Shadowcat's black evening dress wrapped and formed around her frame like melted ice cream making its way down a cone. It had been quite some time since she had dressed up like this, but she was meeting two of her oldest friends for dinner tonight. As she made her way to the reserved table she caught the eye of many men with the seductive split on the right side of her dress. Logan would probably kill her for showing as much cleavage as she was.

"You look dazzling Katya," Colossus said as he stood up from his chair and took Katherine's hand. Gently kissing it he pushed back Shadowcat's seat for her.

"I doubt Nereel would appreciate you kissing other women's hands," Nightcrawler laughed as he opened up his menu. No longer did he wear the image inducer that had helped him blend in. Those days had been long gone for Kurt and he was completely comfortable with who he was. He was given a few stares and upturned noses, but that was a common plight for even Latinos and Blacks. Kurt was just thankful no food had been tossed his way yet.

"Nereel?" Katherine asked a bit confused at the mention of the Savage Lander.

"Mein gott! You haven't told her Piotr?" Nightcrawler exclaimed.

Colossus sighed, "I was going to tell her later tonight, but since you've already made it the opening topic…"

"So you're in a relationship with her? I'm glad to hear it Peter. A nice man like you deserves someone special in his life," Kate smiled hiding the fact that was full of jealousy. Peter was having success with an ex-lover and Katherine had failed miserably in that regard.

Sitting down Colossus immediately shook his head, "No. It's not like that at all. It's a long story Katya, but I am a father now. Nereel still has feelings for me, but I have none for her. Nonetheless, we share a son and I refuse to let them down."

"Would this be part of the reason you joined up with Warren at X-Corp?" Shadowcat asked. She admired the work that Warren and the others were doing, but she wasn't entirely sure if she trusted all of his Board of Directors. Pyro and Maggott being on the top of her list. Diode looked like she had the potential to be a loose cannon as well, but Katherine figured she was letting her vast experience make her judgmental. So she would keep her opinions to herself…for now.

"That's part of it, but I was growing tired of the Exiles' lifestyle. Exodus seemed to be slipping closer and closer to the edge of darkness again. Not to mention the constant struggles we faced. Every day was like being at war," Colossus replied thinking back to some of his Exiles' memories. He had walked away from that team with heightened strength and a newfound respect for torture victims.

"Speaking of wars. I'm glad to see you made it through the Washington riots okay Kurt," Shadowcat said. She didn't want this dinner date to just be her and Peter talking the whole time. Even though that just seemed to be the way it was naturally heading.

"It pains my heart to know so many others didn't though. Apollyon had us all fooled and I think many of the X-Men under him are still reeling from the whole affair. If nothing else though at least God felt it right to give Storm back to us," Nightcrawler replied with a slight tremble in his voice. The images and nightmares he had seen still made him lose his composure at times.

"I haven't had a chance to talk to her. None of us X-Force people have really. I know Bishop wants to see her, but you know how he pulls his Stonewall Jackson routine. He's been under a lot of stress lately. First that whole little talk with Force Works not going too well and then getting the shit beat out of him by Black Tarantula."

"Humm…Warren seemed to be real disturbed when he came back from that meeting with Force Works as well. I do think there was a good bit of misunderstanding between both parties from what Warren recounted to me. Danielle knocking out Havok wasn't a good way to start things off," Colossus sighed hating the tension that seemed to be between all the students of Xavier lately. The world had indeed changed since Charles' passing.

Nightcrawler giggled, "He wasn't knocked out."

"Huh?" Colossus asked giving Kurt a puzzled look.

"Alex called Cyclops after that whole little fiasco laughing his head off. He had been pretending to be knocked out the whole time simply because as he put it 'I really didn't feel like hearing Dani's bullshit'. Our friend Alex is still the character," Nightcrawler laughed.

"You mean still the jerk," Shadowcat interjected. She didn't blame Dani a damn bit for wanting to knock Summers on his back. The guy had a chip on his shoulder the size of Eiffel Tower and she really didn't even deal with him that much.

"So you should give Storm a call," Colossus interrupted trying to keep any conflict from arising.

"I would, but I don't want to be the one to tell her about Forge," Katherine said somberly.

"Kitty…Storm does watch T.V. She already knows about Forge. Wolverine let her know everything. She's taken it pretty well thus far, but I can tell she's hurting. Hearing from you might brighten up her day a bit. Seeing old friends is always uplifting," Kurt replied.

"We'll say cheers to that when we get our drinks," Colossus laughed.

Shard hating seeing her brother in such bad shape. After his battle with Black Tarantula he was both wounded and exhausted. Putting him in the hospital, despite his complaints, was the only option. Shard didn't worry too much though because this was her brother after all and he'd be up and about within a few weeks.

