The Journey
~*~
It doesn't mean much,
It doesn't mean anything at all.
The life I've left behind me is a cold room.
I've crossed the last line from where I can't return,
Where every step I took in faith betrayed me,
And led me from my home.
-Sarah McLachlan
~*~
"Kitty?" Rogue called. The girl in question phased out of her room.
"What's up?" she asked.
"Ah need a favor."
"What?"
"Can ya flah ta England?"
"Pardon?"
"Remy was in contact with another group of mutants there."
"And?"
"We're gonna try to open up trade."
"What are we trading?"
"Cigarettes for medical supplies."
"That seems kinda oxymoron-ish."
"Ah agree," her friend said. "Will you do it?"
"Yeah, do I have a co-pilot?"
"Not on this flight."
"I have to, like, fly across the ocean alone?"
"Not alone." As if on cue something small and purple launched itself into Kitty's arms.
"So I can take him?"
"Yeah, ya know he'd just try ta follow ya anyhow."
"Help me pack?"
"Already done." Rogue smiled handing Kitty a bag.
"That was quick. I'm, like, starting to think you're trying to get rid of me." Rogue also handed her the coordinates.
"Naw, you'll just come back," Rogue sighed with mock annoyance. "'But the cat came back the very next day.'"
Kitty rolled her eyes. "Well, I guess I'll head out." She climbed into the Blackbird.
"Be careful, sugah. We expect you back in three days, any longer and we'll send a rescue mission."
"I will," Kitty called. Within minutes she and Lockheed were airborne. Due to the technology in the Blackbird she landed six hours later. She got out of the plane shouldering her duffle bag. Lockheed flew behind her.
She walked for an hour before reaching the camp. "Like, why'd we park so far away?" she asked the dragon who merely shrugged. "You're no help." She approached the gate and banged on the door. There was no answer.
She tried to use the bell, still nothing. Sighing she phased through the door. She walked a few feet before being tackled and pinned to the ground. She started to phase but couldn't. "Name," the man above her demanded.
"Get the hell off of me!" Kitty very rarely cursed, but first this man wouldn't let her in, then he attacked her, and now he was demanding things of her.
"Answer his question, luv," another man said. She didn't even glance at him. She glared at the man above her.
"If he gets off of me I'll tell you," she said.
"Doesn't work like that," the first man said. Her blue eyes bored into his and she began to struggle. "Stop that. How bloody hard is it to answer a question?"
"Why did you attack me?"
"Someone breaks into the camp I get a little defensive."
"Remy told you I was, like, coming."
"You know him?"
"Yes. He sent me. Now move!"
"You're a demanding bird, aren't you?" he said mildly.
"You're invading my space. Besides, I did knock and I rang the bell thing."
"We were coming when you broke in," the other man said.
"Can I get up now?" The first man got to his feet pulling her up.
"Would you remove this?" he gestured to his leg where Lockheed was biting him.
"Lockheed, it's okay, you can let go now." The dragon flew into her arms growling at him.
"Now, what's you're name?"
"Kitty Pryde, AKA Shadowcat," Kitty said hugging Lockheed close.
"I'm Pete Wisdom, the other bloke over there is John Constantine," the first man said. "And the bird who was screwing with your powers is me sister Romany Wisdom."
"Hi," Kitty said to the other two. "The plane is about an hour away, everything's aboard."
"We'll get t' that tomorrow," Pete shrugged. "It's late." He led the three into a fairly large building.
"Who leads your camp?" Kitty asked as she entered the main room where a large group of people were sitting, playing cards, talking, or/and drinking.
"Pete does," Romany said with a proud smile directed to her brother. Kitty looked at the rude man in front of her incredulously.
"It's a joint effort," Pete shrugged. "Jardine does `is part."
"Jardine?" Kitty asked.
"One of the only three humans here," Romany said.
"The other two?" Kitty inquired.
John grinned and wrapped an arm around Romany. "Yer lookin' at `em, luv." Romany shrugged off his arm. "Wisdom, is the only one in the inner circle `at's actually a mutant."
"But you-" Kitty paused confused. "How did you subdue my powers?"
"Witchcraft," Romany shrugged. "Don't worry though, you can use `em now."
"Good," Kitty said hating the thought of going through life without her mutant powers in this new world. Pete got a bottle of scotch out and sat down at a table. The other two sat with him.
"`Ave a seat, luv," John said patting the chair between him and Pete. Kitty sat down. Pete took a drink from the bottle before handing it to John. John took a drink offering it to Kitty.
"I can't," she said stroking Lockheed under the chin.
"Why not?" John asked.
"It's, like, illegal," Kitty said.
