"...come again?"

Those words would have come from the mouth of Jonothon Starsmore. That is, if he had a mouth. Instead, they are thoughts projected into the mind of the man he is speaking with, Sean Cassidy. Former Interpol agent, former supervillain, former X-Man, former headmaster. Jonothon's former headmaster.

"Yeh heard me," says Sean.

"Where did you come up with a daft idea like that?"

"When we found Leahy dead, I notice that yeh were present there as well," says Sean. "Seems a bit odd, don't y'think?"

"I was dropping off Angelo," replies Jono.

"And when Penance tried t' kill Hewett, you were there once again."

"I was saving the bloke's life."

"I spoke with Hewett," says Sean. "He told me he was rescused by a mutant who had his mouth covered. A mutant who threatened to kill him if he didn't stop persecuting mutants."

"So you think I had Penance kill the first principal to set an example?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," says Sean. "You did threaten Hewett, didn't you?"

"So what if I did?" asks Jono. "Christ Sean, you should know that I was bluffing."

"Things change, lad, people change," replies Sean. "Now I'm only going t' ask yeh this once—where's Penance?"

"Bollocks if I know," replies Jono. "I had nothing to do with any of this."

"Sorry lad, but I can't ignore me responsibilities," says Sean. "I'll have to—"

"OHMIGODITSBANSHEE!!"

Before Sean Cassidy can form a word in response, he is almost bowled over by another one of his students. Jubilation Lee, or Jubilee as her friends call her. She throws her arms around his neck. The rest of Sean's former students, Angelo Espinosa, Paige Guthrie, Everett Thomas, and Monet St. Croix stand behind her.

"WOWTHISISSOGREATSEEGUYSITOLDYOUISAWHIMTHEOTHERDAYIKNEWHEWASAROUNDHERE!"

"Calm down, lass," says Sean. "I need t' breathe, yeh know."

"What's up?" asks Jubilee.

"He's arresting me," replies Jono. "That's what's up."

"What?" asks Angelo. "Why?"

"He thinks I'm behind this," says Jono.

"Oh BS!" exclaims Jubilee.

"I've got a job t' do," says Sean. "If Jono's innocent as yeh all claim, then there will be no harm in me takin' hi—"

*BAM*

Paige is an omnimorph. She can morph her body into whatever she sees fit by pulling her skin off. In this case, her forearm is composed of rock. Sean Cassidy lays limp on the ground.

"Not gonna happen, suh," says Paige. "Too much is goin' on lately, an' from what I've been seein' lately on television, I don't really trust some of the X-Men types right now. That includes you."

"Whoa..." says Angelo as he walks over to Sean's body. "Way t'go chica, didn't think you had it in you."

"Yeah, seriously," says Jubilee. "Who knew the hayseed was so tough?"

"I didn't mean to," says Paige. "But I had no choice. Is he okay?"

"I dunno..." says Angelo. "He's breathing, but I'm not sure if he's conscious or..."

Sean's eyes suddenly snap open.

"...just faking it..." says Angelo. "Oh shit..."

Sean's hands push him off the ground and he gets to his feet. He grabs Angelo's arm and takes advantage of the young mutant's six extra feet of skin. He swings Angelo and throws him into Everett, possibly one of the more dangerous mutants among him. Angelo's skin loses its composure as he flies and sags off his body, covering both him and Ev.

"Oh shit..." mutters Jubilee. "Notgoodnotgoodnotgood..."

Sean turns to her next and then unleashes a sonic scream that sends Jubilee off her feet. Still emitting the same sonic scream, he flies forward and tackles Paige to the ground. Before he can turn to face his next opponent, a blast of psionic energy sends him flying. He gets up, but before he can open his mouth to emit another scream, a hand wraps around his throat in a vice-like grip. Monet holds him above the ground slightly and pins him against the wall.

"Is it possible for us to discuss this like the superior beings we are supposed to be as opposed to neanderthals?" asks Monet.

"Hold 'im down, M," says Angelo, as he begins to pull his skin back together. "I wanna hit him back."

"No need, Angelo," says Monet. "I've already probed his mind. He believes that Jono is the one who's controlling Penance."

"Jono?" asks Paige. "Is he...?"

"Not at all, Paige," replies Monet. "I've probed Jono's mind as well, and he was just as surprised by Sean's accusations as we were. There's someone else behind this, Mr. Cassidy. Now, you can take my word for it, and you can work with us to try and find out who this person is. Or I can plant a subtle psionic suggestion in your mind that will make you believe you are a chicken for the next forty-eight hours. The choice is yours."

"Fine," says Sean. "Just let me down, then."

Monet releases her grip on her former headmaster, and then folds her arms across her chest.

"So who is it, then?" asks Jubilee. "Who's controlling Penance?"

"It has to be mind control," replies Sean. "I analyzed saliva samples I found from Penance, and she hasn't been drugged. I had a suspicion that Emma was behind it, but now I'm not too sure."

"But Emma's still missing," says Ev. "Isn't she?"

"Not at all," says Sean. "She's the new superintendent."

"Whoa, very Boy Meets World-esque," says Jubilee.

"Huh?" asks Angelo.

"In the show, the dude's old teacher from elementary school ended up being his high school principal," replies Jubilee.

