New York City, Manhattan
Morning

Luke spent a moment staring at the ceiling. Breathing still didn't come easily. He figured it would be another day or so before the stunning blast fully faded. In the meantime, he had to figure out how to get the paperwork going to transfer Sam over to SHIELD once his Marine enlistment ended. Which was fine. They weren't expecting him for a while. These was no reason to rush and stress out over it.

But now they were back to two. They had a message waiting for them when they had returned. Some agent named Danvers had sent them a short message with the usual request for a debrief after their skirmish over the bar. She had also complimented Neal on his proficiency and eagerness to learn and work with the B-team. For now though, his probationary commitment remained at one month. It was better than he could have hoped since the initial estimate was through the end of summer, but that meant they had another month of being on their own. Director Fury hadn't passed them any new bios. They had to do their own research now. And without any tech support or familiarization with the SHIELD network, it would be straight grunt work. He did not have the faintest clue where to start on recruiting.

He hoped Agent Hill hurried up with the personnel transfer. While he understood the basics of the SHIELD network, he was by no means an expert. Neither was Kyle. The kind of searching they would need to do took too much technical knowhow and fine-tuned combing. What kind of mutants were they looking for? How would they know which ones to pursue and which to leave alone?

Things could have been worse. Luke idly lifted his hand and watched the sunlight on the ceiling run through his fingers. He loved the bed. It was just the right amount of soft, large enough for him to fully stretch out, and very warm. Getting out of bed after long nights took effort.

But he found a reason to get up. Judging by the smell wafting up from the main floor, Kyle was already in and cooking. Freak. Luke wondered if Kyle even needed to sleep. Maybe he could use his plant-restoring energy to keep himself running ad infinitum. That line of thought lasted just long enough until he pinpointed what Kyle was cooking. Kyle was not a hippie, nature-loving person, despite his powers. For a mutant whose power came from nature, he was a huge fan of bacon. He cooked it perfectly too.

Sliding out of bed, he pulled on a pre-laid set of clothes and got ready for the day. There was another way to find potential recruits. He opened his cellphone and brought up his contacts list. A light by his door flashed as Kyle activated the room pager.

"I'm up" Luke reported. "About to make a call. I'll be down in a minute."

"Got it. I fried up some bacon and eggs if you want some."

"I'll take that offer."

Luke turned the pager off and found the right number. It rang twice before picking up.

"You're up early." Rachel yawned into the phone. "It's gotta be… ugh. 6AM on Saturday? What the heck?"

"Sorry." Luke checked his watch. He thought it had been later. "How's the project going along?"

"Great!" Her voice perked noticeably. "My news-crawler got a hit."

"Already?"

"Well… it's kind of making news on its own."

Luke heard some scrambling as she turned on her computer. Then some muttering as she dug through what sounded like paper.

"Who?"

"There's some vigilantism going down in Louisiana. Got some New Orleans trouble if you're interested."

"Mutant?"

"No idea. Could be." She gasped. "Wait, are you asking to find a mission? Because this person looks like a good guy. She's kicking some serious mob ass down there."

"It's a she?"

"Well, I'd like to think it's a girl. Why can't it be some superpowered chick that kicks ass every now and then?" She chuckled softly. "But this vigilante is wreaking some serious havoc on the Mob and all that nastiness, that's for sure. Please, please don't be looking for a mission. You'd be going after the wrong gal. She's on the good side!"

"We're not looking for a hunting trip" Luke promised. "No, I'm still looking to recruit."

"Oh. That's good. Well then, she's been hitting their drug shipments, by the reports. The first one came when she set a warehouse on fire…"

She started rattling off locations and dates faster than Luke could keep up. Rushing downstairs, Luke grabbed the first notepad he could find and began copying everything down. When she finally slowed down and came to an end he sat back and examined the incidents. Eight in all. He was sure that if he pinned them to a map he could find a pattern. Rachel confirmed that suspicion.

"I'm sending all of the relevant information to your old email address. Hope it helps. Now, do you have any last questions?"

"None yet. I'll let you know if anything comes up."

"Okay, Cuz. Now if you don't mind, I'm going back to bed. I've got two hours until I have to get up for the Track. If you call me again I swear I will set you on fire."

He got the solid tone before he could argue. She deserved the rest though, so he didn't call her back. Instead he brought the notepad to the counter and slid it over to Kyle.

"Got us a potential."

Kyle looked away from the frying pan long enough to give the notepad a once-over. "Huh, New Orleans? That's a bit of a ride."

"SHIELD should be able to spare a jet. Or a helicopter. Or something."

"That'd be grand of them, but somehow I think we will be stuck with the old-fashioned drive." Kyle shifted the pan over and tossed Luke a pancake. He caught it barehanded and wolfed it down. "When do we head out?"