"That is by far the stupidest thing I have ever heard," Pete said. "Let's start with the fact that there's no government. Who's goin' t' arrest you?" Kitty didn't respond to that. "Secondly, `ow old are you?"
"Seventeen," she responded.
"Okay, that would be illegal here, but no one would care," Pete said shrugging. "Ya know what I think?"
Kitty met his intense gaze. "What?"
"You're afraid of loosening up," Pete told her. He saw her eyes flash, but it got the desired reaction. She took a deep drink from the bottle making a face as she passed it across the table to Romany. Pete leaned back lighting a cigarette.
"Must you?"
"My camp, Pryde," Pete said narrowing his eyes.
"Whatever." Romany handed Pete the bottle as another man walked in.
"Jardine!" Pete called. "Get over here, ya old wanker." The old man walked over to their table sitting between Pete and Romany.
"Wisdom, are you going to introduce me to your lovely young friend?" Jardine inquired.
"The Yank is Kitty Pryde," Pete said.
"An American?" Jardine asked.
"Born and raised," Kitty said brightly.
Jardine sighed. "Too bad."
Kitty smiled at the elder man. "Are you insulting my country, Mr. Jardine?"
"I would never," Jardine smiled.
"The lady brought us more fags," John said also lighting a cigarette.
"Pardon?" Kitty asked obviously confused.
"Fags, Pryde," Pete said. "It means cigarettes." He shook his head in exasperation. "Americans!"
Kitty narrowed her eyes. "And what is, like, wrong with Americans?"
"If they brought you to us absolutely nothing," Jardine smiled. Kitty returned the old man's smile. Pete took a drink and passed the bottle back to John. It continued around the table.
"So, Ms. Pryde, where are you from?" Jardine asked.
"Illinois originally," Kitty said. "I spent most of the wars in Bayville."
"X-Man?" Pete inquired.
"How'd you know?"
"If you were in Bayville you're either an X-Man or an Acolyte," Pete said. "You don't seem like a bad girl."
"You forgot the Brotherhood," Kitty said her mind briefly flashing to Lance who had been killed in the wars.
"No, just blocked them out," Pete shrugged.
"What kind of sexist name is that anyhow?" Romany asked.
"The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants," Kitty said. Pete and John laughed shortly at the name. "The weird part is, they were run by a woman and their only really powerful person was a woman."
"The other two groups?" Romany asked now interested.
"Both run by old men," Kitty said. "The Acolytes were run by Magneto. He believed that humans and mutants were destined for war. The X-Men, my group, were run by Charles Xavier, he believed that we could work together, and live in peace."
"Dance around a bon fire singing "Kumbiya"," Pete said rolling his eyes. She narrowed her eyes. "Obviously, he was wrong."
"They're human, they don't seem to want to kill us," she shot back.
"Excuse me," John said. "I am not exactly completely human, neither is Romany."
"What are you?" Kitty asked.
"In simple terms, I fight demons," John shrugged. "Rom, is a witch."
"In a manner of speaking," Romany nodded. "So, technically Jardine is the only real human."
"Now I'm getting confused," Kitty said.
"Don't worry," Pete said in a mock-serious tone. "I'm sure you spend a lot of time like that."
"You son of a-"
Pete leaned towards her placing a finger to her lips. "Don't finish that."
"Yeah," Romany said attempting to lighten the mood. "That's me mum you're talkin' about too." Kitty slapped Pete's hand away.
"Don't touch me," she said.
He rose an eyebrow smirking. "Sorry, Pryde, didn't know my touch would excite you so much." Her mouth dropped open and she sputtered trying to come up with a retort as John laughed and Romany tried to hide a snicker.
"Rest assured, Mr. Wisdom," Kitty said after calming herself, "nothing about you could ever excite me." To her surprise he merely chuckled deeply.
"We'll see."
"What is that supposed to mean?" He smirked leaning back in his seat.
"Nothin'." She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Lockheed growled at him.
"Where'd you get him?" Romany asked trying to break the tension.
"Lockheed?" Kitty asked turning to Pete's sister. "He sort of found me. Saved my life too, didn't you, dragon?"
"Ya," Lockheed cooed nuzzling his mistress' hand.
"How did he save you?" John asked finding it hard to believe that the dragon could be useful in any fight. Lockheed glared at him and let a burst of flame out into the open air.
"Knock it off, flyin' rat!" Pete exclaimed. "You tryin' t' kill us?" Lockheed turned his glare on the Londoner and stuck his forked tongue out at him.
"Kitty," Romany said standing. "Let me show you to a room." Kitty followed the other woman out of the room.
