Where Do We Go From Here?

It was the day after the mission. The sun had risen and it seemed to be another typical day after a typical mission.

But things were never going to be the same again at the Institute.

"Scott I know you and Jean are upset but please reconsider," Xavier softly pleaded. He and Scott were alone in his study. "I know this has all been a shock to you and I don't expect you to forgive me."

"But you do expect me to forgive you don't you?" Scott asked. "Just forgive you and forget that everything that happened and go back to life as usual. The training, the fighting…I don't think I can do that anymore."

"Scott you don't mean that," Xavier told him. "You are the heart and soul of the team. Without you and Jean the X-Men might never recover."

"Then let the Misfits take over for a change!" Scott snapped. "Everyone knows that they're more than willing to do so! Let them have the glory if they want it. I don't care anymore!"

"Scott this isn't like you," Xavier was shocked.

"Yeah and being part of a secret government program to make mutants weapons of mass destruction isn't like you either," Scott retorted. "Or accidentally killing your own twin sister and then years later using her body as part of your research! Not to mention accidentally killing your own father, not that I don't sympathize with that but using the same methods he did in order to create your own mutant army? And then trying to pass off that army as a school? Didn't think you had that in you either. But I was wrong. Oh and lets not forget all the other little secrets you kept from me over the years. The bribery, the lies. The fact that there were other mutants in your secret army that you never bothered to inform me about!"

Xavier closed his eyes. "I deserved that."

"You have no idea what you deserve, Professor," Scott told him. "I feel like my whole life is based on a lie! Your ideas of peace and coexistence with mutants…With what I saw in that lab. With everything I learned about your past…It makes me sick to think…" There was silence for a moment.

"You know the worst part about this?" Scott went on. "I've endured a lot for you. The harassment, the training, the battles, the hate…And some of it from my own team mates at times…I did everything you asked me to do. Everything! And more! But I didn't do it just for the cause. I did it for my friends and my family. And I thought of you as my family and I really believed you thought of me as family."

"I do Scott," Xavier said. "You're like a son to me."

"Maybe I am but…" Scott sighed. "But first and foremost I'm always going to be an X-Man to you. One of your soldiers. That's the real reason you got me out of the hospital all those years ago. Oh I know deep down you wanted to help me and you have, but you also wanted to help yourself. I was just too eager and desperate to see it."

"Scott I made some horrible decisions when I was young," Xavier told him. "That's part of the reason why I feel so strongly about the Dream. Having mutants and humans live together in peace will stop events such as those in Korea. Can't you understand that?"

"I do understand that. And it's a good dream. The problem is that dream of yours is always going to be first in your mind," Scott said. "Everything and everyone else is second. I can't live like that. I don't want to live like that. I need Jean and a family just as much as the belief that humans and mutants can live together. But that's never going to happen if we isolate ourselves here."

"Scott I admit I have made many mistakes in trying to preserve the idea of mutant and human coexistence," Xavier said. "But I still believe I did what I had to in order to…"

"In order to what? Push tolerance and acceptance down people's throats when they weren't ready for it? You're obsessed with this dream, Xavier," Scott told him. "Obsessed with creating the perfect mutant strike force to enforce your vision! And so was I. But not now. Now my eyes are wide open. You really think you are not that man you were back in Korea but you're wrong. There are parts of him still alive and kicking inside of you. You have too many secrets Xavier. Too many twisted plans and good intentions that went wrong."

"I know you don't want to be that man you were," Scott went on. "I know you are trying to be better than that and you've worked hard to overcome it. There is good in you, but that obsession of yours could destroy it completely. I don't want to end up like that. You forget that I've seen a lot of futures. And a lot of them weren't pretty. I don't want to wake up one morning twenty or so years down the road and realize that I had done nothing but fight for someone else's ideas and have nothing for myself!"

Scott sighed. "I know it may sound selfish to you, but I have to go. I have to leave while I have some hope left inside of me. I'll never forget the good you've done and what you've done for me and Jean. But I also can't forget the truth. Goodbye Professor."

Scott left the room and went down the hall. He picked up his last suitcase waiting for him. "So you're really leaving aren't you?" Alex walked up to him. "It seems like we're always saying goodbye."

"It doesn't have to be," Scott said. "Alex you know you can come with us if you want to."

"I can't go Scott," Alex said. "If was just Xavier yeah but…The team needs me. And Lorna. I gotta wait for her."

"I can understand that," Scott agreed. "Somebody's got to watch out for whoever's left. Might as well be you."

"But what about the X-Men?" Alex asked. "They need a leader."

"I guess that's you now, Alex," Scott sighed.

"And what about Gabriel? I can't track him down alone!" Alex pleaded.

"I don't know if Gabriel even really wants to be found," Scott sighed. "Sinister has him so brainwashed…He's insane Alex. Completely insane."

"Scott…" Alex said. "He's our brother."

