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Finally, a real mission. Not some diplomatic PR stunt, but an honest to goodness mysterious happening in the middle of the Caribbean. There was a new island people were calling Atlantis and it was calling out to mutants. They had to investigate the cause and figure out if there was a threat at the center of this island they had to reach before someone else could. Real, genuine X-Men stuff. She was excited, feeling like this was her first real major mission since the last island the X-Men sent her to. (Hopefully this one had no plans on trying to kill her with lava like last time.)

Trying not to get too anxious on the X-Jet, Becca had a laptop on her lap (where it logically belonged) as she sat cross-legged on one of the seats. Her gauntlets were off; they were useful for lifting herself off the ground, but lousy for typing. Looking over her social media accounts, she sighed in relief. ”At leest thes knocked 'at shaw it ay th' top spot fur noo.” Becca actually liked the “Grey,” the new show on WC, as one of her overly dramatic guilty pleasure shows. What had been difficult since its rise to prevalence was sharing a last name with the titular main character, who was even a redhead. The whole thing had inundated her with jokes and references from her fan base, her friends, and her pain in the butt girlfriend. Hopefully a literal mythical island emerging from the ocean would help the hype die down.

She chose her seat carefully when she boarded; Becca was at least two seats away from Gawain, and as far as she could be from the medical bed in the back of the jet designed for injured teammates. Gawain was her friend, and certainly a man she trusted, but there were a lot of… memories on the X-Jet that a girl with a girlfriend need not have on her mind. Instead, she smirked and replied to his comment, ”Ah mean, thaur ur worse things than amazons...” An island of strong, muscular women…

More thoughts a girl with a girlfriend need not be having right now. Mission thoughts. Yes, mission thoughts were the best choice. ”Atlantis, thocht.” It’s what everyone was calling it on social media and the news. ”Ye dornt hink it coods actually be The Atlantis, reit?” The thought of Atlantis emerging and joining the real world now was just so comic booky to her. Then again, the girl who could move metal had little to say about what was realistic and what was sci fi nonsense.

Congrats on your acceptance! Can't wait to see Kendra on MRO

Rebecca was thankful she was meeting Amelia again in a mission-slash-work setting, where they had something important to focus on. Becca had a long, shameful history of putting her foot in her mouth and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, and there was plenty she could say to Ami that might be taken poorly.

Luckily, she got to keep her mouth shut as they approached the large robot-like creature Rebecca struggled to define. Yet despite the amalgamation of potential inspirations that went into the being, there was something… familiar about it?

Getting close enough where they could be heard by the boy who she assumed was piloting device, Ami calmly asked the boy to dismount his “horse.” The idea of the child being the captive in this scenario seemed less likely based on how nonchalant he appeared to be despite speaking with a police officer amidst the absurdity of their situation.

The boy, Toby, proudly patted his mount, which he had named She Hulk. Rebecca looked the looming beast over, trying to determine how the boy gleaned a gender from the thing. Most of what she was seeing made little sense: on sight, she assumed it might be comprised of metal, given its robotic appearance. Her other sense, her magnetic sense, ruled out any ferrous metals, since there was no disturbance in the magnetic fields around it for her to manipulate.

Apparently Toby’s powers had just manifested, which drew further questions Becca would have loved to ask if she had the time, but that was not a luxury provided to her.

Their conversation was interrupted by She Hulk, who seemed… panicked? Concerned? Or at least startled enough without her rider to summon a translucent barrier, cutting the girls off from itself and Toby.

Rebecca’s body tensed up. ”Ami, Ah dinnae wanna be pessimistic, bit—“

Her pessimism was warranted, as her thought was cut off by the raising of a gun arm leveled in her direction. For a millisecond, Becca thought about the shield on her arm, and the possibility of raising it to deflect the bullets she might have coming her way. That thought was quickly banished because it was dangerous and stupid: for all she knew, She Hulk had a chain gun, and the likelihood of every bullet centering on her shield was not great. She was not going to put her life in the hands of comic book logic.

