Homeward Bound
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      An alarm fell over the Head Quarters of the super hero team known as the Guardians.
      Simon looked up from his work station on the first sub level�s research lab, Cell opened his eyes in the dimly lit shrine, Kai and Ruse stopped their Chamber Session, Hope paused in her shower and Renegade slid out from under the Custodian.
      It has been only a short time since they lost their teammate and friend Ace but time has made them move on and things were slowly getting back to normal although the empty space left them all feeling different about their goal.
      �Attention all Guardians!� Sampson�s voice boomed through the different levels. �Report to the Briefing Room at once!�

      Hope was the last to reach the Briefing Room. When she arrived, she allowed Garret to fly over to his perch before she took her customary spot next to Cell.
      Once she was seated the screen on the end wall came to life and Sampson�s shadowed form appeared.
      �There have been attacks on the country of Japan.� Hope�s attention immediately perked, �A terrorist groups has been located across the island country. As Canada�s allay the government has sent the Sentry to deal with this matter. The Sentry, when combined with Japan�s own law enforcement should be fully capable of dealing with this matter but never the less, a team of Guardians will be traveling to Japan for back up. I have inside information as to the next target town of the terrorists. We will protect this town from any attack. They are innocent people and do not need to be caught in the cross fire between the law and the said criminals. The team, consisting of Serenity, Kismet and Ruse, led by Cell will leave within the hour. Is there any questions?� No one moved. �Good. You will find the suitable information within the Custodian� dismissed.�

      Hope sighed as she entered the Hanger with Garret on her arm. The hawk took off from her arm and flew around the Hanger with ease. He stopped beside Renegade who was reattaching the safety hatch after the final check over.
      �An� what are you doin� little one?� Garret chirped. Renegade gave him a slight smile as he pet the bird�s breast feathers. He looked up to see Hope walking towards him. She smiled at him. �How are you doing?�
      He shrugged. �I can�t complain. Are you ready for the mission?�
      She nodded. �Yeah, speaking of which I have to get going.�
      �Have fun.� He told her retreating form as she climbed the ramp that led into the Custodian.

      Cell was finishing up the pre flight procedure when Hope sat down in the passenger compartment beside Ruse. Garret flew up beside her and took position on his perch. Outside, the doors to the Hanger�s runway slid open to reveal the ocean that lay beneath.
      �Prepare for take off,� Cell informed them as he ran over his mental checklist one final time before starting the jet down the runway.
      Once they left the ground and were clear of the cliff Hope let out a sigh of relief. She looked over at Garret with a small smile.
      "What�s wrong?� His voice echoed in her head.
      �I�m worried about the mission, my parents live in the village that we are to protect.�
      Her smile widened as he reassured her through his silent words.

      Kismet, who had watched the exchange, turned back around in her seat.
      �Are you still watching out for her?� Cell asked; he never took his eyes from the Custodian�s windshield.
      �Force of habit I suppose, but with Ace� old habits resurfaces. But we all did it, and in some ways we all still do.� She finished as she eyed him.
      �I do not protect her anymore Kai. She has long ago grown up.�
      �That may be, but in other ways she is still the teenager she was so long ago. She still has her innocence; and I know you James, you do not want her, any more than I, to see her loose it.�
      He nodded. �That is true. But one of these days she is going to have to face something that we can�t protect her from.�
      �I suppose you are right.� She allowed. �But that doesn�t mean that I, or us all, will not be there for her no matter what.�

      �Hope,� Ruse began nervously.
      �Yes?�
      He shrugged. �You said that your parents live in the village� well I�ve been wondering something. Their last name is Yawn right?�
      �Yes.�
      �Then why is yours Freedman? And Hope isn�t really a Japanese name when you think about it.�
      Hope smiled slightly. �I was born in Canada, Jacob, so my parents thought I should have a Canadian name and Dad thought of himself as a Freed Man so that how me and my siblings got our last name. As for Hope� well my sisters� names are Charity and Constance so I guess it fits.�
      Jacob nodded. �Right.� He looked away with a guilty, let down expression.
      Hope sighed as she looked at him. �Nervous?�
      �Huh?�
      �Are you nervous? I mean this is your first mission and all� so are you nervous?�
      He shrugged. He didn�t want to show her any weakness. �Not really.�
      �Really? Cause I remember my first mission, lets just say it wasn�t good.�
      Jacob looked confused.
      �She was a nervous wreck.� Kai told him with a smile. �She almost threw up on Genesis� twice.�
      Hope started to blush. Cell sent her a compassionate look as he glanced back into the passenger area.
      �Brace yourself for landing.� He warned as he lowered the Custodian in its vertical decent.

