NIRVANA LOST
CHAPTER ONE:
Emerging from the Shadows
She watched from the shadows as they kicked down the door. The screams from her neighbours gave her chills. They were dragging a young girl down the hall by her hair, scraping her body along the rough floor. The cries that escaped the young girl's mouth made her skin crawl. She remembered when they had taken her best friend. She had felt so helpless then, not knowing what to do. This time she wouldn't let them take the innocent, she would send them a message they wouldn't forget. She had to be careful, she couldn't allow them a chance to leave the building with the young girl. Slipping from the shadows she dropped the agent blocking her doorway through the floor. His body passed through the surface as if he were nothing more then a ghost. She quickly ran through the wall of the adjacent apartment, her molecules slipping between the solid matter before her. She jumped into the hallway ahead of the agent dragging the poor girl. Grabbing the tazer off his hip holster she zapped him, his body twitched uncontrollably on the floor. The young girl curled herself in a ball, sobbing as two agents shot at the woman who had assaulted their teammate. The bullets passed harmlessly through her body as she advanced on the two men. Drawing a sword from a sheath strapped to her back, she quickly dispatched the agents. Returning to the young girl, she shook her until her eyes opened.
"We have to get out of here. I need you to trust that I'll keep you safe. Do what I say and I can get you out of here alive." The woman's voice was calm and soothing as she explained. "Do you trust me?"
The young girl nodded and wrapped her arms around the woman's neck. Holding the frightened little girl close to her, she began to run in the opposite direction the agents had dragged the girl.
"Take a deep breath and try to hold it for as long as you can. Whatever you do, keep your eyes closed until I say to open them."
The girl whimpered a response of understanding and buried her face into the woman's shoulder. Holding the girl tight, she walked through the cinder block wall and stepped out into the air. They were 8 floors above the ground but the two seemed to float across the heavy smog. The woman was aiming her leisurely stroll on air toward the next building. Passing through the brick exterior she solidified and began running again.
"Take another deep breath." She warned the girl as they approached the end of the hall.
The woman continued her journey walking between buildings, getting as much distance as she could between her and the agents. She knew that the man she had dropped through the floor had probably already called for backup. After what seemed hours she finally stopped, exhausted by the extended use of her powers.
"You can open your eyes now." She checked the girl's face for alertness.
The young girl must have passed out at some point along the way, the woman's powers could be quite disruptive to those unaccustomed. She realized they had ended up in a hotel and began searching for an empty room. Passing through the door of an unoccupied room, she turned the 'DO NOT DISTURB' sign on and placed the little girl on the bed. She checked the girl's pulse and breathing, normal as if she were sleeping peacefully. Relieved, the woman connected a device to the room's Internet and hacked into their computer system. She reserved their room and ordered room service, charging everything to the hotel's special guest card. She had lived like this for quite some time, jumping from hotel to hotel. The higher ranking G.C. Agents were granted free stay and food with no questions asked. With her technological talents she had lived as a high ranking Officer under the name of Katya Logan, homage to her fallen comrades. She had even gone as far as to create a fake profile on the main G.C. database. The humans were lazy and never bothered to investigate what their agents did. It was quite normal for their staff to bounce from hotel to hotel. The woman even had her own uniform to guise as the fake Lieutenant Colonel Logan. A knock on the door told her that room service had arrived.
"Leave it outside and give yourself a generous tip." Her voice was commanding.
Opening the door she pulled the cart into the room and began to devour the tasty morsels. She left half of each plate for the young girl to eat whenever she woke. Closely inspecting the girl she figured she could only be ten or eleven years old. Her golden locks had matted, giving her a disheveled appearance but she was a lovely looking child. Her pale skin was almost the colour of porcelain and her little cheeks were lightly sprinkled with freckles. The little girl reminded her of a long lost friend that sparked a feeling of protectiveness.
"I'll keep you safe, I promise." The woman stated, gently caressing the girl's head.
