A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. I was swamped with midterm exams. But it's okay right? It's not like I left the last chapter off on a cliff hanger or anything …….. Oh wait a minute. I did didn't I * blushes *… Okay, okay here's the next chapter.

All four Mutant X members stare at the stranger in shock. Then instinct takes over and the boys go into defense mode. Jesse lets Shalimar go and masses his body. Brennan gets the electricity worked up in his hands. Adam grips the sedative tightly, ready to use it on a second's notice. Shalimar, on the other hand, runs up to the stranger and wraps her arms around his waist so she can embrace him. Shal hugs him for two reasons, the first, she is thankful he is there. The second reason is because she doesn't want to faint from all the dizziness and pain going on inside her.

"Shalimar, precious, please sit down before you fall down," he says fairly quiet.

"They'll hurt you," she warns him, not letting go.

"I'm willing to risk it," he says, moving her from him to the couch by his leg.

            The stranger puts his hands in the air and watches the three boys who are still in an attack stance.

"How did you get in here," Brennan asks angrily.

"Emma told me the codes," he answers.

"Emma?" Jesse says, "Shalimar's Emma?"

"Yes," he says calmly.

            Brennan lets out a frustrated groan. He lets the electricity in his hands go out. Jesse too lets himself go back to his natural form and Adam relaxes a bit.

"Who are you?" Adam asks sizing up the man in front of him, and praying they wont have to fight.

            The stranger is a large black man. He stands at six feet, four inches tall and weighs about four hundred pounds of muscle. He is wearing black jeans and a long sleeved, red T-shirt. On his right arm he is carrying a green duffle bag that looks to be almost all the way full. The man is completely bald. He has strong brown eyes and full lips. Though he is so big, his presence is calm and somewhat comforting.

            "My name is Ezekiel Simms," he tells Adam in his thick Jamaican accent, "All my friends call me Zeke. I live in Kingston Jamaica. I make a modest living working as an assistant manager in a hotel. I have no intention of harming you"

            Zeke still has his hands in the air. He puts one hand down slowly and then pulls out his passport. Brennan comes up and takes the passport from Zeke's hands. Zeke puts his other hand down cautiously. Brennan walks back to the other two team members and shows it to them. The passport has his photo and identification.

            Brennan stares at Zeke dubiously. "Well Ezekiel, what do you want us to do for you?" Brennan says, emphasizing the second word to make sure Zeke knows his place.

"I want you to help me rescue Emma," he states simply.

"This is ridiculous," Brennan says.

"No it's not," Shal says from the couch, "we have to find her and time is our enemy."

            Shalimar has her whole body resting on the couch. Her eyes are shut, but she is awake.

"Are you the reason she's been acting so strange and in so much pain lately?" Adam asks.

"She had control over what she wanted to do and how much," Zeke says.

"What do you mean?" Adam asks.

"I knew I couldn't come to America until today. I decided that when I could come here I would contact you and make up a story of why I needed your help in rescuing her. I started reading each of you since I am psionic. I wanted to know whom I'd be dealing with. When I got to Shalimar she was still under the anesthesia and I realized she was having vague recollections of her. She was pulling out the memories that Emma had made a barrier in. When I realized how strong she is mentally I started helping her pull out the memories. It is painful to go through, but she withstood it very well. Not long after that she started having control over how much she wanted to remember and when."

"Then what was this last episode about?"

            Zeke doesn't know and isn't sure what to tell them. He was about to answer honestly, but Shal jumps in with the explanation.

"I wasn't supposed to remember her name until I could handle it, but then I heard Brennan say it and all the memories came back too fast." 

"This is crazy," Brennan, says firmly, "if you are a psionic like you say you are how do we know you didn't plant those memories into Shalimar's head to make us trust you?"

"Well, Brennan, you'll just have to trust me when I say it's easier for psionics to take away memories than add them."

"How did you know my name?" Brennan asks defensively

"Emma has told me about all of you. You, Shalimar, Jesse and Adam," he says looking at each after saying their name.

Brennan looks like  he's about to say something else.

"Okay, okay," Adam, says, stopping Brennan from his interrogation. "Lets just say Emma does exist. She was another one of our teammates. Where is she and how can we get her?"

"I know where she is," Zeke tells them, "but getting her out from there will be very difficult."

"And why would that be, Ezekiel?" Brennan asks not bothering to hide the annoyance in his voice.

"It'd be easier to infiltrate the White House than get in there," Zeke says.

            Zeke puts down his green duffel bag and pulls out a picture of a mansion.

Jesse whistles, "That place could be the White House," he says, staring at the picture of the mansion.

"The Donahue mansion is surrounded by highly trained guards. If you're lucky enough to get passed them the technology is state of the art. You have to have the right code to get through the gate or into any door or window. If you don't enter the right code the automated weapons defense system is operated, and every guard will be behind you before you have time to say 'uncle' ."

"Sounds fun," Shalimar says giving a weak smile.

