BACK TO SCHOOL

CHAPTER 28: SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

After a few days the entire New Mutants were being gathered together in the Danger Room they had been called in after classes suddenly and they weren't sure for what. The X-Men were up in the control room as well with all the teachers on the floor.

Everyone had assumed it would be a normal training session but there was a strange vibe in the air. Xavier moved forward looking over his students. He had watched some of them grow over time, some more then others and now it was time for a change. He smiled looking them over as he was about to make a huge change in how things were going to be done.

"As you know the New Mutant team has grown a lot since it first started up," He stated giving a few small laughs from the young teens. They all remember when it had just been eight of them now there was eighteen of them.

"With so many students and so many new ones coming in we had to think of a way to train you all without keeping some of you behind. We thought about having all new students in just one new recruit team but we felt that if there were experienced members to help them it would benefit more." They had though long and hard about how to set this up and they felt they had found a right balance.

"So we are splitting half of you up into a new team." Xavier told them and everyone there was surprised at this they hadn't expected this. Some thought maybe like Bobby they may be put on the X-Men or something but a new team was an interesting idea for a few of them.

Xavier raised his hand to get their attention. "Alright I want Alex, Amanda, Rahne, Amara, Jamie, Betsy, Kai, Forge, and Danielle to step forward."

They all did making a straight line wondering if they would be the New Mutants or the new team. Xavier smiled at them, "You all will make up the new team and I'll let you vote on the name. Also Alex, because of your actions of late I will be putting you in charge of the team."

"Whoa…You're making me the leader?" Alex was caught between being surprised and honoured to be chosen. Then he got on a large smile, "Hey I'm cool with that. That is if no one else has any issues with it?"

He looked to the rest of those and no one could really say anything against him. Jamie knew he was too young as did Rahne, Amanda didn't want the job and even though Amara was to rule one day honestly she wanted to put that kind of responsibility off for awhile more. Danielle just shrugged not having any problems with Alex and Kai shook his head he was still too new here for the role and was getting used to how the teams here worked.

"Well looks like you have the support of the team," Ororo smiled seeing Scott's younger brother take his first leadership role.

Scott himself was looking down proudly at his little brother. He was coming a long way from the carefree surfer and was starting to become a real leader. Bobby was grinning seeing Scott there, "Man you'd think you were a proud father or something."

"Hey I can be proud of my little brother if I want."

Bobby smiled and shook his head, "Yeah well I guess leadership runs in the Summers' blood line or something."

"Give it a rest Drake." Rogue rolled her eyes.

Bobby smiled, "Or what? You'll bust my bed? I got to admit everyone knows you two do but damn. Breaking a bed? What exactly were you two doing trying to break a record or something?"

Rogue and Vincent both looked mortified and red in the face, Kurt groaned into his hand having that image in his mind. By now everyone in the mansion knew about the bed after all when you hear a crash even with the sound being dulled, eve with the new thicker walls seeing a new bed being carried up and the wreck of the old one being thrown out was hard to miss.

"Bobby…" Rogue finally said in a dangerous tone and he backed off.

Rogue sighed and felt a hand rubbing her shoulder and looked to see Vince there with a sympathetic look on his face. He was getting the same type of teasing as well and she sighed leaning a bit back into him. It would take some time and they both knew that they wouldn't hear the end of this anytime soon.

Back down with the others they new team was talking about various names amongst themselves to call their new team. Sam walked up to Xavier as he had noticed something off about this, "Uh Professor how come the New Mutants are short one? I mean not that I'm complaining but how about we get Sarah on our team to even it out?"

Logan who was right next to Xavier decided to speak up about that, "That's because she's going to be on the X-Men. I know she's young but she's also got more experience then anyone else here besides me. Putting her on the other teams would only hold her back and she needs a challenge."

Xavier nodded it hadn't been an easy decision with Sarah's age and all but with the few training lessons with the others X23 had said it was too easy and was a bit frustrated with it. So they finally decide to put her with the X-Men. "There is also one more matter Sam that will be addressed. For instance you were the one that came forward about the abilities of your own team thinking you may get left behind being short one."

"Well first off the next new student will go into your group and as of now I feel that this action proves another of our decisions. You'll lead the New Mutants from now on." He smiled at the shocked expression on his face.

He stammered there but Tabby had heard and threw her arms around his neck, "Way to go Sammy, I for one can't think of anyone better."

Others came from the New Mutants to congratulate him as well and Sam was blushing from all of this. He wasn't used to this type of attention, "Y'all really think ah can do this?"

"Of course!" Paige said hitting him in the arm, "Don't be a goof ya know you can do this."

"I agree with your sis," Tabitha said kissing him on the cheek, "Now don't go and think you can start ordering me around 24/7 mister."

Sam actually laughed at that wrapping an arm around her waist. "Oh trust me ah know no man can order you around all the time."

"Ya got that right." She smirked and kissed him.

