Fitting In

*New York, October 18, 2007*

It was late at night in her hotel room, and Anita, in her long, emerald green bathrobe, sat on her bed, pouring over her spell-tome. Frowning, she closed it, putting it aside as she picked up another book of ancient magic and started to scan through that.

This was the second "all-nighter" she'd pulled, this week. So far, she hadn't found anything that could amplify her power enough to bespell Kal-El. Her emerald eyes started to droop with fatigue, but she quickly shook it off, remembering her discipline. There *was* a solution; she just had to.

Anita stopped over one section, reading it...and then darted to her computer, doing a search on the Internet.

"*Yes!"* Anita squealed, spinning in her computer chair. She quickly picked up her phone, calling one of her friends; Anita *knew* that she would be up at this hour.

"*Hello?*" The reply came. Anita smiled.

"Hey, 'licia." She greeted her best friend.

"*Annie?*" The smiling reply came. "*Hey, girl! What's up?*"

"Oh, not much." Anita replied. "I was just wondering; can I talk to you, tomorrow? Say around lunchtime?"

"*Sure! See you then!*" Her friend replied. "*Bye!*" Then, she hung up.

Anita smiled to herself.

'Kal-El, you'll be mine.' She thought. She scowled to herself. *'And no little blond twit is going to get in my way!'*

*Xavier Institute*

It was late at night at the Xavier Institute, as a handful of shadows tiptoed towards the elevator to the lower levels. The elevator opened for them, taking them down to the vehicle hangar.

"This is gonna be *great!*" Jubilee exclaimed.

"Sshh! You'll get us *caught!*" Ray muttered.

"Um...what are we doing, again?" Jamie asked, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

Ray, Bobby, Jubilee, Jamie and Roberto had all donned their street clothes as they headed for the vehicle hangar; they'd formulated their little plan while their leader was off on one of their patrols, out of his hearing range.

"Oh, we're just gonna take the X-Van for a little spin." Ray said, grinning. "It can't be too much harder than driving Lance's van."

"That was *you?*" Jamie exclaimed. "I heard Lance saying that he found a scratch on it! If he finds out..."

"He won't!" Ray assured him. "Clark hasn't caught on yet, has he? As long as we're careful, we can be out and back before he realizes what's happened!"

"How come we didn't ask Aly?" Jubilee asked. "And what about Sam, Amara, Rahne or Tabby?"

Bobby chuckled. "Tabs' still on probation; no way she'd agree. And Amara can't come because Tabs' a light sleeper. Rahne and Sam both sleep like logs; we couldn't wake em if we *tried*. And Aly's been Clark's friend since they were kids, and she likes him. No way she'll not tell him about our 'outings.'"

Roberto frowned.

"Okay, first he's got that Siryn girl chasing after him and *then* he scores the digits of ultra-hottie Alison Blaire?" He muttered.

"I *hear* ya, Roberto; we gotta start taking *notes* around him." Bobby said. Ray grinned.

"He is one *lucky* alien; Alison *definitely* meets the 'Three-B' criteria of hotness."

Roberto, Bobby and Ray chuckled and spoke as one. "'Blue-Eyed,' 'Blond,' and *'Built'!*"

Jubilee rolled her eyes.

"*Boys.*" She muttered.

The conversation was lost on Jamie. "I don't get it..."

Bobby grinned, ruffling the younger kid's hair. "You *will*, Jamie."

By then, the elevator had reached the garage level, and the little band walked out.

"Hey...do you think we can check out Clark's spaceship?" Jamie asked, excited.

Ray grinned. "Why not, squirt? I'm sure he wouldn't mind..."

They rounded a corner as Ray spoke...and stopped dead in their tracks.

"Actually, I *would.*"

"Your joyrides end here and now."

The five didn't dare speak as Thunderbird and Superman stood in front of them, their eyes narrowed.

"Oh...uh...h-hi, Clark!" Jubilee stammered.

Superman's expression didn't change.

"A word of advice, Ray; never assume I'm out of range - you'd be surprised what I can hear from the other side of the planet." He said. "I am very disappointed in you guys."

The five lowered their heads in shame.

"What if any of you had gotten *hurt?*" Superman continued. "Rescuing people from car accidents is worrisome enough; I *don't* want to have to do it for any of *you!*" His eyes narrowed.

"You all have extra afternoon-sessions for a *week*, effective *immediately.* And *you*, Ray will help Lance repair the scratch you left in his jeep...*after* you tell him what you did." He was about to walk off, when he turned back, glaring at Ray, Roberto and Bobby. "And one *more* thing: Alison is a member of this team, and you will talk about her and treat her with the respect she deserves. Understood?"

The three guys nodded.

"Good." Superman said. "Now, get back to bed." With that, he and Thunderbird walked away, heading for the elevator.

Jubilee smiled.

"Oh, he *so* likes her!" She whispered.

"I *heard* that!"

Quickly, the five hurried to the elevator, getting on with Thunderbird and their irritated leader, before heading back to their rooms.

It was about 5:45 in the morning when Alison woke up; she'd given herself *just* enough time to get to her Danger Room session. She quickly got out of bed, changing out of her slim, short, silvery nightgown, and into her new uniform, identical to the one that all the other New Mutants wore, before clipping her CD player to her belt, looping her headphones around her neck; her use of music had been allowed because her powers, she'd learned, were best fueled by *rhythmic* sound - namely music.

She'd had several training sessions in the past week, which had helped her get a handle on how to use her powers; she thought she'd done pretty well, despite the Danger Room being on only a fairly low setting. Today, however, the Danger Room would be on the setting that the *rest* of the New Mutants used. Not only that, the Professor, the instructors, the rest of the New Mutants, and the X-Men would all be watching this assessment of her powers...

...including Clark.

Alison - "Dazzler" - lightly blushed at the thought of her crush. Being around him had brought back her long-held feelings for him, her admiration only enhanced by the knowledge that her Clarkie had grown into Superman.

*'And now, if I make a total fool out of myself, Clark will see it.'* Dazzler thought sadly, only adding to the nervousness she felt around him. She took a deep breath, and headed out of her room, taking the elevator down to the control room.

By the time Dazzler reached the control room, everyone was already there.

*'So much for being early, Aly.'* Dazzler berated herself.

Clark - in his uniform, looking heroic, as usual, Dazzler thought with a blush - smiled as she came in.

"Right on time, Aly." He greeted. Dazzler smiled.

"Hey, I try!" She replied, trying to fight the rosy tint that was creeping across her face.

Smiling at her for a moment more, Superman turned back to the Professor.

"As I was saying, Professor, I thought that extra training sessions for a week would be punishment enough."

Berzerker, Jubilee, Sunspot, Multiple and Iceman all looked grim at that.

The Professor nodded. "I think that's fair, Superman."

Wolverine grinned darkly. "A couple sessions with *me* ought to set 'em right."

Superman chuckled. "Just don't go overboard, Logan. Remember, they haven't done anything to deserve the *death* penalty."

Avalanche frowned. "And what about my jeep?"

Thunderbird shot a look at Berzerker.

"I'm sure Ray can fix that, right?" He said.

Avalanche smiled.

"Now that I think about it, my jeep could use an oil change...right, Ray?"

Ray looked horrified. "Clark...!"

Superman looked to Avalanche. "I'm sure he's willing to *help* with that, Lance...but asking him to do the whole *thing* is a bit much...which could damage your jeep, in the long run."

Avalanche shrugged.

"Yeah, you're right." He admitted.

Ray breathed a relieved sigh.

Dazzler then frowned as she noticed Sunspot staring at her dazedly; her uniform not only *itched*, but it clearly defined her curves. She didn't mind outfits that weren't *too* revealing, like her uniform; she'd had to wear several outfits in her videos that showed off her curves, but they had always been tasteful.

But she wasn't exactly fussy about being stared at.

Superman noticed this, and was about to say something, but Banshee beat him to the punch.

"Aye, Roberto. Would ya stop staring at her." Banshee called out to the Brazilian mutant.

"Huh?" Sunspot then realized what he was doing. "Oh, sorry."

Dazzler lightly smiled. She appreciated Banshee's intervention.

"Well...I guess I'm up!" She said.

"Remember, Alison, the Danger Room is going to be on a higher setting; if you get overwhelmed, the simulation will stop." Cyclops said. The Professor smiled.

"This session is only to determine how far you've progressed with your powers since you came here." He assured her. "Just do your best."

That calmed Alison, somewhat.

