Brennan went into the kitchen area and found Emma and Jesse eating breakfast. "Is Shalimar up yet?"

"I think she got up early and went for a ride because she's not in her room and her bike's gone," Emma answered with her mouth full of cereal.

Brennan poured himself a cup of coffee and took a sip from it. He looked at his watch, "She and I were supposed to work on the new fight simulation this morning."

"I'm sure she'll be back soon," Jesse said.

Brennan left the room and headed for the data center.

Jeremy entered Shalimar's room and found her awake. "How ya doing?"

"Okay, I guess. It hurts a lot."

"Gunshot wounds are no fun, and I'm not just saying that. I speak from experience," he said as he pulled up a chair beside her bed. "I got shot many, many years ago when I was just a child."

"Who shot you?"

Jeremy hesitated for a moment. "My father."

"Why?" Shalimar asked, surprised at his answer.

"Because I am a mutant, just like you. My father wasn't happy with the fact that his only son was a 'freak,' as he put it."

"What about your mother?"

"My mother died in childbirth so it was just me and my father. I was aware of my abilities at an early age and never said anything. He caught me using these abilities one day and that's how he found out."

"What can you do?"

"I'm a telepath. I can read minds and levitate objects." He demonstrated by staring at plant on the window sill, making it slowly rise into the air.

"Wow! That's actually really cool."

He set the plant back down and turned back to her.

"Did your friend see who shot me?" she asked.

Jeremy nodded, "Yes. They were beating him up when you came along and saved him from them. If you hadn't shown up when you did he'd probably be dead. I guess it's fair to say that you're both even. You saved his life and he saved yours by calling me so quickly. You would have bled to death in that dumpster."

"A dumpster?"

"The man that shot you threw you into the dumpster and left you there to die." Jeremy saw her start to get emotional again so he patted her hand, "I'm sorry. Let's not talk about it at the moment. Concentrate on getting stronger."

"Where is your friend? Can I see him? I'd like to thank him."

"He's resting in another room. Maybe tomorrow."

"Where exactly are we?"

"It's kind of like a safehouse where new mutants come when they're hurt or in trouble. I opened this place up a few years ago when mutants began to get harassed for being mutants. They had no place to go when they were hurt. Some hospitals refused to treat them because they were afraid of 'catching what they had.' They just don't understand us and don't want to take the time to try and understand us."

Jeremy checked the machines again and was satisfied with what he saw. "Why don't you get some more rest. I'll bring some lunch in in a little while. I have to go to the market. Do you want anything special?"

"I'm not very hungry."

"You have to eat at least something. I'll pick up a few things for you just in case." He smiled at her as he got up and left the room.