Chapter 18
"So just vhat", Kurt asked, breaking the silence, "Do you propose ve do professor?"
"It's kinda a sticky situation Kurt", Logan said, trying to explain. "We can't just march into Magneto's lair, orderin' he give the girl back."
"But why not?", Kitty asked, worried. Her eyes were large and round as she looked from one X-
Man to another. "What else can we do?"
"It's difficult Kitty, because Magneto is dangerous", Charles explained as delicately as he could.
"But he's like, always been crazy!", Kitty replied rather shrilly. "Why is this time any different? I mean, Rielle can look out for herself. You saw what she did to Logan without even meaning to!"
The assembled members of the X-Men team were huddled around, still in the aeroplane hangar, trying to find a course of action. Mystique, still smiling sickly sat bound to a chair, and Hank stood near-by, prepared to grab her should she break her bonds and try to run. Jean noticed how tired Charles looked, and suddenly, she realized that he was, after all,just a man. An exhausted and frightened one at that, and the realization chilled her to her heart. She reached for Scott's warm hand, and held it tightly. He didn't turn to look down at her, but Jean felt him squeeze her fingers in reassurance. Kitty, Ororo and Logan were feeling just as defeated. Kitty was near tears for fear of her friend's life, and the usually gruff Logan stood silently, his arm wrapped protectively around Ororo's trembling shoulders, holding her up. No one had said anything more about Rogue, no one dared. They knew how deeply she had hurt the man who had been like a father to her, and no one knew the words to console him. Not even Charles, who sat mutely in his wheelchair, his hands clasped firmly in his lap.
Remy had disappeared, and so had Scott's favourite motorcycle. Charles was worried about the boy, well, no, he was a man now wasn't he? Rash and still a little immature, but no boy would risk his own life to save someone's else's. Maybe he hadn't instilled enough faith in Remy, maybe, if he had supported him more, none of this would be happening. Maybe...
"Penny for your thoughts Charles?", said Ororo softly, touching his shoulder lightly.
"Remy knows where Magneto is", Charles sighed, "He'll go to her."
"We know where the Metal Midget is too Chuck", Logan huffed. "We can catch Remy in the jet before he reaches Magneto's lair."
"Magneto's hidden away in the woods Logan", Jean reminded him. "We'll have a hell of a time trying to fly the jet through that kind of brush."
"So what are you suggesting Jean?", Logan shot back. "That we let Remy storm in there? He'll only get the girl killed!"
"I, I don't know what we should do...", Jean said quietly, her voice trailing off as she looked up at Scott for support.
"Professor?", Kitty asked softly. "What do we do now?"
"But what can we do about it Magneto?", John Allerdyce asked impatiently. "It's not like the X-
Geeks will wait a year to come fetch her, no matter how Mystique threatens them."
"Do you think that was a good idea Magneto?", Toad said, doubtingly. "Telling her to let herself get caught an' all?"
"First of all, what I have planned for the girl's condition is none of your concern Pyro", Eric Leschner's voice said cruelly. "And as for Mystique, well, she's buying us some time. Don't worry so Toad, she can look out for herself."
The metallic doors in the north wall suddenly opened, sliding away horizontally as Sabertooth made his way into the room. He looked down at Toad momentarily before glaring at John and growling at him. John looked at Magneto in indignation, then swept angrily from the chamber.
"Um, Toad?", said Magneto pleasantly, "Do you mind?"
Toad suddenly jumped at the old man's words, confused. He looked from his leader to the hairy man, then back again. He stood up in a huff, and followed John's path out of the room. As the doors shut behind him, Eric looked up at Sabertooth expectantly.
"Is she all ready?", he asked hurriedly.
"Everything is set, Magneto", the other man replied stoically.
"Perfect, we haven't a moment to spare. I have so much work to do with her."
Magneto swept his hand in the direction of the metal doors, opening them quickly. He brushed by Sabertooth, mentioning that the other man follow him. He made his way through the exit, and into a brightly lit hall. He made his way down the corridor quickly, turning and twisting through the metal maze until he stood before an armoured door.
Sabertooth stood back as Magneto opened the door with a flick of his fingers, and stepped through. Magneto signalled to Sabertooth to give him room, and the hairy man walked away,
settling down and crouching by some humming machines. He looked on expectantly. This just might be worth all the effort they had put in.
