(Three)

"I love you, Fallen."

Seth stood in their bedroom doorway, watching as his Mistress came awake. It was morning now, the day after that horrible blurry nightmare that yesterday had been. They had come home from the Lab and simply crashed without speaking, both of them exhausted. Into the bed they had tumbled, wrapping their bodies close together and falling asleep immediately.

Fallen had slept through the night, but Seth had not.

He had lain awake for hours simply feeling his own body as if it were new. He sensed a great power within himself and he felt a greater peace than he had ever known. He looked into the glowing shine of his Mistress and read the colors there, using what little information Gambit had tossed at him to try and interpret what he saw. She was feeling better, but was still terribly afraid for him, and now even a little of him. She was in pain from her injury and her sleep was not as restful as it could have been.

She looked up at him now, her eyes bloodshot and weary. "Hey."

He came close and kissed her, trying to read her again. He knew she was in pain, but there was more. Not all of that pain was physical.

"Don't be scared," he whispered. "I could never hurt you."

She sniffed back new tears and looked at him, her eyes full of suffering. "I killed your brother."

Seth shook his head. "No. I don't think he's gone. I'd feel it if he was. Besides, if anyone is responsible for what happened to him, it was me."

She shivered at that, afraid. Still she was quiet as Seth began to explain. He told her all of it, of how he had changed his codes to try and make himself better. That afterwards the change had been all wrong and he wasn't sure how to undo the damage he had done or if he even could. Later, when he read Aiden's diary, he thought he might have an explanation for why he was such a mess and how he might fix that. "I believe now that altering my codes 'finished' me, Fallen. I'm not broken and I'm not going nuts, not any more. I was supposed to be the way I am now. And I think I can prove it to you once and for all."

"How?" she asked, uncertain of what to believe. It was still easier to think that Seth had been led astray by bad advice and a giving in to temptation. That he had been coerced somehow into believing something about himself that wasn't true.

"I'll show you," Seth said gently, reaching out to touch her face. He closed his eyes and concentrated, thinking with all his heart, / I want only for your pain to be gone. /

He felt it when it happened, when his hands began to glow and the sparkling Morrowhiem wisped off his fingers like fairy dust. The glitters drifted around his hands as he touched her and were absorbed into her skin. She gasped softly with the pleasure of it, as his great love for her became something physical that she could see as well as feel.

He smiled, pleased with himself. "It's the Morrowhiem and Aiden says it's a visible sign of the greatest love a Siskan can feel for someone. And I do love you that much, Mistress. I know I screwed this up horribly, that there's no apology great enough to overcome how I've hurt you. Just tell me what I have to do to make it all up to you."

"Stay with me," she said, still shivering from what he had done. It was impossible now for her to ignore what was before her very eyes. Seth had been changed. "Stay with me and never leave."

"I'll follow you to the ends of the Earth, Fallen. I'll do whatever it takes to make you forgive me. Until you forgive Kimble. I made him do it, Fallen. All of this was me. I said hurtful things to him to make him help me with this. Even so, what he was the most afraid of was hurting you. He still loves you, Fallen, even though you're so afraid of him now. And I foolishly forgot about your anger and how fragile Kimble really is. He always seemed so strong to me and he's not. The blame for all of this lies with me."

"I don't want you to be alone with him again," Fallen replied to that, still uncertain about what was needed to restore her trust. She loved Seth and wanted to believe what he was saying about Kimble, but some part of her was still to afraid that what had happened could happen again.

Seth crumpled a little bit at her words, but said, "All right, if that's what you want. But we still need him for the Dragon. If he comes out on time to work with us again, I swear I won't go out of your sight. I won't go anywhere with him alone. Maybe in time, you can trust us again."

Fallen nodded, satisfied with that. Seth wasn't arguing with her.

Seth took her hand. "I've been thinking. I thought that improving my codes would make me better for you, Mistress. But I was wrong. My body may have changed but my heart hasn't. Maybe what I should have done was this." He slipped from the bed and knelt beside it, looking deeply into her eyes. "Marry me, Fallen. Just like Logan did with Karen and Remy did with Molly. There's six churches in this place and I'll marry you in every one if that's what you want."

Fallen burst into laughter she couldn't help it. He was so sweet beside her like that, looking so sincere and loving. She pulled him up into her arms and squeezed him tightly. "Of course I'll marry you. And you're right, we should have done this a long time ago."

"We could have rings and everything!" he said, getting excited, overwhelmed with joy that she had agreed. "We'll invite the whole Complex and then everyone will know."

"We should do it in the Solarium," Fallen suggested. "It's so beautiful there."

"Oh, yes. Thank you, Fallen. I won't let you down again, I swear!"

