Chapter 12


"Wake up," came a voice. She could swear it was either her mom or dad who was gently shaking her. Moaning she lifted her head from the pillow and let it drop. It felt so good to lay there and not worry about anything. Her mind was free of anything except how comfortable the bed was and how much she hated getting up.

"Five more minutes, please," she groaned, burying her head in the pillow and pulling the blankets around her head.

"Jubes, rise and shine, up and at em," came the voice again, and she blinked awake. It was low, rougher and gravelly. So deeply had she been asleep that reality was taking its sweet time to reassert itself in the waking world.

It was Wolverine who was gently shaking her shoulders and leaning over her in the dimness of morning. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, and she realized she wasn't at home, or even in the X mansion. Of course, it was his apartment and his room that he'd loaned to her.

"Wolvie, c'mon, gimmie a break, just five more minutes," Jubilee groaned.

"Just cause yer my guest don't mean it's a vacation, kiddo," he chuckled, shaking her lightly again.

"Aww come on… it was worth a shot," she moaned, rolling over. He leaned over her, an amused smile crinkling his craggy features. Although it was daylight he was mostly in shadow. Dressed in what he'd worn the night before by the look of it, and a bit unkempt.

"Time to roll kid," he said, setting a set of towels down on the foot of the bed. "Got half an hour before breakfast's ready, and then we talk about a game plan…"

"All right," Jubilee mumbled, scrubbing the dust out of her eyes and yawning. She was never a morning person. Not till she had her daily dose of lucky charms, frosted flakes or other sugar coated cereal. Still mumbling about how she didn't do mornings, she grabbed the stack of towels.

"By the way, we never took your stuff back to the mansion in all the fun," Wolverine called from the living room. "So I put your bag at the foot of your bed…"

"Oh crud, it's gonna be gross-a-rama!" she yelped.

"No worries, I did laundry and repacked it, hope ya don't mind," he called.

"Thank goodness cause my socks were ready to stand up and walk outta here on their own…" she commented, digging a fresh change of clothes out. Grabbing her toilet article bag and makeup stuff she rolled them in the towel he'd given her and marched to the bathroom. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him with his back to her, pouring a pitcher of water into a coffeemaker. Something suspiciously smelled like something frying and she groaned.

The small bathroom had a tub shower and the basic soaps and shampoo that she'd expected most guys like them to have. No scented soaps or anything. Chuckling she set about freshening up, and hoped he'd have something that she could call breakfast. After all she was a growing girl, and sugar was one of the required food groups!


A half-hour later Jubilee emerged from the bathroom dressed in clean jeans and a T-shirt. She was still fluffing her hair out, freshly blow-dried and tucking it behind the visor sunglasses she always wore. Emerging into the main living area she saw Logan bringing two plates of food and setting them down on the coffee table.

"Just in time…" he nodded as he glanced at his watch and returned to the kitchen.

Jubilee flopped onto the sofa and noticed the TV was turned onto the morning news. Her eyes bugged out when she realized it was only eight thirty in the morning. Another shock was the mess of scrambled eggs and bacon with toast that awaited her. "Gag me with a spoon," she muttered as she poked at it.

He returned with a bottle of ketchup and two mugs of hot coffee. "That's all there is kid… I suggest ya make do… I didn't exactly know you were coming here…"

"Jeez Wolvie haven't ya heard of CEREAL?"

"You're hyper enough as it is… try putting some ketchup on it…" he grunted as he sat down, and began cutting up his eggs. That look he gave her told her that she had to just deal with things as they were.

"I guess I'll deal," she mumbled, grateful for something to eat. It wasn't the hotel Ritz, and she should be grateful just to be alive. Dumping ketchup on it, she poked a piece of egg and stuck it in her mouth. Surprised, she tasted cheddar cheese and some mushrooms mixed in.

"Guess ya can live on something other than carbs after all, huh?" he smirked.

"Don't get smart with me, Wolvie, next thing we do is hit a store and get some supplies," she joked. "Next time I make breakfast and you gotta eat every last bit of Count Chocula that's put before ya!"

