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*ring*


Moira paused from trying to find a tissue and snuffled into her sleeve as she fished out her cell phone. After quickly sending the e-mail to Alison, she'd been various shades of all sorts of emotions. Pulling out her phone, she flicked it on. "'lo," she muttered, clearing her throat.


"Moira. It's Nathan."

"Oh fer...han' on, dinnae han' up or do anythin' stupid!" She grabbed a towel and blew deeply and then wiped the tears off her face. "Nathan...what...what th' bloody fuck is goin' on?!" Her voice is very obviously distressed and just...off.

"Please Moira, I've just spent the last 20 hours in Ms Braddock's brain. I'm bloody exhausted. The students and her are on their way back."

"Oh thank God." She slumped in her chair. "How is she doin'? How are ye ALL doin'?"

"Betsy is going to live." Moira noticed the unintentional slip from Essex. "She's going to survive. The students are fine. Scared mostly. You would think that Xavier was ready to beat them with bamboo based on their apprehension. Except for Ms Morlocke, who I had to talk out of enlisting with the United States Army before leaving."

Moira couldn't help but chuckle, though tiredly, at that. "Aye, well there has been one 'ell o' an uproar here, but I think th' initial screamin' is over. Includin' me own. But I dinnae think Charles will do somethin'...rash. I'm glad, more'n glad, that ye were able ta do it. I was afraid ye were right, she was slippin' away from everyone here..."

"I was, Moira. The only problem is that I joined Charles in the camp of the ethical hypocrite. To use students like that..." Essex paused. "In any case, it's done. Ms Braddock is safe."

She sighed. "An' fer tha', it may wash many sins away. I dinnae agree wit' how ye went aboot it but..." She quieted. "I cannae fault ye either." Moria cleared her throat, her voice suddenly thick. "Sorry 'boot tha'...now what?"

"Good and bad news, Moira. USAMRD made me an offer. A very tempting offer. One that I may just have to take or the school gets looked at as a terrorist threat."

Clenching the phone, Moira forced her addled mind to think for a minute. "Bloody hell...wha's up...if I can even ask tha' question o' ye. I know how those thin's work."

"You should know. I agreed to take over their bloody stupid SUPERSOLDIER program." Essex sighed. "Still, this madness has one benefit, Moira. Muir Island is being reclassified as a NATO Defense research agency. All of our research goes back on-line as of next month."

Moira sat, stunned. "I...Supersoldier? Bloody hell...but..." She rubbed her eyes. "Aye, I'm more'n grateful fer me Research Facility goin' back online...tha's a Godsend, especially now. In fact, I'd almost be tempted ta kiss ye..." Some humor managed to flood back into Moira. "But is th' price ta high?"

"I don't know yet. I'm too bloody tired to be thinking straight. If it is, we will deal with it then. I'm sorry Moira, but I'd rather have the governments involved rather than Xavier."

"I know, I wish it were otherwise. Then again, I wish a lot o' thin's were otherwise an' it's nay use tryin' ta change thin's, now is it? So, yer off ta some government hush hush place, then?"

"No. Muir itself. I'm establishing our centre there. After a few days, of course. I have a few meetings before then." Essex said. "What are they planning to do to the students, Moira?"

"Good! Then I can find ye easy enough!" She took a deep breath. "I dinnae know, really. Th' first major outcry has died down an'...God, I feel sorry fer Marie-Ange right now. Lots o' guilt ta go around, tha's fer sure. I dinnae think any o' them will be kicked out...especially with Betsy comin' out well an' alive."

"Moira, tell Charles it was my fault. I lied to the students, tricked them. I don't know. Say that I threatened them even. If it comes down to it, tell Charles that I'll have them recruited forcibly if need be. Don't let them take the brunt of this."

"I willnae, I promise ye tha'. I'll try me best ta shield them from th' blow. An' I willnae let anyone know that yer at Muir. Th' -last- thin' ye need is ta have disgruntled X-Men arrive as yer settin' up shop." She huffed. "It's nay somethin' I'd tolerate, it's still mine. But I'll do everythin' in me power, ye 'ave me word on tha'."

"Good. Thank you, Moira." Essex yawned. "Remind me that I'm now old and can't do this sort of thing anymore. You sound wrought yourself."

"...aye, it hasnae been a verra good evenin' all around. Hasna been a verra good couple o' weeks, disappearances, fights, break downs...well, tha's jus' me but ye know th' rest o' it sucks." She paused. "Will ye keep in touch wit' Kitty an' Marie Ange? I'm sure Rory an' I could hook up somethin' between here an' Muir. Fer us as well."

"I will try. I think it might be best for us all if I spend sometime away. Their lives will be difficult enough without me being there to add to the stress."

"Understandable but after everythin', some contact, however brief will help somewhat. Wit' time, I'm thinkin', wit' time. Especially Kitty and Marie-Ange."

"We will see. At least you know where to find me. I'll trust it in your hands."

"An' I will nay betray tha', ye know tha'. Rory'll be instructed ta keep mum an' I know I can trust 'im."

"If not, I'm sure the squad of SAS will." Essex said. "At this point, I should hope that things will be well. Now, I need a drink and about six hours sleep. Is there anything you need, Moira?"

"Sleep, a sane voice which ye gave me, even if'n ye didn't know it. Feel a bit more grounded now, not by much, but some. Ye've got me contact number an' I'll be out eventually ta Muir. Ye'll keep in touch an' take care o' me baby? ...th' island, not Rory, though sometimes I wonder..."

"I can handle both, I dare say. I believe Major Grey Crow should be arriving soon. Do try and keep the staff from provoking him into shooting them?" Essex snorted. "And give my regards to Ms Braddock when she wakes."

"Oh tha'll be a grand o' time." She echoes his snort. "I'll let Betsy know. ...if'n -she- asks, do ye want me ta let her know where ye are? Or at least how ta contact ye? It's not like she couldna get th' information if'n she really wanted ta know but I dinnae think she'd do tha'."

"No, I think Ms Braddock will find me in her own time, Moira. Try and get some sleep, will you?"

"Aye, I'll do tha'. Ye get some rest as well, Nathan an' I'll see ye again when th' time comes. Take care o' yerself."

"Good night, Moira." *click*