Disclaimer: Several new characters are mine, including the plot. X-Men belongs to Marvel and Fox.
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Blix: It gets even better in this chap!
Xcoolcomic: Here is the next chapter, hope you like this one too! (:
Everyone else has gone, come baaaack.
Chapter 14
The school had lost its once silent cover, for the sounds of chatter and movement were alive from the students within. Lessons had been delayed since the departure of some of the X-Men, and so the students grouped in the corridor outside Xavier's office. Both Xavier and Aurora had since retreated into the office to discuss matters, and Charles had recently summoned Roxanne to join them. Within the office, Charles had positioned himself beside the large windows of his office, staring out onto the empty grounds. Aurora sat in the window seat beside him, glancing nervously to him, then out of the window. He was extremely deep in thought.
As the silence continued, Aurora decided to at least try and break it, for she was becoming bored of wringing her hands, "Will Roxanne be joining us soon?"
And then, as if Charles had never drifted into contemplation, spoke shortly after her last word, "I asked for her a short while ago."
"I hope she's alright. These activities must be terrifying for her.. she might try and leave."
"We cannot stop her if she chooses to, she only came to seek out Logan and to find the answers to her questions. It is not my place to decide how long she stays, nor is it Logan's."
The last few words surprised Aurora, and with a frown she continued, "But, surely, if Logan doesn't want her near him.."
Charles answered straight away, "Logan will benefit from her being here whether he likes it or not. For he is a very lost character.. And as much as he refuses to admit it, he needs to grasp just what happened to his past before all the experimentation of Stryker." His words were sharply put in a blur of confidence and impatience, "Logan may have seemed to have decided he wants to know no more of his past. But without the knowledge of his former life, he will never be complete."
Aurora frowned, her head lowering as she listened. Did that mean for her too?
"No, not for you too Aurora." Came the simply reply as if she had voiced her worry, "You can remember much more than Logan. You know of everything before Stryker."
"Well.." Muttered Aurora sheepishly.
"It's still there, inside you. Whereas Logan has no trace of his past inside his head, only distant memories."
Silence descended back around them, and Aurora focused her glare out of the window. So, according to the Professor, Logan needed Roxanne. Needed. He'd done fine before.. he didn't need to know.. did he? In her opinion, no.. Because he had her now. She knew she made him happy, she could feel it. But the thing that was annoying her, and egging her on, was the fact that he had explained that he wanted to move on, even though inside he found himself unwilling.. According to Charles. Aurora gave him a sideways glance, contemplating over the truthfulness of his words. But she felt a stab of guilt in her chest. Of course Charles was right. He was the wisest amongst them and to doubt him was indeed foolish. Her eyes slipped back to look out of the window, when he saw Charles stiffen and his eyes glare to the door then out onto the grounds.
"Charles?" Said Aurora loudly, rising from the window seat at his apparent panic,
His brow knitted together, his grey eyes softening with apparent worry, "He's gone."
There was no need for questioning from Aurora. She knew who that 'he' was. But she wasn't ready to believe Charles, "Charles, he wouldn't have left against your wishes."
"He would, and he has." Came the steely reply as Charles glared out of the window, "He's just put himself and the students here in very grave danger.."
"What? Why?" Said Aurora softly, feeling that wash of worry overcome her.
"Logan is obviously a formidable enemy of the assassin." Said Charles softly, his eyes turning to look at Aurora, "With Logan gone, the assassin is likely to strike on the supposed weakened dwelling.".
An agonized scream erupted as Gambit was fired against the wall of the alley, body breaking away bits of brick, his body limply hitting before he collapsed to the floor. As soon as his body dropped, three pairs of footsteps hurried forth to join the alarmed looking Siren who stared at them slowly. But as the X-Men ran forth, the once small staff in Gambit's palm erupted in length, another few feet extending before it whipped round in a single circular movement to trip the six ankles. With several cries of shock, Storm, Scott, and Michael found their feet leaving the earth involuntarily and they all fell forward in horror. Gambit spun up from the floor, back into his pose of preparation. The Bo staff was still being held out, glinting threateningly in the brightening moonlight.
