Return of the Dragon: Chapters 3-5

by Parodys


A/N I have nothing against Cuba, but I am well aware that in the smaller villages there is a lot of fear of outsiders. More is to come¡¦have fun and please review!

A/N: If my attempt at Spanish is so horribly off that you¡¦re mortally offended let me know and I¡¦ll change it. Thanks to Chris for the help with some of the Spanish. But any and all mistakes are mine. And please remember to review¡¦.it takes a few seconds and makes my day : )

Italics are dreams


Chapter Three: Knick Nacks and Stowaways

Time: Three weeks after Peter Lee's departure

"MAIL CALL!" Sean's voice boomed through the school, sending the team running into a sliding, colliding halt in the front room foyer. Monet had flown in, calmly making her way to Sean when Angelo had hit her from the back and sent the both of them flying on the newly waxed floors. Covered in flour, stirring a bowl of dough and looking slightly distracted, Paige had walked in, tripped over Angelo's arm and sent a wad of cake batter towards Sean who had ducked, managing to hit the wall in spectacular explosion. Not to be outdone Jono had strolled up from the basement, carefully stepped over the limbs and various appendages, when he tripped over his shoelaces.

From the top of the stairs Emma watched in utter amazement as her team disintegrated into...her mind fumbled for an appropriate word coming up only with some demented mutant cosmic joke.

"Ahem...uh...we got a couple of letter for ye M, some catalogues fer Paige, sample, sample, sample, bill, bill, bill, and the box is fer all of us. It's from Jubilee." Sean held up the large box and shook it, interesting rattles coming from the inside. "Let's take it to the living room and open it."

The team managed to right itself and mutely follow Sean into the room, a trail of batter marking their progress. Emma sighed, and sat down next to Sean. The box was quickly opened, brown paper scattering across the room, and the individually wrapped parcels were tossed to their perspective owners. Everyone around the room began tearing open their gifts, Paige was busy modeling a colorful sarong that Jubilee had included with a bright, African print, purple bikini , the others were exclaiming over their gifts while Angelo snuck out of the room. His gift was fairly thin, and once he was alone on the porch, he opened it to reveal a deadly looking dagger and sheath. "Dios!" Angelo whistled softly as he thumbed the blade. Resheathing the blade, he tore open the letter that had been tucked in.

Dear Ange,

You guys should come and visit. I miss you.

=)
Jubilee

Frowning, Angelo reread the letter several times. Jubilee's letter sounded...strange. Slipping the knife in his belt, he walked back into the living room where everyone was comparing gifts. Monet looked up from her beaded necklaces as he came in.

"What did you get?"

Angelo absently held up the dagger, as he walked over to Emma and handed her the letter. "I need you read this."

Emma took the paper and quickly scanned it. She glanced at him curiously. "I don't see anything wrong with this, it seems like she's just a little homesick. How about we go and visit her for a few weeks?" Pulling out her cell-phone, Emma quickly dialed up Jubilee's home. After talking quietly for a few seconds, she hung up angrily. Standing up, Emma held up her hand for silence. "Alright everyone, settle down. I just talked to a Jessica, her tutor or so she says and she claimed that Jubilee was in the shower and that I could get a hold of her later. I couldn't tell much at this distance but I do know that she was lying. How does everyone feel like a quick trip to Africa?"

-in-

-A week earlier-

Jubilee breathed hard, her nostrils flaring as she sat in the cold, dark corner between tall stacks of boxes. In her hands she clutched a khaki pack-back that was filled with everything she could get her hands on in the precious few minutes that Jessica had been distracted by shooting on the grounds. With a calm born of panic, Jubilee had quickly packed and ran for the docks she saw from her window day after day. Getting onto the ship had been easy after all her years with Wolverine, and she crouched in a damp wedge in the hold, praying to any god that Angelo had gotten her message.

Her back was against the cold metal of the hull, and she could hear the waves lapping at the ship. Since her uncle's disappearance three weeks ago, she had received letters from him on a regular basis. On the second week, the letters had dried up. By the end of the second week, Jubilee was ready to go look for him, but had been stopped again and again by Jessica, who had turned from cool adult, to obsessive jail keeper monitoring everything that Jubilee did to listening in on conversations she had on the phone with Paige. Finally, a week and a half after Peter's last letter, Jubilee had managed to escape and board a ship that was headed for Central America.

Tying back her hair, Jubilee dumped the contents of her bag out onto floor in front of her. Sighing, she assessed the items unhappily; three bottles of water, granola bars, beef jerky, three hundred dollars, her cell phone (which wasn't working of course), the communications device that Emma had given her (also inoperable), a blanket and a Swiss army knife that she had found in her uncle's old stuff while she had been exploring the attic on a rainy afternoon. Stuffing everything back in the bag, she climbed to the top of one of the stacks of boxes and curled up under the blanket, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the boat.

-in-

-the present-

"Dammit!" Emma flung off the helmet angrily. "Jessica may or may not be a mutant but she has her shields up so tight that I can't get any information out of  her. Jubilee has always been under the radar. Sean do you have any ideas?"

