"What are you talking about, luv?" Pete asked dismissively. "I'm exactly who you should always call when yer in a bind." He paused and eyed her sideways before adding. "Unless you've got a bloke you're hiding from me. Is that it?" he teased lightly, when he really wanted to scream at the injustice of it all. I mean, really... just how many atrocious bastards out there deserve to die? Why does it have to be Kira? Or any of these poor deluded mutants who took that poison, for that matter? I'd like to see Worthington die a horrible death, for one, he thought. While he was opposed to the terrorist acts that had just happened earlier in the week where the MLF had used dying mutants as power bombs to destroy several Cure Distribution Centers all over the eastern seaboard on principle, a part of him still wished that the lead scientists and funders for the Cure had been in those buildings.
Her next words took the wind right out of his sails. "Kira, luv. Perhaps... perhaps you should go to the infirmary after all. No offense, but... you don't look so good," Pete muttered, dragging on his cigarette methodically. "In any case, I have to return these to a safe place. Bugger all, let's just go there first." Pete figured there were baths and a changing area with lockers attached to the Excalibur offices. What was the harm, really? He had to face the facts. Kira may not live long enough to tattle about whatever she saw down there anyway. The thought made him want to go back and kill things. He was tempted to ask her to remove the collar. He truly was. Outwardly, he appeared his usual impassive self, although he was breathing quite a bit harder than usual. He made a face and finally threw away his cigarette in disgust.
"It'll outlast all of us," Wisdom replied to the collar question without thinking. It was the wrong thing to say. "Ugh. I apologize, that was... aw, crap." He kept walking until they reached the elevators, taking them down to the lower levels. "I'm fairly certain it's waterproof."