"I can hardly wait," he commented, amused as he continued to put away his own breakfast. Amazingly Jubilee ate almost everything on her plate despite her fussing. Kids needed rules, and although he wasn't used to being in his own place let alone eating breakfast with a 15-year-old, it was not so difficult being with her. All she needed were some rules and the rest sorted itself out.

As she got up to pick up her plate, her foot kicked something under the coffee table. "Hey, what's this?" she asked.

"AK-47," he said matter of fact. "And that's a walther ppk there…"

"Um, since when were you in the NRA?" she asked.

"Army surplus," he commented, picking up his plate and hers, and walking them out to the sink. "Never hurts to be prepared."

"Oh… yeah… whatever," Jubilee muttered, backing away from it a bit. "Duh… I mean you were like some kinda soldier a few times right?"

"Ammo's stored separately," Wolverine said. "Not to worry…"

"Um, is this… stuff you keep here ALL the time?" she asked in a small whisper.

"Only in case of emergencies… I don't' throw anything away if it has a use, especially if you can't remember half of where it came from," he said ominously.

"Wow this stuff is like out of the prehistoric times… where's the stone axes and arrowheads?" she joked.

"I keep those up in the cabin in Canada," he joked. "Seriously, claws ain't always the way to go. I taught some of the X men to shoot just in case they ever had to go without those all fired important mutant powers… Storm was one of my best pupils actually…"

"That's right, I forgot," Jubilee said as she saw him washing the dishes by hand. "Hey I coulda done that…"

"Next time you're on KP," he said as he glanced back and dried his hands on the dishtowel he thrust in the front of his jeans. Pulling it out he spread it out on the towel rack and returned to the living room.

"How are we gonna fight something we can't hit or see?"

"Your vacuum cleaner idea wasn't so far off the mark, kiddo," Wolverine said. "She might be vapor, but she still can be hurt. Otherwise your plasma wouldn't have done so much damage… and there is sleeping gas…"

"We're not gonna capture her or something are we?" Jubilee asked.

"Not unless necessary. But if it comes down to it, I've got a couple gas masks and some cans of ether here…" he said. "Figure she'd materialize and get solid…"

"Wolverine, isn't it like a bit harsh… to take her as some kinda hostage… I mean not that I don't hate her guts and all…"

"It's as much as Pyro deserves for hurting you," Wolverine said seriously.

"Oh…" Jubilee trailed off, seeing the anger there in his eyes. It frightened her and Wolverine smelled and sensed he'd spooked her.

"Kid, you know I won't let anyone hurt you," he said as he sat down next to her on the sofa. "I might act like a psycho to some, but I wouldn't let any harm come to ya… never…"

"It's just… man… I know you do what you gotta do… and they do deserve to get…"

"I'm not talking about THAT kinda thing," he said. "She's just a kid. A screwed up kid, but I'm not expecting YOU to do something extreme. But we've got to be ready to fight back or she'll be terrorizing you the rest of your life…"

"Why does she hate me so much, Wolvie?" Jubilee asked, her eyes large and lost. "I mean I didn't even know she hated me… I mean what did I do to her, except like EXIST?"

"Hate doesn't need a reason kid," Wolverine muttered angrily. "Big thing is she grooves on having you scared of her. If you stand up to her, she won't have that power over you anymore. People like her and her old man use terror as a weapon. Take that away, and they fold up and run with their tail between their legs nine times outta ten."

"More of that bushido stuff, huh?" she looked up at him.

"Yeah. Don't want to be kissing her backside for the rest of your life, do ya? If she does it now, she'll just do it again…"

"I've never really nailed someone back… I… I want to hurt her so bad for what she did, but I don't wanna take her out…"

"I'm not asking ya to kid," Wolverine said gruffly. "I'm just getting ya to see that you gotta stop her from getting ya up here... messing with yer head… you can't ever give up. Not as long as yer alive to think of some way out…"

"This is majorly messed up," said Jubilee. She hugged herself and bit her lip.

