August 28th, 2020, New Haven USA

New Haven was about an hour ride from Nomans isle, a ride which was quiet for the most part as the agents were tight lipped about what exactly they were planning on doing with the mutants.  Not that it would have helped if they were inclined to say anything – they did not know much other than they were supposed to pick the mutants up for an interrogation by a special liaison from the president’s office.

After landing at the agency (it turned out to be the ‘Department of Homeland Security’), the mutants were ushered into the ‘meeting room’, which was, unsurprisingly, in fact a holding cell.  Designed to contain high security threats, it was quite literally a bank’s vault. Even Tank couldn’t say for sure if he could punch his way out of it, if he wanted to.

The mutants were allowed to stew inside the empty room for a few hours, constantly monitored by the security cameras hanging over the walls.  It’s not that the agents were keen on letting the mutants wait.  In fact, they were quite worried that something very bad might happen once the mutants decided they had enough.  Only it took time for the VIP to fly all the way over from Washington, so the mutants were made to wait.  And wait. And wait.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:09, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

Finally, around evening time, the door to the vault swung open and in stepped an attractive young woman.  The blonde was dressed in a casual red business suit consisting of a blazer, short skirt, and a white blouse showing a generous amount of cleavage.  It wasn’t quite the attire for a meeting such as this, but she did arrive directly from the white house where she always dressed to impress.

Waving the security guards outside the room off (not like they could do anything to stop the mutants anyways), she briskly walked inside and started with an apology before introducing herself:

“My apologies for having taken so long, and for the inconvenience.  My name is Valery Cooper, a national security advisor working directly under the President”
This message was last edited by the player at 19:10, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

Zoey paced.

This was one of her habits. She couldn't stand still. Sitting was fine... when she had something to do. Here, she didn't. This place looked to be a converted bank vault, or at least based on a bank vault. It was a tidy solution to temporary superpower containment, but for one little problem; bank vaults were not exactly known for their ventilation. It was getting warm in here, and if there was one thi- er, two thing- three, definitely three things- that she couldn't stand it was heat, small spaces, and waiting.

Zoey also worried. About what would happen to them, yes, but also about Kate and Serena. She figured they could take care of themselves, probably better than the rest of them. She worried nonetheless.

After what seemed like an eternity but which only was forty-five minutes, Zoey decided she had enough. She could tell her pacing was making the others anxious. So she did what any rational person would do; she picked out the least uncomfortable spot in their cell, laid down, declared "Wake me when shit starts happening," and took a nap using her signature red hoodie rolled up into a pillow. This revealed, in case there was any doubt, that she definitely was wearing the X-Men not-spandex suit underneath her civilian clothes.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Thu 08 Apr 2021.

Tank looked around. Zoey was napping when Ms. Cooper came in and introduced herself, but the others were simply keeping silent, probably waiting for each other to say something first. Even Beast didn't seem to want to speak up.

"I'm Tank," Tank finally said. "This is Windtalker, Heartbreak, Beast and... um..." he looked at Barnell, who hadn't officially taken a codename. "To Be Determined. What do you want from us, Ms. Cooper?"

McCoy was still carrying a telepathic conversation with Professor X when Valery arrived.  He has been in contact with Xavier all throughout the mission, and later too, going through their options and whether (or more precisely, when), should the X-Men intervene and break them out of their prison cell.  The decision was to wait and see what the government had in store for the mutants before deciding to act.  And now the time has come to hear just that.   Clearing his throat, McCoy stepped closer to Frank and tilted his head when his name was called out.

Valerie surveyed the room.  She specifically asked for chairs to be brought in before the meeting, but it looked like the agency didn’t want to risk the mutants escaping once they had them locked up.  Suppressing her annoyance, she started with her prepared speech:

“What I am about to tell you is a matter of national security.  There has been an…incident, last month.  An entire team taken out, in the field, by a Russian superspy.  A mutant.  It confirmed our suspicions that the Russian have formed a cadre of mutants, working for president Putin, carrying out covert operations at home and abroad.  China, and Iran, aren’t far behind”

She pauses to look at them, and Frank in particular, as he seemed like he was their leader

“If America doesn’t act, and fast, we will find ourselves at the mercy of foreign powers”
This message was last edited by the player at 17:51, Fri 09 Apr 2021.