The team had come to the mansion in hopes of finding help, but had found it empty. Instead Emma had donned on Cerebro in hopes of finding out more about what was going on with Jubilee and getting nowhere. The rest of the team were killing time while sitting around the control room hopefully waiting for word on where Jubilee could be found.

Monet sucked on her lollipop thoughtfully. "Does anyone else think that we're making way too big a deal out of this?"

Paige shook her head. "Think back on every single time Jubilee has been in trouble. If something's weird then it most likely means that there's trouble."

"She doesn't get into trouble all the time."

"Do you remember the last time we went shopping in town and left her and Emma alone? Do you remember what we came back to?"

Monet's eyes clouded as she recalled the 'Pancake Incident' as it was now being called, and then shook her head. "That was just because they were cooking it had nothing to do with...."

*Okay, remember when we were on the road trip to the Grand Canyon for the history thing and Jubilee made us stop at that roadside rest area for some candy? I ruined a perfectly good pair of leather pants that day."

"It wasn't her fault that it was a home for that alien creature."

"M," Angelo looked at her. "But it was Jubes that had us stop there."

It takes a wise person to know when they¡¦re beaten and M realized that she had a million of Jubilee related incidents against her. "Fine, lets go save her."

Exactly four minutes later Emma and Sean heard the Blackbird fly out of the hangar.

-in-

"Emma is going to be so pissed." Paige expertly worked the controls for the flyer, as she glanced back at Angelo who was looking through the lockers for stuff they would need.

"Just be glad that you don't telepathy, she's screaming in my ear right now for us to turn around and come home this instant." The plane veered to the right as Monet set the coordinates for Durban.

Jono winced. *Ow...damn, the gel is not happy people. Ange you better have a damn good reason for us bailing on Frost.*

Angelo looked up incredulously from the trunk he was pawing through. "Who's bright idea was it to just hand Jubes over to that man?"

*Emma.*

"Who said that we owed Jubilee the chance to have a real family?"

*Emma.*

"Emma and Sean practically threw her to the sharks without a thought. If they come they're not going to be any help."

"Yeah, I guess but what about Jubes how are we going to find her?"

Angelo shrugged, not deterred by mere facts. "We find Jubes first, save her from the evil clutches of her diabolical uncle who is keeping her locked up in the basement, starving her and making her watch old Julie Andrews movies..." he trailed off as everyone turned to stare at him. "What? We have no idea what that man is capable of!"

*Yeah mate. That's why a little old man comes after forty years in the jungle to find his long lost grandniece- to torture her*  Jono rolled his eyes at his best friend. *Give me the letter she sent you.*

Reluctantly handing over the letter Angelo went to stand behind Monet as winds began to buffet the plane. Jono regarded the legal sized page for a moment before pulling out his lighter and flicking it open. He turned to his friends as he started a flame. "We all claim Jubilee isn't the brightest of our bunch but why would she use a perfectly good piece of paper for a total of two lines?*

"Three." A sullen mutter came from the front of the plane.

*Whatever. I think that she might have left us a message besides the one in ink.* With steady hands, Jono ran the flame lightly under the paper and within seconds words began to darken on the page. *Voila! You can all thank me later in records and cash.* Jono smirked as they rushed to see the paper.

"Wow, how did you know?"

Jono ducked his head and mumbled something. *wnmwahsweesee*

Paige frowned and leaned closer. "Huh?"

*I saw it on a episode of Sesame Street okay?"

"Yeah but how did you know that Jubes..."

Throwing up his hands in disgust Jono buried his head in his arms. *Because Jubes was there too okay. We watched Sesame Street and saw how to write secret messages!*

Everyone paused in their inspection of the letter to take a good look at the man they once thought they knew. Angelo gingerly patted him on the shoulder. "Uh...it's okay man."

Paige waved the letter in their faces. "Guys, the letter? Here's what it says; Dear Ange, I really do miss you but I can't write very much. Hopefully Jono remembers that day when we watched TV so you're reading this now. Here's the skinny, about a month after I left Uncle Pete got a call from an old friend that needed his help and he left. He said that he would be back within the week and I haven't heard from him in two weeks. Jessica, the woman he left in charge has turned jail keeper on me and I can't trust her hence the secrecy. I'm heading out to help Uncle Petey and I need some back-up. Come soon, please. The last letter was postmarked from a town in the middle of the Yucatan called K'alakmul that supposed to be some major Mayan site. I'm going there. Meet me as soon as you can. Since I have to keep my shields up I'll try and call you as soon as I can get to a phone. Miss you. Love, Jubes." Paige grinned. "And she put a little heart next to her name. Well it looks like we're headed towards Mexico folks."

Monet began to turn to the plane to the west and shrugged. "This is going to be good."

"Wait! What if she couldn't get out and is stuck, trapped in the clutches of that evil woman."

Paige rolled her eyes. "I thought we were going to rescue her from that evil uncle of hers."

"Evil smeviel! Jubes could be in trouble and we're heading in the wrong direction." Angelo had managed to degenerate into a person, while still loved by all, that was a worrywart and it was only his obvious fear for a certain cute firecracker that his teammates were choosing at that time to ignore him (and probably saving his life while they were at it).

