Title: Relative Motion
Author: Monica
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Remy story with original character, a little action, still no romance, more sap.
Archive: Feel free, but please let me know where it's going.
Feedback: Can be sent to brattax23@hotmail.com. Please put title in subject line. (FB: [title here])
Disclaimer: The X-Men and their villains belong to Marvel, but everyone else is mine. No money is
being made, this is purely for entertainment purposes. Poor college student, so please don't sue.
Notes: My first fanfic, so please be nice. Thanks to Kitty for beta-ing and helping me with that dreaded
accent and title. Thanks to Vanessa for keeping me motivated.
Ruby woke up, stripped down to her underwear, and jumped into the frigid water. The day was warm and the water felt good on her tired skin. Scrubbing with the soap she found in the cabin, she made quick work of her makeshift bath and just let the water lap over her. Down the way, she noticed kids around her age playing in the water. She wished she knew what it felt like to not have to worry all the time. She wanted to be.normal.
She managed to pull herself out of the water when she noticed her fingers were getting shriveled. Upon entering the cabin, she noticed that fresh clothing had been laid out for her. Glancing around to make sure she was alone, she changed quickly. She had just finished when the door opened.
"Ready t' eat, petite?"
"I'm not hungry." Ruby really didn't want to see anybody yet. Remy looked at her skeptically. There hadn't been a meal she hadn't wolfed down.
"C'mon. We'll go out t'night." Ruby pulled back at the offered hand. He grinned a cocky smile that made Ruby want to hit him. She defiantly placed her hand in his.
"I don't know why I gotta dress like this. We're just gonna eat," Ruby grumbled. She stared at the dress and shoes, wrinkling her nose.
"Yes, petite, but we're goin' t' go out wit' style. Stop whinin' an' get dressed!" Remy was dressed from head to toe in black. Black slacks that presented his lovely tush to admiring females, black dress shirt that stretched across his frame, and a black leather jacket. He looked dark and dashing. Ruby thought it was ridiculous.
Remy borrowed a red dress from Jubilee. Ruby dressed in record time, frowning, as Remy looked her over. It was a little big and hung awkwardly on her thin frame, but it worked for what he had planned.
"Ya look good in a dress, petite." She hit him.
"Can we just go now?" Ruby looked at the motorcycle. "You get me dressed up to go out on a motorcycle? Real classy."
She approached the bike hesitantly. "I don't know about this." Remy grinned and pulled her on. She squealed with pleasure as they took off down the road at 80 mph.
"Where is Gambit?" Scott asked irritably, "He should have been here with Ruby by now."
"I am not picking up a trace of him in the vicinity," Professor Xavier said. "I will try to contact him with his communicator."
Gambit, where are you?
"Me an' Ruby be in Soho, takin' dinner. Can't talk now. Bye"
Gambit! Gambit!!
"He and Ruby are in New York City." Charles Xavier shook his head in disbelief.
"How are we supposed to look out for them if they run off? How typically like Gambit," Scott said. "Do we go after them, Professor?"
"No, Scott. We will wait and see what happens."
The band played a slow, smooth tune as Ruby was picking at her grilled salmon.
"I'm pretty sure it's dead, petite," Remy said, amused at her scathing glare. He was relaxed, letting the atmosphere work its magic on his soul. Ruby was miserable. She kept glancing over her shoulder, looking for someone to attack them. He didn't know why he brought her out here. He had wanted to talk to her about what they were going to do about her situation, but she wasn't in a very talkative mood.
"Listen, I already agreed to let you help me. I would cooperate, save both your life and mine, then be on my way," Ruby said, shoving a mound of fish into her mouth. "You didn't have to bring me out here to try to butter me up. As soon as we're sure they won't kill me.or you.you'll never see me again. Promise."
Remy shot her an irritated look, but said nothing. 'I've gotten used t' dealing wit' women who'll do anyt'ing for an accent.'
They rode back to the mansion in silence. It was an uncomfortable silence, as neither wanted to talk about the past day's events.
The team was waiting for them as they tried to get in silently.
"Did you enjoy your little excursion?" Scott said grimly. Ruby saw the collective expression of the group and unconsciously moved closer to Remy. She had been in trouble many times, and knew only pain came of it.
