Hi everyopne! Thanks for being so patient! Don't worry, I haven't given up on this...Thank you, reviewers! I had the distinct idea the last chapter left some of you on the edge of your seat. Yea!

Soul Raider 116: (preformes Spazzout-resusatation) Breathe, breathe! I haven't lost a reviewer yet, and I'm not gonna start with you! LIVE!

Rogue14: Hee-hee-hee. Wait and see! (No swearing, ppl! Is this too hard to remember?)

Push Me: Yeah, so figure. You'd think Kurt would be all "No way you're stealing that, I just waxed it!" lol...(idea)

Disclaimer: A true word needs no oath.- Turkish Proverb


Chapter 16

Lance looked around, breathing in the mossy-tasting forest air. Is was going to be a long walk into the town, and with the moon as his only light, he was worried that he would get lost, or meet up with any one of many unpleasant night animals.

He shivered. He definably preferred the city.

He smiled as he walked, fingering the piece of equipment in his hand. "Cloaking system's pretty cool, I guess. Saves time trying to hide that monster."

He walked on, stopping now and then to check the compass he had found in the jet. Then, seeing a light ahead, he gritted his teeth as his mind ran over his instructions.

"She's calling all the shots again. I hate it when she does that to us. Hmph. I hate her, period."

What seemed like hours later, he was walking the dark streets of the town. Passing buildings that had seen births and deaths, he watched his back. This was a forest, a jungle of a different kind,
dangerous in its own right. At least here, he mused, he knew the odds. He had been born on streets like this, learned the law of the streets the hard way, scraping a life together in the fashion of the youths that had, before him, and those that would, after him.

He knew also the dangers facing him at home. Mystique was not one prone to sympathy, and he hated that she held all the cards. He did what she told him, and here he was, at what he knew would be only the first stop of many. He only hoped that she would come through at the end. In this, he could only hope. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew she could simply use him, and not do a thing for him in return. Or Kitty.

But what choice did he have?

He took a breath and went up the sordid stairs to knock at the door. She had assured him that the exchange he was to make would be simple, and he listened for the creaking of floor boards that would surely indicate someone coming to the door. As he predicted, a series of squeaks led to the rustling of the door knob.

The door was opened barely a crack, and the harsh voice that whispered reminded Lance of a person with gravel in his mouth. "Whatd'ya want, then?"

He spoke the one word the Mystique had instructed him.

"Emancipo." (A.N: cookie to anyone who knows what this means)

The Latin word bounced from his tongue uncomfortably. The door shut, and after a few clicks, it opened again. The grotesque face before him gave Lance an inner shudder. It was as if the man's insides wanted to be on the outside, and the veins and bumps across his scared face made him feel sick.

"Ye wait now," The man said in hardly a whisper, instructing Lance to enter the building that gave the impression of having given up being livable some time ago.

"I'll be back."

Lance forced himself to look at the man and nod in reply. He had no stomach yet to answer him aloud. Within moments, the man returned, holding a small box.

"You have et?"

Lance took the envelope from his pocket and handed it to the man, who handed over the box in return. Lance turned to go, relieved to be rid of the revolting man and his home. But, before he could take a step, he felt the man's cold hand on his shoulder. He shuddered involuntarily and turned to face the man, as he seemed to want.

"Y'll not open the box, boy." His empty gray eyes stared into Lance's. "Tis only years o' misery there."

"Right."

The man released his grip, and Lance took the opportunity toward the door. As he stepped outside, smelling what seemed now to be the sweeter smell of the street, the man spoke again.

"And tell that woman-" He coughed. "Tell her I'm done. Tis the last time she need call on me for a favor. I've not long left now."

Before Lance could answer, the man shut the door, and Lance headed back for the jet.


"I've got the box."

"Excellent. You are getting closer now."

"When are you going to tell me about this so-called cure?"

She chuckled, enjoying the game. "Lance, dear, if I were to tell you to soon, you would go tramping off without a plan after it. Trust me, I will guide you there in time. Now, The disk I gave you. You have it?"

"Yes."

"Slip it into the drive to your left near the computer mainframe."

"K." He did so, and the computer processed the information. Soon, files were being dragged across the screen. "What's going on?"

"You just gave me remote access to the information files contained in the X-jet. Nothing terribly i mportant, but there are some personal files I fancied having. They will help with your little expedition, as well."

"Hey, how do I know that Xavier's not going to be after me, anyway? I'm not up for battling the X-creeps for their jet."

He could almost hear the sinister smile in her answer. "Oh, leave that up to me, Lance. I'll be providing quite a distraction on my end, and it ought to keep him busy."

"What kind of distraction?" He asked, suspicious.

"No need to be afraid, my dear, Kitty is in no way affected,I promise you.Just handle your end, and I'll handle mine. I suggest you back into town to get a bite to eat. I'm going to have you stay at your present location tonight and tomorrow."

"What ever happened to 'time is of the essence?'" He asked, bitterly.

"If you don't trust me, you won't get far, Avalanche. Let me do my part, and I will let you do yours. Enjoy the break. I will contact you again, don't try to contact me."

"But-" The line went dead. He flew his fist into the seat near him.

"I hate her! She expects me to just sit around?" He sat for a moment, head in hands, trying to stave off the desperate helpless feeling that had become the prevailing thought within him. Then, rising, he started toward town.