Wild Card, Part 2
Previously, on X-Men:
-"Hey wolf girl!" Tabitha said merrily into the phone. "Hey professor! Rahne says that her mom's inviting me to Scotland for the holidays, since she knows I'm not going home. Can I go?"
The professor nodded. "Of course." He paused. "Tell Moira I send my regards."
-"I'm going to have to go to Scotland after all. Apparently David- or Lucas- stumbled upon Muir Isle. He was trying to release one of their more volatile patients. Another mutual acquaintance of ours- a mutant by the name of Sean Cassidy- happened to be there on a visit and he used his powers to knock the boy out." He looked at Hank and nodded at him. "I might be able to right the wrong that I did to the boy. I have to come with you."
-"Why don't ye take this bloody tiara off o' me an we can solve this like mutants?"
"I think not," Charles replied.
Lucas laughed out loud. "Well ye aren't quite as stupid as I took ye for. Or perhaps ye learned yer lesson last time, aye?"
The professor's expression turned dark. Lucas smirked.
"Go home old man," he said bluntly. "Ye aren't welcome here."
-"Get the hell away from me!" Rogue shouted. She twisted so that one of her bare arms touched Julien's bare skin.
Julien smirked. Rogue's eyes widened. "Nice try," he said. "We were prepared."
Rogue twisted around and screamed "REMY!" as loudly as she could.
-Ororo nodded. "Maybe- something happened. It's possible that Xavier needed Rogue and Gambit's support in dealing with his son."
Logan sniffed the air. "Mmm. . . I don't know. The were both in here, 'bout an hour ago. Rogue- she smells mad, nervous. . . Gumbo smells scared. Terrified."
Ororo bit her lip. "We should look for them then. See if they're on the grounds."
Logan nodded, then grumbled, "Problem is, with all this rain their scents have been washed away for a while."
"Well we'll just have to look the old fashioned way."
"I hate bein' old fashioned," Logan mumbled.
-"Every damn time I come home t' N'awlins it's jus' gotta be 'cause someone's been kidnapped, is dat it?" Gambit murmured as he stepped out of the heli-jet.
-"LeBeau knows you're here. I left him a present. He'll be around any minute. He's quite de predictable person when it comes t' people he cares about. Joo won't be able t' help dat boy none. By de time he sees joo, he'll be in too deep to dig himself out." Someone else entered the room at that point. Rogue couldn't see who because he was behind her, but the look of Julien's face made her heart leap into her throat.
"He's here," the unseen fellow said, voicing what Rogue all ready knew.
-"The plan?" He turned to look at her. "First we get a boat and get off of this godforsaken island and away from that man who'd like to call himself my father. After that we'll see." He eyes her suspiciously, but her expression was unreadable to him. She simply looked excited.
"So, let's get a boat!" Tabitha said vehemently. "I've always wanted to see Scotland!"
-Logan frowned deeply. "I couldn't smell nuthin' outside, right? Inside I picked up on the Cajun's scent- and he was terrified." He gestured at the window. "We checked all over the grounds, and all we got f'r it was muddy shoes and wet clothes! An' I'm pretty damn sure I can smell Rogue goin' out, but not comin' back in," he folded his arms. "I don't think Chuck or Beast has been in this house since they left this morning! Something bad musta happened and I can't tell what."
The door to the boathouse on Muir isle looked like it had been blow open by a small explosion. Likewise on of the chains that had been attached to one of the smaller but faster boats was shattered in several places. There were small scorch marks on the wooden floor. It looked like a battle had taken place recently. Despite all this, the inside of the boathouse was deathly quiet.
"Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaw!" Tabitha bellowed as the motorboat raced along. Legion was driving. At first he kept on glancing back at Tabitha, but began to ease up a little since none of his captors appeared to be following him. In fact he was, at the moment, grinning wickedly.
"Now tha' we've left that island behind us we can really cut loose!" He laughed, throwing his head back. "We make a damn good team, you and I."
Tabitha threw her arms around him for a minute and murmured, "You bet cutie!" into his ear.
Legion's grin spread. He laughed again. "If I had known ye were such an interestin' character I would have just contacted you instead of taking over that wolf-girl's mind."
Tabitha let go of him and waved it off. "Hey, no hard feelings, right?" She punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Just keep driving!" She strolled to the back of the boat and looked up. "Hmmm. . ." She made a rather large firecracker in her hand and threw it into the water where it exploded sending up. Legion jumped and the boat swerved as he accidentally jerked the wheel to one side.
As the spray hit him he looked over his shoulder. "What in god's name are ye doing?!"
"Easy cutie!" Tabitha advised him. "I'm not going to hit the boat. I'm just feeling a little warm and I thought some spray would cool us down."
Legion rolled his eyes. "All right, but just keep watch for my father and the rest of the misfits."
Tabitha threw him a salute. "Aye, aye captain!"
*
Sean Cassidy, strapped in the Blackbird, looked out the window. "We'll never spot the bloody boat from up 'ere! It blends in with the crest o' the water," he informed Beast and Xavier.
"I'm afraid you're right Sean, but if we fly any lower we'll give away our location before we spot them," Beast told the Scot. "I'm having a hard time getting them on radar too. Some sort of odd static."
"Probably Legion, scrambling the machine with his power," Xavier muttered.
"I'm afraid you might be right sir."
"Well, we'll just have to beat them ta the mainland," Moira called out from the back. Since they did not want to leave Rahne alone, but neither Moira nor Sean could be convinced to stay behind with her, the young mutant was strapped onto a special medical table. Moira stroked her hair gently. Rahne flinched, and opened her eyes.
"Mum?" She murmured.
"I'm right here Rahne dear," Moira said, with evident relief.
"Mum, I'm sorry," Rahne said, closing her eyes again. "He- I couldn't stop myself. He made me bring Tabitha so he could get out."
All the adults, with the exception of Beast who was still concentrating on flying, turned around.
"No wonder Tabitha helped him," Charles shook his head. "David could have done irreversible damage to Rahne's psyche."
"But it still doesn't explain why she helped him break inta the boat house, steal a boat and take off-" Banshee began. Then he saw a large splash shooting up from the water beneath the jet. "What in the blue blazes is that?"
Beast glanced out the window. There was several similar splashes. "Judging by the formation. . . It's a series of underwater explosions."
"Explosions?" repeated Xavier. "Hank, follow that trail, but do not go any lower! It must be Tabitha. She either knows the equipment isn't working, or she is trying to prevent David from seeing us. Either way it gives us a trail to follow."
"I'll do my best sir," Beat assured him.
Rahne smiled weakly. "I knew Tabitha would never turn on us."
Sean lapsed into silence.
*
To Rogue, it seemed like she had been on the floor for ages. She had regretted toppling the chair almost immediately. Her head was throbbing horribly, and she couldn't be sure, but she thought she might have passed out once or twice since then. She was pretty sure she had a concussion of some sort. On top of all that she had twisted her bonds in such a way that they were making her right arm incredibly sore.
Remy, please turn back. You should be able to see it's a trap. Don't come after me. She wriggled, trying to loosing the ropes binding her, but she was unsuccessful. God fucking damnit!
Rogue tired shifting her body weight to move the chair across the floor. It was an exhausting process and after a long time of working at it, she had only moved a few inches. Tearing up in frustration, Rogue tried to work her mouth around her gag so she could at least shout a warning, but it was tied too tight. Finally Rogue closed her eyes and let the tears flow.
Please don' let him follow me. Please jus' let me have gotten him so mad that he left th' mansion and didn't hear mah scream.
