(Six)
Gambit gasped as he was sucked down into the whirlwind again. If he had thought the last trip was as bizarre as this could get, he was sadly mistaken. What he saw next came to him like a strange lucid erotic dream. Like most dreams he wasn't the least bit in control, but simply along for the ride.
He found himself walking down a hallway made from familiar sandstone. He was still in the Siskan castle, just moving towards a destination not of his choosing.
He tried to make himself stop walking but nothing he did worked, he wasn't in control of his body at all. It was like he was a robot and obeying someone else's will. He finally came to a stop outside a doorway that was closed not with a door, but with a heavy red drape. A man stood there and greeted him in smooth Siskan, "You're late, Kimble. You keep that up and you'll lose your table."
Remy balked at that, the man had spoken directly to him, but when he made to answer, it was the little girl Kimble's voice that came out of his mouth. " 'S okay, Merrywell. They all knows me in there. The best is always worth waitin' for."
"Very funny, Kim," Merrywell replied without humor, moving the drape back and allowing her to enter. "No games today. Stay as a girl or else."
"Shure."
Gambit/Kimble was on the move again, going past the drape and into the next room. Now Remy was quick on the draw, but this? He had no clue what was going on.
"Yer in the files, Rem, just like I tolds ya," came Kimble's voice again, this one the more familiar male pilot's. Remy couldn't see where the pilot was however, the voice just came at him out of nowhere. At least Kimble had comforting words to say, "Don' be scared. It's just a playback, is all. This one in particular cain't hurts ya. If anathin' yer gonna just loves this. Just sit back and watch the show."
Remy protested, but to no avail. It was, as Kimble said, a playback and he was now a silent passenger along for what he hoped was worth all this weirdness. Instead of watching Kimble from a distance as he had before, he was now in the mind of Kimble herself, watching and seeing all she did through her eyes.
Kimble in his younger incarnation was willful and defiant in her way, as soon as she was out of the doorman's sight, she immediately shifted skins, becoming a rather handsome young man. How did Remy know this? Well, he was more than just a simple passenger, he was now linked to this younger Kimble, he saw what Young Kimble saw, heard what he heard, and felt what he felt.
There was plenty to see. This was a Siskan pleasure room and it was here that the young Siskan plied his trade. The floors in this room were covered in rich red carpeting and felt wonderful under the Siskan's bare feet. All of the pleasure rooms in service here in the castle were decorated in red, it was another reason Kimble loved the color so well. He associated it with love and happiness.
Comfy cushions and odd pieces of well padded furniture were strewn about the floor. There were futons, sofas and beds laid out in a pattern that allowed for some privacy in spite of the open space. Still, Young Kimble had a good view of most of the room. Small clusters of people were lying about, mostly in pairs. They were all making love, client and server, unmindful of the others around them.
Young Kimble moved confidently through the room. He spent his time with Sheyman in the skin of the young girl because it was Sheyman's favorite, but Young Kimble preferred to take his pleasure here in the skin of a man. Unlike the other holograms, Young Kimble changed his skins at will and not solely at the command of someone else. The other holograms might have been capable of changing their skins if they had wanted to, but the difference was that he had the desire and free will to do it where they did not. Young Kimble had deliberately changed it from the one he had been ordered to wear by the man in charge at the door. They wanted him to work as a female but he wanted to be a man and so changed it. It was a small act of arrogant defiance that wouldn't go unnoticed.
Young Kimble smiled, happy to be here, and exuded the same strong confidence that the pilot Kimble had when he was safe in the Lucky Dragon computer system. He was now fully in his element and smiled at all the wonderful lovemaking around him. This was the best. He loved working here and watching the others as they enjoyed themselves like this. He could feel the love and rapture like a vibration rippling through the air. He stopped a moment and spread his arms a little, all the better to feel it. He was dressed only in a tiny gold thong brief or "butt floss" as Remy had often jokingly called it. A "why even bother" garment that was for decoration only. Almost all of Young Kimble's skin was exposed and the pleasant vibration passed freely into his body. It filled him with warmth and comfort, making him a little high.
Remy couldn't help but smile a bit to himself. He had an idea what this might be - empathy. Now Remy had lived amongst mutants long enough to be familiar with the term, he had even sometimes wondered if he might be a low level empath himself because of how easily he could charm others. Kimble was now proving that whatever empathy Gambit might have thought he possessed, it was like a match light to Kimble's raging fire. It would be so easy to get lost in it and Remy couldn't help but wonder what it was like for all the telepaths back at the mansion.
The detection of these vibrations weren't the limit of Young Kimble's sensitivity, there was more. Young Kimble looked over the crowd and the next thing Remy noticed was how there seemed to be a kind of glow about most of the people here. It was like they were fluorescent or shimmery. He realized that what he was observing was the difference between the humans and the holograms. The humans were glowing and the holograms were not. It came to him that he was seeing their life energy, their auras for lack of a better word. The pilot had just said something to him about seeing his shine, guess he wasn't kidding. What surprised him was that Young Kimble had a glow too, only it was very faint and had a slight blue tint. None of the other 'grams had one. Young Kimble was unique in this room.
