Kitty was expertly flying the helicopter over the coastal United States. They'd been following Jean-Luc for almost and hour.
Gambit had been silent for most of the ride. He was twisting his gloves around in his hands angrily.
"Um, w-where do you think he's taking her?" ventured Kitty quietly.
Gambit looked down at the land below and clenched his jaw. His fears were confirmed. There was no doubt in his mind as to where his father was taking Rogue. He himself had flown this route many times.
"He's taking her to Louisiana," he said flatly. "To the Thieves Guild."
Kitty drew a sharp breath. She didn't know much about Remy's past, but she enough to know that Rogue's situation was not good. Grimly, she set the helicopters coordinates to New Orleans, Louisian a.
Lance and Pietro were in Columbia, Carolina. They had stopped so Pietro could rest his arms. Lance was stalking around the gas station. What was talking Pietro so long in the bathroom?
Finally, Pietro reappeared, his mouth stuffed full of a six pack of powdered doughnuts.
"Ready to go?" he asked, his voice muffled by all the food crammed into it.
Lance scowled. "I've been ready. Let's go."
"Hey," said Pietro, growing defensive. "I don't know where they're going, or it would be a lot easier. I have to keep stopping so I can make sure we're still with them."
"Yeah yeah, let's just go," snapped Lance.
They went.
Rogue's mind was in turmoil. She was tied up in helicopter, after having been kid-napped by her ex-boyfriend's father and his body guard. This was insane, she had to be dreaming.
The helicopter gave a sickening lurch. Rogue's stomach leapt up into her throat. Nope, she was definitely not dreaming. For the first time in weeks, she wished that Remy were there with her.
The helicopter was descending, Rogue could feel it. She could only imagine what awaited her on the ground.
Jean-Luc turned around and smiled evilly at her. "At last we have arrived. It is time for the final pieces of the puzzle to be put into place. Don't be scared, Cherie. It will be over sooner than you think."
Rogue glared at him and struggled against her bonds. He only laughed, and turned back around to give directions to Cormac.
"As soon as we land, go and fetch the car. I will bring the girl. As soon as we are inside, go straight to the Conclave. Stop for nothing. And don't worry about the helicopter. Leave it at the base."
"Uh, sure thing boss," said Cormac.
The Conclave? Wasn't that like, part of a church? Rogue was mystified. He was taking her to a church? That couldn't be right.
The helicopter touched down gently. Cormac killed the engine and jumped out. Jean-Luc grabbed Rogue and dragged her over the seat. He picked her up and carried her outside.
It was warm out. 'We must be down South,' thought Rogue. And then it hit her. New Orleans. Remy's father lived in New Orleans. All of the memories from her last visit (Cajun Spice, remember that episode?) came flooding back. He must be taking her to the Thieves Guild.
Jean-Luc threw her into the backseat of a limo and climbed in after her.
"Hey, Boss," said Cormac, looking in the rearview mirror. "Looks like Remy went an' followed us. You want me to take care of him?"
"No, that will not be necessary Cormac. I will deal with Remy when the time comes." He smiled, and there was a malicious glint in his eye.
"He's using me to lure Remy here,' thought Rogue numbly. A sickening feeling gripped her stomach. The car drove off into the night, as Rouge silently pled for help.
"They're landing!" said Kitty.
"Gambit practically jumped out of his seat. "Hurry up and land this damn thing." He pulled out a deck of cards. He had been right. They were indeed in New Orleans.
Kitty maneuvered the chopper to the ground. They both jumped out. Unfortunately, they were just in time to see the limo drive off. Gambit swore for the hundredth time that evening.
"What are we going to do now?"asked Kitty. "We need some kind of car."
But Gambit was way ahead of her. He ran across the airstrip to where some cars were parked. "Get over here and phase us in!" he yelled to her.
Desperate times called for desperate measures. Kitty ran over and did as she was told. Seconds later, they were speeding off after the limo.
"Damn it!" yelled Lance. They had just missed Kitty. Again.
"Why would he take her to New Orleans?" asked Pietro.
"How the hell should I know?" cried Lance in frustration. "Isn't he from here or something?"
Suddenly, Pietro recalled something that his father had told him when the Acolytes were formed. Magneto had said that Gambit had a troubled past, and that he came from the Thieves Guild.
"Lance," said Pietro quietly. "I think Kitty is in more danger than we thought. Gambit is taking her to the Thieves Guild. It's like this big crime organization that he belongs to or something."
Lance paled. "When I get my hands on him, I'm gonna --"
"No time," said Pietro. "Let's go."
The car came to a stop. Cormac got out and opened the door for Jean-Luc, who grabbed Rogue and got out.
"Here we are, Cherie," he breathed into her ear. "Here we are at last." He carried her into a dark building.
