Gremlins Take Westchester! : Parts 1-3

by Verthril

Disclaimer : Marvel owns the X-men, I'm just borrowing them.

Jubilee sat by the window, waiting as she always did when a postcard from Logan came in the mail a week prior telling her he was coming home after satisfying his wanderlust. Souvenirs and knick knacks often came from his trips abroad, and he postcard spoke of him having something special for her, something that he had to pull in a favor from Nick Fury himself to get across the boarder. Her mind raced in anticipation of what it might be, but whatever it was must be good for having to have pulled in a favor from Nick. Her grin widened as she heard the distant rumble of his Harley. Logan would be home soon.

She dashed from her perch on the bay window and ran to the door as she saw the wrought iron gates open moments before Logan sped through with his throttle full open. As she burst through the doors, she saw Logan leaning against his bike with a big grin spread across his face. In his arms a helmet was cradled. A helmet. What would a man with Adamantium laced over his bones, as well as a Healing Factor to boot, need with a helmet. Jubilee knew at a glance it wasn¡¦t her size, and even still Logan had bought her the best helmet money could buy for her Sixteenth birthday not two months ago. Then suddenly a fuzzy head popped out of the helmet and smiled at her.

¡¦Mogwai.¡¦ Gizmo said as he looked to Jubilee, who had raised her hands to her mouth as a shrill girly scream was building.

And with the release of the scream, both Logan and Gizmo clutched their ears in a vain attempt to drown out the noise. Before either knew it, Jubilee had Gizmo cradled in her arms as she tickled his little belly with a big smile spread across her face.

¡¦You got me a pet! Oh god it¡¦s so cute! Wheredidyougetit? SothisiswhatyouneededNicktogetpastcustoms! OhmygodLoganyourthebest!¡¦ Jubilee screamed as the speed of her voice built up until Logan had to strain to catch a word she said.

¡¦Your welcome Darlin¡¦. It¡¦s a Mogwai. Shopkeeper said not to get it wet or something bad might happen. Might be allergic ¡¦er somethin¡¦.¡¦ Logan remarked as he hefted his rucksack over his shoulder and ushered Jubilee into the mansion.

There they found the combined X-men battle ready until their posture eased as Jubilee and Logan walked in. Evil glares were cast to Logan and Jubilee for having once again caused their superhero instincts to kick into overdrive. Two out of Five screams from Jubilee often meant trouble, be it the latest Prank War between her and Bobby, or the rare attack upon the mansion. But three out of five times meant either her favorite shirt had been destroyed or Logan arrived home.

¡¦Hey guys! Logan got me a pet! It¡¦s a Moogie!¡¦ Jubilee screamed as she held up Gizmo with a proud smile on her face.

¡¦Mogwai.¡¦ Logan added as he walked past the herd of women advancing to fawn over the cute and furry figure.

¡¦Whatever! It¡¦s cute sugah! I want one now dammit! Remy!¡¦ Rogue whined as she tickled the belly of Gizmo, earning a squirm and giggle from the little fuzzy figure.

¡¦Eh? Don you remember when Remy bought you de Kitty cat?¡¦ Remy remarked, all to well remembering the poor fate of the kitten after it had gotten loose into Hanks lab.

¡¦That was an accident! I was having a nap. How was I supposed to know it would sneak into Hanks lab and get teleported to the other side of the Universe!¡¦ Rogue retorted with an insolent tone to her voice.

Remy quickly fled, knowing that once Rogue had an idea set in her mind it was either best to hide or concede to her whim. Jean and Ororo were giggling and talking in baby talk to the little Mogwai as the tickled his feet, a moment later having Jubilee possessively pull Gizmo into her arms.

Hank then walked up to the group and gave the fuzzy figure a discerning glance. Immediately the women knew his mind had geared into the scientist mind, and they let out an exasperated sigh as their minds counted down until he would speak of his thoughts.

¡¦Three, Two, One¡¦¡¦ Jubilee whispered, only to be cut off shortly after.