Young Kimble made his way to an area at the back of the room, heading for a long shelf that held a generous row of black power cubes. He laid his hands over two of the familiar looking blocks, these were the same power cubes as Fallen had used back on the ship. The cubes filled him with warm, soothing Ristle energy and Young Kimble smiled from the pleasure of it. He felt strong and eager like he could run a marathon without batting an eyelash. He was ready to go to work.
He saw some clients waiting to be served nearby and looked them over, selecting his first partner of the day. He noticed a red haired woman looking timidly out at the crowd and blessed his luck. He just loved clients with red hair, they were usually more spirited. He went to her and gently took her hand. "M' name's Kimble. If ya don' mind, I'd just loves ta serve ya today."
She smiled at his boldness, it was strange for a Courtesan to be so direct. They usually stood by passively, waiting for the client to come to them. Kimble's strange accent was pleasing to the ears as well, she loved the smooth sound of it and was instantly attracted to him. "Very well. My name's Carnya."
"Carnya, huh? 'S pretty name. It suits ya. Well, c'mon then."
He led her out to a vacant space. There was a nice comfortable padded table prepared for them and he brought her over to it. He made sure she was comfortable by moving some pillows about and shifting her body here and there. He laughed and told her playful dirty jokes to relax her as he slowly undressed her with care. All of his movements were patient and easy, he was taking his time and wasn't the least bit hurried. He worked his hands over her body in a gentle massage and kissed her in between punch lines.
Carnya laughed with him and appeared at ease even though this was the first time she had met him. He was so personable and friendly, it was impossible for her not to be charmed by him. She wasn't movie star beautiful, but her shimmer was very bright with her body so close and it made her seem more lovely than any other woman Gambit had seen.
"You're very different for a Courtesan," Carnya whispered, running her hands through Young Kimble's soft brown hair. He had chosen the skin of a young man, a human of about twenty years in age and very handsome. His eyes were still the pale blue he had always loved and they looked upon her with nothing but the purest devotion.
"How's that?" Young Kimble mumbled happily from the compliment, nuzzling her neck and tickling her with his nose just a little bit.
"You're so alive."
He just chuckled and purred, "Why thank ya, baby doll. That's cuz I'm Kimble and there ain't no one else like me."
She laughed at his response and lost herself in play.
Young Kimble continued to work his client, unaware that he wasn't alone in his own body. Gambit was here as a silent partner, seeing and feeling everything he was. Remy was still confused and a little frustrated because he had lost all control of where he was and what was happening to him. Some of that frustration was ebbing away as he felt Young Kimble's lustful passion rise and run away with itself. Making things easy was that this was by far one of Remy's favorite activities and that it had been a while since this X-man had been in the arms of a woman with the total freedom to touch and taste like this. Rogue, his current girlfriend, was cursed with a mutation that made it impossible for him to touch her with his bare skin. Sometimes he just forgot just how wonderful it was to be doing this. He would have had more reason to feel guilty at this moment, he chuckled to himself, if it had been his idea to be here in the first place. As it was, he didn't have the ability to leave. Guess he would just have to accept this as one of the perks of this strange trip and go along with it.
As Young Kimble pleased his client, Remy began to learn things from her without her ever speaking a word. Remy didn't hear words exactly, or even get accurate thoughts as he would have if he was a telepath, but the knowledge just tumbled into him like he had always known it. This was no ordinary pleasure room, this was a room for sick people. Carnya was ill like Sheyman is now only it hasn't really affected her yet. Her pain had only just begun and this was why Kimble was being so very careful with her. Carnya knew it would get worse as her illness progressed so she has come here, possibly for the last time, knowing this is the best she will ever feel for what was left of the rest of her life.
All the human Siskans in this room were sick. As the Councilmen had said, Young Kimble worked only with the afflicted. There was an incurable disease spreading among the Siskans called Heward's Syndrome. They jokingly called it the White Death, but it was anything but humorous. The Siskans were unfortunately a decadent and promiscuous race and this particular ailment was a sexually transmitted disease with painful, devastating effects not unlike AIDS. It might have killed off the entire Siskan race if the Dognan slavers hadn't gotten to the finish line first. But that hadn't happened, not yet.
The holograms didn't carry or transmit the disease, so the afflicted came here to try and get some measure of comfort while they could. Young Kimble enjoyed working with them because he knew he made them feel good and they could forget their troubles for a time. He took their pain. He could feel them intensely when they were close like this and knew how to touch them to maximize their pleasure. Unlike the other holograms, he had a natural gift for giving them the best workout with the least amount of pain. His empathy and caring for them was uncanny. In fact, he was quite popular. Some of his clients claimed his pain numbing power lasted for as long as several hours after these passionate workouts. He certainly boosted their spirits.
