A/N: I'm so sorry for neglecting everyone (and my computer) for so long. I'm in the middle of helping with a remodel and haven't been on my computer for weeks. That also means no writing. Thank you all for your patience! Unfortunately, this is the last pre-written chapter I had. So updates from here on out are going to be sporadic at best.
Thanks to november123, xan-merrick, Scottfan, couplest, NanamiYatsumaki, Gidgeygirl, Warrior-princess1980, Aurora Marija, Chellerbelle, RRL24, and JasmineBella for sticking with me. And all the guest reviewers that gave gentle reminders to update!
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Chapter 24
Later That Same Day – Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
Emma sat in one of the War Room's chairs. Her head was propped in her hands as she stared at the table, an occasional sniffle disturbed the quiet in the room. Xavier settled in the chair opposite her, Storm and Logan at his sides. Remy chose a spot in the corner, preferring to stand and observe rather than join the interrogation. If it wasn't for his role in the upcoming mission and the importance of whatever information Emma would divulge, he'd prefer not to be there at all.
"Who is Nathaniel Essex?" Xavier started.
Emma's response was simple. "I don't know."
"Oh, don't play cute with us, darlin'." Logan baited, obviously the 'bad cop' in this scenario.
"I told you, I don't know!" Emma looked up sharply, her eyes flashing with momentary anger and irritation. "All I cared about was getting Scott back. But Sinister refused to release him when I gave up Rogue."
"Scott who?" Logan asked.
With a roll of her eyes, Emma unceremoniously announced, "Summers. Whom else would I mean?"
"He's alive?" Storm whispered, unwilling to get her hopes up.
They'd all assumed Jean's Phoenix personality had done something to Scott. When Storm and Logan went back to Alkalai Lake, there had been no sign of him other than his visor. After learning that Phoenix was powerful enough to demolecularize matter, they'd just assumed she'd done the same to Scott as she had the Professor.
"I think perhaps you should start at the beginning, Ms. Frost." Xavier prompted.
Emma put her head between her hands again, closing her eyes on a deep breath before slowly letting it out.
"The first time I encountered Scott, I was pushing my abilities. I tried to project my astral body to appear before others in a physical place quite some distance away. He was in Fergus Falls, North Dakota, on his way to Alkalai Lake." Emma paused.
The rest didn't need to be explained. From the moment he first lost her, Scott had gone back as often as possible to find Jean. He never had been able to get over her loss. It was something like his fifth trip when they figured he had finally encountered Phoenix.
"That's where you're wrong." Emma countered, as if reading their thoughts.
Xavier knew their psionic barriers were strong enough to block any broadcasted thoughts, but perhaps the situation with Scott was too well known. After all, Emma had been the psychotherapist for many of the residents at the mansion.
"I met him on his first trip there. He thought I was some kind of hallucination, so I established a link with his mind. Even after I stopped the astral projection, the link remained. When he couldn't find Jean, I was there to console him. Our feelings escalated and we quickly engaged in a psychic affair. Every time he left for Alkalai Lake, he wasn't going to look for Jean but to spend time with me. He thought the location made the link stronger, not my capabilities. So I had to be there in person to prove otherwise." Emma confessed, still focused on the table as if it was a viewscreen to her memories.
Something about Emma's story didn't add up. Storm figured it out first. "If you were having an affair, why didn't you meet him here?"
"Most of the time he tried to put aside his psychiatric health to continue living here, so he could fulfill Charles' dream. Never in my past have I ever been on quite that same page." She admitted. "I didn't think I'd be welcomed."
The affair was an unspoken factor. If Scott had openly welcomed her and begun a physical relationship with her so soon after Jean's death, the group would have further vilified Emma as the 'other woman'.
Xavier appraised her with a critical eye, lacing his fingers together before bringing them to his lips. After a pause, he asked: "Since you seem to be on such intimate terms, would you care to explain what happened to Scott at Alkalai Lake?"
"When Phoenix appeared, she was so much more powerful than any being I had ever encountered. I tried to warn Scott, but seeing her reopened old wounds and he shut me out. Phoenix tried to demolecularize both of us, so I transformed into my diamond form. It slowed her powers, but she was still killing us. Then Sinister showed up." Emma stopped, letting them digest that bit of information.
"And how did this Sinister," Logan waved his hand at the melodramatic name, "manage to stop Jean?"
Finally, Emma looked up at the group. If they were going to get Scott back, they would need to know all she did about Essex.