"Then you'll really like this, the mastermind behind Emma's capture has two sons. One is named Rain, he is a telecyber. The other is named Brace he is a molecular-psionic. He can manipulate the minds or molecules of people he can't even see."

            Zeke takes out the rest of the pictures from his duffle bag. One is a blue print of the mansion, and the others are of Rain, Brace and their father Javelin. Zeke looks up at Adam. Adam's stare is far away. Adam could only half listen after he heard Zeke say 'Donahue mansion'. Adam knows Dr. Javelin Donahue, and if  the Mutant X team knew what he knew Adam would be excommunicated from his own house. Zeke puts his huge hand on Adam's shoulder. Adam looks up instantly.

"You know something?" Zeke says.

Adam isn't sure if that was a question or not.

"I worked with Javelin a very long time ago," Adam tells everyone.

They all stare at him expecting more, but he only says, "how did you get these pictures?"

"I called in a lot of favors," Zeke says. "My friend who helped me get some satellite images of the mansion was found dead in his house. At least they think it's There was an explosion in his house. Adam, these people do not want to be found."

"They went all the way to Jamaica to kill your friend?" Adam asks.

"No, Rain is a telecyber, remember?"

"He made the computer blow up," Adam concludes.

            Before anything else can be said Shalimar cries out in pain and grabs her head. Adam jumps up and crouches in front of her, trying to get a better look at her face. Zeke is there next since he was standing close to her already. Brennan and Jesse quickly make their way to her as well. Shal feels like she's suffocating with all the men around her, breathing in her face. Someone puts their hand on top of her head. Shal knows it's Zeke's because of the size.

"She'll be all right," Zeke says, "she needs to sleep."

            Brennan puts his arm around her shoulders and begins to put his other arm under her legs, but Shalimar pushes him off.

"Forget about me. We have to find her," she claims.

"We will precious, but if you don't get some sleep and get better we will be spending more time worrying about you than finding her," Zeke says gently.

Shalimar pauses for a second than lets herself relax. A few tears slide down her eyes, but she makes no attempt to wipe them off.  This time Brennan scoops her up without any resistance.

"You'll keep me informed?" she asks.

"Of course we will," Adam tells her.

            With that said Shalimar falls asleep in Brennan's arms. Zeke sits beside Adam and watches Shalimar go.

"How did you do that?" Adam asks.

"Yeah?" Jesse says, sitting on the other side of Zeke.

"Do what?" Zeke asks, looking from one man to the other.

"When Shalimar makes up her mind she is set in her ways. All you did was say one sentence to make her change her mind, and stop pushing herself?" Jesse tells him.

            Zeke smiles revealing his straight white teeth, "I just told her the logic of the situation."

"I still have a few doubts about this Emma character, but if she is real she should have told us about you sooner," Adam says.

            Adam pats Zeke's shoulder then gets up to see Shalimar. Jesse too finds something else to do. Neither of the boys notices Zeke's smile go uneasy.

If they knew how she and I met, Zeke thinks to himself, I wouldn't be the only one under constant suspicion.

            Shalimar tosses and turns in her bed uncomfortably. A memory she hoped to forget has come back to haunt her.

"Whoever is leaving these clues is sick" Shalimar said to Emma as they searched the cave.

"You're not kidding." Emma responded.

Shalimar remembers the Mutant X team was searching for a new mutant murderer. He left notes on who he would kill next with his mutant power. The mutant is a telecyber named Rain. Rain can control any piece of technology from any where in the world. Lately he had been making computers blowup in people's faces. That day he had left two clues in two different locations. Shalimar and Emma were in the caves. Adam played guard out side the cave in case of emergency. Jesse and Brennan were investigating another clue about 60 miles from there.

            Shalimar didn't want Emma there. She'd rather have had her in the abandoned warehouse with Brennan. However the warehouse was suspected to be a fluke and Emma was able to get strong hits off of Rain's notes. Emma could feel Shal's uneasiness. She figured it was more of a feral thing than anything else.

"Found something." Emma said.

Emma was a good ten feet in front of Shalimar.

"What is it?" Shal asked moving toward Emma's electric lantern.

"Get out!" Emma screamed.

Emma started running. Shalimar caught Emma's elbow and pulled her along. Both heard the rumbling of the cave beginning to collapse. Shalimar ran faster keeping Emma by her side. Both could see the light at the end of the tunnel, but neither could reach it in time.

"Girls?" was the last thing they heard Adam call out to them before the cave-in.

Shalimar woke up when she heard the sound of Adam's voice.

"Shalimar, Emma can you guys hear me?" He said on the comm. link

"Adam," Shalimar called weakly over the ringing in her ear.

"Shalimar. Thank God, I haven't heard either of you for the last five minutes."

"Where are you?" She mumbled.

"I'm over the cave. I can't get in right now. If I try to move any rocks it'll collapse again. Jesse's coming soon, he'll get you out."

Adam heard a soft moan from Shalimar.

"Shalimar are you hurt?"

"Yeah."

"Where?"

"Everywhere."