"I will." She said, smiling. Then, at a nod from her new mentor, she took the elevator down and entered the Danger Room. As she stepped in, she put on her earphones, and turned on her music, keeping it at a low noise level so that she could still hear the Professor. As the music filled her senses, she felt the energy rush into her, as the sparkling layer covered her skin, making it seem to sparkle, as she tapped into the seemingly boundless confidence that she used whenever she was on stage. She was ready.

The second she thought that, the Danger Room started up. Five robotic drones rolled out of panels in the walls, firing low-power lasers at her...which bounced off of her sparkling shield, though she felt it's energy level drop somewhat as it absorbed the shots. She channeled her energy into her hands, firing twin sweeping-energy beams, which demolished the robots almost instantly.

Dazzler then looked around...just in time to duck as a large laser cannon fired at her. Dazzler rolled away from additional shots, and fired her beams at it...which impacted on it, harmlessly; it's armor was too thick. She was going to have to switch it off, manually...but if she tried to get close, it would shoot her.

Dazzler smiled as an idea came to her; she quickly spun on her heel, her hands generating a glimmering haze around her, creating a sparkling fog that surrounded her completely. The cannon paused, trying to track her. Slowly, the fog faded away...

...revealing *six* Dazzlers. The six smiled, and ran at the cannon. The cannon fired at one Dazzler, and hit...causing the Dazzler to simply fizzle out; it was a hard-light hologram - a projection that looked and felt real, but was not.

The cannon kept firing, taking out the remaining four holograms...allowing the *real* Dazzler to zip behind the cannon and switch it off.

Suddenly, Dazzler shrieked in surprise as the floor she was standing on suddenly rose up, rotating 90 degrees, sending her toppling to the floor...as a section of the wall started moving towards her, to crush her between the wall and the risen section. Dazzler quickly recovered, and generated a hard-light force-field between herself and the wall, stopping it's progression, giving her enough time to simply run out the side.

As she ran out, Dazzler came face to face with *dozens* of robotic drones, all armed. Quickly generating a hard-light dome around herself, Dazzler found herself pinned down as the drones repeatedly fired on her. Quickly, she turned up the volume on her music as high as she could; the music *supercharged* her, causing her entire body to glow with light, before she unleashed it in one blast, taking out every single drone, before she fell back on her rear, exhausted.

"*Simulation complete."*

Dazzler breathed a sigh of relief as she heard that. She picked herself up, waking towards the elevator, as the rest of the New Mutants hurried over to her.

"Aly, that was *awesome!*" Jubilee exclaimed.

"Girl, your powers *rock!*" Boom-Boom added. Dazzler smiled.

"Thanks!" She replied.

Just then, Superman and the X-Men came down as well.

"You did great, Aly." He said, smiling. Dazzler smiled.

"Thanks, Clark." She replied, glad to have not made a fool out of herself.

Cyclops nodded.

"Well done, Dazzler." He agreed.

"Your session score was the highest of *any* of the New Mutants, so far." Jean added.

"Keep this up, and you'll join the X-Men in no time Lass." Banshee continued.

Dazzler was amazed to hear that. "*Really?"*

Superman nodded. "Really."

Just then, Wolverine's voice echoed over the speakers.

"*Okay, Diva, you're done for now. Ice-Cube, you're up next."*

Iceman groaned. "I'm dead, aren't I?"

Superman chuckled.

"You'll be fine, Bobby." He said. Suddenly, he froze, listening. "*Uh-oh*. Sorry, guys; I've gotta go - trouble." With that, he bolted off, taking the elevator to the top floor, to fly off from the nearest window.

As their leader left, Alison and the rest of the New Mutants headed back to the control room, leaving Iceman to his session. Once they were back in the control room, Alison asked Jean, "So, what exactly do you have to do to make X-Man?"

"Well, first you have to get a pretty high score in your sessions to even be *considered*." Jean replied. "After that, you have to pass a special Danger Room test-session; the X-Men Qualifying Exam. Pass that, and you're on the team."

"Oh." Dazzler said. "What's the score you have to get to be considered?"

"About 100,000 points." Jean answered.

Dazzler gulped. "And...what did *I* get?"

"30,000."

Dazzler groaned. "I've still got a long way to go, I see."

"Hey, it's closer than what *we've* ever gotten." Berzerker said.

"Yeah! Most of us haven't even gotten over 20,000!" Jubilee exclaimed. "30,000 is pretty awesome, Ali!"

Jamie looked sad.

"I haven't even gotten 10,000." He muttered. Alison smiled and knelt down to her younger teammate.

"Hey, I'll bet you'll do it in *no* time." She assured him.

"Really?" Jamie smiled.

"Thanks, Ali." His smile grew. "But I probably won't even get *close* to *Clark's* score!"

Cyclops laughed at that. "Jamie, so far, none of *us* have gotten close to Clark's score!"

Nightcrawler laughed as well.

"Hey, vat do you expect from zhe guy who *broke* zhe Danger Room zhe first time he used it?" He joked. Gambit chuckled.

"Dat story *nev'r* gets old!" He laughed.

"Huh?" Dazzler asked. Shadowcat smiled.

"Scott and Jean once told us that, the first time Clark used the Danger Room, they had no *idea* how powerful he really was." She explained. "He kinda...well...*broke* it! He was just too powerful for the Room to handle!"

Wolverine scowled. "Hey, *you* try cleaning up after a wreck like that, and see if *you* find it funny, Half-Pint!"

Spyke chuckled. "Good thing that CK only ever uses - on average - about ten percent of his full power!"

Dazzler smiled as she listened to her new friends...though she felt glum on hearing them talk about Clark.

In the first few days that she'd been here, her friends - mostly Kitty - had regaled her with stories about some of Clark's exploits...and it had really *dawned* on her.

Her crush was *Superman.*

He'd defused nuclear *reactors*.

He caught *airplanes*.

He'd helped Spider-Man with crime-fighting.

He'd once fixed the *Fantastic Four's* space station alongside Firestorm.

He'd *met* his childhood hero, Captain America, *and* helped him save the entire *country* from a shipment of missiles that could have all-too-easily gotten into terrorist hands.

He'd saved the *world* from a megalomaniac mutant with an arsenal of meteors with help from Godzilla and several members of the Justice League, after getting dosed with deadly radiation from the 'Kryptonite' that the lunatic had - Alison had been *royally* steamed at that nutcase, after she'd learned what he wanted Clark to do, and what he tried to *do* to Clark to make him comply.

He was a *superhero*.

And all Alison did was sing.

She couldn't help but be somewhat intimidated; his reputation was nothing less than *amazing*.

And as a result, every time Alison had tried to talk to him, she just *froze*. Even on the occasions that her voice managed to work around him, the most she ever got were basic sentences, like she had when he'd congratulated her.

By the time she'd finished her sad introspection, Iceman's session was done and so were the morning sessions. With morning training complete, all the students headed back up to their rooms, donning their regular clothes. After they'd changed, most of the students headed to the kitchen, but Alison remained in her room for a few extra minutes...

...working on a uniform of her own.

She'd brought her issues with her uniform irritating her skin to the Professor, who hadn't been able to do anything for her. She'd then suggested that she design her own, and showed him the design she had in mind; one that was functional *and* stylish.

He'd approved.

And now, it was just about done.

*'Thank god that I watched those costume designers in the studios.'* Alison thought to herself, with a smile. She quickly made a few adjustments to her uniform, before she hurried off to get breakfast, before she got a lift with Scott and Jean to school.

*Daily Bugle, New York City*

Standing outside the Daily Bugle's main office, Clark - in his clumsy, nervous, "country boy" persona, his image-inducer active - took a deep breath. After assisting the cargo ship on it's way to France, he had come back to get breakfast; by then, the others had gone to school, including Aly.

Clark frowned sadly to himself. Lately, Aly had seemed really shy around him. Maybe it was just taking her a while to get used to Institute life...

...or maybe being around an alien made her nervous, after all.

Focusing on the task at hand, Clark opened the door, walking into the main office. He had taken a few steps when he was greeted by the Editor-In-Chief, Robert "Robbie" Robertson. Robbie was a tall, calm, soft-spoken African-American man, in his forties, with short brown hair, dark eyes and a white button-up shirt and blue jeans. He was the polar opposite of J. Jonah. Jameson, the owner of the paper.

"Hey, Clark! Great to have you back!" Robbie greeted.

Clark smiled. "It's great to be back, Mr. Robertson!"

"Oh, just call me Robbie, son; everyone does!" Robbie assured him.

"Okay." Clark said. "So, when should I go talk to Mr. Jameson?"

"*KENT! Get in here!"*

Robbie chuckled.

"Probably right about now." He said as Clark scrambled to talk to the boss.

