X-Men: The Stanger

Hank McCoy was flipping through a book and taking notes with his feet when he heard a knock at the door. "Come in," he called without looking up.

Bobby Drake walked in. "Hey, Hank," Bobby said.

"What's going on?" McCoy asked.

Bobby's face lit up. "The professor said we could take a trip for the day into Salem Center!" he said.

A slow smile crossed McCoy's face. "Ah," he said with understanding. He looked away from his book and looked outside for a moment. It was a beautiful day. "I believe that a malted at Harry's Hideaway would go down rather well today. When are you leaving?"

"As soon as I can find everybody. I've already talked to Warren and he's driving."

"So that leaves Adam, Scott, and Jean," McCoy mused. He returned to his book. "Stop by and let me know before you leave."

"You've got it," Bobby said as he hurried from the room.

Charles Xavier wheeled down the hall of his mansion. He allowed a small smile to cross his face. Perhaps this would help ease the tension that Adam Lucas's entrance into the school had caused. He paused to close the door to his office and continued to his desk. He noticed that his secretary had placed the mail there. He picked up his letter opener (shaped like a sword with an X at the hilt) and began opening the letters.

Whereishewhereishewhereishe? Xavier sighed.

Adam is down at the pond, Xavier replied.

Xavier could feel the embarrassment coming from Bobby. Sorry, Professor. I was just looking for Adam so we could head into town.

Despite himself, Xavier found himself smiling. It's all right. Enjoy yourselves.

Thanks, Professor! Bobby thought back before he focused on heading to the pond.

Xavier shook his head. He picked up a pen and a notebook and made a notation that he needed to increase his psychic blocking training. I should never have been able to pick him up that clearly, he thought. If they should encounter a foe who could read their thoughts that easily, it would be disastrous.

Fifteen minutes later, Warren Worthington's Ferrari tore out of the gates of Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

Adam Lucas shifted uncomfortably. Somehow all six students had managed to cram into the small car. Jean sat on Scott's lap in the front seat, Warren was driving, and the other three were squashed in the back seat. "Isn't this a little cramped?" Adam asked.

Warren smiled widely as the sun reflected off his sunglasses. "The price you pay for style!" he called back as the car skidded onto the main road, throwing gravel up behind it.

Adam sighed. "It's just a little uncomfortable sitting under Hank," he said.

Hank frowned. "Are you saying I'm fat? I'm not! I'm big boned!" he retorted.

"Jean can sit in my lap if it would help," Bobby offered.

"Forget it," Jean said. "This girl only rides in the front seat."

Hank and Bobby looked at each other and grinned. "With Scotty," they said together.

Scott turned around, serious as always. "I need to be up front in case of attack," he explained. "If we were attacked by an enemy, I am the only one of us who could buy the rest of you time to get out of the car and into fighting formation."

"Plus, I'm sure you get carsick in the back," Adam added. Scott flushed and turned back around as the others burst into laughter.

The Ferrari sat parked in front of Harry's Hideaway. Inside, five of the X-Men were seated around a table - milkshakes in front of all of them. Bobby Drake finally came slinking back to his seat and milkshake.

"Tried to get a beer again, didn't you?" Warren asked.

"I had an ID," Bobby griped as he opened his hand. The shredded remains of his fake ID fluttered onto the table.

Hank smiled. "Maybe if you didn't try the same trick every time we come in here you'd succeed."

Scott frowned. "You don't need to try that anyway. You can drink when you're twenty-one, just like the law says."

"Can I ask you a question?" Adam asked. "How can you bend over with that stick crammed up your-" The remainder of Adam's question was cut off by an enormous explosion from outside. The students ran to the window and looked out. Magneto hovered there with his Brotherhood spreading out below. "Find them!" he ordered. "I have tracked the X-Men to this area."

As one, the X-Men hurried to the bathrooms and changed into uniform.

Outside, Toad leaped up onto a building and began scanning the streets. He grinned as he saw the Angel flying upwards toward him. "They're here!" he called as he leaped at the X-Man.

In the town square below, Magneto whirled around at Toad's call - just in time for Cyclops's optic blast to blow him off his feet. "Take him!" he ordered. A blue and white blur tore past him and into Cyclops, who went flying.

Iceman joined the fray by using his powers to create an ice ramp, sending Quicksilver up and away from the rest of the Brotherhood.

As Iceman focused on his ramp, a street light fell over and struck him on the back of the head, knocking him out. Behind him, the Scarlet Witch smiled. She effortlessly strode across the battlefield to Quicksilver's side, helping him to his feet. "Thank you, Wanda," he said as he stood. "Now they are mine." He was gone in a flash of speed.

"Watch out!" Nemo yelled as he shoved Cyclops to the ground. "Quicksilver's coming in behind you!" True to his word, Quicksilver whizzed past less than a second later.

Cyclops gritted his teeth and pushed Nemo off him. "I saw him," Cyclops said as he stood. "Focus on Magneto!" he ordered as he hurried toward the others.

"You're welcome," Nemo said as he picked himself up. He turned and saw the Scarlet Witch standing behind him, smiling. He raised a hand and fired a blast that sent the unconscious Scarlet Witch to the ground. As she fell, Nemo continued firing. Barely a second later, Quicksilver had joined his sister. Nemo turned to see Cyclops watching him. Seeing he was caught, Cyclops turned his head and began firing at Mastermind.

Great, Nemo thought. What do I have to do to get accepted around here? He quickly returned to the battle.

Mastermind ducked a blast only to have three hundred pounds of Beast land on his back. "Off!" he ordered. Beast's eyes went wide as he realized that instead of Mastermind, he'd landed on the blazing Human Torch of the Fantastic Four. Beast leaped away, batting at flames that threatened to engulf him.

"Bobby!" Beast yelled. "Put them out!"

"Put what out?" Iceman asked. From his vantage point, all that he could see was Beast slapping at himself. Iceman fell forward as Toad landed on him. Before he could say anything, Toad had jumped and landed with all his might behind Iceman, shattering his ice slide and sending him plummeting to the ground. Iceman landed hard and his eyes rolled back in his head.

One down.

Magneto scowled as he looked down on the battlefield. This was taking far too long. He raised his hand and gestured. Below, Cyclops let out a cry as his ruby quartz visor was pulled away from his face. He screwed his eyes shut too late to keep a blast from leveling the Beast.

"Dispose of the rest quickly," Magneto ordered. The blinded Cyclops was easy prey for Quicksilver.

Marvel Girl stood frozen. In her mind, Mastermind had imprisoned her in a small box, making it impossible for her to move.

"Excellent," Magneto said. Using his powers, he created a platform of metal. The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants boarded with Marvel Girl as a prisoner. Slowly the platform began to levitate.

"Jean!" Nemo yelled. He ran forward and grabbed hold of the platform. As he pulled himself up, Quicksilver's fist slammed into the back of his head. Toad caught him by the collar as he began to slide back off.

"Shall your faithful Toad drop this one?" he asked, looking up at Magneto.

Magneto thought a moment. "No," he finally judged. "Bring him. He is a new, unknown enemy. I wish to see why he was chosen to join the others." Magneto nodded and strips of metal flowed upward from the platform, imprisoning Nemo. The Brotherhood flew away with their two captives.

Far below, Cyclops found his visor and pressed it to his face. He looked up just in time to see the platform disappear into the horizon.

"I'll find you, Jean," he muttered as he fought back tears under his visor. "I'll find you, and heaven help anyone who's helping them."

To Be Continued...

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