"Keep this area clear. Last thing I need is rubbernecking school kids disrupting a crime scene."

"Damn, can you believe this shit, detective?"

"Poor guy," says the detective as he stares at the lifeless body with a chalk outline around it. "Looks like he was killed by some kind of animal."

"Aw shit..." mutters his partner.

"What is it?" asks the detective.

"It looks like we've got spooks here."

"The fuck? This is homicide, feds have no business here."

"Looks like it's just one guy, though. Don't they usually travel in pairs?"

Detectives Donald Trinite and Nick Scalise both stand waiting as they see the "spook" in question walk towards them. His suit is black and immaculate, his shirt a pure white. He has reddish-blonde hair and in addition to his suit, he wears a pair of black leather gloves, a black trench coat, and dark sunglasses.

"Gentlemen," he says with the hint of an Irish accent.

"This is a crime scene, pal," says Trinite. "You'll have to leave."

"I won't be doin' that," says the man. He reaches into his trench coat and pulls out a wallet. He flips it open to reveal his identification. "Special Agent Sean Cassidy at yuir service."

"This is homicide, Irish," says Scalise. "You don't have any jurisdiction here."

"I'm afraid that's where yeh're wrong, detective," says Cassidy. "This is entirely within my jurisdiction. It's got bizarre written all over it."

"Cut and dry murder case," says Scalise. "Nothing bizarre about it at all."

"Take another look at that man," says Cassidy. "An' while we're at it, why don't yeh put a sheet over the bloody bastard or somethin'? Last thing we need is some teenager findin' his principal lyin' dead on the ground, torn t' bits."

"Okay, I'm looking at him," says Trinite. "Don't see how it's anything but a murder case."

"No human could do that," says Cassidy. "It looks like he was attacked by an animal."

"So what?" asks Scalise. "If he was attacked by an animal, that means this is a case for animal control."

"What I'm sayin' is that there aren't any animals around here," replies Cassidy. "So if this man was nae killed by an animal, and was nae killed by a human, then what options does that leave us with?"

Scalise thinks for a moment, and then looks at his partner. Trinite simply shrugs his shoulders.

"Why don't you two go figure it out for me," says Cassidy. "Meantime, allow me tae conduct my investigation."

"I don't think I like you very much, Cassidy," says Trinite.

"Ask me if I care, laddie," says Cassidy. "I'm not here tae be liked, I'm here t' do me job."

Sean kneels down towards the body and looks over the wounds. Each cut is smooth and clean, not jagged. There is also no obvious signs of a struggle. Which means this man never had a chance. Sean takes note of odd markings in the pavement. He examines it closely, and notices a small object shining in the light. While he concentrates on that, he fails to notice the young, Asian woman nearby who recognizes his face and is curious to his presence. Before he can see her, she leaves.

"Well whoop-te-do..." mutters Jubilation Lee. "What's the count now, Miss Rich Girl? Three? Four?"

"Five, actually," replies Monet St. Croix.

"M, do we really hafta hear about this?" asks Paige Guthrie.

"My name is Monet," she says. "Our codenames are obsolete. It would be best for all of us if you stopped using them."

"Sorry, force of habit," says Paige.

"Where's Angelo?" asks Everett Thomas, looking at his watch.

"What's wrong, Ev?" asks Jubilee. "You gettin' tired of pimping it out?"

"Yeah, that must be it," replies Ev with a hint of sarcasm.

"I dunno where he is, but he better get his butt down here quick," says Paige. "First period's gonna start in a few minutes."

"He was still asleep when I left this morning," says Monet.

"Didn't you wake him up?" asks Paige.

"I am not an alarm clock," replies Monet. "If Mr. Espinosa cannot motivate himself to get up in the morning, then it will be his grades that suffer as a result of his gross incompetence."

"She does have a point," says Ev. "I mean, Angelo's been lazing about a lot, lately. Anyone else notice that?"

"You mean the fact that the rest of us got part-time jobs and he sits on his ass watching Toonami every day after school?" asks Jubilee. "Yeah, I noticed that."

The four young mutants hear the rumble of a motorcycle engine. They see a speeding bike race through the concourse. It comes to a screeching halt before the school. Two young men sit on it. One is Caucasian with shaggy brown hair and leather straps wrapped around the lower part of his face. The other is... well, it's a bit hard to tell. He has gray skin and short, brown hair. He gets off the back of the bike and hefts his backpack.

"Thanks for the ride, chico," mutters Angelo. He rubs the sleep from his eyes.

"Took your ass long enough," says Jubilee.

"Lucky for him I spotted him napping," says Jonothon Starsmore.

"Hey, I said thanks," says Angelo. "What more d'ya want?"

The sound of a ringing bell sends the students gathered outside the school into a flurry. They quickly snap up their books and bags and dart inside the building.

"That's our cue," says Jubilee. "Y'know, I never realized how much I would hate going back to public school again..."

"Get used to it, Jubes," says Ev. "Looks like this is our new life."

"I'll see you all back at the house," says Jono. He watches his friends walk into the school. Before he can start up his bike again, his psionic abilites detect a familiar presence. He glances towards the bushes and watches them rustle. He almost swears he sees a red figure there.

"Hey, you!"

"You talking to me, mate?" asks Jono. He looks to face the man. A stocky, balding man about middle age in a suit with round glasses perched on his face.

"You have a visitor's pass?" asks the man.

"I'm not even inside the building."

"You're still on school grounds during school hours. That means you either need a student ID or a visitor's pass. Which one is it?"

"I just gave my friend a ride, so sod off."

He starts up the motorcycle and rides off. The principal watches the man depart. He then glances towards the group of kids he was talking to, and notices the one with gray skin. He shakes his head and turns towards the doors.

"Mutants at my school..." he mutters. "What next?"