Hello this is my first fanfic and I would like to thank whoever maybe reading this. Now this story focuses on a Marvel superhero team from the eighties know as the New Mutants but as their modern inclinations. This is unauthorized; please don't try to publish it for money as it wouldn't get that much. I place this story between issues 6 and 7 of the new series. It is a typical Doug Ramsey resurrected story. I could claim the story is original but that would be a lie as all fiction is based on something else it is just the way we string it together that makes it original. Me I'm not literary giant, I'm just a Chem major from Penn State University who likes comics. I would appreciate truthful feedback. Please send E-Mails to llm202@psu.edu. I don't look for pity; I'm just being realistic about what I wrote. I also apologize for the Chapter title puns. I know the clichés I put in there so don't point them out. (i.e. Lockheed appearing, Deus Ex Machina at the end, The unrealistic dialogue and accents of Rahne and Sam, the trivial remarks of Xavier). This is Vol. 1 of a three Volume series. I hope to have Vol. 2 done by Christmas.

I would like to apologize to three people. The first is Chris Claremont the original writer for the New Mutants. I apologize to him because I've probably screwed up his characters not as bad as others but still bad. Second I would like to apologize to the fans. This is not a very good story and should only be red by people who have time to waste. There are much better out there so don't read mine unless you have absolutely nothing to do. Third I would like to apologize to someone who gets battered worse than they deserve, Louise Simonson. Hey she had to take over for Claremont which I bet none of us could fell the shoes of. She gave it her best, but in the end she had to take it her way converting it to just another X-Book.

I wouldn't like to apologize to Rob Liefeld and whatever demon of Limbo he made a deal with to take over the series and convert it to X-Force. Sorry Rob but you were the worst thing that happened to that book since Bird-Boy.

The following names and characters as referred to in this story are owned by Marvel: Galactus, Katherine "Kitty" "Shadowcat" Pryde, X-Men, Excalibur, Warlock "Lock" "Douglock", Logan "Wolverine", Piotr "Colossus" Rasputin, Professor "Prof" Charles Xavier, Miss Emma Frost, Massachusetts Academy, New Mutants, Erik Magnus "Magneto" "Michael Xavier" Lensherr, Danielle "Dani" "Chief" "Mirage" Moonstar, Brightwind, Beyonder, Hellions, Illyana "Darkchylde" "Magik" "Little Snowflake" Rasputin, Larry Bodine, Elisabeth "Betsy" "Psylocke" Braddock, Bird-Boy "Bird-Brain", Douglas "Cypher" Ramsey, Ani-Mator, Rahne *its pronounced rain* "Wolfsbane" Sinclair, Cameron Hodge, Genosha, X-Factor, X-Force, Nathan "Cable" Dayspring Summers, Asteroid M, Stevie (the dance teacher), Scott "Slim" "Cyclops" Summers, Moira Mactaggert, Cerebro, Onslaught, Roberto "Bobby" "Sunspot" DaCosta, Xi'an "Shan" "Karma" Mahn Coy, Amara/Allison "Magma, Harry's Hideaway, Samuel "Sam" "Cannonball" Guthrie, Paige "Husk" Guthrie, John "Chamber" Starsmore, "Storm", Donald Pierce, Reavers, Hellfire Club, Inner-Circle, Brood, Mutate, Xavier's Institue/Mansion/School, Lockheed, Anne Ghazikhanian, Alex "Havok" Summers, "Xorn", Danger Room, Spider-Man, Shadow King, Spiral, David Alleyne, Shi'ar, Amahl Farouk, Silver Samurai, Danger Room, Black Eagle, Demon Bear, "Boom-Boom", Limbo, Asgard, Valkyrie, Odin, Sym, ani-men, Muir Island, Phalanx, Technoarchy, Magus, Living Tribunal, John Proudstar, James "Thunderbird" Proudstar, Rachel "Phoenix" Summers, Sofia Barrett, Kevin, Shield, Josh, Sentinels, Empath, Tarot, King Bedlam, Generation X, Banshee, Juggernaut, White Queen, Bruce.

Magnum PI is owned by CBS I Think. If I left anyone out please Email me and tell me.

Prelude:

New York City, a place known for heroes, a place full of life and diversity... but tonight something new will be added. On the roof of one of the city's more illustrious buildings, a flash of light strobes on then off. This sight, strange anywhere else, goes unnoticed by people who have seen things such as Galactus. A man appears from where the light once shined. He looks around, inspecting his surroundings. "This place is much like home," he thought as he started to read his surroundings. Then he sensed it. He could feel it. His enemies were still alive here, he just knew it. He would have another chance at vengeance. This brings a smile to his otherwise cold face.

Chapter 1: Pryde goes before the fall

Two years later:

She was sitting in the library, just studying her physics books. Her pencil rolled off the table and landed on the floor and continued to go under a bookshelf. She quickly looked around, seeing if anyone was close by. Everyone at the library was engrossed with their studying. She stuck her hand right through the bookshelf and grabbed her pencil.

Katherine "Kitty" Pryde is not your typical college student, no, not by a long shot. She has probably done more in her life than most other people -- including her professors -- have dreamed of. She's traversed the galaxy, crossed dimensional portals, had love interests with a giant man made of metal and a Brit who was a spy but not exactly a gentlemen like Bond, she's been trained as a samurai and a ninja, and evened roomed with a demon sorceress. Even more, most of this happened before she was 18. Studying for her physics exam in comparison just seemed...

"Boring," Kate thought as she set the book down on the table. "Well, Kitty, you've done it again. You gave up your life as an adventurer so that you could go back to school. You just never realized how much you would miss it. Not just the excitement, but the knowledge you could've learned."

Kate was by no means just special because of her mutant ability, but also because of her level of intelligence. The stuff she was learning in physics just seemed so basic. She tested out of all the lower classes, but they wouldn't let her test out of more "advanced" classes. Kate used to have use of one of the most advanced computer systems in the world; her laptop in comparison seemed like a stone tablet.

She found herself looking out the window, daydreaming of the good times she had with the X-Men and Excalibur. That was when she saw a familiar man sit down almost directly across from where she was sitting, outside the window.

"What is he doing here?" She thought as she gathered her stuff up and headed out the door. When she got down the steps to where the man was sitting, he had already disappeared. She looked around and saw him duck behind a building. "Ah! I don't have time for his games!" she thought as she headed to follow where he went. This was a lie -- but a justifiable one in her mind. She got around the corner and saw the man just standing waiting for her.

"You got a lot of explaining to do, Warlo..." Her voice trailed off as she got a closer look at his face. "Oh, I'm sorry -- I thought you were someone I knew."

"Oh, but you do know me, Kitty." Kate's eyes focused on the man. "I'm just not the Techno-Organic being known as Warlock -- even though, at one time, I was called his soulselffriend."

She continued to stare at this man while he put on an emotionless smile as recognition by Kate started to set in. "I don't know what kind of shape-shifting mutant you are but you have a lot of nerve, pretending to be someone very close to me who died."

The man walked over to a wall. Kate continued to watch him, waiting for his attack. "Really, Kitty. Did Logan's training make you that paranoid? I mean, if I was a shape-shifter and wanted to choose someone who was dead that you love, dontcha think I would have chosen Colossus? I mean you were much closer to Peter than you were to me. Use your brain -- or did it phase out last time you used your powers?"

Kate's eyes were unwavering. "Tell you what -- to prove I really am who I appear to be, how about I give you a brief life story? My father was the lawyer for Xavier's. Emma Frost wanted me to be part of the Massachusetts Academy. You rescued me from there. Later on Warlock came to Earth and they needed someone to translate for him, so I was brought in. I became a member of the New Mutants, the last member of the original lineup. During my time there Xavier took a leave of absence and was replaced by Magneto going by the name Michael Xavier. We traveled to Asgard where Dani -- or Mirage, if you prefer -- became a Valkyrie and got her winged horse Brightwind. We were killed by the Beyonder and brought back to life by him, but death is something you can't get over, and we became traumatized. We then got transferred to the Mass. Academy and 'thanks' to Miss Frost we 'recovered'. We became Hellions then later, after Magneto rescued us, we came back to Xavier's. Let's see... what else can I tell you? Well, there was our escapade with the Impossible Man... A trip to the future by Magik's stepping-disk... 'Team Supreme,' of course... Larry Bodine -- I bet that's someone you would like to forget. My interest in Betsy. Bird-Boy. Oh, yes, I almost forgot. Even though I don't know how I could -- a life altering thing like that! My death.... Being gunned down by a crazy scientist while saving Rahne's life. Well, you only do it once... or in my case twice. HA!"

Kate looked on, reading his body language and how he talked -- not what he said, but how he said it. His mannerisms all screamed out his name. Some of the events described weren't put on any X-Men record, but he knew them. She knew them too, as Illyana sometimes shared her stories with her.

"The way I see it, there are four possibilities: one, you're a shape-shifter or an illusion caster with the ability to read my mind. Two, you're a shape-shifter or an illusion caster who kidnapped one of my friends and pumped them for info. Three, you're some kind of clone. Or four, which is something that I don't even wanna suggest..." Kate said, trying to keep a grim nature as Logan had taught her. She wasn't going to let her emotions get the better of her.

"What, that I really am who I claim to be -- the one, the original Douglas Ramsey, also known as Cypher? Computer hacker extraordinaire, master of the written and spoken word, the first New Mutant to die and stay dead. That's what you don't want to say." The man said with a smile now that was even more reminiscent to Kate. A smile she hadn't seen in such a long time. That was Doug's smile. No one had one like it, not even Douglock.

"Doug!" Kate shouted and embraced this man before her. A man a few moments ago she was getting ready to attack.

"Kitty..." She looked up at him. "You forgot choice five." He brought his fist back, and Kate phased as was her instinct. Wham! The fist made contact with Kate's phased body. As she fell to the ground, she looked up -- and saw he still had that smile.

Chapter 2: An explanation to De-Cypher

Kate woke up. Her gut was in quite a deal of pain. She looked around, trying to get her bearings. It was an abandoned warehouse or factory, very dark with hardly any light. There were sparse furnishings except for some metallic posts that formed an invisible box around her. There was a few more of these set up in a place close to her. She touched the empty space between the posts and found it to be quite solid. So she tried phasing, to no avail. She started remembering what happened. She was at school, and then that man... He was able to attack her while phased. That man who claimed to be...

"Doug!!!" She bellowed at the man sitting at a computer desk, trying to type.

"Be with you in one second," he replied as he kept typing. "I just have to pad my financial status for my next mission, to get myself admitted to a high stakes card game."

"I don't know who you think you are, but you're not Douglas Ramsey. He was a friend and died a very honorable death. I don't know what God you pray to, but you better start -- because, if I get out of here..."

"Very dramatic, Kitty," he responded, getting up from his computer table.

"Don't call me that! Only my friends call me that."

"OK, 'Kitty'," now being condescending, "but, as I said, very dramatic. I don't know if you were conscious but I did say there was a fifth choice." He looked at Kate, hoping to get a rise out of her. She did nothing but stare. "The fifth choice is I *am* Doug Ramsey -- but not yours. Truth is, I come from an alternate dimension. I come from a dimension where all the X-Men -- and everyone associated with them -- are dead."

Kate looked at him with sad eyes, and could only say one word -- "How?"

He looked back with a smile. "I killed them.

"You see, Kitty, in my dimension, during the Ani-Mator fiasco I took the bullet for Rahne just like in this world -- but, in mine, your roommate left me behind to die."

"No..."

"She pulled out all the New Mutants, and left me to die."

"No."

"Cameron Hodge's men saved me. They brought me to a mutant research facility. They were going to create mutant soldiers. You know -- fight fire with fire."

"No!"

"I almost wasn't chosen because of how weak my power was. That was before the mental blocks I put up started breaking down."

"Mental blocks?" Kate asked regaining her composure.

"My power wasn't just that of the written or spoken word, but of the world. I could 'read' the world. I understood it, and adapted."

Kate looked at him like he was another madman just like all the others the X-Men had dealt with before.