Monet sighed witheringly. "From the person that claims Mama Espinoza didn't raise any stupid children you sure are acting like it. He's spent the last major part of his life in Mexico. Logical conclusion is obvious."

Paige shook her head. "I agree with M, if Jubes can get out of Bastion's prison then I think she's already on her way. We'd just be wasting time and fall into Emma's hands if we headed towards South Africa. Let's vote."

"Mexico."

"I'm for Mexico."

*I say Jubes is strong, and we'd be underestimating her if we thought she wasn't halfway there yet. Mexico.*

Angelo looked at his teammates, tugging at his nose thoughtfully. Finally he threw up his hands in the air. "Let's visit my motherland amigos."

-in-

After a week of surviving in the dregs of the ship, Jubilee awoke on the sixth morning to the sounds of men yelling out direction to crane workers who were starting to unload the cargo. Quickly grabbing her belongings Jubilee heft the backpack on her back and started climbing up some boxes to the opening where things were being lifted out. The ship creaked and shuddered under the strain and within a half an hour Jubilee was walking on the docks heading towards the small village clustered around the bay.

The dirt road sent up tiny puffs of dust each time her booted feet hit the ground, as she slowly walked in the sweltering heat towards a small caf¡¦about a mile ahead. Jubilee squinted under the harsh sunlight and sighed as she made her way across the village. It was fairly quiet, almost silent after the sounds from the docks faded into the distance. Glancing around, Jubilee failed to see anyone sitting around doing...anything for that matter. Clearing her throat, Jubilee shook her hair free from it¡¦s ponytail and let it hide her face.

The caf¡¦was small and dark and the owner looked at Jubilee noncommittally as she walked in. Clearing her throat, Jubilee pulled on three years of Spanish lessons and hearing Angelo talk. ¡¦Hola.¡¦

¡¦Mmph.¡¦

¡¦Como estas?¡¦

¡¦Mmph.¡¦

Jubilee smiled winningly, only to have it fall flat at the man¡¦s expressionless face. ¡¦Um¡¦Perdone¡¦um¡¦puede ayudarme por favor?¡¦

¡¦Que?¡¦

¡¦Estoy¡¦¡¦ Jubilee racked her brains for some words other than taco and enchilada to appear. ¡¦publico telephono? Por favor?¡¦

The older man nodded and pulled out an ancient looking telephone. ¡¦Si.¡¦

Unsure whether to accept the offer of the phone, Jubilee gave in and quickly dialed Paige¡¦s cell phone. It rang two times before it was opened. ¡¦Oh thank god, Paige this is..¡¦

¡¦Hello you have reached Paige Guthrie¡¦s voice mail. Leave a message after the beep.¡¦

¡¦Crap. Paige this is Jubes, I¡¦m in um¡¦.¡¦ Jubilee turned to the old man. ¡¦Donde estamos ahora?¡¦

Smiling, the man patted her hand. ¡¦Isla de la Juventud.¡¦

Jubilee frowned. ¡¦Um I¡¦m in Isla de la Juventud. In Mexico right?¡¦

The older man shook his head. ¡¦Non, Cuba.¡¦

Her hands clenched on the phone as she forced herself to remain calm. ¡¦Paige, I¡¦m in a tiny village in an island off the coast of Cuba. I have to go now. Come and get me.¡¦ Hanging up the phone, Jubilee forced herself to look at the man who was beginning to frown.

¡¦Que es esto? Americano?¡¦

Jubilee began to back away. ¡¦No, no. Ne Americano. Fuck.¡¦ Turning on her heel, Jubilee sprinted out of the caf¡¦and into the countryside with the older man screaming at her back.

Chapter Four: Safe Havens and Dreams

"Espera! Vuelto aquí!" (Wait! Come back here!)

"Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap, crap." Jubilee feet pounded on the dusty road, words gasping from her mouth each time she breathed. She could feel the blood pounding in her ears as the many gym practices aimed at agility rather than endurance came into play. The village quickly fell behind and Jubilee forced herself to keep on running, the men only a few minutes behind her. "Okay, I can think. Breathe first and then think." Desperately sucking in air, Jubilee looked around, sweat pouring off of her in the humid air. The land was fairly hilly and off in the distance she could make out the shore line and some buildings. On her right she could still make out the ocean and after glancing around for a few seconds, she headed towards the shore.

Once on the beach Jubilee was able to catch her breath. Unwilling to stop too long, Jubilee took off her shoes and slung them over her shoulder and began a distance eating jog on the edge of the water where the sand was still firm and the water could wash away her footprints. Twenty minutes later, Jubilee was satisfied that they weren't following her when a distance giggle stopped her. Ahead of her was a small girl, about six years old playing in the sand. She had black hair braided into loose pigtails, brown eyes and was dressed in a light purple cotton dress that came to about her knees. The girl looked up and grinned and then went back to her play of sticking sticks in the white beach.

Jubilee stepped up carefully, not wanting to scare her. "Hola."

"Hola." The girl shifted slightly to make room for Jubilee to sit by her.

"I don't suppose you speak English do you?" Jubilee asked mournfully as she collapsed on the sand next to the girl. At her blank look she nodded. "Of course you don't. Um...me llamo Jubilee."

