Roger discovered at an early age that he was a mutant. He was always picked on in school by bullies and the other kids because of his home life. It was then that he got a real taste for how evil these “humans” could be. Even before he learned he was a mutant he felt that he was different from the rest of these sheep. They were nothing to him and deserved little more than his disdain.

Then, when the glorious day of discovering his mutant heritage came, Roger realized that he was indeed better than them all. With the ability to surround himself in a sphere of impenetrable energy (which also deflected back anything that dared to touch it with double the force), Roger was never picked on again. It was also then that he learned just how frail humans were. With frailty came weakness and weakness in no way should be allowed to rule.

That was his basis for his current beliefs. He was better than humans, all humans, and would always be. And there was nothing that they could do about it.

That was why he was so confident right now. He knew that he would be able to grab Penelope and leave without anyone here doing anything to stop him. Not her sister, not the crowd, not the police, no one was going to stand in his way.

Gripping the squirming mass of little girl who struggled, Roger sighed. He hoped that Penelope was not so poisoned that she would hold this against him. No, if she were anything like her parents that definitely shouldn’t be a problem. She would see he was right. Of course she would.

“Come on, Penny,” the man said through his teeth, holding her close. “Stop making a fuss and let’s go.”

“No.”

Roger rolled his eyes again. “Damn it, Penelope, enough! I said I’m not allowing your parents wis—“

“HehehahAEHAEHEHEHAHEAEHAEH!!!!”

Roger looked visibly disturbed by the laughter. His hold on Penelope weakened as he looked around for the source of it. When he realized just how close it was, he had to look down and was shocked by what he saw. Penelope had indeed stopped struggling but she had turned to face him directly; but the expression on her face was most definitely not her own. It was the demeanor of something that most certainly was not Penelope Peyton Pepper…

“What…?” he started to ask.

“Hehahaheheeha!!!”[/b] Penelope’s face twisted into that of someone with pure malevolence. “You totally F***** with the wrong mutant!!”

Roger instantly released Penelope. Her pores were bleeding! It looked as if she were going to collapse into a pile of blood! So shocking was it that he had to back away, inadvertently freeing her from his invisible sphere of protection. With her now outside of it, Roger watched in shock as, the very second she crossed the threshold—FLASH-KOOM!!!

“ARRGGH!!!” the young girl were flying, sailing through the air until she slammed hard into a nearby wall.

“Penelope!!” both Roger and Lilith cried in unison. But quickly ran to the girl’s aid, little realizing the transformation that had already begun…

Penelope growled as she felt the red ooze pouring out of her skin and starting to congeal over her entire body. She had barely felt the effects of Roger’s abilities but it did leave her head just a tad bit woozy. She never would have guessed that he had such a strong power as that. But it didn’t matter to Penelope anymore. Her mind slipped further away into the dark recesses while yet another personality began to take over.

One more…suited for the occasion.

The sound of footsteps running closer echoed in her ears, but she didn’t care. Instead her body was too focused on the solidifying of red ooze and the carving out of a dense, firm musculature that even the most athletic would envy. But the seconds passed and before long, in the place where there was once a young, frail looking girl, instead was a much larger and powerful looking woman.

Skin as red as blood and black hair hanging down loosely over her shoulders, the yellow eyed woman snarled as she arched her back and slowly pushed herself up onto her feet. Both Lilith and Roger had come to a quick stop once they released what had happened. Lilith herself cried and shook her head; she didn’t trust Jezebel’s mindset when she was around other mutant supremacists. Roger, on the other hand, was completely at a loss for words. Never had he imagined that Penelope could look so…strong!

But, of course, this was not Penelope. Penelope ceased to exist the moment the transformation was complete. Instead, all that remained, was—

“W-What are you?” Roger asked in proud surprise.

“Mrs. Jezebel Tickle.”[/b] Jezebel answered with a grin. Fist clenched and raised back, she gave Roger a quick wink and a kiss. “And you just made the wrong little girl angry!!”[/b]

A snap and her arm shot forward, aimed directly for Roger’s jaw.

FLASH-KOOM!!![/b]

Jezebel fumbled backwards, her arm nearly shooting out of the socket as she felt her fist fly directly backwards, thanks to the force at which Roger’s shield deflected her. Stumbling away from the man, Jezebel was lucky that she was not completely knocked off of her feet. Thankfully her physiology was strong enough to take the impact and still keep her standing.

