ALL CRY THE CHILDREN - 9/?
By Various


	A hunt for the Upstarts led the Gold Team to be caught up in a civil war
in Genosha, orchestrated by the Upstarts.
 	Trapped in Genosha, the remaining X-Men and Excaliber have divided up
into 2 teams to rescue them. Nightcrawler leads Gambit, Bishop (the only
one of the Blue team to escape), and Renegade (another time traveler,
formerly the Morlock Skids) into a direct assault to get the Blue team
out. Cyclops leads a reserve team of Shadowcat, Phoenix, Colossus and
Rogue ready with the blackbird to get them all out...
 	A strange encounter by Mr. Sinister has left Nightcrawler's team
confused as they continue a descent down from their parachute drop point
in Genosha.
 GENOSHA 
	After a long descent, a break in the jungle allows a view of the base of
the Island's main mountain. Genosha, being an Island, has its living area
concentrated into one main valley that is divided by a river which in turn
leads to an ocean. Looking down, a hydroelectric damn is to the right
(along with a waterfall and small resevoir) and to the left is the system
of quarries and mines that support Genosha's economy.
 	The city below is buried in thick clouds of oily black fires coming from
a coal refining factory on the edge of the city. Several of the downtown
skyscrapers and portions of the city sport lesser flames.
 	At first it appears that the civil war continues to tear up the city
below, but the flyers and equipment belong to the rescue and repair teams
tending to the damage. Judging by the fire fights and shelling, the war
seems to be confined to the distant hills of the mutate mines, and the
worker villages beyond the cities suburbs, nearer to river port and
beaches.
 	 Bishop knows the way down to the detention center where the X-men are
being held, and leads them as quickly and surely as humanly possible. They
come upon a small concentration camp thrown up around a building that
Bishop says is the detention center. The camp is surrounded by a double
fence with dogs running loose in the gap between them and by guards in
towers at the four compass points. Milling about the camp, near naked and
untended medically are the mutate detainees. They are without shelter,
exposed to the near tropical heat. Some appear dead, none are moving more
then necessaria.
 	 The detention center itself appears to be mostly underground the one
story building, which Bishop confirms. The distance from the fence to the
DC is about 200'with no obvious cover. It doesn't look good.
 	To the right edge of the camp is the river raging down from the confines
of its dam. 
Nightcrawler: "We should all try to test our powers as discreetly as
possible. We need to know how well we can count on our powers."
 	Gambit flicks a card, renegade shuffle slides back and forth, and
Nightcrawler ports as close as safely possible, and bamfs back.
 	All seems fine. 
Nightcrawler: "Well Gambit, you're the thief, any suggestions? 
Gambit: "I got an idea 'bout how to bust dem out. Bishop ain't real
stealthy, so he'd be sorta out o' place in the sneakin part o dis mission.
So, how bout Nightcrawler and Renegade sneak in. Dey are quiet and can
move easy. Bishop and I can cover them and watch for any problems." 
Nightcrawler: "Perhaps." He hides his growing annoyance at Gambit's and
Bishop's bickering. "I was also thinking about an attempted infiltration
from the rivers side." 
Gambit: "Could be we could even cause some trouble on dis side, a little
extra diversion, neh?"
 Nightcrawlers: Nods, confidant that THAT at least is within their
ability. He suggests too Gambit and Bishop to go around to the east side
of the fence while he and Renegade sneak in. 	"As soon as you set off the
diversion get away from there. Circle around to the forest on the other
side of the dam and cover our . 
Gambit: "A diversion, eh? Now how we gonna be doin' that eh?" 	Reaches
over and makes a motion near Bishop, "Oh, hey," a card appearing, "Ees got
an ace up his sleeve." 	Bishop knocks the hand, and card, away. 	"And it
seems a bug up ees ass."
 Bishop: Growls. "That you survived the cataclysm is the only joke being
told here."
 	The team splits up.
 Madagascar - Blackbird
 	After a cold reunion with Shadowcat...
 Colossus: Runs his fingers over the communications console for what
seems (at least to him) the umpteenth time. He fiddles about with the
console for a while and eventually manages to get the MTV feed from the
concert. 
	<thinks> "Katya made this look so easy, but then she and I are from
different cultures, different worlds. She grew up surrounded by technology
and I grew up surrounded by nature." If anyone else had been onboard the
blackbird they would have seen Colossus smile for what seemed the first
time in a long while. 
	<thinks> "Perhaps it is I who am the lucky one." 
