ISSUE #69

The Next day.

Ian woke up from his slumber and yawned. Stretching his arms high above his head and legs straight out.

" God, it feels like my body went stiff last night." Ian muttered.

He got up from his bed and proceeded to handle his daily activities. Starting with a quick exercise and then a hot shower afterwards, all the while thinking about last night's events.

" Oh, man. Frost is gonna kill me. I don't know how. But I know it's coming." Ian mumbled.

Once he was finished and dressed, Ian took a step out of his room. It was still early in the morning and barely anyone else was awake at the time. This was the perfect time for him to try and think about what his place was in the world now that things were changing.

" I'm used to the halls being empty, but not like this. Before it was because kids were still sleeping, but now they're just gone. Charles Xavier and Magneto are missing, and I just know that our enemies are preparing to move against us. Perhaps it wasn't real, but I do have the experience of leading a terrorist organization. Maybe that's what I should do... Leave the school, at least for a little while. I need a new perspective. But I did promise Laura to be there for her. Maybe I could take her with me? No, Logan wants her here. Maybe, I should just hold off on that idea for a bit. At least for now." Ian walked outside of the Mansion, still thinking to himself on what his next goal should be.

But as he walked, he noticed something wasn't right. He could hear the sound of tree leaves crumpling, as if someone was walking over them.

Ian stopped in his tracks, just under a tree, and started looking around. When he didn't see anyone around him, he turned his attention above. He threw his arm up just in time to catch, Laura lunging right at him.

He managed to catch the girl, but the moment he caught her, she instantly slipped out of his grasp like she was a snake. Ian was surprised by how easily she got loose.

Laura swiped at Ian with the claw on her foot, shocking Ian. He saw that she had two claws like Logan, but he didn't think she'd have them in his feet.

Ian grabbed Laura's leg and threw her away from him.

" Damn, Laura." Ian gasped. " Don't you think it's a little early for the rough housing?" Ian asked the girl. " Damn, what was that about?"

" I was testing you." Laura told the boy.

Ian looked at Laura slightly confused by what she meant.

" You are clearly the leader of the pack. I wanted to see how strong you were." Laura explained to the boy. " You are clearly, skilled in fighting. And your skin is harder than it looks. A superb leader."

" Well, while I'm flattered that you think so. I'm gonna have to ask you don't do this again. I mean at least not so early in the morning. And maybe give me a little heads u next time, okay?" Ian asked the girl.

" If.... If that is what you want. I did not mean to offend you." Laura said to the boy.

Ian walked up to Laura and patted her on the head.

" Hey, don't upset. I just wasn't ready. I'm not upset or anything. But I have to say, you're pretty amazing Laura. No one's caught me that off-guard in a while. You really are amazing Laura." Ian told the girl. He looked down at her and smiled.

And Laura smiled too.

" So, what are you doing up so early. The sun's barely out." Ian asked the girl.

" I'm always up early." Laura told the boy.

" You too, huh?" Ian asked. " Well, since you're up, wanna go for a walk?" Ian asked the girl.

Laura was quiet, most likely pondering what it is she wanted, but eventually she nodded.

Ian smiled and stuck his hand out for the girl to take. Laura hesitated and slipped her hand into Ian's, and the two walked into the forest. Taking their time to enjoy the sights.

Laura was quiet and Ian was fine with that. He wanted Laura to enjoy herself and if that meant she didn't want to talk, then that was okay. As long as she was feeling comfortable that's all that mattered.

The forest around them was quite peaceful, the sound of birds chirping, the animals prancing around them. It was all serene.

" It's beautiful, isn't it?" Ian suddenly asked.

" Yeah. It is." Laura mumbled. " But why did we come here? This is pretty far from the mansion. Isn't this dangerous?" Laura asked.

" Why? Oh, because this is where I come to think, to clear my head, to just be. This is my special place. Only two people know about this spot. Me and now you." Ian told the girl. " I know you've just gotten here, but one of the few things that is important is having a place you can go to just relax and destress. I come here and sit down among the animals." Ian told the girl. " I don't want to frighten you, but I can feel it in my bones, Laura. This year is going to be the darkest year this school has ever seen. That's just how it is. But if at any time you feel like you just need to get away from it all, then feel free to come here."

Laura nodded and joined Ian in watching as the sun began to rise, sitting high above the ground in the trees so they could see it clearly.

Laura was amazed by the sight of the shining golden sun, the beat red flare of it rising above the clouds parting the dark sky.

" It's Beautiful." Laura uttered those words softly.

Ian looked at Laura, her form soaking in the beautiful red light, her shining emerald eyes sparkling like stars, her soft black hair flowing freely. He couldn't help but smile.

" Yes, it is." Ian said to the girl. His gaze lingering on her for more than a moment before turning back to the sky.

After watching the sun rise together, Ian and Laura decided to finally head back to the mansion together.

" So, this is where we part for the day. I've got classes to go to, and you need to get settled in. I'll see you at Lunch?" Ian asked the girl and Laura nodded. " Okay, you take care of yourself. I'll see you later." Ian told the girl.

