'm going to follow orders. On the plus side, this gives me a chance to put the main set in the dishwasher."
He regarded her closely. "Are you joking?"
"No, do you think I clean all my knives by hand? No-one has that much spare time."
"Do ye worry about spots on yer blades?" Terry asked.
"Of course. It's tacky to have any kind of soap residue on the steel." said Julia.
"I fear you have consumed far too much caffeine this evening." Shatterstar decided.
"There's no such thing as too much caffeine." She smirked as she batted at his ponytail.

"Everybody ready?" Roberto asked as he powered up the engines.
"You betcha. Let's do it!" Tabitha yelled from the cabin.

***

Cable and Domino watched as the PACRAT lifted off and then disappeared as the cloaking systems were activated.
"We'd better get going too." said Domino. "They'd never let us forget it if we were late."

***

Julia materialized in the shadows of the rental warehouses. She climbed up to the darkness between two of the angled roofs and settled into virtual invisibility as she watched the scientists leave for the day. If things were according to the schedule, there would be twenty guards throughout the facility on a rotating shift for the night. Hmm. A few are still inside.
"Four of the scientists are working late tonight." She said quietly into her headset.
"Must be racking up the overtime." Sam sent back. "Okay, we'll have to work around that."
She swung her rifle into position. The guards at the gates were visible and looking bored with life. You guys should have called in sick, she thought. She pulled down her infrared goggles. With matching gun sight, it's what every fashionable assassin wears this season. Let's see. Two minutes to shift change. Why get two when you can get four? She waited until the relief shift came into view then shot the guards as they were standing around shooting the breeze. That makes eighteen plus the workaholics inside.
"It's a go."

The team materialized just inside the gates. Jimmy and Sam grabbed the unconscious guards and tucked them away in the gate booth. Julia dropped off her rooftop perch and ran across the road as they opened the gates enough to let her in.
They found the electronics junction and patched in to the security system. Shatterstar opened the control module and input a stream of commands.
"The system is down and will remain so for seven minutes." He stated as he got up.
"Good enough." said Sam.
Risque eyed the door. "Everybody good to go?"
They nodded at her and she imploded the metal. Jimmy kicked the crumpled steel out of the way with a grin.

Kenton started filming as he followed them in. Josh had his gun out and was watching his back. Marcella also had a gun out as she walked ahead. She was talking softly into her collar mike at the same time.
"Tonight, this strike force is breaking into this top-secret government facility. Why? To expose the truth behind the experiments being done on mutant children. These children are being altered and programmed to become creatures known as hounds..."

***

Another wave of Risque's hand took care of the doors to the facility control room.
"What the..?" The rather shocked man inside managed before Jimmy shot him with the darts.

Shatterstar surveyed the panels. "Centralized functions. We are able to seal the building and prevent any outgoing transmissions from this location."
"It's the only time being locked in is going to be a good thing." said Tabitha.
A few commands later all the external doors except for the one imploded on their way in was locked down. All phone lines and computer connections were severed. After a few more commands, all the interior doors were unlocked and the mutant detection systems were disabled.
"They're stuck with us now." Risque smirked.
Sam looked at the schematic. "Do we have a fix on where to start? This place is deeper than the info hinted at."
"The blue markers mean somebody's home." said Terry as she studied the display.
"Okay, we'll start at that one then work our way out." Sam pointed. "Ah kinda thought this place would be filled but Ah guess it's good it isn't."

Terry, Shatterstar and Julia went to handle the guards while Sam took the rest of the team to break the closest group of kids out.

***

The last group of guards was in the staff lounge watching a football game on a small television set. Shatterstar smiled to himself at the irony of having his foes too distracted by a broadcast to pay attention to a threat.
"Commercial break, Mojo-kissers!" He announced as they opened fire.
"This is like shooting fish in a barrel." Terry commented as the last guard fell over. They had been relaxing in avoidance of their rounds so they didn't have their guns close at hand.
"It'd probably be more fun if we had let them run around the hallways a bit." said Julia.
"There are still the four scientists to subdue." Shatterstar reminded them. "Although I strongly doubt they will prove to be any kind of challenge."
Terry smiled. "We can always count on ye to be spoiling for a fight." She tapped her headset back on. "Sam? We've taken care of the guards but the doctors are still about."
"Got you. We'll be on the lookout." Sam responded.

It turned out harder to find their quarry than anything else. The doctors were occupied in one of the labs in the basement of the building. Shatterstar peered through the glass insert of the door.
"They are all there." He said quietly. "It looks to be an operating theater."
Terry frowned. If they interrupted an operation, the patient might suffer. She took a look. "They're nae wearing masks so maybe it's nae too delicate a surgery. Let's do it."

They burst in and shot the scientists before they could react. As they fell to the floor, the subject on the table came into view. It was a teenage boy in a transitional state between human and wolf.
"An autopsy." said Terry as she studied the still form.
Julia inspected the IV drips with an expert eye. "No, a murder. He was poisoned first."
"Are ye sure?" She asked.
"Yes. These drugs are popular with my crowd. No real doctor would dare use them like this." said Julia.
Shatterstar looked at the video camera that was recording the procedure. "We will take this vid. It is proof of their crime."
While he removed the cassette, Terry found a sheet and covered the body.
"I'm sorry we dinnae come in time to save ye, lad."

***

Sam led his team down the hallway. He could hear noises from the far end behind a pair of double doors.
"What do you hear?" He asked Jimmy.
"There's three different people in there. They sound like kids. I don't hear or scent anybody else but us in the vicinity."
"Okay."
Tabitha and Risque took up position on each side of the doors. Sam and Jimmy held their guns ready. Kenton and Marcella stood to one side while Josh stood beside Jimmy.
"Go." said Sam.
The doors were yanked open. On the other side was a short hallway with large glass enclosed rooms on each side. The yelling stopped and faces appeared pressed to the glass.
"Oh Christ." Risque muttered. The faces were young, early teens. Two boys and a girl. She approached the closest boy. "What's up? We're the rescue squad. Stay cool and we'll get you out."
"Out?" He slurred.
Marcella grabbed the chart hanging by the door and skimmed the contents.
"He's been drugged." She held up the report to the camera and began describing the contents.
Tabitha approached the girl. She was probably around thirteen. "Hi. Uh, sorry but we can't take the masks off yet. I'm smiling friendly-like under here if it makes you feel better."
The girl looked at her hopefully. "Who are you?"
"We're friends." said Tabitha. She picked up the report hanging beside the girl's door. She's a telepath? She looked at Sam. "Let them out now?"
"Yeah." Sam nodded.
"Stand back from the door." Tabitha told the girl. She manifested a small timebomb and blew the lock away. "C'mon on out, we're not gonna hurt you." She coaxed gently.
The girl took her outstretched hand and held it an almost crushing grip as she began to cry.
"Oh, hey. Shush. It's okay." Tabitha tried as she patted the girl's back.
Risque imploded the lock on the boy's cell and held the door open. "Okay, kid. You're out of there."
Marcella waved for Jimmy to come over. "You'd better stick close. The drug they used on him is an anti-psychotic."
The boy shuffled forward unsteadily. He didn't resist when Jimmy put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm on your side. Don't be scared." said Jimmy.
"Not scared." The boy said slowly. "Gerry's coming?"
"Yeah." The last boy agreed as Sam opened his cell. "Uh, hi. That's Lindy and Martin. He'll be okay in few hours."
"You seem okay." Risque observed.
"Drugs don't work on me. That's what the collar's for. I get zapped if I get out of line." Gerry said quietly.

***

They came around a corner and spotted Sam's team waiting outside a set of doors.
"Tabitha and Jimmy went up to the PACRAT with the kids." said Sam.

The team moved on to the next area that was supposedly occupied according to the schematics. The featureless hallways and unmarked doors didn't provide any clues as to the contents of the rooms.
"What the hell's wrong with these people? Didn't they have the cash to spring for a few signs?" Risque asked.
"We'll have to split up again. 'Star, ye and Julia can search this side." said Terry. "We'll have a peek at the other wing."
Sam looked at the camera crew. "Ya'll want to come with us or stay here?"
"We'll tag along with these two for a change of pace." Marcella decided. "If you find the kids first then just yell and we'll come running."
"Okay, holler if you need us." said Sam.

