Serenity

by squeekness

Gambit gets a Kingly gift he did not expect. Part 15 of the Game.

2. Chapter 2

(Two)

Remy sat in the front row of passenger seats in the Lucky Dragon, his long legs stretched out before him. One hand lay over his thigh, gently rubbing the bandage there. Old pain, new wounds. Sometimes it seemed like he couldn't catch a break. Well, that wasn't true of today was it?

"Beware Dognan Kings bearin' gifts," he softly mumbled, unable to stop the smile.

"What's that?" Fallen asked from her perch atop the closest pilot stick.

The Lucky Dragon had undergone many changes since Remy had first been on her. He could almost see a ghostly image of the cage room that used to be across from the rows of passenger seats, separating the pilot from the main room itself. Fallen had sealed up the cage room, making it into a solid walled bedroom that she and Seth shared when they weren't in the Complex. The pilot sticks were now outside that room, bringing her to a much more equal status as her passengers. Remy had long ago decided he liked this way much better.

"Nuthin' chere," Remy replied. "Jus' a little nervous is all."

Fallen nodded. "Me, too. I haven't been back since the Mansion was demolished."

That wasn't the reason for Gambit's nervousness but he didn't argue. The big Main Viewing Screen was on, giving a movie theater sized view of what was in front of them. They were close to the site now, it was showing up as a great big burnt out hole surrounded by an ocean of trees.

The Xavier Institute for Gifted Children had been a grand Victorian style Mansion, enlarged by a great many additions over the years. It had been recessed deep into the estate, protected by all that forest. All that remained now of that grand old house was a large pile of burnt timber. The fire was long gone, but the worst of the remains had been fenced off. Off to one side was a set of trailers, temporary housing for those stationed there for the moment.

Remy was startled to feel a strong jolt of homesickness at the sight of it. It was unexpected, just how strongly he felt about this place. So much had happened here, some of the best and worst years of his life. He and Molly had married here, just as Wolverine and Karen had done, and had attended countless other weddings here after his own. Kimble had raised Angel here, Remy had first found true acceptance here. The place simply couldn't be replaced. He could see the remnants of Kimble's large garden and part of the quad that hadn't quite fallen down yet. Just seeing all that again made him feel all the more strongly that this place had to be rebuilt, it simply had to.

Fallen moved, using a switch on her stick to make an adjustment to the screen. Immediately, a translucent image of a cloaked Dognan ship appeared parked on the large front lawn.

"A Shi-Betrion," Fallen said wistfully. "I helped build one of those once."

Remy startled a little. He had known Fallen for years now, but all of that had been after her liberation. He often forgot that she used to be a Dognan slave. Fallen had been stolen from a parallel Earth, altered into a pilot and put into service. She hadn't done well in captivity and was disposed of in a pen for rejects, the place where the Clan eventually found her. She might have been freed by the Clan, but she retained all of the knowledge the Dognan had imprinted on her. Those files had allowed her to build the Lucky Dragon, a ship that was remarkable in its likeness to the one presently parked in front of Xavier's.

Fallen landed her craft a reasonable distance from its twin and they departed, Fallen walking protectively in front of her passenger. As a telekinetic, she was more powerful and neither one knew what to expect.

At once a gangly looking teenager with an unruly mop of brown hair stormed into view, spouting words a mile a minute. "Oh good, Remy, you're here hey, this is that cat guy he let me inside his spaceship and everything it was so cool I could hardly believe it!"

"Thing," Remy greeted, his voice lost over the words coming from his excited student. "Still ain't run out of air, I see."

"Oh, it was so cool and he's got a lot of boxes wait until you see those he's so nice!"

Remy stood indulgently by, rolling his eyes. The Dognan ship was cloaked but he could still make it out and the Dognan man standing there in front of it, his green eyes twinkling and his whiskers twitching in excitement. A strange look crossed the man's face as he took in Fallen's appearance with some surprise. Remy knew what it was, Fallen was an exceptional pilot, she was the only one Remy had seen that was so human, most of the others were like intelligent animals, not so self aware. She was dressed and walking with a pride that no other pilot that Remy had seen ever had. Obviously their guest could see this and was amused and delighted by it.

Throughout all of this, Malcolm continued to spout his words in a steady stream of excitement, "...his ship is so cool its got lots of rooms and these funny white little girl things like Fallen only his don't talk and they don't have clothes and they're stuck in a cage which isn't very nice but they don't seem to mind -"

"Thing!" Remy snapped finally, smiling to take the sting from it. He raised a hand. "Arretez-vous, sil vous plait!"

Malcolm halted at once, blushing all in his face. "Oh! Sorry, Rems. It's just all so exciting!"

