Chapter Six
The Coliseum is much larger up close. Doesn't make it less magnificent though. We enter from the back door, as we always do, but it should be called the back-back door since it is one meant for employees, or maybe a back-back-back door, since there seem to be a lot of different entrances into the building. Ah really don't want to know why and for what purposes.
The interior is far from shabby. Wooden panels and red carpets, not to mention the intricate bras, and those are only hallways for staff. However, there are cameras everywhere, every meter seems to be covered.
"Hey, Rem," Ah call in a soft voice, but it still bounces from all the walls in an echo.
"Hm?" the future dealer reacts somewhat distantly. He confidently marches through the halls, as if he knows them by heart, but something is not right with him. As if he is holding back, as if he doesn't want to be here or… or he is actually afraid. Frankly speaking, the atmosphere does put pressure on you, and those are just empty hallways. What will the real boss of this place be like then?
"Have you stolen from here?"
"It depends on how you look at it," he throws over his shoulder not missing a step, but fear still creeps into his voice and that disconcerns meh. "We are here."
We stop in front of a large set of doors with two uniformed guards on each side. They don't move an inch while the doors open and engulf us into the main office. Ah've drawn all kinds of pictures in mah mind, pictures of the almighty Burgess, the CEO of the grand Coliseum, but what and whom Ah look at in that office is the least what Ah expected. Behind the large mahogany table sits a man in his mid-fifties, a very handsome blond man with blue eyes. The man who stands up the moment we enter and kisses the back of mah hand when Remy introduces meh as his sister. Ah feel lost in the situation, Ah just stare at the Boss, as he asks to call him, drowning in the armchair Ah am seated in.
"Welcome to the Coliseum, Miss LeBeau. Mister LeBeau and I are old acquaintances, so I won't keep him here. I do know all about him. Please, Mister LeBeau, check in with Mister Stevens for detailed instructions about your employment."
"The old geezer is still the manager?" Remy jokes, but there is a strain in his comeback.
"Mister Stevens is the best," the Boss throws as if a reprimand for a kid at fault, and that kid is clearly not Mister Stevens. "Please, leave us."
And that's what Remy does. He sends meh an encouraging smile before disappearing behind those enormous doors, but it is unclear whom he is encouraging, meh or himself.
"I know that you are not Mister LeBeau's real sister so we'll skip that part."
Ah blink, startled by the immediate attack. Ah glance at his table to discover he is looking through mah file. Nothing extraordinary for an employer to have personal files on his personnel, but Ah am not in the system yet! Most importantly, how can the file be so thick already? "Why do you have all this information on meh?" Yes, Ah am scared, but at least Ah can fight for mahself and the privacy of mah life.
"Xavier is not the only one who has information on mutants. Moreover, he discarded quite a lot of it as being… old. I, however, keep everything. Nobody knows when the opportunity to use it will arise."
Handsome and friendly looking, but a total bastard on the inside. There is no wonder Remy is afraid of him – the Boss is a top class manipulator. A spider on a web. "You knew Professor Xavier?"
"Indeed. We were close."
Even if they were, they were not close enough for Burgess to show even a slight emotion, not to mention, grief for a deceased friend.
"Shall we continue with the interview?" he asks oh so politely. Ah really want to get out of this office.
"Yes, sir."
He gives meh a look of appreciation. Seems he likes his employers to be obedient.
"Please, answer only 'yes' or 'no' to the following questions. Some are routine, some… are not."
Mah eyebrows shoot up in surprise. The lie detector seems to be on, but what is the fuss with the papers about? Does he think this act will make meh squirm? Or is it another test?
"Are you a mutant?"
"Yes."
"Your power is to absorb mutant power and memories from other by the means of skin to skin contact?"
Okay, that phrase makes meh squirm a little. Ah just hate when it is worded so emotionlessly. "Yes."
"Do you also have telepathic and telekinetic powers?"
How in the Hell could he find out? "Yes."
"Have you ever committed a crime?"
That's debatable at best. "No."
"Have you ever killed in cold blood?"
"No!"
"No need to get so excited, it's a standard procedure."
Standard mah ass! Breathe… Just breathe… "Go on. Sir."
"Do you have a family?"
"…Yes"
"Do you have any blood-related relatives?"
"No."
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No."
"Are you planning on acquiring one?"
"No." Where is he going with this? If he forbids relationships between employers, why not just say so?
"Do you consider yourself a hardworking person?"
"Yes."
"Are you capable of breaking the rules of conduct?"
No point to lie about this, Ah am quite a crazy one, even if Ah take fun out of life, as Remy likes to point out. "Yes."
