Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I making any money from, the X-Men
characters. Thanks also to my good friend Corrinth for the use of the
character Ilehana Xavier.
A/N: All reviews are most welcome; its great to know someone somewhere is reading this...
Scene Eight
Remy le Beau scowled as he placed the tiny room. This was worse than the damned prison. Reaching one wall he spun dramatically, swirling his long brown trench coat out behind him. What was Jacobi's problem?
There were two doors to the small room, but no windows. Both doors were steel lined and locked on the outside. The man called Gambit wondered how much of these precautions had been installed for his arrival alone. He already knew what lay behind the door to his right, it lead to a back alley doorway where a 'maintenance' truck had dropped him off following his 'escape' from the penitentiary. He did not think it would be too long before the second door opened and this game with Jacobi got underway.
He was right, the door creaked open towards Remy, and a minion beckoned Remy through into a larger room. This too was windowless concrete, a larger waiting room than the one he had been confined to. Jacobi was taking no chances. Sentries lined a gantry above his head, humans armed with rifles and dressed in uniforms as though it was a government installation. Remy smirked; did Jacobi know how pointless those guns would be against him?
"Remy my boy!" Jacobi himself came out of another door in the opposite wall. The large man was dressed in a well-fitted grey suit and shiny black shoes. No doubt he too was packing a gun. Humans. Coming towards Gambit the fellow criminal threw his arms open wide as if welcoming back a long lost brother.
"Jacobi." Gambit acknowledged the man with a glare from his red-on-black eyes. The crime lord dropped his arms as if disappointed.
"What Remy? Not pleased to see me? And after all I have done for you!"
"Jacobi," Gambit replied in his thick New Orleans accent, "You have never done nothin' for me except give me a headache." Jacobi laughed heartily, and indicated to the door he had just come through.
"Shall we move this to my office? Carla, bourbon." The secretary disappeared from the desk outside the door. Jacobi opened the office door and ushered the taller man inside.
"What are we toastin'?" Gambit asked.
"Why, your escape from prison of course! You're a free man Remy, a free man."
Jacobi sat down heavily on the green leather chair behind his green-leather lined desk and flicked on his green-shaded desk lamp. There was carpet on the floor and luxurious wallpaper on the walls of this room. Over one wall, opposite the desk, flat computer screens flickered with images from all over Jacobi's secret compound. Again no windows, but two heavy wooden panelled doors. Gambit took a seat, wondering if Jacobi had a secretary with access to whisky behind both doors.
A knock on the door and the secretary was back, complete with tray, two crystal glasses and a bottle of expensive looking bourbon. She lent over a little too far as she placed her load on the desk, and acknowledged a sly smile from Gambit with a wink. Jacobi finished rustling a pile of papers into a draw and smiled at Carla.
"Excellent, my dear, excellent. Thank you so much." Remy never could figure out if Jacobi's English accent was real, or put on for effect. Surely there was very little else honest about this man. Gambit accepted the whisky glass, but didn't take a sip until Jacobi had downed his.
"Now then, Remy." Jacobi paused briefly for effect. "Lets drop the pretence shall we? I would ask if you were grateful to be free from your incarceration, except we both know that the sentence was, on your behalf, voluntary."
Slowly Gambit nodded. What did this guy want from him this time? He wasn't still obsessed with having Gambit sign up, was he? Meeting Jacobi's treacherous green eyes he wouldn't put anything past the overweight human.
"You nearly had me fooled as well, Remy. It was a classy trick. I had searched everywhere, or rather my men had. We even went to the local Thieves' Guild HQ in New Orleans, but not a sign did we find. More whisky?"
"No thanks." Gambit didn't like the idea of these scum creeping around his old haunting grounds, too many memories and too many secrets he could do without these people finding out. "So how'd you find me?"
"A lovely young lady came to me. Well, when I say young she was a shape shifter so actually..." Jacobi shrugged with a grin as he poured two more glasses of whisky, "Here, live a little." He pushed a glass back to Remy. "She claimed to have executed a break-out of a high security prison and was selling information to any organisations that wanted to repeat the act. Information, it seems, is the new gold bullion. Even your little wench has been at it."
Remy winced at the mention of Blaze, was she okay? Had Jacobi kept clear of her? It had been too long...