Remy also understood that Young Kimble deeply loved Carnya because she was vibrant and alive to him in spite of her sickness. He was telling her so with soft caresses from his hands and the gentle rhythm of his body. He was going out of his way not to hurt her. Young Kimble knew what to do to give her the most enjoyment without her having to tell him anything.
Remy struggled with all of the information and sensations bombarding him. He couldn't control what he was feeling and couldn't force Young Kimble to release him so he just let go. Besides, there was nothing for him to fear, there was only this wonderful passionate love.
The dream like file continued to play, becoming even more surreal. Young Kimble was busy with Carnya, but that didn't seem to matter when moments later they were joined by another, a young man named Hayden who was much worse off than Carnya had been. He was scrawny and pale, his arms and legs covered in bruises that didn't come from abuse. His hair was thin and falling out, his pain and suffering plain to anyone who would look at him. His eyes betrayed his exhaustion and the realization that he didn't have much time left.
It was a bit much for the poor tagalong thief and he reeled from the sensory overload. He was young but hardly inexperienced before he met Rogue. He lived for thrills, he lived for pleasure. He ate well, lived well, and loved well. He got around, he had adventures. He had never been intimate with a man, but that had never stopped his curiosity about such things. He had never acted on those wonderings, he was quite firm in his sexual orientation, a man had never turned his head. In spite of his experience in the world of living and loving, Remy had never felt anything like this wild and crazy lust ripping right through him right now. Young Kimble was enjoying this immensely and so he was as well.
There was a point to all of this, something that Remy caught on to in spite of all he was seeing and feeling. As Young Kimble worked and played with both of his clients, Young Kimble's empathy was running away with itself and becoming telepathic, boosting the rush for all of them. He let that empathy go wild and it backwashed into two clients. It felt great for Carnya, but was even better for Hayden. All of the terrible pain from his illness was melted away, he was exhilarated as though a great weight had been taken off of his poor withered shoulders. His depression and despair at his impending death were gone, forgotten for the moment at least. Hayden had used Young Kimble before and knew this would happen. A tumble with this Siskan hologram was the best painkiller there was.
Gambit didn't know what to do with himself. His body was on fire, but a Catholic upbringing was hard to overcome. He resisted and struggled, trying to wake from this impossible dream. Remy sensed the pilot Kimble still nearby and heard his voice again. "Easy, easy, kid. Relax. Stop freakin' out fer a minute an' think some on this. Yer missin' the point, Remy. Can ya feel them?"
"No way! I got more of dis dan I want, t'anks!"
"No. 'Feel' them. Their pain is gone. I took alla their pains, cain't ya sees it in their shines?"
Remy could. This wasn't just about serving clients and making money. Young Kimble was actually healing them, even if it was just for a short time. Young Kimble's motivation here was more than just making a living for his Master, Sheyman, he lived for this. The better he made them feel the more they desired him and so the more valuable Kimble felt. He needed this, the constant reminder than he was loved and wanted, but most of all – that he was needed.
The lovemaking was soon over. As all that emotion and pleasure began to subside and he came back to himself a little, Remy could hear their hearts beating. It was all around him as if he had been swallowed up inside of them, it was thundering and wonderful, whispering of their gratitude for making them feel so very good. They all beat together in perfect time, but then gradually separated as Carnya and Hayden returned to themselves as well. He was aware of Young Kimble's disappointment that there was only two thumping rhythms here. He didn't have a real heart but wished he did more than anything in the world. He believed he was just as real as they were, but didn't have the flesh and blood required to prove it.
Young Kimble put an arm around his clients and held them to him. He gave them each a loving kiss and laughed. "How wuz that, huh? Did y'all likes that?"
They laughed with him, all of their pain now gone and their shines glowing sparkly bright and blue, a color that Remy was learning quickly to mean happiness and contentment. Those shines were not only brighter, they were a little more there than they had been before this started, almost as if Kimble had healed them in some mild way. It wasn't a cure by any means, but it had helped them in a way that they could feel. Young Kimble neither recognized that or cared, all he knew was that he could sense their love and acceptance wash over him in a warm bath of joy.
Remy realized that this strange love vibration was more important to Young Kimble than the pleasure of making love. This was Kimble's true sustenance, not the power cubes nor the Ristle although they kept him alive. He had to have this. He had to have this reminder of his value and importance to keep his soul alive. It was what made him so bright and vibrantly real. Without it, he would slowly wither away and fall into a horrible empty living death. Remy could feel the intense love Young Kimble had for these two. Young Kimble gave it back to them in return for the power they had just unknowingly given him. He would never do anything to hurt them, he only wanted to make them feel as good as he did.
Young Kimble gave them another gentle squeeze. He was pleased by how wonderful and peaceful he'd made them feel. "Good. I'm glad ya liked it. You kin come sees me anatime. I'll take real good care a yous."