"Are you able to protect yourself?"
"What a silly question is that? Mah power alone can reign mah enemy unconscious. Mah fighting skills are just a bonus."
"Yes or no, please, Miss LeBeau."
Ah grind mah teeth, this guy is really getting under mah skin, dammit. "Yes."
"Are you capable of protecting others?"
"Obviously. Ah mean, yes."
"Will you be willing to protect strangers?"
How can you answer 'yes' or 'no' to something like that? All kinds of set ups are possible and all circumstances must be considered to make the final decision. But if it's what he wants… "Yes."
"Do you like to travel?"
Huh? Just now he has been asking about mah readiness to sacrifice mah life for bystanders and now this? Where is this crazy interview heading? "Yes."
"Do you like to do chores?"
"No," Ah shoot with a disgusted grimace. And Ah don't care in the slightest if that displeases him.
"Do you consider yourself a beautiful woman?"
Okay, this is totally out of context. But Hell with him! "No," Ah snap rather annoyed by his questions, but Ah am sure the future ones will make meh even more annoyed. If he is going to ask about mah sex life, Ah swear… Ah'll absorb him, just for him to taste his own medicine.
"Do you have an active sex life?"
Ah take off mah glove, mah speed fuelled by mah anger and that's a lot of fuel, believe meh, but the big boss just rolls on his chair to the back wall, thus being out of mah reach. Blast it! Where are Remy's flying cards when you need them?
"Please, calm down, Miss LeBeau. I am not asking these questions to satisfy my passion for gossip. Your answers are to determine your capability to fulfill the requirements for the job. Women attract men into the casino. It is the same with mutants as with humans. Are you capable to attract men's attention?"
"Is this an official question?"
"Yes."
"Yes, Ah can," Ah state, shoving the glove back onto mah hand. Ah am not actually that sure about the truth of mah answer, but how should Ah know? Ah could've mentioned that if the Cajun Casanova Remy LeBeau follows meh like a puppy for some reason then Ah surely can attract males' attention. But this won't be wise, not to mention he doesn't follow meh because he is attracted to mah body or anything else of mahne for that matter.
"Do you have an active sex life?"
Ah send him one of mah drop dead looks. Only Logan can withstand them. But today Ah make a rather painful discovery, not only Logan can do that. Burgess doesn't even blink, but continues to stare at meh with that detached manner of his.
"No, Ah don't have a sex life. Not sure if Ah can even have one," Ah spit, unable to actually spit into his face. Unfortunately. For meh, of course.
"Ah," mah torturer remarks as if he knows something.
How can he? He has no idea what Ah've been through. No fucking idea. He has no right to judge meh. No fucking right.
"Do you like the city?"
You are fucking kidding meh. Is he tormenting meh on purpose? A payback for mah attempted attack? "Yes."
"Is your accommodation suitable?"
"Yes."
"How do you like to spend your spare time?"
"This is not a 'yes' or 'no' question."
"Then answer as you see fit."
Okay, Ah am totally confused now. What does he want from meh? "Take pictures, of landscapes mostly. Ride on mah bike. Read books," Ah squeeze every word out of meh. Mah sex life and now hobbies? Does he have no sense of privacy at all?
"The last question then."
Oh Thank Gud! Two more and Ah would've seriously hurt him. Ah can jump over the table, you know.
"Do you harbor any romantic affection for Mister LeBeau?"
That's one is easy. "No."
"Are you completely sure?"
"Yes."
"This is all. You are hired. Galatea will meet you in the hall and you can discuss further arrangements. Ah, and one more thing. All employees don't use their real names, but nicknames, used only in these walls. I would like for you to choose one right now, preferably on the casino based theme."
A nickname? Well, Ah won't take mah old one, Ah've left that life behind meh. Oh yeah, Ah have just a perfect nickname. Swamp Rat will have a fit. "Is Queen of Hearts taken?"
"Not that I am aware of."
Ah step towards the door to finally get out of the retched office, but he stops meh with yet another question.
"Are you sure about your last answer?"
"Absolutely, sir."
"You may be unaware, the words can lie, but the thoughts can't. Please, keep that in mind while working for this establishment."
Ah don't grace mah new boss with an answer. Ah just leave to come face to face with whom I assume to be Galatea. More like Misses Frankenstein with her stand up black-and-white hair and a gothic makeup, or maybe it isn't a makeup. The woman starts to speak right away, but Ah just can't get involved into the conversation. Ah just can't get the human lie detector's frown at mah last answer out of mah mind.
