So we managed to mop up the last of the Terminators. Looking around the smoking ruins of the battlefield, I could see that we had a lot of injured people.

"Anybody seen Elixir?" I asked. Nobody answered. Damn. "Hey, Iceman!"

"Yeah?"

"I want you to take all the injured back the mansion and start-"

"No," said Storm, all cold and authoritative.

"Hey! I'm in charge here and I say-"

"No," she repeated. "Iceman did an excellent job of crowd control at the clinic and we will need him in DC. Angel, take the X-Jet and transport all the injured back to the mansion. Beast, get them emergency medical treatment right away."

"Now you wait just one damn minute!" I shouted. "I'm the leader here and you will respect my authori-tay!"

A lightening bolt suddenly ripped down from the sky and blasted the ground between my feet. I jumped back, falling on my butt. Damn it. As long as Storm's around, I'm never going to get to be leader.

Sigh.

I was thinking about zapping her in the back when Gaia suddenly materialized in front of us. She was about to say something but paused. "Who's the green guy?" she finally asked.

I glanced over and saw Colossus carrying some wounded into the plane. "I think he's a Martian," I said. "He helped us in the fight but Pyro got him. His teammates wandered into the woods muttering to themselves."

"And what's wrong with Kodiak?"

"Ah'm not suh," Rogue answered. "He grew real big like and fought ferocious an' all. Then he jus' kind ah fell asleep."

"Do you have the strength to get us all to Washington?" Storm asked her.

"Sure," Gaia replied. "Uh, what about Kodiak?"

Storm looked down at the slumbering giant. "Bring him. He might awaken."

"Ok. Let me just concentrate. I'm going to have to bend a large space in reality to transport all of us."

Gaia furrowed her brow and focused her powers. The air started to shimmer around us. As the ruined landscape melted away, I wondered to myself what happened to Private Hudson. I had thought he was coming to help us.

Before I knew it, the White House started to take shape in front of us. I could see a giant fiery red bird soaring above it. Jean!

Storm, Rogue and Gaia flew up into the air and tried to talk to her. A strange sonic boom roared from behind the rest of us. I turned around and saw Magneto, Captain Koma and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants appear from a cloud of smoke behind us. Oh man, game over!

Oh man, this wasn't looking good. The Terminators came back to life all around us. We were seriously out-numbered and half our team was down. Kodiak did some serious wailing on Magneto but he disappeared before the bear could deliver a death blow. Just as well. X-Men don't kill. Much.

Captain Koma was begging for his life with Wolverine. Yeah right. Like that was going to work. But the Terminators closing in changed Logan's mind. He made a deal with Koma. I couldn't believe it. I ran over there.

"Hey! I am the leader here and if there are any deals made, I will make them!" I shouted.

Wolverine extended his middle claw in my face and ran over to Rogue's side. Kodiak was still freaking. "It's time ya learned what Rogue's mutant power is," Logan said to him. He took off his glove, rolled up Rogue's sleeve and touched her arm.

I could see Logan start to slump over in pain but it was working. Rogue absorbed his healing power and was soon back on her feet. Kodiak actually started weeping. Wow.

It took Wolverine a few minutes to recover but then he ran over to Colossus. Let me guess. Yep, Fastball Special. Who didn't see that coming?

Koma managed to teleport a bunch of his Synthoids into the battle. And then that other team of heroes who were put to sleep by that female Terminator started to get up. Some of them still seemed pretty dazed.

That green martian looking guy flew up into the air and sort of turned see-thru. He swooped through a few of the robots and they started to spark and sputter to a halt. He was doing a great job against the death machines until he flew in front of Pyro. Giant jets of flame engulfed him and his smoking body fell to the ground.

I was about to go and try to help him when my communicator went off. It was Gaia.

"I'm kind of in the middle of something," I said, blasting the nearest Terminator in two.

"Scott, I told Jean about the cure. She totally freaked!"

"What do you mean 'freaked'?"

"I mean her costume turned red and she flew towards Washington, DC saying she would make all of them pay for trying to steal her powers!"

