A/N; Thank you, Thank you for all your reviews. I didn't think this story
would be liked much, but there you go. Sorry this taking so long. If you
read long enough (through to the afterword) you will find out the reason
why. I know it's a bit long, but that's just the way I write. No short-cuts
for me. Love it or hate it, don't matter. And don't worry Natalie King,
this story will mature on its own. These guys are in for a tough ride.
Enjoy the 3rd chapter. I'm working on the 4th one as we speak. Reviews!
Disclaimer: No. I don't own any of the recognisable characters, so quit bugging me. Although I do own the story. Hmmmmm.. Possibilities..
Chapter 3 The Meeting
Ororo hit the close button for the ship's hatch. Then she turned to face the two youngsters, both wearing the same mutinous expressions and both meticulously avoiding looking at each other. She smiled for the first time in the last 3 hours.
After the rather embarrassing bar brawl in the Sorority, and after she had managed to smooth everything over with the management (it helped that the manager was an old friend), she had led the two warring teenagers back to the docking bay and into her ship, the Cairo. They hadn't spoken a word to each other since then. Dakar had a specially nasty bruise on his chin. It was lucky he managed not to break anything.
"Dakar, better get yourself cleaned up. Medbay, now." She said quietly, well aware that that wasn't what they were expecting. A lecture maybe, or even some kind of punishment. After all, this was the first time they've ever been in such deep shit. Let Kohaku deal with the punishment.
"Listen, you two, I want you both cleaned up and up in the bridge in 10 minutes. I'll let Kohaku deal with you this time."
This got their attention. They both snapped their heads towards her, looking horror struck. Dakar voiced the protest they were both strongly feeling.
" 'Ro please. It ain't my fault. Please don't tell the ol' guy. He'll have me dressed up as a 'lil girl again. I swear! That guy is evil!"
Ororo smothered a grin.
"Medbay! Scram!" she just ordered.
They turned and marched down the hall to the medbay, but not before she heard them arguing loudly.
"I tol' you, didn't I? Now, you get me into trouble with you, and with the ol' man too. Do you realise how much he's gonna enjoy this?"
"Hey! I told you I'm sorry. How many times do I have to tell you? You are so stubborn!"
"Stubborn?! Stubborn? Whose stubborn? You're the one who got us into this. Again!"
"Really, Kohaku can't be that bad. He only asked yo..you. to.dress up as a.as a gi.girl(chokes) and prance around the room(smothered giggles) to get intel. How would he know that the guy's gay and totally digs you and your but..tt.butt." she couldn't hold back anymore, she laughed outright.
Throughout this diatribe of his most embarrassing moment, Dakar was quickly swelling with rage mixed with embarrassment. He was about to blow.
"Arghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!"
Ororo shook her head. She turned and headed up to the ship's rec. area where Kohaku's sure to be. Her ship, the Cairo, wasn't a particularly big ship. A Gasaki Fighter Cruiser Class, heavily modified one at that. Its pride and joy are its class 8 shields, and Dakar's babies, the Grappler Combat Arms, a range of extremely effective extendable piloted ship arms, developed by the space pirates advanced mechanics, which had just boomed into the markets. Added to the large selection artillery the ship boasts, the Cairo earned its reputation as one of the most deadliest ships around. Inside wasn't too shabby, either. A impressively arrayed bridge, a cargo bay, 4 average sized quarters, a large recreational room (which can be used as a training area, as well as a place gather for mealtimes, relaxation, and debriefings) and it also boasts its own medbay, which is unusual for a private ship, but had proven itself useful time and again.
As she stepped through the room she asked the figure, she'd spied on the couch, looking at a holo screen, "So how was the meeting?"
Without looking up, he acknowledged her with a grunt. "Did you get the supplies? Hmmm, do you know, your bounty's been upped again."
She sat down in front of him and leaned back. "Yes. And no, I didn't know." she said, vaguely interested. "By how much?"
"Oh just, by 3 million. You're now up to 17 million credits." He looked up. "Crazy, isn't it? Since you've separated from the guild, you've had more contracts offered to you than you can handle."
"It's just an after effect. Don't get used to it."
"I'm starting to think I should have had my previous Charges quit the guilds, too."
"Are you kidding. You told me two of your Charges got themselves killed and the other's languishing in Nuirti with the rest of those dumb enough to get caught." She said slipping her robe off and leaning her head back against the head rest. She closed her eyes.
"Ye well, rub it in, why don't you? Anyway, I met up with the clients as planned. No hitches. The contract's in the data card. Approved and signed by both parties." he said, then added thoughtfully. "You know, I've researched this assignment, seems it's leaked already. A controlled leak, but a leak nonetheless. So whoever the leak sold the intel to, somebody'll know you specifically would be going after the target."
"Quite sloppy."
"I have to agree. So we have to be extra careful. The Foreign Minister and the Space Forces may already have been alerted. This is an extra high risk operation." He said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "We have to plan this thing properly, find out everything to know about the target, find out something that may help us along. We may have to scope out everything for at least a 2 weeks, or else get someone in the inside."
Storm perked up, dangerous missions were always welcome. But she just thought of something, much, oh much more entertaining.
"You know, we got into a spot of trouble down the Sorority." She said lightly.
"Ye? Let me guess. Those two smart mouths were in the middle of it, and you had to bail them out, effectively blowing what's left of our cover? Am I getting warm here?" Kohaku had *the* sparkle in his eyes, even she got a tiny bit nervous.
"Well, yes."
"He-he, I think we just recruited our insiders." He said gleefully, turning off the holo projector. He leaned his head back, put his feet up and stared up the ceiling with eyes sparkling with inspiration and smugness.
"Kohaku, uh, can you take it lightly with Dakar? It was Jubilee's fault this time, and about the cover? It was compromised, but we'll be out of here soon enough anyway."
"Ha! Those two had this thing coming, so don't tell me otherwise, Storm."
Ororo just smiled and leaned forward and opened the holo projector again. She brought up the star chart of the region and examined it.
Kohaku looked at her curiously and leaned over to examine it as well. After a little while comprehension filled him. "You know, we need supplies. Supplies we can't get here. How about we pass by the Serengeti asteroid belt and see about that."
Ororo had been looking at the area with a dead pan expression. She looked up. "What gives you the idea that I want to go there?"
"Asteroid M?"
Just then , the automatic doors swept open to admit clean-looking Dakar and Jubilee. "Am I hearing this right? Are we really going swing by *the* Asteroid M? The fortress of the most powerful crimelord in this galaxy? Wow! I've been dreaming of seeing it for myself. They say its awesome!"