***

"Find anything?" Josh asked as he poked his head in another room.
Julia opened another door on the other side of the hallway. "No, but I get the feeling they've been moved out recently. These rooms look like somebody was living here."
Marcella pushed open a door and frowned. It had been a child's bedroom but hastily abandoned. There were still posters on the walls and few articles of clothing on the floor.
"They bugged out. Either somebody knew we were on to them or a group of these kids were pulled out for something else."
"Damn." Kenton muttered from a few doors down. "Guys, come see this."

The room had been destroyed. There were furrows on the walls and most of the bedding had been torn apart. The furniture was in similar condition. Julia went in and examined the remnants of the decorations. There were a few tattered posters of cars and girls. She opened the closet. A small collection boy's clothes hung haphazardly on the hangers.
"This was your room, wasn't it?" She asked absently.
"What? Who are you talking about?" Marcella asked.
"We found the doctors doing an autopsy on a poisoned boy who looked like a changeling caught between shapes." She touched the scoring on the dresser. "He had claws."
Marcella shook her head. "Get some stills, Josh."
"You got it." Josh said as he took the cap off his camera.
"How many kids do you figure they've been killing in here?" Kenton asked quietly.
They didn't have an answer for him.

***

Shatterstar opened the next door. This room was brightly coloured with alphabets decorating the walls. All the furniture was child-sized. There were stainless steel pens lining one wall. Several children looked up at him from inside the containers as he entered.
"Za's vid." He whispered. This was too close to what he remembered from his own childhood. He crouched down and studied a small boy with dusky skin. The boy's golden eyes were like those of a cat.
"Hello, little one. Do not be afraid. I am here to free you."
The boy seemed to consider that. "Why?"
His grip on his gun tightened at the innocence of the question. "Because this is not a good place."
"Okay. Can I have a cookie?"
"Yes, if I can find such a thing." He looked the lock on the cage. It was plain steel. Ah, I have a key, he thought as he pulled out his laser cutter. The lock was swiftly cut off and the door swung open. He placed the child on the miniature sofa.
"Wait here. I will bring your companions."
"What's that?"
"Companions. Your," He paused and considered a word a child would understand. "playmates?"
"Okay." The child agreed as he kicked his feet against the cushions.

***

Julia, with camera team in tow, followed the sounds of children talking to the open door. Inside, Shatterstar was sitting in the middle of a group of pre-schoolers, dispensing cookies.
"Shit. Um, pardon my language." Josh said. "They're just babies."
Marcella looked around and noticed the steel cages. "Christ, look at the cribs."
"Paid for with your tax dollars." Kenton remarked from behind his camera. "Mar, let's start with a pan shot."

***

As the crew did their tour of the room, Julia opened the adjacent office door. A stack of reports was heaped casually on the desk. Someone doesn't like filing, she thought. She flipped through one at random. Aggression enhancements. Mutation advancing. Termination of nonpromising subject.
She bit her lip. "Oh gods." Such scientific language, she thought. It almost disguises the fact they tortured and murdered a child.
Shatterstar came in. "What have you found?"
She looked up and had to smile a tiny bit. "You've got crumbs on you."
He brushed himself off as she showed him the report she was reading.
"They aren't children. They're lab experiments." She said. "One was killed last night because he wasn't advancing fast enough even after the alterations."
"The cowards. They slaughter the helpless." He said with quiet anger. He ran his hand over the pile of reports. So many folders but there were only five children in the room. Too close his homeworld indeed.
"The trainers did not experiment on us, but those who showed little progress were often taken away."

***

Sam's team was called back to help take the toddlers to the PACRAT and pack the files from the office. The information on what had been done to the children would be required by their new physician at the Academy.
"Sam? Can Risque and Terry stay up here? The little guys are kind of upset and I can't really help settle them down from the cockpit." Roberto sent.
"Okay, Ah think we should be fine." Sam agreed. "It's just the paperwork now."

***

The records room turned out to be a bigger job than they anticipated. There were dozens of filing cabinets lining the walls. Josh and Shatterstar went to the computer systems room next door to pull the hard drives from the servers.
"Ah hope we brought enough boxes." said Sam as he surveyed the room.
Kenton put his camera down on top of cabinet. "We'd better all pitch in if we're going to clean this place out."

Jimmy came down with the stack of flattened boxes and the teleport field markers. A few minutes later, they were packing files hurriedly. Sam setup the markers in a rough square and the filled boxes were set down inside.
"Ah think we'll have to do two batches." said Sam. "'Berto, bring it up."
"Got you." Roberto replied.
The boxes inside the square disappeared.
Marcella opened a cabinet and whistled at the shelves of video tapes. "We hit the motherlode."
"More dirt that we could have ever hoped for." Kenton agreed. "Pass 'em over."

***

At the Massachusetts Academy, Doctor Ellie Maxwell waited anxiously for her new patients. X-Force had maintained radio silence so they had no idea what they were getting. Sean glanced over at the pediatrician. She was just out of medical school with a specialty in mutant physiology and looked terribly serious about her first post.
"Is the waiting getting to ye, lass?" He asked kindly.
"Yeah, a bit." She admitted as she tucked a stray lock of sandy hair behind one ear.
"Ye get used to it after awhile." He smiled.
Overhead, the lighted outline of the PACRAT appeared and slowly descended onto the Academy grounds.
"Looks like they're here." Emma said.

The team and their liberated charges emerged from the craft. Ellie sighed as she realized they had been snacking on candy and sodas so they would be far too hyper to sleep. Well, I guess we'll do a few assessments since everyone's going to stay awake anyway, she thought.
"Saints, they're so young." Sean said as the pre-schoolers were led down the ramp by Terry and Tabitha.
"Yer going to have to set up a day care." Terry smiled.
Emma melted slightly at the scene then nodded. "We do have a temporary nursery ready beside the medlab. Agnes is waiting so you can take them in now."
Terry nodded. "All right, ye little imps. Follow us and we'll go see the nice nurse."
"Kind of like watching a duck with ducklings." Jimmy commented.
The three older kids trailed after them then stopped at the bottom of the ramp.
Gerry waved uncertainly at their welcoming committee.
"Uh, hi." He said quietly.
"Hello there, lad." Sean said. "Donnae worry, we're all friends here. I'm Sean Cassidy and this is Emma Frost. We're the headmasters of the school."
"I'm Gerry Stevens." He said with greater assurance.
Lindy waved. "My name's Lindy Edwards. This is Martin Taylor. He's not feeling very good right now. The doctors made him take the pills again."
Ellie came over. "Hello, Martin. I'm Doctor Maxwell. You can call me Ellie if you like."
He blinked at her. "Doctor Ellie?"
"Okay, that works too." She smiled.
Lindy held out their charts. "This is some of the stuff that's happened lately. Um, Risque says they've got the rest of our records in the plane."
"I'll need to get you inside and see if we can figure out what they gave you, okay?" Ellie said to Martin.
He nodded and she led him to the medlab.
"Why donnae you two come in and we can get ye changed and settled in." Sean suggested. "Ye can meet the other students if ye like."

"Well, that went relatively painlessly." Julia remarked as the headmasters took the two kids inside.
"Now we just got to unload the boxes." Sam sighed.

***

The files were stored away for future examination and the team went to meet with Cable and Domino. The camera crew came along to show the raw footage that had been taken and to add their observations. The whereabouts of the children that had disappeared from the facility would have to be investigated since all agreed it was too suspicious that so many subjects would have been removed at one time. After they had finished their report, they were left to their own devices while the camera crew prepared the tape.

***

Julia yawned from her quiet spot in the biosphere. She had found a convenient bench to lie down and look at the stars for a while. The Academy was still jumping even at this late hour. Kyle and Shard had come back from their movie date and had hit it off with older three right away. Good thing, she thought absently. Since they're all living here. The toddlers were being fussed over by whoever saw them so they certainly weren't going to suffer for lack of attention. Every now and then, she could swear someone was close by but since no-one presented themselves, she passed it off as squirrels. Then she definitely heard something that couldn't be any type of nut-hunting rodent, footsteps on the gravel path. She sat up and fiddled with the pins in her hair.

