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There’s a sheen of sweat glistening off Jean-Paul's forehead as he sits on the jet’s cold flooring, his knees pulled up to his chest, his chin resting upon them. His sister, Aurora, kneels beside him, one hand clutching his shoulder. His shirt moving with each frantic beat of his heart. The sweat and racing heart weren’t caused by exhaustion. He’d still been trembling behind the X-Men, feet glued to the ground when his sister had scooped him into the air. The rest of the X-men hadn’t put up much of a fight either, letting Alpha Flight knock them around like a cat would a mouse.Guilt swirls around James’ stomach watching his younger teammate look so defeated. He had never wanted things to come to this, stealing one of his own people from the X-Men, and using a drug like Banshee to power his team. He had always believed that mutants deserved to live on their own terms, without interference from humans. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and James knew that Department H had poured too much funding into Northstar to let him leave their programme. Either Alpha Flight had to retrieve him or someone else would.In the background, James can hear the humming of the engine as the jet rises, half-drowned out by Jubilee and Snowbird’s tiresome bickering. Soon they’ll be sailing over the vast landscape of Canada, far enough away to avoid any possible retaliation from the X-men.Jean Paul’s sat quietly, not a single word escaping his lips. He looks pitiful, his dark hair dishevelled, caged in between James, his sister and the rest of the team. Still, he’s leaning into Aurora’s hand on his shoulder, James is glad to see even betrayal can’t shatter their sibling bond. Hopefully, it’s a relationship they can call upon in the future if he needs persuading their way."How’s your brother, Aurora?" James asks."He's ready to go North," Aurora replied stiffly, her eyes never leaving her brother's form, conflict plastering her face. Shuffling forward, syringe in hand she continues, "Let me just give him a little something to help him settle."James drops to their level, gently holding Jean-Paul down, although the mutant wasn't struggling. In fact, he pliantly allows his arm to be manipulated, till the crook of his elbow is laid bare. His eyes turn away as the needle slips into his skin. With his increased metabolism the drug would make him drowsy but still conscious.Holding him, James notices goosebumps have risen up on his arms. Which makes sense, the jet’s always cold and whilst the rest of the team are protected by their suits Jean-Paul is dressed like a civilian. One out for a summer's day walk with shorts and beaten-up trainers on. So far the team had avoided calling him Northstar, for right now Jean-Paul looked as much like Northstar as the day looked like the night.When the body in his arms relaxes, tense muscles uncoiling, James finds himself comforting, ‘’We'll do everything we can to make sure you're comfortable. Alpha Flight needs your powers to save lives, but we’re not going to hurt you. I promise." Jean Paul's eyes glaze over, drooping half closed but they’re aimed at Hudson as he speaks. ‘’We’re going to protect all mutants. Mutants like Piotr.‘’‘’Don’t use his name. Not after what you just did to them.’’James is grateful he still has some fire left. ‘’None of the X-men were hurt. We gave them the chance to hand you over.’’‘’Why me? All of the mutants around now and you decide to come after me.’’‘’We’ve got our reasons. We’ll explain when we get you back to Department H.’’ From behind him Aurora enters James' field of vision. Quietly she pulls Jean-Paul's arms in front of him, securing them there as James locks the cuffs on. They were designed by Department H years ago, the type that straps his arms together, rendering the captive immobile. They’re connected to a collar, injecting a liquified power dampener every twenty minutes, Jean-Paul winces as the first jab hits him. Maybe it was overkill, James thought. They could overpower him easily, especially with banshee coursing through their veins. But James didn't want to take any chances. Northstar was a valuable asset, and they couldn't risk losing him.Sighing James wraps a blanket around his thin frame, tugging it up as it slips down. "Rest easy, my friend," James says, rubbing Northstar's shoulder gently. "Everything is going to work out. I promise." Taking a last glance at their captive James gets back onto his feet, and makes his way to the front of the plane. Lives were at stake, and Alpha Flight needed recruits. Nothing could stop them from saving the world and their kind, even if it meant they would have to chip away at themselves to do what needed to be done.