Disclaimer: It belongs to Marvel, what more can I say? 
  
Excalibur: The more things change... 2 
Breanna MacLeod 
 

   	Pete hauled himself out of bed when the alarm went off. If the machine
had been capable of emotions, it probably would have gone into shock over
Pete's uncharacteristically early awakening. It was before noon, and he
didn't even stop for a shot of scotch. 
	He stumbled down to the medlab, half awake and clothed in one of his usual
suits. The tie had been tied along with several curses, his weary fingers
leaving it askew, unable to make Pete's usual halfhearted attempt at neatness
at this early hour. Entering the room, he found Moira with an enormous mug
of her deathsludge. The containment suit she had been wearing the day
before was nowhere to be seen. 
	"Wisdom." 
	"MacTaggart." He tried to shake himself more awake. "Wot happened to that
containment suit anyway?"
	"Nae point in it now, really." Moira sighed. "Experiment was over when
Dougie opened tha' door. If I've contaminated anythin', it would ha'
happened long before I put tha' suit on. I took it off last night. It
seemed tae be makin' th' lass uneasy, though I doubt she'll remember. Were
ye so tired tha' ye dinnae notice?"
	"No, just seemed like ya were back ta normal. Normal as this place gets..."
	"Pete." The figure that embraced him seemed to be the same girl who had
sought him out last night, despite the too large clothing hanging off her,
so he returned the hug. "I can't believe you're actually awake." She smiled
up at him. It was the kind of half smile you see plastered on people's
faces when they're trying not to let on that they've just had their heart
ripped out. Pete was familiar with it. He tried to do the same for her. 
	In his less than honourable career working for British intelligence, 
he'd done a number of things because they had been the right thing to do.
Stealing a Black Air chopper to get Doyle to the hospital had been among
them.  He'd only gotten a minor reprimand for that, he'd been too valuable
to the organization at the time.  But Al was different.  Breaking every
rule in the Black Air book, he and Culley had slipped the kids right out
from underneath bio-weapons. It had needed doing in the worst way, and
they'd both risked life and limb to pull the scheme off.  They'd been on
edge for a while afterward, hoping that no one had figured out who had
pulled the job.  After that, Pete had slid even deeper into the darker
areas of Black Air. Culley had been transferred, and now he was dead.  When
Pete had finally reached breaking point and bailed on Black Air, Kitty had
become the redeeming factor in his life. He hadn't been alone with his
nightmares anymore. Now that was dead too.  
	Pete smiled. 
 	"Wot? 'Course I'm up. Things ta go, People ta do-" 
	"Pete, how much sleep did ye get?" Moira swiveled in her chair to face 
the two of them. 
	"Enough," he shrugged her off. "Anyway, Wagner said somethin' about lunch
and you meetin' the crew of this sorry island. Sound all right?" 
 	"Mmm hmm. I don't really remember getting here. I remember you and Moira
last night, but I can't remember exactly what happened. She said you found
me on the shore?" The pale skinned girl looked up at him. Her skin wasn't
alone in its recent colour change. Her hair was an almost transparent shade
of blonde now, though that change may have been more due to a good washing
than anything else. Her eyes remained luminescent in appearance, and defied
description.
	"Meggan found ya and then came and hauled my carcass over. You'll meet
everybody in a bit. How'd ya sleep?" 
	"Pretty good. I was a little exhausted." 
	"A little? Lass, ye could have been a brick wall, th' way ye slept." 
	Al smiled a little, "I like her. She got me these."  Al gestured to the
ill fitting clothing.  Pete assumed that Moira had raided Rahne's closet
for them. Allathea's figure had shrunk as well, leaving her looking thin
and elfin, her body at least two sizes below Rahne's well formed athlethic
body.
	"Well, don't let 'er fool ya, she's a harpy when she wants ta be."
Allathea leaned her head against Pete's chest. Moira noted how the girl had
tried to minimize physical contact with her, and yet seemed to be very
comfortable with Pete. 
 	"No nightmares, luv?" Pete asked her quietly. 
	"No... not last night. How's Culley?" Pete hesitated and was rescued by
Moira. 
	"It's almost noon, then. Ye had best get up there before they devour th'
whole kitchen."  
 	"Aren't you coming?" Al looked curiously at her newfound friend. 
	"Nae. I need tae stay here. No rest f'r the wicked ye know, an' I've far
too much work tae do." Moira smiled at her and then returned to the
computer screens surrounding her. She had a great deal on her mind, not the
least of which was this girl and her abilities.