"No," Scott shook his head. "No he's not. Not anymore."

"But Scott…" Alex began.

"Alex you saw what he did in that lab!" Scott told him. "Lord only knows what else he's done while working with Sinister. Actually I have a pretty good clue of what he's done. Jean showed me what she saw in his twisted mind. He's a sociopath plain and simple. Whatever good was in him is gone. We can't change that. We can't change him."

"I don't believe that," Alex said. "I have to at least try."

"And if you can't? What are you going to do then?" Scott asked. "I don't want you put in a position where you have to kill a family member in order…"

"Like the Professor had to?" Alex asked softly. "That's what you're really afraid of. That you'll end up like him isn't it?"

"I just can't do this any more," Scott told him. "I have to leave while I have some sanity left!"

BOOOM!

"Was that Tabitha's time bomb or someone else losing their temper?" Alex asked.

"I don't know and I don't care," Scott groaned. "Looks like I'm leaving just in time."

"Okay Jean this whole Darwin thing threw us all for a loop," Rogue told Jean as Jean packed her last suitcase. "I mean I'm thinking of taking a break myself. A break is healthy and good. But what you're doing is just plain nuts!"

"No Rogue, what is nuts is our lifestyle for the past seven years," Jean gave her a look. "Running around like a private army, non stop training, dealing with maniacs who want to take over a world that hates our guts, jumping around through alternate dimensions and outer space…"

Jean stopped for a moment and thought out loud. "Dealing with sorcerers, demons, dragons, aliens, ninjas, assassins, terrorist groups, hyperactive parrots…ancient gods, mutant wolves…Misfits arguing about Clue and cartoons until two in the morning…Sentinel hamsters…If that last one wasn't a sign things were wrong I don't know what is!"

"Jean reassessing your life is one thing," Rogue said. "Making a drastic change like this…You know how dangerous the world is. You know how many enemies we have out there! Have you really thought this thing through? Do you know what you're doing?"

"I know exactly what I am doing," Jean said. "We've already found a small apartment where the rent is very reasonable."

"In Mutant Town?" Rogue asked.

"No, it's not in Mutant Town," Jean told her. "It's not far from it but it is a very nice building in a nice area."

"And it probably has some of the nicest rat holes in town," Rogue said cheerfully.

"It does not have rat holes!" Jean snapped as she snapped her suitcase shut.

"It's got a cockroach problem, am I right?" Rogue asked. "Big ol' roaches as large as a cat."

"There is no cockroach problem!" Jean told her friend. "We checked! It's pest free! Which is more than what we can say from living here at the Institute."

"So what is wrong with it?" Rogue asked.

"There's nothing wrong with it," Jean said defensively.

"The plumbing's bad right?" Rogue guessed. "Or the elevator's busted. It's gotta be borderline health code or something like that."

"It is nothing like that!" Jean snapped. "And if you don't mind I'd rather not have this conversation right now!"

"All right," Rogue raised her hands. "Boy this place must be some dump."

"It is not…" Jean began. "Besides it's only for a few months until we find something a little more permanent!"

"And where are you going to live permanently Jean?" Rogue asked. "Fantasy Land? Or Crazy Town? Or maybe you will get a house on 106 Denial Lane?"

"No living here was Denial Lane!" Jean snapped. "Separating ourselves from humanity and acting like some supercharged vigilante unit from fantasy land…That's not real life Rogue!"

"No, but it's our life," Rogue told her. "Like it or not."

"Well I don't like it!" Jean told her. "And it's time I did something about it!"

CRASH! BOOM! SMASH! SMASH!

"What the hell was that?" Rogue blinked at the commotion.

"Knowing this place it could be anything," Jean rolled her eyes. "And I do mean anything!"

"AAAAHHHH!" Jamie and Taylor ran by.

"COME BACK BOYS!" Spyder ran after them.

Trinity was chasing them with some kind of net guns. "KISSY! KISSY! KISS YOUR MISSY!"

"NOT ON YOUR LIFE!" Taylor screamed.

"DROP DEAD!" Jamie shouted.

"YOU KNOW YOU WANT US!" Trinity squealed.

"WHAT WE WANT IS A RESTRAINING ORDER!" Taylor shouted.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"MISSED US!" Jamie shouted.

BOOM!

"Oops, there goes another wall," Daria quipped. "COME TO MAMA HOT STUFF!"

"Oh I should have known," Rogue shook her head. "Seems like some things never change. There goes the budget for repairs again."

"You know I have just realized something," Jean said. "I'm not an X-Man anymore, which means I don't have to put up with all this craziness. Or see any of those people ever again. No more Misfits. No more Joes. No Joes means no Cobras. This deal just gets better every minute."

"What about that Phoenix Force inside you?" Rogue folded her arms. "Remember that all powerful cosmic force that has a tendency to destroy worlds? What are you going to do about that?"

"It's pretty simple," Jean said. "If I don't use it unless for extreme situations I won't have to worry about it taking over."