	He grabs a piece of paper and starts to doodle, paying more attention to
what happening at the concert than what he is sketching. After about 5
minutes he studies the piece of paper. The unmistakable form of Kitty
Pryde's face stares back at him. "Very well Miss Pryde. If that's the way
you wish to play it." 
	He scrumples up the piece of paper and flings it in the general direction
of his bag, not caring whether it lands in the bag or not. He returns his
attention to the communications console and the concert. Maybe he might be
able to spot Rogue in the crowd. After all it shouldn't be that difficult
with hair like hers. He is almost tempted to contact her to find out
whereabouts she is in the crowd, but stops himself. 
	"She has earned this time off, don't spoil it for her by dumping your
problems in her lap. At least she is relaxing." 
Outside the Blackbird 
	Shadowcat heads over to the small stream where Cyclops and Phoenix have
meandered to in their conversation that continues in fits and spurts. 
Phoenix: (Psionically to Shadowcat) "Please wait a sec before
approaching Kit, Scott's saying something I want to hear him say, and
you'll scare him off the subject. It's taken a long while to get him to
open up. And while I know how he feels, _He_ has to learn how he feels." 
Shadowcat: Stops in midstride. Her nose wrinkles and her hands tug on
the straps of the equipment belt she's wearing.
 	 (Thinks) "Okay Rachel" and then, to herself, "About time they had a
talk. I've been wondering when they would get around to this since we had
to go to Asgard to rescue the New Mutants, and how long ago was that?"
 	She shrugs looks over the part of the Blackbird closest to her, running
her hands over her tools to see what might repair the nearest damage. If
she wonders about Rachel's abruptness, she chalks it up to Rachel's need
to finally, after all this time, have that conversation. 
Cyclops: Stirs the stream with a stick, watching the silt flow away.
"Rachel? Don't take this the wrong way, but talking to you has gotten me
thinking about my son, Cable."
 Rachel: "I'm not offended, go on."
 	(Thinks) "Liar. And a bad one."
 Cyclops: "Nathan, he's a lot more like me than I'd care to admit, or
else I've become more like him. Cold, determined, leading a fight, knowing
we won't win in the end. Soldiers.
 	I can vividly remember the first time I saw Charles die. It was part of
a ruse. It was another mutant, the Mimic, who died. I remember being
overjoyed to learn that Xavier was alive, and then only vaguely feeling
guilty on the Mimic's behalf. That was my first real moral dilemma as an
X-Man, realising that some lives to me were more important than others.
 	It went on. The Professor disappeared and was proclaimed dead several
times after that, and each time it hurt me the same way, but somehow, I
always carried on. But this time is different. He's really dead. And for
him to die in my arms? To die from his own carelessness, carelessness
brought on by his own zealous fear of Magneto? ...it's too much.
 	That was the way your mother died, afraid. She hated what she had
become, the opposite of everything she held dear. I died too that day. I
lost my innocence. I no longer believed in hope. I fought for it, killed
for it, but I've never believed in it. As a leader, it's my job to bolster
the hopes of the X-Men, even if I have none of my own. For a while after
Jean died, I couldn't even do that. Storm took my place.
 	I came around.
 	But now, it's too easy. Charles is dead, and I feel so vacant, but here
I am leading. Fighting on. I've tried to cry, but I have no tears. I'm so
empty.
 	This is what must have happened to Nathan. He's so cold. Like me, he
lost his true father, was raised by a foster family, and instead of living
a normal life, always fighting for a cause in one war or another, knowing
only loss.
 	I was as bad a father to him as I am to you now Rachel. Please
understand that you're harder for me to accept than he was. I never knew
you as a child, and I wasn't very open to anyone when you came to this
time. I've tried to make amends, but the truth is, I hate admitting I am a
father, of any child, because of all the horrible things I've done to my
children. And when I say children, I mean every new X-Man that is under my
guidance or protection. My children are better off without me. Sally was
one of those I took in, and look at her life."
 Rachel: "Scott. Dad. It's Ok. What matters is what we do now. Where we
go from here. What we build for tomorrow."
 	(Thinks) "What an abuse of psi, telling him exactly what he wants to
hear, not what I feel. Huh? What's Happening?"
 	The blast would have blinded Cyclops if not for his visor, and
Shadowcat, if not for her hiding. The roaring screech is hard enough on
the ears, and the blistering heat is intolerable even with the fireproof
uniforms. 	Rachel doesn't notice any of this.
