Gradually coming awake Joanna Cargill groaned to herself softly, feeling her body ache in places that she didn't know she had. The dark skinned young woman sat up in the bed, warily sweeping her surroundings with her eyes as she tried to figure out where she was and what had happened to her. The bed chamber she was in was beautifully decorated, with fine furniture and a big bed that was probably queen sized. Decorated in rose and white the room reminded Joanna of a honeymoon suite, and she swiftly checked to see if she had gained a ring. 'Thank goodness,' Joanna smiled wryly as she got up, pulling a red sheet off the bed to cover her nakedness as she looked for a closet or some clothes while trying to figure out how exactly she had gotten here. As far as she could recall only a few days ago Joanna had been captured by a branch of the Purifiers, a well armed band of religious zealots who believed that mutants were servants of the devil. Using powered armor and advanced weapons they had subdued her even with her strength and steel hard skin, then used some kind of gas to keep her unconscious. Making her way to the door Joanna wondered, 'So how did I get from their secret encampment to here?' There was a tap on the door and a woman's voice called, "Are you awake?" She paused, "I have lunch." Joanna's stomach grumbled loudly, and she winced. "I'm up," she called, debating if she should jump the newcomer, "come on in." The blonde haired woman who carried a tray of food wore the unusual outfit of cut offs, western style shirt and boots, along with a cowboy hat. "Nice to see you up and around," she noted, "my name's Inez, but you can call me Outlaw." Joanna's mouth watered at the ham, eggs and toast on the plate. "I've heard of you," she noted as Outlaw led her over to a side table, "you're a mercenary." "Yup," Outlaw agreed cheerfully, "and proud of it." "Thank you," Joanna added as she sat down, wondering how long it had been since she had ate anything. "Dig in," Outlaw pulled over a chair, "according to files we grabbed from the Purifiers, you've been sedated for days." "That explains why I'm so hungry now," Joanna said a bit apologetically to Outlaw as she tore into her food. "Good," Outlaw smiled slightly as she mused, "my Daddy always said eager eatin' is a sign of good cookin'." "Is that a Texas accent I hear?" Joanna said as she mopped up the last of her egg yolk with some toast. "Born and bread," Outlaw agreed. "Still hungry?" she asked. "Hell yes." Outlaw chuckled, "Let's get you some clothes then I'll hunt you up some more grub." Keeping her sheet wrapped around her Joanna asked, "I didn't see a closet, how...?" Outlaw walked over to a wall and tapped it, the barrier moving aside to reveal a high tech looking alcove. "Would you like street clothes, your Frenzy outfit or maybe Acolyte gear?" she asked with a impish smile. "Ah, Frenzy," Joanna said, watching intently. A few keys were pressed, there was a moment's pause then a soft whuffing sound as the machine popped out a simple leather costume, a nearly perfect copy of the one Joanna wore as Frenzy. "Here you go," Outlaw passed it over, "and it's made from unstable molecules. It'll replicate your steel hard skin. " "Damn," Joanna eagerly took the suit, "how did she get a hold of that? I understand DR. Richards guards his patent very carefully." "Dunno," Outlaw admitted as she lead the way out of the room, entering into a large hallway. "And I haven't really asked. Not my business," she shrugged. They walked by a large, curved window, Joanna blinking in surprise as she saw the frigid wasteland outside. Wherever they were was in full blown winter, but in here it was warm and comfortable. Clearly, whoever owned this near palace was possessed of a immense degree of power and wealth. 'Just the sort of thing I've been looking for,' Joanna admitted to herself thoughtfully. Pushing open a large set of double doors Outlaw said in her typical drawl, "The kitchen's just behind this mess hall." "Do you have to call it a mess hall?" the amused voice came from the open kitchen door. As they neared they could see a redheaded woman wearing a simple green bodysuit, an white apron thrown over it. "Miz Madelyne, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call it a duck," Outlaw shrugged casually. Madelyne rolled her eyes. "I see you're awake," she addressed Joanna, "I hope you're recovering from your ordeal?" "Yes, ma'am," Joanna agreed, wondering who this woman bustling around the kitchen making food. "I'm Madelyne Pryor," she introduced herself as she casually flipped an egg, "and I'm your host here." "Ehh?" Joanna blurted. Outlaw chuckled as she sat down at a larger tale, "Sorry, I shoulda warned ya pardner." "Watch out when she does that thick accent," Madelyne quietly warned, "it means she's probably bull shitting again," "Hey!" Outlaw protested. "Do you all have to be so loud?" the black haired woman complained as she walked in, her clothes messy yet still somehow sexy too. "Sorry Selene," Madelyne said as she kissed her cheek as she passed her to grab a glass of orange juice. 'Interesting,' Joanna noted as she watched them interact in such a oddly informal way. 'It's nice, though,' she mused as she drank a cup of coffee. "Those two really make me regret my single state," Outlaw mused as she casually got herself seconds, loading up her plate like it was going out of style. "We could solve that," Selene leered. Outlaw have her a look, "I don't do threesomes." "Too bad," Selene murmured, "I'm certain I could cure your attitude problem." "Sorry," Madelyne said as she set her own plate down, "those two like to scrap." Joanna ate some food, debating how to ask the questions she had. Finally deciding bluntness might be her best course she asked, "Not that I don't appreciate it, but why did you and your people rescue me?" "The fact that you were a mutant in trouble wasn't enough of a reason?" Madelyne asked, smiling at her wryly. "To be honest, no," Joanna admitted. Madelyne smiled suddenly, "Very sharp." She drank some orange juice, "I rescued you because you need help almost as much as I do." "Oh?" Joanna looked curious. "You've tangled with the X-men, as have I," Madelyne said mildly, "and I believe they may plan a preemptive strike against me, despite my having left the villainous life." "You want bodyguards," Joanna realized. "Bodyguards and agents," Madelyne agreed, "depending on how the situation develops." "Sign on," Outlaw said to her cheerfully as she finished the last of her sausages, "she pays top mercenary rates." "You're not expecting me to do it out of the goodness of my heart?" Joanna asked Madelyne. "Oh no," Madelyne shook her head, "the worker is worth his wages, I always say." Joanna tapped the table, "And if I say no?" "You finish your breakfast, I call our teleporter Ariel and send you wherever you want to go," Madelyne said, "no hard feelings." Joanna met her eyes, silently weighing her words. Her gut said that the woman was being honest, and more importantly this would be her first paying gig in a while. "All right," she nodded, "you've got me."
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