Now that he thought back on it, Zenger believed it was illogical to have gone back for such few things. If he hadn't returned to his locker, he'd have been well on his way out of town. Instead he was racing through the maze of a campus, becoming more on edge with every passing moment. Usually, Zenger would have looked for proof that he was being pursued, but his instincts told him he was being followed and that it had to do with his mutant abilities.
I hate to leave Emma high and dry like this. If it weren't for the incident with that woman earlier, perhaps I would have been able to wish her well. However, I've drawn far too much attention to myself. I'll find a way to make it up to her…from a distance. Perhaps the information I discovered will ease her displeasure…
Ally and Brennan were about to give up on the campus and head for Zenger's listed home address, when they spotted him running across the other end of the Quad.
"Zenger!" Ally shouted on impulse.
The New Mutant froze but made no move to look in their direction, as if unsure whether to fight or flee.
"Yo man, can we talk for a sec?"
Brennan tried to sound non-threatening but still Zenger didn't move or even look their way.
Ally was hit with inspiration. "Emma says she misses "Calling into the continuing fissure"!"
Zenger finally seemed to relax, turning to them with a smile on his face. "I was beginning to think you'd never search for me."
Ally smiled softly back. "Emma got worried when you stopped emailing her." She and Brennan joined him.
"You should have told her if you thought you were in trouble." Brennan added. "We could have gotten you into Sanctuary a lot sooner."
Zenger shrugged an apology. "For all I knew, they would have come after me the moment they knew you were on the way to take me in."
Ally frowned. "Who's "they"?"
Zenger opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by someone shouting.
In an instant they found themselves being circled by five Links.
"Gabriel would like to arrange a meeting with you, Whittman." One of them said to Zenger.
"Actually boys, he's already booked to see Adam, and," Brennan mimed checking his watch. "Wooh, we're already running late, so if you'll kindly step aside—"
The Link that spoke snorted a laugh. "You don't think that's really going to work, do you?"
Ally stepped forward, allowing the Link to see the ball of flames in her hands as she replied.
"He was just killing time for me."
She attacked before he could react, actually throwing the fireball at a Link to her left and driving a swift fist into the face of the Link who spoke.
As two more came at Ally she began to kick and weave through their assault.
The Link who Ally had aimed her fireball at and the fifth Link were quick to force Zenger away from the Mutant X lovers. Brennan was so used to sticking close to Ally and busy duking it out with the Link who'd spoken that he didn't notice Zenger was in trouble. He did quickly notice, however, that his opponent was a telekinetic. He was getting belted without the Link laying a hand on him.
So that's how it's going to be? I'll show you what powers can do.
He allowed himself to go with his fall and rolling onto his knees, Brennan lashed out with a bolt of electricity, catching the Link by surprise.
Ally was forced into using her powers as well, though she'd lost one opponent. A female Link's powers were energy bombs. In order to keep them from striking herself down, Ally used her fireballs to detonate them in mid-air. It became much like a mutant tennis match as the Link Ally thought she'd knocked out, rose and joined the two already after Zenger.
With Zenger's shout, Ally was distracted and missed one of the energy bombs. It hit her square in the chest and sent Ally flying ten feet backwards. She connected with the pavement hard.
It being his gut reaction, Brennan ran to Ally's aide, pulling her to her feet.
Infuriated, Ally pushed him away. "Brennan! What are you doing?"
Brennan was confused. "You were in trouble!"
"I don't need your help, I'm fine."
"Help!"
Forgetting their mishap, both mutants turned.
"Zenger!"
"Guys!" Came a familiar shout. Jesse and Emma had arrived.
"Zen!" Emma shouted and kept running past Ally and Brennan.
But it was too late. Before their miserable eyes, two of the three Links surrounding Zenger formed a chain with him and teleported away.
Brennan spun, hoping to grab any of the other three Links, but they'd already managed to run off. He could hear their fading footfalls but couldn't determine the direction they'd gone through the echo of the Quad nor the pounding blood in his ears.