"What do you think? Give us a couple days to rest? Maybe check SHIELD contacts and see what we can drag up about this vigilante."

"Nah." Kyle drained his coffee. "I'm feeling restless. Better to go now, while nothing's up."

"Says the man who didn't take a shot to the chest last night."

"Says the man who was smart enough to not jump in front of it" Kyle retorted. "Besides, you'd be sitting down for hours; that would give you plenty of time to rest."

"Alright." Luke thought about it then agreed. "Kit out in the armory. We'll head out in an hour. You're taking the first round of driving though."

"I'll get on that right after I finish here."

Someone knocked. Kyle froze for a moment, then resumed ministering to his food. He jerked his head towards the door.

"That's probably the SHIELD techs that Hill said she'd give us."

"They must be some kind of morning people then." Luke slid out of the chair and approached the door. Luke kept out of the way and let it open.

The suit that had accompanied Hill in their previous encounter strode in, eyes hidden by a set of designer sunglasses. His head swiveled across the room, taking in both of them, and he nodded to Luke. Luke wasn't watching him. Standing to the side, Luke drank in the sight of the other member of the party.

He wasn't quite sure if she was human. She stalked in with a dancer's grace, clawed paws clicking on the hardwood floor. From claw to ears she was covered in soft white fur and black stripes. Her face appeared quite human, but for pointed ears and sharp teeth that teased out from behind her dark lips. Cat's eyes returned his gaze, batting lazily. A thick tail swished behind her, curling around a lamppost before releasing and resuming a restless dance. Her poise reminded him of a predator on the hunt. She stalked rather than walked.

And she was equipped for it to. She wore a sturdy navy jumpsuit cut off at the calf and short sleeves that showed off well-muscled limbs. The SHIELD logo was printed proudly over her breast. The hilt of a foreign bladed weapon stuck out over one shoulder and she wore some kind of laser pistol on her hip. Her right hand's claws tapped along the holster in rhythm. He could not guess the tune.

"Agent Kapra, Saunders." The suit held out his hand. "Marti Callahan. I'm your tech support. This is Sahara. She's a Shi'ar representative attached the SHIELD. Here at personal request."

"A pleasure." Luke barely paid Marti a glance. Sahara's gaze remained fixed on him, irises narrowed to near-invisible slits. He could see them flicking up and down, studying him. His skin crawled at the feeling of being graded. "So you're an alien."

"In your own crude terms." Her voice flowed like waves on the sea shore, but with a touch of feline purr. She finally looked over to Kyle, who shifted slightly in his chair, and began studying him. "Where I come from you are considered little more than primordial apes."

Luke took the comment without flinching. "Point taken. Luke Kapra, agent in charge."

"Sahara." Her lips curled up a hairsbreadth, enough to let two gleaming canines show. "As an ambassador for the Shi'ar Empire I will do my utmost to do my people honor. I am willing to lend aid and experience to your team."

"Is this a temporary assignment?" Luke glanced at Marti. The agent had removed his shades and taken the seat next to Kyle. He shrugged and gestured to Sahara.

"It is the lady's choice."

"Ah." Luke nodded. "Glad to have you aboard… Sahara."

Her head cocked to the side when she finished observing Kyle. Returning her gaze to Luke, she allowed a vicious smile. "You find my name curious?"

"Well, Sahara sounds a little normal. I figured it would have been something a little more foreign and exotic."

She purred and started towards the counter. "I see. My real name is-"

The flow of sounds that followed made no sense to Luke. What did make sense, and rocked him back on his heels, was the sudden scent that struck him. Powerful, silent, arousing and utterly alien. He blinked a few times in shock, fighting to clear his head. The scent made his breathing come a little quicker and his palms sweat.

Sahara slid into the remaining counter chair and crossed one leg delicately over the other. Marti and Kyle flinched away from her, eyes unfocused as they stared. Luke shook his head to drown out the remainder of the scent. Even as it faded away, he found himself struggling to comprehend just how and what that was. He had never felt something like that before. It left him startled and entirely off his game.

"I think I'll stick with Sahara."

She offered a gracious nod. "Many of your kind have found that simpler."

"So" Marti caught Luke's attention and produced a folder from his jacket. "I'm up to date on your electronic systems and we've been briefed on the current situation with your recruiting. What's on the menu?"

"New Orleans." Luke tore his gaze away from Sahara and strode around to the far side of the counter. He slid the notepad over. Marti took it without question. "Grapevine says there's a potential working solo in the Big Easy."

