Disclaimer: You know I don't own X-Men. Am I on the payroll? Duh!
Sorry for the long process in updating. Something about being at home and having to share a computer destroyed my creative juices. However, I go my groove back so quicker updates is a promise! If you didn't know I am new to this fanfiction thing so if I didn't do something please tell me! By the way what is AU, OC, Slash and all that fanfic lingo. I probably didn't do a good summary cause I didn't know the fanfic lingo.
Chapter 7 – 24 Hours to Live Part II
Aboard a Small X-Jet
In flight toward Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Remy sighed deeply as he looked through a small window into the thick darkness of the night sky. After he left Rogue's room he, Hank, and Roberto departed from the mansion in a small jet toward South America. They had been in the air for about two hours but to Remy it seemed like an eternity. He wanted to turn the small jet around to be with Rogue. He felt like leaving her was the worse thing he could do. However, he knew he couldn't rely on Deadpool's antidote to heal Rogue so the only way to save her was to get the cure themselves. He just hoped that they would be able to find it and get it back to her in time.
Hank was designated pilot for the mission; he sat alone in the cockpit while Roberto and Remy rode in the passenger area. To Remy's right Roberto reclined in his chair with his eyes closed. Although Hank had told them when they boarded they should try to get some rest, Roberto was far from sleep. Like Remy, his mind was on Rogue and the anxiousness in his chest wouldn't settle. Even though they hadn't become close over the years he still considered Rogue an important part of his family that he had grown to love and trust, similar to his biological family back in Brazil. He would do anything to keep each member of his family safe and he was confident that they would do the same for him. He knew he had to go with Remy once Hank told them about the Black Market in Brazil. He might not have known anything about medicine and antidotes but he knew the back roads of Rio de Janeiro like the back of his hand. Plus he understood as well as spoke Portuguese and Spanish fluently. The only other person who could also do so was Rogue. Any person who she absorbed before she could speak the language they knew. She had once told him that it had something to do with the psyches in her head. Apparently they had a huge impact on Rogue's personality that Roberto couldn't really understand. She was the only one to understand Remy's English/French lingo and would talk to Piotr in Russian when he felt homesick. Sometimes she would hold whole conversations with Roberto in Portuguese just to annoy people who were nearby. Rogue always had a cynical sense of humor that consisted of teasing and slightly torturing people just for laughs which was another unique part of her personality. Everyone knew if they needed a high-quality prank or a good idea for revenge they could go to Rogue. They had spent many times laughing when Rogue would torture someone. Roberto smiled remembering all the good times they had during the five years he lived in the mansion.
"Wat has dat smile on y' face, mon ami?" Roberto opened his eyes to see Remy staring at him inquisitively.
"Oh nothing." Roberto shrugged and adjusted himself in the chair, "Just thinking about the time when Rogue took away John's lighter for a whole week because he grabbed her ass."
Remy chuckled a little. "Dat be almost two years ago."
"I know." Roberto let out a little laugh, "But it was so funny. John tried everything to get his lighter back. He brought her flowers, did her chores, cooked her dinner, begged… He even cried!"
"Didn' work tho', mon amour is so persisten' sometimes."
"Persistent! How about stubborn, mean, evil!"
"Oui, dat femme can be difficult at times. But I love her all de same." Remy sighed.
"Don't worry Cajun. We are going to find that cure. One thing I know about the Black Market. They sale everything! Legal, illegal, and even things we didn't know existed. They are well hidden in North America but where I'm from they are literally best friends with the towns' people." Roberto assured Remy.
"Dat I kno' all too well, mon ami." Remy replied looking back to window. In the past when he was heavily involved in the Thieves Guild he had heard of other members stealing for the Black Market. Men in the Black Market paid well for anything they were given which appealed most of the Guild members. Remy never stole for anyone, however. He considered himself more of a competitive member of the Thieves Guild. He, his brother Henri, and his cousins mostly stole for the challenge. They would study the most sophisticated and difficult security systems developed all over the world and then overpower the system by stealing one the most expensive object it guarded. Remy's biggest accomplishment was stealing the Hope Diamond, at age 15, from the Smithsonian Museum and replacing it with a fake look alike. The actual diamond is currently housed in the LeBeau mansion heavily guarded. Remy earned the name 'Prince of Thieves' for the successful operation. Nevertheless, the whole stealing craze was more of a game for him. When he left the Guild it became a way to get by. Although he didn't steal anymore he used his acquired skills, like quick instinct and lock-picking, toward X-Men and ICIA missions.
