xp_communication

To: Charles Xavier, Scott Summers, Alison Blaire, Ororo Munroe;
Subject I'm leaving

In short: I am a short distance away from being a marked man, in the wake of the business with the Hellfire Club. Part of the reason that varioues parties haven't moved to get me after the fact is that I've been here, in what they think is retirement or, by my standards, anyway, not seriously working. I've been at some pains to encourage this impression, leave them thinking that last year was more than I could take, and so on. It was safer. And to be honest, by my own lights, I *have* been semi-retired. I haven't been interfering in things that I shouldn't be, for fear of bringing bastards down on the school. And I'd be content to leave things like that.

Except that Romany has vanished. I have very little details, apart from a phone call last month where she told me that she thought she'd spotted sections of the British government up to something dodgy, and was going to look into it, and if I hadn't heard from her in two weeks, I should come looking.

It's been sixteen days. I'm going looking. If something had gone wrong, then I am sure that I will be pissing off a great many powerful people sorting it out, and convincing many others than I have not retired.

So I am leaving. If things work out well, I hope to come back at some point. If they don't, it's toward everyone's saftey that I stay away for an extended period. All my files on contacts are on the secure servers, as are several ways to contact me.

I'd have told you all this in person, but I've spent the last 24 hours getting everything in order, and making plans, and now my taxi is here, and I've got to go. I'm sorry to drop this on you and run, but hell, it's better than the last time my family caused me to leave, isn't it?

Look after the kids. I'll see you all soon, with any luck.

Charlie, I'll be in touch anyway, if I run across anything I think you ought to know.

Pete.

To: Nate
Subject: I'll have to get those drinks some other time.

Romany's in trouble, I need to fuck off and find her, and I can't take anyone connected with the school, because I might piss on one too many bastards while doing it, so at any rate I won't be about Xavier's for the forseeable. I'm off to New Orleans to talk to LeBeau, in the hope he'll help Romany out, if not me. I'd tell you this in person, but my cab's here in five minutes.

I'll be in touch with Dom at any rate, and you know how to reach me if you need me. Look after yourself mate, and tell your daughter I'll be back to teach her to swear properly by the time she's five whatever happens.

Pete.