"Anyway, this Mystique creature somehow knew we were looking for you. She'd seen your name on the prison manifest and got in touch. We had to wait a bit though, let the fuss from Mystique's operation die down. Still, I paid quite a bit for that information. You're worth a lot of money to me Remy le Beau."
"Oh yeah?" Remy questioned, "How much?"
"Half a million for the information alone. Plus a little more for bribing certain guards, training and equipping Electra and Crush, you know the type of thing..."
Remy was flattered, half a million bucks was a lot to pay out with no guarantee of success. At the same time, it made him all the more uneasy, what did Jacobi have planned that made Gambit so important?
"I'm building an army, Remy." Jacobi pressed a button on a remote, and the screens on the wall changed from boring images of the general comings and goings of the complex, to listings of names, numbers and ranks. Remy got out of his seat, downed the whisky and plonked the glass down on the desk. Going to the screens he squinted at the green lettering on black backgrounds. This was impressive, even by Jacobi's standards. "And I want you on my team. You'd be in good company."
The screen directly in front of Gambit changed again. Pictures came up with names this time, Electra was there, and Crush. The Mysterious Mystique appeared as well, redhead with blue skin and cruel yellow eyes. Remy wondered how Jacobi had gotten her involved, and decided the half a million probably had a lot to do with it. There were humans as well; he knew Pierre Cardomé from Paris, and Sal van Hyre from Cape Town. His own picture was there too, with the others. Gambit turned back to Jacobi.
"The best criminal minds and most accomplished thieves in the business, proven leaders and tacticians. There is a war brewing Remy, between mutants and humans, yet all the while we will be waiting, training, readying ourselves for power. Whilst the warring factions cause chaos, we will be reaping the rewards. In a tidal wave our associates will wash over the planet, taking control of key businesses, scientific institutions and even governments. It will be the biggest, most productive venture that my company has ever undertaken. And in eighteen months time, you and I and the rest of my chosen inner circle will be able to retire, completely untouchable, and watch the rest of man and mutant kind destroy themselves."
Jacobi's idea certainly sounded impressive, and looking at the data that still scrolled through the screens he was close to being ready to undertake such a massive manoeuvre. There was only one problem. Gambit did not like nor trust Jacobi, he knew the guy would stab him in the back first chance he got. It would have to be worth more for Gambit to actually get involved. Jacobi sensed the younger man's refusal before Remy even opened his mouth.
"You do realise Remy that this isn't really an offer. You join us, or you die. On the other hand, I'm not really worried about having to have you shot, I have a few more tricks up my sleeve to barter with for your loyalty."
Privately Remy could only wish for Jacobi to try and shoot him. This conversation was getting boring. But on the other side all information was good information, especially if he could sell it at the right price.
"Firstly boy, think about it. You are Thieves' Guild trained the same as I. You know a good deal when you smell one. A seat at the high table of an army command, my right hand man so to speak. Control of your own unit, the financial backing to pull off the scams and tricks you have always wanted to. A thirty percent cut off any profits you make. Eighteen months out of your life and you make more money than you could ever have dreamed of." Jacobi's voice grew husky with greed, knowing exactly where the other seventy percent profit would be going.
"Gambit works alone." Remy replied shortly, turning away from the screens. Jacobi could keep his profits; his obsession with having Gambit work for him was getting creepy.
"Except when Blaze is involved yes?" Remy had never heard Jacobi use Blaze's name before. The man was blatantly jealous that a thief as good as Remy would choose to work with another mutant rather than him. Jacobi usually preferred to call her whatever nasty names he could think of. "That would be point number two..."
The screens changed again at a push of Jacobi's remote. Satellite surveillance pictures of a manor house appeared on three of the many screens.
"Blaze and I had a run in not so long ago. She broke into my building on her never-ending quest for sellable information. Not totally her own good work I have to say, the kid on reception was new and was completely fooled by her smart outfit and the fact she knew that an employee of mine was expecting a visit from a lawyer."
Gambit smiled, that was pure Blaze, cheeky and upfront, but well thought out none the less.
"The receptionist has been dealt with of course. Anyway, Blaze was spotted, but she escaped. I had her followed, but she killed two of my men. The fire she started raged for two days, and very nearly lead to this very HQ being discovered..."
If he expected sympathy, Jacobi got none. Instead a half-forgotten line reverberated around Remy's head **I've really messed up. It happened again... ** He hoped his old accomplice was okay.
