Chapter 52: Seeing Magenta
Gambit walked out of the danger room and wiped the sweat from his brow. As he headed down the hallway he thought he heard a bang behind him. He paused, and turned around to see that the door handle to the girls change room was no more. Weird. If he didn't know better he'd say he charged it, but he had to touch things in order to charge them and he hadn't touched that at all.
Gambit scratched his head as he walked back and inspected the damage. It would need to be replaced. He shrugged and continued back to his room. He'd shower, change and then come back to take care of it.
"You wanted to see me?" Emma said as she walked into the med lab.
"Ahh, yes Emma," Hank greeted her. "I believe you are aware of Pyro's recent visit to Xavier's?"
"Yes, of course," Emma replied as she join him at the desk. "What about it?"
"Pyro informed us that their speciality products were based off mutant DNA. As we already had a sample of the Mentis Compesco, I took the liberty of testing it for that DNA sample, which I was able to find. Emma," Hank said seriously, "I was very surprised to find that we had a partial match in the database. You."
"What do you mean a partial match?" Emma questioned.
"The DNA strand I found shares enough common attributes with your DNA, to lead me to believe that the mutant being harvested is a relative," Hank told her, "perhaps a sibling with identical powers?"
"No," Emma shook her head. "My sister—half sister, to be technical—was capable of tactile hypnosis. She died twenty years ago. Could the DNA sample match another relative, say perhaps, that of a child?"
"Yes, of course, that was actually my first thought, but I wasn't aware you ever had children," Hank replied.
"I haven't," Emma answered tersely. "But when Stryker took mutants in, they first went through 'processing', where all sorts of samples were taken, including ova or sperm as the case may be."
"Ahh."
"When Remy escaped, he made sure to destroy the DNA lab on his way out, which served a dual purpose of both destroying the samples of him, and providing a distraction. Of course, that meant the rest of us had to go through processing for a second time," Emma said darkly. "What they did with the samples I do not know, but this recent...find of yours suggests that at least some of the samples survived the destruction, whether they are the first or the second... batch."
"I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news," Hank said quietly.
"Not at all Hank," Emma dismissed. "I was trapped down there for years with all too much exposure to the more technical details of what they were doing to us. I have been aware of this possibility for years. I have also suspected that the Mentis Compesco was a result of experimentation on me although..."
"Yes?"
"To my knowledge, Stryker was never aware of my telepathic abilities," Emma said wryly. "He was always far more interested in my secondary mutation. However, if I do have...a child...clone children, according to Pyro, they may not have been aware of my telepathic abilities until they manifested in...my offspring. Let's see: They'd be twenty at the very least by now, and Mentis Compesco has only been around for the last four years or so. If we assume my child manifested at the same age I did, it is feasible, especially if they had already been experimenting with imprinting mutant abilities temporarily on others."
"It does make one wonder, however, if they already knew how to do it, why go after Worthington Labs?" Hank considered.
"Perhaps one of the scientists previously worked for Stryfe?" Emma suggested. "Although they hardly strike me as the time to just let valuable information slip through their fingers."
"I would agree. However, it's also likely that Styfe's procedure and Worthington's were different. Worthington did also explore the possibility of finding a way to make the Cure without requiring Jimmy. That would no doubt be of value to Stryfe. Then too, Worthington would also have access to information about Jimmy."
"A valuable commodity in itself," Emma said dryly and was interrupted from saying more by a beep which sent Hank tapping away at the computer. "What is it?"
"I've been getting strange readings from Gambit's power monitor," Hank replied, paused and pulled up a certain screen, to which he pointed. "See that flare, right there? They've been happening at increasing intervals. Perhaps you may be able to find out. You see, they appear to be psionic in nature and he has flares just like them right after he releases a charge, only this time there's been no transfer of kinetic energy beforehand. Observe."
Hank pulled up another screen.