"Who told you that, girl? You ain't got any friends to gossip with." Dakar said indolently as he plumped himself down on the couch beside Ororo and proceeded to change the star chart projection with the entertainment network. A pair of heavily made up and school-girl garbed teenage girls were belting out a song shrilly on a flashy stage. Dakar leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
"I do, too" Jubilee answered back, petulantly. She sat down heavily on the other side of Ororo "I chat with the girls when you and Kohaku here were too busy doing you're business above stairs, when 'Ro wasn't here!"
Ororo, unperturbed by the sudden invasion of her privacy, was shocked by this confession, Dakar slipped of the couch, Kohaku merely looked interested.
"Really? What did you talk with them about? Anything interesting?" Kohaku asked.
"Kohaku!" Ororo said admonished. She looked disbelievingly at both nonchalant Kohaku and the highly embarrassed Dakar, now picking himself up off the floor.
"I swear, 'Ro. It's not like it sound. It's not like we enjoyed ourselves in feminine company while you're away on assignments. We were just researching, ye, that's what we were doing, researching!" Dakar said as he sat on the couch next to Kohaku, this time, as if seeking an ally.
"Dakar, I don't care, about that'" he sagged with relief. "As for you, Jubilation Lee, what ever were you doing following them?! Do you know how much danger you would have been in, in places like that? You could have been attacked, killed, kidnapped, raped or worse! Young lady, next time this happens I'll have you washing the communal of the next space port for a week! And as for you Kohaku, why did you leave her all alone and give her the chance to follow you into any red light area. You never used to be so sloppy with me!"
Jubilee was squirming in her seat "But 'Ro, I was careful, I promise. I didn't take any risks."
Ororo looked utterly unconvinced.
"Relax Storm," Kohaku finally intervened. "I let her follow us. I had my eye on her the whole time. Figured she would be safer with us than alone wandering on her own, which she's liable to do. Besides the ladies were always nice to her, treats her like a protégée. Although I am still curious to know what else you talked about aside from the merits of the male species' posterior." He smirked.
"Kohaku!"
"Sorry!"
"You were going to tell them something I believe."
He got a positively mad glint in his eyes back, "Oh ye.Boys and girls, I believe I have a mission for both of you!"
"Uh-oh." Dakar and Jubilee both said in unison.
Ororo stood up and headed for the door. "Well, when you're all ready, I'll be down the bridge, getting ready for take off. Kohaku make it quick and remember, take it easy on the little guy." With that she left them to an unknown fate.
..............................
The Serengeti asteroid belt was a rarely navigated and highly dangerous stretch of space filled with asteroids of all sizes. It garnered a reputation of being deadly after the 50th ship had been destroyed within it. The belt runs around a mining system, with its rich store of valuable metals and a wide variety of equally valuable spice. A system which had become legend, an X spot, a treasure pot for Outlaws and Maruaders alike. And it was because of its dangerous reputation that the main base of operation of the largest and most powerful crime organisation in this galaxy can be found. An asteroid the size of a small moon, hollowed out and on the outside looked like one of the innumerable asteroids floating about. A base completely surrounded by volatile asteroids, with no particular pattern, and with the position of Asteroid M itself, changing every 12 hours. A fortress indeed. Unreachable, untouchable to the Space Forces as well as the organisation's own enemies. Unless of course you check in with the flight controllers inside the asteroid itself.
"Kohaku, transmit the pass codes and type in the new sequence pls." Ororo commanded from the helm.
Oh, and unless you have the highly restricted pass codes, too.
"Please stand by for transmission of the current flight plan, and may I remind you too, stay on the designated path, there's been a lot of activity on the belt ever since the gravimetric well appeared a few clicks away."
"Roger that, ready for transmission."
"Goodluck."
By the time they settled the Cairo in one of docking bay inside the base, they all could use a nice warm bath and a long cool drink, there's just too much space travel one could take in 5 hours. Plus the aggravating hassle of blowing up each and every stray rock floating on collision course with the ship had taken its toll on two adrenalin junkies currently lolling about half asleep, like sugar addicts on a diet.
"Kohaku, you'd better take those two to a room, they look just about done in." Ororo said as she looked sympathetically at Dakar and Jubilee, both yawning loudly. She, meanwhile, looked cool as ever, as if she had just woken up after a particularly good nap instead of having just piloted the Cairo though a particularly gruesome stretch. She had another dark cloak on, with the hood covering her bright hair and dark silk gloves covering her hands.
Kohaku looked just as cool as he studied the two unblinkingly, totally lacking of any sympathetic feelings. "Well I guess I'd better herd them in then. We'll be in the usual apartments when you're ready."
"Thanks. I won't be long."
Jubilee finally piped in a comment as they headed for the doors leading off the docking area. "Usual? You've been here before? (Yawn) Like, you come here all the time? (Yawn)"
"Smart deduction, kid" Kohaku quipped drily as they stepped through the darkened hall and felt the floor start to move forward. Jubilee had only been with them for little close than 8 months, Dakar meanwhile had been with them for just a bit longer, a year. To cut the story short, the two were the reason the Storm went rogue, well, at least the culmination of all the building frustration within her. The last time they stopped here was 4 months ago and it was just Kohaku and Ororo then, since they had left the two on a reconnaissance mission on a minor slave trader on a sunny and 'beachey' planet.
"Oh man, I am so crashed(Yawn). Just tell me the where bed is and I'll be ready for(Yawn) anything just after I get my beauty sleep." Dakar said, scratching his hair, not really interested in the conversation.
They finally reached another set of automatic doors, the floor stopped moving as they stepped through the open portal. Ororo immediately noticed the male Seifran waiting for her.
Kohaku saw him, too. "I'll see you later then." And with that, he proceeded to lead the two bewildered looking pair away by grabbing one hand each and dragging them after him.
Ororo proceeded to follow the small alien, so inconspicuous looking, it could be so easy to loose him in a crowd. Ororo noticed that the crowd around the complex was unusually thick for this time of the season. Must be the organisation doing some business again.
Asteroid M inside was a small colony in itself. A lot of people live and work here. Secure in their position and the protection they get. As a result, the colony had become almost like a city in itself, it had an assortment of buildings, traditional and state of the art alike. The colony had even started developing its own 'personality'. The last time Ororo visited, she got the chance to visit a ghetto, one of dozens popping up around the colony. It also helped that the designers of Asteroid M had build it with a full simulated ceiling, a sky with clouds, sun, moon and stars (with constellations of course!). home away from home. And of course, lording over everything in this mini planet is Magneto, lord of magnetism and head of the Symbol Organisation. A man with such power, mere mortals can't even comprehend its magnitude.
Ororo followed the Seifran into the back door of a large building. They passed through the kitchen area where as much as a dozen chefs in a variety of species were hard at work and twice as many helpers scurrying about. She received one or two puzzled looks but was not questioned about her presence when they saw who she was with. Generally, Seifran can be quite nasty when provoked, but this one had to be beyond nasty for to deserve the pointedly averted looks. She was then led through at least a dozen deserted corridors before they stopped at a tall pair of doors. She was told to proceed alone. She pushed the door inward slowly and walked through a beautifully decorated sitting area. With a view.
