A/N: I'm back, and starting to write ahead, so that means that there will be some rapid updates fairly quick. Just hang in there!

Disclaimer: Do not start with me. You will not win.

Dedication: To Meg and Red Witch for actually reviewing the dang story in the first place. I greatly appreciate it.

Learning to Breathe

Chapter Nine: Adjustments

"This is it?" Regan raised a questioning eyebrow at the new base. "It looks like a dog threw it up!"

"This is just the façade." Zartan said. "The actual base is underground."

"So we're living in a crap hole?" Mitch asked.

"Crap is being nice." Andi commented. "I was thinking more along the lines of…"

"Something not to be discussed." Zartan glared straight at her. "This way."

"What's out mission?" Bryan asked. "Go capture Martha Stewart?"

"Good one." Mitch grinned, high-fiving his older sibling.

"Is this your—ah—team?" A bespeckled fellow about five nine asked Zartan.

"Indeed they are." The taller man nodded. (1)

"And they're actual field operatives? Not just cleanup staff?" The newcomer asked.

"Yes, Agent Lee, they are actual field operatives, now will you open the damn elevator!" Zartan shouted.

"Yes, sir." Lee cowered, fumbling with a ludicrously large key ring. After some minor difficulties, the large metal doors slid back and the six teens crammed into the elevator.

If the base was ugly outside, it became immaculate underground. Steel re-inforced walls, automatic doors, and dozens troops could be seen from the elevator. In addition, cleaning robots flitted about, ensuring the sterility of the base.

"Okay, I was wrong." Andi said.

"See?" Zartan said. "You'll live through it."

"It's a friggin' hell hole! How can anyone stand a place this sanitary? It's like some sort of lab down here!"

"Miss Creed, Shut your mouth this instant!" He commanded. "I won't have you running your maw like such!"

"But this just isn't livable!" The blond protested.

"Too bad!" Zartan countered. "This is your new residence, end of discussion! You will learn to live with it or leave!"

"Make me!" Andi shouted.

"If you want a fight, a fight you shall have!" Zartan bellowed as the elevator doors slid open. "You have fifteen minutes do unpack, and then I will escourt you to the workout room! Is that understood?"

"Whatever!" Atlantis shouted. "I could care less!" With that, she stormed off.

"Does she even know where she's going?" Neal whispered to Bryan.

"Probably not." The taller boy replied. "Prob'ly won't ask for directions neither."

"Why not?" The Indian native asked.

"'At's just her way." The green eyed boy replied.

"Your rooms are down that corridor and to the right." Agent Lee directed. "Boys will be on the left side of the hall, girls on the right."

"Yes, sir." Kristen yawned, picked up her bag, and trudged down the corridor.

"Why is it just her way?" Neal asked.

"You didn't see her much in the labs, did you?" Regan asked. Neal shook his head. "She's a fighter by nature. Her whole family is full of them. Once she crosses the line, she won't turn back; not even to ask for directions. That's how she kept running right into the guards."

"Oh." Neal blinked. "I suppose I understand it now. But why is she so angry in the first place."

"Family tradition, I suppose." Regan shrugged. "Remember that time her dad ripped up that one guy for taking his beer?"

"Yes." Neal replied. "But what does that have to do with anything?"

"Truth is, he wouldn't have cared if it were the scientists or one of the other guards, or the bastard in charge. He snapped, and someone had to pay. Human or Mutant, it doesn't matter." Regan said. "Andi's mother must be quite the control freak; that's the only explanation I can think of for why she hasn't tried to slit the Dreadnok's throats yet."

"I never knew that about her dad." Mitch said. "She never talks much about him."

"She's not exactly proud of all that he's done." Regan said. "That much I can tell you. The other reason is she doesn't want them to get caught. There's some kind of big secret she's keeping for them, but I'm not going to pry."

"That's okay." Bryan smiled. "We'll get through it all right. Just give her some time to work it out of her system, and she'll be fine."

"I just hope she's not still looking for a fight when she faces the boss." Mitch said. "He could really hurt her."

"Don't worry so much." Bryan said. "Ann's a big girl. She can handle herself."

1.) I'm not sure exactly how tall Zartan is supposed to be, but I know Mystique is five-ten, and he's taller than her. Also, Morph's bio lists his height at 5'11" (if you don't see the significance, read Red Witch's Evolution XMJ). My guess is that Zartan's around 6'- 6'3".