Professor Xavier's Mansion, U.S.A., Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, X-iverse.  October 12, 1996.

The afternoon was quiet.  Wolverine did not like this very much; he possessed warrior's blood, which demanded he show some bad guy who was boss.  He wore a yellow suit with black stripes on it, black boots, and a mask.

            Usually, none of the others shared his opinion; however, this afternoon, the quiet was not peaceful.  It was restless.  Something evil was going to go down; they all felt it in their bones.  Professor Xavier and Jean could not pinpoint what was going to happen, but it probably was not going to be pretty.  Xavier wore a green suit and was bald.  He sat in an electronic moving chair since he could not use his legs.  The blonde Jean wore a blue outfit and a circular band around her forehead.

            The one it hit most, however, was not Wolverine but Rogue.  She was red-headed and clad in green.  Her power probably made her the most powerful; she could absorb any other person's superpower.  However, since she lacked Storm's control - earned at great denial to her emotions - she could not safely wield Storm's barely controllable power.  She had enough trouble containing her own; she had accidentally knocked her boyfriend into a coma with it, and she was despised by her own father simply because she was a mutant.  Just because she was different.  Just because her genetic codes had screwed up somewhere and given her a great ability that no one else had or, apparently, appreciated.

            Anyway, why the quiet day made her the most anxious seemed trivial at the time.  She was keeping watch in the War Room with great care when Professor Xavier came in.  "Find anything yet, Rogue?" asked Professor Xavier, calm as usual.

            "Nothin'," Rogue responded in her Southern accent.  "I can't find anything on the monitors."

            "Well, please try to find something as soon as possible, Rogue," said Xavier.  "We don't want Wolverine to continue rampaging through the place.  He can control his temper some but not absolutely."

            "Of course, Professor.  I have a really bad feeling that something awful's going to happen today."

            "I sense that feeling, Rogue, and I share it.  Everyone here has it.  We've never been so tense.  Something dreaded is coming, and I want us to be able to avert disaster."

            "I agree.  Am I wrong, or am I tenser than anyone else around here?"

            "I think you're right, though I may come close.  Uh, oh.  He's here."  The door opened, and Wolverine stormed in.

            "Found anything, Rogue?" snapped Wolverine.

            Rogue said, "As far as I can tell, nothing.  It's driving me bonkers."

            "Well, it's driving me crazy!"  Wolverine took his chair and sat in it.  "Something's going to go down!  I know it!"

            "I know it, too, Wolverine," said Xavier, calm perfectly masking his own anxiety.  He expressed his emotions whenever he could, but this instance demanded he be calm or at least seem calm.  Being the commander, he was unconsciously an important part of the source of the others' emotional wellness, so he had to support them with calmness that was at least apparent.

            "Well, whenever you find it, Rogue, tell me second," said Wolverine.  "I'm going to get some food so I can cut up something."  He stormed out.

            "You may possess the most anxiety," Xavier told Rogue, "but it affects him the worst."

            "Yeah.  Well, Professor, I'll let you know if I find anything."

            "Thank you, Rogue."  Professor Xavier pressed a series of keys on his yellow moving chair and left the room.

            * * *

            Bridge, Ludwig's Warbird-A, en route to the unknown galaxy @ warp 29.9, Q-niverse.  Stardate 1 051 284.9; October 12, 2996.

            Ludwig stepped onto the Bridge; Larry vacated the command chair.  "Emperor on the bridge!" announced Bowser, manning the communications station.

            "Mouser," asked Ludwig, "are we cloaked?"

            "Yes, we are cloaked," Mouser replied.

            "Superb!" replied Ludwig.  "Larry, we're heading towards the warp in the galaxy that no one has explored, true?"

            "That's true, my brother.  That is, no one except those poor Romulans and those twelve poor Thunderians has explored it!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            "Ah, yes!  You are right, my brother!  Do you know what we will do when we encounter the X-Men?"

            "Not exactly," said Larry.

            "We shall attack them, of course!"

            "I know that, but how shall we do it?"

            "We'll all attack them near Professor Xavier's mansion," said Ludwig.  "They'll have no problem finding us.  Wendy, you keep a watch on the operations."

            "Yes, brother," said Wendy O. Koopa.

            "Iggy and Lemmy, help Mouser watch over the cloaking device.  I don't want it to fail."

            "Right, bro," said Iggy.

            "We'll stay on it," Lemmy said.

            Morton asked, "What if they know we're coming?  Oh, we'll get it then!  Those mutants are powerful!  Yes, indeed!  Oh, what will we do?  What will we do?"

            "Shush," said Bowser.  "I know those X-Men.  They won't know we're coming, but they'll suspect something.  They're probably getting very anxious.  Why, Wolverine's probably tearing down the mansion!"

            "Ha, ha!" laughed Ludwig.  "Yeah.  Mumm-ra, Mon*Star, and the Fearsome Four are aboard, right?"

            "Right," Larry said.  "Mumm-ra and Mon*Star are transformed."

            "Excellent."

            "Now entering the unexplored galaxy; continuing towards the gate to the dimensional warp."

            * * *

            Professor Xavier's Mansion, U.S.A., Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, X-iverse.  October 12, 1996.

            "Something's definitely going to happen," said Jean.  "I wish I knew what it is, Scott."

            Cyclops replied, "Well, it will present itself whenever it will.  I feel rather uncomfortable about it myself, but Rogue will warn us as soon as it occurs."  Clad in a different type of blue uniform, the blonde Scott Summers had a visor over his eyes that he used to control the powerful laser that shot out whenever his eyes opened.  He could fire or hold it at will with the visor.  The visor was the source of his nickname, Cyclops.

            "She is more anxious than any of us.  However, she seems to be handling it very well."

