The Next Generation

[Lady Jenn]

Suddenly Nicole's comms burst into life. "Geri, if you can hear this," came Shade's voice loud and clear. "There's a transport plane coming to pick you up. Katya...we found her, she's alive...but she's in a bad way. You need to come back now."

[Lawshenk]

" Nicole and I are enroute is nitro anywhere "

[Lady Jenn]

"He rescued them," Shade replied. "Ilyana saved Katya's life but...she's also in a bad way."

[Lawshenk]

" Send me your co-ordinates "she picked up Nicola and startes to fly

[Lady Jenn]

"We're at the safe house," he replied. "Nicole's dad is waiting outside so you'll see where we are."

[Lawshenk]

Moments later she lands and de suits handing nicola to her father and heading inside " Katya?"

[Lady Jenn]

In one corner of the room Ilyana was lying on a bed, a nasty slash running across her face, with Shade sat next to her. He gave her the friendliest smile he could manage. On the far side of the room though, surrounded by Yuri, Nitro and a young man Geri didn't know, was the unconscious form of Katya, her face bloodied and an IV drip attached to one hand.

"Katya is lucky Ilyana was with her," Yuri said, turning to Geri. "She distracted the attacker long enough for Nitro to find them before Katya was injured any further. Luckily, we have an extra healer."

"My name is Isaac," the young man said, standing up and offering his hand. "I'm one of the Star Brigade's newer recruits, I...I think Stardust knew you'd need a medic so he got me to come here as quickly as possible." He turned back to Katya. "Her face looks worse than it is, but she has a broken rib and her knee...her knee is just a mess."

[Lawshenk]

Gerri was shocked "y y y y " she took a deep breath yuri can we talk"

[Lady Jenn]

"Of course," he said, turning to Isaac. "I know we're asking a lot of you here, but do what you can." He led her to a secluded corner away from the others. "Ilyana...you can see the price she paid for protecting Katya, I had to talk Shade down from going back out there and finding whoever did this to them."

[Lawshenk]

Gerri breaks down in tears " he's dead I blasted his big fat head off for her and I now sick "

[Lady Jenn]

"There might be a way to fix that," Yuri said. "Nitro was telling me he believes Nicole's powers may be able to heal you."

"Geri," came a voice from across the room suddenly, causing Yuri to turn. Katya was awake and looking around. "Where...where's Geri?"

[Lawshenk]

" I am here " she called and was almost instantly at her wifes side o am here for you"

[Lady Jenn]

"Carreyra," she said, wincing as she turned to look at her. "One of your men...he must have got to him, because he was enhanced. It took all Ilyana and I had to stop him, she..." Katya closed her eyes. "It's my fault she's hurt, she only got that cut because she blocked an attack meant for me."

[Lawshenk]

"Carreyra is dead sweet heart" she held her " he is the one to blame for this"

[Lady Jenn]

"I wish my mum was here," she said, snuggling against her. "She'd be proud of us, well, and probably pissed off I'd gone and got myself injured."

[Lawshenk]

" I killed him " she said " I have done nothing to be proud off "

[Lady Jenn]

"Carreyra would have kept killing," Nicole said, pushing away her dad's attempts to make her lie down again. "I heard his plans Geri, he was going to do what he did in Sicily all those years ago but...worse, on a scale you cannot imagine. His first target was going to be New York...you saved lives."

[Lawshenk]

Gerri looked at Nicole " this will never end his monsters are still attacking we can stop them all I did was cut off the head and poor Clint is missing still"

[Lady Jenn]

"We can defeat them," Yuri said. "If we join forces with other nations, they've turned on Carreyra so we have more help available."

"And Clint spoke to me," Katya said, smiling at Geri. "I don't know how, but he promised he is finding his way back here."

"Besides, we have a wedding to put on," Nicole said, stifling a laugh at the surprise on most of the guys faces. "Oh come on, I can't be the only one who noticed the rings Katya and Geri are wearing, my detective skills aren't THAT good."

[Lawshenk]

Gerri had taken her ring off earlier but her suit reset it  she looked at Nicole " we erm married before our battle "

[Lady Jenn]

"I think what my daughter is trying to say," Stardust said, helping Nicole sit up properly. "Is she is insistent you give her a chance to be your bridesmaid, plus we should all have a chance to celebrate with you. We need something to cheer since..." he trailed off.

"What do you say?" Katya said, looking at her. "It would be good to share it with them," she pulled her into a kiss. "And any chance to kiss you again is one I won't turn down."

[Lawshenk]

Gerri smiled and kissed Katya " I have a neice I was going to have as a bridesmaid and to have a proper wedding is not cheap"

[Lady Jenn]

"I can help with that," Yuri said. "I have more money than I have anything to do with at my age, I would gladly use it to give you whatever you want."

[Lawshenk]

" I can't Yuri " she sighed " that is not fair on your family " she looked at Katya " any way Nicole can't be a bridesmaid she upstage me and I am a bride "

[Lady Jenn]

"Also she's not fit enough," Nicole's dad said. "Her ankle needs rest, and I'm sure she wouldn't want you guys waiting that long on her behalf." He gave her a look which stopped Nicole from arguing further.

"Unless you are going to rent out the White House I can cover it," Yuri said, laughing. "Besides, you are like family to me Geri."