Strangers in an Even Stranger Land: Morals

PUFFF With a flash of light Gateway appered, dropping 6 people rather unceremonsiosly onto the grassy lawn. With another blinding PUFF he was gone. Squinting Jonathan opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings and his so-called teammates.
"Does anyone else notice," The voice was distinctly Lexi's coming from the ground , "that ever time we end up somewhere new, I always end up on my FACE!" It was true, tripping through the gateway, she had fallen into an unfortunate mud puddle. Not even bothering to whipe off the mud ozing from her, she sat up looking up from where they had been dropped.
"I really don t think that geezer likes me"
"Well , you could try calling him something other then geezer." Daemon pointed out.
"Hey -if the shirt fits.. "
India was annoyed. Tonight was suppose to be clubing night, she d just got her clubbing outfit on was not in the mood for any adventures with these people. The short kilt, the high boots, the barely existent top. She was ready to DRINK!!! Aw to Hell with it, since meeting up with these people her life had not been her own Well - let s go get this over with. With a sigh she started heading towards the road 50 metres to their right. Jonathan stopped her.
"Listen" he said, "That geezer is gone - and we don't know when he's coming back , right?" They noded again, Moe was getting VERY suspecious.
"So " Jonathan smiled triumphantly as he played his trump card "Why don t we mossy on over to that obviously well - off home," he said, indicating the mansion that was looming infront of them," and borrow some of the neccesities."
"You mean steal?" Lexi confirmed.
Jonathan shrugged innocently "such a harsh word."
Well this is different, India thought. "Why not? "
Moe opened her brown eyes "why? Because it s wrong. How come people my own age today are without any moral fiber?" She wondered aloud. "It s wrong - so you don t do it. End of discussion."
"Stuff it Grandma" Lexi spoke up as undiplomtically as always. "It s not us - it s you who is so out of touch."
"Listen, you. What s wrong and what s right have been known for centuries, they don t change."
"Well- That s not true," Jonathan argued , "but nevermind. This is exactly like a man stealing a loaf of bread to fed his starving child."
"How - you re doing it for yourself "
"well ... not exactly Jonathan considered, "Daemon - are you hungry?"
"hmmm " Daemon saw the look in Jonathan s eye and quickly caught on. " Why Yes I am, you could even say I was starving. Dear , dear friend. Like a brother to me, you are."
Moe rolled her eyes.
"There. "Joanthan waved a hand at Daemon for proof. " As a friend , no as a brother- I must help him."
"And I Daemon concluded must help Jonathan."
"'xactly"
"Well ... " Moe hesitated, the truth was .. they hadn't eaten since yesterday morning, and they were due for a big lunch. Moe heard her stomach rumble. "okay. - But just the kitchen."
"I have a bad feeling about this " Moe briefly thought to herself as she follwed them up to the house.
{Wait} It was Lindsey. {Do you guys know where the kitchen is?}
"Yeah ...." Jonathan paused "everyone just follow me. I can smell it." He looked around at the others grinning foolishly in anticipation. "Lexi, Daemon, Stop drooling."

Down in his lab Dr. Henry McCoy, also know as The Beast was chomping at a nearby box of cookies, hard at work on the newest piece of the legacy virus puzzle.
His scholary musings were interupted by the sound of the security alerts going off. Where? - the Prof s ready room? The power cell? The Danger room? The hanger? - No - none of those. It was coming from the... kichen? Well he shrugged, there was a first for everything. He wondered briefly what kind of mad culinary villan had deceided to invade their kitchen. As he alerted the other X-Men in the mansion, he remembered that it s was Gambit s day to cook lunch, and wondered briefly if the assialent would whip up a snack for them as he passed through.

"A BLUEBERRY pie" Lexi crowed triumphantly as she plowed her way into the nearest pastery.
Moe paused briefly from the hogey she was chomping down. "There are forks over there y know. "
"So?"
"Just general info."
"YES!! it was India re-emerging out of one of the huge cupboards, brandishing an even larger bottle of Jack Danials. She chortled delightedly "I knew it was here somewhere. I could smell it " She poured herself a stiff drink. "God I need this," She thought as she neatly tossed it back.
"Man - I could go for a shot too," Moe chucked a glass at India who defly caught it, and poured a snot full.
" Daemon?" Jonathan tantilisingly waved a six pack infront of him.
"You re the man Jonathan. You. are. the. MAN." The audible hiss of the cans opening was music to there ears.
"BURRRRRP . Lexi - Anythin?"
"Na - alcohol is gross. Do you thnk they have any hash hanging around here? I think these brownies could use a little something extra."
"No, don t see any, did you check the spices?"
"Not there."
"hmmmm.. maybe it s illegal here."
"Oh... bummer."
Lindsey frowned away the alcohol too. It msut be here somewhere, THINK ah YES Pizza pops. For the first time in weeks Lindsey felt at peace with the world.
The feast continued.

