Behold! The retcon to end all retcons contained herein. I don't want to
give anything away, but before you flame me into the ground or point out
the inaccuracies of my version of events, know that I'm well aware of who
Carol Danvers is but, for the purposes of this story and what I wanted to
do with it, I don't care. Here's hopin' you enjoy it anyway.
* * *
Th' sound o' the scream was like a freight train bearin' down on me. Ah started bolt upright in bed, jarrin' my bandages an' addin' a note o' my own ta the terrible noise. My hair pricked an' Ah shivered. What was that Irene used ta say? Someone walkin' over your grave. Someone was doin' a goddamned jig on mine right then. Took a minute ta clear the cobwebs an' Ah dove ta the floor, crawlin' by feel toward the wall Ah shared with Jenny.
"Jenny? Ya hear me?"
Girl didn't have any air left ta answer me with. Ah could hear her hiccupin'. When Ah pressed my face ta the grate between our cells Ah was met with a whole lotta nothin'. The cellblock was dark at night, darker than anythin' Ah could ever think of. Ah prayed that Ororo wasn't there. Didn't wanna know what th' dark would do ta her claustrophobia. Ah was havin' a few difficulties myself as the blackness in front o' my eyes pressed in.
"Try ta take deep breaths. Ya don't wanna hyperventilate."
"Rogue?" Remy's voice reached me through the dark.
"Ah'm okay. It's Jenny."
"Oh Christ, my legs," she whimpered.
"What about your legs?" Ah asked, my stomach tied into a hard knot like a peach pit.
"I don't know. They gave me something and I can't feel them. I don't know. I tried to fight them, almost got away, but then they brought in that Wipeout guy and...I...Tam had a needle full of something. I think my wrist is broken." She laughed a little crazily. "I actually prefer the wrist since I can feel it."
"Here." Ah wiggled my hand through the grate. "Give me your good hand." Her fingers found mine. She seemed weak and her skin was wet, but whether it was blood o' tears Ah had no way ta know. Ah squeezed her as hard as Ah dared, still amazed at the touch.
"It's bad, isn't it, Rogue?" She was practically beggin' me ta tell her that everythin' would be okay in the end. Much as Ah wanted ta, Ah couldn't lie, not even then.
"It's bad." At first Ah figured the truth-tellin' was just automatic pilot. So much o' what Ah did with th' x-men was what th' professor wanted. With him or Scott or Jean tellin' us what ta do Ah didn't figure that left much room for me ta think for myself sometimes, but Ah wanted ta tell Jenny th' truth an' let her decide for herself how she was gonna handle it.
Her hand tightened in mine 'till her fingernails were tearin' into my palm. "Tam said I didn't need legs if I could fly. I want to kill them, Rogue."
"We have ta get outta here first."
Ah felt a little breeze on my face an' realized Jenny musta been shakin' her head. "I'll never make it. You gotta leave me."
"That's crazy," Ah said fiercely. She was still grippin' my hand and Ah squeezed back, just ta let her know that Ah wasn't gonna be lettin' go anytime soon. "We all go or none o' us do."
"Then you have to absorb me." Her voice was wilder.
My throat went dry. "What?"
"Absorb me. It's the only way to take me with you. I'll never make it out on these legs and a broken wrist."
"She's right, beb." Quick as Ah could, Ah extracted myself from Jenny's grip an' scuttled over ta the opposite side o' the cell.
"Are ya outta your fuckin' mind?" Ah hissed at him. "The girl's delirious. She doesn't know what she's sayin'. An' Ah've got no powers. An' you don't know what she's askin' me ta do." Remy'd convinced me that he was a decent guy an' that bought him 'bout 30 seconds o' explanation time in my book.
"Alohrs pas (of course not), but she's hysterical. Slow her down 'nough an' she got no say whether we get her outta dis place or no."
My anger from the moment before drained away. "But Ah couldn't absorb her even if Ah wanted to."
"Dat's not what de doctor told me."
"When did ya see Doctor Moreau?"
"You were gone."
"An' ya were plannin' on tellin' me this when?"
