Chapter 4: Eve Gregorio
'Nothing like a cup of tea, a book, and some quiet time' Shalimar thought leaving the kitchen and heading for her room. She's was feeling so content her feline part felt like purring. She passed by the lab quietly humming to herself. She stopped when she heard Adam's voice sounding slightly resistant.
"I'm not so sure about this Eve."
"Come on Adam. A favor is a favor." A womanly British voice objected.
"Are you sure there is evidence to the fact that the GSA has access to the location of the lair?"
"Nothings for sure Adam. We need time to accurately identify if indeed there is a threat and you know as well as I that we can't do that if our whereabouts are threatened." Eve replied.
"All right Eve, You win you and your kids can crash here while you figure things out, but only until you figure things out, all right? Not a day longer."
"Thank you so much Adam."
"And as of now we are even. No more of this favor business."
"I understand completely, and who knows maybe your kids will learn a thing or two."
"Or vice versa,. Shalimar and I will pick you up in the double helix."
"Thanks again Adam. Oh and Adam…It's wonderful to see you again."
"Like wise" She heard Adam say and the computer screen blink off.
Shalimar peeked into the Lab to see Adam lean forward on the desk with his face in his hands. She knocked on the opened glass door and leaned her head in.
"Everything okay?" She asked tentatively.
"Yes, just wonderful," He said getting up and straightening his jacket, "Do you remember me telling you that their were other groups of New Mutants rescuing other New Mutants?" He continued walking through the doors motioning her to follow him.
"Like us?" She asked.
"Yes, like Mutant X. Well…in about," He said checking his watch, "Three hours you're going to meet one in particular, Orion M." He said stopping to sit a computer.
"Orion M?" Shalimar asked curiously
"Organization for the Rights and Ideals Of New Mutants. They were formed by a colleague of mine, Eve Gregorio. She was one of the top bio-engineers at Genomex, second only to myself." He swiftly brought up her file on the computer screen. "She defected shortly after I did but didn't found her organization until three years ago."
"So she created Orion M?"
"Yes, she recruited several individuals with unusual gifts. How she found them I'll never know, but she trained them much like I have you and the others and now they rescue new mutants. Lately I have been letting them funnel their rescues into our safe houses."
"So why are they coming here?"
"The tip off ambush yesterday was right out side their secret headquarters, they call the Lair."
"Kinda Batman and Robin," Shalimar commented.
"Yeah, well, They think that it might not have been a coincidence and the GSA knows that location."
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"We'd better hurry! It's going to rain and we left the top down." Jesse said waving his hands to exaggerate the punch line.
Sara laughed at the joke. Jesse really loved the way she laughed. It was genuine the way her whole face seemed to light up and her eyes seemed to twinkle. It was amazing to him how they had been sitting and talking long after the music had stopped and most of the patrons had left. It was even more amazing how much they had in common. He could sit around and talk to her all night.
"Sara!" a half-panicked voice called from behind him. He turned to see the spiky blond hared young man she had been dancing with earlier.
"Yeah Russ?" She asked still chuckling. He gave her a very serious look.
"We have to go now!" Exaggerating his point with raise eyebrows.
"Why? I'm having a lot of fun with Jesse here." She replied obviously missing the urgency in his voice. He looked slightly frustrated and leaned down to whisper in her ear. As he was whispering, her eyes got very wide at what he said. She stood up and collected her coat and purse.
"Is everyone okay?" She asked worry in her eyes. Russ shrugged and turned to the exit. Sara turned to Jesse.
"Jesse, it's been really fun. I hope I see you again." She said the quickly turned to follow her friend. Jesse stood up.
"Is there anything I can do?" he yelled to her. She looked back at him and gave him a fretful smiled. Blowing him a kiss, she turned and ran after her friend, leaving Jesse in a confused haze.
"You okay?" Emma's voice asked. Jesse turned to his friend. She was standing beside him, glancing in the direction he had been staring. "You're worried."
"I'm fine." He replied absently. "We should really head back."
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"What would that mean, if the GSA found their HQ?" Shalimar asked intensively.
The computer then drew their attention to the screen with a subtle ding.
"You got mail?" Shalimar asked.
"Looks that way." Adam said clicking on the icon that popped up.
A window on the computer screen opened showing woman face smudged with what looked like ash. The picture started to move and the woman looked like she was speaking into some sort of hand held while running.
"Adam, our suspicions were correct. The GSA overtook our security approximately fifteen minutes ago. The Lair is on fire. We are all still alive. We need to leave this area now!" She paused as a small coughing fit took hold. "Please send back up!" The screen went blank. Adam didn't hesitate for a moment.
"Shalimar, fire up the double helix. I'll leave a message for Brennan, Jesse, and Emma."
Shalimar nodded in acknowledgment and ran for the garage.