"Jean…" Rogue was shocked.

"It's so simple I can't believe I never thought about it before," Jean shrugged.

"For crying out loud Jean you know that's not how it works!" Rogue followed her. "What are you going to do if…"

"What I am going to do Rogue, is get my genetics doctorate, raise Madelyne as best I can, marry Scott after a brief engagement…" Jean counted off. "And then in time we will open up our own school for mutants. A place where they can learn to use their powers for good and not for some vigilante unit. My students are not going to run around in spandex going on missions and spending time in a big metal room that shoots out giant buzz saws and flamethrowers at them. In hindsight that should have been my first clue."

"Jean," Rogue sighed.

"Flamethrowers and buzz saws!" Jean shouted. "My god I was so clueless I can't even blame Xavier for trying to confuse me with his powers or anything. How can anyone be so clueless to not notice the buzz saws and flame throwers?"

"Have you made any progress with her?" Hank walked up to Rogue.

"What do you think?" Rogue rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I'm definitely going to outlaw spandex at my school," Jean said. "Not even for aerobic classes. No spandex! Not now! Not ever!"

"Jean do you hear yourself?" Hank was shocked. "How are you going to even pay for all of that? Or your schooling for that matter?"

"The same way most people do, Hank. I will get a job," Jean said.

"A job? You?" Rogue gave her a look.

"Yes I will," Jean was defiant.

"And what exactly are you qualified for?" Hank folded his arms. "Keep in mind that you do only have a high school education. You been to two colleges and you haven't finished either of them."

"So did a lot of other successful people," Jean said. "If they can do it, I can do it!"

"Do what? Be a waitress?" Rogue asked.

"If that's what it takes," Jean said. "Yes!"

"You? A waitress!" Rogue snorted. "That I have got to see!"

"Well maybe I might get another job in a bookstore or something like that?" Jean said. "I don't know, I'm keeping my options open."

"Options? What options are there for people like us?" Rogue snapped as she followed her.

"I don't know but I'm going to find them," Jean told her as she picked up her suitcase and started to leave.

"What about Apocalypse Jean?" Rogue's question stopped her. "You know he's out there and he'll do whatever it takes to destroy you."

"He can try," Jean said. "I'm not an idiot Rogue. I'll work on my powers every day. But I'm not going to do it by going around looking for fights! Besides, the Misfits have Tetsukaeru if things get really bad."

"Oh yeah there's a plan!" Rogue threw up her hands. "Rely on Toad when things go wrong! You can honestly tell me you don't see the major flaw in that?"

"Not really no," Jean shrugged.

"Oh lord she's further gone than we thought," Hank moaned. "Jean no one blames you for being upset with the Professor. We all are. But what you are planning is not productive! It is the equivalent of an ostrich hiding her head in the sand!"

"Even an ostrich knows when to get out while the getting is good," Jean told him.

They met up with Scott, Madelyne and Alex in the foyer. "Are you ready?" Scott asked.

"Yeah I'm ready," Jean nodded. "You packed everything Madelyne?"

"Do we really have to go?" Madelyne asked. "I don't want to go. I'm going to miss Jamie and Taylor and Spyder and Trinity…"

"You can always e-mail the boys and we can visit them sometime," Jean told her.

BOOM!

"COME TO MAMA HOT STUFF!" Spyder squealed.

"And as for Trinity and Spyder…" Jean sighed. "Maybe spending some time away from them isn't such a bad thing."

"Scott, Jean think about what you're doing," Hank begged as Xavier wheeled over to them.

"We have thought about it," Jean told him. "Hank even without all this…You had to know we would have left sooner or later. It's just…It's for the best that we go on our own now."

"Jean think of the team," Xavier tried one last ploy. "What will happen to them?"

"I dunno Xavier," Jean replied sarcastically. "Why don't you do what you did the last couple of times things didn't work out? Just go on Cerebro, check on some files and grab a couple more unwitting saps to do your dirty work? I'm sure it won't be that hard for you to replace us like you did Sage and Darwin and Lord only knows who else!"

"Only this time I recommend telling them the truth up front for a change," Scott added. "Maybe even paying them might work. I hear Deadpool does some outsourcing. Why don't you try him? He doesn't seem to mind a little backstabbing!"

"That's not funny Scott," Xavier frowned.

"No what's funny is us defending you all these years and everyone else in the world laughing at how stupid we were to trust you!" Jean snapped. "Remember all those times the Misfits and Karma complained about you having all those files on Cerebro? You know, they said something about you keeping all the good mutants for yourself? They might have had a point."

"Ya think?" Rogue folded her arms and glared at Xavier. "Don't get me wrong Professor. Remy and I may be taking a break for a while. But we'll be back. If only to make sure you don't pull the same crap on anyone else that you did with us! And believe me Professor, when we do get back things are gonna change around here. Big time."