¡¦Might I run some tests on your pet? To better discern if there are any dangers we should know about, or to better fulfill the dietary requirements of the little fella?¡¦ Hank said as he adjusted his glasses and gave an affectionate rub behind Gizmo¡¦s ear.

¡¦Ok, but only some short test and nothing that require hair cutting, blood work, or radioactive dyes.¡¦ Jubilee remarked as she walked off towards the lab, knowing it was best to get this ritual out of the way. Heck, Hank had even run tests on the kitten Remy bought Rogue.

An hour later, and a rash of various test included, Hank still found out little about Gizmo except for the fact that he was cute, cuddly, and enjoyed Twinkies as much as Hank did. Jubilee was sitting off in a chair, making faces at Gizmo while Hank worked on the controls of the latest test.

¡¦Almost done Blue?¡¦ Jubilee asked as she turned to Hank, the latest face still upon her own face, earning a chuckle from Hank.

¡¦Yes, this last test should show us something beyond the obvious.¡¦ Hank said as he worked away at the controls.

Jubilee turned back to Gizmo and gave the little fella a smile. Just then as Hank threw the switch for the last test, the warning signals started to go haywire. Jubilee looked about in shock as she wondered what had just occurred, while Hank worked away at the controls trying to figure out what had just occurred.

¡¦Hank! What¡¦s going on?¡¦ Jubilee cried out as she looked about, then back to Gizmo who was near tears and panicking.

¡¦Turn off that test! I think it¡¦s hurting him!¡¦ Jubilee cried out as she ran to Gizmo, all the while dodging the various lab equipment in her path.

¡¦I am trying to do that! Just a moment longer!¡¦ Hank yelled over the noise of the warning signals.

Jubilee didn¡¦t heed his warnings as she ran to Gizmo, reaching into the glowing aura about him. As she did, a bolt of energy ripped through her and Gizmo, sending the pair flying into a wall with a loud thud. Hank slammed a fist down on the console, and with it the alarms stopped. Looking above from the controls, he stared in horror at the limp form of Jubilee lying unconscious in a heap on the floor, with Gizmo looking at her with tear filled eyes. Hank leapt from his desk and ran to her, picking her and Gizmo up carefully as he took her to the med lab to treat her.

Logan was not impressed. Not impressed at all. He had just arrived home from Madripoor with a gift for Jubilee, only to have Hank run a barrage of tests on the cuddly fuzzball, and in the end having Jubilee ending up in the med lab. While he wouldn¡¦t kill Hank, he pondered lending his aid to Bobby when the next prank arose which targeted Hank. He hadn¡¦t seen Blue in a shade of pink in a good year now. Chuckling for a moment, his grim expression returned as Hank walked out of the med lab looking ragged.

¡¦Well bub? How is she?¡¦ Logan asked as he stalked over to Hank, looking up to the furred doctor.

¡¦Aside from some bruising and a bump on the head, she is perfectly fit. Gizmo is with her right now, cheering her up. She was more than a little irate after the tests when she regained consciousness.¡¦ Hank remarked, pausing for a moment as he looked down to his friend.

¡¦As I am sure you are too. I am truly sorry for that accident, I will have to do a complete diagnostic upon my lab to locate the problem that arose. You can go see her if you want.¡¦ Hank said, finding a sick feeling rising in his stomach after realizing he was standing between Logan and the thing of his concern.

Logan walked past Hank and into the room, finding Jubilee lying upon a bed with Gizmo on her belly doing a strange little dance. As Logan entered, Gizmo spun around and waved to him.

¡¦Mogwai.¡¦ Gizmo remarked as Logan sat down by the bed and gave him a scratch behind the ear.

¡¦Hey Giz, Jubes. How you two feeling?¡¦ Logan asked as he continued scratching, but centered his gaze on Jubilee.

¡¦Other than a splitting headache and an urge to shave Hank, I¡¦m good. Gizmo was freaking out so I pulled him out of that strange aura that was forming about him. Hank has no idea what it was, and I don¡¦t care. I¡¦m here and so is Gizmo. No strange side affects kicking in yet so I think we¡¦re both in the clear.¡¦ Jubilee said as she gave Gizmo a raspberry, only to receive one in return.

