"I --" X stopped, startled. That wasn't the sort of greeting he was used to. "Didn't my number come up? It's Mer --"

Even before the familiar shot of pain swept down X's spine, he cut himself off. The effect was dulled, for that foresight, but it didn't stop him from curling in on himself, frightened and confused.

"It's..." he tried again, slowly, and stopped the moment he could tell it wasn't 'X' that would leave his lips. "Well, you recognise my voice, I'm sure."