"Do you love me?" Lydia asked him.

"With all my heart," Pete Wisdom answered her, putting his hand on hers. "I love you Lydia del Ruiz. I have to do this stuff for Nick, I wish I didn't, because then we'd could be free, we could go somewhere and start over again and forget Pete Wisdom and Lydia del Ruiz, and be new people. I know you don't want to stay, but I want you to. I don't want to do this without you, but I don't know what you want."

"You," she said, letting his fingers slip in to hers. "I just don't know if we'll work out, Pete. I do believe you, and I know you love me. I can't hide from that, but this life isn't made for relationships."

"How about we try anyway?" Pete suggested. "I love you, you love me and we're good together. Operationally speaking." She smiled, the first one he'd seen from her since they'd been reunited. "I just…" He trailed off. "I want to share the adventure with you, Lyd."

"Fighting Black Air? I'm not…" He put his finger on her lips and he silenced her.

"I mean life," he said. "I want to share my life with you."

Wait," she started. "Are you saying what I think you are?"

"As soon as we find a country we're not wanted in, Lydia…" He looked her in the eye and took her hands in his. "Will you marry me?"

---

THE TIES THAT BIND
Part 1: Together Again

by David Wheatley

“No.”

“That was a bit swift off the mark,” he said, slightly annoyed. “You want to try thinking about it first?”

“Don’t be mad,” she replied, cradling his cheek with her hand. “We’ve just found each other again, and we can’t plaster over the problems we had. We need to work this all out first before we can seriously think about getting married.”

“You’re not opposed to the idea, then?” he asked, looking at her. It was a truly pained look in his eyes and Lydia knew that it had hurt.

“No, I’m not,” she said and kissed him. “Just not yet, Peter.”

“Will you stay, at least?” he said, trying desperately not to let the desperation he felt come through and she smiled.

“We can’t work all this out if I don’t,” she said. “Besides, if you’re serious, you’re going to have ask my Father.”

Pete closed his eyes, knowing what that meant. “But he’s missing. Missing in Genosha. Don’t make me go to Genosha, there’s an evil spirit in that sodding place and it hates me.”

“Don’t be silly,” she said. “And yes, you do. If you’re serious. But we’ve plenty of time yet.”

“I wonder,” he mused, “which of us will get the other killed first…” She shook her head.

“I’m wondering something else,” she said.

“Like?”

“Like is your door locked?” He fired a hot knife, wrapped it around the key and used it to turn it in the lock.

“Is now.” He started to nuzzle her neck. “Though I’ve just melted the end of the key. We could be trapped in here.” Nuzzling became kissing. “Maybe for days.”

“Shut up,” she whispered and pulled him down on to the bed.

The next morning the two of them sauntered in to the kitchen area, where the others just watched as they entered.

“You’re holding hands,” said David, trying to act nonchalant.

“I doubt that’s the only thing they’ve been holding,” said Sarah and Pete shook his head.

“You can say what you want, you can’t spoil my mood,” he said. “However, the band is back together.”

“About damn time,” said Siryn as she passed them coffee. “Maybe we can start to get things back to normal.”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” said Pete. “Seeing as how we’re close by, who fancies a trip to Muir Isle? Call in on Moira…”

“Why do Ah think that’s not as altruistic as it seems?” Raven said.

“It turns out that Agent Cassidy has… rekindled his romantic liaisons with the good doctor,” Pete said.

“That’s what was in your email?” Lydia said and he nodded. “Who from?”

“Let’s just say I know people who know people and the less you know about the people I know the better,” he said. “Sarah, did you have any luck with that little computer sting, by the way?”

“Oh yes,” she said with a smile. “I don’t think I got all his accounts, and certainly not any secret resources he has but Joseph Chapman just lost quite a bit of money.”

“Oh too bad,” said Wisdom. “I think we should go to Vegas…”

“Why?” asked Maverick with a sigh. “I thought you’d given up on that.”

“He said I couldn’t touch him. He’s going to find out how wrong he was. In fact right about now, all his London properties will be going up in flames.”

“You’re starting a war with him,” Lydia said. “He’s going to be upset.”

“He told me he had powerful backers, people who could get me no matter what. The only people who are capable of that seem to be the Byrons. He’s as dirty as they are and I promise you this – I’m going to settle a lot of scores. The Byrons, Black Air, Chapman and what’s left of the Hellfire Club, and Abyss.”