She could see the stars outside through the transparensteel, it was a beautiful sight. She closed the door behind her, walked forward removed her cloak and unbound her long hair. Just then another door opened and admitted an elegantly dressed man, he was broad, tall, with a face still handsome but lined with age, and a mane of pure white hair. He stood there, smiled and held his arms opened wide.
"Papa." She murmured as she hurtled into his arms and hold tight.
"Hello, baby girl." He uttered into her unbound hair, the exact shade of his, closed his eyes and tightened their embrace. "It's been a while."
.................................
Three days later the Cairo made its landing on the planet of Falleen in the Seichuri system. Of course, the ship wasn't called the Cairo by this time, I flashy new (and, indeed, very fake) ID code now identifies the ship as The Fat Lady.
"Falleen, a C type planet, terra-formed, industry class, main industry; Entertainment Sector, population; 7 billion of the most money-grubbing, fame seekers in this part of the Galadia galaxy (the one they just left was the Anselite galaxy)." Kohaku enumerated as they waited in the bridge for the two youngsters to appear. "Perfect timing. They say it's the busiest this time of the season. We won't have any problems blending in this crowd, not with all these freaks around."
Storm merely grunted and added the finishing touches to her carefully dyed, black hair. She then picked up surveyed herself through a mirror, disguised brown eyes casually bland. She turned as the automatic doors opened. She concealed the grin trying to burst out. Kohaku had really outdone himself this time.
Dakar was not so bad, but not to his eyes. Egos are such sensitive things. He actually looked good. A bit young, maybe, but with his trim and toned body on such flagrant display, sexy nonetheless. He was wearing not much as his birthday suit, although strategically placed scraps of white silk, held together by thin gold ribbons, did give as much cover as they can on the more.sensitive areas. His naturally warm toned skin was smothered with shining oil, giving him the illusion of constant heat. He was wearing a pair of gold, flat, stringy (which runs up to his thighs) sandal on his feet, a golden coronet held his temporarily tamed mane of wild hair (blond this time), and, a look that says it all. He had this expression of mixed bravery, disconcertion, anger and resignation, add to the cute blush adorning his face. He was also trying not to look at anyone directly.
Jubilee meanwhile had the same look, although double the embarrassment. She was wearing one of her 5 disguises for the reconnaissance mission. A cat costume. The shooting stage next to the studio being used by Jean Grey's production, was full of the same skimpy costume as it was being used by a travelling group of entertainers for practice sessions. Kohaku managed to add Jubilee on the performer lists amongst other things. She was wearing a pair of oversized cat's ears on her head, pink lycra body stockings with golden glitters all over it, claw like boots and a pair of claw like gloves. She actually looked sexy and older than her 15 years, which means the brown highlights on her flowing hair and the green eye contacts were actually a good disguise.
Both costumes manage to look unthreatening to the outside eyes, but not to Ororo and Kohaku. They had spent twelve hours constructing hidden pockets, where all the equipment, which included a small blaster for each and some recording equipment, can go without being seen or scanned.
"I look like a friggin' freak in this don't I?! You know how much this is humiliating me, don't you Kohaku?!" Dakar said heatedly.
"And you look so cute too," Kohaku answered back with a smirk. "Now all you need is a bow and some arrows."
Jubilee hadn't said a word yet, although she did sneak glances at Dakar when he wasn't turned to her.
"Enough of this." Ororo said as she adjusted the hemline of her no-nonsense white business suit. It was an all body, wrap around affair, pure silk and pure white with a dangerously short hemline partnered with a tall stiletto white boots. The colour contrasted sharply with her warm chocolate skin but managed to flatter her at the same time. "Let them do their job, Kohaku. Take it easy on them and monitor their movement for the rest of the day. Preferably from the ship. I'll be gone for the rest of the day. I have some business to attend to so you three be good, ok?" she pulled on short white silk gloves to match the outfit.
"Wow, 'Ro. You look awesome! Where you off to?" Jubilee said, admiring the whole ensemble. She can count the times she'd seen Ororo dressed up with the fingers in her one hand. But the outcome's always the same. Stunning. But she can bet there'd some kind of weapon amongst all the trappings. Ororo never left anywhere unarmed.
"None of your business, young one" Kohaku said.
They all headed to the opening hatch of the ship, with Dakar self- consciously leading the way.
Ororo smiled and turned to face her, taking a tissue from her small handbag, she proceeded to wipe off excess lipstick off Jubilee's mouth. "I'll be back by sunset. I'll contact you if anything goes wrong, you have my frequency. And remember, no heroics. Don't throw away your life on a whim, ok? Life is precious, if you think something's wrong, call for backup. The same goes for you too, Dakar." And with that she walked off through the busy spaceport, confident strides garnering quite a few turned heads.
..............................
Logan turned his back on the exasperating guy and proceeded to stomp out of the building. Authority figures had always gotten this response from him. Legitimate authority figures, even more so. Pricks like him just didn't figure as Logan's favourite people.
He had been hard at work as the bodyguard of Miss Jean Grey for three days now. He had actually met and liked the Foreign Minister Xavier. He's a good man, a man that can make a lot of difference, and not a pushy one at that. Not biased too. Great guy, that one. But since Xavier found out about the threat, he had also alerted his friends from the Space Intelligence office. They in turn assigned General William Stryker to the job. A wise ass, with more mouth than actual brain. Stryker and Logan had hated each other at sight. Sanctimonious bastards like him were always bad news.
//flashback//
"I should haul you now off to Nuirti right now, I don't know what has gotten into the Foreign Minister. The Space Forces can handle this situation. We have special units trained and ready to capture your fellow criminal. That Storm won't get past us. She's gonna be ours with or without you. We don't need a criminal like you brazenly defying the Forces by just being here and thinking you can do the job better than we can. We don't need the likes of you.I don't need you."
He halted his tirade as he stared disbelievingly at Logan loudly blowing his nose on a tissue.
Stryker puffed in and looked just about ready to blow, his bearded face red with anger.
//end of flashback//
Logan smirked and looked around. He figured he could take the rest of the day off. Logan doubted that Storm would attempt anything at daylight. The full forces of the guards are on when Miss Grey was working on the studio. She'll be safe enough. He just had to be there when she and her puppy boy go to this big holo-drama awards party scheduled for tonight.