"Y' told me 'somethin' naahce'," he whispered, makin' th' last part all high an' fluttery. "Didn't t'ink it was somet'ing nice t' say dat de doctor came an' made small talk while he cut de chip outta my neck." Ah could hear him grimace.
Ah willed myself ta be calm, even though Ah was half-crazy with fear an' angry at Remy again for lettin' me sleep when he had important information. Then Ah thought o' th' doctor's scalpel on his neck. Ah touched my own skin, right at the curve o' my shoulder an' tried not ta think o' how fragile the neck is, how many veins run under like rivers. "What did he say?"
Remy didn't miss a beat. Ah wanted ta know if it was because he understood what Ah was thinkin' or if it was only because he'd landed on his feet so often. "Said de dampening field around de cellblock isn't perfect. Concentrate enough an' you can break t'rough."
"Oh."
Everythin' was quiet for a few minutes. Ah could hear Jenny breathin', labored but stubborn. Ah knew she wasn't gonna give up anytime soon. Could Ah do any less? Evan always said there was a time ta think things through an' then there was a time ta be brave. Ah supposed that this was my time.
"Rogue? Don't have t' do it if y' don't want, chére. We find another way, neh? Dis too dangerous." Sounded like Remy'd almost convinced himself we could do it any other way.
"Ah'll get Jenny. You take care o' th' doors. Ah hope Tom's around 'cause it's time ta blow this popsicle stand." Ah tried ta smile and, weak as it was, it made me feel better ta do it.
"And your friends."
My breath caught. "What?"
"De doctor wasn't sure, but he said mebbe, on de other side o' de compound. Recovery."
Ah felt wobbly all over. Good thing Ah was sittin' down. Ah brought my face as close ta the grate as Ah could until Ah could feel Remy's breath stirrin' through my hair. Ah reached past the bars 'till Ah touched his face in the dark, tracin' the contours Ah'd only been able ta admire by sight: smooth forehead, broad cheeks, angled jaw, fine lips. Ah lingered on his nose, playin' with a bump Ah found there.
"Broke it dere when I was ten, stealin' from someone I shouldn't have in de Vieux Carre (French Quarter)." The waver in his voice made me smile.
"Hmm." Ah touched th' tips o' his hair and then his ears, runnin' in their patterns. Finally, after there was no more o' his face ta read, there was nothin' left ta do but kiss him. The bars made it awkward at first, but we adapted. It's hard ta describe it an' Ah'm not sure Ah want ta, because th' soft slidin' o' skin on skin was all ours. Kinda like arguin' with him, tryin' ta figure out what position ta take when the situation is always changin', tryin' ta anticipate every move but bein' surprised more often than not.
Broke apart reluctantly an' Ah knew he was reachin' for me through th' bars. Ah hated ta be th' one ta pull away.
"Jenny, you still there?" The only response was a stifled moan. "Hold on, Ah'm gettin' you outta here." Jenny's hand was still in my cell an' Ah grabbed it, frightened when Ah found it cold. Ah sent up a silent prayer ta whomever takes care o' those things ta help me. Ah closed my eyes an' focused my energy inward, just like the professor taught me. Ah could feel my power inside, but only faintly. Ah pushed toward it like Ah was one o' them pearl divers an' it was the biggest an' farthest.
There was a roarin' in my ears an' Ah thought Ah heard a voice callin' my name, but Ah was too far in ta care. My mind wrapped itself around the pearl an' my hands clamped down on Jenny's arm just like we were magnetized.
It was then Ah knew somethin' was real wrong.
* * *
Licked my lips and I could taste her dere: mint. Could still feel her warm hand on m' face. But I knew as well as she did dat dere was work t' be done. Carefully made my way over t' de door. Touched de bars and tried t' concentrate on chargin' dem. My mind was driftin', but I kept trying because I didn't want t' let either o' us down den. Tried t' remember de way it felt when de atoms charged, like openin' up a dam inside and lettin' everyt'ing pour out. T'ought how dat was how I was in a way--afraid t' let anyt'ing out because I might not get it back in after.
