He frowned. Damn fog. Can't see a thing.

"Hey, lad," the boat's captain called to him. "You're sure it's Muir Island ye want?"

"Positive."

"Tis nae a place people often go," the captain replied.

"Well, it's where I'm headed. Just get me there."

The captain shrugged and walked away.

I must get there . . . he thought. I've got to save Rogue . . . and I'll make Xavier's patsies . . . cry Havok!

It's a magnificent city, really, filled with beautiful buildings and plenty of tourist traps. But one of the most attractive buildings also happened to be one of the most private. The Hellfire Club mansion.

Brian Braddock entered through the door slowly. A butler had opened it for him from the inside. They probably saw me comin' a mile away. Security here is tight.

He was almost immediately met by the club's current head, Sean Cassidy.

"Welcome back," Cassidy spoke in a tone that let his reluctance be known. "We've been wondering about you this past week."

"I had . . . personal business," Brian replied. "But now I'm back, and should be able to stay for some time."

"Good," Sean nodded. "We'll be having a meeting later today. But first, ye probably know of the little galla ball we've got here today. Not my idea, per say, but we do have an image to maintain. Ye'll join us, o'course?"

"Of course," Brian nodded.

"And, just so ye know now," Sean continued, "we've had a slight change in membership. Our boy Mountjoy was . . . replaced . . . by a young Ms. Markov."

"I look forward to meeting her," Brian nodded again. He stepped away from Cassidy then, and walked forward into the man lobby of the mansion. He had some luggage, and he knew there was a room for him. Better to go in early, find all the bugs and plant some of his own.

As he walked by, a woman watched him from atop a staircase. She had short blond hair and green eyes that almost seemed to glow. She watched with a curious stare, wondering . . . planning . . .

Kurt Wagner was in the kitchen, making himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Strawberry jelly. It had to be strawberry. He'd never found any other kind of jelly that could beat it. And not jam . . . jelly. Jam frightened him. The seeds and pulp were just . . . wrong.

He looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was around, and he scooped the jelly out of it's glass jar with his bare, three-fingered hand.

"Morning, Kurt," Piotr Rasputin walked in.

"Morning!" Kurt exclaimed nervously, quickly licking his fingers and wiping his hand on his pants.

"Is something the matter?" Piotr asked.

"No, no . . . I am fine, my freund," Kurt smiled. "Just making a sandwich."

"I . . . see," Piotr gave Kurt a funny look, then turned back to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. He took a sip, then spit it out. "By the white wolf!"

"What?" Kurt asked, spinning around, ready for anything.

"Moira's coffee . . . it's terrible!"

Kurt started laughing. Piotr soon joined him. It was a moment of happiness neither had had in the past few days. Probably the first in several years. Kurt was born with blue, velvety skin and an appearance that made him look like a devil. When puberty hit Piotr, he found himself with the ability to turn his skin into nigh-invulnerable organic steel. Both were mutants. Both chose the hard lives of defending their kind.

As Nightcrawler, Kurt was being groomed to lead Excalibur. As Colossus, Piotr was the team's muscle.

"Peter Wisdom!" the voice of Doctor Moira MacTaggert pierced the kitchen. "Are ye smoking again in me house?"

"Soditoll, woman!" Peter Wisdom's voice replied. "I'll smoke wherever I damn well feel like smoking!"

"The fun never stops," Kurt sighed.

Moira was an average human, owner of the island and a true Lady of Scotland. Peter was a mutant who could project hotknives from his finger tips. He also happened to be a stereotypical rude Englishman.

"While ye live in me house, ye'll obey me rules!"

"You invited me into your little tea party," Wisdom replied, entering the kitchen. "I'll do whatever the hell I please."

"I see you're even more charming in the morning than you are in the evening," Kurt said jokingly.

"Bugger off," Wisdom replied, taking a drag on his cigarette.

