(Seven)
Jean and Scott were in the galley when Remy returned. They both had had a nice long bath and a good meal. They hadn't used the Siskan holograms for anything other than a bath and a massage. Even so, they took Darken's offer of free playtime seriously and lingered there in his large bathroom, being tended by these strange beings. Jean tried to get a bead on them telepathically, but like Kimble and Seth, they had no real mental presence, something perplexing. They weren't as animated as the brothers were either, a little less "there" than the Siskans back home. Now Jean could see what the appeal was and why Remy and his Siskan had become such fast friends.
Cyclops didn't give off an air of noticing the difference between these Siskans and the ones back home, but he had. These creatures were calm and happy, delightfully passive and ... safe. There was no air of danger here, no confusing switch of personalities or voices. Just the pleasant blandness of expensive hotel staff. They did their work efficiently and with great skill. He enjoyed the gift he had been given - a fine bath, an amazing all over body massage that reminded him of when he and Jean'd had their honeymoon together. These creatures gave him nothing to fear and the time passed swiftly. Once clean and refreshed, Jean and Scott were the first to come here to the galley and feed themselves at Darken's well stocked table.
Rogue came out a few minutes later. Hamish had been everything she had heard a Siskan could be and more. It was beyond her expectations, she had been well loved by a man who could touch her completely. She didn't give his unreality a second's thought. To her, he was simply a man who could touch her body without causing her to suffer from her mutation. It had been very satisfying, but it still wouldn't match that tumble she had taken with Remy with the collar. His love for her had been real, palpable, and it made all the difference in the world.
In spite of Hamish's skill, Rogue would never be able to get the sight of her Gambit - her Gambit!- walking away with Skye like that. He hadn't given her so much as an afterthought as he had walked off, his body screaming pure animal lust. She knew he would fuck that Siskan just as she assumed he had Kimble and not even bat an auburn Cajun eyelash about it. It had been a stab to her heart. She had never imagined that he would so openly display his lack of a broken heart over their breakup. He hadn't even looked back as his body had moved away with that lovely catlike grace she had taken for granted. His eyes had looked on the female Skye with such love, it was staggering. What had he seen in that creature that he no longer saw in her?
After that, Rogue had taken Hamish's love almost as a revenge thing, but then as good as it had been, found herself retreating to the bathroom to cry. Her pain over the loss of Remy had been vast. She just hadn't realized what that red eyed scoundrel meant to her until it was too late. She had always assumed he would come back to her no matter what, but that just didn't seem the case any more.
Hamish wasn't Lushna-esk, he didn't question Rogue's odd behavior, he simply cleaned up the room and stood by, waiting to see what else she might need. She had her cry and then came out, her mind made up. It was her life's biggest mistake, throwing Gambit away like that. She had made a secret vow to try and win him back if she could. Even now, she didn't think it was impossible. She could be nice, she could be civil just as she had back at the camp. She was strong, the strongest on the team. She could do this.
She would have to work hard at it. Remy came into the galley last, his satisfaction far greater than hers. His eyes were small and glassy as if he were stoned, he was still drunk from the Kundatesh and he felt a great peace. He had been given a taste of the Heaven that had been his at Trishnar's. He was more than Skye's equal in the arts of love, much to the delight of the Siskan, her happiness had equaled his own.
She glided in after him, and as Gambit had predicted, shifted back into her male skin. Skye winked at him and poured his new friend a glass of wine from the large selection on galley counter. Gambit was sitting now at the large galley table and Skye settled in next to him sideways on the bench. He set the glass of wine down where Remy could reach it and lay his head on the Cajun's shoulder, his eyes droopy with contentment. His arms encircled Gambit's waist, his hands resting in the thief's lap. Remy snickered something in soft Siskan, a tease that made Skye smile. The Siskan closed his eyes, happy and comfortable now.
Scott watched this, bewildered. They were here on a mission and team behavior on missions was sometimes skewed depending on the objective. After Remy had left, Scott had tried to reason with himself that Gambit was acting so boldly in an attempt to impress Darken in some way, that he was trying to force Darken to perceive him as an equal when it came to Siskans. This hadn't been discussed at the onset, but none of them had known what to expect.