"Shalimar, where's Emma? Is she hurt?"

            When Shalimar realized she couldn't see her best friend she jumped up. The sudden speed of her body's movements irritated every bone. Her ribs hurt along with her hands and head.

"Emma?!" She called out turning on her feral night vision.

"Emma?!" by that time she had gotten painfully up onto her feet.

It was her back's turn to protest in pain. Shalimar leaned over to suppress the nausea. It only made her ribs hurt again. Shal walked slowly for two more feet. She saw her friend's hand, but not her face.

"Emma?" She called out running to the hand.

Emma's face was tented by another rock. Shalimar carefully moved the rock away. Making sure not to cause another cave-in while putting it down. Emma's face was covered in blood. Shalimar saw one of her worst fears manifest itself. From her hips down to her toes a heavy boulder blanketed the rest of Emma's body. Shalimar tried to move the boulder, but she was too weak and the boulder was too heavy, when she tried one more time Emma cried out in pain. Shalimar slowly put the rock back down.

"Emma?" She said.

Emma moaned a little bit, but didn't make an effort to talk.

"Adam I found her," Shalimar said into her comm. link.

"Is she okay?" He asked her anxiously.

"She's pinned under a heavy boulder. Adam, I can't move it." Shalimar's voice was desperate and full of panic.

"Shalimar listen to me. Jesse is going to be here in less than ten minutes. I just want you to try to keep her conscious and talking until I can see her. Can you do that while staying calm?" Adam asked.

"Yeah," Shalimar whispered.

Shalimar lifted the upper part of Emma's body. She sat down and laid Emma comfortably across her lap. Emma's back was resting upon Shalimar's knees and Shal held her friend's neck in one of her arms. Shalimar ripped off a sleeve of her white peasant top and used it to wipe the blood off of Emma's face.

"Emma?" Shalimar shook her friend lightly. "Emma please say something." She was on the brink of tears.

"Something," Emma said, weakly opening her blue eyes.

Shalimar's tears of fear turned into tears of joy.

"Hey," she smiled. " Jesse will be here soon. He'll get you out. Okay?" Shalimar shook Emma again when she didn't answer.

"Okay," she groaned then started to shut her eyes again.

"Emma, tell me what it's like?" Shalimar asked her.

"What what's like?" Emma asked, making no attempts to open her eyes again.

"Being a psionic, being the youngest, being a red head. I don't care I just need to hear your voice."

Emma still didn't move.

"Tell me!" Shalimar yelled.

The sudden noise startled Emma. She opened her eyes and looked directly into Shalimar's. Emma finally gave up.

            "Being the youngest can suck sometimes. No matter how strong you are it is programmed into everyone's head to be protective of you. On top of that being a telempath and picking up on everybody's worrying makes you wonder if something is actually the matter." Emma paused and smiled. "It has its good points though. I got the most Christmas presents."

"Yeah right. I still think you messed with our heads," Shalimar said and laughed a little.

            "Being a telempath is worst than being the youngest in some ways. The more relaxed I am the harder it is to block out other people's emotions. Which makes sleeping nearly impossible." Emma's voice started decreasing in volume. Her words started getting longer pauses in between them. "I.... wouldn't sleep... if it weren't for.... Adam."

"What does Adam do to help you sleep?" Shalimar asked.

"He... reads... to me. I get lost in the story.... instead of the emotions... then I fall asleep."

Emma's eyes opened and closed. Her breathing became more drawn out and labored.

"Tell me more about being a telempath," Shalimar practically begged.

"It has... its good points," Emma said, "there's the Genesis Prophets."

"What's the Genesis Prophets?" Shalimar asked.

"Safety," Emma said.

They both watched as Jesse, Adam and Brennan came in the cave. Shalimar looked at Emma. Her eyes turned pure black and the same color mist emitted from her whole body then she died.

            When Shalimar wakes up her pillow is all wet from crying in her sleep. Shal sits up slowly and looks at the clock. It is nearly three in the morning. Shalimar gets out of her bed and splashes cold water on her face. Shalimar doesn't know what is making her feel worse, the fact that Emma hadn't trusted them enough to tell them her new found power, or her vague explanation on the Genesis Prophets. When she feels some what better she goes into the kitchen for an early morning snack. Shalimar spots Zeke in the dinning room eating cereal with no milk.

"Are you lactose intolerant?" Shalimar asks him, getting an apple from the refrigerator.

"No," Zeke says, "milk is very expensive in Jamaica. I'm not used to having a lot of it."

"You know your welcome to how ever much you want," Shal says.

"That is very generous of you, but I am fine."

"Generous…genesis," Shalimar mumbles quietly to herself.

"What?" Zeke asks.

"Zeke… What is the Genesis Prophets?"

A/N: I hope you are still enjoying my story. Thank you all of my reviewers and thank you to all of you who have read my stories and were too shy to leave a review. :]  Would you please inform me on how the flow of the story is going and leave some opinions on my Zeke character. I would really appreciate that. Thank you so much.

Sapphire