House of L

by Fenschway

A crude drunk survives a bloody war's final battle that saves a slew of worlds from tyranny. Logan is a big hero. His reward? Blackmailed into running a sanitarium/prison/hospice for grief crazed super heroines and loony female mutant criminals while dodging angry ex-girlfriends, lonely, jealous X-women, and love starved, alien female warriors. Naturally, they all hate each other.

3. Chapter 3

Author's note: Since this maybe a little too lengthy chapter has a multiple cast of Marvel characters and for those readers who aren't all that familiar with them, I'm using images and information found at comicvine . com for Elektra, Warbird, Mystique, Emma Frost, Jessica Jones Cage (Jewel), Shuriken, Carol Danvers, Lea Strange, Scarlet Witch, Shi, Pale Flower, Lady Bullseye, and Danielle Cage. If interested, type these names in the search field to get more in depth descriptions and their different images. For more Sekirei information, character backgrounds, and images, in this chapter for Miya Asama, use the search field at the Sekirei wikia link in my profile...(I suck at putting hotlinks in these chapters)

House of L

Chapter 3 – Elektra and Miya Asama – Interviews Blues

"Why am I here?" She spoke softly, almost to herself. There was anger, confusion, and more than a little dread in her almost whispered words that were instantly snatched away by the chilly autumn breeze. She felt angry because she had allowed herself to be moved by feelings of old loyalty and stupid new daydreams to become the head of security for the new House of L; stuck working with two highly despised and mutually hating females. She also felt confused because somehow within her she KNEW she had to be here. Some immensely powerful force greater than any other she had ever known had demanded for her to be here, a psychic force that could not be defied even though she had resisted and banished the All Consuming Beast of Ancient Evil that had corrupted The Hand and even her forever lost love Matt Murdoch, the Daredevil. The dread she was feeling was because she very greatly feared one possible answer to her question. Had she been brought here to just age, waste away, and die; cold, cold hearted, alone, and loveless?

"I am Elektra Natchios! Why am I HERE!" she spoke louder and in a more demanding tone to the wind, rustling trees, and large, wave tossed lake before her. She ground her teeth together, determined that her rigid inner center of self control would overcome her anger, confusion, and fear to get her answer. She was a past ruler of The Hand, a female warrior with very few equals, none human, and a former highly paid assassin whose cold killing skills were only rivaled by Logan the Wolverine. He had paid his blood debt to her for taking down The Hand and then helping her clear her name after the invading Skrull had used an imitation of her to kill thousands. He had also helped her save Matt Murdoch's soul from the Ancient Evil's demonic possession in the Shadowland. Just before the Shadowbox Wars had begun, Logan had then killed Wilson Fisk, The Kingpin, who had succeeded Murdoch as The Hand's leader. The Ancient Evil Beast was no more, but Murdoch had once again rejected any kind of life with her since, just as, broken hearted anew, she had rejected Logan's prewar offer of beginning a fresh new future with him. She hadn't seen him since, so why had she felt so compelled by some powerful entity to take this job when he had asked?

Logan, although quieter, unsmiling, more withdrawn, and surly nowadays, if that was possible, was still the same honest, dependable, brutally blunt, incredibly courageous, totally loyal, angst ridden, emotionally complex, and almost ridiculously honorable and noble Samurai type Logan she had always known. But now? Logan and his new, damned private prison were approaching surreal. Why had he asked, and why had she felt so overwhelmingly compelled to agree to be a part of this almost utter, stifling, I.D.P. madness? Why had she agreed to become a part of the House of L without thinking it over a little better? Logan hadn't shown one sign that he was interested in renewing any personal relationship with a woman who had rejected him. Now look at her. Stuck on a hill overlooking a coastal New York lake, having a lot of unhappy second thoughts about being here, and talking to herself? Logan had called. She had come like a repentant fool. What if this shit job was just Logan's revenge for her rejection of him years ago? She had certainly felt revengeful towards Matt Murdoch for years. Now she was demanding answers about Logan and his motives from the wind like the silly fool schoolgirl she had been in decades past, and the wind was mocking her with its silence?

To be fair, aside from her anger, confusion, and dread, there was something about a sunny yet breezy autumn afternoon in Westchester, New York that was simply resonating in a yin and yang fashion within the depths of her unhappy but now employed assassin's soul. She actually liked where Logan lived, but she totally hated/needed the reason for why he had brought her here; The House of L, or as that nasty, sharp tongued bitch Emma Frost mockingly called it, Jubilee's Ongoing Karma Effect on Logan, the J.O.K.E. on L, a chaotic nut house in the making that was promising even more extreme chaos for everyone soon, especially any new head of security.

Yet, Logan had sought his long time fellow assassin and used to be more than a friend out and asked for her to come here and take the job, pleaded actually. He had not known how much her cold assassin's heart had been warmed by simply seeing him again after being so long apart. When he had knocked on Misty Knight's small apartment door, once opened there stood Logan; the same angst ridden, little boy lost, always broken hearted, utterly faithful to those he cared about while fighting his feral beast within for control, Logan. He had asked for her help. Something powerful had instantly swept over and through Elektra to make her agree, but now? Now she wanted answers to why she had been swept into his madness.

True, even if the new job was already maddening, she was mildly pleased at simply working again, finally, because there just hadn't been much call for highly experienced, female ninja assassins of Greek descent since the I.D.P. had taken iron control of Earth 616. The private and even criminal need for a kunoichi, and she had simply been the best, had quickly dried up and stayed that way when the war weary yet grimly determined "to keep the hard won peace" armed forces had come home and established new strict laws and even stricter penalties. Also, she had absolutely refused to be a bounty hunter of unregistered and frightened mutant women and children.

Caught in a bad financial state due to the stock and bond markets crashing during the Shadowbox Wars, Elektra had lost everything of value including mansions and villas to pay the sudden bad investment stock calls and avoid the new bankruptcy prisons. She had literally almost starved afterward, too proud to ask for charity from what very few friends were still alive. Then, the quickly constructed House of L had needed a security chief; a well paid and compensated chief with a free place to stay and free food. So she was here in bloody Westchester, going slowly nuts, and living nearby was the last person on Earth 616 who truly understood and appreciated her for who and what she was, even if he was still a lovable yet bona fide sonofabitch; the one she should have married years ago when she had the chance and blew it. That missed "what if" had haunted her ever since to find her here in Westchester to see if it could be changed as well as earn her way back to financial health.

As it was now, and thanks to whatever spiritually disturbing force that had been manipulating her, she was at least making a steady living thanks to Logan's pull with the High Council. Yet there was, and would no longer be, any true freedom of movement about the planet for her, no thrill of the hunt, no danger from any cornered and vicious prey, nor exorbitant pay for killing services rendered. This damn chief of security job was really a huge, boring come down from her assassin's high action, high reward past. On the other hand, trying to keep Mystique and Emma Frost from verbally assassinating each other and her during simple, security staff hiring interviews had proved rather dramatic already. She wanted to slit both of their throats and probably would if they kept it up. Future skills testing of job applicants would probably be almost equally as dangerous, and Logan's damned prison wasn't even operational yet.

Still wondering again why she had accepted Logan's job offer so readily, Elektra untied the red silk bandana wrapped around her head that kept her thick, coarse, very curly black hair out of her face and away from the handle of the sheathed katana slung on her back. She shook her head vigorously to loosen her long wavy tresses that flowed almost to the top of her still toned and rounded buttocks. She turned her light blue eyes to contemplate the rustic appeal of Logan's cabin. Why hadn't she turned down this shit job and just simply asked him to let her live with him? Logan might have acquiesced simply out of his high sense of honor, but pride and a silly schoolgirl fear of possible rejection had stopped her despite the unknown spiritual entity pushing so many emotionally charged places in her heart to bring her here. She should have said yes to him years ago instead of turning him away. Now she was stuck, absurdly feeling horny whenever she saw him, longing for him, and wishing she could shed her damnable pride as easily as she had taken off her bandana.

Damn, you Logan, she groused internally, at least you could have picked a warmer spot. Why didn't you build I.D.P.'s miserable House of L on a Caribbean island? And built a nice villa overlooking a tropical beach where you could have lived together with Tyger Tiger as you had planned once decades ago in Madripoor? At least then I could have more easily found a way to wander into your bedroom wearing a very skimpy bikini and/or nothing but a smile.

Note to self, Elektra grimaced as the chilly fall breeze formed goosebumps between the gaps of the loosely wound, red leather straps she used for nominal arm protection. Dress warmer. Her present all red leather outfit consisted of her trademark knee high boots, leather thigh sheaths for her pair of bladed sai swords, and her brief torso covering that most resembled a high cut, a one piece bathing suit. This fighting ensemble, she shivered slightly, was not a wise choice for autumn's cool weather. The twin headlights noticeably showing through the leather covering over her full breasts and more goosebumps on her muscled thighs were strong arguments for breaking out her fur winter gear now. She even had a tie down fur hat that would take over the hair restraining duties from her red bandana.

Being broke, in debt, and virtually homeless except for the largesse of her Heroes for Hire friend Misty Knight might possibly explain her quick positive answer to Logan's job offer, but she was really having second thoughts about it. Dammit! Why hadn't she just asked to be his latest mistress instead? She had always had a very fond spot for Logan in her otherwise stone cold, assassin's heart. After all, Logan was the only man she had ever taken home to meet her family, and she had always known he was a better and more compatible lover than the twisted, unfaithful, Squirrel Girl screwing Matt Murdock.

Another little secret of hers was that for some weird reason she was continually finding herself dreamily soaking in long hot baths a lot lately, imagining it was Logan's hands washing and rubbing her, not her own. She, Elektra Natchios, horny as she had been lately, could have at least kept Logan from banging that insufferable Shi'ar Warbird creature, and stayed comfortably warm and cozy and fondly cared for while doing it too. She'd kill Ava'Dara too except the freaking alien warrior was just too damn quick, wary, and Logan wouldn't like it. Just admit it, Elektra counseled herself darkly. It made no logical sense for her to be HERE.

Taking a welcome break from job interviewing and standing on the grassy knoll just past the larger red brick patio at the north end of the Jean Grey Academy for Higher Learning, Elektra once again let her senses explore the happy/bleak duality of her soul's resonance with her current surroundings. There was just the right amount of warmth from the sun to celebrate feeling alive, and yet, there was also the slight chill of winter's dormancy in the fall winds. She was appreciating the pure natural beauty of the pastoral, forest lined lake scene before her, but the three domed new prison and its fenced perimeter at the other end of the lake was very depressing despite the aesthetic beauty of their Shi'ar alien architecture.

In between, near the shore and amongst a small copse of trees, was Logan's small log cabin retreat, a rustic 19th century anachronism between the modern looking school and 21th century prison. The lake cabin was where he stayed in simple, self imposed solitude when he wasn't out tracking down and killing criminals for the I.D.P. without getting paid for it. Elektra oddly envied him. At least he had freedom of movement about the planet even if he was I.D.P.'s unleashed hound these days. She was leashed to a stinking library interviewing chair in between Mystique and Emma. Maybe it wasn't too late to ask Logan to let her stay with him in his cabin and kick that snooty Ava'Dara bitch out, feathers, swords, Shi'ar battle armor, and all. The price for that from Logan might only be a small chunk of pride from her too Greek and two sided soul. Should she ask him or not? What if he turned her down like she deserved?

Taking a deep breath and shaking off that last morbid thought, Elektra let herself simply revel in the sun's rays as she stared west out over Logan's large lake. Except for the academy on the south end and the House of L on the north, the mile long and almost half a mile wide body of water was nearly surrounded by trees in seasonal senescence and flaunting the peak hues of their fall foliage colors. The day's bright sunlight seemed to baste those trees with extra highlights of dazzle and contrast for Elektra's enjoyment. The brilliant scarlet leaves of the red maples, golden bronze of the hickories, the various deep red and russet colors of oaks, golden yellow of poplars, and even the light tans of a few scattered beech trees also seemed to gaily enhance the deep blue of the lake's waters and the virtually cloudless sky above. There was a fresh, crisp, natural country smell in the air, clean and pleasant to her nostrils, and yet, there was also that light chill in the afternoon breezes rustling the colored leaves and making small regular waves traverse the lake from the northwest to the southeast. Elektra enjoyed it all, and yes, it was so good to feel alive.

But, she sighed to herself, there was another side to this short break from security staff interviews for the House of L. The sights, sounds, and smells coming to her on the Academy's lakefront grassy knoll, although very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, also meant cold winter was coming. The sun would live, but the leaves would die. The Earth would also live, and Elektra Natchios too was alive for now, but Elektra Natchios was also aging; slowly, inevitably, now loveless, and unless she made a move to rekindle and inflame old embers of mutual attraction with Logan, she would die alone.