	"Later, then." Al watched her, puzzled as they left the medlab. The
question hung on the edge of her tongue until they were out of earshot.
"Pete?" She tightened her grip slightly on his arm. 
 	"Wot?" 
 	"What's wrong with her?" 
	"Huh? Oh, virus." 
	"Is it contagious?" 
 	"Maybe. It kills mutants anyhow. That bubble containment suit she was
wearin' before, ya wouldn't remember it from last night, was part of 'er
plan ta try and figure out 'ow ta kill it. 'ow'd you know she was sick?"  
	Al's eyes stared off into the wall, "It was just a feeling." 


   	Meggan and Kurt were busily arranging lunch, while Douglock and Rahne
had emerged from hiding and were sitting quietly by the window. 
 	"I hope she's better." 
	"I'm sure Moira has been taking care of our guest." Kurt moved with a
grace that prima ballerinas would kill for as he carried the majority of
the food to the table. Meggan easily matched him, gliding mere millimetres
above the floor as she worked.
	"She was just so upset when she got here. I could feel it. I didn't like
it at all, Kurt. I hope Pete can make her feel better." 
	"They certainly do seem close." 
	"Mmm hmm. I knew I was right about him." Kurt raised an inquiring eyebrow,
but Meggan continued humming her way through the assembling of the last
salad. 
	"Kurt?" Rahne spoke up, "Who are ye talkin' about?" 
	"A young woman washed up on the shore last night. She appears to be a
friend of Wisdom. Her name is Allathea and Moira has been tending to her
with Pete."
	"So tha's her name. Mum mentioned somethin' aboot it earlier, but she
dinnae say how th' lass got here. She's given up on her experiment
completely, though. She was oot o' tha' suit when I saw her this mornin'."
Douglock's eyes remained downcast as Rahne spoke to Kurt. 
	"Ja? Is everything all right with you?" 
	"Aye." Rahne turned back to Douglock. "Ye cannae mope all day." 
 	"Sorry." Douglock raised his eyes to meet hers. "I feel really stupid." 
	"As ye should, but there's nothin' tae be done aboot it now. Ye just
remember no' tae complain when we're tryin' tae pry th' Legacy data oot
o'ye." 
	Douglock smiled slightly. 
 	The door swung open as Pete and Allathea entered. Al noted the odd
expressions on the faces of those around her, and reminded herself to ask
Pete about it later. 
	"Allathea?" Meggan approached the young woman, who now appeared to have
shed any trace of the colour that she had been when Meggan had first seen
her. "My name is Meggan." 
	"You found me, didn't you?" 
 	"An' nearly killed me, gettin' me back 'ere." Pete interjected.
	"Thank you." Al ignored Pete. 
	"This is Kurt, the team leader." Kurt bowed dramatically as Meggan
introduced him, as was his usual custom, and was pleased at Allathea's lack
of shock at his appearance. "And sitting over there is Rahne, Moira's
daughter, and Douglock." 
	"Hello." 
	"Hi. Nice tae meet ye." 
	"Umm, Piotr isn't here at the moment. He's the tall Russian. Sometimes
he's steel. Kitty and Lockheed are around too. Kitty is a brunette about
Rahne's size, and Lockheed is a small purple dragon. That's about everyone
who's on the island right now. So, are you hungry?" 
	"Starving, actually." 
	"Good. I have been slaving in this kitchen all morning." Kurt grinned, 
his white teeth gleaming against his rich blue fur. "Sit down. It is nearly
ready." 
	Pete slouched into a chair and yawned. Allathea seated herself next to him
as Rahne and Douglock joined them. 
	"Are you a mutant?" Douglock politely tried to begin a conversation, his
language skills becoming more and more natural. Allathea froze. 
	"I-" 
	"Nah." Pete stepped in casually, "Al 'ere is a one o' a kind original. So,
I 'ear the Scots harridan is set ta rip out yer guts fer data?" 
	"Aye. Stryfe created th' blasted virus, an' his android Zero downloaded
th' data he had on it into Douglock. We're hopin' tae be able tae fish some
o' it oot o' him." 
	"I have been attempting to locate it myself, and have so far only narrowed
the search by a fraction. However, I have vague recollections of something
that occurred while I was under the care of Black Air, and I am certain
that we will be able to find the data." 
