[Back to our regularly schedule program for now. Maybe we'll see more of 616 Scott later.]

Emma rushed into the kitchen early the morning after the previously told events, startling everyone.

"I think I have something," she said. "Not much, but something."

"What?" Shine stood up.

"I've been having dreams," Emma said. "Mostly just about the past, but...this one...I don't know, it was like a blurred TV program...but...I thought I saw the X-men I knew."

Scott looked up right away. "Which ones?"

"All of them, except...Jean and...you," Emma said hesitantly. "And the Professor, of course.... But they were on Genosha...talking to Scarlet Witch.... It was like I was trying to hear what was happening, but I couldn't.... I just saw them looking concerned and...that was it, but...it wasn't a memory."

"Of course," Shine said. "We can't access the dimension itself, but the spiritual realm runs through all worlds, and that's what carries certain dreams. Perhaps a part of you is still there, Emma, in some capacity. We don't just lose our ties to our world.... So I think it wasn't a link with them, it was a message, almost from the world itself...but more like from Above, perhaps...or warning..."

"But it tells us nothin'," Logan said. 

"No, there's one thing about it that's different," Storm said. "Scarlet Witch...she's not an X-man, is she?"

"No," Emma said. "But she is on Genosha."

"But she wasn't here," Mystique spoke. "We'd have found her."

"But that's one lead," Shine said. "I'd not have thought of asking her, but.... The merging.... If Gambit remembers something that didn't happen to him, and Raven also...then..."

"Then Scarlet Witch might remember somethin' that could actually tell us somethin'?" Rogue guessed.

"That is one person we could find using Cerebro," Xavier said. "Provided she has not vanished."

"Well, it a lead," Gambit said. "But don't get hopes up too much. She might know nothin'."

"Or she might be about to disappear," Wally suggested. "We should get her...some of us. Would she come?"

"If we explain, there's a strong chance she might," Xavier said. "But we might want to warn Quicksilver also. If they are together."

"He might be important too," Emma reflected. "But he wasn't there...not in the dream. I wish I had heard what they were saying.... But one other thing...I saw Scott...the other Scott."

Silence.

"Well...at least we know he's safe, then," Rogue said. "If...if it was real."

"And he's with the X-men," Shine said. "I suppose that's the best place for him...but as we thought...Jean is not."

Morph shook his head. "This is so confusing..."

"So who wants to go?" Wally said. "I'm dying to do something finally."

"I suggest both of you go," Xavier said. "You detect dimensional inconsistency faster than we do. Some of us must go for backup."

"It's my turn," Storm said. "No telling where they might be right now."

"Yeah, I'll go," Logan said.

"I wanna know also," Rogue said. "I can't stand sittin' here doin' nothin'."

Gambit also said he'd tag along.

Morph did too. He supposed he ought to find out, since he was the RT.

Emma wanted to go but was told no very decisively by Shine, as well as Storm and Xavier.

"You had two breakdowns last time," Shine said. "I know you hate this, but you cannot keep doing this to yourself. You will stay. I'm sorry."

"I'll go," Scott said.

"No, you won't," Shine said. "The house is the only place we seem to be sure no Tear will show up. We tempted fate last time by all going to Genosha. We're lucky we got out. I cannot be everywhere at once, and neither can Wally. I'd rather not have to worry about you. This is a small enough mission, if we're just retrieving them. We don't need you, and it's not worth the risk if we don't need you."

Scott didn't argue with her. She had clearly established herself as in charge to him.

Cable wanted to come and was told the same thing. He was less gracious about it, but since the X-men agreed, he couldn't argue.

Wraith didn't seem inclined to go--or do anything else. His name seemed appropriate; he acted like one.

So just the usual X-men went, save for Xavier, who stayed home to keep monitoring the situation as usual.

* * *

https://youtu.be/rhEUJ0CiOY8

Before leaving, Morph wanted to talk to Mystique, since she'd finally not just left the room while he was there.

"Hey." He tried to stop her before she went off to do something else.

She paused.

"Look, I think we really should talk again," Morph said. "I mean, I messed it up before--"

Mystique held up a hand. "It's fine," she said. "I think I understand, actually."

"Really?" Morph was surprised.

"But I can't change the past," Mystique said slowly. "And that's what this is about. So...I think it's better to leave it where it is. I have a lot to think about right now. Too much to explain..."

She was not ready to talk about her decision yet. She had no idea if it was going to stick.