"Je sais. But let's not be rude to de guy, eh?"

"Okay, sure. I gotta run anyway. I'll see you later then?"

"Class tomorrow."

"Tomorrow. Bye!" Malcolm, the Thing by nickname, trotted off, waving as he went.

All was blessed silence as Gambit next turned his attention to their Dognan guest. "Bonjour."

"Master Remy."

Gambit startled at the odd use of his name, but broke out into a grin. The tall Dognan officer stood there patiently and the thief was forced to spin that Rolodex of names in his head. Good thing he was quick. "Buckley! As I live an' breathe!"

Buckley was one of several Dognan officers Remy had met during that brief stay at Trishnar's. They had seen each other often and this young officer had left something of an impression. Gambit walked past Fallen and gave the great lion man a generous squeeze. "You ain't changed one bit."

"Unlike you, sir. Is that a bit of grey now I see in your hair? Tsk. You humans have no life span," Buckley teased, returning the embrace with vigor. He stepped back and gave Remy a wink. "I have something for you."

Remy staggered back a bit from Buckley's arms, the man hugged like a bear, but it had felt wonderful. "So I been told."

"I was instructed to deliver a package by hand only to you."

"What's in it?"

Buckley just grinned and waved a hand towards his ship. "This way, please."

Remy followed Buckley's lead and he and Fallen crossed the grass to Buckley's craft. Up the ramp they went and into the large Main Room. The setup was almost identical to the original Lucky Dragon and Remy wasn't the least bit surprised to see two tiny pilots curled up asleep in the cage room. They were naked on a straw bed without blankets and clearly kept as animals more than as humans. They were clean and well cared for, their shines sparkling happily enough, but they were not free as Fallen was.

A tiny vibration of irritation that drifted across his back had Remy looking behind him at Fallen. "You okay, chere? You could wait outside if you like."

Her smile was tense. "I'm fine."

Buckley startled at her speech. "Your pilot talks?"

Remy was immediately defensive. "Oui, she does."

Buckley smiled graciously and without malice, trying to be courteous. "Then you are as blessed with pilots as you are Siskans, my friend. Such superior pilots are rare and most treasured. The Spirits smile on you."

Buckley turned away before he could further offend and showed Gambit a large stack of crates. There were many and it was clear one of them contained a live animal. The crate was well ventilated and Remy could see a small furred creature, something that looked like a ferret but was the oddest color he had ever seen in an animal, a light purple. It was curled up and sleeping at the moment, not moving. Its shine was shimmering bright like a glow, stronger than any other animal Remy had encountered so far. It raised his curiosity, but he was impatient to continue. Whatever he might have expected, this odd collection of boxes wasn't it. His hopes a bit dashed, he stood at a loss. He poked at the box with the violet ferret, "An' who is dis guy?"

Buckley smiled casually with the air of a man who's the only one who gets the joke. "Oh, that? That's Smee."

"Smee?"

"Yeah. It's a package deal. He comes with the box."

"De box? Which one?"

"This one," Buckley answered, lifting one and dumping it into Remy's arms.

Gambit received it with a startled grunt and felt a stab of pain run down his leg. It was the size of a large bread box and deceptively heavy, it had to be well over fifty pounds. Buckley, being Dognan, was far stronger than his human guest, something he knew obviously, he was grinning mischievously now. "Maybe your pilot can help you."

Fallen didn't hesitate, she took the box from him, using her telekinetic power to take the weight of it easily. Remy thanked her and brushed off, shaking his head at the officer.

"I'm sorry," Buckley apologized. "I couldn't resist. This came with the box." He handed Remy an envelope of fine parchment sealed with wax. The wax had Trishnar's personal seal pressed into it. Remy wasted no time in opening it and Trishnar's fine script met his eyes, a message written in familiar Siskan. At once Remy's grin spread open, his greatest hope had been answered, his unspoken wish had been granted.

To my good and trusted friend,

If you are reading this letter and not seeing me standing in front of you myself, then I must be gone. Have no fear, I am still not out of the Game just yet. As a parting gift to my most unworthy dispatcher, I could think of no one I'd rather entrust my greatest treasure to than yourself. He is Asher du Shemanatay, the Great Serenity.

I have to believe that Aiden is with you, he told me it would be so in a dream. A dream I had the misfortune of not properly preparing for if you are reading this now. I can only hope my Dreamer did not come to you alone.