¡¦That¡¦s good Kiddo. I think I¡¦ll ask Hank to keep you here fer the night just to be on the safe side. I¡¦ll bring down a TV and some snacks fer ya.¡¦ Logan remarked as he rose from his chair and gave Jubilee a pat on the head.

¡¦Wolvie, I¡¦m fine. I don¡¦t need to stay here.¡¦ Jubilee said as she pouted to Logan, only to receive the look of ¡¦Father knows best¡¦ from Logan, which silenced her to mere mutters of disagreement.

¡¦I¡¦ll be heading over to the Auger later tonight, I¡¦ll get Gumbo or Drake to spend some time with ya till ya nod off, how¡¦s that sound?¡¦ Logan inquired, looking to Jubilee.

¡¦Fine, but you¡¦ll owe me a trip on your hog for this okay? I haven¡¦t been able to use that helmet ya got me since the day ya got it.¡¦ Jubilee said as she tickled Gizmo.

¡¦Fine by me. I¡¦ll see ya later kid.¡¦ Logan remarked as he strode off out of the room.

Jubilee made a face at the retreating form of Logan, but then gave up as she pulled Gizmo into her arms and awaited Logan¡¦s return with the promised entertainment and snacks.

Elsewhere in the mansion, Hank was busy running a diagnostic on the equipment when a rapping came on his door. Sliding out from under the unit Gizmo had been sitting on, he found Logan darkening his doorway.

¡¦What might I be able to do for you my friend?¡¦ Hank asked in a cheerful tone.

¡¦Keep Jubes in med lab for observation. Don¡¦t want any odd side affects showing up er nothing.¡¦ Logan said as he walked in and looked about the lab.

¡¦Of course Logan. It would be my pleasure. I find your concern for young Jubilation very admirable.¡¦ Hank said as he cast a big smile to Logan.

Logan shrugged it off nonchalantly as his gaze fell upon an odd green orb in the corner of the room. Picking it up, he gave it a quick sniff.

¡¦Hey Blue, what is this thing?¡¦ Logan asked as he showed the orb to Hank.

¡¦I haven¡¦t the foggiest my friend. Might I see it? I would have to run some tests on it to decide what it is.¡¦ Hank said as he drew near it.

¡¦Tests? Hank, do you test yer underwear when ya pull them outta the dryer? Nah, I think I¡¦ll hold onto it fer now. Ya got bigger things to do than get distracted testing this, like watching Jubes and finding out what went wrong earlier.¡¦ Logan said as he pocketed the orb.

¡¦Very well Logan.¡¦ Hank said in a defeated tone, rather like a child being deprived of a new toy.

¡¦I¡¦m heading up to my room to change and get a shower. I¡¦ll be brining down a TV and some snacks for Jubes before I head to the Auger, see ya later furball.¡¦ Logan said as he left the room, leaving Hank to return to his diagnostic.

As Logan entered his room, he set the orb down on the dresser and made his way to the bathroom for a shower. Running the shower, he didn¡¦t notice as the orb started to grow and make a noise not unlike that of running one¡¦s fingers across a balloon. Minutes after he climbed into the shower, the orb grew to the size of a laundry basket. Then the odd thing happened as it slowly started to crack as a green ooze leaked from inside. Finally as the shell broke away, a green little beast stood up from the dresser, hissing and looking about the room as it gave it a sniff. As it heard the shower running, it ran to it and looked in.

As it looked in, it could see the silhouette of Logan singing a Country Western song in a deep gruff voice. It started to sway to the music, singing in it¡¦s own voice of hisses and growls until finally it let out a shriek of pain. Running off from the bathroom, it sought refuge to let the wave of pain end. But the pain only got worse as it started to change and bubble with it¡¦s skin growing a green slime over it. Finally as it found refuge in a linen closet, the pain climaxed as the slime started to ooze away. Where a green Gremlin once stood, now a Gremlin with the characteristics of Logan stood, complete with the twin peak hair and stout figure. The Gremlin could feel an odd change in itself as it gave the air a sniff, finding its senses shaper. Then suddenly a sharp pain grew from it¡¦s hands as bone claws erupted from them.