"Ewww," Paige turned around she liked Tabitha she was like the older sister she always wanted and she was good for Sam but she really didn't want to see her brother kissing. That was just weird.

"Hey Professor," Alex called out it have been a debate and several names had been thrown out there. But the majority wanted something with an X in it. Someone has suggested eXtreme X-Men but that was too close to the main team. Another said Generation-X but that was the runner up. They had finally figured out what to call themselves.

"We came up with a team name. We're going to go with X-Factor."

Logan grinned at them all as he was the only adult in uniform, "Well then let's see how you all handle then shall we? New Mutants and X-Factor will compete in a Danger Room exercise and the losing team will have an extra fifteen minutes with me personally."

There were many groans although it was incentive not to lose since no one liked those personal training sessions of Logan's.

-Later that Day-

After the new teams and Logan giving them his own little way of ushering in the new teams everything was going well. Well mostly Scott was going to find Jean they had worked most of everything out but things had been a little tense for the last few days.

He really didn't like that Shinobi guy but Jean did have a right to see who she wanted to. But that didn't mean he had to like it and he would keep an eye on that guy and the best way to do that was to make sure he was by her side.

Maybe he was wrong, maybe he was just being overprotective but if he wasn't he wanted to make sure Jean would be okay. He found her in her room looking like she was studying as he opened the door slightly. "Hey Jean can I talk to you for a minute? I won't take up too much time if you're busy."

Jean stretched out, "Sure I could use a break anyway."

Scott walked over to her and sat on her bed as she turned around to face him. "Jean I'm sorry I was acting the way I have been, I guess I'm just jealous."

Jean frowned as she leaned forward placing her hands on his, "Scott don't be an idiot there is no reason for you to be jealous. I love you and nothing can change that, you're a wonderful person and I'm glad to have you as a best friend and as by boyfriend."

He gave a smile and she returned it, "Well…In that case if you still want to go I'd be happy to take you to that party then."

Jean beamed at that she really wanted him to go with her it just wouldn't be the same at all without him and most likely would be miserable. She reached over to give him a kiss to thank him for being understanding.

In another part of the mansion Kitty was walking with Vince they were going to go out to the mall for a bit seeing as everyone else was busy at the moment. Rogue wanted some alone time to catch up on a book and Piotr was talking to his little sister so the two had nothing to do and they decided they might as well get out of the mansion.

"So should we see who else is bored?" He asked the shorter girl.

"Yeah might as well right? So…" She paused for a moment and Vince sighed wondering if she was going to ask him. "The bed huh?" She started to giggle as he groaned palming his face.

"God…not you to."

That sent her laughing, "Hey it's not everyday that happens." She saw his embarrassment over this and decided to just leave it along at least for now. "Well anyway let's like see who wants to go to the mall with us."

He nodded thanking that she was letting this drop having all the guys giving him thumbs up and asking him questions about that was embarrassing the damn thing only broke because she and him lost control over their super strength. He knew Rogue was trying to ditch the girls as well.

They started walking and come across Wanda walking through a hall, "Hey Wanda we're heading to the mall you want to go up there?" He asked her as they got closer.

The goth in red and black thought about it and nodded, "Sure I could use some candles and other supplies."

"Candles?" Kitty asked her wondering what she needed those for.

"Yeah I decided to go Wiccan and I need a few things." She replied falling in step with them. Kitty looked at bit fallen at that she remembered how Wanda was doing some soul searching and was asking about other faiths.

She was happy that she had found something for her but she kind of hoped that Wanda would have picked one of the Jewish faiths so that she could at least not be the only one in the entire mansion. She just put it aside after a moment, it was lonely as the only Jewish person here but then again she knew she wasn't the only person like that.

Kai was the only Buddhist and Amara…Well she wasn't sure what you call her faith believing in the old Roman gods and stuff. So in a way she shouldn't feel like this but she kind of missed having people to share her faith with.

"So you picked that huh? What made you decided on that?" Vince asked just out of curiostity.

Wanda just shrugged, "It was the one I could get into the most it wasn't as restrictive as the others and is more easy going. Plus I called that girl that lives with Dr. Strange you remember that Jennifer Kale one?"

Both Kitty and Vince nodded their heads remembering the teenage witch whose cousin Johnny Blaze was cursed with that spirit called the Ghost Rider. Those two as well as another girl August were with Illyana with Dr. Strange learning to control their mystical powers. Wanda then continued. "Well she's been helping me out with that even told me of a few good books to check out."

"You know before coming here you ever told me about magic I wouldn't have believed it…But now we got an immortal evil sorceress mutant named Selene as an enemy." Vince stated.

Wanda nodded, "Yeah and met Earth's Sorcerer Supreme and his students."

"And I got a pet dragon," Kitty added in with a small laugh at it all. "God we live totally messed up lives don't we?"

Both the Canadian and Goth had to agree with that it seemed that all of them didn't have normal lives. Oh well sometimes 'normal' was overrated anyway. They got to the front door as Vince quickly grabbed the keys to one of the vehicles.

