Sidekicks

Chapter 7

By Trynia Merin

Notes: Thanks to all the reviewers! Here we go with the next chapter. These are not my characters, except for the character of Misty, and some other minor ones! Enjoy as the action increases!


As they passed a set of cubicles, a blonde intern with a laminate security pass appeared out of nowhere and picked up a phone. She dialed a number; her ice blue eyes fixed firmly on Logan, Murray and Jubilee walking by in the hallway. "Hello, Ms. Darkholme? They're here…"

"Good," said the voice on the other end. "Can you describe them?"

"A young girl, about two years younger than me, and some man in a uniform… he's only an inch taller than the girl, coming in with Major Murray…"

"Don't lose sight of them… you know what to do. Is the girl the same one…"

"That I saw in West Chester… yes Ms. Darkholme…"

"Very good Misty. Be patient. I know you want to act, but you can't let your personal feelings damage the goods. I want you to watch her, but let me approach her. You stick to the Canadian. He's very dangerous…"

"I remember. But he can't touch me with his weapons… my father must have…"

"He spoke highly of you. Don't disappoint me…"

"I won't, mistress," she whispered. Her features blurred and shifted into a fine mist, which dissipated into nothingness as it drifted through the hallways after the visitors.

Nearby, a blonde gentlemen nodded with satisfaction. "Nice work, my dear… Raven will see that you truly ARE worthy of entering the Brotherhood…"

His introspection was interrupted when the phone by his desk rang. He picked it up and said in a British accent, "Yes Raven?"

"Your daughter's in position. There should be one other with them…"

"Yes… the thief. I have a score to settle with him considering what happened on Muir Island…"

"That was two years ago. Keep yourself focussed Pyro. Do not disappoint me. You may have failed me on numerous occasions, but perhaps your daughter may prove far more useful…"

"She can do it," he nodded. "And I'll ignore your last remark…"

"Enough of the small talk. Get to the front desk, and make sure the others are in position by the hotel. I'll be moving soon…"

"Right…"


Jubilee shivered as they rounded a corner, and Murray opened the door to a small office. "This is as far as I can get you in… from here you're on your own…"

"Thanks pal," Wolverine whispered. "You've done enough… we can take it from here…"

"Legally we're not supposed to be BACK here," he whispered. "You've only got an hour before they find out I'm here…"

"Any security cameras?" Jubilee whispered nervously as Wolverine sat down in the high-backed leather chair. He faced the mahogany desk, and began to type with gloved hands.

"Stand over there, kid, and look sharp…" Wolverine whispered. "Murray, you get yourself outta here… you'll be back in an hour right?"

"Yes, I'm about to get paged…" he said. A beeper went off in his pocket. He moved the door partly shut, and walked away quickly.

"Excuse me, I need to make a call," he said loudly. Jubilee ducked in the door, and peered over Logan's shoulder.

"Are you SURE nobody's watching… cause I have a feeling…"

"Relax kid. If I hear any footsteps, you know what to do…"

"Sure yeah… what ARE you into…"

"Here we go… file's here… yeah…" he muttered. "Thank Kitty for all those lessons in up to date hacking…"

"She's the computer whiz you mentioned…" Jubilee nodded. "Wait… this here says something about Project Willowhisp…"

"Interesting moniker… wonder where they dredged that up," Wolverine muttered as he stroked his chin. "Willowhisp… this face look familiar…"

A picture appeared above lines of text. Jubilee squinted to see the technical jargon, and saw the balding man with thick glasses. "That's the guy in the magazine article… all right…"

"And that's the Thunder Child all right," Wolverine nodded as he scrolled down with the mouse further in the document. "Been issued only a loose security clearance…"

"So we were right," Jubilee nodded as she sat on the desk next to the keyboard and peered around to see the screen.

"Not so fast darlin… they say they've discontinued the project all right, but it's been picked up by some private company… but the rest is classified…"

"Who's this Raven Darkholme woman?" asked Jubilee. "Says here she worked as the liaison with the project scientist… and Senator Kelly signed the order against it being used as a weapon…"

"Figures… she was one of his staff…" he nodded. "Interesting… something bothers me about all this though… why would it be so easy to find…"

"Yeah… it's almost TOO easy…"

"Jubes, someone's coming," Wolverine whispered fiercely. "Get ready… I need a distraction…"

"One coming right up," she said as she leapt off the desk.