"Me llamo Tita." The girl chirped cheerfully as she handed Jubilee a stick, motioning for her to do the same.

"Hey Tita, nice to meet you." Jubilee looked around and the desolate beach. The white sand seemed to stretch for miles in either direction with the occasional palm tree marking the distance. "Now, why are you here all by yourself?"

Tita smiled at her and waved to someone on the ocean, what looked to be a teenage boy on a small boat. "Carlos!!" Giggling she grabbed Jubilee's arm and waved to the boy who waved back.

"I better go, I don't know what he might do. Adios Tita." Jubilee hoisted on her backpack when she felt her arm being held by the little girl.

"No se vaya." Jubilee tried to pull her arm free but the Tita held on to it with a vice grip. "No se vaya." The little girl repeated insistently.

"What? No depart...no leave? I'm sorry I have to go."

Tita shook her head again and pointed to the shore. " Usted es seguro ahora. Usted será aceptable. La madre se ocupará de usted." (You're safe now. It will be okay. Mother will take care of you.)

Jubilee's arm began to hurt as the girl's efforts made her dig her nails into the older girl's flesh. "Ow! Let go! You guys are going to get into trouble with me okay? Apuro. Apuro grande."

"No! Usted es seguro. Usted es aceptable."(You're safe. You're okay.) Tita reached up and turned Jubilee's face to look at her in the eye. Jubilee's will melted at the deep brown eyes and she sunk down onto the sand tired. Tita patted her should with her free hand. "Usted es acceptable" (You're okay.)

Carlos, a teenager of about 17 walked up onto the shore, pulling the small boat behind him. He was a lot darker than his sister, and had wildly curly black hair that offset his dark skin in the bright sunshine. The little girl flung herself in his arms and he swung her around as she squealed in delight. After setting her down, he hauled out a net full of fish, bright colored fish trapped in the net still wiggling in their confines, and nodded to Jubilee.

¡¦Hola. Me llamo Jubilee. Como estas?¡¦ Jubilee smiled at him, a slight blush burning her cheeks as she took in his well toned body and warm smile. ¡¦I don¡¦t suppose you know English.¡¦

¡¦Yeah, I know English. My name is Carlos, nice to meet you Jubilee.¡¦ Grinning at her, he wiped off his hand and held it out. ¡¦I take it you met my sister.¡¦

Jubilee shook his hand and looked at the little girl who had reattached herself to Jubilee¡¦s arm. ¡¦She¡¦s cute but you have to convince her to let me go. Some guys are after me and if you get caught with me I don¡¦t what would happen.¡¦

¡¦What did she say?¡¦

Tita looked at her brother in indignation, chattering too quickly for Jubilee¡¦s inexperienced ears to make out any words. He listened to her seriously and after she had finished he began walking up the bluff motioning for Jubilee to follow.

¡¦Wait! What did she tell you?¡¦

¡¦Rosita said that you need our help because you¡¦re lost. Don¡¦t worry our mother will help you.¡¦

¡¦Los malos hombres no le encontrarán con nosotros.¡¦ (The bad men won't find you with us.) The small girl pulled Jubilee forward until she was following Carlos at a pace that the girl was satisfied with. Once she was certain that Jubilee wasn¡¦t going to bolt, she let go and scampered ahead, running back to check that Jubilee was still with them occasionally. Resigning herself to staying with them, for the moment at least, Jubilee gathered the other end of the net and helped carry it. As she placed the other end on her shoulder, she quickly fell into step with the young man and he grinned his appreciation to her, making no other comment.

They walked that way for half an hour, following the valleys of the hills higher upland until a small farm came into view. It was made out of battered wood and a few scraggily chickens ran around in the front yard, pecking at the grass. They were about ten minutes away from the house when a roll of thunder made them hurry.

Carlos fell into a jog and glanced at Jubilee who was beginning to breathe hard. ¡¦It¡¦s rainy season now, storms often come quickly and without warning. I¡¦ll go put the fish in the drying shed and Tita will take you in to see mother.¡¦

A sheet of rain fell just as Jubilee and Tita entered the house. It was a small building, with only two rooms but scrupulously neat. On one side there was a single bed, with a shelf of worn books above it and on the other side was a small table with two chairs and cabinets. A wood stove burned in the corner and on top a pot bubbled with a mouth watering smell. Stirring the pot was a middle aged woman, about 35 years old but the years had been kind to her. Grey hair peppered the dark brown hair that fell about her shoulders in soft waves, her blues eyes twinkled as she looked at her daughter, and she smiled easily, with well worn laugh lines creasing her face. She was dressed in a thin dress that clung to her body, the dark pink highlighting the rose in her cheeks. Jubilee smiled at the older woman, feeling instantly at home with her.

Instead of asking questions, the woman took their outer garments and hung them up on a hook by the door. Then she ushered the two girls to the table and looked at the younger one with a smile playing at her lips.

