A/N: I'll have you know that yes, caffeine is indeed God, and that it's a necessary addiction to fanficcers everywhere.

A/N: Remember, from now on I will only post on or two chapters a week. I wanted to get the beginning posted because I - for once - had a weekend without homework and hangovers ;). 'Sides, I wanted to get your attention *g* (do I hear cries of 'evil!' from the audience? Yes, of course I'm evil - I'm Sorcieré, I have a reputation to live up to ;)


_..._ Indicates thoughts

* * *

Chapter Four: Decisions

* * *

"---The mutant riots following General Adler's announcement last night. Officials say that at least fifteen humans, and twenty-four mutants have been killed, and that hundreds more have been injured. It is recommended that citizens stay---" the reporter was cut off mid-sentence as Suzuka turned off the TV with a disgusted sneer.

"They're blaming us. Go figure."

"Humans fear what they don't understand. It's a law of nature," Kyle said.

"I know," Suzuka sighed. "It's just...fuck. I mean, we've been living here for almost two years, and we've never hurt anyone! This isn't fair!"

"No, it isn't. Most of the mutants in this town would probably prefer to live in quiet anonymity, but unfortunately, it's the more malicious ones that get the attention."

"Like the Shadow Alliance," Ben said quietly.

"To name one. There are more out there than just them," Kyle corrected.

"Yeah," Ben sighed. He toyed absently with a lock of brown hair, then frowned slightly.

"What do you think will happen?"

Kyle shook his head. He had a pretty good idea of what happened when humans got too paranoid - in fact, he'd lost his parents and younger sister that way - but he had no desire to tell his teammates that. It would only make them anxious, and it wouldn't really help, anyway.

"I don't know, Benji," he replied. "I honestly don't know."

* * *

Blade sighed and took another drink of his scotch. Most of his team was still asleep - he'd let them - no, ordered them - to sleep in. There was no doubt that they would need all the rest they could get.

That left Blade alone to make a decision he did not want to face.

Stay...or leave?

It had been much simpler before he became the leader of this team, back when he was still on his own. Back then, he would have taken whatever money he had, bought a fake identity, complete with social security number, papers, and passport, and have taken the first flight out of the country. Maybe to southern Asia, or Africa. Those places had yet to suggest a mutant registration act.

But now...now, things were a whole lot more complicated. He wasn't alone anymore - he had a team to take care of, six people who depended on him and his skills. He couldn't just leave them.
On the other hand, he couldn't just get them fake passports and a ticket on the first flight to Taiwan, either - not all of them could pass as humans. Aaron, with his snake-like features, would be busted the moment they got anywhere near the airport. Hal would get her share of the attention, too, even though albinos weren't considered 'real' mutants.

But they couldn't stay, that much was for certain. Nobody knew of the old warehouse that he and Jordane had turned into a suitable headquarter, but there was always the risk of discovery. One of their customers might track them down, or some random passerby might wonder why an abandoned building had so much security.
Besides, it was more than likely that the city would go into hysteria and launch the mutie equivalent of a witch-hunt. Sooner or later, one of them would get caught, and that was a risk Blade couldn't afford to take.

That left one choice - they would have to leave. Stay low and travel light. But whereto? Canada was out of the question, so was anything that required airplane or passenger-ships. That left Mexico as the nearest safe country.

Blade sighed again and buried his head in his hands.

It would be a long trip. Long and dangerous. But what choice did they have?

Muffled sounds and fragments of whispered words reached him, and he knew that his team was finally up.

He stood up and stretched, then headed for the main room. The moment he opened the door, six pairs of eyes looked questioningly at him, and he caught himself wondering how many of them would survive the next months.

He dismissed the thought. Right now, the future would have to wait.

"We're leaving," he announced. "Pack your things. We travel light, so bring only what's necessary. We'll leave at nightfall."

The only reply was muted nods as the others headed for their respective rooms to pack.

* * *

"As I see it, we have two options: One, we stay. Or two, we leave," Ryan explained.

