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T- my 1st review. J! I feel so special!!
WarmerThanFire- Thanks! Hope I don't let you down!
Ishandahalf- WOW! Actually you showed up much quicker than I expected blushes I feel like a review goddess has recognized me. I'll try and go "quick like a bunny on crack". (with lots of Romy).
VA-river-girl – Thanks for the R&R. "Just remember your unique just like everyone else" Seriously, I will try an keep it unique.
Now she looks familiar, much more so than my brother. I want to help her. Its seems like I should, and yet, this is what must take place. Father says she holds the key to our family's survival. Clair is staring down at Rogue. On the other side of the room, her father Nathaniel Essex is monitoring Rogue's health. Clair is petite and wiry, and looks surprisingly very little like her father. She believes she must look like her mother, not that she remembers anything beyond waking up in this very room a few months earlier. Her father told her that there had been a terrible accident that claimed the life of her mother and left her for dead. A powerful telepath named Xavier had caused it, and he had brainwashed her brother Remy into his service. For months Clair and her father had watched Remy waiting for the right time to take him back from Xavier's grasp. But in order for the family to live on, this woman, Rogue had to come as well. Essex told Clair that they mustn't see each other or know the other was there, as it would only cause pain to the process of getting Remy's mind back.
"Clair dear, I believe your brother is starting to awaken, go see if he needs anything, but remember-"
"Yes, father, I know, no mention of the X-Men or her. I want our family back too, I want to remember and belong, I won't mess up."
"Good see that it is done."
Turning to leave the auburn haired girl behind on the bed, Clair exits the room quickly, excited to finally get to meet her brother.
I wonder what he is like…will he remember me? Or father? I feel like I almost remember him…so distance on the verge of my mind yet still miles away…and yet I know he was never like a brother to me…not really, he was just there and then gone. Once father finishes his work with him, perhaps he will be a brother, and she will be my sister.
Clair enters the room where Gambit is lying on a med slab surrounded by machines and blankets, he is slowly starting to stir. As he blinks and opens his eyes she instinctively takes a step back. He seems stunned to be here, and a look of recognition flows over his face, suddenly his eyes become venomous, full of hatred.
Why? Mon Dieu why here? Remy must be in 'ell for 'dat is 'de only place to put a mons'er like Essex. And who is 'de petite fille? She looks a'most familiar…doesn't seem fittin' for her to be 'ere. 'nother question for 'nother place, now just want out of 'ere. Typical Cajun luck, just when I decide I want to die, I go an get saved, by 'de one person who helped drive her away. He struggles to try and sit and realizes he is strapped down. Great 'de bastar' took m'powers. Looks like it be time to ask de fille' for help.
He stops his struggling and for the first time looks right at her. Maybe he will remember… Clair's heart races with anticipation as he takes a breath to speak.
"Ok, petite, I don't know why I be 'ere. But I want out, I don't owe 'im any' ting. We settled long ago. So 'ow 'bout ya unhook 'dese straps an let 'dis ol' Cajun free?"
"Father says I must not do that. I shall get you anything else you need?"
Dieu! She just say "father"? Sinister be a poppa? 'Dat will screw up ya' life right away. Poor fille, almost feel sorry for 'er, doesn't look like 'de type to be around Sinister for long. 'Den 'gain who knowingly is 'de type for 'dat?
""Fore we get to 'dat 'ow 'bout an introduction, name is Remy LeBeau."
"I'm Clair Essex, don't you remember me at all?" How could he forget me if he remembers this place and what is he talking about owning father something? Must be part of the brainwashing. Damn that Xavier, how dare he mess with my family? Thinking about it for a second, her eyes began to glow, she starts to clench and unclench her fist, how she hates the person who made her forget everything, even who she was.
"Sorry petit'. Musta missed 'ya last time Remy was 'ere". Sure is upset 'bout Remy not knowing 'er, she is way too young for any' ting to 'ave happened, must been a 'chile 'de last time I was 'round.
"That's ok, I shall go get you something to eat and some blankets, and then father will wish to examine you." Hopefully he will explain to him about me, I really want to ask him about mother if he remembers her at all. But I must not mention anything without father discussing it with him first.
"Sure petit' blankets sound real good about now." He flashes her a grin that doesn't reach his eyes as she nods and exits. No sense taking it out on 'de girl she seem so sad and 'opeful at 'de same time. Sinister better 'ave some real good answers. No 'ting he could t'reat'en me wit' now. Mon life or mon freedom, don't matter, all 'dat ever mattered was her. Stop 'dat LeBeau! Can't be lettin' 'er plague 'ya forever. She just a fille. No matter what he tells himself he knows there is no going back, as much as he wishes he can't be the player he once was, for once he'd felt something good, something worth more than the most precious gem in the world. And it was stolen out of his grasp, out of his chest without a second look back. Chere, 'dis type of hurt makes me beg for death.
"Father, I took him some food, he is ready to speak with you."
"Excellent, my dear, you stay here and monitor the girl, if she awakens notify me, do not tell her anything, she works for Xavier, she may try and persuade you into his thinking."
"Never father, that man shall never have me as one of his minions."
"Good child, I shall be back shortly."
Sighing, Clair sits next to the med slab. I wonder when she will wake up, seems strange for her to be lying there for so long, normally you are only a bit disoriented if I use my powers, perhaps father gave her something to help her sleep.
"Jeannie ya here?" Logan calls frantically, as loud as he can physically and mentally. *Logan* * Jeannie, ya gotta get into Cerebro, Sinister has captured Rogue * *On my way *.
After searching everywhere for more signs Wolverine had decided the best way was with a telepath, his nose could track like no other creature on land, but their trail had run cold fast. Getting in touch with Jeannie seemed to be the best way to start looking. Knowing Sinister he has her shielded off, if she gets harmed cause of gumbo, we are going round after I'm threw slicing up "Dr. Essex".
Parking the jet, he ran towards Cerebro just as Jean was stepping out. "I'm sorry Logan if he has her, she is well shielded from me and Cerebro, we can assemble a team to check his bases but-" She was cut off as Logan growled and smashed his claws threw the wall. He turned and stalked off. "Get a team, I ain't standing around waiting for a mission to be set." So much like normal. * We will find her Logan the X-Men don't leave any behind *.
"Just Cajuns I guess." He muttered almost to himself. As much as he blamed Gambit in part for her disappearance, he still couldn't understand why no one seemed to care that Gambit had been left to die.
*We didn't all have the choice Logan, Rogue made it for us, she went back for him *
"Yeah but no one else did."
True, Logan, too true, perhaps we X-Men need to remember what it means to be a team. Guilt washed over Jean, she hadn't really thought much about Gambits departure, nor did she want to, he was a friend, but his betrayal was almost too much to bear. He didn't really betray us though; he didn't even know us then. Was it really betrayal? Would we have accepted him if we knew the truth from the start? Such were the thoughts of Jean as she sent out a call to the X-Men. Perhaps we should make this a double search and rescue. Gambit deserves at least that.
Next up: The awakening of Rogue.