"So, why don't you tell me about yourself."

Rory Campbell sat on one end of a round table, his legs crossed and a notebook in his lap. He twirled a pen in his fingers, awaiting a response. He was a criminal psychologist, on detail at Muir 'rehabilitating evil mutants'. He currently had two patients, one of whom was in front of him now. So far, she had only gone by the name of Rogue.

"There's not much t'tell," she answered casually. She couldn't be older than eighteen years of age, but she wouldn't verify it if asked. She was from America, the southern accent a dead giveaway. Her mutant powers allowed her to absorb people's memories, powers and abilities on skin-to-skin contact. It was a power she couldn't control. Somewhere down the line, she permanently gained the powers of flight, invulnerability, and super-strength. Rory had yet to learn how. All he knew for sure was that she was a mutant who sided with Magneto, a terrorist, and was defeated in a battle before the US Congress, taken down by followers of Professor Charles Xavier, the ally and co-founder of Muir.

"So start at the beginning," Rory shrugged. "Like your name."

"Ah don't have one," she answered quickly. "'Least, not anymore. Ah'm just Rogue. Ah don't have any family, Ah don't have any home, an' Ah won't tell you different."

"There's no reason to be defensive," Rory continued. "I'm here to help you."

"By makin' me stay in a prison cell? Makin' me wear a collar every time Ah leave it? Lookin' like a dog?"

"The collar is a precaution. It inhibits your mutant power, and renders you no more capable than a teenage girl. If we were really to be treating you like a prisoner, you'd have handcuffs and no privacy for your bathroom."

"Ah suppose."

"Magneto misled you. You as much admitted that. You never meant to get caught up in his little crusade against humanity . . . but he gave you a home, a place where you could be safe from mutant haters . . . safe from the prejudice. A place where there were others like you, a place where you just might make some friends . . . and maybe, just maybe, find a way to control your powers?"

"How . . . ?"

"It's okay, Rogue. Muir Island can be a home to you, too. You'll be safe here . . . and there are others like you, more mutants here. And you are safe from prejudice. You could make friends . . . and you might be able to get some help with controlling your powers. After all, Doctor MacTaggert, the only other normal human who lives here, is the second most learned person alive on the topic of mutations."

"It'd be . . . it'd be nice, but . . . Ah cain't . . . "

"You can. You'll get the help you need here . . . and, if--when you get better, you want to . . . you can stay here."

Three more inhabitants of the island returned home, following a brief excursion. Piotr Rasputin, Rahne Sinclair and Kurt Wagner had gone looking for clues on the disappearance of Amanda Sefton. They found none. Piotr then suggested another idea: Cerebro.

All three of them were mutants, and Cerebro was a device created by Moira MacTaggert and Charles Xavier to locate mutants. Amanda was one of them, as well, with the ability to teleport. Kurt loved her, and hated not knowing where she was. He, too, could teleport, as well as climb walls disappear into shadows. His appearance was frightening and devilish, yet he came off as a friendly, compassionate man.

Piotr could turn his skin into indestructible organic steel. Rahne could become a half wolf-half human hybrid, complete with fur, claws, and enhanced senses. She was a teen. He was twenty-one.

"Now let's use this device of yours," Kurt spoke impatiently.

"I cannot guarantee anything, comrade," Piotr answered. "The device was first created to be used by a telepath only. Our version has been modified so that anyone could use it, but it has never fully been tested."

"Anything is better than nothing," Kurt replied. I miss you Amanda . . . where did you go? You must be alive . . . I know it.

"This way," Piotr said, walking towards the equipment room. Rahne followed silently.

Inside they found Dr. Moira MacTaggert waiting.

"Moira, Kurt wishes to use Cerebro to locate Amanda," Piotr explained.

"It may not work, y'know," she spoke directly to Kurt. "It's reach is severely limited . . . much outside of Ireland or the UK, it can't yet reach. Brian an' I were workin' to improve it, but he's been busy with his Hellfire assignment."

"I just want to find Amanda," Kurt frowned. The loss of his love had truly been taking its toll on him.

"Alright, I'll run it," Moira sighed. "No promises."

Inside one cell sat Catseye, a convicted criminal mutant shape-shifter. She had been there longer than Rogue in the cell next to her. They didn't talk to each other. Catseye sat silently, and Rogue was glad. She was afraid.

"Umm . . . excuse me," young Doug Ramsey said as the door to the holding cell area slid open. He came by with a small cart on which were two trays. "Dinner . . . "

"Hmph," Catseye said, sitting up in her bed. "Someone besides the good doctor or the big Russian? Someone a little young, I'd say."

"Here's your food, miss," Doug said, sliding the tray through an opening in the cell door. "I don't want any trouble . . . just trying to help."

Doug moved on to the next cell, several yards down, to find Rogue. "Uhh, m-miss . . . your uh . . . your food's here."

"Just . . . just leave on its table," she answered from inside the cell.

"You're not hungry?" Doug asked, peeking around to find her lying under the covers of her bed.

"No thanks," she answered.

"You really should eat . . . I mean, we are t-trying you help you . . . "

"Thanks," she replied, "but Ah'm not hungry. That's all."