 	Thirty feet in the air, she's the apex of gigantic fire bird. Her own
voice of painful, ripping fear is lost beneath the manifestation of the
Phoenix.
 Inside the Blackbird 
	Rogue has been on the other side of the island, attending a rock concert
during the lull.
 Colossus: Watches the TV monitor intently as the stage crew do the
final sound check for the start of the concert. It takes a few moments for
him to react to the beeping of the "Incoming Message" button on the
console. 
	 At last, someone to talk to. 
	He opens the channel. 
(out loud) "This is Colossus. Can I help you?". 
	A familiar voice comes over the speakers in the cabin but the intonation
indicates all is far from well. 
Cyclops: "Get onto Rogue and tell her to get back here NOW." 
Colossus: "Is there a prob-"
 Cyclops: "Just do it! Cyclops out." 
	The channel drops dead. Colossus calls up Rogue's transmitter frequency
and hits the call button. Ten seconds pass with no reply. He hits the call
button again, except this time he leaves his finger on the button. The
channel open light illuminates. 
Colossus: "Rogue, are you there?" 
Rogue: "Hey, Ah was just beginnin' to enjoy mahself. What's up?" 
Colossus: "I don't know. I just suggest you get yourself over here right
now." 
Rogue: "Cahn't it wait. Y'all know how much ah was looking forward to
this concert." 
Colossus: "Cyclops sounds as if he has just run into a problem, and from
the sounds of it, I think it would be very prudent of you to come back
now." 
	A few moments of silence pass. Colossus believes himself almost able to
read Rogue's thoughts. 
Rogue: "Ah'll be back in two ticks. Rogue out." 
Colossus: Hits the automatic comms switch and literally dives out the
Blackbird. 
	<thinks> "I wonder what could have caused Cyclops to be so ..." 
	His thoughts are answered as he spots the familiar image of the Phoenix
emerging from above the trees. 
At the concert 
Rogue gets an urgent call from Colossus; he tells her that Scott needs her
back at the Blackbird, pronto. 
"Ah swear, the moment ah get one minute of enjoyment, something always has
to happen," she says to herself before turning to Chris, a new- found
friend and member of her own fan club. "Ah'm sorry Chris, but ah have to
cut this short...seems like ah'm needed back with the X-Men." 
Chris looks disappointed, but understanding. "Hero business, huh?" 
"Yeah," Rogue says. "The X-Men can hardly get along without me." 
"Well, go ahead...it's perfectly understandable," he says. 
"Thanks Chris, you're really sweet." Rogue smiles at him once more and
takes off into the sky. 
Rogue flies back towards the Blackbird and is almost there when she sees
the Phoenix manifest itself near the Blackbird's location. 
"Holy...," she whispers and flies even faster. "Ah don't have a good
feelin' about this..." 
Outside the Blackbird 
Kitty: Cries out, then phases: straight down into the cool, cool ground.
She 'runs' underneath the surface, protected, about thirty, maybe forty
meters, then surfaces, to where it's hopefully cooler. She gasps in a
ragged breath of sweet air, and then triggers every remote alarm she has
linked back to the Blackbird: everyone come a-runnin'! 
	Without checking to see if the alarms worked, she looks back towards the
Phoenix, and her eyes widen in shock at what she sees. "Oh, Rachel... NO!"
Her eyes search the brush for where Cyclops was. Whether she sees him, or
doesn't, she then phases back into the ground and 'runs' back to where she
thinks he was. Surfacing, she looks around as briefly as possible, trying
to protect her face and lungs, and spots Cyclops ducking behind a
blackened tree, grabs him and phases him back underground. Then she pulls
him back to her 'safe spot'. 
	Only then, once she's gotten Scott free, does she check to see whether
the radio-link still works, and if Peter, or anyone else is responding.
 Cyclops: Groans. He doesn't seem hurt badly, might have had the wind
knocked out of him. 	"I called Colossus, and Rogue's on the way."
 Shadowcat: "Good. I set off an 'all points' alarm too. It should alert
the other team we're having problems, but I don't know if they'll come."
Doublechecks Scott to see what kind of medical condition he's in, and
determines he's fine. 
Cyclops: His voice is shaky. "No warning... She was talking... about her
first kiss..."
 	Cyke swallows deeply, tucks his costume in. He spots Colossus emerge
from the Blackbird, stunned. Kitty sees him too.
 	"Not much the three of us can do, except talk her down. She was worried
about Jean. I dismissed it, but I think this has something to do with
Jean. They've got a bond like Jean and I do. Mine hasn't worked since Jean
has been captured, but it has for Rachel."
