CHAPTER 10

Kitty's doubts about Gambit were increasing by the second. He had led her and Colossus to what seemed to be the most unappealing part of the city, then found the most unappealing building on the most unappealing street. Then he had led them down the alleyway alongside it and knocked on a side door.

"What is this place?"she asked him.

"Somewhere where we'll be safe,"he replied simply.

An elderly woman opened the door. At least, Kitty thought she was elderly at first, with her grey hair and lined face. But after a moment, she had a feeling the woman probably wasn't as old as she looked, no more than sixty. It was as if the life she led had made her old before her time.

When she noticed Gambit, her eyes lit up. "Remy!"she exclaimed in delight, giving him a warm hug as he returned her smile. She ushered the three of them inside, into a bare corridor, its only feature being a staircase leading to the upper storey: No furnishings, no decorations, even the walls seemed to have been painted almost as an afterthought.

"I'm sorry to impose, Rita,"Gambit apologised,"but my friends and I need somewhere to stay for a night or two."

The woman, Rita, gave him an indulgant smile. "Oh, don't be silly, Remy, you know I'll always help you any way I can." She cast her gaze over Kitty and Colossus, taking in their unusual dress as if it was what she saw every day. "Perhaps they could do with some less conspicuous clothes too?"

Kitty felt awkward, as if they were imposing on the hospitality of a woman who didn't have much for herself. "That would be nice, thank you."

Rita smiled. "I'll just turn down the spare beds for you." She headed upstairs.

Kitty waited until she was out of earshot before turning to their guide. "Remy… Gambit… what is this place?"

"A soup kitchen,"Gambit explained. "It sometimes functions as a homeless shelter but there is little space so they don't advertise the fact. Rita's run this place practically all her life - her parents ran it before her. She has volunteers who help out but in reality this place is dependant on donations."

"Which you provide?"Colossus asked.

"A lot of the money I make goes into helping this place out, yes."

"You mean the money you stole?"Kitty asked, unable to help herself.

There was anger in Gambit's expression but his voice remained level. "Why do you think places like this are needed? Because the people with the money aren't keen on sharing. But you people, living in your mansion, I don't suppose you know anything about that."

"My parents are Russian immigrants,"Colossus replied. "I was born over there. Don't think I don't know what poverty's like. You know, some Americans still think of Russia as this mighty superpower, this bogeymen from over the water that's going to come and steal their land and make sport with their women."

Kitty felt guilty as she began to understand what both their lives must have been like. "Like with mutants," she commented quietly.

Colossus continued as if she hadn't spoken. "But really it's just cold and frightened people struggling to get together enough food for their families." He gave Gambit a look which left him appearing as ashamed as Kitty felt. "Everywhere's the same, Gambit."

It had been fortunate that Barclay had been onboard the X-Jet, since he'd been able to contact his superiors and explain the situation. Otherwise, landing on the lawn of the White House might have attracted some unfortunate attention, whether they were under presidential orders or not. Barclay had said a brief farewell to them, showing as little gratitude as possible, before leading his group of soldiers and technicians towards the building.

Forge remained with Storm next to the jet. "You sure you aren't going to come inside?"he asked her. "I'm sure the President would want to hear your side of what's happened."

"You and the colonel can handle that,"Storm replied. "We've still got to get after Apocalypse."

"Just the four of you?"Forge asked doubtfully. "Five with Magneto?"

"It's not good odds, I admit,"Storm conceeded,"but we have to try. If we can't stop him, I'm not sure anyone can."

Forge looked at her with respect. "You may well be right."

Storm was surprised to find herself reluctant to depart his company. She tended to push such feelings aside on the rare occasion she had them but somehow it wasn't so easy this time. "Maybe we'll see you again,"she managed before turning to board the jet.

"Storm." His use of her name made her turn back. Forge reached into his pocket and took out a computer disc. "Take this."

Storm took it from him and examined it. "What is it?"

"Information on the roboguards. Design, strengths, weaknesses, everything. It might come in useful."

Storm gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you."

Forge hesitated. "If ever you need anything else… just let me know."

Storm looked at him, wondering if there was something else she should say to him. But before either of them could speak again, Wolverine appeared at the top of the ramp. "Storm? We're getting a call through on our frequency."