"I'll be back to find you in an hour. Have 'em take you to the security desk. Good luck okay? Be careful!"

"You be careful yourself, Wolvie," she whispered. He gave her hand a squeeze, and she walked towards the door. Opening it carefully she walked out into the hallway.

Footsteps echoed, and Jubilee walked around the corner, glancing left and right. "I wonder where the ladies room is," she said audibly.

"Miss… what are you doing…" someone barked, and Jubilee walked quickly away in the opposite direction.

"Ulp," she whispered, hoping they would follow HER and not notice where she was walking.


Jubilee managed to shake the nosy security guard, and rounded the corner to rendezvous with Logan. Glancing left and right she ploughed into the office. Nobody sat before the computer console. A shot of fear shivered her, and she found herself saying, "Wolvie…"

"Excuse me Miss but what are you doing here?" someone said. Jubilee cringed, freezing in place.

"Um… I'm um… lost…" she stammered. Get a grip girl, she mentally scolded herself. Slowly she turned her head, and glanced behind her to see a dark haired woman wearing glasses. Her white blouse, plaid suit, and plastic laminated badge demarcated her as one of the executives or Capitol Hill staff.

"The tour was over a half hour ago young lady. Mind explaining just WHAT you are doing in a restricted area? Come out of there at once…"

"I'm… sorry," Jubilee whined, her mind whirring to figure out how to get out of this, and where on EARTH Logan had disappeared to. "My uncle was taking me for a tour, and we got separated when I was trying to look for the ladies bathroom…"

"It's this way miss…" the dark haired woman said, taking her arm firmly yet gently. "Miss Julie Logan is it?"

"Yep that's my name," Jubilee nodded eagerly. "I… please I want to see my Uncle…"

"I'm Miss Darkholme. I'll be happy to help you find your uncle, but you'll have to come with me to security… the military police and security won't be as understanding as me…"

"I'm soo sorry, I like had NO idea…" Jubilee whined, falling into the helpless child roll. Although it made her stomach crawl there seemed little alternative except to play her role to the fullest.

"There there, dear," Miss Darkholme soothed her, features softening from a severe frown into concern. "Here's the ladies bathroom down the hall. I'll have to wait with you just inside… in the meantime I'll call security to page your uncle…"

"He and I came in together… and we… we meant no harm…" Jubilee said as the woman led her to a locked bathroom, and pulled out the key. Opening it, she let Jubilee inside.

"I'll be right out here, let me make a call. But you can't go anywhere. I suggest for your own sake you don't try anything… but since you seem like such a good girl, I KNOW you wouldn't dream of having anything but honorable intentions…"

"Yes ma'am," Jubilee nodded, and then slipped into the bathroom. Heart pounding she leaned against the wall, and exhaled sharply. What the heck am I gonna do now? She mentally asked herself. She turned on the tap to full blast, and ducked into one of the stalls. Reaching in her purse she pulled out her comlink.

"Gambit… Logan… where the heck are you?"

"Petit? This is Remy… where are you?"

"I'm inside… and someone's found me… some lady who says I'm in trouble… I can't find Logan…"

"Hold on Petit, Remy will come get ya… where are you?"

"She's taking me to the Security desk…"

"Gambit will be right there… stay put… no signal from Logan. T'ink that he's not able to answer, or don't want to… he'll meet up with us later, petit…""

"Wolverine… where are you?" she wondered. Quickly she flushed the john for the sake of appearance, and then waited another minute. There was nothing but static on Logan's frequency. Her throat choked up, and she figured perhaps he was in a position where he couldn't answer. At least she hoped he was all right, and simply tied up in his charade.

If he figured out she'd been taken to security, he'd figure the rest out, and meet back with them at the hotel. That was the backup plan.


