Review Responses:
Pookie Sanchez—Remy & Jean is a funny thought, isn't it? Thought so.
Duct Tape Pro—I believe it was X-men ish #100. As for X-men chronology, I couldn't tell ya. But a full Rogue/Gambit chronology can be found at www.gambitguild.com. Just go to 'Rogambit'.
T.—Yes! I am back…and ya still love it, dontcha?
Jean1—I think that there probably was a time when Rogue would 'fly off the handle' as you said, but such a time is past in X-treme. There, I feel that both Rogue and Gambit have matured for themselves and for their relationship. I try to remember that in my story, and still remember to include the fun!
Green Eyed Lily's Daughter—Of course X-treme #1-10 was good! Would I write about something that wasn't good? Of course I wouldn't! Now read on with a fuller understanding!
xX-rogue-demon-Xx—Yes, it was short, wasn't it? Does this chapter make up for it?
Wishful Thinking2--:The Hit List Queen twirls around in her big comfy office chair, cackling madly…The contract may as well have been written in stone for its finality!:
Escape into a daydream--"This story flows like any mainstream novel that you would buy in a bookstore, and even better than some of them!" That has got to be the nicest thing a reviewer as has ever said to me. And yes, I did write this chapter when I should have been doing homework. But at least you can count on me to keep it clean!
Disclaimer: You can make use of practically anything that can be used, and still not own it. If you think that doesn't apply to X-men, then what are you reading this for?
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CHAPTER 15: MEMORABLE VENTURE
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Slipstream's eyes widened in surprise. The next thing he knew, he was coughing up cloud moisture. Trying to get his head above the still-hovering precipitation, her searched for Storm's hand. He knew that the winds she was channeling would keep him aloft, but he wanted her guidence just the same.
It was slightly different from riding the waves. The wind was much harder against his face, much more challenging. When he was on the water, he could only go forward. The winds, however, could change--not only in how high they soared--but in which direction. More spontaneous. He yelled and screamed with the adrenaline rush.
Davey stopped his cries when he felt a gentle preassure on his hand. Ororo held it. Her gentle blue eyes were wide with concern and curiosity. She had heard his calls over the noise of the gale, and had come soaring to see if they were from fear or exilaration. He gave her a reasuring smile as he ushered her to share the surf board with him.
She accepted the space he made, even though she didn't need it. The fact that she could fly on her own was beside the point. This was about sharing the experience. She placed her feet in front of Davis's as she extended her arms behind her for him to grasp. He took her hand, eventually moving his hands up to her shoulders. They remained that way for a time as they hurtled over the dafts of air. They held on to each other a little tighter as a particularly rough rush hit them as they passed though a dense cloud.
It was then that Storm began to feel strange. The wind in her hair seemed to stop for a moment, and she could not feel anything--not even her own body. She felt the sensation of falling. She could see nothing but an endless white as she tried to call out.
Just as quickly as it came, the sensation ended, and she felt Davey's arms wrapped tightly around her as they splashed down into the ocean water below. She shook her head. Ocean water? She pulled herself up into a sitting position on the shore as soon as she felt his grasp lessen. She was greeted by a sight she had seen only once before: sunset over Surfer's Paradise.
It was absolutely beautiful. And it was absolutely against the rules. Davis was not supposed to use his powers of teleportation so early after his recovery; it was dangerous. She turned to chastize him, only to be greeted by his innocent azure eyes and increasingly happy smile. They were so close, that their noses were but a hair's width from touching--and the distance was quickly closing further. His smile was still there when she tried to scold him, and his smile was still there when he began to kiss her. There would be time for scolding later--Ororo Munroe was too distracted at the moment...distracted with kissing back.
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RING!
"Hello, Xavier's Institute for Gifted Youngsters, Professor Xavier speaking."
"Hiya, Professuh!"
"Rogue? I haven't heard from you in ages!"
"Ah know. But dontcha worry, this is actually a semi-personal call."
