"Mutants- wake up," said a guard, kicking at Hank and Steph. Hank's head jerked up and he snarled at the man, Steph still groggy.
"Beast- you are wanted back in the labs- get up n' come now," said the soldier, backing away slightly and leveling a gun at the pair, the other seven guards behind him doing the same. They had decided guns were better than handheld weapons, they didn't have to get closer to Steph that way.
"No," Hank said, eyes blazing. "I shall never return there willingly."
"Don't make us take you by force," another guard sneered, suddenly lowering his gun so it was level with Steph's head. "Or she'll pop there in your arms, and you'll come with us anyway." Hank's eyes went wide as he immediately covered Steph's head with his arms. His face contorted with pain as he looked around the room, finally closing his eyes.
"Don't harm Stephanie," he said in a small voice, beginning to rise. "I will come."
"No!" Steph said weakly, grabbing onto his torn shirt,inhalingsharply as a look of terror spread across her face. Hank stopped and looked down at her, grief stricken at the look on her face.
"No," she said again, whispered now. "Don't leave me- Hank- don't leave me alone!"
"I must," Hank said in a strained voice. "Stephanie, if they ever took you from me-"
"They will!" Steph said desperately. "What if they come back while yer gone?"
"I have to leave," Hank said again. Steph shook her head.
"Quickly, mutant, the directing scientist is not a patient man!" one guard snapped. "And neither am I!" Hank turned his head from Steph, who was shaking now, and gently set her down as he stood, stopping while holding her hand he glared at the men.
"If you harm her-" he growled.
"We have no interest in that mutant," the guard snapped. Hank turned back to Steph, squeezing her hand gently.
"Come back to me," Steph whispered. "Come back Hank- I need you."
"I will," Hank said, letting go of her hand he was grabbed and shoved him roughly forward. Steph watched as Hank was lead away, unable to summon the strength to move any more when two new guards approached the still open wall, talking loudly and angrily.
"Chuck her in!"
"Jeez, watch those claws-"
"Ow! Stupid little-" Steph heard a high pitched scream joined the masculine yelps.
"I'll kill ya! Leggo! Leggoleggoleggo a' me!" Steph jerked, it was Ruhko!
But her sister- speaking? She hadn't uttered a word for years.... Steph rolled over and got to all fours with great effort, glancing up just in time to see the guards throw Ruhko into the cell, the wall snapping closed.
"Ah!" Ruhko yelped as she hit the wall and bounced, immediately getting up with all six claws unsheathed, literally spitting with rage. "I'll kill 'em! I kill those $#&# I-"
"Ruhko?" Steph said, utterly amazed at not only hearing her little sister's voice- but her vocabulary had greatly improved since she last spoke. Ruhko looked around, a feral look on her face so like her father's.... Then she spotted Steph and her mouth dropped open as her claws disappeared.
"Steph!" she gasped, rushing over. Steph grunted in pain as she sat down on her butt, leaning against the wall like Hank had done. Ruhko sniffed her for a moment, then the anger was back in her eyes.
"I'll kill'em," she hissed, then turning and screaming at the door. "I'LL KILL YA, YA HEAR?!?!"
"No, Ruhko, please," Steph said, wavering. Ruhko turned around and her expression was now that of a terrified nine year old.
"Teffie! Lookit what those evil $#&$# did t' ya!" she wailed, crumpling. Steph grabbed her sibling with her good arm and pulling her close, ignoring the stinging and aches of her injuries. Ruhko cried into her shoulder, her soft curls tickling Steph's chin as she rubbed her back.
"Shh," Steph said. "Shh kid, it ain't that bad- c'mon now, I'm more interesting in what they did t' you, I don't matter much anymore." Ruhko looked up, eyes full of tears.
"I dunno what they did t' me," she said. "But I felt... better. Teffie, they're the bad guys, the ones who had me before, n' they used th' same room n' I could still smell me...." Steph bit her lower lip, if they hadn't done anything to hurt her sister- if they actually helped her- but they still had Hank, Steph would not forgive them for doing anything to her teddy bear, even though she had often vowed she would give her life if Ruhko would be better now- she had come very close to fulfilling the promise but as she had told Ruhko, She no longer mattered.
Ruhko mattered.
Hank mattered.
Steph? Steph was the one who would save them, at any length. She lived now to be with them, and the others in the mansion, nothing else was worth not seeing her already moved-on family in the sky. Nothing but them, she wouldn't go without them if she could help it, but she refused to be left behind too.
"Where's Blue gone?" Ruhko asked, as if sensing her sister's thoughts.
"Left," Steph said bitterly. "They threatened t' kill me if he didn't, stupid oaf, they might kill 'im n' then...." she stopped and hung her head exhaustedly. Ruhko sniffed.
"Ya like 'im," she said after a moment. "Ya like 'im a lot; Kitty n' Jubesain't wrong." Steph looked at Ruhko and slowly nodded.
"Yeah," she said. "Yeah, I do." Ruhko nodded as if content and put her head back on Steph's shoulder, glaring at the cuts and looking even angrier at the pants.
"I will kill 'em," she murmured. "F' dad, 'cause yer hurt too bad. Don' worry Teffie, I'll keep ya safe." Steph's breath caught in her throat and she looked down at her sister, who was glaring at the wall that opened up.
"Ruk-" she said, voice hoarse.
"Yeah?" Ruhko asked, looking up. Steph hugged her closer.
"I love ya- more 'n I could ever tell ya," she said, another tear falling down her cheek. Ruhko reached up and carefully wiped it away, then snuggled back in.
"Luv ya too, Teffie," she replied.