"Uh oh."

"There's Magneto's base, Scott," Beast said to me. My heart was pumping like a jackhammer.

"Okay people. This is it. Hit 'em hard and hit 'em fast."

The X-Men exchanged glances and then Storm said, "That's it? That's your battle plan? 'Hit 'em.?"

Man. She always digs. Well I've had it. "Yeah. That's my plan. We've all logged a lot of hours in the Danger Room. We've fought the Brotherhood before. We know what to do. Colossus is going to throw Wolverine. I'm going to blast people. Your going to hit people with lightening. We've got it."

Storm didn't say anything. That felt good. But then Kodiak spoke up.

"I haven't been in the Danger Room yet," he said.

"Oh . . well, just stick near Wolverine then."

The X-Jet swooped in low and we all bailed out. I set it to auto-hover and we charged Magneto's base.

"Looks like we ain't the furst to arrive," Rogue said.

The Brotherhood stood in the middle of a sea of killer robots and Captain Koma's Synthoids. Strangely enough, the robots looked like the were on the verge of fighting each other, like they weren't sure whose commands to obey. Then the Synthoids began disappearing in a flash.

There was also a group of costumed people lying rather still on the ground.

"That's that damn dream power the female robot has," Wolverine announced, remembering when she had used it against him.

"They must be another strike force," said Sage. "In fact I recognize the Martian Manhunter from the Internet. They were undoubtably trying to head off Magneto's attack too."

"Alright people, let's do it!!" I shouted at the top of my voice, doing my best John Wayne impression.

"I'm goin' after Buckethead!" Wolverine snarled.

"No! You know he can control you. Go after the -" but he was already gone. Damn it! "Pantha, see if you can wake up the other team! Maybe we can join forces!"

I was about to give some more orders when several of the killer robots, Terminators I think they're called, jumped at me. I started blasting wildly. The street outside Mangeto's base erupted into chaos. I saw Wolverine and Kodiak do some serious damage to the main female robot. Pantha went was sent flying an incredible distance by the Blob. That landing is going to hurt. Iceman did a great job in immobilizing quite a few of those Terminators in a thick block of ice.

It looked like things were going well until Angel got shot down by a robot energy weapon. Then Avalanche burried the Beast under a ton of earth. Dust had managed to disable several of the remainingTerminators until she got caught in the searing heat of Pyro's flames.

I decided the best way to end this was to take out Magneto. As I charged towards him, I saw several of the Terminators melt down into a silvery pool and then reform into a new shape.

"All of you pests will be exterminated by Ultron!" the large evil looking robot shouted. Ultron! Holy crap!

"Holy crap!" Wolverine spat.

Before we could move, one of the Terminators, obviously crontrolled by Ultron, grabbed Magneto by the neck, just as he was unleashing a concentrated magnetic pulse. It slammed into his female robot, Sky I think her name is.

"Now I have what I came for!" Ultron cried. He grabbed the unconscious female robot and blsted off into the air. All the Terminators stopped moving, frozen in place.

The X-Men looked around at each other, momentarily confused by what had just happened. That was all the time Magneto needed. He raised up a broken robot arm with his powers and hurtled it like a spear straight at Rogue. Before any of us could react, it drove straight into her chest. Kodiak howled with rage, just like a bear.

Oh man, this is great! What with Storm gone on some stupid mission of destruction I am finally the undisputed leader of the X-Men. Hopefully she'll be all swept up in her rage and attack Wolverine and Kodiak and they'll kill her! Even if they don't, she's going to be committing crimes and with the new law, the courts can force the cure on her. Either way, she's out of my hair. Now I can - what's that banging at the front door?

"Storm? What are you doing back so soon?" Damn! Why is she back already?

She didn't say anything as she stomped past me. Pantha, Logan and Kodiak followed in after her. "We caught up with Ororo and talked her down," Pantha explained. "So what is our next move?"

"Well," I replied, stalling, "we can, um, wait for Magneto to attack and then, you know, get him."
Storm wheeled around on me. "That's your brilliant scheme?" she accused. "Wait for him to kill thousands of people and then arrive on the seen just after he left?" She just rolled her eyes and made some kind of disgusted sound.

