Shadowcat

Just beyond Earth's atmosphere, Superman had his eyes closed, listening for anything.

He frequently patrolled Earth from his current position, to avoid being spotted by satellites. This made listening for trouble a lot easier. Up here, he could listen to all the sounds of the people below. He was at peace hearing them.

Then his eyes shot open, having picked something up.

*"Mayday, Mayday! This is Continental Flight 257, over Northbrook, Illinois; one of our engines blew out! We're going down!"*

Superman re-entered the atmosphere, as he flew to stop the plane's crash landing.

When he got there, an African-American man was stabilizing the plane.

"Oh hello." He greeted Superman.

Superman then put the fire in the engine out, as the African-American man kept the plane level.

He then overheard the pilot and co-pilot.

*"What the...we're leveling off?"*

"*Looks like we've got a guardian angel.*" The pilot said, before he picked up the radio. "*Attention, Northbrook Air Control, this is Flight 257. We have leveled off and are making an emergency landing at Runway Seven; have emergency crews ready, because we're coming in!*" The African-American man let go of the plane and followed to the landing strip with Superman.

When the plane safely, but roughly touched down, Superman decided to find out the African-American man's identity.

"Who are you?" He raised a eyebrow.

"My name's Arnus of Terminus. You can call me Icon though."

After Icon introduced himself, Superman flew off and paused over the town of Northbrook; it looked like a pleasant little place, he noted, smiling. Suddenly, he stopped, as he heard the earth vibrating – an *earthquake*.

'*Last time I checked Northbrook isn't on any fault lines...*' Superman thought...and then the tremors stopped. He was about to head to the Institute, to check with Professor Xavier on this matter...when he heard the terrified scream of a young girl.

Superman was about to track that cry, when he realized what it had sounded like; the pitch of the scream had made it sound...

...like the girl was...*falling through the floor*.

Tracking the cry to the girl's home, Superman was relieved to see that the girl's parents were with her, comforting her. He was about to fly off...when he saw one of the girl's blankets *stuck in the ceiling*.

Just then, his belt-communicator began to beep. Superman quickly took it out and opened it. "Hello?"

"*Superman, it's Professor Xavier. Cerebro has detected two mutant signatures in Northbrook, Illinois. One is Lance Alvers, a 16-year-old sophomore at Northbrook High; he has the ability of geological manipulation.*"

"Earthquakes." Superman said. "That explains a few things. And the other?"

"*Katherine Pryde*, *a 15-year-old freshman at the same school; her power is that of corporeal intangibility.*"

"Phases through solid matter."

"*Precisely. Jean and I are on our way out there in the Blackbird; can you meet us at a clearing outside the city limits?*"

"No problem." Superman replied. "I just need my street clothes."

*"We'll bring them with us."* The Professor said. *"We'll approach them in the morning."*

"Smart." Superman said. "I'll meet you shortly."

*Northbrook, Pryde Residence, a few minutes earlier*

In her bedroom, 15-year-old Katherine "Kitty" Pryde was sound asleep. Kitty was of average height for her age, and of slender build, making her seem very tiny. Her baby-blue eyes were closed in sleep, her fairly long chestnut hair tied in her usual ponytail, clad in her favorite pink pajama shirt and shorts.

As she slept, Kitty dreamed. In her dream, she was walking along the sidewalk, just outside of her house, still in her pajamas. Suddenly, she began to float, and was soon high above Northbrook.

*'Wow...is this what it's like for Superman?*' she thought with a smile.

Suddenly, she began to fall, and she screamed in horror.

'*Help! Someone, help! Please, Superman, help me!*' She cried with her thoughts, for no plea would leave her hysterical lips. Then, it was too late, as she crashed towards the ground...

...and passed right *through* it.

Kitty woke up screaming, sitting on the cold floor...of the *living room*?

'*How...how did I get here?!*' She thought, frightened.

"Kitten, what's wrong?" Her father's voice said as her parents, Alexander and Rebecca Pryde, came down to see her. Alexander was a tall, well-built man in his early fifties, with light skin, brown eyes, and greying black hair, clad in his brown robe over his boxers. Rebecca, an elegantly built lady of average height, was in her late forties, with long, chestnut hair, light skin, and blue eyes, wearing her blue robe over her nightgown.

"Oh, sweetheart, you were having a nightmare." Her mother soothed.

Kitty sniffled.

"I...I dreamed I had fallen into the earth!" she wailed, hugging her mother.

"There, there, honey...it was only a dream." Her mother reassured her.

Her father then looked at the ceiling and became pale.

"That wasn't a dream."

Both Kitty and her Mom looked up; Rebecca gasped, and Kitty's eyes went wide.

Her blanket was *stuck in the ceiling*.

Kitty looked to her parents.

"Mom? Dad?" She whimpered. "What's going on?"

Morning soon came, and Superman met the Professor and Jean, in the Blackbird, at a clearing outside Northbrook's limits, far from prying eyes. After finding his street clothes – his black jeans, blue t-shirt and black jacket – and changing, Clark met Xavier and Jean in the Planning Room on the Blackbird.

"How do you intend to do this?" Clark asked.

"We'll visit Katherine's family before we try to contact Katherine." The Professor said. "Once we've made contact with the Prydes, we'll try to locate Lance."

