ISSUE # 107

It wasn't long until Authorities and the Avengers showed up. With everything happening, it was impossible for them not to notice such a devastating fight happening. However, Thanks to the timely arrival of Kurt and Warpath, the trio of Sarah, Noriko, and Ian were pulled out before the Authorities could discover their involvement. As far as Shield and Ironman know, X-factor were simply victims of an attack that happened in New York.

Back at the main X-Factor office building, in New York, Kurt and James were busy tending to the newly injured.

Siryn, Monet, Guido and Jamie were in okay condition, so was Sarah. But Ian and Rahne were in severe condition. Despite his victory, Ian had still suffered heavy injuries, and Rahne was still very injured from her encounter with Bastion.

" Damn this hurts." Ian groaned.

" Hold still, I almost finished the stitches." James told the man. " You know you're lucky, we got there when we did, or else you might be getting stitched up in a shield prison."

" Yeah, whatever. What about the others? How are they doing?" Ian asked the man.

" Just fine. Your moms in good condition, just a little spooked. Siryn and the others have healed up fine. The only ones really hurt are you and Rahne." James explained.

" Yeah.... Is she going to be alright?" Ian asked.

" She'll be out of action for a while. Bastion really did a number on her. Seven broken ribs, a broken arm, a leg, and not to mention all the cuts and bruises. Eh, she's a fighter. She'll be fine in no time." James replied.

" And Nori?"

" Ah she's just fine. Scott's bringing her a new pair of gauntlets. Luckily for her, your powers are starting to return. Means those pesky sentinels aren't hanging around in your blood anymore." James stated. " And done." He snipped off the last piece of wire, sealing the last of Ian's wounds, and wrapped him up in bandages.

" Thanks, James."

" Yeah, no problem kid." James replied. He gave Ian a tap on his back and walked away to tend to others in need.

Ian hopped off of the counter he was on and started to walk around. First taking a stop to see how his mother was handling things.

When he walked up to the room, he gave a slight knock on the door, alerting the woman to his presence.

" Hey, mom." Ian spoke.

The woman left her seat on the bed and walked up to the young man and hugged him, though she quickly retracted when she heard him grunt from pain.

" Sorry." Sarah exclaimed.

" No, mom.... It's okay." Ian replied. He reached out and pulled the woman back into his arms, hugging her as tight as he could without hurting her or himself.

" God, Ian, I was so worried about ye." Sarah told the boy. She cupped his face with her hands and started crying.

" I know mum. I know." Ian replied.

" Ian, is that what it's like for you all the time?" Sarah asked.

" Yeah, pretty much." He answered honestly.

" How? How do ye take it? How do ye all have the will tae keep going like this? It's so much, I wanna throw up." Sarah told the boy.

" The same way we do everything, mum. Together. We do it together. All of us. We watch each other's backs. We take care of each other. We live and laugh together. Because at the end of the day, that's all we got is each other. The rest of the world fears and hates us. They want us dead, mum." Ian explained to the woman.

" My boy. You've grown so strong. I'm so proud of ye." Sarah told the boy.

" Thank ye, mum. I love ye." Ian told the woman. After some time, Ian eventually backed away. " I need tae go now mum. My teachers will be here soon, tae pick us all up. I want tae make sure everyone else is okay, before we leave."

" Okay, honey." Sarah hugged the boy one last time, for a long time, before finally letting go of him.

Ian left Sarah's room and walked down the hall to Rahne's room. Once there he stepped inside to see the woman lying on her back, in bed. Hundreds of bandages covered her body, her leg was up in a sling and so was her arm.

He approached her bed and stared down at her, placing his hand softly on hers.

" You damn, fool. You bloody damned fool. Why couldn't you just do as he said? Why did ya have tae go and get yuirself hurt? Damn you for making me worry about ye. And damn me for caring. I hope ye get well Rahne. I....." Ian was conflicted. For so long, he held such an intense grudge against Rahne. But never had he wanted her to get hurt, especially not because of him. And yet seeing her laying there now, Ian couldn't help but feel it was his fault. He couldn't help but feel pain. " I don't hate ye, Rahne. I never will. A lot has changed since ye left, ye know. I've grown stronger, I've got a new girlfriend. She's a hot headed one for sure. A very explosive temper. So, life's good for me. I hope it is for you. I hope you get over this. No, I know you will. And when you do, you'll be so much stronger. Stronger than I could ever hope to be. Damn it. I just need you to know that.... You showed me that there can be more to life than what life makes us. I'll miss you, Rahne." Ian leaned down and gently placed his forehead to hers.

He backed off, slightly before feeling a hand come down on his shoulder. When he looked back it was Jamie.