True...since the other day, she felt different...lighter. Happier, even. But she wasn't sure if it was just the results of talking to Shine and not carrying it by herself, or if it was more... And she didn't know how to put into words.

She had felt more at peace though, and she was afraid reopening this can of worms with Morph was going to kill that, and it was likely to be short-lived as it was, given how stressful the situation was already. Maybe it was selfish, but she preferred not to talk about it again.

Also, she felt sure Morph wasn't going to change his mind, just that he wanted to soften what he said, and she thought she didn't really need that. What was done was done.

Morph actually hadn't been going to say that, but he took her words to mean that's what she wanted...

The whole thing made him sad.

Even the others noticed it on the plane ride.

"What got you all down in the dumps?" Rogue said. "Other than the worlds mergin', that is..."

"It's a long story," Morph said. "But I think I messed things up with Mystique big time, and I don't know how to fix it."

"Why d'you care so much?" Gambit said. "Dat woman is trouble."

"Gambit," Rogue said. "Please...she's been real good lately."

"Good for her is still not dat great," Gambit said.

"You know, one of these days you might get smacked for saying something like that." Morph got mad. "Can you lay off her for once? None of us are perfect."

Gambit was caught way off guard. "Fine... But you forget, we your actual friends. At best, she jus' kill time with us. De world gonna end-- she got nothin' ta lose."

"You know, she's different than you think," Morph said. "Maybe if you ever actually got to know her, you'd know that. Maybe she's done some bad things, but we all have. I don't think less of you two for it, and I'd hope you don't think less of me. So why her?"

"That makes sense," Rogue said. "But she is sly... I guess she's been better lately. I just still don't know how to act around 'er."

She studied Morph.

Gambit did also.

"Morph," he said slowly, "don't tell me you've started to have...feelin' for dat woman?"

Morph didn't say anything.

"Oh...oh my gosh..." Rogue covered her mouth. "Really? I mean, I knew ya were friends, but..."

"Another one bite de dust," Gambit muttered.

Rogue kicked him. "How long, Morph?"

"Knowing? Just a week or so." Morph felt way less embarrassed than before, oddly enough. Maybe they'd made him too mad about it. "Maybe before that...just I didn't think that's what it was."

"Why?" Gambit was incredulous. "You know what she is."

"A person," Morph said, "like anyone else, yeah. I know."

"Normally I'd be happy for ya, but for once I have to wonder..." Rogue said. "I mean...it's so hard to know the real Mystique... Are ya sure she's not playin' ya?"

"Pretty sure," Morph said. "Since she's not interested anymore."

Why did he feel so down now? He'd been doubting himself whether it was a good idea. Wasn't this just a sign it wasn't?

"She not?" Gambit said. "Dat a surprise."

"It kinda is," Rogue said. "Guess she don't wanna get involved with us..."

"Actually, she might have," Morph said. "But I messed it up, like I said."

"Wait, so she was into it, but now she not," Gambit said. "Dat sound wrong."

"Look, we had a fight, and I don't know," Morph said.

"What about?" Rogue asked.

"Nothing much," Morph lied. "Just...stuff. Differences, I guess."

"What? Like she no want ta be a good guy?" Gambit said.

"No, that hasn't really come up," Morph said. "She's not really a bad guy anymore, is she? I mean...what else would she be doing to be a good guy?"

"Well, I think she should make official before you even think about getting involved with her," Gambit said. "Even den, dat a kid gloves kind of thing. She use everyone she know."

"Even me," Rogue agreed. "Though maybe she didn't mean it that way, but Momma changes her identity like the weather... Just be careful, Morph."

"I think it's too late for that," Morph said.

"Ya look blue about it," Rogue said. "I mean, not blue like she's blue, but...guess ya were gettin' yer hopes up."

Was he?

"Maybe it better ta find out now, not down de line," Gambit said. "Not everyone is fit for l'amour."

"Is that our call?" Rogue said. "Maybe she can change...who knows? I mean...I would have pulled for it...maybe."

"Well, Gambit not. Glad it over." Gambit turned around, like he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

But that made Morph think.

He'd known the others wouldn't approve of it...but it hadn't really mattered. He'd been more focused on whether or not Mystique actually shared those feelings.

So how much had he already been putting aside, just wondering about her answer?

And...how much had he been thinking about this since their conversation?

Every minute of the day...

So...did that mean he really already hated this? 

But he did, didn't he?

In fact, he hated that she wasn't here. She'd been helping them on all their missions, and...oddly, there was no one to really talk to.

