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Webber wasn’t fully sure what his employer thought he was going to find about Mason Templeton or the Silvercloud company, but so far he wasn’t finding anything. All the information he could find about Mason was nothing ground breaking. The son of respected Lord Quentin and Lady Emma Templeton, elder brother of Gabrielle Templeton. He had high marks in at Westminster private school and then at Oxford university. From everything Webber could find on the man the only interesting things were that his love life had been a string of blondes till his recent girlfriend Skye Kearney and that he befriended and employed a mutant who went only by the name Adder.. Any digging into Skye Kearney he again turned up with nothing beyond she is from, Glasgow and a member of the rather large Scottish Kearney clan who is the twin of Glasgow Warriors rugby player Donovan Kearney and that she graduated from Cambridge and now worked for GQ. And his research into Adder turned up nothing at least online. Till the year she started working at Templeton Industries the girl didn’t exist as far as the government was concerned. Then one day she showed up to register as a citizen and to obtain legal forms of identification and to change her name. And for whatever reason any of the documentation online was black marked like an MI6 report. Her birth name, the names of her birth parents were all blacked out. Which to Webber said she had something to hide or because she was abandoned it was to protect the parents who obviously didn’t want to associate with her. And otherwise he found that in September Mason was going to be attending a wedding without his bodyguards.
He however had slightly better success when researching Silvercloud. He was able to find that the CEO and founder is a Native American named Jonathan Silvercloud. There was images of this Jonathan Silvercloud, however he had not been seen in public in over a decade. He had become a recluse only telecommunicating with his board or anyone within the company. Webber tried to track the source and find a location for where the recluse was but Jonathan Silvercloud certainly lived up to his reputation of being a tech genius as any tracing of the IP brought him to a remote science center base in Antarctica. Which Webber had easily confirmed to been abandoned twenty years prior. So trying to find the man was becoming a dead end. He couldn’t find any living relatives, as all were deceased at this time. he did find a brief period when Jonathan was in the public eye and was dating a woman but her name was never mentioned so that was a dead end too. Webber didn’t really care too much about who Jonathan Silvercloud was, he was more interested in his tech. From what he was able to get information on and a what he hacked from a slightly less secure system within Silvercloud this man might have tech that could help him complete what he’d been working on.
He had to be careful and work in complete secrecy on his personal project.As he was reading up on some of the medical advancement technology that Silverloud had come out with he glanced over to hid desk drawer. He sighed and unlocked it taking out a slim case and then unlocked that to look at a silver locket that had a raised cherry blossom design. He sighed and popped it up taking out his tools tinkering with the electronics he’d been putting inside the locket. He’d been working on this for a few years now, trying to find a way to somehow reverse what the scientists had done over the years to Myst. So far he’d been unsuccessful in his quest to make her whole again. But he wasn’t going to give up. Not at long as she was willing to try. Sure they had to test in secret but that wasn’t too difficult. He’d stay late into the night and then hijack the security cameras that are along the path to her cell, putting them on a loop that the guards would never notice. Based on some of what he’d dug up on Silvercloud’s tech he made a few modifications and was ready to test again. He closed the locket placing it into his pocket before starting to type of his computer, sending a message securely to the screen that Myst could see from her cell.
Myst saw the screen by her cell go black and knew it means Arcade had a message for her. ‘I’ve made modifications. Want to test tonight?’, she read the words. She debated this as the last time they tested it hurt a lot. But she knew that testing was the only way they’d find a cure so to speak, a way to reverse and give her back full control of her mutation. It’d been so long since she’d been solid, since she’d been truly whole. She couldn’t even remember what it was like. The best she’d managed was she could form into a semi solid but only for her upper body. With one of the recent versions of the locket he was working on she could touch things and interact with them but she couldn't feel them. And when he’d reached to try and touch her she couldn’t feel it and his hand almost passed through her before the locket short circuited and she returned to her gas form. It’d been painful when the locket short circuited unable to sustain her even semi solid form. She debated if it was worth them continuing to try. But she looked to the camera and nodded a little to let him know she was ready to test again. ‘Be there shortly’ Arcade typed seeing her nod. He quickly put the cameras onto a loop. He had exactly two hours before the change of guards and one of the cameras he had on loop pointed down a corridor the next shift would walk down.
With the cameras on loop Arcade made his way from his lap and down the three levels to Myst’s containment cell. he closed the door to the room they kept her cell behind him and smiled at her. “Evening Myst. So we have just under two hours before the guards swap out. I found some new options for the locket. I’m hoping maybe we’ll have some success with it this time.”, he greeted. “Hi Arcade. I hope so, though if it works what good will it do in the long run. I’m still in here.”, she greeted in a whispery voice. “I know. But right now...till I can get this to work we have to stay. Here I have access to what I need to work on this.”, he said taking the locket from his pocket. He walked over to her containment cell and opened a small drawer placing the locket inside then slide the drawer to her side which maintained the air-tight seal. “Give it a try Myst.”, he nodded to her. “Okay…”, she said concentrating to become slightly more solid as she reached for the locket and put it on. She winced just out of natural fear that it would hurt. It didn’t hurt...initially. Her lower body started to take shape becoming almost as solid as her upper body. “It’s...it’s working.”, Arcade smiled at the signs of success. But just as it seemed to have been making progress Myst started to double in pain and quickly pulled the necklace off setting it back in the drawer as she turned to her gaseous state.
Arcade could only watch with fear and worry. “Are you okay?”, he asked. Myst slowly reformed. “It just..It felt like I was burning from the inside. I’m sorry Arcade. It was closer than it’d been last time. You are getting there. Thank you for trying, for taking this risk..”, Myst sighed pushing the drawer back to his side. “I’ll figure it out, no matter what I’ll find a way Myst.”, he said not discouraged taking the locket and tucking it back into his pocket. He brought a table over and set their chess board back up. “We’ve got time for a game..”, he offered with a smile sitting down. Myst nodded hovering in the cell as he set the chessboard up. He didn’t seem to let the failure get him down. So till it was time for him to leave so they were not caught they played chess and just talked. He was her only real contact with the outside world. the scientists that experimented on her never just talked to her. It wasn’t a conversation. To them it was like she couldn’t speak, like she was an object. Arcade was the only person he saw her as a person. She loved listening to him talk about what was going on in the world. he told her about sports, politics, and entertainment. But then the time came and he had to put the chessboard away like he’d never been there and returned to his lab before the changing of the security.
The Excalibur team was rather busy both personally and professionally speaking. Xavier was trying to balance helping plan the wedding with Ashley alongside his work at Silvercloud and his investigations for Excalibur into Trask. Ashley was wrapping up a ballet performance and otherwise had been in full wedding mode, still making time to fulfil her Excalibur duties. But she wanted this wedding to be perfect for her and Xavier. And given how many people were coming just in their families it was not going to be a small event. Ashley had been trying to find ways to mingle their cultures in fun ways. And one she’d decided on was that the women of the bridal party would be going traditional Japanese in clothes and the men would wear traditional Scottish. She loved shopping for the kimonos for herself and her three bridesmaids; Lily as maid of honor, Cora Lee and Rose. Then picking out the formal kilts for Xavier and his three groomsmen; Landon as best man, Atif and Jimmy. Today the wedding clothes finally arrived at her and Xavier’s apartment in Glasgow and she was excited to try on her kimono and called Rose.
“Hi Ashley what’s going on?”, Rose asked typing up a file at the small doctor’s office she was interning in. “They are here.”, Ashley said smiling. “They what?”, Rose asked confused. “The wedding clothes arrived from Japan. So after you get done with work you are bringing your ass to the apartment to try on yours. I had the others shipped directly to them over in New York. Xavier should be home in a minute so I’m going to make him try on the kilt. I kind of can’t wait to see what he looks like in one. My prediction, hot.”, Ashley explained. Rose sighed shaking her head. “Alright I’ll be by after work. And I get you love and are marrying him but can we not call my nephew hot?”, Rose asked. Ashley laughed. “Sure if you never call Merrick hot in my presence.”, she countered teasing. Rose rolled her eyes. “I think I can some how manage that.”, Rose said sarcastically. “Alright I’ll see you later. Xavier just walked in.”, Ashley said hanging up with Rose. “See who later?”, Xavier asked still looking at his table which he had linked to the main computer at Muir Island checking on the progress of his information retrieval program. “Rose.”, Ashley said simply. She put her hand over the screen of the tablet and with the other raised his chin so he’d be looking at her. “Kon'nichiwa”, she greeted with a smile having gotten better over the years with learning Japanese and gave him a kiss. Xavier was about to protest that her hand was in the way till he looked at the smile on her face and she kissed him. “Kon'nichiwa, saiai. You seem to be in a good mood. What’s going on?”, Xavier asked.
“The wedding clothes have arrived. Which is why Rose is coming by later. Want her to try on the kimono.”, she explained. “Oh that’s good. So I get to see your kimono?”, he asked. Ashley shook her head. “Oh no. You never see the bride in her wedding dress or this case kimono before the wedding. You will have to wait till dad is walking me down the aisle at Boturich Castle in September. But that doesn’t apply to seeing you in your kilt. Which arrived sooo...try it on so I can take it off you.”, she smiled pointing to the bedroom where she’d laid out the kilt.Xavier laughed shaking his head a little setting his tablet down. “I am still not sure how I got talked into the groomsmen and I wearing the traditional clothes of your Scottish heritage while you girls get to wear the traditional clothes of my Japanese heritage.”, he sighed. “Because we are blending our cultures and I think you’ll look hot in a kilt. Now go try it on.”, she smiled pushing him gently in the direction of the bedroom. “Watashi wa, anata o aishiteimasu.”, he sighed shaking his head going into the bedroom and shutting the door. “I love you too!”, Ashley laughed sitting down waiting to see how he looked in a kilt. To save on confusion Ashley had made sure the kilts ordered would be ‘cheater’ kilts so the belt was already part of it and the pleats were in place.