      As Cell was running over the jet�s systems before activating the cloaking device, Kismet opened the door.
      �Serenity, send Garret on a search for the quickest route to the village; it lies to the south.�
      As soon as Serenity relayed the message Garret took off out of the open door. Ruse walked up to Serenity and Kismet.
      �So now what?�
      Kai placed a hand on his shoulder. �Now we wait for his return.�

An hour later found them nearing the outskirts of the town. They all looked at Hope, she was obviously scared.
      Kai leaned over to her. �Remember to breath and you�ll do great.�
      Serenity nodded quickly as her eyes focused on the group of people exiting the town. In the front were Yenko, Hope�s father and leader of the town and her mother Kyoto. Serenity moved behind Kai slightly.
      �Who are you?� Yenko demanded. �What are you doing here?�
      James took a step towards them. �I am James Anderson, also called Cell and I lead the group called The Guardians. We have come to help protect your people from further terrorist strikes.� He looked from Yenko to Kai. �This is Kai Long she is second in command of the Guardians and her code name is Kismet. Next is Jacob Marley or Ruse and finally, Hope Freedman under the title Serenity.�
      Hope bowed slightly at her bewildered father. After a moment he bowed back. He looked at Cell with a sigh.
      �Come. Our home will be yours.�

      Hope looked nervously at her father as she walked around the main room, looking at the various decorations that adorned the walls.
      �You still have the bird?� Yenko asked rhetorically as he glanced at the hawk on her arm.
      �Garret.� She said with a slight nod.
      "Where are your friends?" Keoto asked as she enter the room.
      Hope thought a moment. �Uh� Cell is at the Custodian running scans and Kismet and Ruse are setting up sensors around the town�s perimeter. Don�t worry, the town will be protected.�
      As she finished she heard the teams progress reports through her intercom.
      �Kismet to Cell, the north to east and the east to south sensors are up and running.�
      �So are the others.� Ruse said between labored breaths. �Man this is hard work. I�m gonna stick around out here to see that they work.�
      �Copy that.� Cell addressed. �Everyone hold your position. Cell to Serenity.�
      Hope glanced at her parents before tapping her COM button. �Serenity here. Go ahead Cell.�
      �Report to the North West perimeter and prepare Garret, we�ll need him for the preliminary tests. Cell out.�
      �I�m on my way.�

      It was nightfall before they re-entered the town. It took them the entire day before they got the defensive perimeter set up and working perfectly. They were sitting in the home of Saul Jin, with other town peoples with a position of power within the town.
      �So Cell,� Saul Jin began after other conversation died down. �What do the Guardians do?�
      �We fight for the rights of mutants, we uphold laws and we fight against anyone who possess a threat to humanity.�
      �Really? That must pose quite a risk to your safety.� All the Guardians fell quiet. �That it does.� Kai allowed.
      �We lost one of our members in the field a week ago. She is MIA.�
      �MIA?�
      �Missing In Action.� Cell explained. �Yet, chances are that she did not make it out alive.�
      �I am sorry to hear that.�
      �So were we.� Hope said standing up. �I�m going to check home and see what Simon and Zen are up too.�

