Attention: Generation X and their villains, as well as any other mutant mentioned in this story, is property of Marvel Comics. The character Richard Cale is named after family relations. Any other reference to anything copyrighted is a chance happening.

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Truth Be Told

Chapter 3: Jono's Story (updated)

When he walked into the room, Jono saw Mondo sitting in a chair. He noticed that Sean had re-entered the room and said, "Jono, I have a message for ye." Sean walked over to him and said softly, "Jono, Rich has informed me of a problem. The Mondo over there is a fake."

Jono realized that with the tone that Sean was serious. "How did Rich know?"

"Rich had the good or bad luck to discover my cousin is here. He replaced Mondo with a plantlike copy."

Jono realized what was being said. "I take it that I have the ability to remove the phony?"

"That's the way Rich figured it." Jono nodded and looked at the fake Mondo. It was hard to believe that it was a fake. Then how long was this fake around. Inside, Jono didn't want to hurt his friend, but this wasn't his friend. He stilled blamed himself for what happened to Gayle, how he cost her the use of her legs, and the hatred in her that made her join Emplate. He vowed not to let his ability hurt anyone who was a friend. Now he was asked to use his ability in that way.

Jono, still having second doubts about what he must do, was startled by what started to happen. Rich, Yvette and Angelo were walking into the room, Rich with his back to the door. Rich had obviously thought the deed was done for he said, "And the Mondo that I found was the real one."

Yvette had looked at Rich and said, "And that's fake." Rich spun quickly and ducked the fist that came at him. A second later, Mondo hand formed into tendrils and quickly ensnared Rich. Jono knew now that this was a fake and let lose with a blast of energy. Almost instantly, Yvette cut Rich free and pulled him to safety as the fake Mondo went up in flames.

As the fake disappeared in a puff of ash, Jono turned to Rich and said, "I'm sorry about that. I still had doubts of my own." Rich had some insight into what happened to Gayle, but he hoped that Rich understood why he had waited to be sure.

Rich, still struggling for his breath, said, "I understand. I just hope not to get another near death encounter like that again. That makes three."

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Yvette listened as Jean spoke again to stop what Jono was saying. "Do you believe that might have been part of his breakdown?" Yvette stared at both Jono and the red haired woman. This woman had been brought here to help find out why Rich had retreated into isolation. This woman, as Ms. Frost had said, was a telepath. Yvette knew that this woman had better training in her power that Ms. Frost had.

Just as soon as Jono was about say something, Sean said, "That had been the first time that any of us knew about that, and those of us who weren't here at the school at the time just learned about it now." Yvette noticed the look of shock on Emma's face.

Yvette had to speak up, because she knew something they didn't. "That is not true. Rich told me before any of this had happened about what had happened." She noticed the look of shock on Sean's face.

"Yvette, lass, ye mean to tell me that ye knew about that?"

"Rich told me many things about his life. The facing death deal he learned to deal with, even though it was at different times in his life." She hoped that would help clear things up.

Scott, the man who wore the red sunglasses asked, "Then could you help us clear this up?" He seemed very adamant about finding the answer.

"I think that part of it has to deal with facing death, but not in the sense you mean." With that, she continued the recount of the events that had passed.

Bump....for reasons that will be revealed later in the week.