Just because things weren't going well, didn't mean that the students didn't have school still. Just most of their classes were now being handled by other teachers.

........

Later that day, after his classes were over, Ian made his way to the cafeteria. When he first arrived, he saw how empty the place was, a room that was usually filled with laughter and the chatter of over a hundred students, was now almost completely empty save for the few remaining training squads still present.

Seeing nowhere else to go, Ian took a seat at the table with the Hellions and the few Paragons who kept their powers.

" What's going on, guys." Ian asked.

" Not much, just talking about the classes. I mean with so few of us left, don't you think they should just make us all have the same class periods?" Julian asked.

" I mean it makes sense in one way. But some of us don't have the same class periods or the same kind of class at all. Some people would be behind, and some would be ahead." Ian told the boy.

" Yeah but-" Julian paused for a moment then looked up.

Ian looked over his shoulder and saw Laura standing near him with her tray and smiled.

" Hey! Laura, good to see you. Did you have a good day?" Ian asked the girl.

" Yes." Laura replied, she sat her tray on the table and went to sit down next to Ian.

" Hey, what do you think you're doing here clone?" Julian asked.

Ian turned his head to say something. But Cessily spoke up first.

" What's your problem, Julian? Jeez. Come on, Laura sit with us. Don't worry about him, he's just a jerk." Cessily told the girl.

Laura looked to Ian and the boy nodded.

" Come on, Laura. Sit down." Ian asked the girl. " Tell me about your day."

" Well, Logan showed me the new amenities. And Scott told me about the classes, I don't really think I'll be going to them... Unless you want me to." Laura told the boy.

" Hey, if you don't want to go to class, then don't. I want you to do what it is you want to do, nothing more. Besides, I'm starting to think maybe I'll stop going to classes to. I mean what's the point now, really?" Ian asked.

" The point is, I don't want to be a fighter my whole life. I want to be able to make my own money instead of depending on the school for everything." Cessily spoke up. " Why don't you come with me, Laura. Into town. We can go shopping and I can show you around town."

" That sounds like a good idea, you can get to see the town and have a friend other than me to speak to." Ian told the girl.

" Yeah, and I can get the other girls to come with us, we'll have a day." Cessily told Laura.

" I..." Laura started.

Ian placed his hand on the girl's and started rubbing it.

" Hey, now. If you don't want to you don't have to go, Laura. But I think it would be nice to have some friends you can talk to. Girls like yourself who can understand you a little better." Ian told the girl.

" I will... Try." Laura replied.

" Alright!" Cessily exclaimed.

" Well, while the girls have fun with the clo- eh, Laura. Why don't we do something guys?" Julian asked. " Basketball tournament?" Julian asked.

" You want to play basketball? Man, I was feeling more of a sit down and relax kind of day." Ian said to the boy.

" Oh, come on, man. You can afford to play one game. Besides after everything's that happened, I think that a little bit of fun is exactly what we need man. We'll even let the Paragons and The New Mutants play. Hey David, wanna play basketball with us?" Santo asked from a tabe over.

" Why would we want to play with you guys?" David asked.

" Because man, it'll be fun to see who's better. I mean which of our teams is the better basketball players." Santo told the boy.

" Well, even if I do play, it's just me. Josh is with Laurie and Jay's still upset about yesterday." David told the boy.

" Well, then it's just for fun. Besides, there's nothing else to do right now." Santo told the boy.

" Fine, I'll play. But can we keep the insults and the fighting down for just a day please?" David asked.

" Sure! I promise, no fighting today." Santo told the boy.

" Well, there you go, Ian. David's playing so you gotta play now." Julian spoke up.

" Oh, fine. I'll play. but I'm playing with David." Ian told Julian. " And what does the winner get?" Ian asked.

" How about, fame across the school. Bragging rights for an entire year." Julian replied.

" Ha! Okay, smart ass, you're on." Ian told the boy.

" Alright, let's go." Julian exclaimed.

The group all got ready to get up and leave when suddenly a voice spoke in their heads.

' All students report to the danger room in ten minutes. This is a training exercise, come in uniform.' Emma told the kids who still had their powers.

" Guys? Guys? Am I missing something?" Brian asked.

" Yeah, just Frost popping into people's heads again." Ian told the boy. " Did you not hear her?" Ian asked the boy.

" No. Guess I'm not worth speaking to anymore." Brian stated.

" Brian, it ain't like that." Ian told the boy.

" Yeah, sure." Brian replied. He got up from his seat and walked away without saying another word.

" Fuck." Ian cursed. " What does this woman want with us this time?" Ian asked.

" I don't know, but she does have terrible timing." Julian stated. " Come on, guys. Let's not keep her waiting."

" Ughhh!"

The entire group groaned as they got up from their chairs.

" Come on, Laura. Looks like we'll have to try another day." Ian told the girl.

..........

Ten minutes later.

Every single student in the entire mansion who still had their powers convened in the danger room, in front of Emma Frost.

" Today everything changes. No more Squads. No more field days." Emma told the group.