¡¦Now, Tita, Quién es su amigo? Who is your friend?¡¦

The little girl lit up and bounded over to Jubilee jumping in her lap, and poured out a long and apparently tragic tale (from what Jubilee could make of the ¡¦Muchacha pobre, pobre, perdida¡¦ (poor, poor girl) that was repeated several times), patting her face comfortingly throughout the story. After she was finished she leaned back, satisfied that she had told the tale to her utmost ability and was ready to relax.

Her mother had listened carefully throughout the whole thing and then turned to Jubilee with a smile. ¡¦Well my daughter has just informed me that you are a lost girl trying to find your family. They were stolen from you and it¡¦s your job to retrieve them but you¡¦re also seeking the help of your friends who you¡¦ve haven¡¦t been able to contact. She also says that bad men are after you.¡¦

Jubilee blinked rapidly. ¡¦Um I only told her my name.¡¦

The woman smiled enigmatically, pouring herself a cup of tea. ¡¦My daughter is special. She can sense the history behind a person and to some extent their future.¡¦ She sipped the steaming brew, and then seemed to come sort of decision. ¡¦Call me Tante Rose.¡¦

¡¦Isn¡¦t that French?¡¦

¡¦Yes, my mother was French speaking, my father was Spanish and since I married a Spanish speaking man¡¦¡¦ She shrugged and peered at Jubilee. ¡¦My daughter only helps those that need it desperately. How can we help you?¡¦

¡¦I don¡¦t know, and I don¡¦t want to get you into trouble. Some bad guys are after me.¡¦

Tante Rose waved her hand dismissively. ¡¦They will not bother this house, you can be sure. Now you are looking for your family?¡¦

Jubilee started to speak when the door flung open and Carlos walked in soaked to the bone. After he had changed and was dry, his mother served up some of the thick stew, carefully measuring out each bowl. Once everyone was served, she briefly bowed her head. ¡¦Bendiga la generosidad contra la cual comemos y protegemos ésos bajo esta azotea esta noche. Amen.¡¦ (Bless this bounty and protect those under our roof tonight. Amen.)

As soon as she settled on the bed she nodded for Jubilee to proceed.

¡¦I live with my uncle and three weeks ago he received a message from an old friend that he was needed in Mexico. The last letter I got from him was two weeks ago and since he was supposed to be gone only a week, I¡¦m worried. I have to go protect him. I¡¦stowed away on a ship and when it docked I thought we were in Mexico. I ended up here after being chased by some guys from the village by the docks. I tried calling my friends from the village but no one answered, so I¡¦m stuck right now.¡¦

¡¦Such an adventure for a young girl.¡¦

¡¦I¡¦m 16!¡¦ Jubilee replied indignantly.

¡¦Age makes no difference.¡¦ Tante Rose admonished lightly. Taking the empty bowls and putting them in a plastic container, she settled back down on the bed with some knitting, her needles clicking soothingly as the shack shuddered with each thunder and lightening flash. Jubilee¡¦s eyes began to grow heavy and she yawned, ducking her head behind her hand. Beside her Rosita was almost asleep, her small mouth mewling softly as she yawned and nestled her head in her arms. Tante Rose clucked softly as she put her knitting away and lifted the small girl on to the bed. ¡¦And now it¡¦s time for bed, things will look better in the morning.¡¦ Motioning for Jubilee to lie beside the small girl, Jubilee shook her head, unwilling to take the obvious sleep place of the older woman.

¡¦I¡¦ve spent more nights on the floor, I¡¦ll be fine.¡¦ Ignoring the woman¡¦s protests Jubilee lay down on the straw mat beside the bed. Across the room in front of the dying embers of the stove Carlos was stretched out and soon soft snores were heard heralding the presence of deep sleep and dreams.

*********

It was swelteringly hot as Jubilee hacked her way through the dense jungle, her machete cutting deep swathes in the greenery. She methodically made her way through the plants, cutting her path when suddenly the ground fell away in a cliff overlooking a temple in the distance. The jungle had almost completely covered the old building, swallowing it in the ages protecting it from prying eyes. Just as Jubilee knew the city before her was K¡¦alakmul, she also knew this wasn¡¦t what was driving her hundreds of miles from home. With each step she took it tugged at her being, pulling her, forcing her, calling her to¡¦the city¡¦the place that needed her. Jubilee glanced back and could make out the faint outlines of her teammates through the heavy brush. As she turned to look at the horizon her foot slipped and the intense rush of fear and adrenaline hit her. The earth crumbled under her feet, and she grabbed onto the air unable to stop her plummet to the trees rapidly approaching. She could hear the screams of her friends as she tumbled in the sky when something heavy and hard hit her. As she blacked out she could barely make out the dull throbbing underneath her body as she as lifted from the fall and into the air.

***********

The throbbing became louder as Jubilee opened her eyes, and as she peered in the darkness for the noise she sat up in fear as she realized the door was being knocked on by some very angry people.

Chapter Five: It's A Small World

Jubilee sat up with a start, as the pounding on the door continued. She started to get up when a hand grabbed her and clapped onto her mouth, sparks began to crackle as Jubilee struggled when she heard Carlos's soft voice whisper in her ear. "It's only me, be quiet and let me answer the door. Go hide under the bed." Jubilee squirmed in the thin opening, shoving a few boxes in front of her as Carlos pulled a sheet that divided the room to shield the women. Once satisfied that the girl was out of view, Carlos pulled the door open angrily.