" Hey Jamie, how are you feeling?" Ian asked the man.

" I'm fine. But what are you doing?" Jamie asked the man.

Ian looked back down at Rahne and sighed.

" Just saying my goodbyes." Ian replied.

" I see. Well, thanks kid. We appreciate the help." Jamie told the man.

" Don't thank me, Jamie. I should be thanking you guys. If it wasn't for X-Factor I would have been in far deeper trouble." Ian replied.

" Yeah, and without you, we'd probably be dead. So as far as I'm concerned that warrants a thanks. The others feel the same. We all owe you a debt. So, as leader of X-Factor, anytime you need help or need a place to call home, you're more than welcome with us." Jamie told the man. He extended his hand and Ian shook it.

" Thank you, Jamie." Ian told the man.

" No problem, Ian. Scott will be here shortly. I'll leave you to say your goodbyes." Jamie told the man.

" Thank you, Jamie. But I'm just about done." Ian replied. He walked past Jamie and disappeared down the hall.

......

Ian walked the hall until he arrived at Noriko's room. She was the last person visited, since she was the one who had been hurt the least.

Ian knocked on the door and walked in.

" Hey." Noriko spoke up.

" Hey sleepy. How are you feeling?" Ian asked the girl.

" Probably better than you do right now." Noriko replied. She sat up in her bed and patted the spot next to her.

Ian smirked and walked over, carefully taking a seat next to Noriko and letting the girl lean on him.

" How are you feeling?" Noriko asked the man.

Ian sighed and hugged Noriko tightly.

" I'm exhausted Noriko. I'm beat up. I'm bloody. And.... I'm happy. I'm happy you're okay. I'm happy my mum's okay. Thank you so much for keeping her safe, Nori." Ian told the girl.

" Of course." Noriko replied. She leaned up and kissed Ian on the side of his cheek.

" And I'm happy I have you. I was so worried when he took you, I was irrational. I wasn't thinking straight. Noriko, I was afraid to lose you. Hey, Nori?"

" Yeah, Ian?"

" I Love you."

" I love you, too."

Ian and Noriko kissed each other, it wasn't a kiss of lust. But one of pure passion and love. Sparks of electricity danced around the two of them as they embraced each other.

Tensions at unease finally relaxed. Ian and Noriko slowly slid back into the bed. They had time before Scott and the others arrived.

......

A short while later, Scott and the rest of the X-men arrived at what remained of the X-Factor building.

Scott and Jamie met with each other to discuss the events that happened, while Emma and Kitty helped Ian, Noriko, and Sarah onto the X-Jet.

" Is that everything?" Emma asked Ian.

" Yeah, that's all of it. Nothing else happened, though from the sound of things he had a plan much bigger than that." Ian told the woman.

" Well, all things considered. I'd say this was a success. You all survived, kept casualties to a minimum. There was of course, sever collateral damage. But it could have been much worse. You did good." Emma told the two mutants.

" Thanks, But I didn't really do much." Noriko told the woman.

" Nonsense. Without you, we'd be dead. You saved my life, Noriko." Ian told the woman. " Now if you don't mind, Miss Frost, I'd like tae get home."

" Right, well. Strap in. We'll be back home in no time." Emma told the boy.

" Right, and when you're both healed up. Then we'll talk more." Scott told the two of them as he boarded the jet. " We have much to say, and much to think about in these coming days. Changes are happening, and our lives are about to get even more hectic." Scott explained. " But enough worrying about that for now. You all just get some rest. And as for you Miss Sinclair, allow me to apologize for what has happened to you under our watch. If you would like, we would gladly take you home first." Scott told the woman.

" It's fine, if possible, I'd like to stay with my son for a few days." Sarah asked the man.

" Of course." Scott replied. " Okay, Kitty, get us home." Scott told the woman.

Kitty nodded to the man, and the X-Jet took off towards home.

.......

A few days later.

After having time to heal, Scott had gathered all of the New X-men trainees together in the danger room to discuss the future of things for them as a squad and as a race.

" I won't lie to you all or sugar coat things, so I'll just say it. You all may be the last generation of X-men. We may all die tomorrow, we may all die a year from now, or we may all live forever, like Wolverine here." Scott spoke.

" Lucky me." Wolverine stated sarcastically.

" But until that day comes, this is a school. And you have work to do. Team-building exercises will now be a part of your daily lives again. Individual power training will also resume. If none of the senior staff is available Prodigy and Onslaught will both substitute until our return. You're the New X-Men. And you've still got a lot to learn." Scott explained.

Next time The World is at War. A World War! The Green Scar returns!!!!