Constellations

Chapter 3: Arcturus

Bang.

Kurt jumped up from his resting place and looked around quickly assessing where the danger would be coming from. He relaxed slightly when he saw a gray striped cat moving around a tipped over garbage can. You could never be too careful when you were on the run and when you were the color blue. He slid down the wall and made himself comfortable once again. He was getting really tired of having to hide and spend most of his days in hotel rooms or dark alleyways. The cat moved around the can and sat in front of him, looking up expectantly. He held out his hand and after a moment started to pet the cat. He scratched behind the ear and heard it start to purr.

"Vell at least you aren't scared of me, little one."

The cat made a small mewl sound and then curled up in his lap. Kurt was grateful for the company even if it was only from a cat. It was so hard to have a decent conversation with anyone with the appearance he possessed. If they didn't scream and run away, they just hurried away from him like he hadn't even spoken at all.

Suddenly he saw a blur out of the corner of his eyes. He jumped up the metal ladder that lead up to the roof top of the building and hopped onto the metal wired resting area. He stared down as MRD officials swarmed the alley searching around. Kurt ducked down as they glanced up every once in a while. The cat moved to the top of the dumpster and observed the men the same way that the mutant was. After they assessed that there surveying had been completed to the utmost of their ability they headed out. Kurt waited a few more moments before he hopped over the side and landed agilely on his feet. The cat followed suit and jumped off the dumpster landing next to Kurt.

"Thanks for your help… little cat."

Kurt had been about to refer to the animal as 'kitty' but refrained from the notion. To bring back that word would bring back too many memories and feelings that he just didn't feel like dealing with at the moment. He swiftly moved from the alley, once again tugging his trench coat around his figure smoothly and walked towards a deli. It had been one that he ate at often because the owner's son was a mutant so he was really friendly with Kurt, plus the food was good. As he pushed open the door the little bell rang at the top alerting everyone to the new presence.

"Welcome," the owner called as he sliced pieces of ham. The man looked up and when he noticed Kurt he plastered a smile on his face, "Hey Kurt, what can I get you today?"

"Just a sandvich today, please," Kurt responded politely.

"The usual then?"

Kurt nodded and then man set to work making the sandwich to his liking. When he finished he placed it on the counter and Kurt handed him a bill that covered it. He ran one of his blue fingers across the rapper than said quietly, "I'm probably going to start moving around again. Zee MRD are getting more accurate in zere tracking so I shouldn't stay in one place too long. I just vanted to say thank you for being so kind to me."

"Ah I understand Kurt. Well it was great to meet you and I know my son had fun talking to you. If you need anything you know where to find us. Good luck."

"Thank you und good luck to you too mein friend."

"Kurt!" a boy who looked to be about twelve ran around the counter and wrapped his arms around the older man's waist.

"David, are you helping your dad out at the deli again today?"

"Yeah, staying home alone gets so boring."

"None of your friends can play today?" Kurt wondered.

David shook his head and shot a glance over his shoulder to where his dad was conversing with one of the regulars, "No, I used to play with my sister a lot but her and mama haven't been home in a while."

The blue mutant wondered if something had happened between the parents but decided to stay optimistic anyways, "I'm sure zey vill come home soon und you can play vith your sister again."

"I hope so," the boy agreed downcast then perked up, "I like listening to your accent Kurt! Not many people talk like that around here. Where are you from?"

"I came here many years ago from Germany."

"Germany… I want to go there someday!"

Kurt laughed slightly, "I zink you vould like it zere very much."

The boy nodded and turned towards his dad to tell him the brilliant idea of going to Germany. His dad smiled and chuckled saying he agreed and thought David would like it in Germany also.

Kurt finally let the smile fall off his face and knew it was time for the hard part now. David's dad saw the facial expression change and nudged his son back over to Kurt for their final farewells. This was the hardest part about being on the run and always having to move around. Once you found a place you really liked, it was always ripped out from under you. It had been like that when he was snatched away from Germany, when the X-mansion had been destroyed flinging everyone in different places, and finally now when he had actually really started to like a town and some people in it.

"David," Kurt began slowly and carefully, "I really enjoyed meeting you und talking vith you but it is time for me to get going now."

"Aw you have to leave? Will I see you tomorrow? I'm going to help my dad again."

"Actually I von't be coming here again, but it's nothing to do vith you. Zere is somevere else I must be going."

David's expression turned horrified, "No Kurt, please don't leave!"

"I'm sorry David I have to."

David looked down and kicked his toe on the ground.

Kurt sighed tiredly, he always hated goodbyes, "If I'm ever in zee neighborhood I vill definitely come und see you again."

"You will?"

"Of course I vill. So be good und listen to vhat your father tells you to do, ok?"

"Alright, I'll try my best."

Kurt waved to the boy and his dad then left the shop. He'd really liked this town and he'd actually been able to talk to a few people while he stayed. But like all good things they had to come to an end and it was time for him to move on. He continued on to the outskirts of the town and noticed that the gray cat from before was still following him. He'd seen it sitting outside of the shop when he had left and then follow him down the block. Kurt had thought it wouldn't follow him this far out of the town, but it had. After sitting down under a tree and leaning back he opened up his wrapped sandwich and started to eat. The cat moved up and sat close to his feet. Kurt held out a piece of bread and the cat eagerly gobbled it up.