"Who is this and why have you disturbed this house?"

Jubilee could see several boots from her position under the bed, and her breath hitched as she counted five men. Her mind raced as she felt around under the bed for some kind of weapon to be used for protection when her hand closed around a metal ring.

"We have orders to search every house in the area. There is dangerous fugitive on the loose and we're here to protect you."

The teenage boy stood tall, seemingly uncaring of the machine guns only inches from his face. "Do you know who lives here? You're trespassing on the property of Rose Gonzalez."

At this, the men stepped back uneasily. "We are only following orders."

From behind the curtain Tante Rose stepped out, holding her head regally as she secured her robe. Her hair was wild and had curled into ringlets sometime throughout the night. "Who bothers me at my own house?"

The leader stepped forward and bowed slightly, lowering his gun in the presence of the woman. "My apologies Senorita Gonzalez but we have been ordered to search the houses for a dangerous fugitive that has gotten loose in the area. My only concern is for your family's safely."

Rose stepped back and waved to her house. "Then search, but remember if you do not find what you seek in this house, I will take your presumptuousness as dishonoring my casa and my name by thinking we would harbor such a fiend in my house. Your choice senor."

The leader's eyes quickly glanced around the small shack from the doorway, unwilling to step past the boundary of the door. "My mistake Senorita. Please go back to sleep and we will disturb you no further." The men quickly backed out and started to jog down the muddy road to the next house in the far distance.

Once Carlos was sure that the men were far from the house, he knelt down to look under the bed pushing aside some boxes. "Jubilee it's alright you can come...." He trailed off at the empty space. "She's gone."

Tante Rose only smiled. "As I figured she would, we were to help her rest and then she would continue on her journey."

"She's all alone." He protested, throwing the window above the bed open and peered into the night.

"She wouldn't have accepted our help anyway. Go back to sleep Carlos, morning will be here soon." Smiling she brushed back her son's hair and nudged him towards the mat. After a few minutes, she heard the slow and steady breath of sleep and soon fell into the darkness herself. Below her a slight draft blew in from the almost unnoticeable crack in the wall that had enough leeway to allow, if someone wanted, to squeeze through and then fit back into place without anyone noticing.

About a mile away from the shack, Jubilee looked back at the small house with a sad smile. The last thing she wanted to do was get some more people into trouble, especially those that had been so kind to her. Catching her breath Jubilee once again started jogging westward in hopes that she would eventually end up in Mexico somehow. As the shack faded from sight, Jubilee would have no way of knowing that the house she had slept in was one of the most powerful mutants on the southern continent in precognition, whose sleep was already troubled by dreams of things yet to come involving a young teenage girl with the weight of her family on her shoulders.

-in-

Once the men were out of view from the house the tallest man looked at his comrades. "Carajo." He swore softly to himself as he scanned the horizon where the moon was just beginning to rise above, and saw a figure briefly outlined against the bright orb. "Let's go get the girl."

One of the younger ones looked at him in horror. "She's a known witch, do you really want to cross her?"

"I answer to Vanya and not that puta. Come on!"

And so as Jubilee breathlessly ran into the night, she was totally unaware of the men closing in on her and her imminent capture. The first clue she had was a blinding pain in the back of her head and before tumbling into unconsciousness.

-in-

The next thing Jubilee was aware of was a bright light that was making her head ache even more than it was already. She was being half carried and half dragged down a cool corridor, her left foot scraping painfully on the ground, raw from the rough terrain since she had lost her shoe in the desperate fight to get away. Keeping her body limp, Jubilee could make out two men on either side of her dressed in black uniforms, machine guns slapping softly against their sides as they walked stiffly down the hall. Jubilee heard a door open and was roughly shoved on a chair, her arms and legs bound with wire that cut into her flesh. There was no way that Jubilee could blow the wire off her without severely damaging herself in the process.

A man kicked her, causing her to sit up with alarm. The room was huge, looking like an empty warehouse with huge windows on either side of room, and the ceiling going up dozens of feet. In front of her was a simple wooden desk, with a leather chair. The occupant of the chair was currently turned away from her so she couldn¡¦t make out his face, but she could smell the reek of cigars as wafts of smoke floated around the man.

Jubilee glared at her captor. ¡¦So is that stench just you or the cigars as well?¡¦

¡¦Child, you have caused much damage to my business. I¡¦ve lost face with some of my associates and that doesn¡¦t make me happy. I don¡¦t like being unhappy.¡¦ The man¡¦s voice was soft with a thick Russian accent.

¡¦What are you some B movie? I¡¦m sorry but the whole Godfather thing is out.¡¦ Jubilee flipped her hair over her shoulder and grinned. ¡¦Have you ever considered therapy, I hear it does wonders for orally fixated mobsters like yourself.¡¦

¡¦Brat!¡¦ The chair swiveled around to reveal a large, blond man in his fifties. To put it mildly, he was massive; large broad shoulders that made up his heavily muscled body. He glared at her for a second, cocking his head to the side as he studied her. Jubilee could only stare at him in silence, her blue eyes wide. ¡¦But you are like a fly to me and just as easy to take care of.¡¦ The man pulled out a large silver gun, cocked it and put it against her head.