"Haha! Don't think ya can beat de Gambit."
Scott was the first up from the floor, hidden eyes glaring at the man, "Gambit?" He repeated, "That's your name?"
"Eye-boy, it is not your business ta know what my name is. Ya only business is to decide how fast ya can dive."
"Dive?" Repeated Scott softly, looking cautiously to Storm who had now risen.
"Yup." Confirmed Gambit before a playing card spun elegantly out of his fingers and soared towards the three. Now expecting this they indeed did dive out of the way. Gasps were heard, and a shriek of surprise from Storm. An explosion shook from the playing card, heats soaring throughout the trio, sounds of pain were evident. The first out of the scorching heat was Storm, who leapt back and prepared an attack to defend. And she was right, for more playing cards came their way, and as they did, Storm produced a few effective lightening bolts from the swiftly clouding sky to punctuate through the paper and destroy them. Explosions happened on impact, but harmlessly did so, not striking anyone.
Gambit straightened and chuckled, "Nice move." He commented intrepidly, stretching his staff back out to it's dangerous length, "So.. ya come ta 'elp Adrienne?"
"Looks like we came just in time." Replied Scott loudly, noting on how he saw Siren fall.
"You sayin' dat Gambit would try an' kill his sister?"
"We saw you!" Cried Michael, glaring at the Cajun.
"Remy did nothin' of the sort!" Gambit brandished his staff angrily, his eyes snapping to Scott as he saw him prepare his eyepiece for a blast. The staff spun elegantly and smashed across the side of Scott's head, with a yell Scott collided sideways, his hands falling from his face. He collapsed down to the floor in a heap, a gash where the staff had struck. Gambit spun back to the other two, holding out the staff, "One down, two ta go."
"Remy, no!" Cried Siren, starting to run forth. She stared shocked down at Scott as she ran past him. Her cries went unregarded as Gambit spun his staff and leapt forth, smacking Michael across the jaw, then his elbow striking into Storm's gut. Lightening crackled furiously around Storm as she began to channel the electricity back to Gambit with each hit. She was then suddenly knocked of balance as Gambit managed to kick her across the back of her head before he recoiled with a yell at the rebound of electricity. Siren froze, watching horrified as Storm slumped to collapse upon Scott. Her body landed heavily with the ferocity of the hit.
"Remy!" Siren screamed, as she watched her brother turn upon Michael with a maniacal gleam in his eyes, "Remy, for God's sake, please!" She ran forth, grabbing Gambit by his arm as he raised the staff to Michael. She dragged him back, bare palms on his coat sleeve. Gambit staggered back a little before he spun to glare at her, "Can Remy not protect himself?"
"Just stop this!"
"Chere, they are not gettin' away with de plan to kill Gambit."
"They don't – " But she was cut off as Michael as summoned the staff from Gambit's grip by his powers. Gambit spun from her as she saw his staff being held in Michael's hands.
"Step away from Siren." Michael then said softly, glaring at the Cajun.
"You foolish fatras. Ya cannot order Gambit around."
"Michael, don't tempt him." Muttered Siren softly, flashing her eyes back to Gambit.
Michael watched Siren a moment before back to Gambit, "He's just struck Scott and Storm.. I'm supposed to just stand here whilst he tries to do the same to us?"
"He won't." Siren murmured, stepping in front of Gambit, "Just move away. Siren can handle this.."
Suddenly a card slipped forth over Siren's head and collided forth with Michael, his eyes only widened when he saw it coming, trying to stop its movements. But in the dark, he only noticed it when it was too late, and he only managed to leap out of the way to avoid the worst of the explosion. He collided into a stack of bins and fell amongst them with a tremendous clatter in the explosion. Siren gasped softly and wheeled round to face Gambit, "You've just - .. You.. They, they're my friends." She cried, "What have you done?!"
Gambit merely stepped around her and over to where his staff now lay in a puddle. He lifted it gently, turning to study her, "'Ey.. beb.. Remy had to do it.. they wer' gonna kill 'im."