	Allathea glanced at Douglock, her eyes darting quickly back to her food 
as her expression belied the aching emotions which scurried beneath her
composed, yet shy, appearance. The young techno-organic being noticed the
action and sympathized, but avoided his usual questioning as Pete made a
small gesture, jerking his head slightly and shifting his eyes. He had
learned that often others would direct him this way when a subject was too
delicate to approach. Douglock nodded in the same slight manner in response
to Pete. Meggan gave Douglock a supportive smile as she passed behind Pete
and Allathea, setting down the pitcher of water she carried. Douglock had
learned more quickly than most, that when it came to people, very little
seemed to escape Meggan's notice - with the exception of her problems with
Piotr that is. 
	"Well, I wish ya luck. MacTaggart's goin' ta need it, but I guess if any
o' you lot can pull it off, it's 'er." 
	"Thank ye, Pete. I only hope we c'n find it in time." 
	"And lunch is served." Kurt and Meggan gracefully put the overflowing
dishes on the  table. "I hope you are all able to appreciate good German
food." 


	Kitty sat in her workroom and carfully examined the object she'd found 
on the shore.  It was the first opportunity she'd really had to take a good
look at the synthetic swatch of material.  The thin lines of circuitry
gracefully lined one side of it, while the other was a deep black. It
looked to her like it would have been part of a larger suit. Maybe some kind
of monitoring device?  If it had arrived with the girl, Pete might know
more about it.
	"Katchzen?" Kurt's voice crackled over the comm link.
	"Yeah?"
	"Will you be joining us for lunch?"
	"Maybe later, Fuzzy. Thanks, anyway." She'd wait another half an hour
before grabbing Kurt or Douglock after lunch. One of them could give her a
second opinion and ask Pete about it.
	"Hold on, Pryde. What are you afraid of? Just because he decided to be
stupid and overreact, doesn't mean you have to tiptoe around the jerk."
Kitty looked back at her monitor. Pete would be sure to go out for a
cigarette later. She'd catch him when he came back in.
  

	Piotr sat on the rocky cliff and stared out towards the sea. Things were
not turning out at all as he had expected. Meggan had accused him of having
romantic feelings for her. A foolish notion, he thought, how could he have
feeling for her when he was still so in love with Katya?
	His mood darkened again as his thought turned to Wisdom. The man to whom
she had given her love instead of himself. He hated Wisdom. He did not hate
the man himself, although he did not agree with his politics, his
demeanour, his darkness and dirtiness. Kurt had, on one occasion, made an
off-hand remark likening Wisdom to Logan, but Piotr knew better what the
man was. What Piotr hated, what made all these things grate over him where
they should have been little more than annoyances, was that Wisdom was
Kitty's love. The way she looked at him and let him paw at her. Wisdom
would do nothing but sully and debase everything that she was and could be.
Her devotion, their touching and kissing, her choice of Wisdom over him...
The knowledge burned in his chest every time he had to work with the two of
them. He had held it in, in the hopes that it would go away. He had held it
and waited, sure that the time would come when the others would see Wisdom
as he did. The man was not fit for this team, and was most definitely not
fit for Kitty.  
	Though it had been difficult, Meggan had made things easier. Spending time
with her, caring for her as he had his little snowflake. Brian had hurt
Meggan as well. But for a time, with her and his painting, he had been able
to bury the feelings of despair, hatred and longing. Waiting for the day
when his Katya would return to him was not so agonizing while Meggan stood
near.
	And Wisdom had almost been gone, almost out of their lives. He would have
had a chance with Kitty again, and they would have been happy. Meggan had
been angry with him, but she would be all right when Brian returned. Not
that he wanted Brian to return. But Meggan was only a friend, he loved
Kitty, Katya. They would have another chance together - They would have,
had Pete not been forced to return before he had even truly been gone. He
would leave again, Piotr was sure of it. Then, then things would work out
the way they were supposed to. 


	"Katchzen?" Kurt poked his head inside her workroom. "Are you sure that
you are not at all hungry?" His hand held out a plate filled with the
remains of lunch.
	"Maybe a little." She smiled and took the plate. "Thanks, Kurt."
	"So, how are you and what new toy have you discovered today?" Kurt eyed
the item Kitty had been working on.
	"I found it on the shore where the girl-"
	"Allathea."
	"Right - where she was found. It looks like a piece of what could be a
suit or uniform. It could have been part of a monitoring encasement and
also maybe a containment unit."
	"Containment?"
	"It's just a hunch. I thought maybe Douglock could help me figure it out,
and maybe Pete would know something about it too."
	"Ja, if you can wrest Douglock away from Moira. He was just called down."
