Don't look at me like that. Regardless of what you think, Lament is not a thinly disguised version of me. All you have to do is look at my other stories to see that. Those are thinly disguised perfected versions of myself. Don't judge her yet. Wait a couple chapters, and if you have any suggestions to make sure she stays original, be my guest. And hey, I may yet kill off Wolverine. He was an a$$ when he left to lick his wounds. Jubes is better off without him. Hey, I could get Sabretoothe to host it!

Disclaimer: I like the X teams and all, but I'm not quite creative enough to make them all up. So, yeah, they're not mine. I have my own crazy universe to deal with. So if you want to sue me, *rummages around in her jeans pockets, and pulls out a ball of lint, a student ID and 26 cents* there you go. That's about all I'm worth. As for Lament, use her all you want, all I need is another personality in my head.

It was the darkest hour of the night. In an alley a soaking wet figure in white stood out among the dank shadows. Some would claim she was Jubilation Lee of Generation X. Though they shared looks and genes, this girl¡¦s hair was white, and the x-factor in her blood was very different from her look-alike.

She suddenly moved away from the wall and out of the alley. She had work to do.

Outside Xavier¡¦s school for the Gifted, the an old enemy noticed a new, familiar scent. He settled on the front porch and waited for it.

He did not wait long.

"You¡¦ve grown, Lament." His voice turned velvety, soft.

"I know, cousin, and you¡¦ve seen me grow up. You saw me through my twin." Lamentation Lee kissed her cousin, Victor Creed, gently on the cheek. "I have news, it may save the world." Lament and Creed slipped through the security systems of the mansion into the foyer. "Can you get everyone here?"

Sabretoothe grinned wickedly. "Watch me." The giant mutant attacked the walls and furnishings. Sirens sounded and alarm lights flashed. Lament¡¦s hands covered her ears.

Storm was the first on the scene. "Sabretoothe! Why are you here? What is the meaning of this?" She demanded as the rest of the X-Men joined her.

Lament stepped from the shadows. "I needed your complete attention," she whispered.

Gasps of shock and cursing filled the room.

"Maybe it be me," Gambit said, "but I be tinkin¡¦ you look exactly like Jubilee."

Sabretoothe growled. "My cousins, are twins."

Jaws dropped around the room. Lament held up her hand. "Allow me to introduce myself." She bowed deeply "Lamentation Lee, at your service. I¡¦ve heard much about you, Shadow Cat, Jean, Cyclops, Storm, Psylocke, Gambit, Rogue, Archangel, Beast, and Colossus. I believe you are the only ones who can pull this off."

"Pull what off?" Cyclops asked suspiciously.

"Curing the Legacy Virus." Once more shock embraced the room.

"How?" Rogue demanded.

"I have a plan. A man named Walter Tenet laid the groundwork for it right before the virus killed him." Lament took a deep breath. "If we could find a place to sit . . . "

"The War Room."

"I can cure the legacy virus," Lament repeated. "With you, and one other team member."

"Let me guess," Cyclops started.

"Yes, Wolverine. He may be getting old, but his healing is essential," Lament interrupted.

Henry McCoy, also know as Beast, spoke up. "Not even in his strongest youth could Wolverine¡¦s Healing Factor handle the virus-"

"Just listen," Sabretoothe interrupted. "Lament is special."

Lamentation closed her wide eyes. "Yes, I¡¦m special. Like Synch, I can imitate someone¡¦s mutant power. Unlike Synch, I can also augment some one¡¦s power. I can make it well over ten times their normal strength."

Gasps of shock and amazement filled the room. A small, wry grin tugged at the corners of Lament¡¦s mouth. Tears stung her eyes.

Finally, Jean spoke up. "Are you sure? You¡¦re only seventeen years old, how do you know the limits of your power?"

"I don¡¦t know if that¡¦s the limit, that¡¦s just the farthest I can stretch myself at this moment," Lament explained.

"An¡¦ why should we trust you?" Gambit asked. "What if you be tryin¡¦ t¡¦ off Wolverine?"

"There are easier ways!" Lament snapped, her blue eyes flew to Gambit. "If I wanted to kill him, it would be just as easy to get his wife to do it!"

Shadow Cat¡¦s dark eyes narrowed on Lament. "How do you know of Logan¡¦s recent marriage?"

"Dr. Lenet kept close tabs on him, he is the key of our plan. We¡¦ve even interfered a few times to keep him alive," Lament sighed. "We increased his healing factor during that little escapade with you and Sabretoothe." Lament watched Shadow Cat turn pink.

"Lament," Sabretoothe said warningly.

Lament turned to stare at her cousin. She nodded briefly and turned back to speak. "I can tell you exactly what would happen on the way to Japan."

Lament looked out the window of the Blackbird and felt her stomach twist again. She hated flying. Her dark blue eyes blinked rapidly. She breathed carefully in and out, closing her eyes.

This was going to be a long flight.

Across the aircraft, Shadow Cat smiled a feral smile.

Wolverine was flowing through katas outside Viper¡¦s house when he smelled something different. It smelled almost familiar. Then Shadow Cat¡¦s scent hit him. She was not fearful or angry. Logan continued through his exercises.

Lament watched Wolverine¡¦s smooth movements with a critical eye. His moves were still smooth, but slowing, ever so slightly. She frowned.

"If you weren¡¦t injured so badly, I¡¦d take that as a challenge," Wolverine¡¦s slightly Canadian voice commented without missing a beat of his exercise.

Shadow Cat¡¦s eyes flew to Lament. The ninja had not been able to tell the girl was injured. Lament bowed her head in silent acquiescence.

The women waited in silence as Wolverine finished. Lament tossed him a towel as he walked toward them. He took it silently and wiped the sweat from his face and broad chest. His dark eyes searched Lament¡¦s face.

"You¡¦re not a clone, you haven¡¦t had plastic surgery, you must be related to Jubilee," he commented quietly. Lament nodded, not ready to speak. "Let me see your wound," Logan ordered. Lament¡¦s startled eyes met Logan¡¦s. "Do it."

Lament sat down and exposed the long infected gash in her chest. Wolverine swore. "Are you stupid or desperate, girl?"

Lament smiled humorlessly. "A little of both."

Logan pulled a first aid kit from his bag. He poured the entire bottle of betadine into the gash. Lament bit back a scream. "At least it¡¦s clean. I¡¦m assuming hospitals are out of the question?" At Lament¡¦s nod, Wolverine pulled a suture kit from his bag. "So what do you need me for?" The suture needle slid through Lament¡¦s angry red skin.

Lament closed her eyes against the pain and let Kitty explain. Kitty, how apt. Lament wondered if her real name had any impact on Shadow Cat¡¦s alias. Her breath started to come in short, pained gasps. A red haze covered her vision and hearing. Logan spoke directly to her, but she couldn¡¦t understand him. The fever that had been struggling in her body finally won out. Slowly, like warm jelly, darkness closed around her.

Wolverine looked down at the white haired girl in his arms. "Poor kid, having that much responsibility at her age is hard."

"I remember you saying much the same about me at that age, Logan." A ghost of a smile touched Shadow Cat¡¦s lips.

"Yea, I pulled you out of plenty of hot water too." Logan grinned at her. "But even you didn¡¦t have the responsibility this kid has." Shadow Cat nodded her silent agreement. "The legacy virus. Does Jubilee know she has a sister?"

"Not as far as we know."

"I think we need to take a short side trip before we get to the mansion. These kids deserve a little reward."