Instead, Lodestone made an effort to jump away from the target area of the creature, but her reaction was too late for… a glowing orb of green energy? Not what she was expecting, nor was the orb’s next action. Seemingly imploding in on itself, the superheroine in midjump felt the unsettling sensation of being pulled in an unexpected direction. Instead of following logically forward and downward to land on the ground, her body jerked backward and upward toward the green swirl.

She was not the only one pulled into the vortex, as she felt her back bump into Ami in the center of the gravity well. They were only suspended for a moment before the energy dissipated and they fell to the ground. Lodestone focused her magnetic energy on her boots, chestpiece, and gauntlets, slowing herself down enough to minimize the impact of her thud onto the grass.

Scrambling back to her feet, the elements of this attack were sounding more and more familiar. “Tank-like” appearance, an energy barrier, a gravity bomb attack. All oddly related elements of…

Patch notes. Patch notes Nessa was reading off as she gushed about a new character being added to her favorite game. The realization made Becca groan. Assuming the beast did not kill her, her girlfriend would love hearing about this one tonight. ”Ami, Ah’m nae sure how, but we're definitely fightin' a video gam character.” It was a frustratingly comical concept, but one she could at least take advantage of if she could remember anything Nessa had said that day, like…

”Automatic energy gun!” If she had recalled more accurately, it was a “Fusion Driver,” but that was not important to the situation. What was important was remembering the character had a large gun that shot rapidly an inaccurately for twelve seconds at a time. ”Spread iut!” she shouted, lifting herself off the ground using her boots and gauntlets to get herself up into the air as She Hulk raised her arm, looking to go on the offensive.

Becca had to work up the nerve to ask about River, even if it was done in the most indirect way she could think to use. In a way, it could be very inappropriate to be the sounding board for Agnes as she dealt with relationship struggles with her fiancée. On the other hand, Becca knew this had to be a challenge for Agnes, and she was unsure if her friend had anyone else to talk about the situation with. Stewing on the topic alone sounded like an unhealthy way to handle things in the eyes of a girl who was starting to understand the value of communication and transparency.

Unfortunately, the way Becca asked about River was too vague, as it turned out, and Agnes did not pick up on the subtle inquiry. She shrugged it off as a failure for the intended purpose, but accepted she could now at least chat with Agnes a bit about how things had been. She laughed at Agnes’s frustrations toward Harry Potter; a Ravenclaw like her probably would find Potter annoying. (How she put up with a Gryffindor like Becca, the world may never know.)

And of course, Agnes asked about Nessa, which was only fair. Since that situation was less precarious than the River one, she could come right out and ask it. ”It's guid! Things wi' Nessa ur still kinda new, but... it's bin guid.” Things with her new girlfriend really were good! They gelled, they could relate to one another as creators, and Nessa was always so accommodating. The relationship was starting as well as she could have hoped, but for some reason, she did not want to talk about it around Agnes.

Probably no bad sign there.

Instead, she thought back to the kid with the documentary, which sounded oddly familiar? ”'At documentary kid, is his nam Leo? Ah know one ay mah students is daein' a project loch 'at.” After her AMA, Leo mentioned the pet project he was working on, and she was excited to see it, especially if Agnes was going to make a guest appearance.

Before Agnes could give a full answer, the grandmother in the movie’s voice began sharing the ancient tale of Maui stealing the Heart of Tafiti, and Becca’s eyes lit up. ”Och, nevermin', it's startin'!” Yes, she had seen the movie before, but that did not mean she was any less excited; a good Disney movie could capture her attention ten times over. And for better or worse, she always loved sharing her love of Disney movies with Agnes.

Agnes’s hesitance came through audibly and visually, and if Becca knew anyone who could handle the kitten off the top of her head, she would not ask the task of her ex. Nessa had roommates, one of whom was terribly allergic to cats, and quite frankly, she was still in the early stages of friendship with Serena and Jules. They were great friends, but she did not feel comfortable as of yet springing a huge favor like this on them.