"That obtuse tactic won't be necessary," Beast said as he walked over to us. "The plantonic tracking devices I implanted in the Lindsay Lohan robot that I gave to Captain Koma have revealed to me Magneto's precise location, as well as his ultimate intension - the destruction of Washington, DC."

"What?!" we all screamed at once.

"To the X-Jet everyone!" Storm yelled.

"Hey!" I shouted. "I'm in charge and I give the orders!"

Everyone stopped and stared at me. They seemed to have vaguely annoyed looks on their faces.

"Well?" Wolverine finally asked.

"Um . . to the X-Jet everybody."

A lot of eyes rolled but we all ran for the jet.

Oh man, this may actually be pretty cool. What with Storm flying off like a psycho, I finally get a chance to be leader without anybody undermining me. I can show that I really have the right stuff. I can be in charge, issue orders and not have that damn control freak steal my thunder.

Okay, here goes.

"Logan, take Kodiak and track Storm. Make sure she doesn't do something stupid. And watch out for Pantha. She went after Storm but I don't know how she's going to be able to keep up."

Yeah, sending those two homicidal animals after Storm could be perfect. If she attacks them, they might just go crazy and do something I won't regret.

"Now Iceman, that clinic downtown is a powder keg that's getting ready to explode. I'd like you to take a team - Angel, Colossus and Shadowcat - and try to diffuse the situation. The humans and mutants are going to kill each other. Whatever you have to do, just don't let that happen."

As they rushed off on their assignment, I felt great. Man, I'm finally going to be a leader!

Now I just have to figure out what Magneto is going to do.

Gaia and I managed to make it through the madding crowd to my car. I peeled out in a really cool way and raced uptown.

"You're bleeding, Scott," she said.

I touched my forehead where that damn bottle hit me. Ouch! It was pretty sore. Gaia waved her hand and the car sort of melted into the air. The next thing I knew we were speeding down the school's driveway. I slammed on the brakes and turned the wheel hard. The tires squeeled and a cloud of dust flew into the air. We came to a stop right in front of the door.

Bursting through the door, we found several of the X-Men gathered in the main hall.

"You aren't going to believe what the council just announced!" I shouted.

Storm turned to look at me with that condescending, making me feel two inches tall thing she does. "We already know all about the cure, you idiot! It's been all over the TV."

Pantha came up to Storm and put her hands on her shoulders. She leaned close and whispered into her ear. Storm screamed and shrugged Pantha off. "This is an outrage!" she shouted. "How dare they treat us like we are diseased and need to be cured! I will show them what I think of their cure! I will turn their clinics into powder!"

"Ororo," Logan said stepping over to her. "We can't do that. It won't solve nothin' an' it'll just confirm their worst fears about us."

"Ha!" spat Storm. "The mighty Wolverine as the force of restraint and reason? I don't buy it."

"Storm, he's right," I said. "I hate this as much as you do but we can't-"

Then she punched me hard in the chest. I was knocked flat on my back. Storm stepped over me and flew in a rage out the front door. Pantha jumped after her.

"Damn," said Logan softly as he watched her go. "They only the need the smallest excuse ta take our powers away."

"I don't know," I said. "They still have to convict us of a crime first."

"Are you kiddin' me?" he growled. "We commit crimes all the time. Tresspassin'. Breakin' an' enterin'. Hell, they got records of me committin' dozens, maybe hundreds, of crimes I can't even remember."

"Ok fine," said Gaia. "We know what Storm is going to do. But what about Magneto?

I sat there stunned for a moment while the room erupted around us. Did they really just say they were going to force mutants to take the cure against their will? Even if they are convicted of a crime that's just . . just . . I don't what it is but it sounds bad.

"Come on, Scott, let's get out of here," Gaia said.

I just kind of looked at her in a daze put she grabbed my arm and pulled me up. I followed her through the crowd and reached the elevator. There were several people in the hallway talking furiously into cel phones.