He jumped on his rented ride, an ALC, and followed his nose. He drove through the busy city and after 30 mins, ended up in one of the few nature reserves the planet had to offer. He hiked up for about 10 minutes, keeping an eye, ear and nose out for trouble. The flora and fauna around the area seem pretty tame compared to some planets he's been to, so he ran into no trouble. He savoured the feeling of nature, the call of the wild and the peacefulness it gives him. No matter where he was or wherever he maybe, Logan had always felt such a connection to nature, maybe because his earliest memories was that of waking up, fully grown with no clothes or memories, on a forest. Or maybe it just satisfies his the wildness inside of him. The wildness that's forever trying to get out. The thing that drives him feeds him and if not satisfied for at least once in a while, would drive him to slaughter. There had been times when he had been prey to this unknown and sometimes, unwanted emotion. Times when he hardly knows himself. When that time comes, his doubts resurface his anger a dangerous thing and his life surfeit. The only thing that always bring him back, was the fierce belief that he's a human, capable of free thinking and deepest emotions, not some kind of hunger driven animal.
Logan ended up near a lake. A beautiful one. He sniffed the air suspiciously and decided it was safe. He sat down on the grass near a tree, making the most of the sunlight, the calm breeze and twittering of something that passes as birds on the planet. He lay on his back, with his arms behind his head, closed his eyes and enjoyed the quiet peacefulness of the surroundings.
The breeze suddenly changed direction. He jack-knifed into a sitting position. Someone was there with him. Someone who smelled like sandalwood. Logan retracted his claws and sniffed again. This time he heard a rustle of leaves. He stood up and turned to face the person who had sneaked up on him.
She was standing with her back leaning on a nearby tree, relaxed, with her eyes closed, arms crossed just under her breasts, presumably also enjoying the scenery. Logan eyed her warily. She didn't look the type who would hurt anyone, at a guess, he would say, she's an executive, with her wearing a white silk suit, gloves and those boots. But if she could sneak up on him like that, without making any sound, she must be something else. But then she opened her eyes and smiled at him.
"Hi. You here to enjoy the view too?" she then sat down on the grass next to him, unmindful of her white dress.
Logan looked down at her, detracted his claws and sat back down next to her.
"." he grunted.
"Its beautiful here isn't it?"
"."
"Is that all you can say?"
"Nope."
"Jumpy are you?"
"You can say that."
"Well I'm just here to relax, not to harm people. This seems to a beautiful place to unwind. So lets just enjoy each other's company for a while huh?"
"."
"But if you won't relax, I'll just find another spot then. I wont bother you anymore than I can." She started to stand up.
He grabbed her wrist, his gaze son the lake's horizon. "Stay."
Ororo looked at him with a small smile. Then sat down again.
They sat like that for minutes, neither one talking, neither one moving, neither one looking at each other. They were just there to relax, no pressure, just an easy companionship. Ororo felt rejuvenated again, fully alive, like the feeling she had when she saw him for the first time just five days ago. He made her feel strong, and at peace at the same time, just by being there. It was only a coincidence that she found him in the park. She had finished her business at the city just half an hour ago and decided to come by the nature reserve for a while. Not like she'll see another one for another while. Like Logan, Ororo feels at home with nature and her elements, maybe because she was born on a healthy planet, bursting with life and energy, or maybe just because she, from an early age, had found out that she can control mother nature's elements to some degree. She could feel it. The power growing inside of her since she was just a teenager, under her mother's people's care. A power just bursting to go out. Ororo had always been a little bit afraid of that power, fearing that it will someday destroy her and everything she loves. So she keeps this unknown power tightly controlled inside of her. Leashed lest it manifest itself physically. Control had always been her saviour, but now she feels like the tighter the control she exerts on it, the more it is slipping off her grasp.
Whenever Ororo soaks into the core of nature itself, it gives her life again, a sense of completion. But only for a little while, and that time had been getting shorter and shorter. But now, with this man beside her, she could sense something different. Something wonderful happening within her. Ororo let out a tinkle of laughter and allowed a burst of the power inside her to manifest itself into the surroundings, without fear of her loosing control. She plumped down on the grass.
Logan felt something strange go past him, then he noticed the sun shining more brightly as ever, the grass look more greener and the picking speed of the breeze quieten down again. He turned to look down at his companion to find she was looking at him too with a smile on her face.
"Why are you here?" he asked her.
"Why is anyone really here?"
"That's not an answer."
"I never talk straight."
"Ok, let's try this again. Who are you?"
"Just a girl, trying to make her way through the universe."
"."
"I recognise you. You're the Wolverine right?"
Logan looked at her intently. "Are you a holo-journalist of some kind?"
She smiled and shook her head.
"An intelligence officer?"
She shook her head again, her dark hair moving like a live being.
"I am." He said.
"Am what?"
"The Wolverine you're talking about."
"What brings you to this part of the galaxy, then?"
"A job. Babysitting."
".?"
He looked towards the lake again. "Its not that worst job I've had but the people I work for and with are such pain in the asses. Except for one guy."
"I guess we can't have everything."
"Guess not, what about you? Why are you here?"
"A job too." And that was all he could take out of her.
Silence reigned again. It was now late afternoon. They both have places to be, things to do. But both are reluctant to end the encounter.
"I have to go." She said as she sat up.
"Me, too"
They stood up. She held out her hand.
"It was nice being with you today."
"." he grasped her hand as if to shake it. He pulled her close, settled his lips on her own soft ones. He kissed her softly at first, then more passionately, until they were clinging to each other. They broke up slowly, wanting the moment to last, not wanting reality to intrude.
They walked together back to their respective transport, each deep in thought. They said said their goodbyes abruptly. Both knowing that what they just had near the lake, can never ever happen again, for both their sakes.
As Logan watch her transport roar out of sight, his memory was triggered. Those hands, her lips and most importantly, her scent. The scent which he had vaguely picked up when she had brushed briefly next to him in the Sorority. Sandalwood.
Logan smiled. A time out of time, huh? This should get interesting. Very, very interesting.
Seems, we're destined to meet again after all.
Afterword; sorry this took so long. I just started college last week. I was a bit busy. What I'm really looking forward to are my Photography lessons. I am soooo looking forward to it. I'm so excited. The worst part of the week meanwhile was last Thursday when, because I used the free bus transport of the college, I ended up in Newmarket, that's another town outside Cambridge. I was so stupid. I even walked 30 minutes in the middle of nowhere until I found someone who led me to a bus station.
Anyway, enough of my woes. Thanks again for all the reviews. I want to make it clear that each and every occurrences in this story I have thought out. Yes, Magneto, is Ororo's father.(hey its my fic! I can do whatever I want with it!) and no, Ororo didn't know that Logan would be there in Falleen. She thinks that it's just coincidence. He's a bit enlightened so we'll see how it goes. Anyway, I feel bad doing those things to Dakar and Jubilee, but what the heck! It's fun! A lot of stuff still have to be revealed about all their pasts and I think I'll start putting extra stories at the end of a chapter, like one you'd see in manga (extra stories, relating past encounters and anything in between). So that's something to look forward to.