Yeah, expect.
Well, Scott certainly hadn't expected Remy to take it to this level. Cyclops' inner homophobe was struggling to watch Remy's ease with this creature's arms around him. The intimacy that had been implied when they walked off together the first time was now on display, assuring any who watched that it had actually taken place.
Scott simply didn't want to know.
Look at that, did you see?
The question had come from Scott's telepathic wife. See what? That Remy's a slut? I may have a visor on, but that I couldn't miss.
No, the way Skye shifted.
He had observed the Siskan shift again with as much wonder as he had the first time he had seen it. Still, he didn't get the point. What about it?
The response he got was a mental sigh of exasperation. Scowling slightly, Scott looked again at Remy, finding those glittering red and black eyes almost glaring at him. He could see the challenge on Remy's face, the dare to comment. Scott was a team leader and could assess most situations with ease, it was just that when it came to personal matters he was a little slow. He could hear his wife chattering in his mind again, explaining a little now what Remy was trying to get across to not just him, but everyone here - that a Siskan had no real gender, that appearances meant nothing, something that Gambit had been trying to get across to everyone for a while now. That had been the point of his boldness now with Skye's intimate embrace. This display of his disregard for human insensibility had a purpose, Gambit was showing them rather dramatically just how much he saw the Siskans as genderless creatures of great value.
"What time is it?" Scott asked, impatient to get this over with. He'd gotten the point, but wasn't pleased with the lesson. He wanted only to get this over with and be done.
"Darken's three hours are up," Jean replied.
"De Dognan not so well known fo' deir punctuality," Remy replied smoothly, backing down and easing off from his irritation with his ignorant team leader. Gambit was fully relaxed now and unhurried. The others were refreshed from their travel by the fine care of the Siskans here, but he looked like a new man. The strain and dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep were gone and his good humor fully restored, bringing a puzzled look from the others he chose to ignore. He sipped the wine, finding it good, and reached for a hunk of bread. The food spread out before him looked delicious and he intended to savor it.
Remy had returned fully dressed in his traveling clothes. Like Fallen, Darken's facilities included washing machines that worked quickly. All of his supplies had been refreshed by Skye while he had slept. He was dressed now in a heavy green sweater with long sleeves. He had been forced to wear this in spite his being comfortable in the heat of the ship because he needed the sleeves.
Whatever he had done with Skye must have been quite the show. Even a few moments later, his wrists were still scuffed and now lightly bruising as were his ankles. He didn't want his friends to notice or ask questions he wasn't sure he had the answers to. He still had no idea what he had been involved in, only that he was buzzed quite nicely on Skye's Kundatesh and feeling wonderful. There was a pleasant tickle at the base of his skull, his memory was waking and he had a feeling he would remember his adventure in time. For now he was content to relax and enjoy his high.
Darken shuffled in on cue, looking a bit tired. He had been outside all the while, working away. He paused when he saw Skye draped over Gambit's shoulder and shook his head wryly. "You didn't tell me you were an empath."
"P'etetre, Gambit's just de best dere is, non?" he joked merrily, his eyes playful.
Darken snorted, not amused. "The only one that's ever made Skye look like that is a Lushna-esk like himself. Not even my Dad could make him that quiet and well behaved."
"What is this 'Lushna-esk'?" Scott asked, unhappy to be so left out.
"De Lushna-esk are de 'grams dat 'ave de charm power," Remy answered with the arrogance of one in the know. "Skye jus' like Kimble dat way." He grabbed a plate and started piling some food on it. Skye's eyes never opened in spite of Gambit's movement, he was much too comfortable.
"I suppose you have the charm power, too?" Rogue asked, challenging him. Her eyes finished the question, Is that what you used on me?
Remy just grinned, not really answering. He wasn't one to dole out his secrets.
Darken could have cared less about the conversation happening at his table. He sat there quietly and opened up his computer. It booted up quickly and he typed rapidly, watching the lines of text as they scrolled up the screen.
Scott snorted and looked away, aggravated by Gambit's game.
What are you doing? Jean asked Remy, rudely jumping into his mind. Why are you being such a jerk about this?