She curled up beside the little girl on the hotel bed, letting her exhaustion overtake her. She wasn't certain how long she had been asleep but she could sense movement in the room and sprung off the bed. The young girl gasped in fright, a danish held firmly in her hand.
"I'm sorry! I was hungry." The girl held her head in shame.
"It's alright hon, the food is for you." The woman smiled reassuringly.
"I've never tasted food like this before. It's amazing!" The girl was shoving handfuls of french fries into her mouth between words.
"The luxuries of being a G.C. Lieutenant Colonel, the best of everything."
The young girl looked alarmed at the mention of G.C.
"Nothing to worry yourself over my dear. I'm here to help you, not take you in. My name is Kitty, what's yours?"
"Kitty? As in Kitty-cat?"
"Yes, as in Kitty-cat." The woman laughed.
"I'm, I'm Serena."
"Nice to meet you Serena. Do you know why those agents were dragging you out of your home?" Kitty sat down on the edge of the bed to seem friendlier.
"My... My blood says that I could be a mutant one day." Serena looked at the floor.
"You have not manifested powers yet?"
Serena shook her head.
"Bastards... Now they are attacking humans with potential to become mutants." Kitty gritted her teeth angrily.
"How old are you Serena?"
"I'm ten and a half..."
Kitty remembered back to when half a year meant so much to her as a child. In such a rush to be older that the difference of a few months was astronomical.
"Well Serena, you are safe with me. I won't let them take you, I promise."
"Are... are you a mutant?" The little girl was becoming curious of her saviour.
"I am. I was once part of the mutant group X-Men."
"Wow! For real? I have posters of the X-Men in my room!"
"Your parents allowed you to have mutant propaganda?"
"Propa-what? It's the wanted posters the G.C. posted years ago. I got them for ten cents at a flea market. My parents didn't know. I collect them. I have Wolverine, Storm, Magneto, Cyclops, Colossus and Iceman."
"That's a good collection." Kitty winced at her friends' code names as if she were being stabbed.
"Are you okay Kitty?" The little girl looked concerned.
"Yes Serena, just hard hearing their names after all that happened."
"I'm sorry Kitty, I didn't mean to make you sad."
"It's okay Serena, I'm happy that you think well of my friends."
"Did the G.C. get them?" Serena asked quietly.
"Unfortunately they did. Only a few of us survived the attack, most of us were taken prisoner and tortured."
"That's awful. I'm sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about Serena, it is how life is now. Mutants are in hiding and humans are destroying the world." Kitty realized that she was speaking a bit cynically for the young girl. "Have you tried the burger yet? It's really good." Kitty smiled at Serena, trying to change the subject.
"Oh I haven't yet. Only made it through the side plates."
"Eat up. We'll have to leave soon. I'm going to try to sleep. You hear anything wake me. Okay?"
Serena nodded as she bit into the burger. Her mouth was full of food as she tried to answer. Kitty laughed and slipped under the top blanket of the bed. Her eyes closed almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Kitty felt the warmth of the young girl beside her. Serena had curled up to Kitty, looking for comfort. Kitty stroked the girl's blonde hair tenderly, memories of a friendship lost so long ago. She hadn't allowed herself the company of anyone in a long time. It was easier not to get attached in the chaotic world they currently lived in. All those she had loved were killed or missing. For some reason she hadn't been able to ignore the screams for help. She had gotten so good at tuning out the world and those around her. Kitty had surprised herself with the desire to protect this innocent little girl. In the far past she would have been the first to rescue the girl but the last few years had jaded her, hardened her.
When the X-Men had been defeated she had been sorrowful, then her mourning turned to rage. She had killed every single G.C. agent she had come upon. Then they captured her, tortured her to the point were she felt numb. They had tried to break her spirit, but she withdrew from reality to a place she called Nirvana. It wasn't until they tore apart Lockheed, her purple alien companion who looked like a dog sized dragon, that she snapped. A force within her surged forth, knocking back everyone in the room and displacing her restraints. She fled the facility, never looking back. She had cried many nights after that, hiding in abandoned buildings and makeshift shelters until one day she felt nothing. She had cried her last tear, she was no longer going to run. It was that day when she invented Lieutenant Colonel Katya Logan. She was going to live the life of a human G.C. Officer and survive this hellish existence to the best of her abilities.
