Excalibur: The more things change... 4 Breanna MacLeod "Oh no." Kitty phased through the wall of the corridor just as the gas canister exploded. "Gas, always with the gas." She muttered to herself. There hadn't been time for her to grab Allathea, though even if she had there was no guarantee that she'd have been able to phase her again in time. Kitty quickly moved in the direction that the cannister had come from and slowly eased her face out of the wall enough to see what was going on. "Toxin released. ShadowCat target unconfirmed. Primary target in flux, attempt containment on my mark." Kitty heard the voice and peered out towards the two other figures the "leader" had spoken to. They carried what appeared to be a large blanket of material, glittering and black. It was just like the swatch she'd found on the shore. Containment. "Kitty?" Allathea's voice, at least Kitty thought it was. The odd reverberation and slightly deeper sound surprised her. Kitty pulled back through the wall quickly to breathe. The infiltrators had been wearing masks, and it was obvious that the gas must have been highly toxic. How could Al still be able to speak so clearly? Didn't matter - deal with it, Kitty chastised herself for taking so long. She pushed her face out once more and grabbed the "leader", yanking her back through the wall. "Wha-" Quick reflexes again allowed Kitty the upper hand. Either the "leader" was incompetent, or had expected the Medlab defenses to extend through the corridor and prevent Kitty phasing through the walls. As it was Kitty couldn't phase into the medlab when its security protocols were activated, but the corridor was no holds barred. She had been very particular about that design aspect. After the MLF attack, they'd reconsidered a lot of the centre's security measures and had been continuously upgrading. Relieving the "leader" of her gas mask, Kitty phased back into the hall. It was empty. "Kitty?" Al crumpled to the floor after the gas had been released. It burned down her throat and in her chest as the hall became hazy with the thickness of it. "Pete - " She gasped, feeling her lungs and throat start to push and tear. It was a difficult shift, but nothing compared to what it had been like in the Lab. She tried to steel herself as tears streamed down her face as her eyes adjusted. By the time the pain passed, Al was struggling to stand again. "Kitty? Are you okay?" "Now." Al saw the two figures in black and reacted instinctively, trying to avoid what she knew was coming. She felt the thick blanket contact her skin. "No- please .." Not again, not now. "Now. Do it now!" Allathea heard the voice panicking as she pushed away the cloth. "Active. Containment is in progress." The black material twisted and contracted as it enveloped her form. A sudden surge of claustrophobia incited a rush of adrenaline and she shrieked. It choked her. Slithering over her skin, over her mouth and eyes, it sealed itself shut into a single seamless body suit, drowning her cries. Al tried to fight it, to break free, but it was too fast for her. Always too fast, her mind screamed as fear overwhelmed her. It was a matter of seconds before she slumped against the wall and passed out. "What d'ye think yuir doin' in there?" G started like a bird surprised by a cat. Wolfsbane, adopted daughter of MacTaggart, ability to morph between human and lupine forms - the information rattled off in her head as she brought up her weapon. "No guns." A whiplash of wind ripped the gun from her hands. Meggan, metamorph, empath, elemental, limitations unknown. "Shit." "Watch yuir language." Wolfsbane grabbed G by the collar and slammed her against the wall, ripping out her connection to the Centre's systems in the process. "What are ye doin' here? Is it aboot th' girl, Allathea?" "Capture protocols." She murmured. "No!" Meggan flew to them and literally had the intruder's uniform tear itself off. "What-" "She's trying to kill herself, Rahne!" "Lord in heaven-" G lost the rest of the conversation as the warmth of the drug trickled through her veins. Kitty saw Allathea pass out as she slammed the closest intruder into the floor. "How-" "Borrowed your friend's gas mask. Nice fit." Kitty swung her leg out at the other figure, who tried to dodge as she predicted he would. It left her the perfect opening to swing the other, barely conscious, member of the intrusion unit into him, sending them both careening into the wall. Just then, Kitty heard the ventilation systems come back on line. "About time." A few short seconds, and a couple very severe beatings later, the hall was clear. Between the first three intruders, and the two Kitty had just dispatched into unconsciousness, five very battered people littered the floor. A sixth, the "leader", lay in the next room. Kitty surmised that the team had come in relying on