Clark quickly zipped into Mr. Jameson's office. "Uh, y-you wanted to see me, sir?"

J. Jonah. Jameson - or "JJ" - was in his early fifties, tall and lean, with short, greying brown hair, brown eyes and a "Hitler-style" mustache, clad in a white button-up shirt and black pants.

"Kent, where the hell have you been?!" JJ barked.

Clark tried his best to look sheepish. "Oh, you know traffic, sir!"

"Kent, if I wanted to hear wisecracks, I'd talk to Parker!" JJ said. "Now, you're only an intern here, so I won't tolerate any monkey-business!"

Clark shook his head. "N-No, *sir!*"

"'No sir.' That's good. I like that." JJ said, before he handed Clark a stack of paperwork. "Come talk to me when you fill these out, Kent; your desk is around the corner to the right. Welcome to the Daily Bugle." With that, he turned his chair around to look out the window, as Clark took the papers to his desk.

After sitting down in his cubicle-enclosed desk, Clark started to take a look at the papers he'd been stuck with.

*'Hmm...nothing too serious.'* He thought; he should be able to get through them pretty quickly...but not *too* quickly, or else he'd make ol' JJ suspicious. Taking out his pen, he began to go through the papers.

After a few hours, Clark had finished; he'd been working at a leisurely pace - which would have been the equivalent pace of a human being hard at work. The papers filled out, Clark piled them into his arms and headed back to Mr. Jameson's office.

"All done, sir!" He reported cheerfully, laying the papers on the owner's desk.

JJ looked up from his work, incredulous.

"*Already?*" He asked. His expression turned suspicious. "Let me see those." He took the papers and started to look through them. After a few minutes, he nodded.

"Not bad, kiddo." He admitted, as he handed Clark a sheet of paper. "I think you might be ready for your first bit of field work. I've got a few stories that will need articles written; nothing major, now - something for you to cut your teeth on. You're going to need a photographer, though." Then, he yelled out. "*Parker! PARKER!*"

A few seconds later, 16 year old Peter Parker, the Bugle's freelance photographer and one of Clark's pals from his last visit, walked in. Peter was fairly tall, with a lean frame, with short, messy brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans, as well as a brown jacket, his camera looped over his shoulder.

"Yes, Mr. Jameson?" He asked.

"From now on, you're partnered with Kent, here, until his internship is done in June." JJ said. "And while you're here, where the hell are those Superman pictures I've been asking you to get?!"

Peter looked sheepish.

"I'm sorry, sir; the guy just moves too *fast*!" He said.

"Dammit, Parker, whoever this guy is, he *can't* stay a myth for much longer! I want the words 'Superman' and 'Daily Bugle' to go together, like...Abbot and Costello! Peanut butter and jelly! Politics and corruption!"

Clark piped up. "I'm not sure if I agree with that last one, sir."

JJ just stared at him. "Son, if you're going to be in this business, you'd better drop that naivete pretty quick."

"Yes, sir." Clark agreed.

"Well, what are you two standing around for? A pat on the back. Get *going!*" JJ barked. At that, Clark and Peter both darted out the door.

Once they'd left, Peter chuckled.

"Welcome back, Clark; as you can see, ol' JJ is as scary as ever!" He quipped. Clark smiled.

"I noticed." He said. "So, how have you been, Peter?"

"Oh, pretty good, I guess. Today's a school workshop day, so I got the day off...until JJ got word of it and called me in to work." Peter said.

"Ouch."

"Yeah." Peter agreed. "So, what's on the schedule?"

Clark looked at the paper that Mr. Jameson had given him.

"Well, let's see...first, we have to cover the local animal shelter...and then there's a new museum exhibit that opened, today."

"Basic stuff." Peter said. He chuckled. "I guess you can't land an interview with Spider-Man on your first day!"

Clark laughed.

"I guess not!" He agreed. "Well, let's get going; no sense in making JJ any madder than he already is!"

Peter grinned.

"Oh, yeah, Clark; you're gonna fit right in!" He laughed. With that, they both headed out.

The animal-shelter story didn't take too long to cover, and once Peter had taken a few pictures, they were on their way to the New York Museum. After a few hours of listening to the museum officials talk about the historical significance of the exhibit, and after a few pictures from Peter, Clark had enough to do the articles.

"Wow, that didn't take too long." Clark observed, checking his watch; it was almost lunchtime.

"Yeah; these cookie-cutter assignments never take too long if you're any good." Peter said, as he checked his own watch. "Hey, I was going to meet my Aunt and my girlfriend for lunch; you want to tag along?"

"Okay." Clark agreed. "Is your Aunt visiting?"

Peter looked a bit sad at that.

"No. My parents died when I was a kid; I've lived with my Aunt May and Uncle Ben, ever since. My Uncle Ben...passed away...fairly recently." He said. Clark froze.

"I'm...I'm so sorry." He said. Peter lightly smiled.

"Hey, it's okay; you didn't know." He replied. "Anyway, I'm *starving!* Let's go!" With that, Peter headed off and Clark followed.

Clark followed Peter to a restaurant, where Peter sat down at a table next to a 16-year-old young woman, around his height, and of slender frame, with long, ruby-red hair and green eyes, wearing a white tank top, accentuating her curves with perfect modesty, and slim blue jeans. Across from Peter sat an elderly lady, in her sixties, her kindly face lightly wrinkled, around Peter's height, and of slim frame, with short, white hair and blue eyes, wearing simple cream-colored slacks and a blue sweater. She made Clark think of his Ma, except this lady was a bit more frail.

"Hey, MJ." Peter greeted the young woman, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

The girl - "MJ" - smiled, as she cuddled into Peter's embrace. "Hey, Tiger."

"Oh, Clark, this is my girlfriend, Mary-Jane Watson." Peter said, gesturing to the young woman. "And this is my Aunt, May Parker." He gestured to the elder lady. "MJ, Aunt May, this is Clark Kent, the Bugle's new intern, from Bayville University."

"It's nice to meet you both." Clark greeted. He chuckled. "Old JJ stuck Peter here with babysitting me for the rest of the year."

May looked sympathetic.

"That man can be just *horrible*, sometimes!" She exclaimed.

Peter nodded. "Don't I know it."

"So, Clark, where are you from?" Mary-Jane inquired.

"Smallville, Kansas." Clark replied.

"Goodness! You're certainly far from home!" May said. Clark smiled.

"Oh, I'm only a short flight away." He replied.

"And how *did* you get stuck working at the Bugle?" Peter asked, grinning. Clark chuckled.

"Well, Pete, the intern positions were to be assigned to the students who scored the highest on a Journalism assignment. I was one of them." He replied. "Lucky me."

Mary-Jane smiled slyly.

"So...got a girlfriend?" She asked. Clark smiled, shaking his head.

"Nope. I'm married to my work." He answered. "I've kinda got a job...*other* than working at the Bugle. It doesn't leave much time for a social life."

"You poor dear." May said.

"Anyone *close?*" Mary-Jane asked.

Clark was about to say no...but he remembered Alison.

"Well...*maybe*." He admitted.

Mary-Jane's smile grew. "Maybe?"

Peter laughed. "Hey, leave the poor guy alone, MJ!"

"No *way*, Tiger! Now I *have* to know!" Mary-Jane giggled. "*Well?*"

"Well...I don't know." Clark admitted, sighing. "I think I might like her, but I'm not sure if she likes *me.*" His expression saddened, as he remembered how nervous he seemed to meet Ali. "I just don't know." Even if Alison *did* have a crush on him, no-one could hold a torch *that* long...

...*could* they?

In a cafe on a Wall Street corner, Anita, in her usual street outfit, sat sipping cappuccino with her friend. She'd met her here for lunch to talk, leaving herself enough time to teleport back to school. "So, 'licia, can you help me out?"

Felicia Hardy smiled as she sipped her own mocha.

"*Sure, Annie.*" She replied. Felicia was tall and curvaceous, a 19-year-old head turner, with long, platinum blond hair, almost *white*, with hazel eyes and creamy skin, wearing her favorite silver halter-top and black miniskirt. Felicia was Anita's best friend, and she was an heiress, like herself...and she was the only human that Anita had ever trusted with the secret of her abilities and family.

That was because Felicia had her *own* secret; she was, in reality, the "Black Cat," a highly trained professional thief.

Felicia smiled her mischievous feline grin. "So, how's old steel-pants doing?"

Anita frowned. "Felicia, you *know* that I don't like it when you - or *anyone* - insults Papa."

"Sorry, sorry; couldn't resist!" Felicia relented. "So, what do you need help with?"

