Where the Wild Things Go

by squeekness

Book five and conclusion to my Children of the Gods series. Sometimes the Wild Things just need a place to go. Logan and Kyle need some recovery time after their ordeal.

2. Chapter 2

(Two)

Gambit wasn't entirely sure where Julien might be, but since the boy had left with Asher, he had an idea the pair might have made their way to the small church Asher had built in the Complex's large underground Solarium. The Solarium was an expansive, multi-level recreational park that was open to everyone. It was entirely man made, or mutant made anyhow. Its construction would never have been possible without those individuals here who had the ability to carve out such wonders by their mutations alone. Light was filtered down from outside by using large mirrors and other wonderful technological ideas the X-men super brains had come up with.

While no one was allowed official residence in this area, Asher had been granted permission for his small open sided structure as it was strictly non-denominational and open to everyone. The building consisted of a tall roof held by thick floor to ceiling beams and three open walls that weren't much more than fancy, waist high railings of carved wood. Everything was simple, stained cedar that gleamed invitingly in the Solarium's bright light. The one solid wall backed a small altar of grey marble with a large silver overhanging, empty cross. Stacks of Bibles were neatly piled to one side and there was a generous sprinkle of votive candles about. The soft scent of incense hung in the air, making the place smell as holy as it looked. Prayer kneelers had been installed and Asher had provided several translations of those stacked Bibles at his own cost to be used and taken home by anyone who wished. It had become a popular spot for those seeking solace or even just a bit of solitude. The church was set apart by tall bushes, allowing for some privacy and quiet.

The fresh air here was sweet and cool and Remy felt his happily medicated head clearing as he walked along, he was now merely high enough that he was nice and mellow, his hand hardly throbbing at all.

Remy's guess was a good one. He found the pair there in the church, deep in prayer. Asher had been deeply distressed that while Jason Frost had claimed to be a practicing Christian, he had only preached hate and vengeance, making Julien believe his own mutation had been a sign of his terrible sin. Asher was trying to correct that by instructing Julien on the ways of peace and forgiveness. It was working, the boy certainly seemed less angry these days than he had been when he first got here.

They were kneeling side by side at the altar, an open Bible between them as they each took turns choosing passages to read aloud to each other. That in itself was something —one of the things Jason Frost had used against Julien was his own ignorance. Frost had preached that it was a major crime for a mutant to touch the Book, never mind actually read from it. That way when Frost spouted the supposed words of God condemning mutants, Julien didn't have the power to question or refute what the man was teaching him. Julien just swallowed it whole. Asher was using whatever means possible to fix that and it was working. Not long ago Julien was terrified to even touch a Bible, now he was quoting whole parts of it accurately from memory.

Gambit gave them some time before rapping his knuckles on one of the large wooden posts. Asher smiled, having known the Thief was there as soon as he had walked up, his empathic vibrations were too familiar to the Siskan for that not to happen. Julien glanced up over his cupped hands, instantly wary. Remy confused him, he was never fully sure what his father wanted from him.

Remy entered the open building now that they were aware he was there. "You got a minute, Jules?"

Before the boy could answer, a small squeaky voice chirped up at the Thief, saying, "Prayerful prayers they speaks. Not polite to makes them stoppy stops, no, no it t'isn't."

Remy just smiled as the owner of that voice, a slender purple ferret type creature, slithered out from its hiding place in Asher's large lap.

"Smee, always a pleasure," Remy greeted. Smee was Asher's Angel, the same way that Angel, Kimble's daughter had been. Unlike the child, this pleasant happy creature had survived the Game intact, always eager to assault the unwary with his endless chatter. Remy knew the chiding had been playful and not of any real anger. Smee simply liked to hear his own voice and used any opportunity that presented itself.

"You just shush, now," Asher scolded his pet gently, scooping him up and cuddling his furry belly to his face. "We kin gives them some time."

Smee giggled at the attention, falling for this every time. Asher had long since learned that the best way to keep Smee's chatterboxing at bay was to simply tickle him into submission. Asher rose in a smooth graceful movement onto his sturdy pony legs and clomped outside, gently brushing Remy's shoulder with his own as he passed in a sign of affection.

Julien stood up onto his own feet, but much more slowly and stiffly than Asher had. The day had taken its toll and he was tired and weary. His eyes were still wary, not sure what this was. He leaned against one of the railings that acted as a make shift wall of the church and looked out at the privacy bushes, unsure what his father wanted.

"Relax, fils," Remy was quick to reassure. "Just wanted to see how you was, it being such a tough day and all."