Outside Remy was up on a high tree branch, looking at the Ripper house which, as far as he could tell, had been repaired since he had last visited. He was just above the moving camera that had caused Rogue to absorb him months ago. He felt a twang of guilt over what he had been trying to do that night, but he pushed it aside. Someone even more important to him then Jean-Luc was trapped in that house this time. He wasn't going to fail her.
"Hang on Rogue," he muttered as he jumped from an outstretched tree branch onto the nearest piece of rooftop he could find. "I'm coming."
He made his way up to a third story balcony. It was fairly easy for him. The Rippers changed their security system once every few years. He had know the security system they had used before they kidnapped Jean-Luc, but not the new one. They had been pretty bold to hold Jean-Luc at their actual headquarters. Remy knew every inch of the third floor. He used to visit there every now and then.
"Please don' let Belle be about," he murmured as he slipped the window open without a fuss. The room was empty, to his relief. Remy did some quick thinking. If they were holding Rogue and expecting him, they would have taken her directly to their most secure place. The basement. There was only one door into the basement, and it would probably be guarded by two brutes who made up for their lack of gray matter with muscle mass. The third staircase to the right was the one that would take him closest to the basement and it wasn't used very often. There was also a dumbwaiter that he could use.
T'ank god Belle had t' sneak me outta here so often, Remy thought. If she hadn't he wouldn't have any idea where he was going besides his gut instinct. Gong down the dumbwaiter would cause a racket that he could ill afford to make, and the Rippers might have booby trapped the thing for such a home invasion. There were many thieves who would risk their necks to impress Jean-Luc by stealing something from the Ripper's home. Remy slipped down the stairwell with a phantom's grace. He hardly seemed to move at all, he appeared to glide down to the bottom floor. Of course, patrolling the bottom of the step was an armored member of the Rippers. Remy slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out the two of diamonds. He charged the card, and with his uncanny aim, landed it between the Ripper's chest plate and his back. The Ripper slapped at his back as he thought something had slid down his shirt, but when the card exploded he was flung forward and crashed onto the ground, unconscious.
"Feel lucky Gambit didn't charge the card up de whole way," Remy grunted at him as he relieved the fallen guard of a set of keys. He then tied the Ripper's hands and bound him to the bottom post of the stairs by the long leather ammunition case he had been wearing. "A suggestion, mon ami. Don' try to be a bodyguard any time in de near future." He patted the limp man on the head and continued on his way.
The two thugs guarding the door to the basement stairs were disappointing. They weren't as big as he expected. In fact, compared to some of the folks in the Rippers, these guys were positively scrawny.
Remy fished out a marble from his trench coat pocket. He charged it up and rolled it down the hallway next to them. It exploded, sending something crashing to the ground. The two Rippers, startled, jumped and ran in the direction of racket.
"Too damn easy," Remy mumbled. He bit his lip gently. "I don' t'ink Julien would be dis careless. . ." His gut instinct said he was walking right into a trap. I should go back. Call the mansion. . . See if Logan and Stormy are home. Do you want to take that risk mon ami?
He popped the lock on the door with ease. Not wit' Rogue's life on de line.
He pressed up against the side of the stairwell and slipped down them silently as a wraith. The basement in the Ripper's HQ was a well made labyrinth, not in any way a normal basement. Remy stalked along the corridor. His footsteps fell lightly. From what he could tell there was no one else nearby. Yeah. Dis is definitely a trap. Julien, you got no style at all, Remy thought.
Rogue woke up, not even realizing that she had passed out again. The chair was upright and facing in the opposite direction, towards the door. She strained her ears, and could hear breathing behind her. The doorknob rattled and she felt the blood drain out of her face. Don't come in.
Remy jiggled the knob again. Locked. He frowned. Why even bother locking the door Julien? Do you t'ink I wouldn't have figure it out by now?
He wedged a card between the door and the frame, right by the lock. Rogue saw it glowing through the crack and let out a muffled cry, trying to warn him away. Remy heard it, but it only made him kick the door open as soon as the lock was blown.
"Rogue!" Remy shouted as he saw her. There was a large bruise on the right side of her head. His pulse quickened. He made a movement forward.
"Stay where y' are LeBeau or your girlfriend gets her head blown off," Julien said flatly, aiming a large gun at Rogue from directly behind her. Rippers stepped out of the darkness.
"Who's t' say I won't blow you up firs'?" Remy countered, looking more confidant than he felt.
Julien smirked. "Well, den, mebbe I won' blow her up. Mebbe I'll jus' let de boys go at her, non?"
Remy raised an eyebrow. "You gonna have a lot of unconscious help den, Julien."
"Oh?"
Rogue began making loud noises and shaking her head violently. Remy gave her a funny look. Julien let go of the gun with one hand to grab Rogue's chin. Remy froze when he realized that Julien's fingers, as well as Rogue's face, weren't covered. Julien forced Rogue to tilt her head up. The metal collar gleamed.
"I t'ink it goes well wit' her outfit, don' you LeBeau?" Julie smirked. Rogue jerked away from him. "She's got spunk. You have quite de taste in women, I'll give you dat LeBeau." He ran a finger down the side of Rogue's neck. She shuddered visibly. She was still only clad in her tank top. Remy started forward to take Julien's head off. Two Rippers grabbed his arms.
"If you touch a hair on her head Julien I'll rip you a new one!" He snapped.
"You won't get a chance," Julien retorted. "Take LeBeau and his girlfriend to de real holdin' cells- an' don' put dem in de same one," he added. Julien gestured and one of the other Rippers snapped a collar around Remy's neck as well. "You act up LeBeau an' I t'row your girl to de loins," he whispered dangerously in Remy's face. "If you know what I mean."
Another pair of Rippers removed Rogue from the chair and began forcing her out of the room. The Rippers with Remy soon followed.
Julien cracked his knuckles and smirked. "Today is turnin' out t' be a damn good day."
*
The mini-jet had landed on the Muir Isle airstrip some time ago. Storm had taken to the air to see what she could see, which turned out to be virtually nothing. Wolverine had scoured the island. When they met up again, neither of them were too happy.
"Rogue and Gumbo ain't been here, that's for certain," Logan grunted. "An' Beast and Chuck took off with Banshee, Rahne an' another Woman whom I'm guessin' is Moira. Tabitha, on the other hand," he growled slightly, "she left the island by boat, with someone whose smell resembles Chuck's."
"David?" Storm asked.
"More than likely," he replied. "She didn't smell scared either, so either she was brainwashed or she's helpin' him of her own free will."
"We should go find them. . ." Storm began.
"I dunno 'bout that 'Ro," Logan murmured. "Remember, since we know they ain't with Chuck, Gumbo and Rogue are MIA. An' I'm pretty sure they didn't take a romantic rendezvous anywhere because Chuck asked Rogue to watch the house." He frowned deeply and his eyes grew clouded with worry. "They might be hurt. Gumbo's smell reeked of terror around the house, especially when he made a beeline for the hangar."
Ororo put a hand to her forehead. "We don't even know where they are. We need the Professor to operate Cerebro before we can even begin to find them." She looked up at Logan. "So we have to help him first."
"The kids could be in danger 'Ro!" Logan shouted. "We can't go gallivanting off after Xavier's brat when they might be dyin'!"
"And what do you suggest we do otherwise? Track them by ourselves? If Gambit had to take the heli-jet then don't you think it's going to be too far for us to follow on foot?"
Logan's eyes widened. "That's it 'Ro," he whispered. "Where else on earth would the Cajun go that he'd need the heli-jet to go to?"
Ororo paused.
"New Orleans," they said together.
"Why in god's name would Remy be going to New Orleans again?" Ororo asked. "He didn't leave a fantastic impression with the locals last time, and neither did Rogue."
