"What is your name?"

"I have none."

"Who is your father?"

"Morton Thomas."

"What is your crime?"

"The death of Roy Todd."

"What punishment do you deserve?"

"Death. I deserve death."

Bastion smiled in triumph. He had not realized how powerful this particular mutant was upon her arrival two weeks earlier. She had ten of his men unconcious before he even had time to retaliate. After further study he came to the conclusion that she is an energy drainer of a sort. But he also knew that that describtion was also not quite accurate. For this young mutant was much more powerful than even he could begin to describe. All she had to do was touch something and she drained its very life from it. And in the process she somehow gains abilities that do not belong to either her or the object of her energy drain. He had yet to determine whether or not the abilities were permanent or temporary. All he knew for certain was that this mutant must die.

"Listen boyo we have been over this a thousand times. Aphelia is fine. She is ok. She said that the last time she called."

"Sean the last time Aphelia called she said that she had made up with her father and wanted to spend some time with him before she returned to Generation X!"

"Bobby what is ye're point?"

"Sean her father hates mutants! Aphelia admitted to me before that she is scared to death of him. Why in the world would she want to go and stay with him for awhile? And on top of that why in the hell did she sound so dead the last time we talked?"

"Boyo the girl said that she was just tired that is all."

"Why won't she tell us what happened with the feds? What do you think of that?" Bobby was getting himself all worked up.

"Listen Bobby if ye are really that concerned why don't we pay a visit to her home? Would that satisfy you?"

Bobby did not even finish agreeing before he set off to get his things ready.

Paige Guthrie was worried. About several things. She had two tests tomorrow. The science one she had barely even studied for. She spoke to her mother yesterday and found out that her brother Josh had been getting into fights at school. But worst of all she was worried about Aphelia. Aphelia had been gone now for two weeks. Before that she had been a newly appointed member to Generation X. While the girl had only been with the school for a short time Paige felt that they had developed a bond. Paige knew better than anyone else how Aphelia felt about Bobby. She also knew how scared Aphelia was about her life. Not for her life, but about it. Deep in her gut Paige knew that there was not a chance in hell that Aphelia had went back to live with her father. No something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

Bastion stared at the girl before him. He knew she was powerful. Strong enought to kill him and every body within this complex. He had no fear of her though. For he had two advantages. One, she was scared of him. And two, she had no idea what she was capable of.

"Well well mutant J2275 how are you feeling today?"

She said nothing. He smiled. Good. No emotions.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Yes."

"Who am I?"

"Humanties' last hope."

"Good. Who are you?"

"The enemy. I am evil. I am the enemy. I am evil. I am the enemy."

The words were said in a monotonous voice that could not even be aware of what it was saying. He did not care though. He had been successful once again.

"Very good. You will recieve what you want shortly. Do not worry. You do know what you want don't you?"

"Yes I want to die. I want to die to save humanity."

"Doesn't this thing go any faster?"

"Bobby there is no need what so ever for you to start complaining. We will be there in about a half and hour." Everett gave him a sympathetic look after saying those words.

"Okay I am sorry. I am just worried that is all. I will be more at ease when I see her again."

"Where is Morton Thomas?" Bastion's voice did not hide his anger.

"I don't know sir. Is he suppose to be here?"

"Of course he is supposed to be here! This is his abomination remember?!"

The man speaking with Bastion suddenly began to fear for his life. No one said things so carelessly to such a powerful and ruthless man. He chose his next words more carefully.

"I am sorry sir. Maybe he is at his home. Prehaps I could have someone go and retrieve him for his appointment with you."

Bastion glared at the man. "Yes. Make it so. I want him here in a half of an hour."

Sean, Bobby, Everett, and Paige pulled up to Aphelia's house much sooner than they had anticipated. Bobby was half out of the car before Sean even began to stop.

"Bobby wait up a minute son! I think that we should go together."

Bobby turned around to face Sean and was about to say something when suddenly a voice from behind him interrupted him.

"Hello. Who are you? May I help you?"

Bobby and the others recovered from the surprise and prepared to introduce themselves. Bobby got to it first. Although he did not introduce himself.

"Are you Morton Thomas?"

"Yes. Who ar..."

Bobby did not even let him finish speaking. "Where is she?"

"She?" He seemed obviously confused.

"Aphelia damnit! Where is she you bastard?"

Sean spoke up quickly before the man could have time to be insulted. "I am sorry sir for my student's outlandish b'havior. I just assure ye that he and the rest of us would like to visit with your daughter for a wee bit."

The man who was Morton Thomas looked at both Sean and Bobby before speaking again. "She is not here. The Friends of Humanity have her."

"Wha!!!" Bobby's face turned to a snarl, and the air around him became noticably colder.

Sean now very much worried still tried to remain diplomatic. "Did you give her to them?"