"Good," Scott grunted. "Now I can leave knowing that things will be taken care of when I go. Rogue is not the gullible idiot I was so there's no way you can control her like you did me. I'd love to stay around and see how she makes your life a living hell, but I have my own life to live."

Jean...Xavier tried to talk to Jean telepathically but was violently rebuffed. "AAAAH!"

"Don't ever go into my mind again Professor!" Jean snapped. "You are not welcome there any more."

"The two of you don't know what you're doing!" Xavier protested. "It's not safe out there."

"It's not exactly safe here either," Jean said. "It's over Xavier. You kept one secret too many from us. That's not a life we want to live."

"Jean's right. I'm tired of living another man's dream," Scott said. "Maybe it's time I lived my own. Come on Jean, Madelyne."

"But where will you go?" Hank asked.

"We don't know," Jean looked at him. "As far away from here as possible."

They left the house. Rogue and Alex looked at each other sadly and walked away towards the kitchen. They didn't say a word to Xavier as they passed him.

"I can't believe they just left like that," Xavier shook his head as he watched his beloved students leave for the last time.

"Can you blame them Charles?" Hank looked at him. "Quite frankly right now the only reason Logan and I are staying is for the students that are left. As small as that number will end up being."

"What do you mean?" Xavier asked.

"Did you really think that many of us would not be affected by what happened yesterday?" Ororo walked up to him. "A lot of us are leaving today or tomorrow."

"You're leaving too?" Xavier was shocked.

"Charles I need some time to think about where my life is going," Ororo sighed. "I'm going to Africa for a few months. I've been away too long."

"I guess I can't fault you for that," Xavier sighed. "Ororo I…"

"Charles…" Ororo held up her hand. "I can't be angry at you now. Even though part of me is angry. You have to admit there were a lot of similarities between that horrible lab and here. Too many to be a coincidence. I have to think about a lot of things."

"Evan's one of them isn't it?" Hank asked gently.

"Let's just say it I had known exactly what had happened in that lab in Korea," Ororo gave him a sad look. "I'd have thought twice about bringing Evan here in the first place. And maybe, just maybe his life would not have ended up the mess that it is." She walked away.

"So what have they decided on Darwin?" Hank asked Xavier in an attempt to change the subject.

"The army has custody of him but General Hawk convinced his superiors that his rehabilitation would be faster if he were in the Misfits' custody and has allowed me to participate in his rehabilitation," Xavier sighed. "That's something I guess."

There was a moment of quiet. "Hank…" Xavier said softly. "I have to know what you think about…"

"About what happened?" Hank said quietly. "As a man of science I can understand your motives. I can even concede there were special circumstances for what you did. But…"

"But…?" Xavier asked.

"I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't sorely disappointed in you," Hank told him before he left the room. Xavier sat alone hanging his head in shame.

"Well I'm back," Juggernaut trudged into the pyramid where Apocalypse was standing. There were several monitors and other modern equipment inside the room as well. "I take it you were able to watch everything thanks to Selene!"

"Indeed," Apocalypse spoke.

"Okay I blew it but you gotta admit it wasn't all my fault!" Juggernaut spoke up. "The X-Brats and the Misfits I could handle. Even Magneto and Sinister together but his pet Vulcan and the Hellfire Club and the Phoenix Force at the same place at the same time? I'm amazed Cobra didn't show up as well! You know how they like to crash a party!"

"To be quite honest Juggernaut I would have been surprised if you had been able to obtain Darwin on your own," Apocalypse told him. "But that is not what worries me. Darwin is important however he is not necessary for the moment."

"In other words let the X-Geeks and Humans take care of him until we do need him," Juggernaut grumbled. "So what's really bugging you?"

"That situation in Korea," Apocalypse thought hard. "Something about it was not right. The confrontation between Sinister, Shaw and Magneto…It seems staged to me. Like some kind of performance for my benefit."

"You saying those three are in cahoots with each other?" Juggernaut asked.

"Perhaps," Apocalypse thought hard. "But not the way one would imagine. They seem to be like chess pieces…Strategically placed on the board to misdirect me."

"So who's setting up the board?" Juggernaut asked. "Which one of them is it?"

"I'm not so sure if it's any of them," Apocalypse frowned. "There is another hand at work here. Another with a mind and an intellect that rivals my own. I can feel it. And I have a very strong feeling to who it is."

"That's why you sent me out there," Juggernaut looked at him. "You never intended for me to get Darwin at all. You were setting up a strategy of your own. But what good was it?"

"Misdirection," Apocalypse said. "I wanted whoever it is on the other side to fall into a false sense of security. And for you to be my eyes and ears to witness the competition."

"So you wanted me to fail on purpose to trick your opponent but couldn't tell me in case I'd give everything away," Juggernaut realized. "That's pretty clever. But I'm still not sure I did that much."