¡¦Hargh hiss growl, Bub.¡¦ The Logan-Gremlin hissed as it looked at the claws approvingly, but then a thirst overtook it as vague memories of a smoke filled bar filled it¡¦s mind, along with the feeling of riding down the highway upon a Harley.

The Gremlin skittered out of the closet, casting a glance about and sniffing the air. None lurked about; it was free to find the garage and a means of a ride to the Auger in. As it left the closet, so did it not notice the odd green orb in its stead, resting in a puddle of green ooze.

As Logan came out of the shower, wrapping a towel about his waste, he walked back into his room to find a mess of green ooze on his dresser where the orb had been sitting. A feeling of dread fill him as he now thought perhaps he should have left the orb for Hank to test. The feeling passed as he remembered he still owed Jubilee a Television and snacks. Getting dressed quickly, he set off to the task, putting the concern orb into the back of his mind.

An hour later, and the guilt trip of a disgruntled teenaged girl still resting on him, Logan pulled up to the Auger Inn, parking his bike in the usual spot, not noticing the smaller Harley resting in the same spot. He knew Jubes would get over the confinement to med lab once Gumbo showed up, as he always knew how to distract her. Now all he wanted to do was have a nice cold beer and perhaps a bar brawl. Walking into the bar, he sat down in his usual spot and ordered a beer.

¡¦Second Molson I¡¦ve sold tonight.¡¦ The barkeep remarked as he placed the frosty mug down in front of Logan.

¡¦That so? Someone¡¦s got good taste then.¡¦ Logan remarked as he downed the beer.

Then an odd thing happened as Logan caught something out of the corner of his eye. Looking down, he found an odd creature sitting beside him with a beer mug in its bony hand. The creature looked to Logan with a familiar look in the large gray eyes, and more familiar hairstyle standing out clearly.

¡¦Hiss harg Best at what I do, Bub.¡¦ The Logan-Gremlin hissed as it gave Logan a feral grin.

Within a second, the two of them were upon the bar, Adamantium and Bone claws unsheathed as they glared at one another, feral rage building up in either.

Out in the crowd, a biker walked up to the man who normally took bets on the numerous bar brawls and catfights that would erupt in the bar.

¡¦I¡¦ll put twenty on the short guy with claws.¡¦ The biker said as he pulled out a twenty.

¡¦Which one?¡¦ The bookie asked as he stared at the fierce fight that had just erupted between Logan and Logan-Gremlin, his grin widening as more people walked up to him ready to place bets.

  Chapter Two : Whatever

The bartender slowly peeked out from behind the bar, having managing yet again to avoid being drawn into yet another brawl at his bar. Looking about, all about him bikers and the odd trucker were strewn about like fallen soldiers on a battlefield. In the midst of the gore, two figures stood glaring at one another, claws poised to strike with Logan having a set of two upon the gremlin's head, while the gremlin likewise had a set where no man favored having such things pointed.

"Yer move bub." Logan growled, looking down to his likeness.

"Hiss harg, wanna meet the shy one?" The gremlin retorted, causing Logan to snarl in return.

It seemed as if there was a stand off between the titans of the bar scene, neither ready to back down due to the pride ingrained in the man known only as Logan. Silence hung over the bar, the bikers who had regained consciousness too terrified after their ordeal to even groan in pain from the thrashing they had received. Slowly an audience formed about the stand off, wondering who would given in first, while all merely knew they hoped it wouldn't be the man who had a set of claws poised where the fate would be that of which none would wish upon their worst enemy.

"Mojo send ya?" Logan asked as memories of the X-babies resurfaced.

"Hiss harg, ain't know no Mojo bub." The Logan-Gremlin hissed as he stared into the eyes of his opponent.

"Well bub, there's only room enough in the world fer one Logan, and I'm him." Logan growled as he leapt clear of the claws and landed on a burly biker, poised to strike at his likeness.

