HOME | DD

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

Donovan had already reported the incident into the Excalibur database and had sent Xavier an email wanting him to do some digging into the wait staff from the event. So Xavier and Alan were both digging into the same thing not knowing the other was investigating. Both found their way to the same final result. It took a few days of digging because it was very well hidden, companies part of companies part of companies and so forth. By the time the digging was complete Rose was back from Bayville. Xavier had sent a notice to all Excalibur members to meet at Muir Island he had something. So once time was allowed they all started to appear in the meeting area of Muir Island. Xavier was sitting at the head of the table with his tablet in his hand. He’d linked it up to the main screen behind him so he could easily go over what he’d found with the team. He hated that he couldn’t go on missions like the others, trained or not his Aunt wasn’t willing to risk his safety. He waited till the team had all taken seats before standing up. “Thanks for coming everyone. I know I don’t generally call meetings, usually it’s Aunt Rose’s job for that.”, Xavier greeted with a smile.
“You said you found something?”, Rose asked. Xavier nodded. “Indeed I did. And wow I didn’t expect I. I had to conference with Forge a couple days ago and do some digging on his side just to see that I’m right.”, Xavier explained. “Get on wid it den.”, Donovan encouraged. Ashley glanced a bit annoyed at her cousin, the water in Donovan’s bottle shooting out and hitting him the face. “Shh my husband is talking.”, Ashley scolded. Rose tried to not laugh, Atif and Skye did laugh as Donovan wiped his face off with his shirt. “Thank you Saiai. As I was saying...I double checked with Forge. The company that managed the wait staff from the COH hit on Leah’s Lost Souls even last month is a sub of a sub of a sub of a shell company. But it all brought me back in the end to Trask Industries. I recognized the name from stuff that Landon and I had talked about back in high school when we studied under Forge. So I double checked with Forge that it’s the same Trask that I recognized. And Forge confirmed it’s the same. For those of you who are looking at me like I’m a hydra. Trask Industries was founded by Boliva Trask. He was the creator of the sentinels that years back gave my grandfather trouble before the government shut them down. Boliva is of course dead, however his son Larry did survive and it’s Larry’s son Donald that is in charge of the company now. And Donald is following in his grandfather and great uncle’s footsteps and wants the mutant race wiped off the planet. So from the looks of it he’s one for the big players in the COH and basically from what me and Forge could dig up there’s a price on Mason’s head.”, Xavier explained as pictures and lines of connection started to display on the screen behind him.
“Ah volunteer ‘appily ta keep a watc’full eye on Mason.”, Skye smirked raising her hand. Donovan rolled his eyes. “Ah tink yer a bit too close ta da situation fer dat.”, Donovan said. “Skye will keep an eye on Mason.”, Rose stated. “But..”, Donovan tried to argue. “Mason trusts her and she’s the one who can literally be at his side without any issues. So Skye will keep her eyes on Mason, if something comes up and backup is needed she’ll call for it. Anyone associated with Mason is basically a target. So I want someone to keep their eyes on his friend Adder when she’s not around Mason and Skye.”, Rose said starting to break things down. “I can keep an eye on Adder. I’ve gotta start doing some of my residency work down in London anyways.”, Atif offered. “Or Ah can.”, Donovan offered. “Atif will take it. Adder knows your face Donovan. You’ll get spotted. She doesn’t know Atif. Who else is close to Mason?”, she asked looking to Skye. “Dere his parents in York. But dey generally covered since his dah in politics. Dere his little sista Gabrielle she living in Nottingham wid her boyfriend Andy. Andy is a ‘uman but he aware of mutants and da Gabrielle is one. And den dere As’ton and Tiffany and Mason’s godson Blake in Manchester.”, Skye explained. “Alright Billy you keep your eyes on Gabrielle and this Andy. Ashley if you can kept tabs on Mister and Misses Templeton. I suppose Donovan and I will keep track of Ashton and Tiffany and the baby. Xavier I want you to keep working with Forge. Let’s see what else the Church of Humanity is hiding. and get anything you can about Trask.”, Rose concluded. “I’m on it Aunt Rose.”, Xavier nodded shutting down the screens he’d had up.
“So ot’er dan going to Bayville early and coming back to dis how was yer trip?”, Skye asked as everyone was getting ready to go. “It was too short. Faelan was so happy to see me when I got there. Hearing him say momma over the phone or skype is nice but god hearing that sweet voice say that word to me in person I melt. Merrick was a wreck when I first got there. Hazel dying was I think hardest on him. She was so important to him. Just like he was so important to him. And a couple times while I was there I seriously thought he was going to propose.”, she sighed. Skye blinked. “Porpose? Really? Oh dis Ah gotta hear.”, Skye said sitting back down wanting to get this story. “His nana seemed very set on the idea of me with him. She even put me in her will. She gave me ten thousand pounds but also jewelry. Most importantly she gave me her wedding pearls. These pearls apparently have been handed down to the first male of each generation since 1903 and given to their bride to wear on their wedding. It didn’t go to his great uncle Christian because well Christian was gay. And she didn’t give it to his dad or uncles since they are triplets she didn’t think it fair to pick.”, Rose explained. “Ooo wow. So dey go ta Merrick and his nana decided yer da bride?”, she smiled. “Apparently. I thought almost that was his build up to asking me to marry him. He said it wasn’t. But his nana hinted a lot in her will what she thought he should do.”, she frowned a little. Sure she’d not been sure she’d be able to say yes but part of her felt butterflies in a good way at the idea of Merrick proposing.
