Chapter 2

A few days later found Gambit in town. He parked his motorcycle outside of the casino as he started on his way in, heard his Guild phone ring.

"Gambit," he said.

"Remy, it's Sarah," said the harried voice on the other line. "I need your help."

Gambit stopped in his walk and looked back towards his motorcycle.

"What do you need?" Gambit asked.

"You. I'm in Chicago."

"Same place?"

"Yeah."

"On my way."

They hung up and Gambit rang Rogue's phone.

"Hello?" said Rogue upon answering.

"I'm going to be gone fo' a few days," he said. "Somet'ing came up."

"Oh... okay," Rogue replied. "Ah'm guessin' you're not coming back ta the mansion ta pack anything?"

"Non, I have everyt'ing I need."

"Do ya know how long you're gonna –"

"Non. Désolé, chére, I have t' go. Je t'aime."

"Ah love ya too. Good luck with... whatever it is."

"Merci," Gambit replied.

He hung up, turned off his phone and slipped it back into his trench coat pocket. He put on his helmet and got back on his motorcycle. It was a long trip to Chicago, but Marrow wouldn't ask him for help unless it was bad.

Gambit drove most of the night until he reached a point where he knew he was too tired to continue. He checked into a roadside inn for what was left of the night, slept, checked out and had a late breakfast in the morning and then took off again. It was midafternoon by the time he made it to Chicago and parked his motorcycle at the meeting place.

The first time that Gambit had met with Sarah here was ten, twelve years ago. He had been walking down the street, minding his own business when he noticed some kind of commotion happening on the other side of the road. The crowd presenting him with a prime opportunity for picking pockets, the last thing Gambit had expected was to see everyone harassing a couple of obviously mutant children. The younger was green-skinned and obviously scared, while the older had pink hair, bones growing from her body and was growling at the menacing crowd. Gambit recognised her instantly as the girl he had rescued from the sewers during the Morlock Massacre. He'd only known her long enough to get her to freedom, but he often wondered what had happened to that sole child he'd managed to save. A few perfectly aimed charged cards at strategic targets – cars, shop fronts and a nearby fire hydrant – was enough to disperse the crowd. Gambit had approached the two, charged another card in front of them and revealed his eyes in order to show them he was a friend. He introduced himself as Gambit, and charmed them into admitting their names were Marrow and Anole. He told them to hide after that and had brought them some food – which had obviously been the cause for the commotion.

It was that same hiding spot that Gambit headed for now, after a quick stop at one of the local stores for some fresh food. He had quickly been accepted by the large group of mutants Marrow associated with, but neither he nor Marrow were particularly comfortable with him hanging around much. It had taken her awhile, but Marrow had remembered where she recognised Gambit from. Marrow didn't like the idea of accepting any more help from anyone outside of their group, let alone someone who had already saved her life. Gambit, on the other hand, simultaneously hated the memories that being with Marrow provoked, but felt like he was responsible for her wellbeing. It made for a somewhat awkward relationship.

"I see you've come bearing gifts again," came Marrow's voice from the shadows.

"Man's gotta eat," Gambit replied as he always did.

"Yeah, well," Marrow said with a sniff. "About time you got here."

Gambit chuckled as he followed her into the dark. "I drove all the way here from New York. I think I made pretty good time actually. How are yo' doing, Sarah?"

"Just dandy," Marrow replied in a tone that implied the complete opposite as she headed down a set of stairs.

"I'm sure."

As usual, Gambit fought the urge to screw up his nose at the smell as he stepped into the sewer system right behind Marrow. Gambit did not like that Marrow went from living in one sewer to another. The new group she had taken up with tended to move around a bit, but their fallback position was the city sewers. The likenesses between them and the Morlocks was a little disconcerting. If there hadn't been so many of them, Gambit would have taken them under his wing, but as it was he had to make do with a few lessons on picking pockets and general tips on petty theft.

Marrow led Gambit into the main cavern where their housing, such as it was, was set up. Gambit recognised Anole sleeping and shaking on an old, worn bed. There was a woman with purple hair who stood out like a sore thumb by virtue of the fact that she looked far too gorgeous for the setting. She was talking to a man with an eye patch over his right eye, whom Gambit recognised as Erg. Marrow may have been the only one he had been able to save, but she hadn't been the only survivor of the Morlock Massacre: there had been three others. Erg was one. A pretty young girl named Skids was another, and the fourth had been Callisto, named for her mother and the Morlock leader, Callisto. That had been something else Gambit hadn't liked about this new group Marrow hung out with; both the Morlocks and Gene Nation were led by women named Callisto. He found it somewhat unnerving.

