(sheepish smile) Hi. Sorry it took me so long to update. I've been busy. And I updated 4 times last week! But I digress. Hope this chapter makes up for the wait. Oh, sorry if the countdown seems a little off, or if things seem to happen too fast, but if the X-men get there before Remy's 24 hours are up, where's the fun and excitement in that?

Reviews for chapters 13 & 14:

Night'sKnight: Thanks!

Miikka: Don't be embarrassed; I wanted to surprise people! Glad you like it.

Spyder616: I know what you mean about college stuff. I'm getting ready to be a freshman next year and it's already a hassle to get everything done. I can't imagine how hard it is for you. Glad you found time to read my story!

Lady Godiva: Having Rogue kick Sinister's ass seems to be the unanimous opinion on his fate! Glad you like it so far!

Minnaloushe: Not superspeed, just . . . inspiration. It sounds like you had fun reading. Glad you liked it! "Adequately creepy and deranged" . . . I like it!

Rogue14: Rogue killing Bella . . . definitely a possibility. ;)

el diablo: Yeah, I loved Rogue punching Bella. It was SO fun to write!

Stormshadow : Thank you! Don't worry, I still don't like Bella either. She did get what was coming to her, but was it enough. . .?

AquaAngel11223 : Thanks so much!

Guarded Secrets: Thanks. If you couldn't tell, I love stories that have tons of plot twists.

xmengirlzrule: Well, she hasn't necessarily changed for the best, just for right now. You can't have a nice Bella. You just . . .can't. I mean she can do nice things, but deep down, I'll always think of her as a bitch.

: Well, she hasn't necessarily changed for the best, just for right now. You can't have a nice Bella. You just . . .. I mean she can do nice things, but deep down, I'll always think of her as a bitch.

simba317: I could never kill Remy. Also, that was my reasoning for why Bella wasn't dead. If she grew up around Assassins, she would have to have some skills to use against a crazy, psychopathic mutant.

PyroManiac: Thank you! I'm considering writing more chapter stories, but don't expect anything soon. I graduate in a couple months, so stuff is really hectic right now.

ishandahalf: I laugh my ass off when I read your reviews! 'holy plot twist batman!' and that 'quick like a bunny on crack!' I'm amused by the simplest things. Of course you can hate Bella, I do!

enchantedlight: Thanks!

GothikStrawberry: Glad you like my Bella. I loved your description of her!

Missy: I'm happy you're happy. I was waiting for someone to review and guess that Bella wasn't really dead. Congrats!

untouchablegoth: Thanks. Glad you like my twisted mind and the crazy ideas it comes up with! Don't worry, X-men to the rescue! (in this chapter!)

heartsyhawk: Aww, thank you! I'm really having fun characterizing the people in my own special way. Glad you like it! I wasn't sure if anyone would like the bitchy-but-I-still-have-a-little-heart Bella. P.S. No need to deny it, your secret is safe with me!

Chica De Los Ojos Cafe: Everyone has to have that one moment when they aren't a complete bitch . . . and Bella just had hers!

grenwich : Hey, glad you like the story. I'm sure you were surprised in the beginning of the last chapter, Sorry. -.-'


Chapter Fifteen
X-men to the rescue!

Previously:

"Ya gotta hurry. Remy on'y has 'bout 10 hours."

/Xavier's School for the Gifted/ Bayville, New York/ present time

Shortly after the conference, the X-men suited up and gathered by the X-jets. They stood at attention, lined up and waiting anxiously for orders.

Well, most of them.

"Psst...Shelia." St. John elbowed Kitty.

"What?" She whispered.

"Why spandex?" He tugged on his borrowed uniform. 'It's required.' The professor had said. "Don't ya think a little looser material would be less . . . revealing?"

"Do not complain." Said Piotr, joining the conversation. "You should be honored Professor Xavier asked us to accompany ze X-men on ze mission. Ze least we can do is follow his rules."

Kitty smiled a Piotr and John rolled his eyes, crossing his hand over his chest in resignation. "We're just goin' ta get Rem. What does matter what we wear?" He grumbled under his breath.

Before anyone could answer him, Logan, Storm and the Professor came into the hanger.( I know that's the name of the place where they keep planes, but is that how you spell it?)

Charles Xavier stopped in front of them and addressed the group. "From the little that Miss Boudreaux was able to tell us, there are three main areas of Sinister's hideout. There is the upstairs is made to look like a regular house. The level below that is his laboratory. There is a third level below that, which she did not gain access to. According to her, only Dr. Essex himself goes down there."

"Now, Remy was last seen in the lab, but there is no guarantee he is still there. I have divided you into two groups. Wolverine's team will consist of Rogue, Jean, Shadowcat, and Nightcrawler. They will fly over in the X-Jet and infiltrate the lab. Storm's team, consisting of Cyclops, Scarlet Witch, Colossus and Pyro, will travel behind them, waiting to see if back up is needed. If not, they too, will enter. If the situation becomes dire, Jean will send out a mental call to me. I will send Beast with reinforcements. Any questions?"