I fear there will be cheating in this Game, now that it's come down to the end so I've decided to do some cheating of my own. I can't bear the thought of my Great Serenity belonging to anyone else so I saw to it that he was to be sent on to you if anything should happen to me. Enjoy him, you will have need of this gift of mine, yes. Guard him well and keep him safe. I promised him the Game would never touch him and now that promise has been passed on to you, a princely inheritance and yet also a weighty responsibility. I know you will live up to it far better than any of my sons.

I had Asher delivered in hypersleep to make the long journey more comfortable, but he might be trifle cranky when he wakes. Just lay him in the sun and all will be well.

Trishnar

Remy couldn't help but shiver, feeling gooseflesh rise on his arms. Asher. This was the Siskan Aiden had written of, the one who had helped him on Solestra. Aiden hadn't described Asher in much detail but one fact had burned itself deeply into Remy's mind. This one could mend damaged 'grams. Mend damaged 'grams! Kimble! he cried out to his inner self, no longer able to be silent.

/ Easy, Rems. Let's get moving! Take him outside! Shi'ow-ri cheered, his excitement her own.

Gambit hesitated, his mind still trying to digest all of this. It looked like Aiden was wrong when he thought Trishnar hadn't believed his dire warnings. The King had made provisions, just ones that Aiden hadn't been privy to. Well, he was damned if he was going to wait until he got to Arizona to find out just what Asher was like in real life!

"Go on then," Buckley cheered in the same spirit, giving Remy a playful shove towards the ramp. "Let's get him up, shall we?"

They all piled out of the ship and out onto the lawn. Remy opened the crate, only to find a smaller inner box that was sealed with heavy wax. He was a bit impatient with the delay, unable to hide his anticipation. This second box was a modest size, big enough to hold a basketball, but it had some real weight to it. He pulled out balls of straw like fluff and peeled off the wax before lifting off the lid, revealing a grey cube inside. Puzzled now, he slid the heavy square out. It was a plastic container that held what had to be gel for a Siskan hologram. He could see two glowing orbs floating freely inside. A wire connected them to a small metal box that could only be a battery to keep the star drives alive. Another note was attached, "Charge me in the sun."

"Trishnar said for me not to leave until the Siskan was awakened," Buckley said, his green cat's eyes gleaming. "I was his loyal officer and I will honor my word. Those boxes in my ship are Asher's, but as his new Master, they are yours to take."

"Merci," Remy replied, his mind elsewhere. He carefully slid the gel block out into the bright sun.

Gambit hardly noticed that his heart was racing and that his breath was coming in short pants. He was jacked up with excitement, his hands trembling and shaking. He could see that the Siskan contained within the box had been damaged, a Kintay du Lushna-esk. There were only the two star drives suspended in the block of gel, something that only confirmed this one's identity. Aiden had said Asher couldn't shift his skin, that his third star had been destroyed.

He took a wary step back as the gel began to stir inside its container once the sun had warmed it a bit. It swirled and shifted, becoming grey as it charged. The star drives faded from view as the block gradually became solid. It was also growing larger. The container tipped and fell over of its own accord as the product inside began to expand, spilling its contents out onto the grass. Remy gasped as instead of taking a more human shape, the gel took on bestial features. He could see a large body and four legs... but did he also see arms?

Oh, yeah. That.

Aiden had mentioned that Asher was in an unnatural, blended skin. One that the Dreamer had suggested would force Asher into celibacy. But what kind of skin would keep a Siskan from working with clients? Was he scary?

Remy glanced around him, regretting his decision to do this here. If something bad should happen he was in no position to stop it.

"Do not be afraid," Buckley said, placing an arm on his shoulder. "Asher will not hurt you, he is most gentle. Asher was reduced to gel to survive his journey. Solestra is far away, it took us several weeks to get here. This is hypersleep. There is no sun in space and he would have suffered. He will be quite well now, but I suggest you stay and let him be in the sun for an hour or so before you return."

"Merci."

"His is a sad story," Buckley continued to explain. "He doesn't look human as most of the Siskans do, he is a man and an animal combined, a histerion if I am not mistaken."

"A histerion?" Remy questioned, not understanding.

"Yes," Buckley replied, considering. "The closest thing you could call it... what? A centaur in your American, I think."

"A centaur?" Gambit asked in surprise and looked at the growing pool of gel, his eyes wide. It had indeed formed that mythical creature's body now, there was no doubt of it. He could see the horse and what looked like a human torso forming from the chest up in front of it. The creature on its side was becoming alive and aware, it thrashed its legs about, but not in a frightened, flailing way. It was more like stretching out, waking up.

Immediately Gambit's mind flashed on Aiden's paintings with wild understanding. Of course, there had been one or two of a centaur, it was only that he had been too thick to figure it out.