…...
Ah drag mahself towards the parking lot, where we parked our bikes to finally get home and into mah bed. Those Coliseum workers are crazy! Mah head is going a mile per second and Ah am certainly not on mah bike. Galatea seemed to rumble about mah duties for hours! Ah've never imagined the Coliseum is such a huge enterprise. Casino is only the tip of the iceberg. The whole building was turned into a center for leisure time. It doesn't close even with danger of an earthquake – too many underground floors. There are an amusement park, several arcades and playrooms for kids, seven restaurants that serve cuisine of at least ten nations, numerous bars, a casino, a hotel that houses all the guests and, Ah won't be surprised, and Ah wasn't told, of course, if there is a strip-club hidden somewhere among the endless hallways and infinite number of rooms. And since Ah am going to be the supporting staff, Ah must learn to work everywhere. Are they kidding? This is totally i-m-p-o-s-s-i-b-l-e.
"You don't look good, frangine. Something the matter?" Remy asks when Ah stomp towards mah precious bike and mount it with vigor it doesn't deserve.
"This place is getting on my nerves," Ah reply, revving the bike, obviously ready to leave. Remy however continues to nurse his cigarette with calmness of a rock. "Mah head is spinning in all directions! And that Burgess! Ah've never seen such a cold-blooded bastard before! At least Magneto was passionate about his ideals, this one – Ah don't even have words to describe this monstrosity. And asking meh about mah sex life like that! Argh!"
"Why are you so shy about the topic, frangine? You are eighteen already."
"Good physics and not mathematics? Ah am twenty-two, Swamp Rat."
"Oh, of course," he replies absent-mindedly, tossing the stub near the fuel storage. Typical gambler. "A walk should you do some good, chere. Remy wants to greet an old friend of his."
"Another one? Ah don't care about some old friends if yours and they don't care about meh, so Ah'd rather go home and take a bath," Ah grunt annoyed by the fact there is yet another someone who is part of Remy's world and not mahne.
"But you know him too!" he exclaims with excitement Ah don't actually like.
And then it dawns to meh. The pyromaniac! "No way! Ah am not even getting close to that freak!"
"But you will see him everyday anyway. He does wonderful shows at night. Really worth watching. Some come just to witness them with their own eyes."
"Enough with the promo. Ah can watch from a distance, there is no need to meet him face to face."
"You don't want to see someone who knows who you were?"
And he just had to nail it. Of course, Ah don't want to see anyone from meh previous life. When Ah rode away from the Institute, Ah wanted to start a completely new life with new name and everything. Ah wanted to change. Not that Ah've succeeded much.
"Ah just don't like the guy, that's all," Ah mutter under mah breath, hoping Remy'll give it a rest.
Far from that! "Common, chere! Remy and Pyro go way back! Pyro is a totally cool guy when you get to know him."
"Cool as in setting everything on fire? No way Ah am getting near him! He is your friend, you can go and talk to him till morning, Ah don't care. But Ah am going home. And how long is 'way back'?"
"Ten years, give or take."
Mah brain comes to a holt, not that it was in a functioning condition at the time. This is the first piece of personal information that Remy has revealed to meh. "Ten years? But this is even before Magneto."
"Oui. We met much earlier."
"But how could you possibly meet? He lived in Australia!"
"Why don't you ask him personally?"
The trap was skillfully laid and Ah've fallen on mah arse right in the middle of it. Fabulous, just fabulous. But Ah have no choice, the bait is just too tempting. So Ah kill the engine and follow Remy to some place that is still supposed to be standing after accommodating a pyromaniac.
Surprisingly, we don't go far, just to the part of the parking lot meant for the Coliseum's personnel. In one of its corners stands a trailer, a rather big one. With no burned marks as far as Ah can see. Remy springs towards it and unceremoniously knocks onto the door with his fist. No answer. He knocks again.
"Bugger off!"
"Hey, mon ami, don't you want to say bounjorne to an old friend?"
The sounds of groaning and fussing shake the trailer, but finally the door swings open and a blond man with disheveled hair basically falls out of it. Ah stand from the other side of the door, opposite Remy and so out of line of Pyro's vision, thus Ah have a great view of 'the reunion of two old friends'.
Pyro swings from side to side, obviously taken right out of bed (at five in the afternoon?), his glance is unfocused, he is actually stumbles over his own feet, but Remy does nothing to help his 'old friend'.
"Partied through the night again, Johnny?" Remy mocks the drowsy Australian.
"How many times have I told you to call me PYRO, you trickster?"
