Natti's look out tower shook a little bit. Someone was climbing to the top. Natti created a ball of light in her hand. She rushed over to the ladder and threw the ball down to see who was coming.
Chewie quickly pushed himself up against the ladder."Natti! It's just me." Chewie whispered loudly.
Natti relaxed and let him reach the top. "Sorry Chewie. I guess I'm just a bit jumpy. That music is here again."
"I'm just going to assume you are talking about the music." Chewie was getting better at translating the butterfly Roivas talk to words. But he still needed work. Especially when he had just woken up. "Have you seen anything?"
"No, and you'd think it would be easy with this moonlight." She answered. Chewie still looked a bit confused. So she tried to word the next question as slowly as possible. "What do you think it is?"
Chewie thought for a second before answering. "What do you think it....is. Oh, what is this singing? I don't know. But I feel a tad uneasy about beautiful singing coming from seemingly nowhere."
Natti nodded. Maybe it would just be better to keep things to yes and no answers. At least then they could understand each other better. The music was quite obvious now. They should have seen someone or thing nearby by now. But they still couldn't see anyone. Just then a strange noise and flash of light came from beneath them. Natti and Chewie craned their necks over the side and saw a man walking into camp. Chewie rushed to the ladder and went down it as fast as he could without being heard. Natti thought she could hear a faint whisper. Something that wasn't audible. It was sounding though the hivemind. She made sure to maintain the illusion around the camp. And she got ready to light up the entire place if need be.
Chewie sneaked up on the intruder. He didn't seem in a hurry. Didn't even seem like he had a real destination. The singing was very close now. Almost sounded like it was directly in front of them. Chewie couldn't afford to let this stranger get further into camp. He tackled the man on the ground and pulled his arms behind his back. The singing instantly stopped and the wind seemed to pick up a bit out of nowhere. At that point Natti brought up the lights which prompted everyone to get up. The entire camp was outside, in their pajamas, in a few moments. And everyone got a chance to see the intruder.
Muse on his knees, dirt smudged face, eyes red from crying kept his head down. Everyone was shocked. Chewie instantly released him.
"Muse!" Chewie helped him up. Are you okay?" Izzie and Beat ran up to him.
"I heard her." Muse responded.
"Muse, where have you been? We were all worried." Izzie asked.
"I've been searching for Mesay. I know she's here. I heard her." he responded. "She said for me to meet her here."
"You saw her?" Beat asked.
"No, I just heard her." Muse shut down as the emotions overcame him.
Izzie looked concerned at him. She didn't doubt what he was saying but she couldn't figure out what was going on. And clearly he wasn't in any real state to talk.
"Let's get him inside somewhere."Chewie said. "Come on Muse. Let's get you fixed up." Chewie escorted him and asked a few others to help him set up one of the spare tents and gather a few supplies for Muse.
Dox approached Beat and Izzie. "Well, that's unexpected."
"Yeah, in a good way. I didn't want to tell anyone. But I was considering the worst with Muse." Izzie confessed.
"I think we all were." Beat continued. "But he said that he heard Mesay. That means that she is okay too right?"
"I hope so. But we haven't seen either of them since Home was destroyed." Izzie offered.
"And to the best of our knowledge Mesay has been held by Help3r all this time." Dox continued. "If she has escaped then she may be reluctant to coming back. Or worse, Help3r released her and now we have something else to worry about."
That made Izzie very concerned. "I know what your saying Dox. But I can't even think about that right now."
"You think that Mesay turned bad or something?" Beat said. "There's no way! She would rather die."
"I don't know. But we need to be careful anyway. Help3r hasn't found us yet, which is surprising. Which could mean he's been busy doing something else. His main goal is trying to kill the infection. If he can re-create the antidote then he wouldn't have to resort to his normal methods. I feel like we've only see half of what he is really capable of. And we need to be on our guard for anything new."
***
The next morning proved to be a gorgeous day. The sun was out. The breeze was cool. A wonderful day for two people to go for a hike.
"Walking though the woods. Again! It's always though the woods with these people isn't it? At least the ones are home aren't as mountainous." He said
"I just don't want to run into....you know....." She hesitated to finish that sentience.
"Oh please! No, that would be great. It would make my fucking day. We could hold hands and sing magical songs while learning important lessons." He snarked. "We're off to find the butterflies! Tra la la la la la la la!"
"SHHHHHHH!" she insisted.