"I had put up those blocks subconsciously so my mutant power wouldn't rage out of control. Thanks to the program, I released those blocks. Hodge found the best driving force for me was revenge. He was going to use me to kill the X-Men. I was put into a bio-med chamber that recuperated my mind and body. I started seeing clearly. I had been deluded by Xavier and my so called friends. I was released four years after that Genosha incident -- yes, we had that fiasco, too, where the X-Men were brought back as war criminals to Genosha."

Kate just continued listening. She has been to so many alternate dimensions -- some better, some worse -- that she believed what he said, and started pitying him. She knew what kind of man Hodge was and fully knew what he was capable of.

"So what did you do after being released?" she asked, dreading any answer that he would give.

"After? After, you ask. Well, after I was freed from the bio-med tube, I had fun. Want to hear some details? I wiped Betsy's mind clean with her own psi-knife, making her braindead. I beheaded the Prof. I killed all of Excalibur with a single wave of my hand -- and likewise X-Factor. I tracked down X-Force and used Cable's own Techno Virus against them. I blew up Asteroid M. I broke both of Stevie's legs and then she committed suicide. I cause devery living cell in Wolverine to explode at once. Cyclops's own eyes burned out his own brain. I killed every X-Man. I killed the Hellions. I even killed Moira. I tracked down all their enemies and killed them too -- even Hodge. He was part of the problem too. Then came the final one I had to kill. The one who killed me."

"No..." Kate knew who he was talking about. After hearing him describing what he said he did to the others she didn't want to hear anymore.

"I found her in Russia. Of course, at this time she was much younger than when I originally met her. I came upon her -- and crushed her skull in."

"No!" Kate screamed as she slammed into one of the force-walls, trying to get at him. She no longer felt pity but hatred. No matter what Hodge did to him, Doug could never be this. This was some kind of monster. Doug was a good person.

"I went around killing everyone I saw. Dontcha see that they were also part of the problem? The humans provide new generations of humans and mutants. They were the reasons there was a war. No, not a war in the traditional sense, but Xavier's War. Mutants protecting humans from other mutants and then protecting mutants from humans. We weren't soldiers, we were blasted referees. I did that till about two years ago."

"What happened two years ago?" Kate now felt even more the need to hear the end of this story.

"I came here. I arrived in a flash of light. I don't exactly know how I arrived, but I knew it wasn't my world. I could read it and see some obvious differences. For one, you were all still alive."

Kate had to sit down.

"I had been given a second chance for vengeance. I didn't want to hurry, though. I started by hacking Cerebro. It's harder to do from an outside terminal, but most of the security in it hasn't been changed. They would have found me if they looked but, lucky for me, they didn't. I didn't give them anything to look for because all I did was steal information. Our worlds were very similar -- and, by that, I mean identical up until the point I awoke. We never had Onslaught... but it can be argued that I was just as bad."

Kate was surprised as he said this with a tone that made her believe again that he still was human. She could see it even though he was trying to hide it. For this moment she didn't fully believe his story of him planning revenge on the X-Men of her world, but the cage she was in proved quite contradictory to this feeling. He continued.

"I found out what had happened to all my old comrades, including the fact I was given a proper burial here. I was kind of disappointed Illyana was dead already and this being -- Douglock, I guess was his original name -- was interesting to look in on. I visited my grave a few times to pay my proper respects. I wonder what Rahne would say about that, you know with her strict Presbyterian faith and all. I guess I mellowed, because I decided to shorten my list."

"List?"

Doug handed her a piece of paper and looked at a clock on the wall, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a card game at one of the most elite casinos with the second person on that list."

Kate looked down at the paper. It was a list of names, and hers was the first. The name right below hers was Roberto DaCosta.

Chapter 3: Sunspots may interfere with broadcast

Roberto DaCosta is not your typical hero. He currently resides at part of the X-Corporations California branch. He comes from an affluent family and always felt the need to prove his worth by being better than his father. Besides once being a member of the Hellfire Club's elite Inner-Circle, he was also a member of the New Mutants and X-Force. He went to places people could only dream of but, in his native Brazil, he was mistreated for being a half-breed. His father taught him to be proud. This was one of the few things he thanked his father for. He was already farther along than his father. No, he wasn't going to be his father; he would refuse this.

He came to this Casino as part of an X-Corp mission. It was supposedly having high stakes games with mutants used as prizes. He was supposed to infiltrate the game and find out if it was true -- and, if it was, stop it. Using his wealth, a primary reason he was chosen for this mission, he was able to buy into the game, but staying in it was going to be a whole other matter. But he was Roberto DaCosta, and he wouldn't lose.

He had made it to the final rounds of the tournament and was heading to the final table in a private back room that the casino doesn't monitor because the contestants ask it not to be. He was heading for the door when it swung open, and a group of men walked out. He had seen some of these guys before in the primaries at the tables and they had all appeared to be good players, but now they all had the look of defeat. Roberto decided to ask one of the men what happened.

"Sir, did I miss the game?"

"No. You're lucky you arrived late or you would be joining us. The guy beat us all in less than thirty minutes. None of us could compete. I hope you have better luck -- or at least are a better cheater than us."

In the room sat a man in a brown cloak which kept his face concealed. Next to him was the dealer, just shuffling. They had one more opponent to go through before they could call it a night. The dealer was amazed at this man's pure talent. He had to be the best cheater in the world to pull off stuff he did. "Maybe I will be able to get home early tonight," the dealer thought when the door swung open, and there stood Roberto. He was wearing an Armani suit, perfectly tailored. It was his style to have the best, and his body language made the dealer doubt his earlier assessment. He walked over to the table, and brushed off a chair, and sat. The dealer continued his shuffle. Roberto wasn't going to cheat. He was going to win from his own merits. He was a DaCosta, and he doesn't lose.

"So, my friend, why the shroud?" Roberto said as he anted.

"We all wear our masks." He anted back, and the game started.

Roberto decided to pry more. "So, I hear you've been winning quite a deal of money in this casino. Have you been winning anything else?"

"A few billion dollars at my last count -- and, if by anything else you mean slaves, then yes."

Roberto, amazed at the honest presumption of this man, decided to ask more. "Well, as far as I can tell, you're not a cheater or someone who is interested in owning mutant slaves."

"It depends on what you call cheating. Knowing an enemy's weakness is technically cheating, but instead it's written off as good strategy. As for the slaves, they were just part of the pot."

"Have you ever played poker before?"

"Once, I had a lady by my side who brought me good luck, but eventually it all turned bad. I was still a minor and got drunk. Then me and my friends started a contest with our rivals whom that lady was a part of."

Roberto thought about what he'd said. It sounded very familiar, yet he couldn't place it. "What did you say your name was again?"

"I didn't. I can see you're still the detective. Magnum would be proud, Bobby."

"What?!?" This comment affected Roberto.

"You remember, dontcha, Bobby? Magnum PI. You used to love that show. You used to watch it all the time with Dani and Sam and Rahne and Xi'an and Warlock and Illyana and Amara and -- who was the last person? You remember who he was, Bobby, dontcha?"

Roberto's energy started to crackle beneath his suit with every word this person said. The card game had stopped at this point and the dealer began walking away as he saw that they were mutants and preparing for a fight.

"Oh yeah! Doug was his name. How could anyone forget about good ol' Doug? You remember Doug. You used to pick on him because he didn't have a flashy power. You know Bobby, you always worried about turning into your father, but you didn't turn into him. You turned into Magneto."

This was the last straw. Roberto stood up, fully energized, and placed his fist through the table. Poker chips flew everywhere. By this time the dealer had ducked out. "I don't know who you are or how you know so much about my past, but I will not take these insults sitting down. I'm Roberto DaCosta."

"Temper, Bobby. Temper. Is that anyway to treat the only team member you never fully alienated? Of course, if I hadn't died, you would have probably done it." With that remark, the man removed his shroud.

"You bastard! I don't know who you think you are, but that face you're wearing is of a dead ally!" Roberto raised his hand and charged it with solar energy, enough to vaporize this man where he sat.

"So that's part of your new powers... Well, I also have new powers." He raised one of his fingers. A blinding flash of light emanated and, when the illumination returned to normal, Roberto was on the floor, completely de-energized.

"That was easy enough," he thought as he placed the human carcass on his shoulder and walked to the service elevator.

Roberto woke up. He looked around and realized he wasn't at the casino anymore. He walked forward and hit an invisible wall. He powered up and focused his energy against the invisible wall. Nothing came of this.

"I wouldn't waste my energy."

Roberto looked around to see where this voice came from. There across from him in a similar cell to his sat a woman with brown hair. He recognized her almost immediately. "Kitty?"

"Yep, Bobby."

"What are you doing here?"

"Same thing as you. I was abducted. I've been here about a day, maybe two."

"Who was that man who abducted us?"

"Exactly who he appeared to be." Kate gave Roberto the short version of the story she was told, but not leaving out the graphic details.

"So this man is an insane version of Doug with omnipotent powers and a drive to kill us."

"Yes, but he may still have a shred of humanity."

"Perfect. Just perfect."

Just then a figure walked out of the shadows. This caught their attention away from their own conversation. It was Doug, and he was carrying a few bags from a local fast food restaurant.

"Dinner time, guys." He looked and saw that Roberto was awake. "I see Bobby has decided to join the land of the living. I expect Kitty caught you up on the situation and, before you ask, I'll tell you what I did to you back at the club. I simply overcharged you, causing an overload which blacked you out. Now, even though this appears to be a normal warehouse, we are psi-shielded and also shielded from any communication devices. I thought you guys would be hungry so I bought food for us. I know it's not that rich food you're used to, Bobby, or even a meal from Harry's Hideaway, Kitty, but it's still food."

Doug stuck his hand through the force shield and placed the bags down. Roberto thought about grabbing his hand but decided not to until he had a better idea of what to do. Doug took his own bag and sat down across from them on the floor.

"Hey, Bobby? You remember when Bird-Brain came and we took him to that restaurant. Oh wait, you weren't there. You were off with that other team and you took Warlock with you. Why did you do that? Huh? Why?" Doug started becoming hysterical as the burger was falling apart in his hand. The two captives just looked on, not having touched the food he brought. "Why dontcha eat? I bought the food so you guys could eat. We could eat and talk about old times. I mean, if Rahne was here, she probably give you both a firm talking to. You know she's the one who got me to talk to Bird-Brain. God bless her, she was possibly the nicest person I met. Of course, if she wasn't nice, what happened in Genosha probably wouldn't 've happened."

Kate noticed this. Not only was this the second time he'd mentioned Rahne in a pleasant way, but now he was crying about it. Roberto looked on with contempt.

"Hey Doug," Roberto said, grabbing Doug's attention. "Let me out and we'll talk about old times, okay?"

"Oh no. You won't trick me. I have big plans. And if you won't talk, I must be off again. I have to see a country boy." Doug donned his shroud and walked out into the shadows again.

"Kitty, who is next on the list?"

Kitty looked down at the list to see the next name. It was Samuel Guthrie.

Chapter 4: Cannonball Run

"Man, I sometime miss my quiet life in the mines." Zchit! A beam of energy flew over Samuel Guthrie's head as he hid behind a broken pillar. About an hour ago he had been heading down to a local convenience store to pick up a gallon of milk and a paper. Now there was somebody hurling energy like an atomic blast.

"Okay, Sam," he thought, "Cable taught you how to asses a situation, so did Wisdom and Storm. I'm currently hidden by a pillar my enemy could easily destroy but instead fires energy to keep me pinned down. I don't have enough room to get a good blast off. My communicator is being blocked by some weird static, so I can't contact Storm. Yep, I miss Kentucky."

Samuel Guthrie didn't use to have problems like these. Growing up in a Kentucky mining town he'd had others, though. When his father was killed in a mining accident he had to become the man of the house. Tricked by Donald Pierce and later helped by the New Mutants, he became unwavering in his life at that point. He followed Xavier, Cable, and Wisdom -- looking probably to replace that hole his father's death left -- but now, on Storm's team, he was finally becoming that man of the house his mother and family needed.