"I need to get into the New York Museum." Anita said. "There's something that I need in the new exhibit."

"Why, honey, you're in luck! I was going to drop by there, *tonight!*" Felicia said. "Just tell me, and I'll pick it up for you!"

Anita shook her head.

"Sorry, but I'll have to go *with* you, Felicia." She said. "What I need is the Stone of Arkanas, in the Ancient Antiquities exhibit. I have to handle it, *myself*. I need to use the proper incantations to activate it, or it won't work."

"Okay." Felicia said. "What does it do?"

Anita smiled.

"When activated, it augments the magical abilities of it's holder a *thousandfold.*" She answered. "With it, my magic will be infinitely stronger...enough to be-spell a certain cape-clad *hunk* I've had my eye on."

Felicia smiled.

"Oh, so the infamous heartbreaker Anita LeRoux has finally made her choice!" She said. "Who is it?"

Anita smiled, and gestured to the newspaper on the table...pointing to a partial-photo of Superman. Felicia's eyes widened.

"You're *kidding.*" She murmured. "He's *real?*"

"As real as Spider-Man is."

Felicia smiled.

"*He's* the guy you're after?" She asked. "*Damn*, girl, you *definitely* know how to aim high! Of *course* I'll help you out!"

At that, Anita smiled.

"Thanks, 'licia." She said. Then, she listened, as her best friend started to outline her plan.

*Bayville High*

As lunch hour came around, Alison sat with her friends, the X-Men, ignoring the soft whispers and murmurs as she passed by other tables.

On her first day at Bayville High, she'd caused quite a ruckus. Between classes, she'd nearly been *swamped* by other students - her fans - who had wanted autographs. Luckily, her friends had been there to keep things from getting *too* out of hand. Now, things had calmed down, though her presence still created quite a buzz.

The most annoying part *had* to be the fact that all the school jerks - most notably Pietro - had all too-often tried to ask her out. Most got the hint after the first time she'd blown them off, but some - including, again, Pietro - didn't seem to get the message.

Like *now.*

Alison sighed to herself as she saw Jean's ex-boyfriend, Duncan Matthews, walk towards her, smirking.

"Hey, Alison." He greeted. "I was planning on having a party, tonight at my place. Want to come?"

"No, thanks." Alison said flatly, as she tried to walk around him. Duncan darted in front of her.

"Aw, come on." He said smoothly. "It'll be a good time, trust me."

Alison frowned.

*'What did Jean **see'*** **in this jerk?** She thought.

"Last time I checked, Duncan." She said. "Going on dates with little boys was *illegal.*" With that, she walked away, heading for her friends table.

She'd seen *far* too many guys like Duncan, before; they were arrogant, self-centered and utterly immature - little boys in grown-up bodies. They just...

...weren't like Clark.

Alison smiled as she sat with her friends. "Hey, guys."

"Hey, Alison." Scott greeted, his arm around Jean's shoulders. Jean smiled.

"I heard what you said to Duncan! *Priceless*!" She laughed. "Why didn't *I* think of something like that when I dumped him?"

Scott chuckled. "Hey, 'lughead' worked pretty well too, red."

Alison smiled, before she sighed.

"I had a few dates with jerks like him, before." She admitted. "Thankfully, I realized they were jerks before the dates ended."

"Smart move, Aly!" Kitty agreed.

"You can do so much better!" She giggled.

"Like a certain 'frequent flier'?" She whispered. Alison lightly blushed.

"Kitty!" She exclaimed. Then, she noticed something. "Hey, where's Rogue?"

Remy tipped his head towards a table.

"De Chere be over dere, wit' her new *amie*, Risty." He said. Alison looked to where he'd pointed; sure enough, there was Rogue, sitting next to another Goth-style girl, around her own height and age, with mid-length dark hair with violet streaks, clad in a light brown tank-top, and black khaki pants.

"Hey, it's good zat Rogue is making friends." Kurt said.

"So, anyone else around here giving you trouble, Dazzle?" Evan asked.

Alison chuckled at the nickname that the rest of her friends often used.

"No, nothing major." She replied. Then, she remembered. "Oh darn it! I forgot my Biology textbook; I left it in the classroom!" She sighed. "I'd better go get it. I'll be right back, guys." With that, Alison got up and headed for her classroom.

It didn't take long for Alison to reach the classroom. She headed in, and found her textbook exactly where she'd left it. She picked it up and walked out the door...

*Clunk!*

Something collided head-on with Alison, sending her sprawling. Groaning, Alison gathered her things, as she looked at the culprit...

"*Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry!*" The 16-year-old African American girl cried, utterly horrified. She was a bit shorter than Alison, with long, brown hair, dark eyes and chocolate toned skin, clad in a black, shoulder-baring T-shirt, and red jeans. "I-I didn't mean to knock you over, Alison!"

"No, it's okay." Alison assured her. "Accidents happen." Then, she took a closer look at the girl.

"Hey, wait a minute..." She said, as she remembered seeing a girl always looking over at their table. "...you're that girl who's always looking at us!"

The girl's face went beet-red.

"N-No, I'm not!" She stammered. Alison calmly folded her arms.

"Okay, okay!" The girl cried. "I *am!* The reason I'm always looking at your table is because *Kurt* always sits with all of you!"

Alison smiled.

"You *like* Kurt!" She exclaimed. "Why didn't you *say* so? I can just introduce you..."

"*No!*" The girl yelped. "W-What if he doesn't like me back?!"

Alison sighed; she had the *exact* same problem as this girl. "What's your name?"

"Amanda. Amanda Sefton." She replied. Amanda lowered her head. "God, you must think I'm a total *loser*..."

Alison sighed.

"No more than *I* am." She said. "Amanda, *I* have a crush on a guy, too...and *I* can't work up the courage to talk to him, *either*."

Amanda looked amazed.

"But...but you're *Alison Blaire!*" She exclaimed.

Alison sighed. "I'm still just a regular girl, Amanda...and boys are *just* as much a mystery to me as any other girl."

Amanda nodded...and then lightly smiled. "Would I know him?"

Alison shook her head. "He doesn't go to this school."

"Is he cute?"

Alison blushed.

"Amanda, they'd have to develop a new word to describe how utterly gorgeous he is!" She exclaimed. "Not only that, he's kind, brilliant and a perfect *gentleman!*"

"Wow..." Amanda murmured, smiling. "...Alison, what are you *waiting* for?"

Alison sighed.

"I don't know..." She murmured. "...it's just that he does a lot of...charity work..." Which was the closest thing that came to describing Clark's job. "...and I don't know if I can measure up, after all the good he does..."

"Alison, you are the prettiest, coolest, *nicest* girl on the *planet!*" Amanda exclaimed. "He'd have to be *nuts* to not want to go out with you! I bet he *does!*"

Alison smiled.

"Thanks, Amanda." She replied. "And I'll bet *Kurt* wants to go out with you, too."

Now it was Amanda's turn to blush.

"Um...Alison?" She asked. "I...I know you probably hear this a lot, but...can I have your autograph?"

Alison smiled.

"*Sure.*" She said. She took out a pen and paper, wrote her name on a sheet, and handed the sheet to Amanda. Amanda smiled.

"Thanks!" She exclaimed and then she hurried off. Smiling, Alison started to walk away, about to turn a corner...

...and stopped as she heard the voices of the Brotherhood. She stayed out of sight, listening.

"...so, what did Siryn want?" Alison heard Todd ask.

"She called to tell us that she found a way to boost her power enough to enchant Super-Dork." Pietro said. Alison's eyes widened in horror as she heard that. Anita LeRoux - Siryn - was the Brotherhood's new leader, and her magical powers were currently a real threat to Superman...although Anita was more interested in making Superman her boy toy, Alison thought with a frown.

"So, does she want us to come?" Fred asked.

"No; apparently, Little-Miss-Boss-Around doesn't want us screwing things up." Pietro said. "She's got her own help."

"Hey, fine by me, yo!" Todd declared. "That lady creeps me out! The only thing that could *possibly* creep me out more is her old man!"

Pietro shuddered.

"Hey, can't argue with ya there, Tolansky." He agreed. "That 'Doom' guy is one scary mother. Be thankful he's over in *Europe.*" Then, the Brotherhood walked off.

Alison peered around the corner, making sure they were gone...before she ran towards the cafeteria.

She *had* to tell her friends what she heard.

Peter, Clark, Mary-Jane and Aunt May had just finished their lunch, paid their bill and were on their way out when they overheard a radio bulletin.

*"...reports are coming in of a bank robbery having occured, recently! Police indicate that the criminal known as the Rhino and his gang are responsible; Rhino and his gang are currently making their escape via the inter-city train, and have taken the entire train hostage! The hijacked train is currently heading north..."* Then, the restaurant owner changed radio stations.