"His power and intellect are unlimited. He's a brilliant geneticist, unmatched in the world. Every time he encounters a mutant with an ability he wants, he takes a sample of their DNA and transmutes it into his own." Her eyes became unfocused as she remembered. "Somehow, he was able to dilate Phoenix's power with just a touch. But she was so much stronger than he and broke his control. While they were battling, I relinked with Scott and convinced him to run."
"How did Sinister manage to capture him then?" Storm asked.
"I'm not sure what happened between Sinister and Phoenix. I was too focused on getting us away. But when we finally cleared the woods, Sinister was waiting for us. Whatever he'd tried on Phoenix worked on Scott and he started convulsing. I dropped my diamond defense so I could assess him on a psychic level. Sinister saw my capabilities and bargained Scott for a sample of my DNA. I should have known then that he couldn't be trusted." Emma answered.
"That's a fine story y' have there," Remy finally spoke up, pushing off the wall to walk closer to the group. "But why is it that y' handed Rogue over t' Sinister?"
Emma glanced at Remy, reading more than just his nonchalant swagger. Underneath the cool attitude, she knew he cared for Rogue as much as she herself had come to love Scott. It had been there since the night he brought her back to the mansion, but Emma had ignored it to focus on Rogue's care.
"I'm sorry." She mouthed to Remy before addressing the others. "We went back to Sinister's lab, but he put Scott in a holding cell while he extracted my DNA and transmuted it with his own. Through the whole thing, he said he knew about the X-Men and 'their fine talents'. That was the first time he changed the terms of our bargain. If I was willing to provide information and help him obtain those of you whom he wanted, he would release Scott"
The explanation wasn't good enough for Remy. "Why Rogue?"
Emma shrugged. "I don't know. Sinister guards himself and his motives well, both physically and mentally. I do know he discovered Rogue shortly before she arrived in Vegas."
"If he's wanted Marie all along, why continue to keep Scott?" Logan was pretty sure he knew the answer, but felt it needed to be asked anyway.
"Because he wants Sage, too." Emma confessed with a weary sigh. "Rogue confided in me as her psychotherapist that Sage could jumpstart her powers, so I passed along the information. It's a talent Sinister doesn't possess and is desperate to obtain. The new terms to gain Scott's release were to deliver Sage as well, but I only fulfilled half the deal."
"You've admitted that Sinister has manipulated you into helping him. Is there anyone else?" Storm asked.
"Ouais," Remy confirmed. "Sabretooth and Mystique both mentioned somethin' 'bout workin' for someone new."
"I only know two others: Blockbuster and Harpoon. They were in the subway tunnels tonight. It's possible there are more, but I don't know about them." Emma answered.
Xavier sensed the honesty in her words, but there was something she was withholding. Concentrating on her mind, he tried to probe deeper to pick it up. The thought was there, just behind a hastily constructed psionic shield. It wisped away before he could grab hold of it, but he managed to glean one phrase before she shut him out: White King.
'Uh, uh, uh, Charles. Not until Scott's safe.' She psychically taunted.
"I think we have quite enough information now." Xavier responded to the group as he pushed back his chair and stood. "Logan, would you please escort Ms. Frost to the Danger Room's holding cell?"
"Sure thing, Chuck." He said as he walked around to her side of the table.
As Logan led her out, Xavier sent a psychic message of his own. 'Rest assured, Ms. Frost, that we will find Rogue and Scott. And when that happens, you will reveal what you know about the White King.'
Given her history with the Hellfire Club, it was entirely possible old enemies had joined forces with Essex as well. But Emma only matched his stare as she left the room.
Once the door was shut, Storm asked, "So what do we do now?"
"I believe it's time to debrief the group before leaving on your mission." Xavier answered as he sent the message out to the rest of the X-Men.
(X)-(X)-(X)
In only a short time, the group was gathered in the War Room. Though not assigned, the remaining members took the same seats they'd been in the previous day. The empty chairs became sacred shrines to the teammates that were missing. Before Xavier could begin the meeting, Iceman brought up his earlier objection.
"What's he doing here?" He asked, jerking his head toward Gambit.
"As you know, we've determined the traitor to be Ms. Frost." Xavier patiently explained. "Therefore we know Mr. LeBeau's only role in recent events was the theft of the DHS mutant registrar."
"How do we know he wasn't conspiring with White Queen all along?" Magneto tried to cast doubt.