The blasts stopped. In that brief moment Samuel made his move. He blasted off to where the blasts had been coming from, but no one was there.

"Ahem!"

He looked around and saw the man in the shroud now standing behind him. He made his second charge at this man. Samuel knew that he was quicker and had greatly improved his maneuverability since his first blastoff, but this guy moved so much quicker than him, he couldn't even come close to hitting him.

"Strike two!"

Samuel was beginning to get angry. He had missed twice and now this guy was mocking him. Missing was bad enough, but the fact this guy was rubbing salt in it made it worse. It was time to rethink his strategy.

"So, Sam," the shrouded figure started to speak. This got Samuel's attention, the fact that this new foe knew his name. "How's your mom? I mean, handling all those kids must be hard work for a simple woman -- but of course Paige's gone. I heard she became an X-Man. Too bad I never met her I probably would've liked her."

Now Samuel's curiosity was peeking out. "Do I know you?"

"Not in the traditional sense but, hey, what is traditional for a team that was founded by an alien insectoid? Even though I wasn't even around when the team was originally formed but 'cascara'."

Samuel was now really interested. When the New Mutants were formed by the Professor it turned out he was actually a Brood queen. The New Mutants were going to be implanted with Brood eggs. No one outside of maybe 20 people knew this. If Samuel wasn't wondering who this guy was before, he was now.

"Hey, Sam. You still invulnerable while blastin' -- because I'm going to stand still and give you an open target."

Samuel knew this was a trick, but he couldn't pass this chance up. He flew full force at this man who had certainly a lot of knowledge. Bam! The man raised his fist and Samuel struck directly into it. He slumped to the ground.

"Hmmm. That was disappointing," he thought as he lifted the southern over his shoulder.

While Doug was off, Roberto and Kate ate up the food he brought them. He'd remembered exactly how both of them liked their burgers. After they finished eating, they decided to plan a strategy.

"Bobby?"

Roberto looked over at his fellow captive. It had been very quiet while they ate. He had been thinking about the things Doug had been saying to him. He was probably right about the alienation thing, but he was dead wrong about him being like Magneto. He was a DaCosta. He doesn't lose and he won't lose to this madman.

"Yes, Kitty?"

"When Doug was talking to you and me, he mentioned Rahne and Genosha. He mentioned those same things to me when I was his only captive. Both times there was a great amount of sadness in his voice. Something happened to Rahne in his world -- and we're going to press that issue."

Roberto looked back with a smile. Just then Doug walked in carrying a large body on his shoulder. They knew it was Samuel's because he was next on the list. He threw him into another one of his force pens.

"There you go, nice and comfy. So, how have my other two friends been doing?"

Roberto was the first to answer back. "Hey, Doug -- if you want vengeance so bad, why don't you just kill us now?"

"Oh no. Not yet. Not till the rest of our guests arrive will we have any fun."

Roberto continued. "Well, who's left? There's Dani and Xi'an, both currently faculty at Xavier's. Amara's..."

"You mean Allison, don't you? I'm leaving her out of this."

"Why? Is it because she's comatose?"

"Because Amara was on the team. Allison is Amara and Amara didn't really exist. There is no vengeance for people who don't really exist."

"O.K. then," Roberto continued. "Well, there's the faculty, Storm and Xavier and Magneto -- but he's already dead."

"No, he's not. The faculty is not involved just as the members who came after me are not involved."

Kate wondered about that comment. Doug had said he hacked into Cerebro and she knew that the file on Magneto said he was dead. Why would he believe that he still lived? While she pondered this, Roberto continued his badgering while Samuel remained unconscious.

"So who does that leave you -- friend Warlock?"

Doug focused his attention down at the ground at this comment.

"Or Rahne?"

Doug's energy started forming in his eyes and hands.

"I bet that felt really good. Kitty told me all the horrible things you did to everyone else. I bet you did something really horrible to her. You probably burned her al..."

Roberto couldn't speak anymore. He was now floating off the ground being invisibly choked. Doug had his hand pointed at Roberto with energy just pouring from his eyes and hands. Kate saw this. She had never seen him do anything like that. In all his actions so far, he hasn't really done things quite so intimidating. Now he was unleashing a power driven by fury, a fury invoked by the mentioning of Rahne's name.

"You son of a bitch! You have no right to talk about her or address her by her real name. Rahne was pure... She didn't deserve it. She didn't."

Kate realized this was her time to step in. "Doug, stop it! You've made your point."

Doug released his grasp on Roberto, who fell to the ground with a heavy thud. He then turned his attention to Kate. He still had the anger in his eyes, but the fury of energy had let up.

"Doug, did you kill Wolfsbane?"

He gave no answer. Kate could now see it wasn't rage or anger, but sadness. Something had happened to Rahne in his world. And whatever had happened had affected him deeply. She asked again, as he walked over to a wall and leaned up against it.

"Doug, did you kill Wolfsbane?"

He punched the wall. The whole building shook, but there was no impression made in the wall.

"Who killed her?"

He punched the wall again with the same result. Kitty could hear him breathing heavily as he started crying.

"Doug, tell me what happened!"

Now fully crying, he tried to explain. "You know what it's like to know your death serves no purpose? I saved her... but she was still killed. So pure and innocent... but dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. It made no sense."

"Doug, who killed her?"

"I guess that God Rahne always told me about had some kind of ironic humor. You see, I save her, and get resurrected by Hodge. Then Hodge turns her into a mutate, and kills her. My savior became the killer of the person I died for. Why didn't they bring her back? The X-Men brought Storm back from being a mutate, but they didn't reverse the process on Rahne. Hodge made her an example because the X-Men didn't bring her back in time. My death... Her death... Neither served a purpose. I didn't even know that she was killed by Hodge until I killed everyone in the Institute and read the files."

"That's what set you off, wasn't it?"

"I thought I was so determined... Get my revenge... No, Hodge had to kill Rahne and Warlock."

"Warlock?" He had pretty much distanced himself from talking about Warlock in any sort of depth.

"His death was my fault, you know. I talked to him first. I made communication possible. He was a coward and I made him join a team that always got into life or death situations. He never wanted to fight. That's why he left his home. I convinced him. He then felt that need to protect the team -- especially me. His instincts told him to run from conflict, yet he stayed because he had to protect. He should have never gone to Genosha." Doug, hysterical in his sadness, punched the wall a third time. The building shock yet again but this time a dent was made in the thick concrete walls and, for a brief moment, their holding cells illuminated as if they shut off for a brief second. When Doug pulled his hand back from his freshly made hole it was bleeding. This got Roberto's attention.

"So, my friend, you bleed like everyone else." He thought as he looked at Kate, who was more concerned about reaching Doug's humanity.

Doug stood up with labored breathing. He ran his hands through his hair, which had become a mess from all his emotions, trying to bring it back to some order. He started regaining his composure. "Tch. Now," he sighs, "If you will excuse me," and lets out a deep breath, "I must get back to school." With that he walked back into the shadows.

"Wait. Doug!" Kate gave one last call, to no response. She was beginning to understand this Doug. Abandoned by his friends. Brainwashed by an insane mutant hunter who killed two of the closest people he ever knew. He killed them all but, even though he says he enjoyed it, she could recognize the fact his conscience made him realize his actions were wrong. There was still a chance for redemption, but she would have to act quickly. This was one time she was glad Illyana was dead. If she was still alive, there would be no way to reach him.

"Uh... Hey, guys... Where am I, and what's going on?" Samuel said as he rose to his feet and saw the other two people.

Kate didn't bother to answer. She just looked down at the list. The next two names were encircled together. Xi'an Coy Mahn and Danielle Moonstar.

Chapter 5: The Mirage of Karma

In Westchester County there is a school. This school has been until recently a very secretive private school whose true nature was unknown to the public. It is located at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY, and it is called the Xavier Institute. This school is the place where some of the greatest outlaw heroes were trained in the use of their powers. Currently, it is a place where kids with new powers can find a safe haven. Today somebody is searching, not for a haven, but for a way to extract those who have already found it.

A young blond man in a nice brown suit walks up to the gates of the Institute. He looks at the keypad lock. He types in a few numbers and a needle pricks him for some blood. The gate slides open and he enters.

"Hmmm," he thinks, "All these years, and they still use the same password and never deleted my DNA from the database. The security has really become relaxed in this time." He continues to walk up to the mansion's front door. He looks around and sees quite a different site than what he remembers. When he went here, there were maybe 25 residents... and now there are all these kids, just running around the grounds, or studying. He sees one of the new teachers he had read a file on -- John Starsmore, he believes -- showing some kids his powers. No one seems to notice him as he walks into the mansion.

He heads up the staircase and down the hall. He has one thing to do before he sees the people he has to see. He enters the room that he lived in for some of his life and he just looks around. He notices everything that has changed, just trying to soak it in, wondering can things go differently...

"Hey!"

He turns around, startled by somebody, and snaps back into reality.

"Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my room?"

Doug looks at this newcomer. He's wearing a shirt with the word Ozzy printed across it and his hair's sort of sticking up.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was your room. You see ,I went to Xavier's and..."

"Does it look like I care? I just want you gone."

Doug, on that note, leaves. Doug could have done something really horrible to that boy but no, he's just a stupid kid. "The room's not even worth it," he thinks, as he heads to one of the secret elevators which will take him to the med-lab. "Not really even my room. Institute's been remolded so many times I doubt anything's original." The elevator doors shut close.

Meanwhile back at the warehouse Kate was contemplating how to reach Doug. Suddenly, one of the windows crashed open. She, Roberto, and Samuel looked up.

"Kitty, it's your dragon." Samuel made the first response.

"Lockheed! I knew you'd find me!" The little purple dragon flew in front of Kate's cage, and hovered. He let out a big coo seeing Kate's face once more. "I need you to listen to me, Lockheed. I'm stuck in this cage and I need..." On that the dragon flew back and got a head of steam -- and charged the cage. "No! Don't!" But Kate's warning came too late and the dragon went through the force wall and crashed into the one on the opposite side. "What I was going to say, dragon, is I'm stuck in this cage, and I need you to go get help..." Kate said as she picked up the bewildered dragon off the floor. In return, he gave Kate a big smile with a look that could be interpreted as 'whoop!'.

Back at the mansion, Doug had made it to the med-lab. He saw a woman entering one of the rooms. He recognized her from the Cerebro file. Her name was Anne Ghazikhanian, and she's normal. Anne had fallen in love with Havok and decided to stay on as the mansion's nurse. Her son is a mutant who attends the school. Doug decided to approach her.

"Excuse me, miss?"

"Uh, yes?" Anne turns around, startled.

"Do you know where Allison is at?"

"Are you a student? You do know this is a restricted area down here..."

"Uh... no to the first, yes to the second. I was a student here same time Allison was. I left Xavier's to pursue my personal life... Besides, I wouldn't be down here if I didn't have clearance."

"I guess you're right," she said, still with a little doubt. She led him down the hall to where Allison was stationed. "You can't stay long, but I will give you some time alone." She left the room as Doug sat down in a chair by the bed. "Hmm, that's strange," Anne thought. "What am I doing down in this area? I should be down the hall finishing inventory." She walked down the hall, not remembering the man she'd met just five minutes ago.

"Hey, Amara -- or is it Allison? I knew you when you were Amara, so I hope you don't mind me calling you that. I remember how you used to be. You were the daughter of a senator in a Roman culture hidden from time. You seemed so strange... but, in retrospect, we must have seemed so strange to you. You coming from a culture raised to worship all those gods and heroes... You, yourself, became a hero. Me and you are the most alike, Amara. You had a false reality imposed on you -- and me, who refused to accept a true reality for a false one. Truth is you deserve the vengeance that I'm bringing, but I can't give it to you while you're comatose." Doug had a tear in his eyes as he leaned in and kissed her on her forehead. "Goodbye, Amara. May you never know what I have seen."

