Time stood still. As the smallest warrior fell the four 
others fell to their knees. Their gld uniforms turned back to 
normal school clothes. The redhead moved over to the young 
japanese girl sobbing. "No!" she screamed. "These were not your 
enemies. Not again," She lay over the child who now wore a purple
dress. 
     The three others watched the large purple machines that were
no longer attacking. The four could hear, "Target deceased, 
return to Homepoint.", before the robot lifted into the sky and 
flew away. 
     A boy with dark hair knelt next to the girl. "My love, again
you sleep." 
     The blonde girl and the redheaded boy spun around as several
people ran towards them. They stopped a few feet away, but one 
man approached with a look of pain and disbelief on his face. 
     He carefully pulled the redhead up to her knees. He could 
see the dead child under her. Looking to the othr three he 
recieved nods of acceptance and he picked her up. 
     The other three stood silently and watched as the body 
vanished in a flash of light. He looked down at the redhead who 
was crying into his chest. He kissed her forehead. 
     The boy with dark hair walked over to him. "She will need a
few weeks to come back to herself. Until then we must deal with 
things here. Keep her with you." 
     The man nodded. "I will protect her." 
     The three nodded and walked in the direction of Juuban. 
                             * 
     Imani awoke in the mist and in front of a white gate. A 
familiar figure stood in front of her. Guardian Pluto stood 
holding her staff before her. 
     Imani keened inwardly for Silence, but knew she was gon. 
What did they want of her..... 
     The gates opened and a woman dressed in a dress of material
that shifted color as the light touched walked through. She wore
a crown with the sign of all the planets on it. She smiled 
consolingly at Imani. "Silence has fallen, but will come again."
     Imani nodded. "I know..." she said softly. 
     The woman stroked her hair. "Times are hard and Silence will
need a strong mother to raise her." 
     A lump grew in Imani's throat as she thought of having to 
wait another thirteen years to see Silence. 
     "You will bear Silence and raise her. You must protect her.
The Change is occuring again and people are fearful of what they
don't understand. Guard her well...."  
     Imani looked up in amazement. "I shall bear Silence?" 
     The woman nodded and floated back through the gateway. The 
doors shut and Imani stirred. 
                              * 
     The woman watching over the redhead suddenly sat up as the 
girl stirred. The redhead slowly opened her eyes and a single 
tear flowed down her cheek. She tried to sit up, but she was 
stiff and gasped loudly in pain. 
     The woman sat on the bed and helped her. "It is good to see
you awake." 
     The redhead rubbed her eyes and looked at the woman. She had
dark brown skin and pure white hair. She spoke with an African 
accent. "Where am I?" she asked. 
     The woman smiled. "You are at the school for Talented 
Youngsters. I am Ororo, but most people call me Storm. What are 
you called?" 
     The redhead seemed to look for something. She said softly, 
"I am Imani Savere." 
     The woman nodded. "Eon said he would return shortly. Would 
you like something to eat or drink?" 
     Imani shook her head. "No thank you, how long have I been 
sleeping?" 
     "It has been a month since Eon brought you here. He returned
to America from Japan carrying you. He hasn't left your side 
except for short trips or let many people near you." Ororo said.
     Imani smiled sadly. "He alway was protective." 
     Ororo nodded. "When did you meet him?" 
     Imani was spared from answering by Eon dashing through the 
door. He envelopped her into a big hug. "Imani," he whispered. 
     She rested her head on his shoulder. "Eon," 
     After a few minutes he loosened his grip and examined her. 
"How do you feel?" 
     She looked into his eyes and said, 
	"The day is done and the darkness, 
     Falls from the wings of night, 
     As a feather is wafted downward, 
     From an eagle in it's flight. 
 
     I see the ights of the village, 
     Gleam through the rain and the mist, 
     And a feeling of sadness o'ercomes me, 
     That my soul cannot resist. 
