15

For the rest of the weekend, I went to the Zombie Earth dungeon for an hour anytime I had a moment to myself. I faced a lot of zombies that were just undead versions of regular people and some low-level mutants that had varying powers but were mostly fire based. The rewards I gained from those kills were the usual money drops and a few potions and a couple of level ups that brought me up to level 20.

I didn't hit a snag in my routine until I came across a zombie version of Wolverine.

[Zombie Wolverine Lvl 35]

This version of Logan was stronger physically than the one from the real world, his claws had some kind of effect that disrupted my use of my powers when he got a hit on me, kind of like a chi blocker from the avatar universe, and his healing factor also seemed to have been amped, which makes me think that the big boss of this dungeon might be a version of Hela, who's controlling these things. I just hope I'm wrong about that, but if I'm not, I hope I won't have to fight her until my ID Create and myself are at a higher level.

I decided to take a step back from this for now until I find a way to bypass his amps, and because I have to go with the professor to pick up a new recruit he found with Cerebro. The recruit in question is Kitty Pride aka Shadowcat, and seeing how this is sorta going by X-Men Evolution, we're probably gonna strike out trying to convince her parents, have to deal with Lance, and him trying to influence Kitty.

Then again, not everything has gone exactly like it has in that show, so I can't rely on it too much.

"Penny, through your thoughts," the professor said, breaking me from my thoughts.

We were in one of his cars with Ororo in the driver seat, him in the passenger seat and me in the back.

"I'm just thinking about how our new recruit must be feeling right now," I said.

"Ah, yes, I'm sure Miss Pryde is having a hard time. That's why I brought you along. While Ororo and I try to convince her parents to allow her to come with us, I want you to watch over her and befriend her if you will, just make sure she doesn't get exposed," Charles said.

"I'll do my best," I said.

-----------------

A car ride later, I was dropped off at Kitty's high school, while the adults went to her house. I went into the building and into the principals office to talk with the receptionist there.

Using my Telepathy, I was able to get the lady to print me a copy of Kitty's schedule so I could keep tabs on her. Looking at the sheet of paper and then at the clock, it looks like she would be in her third period, which is gym.

As I was walking the halls, I noticed Lance Alverce, aka Avalanche, spray painting the lockers when suddenly Kitty phased out of one of them and fell on him. She freaked out and left, running to the gym just like what happened in the show.

Lance looked towards where she went and followed after her. Once he was gone, I followed both of them to where they were going.

Just like in the show, Kitty did her long jump and failed, and Lance caused a small quake that caused one of her bullies to fall on their face as they did their's.

Things were seemingly going exactly like how the episode went that I was kinda getting bored until I caught something from the corner of my eye. It was only for a moment, but I could've sworn I saw a glimpse of Mr. Sinister, but that couldn't be right.

He wouldn't exactly be watching me in the open himself. He would've sent some clones or some kind of surveillance system. Maybe I'm just making up things, I need to focus back on Kitty, who has completely left the field, apparently while I was stuck in my head.

If my memory serves correctly, then she should be in the drama room. I left the field and sensed out for Kitty's mind so I could find my way to the room.

Once I made it to the room, I saw Kitty phasing her hand through one of those dramatic themed masks or whatever they're supposed to be called.

"Hey, are you alright," I asked her, making her drop the mask in surprise.

"That Rah-Rah Riley a friend of yours? Cause, you know, like I had nothing to do with what happened out there on the sand pit," Kitty said nervously.

"I know, and I'm not friends with Riley either," I said.

"You look like you'd be her friend," she said.

"Look, I know what's going on with you," I said, making her look at me with a combination of annoyance and frustration.

"You, like, don't know anything! Neither does that creepy guy out there!" Kitty exclaimed.

"Who? Lance?" I scoffed. "Forget about him. This is about you. You and your gift."

That seemed to have calmed Kitty down a bit.

"I don't have a gift, just a curse," she said.

"If you see it that way, but there's a place for people like you and me that can help you as it has done for me," I said as I float the pieces of the mask she dropped, in the air.

"How did you do that?" Kitty asked.

"The same way you can phase through walls, I've just learned to control it at the Xavier Institute," I said.

"I... I don't believe you. This is a trick!" Kitty exclaimed.

"You do believe me, and I know this because of my other gift. I can read your thoughts, but only the surface level thoughts," I said as gently as I could, so she wouldn't freak out, but it seemed that didn't help.

"Stay out of my head!" She screamed as she ran away from me.

Great! Just great. I was gonna go after her, but someone grabbed my arm and turned me around.

"Piece of advice, Red: I'm the only friend that girl's gonna need, and I'll be teaching her what's what, so you better back off," Lance said.

I scoffed at him and jerked my arm back.

"Big talk coming from somebody like you," I said as I pushed him to the wall that was across from us. "Don't put your hands on my next time, and Kitty can make her own decisions."

After saying what I had to say, I left, leaving Lance stuck to the wall.