"Hey Adam," Jesse said into his ring.

"Yea Jesse," came Adam's response.

"We're thinkin' that Trinity let these guys go on purpose, so we're going to head to one of the safe houses and check them out before going anywhere near Sanctuary," Jesse replied.

"Sounds good," Adam stated. "I'll meet you there with some equipment."

"The trackers are working perfectly Dr. Gates," Charles said with a smirk on his face. "Your design is brilliant."

"So was your plan, if it works," replied Gates. "We'll soon have this Mutant X and Adam and River will once again be ours. So what have we discovered about dear Mr. Mulwray?"

"Well, his genetic code is absolutely amazing," Charles began. "There is barely any junk DNA in the code; no where near River, but more so than anyone else. Also his ability to produce and control electricity is very powerful; there is still untapped potential there. He would be very useful to us alive and undamaged; just as much as River."

"Are you telling me that Mr. Mulwray is up there with River?" Gates asked, clearly amazed that Brennan Mulwray was so far advanced.

"Not up to River as of yet but he has the genetic potential to be just as powerful," Charles replied happily, knowing that he would soon control the new mutant and have that power at his fingertips.

"Continue to track them," Gates ordered. "And when we are sure that they are all together, capture them and bring them to me alive and relatively undamaged. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir," Charles said and quickly left the room.

"These safe houses are nothing compared to your place," River said as she walked around one of the larger, nicer and newer safe houses.

"True," Brennan replied. "But these serve well enough."

"Yea," Shal jumped in. "Plus unlike the other safe houses, these have individuals rooms, which means we don't have to listen to Jesse's snoring."

"Hey!" Jesse complained. "I do not snore!" While the others just laughed.

"So," River asked. "Now that we're free and relatively safe, what do we do now?"

"We wait for Adam to show," Emma replied. "He should be here soon."

River nodded and continued to walk around the safe house. Opening drawers and cabinets to see what was inside. Jesse and Emma had walked away from Brennan to another point in the safe house to talk quietly, while Shal disappeared into one of the bedrooms.

Jesse just looked at Emma, "So?"

Emma looked from Jesse over to Brennan, "Brennan will be fine. I feel worry and possiveness from him. All of it is directed at River. He cares for her deeply; like a protective older brother." She looked back at Jesse to see him nod, then turned to look at River. "And from River, she's terrified. They tortured her in that place and she doesn't want to go back. I get the feeling that she'd rather die than have to be in the hands of those monsters."

In the meantime, Shalimar had gone into one of the bedrooms to retreive some clothes for River and Brennan, "Hey Adam you there."

"Yea Shalimar, what's up?" Adam's reply came.

"I'm worried about Brennan," Shalimar replied. "He looks really ill and it's like his strength is completely gone. But he won't rest or eat. I think it's because he's worried about River."

"Well God only knows what happened to them in that place Shalimar," Adam explained. "Brennan probably feels that he has to protect her from the world. It's called the sibling effect. It's normal. He feels like a protective older brother. You should understand that."

"Alright," Shalimar exhaled loudly. "When are you going to be here?"

"I'm about ten minutes away."

"Then I'll see you here," with that Shalimar cut off communications with Adam.

She then left the bedroom with the two sets of clothes in her hands and entered the main living area again. She walked over to Brennan and handed him some blue jeans and a black shirt, "Here you go Brennan. Go get cleaned up and changed."

Shal saw the worried look he threw River, "Don't worry about her Brennan, I'll look after her while you take a shower and change."

"Yea alright," Brennan replied. "Thanks Shal. I'll only be a minute."

"Take all the time you need."

Brennan smiled as he stood and walked away from Shalimar with the clothes in his hands. Emma and Jesse waited until he was gone before coming up to Shal.

"How's he doing?" Emma asked.

"Tired and probably a little scared," Shal replied. "Well, I'm going to go take care of River."

"So have we located our runaway flock yet?" Gates asked.

"Yes sir," Charles replied. "The transmitters embedded in their skulls are working prefectly. Our men are moving into position as we speak."

"Good," Gates stated. "I want no mistakes this time."

"Yes sir," Charles replied, then spoke into a headset. "Captain, move your men into their final positions and prepare to invade and capture."

"My men are moving into position as we speak sir," the man on the other end replied. Then he spoke to his men. "Alright men you heard him. Move into your final assault positions & prepare to attack on my mark."

Multiple "Yes Sirs" were heard over the some headset.