“Can we take Abyss?” asked Siryn, concerned. “He’s got a lot of power.”

“I’m working on it,” Wisdom answered, “however there’s a few things on Muir Isle that can help, and I think it’s time that the doctor heard just what Banshee’s been up to.”

“What about the X-Men?” asked Terry, and they looked at her.

“Before we left SHIELD, there was a rumour that the X-Men took on the Byron’s, broke in to one of their facilities. There’s a good chance she knows all about them, and she might know all about my da as well.”

“Fine,” said Pete. “Then we need to know which side of the fence she’s on, and it’s useful to know about the X-Men too. You never know when you might need some help, and we are an X team after all.”

“One that blows things up, beats up law enforcement officers, steals from respected superheroes, and is on the run from pretty much everyone,” Lydia reminded.

Pete mused on it a moment. “Sounds like a X team to me,” he said. “Terry?”

“He has a point,” she admitted.

“Sounds like every encounter I’ve had with them too,” Maverick said. “They might not like the association though.”

“Too damn bad,” said Pete. “Get ready – we’re heading for Muir.” He nodded to Lyd, who shook her head, but she knew what he was like and moved off with the others to make preparations, and as Sarah passed her former trainee, he put his hand on her shoulder. “Sarah,” Pete said, “got a sec? I’ve something else in mind for you…”

The two of them dreamed, both prisoners of the Byron Agency, both unaware in a conscious state that they were once again so close, yet so far apart from each other, expect in the one place that truly mattered. They shared a bond beyond anyone and anything else – a love that was beyond life, beyond death. They had lost and found each other time and again and they each had a piece of each other’s soul within their own.

“How can this be?” he said. “You died. I killed you.”

“I thought so too,” she answered her love. “I thought I was dead again, but Death did not claim me. I lived.”

“I don’t understand.” He truly did not know, but he also was relieved. He had not been himself, and she had not been herself. The trauma of their return to this world had been too much for either of them.

“I lay there, and Death spoke to me. I have come back once too often, and she will no longer take me. My soul is tainted. By the Hand, by the Destroyer, by Mephisto, by you. Coming back from the dead so many times has had a price. I cannot die. Not yet.”

“But you can die?” She smiled at him

“While you live, I live. While I live, you live. Inseparable, even by death, no matter what forces conspire against us.”

“Forces?”

“The Byron Agency, a rogue outfit. When I awaken from my deathlike state, my mind is… fragmented, except on a subconscious level. My Chaste training, the training we both have, which is how we connect now.”

“They have you prisoner?”

“I am their puppet, their assassin. They sent me for before. They have him as well. The family is together, but divided.”

“Him?”

“A child such as that was too powerful to let such fools as those waste him.”

“I will come for you, darlin’.” She knew the determination in his voice. “I’ll find you and kill every last bastard who stands in my way.”

“My dearest Logan.” There was such a resigned sadness in her voice. “When I awake I will have to fight you. When you awake, you will not remember I am here. This is no simple dream, this is beyond psychic power, this is a soul connection.”

“Elektra…”

“We will be reunited someday, my love. If even death cannot separate us for long, life surely can’t either.”

“I will remember.” He swore it. “I will remember.”

“You thought I was dead.” He paused. “Only now do you know otherwise, for we are close enough for your senses to just detect me and you have become open to the possibility. We have this time, and then you will go your way and I will go mine, but while we are fortunate to be this close, we can be together, night after night, in this special place. When you or I are moved once more, you by your captor or me by mine and then we will lose each other again. We have come together by coincidence, not by design. ”

“This ain’t fair.” The bitterness echoed. “What more do we have to do to finally be together.”

“Our dues are not yet paid.” They looked at each other and knew. They had respites, glimpses of what they could, what they would eventually have and he knew he still had much to do before he could gain inner peace and she too had much to atone for. Until they did, their life together could never truly be permanent. “My husband.”

“My wife.”

They held each other and waited for one of them to awaken first. If they only had a short time together, they would use it well.

“What do you think she dreams of?” said one of the Byron Agents, looking at Elektra, laid out on the floor, her breathing so shallow and her skin so pale that they could almost swear she was dead. Their orders came from the highest levels, protect Weapon Chi. Montclair had ordered it and they knew what would happen if they failed him.