"I'm fine."

"No pain?"

"No more than usual."

"Bien. I also wanted to say 'ow proud I am of you. You 'andled yourself like a champ today. Couldn't ask for better."

Julien smiled in spite of himself. Praise so seldom came his way. "Thanks," he replied. He noted the thick bandage on Remy's hand and nodded at it. "Was that bad?"

"Not'ing to worry about," Gambit brushed off quickly, not wanting to focus on himself. "Nothing like you been t'rough."

Julien was quiet, knowing the remark was directed towards his own mangled hand. It had never healed right and would never be perfect. To change the subject to something less difficult, he asked, "Can I ask you something?"

Remy smiled, happy for anything his son might say. "Absolument, fils."

"Why did you save Kyle? I heard some of the other kids say he had done... terrible things. You could have just let them take him."

Remy smiled painfully. He was aware that Julien had chosen his words carefully. It wasn't Kyle's alleged crimes he was talking about, it was the unconventional relationship with Skye which had been aired over the speakers for all to hear that was the real problem. He had missed the broadcast, but the others had whispered about it enough amongst themselves on the way home that it hadn't been hard to figure out. Julien may have forgiven Kimble and Aiden in his way for being openly gay but Julien was uneasy about extending the same courtesy to Kyle. He just didn't know the guy that well. Not that Kyle was really gay but who was keeping score? Skye's hold over the boy hadn't been truly sexual but it would be difficult for anyone without the empathy to fully understand that.

"I ain't in de 'abit of judgin' folks," came Remy's easy reply. There was more to it than that so he was quick to get to what he thought was the real point. "..but more dan dat, we don't leave anyone of our own behind. I know I keep sayin' it, but you don't seem to 'ear it, fils. I never would have left you wit yo' mom and Jerry had I known about you."

Julien, a creature of habit, deftly swerved, angrily countering with, "You would have taken me away from my mother?"

Remy sighed in exasperation. He should be used to this by now, Julien finding fault in the simplest of words. "Non, not like dat. I woulda asked fo' you. If she didn't want to give you up, I woulda at least gotten her and you out of dat place. She never woulda needed Jerry. You would 'ave never wanted fo' nuthin'. You never woulda known what it's like havin' someone beatin' on you. You woulda gone to school. I woulda been dere fo' you, been a real dad. Not playin' catch up like now. You never would 'ave been caught by Frost."

Julien nodded, his eyes distant out over the grass as Remy had spoken. He had heard all this before of course, but something was different now. He had watched this man risk all to fetch Kyle and bring him back. It was one thing to hear the words, another to see them put in action. If this man was willing to risk all to bring back a freak like Kyle, how much more would he do for his own kin? The one thing Julien could never deny was the parentage. All anyone had to do was look at their eyes. Now there was the ability to charge up a ship if need be. Everything was changing.

He nodded and said, "Okay."

Remy raised his eyebrows in surprise. It was one word, but it was the most acknowledgment the boy had given him of the efforts he had made over these past months. Progress at long last. About damn time. If ever there was a sign that bringing Julien on to the Red Team had been a good idea there it was, even more than watching the lad learn to fly was that one simple word. He would have loved to give Julien a nice big squeeze for it but he didn't want to push his good luck. Instead he offered, "You can come for supper if you want. Molly's always cookin' up sumptin' good."

"Thanks, but I was there for so long last night."

It wasn't a refusal, it was just a simple truth. Remy had forgotten that Julien had spent the night with Molly while the other kids had cheered Jason Frost's untimely demise. All that seemed like a lifetime ago now. Hard to believe it had only been just yesterday. "De'sole about yo loss," he said automatically to that, though in reality he felt that justice had been done. Maybe Julien hadn't thought much of the graveyard that Frost had left behind, but Remy would never forget it. It was blind luck that Frost had found favor in his son, it could just as easily been Julien's corpse that had been dug up with the others. "You change yo' mind, you come on by."

"Thanks, but Asher is taking me to the Bistro after."

"Bien." Remy nodded and held his good hand out, a sign of respect. Maybe the day would eventually come for that nice big hug, but for now he would just have to be happy with the one he had stolen while Julien had been unconscious in Romulus' holding cell.

Julien's eyes widened a bit at the offered hand in surprise. He took it though and gave it a shake. As their hands clasped, a strange buzzing sensation passed between them.

Remy smiled at it, but Julien frowned, frightened a bit. He said, "I don't want to hurt anyone again. I feel better with the collar off, but I can still feel all the power in me coming back. Does it ever go away?"

