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01
Previously, on X-Men Evolution…..
"...Now we are going over to our entertainment correspondent Vikki de Matteo, who is live on the red carpet outside the Bayville Crown Plaza Hotel. Vikki how is the atmosphere downtown? "
"Thanks Mike, the atmosphere is building nicely on this very important evening for entertainment in Bayville. I'm outside the hotel now and the expectation is electric. This night has been hotly anticipated ever since Pizzazz! Entertainment Corporation completed its takeover of TV channels Bayville District News, Bayville Lite Entertainment, the Bayville Bulletin newspaper group and our very own Radio Bayville. Pizzazz! Entertainment is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to become the biggest name in Bayville for all your news and entertainment needs…"
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"Remy!"
"Belle," Gambit acknowledged her solemnly. "You look good Chere."
"T'anks," Bella Donna replied, shell-shocked. She didn't return the compliment. "You… you work here?" Gambit nodded. Bella took a look over her shoulder and then leaned towards the counter. "It a mark, right? You're casin' it for an assignment?"
"Non," Remy told her, "dis my job, Belle. I gone straight."
"Oh!" Bella exclaimed. "Bien. I mean dat Gambit, good for you." She was so patronising, looking at him with such pity, that Remy wished the floor would open up and swallow him. "I have too of course…"
"So I see," Remy replied, "Bayville Lite. You on TV Cherie?"
"Oh no! I make TV, I'm a producer." Belle's cell phone rang again and she instantly went to answer it. "I gotta take dis, but it's been fun Chere. You keep up the good work, okay?"
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With shaking hands, Jean pushed the door open a fraction. Pressing her face to the door, she could just about make out the two figures. She tried to engage her telepathy, but Magneto was wearing his shielding helmet, and his companion read only as static. That was strange in itself, but Jean had no time to consider it. If she listened hard enough, she could just about make out fractions of the conversation.
"…always wanted a car like dis," Magneto's companion was female, and there was something familiar about her accent that Jean couldn't place. Magneto had his back to Jean, for which Jean was grateful. His associate looked up at him and addressed him bluntly. Jean wondered if the woman had more courage than sense. "…team ready?" were the only words Jean caught. Whatever Magneto said in reply Jean missed entirely, but the woman laughed.
"The fireworks are… ten minutes…" Jean heard her say, but that was all. Magneto said something else, something that the woman did not find so humorous. "He's a man o' his word…"
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"Professor, I… I'm in some trouble. I need your help."
"I'm not sure what you expect me to do Gambit?"
"I swear, dis jus' all one big misunderstanding. Only t'ing is, de bail…"
"Bail?" The Professor raised an eyebrow.
"It's thirty thousand dollars. If you can pay it, I swear I will pay it back. Dey got the wrong man, Professor, you gotta believe me…"
"I'm sorry Gambit. I have to think of the example we'd be setting to the students."
"Professor, please!"
"Goodbye Gambit," Xavier said as he hung up the phone.
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"You won't reconsider? One li'l job Blaze, somet'ing I know you are good at, and then that is the last you will see of me."
"No," Blaze shook her head to prove her point. She turned to leave and then glanced back over her shoulder. "You had better take good care of that car."
"Sure," Bella Donna was disinterested at best. "Same time next week then, Amie."
"I'm not your friend," Blaze muttered as she walked away.
Bella had gone back to her car and opened the driver's side door. She was about to climb in when something startled her. She called out, "Blaze? Is dat you?" There was no answer. Dismissing her instincts, Bella turned once more to get into the car. She almost jumped out of her skin to see Gambit, swathed in his trench coat, standing by the passenger side door. Very seriously he asked her one question.
"What's the job?"
Roll titles…..