"It's okay," Tinya Wazzo said. She phased through the floor and into the kitchen. Her ability to become intangible was her reason for being called Apparition. "I phased filters into all his smokes."

"You whot?" Wisdom asked. "Bloody 'ell. The whole world's against me."

"Ever think maybe you're just against the world?" Tinya continued.

"So, what's on the agenda today?" Kurt asked. "Mister Wisdom, you stole those files from Black Air . . . anything we can use to track down these . . . Neo?"

"Beats me," Wisdom shrugged. "I turned 'em over to Doctor Nazi MacTaggert to analyze."

"I heard that!" Moira's voice yelled.

Tinya sighed.

"Is Brian in London already?" Kurt asked.

"Yup," Tinya replied. "Left early this morning. Meggan was kinda bummed."

"Why?" Wisdom asked. "I can keep her company . . . "

"Pig," Tinya frowned.

Suddenly, the outer wall of the complex exploded inward! In an instant, Colossus was armored up and the others were ready for action. As the smoke cleared, one man stood in a gaping hole.

"Who?" Kurt asked.

"The name's Havok," he answered, his body seemingly glowing with energy. "I've come for Rogue."

The party was elegant, and Sean Cassidy spared no expense. The music was lively, the dance floor was filled, and there were plenty of waiters with champagne all around.

Brian stood outside the crowd, looking around, getting a feel for the place. I should probably be blending in more . . . dancing and whatnot. And besides, I do look great in a white tux. But I'd feel wrong, dancing with other women while Meggan sits at home. He scowled. I need to push her out of my mind for now. If I'm going to make this under-cover job work . . . I need to forget all the details of my other life.

"You seem lonely."

"Eh?" Brian turned to see a young woman coming up behind him. She had short blond hair and green eyes, and wore a light brown, low cut dress with a long skirt that had a slit towards the bottom, showing a little leg.

"Didn't mean to scare you," she smiled. "My name is Terra Markov."

"Ah," Brian nodded. "Sean mentioned you . . . the newest addition, apparently."

She nodded. "I quite enjoy the luxuries offered by the club."

"You're British," Brian said to her, picking up the accent. "Were your parents members?"

She nodded. "Not very active . . . but more than wealthy enough to gain membership. My mother was the British one . . . my father was half Russian. But I've fully adapted to the English side of things. Care to dance?"

The question caught Brian off-guard. But all he needed was a moment to gather his thoughts. He took her hand as a gentleman should and said, "Of course."

The two entered the dance floor swiftly, merging into the large group already there.

"Nice turn out," Brian said, making small talk.

Terra smiled. "Indeed. London's quite a city. So many different cultures come together here. It's a unique blend that we see here."

"Sean mentioned a meeting tonight."

"After the party ends," Terra answered. "If it does. But no more talking shoppe. Let's enjoy ourselves, hmm?"

The building is called the Blackwall. It's home to the top secret Black Air. And in the bowels of the building is a prison. And in one prison cell is a woman named Amanda Sefton.

She sat, as she had, since she was captured. She had no idea where she was, or what had happened to her lover, Kurt. She missed him. And she wanted to be free.

"Hello, girl," an older man with white hair stood before her cell. She had seen him before. His name was Archer. "I've got some good news for you. We're not going to kill you."

"Goody," she answered, frowning.

"We've got something much better in store for you," Archer frowned. "And I hope that whatever gods you believe in will pity you. Nefaria has plans for you my dear . . . and when he's through with you . . . you'll never be the same."

"Now wait just a minute," Nightcrawler frowned at their intruder.

"No," Havok frowned. He extended his arms and released an intense blast of plasma energy straight into Colossus, slamming him against the kitchen wall. The kitchen collapsed inwards ontop of him and Wisdom. Kurt teleported out, and Apparition phased out.

Meggan and Wolfsbane ran to the scene.

"Okay, buddy," Apparition frowned. "That's enough out of you!"

