Rebecca wanted some time to process the big changes in her life, but she had to do the right thing first. After her experience at the warehouse, she had hands-on experience with the kind of threat the X-Men needed to be ready to face. She called for all available X-Men and X-Leaders to come to the War Room for a briefing. It was impossible to gather anyone at a given time, but if she filled some of them in, they could spread the word to the others.

When the team was gathered, she gave a run-down of the events her and Kalos experienced at the Well in the warehouse. She was not going to share some of the more personal details like Aoife's betrayal or Kalos' choice to give up her X-Gene. They needed to know about the cult and the powers and plots they had in store, not family drama.

"Sae the long and short ay it is: we're dealin' with a cult usin' anti-mutant sentiment and the gift ay magic tae lure people in." People like Aoife. People, almost, like Kalos.

She did not know how deep the organization ran, but she was able to conclude who two leaders were now. "One ay their leaders has control o'er bodies. Scary control." She still remembered being unable to move, betrayed by her own muscles. "They're able tae turn mutants intae humans. They're able tae turn humans intae Mystics. The other leader is an illusion weaver. Very deceptive and hard tae see through." She hesitated; she should tell the team more, but she did not want to give her sister's name yet.

"We dinnae know how many are recruited intae this, but Ah think it's safe tae assume they're numbers are growin' if they're actin' sae boldly noo." Trying to steal away and X-Man and her daughter was a risky decision. They would not have done that if they only had the dozen or so acolytes Becca saw.

"This is the kind ay threat the X-Men are hear for. I'm nae sure if the whole group hates mutants, but they dae cater tae the fear ay mutants. They preach 'at mutants are cursed," she lamented soberly. "If ye want tae keep mutantkind safe, there's nae time tae wait. Ah want tae help hoo Ah can, but... Ah'm nae sure Ah can dae that as an X-Man anymore."

Team meetings didn’t sit well with Sam. While it was important to plan ahead it also meant that they were about to respond to something instead of actually responding to it right away. It was the ‘War room’ meaning they were going to War. War meant people got hurt. That too didn’t sit well with Sam since he worked too hard to make this place home and he wasn’t willing to lose anyone.

Maybe they’d finally offer to let him just go in to a place after Jorge flooded it. It was an idea Sam proposed often and one that was denied just as often. No one got hurt except those who created the reason for the War Room meeting.

Becca called the meeting however and something seemed, off... even if he didn’t know her as well as he knew some of the other team members he got a suspicion that something was different about her. She usually seemed confident. Now... Sam listened. Keep his comments to the end. Making note of what happened and how it happened. What Maya had told him. Compare the notes.

The air turned cold near Sam as his hands tightened into a fist. This was an attack on his people. His family. Someone had the ability to remove a mutation. Becca was human now. Sam exhaled making it look like a plume of smoke was exiting his lips. The icemancer was ready to salt the earth. He didn’t know if he was feeling guilt for not being there to help with the rescue or the fact that his de-aged self thought the world of the woman was no running the meeting.

”.... Why?” he paused and stared at Becca. ”Why can’t you do that as one of us?” he asked deciding he was irritated more with her after her final comment. He wanted a drink. ”You think you can’t be apart of the team now? Why? Someone took you’re abilities away from you? Took advantage of you? Of your kid?” Sam chewed his words for a moment. ”Team is supposed to show we can co-exist. We use our abilities or gifts to inspire. You’re more than your mutation.”

”You are one of us. Powers or no. You got the training, you got the skill. If not you’ll get more, I’ll teach or find you someone who can teach. You’ll tell us who did this. Give us a location. A name.” he paused again for a second. ”I can’t see a team without you.” he said still not sure how she managed to keep his younger self at the mansion. He wasn’t sad he was pissed.

If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. That was how it was with New York City - everything happened here first. One would think that a seasoned police officer would be used to it, but these really weren’t things that you got used to. Possessed Halloween costumes, evil dopplegangers, crazed robots, split realities, it seemed that anything and everything could happen here. How does one prepare for that?

Jorge sat in the War Room, his expression neutral as he listened to Becca’s story. He could feel the shift in the air the second he walked into the room. Being around her and her magnetic abilities left kind of a funny taste in his fillings. It was subtle but just enough for him to recognize when he was around her. Now it was different. There was no odd sensations, no strange taste, just a somber-looking redhead recounting a tale - a tale in which part of herself was taken away with no possibility of return.