"Because I know Remy. Almost as well as I know myself. And I trust him with my life." Storm's authority rang loud and clear. There would be no further discussion on Gambit's loyalty.
"With three of our friends in need of help," Xavier smoothly redirected, "now is not the time to question each other. We must focus on obtaining one of the Sentinel's hard drives."
None of them had interacted with Sentinels before outside of battle, but Multiple Man at least had some inside information. "What good will that do us? It's not like those machines know anything except detainment and processing."
"True, but they must have some instruction on where to take detainees. That information is stored either in their hard drives or received via a communication." Xavier pointed out.
Quickly figuring out the plan, Sage was confident that: "Either way, I will be able to extract the location."
"And then we can trace where de others were taken from there." Gambit answered. His expression was blank even though he knew that in a few short hours, he would be the real bait to finding the holding location.
"It'll have to be a blitz attack by some heavy hitters." Logan said, seeing the details play out in his head. "Otherwise we risk losing someone else."
"Precisely. Which is why you will be leading this mission, Logan." The professor concurred. "Storm, Gambit, Iceman, I want you there as well."
As Xavier expected, Magneto objected to the plan. "Charles, I believe we all should play a part in this mission. We stand a better chance of obtaining a hard drive if there are nine of us trying instead of just four. At the very least, Sage could use her talents in the field if we cannot successfully remove the hardware to bring back with us."
His point was valid, but troublesome. Xavier suddenly became wary of his oldest friend. Why point out Sage in specific? Was Magneto a traitor as well? Or were Xavier's thoughts corrupted after learning that Essex wanted Sage. The only people who knew about her importance were either fully trusted or locked up. Xavier had to push his suspicions aside until he could examine them with a clear mind.
Surprisingly, Dr. MacTaggart was the first to speak up and defend Xavier's dream. "And if we all are detained this time, Erik, what will become of the children? I know Annie certainly won't be able to handle sending the children home by herself. And that's only considering the ones who are still welcomed by their families. What about all the runaways and orphans who would have nowhere else to go? What if the Sentinels come here next because they know there's no one left to defend them?"
"Moira's right, Erik. Some of us must remain here in the event anything goes wrong." Xavier stood firm.
Magneto calmly stared at the Professor, calculating whether to push the point. Both men's thoughts were concealed from the other. It was nearly impossible to determine their motives. The rest of those gathered looked on as the two men engaged in the battle of wit and wills.
Magneto stoically conceded first. "Then I suppose there's nothing more to it."
"Good." Xavier answered with a nod, knowing things were far from resolved with the other man. "Moira, would you please help the team with the new communication implants Dr. McCoy developed? We need to have reliable eyes and ears reporting back to us from the field."
"Of course." She answered, rising with the four chosen teammates.
Xavier moved to follow and the rest of the group began to disperse as well. Catching up with his most trusted X-Men, he made sure Gambit was the closest.
"Good luck." He said to the group, but clapped a hand on the Cajun's shoulder.
Understanding the gesture was meant mostly for him, Gambit simply answered, "Merci, Professeur."
Xavier followed the others toward the elevator for the upper level while Wolverine, Storm, Iceman, and Gambit trailed behind Moira. The group split off at the next set of doors. Wolverine started briefing Iceman on their real objective as they headed toward the hangar while the others went to the Med Lab.
Once inside, Dr. MacTaggert immediately requested, "Annie, would you please prep for auditory prosthesis and epiretinal surgical implantations?"
"Of course, Dr. MacTaggert." The nurse agreed before hurrying off to the adjoining supply room.
While Annie gathered the necessary supplies, Dr. MacTaggert turned her attention to Gambit. Ever since he'd been experimented on at Stryker's lab, he'd been wary of medical facilities and doctors. Sensing his distrust, she tried to alleviate his fears.
"Implanting the auditory prosthesis won't take long. We'll be done in about ten minutes and you won't feel anything worse than a cotton swab in your ear." She explained the details of the procedures. "The epiretinal surgery on the other hand is still experimental. I've only performed it a few times myself. You'll be awake for the whole thing, but I'm going to anesthetize your eyes so you won't feel it."
"Got a fast metabolism, Doc. Meds don't always work on me." Gambit said.
His anxiety jacked up a notch as he began to nervously fidget. Storm placed a comforting hand on his shoulder to give him some peace, but all he did was half-heartedly smile at her intent.