"Actually, Cyke, dere's nothing like good food, good company and good atmosphere. Did y' miss us?" Gambit was sarcastic since his evening hadn't gone as planned and now he had returned home only to get lectured. Ruby was bracing herself for an attack. Gambit glanced at her questioningly as he put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him and was confused by the nonchalant air he had, but she remained tense and ready for anything.
"Gambit, you know we had plans for this evening. I'd like to speak to you privately." Professor X turned and left, knowing that Remy wouldn't be far behind. Ruby followed him, dread written across her face.
"What's wrong, petite? You not in trouble," he said as he looked down at her pale face. "Follow Stormy upstairs, and she'll get y' settled, d'accord?"
Ruby looked uncertain, but Remy gently pushed her towards the beautiful African goddess. Storm glared at Remy for calling her "Stormy" then took Ruby upstairs. Ruby glanced behind her and saw Remy disappear into the professor's office. She mind-linked so she would know if he got into too much trouble, and she could come to help him as he had helped her. She was very skilled with her telepathy, so she was able to connect to Gambit without him knowing.
Professor didn't look too happy, and Gambit knew he has going to get a lecture.
"Gambit, you know that we needed you here tonight. I wanted to talk to Ruby about her pursuer and about the tests. I'm tired of your lack of respect for orders. How can you be part of a team if you don't listen? How do we trust you?" There it was again. The trust thing. Gambit was in no mood to listen to the same old story.
"The truth is dat I didn' t'ink Ruby was up for the group interrogation t'night. I didn' t'ink y' would mind t' much," Gambit said lightly, exuding charm with every syllable.
The professor wasn't moved by this selfless act of kindness from the resident Cajun. He gave him kitchen duty for the next three weeks.
Storm looked down at Ruby. She remembered the time when she had been much like this girl in front of her. Regressed to a child by the evil villain, Nanny, she had met Gambit. He got her out of a jam with the Shadow King, and they stuck together until they ran into the X-Men. She rejoined the team, and Gambit had stuck around. Storm had a special place in her heart for the cocky thief. She got out some extra sweats, a toothbrush and a towel and handed them to Ruby. Ruby seemed distracted, but she managed to murmur her thanks.
"Do you need anything else, child?" Storm was observing the girl who had tried to kill her "brother". She didn't look like a trained killer, but then they rarely did in Storm's experience. Ruby shook her head, and began to change. Storm inhaled sharply at the sight of Ruby's back.
Fine white lines stood out sharply, telling the story of a life's worth of abuse. There were scars all over her back and stomach, but nothing that would be visible when fully dressed. Sensing her pity and horror, Ruby quickly pulled her shirt over her head, and glared at Storm, daring her to say a word. Ororo got the message, blandly explaining when breakfast would be ready and wishing her goodnight.
Remy was cursing under his breath in French as he left Professor Xavier's office. Hearing a crash upstairs, he looked up and watched Ruby leap from the top of the stairs. Following closely behind her was Rogue. He grabbed Ruby around the waist, and then quickly pushed her behind him in case she pissed Rogue off. You don't ever want to get someone who can throw a car at you mad.
"What's goin' on?"
"Nothing," Ruby proclaimed, her eyes wide.
"She was goin' through my stuff!" Rogue's emerald eyes glittered dangerously.
"Back off. I was not. I was just checking to see if your window was barred shut like mine!" Ruby turned to Remy, eyes red with her anger. "I don't like feeling like I'm sort of prisoner here! I want it fixed now or the deal is off! I can't -." This time Ruby was cut off as Gambit covered her mouth with his hand. He rolled his eyes at Rogue as Ruby began struggling.
"Calm down, petite. Remy will fix this," he spoke in soothing tones that seemed to work instantly. Ruby stopped struggling and her eyes turned back to their normal gray. She stood completely still and leaned against him.
"Ah probably shouldn't have, uh, jumped to conclusions," Rogue said, a little guiltily. She looked at Ruby, who was standing there, docile as a kitten. "What did ya do to her, Remy?"
He grinned guiltily. "I jus' persuaded her t' calm down. She's fine. I'll take her upstairs."
Ruby looked up at him and gifted him with a beatific smile.
Ruby awoke slowly. The light filtered in through the open window, and there were faint sounds coming from downstairs. She remembered where she was, and smiled. The bed was comfortable, and she had her own room. This was too good to be true.
"Ruby?" a voice from the comm. unit on the wall hissed softly.
"Yes?"
