Remembrance
������Renegade�s sports car pulled up to the motel after only a minimal amount of problems at the boarder. He ran into the main building to check in and get his room key. But when he returned a motel worker was standing beside the car, looking at Ace. Renegade cleared his throat as he stood beside the male attendant.
������ �I�m sorry,� he told Zen. �It�s just that she� I mean I�ve never seen a woman like her before.�
������ �Well if I don�t get her fixed up, you won�t see one like her again.�
������ �What room are you in?� He asked.
������ Renegade looked at his key. �Seven.�
������ The man nodded. �I�ll help you get her in there. And if there�s anything I can do to help, just tell me.�
������ �What�s your name?�
������ He smiled. �Carl Walters, and Sampson told me to help you.�
������ Renegade nodded. �Good to know.� He moved around to the driver�s side of the car.
������ Jacob looked at Kai with a sad smile. They were with the other Guardians at the edge of the cliff, at Ace�s spot. It was the one month anniversary of Ace�s disappearance and supposed death; they were there paying their respects to her memory, and what better spot to do so than where Ace often retreated too?
������ They sat in a small circle and waited for the first to speak.
������ �We have come to remember the light and fire that was Ace.� Cell said in a soft tone. �She has taught us many things about life and lose through her life and passing and we each will remember her in our own unique way. I�ll remember the fire that was in her eyes whenever a foe was to be faced.�
������ Kai inhaled deeply. �I�ll remember her spirit, and that within it a great strength resided. Strength she showed in times of doubt, it was a strength that seemed to flow into us all.�
������ Jacob went next. �I�ll remember her fearless nature, the way nothing on earth scared her.�
������ �Her power.� Hope said with a smile. �I think that�s what I�ll always remember about her.�
������ Genesis looked at each of them in turn. �I shall forever remember her wisdom. It was gained through a tough life and horrid experiences yet given with confidence and care.�
������ James nodded. �There is much about Ace that we will miss but there is more about her that we�ll always remember.�
������ �I brought you some ice.� Carl said as he re entered the motel room once Renegade got Ace dressed and put into bed.
������ Renegade looked up from his position on the bed; he was looking Ace�s legs over for broken bones or other injuries.
������ �How is she?� Carl asked as he leaned over slightly.
������ �She�s alive, that�s the best we can expect for now.�
������ Carl nodded. �Good enough. So� what is she to you?�
������ Renegade shot him a look. �I thought Sampson told you that we were coming?�
������ �He did, but that didn�t mean he told me anything else about you.�
������ �Why do you want to know?� Zen asked as he reached into a bag to get some disinfected for one of Ace�s many cuts.
������ �It would just surprise me if you her were anything more than friends and team mates. I mean, although she�s interesting, why would you, obviously perfect be with someone obviously�� he broke off under Zen�s gaze.
������ �Less than perfect? Carl, perfection is daunting and not as fun as everyone makes it out to be. Plus, didn�t you know that everyone is considered perfect by at least one other person.�
������ �I never thought about it that way. So, do you consider her perfect?�
������ Renegade shook his head. �She�s far too cynical and sarcastic to be perfect. But perfection is something that I want very little to do with.�
������ Carl nodded. �Well, I have other rooms to tend too.� He then nodded and left.
������ Renegade walked over to the entrance to lock the door before looking at his watch as the intercom went off. Renegade let out a sigh when he saw that it was only Sampson.
������ �Hey.� Renegade said slowly.
������ �What is her status?�
������ �Alive. Uh� do you know someone named Carl Walters?�
������ Sampson nodded. �Yes, I alerted him as to your predicament and told him to be at your assistance. Did I not tell you?�
������ �No, you did not tell me.�
������ Sampson shrugged. �Oh well, its in the past now, do not worry about it. You should have your hands full with taking care of Ace. You should look forward to this time before she wakes, seeing as she won�t be happy to know she needs someone and that that someone is you. I shall not contact you again for some time. We do not want anyone to trace these communications and find either of our positions.�
������ Renegade nodded as the screen went blank. He sighed as he looked back at Ace and returned to his work of fixing her cuts.
������ Jacob held his hands up in victory as he won another game of pinball on the antique machine. Hope shook her head as she and Kai turned away from the young mutant.
������ �It�s amazing, give him a couple hours after emotional stress and he�s playing games as though nothing has happened.�
������ Kai shrugged. �It�s a guy thing as I have known it. Look at our other male team members. James went to the Sauna while Simon went to work looking over the hall section that Sampson replaced.�
������ �Actually, Kai,� Genesis said coming up behind the pair. �I have completed the assessment and re-ran the A.I systems protocol.�
������ �How�s it coming?� Hope asked him.
������ Simon sat beside her. �I cannot explain the frustration that this infuriating program is causing.�
������ �Maybe you should leave it for a while. You know, try reading a book, or clean up the lab.�
������ Simon looked at Hope as he remembered something in the lab. �Thank you my almond eyed Japanese friend. That gives me a wonderful idea a to how I can occupy my time.� With that he got up and moved to the elevator leaving Hope and Kai looking curiously at one another.
������ As soon as Genesis entered the lab he moved to the cabinet that held Ace�s DNA. He took it out with care before moving to the station that held the appropriate apparel.