The disgruntled roar changes to laughter and to a welcome hug and patting on the back. They are truly happy to see each other. Who would've thought? Amazing, really. We were all X-Men – Acolytes, friends – enemies, and nobody have thought about before or after, about whys and whens. Ah still doubt Pyro is more than a pyromaniac, but he isn't only that, right?
"So the rumors are true after all. Man, how could you be chained like that?"
"Remy's sister asked him. He wants you to meet her."
"I'll be glad to-" and then he turns, sees little old meh and his smile drops. "That's not your sister. That's… a gal with those X-Men, yeah… The one you got to get your step-father out of Assassins' Guild. What the Hell is she doing here?"
Ah told Remy nothing good would come out of that meeting. Pyro could've fried meh if he had his equipment on him.
"This is Remy's younger sister, Marie, and you will treat her as such, John," Remy said with unexpected force.
"Okay, okay, don't get all riled up about it. What difference does the name make anyway? But mine does, okay? P-Y-R-O, that's my name. You better remember it too, eh, Marie."
"No problem, Ah can remember that," Ah reply, trying not to laugh. This name thing is so childish! Ah mean, common! He is as crazy about his name as he is about the fire.
"Sorry for not extending my hand in greeting, since you know."
"No problem with that either."
"I doubt either of us will tell me the story how you ended up together…" And suddenly Pyro doesn't look childish at all. "But I have to do some introductions myself. I have a partner now."
"Two pyromaniacs?" Ah blurt out unable to restrain mahself. "This is just crazy!"
"Well, I am crazy about her, that's for sure." The crazy one leans into the trailer and calls for his mysterious partner, "Are you decent, love?"
And then something strange and totally unexpected happens – a petite young woman steps out of the trailer. She can be called Miss Hong Kong or Miss of the whole Asia for that matter since she is… gorgeous. A true goddess of beauty. And if Remy's ogling eyes are any indication he shares mah opinion. Not that Ah am jealous, even if any normal woman is allowed to be in the presence of someone so… perfect. Speaking of Remy, by this moment he is usually all flirty, but now he just stares. Until a stream of water wipes out that stupid expression of his. And makes his look even more stupid, he-he.
"I've never fathomed we will be meeting again after that episode in China when you tried to steal the vase of Ming dynasty out of the private collection," the goddess speaks and her voice is a match for her external beauty. And is she a waterbender?
"I heard the story, Quing kicked your ass pretty good, man, didn't she?"
"With water?" Ah blurt out, and not because they seem to forget about mah presence during their little reunion.
"Never underestimate the power of the basic element… Marie, was it? Why don't we all have breakfast tomorrow?"
"Can't, will be dealing through the night," Remy refuses with a strained smile. What's that about? Is he upset about being reminded of his failure or is he just jealous that Pyro has snatched such a babe for himself?
"Some other time then."
"What a strange couple," Ah remark when we are out of hearing distance.
"Hm?"
"Ah said what a strange couple. Fire and water are not a good mix. They don't mix at all actually."
"Yeah…"
"What is it with you?"
"Just reliving some memories."
"The ones where your ass is kicked by water? Seriously, Remy, this is embarrassing."
"You haven't seen it, chere. Quing has been always underestimated by her employers; she provided security in places her mutant powers could be seen only by a few people. And she never failed, not once. Remy saw it as a challenge. He regrets his foolishness."
"So you also had failures?" That's a first, he is always boasting about what a great thief he is, but his reality is actually as harsh as everybody else's.
"If Remy hasn't been caught doesn't mean he always retrieved."
Those times must be a sore spot, why did Ah bring it up? Damn, he is totally depressed now. "If we are walking down the memory lane, why don't tell meh about you saving Antony's life?" A story of his heroic deed must raise his mood. And why do Ah even care?
"We can dine at Antony's and he can tell you himself."
"But Ah want you to tell meh. Ah am tired of hearing about your life through second and third hands."
Remy sighs in defeat, he looks tired all of the sudden. As if those memories are a burden he has to carry, a very heavy burden. "Antony took Remy in after he ran from home. He stayed at the restaurant and helped in the kitchen until his powers appeared. And then Remy ran off again not to blow up everything in his reach, but he still visited. The food was good after all." A small smile about that. Ah have to agree, the food is still too good to forget. "So once Remy comes and the kitchen is on fire, some accident happened, and Antony was still inside since the door was barricaded with fallen stuff. So Remy blew up the door and cleared the path. That's all."
"So your mutant powers saved your uncle. You should've not run out on him. You could've worked something out."
"That was not the first fire, chere."
"Oh."