Once we hit the street we found the building was surrounded by angry crowds. Man, news travels fast in this city. We started to make our way through the masses of people when I spotted Ana Ishikawa. She owns the gallery that Danny Bailey works for. Wolverine and Iceman have both been doing some work there too, I think. Danny is a nice guy but there's something a little odd about him. I just can't put my finger on it.

The crowds surging around us seemed on the verge of rioting. The police did their best to maintain order. They let Ms. Ishikawa through to us.

"Mr. Summers," she said breathlessly, "is Danny with you?"

"Danny? No, why do you ask?"

"He is missing, I am worried."

I was sorry to hear that. I hope nothing happened to him. I was about to say something when Gaia grabbed m elbow. "Scott we should get out of here quickly. I think things are going to get ugly. We may need to assemble the team."

I nodded and Ms. Ishikawa said, "Go ahead. But if you see Danny could you call me, please."

"Of course. I hope he's okay."

I turned away to try and start making my way through the masses when a coke bottle came flying through the air and smacked into my head.

This is going to be ugly.

"Well, Mr. Summers, we are waiting. Do you have something to say or not?"

Damn that snotty chairman. What the hell should I say? What would the Professor say? I wish he were here instead of me. But oh no, he had to go off on some cool gameshow with that hot redheaded chick. He's probably having a great time and meeting cool and interesting people and doing just amazing -

"Mr. Summers, please, if you have something to say, say it!"

Gaia nudged me in the elbow. Thanks. "Well, um, really I just wanted to say that this whole, you know, idea of cure and all, well . . it certainly is, um, kind of big. You know, important. Just the idea of curing a mutant's powers, well, I guess some people will like and some won't. I mean, if I were a mutant, you know, with powers and all . . well . . I might want the cure. And I might not. It just depends, if you can see what I'm saying."

"Thank you for that, Mr. Summers. It was short and utterly pointless. Now then, if there is no further discussion on this issue, we will proceed with our announcement."

All eyes turned to look at the chairman. He pulled a document out of a folder. I tried to lean over to look at it but he snatched it away from me and gave me a nasty scowl.

"Firstly, this committee is hereby declaring the first authorized treatment clinic for dispensing of the mutant cure as open. It is located on the ground floor of this building and will make the cure available to any mutant who wishes to avail him or herself of it from 8 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday."

Wow. This is going to piss off a lot of people. Hopefully Magneto has learned his lesson the last time he tried to stop this thing. I glanced around the room and saw a lot of surprised faces. A low murmur filled the air.

"Secondly," the chairman continued, "the President of the United States has signed an executive order authorizing courts to direct that any person convicted of a crime involving the use of mutant powers be administered the cure."

The murmur died. The whole room was in shock. I couldn't really believe what I was hearing.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing!" I shouted as I got to my feet. "You can't do that!"

"It is already done, Mr. Summers."

"When's this meeting again?"

"One o'clock, Scott," Gaia said.

I glanced down at my wristpad. Damn. That's less than an hour. I thought about protesting again but my butt was still singed from Gaia's last demand that I go. Where's Leech when I need him?

I put on my suit and we headed to the garage. As we were walking across the lobby, Sabertooth jumped through the window. He flashed his claws at us and let out a mighty roar. A wave of panic washed over me.

Gaia caused the floor to rise up in a wall around him. Sabertooth lunged forward and smashed through it. He started charging right at me. I felt some intense pressure on my bladder.

I opened my visor and blasted him straight in the chest. Rather than be sent flying back like he usually is, a giant hole opened up in the middle of his torso. All sorts of computer gizmo's started sputtering and sparking.

"Oh, it's just one of Captain Koma's synthoids," Gaia said with a laugh. "Iceman can handle them if there are any others. Let's go!"

We rushed to the garage and jumped in my sports car. The ride to downtown Manhattan went pretty quick. We walked in the door just as the council was about to announce the decision on whether to implement the mutant cure. We took out seats at the table and the chairman turned to Gaia.

"Dr. Anderson, so kind of you to join us." That voice was dripping with acid, in case you couldn't tell. Gaia blushed a bit.