������ �My dear Ace, I shall find out what made you you, just as I swore to do.�
������ Renegade looked out the window of the motel room. It was past midnight but he couldn�t get to sleep. He glanced at the bed where Ace was resting. She was tossing and turning so he walked over to her and smoothed her hair from her forehead, her eyes opened slightly and a small, painful smile spread over her dry mouth.
������ �Renegade?� Her voice was weak and cracked from not using it.
������ He smiled at her as he shushed her further attempts to speak. �Welcome back to the land of the living. Get some sleep, you need to rest.�
������ She shook her head. �No.� She pleaded even as she fell back asleep. Renegade watched her for another moment before moving to the other side of the bed where he got under the covers. He was caught off guard when Ace rolled over so her head was resting on his shoulder and her bare arm was draped across his chest. He sighed before closing his eyes and drifting into a light sleep.
������ �Has anyone seen Simon?� James asked as he entered the briefing room that morning. He looked between the two female team members who were there. �I haven�t seen him since yesterday.�
������ �Have you checked the labs?� Serenity asked with a shrug. She was about make another suggestion before she looked over to the entrance where Jacob was standing.
������ He was doubled over in a drunken fashion, his hair was matted and he used the hand not holding him up to wipe the sleep from his eyes. �Have I mentioned how much I hate these crack of dawn wake up calls?�
������ �Yes.�
������ �What is so important that I have to get up this early?�
������ Kai smiled slightly. �We�re house cleaning.� Jacob started to grumble. �But first, we�re calling Zen, to see if he�s okay.�
������ They were in their chairs when James made the call. It took only a moment before a tired Zen, one who was anxious, appeared on the screen.
������ �What the hell do you want?� He whispered.
������ The team�s attention was drawn to the top of a head with black hair that moved. �We called to see your status.� Kai informed him with slight disapproval. �But I think we know it now.�
������ Renegade gave her a hurt look. �What are you talking about?�
������ Hope rolled her eyes. �Zen, we can see her head, and her arm,� she added once the woman�s arm moved into view.
������ �We could have used you here the other day.� James scolded.
������ Renegade shushed him. �Keep it down, don�t wake her; she needs her rest.�
������ �You are giving yourself too much credit.� Jacob said with a yawn.
������ �I don�t need this. Call me if you got something important to say. Renegade out.� With that the giant screen went blank.
������ Jacob shook his head as he took the overflowing bag from the kitchen�s garbage can. �I can�t believe that he spent all this time with a woman.�
������ �Its Zen,� James said as he pulled an old dish of leftovers from the fridge. �How long has this been in there?� He shook his head at the moldy dish before looking back at Jacob. �How do you think he got the name Renegade?�
������ Renegade sighed as he got out of the bed. He looked at Ace carefully as she re-adjusted herself. He can tell by her movements that she is getting stronger. And he realizes that it will only be a little while before she�s fighting him again. He is eagerly awaiting her to do it, for he knows that would be the sign that she�s all right and that she�s going to get better. He recalls her eyes, they were different, strange, yet hers despite the change. She had one pupil, black and the rest of her eye was a blue green. She was pale, to a sickening extent. He knew she needed food but didn�t want to leave her to retrieve it.
������ A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. �Carl?� Renegade asked when he opened the door slightly. �What are you doing here?�
������ Carl held up a bag. �I brought you some food.� Renegade opened the door and allowed Carl admittance. �I have soup for her, and a variety of things for you. There are no warnings out for you yet.�
������ Zen nodded as he took the bag from Carl. �Good.�
������ Carl stood on his tiptoes to see the woman on the bed past Zen�s shoulder. �How is she?�
������ Zen looked at Ace. �Better.�
������ Carl nodded and headed for the door. �Okay then, just call if you need anything else.� Without a further sound Carl left.
������ Renegade brought out the pre-made soup, and moved to the microwave within the room to heat it up. He got out one of the supplied Styrofoam bowls provided and waited for the beep. He then poured the soup, chicken noodle he noted, and moved to Ace�s side.
������ �Hey,� he said gently shaking her until her eyes opened. �Time to eat. Can you sit?�
������ She nodded and struggled to a sitting position, she accepted his help to make her more comfortable before accepting the bowl.
������ �Careful, it�s hot.� He warned before letting her have it. He moved off the bed and to the bed stand where he watched her with the same interest that she watched him.
������ She looked him over carefully as she recalled her time in the lab.
������ �What are you thinking about?� He asked with interest.
������ She shrugged. �Things.�
������ �Things? Well, things are very important,� sarcasm filled his voice, �they�re what makes the world go round.�
������ She shot him a famous glare with seemed oddly different with her eyes being what they were. �How long have been gone? What happened to me?�
������ �A month.� His tone was serious and he focused on the floor. �You were taken by a mutant known as Rancor. He used you to find a way to suppress mutant abilities,� he broke off when she nodded.
������ �That�s why I feel different.� Her voice was weak. �I�m human, aren�t I?�
������ He nodded. �Yeah Darlin�� you are.�
������ �Is it permanent?�
������ He shrugged. �Don�t know Darlin�, no one does.�
������ She sat silently for a moment as Renegade sat on the bed beside her.
������ �Renegade��
������ �Yeah?�
������ �Thank you...�
������ Renegade smiled slightly as he got up and left Ace to eat. He knew she needed her peace� he only hoped she had it in her.