Seeing her tensing and curling up, Wolverine moved closer to her. She felt his hand rest on hers, and give it a squeeze. He felt ill equipped to handle her fears all of a sudden. She was a child, and he wasn't the world's biggest expert on dealing with teenaged girls and their fears. Especially since he couldn't remember a shred of anything having resembled a childhood himself. All he had to go on sometimes was instinct. If there was one thing Wolverine had plenty of it was that.

"Kid…" he started.

"Since when did my life turn into some twisted episode of 90210… and what really sucks is I'm from So cal!" Jubilee laughed hysterically. "I mean like really… what the heck am I gonna do?"

Jubilee drew her knees into her chest and lowered her head to her knees. She inhaled deeply and pulled her hand from his. Wolverine saw her trying to hold back the tears yet again, and heard the soft sobs she muffled. Whatever she'd been holding back for so long was erupting with a vengeance. Those bottled up fears were spilling over and she couldn't hold them back.

Tentatively he rested his hand on her shoulder, and moved so he was right next to her. He wasn't accustomed to being nurturing in any shape or form, yet that instinct to protect pack mates exerted itself. His experience with Kitty however had given him some preparation in dealing with this. It had been a while though. She was part of his territory, his pack, and his family. Someone was threatening that, and he'd be damned if he'd let her suffer like this from some unseen enemy. It took every ounce of self-control to keep from unsheathing his claws and running out of the room to go slash something to pieces.

Jubilee turned and buried her head in his chest, clinging to him. Stiffly he put his arms around her and awkwardly patted her back. Such blind trust turning to him, a psycho who would just as soon skewer someone than reason with them. Children and animals were innocent, untainted by the world of man. And that innocence cut through the instinctive fear and shying away of close associations.

"I'm so scared… and if you tell anyone…" she sobbed into his shirt.

"Hey… easy there," he found himself babbling, instinctively rocking her against him. "Hell's gonna freeze over before THAT happens…"

What he said didn't have to make sense. Jubilee responded to the gruffness in his voice and latched onto him more tightly. He was the one constant other than Gambit and the X men that never changed. He was always there, ready to defend his team and his friends. Jubilee rarely cried around anyone, she couldn't afford to have feelings when they could just get stomped on. Neither could Wolverine.

But put them alone together, and there was no need to hide. He could tell what she was thinking and there was no hiding anything from his enhanced senses. Nevertheless, Jubilee didn't have to worry about him deceiving her without some purpose that was justified.

Grabbing the tissues, he released her. Jubilee glanced up at him, sniffling as she took the tissue from him and brushed away her tears. "Sorry, I just lost it…"

"I won't tell if you don't," he joked.

"Thanks… god I'm such a crybaby."

"So what?" Wolverine shrugged. "Who are you trying to fool? I'd be worried if you weren't spooked about this mess."

Still resting her head against his chest, she accepted the hug that he gave her and then remained there. He didn't pull away; in fact he continued to pat her back lightly and rock slowly, responding to the need to protect.

"But what do Betsy and wings got to do with all this… that's what I don't get," Jubilee muttered. "They totally creep me out… just like Misty does…"

"It's probably no coincidence, kid, something's involving 'em in this caper with the Brotherhood," Wolverine muttered, stroking his chin. "Just haven't put the darn puzzle pieces together…"

"Well, I mean wasn't that one scientist that made Archangel what he is… wasn't he like that Mystique character… the shapeshifter… and… nah it's stupid…"

"No it isn't, spit it out kid," Wolverine said, straitening up. "What's going through your head?"

Jubilee leaned up, her mind engaged and occupied from her fear. "Mystique was behind Warren going nuts, even though Apocalypse was her real boss… and well, ya know, Betsy's connected to Warren somehow… maybe Warren's not cool after all… and maybe in some weird way, Mystique has some hold over 'em both? I know it's lame-oid but…"

"No it ain't," Wolverine said. "Just when I thought I worked through all the garbola in my mixed up head something nasty pops outta the woodwork and bam…"

"You mean like that Weapon X stuff…" she trailed off.

"Uh huh," he nodded. "Programming's programming. And Warren was programmed to kill people. Maybe there's some traces of that still left…"

"Rogue said she took the 'evil' out of him… but it's kinda strange that he went from wanting to nail Apocalypse 24-7 to being mister X man wannabe…" Jubilee muttered.