Dere I go again! De great Doctor Freud! De charging was old hat t' me by den, I'd been practicin' it ever since dat razor almost killed me when I was fourteen. Didn't take long for de power t' build up. But dere was somet'ing different dis time. De metal was hot in my hands, glowin' flamin' red. I yelped an' jumped back, overturnin' de cot an' pullin' de mattress over my head. De explosion was bigger dan any I'd ever created before. Shards o' metal thrummed on de mattress. Had t' put out a few fires on de fabric.
"Cho (wow)," I breathed. "Guess de doc was right 'bout de unpredictable stuff." Took me a split second t' t'ink o' Rogue and her power an' Jenny in de next cell over. Whipped my head around, even though I couldn't see anyt'ing in de dark. "Rogue! Stop!"
Too late. Heard Jenny start ta scream again...or was it Rogue? Mebbe after a while, wouldn't matter anymore. What would happen t' somebody dat Rogue held onto too long?
"Rogue!" yelled again, even though I knew she couldn't hear me. Dashed into de hallway and blew de door. Dis time I had my powers under control. Somewhere in de dark, an alarm started t' blare. De walls were trembling and I heard shouts. Fumblin' on de ground, I picked up a piece o' de door, charged it slightly t' light de way.
Rogue was on de floor, body twisted into a stiff arc. Her eyes rolled so far back into her head all I could see was de white. Tried t' pull her away, but she stuck fast t' Jenny's arm. Her knuckles were white. Heard running footsteps far down de hallway, but dey seemed t' be heading away from de cellblock. Tore de blanket from de bed and covered Rogue wit' it so I could pry her fingers away from Jenny's arm. She went limp under de cover. I was afraid de damage was already done. Reached down t' Jenny's wrist, lookin' for a pulse. Her skin was cold and dere was no beat dat I could feel. Bit my lip.
"I'm sorry," I said t' Jenny. Scooped Rogue up, blanket an' all, runnin' out t' de hallway again. "Stand back from de door, Tom!" I shouted.
"What's going on?" he demanded. "Where's Jenny?"
"Zute (dammit to hell)! Just get outta de way!" Touched de door, hopin' dat he had de good sense t' listen.
Rogue stirred in my arms. "Phillip? What's going on?" Jenny's voice.
Looked heavenward. "One t'ing at a time?" As if Dieu would hear. As if He would listen.
De door blew an' Rogue pushed de blanket from her face. Looks like I was gonna get no help from any quarter. "Ya can put me down, Cajun. Ah'm fine." Set her on her feet. T'ing was, she did seem fine. "Where's Jenny?"
Tom was out by den. Dey were both lookin' at me as if I might have her stashed behind my back somewhere. More footsteps. More rumbling. Dis time I could hear shouts.
"Dere isn't time for dis. We have t' get outta here, now!"
Rogue looked at me quizzically, but she knew dat I was right. Tom came 'round too.
"Ah think it's this way!" Rogue took off down de hallway in de direction of all de noise. "They took me this way. Ah didn't see any other doors along this hallway, but there were plenty in th' lab," she tossed over her shoulder while Tom and I struggled t' keep up. Dere was somet'ing off 'bout her now, but I didn't want t' t'ink about dat. Didn't want t' t'ink 'bout Jenny's voice calling for Phillip over Rogue's lips.
We reached a smooth door in de wall. I was getting ready t' charge it, when Rogue ripped clean t'rough it like it was one o' those Japanese paper houses. Dere were finger marks in de metal. Looked at her, startled, expectin' t' see wide eyes starin' back, but Rogue just stepped into de room like it was not'ing.
"Come on!" she urged us.
Tom looked at me. "Didn't realize she was like that too." Knew he didn't want t' say "like Jenny," because in the back o' his mind, he knew dere was somet'ing wrong. "She's not," I replied grimly.
We followed Rogue into a mad scientist's wet dream. Stainless steel glinting, operating tables wit' straps, rows of scalpels under plastic coverings.
