APOCALYPSE

Disclaimer: not mine, not mine.

A/N: well, if anyone still remembers this story, you'll forgive me for taking so long to update. My computer is still dead, but there's that wonderful ray of hope at the end of the tunnel now, and I may be posting regularly again in no time. Another thing, sorry, but I couldn't help myself, I had to add this chapter. If you haven't read Gambit, the monthly series, my humble appologies. Ask around and you might understand it if something isn't clear enough. Or better yet, e-mail me, and i'll tell ya!.-

Rating's still the same

Feedback at evolution2476@yahoo.com . This is mandatory ;)

CHAPTER 13

UNIVERSE

Whoever said there's a calm before the storm wasn't a very observant person. That so called calm is deceiving. In those silent grey, almost black clouds announcing it, lies a violence and a rage that would make one's heart skip a beat if taken the time to appraise it. And the same can be said about proverbial storms. That quiet sound of inevitability in the air; the goose bumps in one's skin before anything really happens to indicate that hell is about to brake loose. Is that moment that seems to stop in time, that moment that is remembered afterwards with perfect exactitude, even if it only lasted a few seconds.

That night felt like one of those moments. But as Remy thought, he had felt that way for weeks now. He figured if he took the time to really think about what was happening, he'd crawl into a dark corner and cry like a baby. The enormity of what the future held for him should remain ignored until everything was over. It was better to go through it all with a joke and a careless attitude, or he'd go mad. But in the corner of his mind there was something telling him that this was the redemption he had been looking for. A chance to make something with his life, no matter the outcome. And that was rewarding.

In the silence of that night, sitting in front of the small fire he had lit, he relaxed and reflected about the events of the day. Logan and Rogue had come after him. Never mind the reasons, they were there. And Remy could not yet believe there hadn't been no hatred filled looks thrown his way; no spiteful remarks. They didn't hate him!

How was that possible?! How could they have forgiven him after all the time he'd spent hating himself? And they weren't the only ones. Logan had mentioned the rest of the team, or most of it, didn't hate him either. He'd never dared to hope they would still consider him a team mate after his confession. Less alone a friend.

Remy glanced at the sleeping forms of his friends and smiled. His friends, that's what they were, and for a moment he felt he'd finally found home. No matter he might never see Westchester again, it was home.

***

Sidney lay on her sleeping bag, pretending to be asleep. She was too nervous to sleep anyway. She wouldn't show it, but she was scared as hell. Not scared of loosing her life, though it was an unsettling thought. Scared that she wouldn't be able to accomplish her task. For all her power allowed her to see- because that was her power, seeing things others couldn't.- she couldn't see if she was worthy of the task the death of her family and clan had set upon her shoulders. Besides, she'd always known it was her job to protect the offsprings. She'd grown up knowing that. But just now she realised "the offsprings" were more than words on an old book. These were people she had to protect. And people she was starting to like.

Someone nudge her shoulder, but she waited a few moments before opening her eyes, not wanting to give herself away. Then the owner of the poking finger spoke at last and she had to "wake up".

"Petite?.Petite, it's y'r turn now. Remy's too tired to guard anymore." He said kindly, with a smile plastered on his face.

She smiled back and sat up, rubbing her eyes for the sake of pretences.

"'s ok, mate, I'll take it from 'ere. I take it there was no funny business?" Remy shook his head no.

"All calmed. Too calmed for Remy's taste if y' ask, but not'ing happened."

"How's your leg? Did you do what I told you?" Remy nodded.

"Just as y' said. I focused on healing and I did! Dis power be amazing!"

"Yeah. Go catch your sleep. We have a long day ahead of us." Remy cocked his head at that.

"What's tomorrow, petite?"

"Nothing yet, mate, but we have to be alert. I'll tell you when it's starts, don't worry."

"Good night petite." He mumbled, already half asleep.