Jean smiled.

"Well, Clark, you can consider this your first recruitment mission." She chuckled.

"Hopefully I do a good job." At that, the three of them got in the modified minivan – the "X-Van" as it had been nicknamed – that they had brought with them, and drove into Northbrook.

At her home, Kitty had woken up, and gotten dressed, choosing her favorite pink sweater over a white t-shirt, and her blue capri pants. Before leaving her room, she flicked on the TV, to check the news.

"...reports are coming in of a 747 experiencing an engine blow-out, and then miraculously landing safely at Northbrook Airport!" the anchorwoman said. "We take you now to the statement of the pilot of Flight 257."

"*I thought we were goners for sure."* The pilot said. "*But then, all of a sudden, we started leveling off! I don't know how, but we made it to the Airport, with hardly a scratch! I can remember looking out the window at the starboard wing, and I thought I saw...something, I'm not sure what it was, but...I think someone was holding the plane in place."*

"Well, viewers, what do you think?" the anchorwoman asked, smiling. "Was this a true, modern-day miracle...or did Northbrook just have its very first sighting of the elusive being known only as 'Superman'? This is Leanne Mitchell, signing off!"

'*Well, **duh'*****! Of** course **it was Superman!*'*** Kitty mentally squealed, her hands clasped in delighted amazement from the report***.** Oh my God, he was **here**! In my town! Possibly above **my** house!*' Quickly, Kitty darted to her computer, found the Superman electronic forum, and printed off a copy of the report. Taking the printout, she opened her walk-in closet, and clipped it with the other Superman clippings she had collected...including a copy of the very *first* photo taken of him, the stylized 'S' just barely visible to the naked eye. Smiling, she left her room, heading downstairs with her backpack.

Reaching the main floor of her house, Kitty was almost out the door...when her mother came in. "Good morning, Kitten." she greeted. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, Mom." Kitty replied, wondering how her mother could stay calm after last night.

"On the news, they're talking about that 'Superman' again." her mother continued. "Honestly! Why do people get so worked up over a silly urban legend?"

Kitty's eyes almost rolled back into her *head*. "*Mom*, Superman is *totally real*!"

"If you say so, honey." Rebecca said. "When do you plan to be home?"

Kitty had had enough.

"Mom, you can't, like, just pretend nothing happened!" She shouted. "I'm going to school!" With that, she stormed out the door.

After catching the bus, Kitty walked into Northbrook High School, slightly nervous, as always. Ever since she'd started freshman year, it seemed like she had a "bull's eye" painted on her, as far as the older girls were concerned. She started to put her things in her locker...

...and froze as she found herself cornered by Riley Chase and Amy O'Neill, sophomore-year *uberbitches* extraordinaire. Riley, 16, was the typical high-school cheerleading queen bee; tall, curvy, perfect light skin, long, curly blond hair, green eyes, clad in the most trendy clothes that her rich daddy's credit card could buy: slim blue jeans, high-heeled shoes, and a violet halter-top that could make *any* boy look twice. Amy, Riley's best friend, was also 16, with mid-length brown hair, brown eyes, light skin, wearing khaki pants, high-heeled shoes, and a blue t-shirt.

Ever since Kitty had come here, Riley had made Kitty her personal verbal punching-bag, and where Riley went, Amy was never far behind.

"Uh...h-hey, Riley, Amy. W-What's up?" Kitty asked nervously.

Amy just smirked. "'What's up'?" she mocked. "Pathetic."

"Didn't you hear, Pryde?" Riley sneered. "There's an Algebra pop-quiz, today, so you need your textbook."

"But...it's in my locker." Kitty stammered.

"Then you'd better get it." Riley said, smiling evilly. "Don't worry; we'll help."

In less than a minute, Kitty found herself stuffed in her locker...*again*.

Trying to suppress her tears, Kitty tried hitting the door, to draw attention to herself, but to no avail; everyone was heading to class. She *had* to get out...

Suddenly, she felt herself falling *through* the steel door, and bumping into the school punk, Lance Alvers, who had been spraying graffiti on the lockers. Lance was a tall, fairly well-built young man of 16, with short, thick brown hair, brown eyes, and light skin, wearing his usual tattered blue jeans, black t-shirt, and brown vest.

Lance looked utterly shocked as he saw her. "Did you...fall *through* that locker?" he asked.

"*No*!" Kitty cried. "I've got to get to class, so leave me alone!" With that she ran off, trying to keep from crying.

"Hey." Lance called. Kitty stopped, and turned around. Lance smiled. "Don't worry." Lance said. "I understand...because I'm like you." With that, he gestured...

...and the earth *moved*.

Kitty was horrified.

"I...I've got to go!" She cried, and she bolted off.

She just wanted this day to *end*.

Within a few hours, Clark, the Professor, and Jean had reached the Pryde residence, and were standing outside the door. Before long, Mrs. Pryde come to the door.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Mrs. Pryde, I am Professor Charles Xavier, head of the Xavier Institute for Gifted Children. These are two of my students, Clark Kent and Jean Grey. We wanted to talk to you about your daughter, Kitty."

"I...I'm sorry." Mrs. Pryde answered. "You've come to the wrong place. There's nothing different about my daughter." She started to close the door.

