After following Psylocke for half a day, the team realized that she must, in fact, be heading to the place they knew Magneto to be hiding out.

"Chalk one up for whoever said it was him," Wally said.

"Unless someone else moved," Rogue said humorously.

"Problem," Gambit spoke up. "What if dere is a whole army dere? Even all of us might not be enough."

"Oh, I'm, like, half an army," Wally bragged. "And you guys are the other half, so we'll be fine."

"Well, Sugar, if ya let your head get any bigger, we could use it as a hot air balloon," Rogue said. "You got no idea what kind of mutants Magneto might have. Maybe ones like you."

"Not a mutant, first of all," Wally said. "They couldn't have the speed force."

Shine was tapping her chin. "Do you think I overstepped by deciding to let Psylocke go on my own?" she asked randomly. "I've been wondering about it. It made sense at the time, but...perhaps I was unfair to all of you. You could have handled it, right?"

"I was going to save this for when we got back, but I did think you could have asked us," Storm said. "But it's done and berating you for it is not going to change it. Besides, at such times making a judgment call is difficult, and any of us could have made the same one on our own."

"I guess that's true," Logan said. "But we are supposed to be a team."

"Should you really talk?" Gambit asked.

"If everyone's goin' to get on my back about it, then it's only fair if it's hers also," Logan said.

"Well, de way Gambit see it, if you make up for it by helpin' us track her, all's fair," Gambit shrugged. "But next time, ask."

Shine nodded. "I'm...not used to having to decide things with more than one person, I admit. Or having people who I even remotely trust to make wise decisions. I'm sorry if I do not act like it."

"At least ya realized that on yer own," Logan said.

"Yea, it's fine," Wally said. "Even on my team we have that problem sometimes. It just happens when people are used to working on their own. Anyway, it might not be a bad thing. I still think maybe you were right. Her creeping on our minds would have been scary. So you can either say you overstepped, or you can say you just know all of us well enough to know that we'd eventually agree with that decision. Depends on how you want to spin it."

"That sounds like anime logic," Shine said. "But I'll take it."

[Ever notice how many seemingly bad decisions in anime are reworked with that reinterpretation logic to seem good?]

The thing was put to rest after that, thankfully. The X-men now trusted Shine's intentions enough to think she would not have disrespected them on purpose.

And truthfully, her and Wally's ability to make decisions their own, while sometimes annoying, did often save the situation, so it was good and bad.

"However," Storm spoke, "I think it would be best if we all worked as team from here on. This mission is going to be dangerous, if indeed Magneto is the threat. And there is one thing--we do not know if he knows that you are humans. But...I am afraid he might kill you on sight if he did. So perhaps we had all better agree to keep that between ourselves."

"If he has Mystique, he would already know," Logan said.

Kurt sighed. "Just vonce, it vould be nice if meeting my mother did not have to be because she vas doing something vrong."

"You're tellin' me," Rogue said. "I can't tell whether my adopted or my real family is more messed up anymore. Not you, Kurt."

"Oh, I didn't think you meant me," Kurt said.

Gambit choked on a laugh.

"Did...did we decide what exactly we're going to do if we find Mystique?" Morph asked. "Or what we'll do if we find Magneto?"

"I was hoping simply explaining the situation to him might suffice," Storm said. "Perhaps he's been misled about what's going on. How could he object to helping mutants?"

"Oh, he could object if he knew we were humans," Shine said. "People like him always can object."

She frowned. "I don't want to lie about what I am. If you don't, why should I?"

"We hide it when it would risk our lives," Logan said. "And you'd better do the same."

"That sounds wrong," Shine said. "Why should he not have to face a human being able to help mutants?"

"Shine, maybe they're right," Wally said. "Look, he's really dangerous. Even for us. What if he hit you with metal? You know you couldn't survive that."

"I know..." Shine hedged. "But I couldn't survive getting hit by a lot of the people I go up against."

"Yeah, but you can't dodge either," Wally said. "Not when the guy could literally surround us. He's a one man army. And we're going into his turf. I'm just saying, maybe don't paint a target on your back."

"But it might be too late," Shine said.

"I think he's tryin' to say, don't make one of yer speeches," Logan said.

"Much as we all enjoy that," Storm said, "it would be unwise."

"But I can't just not do what I do," Shine said.