"I doubt he went down there for a holiday visit 'Ro," Logan said. "Plus Gumbo wouldn't waste a minute of bein' alone with Rogue. That ain't his style."
"I have no doubt that you are right," Ororo said wryly. "Still, Remy took the heli-jet, most likely to New Orleans. . . And you didn't smell Rogue coming back into the house. Logan. . . What if Rogue was kidnapped? By the people we fought in New Orleans?"
Logan growled. "If that's so, then I'm gonna be makin' jambalaya with some rowdy Cajuns." He shot out his claws.
"So we have a choice then," Ororo gestured. "Find Xavier and confirm what we think has happened to Rogue and Gambit, or go after them blindly and hope we're right."
"Well either way let's choose quickly. We don't have time to waste."
*
The newly discarded boat bobbed up a bit with the coming in of the tide. About fifty feet away from it Tabitha and Legion walked up the beach to the Scottish mainland.
"What an awesome ride!" Tabitha bubbled. "I should hang out with guys like you more often!" She looped her arm around his. "This is all ready turning into a great party!"
Legion smirked. "It's about bloody time I met someone with a similar outlook on life. What do you say ta painting this burg red?"
"Sounds like a plan to me," Tabitha said. "Lead the way."
Legion took the lead, walking straight for the center of town. Tabitha made a small firecracker in the hand behind her back, and dropped it to the ground. It rolled a few feet then exploded, but not very loudly. It left a fairly decent sized burn mark on the cobblestone road. I wonder if this is how Hanzel felt? She thought.
Beast let the others out of the Blackbird before making a water landing. Xavier addressed the small group. "Perhaps it's for the best," he said slowly, "if you and Rahne stayed here Moira."
"Are ye mad Charles?" Moira demanded. "I dinnae come with you just to be left behind."
"I only thought that someone should watch Rahne," Xavier clarified, but the girl broke in.
"Professor, sir, I want ta help you," Rahne said. She was a little wobbly after being under Legion's control, but besides that she looked fine. "I can track them better than ye can if I transform and we won't look out of the ordinary either." She looked imploringly at Moira. "Please mum! I can help ye if ye give me a chance!"
Moira and Charles exchanged glances.
"Ye cannae be seriously considerin' this!" Sean said. "Out 'f concern for the lass, ye cannae let her do this. First o' all, what happens if Legion decides ta take over her mind again? She isn't fully recovered from the first time. It could really hurt her!"
"Legion isn't likely to target Rahne if the Professor is around," Beast pointed out. "She's not his target. The Professor is."
Sean frowned. "Can you be sure about tha'?"
"No," Beast said. "But in this line of work, you can't be sure about anything."
Sean snorted. "I cannae deny that." He sighed deeply. "If the lass wants to help. . . Then I think we should let her help."
"No," the professor shook his head. "I can't put you and Rahne into danger like this Moira. Rahne's just a child, and you. . ."
"I'm a normal human?" Moira said, eyes flashing. "I dinnae care what you say Charles," she said firmly. "Rahne and I are coming."
Rahne's face lit up as Charles' brow knit in frustration. "Moira I don't think-" he began.
"Thank ye mum! I won't let ye down!" Rahne promised. She immediately transformed, sat wagging her tail and barked once. She let her tongue loll out of one side of her mouth and she panted. Moira patted her on the head.
"Now remember, stay close, even if you smell them near. Yer in no condition to take on Legion on yer own, aye?"
Rahne barked once and nodded her head. She stood up on all fours and sniffed the air. Beast patted Charles on the shoulder gently. "I know you're concerned Charles, but you're going to need help. It's for the best."
Xavier bowed his head slightly. "I understand that Hank. I'm just- concerned. Very concerned. David was able to outwit me."
"Sir," Beast said, with just the hint of a smile at the edge of his mouth, "You can't figure out the riddle I told you last Tuesday. You're a psychic, not a god. Legion would have outwitted himself if he needed to."
"Thank you old friend," Charles patted Beast's hand. "That's something I needed to hear."
Beast chuckled. "Well, I couldn't let you think you were a god, now could I? It's my job to make sure you remember you're only human."
Charles chuckled, the first time in over twenty four hours. "And you do it very well."
"Charley!" Sean called out. "Get yer wheelchair in gear laddie! We'll never get anywhere if you just sit around here!"
Charles nodded to Beast, and they began following Rahne down the cobbled streets of the seaside Scottish town.
*
Remy and Rogue were shoved in separate, but adjacent cells deeper in the basement under the Ripper's stronghold. Before locking them up they made sure that Remy's collar was secure and he had been relieved of all lock picks, cards, small pieces of metal, and anything that could be used as a thieves tool. They made a show of manhandling Rogue, and one of the Rippers even kissed her on the cheek. She tried to kick him, but was forced into the cell before she got the chance.
"Joo gonna rot in here LeBeau," one of the Rippers taunted.
"Dat's what you t'ink," Remy said, his eyes dully flashing in anger. "As soon as I get dis collar off. . ."
The Rippers laughed collectively. "Joo expect to pull it off? We're way ahead o' you LeBeau. If you don't open dose t'ings with de special remote dey blow. So sure, go ahead and try. It'd be a damn funny t'ing t' see joor head all over de walls." He laughed and waved at the other Rippers. "C'mon. Lets get outta here. It smell like t'ief."
After they had gone Remy looked over towards Rogue. She was laying in her cell, shivering. They had not removed her gag, and she hadn't looked one hundred percent when she was struggling with the guards and it made Remy concerned.
"Rogue?" He murmured. She rolled over to face him. He saw a bruise on her head that he didn't notice before. His eyes widened in fury. "Dose bastards!" He swore. Rogue made a muffled noise through the gag. Remy frowned. "Turn around," he said, reaching through the bars into her cell. "I'll take it off."
Rogue nodded and leaned back against the bars. Remy untied the knot and the gag fell from Rogue's lips. She took a deep breath. Then she turned around. He reached through the bars and went to touch the bruise, but Rogue caught his hand. "Ah did that," she mumbled. "Ah was tryin' t' get out, and Ah toppled the chair over. Ah knew Julien was settin' a tap f'r ya. Ah wanted t' warn ya."
He let his hand cup her cheek and he smiled faintly at her. "Next time let me worry 'bout you, 'stead o' de other way around. No need f'r you t' get hurt because o' dis t'ief."
She nodded gently. Remy rubbed his thumb against her cheek, then leaned towards her to touch her lips with his. Rogue returned the kiss for a second, then shuddered violently. Remy watched her, very worried, as she pulled back and wrapped her arms around her shoulders, rubbing them. The cells were cold and dank, and she wasn't clad well for the climate. Remy quickly put two and two together . He stood up, took off his trench coat, and the passed it through the bars to her. Rogue looked up at him, hesitant to take the jacket.
"Much as I like de view," he said, eyes raking across her outfit, "I don' want you t' get sick. You don' look too well in de first place."
Rogue smirked, and pulled the trench coat on. "S'my fault. Runnin' out in th' cold an' th' rain with next t' nothin' on wasn't 'xactly th' smartest thing Ah coulda done." She looked away from him. "Remy- Ahm sorry 'bout th way Ah acted. . ."
Remy silenced her. "S'okay Rogue. I should have realized dat it wasn't de right time t' confront you 'bout something like that."
She shrugged the coat around her tighter and then sat down, leaning her head against the bars that their cages shared. Remy sat down next to her, slipping his arm through the bars to hold her. "If Ah hadn't been stupid 'bout it we wouldn't be in this mess." She shivered, closing her eyes. "Ah, gawd Ah feel like crap. Mah head feels like someone's been usin' it f'r a drum."
