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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Choosing Sides - part 2: Assembly
In the Danger Room of the newly rebuilt Xavier Institute, David just filled in his friends on a piece of information he came across in Mr. Summers’ office. Sofia tells him that it cannot be true, and asks why they would split them up. David tells her he isn’t sure what’s going to happen to them, but they’re breaking the entire student body into quads. He continues that he doesn’t know about the others, but he didn’t sign up for this. He came to be a student, not a potential X-Man.
 Josh gets upset and says that they can’t split them up. They work great as a team: they just took out two sentinels and a squad of bad guys! Unnoticed by the kids, Julian Keller was watching from the door, and announces his presence by applauding, and sarcastically tells Josh that they are real pros. He adds that he bets the Danger Room was on wimp setting. Josh asks what Julian is doing there, and Julian says that he saw them sneaking out of the cafeteria after the lights went out and figured he’d drag his loser friends into trouble. And then he’d be the one to make sure they got caught. Josh points out that it’s not like Julian is some sort of saint around Xavier’s.
 Julian changes the subject back, and tells the “jerks” that they’ll definitely be split up at Monday’s assembly. Julian is questioned about knowing about the assembly and he points out that that is one of the perks of having the Headmistress as his advisor. She tells him everything. He then asks who they have for an advisor. Dani Moonstar? A leftover from the New Mutants, who were basically just X-Men wannabes? David protests that Dani is very important at the school, but Julian doesn’t sound convinced. He excuses himself, saying that he has to get their sorry butts in trouble.
 Josh tries to stop him, reaching out and telling Julian to wait, but Julian blasts him backwards telling him that if he tries to touch him again, his telekinesis will do more than push him away. Sofia blows Julian back, telling him that her wind can push people just as well as his telekinesis. Sofia brings him up close to her, and Julian asks what she wants. Sofia tells him that they were just helping a friend. She wants him to keep their secret. Julian says he never could refuse a beautiful girl. Especially one with a sexy accent and cool powers. Julian agrees not to tell, but only because Sofia asked so nicely, and heads out, telling “Gorgeous” that she owes him one.
 As they head out of the Danger Room, Josh says that Julian is such a jerk, but David tells him to forget about Julian. He wants to ask Dani what’s going on. As they head towards Dani’s office, Laurie asks if Julian likes Sofia, but Sofia says that she doesn’t know, or care. All she knows is that she got him to keep quiet. Nori tells the others that they can talk to Miss Moonstar if they want, but she’s not her advisor, and then tells them she’s going to bed. Sofia starts to try to stop her, but David tells her to let Nori go. It’s time to get some answers.
 As they step into Dani’s office, Dani is talking to someone on the phone, making sure they’ve checked every junkyard, though to no avail it seems. David gets her attention, but she tells them that it is not really a good time, and asks if it can wait. They agree and head out, and Josh, irritated, quotes David saying that “Miss Moonstar will know! She’ll take care of everything!”
 Back in Noriko’s room, she is in her pajamas putting up a poster while listening to the song, Extraordinary, by Liz Phair, when someone arrives at the door. A girl wearing a burqa steps into the room and Nori asks who she is. She introduces herself as Sooraya, Nori’s new roommate. Nori asks her if the music is bothering her, and soon turns it off. Sooraya thanks her, then adds that she didn’t catch Nori’s name. Nori just tells her that she didn’t throw it, then adds that Sooraya doesn’t like her music. Sooraya starts to explain, but finishes that she doesn’t understand American music. Nori just says “whatever,” then continues about things they don’t understand, and asks if Sooraya’s outfit is actually a burqa?
 Sooraya starts to explain that it is traditional in Afghanistan to—but Nori finishes her sentence for her—cover yourself from head to toe in shame and be subservient to men? Sooraya lowers her hood and tells Nori that it is about modesty. There are boys and men on campus. And it is not right for her to show off by exposing herself or her flesh to them. Nori pauses as she puts up her poster and just stares down at her bed for a moment. She turns around and sits on the edge of her bed and asks if Sooraya thinks she is saying that she – Nori - exposes too much flesh. Sooraya explains that she does not judge the way Nori dresses, and she only asks that Nori do the same for her. Nori gets up and heads to the door, and tells her that Sooraya is judging her. She just said that exposing flesh is showing off. She then continues that she doesn’t need to be lectured by someone who is setting women back fifty years just by walking around like that. She slams the door, and Sooraya is left by herself in the room looking down over the conversation.
 As Nori walks out of the hallway, Cyclops comes down a set of stairs and tells her that he was just looking for her. He tells her it’s getting close to curfew and asks if she thinks now is a good time to be leaving her room. Nori says she needed to get some air because she was given a religious nut for a roommate. Cyclops tells her that she’ll deal. She’s tough. He then adds that he didn’t come here to listen to complaints about roommate assignments, so Nori asks what he came to bust her chops for then.
 Cyclops tells her that he came to get his keycard back. The one she stole to break into the Danger Room. He adds that they have rules in place for a reason. It’s not safe in the Danger Room without proper X-Men supervision. Nori starts to ask how he—but she is cut off by Cyclops saying there are cameras inside. As Nori starts to look down, he adds that he saw how they all performed, so he’ll forgo the punishment. This time. But adds that Noriko must get her gauntlets looked at tomorrow. Nori asks if she can’t just get rid of them. They’re big. They’re clunky. They’re ugly. And apparently they’re fragile and unreliable.
 Cyclops tells her that Miss Moonstar gave him all the details on her life before she came to the school. He says he knows she lived on the street and used pills to regulate her power. He asks if she wants to go back to that, and she quietly says “no… maybe…” Cyclops tells her that she could learn to control her power one day. Give them time to work on that. But if she doesn’t, she might wear those gauntlets forever, like he wears his visor, and he motions towards the visor he wears. He says that it is ugly, he knows it, but it keeps him from hurting the people around him and turns his mutation into something useful. As Cyclops leads Nori down the hall, he asks her if she’ll give the gauntlets another try, and give her roommate another try, as well. Nori says affirmative on the gauntlets, fat chance on the roommate. Cyclops tells her that’s fine. For now. As they separate ways, Nori tells him that she still doesn’t like him, but he just smiles and tells her she doesn’t have to. He’s still in charge.
 Over in the boys’ dorms, David is pacing his and Josh’s room, and tells Josh that, if it is true, he is leaving the school. Josh says he didn’t even think David like him, but they break them up and he’s gone? He says he’s touched, but David says yeah, in the head. He wasn’t talking about him. He says that he didn’t sign up to be an X-Man. He came here to get an education and to learn to control his powers. He adds that he isn’t changing his plans. He’ll go back to Chicago. Josh says that he’ll believe it when he sees David tell Dani, and David says he’ll tell her tomorrow. Josh says that he couldn’t tell Dani he’s leaving. He’s got such a major crush on her. David says that if anyone would chase after a teacher it would be him. Josh disagrees, saying that if anyone was gonna make out with a teacher it would be him. Sucking up and being teacher’s pet? That’s David’s department. David tells Josh that he’ll see. He’s telling him tomorrow. He’s not waiting until Monday’s assembly to see how they’re changing his life. He’s out of there.
 The next morning in the grounds behind the school, Julian approaches Jay, who is under a tree with his guitar, and asks him if he is the new guy; Josh Guthrie. Jay corrects him, telling him that he’s not Josh anymore. His old life is over. Julian seems a little bit unsure of him, but tells him that it was a good move ditching the name Josh. It’s a chump’s name, if you ask him. Julian introduces himself and tells Jay that Miss Frost thought they should hang out since they both have her as an advisor. Jay says he thought the students got to pick their own advisors. Julian explains that with the school rebuilt, so were the rules. He adds that Miss Frost is cool, though, and then gets him to come along because he has something fun lined up.
 As they walk along towards the school, Julian mentions the fact that the X-Men all have codenames, and says that the students all eventually get them, ‘cept the teachers get to pick them., but Miss Frost lets them suggest their own. He asks what Jay is thinking for his, and he replies, “Icarus.” He starts to explain that he means Icarus, the Greek Myth. He flew too close to the Sun. His wings burned and he plummeted to the earth—but Julian stops him, saying he know the story, and says, “Bummer much?”
 As they arrive at the Basketball court, Julian introduces Jay to Cessily Kincaid and Santo Vaccarro and tells him that they have Miss Frost for an advisor, too. He then introduces Santo and Cessily to Jay Guthrie, their fourth. Jay asks what he means by “fourth,” so he tells him that it’s for basketball. They’ve got a grudge match to settle, and he points towards Josh, Laurie, Sofia, and David, who just arrived at the court. David tells Josh there is no way he is playing. He’s terrible at basketball, and he’s got more important things to do. Josh tells him that he can talk to Dani after the game, but Julian needs some schoolin’ now. Josh tells him not to worry about knowing how to play. He says he rocks at basketball, so David can leech some of his skills with his powers. Sofia says that it will be fun. She has never played an actual game of basketball.