“More dan giving ya her wedding pears dat been ‘anded down da generations?”, she asked. “Yes. More than that. She left Merrick well she left him more than his great aunt, father and uncles combined. She gave him two hundred thousand pounds, not dollars pounds. And she left him the original Frost estate in Surrey.”, Rose explained. “Wow. So da old bird was dead set dat he s’ould be coming across da pond fer ya. He gunna move?”, Skye asked. Rose shrugged. “I don’t know. He said he wasn’t sure what to do. That he loves me and wants to be with me, but with everything going on in both our lives right now he’s just not sure moving Faelan like that is right for the moment. And I agree, I’ve got university to finish and with the chaos of the church of humanity right now I wouldn’t want to bring Faelan here. But otherwise there were just times during the month I thought he might be thinking about it. It wasn’t so much his words but more his body language. Merrick has never been one for words after all. Like when we went to Manhattan to hang out with my friends and we went to see Landon’s band play. It was just the way he looked at me during some of the songs and held my left hand rubbing my fingers. But he never asked. And it’s probably too soon for that anyways.”, she shrugged. “Hey mate, maybe he was tinking bout it, or maybe it just dat he loves ya and wid da recent loss o his nana he wants ta be dat much closer to ya.”, Skye sighed getting up and giving Rose a hug.
“Yeah you’re right. Even if he’d asked I don’t know what I’d say. It too soon I suppose. Just this trip there was more times that it was just us, his parents being up in Boston more and sometimes David and Aislinn went with them to help and Jacob and Solangel were in California while Jacob works on a building out there. It wasn’t always just the three of us, because there was still Sebastian but when he was home or had his friends over it was like having a teenage kid too. We cooked dinners, I surprised him a little by cooking more. It was just like we were a family this time. Sebastian sometimes was willing to babysit so we could go out just the two of us. And a couple times when Sebastian couldn’t babysit his friend Zoe was willing or my parents took Faelan. This time it just...it felt different. It was like a peek at what it could be like if we were really together, no ocean between us. And I loved it. Loved waking up next to him every morning, helping get Faelan breakfast and dressed, kissing Merrick goodbye when he went to work, spending the afternoon with just Faelan, hanging dinner as a family, putting Faelan to bed and well going to bed each night in his arms. I mean I know if we lived together here it wouldn’t be like that. I’d be at classes, or after graduation working at some doctor’s office and then going on missions.”, she frowned a little. “Aw. So da great Wolverine liked da feeling of being a stay at ‘ome momma. If he comes ‘ere, if he asks ya to marry him sure it won’t be exactly like yer mont’ dere but ya will still wake up next to him, still spend time wid Faelan and as a family, and still get ta go to bed in his arms. Dose are wat matter.”, Skye assured. Rose smiled. “Yeah. Stop making valid points. Go back to London and keep an eye on your boyfriend.”, Rose teased. “Oh Ah plan ta keep more dan mah eyes on him tonig’t.”, Skye winked. “Later Rose.”, she added hitting her teleporter. Rose sighed and hit hers going back to Cambridge.
Xavier wasn’t the only one to dig and find the connection to Trask Industries, Alan also figured that out. And when he did he went straight to Mason’s office. Donald looked up from his computer as Alan come rushing into the office carrying his table and some papers. “Can I help you Alan?”, Donald asked. “I need to speak with Mister Templeton immediately.”, Alan said trying to stop papers from falling. “He’s on a conference call at the moment. He should have a free minute after that to speak with you. If you want you can take a seat or come back later.”, Donald said glancing to Mason’s calendar. “I’ll wait.”, Alan said taking a seat. He nervously tapped his foot while he waited. Trask was a competitor company now to find out that even beyond wanting to try and get Templeton Enterprises out of business for the sake of being a competitor their CEO wants Mason dead for his foundation, it was a bit nerve racking. In his office Mason was leaning on his elbows with his forehead resting his palms talking to Khumar on a conference call. Khumar was proving to still be a difficult man to deal with for Mason. They’d been discussing business of an expansion on the factory that would double productivity and add more jobs to the area. Near what Mason hoped was the end of the call, Khumar was pushing wanting Mason to return to India soon.