"Hello, child." Ororo said as she approached.
"Good evening, Ms Monroe." said Julia politely. My, I must have offended one of the gods today.
"Have you been in contact with Remy lately?" Ororo asked. "He has not seen fit to write or call me."
"Monsieur LeBeau has been away from his duties for quite awhile." She said. "Undoubtedly, once he's caught up at home, he'll remember his manners and write you."
"His Guild duties." Ororo mused. "He left the Guild when he became an X-Man."
"I beg your pardon but one can never leave." Julia corrected. "We can live elsewhere and do other things but we are sworn to the Guild above all other loyalties."
"The X-Men serve a higher moral purpose. I am sure Remy respects that and will eventually return to us." She said. "And what of you, child? Have you come to recognize that what your Guild represents is wrong? A society that worships a creature as evil as Selene is by its very nature immoral."

Had it been Remy who said that, Julia would have smiled and made some smart comment about Candra's greed. Casual insults between equals were taken as good-natured teasing. But this woman was, according to him and several others, just another street-thief so she wasn't obliged to grant her the same level of courtesy as a Guild member. I'm not going to let some pick-pocket get the better of me, she thought.

"Ms Monroe, I realize that you've been a kept woman for most of your life so you have a rather insulated view of the world." said Julia. "However, I would appreciate it if you kept your opinions about my home and my patron to yourself."
Ororo's blue eyes whited over briefly then returned to normal. "Your rudeness is not welcome, child."
"Then don't invite it but casting judgments on things you have no knowledge." She said. "I won't criticize you for being an amateur thief if you don't criticize me for being an assassin."
Ororo stiffened and opened her mouth to express her distain at the child's obvious lack of respect. I lead the X-Men, she thought. I will not be spoken to in this manner.
Julia held up a hand to stay whatever Ororo was about to say. "Furthermore, please do not address me as 'child'. I find condescension insulting. Use my name in either the long or short form or, if you wish to retain some distance between us, Lady de Santos is acceptable."
"Are you claiming noble blood?" Ororo asked with the faintest sneer.
"No. I earned my nobility the old-fashioned way." Julia smiled. "I killed a lot of people and was rewarded by my sovereign."
She controlled her temper and smiled at the girl. I can also play this game, she decided. "My mother's family have been in Africa for thousands of years. Our house was not founded on death but on life."
"That's very impressive." Julia allowed. "Have you yet to conceive an heir to this heritage? Remy didn't mention any children when he spoke of you."
Ororo suddenly felt the weight of her less-than-successful personal life. "No, not as yet."
"Oh? If I may say so, you don't look to be the sort to have difficulty in attracting a suitor. You're quite well
formed." Julia commented.
She was somewhat mollifed at the compliment. "I have had my suitors but none have been appropriate choices to father a child."
Julia tilted her head. "Should you delay much longer? I mean no offense but none of us are getting any younger."

Roberto ambled up as Ororo strode in the opposite direction with a strange expression on her face. Julia was looking excessively sweet again.
"You've been fighting with the weather goddess?" He asked with a grin.
"Goddess? Hardly. She's just a mortal putting on airs." Julia smirked. "And, if I don't miss my guess, she's feeling very mortal right now."
"Oh yeah?"
"Two words: biological clock."
"That's a scary thought." Roberto winced. "I've come to collect you for pizza time."
"Ooh, food. That's always welcome." She smiled. "How do you guys deal with it when the other X-people hassle you?"
"We ignore it and then bitch about them later." He said as they strolled to the kitchen. "She gave me the third degree when she found out I allied my family with the Guild."
"Why? You did it of your own will so what's the problem?"
"She used to be a thief but she says thieving is wrong. When I pointed out that a lot of the Guild is a pretty straight forward business, she said they were manipulating the economy so that honest businesses couldn't succeed."
"Gods, how open-minded of her. " Julia sighed. "Have they assigned you an agent yet?"
"Yes, her name's Helena. We met the week before I left home. I was totally in love until I met her husband." said Roberto. "She's pushing me to get an MBA so when I take over the business full time I'll be able to say I've actually gone to school instead of hanging around Gideon and Cable." He looked curiously at her. "Is it true that the Guilds might be merging?"
"Oh that's been going on for years." She said. "You know that your gang handles most of the economic concerns already for us and we do the military sorts of things, right? Well, a few decades ago a clever soul thought it would be simpler for all involved if we combined the Councils and became one happy clan. I honestly don't think the idea will ever fly. Candra won't let her power base go to Selene and many of the Thieves' Houses won't worship a pagan pantheon."
"Huh. I wouldn't have thought religion would be that big a deal." Roberto remarked. "I saw the dedication hall to Candra when I was in Rio. I got the impression they didn't worship her but they did respect her."
"They used to, but she's not a magical being just a long-lived one so that's fallen by the wayside." Julia explained. "Gratitude and reverence are two different things. What the Assassins feel for Selene is reverence."
He looked uncomfortable. "I, uh, tried to kill her when we first met her."
"I know." She winked. "But then she wouldn't be a goddess if she could be done in by a teenager. Obviously she bears you no ill will if she hasn't come after you or hasn't instructed one of her followers to kill you."
"I feel so much better now." He grinned as he pushed the door of the kitchen open.

***

After partaking of the pizza, Shatterstar went looking for the camera crew. They had taken over the Academy's communications room and were busy setting up their equipment.
Kenton looked up as he entered.
"What can we do for you?" He asked absently as he sorted out some wires.
"I would like to observe what must be done to have a program broadcast if you are agree." said Shatterstar.
"Sure, have a seat." Josh said.

Their mission tape was first edited to take out any unnecessary segments. Then they went over the sound to make sure no-one had said anything that might have given away their identities. Finally, the faces of the children were masked with black ovals.

"I thought that it was the goal to have the children returned to their families." Shatterstar remarked.
"Yeah, but it's more likely that their keepers will want them back." Josh said. "Dom says they'll work on tracing their parents once the heat dies down."
Marcella came in with another pot of coffee and a few relatively fresh danishes. "Hey, guys. How's it going?"
"A sugar fix!" Josh said, reaching for the plate.
"Pass the high-octane." Kenton grinned. "We're ready to go with the final dub. I've already made the backup copies of it and the unedited master."
Marcella poured them each a cup with a flourish. "I'll get Janice out of bed with an obscenely late phone call."
"She'll love it. This kind of scoop will make her producer of the year." Josh said between bites of pastry. "Be creative and make it a late obscene phone call at the same time."
"Uh uh." She said as she pulled out her cellular phone. "We're already the supposed to be the flakiest investigative reporters in the business so I'm not gonna give the one producer who takes us seriously a hard time. " She moved to the other end of the room. "Hey, Jan? Yeah, it's me..."
"Why did she say only one producer takes your efforts seriously?" Shatterstar asked quietly.
"'Cause we do stuff like tag along behind a mutant strike force when they break into government research facilities." Josh smirked.
"We do the stories that the 'real' reporters wouldn't ever touch." Kenton said. "Alien abductions, crop circles, conspiracies, that kind of thing. The mutant issue is probably the most mainstream we've gotten."
"Alien abductions?" Shatterstar asked.
"Yeah. It happens all the time." Josh said. "Do you believe in life on other planets?"
"Yes, very much so." He said with smile.

***

Sam was in a good mood as he sought out his sister. The mission had gone perfectly and things were starting to really come together for their team. He found her sitting in the living room watching television with Angelo. For some reason, they weren't socializing with the new kids. Even Monet is having a good time doing some colouring books with the little guys, he thought.
"Hi there, y'all." He smiled.
"Dios, it's Cable's little buddy." Angelo muttered.
"Don't be rude to my brother." Paige snapped. "What did you want, Sam?"
"Ah thought since Ah'm here, why don't we catch up?" Sam suggested.