 Josh and Julian meet each other, and Josh asks him who the new guy is, and asks him if he had to go seek out a new friend, and Julian says he is new blood. Gonna help him kick his—but Jay taps his shoulder and tells him that he doesn’t like basketball, and he didn’t even ask him, so count him out. Julian complains that he can’t do that. It’s four-on-four! Laurie tells them that she is not very… athletic, so suggests they make it three-on-three.
 The game starts, and as David makes it past Julian, he complains that David saw that coming telepathically, and it’s unfair using powers, but David just tells him that he doesn’t use his powers. They’re always on. So now he’s as good at basketball as all of them combined, and he can see which way Julian is going before he goes. He tells him it’s just part of him. Deal with it. David takes a shot, but as the ball flies towards the basket, Santo shoots his hand up and blocks the ball, telling David that his powers are part of him. Deal with that!
 Just then, an ice-slide appears, deflecting the ball, and a voice says, “That’s goaltending, my friend!” The ball slides along and drops neatly in Iceman’s hand. Someone says “cool… Iceman! Iceman says that his friends call him Bobby, but those in his Intro to Business class can continue to call him Mr. Drake. He then asks what is with playing without powers. Where’s the fun in that? You do that anywhere. This is Xavier’s! He then tells them to start again. He’ll be the ref.
 As Iceman throws the ball towards Josh and David, Julian tells them to give it up, and uses his telekinesis to hold the ball up high in the air, adding that not even Shaq could handle his telekinesis. Just then, Sofia flies by and grabs the ball, telling them that she finds telekinesis is a crude substitute for the power of the wind. Julian asks if she wants the basket, then tells her she’ll have to go through him, so she blows him aside with her wind and says another time, perhaps, but for now she will settle for… two points! Julian complains to the ref that Sofia was charging. He was planted! Iceman repeats “planted” incredulously, and tells him that he was eight feet in the air. Nice try.
 The game continues, and Santo passes the ball to Cessily. As Josh covers her, he tells her there’s no way she get past—huh? She goes into liquid form and moves behind him, telling him that it’s kinda hard to cover a puddle of mercury, and takes the shot. Josh tries to intercept, but with a swish, she scores. Julian announces that that’s the game. Victory is theirs! As Julian and Santo high-five, Santo tells Cessily to get in there and celebrate, but as she puddles across the court, she tells them to give her a sec. She’s gotta get back into her clothes.
 Julian grabs her shirt and shorts and holds them up, teasing her that if she wants them, to come and get them. She tells him that it’s not funny, and David tells him to give the girl her clothes back. Iceman agrees, telling him to do it, at the same time freezing his butt. As Julian gives Cessily her clothes back, Jay asks Laurie what the deal is with Julian. Laurie tells Jay that he is his friend, so he should tell her, but Jay says he just met him. Josh, fuming, says he can’t believe they lost. David tries to reason with him, pointing out that it’s just basketball. Josh says he knows, but he hates that guy. Laurie tells Jay that it was nice to meet him, and she leaves with the boys and Sofia.
 Soon after, the four of them arrive at Dani’s office, and as they enter, David tells Dani that they really need to talk to her. With Nori already there, Dani says that is good because she just sent for all of them, and then asks where they were. Josh tells her they were just losing a basketball game, so David tells him to let it go. He then tells Dani that he doesn’t know what she wanted to talk to them about, but he bets that it has something to do with Monday’s assembly. He tells her that he’ll just cut to the chase, and asks if they are being split up into squads.
 Dani splits the question in half, and first answers whether or not they will be being but into squads: Yes. She then answers whether or not they will be split up: No, of course not. She tells them that they are her kids. She likes being their advisor. She turned down being an X-Man to be here. She tells them that they aren’t taking them from her, and tells them not to worry. David says that is good, but she knows he didn’t come here for life as an X-Man. Dani says of course she knows that, so David starts to say that he needs to—but Dani cuts him off and asks him if he trusts her. David says he does, absolutely, so Dani lets him know that everything will be fine. Just wait until Monday’s assembly.
 Josh whispers to David that he sure told her, but David just whispers back that he trusts her. Dani tells them all to come to her because she has something to show them. She tells them that it is the template for their new training costumes. Each of them will be able to customize it to their own taste. Nori looks and asks if it is spandex, adding that she is so not wearing tights. Sofia happily says that it is exciting. They get to wear costumes like the super heroes do.
 Dani corrects Sofia, telling them that they’re not super heroes. That’s not what this is about. It’s about training them to use their powers safely and being able to defend themselves. David says that if he has to… maybe he can put in a visor with a heads-up display, get information from the school computer… Josh teases that maybe a big “kick me” sign on his back would really help with that geek image. He then says that he’s thinking he’ll lose the sleeves, show off his arms. Laurie tells him that that would look great.
 Monday morning in front of the school, the Assembly begins with Cyclops welcoming the students as he stands with Emma on a stage erected in front of the Phoenix Memorial Statue. Off behind the stage, Dani whispers to the kids telling them that they look great. Josh says most of them do, anyway, and says he is trying to figure out who David’s supposed to be, Shaft or Gambit. He asks him if he thought this would make him look cooler, and David tells him to shut up. Dani tells them that the squads are supposed to be six kids each. She adds that she has someone in mind for their number six. That’s what she’s been dealing with lately, but no matter what happens with that, they are with her and that won’t change. They’ll stay together as a team. She adds to David that she knows he is concerned, but this is a good thing, and she promises. Dani then tells them to listen to Cyclops.
 Cyclops tells all of the kids that he is happy to have them all back to the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning for a new semester. They’ve had some setbacks, but they are still here. He continues on that, as they all know, Miss Frost and he will be running the school as headmasters. Professor Xavier is away pursuing other aspects of his dream. A dream of humans and mutants coexisting peacefully. But that dream is still alive here. In light of recent dangers faced by the school, they will be making some changes.
 Every student will receive advanced combat training. The students will train in squads, mentored by X-Men advisors. These squads will consist of six students each. Students in these squads will have codenames assigned and will receive training uniforms. Those squads that have already been chosen will be introduced today. But all of the students will be in a squad before the month is over. Cyclops continues that he will be serving as advisor to the first squad. He starts to introduce his squad, but off behind the stage, Laurie whispers that she forgot about codenames. She says that she hopes they didn’t pick something terrible for her, but Sofia assures her that Dani would not allow that. Josh tells David that his money is Brain Boy for him, but Nori tells him to lay off him already.
 Just then, Cyclops finishes introducing the members of his squad, the Corsairs. He turns it over to Miss Frost to introduce her squad. Emma steps up and starts to introduce her kids. Julian Keller. Codename: Hellion. Cessily Kincaid. Codename: Mercury. Santo Vaccarro. Codename: Rockslide. Jay Guthrie. Codename: Icarus. Sooraya Qadir. Codename: Dust. Brian Cruz. Codename: Tag. And so, Emma gives them… her squad: The Hellions. Santo turns to Cessily and asks if it is just him, or did they just become Hellion and the Hellions. Julian smiles and asks. “Isn’t it cool?” Cessily says that there’ll be no living with him now. Cyclops then announces that Danielle Moonstar will introduce her squad.
 When Dani steps up, she tells everyone that when she was a student there, she was a member of the team known as the New Mutants. They were like a family. Now there are more than a hundred students. That’s a great thing, but her kids are like a family, too. She says that the sixth member of her squad is selected, but not at the school right now. So she will present the five who are. David Alleyne. Codename: Prodigy. David whispers that he kinda likes that, and Sofia whispers that it fits. Sofia Mantega. Codename: Wind Dancer. Noriko Ashida. Codename: Surge. Laurie Collins. Codename: Wallflower. Laurie whispers and asks Josh what he thinks. He whispers back, saying who cares if they’re good or bad? They’ve got codenames. They’re the next generation of X-Men! Josh Foley. Codename: Elixir. Josh happily says that they are super heroes! Dani steps behind the five kids, and proudly presents her squad… The NEW MUTANTS! And just to make the moment perfect, Josh jokingly asks when they go on their first mission.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Choosing Sides - part 3: Grudges
At the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, Josh Foley, the newly minted Elixir, ridicules Julian on his codename. Hellion and the Hellions? He asks Julian if he’d like a little ago to go with that swelled head of his, but Julian just asks Josh if he is jealous. Miss Frost let them pick their own codenames, unlike that loser Moonstar. Josh tells him that he’s just about had it with Julian picking on Dani. Julian just asks him why he is so defensive, and then pretends that he just remembered that she’s not just his advisor. She’s his guardian because his real parents threw him out with the trash! He says that he wonders how Moonstar lucked into that, and asks if they drew straws and she lost.
 David holds Josh back as he attempts to go after Julian, telling him not to do it. He’s not worth it. But Josh tells him to let him go. He’ll kill him! Santo agrees, and tells David to let him go, and suggests they do another dance. David tells Santo that he keeps looking for a fight, but he’s never laid a hand on him. He asks if Santo likes swinging and missing all day, but Santo insists that he’d hit, as he launches a fist up in the air. He says David can run, but he’s got plenty of body parts he can throw at him. He adds that since they are all made of rock, all it’d take is one hit to put a no-power loser like David down.