(break)

Razel was pissed. His worst fears had been realized - Jael had been glued to the television for days now, watching all the news coverage of his attack against the White House. Martial law had been declared, tanks were rolling down the streets in Washington D.C. Riots had broken out all over, the normal humans had come out in force, attacking any mutant they could get their hands on.

It was a nightmare and Jael was loving it.

Razel scowled and paced behind his Master. Not even the savage yet captivating Simone or the blessed Star could rouse his Master from his chair. Star sat now at Jael's feet, limp and dispirited, unhappy in her neglect. Once, Razel had even asked for the privilege of having her, thinking Jael would wake up at that, but all Jael did was wave his hand, allowing him full access to her. It was great for Razel, at least for a while. Star was a real treat, made all the more special due to the fact he knew she despised him, but Razel was itching to get back into the Game. Xavier was waiting, a fine fruit just ready to be plucked.

"Master."

Jael's eyes barely registered the spoken word. "Yes, Razel?"

"Shouldn't we be back to planning our attack on Xavier?"

Jael's eyes closed and countered with a question of his own, "How is Russia holding up these days?"

Razel blinked in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"We could issue a counter strike against Moscow. What fun that would be. These pesky humans wouldn't know what do with themselves."

Razel's fury simmered and burned. "It would be all fun and well to find out, Master. But shouldn't wait until we have the Shalayesk weapon completed for that? We are vulnerable with it incomplete."

"Hmmm? Do you really think so? We did just fine against Washington and SHIELD. See how they scramble?"

"Sir? We lost a ship in that raid. And now the element of surprise has been blown. All the world powers are on the alert. We cannot afford another loss."

Jael nodded absently. "Yes, I suppose you are right."

Razel shivered at the sound of that, it hadn't been a statement in agreement. "What are you thinking, my Lord?"

Jael stood up, carefully moving around his Siskan on the floor, and stretched, his powerful lion's body rippling with muscle. "You seem bored, my friend. Assemble two teams - energy producers, six to each team. Do what you have to to get to Moscow. Yes, take one of the Command ships - for transport only this time - and then 'port them near the Kremlin. Set the teams loose on the Kremlin, let them have full rein. Let's shake things up a bit. You're personally in charge."

Razel balked. It wasn't that he wasn't fully capable of such a thing, it was a cakewalk really now that they had the large Command ships at their disposal. Jael was simply following through on a plan he had outlined and set up for weeks ago when he had first acquired them into his arsenal. They had all the munitions and transports they needed along the way. It was just that the plan had been set up for after Xavier had been dealt with, not before. "What? Now?"

Jael simply laughed at him. "Yes, now. Go and have fun. Bring me back some Vodka."

This couldn't be happening, Razel was thinking. Not now. "My, Lord..."

"Don't tell me you can't handle it?"

"Yes, my Lord. I'll get right on it. But- "

"But, what?" Jael interrupted. "Do as I command. I've already told you Xavier can wait, these sort of disruptions only tempt him to do nice things like help out and spread himself all the thinner. Just the fact that I have delayed my strike against him this long will only make that temptation all the easier not to resist. Besides, the bastard hasn't even responded to any of my notes, I'll continue punishing him until he does. He'll start taking me seriously one way or another."

Razel frowned and stayed as he was, moving only when Jael turned and glared at him. "You have a problem with this? Too bad. I have given you an order and I expect you to comply."

Not one to let his high position in this organization be threatened, Razel got moving. "Yes, my Lord. I'll have the teams in the air in an hour."

Jael smiled, happy to see Razel's kneejerk compliance, his Second was well cowed and trained as he should be. "Good. Then you'd best get started."

Razel turned and fled, cursing his own bad temper and impatience. If he had only let Jael enjoy his press coverage in peace this might not have happened. Maybe this was for the best. He'd get a little action in and cement his place with Jael. If he got this job done well and quickly, his Master might be more willing to listen to him.

Or maybe not.

Okay, he would do this and then Jael would have to listen to him. If not, well maybe he would have to take matters into his own hand.

(break)

Razel wasn't the only one not having the best of mornings. Charles Xavier was watching the news coverage of the destruction in Washington, fretting over just what to do. Jael must be having a field day over what his latest strikes had accomplished. The wounding of some of America's defenses was bad enough, inviting all sorts of overseas trouble, but what was hurting Charles the worst was the rioting. Every minute there were new reports of mutants being chased through the streets and strung up. These were the people he had spent his life's work to save and he could do nothing but watch helplessly as they were slaughtered without mercy.

Sure he had sent some of the junior teams out to try and stop some of it, but it was all over the country, not just in isolated spots. Even now the Professor was cataloguing his various up and comers in the ranks and deciding if it was worth the risk of sending them out as well for some field experience – just as Jael knew he would.