Zoey is roused when she hears Beast clearing his throat. She knew the big blue guy wasn't likely to speak until something important happened, so that was the signal her subconscious was waiting for. She sat herself upright, yawned and stretched.

Her brain was still getting its ducks in a row and its poop in a group as she tuned into Missus Tits' speech. She wondered what possible reason a woman could have to bear so much cleavage to a meeting with a cabal of wicked mutie freaks but for the moment she was simply grateful to awaken to such a pleasant and sharply-dressed sight.

Having a bunch of soft flesh on display didn't stop her words from hitting Zoey hard.

"Yer friggin' shittin' me," Zoey mutters as she rubs at her eyes. "I do not have enough Mountain Dew in me right now to process all the ways in which that is the death knell for what little sanity this little rock of misery we call a planet has left."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:06, Sat 10 Apr 2021.

“It was only a matter of time, really” Valery could sympathize with Heratbreaker’s sentiment, but it was still the reality they were living in.

“The President authorized the creation of a new agency under the department of Homeland Security last week.  ‘Freedom Force’ will protect American lives from superpowered enemies, foreign and domestic.  They will be heroes.  Our heroes.  It’s what America needs rights now, before we tear each other apart.”

“And you’re here to enlist us” McCoy cut her off, guessing (as did most everyone) what she was getting at

“But I’m sorry to disappoint you Ms. Cooper; I can be no part of it” he shook his head “It is almost certain you’re going to ask me to do things that would compromise my principles, sooner or later.  I have no desire to be a weapon in the hands of the government, to be used as they see fit, nor is it the X-Men interest to unite only ‘American mutants’ and ‘American humans’.  Our agenda is bigger, and nobler, than that”

“No, you prefer to remain a vigilante”

‘Beast’, she thought, was riding a very high horse. He might not be convinced by what she had to say, but perhaps the others will:

“I know all about the X-Men.  No matter how 'noble' you believe your cause to be, you are still an outlaw; proponent of “might makes right”.  You will never be a part of humanity as long as you set yourself apart.  Only by placing yourself under the authority of the American people can you assuage their fears”

"The American people," Zoey spat, "would just love what you're suggesting. Get the mutie freaks into a circus to dance and pull heavy loads for their benefit and amusement. And that's to say nothing of your masters, the one percent of the one percent who set policy and push whatever laws benefit them all so they can tuck away a couple more billion dollars, not even to spend but to sequester away like dragons upon their hoards, ensuring that no one will ever see that money again. Sorry lady, I sympathize with your plight, but as far as I'm concerned the Federal government can go suck a whole bouquet of cocks."

"As for might making right... I've no particular love for the X-Men either, I'm here mostly because it seemed the least I could do to pay back for helping me learn to control my powers. I can say, however, that given the choice between two extremes I'd sooner take orders from a philanthropic old fool than a cynical corpo-political pawn. And can I just say it feels fuckin' great to finally be able to tell that to someone."

Zoey pauses to collect her breath and look around at the doubtlessly shocked expressions around her. "I don't presume to speak for anyone but myself, of course."

On the way to the room guards handling Ana Sofía seemed agitated, and that didn't go so well for her, resulting in her getting shoved and manhandled far more than needed since she wasn't resisting. Once in the room Ana Sofía had tried to control herself with yoga, staying fairly quiet.

Even as Valerie Cooper makes her pitch, Ana Sofía remains in the lotus position with her eyes closed, absorbing and thinking. She remains so as the others reply. After several of those comments, with her eyes still closed she quietly asks, "Is that why the government was running experiments on the mutant prisoners? To develop them into its little mutant army?"

Tank had a few questions of his own, but held his tongue. The others had hit Ms. Cooper with enough to respond to already.

Judging by the way they responded, it sounded as though there was a unanimous 'No' vote coming. Which was almost a pity, because being a sanctioned U.S. super-hero almost sounded like fun. But the government in question was the same one that had run the mutant prison, so it hardly seemed likely that 'fun' was on the agenda in any way.

Refraining from comment, Tank just crossed his arms and did his best to look imposing.

Zoey glances at Ana. "We're past the MK Ultra days. It's more likely they're trying to find whatever X-factor makes mutants so they can turn already-loyal soldiers who've never known the taste of being discriminated against for what they are into the weapons. It's more efficient that way. Either that or they're looking for a 'cure,' preferably something they can load into a gun and shoot at the Bad Guys. Heck, maybe both."