~*~
It doesn't mean much,
It doesn't mean anything at all.
The life I've left behind me is a cold room.
I've crossed the last line from where I can't return,
Where every step I took in faith betrayed me,
And led me from my home.
-Sarah McLachlan
~*~
"Kitty?" Rogue called. The girl in question phased out of her room.
"What's up?" she asked.
"Ah need a favor."
"What?"
"Can ya flah ta England?"
"Pardon?"
"Remy was in contact with another group of mutants there."
"And?"
"We're gonna try to open up trade."
"What are we trading?"
"Cigarettes for medical supplies."
"That seems kinda oxymoron-ish."
"Ah agree," her friend said. "Will you do it?"
"Yeah, do I have a co-pilot?"
"Not on this flight."
"I have to, like, fly across the ocean alone?"
"Not alone." As if on cue something small and purple launched itself into Kitty's arms.
"So I can take him?"
"Yeah, ya know he'd just try ta follow ya anyhow."
"Help me pack?"
"Already done." Rogue smiled handing Kitty a bag.
"That was quick. I'm, like, starting to think you're trying to get rid of me." Rogue also handed her the coordinates.
"Naw, you'll just come back," Rogue sighed with mock annoyance. "'But the cat came back the very next day.'"
Kitty rolled her eyes. "Well, I guess I'll head out." She climbed into the Blackbird.
"Be careful, sugah. We expect you back in three days, any longer and we'll send a rescue mission."
"I will," Kitty called. Within minutes she and Lockheed were airborne. Due to the technology in the Blackbird she landed six hours later. She got out of the plane shouldering her duffle bag. Lockheed flew behind her.
She walked for an hour before reaching the camp. "Like, why'd we park so far away?" she asked the dragon who merely shrugged. "You're no help." She approached the gate and banged on the door. There was no answer.
She tried to use the bell, still nothing. Sighing she phased through the door. She walked a few feet before being tackled and pinned to the ground. She started to phase but couldn't. "Name," the man above her demanded.
"Get the hell off of me!" Kitty very rarely cursed, but first this man wouldn't let her in, then he attacked her, and now he was demanding things of her.
"Answer his question, luv," another man said. She didn't even glance at him. She glared at the man above her.
"If he gets off of me I'll tell you," she said.
"Doesn't work like that," the first man said. Her blue eyes bored into his and she began to struggle. "Stop that. How bloody hard is it to answer a question?"
"Why did you attack me?"
"Someone breaks into the camp I get a little defensive."
"Remy told you I was, like, coming."
"You know him?"
"Yes. He sent me. Now move!"
"You're a demanding bird, aren't you?" he said mildly.
"You're invading my space. Besides, I did knock and I rang the bell thing."
"We were coming when you broke in," the other man said.
"Can I get up now?" The first man got to his feet pulling her up.
"Would you remove this?" he gestured to his leg where Lockheed was biting him.
"Lockheed, it's okay, you can let go now." The dragon flew into her arms growling at him.
"Now, what's you're name?"
"Kitty Pryde, AKA Shadowcat," Kitty said hugging Lockheed close.
"I'm Pete Wisdom, the other bloke over there is John Constantine," the first man said. "And the bird who was screwing with your powers is me sister Romany Wisdom."
"Hi," Kitty said to the other two. "The plane is about an hour away, everything's aboard."
"We'll get t' that tomorrow," Pete shrugged. "It's late." He led the three into a fairly large building.
"Who leads your camp?" Kitty asked as she entered the main room where a large group of people were sitting, playing cards, talking, or/and drinking.
"Pete does," Romany said with a proud smile directed to her brother. Kitty looked at the rude man in front of her incredulously.
"It's a joint effort," Pete shrugged. "Jardine does `is part."
"Jardine?" Kitty asked.
"One of the only three humans here," Romany said.
"The other two?" Kitty inquired.
John grinned and wrapped an arm around Romany. "Yer lookin' at `em, luv." Romany shrugged off his arm. "Wisdom, is the only one in the inner circle `at's actually a mutant."
"But you-" Kitty paused confused. "How did you subdue my powers?"
"Witchcraft," Romany shrugged. "Don't worry though, you can use `em now."
"Good," Kitty said hating the thought of going through life without her mutant powers in this new world. Pete got a bottle of scotch out and sat down at a table. The other two sat with him.
"`Ave a seat, luv," John said patting the chair between him and Pete. Kitty sat down. Pete took a drink from the bottle before handing it to John. John took a drink offering it to Kitty.
"I can't," she said stroking Lockheed under the chin.
"Why not?" John asked.
"It's, like, illegal," Kitty said.