“You should really come back to India, bring your lovely ‘bodyguard’.”, Khumar said putting a dirty context to the word bodyguard. “Khumar two things. First Adder is in the room and you are on speakerphone, so maybe stop being inappropriate. And second I have a girlfriend so again could you stop trying to be inappropriate.”, Mason sighed trying to maintain professionalism. Adder rolled her eyes even married now Khumar was terrible. “Oh, well have them both the more the merrier I always say. And hello lovely Nāga.”, Khumar smiled. Mason shook his head against his palms. “Khumar, how is Aishwarya...your wife? I understand congratulations are in order as you are expecting a son in the fall. You work fast.”, Mason teased a little changing the subject wanting to remind Khumar that he’s a married man. “Oh she’s well. Morning sickness still rampant in our house but well. Yes well Rohans don’t waste time I suppose. Heir to the family fortune is important. You should start thinking about it. Not like you don’t have options for who to have a son with.”, Khumar smirked. Adder shook her head, she didn’t really want to think about Mason starting a family with Skye. “Last time, please stop being inappropriate. I’ve only been with Skye, my girlfriend, for several months we aren’t exactly at the stage of talking marriage and children.”, Mason explained just wanting the call to end. “That’s plenty of time. And who says you have to be married to or even dating the woman you have children with?”, Khumar countered. Mason rolled his eyes and looked at Adder mouthing the words ‘Oh my god this man.’ Adder tried to not laugh. “I say. Khumar I should get going. I have another meeting to attend. I’ll talk to the board about the expansion plans. Goodbye.”, Mason said reaching for the end button. “Bye my friend.”, Khumar said just before Mason hung up.
“I swear...that man.”, Mason groaned shaking his head. “He’s terrible we bot’ know but ya need his company and ya’ve a contract t’at says ya can’t get rid of him.”, Adder shrugged. “Shouldn’t you be just as outraged at his words as I am? The man is sitting there basically implying all sorts of incredulous things about you and I. Going so far as to suggest things such as being with you and Skye at the same time. Heck the man suggest I have children with whoever doesn’t matter if it’s my girlfriend or if I’m married to the woman.”, he sighed shaking his head. “Ah am. Ya just outraged enoug’ fer us bot’, Mason. K’umar likes ta talk and being inappropriate is just part of t’at. Ah say selective listening. He can t’ink and say w’at he likes. We bot’ know yer not t’e sort o man t’at he is. W’en ya start a family we bot’ know it’ll be after yer married and wit’ someone ya love. Ya just ain’t t’e sort ta sleep round and certainly not t’e sort to knock a bird up just because ya can.”, Adder explained. “Fair enough. So what’s next on the schedule?”, he asked. “Lunc’.”, Adder stated standing up. “Donald before I go on lunch there anything not in my calendar?”, he asked buzzing Donald. “Actually sir Alan Kilty is out here wanting to speak with you. He seems a bit...off…”, Donald answered whispering the last part. Adder raised an eyebrow, Alan was always a little off but she knew Alan was looking into who hired the wait staff that went all terrorist at the charity event. “Send him in, lunch can wait.”, Mason instructed. Adder sighed and sat back down she was hungry and Mason had said they’d go to the Bear and Staff for some fish n chips and a pint. “Mister Templeton will see you now.”, Donald said pointing Alan to the door.
Alan quickly got his things together and went into the office closing the door. Mason arched an eyebrow looking at Alan, he could certainly see why Donald said he was off. Alan was always a bit scattered so Mason didn’t think much of the messy brown curls or that his tie was off centered and part of his shirt was untucked, however Alan seemed to be visibly shaking. “Alan?”, Mason greeted. “Sir..hold on..”, Alan said setting down his things on Mason’s desk and pulling a pen from his pants pocket and clicking it twice a red light flashing and scanning the room. Adder looked at Mason who shrugged at her not sure what his, neurotic borderline tourette's syndrome, tech guy was doing. “Okay it’s safe to talk.”, Alan said pocketing the pen after the light changed green. “W’at was t’at?”, Adder asked? “That Miss Adder is my invention that detects if there are any bugs in the room, not like the insect kind of but the kind used to eavesdrop on people. I needed to know that we were secure before I started to talk.”, Alan explained picking up some of the papers and handing them to Mason. Mason took the pages and started to look them over. “Am I? Am I reading this correctly Alan?”, Mason asked handing the page to Adder to look at. Alan nodded three times, one of his ticks Mason had learned. “Yes sir. I did that digging you asked me to. And it all lead me back to Trask Industries. I put a trojan into their computer system, specially Donald Trask himself’s computer. That way it will report back to me on any activities that he’s taking part of.”, he said nodding again three times. “So as you can see from my findings… Task is apparently a backer of the COH financially and is using it to further his own desires. Which includes killing you sir.”, Alan explained twitching a little nervous.
Mason sighed and stood up putting a hand on Alan’s shoulder. “Calm down Alan. Trask can try all he likes to get to me. He’s not going to succeed. I’m rather well protected.”, Mason assured glancing to Adder. Adder set the paper aside and nodded. “Ain’t nobody gonna ‘urt Mason Alan. Ah get paid ta make sure t’ey don’t. Now t’at we know w’o be’ind it we can better prepare. Ya just keep doing yer job and Ah’ll keep doing mine. Between us we’ll keep Mason safe.”, she assured. Alan nodded his traditional three time. “Okay, if you...you’re sure. I’ll keep digging and let you know if I get anything from the trojan. Just...well here.”, he said giving Mason the pen. “So you know you are safe to talk.”, Alan said before leaving. Mason arched his brow again watching Alan leave looking down at the pen. “Well at least we have a name for who’s trying to kill me.”, he shrugged putting the pen into his pocket. “Yea. Now a question is did yer bird and her people figure dis out too?”, she asked putting the paper work safely into a locked cabinet in the office. “Oh I’m sure they have someone like we have Alan. Kind of doubt that Skye would be letting someone trying to kill me just slide.”, Mason smiled grabbing his jacket. “Come on pet, I owe you some fish n chips and a pint.”, he suggested. Adder nodded a little grabbing her jacket as they walked out together. “Be back in about two hours Donald.”, Mason waved as they left the office to have lunch.