"The American people will gain a newfound appreciation for mutants when they will save our nation from international terrorists capable of leveling cities with their minds. This is what we're dealing with here"

Yea, it didn't look like she was going to convince any of them.  But she did leave in a hurry, bailed out on her dinner date, and flew all the way over from Washington.  She might as well give it another try before she calls it quits and heads back home:

"Our government isn't perfect.  Yes; some things were done which are downright disgraceful.  But I still believe in this nation, and I am not going to sit and watch it burn to ashes, literally, because I don't agree with each and every one of the policies they implement"

She looked at the silent Frank, of all people

"Remember Manhattan? If the government doesn't do SOMETHING to make sure it doesn't happen again, there's going to be blood on the streets.  And if we lose the election, I can guarantee that the next administration will make this one look like girl scouts.  Freedom Force; that's the best idea I could come up with.  You got a better one?"

Manhattan. Of course she'd use Manhattan against him, of all people. Wearing a mask when you were six-foot-eight did very little to hide one's identity.

"Thing is, Ms. Cooper, I think I've seen this movie," he said. "The word 'Suicide' was right there in the title. If we were to agree with your scenario, are we free to come and go? Are we employees? Or are we kept locked up and let loose when it suits the administration... like slaves?

"More importantly, what happens if we say 'No'?"

“You will be Federal Agents with the full authority to enforce the law and investigate crimes. There’s no intention of locking you up, but you will need to agree to wear a GPS tracker, and make some public appearances"" she stopped to correct herself  "Umm, rather frequent public appearances.  On the upside, this job comes with a very generous compensation package”

She decided not to elaborate on how generous, less they think she was trying to buy them out

”As to what happens if you say ‘No’, I’m afraid that’s not up to me.  You did violate several US laws today.  Whether they decide to prosecute you or not is still to be determined.  I know that there used to be some sort of a hush-hush, under-the-covers agreement with the X-Men, but I’m not sure if it’ll still be in effect after all that happened”
This message was last edited by the player at 20:06, Mon 12 Apr 2021.

Ana Sofía remains in her lotus pose with her eyes closed. She does look much more relaxed than when they were dragged in here, literally in her case. "The premise sounds reasonable. Public appearances make sense from the PR end. Why the GPS trackers, though? In many cases they won't work at all. In some cases it could interfere. And it's not like you put GPS trackers on all your other federal forces." She opens her eyes to watch Valerie Cooper as she replies.

Zoey sighs loudly. In all the excitement today, she had forgotten that the political situation was precarious and liable to get a hell of a lot worse. As tragic as it was, it was preferable for the current administration to stay entrenched... but that really was just postponing the inevitable wasn't it? One's favorite party gets their two terms in office (ideally), pisses off the opposing base, the other side gets voted into power and undoes everything the last one did. 'Round and 'round it goes, and with each revolution everyone gets a little more polarized, a little more fanatical.

If she's being real with herself, she's surprised that some asshole hadn't tried to mutant his way into the White House yet.

For once in this discussion Zoey decides to bite back her next unfiltered remark, instead listening to her peers. For what little it might be worth to Valerie, she did seem to at least be listening.

Tank had some thoughts on the subject, but he wasn't sure he had any opinions yet. And they still weren't sure what would happen if they declined, so there was a bit of a strongarm tactic at play here. He didn't like that, obviously. But the overall idea of being a government-sanctioned superhero? He wasn't sure where he came down on that idea.

He turned to Dr. McCoy, who had been uncharacteristically silent throughout. He'd been a more public hero than most of the X-folks, by virtue of his unmistakable, impossible-to-conceal blue fur. What might he think of this?

"Doc?"

In reply to Ana Sofia Garcia Mendez (msg # 18):

“We *do* track our other agents, the ones dealing with matters of national security in particular. What’s more; the government is going to be held liable for anything you do.  Imagine the outrage that might ensue if something goes wrong, and it comes out in the senate hearing that we couldn’t even tell where our ‘weapons of mass destruction’ were at all times”

Valerie eyes moved from Tank, to the Beast.  Has anything she said changed his mind?