"Breakfast is on the table in a half hour. Clothes are in the drawers; bathroom necessities are under the nightstand."
"Okay. Thanks." It felt weird talking to a wall. Ruby quickly got ready and started down the stairs. Something felt weird, but she brushed it off as nervousness. This was too bad because Ruby's instincts have never failed her before.
The mansion was attacked at breakfast, and this time, the security systems went off.
"We've got company. Friends of yours?" Scott asked wryly. Ruby had frozen on the bottom step. A feeling of terror overwhelmed her.
"They've come for me," Ruby said to the closest person, who happened to be Wolverine. She thought her voice came out very calm. He thought it sounded like she swallowed an axe.
"Well, let's make them welcome," he said grimly, extending his claws with a SNIKT. The rest of the mansion's inhabitants were milling around the kitchen. When the alarms went off, they immediately fell into battle mode, which had been ingrained into their reactions. Remy leaped over the kitchen table and dragged Ruby into a room. There was a huge screen on the wall, and several smaller screens surrounding it.
"Dis is the surveillance room. I wan' y' to stay here. Tell us telepat'ically where dey are, and stay here!"
"But."
"I mean it, Ruby." With that, he was gone, a pair of playing cards glowing from his hand.
She watched the invaders coming up the main drive, from the docks, and from the Morlock tunnels. She relayed the information dutifully. She knew that it didn't matter where they stashed her, she would eventually be found.
"Did you miss me?" Quickblade said with an evil grin on his face. The door was in pieces. His huge frame filled the doorway. He was the one who taught Ruby the art of knife throwing.
"Not really." If she played her cards right, she could hold him off until back up came.
"You know how this is going to end, don't you dear?" Ruby shivered. No matter how powerful Ruby was she knew she was no match for him. Still, she wasn't going to give up without a fight. As she set up in defensive position, she yelled, HELP! She hoped someone would reach her in time, but the screens showed that everyone was occupied. She reverted back to her instincts for survival.
Using her telekinesis, she created a shield of sorts to stop the blades the enemy was sending her way. As the knives hit her shield, Ruby's strength wavered considerably. 'Shoulda slept last night instead of hot-wiring the motorcycle for a joyride.' Quickblade knew every move that Ruby was going to make since he had molded her skill from the very beginning. He was just toying with her, waiting for his leader to show up. Ruby had furrowed her brow, doing her best to keep her defenses up.
"Hey!" Ruby whirled around to confront the new enemy. Bad move. A searing pain shot through her shoulder and then another through her side. It was too much for the battle-worn Ruby, and she collapsed into a graceless heap.
As she slowly regained consciousness, she saw the Kennedy's beautiful face staring down at her. She let out an unladylike grunt when she tried to get up.
"What has happened to you? You used to be tough, not given to weak actions like fainting." Her mentor had a disdaining look on her face. "I need to whip you back into shape. That is, if you live through this. At this pace, I don't think your chances are looking very good." She had a firm grip on the girl's arm, which she twisted behind her back in order to lift her to a standing position. Ruby managed to contain her cry. Blood was seeping out of the wounds in her shoulder and side.
"Now there ain't any need to discourage the girl. It looks like her chances have just improved." Logan's grin was menacing as he released his claws. Gambit ignored the woman, and stared at Ruby. She nodded once that she was okay, and he relaxed.
"Tsk, tsk. I didn't want to get in a big fight. All I wanted to do was kill LeBeau and the child and get on with things."
"Why did you want to kill me? I was great at what I did!" Ruby asked, confused.
"It was part of the deal. Wipe out Gambit and everyone related to him. For this, I am getting highly compensated. Enough talk. " With a swipe of her hand and a POOF, she was gone. She took Ruby with her.
When they reappeared, it was in a lab filled with machines. Ruby was a little dizzy from the teleporting, but her anger took precedence.
"You didn't kill him! He was right there! What is the purpose of that? All you have is me, which is what you had in the first place!" Ruby yelled. "And now I'm hurt and bleeding all over the place. You accomplished nothing!"
"Shut up you little fool! I can make use of you, which is the only reason you are still alive so don't tempt me." Both of the females tensed at the sound of someone approaching.
"Ah, you saved the ungrateful wretch from the bad, evil X-Men."
Ruby froze at the unfamiliar voice. It was dripping with sarcasm, and held an underlying warning tone. Upon hearing it, there was only one word that echoed in her mind . . .
