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Chapter 2.
Scott Summers sighed as he shut down his laptop. He had been hoping the two men had brought good news. Slouching in his chair, he was lost in his thoughts for a few moments, before turning to the others.
"You must be exhausted. Why don't you get some rest for now? We'll regroup in the morning."
Colossus nodded and settled down to sleep without another word. Gambit sat on the other bed, using the pillows to prop himself up. However, he then pulled out a deck of cards and began shuffling them.
"Don't tell me you gonna be up all night brooding. Jeannie wouldn't approve."
Scott smiled. "Well, it was considerate of her to send me a surrogate nagging wife."
"Hey, I take objection to the 'nagging' part. You probably don' realise it, but my company has improved your character considerably. You think less, drink more, and, mais this is a bad thing, make fun of your lovely femme. Still not as good looking as me, but there's not much we can do 'bout that. Genetics is a bitch."
"Well, we can't all be as fortunate as you." Sigh.
"You're doing it again."
"What?"
"Thinking, loudly...look, I know the timing's bad, but this probably not such a bad thing to happen after all. None of our people were seriously injured. We spent too long in one place anyway. In our line of work, predictability gets you killed. Storm got all the new recruits to Westchester yet?"
"Yes. We can stay indefinitely. Well, until we have the new base and safe houses ready."
"You and Petey will have to go up tomorrow. I'm gonna go home for a couple days. Gotta see a man, 'bout some money. Think you'll survive without me to take care of you, honey?"
"You're hilarious." Scott remarked dryly. "Are you sure it's a good idea going to New Orleans alone?"
Gambit was intent on his cards, and didn't respond.
"Ok. I had to ask. I know you've got the whole lone ranger act down pat. Just try not to get killed ok. It would be really irritating to have to find your replacement."
"Awww, I love you too. Don' worry, I won't tell Jeannie."
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
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Gambit woke up abruptly. Quickly looking around the room, he saw Scott asleep in his chair near the door. Colossus hadn't stirred either, not moving from the position he originally went to sleep in. Armed with his bo in one hand and cards in the other, he peeked surreptitiously through the window. He could tell it was close to dawn. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but his thief's instincts told him otherwise. He quietly alerted Scott and Colossus. He hated motels like this for one reason ok, several reasons, but primarily because there's only one way in and out. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
He resumed his spot at the window. "Merde." He threw a few charged cards in the direction of the door as the door was kicked open. The two officers standing behind the door were thrown back. The room's occupants emerged expecting to find more officers outside but finding instead the two unconscious bodies. They were wearing the uniforms of the SCF or Special Constabulary Force, popularly known as the mutant registration police. Looking around the parking lot, he noticed their car parked on the opposite end.
Among the conditions of the New Nation Act passed a decade earlier, was the registration of all known mutants. The SCF was a special branch of police mandated to monitor mutant identities, activities, and crimes. They were most efficient at targeting individual mutants were trying to lead normal lives without detection. While the SCF was a continuous threat to the activities of the Resistance, for the most part, the Resistance had been adept at scraping together the resources to avoid serious exposure. This was due in large part to information and contributions from wealthy or powerful mutants. These mutants tended to fall into two groups: those with political clout like Erik Lehnsherr, also known as Magneto, and Charles Xavier, telepath and well known mutant rights activist. The other group consisted of mutants who kept their mutant identities secret, infiltrating areas or levels of society traditionally closed to mutants.
"What would they be doing here" Colossus spoke for the first time since their arrival, changing back to his normal form from his mutant Metallic state.
"Less talkin' more lifting,'" Gambit grunted under the weight of the man he carried into their room. To Gambit's annoyance, Colossus easily picked up the other body, and set it down on the floor.
"So, I'm guessing you're mutants." said a feminine voice with a southern accent. Gambit whirled around to find two girls staring at them, as they closed the door of the bordering room. The girl, woman actually, who had spoken was putting on a pair of gloves. She had emerald green eyes and chestnut hair with a definitive silver streak in the front which fell in a braid down her back. Her companion looked to be barely out of her teens, tiny in stature, with long brown hair in a ponytail.
Her green eyes were directed at Gambit. He raised one eyebrow, but didn't respond.
"I'm Rogue. This is Kitty." The southerner introduced herself to Scott.
"Nice to meet you both, but I'm afraid we're in a hurry."
"If you want, you can come with us." Rogue walked past them to unlock the door of the SUV.
"And why would you be so concerned with getting us to safety, chère" Gambit's eyes narrowed sceptically.
"We're mutants too." She didn't flinch under his glare. "But if y'all are fine, then we'll just be going." She turned away to put her bags in the back.