At those words Morton Thomas lost his resolve. He fell to his knees with tears running down his face. The change was so dramatic that everyone was caught off guard.

Paige stepped forward to speak to the man. "Sir it seems to me that you are a bit upset for your daughter. If you could help us find her we would really appreciate it."

"I gave her to them. Oh god I am such a fool. I hated my daughter when I found out she was a mutant. I thought she had betrayed me. But it is I who has betrayed her! I told them where they could find her." He paused before he added, "Today is the day. Oh god! My little girl...I am so sorry. How can you ever forgive me?"

Sean spoke up interrupting the man in his grief. "Today is the day for what Mr. Thomas?"

Morton looked up. Suddenly he felt a small ray of hope. Maybe this was it. These people could help him save his daughter and maybe even his soul. "You see they thought to torture me. I am to do the deed. But I was one step ahead of them." Morton pulled a gun out of his suit pocket. "I was going to end my life before they made me kill her."

Bobby let out a choke scream. "Kill her!?!" He could not even finish his thoughts though before a large car pulled up and two men got out of it. The were wearing business suits, but did not appear to be the "business types". Neither of them payed any attention to Bobby or the others. They walked straight towards Morton and started talking.

"Morton Thomas we have come to collect you for your appointment."

"The hell you have!" Bobby screamed as he rushed them. Both men turned to the threat and already had their guns in hand. It did not matter though. Sean was way ahead of them and let out an ear piercing sonic scream in their direction. Both men fell to the ground unconscious.

"What is ye're problem Bobby?!" Sean yelled. "Those men coulda killed ye! Stop being a fool and pull ye'reself together man!" Sean turned to Morton. "Where is she?"

"Where are they? They should have been here by now!"

Bastion was not pleased. No he was not happy at all. Not only that, but he now determined that all men in this world were born fools. At least the ones that worked for him.

"So where are they?"

"Sean are you sure this plan will work? Do you think it was a good idea to tell Paige and Everett to stay at the house?"

"No and yes."

"Wha...oh geez. Well here goes. Morton come and stand in front of us. Make it look more convincing."

Sean shook his head in wonder while he tried to adjust his suit. His was a bit tight. Bobby's appeared too loose though. "We should have exchanged suits. Mine is tight."

"Sean I think we are here. Morton hurry."

Bastion heard a knock on the door. Suddenly his spirits lifted considerably. He looked over to mutant J2275 to make sure she was still stationary and then yelled for the door to be opened. He smiled at the sight of what walked through the door. There he was. Morton Thomas. Bastion knew he would finally be able to punish this man for bringing an abomination into the world. Two of his agents followed behind the man.

Bastion smiled his welcome. "So glad to see you again Mr. Thomas. I was afraid you would not be able to join us today. As you can see your daughter decided to attend." He waved to the girl with a gesture of his hand.

For the first time since meeting this evil man Morton Thomas still had his courage. "I hope you rot in hell you son of a bit...!"

He was cut off then by a earsplitting scream that sounded like nothing he had ever heard before. Pain erupted in his head and suddenly Morton Thomas gave away to the sweet blackness that absorbed him.

Bobby had already changed into Iceman and proceeded to freeze the guns to the hands of four of Bastion's henchmen. Like out of some bad movie they all took off running. He did not allow himself to look at Aphelia. He knew then that he would lose control if he did. Bobby heard several gunshots and turned in time to see Bastion shoot Sean in one of his arms and run out the door. Bobby quickly ran towards the door, but stopped when he saw the sight before him. On his back lay Morton Thomas, former mutant hater, with three bullet wounds in his chest.

"Let me see my daughter."

"Morton..."

"Please I beg you...just one more time."

Bobby picked the man and did his best to carry him over to where he saw Aphelia strapped down. He set the man down and proceeded to free Aphelia from her bonds. Bobby did not let himself think about her condition, only the task at hand. Once he finished he took her unconscious form into his arms and lay her down next to her dying father.

Morton Thomas felt such an overwhelming sense of guilt and regret that he had completely forgotten about his injuries. He now saw his daughter lying before him with such a blank expression that he wanted nothing else than to give up his own soul for her sake. He began to speak to her knowing that she would never know what he said.

"Dear god Aphelia you must know that I love you so. I never intended this to happen...you must know that I only wanted the best for you... please believe that." Morton looked up at Bobby before he finished. "I can tell you love my daughter. I hope she is happy with you. You must leave now."

"We will take you with us."

"NO!" The denial forced Morton to lie down in his pain. He began to speak again in a whisper. "No you must leave. I am dying. Please get your friend and go. Bastion will not stay away for long."

Bobby looked at the man sadly and then got up with Aphelia in his arms. Sean stood at the doorway clutching his left arm which was covered in blood.

"Come on Bobby. There can be time fer grief later boy! We have to leave!" With that Sean turned and began racing down the corridor. With one last look behind him Bobby followed him.