"Sinister!" Remy felt a tug of dread as he said the word that was stark in his mind. He was shuffling a deck of cards, trying to abate the sense of unease that mired him in despair. All the while, he was telling himself that this worry of his was senseless. He didn't really know Ruby, he didn't have some secret connection to her like some of his teammates speculated. Still, there was this feeling like he was missing something, and he didn't like that at all.
"Sinister? That was not his regular brood of assailants. Are you sure?" Storm asked. The X-Men gathered in the War Room to decide on the next course of action. Amazingly, the mansion was left intact and there were none wounded so they were able to quickly move to the next phase of battle.
"I'm sure." Remy sank further down into his chair. He was mad at himself for letting Ruby go, and now things had just turned worse. His red eyes glowed with his frustration.
"How do you know, Gambit? It could have been anyone. This is not Sinister's MO." Cyclops was disturbed. How did they know exactly how to attack them? How did they get past the mansion's automated defenses?
"I just have dis feeling. She was wrong, though. He didn' wan' t' kill her or me. He had plenty o' chances."
"What did he want then?"
"I don' know."
Sinister paced his lab. His anger was simmering, and in a rare show of emotion he struck out at the person closest. Quickblade screamed as the bones in his hand began to splinter as Sinister used his powers to crush him.
"Why is there only one of them when I specifically ordered both LeBeau and the girl to be here."
"Sir, he was surrounded by the X-Men. Both Scandal and Kimoto were occupied with Cyclops, Bishop, and Iceman. I was barely able to grab the girl and leave," Kennedy said, backing away from her boss.
"Well, we will have to extend an invitation to young Remy LeBeau, won't we?" He then turned to Ruby. "It's nice to have you back, child. Why didn't you bring your big brother?"
Ruby had been contained with metal handcuffs behind her back and a Genoshan collar to inhibit her powers. Still in pain from the attack, she didn't try very hard to get away because she doubted she'd get very far in her condition.
Ruby stared at him, her eyes black with fear. She spoke slowly, trying to gain some remnants of her dignity. "He is not my brother. I've never been here before, and I don't know you."
"Trust me. That will all change." He walked towards her with a syringe in his hand. "Don't worry, this will make everything just fine."
Author: Monica
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Remy story with original character, a little action, still no romance, more sap.
Archive: Feel free, but please let me know where it's going.
Feedback: Can be sent to brattax23@hotmail.com. Please put title in subject line. (FB: [title here])
Disclaimer: The X-Men and their villains belong to Marvel, but everyone else is mine. No money is
being made, this is purely for entertainment purposes. Poor college student, so please don't sue.
Notes: My first fanfic, so please be nice. Thanks to Kitty for beta-ing and helping me with that dreaded
accent and title. Thanks to Vanessa for keeping me motivated.
Ruby woke up, stripped down to her underwear, and jumped into the frigid water. The day was warm and the water felt good on her tired skin. Scrubbing with the soap she found in the cabin, she made quick work of her makeshift bath and just let the water lap over her. Down the way, she noticed kids around her age playing in the water. She wished she knew what it felt like to not have to worry all the time. She wanted to be.normal.
She managed to pull herself out of the water when she noticed her fingers were getting shriveled. Upon entering the cabin, she noticed that fresh clothing had been laid out for her. Glancing around to make sure she was alone, she changed quickly. She had just finished when the door opened.
"Ready t' eat, petite?"
"I'm not hungry." Ruby really didn't want to see anybody yet. Remy looked at her skeptically. There hadn't been a meal she hadn't wolfed down.
"C'mon. We'll go out t'night." Ruby pulled back at the offered hand. He grinned a cocky smile that made Ruby want to hit him. She defiantly placed her hand in his.
"I don't know why I gotta dress like this. We're just gonna eat," Ruby grumbled. She stared at the dress and shoes, wrinkling her nose.
"Yes, petite, but we're goin' t' go out wit' style. Stop whinin' an' get dressed!" Remy was dressed from head to toe in black. Black slacks that presented his lovely tush to admiring females, black dress shirt that stretched across his frame, and a black leather jacket. He looked dark and dashing. Ruby thought it was ridiculous.
Remy borrowed a red dress from Jubilee. Ruby dressed in record time, frowning, as Remy looked her over. It was a little big and hung awkwardly on her thin frame, but it worked for what he had planned.
"Ya look good in a dress, petite." She hit him.
