>>5310190“...I wanted to.” She nods before digging her face into the crook of her shoulder in a very birdlike way. “I wanted to see if I made back<span class="mu-i">– caw!”</span> The end of that sentence is punctuated by a series of coughs.
Mind flitting back to your time at the compound, you do remember that she’d been coughing back there as well. In addition, the hard, cold stone likely hadn’t been too good for a mutant of her size and stature. Perhaps choosing the farm over the sewers was a good idea after all.
Finally, she says, “I wanted to see if I made it back home.”
“Did you?” You wonder aloud. Her lips quirk upwards in the faintest semblance of a smile, so you’ll take that as a yes in your book. At that, Delilah goes back to preening herself, not really paying attention to the three of you anymore.
“Case closed?” You fire the question off to Bernard, who still seems nonplussed about this whole thing.
“Looks like it’s your lucky day– you’re free to go, Simon.” Rather dubiously, Bernard lowers the younger kid to the ground. “Now don’t go doin’ your mind-stuff without permission, cause I’ll know.” He waggles a finger at Simon. “It’s not nice, ya hear?”
“I won’t.” Simon says earnestly. “See you soon!” He waves, dipping out from your view, and, with that you feel him disappear from your side of the room.
While you’re not in the mood to play ball yourself, you entertain yourself by watching Bernard resume the game of catch he was playing with the other kids, but it isn’t long before the game of catch comes to a close as the crackle of an intercom interrupts the game.
<span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-r"><span class="mu-i">”Hello, this is your captain speaking, telling you that it is now time to disembark.”</span></span></span> Valjean’s voice resounds throughout the room. <span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-r"><span class="mu-i">“Please gather below deck in a calm and orderly fashion, where our complementary teleporter will take you to your next destination.”</span></span></span> Stealing a glance around the room, you watch as the captives file into the room a little <span class="mu-i">too</span> calmly for your standards. No way that Valjean <span class="mu-i">isn’t</span> using his power there. <span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-r"><span class="mu-i">“As always, your cooperation is appreciated. Thank you for sailing with the Pharos Cruise Line.”</span></span></span>
“Looks like it’s my time to shine, fish.” At that, Bernard pulls another <span class="mu-i">Super Vital Shot</span> out of nowhere, tears the top off, and downs the whole thing in one go.
>(2/?)