"This is your Captain again," the voice overhead announced, "We'll be making our descent into Birmingham in a few moments. We'll be landing on a hot day so prepare to take off some layers. As always, thank you for flying Southwest and we hope to see you again."
Erica reached forward and grabbed her barf bag as the plane began to buck in preparation for landing.
"Are you alright?" Erik asked, surprised by her reaction to the flight.
She nodded, "I'm just queasy," she answered, "I guess I haven't been on a plane in awhile but I'll be ok."
He reached down and grasped her hand in his as they reached the ground and deboarded to gather their things and meet Erica's friend in baggage as she'd organized ahead of time.
Erica was feeling herself again once they got down to baggage and she began looking for her best friend but she didn't have to look long as she saw Kris standing at the bottom of the escalator with a bright smile on her face.
Erica raced down and grabbed her friend in a bear hug, "I didn't think I'd ever be able to see you again!"
"Is it because you finally settled down with a much older man who doesn't have the energy to travel anymore?" Kris joked as Erik joined them though she knew the truth about why Lightning and Magneto had to go into hiding and disappear from their world.
Erica laughed as they let go of each other, "I wish we had longer together but we have to get to Atlanta fast," she began as they walked to the bag dispensers, "Things are getting worse over there each day because of some kids."
"I've been following the news too," Kris replied as she smiled at Erik as a greeting, "I was actually wondering how long you'd be able to stay away," he confessed.
"Not long enough," Erik interjected into the conversation as he saw their luggage and moved forward to grab their things.
"Are there any patrols on the road or will we have an easy journey?" Erica asked before adding, "I don't want to make contact with the underground until we're closer and I won't tell them about him until we arrive in case something happens to stop us. I don't want to give them false hope," she explained.
Kris shook her head, "There's no patrol or anything until we get right to Atlanta. They seem to be the only city truly concerned over mutants, at least for now."
Erica nodded with a sigh of relief as Erik rejoined them with the bags, "Let's get a move on. We shouldn't stay in any one place for too long."
"That's a good point," Erica agreed, "Lead the way, Girlfriend," she said as she gestured for Kris to show them to the car.
Kris nodded as she led them to her truck in the parking deck where they loaded the bags and she got in the driver's seat while Erica got in shotgun and Erik took the backseat.
"You sure you're ok riding in the back?" Erica asked.
He nodded, "After the motion sickness you experienced on the flight, I don't want to take any chances."
They began their journey out of the city without any obstacles as Kris had predicted.
As they crossed the GA border, Kris asked, "So, how has life been? We barely get to talk since you can't risk getting traced."
"I'm happy but I won't lie and say I don't miss being around the people I love," she began, "If I didn't have Erik with me, I would have already failed and come back, most likely to get myself captured or killed. I'm sorry we don't get to be with each other anymore. I miss our drunken nights when things weren't terrifying for my kind."
Kris nodded as she caught a subtle smile on Erik's lips through the rearview mirror, "I miss you too but I know the risks of you being here. What would say if I wanted to go with you to the mutant underground? I'm sick of living among the people who want my best friend dead when I could help."
Erica looked back at Erik for an answer because she didn't know what to say. She wanted to scream yes because she hadn't seen Kris in so long but she also knew how dangerous their lives would be now and Kris didn't have powers to help her in this war.
"What skills do you possess as you aren't a mutant?" Erik asked, breaking the silence, his question giving Erica a glimpse of hope.
"I can shoot a gun and I aced self defence classes," she answered, "If you're wondering if I can protect myself, the answer is yes. I won't put Erica in any extra risk. She means as much to me as she does to you."
Erica reached over and grabbed her best friend's hand in her own and gave it a squeeze, "What do you think, Erik? Can we please keep her?"
He looked at Erica first, his eyes asking how badly she wanted him to agree to a dangerous plan he was already uncomfortable with. He saw the pleading in her eyes and with another sigh, he nodded, "As long as she does not get in our way, she can join our fight. From what we've seen on the news, we can use all the help we can get."
"Thank you," Erica mouthed at Erik before she let out an excited squeal with Kris.
After a few moments of celebration, Erica sobered up, "Ok, I need to call Marcos now and find a place to meet up with them. You two be quiet, got it?"
They both nodded as they continued to drive down the interstate, enjoying their most likely last moments of peace.