Marti didn't look up from the notes. "Interesting. Scribbled notes, but detailed. Rough times and dates say amateur but informed sources. Depression of the pen and stroke indicate your were writing quickly, dictated I assume." He set the pad down. "You didn't use SHIELD network for this. Where'd you get it?"

"Grapevine" Luke repeated, his voice frosty. Pushing past the question before Marti could dwell on it he jerked his thumb towards the stairs. "Armory's upstairs. We're heading out in an hour. If that's too fast, we can push back."

"Not a fan of settling in then?" Marti waved absently. "I'm not a big road trip guy, so I hope you don't mind that I'll be staying behind. Get the system familiar with me and all that. I should have the SHIELD network up and running by the time you hit Virginia. While you're in the swamps I can coordinate and provide by-minute information as well as satellite imaging and tactical updates." He paused. "That is, assuming you are fine with me using your flat while you're out."

Luke shrugged. "You've been here before. Don't rifle through my clothes and replace anything you take out of the fridge."

"Not real-time?" Kyle gave a mock sigh. "I guess we'll have to settle for that. Luke, I'm going to kit up. Want me to save anything."

"I travel light." Luke held out a hand to demonstrate. He brought to mind his M4 from his Army time and it slid into his grip. Giving the newcomers a moment to inspect it, he ejected the magazine and tossed Marti a bullet. Then, removing his focus, he enjoyed the surprised look on the man's face as the rifle, magazine and bullet vanished. Marti did not appear utterly surprised, no doubt he had read Luke's file, but he still had that look of intrigue that told Luke he had not been expecting it. Sahara did not appear so easily impressed.

"Elemental transmutation" she stated, one brow raised delicately. "Interesting."

"Something like that. I'm still not exactly sure how I do it." Luke examined his hand, a frown on his face. "Haven't been a mutant long enough to fully understand how the blasted thing works."

"If you are curious" Sahara beckoned with one claw. "I can run some scans with Shi'ar equipment. It should be able to tell you how your mutation works. Although, my mind would be that you transfuse your essence to materialize the things which you know. This weapon of yours, you have used it before?"

"I have."

"You are intimate with it?"

"I… am."

She nodded confidently. "Then it would be so. That is a talent of use. Be wary of your powers; do not overtax yourself."

"Eh, doesn't matter." Luke stuffed his hand in his pocket. "Just as long as it works, right?"

He started for the stairs but stopped at the bottom. Turning back suddenly, he eyed the new teammates. "Are you two going to be living here, or do you have your own places?"

"I've got a flat" Marti stated. "Not too far from here, actually."

Sahara looked from Marti to Luke. "I had quarters on the Helicarrier. But that is no longer relevant."

Luke stared at her. She blinked and turned to Marti. "Relevant? That is correct, yes?"

"Reliable might fit the situation better" Marti advised. Sahara mulled over the word, nodded, and returned her gaze to Luke.

"My quarters on the Helicarrier are no longer reliable, Agent Kapra. I apologize for the confusion. The nuances of your common tongue still confuse me."

"Happens to all of us." Luke gestured to the couch. "We've only got two bedrooms and the couch. I don't mind taking the couch until we figure something out for you. Marti, while we're out send a line and see if SHIELD has anything in the works for her. If not, we'll go apartment shopping when we get back. And make sure to let Agent Hill know that we will charge anything and everything to the budget."

Marti snickered. Sahara smiled graciously and said something in her own language. A warm scent of approval touched him. Luke was grateful to find this one not as overpowering as the last one. Taking it in stride, he mounted the steps up and joined Kyle in the armory. Kyle shot him a knowing look as the door closed.

"Someone's got a cat fetish" he muttered. Luke scowled and pushed past him to the mannequins. The life-size models bore combat armor, utility harnesses, and civilian-appropriate gear. Luke took his time looking through them, finally deciding on a set of light armored rigging that could fit under a heavy jacket.

"Said the pot to the kettle."

Kyle laughed and held up a UMP submachine gun. He made a show of racking the slide and inspecting the firing chamber. The note rang beautifully throughout the armory.

"What can I say, it's the ears. Pointy ears are hot."

"…and might be able to pick up this conversation" Luke growled. He shook his head at the weapon and pointed past Kyle to a hunting rifle. "Tranquilizers, Kyle. It's hard to recruit the dead."

Kyle put the UMP back with a grunt and turned to inspect the rifle. "Shi'ar then. Aren't they some kind of huge intergalactic empire? What the hell is a special agent of the galactic UN doing with small fries like us?"

"No idea. You've been around this longer than I have."

Kyle set the hunting rifle on the table and cast about for a tranq box. "Galatcic UN. I like that, think I might trademark it. Rulers of a thousand worlds or some nonsense like that. There had been rumors back before I joined the Specters that we had made contact and they had established an embassy within SHIELD. Apparently it's true, but it has to be one of the best kept secrets on the planet."