            "Well, Logan stormed through here a few minutes ago on his way to the kitchen.  At least he's going to take it out on his meal rather than someone else."

            "Yes.  You're being so calm about this, Scott."

            "I'm acting calm, Jean.  I'm controlling my anxiety.  However, once whatever's going to happen happens, I doubt I can keep that control."

            "Well, I think it may happen soon."  Beast and Storm entered the room.

            "How is it going, my friends?" Beast asked.  Standing on his two legs, Beast was the height of a normal human.  However, he was muscular and had blue fur, and he was strong and agile like primates.  The fur was so thick in several areas that it was acceptable for him not to wear anything.  He was a very well educated doctor, and he was slow to rouse to anger.

            "All right, considering the circumstances," said Cyclops.  "How about with you?"

            "I am well, but my tension is getting worse."

            "Mine, too," said Storm.  "Please forgive me, but I must centre as much concentration as I can on controlling my powers because of this tension."  Her outfit was white, and she had dark skin.  Her hair was also white.  Her weather-controlling powers required superb control from her willpower, so she could not express much emotion even in the best of circumstances.

            Gambit and Wolverine came in, Wolverine carrying a plate with sliced ham.  "Anyone want any ham?" Wolverine asked.  "Don't worry; I used a clean knife rather than my claws."

            "It's real good," said Gambit in his mostly-French-partly-Southern accent.  He was from the bayous of Louisiana.  He wore dark-coloured clothes with a jacket, and he had a band tied around his head.  His dark hair stuck up.  Wolverine set the plate on a central table so everyone present could take some ham if they wanted it.

            "Thanks, Logan," said Cyclops, taking a slice.  "Maybe some food will help ease our tension."  He ate it slowly.  "Mm.  Very good."

            Professor Xavier came in with Jubilee.  "Rogue still hasn't found anything," Xavier said.  "Ah, I see Wolverine prepared lunch."

            "My pleasure," said Wolverine.

            Jubilee took a taste.  "Mm!  Very good, Wolverine!"  She was younger than the others.  She wore a bright yellow jacket, a shirt, and blue jeans, and she had sunglasses on her head.

            "Thanks, Jubilee."

            Gambit took a card and flipped it all around in his hand.  "Well, somethin' definitely not right," said Gambit.

            "Now, I'm sensing something," said Jean.  "I don't know what it is, but it's definitely evil."

            "Yes," agreed Xavier.

            * * *

            Ludwig's Warbird, orbiting Earth, X-iverse.

            "All right, Mouser," said Ludwig.  "Let the X-Men - and only the X-Men - see through our cloak."

            "Yes, Emperor," Mouser replied.  He manipulated the proper controls.  "Got it."

            * * *

            Professor Xavier's Mansion.

            Rogue's uneasiness could now be seen; however, no one was there to see it.  "I have a real bad feeling," she whispered to herself.  She flipped some switches. . . and, suddenly, she saw that an enormous ship was in a tidal lock over the mansion!  It just appeared out of nowhere. . . materialised into sight or something.  "How the hell did that get there?" she demanded.  She just knew this was it.  She smacked a communications button.  "Professor Xavier, Rogue here.  I've found somethin' you should see."  After only a few moments, Xavier and the rest of the X-Men were in the War Room.  "Professor, this big ship materialised.  It seemed to appear out of nowhere!"

            Xavier read her sensor reports.  "Yes," Xavier said.  "From what I can tell, they have sophisticated stealth technology.  They just decided to let us see them.  I don't think anyone else can see them."

            "That's where the evil is," said Jean.

            Rogue said, "Hang on a sec.  There's writing on that thing.  It's called the Warbird, and it belongs to the Brain-Team."

            "Oh, my word!" cried Xavier with horror.  "I've heard of them, but I never had any reason to believe those evil super-villains were real. . . until now.  According to what telepathic readings I can get, they're not from this universe but from one very nearby."

            "Either they were able to create a dimensional gate to this universe," said Beast, "or they located such a gate in their own universe."

            "I don't care," said Wolverine, baring his six claws made of adamantium, a super-strong metal.  Three claws protruded from each hand; each claw came from between the knuckles of two fingers.  "When they get down here, I'm going to shred them into more slices than that ham."

            "Be careful, Wolverine," Xavier said.  "I sense great power from one of them, and several of the others also have fairly dangerous abilities."

            "Does that mean we're going to fight them?" asked Cyclops.

            "To defend our world, Scott, we must if they don't accept a reasonable compromise."

            "Professor, they're hailin' us," said Rogue.

            "Thank you."  Everyone moved to the central table, where there was a projector.  "Respond."  Rogue did as requested.  Ludwig appeared on the projector.

            "Welcome to Earth," Professor Xavier said.  "I am Professor Charles Xavier, and we are the X-Men."

            "Greetings, X-Men," said Ludwig nicely. . . too nicely.  "Allow me to introduce myself.  I am the Emperor Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa of the nearby Q-niverse.  Some enemies of mine are attempting to usurp my power, and I have come to request your assistance."

            "Certainly," said Xavier, going along.  "We can discuss it on the front lawn outside my mansion.  You'll be our guests."

            "My pleasure, Professor Xavier.  We'll be down in a few moments.  Ludwig out."  The projector turned off.

            "It's a trick," Xavier said.  "We'll be co-operative until they attack.  I want all of you to be on your guard.  Let's go to the front yard."

            Everyone but Xavier, Jean, and Rogue left the room.  Rogue got up.  When Xavier and Jean turned to leave, Rogue said, "There's somethin' else, isn't there, Professor?"

            "Yes, Rogue," said Xavier, knowing she would interrupt him.  "Ludwig, the evil one who addressed us, has immeasurable power that requires very little of the awesome control that our mutant powers require.  If they stay here, our entire universe is in danger, but we can't fight them out.  We must find a way to go into their universe and locate their good adversaries, but we can't do that unless we get his powers.  You're the only one who can do that."

