He sat in silence, mouth open in shock but unable to make a sound. Seattle – why there of all places. Must be a coincidence, he thought to himself, but he looked up as he felt everyone's eyes on him. The professor was slowly shaking his head, pity in his eyes 'I'm afraid it's no coincidence Gambit, Sinister has her.'
'Wait, who? Professor what does Remy have to do with this?' Scott interrupted, the sound of Logan's claws being unleashed was followed by a growl.
'Logan, please.' The professor motioned for him to retract his claws and then turned his attention to the stricken Cajun. 'Remy do you know why Sinister would take her?' Remy didn't answer, his mind was a jumble of thoughts, the overwhelming one was trying to make him flee to Seattle, to find her, trade anything – but get her out of Sinister's clutches. He didn't hear the professor call his name again, not the others clutch his shoulders and try to snap him out of his reverie, he didn't even notice them hold Wolverine back who looked ready to gut him there and then. It was only when he heard a shrill cry of a bird and a brief flicker of flame that he jumped to attention. His eyes immediately drawn to Jean who looked concerned but nothing else. He frowned in confusion, he hadn't imagined it – she had been surrounded by flame and trying to get into his mind.
Shaking his head to clear those thoughts that weren't of immediate help to him finding Rogue he suddenly appeared to notice everyone else in the room. He made to grab the door handle but the professor's hand on his arm stopped him.
'Remy, we need you to tell us so we can help Rogue. I know a little of the man that calls himself Sinister, but not enough.' He was pleading with the Cajun, who he knew wanted to run off to Seattle to help Rogue. Gambit looked around, Wolverine was still looking furious, but the claws were in.
'Tell us what you know gumbo and maybe I won't gut you for getting Rogue into this mess.'
Remy thought for a moment before nodding and moving to the window, he didn't want to face them as he told them all this. He had worked hard in the last few weeks to try to be one of them, telling them this would probably mark the end of his membership of the X-Men for good.
'Remy was 13 when m'powers showed up, had been expecting dem since always had de eyes. Dey weren't much at first, jus made tings go boom. Notin' big and only man made stuff.
Den shortly after Remy's 16th birthday tings went wrong. Everyting he touched exploded, bigger dan ever and didn't matter what it was – metal, stone, people. Managed to draw it back to him for a while, but soon it was getting to big – once de object was charged I couldn't take it back. Didn't even need to touch it, just tought about it and boom.' He stopped talking and stared out the window at the gathering clouds.
'And den dey really got out of control when I was 17. Was in a theatre in Seattle when it happened. Not sure why or how but suddenly de whole building was humming wit de charge, I yelled for people to leave but was too late, not enough warning. De whole building exploded. 23 people died, more injured. Remy was found in de middle, hands badly burned from where I had tried to pull the charge back and my arm was broken. Dey took one look at Remy's eyes and arrested him, De one time dey get it right heh?' he smirked at the memory, still not looking at them, he had heard their horrified expressions and it was only going to get worse.
'Was in de prison cell when Sinister showed up, never seen him before dat time. I didn't know what was happening, all I could hear was de screaming from de theatre going over and over in my mind. He offered to control my powers and like a fool I said yes without tinking. I just wanted rid of dem. Next ting I know the wall of de prison is blown out and I'm being taken into what looks like a portal and den, suddenly I'm in Alaska.' He stopped, he wasn't sure how much to tell them – he had been with Sinister for a year before he had escaped after Paris and gone back to New Orleans. He had been party some horrific things, painful times. He decided to just tell dem what he knew – they wouldn't want him back regardless.
'He operated on m'brain and when I woke up I had control again. My powers were like they were when I was 13 – could only explode through touch and only inorganic. It was bliss, never been so happy. Didn't last long dough. Sinister wanted payment. He was a scientist who had experimented on many mutants in order to gain de knowledge he has – not sure how old he is, but he spoke about Victorian London like he knew Jack de Ripper personally. He had dese laboratories, and all de time there would be mutants in dere – some willing, some not so much so. Because he had helped me I was in his debt, he used to threaten my family should I try to leave. Den about a year later after many 'task' – mainly stealing for him – he asked me to form a team of mutants and sent us to Paris. Remy didn't know what dey wanted to do in Paris, Sinister kept dat much from me. Just asked me to lead dem to de mutants in de catacombs and den I would be free of de debt. I didn't ask question I just did as I was told – I wanted out as quickly as possible.' He sighed, taking out a cigarette he lit it with his finger and took a drag.
'I showed dem de way and den dey struck. I didn't know what was happening. All of a sudden dey was killing de mutants in de tunnels. Sabertooth was one of dem, merde Remy never seen anyting like it before. I tried to stop dem, but not much I could do. I grabbed one of de young filles before dey could touch her and den I ran. Don't remember much else, I woke up two days later in a guild safehouse wit a note to say dat de Paris guild had taken the child in. Never heard from Sinister again.'
He didn't turn around, he just stared out of the window and smoked.
'Sinister is after Remy, no other reason to take Rogue to Seattle, his bases are always somewhere remote. He's just trying to flush Remy out using Rogue as bait. Means he's also been keeping tabs on Remy since Paris. Merde, shoulda known would never be free. Didn't tink it would impact on de x-Men dough. For dat Remy sorry.'
'Sorry? Rogue's been taken by a mad man and you're sorry?" Scott was furious, he'd known not to trust Remy and he was right, maybe if he had more forcefully stood against the professor's decision then Remy wouldn't have joined and Rogue would be safe
'Scott please calm down. Remy, can you show us the base in Alaska?' Storm interceded.
'Oui, but de base won't be dere no more. He'd have destroyed it and moved on.'
'Let's get to Seattle then, if he's using Rogue as bait then we at least need to be there to get her free.' Jean stated, the others nodded. Remy looked at them, their love for Rogue meant that he had been granted a stay of execution, but if – when Rogue was returned safely, then he would have to answer to them. He held up a hand to stop them as they were about to leave the room.
'He'll have her at de theatre, dey never rebuilt it. Oh and Remy knows Sinister, even if he gets me, he won't hand Rogue back. Her powers would interest him too much. He'd want to experiment on her. Remy not trying to save himself here.' He added as Kurt and Scott frowned at him, both obviously believing that they could hand Remy over and get Rogue back, 'Just stating de facts. Sinister don't play fair, don't bargain wit him, d'accord?' Logan nodded at the words.
'Sounds like good advice, team get to the jet we leave straight away.' With that they all left, Remy turned to look at the professor before exiting.
'Guess Remy shoulda told you all dis? Maybe chere'd be safe now.'
'If Sinister is the man you say he his, I doubt any of us would have been safe. I wish you had told me Remy, but I understand why you did not. Rogue knows all this?' Remy nodded, 'I trust her judgements Remy, you should too. You are not the evil person you believe yourself to be. You'd better hurry.' Remy shut the door at the Professors last words and ran to the hangar. Rogue was in trouble, Remy could save her, that's all he cared about right now.