ISSUE #8

A few weeks had gone by since their little accident at night. Noriko and Nathan had gotten closer. However, Nathan noticed that the woman seemed to be distracted as of late. She and the others were coming back later and later every night. He figured it had something to do with their Status as the New X-men. However, tonight Noriko had been madder than he had ever seen her up to this point.

"Noriko, what's wrong? What's going on? You and the others have been gone for a while."

Nathana asked as the woman and a few others ran downstairs in a hurry.

" Nothing you need to worry about Nate."

Noriko said to the man.

' I've never seen her so angry, whatever's happening must be serious.'

Nathan thought. And against his better judgment Nathan decided it would be a good idea to follow the woman. And listen in on their conversation.

" Even Jaime's involved."

Rockslide said.

" Yes, rockslide. I know."

Scott replied.

" You hate Jamie Madrox."

Laura said to scott.

" I don't hate him. He's a valuable asset. And he was needed for a mission."

Scott explained to the New Mutants.

" And when are we going to be needed?"

Cessily asked.

" Aren't we valuable assets? And speaking of assets, why was my request for Nate rejected?"

Noriko asked.

" Surge."

Scott called out.

" Oh joy, you remember my name."

Noriko said sarcastically.

" Maybe our names. Not our capabilities."

Laura argued as she raised her claws.

" An annoying thing to forget in an emergency."

Cessily added on.

" Yeah, but y'know why give the new kids on the block a chance?"

Rockslide asked.

" Or maybe you think we just can't take it? Huh?"

Rockslide asked Scott.

Scott looked at the boy and immediately blasted him with his optic blasts.

" I'm trying to oversee a war that's being fought on half a dozen fronts."

Scott explained.

" If you're fighting a war, we can help."

Noriko said to the man.

" And you will. But it will be where I say so, When I say so. If any of you have a problem with that, you know where the door is."

Scott explained to the group.

" You'd do that?"

Julian asked

" Yes."

Scott replied.

" Just let us go?"

Julian asked again.

" Yes. Then I'd go hail you back here and chew you out for abandoning your own species in its time of need... They also serve who stand and wait. And when your time comes you may well wish it hadn't."

Scott said to the group who was currently trying to pull Santo from the wall.

As the door opened Scott and the others looked on in shock to see Nathan had been listening.

" Okay, before anyone gets mad. I could hear you from upstairs."

Nathan tried to save his skin by lying.

" Surge that's why."

Scott said to the girl before leaving.

" Nathan what the hell are you doing down here?"

Noriko asked.

" Well, you seemed upset. So, I thought I'd see what was going on. And I might be able to help."

Nathan said with a smile on his face.

" You're still wet behind the ears. You couldn't of any use to us. You aren't ready for this so leave."

Julian said to the boy.

" Julians right Nathan, you aren't ready for this. You haven't been here long enough. And you've only been in one real fight. Don't get me wrong I appreciate the help. But you should leave."

Cessily explained to the boy.

" I can't help you guys?"

Nathan asked.

" No, Nathan you can't now go!"

Noriko yelled.

" Oh jeez, however could a guy who hear everything that's said in the entire Institute, possibly be able to help gather information?"

Nathan asked sarcastically.

" Can you hear what they're saying upstairs?"

Julian asked.

" Hmph, I thought you wanted me to leave?"

Nathan replied.

He looked around to see the expressions on the teens faces changing.

" Now, who wants to go break all kinds of rules?"

Nathan asked.

" Let's go get the rest of the team."

Julian said to the others.

" You sure you want to do this?"

Noriko asked as the group walked upstairs.

" I've been making progress with my abilities Nori. And I think I could really help you out. I want to help you out. I don't know what exactly is going on. But whatever it is we'll face it together."

Nathan said to the woman.

Noriko smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder.

Once they were upstairs Noriko had the Rest of the New X-men gather to discuss her plan.

" I thought Cyclops and I had an understanding after everything we've been through. After everything we've done. The X-men want to go after the Marauders? Fine, but the purifiers, that's personal. They killed forty-five of our friends."

Noriko explained to the group.

Nathan upon hearing this hung his head as he remembered her telling him the story of what had happened just a few weeks before he arrived at the mansion. And why it was so everyone who had remained at the institute didn't like him when he first arrived.

" They don't kill X-men, or freaking X-factor... They killed students. They killed our friends, and we're the ones who took them down. Not the X-men. So, I don't care what Cyclops says. I'm going after them. If they've got this baby, they're going to kill it. And if they don't have it... I'm still taking them out permanently. So, who's in?"

Noriko asked.

"Nori."

Nathan called out as he grabbed the woman's shoulders.

" Nori are you sure this is what you want to do? Is this what your heart is telling you to? Be honest with me. In your heart of hearts is this what you really want to do? If it is, I'll support you."

Nathan said to the woman.

" Yes, it is Nathan. Will you stand with me? I know this isn't what you had in mind. But..."

Noriko was saying.

" Hey, I'm the one who said let's break some rules. I'm in Nori."

Nathan said to the girl.

" I'm in. These people killed Brian."

Julian said in agreement.

" I'm in too."

Cessily stated.

" This wrong, Noriko. To rescue the child, yes... But that's not what you want. What you want is blood. And we have seen far too much blood as of late."

Sooraya said to the woman.

" Try and stop me. But if we rescue the baby, I'm not holding it. Babies creep me out."

Rockslide stated.

" I'll go, but just for the baby. We should talk to the cuckoos. See if they've picked up any information from the X-men, maybe a location. The One might have records on the purifiers, too."

Victor stated.

" And I can teleport us there. But, um. I don't want to kill anyone. I don't have to, do I?"

Megan asked.

" Don't do this Nori!"

David said to the woman.

" What about you josh? Are you in or out?"

Noriko asked in a foul mood.

" No."

Josh replied.

" But if you need healing, you know where to find me."

Josh stated.

" Hey, got room for one more?"

Hisako asked as she walked into the room, having overheard the conversation.

" Yes, we do."

Noriko said to the girl.

" All right, then it's settled. But there's one more thing we have to do."

Julian said.

' What's that?"

Rockslide asked.

" we've got to give him a codename. Can't be out there calling out his real name."

Julian said as he pointed to Nathan.

" Oh, I've already got that covered."

Nathan said to the boy.

" Oh yeah? Well, let's hear it then."

Julian.

Nathan cleared his throat and spoke with a voice the others could only deem as robotic.

" Soundwave. Online!"

Nathan spoke with a distorted voice, that sent chills up the teen's spines.

Next Time! The New and Improved Soundwave enters the battlefield.

"