McCoy nodded at Frank in response.  He has already made his opinion known earlier, and despite doing so before Valerie had made her arguments, he has already thought things through:

“Ms. Cooper, I admit you’ve made some compelling arguments, yet my answer must remain the same.  It all comes down to the question of trust; I do not know you, nor your superiors.  If we are , indeed, weapons of mass destruction, then I’d rather the launch codes be in the possession of the only man I know who would be responsible with their use; Professor Charles Xavier.”
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Tue 13 Apr 2021.

Zoey adjusts her position and begins casually playing with the braid Serena gave her. Maybe she's channeling her a bit, but the idea of being a mutant magical girl swaying minds with P.R. stunts has a certain appeal. There's a lot of hurting people out there who need an advocate, someone to look after them. That could be her, maybe?

The government... the entire entity she recognizes as the United States... it's so twisted about and steeped in old traditions that trying to untangle the mess with PR stunts and a firm hand in policy-making was inconceivable. It'd be faster and more effective to let it burn to ash, and build a better country from its bones. It has strong bones.

She really, really wants to take Valerie up on the offer. She'd sat on the sidelines for so long waiting for the opportunity to get involved. Now it's here and she's finding nothing but bitterness in the taste.

Zoey closes her eyes, squeezing out a single drop of something warm and salty. She shakes her head vigorously, agitating an already-growing headache. "I'm trying really hard to think of a justification for saying yes... but I just can't." She opens her eyes and peers sadly up at Valerie. "I'm sorry. I just don't believe in this country."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Tue 13 Apr 2021.

"I don't know, Beast. The professor did a lot for me. But last time he sent out some of these so-called 'weapons of mass destruction,' I don't think their use was very responsible. If that's how he uses them, I have doubts. Sometimes being answerable to someone is worthwhile. Meanwhile, my brother's in harms way, like my our great-grandfather was when he fought for the US in WWII, when the US did a lot of good."

"I do believe in this country," Tank said, countering what Zoey had said. "I believe it needs to be better, but that it has the ability to be better. And that it just needs the right push. Maybe this can be part of that.

"I'll admit, I'm tempted to say Yes."

He turned back to McCoy, who'd of course been saying No. He was one of Xavier's earliest students, and had maybe been drinking too much of the campus Kool-Aid. He'd wanted to leave hundreds of mutants incarcerated unfairly because they might have been dangerous to release. To Tank's ears, that didn't sound like what the X-Men should stand for. But he was one of the originals, so it appeared that that was what the X-Men stood for. Tank didn't like it one bit, but he still hadn't come up with a better solution, so he wasn't holding it against the blue guy.

"I won't negotiate with a gun to my head, though. Or anyone else's. I'll join, but you have to let the others go."

"Nonetheless" Beast's answer to Ana was uncharacteristically short.  He didn't want to open the discussion on what the Professor should, or should not have done under the circumstance in front of Valerie.

“I have no intentions of forcing you to join, either”  she agreed with Frank

"I will make some calls, but I already know Homeland Security will not release you until they find out exactly what happened on the Island, and how you were involved.  It shouldn’t take more then a day or two until they conclude their investigation.    In the meantime, I’ll pull some strings and have you transferred somewhere a bit more agreeable. Would that be alright?"

"I suppose they couldn't just ask us," Zoey mutters. This is just empty complaining; were she in their position she'd insist on investigating too.

In a more normal voice; "Thanks. Most places would be better than here."

She wants to have a talk with Tank when away from the breasts.

Not to anyone in particular Ana Sofía replies, "Being Native American and Mexican American, my family knows better than many just how poorly the US government can behave. And we are aware of such activity right now. I'm also from a military family that for the most part trusts in our government; and I do believe in our country strongly. While things need to change, they are best changed from within; and the government providing a platform may help the public come around. Meanwhile, recent events have made it very clear to me a more distinct chain of command and being answerable to an authority are necessary. So I'll join. I expect Professor Xavier will understand our decision. I hope the school and children will still welcome us back, as I'll miss them."

Ana Sofía closes her eyes again. Without opening them she adds as a nearly forgotten afterthought, "Yes, something a little more comfortable would be appreciated."

Valery nodded appreciatively at Ana:

“Thank you, Windtalker.  I know it is not an easy decision to make, and that there is much we need to do before we could earn your trust.  Let me go make that call now, and arrange for something for you to eat. We could talk some more later” 

And with that she left, the clicks from her high heels echoing from the corridor beyond their cell

Ana Sofía thinks to the others in the room with her, 'I wouldn't speak too freely. The room is surely bugged.'