"You see the red here? That's the kinetic energy in his system. That yellow area indicates a transfer and that flare just a moment after the transfer occurs I believe is what causes the charge to explode," Hank explained. "I have compared it to one of his sessions in the danger room to confirm the phenomenon. However, I have been unable to find the meaning of a flare with no transference."
Emma nodded slowly.
"Has anyone thought to tell you about Remy's secondary mutation?" she asked.
"Yes," Hank replied and changed to another screen. "Storm informed me when the subject of monitoring Remy's mutation activity first came up. His 'hypnotic charm' operates on a different psionic frequency and this is it. As you can see there is a constant element combined with occasional spikes. These spikes occurred frequently when I first began monitoring, but have been few and far between since... mid-February."
"Interesting," Emma considered. "Remy has a constant, low-level psionic field around his mind which grants him mind sensitivity, and when his charm is activated he sends out pulses. I imagine those spikes measure those pulses. Unfortunately, he has no way of knowing when he is using this power unless he sets out to do so deliberately. Do you suppose it would be possible to ring his watch to send him an alert? It may prove to be a valuable tool for him."
"You'd have to talk to Forge, but I believe it may be possible," Hank replied.
"As for the other matter, I will look into it further next time I get into Remy's head. Unfortunately, at the speed at which he generates energy my investigations have to quick or I have a difficult time trying to get out again," Emma paused briefly, catching a stray thought from Hank. "Is there something I should know, Hank?"
Hank hesitated, and finally pulled up a graph on the screen.
"Remy has to sleep," Hank said. "It's true that he only requires four hours, but his body still needs to rest just like everyone else, with the known exception of Jones."
"Whom we haven't yet managed to explain yet," Emma observed.
"Indeed. Now, as Remy uses up very little energy during his sleep—so little it barely registers—his powers levels peak shortly before he wakes up. We began monitoring him in January, as you know and this is where his peak levels were falling. Four months later and they're up here. Now, I know that the incline doesn't appear to be much—"
"They've risen that much after only four mouths?" Emma exclaimed, cutting Hank off. "That's obscene."
Hank sighed, relieved he was talking to someone who could appreciate what they were seeing (or alternatively, reading his thoughts on the matter, but the end was the same).
"Indeed," Hank said gravely and pressed a few more buttons, pulling up a larger graph that exchanged the black line for a red one after today's date. "According to my projections, based on Remy's current progression and the average rate of progression for mutant development, this will be his power level by the time he hits 25."
Emma spread her hands and frowned at the screen. "Where'd the red line go? It disappears off the screen at 22—oh! You can't be serious!"
"I'm afraid so," Hank replied. "Even if it turns out he's going through a rapid growth spurt at the moment, his power levels will still go off the charts by 24."
"Class five?" Emma said, catching another stray thought. "Remy LeBeau is a class five mutant?"
Hank let out a long, slow breath.
"Yes, Emma," he confirmed. "My readings indicate that Remy is indeed capable of class five power levels, although it will be a few years before he technically reaches that point. Which makes it all the more imperative that he gains control."
"Well we certainly don't want a repeat of Alcatraz," Emma muttered. "These flares you mentioned, have they ever happened in the danger room?"
"Now that you ask the question, I don't know," Hank replied slowly. "I did set the alarm to let me know when a flare lacking a preceding transfer occurred, but I'm not usually in here when Remy does his more intense sessions in the danger room. His session during the day is while I'm teaching. Additionally, with all the transference that occurs in there, finding these particular flares would be much like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. Still it does bear further investigation."
"I'll let you know what I find out on my end," Emma said. "But in the meantime, I suggest we never speak the words 'class five' anywhere near Remy. His ego is quite big enough as it is."
Rogue was reading in bed when something heavy pounced on her. Someone rather, and she knew it was a pouncing because the pouncer felt the need to shout "Pounce!" while his arms and legs landed either side of her body.
"Yah!" Rogue yelled in surprise.
Gambit laughed lightly and Rogue lifted her head back to look at him.
"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" she asked disgustedly.
"Non," he replied with a grin. "Whatcha reading? Dirty magazines?"