"Non, it never does. Don' mean it 'ave to give you any trouble. You'll feel better tomorrow when you've had some decent sleep. We'll work on your control. If need be, we'll have you syphon off into the Dragon now and again so that you ain't walkin' around wit a full charge. Got to watch yo' temper, eh? Sudden bursts of emotion can be a problem until you get de energy under control. Be mindful of what you touch."

"Guess I have a lot to learn," Julien bemoaned. It was going to be a long frightening process no doubt.

"You got some work to do, true. But don't let it get you down. You do what I say, listen real good, and you'll turn dis around, make it yo' friend instead of yo' enemy. Who knows, you get decent enough wit it, we can even put you on de list for yo own ship. It's done by merit, though, you got to earn dat place."

Julien couldn't stop the smile at the idea of that. Powering the Dragon had been a real trip, that was a fact. To be able to do that as a full time job would be a dream.

"We'll get dere, don't you fret," Remy promised and dared to pat Julien on the shoulder. The boy allowed it, another thrilling moment.

Still not wanting to push his luck, Remy smiled and walked away, returning Julien into Asher's fine care. The Thief was exhausted now, his eyes getting heavy with each step that brought him closer to home. Kimble and Aiden shared an apartment directly across from his own and as he passed, he lay a hand on their door. The place was absent any vibrations, they still hadn't made it home. He wasn't concerned, he figured that they were probably still outside, soaking up the last of the sun before it fell.

When he stepped into his own apartment, happy to be finally home, he realized that assessment had been wrong. While the livingroom was empty of persons, the place itself was full of too many vibrations for him to be alone. They were all full of happiness and peace and he couldn't help but smile at it. The Siskans were here with Molly and the twins. All of that combined made this a home. His home.

He found Kimble and Aiden down the hall with the twins. The twins shared a generous bedroom, one that not only had two cribs, but also a large futon that Molly used when she wanted to breast feed them or just cuddle up snug and warm. The Siskans had crashed on the futon, both of them out cold asleep with a sleeping twin apiece in the crook of their arms, safe and sound. Belle was at their feet, greedily hogging what was left of the bed. She thumped her tail at Remy in greeting, but was too comfortable to rise. Remy left her as she was.

Molly came from their bedroom, a soft rustle as she sidled up beside him. I didn't have the heart to wake them and send them home to sleep, she signed. They came to say hello and were out cold almost right away.

"I know de feelin," Remy couldn't help but joke. He was tired through and through.

Then you need to come with me, Molly insisted, a smile on her face as she tugged him down the hall towards their own bed.

At first Remy was a little sad, fearing he would disappoint her and whatever she had planned, but once she helped him out of his clothes and laid him down, he realized that all she wanted to do was cuddle. It was enough to have him finally home and all to herself. He couldn't have been more grateful and once he closed his eyes, was out cold himself.

(break)

The next morning Remy was up and smiling happily. He and Molly had made up for time lost that morning and his grin couldn't have been wider. A good solid breakfast had seen him on his way and now he was off to take care of the next order of business on his list.

He had scheduled a meeting for that morning and was happy to find his team already seated and waiting for him. They had commandeered one of the empty classrooms for this, he had wanted the kids to be seated far enough away from each other to ensure their privacy as they did what he was about to ask.

Kimble and Aiden had taken their usual positions behind the desk, waiting. As he had asked of Aiden, two large stacks of paperwork on the desk awaited them.

The kids saw him enter the room and to his surprise, they all stood and began to clap, praise for him. It startled him enough that he froze where he was, a blush flushing his face. He hadn't expected it, even more so since Grace, the one most likely to have put them up to it, was still away at Twilight. Even his Siskans had been caught unawares, though they too, began to clap. Kimble, his hands whole but still blackened, did his best in spite of the pain that still remained.

"Non, non, non..." Remy began to protest. He put his hands up but they did not stop so he joined them instead, turning it around in the proper direction by loudly saying, "Dis fo' you, dis fo' you, mes braves. You were only de very best, you give all you could and you done me more dan proud."

His words only made them clap louder, while others laughed and took bows, knowing he meant what he had said. For a first run mission with real danger, they had performed extremely well and they knew it. It was no secret that other junior teams had gone out on what was supposed to have been minor runs and did not come back whole.

"Just wanted to let you all know, since you de ones dat answer dat scramble quick and showed me all yo' very best, dat each an' every one of you on dis team fo' real comprenez? No more wonderin', it a done deal."

That was met with even more applause and cheers than his arrival had garnered. From the beginning there had always been that tension – would they get picked or not? Whose efforts were good enough and whose weren't? Now those questions had finally been answered and there was a lot of relief.