"So you have encountered the Black Market in your lifetime, then?"
"Oui, wen I was younger and still a member of de Thieves Guild."
"Wow, you know when I think about it, there is a lot I don't know about you."
"A lot of people will say de same t'ing." Remy muttered thinking about the argument he had earlier with Rogue.
"Well, maybe after all of this is over we can get together and you can tell me about your many adventures as a master thief."
"Fine wit me…. Altho' dere be t'ings I've done dat y' wouldn't believe." Remy looked at Roberto smiling mischievously.
"Knowing how you are now, I probably would."
Remy chuckled a little. He never really took the time to actually get to know Roberto too well, either. Maybe this mission would be a bonding experience for them.
"I contacted my family before we left. They will be waiting for our arrival. My padrasto
will definitely know where we can go to find information on the poison and where they are selling it." Roberto informed.
"Y' padrasto?" Remy asked with one eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, it's Portuguese for stepfather." Roberto explained.
Remy nodded, "So I take it yer padrasto is involved in de Black Market den?"
"No, but he, among other men in community, knows well what's going on. He just made sure that my siblings and I never got involved."
"We are landing. Buckle up." Hank ordered through the intercom interrupting their conversation. Remy and Roberto did as they were told silently contemplating what they were about to embark on as the plane descended.
Xavier Mansion
Rogue's Infirmary Room
2:30am
Kitty sat in an arm chair next to Rogue's bed carefully monitoring the IV drip and EKG Rogue was currently hooked up to. She hadn't left her position since Remy and the others left. Jean told her to go get some rest but it wasn't like she would be sleep anyway. She was too worried to sleep. Even if she did go and lie down many thoughts would be whirling around her head preventing her from actually sleeping. So she designated herself for "Rogue Watch" while Jean checked on Rachel. Rogue had been sleeping for while which made it easier for Jean to put the IV in and hook up to other monitors. Kitty casually leaned back on the chair when she convinced herself that machines weren't going to go haywire. She pulled at the string on her sweatshirt to calm her nerves. She blew a strand of brown hair out of her face that was too short to be tied back in her ponytail. Next she began to shuffle her feet in her slippers. She was so edgy she couldn't stop herself from moving.
Rogue groaned as she slowly awoken from her slumber. She felt dazed as if she was floating in the air. She opened her eyes and tried to adjust to the dim light in the room.
"You're up!" Kitty jumped from the chair and stood over Rogue's bed. She was finally relieved of her restlessness.
"Not so loud, Kitty." Rogue said groggily. Her headache had subsided to a dull throbbing pain but she was still somewhat sensitive to sound. Her body was still hot yet at least her joint pain had also subsided. However, each time she took a breath she could fill the tightness in her chest. She was about to rub her eyes but winced when to she tried to bend her right arm.
"You have an IV in." Kitty informed quietly.
"Oh." Rogue frowned.
"Mr. McCoy is giving you medicine through the IV drip to ease the pain. Jean says you will feel dazed for a while."
"It's a little hot." Rogue complained trying to pull the covers off of her.
Kitty helped her do so, "Yeah, you have a fever. Jean said 103 degrees Fahrenheit. It's not going down, either. I have a wet cloth somewhere… now where did I put it?" Kitty looked around franticly for her basin and washcloth.
Rogue put her hand on her arm. "It's alrahght. Ah don't think it will do much good anyway."
"Do you need me to get you anything? Are you thirsty? I can get you some water or something? Maybe you just need some food. I can cook---"
"No!" Rogue protested when she heard Kitty say cook. Eating Kitty's food was looking for a death wish. She figured her voice was too stern because of Kitty's shocked facial expression. She continued in a calmer voice, "Just stay here and keep mah company, will yah?"