Charles wasn't alone in this room., like a mirror image of Razel and Jael, Xavier's Second stood patiently behind him. Scott Summers wasn't thinking about destruction or future battles, he was worried about the Professor. The man had hardly slept and he looked terrible. It had taken an effort just to get the man to eat breakfast. Just that morning, another taunting note had arrived from Jael. In spite of all the press coverage, Jael was upset that Charles wasn't giving him his due attention. The Professor had yet to respond to any of the notes the terrorist had sent thus far.

"We need to call some more meetings," Charles finally said, rubbing his eyes. "We have to send more of our people out there."

Scott nodded. "I'll set that up. Logan has a couple of teams from his training classes ready to get their feet wet. I just have to caution you about sending out too many of us. We don't know when Jael is going to show up."

"I agree, but I'll say this... I would rather have the youngest and weakest of us out there trying to do some good than be slaughtered here."

Scott straightened at that. That must have been painful to say. "It won't come to that, Professor."

Charles looked back at him. "Don't be so sure. I've had two calls from Nick Fury already asking for help. For Fury to ask..."

Scott snorted in disgust. "I'm surprised he had the balls, after he took our people."

"This was how I bartered their release. As soon as he sees us out there, we can pick them up."

Scott couldn't help his surprise. "Wow, the man must be desperate."

"Of course he is. If Jael stirs up any more mischief out there, this will go from bad to worse."

"He wouldn't dare."

"Of course he would. Just think what a strike against England or France would do? Or worse - Russia or Korea...China..."

Scott blanched at the thought, he couldn't help it. "Impossible. He lost a ship against SHIELD. That had to be a significant blow."

"Was it? We don't know what he's got as far as an arsenal goes. He could simply be toying with us, making us sweat."

"Or he could be taking a risk and spreading himself out too thin."

"We have no way of knowing which it is, but I cannot sit by and do nothing. I will assist Nick Fury and bring my people home. Nick might think I am doing him a favor, but I would have done it anyway. This way at least I can get our people back."

Scott leaned back against the wall, thinking. "If Jael is delaying his strike against us, maybe he's not after Kimble like Gambit is thinking."

Charles nodded, he had been starting to think that way himself. "Yes, the situation might be worse than we thought. Jael might be striking out like this because what he already has is enough. He might not need Kimble and the others at all."

"How is that worse?"

"Because we are barely able to defend what he's destroyed already. If we are not acting offensively, Jael will not be stopped. We'll run ourselves ragged just trying to stop him."

As Xavier's Second, Scott understood the wisdom of that. Jael had the upper hand, he was hiding in secret with the element of surprise. There was no anticipating where that freak might go next. Meanwhile, the X-men and everyone else would exhaust themselves trying to figure him out or plan offensives that wouldn't work because of their lack of information. "I could gather the senior staff for some brainstorming sessions. We could get some ideas for improving our defenses and for organizing the best teams to send out. Most of them are involved in training sessions, one way or another."

Charles smiled. He liked to think that he was going to win this little war simply because of the generous nature of his staff. His Second, Cyclops, was more experienced in field command than a great many in this county's armies. Tactics, dispersion of personnel, how best to match up all the various talents available, that was Cyclops's forte and the thing that kept his position in the ranks secure. Even Logan wasn't so talented. No, that man's place was here at Home Security just as he was, Wolverine was the best defense they had.

Charles nodded at him. "See it done."

(break)

Butch sat in his hotel chair, comfortable as always. He had a steaming cup of coffee next to him and a plate of cookies, Cheeree was looking after him well. She was at his feet, her head on his knee, warm and fast asleep. She was taking her relative confinement pretty well, she wasn't allowed outside on her own at all. The hotel suite was spacious, a sliding door and everything, she could have fresh air at least. Butch was close by, never leaving her out of his sight. If he went out, she traveled with him.

Not that Butch had many excuses to leave. He was patched in and well connected to his forces. Butch had moved his teams into a large building he had purchased in the same Industrial Park as Xavier's complex. He was skilled at stealth and had his orders carried out quickly - he had his crews and equipment stashed there in no time, his men were set up comfortably under the guise of being a factory that made auto parts. He even had some convincing looking equipment in place in case anyone came around question what was being done there.

It was a good thing - there was a comical moment where someone from Xavier's camp had come knocking, asking if Butch was interested in selling the building he had just purchased. Just to keep the man from being suspicious, Butch let it be known he was in fact interested, but wanted to speak with his lawyers first - ones that regrettably were out of town at the moment - before deciding on a price. It was enough to keep Xavier at bay for awhile.