"That is by far the stupidest thing I have ever heard," Pete said. "Let's start with the fact that there's no government. Who's goin' t' arrest you?" Kitty didn't respond to that. "Secondly, `ow old are you?"
"Seventeen," she responded.
"Okay, that would be illegal here, but no one would care," Pete said shrugging. "Ya know what I think?"
Kitty met his intense gaze. "What?"
"You're afraid of loosening up," Pete told her. He saw her eyes flash, but it got the desired reaction. She took a deep drink from the bottle making a face as she passed it across the table to Romany. Pete leaned back lighting a cigarette.
"Must you?"
"My camp, Pryde," Pete said narrowing his eyes.
"Whatever." Romany handed Pete the bottle as another man walked in.
"Jardine!" Pete called. "Get over here, ya old wanker." The old man walked over to their table sitting between Pete and Romany.
"Wisdom, are you going to introduce me to your lovely young friend?" Jardine inquired.
"The Yank is Kitty Pryde," Pete said.
"An American?" Jardine asked.
"Born and raised," Kitty said brightly.
Jardine sighed. "Too bad."
Kitty smiled at the elder man. "Are you insulting my country, Mr. Jardine?"
"I would never," Jardine smiled.
"The lady brought us more fags," John said also lighting a cigarette.
"Pardon?" Kitty asked obviously confused.
"Fags, Pryde," Pete said. "It means cigarettes." He shook his head in exasperation. "Americans!"
Kitty narrowed her eyes. "And what is, like, wrong with Americans?"
"If they brought you to us absolutely nothing," Jardine smiled. Kitty returned the old man's smile. Pete took a drink and passed the bottle back to John. It continued around the table.
"So, Ms. Pryde, where are you from?" Jardine asked.
"Illinois originally," Kitty said. "I spent most of the wars in Bayville."
"X-Man?" Pete inquired.
"How'd you know?"
"If you were in Bayville you're either an X-Man or an Acolyte," Pete said. "You don't seem like a bad girl."
"You forgot the Brotherhood," Kitty said her mind briefly flashing to Lance who had been killed in the wars.
"No, just blocked them out," Pete shrugged.
"What kind of sexist name is that anyhow?" Romany asked.
"The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants," Kitty said. Pete and John laughed shortly at the name. "The weird part is, they were run by a woman and their only really powerful person was a woman."
"The other two groups?" Romany asked now interested.
"Both run by old men," Kitty said. "The Acolytes were run by Magneto. He believed that humans and mutants were destined for war. The X-Men, my group, were run by Charles Xavier, he believed that we could work together, and live in peace."
"Dance around a bon fire singing "Kumbiya"," Pete said rolling his eyes. She narrowed her eyes. "Obviously, he was wrong."
"They're human, they don't seem to want to kill us," she shot back.
"Excuse me," John said. "I am not exactly completely human, neither is Romany."
"What are you?" Kitty asked.
"In simple terms, I fight demons," John shrugged. "Rom, is a witch."
"In a manner of speaking," Romany nodded. "So, technically Jardine is the only real human."
"Now I'm getting confused," Kitty said.
"Don't worry," Pete said in a mock-serious tone. "I'm sure you spend a lot of time like that."
"You son of a-"
Pete leaned towards her placing a finger to her lips. "Don't finish that."
"Yeah," Romany said attempting to lighten the mood. "That's me mum you're talkin' about too." Kitty slapped Pete's hand away.
"Don't touch me," she said.
He rose an eyebrow smirking. "Sorry, Pryde, didn't know my touch would excite you so much." Her mouth dropped open and she sputtered trying to come up with a retort as John laughed and Romany tried to hide a snicker.
"Rest assured, Mr. Wisdom," Kitty said after calming herself, "nothing about you could ever excite me." To her surprise he merely chuckled deeply.
"We'll see."
"What is that supposed to mean?" He smirked leaning back in his seat.
"Nothin'." She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Lockheed growled at him.
"Where'd you get him?" Romany asked trying to break the tension.
"Lockheed?" Kitty asked turning to Pete's sister. "He sort of found me. Saved my life too, didn't you, dragon?"
"Ya," Lockheed cooed nuzzling his mistress' hand.
"How did he save you?" John asked finding it hard to believe that the dragon could be useful in any fight. Lockheed glared at him and let a burst of flame out into the open air.
"Knock it off, flyin' rat!" Pete exclaimed. "You tryin' t' kill us?" Lockheed turned his glare on the Londoner and stuck his forked tongue out at him.
"Kitty," Romany said standing. "Let me show you to a room." Kitty followed the other woman out of the room.