"Sure!" Kitty nodded sitting back down on the arm chair.
"What tahme is it?" Rogue asked. She didn't know how long she had been sleeping but she figured it was for a while.
"It's 2:45 in the morning." Kitty responded looking at her watch.
"Hmm, twenty hours to go." Rogue said bitterly.
"Don't say that! You're going to live way past like eighty. In fact we are going to be sharing the same nursing home room. So don't think it's over now. I'm going to make sure you don't leave me alone, ever!" Kitty protested.
Rogue let out a little chuckle at Kitty's outburst. The girl always over exaggerated everything. Rogue's laughter soon sent her into a fit of coughs. Kitty quickly got up and retrieved a water pitcher from the small fridge in the room. She poured water into a small paper cup and handed it to Rogue.
"At least your powers aren't acting up anymore." Kitty said noticing that Rogue didn't phase through the bed or teleport from the room while coughing.
Rogue took a sip of the water before answering Kitty, "Ah know. Ah don't even hear them. It's kind of lahke they disappeared or something." Rogue was kind of enjoying the peace of mind.
"That's good… I think. Maybe it's not good." Kitty replied. Being that Rogue had a toxin in her any changes in her body could be a bad sign.
"Rahght now it's good. Ah'm congested, feverish, sore, and tired. Ah don't need a headache on top of that."
"I guess not."
"Did Remy leave already?"
"Yep, about two hours ago. You were sleeping when they left."
"Oh."
"Hank said that it would be a two hour flight so they should be landing by now. I think Rio de Janeiro is three hours ahead of New York so the time there should be around four in the morning."
"Ah hope they are careful. Ah don't like this whole Black Market thang and knowing Remy he's going to try and steal the antidote." Rogue sighed.
"Oh well, as long as they get it and bring it back in time." Kitty shrugged. "Speaking of Remy have you guys thought of a date for the big wedding?" Kitty figured that small talk with get Rogue's mind off of things for a while.
"No, Ah got attacked a crazy psychopath before I can even sink anything in. Ah always wanted a spring wedding though. Maybe around May or June."
"I'm so excited. I can't wait to start planning. The colors will be…"
"Not pink!"
"Of course not! How about lilac and silver?"
"No, Ah was thinking black."
"Black?" Kitty made a face of disgust.
"Yes, that's what Ah said. What's wrong with black?"
"Anna Marie Darkholme if you choose black for your wedding colors in the middle of June I will not be your maid of honor." Kitty huffed.
"Who said yah were going to be mah maid of honor?" Rogue raised an eyebrow to her.
"Well, you haven't exactly asked me but I know you will."
"Maybe." Rogue replied with a straight face.
"Who else would you ask?" Kitty pouted.
"There are a lot of othah gals in the mansion. Plenty of people to ask." Rogue shrugged nonchalantly. Kitty gasped in shock which brought a smile to Rogue's face. "Calm down sugah! Ah would nevah dream of anyone else being mah maid of honor othah than yah."
"Goodness, Rogue! These are some fragile times. You can't go scaring me like that!" Kitty responded half annoyed and half relieved.
"Ah had tah. Yer too easy."
"Yeah, I know. Anyway, are you going to invite your mother to the wedding?"
"Hell, no! But Ah know she will end up being there anyway. She's such a sneaky bitch sometahmes." Rogue rolled her eyes.
"That is true. She posed as Bobby so she could be at your college graduation. Jubilee said she would forever be scarred from that day." Kitty laughed at the memory.
"If Ah was her Ah would be too."
"I think you should send her invitation anyway. She might not come. After all, we both know what she thinks about Remy LeBeau."
"'The Spawn of Satan!' At least that's what she called him at the graduation." Rogue rolled her eyes. Before her college graduation from LIU she hadn't seen her mother since the fall of Apocalypse. Mystique had almost gotten away with posing as Bobby until Logan sniffed her out. When she was revealed she made a huge scene which included apologizing to Rogue for lack of being a mother and insulting Rogue's choice for a boyfriend. She hadn't seen her since that day; at least not face to face. Rogue knew Mystique was watching her sometimes. She could always sense her presence. However, for some reason Mystique never bother to confront her. Rogue was content with that. She never considered Mystique a mother figure and she wasn't about to start now.