Remy reached up and turned her face so he could look at it. He frowned, tugged his glove off, and reached to touch the bruise. Rogue instinctively moved back. "Rogue, it's okay. Julien's pretty little collars will keep us safe."
Rogue grumbled. "Ah don't like them. They don' feel right." She reluctantly allowed Remy to touch her forehead. She winced when he touched the purple and black batch of skin, even though his touch was feather-light.
"You probably got a concussion Cherie," he informed her.
"Ah figgered as much," she rolled her eyes. "You'd think that Julien an' his thugs would be the one to beat meh up, not mahself."
"You always beat yourself too much," he said quietly. His eyes met hers for a moment, then she looked away again.
"Ah don't want t' hurt anyone," she breathed. "'Specially not th' people Ah care 'bout." Despite the bars their faces came right next to each other's. "If Ah evah hurt you. . . Or any o' the othahs. . .Ah'd die. ." Rogue looked at him, her green eyes clashing with his red and black ones. "'Specially if it was you."
Remy touched her face and drew her close. Their lips met again, gently at first, then with more passion. Were it not for the bars between them, there might have been a performance similar to what Rogue had dreamed about. Remy broke away for a second and chuckled. "Dis isn't exactly how I pictured dis t' be. I t'ought we'd have a more romantic setting dan dis."
Rogue wrapped her fingers, now bare, in his. "Well, Ah nevah 'xpected this t' evah happen. Not with mah luck. Not with mah powahs." She kissed him again, savoring the feeling.
They heard footsteps coming down the hallway and broke away. Remy tensed as he heard the key turn in the lock, and watched the door open. A single shadowy figure entered.
"Rogue-" Remy whispered urgently. "If dis guys got de keys, den we're home free. You distract him, and I'll grab him when he gets close 'nough."
Rogue nodded. She was thinking about what she should do when the Ripper came into the light. Remy's whole body went rigid. Rogue's eyes flicked between him and the young woman standing in front of them.
"Well dis is a sorry sight. I t'ought you would have been able t' outwit Julien, LeBeau. I'm disappointed."
Remy's jaw dropped a good inch. "B- Belle?"
The blonde leaned over and kissed him directly on the lips. Rogue's face grew hot, and she bit back her fury as Remy didn't pull away from this intruder.
"I'm here t' get you out of dis fine mess," Bella Donna told him. "Stand back and let me open this door."
Remy got up and stumbled backwards, stunned. Belle opened the door, and in one fluid motion had wrapped her arms around him.
"I t'ought you left Louisiana fo' good LeBeau." She whispered into his ear. "So what brought you back? Feelin' homesick? Or," she kissed his ear, "did you miss de company?"
"Belle-" he began firmly, pushing her away.
"Here," she said, touching some buttons on the collar around his neck. It fell to the ground, deactivated and harmless. "Is dat better? We'll get you out of here."
"Okay," he said. "Den give me de keys, so we can get Rogue outta here too." Remy nodded at her.
"You're jokin', right LeBeau?"
"No," he replied in a flat tone.
Bella Donna looked infuriated. "Are you crazy? Why should I help her? She's de reason poppa's in a coma!" She glared daggers at Rogue. "I am not helpin' her!" Belle tugged on Remy's sleeve. "Let's go. Leave de tart," Belle murmured. "I c'n give you more dan she can, an' you know it."
Remy pushed her away. "I ain't leaving wit'out her." He walked up to cage and reached in for Rogue. He leaned his head against hers. "I could never leave you here."
Rogue bit her lower lip. "If ya go- ya could get help-" she said slowly.
"No," he said firmly. "I am not leaving unless you're wit' me Rogue. I don' trust Julien."
Rogue kissed him and smiled. Belle snorted.
"C'mon LeBeau, dere's no reason to be foolin' de girl any longer," Belle informed him. She looked at Rogue and shook her head. "You used t' woo pretty ones t' make me jealous. You're standards are droppin'," she mumbled. Rogue looked shocked by the comment, then angry. "Well, I'm over dat now anyway."
Rogue's expression was unreadable, and Remy shot Belle a scalding look. "Belle, I left you and de rest o' N'awlens behind me fo' a reason," he scowled at her. "I didn't wan' people usin' me no more. An' you used me jus' like de rest o' dem."
Belle looked scandalized. "Remy, I t'oght you an' I had somet'ing special! After al we've been t'rough. . .after all we did-"
"You knew it was over when I didn't bring you along!" Remy nearly shouted. "And did you t'ink I didn't know dat you were ready to t'row me t' Julien and yo' poppa as soon as you were tired wit' me?"
Belle growled at him, "So, instead, you fucked me until you got tired o' me? You're a goddamn hypocrite!"
Remy felt the blood drain from his face. He heard Rogue moved back suddenly in shock, but couldn't turn to face her. He had never told anyone at the mansion that he used to have (for lack of a better word) a girlfriend. Now not only did Rogue know he had dated Belle (to some extant) she knew he had been intimately involved with Belle, but she didn't understand the whole story. Remy finally glanced over at her, but she didn't meet his gaze.
Damnit LeBeau, you should have told her! She should have never found out dis way! Remy thought. He bit his lower lip, then turned back to Belle with a vengeance.
"Give me de keys Belle."
"Screw you LeBeau," Belle retorted. "You'll be lucky if I don' lead Julien down here t' kill you!"
Remy scowled at her and pressed a finger to the lock on Rogue's cage. "Stan' back Cherie."
Rogue nodded dully, and then obeyed. With a small 'pop' the lock exploded and then fell to the ground. Remy held his hand out to Rogue. She looked at it, and then looked at him. Biting her lip, she took it hesitantly. Somewhere in the back of his mind Remy breathed a partial sigh of relief. Still, he could only imagine how their conversation would go later.
Rogue looked at him. Ah'm so tired o' all o' this, She thought sadly. We get ovah one thing, an' somethin' else comes up t' bite us in th' ass. She felt her temper rising. Why the hell didn't he tell me about this bitch? Doesn't he trust meh?! A small voice in the back of her head, possibly someone else's, said Well, knowing you, don't you think he'd be scared you'd react like this?
Remy turned to Belle. "Now, get dis t'ing offa her," he said, gesturing at the collar."
"Get it off yo'self LeBeau," she snapped back at him. "I hope you blow her head sky-high."
Remy's eyes flashed in fury. He grabbed Belle by the wrist and glared at her. "Get dis t'ing offa her or so help me God, Belle. . ."
"I came down here t' help you out an' you alone. She hurt poppa, I ain't doing shit f'r her," Belle said. She gave Rogue a look of pure malice.
"Ah don' want any help from a bitch like you anyway," Rogue snarled, the first time she had spoken since Belle's arrival.
"I'll help you- right off a cliff," Belle retorted.
"Both o' you jus' shut up!" Remy shouted. The girls looked at him. He immediately felt his heart sink. Belle looked insulted, which was nothing new, but Rogue looked hurt. "Rogue-"
"Let's get outta hea," Rogue said, pushing past him. She suddenly looked very wobbly, and one leg folded beneath her. Remy rushed to help her up.
"Rogue, what's wrong? You don' look so good Cherie. Mebbe. . . We jus' stay put for now?" Remy suggested. Rogue shook her head.
"We can't. That jerk will come down here an' see that the collar is off you an' that's it," Rogue reminded him. "We've gotta go now." She didn't look at him directly, and mumbled the words. "'Sides, Ah don' think yah girlfriend ovah there is gonna be helpin' us much longer."
"Rogue, Belle's never-" Remy began, but Rogue cut him off.
"Whatevah, let's just get outta this hole and then we can talk about it. . . And whatevah else y'all haven't told me," she murmured.