"It might be a good idea to take them up on their offer. For all we know, the rental you arrived in is how they tracked us here." Scott lowered his voice.
"I jus' think it's strange the way the cops showed up, not enough to take three of us. And coincidentally, we have two "mutants" willing to help us to safety. Besides, I would know if I'd been followed."
"I've never known you to turn down the company of beautiful women. That is perhaps the strangest of all these events" Colossus looked pointedly at this friend. "I agree with Scott. We don't have time to debate this."
"Suit yourselves." Gambit shrugged.
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Kitty and Colossus fell into conversation easily. It turned out they both had a passion for the fine arts. Gambit had opted to sit in front beside Rogue. Scott pretended to rest, while watching everything from the back.
Gambit heard a giggle behind him "Your name sounds really beautiful, Piotr. Can you teach me a few words in Russian."
He and Rogue hadn't spoken beyond establishing they were all headed in the same direction two hours earlier. The plan was to keep driving until they got to Lincoln, at which point, he would go to New Orleans, Scott and Piotr would go to New York, and the women would go to - wherever they were headed, Mississippi according to Rogue. He just hoped Piotr didn't accidentally give any information to the petite chatte.
He gave an appraising glance at Rogue. She was paying close attention to the road as she drove, giving him the opportunity to study her. She was striking, her voluptuous body was covered in a fitted black jacket and matching slacks. He realised he was curious about her.
"You're from Mississippi."
"Huh?" She turned to him abruptly, her train of thought broken.
"Yeah. Originally. Moved around quite a bit with my father though."
She made no attempt to continue the conversation, and they lapsed into silence once more. His reaction on meeting her had fallen short of his usual charisma. While he still didn't intend to give away any clues to their identities, he was beginning to regret his initial attitude.
He had a slight grin as he addressed her once more. "So do you plan on ignoring me the whole way? It's a long drive chère."
She gave him a withering glance "Look here, swamp rat, I don't need to talk to someone who's been nothing but rude to me since we met."
"You're calling me Swamp Rat?" He laughed out loud.
"I can tell from your accent, Cajun"
"No offence, but I don't think I'm gonna take that from a backwoods river rat like yourself."
She glared at him again.
"Look, chère, I'm sorry we started off on the wrong foot. But you have to admit the conditions were not exactly ideal. Let's start over."
"Fine"
"Remy"
"What?"
"Je m'appelle Remy." He flashed a dazzling smile.
"Nice to know." She went back to ignoring him.
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They stopped for the night, choosing slightly higher-end accommodations this time around; a hotel of Remy's choosing.
Anna yawned as she opened the door to her room, kicking it shut behind her. Dropping her large duffel bag on the ground and her handbag on the bed in front, she slipped out of her sandals. She had driven all day, again. Remy had offered to drive after they stopped for lunch, but she turned him down flat. He really could be quite charming when he wanted. He also flirted a lot with anything that moved: Kitty, the waitress at the restaurant, the hotel clerk. She deliberately left herself off the list. She had repulsed all his attempts to sweet-talk her. She despised him after all. He was exactly the type of man she expected him to be. Dangerous. He had probably murdered Joseph then gone to bed with some easy young thing without a second thought to the life he'd taken. She sighed as the mental picture of Joseph appeared, and shook her head. Don't start thinking about him. You need a clear head to finish what you started. Anna opened her eyes with a start to find Remy leaning languidly in her door frame.
He hadn't intended to startle her. The door was ajar and he pushed it open to find Rogue sitting on the bed, absently undoing her braid. It was a breathtaking site. Rogue with her head tilted upward, eyes closed, lips slightly open, and her hair spilling down almost to her waist.
She jumped up, hissing "What the hell are you doing in here?"
"I'm sorry chère, but the door was open." He walked over until he was standing very close to her. "I thought I would order dinner for everyone. Just wanted to know what you liked." He gave her a lopsided grin. She shifted away from him and started rifling through her bag.
"Thank you Remy. I'm not feeling very hungry right now. I just want to get a bath." It was obviously meant as a dismissal, but he didn't budge.
Grabbing a few toiletries out of her bag, Rogue turned to face him again, arms crossed in front of her. "What?"
"As beautiful as you are when you're angry, chère, I'd much prefer us to be friends." He looked serious.
"Why bother now? After tomorrow morning, we'll go our separate ways and never see each other again."
"Maybe, maybe not. We can discuss it over dinner. If you're not going to take care of yourself, then Remy will have to. I'll be back in an hour." He picked up her right hand and lightly kissed her knuckles as he looked her in the eyes. The way he was looking at her made her uncomfortable; she pulled her hand out of his grasp. He smiled at that, and then strolled out. She followed him to the door, locking it behind him, and exhaled slowly.