Doug left the room and headed to the elevator at the other end. He had been putting it off long enough. It was time to confront the other two but, before Doug could find out where they were, he felt something. "Oh my, he's here too." A smile came to Doug's face because he had one more person to visit before Xi'an and Danielle. Unbeknownst to Doug, as he left Allison a tear forms in her eye, and she's able to say her first word in a long time. "Doug..." Then she's gone again, almost as though nothing happened.

Doug headed down the hallway. He's not worried about detection because he has psi-shield himself from any psychic who could be at the institute. He now was following that signal he'd detected earlier. He *knew* he was alive and now he was going to confront him. As he walked down the hall he saw him. He didn't look like any of his previous incarnations, but he knew it was him even behind that mask he wore. He had recognized him from Cerebro's files. His name is Xorn... but Doug knew him when he had a more sinister name.

Xorn walked down the hallway. He was on his way back to his room. After his busy day teaching, he was ready for some time to relax. Keeping his true identity secret from Xavier was long and tiring work. As he walked down the hall, he felt someone watching him. He saw a blond haired man in a nice brown suit, standing still, just watching him. He stops and stares back, trying to place the face, and it finally comes, a name to the face.

"So?" Xorn speaks first.

"So, we must talk." Doug replies, his hands shaking slightly.

Xorn leads Doug down the hall to his room where they can talk. They enter, and Doug and him both take a seat at a small table in the room. Doug starts the conversation.

"I'm going to answer a few questions that are going through your mind. One -- I'm psi-shielded so anything said, no one will know unless I tell them. Two -- I am who I appear, just from an alternate dimension. Three -- Yes, I do know who you really are."

"I have no idea what you are talking about." He decides he doesn't want to reveal anything until he knows more.

"Ok, Xorn' -- or should I say Magnus -- or is it Erik you prefer? I don't care what your plans for the X-Men are, they don't concern me. I have my plans for the New Mutants. I already have two, and a special guest. I'm here to get two more. No one will even realize they're gone. Xavier will believe they've gone to recruit another mutant. Just realize that I have grown exponentially powerful and for you to be even a bother to me you would need to reveal yourself. So don't do anything, and we both will get our wishes."

Xorn was taken back by what he said. The presumption of this lad... but he could sense it. This lad was speaking the truth about himself. He knew this child when he'd first taught at Xavier's. He had now become a man. He could see himself in this man. He didn't know whether this made him proud or sorry. "You were always my favorite student, Doug." Xorn said as he showed this man out.

"No, I wasn't. I was just the one you had the least to fear from -- that is, until now."

As Doug was shown out, Xorn took a deep breath as the door closed. He had failed to protect that boy once, was he doing it now to the others? Failure is something he doesn't like to admit, but that was one thing he would remember forever. He could warn the others -- but he would reveal himself. He can't worry about that now as he still had his own plans to care about. He would let Doug run his gambit. Redemption is beyond him now, and he must look towards the greater good of his race.

Doug walked to where he knew one of Cerebro's access terminals was hidden. He popped the cover and started the work of looking for his two friends. "Let's see -- Xi'an is in the library, and Dani is in the Danger Room. I think I'll visit Xi'an first." Doug replaced the cover and went down the hall. On the way he saw a picture of his class from Xavier's; it was hanging crooked. He stopped and adjusted the frame. A smile came on his face. "Perfect." He thought as he continued down the hall. The picture now had the glass broken where Doug's face was.

Xi'an Coy Mahn was far beyond a simple person, at least to "normal people". Her life was never a simple family picture. Born in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, she knew much of hardship. Her father and mother were killed, and her brother worked for her evil uncle. In America she met Spider-Man, and killed her brother. She went to Xavier's school, but she still had to raise her younger brother and sister until Xi'an was believed to have been killed. In actuality, she was possessed by the Shadow King -- a time in her life she would like to forget. With the help of her friends she overcame him, but was left horribly obese. Thanks to the New Mutants and their time in Asgard, she became skinny again. But her life still wasn't fixed. Her siblings were kidnapped. Eventually she found them again, but Spiral the six armed sorceress had mutated them to full adulthood. She accepted them like this, and began a new life away from Xavier's. She eventually found a doctor who reversed the process on her siblings and, during this time, Xi'an 'discovered herself'. She went off to college, and eventually graduated. Working as a librarian, she met up with David Alleyne, a fellow mutant -- even though she didn't know it at the time. When Danielle came to try to recruit David, she also brought back Xi'an... who is now Xavier's librarian.

She was stocking books in a section of the library she didn't know existed. It was a section of reports -- and not just mission reports from the X-Men, but reports she had written. There were school reports from when she was here first. She didn't know Xavier had kept these. She heard something behind her and turned around quickly, poised for battle, an instinct she'd picked up from her adventuring days. Nothing. She looked down and saw that one of the reports had fallen off the shelf. She reached down and picked it up, and looked up at the title. Cypher-Code: a New Computer Programming Code by Douglas Ramsey. "Hmm? I didn't know Doug had written anything like this." She flipped through it but didn't quite understand most of it. Since coming back she'd thought about the old team, including Doug. She was technically the first team member to die, but she came back. She wasn't there when Doug died, and she regretted missing the funeral. Doug was a friend and she had come across few of those in her early life.

<You know, that's the programming code Xavier used for Cerebro. It's more advanced then any Shi'ar code.>

She turned around, hearing someone speak French. Up to a moment ago, she was the only person in this section. When she looked behind her, she saw a man in a brown suit with blond hair and blue eyes, just smiling back at her.

<Oh, I'm sorry if you don't want to hear French...> <I can always speak your other language.> He made a smooth transition from French to Vietnamese.

Her eyes must have been playing a trick on her. She was thinking about Doug when she was looking at that book, and now she saw him. <Are you real?>

<As real as Amahl Farouk, Xi'an -- but then again, if I'm your delusion, I would know all about that, wouldn't I?> He walked over and started looking through the books. <So many missions -- but then, all schools are small militias, aren't they? Fighting cosmic beings who come from beyond and Silver Samurais and guys with leopard pelts on their heads. No, wait -- that was only Xavier's.>

She watched him, wondering if he is a delusion -- but, if he is, why is he here and why did he bring up such a bad memory as Farouk. <Doug's dead.>

<Yes, he is -- but last time I checked you ''died and came back but a little fatter. Then we all died, but we came back again. Dying is a funny thing for us who wear the X.> Grabbing a book off the shelf and flipping through it. It was the mission log from the time they went to the Gladiator ring.

<If you won't go away by yourself, I will make you go away.>

<Oh, threatening me with your power. I'm scared, really -- downright terrified.>

Xi'an unleashed a blast of her power to control other people at this man. He didn't stop -- but she did.

"I guess you're not familiar with a backlash," switching back to English. "You just come with me so we can go get our other guest."

Down in the sub-basement of Xavier's is the Danger Room. It is a complicated exercise course, which started with robots and mechanical devices, and now has the most advanced holographic devices in the world. The X-Men trained and honed their skill there. Today a woman named Danielle Moonstar was doing no less.

Danielle came to Xavier's seeking revenge but, in her time outside her reservation, she has learned a lot and she is no longer seeking that revenge... but instead looking for ways to protect. Protecting is a funny thing for her. Her life has been filled with much death, and she was even an agent of death for some time. Now she was the faculty advisor of some of the new students, and she wouldn't let them down.

She currently was running a typical training exercise, facing off against some street thugs in an alleyway... so focused in combat that she didn't notice somebody in the control booth entering a new scenario. As fast as he went in, he left just as fast. She did a flying leap kick at one of the thugs but, when he got hit, he just stood in place. The scenario became frozen. "Computer, unfreeze." Cerebro did nothing at Danielle's command. The environment started shimmering around her as it dissolved into something new. This wasn't the city she was in before, but an open environment. Cerebro's holograms were great; they could simulate the environment right down to the smell, and Danielle knew this. The environment was full of trees and mountainous areas. She knew where she was --she was home. A moment of peaceful bliss as she took in the scenery fell apart as a sound that should be alien to this place -- but unfortunately wasn't -- was heard.

"A gunshot!" She ran to where she heard the shot come from. Laying there on the ground in a pool of blood was her grandfather, Black Eagle. Two soldiers of the Hellfire Club were standing over him. To see this made a mockery of her grandfather's memory and whoever had screwed around with the danger room controls was going to pay. She did a leaping kick for one of the soldiers, but didn't make contact as the scene changed once again. She was again at the mansion -- but upstairs, and outside. Around her was her old team and, standing before them, was someone she feared. It was the Beyonder.

This time he was much quicker, as he waved his hand, and every member of her team fell dead. She was starting to get upset by these images. First her grandfather's death, and now the death of her team. She wanted to know who was putting her through this so she could make them pay. The Beyonder turned to her now, and charged his hand with energy. Danielle would not go quietly, and charged for him. The scene transitioned again just as his beam was going to hit her.

She landed against a rock. "Where am I now?" she thought. She heard more gunfire, and the sounds of a battle. She turned to her side and saw her dead teammate Doug standing beside her, hiding behind the rock, looking at something. She looked out to see what he saw. It was Rahne, and she was in combat with one of Hodge's smiley face goons. "No! Not this!" she thought, as Doug turned his attention to the Ani-Mator, who had drawn a gun. He turned, gave Danielle a smile, and ran for Rahne. "Doug! No!" She reached out, trying to stop him, grabbing at his uniform; it ripped, and Doug threw himself in the way of the bullet, again. The scenario ended. The images dissolved -- except for Doug's body. The whole Danger Room was in darkness except for a lone light, which shone on Doug's body. She walked over.

"Why?" She asked aloud as she rolled over Doug's lifeless body.

"I guess I kind of disappointed you, chief." The hologram started talking to her. She wasn't sure what to say. It wasn't not real, but her emotions were.

"No, Doug, you didn't." She was crying now as she held the young teen's body in her hands.

"I guess I shouldn't have been there in the first place. My powers never did anything for the team. Always worrying about poor pathetic Doug."

"Doug, you were a friend. You did more for our team than you will ever know. I should have watched out for you. I was team leader."

"Goodbye, chief." Doug's body fell limp in her hands. She set it down, and turned away. She couldn't stand the sight any more. She was now openly sobbing. She didn't notice Doug stand up.

Doug's appearance changed. His clothes changed into a brown suit, and his face got the appearance of a few extra years. He walked over, and placed his hand on Danielle's shoulder. "Ah, too much death for one of Odin's choosers of the slain?"

She turned around, knocking his hand away. She looked at this new person before her. He appeared to be Doug, just a few years older. She stood up, her eyes hurting from crying so much. She rubbed her eyes to get the tears out, and stared at this presumptuous person.

"What, chief -- no hug or kiss?" Doug got into a fighting stance, waiting for her move.

She was going to try her power first. She could sense fears and desires just pouring out from his mind, but she could not pull out any. His mind guarded against anything she tried. Charles probably wouldn't have been able to pull anything out, either. She switched to a battle stance. "I don't know who you are, but you've just chosen the wrong person to impersonate."

"Chief, I'm touched you care."

Danielle made the first charge, throwing a fist that connected with his face. He flew back, but did some aerobatics that caused him to land on his feet. He ran and charged her, doing a spin-kick, which she parried. She got back up, and started a combination. A punch... he batted it away. A knee... he caught it. A backhand connected. He got sent to the ground but immediately got back up, no worse for the wear, and charged again. She threw a punch which he ducked under and then did a drop-kick to her back. She flew and landed against the wall. She lifted herself off the ground, which took a great deal of her strength. Blood trickled down her mouth, not bothering to wipe it away. She wasn't going to be denied. Another charge, and he threw her to the ground again.

"You know, chief, out of all of us you were the most comfortable in a combat situation without the use of your powers. You could fight with what you had and didn't need your mirages to fool people. That's respectable."

Every time he called her chief or referred to himself as being on their team it made her mad. He was dishonoring Doug's memory, and this clown was going to pay.

Another charge, and he just booted her away. "Where's that skill you had when we started? You're attacking out of blind rage. This is not even fair any more. If we continue you will die."

She charged again, and he threw her against a wall.