Why had she chosen the fickle, unfaithful, and feckless Daredevil for her life's great love instead of the much more compatible, understanding, and faithful Logan the Wolverine? Everything about her and Logan's mutually violent past, especially both being killed and revived by The Hand, screamed at her stupidity in choosing the shallower blind superhero for a life mate and basically rejecting Logan's truer and utterly loyal heart who would have made her happy. Now she was paying the price for that dumb decision. Murdock wanted nothing to do with her. Logan had since moved on. The sober fact was that she was rapidly heading into the even lonelier autumn of her life, then isolated winter, and, unless killed again with no timely revival, also headed for her own eternal dormancy and placement in her family's ancient graveyard high upon an isolated rocky hill in Greece. There her bones would stay, marked only by a simple stone with her name and relevant dates of her birth and death, and no one to mourn a master assassin's passing. Not even Logan. NO! She didn't want to be alone anymore! But she had messed up badly and caused him to turn away from her! And he had the Warbird now! So why?

"WHY AM I HERE?" Elektra almost shouted out over the Academy's rear hillside in desperate exasperation.

"To find and give love forever and ever," the autumn winds unexpectedly whispered back so softly that she almost didn't hear, but Elektra certainly and plainly heard what followed as the rustling leaves on the surrounding trees added their chorus to the wind's reply, "and bear him a child."

Stunned, Elektra glanced excitedly about her in wide eyed amazement. A child? Her? Who or what had just answered her? With whom was she to find love and bear a child? Logan? Maybe? Was the deep cold loneliness of her assassin's past soon going to be over? Here? In the House of L? The damnable, maddening, frustrating House of L? A child! Her own child to love and be loved in return? With Logan? Was her recent strange, horny, longing dreams about him and her going to come true? Really? Yes, something overwhelmingly seemed to answer within her this time. Her anger, confusion, and dread of dying alone and loveless seemed to drain away as the certainty of that internal one word reply settled into her spirit. She would find deep, true love with Logan, have his child, and never be alone again. The autumn winds had spoken.

Sudden movement caught Elektra's eye and brought her totally nonplussed and yet now oddly calmed reverie to a halt. A feminine figure came slowly walking out of the trees surrounding Logan's empty and locked lake cabin. Now where had she come from? Logan had been away the past few days hunting down another escaped, old time ruthless criminal named Crossbones who had been marked by the I.D.P. for immediate termination. Elektra had watched Logan lock his cabin, and then give her, Ava'Dara, and an angrily frowning but silent Storm a curt goodbye before hoisting his traveling backpack over one brawny shoulder and being whisked away by an I.D.P. anti-grav flyer. No one was allowed to go into Logan's cabin while he was away, not even Ava'Dara. The Shi'ar perimeter fencing around Logan's entire estate and lake was finished and activated as well as the Sentinel robot guards. No intruder alert had sounded on Elektra's console inside the patio doors behind her. So how had this strange yet obviously nonbelligerent female gotten down there among those trees?

Elektra, sensing no immediate threat and supremely confidant in her fighting prowess, patiently watched as the curiosity filled newcomer slowly strolled uphill towards the Jean Grey Academy, pausing occasionally to calmly yet keenly look around as if experiencing Westchester, New York's natural autumn ambiance for the first time. She seemed particularly impressed with the intrinsic harmony being displayed by Mother Nature's natural beauty in the fall colors of the trees and the soothing, fen shui serenity of the regular waves moving across the lake. She then watched a red tailed hawk soar in lazy figure eights above the far shore for several minutes, apparently just enjoying the sight of the large bird's natural freedom on the winds. The obvious mismatch of the futuristic looking House of L at the far end of the lake, the similar architecture of the Jean Grey Academy on this end, and the totally archaic looking log cabin in the middle appeared puzzling to her, but finally acceptable after long study. She also seemed to take a keen interest in the immaculate landscaping around the Jean Grey Academy; especially the flower garden Logan had grown around the base of Jean's statute/grave marker in the grassy knoll's graveyard.

The stranger cocked her head sideways in an almost birdlike manner to study all the old and now obviously newer X-Men grave markers. She slowly strolled past and around the final resting places of Charles Xavier, Nightcrawler, and Colossus, then walked past almost two dozen more graves as well as the one placed a little to one side, Magneto. She paused briefly before each one as if listening to some brief eulogy being given by an unseen admirer before coming back to focus at some length on Jean Grey's statue again. Now what was this all about? An unknown, once friend or foe of the X-Men coming to pay last respects maybe? Or some traveler from the future perhaps, coming to study ancient history, or vice versa? Or even a cross dimensional visitor coming to honor Earth 616's dead heroes and/or villains depending on which particular Earth she had as an origin. That might explain how she had gotten past the high security features of Logan's estate perimeter, but wasn't inter dimensional travel strictly regulated these days, and time travel absolutely forbidden?

Elektra's eyes narrowed in experienced appraisal as this heretofore undetected, interloping female began a more steady walking approach up the manicured lawn of the grassy knoll. She moved like a well trained dancer/fighter from the fluidity, grace, and careful yet unconscious placement of her steps. The fall breezes were making the strange looking woman's very long, tied back, lavender colored hair waft almost playfully about her. Casually wearing a long gray cloak reaching to her knees and with her thigh high black leather boots, Lavender Hair seemed to be better dressed for the cool weather than Elektra. The approaching female was also wearing a shape clinging, long sleeved, black mini dress that had two thin, longitudinal white stripes running from her shoulders down to the dress's wide brown hem. The bottom of that hem ended above her boots to expose about a hand's width of her smooth, white, yet definitely muscle toned thighs. Well, talk about being climate prepared, Elektra thought in half envy. Lavender Hair was also wearing black half gloves that only exposed her fingertips. Whoever she was, she was dressed weather smart in kind of a subtle but classy, ancient sorcerer's apprentice and/or Paladin traveling knight style

Wait a second. On her left hip. Hidden by the long and almost enveloping cloak. Was that a katana? Yet another Japanese swords-woman? Sent by whom this time? The long sheathed katana was attached to a brown leather belt that was slung low over Lavender Hair's lithe yet very shapely hips. She was right handed then, and most probably familiar with at least Iaido style Japanese sword fighting from the position she kept the katana's handle. Interesting. Another applicant seeking House of L security guard employment? What was the significance of the unknown black, bird like emblems on both shoulders of her gray cloak? Elektra half growled in disgust. Don't tell me she's another Shi'ar Warbird type trying to feather Logan's log cabin nest. Well, at least she had hair instead of feathers. Elektra smoothed her own heavy locks behind her and retied her red silk bandana while channeling her inner chi for possible battle. The approaching stranger appeared non threatening, but long experience and natural wariness said to be prepared for anything.

Coming fearlessly towards Elektra, Lavender Hair wore a small calm smile while observing Elektra's clothing and weapons with interest. She stopped perhaps twenty paces from the Academy's brick patio, saying nothing as Elektra moved slightly to reposition her feet to defend against any sudden attack. The two warrior women stood eying each other in silence, the afternoon breeze swirling their hair, the long ends of Elektra's red silk bandana, and the newcomer's cloak. For her part, Elektra was almost fascinated by the unknown female's slightly almond shaped and oddly colored lavender eyes as well as the perfectly oval and overall symmetrical beauty of her face. Her body's slender yet curvacious figure was also perfection. It was as if she had put in some kind of DNA design order for the absolute best mix of feminine sexiness achievable by the human form that could also be used for total sword fighting speed and lethality. She made the taller, more robustly built and muscled Elektra feel a little outsized and wary, the same way that damnable Shi'ar Warbird Ava'Dara made her feel. Lavender Hair finally bowed her head slightly for a polite formal greeting.

"Good afternoon," she said softly in stilted English. "I am Miya Asama. I am looking for Logan-san and was told I could most probably find him here."

"Greetings, I'm Elektra Natchios," Elektra returned with a slight noncommittal bow of her head and very cool tone, but her previously calmed heart was roiled anew. Had the autumn winds been cruelly teasing her? Was this a new rival for Logan's love? Dammit! There were too many already!

"I'm afraid Logan isn't here now, Miya-san, or at least he wasn't when I came out here to take a break. He has just recently begun giving updates of his schedule to Ava'Dara. She is inside, and if you would like, I'll let you ask her about his plans. If you are looking for a security job at the House of L, then we are conducting interviews for those positions today. You can attend to that without him actually being here by getting in line. If you simply wish to kill him, then I suggest you get in line for that also, but I doubt you'll have much success in the attempt."

"I assure you I'm here to kill no one," Miya's smile expanded somewhat in surprised amusement. "Logan-san is …a recent acquaintance... one that I would like to meet and learn more about if he would be willing and not burdened by my presence."

"Okay," Elektra shrugged in fake unconcern. Shit! Another sudden rival for Logan's affections just as she had guessed! And younger! Damned stupid wind! "From the way you're dressed and armed and moved I just assumed you had been sent here for a job like the others."

"The others?" Miya's head cocked in quick interest. "Others like me are here? Job hunting?"

"Yes, several," Elektra nodded before frowning slightly in natural/jealous feminine curiosity. "Have you arranged for a place to stay during your visit here? Got any money? Luggage?"

"Well, no, I haven't," Miya's eyebrows went up at this. "I, I hadn't given much thought as to how long I would be here. Another, ummm, acquaintance arranged my travel, and from the way it was explained, I just assumed I would be staying with Logan-san during a very short visit today."

"You'd have to get in line for that too," Elektra sighed a little too heavily to hide her disgust at being presented with another younger and much prettier rival. "It's taken a little time since the end of the dimensional wars, but it seems that the universal light has finally went on all of a sudden for Logan's other past female, ummm, acquaintances; mutant, augmented, AND human. There are very darned few powerful males still alive to chose a future mate from. Logan is by far the best in almost every way, but a few days ago he put a VERY protective Shi'ar Royal Warbird, Deathbringer Class, in charge of his social schedule. That's the Ava'Dara I mentioned earlier, and it may take a while to get past her. She's also the reason for the universal light being turned on about Logan as well as a lot more stand in line anger at him. There's been a giant increase in feather related jealousy around here too."

"I see," Miya frowned in worried thought. Logan had already bonded avian females to him here? Who? Had other Sekirei come here before her? Kazehana maybe? Uzume? Matsu? And the Twins? What was a Shi'ar Royal Warbird?

"Ummm, Elektra-san, you said there are others like me here? They may be, ummm, friends. Where are they staying? And are they also inside now?"

"Yes, all the Asian weapon users are inside. Uhhh, look, it's up to you, but it might be a few days before Logan returns, and his lake cabin is off limits to everyone, even Ava'Dara. All job applicants are being temporarily housed for free in whatever Academy empty dorm rooms are available. Meals are free also. You would have to fill out a job application form and do your first interview this afternoon before you could see Kitty Pryde, Rachel Grey, or Storm for an Academy billet tonight. Skills testing will start being conducted in the next few mornings for all applicants that are interview approved, but quite frankly, we haven't turned anyone away, yet. If you intend to apply and stay around, then you might want to ask Storm to loan you a few credits and take you to a nearby shopping mall for some personal hygiene items and a change of underwear or two. Tell me. What Japanese sword fighting style do you use?"

"Ummm, my own?" Miya answered while obviously distracted by still thinking over her hazy immediate future. "I mean, I'm, ummm, familiar with all of them, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Southeast Asian, but, uhhh, I've found some movements are just too slow to be used effectively. I've sort of blended what works best for my speeds."

"Really?" Elektra's eyes narrowed in renewed interest. Just how fast was this lavender haired Asian chick? Fast enough to maybe challenge a too obstructive Shi'ar Warbird, Deathbringer Class? Skills testing might become very intriguing if it would wipe that smugly superior look off a certain alien Warbird's face. Or maybe not since Logan's loyalty to a new bed mate was basically unlimited until she betrayed or took it too lightly. Elektra knew that all too well. Well, testing would at least be more entertaining than listening to Mystique and Frost constantly snipe at each other. And if this Miya could knock the key to Logan's bedroom door out of the Warbird's hands?

"Come inside Miya-san," Elektra invited in a polite tone while opening the glass paned, white, double patio doors behind her. "I believe Ava'Dara has ordered hot green tea to be made. You can observe the application process if you're interested while we drink it. You can also meet the other applicants and see if they are your friends."