Serena stirred slightly when Kitty stopped stroking her head. She would need new clothing and a place to stay. The girl wouldn't be able to live with Kitty unless she made up a miraculous story about her. A niece, an adoptive daughter? None of which Kitty could realistically pull off with her lifestyle. She would have to find one of the refugee camps on the outskirts of town, one with people she could trust to look after a young girl. That was going to be hard. Getting out of the city was easy for Kitty, she just simply walked through the barrier. Carrying Serena would be harder, especially if her phasing caused her to black out. She would have to use her disguise to exit the city with the young girl. Leaving the bed, Kitty made arrangements for new clothes and a car to be waiting in two hours for them.
Showering the grime of the day off of herself, Kitty wrapped one of the soft terry robes around her frame. Serena had awoken, looking quite relieved when Kitty appeared from the bathroom.
"You should clean up. You will be playing the niece of a lieutenant colonel in an hour. I've ordered new clothes for you. Hopefully they'll arrive soon."
Serena nodded, puzzled by Kitty's sudden formal speech. The young girl did as she was told and stepped into a hot shower. Kitty was starting to detach herself from the young girl already, preparing to leave her behind without a care. It was harder then Kitty thought it would be when the clothing arrived and Serena came out of the bathroom wearing a blue and yellow sundress. She looked like a happy child in a field of daisies, twirling around in her dress.
"I had to guess on shoe size, try them, see if they fit."
Serena stepped into the white cotton flats with a lace pattern atop them. Kitty nodded approvingly as she slipped a white lace headband on Serena's head, holding back the hair from her angelic face.
"You look the part. If anyone asks I'm your Aunt Katya. We are visiting your sick mother in the next township. We wanted to take the scenic route through the mountains because you've never seen them before. Okay?"
"Yes."
"Yes what?"
"Yes Auntie Katya." Serena said politely.
"Good. I think you'll do a great job."
Serena beamed at Kitty and resumed twirling in her new dress. She slipped on the new clothing that had come, a simple grey tweed pencil skirt with a white blouse and matching suit jacket. Twisting her hair into a tight bun at the back of her head, she took one last look in the hotel mirror before leaving the room with Serena's hand in hers. The young girl skipped down the hall, her jubilant mood seemed to rub off on Kitty as she smiled warmly at the girl. Their car was waiting at the front of the hotel, keys and a map were handed to her at the front desk as she signed out of their room. Serena squealed with delight as they sat in the luxury car and sped away.
"Have you never been in a car before?" Kitty asked, watching Serena's wide eyed look out the window.
"No Auntie Katya, this is my first time."
"Make sure you put your seat belt on little one. Wouldn't want you to go flying out the window."
"Oh, that's what this strap is for?" Serena pulled on the belt at her side.
"Yes, these cars hover in the air and can turn sideways quite easily. Don't want you falling out the window when we get up to the freeway." Kitty pointed upward at the busy traffic.
"Oh, I never thought of that while I watched the freeway from my window at home." Serena's gaze floated over the buildings they past as Kitty made their merge into the bustling lane ways.
Kitty saw her exit and turned the car sharply to the right as they descended into a quieter part of the city. Here were more traditional homes with backyards and driveways. They pulled up to a sizable blue house with a white picket fence encasing the lawn and a quaint mailbox that was a miniature version of the house. Kitty entered her code at the outdoor control panel and a garage door opened at the side. The two entered the modern decorated home and Kitty made her way to the bedroom. Pulling out her fake military uniform, she adjusted the metals and made sure her badge was in the front pocket for easier access. They'd have to pass through the busiest border check point and her facade had to be convincing. When she placed the military hat on her head, she paused for a moment to look at herself. She was intimidating in the olive green suit, her metals shining brightly as the stern look on her face showed little regard. Kitty stepped out into the living room where she had left the little girl. Serena had found a photo of Kitty's alien companion and was stroking the glass.