"Not through any fault of your own," Apocalypse frowned. "A have a disquieting feeling that whoever we are up against has seen clearly through my little ruse. But how…? That is the question."

"Could be a telepath," Juggernaut shrugged. "Or a spy."

"Or this person could even use magic as Selene does. It could be anything," Apocalypse nodded. He looked at a map on screen of a large computer. It was a split map of two different places, Avalon and Madripoor. "We will have to tread very carefully in the future Juggernaut. Very carefully indeed."

On Avalon Magneto was with Mender studying several containers in a giant laboratory. Inside the containers were several embryonic mutants growing at an accelerated rate. "We are running at a hundred percent efficiency," Mender told him. "At this rate these new mutants will be fully functional within nine months. But instead of being babies they will be halfway grown."

"Excellent," Magneto nodded. "Even though my retrieval of Project Darwin was a failure I'm glad to see that Project Doppelgangers will be a complete success."

"It will be a complete success once we field test them," Mender reminded him. "If it does we will no longer have to worry about recruiting the mutants we need. All we have to do is grow them ourselves."

"Indeed. No longer will I have to tolerate stubborn fools who wish to stand in my way. Or try to convince haughty children what is best for them. I now have some of the best DNA collected from a premium amount of mutants," Magneto told her. "And I believe I have made the best combinations with them."

Solitaire walked in with Vanisher and a ninja covered in red. "Magneto the representative from Factor Three is here," He spoke.

"Thank you Solitaire, you may stay if you wish," Magneto bowed his head. "I take it that your companion here is a representative from the Hand."

"Ninja Clans are quite useful allies," Vanisher grinned. "We have much to discuss you and I on the terms of our agreement."

"I take it that your companion also has some terms for our future endeavors," Magneto looked at the ninja.

"Our terms are simple," The Ninja spoke. "Our leader wishes for you to give us one mutant from your new army."

"Just one?" Magneto raised an eyebrow.

"One is all that is necessary," The Ninja handed him a piece of paper. "However the DNA of that mutant must be this combination."

"I see," Magneto nodded as he read the paper. "That can be arranged. Very well. I agree to your terms. Mender I want you to get started immediately with this one," He handed her the paper. "Do you have enough material?"

"I believe so," Mender agreed. "If not I can always send out someone to obtain more."

"Good there is something I wish to speak to you about," Magneto looked at Vanisher.

"Let me guess, it has to do with Sinister doesn't it?" Vanisher held up his hand. "I assure you that Factor One also has a grudge against him and is merely using him in the Game to get his revenge."

"And are you using me as well?" Magneto gave him a look. "Think carefully before you answer, for I do not enjoy playing the fool."

"Only as much as you are using us to ensure the survival of the mutant race and to destroy Apocalypse," Vanisher told him.

"Well said," Magneto acknowledged. "If all goes well, within a year not only will Apocalypse be destroyed…"

"But mutants will claim their rightful place on Earth," Vanisher finished. "And the human race will be crushed under our feet."

"And our final victory will be the perfect revenge against Charles Xavier, the X-Men and those meddlesome Misfits," Magneto grinned as he stared at the stasis pods. "Eventually they will all join our cause. One way or another."

Bolivar Trask oversaw the latest designs on his newest sentinels. Hundreds of mechanics and other workers were working hard constructing them. "I see you are actually making progress for once," Henry Gyrich walked in. Both men stood on a huge catwalk overseeing the construction of the mechanical monstrosities of mahyem to mutantkind.

"It was touch and go for a while but we are coming along," Trask told him. "Still it will take time. At least half a year before we will be ready. I just wish we had come along further."

There were rows upon rows of sentinels. "There they are. The next generation of Sentinels. Made from an indestructable plastic alloy. Installed with the latest computer technology, tracking and targeting programs. The most powerful lasers and most sophisticated adaptive processing system that will adapt and learn to anticipate any mutant's attack and nullify it. I'm still trying to figure out a way to mass produce them faster. But I'll figure it out," Trask sighed.

"Yes it's such a shame you could not help poor Mayor Hodge in his time of need," Gyrich drawled. "Well perhaps it was not such a loss after all. Now that Bayville has suffered so many devestating attacks by mutant kind...There are more people sympathetic to our cause. What I really enjoy is that we are building the instruments of the containment and destruction of mutant kind right beneath their noses. When Operation Zero Tolerance goes into effect, the X-Men will not know what hit them."

"Is that what we're calling it now?" Trask raised an eyebrow.

"Don't worry about Hodge's squabblings," Gyrich told him. "I know the value of patience and careful planning. We must be absolutely sure that our attack on the Xavier Institute will be foolproof. And I believe we may have a few new allies to assist us."

"New allies?" Trask asked. "Who?"

"Over the next few months you will hear about a very charismatic and unusual man from Europe," Gyrich smiled. "He's going to be laying the ground work for an international assault on the entire mutant race while we focus on the problems at home. You have heard about the debacle of Madripoor and the failure to contain Asteroid M? Well those are only going to be considered speed bumps on the road to final victory."