            "Do I use my powers as I normally would to get his ability?"

            "Yes, Rogue."

            "Some of the others have lesser powers," said Jean.  "What about them?"

            "We can deal with them, Jean.  My main concern is their leader."

            * * *

            The X-Men gathered in the front yard.  "Remember," Cyclops whispered to everyone, "be on your guard."

            "We know that, Cyc," said Wolverine.

            King Bowser, Emperor Ludwig, Prince Larry, Prince Roy, Princess Wendy, Prince Morton, Prince Lemmy, Prince Iggy, Mouser, Eggplant Wizard, King Hippo, Mon*Star, Mumm-ra, Liquidator, Mega Volt, Quacker Jack, and Bushroot transported into the front yard; they were facing the X-Men.  "Welcome, Brain-Team," greeted Xavier.  "I am Xavier; this is Jean Grey to my right; next to her is Cyclops; next to him is Wolverine; to my left is Rogue; next to her is Storm; beside Storm is Gambit; and to Gambit's left is Jubilee."

            "Thank you," said Ludwig.  "I'm Ludwig.  To my right is my father, King Bowser Koopa; to my left is my oldest brother, Prince Larry; next to him is Prince Roy; beside Roy is Princess Wendy O. Koopa; to Wendy's left is Prince Morton 'Big Mouth'; to his left is Prince Lemmy Koopa; and next to Lemmy is his twin brother, Prince Iggy.  To my father's right is Liquidator, my first officer, second in command of the Brain-Team; to Liquidator's right is Mega Volt; next to him is Bushroot; and beside him is Quacker Jack.  Next to Quacker Jack is Mon*Star, and to Mon*Star's right is Mumm-ra, the Ever-Living.  To the left of Lemmy and Iggy are Eggplant Wizard, King Hippo, and Mouser.  Dr. Jerome Wily shall be here in a moment; he had to make sure our ship wasn't too close to the planet.  If it were too close, the tidal conditions would seem irregular to other people on the planet."

            "How large is the ship?" asked Xavier.

            "The starship is a little larger than your moon, so we had to move it farther from the planet than the moon."

            "I see.  Now, what is it that you require?"

            "The N-Team threatens our rightful position as rulers of our universe.  I had to reach you before they did.  Would you like me to show you what my powers can do?"

            Xavier was cautious now.  "Very well," he said.  The X-Men were really tense now.

            "Thank you, Professor."  He knows I'm evil, but he's decided to go along with me until I make my move.  One of them will pay for his foolishness, but who. . . ah!  "Professor, are you unable to walk?"

            "That's right," said Xavier.

            Ludwig snapped his fingers.  "Now try to walk."

            Xavier got up.  "Wait a minute!  How did you. . ."  He got out of his chair.  "Amazing powers!  Thank you."

            "You're welcome.  Now, my next demonstration.  Gambit, you can transfer your energy to cards to make them explode on impact with other things, correct?"

            "Yes, I can do that," said Gambit.  "Why?"

            "I'm just making sure."

            Oh, damn! thought Xavier.  Just before Xavier could order Gambit to run, Ludwig blasted Gambit with a beam from all five fingers of his right hand; the beam used Gambit's power against its owner.

            "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Ludwig.  "Professor Xavier, you are a fool!  You knew I would do something!"

            Wolverine bore his claws.  "Let the Cajun go, snake, or there'll be plenty of you to go around."

            Bowser took out his sabre.  "This sword is made of Thunderian steel.  Come on, Wolverine.  Let's see which metal is stronger. . . adamantium or Thunderian steel."

            "You're on, evil turtle."

            "Wait, Wolverine!" snapped Xavier.  "According to Mouser's thoughts, Thunderian steel is stronger than adamantium!"

            "Oh, now you've gone and irritated me, Professor!" said Ludwig.  With his left hand, he snapped his fingers again; Xavier lost the use of his legs.

            "Ah!" cried Xavier, falling.  Cyclops caught him and helped him into his chair.  "Thanks, Scott."

            "My pleasure," said Cyclops.  He blasted Ludwig's beam, but it did no good.

            "Ha, ha, you fool!" Ludwig laughed.  "That will do no good!  It only worsens the situation for your friend."

            Storm called, "Rain and lighting, I call on you!  Put out the villain's beam!"  The tempests brewed in the sky.  As it began raining, lightning blasted Ludwig's beam, but it did no good.

            "I am afraid that the same story holds true for your blasts as well as your leader's, my dear Storm," said Ludwig.  "Liquidator, Mega Volt!  Before she me annoyeth, take care of the cloudy X-Dolt!"

            "With pleasure!" said Mega Volt.  "Hey, Storm!  You want lightning?  Take this!"  He attempted to fry Storm, but nothing but fizzle came out of his hands.  "Oh, crap!  Your golddarn storm shorted out my power!!"

            "Worry not!" said Liquidator.  "The master of all fluids shall take care of this!  Storm, if you think you can control the rain, check this out!"  Storm's cloud turned into a giant fist that smacked her and knocked her out.  "Ha, ha!  Yes, the Liquidator brand delivers every time!"

            "Try doing that to me, wet dog!" said Wolverine.  He jumped over to Mega Volt and Liquidator.

            "Well, if it isn't Mr. Metal-Claws!" said Mega Volt.  "Come and get me, Wolverine."  Wolverine charged for Mega Volt but missed; Mega Volt grabbed one of Wolverine's claws and charged him.

            "Yaaah!" cried Wolverine.

            "Yes, the master of electrons comes through every time!" said Liquidator.  "It's so amazing, it'll shock you!"