Miya stood with a half frown as if trying to listen for a voice, her cool looking lavender eyes searching about also. After several long moments, she bowed her head politely and preceded Elektra into a large library where the four walls were lined floor to ceiling with oak bookcases filled with archaic looking books. There was a line of temporary tables to the left with a small computer displaying 3D holographs to two females restrained in floating prison chairs. One prisoner had bright red hair, dark blue skin, and yellow eyeballs with no pupils. The other seated female prisoner was apparently human with platinum blonde hair and light blue eyes. Both of these chair bound women wore dark green prison jumpsuits and a strange looking, glowing metal collar around their necks. Two armored female security guards lounged patiently in padded black leather chairs along the wall behind the row of tables.

A third human woman, brown hair, brown eyes, no collar, not bound, wearing a casual brown shirt, blue jeans, and a name tag of Jessica Jones Cage sat beside the blonde. Two more computers displayed 3D conference call images with two other official looking female heads who were chatting amiably about some child named Danielle with Jessica, all three waiting patiently for the afternoon's interviews to resume. Along the opposite far wall, ten females, all in various types of fighting outfits, sat diffidently in padded leather chairs, some conversing in low tones about the various weapons being carried among their group and the rest just quietly waiting their turn. Miya immediately saw that none were her Sekirei friends, and the disappointment was slightly reflected in her features.

A large oak door to the far right was opened by a very impressive looking female in what appeared to be a glossy black/polished metal battle suit. Her long, butt length hair was actually a very full train of white feathers that was held back from her white eyes by an open faced, partial, rear curving, black helmet. She carried two sheathed swords on her back, and in her arms she was holding a very thick, over sized tome. She strode the length of the library with the heavy book, sidled past Miya and Elektra, thumped her burden down, and produced a small electronic notepad from some hidden uniform pocket before seating herself next to the blue skinned woman at the tables' end. Miya was very shocked at the amount of naked torso and extreme, well endowed cleavage the alien female was exposing and wondered if the shiny black leather outfit with it's polished metal reinforced joints was normal battle dress or some kind of ceremonial attire. In either case the taller, feathered humanoid female warrior was incredibly built, graceful, beautiful, and very impressive on several levels; physical, psychic, and absolutely no doubt in Miya's experienced assessment, very deadly in combat. Elektra nodded at Miya's questioning glance. Yes, THIS was Ava'Dara, Logan's Royal Warbird, Death Bringer Class.

"Any news of Logan maybe returning today?" Elektra asked the Warbird a little too brusquely, but the assassin's curt tone simply didn't register in the alien Shi'ar female's socially and emotionally stunted thinking.

"Be here later tonight. Doesn't know how late."Ava'Dara answered as flatly and concisely as if she were simply relaying deployment orders to a Galactic invasion fleet from her old command post on the main battle deck of the Shi'ar Super Destroyer, the Divine Principles of Immolation. Fortunately she had been promoted and transferred to the Lord Majestor's personal guard before that ship had met its doom upon the energy shields of the Kree frontier while chasing the Starjammers. Ava'Dara's answering tone to Elektra was still the same as if she were still on the Shi'ar ship's battle deck however. Target locked on. Fire pulse cannons en mass. Kill the enemy ship and Terran mutant crew. Scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. Report from navigation. Our ship is too close to Kree energy fields. Oh, forget breakfast, we're all going to die now due to command error. Crap. Logan would be here sometime later tonight. Such was the monotone form of the Warbird's excitement in answering.

"Okay, good," Elektra shrugged at the Shi'ar lack of emotion. "Please advise him he has a visitor waiting if he gets here before curfew, and I need to talk to him too. We're ready for hot tea also."

"Acknowledged, Human," Ava'Dara nodded once, punched her notepad a few times, snapped two fingers on her right hand, and loudly demanded to the air in front of her, "Lackeys! Tea! Now!"

Two small, cigar smoking, dark blue, elf like creatures with long tails "bamfed" into view above the interview tables. They were carrying a large steaming tea pot and smaller cups on a trey. They silently put the tea set down in front of the Warbird and "bamfed" away as suddenly as they appeared.

"At least she's put the Fear of Something into THOSE crazy little blue fuckers," Elektra murmured half to herself in grudging admiration. The little, teleporting, lecherous, cigar stealing, beer guzzling, alien Bamfs had been making life virtually unbearable in the Academy for years after their initial cross dimensional infestation, especially if any female was undressing or taking a shower.

"I wonder how she did it? Well, anyway, let's get some tea, Miya-san. And just ignore shape shifting Mystique and Emma our super bitch telepath over there. They're wearing decapitating power inhibitors as well as locked into their prisoner chairs. They're both bitchy bark and no bite these days even if they are House administrative staff. Jewel's a pretty good egg though. You can sit on the small divan behind you and just observe for now. You look a little overwhelmed or disappointed maybe?"

"Yes, both actually," Miya replied softly at witnessing the total strangeness of Logan's home world. Other than the Woman in Green, she had never seen natural teleporters before, let alone little blue alien elves, blue skinned shape shifters with all yellow eyes, supertelepath blonde beauties, nor feather headed female warriors simply radiating enormous psychic/battle/sexual power. It was all rather intimidating as if she was some back country hick used to being top shark in the pond now suddenly dumped in a sophisticated city's much bigger ocean simply teeming with killer whales. She shook herself mentally over that last unnerving thought with its very badly mixed metaphors. She just needed to stay calm, observe, try to fit in, and wait to see Logan, not get worked up over being on such an alien planet.

"However hot tea is always welcome, Elektra-san. Thank you. I was hoping to find my friends in here, but apparently not."

"We had quite a few applicants this morning. Perhaps your friends are down the hall in the Academy. What were their names?"

"Kazehana, Matsu, Uzume, Akitsu, and Kochou."

"Hmmm. Those names don't ring a bell. Well, if you'd like to wait until I'm finished and not interested in applying for a security position, I'll help you look around the Academy before you have to leave and find lodging in town. Perhaps Logan will show up early enough and invite you to stay with him and the Warbird, but I personally wouldn't count on that too much. He tends to just come and go very unexpectedly and has for a very long time. Also, remember there's a local 9 p.m. curfew."

"Thank you. Then, I do believe I'd like to wait for him here as long as possible," Miya sighed slightly as she accepted a cup of hot green tea. Her facial expression remained somewhat puzzled, obviously out of her element and totally not expecting the situation in which she found herself. Elektra wondered again just who and what she was, and just why was she looking for Logan since she certainly wasn't acting like she was looking for a future lover. Wasn't undressed enough for it. Carefully pushing her cloak aside so as not to sit on it, Miya demurely perched on the divan's left arm to allow her katana to hang free.

For the next half hour she patiently listened to the interviewing panel of Elektra, the blue skinned Mystique, the blonde Emma Frost, the casually dressed Jessica Jones Cage, mutant battle name of Jewel, and the two conference calling, mutant female talking 3D heads named Songbird and Photon. They all asked the first applicant the usual job seeking questions. The computer automatically recorded everything by voice input and displayed relevant cross referencing material during each applicant's session.

The first job seeker was a tall, very beautiful, very shapely yet athletic looking, Asian female with very thick and long black hair. She wore a black, hefty cleavage exposing, spandex battle suit with several throwing stars attached to her torso, hips, and thighs. She introduced herself as Brittany Chien, mutant battle name of Shuriken. Immediately, the 3D computer hologram displayed her past family, school, military service, and weapons training history, her employment as a secret agent/mutant tracker for the old United States government as well as her cross dimensional battle records with the Exiles and Ultraforce. The display also highlighted, detailed, and displayed 3D video examples of her mutated psionic, energy manipulative, and enhanced physical powers as well as her fighting skills. Other details of her personal life were revealed as well, failed loves, her one child dying young, her "slight" temper problem during fighting, and on and on it went, until Mystique wearily asked the final question.

"Have you at any time been romantically or sexually involved with Logan, aka Wolverine, or accepted any gifts, favors, or special services from him that would lead you to believe you are now guaranteed a security job in the House of L?"

"No," Brittany Chien replied with a small frown of annoyance. "My abilities, powers, training, and experience speak for themselves. Nothing is owed to me, and I owe no one. Heard plenty about Logan, but I don't know the guy, not sure I've even met him. I simply need a job, a place to stay, and food to eat. Times are a little tough nowadays in case you didn't know it."

"Yes, we know," Elektra replied diplomatically while nodding her head in agreement. Oh how she hated desk work, pretending pleasantries, and forced officious interaction! "Unless there are no objections, no? Okay, Brittany you may proceed down the hall to see either Storm, Rachel Grey, or Kitty Pryde for your temporary room assignment here in the Academy. Dinner is at 7 in the cafeteria. If you pass our skills testing, reference checks, and final interview to be hired, permanent quarters will be assigned to you in the House of L when it's finished."

Pointing to the big book on the table in front of her, Ava'Dara called softly as Brittany turned to go.

"Shuriken, have you ever read the battle history of Lord Logan, my Royal Master?"

"Well, no," Brittany replied while her large, almond shaped, and very dark brown eyes slid to Elektra's. Was this another interview question? Hadn't she been dismissed? Was the alien female with white feathers for hair, totally silent until now, also part of the job application process? Elektra, very curious as to what the Warbird was doing here again this afternoon, gave a small shrug combined with a facial expression that seemed to say for Brittany to just go with it.

"I've certainly heard a lot of stories, and I know people who have fought with and against Wolverine, but no, I've never read that book."

"For a female human mutant, Shuriken, you have many very admirable and interesting qualities. Although Lord Logan has access to the Avengers' Infinity anti-aging drugs, I sense from your aura that your human mutation has natural healing powers to greatly enhance the longevity of your life. Are you yet fertile?" Ava'Dara leaned forward in intense interest as she made notes in what appeared to be a recruitment form page on her electronic notepad.

"My fertility is nobody's business but mine!" Brittany snapped bitterly before turning to leave and continuing over her shoulder while striding away. "My son is dead! And so is his father! I don't want my flawed genetics to kill another baby, and I will not be mocked like this!"

"Shuriken, if you met and mated in heated long term bonding with Lord Logan," Ava'Dara called again at the suddenly and highly agitated Brittany now literally stalking towards the library's exit in long angry strides, "would you be willing to explore the possibilities of being trained as a Royal Warbird, Deathbringer Class while breeding new and genetically superior warrior sons and daughters?"

Miya, not quite believing what she was hearing and seeing, simply watched silently as Shuriken didn't deign to answer, walked through the hall exit, and haughtily slammed the library's heavy oak door. The other job applicants along the far wall seemed bemused to say the least, a few of them then looking thoughtful as they pondered the implications of possibly receiving greatly increased lifespans from the Avengers' Infinity drugs in return for bonding and breeding with the Wolverine.

"Probably not your most socially diplomatic nor sensitive interactive moment, Ava dear," Emma Frost observed drily after a very long and poignant silence. "I'm actually surprised you didn't invite her out to hunt small game with you, eat it raw and unseasoned, or more civilly roast your kill over an open fire for dinner tonight. Perhaps you should enroll in Raven Darkholme's online class for socially unacceptable small talk, wit challenged repartee, low brow humor, and totally tiresome personal insults. Logan should attend too. It would probably be a vast improvement in social graces for him also."

"Why are you asking these useless and irrelevant questions now? You didn't say anything to any of the applicants in the morning session," Elektra turned to frown at the note taking Ava'Dara while completely ignoring Mystique's snarling invitation for Emma Frost to eat her unwashed underwear.

"I will review my notes on the morning candidates, especially on Colleen Wing, but at the time none of the morning females felt extraordinarily qualified," Ava'Dara replied with a totally deadpan and no nonsense expression.

"Also, my recent questions to Shuriken may sound useless and irrelevant for pathetically short life females like you and Emma Frost, but know this, Human. You and Frost won't even be an unwelcome afterthought in my Lord Logan's memories a thousand years from now. Already for you both, your hair is going gray, your skin is wrinkling with age, and your body rapidly approaching menopausal infertility with statistically nonviable and damaged eggs for fertilization. Even Infinity drugs cannot reverse what has already been aged. A Royal Master like my Lord Logan should have a flock of young, vibrant, long living, and fertile Royal Warbirds like me to protect him and our new Ancestral Nest, breed warriors for the continuing of his Royal bloodline, and train our young warriors to continue our race into the far future. I am his first and am merely looking for those qualified and willing to join my new Warbird flock. Your interviewing process today with its depth of informational access is simply a timely efficient way to sift through possible recruits."

"That ought to shut shut your snarky, short life mouth, Emma, OLD darling," Mystique chortled at the darkly scowling and visibly shocked Emma. "Isn't it so gushingly nice to know how little your already skin wrinkled and gray haired dotage means to MY much, much longer future?"