"Okay," he said, sliding the tray to its table. "But it's here, if you get hungry. And . . . if you need anything, you can just . . . call me. Or whatever, y'know . . . "

" . . . "

Doug sighed to himself and turned back to the door, wheeling his empty cart away. He noticed Catseye's tray on the floor, licked clean. Vanessa Carlysle was nowhere to be seen, so he kept on wheeling until he was gone.

Catseye shifted from her seat in her room's corner. She raised an eyebrow. Looks like somebody's taking an interest in our new girl . . . looks like something interesting to watch develop . . .

The recently dubbed Captain Britain floated in the air next to his lady love, Meggan. The two had come with two others in an attempt to steal information from a top secret organization called Black Air. They were reluctant, but the addition of two more mutants as opposition cast any doubts aside that something was up.

"We are Fenris," the boy said.

"And either you will surrender," the girl said, "or you will die."

They were both blond hair, blue eyed Germans. They floated beside each other, holding hands and glowing.

"I don't take kindly to threats," Brian Braddock said beneath his helmet. He was confident that the force field on his Captain Britain suit would protect him against any assault. Meggan was ready for action, having her mutant power of elemental control at her side. "Especially from Nazis."

"I do believe that was a racist comment," the brother said. "Just because we're German doesn't make us Nazis. I am Andreas, she is Andrea. Though soon, you shall refer to us as master."

"Not bloody likely!" Brian said, charging forward.

The brother and sister team reacted, firing a powerful blast of electricity at the Captain, knocking him back. Meggan followed up his assault, only to be shot back as well.

"Pity," the sister said absently. "I had hoped for a bit more of a work out."

"Then you shall get it!" Captain Britain's force field had absorbed the electricity, allowing him a moment to fly up behind the two and hit them both with his super strength. He severed the two, keeping them from holding hands and using their powers.

"Meggan, are you?"

"I'll be fine, Bri--Captain," she answered. "I control the elements myself, y'know."

"Good," the Captain replied. "We've got to keep distracting their forces and hope the others are fairing better!"

"Neither of you move," the voice said. "Put your hands on your head."

"Do as he says, doll," Pete Wisdom said, putting his hands on his head.

"Are you in on this?" Tinya Wazzo, also known as Apparition, asked.

"If I was, would I be putting my hands on my head, too?" he asked. "Get a clue."

"Both of you shut it," the voice continued. It was definitely male. "Turn around, slowly."

They both complied.

"Well well, Mr. Wisdom . . . "

"Archer!" Wisdom exclaimed, recognizing the older man holding them at gun point.

"Who?" Tinya asked.

"The number two man at Black Air," Wisdom answered through gritted teeth.

"The man who hired you," Archer said with a frown. "Your defection and escape was liable to seriously hurt my reputation and standing. But you were foolish enough to walk right back inside your old home. Now, you'll die. You and your friend."

"He's not my friend," Tinya said.

"With good reason, you useless American."

"I've had just about enough of those American comments," Tinya was getting angry.

"Oh yeah?" Wisdom asked, turning to her. "Wanna make something of it?"

"Hey!" Archer began to yell.

"You bet!" Tinya said. She swung her arm, punching Pete across the face, then grabbed his collar and turned them both intangible. Archer fired his shots, which passed through them. Tinya tugged down on Pete and the two sank through the floor.

"This is Archer, intruder alert!"

"You hit me!" Wisdom exclaimed.

"You deserved it!" Tinya answered.

"I was just trying to rile you up enough to have a reason to grab me and turn me intangible without Archer actually expecting an escape attempt!"

"Yeah, I bet you say that to all the girls," Tinya rolled her eyes. "Where's Lockheed?"

"That stupid dragon? He's in the back of me shirt."

Lockheed sneezed on Pete.

"Oh, that's bloody disgusting . . . "

"Listen, did you get what you wanted?" Tinya asked.

"Not really . . . but it'll have to be enough."

The two continued their trip down before breaking off to the left and eventually heading up. If Tinya had been paying closer attention, she might have noticed a series of holding cells, including one holding a young woman named Amanda Sefton.

"Break off!" Wisdom yelled as he, Tinya and Lockheed got on solid ground. "Cap'n Britty, Wonder Legs, let's go!"

Brian frowned angrily, but realized that the mission was done. He and Meggan flew their way, each picking up one of the two non-flyers. Shortly, they were on their way home without pursuit.

Wisdom shook his head. "Once again, too easy . . . "

"Sir," Archer spoke, giving his report of the day's events. "Four mutants launched a two-pronged assault against us. Two were to provide a frontal assault, while two others, including current rogue agent Wisdom, Peter, attempted to steal files from our main core. I stopped him and his female companion, but they escaped. The other two defeated Strucker twins. All four escaped."

"I'm well aware," the head of Black Air said from his large and comfortable chair. "I gave the order to not pursue."

"Yes you did, lord."

"You don't understand why, do you? It's alright. That's why I'm the boss. He sought information on the Neo. The Neo represent a threat that we may very well have to deal with one day. It will be better by far if Wisdom uses his mutant allies to wage a war against the Neo, and they kill each other."

"The mutant allies," Archer pondered. "There have been too many reports of mutants in the Kingdom lately. From the Hellfire Club, to this . . . 'Excalibur' thing . . . what does it mean?"

"It means that your kind is getting closer to usurping the planet from humanity's grasp. But that matters not. Mutants will be employed in Black Air. And Count Nefaria will still rule all . . . "