Alistaire, Kurt and Kitty did not take Alistaire's new car to the dock that night. Instead they called a cab, their reasoning being that they might need the trunk space on their return.
They were all freshly cleaned, once more. And Alistaire had borrowed one of Kurt's shirts, so the three of them looked presentable again.
Alistaire shivered as Kurt turned on his holoimager. He looks so… He shrugged. The other way suits him better. He decided. This way he looks so hollow…
Kurt smiled at him and gave him a 'thumbs up' just as he saw the car approaching.
Alistaire had trouble looking at him like this. It was distracting to be around such a complete deception and be in on the secret.
They'd lynch him if they didn't know him. Alistaire feared.
The car bumped and bounced along the road leading in to town. Soon all three were smiling and enjoying the ride.
The boat's whistle cut through the night as it approached the dock.
One of the dock workers let out a low whistle. "Now dat's got to be some kind of record!" He stood in amazement. "Weren't due until day after tomorrow!"
"Get ready to tie her up!" He called out. "These folks are in a hurry."
The maid slipped down to the young girl's room and knocked softly.
The door opened and all was dark within. "I'm ready." The girl said.
The woman swallowed and looked in to the darkness, afraid to approach.
She floated out of the darkness and in to the light of the hall. She had a duffel over her shoulder and was dressed now in blue jeans with a tank top and leather jacket.
The woman smiled at her. "Do you have… everything?" She asked.
"I do." She stared at the woman. "Where do I get off the boat?"
"Down this way." She smiled and began to walk. The small girl moved fluid and gracefully next to her, keeping up with ease.
"You have money now." X23 told her. "A lot of money."
The woman turned her head in shock and looked at the girl.
"Your pockets are full." She said. "And you've seen the man whose hand I hurt."
The woman did not know what to say.
"Did he give you all that money?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
"No." The woman said softly. "The Captain did. To escort you off the ship. Because he knows we spoke and got on okay."
X23 nodded. "I understand." She looked at the woman's pockets. "Give me what's in your left pocket." She said quietly. "All of it."
The woman looked concerned but she fished out the mass of bills and handed it to the younger girl.
"That seems fair." The older woman said at last. "Provided we go strait ashore."
X23 smiled softly. "I can't wait to get off this ship." She shook her head and stared back down the hall.
The woman looked hesitant. "Did he… Did he touch you?" She asked slowly.
X23 looked at her. "Yes." She said softly, looking back over her shoulder at her behind. "There."
"And his... his finger?" She prompted.
X23 raised her fist and the blades exploded out of her hand forcing the woman to jump. But it was the sight of the shredded skin of her hand that moved her to respond. "Oh, dear! Doesn't it hurt?" She asked, her eyes wide in regret for asking.
"I'm used to it." She said, retracting the claws.
"But your hand…' She reached out and took her hand, to look at it. "Why, dear… it's healing strait away!" She was amazed. "But… hun… How many times have you done that?"
X23 barked out a laugh. "I never thought to count. Too many times. Every day."
The woman shivered and looked at the young girl. "You… you have someone, don't your dear?"
X23 looked thoughtful. "I'm … supposed to..." She said slowly.
"Well…" The woman pulled out a pencil and paper. "Here's my number luv. Just ring me if you need anything. Ask the operator to put the call through if you have to reverse the charges, but if you need a place to stay or a meal… just let me know." She said softly.
"Thank you." She took the paper and shoved it roughly in to her pocket. "More."
The woman smiled. "Any time dear. I know what it's like to need a friend."
X23 could smell them as soon as she came above deck. She followed the scent towards the edge of the boat.
"Over here deary." The woman smiled and pointed at the ramp that went town to the dock.
"Good bye." The woman said to her.
"Good bye…" She repeated in an unsure tone. But the woman seemed pleased and she turned to go down the ramp. And suddenly, everyone in front of her began dashing down the ramp. And the people who started down behind her seemed to recognize her and began going back up to avoid her.
"Is one of these people Mister Logan himself?" Alistaire looked confused.
"Actually, yes." Kitty put her hand over her mouth in disbelief. "I cant…" She looked at Kurt.
"Vhere?" Kurt cast his eyes around until he found the young girl who had been given a very wide birth. "That's him." Kurt told Alistaire.
"Ahhh.. Where?" Alistaire smiled in to the crowd.
"That little girl." Kitty said softly.
Alistaire looked sideways at her. "The little girl is Mister Logan?" He repeated.
"Kurt nodded. "Ja. She is." He sighed, looking for the fortitude to explain it.
"Hunh." Alistaire looked a bit surprised. "Neat trick that."
"She's a fraternal twin… a clone really… "Kurt explained. "Of a man we know."
"A mutant?" Alistaire asked.
"Ja." Kurt assured him. "And I think he might be a bit insane as well." For sending her here, or to me, or both WHICH HE'S DONE!
She walked over slowly, confused by their stares. "Logan said I should come and stay with you for a while. That you can teach me things somewhere it's safe." She said slowly
"Safe?" Kitty asked softly. "Why isn't it safe at the mansion?" She asked.
"People are looking for me there." She added.
Kurt nodded. "Well, fortunately, we have another bedroom just off the end of the hall." He smiled. "I'm sorry if this was a surprise to us. But we weren't told you were coming."
"It was a secret." She added.
Alistaire jumped in. "May I take your bag?" He offered.
"Where?' She asked suspiciously, gripping it tightly.
"Well.. " He turned and pointed. "To the car…"
"Am I going to the car too?' She asked.
"Yes." He replied cautiously.
"Then I can take it with me, right?" She eyed him.
He seemed to retreat from the idea. "That's … very true." He smiled. "Welcome to England."
They started back towards the car and Kitty looked the young girl over. She's had it rough…. She thought. Someone hurt her… Look at how she holds her bag between her and the men, the way she's walking closer to… Me.
She took a deep, long breath.
Her mind retreated to when she was standing in front of Mister Logan just a little over a week ago.
"Oh, wow…" She thought about how she had stood in front of him and he seemed to be sizing her up.
He said he was trying to figure something out about her, she was sure of it, and right after that… his advice set her off on the path that led her here.
I surprised him… By understanding him… Maybe that talk wasn't really about Kurt and I…
She pulled a smile on to her face. Now I get it… She thought. I know why I'm supposed to be here.
"Hey!" She flashed her best smile as she jogged up next to the girl. "Your room will be right next to mine!" She told her.
X23 didn't know what say and so she said nothing, but Kitty noticed that she didn't turn away from Kitty as she did the others, and she wasn't trying to keep her distance at all.