"Ma'am." Clark said. "We understand that this is hard to talk about – believe me, we know. But, the truth is, if you don't talk about it, it gets even *harder* to deal with...especially for the one going through it. Take that from someone who knows."

Mrs. Pryde paused.

"Kitty is at school, right now." She said. "Alexander – my husband – is at work. Please, come in." She opened the door, letting them in.

Inside, Mrs. Pryde invited them to sit in the living room, where the Professor explained things to her. "You mean...my little Kitten is some kind of...mutant?" She gasped, after Xavier was finished. "Dear Lord...where did we go wrong?"

The Professor shook his head.

"Mrs. Pryde, it's nothing to be ashamed of." He assured her. "Kitty simply has an advanced X-Gene, like myself and Ms. Grey. Each X-Gene is different; it grants me telepathy, and it gives Jean telekinesis, as well as telepathy."

"What's his story?" She asked.

"He's...a special case."

"What can he do?"

Clark chuckled.

"You probably wouldn't believe it even if I told you."

"Our Institute is a place where X-Gene-positive individuals can learn to control their talents, free from persecution." Xavier said. "We would like to offer Kitty a place there."

Mrs. Pryde thought for a moment. "Kitty...said she's been bullied by two other girls ever since she started high school." she said. "It...sounds like a good idea...but I should check with her, first." She got up. "I'll just call her cell phone." She picked up her phone and dialed. After a few minutes, she hung up. "She must be at gym class. I'll call the school." She picked up the phone book...and a newspaper clipping fell out. "Oh, good grief!" Mrs. Pryde said. "It's another of those 'Superman' articles that she collects! *Honestly*! Anyway, I'll just be a minute." With that, she headed into the kitchen to make the call.

Clark grimaced. "You're not serious."

Jean suppressed a giggle.

"Looks like you've got a fan, here, Clark." She said.

"Jean, head over to Northbrook High and try to make contact with Kitty and Lance." the Professor said. "Clark and I will stay to talk with the Prydes."

"I will." Jean agreed. With that, she hurried out the door, as Clark and Xavier stayed behind.

On top of the school, Lance, along with his pals, Griff and Pete, were watching the outdoor gym class. Specifically, Lance was watching that girl, Kitty Pryde.

"Lance." Griff – a short, 15-year-old kid with red hair and freckles, wearing jeans, a blue t-shirt and a baseball cap – asked, "how's this girl gonna help us?"

"Just trust me." Lance said. He watched as Kitty tried the long-jump...and landed flat on her face. He watched as she got up...and super-bitch Riley said something that made her run off. Growling, Lance concentrated, just as it was Riley's turn; the earth shook just as Riley jumped, causing her to wipe-out even *worse*.

Pete – a 15-year-old with blond hair, blue eyes, wearing khaki pants, a green t-shirt, and a black vest – smirked. "You like her, don't you?"

"*Shut up!*" Lance snarled, the earth shaking, causing his pals to back off. "I'm going after her." With that, he ran off, to find Kitty.

'*This is, like, **so** officially the worst day of my life.*' Kitty thought as she darted into the old theater building, still in her gym clothes: a light olive t-shirt, and olive sweat pants. She walked onto the stage, utterly dejected.

"Hello there."

Startled, Kitty spun around, seeing a tall, beautiful red-head, the kind of girl Kitty wished *she* were; she'd never seen *this* girl before.

"My name's Jean Grey." She introduced herself. "I'm a mutant just like you."

'*A mutant?*' Kitty thought. "I...I don't know what you're talking about..."

Jean smiled...and one of the old theater masks suddenly rose into the air.

"The X-Gene gives you intangibility – the power to phase through solid matter – just as it gives me telekinesis and telepathy." She explained.

'*Telepathy?!*' Kitty thought – she knew what *that* was.

"S-Stay out of my head!" She cried.

Jean froze. "I would *never*..!"

"Just leave me alone!" Kitty yelled, fighting tears. "I'm *not* some freaky mutant and I don't *want* to be! *It's hard enough just being **normal**!*" With that, she ran away.

Jean sighed. '*Well, that went well.*' she thought sarcastically. She turned to go...

"*Hey*!"

Startled, Jean turned to see an angry Lance Alvers storm up to her. "Stay away from Kitty." he growled. "She has *enough* people picking on her."

Jean remained calm. "Lance, we want to help her," she said, "and we want to help you, too."

"*Right*." Lance sneered. "Just like the guidance counselors. Well, I don't *need* your help, lady, and neither does Kitty!" With that, he stormed off.

Sighing, Jean used her telepathy to contact Xavier. '*Professor?*'

'*Yes, Jean?*'

'*I just tried to talk to Kitty and Lance. Lance isn't interested, and Kitty ran off before I could really talk to her.*'

Jean felt the Professor chuckle. '*Don't worry, Jean. I have another person in mind to talk to her.*'

After school let out, Kitty, back in her regular clothes, was walking home; that guy, Lance, had offered to help her, because he was a mutant, too.

'*A freak...*' Kitty thought sadly, '*...just like me.*'

She had walked to a hill in the forest, overlooking the school; it was her favorite spot for thinking. She sat down, put her knapsack aside...and just started crying. She cried for over five minutes, her sobs turning to full-out wails, tears running down her face. "It isn't *fair*!" she bawled. "Why can't I just be *normal*?!" Then, she just kept crying.