Magneto walked gently over to where the girl was laying, strapped down unto a steel examining table. Her hands, legs and neck were held down by stiff pieces of metal, which ensured that she keep still, and not thrash about. Her long black hair hung over the edges, and her violet eyes drilled angrily into Magneto's own. The man smiled down at her, and gave her a little wave. He looked over her, sighing contentedly. As he gazed over her face, his own expression contorted a little. He gently gripped the piece of tape that was keeping the trapped girl silent, and pulled it away as softly as he could.
"Ah, that's better", he said smiling, "Wouldn't you agree?"
"Who the hell are you", Gabrielle snarled. "Where I am and what do you want with me?"
"My dear!",laughed Magneto, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I do not think that you are in any position to be asking questions or making demands!"
"They'll come for me", Gabrielle spat at him, refusing to be intimidated. "They'll figure out where you are. The professor will defeat you, and Remy will rip you to shreds."
"Ah yes, the professor", Eric mused. "No, I really don't think he'll risk it. And as for Remy,
why, he's the reason you're in this mess at all, isn't he?"
"What are you talking about?", Gabrielle demanded. "This is your fault, and most likely..."
"Rogue's?"
"I knew it, I fucking knew it!", Gabrielle cried out. "How can she do this to me, I mean, she can't be like this..."
"But my dear", said Magneto in a shocked tone. "It is Rogue who saved you, she brought you to me. She delivered you from that animal's grip."
"I swear it, whoever you are", Gabrielle said through clenched teeth. "You better explain what you're talking about or I'll..."
"Not really in a position for making threats either dear", Magneto scolded gently.
"When I...", Gabrielle struggled against her bonds, rocking the table. "When I get free I'm going to fry her head into bacon!"
"Rielle, that will be quite enough", Magneto said, his voice still calm. "You shouldn't act like this, it's dangerous for you, and your baby."
Gabrielle lay still, her eyes opening in surprise. Her baby? What was, how could he...? No, it wasn't true, he was just trying to confuse her, to mess with her mind. She couldn't possibly be, could she? Gabrielle tried to calm her thoughts.
The last time she had ever been with someone was the night before, with Remy. There was no way that, even if she was pregnant, which she wasn't, that this clown could know so quickly.
"You're full of shit old man", Gabrielle said haughtily.
"I am not, as you say, full of shit", he told her quietly, his tone icy and frightening. "You'll find that Sabertooth has an acute sense of smell. He could detect the hormones on you the moment he first met you."
"I don't believe you", she whispered, her eyes clouding in fear.
Magneto approached her bedside calmly, putting his hand on her own. Gabrielle tried to turn away from him, and gritted her teeth in pain as she struggled in vain. She could feel his breath on her skin as he leaned in closer to her. Her eyes widened in fear and disgust, and she tried all the more to free herself. Magneto's lips brushed against her ear as he whispered, making Gabrielle want to retch. However, as she caught his words, a tremor of fear shook through her body. Remy, she thought desperately, tears springing into her eyes. Where are you?
"You may not listen or believe me now child", Magneto whispered coldly. "But you will, you will."
Raising himself up and turning to look at Sabertooth, Magneto walked away from Rielle's side and over to where a large machine stood. He placed his hand against it, and turned to Sabertooth.
"Turn it on."
The large machine began to hum and vibrate, and a fresh wave of fear flew through Rielle. She trembled on the table, and clenched her jaw, determined to keep a brave face. She refused to cry out when Sabertooth suddenly walked over to her, grasping the table and pushing it along, wheeling it to the opening of the closet piece of equipment.
"Roll her into the machine", Magneto instructed.
Darkness suddenly flooded around Gabrielle as the table she was laying on was rolled up to the large piece of equipment. Circular in shape and gleaming white, Gabrielle was reminded of the machines used for chemotherapy radiation. Her eyes widened in fear as she tried to get them used to the sudden black. Tears sprang into them, clouding her already poor vision. What was happening? How had she gotten here and what could these people want from her? Nothing was making sense, and it didn't appear as though she would be receiving many answers.