Buckley was answering him, "Yes. Before Trishnar found him, Asher was the property of a jealous Master. This Siskan was quite fair and his gentle demeanor made him attractive to the men and women of our species alike. Alas, this Master's wife fell in love with Asher. The Master found out and punished Asher by putting him in the combined body of a horse and a human youth, all with the good looks of a proper Siskan. This way Asher would still be pleasing to the eye, but could never serve properly with clients again. The Master then took Asher's third star away. Now Asher can never shift, he will always be in the skin of a beast with the mind and desire of a man. No lover would want him now, especially not the Master's wife. She turned away from him like he was diseased. It's hard to imagine such cruelty in a Master. Trishnar would never have done so. He loved all of his Siskans. It's hard to think of him as being gone."

"Dere is much cruelty in dis world, 'specially towards dose folks t'ink are less dan real," Remy replied, deeply angry that someone could be so cruel. In spite of Aiden's writings suggesting otherwise, Remy was certain this Siskan would be bitter and angry and with good reason.

Asher's body shivered once violently as the last of his skin was formed in the bath of sunlight streaming down from above. It didn't take long for Remy to understand what Buckley had meant by Asher's former Master being cruel. Asher's human torso was a normal fleshly pink, but obviously that of an adolescent child, maybe fourteen or fifteen years old, tops. A youth he truly was, someone too young to be found attractive by anyone but a pedophile. On that tiny torso was a huge, sparkling grey Mark, made all the bigger because of Asher's small size. It matched Kimble's Purple, but the woman was a fine silver grey. His human parts were finely chiseled as were all Siskan males and he was indeed quite handsome, even for one so young. Pretty. His hair was shoulder length and a fine silvery grey, almost white.

His horse's body was a grey and brown brindle, stripes of color shimmered throughout the long body. It was quite beautiful, a stocky sturdy pony with long feathering hair about his legs. His hooves were mahogany and shining as though polished, wide and strong, his tail long and streaming with luxuriant shiny hair. Of course it didn't take long to see that Asher's former Master had extended his cruelty to its fullest, Asher's human body such as it was, was male, but the rest of him was in the form of a mare. One quick surreptitious glance by the curious thief revealed this Siskan didn't appear to have any genitalia of any kind at all. His celibacy would be forced, not simply forbidden out of the natural taboo of bestiality.

Asher was waking rapidly. He gave a snort, almost a laugh, before carefully rising. He found his feet, and once more gave an indulgent stretch to his long pony's body and raised his arms, bending them behind his head and cracking his back and neck. Upright now, he was taller than the adolescent child of his torso, his blended skin giving him some illusion of size and maturity.

The centaur took a look around him, smiling at once when he saw Buckley right there. He spoke in fluid Siskan, his happiness apparent to all. "Howdy, Buckley. See ya made the trip all right. I trust m' Smee didn't jabber yer ears off too badly."

"It was almost unendurable, but I managed," Buckley replied with equal pleasure.

Asher laughed at Buckley's humor, then once more looked around himself, trying to get his bearings in this strange place. His eyes closed in on Remy and he broke out in a playful, almost shy child-like smile. Remy couldn't help but return it. This creature was fantastically gorgeous, sparkling and vibrating pure animal energy. What was most surprising about him though, was the serenity in his pale blue grey eyes. Here was the first Siskan Remy had seen that didn't seem to be carrying around a truckload of angst and worry. Odd that it should come from a 'gram that Remy presumed must be celibate. Kimble floundered from lack of use while this one clearly did not.

His serenity wasn't the only thing to set this Siskan apart, Asher's shine was brilliant, revealing he was a person of immense power. One vibration of curiosity said his Kundatesh was strong, powerful, and intoxicating. It sent a message, clear and ringing, and Remy received it with Shi'ow-ri's voice. / And who might you be? M' new Master, I expect. I hopes yer as good as Trishnar wuz. It's hard thing, movin' on. We Siskans never seem ta knows where we's gonna end up. /

Remy came forward, intending to give a generous kiss as he had assumed a Siskan of Trishnar's might want, eager to set the newcomer's mind at ease. / I'm not yo' Master, but I'll take good care of you just you see. Trishnar trusted me, 'm gonna do 'im proud. /

Asher surprised Remy by accepting the vibration, but dodging the kiss. Instead Asher gave him his cheek, continental style, while issuing a vibration of detached affection. It was a reservation Remy hadn't expected, every other Siskan Gambit had met greeted him with a deep, suck face, "let's make out for hours" kiss, a standard way of reading the other. Gambit was a bit puzzled, did Asher not like him in some way?