            "Shock this!" called Rogue's voice.  Fist-first, she flew into Mega Volt and knocked him out.  "Anyone else want to have at it?"

            "ROGUE, HIS POWERS!!!" Xavier called.

            "Got it!"  Rogue went over to Mega Volt.  "All right, you electric rat."

            Liquidator rectified, "He's not a rat.  He's just a dog that looks like a rat."

            "No matter."  By removing her right glove and placing her right hand on Mega Volt's neck, she drew out Mega Volt's power.  "Hm!  Electricity."

            "Hey!" cried Bushroot.  "How'd you do that?"

            "I absorb powers."

            "Uh, oh."

            "That doesn't scare me," said Quacker Jack.  He got Mr. Banana-Brain out of his pocket.  "Mr. Banana-Brain will take care of you, girlie."  He tossed Mr. Banana-Brain into Rogue's hands.

            "What in the world is this for?" Rogue asked.  She heard the doll ticking.  "Uh, oh."  She tossed it back into Quacker Jack's hands.

            "Yaah!" screamed Quacker Jack.  The doll exploded and knocked him out.

            "Enough!" said Liquidator.  "I'm going to deal with you, power-sucker."  He 'waved' Rogue good-bye.

            "Hey!" Rogue cried.

            "Good-bye, Rogue!  See you in the ocean!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            Rogue flew out of the wave and flew fist-first at Liquidator, but she went right through him and smacked Bushroot instead.  Rogue exclaimed, "Whoa!  You're all wet!"

            "You got it!" Liquidator said.  "Now, how do I deal with an indestructible fatal woman?"

            "You won't have to worry about it!" said Rogue.  She touched him and drew out his powers as well.

            "Yaah!  You took my powers!"

            "You're catchin' on, honey!"  She smacked him between the eyes and knocked him out.  Without his powers, he was forced to remain in his natural shape.

            Rogue then took Bushroot's plant-controlling powers and Quacker Jack's toy-controlling powers.  She went over to Wolverine.  "Logan's out cold."  Beast came over.

            "He is weak," said Beast.  "Give him a slight jolt, Rogue."  Rogue did so; Wolverine came around and sat up.

            "Ooh. . . where's the joker that fried me?"  He put his right hand on top of his head and shook his head.  He got up.

            Rogue flew fist-first for Ludwig.  "Hey, Emperor!  Get. . ."  A blast from Mon*Star's elbow-jet knocked her to the ground.  "Whoa!"

            "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Mon*Star.  "Gotcha!"

            "Good shot!" Mumm-ra said.  He moved over to Rogue.  "Ha, ha, ha!  I'll deal with this one."  A blast from Cyclops smacked him to the ground.  "Yah!"

            "That's what you think," said Cyclops, running over to Rogue.  He helped her up.  "You all right?"

            "Thank you, Cyclops," Rogue said.  "We have to save Gambit."

            "I know."

            Mon*Star came over.  "You won't get the chance, X-Fools!  Ha, ha!"  He immobilised the two with a Light*Star and then helped Mumm-ra up.

            Mumm-ra said, "Thanks, Mon*Star."

            Wolverine and Beast ran towards the two villains.  "Hold it, you two!" said Wolverine, his claws bared.  He jumped on Mon*Star and hit the midsection of the evil one's metal armour.

            "No!" cried Mon*Star, transforming to his natural state.  He tossed Wolverine off him.

            Beast jumped Mumm-ra and smacked him to the ground.  "As is commonly said, keep your guard up," Beast said.

            Rogue broke herself and Cyclops out of the Light*Star.  "These two are nasty!" she said.

            "How can you!" cried Mon*Star.  "The only humans that can do that are the Steeltwins!"

            "The only humans that can do what?"

            "Break out of my Light*Star!"

            Cyclops bent down to Mumm-ra.  "What were you going to do?" he asked.

            Mumm-ra saw his reflection in Cyclops's visor.  "Oh, no!  Yaaaah!"  The evil one returned to his mummified state.  "Curse you and your reflective visor!"

            "Do you mean to say that your weakness is your own reflection?" asked Beast.

            "I guess the secret's out, you hairy abomination."

            "Come on!" said Cyclops.  "Let's save Gambit."  These X-Men ran over to Jean and the Professor.

            Mon*Star helped Mumm-ra up.  "Curses," said Mumm-ra.  "These guys are almost as bad as the Thunder Cats!"

            * * *

            Jean said, "Ludwig's too strong, Professor.  Only Rogue can stop him."

            "They're coming," said Xavier.  "Jubilee, how's Storm?"

            "She'll be okay, Professor," Jubilee replied.  "Liquidator just tossed her a pretty strong punch."

            Ludwig said, "Come on, X-Men!  Aren't you going to continue to try to stop me?  Of course, nothing will save the Louisianian now. . . unless I stop this."

            "And he doth not feel like stopping," said Larry, drawing his sceptre.

            "Help me, friends!" cried Gambit.

            "They cannot help you!" laughed Ludwig.  "All their attempts weaken you."

            "Let him go, Ludwig," said Xavier.  "There must be something you want more than to kill him."

            "Yes, but I will achieve it better once you X-Men are destroyed.  You see, we the Brain-Team conquered the nearby Q-niverse.  The do-gooding N-Team is about to take it away from us in a fair election, and we're going to let them; however, we plotted to take over this universe and another to replace what we'll lose."

            "You are mad."

            "No, in fact, I am quite happy.  And don't EVER refer to me with the M-word when you use it to signify 'insane.'  Larry, get rid of my anger."

            "With pleasure!" said Larry.  He destroyed Xavier's chair with a blast from his sceptre.  Xavier was tossed out, but Jean caught him before he could get hurt.

            "Thank you, Jean," Xavier said.

