SPIRAL CHASE Pt II By Joe Helfrich ----- "OK, let me get this straight. You lost Rita." Kitty sat staring at the small image of Storm in front of her. The last few minutes had been rather hectic, as Rachel had blurred the memories of those in the shop just slightly as she repaired the damage the Xbabies had done on their entrance, scooped everyone up in a telepathic embrace, and flew them to a nearby park. Now she sat quietly off to one side, using her telepathy to obscure their appearance so they wouldn’t attract attention. "Not exactly," Storm replied. "She lost herself." "I’m getting a headache." "Rita was captured by Mojo," Wolvie said. "The fat blimp decided that the agreement we made when we went back there didn’t apply anymore. He gave her to Spiral." "Oh god," Kitty breathed. "She couldn’t have." "She did," Storm said, nodding solemnly. "Spiral took Rita into the Body Shoppe...and turned her into Spiral." "Definite headache." "I don't understand," Mark said, cocking his head. "This Spiral person turned this Rita person into this Spiral person?" "Spiral is Rita," Rachel said from behind him. "Always has been." "Then how..." "Mark, if you're going to hang around with the Xmen, you'd best get used to temporal paradoxes. _They_ tend to hang around _us_ like flies." "So, are you gonna help us Kit, or what?" Rogue turned her mournful gaze on the young woman, and Kitty felt her resistance melting. "Help you do what?" she asked lamely. "Capture Spiral and convince her to change herself back to Rita," Longshot said. "I mean, we can't go having adventures without a token adult. It's in the rules. And you Xmen are always to busy." Kitty sighed. "I guess we don't have any choice. I mean, it is Excalibur's fault that Rita was stuck with you guys in the first place." "Hey!" "Figuratively speaking, of course, Dazzler." Kitty turned towards her friend. "Rachel, any ideas?" Rachel's face was pale. --I don't want to go back there, kiddo. I fought too hard to get out.-- --Do we have a choice, Rae? We can't just leave Rita. I suppose Widget could get us there...-- --But only with my help. Which means I have to go along, otherwise you can't get back.-- --Rae, there's got to be another way. I can handle this. You don't have to go if you don't want to.-- --Yes I do. It takes me and Kate to dimension sift this many people, and if I let you go without a way back, Kurt will have my hide. Besides, I have to confront my demons sometime, right?-- Rachel's mental voice warmed a little, and Kitty had the impression of a slight smile. --If you're sure, Rae. You whistle up Widget, I'll fill in the others.- - Kitty turned back to the Xbabies. Storm was chastising Wolvie. Kitty really didn't want to know why. Psylocke was walking around looking pretty, with Longshot staring at her from a perch in a nearby tree. Rogue and Dazzler were sitting a short distance away, alternately mooning at Longshot or staring daggers at each other or the seemingly oblivious Betsy. Colossus was standing behind Havoc, a metallic hand firmly on the little mutant's shoulder. That, evidently, was the source of Wolvie's trouble. Kitty sighed, and took a deep breath. This wasn't going to be easy. "OK, kids," she said, here's the plan. We're going to--" --KATE WE NEED YOU-- "Ahh--" Kitty fell to the ground, her hands clenching at her temples. A few feet away, Mark stumbled then ran to her side. Psylocke darted to her as well, her mental shields flaring. "What happened?" The fire of the Phoenix Force flaring around her, Rachel turned her attention to her friend. Abruptly, the pounding in Kitty's head stopped. "A psychic attack of some kind," Psylocke said, "but I can't locate the source." "I'll tell you the source," Kitty said, sitting up. "Rae, I asked you to call Widget, not to yell so loud that every sensitive for miles would hear it." "I heard nothing," Psylocke said. "Her call was very focused." "Well, I sure felt something," Mark snapped, helping Kitty to her feet. "I've noticed the effect before." They turned to face the source of the voice, and found themselves staring into a strange, rainbow-filled hole in the fabric of space. A small purple dragon flew out of the effect and landed on Kitty's shoulder, curling his tail around her neck. "Hello, Lockheed," she said, reaching up to scratch her friend between the wings. After another moment, Widget, aka Kate Pryde, an older version of Kitty from the same timeline that Rachel was from, was looking down at them, the colors fading into a gray void. "It seems, Kitty, that since our minds operate on nearly identical frequencies, psychic communications meant for one of us can resonate and be picked up by the other." The android turned to face Rachel. "It has occurred three times before this. I had meant to talk to you about it, but there had been no opportunity." --Kate tells me that Kurt is worried about sending so few along with the Xbabies,-- Rachel sent, --but he and the others are tied up trying to track down Sat-ur-^9, and he agrees that this can't wait. Looks like it's just us, kiddo.-- --Joy.-- "OK, folks, this is it. Widget, you and Rachel figure out where we're going. Kids, get ready. We'll be leaving in a couple minutes." "So, where are we going." "Kitty turned to face Mark. "You're staying here. The rest of us are going to the Mojoverse to try and rescue Rita." "Aww, can't I come along?" "No. That place is dangerous, and I'm going to have my hands full worrying about the Xbabies." "I could help. I'm great with kids." "Mark! You'll get yourself killed over there. The kids at least can dodge and fight back a little. You can't. I'm sorry, but you can't help." "Growf," Lockheed added. Mark sighed. "I know. Sorry, it's my night in shining armor instinct. Can't stand letting the womenfolk charge off into danger alone." Kitty laughed. "Yeah, and I appreciate the sentiment. It's cute." "I hate cute," he said with a frown. "I know you do. That's cute too." Mark opened his mouth to object, but Kitty leaned forward and cut him off with a quick kiss. "We'll be careful. I'll call when I get back, OK?" "Umm, ahh, gah...." _Men_ Kitty thought to herself, smiling. Lockheed growled. "Oh, don't you go getting jealous, dragon. We ready, Rachel?" "Ready as we're going to get, boss." "Then lets do this. Huddle up, kids." She moved to stand between Rachel and Widget, the Xbabies gathering in front of her. She waved at a still stunned Mark, and the fire of the Phoenix force surrounded them.