"Bingo kid," wolverine muttered. "An Rogue's the link. Mystique wanted Rogue cause she practically raised her… she was IN the brotherhood at one time…"

"Jeez Louise," she muttered. "Maybe Mystique's screwing with us to get Rogue back? But why's she after me?"

"Maybe you're the icing, and Rogue's the cake," Wolverine muttered.

"Then she'd go after GAMBIT not me…"

"But you n' Gambit hang out together sometimes," said Wolverine. "And that idiot Cajun would be stupid enough to try and go after you himself… and then Rogue would go after the Cajun…"

"God Wolvie… is this all just so Rogue will join the Brotherhood again?"

"Could be," said Wolverine, growling in his throat.

"Gambit…" she trailed off. "He's out there... and… we're just here stuffing our faces and talking when we should DO something…"

"Wait a minute kid, we ARE doing something. You being safe is number one in my book," Wolverine said as he grabbed her shoulder and sat her down again. "And we don't just run off half-cocked and get busted again without a game plan…"

"So what are we WAITING for what do we do?"

"First, we make a circuit of the area where Gambit was last seen. Jean and Gambit managed to get away, according to the psicast Jeannie gave me last night after you went to sleep. And things have gone pretty quiet. So you and I are gonna snoop around and see if we can see THEM looking for you…"

"What if they just gave up…"

"Not likely. Best place for you is here with me, not outta my sight… well within REASON I mean," he added quickly. Jubilee laughed a bit.

"But that means ya do what I say, and follow my rules, cause it could mean the difference between life and death. And if I say stay behind I MEAN it," he said firmly. "Cause you can't go messing around cause you don't have the experience. There's a time to be a hero and a time to be smart…"

"Beast would say something profound like… 'Discretion is the better part of valor'… or something like that," Jubilee said as she put her hands on her hips and deepened her voice for a moment.

"Cute Jubes, really cute," Wolverine rolled his eyes. "But he ain't here. And they're gonna be chewing Jeannie's butt red for letting you get captured, which rots for her… but it's a good cover story… if what's happening what I think is happening…"

"Like you mean… Brittsy and Wings trying to get me somehow and get Rogue? But if they were gonna do something, wouldn't they have done it?"

"Maybe they already did, by somehow snowing Scott an getting me kicked off the team. That was my little plan," he smirked. "But they didn't figure on you showin' up on my doorstep. And Jeanie won't sing about where you're stashed. No matter how much Scott bugs her…"

"Ohhh," Jubilee laughed.

"Don't go there kid, leave it be," Wolverine muttered.

"Sorry," she said.

"Forget it," he returned.


For a few minutes there was awkward silence. Jubilee knew she'd crossed into forbidden territory and wasn't quite sure how to recover from a faux pas. Yet Wolverine let it go, and she could tell when he reached down and pulled out one of the cases from beneath the sofa. It contained the before mentioned gas masks with their canisters.

"You can't like just keep ether in the fridge, I mean it IS flammable and Hank always keeps his chemicals in some fireproof cabinet…"

"There's one in the garage where I stash the 'scoot," he muttered, checking the cartridges.

"Where the heck do ya keep a vehicle in NYC without paying a buttload of money for parking?" she asked.

"Simple… the place has its own garage… in back," he said. "Communal storage an all… nobody asks any questions they just like the same color green as anyone else…"

"Duh," she chuckled. "So… we take the surplus stuff, play Dark Knight, and hit 'em before they hit us?"

"Nope, we chase Gambit and if anyone tries to nail him, we stick to them like glue, and make sure we stop them from capturing him…" wolverine said.

"That I can handle," Jubilee chuckled, relaxing a bit. "But is he gonna be dumb enough to just waltz out in the open and go, Hey… capture me?"

"We can't tape a sign to his back, but knowing him he'll try to figure out where you are… and see if you're okay. And if I have this all sorted out, Wings and Betsy are already out looking for you and me…"

"Um… so… do we like… not use the costumes?"