Asher smiled at him just the same and took his hands, startling when there was a bit of static as his energy starved body took a sample of Remy's Ristle, an unexpected surprise. Both of them shivered at the heat of the exchange, but Asher laughed with a quick understanding. This was no ordinary human he had just sampled. "Yer an alpha. Well, what do ya knows about that?"

Oh, the voice wasn't enough - a pure echo of Kimble's now not so unique accent - but now there was Kimble's catch phrase as well! Could this get any freakier? Remy was reeling, almost dizzy from this most awkward of greetings.

The centaur before him felt it and let slip another vibration of affection and curiosity. He had enjoyed that brief jolt of energy, that and Remy's answering call of Kundatesh, something he wanted to know more about. "What's yer name, kitten?" he asked, his voice gentle and his soft grey eyes playful.

Gambit snickered softly at the nickname, relaxing under the non-threatening vibrations of the newcomer, the name wasn't one he had heard directed at himself before. "I am Remy LeBeau, but folks 'ere call me Gambit."

"Huh, you talks like Aiden there, but not quite. Not so many Z's."

"Oui, Gambit use 'is up long ago, eh?"

Asher laughed, a deep heartfelt roar and Remy got the feeling this Siskan laughed often and with great pleasure. "All righty, then. If you ain't m' Master, than who is? Trishnar sent word you wuz gonna takes me."

"Gambit will take you, cher. Just not as yo' Master. Siskans 'ere run free."

Asher just cocked his head. "Siskans gots ta have Masters."

"New place, new rules," Remy said in English, testing if Asher spoke this as well.

"Trishnar said you wuz diff'rent," the Siskan replied in kind, answering Gambit's unspoken question. "Thought maybe it wuz cuz yer an alpha an' all, guess there's more to it than that," he replied in decent English, the accent carrying over as Kimble's had done.

"Don't worry. I don't bite."

Asher nodded at that and stretched again, looking nervously at the burnt out building. "We gonna unpack or what?"

Gambit laughed. "Don't worry, cher. Dat's not home, we got another ride comin'. Come on, let's get your stuff."

A short time later, Remy watched his new charge as the centaur stood easily in the isle of the Lucky Dragon. As bizarre as this day had been for him, he couldn't imagine what it had been like for Asher. To be moved from one Master to another, from one palace to another, from an old comfortable life to a new one filled with uncertainty. At least the Siskan seemed to be holding up well enough.

After Asher was given some time to recharge, they had returned to Buckley's ship and started to transfer Asher's belongings to the Lucky Dragon. It was kind of ironic, Aiden had come to him with only a knapsack filled with rumpled clothing, but Asher had several large crates, all containing personal items. Most of them were books, Asher had explained. Trishnar had been generous with his estate.

His estate.

Remy closed his eyes on internal laughter. Remy had always suffered from a fragile self esteem and it always perplexed him when others showered him with surprising generosity. Trishnar had given him far more than Asher alone. There had been more boxes and these had been for him. He opened one, a toolbox sized crate filled with gold and jewels, presents for him. This box was only one of several Trishnar had given him. It seemed he had left a good impression during that visit all those years ago, enough that Trishnar had presented him with a princely sized share of his estate. Gambit would never have to worry where his next meal was coming from.

In his embarrassment, Gambit had tried to give some of it to Buckley, but the officer had merely laughed at him, saying he had already been well compensated. Remy was left to shake his head in confusion, wondering just what he had done to deserve this. It was more than he knew what to do with. Truth was, he was plenty wealthy before this, his own father had left him set up well when he had passed away. Looked like some local charities were going to be his new best friends.

There were additional boxes for Aiden and Babette and some for any of the others from the harem that might have escaped, Trishnar had taken every precaution for their care. Seeing as how Aiden now walked alone, the entire inheritance was his, no small amount. The love that it had taken to prompt such generosity almost brought tears to Remy's eyes, an emotion he tried his best to control. He only hoped Aiden would take this well.

Asher had taken in Remy's whirlwind emotions with silent amusement, saying little as he moved his own boxes back and forth, using his workhorse body to easily pull a sled of their new belongings from one ship to the other. Before the work had begun, however, he had first opened the ventilated little crate and freed that odd little ferret. Immediately the purple creature had squeaked with happiness, startling Remy with its tiny little voice. "Long time Master sleep! So lonely, lonely in space it is! Poor Smee, so alone! Poor, poor Smee!"

"Ah, shut yer little mouth," Asher chided with great kindness, stroking the tiny beast with loving hands. "You been talkin' Buckley's ear off the whole way here, he told me so. You musta been all happy, havin' someone who ain't heard alla yer noise before."

"Not the Master, no! Not the same it 'tis!"

Asher's eyes dipped half shut with affection and he brought the little beast to his chest in a gentle hug. "I knows, lovely. I knows. I'm here now."