certain expectations, and apparently hadn't been too adaptable to a change in circumstances. Still, Black Air had had a few mutants in its service, why hadn't she encountered any on this team? Kitty had been analyzing everything that had occurred since Allathea had arrived. Something was itching in the back of her mind and she couldn't figure out what it was. "Al, are you all right?" Al currently looked like a small black ball, curled up on the floor. What was that material doing to her? "We have a medical emergency! Moira? Can you hear me? ... Come on! Moira!" The ceiling moaned as it parted, momentarily sending Kitty back into battle mode. "It's all right, Kitty. We found another one." Meggan floated above her. "She tried to kill herself." "More enthusiastic about dying than these ones were." "Is Allathea okay?" "I don't know. Moira didn't - " "Bloody well get her in here, Kitty, or must I do everythin' m'self?" Moira barked at them from the opening medlab door, the security programs finally allowing the seal to be broken, and began issuing orders. "An' don't any o' ye be wakin' Wisdom. I have m'hands full as it is." "The intruders have been stripped of their utilities and sealed into a secure room, barring the woman whom we have secured in medlab." Kurt addressed the members of the team who were, once again, standing in the hall outside of the medlab waiting to be briefed. "Rahne and Moira are attending to the intruder who attempted to kill herself. Allathea appears to be in a state of suspension. She is breathing, and appears normal, but Moira has been unable to remove the suit. She does not think that it is any direct physical threat to Allathea at the moment. She is currently examining other possible repercussions, and will discuss the situation with Herr Wisdom as he awakens. However, there is another matter to discuss." "You mean who these people were and why they wanted Al so badly? They were wearing what looked like Black Air logos, only slightly different, and-" "Katchzen, while I believe ascertaining the identity of our intruders is important, as it is they are all safely locked away for the time being." "Then what-" "Piotr." Meggan said softly, "He's not in his cell, is he?" There was a pause as the question sank in. Kurt took a deep breath before replying. "Meggan is correct. Piotr is no longer in the centre. He must have left when the security went down. Normally, there would have been a backup-" "However, only the medlab was specifically set up to function in an entirely independent manner." Douglock stepped in and began explaining what he more fully understood than Kurt. "The security cells also experienced a fluctuation, even though they were the most secure part of the centre proper. Piotr's cell was in an area where the power was not functioning correctly. Statistically, the chances of such an overload are highly improbable, however... I believe we may have inadvertantly left the system vulnerable to this particular circumstance when we were disengaging the medlab systems from the rest of the centre." Douglock's expression of regret and guilt mirrored Kitty's. "Oh no. When we switched the cell area connections-" "That is my hypothesis, yes." Douglock acknowledged Kitty's frustration with a reluctant sigh of his own. "Dammit!" "Thank you Douglock." Kurt was evidently trying to get the discussion back on track. "D'ye think he's a'right?" Rahne has barely spoken when Kitty's words burst over her own. "We have to find him before he hurts someone - especially after what he did to Al." Kurt blinked at Kitty's angry words. "What are you referring to? I think Piotr is more likely a threat to himself, Katchzen than-" "He hit her, Kurt. That son of a -" "What-" "Kitty-" "Stop!" The syllable cut clearly through the tension. "Piotr hit Allathea?" Kurt pronounced the question slowly and carefully, each word perfectly formed and restrained, as he recovered from Kitty's sudden statement. "Yes. I wasn't told exactly, but Allathea all but screamed it when I asked her about it." "She was there during the fight, and afterwards... what she looked like, and her clothes... She was okay though, but I think Kitty's right, Kurt." "Mein Gott." Kurt sighed. "Can Piotr not help but damn himself, again and again?" "Evidently we need to locate Colossus as soon as possible, in order to prevent any further harm." "He was wearing a collar, wasn't he?" "He was. There is no way to know that he still is. It is unlikely that he could have removed the collar before leaving, but we should be prepared for the possibility. And even with his abilities negated, Piotr is a intelligent and strong man, despite his recent imbalance." Kurt's grim face gave way to another sigh. "We have established that he is not in the immediate area, and we can only track the collar short range. Given that all the