Remy replied quickly, his response irritated, but his face cool and smooth in front of their host. He was a master at bluffing and it carried him now. Gambit got no stomach fo' intolerance. Yo' hubby got far too much of dat for an X-man, chere.
When did you get the empathy like this? Why are you hiding it?
Gambit don't hide nuthin'. Folks 'round here just don't see.
Answer the question!
Gambit's response was a mental chuckle. Dat's private.
Like a child begging secrets, Jean couldn't hide her eagerness to know. Telepathy, empathy, gifts of the mind were her field and she couldn't help but be intrigued. I won't tell anyone.
Me an' Chuck got it all squared away, chere.
Empathy is dangerous.
Oui, Gambit knows. To take the sting from his refusal, he added, T'anks fo' carin'.
Jean's eyes dropped briefly and Remy received a vibration of sympathy that came without words. She was expressing a sort of grief, of regret that he had been treated so harshly by the team. It hadn't been her idea to leave him behind in Antarctica and there was no way to hide that that particular episode had changed him. He had returned to the house, but his old humor had been left behind and frozen. The boy had been left behind and it was a man who had returned, one that had been torn apart. He could hide behind all the poker faces he wanted to, but he couldn't hide from a class one telepath what an effort it had taken to bring him home. His return hadn't been easy and not everyone at the house had been happy about it. She felt bad for him, that he thought no one really cared about him.
Remy looked away, uncomfortable and surprised by her reaction to his simple statement. His former exile was one area he hadn't even wanted to think about now. Funny how it just popped up like that. Like he would never get away from it.
Skye shifted, sensing Remy's disquiet. His eyes opened partway and he whispered in Siskan, prompting a soft, comforting response from the thief. Remy was happy for the distraction, Jean's sympathy was forgotten instantly as he eased Skye's mind.
Darken quirked an eyebrow, his swift tapping away never hesitating. "That one's quite taken with you. You can have it if you want."
Remy and Skye both looked at him in irritated surprise. It was the way he had once more referred to Skye as less than something real and valuable.
Darken paused in his work. "What? It's not happy here. It's pining away worse than the others. It's a leftover from my father, one he tried to fix. It's mostly okay, it just doesn't talk right and it's so goddamned moody. Really, you'd be doing me a favor."
"We've got our hands full with the broken one we already have," Scott replied tersely, not happy with the idea of adding to the pair of Siskans they had already. "He's more than enough, thanks."
Gambit considered his options. In a way, Darken had just given him the confirmation he needed - if Skye was in the Game, Darken would never have just given him way like that. Gambit looked at Skye and asked with a smile, "You power up from de sun or cubes?"
Skye grinned, already seeing where this was going. "Sun's just fine fer me."
"Bien. Gambit won't be yo' Master, but 'e find you a place, a good place where you would be happy. 'Ow about it?"
Remy wasn't an idiot. He wanted Skye out of here but knew he couldn't bring him home. Kimble would never be able to handle it, he didn't think. Kimble could share him with Molly, or so he hoped, but with another Siskan? Never. It would be too much. That didn't mean Remy could find other accommodations. Skye's independence from the power cubes made it that much easier.
Skye's face broke out in a huge smile at Remy's generous offer. "Oh yes, please!"
"Don't even think about it, Gambit," Cyclops warned.
"It would be my pleasure," Remy replied to Darken, making his decision swiftly. He bowed his head slightly at him. "Merci beaucoup."
Remy! Jean shouted. You can't make that decision on your own!
Watch me. I won't leave no Siskan behind to be treated like dirt. Not an empathic one, not one dat feel as much as dey do. 'E'll die inside. 'E suffer so much already.
These are not pets! They're too dangerous!
Only 'round dose dat don' love dem. Don' worry, I'll find 'im a good home.
Skye gave Remy a bruising hug, squeezing him without mercy. He spouted his gratitude in joyful, garbled Siskan, laughing. Remy couldn't help but chuckle and reply in kind. Skye got up and kissed him, another deep throated gesture of love, and left.
Scott watched him leave, his face crinkled in annoyance. "Where's he going?"