"How is she Emma?"

"No response Sean. I do not know what they did to her, but whatever it was...it was complete. How is your arm?"

Sean scoffed. "Nay tis not even an injury worth noticin'."

Emma smiled at him. Sean always put others before himself. He had barely even had the injury cleaned and bandaged before he was issuing orders for Aphelia's care again. Emma admired that quality in him, and tried to imitate it herself.

"Sean I am worried." She hadn't meant to say that.

"Why is that?"

"Sean I cannot even detect a single thought from her mind. It is like she is not even dreaming!" Emma sighed in frustration.

"Do not worry ye'reself Emma. You are doing all that you can."

"But Bobby..."

"What about him?"

"He does not need this tragedy in his life. He has come so far in such a short time. He loves her."

"Do ye think I don't know that woman! Ye can see it every time ye look at the boy's face." Sean put his right hand on her shoulder. "Emma the girl will pull out of it. I promise you."

"Sean how can you promise such a thing? There is very little chance that she will wake up at all!"

Sean had never seen the White Queen get so upset about anything. He did not know the cause of her loss of control now, but he understood it. Sean wrapped his one good arm around the woman he proceeded to tell her the one reason he knew Aphelia would wake up.

"I know Emma that the girl will wake because of one reason. I know for a fact that she loves Bobby too."

Three weeks later, and a happy ending

Bobby sat at the edge of Aphelia's bed. He knew that he looked horrible. He could not remember when the last time was that he had shaved. His hair was sloppy, and he had been wearing the same clothes for three days. He barely noticed. He did notice though that the one woman he cared about most in the world lay before him unconscious with little or no hope of recovery. He knew that. Bobby was tired. He wanted to sleep so bad that the feeling more than overwhelmed him. He put his head on Aphelia's bed and welcomed his nightmares.

Aphelia Thomas woke up with one hell of a headache. Her eyes hurt really bad and she thought if her throat became any more parched she could sell herself off as sandpaper. She was not very certain as to where was, but she saw Bobby's head lying at the side of her bed. That was a comfort. She knew that something was wrong, but could not grasp it. Suddenly Ms. Frost walked into the room surprising the both of them.

"Aphelia you are awake?!"

*Sean come quickly! Aphelia has woken up!*

"Aphelia how are you? How do you feel?"

"I..." Her voice cracked. "Thirsty..."

After Emma handed her a glass of water and she had taken several large gulps she looked down at the sleeping Bobby. Then she remembered everything. She screamed.

"Well?"

"Well what Sean?"

"Will she talk about it at all?"

"Not really. She has mentioned bits and pieces. Most of it we already know."

"How is she? Mentally?"

"I think she will recover. I don't know how long it will take, but I know that it will happen. Bobby will help her get there." Emma paused and smiled. "This I promise you Sean. You see they do love each other."

"Aphelia?"

"Hi Bobby."

Her voice seemed too cold and distant to him. His worry increased.

"Aphelia I am sorry. If I had known what was happening to you I would never have taken so long. Please do not be angry with me. I am so sorry."

She looked at him with genuine sadness in her eyes. "Bobby I am not mad at you. I am mad at the world. How could this happen to me? How could it happen to anyone? I never knew people could be so cruel. Does everyone have to be filled with hatred?" She ended her short speech sounding truely defeated.

"No Aphelia. Not everybody hates. Most people fear what they do not understand so therefore they try to eliminate it, but hate? No. I think you will see though that in this world more people will love you than not."

"And you Bobby? How do you feel?"

Bobby looked uncomfortable by the question. "About what?"

"About me Bobby. About me!"

"I care about...no. I love you Aphelia. I have for a long time, but I..."

Aphelia threw herself into his arms. "Oh Bobby I love you too. I think you were the one thing that brought me back from the nightmare. I was so scared though that you did not want me."

"Not want you?! Aphelia my dead hamster wants you!"

She smiled at him. "Well I like to worry."

Sean Cassidy stared with pride at his young charge. She was powerful alright. He grinned in disbelief when he saw her pick up the small boulder and throw it at Chamber.

"It seems that she has added super strength to her ever growing list of abilities."

Emma had said those words. Sean did not respond. Yes the girl was something else. After further study he and Emma determined that the girl's powers allowed her to greatly augment certain abilities of her own. As she gained more control she could choose which ones to increase. The only catch was that she could only have one ability at a time. So today it seemed that she had chosen super strength. Sean noticed several dead plants surrounding her.

"I suppose that plants are expendable right?"

"Sean don't be ridiculous. This a nice turn of events isn't it? This is Aphelia's first training exercise and she has all of them on their toes. Of course, I think they are scared of hurting her."

"No need ta worry there Emma I think they are about ta get over that real quick." Sean watched another boulder fly. This time at Skin.

"Yes Emma I think that things will work out for the best. I believe that the girls nightmares have ended."

The End