"No. I don't care. If they really are in these woods like the crazy stories said, then they'll find us a lot easier if we make a ton of noise. Hey butterflies! Come out, come out where ever you are!" He yelled through the forest. He was met with silence.
"This is dumb. We should have never come out here."
"It was your idea. You are the one who said those stories started to make you remember things." she pointed out. "So let's actually stick with a plan for once and keep going."
Just then, they heard a soft singing. It seemed to be coming from behind them. They both turned and noticed a hooded figure standing not too far away from them. The face was not visible. And moments later a doll walked up beside him. It's eyes focused and moved. Analyzing the two.
The woman turned around and looked at the figure. "Is that the Help3r guy?"
"Subjects 001 and 003 have been located." The doll started. "Subjects will now be listed by their given names. 001 will now be inputted as Caught. 003 will now be inputted as Natalie. You two are not safe here. You should follow us."
"I will stay behind you and watch." the doll said. It pointed at it's companion "He will lead you to safety."
Suddenly the doll flew though the air. As a large shadow sped across the ground.
"Move it!" The figure insisted. Caught and Natalie ran as the hooded man led the way. They rushed past the trees and rocks. The hooded man had to constantly stop and wait for them to catch up. Behind them a large pounding sound rhythmically moved though the forest. Tripping on various rocks and branches they tried their best to get through the forest quickly. Nobody was quite sure what had attacked the doll. Or what was trying to get them now. But it sounded large and clearly meant business. The figure paused and let Caught and Natalie pass him by.
"Keep going strait! Right past those trees!" He pointed."That's where you'll find them." Then the man turned and fumbled with something in his pockets.
Caught and Natalie kept running but turned when they could hear and feel the heat behind them. The hooded man was missing but fire danced above the tree tops. Setting a few on fire. There was another loud thud, this time it sounded only feet from them. And a large swooshing sound of wind. Followed by a number of dirt and rocks raining down on them. They ran for another minuet, hearing the noises getting a little further away.
"Where are we going?" Natalie asked.
"Away from whatever THAT is!" Caught answered.
They passed through Natti's hidden forcefield and suddenly there were tents and people. They came to a halt wondering what had just happened. They were still in the woods but a camp seemed to appear out of nowhere. Who were all these people? Why didn't they see the camp before now?
"Caught! Natalie!" Red exclaimed. She ran up to them and looked like she had just seen a miracle. Everyone started to gather. But then Natti interrupted running into the crowd.
"Everyone get to your positions! We have a fight coming our way!" She yelled.
Just as she did something crashed into the ground in between a few tents. It left a little crater and scattered rocks, dirt and dust everywhere. All the butterflies and friends alike scattered just like they had all planned in case of an attack on the camp. Red had ducked with Natalie and Caught. Red raised her head and immediately saw a very scared stiff Crow just standing there covering her head.
"Crow! Take them to the bunker! NOW!" she ordered. Crow didn't understand the exact words being said to her. But the intention was there. And she knew when to get the hell out of the way when crazy superpower stuff was going on. She grabbed Natalie by the hand and pulled her away and Caught followed. She led them to the underground bunker that was prepared just in case something like this happened. They rushed down the steps as Chewie held the opening for everyone. Dox and a bunch of others rushed in. Anyone who wasn't directly involved in the defense plan of the camp was sent into the bunker.
A handful of the butterflies went to go investigate the sudden crater in the camp. Just before they got there a hand raised up and clasped onto the ground. The hooded figure was pulling himself up. As he did he threw over his other arm. In that hand was a bottle with a fairy on the top. As he dragged himself to level ground he did his best to stand up. And placed the bottle in his pocket. He finally got a chance to look around and saw Red, Chula and Natti standing a few feet away. Staring at the strange man. All ready to attack if needed. He raised up his hands in a defensive posture and started to walk toward them.
Then the singing started again. This time it was one note. That seemed to rocket through the air. The man was suddenly thrown high up in the air and a another quick moving figure rushed where he was once standing. She had made drag marks where her feet dug into the ground for her stop. Her back to the three she looked up at her now airborne combatant. Many of the other butterflies came to help.
Envoy rushed up and screamed with a fury before being stopped dead in his tracks and smacked against the ground. By a seemingly invisible force. She then started to hum loudly as she raised her hands to the sky. She waited one more second before thrusting them down beside her and launching into the air at the other man who was now falling back to earth. Just before she reached the tops of the trees, a giant fireball turned into a fire blanket that rushed from side to side. The tops of the trees had been set on fire and little charred bits came falling to the ground.