Xavier wasn’t really sure as he looked in the mirror after following the instructions that Atif and Donovan had both told him a number of times in regards to how to put a kilt on. he sighed looking in the mirror. The green, gold and white tartan sitting just at the top of his knees. He sat back down and started to pull on the knee high mens socks and the matching green, gold and white flashers which left just the gap of his knee cap between the top of the socks and the edge of his kilt. Standing back up he put on the black leather sporran with its white fur trim on the cover. He knew he was missing a kilt pin but he figured he’d buy one some time before the wedding. “You okay in there?”, Ashley questioned. Xavier sighed and opened the door stepping out. “Well it at least fits…feels a bit weird. How exactly did your ancestors figure running around in one of these without undergarments was a good idea?”, Xavier questioned. Ashley laughed getting up from the couch walking over. “Well for one they didn’t have underwear back then. Plus wearing the kilt showed which clan you belonged to. And well some men have great calves.”, she explained with a smile putting her arms around his neck. “So guess I get to ask this, you being a true Scot?”, she questioned with a smirk. Xavier shook his head a little. “I’m wearing boxers thanks for asking Saiai.”, he laughed a little answering. “Hmm.. just one more layer I need to remove.”, she smiled pulling down the kilt from his shoulder and starting to unbuckle the belt. Xavier’s tablet started to beep across the room.
“My tablet…”, he started to say. “Xavier Francis Yashida...I do not care how important to Excalibur whatever is happening on that tablet is...what’s happening right now is more important to me.”, she warned removing the kilt. Xavier sighed being left standing wearing his shirt, boxers and the knee highs. “What’s the phrase I’ve heard...happy wife happy life?”, he questioned with a small smile. “Exactly, learn now and by September when I get the title you’ll be a pro.”, she smiled pushing him in the direction of the bedroom and their bed. Xavier at least knew better than to argue with her. He did wonder what the beeping was about. His program was still running, the beep had been alert that it’d uncovered something. And the program continued to run while they were in the bedroom. His program uncovering a connection between Trask and Queen. And as it continued to run more data about Queen was being downloaded and the tablet started to beep again. The connection to an american based company called Pierce Industrial was found. It wasn’t till later when Rose came knocking on their door Ashley and Xavier had even realized how long they’d been in their bedroom.
“Guys?”, Rose asked not really hearing sounds but knowing they were home. “Be right there Rose!”, Ashley called as her and Xavier got out of bed, having fallen asleep cuddling after sex, quickly getting dressed. Rose shook her head standing in the hallway. “Oh by all means take your time.”, she teased. Ashley was the first dressed and shut the bedroom door going and opening the front door. “Hi Rose. Sorry…”, she said letting Rose in, her blonde hair a bit of a mess. Rose shook her head noticing the rushed clothes and messy hair. “I could come back if I am interrupting…”, she said pointing over her shoulder. Xavier was smoothing out his black hair while walking out of the bedroom. “No it’s fine Aunt Rose. You weren’t interrupting anything other than a nap.”, Xavier said grabbing his tablet and his eyes going a little wide and he blinked at the data. “He’s right it’s okay Rose. If you’d come an hour or so sooner then I wouldn’t have even answered the door. He tried the kilt on it was nice…”, she said her voice trailing as she looked to him. “Xavier? What is it?”, she asked. “The beep sound from my tablet. My software I’ve had running to do my digging while I’m working. It found well it found lots. Trask is also linked to Queen here in the UK and Pierce Industrial in the US. The program is still running, but the information I’m finding...some of this is heavy with encryption. I’m going to need to link up with Forge and Landon to see if we can get past it. But whatever it is can’t be good to need that much encryption. So um...I’m going to teleport up to Muir Island and do a video chat with Forge and pull Landon in too and get their help with this.”, he said putting his tablet into his messenger bag putting on his teleporter watch.
“This something we should get the team on?”, Rose asked. Xavier shook his head and gave Ashley a kiss goodbye. “No, not yet Aunt Rose. If we can break this encryption and the data was really worth being this guarded I’ll let you know. I’ll be home late Saiai. Love you.”, he said turning his attention from his aunt to his fiance. Ashley nodded. “Alright. Just please eat something while you are working. When you don’t you come home and half the fridge gets eaten at whatever hour you get in. I love you too.”, Ashley instructed. Xavier smiled. “I promise I’ll try to remember to eat while I’m at base. Bye you two have fun with wedding stuff.”, he said before hitting his watch and disappearing to Muri Island. Ashley sighed a little when he disappeared. “What’s up?”, Rose asked. “Just well what happens when something comes up the day of the wedding? We all have to race off? Cause so help me any one of us has to leave my wedding for any COH or that other group of mutants causing problems. I’ll drown them all.”, she sighed muttering the last part. “No one is going to ruin the wedding. A team from the X-Men that aren’t coming for the wedding; Scott, Meghan, Kamal, Callisto, Max and Kyung Moon are going to be stationed at Muir Island and will handle anything. Don’t worry I’ve got you covered. I won’t let anything ruin my friend and my nephew’s wedding. Now where’s this kimono you want me to try on?”, Rose smiled. Ashley nodded. She did feel better knowing that the team was being covered so no one would have to race off during her wedding.
Over an Muir Island Xavier and connected to the main computer and sent a video invitation on the secure server to Forge and Landon. Forge quickly answered the video request living in his lab after all. “What’s going on Xavier?”, he asked looking at the video screen. “Just a minute want to wait for Landon.”, Xavier answered. “Ooo that big huh?”, Forge concluded. It wasn’t often that Xavier would reach out to him for help and even less often that something came up he’d also need Landon on. Landon had just gotten into the house when his tablet started going off. He’d picked up three large packages from the stoop. “Hey guys!? Doesn’t anyone know how to get the mail? Cora Lee! Lily! Our stuff for Ashley’s wedding is here.”, he called walking in setting the boxes down before pulling his tablet from his bag and blinking as he answered. “Forge? Xavier? Um what’s going on?”, Landon asked confused. “Get to your laptop Landon. I need both of your help.”, Xavier stated. Cora Lee and Lily came racing down the stairs when they heard their names. “Well if the postman would knock or maybe ring the bell to indicate he was leaving packages.”, Cora Lee said scooping up the box addressed to her. “I can’t wait to try on my kimono.”, Lily smiled grabbing hers. She noticed Landon on a conference video chat. “Oh hey Forge. Hi Xavier. Going to try on the kimonos now, we’ll call and let Ashley know how they fit.”, Lily smiled peeking around her cousin to the screen. Xavier nodded. “Um that’s fine Lily. Ashley and Rose are at the apartment now trying on theirs. But right now, I need Landon for Excalibur business though.”, Xavier explained trying to not be rude. “Alright well good luck.”, Lily said as her and Cora Lee went to try on their kimonos.
Landon arched an eyebrow. “Excalibur business and I’m getting called?”, he asked setting down his sax case and starting upstairs to his bedroom. Rachel was stretched out on the bed it littered with books as she’d already picked up her books for the coming semester and was getting her summer head start. Nazri was stretched out across the bottom of the bed being about the size of a labrador. Rachel smiled looking up when the door opened. “Hey hun.”, she greeted. Nazri raised his head to acknowledge that Landon entered the room. “Hey beautiful. I just need my laptop. I’ll go in your old room. Xavier apparently needs my help on something.”, Landon explained turning the tablet to show the video chat of Forge and Xavier. “Oh...alright. Hi Xavier. Hi Forge.”, Rachel waved. Rachel knew that her cousin didn’t often ask for help on things so if this was something he was asking Forge and Landon for help it had to be big. “Hello Rachel.”, Forge smiled. “Hello cousin. Hope we are not disturbing your studies. And that you don’t mind we steal Landon.”, Xavier greeted. Landon set the tablet down on the bed as he got out his laptop. “Oh it’s alright Xavier. I’m just getting a head start looking at the books for my classes this fall. And no worries about borrowing him, long as I get him back.”, she smiled. “Mmm no worries. I always come back.”, Landon smirked leaning on the bed giving her a kiss before grabbing the tablet. “Bye.”, Rachel sighed a little as he pulled back from the kiss. “Love you.”, Landon smiled taking the tablet and laptop to Rachel’s old bedroom to work.
“Alright so we are all here. Want to fill us in Xavier? You don’t often ask for my help and now you are also pulling Landon in.”, Forge questioned. “After the Church of Humanity attacked the charity event..”, Xavier started to explain. “Right the one where your Uncle Hudson handed some COH members their asses…”, Landon smiled getting setup on the bed. “Yes that one. But after the event I started digging into the staff who attacked and found they were all not only linked by the COH but through a overall parent company of Trask. I’ve had a program running all day since to keep digging. Today it came up with two new connections. One to Queen here in the UK and to Pierce Industries on your side of the ocean. What I need your help on is that a lot of what I’ve found is seriously encrypted. I want to know what they are hiding with that much security.”, Xavier explained. “Queen and Pierce? So we are talking about the decedents of Page Queen aka Leper Queen and Donald Pierce. Crap….why can’t these people just let history die.”, Forge groaned. “Who?”, Xavier questioned.
“Leper Queen, wore a mask after her first born, a mutant, accident set fire to the house which resulted in the death of the child and her face being burned. She blamed mutants and vowed to kill well all of us. She started a group way back called apien League, an extremist anti-mutant organization similar to the Friends of Humanity. She had a son who had a daughter. Both Page and her son Michael are dead. His daughter Olivia inherited Michael’s fortune and company which works in advanced weapons manufacturing for militaries around the world.”, Landon explained pulling up the file so Xavier could look at it on the shared server they were using. “Then Donald Pierce, was once a member of the Hellfire Club back in the original Emma Frost’s days but realizing the club had become mostly mutants tried to have a revolution which got shut down hard. He was rescued and turned into a cyborg and reformed a group known as the Reavers who wanted the destruction of mutants, mostly the X-Men and especially your grandfather. Donald may be dead now, but he has family. His nephew Justin didn’t follow in his footsteps being married to the X-Men’s Danielle Moonstar and working for the FBI in a special division. But Donald’s son Thomas did take over the company and apparently following in his father’s footsteps.”, Landon continued pulling up the next file he was referencing. So if we have Donald Trask, Olivia Queen and Thomas Pierce my question is how much like their ancestors are they.”, Landon commented. “Okay so fantastic we’ve got three legacies of mutant hating crazy. You think there’s more of a connection?”, Xavier asked.