Those looking for a good fighting scene on this chap would be disappointed. I'm not much of an angsty person, but I try my best. This chapter has a bit (who am I kidding?) of fluff, but it's a necessary part of the story, a small nexus you could say. But the action starts on the next chapter, don't worry, another thing to look forward to. I'd better put a sock to it now. C ya on the next chapters!
Disclaimer: No. I don't own any of the recognisable characters, so quit bugging me. Although I do own the story. Hmmmmm.. Possibilities..
Chapter 3 The Meeting
Ororo hit the close button for the ship's hatch. Then she turned to face the two youngsters, both wearing the same mutinous expressions and both meticulously avoiding looking at each other. She smiled for the first time in the last 3 hours.
After the rather embarrassing bar brawl in the Sorority, and after she had managed to smooth everything over with the management (it helped that the manager was an old friend), she had led the two warring teenagers back to the docking bay and into her ship, the Cairo. They hadn't spoken a word to each other since then. Dakar had a specially nasty bruise on his chin. It was lucky he managed not to break anything.
"Dakar, better get yourself cleaned up. Medbay, now." She said quietly, well aware that that wasn't what they were expecting. A lecture maybe, or even some kind of punishment. After all, this was the first time they've ever been in such deep shit. Let Kohaku deal with the punishment.
"Listen, you two, I want you both cleaned up and up in the bridge in 10 minutes. I'll let Kohaku deal with you this time."
This got their attention. They both snapped their heads towards her, looking horror struck. Dakar voiced the protest they were both strongly feeling.
" 'Ro please. It ain't my fault. Please don't tell the ol' guy. He'll have me dressed up as a 'lil girl again. I swear! That guy is evil!"
Ororo smothered a grin.
"Medbay! Scram!" she just ordered.
They turned and marched down the hall to the medbay, but not before she heard them arguing loudly.
"I tol' you, didn't I? Now, you get me into trouble with you, and with the ol' man too. Do you realise how much he's gonna enjoy this?"
"Hey! I told you I'm sorry. How many times do I have to tell you? You are so stubborn!"
"Stubborn?! Stubborn? Whose stubborn? You're the one who got us into this. Again!"
"Really, Kohaku can't be that bad. He only asked yo..you. to.dress up as a.as a gi.girl(chokes) and prance around the room(smothered giggles) to get intel. How would he know that the guy's gay and totally digs you and your but..tt.butt." she couldn't hold back anymore, she laughed outright.
Throughout this diatribe of his most embarrassing moment, Dakar was quickly swelling with rage mixed with embarrassment. He was about to blow.
"Arghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!"
Ororo shook her head. She turned and headed up to the ship's rec. area where Kohaku's sure to be. Her ship, the Cairo, wasn't a particularly big ship. A Gasaki Fighter Cruiser Class, heavily modified one at that. Its pride and joy are its class 8 shields, and Dakar's babies, the Grappler Combat Arms, a range of extremely effective extendable piloted ship arms, developed by the space pirates advanced mechanics, which had just boomed into the markets. Added to the large selection artillery the ship boasts, the Cairo earned its reputation as one of the most deadliest ships around. Inside wasn't too shabby, either. A impressively arrayed bridge, a cargo bay, 4 average sized quarters, a large recreational room (which can be used as a training area, as well as a place gather for mealtimes, relaxation, and debriefings) and it also boasts its own medbay, which is unusual for a private ship, but had proven itself useful time and again.
As she stepped through the room she asked the figure, she'd spied on the couch, looking at a holo screen, "So how was the meeting?"
Without looking up, he acknowledged her with a grunt. "Did you get the supplies? Hmmm, do you know, your bounty's been upped again."
She sat down in front of him and leaned back. "Yes. And no, I didn't know." she said, vaguely interested. "By how much?"
"Oh just, by 3 million. You're now up to 17 million credits." He looked up. "Crazy, isn't it? Since you've separated from the guild, you've had more contracts offered to you than you can handle."
"It's just an after effect. Don't get used to it."
"I'm starting to think I should have had my previous Charges quit the guilds, too."
"Are you kidding. You told me two of your Charges got themselves killed and the other's languishing in Nuirti with the rest of those dumb enough to get caught." She said slipping her robe off and leaning her head back against the head rest. She closed her eyes.
"Ye well, rub it in, why don't you? Anyway, I met up with the clients as planned. No hitches. The contract's in the data card. Approved and signed by both parties." he said, then added thoughtfully. "You know, I've researched this assignment, seems it's leaked already. A controlled leak, but a leak nonetheless. So whoever the leak sold the intel to, somebody'll know you specifically would be going after the target."
"Quite sloppy."
"I have to agree. So we have to be extra careful. The Foreign Minister and the Space Forces may already have been alerted. This is an extra high risk operation." He said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "We have to plan this thing properly, find out everything to know about the target, find out something that may help us along. We may have to scope out everything for at least a 2 weeks, or else get someone in the inside."
Storm perked up, dangerous missions were always welcome. But she just thought of something, much, oh much more entertaining.
"You know, we got into a spot of trouble down the Sorority." She said lightly.
"Ye? Let me guess. Those two smart mouths were in the middle of it, and you had to bail them out, effectively blowing what's left of our cover? Am I getting warm here?" Kohaku had *the* sparkle in his eyes, even she got a tiny bit nervous.
"Well, yes."
"He-he, I think we just recruited our insiders." He said gleefully, turning off the holo projector. He leaned his head back, put his feet up and stared up the ceiling with eyes sparkling with inspiration and smugness.
"Kohaku, uh, can you take it lightly with Dakar? It was Jubilee's fault this time, and about the cover? It was compromised, but we'll be out of here soon enough anyway."
"Ha! Those two had this thing coming, so don't tell me otherwise, Storm."
Ororo just smiled and leaned forward and opened the holo projector again. She brought up the star chart of the region and examined it.
Kohaku looked at her curiously and leaned over to examine it as well. After a little while comprehension filled him. "You know, we need supplies. Supplies we can't get here. How about we pass by the Serengeti asteroid belt and see about that."
Ororo had been looking at the area with a dead pan expression. She looked up. "What gives you the idea that I want to go there?"
"Asteroid M?"
Just then , the automatic doors swept open to admit clean-looking Dakar and Jubilee. "Am I hearing this right? Are we really going swing by *the* Asteroid M? The fortress of the most powerful crimelord in this galaxy? Wow! I've been dreaming of seeing it for myself. They say its awesome!"
"Who told you that, girl? You ain't got any friends to gossip with." Dakar said indolently as he plumped himself down on the couch beside Ororo and proceeded to change the star chart projection with the entertainment network. A pair of heavily made up and school-girl garbed teenage girls were belting out a song shrilly on a flashy stage. Dakar leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
"I do, too" Jubilee answered back, petulantly. She sat down heavily on the other side of Ororo "I chat with the girls when you and Kohaku here were too busy doing you're business above stairs, when 'Ro wasn't here!"