***

Jacob Gavin Junior, also known as Courier, wasn't a very brave person. That was probably the reason he hadn't complained one bit when this "New son" had asked him to travel through dimensions, even if it felt like crap. It was better to endure a bit of a queasy stomach than to stand up to a guy who can create a cristal cathedral somewhere between space and time. There was no fun in being used as a messenger and being kept completely in the dark about the message, but no,.he wouldn't complain. No sir. He'd just bitch a bit about it, and that would be it.

New son had shown some interest on a particular mutant, one he didn't know yet, but already disliked. If solely for being the cause of his nausea at that moment. His boss had been studying this Gambit for some time, and not one, but every gambit he could come across with in all the universes he could find. But this particular Gambit seemed to fascinate him for some reason. New son had mentioned that they wouldn't be working with this one, but he wanted to talk to him once. Whatever he meant was beyond Courier's understanding.

So, he'd travelled through dimensions and was currently making his way through the remains of an old school. Supposedly the place where he'd find this "Gambit". He'd figured, a knock on the door, deliver the speech and be off. There shouldn't be much trouble in being the messenger, right?

Wrong. Naturally.

Before he could process what was happening, there was a sword at his throat and some kid shouting like a maniac.

"What are you dong here mate? You thought we wouldn't see you, eh?" she yelled. Jacob only managed to raise his hands up in the air defensively.

"I., I." he stammered, and wondered where there would be a bathroom to check if his pants were dry, since he could no longer feel his lower body.

"What? Cat got yer tongue mate? Answer me!" the sword moved a little closer and a whimper escaped his throat. He was vaguely aware of movement behind the hellish kid before his eyes rolled backwards and he fainted. Well, you try to face a certain death after travelling through time and space if you think it's easy.

***

Logan's claws where unsheathed before he'd opened his eyes. His body sensing the disturbs before his mind did. But he wasn't prepared for the pathetic sight of the young man fainting out of sheer panic in front of a thirteen year old. Sure, he'd fought her, she was no ordinary teenager, but there weren't signs of a fight that suggested the owner of the limp body on the ground knew that. Sidney stared at him a little baffled, then back at the young man.

"I don't think he was one of the bad guys." She said, bemusement rising to her eyes. "What a poof!" she laughed, and Logan snorted.

"I'm not surprised kid, with ye charging at him with that sword of yers. I bet ye are the kind that hits first and asks later, huh?" she nodded.

" 's the only way, mate. If not, they hit you first, and we cant have that, now, can we?"

"No, I guess we cant." Logan answered with a chuckle. He really liked this girl. "So, I guess we should get this bub inside. Asking what's he doing here?"

"I guess." She answered, starting to drag the limp body through the door.

***

When his senses started to return, so did his panic, remembering the reasong of his fainting in the first place, but Jake tried to focus and remain calmed. He wasn't dead yet, which meant he might have a chance to explain himself before he had a chance to know if he could still have control of his body with his head being separated from his body. Upon opening his eyes, he found four sets of eyes staring down at him with concern and distrust. A hand immediately flew to his pocket, gripping the little device New son had given him, just to be on the safe side.

He guessed who Gambit was right away, being as he was the only set of red on black eyes, but something on the man's demeanor gave him the impression that it wouldn't be easy to take him to see New son if it wasn't willingly. Not that he planned to kidnap him or anything.

A shorter, more menasing looking man took a step forward and gazed him up intently. Jake could only manage to laugh nervously and sit up rather harshly, again lifting his hands up in the air to show he wasn't a threat.

"Hi there..." he stammered. "I...I..."

"What do you want here?" The girl who'd given him such a fright earlier stated.

"I don't like this guy..." another girl declared, giving him a nasty look. Why? He couldn't know. "There's something about him..."

"I like him. He seems funny." The man he'd guessed was Gambit said, with an expression on his face that made it impossible to know if he was joking.

The red headed girl, with a striking white stripe of hair on the front directed her nasty look to Gambit and back to him with a frown.

"I still don't like him." She pouted. "What do you want here, sugah?" she spat.

He tried to use a tone that would show confidence, but he still managed to say the last bit sounding like a scared little girl.

"I'm here to speak with Mr. Lebeau for a moment. My boss has some business with him."