There was so much more that both Excalibur and Mason’s team didn’t know about the Church of Humanity and it’s real puppeteers. Donald Trask was certainly not the only one, he just happened to be the first they found. And at least, for now he didn’t know he’d been found out. He didn’t even know that a trojan had been planted into the computer system used in his company to spy on him. Donald was in his office on a video conference call with his three colleagues that all were the puppeteers of the Church of Humanity. Trask looked very much like his grandfather Boliva having the same squared jawline. “So our attempt to eliminate Mason Templeton failed last month. I believe we have truly underestimated Templeton and what he is capable of. We need to find more out about this man to better know his weakness and take him out. Ideas?”, Trask asked looking at the video screen. “I have a scientist here in my location that I had working with experimenting on mutants but I am moving him over to a different department, He’s got an aptitude for computers and hacking. I will put him on trying to find out more about Mason Templeton.”, Olivia Queen spoke up. “Who’s the hacker? Can he be trusted?”, David Stryker asked. “Last thing we need is a double agent situation.”, Thomas Pierce chimed in. “Webber Torque is his name. And he has so far proven to be rather valuable to us. He’s been able to give us technology that rivals that of Silvercloud.”, Queen replied. “Alright well implement that next phase. After he digs up some dirt on Templeton we will need him to start looking into Silvercloud. They are getting too big for our tastes and we know that they give funds to pro mutant organizations in America.”, Trask said with a nod. “Already have him digging into both. We shall have answers soon.”, Queen answered. “Alright so let’s ready for our next move.”, Stryker said. “We all know what to do. We will reconvene in a month.”, Trask said as the conference ended.
Over at Queen Incorporated Webber had been moved to a new officer, rather against his wishes. He had grown rather fond of one of the test subjects that some of his own tech had been used against. He hated that his tech was being used to hurt the woman, but there was little he could do about it. She didn’t even remember her real name when he was originally became employed at Queen Incorporated. The scientists just called her experiment 35, some called her Myst on the sly. They’d been experimenting on her since she was a child trying to understand her mutant that allowed her to become a gaseous state. The issue was that after all the years of experimenting she hadn’t been able to reform to a solid person. Unknown to his superiors Webber was working to find a way to control her powers so she could become solid once again. They may not have known what he was working on, but they had of course observed that he showed a sort of favoritism to experiment 35. He was certain that was why they were reassigning him to a different department. As he followed the armed guard to the room he blinked in awe at the work space he was being given it, It was triple his previous space with a number of computers but he saw no one else working in the room which he was sure was intended for a team.
Webber was pushed into a chair in front of a row of computer screens. “So what do you think of your new facilities Webber?”, Olivia Queen asked walking into the room wearing a white skirt and blazer suit set extending her arms out. Webber turned and blinked he’d never seen his employer in person before but he at least knew what Olivia Queen looked like. She was probably a beautiful woman in her youth, but now age lines were just visible on her once flawless face (it obvious to Webber’s keen eye she probably had plastic surgery) and what was probably blonde hair was all gray worn short and chopped slightly at an angle so one side was a bit longer than the other. “Um..sure. But why am I here? Did I do something wrong that I got pulled from my assignment?”, Webber asked trying to stand but the guard just pushed him back into the chair. “Wrong?”, she laughed though Webber was certain it was more a witch’s cackle. “Heaven's no Webber. You are just needed elsewhere. I need you to do some investigating for me. Check up on our competition. And you are the brightest in the world able to hack basically anything.”, she smiled deviously. “Um okay. Who am I investigating?”, he asked trepidatiously. “Mason Templeton the CEO of Templeton Enterprises and Jonathon Silvercloud of Silvercloud.”, she explained. “Alright. I’ll get started ma’am.”, Webber said spinning his chair and booting up the computer to start his research.
Three floors down experiment 35 floated around her containment cell, having given up many years ago of escaping. Her day was monanontinty just solitude between scientists coming to test this or that on her. The only thing that had broken that up over the last three years was one scientist he called himself Arcade, he enjoyed games. When no one else was around he’d come and bring a chess board, moving her pieces for her and talk to her. She watched for him but today he didn’t come. Webber didn’t like that he had to leave Myst, but he had little choice in the matter. So instead he hacked the security camera that faced her cell and the monitor he knew she could see. While he ran various programs to find out more information about Mason Templeton and Jonathon Silvercloud he brought up a chat window and started to type to Myst. ‘Myst. It’s Arcade. They relocated me three floors up. Not sure if it’s because they have noticed me being nice to you or just they couldn’t find someone else to do the work. I took over the security camera by your cell, just nod so I know you read this.’ he sighed hitting enter. Myst noticed the screen go black which usually was just playing a loop of an infomercial, intended she assumed to just drive her crazy. She blinked, well to the best that a gaseous faint form of a woman could as she read his message. So that’s why he didn’t come. They forced him to leave her department. She nodded a little looking up at the camera. Webber sighed, he felt bad he was leaving her down there essentially to the wolves.