Chula took her stance and summoned her water supply to rush up and quench the fires. One large branch broke off and fell. Closely approaching Natti and Red. Red pushed Natti out of the way and immediately shrunk down. The smoldering branch crashed and Natti was safe. Red, now the size of a mouse, had just ducked out of the way enough to not get hurt. The chunk of tree was an inch in front of her. And she fell back trying to catch her breath from the adrenaline rush. Natti quickly collected her in her hands and ran out of harms way.
"Everyone back away! This area is too dangerous!" Natti called. And everyone retreated back a ways.
Chula finished quenching the fires when the hooded man made a fire re-entry into camp. Himself being on fire caused much of the camp to start up. Making Chula rush to put the new fires out. She made quick work of it before finally dumping what was left of her water over the man. He stood up and tried to shake off his soaked clothes. Looking toward Chula.
He finally said."Geesh Chula. Go easy on the waterbending there."
Hivemind. The man spoke though the hivemind. That means that....
"Paul!" Muse yelled. "Don't hurt her!" Muse was running toward the man.
Just then two large hand shaped prints pressed themselves onto either side of the hooded man. Followed by a punch to the face from the female attacker. He fell to the ground and the woman pinned him.
"Stop...." He didn't get another word out before getting another punch to the face. She hit him again before Muse reached her. Trying to put his arms around hers. She grabbed in his hood before being pulled away. The cloth dark mask was removed revealing Paul's face. The woman struggled against Muse. Chula saw her. Hair much longer and wild. Her eyes glowed that familiar bright blue. Looking feral almost. She was barefoot and the only clothes she wore were tattered remains of some kind of jumpsuit. Exposing most of her legs and arms.
Chula put her hands to her mouth in shock. "Oh my god. Mesay?" Chula sputtered in the hivemind. That got every butterflies attention.
Muse held her close. Mesay still thrashing a bit. "Mesay, it's okay. It's alright. We're all here now. Everyone is okay."
Paul sat up and rubbed his cheek. She had hit him pretty hard. He looked on and saw Mesay. Someone who looked like they had been though hell and came out different. She was much stronger than she was before. Then he realized. He was in Help3r like garb. They both had seen each other as a threat. Him for going after Caught and Natalie. Her for attacking Rio and him.
"Speaking of, what happened to Rio?" He thought.
Rio limped into the camp. One leg was torn to hell. "Hello butterflies."
"You okay Rio!" Paul yelled from the otherside of camp.
"Sustained considerable damage to this unit's right side. Otherwise systems seem nominal." She retorted back mechanically.
Paul got up and walked to Rio to take a look. "I'm sorry Rio. You won't hold it against Mesay will you? She didn't know it was us."
Rio glanced at Mesay now being held in Muse's arms. She looked more pained than aggressive now. She was coming back to herself. Clinging desperately onto Muse. And realizing what she had done. "This unit fully understands the condition of subject Mesay's mental state. Her time in Help3r's care has been noted."
"You'll have to go into more details about Help3r's "care" later Rio."
"Never mind me!" Chimed Envoy from the distance. "No I'm great! Peaches and lollipops over here! I didn't just get pounded into the ground by an ally. Nope not me." Envoy's rib-cage had finally repaired itself after being crushed by Mesay. He stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes before being tackled again to the ground. On his chest was a familiar white bird. It squawked and cooed at Envoy. Moving to his hair and nipping at it.
"Lucy!" He screamed.
Three little orange and white cats rushed up to Mesay and Muse. Meowing and purring. Desperately calling for their adoptive mother's attention. The others who had hidden away in the bunker had finally emerged outside again. Just in time to see everyone getting back together again. The family was reunited.
"Just hold on one second!" Chimed in Caught. "Since when did the butterflies become the X-Men? Is this what you guys have been doing for over a year? Because last time I checked, I was the only one who was suppose to be having problems. Besides I didn't get any special superpowers. So, does anyone want to explain? Anyone want to fill us in? Because I feel like this is the biggest mess I have ever seen in my life."
Natalie stood a bit dumbfounded at their surroundings. Everyone else just looked around at each other. Dox put a hand on Caught's shoulder.
"Why don't we go have a seat. A little something to eat. And I'll do my damnest to explain what is happening. With the assistance of Chewie of course." Dox assured.
"Yeah, this should be just as easy as trying to fight off the doll armies." Chewie quipped.
