The Xavier Institute

[mystique]

As soon as Mystique learned that they were caught, she quickly changed into a bird and flew high into the sky. Disappearing into the blue.

[Foley]

"Stop her!!" Cerebro shouted and pointed at the retreating form. Giantess made swooping actions, trying to capture the shapeshifter but missed each time.

Cerebro cursed louder the Wolverine's howl of rage when they could not see their old foe. Once he was finished he ordered his small squad to start a search pattern expanding out from the grounds, "I want Mystique found yesterday!"

He started back towards the main building as Logan called out behind him, "What are you going to do?"

"Frist Im going to make sure that that damned shapeshifter wasnt a deversion to get to the girl," he answered without looking over his shoulder then frowned deeper, "Then I am going to call Bishop and tell him the there is new Brotherhood activity and that his worries may have been well founded after all."

[Phoenix]

Night had fallen quickly as Stacey lay on her bed, unable to sleep, she watched the man known as Jr pass back and forth outside her door. She could only see his feet from the crack at the base of the door. And the shadow he would make. Every once in a wail she would hear him growl.
She didn't understand what was going on nor what her future would hold. Hugging her blanket tight she turned on her side and looked at the night sky as thoughts raced through her mind. The problem was most were not her own.

[Foley]

Very few lights were on in the headmaster's office so the the glow from the communications screen gave Cerebro's skin a unearthly glow. On the exceptionally thin screen was a very angry Bishop. In his seat at the large oak desk was and equally angry Cerebro. If anyone else had be present at the moment they would see angry comments and sharp remarks fly back and forth like a tennis match.

"I told you this was a bad idea!" Bishop snapped, eyes glaring.

"No," was the sharp retort, "You said having her here was a danger to those around her due to the threat of her powers! All it looks like is that the Brotherhood have taken an interest in those powers."

"Those powers might very well be the Phoenix Force! The very same Force that was corrupted and controled by the Hellfire Club creating the murderous Dark Phoenix!"

Cerebro leaned forward in his seat and narrowed his eyes, "Oh and lets not forget when Racheal Summers was made to believe that she was a bipedal dinosaur...under your very command as if recall the history files correctly. And Racheal was just a carrier of just a portion of the Phoenix Force. Not mention that both women had full command of their powers!"

"What is your point, Cerebro?" asked Bishop coldly.

"That even those of us with tons of experience can be 'corrupted' at a moment's notice," Cerebro patiently explained, "All Mystique's sudden appearence acomplished is making us aware that there is at least one group of criminals out there who knows what we might have here. And in order to get to her they would have to go through my X-Men first!"

[Foley]

Hidden away in the wilds of Canada was an innocent looking log cabin in a rarely traveled mountain pass. What was in and under the cabin that would tell anyone who actually came this way should they actually make it that far away from humanity and survive that the cabin was not as innocent as it appears. The name on the deed was Nat Esseneunx. In truth the cabin was the "crow's nest" to the latest of Mr Sinister's labotories/base of operations.

Deep inside the base. in what served as his throne room, or at least that was what the Nasty Boys refered to it as, Sinister sat in his raised seat staring down at the recently returned Mystique. The rest of the rooms occupants was the Nasty Boys. who hugged the wall in order to avoid falling in the field of their boss's cold angry gaze. That was currently soley fixed on the leader of the Brotherhood.

"You failed," was all he said after a long period of unsettling silence.

[Foley]

Tj walked very quietly down the hall to Stacey's room. She smiled at her teammate, "Im here to releave you."

[batman]

"Well." He growled, "It's about time!" J.R. could feel the need for the wilderenss and the night so running out side tearing his clothes from his body, he howled with a releif only the change brought him.

As he paced the grounds in his lycan form, he noticed a deer drinking by a brook without thought he pounced on the helpless animal and quickly devoured it. Full, J.R. paced the grounds and saw Cerebro's light.

He could sense his anger and frustration and turning back into his human form, he found his clothes and made his way to Cerebro's office.

"So, what's up bud?" He saidas he walked in carring two glasses of scotch.

[Foley]

"Bishop gets more and more stubborn with each year!" Cerebro grumbled taking one of the two glasses and gulped down its contents.

He sighed as the booze burned its way down his throat. "As if I didnt have enough stress tied to this current situation, now I have to worry about whatever the Brotherhood has up their collective selves." Cerebro then pushed a report across his desk to his long time friend, "Winddancer forwarded this report on activities of know Brotherhood members." He allowed himself a half smile at the thought of his beloved Sofia.

"It seems that Blob and some of the second generation members have been seen acting in the company of a few of the Nasty Boys."

[mystique]

Mystique stood with one hand on her hip. "Patience. We will have her." Walking slowly towards Sinister she placed a hand gentle upon his cheek. "I am here to serve. We'll put that bird in her cage soon enough." She whispered as she leaned down and pressed her lips against his.

[Foley]

Sinister grabbed the metamorph by the throat and then held her at arms length, "My dear, Mystique, your 'charms' may have worked on Magneto but I assure the only purpose my heart serves is to pump the blood in my veins."

He threw her back off the dias, "I am sure we will capture our prize. Unfortunately your poor handling of this incident has cost us the element of surprise. Cerebro is not Xavier, he has spent time in the trenchs before leading the X-Men. And he isn't as naive as Cyclops was when it came to mechinations."

Sinister rubbed his chin for a moment, "I have learned from personal experience that facing Cerebro in combat is not a wise idea," then he glared at Mystique, "So for your sake I hope you have a plan that will not fail."

[mystique]

Mystique lay upon the floor like a wounded puppy, rubbing her neck. Standing to her feet, still a little shaken she replied, "But the time I return you will have your prize." And with that she left.

[Phoenix]

Stacey drifted off the sleep as the sound of a wolf caught her ears. But she still would not find peace as her mind was filled with dreams of the past.

[batman]

"Well pal" J.R. said as he sipped the scotch. "I think we are gonna have a real problem if the sentinals attack." Looking out the window he sighed as he felt the tatse of the booze. "I will find out what's goin on." He stormed out of Cerebro's office leaving his friend a little confused.

[Foley]

The headmaster shock his head wondering what his furry friend meant. He then looked out the window and let out a curse under his breath. There in the distance, just outside the property lines stood five very large and very dour looking Sentinals with helicopters buzzing around them like flies on a hot summer day.

[Foley]

Nocturne stood outside the young telepath's room and sighed. Standing watch was always the most boring detail to pull, but it was needed since this mutant may prove to be one of the most powerful fundemental forces of not just the galaxy, but the entire host of mulitple dimensions that made up creation. Glancing down the hall, she spotted a large Sentinal in the distance. She mouthed a curse that she had often heard Cerebro hiss in situations like this and quickly found one of her New Mutant squad members to stand guard. When asked why, Tj replied, "Because I got a bad feeling those tin cans arent here to play nice!"

With that she hurried outside, running into Bloodwolf on the way.