Disclaimer: X-Men and characters owned by Marvel, so please don't sue me

A New Life, A New Start

Chapter 1: He Speaks

Remy Etienne LeBeau aka Gambit sat in a holding cell beneath Charles Xavier's School for the gifted, a Genosha like collar was fastened around his neck. There was very little for him to do in the one cot, one sink, one toilet sized cell. Besides those objects and him there was nothing else within the cell. He did have a pack of playing cards to entertain himself with, until he tried using them to open the cell door, but Wolverine aka Logan, caught him the being powerless made it easier for Wolverine to force Remy back into the cell with his claws. The only trouble now was boredom. Sure the X-Men came down to talk to him and tell him about themselves, despite the fact that; he never spoke to any one of them. Glances up as the resident doctor Henry McCoy aka Beast, entered the cellblock carrying a tray filled with food. Steps away from the bars to allow Mr. McCoy to enter and place the tray beside his cot.

Hank who was busy setting up the tray's legs spoke up "Okay my dear Arcadian, Scott has prepared an excellent meal for you tonight. Consisting of sweet peas, mash potato's and gravy, fried okra and a steak complete with a tall glass of coke-cola, Bon Appetite!" Places a small medicine cup on the tray that held 4 to 5 different types of pills. "These are just some victims, I recommend you take them." He explained as he left the cell and sat in the chair to watch the young Cajun. His presence was only meant to prevent the youth from trying to escape since he was given silverware. "Let see where did I leave off. Oh yes! The X-Men and I once fought Magneto in space; it was a whole different experience on my part as well as several others…" Hank continued to talk about mission and the things they did.

Remy just sat on his cot the sight of food making his stomach growl, finally after an hour trying to ignore the food, while barley paying attention to Mr. McCoy. He gave in attacking the food as if he was afraid it would be taken away from him, completely ignores the pills altogether. One thing Remy disliked of Mr. McCoy's stories he would always trail off and add scientific mumbo jumbo words and phases written from famous poets or scientist which made Remy's head hurt. Finally giving up he asked the one question that has been on his mind for what seems like months. "Why am I being kept here?" His voice was raw from disuse for so long.

Hank's mouth dropped open in shock, as the words from his newest experiment loge in his throat. For the past 2 months since they captured, no wrong choice of words, since they rescued the youth on one of their missions from Sinister, this was the 1st time he had spoken. Although the moment they got him to the mansion he began attacking them and fighting them when he was ushered into Hanks lab. The young boy put up such a fight he nearly killed Shadowcat. Hank disliked placing the youth in the holding cells, but he did agree with Xavier that moving slow and given him the opportunity to make that first move was the best option they had. "Well my dear Arcadian, What is the last thing you remember?" Hank could have patted himself on the back. The best thing was to start out simple and work your way up.

Remy swallowed the mouth full of okra and spoke, "Being strapped down, electrodes on moi head, IV's and needles in moi arms, & some weird guy wit funny white make-up on." Rubs his head his memory was slightly fuzzy. For one he felt as if he had forgotten something.

Hank nodded his head; the youth didn't recall his time in Hank's lab for the 1st half of the month. Which proved his theory, that there young friend was in a state of shock. "Mr. Sinister lab, we found you, we as in the X-Men. When we brought you didn't hurt you but you panicked and attacked us. You almost killed a young girl named Katherine Pryde. That's why we had a collar you and keep you in out holding cells/medic ward. It wasn't meant as a punishment."

"Oh, I never meant to hurt no one." Remy replied with a solemn face. Remy shivered at the mention of the word lab. The fact he didn't remember that part worried him. There seemed to be holes in his memories. Like when, Mr. McCoy introduced himself, he had this feeling he knew the man already, which put him on edge and made him, ask question as to what this Sinister guy did to him. Just the name Sinister gave him chills. "Is she okay?" Remy asked.

Hank noticed the remorse in his patients' voice as well as the tremor's that ran through his body, "Yes, she is just fine." Figures a change of subject might be best. "Would you like desert?"

"Non, d'hanks Mr. McCoy," Remy stated still lost in thought. He had eaten about a third of his supper and now he felt sick.

"You may call me Hank, everyone else does, and you are?" Hank questioned since no one knew his name, yet.

Looks up a bit startled by the question. "Remy LeBeau, how long I gotta stay in here, Hank?"

"Nice to meet you Remy," reaches out to shake his hand and noticing the flinch of fear passing over his face. Smiles politely and stoops down to picking up Remy's tray and stepping out of the cell. Hank turned to address Remy "I'd have to ask the Professor. Maybe tomorrow I can arrange an escort to take you top side into the fresh air. How would that be?"

"Bon! Merci pour votre compagnie, Henri." Good! Thanks for your company, Hank. Remy replied as he settled down on his cot, until sleep overcame him.

Hank smiled at the sleeping form, the boy needed their help more than he was willing to show. Hank turns and walks into his lab to update his patients' chart with the bit of information he received.

TBC