Rachael Grey was falling.
At least… She thought so. It was awfully hard to be sure – what with the unconsciousness and all.
The air whipped past her, creating a roar like that of fire, and vaguely she was aware of the ocean beneath her.
I'll die… If I don't… wake… up.
And the rushing of the air and the smell of the salt air faded...
"Hurry!" Someone called out with a German accent.
… Until all else was darkness.
"So, introduce yourself." The pre-taped reporter said.
"Hi." He waved at the camera. "People call me Forge. I'm an inventor." He cut them a dashing smile.
"That's kind of an understatement, isn't it?" The reporter prompted. "I mean… We've seen your little robots scurrying around… You're really more of a technological genius, aren't you?"
Forge smiled. "I can see… where people might think that. A lot of what I've created… Well, it's beyond what's readily available to most people. I don't see it that way."
"You don't?"
"No, I really can't. It's… Maybe I'm obsessive-compulsive. I don't know, but once I've invented and built something, I have so many revisions and modifications in mind that what I just built is really outdated."
"I see."
Forge shrugged. "And, unfortunately, a lot of what I want to build takes a lot of time. I have to design custom electronic parts for a lot of it… And some of my idea's are just plain undoable… until we develop the technologies needed to create them."
"Such as?"
Forge shrugged. "I have plans for a molecular transport device that can't be built because it's gravity sensitive. It would have to be constructed in space to be properly calibrated."
"It sounds very futuristic."
Forge sighed with a grimace. "It was… Then I designed one capable of transporting a planet.. .But it would have to be built inside a sun… You see the difficulty."
The man nodded. "Can you tell us something about when you first met Kurt?"
The corners of Forge's mouth curled in to a small smile. "Why? What have you heard?"
The reporter coughed as though he had been caught being sneaky. "Well… Is it true that you created a device that sucked you in to an alternate dimension?"
Forge brought his hands up between them to indicate the size of the device. "Just a little one." He said, his puppy dog eyes calling out in humor for understanding.
The reporter smiled back at him.
"Besides." He sighed. "It's how I met Kurt. He saved me. He's got a real thing for damsels in distress."
"Damsels in distress… Are you… A homosexual?"
"Naw." Forge shook his head and smiled. "Just real sarcastic."
The reporter looked flustered, as though searching for a way to apologize, but Forge took it all in stride as he continued. "But look at the track record here at the lighthouse. He saved me, got Tabby out of jail, gave Lucy a home… He's a hero. He can't help himself."
"Do you think you're a little biased?"
"Probably." Forge shrugged. "But I've been reading the papers. I might be saying these things because I feel I owe him... But at least what I'm saying is true."
"Do you owe him for yourself… Or for Lucy's sake?"
Forge swallowed and flashed a guilty smile. "So… Someone's been talking…" He looked away as he began to blush but recovered quickly. "Yeah... I owe him for helping her too. She's …" He smiled. "Well, she's a lot like God to me."
"Like God?" He was shocked. "How do you mean?"
"Well, they both move in the most mysterious ways…" He laughed. "And both are very close to my heart."
Logan shifted uncomfortably as the New Mutants all went "OOOooooOOOOooooOOOOOOooo" in unison. Don't think about it. Don't think about it. She can take care of herself. Don't think about it … He told himself.
The reporter smiled. "I think you enjoy saying things to mislead me… Or rile me up."
Me too. Logan grimaced, because despite his best efforts, he was thinking about it.
"I know, isn't that awful? I picked that up from Alistaire. He's got this dry British humor, and I never know when he's joking. I think I've picked up the trait or something."
He had better not even… Logan stopped the thought and bit his tongue.
The reporter had to laugh. "Yes, I knew Alistaire in college. He does enjoy his little jokes."
I should just kill him. She's what… like twelve or something… I could kill him. I know I could…"He put cream corn on my eggs the other day and convinced me to eat it." Forge shook his head while the reporter laughed. "Well, you people put baked beans on toast over here! How should I know?"
Logan barked out a relived laugh that startled everyone in the room. Cream corn on his eggs hunh? He shook his head. What was I worried about? He breathed a sigh of relief. He's … well … goofy.
The reporter and Forge laughed together. "I expect no less." Forge smiled at last. "I'm the new guy in your country. I deserve a little hazing if I'm going to be staying a while."
Logan relaxed his shoulders and settled in to the chair. Besides… She'll probably do it herself if she steps out of line… He smiled wide. After all… She's my girl.
"So you're planning on staying for a while then?"
Forge cut them a serious stare. "I belong here for now. And I'd rather die than leave."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah. Twice if I had to."
Logan cocked his head. Forge was obviously dead serious. Hunh! He means it...
And they cut live to the reporter in the studio, keeping Forge's intent and piercing look frozen on the display behind him, he spoke:
"Strong words from a strong mind." The reporter said. "Coming up next we'll be meeting Kurt Wagner, The Mutant Advisor himself, and hear in his own words what he hopes to accomplish on Britain's behalf and how he responds to the charges levied against him. All that and more – right after this."
Kurt rose to a standing position. He had his left foot on Brian's shoulder and his right in the small of his back, riding him like a surfboard – but without the need for balance. His hands sat on his hips as he stared in to the sky.
It was all in his hands now; when to jump, how to catch, what to do next.
This was the part he didn't think about.
This was the part that came naturally.
All he had to do – was be ready to die to accomplish his goal – and then do his best not to.
He didn't think it was too big a deal. He had been close to death so many times that he eventually realized, one day it would be his turn.
And all he could do was decide what he would be doing when that day came.
Certainly, it's no wonder he inspires such fierce loyalty from his friends.
In almost every case of introduction his actions are screaming so much louder than words "Hello. I am Kurt Wagner. And I would die for you."
And his introduction to Rachael was no different.
Brian felt Kurt's toned and agile body push off him in a mighty leap.
He's insane! Brian thought. He'd be smashed to pieces if he hit the water at this speed…
Kurt flew through the air toward the girl and managed to snag her around the wrists as he passed.
She's too hurt to teleport! He realized.
Panic surged through him for a fraction of a second and then it was gone.
Kurt swung her to his right and teleported to appear above her. He snatched her under her arms as she passed and cast her upward with all his might.
How's he going to… Brian looked on in horror. He's trying to… juggle her… to kill the momentum!
Kurt vanished and suddenly Brian sank slightly under Kurt's weight.
"Swoop towards her head!" He called, as he swing himself quickly around Brian's legs to gain his own momentum before porting again.
Here goes… Brian swooped towards her head.
Kurt appeared in front of her and caught her by the waist.
"Alley-oop!" He shouted with a laugh, spinning with her and then letting go, changing her direction to pass just above Brian.
Brian went to dive higher, towards her head again, but Kurt reappeared and the extra weight forced him lower.
"Good." Kurt told him. "Now slow down as we pass."
Kurt reached out and snatched her with one arm around the waist and held her that way.
The excess momentum she contained spun all three of them in the sky as Kurt was braced against Brian's back with an arm wrapped over his shoulders and certainly not letting go.
When they finally stopped spinning Brian began to sink.
"Umm… Are you okay?" Kurt asked.
Brain forced himself to rise again, although staggeringly. His vision was spinning and he couldn't stop it. Nausea welled within him
"I'm going to be sick." Brian told him. "And you're not going to tell anyone."
"Deal." Kurt replied, cradling Rachael against him. "Just aim away and then fly us home."