Taking a seat next to his bed she sighed, "Boy you just couldn't wait for Maverick and Lydia to back you up could you?"

"And miss the chance to tango with Tarantula. You know me better than that," Bishop weakly smiled. Smiling too much and too hard made his face hurt and he didn't want to do anything that slowed down his healing process.

"Why don't you trust them Bishop? All of X-Force has had plenty of combat experience and they know the game. I could see your reasoning behind Mystique, but the rest…don't you think you're being a tad hard?" Shard asked her previously playful tone becoming a stern one.

"I trust them Shard. I just have this feeling that something terrible is coming. It's a combat instinct I guess, but something is wrong around here. And to be completely truthful I don't trust myself. After suddenly getting my powers back I'm just not sure how to handle myself. They could be gone again any minute," Bishop replied. Ever since he lost his powers in the battle against Deus and regained them in the battle against Onset he felt like he was walking in some gray area. If he relied on his powers too much and lost them where would he be?

"Bishop you've got to stop doing this to yourself. You can't be the hero to everybody. You gotta live your own life and learn to start trusting others. Sometimes Bishop I don't even think you trust me," Shard sighed as she got up and walked out of the room.

The soldier wanted to say something to his sibling. Let her know he trusted her more than anything, but he couldn't find the words. They were echoes lost down the tunnel that was his throat. He could only curse himself for hurting his sister. Witness had sent him to hell and back and Bishop had done it all for his sister. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her and letting his insecurity hurt his sister made Bishop hate himself entirely for those few brief seconds she got up and walked out of the door.

"Okay I just got back so what did you blokes screw up?" Pete Wisdom asked as he puffed away on a cigar walking into Genesis' office.

"Beats me. I thought the Tarantula mission had went over fine," Siryn replied.

"Except for the fact that Bishop got the tar beat out of him," Marcus added.

Siryn grinned, "Again I repeat. The Tarantula mission went over fine."

Peter could probably guess at the reasons for tension between Siryn and Bishop, but he wasn't going to vocalize any of them. He had plenty of skill handling the wiles of women, but he had neither the energy nor the desire to deal with Theresa. The woman's bite was far worse than her bark and her bark could shatter glass easily.

"Seriously. Why were we called out here?" Marcus asked waiting for Genesis' face to appear on the screen.

<To bear witness to the newest agents of the XSE> Genesis proclaimed as he walked into the light with his android body. Behind him were 20 women who all looked exactly the same. They all had the standard SHIELD uniform, long blonde hair, pale skin, and hazel eyes.

"So we're going to fight off our enemies with big knockers?" Siryn joked.

<These are the Gene Droids first model. The next three models are already in production. Soon enough there will be 20,000 of these wonders of engineering in the XSE program. The Gene Droids will change everything>

Peter always had a nose for trouble and he could smell it coming a mile away. Wisdom had never really cared for Genesis as he saw him as a mockery of Forge. That dislike was rapidly turning into distrust. 20,000 pumped up androids under the command of SHIELD just didn't sound good no matter how you twisted it. It would take an idiot not to see that.

Siryn could feel an abyss forming in her stomach. Forge had warned her that Geneiss would try something. Theresa just hadn't expected the move to come so soon. She should have be seen it thought. The way Geneiss had been treating X-Force lately was plenty indicator of future ruthless intentions. Forge needed to make his move.

"20,000? Is that really necessary? Especially all at once," Marcus exclaimed. He was one of the three who knew the truth about Genesis. Mystique and Siryn were the others. Raven could only wonder if they had waited too long to make their move against Mjnari. Now hew as about to have an army of loyal androids under him along with all the other resources of SHIELD. Fighting against Genesis was going to be an uphill battle. Marcus' brow furrowed at the thought of the coming conflict.

<The integration of the Gene Droids will be a slow one. You need not worry Marcus. I know the limits of this organization. I will not overtax its resources if at all possible>

Looking at the androids Marcus felt the lies of Mjnari grow in strength.

"So is that all Genie?" Peter asked.

<No. I've just gotten word that a hospital in Philadelphia is under attack. We believe that one of the attackers is the missing Dallas Riordan>

Peter had to fight to keep his jaw from smacking the ground. He had wanted to reach out to Dallas for quite some time and try to make some amends for the horrific things he had done to her while under the control of Shadow King. She had been made to pay far too dearly for her involvement in the Shadow King's affairs.

"Do you want us to assemble X-Force and take care of this problem?" Marcus asked.

<This is going to be a joint XSE/X-Force mission. Wisdom, Shadowcat, Siryn, Kamal, Mastodon, Blind Faith, and Frost Pack will take care of this situation. Everyone else hang back. I want you to spread the word Raven. XSE's enforcement powers are about to go to the next level>

Marcus had to choke back a venomous threat that was simmering on his throat.