"That would mean Sahara has got to be one of their best." Luke found a bandolier for grenades and started stocking tear gas and other non-lethal devices. "So, your creepy fetish aside, she's probably some kickass commando type. Those weapons she carries don't look like toys." He paused as a thought struck him. "That means we're up on a pedestal, doesn't it? Not only will SHIELD be watching us, but we've got the eyes of a whole intergalactic empire observing what we do."

"Sounds right." Kyle offered a cheerful grin. He waved a box of tranqs. "No pressure, Chief."

Luke didn't respond. He took the box, selected a tranquilizer, and held it out in front of him. studying it with the intensity of a gem dealer, he took in its shape, its weight, and the texture of the casing. Then, focusing the object into his mind, he produced an identical copy in his other hand. Kyle whistled his approval.

"You're a quick learner."

"Somewhat." Luke winced as he held the dart. "It hurts."

"But it gets easier over time?"

Luke sighed. He looked back at Kyle and changed the topic.

"Just don't get any funny ideas around Sahara. Watch what you say around her; she might not get your humor the same way I do."

"Me, funny ideas?" Kyle slipped the hunting rifle around his shoulder. Replacing the original dart into the box, he slid it into a duffel bag. "I'm taken, Chief. You've got nothing to worry about from me."

"Taken?" Luke released the copy dart and gave Kyle his full attention. "When did that happen?"

"Recently." Kyle turned and tossed Luke a loaded cartridge. Luke caught it and inspected the payload. Lighter than the human-standard one that Luke had already produced. Luke made this one too. A dull throbbing tickled at the back of this throat. "Which leads us back to you. What was that I heard about her sleeping here? As I recall, we only have two bedrooms. But that's so close and there won't be anyone around to chaperone you two."

"Until we figure out a place for her to stay." Luke handed the cartridge back and held up three fingers. Kyle grabbed two more cartridges and stuffed them into the bag. "I'm pretty sure that two adults can share a place with multiple beds without getting in each other's pants. Unlike the hotshots portrayed in Hollywood, I can have a perfectly normal professional relationship with women."

"You and me both." Kyle shrugged. "It's Jeanne, by the way."

"Figured as much." Luke nodded. "She still in the city?"

"For a while longer. I've been seeing her, showing her the city in my spare time."

"Good on you, Kyle. I hope she makes you happy."

They spread their gear out on the table and took turns inspecting each other's kit. When both were satisfied they put it all into the single duffel bag. The armor and combat gear went too. It would be a long drive to New Orleans. No sense wearing anything heavy now.

"Who is your informant, by the way?" Kyle looked up suddenly from the container, his face contorted in such a way that Luke knew Kyle had been putting off the question. Luke looked to the door, made sure it was shut, and beckoned for him to come closer.

"My cousin's a mutant" he told Kyle. "But she's keeping it under wraps, because she's still in high school and living with her parents. She's got some news-crawlers that put out feelers for mutant activity for me."

"And you don't want her on SHIELD's radar?"

"Not so much as an echo" Luke answered. "I'm sure they know she is one, but she's got a shot at a normal life still and I don't want to wreck that."

"I understand." Kyle indicated the door. "And you don't want Sunglasses Callahan knowing, because he's new and might be a SHIELD stooge?"

Luke saw no point in denying it. "We just met him. Once I'm sure that he won't go report it to some shadowmaster" Luke shrugged at the absurdity of the thought. "Or Hill. I don't know, I'm being cautious."

Kyle voiced his agreement. "No, that makes sense. If I had a relative in the boat, I'd like to think I'd lend a hand. You said she's in high school?"

"Yeah. Genius kid. A little wild, but great with computers and one of the fastest runner I've ever met."

"Well then, they get smarter every year." Kyle slung the duffel over his back, wincing only slightly at the weight. "I suggest we take this down on the elevator."

"We've got" Luke checked his watch. "A while yet. Come, let's get to know our teammates better."

Kyle moved to the door. "I'll leave it by the door. Think Sahara would be interested in the armory?"

"I think she has everything she needs" Luke replied. He eyed his watch again. It was one of those times where he looked at this watch and immediately forgot the time. "I might go stretch out a bit at the fitness center. If we're going to be sitting for a while, I'd at least like to get some work in."

"That does not sound like a bad idea. You up for a sparring match?"

"It'd have to be short. But yeah, I'd be game. Just, no powers."

Kyle scoffed. "Me, powers in the middle of a building? You're the one I'd be worried about. Slip a brass knuckle in on a punch and I'd be down for the count."

"Don't worry." Luke opened the door. "I only fight dirty against my enemies."