"How you been doing?" Sam asked once they had relocated to Emma's study.
"Awful! Paige complained. "Ever since Miss Frost has been working with Domino and Cable, she hasn't been around at all. We have real classes now with a bunch of different teachers. Mister Cassidy spends most of the time working on security with Bishop and meeting with his Interpol friends. And what's the worst is that we're not going to be X-Men!"
"What are y'all going to be?" He asked. I wonder if they going to train to join us? He thought with foreboding. I don't think the gang is going to like that.
"We're supposed to graduate and get jobs." She said miserably. "Miss Frost said we should start thinking about what colleges we'd like to go to."
"Y'all are going to be educated whether you like it or not." He grinned. "Momma's going to be so proud."
"You're not helping!"
"Paige, Ah know you keep going on about how you want to be an X-Man. Don't you want to do anything else with your life? Me and mah friends aren't any good for much else except shooting and causing trouble. That shouldn't be what you want too."
"Don't tell me what to do." She glared at him.
"Ah'm not. Ah'm telling you to think." Sam got up and paced around the room. "It's not like the movies. We're not heroes. Heck, most of the time we're not much liked. Ah'm sorry that you're mad that Ah think this isn't good life for you but Ah'm not changing mah mind. You're smart, Paige. You can still go to school and be something better than me. Ah'm a mutant high school drop-out with a gun."
"You're not that much older than me." She pointed out. "Why don't you go back to school?"
"Ah want to fight this war." He said. "Maybe after things get better Ah'll try to finishing mah schooling but Ah can't walk away from this now."

***

Six AM the next morning.

"Hurry up, guys!" Tabitha called. "It's on!"
They rushed into the living room as the early morning edition news started and made themselves comfortable.

On screen, the news anchor nodded tersely at them. "In our top story: government-sanctioned experiments on mutant children. We have exclusive footage from inside a top-secret facility that may shed new light on the policies of our elected leaders. We caution that some of the images may be disturbing to some viewers. Bryan, over to you."

They watched as their raid on the Hound facility was shown. The covering reporter made a few comments that could have been taken either way but most of the narration was Marcella's. After the tape ended, the reporter conducted some 'man on the street' interviews to get a handle on what the average citizen thought about the news. They cheered at the predominately supportive responses.
"Progress already!" Roberto crowed. "They're calling us activists not terrorists!"
"What's the dif?" Risque asked.
"You can wreck stuff if you're an activist but people don't mind because it's a good cause." Jimmy explained.

The autopsy tape was shown and they were silent as the boy was killed for the sake of experimentation.
"Ah wonder if his folks will come forward now." said Sam. "He deserves to at least be buried by kin."
"Probably not. All those kids were runaways and the little guys were orphans. His folks are probably glad their freak kid is dead." said Tabitha.
"It's a shame we couldn't get the rest of the scientists on film. They should get their share of attention for what they were doing." Julia mused.
"I understand such a thing may happen." Shatterstar commented. "Josh and Domino are strongly considering using the vids we obtained for further broadcasts."

A government spokesperson was interviewed and gave the reporter a series of obviously canned responses. The overall statement was that they were denying involvement with any such experimentation and that the scientists were acting under their own mandate.
Cable snorted. "Passing the buck won't save you."
"I wonder what dear Valerie thinks about all this." Emma mused with more than a hint of maliciousness. "She's going to have to run for cover soon."
"We should go for a live broadcast next time." Kenton advised. "That way the suits won't have time to prep their squeaky-clean statements."
Domino looked over the top of her coffee cup. "That'd be a bitch to coordinate."
"Not really." Josh said with a stifled yawn. "Set up the relay signals ahead of time and then go for it."

***

Two days later, Jimmy went to visit one the offices of the National Council on Indian Affairs. He was looking to bring them on board as supporters for their new lobby group and to find out if any further information had surfaced about the Camp Verde massacre. Shatterstar, Risque and Julia went along partially as moral support and partially because it was something to do.

"Guys, I need to talk you for a second." said Jimmy as he waved them over.
"Is there a problem?" Shatterstar asked. He glanced around. The area seemed calm but perhaps Jimmy had detected something with his superior senses.
"No, not a fight-type problem. I've got to get a birthday gift for Risque so somebody has to keep her company for a while." He said quietly.
"I've meaning to ask why don't you call her Gloria." said Julia. "That's her name, after all."
"Risque suits her better." Jimmy opined. "Anyway, can you make sure she doesn't follow me or something? I want it to be a surprise."
"Sure. We can have an invigorating walk through Central Park." She smiled.
Shatterstar frowned. "Am I to assume that you wish for me to accompany you?"
"Yeah. It's got to look like we're doing a buddy thing." Jimmy agreed. "'Sides, you might have some ideas about what to get her."
"That is a highly misguided impression. I'm not the best advisor in these matters." Shatterstar protested. "Julia is far more suitable for this duty."
"No. She'd know that something was definitely up if I went shopping with one of her girlfriends." said Jimmy.
"Well, I'm going to keep her entertained before she wonders what the hell we're being so secretive about." Julia told them. "Meet you two back here in what? An hour?"
"Yeah, that should be enough time." Jimmy agreed, checking his watch. "C'mon, 'Star."

Julia giggled at Shatterstar's betrayed look as he followed Jimmy back to the shops. She strolled back to where Risque was waiting.
"What did you want to do? The boys wanted to go shopping for a while."
Risque smiled. "I guess we kill time while James picks up my birthday gift."
"He's trying to surprise you, you know." Julia chided.
"I'll be totally shocked that he remembered." She agreed. "I know the rules. Any ideas?"
"Not really." said Julia. "I'd like to get a coffee regardless. How about we walk around the park there?"
"Sounds okay." Risque shrugged. "An hour's not enough for us to go on our own shopping trip."

***

They were meandering around when a tall blond man in a strange metal and leather outfit dropped onto the path a few paces in front of them. He was holding a few small blades in one hand.
Risque whistled appreciatively. "Just look at the way that leather fits."
"That's custom made for sure." Julia observed. Throwing blades, she noted. The whole outfit is covered with them. And he has a pair of, what the hell are those on his back? Axes? Damn, he's not a standard mugger. But then, we're not standard tourists either.
The man seemed taken aback but recovered well. "Gloria Muñoz, your presence is required by your former employer."
"Oh, no. You tell him that I'm staying out." Risque instructed firmly.
"This isn't negotiable. You're coming with me."
"The hell I am." She shot back.
"Then we'll do this the hard way." He informed her as he leapt forward.
He met the onrushing force wave about half-way and was slammed backwards for half a block. They watched as he landed bonelessly on the ground.
"Well, did you want to leave him there or did you want to pound him further?" Julia inquired politely as she stirred her café latte.
"I think we should teach the boy not to pick fights with girls." said Risque thoughtfully.

***

Much to Shatterstar's relief, Jimmy had some idea of what he wanted to acquire so they did not spend endless amounts of time searching through the stores. The gift was purchased and they headed back to the designated rendezvous point. The girls were waiting for them with distinctly conspiratorial smiles.

"What did you two do now?" Asked Jimmy as he looked around. Building are still standing, he noted. No alarms, no emergency crews.
"Come for walk, guys," Risque invited.
"What has happened?" Shatterstar asked Julia as they entered the park.
"Oh you'll see." She smiled.
They veered off the main path to a smaller trail.
"Check it out." Risque pointed.
Shatterstar stared at the nearly naked figure bound to a light post with the shredded remains of his clothes. "What?"
"His bones wouldn't set properly if we didn't straighten him out." Julia explained.
"Spirits, that's Adam." Jimmy blinked.
"Buddy of yours?" Risque asked sharply. "You'd better teach him some manners because he tried to jump us."
"He could not be termed a close friend but we are acquainted." said Shatterstar. "What did you do to him?"
"Gave him a friendly tap with a force wave." said Julia. "Then she imploded all his weapons.
"And damn, did he ever have a lot of them too." Risque commented as she toed a little scrap of metal on the ground.
"Why did he attack you?" Asked Shatterstar.
"He's working for my old boss." said Risque. "The man wants me back on staff." She put a hand on Jimmy's arm and looked up at his concerned expression. "It was totally legit when I quit but he can be a pushy sonofabitch."