“She doesn’t dream,” his comrade said. “She’s mindless. Her body’s an empty vessel. Watch.” He looked about, then unlocked her door and crept in. Then he put his hand upon her crotch, slipping his hand inside her thong. “See what I mean?”

“You’re a pervert,” the other chuckled. “You know what’ll happen if they catch you doing that.”

“You know, I think she likes it…” He started to say, but a hand came up and grabbed his throat before he could finish. Finely honed nails dug in to the tender flesh and ripped out his Adam’s apple without giving him chance to react and the hand limply fell back, holding the bloodied lump as the Agent tried in vain to help his dying friend. There was no discernible change in Elektra, except what could have been the vaguest of smiles upon her lips…

“A super boat with stealth capability?” said Marcus as the boat crashed through the waves towards Muir Isle. The original five members of the team were on board, Sarah staying behind in case something went wrong. “I’m glad Forge is on our side.”

“You and me both,” said Pete. He smiled as he saw it. “There she is.” He pulled the handset from the radio. “I just hope she hasn’t changed the special frequencies since I was last here.” He pressed the transmit button. “MacTaggert, you vicious old harpy, permission to dock, over.”

“Vicious old harpy?” said Maverick, raising an eyebrow. “You really do have a way with women.”

“If you don’t say yes I’m going to dock anyway,” Wisdom said, ignoring the others.

“I dinnae believe it,” came the reply. “Is that Peter bleedin’ Wisdom?”

“Who the hell else is it going to be? You’re Scottish, not deaf.” He winked at the others. “She loves it really.”

“I do not,” Moira responded. “I really hoped I’d nae hear from you again.”

“Missed you too,” he answered. “We’ll be arriving in about ten minutes. Don’t bother putting the coffee on, I remember how you make it.”

“See you shortly,” she said. He put the handset back and turned to look at his team.

“That was easy wasn’t it?” he said with a smile.

“You were saying?” said Lydia as they arrived, only to find themselves surrounded by armed Byron Agents as they stepped off the boat.

“I might have miscalculated slightly,” he said. “How do you lot want to play this?” The team knew he was addressing the Agents.

“I think you’ll be standing down,” said Moira as they parted and she came forward. “There’ll be no violence here.”

“You’re with the Byrons?” said Pete. “Huh, did not see that one coming.”

“I’ve activated a dampening field on Muir,” she said. “Your powers will nae work here, which leaves you outgunned and outnumbered.”

“Let’s go to Muir,” muttered Maverick. “It’ll work out fine…” Pete sighed as they were marched up towards the holding area, where mutants like Spoor and Proteus had been held previously and the guards searched the boat.

“Where’s the new one?” Moira asked.

“Sarah? She decided to sit this one out,” Wisdom said. “She’s gone to Edinburgh to see if she can get us tickets to the Fringe festival. I know it’s not quite August yet, but you know how quickly the good seats go.”

“There’s nobody else on the boat, Commander,” reported one of the Agents and Moira nodded.

“I can’t believe you’ve turned on us, on the X-Men,” said Siryn and Moira shot her a look.

“The X-Men died with Charles Xavier,” she said. “Sean and I have talked about this at length and I was far more involved with the X-Men than any of you. Cyclops was never ready to lead the team and Storm’s leadership had them leaning from one crisis to another. Charles would never have let half the things that have happened happen, and the fools who run the school in his name aren’t even a fraction of the man he was.”

“And Banshee is?” said Raven.

“Sean’s found a new way, a way to stop anything like the rise of the Shadow King or Apocalypse from happening again. The Byron Agency are going to be order within the chaos.. They’re…”

“They’re Black Air, you ignorant bint!” snapped Wisdom, having heard enough. “Remember them? The ones who stole Douglock from your island, experimented on him and released a demon under London? And that’s just the beginning…”

“They’re not the same now,” said Moira, folding her arms. “If they were Sean wouldn’t be working for them.”

“What about the X-Men?” said Lydia. “They’re your friends, and the Byron Agency…”

“The X-Men,” MacTaggert said, “and I are no longer associated. I love Sean. I believe what he tells me, and after the last few years why should anyone trust the X-Men, especially those we’re holding captive. Logan alone is more dangerous than ever…”

“You’ve lost your mind,” said Terry. “What will Kevin say when he finds out?”