But to his dismay, the ire of his evening had fled. The slamming of the door echoed through the silent bar, soon followed by the high pitched rev of an engine. As Logan ran out of the bar, he could see in the moonlight a small Harley Davidson peeling off recklessly as dust hung in the air about the gravel parking lot.

"Oh no you don't." Logan yelled as he ran to his Harley and froze.

There, his beloved Harley stood, tires gouged and gas leaking from three holes in the gas tank. A feral roar was unleashed, the birds of the night taking to the air in the wake of the cry. Walking back into the bar, Logan cast a glare to all present as they shied away. As he walked up to the bar, the bartender stepped back and reached to the shotgun he kept under the rear counter. Logan reached for the phone, picked up the receiver and dialed. It had been three months since he needed a ride home, and an eternity without so much as a drop of alcohol in his system.

Jubilee had long fallen asleep, the fatigue of the day finally setting in. In her arms Gizmo slumbered peacefully, a pleasant smile on his face. Off in the corner Remy stood watching, still hiding from the wrath of his off and on again girlfriend. Rogue wanted another pet, and after the space kitten incident he was by no means inclined to submit. That meant he had to hide, and the med lab seemed like the safest place to do so. That being until the alarms of the mansion began going off.

Jubilee awoke from her slumber to a start, clutching the equally startled Gizmo to her chest. Remy had long since poised himself at the door, a fistful of charged pills ready after Jubilee took to playing cards with him earlier in the evening. Jubilee sat up in her bed, looking to the darkness out past the door. A skittering could be heard coming closer, combined with horrible sounds coming from the hallway. Then silence.

"Remy, what the heck is going on?" Jubilee asked as she climbed out of the bed, silently cursing the medical gown she wore as she used her free arm to grab the back of it.

"Don know P'tite. But whatever being going on, Remy be ready." Remy remarked, waving Jubilee closer to him as he slowly crept from the med lab.

The hallway stretched out before the trio, the only light guiding their way coming from the flickering lights and Jubilee's paffs. As they wandered down the hall, the sound of breathing grew louder. Remy and Jubilee cast a glance to one another, while Gizmo looked up with a defiant scowl on his face, or his best attempt there at. As they grew closer to the noise, they realized it was coming from Hank's lab, and the cause of Jubilee's trip to the med lab. Remy waved for her to hold back as he looked into the room, a charged fistful of pills the only light he needed with his own excellent night vision.

"What do you see?" Jubilee inquired from the hallway, impatient as ever, with the sound of a scared Gizmo echoing in the darkness.

Remy ignored the comment for the moment, still interested in what had transpired here. The lab was ransacked, while no signs of forced entry could be found. Off in the corner the heavy breathing grew louder, and as Remy drew closer, he readied for an attack. Finally as he was right on top of the noise, he could see blue furry legs sticking out from under some machinery.

"Merde! Hank you 'ad us all worried." Remy remarked, letting the charge on the pills fade away.

Slowly the blue furred figure wheeled out and looked to Remy, an apologetic look on his face. Remy offered a hand, which Hank graciously took as he hefted himself to his feet. His face was covered in dirt and dust, his fur matted and looking rather disheveled. Walking to his desk, he took a glass of water and quenched his thirst before he spoke.

"I bid a thousand apologies for that. I accidentally overloaded a failsafe on the power-grid when I was running a diagnostic on the machinery. Which created a cascade effect on all the systems. My backup should kick in momentarily." Hank remarked as he looked to the mess his lab had become.

Just as promised, the lights returned, and with it a pained shriek rang from the hallways. Hank and Remy looked to one another and ran to the hall where Remy had left Jubilee. There they found her pointing down the hall, while Gizmo too joined with a true scowl on his face. Leading down the hallway was a trail of green slime which soon vanished, leaving either man wondering what had happened.

"It was gross! It was all green and gangly! It tried to touch me!" Jubilee cried out, sounding thoroughly disgusted.

"Don worry P'tite, we find whatever it was." Remy remarked as he lead the trio through the depths of the mansion.

