A/N: Thanks to all you lovely people who have put alerts/favourites on me and this story. It makes me feel all fuzzy. Thanks also to my reviewers, always appreciated. Lamby

Disclaimer: I am making no money from this

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

02- Escape

"Is it just me," said the redhead in an English accent, "or is Nice really, really nice?"

"Ce'st bien," Remy agreed, sitting down next to her, "but it ain't a patch on ole Paris."

"You're miserable," she goaded him, nudging him in the ribs playfully.

"Oui," he agreed, catching her hand and raising it to his lips, "an' you know you like it Cherie."

"Gambit…"

"Gambit! Wake up!" Higgins kicked the side of the cage with a boot, making the Cajun jolt back into the waking world. The guards had taken to calling him Gambit on account of him being the undisputed poker king. Remy presumed that was why in his dream the redhead was calling him by the same name. He didn't know why they were in France though. He didn't think he'd ever been to Paris or Nice. The redhead intrigued him. Had he made her up? Or had he known her once? She spoke to him familiarly; were they friends or lovers? She was beautiful, Bambi eyes and rosebud lips. He hoped it was more than just friends, but he couldn't be sure…

"Gambit!" Higgins kicked the cage again to get Remy's full attention.

"What?" Remy said.

"Victor's on his way down with Stryker. Thought you'd want a head's up."

"T'anks ami," Gambit replied grimly. Higgins nodded and moved away. Remy braced himself, flexing his arm muscles against the manacles. A quick glance over his shoulder showed him that the Spider-Boy was spinning his web again. Gambit hissed at the kid to drop it, but the boy was totally absorbed in the thin white threads in his hands. Feeling eyes on him, Remy looked up to see the blonde girl staring at him. He flashed what he hoped was a reassuring smile, and then looked past her to the gantry from which Victor and his boss would descend.

Victor appeared right on cue. The big predatory mutant moved with a powerful grace. His arms swung loosely by his sides, rippling with muscle. Each finger was tipped with a black claw like a cat. Victor's shorn head only seemed to exaggerate the madness in the mutant's gaze. If Victor had been a dog, he would have long since been put down. Any animal with that kind of stare could surely only ever turn on its master? Victor knew no rules, no code of conduct. Only Stryker could keep him in line, and that was only by letting Victor get what he wanted most of the time. And what Victor wanted was blood.

Stryker followed his animal down the steps from the gantry. He seemed feeble in comparison with the big mutant, but Remy knew that this human was the mastermind behind this shop of horrors. Together Stryker and Victor patrolled the rows of cages, admiring their handiwork. Gambit kept his head down and watched the two men through his thick mop of hair, hoping not to be noticed. He was disappointed.

"Ah yes," Stryker said as he stopped outside Remy's cage, "our Cajun explosives expert. Your power intrigues me young man. Tell me, can you explode living matter?" Gambit remained silent, but not through choice. Victor raised a lip in a snarl of contempt. Remy couldn't take his eyes off the feral and the dog tags that swung from his neck. If only he could get his hand on Victor's dog tags, he could take the brute's head off in seconds. Stryker seemed unflustered by Remy's lack of response. He turned to leave. "Perhaps you will be more forthcoming about your secrets on a cold slab. Put him on the list for tomorrow. I want a full autopsy, bloods, the works."

"Huh," Victor couldn't hide his amusement as Remy went suddenly pale. "Any last requests Gumbo?"

"I'll see you in Hell," Remy spat. Victor laughed aloud as he walked away, "I don't think so, loser."

Higgins, Norton and Schwartzer congregated around Gambit's cage for one final game of poker once the shift had changed that night… The guards seemed resigned that by the end of the following day their poker group would be down a man. Remy knew this was it, now or never, judgement day.

"My deal," he told the guards as soon as the cards were brought out. Higgins and Schwartzer looked on with sympathy as Norton granted the Cajun his last request. Gambit stroked the cards through his fingers, getting a feel for each one. Fifty-two cards, fifty-two missiles. Fifty-two weapons to get him out of here alive and he was going to need every single one.

One…Charge the card, take out the side of the cage and the three guards beyond. Barely have time to register the look of surprise on Higgins' face.

Two…Take out the security camera at the end of the row. Spider-Boy is spinning his threads again. Jump from the cage, slip on Schwartzer's insides. Recover, get moving.