With Valerie leaving them to their own devices, Zoey decides to scoot her way closer to Barnell and check on the state of his injuries. She's good, great even, but it's a rare occasion that she needs to so thoroughly fix someone up. It's not a skill she gets to practice as much as she'd like... not that she likes seeing people she likes get hurt, but- dammit Zoey you're talking circles around yourself again. In any event, she understands why Brave Bird didn't feel much up to talking about any of this. Let him have his rest for now.

Her initial response to Ana's warning is an eye-roll. 'Frankly I'd be insulted if the room isn't bugged!'

"If you do sign on with Missus Tits," Zoey says softly to no one in particular, "then I hope it works out for you. I mean that."

"Well, today has been a serious shitshow," Tank said. It was unlike him to so openly swear, but it was really the only expression he could think of that fit the bill. "If Ms. Cooper's offer turns out to be more of the same, I'm really not sure what I'll do next... but it'll involve a lot of property damage."

Barnel closed his eyes.  It has been a rough day.  Mauled by Sabretooth, watching all these mutants die, getting captured, and now the final nail in the coffin; the dissolution of their team.  The horrible thing about it all was that he was powerless to stop any of these things from happening.   Being brave counted for nothing when you did not have the power to back it up.

He didn’t feel much like a hero.  All he wanted now was to curl up beneath the covers in his soft bed, back in the mansion, and pretend this was all just a bad dream, but even that would have to wait until they finally let them go.  If they’ll ever.

"I hear you, Tank. While I still appreciate the school, today really ruined my view of the X-Men. I have no idea at all where I'm headed if Ms. Cooper's offer is no better. But it does seem like it has the potential to deal with many problems better than how the other groups approach things."

"I know what you mean," Tank said. He wondered if Ms. Cooper knew what his real name was. Probably. He didn't think the mask was really fooling anyone, given his size. Not a lot of six-foot-eight teens out there to begin with. "A few days ago, all I wanted was to be an X-Man. Now the moral ambiguity of it all is crushing me."

Zoey sighs. She starts curling back up into her Nap Ball Mode, fluffing up her hoodie-pillow as she does. "I think the old coot did the best he could against the threat with the resources he had available. He took a gamble on us. Sometimes gambles don't work out. I would not be so quick to judge. Especially since everyone else ever is doing precisely the same thing; the best they can, with what they have and what they know."

She snuggles her cheek into her hoodie, halfway burrowing her head into the fleece. She peers up at the Windtalker with her one unconcealed eye. Even with most her face concealed it is clear she is debating something internally... but whatever it is she was thinking about she keeps to herself.

I hope the others are okay... she sleepily thinks to herself as her eye closes and she begins the long and uneasy journey towards the fabled Nap.

Ana Sofía still has her eyes closed, sitting in lotus position.

She replies to Frank, "When we were there, I couldn't figure out which group was more in the right or wrong between all three. But I do feel like oversight is needed. I've got to try doing it the government way. Besides, so long as mutants are vigilantes, the public view will be a problem. But public heroic faces might help move things the other direction. It's well worth trying."

She also replies to Zoey, "He was in communication with Beast the whole time. He knew children were being sent into harm's way. He could have stopped it. He made an intentional choice not to, and one of them almost didn't make it back. I was already ready to pick a fight with Cyclops over the control codes. Then I heard what Beast said. If I go back right now, I'll probably end up in some big fights with all the faculty. I don't blame him for every one of our decisions, but if his best is child soldiers, he and I will never see eye to eye."

"Didn't Beast try to leave us behind?" Zoey points out. "He was so committed to not getting the kids involved that he was willing to leave us behind and go alone with Tank. And now look which of us are in the worst situation."

Zoey opens her eye and shifts her attention to Beast. "Sorry I told you to shut the fuck up, Big Blue." Not quite an admission of wrongdoing.

"Yes, Beast did. And if he were in charge, maybe I wouldn't be making the same decision. But others gave out real jet codes to kids. And the professor chose to let them go to join the fight."