The gloating Mystique's small verbal triumph didn't last long.

"You have very small odds for a longer future, insane blue skin," Ava'Dara observed flatly. If a Shi'ar Royal Warbird's facial features weren't exactly capable of emoting disdain, her next words to Mystique certainly did.

"Nor are you a possible Warbird recruit. Despite your odd mutated appearance, you do have healing, anti-aging powers, and would yet be fertile for centuries. You also have doughty fighting skills, killing instincts, and impressive mutant powers that would admirably suit a Royal Warbird. Yet, here you sit imprisoned in a chair with a particle beam cutting device around your neck that can be activated at any moment by the short tempered human Natchios; one whom you routinely insult because you are self hating insane. You dream, plot, and plan for outliving your current circumstances, but because of your self loathing insanity that breeds arrogant and belittling treatment of others, you will soon bring about your own self destruction and fail as you have consistently failed in every enterprise you have ever undertaken. Your near future death is a statistical certainty in your circumstances.

"In this alone you are totally unsuitable to be trained as a Royal Warbird. Added to this is your proclivity for unproductive mutual masturbation with other females as well as your utterly meaningless, demeaning, casual self abuse with males with which you are emotionally incapable of making enough mutual battle heat for a deep, lasting, and life satisfying permanent bond. You in many ways are not fit to breed future Royal warriors with Lord Logan, nor guard his new Ancestral Nest. I have studied human emotions, one of which is pity. I do believe you more than qualify for it, perhaps even more than the more pathetic Frost and Natchios females rapidly aging beside you."

"Freaking A! Talk about a total beat down!" Jessica Jones Cage breathed to herself as she stared at the shocked, open mouthed faces of Elektra, Mystique, and Emma Frost, all of whom were totally at loss for words. Songbird and Photon were simply shaking their 3D holographic heads in silent amazement also. Jessica swallowed hard. And her daughter Danielle insisted that the Warbird's heart flowers were beautiful? And was demanding regular play time with her and the damnable Logan too?

Miya was also simply staring at Ava'Dara, carefully considering what had been said. Although the bluntness of her words had been socially startling, was it possible that the Shi'ar Warbird shared some kind of ancient avian yet slightly divergent ancestry with the Sekirei from planet Kouten? Logan had consented for a flock to be formed with him as a Lord? Was a Shi'ar lord close to or the same as a Sekirei's bonded Ashikabi? As far as the Warbird herself, Miya found her brutal honesty and total self confidence almost refreshing.

"I don't recall anyone asking for your opinions of anyone, alien Warslut," Mystique recovered angrily, "nor for your presence here. We're conducting job interviews for security personnel for the House of L, not helping you feather Logan's kinky love nest with a harem now or a thousand years from now. Besides, it is well known that you've been spreading your legs for a lot of Earth's lower male life forms besides Logan since you arrived on Earth 616. Where do you get off judging anyone? Just leave, and take your silly ass history book about your fellow, fucking hypocrite Logan with you. Nobody's interested."

"Natchios asked. I answered. You commented. I corrected your comments and assumptions." Ava'Dara gave Mystique a dismissive flick of her left hand while leaning comfortably back in her chair. "You only demean yourself with childish name calling. It's also pitiful that you have to belittle others to bolster your own low self esteem. Casual youthful mating for mutual fun and tension release is totally acceptable in the Shi'ar Imperium. It ceases after an adult Royal Warbird shares mutual battle heat and permanent bonding with her Lord to become fertile. I was merely pointing out your crippled inability to achieve adult status and bonding due to your emotional self hating insanity. There may be flock possibilities among these job applicants. I'm staying. None of you have the ability to make me leave anyway. I suggest you go about your menial tasks. However, in the interests of time efficiency, I will merely note females I wish to question further when we're done. You have already been measured, found totally lacking, and need not be present in my private talks with the much better candidates later."

"Screw you, Shit Bird! Nobody asked you to measure ME for anything! Let alone my becoming some harem brood slave for that fucking prick Logan!"

"I also pity the meanness and petty smallness of your spirit that you've fostered within your heart, blue skin. I'm sure abandoning your own child to save yourself and killing your second one has hardened your twisted heart beyond repair. The fact that you took part in the plot for arranging Lord Logan to unwittingly kill his children speaks volumes for your current depravity and being unfit to know and enjoy the deep benefits of being a Royal Warbird. You well deserved your death sentence. In fact, I am entirely puzzled as to why Lord Logan would save you and give you any kind of position."

"I didn't KNOW about the part of the plan for Logan to kill his kids! And I tried to warn him when I found out, but the stupid blockhead wouldn't listen!"

"But you allowed yourself to be used for your part in the initial plot to cause him great harm, even relished in it. Still guilty," the Royal Warbird shook her head contemptuously, "and not deserving his listening to your warning because you've had zero credibility with him and everyone else for over a century. Still have none. And I believe totally unsuited to be an administrator in the House of L. Since you weren't executed as you deserved, true justice would at least see you caged inside there for ages until you wither into a weak, useless, unloved, dying old crone. At least Frost and Natchios will age and die much, much sooner."

Again, a very long silence followed Ava'Dara's infuriating reply. Mystique silently fumed in teeth clenched anger, visibly wishing she wasn't being restrained by her imprisoning chair. For once, the frowning Emma Frost was also maintaining her own counsel and like Miya Asama, carefully thinking over everything she had just heard. Growing old and dying in a cage was NOT what Emma Frost wanted at all. Finally, Ava'Dara simply gave Elektra a bored stare.

"Okay, fine, this is not getting our work done," Elektra rolled her eyes up toward the library's ceiling in long suffering while silently thinking, rapidly aging? Her still sexy rounded ass! Screw that feathered mouthy bitch! And she only had a very few gray hairs and no wrinkles! "Next applicant please."

Miya silently watched the lengthy interviews continue while keeping an eye on which individuals elicited any visible interest in Ava'Dara. One simply named Shi, or Death in Japanese, another named Pale Flower, and a third calling herself Lady Bullseye made the Warbird peer at each closely, nod to herself, and tap entries into her electronic notepad. Finally, after almost four rather tense but relatively uncontentious hours, broken only once by a short bathroom break, the afternoon's ten candidates had been interviewed. Elektra looked over at Miya with eyebrows arched. Did she want to join the job application process, braving the Warbird's scrutiny, or simply go look for her friends? Miya thought for a few seconds with her head cocked as if listening again, finally shrugged, stood up, and moved in front Elektra's center position at the interview tables. With no money and no assurance of Logan arriving in time, the simplest solution to make sure she had a place to stay and food to eat tonight was simply to apply. It didn't mean she would actually work.

"Astonishing. Another archaic ninja type, Elektra?" Emma Frost sighed wearily, her shoulders slumping in disappointment. "They seem to be as numerous as the gross looking hair on your upper lip. This one's cloak and unusually dyed hair are a different touch though, I must admit. Could we wrap this up quickly? I want out of this chair even if it's just to stretch out on my prison cell bed for a few minutes before dinner is served. And this jumpsuit itches."

"Please state your name, date of birth, registration number, occupation, and place of origin," Elektra sighed but ignored Emma after a quick glance and small smirk at the blonde's dried skin distress.

"I am Miya Asama from the Asakusa District of Tokyo, Japan. I have worked as an innkeeper. I don't know my date of birth, your computer's calendar dating is unfamiliar anyway, and I have no registration number."

Everyone's eyes went to the computer's 3D table display to see … nothing.

"You're not registered?" Mystique asked sharply.

"Registered with whom?"

"The Inter Dimensional Protectorate. You have never entered you date of birth, place of residence, banking code, medical card number, or driving permit with your local Asakusa authorities?"

"No," Miya shook her head slowly while showing no facial expression. "None of that information has ever been requested of me. I have never bothered to obtain a bank account for we can still use cash and barter where I live. It's a very old district. I don't drive either. No vehicle."

"I see, well, that's no deal breaker here. We can get you registered if hired. A lot of people, whole towns and neighborhoods actually, have slipped through the cracks since the I.D.P. took control, especially in Japan, but how did you get here today?" Elektra finally asked after a long pause. "And how did you get past the security perimeter and down by Logan's cabin earlier? And why are you looking for Logan in the first place?"

"A person, whom I suspect can fold space for instant travel and knows Logan well, volunteered to drop me off by his lake cabin for a short visit with him today. I was introduced to Logan recently, and quite frankly, I wanted to become better acquainted."

"This acquaintance that dropped you off is a teleporter, eh? That explains it. Songbird, make a note that our perimeter security sensors missed a teleporting event and have them checked for recalibration. Her arrival should have been detected. Jessica, we'll have to do a manual records and background search on Miya before formal hiring just like all the other Japanese applicants. So just what skills and experience do you have for the House of L, Miya?"

"I have sword and unarmed combat skills, as well as gardening, and I have worked very hard to learn how to cook large meals for many people at an Inn," Miya bowed her head politely. "I am told they are more than adequately tasty and nutritious."

"What ARE you Miya Asama?" Ava'Dara interrupted suddenly with intense interest. "You do not smell human, nor mutated human. The lavender flower scent about you is very natural, not from artificial perfumes or body cleansing products. You also do not smell or feel like Shi'ar, Kree, Ruul, Myndai, Lumina, Sirian, nor shape shifting Skrull. Yet, I can feel the aura of not human powers about you, long used and well honed as if you are an Exalted Warbird of Antiquity, but you are NOT Shi'ar. So what are you?"

"Why, actually," Miya smiled enough to almost squint her eyes, "I'm a goddess."

"An alien ninja goddess and gardening Iron Chef named Miya Asama," Emma's voice fairly dripped with sarcasm, "teleporting in from Tokyo and wanting to get better acquainted with still smelling like a warthog Logan? How cute but drearily droll. That last alone suggests she's got severe problems besides absolutely no registered background, no credentials, no references, and no current record of even existing, let alone illegally arriving here. And we are even considering hiring her? We hire self proclaimed goddesses out of the blue for prison security? This really IS astonishing!"

"I would rather cook," Miya returned mildly, "if a position like that is still available. I will work for room and meals only for as long as I stay here. I do not wish to be a burden."

"Well, as far as I know, Logan has only hired one House cook to date," Jessica volunteered as she flipped the 3D holograph display through several personnel lists. "Ummm, her name is Cecilia Cardinale whose son died fighting in the Shadowbox Wars. She's a Cuban female augmented by a temporary symbiotic alien and given powerful psychic, teleporting, levitation, super strength, agility, shape shifting, unarmed combat, and self healing powers. She became a man hating vigilante named Poison due to male abuse when younger, and she can also psi project severe injury and disease. She was killed and revived by The Hand to make a brainwashed attack on Nick Fury's S.H.I.E.L.D. air carrier almost two decades ago. Stabbed to death by Wolverine during the battle, but apparently revived again by her off and on symbiotic alien friend. Currently employed as Logan's personal chef here at the Jean Grey Academy."

"A cook named Poison?" Emma exclaimed incredulously. "Well, why not? She actually sounds more astonishing than our mysterious ninja gardening goddess here. Wrap this crap up, Elektra! Let this phony whatever talk to Logan and pass his staffing background checks if she simply wants to cook! He's personally hiring the cook, house, and ground-keeping staff anyway. We're only here for preliminary interviews of House security applicants, and we're done! I want OUT of this chair! This jumpsuit makes the damnable rash on my boobs itch! And Logan promised me better clothes! Where ARE they?"

"Not my problem. Ask him when he gets here," Elektra motioned to cut the conference call and signaled the patiently waiting, Raft female security guards to return the still sour looking Mystique and fuming Emma to their modular prison cells set up in the academy basement. Damn it was good to get away from those two nasty tempered bitches, Elektra thought as she blew out a deep breath. She then exchanged commiserating glances with Jessica Cage who was also shaking her head in sighing relief.

"I can't wait to get those two into their own little bailiwicks at the House and OUT of my hair," Elektra announced to the library ceiling. And Ava fucking Dara too, she finished silently as she moved around the tables to stand by Miya.

"Miya Asama," Ava'Dara stood gracefully and pointed towards the patio's double doors, "I wouldst like to privately converse with you outside. There I can more readily observe your..."

"Save it for later, Feathers," Elektra interrupted in an aggrieved tone as she took light possession of Miya's left elbow and pointed in the opposite direction. "Miya wants to search the Academy for friends of hers that may have arrived earlier, and she needs assigned to a room before the head Academy staff all disappear for dinner."