"Xi'an... if you please."

Danielle looked to see Xi'an standing next to Doug. That was her last free thought.

"Dammit, I thought I had it that time. Well, we better get back to the others. I'm sure they miss me." The three of them left the Danger room and headed to the ground floor.

Kate, Samuel, Roberto and Lockheed were all just waiting around for their jailer to come back. Roberto was plotting his revenge for the insolence he was shown. Kate was thinking of ways to bring back Doug's humanity. Samuel was still taken aback by the fact Doug was alive, even though this wasn't technically the kid they'd worked with, but somebody from a different dimension. Then they all saw three people walk out of the shadows. They knew who it was because they knew nobody had enough power to deny Doug's wishes. It was Xi'an, Danielle and, of course, the psychotic Doug. The girls each walked peacefully into their cages.

"Don't worry, guys, they're not zombies -- well, *technically* not zombies. I just used Xi'an's power against herself and Dani. They should recover in a few seconds. Hey! Looks like we have a new guest. Hey, dragon." He bent down so he could talk to Lockheed.

Lockheed just growled back.

"Doug?" Kate spoke.

He looked up to Kate. Danielle and Xi'an were coming out of their trances. "Yes?"

"Why did you kill the X-Men?"

"Wh-What?" Doug was taken back by her question.

"It seems you were originally mad at Illyana, but you killed the X-Men and the related groups first. Then you killed Hodge and our enemies before you targeted Illyana. Why?"

"Hey, Sam," he turned his attention away from Kate. "Did Boom-Boom ever tell you how she first met the X-Men? She came to the school because she heard it was sort of a mutant refuge, but you know why she didn't come in? The X-Men charged after her boyfriend, the Beyonder. That's right; the guy who killed us was once in love with the girl you fell in love with."

"Doug, I think you should answer Kitty's question," Samuel replied.

Doug turned and looked around, his eyes wide open as if he was looking for a way to avoid answering Kate. He saw Danielle who would argue with him as he was wearing the face of a dead friend, insulting that memory. He went to her next.

"Hey, chief. I bet your Valkyrie senses see a lot of death here, right? Am I right?"

She turned and looked at everyone else, realizing she had to continue what they were doing. She looked at Doug. He had a deranged look in eyes that had a wanting. There also was something hovering over him. She knew what it was. "Doug, answer Kitty."

He turned and looked at Kate, his eyes watering with the frustration of realizing he would have to talk to these people. "You want to know why I killed the X-Men before I killed Illyana... Why? Because, if I didn't, they would have stopped me. You all cared so deeply about that witch. The "Little Snowflake". I saw the truth -- but only after my death. By that time her Darkchilde persona was completely formed. She didn't see us as friends, but as pawns to use in her game in Limbo. She took everyone off that island so they could save the X-Men. In my reality, that incident in Dallas happened a couple hours earlier. Illyana needed to save the X-Men so she could defeat Sym, and she took you out of there because she wanted you to help save the X-Men. I had to kill the X-Men so they wouldn't stop me from destroying her. I killed their foes before her because I read what happened to Rahne in Genosha, and I couldn't understand why she was killed. She was innocent, and Illyana was evil incarnate. The X-Men saved one ,but not the other. Hell, Illyana even got a second chance."

"Doug," Kate responded, trying to help him gain control, "Our Illyana was different from yours. She got revenge for you."

"Ha!" Doug was beyond understanding. He was like a child. He only understood what is shown to him. "Different, you say... Ha! You know, in my world she kept a private journal. It was in an archaic demon tongue so no one could ever read it. I found it in the mansion after I wiped out the X-Men. It was quite interesting, but I focused on one day in particular. Can anyone guess which?" Doug stopped as if he was waiting for a response. "That's right, my death day. You know what she said? 'I left Doug for dead. He was useless. He couldn't help out my goals anyway and I saw this as a perfect chance to dispose of him. I fed the team a line about how there was a bomb on the island and I had to teleport everyone off. They asked me where Doug was and I told them I couldn't detect his life signs. I used a scrying pool to show the events of him saving Rahne. Rahne took this bad and it took all my power not to laugh at her. They asked me what happened to the Ani-men I told them that I teleported them away to another island to be safe. A lie. I knew Hodge's goons came in and killed them all off. They asked me why I didn't bring Doug's body back. Then as on cue the island blew up. See, I'm not a total liar. Rahne and the team were too distraught to worry about revenge.' Do you need to really hear more, after that?"

They all looked at Doug, who was now holding back his tears with all his strength. Then they all thought about the Illyana of their world. They knew her demon side was evil. They just never realized it could do anything like that. No wonder Doug hated her. Kate turned to Doug, and asked a question as a thought came into her mind. "Doug, you wouldn't know what that journal said until afterwards. How did you know she was evil before?"

Doug was right against Kate's pen now, no longer able to hold back his tears. "As I lay there with my blood coming out from my body, I had enough life to see Illyana teleport everyone away. She turned, and smiled at me, and said in Russian 'Goodbye you little twerp. I hope you enjoy Hell -- just not mine,' and then she waved goodbye. You hear that, Kitty? That bitch waved and smiled at me, and told me I was going to Hell. Yeah, she wasn't evil. She was just Colossus's poor little sister. Look, I'm sorry I killed you guys, but she deserved death and I would have done anything to give it to her. You didn't deserve it, but you would have tried to stop me, which I couldn't allow. Retribution must be given. Now I must prepare for our last guests as they will be coming here instead of me going to get them." Doug walked back into the shadows.

Samuel, a little freaked out by this Doug and what he described, turned to Kate. "Let me guess who the last two names are. They're the only people not here yet."

Samuel and Kate both said in unison, as she looked at the list, "Warlock and Rahne Sinclair"

Chapter 7: Warlock-in' out for a Rahne-ny Day

Doug was now out of earshot, and the captives decided to have a discussion on their options. Kate explained to the newbies Doug's story as she did everything else.

"So monsieur Doug is alive?" Xi'an was the first to speak.

"Technically, yes. Our world's Doug is still dead, and this Doug is sort of also dead, emotionally." They followed Kate's words, yet not understanding what she meant. "I have a feeling that this Doug is looking for something else besides revenge."

While Kate and the others continued their discussion, Doug was in a corner of the warehouse, by himself. The others couldn't see him or hear him where he was. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper which he unfolded. It was a picture, a picture of Rahne.

"Tell me I'm doing the right thing." He started rubbing the photo with his thumb, looking for a way to connect to her.

"That isn't for me to decide." The long dead voice of Rahne came as she appeared as a way for Doug to talk out his plans.

"Then at least tell me I deserve this for what happened." Doug continued talking to Rahne... but in reality only talking to himself.

"Again it is not my place. I dinnae decide who deserves vengeance. That is for the lord."

"But who made him lord? I'm equal in power. So I can decide who deserves vengeance." Doug was crying as he continued his discussion with himself.

"No, Doug, you're not his equal. You are still only human." Rahne stood by him, not showing emotion.

"Thank you. We will soon be together." He reached out to her but she became ephemeral.

This conversation with himself went unknown to the captives as they started to analyze their predicament.

"OK," Kate again spoke first, taking on the role of leader. "I have a feeling about this Doug. When I was captured, he was trying to get me to attack him. I thought I tricked him into thinking I was going to hug him but I was going to use powers against him, and he beat me. He basically baited me into attacking. What about you, Bobby?"

"He insulted me and my pride. I became angry and attacked, and he beat me." Roberto felt ashamed at his words, realizing now he had to beat this Doug to prove to himself that Roberto doesn't lose. He is not his father.

"Another person baited into attacking. He approached us both and we attacked him physically."

"Uh, Kitty, slight flaw in that..." Samuel, who had been pretty quiet, decided to get his two cents in. "He attacked first in my case. He was shooting energy blasts, attacking a building."

Kate thought about Samuel's words and came up with why Doug did that to him. "Sam, did he ever aim at you directly before you charged at him?"

"No."

"Did he ever put anyone in harm's way?"

"No, actually it was just property damage."

"Did he ever talk to you?"

"Not until I charged him. Then he said things that got under mah skin."

"If he revealed himself to you, would you have attacked him?"

"No. I would have tried reasoning. Doug was mah friend." Sam just realized he was also coerced into attacking.

"Xi'an, your encounter?" Kate turned to one of the newest arrivals.

"Well, he brought up bad memories of when I was controlled by that monster. I guess I was sort of mad, and attacked him because of that."

"Four for four -- Dani, how about you?"

Dani had been quiet until this point, thinking about what she saw hanging over Doug. At Kate's question she broke her concentration. "Doug also used insults against me. He made me see my failures from when I led the team. He let me fight him till a point where I was consumed by pure rage. At that point I knew I had no chance of beating him."

"All right. Now let me propose this question to all of you -- Why would a being incredibly powerful who wants revenge and could just wave his hand and get it talk us into attacking him -- and then spare us?"

Xi'an responded, "He doesn't want us dead." They all thought about her answer. She was right. They all knew it. This Doug was looking for something besides their deaths. The question is what? Danielle decided at this point to share what she had seen.

"Guys," they all looked at her. She was crying, because she was realizing something. "When Doug asked me if I saw death... I did -- just not on us. It was on him, in the shape of him. Death is following Doug."

Kate realized what Danielle was thinking, and started to think it herself. Tears started forming in her eyes. "Doug's powers are based in self-preservation as far as we can tell, right?" They nodded in unison as they thought about it. "If you had a guilty conscience about something -- murder of your friends, in this case -- and were mentally unstable, isn't the common response suicide? Doug's powers won't let him take his own life. He was hoping one of us would stop him. The problem is, we aren't powerful enough to do it. This is Doug's suicide. It's not his revenge, but revenge on him for what he did to his friends. He believes he deserves death."

They all were in agreement on this. Their reactions were different, though. Kate cried because she was about to lose Doug again... as did Danielle, but because she blamed herself for Doug's death and didn't want it on her conscience again. Xi'an found herself thinking about a time when she was considering suicide herself and now realized she didn't even come close to what Doug has suffered through. Lockheed tried to comforted Kate but, after realizing the futility of it, gave up and sat in the corner of the pen. Samuel tried to remain calm; he knew he had to be the backbone of the team if they were going to save Doug. Roberto was the most relaxed. "So, my friend, you want death?" he thought, "I will gladly provide it for you." A smile came to his face. And then they all realized that there were still two more people to go.

An hour earlier and across an ocean:

Muir Island was home to one of the greatest researchers of mutants... but she died. Her life was devoted to helping out mutants, especially her son, who was one of the world's most powerful. Her adopted child Rahne Sinclair owns it all now. Rahne has recently gained back her mutant powers to morph into a wolf form. Today she is visited by an old friend. "So what d'ya think?" She said as she activated the computer console.

A man walked from behind her. He is not really a man in the typical sense, but that is what he has become. He is Warlock, and he is Phalanx. "I know what this is, Rahne." He stared at the screen which displayed a computer code far more advanced than anything from Earth. "It's a program in the language of the Technarchy. No one on Earth should be able to write in this code, not even people in the power of the Phalanx. Here -- I'll translate it into something your computer can understand." Warlock began typing on the keyboard.

"I thought the Technarchy and the Phalanx are the same things?" Rahne questioned him as he kept typing.

"No. The Phalanx on Earth are a bastardization of my original make up. There are no beings of the real Technarchy on Earth, not even me." Warlock finished reworking the program. A visualization came on.

"Greetings, my wayward offspring." On the screen appeared a techno-organic being they had both seen before and thought was finally gone. A being of immense power. He is the Magus, and he is Warlock's "father." "I am sending this message to your comrades so that they may inform you of this. I have undone what you tried to do to me, and now we must finish what we started. The Magus must fight the Warlock until one is utterly destroyed. That is the way of our race. To make sure you don't run away from your responsibilities, I have captured those who helped you defeat me during the first incident. I want you to come -- and you must bring the one designated Wolfsbane with you, because I need to show revenge to all those that helped you the first time. If you bring anyone else, I will destroy your friends -- and, if the two of you do not comply, I will also destroy them. The coordinates are included in this recording. You have one Terran hour to get here after this message ends." The video screen faded away, and coordinates appeared on the screen.