 
     A feeling of sadness and longing, 
     That is not akin to pain,
	And resembles sorrow only, 
     As the mist resembles rain." 

     Ororo's eyes grew large at her words, but Eon grinned. "It 
is good to see you are well. Hungry?" 
     Imani was about to shake her head, but then said, "Some 
icecream and okanomiyaki sounds good." 
     Eon looked at her strangly. "That is an odd mixture are you
feeling alright?" 
     Imani grinned, suddenly feeling cheerful. "I feel great!" 
     He stood and she practically hopped out of the bed. "Lets go
downstairs. You can eat and meet the others." 
     Imani looked down at the nightgown. "Do you have something I
can change into?" 
     Ororo opened a dresser and pulled out a dress. "I think this
would fit you. You can get more clothes later." 
     Imani nodded and took it. Ororo and Eon stepped into the hall
so she could dress. 
                              * 
     Storm studied Eon's face. "She is an odd child. You haven't
told us anything about her." 
     Eon's eyes met hers. "Imani is not a child. You will learn 
that. She will tell you what she wants you to know." 
     Storm nodded her acceptance. A moment later Imani stepped 
out. She was a bit more qiet now, but clearly not depressed as 
she had been when she had awakened. 
     Eon led her to the kitchen where she made herself a 
sandwich.
     Eon led her into living room. Several people fell silent as
she came in. She looked over the group and saw one man. She ran 
over to him and hugged him. He grinned. "Hey kid, so you're the one
Eon's been hiding upstairs." 
     She shrugged with just a hint of sadness. "Brian asked him to
protect me. Our charges were still in danger." 
     He nodded. "I understand. I suppose she died again." 
     Imani nodded.  
     A voice interruped. "Well Eon, you've held us in suspense for
a month. Aren't you going to tell us about our guest. 
     Imani turned and bowed to the professor. "I am Imani Savere
of a group called the Wordsmiths. I apologize for the burden. I 
shall tell the tale if you wish it." She looked to the man. "Will
he believe me Logan?" 
     Logan shrugged. "I really don't know kid." 
     Ororo looked surprised. "There is very little we won't 
believe." 
     Imani looked doubtful but sat against Logan. "First 
introductions, I hate telling a story to faces without names." 
     A teenager with short dark hair said, "I am Jubilee." 
     A man wearing a red visor shook hands with her said, "Scott
Summers,"
	A woman with red hair said, "Jean Grey," 
     A man that was covered with blue fur said, "Henry, but most
call me Beast." 
     The man behind her said, "I go by Wolverine mostly now." 
     A bald man in a hover chair smiled and said. "I am Professer
Xavier." 
     Imani nodded. "The tale begins thousands of years ago. Each
planet had a population and Guardian. The Guardian of Saturn was
known as the Bringer of Silence and Dark Messiah. She was avoided
because she wielded the power to end the universe and start it 
over. Four people gathered around her. They became known as the 
Wordsmiths. Together they taught the others that Silence was not
the end, but the beginning. However, the Guardian was ill and died.
The Wordsmiths stayed together. However, she was reborn and the 
Wordsmiths lived again. The Wordsmiths were immortal, but not the
Guardian. She never lived past the age of twenty. The Wordsmiths
were sad when she died, but spent the intervals travelling. The 
Wordsmith of Words always took it the hardest though. The Wordsmith
or Music, Life, and Dance would care for her until she was back to
herself. But this time it was too dangerous. They couldn't care for
me because the robots would go after the other Guardians." 
     Wolverine hugged her. "How old was she?" 
     "Thirteen," Imani said. "The robots only targeted her and then
left." 
     "Describe these robots." Scott (Cyclops) said. 
     Imani shrugged. "Huge, purple" 
     He nodded. "They are called Sentinals. They hunt mutants." 
     They all turned to the Professor. "It is an interesting tale
and one I would wish confirmed with a mind scan, if you permit."
     Imani nodded. They both closed their eyes and a few moments
later they reopened them. He was crying. "She tells the truth." 
