The young man named Jonothon Starsmore backs away before her claws can connect with him. He notices the other man present in the office, Dr. John Hewett. Principal. Cowering behind his desk. Jono ignores him and returns his attention back to Penance. She moves in for a second attack, and he pulls down his straps ever so slightly, just enough to allow an energy blast emit forth from the burning furnace that has become his upper body. The blast slams into Penance, and forces her back into the corner. She starts to move forward again, but stops.

"I think we've all had quite enough of this bollocks," he says through the use of a telepathic link he establishes with her. "Wouldn't you agree, luv?"

Penance halts. She remains in a defensive stance, however. Her and Jono lock eyes, and for a moment, it seems as if she might attack again.

She doesn't.

Instead, she relaxes her posture, and sits down on the floor, with her legs crossed and her head hanging. Like a child who attempted to disobey a parent and failed. If Jono had a mouth, he would smile.

"Monet?" he asks with the use of telepathy. "Can you hear me?"

"Do I really need to dignify that with a response?" replies Monet through the newly-established psionic link.

"Cute," says Jono. "Guess who I just found."

"Do I really care?"

"Penance."

"And...?"

"Oh for chrissakes... she was attacking the new principal."

"Then we've found a prime suspect," says Monet. "Whatever you do, Jonothon, do not let her out of your sight."

"How daft do you really think I—"

Before Jono can finish his sentence, he glances around the principal's office.

Penance is gone.

"Shite..."

"I'll talk to you later, Jono. And in the future, try to be a bit more competent."

The word "bitch" runs through Jono's mind once Monet breaks the psychic link. He hears a rustle and gets into a defensive stance. The principal slowly looks up over the edge of his desk at Jono, and Jono relaxes.

"You..." says Hewett. "Are you...?"

Jono pulls down his straps ever so slightly to allow Hewett a glimpse at the psionic energy beneath.

"What do you think, mate?"

"Are you going to kill me?"

"That depends..." replies Jono. "Are you going to stop persecuting mutant students?"

"Yes," replies Hewett. "I'll make sure no mutants are harmed."

"Then you're safe," says Jono. "See? We're not all bad."

The former White Queen sits before a computer terminal. Logging onto the Internet, she views the information present on her homepage and her lips curl into a slight grin. Her stocks have risen.

There is a sudden crash that startles Emma, and she stands from the computer. She walks towards the front door and sees it has been broken down. She sees the cause of it, a young girl made of red diamond. Emma looks at her quizzically for a moment, unsure of how she didn't sense Penance's mind.

"Must we always make a scene?" asks Emma with her arms crossed over her chest and one hip cocked out slightly.

Penance seems dazed and looks around the room. Once taking sight of Emma, Penance scurries off into the kitchen. Emma sighs and stands there for a few seconds, then hears the sound of commotion coming from the kitchen. She follows Penance's trail and upon entering the kitchen, she finds the refrigerator door wide open, with red apples on the ground leading up to Penance sitting in the corner, chewing on one of them.

"This simply will not do," says Emma.

The following day, the flashing lights of squad cars alert passerbys and neighbors to the crowd gathered at the home of Emma Frost. Uniformed police officers stand around the area, and a black car pulls up. The door opens, and a tall man with red hair and dressed in a dark suit steps out. He adjusts the collar of his trench coat with leather-clad hands and walks up to the front entrance. An officer tries to stop him from going in, but he just reaches into his pocket and flashes identification. The officer allows him to enter.

Inside, he sees Emma Frost sitting upright in a white leather chair with perfect posture and her legs crossed elegantly. A detective sits in a chair in front of her. She glances over to the new arrival, as does the detective. The detective stands from his seat and walks over to the man.

"Mr. Cassidy," he says and shakes the man's hand.

"Detective," replies Sean. "What's the situation?"

"A mutant attack," says the detective. "Seems like there's a lot of those going around Snow Valley lately."

"Aye," says Sean. He walks over to Emma and looks down at her.

"We meet again," she says.

"Why am I not surprised yeh have a hand in this?" asks Sean.

"Purely coincidence, Sean," replies Emma. "Come, follow me."

She stands from her chair and pushes past the officers, and Sean follows.

"Hold on," says the detective.

"Ease up, lad," says Sean. "This investigation is under my jurisdiction now. Have yuir men turn over whatever they've found to my people."

Sean follows Emma into the kitchen, and she closes the door behind him. He notices half-eaten apples lying scattered around the floor, as well as marks in the tile and walls.