 Jay turns and walks away, telling Julian that this is crazy. He doesn’t dislike these guys—he doesn’t even know them! And he says he is out of there. Julian says that he really hates that Miss Frost stuck them with that winged guy. He turns to Sofia and asks her why she doesn’t leave her New Mutant days behind and go where the action is and be a Hellion. Sofia says she thought he hated all of them, but Julian says it’s only her friends. Hates them. Likes her. Sofia says he really knows how to charm a girl, but no thanks.
David asks why Brian and Santo even follow Julian. He’ll only get them into trouble. Brian says that they don’t follow Julian. They hang with him. He suggests that maybe David bosses his friends around, but Julian doesn’t. Josh tells Brian that Julian doesn’t need to because they already kiss his butt on a regular basis. Santo tells the “jerks” to keep talking, because they are about three words away from being buried under a rockslide. Laurie asks Cessily why boys are always so… boy-like, but Cessily just takes the opportunity to mock her, saying that quiet girl speaks! Alert the media!
 Sooraya asks Nori if they fight simply because they are on separate squads, but Nori says she doesn’t know. She just got there, but she knows she doesn’t like Julian. She adds that it looks like Sooraya’s taste in friends is almost as bad as her taste in fashion. Julian tries to persuade Sofia, telling him that she knows he wants her on his squad. David tells him that she said no and grabs his shoulder, so Julian tells him that if he touches him again, he’ll draw back a stump.
 Inside the school, Dani demands what Emma was thinking. She says that it is bad enough her kids are called the Hellions, but Julian Keller has enough ego problems without naming the squad after him. Emma agrees that Julian has had some problems with authority here, but she sees great potential in him. He has the ability to become a great leader and she thought the codename would force him to step up. She tells Danielle that she needs to let go of past mistakes and give the boy a chance. Dani asks if she means give the boy a chance, or give Emma a chance. She tells Emma that she can say she’s changed, and she can even cozy up to Scott to convince him, but she doesn’t buy her reformed-villain-seeking-redemption act. And she never will. Emma suggests that she leave the school.
 Rahne, from across the room, hears this with the telepathic link she and Dani share, and she morphs into her half-wolf form and demands that Emma don’t dare threaten Dani like that. She gave up a chance at being an X-Man to teach these kids. Dani starts to stop Rahne, but Emma interrupts and tells Rahne to put her claws away. She wasn’t threatening Danielle. She was merely suggesting that if she has difficulties with her being headmistress, then perhaps she would rather be somewhere else.
 Rahne lets out a loud growl, but is surprised by Scott yelling her name as he drops his cake and runs towards the three girls. Rahne starts to apologize to Scott, but he cuts her off and explains to her that he knows she and Dani are close, but she can’t threaten Emma or anyone else there. If she is going to be a teacher at the school, she needs to keep her wolf powers and instincts under control. Rahne agrees and tells him that it won’t happen again. Cyclops then turns to both Dani and Rahne, and with Emma smirking over his shoulder, he tells them that they need to get past Emma’s history. She has proven herself to the X-Men—to all of them—on a number of occasions. She and he are headmasters of the school.
 Something outside catches Scott’s eye and he sees Santo launch his hand at Josh. Cyclops tells the ladies that it looks like their feud has carried over to their students, and Dani starts to say that she’ll talk to them, but Scott says that he’ll handle it, and storms out of the room.
 Outside, Santo demands that Josh give him his hand back, but as he sits on top of it, Josh asks if he means the one he shot at him, and says no way. Santo tells him to give it back or he’ll take it back, and David asks why this always has to devolve into a fight. He starts to say that they are gonna—but just then he spots Cyclops coming and finishes exasperatedly—get us into trouble. He adds that Mr. Summers is coming, and then Scott calls across the grass for them to break it up.
 Scott tells them that they broke the student body up into squads to teach small unit tactics and teamwork, not to turn them into rival gangs. However, there is clearly energy to be worked off. He explains that they were going to introduce a new intramural training tradition. Two squads competing towards one strategic goal. He congratulates them, and tells them that the New Mutants and the Hellions have just volunteered themselves for the first Field Day exercises. And as Scott walks away, he tells Mr. Vaccarro to put his hand back on.
 As Emma and Dani watch Scott and the kids disband, Emma says that Scott certainly has a way about him, and Dani says she supposes. Emma asks if this won’t be exciting, their two squads competing, and Dani tells he beating heart to be still. Emma comments that Dani’s squad seems to be short one student, and asks how she intends on resolving this. Dani tells her that she has someone in mind… a former student who really needs to come home. But she can’t find him. She needs Cerebra to track him down, and since Cerebra works by amplifying telepathy, she… she needs a trained telepath to use the system. Emma asks Dani if she is asking for her help, and Dani says she is, but tells her not to make a thing of it.
 In the garage, beside Rahne’s motorcycle, Josh and Rahne kiss. Josh tells her that she missed the assembly. They made him a New Mutant! She tells “Slick” that it’s very impressive. Josh continues that it is just like she was all those years ago. Rahne, kneeling by her bike, repeats “all those years ago” slowly. Josh tells her that they should celebrate. Go out for dinner, but he notices something is wrong, and asks what it is. Rahne tells him that it’s just that… she’s so much older than him. Josh tells her that he’s sixteen, she’s nineteen: it’s three years! She tells him that that’s not the point and he knows it. This can’t work.
 Josh tries to reason with her, telling her that she likes him, and she calls him Slick… and they’ve been kissing a lot. Rahne says that it’s been in secret. What does it tell him that they’re keeping it from everyone? She tells him that she is a teacher now, and Mr. Summers reminded her that she has to act like one. Josh, upset, asks if that’s it then, and they’re not even going to try to make it work. He tells her that he really thought she like him. She turns away with her head down and tells him that maybe she does… but it doesn’t matter. This is just the way it is. She tells Josh she is sorry, and he slumps off.
 A computer voice says that the retinal scan is verified, and welcomes Miss Frost to Cerebra. Emma walks into the chamber, with Dani right behind her, and out onto the dais in the center of the chamber, where she puts on the special amplification helmet. Dani tells her that they are looking for Kevin Ford, a fifteen-year-old who was a student here last summer for a couple of weeks. Emma says that is good, since Kevin was at the school, Cerebra should be able to identify him easily. She explains that Cerebra was rebuilt with the school. It still enhances telepathy to allow them to recognize unique mutant signatures. She suggests that they start with places of importance to him. Even if he’s not there, Cerebra should be able to conjure up holographic images from the psychic residue of his emotional moments. They may provide them with clues.
 Dani tells her that Kevin used to live in Atlanta, and as Emma searches there, she tells Dani that he isn’t there now… but she’s got strong emotional residue from some sort of trauma. Dani explains that Kevin’s mutant ability is to -decay organic matter. He can’t shut it off. As a a holographic image appears in front of them, Dani explains that he discovered his power when it accidentally killed his father. Emma suggests trying something closer to home, and an image of Kevin appears, and Dani explains that it was Kevin here at Xavier’s. It was an adjustment, but the thing that kept him going was his desire to be an X-Man someday. Emma says that it is a shame that he left, but he isn’t in town.
 Emma asks where else he might be, and Dani suggests New York. She brought the kids there on a field trip. They were attacked, and Kevin went crazy. The image shows Kevin attacking Donald Pierce with his powers, but soon changes to him attacking Laurie instead. Emma is shocked and asks if he attacked his own friends, but Dani says that he didn’t. She had to stop him before he killed someone. She tells Emma that she knows how her illusion powers work. The most effective illusions she can project are drawn from the target’s worst fear or deepest desire. She had to stop him, so she showed him his worst fear. She showed him that he was a killer. And… and that’s why he left the school.
 Suddenly, Emma tells Dani that she has located him! Staten Island. She says they should leave immediately, but Dani says not they, she. She tells Emma that she is not going with her. Emma tells her that it was she who used her powers on Kevin and he left the one place that could help him. Dani says yes, and Emma tells her that clearly she (Emma) is not the only one seeking redemption, and they leave.
 In a junkyard in Staten Island, New York, a worker calls a kid and tells him that he is closing up and it is his shift. He tells him that he should do a couple of rounds, but it’ll probably be a quiet night. Kevin pokes his head out the door of a metal shed and tells him that they all are. The guy points to a pile of scrap metal, and tells Kevin that they aren’t using it, so if he wants to use it for his… whaddyacallit… industrial art, the help himself. Kevin thanks him and the guy tells him it’s no problem. He goes to pat him on the back, and tells him that he makes his life a lot easier, but Kevin jumps back and tells him to not touch him, please. The guy tells him that he wasn’t gonna hurt him, and apologizes to Kevin, telling him he didn’t mean nothin’ by it. He tells Kevin to have a good night and waves as he leaves.
 As Kevin finishes up an art piece, from behind him, a voice tells him that she likes it. He turns to see Dani walking towards him. Dani tells him that she’s been looking for him. They need to talk. Kevin just tells her to talk, so she does. She tells him that he needs to come back with her. She knows he doesn’t want to risk anyone at the school getting hurt… but there really is no better place than Xavier’s for a mutant to learn to control his powers. Kevin repeats “control it,” and tells her it’s a death touch. You don’t control it. You never use it! Because if you do, you’re a killer! He asks her who taught him that, and tells her that she did. He says that he’s got a job, a place to sleep, and all the metal he needs for his art. He’s fine here.