"Sounds interesting," Trask smiled. "But what about Hodge? He's been bugging me lately for more support. I can't just give him sentinels or more advanced weaponry without raising suspicion. We barely were able to dodge a more detailed probe from both the mutants and SHIELD as it was the last time."

"Stall him, make up some excuses," Gyrich waved. "The sad truth is, Hodge is merely a pawn in our game. And sometimes you have to sacrifice pawns to destroy your enemy. And make no mistake Trask. If all goes well, within a few years our enemy...all of mutant kind will be nothing but a bad memory."

Somewhere in Bayville there was yet another hidden lab. One away from the prying eyes of a certain Bolivar Trask. The great irony was that while Trask was relishing working on his sentinel project underneath the noses of the X-Men, someone else was working on a secret project under his very own nose.

"Trask isn't the only one who knows a bit about science," Mayor Cameron Hodge grinned as he prepared for his experiments. He looked at the black piece of alien technology under a glass holder. "And Pierce doesn't know everything about robotics!"

"You're going to be the key to our survival aren't you?" Hodge grinned as he opened the glass and took out a metal prong. "Now, let's see just what makes you tick."

However what Hodge didn't count on was the metal prong being immediately absorbed by the black piece of technology. "Amazing…" He whistled. He quickly covered the piece with the glass container again. Even though it had grown bigger it still fit.

"Oh yes," Hodge made an insane grin. "This is going to be very useful."

"It's not fair! It's not fair! It's not fair!" Unicorn whined as he paced back and forth across the room. "NOT FAIR!"

At the final outburst a large mace attached to a chain burst from his left sleeve and smashed a large vase. "Not fair!" He sniffed as it returned. "My player was doing so well in the game! And then those lousy X-Men and interfering Misfits ruined it! Ruined I tell you! It's not like I expected to win but I just wanted to last longer! You know Vanisher's should have been first to go! You know it!"

Factor One said nothing, having gotten used to Unicorn's mood swings a long time ago. "It's all right Unicorn, you can still play the game."

"But I don't have a player," Unicorn pouted. "And I liked Legion! He was so much fun! Didn't have as many hang ups as some people I know!"

"I'll get you a new one," Factor One spoke. "In fact, I've already picked him for you. I think you'll like him."

"Really who?" Unicorn was curious. "Its not Sinister is it? Because if it is, I don't want him! I don't want to play that badly!"

"No Unicorn, even better…" Factor One spoke as he pressed a button against the wall. Two mysterious figures emerged from the shadows. One male one female.

But Unicorn could see who it was. "Is that who I think it is?" Unicorn gasped. "Oh Factor One! I don't know what to say!"

"That will be a first," Factor One made a rare quip.

"But I thought he was yours! And her too? You're letting me use both of them? In fact I could have sworn you were going to use them for yourself," Unicorn was puzzled.

"No, I knew sooner or later someone would leave the game early," Factor One said. "So I purposely kept these two aside for this occasion."

"Oh thank you Factor One!" Unicorn giggled like a school girl. "You won't regret this! I promise!"

"I know you will all make me proud," Factor One nodded as the mysterious figures unsheathed a pair of glistening metal claws from their hands. "Just remember I will need them back when we finally confront Wolverine."

That was when Factor One unsheathed a pair of his own metal claws from his hand. "After all, this is a family matter…"

Back at the Xavier Institute in the kitchen...

"Scott, Jean, Madelyne and Ororo are leaving?" Tabitha was in shock.

"Scott and the girls already left this morning," Rogue said. "Ororo's going to Africa in tomorrow morning."

"Whoa…" Todd was in shock. The Misfits were there as well with the remaining X-Men and New Mutants. "Who would have thought that Summers of all people would just up and leave?"

"Yeah it's like the founding father of Dorkness just abdicating his throne," Lance blinked.

"Lance..." Wanda gave him a look.

"I'm just saying..." Lance shrugged. "Out of all the mutants that have come and gone through this nuthouse I was sure that Summers would be the one guy to stick it out until the end. Or at the very least until he had a nervous break down."

"Well as long as we're all saying goodbyes…I'm going back home to England," Betsy said. "My brother is starting up a new mutant superhero team there. More like a detective agency but…I've said yes."

"Kitty and I are going too," Kurt said. At this Peter visibly tightened and left the room alone.

"Yeah we both wanted a change," Kitty sighed. "No point in staying here anymore. I'm going to visit my parent's briefly first but still."

"What?" Wanda gasped.

"You're both leaving?" Todd was shocked. "What about you Rogue? Are you going with them too?"

"Actually…" Rogue sighed. "Remy and I have been talking. We just want to take a break too."

"Not forever," Remy said. "Just a little vacation for just the two of us. We'll be back. Eventually."

"But where are you going to go?" Kurt asked.