"Well, what about Destiny? You do talk to her still, don't you?"
"Yeah, well Ah just call her to know how Cody is doing."
"How is he?"
"Still the same… comatose." Rogue replied sadly.
"Rogue, you have to stop blaming yourself for what happen to him. It wasn't your fault."
"Ah know but Ah can't help but feel somewhat responsible…" Rogue looked down at her hands.
"Well, you're not! Unless you knew the moment you kissed him your powers would manifest. Did you know?"
"No, but…"
"Okay then! Now stop feeling bad about something you couldn't control even if you wanted to."
'What the hell does she know? She's not in your head!' Carol spat bitterly. Rogue grimaced from the pain Carol's psyche caused.
"Rogue? Are you okay?" Kitty asked uneasily.
'Go away!' Rogue ordered in her mind.
'Make me bitch! And I want to see you try to make your stupid mental walls now. The poison has made you too weak.' Carol sneered. Rogue felt a sharp pain ravage her mind causing her to let out a piercing cry.
"Rogue! Rogue!" Kitty shouted through Rogue's screams. Rogue was incoherent to Kitty's beckon. Rogue's face turned a beet red as she shut her eyes and continued to scream.
Xavier Mansion
Jean and Scott's Room
After she worked on Rogue, Jean went to the Rec Room to relieve the students of babysitting duty. She took Rachel to her room and after feeding her she rocked her to sleep. Jean put a sleeping Rachel into her crib gently as Scott was walking into the room.
"Rogue really did a number to the kitchen. We need to buy new furniture, fix the huge gaping whole in the wall and get a new door." Scott said rubbing his forehead. He sat on their bed and took his shoes off.
"Nothing we can't handle." Jean replied quietly. Scott looked up at his wife. He could tell something was bothering her. She was probably feeling as bad as the rest of the mansion. He could tell that everyone was scared for Rogue. As the leader of the X-Men he knew it was his duty to keep courage so that everyone would too.
"How is Rogue doing?" Scott asked.
"She's doing alright so far. I don't know how long she will hold up, though. I did some research on Abrin and people suffer from its affects." Jean sat next to him on the bed.
"Well, Rogue has the best doctor in the world taking care of her. She's in good hands." Scott smiled hugging his wife.
"You think so?" Jean asked meekly.
"I know so." Scott smiled at her and got up. "I am going to see if Logan and Ororo have anymore information on Deadpool yet."
"Okay. I will stay with Rachel for a while and then go back to the Med Bay. Chloe is going to stay in our room tonight to keep on an eye on Rachel."
"Good idea. I don't think we will be sleeping tonight, anyway." Scott said walking out the room. Jean sighed deeply. Truth was that she was scared out of her mind. Everyone believed that she would be the best doctor ever and she didn't want to let anyone down. She never took care of anyone on her own before. She either had Hank or a teacher at school to make sure she didn't make a mistake. Of course she knew almost anything there is to know about medicine but she just didn't have the confidence in herself to handle someone's life on her own. What made it worse was that now it was her best friend, someone she considered a sister that she had to take care of. If she made a mistake she would never forgive herself. Chloe and Rahne walked into the room pulling her from her thoughts.
"Hey, Jean, is it okay if Rahne stays with me?" Chloe asked
"Of course. Ladies, just don't make too much noise and wake Rachel up." Jean replied rising up from her sitting position.
"How is Rogue?" Rahne asked. Chloe told her about Rogue's flu symptoms and her powers going haywire.
"She should be fine. I'm going to go check on her now. Do you girls need anything?" Jean asked them. They both shook their heads. "Well, goodnight then. Call me on my communicator if you do." Jean said walking out the room. She made her way toward the Med Bay in an air of unease and fear. She was making sure to go through every scenario and what medical procedure to do in her head. As she exited the elevator onto the sublevel where the Med Bay was located she heard screaming. Jean rushed into the room hearing Rogue's scream.
"What's wrong with her!" Kitty asked Jean fretfully.