 Emma tells Dani that it didn’t go well, and Dani tells her to let her go after him. Emma puts a hand on Dani’s shoulder, and tells her that she doesn’t get it. Dani is the problem. Emma asks Dani if this is a personal thing for her, or if she is actually interested in Kevin’s well-being. There is a knock on Kevin’s door, and he tells, who he thinks is Dani, that he told her he isn’t going. Emma steps inside and tells him that she is not Dani, and she is not there to take him anywhere. She tells him that she just thinks they should talk about why he doesn’t want to go.
 Emma sits on the bed beside Kevin, and tells him that she doesn’t think they met while he was at Xavier’s. She introduces herself, and tells him that she is the new headmistress. Kevin moves away a bit and tells her that she should be careful, but she tells him she knows he has a death touch. She’s seen worse. Kevin puts a piece of fabric to his face and it starts turning to dust, and he asks her if she really has. He tells her that he destroys everything he touches. He withers it. And he turns it to ash. Emma takes the piece of withered fabric and tells him that she’s seen worse. She’s been worse. She got better. She tells him that he doesn’t destroy everything… just organics. This, she supposes, is why he’s surrounded himself with metal.
Emma asks Kevin to tell her something. He left Xavier’s to keep people safe. She asks him if he is any closer to having his power under control, and if he has been practicing. Kevin immediately says no, and asks how he would do that. He asks if he is supposed to touch animals and see if they die, and tells her that he can’t do that. But at the same time, Dani notices that there are piles of dust outside on the ground. Emma asks him if he ever thought about practicing on lumber, and points out that it is organic, but Kevin admits that he hadn’t thought of that. Emma tells him that that is why he needs the school. They know how to teach young mutants. She tells him that she knows Dani did him a disservice. She was supposed to teach him to accept himself, but instead, she taught him to fear himself. To hide in his metal prison. Emma tells him not to let Dani’s mistake ruin his life.
 A few minutes later, Emma and Kevin come out of the shed, and Emma tells him that he has made the right decision. As they come closer, Dani slowly lets a pile of dust fall to the ground, and she asks Kevin what happened. He tells her that it was lumber. He was practicing on lumber. Dani watches as Emma and Kevin head off, Emma telling him they are headed back to the school, and Dani clearly doubts Kevin’s honesty on the matter.
 Later, at the Xavier Institute, Dani and Kevin are walking up the stairs to the doors, and Dani makes sure Kevin knows that she is happy he’s back. As they step inside, she explains that the school has changed since he was here… all the students are now in training squads with faculty advisors. She tells him that she would like to be his advisor. She wants to train him. He asks if Laurie is on her squad, and Dani tells him that she is, as well as Sofia and David, so Kevin says he’s in. Dani tells him that she called ahead, so the rest of the squad should be waiting in her office. As the door opens, Laurie happily greets him, and he greets her as well. Dani tells them to meet their sixth team member.
 Laurie asks him where he’s been and if he is okay and then Sofia tells him that it is good to see him again and introduces Noriko. Kevin jumps back a little and tells them to back off, he might hurt them… Kevin spots Josh and says that the last time he saw him, he was working for Donald Pierce. Josh says that the last time he saw Kevin he was trying to kill him. Dani steps between them and decides to get a few remaining squad-related issues taken care of. She tells Kevin that he’ll need a codename. The faculty already gave them out, so she’ll need a recommendation. She then asks if he has any suggestions, and Josh asks why he gets to pick his own. Kevin suggests Wither, and Dani asks if he is sure. She says that it’s a little… negative, but Kevin says that Mr. Death would be negative. Wither is what he does. It’s not a problem.
 Dani tells them that the other issue is squad leadership. This has been left to the advisors, and so she’s selected David. David says nothing for a moment, and then he thanks her, but says no thanks. He says that he is doing the training thing because he has to, but he has no desire to be an X-Man. The leader spot should go to someone who can use that experience in the field someday. Dani agrees, and says it is his choice. She tells them that they’ll need someone else, then.
 Nori says not to look at her, but Laurie suggests Josh, saying she thinks he would make an excellent leader. Kevin doesn’t quite agree with her choice, but Josh says that it it’s not a bad idea. Dani tells him that he’s a healer, though, and in the field he has to focus on whoever’s hurt. A leader can’t afford to focus on any one person. Josh shrugs it off, saying it’s no big, and tells Dani that she’s the boss. Sofia steps up and tells Dani that she will do it. Dani asks if she is sure she wants that responsibility, and Sofia says she can handle it. Dani decides that it is good, and tells Sofia that the squad is hers.
 The next morning, Cyclops welcomes the New Mutants and the Hellions to Field Day. He explains that they will be holding these regularly. Each is a small-scale mission. With Dani and Emma standing on either side of him, Cyclops tells the kids that the squad who wins the most will be rewarded at the end of the semester. Today they’ve hidden an object on campus. This is designed to simulate a mission in which a villain, say Magneto, has left a bomb somewhere and you don’t know what it looks like or where it is.  There are clues on campus. Whichever squad finds the object and brings it to one of them will win. Cyclops adds one last rule. No offensive use of powers on members of the opposing squad. Break this rule and your team loses.  He then tells them to go to it, to have fun, and bids the best team win.
 Immediately, the Hellions all take off and leave the New Mutants behind. Sofia says they need to get into action, and tells Noriko that she is the fastest, so she should search the entire campus, starting with the school. Nori asks what she is looking for, and Sofia tells her she does not know. A clue to what it looks like or where it is? Anything. David suggests that maybe they need to narrow the search down a bit before they have Nori expend her whole charge on a sprint through the building. Sofia tells him that Julian and the Hellions have already left! They do not have time to argue. This is her squad, remember? She tells David that he did not want to lead. None of them have to worry about being the leader of the first losing squad! She says that she does not know what the Hellions are up to, but clearly they have already gone into action.
 Cessily ducks down outside the cafeteria, and slips inside by turning into a puddle of mercury, and clings to the bottom of the table at which Scott, Emma, and Dani are sitting. Dani says that it is in the middle of the hedge maze, and asks Scott if he thinks he made it a little easy for them. Scott says maybe, but this is the first mission. Emma says that her squad is off to a fine start, then bends over and looks under the table, and asks Miss Kincaid if she agrees. Cessily’s head smiles back at her, and asks if she is in trouble for spying. Scott says not at all. If he were Magneto, spying would be a quick way to get information. However, if he were Magneto, Cessily would be captured right now. Spying is quick, but very risky.
 Scott tells her that she is out of the exercise, and she looks slightly upset. As she stands near the windows, she asks if she can’t even tell her teammates that the object is in the hedge maze, putting emphasis on the last two words, and Cyclops says sorry, but ‘captured’ means out of the game. He then looks up to see Jay flying away, and says that he sees she brought backup. Not bad. Emma comments that it seems her squad has completed the first part of the mission… then she wonders aloud how Danielle’s squad is faring.
 Outside, Nori arrives, and tells Sofia that she found it. Sofia asks if she found the object, but Nori, out of breath, tells her she found a memo left in the assembly hall. Mr. Summers told someone to hide the L.H. in the hedge maze. Sofia tells them that they have the information they need, and they should go to the hedge maze quickly. As they all run towards the hedge maze, David calls Sofia and tells her that Noriko is spent. She used her whole charge. Sofia calls back that the two of them should hang back. The rest of them will handle it. The entrance is right here.
 Sofia tells them that they should assume it is at the—but she runs into something solid and rocky, and falls to the ground. It seems she hit one of Santo’s arms, because he is standing with his arms detached and dug into the ground. He finishes Sofia’s sentence, saying that it is at the center of the maze. Yeah, they know. He tells them that Hellion and the rest of the squad are already there, and it looks like the New Mutants lose.


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Choosing Sides - part 4: Field Day
At the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, Scott Summers, Emma Frost, and Dani Moonstar watch a series of screens as the Field Day exercise unfolds. Santo blocks the entrance to the hedge maze as the New Mutants try to get past. Emma says that it looks as though her Hellions have the lead, but Dani asks her if she is concerned that with Rockslide blocking the entrance, he’s provoking the New Mutants. Emma tells Danielle that Santo is not breaking the rules, but if the New Mutants do anything to retaliate, they will be disqualified. Scott tells the ladies that that is enough. This Field Day exercise is far from over. Emma just tells him that they’ll see about that.
 Outside, Sofia tells Santo that his rock projectiles are hardly stopping her—she can ride the wind over him! But just then, she slams into an invisible wall, and Julian tells her that she hit one of his telekinetic walls. Sofia tells him that he loses, because the rules state that he is not to use his powers on them. Julian corrects her and says that the rules say he can’t use them offensively. He simply put up a wall and she flew into. He asks what is offensive about that, so she says that the fact that the wall came from him makes it offensive. Julian tells her that she wounds him. He’s got to be getting under her skin if he can get her this riled up! Sofia says that if he wants to get anywhere near her skin, he’ll have to take down the wall.