 	Cyke doesn't hide his fear at first, then seems to suck it all in.
 	"Maybe Rogue can siphon off her power, and we can knock out Rogue before
it overwhelms her. A one two with Colossus and myself should do it, if you
can phase us in close."
 	He doesn't sound convinced.
 	Kitty thinks furiously for a moment, than says, "I have an idea, but I
don't think either of you is going to like it much." 
	Quickly Kitty explains her plan. She and Rachel mind-linked more than
once when they were teammates on Excalibur, to the point where Rachel
'heard' her several times when even she shouldn't have been able to. This
time things are a bit reversed, but she might be able to get through to
Rachel. But only if she's close enough. As in phasing right through
Rachel. 
	"I did it with Colossus more than once against Nimrod and Magus,
augmenting his powers with mine. Well, maybe I can do the same here, and
get 'inside' her power sphere. It's dangerous, but it's better than having
Rogue try a direct assault and then having to deal with the psychic
backlash." She doesn't mention that she'll have to deal with it too, one
way or another. Or that she's already had some contact with Rachel's mind,
and the 'past' that has seeped through in those contacts hasn't been at
all pleasant. More like utterly terrifying. 
Phoenix: Rachel's flying overhead in a loop of fire, like a rat trying
to find a hole out of its cage. The only expression showing is pain. 
Kitty: "Colossus, I want a fastball special, right to the apex of one of
her loops. Try to get me there so that I 'top out' about two seconds
before she hits me. I'll correct with my airwalking. Cyclops, have Rogue
briefed by the time she gets here. As soon as she's about 30 seconds away,
I'll go. If I fail, Rogue's your next best option. Tell her best bet is to
let Rachel fly into her, rather than trying to catch her. If Rogue tries
to catch her, Rachel might take it as an attack and try to hit back." 
	She fixes both Cyclops and Colossus with a _look_ that defies objections,
and says, "Okay?" Before either can say a word, she's gone; into the
Blackbird for temporary oxygen mask and a fireproof covering for her hair
and eyes. She knows exactly where to find everything, and doesn't even
bother to open cabinets. She just phases, reaches in, and grabs the items
she wants straight out of the box. She's back outside in 30 seconds, tying
the covering over her hair and putting on the mask and protective goggles. 
	Then she looks up, studying Rachel's flight path, and tries to ignore a
falling sensation in the pit of her stomach. 
	"Okay, how far out is Rogue?" 
Cyclops: "Forget Rogue. I can't let you do this. I'm not letting anyone
throw their life away, not ever again. The Phoenix is just to dangerous.
Wait for Rogue."
 Colossus: "Katya, it is right what he says. You can not do this. You
are too young. I have faced the Phoenix before, it is not-"
 Shadowcat: Young? I'm an adult, Peter, same as when you joined the
X-Men. I've almost died more times than I can count, just like the rest of
you. Rachel is my friend, I've spent more time with her than either of
you, and I don't care if she's your daughter, Cyclops. She needs someone
who understands her, and neither of you two know her like I do. I'm going
to save her, with or without you if I have to, but I'm gonna do it. 
Cyclops: "No. Phase me. She's my daughter, and we are bound to each
other. I talked down Jean once like this, I can talk down Rachel."
 Shadowcat: I don't know, Cyke. I'm going to have enough trouble keeping
myself from merging with Rachel, without you along. Still... It might
work. You are her father, and the shock might... Hmm. Okay, Peter... 
Colossus: "No! I can not hurl you to your deaths when it is I who have
nothing. It is my family that is dead. It is I who should do this thing. I
will not be missed when I am gone."
 Rogue in Flight (One leg bent of course!)
 Rogue: Rogue arrives in time to see Rachel flying aimlessly in circles,
apparently in pain. Via her wrist communicator, she contacts Cyclops to
find out what's going on. 
Cyclops: "It's Rogue. My gut says Rogue's the one to handle this. She
goes first. If she can't, then Kitty goes in. Just Kitty. Colossus and I
might be needed for a heavy one two like we dealt Jean once before."
 Shadowcat: "You better be right. You're going to have to live with the
consequences."
 Cyclops: "That's been my fate from the beginning. Rogue; Rachel's
flared up out of control," he hurriedly explains. "You're the front line,
you know what to do." 
Rogue: Notices that Scott's voice is cold. Colder than she's ever heard
him. 