"I'm sorry we're late, Chairman." She kicked me under the table at that. I doubled over.

"And who is this rock star you have with you?" Still loaded with sarcasm.

Gaia looked a bit confused for a moment. "Oh, you mean the ruby glasses? Mr. Summers has a rare ocular condition that requires special prescription lenses. He is the acting Headmaster of the Xavier School for Gifted Students."

"Oh? Then perhaps he would like to address the council before we announce our decision?"

All eyes turned to look at me. Just then my wristpad went off. It was a meme from Vegita. Damn!

"Uh, just give me one second," I told them. Aware that everyone was waiting on me, I typed furiously.

1. Other than yourself, pick the contestant that remains in Last Gladiator Standing you think will win? That show the Professor is on? Man, I hope he gets booted soon. Being Headmaster is making my hair fall out, too.

2. What's your favorite color of Pink? How can I pick just one?

3. What's your favorite episode of Golden Girls? That one where they did that thing.

4. If you were Anna Nicole Smith, what would you do with your child? I can tell you one thing I wouldn't do - I wouldn't throw him out of a plane with his brother!

5. How many figures am I holding up? How do I know? You think I can see through this thing?

6. Decipher this code: *66hsther;o adthaodf stop. I am not gay!!

7. What's wrong with this Meme? Well for one thing it's coming at a very bad time!

8. Create your own question and answer it. Um . . uh . . I can't think of one. Sorry.

9. What's your wrestler name? The Human Spider.

10. Do you have a man crush on Luke Cage? Who, me? Of course not. Why do you ask? What are trying to say? Of course I don't! I like girls!! Whhaaaa!!

12. Are you the weakest link? *hangs his head in shame*

13. Are you prepared for the Dalek invasion over here? What, robots? Shouldn't be a problem. Did you see what I did to that synthoid?

14. Switch lives with one blogger for a year? Does Tom Cruise have a blog?

15. Who has the best sidekick in LGS? Tak

16. If you watched the season finale of Doctor Who, what did you think? I only watch Lifetime. Wait! I mean Spice! I only watch Spice!

17. Do you know who Lookwell! is? Isn't he that guy that did that song where somebody's always watching him?

18. Tag 3 people you wouldn't share socks with. Deadpo -

BANG!!

"Ungh?" I said.

"Mr. Summers. Do you have something you wish to say or not?" the Chairman asked me, putting the gavel down.

"Uh . . ."

"Vhat, do you have a date tonight, Scott?" Nightcrawler asked me.

"Hey man, I'm trying to get ready! There's a reason why I lock the door you know!"

"Heh, heh. You know zat can't ztop me."

To prove his point he teleported in a cloud of foul smelling smoke from one side of my room to the other. To make sure there would be no doubt as to my displeasure, I doubled over and tried to cough really hard. He just rolled his eyes.

"And who is da lucky lady? It is a voman zis time, ya?"

"Of course it is! Would you please get out of here?!"

He did that annoying little smirk he does. "Ze only reason dat I ask is dat zere is a very pretty blond voman at za door. I vas thinking of making a play, za?"

Damn it. I finished dressing and rushed downstairs. Carol Danvers was there. She really looked stunning in her slinky red dress. For some reason my knees started to get shakey and I tripped as I hurried over to her. It was kind of embarassing.

"Hello Scott," she said with a friendly smile.

"Uh . . hi. That's, um, a really nice dress."

"Why thank you. It certainly was nice of Danny to fix us up, don't you think?"

"Uh . . yes."

With that I led her out to the garage and then drove us to Mason de Jaques where I had made reservations. I couldn't really think of anything to say to her so we were pretty quiet as we road.

At the table, we both ordered. I wanted her to think I knew what I was doing so I picked something at random. I really had no idea what it was. Everything was in French. When the food finally came, I still didn't know what it was. Sort of big plop of yellowish goo. It tasted pretty weird.

I thought I was doing pretty well during diner but then I spilled a glass of wine all over myself. I told her that we had just fought a huge battle against Apocalypse and that I was still a little shaken up. She gave me a very patronizing smile.