For what seemed like an eternity the scourged the lower levels of the mansion, looking for whatever it was that Jubilee had seen. Finally as they came to the last possible hiding place, they realized that they had nearly traveled a circle in their pursuit.

"Told ya we were going in a circle. Leave it to a man not to ask for directions." Jubilee chided as she clutched to Gizmo, petting his head and scratching behind his ear.

Remy merely sighed as he opened the door to the storage room. Flicking on the lights, they found it was empty aside from a single green orb resting in the middle of the room in a pile of green slime. Hank was to it within a heartbeat, his scientific mind whirling at the prospect of a new mystery to solve. Remy and Jubilee merely cast a look to one another, tired expressions on their faces.

"Fascinating! It looks almost exactly like the one Logan found in the lab after the accident. But I wonder, the one in the lab was not covered in this low viscosity residue." Hank babbled as he looked at it, poking it with a clawed hand.

"The green Martian wannabe takes a dump and Hank is all on it like flies on..." Jubilee began, only to be silenced as their communicators rang.

"This is Scott. Remy, would you be able to take Jubilee with you to pick up Logan. He was in a fight at the Auger in and needs a ride. Oh, and take the utility truck as his bike got vandalized too." Scott remarked in a tired voice, ending with a yawn before the line went dead.

Remy and Jubilee looked to one another, then to Hank. Heading to the Auger in sounded far more interesting than watching Hank play with whatever it was he had just found. Hank was so content with the orb that he didn't even make note of their departure.

Elsewhere in the mansion, Rogue was up for a late night snack after having a restless slumber. Walking into the kitchen, she heard an awful racket as she neared. Walking in, she found the kitchen in a state of disarray, with several boxes of Jubilee's 'Sugarbombs' strewn across the floor. The pantry was raided, while the cupboards were empty of certain things. The pattern, all things contained high amounts of sugar. Slowly Rogue neared the industrial sized fridge, ready for whatever faced her, or so she thought.

"Hiss harg, Sugar! Sugarsugarsugarsugar." A voice hissed with a So Cal accent.

As Rogue peeked about the corner, she found what looked like a small Martian or the likes devouring her stash of Ben and Jerry's. With a shriek she lunged at the figure only to get a face full of fireworks. She paused as her mind began to work. Sugar, So Cal accent, fireworks. Jubilee! Rogue used her sonic speed to pick up the protesting figure and rushed her down to the lab, yelling for one of the several resident night owls of the mansion.

Hank heard the yelling coming from outside his lab, not that long after he returned with his specimen. Rogue suddenly burst in the room, clutching a little demonic creature in her arms. As she deposited the figure on the table, Hank took notice of the yellow trench coat fashioned out of Jubilee's favorite yellow bath towel, as well as the stunning blue eyes. With a quirk of his eye he pulled out a few instruments, only to have them destroyed as the creature 'paffed' them.

"Oh my starts and garters! What have I done?" Hank exclaimed as the likeness sunk in.

"What's wrong with her?" Rogue inquired, looking to the likeness of Jubilee imposed on the demonic form.

"Hiss harg, Sugar!" The Jubilee-Gremlin hissed as she noticed Hank's stash of Twinkies on the table.

As the Gremlin lunged for the Twinkies, Hank lunged likewise on an intercept course hoping to protect his beloved Twinkies. As the pair fought, Rogue stood off to a corner and watched intently, nigh invulnerability was not enough assurance that she would survive the fight between the owner of the Twinkies and an already wired Jubilee. Twenty minutes later, and the fight still raging, Jubilee and Remy returned to the lab with Logan and his likeness tied and gagged.

"Who's that Rogue?" Jubilee asked, earning a shocked look from Rogue.

"Jubilee! If your there, who's that!" Rogue exclaimed, pointing to the green blur in the fight.

"Huh?" Jubilee asked, then noticed the Twinkies and leapt over the fight, snagging them.