"Warlock, was that him?" Rahne asked him, thinking about the last time they faced the Magus.

"I don't know. He was sent back into space after he saw what a monster he is, but he could return if he chose to. The language of the code is only known to the real Technarchy, so it has to be someone of my race." Warlock left and headed for the exit after reading the coordinates.

"'Lock, he said I have to come too," Rahne said, as she followed him.

"I can't risk your safety. I must duel him. I am no longer the coward I once was, and I have grown in strength since the second time he came to earth," Warlock said as he shifted into jet form.

Rahne jumped onto him. "Now ye listen! They're my friends too and I'm coming with ye even if you don't like it."

Warlock knew there was no point in arguing with this fiery Scot when she made her mind up. So he made her a seat in the jet. "Look -- when we get there, shift into wolf form and hide. I must face him alone to prove something." She said nothing in response as the jet lifted off.

Back in the present, in the warehouse Kate and Xi'an had finally decided to talk.

"Xi'an, look, I'm sorry I missed your graduation, but something came up. I would have told you earlier, but I've always put it off. I was a little scared at first, but we're friends -- and will never be more than that." Kate had a hard time getting these words out because of the situation, but she had to find something besides Doug to think about.

"I know, Kitty. I know. I wish we could be more, but I understand that you don't like me in that way." Xi'an said, trying to think of something besides Doug herself. No one wanted to admit it, but they all knew they might have to kill him if they couldn't get him to talk it out.

After hearing Kate and Xi'an talk, Danielle knew who that chair was meant for at the graduation. "Poor Xi'an," she thought. "Loving someone who doesn't love you back." Danielle liked this small glimpse into something besides their predicament -- but all good things must come to an end as they all heard a voice echo throughout the warehouse.

"They'rrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeee heeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr." Doug's voiced bellowed out not from any place in particular but just from all around.

They all knew who 'they' were and they all knew how this would end. Doug would convince them to fight, and beat them. The question then came what happens after they're all defeated and none could give Doug what he wanted. Then Samuel, who had been the most quiet, decided to test a theory of his.

"Xi'an, can you possess me?" Sam asked his friend with a smile on his face.

"Quoi?" Xi'an replied as she turned to him.

"Can you possess me -- and Dani, can you show one of us a fear or desire?" Sam replied.

"I'll try." Xi'an replied as she focused on Samuel, taking over his mind.

"Dani, show me a fear," Roberto said.

"All right, Bobby." She focused and a fear appeared to him, of him dressed as his father. Both girls released control. Kate turned to Samuel.

"What was the point of that?" Kate asked.

"Well, I was thinking that the warehouse is psi-shielded, right -- but are these pens? They just answered my question." Samuel explained.

"Well, neither of our powers can affect Doug, Sam." Danielle answered back.

"I wasn't thinking of hitting Doug -- but Rahne in her wolf form can be contacted by you, Dani." They all started seeing what Samuel's plan was.

"One problem," Kate interjected. "Rahne lost her power."

"Actually, Kitty, she recently regained it and, if she can get into the building..." Xi'an said, with her hopes rising again.

"Yes, we have a plan!" Kate said as Lockheed fluttered around her. Samuel explained the rest of his plan while Doug waited outside for his last two guests.

Rahne and Warlock came to the location of the coordinates given. It was a run-down industrial district in upstate New York. It was about four hours away from Xavier's. They landed, and started looking around.

"Listen, Rahne, I hate to do this..." Warlock tazered her with his hand and she fell to the ground. "I must face him alone. It is my responsibility. You should wake in ten minutes." Warlock placed Rahne's body in a corner, and started looking for his father. He flew above the site until he saw a humanoid figure standing down in an open area. He flew down to him.

"Ah, my offspring. I sense the girl but she is unconscious. Did you hurt her?" The shrouded figure asked Warlock, who was now standing directly across from him.

Warlock scanned this being to see if he was his father. The pattern was familiar to him. It is not his father. It is organic. "No -- I didn't want you to hurt her, but the fact you're not my father now makes me question my decision." Warlock stepped down from a battle position.

"What makes you so sure I'm not your father?" The shrouded figure asked.

"One, you are organic and, two, you do not really think I would not recognize your biological pattern? A pattern I bonded to more than anyone else. A pattern I used to have the memories of. You are Doug Ramsey. The real one. Not a clone or a duplicate, but the real Douglas Ramsey. My selfsoulfriend." Warlock was completely out of any sort of combat position. He had his arms folded.

"Buddy, when you're right, you're right." Doug took off his cloak to reveal himself to Warlock. He was in his brown suit and had a smile a mile wide. "Now, are you going attack me?"

"No."

"Then I'll kill your friends."

"No, you will not. I know you better than anyone and I know you will not."

"You used to be a lot more fun."

"I still am -- but my jokes just fly over your head."

"So how long till Rahne wakes up?"

"About eight minutes."

"You want to wait inside?"

"Fine."

The two friends who have done more together than anyone else on Earth headed into the main complex where Doug was keeping everyone else. He showed Warlock the rest of the team.

"Hey, guys, funny thing running into you," Warlock said to his former compatriots.

They all looked at Warlock. Samuel spoke first. "'Lock... Don't tell me he got you and Rahne already."

"No, Rahne is unconscious outside for about another five minutes, and I refused to fight Doug."

"Hey, what can I say -- but Lock here was always the most sensible out of all of us." Doug said as he pulled up a chair. They all smiled, thinking maybe Warlock could bring Doug back from his insanity -- but if not there still was Rahne.

"So, 'Lock, you going to free us?" Kate asked him.

"No, I want to see how this plays out before I make my move." 'Lock said as he grabbed a chair himself. "So how is everyone?"

Outside, Rahne had just begun to wake up. "If 'Lock is still alive I'm going to kill him," she thought as she looked around, trying to find where he went. She shifted to her wolf form and found Warlock's scent. She followed to an open area, and then followed it to a building in the complex. A small crack in the building's structure allowed her entrance as she didn't want to burst in through the main door. She could smell someone she'd never smelled before, and headed towards that scent.

Warlock and Doug continued joking together, but the rest of the team didn't find it very funny. Kate was just glad Doug was starting to return to his normal self. Then Doug sensed her.

"I'm sorry that I must cut our time short, but she is here in the building." Doug walked out into the shadowed area.

"Dani, now -- see if she's in wolf form." Samuel turned quickly to Danielle.

Danielle released her telepathic abilities that she shares with animals. She could sense it, Rahne in her wolf form. Her mind opened to the Scot. ~Rahne, if you can here me, the person you face is Doug Ramsey~

~Huh?~ Rahne's mind felt a voice in her head she hadn't heard in a long time. ~Dani?~

~Yes, Rahne, it's me. You are not facing a true enemy. It's Doug, but he *is* a little confused. You have to shift to your human form and reason with him.~

~Dani, are ye daft? Doug is dead.~

~Yes, but this being is also Doug. You have to appeal to what he once was. Hurry!~

Rahne did not fully understand what Danielle said, but trusted her completely. She shifted back to her human form. She then walked to the scent she'd detected in her wolf form. It was a darkened area towards what she thought was the center of the warehouse.

"So, the friend of my offspring has come." A dark mechanized voice started talking to her. She couldn't see the person completely in the shadows. Warlock could see them both in the dark, and decided to change this so that everyone could see. He walked over to the power switch, and turned it on. The warehouse illuminated. The captives could see them both now. Doug looked around at this new predicament. It was something he wasn't expecting. He wasn't supposed to have to see her. She could see him now. It was Doug.

"No. No." Doug became hysterical as he tried to get away from Rahne.

"Douglas, what's wrong?" Rahne asked with genuine concern.

"You weren't supposed to see me and I wasn't supposed to see you. You should have thought of me as the Magus and attacked in your wolf form. I shouldn't have to face you!" Doug was crying. He was looking for a way to get away but couldn't find one as Rahne kept approaching. He was hyperventilating. The rest of the team looked on in awe as all their powers couldn't hurt him but having to look Rahne in the face could break him.

"The Doug I knew wouldn't 've done anything like this. He was a friend to all of us. He gave his life for me." Rahne was only about a foot away from him now.

"But how can I be for-forgiven for wha-what I've done? I killed them all... I deserve death." He now stopped. No longer crying, but shaking. He was completely gone at that point.

"Douglas." He looked to her. She bent in to him, and whispered in his ear, "I forgive ye." He completely lost it. He fell to his knees, started crying, and embraced Rahne. "I know, I know... just let it go..."

Warlock went over to them and embraced them both. "Selffriend, I forgive you." Doug's power over the pens fell apart, and the cages all opened. Kate ran over and joined in the hug.

"Doug, I forgive you."

Samuel was following, "Dougie, I forgive you."

Then Danielle, "Cypher, I forgive you."

Then Xi'an, "Douglas, je vous pardonne."

Roberto didn't rush over to this joyous celebration. He powered up instead and stomped his way over. "I am Roberto DaCosta, and I don't lose." They all turned to Roberto, who grabbed Samuel and Xi'an and threw them away. The rest scattered off from Doug. He grabbed the boy off the floor and charged his hand with energy, ready to shoot Doug. Doug's body suddenly became silver reflective. It lost all color and melted away. Now in Roberto's hand was Doug -- not the Doug they've experienced for the last few days, but Doug the way he used to look. He wasn't as old as he'd appeared to them originally; it was some kind of shell. He now held the real Douglas Ramsey, still wearing his uniform with the bullet hole through it. He looked down in the goop and saw a piece of paper. He powered down his free hand to pick it up. He unfolded it and found it was a picture of Rahne. Then he continued to unfold it. It was a picture of them all together. They all had smiles on their faces, carefree youths with not a care in the world. Then he looked around at them now. That innocence was gone. He turned to Doug again, who looked back at him, and then Doug whispered something to Roberto in Brazilian.

<Do it. Make your father proud. Give to me what I deserve. You're Roberto DaCosta, and you don't lose.>

He looked at Doug again. He powered down. "O Doug, meu irmao que eu perd"o vocˆ." He let Doug go.

They all stood over Doug's body and said nothing, because nothing could be said. They all had to face their demons and this Doug had his for all of them to see. Samuel and Warlock lifted him up and supported him on their shoulders and together they all left the warehouse.

Epilogue:

Douglas Ramsey now lies in a hospital bed beside his former teammate Magma. He has been unconscious for about fifteen hours. Kate and Rahne have never left his side since being brought in. The professor has been trying to make contact with Doug but finds, even though he no longer had his great power, he still could block portions of his mind even while unconscious. The captives have all decided to stay at the mansion until Doug awakes, which shouldn't be too long, as he is slowly recovering. They expected him to be awake before the end of the week. The only one who is truly worried is Danielle because she still sees death hanging over him. She decides to use her powers to confront it, but first she must get Doug's two protectors away.

"Hey, guys." Danielle walks into the room. Both girls look up at her. Kate has been taken this the hardest as she feels that she has been given a second chance with Doug and now she can't enjoy it. Rahne, after hearing the whole story, blames herself for this Doug's insanity. "Tell you two what -- you've been down here so long, why don't I take over for a little while? Go get something good to eat. I can watch Doug for a couple hours."

"Dani, ye know I can't," Rahne said.

"Neither can I," added Kate

"Listen, when Doug wakes up, he won't want to see you guys half sick. Go -- or do I have to get Karma to make you?" Danielle with these words had finally convinced them, as both girls got up and gave Doug a kiss on the cheek. "I'll call you if there is a change." They both walked out the door, finally. "Good, now it's time I had a chat with our other vigilante watcher." Danielle sat in the chair next to Doug and concentrated until she was someplace else. It was a place of nothingness and there standing across from her was a young Doug Ramsey standing over Doug in his bed. She knew that it wasn't Doug but the form Doug chose for death.

"Hey, chief. So we meet again." The death image walked over to Danielle.