The bad tempered girl stood right in front of him, almost nose to nose, and waved her little boney finger at him.

"Look 'ere, mate. I don't care if you work for the bloody pope, "Mr. Lebeau", ain't going nowhere, ye hear?"

Jake shrugged.

"I'm just doing my job, he should be back in a few moments. As far as I'm concerned. You'll never see me again."

Gambit stood between the two, a little offended. "I t'ink "mesieur Lebeau" can make his own choices?"

Jake seized the opportunity and grabbed Gambit's arm with his free hand, pressing the little button with the other one. The two images distorted before dissapearing, leaving three stunned people behind.

***

New son sat quietly on his "throne", watching with detached interest the different "windows" that quiet Bill provided of the different universes. He had already chosen the one reality he'd save. The one that was still savable. And he'd prevent the dissaster his own powers had provoked even if it costed him his life. After all, it was HIS life he was about to take, even if it was another HIM. But at the moment he was more interested on another reality. One he'd come across by accident, and so much like the reality he intended to save that it would have passed unnoticed if he'd looked any other time. But as it was, he was witness of the awakening of this Remy Lebeau's powers. He couldn't understand why it had happened, but he knew all too well what it meant. This particular Remy was as powerful as himself, if not more, but there was no use in trying to save that reality, since killing Gambit may have proved to be it's doom and not it's salvation. Still, he found it curious and he waited almost impatiently for Courier to return.

He hid his interest when he saw them, Jakob and a very confused Gambit, coming down the stairs of his cathedral.

"I see you've managed to get him here without a problem." He said without emotion. His other self took a few steps forward, looking miffed.

"Look homme..." he half yelled. "I don' know who y' be, but dat's no way to treat a person. Gettin' dem outta bed in de middle of de night and takin' dem to god knows where like dis! Did I mention I feel like throwing up now? What y' want wit' Gambit?"

"Calm down Remy. My name is New son. "This" is a place I've crated, a place that lays between time and space, my cathedral. What I want from you, nothing. I was just curious, since, of all the realities I've been able to observe, you seem to be the only one of... the only one who didn't need help to develop and control his powers to the fullest."

"Ok..." Remy said, scratching his head. "I be a slow one, 'cause i don' understand rien. But don' worry, Remy don' understand much of anit'ing dis days."

New son rose from his seat and approached him.

"That's just it. I felt like I should maybe explain to you the nature of your powers. Maybe help you understand it's not all as ridiculous as it seems. Your power is and always has been the ability to create kinetic charges. Am i right?" Remy nodded in reply. "So, basically, you handle energy." He nodded again, trying desperately to keep up. "The whole univere, Remy, and everything in it, is basicly composed of energy. Your whole being is atuned to that underlying energy of the universe. Up until now, that tuning was very mild, just like that of any other mutant on earth with some kind of connection to it. Just like a radio, some mutants tune to the energy that conducts thoughts, and then you have a telepath. Some mutants can connect to the passive energy in objects, such as yourself. It's all a matter of tunning. But you were, if in a minor degree, atuned with the universe. For some reason I don't know yet, your powers were enhanced. Your connection with the energies of the universe grew to levels you'd never imagined. You've become a very dangerous person, Remy. I hope you know that."

Remy nodded, he knew what this New son was saying, but he still had a hard time making it fit in his head. Yet he'd known all along he'd become somewhat dangerous and needed to be careful.

"So, dat explains why Remy feels all dose t'ings and can do all he can do now." He said quietly.

"Yes. You're some kind of...well, tuner, for a lack of a better word. If they knew how, someone could very well use you to destroy everything in your universe, as well as others. And I'm afraid, that's exactly what's going to happen unless you stop it. It's a dangerous thing, letting you live. But I've seen what the object of your prophecies can do if it isnt stopped right away, and i know that you are the one to do that. Just remember, as you are atuned to the universe, the universe is atuned to you. Don't let it control you."

By the tone New son used on his last sentense, Remy could tell he was meaning more with that than what he'd said, and he was about to ask what when the same, stomach-turning sensation invaded him and all turned black.

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