Adam stirred. He opened his eyes to see his target, her friend and two people he recognized standing around talking.
"Hey." He managed weakly. He winced at the pain when he took too deep a breath. My ribs must be busted, he thought. What hit me?
Shatterstar approached. "Hello again, Adam."
"Get me down. I can barely breathe." He wheezed.
"One moment. I think my companions wish to discuss this first."
"So what do we want to do?" Jimmy asked on cue.
"Let's leave him for the cops to figure out." Julia suggested.
"No!" Adam protested.
"Chill." said Risque. "Are you still going to be on my case?"
He glared sullenly at her.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'." She said. "Now what? I don't want this looser tagging after me."
Jimmy shrugged. "I don't care just as long as he doesn't bother you any more."
Julia pulled out her gun and attached the silencer. "He can ID us and doesn't seem to want to take 'no' for an answer. I'll make this quick and we can get out of here." She pointed the gun at Adam's head. "Nothing personal, you understand."

***

Jimmy related X-Force's encounter with Adam to Risque and Julia as they walked back to the car.
"I can't believe he whumped the entire team." Risque shook her head.
"Cable couldn't have missed that many times." said Julia. "And he's a telepath for goodness sakes. He can know what you're about to do instantly."
"No doubt." She poked Jimmy in the chest. "Why didn't you flatten him?"
"Give me a break." Jimmy sighed. "He moved a lot faster than I could."
"You can run at almost one hundred miles an hour." said Julia. "You can't tell me that's not fast enough."
"That's happened just recently." He protested. "And we were still pretty raw as a team."
"You guys should tag-team him again so you know if you've made any progress." Risque suggested.

***

Shatterstar helped Adam to walk as they followed the others at a slower pace. Adam was in a foul mood as he no longer had any of his blades and almost none of his clothes. He was wearing Shatterstar's coat in an effort not to attract too much attention as they passed by the regular park attendants.
"You are fortunate I was able to convince them that you should live." Shatterstar commented.
"Thanks for saving me from your psycho bitch girlfriend." said Adam sarcastically.
"I will break your other leg if you insult her again." He said seriously.
Adam glanced over. Touched a nerve there. "So is she?"
"Is she what?"
"Your girlfriend."
"No, not the sense I think you mean."
"Huh."
Adam studied the graceful figure in front of them. Nice, he decided. The target was pretty cute too, come to think about it. "Why not?"
"I think you should conserve your strength." Shatterstar advised.
I'm not put off that easily, he thought. "Is it because you're married?"
"No."
"Are you seeing someone else?"
"No."
"Is she with somebody else?"
"No."
"Are you gay?"
"No. Why do you ask that?"
"Just checking. Does she like girls instead?"
"No."
Doesn't leave much more, Adam thought. Roosha, my chest hurts. Think about something else.
"What were you doing out here?" He asked.
"Why are you asking so many questions? I don't recall you being this inquisitive." Shatterstar commented.
"It takes my mind off the pieces of my breastbone that are floating around my bloodstream." He muttered.
Shatterstar smiled slightly.
"If you laugh I will hunt you down as soon as I can." Adam promised.
"I am not laughing. I am smirking."

***

The trip back to the mansion was uneventful but it was small mercy to Adam that they had brought one of the Land Rovers instead of Risque's Mustang. Being wedged into the backseat of that car wouldn't have helped his injuries any.

"Hey guys, how'd the thing at the Indian Council go?" Roberto asked when they joined the rest of the gang in the living room.
"Okay. They're going to consider doing the lobbying with us." said Jimmy. "I'll hear back from them in a few days but the guys I talked to seemed cool with the idea. You'll never guess who we ran into."
"Apocalypse?" Tabitha guessed.
"Pick somebody who's not blue." He hinted.
"Another Jean clone?" She tried.
"Never mind. I'll tell you: Adam. You know, Xtreme."
"Extreme what?" Julia asked automatically.
"Hair extensions." said Risque without missing a beat.
They looked at each other and laughed.
"Not that arrogant alien bastard again." Roberto groaned.
"You gotta be kidding!" Tabitha sat up in surprise. "What is he doing around here?"
"Being a pest." Julia commented.
"Who's being a pest?" Sam asked as he came in with sodas.
"Adam." Jimmy repeated. "Remember the bouncy guy with the hair and the blades?"
"Heck, Ah thought he was off trying to find himself or something." He said as he sat down. "Here you go, Tabs."
"Thanks, hon. So what happened to him? Where's 'Star, by the way?" Tabitha asked between sips.
"We happened to him." Risque smirked. "Hard. 'Star's taking him to see that fuzzy blue doc downstairs."
Roberto smiled. "My faith in the justice of the universe has been restored. I kiss your hands, ladies."
"My goodness, 'Berto. We'll have to find you a royal court in which to ply your flattery." said Julia with as much of a bow as she could execute while curled up on the sofa.
"So this guy's really from another planet?" Risque asked. "I'm not being slow but come on, most people don't talk about aliens like they were just hanging around."
"What to you think 'Star is? He's not human either." Jimmy told her.
"I think he's a cute but weird guy who likes watching stupid amounts of TV." She shrugged.
"Well, yeah. That's true too." Tabitha allowed. "Anyway, Adam said he wasn't from this world. We just roll with it when people tell us stuff like that. It's usually the truth."
"If he's from another planet why don't we strap him to a rocket and send him back?" Risque suggested.
"I like it." She agreed as she played with a mini-timebomb.
"Ah don't think his people want him." said Sam. "That why he's here."
"We don't have to send him back to his planet. We can just send him to a planet. There's lots of them available." Roberto pointed out.
"Especially when you don't worry about things like a breathable atmosphere." Jimmy smirked.

***

Hank had one of his Strauss CD's blasting in the medlab when Shatterstar came in with Adam.
"DOCTOR!" Shatterstar yelled over the music. The figure in the lab coat swaying to the rousing strains of 'Tales from the Vienna Woods' didn't turn around. He went to the mini-stereo and turned the volume down. "Doctor, there is someone who requires your skills."
"Oh my stars and garters, I hadn't even noticed you there." said Hank.
"I'm going to die." Adam muttered as he stared at the large furry physician.
"Hardly the condition you should seek while in my hands." He said mildly. "Let us cover the social conventions first. Doctor Henry McCoy is my appellation of choice." He looked expectantly at his unidentified guest.
"Adam. I don't have a last name."
"Ah, a mysterious single name individual. And what has afflicted you today? Besides a lack of clothing and a colourful array of bruises?" Hank asked.
"Two crazy women." said Adam.
Shatterstar ignored the reference. It is not honourable to attack the wounded, he reminded himself.
"He attempted to attack Risque and Julia. They took offense."
Hank tried not to smile to broadly. "Well, from your presence here I can assume you are on friendly terms with at least one member of that forthright fighting faction."
"Yeah, for what it's worth." Adam said.
"I think I am regretting sparing your life." Shatterstar remarked. "His right leg is broken and he has been complaining of pains in his chest. We estimate that his ribs may also be broken."
"My goodness." Hank commented as he fetched some equipment.

***

Leaving Adam in the doctor's care, Shatterstar went back upstairs to see what the others were doing. Undoubtedly his presence here will be the subject of much comment, he thought. He found the team holding an impromptu meeting in the living room. Domino looked over as he came in and sat down on the sofa beside Julia.
"Where's the would-be mugger?" Domino asked.
"Doctor McCoy is tending to him now." Shatterstar reported.
"Has he learned anything from his object lesson today?"
"He does not seem to be interested in resuming his efforts to abduct Risque."
Jimmy scowled. "He'd be not be."
Cable leaned forward. "Tell me about this Sledge character."
"He's an info broker. I used to find out stuff for him." Risque looked down at the coffee table briefly. "Who could resist a gorgeous babe like me?"
Domino frowned. Damn, that's no way to live, she thought. "We don't need to know about that."
Risque shot her a grateful look. "Okay. Anyway, he's not a big player like the people you guys have mixed it up with. Does work mostly with the families and some of the bigger gangs in Detroit. He's stayed out of the superpowered game as far as I know."
Cable nodded. "All right. So he wants you back. Presumably, he might want Adam back too. Tough. You're here and you're staying so he has to come through all of us."
"What about blondie?" Risque asked.
"He's not going anywhere busted up. If he tries anything, well, we'll deal with it." said Domino.

