A New Kind of Army

Chapter 14: World in the Marble

I washed the dishes from breakfast in the kitchen sink. I looked over my shoulder at the dining table where the children were finishing up. Shawnen was currently babbling to Bucky about what ever he could think of, while Arrow was trying to laugh at the young soldier's flustered face. I smiled. It was good to know that some of my other kids were welcoming the young man.

There was a sudden touch on my shoulder. I turned around, finding Nico standing uncomfortably close to me. I stared confused at him, briefly wondering if he wanted to hug me, but I stowed that thought away after a moment. Nico wasn't much of affectionate fellow anymore, and his expression was nothing but serious.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"We need to talk," Nico answered, nodding at me to follow him.

I nodded and shut off the facet. Quickly but not rushing, to meet Nico in one of the first-floor bedrooms.

"Alright, now what's so important that you had to pull me away from the dishes?" I asked.

"Please refrain from making jokes, this is not the time."

"Okay, I'm sorry."

Nico nodded, "You're going to have to tell them about him."

The mood quicky became somber. I knew whom Nico was referring to, the Counseling. I would have to tell them about Bucky, and with the reputation that Captain America has in the mutant communities, this would not be an easy conversation.

"I know, and I understand that they might not be enthusiastic about it. But what ever they have to say won't matter, Bucky will stay here until fully recovered, or until he choses to leave." I stated.

"What you're talking about could be considered treason. If the Counseling doesn't agree with your decision, then it could mean both the boy's life and yours," Nico countered, "Please Christin do not make me the caregiver to your six children."

"Well, you'd always have Kate's help."

"While your sister-in-law is helpful, she is not someone I would wish to deal with alone on a daily basis."

I chuckled, "Do not worry Nico, I'm not asking them to welcome Bucky in to the Counseling, I'm just letting them know that I have another refugee staying with us. Besides other then the resources we contribute and what we receive in return, they can't control what happens inside of our clan."

"That maybe true, but be careful this could hurt your image in their eyes. And making enemies of our fellow clans will not be beneficiary."

We left the children to walk themselves to the hospital. I wasn't all that worried about them. Arrow knew where she was going, and there was little to no crime in Nexus, especially in broad daylight. Besides we had other people to see.

The large mountain loomed over head as me and Nico entered the palace that was carved out of the marble inside. No matter how many times I walking into this place it would always amaze me. Generations ago, the first ancestors carved out this dormant volcano, forging the only center of history, culture and politics for our people on the planet.

We walked through the large entrance what was reminiscent of a cave's mouth. The platforms metal, met the stone flesh of the mountain and the large corridor led us to the center of the volcano's main vent. The main vent, that led from the chamber to the hole at the top, was the epicenter of the palace; all of the rooms, whether it be an office, bed chamber, kitchens they all lead here. And the vent itself wasn't disgraced when the construction began. A large column of sunlight poured out of the top of the volcano, and flowed down all the way from the top to the chamber in the belly of the mountain. We lined each floor we carved with a balcony placed in the vent allowing up to look up to the sky and down into the chamber.