Disclaimer: The X-Men & other characters belong to Marvel Comics & are used without permission. The story belongs to me.

Note: I loved "Blind Alley"! Okay, that was a little late ^ ^ Hehe. Sorry this chap is late, too, you guys. I've just been busy moving my site...but that doesn't mean this isn't somewhere at the top of my priority list! ^ ^ Um...writing this chap, I noticed that I haven't really paid attention to Wanda and the others, you know, and...I'm thinking I probably shouldn't in the rest of the chapters. Cuz it'd just be too weird for them to suddenly like appear! and besides, it'd be harder for me to do it...yeah.

What Happens Now?

by:

kojie

==

Chapter Thirteen

==

"It's you!" Rogue exclaimed, pointing a finger at the man in the trench coat, standing casually in front of her. The temperature was freezing, but the man ignored it. He showed absolutely no sign of being cold.

Instead, he smiled.

"`ello, cheré," he said in a quiet voice, with a heavy French accent, taking a small step forward, into the warm hallway. Rogue staggered back, uncertainly. "What are you doing here?" she asked, raising her voice so the others could hear her, all the while taking off her right glove slowly.

Seconds later, she could hear the others coming from behind, crowding the narrow hallway. Logan was suddenly in front of her, and pushed her behind him, trying to act as a shield against the intruder.

"What d'you want?" he growled and popped his claws. The man raised his hands in defense, to show he meant no harm. "Easy, over der. I didn't mean no harm---I'm jus' a messenger."

"Messenger, eh?" Logan said, obviously not believing him.

"Dats right, messenger. Sent by Magneto himself," he replied, his voice filled with pride.

Logan almost lunged at him right then. But there was something....if this guy was sent by Magneto, then this has got to be something important for him to risk his own life coming to a place full of dangerous mutants who hated Magneto's guts.

"Gimme one good reason why I shouldn't rip you to shreds right now, bub."

The man grinned. "D'name's Gambit, and I know where your beloved friends are."

Logan raised an eyebrow.

The man continued, and counted with his fingers. "Let's see, oh yes, der's this annoying black kid wit' weird blond hair, a smart-ass ape guy covered wit' blue fur, a really big 'n fat teenager--"

Lance and Todd snapped into attention.

"-- an' one beautiful black woman wit' long white--whoa!"

Gambit stopped as he suddenly found himself pinned against the wall, the collars of his trench coat were gripped tightly, by Logan. "Where are they?!" he yelled at him menacingly. Gambit took a deep breath, and tried his best to steady himself. He was definitely caught off guard that time, and this crazy guy, although he never would admit it, was indeed scary, especially with those long , sharp...

"Dey're at Magneto's base, alright?" he rolled his red eyes. "Magneto sent me t' get all o' ye," he took a look around at all the mutants gathered in the hall, there was a lot. "Uh, okay, I take dat back, not exactly all of you." Logan released his grip, and Remy landed on his feet. He straightened his wrinkled coat. "I can bring seven of you."

"Why do we have to come with you? And how do we know that you're telling the truth?" Scott spoke up, for the first time.

"I dunno," he answered plainly. "Jus' followin' orders, y'know. But...lemme put it this way, mon ami, if you don't come wit me, then how you gon' find out dat I'm tellin' the truth?"

"I know one way," Jean said, stepping in front of the crowd. During this whole discussion, she had been waiting for the right moment to speak, and right then seemed like the perfect time.

"And I know another," Rogue said, following Jean's steps, her face showed pure confidence. All the fear she felt before had suddenly disappeared. After all, at least now she knew what his name was, and...this time, she wasn't alone.

Logan couldn't help but chuckle at his students' quick and smart response. He turned to Gambit and smirked.

"Guess all ya gotta do now, Gumbo, is pick one."

Gambit smiled as he observed the two young ladies who volunteered. He had no idea what their 'ways' were... He wondered which way was safer... He scratched his head, and glared at Logan. "It's not Gumbo. It's Gambit, and...I choose the second choice." He looked at Rogue, wondering what she was going to do to him. Would it hurt?

"Fine," Logan said. He nodded at Rogue.

Rogue was nervous. She was through being scared, and so now she was nervous. She felt drawn to the stranger somehow. Was this such a good idea? What would she find inside his head?

Would I regret this for the rest of my life?

She raised her bare hand, and reached out to touch him.

Seconds later, the one called Gambit fell with a soft thud on the floor.

==

He wished he had chosen the first choice, maybe it wouldn't have been as painful.

He could hear people talking. About him, about Magneto...

Lying on a soft bed, he was still in his clothes, but he wasn't wearing his trench coat. He was inside some sort of medical lab and the light shining down on him was blinding. He sat up, and took a good look around him. Everyone was looking at him, surprised. There were four of them: the pretty girl who touched him, a girl with her brown hair on a ponytail, the guy who wore a red visor, and a strange mutant covered in blue fur. He had a long tail and blue pointy ears, and his yellow eyes twinkled with curiosity.

At least, I'm not the only one without normal eyes, Remy thought. I wonder what their powers are?

The one with the strange-looking visor walked over to him, a strange expression on his face. "I'm Cyclops. Rogue told me you were telling the truth," he said quietly. "I guess we're coming with you then."

Gambit nodded, and slid off the bed. So her name's Rogue...

"Alrighty, then. The pods should be outside by now." He noticed his coat lying on a chair and grabbed it. "Now let me see," he murmured while putting on his coat. "What was it? What was-- oh, right. Lord Magneto," he continued in a mocking voice," has requested that the leader of the X-Men and the one called 'Banshee' to come along for the ride." He scratched his head. "Dunno why though."

Minutes later, everyone was outside, even the new recruits and the Brotherhood, all in their uniforms. Good thing we decided to wash the uniforms when Gambit was asleep, Kitty thought, smelling the collar of her uniform. Jean, who was standing next to Scott, shuddered, and not because of the cold. The sight of these silver spheres reminded her of when she was "abducted".

Gambit walked around the eight pods, examining each one. When he was done, they opened simultaneously. "Everytin' seems t' be workin' properly," he concluded. He turned to his mutant audience. "Now, who's the lucky seven?"

==

Alright, people, who are the lucky seven?? ^ ^

I actually already have an idea of who they are going to be but...yeah...lol...and the only person who's going to be in it from the New X-Men is Bobby. I like Iceman^ ^ The rest are...the original X-Men, Banshee, and um...Lance? I don't know about Todd...I haven't really given him a big part.

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