Jean hurried over to Rogue and tried to calm her. "Rogue, listen to me! Rogue!"
"We were talking just fine. Everything was going fine. Then she just started screaming." Kitty explained rashly. Rogue suddenly stopped screaming. She look dead straight in front her bed. Carol Danvers stared at her smirking evilly. She was in a hospital gown with blood still caked in her blond hair. Her blue eyes stared angrily at Rogue burning wholes in her chest.
"Yah stay away from meh!" Rogue warned at the top of her lungs. Kitty followed Rogue's point of view. She saw nothing but a plain white wall and a door leading out of Rogue's room.
"Rogue who are you talking too?" Kitty asked her nervously.
"She's rahght there!" Rogue pointed to the blank wall in front of her. Kitty looked at Jean with nervousness. "Yall, don't believe meh! She's in here. She says Ah'm a murderer and she wants to kill meh." Rogue shouted franticly.
"Rogue, there is no one in here but me and Kitty." Jean replied slowly.
"No! Ah'm not crazy! Ah see her. She's in front of mah bed." Rogue cried. Carol laughed coming closer to Rogue's bed. "Don't come near meh!"
"Jean, do something!" Kitty demanded.
"This is not supposed to be happening so soon." Jean shook her head.
"What do you mean?" Kitty looked at Rogue screaming at the opposite wall.
"She's having illusions. That means the toxins are affecting her brain." Jean said trying to gather her thoughts.
"Okay, but why did you say it was happening too soon?"
"Abrin affects the lungs first. Liquid fills the lungs which cause congestion and flu-like symptoms. Then Abrin moves to the heart. It causes hypertension and pulmonary edema. Or in layman's terms, high blood pressure and heart failure. In its last stages it starts to affect the brain. Causes illusions, seizing, and eventually the person become comatose. After this the person becomes brain dead as the poison invades the medulla and…" Jean stated as if she was reciting from a book.
"If she is having illusions now that means…"
"She's in her last stage of the infection." Jean finished sadly finally looking at Kitty.
"But why now! Why is it affecting her so fast?" Kitty asked feverishly.
"I think it has something to do with her mutation. Mutants usually are very sensitive to things that most humans can handle." Jean explained. The two women became silent absorbing everything while Rogue continued to scream at the misapprehension of Carol. She was sweating profusely and every part of body was shaken in fear.
"How much time?" Kitty asked Jean carefully.
"What?" Jean asked absently.
"How much time does she have?"
"No more than ten hours." Jean said as tears welled up in her eyes. Kitty's eyes widened.
"What do we do now?" Kitty asked Jean. Jean didn't answer her. Instead she put her hands to her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Rogue saw the tears stream from Jeans eyes which only made her more hysterical. "Oh mah gawd. Ah'm dying aren't Ah. There is no hope fa meh. Ah'm gonna die!" Rogue began to cry.
"You're not going to die!" Kitty reassured her. "Jean! Jean!" Kitty walked up to Jean and put her hands on both her shoulders. "Jean, you better snapped out of it right now!"
"I don't know what to do!" Jean continued to cry.
"Listen to me and listen very carefully. I wish I could but I can't help you. You know more about medicine than anyone in this school right now. Hank is not here. Your teachers are not here. Your friend is in trouble and she needs you. This is not the time to break down! Now you pull yourself together and be the doctor that you've wanted to be all your life! Rogue needs you to be strong so she can be strong. If we loose hope so will she." Kitty let Jean go. Jean wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded at Kitty.
"Thank you, Kitty." Jean said giving a hug.
"No problem. I'm going to tell everyone about the new circumstances. I'm also going to tell the guys in Brazil to speed up the process." Kitty stated and then looked at Rogue, "Whoever it is in here that's bothering you don't let them push you around."
Rogue didn't answer her. Instead she continued to cry into the palm of her hands.
"Kitty go get the professor, too. He always knows how to calm her mind." Jean ordered while she tried to stabilize Rogue.
"It's okay Kitty." Professor Xavier said as he wheeled into the room, "I felt Rogue's distress and came down to assist you." He informed Jean. He wheeled up to Rogue's bed. Rogue peeked up from her hands to see the Professor looking down at her with concern.