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

Donovan had already reported the incident into the Excalibur database and had sent Xavier an email wanting him to do some digging into the wait staff from the event. So Xavier and Alan were both digging into the same thing not knowing the other was investigating. Both found their way to the same final result. It took a few days of digging because it was very well hidden, companies part of companies part of companies and so forth. By the time the digging was complete Rose was back from Bayville. Xavier had sent a notice to all Excalibur members to meet at Muir Island he had something. So once time was allowed they all started to appear in the meeting area of Muir Island. Xavier was sitting at the head of the table with his tablet in his hand. He’d linked it up to the main screen behind him so he could easily go over what he’d found with the team. He hated that he couldn’t go on missions like the others, trained or not his Aunt wasn’t willing to risk his safety. He waited till the team had all taken seats before standing up. “Thanks for coming everyone. I know I don’t generally call meetings, usually it’s Aunt Rose’s job for that.”, Xavier greeted with a smile.
“You said you found something?”, Rose asked. Xavier nodded. “Indeed I did. And wow I didn’t expect I. I had to conference with Forge a couple days ago and do some digging on his side just to see that I’m right.”, Xavier explained. “Get on wid it den.”, Donovan encouraged. Ashley glanced a bit annoyed at her cousin, the water in Donovan’s bottle shooting out and hitting him the face. “Shh my husband is talking.”, Ashley scolded. Rose tried to not laugh, Atif and Skye did laugh as Donovan wiped his face off with his shirt. “Thank you Saiai. As I was saying...I double checked with Forge. The company that managed the wait staff from the COH hit on Leah’s Lost Souls even last month is a sub of a sub of a sub of a shell company. But it all brought me back in the end to Trask Industries. I recognized the name from stuff that Landon and I had talked about back in high school when we studied under Forge. So I double checked with Forge that it’s the same Trask that I recognized. And Forge confirmed it’s the same. For those of you who are looking at me like I’m a hydra. Trask Industries was founded by Boliva Trask. He was the creator of the sentinels that years back gave my grandfather trouble before the government shut them down. Boliva is of course dead, however his son Larry did survive and it’s Larry’s son Donald that is in charge of the company now. And Donald is following in his grandfather and great uncle’s footsteps and wants the mutant race wiped off the planet. So from the looks of it he’s one for the big players in the COH and basically from what me and Forge could dig up there’s a price on Mason’s head.”, Xavier explained as pictures and lines of connection started to display on the screen behind him.
“Ah volunteer ‘appily ta keep a watc’full eye on Mason.”, Skye smirked raising her hand. Donovan rolled his eyes. “Ah tink yer a bit too close ta da situation fer dat.”, Donovan said. “Skye will keep an eye on Mason.”, Rose stated. “But..”, Donovan tried to argue. “Mason trusts her and she’s the one who can literally be at his side without any issues. So Skye will keep her eyes on Mason, if something comes up and backup is needed she’ll call for it. Anyone associated with Mason is basically a target. So I want someone to keep their eyes on his friend Adder when she’s not around Mason and Skye.”, Rose said starting to break things down. “I can keep an eye on Adder. I’ve gotta start doing some of my residency work down in London anyways.”, Atif offered. “Or Ah can.”, Donovan offered. “Atif will take it. Adder knows your face Donovan. You’ll get spotted. She doesn’t know Atif. Who else is close to Mason?”, she asked looking to Skye. “Dere his parents in York. But dey generally covered since his dah in politics. Dere his little sista Gabrielle she living in Nottingham wid her boyfriend Andy. Andy is a ‘uman but he aware of mutants and da Gabrielle is one. And den dere As’ton and Tiffany and Mason’s godson Blake in Manchester.”, Skye explained. “Alright Billy you keep your eyes on Gabrielle and this Andy. Ashley if you can kept tabs on Mister and Misses Templeton. I suppose Donovan and I will keep track of Ashton and Tiffany and the baby. Xavier I want you to keep working with Forge. Let’s see what else the Church of Humanity is hiding. and get anything you can about Trask.”, Rose concluded. “I’m on it Aunt Rose.”, Xavier nodded shutting down the screens he’d had up.
“So ot’er dan going to Bayville early and coming back to dis how was yer trip?”, Skye asked as everyone was getting ready to go. “It was too short. Faelan was so happy to see me when I got there. Hearing him say momma over the phone or skype is nice but god hearing that sweet voice say that word to me in person I melt. Merrick was a wreck when I first got there. Hazel dying was I think hardest on him. She was so important to him. Just like he was so important to him. And a couple times while I was there I seriously thought he was going to propose.”, she sighed. Skye blinked. “Porpose? Really? Oh dis Ah gotta hear.”, Skye said sitting back down wanting to get this story. “His nana seemed very set on the idea of me with him. She even put me in her will. She gave me ten thousand pounds but also jewelry. Most importantly she gave me her wedding pearls. These pearls apparently have been handed down to the first male of each generation since 1903 and given to their bride to wear on their wedding. It didn’t go to his great uncle Christian because well Christian was gay. And she didn’t give it to his dad or uncles since they are triplets she didn’t think it fair to pick.”, Rose explained. “Ooo wow. So dey go ta Merrick and his nana decided yer da bride?”, she smiled. “Apparently. I thought almost that was his build up to asking me to marry him. He said it wasn’t. But his nana hinted a lot in her will what she thought he should do.”, she frowned a little. Sure she’d not been sure she’d be able to say yes but part of her felt butterflies in a good way at the idea of Merrick proposing.