Storm bounded up the ramp after him, pushing through Nightcrawler, Iceman and Magneto, who were crowded around the controls. "Who is it? Kitty and the others?"

"I don't think so,"Bobby answered.

"Well there aren't many people know our frequency,"Wolverine pointed out.

Storm sat down at the console, putting on the headphones so she could listen to the signal. She twisted the dials, trying to strengthen it. "It's very weak. It can't be from New York, it's further away than that. I'm not even sure it's on the mainland." She paused. "Hang on, I think I've got something."

She pressed the speaker button and a familiar voice was heard by all. "Beast calling X-Men. Beast calling X-Men. Come in, please."

"Hank?"Storm asked delightedly. "Hank, it's Storm. We can barely hear you, try adjusting your frequency by 0.03 megahertz. Where are you?"

Beast's voice became clearer as he followed her instructions. "Ororo, I'm on Muir Island. Moira McTaggert is here with me. There's someone here that we need you to see."

Storm was astonished at his timing. "Hank, in case you hadn't noticed a very powerful mutant is in the process of tearing apart Manhatten. We really don't have time to fly off on the basis of some vague message."

"I'm sorry but this is a very delicate matter,"Beast replied. "I cannot discuss it over the radio. You're just going to have to trust me. There are things you need to know."

Storm was about to protest further when she realised he'd cut the link. She took the headphones off and turned to the others. "So what do we do?" Wolverine asked.

"Get down there,"Storm answered. "Hank wouldn't call us if it wasn't anything important."

She expected disagreement but there was none. The only response was from Nightcrawler, who nodded in the direction of Magneto. "And him?"

A part of Storm was tempted to throw Magneto down the ramp. But she was surprised at how small a part it was. For better or worse, he seemed to be part of their group. "You got anything else you need to do?"she asked him.

Magneto actually smiled at the comment. "Nothing pressing. I remember Doctor MacTaggert. For a human, she can be surprisingly perceptive at times."

Wolverine give him a dismissive look, but Storm noticed he didn't object to Magneto's presence either. "Then you'd better strap yourself in,"he told him. "We're gonna have to make this trip as short as possible."

Angel lay uncomfortably on a pile of old sheets, trying to sleep during the day having been up all night. The boards over the window helped keep the sunlight out. The building had probably been condemned. After he'd left Kitty and the others, he'd wandered aimlessly a few hours before he'd finally felt too tired to go any further. He'd sought shelter in the first empty building he'd come to, curling up in an old attic room.

When he heard the floorboard creak he was instantly alert, springing to his feet. He found a dark-haired woman standing in front of him. "Who are you?"he asked.

"My name is Mystique,"she replied. "And you… are Angel."

For some reason, the name bothered him. "I am Warren Worthington III."

"And I am Raven Darkholme,"she replied, almost making it sound like an insult. "Now. The cure that your father created. You refused it."

"I didn't want to give up who I was,"Angel replied.

"Neither did I,"Mystique retorted sharply. "But what I was was taken from me. I am no longer Mystique in body but I am in mind. And that is why I serve Apocalypse."

Angel felt a cold hard fear at the name. "Apocalypse!"

"You have heard of him,"Mystique observed. "Many people here have heard of him. They flee for the hills. The rich. The well-connected. Those with somewhere to go. If you had gone a little further, you would have discovered abandoned buildings a lot more comfortable than this."

Somehow, the idea of living in luxury didn't appeal to Angel, to his mood. "It suited me."

"Somewhere where you can wallow,"Mystique sneered. "I wallowed, when the cure was forced upon me. I wailed and gnashed my teeth at what I had lost. And then I began looking for an alternative." She reached out a hand and stroked one of his wings. "Poor wings. Broken now. Perhaps it would have been best if you had taken your father's cure after all."

"No." Angel was surprised at how strongly he spoke the denial. "No. Never. I could fly. For just a few more months, I could still fly. I wouldn't have given that up for anything."

Mystique leaned forward and whispered in his ear, quietly, seductively. "And what would you give to fly again?"

Angel felt his heart quicken at the suggestion. "Can you do that?"

"Not I. Apocalypse can. He can do many things." She turned towards the door, then stopped, just as she exited the room, and looked back over her shoulder. "Want me to show you?"

She didn't bother to wait for his answer. She knew he would follow her. And so did he. Even though a part of him told him he'd regret it, he let Mystique lead him away.