Lights were suddenly lit, thousands of tiny bulbs covering the walls of the dome that enveloped her. It was so bright that she clenched her eyes closed, opening them slowly and trying to adjust to the sudden change in ambience. The machine was vibrating gently, a soft humming sound coming to reach Gabrielle's ears. There was something so familiar in the sense and sound of the electricity flowing around her, if she closed her eyes, she could almost picture the spheres of yellow energy in her hands. But suddenly, it wasn't her hand that she saw, but Remy's. Remy's gloved palm resting over her own as he tried to show her what it was to control a charge. Remy's hands brushing her hair from her eyes, clumsily wrapping her bleeding hands,cradling her face and brushing over her flesh. And Remy, Remy... Did he know where she was? Did he even know she was missing yet? And how long had she been missing? How would the others ever find her? And if what this madman was saying was indeed true, what if she was pregnant?
She was too young, she was too young and the mere idea of this pregnancy was terrifying her. And besides, the last time she had been with someone had been the night of the Christmas ball, with Remy in their training room. But, they had been careful, hadn't they? She panicked suddenly as she realized that she wasn't sure if she had been as safe as she thought. They had been caught up in it all, had they even.
And Remy, even if he did find her, how would he react? They were so young, they had their whole lives ahead of them. What would he think of being suddenly grounded, and responsible for a life he most likely didn't want? What if he didn't believe her, and refused to accept it at all? What if.
The humming grew louder, snapping back Gabrielle's attention. These were not the things she should be worrying about. There were more pressing matters at hand, such as escaping this place and the freaks within it. The gentle sound of the machine was getting more define, more intimidating, and it no longer felt reassuring to Gabrielle who lay there, bound and afraid, her tortured mind wounding her soul and reasoning. She struggled once more in vain to free herself, the walls of the dome making her panic. She felt as though they were closing in on her, and Gabrielle had to fight back the urge to scream in terror. She wouldn't let her captors have the satisfaction of knowing just how frightened she truly was.
"Let me out of this thing!", she cried, her tone mimicking both anger and fright. "Please, please,
just let me go!"
There was no answer, only the lights which were growing brighter and brighter, and the humming which had at some point become truly defining. The light of the bulbs was piercing, it was travelling through and throughout her flesh, flowing through her blood stream and infecting her bones. She could feel it, she could.
The lights suddenly flashed, and all was dark. The humming had softened once more,
and the table on which Gabrielle was laying unconscious was pulled away from the machine. Sabertooth paused as he pulled her away and guided the rolling table over to Magneto, who stood by waiting patiently. The older man smiled down at Gabrielle, and gently placed his hand on her swollen belly. He raised his hands to her hand, and placed his palm on her forehead. Seemingly satisfied, and looked up once more at his partner.
"She seems to have weathered the radiations well, don't you agree Sabertooth?", he asked smiling.
"I suppose", he answered gruffly. "But Eric, what if it doesn't work right? It's still too early to tell, what if it doesn't work like you want it to?"
Magneto's cold eyes narrowed and his gazed at the hairy, blond man cruelly. The metal table that Sabertooth had been pushing suddenly flew from his grasp and rolled over to where Magneto stood. Sabertooth took a step back, bowing his head apologetically.
"Don't ask questions you won't understand the answer to, Sabertooth", Magneto replied as he gazed gently down once more at Gabrielle's sleeping face.
The wind tore at Remy' eyes as he sped along the dirt path that lay before him. Cringing a little, and holding all the tighter to the bike, he leaned forward slightly, urging Scott's motorcycle to pick up pace.
"Just hold on chère", he thought to himself urgently, "Remy's coming."
Author's note: Okay, so I apologize for the long wait. It's just that I'm having a few problems with the story, namely where to go from here. Understand, please, that I do have ideas and a plan for the ending, but their a few things I have to work out. And I did think I would have more time for writing this summer, but working two jobs is more exhausting than I had anticipated. Anyway, thanks to all of those who have reviewed and those who bother to even read the story. Chaotic Jinx and Silverbells, if you're still reading, plz let me know what you guys think. You were my most loyal readers and I havn't heard from you in a while. Babygurl, Natural,
Supergurl, everyone who reviews, thank-you.
Pandora