Finally they all settled down and Remy moved to the desk, placing one hand ominously on the largest stack of papers. "Now I know bein' on my team all official like have all de perks – nearly dyin', fun train rides, crazy creepy dudes wit claws – but all dat happiness come wit a price. Dese here field reports."

At first the kids had chuckled some at his attempt at humor, but that quickly turned to groans of dismay when they saw he was serious. This was no real surprise of course, they had been trained on how these were to be made out and could guess they would be coming sooner or later. All the teams had to fill these out, even the Gold Team who went out on the really big missions. The only real surprise was that the kids had been given a good night's sleep to recover from their ordeal before being put to this task, most times the upper management wanted them done immediately while it was all still fresh in their minds. Lucky for them, Remy had fought on their behalf with the powers that be, arguing that the stress of the events was too much for such a green team.

Remy picked up the stack and began passing them out. "Don' worry, you take all de time you need. Dere's snacks and drinks in de back. Nobody leave 'til dey all done." The mention of snacks was met with cheers, the idea that they had to wait for all of them to be finished, much less so. He was just trying to avoid the rush of half filled papers. Even so some of these reports were bound to be a little light on details.

"Once de reports done, you come on up here and take some of dese others. Dese peer reviews and I want you to each fill out at least t'ree of dem on whomever you chose."

That was met with perplexed faces. They had never done them before and it made them nervous. Remy saw it and was quick to reassure them once more. "Don't worry. While I may read some dem out loud, no one goan know who wrote what, eh? It's just to see if dere were any areas we could get better, d'accorde?"

Once the first stack of papers were handed out, he nodded to Kimble, saying, "Kim, you got a minute?" and they went out into the hallway. It wasn't like him to single Kimble out like that in front of the group, but he wanted to make sure the pilot was okay.

Once outside, Remy got right to the point. "You all right, cher?"

Kimble nodded but he kept his eyes down and away. He wasn't sure what his friend was fishing for. His hands had healed for the most part but there was lingering distress in his shine and he was smart enough to know Remy could see it. He didn't want to be bounced from the team because of it. He flexed his fingers, hoping it wasn't his shine that had Remy singling him out. "See? Alls better now."

Remy did not believe. Kimble's fingers may have been returned to normal size and shape, but they were still blackened. A hot ball of plasma energy from one of the producers here would have healed him instantly, but the addictive properties of that food source made it just too dangerous to use for just any injury. The sun would heal him just as completely, it simply took more time.

Remy wasn't satisfied with Kimble's unreliable answer. He had never been a good liar and he wasn't doing any better with it now. A quick check showed that they had the hallway to themselves. He palmed Kimble's face, making the pilot look at him and then kissed him on the mouth, using it to take a much deeper empathic read on his dear friend.

Kimble swooned a bit in spite of himself. He could never resist this, he wouldn't even try, even knowing this was the only kind of intimacy they would ever share again. Kimble loved Aiden on so many levels, but he was bonded with the Thief in ways they could never be. Here, in this moment as Kimble blasted him with unspoken emotion, Remy's empathic mind could feel what Kimble had not dare say. While the pilot was still suffering from physical pain, he was terrified more of something quite different and was doing his very best to hide it. Save me, keep me, shelter me from this pain, I am so afraid!

These kinds of messages from the Siskan were nothing new. Kimble had always been a very needy creature, even suffocating at times. It was why Remy could never have kept him for himself. He had married Molly not just to assuage his need for a family, but also because she was emotionally strong. Everything Kimble wasn't. So it while wasn't unusual for Kimble to be frail here, the real question was – of what was he so frightened this time?

Remy released him, locking his eyes with his own. He took his best guess and asked, "You can quit de Team any time, you know, if dat's what you really want. Ain't nobody goan make you go where you don' want to go."

"You knows I cain't," came Kimble's swift and bitter response. Remy knew Kimble was speaking of Aiden when he added, "I keeps seein' it when I sleeps, him there in my arms with his shine all dark and gone."

That was a loaded statement if ever there was one. Just the fact that he dreamed at all was a testament to how Kimble and all the other Siskans were truly alive. He wouldn't be capable of dreaming if he was really just some machine someone had made. At the same time, they tormented him the same as they would any other normal human.

Remy hadn't forgotten that Aiden had so nearly died or had at least given the very convincing appearance of a dead man. It was too soon for the Thief to have processed all that he had witnessed – Aiden recovering the way he had - and the following implication that unlike the rest of his kin, Aiden might be independent of energy or the sun giving plasma as a food source. It meant he would have more freedom and could be all the more valuable in certain situations out in the field. But was it anything more than that? Only time would tell.

