Disclaimer: To own or not to own…The gun pointed at my head says not to own…very persuasive.
VinGirl Sorry, I should have warned: Some of these stories may contain utter silliness. Consult your local pharmacist before reading.
Star-of-Chaos People with death wishes are funny. Fact of life, that. Anyway, hope you like this chappie too.
Ima Super Mute Ant Hey, thought I lost you on this story. Nice to see you still like it!
Dark Elf3 Wow. That has got to be the longest review I have ever seen, so I'll take it point by point. Snow sucks. It pretends to be all fluffy and nice and cozy but it's wet, dirty and tastes terribly. I have no idea what aol IM means (yes I am computerly-challenged), maybe you can explain it, but I'm honored that you're using something that I wrote (though it's probably all been said a million times before). I've upped the rating to PG, but I really don't see the point, you tell me one child who has never in his life seen any bad things or heard any curses, I mean the first words a baby learns are 'mommy', 'poppa' and 'stop crying for fucks sake'. Besides, you tell me what parent would sit down with his kid to read a fanfic story? Anyway, love to know you liked it. And finally: eat breakfast, it good for you. Trust me. ;)
Leann Aha, the phone call, all I can say is Rogue is _not_ going to be pleased…oh no, not at all. *evil grin*
Isandahalf I stole the quote from the comics. No wait, I borrowed the quote from the comics, as a tribute…sounds much better, don't you think?
Emma Love that you laughed at it. I laughed too when I read it, but since I wrote it, it only makes me a pretty sad person.
Lonewolf I knew a bit of Nick Cave inspired poetry would make you come around…
Caliente What are you saying? I love that story! I had to bear in mind _not_ to make Bishop team up with Rogue in this story, because people would kill me for plagiarism!
Vagus I cannot be bribed with cookies, especially not with half eaten cookies…what?…you got more? Gimme, gimme, gimme! :)
Peace215 Ah yes, the cockiness. Let me explain. I started a plotless story, just to put in some jokes and make people laugh. Then a plot suddenly came in and now I have to make up an actual story with an actual end. Now, continuity was never my strong point, so I just go on writing stupid jokes and try to mix some sort of plot in between. Promise, from here on, more plot…I hope…Anyway, I'm not a robot, I'm just that good. *grin*
Epona Good! I like it when people laugh like insane people. Makes the insane look a bit more sane…
A/N I'm finally getting somewhere…promise.
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14. Watertight plans aren'tFissie
And so, after a speech on morality, Remy paid for the coffee and cake with his fluffy purple purse. The waitress thanked him for the big tip and the shoppers left for the car.
On their way back to the parking lots, Remy casually found a small old, second hand store in a small alley, not anywhere any normal person would look for anything. The place was filled with old clothing, old furniture and other old stuff. It had this weird smell to it; a combination of mothballs, wood polish, dust and some indescribable moldy pong. The floor crackled as they stepped inside. While Jean, Kitty, Rogue and Bishop sort of looked around and tried not touching anything, Remy walked up to the counter.
''Can I be of service?'' An old gray-haired man appeared behind the counter. His smile was a bit too wide.
''Depends. Y' got coats?'' Remy asked, not really looking interested.
''Coats?'' The man sounded a bit more surprised than he should have been.
''Oui. Coats. Trench, 'f y' got.'' Remy insisted.
''Sure, I'll look.'' The man went to the storage room and came back after five minutes with a worn out trench coat. Similar to the one Remy had before. He put it on. It fitted perfectly.
''Bien, I'll take it.'' Remy didn't take off the coat.
''Can I interest you in some other things? A good book, for example.'' The man suggested just a bit too consciously.
''Non.''
''Just the coat?'' The old man frowned.
''Jus' de coat.'' Remy smiled.
''It's a very nice book.''
''Non, merci.'' Remy persisted..
''I believe it is called 'seven pillars of wisdom'.''
''No.'' He was getting annoyed.
''Written by T.E. Lawrence...It's got a nice black cover, bit worn out in places, but...''
''I know de book. I ain' interested. Stop buggin' m'.'' He said. And in a low voice, so no one would hear he continued. ''Or I'll be buggin' you.''
Two demon eyes gazed into two old gray ones. ''Well,'' The old man said a bit too cheerfully. ''Enjoy the rest of the afternoon. Have a nice day! Goodbye!''
Rogue had observed this strange behavior, while Bishop was examining an old rifle and Kitty and Jean were slowly growing attached to an antique comforter. She thought the whole ordeal with that man was odd, to say the least.
