She had drifted into a twilight sleep, but snapped awake as Logan hauled himself up onto the balcony.

"All clear?" she called softly.

"Pretty much. Found somethin' though. All quiet here?"

"Finally. God, I'm jealous." He laughed quietly and dropped a kiss on her forehead. Kit unfolded from the chair to take his gloves and hood so he could undress.

"What'd you find?"

"Little storage room down by the boilers. All set up for occupancy--handcuffs, gags, rope. Found this too." He flipped a little glint of metal at her and she caught it.

"An FOH button. Lovely. At least we have a hint of what we're up against."

"C'mon," he suggested, patting the bed as he crawled in. "Get some sleep." Kit also undressed and slid in beside him, curling her back against his chest and trying to relax.

It was just before dawn when she slipped out of his arms and opened the French doors to inhale the salt air. As she did, a sound and scent caught her attention and she ducked back inside, leaving the door open. It was the "Friend of Humanity" guard stepping out onto the balcony of his room and clicking the door softly shut.

"Ops One," he whispered and she heard a soft, electronic reply. "It goes down today. Be here at 1000 hours. There's another couple hanging tight with the targets, but they'll be no problem. In fact, the woman'll be a pleasure," he added in an unpleasant tone that made her hackles rise. She heard the electronic sign-off and a small click. "Oh, yeah. A real pleasure," he repeated to himself and slipped quietly back into his room.

Kit sat on the carpet, her arms wrapped around her drawn up knees as the sun turned the eastern sky pink and orange, then stood and slid into the bed, suddenly cold.

"Darlin'?" Logan rasped as she snuggled against him. His arms closed around her and she buried her head under his chin.

"It goes down today. Ten o'clock. FOH goon squad will be arriving then to take them off the ship. He has plans for me as well and I don't think I'll like them." His arms tightened momentarily, anger rising in him.

"Nothin's gonna happen t' you or them," Logan swore, and she looked into his eyes.

"I know that. I have an idea, though." They sat up in the bed.

"All right, darlin'. Talk t' me."

Later, about 9:00, Kit knocked on the Adams' door, controlling the crawling feeling she had as the guard stared at her from the corner of his eye. He was excited, agitated and full of unpleasant thoughts for her, but she put on a bright smile as Dori opened the door.

"Kit! Hi! Come in," Dori invited, stepping back to let her pass.

"I'm not interrupting, am I?" she asked, knowing they had been up for almost an hour and talking about going to breakfast.

"Of course not! Bill's just finishing up in the bathroom, then we were going to go to breakfast. Would and Logan like to join us?"

"I'd love to, Dori, if you don't mind. I'm afraid Logan's sleeping in a bit. He was up rather late last night, but I'm just full of energy. Did you have a, uh, good night?" she inquired with a smile and Dori giggled, blushing and hugged her friend impulsively.

"I had the most wonderful night I've had in ages! Meeting the two of you has been the best thing in our lives, Kit." Touched, Kit just squeezed back and they stepped apart just as Bill stepped out of the bathroom, freshly shaved.

"Kit! Good morning," he greeted her, smiling then kissing his wife tenderly.

"Bill, I've invited Kit to join us for breakfast. You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not! What about Logan?"

"He's a bit tired this morning. Do you mind if it's just me?"

"Of course not. It's not every day I get to escort two beautiful women to breakfast."

As they were about to walk out, they heard a thump in the hall and Dori grabbed Bill's arm. No one but Kit had heard the silencer of the pistol as it was fired.

"What was that?" she asked, staring at the door.

"It sounds like someone fell out in the hall," Kit stated and all three walked over, Bill opening the door. In the hallway lay one of the security guards, while the other crouched over him. Kit was not surprised to see that the unconscious guard was the one who had shadowed Bill Adams the previous day.

"What the devil's going on here?" Bill demanded.

"Sorry, Mr. Adams, it appears my partner is unwell. If you would all just give me a moment to take him into the next room and put him to bed, I'll be right with you."

"Oh, of course," Dori stated, ever softhearted. Kit was glad they couldn't smell the discharged gun and blood that told her the guard was not going to recover from being "unwell" on this side of the veil. The three stood in the hallway while the guard dragged his companion into the next room. Through the open door Kit caught the same scent, telling her the night shift wasn't going to be waking up, either.