Sure, he could joke, but the others never really had conversations or discussions with him. They just laughed, and that was fine...

But he'd gotten used to a more normal kind of dialogue...like being taken seriously.

Also...it was reassuring in a way. One person who didn't think he was happy all the time...who knew about his past and didn't care...and who didn't expect things to be easy for him.

Maybe he hadn't given it that much thought, but why had she come looking for him at Genosha? No one else had.

Was it just that she knew? She knew it would be hard.

Sure, Rogue had known that too, but she wouldn't have looked for him. The others thought he could decide on his own.

And he told them he could, so that was on him.

But Mystique knew better.

So how well did she know him already?

And...she willingly left the main group just to find him?

Morph had not thought of it that way before, but now he saw it must have been true. She'd never said that. Never asked for gratitude over it, probably never thought of it, honestly.

But who else would have been able to get him to calm down?

And...she hadn't told anyone about it, so no one was saying he wasn't ready for action or anything like that. Nothing.

Weirdly enough, he wasn't sure he could have trusted anyone else to handle it with such a casual understanding of what he'd have wanted.

Well...no wonder all he wanted to do was talk to her.

It had started now to sink in that maybe he was, in fact, in this deeper than he thought, as Wally had said.

Morph began to felt really nervous suddenly about the fight.

Mystique might not have left the house, but...she wasn't going to talk to him, obviously, not if she thought he was done with this...and while he'd thought that was going to be short-lived, it hadn't seemed so bad...but what if she was just done...seriously?

It'd be like her, but could he blame her? What did she think he wanted? Maybe she was trying to be considerate...in a weird way. She'd said as much before.

What a complicated and total misunderstanding in that case.

But the fact is, you don't do all that for someone who you just vaguely liked, so...it had to be that she just thought it was better this way.

Well...this was crushing.

Morph felt like a jerk. After she'd put herself out there, he hadn't even thanked her that much for it...

He glanced at Shine and Wally.

Shine was right...Mystique just never felt good enough... That had to be it. She took herself out of the game because she was sure she'd lose.

No wonder they thought he didn't handle this the right way...

He promised himself as soon as they got back, he was going to straighten this out. It would be intolerable not to do so.

* * *

Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver were not in the same place, as it turned out.

Scarlet Witch was actually at home, it seemed, for the moment, taking a break from her usual work.

She was not thrilled to see the X-men arrive on her doorstep.

But she didn't attack them right off. She had no reason to.

Once they began to tell her what was going on, however, she got very grim.

"I'd never believe this," she said. "Except you said you were having memories?" She nodded at Gambit. "Things you didn't do? And that someone had a vision of me? And Genosha?... I...well, I've been having weird images in my mind, just like what you're saying--and this feeling like I'm supposed to be somewhere else, with Magneto...or with...people I don't really know, but they're there. And...then it passes, and I don't even know what it was about."

"Mergin'," Gambit said.

"Am I going to disappear?" Scarlet Witch asked.

"We hope not," Storm said. "If you come with us, there's a better chance. Can you do that? We must find your brother also."

"Of course, we have to find Peitro," Scarlet Witch said. "He's all I have now, really. Magneto and I don't really talk.... Still, maybe we should find him too.... I mean...he's still my father."

"Seeing as how he's pretty important to both worlds, that might actually be a good idea," Shine said. "And, if you come with us, he will not kill us if we walk into his camp. He may want to kill us anyway. He'll take it as us threatening you, but, once we explain, he'll have to take it seriously, I think. If you're willing."

"Of course," Scarlet Witch said. "We have no time to lose it sounds like, but Pietro is in another country...working with X-factor still. We have to find him--what if he vanished also?"

"So we're makin' a detour," Logan said.

"Why go home if we can get them both now?" Storm said.

He shrugged.

"You know, if this works," Shine said, "you two should really go on a date."

"Yeah, you need a break," Wally said.

Logan shrugged.

"Did you say a date?" Rogue said.

"What?" Gambit said.

"Oh...I guess we never mentioned it," Storm said. "Logan and I are together now."

"What?" Rogue said. "When did this happen?"

"While we were in Canada," Storm said.

"Logan," Gambit said, "you sly, old fox."

"Oh, get yer mind out of the gutter," Logan said. "We just talked. Mind yer own business, Gumbo."

"I'm not sure what you're implying," Storm said. "But...it's been so hectic since we got back, we've not really had a chance to do anything about it."

