------------ Chp.6 ------------ Wolverine sped along a deserted road on Scott's motorcycle.He had checked out the area that was assumed to be Magneto's hideout,but it was abandoned.Nothing was there,no clues,no evidence of anyone ever being there.They were alive,all of them.Sabertooth,Mystique,or even that Toad guy.Someone had cleaned up there.It didn't matter though,he would find them.He had also checked out a place in Canada,rumored to where he could have been from,but it too was completely empty,and had no sign of evidence anywhere. He chuckled lightly to himself.He wondered if Scott was mad he took his motorcycle.He couldn't be that angry,he hadn't scratched it or anything. He was only 15 miles from Xavier's Mansion,so he'd have the bike back soon any ways. ------------ Raine had decided to try out a class with Jubilee.Math class.She didn't want to come,but Jubilee had urged her to,so she did. 826808 divided by 68 was written on the board by Ms.Monroe. Raine sat next to her newest friend,Jubilee.Next to her was a girl named Rogue.Raine stared at the equasion.The sounds of kids writing down the problem was the only thing she could hear. "Now,the first one who solves this will get 10 points to their extra credit."Ororo said,leaning against her desk. Raine barely even noticed as she said aloud,"12,158.941." Ororo turned and looked at Raine,her newest addition."What?" One by one her classmates looked back.Jubilee looked at her in confusion."How do you know?"She whispered. Raine frowned."I..don't know..."She whispered back. Ororo Monroe picked up a calculator and entered the equasion.She looked at the answer,dumbfounded.She got up and walked over to Raine.She bent down,so they were eye level.She smiled."Congratulations,you get to start your semester out with 10 points to your extra credit." Raine smiled. "How did you do it?Did you do the equation in your head?"Ororo asked. Raine shook her head."Nah...it...just kinda popped into there." Ororo held up a calculator.She punched in a equation."Divide 9,867,325 by 9." "1,096,369.4."Raine replied,then frowned."This is odd." Ororo smiled."Somehow,I don't think you even need to take this class." Raine got a disappointed look."Well...can I just sit in here and watch?" Ororo smiled."Sure." Ororo walked to the front of the class,and continued her lessons. "That is so freaky."Jubilee whispered to Raine."...Mind helping me with my homework." "No,I wouldn't."Raine whispered back. ------------ Jean studied a x-ray of Raine's skull.The device in Raine's skull was attached to the bone plate.Little metal fibers were spread out over the girl's brain,giving off electric impulses to stimulate her brain,which made most of it active at the top areas and parts that were normally active.The only areas that were untouched was the bottoms and inner parts,where telekinesis and telepathy were located.Surgery would be difficult,but mostly evasive.Jean began putting up the different x-rays,but then stopped.Something caught her eye. The number 10-01 was on a part of the small device.Jean felt a coldness rush over her."Raine was an experiment...." -------- "10-01?"Xavier repeated to Jean.He sat behind his desk,in his wheelchair. "Yes.I've also found that 10-01 is the last digits of the code that was grafted to Logan's skull."Jean replied.She was sitting in a chair infront of Xavier's desk.To her right sat Ororo,and to her left,Scott. "So,where Logan was once,she has been."Xavier said to himself. "You don't suggest..."Scott inquired. "They're weapons.Living,biologically enhanced,mutated,weapons."Xavier said,looking somewhat disappointed. "How disturbing...how could someone take a living breathing human and...turn them into a weapon?"Jean asked. "So,Raine has the same healing abilities as Logan?"Scott asked. "No,not quite.She has the ability to cure others by regenerating dead or weakened tissue with ion energy she absorbs from around her."Jean replied. "So she can cure herself?"Scott asked. "Apparently not.When she was brought in,she appeared to have many wounds."Jean replied. "Wait.This is odd....what were her wounds?"Ororo asked,disturbed. "Water in the lungs,electrical burns,and bruises and cuts.But she has a regenerating ability,like Logan's,where she can fully heal herself,just not as quickly."Jean replied. "Those wounds...And there's been no publicity about her at all?"Ororo asked. Xavier frowned."No,not apparently." "Toad.I hit him with a lightning bolt and he fell off the Statue of Liberty and must've drowned in the water.His body must have floated to the docks,where Raine found him,healed him,and passed out.A normal man would've talked."Ororo said. "I haven't heard any reports of Sabertooth or Mystique's bodies being found...."Scott trailed. Xavier got a blank expression. "Proffessor?"Jean inquired. "Magneto has escaped his prison...."Xavier trailed,grimly. ------------- Chapter 6 ------------- "What do we do now?"Sabertooth