(Nine)
The X-men were led away. The arm numbing energy cuffs were removed but the restraining collars were left in place, being newcomers, the Clan only trusted them so far. They were taken through a series of dormitories and given a temporary room. This small cave had been reserved for them near where the alpha squads were kept and it was explained to them that if they chose to join the alpha squad, they would be moved. The rooms there were better than this, they were promised.
Henry certainly hoped so. This room wasn't the least bit enticing. The walls in this room were rough hewn and as dismal as the rest of the place had been, no decorations of any kind. Being a cave, there were no windows and the only light came from two small torches and some candles.
The room had four small cots constructed of a rough wooden frame and a stuffed mattress of straw. Henry hoped they weren't infested but had serious doubts. The blankets were worn and thin, rejects from happier times. They were rough and made of some kind of woven yarn with plenty of holes, how nice. Henry was so big, it would've taken four or five to cover him but they only had one a piece. At least it was warm here, his fur would be enough.
There was a small bathroom to the back, or what passed for one here. It had no shower or bath, only a sink with an ancient hand pump to draw water. The toilet was little more than a outhouse in one corner of the room. At least it didn't smell, it must have been treated with something. A cracked mirror was over the sink. The floor was also stone with no coverings and had a layer of dust on it. They were the first ones to stay here in some time.
They would have no real privacy. The door was a large hanging leather skin with the fur removed. Anyone walking by would hear them talking so they would have to be careful what they said. A small dangling string of rocks was rattled to announce if someone wanted to enter. The Lucky Dragon didn't have much but it already seemed like a palace compared to this place.
The aide bowed and left them, saying another man would come to help them settle in.
"I 'ope dis war don' be lastin' too long. Gambit not likin' dis, mes amis," Remy complained as soon as they were alone. He didn't like the way the hard stone walls seemed to be closing in on him. He wasn't claustrophobic, but was very uncomfortable with the idea of living underground. He had grown up poor and hard before he'd been adopted and wasn't happy to be living so rough like it had been then. He had hoped to leave those times behind him forever. He looked at the bed and couldn't stop the shiver of revulsion that rocked him. His early poverty had made him clean, he didn't relish the idea of what might be crawling around in there.
"You and me both," Henry agreed, sharing Remy's sentiment. He saw no books or entertainment of any kind. How would he possibly keep his over achieving mind busy? He was no soldier, that was for sure, and he prayed for an early end to this or at least a nice vigorous rescue.
Logan said nothing, just sniffed at everything suspiciously. Rough living was not a problem for him, not for a man who'd spent years at a time running around the Canadian woods half naked. He felt for his compatriots, though. He knew this wasn't going to be easy for them and vowed silently to do his best to get them through this.
He turned when their rocks were rattled and watched as Henry pulled the skin drape back.
A servant with Cerebus' markings greeted them. "I am Zekian. I have been assigned to see to your needs," he explained. "I have brought a woman for you." He stood aside and allowed a small woman to pass by him into their room. She carried a cloth bag and a sleeping mat.
"I assure you that won't be necessary," Henry stammered.
"But of course it is," Zekian insisted. "She will clean for you and she will also be your guide. You must learn the facility and I will not always be available. Of course, she will also attend to you...in any way you may need," he finished suggestively. "We are aware that most alphas are very full of vigor, yes. You are very valuable to us and we will see you are cared for properly. She has been well trained and will surely satisfy you gentlemen."
Logan looked her over and sniffed at her. She was tiny, little more than a girl, and very pretty. A deliberate bribe. Of course she was a spy and they would have to put up with her. He grinned at her in irritation, showing his teeth, and she backed away nervously.
"Really, I don't see how this is necessary...." Henry tried but got nowhere.
"Surely, the three of you... Big, strong men... I could send for a boy?"
"No! No! This is fine," Henry said in exasperation. He smiled at the fool. "This is more than we could expect."
"Good then. I'll be back in the morning and give you a quick tour before we start working with Cerebus. Good morrow, gentlemen." He left.
Henry looked at their guest and smiled, trying to make her comfortable even though he most assuredly was not. "And what is your name?"
"Shawzy," she said softly with a demure smile. She was obviously well trained and submissive.
"Well....Shawzy. We seem to have an extra bed. You could sleep there."
She lay her mat on the floor in a corner. "It is not permitted," she said simply.
Henry looked at Gambit who shrugged. "No one would know. Surely that mat can't be comfortable," he insisted.
She smiled at him like he was an idiot. "It is not permitted. I will sleep here."
"As you wish."
Shawzy looked at them, lost in the uncomfortable silence that followed. "You wish to eat?"
"Sure. Dat'd be nice," Remy replied and beamed his charming smile on her. He offered her his arm and she took it eagerly, basking in the attention this handsome young devil was giving her. He doubted anyone had treated her so nicely and was quick to show her what a real gentlemen was. "You show Gambit everyt'ing, now, s'il vous plait. We got plenty of time, chere." He swept her out the door and Logan and Henry followed, laughing, Remy could charm anybody.
The military quarters seemed to be run like a commune with dormitories and large eating places. There were no private quarters, no stores, no taverns. She brought them to one of the less crowded dining halls and sat them down at a table. She left them to get their food from what looked to be a buffet style table in the back. She came back laden with trays and waited on them without eating herself
.Gambit wasn't surprised Shawzy didn't eat. The food was terrible. They were served greasy stringy hunks of meat with gravy. The meat was at least fully cooked, but not much better than the food from the holding cell. There were no real vegetables, just lumpy potato things. The Lucky Dragon was looking more and more like luxury living.
Gambit sighed and ate only from the bread they were given. Again, he was reminded of his days at the orphanage and felt a swell of depression sweep over him. He had done without food before and he would do so again. He had grown quite accustomed to the fine dining at the Xavier Mansion. They were given room and board for being on the team as well as a decent paycheck. The kitchen there was always well stocked and he loved to cook. He would often buy new cookbooks just to experiment and most of his teammates enjoyed what he came up with. Of course, he had a weakness for the spicy Cajun food of his native New Orleans and was an accomplished chef in that regard. He might not have been the most accepted member of the household, but when it was his turn to cook and the scent of cayenne pepper and fine wine came wafting out of the kitchen, he always had a full house at his table.
Logan gave up and dug right in with a grin. With his constitution, food was never a problem. He had been a soldier most of his life and the old ways still stuck — Eat while you can, when you can, because you never know when your next meal will be. He was already checking out the men around them, sizing them up and thinking of ways to get out of this. He hoped they wouldn't have to fight, but if it came down to it, he would look out for the others and keep them safe. He would bring them back alive or die trying.
Henry was ill just watching Wolverine eat and he picked at the bread with less enthusiasm than Gambit. He needed to lose some weight anyways, he teased himself. They were given a choice of beer or wine to drink, nothing else. He was a teetotaler himself and this was just another form of torture. The Clan had to be chain smoking alcoholics, he groaned to himself. Already he missed the comforts of the Lucky Dragon and the pleasant comradery between Fallen and her boys. This was going to be a long painful stay.