"Right," he sighed. "So Belle, are you gonna help us outta here or do we go alone?" He turned to face the young Cajun woman.
Belle's face was unreadable. She didn't answer for a while, then said, "I'm helpin' you LeBeau, not her." She walked down the way and gestured for them to follow. "I'm warnin' you now Remy- leave me alone wit' dat skunk-haired bitch and I'll tear her in two. Dat's a promise."
Remy put an arm around Rouge and helped her along. Her movements were a bit off, and her face was paler than usual. Remy thought the better of asking her how she felt- he worried that he might get his head chewed off.
I'm in de middle o' a house o' people dat hate me. . . An' I feel more scared about being between dese two women dan I do 'bout being in-between the walls o' dis place, Remy observed. I never cease to amaze myself. Huh. . . What'll really be amazing is if I convince Rogue not to hate me after dis. . .
"Is she always this charmin'?" Rogue asked sarcastically.
"If she wasn't she wouldn't be Belle," Remy said with twinges of exasperation and remorse. "She'd be a normal gal."
Rogue nodded in a bit of a daze. She mumbled something incoherently.
"What-?"
"Ah. Don'. Trust. Her. One. Bit." Rogue hissed again. "What makes you so sure she's not gonna turn us over t' Julien?"
"I'm not sure. Dat's why you gotta stick close to me. We might have to make a break for it," Remy advised her.
"Great," Rogue rolled her eyes and groaned. "Ah'd rather have Julien guidin' us then. At least he's the devil we do know, instead o' th' devil we don't."
They fell silent as they caught up to Belle, who motioned for them to be quiet. They could clearly hear footsteps and voices in the hallway. After a few moments they passed and Bella Donna opened the door.
"All clear," she murmured, indicating that they should follow her again.
As they walked down the hallway Rogue murmured so that only Remy could hear, "If she'd been in Eden, she would've tempted th' snake."
Silently he agreed with her.
*
The owner of O'Riley's Pub thought he saw two teenagers walk in, but when he looked at the couple more closely they appeared to be elderly, perhaps in their eighties. One of the waiters walked over and asked what they wanted. The man ordered drinks, as the woman seemed to be laughing uncontrollably about something.
"Now this, this is really something, cutie," the woman said to the man between fits of laughter.
Puzzled by the comment, but knowing that he was probably just intruding on their conversation, the waiter left to fill their orders.
"So they really think I'm like, old gray and wrinkly?" Tabitha asked Legion eagerly.
Legion nodded with a smirk. "They never check the ID of a senior citizen who wants a drink. Why should they?"
"You've got a point there," Tabitha nodded. "So, what's next?"
"First, we have t' take care o' my father," Legion said with venom in his voice. "After that, Scotland is our oyster."
"I always preferred clams myself," Tabitha teased. Then her expression turned grave. "How are you and I going to beat the Professor? He's got beast and Banshee helping, if not more people."
"Father won't let them interfere. He feels this is 'his battle'. I'm his mistake. One little slip of the mind and he lest out a monster, you know?" Legion laughed. "He's so damn predictable. That's how I got him to do exactly what I wanted in the first place. I was able to use my powers to learn his personality traits from my mother. After that it was easy setting up the rest." The waiter returned with their drinks. Tabitha ran her finger across the rim of hers, while Legion knocked his back at once. "And with your help I can wipe my father from existence."
Tabitha lifted up her drink and sniffed it. She didn't like the idea of drinking. Her father drank all the time. . . when he wasn't stealing things. She pushed the drink away, offering it to Legion. "How would we do that?"
Legion held the drink firmly and his tongue slipped across his lips. "Simple. Father needs perfect concentration to even come close to my power. Once I have him engaged in mental battle you use your fireballs to distract him, and I'll erase his mind. He'll be a helpless child."
Legion smiled wickedly and knocked back the second drink, gesturing for more. Tabitha watched him down another two drinks before she spoke. "Did you ever think that maybe. . .this isn't what you want to be doing?"
"Only my weaker sides doubt themselves. I know exactly what I'm doing," he said confidently. "What could I doubt? Do you think that I'll regret getting rid of my father? The man could have cared less about me."
"From what I heard he didn't know that you were alive-"
"-Because he left my mother to pursue some righteous dream of peace!" Legion said furiously, slamming a glass down on the table. "He cared more about his damn students and his dream then his own family!" His eyes glinted with fire. "I'm gonna teach that bastard a lesson he won't forget. Heh," Legion laughed. "Well actually, he'll never know what hit him. Once I've made him into a blank slate he'll have no memory of what he's done or what I've done to him."
"You know," Tabitha said slowly, "I think you're making a mistake. Xavier's a stiff, I know, but think about it- he came here because he was concerned for you. Just like he did before-"
"Are you going to help me or not?" Legion snapped at her.
Tabitha paused. "You're hurting two parents who love you by doing this."
"That doesn't answer my question."
She sighed. "Yeah, I'll help."
"Good. It's settled then," he smirked. He ordered another drink and drank it. Tabitha sat silently in the booth with him, a darkened look on her face.
What the heck is taking you guys so long? Tabitha wondered.
*
Beast and Moira were working on a small machine together. They had pieced back together the psychic inhibitor that Banshee had unwittingly destroyed earlier. Still, with this, a few good ideas, and Beast and Moira working in tandem, they had begun to formulate a plan. The small group had taken up temporary residence in a townhouse that Moira's family owned on the mainland. Xavier was watching the pub down the street. He knew that Tabitha and Legion were inside. They hadn't needed Rahne to track the duo- Tabitha had left more than enough clues as to where they were going.
"Ah!" Moira cursed. "Stupid bloody thing!" They were trying to bond pieces of a Cerebro headset to the inhibitor, and the thing had started sparking. "We're ne'er going ta get this thing finished in time ta catch him unawares!"
"Have a little faith Moira," Beast suggested. "We have time still, and I'm pretty sure that we'll be able to improvise if things don't go exactly according to plan. After all, that's what we're best at," he shot a bit of a smile towards Charles, who couldn't help but smile a bit back..
"What this bloody thing supposed ta do anyway Hank?" Sean asked, peering over Hank's furry shoulders to get a look at the contraption. "It looks like a mess."
"Ideally it will isolate the three separate brain wave patterns within Legion. The professor will then be able to correct the mistake he made, and make David the primary entity instead of Lucas," Beast explained.
"So, we've got ta get this thing on 'im?" Sean said skeptically. "How?"
"We sneak up on him while he and Charles are locked in mental combat," Beast said quite simply.
"You make it sound like it's going to be so easy," Sean sighed, knowing it would be anything but. "What about the lassie?"
"What about Tabitha?" Charles said, wheeling over.
Sean frowned. "Well, if she's working with him, she might use one o' those little firecrackers o' hers t' destroy this- thing?"
"Sean!" Rahne said, shocked. "Tabitha would nae work with someone as vile as Legion! And if she were why would she be leaving us clues?" The young girl looked scandalized.
"Sometimes criminals leave clues, to taunt the police," Sean murmured. He folded his arms and walked to the window. He pushed down the vinyl blinds with two fingers and looked at the pub. "From what ye've told me the lass doesn't have the greatest track record. She could be going along with this of her own free will. She might be enjoying it." His expression darkened and he glanced at Xavier. "They might be setting a trap fer us and we won't be prepared-" Sean rounded on Xavier, "-because you are all convinced that she's just trying ta help us!"
"Sean!" Moira said in a chiding tone. "Please. I cannae think with you being so negative!" She frowned. "We're going to play everything by ear. I dinnae think the girl is trying tae harm us. I know you're concerned. We all are, but dinna be jumping to conclusions, aye?"