“All three, well Page, Donald, and Bolivar were part of a group called the Purifiers which was under the authority of its founder William Stryker. I trust that name is familiar.”, Forge explained getting an idea of where Landon was going. Xavier’s face went blank, yeah he knew that name. “Stryker? I thought he was dead. I thought grandfather killed him…”, Xavier questioned. “Oh William is definitely dead. But the bloodline, not so much. His grandson David is alive and well.”, Landon said pulling up some new articles talking about David Stryker. “This can’t be good. If this David Stryker is involved, and is anything like his grandfather…”, Xavier shook his head. “Yeah we might have more than just assassination attempts to worry about, but worry what they are doing behind closed doors to mutants.”, Landon sighed. “Let’s start on the encryption and see what we find boys. Then we can go from there. Because well this is something I’m going to need to take to Duncan. Pierce is our side of the ocean so he’s going to become our priority.”, Forge said. “Agreed let’s find out what they are hiding and we can go from there.”, Landon agreed. He’d not wanted to get too involved with anything, he was trying to walk away from that possibility of being an X-Men. Or worse taking on the role as headmaster. He’d told Duncan he didn’t want the job but, he still worried that something would happen that would pull him back in. Something he couldn’t just walk away from. Xavier nodded in agreement the three starting to type feverishly on their computers as they started to work on breaking the layers of the encryption.
Since the charity terrorist attack Jonathan Fuller had been assigned a the story. He was told he needed to do a more in depth piece on the subject of the Church of Humanity vs Mutant Rights. After all there had been more than a few documented occurrences where masked vigilante mutants were showing up to help other mutants and protect them from the more extreme members of the church. And even within those masked groups it seemed there were two sides to the coin. One group consistently left the attackers alive and just tied up for police to take into custody where the other left dead bodies. Jonathan’s editor recommended he start with a Skye Kearney who’d been the first person at the event attacked. Apparently the young photo editor of GQ is involved with Mason Templeton the main target from the attack. And from his understanding of the attack she’d more than held her own in the fight refusing to leave when police were escorting people to safety.
Skye was busy trying to finish up a deadline for the next issue that needed to go to print when her receptionist buzzed. “Yea Mark?”, she asked. “Um you have a visitor….and he’s rather cute.”, Mark said whispering the last part. Skye furrowed her brow. “W’o is it?”, she asked. “Said his name is Jonathan Fuller from the Sun.”, Mark answered. Skye thought for a moment the name sounding familiar. Then glanced to her morning paper and saw the name in one of the front page articles. She wasn’t sure why he’d be coming to talk to her. “Alrig’t ya can send him in.”, Skye sighed. Mark smiled looking at Jonathan. “You can go in now Mister Fuller.”, Mark said. “Thanks.”, Jonathan smiled heading into the office. “Afternoon Miss Kearney.”, he greeted shutting the door. “Afternoon Mister Fuller. Wat can Ah do fer ya? Ah beg yer pardon but Ah not certain wat ya in mah office fer. GQ and da Sun are verra different in wat dey publish.”, she asked setting aside her work for the moment. “I’m doing a piece about the Church of Humanity and mutant rights. My editor recommended I start with you. You were after all the initial person assaulted during the terrorist attack at the Leah’s Lost Souls charity event. Correct?”, Jonathan explained smiling at her. He had to admit he hadn’t been sure what to expect meeting Mason Templeton’s latest girlfriend. But a ravishing redhead was not near the top of the list since most in the media knew the young CEO preferred blondes.
Skye sighed and nodded. She wished he’d called ahead so she could talk to Mason first before this. “Aye. Ah was at da event, mah boyfriend Mason is after all da founder of da foundation.”, she said. “And because Ah wid him da fools figured Ah would make a good damsel in distress.”, Skye explained being casual. Jonathan continued to smile and just nodded a little looking at her. Unlike Mason’s normal tastes Jonathan had always been a sucker for a red head ever since he had a crush on the red haired girl Shirley in his fifth grade class and happened to become his first kiss. He watched her lips moving and listened intently to her thick accent half paying attention as his mind was wondering a little forgetting that she had a boyfriend. Skye arched an eyebrow easily picking up the thoughts that were crossing his mind, she stifled a laugh. Okay so it was nice to know more than Mason thought of her sexually, and the guy wasn’t bad looking but she had Masons so the point was moot. “So ya ‘ave questions fer me den?”, she asked to snap him back to reality. Jonathan blinked and nodded. “Yes um questions right. I’ve heard plenty of hearsay about the events, having not attended myself. In your words would you describe how ti all started?”, he asked getting out a pad of paper and his pen ready to do some of his work and focus on that and not her lips.
“Well da crowd outside was already boiling over wid protesters dat don’t tink Mason is rig’t in his efforts ta ‘elp mutants in da United Kingdom. One even tried ta throw a tomato at his bodyguard as we was getting out o da car. But he had terrible aim and it hit da car instead. Den dere was da trio dat tried ta block da doors when we was entering wid deir majesties Hudson and Teresa Howlett of Madripoor. But o course Hudson s’owed dem ya don’t mess wid a Howlett.”, she smiled a little fondly thinking about it. Jonathan raised an eyebrow at how familiar she seemed to be speaking of the royals of Madripoor. “I take it that you know their majesties on a personal level?”, he asked. “Aye. Mah mate from university is Hudson’s younger sister. So Ah’ve met deir majesties and deir sweet barren a couple times.”, she explained. He made a small note. “So inside the event was anything off? Did you notice anything weird?”, he asked. “Ah was occupied wid being taken round da room meeting various people up ta and including our verra own royals with Mason ta pay much attention. It was when we went over ta his mates Ashton and Tiffany dat were speaking with Lord and Lady Duckworth-Chad and his bodyguard Adder dat tings started. Adder and Mason went outside fer some air.”, she started to explain.
“Without you? Granted this isn’t so much related to my article just a little curious, because it’d been implied by other media sources there is something with him and that bodyguard. Does it worry or bother you that a man known for sleeping with blondes has a blonde as a personal bodyguard and in this situation would go out for some air alone with her leaving you behind?”, he asked. Skye chuckled and shook her head knowing where he was going with that. “Not at all. Mason and Adder ‘ave been mates since university. Dey’ve ‘ad plenty of c’ances ta be romantically or intimately involved and never did. Ah kne dat dere’s c’emistry between dem, but given dey never act on it Ah don’t see a need ta worry. And Ah kne dat previous girls Mason ‘as been wid are blonde. But Ah like ta tink Ah’ve proven dat blondes may give ya a fun nig’t but we redheads are da ones ya never ferget. Especially w’en it a Kearney.”, she smirked. “I’m not sure what the Kearney part is about, I work with a Kearney Nichola I think though she’s got black hair. But I won’t disagree about your point of redheads. Not ashamed to admit that unlike your boyfriend I’ve always preferred fiery redheads.”, Jonathan shrugged with a smirk trying to not be flirty but his tone just couldn’t hide it. “But...um back to the questions. What happened next?”, he asked.
Skye smiled being polite. He was getting flirty and she had to admit she wasn’t offended. “Not long after that is when a waiter grabbed me and pointed a gun at my face asking fer Mason.”, she said with a shrug like it was nothing. “You seem rather indifferent about that. Most people man or woman would be afraid in that moment.”, Jonathan commented. “Ah dinna fash. He was ‘olding it all wrong ta really scare me.”, she grinned. “And you know that how?”, he asked. “Ah kne ‘ow ta fire a a gun. Ah told da man ta oint it else w’re before Ah s’ove it up his arse. He dinna listen, instead he called me mouthy.”, she smirked. “Bloke went ta try and slap me fer being sassy. He dinna get to since Ah punc’ed him ‘ard in da stomach getting him ta double in pain. Ah grabbed da wrist he was flimsily ‘old da gun in and tig’tened mah grip making him drop it. Next ting Ah kne some masked person drops outta da ceiling taking bullet intended fer mah boyfriend w’o on da ground his bodyguard getting him outta ‘arms way as she should.”, she explained. “You must have one hell of a bunch and grip to bring a grown man down, because no offense you don’t look that strong.”, Jonathan commented. Skye chuckled thinking to herself if he only knew how deceiving her appearance was for how strong she was. “Aye well appearances can be deceiving. From dat first s’ot it just became c’aos. Mason, Adder, Ashton, Tiffany, deir majesties, mahself and dis makes individual set ta knocking skulls. In da end we won and dey went ta jail. Ah ‘ad a bruise on mah wrist from dat first bloke grabbing me and one on mah leg from someone trying ta take me down ‘itting me wid deir gun after it misfired. His majesty Hudson was shot but not’ing serious at least.”, she concluded.
Jonathan nodded making a couple notes. “Seems you and the others you mentioned are rather good fighters. So do you know anything about the Church of Humanity that you could tell me?”, he asked. Skye shook her head. “Beyond dat dey ‘ate mongers dat fear mutants and tink dey can wipe dem off da planet, nope. If ya ain’t got more questions Ah got tings Ah need to approve fer our next issue.”, she said looking down to the papers on her desk. Jonathan sighed, he couldn’t place it maybe call it journalist intuition but he had the feeling there was more than she was giving him. “What if I asked those questions off the record?”, he asked. “Ah’d give ya da same answer. Maybe ya s’ould be talking ta Mason. He da one dey want dead, not me. Ah was just deir means ta get ta him and Ah tink dey learned dis bird ain’t some damsel in distress.”, she suggested. “Oh I have a meeting set with him next. I just...you are a bit of an enigma Miss Kearney. And my gut tells me you aren’t giving me the straight truth. You’re holding something back.”, he said not moving from his chair. Skye rolled her eyes. Attractive or not she would not and could not discuss even a fifth of what she knew about the church, about Mason, and about her fighting skills. That was Excalibur business and therefore she’d take it to her grave. “Ah not sure ‘ow ya figure a lass from Glasgow is an enigma. Perhaps yer gut is telling ya yer hungry. And Ah don’t tink yer one to talk bout ‘olding back.”, she retorted leaning forward resting her forearms on her desk.