“More dan giving ya her wedding pears dat been ‘anded down da generations?”, she asked. “Yes. More than that. She left Merrick well she left him more than his great aunt, father and uncles combined. She gave him two hundred thousand pounds, not dollars pounds. And she left him the original Frost estate in Surrey.”, Rose explained. “Wow. So da old bird was dead set dat he s’ould be coming across da pond fer ya. He gunna move?”, Skye asked. Rose shrugged. “I don’t know. He said he wasn’t sure what to do. That he loves me and wants to be with me, but with everything going on in both our lives right now he’s just not sure moving Faelan like that is right for the moment. And I agree, I’ve got university to finish and with the chaos of the church of humanity right now I wouldn’t want to bring Faelan here. But otherwise there were just times during the month I thought he might be thinking about it. It wasn’t so much his words but more his body language. Merrick has never been one for words after all. Like when we went to Manhattan to hang out with my friends and we went to see Landon’s band play. It was just the way he looked at me during some of the songs and held my left hand rubbing my fingers. But he never asked. And it’s probably too soon for that anyways.”, she shrugged. “Hey mate, maybe he was tinking bout it, or maybe it just dat he loves ya and wid da recent loss o his nana he wants ta be dat much closer to ya.”, Skye sighed getting up and giving Rose a hug.
“Yeah you’re right. Even if he’d asked I don’t know what I’d say. It too soon I suppose. Just this trip there was more times that it was just us, his parents being up in Boston more and sometimes David and Aislinn went with them to help and Jacob and Solangel were in California while Jacob works on a building out there. It wasn’t always just the three of us, because there was still Sebastian but when he was home or had his friends over it was like having a teenage kid too. We cooked dinners, I surprised him a little by cooking more. It was just like we were a family this time. Sebastian sometimes was willing to babysit so we could go out just the two of us. And a couple times when Sebastian couldn’t babysit his friend Zoe was willing or my parents took Faelan. This time it just...it felt different. It was like a peek at what it could be like if we were really together, no ocean between us. And I loved it. Loved waking up next to him every morning, helping get Faelan breakfast and dressed, kissing Merrick goodbye when he went to work, spending the afternoon with just Faelan, hanging dinner as a family, putting Faelan to bed and well going to bed each night in his arms. I mean I know if we lived together here it wouldn’t be like that. I’d be at classes, or after graduation working at some doctor’s office and then going on missions.”, she frowned a little. “Aw. So da great Wolverine liked da feeling of being a stay at ‘ome momma. If he comes ‘ere, if he asks ya to marry him sure it won’t be exactly like yer mont’ dere but ya will still wake up next to him, still spend time wid Faelan and as a family, and still get ta go to bed in his arms. Dose are wat matter.”, Skye assured. Rose smiled. “Yeah. Stop making valid points. Go back to London and keep an eye on your boyfriend.”, Rose teased. “Oh Ah plan ta keep more dan mah eyes on him tonig’t.”, Skye winked. “Later Rose.”, she added hitting her teleporter. Rose sighed and hit hers going back to Cambridge.
Xavier wasn’t the only one to dig and find the connection to Trask Industries, Alan also figured that out. And when he did he went straight to Mason’s office. Donald looked up from his computer as Alan come rushing into the office carrying his table and some papers. “Can I help you Alan?”, Donald asked. “I need to speak with Mister Templeton immediately.”, Alan said trying to stop papers from falling. “He’s on a conference call at the moment. He should have a free minute after that to speak with you. If you want you can take a seat or come back later.”, Donald said glancing to Mason’s calendar. “I’ll wait.”, Alan said taking a seat. He nervously tapped his foot while he waited. Trask was a competitor company now to find out that even beyond wanting to try and get Templeton Enterprises out of business for the sake of being a competitor their CEO wants Mason dead for his foundation, it was a bit nerve racking. In his office Mason was leaning on his elbows with his forehead resting his palms talking to Khumar on a conference call. Khumar was proving to still be a difficult man to deal with for Mason. They’d been discussing business of an expansion on the factory that would double productivity and add more jobs to the area. Near what Mason hoped was the end of the call, Khumar was pushing wanting Mason to return to India soon.