"Motorcycle magazine," Rogue corrected. "And it's only dirty if you're—ahem, if the reader—is attracted to scantily clad women straddling motorcycles. Or if you're sexually attracted to motorcycles."
Gambit laughed.
"You know me far too well," he said as he finally rolled off her.
"Sad, isn't it?" she replied and winked at him.
Gambit propped himself up on his elbow and used his free hand to trace patterns on Rogue's back through the sheets. He made sure to steer clear of her shoulders and arms which were bare and exposed.
"By the way," Rogue went on, "did you at least lock my bedroom door again after you picked it?"
"Oui," he grinned at her. "No one gets to see naked Roguey 'cept me."
"Ha, you're lucky you're getting to see this much of my skin right now, Swamp Rat," Rogue retorted.
"You can run but you can't hide," Gambit joked. "Ahh, Roguey, the things I plan on doing with you when you get your powers under control."
Rogue snickered, set her magazine aside and turned to look at him.
"Speaking of which," Gambit went on, his fingers moving to her waist by default, "how are things going on that end? Does it look like Emma's theory about David's psyche is correct yet?"
"Uh huh," Rogue replied with a nod. "Emma says that part of my mind has grown beyond the bounds Professor Xavier saw. She wants me to ride out the rest of the growth spurt before we start experimenting."
"Any idea how long that'll take?"
Rogue sighed.
"Chère?" Gambit questioned.
"Emma... Emma doesn't want me to start experimenting until next year."
"Oh."
"I mean, I've gone years without touching people before right?" Rogue said. "I should be able to manage another one, y'know, especially if it means I'll be able to continue touching people."
There was silence for a moment.
"This year's almost half over," Gambit commented.
"Yeah," Rogue giggled. "And the second half of the year always feels like it goes faster than the first half."
"Absolument," he agreed cheerfully.
He sat up and for just a moment his eyes flickered towards Rogue's magazine as he resettled himself on the bed. He didn't have a chance of getting both his hands on Rogue (through the bed covers, of course) before there was a bang.
"Hell!" Rogue exclaimed, grabbing hold of her magazine and attempting to get the small signs of fire out before it had a chance to spread. "Remy!"
"I never touched it!" Gambit objected, throwing his hands up in the air. "I just looked at it."
Rogue and Gambit looked at each other.
"Merde," Gambit hissed.
"I, uhh, guess I know what you'll be doing in the DR tonight," Rogue said tentatively.
Gambit buried his face in his hands.
"I don't need this," he muttered. "I should have figured it out earlier. I've been fixing things that have 'mysteriously' broken when I've walked past. But nooo I couldn't be responsible 'cause I didn't touch the stupid things."
"Well—not to sound like I'm picking on you, 'cause I'm not—but didn't you feel the charge?" Rogue asked, then answered her own question: "What am I saying? All the times you've slipped you haven't felt it."
"The charge is too light," Gambit said in annoyance as he looked up. "It's like taking a drop of water out of the ocean."
Rogue tried not to wince when she heard another bang behind her. Gambit growled in frustration.
"Désolé," he said shortly as he got up off the bed. "I'll pay for that, and I'll get you a new magazine too. Latest issue?"
"Yeah," Rogue confirmed and then added as Gambit approached her door: "Remy?"
"Oui?" he asked with his hand on the door knob.
"You're going to get this," she told him firmly. "Whatever happens, you're going to get control, and I'm going to be there with you every step of the way."
Gambit smiled, hearing his own words being repeated back to him.
"I love you too, Roguey."
"Computer:" Gambit said once in the danger room, "Run program Disc Flight, level...one."
The room shifted only slightly and a single disc appeared. It flew around the room casually. Gambit looked at it, there was a brief flash of magenta light, and then it exploded.
"Computer: Increase to level deux."
Five discs appeared in the air, flying around slightly faster than before. Gambit only had to look at each on in turn for them to explode. The targets were small enough that the only reason why he noticed the use of energy was because he was feeling out for it.
