The motorcycle roared up to the private lane. Remy paused, looking from the map to the weathered wooden sign pointing down the road.

"You sure this is the place, sugar?" Rogue stretched her neck to remove the kinks in it and gripped his waist tightly.

"Pretty sure, chere. Professor got some dead air back this way." He coughed a little. "Y'angry at your amour, or just want to switch places?"

Rogue blushed, relaxing her grasp. "Sorry. I wasn't payin' attention."

Remy pouted. "Not payin' attention to your Remy? Chere. That hurt."

She hit him playfully. "Go on, swamp rat. Kitty might need us."

***************************

He'd been found. He hadn't anticipated being found. He swore, passionately, under his breath. He'd have to get Kitty into the basement after he put up his first line of defense.

Lockheed fluttered on the floor, distracting him. "I don't bleedin' have time for this." He waved the animal off impatiently and set off the program, then headed up the stairs.

"Taking Kitty with you?"

He stopped. "Yes." He rounded on the dragon. "You stay here and keep quiet. Don't let those pals of yours know you're here."

"Promised." Lockheed rested before the basement monitor, content.

He bounced up the stairs and opened her door, folding her into his arms again. She was cool to touch and cuddled against his chest, wrapping an arm around his neck and murmuring nonsense. He picked up a few things for her, then retreated into the basement.

***********************

They roared up the road, both people looking for the source of the dead spot where the Professor couldn't detect anything. Trees, rocks, dirt, plants, all seemed normal at first.

Then they saw the cottage.

It was a small, neglected place, with dirty, broken windows and an aura of abandonment. Still, Remy pulled up to its worn, off the hinges gate and turned off the bike.

Rogue rose into the air to look it over, while Remy sauntered over the fence and started searching on the surface.

After an hour, they had found almost nothing. A discarded beer can here, a tennis shoe there.

Remy paused at the gate and looked down at it as they were about to leave. "Chere? Shouldn't there be more rust on this ol' thing?"

Rogue sighed. "I'm tired of rust. Let's keep going."

The couple kicked the motorcycle back to life and surged up the road again, looking for Kitty.