Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or the X Men. Evie is my character.

/Personal thoughts/

~~telepathic communications~~

Chapter 9

Once over Africa, the Helix landed, cloaked in a clearing of a tropical jungle about a quarter mile from the village. Ororo immediately took to the air to find her sister, despite the shouts of warning from Logan to stay with the team.

Landing in the village center Ororo called out, "Onnaka…Sister, I am here."

Out of her hut came a beautiful woman with long black hair and skin like Ororo's. She ran and embraced her sister as a new release of tears flowed from them both. Moments later found Logan, Shalimar and Brennan breaking from the jungle growth at the edge of the village and rushing to join the women.

When Brennan saw that the area was secure he raised his ring to his lips. "Evie, it's safe. You can come out." Soon she was by his side, as well.

"Onnaka, I am here now. We will find them and get Kira back."

"I was so afraid. There was nothing I could do. I did not want to call you."

"It is all right. These are my friends." She made introductions. "Together we will fix this. Please come inside and tell us exactly what happened."

They entered her small house and sat around a table as this kind woman brought them the food she had prepared. "Onnaka, can you tell us exactly what you remember?" Shalimar tried to keep her voice soft to allow her to feel safe talking to them.

"As I have had the opportunity to think since everyone was taken, I realized that this all started about 3 weeks ago. Jaku began acting very strangely. He became more demanding and short tempered. He had been in an argument with Saket over the things he was allowed to do being part of the ruling families. Jaku was not being a good example to the people. He was also trying to take advantage of one of the young ladies of another family. Saket tried to reason with him but he just became enraged and fled to the mountain. He was there for about 12 days. Finally when he returned he seemed to be back to his old self. When the men were preparing to leave a short while later, he expressed illness and requested to stay home. I feared he had eaten something in the mountain that would have made him sick. After the men left, he was suddenly no longer sick. He was so healthy that he began immediately going out into the jungle for many hours at a time." Her voice which had been low and sad now became weak and began to shake. "The last time he returned there were men with him. Men I did not recognize. They gathered all the women and children into the center of the village by force with cruel hands. Everyone was frightened and most were crying. I stood up and demanded to know what he was doing. One of the men struck me. Jaku laughed as I fell and said he had found someone who would help him get everything he wanted, that he no longer needed to be in the shadows anymore." Tears now began to fall from her dark eyes. "He walked close to me and said all he had to do was deliver you, Ororo. This other person would make him the ruler of the village if he could only bring you back home."

Logan let out a low growl at the thought of Ororo being drawn into a trap by her own brother.

Onnaka continued, "He said he was taking everyone with him into the jungle. I was to be left here to call you. He knew our men would not be back for a long while so I would not have anyone to turn to. I told him I would not help him to hurt you. Kira was behind me. She had just come down with a fever that morning. He nodded and one of the men tried to touch her. I fought him away but was thrown to the ground and restrained by two others. That man picked her up roughly and put her to his shoulder. I could hear her begin to cry. Jaku took her and she settled into her uncle's arms not realizing the danger. He told me I had better decide to call you quickly if I wanted to help her. They tied me and left me here as they took everyone else." Tears flowed freely and she began to sob as Ororo put her arms around her sister. "It took me most of the evening to get free." She raised her arms and displayed the cuts on her wrists from wrestling with the ropes that bound her. "I could not follow him in the darkness. I tried the next morning but could not find a trail. I did not want to bring you into danger. I am so sorry."

"Shh," Ororo tried to calm her sister, "we will find him. We will get Kira and the others back safely, I promise."

Logan used the communication device that Ororo had given her sister. He let the professor know of the situation so far and told him they would be starting the search in the morning.

Evie spoke caringly to her now and asked to be allowed to heal her wrists. Onnaka looked to Ororo whose nod conveyed trust in her friend. Afterwards, Ororo was able to get her sister, who was visibly exhausted, to finally sleep. She met the team as they gathered outside.

"Is she ok?" Shalimar asked as Ororo walked up.

"Yes, she is sleeping and will be fine once she is rested."

Logan, not used to being the leader of a team found it easy to fit into the position. The wild was his territory and a hunt was his game. He knew how it would go and knew everyone needed to rest before they started. "It'll be night soon. I doubt we'll be able to make any better progress in the dark than she did. Besides we need the rest and time to get used to bein' in this climate. Tomorrow is likely to be demandin'. I'll take the first watch. Shalimar, you come and relieve me in four hours, Darlin'. Brennan, give her two and then the rest is yours. Evie and 'Ro, I want you both to sleep. You need to rest the most. Ororo was about to protest when Logan put his hand to her shoulder. "You're worn out from worry, Ro. You need to try to sleep and get your strength." He was glad to see her concede. They all turned in as Logan sat outside and lit a cigar.

He was keenly aware of his surroundings. As he rested in the fact that the area was safe for now, he began thinking of her. His heart skipped a beat when the smoke from his cigar began to mingle with a sweeter scent in the air. As he turned he saw Ororo walking up to him. "You ok, Ro?"

She sat next to him and looked down for a moment. "Logan, I… just wanted to say thank you." Looking up into his eyes she continued, "Last night you were very kind and I just wanted you to know how much I appreciated you being there for me."

He didn't say anything right away. He noticed her eyes were still tired and full of concern. He wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and protect her from everything in the world that would keep the sparkle from her eyes. Doing nothing he said, "Ro, you've been there for me more times than I can count. I won't let you face this alone. We'll get through this together."

