Quickly returning to Sanctuary, the team reported events to Adam.

Ally asked the pending question. "Why were they willing to die for an hourglass?"

"Let's find out." Jesse headed for his trusted PC. "The museum's website would have some general information on it, from there I'll bet I can find out its real history."

"Complete and unabridged?" Shalimar teased.

Jesse ignored it. "Exactly. Hmm…that's odd."

Shalimar moved to look over his shoulder. "What?"

"There's barely a footnote about it. This just says it's part of an old aristocrat's extensive collection."

"Well, let's research this guy then." Shalimar suggested.

"In the meantime, " Tony spoke up. "What about Ashlocke?"

"What about him?" Adam asked.

"He's just found out he's in the same place he was yesterday, dying and weak. He's going to be ruthless until the bitter end." Emma voiced.

Adam spoke as if it were simple. "So we take the fight to him, put an end to this once and for all. Just not today. Ashlocke's been beaten down once again, he's going to take some time to sulk before moving again. We'll have time to track him down another day. In fact we'll have plenty of time for all of this later. You should all take a step back."

"Adam we can't just take a break when the trail is still hot." Brennan reasoned.

"And what about Cavani Tech?" Ally remembered. "Didn't anything show up when you investigated?"

Adam frowned. "Ashlocke has no interest in C.T."

Emma frowned herself. "That's not an answer. I don't understand why you're being so blasé about this."

"What about those blueprints Zen saw? I'm not about to say Ashlocke's of sound mind, but he isn't going to go out of his way to have something like those without a plan." Brennan pressed.

Adam looked bewildered. "What's wrong with all of you? I've never had to ask you to take a break or to trust me, why do I have to start now?"

"Because you've always made sense before. It's like you're trying to avoid the whole discussion." Emma protested.

"There's nothing to discuss!" Adam barked. "I'm serious, all of you, give it a break! And stay away from Cavani Tech!" Adam turned on his heel and stormed out.

"What. The. Hell?" Tony gaped just like the others.

Shalimar stared after Adam with a worried expression. "Something's wrong."

"And we've got no new information on the Hourglass." Jesse huffed.
"Well maybe Adam's right…" Ally suggested weakly. "Maybe we should take a break, come back when we're refreshed?"

"I can't argue with that!" Tony agreed hopefully.

And exchange of looks was all it took for Emma and Zenger to move to another computer. They intended to do their own investigation of C.T.

"Or not…" Tony mumbled as he watched them.

No sooner had Emma logged on when a short beep intoned that there was an incoming vidlink waiting to be answered.

Emma didn't delay. She was surprised by who she saw. "I remember you. The injured Defector."

"Is everything all right?" Zenger asked.

I wanted to thank you and to show my gratitude with some information. I assume you've already tried to find out why we were after the Hourglass?

A smile creeped at the corner of Emma's lips. "As a matter of fact."

Without much success, I'll bet.

"You can help us?" Zenger assumed.

Look for Zelwent's Puzzlebox, a ruby cross, Blanc's pendant and the Book of Anders. Perhaps then you'll understand. Oh and by the way, my friends went back for the Hourglass while the museum was transporting it for safekeeping, The police are probably only discovering this now. It was a nice try on your part though.

Zenger and Emma couldn't help their smiles.

I hate to be a defector once again but maybe now you'll have a chance to get the other relics before we do. We all might be better off. Smiling faintly in farewell, his face disappeared from the screen as he disconnected.

Emma looked over her shoulder at Jesse.

He was typing feverantly. "Already on it. But I could use a hand or two to speed things up."

Emma nodded. "Sure. Just let me check something else first."

As everyone else started milling about, Ally took Brennan by the hand and slowly led him away from the chaos and towards his bedroom.

"You and I have a few things to work out first." She whispered.

"I'll give you a hand too, Jess." Shalimar was saying.

Hoping to take advantage of Adam's "orders", Tony wandered over to Zenger and could only watch as the more experienced members of Mutant X worked.

"I've been here nearly three months and I still don't know how they get into this sync." He said.

"It is not for us to know. It'll simply fall into place one day and you'll never realize it's happened." Zenger offered.


"Adam?"