She was crying so loudly, she never heard the sound of feet touching down next to her.

"What's so great about being normal?"

'*Oh, great! **Another** one!*' Kitty thought, miserably sarcastic. "Go *away*!" she wailed. "Just leave me *alone*!"

"Hey..." The guy said softly, "...it's okay to be scared, Kitty. I *understand* what you're going through..."

"You *can't* understand!" Kitty yelled. "You can't know what it feels like to be such a total fre..." She took that moment to look up...

...and *froze*.

The guy was *big*, in both height *and* muscle – the image of a Greek *god*, an absolute *titan*, with powerful arms and legs, and a six-pack...*no*, an *eight*-pack of flawless abdominal muscles. His face was *gorgeous*, the perfect mix of "male model" and "action hero," the kind of face no self-respecting girl could resist, with slicked black hair, with a few spiky tufts arcing down over his forehead, only *enhancing* his rugged good looks, his piercing blue eyes looking right *through* her, but she wasn't scared, because his kind smile reassured her. He wore a blue bodysuit, with tight red shorts, a yellow belt, red boots, a long, red cape...

...and a stylized red 'S' emblazoned on his chest, within a red-outlined yellow diamond.

'*He's here...*' Kitty thought, **and he's a total** HOTTIE'*!*' At that, her brain simply stopped, refusing to process any more information...

Superman just smiled. "Actually, I think I *might* have an idea."

Kitty couldn't speak. She was a smart cookie; she was acing every class – except gym, since she was a total klutz – but now, sitting before this hero, this *legend*...her brain *would not work*.

Superman noticed, and was even *nicer* to her than he was before. "I'm sorry if I scared you; I heard you crying." he said. "Oh, by the way, I'm..."

And Kitty's brain *finally* started working.

"*OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD!*" Kitty squealed, jumping up and down. "*You're HERE! You're really, really HERE!*"

Superman paused. "Uh..."

"*You heard me crying, didn't you?!*" Kitty squealed again.

"Um..."

"Oh my God, I'm totally freaking you out!" Kitty cried. "Oh, nice going, Pryde!"

"Well..."

"I'm standing next to freaking *Superman* and I act like a total *spaz*!" Kitty lamented. "No *wonder – "*

And then Superman shushed her by simply placing one finger over her lips. Kitty didn't say a *word*, at that point.

"Kitty, if I could fly just *half* as fast as you can talk, I could reach *Saturn* in a *day*!" Superman said, laughing – the kind of soft, gentle laugh that nearly made Kitty *melt*, making her feel completely at ease. He gently removed his finger, and Kitty didn't dare say anything. "Now, I'm here because I *do* understand how you feel." Superman continued. "My friend Jean told me you were upset, so I decided to come talk to you."

"She was *your* friend?!" Kitty cried, utterly horrified. She lowered her gaze. "Oh, *God*...what you must *think* of me..."

"I think that you're scared." Superman said. "Lord knows, *anyone* would be, in your shoes."

Kitty softly sniffled. "Superman, not even *you* can help me." She sniffed. "My parents think I'm, like, a total *freak*..."

"Kitty, how do you think *my* parents felt?" Superman asked. "I know *my* Dad was pretty freaked when his five-month-old adopted son suddenly lifted his old pick-up truck over his head!"

Kitty looked up.

"Really?" She asked.

"Really." Superman answered. Chuckling, he added, "And, dear *Lord*, don't even get me *started* about the time when I was six and I sneezed off the south wall of our barn! For *months*, every time my nose even *twitched*, my Dad yelled, '*Head for the hills!*'"

Kitty giggled. "Oh my God, you *didn't*!"

"I *did*." Superman said, smiling. "Kitty, I've been 'freaky' ever since I got here...and my parents *still* love me. Your parents love you, too, Kitty; they just need a little time, that's all."

Kitty felt *so* much better after hearing that; Superman was so easy to talk to. Then, Kitty frowned. "I just wish I could be freaky at a *different* school." she sniffed. "Oh *God*, when this gets out, Riley and Amy are going to make my life even *more* miserable than it already *is*! Ever since I started school here, Riley and Amy have made me their personal verbal punching-bag! They're going to pick on me even *worse*, now! Every single night, I've been crying myself to sleep!" She started sniffling, again.

Very gently, Superman placed his mighty hand on her tiny shoulder. "I know you do, Kitty. I *hear* you."

Kitty looked up through her tears. "You...you do?"

"I hear *everyone*, Kitty." Superman said. "I hear every teenager crying themselves to sleep; I hear every mother crying because her son's killer got off free; I hear every child crying for his mother who just died of heart failure...or because someone didn't care enough to take a cab after going drinking; and I hear every single bullet fired from some punk's gun. I hear every single bad thing going on in this world, Kitty...and, sometimes, I just can't get there in time to stop it." He closed his eyes. "And when *that* happens...those noises are *deafening*."

Kitty didn't dare speak for a moment. "*Wow*...it sounds like omnipotence totally *sucks*."

Superman chuckled. "Kitty, I am *not* all-powerful; I'm just a man." he said. "Besides, I hear other things, too. I hear every new couple when they find out they're going to be parents; I hear every cheer from every graduation; and I hear every infant's first gasp for air. For every example of despair I hear...I hear *three* examples of *hope*."