Remy watched this with a dawning realization. This creature had a bright shine, one he had supposed had belonged to its species, but he was quickly figuring out that it was so much more than that. This was Asher's Angel!

At once Asher's eyes glanced up to him, betraying a hint of fear, and he grasped the creature a little more tightly. "That's right. He's mine. He's a Mumbler, 's why he talks so much."

Remy didn't have to be a rocket scientist to know the origin of this one's concern. Asher had just changed hands, been given to a new Master. As his new Master, Remy had the right not only to Asher himself for whatever use he desired, but to any and all of his possessions. Gambit could rob this creature blind and never be held accountable for it. For all Remy knew, it had been done to Asher in the past, he knew next to nothing about Asher's beginnings. Well, the last thing he wanted was Asher's fear.

"I ain't gonna take him from you, Asher. I wouldn't dream of it," Gambit was quick to say, his voice careful. "Yo' Master wouldn't 'ave given you to me if I would."

Asher smiled then, looking at him a little more deeply than he had before. What Remy had first perceived to be a sort of shyness was actually this one's great caution. More than ready to break the barrier between them, Gambit once more took Asher's hand and sent off as a large a vibration he could muster, one of genuine respect and love. / I won't 'urt you. Not you, not yo' Angel. You ain't my first Siskan and I've grown to love you all. Trishnar promise de Game wasn't gonna touch you an' I mean to keep dat vow as best I can. Friends?

Asher laughed then and embraced him, coming closer than he had before. "Yer all right," he said, finally relaxing. "Yer all right."

"Glad to know it, cher. Now let's get all dis moved, eh? Gonna take a while."

Asher chuckled, draping Smee over the back of his neck like a furry purple scarf. "You might know from Siskans, but you ain't met one likes me."

Well, that had certainly proved true. Asher had made short work of the load, betraying some telekinetic talent in there. He loaded the boxes where Fallen had directed and they were soon saying their goodbyes to Buckley and on their way home. Remy had tried to offer Buckley accommodations at the Arizona Complex but the officer begged off, saying he had many more duties to attend to, primarily the enjoyment of the riches Trishnar had bestowed on him. Remy gave him his heartfelt thanks and they departed.

Once in flight on the Lucky Dragon, Asher couldn't possibly use any of the passenger seats so he stood in the isle, leaning against the walls of Fallen's bedroom for support. The ride was smooth and Asher seemed comfortable enough.

Remy couldn't stop himself from looking at him. There was a light sheen to Asher's pelt and he just knew it would be soft as crushed velvet if he were to touch it. The hair of his tail looked silky and fine, like the feathering of his legs. Just like Kimble's luxurious white fur, Asher's skin was made to please in all ways and so it was. Asher's shine was sparkly bright and yet devoid of all the darker colors of passion and anger. Asher seemed to be on an even keel, serene. His eyes were a steel greyish blue and glanced at him now and then, aware of his new Master's scrutiny.

Gambit had learned quickly enough that Asher wasn't going to let him off the hook. He wasn't like Aiden at all, this one wanted to be owned. He kept deferring to Remy's wishes and opinions, showing an unwillingness to agree to his own independence. Gambit didn't know how much of a problem that was going to be.

"Sumpthin' ya wants ta tells me?" Asher asked, stroking the now sleeping Mumbler on his neck.

Remy nodded thoughtfully. "Aiden's back at de Complex. 'E tell me about you."

Asher smiled warmly. "That's good ta hears. How's m' Dreamer?"

"Been 'appier."

"His sister is gone."

Remy hid his surprise. Aiden had hinted that Asher just seemed to know things and it was in play here. It was still creepy to see it. "Dat's not all 'e lost."

"Tells me about it," Asher requested, wanting to know what he had missed.

Remy took a deep breath and began to explain about everything. He started with Aiden's arrival at the Complex and then branched off into Kimble's woes. Aiden's fate was intertwined with Kimble's and it would always be that way now. It was a long tale and ate up most of the time they had in travel. Asher was quiet and let him talk, stroking his Mumbler and now and again touching the large silver cross around his neck.

Along with the Mumbler, Asher had also picked up a large leather purse with a shoulder strap. He had inventoried the contents of this bag and Gambit was a little startled to see not only the large silver cross, but what looked like a worn and tattered American Standard Bible and a string of rosary beads. Aiden had hinted at this one's use of prayer, but it hadn't really meant anything to Remy until now. A Christian Siskan? Well, that was a tale for later. The bag was worn and personal, Asher had fitted the strap over his shoulder with the ease of habit and it was there even now.