Emma had gone looking for the scientist. So far, she'd checked his room, the kitchen, the Med Lab and now she was approaching the garage. Again she was disappointed. Until she noticed something. Not only was Adam missing, but his car was as well.


The vidlink beeped again.

Curious, Tony checked the source. "It's the Underground's emergency channel." He said to Zenger. Now they were both very curious.

Answering the call, the boys were even more intrigued when they were faced with a beautiful, but panic-stricken brunette.

I need to speak with Ally immediately.

"She's—"

Zenger interrupted Tony. "She isn't here I'm afraid. Is there something we can do to assist you?"

The woman's steely blue eyes narrowed. How do I know I can trust you?

Zenger shrugged. "Ask us something you believe will help you to."

The brunette considered this. Ally has a tattoo. Where is it?

Tony was stumped. Zenger was no help either.

Fortunately for them, Emma overheard as she returned. "On the inside of her right hip. It's a spark of blue flames. They remind her of her oldest friend, Megan."

The brunette smiled slyly. Only someone she's really comfortable with would know all of that.

Emma smirked and carried on.

The brunette continued. All right, my name's Robin. I've met a couple of you Mutant X'ers but it wasn't either of you two.

Tony looked sheepish. "We're kind of new."

Adam put me into the Underground, but I'm not one for changing out of old habits. I'm a thief by trade.

Tony smirked. "I think I know where this is going."

Robin rolled her eyes. You're probably half right. I have stolen something and I am in trouble. But only because I don't think it should go to my employer. I think it might be dangerous, which is why I can't just take it back either. I think it would be safest with Mutant X.

"You will be as well." Zenger reminded her. "We'll come and collect you both."

Robin nodded. Fine, be at the corner of Wellington and Second in one hour.

"With bells on." Tony promised.

"Take Shal and Emma with you." Jesse said after Robin had disconnected.

"Got an assignment for us, Jess?" Emma inquired.

Shalimar handed Emma a printout. "Look who the last known buyer of Zelwent's Puzzlebox is."

"Adam?"

"He has it on record as stored in a safe at the Subway safehouse." Jesse added.

"We can drop you girls off on our way to pick-up Robin." Tony suggested.
Shalimar agreed. "We'll take the Helix."

"Shouldn't we include Ally and Brennan in all of this?" Jesse asked. "We might need their help."

Shalimar shook her head. "I'm sure we'll be all right."

Emma added. "They have a lot they need to talk about."


For the longest time they'd simply stood there in each other's arms, feeling foolish and ashamed for how they'd behaved recently. Finally Ally had buried her face at Brennan's neck and breathed a kiss at the nape. His grip around her waist grew tighter as he lifted her right off her feet. Ally's legs coiled around him as both their bodies pulsed with renewed life in anticipation of the inevitable.

Tilting his head, Brennan made eye contact with Ally, his dark eyes peering into her burning green ones.

"I love you."

Ally laughed softly. "I know." After a moment she added. "I love you."

Brennan smiled smugly. "I know."

Together they laughed softly until they just couldn't hold back any longer, kissing tentatively at first then becoming bolder. Waves of heat filled the air as they moved away from the door and across the room, weeks of longing for each other finally being gratified. The temperature rose so drastically it was almost like their clothes melted away, and their bodies melded together. As they fell to the bed, blue streaks of electricity danced off Brennan's fingers and sent shivers up Ally's spine. Gooseflesh rose wherever he would touch her. Neither had ever wanted the other more.

Later, Ally would tease Brennan about the idea that they should fight more often if this was the result.

But for now, all Ally knew of was love.


Robin sat with her eighth expresso, willing time to speed up. If only her mutation held that power. Absently she toyed with the pendant around her neck, a nervous habit she'd developed since she'd stolen the item over a week ago. It never left her person, but she was getting awfully tired of that fact. She felt like a target with it on.

Instinctively she knew there was something powerful about the pendant. But whether it was a force of good or evil she couldn't tell. Shivering, Robin shook off her train of thought, and glanced at the clock again.

Finally.

Gathering her things as fast as she could, Robin left the café at a near jog, headed for her rendez-vu with Mutant X.