Legal issues: Kia Jaeger(codename Bast) is an original character and belongs to me. All other characters and core X-men concepts are copyright Marvel, Stan Lee, and other creators. I do not own any of them, nor do I profit from them in any way.
Author Note: This story is based upon the story and setup in the comics and takes place at no particular point in them, but is instead treated as it's own events separate from many of the large happenings in the comics. Also, I am not fully aware of every significant event that has happened in the X-men's long history, so the information presented in this story and the information in the comics may not always 100% add up. Some characters who might even be dead as of the current X-men issues may be alive in this story.
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Chapter Six
Scott, Jean, Hank, and Ororo sat in a semi-circle around Charles' desk early Wednesday, the next morning. Scott sat upright in his chair, doing his best to look attentive and authoritive despite the fact that he had gotten just as little sleep as everyone else. Jean sat next to him, relaxed and calm, though the drowsiness was apparent on her features as well. She and Ororo were chatting quietly before Logan stepped into the room, scowling darkly. Logan was never one for waking up early. Well, not when he was forced to do so, at least. For all the trouble Storm had been through in the last two days, quiet contentment shone from her as it always did. Logan slouched in his chair, tilting it back and glancing at his teammates with an unhappy look.
Charles smiled at the gathering before him. "I trust the morning finds everyone well."
"It's frickin' six in the morning'," Logan pointed out. "What's ever been good 'bout six in the morning'?"
"We have most of the lab in order," Ororo replied, ignoring her grumpy friend. "All that is left falls to Hank to take care of."
Hank nodded and smiled fondly at Storm for a moment. Though both had been up well into the night, engaging in various activities in the lab, both seemed to be alert and in relatively positive moods. "Indeed, Ororo is right, as ever. Some of the more extensive damages will take quite some time to deal with, but we've gotten a respectable bit of work done, if I do say so myself."
"Very good," Charles smiled.
"Any idea what Sinister sent his goons for yet?" Scott asked.
"Hank?" Charles suggested.
"Not as of yet," Hank sighed. "My research material on mutation patterns is suspect, as well as some of the tissue samples and DNA samples stored away in the vault in my lab."
"The usual," Jean nodded.
"So ya dragged us in here just to tell us that?" Logan asked. "At this ungodly hour?"
"No, not exactly," Charles smiled. "Hank has done some scavenging into his computer, or what's left of it, and believes he has found something."
"It is possible this is an error," Hank clarified, "But when I transferred the files from my old computer to a new one, several were missing. Normally I would just place the blame on a technical issue or possible damage from what happened to my computer, but I've taken measures to protect these files and make sure they can be preserved and transferred no matter what. But beyond that, the nature of the files lead me to consider foul play as a definite possibility."
"Beast?" Jean smiled teasingly.
"Sorry," Hank grinned. "I'm missing a number of computer files on all the faculty and students who have come to the school in the past year and a half. Considering the Marauders were tampering with my computer when I entered yesterday, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they somehow got into that data and then deleted it."
The group of Mutants were silent for several long moments.
"Shit," Logan said at last.
"My thoughts exactly," Hank nodded.
"So you mean to say Sinister may have access to all the new students?" Jean asked.
"I can't be sure...but it's a possibility."
"That's enough for me to feel uneasy about this whole thing," Charles said gravely.
"Can you try tracking him? Or some of the Marauders?" Scott suggested.
"I've tried, but it seems he's found some way to shield himself from my probing, and has done so for all his minions as well. They're off the radar, as far as my powers are concerned."
"What are we to do at this point?" Ororo asked.
"There isn't much we
can
do at this point," Charles sighed. "I shall continue to search for Sinister with Cerebro, as well as other clues or indicators of his presence. In the meantime, we will increase our security measures. The compound defenses will be set high, and we all will be keeping a close eye on things on both the sublevels and the upper floors. Until we find some other lead, this is all we can do."
"I'm worried about how they got in here at the first place," Scott spoke. "Our defenses were a little relaxed, but it's not like this is some suburb hole in the wall that just anyone could walk into."
"I've been thinking about that as well," Charles nodded. "If not for Hank having the sense to set off the alarm when he stumbled upon them in his lab, we probably wouldn't have even known they were here at all. We must take extra precaution. Until we find out more about how they were able to infiltrate us and what they want, we must assume we aren't entirely safe at this point. Be vigilant, my X-men. Protect one another and stay on your toes. We will ride this out and discover what this whole thing is about soon enough, I'm sure."
"Why isn't everyone else included in this meeting?" Hank asked.
Charles smiled. "Because, I need to gather the faculty and student body today to explain what has happened and what has to be done, and I chose you all to assist in this."
"Yer jokin'," Logan said flatly.
"I'm afraid not," Charles said, his smile growing wider.
Logan scowled and crossed his arms.
"Sounds good," Scott nodded crisply. "Let's get all this taken care of."
Scott stood up and walked out the room, looking like a man on a mission. The rest of the team got up more slowly, and Hank, Jean, and Ororo filed lazily out the room.
Logan rose, shut the door, then plopped back into his chair. "Ya wanted to talk to me?"
"Yes," Charles nodded. He glanced out the window for a moment, watching as a sliver of sunlight crept over the rim of the world, sending bursts of orange and red and pink light dancing across the bottom of the sky. The estate sprawled on outside the window, a neat and beautiful garden set in front of a trimmed and orderly lawn that raced toward the treeline.
"I heard that Kia was involved in the battle the other night," Xavier stated at last.
Logan shrugged and crossed his arms over his well-muscled chest. "So?"
"Did she do okay?"
"Sure," Logan shrugged again. " I wasn't really payin' attention. Kinda had my hands full."
The Professor nodded and folded his hands in his lap. "What do you think of her?"
Logan studied the Professor for several moments. "Uh...she's a good kid, I guess. She did a good job last night, though she wasn't really in the fight all that much. Why're ya askin' me this, Chuck?"
"I know this doesn't make a lot of sense, Logan," Charles sighed. "But I feel that she may be in danger. I feel she is entering into situations that are above her head. She's a very brave girl, and she wants to help, and I find that a wonderful quality of hers. But I'm not sure she's ready for the kind of things we so often face."