inquired,in a gruff voice.He leaned against a wall,heavily.He was in a large room filled with machinery,deep beneath the military base and the mountains. Mystique walked over to Sabertooth and handed him a file.It was titled the 10-01 project.Sabertooth opened it and looked at the different photos and files in it. "What is it?"Toad asked,walking over to get a look at the file. Sabertooth raised it up and growled at Toad,to back off. Toad glared."Make me." Sabertooth attempted to grab Toad by the throat,but He leapt away before Sabertooth could get a hold of him.Toad landed agily on a ledge not too far away. "Faster than a speeding bullet."He remarked,smiling coyly. "You two,quit acting like adolescents."Magneto said,stepping in from another room. "He started it."Toad remarked,sinking down into a squatting position. Magneto smiled.He walked over to where Mystique and Sabertooth stood."I've learned from my mistake.You cannot create natural mutation from radiation,but there is a way."Magneto took the file from Sabertooth and held it up."Selena Raine Cusak.In her body exists a chemical makeup,that therein lies the key to creating mutation within a normal human." Toad slid down the side of the wall."And exactly how do we find her?" "My dear Mr.Tonybee,you've met her."Magneto said,turning to Toad. Toad got a confused look. "The girl who brought you back to life.She is the Ms.Cusak we need."Magneto replied to Toad's confusion. Toad's expression softened for a second before returning to it's usual stoic,cocky look. "We'll get her."Sabertooth gruffly said,standing up straight. "Time isn't essential,first we have to prepare this lab."Magneto said,gesturing around him. "Consider it done."Toad said,walking off to get started on repairing machinery. ------------ Chp.7 ------------ Logan parked 'his' motorcycle in the garage of Xavier's Mansion.He got off,and smiled lightly,looking at the bike.It was a fine machine. "Logan....didn't expect you back so soon." Logan turned to see Scott leaning against the garage wall,smiling wittingly at him. Logan cracked a smile."I needed a ride.." "Forget it."Scott replied."We got a problem though." "What...did I put the wrong kind of gas in it?"Logan asked,turning back and looking at the bike. "Nah.It's Eric Lensher."Scott replied. Logan turned back."Who ?" "Magneto."Scott replied. Logan fell silent."Ain't he in jail or something?" "He's escaped.And his 'minions' are alive as well,we speculate."Scott replied. "Is Rougue alright?"Logan asked. "Yes,she's fine.Magneto hasn't made any moves to come after her as of yet."Scott answered,walking over to Logan,and motioning for him to follow."The Professor has something to talk to you about. ---------------- Logan leaned against the side of the balcony railing,on the second floor dormitory hallway.He was waiting for Xavier to come to talk to him. "How has your traveling been?" Logan looked to see Xavier approaching."Nothing useful.Just somebody's cleaned up real good up there.No sign of anyone being there for years." "I wasn't sure if you'd find anything,but it was worth looking though."Xavier said,moving to Logan's side. "Well...it seemed like a waste of time.There wasn't anything there,it was all empty,and most of the areas looked like they were blown up recently.Some kind of clean up job or something." Xavier was quiet. Logan turned and looked at Xavier."What?" Xavier looked up to Logan."There's something you need to know...." "What?You sound so grim."Logan asked,crossing his arms. "Well,we've determined that you were part of an experiment."Xavier started. Logan looked away,his mouth set in a straight line. "There's a girl we've recently brought here,two days after you left,who we think is connected to you."Xavier said. Logan looked back at him."What do you mean?" "She has a device grafted to her skull,with a code...10-01 on it."Xavier finished. Logan looked back."What's that got to do with me?" "She may have been in a experiment,much like yourself."Xavier replied. Logan scoffed."I doubt it." "Really?This young girl may learn something from you...you may learn something from her."Xavier said. Logan was silent.He wondered what Xavier meant,by he could learn something from her. ----------- Raine finished tying her boots quietly,then pulled her shiny brown hair up into a short ponytail.Her hair was only shoulder length,so it didn't matter,whether it was up or down.Raine's purplish-grey eyes were blank,no expression.I don't belong here.I don't,I've played a charade here...and this is enough.Raine sighed and slipped on her loose flannel and buttoned it up.This is stupid,hanging out at this charity house.I'm gone. Raine walked quietly over to her window,slipping her book bag on her back,and slipped open the window.She took off the screen and set it on the floor.She sat on the window sill and brought up her legs and moved around to dangle her legs out the window.She was on the second floor