"No, Professor."

"Very well. Good luck and please be careful. We have no idea what this madman is capable of."

With one finally nod from their mentor, the X-men hurried to their respective teams and boarded the jets.

Hang on Remy, thought Rogue as the plane began to rise, We're on our way.

/Sinister's Hideout/ New York/ present time

"Remy, wake up! It's breakfast time!"

The Cajun tried to swat the voice away. "Not now, Angie. Let m' sleep a few mo' hours."

"I'm not Angie; I'm Aria, remember?" Remy opened his eyes to find himself staring into the violet eyes of Aria instead of the familiar red-on-white of his daughter.

"Guess dat means yesterday wasn' a dream, was it?" The little girl shook her head. "Damn."

He sat up and stretched, his sore muscles screaming protest. In front of him was a plate with a few slices of bread and a small cup of water. Alex and Aria were already eating theirs, devouring it like they hadn't eaten in days. Remy debated whether the food seemed edible, but a huge grumble from his stomach decided for him. He downed the bread and water, finding it actually didn't taste bad like he thought it would.

After breakfast was over, the three cellmates sat in silence, watching the shadows pass in the small square of light that came through the door's window.

Finding no better way to pass the time, Remy began to fiddle with his PDB, searching for a way to break it or get it off.

After half an hour of getting no where, Remy gave up. Sitting back with a sigh, he turned to Alex. "So, do we just sit in here all day?"

"No. He usually takes some of us to the lab to do tests, but since he put the serum in everybody yesterday . . ." The blonde trailed off at the look on Aria face.

Remy just nodded. The X-men t'ink 'm in N'Awlins. Bella, de on'y one who knows where dis place is, is dead. Mon Dieu, if we evea needed a miracle, now would be it.

Remy was brought out of his reverie by a loud CLANK as the metal door of the holding block swung open. Heavy footsteps resonated on the concrete floor as they drew near. Dr. Essex stopped every couple feet, peering in each cell, then moving on. Two times cell doors were opened and the clanging of metal was heard as the prisoners' hands and feet were chained.

After what seemed like an eternity, their cell door was thrown open. Instinctively, Remy took a protective stance in front of the other two. The doctor's tall frame filled the door. His white lab coat was a harsh contrast to the grimy walls of the cell. "You," he pointed to Remy, "And you." He pointed at Aria. "Follow me."

Remy didn't have his powers and his body felt weak, but he had not lost his fighting spirit. "Make me!" he shouted.

Aria was halfway to the door, but turned to stare at him. "No, Remy, just do what he says!" Her voice quivered with fear.

"Don't test him, man." Whispered Alex from behind.

Remy ignored them. He stared at Dr. Essex, not breaking eye contact. "Go ahead. Make me!"

The villain smiled, unperturbed by Remy's boldness. "Very well." He beckoned someone from the other room closer. Remy stared in horror as its form filled the doorway.

It looked like a male bodybuilder, muscles upon muscles bulging from all over its body. It had no hair; just gray, hide-like skin. It had few facial features; a deformed mouth and nose, and pitch-black eyes. As it picked up Remy by his collar, the Cajun could smell the stench of rot floating off of it.

"Say hello to a Sinnas. I tested Epitome about a nine months ago. The serum wasn't quite correct, so instead of getting super mutants, I got these. They aren't the brightest things, but make fine warriors and enforcers, don't you think?" Remy couldn't see him, but he could tell Essex had that trademark half-crazed smile on his face again. "Sinnas, come." He turned toward Aria. "Go get chained up with the others."

With three of his prisoner's chained up and the fourth caught in a Sinnas' unbreakable hold, the doctor started to lead to group upstairs. First he would take them to his office to run a few physical tests, then, he smiled at the thought, the fun would begin.

/Outside/

Team 1 kneeled in a patch of trees at the edge of the property. Jean was in deep concentration. "There's a security camera in each corner of the yard and a few in the house." She stopped her telepathic search of the house and looked at the rest of the group. "Either he isn't scared of intruders, or he thought no one would ever find this place."

"Well, someone did." Replied Logan. "Can ya turn the cameras off, Red?"

"I'm almost positive." Returning her fingers to her temples, Jean began to concentrate on the cameras. Within seconds, all the cameras short-circuited. "All clear."

"Good. Let's move!"

The five of them sprinted across the lawn, heading towards the garage, which Bella had told them would be the fastest entrance. They entered the building undetected.

An uneasy feeling began to settle in Wolverine's stomach. This ain't right. We should've run into some kinda security by now!

After almost fifteen minutes of wandering through the labyrinth-like hallways, a rancid smell began to fill the air. Logan held up his hand to halt the group. They weren't alone; he could feel it. As the scent grew stronger, Logan began signaling the team to go the other way.