McCoy shakes his head

”Professor Xavier is strong enough to compel obedience from any of us, at any time, controlling us like puppets on a string.  Stopping the children.  Turning the Brotherhood away from the Island.   Eliminating crime.  Ending wars.  But if he does any of these things, he sets himself to be a tyrant, albeit a benevolent one.  And once he finally succumbs to old age, humanity would quickly pick up where they’ve left off, having learned nothing”

Zoey sits up a little, propped up on her arms. "Is he really that powerful? That's... spooky, even for me. I can't even imagine how heavy the burden of that kind of power must be."

Her mind races with what the two of them could do together if they weren't so restrained. Aging isn't that hard to reverse with her powers. With any possible opposition suppressed they'd have all the time in the universe to make people better. To see a humanity she could actually be proud to be a part of spreading across the stars, to live to see all the beauty and wonder it held... the thought was almost enough to make her feel something resembling hope for the future.

It'd never happen. There is no way Xavier doesn't know her ambition or what she is theoretically capable of; it was hardly a secret. If he thought it had any merit he'd have approached her about it years ago.

The momentary spark of excitement that rose in her now defeated, Zoey flops back to the floor with her usual frustration and apathy. "I wonder if he's happy with his choice," she sighs, tracing abstract designs on the floor with her fingertip. "Or if he feels as frustrated and helpless as me."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:20, Tue 20 Apr 2021.

"Stopping a child from entering a life-threatening situation isn't normally called tyranny. It's normally called being a responsible parent or guardian. He didn't even have to do much, just delay them or hide the activation codes for a little bit; it's not like he had to rewrite anyone's mind nor enslave anyone. Would you consider a parent grounding a child to be unlawful imprisonment? Yanking a child to get him out of the street moments before he gets run over is felony assault, right? I'm not holding him responsible for decisions any of us made at the island. But he sure as hell didn't try to fix the problem someone created with the simulator and protect the children."

Beast nodded:

“Yes, you could make that analogy.  But if one believes, as he does, that a person’s mind is sacrosanct, and implementing thoughts, or overriding them, is akin to a violation, then it becomes a different sort of dilemma.  And if Xavier was to stop Barnell and Kate, why not save millions of other teenagers risking themselves needlessly on a daily basis? It is a slippery slope indeed.  Therefore; I do not presume to tell Xavier where he should draw the line, nor will I ever condemn him for putting a limit on his power”   

Beast’s shoulders sagged ever so slightly.  Despite making the argument for Xavier, he didn’t entirely disagree with Ana either.  The entire exchange was sapping his strength, and he could only begin to imagine how bad it would be once they returned to the mansion and reported their mission resulted in the deaths of all the inmates.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Tue 20 Apr 2021.

"What I don't appreciate is how the Professor allows himself the luxury of absolutism, but forces the rest of us to work in the moral gray areas he avoids." Tank found himself a seat and flopped down into it. It creaked under his weight. "He can say 'I'll never use my powers to blah blah blah, and you accept that... but then we have to use our powers to pick up his slack.

"He wouldn't dream of using his powers to override the Brotherhood's free will. So Windtalker had to do it. He would never stop Sabretooth from going on a rampage, so at least one of us nearly died trying. It's hypocritical, and it's just wrong. He needs to get his hands dirty sometimes, too."

"So what you're saying is you dislike people who have the power to fix things and don't and leave it up to its charges to do it for them," Zoey says, exaggeratedly hmm-hmming. "Interesting. Key point of distinction I think matters; no one gave Xavier that power or responsibility... well, I guess the magic space pixies did, but they've never deigned to make their wishes known. If he wants to be the wise old mentor preaching enlightenment from his mountain I don't think I have it in me to blame him for that."

"In any event, I think it's unfair to judge someone who isn't here. And this has been more words than I normally speak in a week. My brain hurts, so I'm just going to lay here and silently criticize everyone in my head okay? Great. Ni ni."

She closes her eyes again, and this time makes the resolution not to open them until she has either had her nap or the time comes to be relocated.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:16, Wed 21 Apr 2021.

McCoy finally set down as well and decided to remain silent, letting Frank's objections about the Professor remain unchallenged.

And speaking of the devil, the Professor’s voice echoed inside their minds just as the room grew silent:

“Kate and Serena have just arrived back to the Mansion, safe and sound.  The X-Men captured Sabretooth at Martha’s Vineyard, and are bringing him in as we speak.  In the meantime, I am trying to secure your release.  Will keep you updated on any further developments”

Zoey perks up a little, mentally if not physically. Really? Finally something today is going right.