"Are you going to keep me company for a vhile zen?" Kurt asked as he pushed the last bit of sandwich into his mouth while simultaneously handing another chunk of bread to the cat.

"Hey I thought I heard something from over here!"

Kurt jumped up as he heard the shout and had just enough time to grab up the cat and teleport into a nearby tree. Apparently he had chosen to go in the wrong direction because underneath him the forest was swarming with MRD officers. Why were there so many around here? As he scanned the area he noticed one of the large metal tank-like cars they used to keep captured mutants inside.

Kurt bamfed to the tree right above the car and peered down. The cat made an odd mewling sound in his arms. He quickly placed it on the branch next to him; it must have been confused at being transported to different areas and he didn't want it to make too much noise, altering the soldiers to their presence. The back doors opened and he saw three mutants in chains. After watching the driver walk away slowly and looking around carefully Kurt hopped down from the tree, hidden by the side of the truck and turned his head around to the side. The mutant facing him glanced up and his eyes widened noticeably.

The blue mutant placed one finger to his lips and the blonde mutant staring at him blinked and nodded slightly. Kurt snuck into the truck with another pair of wide eyed mutants but luckily they all kept silent.

"Hey it's that blue mutant we've been tracking!" Kurt heard one of the MRD men shout and then the commotion of people running and guns clicking.

The blonde mutant who had seen Kurt first pushed the metal bindings towards him, "Get these off of me and I can help!"

Kurt took the metal in his three-fingered claws and teleported to the roof of the truck. Almost instantly a huge cannonball shot out of the open doors and across the forest knocking most of the men down and avoiding all the trees. Kurt was promptly inside the truck again and taking the binds off the other two mutants.

Then the blonde was next to him urging them out of the car, "We need to get out of here!"

The quad hurried in the other direction as shots were fired at their escaping forms. The girl mutant looked at her hands, then started to toss little shiny yellow balls behind them and they could all hear the explosions and MRD yelling. After a while of running and maneuvering they had reached the outside of the forest. All of them collapsed to the ground gasping and panting.

A few moments later the female mutant stood, "Thanks for saving us, blue. I wouldn't have wanted to been captured by them."

The blonde stood and patted the leaves off his pants, "Yeah it was really lucky that you happened to be around."

"It was no trouble, I'm just glad you all vere ok."

The mutant in the dark clothing nodded his head in thanks, than vanished into the forest without even a glance behind him.

The blonde noticed Kurt staring off into the area the unknown man had gone and he just shrugged when Kurt's eyes landed on him questionably, "He wasn't with us before, so I guess he doesn't want to be with us now."

"I'm Tabitha by the way," the blonde girl smiled and outstretched her hand to Kurt.

He took it and was surprised when she gave it a hardy shake up and down, "Kurt, it's very nice to meet you."

"And I'm Sam. Tabitha and I were heading east when those guys caught us."

"Vhere vere you heading, if you don't mind my asking?"

Tabitha chimed in, "We were actually heading for a port out by the water. You know those signs for Genosha right? Well after all this happening with the MRD swarming all the towns lately, we thought it might be time to head on over there."

"Yeah, I mean it can't be worse than it is here."

Kurt nodded his head slowly, "Perhaps I will join you on zis journey to Genosha zen. I've actually been pretty curious about how Magneto has it set up."

"Sounds great, the more the merrier right?" Tabitha elbowed him in the ribs.

Kurt let out a hollow breath, "Right."

He followed Sam and Tabitha in the direction they had been headed before and ninety degrees changed from his earlier venture. Kurt couldn't help but look back at the way they had come from the MRD camp. It wasn't wasted on his ears when they said 'the blue mutant they'd been tracking.' So obviously someone had noticed him and tipped off the MRD. The mystery was who had done it and why they had done it. It didn't really matter now, since he was heading out anyways, but it was still disheartening.

He glanced up at the sky as dusk fell and noticed Arcturus shining brightly in the early night. It had been some time now since he had thought of Kitty, Logan, Storm, Cyclops, and all the other X-men. He wondered if he'd eventually meet any of them on his journey or during theirs, and mused that perhaps he would be able to meet one of them on Genosha. He knew how unlikely it would be and if they were looking for him they would probably never look for him there, but it seemed that that was where fate was pushing him and he didn't seem to have a problem with it. Maybe his unfortunate solitude could be mended in this unlikely place.

---

The gray striped cat mewled from her spot in the tree. She shook her head, then leapt off the branch and dug her claws into the fresh soil. She strolled across the area towards the MRD vehicles and soldiers.

One of them looked down and with a disgusted look spat at the cat harshly, "How long do you plan on lolling around?"

The cat then transformed into a woman with deep blue skin and pupil-less yellow eyes, "Must you be so rude?"

"Hey you're the one who's supposed to help us track down all these mutants so we can send them to your stupid island anyways. I don't know why the senator would agree to it but it's your fault that they got away!"

"I think it was your inadequacy that let them get away, not my unhelpful amount of effort," Mystique retorted to the MRD soldier.

The soldier ground his teeth and glared his eyes, but the female mutant just shrugged and turned away, getting ready for her next plan of action. She had lost her charge but that didn't mean she couldn't get him back or maybe even find a new one… a better one. Genosha would soon be mountains of mutants richer and she was sure they'd get a few unexpected accomplices in due time.