The younger guard fidgeted nervously and the blond man looked at him furiously. ¡¦What is it Garcia? Unwilling to see a child die?¡¦

He clenched his hand, avoiding the man¡¦s eyes. ¡¦She¡¦s just a child and alone. What is the point, sir?¡¦

¡¦The point is that no-one crosses me.¡¦ Seemingly disgusted by his men¡¦s reaction he violently motioned towards the door. ¡¦Get the hell out of here you pathetic excuses for men. I¡¦ll deal with you later.¡¦

The guards quickly filed out and soon there was total silence in the room as Jubilee and the man looked at each other. And then he pulled the trigger.

-in-

Several miles away Tita woke up sobbing, her scream shattering the night as images flooded her mind. She curled into a ball, forcing her mind on other ideas, topics, items, issues; anything to keep the painful realization that she had just seen a gun go off at her new friend¡¦s head.

¡¦What is it sweetheart?¡¦

The small girl clutch at her mother, her tears wetting the soft fabric of her nightgown. ¡¦Jubilee is dead, mama. Dead! I saw it!¡¦

Tante Rose sighed sadly, and stroked the wet cheek. ¡¦Be brave, be brave¡¦.¡¦

-in-

The blond man grinned and put the gun back in his holster. ¡¦Well, that was easy.¡¦

¡¦A little over dramatic if you ask me.¡¦

¡¦Please, I should get an Oscar for that performance.¡¦

Jubilee rolled her eyes. ¡¦Please. Now cut me loose.¡¦

¡¦No one is grateful anymore you know.¡¦ He commented as he undid the wires around her ankles and wrists. ¡¦People rush here and there and what is left? I tell you, we need to smell the roses.¡¦ Helping Jubilee to her feet, he stepped back to look at her critically. ¡¦You¡¦re awfully skinny.¡¦

Sticking her tongue out at him, Jubilee laughed and jumped into his arms to give him a bear hug. He chuckled, swinging her around easily as a doll before setting her down. Jubilee stood on her tiptoes and gave him sound kiss on the lips. ¡¦Nice to see you again Uncle Vanya.¡¦

¡¦And now,¡¦ Vanya sat back down and patted his knee. ¡¦come, sit on my lap and tell me what my little Leelee is doing out in the middle of nowhere, stowing away on my ship.¡¦

Giggling, Jubilee sat on his lap and leaned her head against his shoulder. ¡¦You just want me on your lap you dirty old man.¡¦

Patting her waist suggestively he pretended to leer at her. ¡¦And how often do I get the chance to have a beautiful young woman on my knee?¡¦

¡¦Perv.¡¦

Laughing uproariously, Vanya leaned back in the chair. ¡¦Not for a quite a few years now.¡¦ He touched her face softly, his face saddening for a moment. ¡¦Ah, little one you look so much like your mother. I¡¦m so sorry that they died.¡¦

¡¦They were murdered by a man called Bastion.¡¦

¡¦I heard you took care of it personally. Everyone said you took him down and put him away for life.¡¦ Vanya beamed at her. ¡¦All you had to do was ask and he would have been taken care of.¡¦

Jubilee shrugged. ¡¦I wanted to do it on my own, besides I want him to be punished, not pushing up daisies. It was a family thing.¡¦

¡¦We are family. Who was it that used to bounce my knee and call me Nana?¡¦

¡¦Yeah, I know. I just needed to do it on my own.¡¦

¡¦I understand. I kept all the clippings though.¡¦

¡¦Are you serious?¡¦ Jubilee laughed.

¡¦I¡¦ve always proud of you, like a daughter.¡¦

Her eyes darkened and she pulled away slightly. ¡¦A daughter that you never see, never call?¡¦

Sighing, Vanya looked Jubilee in the eye, his face serious. ¡¦My little Leelee, your father and mother welcomed me in like family and treated me as such. They made me your god-parent when they had you and I was thrilled. After they were killed, the bank refused any and all business with me and I was forced to more illegitimate means of making money. This lifestyle is the last thing you needed, and I didn¡¦t want you to get hurt.¡¦

¡¦Seems like everyone wants to protect me these days. I am capable of taking care of myself you know.¡¦ Jubilee¡¦s lower lip jutted out as she sucked on a lollipop stolen from one of his pockets.

¡¦Jubilee, it isn¡¦t that we think you¡¦re weak, it¡¦s that we care. So, tell me now, what are you doing here?¡¦

In between yawns, Jubilee recounted the whole tale to his sympathetic ears and almost as soon as the last sentence was said, she had fallen asleep on his lap. Shaking his head softly, he pulled out the lollipop and set her down in his chair. Looking at her with an indiscernible expression for a moment, he pulled out a cellphone and punched in some numbers.