Siren looked over the scene of destruction, "But.. oh God.." Her hands shakily folded. Voice unstably expressing her feelings, "You've killed 'em.."
"I'm sure dey are fine, Adrienne.. Remy just .. uh.. immobilised 'em fer a bit."
Gambit then paused and looked to his left, "What is dat?"
"What?" Muttered Siren, not tearing her eyes from the collapsed Storm and Scott.
All of a sudden a ferocious roar shuddered from the shadows as a figure ran forth from where the X-Men once came. Gambit spun round to see the glint of metal before he found his throat grabbed and his body flung against the wall in one swift movement. The staff clattered to the floor in his surprise, his gasp cut short by the forceful hold to his throat. The light was lacking in the dark alley, but the moonlight provided just enough to see the wild looking face before him. A gasp came from Siren at the horribly easy movement and she ran forth, grabbing her pistol from the floor and raising it.
"Wolverine! Get your paws off him!" She bellowed, shaking hands trying to hold the pistol firm, "It is not your place to hurt him.. you shouldn't have followed me."
"Chere.. just – " Began Gambit calmly but he gasped again as Logan pressed one clawless fist up to stop his talking.
"Siren, I saw what he did!" Growled the Wolverine, his eyes glinting with a building rage.
Siren continued to hold the pistol on Logan, "Just step away from him Wolverine! Please! We don't need anymore injuries."
Gambit watched the two with narrowed eyes, his hands hopelessly gripped on Logan's wrists, trying to writhe free.
A sinister growl broke forth of the Wolverine's lips and he turned his head from Gambit to glare at Siren, "I thought you wanted to kill your brother in the first place."
"That doesn't mean Siren gives you permission to!"
Glinting eyes turned back to the reddened ones of Gambit's. A heavy stare was given to the man before Logan finally removed his fists from the Cajun's neck and he slumped down gently from the wall, eyes quickly scanning the floor. Logan turned away slowly, watching Siren, "Happy now?"
"Remy! No!" Suddenly screamed Siren, but Logan had heard the movements behind him first and spun to grab the staff as it was brandished down upon him. Gambit's attack was easily halted, and Logan glared under the weapon to Gambit, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill him." Snarled Logan to Siren.
Siren lowered the pistol gently, her eyes turning slowly to Gambit. She watched how his Devil-like eyes had stillened upon Wolverine's, and for the first time that night she felt worried. Worried for Remy, "Because.." She began softly, stepping forth, "He's my brother. And it's time for me to put the past behind me." Logan's eyes spun upon her suddenly in surprise to her declaration.
"Adrienne?" Gambit began softly, his eyes moving to her.
"Remy.. Siren apologises.." She then frowned at Logan, "Get off him."
With a snort Logan dropped his limbs and turned from the man with a disgusted grunt, "Fine, don't come home." He muttered as he lowered to lift Storm gently from the floor and try and help her.
"No.. I is coming back to le manoir." Said Siren softly as she glanced to Gambit, "But I'm bringing my family with moi.."
"What?!"
"What?!"
The two shouts suddenly erupted from both Logan and Gambit. Gambit gave a small laugh, finding this a joke, "Chere, here is mah home.."
"Living in backstreets isn't much of a life, Remy. This mansion has it all." Said Siren softly as she pulled her gloves back over her hands, "Come with me Remy.. after all these years.."
"Siren! Are you out of your frickin' mind?" Bellowed Logan, "Look what he's done!"
"Siren thinks we should get them back to the mansion before they get any worse."
Logan opened his mouth to retort, but suddenly, his mind was bombarded by a panicky signal, "Get back to the mansion Logan. The assassin may be coming back." Xavier's voice pulsated through his mind. He stood puzzled a moment, "Just –"Continued Xavier before a sound stabbed through his forehead as for the first time ever, he heard a chillingly terrified scream sound from Charles, before he lost contact.
Logan spun back to Siren with a gasp, "Oh God.."
Wow! That was long! I hope that makes up for the lengthy writers block! Please review! And go and post on the forum I made, please! =P