 Far below, Laurie calls to Sofia and asks what they do, while she and the rest of the New Mutants crowd around the blocked entrance. David calls up at Sofia to stop wasting time with Hellion. They need another way into the maze, and the Hellions have Icarus flying over so there’s not much time. He then tells Nori that Julian is good, he’ll give him that. He’s got Dust blocking their view so they can’t even see where Icarus is going. They’re at a complete disadvantage and they’ve got no strategy. Josh tells David that they do have strategy. They’ve got him. He tells David to give them a plan, but David says he doesn’t know. Sofia’s their leader and he doesn’t want to undercut her. Nori tells him that if he’s got a plan, now would be the time. David agrees and tells Kevin that his power withers anything organic, including hedges. Kevin says he gets it and tells him that it’s good thinking. Laurie tells them that they should tell Sofia the plan so she can decide, but Josh tells her that Sofia’s not listening. She’s too busy playing footsie with the enemy!
 Nearby, Santo tells Brian that Hellion was right. Prodigy’s going to be the problem. Brian agrees that he’s the brains of that operation, and says it’s time to take him out, so let him through. As David tells the others what to do, Brian interrupts, and when David looks, Brian touches his foot and tells him that, tag, he’s it. Suddenly a weird aura surrounds David, and he tells Brian he can’t do that, but Brian says he just did, and tells him he’s it. Suddenly, Josh, Kevin, Laurie, and Nori all start to run blindly from David, all saying they must… run… from David! Brian tells David that since his teammates are all part of his little game of tag, they have to run away from him! HE can’t give them any more orders. As Nori takes off, David calls after her not to use her speed. She doesn’t have enough charge left and she’ll knock herself out, but she just keeps running blindly away from him.
 As Josh finally gets his head clear, he calls Laurie and Kevin to let them know that this is far enough away from David. Tag’s power wore off. He then says that David had the right idea and tells Wither to get to work. Kevin says he’ll do it because it’s a good plan, but tells Foley not to boss him around. As Kevin makes a hole for them to get through, Laurie claps and tells him he did great work. Kevin tells her to follow him through, but not to get too close. He doesn’t want her to bump into him and get hurt. Josh asks if it would be okay if he got hurt, and Kevin tells him to knock himself out.
 Laurie looks up and says that now they are past Dust, they must be close because Icarus is landing over there! Josh asks what Kevin’s problem is with him, but Kevin says he doesn’t have one. As he makes another hole in the maze, he says that he thinks that guy landed right past this wall, so they need to run in and grab the prize before he does. Josh suddenly says that he smells something burning… and Laurie asks if they hear something weird… As they look through the new hole, they all look astonished, and Josh says, “No way!” A purple dragon is blowing flames at Icarus as he zooms around it. Josh amazedly says that this place has its own dragon, and says that it’s wicked! Laurie calls it cute, and Kevin says he doesn’t think it wants to be gotten.
 Up above the entrance to the hedge maze, Julian, still blocking Sofia’s way with his telepathic wall, tells Sofia that her problem is that she is all power and no strategy. She’s passion personified. Sofia asks if this is a problem, but Julian says that it isn’t for him, but her squad… they’re all gone. Field Day is over and he won. Sofia looks down in horror and stutters as she says “I… I lost…?” Julian asks her why she doesn’t join his Hellions, and tells her that he can put all of her talents to use.
 Elsewhere in the grounds, Noriko finally stops running and holds her head in exhaustion as she leans on a tree. David runs after her and tells her that they are out of range… she shouldn’t have used her electricity. As he catches up to her, he starts to ask if she is—but she starts to fall backwards, slowly saying she doesn’t feel so good. David catches her in his arms, telling her he’s got her. He tells her that she can’t completely drain herself like that. She could get hurt. She asks him why he came after her, and says that the team… they need him. David just says that they have to hope that the rest of the guys pull together.
 Back in the hedge maze, Kevin decides that he’s not waiting for this… thing to fry them, and charges at the dragon with his glove removed. Laurie calls after him, yelling for him not to do it, and Josh tackles him over asking if he’s crazy. He tells him that he can’t kill the dragon, and Laurie calls after Josh to be careful, because Kevin’s glove is off. Josh pins him, and Kevin tells him to let him go. He can win this thing for them! Josh tells him that’s nuts, and explains that the dragon is clearly smart. He’s not trying to hit them, and besides, they’re supposed to bring him in, not kill him.
 Laurie tells the boys to stop and let her use her pheromones to calm the dragon down… but they need to stop fighting because they are making it really hard for her to focus on anything calm! But just then, Laurie turns and hears a voice singing “Puff the Magic Dragon.” It’s Jay Guthrie using his choral voice to calm the dragon. As he sings, the dragon quits blowing flames and calms down. Laurie smiles and says that his voice… it’s like a chorus. It’s so beautiful. Both Josh and Kevin turn to her and simultaneously ask if she is kidding them. As Jay finishes the song, the dragon, now much smaller than it appeared before, lands on Jay’s shoulder.
 As Jay walks towards the other Hellions and the New Mutants follow, Cyclops announces that the first Field Day activity is now officially over. Cyclops thanks Lockheed for his participation today, and the purple dragon flies from Jay’s arm to Scott’s. Scott tells the kids that, yes, Lockheed is a dragon. He’s real. He’s intelligent. He has feelings. One of his fellow X-Men befriended him years ago. He explains that they included him in this exercise to prove a point. Life as an X-Man is never as simple as it seems. This was a test of creative thinking. Both teams showed initiative and found Lockheed… however, in the end, the Hellions were that much quicker. Admittedly, they took risks that led to the capture of one of their own, but by the rules they laid out, the Hellions are today’s winners.
 Scott adds that he would like to point out that the New Mutants also performed exceptionally well, although the property damage inflicted on the hedge maze is a major issue to be dealt with. In the end, it came down to a matter of seconds. Unfortunately, there can be only one winner. David excuses himself, and says that he has a question about the rules. He says that he thinks Tag cheated when he used his power on him. They said no offensive powers. Brian calls out “No way, teacher’s pet!” and says that it wasn’t offensive. When he makes you it, everybody else runs from you. If anything, his power prevents fighting! Julian puts a hand on his shoulder to get him to stop, and Emma tells Brian to please allow her to handle this. Dani tells Scott that she thinks David has a point, and Emma tells her that of course she does. Cyclops excuses them, and tells the kids that they will take a minute to discuss this.
 Josh complains that this stinks either way. He doesn’t want to win on a technicality. He continues that this shouldn’t even be an issue. They could have won if Sofia had had any strategy at all. Laurie starts to tell Josh that maybe he’s being a little harsh on Sofia, but Josh just tells her that he knows Sofia is her friend, but if she hadn’t turned this into some thing between her and Julian, they would have won. Kevin tells Josh that Laurie is right, and he needs to lay off of Sofia. If he’d just let him—but Josh finishes his sentence for him—kill the dragon? He tells Kevin to throttle down on the bloodlust.
 Josh continues that this isn’t about Kevin or disintegrating a dragon. This is about Sofia not knowing how to lead. They’ve got a genius on their team who came up with a plan that got them right back in the game. He says that he thinks David ought to be leading this squad, and Nori tells David that he’s right. David just tells them that fighting amongst themselves is not going to solve anything. He says Sofia’s in charge and he stands by her, which makes Sofia smile.
 Just then, Scott, Emma, and Dani ask for their attention as Scott tells them their ruling. The rule was put in place to prevent violence between students. Brian Cruz’s power is not violent, nor did it cause violence. Brian gives Julian the thumbs up and tells him they’ve got it in the bag, and Julian points out that it helps when their advisor is dating one of the judges. Scott finishes that, therefore, their original ruling holds, and Emma wishes Dani better luck next time, leaving Dani with a sour look. Scott says that the Hellions win, and Josh says whatever, and says nice work to Sofia. Scott then pins up a sheet of paper with Field Day Standings across the top. It lists the standings as: Hellions 1-0, New Mutants 0-1, Alpha Squadron 0-0, Corsairs 0-0, Excelsiors 0-0, and Exemplars 0-0.
 As Laurie walks into her and Sofia’s room, she finds Sofia crying on the edge of her bed, and tells her she was looking all over for her, and she was worried. Sofia tells Laurie that Josh is right. She failed. Laurie says that he isn’t right. The whole team lost. It wasn’t just about her. Sofia says that Josh hates her, but Laurie says that he doesn’t. Josh is just… he just talks a lot. Josh doesn’t hate her. She’ll see. She’ll go talk to him. Sofia tells her that she can barely talk to the boy as it is, but Laurie agrees, but that’s just about her feelings for him. She can talk about her. That’s easy. She’s her best friend and she wants to fix this for her. As Nori goes into her and Sooraya’s room, Sooraya is reading at her desk and Nori just walks by and lies on her bed. After a moment, Sooraya tells Nori that the New Mutants did very well today, but Nori just says “Oh, please! No pity conversation,” and starts reading.