On the other hand, Agnes was someone she did feel comfortable with, and as terrible as it was, she knew she could get her to do it. Agnes was not cold-hearted, and she was not blind to the logic Becca could present. Becca was also not blind to the other woman’s concerns, and made an effort to be sensitive to her desire not to wake up to a partially digested kitten in her bedroom. It did not hurt that she could sweeten the pot by offering her assistance and her company for the evening.

…The early evening. Watching movies and stuff. Before retiring to her couch.

It was safe to say, Agnes was not the only one feeling the slightest bit of heat rise up to her cheeks. It was simultaneously a totally innocent and wildly dangerous idea. They had clear boundaries, including a door physically in between them, and a noble reason for sharing a space. Hell, there were exes in New York that comfortably lived together without things getting weird.

But they would still be just a door away from one another. The last evening they spent in the same space overnight was the apartment they shared. Were they ready to take a step like this in their friendship? To sleep in the same apartment without sleeping in the same bed or sleeping together?

They were. She was certain; both women had moved on and were working on dealing with the lingering feelings that might remain. They were adults, and Agnes was willing to give the plan a chance, even if there was a twinge of doubt in her voice. ”Stoatin! Noo hauld up 'at cute wee bugger sae Ah can gie a guid shot,” she instructed with a grin, holding her camera back up for a second chance at a better shot.

---

Rebecca ended up being gone for a little over an hour, but her time away made the trip well worth it. It took several trips back up the Agnes’s apartment, but she brought in a litter box, cat litter, cat food, bowls for food and water, and a toy or two. Maybe it was a bit of overkill, but she did not see the harm in a squeaky mouse for the kitten to play with, and a toy on a string in case she wanted to play with the creature herself.

Finally content with how she was able to set up a small space for the kitten in the corner of the kitchen area, Becca sighed and plopped herself on Agnes’s couch to relax for a moment. ”Okay! Ah’m ready tae catsit th' heel it ay thes. Aaaand,” she started, grabbing a small bluray package from her last bag, ”Ah brooght 'at new Disney movie! Interested?” It was a great way to ease into a casual, fun night: a Disney movie about an island girl on an adventure with Maui, the over-the-top demigod, all set to an amazing soundtrack.

Totally nothing like their date nights back at the old apartment. Nope. Not at all, thanks to the benefit of selective memory!

A sleepover! The idea of it took her back. The last “sleepover” she had was for her first birthday in the states, and she remembered it being a blast. Pizza, snacks, energy drinks, Twister, and waking up next to and almost kissing Agnes. All the classic teenage things.

All nostalgic memories aside, the idea sounded like a nice break from the hectic adult life she had been tricked into leading. With the various tasks and obligations piling up on her To-Do list, taking a night off hang out, gossip, and just take things back to high school might be therapeutic. The group was small, with Becca already knowing Serena and Juliette, and beyond that, Jules was bringing a friend of hers named Sarah.

She dressed for comfort, wearing black yoga capri pants along with a cropped tee she had snagged from her girlfriend’s company clothing line. Nessa was jealous of her plans, but she understood it might be unfair for her to bring a significant other for the evening when no one else would, (she assumed.) She made a joke about Becca sleeping out at her friends’ places lately, given Agnes’s recent cat situation. Becca worried it was passive aggressive for a moment before Nessa laughed it off and kissed her forehead, wishing her a fun night.

She carried her own overnight bag of essentials, and grocery bag of equally essential items, like makeup and salty snacks to balance out all the sweets. Rebecca’s timing was convenient, as she got off the elevator in time to still see Serena’s door open for the guests who just beat her in. Peeking her head in the doorway, she knocked on the frame. ”Evenin’ lassies!”

Serena was still standing close to the door, so Becca took the opportunity to give the girl a quick, excited hug. ”Thenk ye fur offerin’ tae host, Serena!” The hug was shorter than some of their past hugs—she was a taken woman now, after all.