“Kevin is either with me or against me,” she said. “I was ready to kill him before, I’m ready to do it now.” She turned to go. “Make yuirselves comfortable, the Agency will be here for you soon enough.” Then she was gone.

“That went well,” said Pete, sitting down. “At least they left me my cigarettes.”

“Our first mission out and we’re being held captive,” said Maverick. “Not the best of starts.”

“Tell me you have a plan,” said Lydia and she could hear Pete chuckle.

“Of course I do.” He tapped his cigarette on the back of his hand. “Sarah – as we planned it.” There were audible cries of disbelief at that. “We were doing the spy game a lot longer than any of you. Except Davey, of course. I got wind that MacTaggert had turned, that’s why we’re really here.” He sighed. “It was a nice boat. Hope Forge can build another…” There was the sound of a muffled explosion and then the power went out. “Time to leave.”

“Where was Sarah?” Lydia asked as the mutants created themselves new doorways with their newly restored powers.

“Being dragged behind us. Put her in a wet suit, gave her an oxygen tank, sorted,” he said with a smile. “She was the only one of us who could take that kind of ride, though she wasn’t happy about it.”

“I’ll bet,” said Maverick. “So what do we do now?”

“Easy,” said Wisdom. “We blow up Moria’s research station, steal her Midnight Runner and get the hell out of here.”

“What about her?” asked Siryn. “I don’t really want to hurt her.”

“I know,” said Pete, “but if it comes down to it, I’ll take her out. She won’t feel a thing, I promise.”

“Wait,” said Marcus. “I can hear her thoughts. She’s not a Byron, she’s just working with them at the request of the X-Men to try and find their missing colleagues. She’s not in charge here either. It’s a General Meyer.”

“Same plan,” Wisdom decided, not missing a beat. “But without the killing Moira part. Go.”

The Agents had been distracted by the explosion and had been caught off guard when the power went off and they weren’t prepared for an assault by the mutants with their powers. His Byron Agents were an elite troop, but they hadn’t been equipped for this, though they would give it their all. The Irishman would not be pleased, but General Meyer wasn’t afraid of the Irishman. He had more clout with the Heirarchy than Sean Cassidy, which was why he had been able to put a swarm of Agents on Muir Isle over Cassidy’s objections. He didn’t trust MacTaggert, but this had been done by the book and he’d made one mistake – he’d underestimated Wisdom, because of his inherent belief that the Irishman was incompetent.

That would change.

“I’ll handle this, Doctor,” he instructed her and began to go and prepare. While his people may not be able to take X-Force out, he was sure they could keep them here long enough for reinforcements to arrive. The power had been disconnected with great ease, which meant that Sarah Bane was about somewhere. Meyer had fought mutants, metas and other abominations as part of his work within the Byron Agency and if he knew one thing, it was his limitations. He would find this particular thorn in the side of the Agency and excise it. He doubted that even she had told her terrorist allies what the Agency were after her for, and he pulled his handheld Cerebro unit out. That hadn’t been affected by the power loss and he saw five signatures grouped together, which had to be the formerly captive X-Force, with one dot moving towards them.

“Bane,” he said and went after her. He had read her profile, knew her powers, knew what she could do and what it would take to overpower her sensory perceptions. With her distracted like that she would be easy prey. He was sure the Agency would take something from this, he swore it.

As X-Force fought with everything they had, Lydia suddenly felt faint. In her mind she could see a darkness, a pervasive sense of despair and fear and it was as if time itself stopped and she was no longer on Muir Isle, but in a graveyard. She was dressed formally, but she couldn’t move or turn around, but she knew she was crying and she looked down as the casket was lowered in to the ground and she threw soil over it and she could just see underneath it was the symbol of SHIELD and she knew that it was one of them.

“Lydia!” Pete’s voice shocked her back to normal and he pushed her out of the way as bullets fired and he looked at her, seeing how pale she was. “Jesus, love, be more careful. I know you’ve been out of the game a bit, but if you don’t focus, you’ll get yourself killed.”

“Pete,” she said, a tremble in her voice. “It’s not going to be me.” He looked at her, not sure of what she was saying. “I saw the future, I know it. Don’t ask me how I know, but one of us is going to die.”