dorm hall.A tree was growing close to the mansion.Raine reached out slowly,and tried to reach the branch.She shifted so she could reach the branch.Finally she grabbed ahold of the tree branch,and let herself hang,by one arm.She reached up and got her a hold of the branch with two hangs.A loud cracking sound filled the air.A second later,Raine fell,branch and all.She landed hard on her feet and rolled forward to lessen the effect of the fall.She got up and looked around."Somehow...I saw that coming." She quickly ran,as quietly as one could,off to the main road to New York city. ----------- "She probably headed for the city."Jubilee suggested. "To New York City?Why?"Jean asked,looking at the Professor. "She's afraid of staying here.She feels she doesn't belong."Xavier said.He was looking forward at something,with a far off look. "Well,shall we go look for her?"Ororo suggested. "Cerebo showed she was heading North through the city,so just sweep the area."Xavier said,looking at Scott. Scott nodded.He turned to Jean,Ororo,Jubilee,and Rogue."Ororo,Jean,we'll take separate vehicles.We'll sweep North west to north east." Jean and Ororo nodded. "Let me come!"Jubilee suddenly piped up. "No.You need to get back to bed."Scott replied. "Oh,come on.I won't get in your way.I know her,she'll come back if I talk to her."Jubilee insisted. Scott looked at Xavier.Xavier nodded lightly. Rogue looked like she was going to say something,but Scott interrupted her."You stay,you may still be a target for Magneto." Rogue got a disappointed look,and crossed her arms. "Let's move out."Scott said,heading for the door. ---------- Chp.8 ---------- "I want you to go,Sabertooth,scan the city for her.Find her,and discreetly bring her here.I don't want Charles in this.He's too meddling."Eric said,sitting at a table. Sabertooth nodded lightly. Magneto looked Sabertooth in the eye."Don't harm her,she needs to be in top condition for the experiment." "Right."Sabertooth replied,in a growl-like reply.Sabertooth turned,and walked out the room. ---------- Raine headed down a dark alley,shuddering lightly at the cool night breeze.I'm right,they're wrong.I'm not a mutant...I can't be..She laughed at her own ignorance."I'm a freaking mutant."She said aloud,to herself.Am I an idiot for leavin?Yes I am.I had a room,food,a new start at life there,but,nooooo....here I am,on the damn streets again.Raine was so lost in thought,she didn't see two shadowy figures behind her. A boot gruffly hit Raine in the back of her knee,making her fall to her knees.An arm quickly encircled her throat,and tightened. "Scream,and I'll slice your f***in throat."A man hoarsely said into her ear.Raine stiffened,and made a scared sound in her throat. "Hurry,just grab her bag and let's go."Another man,quickly said to her captor. Raine jumped lightly when she her flesh tear behind her.The guy who was holding her went limp,and made a gurgling sound.The man was ripped from behind her,causing Raine to fall forward to the ground. "Sh**!!Sh**!!What the hell-" More flesh tearing sounds,and this time,the other guy was also slammed into a wall. Raine rolled over quickly to see what was going on.A huge,no,gigantic guy was pinning the second guy to the wall,with his hand,which had claw-like finger nails,into the mans stomach. The second man was motionless on the ground. Raine screamed at the top of her lungs.The man just smiled at her thoughtfully.Raine got to her feet and dashed away,as fast she she could.She didn't get far.The man had a hold of her flannel,and the next thing she knew,she was over his shoulder.Raine felt something click inside her,and suddenly she felt a rush of adrenaline pump through her.She wiggled her way off his shoulder,much to the man's surprise. The man gave her a surprised look.Raine threw her bag to the ground and got into a fighting stance. The man,whom had a lot of blondish brown facial hair,just smiled,like he was amused.He moved to grab her arm,but Raine made her move first.Raine jumped up,and kicked her leg out,her foot connecting with the man's neck.He doubled back,surprised.Raine made her next move.She whirled around,bringing her other leg up to connect with his chest,delivering a heavy blow to him,knocking him farther away from her. "Bring it on!"She shouted at him.She began absorbing ion energy from around her,and readied her next move.The man charged towards her,angriliy.Raine brought her wrists together,and created a glowing purple ball of energy.She blasted the man in the chest,just as he was only inches away.He flew back,at least twenty feet away.Raine's eyes were glowing violet,and her expression was blank.All sense and logic left Raine's mind.Impulse took over. Sirens and lights flashed around the other end of the alley.Four police cars roared in and came to a stop near where the other two men were.Seven cops got out,armed,and one shouted,"Hold it right there mutant!!" Raine slowly turned to