Three…Run down the aisle, charge the card, release… Sniper on the gantry doubles over and drops his gun, crashes to the floor below. Blonde girl is screaming to let her out. No time. Not sure I'll make it alone, can't risk it.

Four…Five…Six…Take the steps three at a time. Launch a card at each of the guards on duty on the gantry. Pray no one hits an alarm before they die.

Seven…Eight…Nine…Scientists this time, running from the lab at the sound of the explosions. Can't risk them raising the alarm. Kids downstairs are all screaming now. Air thick with smoke and dust. Guards aren't screaming. Not missed a shot yet.

Gambit dived into the lab and released a flurry of cards to clear the room. Explosions boomed to his right and left. He hit the deck and rolled, using the medical tables as cover as he headed towards the far side of the room. Before the smoke had cleared he had opened a door and passed through. Now he was in unchartered waters. He had never consciously been in this part of the compound. This was going to be fun…

Nineteen…Twenty…Twenty-one…Keep fightin' Remy, keep fightin'. Shots fired, no time to take cover. Keep throwing the cards and keep running.

Thirty-four…Thirty-five…Two cards to take out a wall. Break into a store room. Two more cards to break out the other side. Got lucky and found fresh air. Clamber over the wreckage and force a way through the gap. Clothes torn. Hands, face and knees are bleeding. Can't stop now.

Forty-one…Sentry tower at eleven o'clock. Take out the supporting legs. Dive behind a wall as the tower crashes to the ground, spilling guards. Alarms are really sounding now. Breathe deeply, take a look around.

Forty-two…Stupid kid! Guard aged about sixteen stumbled on me. Blew him to Hell. Them or me. Where am I?

Overhead, two giant concrete cooling towers loomed like monoliths in the stark sunlight. Gambit winced; the daylight was painful to his eyes after who knew how long without natural illumination. Three Mile Island, he thought. This place is a nuclear power plant. What are they doing hiding a military base in a nuclear plant? Almost at the same time, he thought how can I use this to get outta here?

"Hold it right there!" A series of clicks were a host of guns being cocked and aimed at Remy's back. The Cajun froze, running an index finger over the cards he had left. Ten cards, and he hadn't even made it off the island yet. "Turn around," he was ordered. "Slowly." Remy did as he was told, hands extended to either side so the soldiers could see what he was doing. He moved slowly, knowing any sudden movements would only make them shoot. As he turned, something caught his attention behind the ten or so soldiers that has cornered him. A propane tank. That just might even the odds…

Forty-three…Even as the card left his hand, Remy threw himself to the ground and rolled. Bullets cut up the dirt behind him, but none struck home. Milliseconds later, the propane tank exploded. A flash of light seared the air, and the boom made the ground shake. Fire bloomed, incinerating the screaming guards even as the debris cut through their flesh. Gambit didn't look back. He scrambled to his feet and ran.

Forty-four… Forty-five… Forty-six… Take out a chain-link fence and the guard patrolling it. One more for the security camera. One more for the German shepherd dog that came bounding over with its teeth bared.

Forty-seven… Forty-eight... Forty-nine… Three more guards, jus' keep runnin' Remy, jus' keep runnin'.

Gasping for breath, Remy ran onto the docks and spied a lone speedboat tied up at the end of a jetty. His hands fumbled with the chain to untie the vessel, every breath making his ribcage ache. Another bullet ricochet dangerously close, making Remy flinch. He jumped into the boat and headed for the controls. The ignition spluttered, refusing to start. A bullet punctured the side of the vessel and Remy had to turn his face away to protect his eyes from the shards of speedboat that flew upwards. He left the ignition for a moment, using cards fifty and fifty-one to take out the two encroaching gunmen. They both splashed into the water, disappearing from sight.

With one card left, Gambit tried the ignition again. This time the engine started with a roar. A second roar replied as Remy started to pull away from the side of the dock. Victor pulled up short, skidding to a halt at the end of the jetty and voicing his feral frustration.

"What's wrong Victor? Don't wanna get your paws wet?" Remy taunted.

Victor responded by turning and heading back up the jetty. When he had enough room he spun round and sprinted forwards. He dropped to all fours and picked up speed. At the last possible moment, he arched his powerful body and launched himself through the air at Remy's boat.

Fifty-two…

With his final card, Remy caught Victor square in the gut. The big man was thrown side-ways by the explosion and hit the water hard. Gambit raised a hand to protect himself from the splash, smiling grimly as he watched Victor disappear under the water. Then he applied the throttle and beat a hasty retreat.