"Don't worry, Cyke," Rogue says. "Ah'll try and handle her." 
Shadowcat: (looks dubious) "I hope Rogue can handle it. She hasn't had a
lot of luck with psi's before. Your decision, 'team leader'." (her
attitude is almost openingly questioning Scott's judgement now, something
she never would have done before, but something's very very wrong with
Rachel, and, knowing Rogue, she doesn't think Rogue's the right person to
throw at her...)
 Rogue: Rogue flies closer to Rachel and notices the pain and confusion
on Rachel's face; Rogue knows how powerful Rachel is, but she's also a
friend and Rogue feels there are some old wounds left back from the Selene
incident that the two of them never got to hash out. All the X-Men tried
to help her after Wolverine almost killed Rachel, but Rogue didn't get the
chance to talk to Rachel much after the whole affair. 
"Rachel!" Rogue calls out to her, "it's me, darlin', Rogue!" 
Rachel doesn't seem to notice her, but her flying gets more erratic. At
this point, she thinks, Rachel's a loose cannon and any actions the X-Men
can take are merely damage control. 
"Ah hate to do this," Rogue says, slipping off a glove, "but we've got to
calm you down. Ah just hope you don't burn out my mind in the process,
Red." 
Rogue flies in towards Rachel and grabs ahold of her from behind. She
touches the side of Rachel's face with her ungloved hand. A startled
Rachel screams out "No!", but it's too late. 
Rogue feels her mind and body fill with memories and powers, of a par from
what she's gotten from the most powerful beings she's tried to absorb.
Rachel struggles a little, then falls slack. Rogue maintains contact for a
few more seconds before breaking it, and flying them to the ground.
 	Kitty takes Rachel, and Cyclops takes Rogue by the Shoulders, shaking
her.
 	 The thoughts of Rachel thunder through Rogue and Rogue fights them,
trying to keep her psyche on top, to push Rachel's down. 
	Terrifying images of hounds and sentinels, death and the blood scent of
the hunt draw out hungers in Rogue she's never known. The marks of the
hound crease her face, and her hair turns red, all red. "Mah lord, ah had
no idea," Rogue whispers. The marks fade. Rogue's stripes return. She's
herself.
 "Ah was extremely careful this time," Rogue explains. "Most of the time,
ah go off half-cocked, without thinkin' about what ah'm doin'. Ah knew it
wouldn't be easy this time, so ah tried to keep in control of mah own
psyche as ah absorbed hers, but it wasn't easy. Somethin's really hurtin'
Red." 
As those last words came out of Rogue's mouth, her head explodes in pain,
like the pain Rachel had been suffering. It's not Rachel's pain. 
"ARGH!!" Rogue cries out, eyes streaming tears. She brings her hands up to
cradle her head. 
Cyclops: "Rogue, try to stay in control! Remember who you are! You're
Rogue. Rogue!"
 Rogue: "Ah'm tryin'!" Rogue says through gritted teeth, "but the pain -
Rachel's powers can't block it out...aaaarrrrggh!" Another wave of pain
struck Rogue. 
"It's Jean," Rogue struggles to say, and then in a voice unlike her own
whimpers, "Mommie...!" 
Rogue can feel the Phoenix force welling up, ready to flare like it did
when she was approaching the Blackbird and she didn't know if she could
stop it - as thoughts, her own and Rachel's, began flooding her head. Then
Rachel's silent, but the Phoenix force remains.
 Shadowcat: She scans Rachel with whatever medical instruments are
handy, but doesn't have Nightcrawler's medical training, and even
unconscious, Rachel's readings are completely incomprehensible. As a
result, she's deep in thought when Rachel wakes up, and is taken
completely by surprise. 
Phoenix: She stands, weakly. She should be unconscious. "No Rogue... The
Phoenix is seeking me as a host... Can't stay with Mom... Mom's dying...
It won't accept you Rogue... I can take it back... I wasn't ready... I was
forcing it back to Mom... I have to... It's only thing keeping her
alive..."
 Cyclops: Optic blasts strike Rogue at full intensity. Scott pans and
blasts Rachel, mercilessly. With both hosts unconscious, the Phoenix force
rolls out of Rogue like a volcano's plume and screeches overhead in
blistering hot rage. It's claws extend and it prepares to dive on Rachel.
 	"I've had enough of you."
 	Cyclops opens the mental bond he shares with Jean, and uses it to draw
the entity into him. It resists, feebly, then acquiesces. The Phoenix
force merges into Scott and Disappears.