"Quit dawdlin'," Rogue said. De noises seemed right on top o' us den. Could almost distinguish individual words from de angry din. T'ought I heard somet'ing dat sounded like John. Easy t' distinguish de Aussie's speech patterns from others since de rhythm o' his words wasn't quite de same as everybody else's.
"Wonder who's at the door," Tom commented dryly. "I was gonna knock this place down when we were out, but it seems like I might not have to now." Across de room, Rogue pulled open another door and we scrambled t' follow her. "I know something happened back there," Tom told me. "Something between her," he pointed at Rogue, "and Jenny."
"Somet'ing did. Better not t' t'ink 'bout it right now."
He shot a sideways look at me. Ahead, Rogue was ripping out doors lining de side o' de hallway we'd come into. Dere was somebody behind each one. Some seemed amazed t' see Rogue, others only seemed amazed t' be out. If any o' dem tried t' talk t' her she ignored dem and went on t' de next door. Dey were all weak, blinking wit' de unexpected freedom. Tom and I supported as many as we could. De ones we couldn't supported each other. Only t'ing t' do was get dem back t' de lab an' try t' find a way outta de funhouse.
"I have to find my father," Tom said, straining under de weight o' de large boy on his back. De boy kept muttering "sorrysorrysorry" under his breath. Stitches were infected, he couldn't walk.
"Why?" Didn't like de tone o' Tom's voice.
"Make sure he's inside when the building comes down."
"Your father de one who told me how t' get outta dis place."
Tom shook his head violently. "That's not true." He lowered de boy onto one o' de operatin' tables. "Every year my father sent me to Trask for treatments. I was his goddamned guinea pig."
Shook my head. Funny how some people t'ink dey're de only ones who got inner conflicts. "I'm not lyin', but you believe what you want." Dere wasn't time den to debate de finer points o' human nature.
Rogue came back into de lab. "That's the last of 'em." She wrapped the boy in a blanket an' picked him up wit' one hand. "It'll be okay, Fred. We're gettin' th' hell outta here."
Tiles started t' crash down from de ceiling, breaking apart when dey hit. "T'ink it's Magneto," I said.
"Least he's makin' himself useful," Rogue responded darkly.
"Mec (man) be none too happy t' see you."
She balled her free hand into a fist. "Ask me if Ah care."
"Let me go first. I'll find de best way out o' here."
"What you do best, huh?"
"Wouldn't say dat, beb. Top five." Lifted my eyebrows at her and ducked t'rough de doorway.
De next room was in chaos: flames an' shouts an' men flyin' t'rough de air. Hole in de wall let in de night breezes. Funny t'ing, but I could still smell de jasmine over de scent o' scorched uniforms. Didn't want t' t'ink 'bout how de men on de ground were probably dead. Trask's men, Moreau's men, but men nonedeless. Zeerah (disgusting).
John was nearest an' first t' catch sight o' me. "Damn, Remy, we thought you'd carked it (bit the dust)."
"An' dat would tear you up, right?" Picked up a piece o' rubble an' tossed it at a guard who got too close.
John shot a stream o' flame into de room an' shaped it into a vine wit' branches growing like veins. "I'd certainly miss your charming company." He grinned. In a way, I t'ink he was being genuine. One o' de vines took out three guards. "Ace (excellent)!"
"Guess dis is all Magneto's idea, non?"
"Got it in one." Looked around t' make sure dat no one had followed me.
"Look, John, I need t' get out o' here. Dere're other people here, mutants. Hate for dem t' get hurt in all dis mess."
"This is all about that girl, ain't it?"
"'Bout a lot o' t'ings. Forget I asked."
"No, wait." Another long column o' flame flew across de room den arched away in complicated patterns. "These guys just don't know when t' quit, do they?" He looked at me. "I'll cover ya. Bring 'em out here and I'll cover ya." Opened my mouth t' speak, but he was faster. "Don't worry, I won't dob ya in (inform on you). She'll be apples (it'll be all right)."
Great weight lifted from my chest. "Merci."
"Best be quick about it."