      �We�re doing fine here Hope.� Simon told her once she reached the Custodian. She was sitting at a computer consul, the COM consul to be exact. �How are things on your side of the ocean?�
      She shrugged, �Alright I guess. We�re ready in case the terrorists attacks.�
      �It�s been on the news as of late. Most of the terrorists have been captured by the Sentry.�
      �That�s good.� She said quietly.
      Simon sighed. �Hope, what is the real reason for this call?�
      She smiled slightly. �I have none.�
      �Yes you do. And I have a hunch that it�s about your parents. Serenity, I remember what we talked about when you were but a girl and some things do not change. Just remember dear Hope that a parents love isn�t always worth the pain getting it can cause.�
      Her smile turned genuine. �Thank you Simon.�
      He smiled back. �Anytime Hope. Oh� how is Jacob making out on his first mission?�
      �Okay. He�s not in the greatest shape, but he�s doing better than me on my first mission. Although that�s not saying much. How�s the A.I coming along?� Simon shrugged. �Could be better. Renegade kept complaining about the voice so he�s fine tuning it now.�
�Do you realize that it will probably turn out to be some seductive, overly feminine voice that should belong to an anorexic supermodel?�
      �Yes, but I never told him that I would keep it the way he wanted. I just did it to keep his hands and mind busy��
      She nodded. �And off of recent events. I think we all are doing that. Uh� listen, it�s getting late so I better go.�
      He nodded. �Alright sweet Serenity. We shall see thee upon your return to thy humble abode.�
      She shook her head. �You really missed your calling as a Shakespearian actor. Good night.� With that the screen went black.
      Hope sat back against the chair for a moment before getting up. She was about to leave when an alarm sounded. The terrorists broke the barrier.
      She quickly pressed her COM button. �Serenity to Cell. The terrorists have breached the northern sector and are headed for the town.�
      �Copy that.� Cell said. �Report to the town on the double. I�ll send a call to the police.�
      �Is that wise?� She heard Kismet ask as she sheathed her sword and headed down the Custodian�s ramp. �If they think mutants are involved, there�s no telling what they�ll do.�
      �Point taken. Serenity, get back as fast as you can. We�re going to face the terrorists ourselves. Cell out.�
      Serenity sighed. �Great. Now I have a chance to get killed.� She looked up. �Move over Ace and make room for me.�

      �What took you?� Ruse asked quickly when Serenity ran up to him and Cell. The terrorists could be seen from a short distance off.
      �Where�s Kismet?�
      Cell nodded to a large house at the end of the street. �The towns people are in there. Kismet is protecting them. I�m going to take on the first wave while you and Ruse take anyone who gets by me. Kismet�s there as the final line of defense. Be careful people.�
      Serenity nodded before she and Jacob ran back a few meters when the terrorists ran to the town�s edge.
      Cell placed up a barrier with his powers. As the first wave of terrorists ran through the barrier their firearms went off, the bombs they carried seized up and the men fell unconscious. Only half of them got through before the barrier fell. He looked back to see how the others were fairing. Garret was swooping between men, gaining their fire and before long the men ended up shooting themselves. Hope was using her sword to deflect gunfire before cutting the guns to pieces when they got close to her. Ruse was backed into a corner and was sweating slightly. Yet even then he continued to turn the guns into� candy canes? Cell shook his head as he looked to Kai. She was more than holding her own. The golden light of her karmatic powers surrounded her, acting like a shield as she sent her deadly power at those unlucky people who neared her.
      When he felt recharged Cell approached his youngest comrade who was no longer able to stand under his own power and was leaning against a building. Cell sent a carefully crafted bubble over the group of terrorists that made their weapons seize up. They looked around, trying to find the source of the malfunction. Cell took on his most intimidating stance (which, he thought, would have been easier had he been Simon�s height and build) as let his powers build up around his clenched fist, much in the fashion of Kismet. At once they threw down their faulty weapons and took off from the town as fast as they could retreat. Those men fighting Cell�s feminine counterparts followed their example and began a hasty retreat.
      The Guardians gathered around Cell. Once he was sure they were gone, Ruse fell to the ground and laid on his back.
      �I have never been so tired.� He shut his eyes. �I don�t think I�ll ever recover from the drain I�m feeling.�
      Cell looked at his female companions. Serenity was winded and sweating with numerous nicks and soon to be bruises while Kismet looked paler than normal but none the worst for wear.
      �How are you?� Kai asked him.
      �Nothing more than the normal drain. You?�
      �Tired.� She allowed. �I�m going to let the townspeople out now.�
      Cell nodded before looking to Ruse. �You did good for your first real battle although I don�t understand the candy canes.�
      �I�m hungry and that�s what guns remind me of.�
      Cell shook his head with a slight smile. He then turned his attention to Serenity. �You�re doing better against projectiles Hope. You didn�t loose your sword once. And tell Garret he did good too.�
      She nodded as she put on her gauntlet and allowed the tired hawk to settle on her wrist.
      Cell watched as they exchanged silent words for a moment before looking at the approaching group of Japanese towns people.
      Yenko smiled as he stuck out his hand. �Thank you Cell for saving us. You must stay until you are rested.�
      �That we will.� James told him with a smile.