"This your friend, love?" asked the purple-haired woman, looking up at them. Gambit raised his eyebrows at the English accent emerging from the lips of a Japanese woman.

"Yep. Oh, right you wouldn't have met," Marrow said. "Remy, this is Psylocke. Betsy, this is Gambit. Psy's our triple threat."

"Because yo' can sing, dance and act?" asked Gambit as he put down the bags of food he had brought.

"Telepathy, telekinesis and teleportation through shadows," Psylocke replied, bemused. "Sarah just likes to call me that."

A sick feeling filled Gambit's stomach at the word 'telekinetic', but he maintained a composed expression on his face. "I see. So... where is everyone?"

"You're looking at them," Marrow replied grimly.

"Come again?" Gambit asked.

Marrow gestured to herself and her three companions. "We're all that's left."

Gambit's composed expression shifted to horror. There was a time where this cavern was crowded with people. "Merde. What the hell happened?"

"Alcatraz, Overdrive and the Purifiers," Marrow said darkly. "Okay, the Purifiers have been giving us trouble for years, but they got worse in the wake of Overdrive. They used the increased mutant crime rate as an excuse to initiate a recruitment drive. That's why I called you, Remy. The Purifiers are manufacturing missiles at an alarming rate. Psylocke recently found out their intended target is Genosha."

"If the estimates are correct, half the world's mutant population is on dat island," Gambit said.

"Which is exactly why we're concerned," Psylocke said. "There are too many of them to take out on our own."

"Says you," said Erg.

"We've considered stealth, but I can't take passengers when I teleport," Psylocke went on as if Erg hadn't said anything, "and the Purifiers have a psionic dampening field in place, so my telepathy is useless and trying to use my telekinesis is like wading through molasses."

Gambit mentally winced at the word 'telekinesis'.

"We figured if anyone could figure out a way to pull this off, it would be you," said Marrow.

Gambit nodded slowly. "Any idea on when dey're planning on sending dem?"

"I believe they're still amassing missiles at this stage," Psylocke replied. "They don't know what Genosha's defences are like by they do know that it's being ruled by a man who can manipulate metal, to say nothing of what any of the other mutants there can do. They're trying to make sure as many missiles get through as possible. They're also working on a missile delivery system at another base, but we don't know where or what form it takes. Need to know amongst the minions and all that."

"They take the missiles to the other base regularly too," said Erg. "We've been trying to follow them but we always end up in this one empty warehouse in Tennessee."

"Have yo' been in contact with Genosha at all?" Gambit asked.

"We don't have any contacts on Genosha," Erg replied, sniffed and then added: "Unless Skids went there."

"Skids is alive?" Gambit asked.

"She left us after Alcatraz," Marrow replied. "We don't know what happened to her after that."

"Callisto?"

"Dead at Alcatraz."

"Okay den," Gambit said grimly. "Well, I know folks on Genosha so I'll give dem the heads up. If their home is at risk o' being bombed, I t'ink dey deserve a little heads up, no?"

"How come I'm not surprised you know people on Genosha?" Marrow said, shaking her head.

Gambit's chuckle was interrupted by Anole waking up from his restless slumber. The shaking seemed to increase and he began muttering and stuttering words Gambit couldn't entirely understand. Gambit pointed his thumb at Anole.

"He okay?" Gambit asked.

"Overdrive withdrawal," Erg said.

"Anole was kind of fun when he was high," Psylocke said with a sly smile. "Especially when he started flirting with Erg."

"Shut up," Erg said, glaring at her.

"Anole was an idiot for ever taking the stuff," Marrow snapped.

"Aww come on, Sarah," said Erg. "Sometimes you just need to escape and –"

"Anole and Crusher called far too much attention to us," Marrow insisted angrily. "It's because of their antics that we've lost so many people to the damned Purifiers."

"How long was he on Overdrive for?" asked Gambit.

Everyone looked at him.

"I don't know," Marrow said. "A few months."

