Howdy friends! Well, now that the stories are caught up with each other, we can get down to bid'ness. Two conforntations were set up in 'X-Man is Australian for Mutant - ANNUAL # 1'. Here's one of them! I do so hope ya'll enjoy. THANKS!

P.S. check out my hombre Bubba Hyde's story 'Crusade'. It's a pretty good read for any Rahne lovers.

Chapter 4 – Aftermath

Sunday Night, The Institute

The mutant students gathered near the big furry Beast, huddling quietly outside in the stable yard of the Institute. The Beast wore a mask of calmness.

"Children, listen, please. Your protection is of the utmost importance." He said, turning to Jean. "Jean, I want you to gather the younger students and head directly for the maintenance tunnel in the grove behind the stable. You can reach the Danger Room from there. Everyone fourteen years of age and under, go with Jean."

"I will stay with you." Scout firmly stated.

"Scout, I want you with Jean. Please." Beast commanded.

"I can help you! I have the needed training! You know this to be true!" Scout whined.

"I know you are a capable warrior, Scout." Dr. McCoy smiled at the girl. "That is why I want you with Jean. No objections, please, my child."

Scouts face got dark, but she nodded curtly at her mentor.

"Angus, I want you with Jean also. Watch over master James." Beast continued.

"Under MY protection, sir!" saluted Pappy.

Jean telekinetically lifted Jamie from Mally's arms, placing him onto a mental 'stretcher', and floated him between Pappy and herself. Jamie was silent, but his eyes squeezed tightly with the movement.

"Come on everybody, let's go. No stragglers, and stay together. Everyone knows where the tunnel entrance is right?" Jean stated.

The younger students; Paige, Freddie, Theresa, and Scout nodded.

"Follow me…" she finished, heading behind the stables. The youths, Pappy, and a floating Jamie followed.

Scout stopped, turning to the Doctor. Her expression was grim.

He smiled at the girl, giving a wink.

The feral girls face ticked into a quick grin, and she turned to catch up with Jean's group.

Beast addressed the remaining teenagers.

"Form two groups; Shadowcat, take Jubilee and Iceman, and run the port perimeter. Clarice…er, Blink is the X-moniker you have chosen?"

The pink haired girl nodded.

"Fine. You and Wolfsbane accompany Rue and circle around the right side of the compound."

Beast turned to Forge. "Forge, I need you to remain here. Any communication from Jean, head to – arrhg!"

!BOOM!

A glowing orb of explosive energy smashed into the blue doctors back, the impact knocking him into Forge, and setting his fuzzy back aflame.

"Iceman!" Shadowcat screamed impulsively.

The Iceman was already on it. He thrust out his hand, covering the Beasts back with an icy frozen mist, snuffing the flames.

Shadowcat stepped to the tangled mutants, and used her power to pull Forge from under the lumbering blue giant.

"Spirits, what happened?…" wondered Forge, holding his noggin.

"What happened is you got yer ass blown up, yo!" came a yell from the direction the explosive orb had come from.

The X-Men turned to see Toad, along with the rest of the Brotherhood kids. They all wore evil smirks, save Boom-Boom, who seemed forlorn, looking to the damage she had done to the Beast.

"Oh, crikey…" moaned Mally. "What the hell is up yer arse, Todd? Why's it gotta go like this?"

Jean's group reached the protruding manhole that lead down into the tunnels below the Institute.

"Fred, can you get the manhole cover off? It looks tight…" she asked the youngest student. She could feel how scared he was, and wanted to give him something to think about.

"Sure thing, Jeanie, no problem-o. Leave it to old Blobby!" Freddie piped, puffing up and moving to the chore. He wasn't aware that Jean, and most everyone else, knew he had a secret crush on the red headed telepath.

Jean smiled. "Thanks Fred. I knew you could do it."

She turned to Jamie. "Jamie, I'm going to turn you vertical, so I can lower you down the manhole. Are you doing OK?"

"Don't worry Jean, I'm alright. I can take it. It doesn't hurt that much anyways." Jamie wheezed.

Jean reached out and looked under the boy's pajama top. A purple-black bruise was already forming on the right side of the boy's torso. She winced.

"It's nothing, I swear…" Jamie grimaced, trying to pull his shirt down.

"The lad must have a bit of Scots in him, troopin' on like such. Proud of ye lad." Pappy said to Jamie. He looked at Jean, giving her a wink.

He looked down at the young mutant, his wrinkled brow furrowing. His lips pursed as he breathed out slowly.

Jamie's eyes got dreamy and droopy, and a goofy smile ran along his mug.

Jean looked up at Pappy. "What did you do? I mean…ah, what feeling was that?"

"Satisfaction… err, of the best kind, lassie. No man feels pain when that's runnin' through is veins." smiled Pappy. "Don't fret lassie, he don't know what he's feelin' other than feelin' preetty dang good. Now let's go below, shall we?"

"Smart, Pappy. Now hold him steady while I tilt him upwards…" Jean asked.