-in-

Jubilee smiled as she slowly woke up, only aware that she was warm, lying on something soft, and gently rocking back and forth, back and forth¡¦.a blue eye cracked open to see a small porthole with the sun streaming through. Tiredly getting out of the bunk, Jubilee noticed that her clothes had been replaced with an oversized silk shirt that hung around her knees. Rubbing the fabric absently, she padded over to the window and peered out. Not particularly worried, Jubilee poked around the room, finding some clothes her size in the tiny wardrobe and put them on. After Jubilee had put on the T-shirt (pink), the shorts (with little butterflies embroidered on them) and shoes (thankfully white with purple laces) Jubilee walked up onto the deck.

Cheerfully manning the helm was Vanya, and he waved to her as she stepped out onto the deck. ¡¦Hello! Did you sleep well?¡¦

Jubilee gestured to her clothing. ¡¦Why am I in pink? And who undressed me last night?¡¦

¡¦Little Leelee, I was wiping your baby bottom when you were less than a year old. It is not a big thing for me to put you to bed. As for the clothing, pink has always looked good on you¡¦plus you were asleep and couldn¡¦t say no.¡¦ The older man looked slightly shocked when Jubilee blushed a beet red, and scrambled up the stairs to where he was. ¡¦What?¡¦

Jubilee paused a moment to breathe. ¡¦I appreciate the sentiment and all but I¡¦m 16 now, it¡¦s a little¡¦¡¦ she glanced up at his totally sincere face and faltered. ¡¦Never mind. So where are we going?¡¦

The yacht bobbed as it sped along the water, it¡¦s sleek body smoothly cutting though the waves. It was fairly large and stationed at key points around the railing were guards. Jubilee had no illusions about what the older man was capable of and what he did for a living, a week in his cargo hold made sure of that. However, she did know that he would never hurt her, which was why she felt no worry in his presence.

¡¦You said you had to go to Mexico, I thought that¡¦d I drop you off in Cancun myself. I¡¦ll have to leave you there but I think you¡¦ll be okay, no?¡¦

Jubilee flung her arms around him and kissed his cheek. ¡¦Nana you¡¦re the best.¡¦

¡¦That¡¦s what I keep telling everyone but no one believes me I think.¡¦ He put an arm around her, giving her a squeeze. "Good thing you do.¡¦

-in-

A day later¡¦

The streets were crowded as people from all walks of life had their vacation on the sunny beaches. Jubilee had (after being given a credit card from Vanya) found a hotel and checked into a suite. She spent the first few hours walking around and shopping for the clothes she would need. Once she had gathered everything (and burned the pink outfit), Jubilee decided to go for a walk along the streets.

The back alleyways were fairly quiet, and Jubilee strolled down these little pieces of history throughout the city. As soon as her feet had touched Mexican soil, she had felt a tugging sensation as if she was being drawn somewhere. She had ignored it during the day, but as the evening approached she let the impulse take her where it wanted. Soon it became clear that it was drawing her out of the city and it was dark by the time she made her way back to the hotel.

Sitting out on the balcony, Jubilee stared at the phone for a minute before biting her lip and punching in a number.

¡¦Hola?¡¦

¡¦Hey Ange.¡¦

Jubilee grinned as she heard him whoop in delight. ¡¦Where ya been Chiquita? We¡¦ve been looking all over for ya.¡¦

¡¦I sent you that note in the presents. Didn¡¦t you guys get it?¡¦

¡¦Yeah, Jono figured it out for us but after that we were looking for you here and nothing. We even went down to that Calakazam  city and nada.¡¦

¡¦Did you guys ever check Paige¡¦s voicemail?¡¦ In the background Jubilee could hear Paige defending herself as she was pelted with various items in the room after she had repeated the message Jubilee had left. ¡¦Guys? Guys!¡¦

¡¦Yeah, I¡¦m here.¡¦ Angelo answered after a few seconds. ¡¦So you¡¦re in Cuba now?¡¦

¡¦No, actually I¡¦m in Cancun. Where are you guys?¡¦

¡¦Hey we¡¦re here too! We¡¦re at¡¦Some Hotel Meridian¡¦hey is that right¡¦.yeah, it¡¦s a hotel Meridian. We figured since Emma was paying, we might as well wait for you in the best right?¡¦

Jubilee suppressed a sigh. ¡¦What room are you at?¡¦

¡¦Uh..forth floor at room 451.¡¦

¡¦I¡¦ll come on over okay?¡¦

¡¦Cool, see ya then.¡¦

Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, Jubilee walked down the hall and took the elevator down. Two minutes later she stopped outside a brown oak door and knocked. The door was almost immediately clung open by Angelo who stared at her in shock and then gave her a wry grin. ¡¦Let me guess, either you¡¦ve suddenly become very fast or we¡¦re in the same hotel.¡¦

¡¦And they said that you weren¡¦t the smart one.¡¦

Jubilee suddenly found herself hugged very, very tightly and blinked hard to stop the tears from falling. Squeezing Angelo back, Jubilee heard him whisper in her ear. ¡¦It¡¦s been the longest three days of my life, Jubes. I¡¦m glad you¡¦re safe.¡¦

¡¦Now I am.¡¦ Jubilee murmured in his neck and chuckled softly.

¡¦What is it?¡¦

¡¦You guys are never going to believe what happened to me.¡¦