“I don’t know what you would think I’m holding back Miss Kearney.”, he countered though his eyes briefly glanced down at the cleavage being unintentionally presented. She could easily see into his mind. Sure he’d kept things professional but the way he looked at her and his tone at some points he was flirting. And it didn’t take telepathy to notice him look at her chest or get an idea of what he was thinking. The telepathy just told her exactly what he was thinking and at the moment he was thinking about having sex with her on her desk followed by wondering if she’d let him and then how bad Mason would kick his ass if he did. Skye smirked a little. “Well fer starters ya were just looking at mah breasts and doesn’t exactly take a rocket scientist to get an idea o wat yer tinking.”, Skye explained. Jonathan laughed a little in a slightly nervous way being caught. “My apologies Miss Kearney. Curse of being a man I suppose. Something comes into your line of sight that you find appealing you look.”, he apologized. Skye nodded. “Aye. Dat more a curse o being ‘uman. Ya tink women don’t check men out? Cause we do. In regards ta yer article, Ah ain’t got more ta say on da subject. So Ah suppose dis da point Ah tell ya good day and ya leave.”, she said sitting back in her office chair.
“Alright well non-article questions then. Do you see anything appealing in your line of sight?”, he asked. Skye laughed a little about to reply when her intercom buzzed. “Skye? Sorry to interrupt. But Brian is on line one wanting to know when you’ll have the photo selections ready for print.”, Mark’s voice spoke timidly. “Well dat would be da end of yer time Mister Fuller. Ya kne yer way out.”, she said picking up her phone and hitting the flashing light for line one. “Ello Brian. Aye Ah got dem just bout ready. Got a few more ta approve den Ah’ll bring dem up.”, she greeted. Jonathan let out an exasperated breath standing up. Mark frowned a little seeing Jonathan walking out looking a bit defeated. “Didn’t get to ask all the questioned you needed Mister Fuller?”, Mark asked. “Something like that and didn’t get answers to some of what I did get to ask.”, Jonathan shrugged before leaving the office. He could have sworn that she had flirted back, at least a little. But he pushed it aside she was dating Mason Templeton, CEO of Templeton Enterprises and founder of Leah’s Lost Souls a millionaire. Why would she bother flirting with a journalist like him. But he still couldn’t shake the feeling she knew more than she was telling him. He just didn’t know how much more.
Adder had been basically on high alert since the attack at the charity event. And the number of death threats against Mason had doubled since as well. She’d also been dodging calls from her biological mother. She just was in no mood to deal with whatever the woman had to say. Even if she was sorry and wanted to make amends. Adder had never needed the woman and didn’t need her now. She had her own family now, she had her friends. And Mason was getting better about spending time and actually being there as a friend again. And with the added death threats she had more important things to deal with than a woman who hadn’t wanted her. Today was the agreed meeting with a journalist named Jonathan Fuller from the Sun. Adder had gotten Alan to do a full background check on the man before she’d agree to the idea of Mason giving the interview. Last thing she wanted was more unwanted attention drawn to Mason. If she could have it her way he wouldn’t talk to the media about it, but he insisted he had to keep up appearances and make sure the COH knew this wasn’t going to stop him. “Ah still don’t like t’is idea.”, she muttered sitting in Mason’s office. Mason chuckled a little. “Oh come on pet. It’s just an interview. He’s passed Alan’s security checks, Skye already interviewed with him, and you’ll be in the room the whole time.”, he commented. Adder narrowed her copper eyes briefly. “Ah just don’t t’ink added attention is t’e answer.”, she commented as there was a knock at the door.
Donald peeked his head in. “Mister Templeton? Mister Fuller is here.”, Donald announced. “You worry too much pet.”, Mason commented before looking to Donald. “Send him in Donald.”, Mason instructed. Donald nodded and opened the door fully. “Mister Templeton will see you now.”, he said pointing Jonathan into the office. “Thanks mate.”, Jonathan smiled walking into the office. Donald closed the door once Jonathan was inside. “Thanks for meeting with me Mister Templeton. My paper wants me to do an extended piece in regards to the recent terrorist actions of the Church of Humanity and it’s effects on the mutant population. And well since right now you seem to be their target for the things you are doing to help mutants, you were an obviously place to start.”, he explained walking closer offering his hand to Mason. Adder watched him like the snake that she is, coiled and ready to pounce the moment he became a threat. Jonathan casted a cautious glance in the direction of Adder before looking back to Mason. Mason smiled noticing the glance and the subtle fear in Jonathan’s eyes. “She can be a bit intimidating a suppose. Personally I don’t find her threatening, but I’m not supposed to. Am I Adder?”, he smiled moving and shaking Jonathan’s hand. Adder rolled her eyes at Mason. “Nice to meet you Mister Fuller. As I understand it you are writing a story about the little scuffle from the charity event earlier this summer.”, he commented leaning against his desk gesturing for Jonathan to take a seat. “I wouldn’t call a terrorist attack a little scuffle.”, Jonathan said as he took a seat.
“Well I wouldn’t call it much of a terrorist attack since they didn’t hurt anyone in the end.”, Mason commented. “I’m not certain that masked vigilante would find that true. He took a bullet for you. Now you Mister Templeton shocked a number of people with how you fought and wouldn’t leave when the police were trying to get the guests out of harms way. Care to share how you know how to fight like that? And if you can fight like that why do you require bodyguards?”, Jonathan asked. Mason smiled. “I was taught how to fight growing up. Boxing, martial arts all those extracurricular that my father could manage to enroll me into. And well I’ve often had a knack for getting in trouble, wouldn’t you agree Adder? So knowing how to fight was imperative.”, he explained glancing to Adder when he addressed her with a small smirk. “O yea’ ya certainly know ‘ow ta get yourself in trouble and t’en Ah ‘ave ta get you out of it.”, Adder muttered her eyes locked on Jonathan still assessing any threat level. Jonathan glanced over to Adder quickly looking back to Mason. Mason chuckled. “Don’t mind Adder’s tone. She loves me. We’ve been mates since I was a freshmen in university. She’s now having to return the favor of how many times I got her out of trouble.”, Mason commented. Adder felt her heart skip for half a second but it returned to normal, of course he didn’t mean love in the way she actually felt but more of a love in regards to friends.
“I see. So my other question if you are such a good fighter why the bodyguards?”, Jonathan asked. “Oh that’s simple. I need someone to watch my back. And when I deal with my actual business I have to be focused on that I can’t be looking over my shoulder for the next loon to attack me. As you said I’ve made myself a bit of a target with my foundation. So knowing that I have someone like Adder there makes me feel safe.”, Mason shrugged. “Well some might argue that you painted the target when you appointed Miss Adder as your head of security.”, Jonathan countered. “I’m sure it did. But I don’t care. Adder is my mate and beyond that she’d a fierce fighter. If I’m going to have a bodyguard that person had better be as good as me in a fight. And the only two people I’d say are as good as me are Adder and my mate Ashton. And obviously Ashton has his own company to run so couldn’t get him to be my bodyguard. If someone doesn’t like that she’s a mutant that’s their problem. I don’t discriminate.”, Mason explained. Jonathan nodded jotting down a few notes to himself. “So what are your plans going forward? For dealing with the Church of Humanity and any threats on your life or your foundation?”, Jonathan asked.
Mason glanced to Adder who shook her head. She didn’t want to talk to another reporter. “Simple, Mister Fuller, I continue doing exactly what I’ve been doing. I wasn’t raised to cower or to back down. They got a taste of what me and my bodyguard can do. So I say they want a fight they’ll have one. They just better be prepared to lose. To ensure the safety of my foundation and each location as they open, my best and brightest are working on security measures to ensure rabble rousers cannot bring harm to any mutant who seeks refuge.”, Mason answered. Jonathan nodded. “I wish you the best of luck Mister Templeton. What you are doing is something worth taking the risk for. I have some more interviews I want to do. So thank you for your time.”, he said standing up. Mason nodded and shook his head. “Good luck with your article.”, Mason smiled. “Thanks.”, Jonathan said leaving the office. “See that wasn’t so bad pet.”, Mason smiled looking at Adder. “Ah guess. It could ‘ave been worse. Ah just don’t like ya becoming a bigger target.”, she frowned. Mason chuckled pushing off his desk and walking over to the chair she was sitting on placing his hands on the arms leaning down close to her face.
“Don’t frown pet. I’ve got you to protect me. Besides I want to be the target.”, he smiled kissing her forehead before standing back up. For a moment as he was leaning close to her face he’d considered kissing her lips. To just find out, to take the risk of it all falling apart. But he made the choice to not take that risk. No he was taking enough risks as he prodded the COH. He didn’t want to risk Adder’s loyalty and friendship or Skye’s love just to find out what her lips taste like. Adder held her breath, not even realizing it as he got so close to her. Since the charity event he’d been more on track with how he used to be around her. She let the breath out as he kissed her forehead. Of course he wasn’t going to kiss her, not how she wanted him to. She was still just his friend and he was in love with Skye. She just needed to accept that she’d never be more than that in his eyes. “W’y ya gotta be t’e target?”, she questioned. “Because if I’m the target we can handle whatever the church dares to throw at us. If I’m the target they can back off the other mutants who aren’t as trained in fighting or with their powers like us.”, he explained. “So ya’d rat’er be t’e martyr?”, she questioned not liking this one bit. Sure she admired that he would put his neck on line for mutant kind, but when push came to shove the good of the many did not outweigh the good of the one, at least not to her when that one was home. “Martyrs die, I don’t plan to die. And I don’t think you plan to let me die. With them gunning for me it gets media attention. Mister Fuller’s article will help. It will open the eyes of the people of not just our country but the world. Let them see the true evil that the church is.”, he explained smiling a little. Adder just sighed shaking her head a little knowing there was no talking him out of it.