Kitty pouted, "Why doesn't anyone let me drive? I mean I'm like a lot better now."

"Didn't last time you used the van you have two signs phased into it and a few dents?" Wanda asked her crossing her arms. She may have been close to crazy at one point but she wasn't suicidal she had heard the horror stories and didn't believe them. That is until she made the mistake of letting her drive after all Wanda was still learning how.

Even though Wanda didn't even have a learner's permit yet even she knew she could have done better then Kitty had.

Kitty made a huffing sound, "That was better." She muttered to herself.

Vince was about to go when she saw Clarice and Ray walk in. "Hey you guys feel up for a trip?"

"To where?" Blink asked them when they told them the mall neither of them really had anything to do. Plus Vince didn't want to be alone with just all females and was glad then Ray decided he could hang out there for a time. He could use time off after what Logan did to them earlier.

Blink hit her watch button changing into her human appearance as Kitty took her arm. "So now…What's going on with you and this Ryan guy?" Blink felt like blushing as Wanda rolled her eyes and Vince and Ray smiled knowing that Kitty would talk the poor girl's ear off. Kitty was a sucker for romance and gossip.

-Elsewhere-

Daniel Campbell the new principle at Bayville was working in a room in his home overlooking a few papers that needed his attention. The room was small and didn't have much in it but then again he didn't need much. His wife was taking the kids to a show at the moment and so he could catch up in peace.

It had been a rough time getting started with parents pulling out children or protesting his choice of letting in mutants to dealing with some of the teachers as well as other things.

He was just finishing up when his phone rang he sighed picking it up, "Yes?"

"Hello Mr. Campbell."

He froze at the voice he hated that voice but never let it show because he was also terrified by it. He knew at least partially what that person was capable of. He pushed away his work and closed his eyes, "What can I do for you?"

"I've been getting reports that several members of my special branch of students were given detention."

"They were bullying around a few other students, another was taking lunch money and I can't tell you what one was caught doing in a janitorial closet. You wanted me to keep them in school but I can't turn a blind eye to everything they do." There was a pause on the other end hoping this man would see reason.

"You made some valid points I promise you that steps will be taken. Now then remember our deal you make sure things go smoothly that's all you have to do, and keep up the good work." And then the line was dead.

Daniel sighed slowly putting down the phone he couldn't think of work anymore he kept wondering why this man was so interested in the mutants at the school but maybe it was best that he didn't wonder about that. If he started to ask too many questions he might become too much trouble to keep around. He pushed back wishing that he had never fallen into this he hated it and at times he couldn't sleep, and he doubt he would tonight.

On the other end of the line a phone was placed down with soft classical music was being played in the background. In an elegant chair a man in dark clothing with matching hair in a ponytail. Next to him on the small table he picked up a glass of whine and drank some of it placing it back down.

The room it self was filled with expensive items and there was a large elegant fireplace burning away the lights were a bit dim as he grinned to himself. He was Sebastian Shaw the leader of the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club in New York.

He was a largely built man that was evident even in his old style suit and he just finished with his call. He would give a few orders along to the Hellions about toning down their behaviour. But first he went back to his reading, it was an old book one of many that he had been searching for with the help of others.

The Inner Circle had been trying for generations to finding the key to this particular problem although it was just one of many endeavours but he was particularly found of this one. It would give him the means to control all the houses of the Club from New York, to England to Hong Kong. He would rise to the title of Black Emperor, but he needed that power.

He was reading in the book and his thoughts turned to that of the girl Jean Grey, she was a remarkable young woman. In fact he had been looking at her file as well as the ones of the others there were on his desk not too far away.

She was highly intelligent, physically she was very fit a top soccer player and basketball player. She had helped her team to win several trophies and won many achievements. Plus her powers only seem to grow as well. Her mental powers were the key and they were nearly on part with Xavier's.

From his sources he leaned how she had fought and defeated him during that Apocalypse thing. That had been an unforeseen even that they had never planned for but they would be waiting if she should ever return.

But the girl could be the one they needed but he had to see for himself. This party he would be able to measure how she was and if she was the one then all would go accordingly. If not then maybe he could still use Emma Frost she was his backup after all but her mental powers didn't have the raw talent and powers of Jean Grey's.

But if Jean wasn't the one he was looking for then she could still be useful she could be a valued member and he guessed his son had a thing for her. Most likely just lusting after her but he didn't mind she could be either a suitable consort for him at least until he tired of her.

The other one Scott Summers was also interesting although his power was flawed he showed a great leadership role. Perhaps if they could seduce him over he could give him to Emma after all she needed someone to help lead the Hellions and others and he would be perfect. He was already becoming a great leader and Shaw was always on the look out for people like that.

There were others as well the there that could be useful but those two were the priorities at the moment. Well it was time for him to go to work as he placed the old book down, on the cover was an old image of a fiery bird and in the old script on it read only one word.

Phoenix.

THE END