 In and empty room, Kevin works on his industrial art in front of a window. Cessily enters and tells him that she’s never seen art like that, and asks if he only works with metal. He tells her that it is industrial art, and he’s been doing it for years, but he’s a little busy right now. Cessily leans against the table and tells him that just because she’s a Hellion, it doesn’t make them enemies… and she introduces herself. Kevin just says his name, and then adds that he doesn’t think they are enemies just because she is on that squad. Her advisor is actually pretty cool. He just, he’s in a bad mood right now.
 Cessily looks at him and tells him that she is trying to figure him out. He says it’s no big mystery. Just your average kid with a death touch. She tells him that’s what Julian says… the death touch part. That he kills anything living he touches. She says she saw what he did to the hedge maze. Wow. He tells that Mr. Summers says he has to work with the gardener till it’s fixed. Trust him; a death touch is not cool. She asks if he can’t touch anyone, and he says nope. Cessily tells him that she’s made of metal. Mercury, actually, but not toxic. But her point is… not organic, and she reaches out to him. Kevin jumps back, but she touches his face. As she rests her hand on his cheek, she tells him that he can’t hurt her, but just then, Kevin spots Laurie walk by outside, and Cessily says she’s guessing that wasn’t the touch he was looking for…
 Outside on the basketball court, Josh is playing one-on-one with Victor, and asks him how he likes his new advisor. Victor tells him that Northstar is okay, and he thinks Alpha Squadron is gonna be a cool training squad. Josh tells him a word of advice: make sure they get a good field leader. Nearby, Laurie practices a few ways to start a conversation with Josh, but says no to each one. Just then, Rahne steps outside from the cafeteria, so Josh asks Victor to wait up a sec because there’s something he has to do.
 Josh greets Rahne and asks her if she heard what happened. She says she did, and tells him it’s a tough break, but the semester’s young. New Mutants will bounce back. Josh tells her that he’s frustrated with the way the squad is set up, but if he complains about it, his teammates are gonna get upset. So, he was wondering if they could get together… and maybe he could vent to her. Rahne says that she told him that she is a teacher and he is a student. So if he really wants some advice, she’s happy to talk to him, but if this is his attempt to get her on a date… she has to say no.
 Josh just pretends like he doesn’t care, then turns and calls Laurie, who had been about to walk away. He runs after her and asks if she was waiting to talk to him. She, shyly, asks that yeah, maybe could they talk about this Sofia thing. Josh says absolutely, and suggests that they blow off the cafeteria and go get some dinner in Salem Center tonight. They could talk there. Alone. Laurie repeats the “alone” part, and agrees with a smile. Josh says that’s great, and looks over his shoulder to say then it’s a date, making Rahne turn away angrily. As Laurie and Josh walk along happily, they pass the window to the room where Cessily and Kevin are sitting, Kevin watching Josh and Laurie glumly, and Cessily watching Kevin glumly.
 As Scott works in his office, Emma telepathically tells him that dinner is being served, and she and the students are in the cafeteria. Scott smiles and tells her that he’ll be there in a minute, but as he leaves his office, Victor comes running down the hall calling his name. Scott asks him what’s wrong, and Victor explains that there’s some guy from the F.B.I. here to see him. In the cafeteria, Josh tells Sofia and David that they won’t be eating with them tonight… they’re headed into town… getting dinner alone. Sofia is a bit surprised, but Laurie tells them that it’s just to talk, and tells the she’ll see them later.
 As Kevin enters the cafeteria with Cessily, he thanks her for an offer, but tells her that her friends won’t want to eat with him. Not only is he a New Mutant, but he’s also lethal. Cessily tells him to let her handle it, and says it’ll be fine. As the two of them arrive at the table, Cessily asks them if they all know Kevin Ford, but Santo, Julian, and Brian seem less that happy to have him joining there table, and Julian asks Cessily if he can have a word with her. As they step aside, Julian asks her if she is crazy or something, but she explains that he’s lonely. He’s different and she’s the only one he doesn’t have to worry about touching… but he’s always really careful. She then adds quietly that she kind of likes him, so Julian agrees, saying that is for her, making her smile.
 Nearby, Sofia tells David that she is a terrible leader. Every table here is a squad… hers is just her and David. David says he’s a little worried about Kevin, but otherwise there’s nothing personal. The guys are on a date and Noriko’s working at the Grind Stone. Sofia says that, no matter the reasons, no one is eating with her, and says she worries they are angry about today. David tells her she is reading way too much into one dinner. She’s being too emotional about this. Sofia tells him that she is too emotional about everything. That is why she is a terrible leader.
 Dani tells Shan and Rahne that she doesn’t get why Kevin isn’t spending time with her kids. They’re his squad-mates! Emma arrives and sits down, and explains that he’s interested in her young Wallflower, and she has just left on a date. Dani says that he barely knows Laurie. Last time he was here it was only for a week. Emma tells her that she showed him his worst fear—killing Laurie. Maybe it was a crush back then, but he’s been thinking about that vision for the last few months; thinking about her. This, like Kevin’s other problems, is entirely Dani’s doing.
 Just then, Scott calls Emma, and she turns and asks what it is, what’s wrong. With Scott is a man in a suit and tie, and Scott tells Emma that he is Agent Pierce with the Metahuman crime division of the F.B.I. Pierce then tells them that he is here to arrest Kevin Ford for the murder of his father.


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Choosing Sides - part 5: Above the Law
The grounds of the Xavier Institute: Josh ‘Jay’ Guthrie is enjoying the evening and stretching his wings. Below him, he sees a figure dressed from head to toe in black crossing the square and carrying a tray of food. It is Sooraya Quadir, who, next to Jay, is the latest addition to the Hellions.
Jay swoops down to greet her and asks whether she is eating alone. Sooraya explains that she doesn’t eat in mixed company, as it would require for her to take off her hood. Does it bother her that he is talking to her, he asks. He doesn’t bother her, she replies, but she is not used to talking to men alone. It is not her custom. And why isn’t he eating with their squad? Jay confides that he isn’t a fan of their little Hellions squad. Particularly of their esteemed leader, Julian. Dust agrees.
It’s a beautiful night for flying, Jay points out and offers to take her for a ride. Sooraya politely declines. Wishing her a nice night, Jay takes to the air again. From above he sees several black limousines parked before the school gate. That can’t be good, he figures.
Inside the headmasters’ office, Dani Moonstar, Kevin Ford’s advisor, introduces F.B.I. agent Justin Pierce to the boy, adding that the agent has some questions regarding his father’s death. Kevin refuses to say anything. Pierce assures him he intends to help, but Kevin doesn’t believe him.
Co-headmaster Scott Summers chimes in, pointing out that Kevin may not understand the gravity of the situation. Co-headmaster Emma Frost disagrees. Besides, Kevin has the right to say nothing. That right does apply for mutants as well as baseline humans, doesn’t it? she asks Pierce pointedly. Pierce agrees, but the same goes for the laws regarding the death of another person, accidental or otherwise.
Emma lays her hand on the boy’s shoulder and assures him he doesn’t have to say anything, if he doesn’t wish to. Ushering him out of the room, she tells him they will discuss this with Agent Pierce and see if they can take care of it. Cyclops tells her that they need to present an unified front on this. That would be impossible, considering they clearly don’t agree, Emma shoots back.
Pierce assures Emma that he is not the enemy. But he needs to know what happened in Atlanta between Kevin and his father. He has his theories, but he needs to talk to the boy. Really? Emma scoffs pointing an accusatory finger at Pierce. A theory? He? An F.B.I. agent who has never dealt with mutation? She orders him to tell her his theory.
Pierce replies that he thinks that Kevin has a dangerous mutation. And, when it manifested, he couldn’t control it. He thinks Kevin’s father died by accident. Is he close? Very close, Scott agrees. What can they do to make things better for Kevin? Kevin has to come with him, Pierce explains. This needs to be handled officially. By the law.
So he is there to arrest Kevin all his promises that he is on the boy’s side notwithstanding, Emma rants. He fled the state, Pierce point out. He should have turned himself in and told the truth. Does he think a grand jury of his peers will dismiss the charge? Emma asks scornfully. What world does he live in?
Dani, who has listened to the exchange, quietly chimes in, telling Emma this was her fault. She brought Kevin to the school months ago, instead of telling the authorities. And she was right to do so, Emma commends her. It is most unlikely a mutant would receive a fair trial. Dani knew that at the time and brought him there.
Pierce turns to Dani as Kevin’s advisor, asking her to tell him to cooperate. Looking at Emma, Dani replies that she can’t do that. And she hopes the school won’t cooperate either.
An arcade in Salem Center. Josh Foley is playing a video game, watched by the admiring Laurie Collins. After boasting a bit, Josh asks her what she was saying and Laurie explains that, from what her mom told her, Laurie’s dad uses his pheromone powers to make people do what he wants. She doesn’t want to be like that. When she came to school she didn’t have her powers under control, so it was easier to avoid everybody.
A group of local high school jocks begin to eye the pair critically, as Josh reminds Laurie that she has her powers under control now. A girl like her doesn’t need pheromones. She’s cute! She should be dating.