"Gonna pack up 'is stuff," Remy replied arrogantly. His eyes held a challenge to the Professor's Second. Your Inner Circle rules don't apply to me.
"He's not coming back with us," Scott said firmly.
Darken sighed. "Bicker later. Now, what's wrong with your Siskan?"
"E's split," Remy replied, immediately taking charge.
Darken typed. "What color is his Mark?"
"Green."
The Dognan boy stopped. "Green?"
"Oui, Green. Dat a problem?"
"Channelers are very volatile. I wish you had brought him."
/ He's lying, Shi'ow-ri said. / That's not the reason. He's hiding something. /
Not fo' long.
"So 'e a Channeler, big deal."
"You know what they're capable of?"
"Oui. Gambit's seen it. Kimble ain't no trouble. Dis a fast ship. Come back wit us," he challenged. "Don' tell me de great Games Master is scared of a little 'ol 'gram?"
Darken frowned at the taunt. "I don't usually make house calls."
" 'Ow much you want?"
The boy snorted at him and looked at his casual clothes. "You couldn't afford me."
" 'Ow much, mon ami," Remy repeated, politely insistent.
"Ten million."
"Seven."
"Eight."
"Seven fifty."
"Seven seventy-five."
"Done."
Scott balked. "Remy?"
Remy held up a finger, shushing him. " 'Ow you want it?"
"Seven million, seven hundred and fifty thousand, American. I have accounts here, people who can convert it into more liquid assets for me to use off-world."
"T'ree million now, de rest when de job is done."
"I want a down payment."
Remy tossed him a small black velvet bag.
Darken took it and dumped out a small pile of diamonds. "Impressive," he whispered, happy now. He reached behind him to a drawer and took out a magnifying glass. He began to inspect the gems, grinning with pleasure.
Where did you get those? Jean asked telepathically.
Saby's penthouse. 'E broke Kimble down, 'e can pay fo' some of it.
Jean spoke to the others telepathically, explaining what was going on and trying to cool down the rising tempers around her. She realized now this was why Remy had asked her to come when he found out who the Professor had lumped him with on the trip. Gambit knew he would have to negotiate and that it might not go over so well with the others. He didn't want an argument at the negotiating table.
"We good, mon ami?" Remy asked the boy after a moment.
"Yeah. This will count for about a million, though I haven't looked through them all. I'll still want the rest in cash."
"We gotta do a transfer, homme. Gambit don't carry dat kinda cash when 'e campin'."
"That's fine."
"Bien," Remy replied and took out his satellite phone.
Scott continued to sputter protests, but was again silenced. He was aggravated, upset that he had been outvoted. They had no way of knowing if this guy was legitimate or not, that was a lot of money being thrown around and they could be getting ripped off. He knew the money was there, he had been told about the inheritance Sabretooth had left behind for Kimble. He expected Gambit to call the Professor to make the arrangements, but was surprised when Remy dialed long distance and began to speak in fluent Swedish, doing this all on his own with a familiarity with the process that only proved they knew little about this young man who lived under their roof. It meant that Remy was using his own money, or was stealing it from someone else. He felt his temper rise but was soothed by Jean's soft voice in his mind.
It's his own money. Relax.
How do you know?
She laughed. I'm a telepath. It's my job to know.
He can hide his thoughts.
Not this one. He told me before we left.
Why am I even here? You guys have this all worked out, he replied with a pout.
Don't be silly. We need you here. I need you here.
Scott calmed down and let all of this go, vowing to report all of this the Professor. Did Charles even know Remy had that kind of money? Maybe it was an inheritance from Jean Luc, but it was just as easy to say he had robbed it from someone else. The Cajun would always be a criminal in his eyes.
Darken was checking the transaction on his computer and he and Remy chatted back and forth, setting all of this up. Rogue was watching this with as much amazement as Scott. Remy was talking about millions of dollars like it meant nothing. Just how much did he have and where did he get it? He hid everything!
Darken nodded. "That's good, fine."
"When can we leave?" Remy asked, his eyes eager.
"I have no plans. We can leave now."
To be continued in Mergers and Consolidations.