Scout was standing in the back of the group, all her senses alert. Suddenly, she heard a yell of pain, back at the stables. No one else heard it; it was to far beyond their range of hearing. She looked at Jean, to see if she had sensed it, but she was busy with Jamie.

'That was Dr. McCoy. I knew he would need me.' Scout thought desperately.

"Jean, someone is near us, back towards the stables. I need to go check." She lied. Jean and the Professor had a tough time with her mind, if she wanted them to, just like her brother Logan. She hoped Jean wouldn't catch her.

Jean frowned. "Who is it? I don't sense anyone."

"I don't know positively. I should run a loop, and make sure they don't follow us down into the tunnel." Scout said, emotionless.

Jean looked at the girl. 'No emotion, on her face, or her mind. She is in 'X23' mode. I couldn't stop her if I wanted.'

Jean gave in. "OK. Search for ten minutes. If you with your talents can't find anyone, come back here and catch up with the group. No longer than ten minutes. And Scout…" Jean met her eye, "please do not hurt anyone you find too badly. Understand?"

"Yes. Ten minutes. I will use… restraint."

Scout sprang off, bounding through the grove towards the stable yard.

Her hand claws were out, ready.

'I will find and destroy the person who hurt my Dr. McCoy, then I will show restraint.' She thought, her mind growling.

Back at the Stables

Shadowcat surveyed the yard. She was the 'highest ranking' X-Man, and she knew she had to do something.

Wolfsbane was already in were-wolf form, and Iceman had gone to full frozen mode, his PJ's disappearing into the ice. Blink stood next to Rue, her hands holding strangely glowing pink spikes. Rue was staring at Todd, hard. Jubilee's hands were sparking, the lights playing evilly on her dark eyes.

Forge was very groggy, but could walk. Beast was still unconscious, his back blackened. Dark blue blisters were popping out of the uncovered skin.

"I'm taking Forge and Beast into the stables…" she stated, taking and intangible Beast over her small shoulder.

She looked to Jubilee. "Jubilee, take the team. Defense, not offense…"

"Right!" piped Jubilee. "But if we can take them down while 'defending', gee, that'd be just fine."

She shot off a round of flares into the sky, lighting up the area.

"And you, little miss Smith, are first on my shit list…" she snarled, pointing at Boom-Boom.

"You X-Jerks don't know us anymore. Did you miss us at school?" Toad smirked, stepping up. "We got training, better training than that hairy goon Logan gives yous guys, yo."

"How'd ya like the remodeling we did on your freak school?" Avalanche bragged smugly.

"Too right…" giggled Pyro, "we shoulda brung some marshmallows to roast."

"Shut yer trap, drongo! Ya knocked down my home! Best one I've had in years!" shouted Mally. He pointed at Boom-Boom. "And you hurt my friend Dr. McCoy, blondie. Ya so lucky I don't hit sheilas…"

"OH, BUT I DO!" came a bloodcurdling cry from around the stables. X23 came blazing into the yard, her pajamas shredded from running through the woods. She headed straight for Boom-Boom.

"Myfriend Mally says you hurt my Dr. McCoy! AYEEEEEEEE!" she launched herself at the blonde girl.

"Who the hell are you, yo?" Toad yelled.

"Looks like they turned Logan into a girl…" Avalanche breathed, not believing.

Boom-Boom charged up a bomb, but didn't have time to throw it. Two bone claws rammed through her right shoulder, bloody points poking out the back.

Boom-Boom screamed, falling down to the ground. "Stop It! I didn't mean too!" she wailed.

X23 startled her, one hand grabbing her throat, the other arm rearing back to smash her face, claws out.

Boom-Boom looked up into the eyes of Death, and fainted.

Suddenly X23 was thrust off the girlby a hex bolt. Her small body began to press itself into the turf, crushing into the dirt. She looked to her left.

Scarlet Witch and Lourd stood, hands out. Scarlet Witch looked from X23 to Boom-Boom, anger in her eyes.

"You killed her! I think you KILLED her!" she turned to Lourd. "Crush her…"

"Gladly, mon ami…" responded Lourd, very smug. She increased her power, forcing X23 down harder.

Rue looked at Jubilee. "Can you set up some 'cover fire'? I changed my mind about hittin' sheilas…"

Jubliee raised her hands into the air. Strobes shot all around the Witch and Lourd, causing them to cover their eyes. The pressure was released on X23, but her body would take a minute to recover.

Rue jumped forward, covering the space easily. Lourd's hand left her eyes just in time for her face to catch a kangaroo kick. Rue had held back some, but not much. Lourd was stunned, and fell to the ground, eyes rolling.

"Pretty tough, chica." grunted Rue. He made to reach down and tap her again, with a punch. He noticed a shadow growing larger on the ground around him. He looked up.

Toad came crashing down on him, hard. Toads foot rammed Rue's shoulder, and it dislocated audibly. Toad spat a wad of goo at Rue's head, covering one eye completely.