A/N: All reviews are most welcome; its great to know someone somewhere is reading this...
Scene Eight
Remy le Beau scowled as he placed the tiny room. This was worse than the damned prison. Reaching one wall he spun dramatically, swirling his long brown trench coat out behind him. What was Jacobi's problem?
There were two doors to the small room, but no windows. Both doors were steel lined and locked on the outside. The man called Gambit wondered how much of these precautions had been installed for his arrival alone. He already knew what lay behind the door to his right, it lead to a back alley doorway where a 'maintenance' truck had dropped him off following his 'escape' from the penitentiary. He did not think it would be too long before the second door opened and this game with Jacobi got underway.
He was right, the door creaked open towards Remy, and a minion beckoned Remy through into a larger room. This too was windowless concrete, a larger waiting room than the one he had been confined to. Jacobi was taking no chances. Sentries lined a gantry above his head, humans armed with rifles and dressed in uniforms as though it was a government installation. Remy smirked; did Jacobi know how pointless those guns would be against him?
"Remy my boy!" Jacobi himself came out of another door in the opposite wall. The large man was dressed in a well-fitted grey suit and shiny black shoes. No doubt he too was packing a gun. Humans. Coming towards Gambit the fellow criminal threw his arms open wide as if welcoming back a long lost brother.
"Jacobi." Gambit acknowledged the man with a glare from his red-on-black eyes. The crime lord dropped his arms as if disappointed.
"What Remy? Not pleased to see me? And after all I have done for you!"
"Jacobi," Gambit replied in his thick New Orleans accent, "You have never done nothin' for me except give me a headache." Jacobi laughed heartily, and indicated to the door he had just come through.
"Shall we move this to my office? Carla, bourbon." The secretary disappeared from the desk outside the door. Jacobi opened the office door and ushered the taller man inside.
"What are we toastin'?" Gambit asked.
"Why, your escape from prison of course! You're a free man Remy, a free man."
Jacobi sat down heavily on the green leather chair behind his green-leather lined desk and flicked on his green-shaded desk lamp. There was carpet on the floor and luxurious wallpaper on the walls of this room. Over one wall, opposite the desk, flat computer screens flickered with images from all over Jacobi's secret compound. Again no windows, but two heavy wooden panelled doors. Gambit took a seat, wondering if Jacobi had a secretary with access to whisky behind both doors.
A knock on the door and the secretary was back, complete with tray, two crystal glasses and a bottle of expensive looking bourbon. She lent over a little too far as she placed her load on the desk, and acknowledged a sly smile from Gambit with a wink. Jacobi finished rustling a pile of papers into a draw and smiled at Carla.
"Excellent, my dear, excellent. Thank you so much." Remy never could figure out if Jacobi's English accent was real, or put on for effect. Surely there was very little else honest about this man. Gambit accepted the whisky glass, but didn't take a sip until Jacobi had downed his.
"Now then, Remy." Jacobi paused briefly for effect. "Lets drop the pretence shall we? I would ask if you were grateful to be free from your incarceration, except we both know that the sentence was, on your behalf, voluntary."
Slowly Gambit nodded. What did this guy want from him this time? He wasn't still obsessed with having Gambit sign up, was he? Meeting Jacobi's treacherous green eyes he wouldn't put anything past the overweight human.
"You nearly had me fooled as well, Remy. It was a classy trick. I had searched everywhere, or rather my men had. We even went to the local Thieves' Guild HQ in New Orleans, but not a sign did we find. More whisky?"
"No thanks." Gambit didn't like the idea of these scum creeping around his old haunting grounds, too many memories and too many secrets he could do without these people finding out. "So how'd you find me?"
"A lovely young lady came to me. Well, when I say young she was a shape shifter so actually..." Jacobi shrugged with a grin as he poured two more glasses of whisky, "Here, live a little." He pushed a glass back to Remy. "She claimed to have executed a break-out of a high security prison and was selling information to any organisations that wanted to repeat the act. Information, it seems, is the new gold bullion. Even your little wench has been at it."
Remy winced at the mention of Blaze, was she okay? Had Jacobi kept clear of her? It had been too long...