"Professah, she's in here." Rogue said shakily.
'It's okay Rogue. Just sleep now.' Xavier said telepathically. Rogue closed her eyes and settled onto her bed.
"Is she…?" Kitty began quietly.
"No, she's just sleeping." Xavier frowned. He didn't want to put Rogue to sleep but he needed to help lower her stress level to slow down the progression of the toxin.
"Okay, then. I will be right." Kitty said before she hurried out the room.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana
"Y' neva' tol' anyone y' lived on a beach." Remy said to Roberto. They had just landed in Rio de Janeiro and exited the jet unto a sandy coastline.
"Yep, we are in Copacabana. One of the richest areas of the Rio." Roberto said proudly.
"Oui, I can tell." Remy replied looking around the area. The beach spread out for miles. The beautiful and extravagant homes were spread out on top the hills.
"Not to shabby, I'll say." The boys turned to see a man coming out of the jet wearing kaki shorts and a red t-shirt. The man had dark skin like Roberto's and big brown eyes. His hair was dark brown and cut short.
"Why Hank, mon ami. I thought y' hated using those image inducers." Remy replied looking at Hank wide-eyed.
"I figured my ideals can be compromised just this one time to ensure a swift and uncomplicated mission." Hank shrugged.
"Nice disguise." Remy nodded.
"Yeah, man! You could be my twin." Roberto added laughing. Hank smiled.
"Roberto, help me get a few supplies out of the jet." Hank walked back into the jet followed by Roberto. Remy stared out into the water watching moon's reflection distort in the waves. All he could think about was how Rogue was holding up at home. He hadn't had a chance to call her since he left. Remy was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't realize someone running toward him. The person was just as caught up in their own thoughts as well. She was busy looking back to see if she had follows and collided into Remy's side hard. Remy stumbled back a little and turned to his side to see who had hit him. He saw a little girl around four of five sitting on the ground rubbing her head. The girl looked dirty and malnourished. Her dark skin was covered with dirt and scratches. Her long brown hair was in a tangle mess hanging in every direction. She wore torn rags and no shoes. When the girl looked up at him he could see that her eyes were gray. Something about her eyes was luring, almost hypnotizing. The little girl stared back at Remy in a daze but quickly turn to fear when she gazed up his red and black eyes. She let out a cry and shuffled back in the sand.
"Hold on!" Remy reached out his arm to her to keep her from running away. "I won' hurt y'"
"¡El diablo!" The girl cried out.
"Remy! Was that you screaming?" Roberto asked emerging from the jet. Remy turned to him.
"Non! It be the petit fille right h---" Remy stopped short pointing at the empty spot where the girl had been sitting. He looked around franticly but he didn't find her anywhere. "Where'd she go?"
"I don't know who you are referring to." Roberto replied scratching his head.
"Dere was a fille. I saw her. She ran right into moi!" Remy tried to explain.
"Well, if she was here you probably scared her off. Did she say anything to you?"
"Oui, she said el Diablo." Remy repeated the girl's words.
"Hmm, she was speaking Spanish." Roberto said contemplatively.
"Don' everyone speak Spanish here?" Remy asked.
"Well, not really. A lot of people in Brazil learn Spanish and use it when necessary. But the main language that is spoken is Portuguese. If a person is speaking Spanish readily they are not from around here." Roberto explained.
"I see." Remy nodded. Whoever the girl was she had to have been a long way from home and in some deep trouble to be running the way she was. "De fille must be lost. She looked no older 'dan five."
"It's a little early for five year olds to be wondering beaches."
"She look dirty, too. Probably been through a lot."
"You know what Diablo means, right?" Roberto said with a sly smile.
"Oui." Remy sighed. Even though he didn't understand Spanish he always could decipher Devil in any language. "I don' kno' why people call me dat. I'm de nicest guy around." Remy pouted.
"Guys, we have problem!" Hank interrupted their conversation.
"What is it?" Roberto asked.
"It's Rogue. We need to get that antidote and fast."
So there is a another mystery! Stay tune for next chapter. Some of the mysteries will be revealed!
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