Peter glanced to MJ; Mary-Jane nodded, silently agreeing that she'd get Aunt May home while he went after Rhino - he was *so* glad that she knew about his web-slinging.

"Uh...I just remembered - I have to pick up some more film!" Peter said.

"That's fine." Clark said. "I need to take care of a few errands before I head back to the Bugle."

"That's fine, Peter; I can bring Aunt May back home." Mary-Jane said.

"Be careful, Peter." Aunt May said. Peter nodded and then darted off, as Clark zipped off in another direction.

Peter darted into a dark alley, and shed his street clothes, revealing his Spider-Man suit underneath, before putting on his mask. He gathered up his clothes, and crawled up the wall, before creating a web-pocket on the wall, stashing his clothes in it. Spider-Man then leapt from wall to wall, before leaping out into open air, firing a web-line and swinging off, heading north.

Before too long, Spider-Man had sighted the hijacked train, as well as Rhino and his goons. Rhino himself was a *big* guy, all muscle, wearing a massive armored suit, with a rhinoceros-like horn on it's helmet - hence his name. There were five armed thugs in the lead car with him, with the driver held at gunpoint, and three cars of passengers being towed behind.

As he swung near it, Spider-Man fired a web-line at the train and pulled himself onto the roof of one of the cars. As he did, he heard a sonic boom echoing overhead, seconds before Superman flew down, standing on the roof next to him.

"Hey, Big Blue! Nice timing!" Spider-Man quipped.

"Hey, I was just in the neighborhood and I thought I could lend a hand!" Superman replied, smiling. His expression turned serious. "I saw a switch up ahead, Spider-Man; trigger that, and the train will head into a dead-end. I'll cut the passenger cars loose."

"Got it!" Spider-Man said. With that, he ran to the front of the train, as Superman darted to the end of the car, using his eye-rays to cut through the lock that held the passenger cars to the main car. Once he had, he grabbed the top of the car, staying out of sight, and pushed on the cars, slowing them and then stopping them.

As he reached the front of the car, Spider-Man watched, as his spider-sense started to get antsy, warning him that the switch was getting closer; it certainly was a handy thing to have. Then, he saw it up ahead, and he took aim, firing a condensed ball of webbing, impacting the switch and triggering it.

Instantly, the track changed and the train headed into a tunnel, ending up in an old, abandoned station - a dead end, like Superman had said. As the train ground to a halt, Rhino and his goons started piling out. Spider-Man quickly took aim at the few lights hanging above their heads and coated their bulbs in web, blanketing the area in darkness. As the crooks cursed and strained to see, Spider-Man hopped down and started to take out the goons, disarming and knocking them out. He got one with a foot sweep and a punch to the face, and took out a second with a flip kick...and managed to see a blue blur dart to and from the remaining three, snatching their weapons and knocking them out cleanly, sending them flying with only a tap. Spider-Man took that opportunity to check on the driver; he'd passed out, but was otherwise fine.

By then, the Rhino had managed to spy him.

"You stupid little wall-crawler!" He roared. "You ain't gonna mess up my plans, *this* time!" He started to charge at Spider-Man.

...and was sent flying by that same blue blur; Superman slammed into Rhino, sending him sprawling at least forty feet.

"*Nice* one, Big Blue!" Spider-Man crowed. Slowly, Rhino picked himself up.

"What the...?!" He bellowed as he saw Superman. "So da boss was *right!* You *are* real!"

Superman's eyes narrowed.

"So, you've worked for Fisk, before." He muttered. Spider-Man knew who he meant: Wilson "The Kingpin" Fisk, the guy who ran practically *all* the dirty business in New York, and then some.

"But he didn't put you up to this, did he?" Spider-Man remembered that Superman had once actually *confronted* Fisk, for the purpose of what he sounded like, so his super-hearing could pick up on his cell-phone calls. From what he'd heard, Fisk was *not* happy about having all his business dealings wrecked by the Man of Steel, *or* by the police, from Superman's anonymous tips.

Rhino grinned.

"Nope!" He said. "All dis is my own plan! But I bet da boss'll be happy when I get rid of da top two on his hit-list!" With that, he charged straight at them.

Spider-Man fired a web line and zoomed straight up as Superman darted aside, causing the Rhino to get his horn stuck in the wall.

"Hear that, Big Blue?" Spider-Man laughed. "You're *official*, now! You've made the big guy's hit-parade!"

Superman chuckled. "So, Little Red, any ideas on how to stop a charging rhino?"

"Well, normally, I'd suggest taking away his credit card, but I'm betting that this rocket-scientist doesn't even have a *driver's license!*" Spider-Man quipped.

With a loud roar, Rhino broke free and charged at Superman...who grabbed him by the horn, the momentum of his charge forcing him back a few feet...until he dug in his heels, stopping Rhino in his tracks.

"Well, then." Superman said. "I guess we'll have to *improvise!*" With that, he started to spin on his heel, whirling the hapless Rhino around and around, before letting him go, sending him flying, to land hard.

As Rhino started to get up, Spider-Man dropped down, firing a web shot at him, covering his eyes. Rhino howled in anger, trying to get the webbing off...giving Spider-Man enough time to dart at Rhino, rolling forward into a somersault-kick, knocking the big lug into the air. Superman followed his attack with an aerial haymaker punch, slamming him into the ground, cratering it, knocking him out.

"Well, I guess we'd best clear out." Superman suggested.

"No argument, here!" Spider-Man agreed, and he fired his web-line, swinging back out into open air, as Superman flew out of the tunnel after him.

Spider-Man touched down on a rooftop, as Superman landed silently next to him, both watching as the police quickly rounded up Rhino and his gang.

"Well, that's that." Superman said.

"Yep." Spider-Man agreed. "We make a pretty good team, Big Blue."

"That we do." Superman agreed. "So, Little Red, any word on anything else happening?"

"Hmm..." Spider-Man thought, recalling what he'd once heard from some of the small-time crooks he'd busted a while ago "...now that you mention it, word on the street is that something's going down at the museum, tonight."

Superman nodded...and then his belt-buckle started beeping. He quickly unclipped it from his belt, and opened it into a communicator. "Superman here." he said.

"*Superman, it's Cyclops. Alison told us that she overheard the Brotherhood mention that Siryn is planning on stealing something from the New York Museum, tonight.*"

"Thanks, Cyclops." Superman replied. "I'll get back to you, on that. Superman out." With that, he shut off the link, folding up the communicator, putting it back on his belt.

Spider-Man arched an eyebrow behind his mask. "Sounds like we're workin' the same case." he said.

Superman nodded. "I'd better get back to my friends; meet us on the roof next to the Museum, tonight. We're going to set up a little stake-out." he said. With that, he took to the air, flying off, and Spider-Man shot out a web-line, swinging off.

Hopefully, he still had enough time to meet MJ.

As the curtain of night fell over the Institute, Alison sat on the edge of her bed in her room. Superman and the X-Men had gone off, to stake out the Museum that Siryn was going to steal something from.

Something that she thought could increase her power enough to enchant Superman.

That was still bugging Alison. '*What could be at that museum that she would want to steal?*' she thought. Alison quickly moved to her computer, and brought up the web page for the New York Museum. She clicked on the link for the new exhibit, acting on a hunch...

'*There's nothing here...*' she thought, '*...nothing that Siryn would want to...wait a minute.*'

She clicked on the file for the Stone of Arkanas. "*The Stone of Arkanas, circa 2010 B.C.*" the file read. "*Used in arcane rituals, the Stone was rumored to enhance the mystical prowess of its holder over a thousandfold.*"

Alison's eyes widened in utter horror. If Siryn got her hands on that Stone...

She *had* to help.

'*Professor Xavier, tell Storm or Wolverine to get the X-Copter ready! The others are in danger!*' Alison mentally cried. She quickly turned to her new uniform; she'd just finished it, tonight.

She hoped she was up for this.

She grabbed her new uniform, and ran out of her room, to head for the hangar level.

Her friends needed her.

*New York Museum*

Siryn and Black Cat met on the roof of the Museum after night had fallen, next to a large skylight. Siryn had donned her uniform, and Felicia now wore her own costume: a skin-tight black bodysuit, with a plunging v-neckline outlined in white fur, as well as gloves with cat-like claws, and a silver tool-belt, and a mask that covered her eyes, leaving the lower half of her face exposed, and resembling the eyes and ears of a cat.

"Okay, Annie," Black Cat said, "you just 'port yourself in there and shut off the security system, and then I'll just open the skylight and hop in."