"Oh," says Angelo. "I hated that show."

"Whatever dude," says Jubilee.

"I have a feeling it might be the Shadow King," says Sean. "Apparently, he's still at large and causin' trouble. But something like this seems a bit petty for him."

"Are you sure it's not Emma?" asks Jono.

"Aye," replies Sean. "Positive."

I can hear the bombs falling.

I can hear the sounds of gunfire.

I can hear people dying.

I can hear the sobs of the younger children around me.

I try to gather them up, try to assure them that everything will be all right. But the sound of another bomb going off makes them cry even harder.

They don't understand yet that this is daily life here. They have to get used to this.

I hear the sound of something breaking open. The children and I are hidden under a desk. I slowly try to look up to see who it is. I pray it is my father coming back for me.

But it isn't.

This scene has played out thousands of times in my mind, and each time, I always hope it's my father. But each time, it's not. It's someone else. Someone I never want to see again.

"Now then... where are the tasty little morsels?"

His voice sends shivers down my spine. He speaks in a language, one I don't recognize.

But I recognize it now. Over time, I have begun to learn the language. I know what he is saying now.

But then, I didn't.

"I know you're in here, children. Come now, allow Uncle Marius to take you away from this hell."

He approaches, I can feel his presence. He grabs the desk, and throws it to the side as if it were nothing. The children and I all clutter together, hoping beyond hope that if we get close enough, perhaps he will not see us.

But he does.

"Please..." I say in my native language. But it comes off as English now. I've forgotten that language. Even in my dreams and memories, I've forgotten it.

"Quite a buffet I have here," he says.

He is strange. His skin is pale, and his hair long and stragly. He wears a beaten up jacket over some sort of purple containment suit or something. There is a mask with hoses attached to his face and leading to his chest. He reminds me of a bad guy I once saw in an American science fiction movie.

He reaches out and points at me with a single finger.

"But you, young Yvette... you are the one who interests me the most."

"Please..." I say. "Don't hurt them, they're only children."

"Them come with me, child," he says as he extends his hand. "And I give you my word that they will feel no pain."

I slowly reach out with my hand and place it inside his own. It is then that my body begins to ache with pain. My energy begins to sap free, and I begin to lose my composure. One touch from him, and I feel as if I haven't eaten in weeks.

"Yes..."

My skin begins to change. My entire body. I tense up, and I feel the change coming. Taking me over.

This is how it happened. This is how it always happens.

But this time, something different happens. I claw at him. I tear apart his respirator. I cut through his skin, and I seperate his head from his shoulders.

His servant tries to stop me, coming out of nowhere, and I impale him on my claws.

I feel their blood on my hands.

And I enjoy it.

Then... I wake up

The crimson eyelids of Penance slide open to reveal her blank, sky-blue eyes.

She finds herself crouched between two bodies. One is the body of Principal Hewett, decapitated with his chest ripped to shreds.The other is his wife, impaled on Penance's claws.

She pulls away in shock. She is unsure of what happened here. She doesn't quite understand what is going on.

So, she does what she feels is best in situations like these.

She runs.

The next day. Specifically, a meeting of the Snow Valley Board of Education.

Emma Frost stands at the foot of the table in a very fashionable white business suit. Modest enough to maintain a level of professionalism, yet clinging to enough of her body in the right places to continue to give her the seductive power she craves.

"The death of Principal Hewett leaves us no recourse, my friends," she says. "We have to increase security at the school."

"That's impossible, Ms. Frost," says one of the board members. "There's just not enough in the budget to warrant an increase in security."

"We will just have to increase tuition, then," says Emma. "Our children deserve a school that they can feel safe in, after all."

"I don't know about this..." says one of the board members.

"I don't really like it either, but I don't think we have much of a choice," says another board member. "Ms. Frost does make a very valid point—if we don't make an effort to increase security, then we'll have parent groups breathing down our necks. I don't know about the rest of you, but I could certainly deal without that stress."

"Well, let's put it to a vote," says a third. "All in favor of raising the tuition..."

Hands go up.

And Emma Frost smiles.

"You sure this is a good idea?" asks Jubilee.

"We don't have much of a choice, do we?" asks Sean through a psionic link created by Monet and Jono. With the students in class, they remain in psychic contact with each other, and Jono and Sean, who wait outside.

"Guess not..." replies Jubilee.

"There's something going on..." says Angelo. Several students approach the group, and they all back up slightly.

"Hewett's dead," says one of the students. "We noticed that a lot of things have been going wrong since you freaks enrolled here."

"Hey, it's not our fault there's a principal serial killer out there," says Jubilee. "So why don't you lay off?"

"Why don't you shut your mouth, you annoying pain in the ass bitch?" says one of the students.

"Show some respect, that's no way to treat a lady," says Ev, stepping in front of Jubilee.

"Or Jubilee," says Angelo.

"I'm getting real sick of your attitude," says a student.

"Whaddaya gonna do about it?" asks Angelo.

The student replies by punching Angelo in the face. Ev synchs with Monet and delivers his own punch to the student, a punch which sends him across the hall. Paige tears her skin off, revealing a metallic body beneath, and Jubilee begins to generate fireworks in the palms of her hands. Monet simply sighs.

"Just go ahead and blow our cover, why don't you?"