            Cyclops, Rogue, Beast, and Wolverine came up to Jean and Professor Xavier.  "What do we do now, Professor?" asked Cyclops.

            "I don't know, Scott," said Xavier.  "Rogue, can you get close to him?"

            "Maybe with help," Rogue answered.

            "Just tell me where," said Wolverine, his claws still bared.  "I'll clear your path."

            "Be careful, all of you," said Xavier.  "You see what Larry did to me."

            Beast went over to Storm.  "Storm will be well.  To use the vernacular, she had the wind knocked out of her.  In fact, I would say that she will awaken any moment now."  Storm awoke and stood.  "Be careful, Storm.  You may still be dazed."

            Storm said, "Thank you, Beast, but I feel fine."

            Jubilee said, "What are we waiting for?"

            "I'll stay here and help Professor Xavier," said Jean.

            "All right," said Cyclops.  "The rest of us will keep the others busy while Rogue tries to stop that Ludwig.  Let's go!"

            "Ha, ha!" laughed Ludwig.  "Dad, could you stop those weaklings?"

            Bowser said, "With pleasure!"  He took his sceptre and fired at the X-Men.  They evaded the beam, and Wolverine jumped forward and smacked the sceptre out of Bowser's hand.  "Yah!"

            "Taste adamantium, evil one!" said Wolverine.  He swung his right fist at Bowser to slash him with his claws; a sword smacked his claws from underneath and swung his hand up; Wolverine lost his balance but quickly regained it.  "Whoa!"

            "Nice try, Wolverine!" Larry said, his sword drawn.  "With more force, I could have destroyed your claws, because the sword is made of Thunderian steel.  In fact, I think I'll trim your claws right now."  He swung his sword again at Wolverine's claws, but Wolverine employed his agility to leap out of the way.  He sheathed his claws while he had time.  Larry was about to charge for Wolverine, but a beam blasted the sword out of his hand.  "Whoa!  Who. . . Cyclops."

            Roy said, "I'll get 'im!"  Beast then jumped him.  "Wha. . .!"

            "You should be on your guard more," said Beast, knocking Roy out.  Suddenly, a candy ring surrounded him.  "Maybe I should take my own advice."

            "Yes, you should!" said Wendy.  "I prefer my boys without so much body-hair."

            "Please excuse my mutation, dear Wendy Koopa."

            "Take this!" said Jubilee.  She knocked the sceptre out of Wendy's hand with her glittering energy.

            "Yah!  You'll mess up my makeup!"

            "So, you're vain."  A ball smacked her in the back.  "Whoa!" she cried, falling on the ground.

            "Ha, ha!" laughed Iggy.  "She really fell for that one, didn't she, Lemmy?"

            "Yeah, she sure did!" Lemmy said.

            Lemmy and Iggy both laughed, "Hyuck, hyuck, hyuck!"

            Storm came along.  "You naughty children shall be punished," she said.  "Whirlwinds, rise and punish Iggy and Lemmy."  The winds rose and swirled Lemmy and Iggy around and around, then dropped them from about a metre high onto their rear ends.

            "Yow!" the two cried.

            "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Ludwig.  "That doesn't stop me!"  Rogue approached him.  "Eggplant Wizard, King Hippo, and Mouser, stop this woman!"

            "Ha, ha!  With pleasure!" said King Hippo.  When Rogue came close to Ludwig, King Hippo leapt up to her; when he tried to punch her, she smacked him in the belly.  "Oof!"  She took him and tossed him into Eggplant Wizard and Mouser.

            "You guys are a bit too rough for me," said Rogue.  "Ludwig!  Release him!"

            "Never!"

            "Then I shall make you release him!"

            "Ha, ha, ha!  Good luck, you dirty little itch!"  (Yes, that was 'itch,' with no letters before the initial 'I.')

            "Boy, you really know how to irritate a girl!"  She swooped down to smack him, but with his left hand he moved her around him and made her crash into the ground.  "Oof!  Hey!"  She sprang to her feet.  "You done it now!"

            Ludwig said, "Ha!  You're too late!"  Gambit screamed, then stopped.  Ludwig turned off the beam.  "Ha, ha!"

            "Gambit!" cried Rogue.  She ran over to him.

            "Tha-. . . that you, chère?" Gambit managed.  "I love you.  Take my powers.  I don't need 'em no. . . more.  At least I know now all you X-Men care about me."

            "Do it now, Rogue!" ordered Xavier.  "He's dying!"

            "Don't need to tell me twice!" said Rogue.  "Good-bye, Gambit."

            "Good-bye, Rogue," said Gambit.  He and Rogue kissed; she absorbed his powers just before he died.

            "Who's next?" asked Ludwig maliciously.

            "No one's next!!" screamed Rogue, utterly boiling in rage.  "You're goin' to say good-bye to those powers of yours!!"  She flew over to him and began to draw out his powers.

            Ludwig thrashed, trying to get rid of her.  "Yaah!  Larry!  Father!  Stop this girl!"

            "It's no use 'cause I ain't lettin' go!"

            "You are now!" screamed Larry.  "Release my brother!"  Before he could blast her with his magic spell, Wolverine knocked him out.

            "That's for trying to trim my claws," Wolverine said.  He bore the claws on his right hand and broke Beast out of the candy prison.  Beast knocked out Bowser before he could try anything.

            "Merely a precautionary measure, my enemy," Beast told the unconscious Bowser.

            "Got 'em!" said Rogue, pulling herself off Ludwig.  She did not take his Evil Koopa powers, just the super-powers Xavier had told her she should take.  She assumed he also meant to take the part that constantly replenished the powers so she would never run out.  "You're right, Professor!  It is easy to control these powers!"