"Computer: Increase to level cinq."
Gambit wasn't sure how many of the discs were in the air, and they were all flying around a lot faster. He turned on his heel and blew up almost all of them in one simple rotation. As he was picking off the stragglers, he heard the intercom crackle.
"Remy? Are you by chance in the danger room?" came Hank's voice.
"Oui, Hank," Gambit replied. "What can I do for you?"
"I've been getting some strange readings from your watch," Hank reported. "May I ask what it is you're doing?"
"I'm blowing stuff up," he responded, paused and finally added ruefully: "Just by looking at it."
There was a moment's pause, then "I see."
"Do we have anything better than this 'Disc Flight' program?" Gambit asked. "I feel like I'm the world champion weight lifter trying to do a workout with peas."
"Ahh, so there's minimal energy transference then?" Hank asked, almost sounding excited.
"You could say that," Gambit confirmed.
"That explains things then. We've been recording a number of instances where there was the psionic trigger indicting something had exploded, but no energy transference had been registered. If the amount of energy you're using is less than the amount of energy you're generating at that moment, then it may not pick up on it."
"I'm sure that's fascinating, Hank."
"Oh right. Larger targets then?"
"Oui."
"Hmm, I believe Scott once programmed 'Space Invaders'," Hank replied. "Alternatively—"
"The danger room can convert computer games?" Gambit queried. "Awesome. Computer: Stop current program and run Space Invaders."
"Identify level," said the computer.
"Oh I don't know. Level...cinq for starters."
Gambit grinned as Space Invader style goons appeared in all directions on the ground. They were much larger than the pathetic little discs and Gambit rubbed his hands together eagerly.
"Five..." said the computer.
"Oh fun, countdown," Gambit said gleefully.
"Four... Three..."
"I'll keep monitoring, if you don't mind?" Hank asked.
"Two..."
"Yeah, yeah, sure, sure," Gambit replied.
"One..."
The invaders began to move. Gambit started picking off the invaders, doing a 360 to take out the first row and then another 360 in the next direction to take out the next.
In the med lab, Hank watched with interest as multiple flares appeared on the readouts right on top of each other. Trying to match the flares with the transference notes was pretty much impossible for the same reason. He pressed a couple of buttons and pulled up the video footage of Gambit's current session so he could watch that as well.
"Computer: Increase to level seven," Gambit said.
Hank watched as two more bands of invaders appeared, these ones suspended in the air.
"Cool," Gambit said.
Later Hank would replay parts of the danger room session on slow because Gambit only had to glance at an Invader for a second for it to explode. At that, he seemed capable of blowing up multiple targets at once, each explosion triggering another flare. The readout on Gambit's energy levels started to creep down.
"Computer: Increase to level ten."
"Are you sure that's wise, Remy?" Hank asked.
"Oui," Gambit replied cheerfully. "Otherwise I'm going to be in here all night."
On level ten, the room was full with two layers of invaders in every direction, moving towards Gambit at high speed. Hank didn't even bother looking at the readouts any more; he was far too busy trying to make Gambit out within a fog of magenta and two layers of space invaders.
Hank checked the clock, knowing that the speed would only increase and continued to increase until Gambit stopped it, or one of the space invaders finally touched him. New invaders started entering the scene, faster and faster until they were nothing but a blur. Just when Hank was thinking the invaders didn't stand a chance:
"Game Over," announced the computer and read out Gambit's final score.
Hank listened to Gambit cheering when he was done.
"Okay," Gambit said. "That was awesome! Not nearly as satisfactory as doing it physically, but still fun!"
Hank chuckled, partly in amusement, partly in nervousness.
"Okay, well then," Gambit went on. "I guess I'd better start the real work out. Hanging around Hank?"
"As tempted as I am to say 'yes', I was on my way out when my alarm alerted me to your activity," Hank replied. "And now that I can explain that, I can disable that alert."
Gambit chuckled.
"I'm definitely going to have to play Space Invaders again," he decided. "I wonder if I can beat my high score?"