The Guardians were gathered around the large table in the main room of the apartment. On the table itself lay various maps, some showing the major cities of the continent, others the tangled network of highways.

"We can't just leave this place. We've worked so hard on it!" Diana protested.

"What about the classes?" Suzuka added. "They have paid in advance, you know."

"Then we'll have to cancel those classes, and give them a suitable refund," Ryan said. "Listen, I don't like this any more than you do, but right now, I don't think we have a choice."

"I agree," Kyle said. "You all saw the news this morning - mutants and humans fighting in the streets are only the beginning. This whole city is on the verge of civil war. It's too dangerous to stay here."

"What about transport?" Ben asked. "The van isn't big enough for all of us."

"Then we'll have to steal one more," Deirdre said.

"Seraphim-" Ryan began, but Deirdre interrupted him.

"No, Ryan, we need the money for the trip. I don't like it either, but we don't have a choice."

Ryan sighed. He knew she was right, but he still didn't like it. They were supposed to be the good guys, no some simple thieves.

"Listen, if it makes you feel any better, look at it like payment for all the times we risked our necks by stopping some mutant baddie," Deirdre continued.

"Alright," Ryan finally said. "But do it properly, okay? And remember-"

"-Extra license plates," Deirdre finished. "I know."

"But where do you suggest we go?" Jhonen asked. "Canada already has strict mutant laws, and we can't just take a plane or ship to Europe - it would be too dangerous if we were discovered."

"Then we'll go south. Mexico, Panama, Guatemala...their governments don't care who goes into the country, as long as they get some profit out of it," Ryan explained.

The room was silent for a long moment as each of them thought about the limited choices they had.

"I don't know, but...I guess Mexico sounds best," Suzuka finally said.

"If now, we can always travel further south," Diana added.

"It would be a lot better than some mutant camp," Jhonen agreed.

The rest nodded, and for the first time since the newscast the night before, Ryan smiled. He dug out one of the maps and placed it on the table.

"We'll have to head into the country, then. The Southern States are not exactly tolerant when it comes to mutants, and the less time we spend there, the better," he explained.

"We can travel to Chicago, then down to Oklahoma City," Diana suggested and traced the route with a finger.

Kyle frowned.

"I don't think Oklahoma City is a good idea," he commented. "I heard the FOH are setting up their Midwest headquarters there."

"Kansas City and then San Angelo, then?" Jhonen suggested.

Ryan studied the map for a moment, then shook his head.

"Let's take it one day at a time. We'll head for Chicago first. Then we can get a feel of how things are further down south, before we decide how we continue. Any objections?"

They rest of the Guardians shook their heads, and Ryan folded the map back together.

"Then Chicago it is."

* * *

"And you are sure they were mutants?" a police officer asked and jotted something down in a dog-eared notebook.

He already knew the answer: yes, it was a mutant. They'd already had dozens of reports that day, 0and the person who reported it was always absolutely certain that it was indeed a mutant.
Never mind the fact that half the times they showed up at some supposed mutant-hideout, it turned out to be perfectly ordinary humans. God, he hated this job.

"Yes, officer, there was no doubt. One of them had scales on his hands...no human has that," the man in front of him replied.

The officer nodded, his attention now wholly at the man. Not only had this witness apparently discovered the location of a whole gang of mutants, it was also clear that one - and maybe more - of the muties were real genetic misfits. Scales? Disgusting.

"Excellent. Thank you, sir, we will send a team right over," the officer said.

The man nodded and got up, and the officer followed him out of the room. They stepped into the elevator, and the doors closed.

"Oh, and one more thing, officer," the man said. "Those mutants are involved in something that's not...entirely legal, if you understand, and I would appreciate it if you 'forgot' to mention my name in the report," the man explained and handed an envelope to the police man, who quickly opened it and counted the money.

"Of course, sir. There's no reason why we should need your name. I'll just attribute the discovery to a patriotic citizen, who wished to remain anonymous."

They reached the floor, and the man got out.

"Thank you," he said and left.

The police officer pulled out his notebook.

"Well, Mr. Cain, we never met each other," he mumbled and scratched the name.

* * *