"Understood." Siryn agreed. With that, she snapped her fingers, vanishing in a puff of green smoke...and reappeared inside the museum, under the skylight, hovering above the floor. She looked around...and spied the fuse-box for the security system. With a wave of her hand, she sent sparks crackling from her fingertips, shorting it out.

At that, Black Cat opened the skylight and hopped down, landing on her feet. "Well, that was easy!" she said. "But we'd better do this fast, before the night watchman makes his rounds."

Siryn smiled. "No need." she said. Then, she chanted, "*Narculis!*" Her spell sent a wave of violet energy through the museum. "The guard just decided to take a little nap."

Black Cat grinned. "You *are* handy to have around!" she said. "Let's go!" With that, they both headed for the exhibit.

Superman and the X-Men met up with Spider-Man on the rooftop next to the Museum as planned...and saw the open skylight. "Siryn must already be inside." Superman said. "There's no time to lose!" At that, they ran towards the open skylight, leaping to the Museum rooftop, before descending through the skylight. Superman closed his eyes, listening...

"*Hang on, there, Annie. This thing has its own pressure-sensitive security system. Give me a second...*"

"*This* way!" Superman said, pointing towards a corridor. "Siryn and her accomplice are fairly close, so stay quiet." With that, they headed down the corridor.

Superman and the others stopped at a balcony overlooking the new exhibit...where Siryn and her accomplice were standing in front of a glass case housing a fairly large, aquamarine stone. "Black Cat." Spider-Man muttered. "Terrific."

"You know her?" Superman asked.

"Yep." Spider-Man replied. "What that 'Siryn' chick is to *you*, Cat is to *me*."

"Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, you two handle Black Cat. The rest of us will handle Siryn." Cyclops instructed.

"*Jawohl!*"

"Okay!"

"Just one second, Chief." Spider-Man said. "Just give me a few seconds before you guys drop in, I'll get their attention, giving you guys the opening you need to *really* stick it to 'em."

Gambit arched an eyebrow. "'ow y' gon' do dat?"

Spider-Man grinned under his mask. "The same way I always do – by bugging the *hell* out of 'em!"

Superman nodded, before he clicked on the Sonic Wave-Neutralizer in his belt. "Go for it, Little Red."

Instantly, Spider-Man shot out a web-line to the ceiling, reeling himself in to stick to the ceiling over Siryn and Black Cat. By then, Black Cat had opened the glass case, switching the stone for a figurine of a black cat. She handed the stone to Siryn...as Spider-Man shot out a web-line, yanking the stone out of her grasp.

Siryn's eyes widened in surprise. "*What?!*"

"Ya know, this thing *really* doesn't match that outfit of yours." Spider-Man quipped, as he reeled in the stone. "And here I thought that *all* girls knew about color-coordination. Live and learn."

Black Cat smiled.

"Hello, again, Spider." She purred. Frowning, she added, "I'm not interested in playing, this time."

Siryn looked utterly *livid*.

"Give that *back*, you miserable insect!" She hissed. "*Raekis Shriker Pyror!*" With that, she sent a bolt of flame at Spider-Man...

"That we do." Superman agreed. "So, Little Red, any word on anything else happening?"

"Hmm..." Spider-Man thought, recalling what he'd once heard from some of the small-time crooks he'd busted a while ago "...now that you mention it, word on the street is that something's going down at the museum, tonight."

Superman nodded...and then his belt-buckle started beeping. He quickly unclipped it from his belt, and opened it into a communicator. "Superman here." he said.

"*Superman, it's Cyclops. Alison told us that she overheard the Brotherhood mention that Siryn is planning on stealing something from the New York Museum, tonight.*"

"Thanks, Cyclops." Superman replied. "I'll get back to you, on that. Superman out." With that, he shut off the link, folding up the communicator, putting it back on his belt.

Spider-Man arched an eyebrow behind his mask. "Sounds like we're workin' the same case." he said.

Superman nodded. "I'd better get back to my friends; meet us on the roof next to the Museum, tonight. We're going to set up a little stake-out." he said. With that, he took to the air, flying off, and Spider-Man shot out a web-line, swinging off.

Hopefully, he still had enough time to meet MJ.

As the curtain of night fell over the Institute, Alison sat on the edge of her bed in her room. Superman and the X-Men had gone off, to stake out the Museum that Siryn was going to steal something from.

Something that she thought could increase her power enough to enchant Superman.

That was still bugging Alison. '*What could be at that museum that she would want to steal?*' she thought. Alison quickly moved to her computer, and brought up the web page for the New York Museum. She clicked on the link for the new exhibit, acting on a hunch...

'*There's nothing here...*' she thought, '*...nothing that Siryn would want to...wait a minute.*'

She clicked on the file for the Stone of Arkanas. "*The Stone of Arkanas, circa 2010 B.C.*" the file read. "*Used in arcane rituals, the Stone was rumored to enhance the mystical prowess of its holder over a thousandfold.*"

Alison's eyes widened in utter horror. If Siryn got her hands on that Stone...

She *had* to help.

'*Professor Xavier, tell Storm or Wolverine to get the X-Copter ready! The others are in danger!*' Alison mentally cried. She quickly turned to her new uniform; she'd just finished it, tonight.

She hoped she was up for this.

She grabbed her new uniform, and ran out of her room, to head for the hangar level.

Her friends needed her.

*New York Museum*

Siryn and Black Cat met on the roof of the Museum after night had fallen, next to a large skylight. Siryn had donned her uniform, and Felicia now wore her own costume: a skin-tight black bodysuit, with a plunging v-neckline outlined in white fur, as well as gloves with cat-like claws, and a silver tool-belt, and a mask that covered her eyes, leaving the lower half of her face exposed, and resembling the eyes and ears of a cat.

"Okay, Annie," Black Cat said, "you just 'port yourself in there and shut off the security system, and then I'll just open the skylight and hop in."

"Understood." Siryn agreed. With that, she snapped her fingers, vanishing in a puff of green smoke...and reappeared inside the museum, under the skylight, hovering above the floor. She looked around...and spied the fuse-box for the security system. With a wave of her hand, she sent sparks crackling from her fingertips, shorting it out.

At that, Black Cat opened the skylight and hopped down, landing on her feet. "Well, that was easy!" she said. "But we'd better do this fast, before the night watchman makes his rounds."

Siryn smiled.

"No need." She said. Then, she chanted, "*Narculis!*" Her spell sent a wave of violet energy through the museum. "The guard just decided to take a little nap."

Black Cat grinned.

"You *are* handy to have around!" She said. "Let's go!" With that, they both headed for the exhibit.

Superman and the X-Men met up with Spider-Man on the rooftop next to the Museum as planned...and saw the open skylight.

"Siryn must already be inside." Superman said. "There's no time to lose!" At that, they ran towards the open skylight, leaping to the Museum rooftop, before descending through the skylight. Superman closed his eyes, listening...

"*Hang on, there, Annie. This thing has its own pressure-sensitive security system. Give me a second...*"

"*This* way!" Superman said, pointing towards a corridor. "Siryn and her accomplice are fairly close, so stay quiet." With that, they headed down the corridor.

Superman and the others stopped at a balcony overlooking the new exhibit...where Siryn and her accomplice were standing in front of a glass case housing a fairly large, aquamarine stone.

"Black Cat." Spider-Man muttered. "Terrific."

"You know her?" Superman asked.

"Yep." Spider-Man replied. "What that 'Siryn' chick is to *you*, Cat is to *me*."

"Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, you two handle Black Cat. The rest of us will handle Siryn." Cyclops instructed.

"*Jawohl!*"

"Okay!"

"Just one second, Chief." Spider-Man said. "Just give me a few seconds before you guys drop in, and I'll get their attention, giving you guys the opening you need to *really* stick it to 'em."

Gambit arched an eyebrow. "'ow y' gon' do dat?"

Spider-Man grinned under his mask. "The same way I always do – by bugging the *hell* out of 'em!"

Superman nodded, before he clicked on the Sonic Wave-Neutralizer in his belt. "Go for it, Little Red."

Instantly, Spider-Man shot out a web-line to the ceiling, reeling himself in to stick to the ceiling over Siryn and Black Cat. By then, Black Cat had opened the glass case, switching the stone for a figurine of a black cat. She handed the stone to Siryn...as Spider-Man shot out a web-line, yanking the stone out of her grasp.

Siryn's eyes widened in surprise. "*What?!*"

"Ya know, this thing *really* doesn't match that outfit of yours." Spider-Man quipped, as he reeled in the stone. "And here I thought that *all* girls knew about color-coordination. Live and learn."