"I can give you more than the normal dose, but there is an increased chance of toxicity." Dr. MacTaggert warned, propping one of the exam tables into a seated position. When she was finished, she gestured for him to take a seat.
"What are we talkin' 'bout here?" He asked, even more ill at ease over the whole ordeal.
"It ranges. The milder side can be light-headedness, dizziness, tinnitus, circumoral numbness, abnormal taste, confusion and drowsiness." Feeling the need to fully inform her patient, she added: "More severe effects include convulsions, unconsciousness, coma, respiratory depression, and respiratory arrest."
"Merde." Gambit muttered to himself as he climbed onto the inclined table.
The supply room doors opened with a whisper as Annie returned. "Here you are, Dr. MacTaggert."
"Thank you, Annie." She responded, looking over the requested supplies before continuing the discussion with Gambit. "Local anesthesia toxicity could present as late as several hours after the last administered dose."
The fact remained unspoken that he would still be in the field or even in a Sentinel processing facility by that time. If something did happen, there would be no guarantee medical attention would be available.
"Are there any side effects from the surgery itself?" Storm asked on behalf of her friend.
"Yes. The technique is still experimental and the side effects aren't fully documented. Known cases have experienced temporarily blurred vision, a permanent blind spot, or a decrease in peripheral and night vision." Dr. MacTaggert answered.
"Not like seein's all that important anyway, hein?" He sarcastically joked as she held a small light up to his eyes.
Knowing the opposite was true and he was putting his thieving skills at risk, Storm tried to find the positive. "But it would be minor, wouldn't it? He'd still be able to see for the most part."
The doctor hesitated before casting an earnest gaze on Gambit. "There is also a very small chance of retinal tearing or detachment. If tearing occurs, you'll see a bright flash of light or several cobweb-like floaters in your vision. If enough vitreous fluid leaks from the tear, a detachment could occur and lead to permanent blindness if not treated within two to three days."
"Damne si je le fais, damne si je ne." Gambit realized, his face twisting into a grimace.
"I'll give you some time to think it over." She said as she went over to prep herself for the surgery should he decide to go forward with it.
There really wasn't a choice. He could refuse the implant and chance that the other X-Men would be able to track him through some other method. Of course, the first thing they did at Stryker's during processing was to send everyone through an electromagnetic pulse flux compression generator. It was a black ops weapon they were testing, using mutants as guinea pigs. It didn't interrupt the neural pathways like General Munson had hoped, but it did effectively destroy anything electronic. If the EMP disruptor was experimental in 1976, Essex no doubt had much more advanced technology now. And that wasn't even taking into consideration all of his mutant powers.
But the other option wasn't any better. If he went ahead with the implant, either the anesthesia or the side effects from the surgery could debilitate him in the field. Outside of everything going off without a hitch, the best case scenario was blurred vision and a little dizziness. Worst case was being captured and dying before he could provide enough information to rescue the others.
Gambit fidgeted as he thought things over. Never before had he been willing to lay down his life for someone else. Sure, there had been times when he'd done everything humanly possible, but to actually make that ultimate sacrifice had never even crossed his mind. He'd been on his own for too long. Why should he die for another person when no one was there to do the same for him?
Of course, that was before he'd met Rogue. As much as he wanted to deny that she'd changed his life, the impact she'd made meant that he could never go back to the lonesome wanderer. He had family here, even if they weren't related by blood. And he finally understood why Xavier was willing to die to protect the Institute.
It didn't just represent peace between humans and mutants. What it represented was different to everyone who crossed its thresholds. For Storm, it was a place to make a difference so that other children wouldn't have to scrounge on the streets for scraps. For Rogue, it was the safe haven that took her in when she had nowhere left to turn. And for Gambit, it was home so long as Rogue was here. If she ceased to exist, even Storm couldn't keep him tied to the empty shell.
And he'd do anything to keep Rogue alive, even if it meant giving up his own life in the process.
His mind made up, Gambit called to Dr. MacTaggert. "Do it."
Finishing up, she came back to prep him as well. With a gentle nudge, she indicated he should lie back against the inclined table.
"I'm concerned about giving you too much anesthesia, so I'll only increase the dose a little. It will cut down on what you feel, but I can't guarantee that it won't be painful." Dr. MacTaggert explained. "Once I start, I won't be able to stop without finishing the procedure."
He nodded, understanding the commitment. "Sooner y' start, sooner it's over, Doc."
"I'll insert the hearing implants first. After that, I'll need to restrain your head and eyelids. You can't blink during the epirental procedure." Dr. MacTaggert said.