 	Scott takes off his visor.
 	Nothing happens, but his eyes broil with fire.
 CNN Live Coverage
 Generic Correspondent: "....and then Magneto finished his cataclysmic
speech to the world, proclaiming his Island nation of mutants, Avalon,
free of the world and under his dominion. As to be expected, the
collective beehive of curiosity and paranoia has been kicked and the
politions around the world are beginning to swarm."
 	"A simple move by the much feared master of Magnetism, but when an
average citizen suddenly comprehends the power of a man who can force an
entire world to listen to him, his power no longer exists in the abstract.
It is real.
 	"For two days now, all of the world's news reports and all broadcast
conversations on the various media forums and in all of their forms have
been inundated with the discussion of Magneto and the now highly apparent
threat of Mutantkind. 
	"Perhaps surprisingly, A formal response has been remarkably slow in
coming. It took 24 hours for the UN security counsel to unanimously deny
the soveriengty of Avalon, claiming it as forcibly taken from the
established territorial waters of its rightful owners (even though they do
not know what they may be.) President Clinton has declared that such a
Island does not even exist, and that these are the ravings of a mad man
and a terrorist. This message was followed by the uncut footage of the
World Trial where evidence had been presented alleging Magneto was
directly responsible for the destruction of a russian nuclear sub and its
crew. Furthermore, Clinton has activated the warpowers act to bring the
military into full alert in the belief that America's interests could be
threatened by Magneto. Protests of Clinton's draft dodging record
immediately followed.
 	"On the heels of the Americans, Nato began executed full war time
maneuvers at all active naval basis, spark immediate protests from North
Korea and Lebanon. 
	"On their own, Anti-Mutant demonstrations double overnight. Mutants from
around the globe have in turn organized counter protests, some violent,
some verging on terrorism, but all intent on being noticed. Several
nations have already used the situation to declare a state of emergency."
 Island of Avalon
 	Again Magneto returns the airwaves, but via video tape sent to the media
corporations. He stresses again that any mutant that wishes to come to
Avalon will be brought to it, and that there is no need for violence, on
either side.
 	He responds to the UN, anticipating, but regretting their decision, "You
claim to be arming for a threat while in truth you are creating one. It
would not be the first self-fulfilling prophecy; forty-five years of cold
war were born from the same mistake. But I have long realized that far too
few people learn from history well enough to avoid repeating it." 
	He puts as many people as have the talent -- and the psychological
steadiness -- for it on the task of gathering in the exiles, Magneto
leaves the rest to help assimilate the newcomers and suggests a number of
possible projects which need handling, most of them infrastructure or
economy-related. He takes some time out to organize a skeleton defense
from those mutants with combat training or clearly war-useful powers when
the latest recruit joins the fold in Avalon - Sam Guthrie.
 Cannonball: "Sir, it has been the goal of X-Force to defend the rights
of mutants and mutantkind, and that has made us a band of outlaws from our
own homes. We took a vote, and it was unanimous except for Cable's
opposition; we wish to bring X-Force here and offer it's services in the
defense of Avalon. I don't pretend to agree with all of your decisions in
the past, but I've always respected your conviction. Despite what Cable
thinks, I'm not a blind follower or a fool, and I expect you and I to have
a few words from time to time, but if you're sincere about a home for
mutants, where we can be free, and proud of our heritage, I'm all for it."
 Magneto: His face remains impassive at Cannonball's words, but
something in his tone hints that he's a bit taken aback be the assumptions.
 	 "Agreeing with me is not a requirement for citizenship here, Mr.
Guthrie. I said it was open to any mutant and I intend to keep it that
way. I have no doubt that sooner or later this will bring us a few people
I would not wish to have, but so long as they behave, they are welcome,
and if they do not, they will be treated as any other citizens of any
nation who break the laws of their land. A tiny and amateurish nation this
is, but a nation, not a vigilante corps. I have led more than enough of
those." 
	He then leaves X-Force in charge of training and goes back to monitoring
everything that's coming in from the outside, especially any hints from
governments which may have made a public posture of outrage while being
willing to talk in private, which governments often are, and exactly where
those military maneuvers are taking place and how close the naval ones are
accidentally getting to Avalon. 
	None are even close. For as small as the world may seem at times, it
remains a very big place to hide.
 	Over the next couple of days some minor countries quietly make minor
diplomatic overtures, more out of fear and acquiescence than out of
understanding. The UN Security Council is rumored to be preparing some
heavy duty "Name Calling" but seems empty in its threat. NATO has been
scrambling with satellite and Naval surveillance seeking out the Island,
and despite Magneto's ability, he knows that in time they will infer its
whereabouts.