"Yep," Wolverine said as he got up and pulled out one of the large steamer trunks. "They're gonna be expecting you and me to be in our battle threads, but if we just hide in plain sight like everyone else…"

"Too obvious?"

"Nah, we hide with the needles not the damn haystack," he said as he pulled out some of his other clothing and threw it on the sofa. "And maybe you've got something stashed in your bag that can help ya blend in too… something that ain't glow in the dark…"

"Ugh, you are so dead," Jubilee elbowed him in the ribs, lightly so she wouldn't bruise herself on him.


Around lunchtime, a Harley Davidson softail was being wheeled out of the storage facility in the next block over. The man dressed in leather and a fringed jacket zipped up the front, and grabbed his helmet. Next to him, the slender youth put on a helmet of her own, and glanced down at the boots she'd grabbed from her own bag.

Jubilee opened the flammable cabinet and got out the cans of ether. She poured them into the insulated containers he'd indicated. Wolverine stored the equipment he'd chosen in the saddlebags and compartments.

Straddling the bike, he waited for Jubilee to climb up behind him and take hold of his waist. They roared off down the streets into the city as the afternoon traffic was starting to thicken.

"Any sign of where Gambit would be?" she asked.

"Dunno… but I've got a feeling that he's gonna be nosing around the Village…"

"Can't you give Jean a psi holler and find out?"

"Not without riskin' Betts hearing it," said Wolverine. "Nah… it's a stretch, but I can try n' pick out his scent…"

"Out of eight million others? Wolvie, I know you're good and all but that's nutzoid," Jubilee commented.

"Watch me try," Wolverine grunted. "Chances are they won't be able to pick us up any easier outta eight million minds… if ya get my drift…"

"Works for me," Jubilee agreed.

Occasionally as they streaked down West River Drive, Logan glanced in his rear view mirror. He got to the point of being downright obsessive, when Jubilee leaned over his shoulder to see what was so important. Her blood froze when she saw a winged shape that at first seemed like one of the hawks they had put in place to keep the pigeon population under control.

"Is that…" she said into his ear over the drone of the engine.

"Yep," he said. "Right on cue…"

"But I see it as a…"

"She's putting out a lot of psi power to cloak that big bird," Wolverine said. "Means she's getting sloppy about scanning for anyone like you or me…"

"But maybe they aren't using her to do it… I mean isn't mystique able to look like any one of us… and duplicate our powers too?"

"Only to a certain extent. There's limits to her powers," said Wolverine. "Look sharp, I smell gumbo at 12 o'clock…"

"It is him… that's his motorcycle he's parking," Jubilee hissed as they saw the Victory roll by.

Gambit was riding astride the cycle, wearing his long brown trench coat and armor. How could he be so blatant unless he was working together with Warren and Betsy? That'd have to be the case. He reached for something at his belt and spoke into it. Wolverine maneuvered the scoot behind a parked delivery truck, and cut the engine. Honking horns and other things were a forest of sound he filtered through to pick out what the Cajun was saying.

"Been lookin' around for about an hour. No sign of 'em…" Gambit said. He listened for a few minutes.

Jubilee bit her lip, unable to hear much except for the faint traces of noises discernable from the other side. She saw if she looked at the right angle, Gambit's feet as he got off his cycle and walked into the park entrance.

"He's clueless, isn't he?" Jubilee whispered.

"Let's scope it out," Wolverine said as he fired up his engine and roared off to circle the park by the most convenient streets in Manhattan.


Gambit couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched as he parked his bike and entered the park. Call it a thief's instinct. He had some sense of what to look for when being shadowed. Whoever WAS trailing him was an expert because he didn't' see anything out of place.

Wolverine was gone. Jean and he had fought off the ambush till Warren and Betsy had arrived and driven them off. IT seemed far too easy. Now there was no sign of Jubilee. Not even Jean using Cerebro could find any sign of her. Professor X was too far away to do more than do his best, and some crisis had hit Excalibur to prevent him being able to help much.

"Bad timing," Remy muttered, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small cylinder. Touching a stud, it telescoped out into his long staff. He twirled it quickly to warm up and continued walking through the park.