Asher nodded when Remy was done speaking. "You wants me ta takes a look at yer Kimble?"

"If you would."

"It would be m' pleasure."

Remy smiled with real relief and leaned back in his seat. He looked across at Fallen, watching her as she flew them home. She had been oddly quiet from the moment they had disembarked to meet Buckley. At first he had thought it was because of all the reminders of her Dognan enslavement, but now he wasn't so sure. Asher made her nervous, he was certain of it now. It was there in her shine, in her personal discomfort. Remy could only guess it had to do with Seth in some way, she had disliked Aiden almost from the start and it seemed she would be a bit chilly with Asher as well.

If Asher sensed it, he gave no sign, but Remy did notice that he kept back along the wall, well behind her where it would be harder for her to see him. He never looked at her though he must be curious. This one asked few questions. At the same time, Asher was emitting an almost constant low level vibration of peace and serenity, a wish for a peaceful ride with no anxiety. Remy was left to wonder if Asher did this all the time or if it was simply to ease Fallen's nervousness.

Remy took advantage of the next break in conversation to use his cell phone. He gave Henry a quick call, requesting that Kimble's sphere be brought to the holding cells. Whatever Asher was going to do he wanted it done in private. Aiden's diary had given him some idea of what might take place and he recalled that Kain had first been violent after being awakened. There was no way Remy was going to have Kimble - or even worse, Zander - make a scene in the Solarium.

"We're coming up on the Complex now," Fallen said, interrupting.

Remy nodded and rang off, smiling with anticipation as the Complex came up on the Main Screen. They were home.

The Lucky Dragon touched down and as they departed, Remy was surprised to see Aiden waiting there on the blacktop, fidgeting in his agitation and excitement. Gambit had left in such a rush, he never thought to tell Aiden where he was going or why. It looked like the Dreamer had found out on his own.

"Bonjour, Dreamer," Remy greeted with a smile, coming down the ramp. His voice was gentle, but inquisitive as he asked, "Shouldn't you be workin'?"

"Zere wasz szome trouble dere. Wol'vrine szend Aiden 'ome," Aiden replied just a little too absently, he was looking over Gambit's shoulder to see who was coming down the ramp next.

"Trouble? What trouble?" Remy asked but never got an answer. Aiden had cried out loudly and rudely moved past him to plow right into Asher's arms.

"Ashair! Ashair!" Aiden cried, his shine swirling darkly with all sorts of emotions, too many to be properly read. He was happy, he was terrified, he was deeply grieved, it was all swirling about in a hysterical kaleidoscope of color.

"Heya, kitten," Asher replied, grunting with the impact of Aiden's embrace and holding Aiden tightly. His eyes had closed with loving affection and he was breathing in deeply, reading Aiden's mood, or trying to. "Yes, I knows she's gone. It's all right. She's at peace."

Remy stepped back, relaxing as he watched this with an intense curiosity. Aiden had said Asher very intuitive and here it was again, his knowing things without them having to be said. Clearly he was speaking about Babette and Aiden's terrible loss. Aiden was trembling almost violently now, grasping Asher with what had to be painful force, but Asher took the abuse without complaint, stroking one hand through Aiden's blonde wispy hair and releasing powerful vibrations of comfort. Aiden was crying now, tears flooding his eyes as he broke down into Muzla gibberish, unable to get the words out fast enough.

Asher nodded in spite of Aiden's incomprehensible garble. "It's all right, kitten. I knows. Our Master told me all abouts him, too," Asher was answering as he tried to calm Aiden down. "It's all right. I'll takes a look at yer Kimble, I promise."

It was a full minute before Aiden gathered himself and relaxed enough to release his grip on his Siskan brother. Asher was patient, taking his time and touching Aiden gently, even going so far as to give him a gentle lingering kiss, more than he had offered to Gambit. It was Aiden's distress that had prompted it and Aiden calmed even more from it, backing away after another moment.

Aiden glanced once at Fallen, almost embarrassed by all of this emotion, but then collected himself. "You find your Anjel?' he asked Asher with a small smile, seeing Smee there for the first time.

"Yeah," Asher replied, giving Smee a quick pat of affection. The creature was still draped about his neck, though he had almost been dislodged by Aiden's tearful assault. "This is m' Smee."

" 'Allo, Szmee," Aiden greeted, offering his hand to be smelled.

Smee gave him a sniff, but was looking him over more with his beady black eyes. "The bluey blue one it 'tis!" he squeaked in his tiny voice, his ferret's face seeming to smile. "Hugs so tighty tight. Makes the Master happily happy, he does!"

Aiden cocked his head, his grin spreading. "Not szo shy, disz one, eh?"