 	Other means are taken up by the nations covert groups. Attempts to
infiltrate your Island with double agent mutants are, however, foiled by a
Mutant with a truth detection ability.
 	And X-Force has finally found a goal it enjoys, training and protecting
mutants. Despite their age, they are being treated like veterans, even
heroic Gods. 
	The names, both unknown and famous begin filling the rosters, Roulette,
Toad and Unus...
 	Magneto makes a concerted effort to avoid ordering people around and is
trying his damnest not to even lead at all. He wants to make them
self-sufficient, partly because the Acolytes' adoration of him has scared
him witless and partly because, since Xavier's death, he feels acutely
aware that he's mortal and has a vague intuition he's going to die in some
fashion, perhaps in not all that long a time.
 "The high that proved too high, the heroic for earth too hard, 
The passion that left the ground to lose itself in the sky, 
Are music sent up to God by the lover and the bard; 
Enough that he heard it once: we shall hear it by and by." 
-R. Browning 
Japan - Yukio's Flat
 	Wolverine returns from yet another reconnaisance mission of Matsuo's
stronghold.
 Wolverine: "That's it. Matsuo's dug in deeper then the Island suicide
squads of world war II. He's expecting trouble. More trouble than I could
cause. Things can't be going well the gang war."
 Yukio: "You should not be doing this Logan-san. I have had your fortune
cast many time in the past, always hoping for some joy in our union, but
the future is always the same, death at the hands of the slayer."
 Jubilee: "Wolvie's dogged him once, and he'll do it again."
 Wolverine: "I don't know. Things are different this time. I'm not just
bashing in, I'm bringing somebody out. I've tried it once before and it
wasn't pretty."
 Jubilee: "Well we gotta do somethin'. I'm sick of snarfin' noodles and
fish. Either Matsuo gets what's comin' to him, or I'm raidin' McDonald's,
no matter how many Yen their yankin' me for."
 Wolverine: "We'll go alright... tonight."
 Jubilee: "So soon? We've only been here a few days, and you said it
would take a week to size him up."
 Wolverine: "Matsuo won't stay cooped up like that for long. He'll
either move or strike out at his opponents, and then it'll be to late.
Waiting won't help any. We go at midnight."
 11pm - Same scene
 Wolverine: "Get up."
 Jubilee: "Huh? I wasn't sleeping, really. Just resting my eyes before
lettermen comes on. Oh he doesn't come on. We're in Japan aren't we."
 Wolverine: "Yukio went after Matsuo, solo."
 Jubilee: "Huh? How? Why?"
 Wolverine: "Sleeping drug. Heavy duty. It took an hour for my mutant
healing to counter it, it would've put anyone else in a coma. She's out to
redeem herself by taking my place. What she's really doing is suicide."
 Jubilee: "Oh and we weren't, Hey! My bags are packed and you're all
ninjafied! You're going with out me! No. You were going without me all
along."
 Wolverine: "You're tough, but this ain't a child's game. These guys are
killers, you're not. That's an edge you can't overcome."
 Jubilee: "So why did you drag me out here? DId you really think I'd
stay behind?"
 Wolverine: "You stowed away remember? And without Chuck at home... Well
I figured it couldn't hurt to have you tag along for awhile. But this is
the end of the line. I'm shipping you back to Cyke."
 Jubilee: "You can't, I won't let you!"
 Wolverine: Fakes handing Jubilee her bag, and instead breaks open a
capsule that releases a milder dose of the same sleeping compound.
 	"Sorry kid. But It ain't safe here. They search Yukio's apartment after
they nab her out of routine, and I can't let them find you here. And
nowhere's gonna be safe after I kick over their ant hive. A note's gonna
have to do you when you wake up, and I hope I'm around tomorrow for you to
chew out."
 	An associate of Logan's on leave from Okinawa takes Jubilee off of his
hands, and arranges a flight home for her with forged papers that
Wolverine provided him. She doesn't awaken until her escort breaks a
smelling salt under her nose.
 Escort: "Welcome to LaGuardia Airport. You're in New York kid. Your
visa and passport are in your bag, along with credits for a rental car,
and some cash. It was a bitch getting you through customs asleep, tell
Logan he owes me. He said you could make it from here. See ya."
 	 And he's gone, stranding Jubilee in the middle of a busy concourse.