Kitty slowly backed up against the wall, readying herself to phase into it at the lightest hint of trouble.

Suddenly, she noticed a rotten egg smell behind her. She paused. A hand shot out behind her, latching onto her arm. She tried to scream, but another hand covered her mouth. The stench was overpower as she struggled against her unseen assailant. She tried to phase out of his arms.

Kitty let out a muffled yelp when she found out her powers didn't work. As the creature's hold on her began to tighten, the brunette stopped her squirming.

She gazed around to see Kurt and Jean in her same predicament. Logan and Rogue were stilling fighting, but it seemed to be in vain.

She let out a silent cry as one of the creatures grabbed Rogue around the neck, lifting her off the ground. He breathed his vile breath onto Rogue, causing the girl to struggle more violently.

Suddenly, a red beam came from behind the group, hitting the offending creature. Instead of dropping Rogue, it seemed unfazed. It's blank eyes turned towards the other X-men joining the fight.

Without warning, it let out a primal, unearthly scream. Several more creatures came into the room, trapping the remaining X-men, ensuring their capture.

No one was sure of the severity of the situation until Jean yelled out, "Guys! I think they blocked our powers. I can't call the Professor for help!"

The creatures trudged single file, carrying the X-men to some unknown location in the building. Eventually, they enter a brightly lit room.

Realization hit them: the lab!

A man in a lab coat, presumably Dr. Essex, was at the other side of the room, readying a machine. Four mutants were chained to the wall next to him: three men and a little girl.

Rogue recognized one of them immediately. "REMY!"

Red-on-black eyes shot up. He watched in amazement as Sinnases hauled his friends into the room.

Essex glared at the X-men, surprise and anger mingled on his face. "How did you find me? The only person who knows where my lab is . . . That little Cajun slut! I don't know how she's still alive, but she'll be the next to go after all of you!" He strode over to the group. "I see you've met the Sinnases. They are the products of my first experiment with mutants. I'm sure you are feeling the affects of their special grip. When they have skin to skin contact with a mutant, they make said mutant powerless. Quite useful, really." He stopped in front of some of them, looking them up and down. "Some of you look as if you will make nice additions to my super mutant team." He stopped in front of Rogue, leering at her. "Others of you are better suited for target practice; they have to practice their new powers, you know."

He leaned even closer to Rogue. "I'm sure I could come up with another form of servitude if you're interested," He said seductively, sliding a bony finger down her face.

Rogue spit in his face. "I'd rather die."

Dr. Essex's face became annoyed. "I could arrange that."

"What're ya gonna do, shoot me? Ya reputation is that ya don't have a very good aim." Rogue taunted. She knew she was pressing her luck, but this man was holding her boyfriend captive. She was pissed.

"No. Shooting is fine for humans, but for a mutant," He stepped back, his maniacal grin forming, "I have something so much better."

He pushed his sleeve up, revealing a watch-shaped, electronic device on his wrist. Still smiling, he took it off. Immediately, his appearance began to change. His skin paled to a ghostly white and his eyes became bright red. His lab coat tore off revealing a blue armored outfit. "Behold: Sinister!" He raised his hand, palm pointed toward Rogue.

A bright green shot of plasma hit the girl, making her body convulse before she fell limp in the Sinnas' arms.

All the X-men yelled in fright and anger, but by far, the loudest was Remy. "YOU BASTARD!"

Sinister turned towards Remy. "Now really, watch your language. There are children present." He walked up to Aria, sizing her up. He flashed a grin in Remy's direction. "I think you just helped my choose my first test."

No. Remy's eyes widened in fright as the crazed villain began to release the little girl from her bonds. "Leave her alone!"

Sinister looked up. "What did you say?"

"Don' take her. Take . . . take me, instead."

"You, the one that has resisted me the most, is volunteering to go first? How can I refuse an offer like that?"

Sinister redid Aria's bonds, then moved on to Remy. The X-men watched in horror as their friend was led to the machine.

Remy followed Sinister, racking his brain for any thief's skill that could help him. He's thoughts became more frantic as he was hooked up and locked into position for Epitome to transform him.

Sinister reached for Remy's wrist. "I'm taking off the PDB, but I warn you not to try to use your powers inside Epitome. The machine's enhancing your powers, so the use of them would prove fatal." He gave a mock sympathetic smile. "I lost quite a few test subjects that way."

Remy gave one last glance towards the X-men, focusing on the semi-conscious Rogue as the door slid shut.

In a matter of minutes, Remy LeBeau would no longer exist.


CLIFFHANGER! I will try to get the next one post really soon. God, it took me almost a week to type this out. I kept getting interrupted, dragged away from my computer, or getting stuck. Hope you like it! Again, I'm sorry about the wait.

HAPPY BELATED EASTER!

P.S. What is with the rating system?