"There may be others like Miya already here?" The Warbird's white eyes widened at the thought and moved to tug on Miya's other arm. "But I did not sense, well, yes! By all means! Leave us search now! And Miya Asama doesn't need a room assignment, human! She can share my quarters here and also Lord Logan's cabin with me when he returns! That way she can more easily read Lord Logan's battle history and acquaint herself with it."

"Wait! Ava'Dara!" Jessica Cage moved to block the other three females path to the library exit. "You have GOT to talk to Logan about his hiring Seraph's Angels as my legwork assistants! The background investigating work is piling up way too fast for me to even try to keep up, and those women are insisting that he spends at least one night a week with each of them on a rotating basis before they'll agree to work for me!"

"I see no reason to bother Lord Logan with such a trivial detail," Ava'Dara raised a disdainful right eyebrow in return. "He has already indicated his deep desires for your human minor minions to be hired. Tell them their terms are acceptable for each Sunday night he is here, or they may have his free Wednesday evening as an alternate if their Sunday date is missed due to his I.D.P. assassin duties."

"Are you freaking nuts? Nobody goes on a Sunday night date in this town! Nothing's open!" Jessica crossed her arms below her breasts in disagreement with this scheduling faux pas. "Make it Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night!"

"Thursday is for his all night popcorn and stud poker group," the Warbird explained patiently while shaking her head negatively. "He reports to I.D.P. headquarters in Shanghai on Fridays. Saturdays through Sunday afternoons are reserved for his duties with the Avengers. Monday nights are for watching televised hockey with me, but he has advised that you and the Little Warrior are welcome to eat dinner and watch with us. All day and evenings on Tuesdays he is still teaching combat tactics here at the academy when he is here. Wednesdays are his regular meetings with the House of L architects, builders, and sub contractors. Sunday nights with a possible late Wednesday night alternate are all that is left open for social interaction. Those Seraph human females will just have to accept what they can get."

"Oh all right, but, wait! Logan wants MY Danielle to watch hockey with him? And YOU? Every Monday night?"

"Certainly, and with you also if you wish to attend. It is a great honor after all," Ava'Dara nodded her head with enough enthusiasm to make her feathers rustle. "I have studied this war sport. Keeping official track of the rubber puck and scoring are simply ruses to create battle tension. The war sport's main purpose is to be a great teaching exercise in constantly evolving team tactics, maneuvers, and innovative weapon use while following a commander's strategic battle orders. There are also invaluable deeper lessons of subterfuge, deception, sneaky blindside attacks, and practicing wounded innocence while tripping, hacking, punching, and slashing away with a stick blade at an opponent's kidneys, eyes, exposed joints, and genitals. Hockey is a great battle field simulator to begin the Little Warrior's training and get her accustomed to seeing blood."

"Holy Freaking HELL that is SO not right!" Jessica began in rising righteous anger. "There is NO damn way my little kid is..."

Naturally, the library door slammed open at this precise instant to admit one small flying ball of dynamic yelling excitement and action. Danielle Cage literally bowled her mother backwards upon impact while smothering Jessica's face with kisses followed by near strangling neck hugs. An excited running dialogue of today's major events in school was the verbal accompaniment.

"MAMA! You know WHAT? During color in the lines that Joey kid called me a poopy butt again so I hit him in the ear and twisted his arm and gave him such a pinch then Amy pulled my hair so I poked her real hard in her belly button to make her cry a lot so later at lunch I felt bad and gave her half of my pbj sammich and she made Joey give me his strawberry yogurt in return for her snicker doodle cookie and asked if I wanted half of her tuna salad sammich but I said no because Ava'Dara says real warriors don't eat tuna salad they eat the whole damn tuna, right? I really like Amy and Joey! They're my best friends! And so anyway we gave that nasty old tuna salad sammich to our skinny teacher Missus Tole because she was almost drooling over it since she's poor and doesn't eat very well. Can I take her some extra food tomorrow so she doesn't have to look so starved all the, all the...AVA'DARA! YOU'RE HERE! IS UNCA LOGAN HERE TOO?"

"I, Ava'Dara Naganandini, Royal Warbird, Deathbringer Class, greet you in the name of our Royal Master, Little Warrior. Our Lord Logan is to arrive later."

"I also greet you Ava'Dara Nanga, nanga, nanganinny. Oh, I can never get that right! HEY! Can we go flying over the lake again! And, and dive for fish! And stab 'em with your swords! Can we huh? Can WE? Mama! You want to fly and catch fish too, right? Let's go right now and give what we spear to Cecilia so she... HEY! Hi Lectra! Gee you look so pretty! Can I see your sai swords? Come outside and do your kata with them again so I can watch! You, you always look so... oh..."

Daniel Cage had missed seeing Miya who had taken a step behind Elektra and the Warbird at Jessica's first confrontation. The little, brown curly haired, female dynamo, dressed in black sneakers, blue jeans, and a gray sweatshirt with fresh and multicolored crayon streaks, stopped absolutely still and hovered head high in front of Miya. Danielle's big brown eyes went very wide as she did a slow head to toe and back again inspection of this new female addition to her young life. For her part, Miya gave the instantly awestruck young child a small friendly smile. Danielle promptly wheeled and flew back into Jessica's arms and began sobbing uncontrollably.

A little perplexed, Miya blinked and frowned slightly at the little girl's reaction to her. What was wrong? She hadn't used any scary psychic projections, nor tried to look threatening in any way, matter of fact, she had tried to look very friendly. Sending a child fleeing to sob in fear in her mother's arms actually hurt. Miya turned to look at Elektra with a contrite, lower lip chewing, and wounded expression.

"Wait," Elektra said softly and smirked knowingly in return.

"The Little Warrior sees and feels things very deeply in her life," Ava'Dara added in a hushed tone of blatant awe. "I admire this very greatly and hope to..."

"You listen and you listen good, you arrogant, bird brained piece of shit!" Jessica snarled as she poised a free index finger a few micro centimeters away from a surprised Ava'Dara's nose. "My Danielle will NEVER become like you! You knock off using cuss words around her and all this Little Warrior and training and stabbing and, and blood crap right this instant and from now on too, or I'll forbid her from ever spending ten seconds within miles of you! Got it? She is Luke Cage's daughter! The most loving, caring, humane man that ever lived! And way tons better than you and your fucking murderous Lord Logan!"

Uncharacteristically, Ava'Dara made no move to escape Jessica's righteous finger. After a long silence, she simply spoke but only loud enough to be heard above Danielle's sobbing.

"Some thirty seasons ago I was conceived in the flesh slums of Chandlihar, a minor planet in the Shi'ar Imperium. My mother's ova had been harvested as her tax payment. My father's sperm was delivered to the egg incubators by a sprinkling system. I was gestated and born from the ripped open womb of an alien slave woman whose anatomy was not built for Shi'ar birth. She became my first kill for the Shi'ar Imperium. Before I was taught speech, I was working day and night assembling pulse cannons for the Naganandini weapons factory until old enough to be trained, taught to kill, absolutely obey, and serve my Royal Master as a soldier of the Imperium. By the time your Earth children enter school I was already killing the Imperium's enemies. My kill score rapidly became high enough that I was accepted into the most elite ranks of Shi'ar soldiers. I endured and excelled in the harshest and most demanding combat drill in the Galaxy to become a Royal Warbird, Deathbringer Class, one who knows exceedingly well how to kill and also die if necessary.

"Know this Jessica Jones Cage. I've always wondered what it would have been like to have a real mother, and despite not knowing, I never really wanted to kill anything or anyone. I had a secret shame growing up because I loved to draw what was thought by my trainers to be depraved pictures of pretty things; colorful flowers, songbirds on the wing, and flitting butterflies. I would draw them in furtive places of hiding and then burn them before they could be discovered and expose me, yet I was nearly terminated for my weakness. I was disgraced after my dark secret was discovered the day I didn't kill an alien artist's young child on a planet the Imperium had invaded for conquest. Instead of the capital punishment I deserved, my Royal Majestor assigned me to be a bodyguard of the Royal Prince and sent me here to Earth with him. Then I was assigned to stay at this academy when the Prince returned home."

Elektra and the still puzzled Miya glanced a little uncomfortably at each other, both unused to witnessing such a dramatic tableau now unfolding before them. Elektra simply shrugged and decided to enjoy the Warbird getting a beat down/social education from the depths of an irate mother's protective wrath. Miya was still wondering what it was and/or what she had done to upset the little girl so badly.

"After much meditation," Ava'Dara continued. "It is my conclusive belief that the Royal Majestor, although not understanding it, saw the deep beauty and compassion in the heart of Wolverine; a great battle hero renowned throughout the Galaxies, profoundly respected by the Shi'ar, Kree, and Sirian races, even more deeply feared by the Skrull, and especially the Brood of whom he has been their deadliest scourge. I also believe the royalty of the Shi'ar Imperium, now greatly weakened through centuries of constant warfare, intended to match Lord Logan with the only Royal Warbird in the Imperium that has shown she can appreciate his heart. They have done this so that in the centuries to come, a new and stronger, more viable, and compassionate race can survive to strengthen not only Earth's people, but the Shi'ar as well.

"I already know how to kill and die, Jessica Jones Cage. It is my sincerest desires that since I am now totally life bonded to and serving my Lord Logan, he will also teach me how to love and live. Just like I, Ava'Dara Naganandini, Royal Warbird, Deathbringer Class, profoundly desire for your Little War … Danielle Cage to teach me all about the deep beauty in living and help me again draw the pretty pictures I feel within me."

"Dammit," Jessica's shoulders sagged, her pointing free hand already withdrawn to love pat the still sobbing Danielle's back. "You were a lot easier to hate a minute ago. But I'm still warning you..."

"You must face the present sad and harsh reality of life here on Earth 616 Jessica Cage. You and your daughter Danielle will always be in grave danger if you don't at least learn how to protect yourselves. Without Lord Logan's shelter and kindness, what kind of future would you both have? One that would be sanctioned and approved by your dead husband perhaps? Highly doubtful from the way the I.D.P. is governing. I also do not see how my Lord has earned your constant vicious scorn. Did he not valiantly defend you from the Moloids with me while you and Danielle fled? Your daughter also sees him completely different than you. Can you explain that?"

"I, I, no!" Jessica floundered in self recrimination. She hadn't wanted Logan or even the strange Warbird left behind on that rooftop, and she was grateful for his protection and getting them registered as well as steady employment, but, but, dammit his fucking claws were simply too bloody freaky!

"When Danielle was a baby and crying because she wanted her binkie and Luke couldn't FIND her binkie, and he complained he was losing a ton of street cred every time he said the word binkie, Logan was there. He took Danielle into his arms, told her to shush, she looked him in the eyes, and immediately stopped crying. She's been absolutely freaking nuts about Logan ever since! And of course I can't explain it! Any more than I can explain Danielle's imaginary play friend, the invisible Green Lady that tells her the future and teaches her all kinds of stuff. And, and I MISS Luke!"

"I can give you no comfort for the death of your former life mate, Jessica Jones Cage," the Warbird tried to at least sound conciliatory while searching for something helpful to say. Perhaps this augmented human female was once again experiencing hormonal urges for mating and motherhood. After all, her former consort had died almost two planetary cycles ago. It would only be natural instinct for any fecund female to desire her continued replenishing of her race's population. Was it possible that her unreasoning enmity for Lord Logan was due to his being unaware of her desire to mate? Which in turn was making Jessica Jones Cage feel that her perhaps too subtle sexual posturing in baggy clothing was being ignored? That must be it. This female, actually very nice Royal Warbird material, simply needed encouragement to display her genitalia and her mating intentions for Lord Logan more openly to get a fertilized egg once again growing in her womb as she desired. That would also be good training for the Little Warrior to see her future as a female doing her part for race continuation.

Elektra kept her eyes on Ava'Dara's facial expressions as the Warbird seemed to be silently processing something in her alien brain. From experience, the verbal result was probably going to be highly entertaining.

"This is going to be good," Elektra murmured as she nudged Miya with an elbow.

"I can say that it is a well known fact," the Warbird began while nodding solicitously, "that life usually goes on even after the harshest of circumstances. If you are once again experiencing natural hormonal mating urges for breeding again, then I really must recommend Lord Logan for that. I can personally attest that his male sexual organ is much longer and thicker than normal, just as his strong muscular body and natural male odor is incredibly enticing to females in heat."

"What?" Jessica's mouth dropped open in totally flummoxed disbelief as Ava'Dara blithely plowed on.