"Travel the country, see a few sights," Rogue said. "Always wanted to do that without fighting the bad guys."

"I am going home to be with my grandfather," Danielle said. "I talked to him and he has decided to home school me and I can live on our new farm. I can control my powers now so there should not be any more problems. I've kind of had enough of the whole super hero thing to last me a long time."

"I think it's time I split too," Tim shrugged. "Ray, and I decided to head out across the country."

"But isn't that some kind of violation of probation or something for you?" Pyro asked.

"I only blew up a couple of cop cars," Tim pointed out. "What Xavier did was a lot worse. You really think he's gonna stop me?"

"No, I don't think he would," Kurt admitted. "Part of me feels awful about running out on him like this but…"

"Don't Kurt," Ray interrupted. "The guy has been lying to us and using us since day one. I just can't believe it took us this long to figure it out."

"And you people thought that Ms. Frost was bad," Monet snorted. "At least she was honest about her ambitions. I've talked it over with Nick Fury of SHIELD. He's agreed to allow my sisters and I to go to Muir Island to help Moira MacTaggert with her students and patients."

"I guess a bio-kinetic and an empath would be handy in a hospital," Sam reasoned.

"And I can help guard and protect Muir Island with the rest of Generation X," Monet nodded. "The mutants in Europe need help."

"What is this?" Pietro yelled. "Are all of you X-Men just calling it quits? This is terrible! Who am I going to torment? Who am I going to outshine in beauty? I mean let's face it, it's too easy to be the handsomest one in the Misfits! Then again it's not that hard to be more handsome than an X-Man either."

"And you wonder why some of us are leaving?" Rogue gave him a look.

"I'm amazed more of us haven't left a long time ago," Lance groaned.

"It's still so weird," Kurt sighed. "We have all been through so much together. For so long and now…"

"We all have to move on Kurt," Kitty said. "We all have to find our place in the world. That's what growing up is. Leaving home to find a new one."

"Speaking of leaving…" Althea coughed. "Todd, Xi and I are off to Japan."

"WHAT?" Everyone in the room shouted.

"You're leaving the Misfits?" Kitty gasped.

"No!" Todd said. "We have to go. Ninja stuff."

"They have to take some kind of test so they can be regular ninjas instead of apprentices," Lance explained.

"Normally we wouldn't be allowed to take this test until we're a bit older but with us saving the world and the universe so many freaking times the Blind Master and Storm Shadow thought we were ready," Todd explained.

"After some training we will be formally inducted into the clan," Xi said. "Then we'll come back."

"So what about the rest of us?" Bobby asked. "We've already lost enough people. I know I'm not going anywhere. I don't exactly have anywhere to go."

"You could always join the Misfits," Pyro offered. "Then we'd be together all the time."

"Like I said I am staying here," Bobby said with emphasis.

"Sam and I are staying here too," Paige shrugged. "Neither of us really wants to go back to farm life."

"And it ain't exactly safe for us to go back home neither," Sam agreed. "Folks are already hostile enough to my family without us being there."

"Is anyone else going?" Bobby asked. "Jubilee…?"

"Of course I'm staying with you guys," Jubilee grunted. "As if you could get rid of me!"

"Wolverine and I are staying as well," Rina admitted. "We both have done things in our past we regret and the Professor gave us another chance. We figure we owe him enough to give him a second chance as well."

"I dunno X," Tabitha sighed. "It's one thing to be part of a mutant assassin experiment and another to be running it if you get my drift. Only reason I'm not out the door is because of Sammy. And Amara."

"There's still a lot about my powers I need to work on before I return to Nova Roma," Amara admitted. "Despite what Xavier's done…I still think deep down he's a good man."

"Well at least somebody's staying," Bobby grumbled.

"We're not all leaving are we?" Fred asked the other Misfits in a worried voice.

"Of course not," Althea said. "We'll always be Misfits. Right?"

"Yeah we gotta stay together," Lance said. "Face it, the Joes need us."

"And who's gonna bug what's left of the X-Geeks if we leave for good?" Todd agreed.

"You can not mess with tradition," Pietro nodded.

"Oh goody," Bobby groaned. "The next few months are just going to fly by."

"And we'll be back right after our training," Althea told them. "It's only for two months."

"We're still going to miss the three of you," Wanda sighed. She smirked at Todd. "Well maybe not that much."

"Better enjoy it while it lasts," Sam rolled his eyes.

"We can all do some training ourselves," Spirit told him as he and Hank walked in. "Especially you Lance."

"Oh goody," Lance groaned.

"In fact all the Misfits will be taken to a secret training base for a while," Spirit explained.

"Wonderful," Althea rolled her eyes. Larry walked into the room. "Hey Larry what's wrong?"

"You'd better turn on the television," Larry informed her. Rogue was the nearest to the set and did so.