They stepped out of the store and headed towards the car. A thought hit Rogue. ~Did he pay for that coat at all? Maybe Ah missed it.~ Still she thought it was all a bit weird.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
''I've talked to the president, he still didn't look convinced but I got him to reconsider. Meanwhile a television debate has been organized.'' Xavier turned on the television. The news was on.
# ''...incidents involving mutants. The potential danger they bring is becoming more and more evident.'' As said by Robert Kramer. More of this, later, in the live television debate.
Local news. New York City has suffered some mysterious disappearances of children. Authorities are facing a mystery. No clues have yet been found. Police suspect a connection the still unresolved abduction of two men and one woman, a few months ago. However, these are still unfounded suspicions.
Stay tuned. On next, the registration law debate, live on... #
Logan turned off the TV. ''That's what they were talking about! I heard them mentioning something about 'the kids'. I thought they were talking about their own children. Chuck, they have those kids.''
Xavier let the words sink in. ''How come we did not know about these plans?''
''The encoded file. It must be there.'' Hank realized. ''I have still not been able to decode it.''
''Let me try decode de file.'' Remy suggested.
''You can do that?''
~I know who can.~ ''I can try.''
''Very well.''
Gambit went to the improvised history classroom. He turned on the computer and composed a message:
'Decode attached file.' He attached the file and sent it to the one man he knew could decode the file in no time. After fifteen minutes he received a message:
'Cher Remy,
I'm fine, thank you. How are you doing? The attached file has been decoded.
Hope to see you again some day. Jean-Luc sends his regards and Mattie nearly choked me in an embrace when I told her you sent an e-mail. I'll live.
Lapin. '
Remy smiled bitterly. He wrote a message back:
'Cher Lapin,
So, the Assassins aren't tracing your e-mail anymore? Took you long enough. Nice to know you're doing fine. Hope to be able to see you all again some day. Say hi to Jean-Luc and Henri for me and give a big hug to Mattie.
Remy. '
He stared at the screen before sending the message. He really did hope to see them all some day again. Although he was getting more and more comfortable here at the mansion, he did miss his family. He was happy to find that they did seem to miss him as well.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Behind the scenes at the TV debateKramer was naturally invited to the debate. He was in the restroom, pulling his tie straight when his phone rang. He recognized the number.
''What is it?''
''We spotted on of them at the bar yesterday.'' The voice at the other end said.
''Which one?''
''The one with the claws.''
The man shook his head and sighed. ''And they still dare to claim mutants aren't dangerous...Has he overheard you?''
''I believe so. They know about our location at the warehouse.''
''Damn.''
''Don't worry, we'll have a welcoming committee for them. They won't know what hit them...''
''Good. The debate starts in five minutes. Keep me informed.'' He hung up and grinned. Those fools won't know what hit them.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
The War-room''Okay, they're hiding the missing children at the old warehouse, here.'' Cyclops pointed at a certain location on the map. ''It doesn't look like anything from the outside, but on the inside it must be a pretty well organized base. They intent to use them as guinea pigs, although it is still not clear for what. The only thing we know for sure is that all those children are mutants. What ever it may be, they are in grave danger.''
''We should go there and spy on them. See how they operate, what they do, what their exact plans are.'' Jean suggested.
''The file talks about 'previous failed experiments with deadly consequences'. I think we have to move quickly.'' Hank commented.
''But with caution.'' Cyclops added.
''Gambit could spy on them. I mean, he could get in.'' Jean proposed.
''Yeah.'' Evan agreed.
''We don't have any plans of the place. They way they're organized and the guns and equipment they used at our previous encounter, no one's gonna be able to get in there if the plans of the place aren't known.'' Scott wisely commented.
''Yeah, but still. We should, like, try. I mean, we have to avoid a fight, right?. Gambit could, like...''
''Yes, but Gambit...''
''Achem.'' Remy coughed very audibly.
''Yes?'' Xavier asked.
''If Gambit can comment on a conversation dat seems t' be revolvin' roun' him, I ain' spyin' on no one.''
''Why not?''
''Dat's not what I do. 'Sides spyin' on dem ain' gonna do us any good.''
''What do you mean?''
''All dat y'r gonna see is a bunch o' terrorists sittin' 'round, waitin' f'r orders an' a mad scientist experimentin'. We know dat already. Kramer's de man y' gotta spy on 'f y' wan' t' know anythin' more, but it be too late now t' do dat. De ball be rollin'. Dose kids are dere, an' we don' even know 'f deir alive not. We gotta stop them, 'fore dey can do more. Permanently.''
''He's got a point.'' Rogue pointed out.
"Dat should tell you somethin' bout how desperate you are. Can' be a good sign when I'm de voice o' reason..."