"Well, ya gotta," Rogue said. "We could double date or somethin'. It'd be nice... Always wanted to do somethin' like that."

"It's a thought," Storm said. "I rather think Logan would prefer privacy, but maybe in the future we could compromise."

"Triple date?" Wally suggested. "Or, like, half triple and half on our own, like a group outing, maybe."

"This is not important right now," Scarlet Witch said. "Can we go?"

"This way, madame." Hank gestured at the plane. "Can you give me Quicksilver's approximate coordinates?"

"By the time we get there, they'd be accurate for last Tuesday," Scarlet Witch said. "But we can try."

* * *

"Well, I must say, it's dull without them all around," Emma said to Mystique, while they were sitting in the living room.

Mystique shrugged. "It's quiet."

"Still not talking to Morph?" Emma asked.

"None of your business," Mystique said.

Emma was silent.

Mystique looked up. "It's just not going to work."

"Who decided, you or him?" Emma asked.

"Both of us..."

"But you don't really want that," Emma said. "Do you?"

"Whatever I want, I probably won't get it," Mystique said. "So why try?"

"Well, great way to go through life, that," Emma said. "I thought you were a little less pathetic than that."

Mystique normally would have ignored that jab, but suddenly she looked up at her. "Why do you always say that to me? Are you any better?"

"Hey--" Emma began.

"I've made my mistakes," Mystique said, "but for once I think I'm actually thinking of what someone else prefers. I'm not giving you crap about Cyclops, so can you quit it?"

Emma stared at her.

Silence.

"Where did that come from?" Emma said.

Mystique shrugged. "Don't you ever get tired of bickering?"

"I...well..." Emma sputtered.

"It's immature anyway," Mystique added, turning a page in the book she had.

"You seem different today," Emma said. "Your thoughts do...your attitude, even... What's going on?"

"Maybe something is different," Mystique muttered, thoughtfully. "But I don't want to talk about it."

Emma studied her. "Suppose I told you that, all mocking aside, I think you're making a mistake."

"And why is that?" Mystique didn't look up.

"Because you had a shot," Emma said. "I could tell. Perhaps he was too good for you, but either we date up or we date down, isn't it so? Who's really equal? I'd have tried it if I were you."

"I don't think he saw it that way," Mystique said. 

"So wear him down," Emma said.

"I could do that," Mystique said. "I doubt it would actually work, but let's say I did. So the only reason, then, is against someone's better judgment? I've dated men like that before, but it doesn't last. The guilt catches up sooner or later."

"So? Isn't that your usual?" Emma said. "But even a short time of being happy with someone would be nice, wouldn't it?"

"I might give in to that, but it's not what Morph wants," Mystique said tightly. "So, end of story. I suppose I can have at least enough self control to stick to that, even if I don't on my own. I know what you think of me, but I have some limits...even me."

"Well...I didn't exactly think that wasn't the case," Emma admitted. "But it's a little sad... Maybe it would have been different. But you'd still take it, wouldn't you? I'm sure, if he changes his mind."

"I'm weak," Mystique said. "So probably. Maybe I should be hoping that doesn't happen, for both our sakes."

"You'd be a fool," Emma said. "Chances like that don't come along often, Raven. And he knows your past, and if he's willing to overlook it, that's one man in a million, if not less. It kills me that you have that, but it's even worse if you let it slip through your fingers. Just my two cents, as the Americans say."

"You're technically American," Mystique said.

"Don't remind me," Emma said. "But this is so dull..."

"I can think of one thing we should be doing." Mystique suddenly put the book down. "Those kids have been slacking off for days. They should be training."

"And we have to train them because...?" Emma said.

"You like telling people what to do, and I actually have an inkling of how training works," Mystique said.

"Oh right, that," Emma said. "Well, it beats staring at the fireplace. Shall we?"

* * *

The kids fought the idea at first, but Kitty and Illyana were game to try a few new things.

But Ryan was made to participate also.

"If you're tired of being useless, do something about it," Mystique told him. She handed him one of the laser blasters. "Anyone can use a weapon, so learn."

"I don't know," Ryan said. "I'm a Christian, and I think I believe in violence not really being the answer."

"Shine uses a sword to cut things into pieces," Mystique said. "And this isn't even lethal."

"Oh, come on, Ryan," Kitty said. "Quit being such a pansy about it. Next time this house gets invaded, don't you want to actually do something about it?"