"Are ya listening? You could get yerself killed in two seconds," Gambit said sharply. "Let it go for once. Ya don't have ta preach to everyone on de planet."

"I'm with Gambit, for once," Rogue said. "Magneto is dangerous, even to other mutants. He almost put us out a few times. He's helped us too, but ya never know which he's gonna do. He would never help you, a human."

"He has been fair, sometimes," Shine countered.

"But not since his Asteroid M idea went wrong," Rogue said. "That was a mess."

"It's funny because that was the fault of another mutant," Shine said. "But I imagine he still hates humans... Sad, really, hating billions of people for what a few hundred of them do."

"He's had a hard life," Storm said. "Not that that justifies anything...but do you see our point?"

"Well, what do you suggest doing, then?" Shine said. "Telling him we're innocent, but we're mooching off you and that's all there is to it? What about our faith? Our mission? What if he just hates the idea of that?"

"Why would he hate that? It's just yer religion," Logan said.

"Well, he's a Jew," Shine said. "I believe, anyway. Not that he practices it, but they don't like Christians very much. He's probably had an aversion to it since childhood, even if he wasn't now embittered towards all human institutions. Don't you think he might be concerned? Especially as all of you are going along with it, if not directly, at least complicitly."

"Not any of his business," Gambit said.

"Haven't you had a bit of a problem with us?" Wally said.

"Sure, but Gambit keep his problem to hisself," Gambit said. "Not go find other people to come and eliminate dem."

"I'll admit, that is true," Shine admitted. "So I suppose you can still judge. And for the record, I would take your opposition over a crazy man's like that any day."

Gambit took that as a backhanded compliment.

"So this is not going to be simple," Storm mused. "Perhaps Xavier should have come. He could talk some sense into Magneto."

"Oh, no, I'd say it's for the best he didn't," Shine said. "He'd probably just say,
'I hope you're wrong,' and Magneto would say,
'You're a fool Charles. You still think these humans are worth saving,' and he'd say,
'We must try to coexist. This violence solves nothing,' and Magneto would say,
'We're on different paths, Charles, and we must continue that way.'"

Her dramatic rendering of this was actually pretty funny, but not all of them thought so. Morph was laughing though.

"That's not too bad for a human," he said. "Uh...I mean...someone who can't shapeshift."

"Well, I suppose my acting skills take a distant second to that," Shine said. "But that's sort of cheating, isn't it? How convincing do you have to be if you can literally become them?"

"Hey, you still have to know the person," Morph said. "Don't diss on my acting skills."

"It bothers me how close that was to verbatim," Storm said.

"Yeah, ya know, maybe Shine's right," Logan said. "We can handle this on our own. And if he won't listen to talk, I have these." He drew his claws.

"But aren't those metal?" Wally said.

Logan glared at him.

"Right...uh...so are we almost there?" Wally asked.

Shine's eyes lit up.

"She is closer," she said. "She's slowed down. One can't just fly into this place, I don't think. She'll have to find another method of transportation...and so will we. But in fact, we should wait, and then portal to her, then we cannot be traced or spotted. Only, it's tricky knowing the best time to do that. But I have an idea. Let's put down somewhere out of the way, and I'll explain."

So they did.

* * *

Psylocke made her way to the camp, still not aware anyone had followed her.

It was only a little outside it that she felt some kind of energy pattern behind her and she turned in time to see a flash of purplish light, and then something hit her.

"Guttentag," it was a blue colored guy with a tail. Pinning her down.

"Ahh!" She screamed.

Suddenly someone rushed up and covered her mouth.

"This would look so wrong if we were the bad guys," said the man, like this was a joke.

Psylocke looked up and saw the rest of the X-men, at least most of them, were rushing up to her.

"All right, now we make her talk," said Wolverine.

"That was not the plan," said Storm.

"Gambit figure we can do both," Gambit said.

Psylocke kicked the blue guy off quite suddenly and punched the other one. Then she jumped up and flipped over Wolverine's head and landed, knocking Gambit aside in the process.

Then she tried to run for it.

But winds plucked her up and sent her flying back.

The blue guy poofed up and grabbed her and brought her back down.

"My apologies, Fraulein, but ve must not let you get avay," he said.

"They'll notice I'm gone..." Psylocke said. "Just wait, they're expecting me in there in a few minutes." (This was a lie).