"And he is most experienced in using his big male member to delight his female partner again and again because of his healing factor lets him recover his potent and very exciting hardness very quickly. I was most pleased with this during our initial furious couplings, but then he was most tender and considerate later as well, far into the night. I also found he is incredibly talented with his tongue as well and can repeatedly bring me into intense mating heat without even doing any bloody battle and killing of our foes together. I did not know this was possible. Nor that fruit flavored aids for mutual enjoyment existed. It is truly, truly remarkable, a miracle actually Jessica Jones Cage, and totally satisfying for days afterward as well. That should greatly help you change your poor opinion of him that is entirely undeserved. Lord Logan is also a proven fertile male so you should have little trouble becoming impregnated from the copious amounts of hot sperm that he produces. And you with injections of the Infinity Drug would be an excellent candidate for Royal Warbird training. This is Tuesday. Do you wish to be scheduled for a dinner date and mating with Logan later tonight? I advise you to let him give you higher heat inducing and fruit flavored fellatio before coupling to ensure proper fertilization."

"Damn," Elektra swallowed convulsively and shifted her suddenly restless thighs from suddenly reliving an old memory. Logan had always been a hot lover, even better than Matt Murdock physically, but she had never heard Logan praised quite so explicitly and yet so perfectly. She really needed to talk to him tonight! In his lake cabin! Jessica could wait her turn!

Miya also let out a deep breath. She had instinctively known Logan was a highly attractive male the first time they had met, even if that meeting hadn't gone all that well on an intellectual nor emotional level. The fact that she had spent too many hours since in heated daydreaming of Logan despite her love for her dead husband was the exact reason she was here now. With Ava'Dara's mechanically graphic and enthusiastic description/endorsement of Logan's lovemaking, it was also time to think over the very first of the Warbird's speech. Life does go on, and Miya, finally facing this fact for the first time in years, suddenly felt very sure she wanted to go on too. The question was, would Logan want to go with her? He certainly had no inducement to do so from their first badly botched meeting.

Once again Jessica had no idea what to say. She could lie and pretend that she hadn't sexually noticed Logan's heavily muscled arms, thighs, and shoulders, nor his six pack abs and bulging crotch emphasized by his new black and red leather battle uniform. And he did have beautiful deep blue eyes and a very, very nice and manly, old leather smell about him. He had always been ruggedly handsome too and even seemed taller recently for some reason. On the other hand, he was Logan! Cigar chomping, beer breath, too blunt, too crass, and way too dangerous to be around bloody Logan! Jessica was saved from giving any kind of response to the obviously pleased and patiently waiting Ava'Dara.

"Mama," Danielle hiccuped and hugged her mother tightly. "She's so bright and beautiful inside it hurt to see the flowers of her heart, Mama! And the Green Lady loves her so much! Are we, are we gonna eat dinner with Unca Logan tonight?"

"Uhhh, I, uhhh, don't think," Jessica began while still feeling a great deal of emotional confusion.

"Mama! Say yes! I LOVE fruit flavored fellatio!" Danielle exclaimed in quickly recovering excitement. "Especially strawberry!"

"Ummm, that's JELLO, baby," Jessica winced while darting another angry warning look at the Warbird for her lack of tact around a young child. "You love strawberry JELLO!"

"Lackeys!" Ava'Dara barked suddenly in misinterpreting Jessica's look. After several seconds of delay, a long tailed blue Bamf teleported into view to hover fearfully in front of the Warbird. She immediately snatched the elf like creature into one hand so fast the movement was simply a blur. She gave her captive a light squeeze to make his eyes bulge more in fear.

"When I call, you come at once!" Ava'Dara snarled menacingly, "or you'll all become morning snack food, dried, salted, smoked, jerked, or Bar BQ! It makes no difference to me which I eat! Have the cook make a lot of strawberry jello for Lord Logan's dinner tonight!"

"So THAT'S the fear," Elektra murmured as the Warbird gave the Bamf one hard shake for emphasis and made it squeal in terror before being released to immediately "bamf" away. Damn that alien bird female was fast! Too fast for Elektra to reasonably challenge for Logan's bedroom key.

Miya stifled a small smile at Jessica's facial expression while the flummoxed mother was trying to decide how to best explain to Danielle that jello was NOT the same as fellatio and why Ava'Dara's invitation for a dinner date with Logan wasn't actually intended to include a child. Miya also noticed that Elektra was slightly scowling in jealous disgust. There seemed to be some serious competition brewing for Logan's affections on even a one night a week basis, so where did that put Miya Asama?

Whatever Jessica was finally going to say to Danielle was interrupted by another flying ball of excitement, however this one was outside blasting low over the Academy followed by a window shaking sonic boom. Elektra's table mounted security panel went blinking light crazy before going completely blank. The four adult females and little Danielle looked out the glass patio doors to see a dark clad figure zoom over the lake, become a speck on the far off horizon above the trees, and then curve to come back low. Whoever it was misjudged their altitude and smacked into the lake like a kid tossed flat stone trying for double digit skips across the lake's surface. The flyer eventually made landfall and wound up careening up the grassy knoll in a wild tangle of flailing gloved arms, long blonde hair, black, mid thigh high boots, and a very brief black torso suit with a gold lightning bolt emblazoned upon it. Even before the less than graceful arrival had finally flopped to an ignominious halt, the astonished onlookers in the library had exited onto the patio for possible first aid.

"Oh damn, it's Carol Danvers," Jessica sighed in exasperation as she skidded to a wary halt just past the patio's edge to eye her fallen best friend in dismay.

The newly arrived female staggered to her feet, eyes blearily trying to focus. Although very bedraggled, there was no denying that she was indeed a very nicely endowed, extremely shapely, and classic, tall, Nordic beauty of a female. She began stumbling drunkenly towards the Academy patio while waving her arms in a demanding fashion and yelling drunkenly. Miya eyed the long legged, Barbie Doll shaped female in dismay since her tall body's symmetry was even better than Elektra and Ava'Dara's superb figures.

"Jess, go get Logan! I wanna shee Logan righ' now!" The blue eyed newcomer stopped and dramatically pointed at Jessica during mid bellow. The dramatic effect of her demand was slightly diminished by her slovenly tangled and now also wetly matted hair, mud streaked, water dripping boots, gloves, and torso suit, and her small diamond shaped mask sitting askew across her nose. A further dampening of her demand came when she staggered two steps to the right and fell to all fours in an attempt to stop the world from spinning.

"Gee Auntie Carol! You're really squiffed!" Danielle exclaimed while making a flying circle of intense examination around Carol's still weaving form that was imitating a very sick dog. "Mama always says you shouldn't fly when you drink too much! You'll hurt somebody! Avengers should NEVER endanger the people they're sworn to protect!"

Carol's head twisted and turned while trying to focus her eyes on the little circling gadfly that was lecturing her so severely. The action made her eyes cross and face turn pale, even slightly green.

"Carol Danvers?" Ava'Dara said softly to herself in some puzzlement before flicking a few recruiting pages on her electronic notepad, stopping, and then reading aloud. "Oh, yes, here she is! Of course, a nickname and/or alias. Typical multiple human nomenclature confusion. Ahhh, this one! She's Lord Logan's some time friend and former lover!"

"Who is she?" Miya couldn't contain her curiosity.

"An arrogant drunken bitch," Elektra murmured in disgust.

Ava'Dara was much more forthcoming as she read her notepad's entry out loud to Miya.

"She is Catherine Susan Jane Danvers, battle name of Captain Marvel, aka Miss Marvel, Lady Marvel, Binary, and Warbird et cetera. Former military pilot and spy subjected to DNA altering Kree radiation resulting in her super human powers of flight, levitation, invulnerability, super speed, stamina, agility, energy manipulation for blast powers and constructs, superior self healing and anti-aging. Extensive battle training, experience, and leadership skills, however, arrogant, subject to frequent bouts of deep depression, and a long time alcoholic. Very marginal material for Lord Logan's future flock, probably unsuitable like Mystique."

"Oh Carol, Logan won't be here until later," Jessica was trying to explain as her drunken friend made a supreme effort to stagger upright and balance on widespread feet. "And you're in pretty bad shape. Let me call Avenger Mansion to get help for you."

"Oh no ya don't, Jess!" Danvers violently shook her head while trying to swipe her wet hair out of her eyes and missing. "I'm stayin' here to see Logan! He's a 'Venger! An' we need him at the Mansion righ' now! He belongs with US! All these switch hitting X-Bitches here are gonna be penned up soon anyway! I'm takin' him home! You, you an' Dani belong there too!"

"Lord Logan is not scheduled for Avenger Mansion until Saturday morning," Ava'Dara declared flatly. "You have no reason to be here Danvers, nor are you welcome while inebriated. Leave."

"Who're you to tell ME anything? Bird Bitch! Shut your mouth, or I'll kill ya! Just like I'm gonna kill that lousy soul stealing bitch Rogue! Wanda and I both hate her guts!"

"Ohhh, you got a bad potty mouth, Auntie Carol!" A narrow eyed Danielle scolded while wagging a little forefinger under the tall blonde Avenger's weaving nose. "And you should be nicer to Ava'Dara! The Green Lady really, really likes her! She's my friend too and Unca Logan's Royal Warbird, Deathbringer Class. You shouldn't be such a big meanie when you get stinko! You need a bath and clean clothes! You're a big mess! People are gonna laugh at you if run around looking like a big mess!"

"Out of the mouths of babes," Elektra chuckled softly at the drunken blonde's discomfort.

"Who's laughin' at me?" Danvers staggered several steps to the left to stop suddenly before a very unamused and coldly disapproving Miya.

"Well, I am," Elektra spoke, but the drunken Avenger thought it was Miya who had answered.

"So! What are you? Another phony, prissy assed, muff munching X-Bitch? Lookin' an' laughin' at ME? Go hide in your precious little school with the rest of your meddlin' bitches tryin' to steal our Logan, or I'll teach you ta mind your own business!" Danvers attempted a sudden hard shove to Miya's sternum with a stiffened right arm.

This action was disdainfully flicked quickly aside by Miya's blurring left hand. Both Elektra and Ava'Dara's eyebrows shot up in surprised interest at the incredible speed Miya displayed.

"I will not be mauled by a rude, foul mouthed, and drunken ruffian," Miya advised in icy contempt. "You've been advised to leave once and already schooled in better manners by a mere young child. Where is your dignity?"

"Carol! Please stop! Miya Asama is a guest!" Jessica pleaded while punching the Avengers' number on her phone's speed dial button.

"So? Guest huh? Well, I don't like her! An' I'm stayin' till Logan gets here! Got it, BITCH!" Danvers once again tried to shove Miya.

Miya simply sidestepped to the right and using her right hand, backhanded the drunken Danvers hard across the mouth to send the tall blonde reeling backwards. Miya followed with two more flat handed blows to either side of her would be attacker's face that rocked Danvers' head back and forth. A front snap kick to the stomach from Miya's right boot heel sent a stunned Danvers soaring gracefully out into the middle of the lake. The black clad blonde splashed down hard a half mile out and disappeared underwater several seconds before bursting up high in the air, right arm outstretched and left leg bent to resemble a high arcing, fist clenched human spear. At the apex of her arc, Danvers homed in on Miya, obviously intent on hitting her with a power blast and/or a flying hard fist. Miya drew her katana and made an oblique slashing cut faster than Elektra's eyes could follow. The effect was a high pitched ZANG! that made an incredibly fast trough of outward curving water across the lake before the aimed sonic blast slammed into the approaching Danvers. The black clad blonde was immediately knocked unconscious and sent her clear across the lake to land in an unmoving heap on the shore in front of the unfinished House of L a mile away. Miya impassively sheathed her sword.

"WOW!" Danielle breathed in awe while craning her neck to peer into the distance. She then begin swiveling her head between Miya and the distant Danvers. "The Green Lady SAID you were very powerful!"

"I've got a feeling," Elektra gave Miya a rare smile of approval, "you and I might become very good friends, especially if you keep pissing off and bitch slapping all the right people."

"Miya Asama, are you fertile?" Ava'Dara asked while furiously making a new page on her recruitment notepad.

"Dammit!" Jessica hissed in dismay at Danvers' unmoving form on the far shore just before two oddly dressed but incredibly beautiful females suddenly materialized several meters in the air above the Academy's patio. They floated down to stand silently beside Jessica with inquiring expressions on their faces. Jessica simply pointed to the opposite far shore.