"Can we just go now?" Ruby looked at the motorcycle. "You get me dressed up to go out on a motorcycle? Real classy."
She approached the bike hesitantly. "I don't know about this." Remy grinned and pulled her on. She squealed with pleasure as they took off down the road at 80 mph.
"Where is Gambit?" Scott asked irritably, "He should have been here with Ruby by now."
"I am not picking up a trace of him in the vicinity," Professor Xavier said. "I will try to contact him with his communicator."
Gambit, where are you?
"Me an' Ruby be in Soho, takin' dinner. Can't talk now. Bye"
Gambit! Gambit!!
"He and Ruby are in New York City." Charles Xavier shook his head in disbelief.
"How are we supposed to look out for them if they run off? How typically like Gambit," Scott said. "Do we go after them, Professor?"
"No, Scott. We will wait and see what happens."
The band played a slow, smooth tune as Ruby was picking at her grilled salmon.
"I'm pretty sure it's dead, petite," Remy said, amused at her scathing glare. He was relaxed, letting the atmosphere work its magic on his soul. Ruby was miserable. She kept glancing over her shoulder, looking for someone to attack them. He didn't know why he brought her out here. He had wanted to talk to her about what they were going to do about her situation, but she wasn't in a very talkative mood.
"Listen, I already agreed to let you help me. I would cooperate, save both your life and mine, then be on my way," Ruby said, shoving a mound of fish into her mouth. "You didn't have to bring me out here to try to butter me up. As soon as we're sure they won't kill me.or you.you'll never see me again. Promise."
Remy shot her an irritated look, but said nothing. 'I've gotten used t' dealing wit' women who'll do anyt'ing for an accent.'
They rode back to the mansion in silence. It was an uncomfortable silence, as neither wanted to talk about the past day's events.
The team was waiting for them as they tried to get in silently.
"Did you enjoy your little excursion?" Scott said grimly. Ruby saw the collective expression of the group and unconsciously moved closer to Remy. She had been in trouble many times, and knew only pain came of it.
"Actually, Cyke, dere's nothing like good food, good company and good atmosphere. Did y' miss us?" Gambit was sarcastic since his evening hadn't gone as planned and now he had returned home only to get lectured. Ruby was bracing herself for an attack. Gambit glanced at her questioningly as he put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him and was confused by the nonchalant air he had, but she remained tense and ready for anything.
"Gambit, you know we had plans for this evening. I'd like to speak to you privately." Professor X turned and left, knowing that Remy wouldn't be far behind. Ruby followed him, dread written across her face.
"What's wrong, petite? You not in trouble," he said as he looked down at her pale face. "Follow Stormy upstairs, and she'll get y' settled, d'accord?"
Ruby looked uncertain, but Remy gently pushed her towards the beautiful African goddess. Storm glared at Remy for calling her "Stormy" then took Ruby upstairs. Ruby glanced behind her and saw Remy disappear into the professor's office. She mind-linked so she would know if he got into too much trouble, and she could come to help him as he had helped her. She was very skilled with her telepathy, so she was able to connect to Gambit without him knowing.
Professor didn't look too happy, and Gambit knew he has going to get a lecture.
"Gambit, you know that we needed you here tonight. I wanted to talk to Ruby about her pursuer and about the tests. I'm tired of your lack of respect for orders. How can you be part of a team if you don't listen? How do we trust you?" There it was again. The trust thing. Gambit was in no mood to listen to the same old story.
"The truth is dat I didn' t'ink Ruby was up for the group interrogation t'night. I didn' t'ink y' would mind t' much," Gambit said lightly, exuding charm with every syllable.
The professor wasn't moved by this selfless act of kindness from the resident Cajun. He gave him kitchen duty for the next three weeks.
Storm looked down at Ruby. She remembered the time when she had been much like this girl in front of her. Regressed to a child by the evil villain, Nanny, she had met Gambit. He got her out of a jam with the Shadow King, and they stuck together until they ran into the X-Men. She rejoined the team, and Gambit had stuck around. Storm had a special place in her heart for the cocky thief. She got out some extra sweats, a toothbrush and a towel and handed them to Ruby. Ruby seemed distracted, but she managed to murmur her thanks.
"Do you need anything else, child?" Storm was observing the girl who had tried to kill her "brother". She didn't look like a trained killer, but then they rarely did in Storm's experience. Ruby shook her head, and began to change. Storm inhaled sharply at the sight of Ruby's back.