"They won't notice," someone she didn't recognize said. Then he morphed into her.

Psylocke blinked. "Another shapeshifter? Huh, I thought there was only one."

"There's three, actually," Shine said. "But, the other is not really a concern for you. I have to thank you, though, for being so predictable. Did I call it or what?"

Psylocke gasped suddenly. "You...let me escape so you could follow me...but how? I made sure I was not followed."

"You don't know everything," Shine quoted back her words of the day before. "But don't worry, sweetie, we have no intention of harming you. We just need you to be MIA for a little longer, that's all."

"Hello," Warren waved, appearing in her line of sight. "I have to say, I'm disappointed. You tricked me."

"It wasn't hard," Psylocke spat. "But if it's any consolation, most of it was improvised later. Only thing I'm surprised about is that you didn't suspect me of having any other motives at all."

"I guess I thought you were above that kind of manipulation," Warren said.

Psylocke actually winced.

"When this whole thing is straightened out," Shine said. "I have the strange feeling she's not going to prove to be as clever as that. Though, I guess she could have persuaded you to do that...or just known you would. Mind reading is such a cheat power. I'm trying to figure out how hers works."

"I take it you can also," Psylocke said. "Since I couldn't reach your mind."

"No, I'm just really, really good at reading your facial expressions," Shine said. "And situations, also. Now, considering that we outnumber you, I strongly suggest you come willingly with us. I promise you, we'll be nicer than Magneto when he finds out you led us here."

Psylocke had her sword out, but... looking around...she put it away.

"All of you will be sorry for this," she said.

"I suppose no ropes would hold her," Warren said. "How do we keep her from escaping?"

"Two of us will stay with her," Shine said. "And keep a look out also. I don't think she has the range to warn them from this far away. Is that all right, Storm?"

"Which two?" Storm asked. "We need all of us."

"Warren, he's too visible for sneaking," Shine said. "And Rogue, if you would."

"How 'bout I just drain her instead?" Rogue offered.

"What?" Psylocke said.

Shine pursed her lips.

"Let me test something first." She walked up to Psylocke and gave her a long look.

"All right, Rogue, but we're going to do this the right way," Shine said. "Try to take only her power, nothing else."

"But I can't control it," Rogue said.

"We've been meaning to work on this," Shine said. "And I think there is a way. Follow my instructions and let us see...worst case scenario, it won't work and we'll fix it."

"All right," Rogue was far less worried about it since Shine could undo it if she had to.

"Well, we're finally here," Wally said to the others. "I've been waiting to see if this will work."

"If it don't, you have me to deal with," Gambit warned.

"Relax dude, it won't hurt Rogue even if it fails," Wally said. "Psylocke maybe..."

"Gambit don't know her so it not dat important," Gambit said.

"I hope that was a joke," Storm said.

Shine motioned Rogue over and told her to take off her glove. "I want you to take some deep breaths first."

"What are you doing to me?" Psylocke said.

"Hold her in place, please," Shine said to Warren as if it was an operation.

Warren did so, to Psylocke's anger.

"Pray," Shine added. "Praying is always important...now, before you touch her, try to hold only images of her ability in your mind. Try to block out her feelings. Just imagine a wall there, if it helps."

"I'll try..." Rogue said.

"And you know, to help you hold that, I'd try thinking of something else entirely while you touch her," Shine said. "I would use a song if it were me, but whatever makes you feel free. Riding, flying, whatever."

"Is that really gonna help?" Rogue asked.

"Rogue, it's worth a shot," Shine said.

"I don't agree to this," Psylocke said.

"We didn't agree to you spying on us either," Shine shot back. "And don't worry this is not going to invade your privacy if it works. Just borrow your powers that's all. You can live with that, I'm sure. All right Rogue, I'd hurry it as fast as you can."

Rogue nodded and touched Psylocke's arm.

There was no glow of life energy, notably. In the past when Rogue had managed to take mostly only powers, there hadn't been a glow either.

She followed Shine's advice.

Psylocke felt something, but it didn't seem to hurt her...until suddenly it did.

Shine reached out and yanked Rogue's hand away, her eyes gleaming.

Rogue looked at her hand.

Pink energy shot out of it and she almost took her own eyebrows off.

Shine stepped back. "Well?"