      �The latest reports indicate that the group of terrorists that have been attacking Japan has been finally arrested. Local police are extending thanks and giving credit in most to the Canadian Sentry�� The Japanese news anchor informed.
      Kai turned off the T.V. with a sigh.
      �This sucks.� Ruse said as he crossed his arms. �We saved the day and our enemies get the credit.�
      Cell shook his head as he looked at Serenity. She was sitting on a windowsill, gazing out over the field where Garret was flying. It had been three days since the terrorists were last seen.
      Hope looked up when Yenko entered the guesthouse that the Guardians occupied. �How are you feeling?� He asked with a slight smile.
      �Great.� Cell said with a smile. �In fact we�ll be leaving tomorrow.�

      The next day came, and Serenity�s uneasiness grew. She stood in her room within the guesthouse after finishing her minimal packing. Cell knocked before entering.
      She turned and welcomed him with a smile. �What�s up?� She asked and widened her fake smile.
      �Beside your false front?� She looked at him curiously. He leaned over slightly. �You can�t fool a telepath.�
      She placed her hands on her hips. �You said you didn�t like reading people�s minds.�
      �I don�t, but that doesn�t mean that I won�t do it if I feel it necessary.�
      �What makes you think its necessary?� She asked meekly as she sat down on the bed.
      Cell sighed as she sat beside her. �I know that you�re upset about something. And I know that that something is your parents. I also know that you have built up a lot when it comes to dealing with that situation. Hope, you have the perfect opportunity to ask them what you want to ask them. You may never get another chance. And I know that you don�t want this to add more weight onto your heart. It won�t do any good. Trust me on that.�
      She nodded. �I know� but, I can�t. I don�t know what to say.�
      �I felt your emotions, and they will speak for you if you let them.� He reached over and gave her hand a gentle yet reassuring squeeze. �We�ll be here for you Hope. Nothing will change that.�
      She smiled as she squeezed back. �Thank you.�

      Serenity glanced at Cell before she stepped out of the short line that the Guardians made. She took a deep breath as she faced her mother. She shook her head as tears rolled down her quivering facial features. She found it hard to begin the conversation. Especially since almost all the town arrived to see the Guardians off.
      �Why?� She finally asked in a shaky tone. �Before I go, please tell me� why wasn�t I good enough?�
      Kyoto looked at her youngest daughter; shock stood out on her face. �What? Hope you��
      Hope closed her eyes as she cut her mother off. Frustration and pent up anger filled her voice. �Don�t! Don�t feed me this bull shit!�
      She opened her eyes and let her mother see the deep routed sorrow within the beautiful almond depths.
      �Hope,� Kyoto said after a moment, �What did I ever say� what did I do to make you feel like you weren�t good enough?�
      �What did you ever do� what did you ever say to make me feel otherwise?� Her voice had grown calm and soft, and she had relaxed although a steady stream of tears ran down her face. �My whole life, you never gave me a kind word, a hint of praise and no sign of love. Whenever I did something you always told me what I did wrong, but never what I had done right. You could never understand that yes, you gave me a lot of things but that I would have given them all up for a kind word, for� for one simple sign that I was loved. I stayed up nights hoping� longing that you would smile when I brought you a test and tell me that you were proud. God mom, why do you think I tried as hard as I did? I wanted you to be proud of me� I wanted you to love me!�
      �I do!� Kyoto said, cutting her off. Tears of her own had begun to form.
      �No!� Hope�s voice had once again gained its hard edge. �Don�t� just don�t! Genesis told me that sometimes a parent�s love isn�t worth the pain in getting it. And he�s right; I don�t want your praise, your kind words, or your love because you feel you need to. I wanted those things only if and when you wanted to give them. That time has passed and you can never get another chance. Good-bye� mother.�
      With a clenched jaw, Serenity turned on her heals and walked back to her team, her family. She fell in step with Kismet as they headed back to the Custodian. Kai wrapped a supportive arm around the younger woman, knowing that Hope needed her strength.
      Hope never looked back, even as her mother fell to her knees, overtaken by sobs; sobs so strong that they racked her entire body. Through her tear ridden eyes she watched as her daughter climbed aboard the jet and out of her life forever. She reached out, hoping to grab onto Hope�s love, but grasping nothing but air. She�ll never get the chance to tell her daughter how she truly feels, it was her fault that her daughter, her Hope, walked away without knowing the truth:
      �I love you Hope.� Kyoto whispered into the wind, �I always will.� 1