Let out a breath didn't know I was holding. Never t'ought 'bout one o' de undocumented truths o' life: everyt'ing in balance--once somet'ing goes right, den sure 'nough somet'ing else gonna be shot t' hell.
* * *
Th' sound o' the scream was like a freight train bearin' down on me. Ah started bolt upright in bed, jarrin' my bandages an' addin' a note o' my own ta the terrible noise. My hair pricked an' Ah shivered. What was that Irene used ta say? Someone walkin' over your grave. Someone was doin' a goddamned jig on mine right then. Took a minute ta clear the cobwebs an' Ah dove ta the floor, crawlin' by feel toward the wall Ah shared with Jenny.
"Jenny? Ya hear me?"
Girl didn't have any air left ta answer me with. Ah could hear her hiccupin'. When Ah pressed my face ta the grate between our cells Ah was met with a whole lotta nothin'. The cellblock was dark at night, darker than anythin' Ah could ever think of. Ah prayed that Ororo wasn't there. Didn't wanna know what th' dark would do ta her claustrophobia. Ah was havin' a few difficulties myself as the blackness in front o' my eyes pressed in.
"Try ta take deep breaths. Ya don't wanna hyperventilate."
"Rogue?" Remy's voice reached me through the dark.
"Ah'm okay. It's Jenny."
"Oh Christ, my legs," she whimpered.
"What about your legs?" Ah asked, my stomach tied into a hard knot like a peach pit.
"I don't know. They gave me something and I can't feel them. I don't know. I tried to fight them, almost got away, but then they brought in that Wipeout guy and...I...Tam had a needle full of something. I think my wrist is broken." She laughed a little crazily. "I actually prefer the wrist since I can feel it."
"Here." Ah wiggled my hand through the grate. "Give me your good hand." Her fingers found mine. She seemed weak and her skin was wet, but whether it was blood o' tears Ah had no way ta know. Ah squeezed her as hard as Ah dared, still amazed at the touch.
"It's bad, isn't it, Rogue?" She was practically beggin' me ta tell her that everythin' would be okay in the end. Much as Ah wanted ta, Ah couldn't lie, not even then.
"It's bad." At first Ah figured the truth-tellin' was just automatic pilot. So much o' what Ah did with th' x-men was what th' professor wanted. With him or Scott or Jean tellin' us what ta do Ah didn't figure that left much room for me ta think for myself sometimes, but Ah wanted ta tell Jenny th' truth an' let her decide for herself how she was gonna handle it.
Her hand tightened in mine 'till her fingernails were tearin' into my palm. "Tam said I didn't need legs if I could fly. I want to kill them, Rogue."
"We have ta get outta here first."
Ah felt a little breeze on my face an' realized Jenny musta been shakin' her head. "I'll never make it. You gotta leave me."
"That's crazy," Ah said fiercely. She was still grippin' my hand and Ah squeezed back, just ta let her know that Ah wasn't gonna be lettin' go anytime soon. "We all go or none o' us do."
"Then you have to absorb me." Her voice was wilder.
My throat went dry. "What?"
"Absorb me. It's the only way to take me with you. I'll never make it out on these legs and a broken wrist."
"She's right, beb." Quick as Ah could, Ah extracted myself from Jenny's grip an' scuttled over ta the opposite side o' the cell.
"Are ya outta your fuckin' mind?" Ah hissed at him. "The girl's delirious. She doesn't know what she's sayin'. An' Ah've got no powers. An' you don't know what she's askin' me ta do." Remy'd convinced me that he was a decent guy an' that bought him 'bout 30 seconds o' explanation time in my book.
"Alohrs pas (of course not), but she's hysterical. Slow her down 'nough an' she got no say whether we get her outta dis place or no."
My anger from the moment before drained away. "But Ah couldn't absorb her even if Ah wanted to."
"Dat's not what de doctor told me."
"When did ya see Doctor Moreau?"
"You were gone."
"An' ya were plannin' on tellin' me this when?"
"Y' told me 'somethin' naahce'," he whispered, makin' th' last part all high an' fluttery. "Didn't t'ink it was somet'ing nice t' say dat de doctor came an' made small talk while he cut de chip outta my neck." Ah could hear him grimace.