"Semi-personal?"
"Yup. How's Scott?"
"He's fine. May I ask why--"
"How is he really, Professuh?"
"...Uptight...even for Scott."
"Thought so. Look, Ah'll cut right to it. The deal is that Jean's ovah here, so she's miserable. Scott's ovah there, so he's miserable. Ya love both of 'em, so ya'll are miserable. An' the rest o' the team has ta deal with 'em so they're miserable. Maybe if we stick ol' Slim an' Red in a room tagethah again--given the propah romantic settin'--we'll all be a lil' less miserable."
"If only it were that simple, my child."
"Who's ta say it ain't?"
"I am."
"Then ya get all the blame, too. The bumps in their marriage might be their fault, but their eternal separation will be yours."
"When did you get this dramatic?"
"When ya weren't lookin'. Now are ya gonna ship Cyke down ta N'awlins, or do Ah have ta drag him?"
"Very well; I'll see what I can do."
"Ya do that. In the meantime, have a nice evenin'!"
"Goodbye, Rogue."
CLICK.
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Bishop kicked back in his chair and listened with close attention. He planned to see Teri tomorrow, and thus planned to go to bed early, but he figured he would stay around long enough to see the end of the story.
He watched as his Indian teammate regalled the young Richards with the story few had heard of Sinbad: of the woman he loved most in the world. Lucas couldn't help feeling that the description Neal gave of the woman sounded awfully like another of his teammates, but he kept his mouth shut.
As the story went, the golden woman was named Sh'iara and she healed Sinbad in both body and soul. Before shipwrecking on the island, Sinbad had said goodbye to a woman named Princess Eliza, knowing he would never see her again. Sh'iara made him forget his sadness and filled him with joy. Eventually, a time came when Sinbad was ready to go home and Shi'ara did not wish to go with him. She was afraid that his men would judge her for her golden skin. Sinbad eventually convinced her to join him, but she was forever afraid of what others thought of her.
One night, Sh'iara awoke from a bad dream on Sinbad's ship. She walked out on the deck, only to be haunted the images from her own mind. They were her fears. Fear of judgement, fear of hatred, and fear that she was not as beautiful as Sinbad told her she was. Eventually, the creaks of a ship at sail became an ambush in her mind. She pictured all his crew coming to slay her in the night. Rather than be taken by her childish phantoms, she cast herself into the sea and was lost to Sinbad forever.
The references to Neal's own life were not lost on Bishop. Losing Psylocke had been the most disenheartening thing to happen to the team. Her and Neal's relationship had only begun to flourish when he found himself mourning her death.
When the young Indian man began to develop a relationship with Heather, it looked as though he would fully heal from the emotional scars. But then Lifeguard began mutating further till her ability to revert to a metal form could no longer be reversed. That, coupled with her Shi'ar features, had given her a monstrous case of insecurity. The way she kept tearing herself down was harmful to both Neal and herself. Bishop could only hope for both their sakes that Heather would come to realize what she was doing, and stop.
He lifted his head upon hearing the door open. His thoughts on the Aussie woman seemd appropriate: she had returned home.
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Victor Von Doom cackled to himself, for his plan had worked. The sunglasses that his lackey had given to the Cammeron woman were light enough that she had forgotten to take them off. As a result, the tiny camera lens on the rim of the glasses allowed him to see everything the Aussie saw, the very heart of the X-men's home.
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Author's Notes: Well, I'd say this is a pretty punctual chapter. This story, so far, is not as Rogue-Remy-Franklin centric as I had planned it to be, but I'm having quite a bit of fun with the extended roster of characters. In fact, I'm even drawing them. I've already set to work on a Reclaiming Innocence Fanart Gallery, where I can keep illustrations to go with my story. When I'm ready to post stuff, I'll give ya'll the URL. In the meantime, wish me luck. I don't know if I'll be as on-time with Chpt. 16, but reviews help!
PS.-- Anyone still interested in joining the hit list so you can know when I update?