"No he ain't," Asher said, finally getting them moving a bit, they had been blocking the ramp of the Dragon this whole time and Fallen had been waiting to get down. "Once ya gits him talkin', there ain't no shuttin' him up neither."

Fallen made her way past them, her face smiling, but her shine speaking only of relief at the thought of her job being done, she wanted to leave. "I'll have Asher's things brought inside," she said to Remy.

Gambit shook his head. "Dere's a lot of stuff. Don't know where it's all gonna go just yet."

"Well, we can leave it for now. The Dragon is secure enough, no one will touch it. Just give me a call and I'll have it all brought wherever you want when you find out."

"Merci, chere, for dat an' for bringin' me out so quick."

"Anytime," she replied, giving him a quick embrace. Then she was gone.

Asher watched her go, his body quiet, but his shine betraying his thoughtful mind. He was curious about her and wondering why she was so agitated. Her shine had darkened at Aiden's appearance - she wasn't so happy to see him, and she hadn't acknowledged his presence verbally at all, a deliberate snub.

Aiden cared not one bit, he was moving Asher to the nearest guard shack and the stairs leading down into the Complex. "Keemble 'asz been moved down to ze Lab."

"The Lab?" Asher asked nervously. "What's that?"

"It isz 'oszpital," Aiden replied. "Zey take ze szick onesz dere."

"All right."

Asher allowed himself to be led to the stairs, but hesitated at the top. The steps were a bit steep and he took a breath, moving calmly and steadily down. His body was long and his hooves not exactly made for this. He had to turn a bit sideways and took it slow, grasping onto the handrail and doing his best not to slip. Gambit had thought to offer the elevator down, but they would have had to walk well out of their way to the main building. Asher hadn't complained, just took it slow and he made it down well enough.

Smee chattered nervously the whole way down, commenting on how it wouldn't be so great for his Master to fall on top of him and could they please go just a little slower? Asher just took his comments with patient serenity, simply petting his talkative pet and laughing softly.

Once down in the hallway and back on safer ground, they made their way quickly to Henry's Lab. Asher took in all the sights of this strange building with rapt curiosity, rudely staring with surprise as some of the more colorful alphas passed him by. They stared right back, Asher's handsome centaur's body was just as surprising to them.

Remy was on his phone the moment they left the stairs, letting Henry know they had arrived, and indeed the big blue doctor met them at the door of the Lab, his own shine betraying some agitation. Holding his Siskan charges back, Remy was quick to greet him. "What's goin' on?"

"Creed is missing. Didn't Aiden tell you?"

Gambit glanced back at the Dreamer in irritation. "Non. 'E 'ave other t'ings on 'is mind. What you mean Saby is gone?"

Henry moved Remy aside to whisper privately, "Someone has taken him. His cell was broken into sometime last night and he is gone. No one thinks he is still in the Complex, including the Professor. Creed isn't showing up on any of the security cameras and no one can figure out how they got out. Logan is livid."

"I can imagine," Remy replied. He was starting to feel that stress overload working its way on him. He had his hands full with his Siskans at the moment, he would have to compartmentalize Creed for later consideration. He couldn't imagine that these two events were in any way connected.

"Jerry was at the desk on watch. Whoever took Sabretooth drugged him so deeply he didn't pull out of it."

"What?" Remy questioned sharply, his eyes wide.

"Jerry died less than thirty minutes ago."

Remy closed his eyes. Yeah, Jerry hadn't been the friendliest guy, but he hadn't deserved to die. On top of that Logan was sure to be pissed.

"We're on a silent Code Red. Charles didn't want to panic everyone. There is a meeting scheduled for later today," Beast cautioned, but then pulled back to politely address the centaur who had been waiting so patiently all this time. "And who is our guest?"

Remy shifted gears quickly, not wanting to upset anyone. Quite frankly, as much as the news had upset him, he was more eager to see Kimble looked after first. "Excuse-moi, Henry. Dis is Asher, one of Trishnar's Siskans. 'E send 'im to me from away."

"Very good," Beast said, holding his hand out to Asher to be shaken. "The more of you in safe keeping the merrier."

Asher smiled warmly at that, responding to the good reception. He could see no lie in the doctor's shine and was comforted by the happiness there. This place was huge and strange to him, thoughts he was trying to put out of his mind, they were disruptive to his serenity, a state of mind he did his best to maintain at all times. He was doing his best to dismiss the perplexing exchange between the doctor and the thief, clearly what they had shared was Complex business and had nothing to do with him.

"M' Master says y'all got Kimble here an' that he needs some attention. How's about we goes an' takes a look, okay?"

Henry smiled. "This way."