The X-Project

To: [Nathan]
From: [Beaubier, Jean-Paul]
Subject: This Doesn't Count

Nathan,

Given how quickly news travels in our circle, it's possible that you've heard by now that Scott, Garrison, and myself went to investigate a string of disappearances involving mutant children. We did manage to retrieve them from the group that abducted them, a pack of well-meaning idiots -- think the mutant equivalent of PETA's free-range pets idea, only not half as well thought through. The kids are in decent enough shape overall but in a rough patch emotionally. They had an empath of some sort keeping them mindlessly happy, and his absence seems to have triggered a sort of minor psychic withdrawl. The psi leading the group also put in mental blocks to keep the children from remembering their home lives, but Charles and Jean say they are rudimentary at best, and that there should be no lasting damage.

But the heart of the matter is this: Yes, I am currently in the Medlab lending a hand with a dozen unhappy kids. No, it does not count towards our bet. Until the ninth of next month, this is just part of the job. You only win if I do this sort of thing on my own time.

Here's hoping that Morocco is proving to be less exciting than the homefront.

Jean-Paul