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Webber wasn’t fully sure what his employer thought he was going to find about Mason Templeton or the Silvercloud company, but so far he wasn’t finding anything. All the information he could find about Mason was nothing ground breaking. The son of respected Lord Quentin and Lady Emma Templeton, elder brother of Gabrielle Templeton. He had high marks in at Westminster private school and then at Oxford university. From everything Webber could find on the man the only interesting things were that his love life had been a string of blondes till his recent girlfriend Skye Kearney and that he befriended and employed a mutant who went only by the name Adder.. Any digging into Skye Kearney he again turned up with nothing beyond she is from, Glasgow and a member of the rather large Scottish Kearney clan who is the twin of Glasgow Warriors rugby player Donovan Kearney and that she graduated from Cambridge and now worked for GQ. And his research into Adder turned up nothing at least online. Till the year she started working at Templeton Industries the girl didn’t exist as far as the government was concerned. Then one day she showed up to register as a citizen and to obtain legal forms of identification and to change her name. And for whatever reason any of the documentation online was black marked like an MI6 report. Her birth name, the names of her birth parents were all blacked out. Which to Webber said she had something to hide or because she was abandoned it was to protect the parents who obviously didn’t want to associate with her. And otherwise he found that in September Mason was going to be attending a wedding without his bodyguards.
He however had slightly better success when researching Silvercloud. He was able to find that the CEO and founder is a Native American named Jonathan Silvercloud. There was images of this Jonathan Silvercloud, however he had not been seen in public in over a decade. He had become a recluse only telecommunicating with his board or anyone within the company. Webber tried to track the source and find a location for where the recluse was but Jonathan Silvercloud certainly lived up to his reputation of being a tech genius as any tracing of the IP brought him to a remote science center base in Antarctica. Which Webber had easily confirmed to been abandoned twenty years prior. So trying to find the man was becoming a dead end. He couldn’t find any living relatives, as all were deceased at this time. he did find a brief period when Jonathan was in the public eye and was dating a woman but her name was never mentioned so that was a dead end too. Webber didn’t really care too much about who Jonathan Silvercloud was, he was more interested in his tech. From what he was able to get information on and a what he hacked from a slightly less secure system within Silvercloud this man might have tech that could help him complete what he’d been working on.
He had to be careful and work in complete secrecy on his personal project.As he was reading up on some of the medical advancement technology that Silverloud had come out with he glanced over to hid desk drawer. He sighed and unlocked it taking out a slim case and then unlocked that to look at a silver locket that had a raised cherry blossom design. He sighed and popped it up taking out his tools tinkering with the electronics he’d been putting inside the locket. He’d been working on this for a few years now, trying to find a way to somehow reverse what the scientists had done over the years to Myst. So far he’d been unsuccessful in his quest to make her whole again. But he wasn’t going to give up. Not at long as she was willing to try. Sure they had to test in secret but that wasn’t too difficult. He’d stay late into the night and then hijack the security cameras that are along the path to her cell, putting them on a loop that the guards would never notice. Based on some of what he’d dug up on Silvercloud’s tech he made a few modifications and was ready to test again. He closed the locket placing it into his pocket before starting to type of his computer, sending a message securely to the screen that Myst could see from her cell.
Myst saw the screen by her cell go black and knew it means Arcade had a message for her. ‘I’ve made modifications. Want to test tonight?’, she read the words. She debated this as the last time they tested it hurt a lot. But she knew that testing was the only way they’d find a cure so to speak, a way to reverse and give her back full control of her mutation. It’d been so long since she’d been solid, since she’d been truly whole. She couldn’t even remember what it was like. The best she’d managed was she could form into a semi solid but only for her upper body. With one of the recent versions of the locket he was working on she could touch things and interact with them but she couldn't feel them. And when he’d reached to try and touch her she couldn’t feel it and his hand almost passed through her before the locket short circuited and she returned to her gas form. It’d been painful when the locket short circuited unable to sustain her even semi solid form. She debated if it was worth them continuing to try. But she looked to the camera and nodded a little to let him know she was ready to test again. ‘Be there shortly’ Arcade typed seeing her nod. He quickly put the cameras onto a loop. He had exactly two hours before the change of guards and one of the cameras he had on loop pointed down a corridor the next shift would walk down.
With the cameras on loop Arcade made his way from his lap and down the three levels to Myst’s containment cell. he closed the door to the room they kept her cell behind him and smiled at her. “Evening Myst. So we have just under two hours before the guards swap out. I found some new options for the locket. I’m hoping maybe we’ll have some success with it this time.”, he greeted. “Hi Arcade. I hope so, though if it works what good will it do in the long run. I’m still in here.”, she greeted in a whispery voice. “I know. But right now...till I can get this to work we have to stay. Here I have access to what I need to work on this.”, he said taking the locket from his pocket. He walked over to her containment cell and opened a small drawer placing the locket inside then slide the drawer to her side which maintained the air-tight seal. “Give it a try Myst.”, he nodded to her. “Okay…”, she said concentrating to become slightly more solid as she reached for the locket and put it on. She winced just out of natural fear that it would hurt. It didn’t hurt...initially. Her lower body started to take shape becoming almost as solid as her upper body. “It’s...it’s working.”, Arcade smiled at the signs of success. But just as it seemed to have been making progress Myst started to double in pain and quickly pulled the necklace off setting it back in the drawer as she turned to her gaseous state.
Arcade could only watch with fear and worry. “Are you okay?”, he asked. Myst slowly reformed. “It just..It felt like I was burning from the inside. I’m sorry Arcade. It was closer than it’d been last time. You are getting there. Thank you for trying, for taking this risk..”, Myst sighed pushing the drawer back to his side. “I’ll figure it out, no matter what I’ll find a way Myst.”, he said not discouraged taking the locket and tucking it back into his pocket. He brought a table over and set their chess board back up. “We’ve got time for a game..”, he offered with a smile sitting down. Myst nodded hovering in the cell as he set the chessboard up. He didn’t seem to let the failure get him down. So till it was time for him to leave so they were not caught they played chess and just talked. He was her only real contact with the outside world. the scientists that experimented on her never just talked to her. It wasn’t a conversation. To them it was like she couldn’t speak, like she was an object. Arcade was the only person he saw her as a person. She loved listening to him talk about what was going on in the world. he told her about sports, politics, and entertainment. But then the time came and he had to put the chessboard away like he’d never been there and returned to his lab before the changing of the security.
The Excalibur team was rather busy both personally and professionally speaking. Xavier was trying to balance helping plan the wedding with Ashley alongside his work at Silvercloud and his investigations for Excalibur into Trask. Ashley was wrapping up a ballet performance and otherwise had been in full wedding mode, still making time to fulfil her Excalibur duties. But she wanted this wedding to be perfect for her and Xavier. And given how many people were coming just in their families it was not going to be a small event. Ashley had been trying to find ways to mingle their cultures in fun ways. And one she’d decided on was that the women of the bridal party would be going traditional Japanese in clothes and the men would wear traditional Scottish. She loved shopping for the kimonos for herself and her three bridesmaids; Lily as maid of honor, Cora Lee and Rose. Then picking out the formal kilts for Xavier and his three groomsmen; Landon as best man, Atif and Jimmy. Today the wedding clothes finally arrived at her and Xavier’s apartment in Glasgow and she was excited to try on her kimono and called Rose.
“Hi Ashley what’s going on?”, Rose asked typing up a file at the small doctor’s office she was interning in. “They are here.”, Ashley said smiling. “They what?”, Rose asked confused. “The wedding clothes arrived from Japan. So after you get done with work you are bringing your ass to the apartment to try on yours. I had the others shipped directly to them over in New York. Xavier should be home in a minute so I’m going to make him try on the kilt. I kind of can’t wait to see what he looks like in one. My prediction, hot.”, Ashley explained. Rose sighed shaking her head. “Alright I’ll be by after work. And I get you love and are marrying him but can we not call my nephew hot?”, Rose asked. Ashley laughed. “Sure if you never call Merrick hot in my presence.”, she countered teasing. Rose rolled her eyes. “I think I can some how manage that.”, Rose said sarcastically. “Alright I’ll see you later. Xavier just walked in.”, Ashley said hanging up with Rose. “See who later?”, Xavier asked still looking at his table which he had linked to the main computer at Muir Island checking on the progress of his information retrieval program. “Rose.”, Ashley said simply. She put her hand over the screen of the tablet and with the other raised his chin so he’d be looking at her. “Kon'nichiwa”, she greeted with a smile having gotten better over the years with learning Japanese and gave him a kiss. Xavier was about to protest that her hand was in the way till he looked at the smile on her face and she kissed him. “Kon'nichiwa, saiai. You seem to be in a good mood. What’s going on?”, Xavier asked.
“The wedding clothes have arrived. Which is why Rose is coming by later. Want her to try on the kimono.”, she explained. “Oh that’s good. So I get to see your kimono?”, he asked. Ashley shook her head. “Oh no. You never see the bride in her wedding dress or this case kimono before the wedding. You will have to wait till dad is walking me down the aisle at Boturich Castle in September. But that doesn’t apply to seeing you in your kilt. Which arrived sooo...try it on so I can take it off you.”, she smiled pointing to the bedroom where she’d laid out the kilt.Xavier laughed shaking his head a little setting his tablet down. “I am still not sure how I got talked into the groomsmen and I wearing the traditional clothes of your Scottish heritage while you girls get to wear the traditional clothes of my Japanese heritage.”, he sighed. “Because we are blending our cultures and I think you’ll look hot in a kilt. Now go try it on.”, she smiled pushing him gently in the direction of the bedroom. “Watashi wa, anata o aishiteimasu.”, he sighed shaking his head going into the bedroom and shutting the door. “I love you too!”, Ashley laughed sitting down waiting to see how he looked in a kilt. To save on confusion Ashley had made sure the kilts ordered would be ‘cheater’ kilts so the belt was already part of it and the pleats were in place.