In five minutes Jubilee knocked at the door, and Miss Darkholme opened it. "There you are… good… I'm going to escort you to the security desk, so come quietly…"

"Yes, I don't want any problems, Ma'am," Jubilee said as politely as she could. Keeping her head still, she twitched her eyes back and forth, hoping to see Logan coming around a corner. However the footsteps that finally claimed owners were other staff members in suits or military uniformed personnel, all with laminate badges. Finally she emerged with her guide to the security desk, where she saw a welcome sight.

"Petit, where on EARTH were you?" Gambit asked as he leapt up from the waiting area and threw himself at Jubilee. "Remy was worried sick Cheri…"

"Um hi there…" she said as she accepted his firm hug.

"Play along, petit," he whispered in her ear. "Get both of us out of here…"

"Ohh darling I was SOO worried," Jubilee squealed in a fake high schooler voice. She kissed his cheek, and Gambit winked encouragingly.

"Sir, may I see your ID?"

"She's my girlfriend… got to take her back to her uncle now," Remy said as he flashed his visitor badge. "He sent me t' find her cause he figured she be lost in da big city all alone…"

"Well she is in a big heap of trouble because we found her wandering off," said the security guard.

"Remy's sure this was all a big misunderstanding, right Cherie?" Gambit said as he hugged Jubilee to his hip and kissed the top of her head. Sliding away from her he grabbed her hand and started walking her towards the exit.

"Sorry gotta go… you know my uncle hates to be waiting…"

"But sir…"

"Let them go, they're harmless," Raven shook her head with a chuckle. "I will make certain of that personally…"

"Ma'am?" the security guard blinked at her. Just then a blond gentleman in a navy blue three-piece suit got up from an office further in the complex and strode out.

"She is correct, sir," he said in a British accent. "I'll be happy to assist her. Ms. Darkholme has this situation under control, don't you?"

"Yes, my associate is correct," said Raven, looking at the guard.

"If you say so…"

"She'll be followed carefully if she returns. And if you see her 'uncle' try and leave please let us know… I'll be checking personally…" Raven said. "Report back to me anything unusual…"

"Right Ms. Darkholme…" the guard nodded. Taking her confederate by the arm, she walked with him into his office, and closed the door. Both sat down.

"So, is she following them?" asked Darkholm.

"She is indeed, Raven," said her associate. "She should be in position now. No sign of the other one yet… the security guard says he admitted a man fitting your description… but he seems to have disappeared…"

"Well, you and I will have to check carefully. I am sending Lance to take care of the thief. Misty will take care of the girl. She'll be a valuable asset…"

"The brat you've been watching the past week? Courtesy of our insider?" Pyro asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That would be the one. Either way, they'll know she's missing. And that will bring my daughter's attention here."

"Suppose she doesn't want to come back again…"

"Even if she doesn't, I have the child. I can convince her to join us. Considering that her reason for being comfortable at Xavier's school will soon be removed… either here in DC or in West Chester I'll have my plan completed," Raven said with a smile of satisfaction. "Now, let's make a sweep discreetly of the building and see if we can locate the girl's so called 'uncle', shall we?"

"Right," he nodded with a cruel smile. "This is just like the old days…"

Raven Darkholme nodded and rose from her chair. She exited the office, followed closely by her associate. Nodding to one another, they parted to their separate corridors.


Meanwhile Gambit had seized Jubilee's hand and was rapidly walking her towards the nearest tour bus. He nudged her on ahead of him, and both of them climbed on board just as it was pulling away. "What's going on… where's..."

"Shhh, in a moment, petit," Remy hushed her, holding a finger to his lips. "Wait till we out of range of the site…"

"Won't he be worried if we don't…"

"Remember he and I had a backup plan. Case we got separated, Remy was t' take the petit and leave her at the hotel, then we all meet back together after dinner…"

"What have you been doing while we've been digging?" Jubilee asked.

"What does petit t'ink? Remy was doing some diggin of his own. Listening to the people comin' and going… conversations here and there… there be a lot of talk about strange goings on around DC and up in West Chester…"

"I guess it's no good asking you how you like got hold of that information…"

"You can take the t'ief out of the Guild, but not the 'tief skills out of Gambit," he said with a smile. "Now, petit, don't worry, Remy will make sure you're safe, and find the Wolverine if he's in trouble…"

"He didn't answer… either he's unable to, or he's still digging… I don't think anything happened to him… do you?" Jubilee worried.