"Wow..." Kitty murmured. She weakly smiled. "If I had a *cool* ability, I wouldn't mind so much." she said. She frowned. "All I can do is get out of lockers."

Superman chuckled.

"Kitty, intangibility *is* a cool power." He said. "You can pass through solid matter as if it wasn't even *there*! *I* wouldn't mind having it."

"*R-Really*?" Kitty stammered, her face going red. "T-Thanks!"

Superman smiled. "But I think I might be able to help you with your problem, Kitty. You see, I attend..." He froze, looking off in the distance. "*Uh-oh*."

Kitty blinked. "'Uh-oh'?"

Superman focused, his eyes closing, *listening*. "There's a transmission on the international emergency channel." he said. "Beeps...dots, dashes...Morse Code! *SOS!*"

"What? What is it?" Kitty asked, as she watched him focus on something she couldn't perceive.

"There's a Russian sub under the North Pole; they're taking on water!" Superman said. "There's no way any rescue ship can get there in time! They only have a few hours of air left!" He looked back to her. "Kitty, we'll have to finish this talk later." he added. "They need help; I'll be back soon."

Kitty smiled weakly.

"Promise?" She whispered.

Superman smiled, and then gave her a friendly wink, before saying, "I *never* lie."

And with that, he took off into the sky, flying at speeds no aircraft could match, a sonic boom echoing in his wake.

"*Wow*..." Kitty sighed, almost *swooning*; she couldn't believe it. She had *talked* to *Superman*! '*Riley will **so'*** **totally** hate **me if she knew!** Everyone **knows she's an even bigger Superman fan than** I **am!*' she thought. Then, she giggled.*** *Maybe I just won't tell her.*'

"Making friends?"

Startled, Kitty turned around, and saw Lance there, frowning. "Do you think that overgrown Boy Scout *honestly* understands you?" he said.

Kitty paused. "He said..."

"He *flies*, Kitty...and because of it, his head's so far up in the clouds that he *can't* understand what it's like, down here. All that people like us have is *each other*."

Kitty didn't know what to do.

"Uh..." She stammered.

Lance smiled. "You just need control, Kitty, and I can help you get it." He said. "Meet me outside the school in one hour. I'll show you how." With that, he walked away, leaving a very confused Kitty behind.

After discreetly raising the submarine to the surface so that the Russian crew could use their life-rafts, Superman let the sub go, letting it sink, before jetting away, remaining under the surface of the icy water, out of sight. Once he was out of the visual range of the crew, Superman broke the surface, rising into the air, before heading back towards Northbrook, to keep his promise.

As he flew, he passed over New York City...and stopped, as he saw Wolverine, Gambit, Bishop, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Colossus and another man in a construction site, fighting...*someone* – Superman didn't know who it was. It looked like everything was under control...until the burly-looking man got back up, and picked up a large steel pipe, and threw it at them. The three managed to dodge it, but the pipe struck the cable holding up a huge steel girder, causing it to start falling...

...towards the fully-populated streets below.

Quickly, Superman shot down and grabbed the girder, before it fell enough so that people would see it – and him – and carried it up, depositing it safely at the top of the site. That taken care of, Superman flew down...to take care of this situation.

Today was supposed to have been *simple*. All Logan had wanted was a simple drive around New York City on his bike. Instead, all he got was a grudge-match in a construction site with his old "pal" Victor "Sabretooth" Creed.

Creed was one *ugly* mother: tall, built like an ox – and about as *sharp* as one, too – with wild, long, unkempt sandy hair, savage eyes, and big honkin' canine teeth, in his usual trench-coat over his brown leather pants and vest. He was a mutant, too, with the same kind of healing powers and heightened senses as Logan; where Logan had his claws, Creed had super-strength.

Logan snarled, crouching low and popping out his claws. "What the hell do *you* want, Creed?!"

Creed laughed. "Your head on a lance covers it, Short-Stuff!" he snarled. He swung at Logan, who managed to roll under the attack. "'*One shall fall by the other's hand...*'it's our destiny – we *can't* change it, little man!"

"I got yer 'destiny' right *here*, bub!" Logan roared, as he came at Creed, slashing with his claws; Creed dodged the attack...just like he'd *hoped* he would.

Dropping low after the slash, Logan aimed a precise hit right to Vic's ankle, the relatively fragile bone cracking from the impact. Creed howled in agony, giving Logan time to uppercut Creed's ugly mug with his claws, and followed with a stab right to old 'Tooth's gut. Logan was about to *really* unload, when Creed backhanded him, sending Logan flying. As Logan recovered, he saw 'Tooth growl, as all the injuries he'd been dealt quickly healed.

'*Terrific.*' Logan thought, ''*Now he's pissed. I'm gonna be feelin' **this** in the morning...*'

Before Sabertooth could continue attacking Wolverine, he was sent flying across the construction site just as Bishop, Colossus, Cyclops, Gambit and Nightcrawler arrived at the scene.

"Who did that?!" Sabretooth demanded, snarling in anger. He locked eyes with a young man in a green and yellow uniform, who's fist was glowing with energy.

Sabretooth seemed to recognize him.