But that didn’t mean that her bell wasn’t rung.

Growling a little at the numbness that momentarily filled her head, Jezebel squinted as she attempting to keep her focus on the white-haired man that stood away from her. Tilting her head to the side, cracked her neck before reaching out and cracking her knuckles.

A challenge. Good. She liked a challenge.

“Jezebel?” Lilith muttered in a confused manner.

Roger, though, smirked and laughed. “Hahah! Yes! I knew it! I knew the child of Hellfyre and Goldfox would be a force to be reckoned with!!”

Jezebel arched a brow in confusion. Why the hell was this man talking so stupidly? She shook her head as she made ready to strike the man again; after all, he did try to steal away Penelope.

“You…are a bonafide nutjob!”[/b] Jezebel smirked. “But…you’re a challenge.”[/b]

Jezebel kept a healthy distance between both herself and Roger. She was trying to figure out how to get close to him since it seemed like a full front attack was obviously out of the question. The repercussions of that last punch were still fresh and shaken throughout Jezebel’s body but try as she might to keep that in mind, all she wanted to do was launch herself at the madman. How dare he come here in order to take Penelope away from New York; there was still too much left to destroy!!\

With a grumble she cracked her neck as she glared at the man.

“You should know better than to lay your hands on a lady like that,”[/b] she grinned. “You mess with the bull, you get the horns!!”[/b]

Uncle Roger, though clearly facing down an angry creature, showed absolutely no signs of being afraid. Why should he? It was obvious that his mutation offered him a perfect defense. Instead he was more awestruck by the power he saw displayed her.

“Jezebel? L-Look at you,” he grinned. “You’re beautiful! See? You need to come with me. You can’t stay in this place any longer, surrounded by these vermin. You’re talents are going to waste. Give up on this place and come back to D.C.”

Jezebel rolled her eyes. “Listen, sweetheart, no one makes me do anything I don’t want to do. Penelope already said she is staying and I go with her. So why don’t you turn around and march your butt out of my city?”[/b]

Roger smirked as he slowly shook his head. “You’re just blind, Jezebel. You don’t know what D.C. has to offer. I can show you to your own kind. You don’t have to hide in that little girl anymore, you won’t have to protect her from these vermin. Don’t let her or her irrational attachments hold you back.”

Jezebel blinked. Slowly she began to ease her stance until she no longer appeared as threatening. The look on her face was inquiring since it was obvious that this man was planning things that Jezebel would have indeed loved. To no longer have to worry about Penelope and their connection, to be able to be around their own kind and not have to worry about the human scum; it was all like heaven. She certainly wished she could visit such a paradise.

Roger had obviously struck a chord with the Jezebel personality. He was not entirely sure how Penelope’s power worked, but it was painfully clear that this Jezebel was a far different personality than Penelope’s was. On top of that, she almost seemed to like hearing most of what he had to say. That, of course, worked out perfectly. All he had to do was convince her and he could whisk them both away and back to D.C.

But he had to keep up the talk.

“Jezebel…” he said gently. “I don’t want to fight you. Mutants shouldn’t fight one another. We need to unite. We need to join together and stop the human influx. That is why you need to come with me to D.C. Not only will Penelope be safe, but you will be able to do something for the mutant cause.”

Jezebel blinked and slowly turned her gaze back to face him. She had been mulling over everything that he had said so far with interest. But she was even more perked up now by the idea that she could do more for mutants everywhere if she just went with him. Isn’t that was Penelope’s parents always wanted?

“Come along, Jezebel,” Roger said imploringly as he slowly walked up to her, offering his hand. “Let’s go and do the work what Penelope’s parents started…”

…

“Okay.”[/b] Jezebel reached out and carefully slid her hand into the Roger’s. She stepped closer until they were standing directly next to one another.

“Jezebel!! No!!” Lilith screamed. She shook her head as tears filled her eyes.

“Eradicate the unevolved one,” Roger’s whispered. “Prove that you are ready for this. Cut all ties to humanity and we can go.”

Jezebel!! No!!!

Shut up, Penelope!

Y-You promised!! You said you wouldn’t hurt her!!

I said to be quiet, Penelope. This is for the best.

No! You don’t get to decide that! Jezebel Tickle, you are MY powers! Not the other way around! I’m not going to let you hurt my sister!!

You can’t stop me. I could if I wanted to.

You’ve no right! I trusted you!!

You need to learn…you can’t trust everyone.

MRS. TICKLE!!!!