I drove us back to the mansion.

"So . . would you like to, uh, c-come up and see my . . um . . collection of comic books?" I asked her.

"Comics books?"

"Oh, I mean, um, art. Would you like to see my art?"

She paused for a moment and then smiled warmly. "Sure."

I gulped hard and led her up to my room. For some reason my hand was kind of trembling as I opened the door. Everything was really loud. My heartbeat sounded like a drum. She followed me. I turned around to face her. I wiped the sweat off my brow. This was it, I told myself.

I moved closer and leaned in for a kiss. Carol was turning her face to look around the room and I bumped my forehead into hers.

"Ow!" she excalimed.

"Oh man, I am so sorry," I said as we both rubber our foreheads.

"Hey, that's okay. I just didn't realize you were going in. You have to give a girl the head's up when you're going to make your move."

My cheeks felt like they were burning. "Oh. I'm, uh, really sorry." I had to try and salvage this somehow. "Would you, uh, like to sit on the, uh, bed?"

I turned to point at it but somehow when I twisted my body I fell over. I guess I was a little dizzy from the blow to the head. I looked up at Carol and she looked like she was trying to stiffle a laugh.

"Actually, I have to, um, get up early for work tomorrow," she said. "But that thanks for dinner."

I was going to offer to show her out but she was already gone. Sigh. Maybe it's just as well. Gaia wants me to go to some kind of meeting tomorrow.

*grumble*

"Is this thing working, Maggie? Well what does that red light mean? Don't I have to . . are you sure? I really don't want to have to write this out twice. Alright . . just press that?"

"Yes, Charles. You know how to use a computer."

"I know how to use my desk top that Sage set up for me. This laptop of yours seems like it was made by Martians."

"It's the latest tech, Charles. The Vatican had Reed Richards make it especially for me. It sends data through a parallel dimension. It allows instant transmission to Earth. I've tried to tell you about it be-"

"Alright. I've got it. Thanks for your help. Now please just give me a few minutes."

Okay, let's see if this thing really works. I am writing this from the not-so-lovely planet Hacknor. I don't want to be writing this. I had planned to take a break from blogging while I was participating in Last Gladiator Standing. Frankly, I was hoping that this might really be more of a vacation. Leave the super-heroing to the X-Men. Ah well.

Things have been happening here that have been rather trying for me lately. Someone has been feeding false stories about the contestants to the tabloids. Obviously a pitiful attempt to boost ratings for the show. I immediately suspected our host, Jon the Intergalactic Gladiator. A quick scan of his mind revealed that he was not behind this, however. Hudson doesn't really have the wits for something like this so I won't bother scanning him.

As if the scurrilous slander wasn't enough, now Deadpool has tagged me. Me! Can you believe that? After getting my hopes up that he would make me a TV star and then getting his show cancelled. Ah well. Here goes:

1. Other than yourself, pick the contestant that remains in Last Gladiator Standing you think will win? Magdalena. She's got the stuff to go all the way.

2. What's your favorite color of Pink? I didn't realize there was more than one.

3. What's your favorite episode of Golden Girls? The last one, because that meant the ordeal was over.

4. If you were Anna Nicole Smith, what would you do with your child? The teenage son I would put into the army. That should make a man out of him. The newborn I would send into the future to defend the mutant race from whoever menaces them.

5. How many figures am I holding up? Figures? None.

6. Decipher this code: *66hsther;o adthaodf stop. Deadpool needs a shower.

7. What's wrong with this Meme? It should have had 18 fewer questions.

8. Create your own question and answer it. Who? Me.

9. What's your wrestler name? Funnily enough I did some amateur wrestling in college. My ring name was Rampaging Ravager. It was suppose to be ironic.

10. Do you have a man crush on Luke Cage? Power Man? No.

(I'm glad you skipped 11. Less drivel for me to have to answer)

12. Are you the weakest link? Of course not.

13. Are you prepared for the Dalek invasion over here? Sure. I'll just sic Wolverine on them.

14. Switch lives with one blogger for a year? Hmm, almost an interesting question. I'd have to say - Patton Oswald.

15. Who has the best sidekick in LGS? Probably Erifia. Human shields can be very useful. Why do you think I recruited Colossus?