"Coincidences, right?"

"Now do you believe me?" she asks.

"I'm not sure what tae believe right now," replies Sean. "Tell me what happened. An' if I feel the slightest itch in the back o' me head, I'll see to it that yeh walk the rest of yuir days with a hearing aid."

"Penance broke into my home," says Emma. "After you told me that she was responsible for Leahy's death, I assumed she was coming for me."

"Somehow, I don't trust you."

"Think about it, Sean," says Emma. "How would Leahy's death benefit me? I was already on the road to becoming superintendent. Regardless of whether or not he persecutes mutants is immaterial to me. And even if he was a bigot, which he was, I would know better than to send a mutant assassin after him. Think of who else would benefit from the deaths of prejudiced school officials."

Sean considers her words for a moment, and then kneels down to pick up a half-eaten apple.

"So the lass still likes red delicious, eh?" he says.

"Apparently so," replies Emma.

"I'll analyze the saliva on it," says Sean. "See if she's been drugged somehow."

In the cafeteria of Snow Valley High School, Everett Thomas sits alone at a table, carefully observing his surroundings. A hand touches his shoulder, and he almost jumps.

"Whoa, easy dude," says the voice of Jubilation Lee.

"Sorry Jubes," says Ev as he turns to face her. Standing next to Jubilee is Paige Guthrie. The two girls take seats on either side of him.

"You doin' okay?" asks Paige.

"Not particularly, no," replies Ev. "Still a little jumpy."

"That sucks," says Jubilee.

"Yeah," says Ev. "I'm expecting to get jumped at any minute now, but it seems like things are starting to calm down a little."

"You noticed that, too?" asks Paige. "I went to my locker today, and someone cleaned it up."

"Look who decided to join the party," says Jubilee. "HEY ANGELO, WE'RE OVER HERE! AND BRING BITCH-FACE WITH YOU!"

Angelo Espinosa and the young woman he walks with, Monet St. Croix, quicken their pace and walk towards the table.

"Nice use of subtlety, chica," says Angelo.

"Thanks, I figured as much," says Jubilee. She looks up at Monet with a smirk. "Hey M, how's it hangin'?"

"Ugh," mutters Monet. "Sometimes I wonder why I put up with you, Jubilee."

"I think it's because you're secretly a closet lesbian and you're in love with me," replies Jubilee.

"Whoa, really?" asks Angelo with enthusiasm.

"In your dreams," says Monet with a roll of her eyes. "I'm not gay, and even if I was, I could do much better."

"So, we hear anything new about the principal?" asks Paige.

"Dunno but that reminds me," replies Angelo. "Everyone was startin' to act real nice to me for some reason. Hewett came up to me today, shook my hand, and told me if I need anything that his door is always open. Kinda freaked me out."

"Jono did say that he saved the guy's life," says Paige. "Maybe he realized that mutants aren't all bad."

"Speaking of which, what about Penny?" asks Ev.

"We gotta stop her," replies Jubilee. "Before she hurts anyone else."

"Yeah, I realize that she's a suspect in a murder case," says Ev. "But... what are we gonna do? Turn over one of our friends to the cops?"

"No, we turn her over to Banshee," says Jubilee.

"Who says he's on our side anymore?" asks Ev.

Jonothon Starsmore sits in a chair, strumming an acoustic guitar. The sound of a ringing doorbell snaps him out of his trance, and he walks over to the front door. He opens it, and sees Sean standing in the doorway.

"Hullo Jono," he says. "Been awhile, lad."

"That is has."

"Mind if I come in?"

Jono steps to the side and with his hand, he gestuers for Sean to enter. Cassidy steps into the home and looks around.

"So this is where you kids are shackin' up, eh?" he says. "Not too bad at all. I assume Monet's father provided the necessary funds."

"Something you want, Sean?" asks Jono. "Everett and Jubilee said they saw you at the school. What's this all about?"

Sean continues to walk around the house, and notices Jono's guitar. He takes a seat and picks it up, strumming it slightly.

"Yeh still play?" he asks. Jono nods slightly. "That's good, I was afraid yeh had given up on yuir music. 'Tis always nice to have somethin' to relax yuir mind, eh?"

"You're avoiding the question, Sean."

"Am I?" asks Sean. "My apologies, Jono, I'll cut right to the chase."

"Good," replies Jono as he folds his arms across his chest.

"Why are yeh usin' Penance to kill people?"