Again, Ally shoved him. "Nice job, hero!"
Brennan glared at her. "Excuse me for caring about your safety."
Ally rolled her eyes. "I was hardly in harm's way by our standards." And it would be the first time you showed any concern for my safety in at least two weeks. She thought miserably.
Totally confused, Jesse's eyes averted from one lover to the other and back.
"Is this all a game to you?" Brennan roared. You almost sound certain that the Links wouldn't really hurt you. He thought.
"I'm saying I'm a big girl," Ally retorted. "I don't need you coddling me, all while the bad guys get away with our mutant!"
"Which is exactly what your childish behavior just accomplished." Emma interrupted as she returned.
Ally looked pleased with herself. "See? Emma agrees with me!"
"I was talking to BOTH of you!" Emma barked.
"What the hell is going on, exactly?" Jesse demanded.
Ally marched several feet away before she started to pace. "I'll let the blunder in shining armor fill you in." She grumbled.
Shaking his head, Brennan turned his back to her. "Unbelievable."
"Exactly what I expect Adam to think." Emma snapped. "Brennan, what's going on with you two?" She spoke softly to him. "You've never been this frustrated…or scared."
Brennan started and met her eyes.
"Talk to me, please." Emma coaxed.
Jesse could only watch them helplessly, leaving Ally ignored.
Brennan hesitated. "Shouldn't we be trying to follow Zenger?"
"You and Ally are no good to the team if you can't stop yourselves from arguing in the middle of a brawl."
"Emma, " Jesse interrupted. "He does have a—"
Emma stopped him. "They won't hurt him as long as Gabriel thinks he's useful."
"But I think you could agree when I say this is a conversation we should include Ally in." Brennan ventured. I've got some questions of my own. I'm not going to keep my suspicions to myself anymore.
Emma nodded. "Of course."
They all turned to call her over—Ally was nowhere in sight.
They called out to her but got no reply.
Jesse spotted something on the ground and went to pick it up. "Look."
It was Ally's commlink. Jesse handed it to Brennan.
"Think she just wants to be alone for awhile?" Jesse asked.
Brennan idly toyed with the ring, losing himself in thought. "I don't know…I guess."
But Brennan had a sinking feeling that she was headed for Ashlocke. To join him.
Ally did go to Ashlocke, but not for the reason Brennan thought.
Having spotted a stray Link while the others were distracted, Ally did what she thought best at the moment, leaving her ring behind so they'd hopefully understand she'd left of her own accord.
From a distance, she watched as the two teleporting Links dragged Zenger into the maze of hallways that served as their domain. From then she could only wait in hiding.
After several agonizing moments, a female Link crossed Ally's sight. Catching the Link by surprise Ally beat the woman down and dragged her into an empty room.
"I was getting so sick of that micro-mini-skirt. Not that your taste in clothes is any good." Ally told the unconscious Link. "But they're more comfortable so they'll do. Thanks for the trade." Leaving her tied down; Ally started down the path Zenger had been taken.
She hadn't actually seen where Zenger was led, but it didn't matter. When her skin started to crawl she knew she was getting close to Ashlocke's quarters. Then all she had to do was find two knuckleheads guarding a door, to know which door she needed into.
Slipping into the ventricle system, Ally made it swiftly past the guards and into a room adjoined to where Ashlocke and Zenger spoke. Opening the door partially and crouching low, Ally listened.
"You seem smaller in person." That was Zenger.
Ally shivered the second voice she heard was definitely Ashlocke. "You know, flattery will get you everywhere."
"If you think I'm going to join your ranks—"
"I'm not going to force you—"
Zenger interrupted Ashlocke in return. "I have a few requests."
Ally's eyes widened.
Ashlocke came into her line of view, he was smiling. "Why Zenger, I'm pleasantly surprised. But before I let you make your requests, let me tell you why I've brought you here. To be blunt, I'm dying."
Zenger came into view as well, as the two men started to circle each other.