Ah willed myself ta be calm, even though Ah was half-crazy with fear an' angry at Remy again for lettin' me sleep when he had important information. Then Ah thought o' th' doctor's scalpel on his neck. Ah touched my own skin, right at the curve o' my shoulder an' tried not ta think o' how fragile the neck is, how many veins run under like rivers. "What did he say?"
Remy didn't miss a beat. Ah wanted ta know if it was because he understood what Ah was thinkin' or if it was only because he'd landed on his feet so often. "Said de dampening field around de cellblock isn't perfect. Concentrate enough an' you can break t'rough."
"Oh."
Everythin' was quiet for a few minutes. Ah could hear Jenny breathin', labored but stubborn. Ah knew she wasn't gonna give up anytime soon. Could Ah do any less? Evan always said there was a time ta think things through an' then there was a time ta be brave. Ah supposed that this was my time.
"Rogue? Don't have t' do it if y' don't want, chére. We find another way, neh? Dis too dangerous." Sounded like Remy'd almost convinced himself we could do it any other way.
"Ah'll get Jenny. You take care o' th' doors. Ah hope Tom's around 'cause it's time ta blow this popsicle stand." Ah tried ta smile and, weak as it was, it made me feel better ta do it.
"And your friends."
My breath caught. "What?"
"De doctor wasn't sure, but he said mebbe, on de other side o' de compound. Recovery."
Ah felt wobbly all over. Good thing Ah was sittin' down. Ah brought my face as close ta the grate as Ah could until Ah could feel Remy's breath stirrin' through my hair. Ah reached past the bars 'till Ah touched his face in the dark, tracin' the contours Ah'd only been able ta admire by sight: smooth forehead, broad cheeks, angled jaw, fine lips. Ah lingered on his nose, playin' with a bump Ah found there.
"Broke it dere when I was ten, stealin' from someone I shouldn't have in de Vieux Carre (French Quarter)." The waver in his voice made me smile.
"Hmm." Ah touched th' tips o' his hair and then his ears, runnin' in their patterns. Finally, after there was no more o' his face ta read, there was nothin' left ta do but kiss him. The bars made it awkward at first, but we adapted. It's hard ta describe it an' Ah'm not sure Ah want ta, because th' soft slidin' o' skin on skin was all ours. Kinda like arguin' with him, tryin' ta figure out what position ta take when the situation is always changin', tryin' ta anticipate every move but bein' surprised more often than not.
Broke apart reluctantly an' Ah knew he was reachin' for me through th' bars. Ah hated ta be th' one ta pull away.
"Jenny, you still there?" The only response was a stifled moan. "Hold on, Ah'm gettin' you outta here." Jenny's hand was still in my cell an' Ah grabbed it, frightened when Ah found it cold. Ah sent up a silent prayer ta whomever takes care o' those things ta help me. Ah closed my eyes an' focused my energy inward, just like the professor taught me. Ah could feel my power inside, but only faintly. Ah pushed toward it like Ah was one o' them pearl divers an' it was the biggest an' farthest.
There was a roarin' in my ears an' Ah thought Ah heard a voice callin' my name, but Ah was too far in ta care. My mind wrapped itself around the pearl an' my hands clamped down on Jenny's arm just like we were magnetized.
It was then Ah knew somethin' was real wrong.
* * *
Licked my lips and I could taste her dere: mint. Could still feel her warm hand on m' face. But I knew as well as she did dat dere was work t' be done. Carefully made my way over t' de door. Touched de bars and tried t' concentrate on chargin' dem. My mind was driftin', but I kept trying because I didn't want t' let either o' us down den. Tried t' remember de way it felt when de atoms charged, like openin' up a dam inside and lettin' everyt'ing pour out. T'ought how dat was how I was in a way--afraid t' let anyt'ing out because I might not get it back in after.