Xavier wasn’t really sure as he looked in the mirror after following the instructions that Atif and Donovan had both told him a number of times in regards to how to put a kilt on. he sighed looking in the mirror. The green, gold and white tartan sitting just at the top of his knees. He sat back down and started to pull on the knee high mens socks and the matching green, gold and white flashers which left just the gap of his knee cap between the top of the socks and the edge of his kilt. Standing back up he put on the black leather sporran with its white fur trim on the cover. He knew he was missing a kilt pin but he figured he’d buy one some time before the wedding. “You okay in there?”, Ashley questioned. Xavier sighed and opened the door stepping out. “Well it at least fits…feels a bit weird. How exactly did your ancestors figure running around in one of these without undergarments was a good idea?”, Xavier questioned. Ashley laughed getting up from the couch walking over. “Well for one they didn’t have underwear back then. Plus wearing the kilt showed which clan you belonged to. And well some men have great calves.”, she explained with a smile putting her arms around his neck. “So guess I get to ask this, you being a true Scot?”, she questioned with a smirk. Xavier shook his head a little. “I’m wearing boxers thanks for asking Saiai.”, he laughed a little answering. “Hmm.. just one more layer I need to remove.”, she smiled pulling down the kilt from his shoulder and starting to unbuckle the belt. Xavier’s tablet started to beep across the room.
“My tablet…”, he started to say. “Xavier Francis Yashida...I do not care how important to Excalibur whatever is happening on that tablet is...what’s happening right now is more important to me.”, she warned removing the kilt. Xavier sighed being left standing wearing his shirt, boxers and the knee highs. “What’s the phrase I’ve heard...happy wife happy life?”, he questioned with a small smile. “Exactly, learn now and by September when I get the title you’ll be a pro.”, she smiled pushing him in the direction of the bedroom and their bed. Xavier at least knew better than to argue with her. He did wonder what the beeping was about. His program was still running, the beep had been alert that it’d uncovered something. And the program continued to run while they were in the bedroom. His program uncovering a connection between Trask and Queen. And as it continued to run more data about Queen was being downloaded and the tablet started to beep again. The connection to an american based company called Pierce Industrial was found. It wasn’t till later when Rose came knocking on their door Ashley and Xavier had even realized how long they’d been in their bedroom.
“Guys?”, Rose asked not really hearing sounds but knowing they were home. “Be right there Rose!”, Ashley called as her and Xavier got out of bed, having fallen asleep cuddling after sex, quickly getting dressed. Rose shook her head standing in the hallway. “Oh by all means take your time.”, she teased. Ashley was the first dressed and shut the bedroom door going and opening the front door. “Hi Rose. Sorry…”, she said letting Rose in, her blonde hair a bit of a mess. Rose shook her head noticing the rushed clothes and messy hair. “I could come back if I am interrupting…”, she said pointing over her shoulder. Xavier was smoothing out his black hair while walking out of the bedroom. “No it’s fine Aunt Rose. You weren’t interrupting anything other than a nap.”, Xavier said grabbing his tablet and his eyes going a little wide and he blinked at the data. “He’s right it’s okay Rose. If you’d come an hour or so sooner then I wouldn’t have even answered the door. He tried the kilt on it was nice…”, she said her voice trailing as she looked to him. “Xavier? What is it?”, she asked. “The beep sound from my tablet. My software I’ve had running to do my digging while I’m working. It found well it found lots. Trask is also linked to Queen here in the UK and Pierce Industrial in the US. The program is still running, but the information I’m finding...some of this is heavy with encryption. I’m going to need to link up with Forge and Landon to see if we can get past it. But whatever it is can’t be good to need that much encryption. So um...I’m going to teleport up to Muir Island and do a video chat with Forge and pull Landon in too and get their help with this.”, he said putting his tablet into his messenger bag putting on his teleporter watch.
“This something we should get the team on?”, Rose asked. Xavier shook his head and gave Ashley a kiss goodbye. “No, not yet Aunt Rose. If we can break this encryption and the data was really worth being this guarded I’ll let you know. I’ll be home late Saiai. Love you.”, he said turning his attention from his aunt to his fiance. Ashley nodded. “Alright. Just please eat something while you are working. When you don’t you come home and half the fridge gets eaten at whatever hour you get in. I love you too.”, Ashley instructed. Xavier smiled. “I promise I’ll try to remember to eat while I’m at base. Bye you two have fun with wedding stuff.”, he said before hitting his watch and disappearing to Muri Island. Ashley sighed a little when he disappeared. “What’s up?”, Rose asked. “Just well what happens when something comes up the day of the wedding? We all have to race off? Cause so help me any one of us has to leave my wedding for any COH or that other group of mutants causing problems. I’ll drown them all.”, she sighed muttering the last part. “No one is going to ruin the wedding. A team from the X-Men that aren’t coming for the wedding; Scott, Meghan, Kamal, Callisto, Max and Kyung Moon are going to be stationed at Muir Island and will handle anything. Don’t worry I’ve got you covered. I won’t let anything ruin my friend and my nephew’s wedding. Now where’s this kimono you want me to try on?”, Rose smiled. Ashley nodded. She did feel better knowing that the team was being covered so no one would have to race off during her wedding.
Over an Muir Island Xavier and connected to the main computer and sent a video invitation on the secure server to Forge and Landon. Forge quickly answered the video request living in his lab after all. “What’s going on Xavier?”, he asked looking at the video screen. “Just a minute want to wait for Landon.”, Xavier answered. “Ooo that big huh?”, Forge concluded. It wasn’t often that Xavier would reach out to him for help and even less often that something came up he’d also need Landon on. Landon had just gotten into the house when his tablet started going off. He’d picked up three large packages from the stoop. “Hey guys!? Doesn’t anyone know how to get the mail? Cora Lee! Lily! Our stuff for Ashley’s wedding is here.”, he called walking in setting the boxes down before pulling his tablet from his bag and blinking as he answered. “Forge? Xavier? Um what’s going on?”, Landon asked confused. “Get to your laptop Landon. I need both of your help.”, Xavier stated. Cora Lee and Lily came racing down the stairs when they heard their names. “Well if the postman would knock or maybe ring the bell to indicate he was leaving packages.”, Cora Lee said scooping up the box addressed to her. “I can’t wait to try on my kimono.”, Lily smiled grabbing hers. She noticed Landon on a conference video chat. “Oh hey Forge. Hi Xavier. Going to try on the kimonos now, we’ll call and let Ashley know how they fit.”, Lily smiled peeking around her cousin to the screen. Xavier nodded. “Um that’s fine Lily. Ashley and Rose are at the apartment now trying on theirs. But right now, I need Landon for Excalibur business though.”, Xavier explained trying to not be rude. “Alright well good luck.”, Lily said as her and Cora Lee went to try on their kimonos.
Landon arched an eyebrow. “Excalibur business and I’m getting called?”, he asked setting down his sax case and starting upstairs to his bedroom. Rachel was stretched out on the bed it littered with books as she’d already picked up her books for the coming semester and was getting her summer head start. Nazri was stretched out across the bottom of the bed being about the size of a labrador. Rachel smiled looking up when the door opened. “Hey hun.”, she greeted. Nazri raised his head to acknowledge that Landon entered the room. “Hey beautiful. I just need my laptop. I’ll go in your old room. Xavier apparently needs my help on something.”, Landon explained turning the tablet to show the video chat of Forge and Xavier. “Oh...alright. Hi Xavier. Hi Forge.”, Rachel waved. Rachel knew that her cousin didn’t often ask for help on things so if this was something he was asking Forge and Landon for help it had to be big. “Hello Rachel.”, Forge smiled. “Hello cousin. Hope we are not disturbing your studies. And that you don’t mind we steal Landon.”, Xavier greeted. Landon set the tablet down on the bed as he got out his laptop. “Oh it’s alright Xavier. I’m just getting a head start looking at the books for my classes this fall. And no worries about borrowing him, long as I get him back.”, she smiled. “Mmm no worries. I always come back.”, Landon smirked leaning on the bed giving her a kiss before grabbing the tablet. “Bye.”, Rachel sighed a little as he pulled back from the kiss. “Love you.”, Landon smiled taking the tablet and laptop to Rachel’s old bedroom to work.
“Alright so we are all here. Want to fill us in Xavier? You don’t often ask for my help and now you are also pulling Landon in.”, Forge questioned. “After the Church of Humanity attacked the charity event..”, Xavier started to explain. “Right the one where your Uncle Hudson handed some COH members their asses…”, Landon smiled getting setup on the bed. “Yes that one. But after the event I started digging into the staff who attacked and found they were all not only linked by the COH but through a overall parent company of Trask. I’ve had a program running all day since to keep digging. Today it came up with two new connections. One to Queen here in the UK and to Pierce Industries on your side of the ocean. What I need your help on is that a lot of what I’ve found is seriously encrypted. I want to know what they are hiding with that much security.”, Xavier explained. “Queen and Pierce? So we are talking about the decedents of Page Queen aka Leper Queen and Donald Pierce. Crap….why can’t these people just let history die.”, Forge groaned. “Who?”, Xavier questioned.
“Leper Queen, wore a mask after her first born, a mutant, accident set fire to the house which resulted in the death of the child and her face being burned. She blamed mutants and vowed to kill well all of us. She started a group way back called apien League, an extremist anti-mutant organization similar to the Friends of Humanity. She had a son who had a daughter. Both Page and her son Michael are dead. His daughter Olivia inherited Michael’s fortune and company which works in advanced weapons manufacturing for militaries around the world.”, Landon explained pulling up the file so Xavier could look at it on the shared server they were using. “Then Donald Pierce, was once a member of the Hellfire Club back in the original Emma Frost’s days but realizing the club had become mostly mutants tried to have a revolution which got shut down hard. He was rescued and turned into a cyborg and reformed a group known as the Reavers who wanted the destruction of mutants, mostly the X-Men and especially your grandfather. Donald may be dead now, but he has family. His nephew Justin didn’t follow in his footsteps being married to the X-Men’s Danielle Moonstar and working for the FBI in a special division. But Donald’s son Thomas did take over the company and apparently following in his father’s footsteps.”, Landon continued pulling up the next file he was referencing. So if we have Donald Trask, Olivia Queen and Thomas Pierce my question is how much like their ancestors are they.”, Landon commented. “Okay so fantastic we’ve got three legacies of mutant hating crazy. You think there’s more of a connection?”, Xavier asked.
