The View
Seeing Max bring Lorna back, Viper couldn't resist a teasing smile. "Weren't you supposed to be looking for Sage? How did you end up bringing Lorna back? Are you planning to be with Lauren now?"
Max, irritated by Viper's remarks, snapped back, "Can't you think of something more appropriate?"
Viper retorted, "How is this inappropriate?"
Max shook his head, deciding to steer the conversation back to business. "I plan to take Lorna and Esme to Florida to find Kitty. If all goes well, I'll be back soon. If not, I'll be back within a month. During this time, you'll have to manage on your own, and don't go near the lab. I'm not sure if it can be maintained from too far away."
"Suddenly going to find Kitty? Is this related to what Esme said?" Lorna asked, glancing at Esme.
Max nodded. "I'll explain on the way."
"Let's not waste any more time, let's go," Max said, and they set off without further delay.
.....
In the dimensional space, Max drove an SUV quickly. Esme sat in the back seat alone, while Max and Lorna sat in the front. Max explained about the Sentinel project and his plan to contact the X-Men through Kitty to thwart the Sentinel project's goals. Lorna was surprised to hear this and expressed her agreement. She hadn't expected the Sentinel project to resurface so soon after the Hound project's destruction. The crawling Sentinels were already a headache for mutants, so the idea of developing a more advanced version was worrying.
"What if I can't find Kitty?" Lorna inquired.
"Give it a try first. We'll discuss alternatives if you come up empty-handed," Max replied.
If Max truly couldn't locate Kitty, resorting to drastic measures to draw the attention of the X-Men would be necessary, though it risked alarming Viper.
Lorna casually stretched out her long, slender legs in front of Max.
Max's gaze briefly lingered on Lorna's legs as she made the gesture. Clad in black jeans and Martin boots, she exuded a cool and laid-back vibe that complemented her posture and demeanor.
"Despite Viper's penchant for jesting, she has a point. I'm just a regular guy with normal desires. It's what you wanted," Max remarked.
Lorna merely smirked in response.
Driving, especially for long distances, could be tedious. Max filled the journey with music, traversing into Jacksonville as the sun began its descent.
"This city has a sizable population. Let's find a place to settle down and continue our search," Max suggested as he drove.
Finding a suitable motel near the port didn't take long. The modest establishment seemed adequate for their needs.
"Esme, could you handle getting us a room?" Max handed her the necessary funds.
Esme grinned. "Do we even need money for this?"
Exiting the dimensional space, Esme used her psychic abilities to arrange accommodations with the motel owner. Returning with the key, she headed upstairs to secure the room.
Once Esme had settled into the room, Max parked the car downstairs and accessed the room via the door above his head, carrying Lorna with him.
While not luxurious, the motel room was clean and functional.
"Here's the key," Esme handed it to Max upon his return.
"It's the room next door on the left," she added.
"Only one room?" Max frowned, puzzled by the arrangement.
Esme sighed in resignation, "This place is close to the port, and sailors often stop here to rest, so there are no more available rooms."
"That..." Max was about to suggest that Lorna stay in his room, but Esme seemed to anticipate his thoughts. "I'm not accustomed to sharing living spaces, and I'm not sure she'd feel comfortable with me around."
Esme glanced at Lorna, who simply took the key from Max and headed to her room.
Max looked at Esme, and she gave a slight smile before turning in for some rest.
Shaking his head, Max left and entered the adjacent room. The layout mirrored his own, with a double bed in the approximately 30-square-meter space. There wasn't even a TV, but at least there was a private bathroom. Lorna, upon entering, dropped her backpack and casually sprawled on the bed.
A series of knocks echoed, and Max opened the door casually.
Esme stood there, stating, "I went out to gather some information. I might be back later. The hotel owner is preparing some food, and it will be delivered soon."
"Also, can I use my ability?" Esme asked with a smile, looking at Max.
Max nodded. He had brought Esme along precisely for her spiritual Ability, so there were no restrictions.
Esme waved and left.
In less than ten minutes, the hotel owner bustled in with a tray of snacks and a couple of cold beers, offering a welcome treat to Max and Lorna. After the door clicked shut, Max and Lorna made themselves comfortable on the bed, indulging in light banter while nibbling on the snacks.
"This room is missing a desk," Max observed, his tone tinged with mild disappointment.
As they munched away, their conversation meandered from discussions about underground mutant hideouts to the latest Sentinel schemes, with an easy flow that belied any hint of awkwardness. Unaware of the passage of time, they continued chatting, oblivious to the darkening sky outside. Max gathered up the empty wrappers and set them aside, tidying up the space.
Turning around, he caught sight of Lorna standing by the bed, unfastening her T-shirt. Caught off guard, Max's gaze lingered for a moment before he averted his eyes.
Lorna, unfazed by Max's reaction, calmly remarked, "What? It's not like you haven't seen it before."
....
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