Dere I go again! De great Doctor Freud! De charging was old hat t' me by den, I'd been practicin' it ever since dat razor almost killed me when I was fourteen. Didn't take long for de power t' build up. But dere was somet'ing different dis time. De metal was hot in my hands, glowin' flamin' red. I yelped an' jumped back, overturnin' de cot an' pullin' de mattress over my head. De explosion was bigger dan any I'd ever created before. Shards o' metal thrummed on de mattress. Had t' put out a few fires on de fabric.
"Cho (wow)," I breathed. "Guess de doc was right 'bout de unpredictable stuff." Took me a split second t' t'ink o' Rogue and her power an' Jenny in de next cell over. Whipped my head around, even though I couldn't see anyt'ing in de dark. "Rogue! Stop!"
Too late. Heard Jenny start ta scream again...or was it Rogue? Mebbe after a while, wouldn't matter anymore. What would happen t' somebody dat Rogue held onto too long?
"Rogue!" yelled again, even though I knew she couldn't hear me. Dashed into de hallway and blew de door. Dis time I had my powers under control. Somewhere in de dark, an alarm started t' blare. De walls were trembling and I heard shouts. Fumblin' on de ground, I picked up a piece o' de door, charged it slightly t' light de way.
Rogue was on de floor, body twisted into a stiff arc. Her eyes rolled so far back into her head all I could see was de white. Tried t' pull her away, but she stuck fast t' Jenny's arm. Her knuckles were white. Heard running footsteps far down de hallway, but dey seemed t' be heading away from de cellblock. Tore de blanket from de bed and covered Rogue wit' it so I could pry her fingers away from Jenny's arm. She went limp under de cover. I was afraid de damage was already done. Reached down t' Jenny's wrist, lookin' for a pulse. Her skin was cold and dere was no beat dat I could feel. Bit my lip.
"I'm sorry," I said t' Jenny. Scooped Rogue up, blanket an' all, runnin' out t' de hallway again. "Stand back from de door, Tom!" I shouted.
"What's going on?" he demanded. "Where's Jenny?"
"Zute (dammit to hell)! Just get outta de way!" Touched de door, hopin' dat he had de good sense t' listen.
Rogue stirred in my arms. "Phillip? What's going on?" Jenny's voice.
Looked heavenward. "One t'ing at a time?" As if Dieu would hear. As if He would listen.
De door blew an' Rogue pushed de blanket from her face. Looks like I was gonna get no help from any quarter. "Ya can put me down, Cajun. Ah'm fine." Set her on her feet. T'ing was, she did seem fine. "Where's Jenny?"
Tom was out by den. Dey were both lookin' at me as if I might have her stashed behind my back somewhere. More footsteps. More rumbling. Dis time I could hear shouts.
"Dere isn't time for dis. We have t' get outta here, now!"
Rogue looked at me quizzically, but she knew dat I was right. Tom came 'round too.
"Ah think it's this way!" Rogue took off down de hallway in de direction of all de noise. "They took me this way. Ah didn't see any other doors along this hallway, but there were plenty in th' lab," she tossed over her shoulder while Tom and I struggled t' keep up. Dere was somet'ing off 'bout her now, but I didn't want t' t'ink about dat. Didn't want t' t'ink 'bout Jenny's voice calling for Phillip over Rogue's lips.
We reached a smooth door in de wall. I was getting ready t' charge it, when Rogue ripped clean t'rough it like it was one o' those Japanese paper houses. Dere were finger marks in de metal. Looked at her, startled, expectin' t' see wide eyes starin' back, but Rogue just stepped into de room like it was not'ing.
"Come on!" she urged us.
Tom looked at me. "Didn't realize she was like that too." Knew he didn't want t' say "like Jenny," because in the back o' his mind, he knew dere was somet'ing wrong. "She's not," I replied grimly.
We followed Rogue into a mad scientist's wet dream. Stainless steel glinting, operating tables wit' straps, rows of scalpels under plastic coverings.
"Quit dawdlin'," Rogue said. De noises seemed right on top o' us den. Could almost distinguish individual words from de angry din. T'ought I heard somet'ing dat sounded like John. Easy t' distinguish de Aussie's speech patterns from others since de rhythm o' his words wasn't quite de same as everybody else's.