"Aye," Sean sighed. "Yer right. I just cannae help but be nervous. The boy was hard enough ta deal with when he first arrived on the isle. Now he's going ta be mad at us as well. . ."
"Fortunately, I will be acting as the lightning rod for that anger," Charles pointed out. "You won't have to worry about it Sean. If need be," he said slowly, "I can disable Tabitha as well as Legion. I just hope it doesn't come to that."
Rahne looked up at the adults. "What can I do?" She asked.
"Yer going to hold this for us, out of sight," Moira said, indicating the special headset. "At least until we've got Legion occupied. Then you'll pass it off ta Sean, and he'll take care o' puttin' it on him."
Rahne nodded eagerly. "Ye can count on me mum!"
Moira ruffled Rahne's short hair. "I know I can luv."
Beast tweaked a few connections, and closed the final open panel in the device. "There. It should work perfectly. Now all we need to do is wait for Legion and Tabitha to appear and take him down."
"We're going to have to get ready rather quickly," Xavier said. "They're on the move again. They're leaving the pub, and from what I can tell, David's intoxicated. It could prove to be the grain that tips the scales in our favor, so let's not waste the moment."
Rahne transformed into a dog, and Beast handed her the headset. She gently wrapped her tongue around it, so that her canine teeth didn't damage it and took it in her mouth. Beast cracked all his digits and Moira gave him a look of mild disapproval. Sean looked at Xavier. Xavier nodded to him, and Sean went to the door.
"On the count of three. One. Two-"
Sean, looking out the window next to the door suddenly jumped back. "Charles! He-"
The door exploded inward, sending Sean flying backwards into Beast. They both crashed into the dining room table.
"Hello dad. I'm home," Legion said, his eyes sparkling.
*
Though Belle had yet to give them a reason not to trust her, Remy and Rogue were both on their guard. Someone had all ready discovered Rogue and Gambit were missing and the whole house was crawling with Rippers. As they made their way down one hallway they could hear footsteps and Julien's voice.
"Didn't joo check him for lock picks? Damnit! Joo're all useless!"
Belle opened a door and gestured for Rogue and Remy to get in. Remy nodded, and pulled a hesitant Rogue in with him. Belle shut the door. Julien's footsteps came closer and finally they stopped just by the door.
"Belle, what de hell are joo doin'? Joo know dat fool Cajun an' his girlfriend got out! Joo should be lookin' for dem like de rest of us! Dey can't have gone far. Deir powers are blocked. Dey'd want to get de remote first. . ." Julien said. "An' joo an' I got de only ones. Stay by me. Got it?"
"Why we gotta drag Remy into this too? Jus' de bitch screwed up poppa."
There was an odd silence, then Julien said a stone cold reply, "Because dat bastard was involved dat's why. An' when I find dem, I'm gonna let any o' de boys who want a piece of his girlfriend screw wit' her while he watches."
Rogue felt Remy tense furiously besides her. She herself was infuriated by the prospect, but at this point there wasn't much she could do about it, powerless and stuck in a closet. Plus she wasn't feeling her best. She suddenly felt Remy grab her hand and squeezed it. It was his own little way of saying 'Over my dead body Julien,' without blowing their cover. Rogue appreciated it.
Belle and Julien's voices dropped to a lower whisper as a couple of the Rippers made horrible jokes about what they would do to Rogue when they got their turn. Rogue was trembling with fear and fury by the time they finally heard Julien leave. Bella Donna opened the door for them and nodded.
"I got Julien t'pull de forces away from de main hall, tellin' him I'd try to lure you out. We're gonna head down dat way."
Remy nodded and began to follow. Rogue grabbed his wrist. "Remy, Ah don' trust her. Let's just split."
"Not wit' you injured like dis. You can hardly stand-" he held up a finger to silence her, "- and you know it." He ran the back of his hand down her cheek. "Gambit don' want you getting hurt Cherie. Not any more than you have all ready. Belle's gonna get us outta here okay."
Rogue looked at him pleadingly for a second but Remy gave her a look of confidence back. She sighed, and then nodded her consent. Belle led them through the winding hallways of the Rippers' house. Rogue became increasingly uneasy when they didn't run into anyone else. Remy didn't seem too phased by it. When they finally got to the entrance hall Rogue began to breathe a sigh of relief until Remy shouted, "You set us up!" and the clicks of all sorts of weapons being armed sounded in the room.
Bella Donna backed away from Remy and Rogue and Julien came to her side and patted her on the back. "Joo know what dey say LeBeau. Hall hath no fury like a woman scorned," Julien said with a smirk.
"Ah knew she was a two faced bitch," Rogue muttered furiously. Belle held out her hand, And Rogue snorted at her. "What're ya gonna do? Slap meh?"
Anything Rogue was going to say next was cut off as a beam of energy shot out form Bella Donna's hand and hit her squarely in the chest. Rogue flew a few feet backwards and hit the ground hard. Remy's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped as he looked at Belle's hand, which was still smoking. Remy rushed over to Rogue, who was gasping. The wind had been knocked out of her, and the shock of being blown back like that had left her dazed.
"Never t'ought dat mebbe one o' us would be a mutant too, did ya Remy?" Belle taunted. "I'll enjoy watching your expression when we let de boys play wit' dat tramp."
Remy flicked out a card and charged it. He was ready to throw it when he realized that more than two dozen guns of varying powers were pointed at him and Rogue, the largest being Julien's precious missile launcher. Remy dropped the card, the charge fizzling out. "Who do you really want Julien?" Remy said. "Me or her? She's jus' an excuse. You're using her t' get t' me because you don' have de balls."
Julien growled at him. "Don' tempt me t' blow your brains across de hall, because damn it LeBeau, I will."
Rogue, sat up and clutched Remy's arm. He moved between her and Julien and Bella Donna. "I'm not gonna let him touch you Cherie. Don' you worry. Jus' stay behind me."
Rogue to stand, but her knees buckled. Her head had struck the floor when she hit it, and combined with her earlier bruise it was hard for her to see straight. She groaned, her head throbbing with pain. Remy looked down at her, wrapped his arms around her and helped her up. "Ah've been knocked silly," she muttered into his shoulder. "Yah nevah told meh th' bitch was a mutant."
"I didn't know," Remy confessed. If her had, he would have been taking the blow for Rogue, instead of standing there, letting her get more injured. He glared defiantly at the Bordeauxs.
"Out o' de way LeBeau," Julien snarled. "Give us de bitch, an' we'll go easy on you."
"Over my dead body Julien," Remy said firmly.
"If you insist," Belle held her hand out towards him, energy gathering around it. "You would've been better of staying with me LeBeau. I doubt de girl who can't touch anyone can pleasure you de way I could." She blew him a little kiss.
Rogue clung to Remy, despite the fact that he was trying to push her away. He told her to let go, but she shook her head. "Ah ain't leavin' yah hea," she told him.
"Touchin'," Belle snorted. "Now, it's over." She aimed and fired off her blast. Remy wrapped himself around Rogue and they both went flying through the front door and outside. Rogue landed somewhat laying on Remy. There was a sickening crunch when he hit the ground and he gasped in pain, clutching at his chest.
Rogue rolled off him. "Remy?" She said fearfully.
His eyes were filled with pain. "I- I t'ink I broke a few ribs," he told her. "Go- hurry, you know where de boats are."
"Hell no, not without you," she said. "You may have a bad choice in ex-girlfriends, but that don' mean Ah'm leavin' yah t' th' bitch." She helped haul him to his feet. "C'mon. Let's hurry." The duo tried to hobble over to one of the boats as best they could but just as they were about to reach the dock a missile whipped past them and blew up the boat the had their eyes on. The two were roughly separated by some overgrown Ripper thugs, and dragged back over to Julien and Belle, who were now standing out on the front lawn. Remy was bent over in pain and Julien walked up to him. "What's de matter LeBeau? Stomach ache?"