But now at least Remy had gotten to the root of Kimble's current distress. Kimble had never done well with loss or even the threat of it. It was this as much as his strong desire to please that would make him submissively follow Aiden even into the most dangerous of places. He would endure the terror even if it broke him, just as it was doing now, a little at a time. Aiden meant more to him than life. More than his tenuous hold on sanity. If Remy thought it would do him any good, he would have bounced Kimble from the team himself long ago. Trouble was, he knew it would only make Kimble worse, not better. Kimble needed both Remy and Aiden in his line of sight as much as possible. Zander, as troublesome as he was, knew this and by stepping in during missions and practice sessions, was helping his weaker self deal with it as much as he could.

Kimble continued to express his woe. "There ain't no worse thing, seein' that over and over agains."

"It'll pass," Remy was quick to assure. Post traumatic stress was something he was very familiar with. He was confident enough to say, "We on de other side of it now. You just need a little time is all."

Kimble's voice rose sharply as he began to complain, "I cain't lose nobody else. I wouldn't ever walk away from it. He could walks from me, but not the other way around. I ain't strong like hims!"

Remy just shook his head. This he did not believe and his words were full of doubt as he questioned, "He ever tell you that he could walk away from you?"

Kimble lowered his eyes in shame. "Not them exact words, no."

"Den you know it ain't even close to bein' true. You an' him are goan be together long after me and my own are gone."

Kimble's eyes widened at what had never really been talked about between them. The truth was, no one knew just how long these non organic beings would last. They could be nearly immortal while the merely human Thief was not. Unfortunately the intended helpful reminder had backfired by being just another way of saying Kimble was headed for another big loss down the road, one way or the other.

"Aw, cher, you know I didn't mean it like dat," Remy protested, seeing the sudden change in Kimble's shine.

Kimble dropped his eyes again. "I knows. I just don' wants to thinks abouts that."

Remy kissed him again, this time quick on the forehead. "So don't. And stop yo' frettin' about Aiden, d'accorde? You got all of us lookin' out for each other. You an' Aiden, you come on by for supper tonight. Molly goan cook us up somethin' real nice."

Kimble nodded, feeling better now that he had spoken aloud some of what was hurting him, but not quite fully placated. As Remy had said, that would take time. Time and lots of love and good food and family. They were the best therapies ever. Hugs were good, too, and when Remy gave a him nice big one, Kimble finally smiled, squeezing back just as hard.

Remy released him and seeing that he was much better, changed the subject, saying, "Now I noticed Izzie wasn't dere in class. You know where she at?"

Kimble shook his head. "You ask Grace? She's her roommate."

"Grace still at Twilight, cher."

"I forgots." It was just another sign of how distracted the pilot really was.

"S'okay. Listen, you an' Aiden keep an eye on de kids. Don' let none of dem go till dey all done wit dem papers like I say, eh? I'm gonna go see if she in her room. I won't be long."

Kimble nodded and Remy left him. He was satisfied that Kimble was back on track and now it was Izzie's turn. Putting out fires, that is what a leader does Remy had found. They didn't put that in the manual he had noticed with some irony, most folks would probably bail if they had.

The room Izzie shared with Grace wasn't far from where Remy had held the meeting. Remy knocked on Izzie's door, not knowing what to expect. Girls were tough, though Kimble was tougher, he thought with a smile. Maybe that was a Siskan's true calling, breaking you in for unruly, emotional teenagers. He knew that with Izzie, anything was possible. For all he knew she might not let him in, she might not even answer his knock at all.

He got lucky. The slender purple fairy girl answered his knock at once. She seemed a little surprised to see him at first, but then she let him in. She hadn't been idle he could see – clothes were strewn about on her bed and a couple of open suitcases were there, partially packed.

"What you doin', girl?" he asked even though the answer was obvious.

"I've been meaning to talk to you." She was clearly nervous, fearful of what his reaction might be. Her lovely purple wings were twitching, a nervous habit he had seen more than once. She was so pretty and terribly sad all at once and it made his heart ache to see it. He wasn't surprised when she went on to say, "I can't stay on the Team. I know that means I'll have to change rooms, but it's okay. I don't mind."

He wasn't going to let her go that easily. He was soothing as he explained, "It was rough for everyone, chere. You don't need to go."

Izzie just shook her head, her pretty purple wings drooping all the more. "Yes, but at least they participated."