intruders appear to be accounted for, the most likely option is that he fled. For precisely what reason, we know not. If he had been injured, I doubt he would have left the immediate vicinity. Moira has suggested, and I agree, that Rahne and myself should seek him out. We are the most likely to be able to reason with him, or reassure him at the very least, if he is in distress. The two of you could unintentionally add more stress to Piotr's situation." Meggan and Kitty reluctantly nodded. Kurt was right. Wherever Piotr had headed, it was away from here and all the problems he had had. Running away had always been his preferred coping strategy. Goddamn you, Piotr, Kitty cursed under her breath. The adrenaline from the battle gone now, Kitty was left with a simmering anger over yet another team wrenching situation that he had left them with. "Okay, so you and Rahne are off to find Piotr, while Meggan, Douglock, and I deal with this mess." "I will leave it in your capable hands, Kitty. Hopefully, Moira will be successful in removing the containment suit currently trapping Allathea." "Perhaps I might be able to assist?" Kurt nodded at Douglock's suggestion. "Try to get as much information about the suit, the operatives, and their connection to Allathea as you can. I expect that we will be dealing with this sort of thing again if they are determined to get her back. Pete should be able to help you. Rahne and I will leave as soon as Moira no longer requires her assistance." The team dispersed to make preparations, but Kitty remained where she was. Kitty?" Meggan inquired from above. "Doing more damage to the station, however emotionally motivated, is probably not a good thing to be contemplating right now." Kitty snorted, "I know, dammit I just want to hit something." She smiled brightly, "Let's go interrogate the Black Air rejects we have in holding." "Kitty-" "I know, I know. But it was worth a shot." Kitty's smile turned wry. Kitty moved down the corridor while Meggan and Douglock went to check with Moira. The swatch of material was upstairs, and she wanted to show it to Moira and Douglock. Maybe it would help. Something was still itching in her mind though. Contemplative as she took the lift up several floors, she stepped out the elevator and was immediately aware of someone standing just to her right. "Katchzen? A moment?" "Yeah, Fuzzy. Sure." Kurt seemed to pause for a moment before beginning, his eyes resting on hers a moment.. "Is there anything else about Allathea or Pete you wish to impart to me? I have the distinct feeling that there is far more to the situation than has been revealed to the team." "Kurt," Kitty sighed, "I don't know what to tell you. I know she's... different, not a mutant, and Pete is very protective of her. I've been thinking that she might be more alien or-" "I am aware of these things as well." He interrupted Kitty's speculation, "I was hoping there would be something more specific?" Kitty looked at the floor, trying to figure out how to explain what she had been noticing. "In the lab, Allathea didn't want to discuss something when I was there. It was as if she was afraid of herself, of what we'd think of her. When I tried to phase her, she panicked and resisted it. She wasn't injured by Piotr's attack or a fall in the elevator shaft. When we were attacked, the gas... It doesn't quite fit together. She could be able to change her body density, or be a really durable shapeshifter... Pete hasn't exactly been all gossip either," Not that he'd be spilling his secrets to me anyway, Kitty thought, but Pete wouldn't knowingly endanger the team. "I'm almost positive they've explained whatever it is to Moira. If they aren't telling us something, or haven't yet, she would have had to go along with it." "Still, Kitty, if they cannot confide in the team-" "I think they'll explain eventually." "We are going to need to know soon. Especially with regards to her specific relationship to Black Air, and her current state. While she may have been a captive of Black Air, this other organization is quite determined to recapture her. I wish to know why." Kurt's tone was insisting, and Kitty had to admit that he had a point. Why were they being so secretive anyway? "If you're that concerned, you could ask Moira." "I think that I will. Thank you Katchzen." Gliding along the lofty scottish breeze, Lockheed found himself less than enamoured by his current situation. The girl he had met on the shore had weighed on him heavily, and his Kitty had been so upset about Pete. Either Pete had to come back and make her happy, or go away for good. Stupid stinky man. But it hadn't been that easy. Kitty had gotten upset because of Piotr's attack on Pete, again. Lockheed had stayed out of the way while everything was being sorted out, listening in the background, watching over Kitty. When