"I felt just a hint of her," Rogue rubbed her forehead with her other hand. "But ain't nothing so strong as usual...I think it worked," She suddenly got really excited. "Shine it worked! I mean...almost, at the end there it wasn't."

"But that was at least 3 seconds." Shine said. "That's a start. You don't usually need longer than that anyway. Oh my gosh this is great!" She hugged Rogue. "I knew it! There is a way!"

"Extraordinary," Storm said. "Who knew? All this time..."

"Where's my power?" Psylocke realized suddenly that she couldn't sense anyone's thoughts.

"I kinda feel weird though..." Rogue said. "Like everyone's feelings are really loud..."

"I suspect at some point you could get to where you could pick which power you want," Shine said. "But...well, it'll pass. The point is this worked, at least partially. This means everything...but there's no time to celebrate more. We have to hurry. Warren you should be able to watch her on your own for now. But don't let her get away. And no taking it easy on her, you understand?"

"That was the easy part," Storm said. "It's getting in that's going to be hard."

***

The rest of Shine's plan worked better than they thought it would.

Morph, disguised as Psylocke, easily walked inside the camp.

Kurt teleported in from a different part. Then Shine brought everyone else to him, therefore they were undetected.

Once they were in this far, Rogue actually could sense Magneto, with her new borrowed power.

"Up in that cave, there, Sugar," she pointed. "And...it's fainter, but there's other people there too. I gotta get closer..."

"Does it matter who else?" Gambit grabbed her arm before she could fly up. "We give away our position, no point sneaking in here at all."

"It would help if all of you weren't so recognizable," Shine frowned. "We could walk right past all the other mutants."

"I might be able to remedy this," Storm lifted her arms and her costume transformed into regular clothing.

Most of the mutants around didn't wear that, but there were a few exceptions.

"Better," Shine said.

"How did she do that?" Wally asked.

"Air particles," Shine said. "I think...Like Livewire."

"Wish you hadn't put that comparison in my head," Wally closed his eyes.

"I think I can help with the rest of you," Shine said. "Just a moment."

She clapped her hands and several articles of clothing fell out of the air and into their hands.

"Do you go in our rooms?" Logan said. "Because I thought you had to have seen this stuff to do that."

"Logan, I clean the house," Shine said. "But it wouldn't matter, I've seen you wear it, that's all."

"You pay a lot of attention," Rogue pulled on a jacket and some slacks. "I didn't even remember I owned this till now."

"Creepy," Gambit said.

"You I can't help," Shine said. "You never wear anything but that, unless it's a suit, so...I don't know, borrow something from someone else."

"It won't matter, once we start fightin'," Logan said.

"You don't need your costume to fight," Shine said. "I should have insisted you leave it at home, come to think of it."

"Well, Scott prefers it if we look professional," Storm said.

"I think Wolverine should have rethought the yellow spandex then," Wally joked.

"You want to go, Speedy?" Logan snarled at him.

"Hush," Storm hissed. "We will give ourselves away."

Morph found them.

"Okay, the good news is, there's hardly anyone guarding this joint," he said. "And no one stopped me. The bad news is, there's probably 100 mutants here. Not all of them look like fighters, but we're outnumbered, that's for sure. I didn't see Magneto anywhere."

"He's up there," Rogue pointed to the cave.

"So is that the plan? I go up, pretend to tell him stuff, and then get out?" Morph said.

"While you have the comlink on," Storm reminded him. "And if it goes badly, we will rush up there and help you. If you reason with him, we will leave."

"But up till then," Shine said. "We will split up. A large knot of newcomers is going to get noticed, but one or two here and there won't be. And if you see anyone you know, run. Logan, I mean you. Even if you sniff them out. The goal is not to have to fight."

"I know, I know," Logan grumbled. "But I kind of hope we get a chance to fight anyway."

"Psylocke will probably alert Magneto of what we did," Storm said. "So we should let him know it was us, assuming it goes well."

"Let's not put the cart before the horse, right?" Wally said. "Let's split up, I got dibs on the lancer," he grabbed Shine.

"I'm more of a paragon," Shine said. "But okay. Good luck Morph."

"And I vill wait here," Kurt offered. "In case Engel needs help, or any of you do, so I can pop in and out easily. Once I find a tree to hide in."

He poofed into one.

"Break," Shine said.

They all split off into the usual groups.

"This is not the sort of mission I'm used to," Storm told Logan. "And subtlety is not my strong suit. So I hope Morph pulls this off quickly."