He raised his hands in exasperation. "Bien sur, but you did, too, by being there and not running away. Dat matters. I already tell de others today - everyone who made it out is guaranteed a spot on my team, includin' you."

"I'm just going to get myself or someone else killed."

"I don't believe dat for even one minute. I wouldn't be here if I did."

"I won't risk it."

Remy really didn't want to see her go and tried one last thing. "Look, take a light duty. You can keep trainin' wit de team, helpin' wit de schoolin' and such. Lord knows Trig's sorrowful ass ain't goan pass his math if you leave. You just don't need to roll out wit us if we get activated."

Izzie let the compliment on her tutoring skills pass. "It won't be enough. I won't waste your time or mine. I've been offered a spot in the early day care and I think I'd be better off there. As scary as toddlers can be, at least no one will die on my watch."

Remy smiled then, finally letting her go. He knew better than to try and hang on to someone who for all intents and purposes had already left. "Den it will be nice to know my twins will be in good hands. If you change your mind, you can always apply again."

She smiled at him relieved he wasn't going to press her too hard over this. "Thanks."

"De rien, fille." He wasn't going to let her go without a hug and when he opened his arms she stepped right in.

"It was fun training with you. I had a good time with that at least."

"It ain't goan be de same wit'out you," he replied, releasing her. "Well, I gotta get back. De others doing field reports. Only Kim and Aiden supervising. Dey probably got de whole room torn down by now."

She smiled at his joke. "Then you'd best go rescue them."

He gave her a quick nod and left, heading back.

(break)

Simone stood uneasily on the tarmac, clenching and unclenching his ebony hands as he waited with little patience. Hank had insisted that the quarantine on the Lucky Dragon last at least three days and Simone hadn't taken it well. Lucky for Simone none of the passengers on board had contracted the Flush virus, but still this was the longest he had been separated from his precious Mistress since she had claimed him for herself. Rogue had tried to help him compensate by using the Face Time video chat – Simone was just as skilled with an iPad as he was with an iPhone – but it wasn't the same. Yes, they could have a conversation, but Simone, being Siskan and a physical creature, had needed so much more than that.

Star was standing on Simone's left, awaiting her own Master as well. She was much more calm about it in spite of the fact that she was normally kept just as isolated as Simone was. Ever since Gryfon had misused her so badly to help him recover after his Honey poisoning, Hank had kept Star aside, all the better to keep her safe. She didn't mingle with many others and she didn't mind, she was happy with her life just as it was. She was much more patient and understanding of the quarantine because it wasn't unfamiliar to her. Hank's mental prowess was in high demand and he had left her alone on numerous occasions for conferences and the like. Most often he would try to take her along when he traveled but it wasn't always possible. In his absence, Star would amuse herself with books and games. She was a much more independent creature.

They couldn't have been less alike, these two. Simone was tall and black, well muscled, his large wings shimmering with red and blue highlights in the bright sun. He was more aggressive emotionally and couldn't keep still in his anticipation. Star was small and white, slender, shy and demure. She was calm and serene, dressed in crisp pink scrubs from the Medical Lab. Just under her low neckline, the top of her large Orange Mark peeked out, just enough that you would know it was there.

Because this pair never went anywhere on their own it was only proper that they should have an escort outside and Asher, being just as Siskan as they were, was the best choice for the job. Asher was well acquainted with his two charges though they were not so familiar with each other. The isolation that each one lived with didn't lend itself to building their relationship well, even if they were their own kin. They knew they were related, but not much beyond that.

Asher had been working on that, but Simone was the most stubborn of the pair. He didn't need anyone besides his precious Mistress and wasn't out to make new friends. Asher had hoped they might speak on the way out here, but all Simone wanted was his Mistress. He couldn't climb the topside stairs fast enough.

"Easy, kitten," Asher soothed Simone, leaning in close and sending him some vibrations of warm affection. "They ain't so mean as ta makes ya wait no longer than you haves to."

"Been waitin' too long as it is," Simone complained anyways, his wings as restless as his hands. He couldn't hide a soft cry of elation as the hatch opened on the craft and the ramp began to lower down.

Bobby poked his head out and squinted in the bright light. "Only three of you? I feel so unloved," he joked.

"Ah'm sure there'll be a party downstairs out of the heat," Rogue teased. "At least there better be."

Asher bowed at her, his soft grey eyes merry. "There most certainly is. The Bistro gots some booths reserved and the others are waitin fer yous there. There will be food and drink."