”Nice tae see ye again, Jules. An’ Ye mist be Sarah?” She extended a hand to the only woman in the room she had yet to meet. ”Ah’m Becca,” she greeted warmly. Jules was a teammate and a friend, and if she vouched for Sarah, it was easy to trust her taste in friends.

”Ah’m excited. Ah feel loch a girl again,” she admitted, finding a place to put down her bags so she could give her arms a break and get to relaxing.

It was comforting to feel Jules take her hand for a moment, even if she could not afford to take her eyes off their problem long enough to look at the other woman. They were teammates, and as much as Rebecca could try to claim sole responsibility for what happened, Juliette was apparently not going to let her shoulder that guilt alone.

They were mutants, and any advantage they could leverage against the armed security was vital if they wanted to get out. Rebecca could have willed the weapons wielded by the men to be cast aside, but there would be more benefit from the confusion they would be dealing with when they could not unholster their weapons.

She was not the only creating confusion, as a guard stopped dead in his tracks, eying Juliette. Curious what her friend might be doing to catch a trained professional so off guard, Becca turned to see her fellow mutant’s body beginning to glow. She had been briefed on the basics of Firefly’s mutation, but it was different watching as the lights around her dimmed and flickered and died, providing their power for her.

Seizing an opportunity, the Senator spoke to the nervous crowds, painting the girls as “mutant terrorists,” and advising his guests to leave the room immediately. She hated his manipulative nature and the way he was spinning this against them, but even Rebecca wanted the civilians out of the building. The last thing they needed was a non-combatant to get thrown into the mess they made.

With the room cleared, the Senator gave the go ahead to use “lethal force” to contain the problem, and Rebecca was unsurprised to see some of the guards jumping to this option at the invitation. Instinctually, she flinched, but her body eased up as she watched the men reaching for their guns pulling fruitlessly at the handles. The performance issues drew curious glances from the men around them, who reached for their sidearms only to be met with the same issue.

Seeing her opening, Rebecca strained her focus to try something she had practiced on her own gun hundreds of times, but on a larger scale. Using her power, she constricted the magnetic fields around the guns, pressuring the magazine release mechanisms. All around them, magazines ejected from the handles of pistols, clattering to the ground, out of reach. With the guns successfully rendered useless, Rebecca finally allowed them to be released from their holsters, aided by her magnetism as they flew upward, hitting several of their owners in the chins and faces.

This attack of opportunity left many of the guards stunned or dazed after being in the head with the hard metal slides and barrels of their guns, but that would pass, and did little to help with the large men with batons coming toward them. Firefly took much of the attention thanks to her illuminated nature, but Becca was the one to throw herself into the fray. Surprise meant doing the unexpected thing, and jumping in at them was unexpected.

Stay low, stay grounded, stay balanced. She could never forget the fundamentals—she had to repeat them so often when she trained. She did not have her gauntlets, but she did have her cuff bracelets which would have to do, just like they did when she started with the X-Men. She kept one leg rooted while the other made short, jab-like kicks at shins around her. It was “cheap,” but Becca was not taught to fight in tournaments, she was taught to fight people she needed to take down. There was a reason shin guards were necessary in soccer—a kick to the shin was debilitating if one was not careful.

Of course, batons were also swinging wildly at her from every direction, so while she was trying to launch a lower-body offensive, she was doing her best to dodge or deflect attacks with her bangles. If there were three of them, she would have been fine, but there were at least six men trying to deal with her at a time. She almost wished there were more, just so there was more of a chance they would get caught up on one another.

She was taking hits to the back that sent a shockwave through her body. There were too many angles to keep her defenses up. She managed to disarm at least one man and hit two others with the baton she took from him, but that was knocked out of her hand before she could make more use of it.

Rebecca grabbed a lot of the security attention, but certainly not all of it. She hoped Juliette was handling herself okay…