"That's Lockheed. He was a very close friend of mine." Kitty could feel her throat tightening.
"Lockheed... What a curious name for a Dragon." Serena smiled at the photo and then Kitty.
"I named him after the aircraft he snuck home in. He followed me home after a mission in space when I was fourteen. We were the best of buds right from the beginning." The corners of Kitty's lips turned up at the memory of that day.
"What happened to him? Did the G.C. get him?" Serena asked in her childlike curiousity.
"Yes... They caught us together. He tried to save me..." Kitty had to catch herself before the emotions rolled over her. "Time to go Serena."
Kitty had grabbed one of her emergency duffle bags from the front closet and tossed it over her shoulder as they exited. Kitty was quiet for the drive to the border. Images of Lockheed in his final days flashed before her eyes, causing her to withdraw from the world around her. Serena asked Kitty several times if she was alright but received no reply. The lineup for the main border was long and Kitty had little patience left. Serena had been humming a tune to herself and drawing hearts on the window with her finger.
"What are you humming?" Kitty asked the young girl after watching her fingers trace their patterns.
"A song my mom used to sing me to help me sleep."
"Do you miss your mother?"
"I do... My father said she died when I was too young to remember but I do, I do remember her singing to me. My new mother is evil." Serena wiped her hand through the smudges of hearts she had made.
"It's never easy when your parents remarry. My father died a long time ago... My mother ended up remarrying after a few years. Was very hard for me to accept him."
"My new mom sold me to the G.C. after she made us move to the city. We had a wonderful farm in the country and I had a pony."
"It was your step-mother who turned you in?" Kitty was enraged by the thought of it.
"Yes... She made me take this blood test, pricked my finger. Next thing I know the G.C. are dragging me down the hall." Serena looked over at Kitty thoughtfully. "But then I got to meet you, a real X-Man!" Serena's eyes had lit up like saucers.
"I'm not an X-Man anymore Serena. There are no more X-Men." Kitty stared straight ahead, avoiding the little girl's admiration.
"Some day the X-Men will come back and you'll lead them, I just know it." Serena seemed to not notice Kitty's distain for the subject.
They finally reached the border check point, much to Kitty's relief. The officer at the booth was young and seemed quite nervous as he looked over Kitty's paperwork. His hands were shaking as he returned her documents and looked her in the face.
"New to border patrol?" Kitty's tone was more judgmental then she had intended.
"Y-Yes ma'am. Uh I've been informed that no one is to travel north through the mountains... There have been several rebel attacks lately." His nervousness seemed to circle around the fact he had to tell a high ranking officer that she could not travel to her desired destination.
"Rebel attacks? I've not heard any news of this." Kitty tried to hide her shock as she stared down the private.
"It just came in this morning ma'am... Four individuals ambushed a convoy traveling to the next city, the one you wish to go to."
"I see. Has the squad not neutralized the situation yet?" Kitty's eyes were burning into the young man's causing him discomfort.
"Y-Yes ma'am but they wish that no one travels through the mountains as a precaution."
"I have a sick sister who's on her death bed and her daughter, my niece with me. I'll not cancel my plans because of some vandals. I can handle myself and if the squad is on the scene I have no doubt of our safety. You should have more faith in your military brethren." Kitty looked disapprovingly at the private who was shaking.
"I have faith ma'am, I'm just following orders."
"Look at you, you are quaking like a virgin in a pit of infidels. I'm passing through, if you deny me I'll shall report your conduct to your superior. Such a disgrace to the uniform." Kitty shook her head.
"Y-yes ma'am. I'll stamp your passport and the girls. Sorry ma'am for the inconvenience." The private stamped the border patrol approval and waved her car through.
"Auntie Katya... Why were you so mean to him?"
"Because he should have never passed his training."
"But he let us go through when no one is supposed to. He helped us."
"His weakness allowed him to disobey his orders, that's not a good solider." Kitty ended the conversation as she turned on the radio.