Philadelphia

"How much do you careless doctors charge people for a simple check-up these days? Would it kill you to do something purely out of kindness?" Fatal asked as she crouched to the ground and flung two shurikens into the ankles of two doctors trying to escape her wrath. Both middle-aged men fell to the ground hard clutching at their bleeding feet.

Fatal despised the greed of the world. Its seeming never-ending lust for power had cost her dearly in her past life. Before she was healed and molded into something better. Something that could combat the hate, lust, and greed of an unforgiving world. Attacking those doctors would be seen as malicious to some, but for Fatal it was justice to the highest degree. Those mongrels had swindled people time and time again only to line their pockets and buy themselves a new water jet.

In fact it was kindness that kept Fatal from slicing down both men with her katana. She had many more lethal and serious ways to injure someone if she so desired. Too many innocent eyes were looking upon her though and she had probably frightened them enough. There was no need to scar them for life in her pursuit of justice.

"Dallas luv you're under arrest," Peter said his fingers itching to unleash the heat blades he had become infamous for.

Fatal turned back and shocked those who knew her with her new look. Dallas wore a black ninja suit with three red slashes going across her chest. Red circles surrounded her white pupils. In those blank eyes none could find emotion, "Dallas Riordan died the day that Shadow King's X-Men ripped her to pieces. I've waited long for the chance to take my revenge."

"Do we have company Fatal dear?" Vortigen Walker asked walking on his elegant snake cane. Right behind him was another henchman of Abyss, the man known as Charon.

"Walker I don't know how you've manipulated her, but you're going to pay for it," Shadowcat exclaimed clenching her fists. She hated being pulled away from her dinner date, but orders were orders. Besides this had a personal tinge to it. The Hellfire Club had screwed up X-Force's missions many times over and Vortigen was a crucial part of that.

"You insult me once again! I need no one to manipulate. I'm plenty capable to taking responsibility for my own actions. Unlike the two of you! I've chosen to join Abyss and his soldiers. We are going to change this globe, but a few acts of vengeance wouldn't be unjustified."

"My beef isn't with you luv. It's with ol Walker," Pete said as he grabbed the hand of Kate Pryde and ran through Fatal. Turning solid Shadowcat leaped into the air and kicked Vortigen in the face. Peter followed the flying man and delivered two sharp blows to his stomach.

Fatal turned back and was about to assist her partner when a sonic voice slammed her into the nearest wall. Darts struck her clothing and pinned her to the wall before she had a chance to respond to the attack. Within a matter of moments her feet were in ice blocks and only served to immobilize her further. Needless to say Dallas Riordan was ticked at the fact she had been effectively made useless in seconds.

"SHIELD doesn't play around with their prey," Blind Faith explained putting his arms to his side. His smile was concealed underneath his gray jumpsuit.

"Better words were never spoken," Siryn added folding her arms across her chest and putting a little lean in her hips.

"C'mon now. Three on one. You really thought you could take us?" Frostpack laughed arrogantly. Even while he was on the high school football team he constantly and consistently talked trash on the field. Things in XSE would be no different.

"You underestimate my resources," Fatal laughed as her body seemed to fizzle like television static. The snow melted away and the darts that had her pinned to the wall crumpled away like burnt paper. Confidently crouching to the ground Dallas pulled out her katana and licked her lips, "Want to go for round two?"

"I thought you would have learnt your lesson the last time you tangoed with us?" Wisdom asked as he leaped into the air and planted his feet in Vortigen's chest. Peter simply passed through the magician and went crashing through a window.

Solidifying himself Vortigen turned his eyes back to Wisdom and they turned an amber color. The pieces of glass flew up and restructured itself back into the window that Peter had flown through. The glass turned red and began to glow brightly. The doorknob to the room melted away like candle wax sealing Peter Wisdom into the room completely. Despite Peter's banging on the window the glass would not crack. Vortigen grinned crookedly as he enjoyed the sight of seeing Wisdom squirm around like a worm.

Shadowcat came running towards him with both fists balled up. Within only a few feet of Vortigen, hundreds of neon green tendrils rose up from the ground and wrapped themselves around Pryde. Kitty was flung into the roof by the tendrils and insulation barreled down on her getting stuck in her hair and behind her ears. The feeling was hardly a comfortable one and despite her best efforts her phasing abilities were not working in her favor.

Holding out another hand the two XSE agents battling Charon were frozen in place. With a snap of his fingers the two bodies were lifted up into the air and went flying out the window careening towards another nearby skyscraper. Vortigen had no intentions of killing the two. His spell would preserve their life, but wound their pride.

"Thank you Vortigen. I didn't want those two brutes ruining my new suit," Charon groaned.