"If it comes to a fight, I'd just feel better if we were away from so many of these bozos" Logan said. "Even if they suck, they'd get in our way."

***

Morph made his way to the cave.

Magneto told the guards to let him in right away.

"So, you've finally returned," he said. "Were you successful? Where is Sabretooth?"

"Regrettably, captured," Morph-as-Psylocke replied. 

"Ah...so it did not go well," Magneto said.

"I wouldn't go that far," Morph said. "They told me to come back here and tell you that they don't mean any one any harm, and that they will let Sabretooth go once you call this off."

"Do you mean to say you were caught?" Magneto said, surprised.

"Yes," Morph said. "But they didn't harm me. Just told me to pass this message along. They aren't a threat. I could sense it myself."

"And what are the names of these strangers?" Magneto asked.

"Uh, well, Wally and Shine West," Morph risked so much.

"Interesting...those names don't sound alien," Magneto said.

"Perhaps they were aliens with human names," Morph shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time."

"I suppose not..." Magneto said slowly. "And this is your honest assessment? Well...this is interesting. But I'm not convinced."

"You're...not...?" Morph said.

"No...how can I be sure they could not have fooled you also, if you were caught. This was predicted." Magneto said. "Hold on, guard? Go get the prisoner."

The guards left.

"But I have psionic powers," Morph protested. "I think I would know if they are lying."

"You yourself said they could have fooled Xavier if they could interfere with those powers, why not yourself, you were never supposed to be caught," Magneto said. "But I heard a warning earlier today that makes me think this was not unexpected. Just a moment."

Morph didn't have a whole lot of time to think who the prisoner would be, but just as he was starting to realize he should probably have seen this coming, Mystique was brought in.

Morph almost lost his composure right then...it was kind of a shock. But he was pretty good at keeping up an act and managed not to blow it.

Mystique regarded him...or rather Psylocke, as she thought it was, smugly.

"Well, what did I tell you?" She said. "She's back. Did she succeed?"

"No, it happened exactly as you predicted," Magneto said.

"That witch!" Morph thought to himself angrily. "She really went as far as that."

[Oh for misunderstandings]

"And what is my reward for being right?" Had Mystique known who was actually listening, she'd never have worded it that way. She was only mocking Magneto...which he knew.

"Well if we can get to the bottom of this, perhaps, we'll know," Magneto said. "I'm going to ask you, can they change people's minds? You answer yes or no, and Psylocke will know, and then we have our answer.

Mystique's expression froze.

She hadn't expected this.

She glanced at Morph, who of course, she still assumed was Psylocke, with fear.

Morph was on the verge of panicking. And to make matters worse...he was pretty sure the comlink had stopped working. The magnetic waves in the room were pretty strong, he thought.

What was he supposed to do?

If Mystique told the truth, it would be simple...but it would depend on how she said it.

"What exactly do you mean?" Mystique hedged. "Persuasion of the original kind? Or mind manipulation?"

"The second of course," Magneto said.

"I don't remember any sign of that," Mystique said slowly. "But you already think I've been brainwashed, don't you? What does my opinion matter?"

"Perhaps Psylocke can tell," Magneto said. "Can you?"

Morph had no idea if Psylocke could or not, or what she might have told him previously.

"As far as I can tell, she's telling the truth," he said slowly.

"That is indecisive," Magneto said. "So there's a chance she is also deceived...that gets us nowhere. You should have eliminated them."

"I couldn't," Morph said. "I was found out too soon."

"Bet it took all of five minutes," Mystique said.

Whose side was she on? It sure sounded like she was taunting Psylocke. What was the context here?

"Actually, that is how long it took," Morph couldn't resist throwing Psylocke under the bus a little.

"I thought you were better than that," Magneto said.

"Maybe next time you should go yourself," Morph said. "Not send someone who they already knew about."

"You never mentioned them knowing about you," Magneto said.

Oops...maybe he got a little too cocky there.

To make matters worse, Mystique was a suddenly giving him a very odd look.

Then her eyes widened.

Morph had a bad feeling she might have just figured it out.

But instead of saying something, she just looked at the wall.

"I didn't know till I got there...someone finked." He said slowly. "But it should have been obvious before...they have a lot of friends. But anyway, if they wanted to de-power or hurt us, they would have."