The fight stopped at the sound of the first cellophane wrapper being opened. Either combatant looked up to Jubilee, and then lunged at her. A new whirl of combat began with a shriek from Jubilee. Logan, Remy and Rogue looked to one another, and then down to the Gremlin likeness of Logan as it cackled in its restraints. The ever-familiar 'Snikt' silenced the cackles.

"Anyone care ta explain ta me what in blazes is going on heah?" Rogue inquired, looking perplexed.

"No idea. Remember the X-Babies? I think these might be some twisted idea of Mojo's." Logan remarked with a sigh as he leapt into the fight and stopped it, separating either Jubilee with an arm, and Hank with a foot.

"Hiss harg, Wolvie!" Jubilee-Gremlin cried as she attacked herself to Logan in a sudden bear hug.

"Hank, ya got any idea what's going on here?" Logan asked, thankful for his Adamantium laced ribs.

"Actually, I do have a hypothesis. I was studying an orb not unlike the one you found. There was an embryonic creature not unlike the one you see before you in there, though I am at a loss for what might have caused these creatures to take upon our guise and mutations." Hank remarked as he crawled to his feet.

"Yeah, so they're doppelgangers of some kind?" Logan asked, standing up with the Jubilee-Gremlin still clutched to his chest.

"It would appear so." Hank replied.

"Where did they come from?" Logan inquired.

"Don't know, don't care. That lil' freak just ruined my favorite towel!" Jubilee shrieked.

"Hiss harg, bite me." Jubilee-Gremlin hissed as she glared at Jubilee.

A sudden cracking caught the attention of all as they turned to where the orb once was, and now where a slimy proto-gremlin stood, grinning as it stared at Rogue. Before their eyes, the Gremlin started to have a coat of slime form over it as it shrieked in pain. The combined X-men stood in awe, watching the horrific transformation with the same awe that one feels when looking at a car crash, horrified yet amazed at the destruction. Finally as the slime oozed away, the new Gremlin stood, staring at them, auburn hair with a white stripe running down the center.

"Hiss harg, Sunovagun!" The Rogue-Gremlin hissed as she leapt into the air, expecting to fly, but merely landing a face plant into the ground.

  Chapter Three : The Great Gremlin Escape

"So, let me get this straight? There is a Logan, Jubilee, Rogue, and now a Hank doppleganger?" Cyclops inquired, looking to Jubilee as she watched the Danger Room from the observation booth.

"Gremlins. Not Dopplegangers. Well, sort of. Hank did some research into what a Mogwai is and he found out some rather interesting things that Logan forgot to mention. Light is bad, don't feed them after midnight, and don't get them wet or they create more Mogwai's. When you feed a Mogwai after midnight it becomes a gremlin." Jubilee explained.

"But Gizmo didn't seem to be affected by light when Logan brought him in." Scott explained, watching as Rogue-Gremlin poked Logan-Gremlin, sprouting her own claws and then chasing after the Jubilee-Gremlin.

"Nope. Different breed or something apparently. Tougher than the old ones, but I think the dopplegangers are due to Hank's screw up. Instead of creating mogwai's when they get wet and turning into Gremlins after eating after midnight, they create a Proto-Gremlin that imprints itself from a Mutant Signature." Jubilee explained further, wincing as she saw her own Gremlin blow the Rogue-Gremlin across the room.

"What's the Hank-Gremlin doing?" Scott asked, pointing to the blue furred gremlin playing near the wall.

The answer came as the red alert came to life, the doors of the Danger Room opening and the Gremlins skittering off with as much haste as they could muster. Within seconds after the momentary shock of watching the band of Gremlins leave, they had run to the door while blaring out the situation over the comlink. Racing upon the trail of destruction left in the wake of the Rogue-Gremlin with the combined powers of Jubilee, Logan and Hank, they cursed for their lack of foresight in underestimating their quarry.

"Hiss harg, Let me drive!" Jubie-Grem yelled from the passanger seat.

"Hiss harg, No! Ain't no way I'm lettin' ya drive darlin!" Logan-Grem yelled as he kicked Hank-Grem in the back of the head.