Ororo, unperturbed by the sudden invasion of her privacy, was shocked by this confession, Dakar slipped of the couch, Kohaku merely looked interested.
"Really? What did you talk with them about? Anything interesting?" Kohaku asked.
"Kohaku!" Ororo said admonished. She looked disbelievingly at both nonchalant Kohaku and the highly embarrassed Dakar, now picking himself up off the floor.
"I swear, 'Ro. It's not like it sound. It's not like we enjoyed ourselves in feminine company while you're away on assignments. We were just researching, ye, that's what we were doing, researching!" Dakar said as he sat on the couch next to Kohaku, this time, as if seeking an ally.
"Dakar, I don't care, about that'" he sagged with relief. "As for you, Jubilation Lee, what ever were you doing following them?! Do you know how much danger you would have been in, in places like that? You could have been attacked, killed, kidnapped, raped or worse! Young lady, next time this happens I'll have you washing the communal of the next space port for a week! And as for you Kohaku, why did you leave her all alone and give her the chance to follow you into any red light area. You never used to be so sloppy with me!"
Jubilee was squirming in her seat "But 'Ro, I was careful, I promise. I didn't take any risks."
Ororo looked utterly unconvinced.
"Relax Storm," Kohaku finally intervened. "I let her follow us. I had my eye on her the whole time. Figured she would be safer with us than alone wandering on her own, which she's liable to do. Besides the ladies were always nice to her, treats her like a protégée. Although I am still curious to know what else you talked about aside from the merits of the male species' posterior." He smirked.
"Kohaku!"
"Sorry!"
"You were going to tell them something I believe."
He got a positively mad glint in his eyes back, "Oh ye.Boys and girls, I believe I have a mission for both of you!"
"Uh-oh." Dakar and Jubilee both said in unison.
Ororo stood up and headed for the door. "Well, when you're all ready, I'll be down the bridge, getting ready for take off. Kohaku make it quick and remember, take it easy on the little guy." With that she left them to an unknown fate.
..............................
The Serengeti asteroid belt was a rarely navigated and highly dangerous stretch of space filled with asteroids of all sizes. It garnered a reputation of being deadly after the 50th ship had been destroyed within it. The belt runs around a mining system, with its rich store of valuable metals and a wide variety of equally valuable spice. A system which had become legend, an X spot, a treasure pot for Outlaws and Maruaders alike. And it was because of its dangerous reputation that the main base of operation of the largest and most powerful crime organisation in this galaxy can be found. An asteroid the size of a small moon, hollowed out and on the outside looked like one of the innumerable asteroids floating about. A base completely surrounded by volatile asteroids, with no particular pattern, and with the position of Asteroid M itself, changing every 12 hours. A fortress indeed. Unreachable, untouchable to the Space Forces as well as the organisation's own enemies. Unless of course you check in with the flight controllers inside the asteroid itself.
"Kohaku, transmit the pass codes and type in the new sequence pls." Ororo commanded from the helm.
Oh, and unless you have the highly restricted pass codes, too.
"Please stand by for transmission of the current flight plan, and may I remind you too, stay on the designated path, there's been a lot of activity on the belt ever since the gravimetric well appeared a few clicks away."
"Roger that, ready for transmission."
"Goodluck."
By the time they settled the Cairo in one of docking bay inside the base, they all could use a nice warm bath and a long cool drink, there's just too much space travel one could take in 5 hours. Plus the aggravating hassle of blowing up each and every stray rock floating on collision course with the ship had taken its toll on two adrenalin junkies currently lolling about half asleep, like sugar addicts on a diet.
"Kohaku, you'd better take those two to a room, they look just about done in." Ororo said as she looked sympathetically at Dakar and Jubilee, both yawning loudly. She, meanwhile, looked cool as ever, as if she had just woken up after a particularly good nap instead of having just piloted the Cairo though a particularly gruesome stretch. She had another dark cloak on, with the hood covering her bright hair and dark silk gloves covering her hands.
Kohaku looked just as cool as he studied the two unblinkingly, totally lacking of any sympathetic feelings. "Well I guess I'd better herd them in then. We'll be in the usual apartments when you're ready."
"Thanks. I won't be long."
Jubilee finally piped in a comment as they headed for the doors leading off the docking area. "Usual? You've been here before? (Yawn) Like, you come here all the time? (Yawn)"
"Smart deduction, kid" Kohaku quipped drily as they stepped through the darkened hall and felt the floor start to move forward. Jubilee had only been with them for little close than 8 months, Dakar meanwhile had been with them for just a bit longer, a year. To cut the story short, the two were the reason the Storm went rogue, well, at least the culmination of all the building frustration within her. The last time they stopped here was 4 months ago and it was just Kohaku and Ororo then, since they had left the two on a reconnaissance mission on a minor slave trader on a sunny and 'beachey' planet.
"Oh man, I am so crashed(Yawn). Just tell me the where bed is and I'll be ready for(Yawn) anything just after I get my beauty sleep." Dakar said, scratching his hair, not really interested in the conversation.
They finally reached another set of automatic doors, the floor stopped moving as they stepped through the open portal. Ororo immediately noticed the male Seifran waiting for her.
Kohaku saw him, too. "I'll see you later then." And with that, he proceeded to lead the two bewildered looking pair away by grabbing one hand each and dragging them after him.
Ororo proceeded to follow the small alien, so inconspicuous looking, it could be so easy to loose him in a crowd. Ororo noticed that the crowd around the complex was unusually thick for this time of the season. Must be the organisation doing some business again.
Asteroid M inside was a small colony in itself. A lot of people live and work here. Secure in their position and the protection they get. As a result, the colony had become almost like a city in itself, it had an assortment of buildings, traditional and state of the art alike. The colony had even started developing its own 'personality'. The last time Ororo visited, she got the chance to visit a ghetto, one of dozens popping up around the colony. It also helped that the designers of Asteroid M had build it with a full simulated ceiling, a sky with clouds, sun, moon and stars (with constellations of course!). home away from home. And of course, lording over everything in this mini planet is Magneto, lord of magnetism and head of the Symbol Organisation. A man with such power, mere mortals can't even comprehend its magnitude.
Ororo followed the Seifran into the back door of a large building. They passed through the kitchen area where as much as a dozen chefs in a variety of species were hard at work and twice as many helpers scurrying about. She received one or two puzzled looks but was not questioned about her presence when they saw who she was with. Generally, Seifran can be quite nasty when provoked, but this one had to be beyond nasty for to deserve the pointedly averted looks. She was then led through at least a dozen deserted corridors before they stopped at a tall pair of doors. She was told to proceed alone. She pushed the door inward slowly and walked through a beautifully decorated sitting area. With a view.