Laurie looks disappointed and Josh realizes his faux pas. This is a date. And there he goes, telling her to hit on other boys. Is this a date? Laurie asks. Sure, why not, Josh replies, forgetting his game until he has lost. Laurie apologizes. Josh takes her by the arm and tells her this is a terrible place for a first date. They should go somewhere else.
The two jocks block his way, asking what he thinks he is doing and calling him freak. What gives him the right to come in here and put his mutie hands on a nice-looking normal girl? A hairy-clawed hand taps one of the jocks on the shoulder and a voice suggests they take off. They turn around to see Wolfsbane in her bestial transitional form. She waves after them playfully as they run.
How did she find him, Josh asks. She knows his scent, Rahne replies. He just bets she does, Josh replies aggressively. And she just had to come and interrupt his date, didn’t she? Rahne tells him not to flatter himself. This is about their teammate Kevin. He is in big trouble.
The Grindstone coffee bar in Salem Center. Dani enters and asks her student, Noriko, who works there whether her shift is over before curfew. Noriko assures her that her shift is pretty much over and notes that Dani looks terrible. She offers her some coffee.
Dani takes the cup and sits down at a table, only to be joined by Justin Pierce who informs her to forget the donuts. In law enforcement, the most important thing is a good cup of coffee. May he sit down? She can’t stop him, Dani replies coolly. Justin assures her she s wrong. He really knows how to charm a woman, she replies wryly. Does he have kids? she asks him. She has a group of students who rely on her. She brought Kevin to Xavier’s when he had no place else to go. How is she supposed to turn him over and watch him be tortured? People are afraid of them and this particular mutation is only going to make things worse.
They are afraid, Justin agrees, but if her school shields Kevin, then they are saying mutants are above the law. And then they’ll have every reason to be afraid. The death of Kevin’s father was a horrible accident and Kevin’s the one who suffered the most for it. He doesn’t deserve to be punished. Pierce knows that and believes the law will reach the same conclusion. He’s asking her to trust him. He’ll take care of Kevin.
In the meantime, Norko, who has been watching them, leaves at superspeed.
Dani admits that her connection with Kevin is… tenuous as it is. He might not listen to her. If he doesn’t, he’ll have to come and arrest him, Pierce replies. That could make things worse for mutants everywhere. He asks her to think about it.
Soon on the grounds of the Institute, Sofia uses her powers to peer over the wall at the F.B.I. agents stationed outside, while also eavesdropping on their conversation with her control over the wind. She hears several agents express their impatience and their desire to just take Kevin that night.
She tells the others that some of those agents aren’t as sympathetic as agent Pierce. She asks David if he can tell them anything. David has picked up all sorts of F.B.I. procedures from the men’s minds. They are probably using standard deployment to watch and contain. If that’s the case, there’s probably just a single car guarding the gate by the stables.
The kids start moving towards the stables, with David expressing some doubts to Sofia. They could be facing serious trouble. Then why is he telling them the best escape route? Kevin demands. Because Sofia asked him to and she’s in charge, David retorts. But he doesn’t know if this is such a good idea. Noriko adds that he didn’t hear what she heard at the Grind Stone. Dani’s under some major pressure. Laurie agrees. She doesn’t want anything bad to happen to Kevin.
They have reached the gate and Sofia assures Kevin they will take care of him. They are not just walking through the gate, are they? David asks. They’ll be spotted in a second. Sofia reveals that she will take Kevin over the fence with her wind and Nori offers to distract the men. She throws lightning bolts past the car. Frightened, the agent asks for back up, as he looks at the result of the blast.
In the meantime, Sofia lifts up herself and Kevin over the wall. As they land, a voice orders them to stop. It is Agent Pierce, his weapon drawn.
 Dani comes running towards them, shouting at him not to shoot. Pierce protests that Kevin was trying to leave campus. Dani makes excuses. She is sure that the kids just planned a late night trip to the Grind Stone, isn’t she right? Sofia agrees. Pierce leaves reminding Dani of what they talked about earlier.
Dani asks Sofia and Kevin to come with her. Joining the others, she informs them that they just made a horrible mistake. Nobody wants Kevin to get into may trouble. Good to hear, he states tonelessly. Dani continues that this is an issue for the school and for Kevin. The others can’t involve themselves. They will only make things worse. Sofia puts her foot down. Kevin is part of the squad and therefore their responsibility. David advises her not to be so emotional. Sofia snaps back that she will not apologize for this. That is who she is and she is team leader. He didn’t want the job, after all. She strides away angrily, followed by Laurie. Kevin glumly remarks that he really knows who to bring the house down. Dani stresses this is not his fault.
The next morning, Kevin goes through his school day, only too aware that he is the object of everyone’s scrutiny, as his fellow students whisper about his father’s death and his death touch. In the cafeteria, instead of joining the New Mutants at their table, he ignores Laurie’s invitation and walks towards an empty table.
Over at the Hellions’ table, Cecily pities him and Julian Keller agrees. The whole school is talking about Kevin. Santo wryly points out that up till yesterday they were talking about him. He’s dangerous. Brian Cruz agrees, adding that they should stay clear of Kevin. Julian has had it. Stepping up on the table, he shouts at everyone to listen up.
He tells the others they’ve been gossiping about a classmate possibly going to jail. They should be ashamed. He’s a mutant just like them. Some flatscan from the F.B.I. shows up, claiming he is dangerous and they believe it? They are all dangerous. They are the next step in evolution and others want to shut them down and all they can do is gossip. He tells them to take a good look at Kevin because he could be them.
Kevin starts to smile weakly, as Hellion continues his rant. He turns to a flameheaded boy named Ben, reminding him that his first power manifestation torched his town park. Did they send him to jail? If Kevin goes, he might be next.
He reminds them how Noriko was homeless and robbed a coffee shop. They come for her yet?
He tells a boy named Dallas how his grandfather had a heart attack when he went into his shadow form. And Sofia trashed her dad’s store. She got to avoid jail because she came there. This is the place they go to be safe and all they can do is gossip. They are terrible mutants. They are not fit to be called homo superior.
Who thought Julian had it in him, David comments. Josh adds that he though a lot of this makes sense, whereas Sofia wryly asks whether that speech reminds them of speeches someone else made before he tried to wipe out humanity?
Later, Kevin has been called to Dani’s office and she asks what happened in the cafeteria. He explains that Julian showed his support. He didn’t know he was such a good guy. Julian is wrong, Dani argues. They can’t put themselves outside society and its laws. Kevin gets agitated as Dani continues. The school will do anything to help him through this. He didn’t do anything wrong, he protests. He loved his dad. She knows that, Dani assures him and the sooner they make that clear to the authorities, the sooner this will be over and he can come back. This is the only way to resolve this. Kevin walks away telling her he hates her.
Somewhat later, Agent Pierce leads Kevin away, watched by Dani, the headmasters, the New Mutants, Hellion and Mercury.
A little later, the Hellions have a meeting, the objective of which causes their newest member, Jay Guthrie, to burst out that this is insane. They can’t do this. Julian reminds him that he is in charge of this squad. Tag, Mercury and Rockslide agree. Dust does not but defers to Julian, as he is their leader. Jay protests that she doesn’t have to do this. Yes, she does, Sooraya replies calmly. Well, he doesn’t, Icarus decides as he walks out on them.
Hellion smirks, announcing that he knows where they can get some extra firing power. A little later, he knocks on Sofia’s door. ‘Hey beautiful, how you doing,’ he asks lazily. Not good, Sofia replies, explaining that Laurie is upset about Kevin. They all are but she cannot find her. How about he fix her problem, Hellion suggests and explains that they are going to take Kevin back from the F.B.I.. By force. So, is she in? Yes, Sofa decides. She is.


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Choosing Sides - part 6: Battle Lines
Noriko Ashida opens the door to the room she shares with her roommate, Sooraya aka Dust, pleased to find that her roommate, whom she considers a freak, isn’t around. At least that way she can listen to her music.
Suddenly, somebody taps against her window. Nori is surprised seeing as how the room is on the third floor. She opens the window to find Jay Guthrie outside, who informs her that his squad is getting into trouble. The kind that could bring the whole school down.
Outside on the grounds, Laurie Collins is tossing pebble into a lake when Jay looks her up too, telling her that her teammates are looking for her. He calls the three of them, Noriko, David Alleyne and Josh Foley, over. New Mutants meeting, he announces. But he is a Hellion, Laurie points out. Making a face, Jay tells her not to remind him.
Once the others have gathered, he explains that the Hellions intend to help Kevin. Good, Laurie announces forcefully. Somebody should help him. He didn’t do anything wrong. Nobody said he did, Jay replies, but it isn’t their decision to make. Plus, he’s been arrested by the F.B.I., David adds - which means Julian is leading his squad into a battle with the US government, Josh states. And people call him impulsive.
Noriko suggests she could race down to the station to stop them, but David is against the idea. They could make things worse. Besides, Sofia is their squad leader. She should be informed. That’s not possible, Jay reveals. Julian got Sofia to help them. She’s with the Hellions now.