"You're a good friend, Logan." She kissed him on the cheek and returned to the house.

Good friend, her voice echoed in his mind. Those words stabbed him, though he knew she hadn't meant to. He wanted to be so much more than just a good friend. She had become the center of his life. He wasn't sure exactly when she moved into that position. He suspected it happened a long time ago but until the night at the club he hadn't realized it. How could he tell her what he felt? She had given him so much. What would he have to offer her? Seeing her hurting was killing him. /I won't let anythin' happen to her. Her eyes are so full of sadness. I swear I'll make things right for her./ His time passed quickly as he was thinking of her and soon he could smell Shalimar silently coming up behind him.

"It's good to know you're here, Darlin'." Logan, without turning broke the silence of the night.

"Are you worried?"

"Not really, I saw you hunt. Between the two of us, it won't take long to find 'em."

"But what does this other person want with Ororo?"

"I don't know." Logan's voice was deep and quiet. "But I do know that I won't let him have her."

"Logan,…do you love her?" Shalimar sat beside him and saw his brow furrow when he turned to her.

"What makes you ask that, Darlin'?"

"I may not be as keen as the Wolverine but I know I can rely on my senses."

Reaching a finger out and touching her nose lightly, he grinned, "I guess I know now, that I can rely on your senses, too." He watched as she giggled softly. "Yeah, I do love her. We've been good friends for a long time now, but since the other night at the club I feel different."

"Have you told her?"

Shaking his head, he looked down. "No,…I don't want to ruin what we've got and then there's…the other part of me. The wolverine in me can be,…let's just say,…a little wild. I couldn't stand it if she got to be afraid of me."

Putting a comforting arm around her new friend, Shalimar smiled, "I know what that's like. I also know that she loves you." His eyes shot up to meet hers. "She does. Give her the chance and she'll love all of you. She's a strong woman. Don't underestimate her."

Logan leaned in and kissed Shalimar's cheek then stood up. "Thanks, Darlin'."

He walked off thinking about telling Ororo how he felt and wondered if what Shal said was true. /Could she really love all of me?/

Thursday

In the morning they prepared to leave. Onnaka pointed them in the direction Jaku had gone. Everyone traveled together. Logan didn't want to risk anyone left unprotected in the village. Between Shalimar and Logan, the trail was easily followed. They traveled for about three hours proceeding slowly to keep the trail. Evie was the one who was least adept to what they were doing but she was strong and didn't slow the mission. She marveled at the beauty of the world around her. To pass the time, she and Onnaka conversed about everything from the wildlife to the uses of the vegetation. Onnaka was expert, as her mother before her, at healing with the medicines nature had to offer. For Evie it was a hobby and she was very interested in all she could learn. The time elapsed quickly and soon it was high noon and they found themselves coming toward the base of the mountain.

Light flickered from the caves and Logan and Shalimar knew they had found what they were looking for. As the others approached, they kept themselves hidden from the guards posted at the perimeter of the clearing.

"I will go and talk to Jaku," said Ororo.

Logan grabbed her arm before she had a chance to rise. "No! We don't know who's waiting for you."

"He did this to get me here. I can not just hide. Fighting will only get people hurt." She looked at Logan with strength and determination in her eyes. "I must."

"All right. We'll wait here. Be careful. If things get out of control, just whisper and we'll be there." Logan trusted her and fought to control his desire to protect her.

"Please let me approach with you. I need to see Kira," Onnaka pleaded.

"First let me find out what is going on. I will check on Kira. I can't risk them taking you as well. Please stay with Logan."

Storm raised her arms and began to lift off the ground. Before clearing the trees she went in the opposite direction and off to the right so as to not give away their position. Soon Logan saw her descend like an angel into the clearing.

Guards immediately surrounded her. Calmly she called out. "Jaku, I am here."

Moments later a tall strong man walked out from the cave. "Ahh, Ororo, how nice it is to see you, Sister. I knew you would come when Onnaka called."

"Where is Kira?" Storm was firm.

"I would not harm her. She's my niece. I've had her treated. She is recovering." Reaching his arm around her he said, "Come; let us…catch up." He led her to a spot in front of the largest cave. They sat and someone brought them water.

"Jaku, why have you done this? What do you hope to gain?" Storm tried to reach the brother she once knew in the man before her.

"You have to ask, why? You were here after father died." His voice began to get stronger as she could see his rage build. "You saw how they treated me. I was pushed aside. Saket took over as the family head and Onnaka was the one most people turned to. What was I? NOTHING!" He stopped and stood to compose himself. "I was ignored. Even the young women ignored me. Well, no more. I have met someone who understands the injustice done to me and will help me claim what is rightfully mine! I will rule and I will marry whomever I wish. The Shadow King will help me. All he wants in return is…you." Jaku, smiled slyly, knowing the reaction he would get from his 'sister.' Storm dropped her cup and paled. "What is wrong, Dear Sister? You look as though you have seen a ghost."

Scenes of a time long ago began to play before her mind's eye. Terror began to replace the concern she held. Storm was brought out of her thoughts enough to try to compose herself and stand. She fought the urge to curl up and cry at the mention of his name.

She stared as Jaku continued. "He is waiting for you, up the mountain. Go to him and the people will be returned. I will give Kira back to Onnaka."

Storm's eyes were now wildly looking around. Jaku grabbed her arm. "Sister, you have no choice. He will find you. It is the only way."

TBC