Butch was using the time to set up shop. He knew he was being watched, but was used to this sort of thing and it wasn't anything his people couldn't handle. He had moved in his heaviest hitters - Butch possessed a wide range of talent beyond his much favored energy producers. He had several powerful teleporters, ones capable of moving large groups at a time. He had his share of telekinetics as well. Not to mention a large array of guns and vehicles. It hadn't taken him long to get most of what he needed close by and at his beck and call.

It looked like he might need it, too. While Jael was soaking up his press coverage, the human folks outside had plans of their own. Some mutant hate groups were gearing up, shooting off weapons and screaming for blood. One spokesman – disguised of course – sent a videotaped message on the Internet, saying, "We 'baseline' humans, as you call us, aren't going to take your mutant crap anymore. We aren't going to let you blow us up and stomp all over us and do whatever you please without a little shoving back on our own." He apparently meant it - days later, a health clinic known to harbor mutants was attacked and partially blown up. Many victims were mutant children on the run, ones hardly capable of perpetrating the terrorism they were being punished for.

The Mutant Registration Act was now only days away from getting passed through the American government - with the current crisis, the Bill had sailed right on through the normally sluggish channels of the American government without a hitch. Not that any of Butch's crew would be forced to comply, he had a crew of forgers on standby to create whatever bogus documentation his people might need if they couldn't pass for normal. Yeah, Butch had more than few of the uglies, the ones so freaky that moving about in daylight wasn't much of an option. They were the ones who went in the backdoor and did the worst damage out of sight. And more than a few of them were ex-Morlocks.

Butch had been dragging his feet on fulfilling his promise to Cheeree about getting in touch with her Gifted One, the infamous Remy LeBeau. While the idea of note passing intrigued him, Butch wasn't ready to give himself away just yet. He didn't know if Gambit remembered him or not and wasn't ready to take the chance. So far Cheeree hadn't questioned him on it, it seemed that her watching him assemble his team for an offensive against Jael was enough to satisfy her for now.

Back in the hotel room, Butch's cell phone silently vibrated. He answered it, keeping his voice soft so Cheeree wouldn't wake. She was so comfortable there on his knee. "Butch."

"Hey, boss." It was Terrel, the energy producer that had brought him Cheeree. This one would now own a special place in Butch's heart – not that he would allow the man to take advantage of it o course. "Got some activity up here at Xavier's."

Butch nodded to himself. He'd sent his best spies to surround the Xavier Complex and report in on anything strange. "Speak."

"You know the ones you asked about, the ones with the big tattoos like Cheeree?"

"Yes?" Butch tried to keep his voice level. Ever since Cheeree had come into his life, his interest in Xavier's Siskans suddenly been moved to the top of his priority list.

"Something happened outside yesterday, I think a couple of them got hurt. There was a fight and the Purple one, uhmm...uh..."

"Kimble," Butch answered to the dangling question.

"Yeah, Kimble took off. Funny thing, he had another guy with him. One I don't think we've seen. He had a blue tattoo."

"Really?" This wasn't news to Butch who had secured photos of Aiden, Seth and Babette from others he had in separate teams. Not all of Butch's people were kept in the loop, they didn't all know about one another. They had each provided pieces of information that Butch later put together.

"Yeah, he looked hurt or something. Anyway this Kimble guy dumped him in some water and then took off. Some of Xavier's people picked him up and then went after Kimble. They brought Kimble back too, but he was messed up. Like if they go too far, maybe they get sick or something."

Butch smiled to himself. Of course that wasn't even close to the truth, but he didn't bother to correct his friend. "It looks like Xavier's people are having a rough time."

"Yeah, well. All the work on that building they're putting up outside came to a halt."

Again, Butch didn't correct Terrel. That "building" was an aircraft of some special design, Butch had already been told by his contact inside the Complex. While he didn't know the details about its purpose, one thing was clear - if and when he was ready to advance on Xavier's sparkling Complex, he wasn't going to leave without it, or at least, not without knowing what it was for. He was hoping his inside girl would call and give him some news on what had really happened at the site. It was almost time for her report.

"Thanks, Terrel. Anything more?"

"Yeah, but I don't know if it's important or not."

"Speak."

"Well. Xavier sent some people out to look a campsite. It looks like a couple of indigent guys got munched on by some coyotes or something. What seems odd is why Xavier would care."

"With Jael just outside his detection, he's looking at everything, I'm certain."

"Guess you're right."

"Just keep our people clear of there, I don't want us to be noticed. Anything else, Terrel?"

"That's it for now."

"Thanks."

Butch hung up and sat in his chair, mulling all of this over. It was so hard to put it all together when none of it was given to him in context. He had no way of knowing if one was related to the other. It was all moot anyhow, the day was soon approaching when he would be down there personally. When Jael finally came for Xavier, he was going to be in for one hell of a surprise when he learned that Xavier had allies the telepath didn't even know he had.