***

Wade was watching a particularly good hockey game that night when the phone rang. He glared at the offending device. It can wait until the period's over, he decided. Hang on. It might be Terry. He grabbed the receiver.
"It's your dime, talk to me." He said between mouthfuls of popcorn. Huh. Needs more butter, he thought looking down at his snack. A healing factor meant you never had to worry about your cholesterol count.
"Mr. Wade Wilson, I presume?"
The voice sounded male, British and educated. Not exactly the usual type he hung around with. He considered. Nope, I don't recognize the guy.
"Yeah, you got me. Can I do something for you?"
"Possibly. I understand you are willing to take on certain tasks in return for medical attention."
He nearly dropped the phone in his sudden excitement. Damn, it's de Santos' contact. The guy that might be able to fix me.
"You bet. Any time, any place."
"Excellent. I will require to meet with you in person to discuss your case as well as the nature of the task that you will be required to perform."
He scrambled for a pen and paper as the man detailed the meeting time and location. I need one of those note pad thingys beside the phone, he thought as he scribbled on the back of a take-out menu.
"Okay, I'll be there."
"Very well. Good evening, Mr. Wilson."
He looked at the phone in confusion as the man hung up. Who says 'good evening' as the parting shot? He wondered.

Wade picked up the phone again. Might as well get whatever hints I can, he thought as he dialed.
"Hello?"
"Julia? It's me, Wade."
"Hey there. What's on your mind?"
"Heh heh. You don't want to know that."
"Gods, you're fantasizing about being wrapped in seaweed again, aren't you?"
"How'd you guess? Listen, I got a call from your medical friend. I'm gonna see him tomorrow. Any advice?"
"Yes. Watch your mouth. He hates smart comments so if in doubt, shut up."
"Uh, okay. Are you saying that because it's me?"
"No. Well, maybe. I'm not kidding, Wade. Take sedatives or something if you have to. Oh, and remember your manners."
"All right. Jeez, sounds like I'm gonna see Emily Post."
"Think Emily Post with a hair-trigger rocket launcher."
"Got you. Thanks."
"No problem. Bye."
"Yeah, bye."

He turned back to the TV as the final goal was scored. "Oh fudge!"

***

First thing the next morning, Hank snagged Cable as the rather groggy soldier was seeking his first caffeine hit of the day and requested a meeting in the medlab.

Hank fiddled with his glasses absently. "I took the liberty of doing some elementary blood work on your new charge and some highly unusual characteristics appeared."
Cable sighed. One more drawn-out explanation. "Go on."
"Adam is evidently a Shi'ar-human hybrid."
"Good for him. What's so important about his DNA?"
"He also is more than likely, and when I say more, I mean I am almost certain, a direct relation of yours."
"What?!"
The doctor got up and switched on a display. "I've identified key factors that are identical in you, Scott and Alex. Furthermore, these are not found in the data I have on Christopher Summers. Therefore, I would suggest that Adam is Katherine Summers' son. Given that natural cross-breeding between our species is not possible, I would further suggest that his conception was artificial."
Cable resisted the impulse to put his head down on the table. "Oath, McCoy. You really know how to jump start somebody's day."
"I do try." Hank smiled. "I attempted a cross-match with the data I have on Lilandra and there were enough similarities for me to venture that the Shi'ar parent in question was her brother, D'Ken. As you know, Katherine was abducted and held in his custody up until the time of her death."
Cable rubbed the bridge of his nose. "For future reference, don't spring this type of thing on me first hour in the morning. I'll call him down and you can break the news. I've got to have a pot or two of coffee."
"I have mentioned to you the attendant health risks of your copious intake of that caffenated beverage." said Hank reproachfully.
"And I've duly ignored them all." He waved as he left the room.

Adam appeared a few minutes later in response to the telepathic summons. "Yes, doctor?"
"Sit down, Adam." said Hank.
"I get the feeling I'm going to be hearing some bad news." He said as he sat down.
"That depends on your point of view."

***

Cable found a much-needed fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen. What a family, he thought as he poured himself to a cup. He sat down with his favorite mug, a twenty-four ounce one that Domino had gotten after hearing him complain about the meager size of the regular cups. So the kid's a relation, he mused. Hell, technically speaking he's my uncle. Dayspring, you shouldn't have thought that, he told himself. You're going to give yourself ulcers.
~Dom?~ He sent.
~Yes?~ She replied.
~The Summers family thicket has sprouted another thorn~
~What? Are you telling me you're pregnant?~
~Hah hah. No, that Adam kid is Scott and Alex's half-brother~
~Nate, there better be a punchline to this~
~I only wish. I think we'll keep this quiet for now~
~Good idea. It's too early in the day for heavy drinking. Are you going to come back here and scrub my back?~ She sent an image of a tub full of bubbles.
~Let me finish my coffee first~ He sent back with a mental smile.
~Sure. I'm not cruel~
~That's news~

He was rinsing out his mug when Adam hobbled in.
"Can I talk to you about something?" He asked.
Cable suppressed a sigh. "This is about McCoy's findings, right?"
"Yeah. I'd rather not have everybody know about this for now." said Adam as he sat down.
"You got it, kid." He shrugged. "Aren't you happy about it? You've got your answers."
"Doesn't mean I have to like them. I still have to find out why I was dumped here in the first place."
Cable considered. "Xavier used to have a communications setup to talk to Lilandra. Do you have someone back there you want to get a hold of?"
"Uh, no. I don't think so." said Adam. "It might not be a good idea for the Empress to know that I exist. Shi'ar royal politics can be ugly."
"Okay, we'll skip the family reunion. What are you going to do now?"
"I don't know." He tapped the brace on his leg. "Heal first. I can do odd jobs around here to earn my keep if you want."
"Let me think about it." said Cable. "In the meantime, make yourself at home."

***

He waited on the park bench and tried to enjoy the tweeting of the birds like any other park goer. A tall, older man who looked like the personification of money and class strolled up.
"Hey. I'm Wade Wilson."
The man inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Good day to you. My name is Nathaniel Essex."

Wade Wilson was, by most people's standards, a brave man. He'd done things that either only the truly insane or the utterly confident would even dare to consider. But he'd found out early in his career to know when to avoid those people he really didn't stand a chance against. And this man was one of them.

It's Sinister. The original mutant mad scientist, he thought. Oh shit. He briefly considered just bolting the hell out there but squashed that impulse. Don't wuss out. Be a nice little merc and talk to the man. Manners, right. I can do that.
"Pleased to meet you. Did you want to talk about things here or did you have somewhere else in mind?"

***

Wade followed Essex into a stately old home. The interior was expensive if in some disrepair.
"You may shut off your holographic device." Essex said as they entered a long stairwell.
They emerged onto a laboratory setting that was impressive and but not nearly as horrifying as he had expected. It reminded him of those medical shows on the educational channels. Interesting but not particularly gross.
Essex had shifted back to his dead white, red eyed form. It was incongruous with his nicely tailored suit.
"Is this not what you anticipated?"
Wade surveyed the neat arrangements of equipment and tools. No blood or gore dripping anywhere. No bizarre specimens in bottles.
"Not really, no." He admitted at last. "You've got kind of the freaky rep, you know."
"I'm quite aware of that." Essex said. "I'm the one who began the rumors of a monstrous creature performing unspeakable experiments. It affords me a certain privacy."
"I get it. Well, it's working. I don't know anybody who'd stop by to visit you."
"Of course you do." He corrected. "How else did I know to contact you, after all?"
"Oh yeah."
Essex sat down in behind a large oak desk and waved him to the opposite seat.
"Remove you mask."

Nathaniel studied the man. The scarring was the most severe he had ever seen on a living person. Small wonder the man was willing to come to him.
"I presume that the medical solution you desire would be an restoration of a socially acceptable appearance." He said at last.
"Yeah."
"Explain to me how you arrived to your present condition."

Wade swallowed and related his history of cancer, the Weapon X program, and the healing factor that ruined the life it saved.