Miya eyed the taller, white skinned newcomers with stoic wariness. One was a long legged, willowy yet nicely curved woman with full, shoulder length silver hair and very pale blue eyes. She was wearing knee high black boots and a dark pink and black body suit that had large interlocking circle designs on both legs. The other had a more voluptuous figure, thick and long dark auburn hair, glowing green eyes, and an outfit entirely of scarlet; a long cape, a barely breast covering, shoulder-less torso suit, thigh high leather boots, bicep length leather gloves, and a dual horned, face lining head piece that swept her impressive auburn tresses back to fall midway down her back. To Miya, the scarlet clad female was simply a stunning, sexually intimidating beauty, and both newcomers just exuded vast and humbling amounts of raw psychic power all around them.

"Auntie Clea and Auntie Wanda!" Danielle squealed in delight before launching herself into the smiling silver haired woman's arms.

"Well, well," Elektra murmured derisively and shaking her head at this day's ongoing glimpse of future constant chaos in the House of L. "Jessica's SOS call brought out BOTH total nut case mystics of the A-Team, Wanda Maximoff and Clea Strange, neither of whom will ever show up on perimeter security sensors. As if Danvers the Drunk just knocking out those damn sensors wasn't enough to deal with. All three of them need full time loony bin keepers."

"Maximoff? Ahhh yes!" Ava'Dara nodded in feather shaking approval as she scanned her recruiting notepad. "The Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange's ex-wife! I must speak to them! Both are excellent candidates for Lord Logan's new Warbird flock!"

"Except I don't think either are fertile, let alone even close to being sane," Elektra observed mildly with a trace of smugness. "By the way Ava'Dara, our new cook candidate and good friend Miya could use a new toothbrush, toiletries, and several changes of new underwear for her stay with us as well as a few mini dresses. She looks about the same size as Kitty Pryde. Why don't you..."

"You are the one called Warbird?" Clea Strange interrupted by calling over the still wriggling and excited Danielle's shoulders. "And you as his current girlfriend have constant communication access to Logan, correct?"

"Affirmative," Ava'Dara nodded once although slightly frowning at the girlfriend designation. "I am much more than a mere girlfriend however. I am a Shi'ar Royal Warbird, Deathbringer Class, and life bonded to Lord Logan in his New Ancestral Nest."

"Whatever. Please advise him that the I.D.P. High Council has enlisted the services of the Seventh Sign, and their Elders are dispatching the Witch Hunter also known as the Angel of Destruction to be assigned to the House of L security team. We have heard that she has been given autonomous authority to summarily terminate any mystic, werewolf, and vampire that she deems an immediate public danger. If this is true, we fear several of his incoming inmates including Jubilation Lee are in grave danger as well as some Avengers and X-Women. We also heard that she may be arriving incognito at any time, so it would behoove us all to be very wary of strangers."

"I will inform Lord Logan at once," the expressionless Warbird nodded again while she and Elektra both gave quick glances of instant suspicion at Miya. "And before you both gather up Carol Danvers and remove her from the premises, could I invite you to return for dinner later so that I may inquire in some depth about your past personal relationships with Lord Logan as well as your current state of fertility?"

"What?" Clea Strange's mouth dropped open in genuine surprise. Wanda also blinked and then became immediately intrigued with the idea. Why hadn't she ever considered this before? Logan did have that incredible healing factor, and she had ALWAYS wanted children, so much so that her desires for motherhood had set off repeated multidimensional devastation, wars, and even a very confrontational return of the Phoenix. Could Logan with potentially very potent and infertile egg healing swimmers possibly knock her up, maybe?

"I think Ava'Dara means after having a dinner date with Mama and Unca Logan tonight," Danielle explained patiently to Clea, "you guys should all have some strawberry fellatio with him for dessert because it really helps you to get heated up and properly fertilized later. Ain't that right Mama?"

"Why yes! You are right, Dani! It does!" Wanda Maximoff, her green eyes gleaming avidly, began laughing merrily at Jessica's sudden, choking, red faced, coughing fit. "And I just LOVE strawberries! They're my favorite colored after dinner fruit!"

Still keeping a wary eye on Carol Danvers' still unmoving form, Miya hid a small blushing smirk behind her right palm. Sexual innuendos and open talk of mating were very embarrassing to her and not permitted in her Izumo Inn, but then, she was in Logan's very strange world now. The fertilizing visual images induced WERE making her feel very warm which didn't actually surprise her. Miya knew she had been reacting to Logan in bonding heat before coming here.

Clea Strange had also blushed deeply at Danielle's blunt faux pas. Clea's facial expression, although not as openly intrigued as Wanda's, was smiling in her own naughty fruit fun interest. The more openly fascinated Scarlet Witch, however, in form, dress, and low humor, greatly reminded Miya of Sekirei Number 03, the Public Obscenity named Kazehana.

"Clea, Wanda, Miya, and Jessica, you should all wear brief and easily removed clothing to dinner tonight," Ava'Dara sagely counseled as Jessica began another choking fit. "Dress to display your inflamed female genitalia in an enticing manner for my Lord Logan, especially you Jessica Jones Cage. I will do my duty as a bonded Royal Warbird to psychically enhance his mood and yours for mating and growing his flock, but thong underwear, high heel boots, and a brief bustier like Emma Frost eschews would be much more appealing than your plain baggy shirt and jeans."

Elektra Natchios, feeling a little sour at all the sudden competition for Logan's affections and NOT being invited to dinner, suddenly asked the autumn winds.

"Are you SURE I'm supposed to be HERE?"

*scene break*

Logan wearily opened the door to Ava'Dara's quarters in the Academy dormitory's third floor. Hearing the shower operating in the bathroom, he tossed several bags of new clothing and a smaller one of female toiletries onto the Warbird's double bed before spying the heavy book she had made containing his battle history on top of a nearby chest of drawers. He sighed and shook his head. Sometime real soon he was gonna have to have a long sit down talk with his Shi'ar lover and tell her why no one was really interested in her constantly extolling his long history of killing. Sure it made good reading for a Shi'ar Warbird trained from birth to slay the Imperium's enemies, but nowadays it was rapidly becoming a fast track for an I.D.P. termination inside a fusion generator.

"Ava babe!" Logan called at the same time the shower noise quit. "The clothes and stuff you wanted are on the bed! I'm headed down stairs to eat! Join me when you're dressed! Poison says she's got enchiladas, Spanish rice, re-fried beans, chips, and salsa warming for dinner and strawberry jello for dessert! After we eat, we'll head for the cabin, build a nice fire, and grab a few beers before..."

He blinked in surprise as an unknown, slim, lavender haired female came out of the bathroom holding a large white bath towel up to her chest with her right hand. She was using her left's spread fingers to comb the worst tangles out of her long wet hair. She gasped in alarm upon seeing Logan, clutching at the towel above her breasts with both hands to make sure her front was demurely covered. Logan blinked again and then slowly smiled in appreciation as this strange young female must have forgotten about the full length mirror on the open bathroom door behind her. Logan, smiling even wider, took his time examining the well built female's head to toe, rear nudity that was reflected so clearly. For years he had privately thought Carol Danvers had possessed the finest looking and sexiest rear end in captivity, followed maybe by either the Scarlet Witch, Ava'Dara, and/or Storm, but this strange female was certainly giving them all a run for feminine derriere perfection.

For her part, Miya wondered what Logan was finding so amusing somewhere over her shoulder. He really did have a wonderful warm smile that made his deep blue eyes simply sparkle with merriment and a little boy's honest enjoyment of life. Lounging in the room's doorway, the sheer animal masculinity of him was on full display as his heavily muscled, wide shouldered frame was encased in thick black leather gloves, black leather boots, and a black trimmed in red, leather battle suit with its cowl pushed back off his head. A sudden bolt of excitement and desire coursed through Miya to make her wet suddenly dry lips as the manly aged leather smell of him came to her flaring nostrils. Heat. Instant heat! She wanted him, wanted him in a way she had never wanted her dead husband. What should she do? She had never been openly wanton before! What would he do if maybe she let her large towel slip? Or simply move towards him? Maybe smile invitingly? Sit on the bed? A lot of what had caused her to agree to visit his home planet and learn more about him and a possible future together was being answered within her right now. Suddenly, as his eyes shifted and locked onto hers, Logan frowned slightly, his eyes narrowed, his body stiffened in wariness, and his entire facial expression and body language turned to icy cold suspicion.

"Ava messaged about a new ninja cook that nailed Carol Danvers earlier. You her? You're not mystic, demonic, an Eternal, Immortal, Inhuman, nor of any alien race I'm familiar with," Logan said slowly, all his senses carefully analyzing what was before him, noting her arousal, yet something was very odd here too, "but I can sense something really, unnaturally cold and dangerous around you, and I'm getting a strong nasty feeling that there's an awful lot of death behind those weird colored eyes of yours too. Who are you? What are you doing in here? And where's Ava'Dara?"

"Ava'Dara is talking to some job applicants that were interviewed for security positions today," Miya frowned in wounded puzzlement. What had just happened? Why had he taken one look into her eyes and went so suddenly cold? What was wrong with her to make him react so negatively? Although embarrassed at suddenly being caught in nothing but a towel and wet bedraggled hair, she had thought she was being calm, open, warm, and friendly towards him, wasn't she? After all, she had come to restart their relationship and catch his interest in mating, but now this first meeting between them wasn't going any better than their previous one on her Earth!

"I'm Miya Asama from Tokyo, Japan, and yes, I, uhhh, was interviewed today for a temporary position as a cook. Ava'Dara graciously invited me to share quarters. Ummm, but I, well truthfully, I actually came here to purposely meet you, Logan-san, again, and possibly get better acquainted and form a much, much better relationship, and, and not only for my sake, but also for some friends of mine."

"I don't know you," Logan returned bluntly while crossing his arms defensively over his chest. It would only take a twitch to spring his long Adamantium claws out and be ready for battle. "We've never met."

"Uhhh, not on this Earth, no. And I'm not even sure when in past or future time we did meet since this I.D.P. government has changed this dimension's calendar," Miya bit her lower lip while trying to safely navigate the minefield of his suspicions. "Logan-san, on the other dimension Earth where we have already met, I found myself reacting very heatedly to you, even more than the others, but you were having a lot of amnesia problems from being badly hurt and also gravely poisoned. However, we were able to use dialysis to help you recover, and..."

"We? We who? Not from Earth 616 either?"

"My friends Kazehana, Uzume, Akitsu, Kochou, and Matsu. They're Sekirei. We came from planet Kouten and crash landed thousands of years ago on that Earth in a different dimension. We survived in emergency hibernation under the ocean until plate tectonics brought our womb ship with 108 eggs and embryos to the surface on a volcanic island off the south coasts of Japan almost twenty years ago. Our ship was discovered, its womb's contents eventually grown to adulthood, and recently released into Tokyo by a not so benevolent corporation called M.B.I. We, well, we have serious troubles brewing as Sekirei have superhuman powers that the nations of Earth and M.B.I. all want to exploit. I fear these troubles will lead to not only all Sekirei dying, but many, many thousands of innocent humans as well. And from what I've read of your past in Ava'Dara's battle history, it could well begin the same kinds of mutant bigotry, wars, and attempted mutant purges that the I.D. P. dimensional planets have already experienced for several decades and still are."

"And during this recent release of these so called Sekirei in your Tokyo is where I came into your picture?" Logan cocked his head sideways and raised one skeptical eyebrow. "And now you want me to help you and your people fight for survival, right?"

"I, I mean, we," Miya started speaking between nervous short breaths, trying hard to convey her honest, heart felt desires, not only for him, but her Sekirei too. "We would rather find a way to stay alive without fighting, but yes, I believe we very desperately are going to need your help. Logan-san, our first meeting between you and I went very badly, and, and I behaved so, so, ignorantly and, and abominably. I thought maybe, well I prayed for a second chance to make things much better and have a new start between us. A friend helped me travel here to meet you anew, today. I wanted to learn more about you and your world too. I, I, Logan-san, I'm very inexperienced with, with, ummm, interacting and, and conveying my intimate feelings to a male, and, and I very much want to understand why I seem to make you feel so defensive when that's not what I want at all."

Logan simply continued to stare at her in narrow eyed contemplation.

"I can't explain what you are and why you are. You smell like lavender flowers, but there's also a slight stench of decayed blood below that. I also know stone cold hearted killers like Elektra and Mystique when I see and feel them, and especially sick ones I truly despise that simply enjoy wanton killing. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there seems to be something sick like that about you. I've never heard of a space faring race called Sekirei in any dimension I've traveled to and through either. Why and where were were you headed when you crash landed on this other Earth?"

"The simple answer to both is we were coming from a very distant galaxy to Earth in order to find love," Miya shrugged almost apologetically while biting her lower lip anew. He wasn't believing anything she was saying! And he looked ready to attack! What was WRONG with her to make him sense her as repulsive? She had never enjoyed killing! Not like 04 Karasuba!