"Anyway, this Mystique creature somehow knew we were looking for you. She'd seen your name on the prison manifest and got in touch. We had to wait a bit though, let the fuss from Mystique's operation die down. Still, I paid quite a bit for that information. You're worth a lot of money to me Remy le Beau."
"Oh yeah?" Remy questioned, "How much?"
"Half a million for the information alone. Plus a little more for bribing certain guards, training and equipping Electra and Crush, you know the type of thing..."
Remy was flattered, half a million bucks was a lot to pay out with no guarantee of success. At the same time, it made him all the more uneasy, what did Jacobi have planned that made Gambit so important?
"I'm building an army, Remy." Jacobi pressed a button on a remote, and the screens on the wall changed from boring images of the general comings and goings of the complex, to listings of names, numbers and ranks. Remy got out of his seat, downed the whisky and plonked the glass down on the desk. Going to the screens he squinted at the green lettering on black backgrounds. This was impressive, even by Jacobi's standards. "And I want you on my team. You'd be in good company."
The screen directly in front of Gambit changed again. Pictures came up with names this time, Electra was there, and Crush. The Mysterious Mystique appeared as well, redhead with blue skin and cruel yellow eyes. Remy wondered how Jacobi had gotten her involved, and decided the half a million probably had a lot to do with it. There were humans as well; he knew Pierre Cardomé from Paris, and Sal van Hyre from Cape Town. His own picture was there too, with the others. Gambit turned back to Jacobi.
"The best criminal minds and most accomplished thieves in the business, proven leaders and tacticians. There is a war brewing Remy, between mutants and humans, yet all the while we will be waiting, training, readying ourselves for power. Whilst the warring factions cause chaos, we will be reaping the rewards. In a tidal wave our associates will wash over the planet, taking control of key businesses, scientific institutions and even governments. It will be the biggest, most productive venture that my company has ever undertaken. And in eighteen months time, you and I and the rest of my chosen inner circle will be able to retire, completely untouchable, and watch the rest of man and mutant kind destroy themselves."
Jacobi's idea certainly sounded impressive, and looking at the data that still scrolled through the screens he was close to being ready to undertake such a massive manoeuvre. There was only one problem. Gambit did not like nor trust Jacobi, he knew the guy would stab him in the back first chance he got. It would have to be worth more for Gambit to actually get involved. Jacobi sensed the younger man's refusal before Remy even opened his mouth.
"You do realise Remy that this isn't really an offer. You join us, or you die. On the other hand, I'm not really worried about having to have you shot, I have a few more tricks up my sleeve to barter with for your loyalty."
Privately Remy could only wish for Jacobi to try and shoot him. This conversation was getting boring. But on the other side all information was good information, especially if he could sell it at the right price.
"Firstly boy, think about it. You are Thieves' Guild trained the same as I. You know a good deal when you smell one. A seat at the high table of an army command, my right hand man so to speak. Control of your own unit, the financial backing to pull off the scams and tricks you have always wanted to. A thirty percent cut off any profits you make. Eighteen months out of your life and you make more money than you could ever have dreamed of." Jacobi's voice grew husky with greed, knowing exactly where the other seventy percent profit would be going.
"Gambit works alone." Remy replied shortly, turning away from the screens. Jacobi could keep his profits; his obsession with having Gambit work for him was getting creepy.
"Except when Blaze is involved yes?" Remy had never heard Jacobi use Blaze's name before. The man was blatantly jealous that a thief as good as Remy would choose to work with another mutant rather than him. Jacobi usually preferred to call her whatever nasty names he could think of. "That would be point number two..."
The screens changed again at a push of Jacobi's remote. Satellite surveillance pictures of a manor house appeared on three of the many screens.
"Blaze and I had a run in not so long ago. She broke into my building on her never-ending quest for sellable information. Not totally her own good work I have to say, the kid on reception was new and was completely fooled by her smart outfit and the fact she knew that an employee of mine was expecting a visit from a lawyer."
Gambit smiled, that was pure Blaze, cheeky and upfront, but well thought out none the less.
"The receptionist has been dealt with of course. Anyway, Blaze was spotted, but she escaped. I had her followed, but she killed two of my men. The fire she started raged for two days, and very nearly lead to this very HQ being discovered..."
If he expected sympathy, Jacobi got none. Instead a half-forgotten line reverberated around Remy's head **I've really messed up. It happened again... ** He hoped his old accomplice was okay.