His words were almost lost as Simone's little remaining patience evaporated and the big black Siskan bullied his way up the ramp, not even waiting for it to hit the ground. Rogue had seen him coming and met him halfway, laughing some as he collided with her, his mouth on hers in a consuming, burning kiss. You would have thought they had been apart for months, not days. He was whimpering some in joy as he kissed her, his body pressed hard against her, his hands buried in her hair.

"Geez, maybe you guys should hit your place first," Bobby joked. "Unless you want to ask Fallen for some bed space. She has a spare room or two."

"We've all been inside this ship long enough," Scott corrected, looking out to see what all the fuss was about. He watched the eager couple on the ramp and frowned, never fond of such public displays of affection.

When Rogue heard Scott's voice, she gently pushed Simone back. She wasn't normally this affectionate out in the open but had indulged Simone because of their separation. Now it was time to make space for others. She wasn't the only one eager to depart and they had blocked the way down. "Let's go get sumpthin' ta eat," she suggested to Simone, not wanting him to think she hadn't been pleased by his affection.

Simone, having at least gotten the kiss he had wanted, relented easily enough, though he did insist on holding her hand all the way down the ramp and to the stairs.

Star had waited patiently for her turn throughout all this, not making any sort of fuss or sound in spite of the fact that so far, Hank had yet to make his appearance. Scott was pleased to see her restraint and as he came down and out, said to her, "Hank is bringing Gryfon out on a wheelchair. He'll just be another moment."

Star smiled and bowed at him politely, thankful for his consideration. "I kin waits."

Scott's wife Jean was right behind him and she smiled at Star, wanting to be friendly. She had seen Star many times in the Labs and in the Medical bay but those visits were never enough for her to get to know Star well. After learning what Star had been through with Gryfon, Jean wasn't about to begrudge her shyness. If she could at least let Star know she would always be welcome, that was enough.

Jean and Scott left Star to wait for Hank, dragging Bobby with them towards the stairs that would lead them below. All of them were more than ready to hit the Bistro for themselves. Fallen's ship could be very accommodating but it would never be as good as the Bistro. They had the best burgers in the Complex and the cheapest beer.

As promised, Hank was at the hatch door only a moment later. He had Gryfon in a wheelchair to spare his poor injured legs. Gryfon's arm was in a temporary cast to stabilize the bad break and he still had tape across his poor broken nose. The days in quarantine hadn't been long enough for him to recover enough not to look like he had been through the wringer.

The descent from the ship was a bit awkward, the ramp had some slope to it, so Hank took his care on the way down. It wouldn't do to have put this man to rights only to dump him out on his ass on the way down. Once at the bottom, Hank did take Star into his arms for a nice heathy squeeze. They shared a kiss, but it was brief.

Most of their restraint wasn't because Rogue and Simone had gone all out, but because Star was very nervous around Gryfon. She had seen very little of him since he had stolen her and that was by design. However on this day, she wasn't going to let her fears get in the way of her greeting Hank at his departure. She wasn't going to let Gryfon take that from her.

Gryfon was aware of her discomfort and since he owed Hank big time for his recent care, was quiet and did his best to be invisible while they caught up. He was bundled up in a blanket against the air conditioning inside Fallen's ship but now in the heat, he pulled some of it back. His body was still severely battered and bruised, his lower half tightly bandaged. He had been medicated for the trip back down to the Complex and averted his eyes from Star, not wanting her think even for a minute that he would ask her for any aid. He would not have her heal him.

Being stranded on the Lucky Dragon had given Gryfon many long hours to think. He knew that he had to call in the Gold Team when he had, but he could also understand how they might think he had abandoned the Red Team out there in the snow. Hank had done his best to reassure him that he had done the right thing in such a bad situation and no one was more proud, given his recent disabilities. Hank did admit that he would not have been comfortable with Scott's decision about sending Gryfon so untried out in the field, but now since Gryfon had handled himself so well, he was now happy to grant limited approval once he had fully recovered from his injuries.

Gryfon felt better having Hank's approval, but he knew he still had work left to do. Hank might trust him but Gryfon doubted many others did and with good reason. He knew the darkness was still there inside of him, ready to leak out. Maybe he could use that to his advantage, maybe not. Only time would tell.

Last to depart from the Lucky Dragon was Fallen. Seth had not come to greet her but she didn't think twice about it. As insecure as Star and Simone might be, her own shy Siskan only went outside under duress. He had witnessed his brother Kimble's many struggles with the people in the outside world and wanted none of it. He would have their apartment all done up and ready for her, she knew. He was as much of a romantic as Kimble was. That was fine by her, she would rather have Seth to herself than the happy crowd at the Bistro anyway. She locked up her precious ship and was gone. She was happy to have been of some use, these folks had been kind enough to give her a permanent home and she was always happy to help out.

