THE CHOICES WE MAKE

Continued...

"Hey baby, looking hot, wanna come back to my place to... cool off?" Emma looked up to see a large bulky man leering at her intensely.

"No thanks!" she said quickly, "I'm meeting my friends and I'm already late." She tried to pull her arm out of his grasp but his grip merely tightened.

"Now where are you running off to sweetheart, we were only just starting to have fun." By the smell of his breath Emma could clearly tell he was drunk. The lust radiating from him was making her feel slightly sick. She tried to pull away again but to no avail. For a moment she considered using her powers and giving him a mind blast. But she was surrounded by people...if someone saw...

"Hey baby, stop teasing me," the man was now holding her painfully with both hands, trying to pull her against him while leaning in to kiss her face. Emma struggled again, trying to back away from him. Just then, she felt another strong arm wrap around her waist from behind. She panicked for a second until she heard the owner of the arm speak.

"Back off mate!" Brennan's firm voice gave her a sense of relief but the man holing her had still not let go.

"Fuck off and find your own piece man," he spat angrily, tugging on Emma, seemingly trying to drag her from Brennan, "this ones mine!" The violent jerk he gave her caused Emma a yelp of pain.

"Right that's enough!" With on swift movement Brennan had broken the hold on Emma, swept her behind him and hit big man squarely in the chest knocking the wind out of him. He coughed angrily trying to get his breath back, but was clearly in no state for a fight and started backing away.

"Whatever man, she's all yours."

"Thanks" Emma muttered, trying to calm herself as Brennan turned away from her assailant to look at her.

"No problem, are you all right?" He was looking at her intently, obviously trying to discern if she was in any way hurt. If that idiot had injured her, Brennan was going to turn back round and make sure he wasn't in any position to touch anybody again for a long time.

"It's okay," Emma assured him trying to calm him down, "really Brennan, I'm fine." She smiled at him gratefully. He still felt angry that some jerk had dared lay a hand on one of his friends, but he knew Emma hated to encourage violent acts of revenge and didn't want to cause her any more discomfort tonight. He put a hand on her back and started leading her toward the exit.

"I was just on my way out when I saw you, I'd have gotten over quicker but this place is just packed tonight."

They reached the doors and he opened them, steering her through and outside.

"Hey guys!" Shalimar and Jesse pulled up beside them in the black car, Jesse driving.

"What kept you guys?" Shalimar asked as Brennan and Emma jumped in the back and Jesse reversed back and headed towards the sanctuary.

"Brennan was just playing the knight in shining armour," Emma grinned, nudging Brennan playfully.

"Really," Jesses eyebrows went up, he glanced in his mirror at Brennan, "never really saw you as shining, a knight in slightly rusting armour perhaps."

"So this is the thanks I get for rescuing the damsel in distress!" said Brennan in mock indignation giving her a friendly push back.

"I'm only joking" Emma felt a slight rush as he touched her. Trying to control her feelings she continued lightly, "Lucky you appeared though actually, I was almost going to use my powers on him."

"Luck had nothing to do with it, I heard you calling."

Emma looked surprised. "I didn't realize I had."

"Well I felt you, a telempathic de-ja-vous... just like old times eh." He had remembered. A year ago today he had first recived her distress call fom across a bar. He wasn't sure why at the time, but he had immediately decided that he had to help her. He had made the right choice, he realised. It was the start of his invovemant with Mutant X, he wouldn't be with them now if he hadn't made that choice. But then again, he thought sadly, neither would she. He glanced at her, pressed next to him, the psionic looked so young with those huge, glassy blue eyes. If he hadn't gone after her that day, she would probably be a captive of the GSA now, another lab rat for Genomex, or worse.

"Are you okay Em" Shalimar asked her friend.

"Fine" Emma assured her. She was glad though, when they finally reached the Sanctuary. Her head was starting to hurt and the slightly sick feeling from read she'd gotten off the man in the club still hung in her stomach. She felt dirty; all she wanted was to have a hot shower and then crawl into bed.

"You're back" Adam greeted his team, smiling to see they had all made it home tonight without getting into any brawls.

"So what's up Adam" Shalimar asked anxious to know what had interrupted her night out

"I have information on that new mutant, Devon Rykes, that Brennan and Jesse were trying to a lead on last week.

" Right" Jesse acknowledged, "An elemental, he apparently has the power to throw fire." A brief look of anxiety passed across Shalimar's face and her back stiffened a little at this news. As a feral, Adam had always insisted her fear of fire was only natural and the only way to overcome it was to face it, however the thought of facing a mutant with pyro abilities still made her uncomfortable.

"News from the underground has just come in" Adam continued, "There has been a report of an attack on someone by four people in black suits, but he got away when the warehouse he was staying in went up in flames and the assailants were forced to withdraw."

"The GSA won't give up that easily" put in Brennan, frowning.

"Brennan's right" Adam pressed some keys on the keypad and various maps and a blueprint of a building was projected for them all to see. "The GSA have been seen searching this area since, we think Devon must be in this general vicinity and it doesn't look like the agents have picked him up yet."

The four mutants stared at information in the screen and the portrait of Devon Rykes that was rotating in the left hand corner.

"I think I know that area," Brennan offered referring to the location of the warehouse remains.

"Good," said Adam, "Then you and Jesse will check it out in the morning to see if there is any useful clues and information remaining there, meanwhile Shalimar and Emma will go and check the area we think he's moved to, and see how close the GSA are getting."

The girls nodded but the other two looked less happy at these arrangements.

"Whoa, Adam, that place is going to be hot with agents, I really don't think we should be sending Shal and Emma on their own."

"Sorry Brennan, but Emma and Shalimar are more likely to be able to pick up on the mutant if he's still in that area." Adam saw the concerned expression still on the faces of Brennan and Jesse so added, " look, it won't take the two of you long to sweep the warehouse, then you can go and back them up, okay?"

That settled they dispersed, all heading for their bedrooms. Shalimar followed Emma to her room.

"Em," she started as they reached Emma's door, "Are you really okay?"

"I'm fine Shal, honestly, why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know, you seemed a bit down lately, sort of melancholy, like there's been something on your mind."

"It's nothing, really. I guess I've just sort of been thinking- about the past year, everything that's happened, the choices I've made, you know."

"Well, if you want to talk about it I'm here." Shalimar protective instincts for her friend meant she couldn't help but notice the change in Emma's moods recently.

"Maybe another time Shal, right now, I really think I just need some sleep." She smiled at her friend, trying to reassure her that she was okay.

"Okay, maybe you just need a shopping trip" Shalimar grinned, "After we sort out things with this new mutant, you and I are hitting the malls!"

"Sounds great." the young brunette grinned back as she closed the door to her, trust Shalimar to think of retail therapy. Emma threw herself onto her bed and closed her eyes.

Continued in Chapter 3... Reviews are always appreciated : )