the power had gone out he was on his way up from the medlab to follow her and the girl. That's when he saw Piotr. He was out of his cell and leaving. Kitty had been so mad at him, but Lockheed knew what was coming. He knew exactly what would happen if Piotr hurt anyone, or hurt himself. Kitty would feel like it was her fault. She would be even worse off than she was now. Lockheed snorted. He should be with Kitty, not this nutter. She needed him. But if he didn't keep an eye on the Russian, nobody else would. He just hoped Piotr wouldn't go into town. "Kurt, yuir ready?" "Ja." Kurt took his seat and quietly began readying the Runner. "Whut were ye talkin' tae Mum aboot?" "I'll explain as we go, all right?" "She told ye? Aboot Al?" Rahne looked over Kurt's dark expression. "Ja. And you?" Rahne nodded. "She wanted me tae know, now tha' Allathea might be needin' more medical attention, and th' things tha' we might need tae be prepared f'r. I think she also wanted tae prepare me, f'r whut Allathea might want tae talk aboot after, sae as no' tae catch me off guard. An' if tha' was th' short version o' th' story, I cannae imagine th' long." "The reality of what these people have done,- no, are continuing to do, is abhorrent. If Piotr were not missing..." Kurt took a steadying breath. "We will find him, quickly. Then, we will deal with this... organization." The last word was spat out with contempt. "And this time we will be more thorough." "Feckin' bloody- I'll 'ave 'em-" "Calm yuirself. Kitty took care o' everythin'." "Except the soddin' people who're gonna try this again." Pete had every confidence in Kitty, it was the rest of the world he had issues with. "That metal bastard's about now too. Shoulda melted 'im down when I 'ad the chance." "I understand tha' it's frustratin', but ye need tae let th' others take care o' it. Ye'll be nae help tae Allathea if ye go an' aggravate yuir injuries. We already settled this." "Ya told Kurt, and Rahne?" Pete's reference to Allathea's past was clear. "I told them aboot what we think she can do, aye. Nae sae much aboot her past, except a bit tae Rahne. I ken th' lass dinnae want th' others tae know. I c'n understand, I suppose. But, ye cannae think yuir e'er goin' tae be able tae shelter her completely Pete." "Ya don't think I bloody well know that? She's terrified of 'erself as it is. Last thing she needs is ta be reminded of... Feck. Well it doesn't matter now, does it? Ya know I'm not gonna let-" "Aye. Quit it, Pete. D'ye really think I'd lock th' wee bairn away?" Moira sighed and slouched in her chair. She was tired, mentally and physically. She was beginning to think that she had a mutant power after all, some sort of nexus for trauma maybe. "Yer all right?" Pete stared into the swirling amber liquid he held as he posed the question. It was his fourth drink and, if you believed Moira's stern words, his last. "Aye. Tha' woman there is fine tae - but I haven't a clue aboot removin' tha' suit. Yuir sure it's nae-" "I'm sure. She ain't even conscious. Though it was probably nasty goin' on. Like I said, there was a key fer it before. We gotta get it off soon." This suit looked different from the old one though. Douglock and Kitty had already confirmed that it had some variation in its structure when compared to the swatch of material that had been found on the beach when Allathea arrived. Pete emptied his glass and sat down facing Moira with the same look of tiredness etched into his face. "Kurt and Rahne off, then?" "Aye." "Well, I 'ope they find 'im before he causes too much soddin' damage." "Aye." "Still no fags in 'ere?" "Aye." "And yer still keepin' the doors secured?" "Aye." Moira had already informed Pete, upon waking, that he was still under observation, and that Kitty and Meggan would deal with the events he'd slept through. After much cursing and cajoling, they had settled on an early morning briefing after Meggan and Kitty had taken a run at the intruders. Pete was satisfied enough that the prisoners wouldn't be released until he could have a say in it. He hadn't, however, stopped grumbling about the lack of nicotine in the air until Moira had given him a few shots of scotch to shut him up. "Fine. I'm goin' back ta bed." Pete rose and then paused. "Can't believe I'm askin' this, but ya wouldn't 'appen ta 'ave-" Moira actually smiled a little, "I'll wake ye, I promise. We'll figure it all oot in th' mornin'. An' yuir going tae explain tae Kitty and Meg whut I had tae explain tae Kurt." "Right." Pete sighed. "Whatever. 'Night." "'G'night." She replied automatically as Pete retired to his medlab bed. "It just ne'er slows doon, does it?" She sighed again, a habit she was getting into, and went to check again on Allathea. At least the busy pace of the past few days had kept her from worrying about Charles too much... or herself.