Black Cat smiled.

"Hello, again, Spider." She purred. Frowning, she added, "I'm not interested in playing, this time."

Siryn looked utterly *livid*.

"Give that *back*, you miserable insect!" She hissed. "*Raekis Shriker Pyror!*" With that, she sent a bolt of flame at Spider-Man...

...who easily saw it coming with his spider-sense, darting to another spot on the ceiling.

"Look, 'Ryn...can I call you 'Ryn?" He asked, before dodging another spell.

"Anyway, 'Ryn, technically it's 'arachnid' not 'insect.' If you're gonna insult someone, do it *right*." He dodged another fire-bolt and then attached a web-line to the ceiling, lowering himself to stare Siryn in the face. "Has anyone ever told you that you're so *cute* when you're *stupid?*"

Siryn screeched in fury as Spider-Man darted back up to the ceiling. *"Give me that stone, this **instant**!"*

Spider-Man laughed. "And why would I do a thing like that?"

Siryn froze. "Wait...if you're resisting my commands...that must mean..."

"Don't worry, Annie; I've got this." Black Cat said. She took a grapnel from her belt, and fired it, starting to pull herself towards Spider-Man...

...and then Superman fired an eye-ray slicing through the grapnel line, causing Black Cat to fall on her rear, as Spider-Man's wise cracking distraction had given him and the X-Men time to surround Siryn and Black Cat. Shadowcat quickly zipped over to the fallen thief and phased her feet into the ground, trapping her.

"Give it up, Siryn." Superman said. "We've got you surrounded *and* outnumbered."

Siryn smiled at him.

"How delightful to see you again, Kal-El." She cooed. Then, she frowned at the X-Men. "Though I would have *preferred* our meeting to be a *private* affair."

She smiled slyly.

"I'll just have to *fix* that." She added. She looked to Spider-Man. "*Levitateus!*"

Instantly, the stone floated out of Spider-Man's hands, and into Siryn's, as she began to utter an incantation over it. In seconds, the stone flared to life, glowing bright blue.

"*Exilus!*" She snapped and instantly, before anyone could stop her spell, the X-Men and Spider-Man all vanished. Superman glared at her.

"*What did you do to them?!*" He demanded.

"Oh, don't worry." Siryn cooed. "They're just in a pocket dimension; they're perfectly safe. I'll bring them back, if you want..."

She smiled flirtatiously. "...*after*, of course, I'm through with you."

By then, Black Cat had recovered.

"*Damn*, Anita, I can *see* why you're hot for him! I mean me-*yow*!" She exclaimed. Her expression turned sheepish. "So...mind getting my feet unstuck?"

"In a minute, Cat." Siryn said. "Hubby and I have a long-overdue reunion."

Superman's eyes narrowed. "My answer hasn't changed, Siryn."

"Oh, but it *will*." Siryn purred. With that, she conjured a cloud of deep blue mist, which engulfed Superman.

After trying to see through the mist, Superman inhaled and unleashed his gale breath...to no avail, as the mist just flowed back around him. Siryn's voice giggled.

"*That won't work this time, Kal-El.*" She cooed. "*The Stone of Arkanas makes my powers strong enough to hold you, here.*" Then, a Siryn phantom appeared before him, wrapping herself around him, nuzzling her head into his chest. "*And there's no **way** I'm letting you go, this time."*

Superman shook off the phantom, but his head was getting fuzzy, as if his brain had been packed with cotton; Siryn's magic *was* stronger.

"Release my friends, Siryn." He demanded. "Holding them isn't going to change my mind."

Siryn laughed, as another phantom embraced him.

"*Oh, my darling Kal-El, I'd be happy to free them...once you accept me, my love.*" Her voice purred. "*Why do you resist me? Am I so repulsive to you? Do you not find me attractive?*"

Superman shook her off, trying to clear his head.

"Beauty is only skin-deep, Siryn." He said, getting drowsy. "I can see what you *really* are."

Siryn was as much a monster as her father. She was after his very soul.

And her spell was making it harder to resist.

"*Kal-El, I don't **have** to be what you think I am.*" Siryn pouted, her phantom whispering into his ear. "*You have no **idea** what I can do for you, my beloved. With me beside you, there will be **nothing** that we cannot do. You can rule the entire world, you are a living **god**, my darling. With you leading them, the mutant race will take it's rightful place as the new dominant people of this planet. And with you leading them, they can be whatever you wish: peaceful, wise, caring...all the things that **you** are.*" Her voice was soft, teasing. "*And at the end of every day, you can return to a wife who will love you **forever**.*"

Superman gritted his teeth, gathering every ounce of his willpower to shake off the phantom.

"Siryn, you don't know the *meaning* of the word." He said. Siryn cared for nothing but *herself.*

But her words were so easy to believe; they had such *power*...

Then, Superman thought he could hear helicopter blades over the museum...and then another set of footsteps approaching.

Siryn's voice giggled.

"*Kal-El, you cannot resist me.*" She cooed, as yet another phantom appeared before him, her hands gliding across his face. *"I can give you the **world**...and all I want in return...is **you**...*" With that, she started to lean towards him, to kiss him...and Superman's willpower was at it's limits. He didn't know if he could resist much longer...

Suddenly, a blinding flash of light blazed through the mist, startling Siryn and disrupting her spell.

"You heard him, witch. *Beat* it."

That voice was a sharp contrast to Siryn's devilish whispers and promises - a command issued directly from Heaven's gates. Superman looked away from a now-solid Siryn, still holding the stone, who was trying to kiss him, to see... "Dazzler?"

Alison smiled, looking just as angelic as she sounded.

"Sorry I'm late." She cooed. She was in a different uniform than the one she'd used in training. This uniform was made of a bright white, almost silvery material. It consisted of skin-tight silvery pants, with built-in boots similar to those of her previous uniform, as well as an upper part with the center section missing, revealing the middle of her flat, perfectly trim abdomen and partially exposing the sides of her curves. Her shoulders were left bare, with a "collar" of silvery material around her neck, as the upper part of her uniform completely covered her back and wrapped around her front, with it's zipper running down her back. Around her waist was a silvery belt, with a silver X-crest on the buckle...and it looked like an MP3 player had been built into the buckle, the ear-phones built into the suit itself, as they rested in her ears, held there securely by the ear-holders that had been built in. She also wore long, silvery gloves, ending at her upper arm and completely covering her hands, with a light purple stone built into them over the backs of her hands. Her skin was lightly sparkling.

Superman tried to fight off the spell, to warn Dazzler of how powerful Siryn was. He had to help her...

Dazzler took a deep breath as a very angry Siryn glared at her.

"How *dare* you?!" She screeched. "You just mind your own business, wench!"

Dazzler laughed.

"I'm a wench?" She shot back. "Look who's talking, Little Miss Can't-Take-A-Hint! He said *no*, so *get **lost**!*"

Siryn's eyes narrowed in fury.

"*Raekis Shriker Glacis!*" She hissed, casting ice at her...but Dazzler just turned up the volume on her music and generated a hard-light barrier, easily repelling the spell.

It looked like Superman was starting to shake off the spell, but she had to get the stone away from Siryn.

As Siryn readied another spell, Dazzler dropped her barrier, running behind a stone column...and then ran back out. Shrieking in utter fury, Siryn let it fly, striking Dazzler...and causing her to fizzle into nothingness.

Siryn was startled; that wasn't supposed to happen. "What...?"

"They're called holograms, Einstein!" The real Dazzler laughed, as she ran out from the other side of the column, firing an energy-beam that sent Siryn flying, and sending the Stone skittering across the floor...

The instant it left her hand, Superman returned to his senses...

"Levitateus!" Siryn screeched, recovering the stone...causing Superman to become dazed, again, though he was clearly starting to recover. Siryn glared at her opponent...only to find *seven* Dazzlers in front of her. Then, the Dazzlers started to run at her.

Siryn blasted one Dazzler with a fire spell; only a hologram. She took out another two with a wall of ice; likewise, only holograms. She got *another* two with a wave of lightning; both fake. The last two were too close; she could only get one...so she blasted the one on the left with fire.

"Wrong choice!" The real Dazzler yelled, as she wound up and punched Siryn in the face.

*CRACKLE-ZAP!*

Dazzler's punch unleashed a massive electrical charge, sending Siryn flying, though she still held onto the Stone...but her hair was frizzed something awful. Dazzler smiled.