Not too far away, Julian telekinetically flies his squad towards the station, while Sofia flies under her own power. What is their plan, she asks. Nice not to be in charge anymore, huh? he leers. She would very much like to lead one day, Sofia defends herself, but the New Mutants did not trust her, so she did not trust herself. Julian tells her to let him do the planning. They’ll scope the train station. If they get a chance with Kevin away from Agent Pierce, they’ll snag him quietly. Nobody will see. And if they cannot sneak him away, Sofia asks. Then they put down the F.B.I. hard, Julian decides.
Nearby, on the mansion grounds, Elixir informs an incredulous Rahne Sinclair. She becomes more incredulous when he assures her that the New Mutants mean to stop the Hellions and she warns him that they should let the X-Men handle this. They want to do this themselves, as Sofia is with the Hellions, he explains. Then why come to her, Rahne asks. He hints that she could help and she forcefully tells him that he figured wrong.
A little farther away, the other New Mutants and Icarus are waiting. Laurie jealously wonders why Josh had to involve her, while David asks her to let him handle talking to Sofia when they catch the others. They are going to need Laurie’s powers. Plus, a part of this is about David and the squad leadership. Rahne, in the meantime, explains that she cannot help them break the rules. Josh leaves and asks her not to tell the faculty.
Within Salem Center station, Agent Pierce tries to reach out to Kevin by offering to take off his handcuffs. Kevin angrily tells him that, when his powers developed, they killed his father. The one person who truly cared about him and he has to stand trial for this as though he wanted to do it. Pierce assures him he won’t be convicted. Refusing to listen, Kevin enters the bathroom. Seeing the tiny windows, he realizes there’s no escape through there.
Suddenly, a voice tells him to cheer up, as the Hellion Mercury pools her liquid form through the window and informs him that the Hellions are going to bust him out once he steps away from the wall.
She returns to the others and gushes about their new costumes. Finally, she can use her powers and not wind up naked. Julian Keller explains that he is going to take down the wall and warns the others that they have to move fast. They have to be prepared to take on the F.B.I. if necessary.
Now that’s a really bad plan, a voice suddenly announces. The New Mutants have arrived. From within the station, Kevin watches events unfold through the tiny windows.
Sofia is incredulous that the Mutants are there to stop them. Julian remarks that this fight has been brewing for some time.
At Xavier’s, Dani informs Emma and Scott that she has hired Evangeline Whedon as Kevin’s lawyer. She thinks she has a shot at getting charges dismissed if Pierce cooperates. Emma muses that Kevin’s chances would be better still if she used a little mind control on the judge… or maybe agent Piece …
Scott protests: they don’t work that way. Emma scoffs that they both have too much faith in human authorities. While this is a charming trait in Scott, Dani at least always struck her as more practical. Practically speaking, Dani replies, if they remove themselves from the law, they will never get its protection later on. Their discussion is interrupted by Rahne, who has something urgent to tell them.
Back, outside the station, Julian smirks announcing when are they going to learn that his telekinesis is too powerful for them? They won’t have to if he doesn’t get to use it, Josh shouts as he tackles him. Rockslide separates his hand from his body and sends it after Elixir but misses. Moments later, he starts crying – traumatized - a victim of Laurie’s pheromones.
Elsewhere David confronts Sofia, asking why she is doing this. Sofia lashes out, asking if this is another lecture about her being too impulsive and a bad leader? He never said that, David retorts. He was willing to follow her. She is the heart of their team. That’s why they are all here – to keep her out of trouble.
Sofia hesitates and admits she doesn’t know what to do about Kevin. She felt as if she had to act and nobody would tell her what to do. Except for Julian. She didn’t know because there is no easy answer, David points out. She’s not a bad leader for seeing that this situation is screwed up. Julian is a bad leader because he thinks it is simple.
Tag attempts to take David out from behind but Icarus grabs him first and deposits him on the top if a tree over Brian’s protests of “traitor”.
Elsewhere, Noriko confronts her Hellion roommate, Dust, who doesn’t want to fight. Surge, however, is spoiling for a battle. She has had enough of Sooraya always doing what other people tell her to, whether it is wearing a burqua or fighting the F.B.I.. She zaps Sooraya with her electric bolts and the other girl turns into her Dust shape.
Unsure, Mercury changes her arm into a blade and threatens that she won’t let them take Kevin. She orders Elixir to get off Hellion. With Elixir distracted, Julian gets his bearings and telekinetically levitates Josh away.
Wind Dancer catches him with her winds. She tells David that she is with the team, but he has to lead. David orders Laurie to keep on using her pheromones to keep Rockslide out. Then, Noriko and Sofia are to change targets. Sofia disperses Dust, allowing her winds to take the girl back to campus over Julian’s protests, while Noriko zaps Mercury, recalling that the element mercury is an excellent conductor of electricity.
Nori asks David id he wants her to fry the ‘creep’ – Julian. Hellion haughtily tells her to keep out; this is between the leaders. He challenges David, who is tempted but retorts that a good leader knows how to delegate. As if on cue Jay comes up from behind and knocks Julian out.
Inside the station, Pierce asks the other agents to check on Kevin, who is still in the bathroom while he takes a look outside. The wind sounds pretty severe. That moment, Dani comes running in, demanding to talk to him about Kevin’s case.
Inside the bathroom, the agents ask Kevin to come with them and he complies. Dani informs him that she’s been talking to Agent Pierce and has arranged for a lawyer. She thinks he’ll be fine. Bitterly, he asks her to leave him alone. He has to go to jail now.
Outside, Josh has recovered and asks what he missed. Not much, David replies. He thinks they’ve won. Now that’s what he wants to hear, Josh replies. Why couldn’t this be a field day exercise?
Field Day? an enraged Cyclops asks, who has just arrived with Emma Frost and Rahne. He continues that they will be lucky to ever get out of the main building again. Emma addresses her charges, the Hellions, and announces that they are all in deep trouble. She understands their motives, but this was disastrously stupid.
Cyclops addresses the New Mutants, telling them they did well to stop the Hellions. But it would have all been for nothing, had the F.B.I. seen them, which they were seconds away from doing. They should have brought his to the X-Men’s attention. He knows that some of them think there is not much of a difference between them and the faculty. Some of them aren’t much older than the students. But they have years of training. Josh angrily looks at Rahne.
Later, on the mansion grounds, Noriko looks for Sooraya at superspeed. The Afghani girl finally peeks out from between the bushes, asking for Nori’s help. She cannot go back to Dust form at the moment and she has no clothes. Nori hands her her Burqua. Sooraya thanks her and Nori informs her it was Jay’s idea. He also figured it’d be better if a girl brought it.
Nori continues that Sooraya’s squad is in serious trouble. The New Mutants are getting detention but the Hellions are getting big time punishment. As is fair, Sooraya replies. They were wrong to take the law into their own hands. Noriko states that she doesn’t understand her. She breaks the law on Julian’s order, but won’t make the run back to the dorm naked. Would she have, Sooraya asks. Absolutely, Nori replies. It is her body. All the others can do is look. Sooraya replies that is why she understands Noriko as little as she does her.
The Criminal Courts building, Atlanta, Georgia, two weeks later:
Kevin’s lawyer Evangeline Whedon asks for the charges to be dismissed. They have already submitted testimony from experts on mutation that conclude that Kevin’s power was uncontrollable. The investigating officer has ruled that the death of Kevin’s father was accidental. The boy shouldn’t’ be punished. He s best served attending a school where he can learn to control his power. Agent Pierce agrees that he has ruled the death accidental. The state does not oppose the motion and charges are dismissed.
Dani gives Emma a suspicious look, considering how well everything is going, and Emma assures her she had nothing to do with this.
While Kevin thanks his lawyer, Emma and Dani walk up to Pierce, and Emma admits that it has never been such a pleasure to be proven wrong. She assures him he will always have friends at the Xavier Institute. She takes Kevin by the arm and walks him outside. He looks back at Dani and Pierce but says nothing.
That’s gratitude for you, Pierce observes. He’s just a teenager, Dani defends Kevin. She’s grateful, for what it’s worth. It’s worth a lot, he replies and asks her out on a date the next time he’s in town. Surprised, she agrees.
Later in Cyclops’ office, Icarus and Wither wish to be reassigned. Kevin wants to be a Hellion. When he was in that train station, he learned who was looking out for him and it wasn’t the New Mutants. It wasn’t Ms. Moonstar.
Jay remarks that he’d like to be a New Mutant if there is an opening. Emma assures Kevin that he belongs with them, while Dani welcomes Jay and reminds him that his brother was a New Mutant once, too.
On their way to the Danger Room, David once more brings up the leadership issue to Sofa. She insists that he is better suited for the job. He replies that he is the brains of this outfit, but she is the heart and soul. The old New Mutants had two leaders. They can do the same. She is a better people-person than him anyway. Sofia agrees and tells the team that, as her leader, her instructions are to do what David says.
Later, Josh pays a visit to Rahne in her office. He accuses her of avoiding him and tells her he is angry. He asked her not to tell the faculty and she did. Rahne jumps up and forcefully tells him to get it through his head. She didn’t tell the faculty. She is the faculty. He’s a student and she is a teacher. Suddenly, he kisses her. Moments later, she responds.