"It has now been revealed that Worthington Enterprises as well as several other companies have secret lists of mutants and their powers," Reporter Hector Ramirez spoke. "Some not even known to the government. Many lawmakers are saying that these secret lists could be used for terrorist attacks and claim that these companies are purposely sheltering the identities of mutants for their own personal gain. This has already sparked fuel for the growing support for the latest incarnation of the Mutant Registration Act."

"Oh no…" Lance groaned. "Not this again!"

"If the media know about the secret lists in the companies it will be a matter of time before they figure out that SHIELD and other agencies have lists as well," Spirit frowned. "And that will make a lot of people very nervous."

"Nervous enough to make the Mutant Registration Act pass?" Todd asked.

"It is a possibility," Xi's eyes narrowed. "Wait there's more…"

It was a shot of Senator Kelly in the Senate. "This news of companies and private individuals having information on dangerous mutants the government doesn't have is very unsettling. That is why I propose the new Mutant Information Act. If passed this law will make it illegal for any private companies or individuals to withhold knowledge of mutants and their powers from the government. It is a well known fact that many criminal organizations employ or exploit mutants as well as certain vigilante units. This law will severely hinder their attempts to use mutant powers as weapons against the federal government."

"Oh god no…" Althea realized where this was going. "This is not good."

"What?" Ray asked. "What do you mean? I mean I know it's like a mutant registration act…"

"This is worse than a regular mutant registration act," Lance told him. "Especially for the X-Men."

"What do you mean?" Bobby asked.

"Think about it Bobby," Hank told him. "Under this law any private information on mutants will have to be remanded to the government."

"Like the readings and files on Cerebro…" Sam's eyes widened.

"Got it in one," Hank nodded.

"If this law passes, three guesses where the first place the government is gonna look to find information about mutants is gonna be," Sam groaned.

"Oh I am so glad I am leaving," Kitty gulped.

"Ditto," Ray agreed.

"I can't believe this is happening," Paige said. "Things were supposed to get better when you guys got back from outer space, not worse."

"Life is constant change Paige," Hank told her. "But no matter what happens. No matter where life takes us or where we go. There will always be X-Men."

BOOM!

"COME BACK LOVER BOY!" Trinity squealed as plaster fell from the ceiling.

"And Misfits," Hank groaned. "Lord help us all!"

Well that's the end of another giant roller coaster of a fic! WHOO HOOO!

So to recap: Scott, Jean and Madelyne have gone off to live their lives. Rogue and Remy are off touring the country. Kitty, Kurt and Betsy are off to Excalibur. Ororo's gone to Africa. Danielle is going to live with her grandfather. Tim and Ray are off to see the world. Monet and her sisters are off to Muir Isle. Althea, Todd and Xi are off to Japan for training. But those three will be back so…

So who's staying? Xavier, Hank, Logan, Rina, Jubilee, Bobby, Alex, Jamie, Taylor, Sam, Paige, Peter, Penny, Tabitha and Amara of the X-Men. Almost everyone else in the Misfits.

Of course we all know things aren't going to go according to plan or stay peaceful for long. What happens next? What kind of experiments is Hodge doing? What's the deal with Factor One and those other mysterious people having claws? What is Magneto planning to do with all that DNA? What does the Hand want with a certain mutant? Find out in the next and possibly final (No! Say it isn't so!) installment of the Misfitverse: Fire of the Phoenix, Flame of the Dragon.

Althea walked in. "I'm not that crazy about that title."

Todd hopped in. "Yeah that does sound kind of lame."

Well do you have any better ideas?

"How about the Final Countdown? Or wait…Toad…Master of the Universe!" Todd held up his hands.

How about not?

"How about the Amazing Pyro and His Trustworthy Friends Take on the Evil Pinapple Army From Outer Space and the Vampire Vixens of the Underworld?" Pyro suggested as he walked out.

"How about Everybody Beats Pyro To a Pulp and Shuts Him Up With Duct Tape?" Althea suggested.

"As long as I get to be in the title," Pyro shrugged. Althea simply groaned and hit her head with her own hand in frustration.

"Well whatever Red's gonna call it we all know it's gonna be nuts," Rogue grumbled as she walked in. "It figures. Every other writer in the world is on strike. But is she on strike? Noooooooooo!"

"And we all know she's gonna fool around with some even dumber fics in the meantime," Wanda agreed as she walked in. "Have you seen the movie parody she's going to do?"

"Seen it? I'm starring in it!" Jean told her as she walked out. "I don't know what posessed me to say yes! Why didn't you do it Althea?"

"Are you nuts?" Althea gave her a look. "I'm still recovering from that last movie parody she put me in!"

"Yeah the next few months are gonna be a long painful nightmare," Scott agreed as he walked in. "Wait until you see what she does to Jean and me!"

"I can't take any more insanity!" Jean snapped. "I need a vacation!"

"Who doesn't?" Althea asked.

Folks it might be a while before you read the final chapter. So until then, thanks for reading! See you soon!