Magneto frowned. "Perhaps...how is your power working?"

What?

"Can I be dismissed?" Mystique spoke up. "I don't want to watch this, it's tedious."

"You'll be useful later," Magneto said. "You can go back to the cell. But don't worry, I'll let you out if this ends up being true. I wouldn't try to run."

Mystique fled the room, though no doubt the guard escorted her the rest of the way.

So much for back up...then again, he was better off without her there to blow the whistle.

"Now,. as I was saying," Magneto said. "How is that power of yours working?...Morph?"

Uh oh...

"What?" Morph feigned innocence.

"I'm sure you would have used it by now if you could," Magneto said. "And something about this is off. I know about your return to the mansion, it only took a little digging. I take it Psylocke has actually been captured. A great disappointment. But it proves I was right to be concerned. Now take off that disguise, it's insulting to me."

Morph hoped Rogue was catching his brain waves freaking out right now.

He turned back to himself and laughed nervously. "Guess you caught me...but all that was true. I was going to come clean, once you heard us out. Come on, you didn't leave us a choice. Psylocke is fine though."

"A likely story," Magneto said. "I've give Mystique this much credit, she knows her enemies. Where are they? Come here after all?"

"You've got the wrong idea," Morph said. "We just came here to smooth things over. No one's plotting against anyone."

Magneto held up a hand. "You're not wearing metal...interesting."

"Actually technically I'm not wearing--" Morph stopped. "Uh, yeah, it's heavy, you know?"

Suddenly Rogue came flying into the mouth of the cave.

"All right, Magneto you no good rat!" She called. "You wanna do this the hard way?"

"How nice of you to come to me," Magneto said. "Saves me the trouble."

Rogue just stopped.

"Morph," she said. "I sense her...Momma, I've had her in my head before, I'd know that anywhere."

"Yeah, saw her already," Morph said.

"Wait, did you come here looking for her?" Magneto said. "How quaint. Does that mean she was helping you the whole time?"

"Are you out of your mind? She ain't helpin' us," Rogue said. "We're gonna skin her alive is what we're gonna do. Once I find her that is. Maybe toss her off the nearest cliff."

"Oh, is that what you want?" Magneto said. "Well in that case."

He moved his hand and they heard metal move much farther inside the cave.

"Uh oh..." Rogue said. She dove at Magneto and more metal slammed her and sent her flying out of the cave.

Morph heard Gambit calling "Chere?!"

Magneto headed after her, clearly more interested in stopping them than in Morph.

He tossed some metal back at Morph as if to pin him in place...which didn't work, naturally.

Morph thought to himself: Well...I can either do the nice thing or the petty thing...

After 2 months to think about it...

Oh, who was he kidding, he wasn't going to walk away.

***

Mystique figured she was dead meat if she stuck around any longer here.

She kicked the guard and attempted to sucker punch him.

He grabbed her arm instead.

"None of that," he said, leering at her. Then he shoved her into the cell. "Unless you want to play games now."

Mystique decided she might as well just give this her best shot--literally.

She pulled out the gun and shot him.

It wasn't lethal, not to his mutation, but it did stun him enough to fall over.

"Play with that," she said, through gritted teeth. "I swear if I got the chance, I'd--"

Metal suddenly picked up around the cell and slammed around it like a shell...Magneto was stopping her from escaping.

The door, which was still open, was now sealed up.

Mystique didn't normally lose her cool, but this last bit of defiance from fate just about broke her.

"Seriously?!" She slammed at the door angrily. "You can't cut me a break?! Ever?!"

The bible dropped to the floor.

She kicked it across the cell.

"I could have said something back there, and I didn't, doesn't that count for something?" She asked no one.

But then she thought, why should it?

Who knows maybe I was just protecting myself again.

She sank to the floor and sighed.

No point...she'd just use up her oxygen too at this rate. The holes in this cell weren't that big...

Now that she'd been seen here, the X-men would think for certain she'd complied in all this willingly...how ironic...it was almost beautiful, in how ironic it was...maybe she was losing her mind.

Suddenly something banged on the door really loudly...sounding like claws...or teeth.

Mystique jumped and went to the back wall, gun behind her back.

A huge chunk of the metal was peeled away...was that a dinosaur?

Oh...no...

Morph reappeared, looking annoyed. 

"Are you just gonna stand there?" he said.