Down to One and Relocated

I woke up slowly, hearing voices arguing above me.

"The Professor told us not to wake him," said one. The voice was light and clearly feminine.

"But, he needs to talk to him," the other argued. This was was lower, and a little rough, but still female.

"Rogue, he just lost his best friend," the first voice said, "Let him rest."

"Too late," I groaned, opening my eyes. Above me were two girls. One had light brown hair that was pulled into a pony-tail, and the other was pale with dark brown hair that had a single white streak in it.

"You're awake!" exclaimed the first one, "How're you feeling?"

"Tired," I said, sitting up. I rubbed the back of my head, feeling the bump from yesterday. "I'm Virgil Hawkins," I told them, "And you are?"

"Oh!" the first one said, "I'm Kitty Pryde. And this is Rogue. The Professor wanted to speak to you."

"Okay," I said, getting out of bed. I was wearing pajamas Scott had found for me, and the girls left so I could change. I pulled on the clothes sitting on the bed. My yellow, long-sleeved shirt and jeans were gone. I had been given a white wife-beater that was a little big and a pair of khaki shorts. As soon as I stepped out, the girls led me to what looked like a rec room.

"Ah," I saw the Professor waiting with what I guessed were the rest of the X-men. "Virgil, welcome. These are the rest of my students. Everyone, this is Virgil Hawkins. He'll be staying with us for a while..."

"Wait a minute," I told him, "What are you talking about? I need to get back home. My pops is going to be freaking out, and the only thing that's keeping Dakota safe is Rubber-Band Man. I can't stay."

"Be that as it may, Virgil," the Professor said, "If Magneto is targeting these 'bang-babies' as you call them, then you will be in danger if you return. I insist that you stay with us until this is resolved."

"But what about Rubber-Band Man?" I asked, "He's going to need my help if Magneto comes back. He already got my best friend Prof, and I'm not letting him take Adam too." I moved to leave, only to have my exit cut off by Logan.

"You got a death wish Bub?" he asked, "Magneto would tear you to shreds."

"I don't care," I told him, "Adam is my friend, and I won't leave him alone with that guy on the loose around Dakota."

"You'll stay here," he said, as metal claws came from his knuckles. It figured that it would be Wolverine. I reached out and grabbed his claw, sending a charge through it. He stumbled out and I hurried out the door. I took out my disk, opening it and jumping on. As I flew up, I grabbed my bag with my power, and pulled it out an open window. I flew off, and I could hear the X-men shouting behind me.

I stopped in an alley, and slipped into my costume. I had to get back. My gut feeling was telling me something was wrong.

I soared through the skies, always listening for any signs of pursuit. As Dakota came into view, I felt my stomach drop. There was smoke leaking into the sky from somewhere in the city. I flew toward the source, the pit on my stomach growing all the while.

I arrived to see firefighters trying to put out a fire in Adam's building.

"What happened?" I asked the men as I landed.

"We don't know!" one of them told me, "But there are still people trapped inside!"

"I got it," I told them. Before they could reply, I'd put on my yellow goggles and flown into the burning building. As I got the last person out, I landed and looked around.

"Why didn't Rubber-Band Man help you?" I asked the men and they shuffled nervously.

"Static..." a voice said from behind me. I turned and saw my sister Sharon. She had tears in her eyes. That could only mean...

"He's gone, isn't he?" I asked her. She nodded as the tears started to flow. I felt cold, I was too late.

"Static," I shook myself out of my thoughts to look my sister in the eye, "My little brother's missing too. He's been gone since yesterday and he hasn't called. Do you…. Do you know if he's alright?"

"He's fine," I said in reflex, "He's just fine, I promise."

Suddenly, a black jet shot out of the clouds and landed nearby. As I stared at my sister, I felt a hand on my shoulder jerk me back. I looked at Wolverine as he turned me to face him. When they saw my expression, they all stopped.

"What happened Kid?" Logan asked me, and I just shook my head.

"Static?" that was Kitty. I looked at her, and she frowned. "Static, what's wrong?"

I just looked at them. They stayed silent, and I finally found my voice.

"Rubber-Band Man..." I said. They stiffened and I continued, "He's gone. I was too late. I failed him too."

I saw Jean about to say something, but I cut her off.

"I should have been here," I said, "but I wasn't. Now he's gone. Just like Gear. And all the others." I slammed my fist against he nearest wall. "I'm a failure as a hero."

I felt a hand on my shoulder again, but this time it was Jean. She looked at me for a moment and towed me towards the jet. When we were inside, she sat me down in one of the seats. The others filed in and sat down, Jean giving Scott a glance and sitting next to me. Scott sat on my other side.

"Virgil," Jean said as the jet took off, "What happened isn't your fault. You did what you could."

"No, I didn't," I said, "I should have sent him to you. My powers stand a chance against Magneto. His... didn't."

"You're wrong," Scott said, "Magneto has a group that is loyal to him. One of them would have taken you down if Magneto himself couldn't." Scott placed his hand on my shoulder, "But now you have help. We'll get them all back, I promise. Right now though, we need to keep him away from you."

"What does he want?" I asked.

"We don't know," Jean said, "But we will find out. But until we do, we need you to stay at the institute."

I could feel the drop as the jet started its descent. I looked out the front to see a waterfall parting to reveal a hangar. As the jet landed, the Professor came out to meet us. I pushed past Jean and Scott and headed for the exit.

"Logan informed me of what has transpired," the Professor said as I walked off the plane, "I apologize for what has happened to your friend."

"Not your fault," I told him, my voice hollow, "Mine. My fault. I should have been there." I buried my face in my hands, "I should have left earlier, just gone home after finding you. I should have been there."

"Virgil, you cannot change what has happened," The Professor said calmly, "All you can do now is work with us to rescue your friends from Magneto."

"Yeah Kid," Logan's gruff voice came from behind me, "Don't worry. We'll get your friends back from Metalhead."

"But…" I started to protest but Scott cut me off.

"Yeah man, no worries," He said, slinging his arm around my shoulder, "But until we do, it probably best if you stay here."

"What about school?" I asked them, looking for anyway to return to Dakota to protect my family, "And my Pops?"

"I have already called your father and explained that you are have been chosen to participate in an exchange program from our school," the Professor explained, "Evan Daniels, whom you might know better as Spyke, will be taking your place at Dakota Union High an as the local hero."

"That takes care of that," Scott said, steering me inside, "Now let me show you around, I'll even show you where the Prof hides the cookies."

I Live! I'm sorry for not updating for so long, but I had writers block and other such complications. Here's chapter three. Please R&R!