I'm . . . . . . evil? Cool! Glad you all liked where I stopped. lol. Anyway, you don't wanna hear me ramble, you wanna know what happens next!


Chapter Sixteen

The Sinister End OR the End of Sinister?

Previously:

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.

/Sinister's Lab/ New York/ present time

The door slid shut with a hiss. Remy kept his eyes on Rogue, faintly aware of the distressed looks on the others' faces.

A robotic voice boomed out of the machine. "Epitome to begin transformation in T minus 10 seconds."

"10. . ."

Remy's heart started beating faster, feeling as if it would burst out of his chest at any minute.

"9 . . ."

Aria tried to stem the flow of tears that were leaving salty trails on her cheeks. He was so nice to me. He didn't know me that long, but he took care of me just like a daddy would. Please be okay Remy!

"8. . ."

Logan struggled against the Sinnas' hold. We told Angie that we were gonna save her dad and that's what I plan to do. There still has to be a way to stop this! He tried one more time to pull out his claws, but it was futile. The Sinnas had a strong hold on him and wasn't letting go anytime soon.

"7 . . ."

No! It can't end like this! I just wanted to say I'm sorry! Scott watched in disbelief as the countdown continued. His guilt-ridden conscience was screaming at him. Look what he did. He gave himself for that little girl! And all this time you've been treating him like the scum of the earth! Idiot!

"6 . . ."

Horror lined Piotr's face. He had fled Russia to escape the persecution, to protect his family. Instead, he had stumbled upon another problem, one far more disturbing in his mind. How will mutants ever be safe if we cannot even trust our own kind?

"5 . . ."

St. John bit his lip, trying to hold back his tears. Men don't cry, his father always said. He fought to stay strong, choking back a sob. Screw it! That man was never family ta me. My only family is in that machine! Remy, a year older than John, had become a best friend and big brother to the pyromaniac. John had been seventeen when he met Remy and Angie; they had been together ever since. Ya can't leave me now, mate!

"4 . . ."

This can't be happening! Wanda's mind was racing. What would happen to John? Rogue? Angie? Oh god, please beat this Remy. There are too many people counting on you.

"3 . . ."

Sinister could barely contain his glee. Everything was falling into place. In a matter of minutes, his plan would be underway.

"2 . . ."

"NO! Please, I love ya!" Rogue was mostly recovered from Sinister's attack, but that didn't concern her at the moment. Tears lined her eyes; a few escaped and ran down her delicate cheek. She felt her heart jerk as the countdown reached it's finale. I can't lose him now!

"1. . ."

One last frantic thought entered Remy's mind. I have m' powers; I could blow up de machine! It may kill me, but what other option is dere?

He placed his right hand on one wall. I love ya, Angie. He placed his left hand on the other wall. I love ya, Rogue.

The walls started to glow a pinkish-red.

"Transformation starting."

Sinister watched his invention with adoration. "It's working! Soon my super mutants will make those mutant haters fear for their lives!" He threw his head back and let out an ecstatic, somewhat crazed laugh. "Nothing can stop me now!"

/Downstairs/

Alex grabbed the wall as building shook. He ran and looked out the small window, seeing many of the prisoners doing the same thing.

"What happened?"

"Was it an earthquake?"

"It was an earthquake? We're all going to die!"

Everyone was shouting and Alex found the noise deafening. If they hadn't been so frightened, someone might have heard the muffled blast from upstairs. Then they might have been prepared for what happened next.

/Lab/

"Unsafe level of energy. System malfunction. Danger. Danger." Sinister strode up to the machine, checking the computer readouts.

"What the hell is he doing in there?" The doctored mumbled, annoyed by the setback. It was then that he noticed the faint magenta glow starting to encase Epitome. "No."

"NO!" Sinister ran towards his creation and began to pound on the door. "NO! I worked to many years for someone to ruin it now! STOP!"

The X-men watched in horror, unable to do anything. The girls were crying and John shed a few tears. They knew what was coming; Remy was going to destroy the machine.

He's right in the middle of the explosion. It'll kill him! Screamed the logical part of Rogue's brainNo, the hopeful part yelled back, there's still a chance he'll be okay. He could make it!

Remy was sweating from the stress of what he was planning to do and the likely ramifications. His body ached to let the kinetic energy loose.

With one final deep breath, Remy let go.

BOOM!

Rays emittingfrom the malfunctioning machine had caused the Sinnases to fall to ground in pain. Their powers regained, Jean quickly formed a shield to protect the X-men from the blast.