"Why does there have to be a next time?" Ryan said. "I don't have any useful powers... What if I shoot the wrong person?"

"Can you not aim?" Emma said.

"I don't know?" Ryan said.

"It can't be that bad," Jubilee said. "Even Kevin's gotten better at training."

Kevin was practicing using his power with more control.

Illyana was told not to use her mutation by Shine upon first arriving. Morph's description of it had convinced her it was a bad idea, until they could look into the mystical, magical aspect of it.

But she was fine with learning how to use weapons and do the combat training. She was tough, like her brother.

Colossus helped them run through some simulations.

Emma couldn't participate in these; it could set off her mental episodes to be exposed to the illusions in the Danger Room. So she just watched from the control room.

While she was monitoring, she noticed something strange happening near Illyana, and she leaned in to examine the screen more closely.

The air behind her was...fuzzy.

"Everyone, stop!" Emma suddenly yelled into the intercom, her voice almost shrill. "Illyana, run, get away from that spot. There's something there!"

Illyana screamed and ran for it.

Emma turned the simulation off, so everyone could see it clearly, and they all saw the air had turned odd.

"It's one of those tear things," Mystique said, spooked. "Get out of this room, all of you... I thought it couldn't come here."

"So did I!" Emma said. "But there it bloody is!"

"Can she say that?" Kitty asked.

"Run!" Colossus said, grabbing her and pulling her out of the room, and Illyana.

Ryan and Kevin ran too.

Mystique shut the door--like that would stop it.

"It took some time," she said. "Maybe it can't move that far."

"What is it?" Illyana cried, her accent getting thicker with fright. "Is it here for me?"

"Stay calm. We protect you." Colossus hugged her. "Come, we go." He led her upstairs.

Kitty and the others followed close.

"Freaky," Jubilee said. "And the DJs aren't here... I'll get the Professor."

But things went wrong from that point.

Jubilee ran into the room where Xavier was supposed to be, and Emma was right on her heels.

But he wasn't there...

Emma got hit with a wave of psionic energy...or a disturbance in it...and she knew he must have just vanished...

Maybe just seconds ago.

She fell back, and then her head began to pound with that by now familiar feeling.

"Ahh!" she screamed.

"Professor?" Jubilee looked around. "Oh no..."

Then she saw the air buzzing. "Ah...get back! You freaky dimension tear thing!" She shot at it.

The tear actually seemed to slow for a second, like it didn't like this.

Jubilee saw Emma was losing it.

"Come on, Emma." She yanked her arm. "We have to get away from it."

She pulled her up with a burst of adrenaline, and they ran down the hall, Emma's head still spinning.

But again...strangely, no memory loss followed that feeling. It was just painful and frightening.

Escape...escape...

Mystique was waiting for them. "Where's Xavier?" she asked.

"He's gone!" Jubilee was pale as a sheet. "They took him, the...the tear things."

Mystique swallowed. "I should have seen that coming. Come on." She grabbed Emma by the arm, and they pulled her up to the upper level.

The others were yelling for Kurt and Warren, who were around.

Warren flew in. "What is it?" he said.

"Something freaky happened downstairs," Ryan said. "I think it's what took the other people who vanished..."

Warren grew serious. "Psylocke..." he said.

He'd been upset when he heard about her...though he had mixed feelings about her at the moment...and now this?

Kurt came in. "Vhat is going on?"

The other three ran in.

"The Professor is gone," Mystique said. "They took him."

"No!" everyone gasped.

"Not Professor X!" Ryan said. "He's...he's, like, the guy in charge."

"It's too late now," Mystique said. "And we're going to be next if we don't get out of here. We have to run away from this house."

"I thought they could not come here," Kurt said.

Cable and Wraith came in. "I heard," Cable said. "And it looks like Miss Time Jumper was wrong."

"Dimension Jumper," Ryan corrected. "Time Jumper is Morph."

"Like I care. We have to get out of here," Cable said. "You, teleport us as far away a possible."

Wraith shook his head. "I don't use my power just for any situation. Anyway, it's not pretty."

"The h--- I care? We could disappear," Cable said. "This not good enough for ya? Eat me."

Emma began to recover from her attack, and she drew a deep breath. "Can't any of you get rid of those things? I thought you were the DJs' students."

"I did slow it down..." Jubilee said. "But how do they get rid of it?"

"Before, Shine yelled at it...something about not being able to be stronger than her power...or her God's power," Emma said. "None of you know anything about that?"