Fine white lines stood out sharply, telling the story of a life's worth of abuse. There were scars all over her back and stomach, but nothing that would be visible when fully dressed. Sensing her pity and horror, Ruby quickly pulled her shirt over her head, and glared at Storm, daring her to say a word. Ororo got the message, blandly explaining when breakfast would be ready and wishing her goodnight.
Remy was cursing under his breath in French as he left Professor Xavier's office. Hearing a crash upstairs, he looked up and watched Ruby leap from the top of the stairs. Following closely behind her was Rogue. He grabbed Ruby around the waist, and then quickly pushed her behind him in case she pissed Rogue off. You don't ever want to get someone who can throw a car at you mad.
"What's goin' on?"
"Nothing," Ruby proclaimed, her eyes wide.
"She was goin' through my stuff!" Rogue's emerald eyes glittered dangerously.
"Back off. I was not. I was just checking to see if your window was barred shut like mine!" Ruby turned to Remy, eyes red with her anger. "I don't like feeling like I'm sort of prisoner here! I want it fixed now or the deal is off! I can't -." This time Ruby was cut off as Gambit covered her mouth with his hand. He rolled his eyes at Rogue as Ruby began struggling.
"Calm down, petite. Remy will fix this," he spoke in soothing tones that seemed to work instantly. Ruby stopped struggling and her eyes turned back to their normal gray. She stood completely still and leaned against him.
"Ah probably shouldn't have, uh, jumped to conclusions," Rogue said, a little guiltily. She looked at Ruby, who was standing there, docile as a kitten. "What did ya do to her, Remy?"
He grinned guiltily. "I jus' persuaded her t' calm down. She's fine. I'll take her upstairs."
Ruby looked up at him and gifted him with a beatific smile.
Ruby awoke slowly. The light filtered in through the open window, and there were faint sounds coming from downstairs. She remembered where she was, and smiled. The bed was comfortable, and she had her own room. This was too good to be true.
"Ruby?" a voice from the comm. unit on the wall hissed softly.
"Yes?"
"Breakfast is on the table in a half hour. Clothes are in the drawers; bathroom necessities are under the nightstand."
"Okay. Thanks." It felt weird talking to a wall. Ruby quickly got ready and started down the stairs. Something felt weird, but she brushed it off as nervousness. This was too bad because Ruby's instincts have never failed her before.
The mansion was attacked at breakfast, and this time, the security systems went off.
"We've got company. Friends of yours?" Scott asked wryly. Ruby had frozen on the bottom step. A feeling of terror overwhelmed her.
"They've come for me," Ruby said to the closest person, who happened to be Wolverine. She thought her voice came out very calm. He thought it sounded like she swallowed an axe.
"Well, let's make them welcome," he said grimly, extending his claws with a SNIKT. The rest of the mansion's inhabitants were milling around the kitchen. When the alarms went off, they immediately fell into battle mode, which had been ingrained into their reactions. Remy leaped over the kitchen table and dragged Ruby into a room. There was a huge screen on the wall, and several smaller screens surrounding it.
"Dis is the surveillance room. I wan' y' to stay here. Tell us telepat'ically where dey are, and stay here!"
"But."
"I mean it, Ruby." With that, he was gone, a pair of playing cards glowing from his hand.
She watched the invaders coming up the main drive, from the docks, and from the Morlock tunnels. She relayed the information dutifully. She knew that it didn't matter where they stashed her, she would eventually be found.
"Did you miss me?" Quickblade said with an evil grin on his face. The door was in pieces. His huge frame filled the doorway. He was the one who taught Ruby the art of knife throwing.
"Not really." If she played her cards right, she could hold him off until back up came.
"You know how this is going to end, don't you dear?" Ruby shivered. No matter how powerful Ruby was she knew she was no match for him. Still, she wasn't going to give up without a fight. As she set up in defensive position, she yelled, HELP! She hoped someone would reach her in time, but the screens showed that everyone was occupied. She reverted back to her instincts for survival.
Using her telekinesis, she created a shield of sorts to stop the blades the enemy was sending her way. As the knives hit her shield, Ruby's strength wavered considerably. 'Shoulda slept last night instead of hot-wiring the motorcycle for a joyride.' Quickblade knew every move that Ruby was going to make since he had molded her skill from the very beginning. He was just toying with her, waiting for his leader to show up. Ruby had furrowed her brow, doing her best to keep her defenses up.