     Beast stepped forward. "I would like to check you over. I 
don't believe you have eaten in a month." 
     Imani nodded and stood. "Sure," 
     She followed him down to a lab where he took a blood sample
and ran some other tests. He sent back upstairs promising results
soon. 
                               * 
     Jubilee sat next to Imani. "Tell us how you met Eon and 
Wolvie." 
     Imani grinned. "Well, Logan first. I found him trying to play
a guitar many years ago. It sounded awful. So I told him so." 
     "He must have loved that." Jubilee said. 
     Imanu shrugged. "I bet that I could play better and won. Then
I taught him the basics. For a few months we had temporary work and
a small restaraunt." 
     Wolverine was trying to hide his smile. "But then you had to
go." 
     Imani nodded. "Silence woke again." 
     "And Eon?" Jubilee asked. 
     "Eon was a geeky, nerdy, solitary kid in school when he was
young. I was in interval with the others and we were going through
school again. We spent ten years together after that. Silence was
miscarried and had to be reborn again." 
   Jubilee nodded. "I see. Your life revolves around her?" 
     "Silence defines us." Imani said. "Without her we are nothing.
If she were to cease to be reborn, we would cease to exist." 
     Jubilee seemed confused so Imani explained further. "Life has
a rhythm. It starts with a heartbeat. Music is interspersed with
spontanaity, life. The rhythm brings about the dance. The dance and
the music bring about the words. But if you have never heard 
silence, you cannot understand the rhythm." 
     Jubilee nodded. "How old are you?" 
     Imani laughed. "I don't know. Thousands probably." 
     Beast walked back in. "Imani you are healthy as the proverbial
horse. Did you know you were pregnant?" 
     Wolverine and Eon studied her and demanded. "Who?" 
     She took a moment for her joy to wane enough to answer. "Magic,
the Guardians told me Silence would be born by me, but I didn't 
believe it. But the Queen would never lie." 
     Jubilee didn't question it. A bell rang. Beast grinned. 
"Professor Xavier has set up dinner for us." 
                                *2*
	Imani considered the mutant's plight as she walked through the
park the next day. She was distracted by a shout. "Catch her! She's
a mutie!"
	Imani saw a teenaged girl running. Two older boys were chasing
her. Imani felt useless. Even if she could transform she couldn't
do anything without the others.
	She heard someone call her name and turned. She saw a familar
looking redhead. "Hey, Imani. Watch this."
	The redhead jumped in front of the two boys and held up her
custom javelin. "Leave the child be."
	Imani stood next to the girl who had been chased.
	The boys grinned at each other. "Whatcha gonna do bout it?"
one asked.
	The girl smiled at him and seemed to consider. "Well I was
thinking either chi or just a blow to the head."
	The boys looked befuddled. But the other said, "As if you
could,"
	The girl smiled. "Is that a threat?"
	They both nodded after a moment. She grinned. "I thought so."
Before they could blink she knocked both unconscious.
She studied her handiwork. "How boring, worse than youmas
even. Now a rijab would finish the day perfectly."
	Imani looked over at the girl who had been chased. "Are you
alright?"
	She nodded. "Yeah, that was cool."
	Logan dropped down beside the redhead. "That was new, Imani."
	The redhead smiled. "Thank you, but my name is Faith. Imani
is over there."
	Logan saw Imani and asked, "Sister?"
	Imani considered. "In a way yes, but not really. I can't
explain."
	"Fair nuf," he said. He turned to the young girl. "You gonna
be alright?"
	She nodded. "I'll be fine." Then she wandered off.
	Imani looked to Faith. "How have you been?"
	Faith grinned. "I got married."
	Imani rose an eyebrow. "To whom?"
	"His name is Tatewaki Kuno, but we call him Kuno." Faith said.
	"Is he.....?" Imani asked.
	Faith nodded. "Yup, I met him in Japan after I got expelled.
You'd love him."