"Help Fatal. I need to talk to these two," Vortigen ordered. The ample sized man nodded and waddled his way to Dallas.

"You better really hope that Abyss is protecting your ass because once I get out of here…"

Holding up a hand Vortigen cut Shadowcat short," I'm here for charity work Pryde. I'm after medical supplies for children in Africa that have suffered from attacks caused by the Apocalypse Dawn. I'm sure you remember that organization."

"Don't even go that route with me Vortigen!"

Walker laughed, "That route? Please Pryde. Don't lie to me. You enjoyed every second of your time in Shadow King's service. A deep part of you and Wisdom enjoyed all of it. Honestly, what on Earth have you done to try and make amends for your part in King's dealings?"

Shadowcat had no answer to Vortigen's questions. She knew that he was telling the truth. Shadow King had mind controlled her, but he had also tapped into her dark side. He made her love it and never want to stop. She had nearly killed Iceman and Kitty found herself looking upon the fight fondly despite herself. Had all of her evil acts really just been the source of Shadow King?

"Release," Vortigen murmured. The tendrils holding Shadowcat disappeared and the red glow of the glass all disappeared. Peter came crashing through the window and held a gun at the former Hellfire Club of London member.

"I'll let you two make the choice. Let me leave with these supplies and make amends or take me in. Either way I'll leave the choice up to you," Vortigen said.

"Let him go!" Shadowcat exclaimed instinctively.

"Wha?" Peter asked dumbfounded as he lowered his gun.

"We owe him that much. But if you aren't on the level Vortigen I swear…"

"You don't have to worry about that Shadowcat. Being stuck in another person has a way of changing you," Vortigen sneered reminding the two of their devastating attack on the Hellfire Club of London.

Looking to the ongoing fight with Fatal and Charon the former Proudwalker held his right hand in the air. Sparkles of blue energy began to fly around his hand, "Time to go fellows."

Shadowcat sighed after Walker and the others left, "That did not go over well."

"No it didn't. X-Force you are under arrest for conspiring with Abyss," Whisper said sternly as he walked up to Wisdom and Shadowcat with Enigma and Velocity at his back.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Shadowcat asked not believing what was unfolding before her eyes.

"You just let agents of Abyss escape without any resistance. I've seen all I need to see. Now either come peacefully or we'll put a hurting to Siryn," Whisper warned as he pointed back to Theresa who was being held down by Blind Faith and Frost Pack.

"This isn't over yet," Wisdom replied as he dropped the gun.

The Helicarrier

Mystique looked around the corner and could only hear what was unfolding. Raven wanted nothing more than come out guns barreling and rescue her X-Force teammates. That wasn't going to stop Genesis though. She would have to find Forge somehow, but first she had to get off this hulking metal airship. Looking back the shapeshifter smiled as she thought of what was hidden in the mop closet.

Stepping around the corner Darkholme took on the form of the SHIELD agent, Dr. Brian Vesso. Looking at the XSE agents surrounding Marcus and Shard she asked, "What's going on here?"

"Dealing with some traitors," Bryson Bale said coldly as he kept his gun pointed at Shard's face. Marcus had a collar around his neck that probably inhibited his telepathy. Raven had to fight the urge to punch the snooty XSE agent in the throat. In her older days she had been much cooler than she was now. What was making her so emotional? Had she actually grown some attachment to these people?

"I'll be damned. If my brother wasn't hurt I swear you'd be chewing that gun!" Shard yelled.

"Keep up the good work fellows. I need to take a transport and deal with some of our injured ground agents," Mystique said.

"You're always dependable Dr. Vesso," Marvel Guy said his thoughts preoccupied with the possibility of interrogating these fools.

"Thank you," Mystique replied as her eyes came in contact with Marcus. For just a moment she turned them to her original hue and the realization on the telepath's face was enough to accomplish what she wanted. X-Force needed hope right now and Darkholme hoped that Forge could deliver it.

It was long before anyone realized that an unconscious Brian Vesso had been in the mop closet.

"You want me to take her down. Fine, but to what length can I go?" X-Cutioner asked.

<Kill her if you have to. I just don't want her making anymore trouble.>

"So be it. Give me a few hours. She'll be easy pickings," X-Cutioner replied as he walked out of the office.

"Thank you sir! Thank you so much!" the nurse exclaimed fighting to hold back tears at the sight of all the supplies that had been offered to her children's injury camp so freely.

"No, thank you. You've helped remind me why I do what I do," Vortigen smiled as he handed a box of gauze to the nurse as a gesture of all the supplies that he really had to offer to her.

"And what is that my gracious friend?"

"Now that's a secret," Vortigen said as he gently leaned over and kissed the nurse on the head.