Nathaniel considered the man's story. It would be an interesting intellectual exercise as well as a professional accomplishment. When one is likely to live indefinitely one must come up with some way to occupy one's time, he thought. Now that his major project had been unexpectedly completed, he was finding that a secretive existence did not make for every many captivating days. And I have long since been dropped from the social register, he thought idly. Longevity was significant advantage but it tended to be tedious to explain.
"Very well. I do think that we will be able to come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. I will need to do a preliminary study of your condition to assess what treatments, if any, may be effective. After that has been completed, I will specify what your part of our bargain is to be."
"Sounds good to me." Wade agreed. Wow, a free check-up? He thought. Kinda like a real doctor. Just ignore the pointed teeth, red eyes and weird glowing tattoo. Yeah, right.

***

Wade shifted uncomfortably in his rather drafty patient's gown. Boy, I forgot how much a head to toe exam sucked, he thought. He had been scanned, poked and prodded and now Essex was subjecting him to a quiz.
"Are you in pain?" The doctor asked.
"Uh. No." He said.
"Have you observed whether there is any improvement if you do not sustain any further injury?"
"No, but my color gets a little better after about a month of no damage."
"You mentioned that you had experienced some decline in your resortative powers. Explain this."
"It took a while to notice but it started taking longer for me to heal from the more brutal kinds of injuries. It hurt a lot more when I healed too."
"How was this reversed?"
"The doc that did the work on me to begin with, Killebrew, fixed me up with a blood sample that I got from the Hulk."
"Interesting." Essex mused. "Where is this Killebrew now?"
"Back at Weapon X labs, I guess."
"Hmm. Did you find that this treatment was fully effective?"
"Yeah. I healed up quickly after that but it still hurts a bit."
"I will require samples of your blood and tissue."
Wade nearly bit his tongue in half to keep from saying anything.
"I must say you are far more restrained than your reputation would lead me to believe." Essex commented as he prepared the needles.
"Uh, yeah. I'm really working here, just in case you're wondering." Wade admitted.
He twitched nervously when the doctor smiled, displaying his inhumanly pointed teeth. Damn, does he ever look like a shark when he does that, he thought.
"I find that highly amusing." said Essex.
"Oh good."

***

Over the next week, Adam settled into the mansion. Scott and Jean both had the feeling that Cable wasn't telling them everything about their new border but, since Adam proved to be quite industrious, they didn't press the issue. Not surprisingly, he got along the best with Shatterstar. For some reason, attempting to kill each other on three separate occations had created the basis for a fairly comfortable association.

***

At her apartment, Julia was pondering the rather tempting contents of a package that had been sent to her from the Guild. Now that's a lot of money, she thought as she re-read the offer. The prospective client hadn't been daunted by the news that she'd gone into semi-retirement. He or they wanted a job done and they were willing to pay top dollar for her services. I said I wouldn't take any new contracts, she reminded herself. I promised. Hmm. Actually, there's a loophole there. She looked down at the papers again. I'll still have to respond either way. Am I bored already? This would certainly be diverting, she thought. It's something to do and I am very good at this, if I do say so myself.

She was considering asking Cable for permission to do the job when the doorbell rang.
"Yes?" She said into the intercom.
"Hello, Julia. It's Shatterstar. Adam is with me."
"Be right there."

Adam looked around as he came in. "Nice place."
"Thanks. What brings you two by?" Julia asked.
"I think he is having a personal crisis." said Shatterstar as he embraced her in greeting. "I wished only to visit with you."
"Can't decide whether or not to get the perm?" She asked with a smirk.
"I'm going to get dreadlocks." said Adam deadpan.
"Good choice." She nodded. "The white reggae boy look is very popular. What's the problem?"
"I'm related to Cable." He announced.
She stared blankly at him.
"Yeah. That was 'Star's reaction too." Adam sighed as he sat down on the sofa.
"You must admit it is not an expected revelation from you." Shatterstar commented.
Julia forced her brain back into gear. "Exactly how are you related to Cable? Gods, do I even want to know?"
"I'm going to tell you anyway." Adam informed her. "His, I can't believe this, grandmother was captured by a Shi'ar named D'Ken. Work it out from there."
"That's going to be one hell of a family reunion." She said. "Why are you telling me this?"
"I'm trying ease into the idea." He explained. "Since 'Star wanted to get out and visit you I thought I'd start with someone I don't have to see every day. What do you think?"
"Outside of the fact I know next to nothing about the Shi'ar, it doesn't seem to make any difference to your life right now." Julia shrugged. "I mean, Cable and the rest of the Summers clan don't know you at all, right?"
"Yeah." said Adam.
"So, can you contact, um, D'Ken's family wherever they are?" She asked. "They might want to know what happened to his son."
"It gets better. D'Ken was the ruler of the Shi'ar Imperium before Lilandra. He was more than a little insane. His older sister Deathbird is supposed to be crazy too."
"Empress Lilandra is the same woman who was involved with Professor Xavier." said Shatterstar.
"Okay." Julia said dubiously. "So, one aunt is nuts and one is in charge. Not too bad. Why don't you go home and introduce yourself?" She held up a hand. "Hang on. I think I hear a glass of Chablis calling my name."

A bottle was opened and they sat around the table. Shatterstar noticed the seal on the papers. He couldn't read the language of the text but the same symbol was the same as the one on the pommel of her sword.
"News from home." Julia explained at his questioning look.
"The Guild wishes you to return?" He ventured.
"Partially." Julia admitted. "There's a client who'd like me to do some work."
"You did say that you would not return to your profession while you are with us." He reminded her.
"Not quite. I said I hadn't planned to take any new contracts. Xavier agreed not to bother me as long as I didn't." She corrected. "I would, of course, ask for permission to take off if I was going to do any work on the side."
Shatterstar frowned. That was correct. Neither of their team leaders had required her to abandon her previous occupation. "Why would you even want to do this?"
"It's a professional challenge." Julia smiled. "The targets are as almost untouchable as it's possible to get. It would be another first for the record books."
Adam watched the exchange curiously. "What's going on? Are you planning to kill somebody?"
"No, I'm not at the planning stage yet." She said. "I haven't even bargained with the client."
"I was trying to make a joke." He said. "You kill people for money?"
"Yes. And a lot of money, too."
"That is not a reason to do this." Shatterstar asserted.
Julia raised an eyebrow. "It's what I do. You knew that from the word go."
"Who are these people that you would be hunting?"
"A group of sorcerers that have been plaguing a few people in northern India."
"Hold on." Adam interjected. "Sorcerers? As in magic?"
"Yes. You've a skewed view of Earth from living here. Magic is a lot more common that it's made out to be." She explained.
"What if you fail in this task?" Shatterstar asked.
"What kind of silly question is that?" She asked in return. "I'll be very dead. It's the risk any of us take when we go on any mission."
"I don't find that information reassuring." He decided. "We are at risk in battle, yes. However, we have the support of our teammates. I am not pleased that you would place yourself at such risk needlessly."
"I'm not a novice and I leave needless risks to the heroic." She said with more than a trace of irritation.
"Can I just point out that nothing's actually happened yet?" said Adam a tad loudly.
Shatterstar glared at him then visibly calmed. "Yes, of course."
Julia nodded. "Good point."
She gathered up the papers and went upstairs.
"'Star, I know I'm not one to be giving you advice but just drop it." said Adam quietly.
"I have done so already." said Shatterstar.

"Shall we try this again?" Julia asked as she resumed her seat.
Shatterstar took her hand in his. "Please do not mistake my concern for your well-being as criticism of your profession."
"Oh. That's very kind of you." She said. An idea waved for attention. Ask him later, she told herself.
"It is not merely simple kindness. I am very fond of you." He said truthfully.
"Likewise, I'm sure." She smiled.
Adam grinned at the display.
"If you make one snarky comment I'm going to fling you through the roof." said Julia.
"He does have Shi'ar blood." said Shatterstar thoughtfully. "They are a bird-like race. Perhaps he can fly."
"Shall we find out?"
"I don't think so." Adam objected. "Do you see wings on me?"
"No, but that shouldn't stand in the way of a scientific experiment." said Julia.
Shatterstar nodded. "Indeed. How else is progress made?"
"I like it better when you two fight." said Adam as he took another swallow of his wine. "You don't go searching for other people to harass then."
"We didn't need to search in this instance. You are already here." Shatterstar pointed out. "This is highly efficient." He relented at Adam's persecuted expression. "To return to our previous topic of conversation, why don't you present yourself to your Shi'ar family? Would not the Empress welcome an heir to her line?"
Adam shook his head. "D'Ken had his supporters but his sisters weren't among them. Lilandra would most likely see me as a threat to her rather than a lovable nephew. My origins don't help either."
"What does that leave you then?" Julia asked.
"Not much. I'll stay here, I suppose." He said. "Cable's got me doing some work at the mansion so that's something for now."
"Did you discover any further information on the man who had commissioned Arcade to test you?" Shatterstar asked. "The name was 'Milbury' I believe."
"Yeah, it was. And no, I haven't found anything." He said. "You know about Arcade, right?"
"Not the gruesome details." said Julia.