Rogue gasped. They were in a church. The Thieves Guild couldn't possibly be in a church. But sure enough, Jean-Luc carried her right to the Conclave.
"Cormac," he snapped. "Sometime today."
"Sorry Boss." Cormac lumbered up to the wall. Grunting, he shoved one of the lower stones that made up the wall until it slid backwards, revealing a secret passage.
As is sensing her fear, Jean-Luc chuckled and leaned over her. "Welcome to the Thieves
Guild," he whispered.
He stepped inside, still carrying her. Cormac followed, but turned to replace the stone.
"Don't bother," said Jean-Luc. "I have a feeling someone else will be using it soon."
He led the way down the tunnel, that was lit only by a few torches. All of the sudden, the darkness exploded into light.
Rogue squinted and looked around. They were at the top of some stairs that led down to a large, rectangular room. The room was filled with people talking, laughing, and drinking. Tables and chairs were scattered around, as were kegs of alcohol. There were several doors leading to other rooms.
"He's back!" cried one man. "The king has returned!" A cheer went up around the room.
Jean-Luc stepped forward. "My friends!" he called out to the crowd. "I have completed the task successfully!" He held Rogue up over the edge of the stairs triumphantly.
She screamed, afraid he would drop her. The crowd went wild, screaming and cheering. Jean-Luc laughed at her.
"Don't worry, I am done with you for now." He handed her over to Cormac. She watched as he ran down the stairs. Someone handed him a beer, which he gladly accepted. Anger rose in her when she saw how he had thrown himself onto his "throne" at the head of the table and proceeded to brag about kid-napping her.
Cormac lumbered down the stairs and through on the doors. They were now in a crude looking bedroom. Cormac put her down on the bed and bound her to it with more rope.
"Please," said Rogue. "Please, let me go. You must be sick of bein' a flunky. Let me go and we can both escape this place."
Cormac studied her face for a second. That he burst out laughing. "Nice try girly. I wouldn't leave the Boss for all the freedom in the world." He lumbered back out into the main hall, shutting and bolting the door behind him.
Rogue sighed, and screwed her eyes shut against the tears that threatened to spill over.
Outside the church, Gambit and Kitty has just arrived. Kitty was confused.
"Wait, I thought we were going to the Thieves Guild," she said. "This looks like a church."
"Just trust me," said Gambit shortly.
"Oh yeah," said Kitty sarcastically under her breath. "Just look where that got Rogue."
Inside the church, Gambit led her straight to the Conclave. They saw the open secret passage.
Gambit smiled grimly. "Obviously my father is expecting me. Listen Kitty, we're going to need your powers here. As soon as we go through the tunnel, phase us down through the stairs. As soon as we get to the ground, go find Rogue. I'll handle everything else. Got it?"
Kitty nodded. "Got it."
Just as they were about to run through the tunnel, Lance and Pietro came bursting in.
"You lying, backstabbing, jerk!" said Lance, charging at Remy. Pietro ran up, grabbed Kitty, and ran her back to the pews.
"What are you doing!?" screamed Kitty as she saw Lance punch Gambit. The two boys struggled.
"What do you mean, what are we doing?" asked Pietro. "We're saving you!"
"WHAT!? I don't need saving, Rogue does!"
"But...Gambit kid-napped you! We saw you driving by on his motorcycle, you were screaming, you sounded scared!"
"Yeah, because he was going so fast! Gambit's father kid-napped Rogue, so Gambit and I came to save her!"
" Are you serious?" asked Pietro.
Kitty nodded.
Pietro ran over and dragged Lance off Gambit. "Lance, stop! We really screwed up!" Pietro explained the situation.
Lance was thoroughly embarrassed. "Uh, well, we'll uh, help you save Rogue," he mumbled, trying to salvage the situation.
Kitty smiled at him. She couldn't believe he'd followed her all the way down because he thought he was in danger.
"Oh Lance," she said, softly giving him a hug. "Thank you for coming to my rescue, even if I didn't really need it."
He grinned, and whispered something that made her giggle. Pietro scowled.
Gambit growled in exasperation. "You two can do this later, I think that saving Rogue's life is a little more important."
"Sorry," said Kitty, instantly feeling guilty for forgetting about Rogue.
They ran through the tunnel. She grabbed their hands, and phased them down through the stairs.
However, all the fighting and screaming had given Jean-Luc an obvious warning that his son had arrived. So, he had laid a trap.
As soon as the 4 mutants stepped into the room, they felt themselves falling. Sure enough, they were trapped in a 10 foot deep pit. Jean-Luc came up to put bars over the top. He smiled down at them.
"Welcome home son."
Gambit growled and lunged upwards. "Let us out of here!"
Jean-Luc smiled even wider. "Soon my son. Soon you can see what you came so far to protect. Soon."