"Hey!" Ruby whirled around to confront the new enemy. Bad move. A searing pain shot through her shoulder and then another through her side. It was too much for the battle-worn Ruby, and she collapsed into a graceless heap.
As she slowly regained consciousness, she saw the Kennedy's beautiful face staring down at her. She let out an unladylike grunt when she tried to get up.
"What has happened to you? You used to be tough, not given to weak actions like fainting." Her mentor had a disdaining look on her face. "I need to whip you back into shape. That is, if you live through this. At this pace, I don't think your chances are looking very good." She had a firm grip on the girl's arm, which she twisted behind her back in order to lift her to a standing position. Ruby managed to contain her cry. Blood was seeping out of the wounds in her shoulder and side.
"Now there ain't any need to discourage the girl. It looks like her chances have just improved." Logan's grin was menacing as he released his claws. Gambit ignored the woman, and stared at Ruby. She nodded once that she was okay, and he relaxed.
"Tsk, tsk. I didn't want to get in a big fight. All I wanted to do was kill LeBeau and the child and get on with things."
"Why did you want to kill me? I was great at what I did!" Ruby asked, confused.
"It was part of the deal. Wipe out Gambit and everyone related to him. For this, I am getting highly compensated. Enough talk. " With a swipe of her hand and a POOF, she was gone. She took Ruby with her.
When they reappeared, it was in a lab filled with machines. Ruby was a little dizzy from the teleporting, but her anger took precedence.
"You didn't kill him! He was right there! What is the purpose of that? All you have is me, which is what you had in the first place!" Ruby yelled. "And now I'm hurt and bleeding all over the place. You accomplished nothing!"
"Shut up you little fool! I can make use of you, which is the only reason you are still alive so don't tempt me." Both of the females tensed at the sound of someone approaching.
"Ah, you saved the ungrateful wretch from the bad, evil X-Men."
Ruby froze at the unfamiliar voice. It was dripping with sarcasm, and held an underlying warning tone. Upon hearing it, there was only one word that echoed in her mind . . .
"Sinister!" Remy felt a tug of dread as he said the word that was stark in his mind. He was shuffling a deck of cards, trying to abate the sense of unease that mired him in despair. All the while, he was telling himself that this worry of his was senseless. He didn't really know Ruby, he didn't have some secret connection to her like some of his teammates speculated. Still, there was this feeling like he was missing something, and he didn't like that at all.
"Sinister? That was not his regular brood of assailants. Are you sure?" Storm asked. The X-Men gathered in the War Room to decide on the next course of action. Amazingly, the mansion was left intact and there were none wounded so they were able to quickly move to the next phase of battle.
"I'm sure." Remy sank further down into his chair. He was mad at himself for letting Ruby go, and now things had just turned worse. His red eyes glowed with his frustration.
"How do you know, Gambit? It could have been anyone. This is not Sinister's MO." Cyclops was disturbed. How did they know exactly how to attack them? How did they get past the mansion's automated defenses?
"I just have dis feeling. She was wrong, though. He didn' wan' t' kill her or me. He had plenty o' chances."
"What did he want then?"
"I don' know."
Sinister paced his lab. His anger was simmering, and in a rare show of emotion he struck out at the person closest. Quickblade screamed as the bones in his hand began to splinter as Sinister used his powers to crush him.
"Why is there only one of them when I specifically ordered both LeBeau and the girl to be here."
"Sir, he was surrounded by the X-Men. Both Scandal and Kimoto were occupied with Cyclops, Bishop, and Iceman. I was barely able to grab the girl and leave," Kennedy said, backing away from her boss.
"Well, we will have to extend an invitation to young Remy LeBeau, won't we?" He then turned to Ruby. "It's nice to have you back, child. Why didn't you bring your big brother?"
Ruby had been contained with metal handcuffs behind her back and a Genoshan collar to inhibit her powers. Still in pain from the attack, she didn't try very hard to get away because she doubted she'd get very far in her condition.
Ruby stared at him, her eyes black with fear. She spoke slowly, trying to gain some remnants of her dignity. "He is not my brother. I've never been here before, and I don't know you."
"Trust me. That will all change." He walked towards her with a syringe in his hand. "Don't worry, this will make everything just fine."