"Gambit, this is Betsy…"

"What do YOU want?" Gambit asked angrily. "You got a lot of nerve calling Gambit after da other day…"

"We want to find her as much as you do…"

"I bet you do," Gambit muttered.

"Let's forget our differences… getting Jubilee back is paramount," said Warren.

"Ah agree," came Rogue's voice over the other channel. "Remy, cut out the crud an' work with us…"

"Cherie, good t' hear ya… see anything?" Gambit asked.

"Just work with Archangel, ok? He's trying his best to try an' be nice…"

"Surprised you're supporting him since…"

"It's Betsy ahm worried about," Rogue said quickly. "Where are yuh?"

"In central park, where else, Cherie? Come join Gambit an we take an afternoon stroll together…"

"Get yer mind on the mission, swamp rat! Ahll see ya at the rendezvous point…" Rogue called.

"Cherie, you can count on it," Gambit snickered. He switched to the other channel.

"You still there? Look I know I'm not one of your favorite people…" Warren said. "But I'm worried about Jubilee…"

"Sure. Remy sorry. Let's find the petit an then settle things later," Gambit agreed.

"Good. I don't see any sign of her, and Betsy says she is getting a faint trace that might indicate Jubilee's thoughts…"

"Gambit's reading her com badge," said the Cajun. "And it be right on top of us…"

"Good… we'll circle around and meet with you…"

"No, better keep searching. Petit might be trustin' Gambit now. She alone in da big city. She trust Remy most of all… no disrespect…"

"None taken," said Warren smoothly. "Archangel out…"

The bleeping signal was closer. Gambit walked slowly toward it, his staff extended and his hand in his front pocket to grab a few cards. He heard a sniffling sound and stepped into the shade of a tree.

"I've got you Jubilation Lee," said the voice that he recognized.

"Merde," Gambit cursed. He saw the mist surrounding Jubilee. She was not wearing her uniform, and she lay on her side, wrapped in ropes tightly. Tears streamed down her face. A gray cloaked figure materialized and stood before her, its long blonde hair poking out from around the hood.

"You're nuts! Why do you want me?" Jubilee snapped.

"Because… you're the reason I was never popular. All you had to do was to help me fit in… but you ignored me…"

"Get OVER it!" Jubilee yelled.

"Now you will. Because I'm not going to let Mystique get her hands on you. I'm going to make you pay first…" said Misty with a cruel look in her grey blue eyes.

"Oh no you won't, mademoiselle," Remy said as he stepped out, and tossed three cards. Misty dissipated as they exploded. Gambit rushed out, whirling his staff as he reached Jubilee lying there.

"Remy… where were you?" Jubilee scolded him.

"You can't save her!" snapped Misty.

"Oh yeah?" Psilocke said as she landed between Remy and Misty. A focussed beam of purple psi energy shot into the mist.

"Try stopping me with this, psi witch," laughed Misty. A choking cloud of smoke surrounded her and she began to cough. A purple spear of energy formed into her psychic dagger. She stabbed wildly as Gambit threw cards toward her.

"Stop right there," Pyro said from behind a curtain of flames.

"Stop yourself," Archangel shouted, swooping down and showering spikes towards Pyro. Momentarily startled, he gestured for his bird of flame to fly after the metal winged warrior. Archangel pulled out of his dive and the bird hurtled after him.

"Don't worry about me, cut her loose!" Psilocke's mind spoke to his. Remy cut Jubilee's ropes and she managed to move.

A purple flash and a cry of pain ensued. The mist dissipated, forming into the solid figure of a slender blonde teenager. She moaned, holding her head as she lay stunned from Psilock's mental dagger. Remy glanced in awe and shock as she stood over the girl and prodded her with her foot.

"That should hold you," Psilocke said. "You all right?"

"I'm okay," Jubilee said warily as she hugged Gambit. "I was so worried…"

"Gambit was worried too," he said hugging her back, and kissing her head.

There came a loud punch and Pyro flew backwards as a yellow and green streak shot over. Rogue grabbed him by the front of his costume and dumped him right next to his daughter. Another thump came as Archangel dropped Avalanche onto the pile of Brotherhood members.