"No," Alex Summers frowned as the four closed in on him. "I want Rogue."

He let out a burst of energy from his whole body, taking out all four. He then continued walking into the complex. He saw a map of the complex on the wall and located the brig. He turned and headed towards it.

As he walked towards the brig door, Lockheed flew at him and breathed hot fire at him. Alex dodged, getting some singed hairs, and returns the favor. Lockheed fled. Havok blasted the door in.

Doctor Rory Campbell was standing inside the room, a rifle aimed at Alex's chest. "Hold it right there . . . or I'll shoot."

"All I want is Rogue," he frowned. "Give her to me and you'll live."

"Nooo!" Doug Ramsey yelled, charging from behind. He tackled Alex to the floor.

"Doug, no!" Rory yelled. "I can't get a clear shot!"

Alex grabbed the inexperienced Doug and threw him into Campbell, nailing two birds with one stone. He looked at one cell and saw Copycat. He moved on to the next where he saw his target.

"Rogue . . . " he said, smiling. He then noticed that she was shaking . . . in fear?

"A-Alex?" she asked. "What . . . what in blazes?"

"I'm here to free you, Rogue!" Alex said happily. "No more Magneto or Xavier . . . just you and me . . . on our own! Happy together!"

"Alex . . . Ah . . . no," she said, shying away from him.

Alex fired a blast at the force field cell door, frying it and shutting it off. "You're free! You can escape! Let's get out of here!"

"Ah . . . Ah don't want to go, 'Lex!"

"What . . . ?"

"These people . . . they're nice. They're tryin' to help me. Help me control mah powers . . . get over what Magneto did t'me . . . "

"They're flunkies of Xavier!" Alex yelled. "They're the enemy!"

"No, Alex, they're not! Ah can't touch anyone without absorbing their powers, their memories, their very life! Doctor Campbell and Doctor MacTaggert are tryin' t'help me! Doug, the boy you just through across the room, is . . . is mah friend!"

"You're crazy," Alex frowned. "They've done something to you . . . messed with your mind!"

"No, they haven't," Rogue frowned.

"Hold it right there," Nightcrawler demanded. He stood in the doorway to the brig. Behind him: Colossus, Meggan, Apparition, Wisdom, Wolfsbane, Lockheed and Moira. "You've done enough damage today, boy."

"Alex, stop!" Rogue said. "Please . . . if you care for me at all . . . you'll stop. They're not mah enemies . . . and they shouldn't be yours! They offered to let me stay here . . . "

"In a prison cell?" Alex asked, not turning his attention from the doorway.

"It's only a precaution," Campbell frowned from behind him. "It's required by law . . . until she finishes her psychological exam . . . which she's close to completing. And it's also to make sure she doesn't accidentally hurt anyone or herself."

"Ah'm willin' to do this," she said. "Do the time . . . get passed mah crimes with Magneto an' his Brotherhood. Ah need to do this."

"They're messing with your mind . . . " Alex continued.

"No one's done anything," Moira said. "We're only tryin' t'help, boyo."

"Please, Alex," Rogue frowned. "This isn't helpin' anyone."

"There is something going on here," Alex frowned. "And I know it. I'll leave you now . . . but I promise you, I will be back. I will save you."

"She doesn't need saving from you," Doug spoke coldly.

Alex said nothing, he just walked away.

"We're just letting him go?" Wisdom asked. "He demolished half the place!"

"Holding him against his will isn't going to make things better," Rory frowned. "We showed him the truth . . . hopefully, he'll come around."

"What worries me is how easily he beat us," Kurt frowned. "We still need much more practice as a group."

"He beats us up . . . blows up half the place . . . and we let him go?" Wisdom asked, sighing. "This whole damn world is aga8:50 PM 12/27/2006inst me."

Rogue watched Alex leaving and closed her eyes, holding back the tears. She wouldn't let herself cry. She had to let him go. This was the start of her new life.