            "You'll rue this day, X-Men," said Ludwig.  "Here's a quote.  'He who Koops and runs away lives to Koop another day!'  King Bowser Koopa, who improvised the quotation from someone whose name I have forgotten.  Would you happen to know, Beast?"

            "I can't think of it offhand," Beast said.

            "All right.  Well, good-bye, X-Men."  He slapped a communicator on his chest.  "Dr. Wily, beam us up immediately."  The villains disappeared.

            "Well, the foul smell's gone," said Wolverine.

            "Rogue," said Xavier softly, "please bring in Gambit."

            "Yes, Professor," Rogue said.  She did as he had asked.

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy, Q-niverse.  Stardate 1 051 284.9; October 12, 2996.

            Wilykit was on Kid Icarus's monitor; Lana was over there talking to her.  "The Warbird cloaked at Metroid; we couldn't track it," said MegaMan from his station.

            "Drat," said Lana.  "I can't help, Wilykit."

            Wilykit said, "I have an awful feeling that we may be too late contacting the good in that universe."

            "What do you want us to do, Wilykit?"

            "I'm sending Kevin back to the Palace.  In our meeting tomorrow afternoon, we'll discuss this matter."

            "All right.  Talk to you later."

            "Later, Lana."  Wilykit disappeared from the screen.

            "Hang on," said Kid Icarus.  "I'm detecting a super-boosted transmission from Metroid.  It's going into the unknown galaxy."

            "Can you trace it any further?" Lana asked.

            "No, I can't.  The shift from dimension width 2 to dimension width 5 is causing too much interference.  Maybe Kevin can help-icus."

            Kevin arrived.  "Hi, guys."

            "Hi, Kevin," said Lana.

            "Kevin-icus, I've found a super-boosted transmission from Metroid heading into the unknown universe.  I can't trace it further because of the shift from dimension width 2 to dimension width 5."

            "I can help," said Kevin.  He went over to Kid Icarus's station and manipulated some computer controls and some programming.  "There.  Now we can detect it."

            "It's going to the Warbird-icus!  The ship is near an Earth-like planet in a galaxy like the Milky Way in the now so-labelled X-iverse."

            "I now share Wilykit's feeling," said Kevin.  "Something's wrong.  Something is terribly wrong."

            "What are we going to do?" Lana asked.

            "For now, we're doing nothing.  For now, our primary responsibility is making sure that Wilykat's net-cleaning program will work.  And we won't know that until Servo gets started.  Wilykit's going to call me when he does."

            "All right."

            Kid Icarus said, "Pardon me, but I think we ought to listen in on the Brain-Team's communication.  I have a feeling about it."

            "Okay," said Kevin.  "Let's do it."

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid, VideoLand.

            MotherBrain was incensed.  "They did what?"

            "Rogue stole the Q-cubed powers you gave me!" snapped Ludwig.  "That super-strong woman will try to contact the N-Team.  At least I managed to knock off one of them."

            "Why, those X-twerps."

            "Has anything happened there?"

            "No, fortunately.  Malcolm has detected no trouble."

            "Correct," Malcolm said.

            Ludwig said, "We'll stay here for a while longer.  If the X-Men leave here, we'll have our opportunity."

            "Which one did you bump off?" asked MotherBrain.

            "I blasted Gambit, that card-dealing Louisianian twit.  The other X-Men tried to save him, but they failed.  When I did kill him, Rogue took his powers and then took my Q-cubed powers; however, she did have the decency to leave my Evil Koopa powers."

            "Why, certainly," said MotherBrain.  "We Southern gals have a way of bein' nice in some way.  Well, be careful out there, Ludwig."

            "See you later, MB."

            "Later, Ludwig."  She turned off the transmitter.

            "Wait a minute," said Malcolm.  "MotherBrain, Servo's just entered cyberspace."

            * * *

            Professor Xavier's Mansion, Earth, Milky Way, X-iverse.  October 12, 1996.

            Xavier decided they should have some quiet time before going.  Wolverine had talked tough, but he really was not as strong right now as he wanted to seem.  They had little reason to ignore the obvious:  one of them was dead.  Truly dead.  Rogue herself had said that it did not matter that she had saved the power; it was the man that counted, she knew.

            Amazingly, she had also been the one to get over his death first.  Then came Xavier himself.  They had all liked Gambit more than they knew or cared to think about, especially Wolverine.  However, Xavier knew that too much mourning was not good.  It had not been too long yet, but Xavier was still concerned about Wolverine.  Logan was not the type to express emotions except anger and jealousy.  At least he was not trying to take his hidden feelings out on everybody.

            In the War Room, Xavier was watching the monitors.  Nothing requiring the X-Men's attention was happening right now, which was a relief.  Jean Grey and Rogue came into the room.  "Well, Professor, I think everyone's okay at the moment," Jean said.

            "All right, Jean," said Xavier.  "Rogue, have you figured out how to use those powers?"

            "It's easier than fallin' off a log, Professor," Rogue said.  "Look."  She snapped her fingers, and three glasses of water appeared on a table top.  "Plain ol' H₂O."  She handed one glass to Xavier and another to Jean, then took the last for herself.

            "Thank you," said Xavier.  He drank some.  "Mm.  That tastes good."

            "There are many things I can do just as easily.  I can get us over to the universe that evil little twerp came from."

            "That's good.  I suspect that's not all of the Brain-Team that we faced out there."

            Jean said, "I felt that as well.  I think they may have been communicating with someone else from their team just now."

            "I see.  Rogue, do you have any idea on where we can go?"

            "Yeah, I think so," said Rogue.  "Some grand palace there."

            "All right.  I'll call in the rest of the X-Men, and we can go to that place."  He hit a button.  "X-Men, this is Professor Xavier.  Please report to the War Room as soon as possible."