"Cherie, you fashionably late?" Gambit asked as she landed and walked toward him and Jubilee.

"Rogue!" cried Jubilee, breaking away from gambit and running over to hug her.

"Sweet pea, yer okay," Rogue laughed, picking her up and swinging her around. "Ya actually did something RIGHT…"

"Is she all right?" Betsy asked as she walked over and Jubilee shrank away from her.

"No thanks to you," Gambit snapped.

"That's enough of that," Archangel grimaced, striding over as he folded his metallic wings into two flat panels on his shoulders. "We helped you… the least you can do is…"

"They're right, Warren, we've been less than fair," Psilocke said softly as she walked over to Rogue. She put Jubilee down, and the teenager rushed over to Gambit. Protectively he put an arm around her.

"So?" Remy asked. "You expect Gambit to forgive and forget?"

"Remy," Rogue sighed.

"Look, we aren't your favorite people, Jubilee, but we had no intention of driving you away," Betsy said gently. "WE merely wanted to help you…"

"You did a pretty crappy job of it! Wolvie's gone… and you drove him away!" Jubilee snapped.

"She's right," said Rogue. "What do you got to say for yourselves?"

"I am sorry Rogue," Archangel said gently. "We're just not used to how you operate. We were out of line… I hope that we can work this out…"

"I don't think so," Jubilee said angrily. "You really blew it…"

"Please give us a chance to make it right," Betsy said.

"Gambit don't' trust either one of you…" said Gambit as he pushed Jubilee behind him and began to back away. "Coming Cherie…"

"Gambit ah don't know," she said.

"Shouldn't we do something about them?" Warren asked. "Instead of fighting…"

"He's right," Rogue said as she grabbed some iron bars and ripped them out of the gate. She walked over and started to bend them around Avalanche and Pyro's wrists to bind them.

"Here let me help," Betsy said as she reached out with her mind.

"Stop right there," Gambit said as he pulled out a card, and charged it.

"What in tarnation are you doing?" Rogue asked.

"That's a good question, isn't it?" Jubilee said as she backed away from Gambit.

In that split second, Jubilee turned and somersaulted. Her kick landed in the back of Gambit's skull. Rogue shot forward and grabbed Jubilee by her shirt collar.

"What's gotten into you, kid?" she demanded.

"Why don't you ask them…?" Jubilee said as she pointed to Warren and Betsy. Gambit groaned as Betsy raised her hand and thrust her psychic knife into his neck. He slumped to the ground stunned.

"Betsy what are you doing…"

Rogue turned, dropping Jubilee. However Misty soon surrounded them all, and Warren choked as a sleeping gas reached out and cloaked him in a paralyzing spray. Rogue coughed and gasped.

Jubilee's features merged and blurred into that of Mystique. She laughed as Warren struggled against the sleep mist, and dropped out cold. Psylocke smiled as she folded her arms across her chest and turned to Mystique. Rogue gasped as the sleep mist hammered her, and she dropped to the ground beside gambit.

"Excellent work," Mystique nodded. "You've proven yourself well, Betsy Braddock…"

"I hope you'll hold up your end of the bargain," Betsy smiled.

"You will soon be reunited with your brother. But there is still much to do…"


"Wolvie… they have them!" Jubilee gasped.

"There's nothing we can do for 'em now kid," Wolverine said as he grabbed her and stopped her from running to help.

"But they have Gambit and ROGUE!" she cried.

"They'll have US too if you don't keep quiet!" Wolverine said as he put a hand over her mouth. "Now listen to me and TRUST me. We'll follow them… and then we'll be able to help… but they're finished if we butt in now…"

"Gambit…" Jubilee sniffled as she fought against Wolverine. She pounded his chest and then stopped when he continued to hold her firmly against his body.

"Trust me. We WILL get them…" Wolverine said, hugging her fiercely. "But this ain't the way… you'll just get yourself and me captured. We're no good to them as prisoners now…"

"I hope you're right," she sniffled. Jubilee gripped him tightly and he lifted her onto the cycle. Revving up the engine, he roared off after the party as they retreated into their concealed craft.