“All three, well Page, Donald, and Bolivar were part of a group called the Purifiers which was under the authority of its founder William Stryker. I trust that name is familiar.”, Forge explained getting an idea of where Landon was going. Xavier’s face went blank, yeah he knew that name. “Stryker? I thought he was dead. I thought grandfather killed him…”, Xavier questioned. “Oh William is definitely dead. But the bloodline, not so much. His grandson David is alive and well.”, Landon said pulling up some new articles talking about David Stryker. “This can’t be good. If this David Stryker is involved, and is anything like his grandfather…”, Xavier shook his head. “Yeah we might have more than just assassination attempts to worry about, but worry what they are doing behind closed doors to mutants.”, Landon sighed. “Let’s start on the encryption and see what we find boys. Then we can go from there. Because well this is something I’m going to need to take to Duncan. Pierce is our side of the ocean so he’s going to become our priority.”, Forge said. “Agreed let’s find out what they are hiding and we can go from there.”, Landon agreed. He’d not wanted to get too involved with anything, he was trying to walk away from that possibility of being an X-Men. Or worse taking on the role as headmaster. He’d told Duncan he didn’t want the job but, he still worried that something would happen that would pull him back in. Something he couldn’t just walk away from. Xavier nodded in agreement the three starting to type feverishly on their computers as they started to work on breaking the layers of the encryption.
Since the charity terrorist attack Jonathan Fuller had been assigned a the story. He was told he needed to do a more in depth piece on the subject of the Church of Humanity vs Mutant Rights. After all there had been more than a few documented occurrences where masked vigilante mutants were showing up to help other mutants and protect them from the more extreme members of the church. And even within those masked groups it seemed there were two sides to the coin. One group consistently left the attackers alive and just tied up for police to take into custody where the other left dead bodies. Jonathan’s editor recommended he start with a Skye Kearney who’d been the first person at the event attacked. Apparently the young photo editor of GQ is involved with Mason Templeton the main target from the attack. And from his understanding of the attack she’d more than held her own in the fight refusing to leave when police were escorting people to safety.
Skye was busy trying to finish up a deadline for the next issue that needed to go to print when her receptionist buzzed. “Yea Mark?”, she asked. “Um you have a visitor….and he’s rather cute.”, Mark said whispering the last part. Skye furrowed her brow. “W’o is it?”, she asked. “Said his name is Jonathan Fuller from the Sun.”, Mark answered. Skye thought for a moment the name sounding familiar. Then glanced to her morning paper and saw the name in one of the front page articles. She wasn’t sure why he’d be coming to talk to her. “Alrig’t ya can send him in.”, Skye sighed. Mark smiled looking at Jonathan. “You can go in now Mister Fuller.”, Mark said. “Thanks.”, Jonathan smiled heading into the office. “Afternoon Miss Kearney.”, he greeted shutting the door. “Afternoon Mister Fuller. Wat can Ah do fer ya? Ah beg yer pardon but Ah not certain wat ya in mah office fer. GQ and da Sun are verra different in wat dey publish.”, she asked setting aside her work for the moment. “I’m doing a piece about the Church of Humanity and mutant rights. My editor recommended I start with you. You were after all the initial person assaulted during the terrorist attack at the Leah’s Lost Souls charity event. Correct?”, Jonathan explained smiling at her. He had to admit he hadn’t been sure what to expect meeting Mason Templeton’s latest girlfriend. But a ravishing redhead was not near the top of the list since most in the media knew the young CEO preferred blondes.
Skye sighed and nodded. She wished he’d called ahead so she could talk to Mason first before this. “Aye. Ah was at da event, mah boyfriend Mason is after all da founder of da foundation.”, she said. “And because Ah wid him da fools figured Ah would make a good damsel in distress.”, Skye explained being casual. Jonathan continued to smile and just nodded a little looking at her. Unlike Mason’s normal tastes Jonathan had always been a sucker for a red head ever since he had a crush on the red haired girl Shirley in his fifth grade class and happened to become his first kiss. He watched her lips moving and listened intently to her thick accent half paying attention as his mind was wondering a little forgetting that she had a boyfriend. Skye arched an eyebrow easily picking up the thoughts that were crossing his mind, she stifled a laugh. Okay so it was nice to know more than Mason thought of her sexually, and the guy wasn’t bad looking but she had Masons so the point was moot. “So ya ‘ave questions fer me den?”, she asked to snap him back to reality. Jonathan blinked and nodded. “Yes um questions right. I’ve heard plenty of hearsay about the events, having not attended myself. In your words would you describe how ti all started?”, he asked getting out a pad of paper and his pen ready to do some of his work and focus on that and not her lips.
“Well da crowd outside was already boiling over wid protesters dat don’t tink Mason is rig’t in his efforts ta ‘elp mutants in da United Kingdom. One even tried ta throw a tomato at his bodyguard as we was getting out o da car. But he had terrible aim and it hit da car instead. Den dere was da trio dat tried ta block da doors when we was entering wid deir majesties Hudson and Teresa Howlett of Madripoor. But o course Hudson s’owed dem ya don’t mess wid a Howlett.”, she smiled a little fondly thinking about it. Jonathan raised an eyebrow at how familiar she seemed to be speaking of the royals of Madripoor. “I take it that you know their majesties on a personal level?”, he asked. “Aye. Mah mate from university is Hudson’s younger sister. So Ah’ve met deir majesties and deir sweet barren a couple times.”, she explained. He made a small note. “So inside the event was anything off? Did you notice anything weird?”, he asked. “Ah was occupied wid being taken round da room meeting various people up ta and including our verra own royals with Mason ta pay much attention. It was when we went over ta his mates Ashton and Tiffany dat were speaking with Lord and Lady Duckworth-Chad and his bodyguard Adder dat tings started. Adder and Mason went outside fer some air.”, she started to explain.
“Without you? Granted this isn’t so much related to my article just a little curious, because it’d been implied by other media sources there is something with him and that bodyguard. Does it worry or bother you that a man known for sleeping with blondes has a blonde as a personal bodyguard and in this situation would go out for some air alone with her leaving you behind?”, he asked. Skye chuckled and shook her head knowing where he was going with that. “Not at all. Mason and Adder ‘ave been mates since university. Dey’ve ‘ad plenty of c’ances ta be romantically or intimately involved and never did. Ah kne dat dere’s c’emistry between dem, but given dey never act on it Ah don’t see a need ta worry. And Ah kne dat previous girls Mason ‘as been wid are blonde. But Ah like ta tink Ah’ve proven dat blondes may give ya a fun nig’t but we redheads are da ones ya never ferget. Especially w’en it a Kearney.”, she smirked. “I’m not sure what the Kearney part is about, I work with a Kearney Nichola I think though she’s got black hair. But I won’t disagree about your point of redheads. Not ashamed to admit that unlike your boyfriend I’ve always preferred fiery redheads.”, Jonathan shrugged with a smirk trying to not be flirty but his tone just couldn’t hide it. “But...um back to the questions. What happened next?”, he asked.
Skye smiled being polite. He was getting flirty and she had to admit she wasn’t offended. “Not long after that is when a waiter grabbed me and pointed a gun at my face asking fer Mason.”, she said with a shrug like it was nothing. “You seem rather indifferent about that. Most people man or woman would be afraid in that moment.”, Jonathan commented. “Ah dinna fash. He was ‘olding it all wrong ta really scare me.”, she grinned. “And you know that how?”, he asked. “Ah kne ‘ow ta fire a a gun. Ah told da man ta oint it else w’re before Ah s’ove it up his arse. He dinna listen, instead he called me mouthy.”, she smirked. “Bloke went ta try and slap me fer being sassy. He dinna get to since Ah punc’ed him ‘ard in da stomach getting him ta double in pain. Ah grabbed da wrist he was flimsily ‘old da gun in and tig’tened mah grip making him drop it. Next ting Ah kne some masked person drops outta da ceiling taking bullet intended fer mah boyfriend w’o on da ground his bodyguard getting him outta ‘arms way as she should.”, she explained. “You must have one hell of a bunch and grip to bring a grown man down, because no offense you don’t look that strong.”, Jonathan commented. Skye chuckled thinking to herself if he only knew how deceiving her appearance was for how strong she was. “Aye well appearances can be deceiving. From dat first s’ot it just became c’aos. Mason, Adder, Ashton, Tiffany, deir majesties, mahself and dis makes individual set ta knocking skulls. In da end we won and dey went ta jail. Ah ‘ad a bruise on mah wrist from dat first bloke grabbing me and one on mah leg from someone trying ta take me down ‘itting me wid deir gun after it misfired. His majesty Hudson was shot but not’ing serious at least.”, she concluded.
Jonathan nodded making a couple notes. “Seems you and the others you mentioned are rather good fighters. So do you know anything about the Church of Humanity that you could tell me?”, he asked. Skye shook her head. “Beyond dat dey ‘ate mongers dat fear mutants and tink dey can wipe dem off da planet, nope. If ya ain’t got more questions Ah got tings Ah need to approve fer our next issue.”, she said looking down to the papers on her desk. Jonathan sighed, he couldn’t place it maybe call it journalist intuition but he had the feeling there was more than she was giving him. “What if I asked those questions off the record?”, he asked. “Ah’d give ya da same answer. Maybe ya s’ould be talking ta Mason. He da one dey want dead, not me. Ah was just deir means ta get ta him and Ah tink dey learned dis bird ain’t some damsel in distress.”, she suggested. “Oh I have a meeting set with him next. I just...you are a bit of an enigma Miss Kearney. And my gut tells me you aren’t giving me the straight truth. You’re holding something back.”, he said not moving from his chair. Skye rolled her eyes. Attractive or not she would not and could not discuss even a fifth of what she knew about the church, about Mason, and about her fighting skills. That was Excalibur business and therefore she’d take it to her grave. “Ah not sure ‘ow ya figure a lass from Glasgow is an enigma. Perhaps yer gut is telling ya yer hungry. And Ah don’t tink yer one to talk bout ‘olding back.”, she retorted leaning forward resting her forearms on her desk.