"Anytime I'm around someone as filthy as you I get sick," Gambit retorted.
Julien pulled back his fist to punch him. Rogue shouted "No!" Loudly and tried to get away from her captors, but was unable to. God only knew what damage Julien would do to Remy.
Just as he was about to swing a figure stepped out from behind one of the moss covered trees. There was a soft 'snikt' like someone unsheathing several blades at once. "I wouldn't move another muscle bub."
The sky suddenly went from being a fairly bright night to being pitch black. Lightning rumbled in the clouds. Ororo landed in front of Rogue and the Rippers holding her, whom immediately released her, and stepped back. Rogue hugged Ororo immediately, trembling slightly.
"You guys couldn't have had bettah timin'," Rogue said thankfully.
Logan led Julien away form the bowed Remy, and only had to glance at the Rippers holding him to make them move away. Rogue made her way to Remy's side and helped him up. Storm quickly assessed the situation from descriptions of what happened from the both of them. Logan looked at the Bordeaux siblings and the other Rippers, a cold glint in his eye.
"Now, if you wanna pick on someone, you could try me on for size," he snarled.
Julien growled, and pulled out a small remote from his jacket. He tossed it to Bella Donna. "Blow it!"
Belle took a matching remote out of her pocket. Holding one in each hand, Belle blasted them full on with her plasma energy, and they shattered like crystal that had just met concrete at a high velocity. Logan looked at the two teenagers and snorted. "What, is that supposed ta make me scared?"
"Shit!" Remy shouted. "Dose were de remotes for de collars!"
"Collars?" Logan growled, raising an eyebrow.
Rogue indicated the collar around her neck. "It's some sorta. . .power suppresser."
Logan snorted. "Who needs a remote?" Her popped out a single claw. "I got a key."
"No!" Remy and Rogue chorused. "De t'ing'll blow if you force it," the Cajun elaborated.
Logan turned to the Rippers and snarled, the rest of his claws popping out again. "Why you little bastards-"
"Logan- don't-" Storm cautioned him. Logan growled.
"If you so much as come within a hundred yards of the mansion, I'll know," he tapped his nose. "An' you'll wish you were never born." He moved at a lightning speed and slashed Julien's missile launcher into three pieces. Julien staggered back in shock. Logan then stopped with his claws just inches from Belle's throat. "Got it?"
The Rippers slowly backed down. Logan shoved Belle at Julien and stalked away. He picked up Rogue, who was wobbly on her feet. "Soon as we get home kid, I'll let you borrow my powers and you'll be-" Rogue sighed. Logan's eye twitched slightly. "'Roooooooooooo!" He almost whined.
"No," she said again, even more firmly. "There's no need to attack them."
"It's on principal though!"
"No!"
Ororo helped Remy walk. They took a boat and headed back to where Remy had parked the smaller jet, where Logan and Storm had also arrived. Each instructor flew one of the machines back to the mansion. Once they had gotten there Logan again picked Rogue up and brought her to the infirmary. Ororo ushered Remy there as well.
"As soon as Hank gets back we're going to have him take a look at the both of you, all right?" Ororo said.
"T'anks Stormy," Remy said, wincing. "How you'd know where to find us?"
"When it comes down to it, we guessed," Logan said bluntly.
Remy gave him an odd look. "Dat's not very comforting. . ."
"We got there in time, didn't we?" Logan said. "That's what's important."
"I hope that the Professor and Hank are all right. . ." Ororo murmured as she and Logan left the infirmary. Logan gave her a pat on the back.
"If there's one guy I know who can take care of himself. . ."
"It's the professor, I know," Ororo sighed.
"Actually, I was talkin' 'bout Cassidy. We didd some black ops work together once," Logan shrugged. "But yeah, I guess Check can handle himself all right."
Ororo frowned.
*
"What, you're not happy to see me?" Legion said, folding his arms. "You've been following me. I thought that you wanted me to drop in."
"I did, but I'd much rather talk to David," Charles said.
Legion walked over and slammed both his hands down on the arms of Charles' wheelchair. Tabitha slipped into the house behind him. She found a spot in the corner where she tried to look inconspicuous
"David's gone old man. The sooner ye come t' grips with tha' the sooner ye'll be able to move on."
Charles' blue eyes analyzed Legion's face. "If that's so, then why are you so nervous?"
"Nervous?!" Legion threw his head back and laughed. "And ye call yerself the most powerful telepath in the world?" He stepped back. "We'll see. Especially since you don't have any of your little headsets or other toys to help ye."
He lashed out with his mind, and Charles countered it. The two locked in mental combat, which the other inhabitants in the room could feel in the edges of their subconscious.
Rahne, still holding the inhibitor, ran over toward Moira. Moira grasped it. . . But then nearly dropped it as the mental combat wore on her mind. It was stronger for her than the others. Being mutant they had some degree of protection for each other's powers. Sean and Beast untangled themselves, and rushed over to Moira. Beast just barely caught her as she began to collapse. Sean seized the inhibitor from Rahne.
"Stupid son of a bitch-" he swore. Charging over towards Legion he got ready to throw the headset on him. . .
Then Legion looked right at him. Sean stopped in his tracks. He tried to move but found he couldn't. He was being held in place telekinetically. "A nice little side effect of once having those two other wimps in my head. I can focus my mental powers in more place than one." He flinched. "Though, it is more than irritating. . ." He flicked his hand and the power inhibitor flew from Sean's grasp into Tabitha's. "Blow the godforsaken thing!"
Tabitha held the inhibitor, quite stunned. Legion quickly switched his focus back entirely to his father. Tabitha held open her hand and made a large firecracker ball. Sean looked at her furiously, ready to shout. Beast, Moira and Rahne looked mortified, but before any of them could do anything Tabitha hurled the shimmering orb right into the back of Legion's neck. His head jerked back, and she darted over, slamming the inhibitor on his head. Legion bellowed in pain.
"Why ye little bitch!" He shouted, swirling around to confront her. Charles seized his chance. He dove into Legion's mind, felt the different brain waves, and isolated them. Then he pulled David to the surface, mentally shoving away the other two. As Lucas cried out in agony he looked at Tabitha. "Why?" He asked.
"Because you father loves you, and you're not giving him a chance," Tabitha said quietly.
Lucas gave her an infuriated look, was about to say something more but was cut off as he collapsed and turned into David. The boy fell over onto Charles. The professor caught his limp form and looked up at Tabitha, who was watching them intently. Her mind clearly elsewhere. "Moira, Hank, Sean, Rahne? Are you all right?"
"Fine Charles, now that ye got him under control," Moira informed him.
Rahne transformed into her human from and ran over to hug Tabitha. "Tabitha, that was so brave of ye! If he had read yer mind he would have figured out what ye were doing. . ."
"I almost wished he would," Tabitha said, returning the hug. "Maybe he would have understood what I was trying to say then." She sighed. "I mean, it's the holidays. This is the time you're supposed to be with the ones you love and the ones who love you. . . Not trying to blast their minds into jelly."
Rahne nodded, and they both looked over towards Xavier and his son. Moira walked over and patted the girls gently on the back, leading them out of the house. Sean picked up David and Beast began wheeling Charles outside. Xavier's eyes never left David's pal, gaunt form. It was almost as if while he had been banished away in his own mind he was being sapped of his very life force.
"I hope I did the right thing," Charles murmured. After a moment he added "I hope he can forgive me."