"I'm here to stop you from claiming this boy's life," she replied with a grim visage.

"Whoa now. Who said anything about taking this child's life? He isn't dying." Death, still looking like Doug, approached closer.

"Then why are you here?" Danielle was weary of this being. She knew death could be trusted as it was natural, but all the same she didn't like it.

"For two reasons. The first is, this boy wishes for me. He wants death, but has not received it. The second is, this mortal is the most powerful being in the universe. He makes abstract concepts like me or the Living Tribunal look insignificant. If he ever mastered his powers he would be the ultimate force in the universe, yet he is only mortal. No matter how powerful he gets, he will die. Since he wishes for me to be here and the higher beings needed someone to watch him, I was chosen." Death looked down towards the boy. "So much power, in such a fragile shell..."

"He doesn't have that power anymore! You don't need to watch him!" Danielle yelled at this being. She wanted it to leave but whole-heartedly knew it wouldn't.

"The power is not evident outside anymore." Death, still in the guise of Doug, left the boy's side. "The power though is still there, locked away in his mind. If he ever taps into it again, the consequences could be dire. I must remain." Death lifted up its hand and banished Danielle from the mindscape. She awoke back in the chair, bleeding from her ears and nose. She looked at Doug, and saw Death still there. She had to let it be because, if anyone was aware of it, they wouldn't be able to understand. She reached down and grabbed Doug's hand and held it, searching for comfort not just for him, but herself too.

Doug has now been unconscious for thirty hours. The professor in his study is reviewing this world's Doug's biographical file and he thinks, "Did I make the right decision? Back then I kept the school hidden, and we had few students and most of them knew the use of their powers. The New Mutants were there for the real reason, as opposed to the X-Men of the time. This wasn't a school, it was a training ground. Now, have I made the right decision, opening the doors? What guarantee can I make to these new students? Doug's dead, John's dead, Rachel's dead, Illyana's dead, Peter's dead... the list of causalities goes on. Is the dream even worth it anymore? Even my most devout students are wavering. I wish. I wish." His thoughts were interrupted as the screen changed to an image of Anne the nurse.

"Charles, the boy is awake. I made the girls leave so they could get some rest. It's up to you if you want to tell them. Doug's condition has become stable, and he can see guests now. He actually is a nice and very polite boy." Anne had a smile on her face giving Charles the good news.

"Thank you, Anne. I think I will inform them." Charles turned off the screen and headed for the elevator in his study to get down to the med-lab. On his way to it, he let out a telepathic message. ~Attention. Doug is awake and can have guests.~ He let the message go to all the parties involved with Doug. He didn't bother scanning where they were but let it out to those seven people.

In the student lounge Roberto and Samuel were playing a friendly game of pool. It was Roberto's shot and he only had one ball left to sink. The shot was impossible for him to make, but he didn't let Samuel know. "So, my friend, if I sink this ball that's fifty dollars you owe me." Roberto pulled back and pretended to study the angles.

"Bobby, you won't make that shot. I've seen you play pool, and you're not that good." Samuel wasn't fooled by Roberto's bravado one bit.

Roberto went back down to the table. He knew Samuel was right, so the best thing he could do was not give Samuel an easy shot after he missed the ball. He started pulling back the cue when the Professor's message came to them. Roberto dropped the cue.

"Bobby, did you just here what I heard?" Samuel asked Roberto, but Roberto had already left running for one of the elevators. "I guess I'll take that as a yes." Samuel ran, catching up, and they both rode the elevator down.

Meanwhile, upstairs Kate was using one of the showers. "I shouldn't be doing this," she thought. "He's not my Doug. I shouldn't torture myself about him... yet I do. I care about him. I now have a second chance to tell him my real feelings that I couldn't say back then when we both stupid kids. We both had our crushes on older people and what was strange was they reciprocated our feelings. Now they're both dead. I'm not going to let Doug get away again." She continued washing herself and then she heard the Professor's message. A smile came to her face and, not even thinking about it, she phased through the shower floor, completely naked.

Outside, during this time Rahne had been praying, with Warlock by his side. He knew what she was doing, but he never quite understood it. He just watched as she talked to this being she called God. He noticed in recent years her faith had been lacking compared to what she once believed in. He stayed because he wanted to talk to Doug himself, but he also knew his new friends needed him back. Even if Doug didn't wake, he would have to leave tonight.

Rahne, still kneeling, continued her prayer. "Lord, I need you to help Doug... both of them. The one in your bosom, and the one here with us. He needs help, and I don't know if I can provide it. I have let my faith waver... but seeing Doug alive again reminded me of the mercy I was taught about as a child. I need strength, and so does everyone else."

They both heard the Professor's message. Rahne, hearing the news, turned and ran for the doors to the school. Warlock followed closely, thinking he will get a chance to say goodbye.

Xi'an was in the library, just sitting there thinking. She has really felt lackluster in her job since her return from captivity. Doug was somebody she knew as a friend and she'd never had a chance to make peace with him. She just couldn't work knowing that two of her friends were in a sub-basement room teetering between life and death. It was bad enough when Allison was crucified, but now Doug came back insane. She was the oldest out of all of them and dealt the most easily with the trauma of life. She thought it funny now that she had wanted to commit suicide when she was fat because, out of everything in her life, that now seemed the most trivial point. She couldn't help laugh out loud at this -- a forced laugh, but it still felt good. Then she heard the Professor's message, and took off.

Danielle was in the middle of talking to one of 'her kids'. Her name was Sofia Barrett. Sofia was trying to talk about what happened to them in New York. Danielle's mind was elsewhere.

"Dani, who was that Pierce guy, anyway? I mean, I understood he hated mutants, but he seemed especially upset when he saw you." The mentioning of Pierce's name snapped Danielle back to the conversation.

"Him? He killed my grandfather and is the first villain we faced as a team. I could've gotten revenge and killed him, yet I chose to save the life of someone. It's a decision I shouldn't -- but do -- regret." Danielle's words were perplexing Sofia.

"Then why didn't you let Kevin kill him? You sound like you want revenge." Sofia's words rang true in Danielle's ears. She had seen so much death... death to people who didn't deserve it, yet she allowed someone who should die to live.

"Because, Sofia..." Danielle wanted to choose her words wisely, because in reality she doubted the decision. "Because I didn't want Kevin to give in to his powers like that. He killed his father and now he was going to kill Pierce, but I couldn't allow it. I wouldn't let him throw away his chance like I did."

"Your chance?" Sofia questioned Danielle, watching her bear the weight of the world.

"My chance at innocence. I came to this school out of revenge, but I learned freedom. Yet I was never freed, truly. My life became joined to death. Kevin's power made him also joined to death, and I couldn't allow him to become like me."

"I don't know -- you seem pretty well together," Sofia said to her teacher.

Danielle just thought about this. She had learned control and slowly was learning to get past everything in her life. SHIELD, the Valkyries, Black Eagle's death, the Demon Bear. These things were of her past. She'd allowed them to govern her decisions. She never felt whole, always missing something. It was life. She now had her second chance with these students -- but had she already failed them? Kevin departed, and none fully trusting Josh. She thought about Sofia's comment but, before she could give a satisfactory answer, she heard the Professor's message. "I'm sorry, Sofia, but we must continue our talk later. I have to go see an old friend," and with that she was off, not even giving Sofia a chance to say goodbye.

The first to arrive in Doug's room was the Professor. He entered the room and saw the child that once was dead and buried sitting up in bed. He had IV lines running into his arms, and he looked half starved... but he was alive.

"Hey, teach," Doug said, straining to talk, "I guess I'm late for class."

"Don't worry, you can make up the classes over summer break," The Professor said, trying to keep a straight face, but with a smile that betrayed him. Before he could say any more, Kate phased down from the ceiling. She surprised both of them -- not the phasing, but the fact she wasn't wearing anything.

"Doug, I've missed you!" She ran and embraced Doug on the bed.

"Um, Kitty..." The Professor and Doug both tried to tell her but, before they could, Rahne in her wolf form came running in followed by Samuel, Roberto, and Warlock. She shifted back to her human form and was going to hug Doug, but then she saw Kate. So did the three other mutants who followed her. They all gasped at her being naked. Finally, Danielle and Xi'an made their way into the room. They also got an eyeful of Kate.

Kate finally noticed they were all staring at her and not Doug. "What? What's wrong? Aren't you all glad Doug's back?" She couldn't figure out why they were all just staring. Roberto broke the silence.

"Kitty, we're all happy to see Doug but I am happier to see you." Roberto couldn't help laughing until Samuel elbowed him in the stomach. Kate was puzzled by the comment until Doug spoke up.

"Kitty, listen... I'm glad you came to see me and all, but you might have forgot something." Doug motioned to the metal side of one of the monitoring devices. Kate looked into the reflective surface.

"Oh my," Kate said, turning red. She grabbed the sheets off his bed to cover herself and ran for the door. "I'll be, um, right back."

Doug couldn't help but laugh. "I've forgotten how fun things are around here." Without Kate there, Rahne ran up and hugged Doug herself. "Hey, fuzzy." She didn't respond, but cried. Danielle was still being cautious around him. "Hey, chief, Bobby, Sam, Xi'an, 'Lock. I'm sorry for the accommodations I gave you, but have you ever tried booking the Four Seasons for a mutant class reunion? All that paperwork and the villain-waver clause, that's tougher than facing all the Hellions." They all saw Doug trying to make jokes. He was making the best out of a situation which had forced all of them to look deeper inside themselves.

Xi'an approached Doug. "Doug, I guess I knew you the least, but you still were a good friend."

"Wow -- and here I thought my plan to be a bad friend was successful. By the way, who are you?"

Xi'an looked at him. "Quoi?"

"Kidding, Xi'an, Kidding. I've missed you all."

Samuel was the next with questions. "So are you all powered down now, or still all powerful?"

"Sam, I was always all powerful -- it's just, now, it's locked away again. I can no longer access it."

Roberto got into the conversation. "Damn, and I wanted a rematch, but you're not even close to my league any more."

"What league is that -- the pompous blowhard premiere league?" Every joke made them feel better.

Danielle approached the bed and sat at the end, and just stared. The death image was still there. "Hey, Doug."

"Hey yourself."

"So, you're looking good."

"Hey, next time we go to Asgard, I'm going to be ready for any mead hall." This comment brought a smile to her face until she looked up at the image of death again.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Doug looked at Danielle, who now was looking away.

"Nothing, Doug. Just... nothing..." She was crying, thinking of the conversation she'd had with Death. She knew Doug still wanted death.

"Besides Kitty's new costume, have I missed anything since I've been asleep?"

Warlock approached Doug. "Nothing much, the Sentinels just attacked again."

Doug's smile was even larger at this point. "So, same old, same old."

"Lucky thing for Sam," Roberto butted back into the conversation, "You woke up when you did, because I was about to make a great pool shot and beat him."

"Bobby," Doug looked to his friend. "I've seen you play pool, and I don't know what the shot was, but I am quite sure you would've missed." Everyone agreed with Doug's comment. Roberto laughed too.

By this time Kate had finished getting dressed and phased back down to the hospital room. "I'm back."

"Kitty, so glad you could wear something this time." She punched Doug in the arm. "Ow! Hey, I'm still tender."

The Professor watched as they talked to each other, reminiscing about all the old times. He felt slightly out of place but he saw something he always hoped for. His students had come back, and still felt the bond this school was supposed to give. A friendship that would last through all their hardships. He knew soon he would have to drag back up the unpleasantness as they would need to talk about what to do with Doug but, for now, he is going to let them enjoy. Laughter and enjoyment -- he had missed it.

"Um, guys..." Doug started to speak to his friends, "Before we get all lovey-dovey here, I want you to know I don't want to change anything." They all looked at Doug with questioning glances, including the professor. "I've read up on everything you've been doing. Rahne you need to handle things back on Muir Island; Warlock, you still need to help those infected by the Phalanx; Sam, you have a new team with Storm; Bobby, you got to get back out to California; Kitty, you have school; Xi'an, you have your siblings and, Dani, you have your own students. You all used to worry about poor old Doug -- but now it's my turn to look after myself. I'll stay here till I get I clean bill of health, but then I must go." Doug still had a smile on his face, but everyone else had looks of surprise. The Professor decided now was the time. He sent out a mental communication to all those present besides Doug to meet him in his office, and then he contacted Emma Frost to come down.