The proclamation rang in Jezebel’s ears. It was the type of thing that she had been looking forward to doing for ages. Finally freeing herself from the disgusting humanity that Lilith Pepper represented. If it was not for her, Penelope would have given up long ago on humans and Jezebel herself would have probably had a constant, free-reign over the body. But that damn, goodie human ruined everything by stepping up and taking Penelope under her wing. Who asked her to? No one, that’s who. She should have just kept her big nose out the whole affair!

But she did. And now Jezebel was stuck, standing there, watching this human rat sniffling and crying like a mess as she watched the baby sister that Jezebel held within her was getting ready to disappear from her life. Just watching that sniveling, crying face made Jezebel’s stomach turn.

God she hated humans.

But somewhere, in the back of her mind, was that tiny tickle; that tiny spot that egged on her and told her that she couldn’t do this. Penelope. Penelope certainly was a lot more strong-willed than she initially imagined.

What was a giant red Amazon to do?

“Go on,” nudged Roger. “Just finish the woman off so we can go. We can’t leave anyone to know who Penelope really is. Beside’s she’s just a human. What does she matter to anyone?”

…

“She matters…”[/b] Jezebel whispered before suddenly turning on her heel and seizing Roger roughly by the throat. Since she was inside of his shield, there was no way to deflect her move. “…to Penelope.”[/b]

“ARRCK!” Roger gasped, wide eyed and staring at the sudden movement of Jezebel’s. Apparently it was a move he was not expecting and was especially shocked since Jezebel had seemed like she was truly listening to his words. Where did he go wrong?! “Jezebel!! W-W-What…?”

Through his choked voice, Roger flailed as he attempted to get some control over the situation. He struggled and attempted to both contract and expand his shield around them, trying to somehow dislodge Jezebel from his body. But the woman had too good of a grip and was far too close to just be jettisoned off like the rest of the objects littered around him normally would. It definitely seemed as if Roger was caught in a hard place.

“Jeze…bel! S-S-Stop!! C-Can’t….breathee!!” he begged.

Jezebel smirked as she pulled him even closer, her massive fist still squeezing his throat as if it were nothing more than a toothpaste tube she were trying to get the last bit out of. His flails began to gradually weaken as darkness took over his eyes. But, Jezebel was going to be more merciful than that. After all…he was a mutant.

“Sorry, sweetie,”[/b] Jezebel muttered as she whispered in his ear. “I promised Penelope. But…don’t worry. I won’t let you suffer any more.”[/b]

SNAPP!!!

A lifeless body hanging in her grip, Jezebel dropped the man into a heap as she felt the shield of his contract further and further until it collapsed around his body. Disappearing from view completely, Jezebel sighed as she stepped away from the dead man and turned her attention back to the surprised Lilith Pepper.

Arching her brow, Jezebel spit in the ground in Lilith’s direction.

“This changes nothing between us.”[/b]

In the blackness at the back of her mind, Penelope could see nothing of what transpired between Jezebel and her Uncle Roger. She had tried to hold on, tried to exert even the smallest amount of influence in order to get Jezebel to stop before she hurt Lilith. But in the end, like always, it was like swimming upstream without any arms. No matter how hard and passionately Penelope flailed against Jezebel’s poisonous influence, in the end, Penelope always succumbed.

So in darkness she waited. Sleeping soundlessly as she tried to wait patiently for Jezebel’s return. How long would it be this time? Few hours? Maybe a day or two? Who knows what sort of mess that Jezebel would cause in that amount of time.

Sigh. She had made a deal with Jezebel. A honest deal and Jezebel had even agreed. But it seemed that it was all for nothing. She should have known better than to trust that wom—

GAASSP!!

With a sudden start Penelope opened her eyes and awoke. Sitting up from the ground, she looked around to see that she was still inside the zoo! Even most of the people that were mulling about still looked familiar while others had gone. What happened? Did Jezebel really just come back willingly?

“Penelope!”

She looked up to see Lilith running to her side. Suddenly she felt those arms wrap around her and Penelope sniffled as she hugged back. Out of the corner of her eye, though it was blurred with tears, she could see the lifeless body of her Uncle Roger. Though she was not 100% sure what happened, in back of her mind she did know. So, with her face buried in her sister’s shoulder, Penelope sniffled once more before whispering Thank you in the back of her mind.

As sad as it was to lose Roger, she sincerely did hope that Jezebel knew how thankful she was…