	"Expelled?" Imani asked.
	Faith nodded. "I killed the sub who tried to kill the teacher
and got expelled for carrying knives."
	Logan seemed impressed. "Knives, what'd you have those for?"
	Faith struck  dramatic pose. "I am Faith Kuno of the Saridehm,
the Warriors of the Blade." She relaxed. "Without a blade I would
die."
	He nodded. "Of course,"
	Suddenly several large creatures covered with metal blades
attacked. Faith grinned and pulled a sword out of nowhere. "Better
late than never."
	She fought two but a third jumped at her back. Wolverine
unsheathed his claws and attacked. A few moments later the three
creautures lay on the ground dead.
	Faith grinned. "Good work." She studied his claws. "You'd make
a great Saridehm."
	Imani looked at her watch. "Dinner soon, Eon will worry."
	Faith hugged her. "It was great seeing you."
	Then it predictably began to rain. Faith managed a complaint
before turning into a small wolf pup. She bark at Imani who was
laughing hystericaslly. "You got a Jusenkyo curse?"
	Faith glared at her and nipped her leg. 
	A large hand scooped Faith up. Imani looked him over. He was
a young man, handsome. Black haired, light skinned. He bowed to
Imani. "I am Tatewaki Kuno."
	Imani nodded. "She told me of you. How did she get cursed?"
	He smiled. "My fair wife recieved this curse when another
resisted too much."
	The answer was cryptic, but Imani understood. "Come back with
me. I'll get her turned back." She turned to Logan. "I'll explain
later."
	A few moments later they arrived at the mansion. Jubilee saw
Faith and immediately ran over to get a better look. "She's so
cute. What's her name?"
	Faith jumped down to find hot water. Imani took Tatewaki to
get introduced. Jubilee followed Faith who padded over to Ororo.
	Ororo looked to Jubilee. "Who's puppy is this?"
	"Imani brought her and a young man in. I think she is his."
Jubilee said.
	Faith jumped up on the couch next to Ororo and seemed to grin
at Jubilee. Then she knocked Ororo's hot tea on herself. Ororo was
about to pick her up, but the pup turned into a twin of Imani.
Faith grinned and stood. She bowed. "I am Faith Kuno."
	Imani immediately walked over. "She is my sister." She pointed
to where Kuno was talking with Prof X. "That is my brotherİinİlaw."
Faith looked around. "How bout we go out to dinner and I'll
tell the whole story."
	"On us, of course." Kuno said.
	The Professor agreed. "But we shall have to be careful. We do
have enemies."
	Faith grinned. "Not for long,"
                                 *3*
	Imani started. "Both Faith and Kuno are Warriors of the Blade,
Saridehm. They are immortal, sort of. They were recently reborn."
	She left it up to Faith to tell the story from that point on.
	Faith slipped into bard mode. "Seven hundred years ago, four youths
were chosen from among the Mongols. They had pure hearts and stout
arms. They were all excellent warriors. They were called Xalen,
Fanah, Tyrial, and Kolan. They were chosen as administrators of
justice, called the Blades of God. They were granted extreme
longevity and toured the earth, destroying evil where they found
it. Their leader was Xalen, who carried the battle axe. Fanah was
their bard, who wrote poetry and songs. She was the master of long
and short throwing knives, among other knives. She and Xalen were
sisters. Kolan was an orphaned in his youth, and was wonderful with
children. He carried a dirk. Tyrial had originally run away from
her tribe when her father had disowned her. She was proficient in
daggers. They all carried swords. They banded together and were
inseperable."
	The professor was impressed. "So, Faith I assume was Fanah.
Who were you Kuno?"
	Kuno smiled. "I am a new Saredehm."
	Ororo smiled at Faith. "You were a wolf before, How did that
happen?"
	Faith grimaced. "There is a place in China called Jusenkyo.