Ashlocke continued. "Thanks to the experiments Adam performed on me, my life has been dramatically shortened. Since he's chosen to ignore my existence, I've had to take matters into my own hands. Hence your arrival. Zenger, we as Mutants are superior to the rest of humanity. Most of us know this, only some are afraid to take any action to elevate them to the rightful place in the world. They need a leader. Someone with the drive, the will and most importantly, the power to show them the way."
Zenger stopped his face directly in Ally's view, his eyebrows arched. "And you are such a leader."
Ashlocke inclined his head. "Naturally."
"So you think I have the power to heal you, in order for you to become this leader."
Ashlocke smiled once more. "You're an intelligent man, Zenger Whittman."
"Flattery will get you everywhere?" Zenger quoted.
Gabriel's smile widened, and he was quiet, almost as if deciding whether or not Zenger was mocking him just now. But he went on without incident.
"The world is a better place with me in it, Zenger."
It was Zenger who paused now. When he spoke his tone was honest, serious. "I agree."
Ally was in shock. It was then, as she stifled her outrage that she realized that Zenger was looking right at her. She couldn't be sure, but she thought she saw him shake his head, ever so slightly, as if he could read her mind. It didn't change her desire to act. Even if she could no longer trust Zenger, which was what it appeared to be, she still had to get him out of there and prevent him from helping Ashlocke.
As she made to move, she found herself immobilized by an invisible force. For a moment, she panicked, thinking she'd been discovered. But after a moment she realized the source wasn't a wicked one. It didn't feel invading. In fact, it felt almost protective. It was when she sensed this that Ally knew it was Zenger holding her back.
Ashlocke broke into her thoughts. "Something the matter?"
Zenger looked at him calmly. "Not at all. In fact, I say we get to what you want now."
Ashlocke raised a curious eyebrow. "In a rush?"
Zenger shrugged. "I would like to discuss my favors as well. However, I assume you would rather see results before you would even listen."
Ashlocke nodded. "Very true. You're going to make quite an asset. Perhaps a little impatient."
"And growing more so."
Ashlocke grinned at his gall. "I must admit, so am I. All right, let's see what you can do."
Ally was no longer paying much attention; she'd lost her balance in her struggle to move. Her error was that the grunting and groaning she let escape, drew the attention of the guards outside Ashlocke's door.
But as Zenger began his healing work on Ashlocke, his hold on Ally lifted…just as the guards came through the door.
"Hey boys!" Ally greeted weakly.
As they came at her, Ally sucked in a deep breath. From her back, Ally kicked her legs over her head, catching one guard in the stomach. Spinning away from the second, Ally rolled onto her knees. The guy was quick to grab her and drag Ally the rest of the way to her feet. As the first guard came back towards both of them, Ally kicked him again before he could restrain her. She then let her arms flare up to force the second guard to release her. Unfazed by the sight of fire, the first guard grabbed Ally from behind in a powerful bearhug. Struggling hard, Ally forced the guard over towards a wall, which she used to kick off of, sending both of them off balance and flying through the door leading to Zenger and Ashlocke.
They toppled to the floor, Ally on top, with a great crash.
Zenger and Ashlocke started and Zenger crumpled to the floor, drained.
The guard's grip on Ally loosened, she elbowed him to free her completely and scrambled to her feet. Kicking him in the temple with a satisfying crack, she spun back to the doorway and pitched a fireball into the second guard's face.
One more deep breath and Ally ran to Zenger. "Come on, this whole Urban Underground scene is over!"
Helping him to his feet, Ally felt him drawing on her adrenaline to re-energize him. Not that it mattered. Within two feet of the door they were met by more Links. Ally flared up, ready to fight.
"Stop!"
Everyone was shocked to hear Ashlocke. All heads turned in his direction. "Let them go."
Neither Ally nor Zenger hesitated, shoving through the crowd, despite their confusion.
Then Ally heard,
"I have a feeling I'll live to fight Mutant X another day."