"Well, I think all of us can be used by God," Ryan said. "But what they do? It's not like anything I was ever taught. I just pray."

"I believe I understand," Kurt said. "But it's not how I pray either...vith that kind of aggression. Shine and Vally are comfortable vith it, but I feel prayer is to be more humble."

"Well, maybe we can let that go for once?" Mystique said. "Because we need to try something."

"Like that's going to work," Cable scoffed. "That's a lot of superstitious hooey."

He got glares from most of them.

"It is not!" Kevin said. "It works! It helps us!"

"Yeah, you don't know what you're talking about, Cable Guy," Jubilee said.

Suddenly the front door opened, and Trinity came in.

"Jewels?" she said. "Guys? There's something really weird looking in your front lawn."

No one even had time to ask why she was there--it must have been her weekly visit day--but they raced to the front door.

In the front, they saw something like a stone table or alter, just lying there.

"Oh my word!" Emma gasped. "I know that...that.... That was in the Inner Circle's hideout."

"It's like the tower on Genosha!" Jubilee freaked out. "It's converging or whatever they called it. It's not supposed to be here--now it is."

"But that wasn't at the Mansion," Emma said. "How is it here at all?"

"You really want to question that now?" Mystique said. "If that's here, then what else is?"

"Yeah, so what is that?" Trinity said. "What are you guys all talking about?"

"Go home, kid," Mystique said. "We're in hot water right now."

"Hey, I'm not just going to leave," Trinity said.

"Ah!" Kitty screamed.

They turned.

The air had started shifting in the living room too.

They all stared at it.

Jubilee shot at it then. "Go away!" she yelled.  "Leave us alone, you...you jerks!"

Some of the Morlocks, who'd been coming to see what the commotion was about, ran right out of the room.

Billy stayed, frowning. "What's going on?"

"Stay back," Colossus said. "We have problem."

Well, if Colossus said it, it was bad. Billy backed up.

"Gott help us," Kurt muttered. "Ve must go..."

Scott ran into the room right then. "What's all the screaming about?"

The Tear, which began to look more visible to them all, like it was getting stronger, suddenly seemed to spread towards him.

"Scott!" Emma screamed. "Get away from that!"

She started to move.

"Emma, don't be a fool!" Mystique said, grabbing her by her jacket.

Scott shot blindly at the Tear, which didn't do anything to stop it, but Kitty suddenly jumped and phased him through the floor.

Then they came out a few feet away, and she gasped. "That was the scariest thing I've ever done..."

Emma stopped.

The Tear changed directions and came toward her instead.

"What is that?" Trinity asked. "Is it...is it evil?"

"Da," Colossus said. "Is evil."

"We have to stop it!" Kevin tried to close in the air around it, but it didn't work.

Kurt grabbed Emma and poofed her to the door. "Run, Frost, get out of range."

Emma stumbled for the door.

Kurt got Scott also and did the same with him and Kitty.

The others ran out the door after them.

The Tear vanished, but then it reappeared outside, in front of them.

"We're trapped." Emma recoiled. "It won't go away until it gets us... We can't make it."

She was shaking

Trinity had followed them.

Jubilee started to shoot it again, but it didn't do much.

"Go avay!" Kurt tried. "Vhatever you are, do not take our friends! This is our house. Ve are safe here."

"How did it get inside the barriers they put up?" Mystique wondered aloud. "It shouldn't have."

"They might have faded," Kurt said. "They don't last forever. Ve must renew our strength, after all... I vish I had paid more attention to how they do this now."

"A sword or something would be cool," Kitty said. "It's getting closer!" She covered her face.

Colossus pushed her and Illyana behind him. Illyana was freaking out.

The Tear got closer to them.

"Nein!" Kurt pushed them out of the way.

"Kurt!" Mystique said.

The tear snatched him by his tail.

"Let go!" Kurt struggled to break free.

Something very strange happened then--the hole, instead of swallowing him like Psylocke, seemed to lose its grip and spit him back out. He went flying across the yard, but then he hit the fountain in the driveway and seemed dazed.

"What was that?" Kitty asked.

The Tear, as if it were angry, suddenly grew bigger.

Then...the worst of all...

Someone came out of it.

Emma gasped, because it was a person, several persons, actually, and she knew some of them.

A few members of the Inner circle--and one other girl no one knew.

Cable had a hand on his gun. "Well, something I can fight."

"Hello, Emma." Selene waved at her. "Miss us?"

[Oh crap...]