	"Nuts. Well, I guess I'll have to settle for Pete." Kurt snagged Kitty's
mentioning of Pete, and turned the comment into a neat segway.
	"What exactly did happen between the two of you, Katchzen?"
	"Uhh, it's kinda complicated, Kurt." Kitty folded her arms across her
chest and looked at her toes. "Let me put it this way, I wasn't sure about
how I felt about Pete, and I told him that. Pete decided that wasn't good
enough for him, and decided to leave."
	"Nothing is that simple. You certainly didn't seem to think so a few days
ago." Kurt referred to the nearly fatal pirate training session, where
Kitty had revealed some of her feelings to him. 
	"Well, he obviously didn't really give a damn about our relationship, or
he would have at least stuck around long enough to try and work things
out." Her chin jutted out, challenging Kurt to tell her otherwise.
	"Perhaps, but - and correct me if I am wrong - were you and he not happy
together? Did your time with SHIELD allow your feelings to change so
drastically?"
	"I- Fuzzy, it just made me see things a bit differently. Maybe I'm not
ready for a serious relationship like Pete wanted."
	"Katchzen, you have always been mature for your age and, though I had my
doubts, you did prove yourself capable of having an adult relationship with
Herr Wisdom. I cannot recall a single instant when you felt as though your
decision had been such a bad one. That is, until these past few weeks,
where you have become mired in an apparent conflict regarding your age?"
Kurt vocalized the statement as a question. "I had thought you were happy."
	"I know, but- couldn't it have just been infatuation, or- What are you
smiling about?" Kurt couldn't help the small grin that tugged at the
corners of his mouth.
	"It wasn't so long ago that you argued vehemently against the fact that
you indulged in such infatuations. You were quite determined to prove
yourself emotionally mature, and indeed you did. And yet now you wish to be
'young'?"
	Kitty bit her bottom lip. "Maybe I'm just no good at romance or
relationships." She was staring at her toes again.
	"Might this have something to do with your parents?" Kurt approached the
sensitive topic carefully. "You mentioned something about it in the
Nightmare debriefing."
	Kitty hesitated.
	"Kitty, I only wish to help you. I do worry, you know."
	"Fuzzy, it's just- I've never been very good at this. Pete was the first
guy that things really worked out with. I didn't really get along with any
guys when I was with the X-Men, except maybe Doug - but he was different -
and then there was Alistaire..." Kitty sighed. "When I was being
manipulated by Nightmare, he- he took me back to when I was living with my
parents. I was thirteen all over again. It was before they were separated,
and before the X-Men had found me. I was sitting in my old room and I could
hear them shouting at each other... God, even now I can hear it replaying
in my head." Kitty pulled her knees up and hugged them to her chest,
suddenly looking very much like the young girl Kurt had first known her as.
	"Katchzen." He crouched next to her, taking her hand.
	"What if I'm just as screwed up as they are? What if it's me and not Pete?
I could have messed it up without knowing it, and I know I hurt him. I knew
I was going to hurt him before, and that's why it was so hard to tell him.
The look in his eyes when he left..."
	"But you are hurting too, are you not?"
	"Yeah, but- it's different. I don't think Pete ever really had anybody
before. He was a jerk, and I'm still not sure about what I feel for him,
but maybe I made a mistake in even getting involved." Kitty rubbed at her
wet eyes. "And Rigby- Haven't you ever been confused about relationships?"
	"Ja, of course I have. My relationship with Amanda has held more confusion
within it than I care to remember. Ach, for a time I also thought I might
have had feelings for Meggan. Do you remember that?"
	Kitty nodded, recalling the early days of Excalibur, when Brian had been
drinking and Meggan and Kurt had grown close.
	"Then, of course, there was Cerise. A relationship which ended quite
badly. I do often wonder what might have happened to her. And now there is
Amanda again, or was."
	Kitty smiled a little, remembering all the other women Kurt had convenietly
glossed over. "Have you heard from Cerise at all?"
	"Nein, but I am not the topic of discussion. I believe we were discussing
your relationship difficulties." 
	Kitty sighed, "I don't know what to do, Kurt." She let her head droop to
rest on her knees.
	"Well, at least you have some time to consider things, ja? Pete does not
seem to be departing as quickly as he would have initially liked."
	Kitty nodded, but remained skeptical. She could think about it all she
liked, and it still wouldn't fix things. She might never be able to really
love somebody, not without following the path of her parents. A thought
that terrified her. Besides, Pete probably hated her now and was leaving
because of it. Kitty was sure that after she'd hurt him, when he'd opened
up so much, he'd never want anything to do with her again. Not that she
wanted to be with him again... This  is so confusing! Her thoughts shouted
at her loudly, but didn't escape her lips.