"Wonder who's at the door," Tom commented dryly. "I was gonna knock this place down when we were out, but it seems like I might not have to now." Across de room, Rogue pulled open another door and we scrambled t' follow her. "I know something happened back there," Tom told me. "Something between her," he pointed at Rogue, "and Jenny."
"Somet'ing did. Better not t' t'ink 'bout it right now."
He shot a sideways look at me. Ahead, Rogue was ripping out doors lining de side o' de hallway we'd come into. Dere was somebody behind each one. Some seemed amazed t' see Rogue, others only seemed amazed t' be out. If any o' dem tried t' talk t' her she ignored dem and went on t' de next door. Dey were all weak, blinking wit' de unexpected freedom. Tom and I supported as many as we could. De ones we couldn't supported each other. Only t'ing t' do was get dem back t' de lab an' try t' find a way outta de funhouse.
"I have to find my father," Tom said, straining under de weight o' de large boy on his back. De boy kept muttering "sorrysorrysorry" under his breath. Stitches were infected, he couldn't walk.
"Why?" Didn't like de tone o' Tom's voice.
"Make sure he's inside when the building comes down."
"Your father de one who told me how t' get outta dis place."
Tom shook his head violently. "That's not true." He lowered de boy onto one o' de operatin' tables. "Every year my father sent me to Trask for treatments. I was his goddamned guinea pig."
Shook my head. Funny how some people t'ink dey're de only ones who got inner conflicts. "I'm not lyin', but you believe what you want." Dere wasn't time den to debate de finer points o' human nature.
Rogue came back into de lab. "That's the last of 'em." She wrapped the boy in a blanket an' picked him up wit' one hand. "It'll be okay, Fred. We're gettin' th' hell outta here."
Tiles started t' crash down from de ceiling, breaking apart when dey hit. "T'ink it's Magneto," I said.
"Least he's makin' himself useful," Rogue responded darkly.
"Mec (man) be none too happy t' see you."
She balled her free hand into a fist. "Ask me if Ah care."
"Let me go first. I'll find de best way out o' here."
"What you do best, huh?"
"Wouldn't say dat, beb. Top five." Lifted my eyebrows at her and ducked t'rough de doorway.
De next room was in chaos: flames an' shouts an' men flyin' t'rough de air. Hole in de wall let in de night breezes. Funny t'ing, but I could still smell de jasmine over de scent o' scorched uniforms. Didn't want t' t'ink 'bout how de men on de ground were probably dead. Trask's men, Moreau's men, but men nonedeless. Zeerah (disgusting).
John was nearest an' first t' catch sight o' me. "Damn, Remy, we thought you'd carked it (bit the dust)."
"An' dat would tear you up, right?" Picked up a piece o' rubble an' tossed it at a guard who got too close.
John shot a stream o' flame into de room an' shaped it into a vine wit' branches growing like veins. "I'd certainly miss your charming company." He grinned. In a way, I t'ink he was being genuine. One o' de vines took out three guards. "Ace (excellent)!"
"Guess dis is all Magneto's idea, non?"
"Got it in one." Looked around t' make sure dat no one had followed me.
"Look, John, I need t' get out o' here. Dere're other people here, mutants. Hate for dem t' get hurt in all dis mess."
"This is all about that girl, ain't it?"
"'Bout a lot o' t'ings. Forget I asked."
"No, wait." Another long column o' flame flew across de room den arched away in complicated patterns. "These guys just don't know when t' quit, do they?" He looked at me. "I'll cover ya. Bring 'em out here and I'll cover ya." Opened my mouth t' speak, but he was faster. "Don't worry, I won't dob ya in (inform on you). She'll be apples (it'll be all right)."
Great weight lifted from my chest. "Merci."
"Best be quick about it."
Let out a breath didn't know I was holding. Never t'ought 'bout one o' de undocumented truths o' life: everyt'ing in balance--once somet'ing goes right, den sure 'nough somet'ing else gonna be shot t' hell.