"Well, dat doesn't tell me much, chére," Gambit said. "It only came out March dis year."

"June or something," Psylocke said.

"How many did he need fo' a high?" Gambit asked. "How often did he get high?"

"He needed two for a high," Erg replied. "Once or twice a week, whenever he could get the money. Why?"

"Okay let's say four tablets a week fo'... four months... let's call it sixteen weeks, dat's sixty-four stubs, assuming dey have haven't all finished digesting yet," Gambit considered. "Not too bad, I suppose. Dere was dat one guy dat had a couple o' hundred o' the t'ings."

"What are you talking about?" asked Marrow.

"The way Overdrive worked was dat the tablets were built in layers," Gambit explained. "The first layer was the biggest and came off easily – it was the layer dat provided the initial high. However, the rest o' the tablet – what we've been calling the 'stub' – was designed to remain in the stomach fo' weeks, even months before it was completely digested. Which means the drug was continuing to feed int' the body over however long it take fo' the tablet to completely dissolve. However, at that point, the drug is leaking int' the system at a slower rate; enough t' give a taste, not enough t' get high. We need t' get the stubs out o' Anole's system."

"Whoa, wait, he's still on Overdrive, right now?" Erg asked.

"How do you know so much about it?" asked Marrow.

"I was working wit' the X-men who began investigating it when it came out," Gambit replied with a half shrug. "We also coordinated with Genosha t' end the manufacture. Genosha also has the only rehab centre I know about dat deals wit' Overdrive addicts."

"We? You're with the X-men now?" Marrow demanded. "Those were the traitors who supported the Cure!"

"Aww you know me, Sarah," Gambit drawled. "I don't like t' get int' politics. Although, I have t' say in the matter o' Alcatraz, I have t' side wit' the X-men. Yo' were wanting t' destroy the Cure, no? Except dat the source o' the Cure was a twelve year old boy, and yo' know how I feel about child killing."

"We didn't know there was a boy involved until we were already there," said Psylocke. "By that point the battle had already started."

"I still maintain the X-men are nothing but a bunch of flatscan sympathisers," Marrow insisted. "I can't believe you're associating with them!"

"Oh it's worse dan dat, chére," Gambit said with a slight smile. "I've been friends wit' deux o' dem fo' even longer dan I've been friends wit' yo' and I'm dating one o' dem."

"Ohhh," Marrow said. "Oh of course, I should have realised. You're wining and dining your way through the X-men women."

"Non," Gambit said firmly. "Actually Rogue and I have been dating since January."

Marrow stared at him.

"Ten months?" she exclaimed. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with Remy?"

Gambit laughed. Marrow pulled out one of her bones, sharpened, and pointed it at his neck.

"No," she said dangerously. "I'm serious."

"Whoa dere, petite," Gambit said, holding up his hands. "So am I. Is it so hard t' believe I may have actually found someone?"

"Yes," Marrow replied.

"Yo' t'ink it's easier t' believe I might be a shapeshifter or somet'ing?"

"Yes."

Psylocke laughed.

"Is dis the part where I start t'inking o' tings dat only yo' and I would know?" Gambit asked.

"Psylocke?" Marrow said, keeping her eyes trained on Gambit.

"I can't read his mind," Psylocke replied, obviously amused. "Some kind of static."

"Dat proof enough fo' yo', chére?" Gambit asked.

Marrow glowered at him and slowly pulled her bone knife away. She started to turned from him and then a second later, twisted back again with full-force. Gambit grabbed her knife hand with plenty of room to spare. Pointed bones emerged rapidly from Marrow's body and with equal speed Gambit pulled out his staff and extended it. Two seconds later, Marrow was on the ground, cursing the bones growing out of her back that had given her a less than comfortable landing.

"Am I going t' have t' make t'ings go boom? Or did dat fall knock some senses int' yo'?" Gambit asked languidly. "Having a serious relationship fo' the first time in my life doesn't make me an impostor."

"But this is you we're talking about," Marrow pointed out as she picked herself up. "Erg still thinks we've slept together."

"Hey, it's a valid theory," Erg insisted. "You're always more relaxed after Remy leaves."

"Shut up."

"Can you sleep with her again, Remy?" asked Erg. "She's been on edge lately."