them. "Keep your hands where we can see them!!" The other man,the mutant was gone from the alley,all that was left were the seven officers. Raine's bangs slowly floated up,as her feet left the ground.She hovered over the ground and raised her hands and held them out to the police officers. "Freeze!!" Raine began to glow,warming up for an another attack. "Raine,stop!Don't do it!"Jubilee's voice echoed through the alley. Raine's eyes stopped glowing,and she suddenly realized what she was doing.Raine fell to the ground,and the glow disappeared."Not again..." "Hold it right there!!"One of the officers shouted,running up to Raine. Raine's eyes flashed red,and glowed brightly."Leave me alone!"She shouted.The officer was hit by an invisible force,and flew back onto one of the patrol cars. Jubilee and Scott ran up to Raine and helped her up to her feet.Raine ripped her arms away from them."No!Can't you just leave me alone?!" "I said freeze!!"A cop shouted. "Bite me!!"Raine snapped at the officer.A second later,the cops and officers flew backwards out of the alley. "Raine,calm down..."Scott urged,holding his hands up. "Don't you see?I'm a...I'm a..."Raine started to hyperventilate."I kill people!!" Jubilee shook her head."You didn't know what you were doing!" Raine shuddered,sweat appearing at her pores.She strained herself to hold in the energy.Raine turned away from them,holding her stomach."I can't come with you guys,I might end up blowin..up the dang place." Scott moved next to Raine and put a hand on her shoulder."Raine,the only way you'll ever learn to control your powers is if you come with us." Raine shuddered,and lost her balance.Jubilee and Scott grabbed a hold of her,just as she passed out. Scott looked over to Jubilee."Let's get her back." --------------- Raine lay unconscious on a operation table.She was hooked up to a monitor which was monitoring her heart beat.Her heart beat was slower than normal,and her breathing was also slowed.Jean earlier had to give her a tranquilizer to calm her down,because she was frantic and raving.Now,she was clamed,and asleep. "She looks familiar."Logan commented,standing over Raine. Jean looked over at Logan."You know her?" "Never met her,as long as I can remember,at least."Logan said.He looked over at Jean curiously."So,what are you doing?" "Prepping for surgery."Jean replied.She picked up several different scalpels and surgical tools. "What are you going to do to her?"Logan asked. "I'm going to removed a implant in her head.As you know,she's a experiment like you.I don't blame that you feel you know her.You probably do,somehow."Jean said,carrying her tools over to the table,and putting them down with the other tools."You should go and rest.It's late." "Yeah....want to come?"Logan asked. Jean smiled.Logan got ushered out of the room.Before Logan exited,he gave her a annoyed look. Jean turned back to the table.She sighed lightly and picked up a breathing mask and placed it over Raine's face.She then picked up a needle and began injecting anaesthstesia on Raine's right temple.Jean then placed the needle down.She picked up a scaple,and took a deep breath.This was going to be a difficult surgery. Jean gently marked dotted lines across the side of Raine's head,marking where she needed to cut,and where the small device was. Jean put down the pen,then gently brought the scalpel to Raine's temple.Jean made a three inch incision from Raine's hairline,over her temple,and to the top of her right cheek.Blood swelled to the surface of the cut and seeped down the side of Raine's temple and in her hair.Jean then cut across to make a V-shape cut.Jean carefully peeled back the skin,and uncovered the device.It was round,flat,and the size of a silver dollar.Jean put the scalpel down and carefully brushed blood off the device.She then noticed a small button on the device,along with a code.10-01.Metalic fibers were attached to the skull,and went through small holes that were drilled through her skull plate.Jean pressed the button on the device.The fibers retracted out of Raine's brain slowly,then into the device.The device fell onto the table,making a metallic clanking sound. Jean folded the skin back to where it belonged.She picked a needle and black fiber up off the table.Jean stitched up the cut,then cleaned up the blood off of Raine's face.Jean then lifted Raine off the table with her telekinesis and moved her over to a bed,so she could rest. Jean picked up the device.She gasped,she knew what it was.Jean rushed out the medical lab and off to see Xavier. --------- Chapter 9 --------- "It's a device that blocks a mutant's powers.I've seen a design for one at the convention at Congress,but I didn't know they have even ever manufactured one."Jean said,handing the device to Xavier. "This device must have had a failure to block her powers,because she is highly equipped with many talents."Xavier said,looking at the device. "Actually,I think