Beast patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sure he will Charles. What better season for forgiveness than this one?"
They made their way to the Blackbird, where They all piled in rather slowly. Beast tapped a little light on the dashboard. "It seems we have a message from Ororo and Logan." He turned it on and Logan frustrated voice resonated over the radio.
"Chuck where the fu-" he began, but his voice was cut off by Ororo.
"Charles rogue and Remy are missing. We've been trying to contact you but to no avail. We have reason to believe they're in New Orleans. . ."
"-And they're not honeymooning!"
"Logan-!" There was a muffled argument. "Well, we've tried contacting him, now let's head down there- okay? Charles, we'll contact you again once we've found them."
The first message cut off and a second one started.
"We found 'em Chuck. Gumbo's been knocked silly and Rogue's got a new piece of jewelry that's annoyin' the hell outta me. Get back ASAP. Hank needs to look at the both o' 'em."
"Logan, that was hardly coherent. . ."
"What're you talkin' 'bout 'Ro? That was perfect."
"Let me handle it-"
"What!? I don' get it- you always have a problem with my messages."
"You speak Wolverese. I'll take care of it. Go look in on Rogue and Gambit." There was some grumbling. Finally Ororo spoke again. "Rogue's got some power inhibitor wired onto her. Apparently it can only be deactivated safely by a remote control that was destroyed. She also appears to have a concussion and a cold. . . And Remy's got a few broken ribs, and both are covered in bruises and scratches. I have them in bed in the infirmary. I hope everything's all right with you."
Hank raised an eyebrow and looked at Charles. "It seems we weren't the only ones with a rather eventful day or so."
"Apparently not. Once we get back to Muir I have to call Gabrielle. Then you can take the Blackbird back to the mansion, and take care of things there. I'm going to stay here with David for a few more days. . .make sure everything is all right."
"That sounds like the right idea ta me Charles," Moira said.
"Aye, a good idea," Sean echoed, looking over at Rahne and Tabitha. Tabitha had been pretty much silent as she got into her chair. Rahne strapped herself in as well and was watching Tabitha with concern playing across her features. Sean strapped himself in, not saying anything. He had doubted the girl ,and she had proved him wrong. He was going to have to apologize later, whether it made sense to her or not.
*
A few hours later Hank had patched up Rogue and Remy, though both were told to stay in the infirmary. Rogue, Hank decided, had caught a cold on top of her concussion and he wanted her to stay there until they passed. Hank, Logan and Ororo decided to all go to the Morlock tunnels to bring the excessive amounts of stuff they had purchased down to them. Logan told Remy explicitly to keep his hands off Rogue, otherwise he wouldn't have any hands to put on her. Remy agreed, but mostly out of the fact that sitting up hurt him too much anyway.
*
Warren managed to guilt trip his parents into coming home for Christmas eve. They stayed for all of three hours, enough time to ask him a few typical catch up questions, eat a quite dinner at an extravagant restaurant and head off to their flight to Tokyo for a business meeting.
*
Kitty and Lance saw each other for a full day after he got out of the hospital. He told her that he would still be on crutches for a few weeks. She wore a skirt to meet him. He nearly fell over and broke his leg again.
*
Illyana was reunited with her parents for what seemed to her to be the first time in years, and to them seemed liked weeks. There was a lot of tearful hugs, and Illyana and Peter wound up talking for most of a night explaining everything that had happened to her. Peter also told his family that he had made the football team, and promised to ask the professor to fly them in for a game or two.
*
Alex tried unsuccessfully to tech Scott how to surf. Several hours and wipeouts later Scott turned it into a water fight with each boy using their powers to make a bigger wave to splash the other. Size mattered.
*
Jean and her parents had a nice little family reunion. They loved the presents from Scott and told Jean that she had to invite him over some time. . . So long as he didn't blow the roof off. They had a hard enough time repairing it the first time Jean's powers manifested.
*
Bobby educated his parents on the fine art of making a snowman. His father responded to his criticism by pelting him with a snowball.
*
Jubilee sent a long letter home to her family about how much of a good time she was having at Ms. Frost's school. She went on for several paragraphs about Jono, which disturbed them slightly- even after she assured them that he was in full control of his powers.
*
David woke up to find both his parents keeping watch at his bedside. This was of course after a few hours of them bickering back and forth. Sean had ended the argument by bellowing over both of them. Charles and Gabrielle were thrilled to see him smile at the both of them, though Charles was a bit surprised when David asked him to say thank you to Tabitha. Tabitha, Rahne and Sean actually had quite a good game of kickball. Sean did apologize, but Tabitha told him she would have not only thought the same thing, but tried to blow herself up is she was in Sean's position. He was grateful. Moira spent a few quiet hours sipping cocoa and reading a trashy paperback romance novel she had picked up at a drugstore. It was the first time she had relaxed in years. Sean's daughter arrived home from boarding school just in time for the holidays. She and Tabitha hit it off rather well.
*
Kurt and his adoptive parents had a grand old feast at their house. Kurt stuffed himself silly. Later that night he wondered if Rogue had sent out his card or tore it apart.
*
Evan was stunned when Ororo and the others showed up. They were later than they had expected, because Hank hauled them over to one of the side-of-the-road Christmas tree sellers and bought a tree for the Morlocks. They used some of Evan's spikes as Christmas lights and gave out gifts while explaining how they had gotten the tree into the sewers in the first place.
*
Magneto turned up at the boarding house after actually driving there. Along the way he had apparently met a man with a Victorian style hairstyle who's car had gotten a flat tire. Erik had helped him out and afterwards the man introduced himself as Dr. Essex, the new principal of Bayville high, now that Kelley had gone on his campaign route. Essex told him to come see him at any time. Magneto later informed the brotherhooders that their present would include not only St. John coming to stay, but they could also be returning to school full time.
*
Eventually Rogue pointed out to Remy that hands had nothing to do with lips.
*
Irene had foreseen the cards, and even though she was blind knew where to send the one. The one for her she placed up at the mantelpiece. She smiled at it for a while. . . Then had a vision so powerful that she passed out. Neighbors who had seen her collapse through their window called an ambulance.
*
Samuel Gutherie returned home to find out that his sister Paige had been given an invite to Ms. Frost's academy in California, since she too was a mutant. Of course she showed him rather than told him what he powers were, and the poor boy fainted when she tore her skin off.
*
Jamie and three clones went around singing Christmas carols at an old folks home. They were stunned to see four identical children. . .those of them that could see that well.
*
Amara spent a lovely time with her family. She had gotten ill on the plane ride over, but as soon as her feet touched the ground again she was fine.
*
Roberto spent his whole vacation tanning so that he could show off to everyone when he returned.
*
A rather surprised postman read an address that said The man in the hat on the corner of the street, and looked up to see a man fitting that description. Unsure of what to do, but noting that the postage was paid, the postal worker got out of his truck and handed the man (who seemed just as surprised) the letter. After the postal truck had disappeared into the night, The man turned into Mystique, who opened the envelope slowly. Seeing the card inside, she read it several times, then carefully folded it in half and tucked it away somewhere safe. With that done she turned into a raven and disappeared into the night.
The End
Author's Note: Sorry this took so long folks. This has been a rough semester. I really did start this around the Holidays too. Now it's a little out of place. Ah well. Hopefully the next episode will be up sooner. . . But I'm having trouble with my space bar and have about 35 pages of research paper writing to finish before the end of the semester too. And I haven't figured out the title for the next episode. :*(. Though, for all you Summer's family fans it'll bee full of Alex and Scott. . . Much to my dismay :p. But plans are plans. And I'm going to have a lot of fun with the new principal. Heh heh heh.