"Ever hear of the piezoelectric effect, LeRoux?" She asked. "It's just simple physics. A quartz stone." She pointed to the stone in her glove. "Plus sonic vibrations...equals you *getting knocked flat on your ass!*"

Siryn was utterly furious. She stood up, took a deep breath...and unleashed the deadliest sonic scream that she'd *ever* let loose. The scream's force sent Dazzler flying back a good fifty feet.

"Kal-El is *mine*, you little *twit!*" Siryn screamed, walking over to finish Dazzler off...

...but she stopped, as Dazzler stood up, her natural sparkling now a radiant glow.

"That was really, really *stupid*, LeRoux." Dazzler said. "Don't you *remember* how my power *works?*"

Siryn's eyes widened in utter horror, as she realized what she'd just done...

Dazzler unleashed a flare of light brighter than a supernova, in a blast that sent Siryn flying over seventy feet, sending the Stone skittering away. Siryn ran towards it, trying to grab it...

...and then a recovered Superman picked it up. Siryn froze as he glared at her.

"I think." Superman said firmly. "That this thing has caused *enough* trouble." With that, he clapped it between his hands, reducing it to nothing but dust.

"***NOOOOOOO!***" Siryn screamed.

Instantly, the X-Men and Spider-Man reappeared.

"Wha...what happened?" Avalanche asked.

"I think we just took a trip to the Twilight Zone." Spider-Man groaned.

Siryn looked at Superman...before she smiled.

"This is but a minor setback, Kal-El." She cooed. "I *will* have you."

Then, she glared at Dazzler.

"And as for *you*, you little wench...I will *not* forget this!" She hissed. With that, she snapped her fingers, vanishing in a cloud of green haze. Superman sighed.

"They *never* forget." He groaned.

Dazzler giggled. "That chick has a *serious* problem."

By then, the other X-Men noticed Dazzler.

"*Aly?!*" Shadowcat exclaimed. Dazzler smiled.

"I thought you guys could use some backup." She said. "I figured that Siryn was after the Stone of Arkanas...but I didn't get here in time to warn you."

Cyclops smiled.

"Thanks for your help Alison." He said. "Well, at least we can ask Black Cat about what Siryn told her about her plans."

Spider-Man looked to where Black Cat had been trapped...and groaned.

"Don't be too sure, guys." He said, as he gestured to the empty pair of boots stuck in the floor. "Cat's a shifty lady; I can't even *tell* you how many times she's gotten away from me."

Superman nodded. "You'll catch her, eventually, Little Red."

By then, Kitty had taken notice of Dazzler's new uniform. "Oh my gosh, Aly, I absolutely *love* your uniform!"

Alison smiled.

"Thanks; I made it myself." She said. "The material is supposed to conduct sound more easily. My MP3 player is built into the belt, and my gloves have quartz stones in them."

Superman smiled.

"The piezoelectric effect...Aly, that's *brilliant!*"

Dazzler smiled, lightly blushing.

"Thanks." She murmured.

"We'd better get out of here, before the police arrive." Cyclops said.

"Good idea." Superman agreed and they all headed back to the skylight. Jean simply levitated herself and Scott out of the museum, as Spider-Man created a web rope, enabling him and the others to simply climb out.

Shadowcat chuckled as she walked towards the rope, next to Rogue.

"So, Rogue, has your opinion about Aly changed? Do you still think she's a 'run-of-the-mill, curvaceous, blond, leggy, diva?"

Dazzler arched an eyebrow.

"Really?" She asked, smiling. "You think that about me?"

"Yep." Rogue said, grinning. "Except now Ah think ye're a curvaceous, blond, leggy diva with *attitude*. Ye're gonna be just *fahne*."

Dazzler smiled.

"Thanks...I *think*." She replied.

By then, the others, except Superman, had climbed out. Shadowcat and Rogue started to climb out, and Dazzler was about to follow...when Superman stepped in front of her.

"That's okay, Ali." She said, smiling. "I'll help." He held out his hand.

Dazzler paused as she felt her face start to heat up.

"O-Okay." She said, as she took his hand. As she did, Superman began to float upwards, taking her with him; in seconds, they had touched down on the rooftop, where Storm was waiting in the X-Copter, the stealth helicopter that the X-Men sometimes used.

Superman turned to Spider-Man.

"Thanks for the assist, Spider-Man." He said, extending his hand. Spider-Man shook his hand.

"Any time, Big Blue!" He replied. "Later, guys!" With that, he leapt out into open air, firing a web line and swinging off. Then, Dazzler and the X-Men started to make their way back down to the X-Van parked in a alley, as Storm took off in the X-Copter and Superman took to the sky.

Soon, the X-Van had pulled into the Institute's driveway, where Superman was waiting. As the X-Men headed into the Institute, Dazzler was about to follow them...

"Aly?"

Alison stopped, turning to Superman.

"Yes, Clark?" She asked. Superman looked concerned.

"Aly, ever since you came here...we haven't talked much." He said. "Every time we try to talk..."

"I...I know, Clark." Alison replied. Superman's expression turned sad.

"Aly...are you afraid of me?" He whispered. "Because I'm...not from around here...?"

Alison's eyes widened.

"Am I...oh, *no*, Clark! Oh, *God*, no!" She cried. "I'm not *scared* of you, Clark." She lowered her eyes. "I'm just...a little intimidated."

Superman looked confused. "*Why?*"

"Because of what you do!" Alison cried. "Clark, you do so many amazing things! You catch airplanes! You've patched sinking boats! Clark, you even saved the *world!* Everything you do is just *incredible!*" Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"How can I possibly measure up to that?" She murmured. "How can I be your friend like before...when you're so high above everyone else?"

Superman's eyes widened.

"Aly..." He said softly. "...I'm not any better or worse than *anyone*, here. We each have our own unique gifts." He smiled. "Mine just happen to come from the fact that my Kryptonian physiology lets me absorb solar power." His smile grew. "Alison, yours comes from your *voice*; your songs touch people's lives all over the world, in ways that I can't. That's *amazing*, Aly."

Alison smiled. "Really?"

Superman nodded.

"*No-one* ever has to be afraid or intimidated by me..." He said. "...*especially* not you, Ali."

Alison could feel her face starting to get rosy at that.

"Thanks, Clark." She said. "I've just...never been friends with a superhero, before."

Superman smiled. "Well, if it helps any, *I've* never been friends with a pop-star, before."

Alison giggled at that. She smiled mischievously. "So, Clarkie...ever used those eyes of yours to peek into the girls locker room?"

Superman's face went red.

"*Never!*" He cried. Alison laughed.

"I'm sorry! I'm only teasing!" She said. "I know you'd never do anything like that, Clark!"

Clark chuckled.

"Good." He said. Then, he froze. "*Uh-oh."*

Alison giggled. "Duty calls. I guess."

Superman smiled.

"Tell the others that I'll be a little late, okay, Aly?" He asked and Alison nodded. With that, Superman took to the sky, flying off at top speed, a sonic boom echoing in his wake.

Alison smiled as Superman flew off.

*'I hope we can be more than friends, Clark.'* She thought. Then, she headed inside.

Siryn was *not* in a good mood after she'd 'ported herself back to her hotel room.

*'How did that little wench ever get the best of me?'* She mentally fumed.

Suddenly, her phone rang. She picked it up. "Hello?"

"*It has come to my understanding that there was a debacle at the Museum, just now."*

Anita froze. "Papa...I can explain."

"*You attempted to obtain the Stone of Arkanas."* Her father said. *"Anita...why did you not consult with me in this matter? There were easier ways to obtain it."*

Anita lowered her head in shame.

"I...I thought I could handle it myself, Father." She said.

"*Anita, my child, there is no shame in utilizing all the resources available to you."* Her father chastised. "*That was foolishness."*

Anita lowered her head. "Yes, Father."

"*Though even the greatest must experience failure, my child, there must still be consequences."* Her father continued. "*For the remainder of this month, your shopping privileges are revoked.*"

At that, her credit cards floated out of her purse and vanished. Anita lightly gasped, before she went silent. Her father heard her.

"*You will accept your punishment and you will learn something from it.*" He said sternly.

Anita nodded dutifully. "Yes, Father."

"*Anita, my dear, I believe that you are going about this the wrong way; trying to enchant Kal-El as if he were like any other man simply will not work.*" Her Papa said. "I*nstead, you should appeal to his virtues; convince him that he can do more allied with you than he can alone.*"

"I understand, Papa." Anita replied.

"*I know, my dear. Good-bye.*"

"Good-bye, Papa." Anita said, as she hung up. *'Kal-El, you will find that I do not give up, easily.'* She thought with a smile. Then, her eyes narrowed. *'And **you'*****, Alison Blaire, will regret** ever **crossing me!**