''So what do you suggest?'' Storm enquired.
''We fight dem off, save de children. De kids get on de news, dey tell bout who captured dem. Like dat, de FOH gets exposed as a bunch o' dangerous terrorists.''
''But that doesn't solve the core problem. Kramer can always find other people to help him, if not in the form of the FOH, then in some other organization.'' Cyclops said.
''Yeah, what about Kramer. He won't let something like that stop him.'' Bobby mixed in on the conversation as well.
"I say dead men tell no tails." Remy said fingering a charged card, getting hateful look from the others.
''Gambit.'' The stern voice of Xavier made Gambit roll his eyes.
''It be de truth.'' Some more looks where shot his way. Remy sighed. ''We gotta get dose kids out first, den we deal wid Kramer.''
After some more discussion a plan was formed. They would go to the warehouse, break in and find those children. Hank had insisted on taking the Blackbird, to be able to bring those children to safety as fast as possible. He pointed out that there was enough landing space on the open field near the warehouse. They decided to attack at nightfall.
''Okay people, we move tonight. And Bobby, you...'' Cyclops began.
''Call me Iceman.'' Bobby stated proudly. He had spent all afternoon finding a nice alias, this one sounded cool. It had that whole vintage yet futuristic sound to it.
''Ice_man_?'' Remy laughed. ''Call y'rself Iceboy an' y' have a deal.''
''You watch to much cartoons, man.'' Evan agreed.
''I like Iceman...''
''Bobby, when this thing is over, you can have time to find a good alias.''
''Iceman is good...''
''Perhaps, but you won't need an alias now.'' Bobby looked at Xavier with big eyes. ''Bobby, you will stay here. You are not ready for this yet.''
''Oh, come on...''
''That decision is final.''
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
That night at the warehouseThe Blackbird had landed without making so much of a sound. Dressed for battle, the x-men silently approached the warehouse. All the windows were checked. No one seemed to be inside. They decided to enter via a backdoor.
Wolverine got ready to make that door history, but Cyclops stopped him. ''We need to do this as quietly as we can. Besides, they probably put in a lot of security, you might attract them. We must try to get in and out without being spotted. Gambit? Proceed.'' Gambit rolled his eyes. Cyclops in glorious leader mode was without doubt the most horrific thing he had ever witnessed. He made a gesture for everyone to step back. He approached the door with utter care. He examined the hinges and the small window above it. He took another careful look to the lock. ''Steel reinforced door,'' he whispered, loud enough for the rest to hear. ''Hmmm, ultra-pro 6000 security lock, interestin'...'' He rubbed his chin.
''Well?'' Scott asked curiously after Remy had spent five minutes examining the lock.
''Shh. Get back.''
Scott didn't. In stead he leaned in closer. ''Homme, stop breathin' in m' neck.'' Scott made a face. ''At least till y' stop eatin' dose onion pretzels. Do a man a favor.''
After some more examination he looked up to the waiting team and nodded. He cracked his fingers and put one hand on the handle. The tension was rising. Carefully he placed his other hand on the door. He looked back once more. Not looking back he pushed the handle down. With a little push the door opened. ''After you, mes amis.''
''It was open?!'' Cyclops almost shouted. ''You spend the last ten minutes examining an open door?''
''Relax, can' y' take a joke, homme?'' Gambit grinned.
''Not when we're on a mission.'' Cyclops motioned everyone to step closer slowly. Bishop, Gambit and Wolverine got ready to burst in. Claws were itching, cards were grabbed and one mean gun was loaded, o yes, they were ready for action.
''Wait! Slow down.'' They carefully stepped inside. ''We still don't know who or what we may find here.''
''They won't know what hit them.'' Wolverine's claws came out with a familiar 'snickt'.
''We must proceed with caution. We have to wait for the opportun...''
The clicking of a lot of guns in the complete darkness cut off Scott's explanation. Wolverine could hear it, Gambit could see it, Bishop just knew it. They were surrounded. Slowly the x-men raised their hands in the air.
''Mon ami, 'f y' were waitin' f'r the opportune moment, y' jus' 'bout missed it right dere..''
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A/N: Hmmm, this doesn't look to good for our friends, does it? Anyway, I hope the story is a bit clear still. Do warn if I'm getting into too many plot-holes or if it the story is simply not understandable anymore. Hope you liked it even though it was not the best thing I've ever written. It'll get better…
On next: Oh come on, don't pretend you don't know…yes, yes, a fight. Or maybe I'll just have them be imprisoned and have Beast run off with the princess…I'm mixing up stories now…
Review, or I'll sent in the clowns…