Down below, the party at the Bistro for the last returning X-men was lively and pleasant. It was a special event and Xavier was on hand to welcome them back to the fold. He had missed Scott, his second in command, and was happy to have him once more accessible.

Scott was happy enough to see him come. He had drunk a beer and ate some of the best pizza he had in weeks, but he had more on his mind than food. He made his way over to the Professor and said to him, "We need to talk."

Charles nodded, knowing this was coming. "In my office."

Scott agreed and they went the short distance to Xavier's quarters. They both wanted the privacy for what was to be sure a tense exchange of words.

"I know why you are upset, Scott," the Professor said, even as he took his place behind his desk. "This is about Logan."

"I can understand the thought process behind sending Logan out, but I am unhappy with how Logan was affected. We're not a kill squad."

"I agree," Charles was quick to reassure. "But these are dangerous times we are living in. I am being forced to use every tool at my disposal to try and earn for these kids the decent, normal life they deserve. I am forced to fight for it, to fight these evil men who would wrest from them their rights simply because of what they look like or what they can do.

"It isn't fair what I asked Logan to do but I knew he would do it because he is an honorable man. He knew what was at stake here. He is willing to cost himself to save the lives of others. He didn't do it for himself, he did it for them and his family. If he hadn't believed the cause was just, he would have walked away from that train station – but he didn't."

Scott just shook his head in irritation. "I know you are asking me to just blindly accept this but I can't. What kind of world are we making for ourselves if we have to murder children to survive in it? There had to be another way, I just know it. If we kill to solve our problems, then we are no better than the rest of those monsters out there we keep fighting. No better than Butch and his Outkasts, this guy Romulus. I won't have it. I'll walk away first."

Charles sighed and rubbed his brow. "I understand what you're saying, I really do. But you have to realize that he did what he did for her as well."

"I don't understand," Scott growled in confusion. Logan had murdered the girl. How was that doing her a favor?

"You have such a gentle heart," Charles praised, a wistful smile on his face. "..but the world is anything but. If Logan had in fact been able to retrieve the girl alive, what then? We do not have the facilities here to contain her and even if we did, she would have been in a small cage for the rest of her life.

"Worse yet – what if Logan had brought her out alive only to have Fury seize her under the laws of Homeland Security? We survive here but by his grace, don't forget that."

"Fury could never root us out of here," Scott argued in disagreement.

"Don't be so sure. At the very least he could make it difficult beyond measure for us to resupply. He could starve us out without ever dropping a single bomb."

Scott shook his head but said nothing more so the Professor continued. "If Fury were to have gotten his hands on that poor girl by force or otherwise, it would have been bad for her indeed. They would have kept her alive, no doubt, but they would have experimented on her, studied her. She would have been a lab rat forever at their mercy and I won't have that, Scott, I just won't. There are fates far worse than Logan's claws given in mercy."

Scott was quiet a moment. He had never heard as much emotion in the Professor's voice as he had just now. The man wasn't fooling around or just throwing words around, he had genuinely felt for the girl. Still, Scott was firm. "There had to be another way."

Charles sighed and rubbed his hands together, feeling their age. "I had known the girl was so very young for two weeks before I sent Logan. During that time four hundred more people perished to the disease. All those lives lost are on me, for my inability to make a quick decision. I really wanted to bring her here and keep her, I did, but in all that time, I couldn't find a safe way to do so that would spare any of our people. We have almost as many non-mutants here as we do our own kind and if any tiny particle of her poison got out they would all have surely perished. It was just too risky. At the same time I wouldn't let anyone have her to use for their own sick purposes just as Marcus was already doing. It had to come to an end and there was simply no more time."

Scott stepped back and turned his head away. He knew these words were true but they hurt so very much. This wasn't how they did things, they were not killers by nature. But then, this had been a very bad and unusual situation. He didn't doubt that Charles was wrong about Fury, the StarkTech bullets had only backed that up. They would have weaponized her far more than they had already and that could not stand. Not for any reason.

Scott relented, saying, "I am aware of the pressures you are under. I also get it that sometimes you have to sacrifice one of your people for the greater good. I just think maybe it's time to put Logan on the 'do not touch' list."

"On that we can agree."

"He may need to hear you say it to his face."

"I would be happy to do that."

"How about tomorrow?"

Scott had expected the Professor to balk at so soon a date, but the man readily agreed. "That would be fine."