... Meanwhile.
"Okay Team, Take it slow " Cyclops spoke into tiny microphone , directing his team to surround the kitchen. "- we don t know what we're dealing with here. Cerebro has never seen readings like this. On three. One, Two THREE."
With a blast from his eyes Cyclops blew out the door into the kitchen as Wolverine and Bishop smashed through a window. Simultaneously, the Jean. Rogue, and Storm appeared from the chimney in a puff of soot. Judiciously, Hank walked through the back door. At his appearance, all blue and fury, still holding the box of cookies, Lexi just stared, having a strange sense of deja vue. It s like watching cookie monster on acid! She thought. There was dead silence as they all stared at each other. And then...
"Dat s MY pie!!!"
"huh?"
In a rage the Cajun crossed over to the now empty pie container.
"You ate MY pie!"
"Did not."
"Don you go a-lying to Gambit. Tis all over da face."
"is not "
"Dis TOO!"
"Gambit " Scott spoke up "control yourself. I m sure there s a resonable... "His voice trailed off as the microwave beebed. Everything seemed to slow down.
"Whaaaattt???? Scott s head came up working on pure instinct alone. He turned towards the oven, Lindsey seeing the desperation in his face realised that the race was on.
"Nooooooo." Scott shouted as the oven door swung open. "Pizzzzzaaaaa Pooooppppppssss alll MINE"
Just as it seemed victory way inement for the X-Men s mono-ocular leader, Scott, in his anticipation of those oh so good treats, overlooked the danger inherent in spilt beer on linolium floors.
"NOOOOOOO... " He shrieked as he slid along the floor past the microwave, past the cupboards, into the dishwasher. Lindsey triumphantly leapt leapt to retrieve his rightful prize, still piping hot.
{Got IT}
His partners in crime cheered him on.
"WAIT A SECOND" It was Jean bringing a simbliance of reality back to this conversation. Stepping over Scott she asked "just how did you get into the kitchen?"
Jonathan shrugged. "The open window, there, beside the one that was just smashed." Wolverine and Bishop looked sheepish.
"But why are you here? What do you want?"
"Food. We wanted some food. We were hungry, this was the only house around. So we came."
"You could have asked," Beast pointed out logically.
Lexi shook her head violently causing her to choke on a piece of carrot. Daemon whacked her on the back, ond it shot out of her mouth landing in Scott s hair.
"Thanks. No we couldn t do that. How embaressing!! Can you imagine ringing the doorbell, and going hi -you don t kow us - but please give us some food." She shook her head again. "impossible! "
"So instead you elected to steal from us?" Storm s voice echoed majestically through the kitchen.
Moe winced
"Welll.. stealing is such a harsh word. "
"Yeah - it s the whole loaf of bread for starving chidren thing " Lexi added helpfully.
"Young Lady " Beast eyed her "If indeed that is what you are beneath the mud and the blueberries - you have comsumed much more then a loaf a bread."
A moan was heard "My Pie - dats Gambit s pie." he wispered. "All gone . Poof!"
"huh - well - ya. Sorry?"
Gsmbit moaned again. Then quickly recovered his equilibrium as his eyes trailed up the rather stylish boots in front of him to the rather nice looking legs they encased; however , the rather short skirt and even shorter shirt soon reduced him back to stupor. India grinned manically to herself - things were beginning to look up!
Lindsey whiped his hands off. That pizza pop had ben awesome.
{Well anyway- thanks for the hospitaltiy, it was delicious, but we must be on our way. } He turned looking over his shoulder at the spilt alcohaol, the now empty platters, the splitters of glass on the floor. {Although I must say - you keep your kitchen in quite a mess.}
"Why the nerve...!!!"
"Rogue! Calm down!" Jean laied a hand on Lindsey s shoulder How did you speak to us just then?
Lindsey tried to stall. He was rescued from explanations as a flash of light blinded them all.
"Geezer!!!! You came!" Lexi shouted excitedly when the spots cleared.
Sighing with relief Lindsey followed her through. As did Moe and Daemon and Jonathan.
India paused, then ,noticing the looks of awe on the faces around her, decided to swipe the rest of the Jack Daniels and then with an evil grin kissed Gambit before disappearing as well. At least it hadn t been a total loss.

On to Chapter Two: Teamwork

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