They related their encounter with the murderously humorous assassin. A platter of nachos and another bottle of wine was deemed to be necessary for proper telling of the story.

"Women seem to lead you into many difficult circumstances." Shatterstar observed to Adam with a smirk.
"Well worth the trouble for the most part." Adam shrugged.
"So tell me, you were willing to fight to the death for a woman you'd never seen before. That seems terribly heroic of you." said Julia. "Did she encourage you in some manner?"
"Arcade's helper must have programmed her. The image... said things when I first saw it." said Adam.
"Oh? What things are these?" Shatterstar asked.
The creeping blush on Adam's face was answer enough. It darkened as they laughed at him.
"Something doesn't fit here." said Julia. "If Major Domo knows you why would he bother having you tested?"
"I don't know. He is more rational than Mojo but still very difficult to understand." said Shatterstar
"I wanted to ask how you knew that Windsong wasn't real. She even looked like she was breathing." said Adam.
Shatterstar shrugged as he poured himself another glass of wine. "I knew it instantly. That is all I know."
Julia stared into space for a few moments. "Have you always been able to do that?"
"Do what?" He asked.
"Know when something was a hologram." She elaborated.
Shatterstar paused in thought. "I'm not sure. In the instances where I have trained with holographic images, I have known from the outset they were false. This was the first time someone has attempted to deceive me using one."
"Maybe that's what Major Domo was testing. He was trying to figure out if you can do something new." Adam suggested.

***

Essex called Wade back to his lab to discuss the results of the tests four days later.

"What's the word, Doc?" He asked with more than a little anxiousness. Man, if he says it's hopeless then I'm really screwed. Ain't nobody gonna take my case and I'm not gonna go back to Killebrew.
Essex steepled his hands together. "I am able to remedy your cosmetic disfigurement. It will not be an instantaneous cure but a series treatments over a period of approximately eight months."
Wade sat stunned for a moment. Then he grinned widely. A cure! Wait 'till Weasel hears this!
"Okay, I'm all for it. What do I have to do?"
The doctor pulled out a file from one of the desk drawers and placed it in front of him.
"I wish this individual located and brought to me alive and unharmed. You will take every precaution to ensure that you are not connected with me in any way."
"No problem." He agreed quickly.
"Later on, during your treatment, I may require a minor errand or two." Essex smiled his pointed smile. "As you can imagine, I attract a great deal of attention if I am seen roaming the streets."
Was that a joke? Wade wondered. Should I laugh? Better not. "That's fine with me. You want the mark brought here?"
"Actually, no. The teleportation coordinates are detailed in the information I have given you."
"I'll get right on it." Wade said as he picked up the file.

***

Back at his hideout, over a beer and some marginally stale pretzels, Wade studied the information on his mark. Didn't even find out who it was before I said yes, he thought. That could've have gotten me killed if this was for cash. He held the small photograph of his target. As it is, this still might get me puréed. He tossed the picture back on the table and reviewed the personal data. Damn, I guess I lucked out that he wants her alive. I can't figure how I'd ice someone who's invulnerable. C'mon Wadesy, you've done worse to tougher. She might be super strong but she wasn't known to be all that bright.

Wade got up and had a look in the mirror over the cabinet in the bathroom. It was the only mirror in his place. No image inducer, no mask, just him as he actually was. Fuck, I'm ugly, he thought. The small tufts of blond hair that had hung on for a few years had finally fallen out. He ran a scarred hand over the dense network of scars and bumps on his scalp. Even his eyes were a different colour now, a washed out faded blue instead of the bright vibrant cobalt that Nessie had liked so much. Even Essex ain't this ugly, he mused. Just freaky. It's always Halloween with that guy. I wonder what's with the diamond tattoo? Not that I'm gonna ask or anything.
"Terry, how the hell can you love something that looks like this?" He asked with a sigh. If she was here, he'd be using an image inducer. She'd seen what he really looked like more than once but he wasn't about to flaunt his looks.

He went back to his file. I'm gonna do it, he decided. As long as none of her buddies get involved then Terry won't mind and I really don't give a shit what the X-Men think.

***

Shatterstar passed Tabitha and Julia in the hallway as he was going to meet Sam for a session in the Danger Room. Nothing further had been said about his ability to detect the falseness in holograms since their conversation so he had more or less dropped the subject from his consideration.
"You're still doing a workout with Sam, right?" Tabitha asked.
"Yes. I promise you I will not injure him severely." He said with a slight smile.
"Given they're supposed to go out tonight, I suggest you don't injure him at all." Julia advised. "See you later."

Sam was waiting for him already in the midst of a typical quiet city.
"Ready to go?" He asked politely. "Ah thought we could do a regular program so we don't forget how."
"That is agreeable." Shatterstar nodded as he drew his swords.
"Computer, begin program." said Sam.
The room came to life and they were surrounded by large Sentinels as the traffic and crowds reacted to them and their adversaries. Sam roared into action and punched his way though the head of one of the robots. Shatterstar leaped away from the giant foot that attempted to crush him and occupied himself with carving up the limb it was attached to. He glanced up as Sam flew overhead and suddenly realized something. Sam wasn't alive.
"Computer, stop program!" He called. The scene dissolved but Sam landed and looked curiously at him.
"What's wrong, 'Star?"
Tabitha entered the room. "Hey, guys. Why'd you halt the program? Can we use the room now?"
Shatterstar looked at her. She is real. What is the difference? He thought. He closed his eyes and tried to think. How do I know this? The knowledge presented itself to me without any effort on my part. With his eyes closed it was like there was a light shining from her. But I cannot sense anything from Sam.
"I know what it is!" He exclaimed.
"Know what?" Sam asked. He dissolved into nothingness a moment later.
"You figured out he was fake, huh?" Tabitha grinned.
"You are testing me?" Shatterstar asked.
"Not just me. It was Julia's idea but everybody's in on it." She said.
The door opened again and he looked curiously at Jimmy, who poked his head in the doorway before he came in. His teammate very clearly had been standing in the hallway outside.
"I don't understand. The holograms cannot exist outside this room."
"Yeah. But Jimmy isn't a hologram." said Tabitha.
"I'm hurt, 'Star. You thought I was fake all this time?" Jimmy asked.
"No, of course not. I didn't mean offense." said Shatterstar automatically. What is happening? They are still testing me, I am certain. He glanced at Tabitha. Now he was aware of the light coming from her, he didn't need to close his eyes to focus on it. He flicked his gaze to Jimmy. Nothing. Perhaps I should shut my eyes first. In the darkness, he still could only sense one source of life.
"Tabitha, only you and I are alive here." He said cautiously. This is insulting to Jimmy if I am wrong, he thought.
"Two for two!" Tabitha cheered. Jimmy's appearance changed to that of a featureless steel robot.
"Cool, huh? It was 'Berto's idea to fix this up. The X-Men used to train against them all the time."

***

They conducted a few more tests with other holograms and robots that simulated various members of the household. Julia and Tabitha stationed the robots at random areas during the day to try to mimic a real situation. They found that Shatterstar would often not notice for a few moments then abruptly detect their hoax. He discovered it was difficult to activate his newly-realized ability on command without single-minded concentration. The addition of an inhibitor bracelet didn't have any effect, leading Hank to conclude that it wasn't a mutant power but perhaps a natural sixth sense.

"So you're saying it works better if you don't let your brains get in the way?" Risque snickered after he had announced their findings to their team.
"Essentially, yes." Shatterstar admitted.

[next part]

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