"No, he probably got into the fun wit'out us," Gambit laughed. Bus doors hissed open after the vehicle dieseled to a stop and someone was jostled into Gambit as they shifted.

"Excuse me, I'm so sorry sir…" a feminine voice said.

"No Cherie, the fault is mine," Gambit said gallantly, as he turned and steadied the blonde woman who had collided with them.

"Gimmie a break," Jubilee groaned, watching Gambit spring into action.

"These buses are so crowded…" she giggled, tucking a piece of stray hair behind one ear. Remy took her hand in his, and bowed.

"Enchente, Mademoiselle… you are a tourist?" Remy asked, kissing the back of her gloved hand. Jubilee noticed that the gloves coordinated exactly with the dove colored raincoat and pink scarf the lady wore. Almost too perfectly, considering her high-heeled anklebreakers were the same color as her handbag and her coat.

"Ohh, I'm just here for a visit, this is my first time in the capitol, and I'm so overwhelmed there is so much to see…" she blinked as she breathed in and out.

"Here we go again," Jubilee grumbled, leaning her head into her hands and hunching over on her seat that Remy had graciously reserved for her.

"What a coincidence," Remy said smoothly, his red eyes fixing into the ice blue ones of the female companion. "So are we…"

"Remy, aren't we going somewhere?" Jubilee said pointedly. "We might miss our stop!"

"I just realized I don't even know your name, Cherie," Gambit said. "How rude of me…"

"Oh, I'm Shelly Cantrell," she said with a slight high-pitched giggle that grated on Jubilee's ears. "And you must be Remy…"

"That be me," Remy grinned.

"What hotel are you staying in?" asked the woman. "Perhaps it would be nice to know others in this town…"

"Dat's right, Mademoiselle… maybe you like to join Remy for a drink later on… and perhaps dinner?" Remy asked with a slight smile.

"Name the place… your hotel…"

"Actually I was thinking of dat little place up from the National Cathedral," said Gambit, pointing to a small restaurant up the street from their hotel. "Where you stayin? Maybe Remy come to see YOU afterwards?"

"The Hilton," she said with a blush. "Mister Remy, you ARE rather forwards…"

"Excuse me, but this is our stop!" Jubilee said as she flounced to her feet, and grabbed Gambit's coat sleeve.

"Oh, who is your friend?"

"Dat's Julie… my little sister… stepsister," Remy said. "She here on a school trip… just takin' her back to the hotel before dinner…"

"Come ON," Jubilee urged as she half dragged Gambit off the bus down the aisle.

"Au revoir, Mademoiselle… See you at six?" Remy called as he was yanked bodily by Jubilee off the bus.

"What's wrong petit?" Gambit asked as the bus pulled away with a wheeze and blast of diesel smell.

"There's such a thing as playing your part TOO well… what do you think you're doing, buster?" Jubilee snorted at him, planting hands on her hips.

"She been following Remy for the last half hour," Remy said with a grin. "Remy is not stupid… see… better to find out who the mystery lady is…"

"Isn't that like obvious?" Jubilee asked as Remy took her hand and walked her towards the hotel. "Hello, you practically told her where we were…"

"Gambit didn't, see," he whispered with a wink. "Dat's why Remy say t' meet in da restaurant… see?"

"Oh okay I guess that's okay, but what about Logan?"

"He meet us all there at six," said Remy. "Dat's part of the plan b…"

"Why didn't you let ME in on the plan B?"

"Remy and Logan just t'ought of it," Gambit shrugged. "When petit went missing…"

"So you're saying it's MY fault you're gonna play kissy face with that broad?" Jubilee winced. "Uh uh, no way…"

"Petit make it sound like a bad thing…"

"When Rogue gets wind of this, you're dead meat, pal!" Jubilee frowned.