	"Well, I guess I should go find him and ask about this thingy."
	"Ja, but after you finish your lunch." Kurt pointed to the plate which
Kitty had barely touched. "You cannot let such culinary artistry go to waste."


	Pete walked outside, full from the immense lunch Kurt had so
enthusiastically served them, and lit up a cigarette. Allathea had insisted
on helping Rahne clean up, and had said she would find him after.
 	"Least the wind isn't too bad today." He took a long drag off the "cancer
stick", he remembered Kitty calling them that once, when she'd actually
given a damn about his sorry ass. He shouldn't have even bothered trying.
Nightmare could have been right, maybe the last thing Kitty needed at this
point in her life was an old bastard of a boyfriend. Still, it hurt that
she could have had such strong feelings for someone else, when he'd thought
everything had been fine - though he did have to admit to having some
concerns. But they had been nothing he didn't think would-
	"Wisdom?" Pete saw the dark Russian, crouching by the cliff, as he heard
his name. He finished the step he was taking and then settled into his
position, maintaining a safe distance. It was in keeping with their usual
dance, avoiding one another at mealtimes and training sessions. 
	"Yeah, you sulkin' out 'ere again?" 
	"I am not sulking. I am contemplating the current situation of our team." 
	"Your team, mate." Pete emphasized "your", as if he had never been and
never would be Piotr's teammate.
	"Precisely. You have been nothing but a curse to this team. 
	"Right, sure. Ain't like I'm stickin' around long. Besides, you don't
exactly have it all together either." 
	"What is that supposed to mean?" Piotr looked at him sharply. 
	"Wot? You 'aven't noticed 'ow Meggan's all riled up? Wot'd ya do, ya
tosser?" 
	"Me? I have done nothing! Meggan is under the mistaken impression that I
have feelings for her. It is obviously her own emotional difficulties that
have caused such an untrue accusation."
	"Sure, an' you ain't never felt nothin' for 'er, all that time ya spent
together, hmmm? A beautiful, warm woman like Meggan, wot's wrong with that
picture?" 
	"Nothing! I feel nothing for Meggan. Why do you insist on focusing on my
relationship," Pete smirked at him, "my friendship with Meggan, when you
have hurt Katya so badly." 
	"Now wait just a feckin' minute, you Russian pratt. It ain't all my
fault -" 
	"Katya loved you!"
	"Right, an' so this Rigby toerag -"
	"Katya loved you and would not have betrayed you unless you had first hurt
her." Piotr rose. "How dare you suggest such a thing? My Katya only left me
for you because of my foolish stupidity in hurting her. Nyet, this was your
fault!" 
 	"Yeah? Maybe yer the one who's feelin' guilty. 'ow does it make ya feel,
bein' attracted ta somebody else when ya still want a chance with Kit?"
Pete grinned wryly. Piotr tried to ignore his words. 
	"Nyet. You have hurt her." 
	"'aven't you ever heard about throwin' stones at glass 'ouses?" 
	"You hurt her and would have abandoned her, Wisdom." 
	Pete snorted, "No worse'n you ever did, mate." 
	That's when Piotr swung the first fist, crossing the distance between them
with remarkable speed. 
	"Feck." Pete managed to dodge it, only to be caught by the second swing.
By now, he could see the sunlight glinting off off Piotr's body. He had
transformed into his organic steel form. 
 	"How dare you! How dare you hurt my Katya and betray this team!" 
	"Betray - oof!" The third punch sent him sprawling backwards. Rolling as
best he could, with several cracked ribs, ten hotknives flared to life at
his fingertips and prepared to attack.
	"You are a traitor, immoral and-" 
 	"What are you doing? Leave him alone!" Allathea appeared and stepped
between the two men, dwarfed by Colossus' immense size. Pete hadn't seen
her coming, and wasn't sure whether he should be relieved or terrified.
	"Get out of my way!" Piotr shouted at her, batting her aside. Allathea
hit the ground hard. With her out of the way, Pete launched his attack, 
scoring wounds across Piotr's left shoulder. Colossus pulled back his arm, 
still advancing at an alarming rate. Pete wasn't fast enough to escape the
oncoming blow, which was why it surprised him when it didn't land. Looking
back, he saw Allathea crouched low and Piotr raising his right arm to
strike her again. 