Slowly, the X-men stood to survey the scene.

The force of the explosion sent Sinister flying, crushing him under several pieces of equipment. The building had shook down to its foundation, causing support beams to crack and some to break. Chunks of the ceiling started to fall at random intervals, making for a hazardous environment. The two other male prisoners had been charred beyond recognition. Miraculously, Aria was alive, suffering only minor burns.Logan hurried over to cut her down.

"Remy!" Running over the pile of burned creatures, Rogue made her way over to the remains of Epitome, followed closely by John and the others. She fell to her knees, digging through the rubble. "Remy, can ya hear me?"

She found his body, mostly unblemished, save a few cuts and bruises. She cradled his head in her lap. "Rem, sugah, wake up. It's over."

Tentatively, John felt his friend's neck. " I . . . There's . . . There's no pulse. " He ran a hand through his hair and stared in disbelief. "There's no pulse."

Rogue leaned down and placed a tender kiss on his lips. "I love ya." She whispered, her tears bathing his face.

Aria went up to Rogue and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I can help."

"What?"

"I can help, but you have to let go."

Reluctantly, Rogue released her hold on Remy and backed away. Aria kneeled beside him and placed her palms on his chest. Her hands began to glow a golden color.

The X-men watched in tense silence for several minutes, unsure of what the violet-haired girl was doing. Suddenly, Remy let out a violent cough.

The group cheered as the Cajun's chest began to rise and fall in a steady rhythm.

"He's alive!" Pyro picked up Aria and began to spin her around. "Ya did it, shelia! He may be unconscious, but he's alive!"

The celebration was cut short by a loud rumble, followed by a section of the ceiling falling dangerously close to them.

Logan started to bark out orders. "Alright, team. We gotta head out before this place collapses on us! Colossus, you get Gumbo. Storm, you lead us out. Me and Cyclops got the back." He walked over to Aria. "You stay with me, kid. Kid?"

Aria continued to stare. Her gaze stayed transfixed despite Wolverine's prodding. Slowly she walked up to Jean and Scott, tapping the latter on the leg.

"Did she" Aria pointed to Jean, "call you Scott?"

A confused look covered his face. "Yeah."

"Are you Remy's friend Scott?"

"Yeah, kinda." He knelt down to Aria's height. "Why do you ask?"

"Your brother Alex is downstairs in the cells."

/Downstairs/

"Jet One is loaded and lifting off in five minutes. We can't wait much longer." Storm's voice came over Logan's communicator.

"Here's the door!" Shouted Aria, yanking open the outer door of the cellblock.

"Give us ten minutes 'Ro. We gotta see how many mutants are down here."

"We'll be in the side yard. Hurry."

Scott and Logan entered the room. The ceiling had started to collapse down there as well. The cell doors had come open and several mutants had tried to run. Some had made, others had not.

Scott stepped gingerly over a body, trying not to look down. "Alex?"

Silence.

"Alex?"

Nothing.

The building heaved another groan as more plaster, cement, and various other materials continued to fall. "Come on kid, we gotta go." Said Logan. "He probably ran out with the others."

"No." Protested Scott. "He's here; I know it. ALEX!"

A voice called back. "Scott? I'm back here Scott!"

The two men ran to the last cell in the room. Alex lay on the floor, his leg trapped under a piece of the ceiling.

Scott rushed over. "Alex!" The brothers embraced and Logan began to shift the portion.

"Can ya walk?" Asked the Canadian as the two helped the young man stand up.

Gingerly, Alex tried to stand on it. He winced. "Barely."

With an exasperated sigh, Logan threw the blond over his shoulder and started toward the door. "Let's get moving! Scott, get the kid." He took out his communicator. " 'Ro, start up the second jet, we're on our way."

"Hi, Alex!" Aria greeted as the other Summer picked her up and the foursome hurried to the jets.

/On the X-jet/

As they flew off, Rogue watched as the last of the building caved in. She shifted closer to the unconscious form of Remy. Gently, she placed his head in her lap. Absentmindedly, she stroked his hair. Don't worry, sugah. We're goin' home.


So? One more chapter before the epilogue! I'm sad, but yet I'm not.

I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. I like the first half better. I was on a roll last night, but it was getting really late, so I had to stop. It just didn't seem to come out as easily today. Was it okay?

So? One more chapter before the epilogue! I'm sad, but yet I'm not.