 	Jubilee gapes for a moment, ready to argue, but the man is gone, melted
into the crowd. She closes her mouth, and sits on a nearby bench to take
stock. She mutters to herself, "Wolvie, I'm gonna get you for this. Maybe
not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon ... Anyway. Let's see what we
have, before we start bitching."
	She leafs through the items. "Hmm, serious cash-ola! Must be ... a
hundred, hundred-fifty bucks! First off, decent food!" 
	She picks herself up with a more cheerful mien and weaves through the
crowd - they're tamer than the folks in the mall she grew up in. Out in
front, she hails a taxi with a shrill whistle, earning admiring glances
from weary Coach-class business travelers. Getting in, she settles
herself, and leans forward to the driver.
 	He glances back at her, and growls, "Hokay lady. Where to, lady?"
 	She grins, and says, "To the biggest McDonalds you know about!" 
Cab Driver: "Big Mc Donald's. Hokay. No Problem. No Problem."
 	The driver careems off a curb and heads out along the east river at a
dizzying pace. Then, the cabby zips through the side streets of Queens
like a seasoned lunatic looking for his sanity instead of a landmark.After
passing several hamburger joints, both of them McDonald's, Jubilee
protests, but the cab keeps driving, "Big Mc Donald's. Hokay. No Problem.
No Problem."
 	She relents, and ends up on a ride through the Queensborough tunnel and
into Manhattan. The driver stops among the famous hangout spots (Hard Rock
Cafe, Harley Cafe, Planet Hollywood) at an ugly building front sporting
the McD logo. Although at the moment it reads "Rock Donald's" .
 	At first, Jubilee just stands and gapes at Tiffany's, The Warner Bros
store, and thoughts of a Macy's run romp through her brain like Sugarplum
fairies on Speed. All her consumerism-soaked heart could desire is splayed
out right here, right now! First, though, she needs to do something about
her stomach. It growls loudly to remind her, and she breaks out of her
reverie with a grin. "All, right, all right, food," she reassures it. 
	She heads into the building with the Golden Arches, even if they're now,
because of some ad executive's bright idea, shaped like animal horns. She
gets a Happy Meal, with nary a squeak about her age."Sometimes looking
younger can come in handy," she murmurs to herself after paying. She
finds, with difficulty, an empty table, upstairs (two floors! she squeaks)
and takes possession. Before she's even done with her burger though, a
group of bullies come by. They seem in their late teens and the leader's
got the size of a football fullback. They're all dressed in ripped
clothes, rather dirty, and belligerent. They sweep up to her table, and
take her sunglasses off her head. The leader tries them on, grinning. 
	Jube's glowers, and sits up straighter. "Give those back," she says, as
calmly as she can muster. Xavier would have been proud.
 The leader: "No." in a mimicy taunting voice, and helps himself to most
of her fries. 
Jubes: Nearly gives him a taste of her sparkles, but holds herself down,
reminding herself of the way mutants are viewed.
 	 Gritting her teeth she bites out, "Please?" 
	 They all laugh.
 Leader: Rubs her hair roughly, and says, "No," again in a perfect mock
up of her voice. "Slants got all the jobs now, they can afford to be
generous, can't they?" And to her surprise he gets up, his gang in unison
with him, and they go to leave.
 Jubes: Shoots to her feet, ready to spray him with a lightshow, when
she sees a McDonalds security guard emerge from the stall. She hails him
with a 'hurt little girl, help me please!' act, pointing at the bullies
and turning on the waterworks. The guard looks over at them, catches up
and has a word with them. He returns with her glasses and remaining fries.
 	"Geez, I guess there's something to this 'don't get involved' stuff,"
she muses. She finishes her food, pockets the neat Flintstones toy, and
disposes of her trash. 
	"All right, Jubes, where next?" she murmurs, making her way outside and
looking about. She decides to go sit in Central park for a few minutes to
let her stomach settle before hitting Macy's. "Don't want to get cramps in
the middle of a serious shopping spree," she reminds herself. She picks a
bench with a nice, peaceful view, and sits. She realizes she's a little
tired, but dismisses it. "C'mon, girl, sleep later. You're this close to
MACY'S, for chrissakes." Despite this rousing pep talk, she dozes off,
head resting on the back of the bench. 
	She is awakened by her glasses being removed from her face, rather
roughly. 
	She jolts upright. "Hey!" she says, and then notes that the bullies about
her are the same ones she had thrown out of the McDonalds ... "Oh, shit..."