She could see the stars outside through the transparensteel, it was a beautiful sight. She closed the door behind her, walked forward removed her cloak and unbound her long hair. Just then another door opened and admitted an elegantly dressed man, he was broad, tall, with a face still handsome but lined with age, and a mane of pure white hair. He stood there, smiled and held his arms opened wide.
"Papa." She murmured as she hurtled into his arms and hold tight.
"Hello, baby girl." He uttered into her unbound hair, the exact shade of his, closed his eyes and tightened their embrace. "It's been a while."
.................................
Three days later the Cairo made its landing on the planet of Falleen in the Seichuri system. Of course, the ship wasn't called the Cairo by this time, I flashy new (and, indeed, very fake) ID code now identifies the ship as The Fat Lady.
"Falleen, a C type planet, terra-formed, industry class, main industry; Entertainment Sector, population; 7 billion of the most money-grubbing, fame seekers in this part of the Galadia galaxy (the one they just left was the Anselite galaxy)." Kohaku enumerated as they waited in the bridge for the two youngsters to appear. "Perfect timing. They say it's the busiest this time of the season. We won't have any problems blending in this crowd, not with all these freaks around."
Storm merely grunted and added the finishing touches to her carefully dyed, black hair. She then picked up surveyed herself through a mirror, disguised brown eyes casually bland. She turned as the automatic doors opened. She concealed the grin trying to burst out. Kohaku had really outdone himself this time.
Dakar was not so bad, but not to his eyes. Egos are such sensitive things. He actually looked good. A bit young, maybe, but with his trim and toned body on such flagrant display, sexy nonetheless. He was wearing not much as his birthday suit, although strategically placed scraps of white silk, held together by thin gold ribbons, did give as much cover as they can on the more.sensitive areas. His naturally warm toned skin was smothered with shining oil, giving him the illusion of constant heat. He was wearing a pair of gold, flat, stringy (which runs up to his thighs) sandal on his feet, a golden coronet held his temporarily tamed mane of wild hair (blond this time), and, a look that says it all. He had this expression of mixed bravery, disconcertion, anger and resignation, add to the cute blush adorning his face. He was also trying not to look at anyone directly.
Jubilee meanwhile had the same look, although double the embarrassment. She was wearing one of her 5 disguises for the reconnaissance mission. A cat costume. The shooting stage next to the studio being used by Jean Grey's production, was full of the same skimpy costume as it was being used by a travelling group of entertainers for practice sessions. Kohaku managed to add Jubilee on the performer lists amongst other things. She was wearing a pair of oversized cat's ears on her head, pink lycra body stockings with golden glitters all over it, claw like boots and a pair of claw like gloves. She actually looked sexy and older than her 15 years, which means the brown highlights on her flowing hair and the green eye contacts were actually a good disguise.
Both costumes manage to look unthreatening to the outside eyes, but not to Ororo and Kohaku. They had spent twelve hours constructing hidden pockets, where all the equipment, which included a small blaster for each and some recording equipment, can go without being seen or scanned.
"I look like a friggin' freak in this don't I?! You know how much this is humiliating me, don't you Kohaku?!" Dakar said heatedly.
"And you look so cute too," Kohaku answered back with a smirk. "Now all you need is a bow and some arrows."
Jubilee hadn't said a word yet, although she did sneak glances at Dakar when he wasn't turned to her.
"Enough of this." Ororo said as she adjusted the hemline of her no-nonsense white business suit. It was an all body, wrap around affair, pure silk and pure white with a dangerously short hemline partnered with a tall stiletto white boots. The colour contrasted sharply with her warm chocolate skin but managed to flatter her at the same time. "Let them do their job, Kohaku. Take it easy on them and monitor their movement for the rest of the day. Preferably from the ship. I'll be gone for the rest of the day. I have some business to attend to so you three be good, ok?" she pulled on short white silk gloves to match the outfit.
"Wow, 'Ro. You look awesome! Where you off to?" Jubilee said, admiring the whole ensemble. She can count the times she'd seen Ororo dressed up with the fingers in her one hand. But the outcome's always the same. Stunning. But she can bet there'd some kind of weapon amongst all the trappings. Ororo never left anywhere unarmed.
"None of your business, young one" Kohaku said.
They all headed to the opening hatch of the ship, with Dakar self- consciously leading the way.
Ororo smiled and turned to face her, taking a tissue from her small handbag, she proceeded to wipe off excess lipstick off Jubilee's mouth. "I'll be back by sunset. I'll contact you if anything goes wrong, you have my frequency. And remember, no heroics. Don't throw away your life on a whim, ok? Life is precious, if you think something's wrong, call for backup. The same goes for you too, Dakar." And with that she walked off through the busy spaceport, confident strides garnering quite a few turned heads.
..............................
Logan turned his back on the exasperating guy and proceeded to stomp out of the building. Authority figures had always gotten this response from him. Legitimate authority figures, even more so. Pricks like him just didn't figure as Logan's favourite people.
He had been hard at work as the bodyguard of Miss Jean Grey for three days now. He had actually met and liked the Foreign Minister Xavier. He's a good man, a man that can make a lot of difference, and not a pushy one at that. Not biased too. Great guy, that one. But since Xavier found out about the threat, he had also alerted his friends from the Space Intelligence office. They in turn assigned General William Stryker to the job. A wise ass, with more mouth than actual brain. Stryker and Logan had hated each other at sight. Sanctimonious bastards like him were always bad news.
//flashback//
"I should haul you now off to Nuirti right now, I don't know what has gotten into the Foreign Minister. The Space Forces can handle this situation. We have special units trained and ready to capture your fellow criminal. That Storm won't get past us. She's gonna be ours with or without you. We don't need a criminal like you brazenly defying the Forces by just being here and thinking you can do the job better than we can. We don't need the likes of you.I don't need you."
He halted his tirade as he stared disbelievingly at Logan loudly blowing his nose on a tissue.
Stryker puffed in and looked just about ready to blow, his bearded face red with anger.
//end of flashback//
Logan smirked and looked around. He figured he could take the rest of the day off. Logan doubted that Storm would attempt anything at daylight. The full forces of the guards are on when Miss Grey was working on the studio. She'll be safe enough. He just had to be there when she and her puppy boy go to this big holo-drama awards party scheduled for tonight.
He jumped on his rented ride, an ALC, and followed his nose. He drove through the busy city and after 30 mins, ended up in one of the few nature reserves the planet had to offer. He hiked up for about 10 minutes, keeping an eye, ear and nose out for trouble. The flora and fauna around the area seem pretty tame compared to some planets he's been to, so he ran into no trouble. He savoured the feeling of nature, the call of the wild and the peacefulness it gives him. No matter where he was or wherever he maybe, Logan had always felt such a connection to nature, maybe because his earliest memories was that of waking up, fully grown with no clothes or memories, on a forest. Or maybe it just satisfies his the wildness inside of him. The wildness that's forever trying to get out. The thing that drives him feeds him and if not satisfied for at least once in a while, would drive him to slaughter. There had been times when he had been prey to this unknown and sometimes, unwanted emotion. Times when he hardly knows himself. When that time comes, his doubts resurface his anger a dangerous thing and his life surfeit. The only thing that always bring him back, was the fierce belief that he's a human, capable of free thinking and deepest emotions, not some kind of hunger driven animal.