"I'm, I'm not sure WHY you think I enjoy killing, Logan-san, because I never have! It's true that I have killed in self defense and in defense of other Sekirei. And, and I'm not cold hearted at all! I don't know why I would make you feel so, so, unless, well, our race IS a warrior society of ancient avian ancestry. I suspect we are much like and maybe even distant cousins of the Shi'ar. Love does not come naturally to us other than bonding and breeding for it with physically and emotionally compatible races such as the Humans of Earth, races which are exceedingly rare in our very violent universe. Our Ancients long ago decided that for the Sekirei to survive without constant interstellar war, our race had to temper our warrior instincts with peacemaking love. This we have done with a great deal of success, and most Sekirei are highly able to bond and love their Ashikabi. However for some, and I guess I am one, love doesn't come so easily, nor without risks. That's why, after I found myself reacting to you on my Earth, but failed to, to, to catch your interest, I wanted to, to come here and try again, more favorably."

Logan coldly stared at Miya in silence for almost a minute.

"So a heretofore unknown avian race called Sekirei, just out looking for a little love, comes from an unknown planet named Kouten in an unknown distant galaxy. These Sekirei just happen to crash land in some unknown time past on some other unknown Earth of some unknown dimension outside the I.D.P. How cozy. And so convenient with all those critical unknowns. And you haven't got one shred of anything to back up your story. Nor do I feel or sense any psychic connection between us at all, before or now. Lady, in this unknown Tokyo you claim you came from, are you familiar with the term, A Big Ripe Bag of Bullshit?"

Miya's tensed shoulders slumped as she sighed in frustration. It was true. She couldn't actually prove one iota of anything she had told him. Even throwing her towel aside and jumping him wouldn't convince him now. He'd probably just gut her from his facial expression.

"Logan-san, it is the truth. I, I told you I am very bad at intimate interactions, because I've never been very open about expressing my emotions. I was briefly married, but never bonded to a powerful Ashikabi like you. But even before my husband died years ago, it was very hard for me to show him my true feelings. It is even harder now with you, because, because inside, I'm so nervous, and, and I'm feeling things for, for a strong male I've never felt before! I don't know how to, to, express them, and, and make you understand what is happening with me. I was under the impression that the woman in green robes who brought me here knew you intimately, and she would vouch for everything about me and your previous coming to our planet. And, and she would help me! I, I just wasn't expecting to show up here with only my clothing and sword!"

"What woman in green? What's her name? Who is she?" Logan's tone was still totally suspicious.

"I don't know who or what she is or her name, but I suspect Danielle Cage is very familiar with her."

"Dani's invisible playmate?" Logan grunted in total disbelief. "Look, all I know is you show up out of nowhere this afternoon, don't trigger teleporting alarms, apply to be a cook which is the last thing you look like, got absolutely nothing to corroborate your background and story, bitch slap and kick the snot out of my good friend Carol Danvers and then knock her clear across the lake unconscious with some kind of sonic punch generated by a super speed sword slash. Granted Carol was drunk as hell, but she's one of the most powerful if not THE most powerful female on Earth 616. With that dumb ass sounding story of yours, and if I HAD to guess, I would say you're most probably the freaking Witch Hunter sent here by the I.D.P. High Council and the Elders of the Seventh Sign that Clea Strange warned Elektra and Ava'Dara about earlier. I'm assuming this supposed Angel of Destruction would need some screwy story like yours to slip in here unknown and undercover.

"I also know that we have never met. I don't know you at all, and quite frankly, I'm not very interested in getting to know you any better. I got enough troubles already. Nor do I want or need another female in my life. Ava'Dara is it. No more. Tell that to all your other friends in your unknown Tokyo if they want to come here too. I suggest, Miya Asama-sama, that you get a hold of your invisible green woman pal, have her trot your nice looking ass right back where you came from, and you go find another powerful Ashikabi to love, whatever in the hell that is. I'm not fighting in any more wars, here, for the I.D.P. on other planets, or for your probably fictional Sekirei. Look, kid, I'm not trying to be a giant asshole here. Whether you are telling the truth or not, it doesn't matter. You gotta understand, I'm not going to be around much longer to do you or anyone else any good anyway. You just need to find another guy."

"But Logan-san! I'm reacting! And that means..." Miya began to protest but was interrupted.

"Logan!" An unusually agitated Elektra walked into the room waving a sheaf of papers. "I have to talk to you! Now!"

"Okay, I'm done here. So talk," Logan returned wearily as he shifted to stand sideways to Miya and keep a wary eye on her without relaxing his crossed arms.

"This is the list of the first females being transferred to the House of L. A young woman from Earth 982 is on it. She's a feral mutant who's parents died defending their planet in the Shadowbox Wars, and she has handled their deaths so badly that's she's being sent here for evaluation. Her name is Rina Logan, aka Wild Thing. Her parents were James Logan and Elektra Natchios Logan."

"Awww shit," Logan sighed while looking down and using his left hand to rub his suddenly aching forehead.

"She's the daughter WE would have had on this Earth if I hadn't turned you down years ago!" Elektra's voice trembled with long suppressed emotion. "What can we do? The wind told me earlier I would have a daughter! I must have interpreted it wrong! I thought, I thought you and I would, would... We HAVE To Save Her!"

"Yeah, I know," Logan ground his teeth together in frustration, "and Jubilee and Snowbird and Aurora and a boat load of others. All right. Poison just sent a message saying my EXTRA strawberry jello is ready, whatever that means. Ava'Dara and I still have to eat dinner tonight. Join us, and then Ava, you, and I will head for my cabin. We can talk there. And then you can maybe explain what that weird wind talking to you crap is all about."

Logan turned abruptly to leave as he flipped open his 3D phone to have his Royal Warbird meet them in the Academy's cafeteria. His voice carried back to an absolutely heartsick Miya as he stopped outside the door and lingered in the hall to talk.

"Ava? Let's eat now, okay? Tell Poison to set another place for Elektra. What? What others? Miya Asama? I'm not sure that's a good idea since...YOU hired her as my new cook from Tokyo? Since when did... yes, I did say you could handle all the House of L menial labor hiring, but only subject to my approval and... Yeah, I just met her... I've never met the Witch Hunter. I don't know who...You feel this Miya Asama isn't her?...Yeah, I sense Miya's psychic power and something more I don't... well, no, no specific objections other than her weak background story really stinks... okay, I guess, as long as she behaves herself, doesn't cause me any more headaches with Carol Danvers, and she's not gonna be allowed anywhere near the incoming inmates... so she can fight, big deal. We got over a hundred registered applicants that actually have verifiable cooking experience and references... What? Why do we need a fighting cook? We gonna get attacked by killer cabbage or something?... okay, fine if she wants to waste her time making stir fry and curried rice for room and board, and you REALLY want her, then she's hired... Yeah, sure if she wants to eat a Mexican dinner tonight, why not?

"Jessica Cage, Clea Strange, and Wanda Maximoff are eating with us tonight too? Why? Your Shi'ar Royal Warbird post bonding servant requirements? I don't understand what those... Imperial female, initial socialization, and psychic melding rituals while eating together? What the hell are those? And why do you NEED... oh, your deeply imprinted Warbird instincts? Ancestral? Well yeah, some Earth birds migrate... Sure, I understand territorial nest defense and how… Look, it's just that I've never heard or ever needed any psychic meal melding and... sharing a kill ritual?... well, hell, if you wanna make new pals in the Ancient Ways of the Shi'ar Royal Warbirds, Deathbringer Class, then go ahead...Yeah, I realize you're a lone bonded Shi'ar female on Earth 616, but it ain't like you've been a social butterfly going out of your way in making friends and winning hearts since you came to this planet, right?... all right, all right, so you've got adult responsibilities since we started shacking up... Hey, I'm hungry and just want to eat... why can't we just have a quiet little enchilada dinner you and me and Elektra by the cabin fireplace... All right, all right, calm down, Ava, what the hell!... No, I really don't care who we have sharing our meals with...sure, whatever makes you happy. Shuriken? Never heard of her. Okay, okay, invite her too. No, no objections to Colleen Wing either. Yes, I know Shi, she's a damned good fighter. And Pale Flower is too. I ain't too sure Yuki, Cherry Blossom, Black Lotus, and Lady Bullseye are all that sane, but if you want 'em to share a meal, fine. The more the merrier. Look, I already said I don't care who we eat with. Just make sure the damned Bamfs haven't drank all my Molson beer again, okay?

"Messages? Emma Frost? Yeah, yeah, I forgot. Buy her the clothes she wants in the morning. Deadpool? Wade Wilson? Wants a security job? Screw that! What? Hey, it ain't my fault the I.D.P. yanked his bounty hunter license! The crazy bastard should have known being unhappy with an unpaid I.O.U., talking into thin air to some fictional pals beyond the Fourth Wall, and flashing his pink lace panties at the High Council would... Hey! I don't OWE him shit! Even if the I.D.P. check did bounce! Besides, that insane, beer stealing, mooching sonofabitch barely qualifies to take out the garbage and then root through the dumpsters for meals, let alone a security job!

"Storm? Why does SHE want to fry my balls? Other complaints? Kitty Pryde, Rachel Grey, Polaris, Psylocke, AND Rogue too? Yes, I know Dagger's been very badly depressed since Cloak was killed. I haven't been ignoring... dammit! All right! All right! Make a note for tomorrow afternoon and evening. Cut the Wednesday regular House of L building meetings short, and we'll conference with the whole damn Academy staff! Where? Nah, the library will still be needed for job interviews. Make it down in the cafeteria. No! Hell NO! Not one on one! Because they ain't gonna like what I'm gonna tell all of 'em tomorrow, that's why! Better to get 'em in a group, short and sweet, rip the band-aid off, and get out. Not now. I'll tell ya what we're gonna do over dinner. Meet me down there. Yeah, sure, I promise you'll know everything.

"Look, when I get there, don't bow down in greeting either. Because it's damned embarrassing, and you calling me Lord Logan all the time is too, that's why. I'm not gonna...Well, for one thing, it seems to be pissing off almost every female I know and work... because things are tough enough without... jealous of not being a part or qualified for our what?... What the fuck is a New Ancestral Nest?... A protected place where we live and meditate together full time? I'm not building a …we don't need... Because I'm happy with my log cabin, dammit! Look, you and I are gonna have to have a long talk about all these bullshit unknown, different, instinctive, ancestral Royal Warbird serving and nest building rituals and... hell no, they're Not mandatory for me! Or you either! This ain't the Shi'ar Imperium dammit! Yes, I'm yours... yes, yes, you ARE mine now... yeah sure... well, I realize different races have different... but can't we compromise on stuff that I don't...no, NO! Jeebus! Ten Excruciating Cuts of Ritual Suicide is NOT an option! Okay, okay, look, Ava, honey, calm down, we'll talk. You can have your own key to the cabin, move in, call it our nest and... okay, okay! New Ancestral Nest! And for now you can bow all you..."

As Logan's highly agitated and seemingly Warbird henpecked voice faded down the third floor hallway, Elektra also turned to go, pausing in the dorm room doorway to frown knowingly and point with her chin behind the towel clutching and deeply disappointed Miya.

"The old, accidental naked backside in the door mirror routine, Miya-san? Cute. Well, we both managed a dinner invitation with Logan and his damned Warbird tonight. Let's go in together for mutual moral support. Sounds like a pretty depressing time and unfriendly crowd for both of us. Meet you out here after you're dressed."

Glancing behind her and then blushing in abject horror as Elektra left and closed the dorm room door, Miya brought her bunched towel up in truly mortified shame to hide her bowed head and unaccustomed hot tears of frustration. Another totally disastrous day and surely a disastrous evening meal too! Why hadn't the Woman in Green made proper introductions and explain/corroborate Miya's purposes for coming to this incredibly weird planet with its super powered Warbirds, blue skinned shape shifters, super telepaths, teleporting witches, sexy mutant ninjas, and even flying children? All the adult females she had seen today had been far more beautiful and sexier looking than her! And why did every meeting with Logan have to go so horridly and humiliatingly wrong? She wasn't a cold hearted killer! Not like number 04 Karasuba! So why was he reading Miya as one, again? Even worse, although it had been accidental, why had Logan simply laughed at her naked body, and not been, been, interested, even a little! Was she that undesirable and not sexy? At all? How depressing! And if 01 Miya couldn't get the warrior/hero Logan to feel compassion for her Earth's Sekirei, let alone simply believe they exist or even think about having a reacting Miya for a winged mate too, then why was she here?