"Iron Fist." He growled.

"Glad to see you remember me Sabretooth. It's been a while since we last faced each other." Iron Fist said back.

With a loud roar, Sabretooth ran at them. Bishop and Cyclops fired energy blasts at him, but Creed ducked under it. When he was inches from them, Nightcrawler hopped on his back and 'ported...causing 'Tooth to miss them entirely, with Nightcrawler hopping off as Creed plowed into a bunch of pieces of two-by-four.

Creed got up, *royally* steamed, now. "Say your prayers." He growled, stalking towards Cyclops and Nightcrawler. "Because I'm gonna..."

*Big* mistake.

"Remember me?" Logan snarled, as he leapt at Creed, unloading a slashing salvo with his claws, before booting Creed's sorry ass into a pile of steel pipes.

"I'd say we did a good job." Bishop said.

All things considered, Logan thought they did okay; Logan had inflicted enough damage to keep him out for a few hours, long enough for his scent-trail to go cold. The other X-Men and Iron Fist distracted Creed long enough for Logan to *really* nail Creed's sorry ass.

That wasn't the main issue though.

Growling, Logan glared at the others.

"I'm only sayin' this *once*." He snarled. "*I* don't fight your battles; *don't fight **mine**!*"

"Hey." Cyclops said. "We were only trying to..."

"That can wait." Iron Fist interrupted. "He's getting back to his feet."

Logan arched an eyebrow as Sabretooth got up.

"Didn't we kick your ass, already, Creed?" Logan said. "You should be out for a few more hours."

Creed grinned.

"Sorry, Short-Stuff." He snarled. He tapped a tiny unit on his belt. "I got this little gizmo from a friend! It *enhances* mutant powers...like my healing!" He picked up one of the pipes. "*And* like my strength!" he crowed. "So...*catch*!" And he tossed the pipe at them.

Logan and the kids managed to duck out of the way, causing the pipe to cause a big girder to get loose and start falling...but Logan never heard a crash.

Sabretooth started stalking towards the other X-Men, looking thirsty for blood...

...when a gale-force wind sent him flying.

Logan looked around, expecting to see Storm...and saw Superman there, touching down. "Want some more help?"

"What the hell?!" Creed muttered. "Who're you?!"

"You really should be more careful when throwing stuff."

Creed laughed. "You wanna *make* somethin' of it, kid?!"

Superman sighed. "I don't want to fight you."

"Smart kid!" Sabretooth laughed. "*I* wouldn't want to fight me, *either*!" He pounced at Superman, and punched him in the face.

Superman didn't even react to the punch.

"YEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWW!" Creed howled in pain, holding his hand. "What the..?!" He growled. "*Why, you little..!*" He swung again.

Superman effortlessly caught his fist.

"Okay, I tried to be nice." He said.

He then used his X-Ray vision. "Your cells...regeneration...hey Wolverine, does this guy have a healing factor, too?"

Logan smirked. "Oh yeah."

"Good to know." Superman said. He glared at Sabretooth. "Then you should be able to *walk this off!*"

WHAM!

His fist was so fast, Logan didn't even see his hand *move*; in a fraction of a second, Superman's fist drove itself into Creed's gut, the punch echoing like a *thunderclap*. Creed's face was *comical*; he doubled over, like he'd been folded in half, gasping for air...

***CRACK!***

Superman's follow-up uppercut was poetry in motion. His fist slammed into Creed's face, sending him flying, out of the construction site, and then out of sight, until he was just a dot on the horizon.

Superman winced. "I didn't mean to hit him *that* hard."

"Sabretooth's walked away from worse.

He looked at Superman. "Like I told the others...I don't fight your battles, so *don't* fight *mine*!" With that, he walked away, heading back to his motorcycle.

He needed a smoke.

As Logan walked away, everyone else stayed behind.

"*Mein Gott*, vat a grouch!" Nightcrawler said. "Zhe *least* he could do vas say *zhanks*!"

"Don't mind Wolverine." Bishop said. "He's always like that."

"What are ya doing here anyway, Mon Ami?" Gambit asked Superman.

"I got called away; I was on my way back." Superman replied. "I'd better get going; I've got a promise to keep." With that, he took off, flying towards Northbrook.

Before long, he was over the little town. He listened carefully, trying to find Kitty...and froze as he did.

"*Oh, no.*" He murmured softly, as he rapidly descended...to stop Kitty from making a *huge* mistake.

At the Pryde residence, Charles was talking with both of Kitty's parents, with Jean there, as well. Mrs. Pryde was worried.

"She's *never* this late!" She cried. "Something's wrong, I know it!"

"Professor." Mr. Pryde said. "You said you were able to locate...mutants, right? That's how you found out about Kitty. Can't you find her, now?"

"I will try." Charles said. Closing his eyes, he focused, reaching out...

His eyes opened.

"We have to get to the school." He said. "Kitty is there, and so is Lance."

"That Alvers boy?!" Mr. Pryde shouted. "What's she doing with *him*?!"

"Lance is also a mutant." Charles said, moving towards the door. "We must go, *now*. Kitty is about to make a *huge* mistake."

Standing outside Northbrook High, Kitty took a deep breath, and walked towards Lance. "How do you get control?" she asked.