Picking up a handheld trigger device with a long, thin barrel, she attached the soft yellow implant to the end. Gambit tensed as she approached his ear and tugged on the shell to get a better angle. The foam like substance brushed against his ear canal. After a little adjustment, she depressed the trigger and pulled the tool away. Dr. MacTaggert walked around to the other side and repeated the process.
"How does that feel?" She asked after she walked over to one of the lab's laptops and put on a pair of headphones.
"Like I got cotton in my ears." Gambit answered, flexing his jaw as he tried to pop his ears.
"That feeling will subside soon." Satisfied with the auditory check, she removed the headset and returned to his side. As she prepped the local anesthetic, she reminded him: "Tell me if you're in too much pain. I'll do what I can."
With his jaw locked, he agreed, "Ça va."
Dr. MacTaggert paused, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You must relax. It'll only hurt more if you're tense."
"I'm here, Remy." Storm grabbed one of his hands in both of hers, offering him a squeeze of support.
After the restraining strap was in place, he didn't know how he was ever going to relax. Instead, he concentrated on fighting off the flashbacks that threatened to send him into a panic and call the whole thing off. The wire speculums and anesthetic gel drops only added to his anxiety.
Waiting the short time needed for the gel to take effect, Dr. MacTaggert picked up a long, thin needed. "Since I'm going to make a small incision on your eye, I'm going to inject additional anesthesia now. If the gel didn't work, you'll feel a big pinch and a burning sensation."
At first, everything felt fine. But as Dr. MacTaggert proceeded with the incisions, the pain started to increase. Gambit gritted his teeth, forcing his eyes to stay put instead of roll back into his head.
"How are you doing?" She asked, pausing before inserting the implants.
"Been better." He tried to keep the pain out of his voice.
"With the incisions, I can't use the gel but I can give you another injection. You'll definitely feel it this time. And I'm far enough into the procedure that I won't be able to give you another shot." Dr. MacTaggert warned.
Needing to know how much worse it was going to get, Gambit asked, "What's left?"
"I have to insert the implant and then inject the fibrin glue." She answered.
With the anesthesia already wearing off, he didn't think he could make it through the pain without passing out. And he needed to be conscious so he could leave on the mission as soon as she gave the all clear.
"Gimme de shot then." He said.
As promised, there was an uncomfortable pinching at his eye as if a little vice was squeezing it. Then the burning started. Gambit focused his tension into his right fist, not wanting to hurt Storm's hands which gently clasped his left. His nails bit into the flesh of his palm but didn't break the skin.
"You're doing great, Remy." Storm tried to encourage him.
The pain barely subsided, but it was enough to only feel a slight tugging sensation as Dr. MacTaggert inserted the implant in his right eye. By the time she got to the left, the medicine had completely worn off. There was an intense tearing sensation, as if someone had ripped the skin off his arm and shoved Kleenex against the exposed tissues.
Despite his best efforts, a tortured cry rose from deep in his chest and through his gritted teeth. His whole body tensed, fighting the urge not to writhe in agony.
"I'm almost finished." Dr. MacTaggert tried to calm him, but her words were lost in the haze of pain.
As she injected the glue, the pressure in his eye increased. Gambit swore under his breath, sure that the additional fluid would cause his eye to burst. After she finished the second injection, the pressure subsided only to feel like cotton had been wadded around his eyes. Finished with the procedure, she swabbed antibiotic into his still restrained eyes. Though the action irritated the sensitive area, the gel itself was actually soothing.
Carefully, Dr. MacTaggert removed the speculum and head restraint, allowing Gambit to slump down on the table. She lowered the incline so he would be at a more relaxed angle. A cool gel compress helped to further alleviate the pain.
"I want you to stay put for the next half hour. Then we'll test the implants. It will give the others time to check the equipment and suit up." She instructed him before turning to Storm. "Would you please get his gear? I want him resting until the last possible minute. He can change in the Blackbird."
Though she'd spoken to him, Gambit was on the edge of delirium and hadn't really comprehended what she'd said. All he really wanted to do was sleep for days, but the thought of Rogue trapped in some cell like the one at Stryker's kept him barely conscious. Instead, he lolled his head to the side as he let his body turn to jello. The next thirty minutes would seem impossibly too short.
(X)
Damne si je le fais, damne si je ne. – Damned if I do, damned if I don't.
Ça va - Ok