“I don’t know what you would think I’m holding back Miss Kearney.”, he countered though his eyes briefly glanced down at the cleavage being unintentionally presented. She could easily see into his mind. Sure he’d kept things professional but the way he looked at her and his tone at some points he was flirting. And it didn’t take telepathy to notice him look at her chest or get an idea of what he was thinking. The telepathy just told her exactly what he was thinking and at the moment he was thinking about having sex with her on her desk followed by wondering if she’d let him and then how bad Mason would kick his ass if he did. Skye smirked a little. “Well fer starters ya were just looking at mah breasts and doesn’t exactly take a rocket scientist to get an idea o wat yer tinking.”, Skye explained. Jonathan laughed a little in a slightly nervous way being caught. “My apologies Miss Kearney. Curse of being a man I suppose. Something comes into your line of sight that you find appealing you look.”, he apologized. Skye nodded. “Aye. Dat more a curse o being ‘uman. Ya tink women don’t check men out? Cause we do. In regards ta yer article, Ah ain’t got more ta say on da subject. So Ah suppose dis da point Ah tell ya good day and ya leave.”, she said sitting back in her office chair.
“Alright well non-article questions then. Do you see anything appealing in your line of sight?”, he asked. Skye laughed a little about to reply when her intercom buzzed. “Skye? Sorry to interrupt. But Brian is on line one wanting to know when you’ll have the photo selections ready for print.”, Mark’s voice spoke timidly. “Well dat would be da end of yer time Mister Fuller. Ya kne yer way out.”, she said picking up her phone and hitting the flashing light for line one. “Ello Brian. Aye Ah got dem just bout ready. Got a few more ta approve den Ah’ll bring dem up.”, she greeted. Jonathan let out an exasperated breath standing up. Mark frowned a little seeing Jonathan walking out looking a bit defeated. “Didn’t get to ask all the questioned you needed Mister Fuller?”, Mark asked. “Something like that and didn’t get answers to some of what I did get to ask.”, Jonathan shrugged before leaving the office. He could have sworn that she had flirted back, at least a little. But he pushed it aside she was dating Mason Templeton, CEO of Templeton Enterprises and founder of Leah’s Lost Souls a millionaire. Why would she bother flirting with a journalist like him. But he still couldn’t shake the feeling she knew more than she was telling him. He just didn’t know how much more.
Adder had been basically on high alert since the attack at the charity event. And the number of death threats against Mason had doubled since as well. She’d also been dodging calls from her biological mother. She just was in no mood to deal with whatever the woman had to say. Even if she was sorry and wanted to make amends. Adder had never needed the woman and didn’t need her now. She had her own family now, she had her friends. And Mason was getting better about spending time and actually being there as a friend again. And with the added death threats she had more important things to deal with than a woman who hadn’t wanted her. Today was the agreed meeting with a journalist named Jonathan Fuller from the Sun. Adder had gotten Alan to do a full background check on the man before she’d agree to the idea of Mason giving the interview. Last thing she wanted was more unwanted attention drawn to Mason. If she could have it her way he wouldn’t talk to the media about it, but he insisted he had to keep up appearances and make sure the COH knew this wasn’t going to stop him. “Ah still don’t like t’is idea.”, she muttered sitting in Mason’s office. Mason chuckled a little. “Oh come on pet. It’s just an interview. He’s passed Alan’s security checks, Skye already interviewed with him, and you’ll be in the room the whole time.”, he commented. Adder narrowed her copper eyes briefly. “Ah just don’t t’ink added attention is t’e answer.”, she commented as there was a knock at the door.
Donald peeked his head in. “Mister Templeton? Mister Fuller is here.”, Donald announced. “You worry too much pet.”, Mason commented before looking to Donald. “Send him in Donald.”, Mason instructed. Donald nodded and opened the door fully. “Mister Templeton will see you now.”, he said pointing Jonathan into the office. “Thanks mate.”, Jonathan smiled walking into the office. Donald closed the door once Jonathan was inside. “Thanks for meeting with me Mister Templeton. My paper wants me to do an extended piece in regards to the recent terrorist actions of the Church of Humanity and it’s effects on the mutant population. And well since right now you seem to be their target for the things you are doing to help mutants, you were an obviously place to start.”, he explained walking closer offering his hand to Mason. Adder watched him like the snake that she is, coiled and ready to pounce the moment he became a threat. Jonathan casted a cautious glance in the direction of Adder before looking back to Mason. Mason smiled noticing the glance and the subtle fear in Jonathan’s eyes. “She can be a bit intimidating a suppose. Personally I don’t find her threatening, but I’m not supposed to. Am I Adder?”, he smiled moving and shaking Jonathan’s hand. Adder rolled her eyes at Mason. “Nice to meet you Mister Fuller. As I understand it you are writing a story about the little scuffle from the charity event earlier this summer.”, he commented leaning against his desk gesturing for Jonathan to take a seat. “I wouldn’t call a terrorist attack a little scuffle.”, Jonathan said as he took a seat.
“Well I wouldn’t call it much of a terrorist attack since they didn’t hurt anyone in the end.”, Mason commented. “I’m not certain that masked vigilante would find that true. He took a bullet for you. Now you Mister Templeton shocked a number of people with how you fought and wouldn’t leave when the police were trying to get the guests out of harms way. Care to share how you know how to fight like that? And if you can fight like that why do you require bodyguards?”, Jonathan asked. Mason smiled. “I was taught how to fight growing up. Boxing, martial arts all those extracurricular that my father could manage to enroll me into. And well I’ve often had a knack for getting in trouble, wouldn’t you agree Adder? So knowing how to fight was imperative.”, he explained glancing to Adder when he addressed her with a small smirk. “O yea’ ya certainly know ‘ow ta get yourself in trouble and t’en Ah ‘ave ta get you out of it.”, Adder muttered her eyes locked on Jonathan still assessing any threat level. Jonathan glanced over to Adder quickly looking back to Mason. Mason chuckled. “Don’t mind Adder’s tone. She loves me. We’ve been mates since I was a freshmen in university. She’s now having to return the favor of how many times I got her out of trouble.”, Mason commented. Adder felt her heart skip for half a second but it returned to normal, of course he didn’t mean love in the way she actually felt but more of a love in regards to friends.
“I see. So my other question if you are such a good fighter why the bodyguards?”, Jonathan asked. “Oh that’s simple. I need someone to watch my back. And when I deal with my actual business I have to be focused on that I can’t be looking over my shoulder for the next loon to attack me. As you said I’ve made myself a bit of a target with my foundation. So knowing that I have someone like Adder there makes me feel safe.”, Mason shrugged. “Well some might argue that you painted the target when you appointed Miss Adder as your head of security.”, Jonathan countered. “I’m sure it did. But I don’t care. Adder is my mate and beyond that she’d a fierce fighter. If I’m going to have a bodyguard that person had better be as good as me in a fight. And the only two people I’d say are as good as me are Adder and my mate Ashton. And obviously Ashton has his own company to run so couldn’t get him to be my bodyguard. If someone doesn’t like that she’s a mutant that’s their problem. I don’t discriminate.”, Mason explained. Jonathan nodded jotting down a few notes to himself. “So what are your plans going forward? For dealing with the Church of Humanity and any threats on your life or your foundation?”, Jonathan asked.
Mason glanced to Adder who shook her head. She didn’t want to talk to another reporter. “Simple, Mister Fuller, I continue doing exactly what I’ve been doing. I wasn’t raised to cower or to back down. They got a taste of what me and my bodyguard can do. So I say they want a fight they’ll have one. They just better be prepared to lose. To ensure the safety of my foundation and each location as they open, my best and brightest are working on security measures to ensure rabble rousers cannot bring harm to any mutant who seeks refuge.”, Mason answered. Jonathan nodded. “I wish you the best of luck Mister Templeton. What you are doing is something worth taking the risk for. I have some more interviews I want to do. So thank you for your time.”, he said standing up. Mason nodded and shook his head. “Good luck with your article.”, Mason smiled. “Thanks.”, Jonathan said leaving the office. “See that wasn’t so bad pet.”, Mason smiled looking at Adder. “Ah guess. It could ‘ave been worse. Ah just don’t like ya becoming a bigger target.”, she frowned. Mason chuckled pushing off his desk and walking over to the chair she was sitting on placing his hands on the arms leaning down close to her face.
“Don’t frown pet. I’ve got you to protect me. Besides I want to be the target.”, he smiled kissing her forehead before standing back up. For a moment as he was leaning close to her face he’d considered kissing her lips. To just find out, to take the risk of it all falling apart. But he made the choice to not take that risk. No he was taking enough risks as he prodded the COH. He didn’t want to risk Adder’s loyalty and friendship or Skye’s love just to find out what her lips taste like. Adder held her breath, not even realizing it as he got so close to her. Since the charity event he’d been more on track with how he used to be around her. She let the breath out as he kissed her forehead. Of course he wasn’t going to kiss her, not how she wanted him to. She was still just his friend and he was in love with Skye. She just needed to accept that she’d never be more than that in his eyes. “W’y ya gotta be t’e target?”, she questioned. “Because if I’m the target we can handle whatever the church dares to throw at us. If I’m the target they can back off the other mutants who aren’t as trained in fighting or with their powers like us.”, he explained. “So ya’d rat’er be t’e martyr?”, she questioned not liking this one bit. Sure she admired that he would put his neck on line for mutant kind, but when push came to shove the good of the many did not outweigh the good of the one, at least not to her when that one was home. “Martyrs die, I don’t plan to die. And I don’t think you plan to let me die. With them gunning for me it gets media attention. Mister Fuller’s article will help. It will open the eyes of the people of not just our country but the world. Let them see the true evil that the church is.”, he explained smiling a little. Adder just sighed shaking her head a little knowing there was no talking him out of it.