Lance smiled as he saw her. He motioned for her to come over. "Just think about whatever you were thinking about the last time you used it." he said, standing next to the school wall, and Kitty stood next to him.

Kitty took a deep breath, and concentrated. "I...I *can't*..."

"You *can*." Lance assured her. "You just have to make it *yours*."

Kitty re-doubled her focus, placing her hand on the wall, taking Lance's hand in her other one. Slowly, she felt the wall just give way...until they were inside the school.

"*I did it!*" Kitty squealed. "Did you see me?!"

"I sure did." Lance replied absently, as he walked towards a computer.

Kitty looked around.

"The principal's office?" She asked. "Why are we *here*?" She looked over Lance's shoulder.

*Test answers*.

"You just wanted to get in here." Kitty murmured. "You...you just *used* me..."

"No, I didn't." Lance said, fiercely. "This school just uses these tests to keep us down; I'm evening the score."

"You're going to *sell* them! You just needed me to make a quick buck!" Kitty cried. '*Oh my God, I'm so stupid!*' she thought.

Lance pulled out a CD from the disc-drive, and then started to walk towards her. "Kitty..."

"Stay away from her."

Kitty was immensely relieved to hear that voice, as she saw Superman standing there, arms crossed, frowning at Lance.

"*Superman!*" She cried joyfully.

Lance whirled around, glaring at him. "How the hell did *you* get in?!"

Superman just chuckled.

"Open second-story windows aren't too hard to enter if you can fly." He said. To Kitty, he added, "Somehow, this doesn't strike me as something you wanted to do with your talents."

Kitty felt immensely ashamed; both for helping Lance and for being so *gullible*.

Lance looked to her.

"We're *all* we've got." He said. "You said so yourself: your parents think you're a freak. They'll never accept you."

"Kitty, do you think he *really* cares about you?" Superman asked.

Lance glared at him. "Do you think this glorified *Boy Scout* *loser* has *any* idea of how it feels to be an outcast?!"

"Don't *listen* to him!" Superman shouted, his voice echoing with enough force to shake the windows. Softer, he added, "And don't listen to *me* – listen to *yourself*."

Kitty hesitated. She didn't know what to do...

Just then, her parents, as well as Jean and some bald guy in a wheelchair burst in. "Kitty!" her Mom cried.

Kitty was shocked. '*They...came for me?*' "M-Mom..?"

"Kitty, we're *sorry*!" Her father said. "We drove you to this; we were wrong, and we're *sorry*! We know this is hard for you, and that you're trying to deal with it. We're trying, too, honey! *We love you!*"

Kitty was nearly in tears. "*D-Daddy?!*"

Superman smiled. "What did I tell you?"

"*Forget* them!" Lance yelled, grabbing her arm and starting to walk away. "You're with *me*, now!"

Kitty's eyes narrowed.

"*No, I'm not!*" She yelled.

And she phased out of Lance's grip, running to her parents, hugging them.

Lance glowered at her. "*Nobody* tells me no." he snarled, as he stormed towards her. Kitty gasped...

Instantly, a blue-and-red blur intercepted Lance, as Superman stood between him and Kitty. "You heard what she said."

"Out of my way, Boy Scout!" Lance yelled. "You're standing in the way of an *Avalanche!*" With that, he used his power: the earth began to shake, causing the ceiling to cave in on them, leaving only Lance unharmed.

When the debris settled, Kitty phased herself and her parents out of the rubble, while Jean used her telekinesis to push the debris off herself and the Professor. Kitty looked to the rubble; Superman was still under it. "*Oh, no...*" she whimpered.

"*Ha!*" Lance crowed. "*That* was the Superman that everyone was talking about?! I guess you just can't believe the hype!" He was about to turn and run...

...when the rubble started shaking...and began to *bulge*.

Instantly, Superman burst free of the debris, without so much as a scratch. Infuriated, Lance began to build up another quake.

Superman's eyes narrowed. "*Enough*." He said; he raised one foot, and slammed it down with earthquake-force.

Instantly, the tremors Lance was causing *ceased*.

Lance's smirk evaporated. "What the..?"

"Simple physics, Lance." Superman said. "Earthquakes are just seismic waves, with all the wave-properties, including *this* one: when two waves of equal magnitude and opposing phase meet...they *cancel out*."

Lance didn't move...and then he tried to create another quake, but Superman just slammed his foot down again, canceling it out. Enraged, Lance ran at Superman, ready to punch him.

"You really shouldn't do that..." Superman warned. Lance didn't listen; he swung at Superman, and his fist connected.

"*ARRRGGGHHH!*" Lance howled, clutching his fist. "What the hell are you made out of?! *Steel*?!"

"Something like that." Superman replied. Then, he simply inhaled...and *blew*.

The room was instantly filled with hurricane-force winds, focused at Lance. Superman's gale-breath sent Lance flying out through the hole in the wall that the tremors had made, to land a good fifty feet away, out cold.

"*Wow...*" Kitty murmured.

"Dear Lord..." Her Dad gasped, "...there...there really *is* a Superman..."

Superman turned around, smiled, and extended his hand. "A pleasure to meet you, sir." Alexander, slowly, took Superman's hand and shook it.

Rebecca gasped. "Why...you're that young man that the Professor was with!" she exclaimed.