            A few minutes later, all the X-Men were there.  Everyone appeared all right for now.  Professor Xavier said, "Rogue can easily use those powers she took from Ludwig.  She believes she may know of a place where we can land, so to speak."

            Cyclops asked Rogue, "Can you look in there at all, Rogue?"

            "Possibly," said Rogue.  "Hang on a moment."  She closed her eyes.  "Yeah.  I see where I'm going to take us.  A very large palace."  She opened her eyes.

            "I want us to leave now," said Xavier.  "We don't know what our new enemies are able to do, and I don't think we want to learn it the hard way."

            "Very well, Professor," said Cyclops.

            Rogue stood.  "Please stand up. . . those who can stand."  Everyone but Xavier stood.  "We're gone!"  She snapped her fingers, and they were gone instantly.

            * * *

            Living Room, casa di Tygra, New Thundera, Milky Way Galaxy, Q-niverse.  Stardate 1 051 284.9; October 12, 2996.

            The Wilytwins, Tygra-twins, and Cerebra-twins were watching a large computer screen that, when not in use, could be concealed behind the wall.  (Of course, it was not concealed there now.)  Sam had gone as Servo to alter the hyperspace computer network of the universe so Malcolm's army of monsters could cause no trouble.  It was going very well, but Malcolm could still stir things up.  As it was, Ludwig was stirring things up bad enough; he was gone in the Warbird, and the Palace of Power had traced him to the X-iverse.  His power had been taken by one of the X-Men.  To Kevin, the X-Men were another myth-come-true, like the Thunder Cats, Silver Hawks, Batman, his video games, and so on.  He said the next thing he expected was for He-Man and She-Ra to come real!

            Servo was now finished with about two-thirds of the net; he had confused two-thirds of Malcolm's monsters.  If Malcolm were going to try anything, he would do it soon.

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy.

            Malcolm slammed his fist on an unimportant console.  "Curses!" he yelled.  "What in the world is Sam doing?"

            "I told you Wilykat would find a way to do this!" MotherBrain snapped.  "Can you do anything about it?"

            "Not right now, but I'll call Sandra."  He pressed a large key that lit up when he pressed it.  "Sandra, this is Malcolm.  Come in, please."

            "Hi, Malcolm," Sandra's voice replied.  "I'm in the computer; you wouldn't believe what's happened here!"

            "Oh, I believe it.  My monsters are too confused to get around."

            "What's causing this?"

            "Servo, but I can't find him.  He's using some sort of cloaking program.  I can get an approximation on where he is.  Will you go check on it?"

            "Sure, Malcolm.  I'll find him for you, and I'll make him regret doing this to you."

            "Thank you, Sandra.  Here's the area where I think he is."  He typed in some information.

            "Very well.  I'll can him for you.  Sandra out."  The button's light turned off.

            * * *

            Sam's Basement, Earth 20 362, VideoLand.

            "The program's going as expected," said Sydney.  "I can't believe Sam's about two-thirds finished already!"

            "If he needs me, I'll go in," said Jennifer.

            "Well, he may need it," Syd said.  "Sandra's in the network, and she's heading for him at a variable speed.  I think she may get to him when he's about five-sixths through."

            Tanker came in.  "Hello, Syd, Jennifer.  Have I missed anything?"

            "No, Tanker.  However, the action may heat up in a few minutes.  Sandra's moving to head off Sam."

            "Has she seen him through his cloak?"

            "I doubt it.  Malcolm talked to her; he probably estimated where Servo was."

            "I could just kick Frink."

            Syd tapped her communicator badge.  "This is Sydney to Wilykit.  Please come in."

            "Wilykit here," responded the leader of the N-Team.  "What's up, Sydney?"

            "Are you watching?  Sandra's moved to head off Sam.  I don't think she knows exactly where Sam is; Malcolm communicated with her, and I think he gave her an estimation as to where Servo really is.  At her present course and manner of acceleration, I think she'll get to Sam when he's five-sixths of the way finished."

            "Drat!" replied Wilykat's voice.  "If she gets to him, she could discover my programming and give it to Malcolm, who could break my code!  I'm coming, Syd.  I have to give Servo a better cloak."

            "All right, Wilykat," said Sydney.  She hit a button on the keyboard.  "Sam, this is Sydney.  How's it going in there?"

            "Great," said Sam.  "You know my progress.  Is something wrong?"

            "Well, something disturbing is happening.  You see, Malcolm's approximated your location and called Sandra.  She's heading for you and may reach you when you're about five-sixths finished.  However, Wilykat's coming over to boost your cloak."

            "All right, Syd.  What will happen if she finds me?"

            "Malcolm could break Wilykat's programming."

            "Oh."

            Wilykat and Wilykit transported into the room.  Wilykat moved over to the computer.  "I have to call up my program," said Wilykat.  He did so.  "I'll confuse Sandra, get her lost, just long enough for Servo to finish his job."  He went through most of his program easily and quickly, but he reached one impasse.  "Wilykit, could you help me?"

            "You're the maze genius," Wilykit said.

            "This is an integration thing, and I have a hard time integrating something like this."

            "Oh.  All right."  She went over and helped him.

            "Thank you."  He finished his changes to the program.  "There we go."

            "Thanks," said Syd.  She pressed a key.  "Hey, Sam, here are the codes to get Sandra off your tail."  She hit a sequence of keys.

            "Got it," said Servo.  "Thanks, Syd and Wilykat."

            "Thank Wilykit too," said Wilykat.  "She helped with the big equation that lets it all happen."

            "Thanks, Wilykit."

            "You're welcome," said Wilykit.

            "The change is automatic," Wilykat said.  "Just keep on moving, Servo.  Once you finish, get out of the computer network as quickly as you can, or Sandra might find you."

            Servo said, "Understood.  I'll see you later."