She knew Logan was nearby to take over if her plan didn't work, and that he had called Fury to intercept the FOH ship heading toward them. Still, every nerve was on end as the three of them preceded the guard down the corridor, Kit tagging behind Dori and Bill.

Though she expected a move, she was still startled when the gun butt hit the back of her head, driving her to her hands and knees and making her see stars. She heard Dori gasp in fear and struggled to get to her feet as the couple stared into the silencer of the guard's service pistol. Kit thrust her hand out, apparently to ward off another blow, but in actuality telling Logan to keep back. She was glad no one else heard the low, menacing growl from behind them.

Before Kit could regain her feet, however, the pistol again cracked against the side of her head, sending her staggering into the wall where she slumped, barely conscious.

"Kit!" Dori exclaimed, then squeaked in alarm as the pistol turned on them again.

"She's the least of your worries right now, Mrs. Adams. Don't worry, she's coming along. I have plans for her."

He managed to toss Kit over his shoulder while Bill tried to judge his chances of fighting for the gun. Unwilling to risk the women's safety, he just put a comforting arm around Dori and let the guard usher them down to the small storage room he'd set up. The guard dropped Kit roughly in a corner, assured she was still out cold, and proceeded to handcuff both Bill and Dori before doing the same to her. Thinking them harmless, he cuffed the women's hands in front rather than behind, as he had Bill's.

"What exactly do you want with us?" Bill demanded as he eyed the pistol in the guard's armpit holster.

"Very simple--your life, Mr. Adams. Or should I say, your death."

"Fine. Then let the women go." The guard’s smile was evil as he bent down in front of Bill.

"Oh, no, I don't think so," he replied. "I plan to have a little fun with the ladies before the FOH arrives to pick you up."

Dori, her blue eyes huge and filled with tears, shook her head in disbelief, her mouth shaping a soundless "no."

"Oh, yes, Mrs. Adams. But your friend goes first. I have a score to settle with her."

He moved to where Kit slumped on the floor, unaware that she was wide awake and prepared for him. He grabbed her cruelly by the handcuffs and propped her against the wall, holding her hands up while his free hand tore open her shirt, ignoring Dori's moan as she buried her face against her husband's shoulder. While he roughly fondled her, Kit opened her eyes, ignoring the pain where the cuffs dug into her wrists.

"Oh, good, you're awake. I want to see your fear," he crowed.

"You're the one who should be afraid, friend," she ground out, wincing as he yanked on the cuffs again.

"Of who? Your shrimp of a husband?" he taunted, his mouth twisted in a grin of derision.

"No, of your Friends of Humanity pals when they found out you did it with a mutant." He dropped the cuffs and jumped away from her as is she had sprouted another head.

"What...what are you talking about?"

"Look at my eyes, you spineless little bigot," she snarled, getting to her knees and glaring at him. Noticing her cat-like eyes for the first time, he whipped out the pistol, his hand shaking as he pointed at her. She smiled grimly. "Wouldn't you like to know what I can do?" she whispered, lowering her head to look up at him from under her eyebrows. "Maybe I can absorb bullets without getting hurt. Maybe I can turn them back on you as soon as you fire. Maybe--"

"Shut up!!" he screamed, smashing the gun across Kit's face and knocking her to the floor as Dori screamed. "You shut up too!"

As he pointed the gun at her, Bill Adams pushed himself to his feet, meaning to dive at him and knock the gun free. Unfortunately, the security guard moved faster than expected and the pistol fired into Bill Adam's abdomen. He collapsed, moaning, as Dori threw herself at him, crying his name. While their captor was distracted, Kit gathered her legs under her and launched herself in the same move Bill had tried.

She smashed into their attacker, sending the gun flying and knocking him into the wall. Moving surprisingly fast, Kit got her hands over his head and started to choke him with the chain connecting the cuffs. Unable to pull free, he got to his feet, fighting for air, and started to slam her back into the wall. The third time, he managed to knock the wind out of her and her grip loosened enough for him to slip his head free.

"You are so dead, mutie," he gasped, but six razor-sharp claws punctured the door, slicing it like paper and revealing a very angry Wolverine on the other side.

"Wrong, bub. That's you," he snarled, furious.