Water from it's many pools changes your body so that when you are
splashed with cold water you become something else. Most of the
Saredehm are cursed now. Two of our girls turn into guys. A guy
turns into a boar and another guy turns into a velociraptor."
	Jubilee was amazed. "Wow, you must lead eventful lives."
	Kuno nodded. "Where we live in Japan is most odd."
	Faith became serious. "Yes, I wished to speak with you about
that Professor. The people where I live could almost all be
considered mutants. Most do not understand curses, chi
manipulation, or things like this. I fear this will cause trouble
with the antiİmutant promotion that is growing."
	He nodded. "Yes, from what Imani has told me, there is trouble
in Japan. I would expect a leader will rise up should there be a
threat. However, I don't see the natives of Japan even noticing
mutant existance."
	"Not surprising," Imani said. "There are already many strange
people there."
	Suddenly there was a commotion at the door. Lots of men
wearing hoods ran in shouting, "Mutie Lovers!" They began to attack
the people at the restaurant and break things. 
	The Xİmen immediately tried to pacify them, but there were too
many people and they were forced to defend themselves. The Xİmen
fought and started seeing their worst fears coimg true. Their
comrades were dying. The professor was covered with blood.
The normal humans fought like demons, as if they were
terrified of being killed by the mutants. As if they were the
attacked, not the attackers.
	Faith began looking around. The crazed fighters didn't notice
her. A few moments later she found what she was looking for. She
grabbed the tiny animal and pierced it's heart with one of her
knives. She yelled out, "Stop!"
	With the horrifying false visions removed, everyone stopped
confusedly and turned to the authoritative voice. Faith held the
animal up. "Your minds have been tampered with. Return home unless
you want the affects to return."
	Most people limped out the doors.
	The Xİmen looked to Faith who threw the animal down in
disgust. "It's a Skreey. They bring out people's worst fears. No
doubt you thought certain people were dead or saw horiifying
sights. It wasn't real. I've been fighting them for years."
	"Is that why it didn't affect you?" The Professor asked,
shaken. He hadn't thought that anything could bypass his mental
shielding.
	Faith shook her head. "I saw what would be my worst fears,
but I faced those fears already. I know the Skreey too well."
	Kuno walked over and hugged her. "I failed you."
	She shook her head. "No, you will learn. It takes awhile to
learn to face a Skreey. My first few times werre horrifying."
	"We'd better get out of here." Wolverine said.
	They all nodded and returned to the school.
                               *4*
	The next morning Imani woke to find a wolf pup curled up on
her bed. She stroked Faith. "Kuno left?"
	Faith nodded. She gestured towards a thermos of hot water
which Imani used to change her to human form. "Yes, I need to talk
to you about something."
	The two sat facing each other. Faith said, "Your Japan is in
much danger. I believe you should prepare them forwhat is happening
here. A few sentinals have been to Japan, but not many. Centerpoint
has agreed to send Kuno, I, and another Saridehm to your Japan to
help."
	Imani was surprised. "I'm pregnant and powerless until Silence
is reawakened."
	Faith nodded. "I know. However, in my Japan, Silence is a
Saridehm. We can bring her to your Japan with us. That way you will
all be at full strength. Besides we both have much experience."
	Imani considered. Silence, but not her Silence. But she was
still Silence. She nodded. "We could do it."
	Faith grinned. "I'll tell the others. Can we leave tomorrow?"
	Imani nodded, "Sure, I'll be waiting."
	Faith turned back into a wolf and ran home.
                                   *
	The Xİmen were shocked, except for Logan. "Good for you kid,"
Professor Xavier smiled. "I pray you succeed. If you need
help, call us."
	Imani nodded. "Thank you, I pray you succeed as well."
                                   *
	At the airport Imani froze as she saw Silence. The thirteen
year old girl bowed to her. "I am Hotaru Tomoe of the Saridehm. I
offer condolences for your loss and congradulations on your gain."
Imani nodded and hesitantly hugged her. They heard their plane
announcement and hurried aboard.
                                 *******