"Hiss harg, Faster my feral compatriot?" The blue furred gremlin asked, slamming down the gas pedal without waiting for a reply.

"Hiss harg, Ah'm flyin'!" Rogue-Grem shouted from the hood where she was using the claws to use in holding on to the speeding stolen Jeep.

"Hiss harg, Hey, when do ya think those claws are gonna wear off?" Jubie-Grem asked, looking to Logan-Grem.

The answer came as they saw Rogue go flying from the jeep and rolling off onto the road behind. The gremlins suddenly burst out into maniacal laughter as they raced down the road, leaving the X-men to swerve to avoid the road hazard that had just fallen in front of them. Slamming on their breaks, Jean leapt out and recaptured the Rogue-Gremlin with a TK bubble, throwing her in a cage in the back of the van.

"That's one down." Scott remarked as Jean climbed back in and threw on her seat belt.

"Three to go. How are you doing Rogue, Storm?" Scott remarked as he slammed on the gas pedal and resumed chase.

"Logan's catching on them with Jubilee hanging onto the back of the bike for dear life. We're just having a hard enough time keeping up with them." Rogue's voice remarked over the comlink.

"Thanks. Keep on them, don't try to intercept unless your sure you can get them." Scott explained, racing on down the road and giving a sigh as he watched a cruiser pass by, the officers looking scared and their car lookign as if it had been in a head on.

"They saw the Gremlins. After radioing in they were told to retreat and wait for backup." Jean relayed after giving a quick mental scan to the men.

"Dear god, are you sure it's safe for us to follow, I don't think I want to be around Logan when he finds out what they did to his Jeep." Scott remarked in a dry humor.

"Scott." Jean chastised.

"I know, I know, just joking." Scott remarked, giving a sigh as he continued on.

Walking into the Danger Room, Remy paid little heed to his surroundings. It had been a long day and he just wanted to work up a sweat, have a shower, and then go to bed. Having had the honor of retrieving the Logan-Gremlin, he had been giving the option to opt out of the mission of their retrieval, and option he took full advantage of. Throwing on a simulation of a Prime Sentinal Attack, the green orb off in the corner went unnoticed as he battled on.

Finally having had worked out his aggression and aggrevation of the day, Remy cancelled the scenerio. Darkness overtook the room, while every sound was amplified by cavernous surroundings. Wiping his brow and throwing his hair back, he began to leave the room, yet paused as he stepped in something. Looking down, he found a green slim covering his boot.

"Merde!" Remy crused, racing out of the room, nearly stumbling as he hit another patch of the slime.

Following the trail, he followed it out of the depths of the X-men Headquarters and back to the regular section of the mansion. His heart raced as he followed the trail back to his room, finding the door ajar. Opening it further, he found his room ransacked. Checking for his valuables, he found a bottle of whiskey gone along with a deck of cards and a pack of smokes. Shaking his head, he headed to the only place he knew the doppleganger to be.

Climbing to the roof, he found a silohuette sitting atop the peak, smoke gently rising high into the night sky, flicking in and out of existance as it struck stray rays of the moonlight piercing the veil of the overcast sky. Walking up slowly, Bo staff ready, he approached the figure. Pausing, he looked to the figure with a cautious glance, indecision gripping him. If this thing copied more than just habits and aspects, what secrets did it know, and at what value did it hold of them he mused.

"Hiss harg, Drink?" The Gremlin hissed, holding up a bottle of whiskey.

"Oui." Remy said in a hoarse voice.

Sitting down next to the figure, Remy let his Bo staff shrink in length, pocketing it and then taking the offered bottle. After taking a swig, he found a cigarette offered to him, demon eyes staring into his soul. Plucking the cigarette offered from clawed hands, he pressed it to his lips and let his gift light it with a pop. Staring out into the night, the two figures remained in silence as they shared the pack of cigarettes and bottle of whiskey.

Meanwhile, unnoticed by either, a pair of trucks and a bike pulled back onto the mansion grounds. All looking better for wear, they made their way to the garage, parking and unloading the cages that carried the rest of the Gremlin Horde.