16. If you watched the season finale of Doctor Who, what did you think? A little campy but it's about time the Daleks made a come back.

17. Do you know who Lookwell! is? Adam West. I have it on VHS. Hilarious. Conan OBrien co-wrote it.

18. Tag 3 people you wouldn't share socks with. Erifa, Vegeta and I say Deadpool has to do it again!

-----

There. Now I'm going back to the beach.

"No Gaia, the roof was more white."

"What are you talking about Scott? The roof was grey tile."

"I should think I know better than anybody what the color of the roof was, Gaia. I was the first student here, remember?"

"Yeah but you wear those dorky red glasses all the time. They must interfer with how you see color?"

Damn these kids. None of them just do what they're told. It's like they don't respect me at all. "Look kid, I am in charge of this school and you will -"

"I am not a 'kid', Scott. I am thousands of years old. If you want me to repair the school, I will. For the Professor and for the students. But I don't want to hear any of your lame, incorrect input. Or would you like your room to be the size of a kitty liter box?"

"Hey Scott!" Colossus called. Thank goodness for the interruption. "The Professor is on the phone long distance from Hacknor!"

Oh crap!

I hurried inside and grabbed the phone. "Uh . . hello?"

"Scott, how wonderful to hear your voice."

"Oh, hi Professor. How are things on Hacknor?"

"A little hot but otherwise quite a bit of fun. I've picked up a new sidekick. His name is Arthur. I think you two will get along just fine."

"Oh, that's nice. Well, it's been good talking to you. Thanks for calling. Bye!"

"Wait a minute." Damn. "Fred tells me there has been some problems at the school lately."

"Well . . Wolverine had clogged up the downstairs toilet, but I took care of it."

"Really? Anything else?"

"Um . . not really. Nope. Everything is just running pretty smoothly otherwise. Yep. Seems like old times."

"You didn't misplace any students?"

"Students? Oh you mean that Elixir kid? He, um, had a sleepover but he's back now, safe and sound."

"Well that's good news. I don't - what? - oh okay - sorry Scott. Henchman just made a pitcher of Margaritas out by the pool. Have to go."

"Hey sure, no problem-o. Call anytime."

As the phone line clicked off, I collapsed in a sweaty pool. I think I'm going to go take a nap for a week or two.

Whew!

"Alright, good job everyone," I said to anyone who was left standing. "We took out two major badguys today. Not bad, people." I looked behind my back at the smoldering ruins of the school. "Uh, yeah. Not bad at all."

"But Cyke, we didn't really take out Apocalypse. He's just on the moon. He can still come back."

That was the new kid talking. I think his name is Anorexia or Elixia or something. "Look kid," I told him in my most authoritative voice, "I am the acting headmaster here so you will call me Mister Cyclops. Go it?"

I quickly glanced over at Storm. She was scowling at me. Man, that chick scares me. But then the hottie in the bikini came over to her and put an arm around her waist. She leaned in an gave a kiss on the cheek. Storm seemed to relax. Cool.

"Now, like I was saying - since we took out those two badguys . . good job Gaia, by the way." I gave her a wink when I said that. The troops love that. I read it in a book. "And you too Iceman. Our next step is going to be -"

"So Cyke -" It was Wolverine this time. That little creep is always undermining me in front of the students. One of these days he's going to go too far. Then we'll see something. "- what are we gonna to do with Dracula?"

"Uh, how do you mean?"

"Well, he's locked in that ball of ice. It's gonna melt. He's gonna be free."

"Oh, right. That's a good point. I guess we could . . um . . uh . . "

"Why don't you call Vampirella?" Pantha suggested. "She's had experience with him."

"Okay, good idea. Let's do that. And then let's start rebuilding the school, okay? The Professor might call soon from Hacknor and, uh, we want to try and keep this quiet, okay?"