"Gee, I wonder why that could be," Marrow snapped.

"Desole, mon ami," Gambit replied with a grin. "Sarah and I have never been intimate and even if we had been, I'm the 'faithful boyfriend' variety."

"For that I'm sure Rogue is most appreciative," said Psylocke.

"Besides," Marrow said stiffly with a glower at Erg, "We've known him since we were kids. Anything more than a five year age difference is just creepy."

"Ahem, yes well," Gambit said with a cough. "So, I don't recall; how good is Anole's regeneration? Because we have t' get rid o' the Overdrive stubs. O' course, the best course o' action would be t' get him t' the X-men –"

"Forget it," Marrow said.

"- 'cause dey actually have a qualified doctor on staff," Gambit went on calmly as if she hadn't said a thing. "But since yo' don't consider dat t' be an option, we're just going t' have t' do it ourselves. We're going t' need a sharp knife and somet'ing t' put the stubs in. And some latex gloves wouldn't go astray either."

"You're just going to cut in open?" asked Psylocke.

"Have t' get dem out," Gambit insisted, "Overdrive is lethal, and he sure isn't going t' get through withdrawal if he's still got it in his system."

"I'll get what you need," said Psylocke. "Erg, be a dear and put the food away."

"Yes ma'am," Erg said with a mock salute.

Logan walked into the rec room and the first thing that got his attention was:

"Darling," Bobby said dramatically as he knelt on one knee before Jubilee with her hand in his, "I love you."

Snikt.

"Logan," Storm said, grabbing his arm, "they're playing a game."

It was only after Storm pointed it out that Logan realised that Rogue, Kitty and Pete were also with Bobby and Jubilee.

"Will you give me a smile?" Bobby asked, batting his eyes at Jubilee.

"I'm sorry my darling," Jubilee replied with a straight face, "but I just can't smile."

"Dammit," said Bobby and stood up.

"Umm, 'Ro?" said Logan, "what game?"

"It's called 'Darling I Love You'," Storm replied. "If you laugh, you become It."

Bobby got down on the floor and wriggled over to Rogue.

"Darling, I love you," Bobby proclaimed, reaching out his hands like a man in the desert reaches out for water. "Will you give me a smile?"

Bobby looked so silly, Rogue was hard pressed not to start smiling.

"Darling," she began and then started snickering.

"Yay!" Bobby cheered. "You're It!"

"Yeah, yeah," Rogue replied with a wave of her hand.

They swapped places and then Rogue approached Pete.

"Darling," she said, putting on a shy demeanour, "Ah love you, will you give me a smile?"

"Darling I love you," Pete replied with a perfectly straight face, "but I just can't smile."

Rogue grumbled, looked around and spotted Logan and Storm watching them. A grin appeared on her face.

"So wanna play?" she asked, and without waiting for a reply, looking up at Logan with big, round eyes. "Darling I love you. Will you give me a smile?"

Logan stared while Rogue gave him this cute and adorable look.

"Ten second rule!" Bobby shouted. "Logan didn't reply in time. He's It!"

"What?" Logan demanded as Rogue giggled and bounded back to her chair. "I never agreed to play."

"All you have to do, is say 'Darling I love you, will you give me a smile' and get them to laugh. Or smile. Whichever," said Jubilee. "C'mon Wolverino, it's fun."

"And no tickling or straying from the script," Kitty added quickly.

Logan growled at their grinning faces and then turned to Storm.

"Darlin' I love you," he said gruffly. "Will you give me a smile?"

"Darling, I love you," Storm replied tolerantly, "but I just can't smile."

Storm didn't so much as twitch, so Logan stalked over to the group, wondering how'd he'd been roped into this so easily. He looked at each of the girls in turn and then stopped in front of Kitty.

"Darlin' I love you, will you give me a smile?" he asked with the same inflection he'd given Storm.

"Darling, I love you, but I just can't smile," Kitty replied, and then promptly burst into nervous giggles.

"You're It," Logan informed her dryly.

"Darn," Kitty said good-naturedly.

"Hey, you know who you should do?" Rogue said gleefully. "You should involve Hank."

Kitty giggled. "Yeah, let's do it."

Logan stood back with Storm while the five abandoned the rec room for the med lab.

"Are we sure those kids have graduated high school?" he asked.

Storm laughed.