It saddened the watermancer, truly it did. But he knew better than to say anything until the right time. In his years working as an officer he dealt with all manner of people who had something taken away from them. It was not his place to say anything until the right moment.

Sam, however, seemed more than willing to step in and speak his mind. Jorge turned to Sam as the ice-mutant visibly grew colder. He was not happy. Becca was talking like she couldn’t be part of the team anymore and Sam was quick to squelch that thought and demanded more information. He wanted a target, someone or thing to direct his anger towards for daring to touch anyone on this team. It was a sentiment that Jorge understood all too well.

”Listen, I...I know I’m the semi-retired member here, and I share the same sentiment as Sam…” Jorge said, looking at Becca but then glanced to the icemancer. ”...but whether or not she stays is her decision, not ours. That being said, whatever you decide do, I doubt the X-invitation will ever expire,” he said as he gave Becca an encouraging smile. ”Of course do whatever you feel is best for you and yours. We’ll support you no matter what.”

He smiled, but Jorge was far from happy. Becca was a cornerstone of the team but he understood her reasoning as to why she would leave. She would have to get used to this new way of life, whatever it may be. That was going to take time, training, and with a family of her own now, there is no telling how that might change her mentality. They were just going to have to wait and see.

But, in the meantime, there was another threat to consider -- the Mystics. Magic had entered the world. The MRC had been receiving strange reports about phenomena happening beyond that of the usually mutation-driven incidents. Some new players had entered the scene and it seemed they were already taking long strides to altering the face of the world as they knew it. What else was new?

Jorge sighed. Maybe he was getting too old for this.

”I’m sure you’ve told us all you can,” Jorge said. ”But with time and processing, hopefully you will remember more, even the smallest bit of info so we can get to the bottom of this. What’s been visited upon you and Kalos, it won’t go unanswered. Promise.”

Becca felt the chill of Sam's dissatisfaction. She knew her recommendation would meet resistance. There would be anger at the cult for taking away her powers or any mutant's powers, because mutants were a community. They were a people ostracized by much of society for who they are, and the X-Men were protective over their flock. Becca did not lose that over-protective desire to keep mutantkind safe; after what happened to Kalos, that desire was stronger than ever.

But she was not a mutant now. Becca already talked to Maya about her intentions, which was a hard enough conversation. Becca did her best to make Maya understand where she was coming from, and while the mirrorwalker might still not truly understand, they were being supportive. Becca looked to the back corner where she was sure Maya was biting her tongue. She had been asked not to tell the rest of the team about Aoife's identity yet, which she was not pleased with by any stretch. Still, she respected Becca's wishes for now, keeping the identity of her enemy and sister silent.

A feeling of guilt formed in Becca's stomach when Sam all but told her she should not and could not leave. She knew that was coming and was ready to respond, but she was lucky to have Jorge around. Since she was a teenager new to America, he was around to look out for her. She needed that to stay strong and stand by her convictions. "Ah know that invitation will always be there, and Ah'm thankful. Th' X-Men changed mah life. And Ah dinnae plan on runnin' away; mah family still lives at th' Mansion, and Ah'd like tae stay on in whatever roles ye'd hae me." Maybe she would take time away from teaching, like a sabbatical, to focus on herself. Serena could handle English classes on her own and Becca had a lot to understand about herself.

"Th' team is about co-existin'," she finally agreed, acknowledging Sam's point, "but it's alsae a representation ay what mutants are and what ye can dae for th' world. Th' team often represents th' mutants ay th' world, and that's nae mah place right noo tae muddy up that voice. Ah'm sure th' cult'd be glad tae misuse me bein' on th' team for their own message, and Ah willnae hae it. Ah'll always be a friend tae th' X-Men, but right now, it's mah time tae step back tae keep mutant voices raised up." Try as she might, that was not her identity anymore, and she did not want some cult pointing to her as an example of how the "cure" for mutation was something to be admired.

Rebecca shrugged, worried she made everything too heavy or philosophical. There were practical aspects to what they needed to do. "Ah alsae want time tae learn about what Ah can dae and what it means tae be a Mystic. Th' cult is still out there gainin' strength, sae Ah cannae be a useless novice if trouble comes." She smiled, adding, "Ah dinnae if it's an imposition, all things considered, but Ah'd gladly whip up some protection wards for th' Mansion in exchange for some Danger Room time?" There was research and practice in her future, but there would be training, too. Even if she was not an X, she would be crazy not to at least ask if she could use the world's best training room.