Logan ended up near a lake. A beautiful one. He sniffed the air suspiciously and decided it was safe. He sat down on the grass near a tree, making the most of the sunlight, the calm breeze and twittering of something that passes as birds on the planet. He lay on his back, with his arms behind his head, closed his eyes and enjoyed the quiet peacefulness of the surroundings.
The breeze suddenly changed direction. He jack-knifed into a sitting position. Someone was there with him. Someone who smelled like sandalwood. Logan retracted his claws and sniffed again. This time he heard a rustle of leaves. He stood up and turned to face the person who had sneaked up on him.
She was standing with her back leaning on a nearby tree, relaxed, with her eyes closed, arms crossed just under her breasts, presumably also enjoying the scenery. Logan eyed her warily. She didn't look the type who would hurt anyone, at a guess, he would say, she's an executive, with her wearing a white silk suit, gloves and those boots. But if she could sneak up on him like that, without making any sound, she must be something else. But then she opened her eyes and smiled at him.
"Hi. You here to enjoy the view too?" she then sat down on the grass next to him, unmindful of her white dress.
Logan looked down at her, detracted his claws and sat back down next to her.
"." he grunted.
"Its beautiful here isn't it?"
"."
"Is that all you can say?"
"Nope."
"Jumpy are you?"
"You can say that."
"Well I'm just here to relax, not to harm people. This seems to a beautiful place to unwind. So lets just enjoy each other's company for a while huh?"
"."
"But if you won't relax, I'll just find another spot then. I wont bother you anymore than I can." She started to stand up.
He grabbed her wrist, his gaze son the lake's horizon. "Stay."
Ororo looked at him with a small smile. Then sat down again.
They sat like that for minutes, neither one talking, neither one moving, neither one looking at each other. They were just there to relax, no pressure, just an easy companionship. Ororo felt rejuvenated again, fully alive, like the feeling she had when she saw him for the first time just five days ago. He made her feel strong, and at peace at the same time, just by being there. It was only a coincidence that she found him in the park. She had finished her business at the city just half an hour ago and decided to come by the nature reserve for a while. Not like she'll see another one for another while. Like Logan, Ororo feels at home with nature and her elements, maybe because she was born on a healthy planet, bursting with life and energy, or maybe just because she, from an early age, had found out that she can control mother nature's elements to some degree. She could feel it. The power growing inside of her since she was just a teenager, under her mother's people's care. A power just bursting to go out. Ororo had always been a little bit afraid of that power, fearing that it will someday destroy her and everything she loves. So she keeps this unknown power tightly controlled inside of her. Leashed lest it manifest itself physically. Control had always been her saviour, but now she feels like the tighter the control she exerts on it, the more it is slipping off her grasp.
Whenever Ororo soaks into the core of nature itself, it gives her life again, a sense of completion. But only for a little while, and that time had been getting shorter and shorter. But now, with this man beside her, she could sense something different. Something wonderful happening within her. Ororo let out a tinkle of laughter and allowed a burst of the power inside her to manifest itself into the surroundings, without fear of her loosing control. She plumped down on the grass.
Logan felt something strange go past him, then he noticed the sun shining more brightly as ever, the grass look more greener and the picking speed of the breeze quieten down again. He turned to look down at his companion to find she was looking at him too with a smile on her face.
"Why are you here?" he asked her.
"Why is anyone really here?"
"That's not an answer."
"I never talk straight."
"Ok, let's try this again. Who are you?"
"Just a girl, trying to make her way through the universe."
"."
"I recognise you. You're the Wolverine right?"
Logan looked at her intently. "Are you a holo-journalist of some kind?"
She smiled and shook her head.
"An intelligence officer?"
She shook her head again, her dark hair moving like a live being.
"I am." He said.
"Am what?"
"The Wolverine you're talking about."
"What brings you to this part of the galaxy, then?"
"A job. Babysitting."
".?"
He looked towards the lake again. "Its not that worst job I've had but the people I work for and with are such pain in the asses. Except for one guy."
"I guess we can't have everything."
"Guess not, what about you? Why are you here?"
"A job too." And that was all he could take out of her.
Silence reigned again. It was now late afternoon. They both have places to be, things to do. But both are reluctant to end the encounter.
"I have to go." She said as she sat up.
"Me, too"
They stood up. She held out her hand.
"It was nice being with you today."
"." he grasped her hand as if to shake it. He pulled her close, settled his lips on her own soft ones. He kissed her softly at first, then more passionately, until they were clinging to each other. They broke up slowly, wanting the moment to last, not wanting reality to intrude.
They walked together back to their respective transport, each deep in thought. They said said their goodbyes abruptly. Both knowing that what they just had near the lake, can never ever happen again, for both their sakes.
As Logan watch her transport roar out of sight, his memory was triggered. Those hands, her lips and most importantly, her scent. The scent which he had vaguely picked up when she had brushed briefly next to him in the Sorority. Sandalwood.
Logan smiled. A time out of time, huh? This should get interesting. Very, very interesting.
Seems, we're destined to meet again after all.
Afterword; sorry this took so long. I just started college last week. I was a bit busy. What I'm really looking forward to are my Photography lessons. I am soooo looking forward to it. I'm so excited. The worst part of the week meanwhile was last Thursday when, because I used the free bus transport of the college, I ended up in Newmarket, that's another town outside Cambridge. I was so stupid. I even walked 30 minutes in the middle of nowhere until I found someone who led me to a bus station.
Anyway, enough of my woes. Thanks again for all the reviews. I want to make it clear that each and every occurrences in this story I have thought out. Yes, Magneto, is Ororo's father.(hey its my fic! I can do whatever I want with it!) and no, Ororo didn't know that Logan would be there in Falleen. She thinks that it's just coincidence. He's a bit enlightened so we'll see how it goes. Anyway, I feel bad doing those things to Dakar and Jubilee, but what the heck! It's fun! A lot of stuff still have to be revealed about all their pasts and I think I'll start putting extra stories at the end of a chapter, like one you'd see in manga (extra stories, relating past encounters and anything in between). So that's something to look forward to.
Those looking for a good fighting scene on this chap would be disappointed. I'm not much of an angsty person, but I try my best. This chapter has a bit (who am I kidding?) of fluff, but it's a necessary part of the story, a small nexus you could say. But the action starts on the next chapter, don't worry, another thing to look forward to. I'd better put a sock to it now. C ya on the next chapters!