Instantly, Superman slapped his forehead. "My image-inducer...I *knew* I forgot *something*..." he said. Smiling sheepishly, he added, "Like I said, Ma'am, you wouldn't have believed me even if I'd told you."

Then, the bald guy rolled his wheelchair over to Kitty. "Kitty, my name is Charles Xavier; I run an Institute where young mutants – like yourself – can learn to control their talents, in safety, and in secrecy."

Jean smiled. "Professor Xavier helped *me*, Kitty." she said. "And he'll help you, too, if you'd like."

Kitty turned to Superman. "Is...this what you were going to tell me about?"

Superman nodded. "Professor Xavier is a good man, Kitty." he replied. "His Institute gave me a place where I didn't have to hide who I really am."

Kitty smiled. "He helped you control your powers?"

The Professor chuckled. "Superman already *had* control of his powers when we found him." he admitted. "As I said to your mother, Kitty, his situation is...unique."

"But I *know* he can help you, Kitty." Superman said. "The choice is yours."

Kitty thought for a moment, then turned to her parents.

Her father smiled. "It's your choice, Kitten."

"We're okay with whatever you decide." her mother added.

Kitty turned to the Professor, smiling. "Where do I sign up?"

The Professor smiled. "We'll discuss the details at your house." he said. "We'd best leave, before we draw any attention."

"I'll meet you there." Superman said, as he turned to go.

"Wait!" Kitty called, and Superman stopped, turning back. "Thank you, Superman." she said, her face going redder than Jean's *hair*.

Superman just smiled. "My friends call me Clark." he said. With that, he took off into the sky, as Kitty, her parents, and her new friends piled into the black minivan that the Professor owned, and drove home.

It was a few minutes later when Lance came to.

'*Ugh...I drop a ceiling on the Super-dork, and **I'm'*** **the one who ends up feeling like a mountain fell on me.*' he thought bitterly. He picked himself up.*** *I'd better scram before the cops get here.*' He started to leave.

"Interesting ability you have there."

Lance whirled around, ready to *rock* whoever this was, to take some of his bad mood on this sucker...but *froze* as he saw this *blue* lady there, her eerie yellow eyes glowing with amusement. "Who're *you*?!" Lance exclaimed.

"*Mystique*." the lady replied. "And I know what you're capable of, Lance; very impressive."

"Didn't seem too impressive, a minute ago." Lance grumbled. "I got my ass *handed* to me."

"Yes, Xavier and his cronies can be...challenging." Mystique replied. "My employer and I have been interested in you for some time, Lance. What would you say to joining a group of youths, just like yourself?"

"Like that girl Jean was talking about?" Lance sneered. "*Forget* it." He started to walk off.

"Oh, *our* group is *nothing* like Xavier's." Mystique said. "Xavier is a *dreamer*; he hopes that mutants like us will one day be accepted." Her eyes narrowed. "Lance, humans treat *each other* with contempt and hatred...do you really think they will accept *us* with open arms?"

Lance paused. This lady had just summed up how he'd felt about his gift ever since he'd got it...

"Come with us, Lance." Mystique said. "With strong mutants like you, we will make humanity accept us...or *else*." She smiled. "Somehow, I think you might enjoy being *feared* more than being loved...like those idiot humans do towards this mythical 'Superman'."

'*She doesn't know about Superman.*' Lance thought. He considered telling her...but shook his head. '*Nah; if I tell her I got my butt kicked by a 'myth,' she might change her mind.*' He smiled to himself. **I'll tell her about him** after' *I kick **his** ass; **nobody** crosses the Avalanche and gets away with it.*'

He grinned. "Count me in, lady...and the name's *Avalanche*."

It was sunset by the time Sabretooth dug himself out; he'd landed in a junkyard, and it had taken a good few hours for his ribs to knit back together and for his teeth to heal.

Whoever that kid was, he hit like a *freight train*.

Picking himself up, Sabretooth snarled as he felt some bones stick into soft tissue...collateral damage, courtesy of his little swan-dive from the stratosphere. He looked at the power-booster that he'd been given; it was *toast*.

'*Why the hell didn't Mags **tell** me about that guy?!*' Sabretooth mentally roared. It was time to find out; he took out his communicator, and dialed up his boss.

"*Report, Creed.*"

"What the *hell*, Magneto?!" Sabretooth roared. "Why the bloody hell didn't you *tell* me that Short-Stuff's team had a God-damn *RINGER*?!"

Magneto was silent, for a moment. "*You encountered Superman.*"

"Damn *right*!" Sabretooth snarled. "The little bastard nearly sent me into *orbit*! Why the hell didn't you *warn* me about him?!"

"*Yes, I knew that Superman was real.*" Magneto admitted. "*But what makes you think he's one of Charles'?*"

"He called Short-Stuff by *name*, Lensherr!"

Magnet was silent again. "*This is indeed troubling.*" He said. "*I will confer with my associate. Return to base.*" With that, the line went silent.

Snarling, Sabretooth began to walk out of the junkyard, limping at first, until his healing factor fixed that. '*You got lucky, this time, Short-Stuff.*' He thought, '*But I'll be havin' the **last** laugh.*' He growled. '*And as for **you**, you flying punk...**nobody** makes a fool out of Sabretooth! **NOBODY!***'