            "Sam's about five-sixths finished," said Syd.  "Sandra's nearing him.  Wait.  Ha, ha!  She's caught in one of the micro-differential tunnels!"

            "Yep," said Wilykat.  "She won't find her way out 'til Sam's finished."

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid, VideoLand.

            Sandra reported, "Malcolm, I got caught in some kind of tunnel.  I'm trying to find my way out."

            "Oh, rats," said Malcolm.  "Servo's almost finished!  My brain can't figure out how Wilykat did it."

            "How could you figure it out?" MotherBrain asked.

            "If Sandra reached Servo, she could read the program he used to do this to the computer network.  I could then make my monsters able to navigate the network."

            "I'll try to get to him," said Sandra, "but I still have to get out of this tunnel."

            * * *

            Sam's Basement, Earth 20 362, VideoLand.

            A twinkling sphere of light came out of the computer monitor and expanded into Sam Collins holding his guitar.  "Did it work?" asked Sam, removing the guitar and replacing it in the holder.

            "Yeah," said Syd.  "Malcolm's monsters are lost."

            "One of the great things of having an intangible network," Wilykat said.  "No physical wires or cables but just hyperspace tunnelling in a manner that isn't harmed by ships travelling in hyperspace.  Nor does the tunnelling harm ships."

            "I need the Syber-Squad at an N-Team meeting tomorrow," said Wilykit to Sam.  "It's after the six children's first birthday party."

            "All right," said Sam.  "We were going to show up, anyway."

            "Well, you guys are certainly invited, as members of the Extended N-Team," Wilykat said.

            Wilykit said, "Wilykat and I have to go.  There's another situation, this one directly involving Ludwig."

            "I see," said Syd.

            Sam said, "Let us know if you need our help."

            "We shall," Wilykit said.  She tapped her communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, two to transport to casa di Tygra on New Thundera."  The Wilytwins were transported there.

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            Lana sat on her throne.  "What are you going to do now, Kevin?" she asked.

            "I was thinking of going to practise with Beethoven and the others," said Kevin.

            "Zelda invited us to Hyrule Castle for an informal dinner with her and Link.  Said she wanted to show him your great series."

            "All right.  I'd like to go, if you want to."

            "All right.  I'll call her to tell her we're coming."

            "Thank you.  Well, I'm. . ."  His expression changed.  "Someone's coming in the Q style."  He put his right hand to his forehead.

            "What?"

            "Going toward the outer doors; I'm redirecting them."  He closed his eyes for a few moments.  Just then, a team of eight popped into the room.  Kevin lowered his hand and opened his eyes.  He saw MegaMan ready his plasma cannon, just in case.  "Welcome to the Palace of Power," Kevin greeted the new 'guests.'  "I'm Captain N, second-in-command of the N-Team."  Lana stood.  "This is Princess Lana, ruler of VideoLand and temporary ruler of this universe."

            "Good day," said the bald man in the chair.  "I am Professor Charles Xavier, founder and leader of the X-Men.  This is Cyclops, my second-in-command."

            Kevin moved to Xavier and shook his hand.  "A pleasure to meet you, Professor."  He shook Cyclops's.  "You also, Cyclops.  What brings you here to the Palace of Power?"

            "We recently became acquainted with the evil Brain-Team," said Xavier.  "They attacked our home and permanently decreased our numbers by one."

            "Our nemeses have a way of getting around," said Kevin, expressing his distaste at what Ludwig had done.  "Their ship, the Warbird, has what is as yet the superior in cloaking technology.  We always crack their cloaking technology, and then they always find a way to upgrade the technology to keep us from detecting them.  It's a circle that keeps going.  Was their leader, Ludwig, there?"

            "He was.  One of us managed to obtain some of his powers so we could contact you."

            "We were going to see what he was up to in your universe.  We knew he was there because we listened in on a communication from him to a place in this universe.  He reported that his power had been taken and that he had decreased your world's population by one."

            "I see."

            "Well, I'll call my leader and tell her about this."  He tapped his communicator.  "Wilykit, this is Kevin."

            "Hello, Kevin," said Wilykit.  "Is all well there at the Palace?"

            "I think so.  Wilykit, they are here."

            "The X-Men, whom that repulsive turtle attacked?"

            "Yep.  I just thought you'd like to know that they're here."

            "Thank you, Kevin.  I was going to go to their world to see if Ludwig had done more than he reported to MotherBrain, but you called me before I had come up with any plans.  My twin and I shall be there in a moment."

            Seconds later, Wilykit and Wilykat materialised in the room.  Kevin said, "Professor, this is Wilykit, leader of the N-Team, and Wilykat, her twin brother.  Wilykit, this is Professor Charles Xavier, leader of the X-Men."

            "Greetings, X-Men," said Wilykit, shaking Xavier's hand.  "I deeply regret what Ludwig did to your friend."

            "That's all right," said Xavier.  "Please forgive me; I haven't introduced the rest of the X-Men.  Cyclops, my second-in-command; Jean Grey; Wolverine; Beast; Rogue; Storm; and Jubilee."

            Wilykit said, "Thank you.  Is it Rogue who took Ludwig's powers?"

            "Yes," Xavier said.  "That's how we got here."

            "I see."

            "We should tell you right now that we aren't like everyone else.  All we X-Men are mutants, humans altered during conception by the conditions of our polluted world.  We mutants have powers that can help our race, but most people fear us because they don't understand us.  If for that reason you won't help us, please tell us."

            "That would be a terrible reason and an incredibly stupid one," said Wilykit.  "Just because someone's different.  Everyone is different.  Simply because you're not evil, you don't have to worry about us refusing to help you."

            "Thank you, Wilykit," Xavier said.  "Are any on your team telepathic?"