	"I told you to get out of my way!" His arm came down fast and hard. 
	"No!" Pete yelled. Piotr was wrapped up in his rage, and nothing was
getting through to him.
	Allathea caught the arm.
	Piotr was momentarily stunned, giving Allathea the few split seconds 
she needed to shift her grasp and swivel to fling Colosus down the shore in
one swift movement. Pete tried to catch his breath, and hoped Piotr would
cool down now that they were several metres apart. 
	Allathea rose fluidly, and Pete noticed the change in her form.
 	"Faster now, ain't ya?"
	"I don't want to hurt him." She looked a lot more timid than someone who
had the strength to toss Colossus should.
	"An' I 'ope ya won't have to. The rest of'em should be out 'ere in a
minute if the psychotic metal wanker down there doesn't cool off." Pete
winced as he tried to stand, and Allathea slid an arm around him.
	"Here. Are you all right?" 
	"It's just a few ribs, luv. Not as bad as the first time." 
	"First time?" Allathea's eyes widened. "He hurt you before?" Pete followed
her gaze, as she turned to watch Piotr rise to his knees. Piotr got to his
feet and glared at them.
	"Oh, bloody-" Pete began to curse as Piotr started to move. Thankfully the
cavalry was just arriving.
	"What's happening? Piotr?" The lithe blonde floated down out of the sky,
and had obviously sensed Piotr's rage. The mess of emotion and adrenaline
had indeed hit Meggan's empathic senses like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Piotr stalked back towards the group. Meggan hovered between them and
Colossus, clearly not impressed with the situation. 
	"Meggan -" Piotr began.
	"Don't you start with me. I'll knock you silly if you don't settle down.
I'm getting fed up with you. You can't solve anything without fighting
about it, now can you? You're worse than Brian was, at least he was drunk
at the time."
 	"But -" 
	"So help me, if you've hurt Pete again, you'll be the one in critical
condition. Do you understand?" 
	Piotr nodded, quickly deflated by the unexpected burst of anger Meggan was
directing at him. He had already transformed back into flesh, his shoulder
scarred and burnt by Pete's hotknives. He was also burning inside.
	"And don't give me that sensitive, emotional, puppy dog look. It's half
your fault I'm this bloody mad!" Meggan quickly glanced to Pete, and asked
him in a softer tone, "Are you all right?" Pete nodded wearily and Meggan
snapped back to Piotr. "Right, now the both of you are going back to the
Medlab with me. Come here." She laid a firm grip on Piotr's unhurt shoulder
and led him inside, following Al and Pete. Piotr looked much like the soft
and sensitive, emotional artist that would so easily slide into depression,
but by now, Meggan knew better. 


	Kitty was just approaching the outer door when it opened, and Allathea
dragged Pete inside. "What? What happened?" A signature bamf announced Kurt's
entrance, just as Meggan and Piotr passed through the doorway.
	"Mein Gott!" Kurt took in the scene and drew the right conclusion without
missing a beat. He immediately flanked Piotr.
	"Oh, God. Pete- " Kitty moved to help Al with Pete, her faced etched with
worry. Colossus did not react well to her concerns.
	"Katya-" Meggan felt the rolling, burning, emotional energy flare inside
Piotr again. Allathea's gaze also swung to watch the Russian. Meggan moved
to shift her grasp, but Kurt was quicker, all too aware of the look in
Piotr's eyes. He made a quick movement, striking Piotr with sharp precision
and knocking him out. Meggan slid beneath the large man to support his
weight as she directed Kitty.
	"Kitty? Would you phase Pete down to the medlab? Kurt and I will bring
Piotr down." Kitty nodded, shifting the rest of Pete's weight off Allathea.
They quickly sank and vanished through the floor. 
	Allathea looked warily at the unconscious Piotr, and then began to quickly
walk ahead of them and towards the medlab. Meggan's own anger had been
soothed enough for her to notice the jumbled emotions that were plaguing
the girl. Not only was Al angry and defensive on behalf of Pete, she was
also utterly terrified. But it wasn't Piotr that was frightening her.
Meggan also noted the changes in Allathea's body. Her form seemed to have 
developed, more athletic and strong, filling out the worn clothing. Yet, 
even as she noticed this, the changes were slowly disappearing. 
	"Allathea, are you all right? Were you injured?" Kurt noted her appearance
as well, the small tears and streaks of dirt on her clothing catching his
attention.  
	"I'm okay," she answered softly. "I'll be fine."