“You should really come back to India, bring your lovely ‘bodyguard’.”, Khumar said putting a dirty context to the word bodyguard. “Khumar two things. First Adder is in the room and you are on speakerphone, so maybe stop being inappropriate. And second I have a girlfriend so again could you stop trying to be inappropriate.”, Mason sighed trying to maintain professionalism. Adder rolled her eyes even married now Khumar was terrible. “Oh, well have them both the more the merrier I always say. And hello lovely Nāga.”, Khumar smiled. Mason shook his head against his palms. “Khumar, how is Aishwarya...your wife? I understand congratulations are in order as you are expecting a son in the fall. You work fast.”, Mason teased a little changing the subject wanting to remind Khumar that he’s a married man. “Oh she’s well. Morning sickness still rampant in our house but well. Yes well Rohans don’t waste time I suppose. Heir to the family fortune is important. You should start thinking about it. Not like you don’t have options for who to have a son with.”, Khumar smirked. Adder shook her head, she didn’t really want to think about Mason starting a family with Skye. “Last time, please stop being inappropriate. I’ve only been with Skye, my girlfriend, for several months we aren’t exactly at the stage of talking marriage and children.”, Mason explained just wanting the call to end. “That’s plenty of time. And who says you have to be married to or even dating the woman you have children with?”, Khumar countered. Mason rolled his eyes and looked at Adder mouthing the words ‘Oh my god this man.’ Adder tried to not laugh. “I say. Khumar I should get going. I have another meeting to attend. I’ll talk to the board about the expansion plans. Goodbye.”, Mason said reaching for the end button. “Bye my friend.”, Khumar said just before Mason hung up.
“I swear...that man.”, Mason groaned shaking his head. “He’s terrible we bot’ know but ya need his company and ya’ve a contract t’at says ya can’t get rid of him.”, Adder shrugged. “Shouldn’t you be just as outraged at his words as I am? The man is sitting there basically implying all sorts of incredulous things about you and I. Going so far as to suggest things such as being with you and Skye at the same time. Heck the man suggest I have children with whoever doesn’t matter if it’s my girlfriend or if I’m married to the woman.”, he sighed shaking his head. “Ah am. Ya just outraged enoug’ fer us bot’, Mason. K’umar likes ta talk and being inappropriate is just part of t’at. Ah say selective listening. He can t’ink and say w’at he likes. We bot’ know yer not t’e sort o man t’at he is. W’en ya start a family we bot’ know it’ll be after yer married and wit’ someone ya love. Ya just ain’t t’e sort ta sleep round and certainly not t’e sort to knock a bird up just because ya can.”, Adder explained. “Fair enough. So what’s next on the schedule?”, he asked. “Lunc’.”, Adder stated standing up. “Donald before I go on lunch there anything not in my calendar?”, he asked buzzing Donald. “Actually sir Alan Kilty is out here wanting to speak with you. He seems a bit...off…”, Donald answered whispering the last part. Adder raised an eyebrow, Alan was always a little off but she knew Alan was looking into who hired the wait staff that went all terrorist at the charity event. “Send him in, lunch can wait.”, Mason instructed. Adder sighed and sat back down she was hungry and Mason had said they’d go to the Bear and Staff for some fish n chips and a pint. “Mister Templeton will see you now.”, Donald said pointing Alan to the door.
Alan quickly got his things together and went into the office closing the door. Mason arched an eyebrow looking at Alan, he could certainly see why Donald said he was off. Alan was always a bit scattered so Mason didn’t think much of the messy brown curls or that his tie was off centered and part of his shirt was untucked, however Alan seemed to be visibly shaking. “Alan?”, Mason greeted. “Sir..hold on..”, Alan said setting down his things on Mason’s desk and pulling a pen from his pants pocket and clicking it twice a red light flashing and scanning the room. Adder looked at Mason who shrugged at her not sure what his, neurotic borderline tourette's syndrome, tech guy was doing. “Okay it’s safe to talk.”, Alan said pocketing the pen after the light changed green. “W’at was t’at?”, Adder asked? “That Miss Adder is my invention that detects if there are any bugs in the room, not like the insect kind of but the kind used to eavesdrop on people. I needed to know that we were secure before I started to talk.”, Alan explained picking up some of the papers and handing them to Mason. Mason took the pages and started to look them over. “Am I? Am I reading this correctly Alan?”, Mason asked handing the page to Adder to look at. Alan nodded three times, one of his ticks Mason had learned. “Yes sir. I did that digging you asked me to. And it all lead me back to Trask Industries. I put a trojan into their computer system, specially Donald Trask himself’s computer. That way it will report back to me on any activities that he’s taking part of.”, he said nodding again three times. “So as you can see from my findings… Task is apparently a backer of the COH financially and is using it to further his own desires. Which includes killing you sir.”, Alan explained twitching a little nervous.
Mason sighed and stood up putting a hand on Alan’s shoulder. “Calm down Alan. Trask can try all he likes to get to me. He’s not going to succeed. I’m rather well protected.”, Mason assured glancing to Adder. Adder set the paper aside and nodded. “Ain’t nobody gonna ‘urt Mason Alan. Ah get paid ta make sure t’ey don’t. Now t’at we know w’o be’ind it we can better prepare. Ya just keep doing yer job and Ah’ll keep doing mine. Between us we’ll keep Mason safe.”, she assured. Alan nodded his traditional three time. “Okay, if you...you’re sure. I’ll keep digging and let you know if I get anything from the trojan. Just...well here.”, he said giving Mason the pen. “So you know you are safe to talk.”, Alan said before leaving. Mason arched his brow again watching Alan leave looking down at the pen. “Well at least we have a name for who’s trying to kill me.”, he shrugged putting the pen into his pocket. “Yea. Now a question is did yer bird and her people figure dis out too?”, she asked putting the paper work safely into a locked cabinet in the office. “Oh I’m sure they have someone like we have Alan. Kind of doubt that Skye would be letting someone trying to kill me just slide.”, Mason smiled grabbing his jacket. “Come on pet, I owe you some fish n chips and a pint.”, he suggested. Adder nodded a little grabbing her jacket as they walked out together. “Be back in about two hours Donald.”, Mason waved as they left the office to have lunch.