"Paybacks a bitch, yo?" Toad laughed. Rue groaned, trying to get up.

Wailing sirens could be heard now, coming from town. Wolfsbane howled in union with them, charging towards Toad. She was met after a few steps by a whirling Quicksilver, causing her to be caught up in his artificial dust devil, winds at tornado speeds. He stopped abruptly, and Wolfsbane fell to the ground. Within seconds, he delivered twenty hard kicks to her midsection, only stopping when Blink threw a spike at him. It seemed to throw his timing off more than hurt him.

"QUIT HURTING MY FRIENDS!" came a shout, the young male voice cracking, almost comically. One and all turned to look.

Iceman was standing back, shining. His ice body had almost doubled in size. Spikes mimicking his hairdo stood up on his head. He did not look happy. His hands shot out, streams of liquid ice shooting out of each individual finger. The ice seemed to bend mid-flight, going where he wanted it to. He covered each of the Brotherhood kids with thick folds of ice, save Boom-Boom. The ice around her prone body simply covered her hands and formed an ice 'bandage' on her shoulder. The blonde girlseyes fluttered open for a second, then shut.

Everyone grew quiet, staring at Iceman. Steam rolled off his body, his icy features twitching with exhaustion.

"Guys… I think I did a little too much…" Iceman gasped, then crumbled to the ground, reverting to 'human' form.

"Now, I finish my objective…" grunted X23, and before anyone could worry about Iceman, she started moving over to Boom-Boom's body.

"No Scout, you can't…" Rue stated, holding his shoulder.

"Don't try and stop me Mallory…" X23 growled.

"I WILL try an stop you Scout. You can't kill her, it ain't right. And Dr. McCoy will be ok. Just take it easy…"

Rue saw that Scout was still 'X23'. He thought about calm things and tried to push the feral girl.

She still advanced on Boom-Boom.

"Scout, Dr. McCoy is in the barn, and he wants you right now…" Rue said, his face straining with the effort of a 'push'. A massive headache was forming in his skull.

Weather by 'push' or not, Scout looked at him, then to the barn. She ran wildly towards it disappearing inside the doors.

"C-c-c-christ, what is this, Little House on the freakin' Prairie?" Toad chattered. "'Lanche, shake us outta here…"

Avalanche's eyes rolled back, and the ground beneath them began to shake. The ice entrapping the Brotherhood began to crumble, and footing for the X-Men was impossible. The moving earth pushed the X-Men into a pit, which Avalanche had opened.

"Let's get the hell outta here, yo…" Toad said, kicking chunks of ice away from himself.

"What about Tabby?" Quicksilver asked, a silver eyebrow arched.

"Leave her. The cops are coming, can't you hear?" Scarlet Witch said, scared.

Lourd just nodded, shooting eye daggars down at Rue.

"Yeah, she was too soft anyways. Let's go! I'm surprised she knocked the Beast on his ass." Toad said, springing off. The Brotherhood followed him into the darkness.

"Crikey, should we follow them?" Rue wondered, his arm hanging limply.

"No." Jubilee stated. "We need to get back with the others, and meet up with Jean. We're hurt, and we don't need to mess with the police either. Professor X will sort things out later."

The X-Men climbed out of the shallow pit, and limped back to the barn. Jubilee scooped Tabby up in a fireman's carry. "We better take her too. Scout cut her pretty good."

Mally reached down to help a groggy Bobby up, and let the blond boy lean on him to walk.

"So tired, Mal… and I'm cold…" Bobby whispered. "I don't do cold…"

"S'ok, Bob-o, we'll all get fixed up in a bit. Hang in there." Mally smiled. "I dint know you could do all that…"

"Me either…" moaned Bobby. "I just got… pissed."

"I didn't help enough…" Clarice said quietly, helping Jubilee with Tabitha.

"Saved my skin, lass, and thanks. That wee queer can kick real fast." Rahne stated. "What was that thing you threw, anyhows?"

"Just… something I can do…" Clarice whispered, looking down. "I don't like to fight, but it keeps happeningaround me…"

"Let's just get down below, gang…" Mally said, "We can discuss power limits and feelings later, when we feel better.

Mally held the barn door for Jubes and Clarice, and Bobby was able to walk in under his own power.

Rahne stopped by Mally. "How's yer arm, rabbit?" she asked, touching it lightly.

"S'ok, it'll pop back in, I guess. Hows yer ribs? Did that little speed freak hurt you?" Mally wondered.

"Nah, he's quick, but he ain't to powerful. I'm jest right." She smiled wearily.

"Right. I wish we could all just be friends, or at least not enemies…" Mally sighed.

"I know luv, we all do…" Rahne mused, "We all do…"

end

Chapter 5 - Back to NYC! How is the fight downtown going to turn out? Has everybody guessed what Spidey is wearing? Of course you have, but this ain't Stan the Man's Venom... it's very different... THANKS!