it's on the contrary.It blocks her powers,but converts it into other powers."Jean said."I also think that it magnifies her power as well." Xavier nodded,turning the device in his hand."Well,maybe she'll be more confident in herself,since she's no longer a threat to herself or anyone else." "I think she'll have better control of her powers now.Most likely she won't have most her old powers,but simpler ones.Most likely."Jean said. "We have to help her with her vulnerabilty."Xavier said,touching his fore fingers to his forehead."She's feeling extremely vulnerable and alone right now." "I get the idea...I know how that is.I used to feel that way before."Jean said lightly,turning and walking out of Xavier's office. ------------- "You failed?"Magneto asked,as Sabertooth walked in,empty handed. Sabertooth nodded lightly."She was stronger than anticipated." "No.You expected her to be weak because she's female,on the contrary,she has been trained well."Magneto scoffed,walking around his newly moved desk.It didn't take them long to remove their belongings from their old headquarters. Sabertooth was silent in response. "I can get her."Toad spoke up,in his english accent. Magneto smiled."You are agile,maybe agile enough to dodge her.Alright,you may go."Magneto replied. Sabertooth glared at Toad,who mockingly smiled back. "Take your time,as I said,time is of no importance."Magneto said,moving back around his desk,then sitting down. Toad turned and headed out the door,ignoring Sabertooth's glare. ---------- Rogue sat on the counter top in Xavier's large kitchen.She was snacking on a couple of strawberries when Logan entered the kitchen.She looked up in surprise."Your back!"She jumped off the counter top. Logan smile."Yeah." "Did you find anything?"Rogue asked. "Nah,just a old cleanup job."Logan replied. Rogue pulled Logan's tags out her pocket,that said 'Wolverine' on them.She held it out to Logan."Here." Logan took it from her,and slipped it over his head."Thanks,Rogue." "So...are you going to stay?"Rogue asked. "I thought I'd give the geeks a chance,you know."Logan replied,cracking a smile. Rogue laughed lightly. "I have to check something out real quick.I'll see you tomorrow,okay?"Logan said. Rogue nodded."Sure,okay.See you tomorrow." Logan left her to her strawberries.Rogue smiled,she was happy he was back. -------- "Get out of the house you f***ing freak!" Raine stirred in her sleep,disturbed by memories. A man,coming at her.Beating her,cursing. Raine stirred again.She wasn't seeing her own memories... A woman,cradling a little boy.A man cursing,leaving out the door."Shhhh...Gage,it's okay....Your father...he's just...It'll be okay,I won't let him hurt you no more."The woman whispered to her son,whom's blue and yellow eyes reflected fear."Mortimer Gage Tonybee,you forget everything that man's ever said to you." Now she saw the boy...at least 10 or so,surrounded by older children at school. "Your a freak." "What are you?" "...can't be human." "..ugly." "Freak!" "..the hell." "Stupid ugly freak!" "Shut up!"The boy shouted back. Now she saw herself,lying on the dock,barely concsious.The man she helped had came back just after he had left and was knelt over her,curiously examining her.He had saw her when she cured him.The guy softly put two fingers to her neck to check if her heart was beating.The sound of running boots caught the attention of the man.He looked back at her,knelt down,and whispered something softly into her ear,and gave her a soft,confused look.He got up and leapt away. Raine's eyes slowly opened.She knew what he had said.Why?She felt a mixture of pity and understanding for the man.She knew what it was like to have only your mother there to care for you,and a horrible father. Raine sat up.Why had he been confused?Was there a reason she shouldn't have restored his wounds?He wasn't dead...nearly dead,but,still...She didn't understand why he was confused. "Hey." Raine looked over to see a man she didn't know leaning against the wall.She frowned...she knew him."Hey." He was silent for a moment,considering something. "Do I know you?"Raine asked,getting a confused look. The guy smiled lightly."I had the same feeling when I first saw you." "What's your name?"Raine asked. "Logan."He replied. "I'm Raine."She replied.Raine gingerly put a hand up to her her forehead and scrunched her face up when she felt her right temple.It was sore,and stitched up. "Do you know how you got it?"Logan asked,gesturing to her. "The thing that was in my head?No idea..."Raine replied."Is it out?" "Yeah.Jean took it out."Logan replied. Raine layed back down."I feel...funny." Logan raised his eyebrows."Do you need me to get Jean?" "Nah,I'm fine.....I just feel...frumpy layin here."Raine replied. Logan smiled."Frumpy,eh?" "Yeah."Raine replied,laughing."I think I'm going to go to sleep now." Logan nodded."I'll go then." "Bye."Raine said lightly,before trying to fall back to sleep.