"Dis be business, not pleasure… petit watch Gambit and learn the difference…" Remy grinned as he escorted her to the awning in front of their hotel. "Now, let's get you upstairs…"

"You're not just leaving me behind for all the fun… what if…"

"Relax… da restaurant not be far. Gambit will be coming t' get you by six… now Gambit be going to find the Wolverine…"

"You're just trying to keep me out of the way," Jubilee muttered as he walked her towards the elevator, and she pulled away from him.

"Dat be half right. Gambit seen you scared. As if you t'ink someone following you. Best place for you is here, till one of us come get you…"

"What if Logan comes first?"

"He and I will come together, or I come alone. He meet us dere…"

"I could try calling him…"

"Not a good idea p'tite… he may be in over his head unless Gambit help him… now off to the room with you…"

"Great, I make some noise about rollerblading and you think I'm being tailed…" Jubilee snorted. "I'm sixteen years old, I don't need a babysitter, and I don't need curfew…"

"Of course not. But dis lady following us, she a mutant like us, Remy t'ink. Or else a t'ieve like Remy… she follow most ordinary people never notice. But Gambit does. She uses the same tricks as the Guild…"

"Wait a second…" Jubilee interrupted. "No way you're telling me that they're mixed up in this…"

"Gambit didn't say dat. Da lady be using the same tricks, but she not necessarily a t'ief from the Guild. Someone train her like Remy though."

"Whatever," Jubilee sighed as she pulled out her hotel key and passed it to Gambit. He slid open the door, and she walked in.

"Help yourself t' anything. Remy's treat. Be back at half past five t' get you, wit' or wit'out Logan…"

"Okay… I'll play it your way, but would it KILL you guys to fill ME in on your plans? Am I an X-man or not?" she added in a whisper.

"You still in training," Gambit said as he tousled her hair. "Remy doesn't want anyt'ing to happen to you, considerin' you still limping… if somet'ing does, then the Wolverine will shishkabab Remy… and does the petit want dat to happen?"

"Fine, you win," she said. "I can't stand to see you give me those puppy dog eyes…"

"T'anks petit," Remy smiled as he hugged her. "Stay safe, n' don't open da door to anyone 'cept Remy… or Remy with Logan…"

"Why?" Jubilee asked.

"Cause somet'ing not right. And Gambit t'ink you should trust him on dis. Too long to explain now…"

"Fine," Jubilee sighed as he closed the door and blew her a kiss. She dropped her purse on the side of the door, and flopped inelegantly onto the bed. Kicking off the shoes, she pulled the pins out of her hair and let it fly free into the feathered style that she was used to sporting.

"Ugh, time to get out of these dweebette threads before I go bananas," Jubilee made a face. She quickly changed into a pair of comfortable jeans and a pink T-shirt and her favorite pair of battered sneakers. Grabbing her pink sunglasses, she slid them on her forehead to hold back her hair as she always did.

"Much better," she nodded, seeing her handiwork in the mirror. She grabbed her bluejean jacket and pulled it on, because it was a bit chilly in the room. Pacing around, she saw the Nintendo sitting by the large color TV. She tapped her lip, and then turned to look at the mini fridge, which was secured with a lock. Walking over to her suitcase she pulled out her boombox, and slid in a tape. She turned the volume up to five, and the sounds of Jimi Hendrix "All Along the Watchtower" filled the empty room.

"Should I or shouldn't I? Or should I just go find Logan myself. I don't get WHY they have to play games with me! Why wouldn't Wolvie come get me… unless something was really wrong…? Gambit doesn't play games unless he's really worried…" Jubilee muttered as she paced in circles. "This stinks… Remy wouldn't be so secretive unless someone was maybe… impersonating one of us?"

She laughed. "Nah. That'd be too much like some lame-oid TV show from the eighties," she chuckled. "If I ran off after Wolvie myself, Remy would kill me, and then Wolvie would be right behind him… can't do THAT to the Wolfster. Gotta trust that Gambit will get his butt outta whatever it is… or else maybe Wolvie's just gotten caught up and is late getting back. After all, Wolvie's no slouch either… Gambit's not the ONLY one who can play secret agent man…"

Jubilee often spoke to herself, and thought nothing of her words spoken aloud to the loud rock music. It helped her think, because the quiet was driving her crazy.