There was so much more that both Excalibur and Mason’s team didn’t know about the Church of Humanity and it’s real puppeteers. Donald Trask was certainly not the only one, he just happened to be the first they found. And at least, for now he didn’t know he’d been found out. He didn’t even know that a trojan had been planted into the computer system used in his company to spy on him. Donald was in his office on a video conference call with his three colleagues that all were the puppeteers of the Church of Humanity. Trask looked very much like his grandfather Boliva having the same squared jawline. “So our attempt to eliminate Mason Templeton failed last month. I believe we have truly underestimated Templeton and what he is capable of. We need to find more out about this man to better know his weakness and take him out. Ideas?”, Trask asked looking at the video screen. “I have a scientist here in my location that I had working with experimenting on mutants but I am moving him over to a different department, He’s got an aptitude for computers and hacking. I will put him on trying to find out more about Mason Templeton.”, Olivia Queen spoke up. “Who’s the hacker? Can he be trusted?”, David Stryker asked. “Last thing we need is a double agent situation.”, Thomas Pierce chimed in. “Webber Torque is his name. And he has so far proven to be rather valuable to us. He’s been able to give us technology that rivals that of Silvercloud.”, Queen replied. “Alright well implement that next phase. After he digs up some dirt on Templeton we will need him to start looking into Silvercloud. They are getting too big for our tastes and we know that they give funds to pro mutant organizations in America.”, Trask said with a nod. “Already have him digging into both. We shall have answers soon.”, Queen answered. “Alright so let’s ready for our next move.”, Stryker said. “We all know what to do. We will reconvene in a month.”, Trask said as the conference ended.
Over at Queen Incorporated Webber had been moved to a new officer, rather against his wishes. He had grown rather fond of one of the test subjects that some of his own tech had been used against. He hated that his tech was being used to hurt the woman, but there was little he could do about it. She didn’t even remember her real name when he was originally became employed at Queen Incorporated. The scientists just called her experiment 35, some called her Myst on the sly. They’d been experimenting on her since she was a child trying to understand her mutant that allowed her to become a gaseous state. The issue was that after all the years of experimenting she hadn’t been able to reform to a solid person. Unknown to his superiors Webber was working to find a way to control her powers so she could become solid once again. They may not have known what he was working on, but they had of course observed that he showed a sort of favoritism to experiment 35. He was certain that was why they were reassigning him to a different department. As he followed the armed guard to the room he blinked in awe at the work space he was being given it, It was triple his previous space with a number of computers but he saw no one else working in the room which he was sure was intended for a team.
Webber was pushed into a chair in front of a row of computer screens. “So what do you think of your new facilities Webber?”, Olivia Queen asked walking into the room wearing a white skirt and blazer suit set extending her arms out. Webber turned and blinked he’d never seen his employer in person before but he at least knew what Olivia Queen looked like. She was probably a beautiful woman in her youth, but now age lines were just visible on her once flawless face (it obvious to Webber’s keen eye she probably had plastic surgery) and what was probably blonde hair was all gray worn short and chopped slightly at an angle so one side was a bit longer than the other. “Um..sure. But why am I here? Did I do something wrong that I got pulled from my assignment?”, Webber asked trying to stand but the guard just pushed him back into the chair. “Wrong?”, she laughed though Webber was certain it was more a witch’s cackle. “Heaven's no Webber. You are just needed elsewhere. I need you to do some investigating for me. Check up on our competition. And you are the brightest in the world able to hack basically anything.”, she smiled deviously. “Um okay. Who am I investigating?”, he asked trepidatiously. “Mason Templeton the CEO of Templeton Enterprises and Jonathon Silvercloud of Silvercloud.”, she explained. “Alright. I’ll get started ma’am.”, Webber said spinning his chair and booting up the computer to start his research.
Three floors down experiment 35 floated around her containment cell, having given up many years ago of escaping. Her day was monanontinty just solitude between scientists coming to test this or that on her. The only thing that had broken that up over the last three years was one scientist he called himself Arcade, he enjoyed games. When no one else was around he’d come and bring a chess board, moving her pieces for her and talk to her. She watched for him but today he didn’t come. Webber didn’t like that he had to leave Myst, but he had little choice in the matter. So instead he hacked the security camera that faced her cell and the monitor he knew she could see. While he ran various programs to find out more information about Mason Templeton and Jonathon Silvercloud he brought up a chat window and started to type to Myst. ‘Myst. It’s Arcade. They relocated me three floors up. Not sure if it’s because they have noticed me being nice to you or just they couldn’t find someone else to do the work. I took over the security camera by your cell, just nod so I know you read this.’ he sighed hitting enter. Myst noticed the screen go black which usually was just playing a loop of an infomercial, intended she assumed to just drive her crazy. She blinked, well to the best that a gaseous faint form of a woman could as she read his message. So that’s why he didn’t come. They forced him to leave her department. She nodded a little looking up at the camera. Webber sighed, he felt bad he was leaving her down there essentially to the wolves.