"I think it's time we give Doug his rest," the Professor said, motioning for everyone to leave. "Doug, someone else has said they wanted to see you, and she should be down here later."

Doug leaned back in his bed. Kate and Rahne both gave him a kiss goodbye before they followed the others out the door. He turned his head and saw Allison in a bed similar to his. Before he fell asleep he said something to her, "I will really miss their friendship, but this is for the best."

The students had all gathered in Xavier's study. He sat behind his desk while they all pulled up chairs -- except for Warlock, who stood. "Well, now it is time to discuss the problem. What to do with Doug? He has already stated his wishes, but I've decided for you all to give your opinions on the situation."

Warlock spoke first. "I concede to his wishes."

Danielle then said her piece. "I don't agree. Doug needs his friends, even if he won't admit it. True, we have our own concerns now, but I'm still here at the mansion and I can work with him." She didn't want to bring up the image of death that wouldn't leave Doug.

"I don't think we should keep him," Xi'an spoke, disagreeing with Danielle. "I found some time away from this is usually for the best. I worked out my problems by myself, and I think Doug can, too." The conversation went on. Disagreeing, agreeing, not coming to any sure conclusion. Meanwhile, down in the medical facilities Doug was awakened by a new guest.

"Hello, Douglas." She walked in, prim and proper. She looked at him and he looked back. To him she was an enemy turned into a lesser enemy. He didn't know why she wanted to see him, but he was going to let her talk.

"Hello, Miss Frost."

She reached Allison's bed and sat down on it. She gave Allison a quick look over and then turned her attention to Doug. "Douglas, please... Miss Frost is so formal. Call me Emma."

"So,, why are you here to see me, Emma?" Doug wasn't really expecting her. He knew that she would come but he was expecting someone else, someone he knew the truth about.

"Well, I owe you an apology." Doug wasn't expecting those words. "You see, Douglas, I used to manipulate people. I used you as a pawn to get Kitty. I wanted all you New Mutants to join the Massachusetts Academy. I thought I knew best. I was wrong, and it cost all those young people their lives." She had moved from Allison's bed to Doug's bed. "All the Hellions are dead from being associated with me, except for four -- Empath, Magma, Tarot, and Thunderbird. They are all I have left, and even them I don't have. Empath has never been one to look for long lasting friendships, Magma found out who she really is and is now comatose, Tarot has joined with King Bedlam, and Thunderbird is off in Africa. I had another team, Generation X. I managed them with Banshee. This time, this time I thought I had it right. I went by Xavier's dream. I protected them, yet I failed again. The team disbanded, and some ended up dead. Now here I am at Xavier's teaching once more, and another pupil of mine dies. Douglas, am I cursed to see all these deaths?"

"I'm the wrong one to ask. I've killed more people than anyone should. I made Hitler look like Mother Theresa. I wanted someone to end me and, now that I'm here, I'm afraid that my friends won't allow me to have what I deserve." He just stared at her, and she stared back. A moment was all it took until they both started crying. Neither were prepared for the consequences of the actions they'd taken, but both were now facing what they had wrought. Doug knew he had it worse because he sensed all the Hellions still alive -- at least the ones he knew. He didn't want to tell her, because she wasn't ready. The news would snap her back to her old self. No, he had to let her believe in their deaths, at least for the time being. They embraced, neither knowing who was comforting who.

Meanwhile, the discussion in Xavier's office had come to a conclusion. Everyone had to finally agree. When Doug wanted to leave he would, and no arguments should be given. Everyone who was visiting would stay an extra few days, except Warlock, who had to leave. He had asked for a moment alone with Doug before he had to get back, and then headed to the med-lab. Emma was just finishing up her talk with Doug and passed Warlock in the hall. She had returned to her emotionless demeanor by the time they passed.

"Hey, 'Lock!" A smile was on Doug's face as Warlock entered the room.

"Enough of this." Warlock came in very seriously and approached Doug.

"Wh-What ever do you mean?"

"I've merged with you so many times and even had your memories, so don't lie to me. I know that you lied to them, but don't do it to me. Are you really planning to just walk away peacefully?" Doug just looked away. "I thought so. What's your real plan?"

"I want to give them peace, peace they can't have with me here. Most of them have come to grips with the death of your world's Doug and I'm just a poor substitute and a bad reminder. If I disappear again, it would be for the best."

"You really believe that?"

"Hey, you're the one who said they knew me."

"Then our talk is over, and I wish you the best in your decision of running away."

"Hey I wouldn't talk about others' cowardice if I were you!" Doug was fully sitting up now.

"Yes, I was a coward. I was afraid of dying by my father's hand -- but I've dealt with that. You on the other hand are afraid of not being accepted. We were your friends, and we still are. I will miss you, Doug, but your new attitude sickens me." Warlock left the room and headed for the elevator. Doug was left thinking about it. He was right.

The others came and went, each saying their piece, none of which was as harsh as what Warlock had said. The next few days were a blur as Doug began his healing. His friends had all returned to their lives. Doug was making great strides in recovering psychologically, but he was still staying away from people. He didn't talk to anybody but spent a lot of his time playing chess against Xorn. The Professor couldn't figure out the bond those two shared but Doug never missed a game against this man he'd only met a few days before. This went on for a few weeks, until Doug called a meeting with the Professor. Xavier wasn't sure of what to make of this meeting, especially at such an early time in the morning, but still agreed.

Xavier sat at his desk, reviewing a psychological profile that had been composed on this Doug. He understood how unstable he appeared when he'd first arrived but now he had something worse, a tranquility which could be mistaken for death. A knock came at the door. "Come in, the door is open." Doug walked in wearing street clothes. He also was carrying a few duffel bags with him. Xavier dreaded this day, but he would accept it. "Douglas, please, take a seat."

He moves towards a seat but then doesn't sit down; instead he just stares at it. "No, thank you, Professor."

Xavier took his seat behind the desk. Doug was nervous. He understood this because he felt just as nervous. "Doug, please call me Charles."

"No. I haven't earned that right yet, sir." Doug's anxiety was showing. The Professor just watched. He couldn't use his powers on this boy because he had some form of blocks on himself.

"So, Douglas, what have you come to speak to me about?"

"I'm leaving, sir. I don't fit in here."

"Doug, is this because you killed all of us on your world?"

"No. You've allowed the Juggernaut and the former White Queen asylum, so it's not that I'm afraid of you not accepting a person like me. Also, I'm not afraid of hurting you as I have come into control of those feelings."

"Then why?"

"You know the Hellions are still alive," Doug's words shocked the Professor. "When I arrived here I sensed them, but then I didn't tell Frost. You know why? Because if I told her, she would have gone back to her old ways. She would kill their captor and reform her army. Emotionally she is not stable enough to handle the news. I expect you not to share this information for the same reason."

The Professor nodded, but then asked Doug a question, "Why tell me at all?"

"Because if you can handle little things like that, I know you can handle big things, too."

Little things? The thought ran through Xavier's head. If he thought big news like that was small, what was big to him? "What are you planning to do, Doug?"

"Start over, sir. A new name, maybe Bruce. Yeah, Bruce after that Scottish guy we met."

"But why share with me, Doug?" Xavier was becoming confused as Doug walked around the room.

"Because I'm changing it, I'm changing the last three months. I will recreate it without me revealing myself, but I might return sometime, and after I do it I won't be able to tap into my power any more. This is the last time I will use my power at its fullest. I will return to just translating. I need your mind so I can leave something behind. When I leave, you will retain the memories, but no one else will. You will also have the new memories. I'm not just talking altering memories here, but rewriting the past of the universe."

"You have that power?" Xavier was astounded at what Doug was saying. He had met some powerful people, but none who had made claims like Doug.

"Yes, but I'm too weak to go farther back -- and besides, I'm leaving a key to restore the memories. Not the dimension, just memories in you which I will activate when I come back."

"You will be coming back?"

"Yes, but no one but you will recognize me as Douglas Ramsey. No psychics or enhanced senses will be able to tell. My new form would be able to fool anyone until I use you to restore their memories. I'm going to find the peace I seek."

"Doug, when you come back, would you consider teaching at this school?"

"Yes, I think I would like that."

"So, when will you do it?"

"I will be leaving within the hour. It was a pleasure to know you, sir." He extended his hand to the Professor.

Xavier shook his hand. "I will miss you."

Doug left the office, carrying his stuff with him. The Professor stared out his window. He sat there silently, just staring out the window. He thought about everything and a smile came to his face. It was one of the few times Xavier felt true joy at the decisions of his students.

Doug walked out of the school's door. The morning sun was shining in his face and he was thankful he was the only one out here. A new day for a new life. He then turned to his shadow'. "Hello, Death."

Death shifted down next to him. "How long did you know I was there?"

"How long do you think?"

"Oh."

"So, what do you and the higher mucky mucks think of my plan?"

"Well, it doesn't matter what we think, because we won't remember either."

"Well, yes -- but from your experience of following me, am I making the right decision?" He continued walking towards the gate.

"Since it doesn't matter anyway -- you have been given what so few have had, a chance to restart your life. I hope you enjoy what you get." They reached the gate and Doug turned to Death.

"Goodbye." A light shimmered from Doug.

Katherine Pride sat in her computer programming class. She should be thankful that she was even in this class. It was the highest programming class in the school and the professor of it only allowed a few students into it each semester. She was one of twelve students allowed in. Yes, she should be thankful -- but, instead, she was bored. She stared at the program she wrote, and was disgusted at its simplicity. She used to make so many advanced things using her terminal back at Xavier's, but this computer was just horrible. She missed the fun she'd had hacking with Doug. Doug, she wished she hadn't thought of that name. She missed him, and still hated the fact he'd died. She went back to her computer, but then she heard a knock at the door of the class.

The professor walked to the door, and opened it. "Oh, yes -- class, I forgot to tell you we have a new student, this is Mr... um..."

"Douglasson." A voice came from the door, followed by a body. A young gentleman in a plain t-shirt and jeans, with red hair and eyes which were too blue for him. "Bruce Douglasson, sir."

"Ah, yes, Mr. Douglasson, please take a seat next to Mrs. Pryde there. You already know the curriculum so I'll let you get you to work."

He approached Kate and took the seat next to her and started up the program. She watched him, and thought something was familiar, but couldn't place it. "Hi, I'm Bruce."

"I'm Kate, but my friends call me..."

"Kitty."

"What? How did you know?" She sat there, astounded at the fact he knew her nickname. Was he some kind of telepath?

"It's on your screen."

She looked down at here screen which had in big bold letters 'Kitty's Program'. She felt very embarrassed, making a fool out of herself to this new student. "Oh! I'm sorry, I must seem like a big jerk."

"No, just a small one." He had a smile on his face which just made her feel better.

"Hardy-har. Funny." They talked, and Kate really liked this. She felt comfortable for the first time in awhile, as if she'd met an old friend. Bruce felt better too, because he *did* know her in a past life. Now was a chance to restart, and he wouldn't lose it. They sat and talked but, outside, someone watched. A cloaked figure in a black cape sat and watched. No one noticed the figure.

"It was finally over," it thought as it moved away from the window. "The peace I stole from him in life, I returned to him. He just wanted to return home. I had to attack him and damn him like that. He just wanted to come home, but I had to attack because he couldn't be who he was. He blocked it and turned it back on me. I lost myself, and the backlash turned him into that monster. It's my fault they're all dead, and I can never tell him. I sent him to this world to get that second chance, to find the peace I robbed him off." She walked away and what was left was a girl in armor. She opened herself to the sun, and the armor fell off and two people emerged, one British in a pink dress and the other Asian in a ninja outfit. They both started disappearing into the ether, leaving behind a pink butterfly which fluttered off to points unknown.