Vicarious

August 3, 2018
Bureau d' Venguer
Paris

Rogue adjusted the water temperature and tentatively stepped under the shower head. A soft, steady stream covered her neck and chest. With a sigh, she turned her head and soaked her hair. Nothing like a long, hot shower after a long, hard day to decompress, but she couldn't wash her doppelgänger from her mind.

If she landed in an alternate time or universe… Where would she go?

Nowhere. She'd been haunting a series of Avenger dorms for months, but none of these places felt like home. They weren't the X-Mansion. Back when she took leadership of the Unity Squad, she bought a penthouse in the city, but how long had it been since she'd been there? Her fern was certainly dead. Good thing she hadn't gotten a cat like Gambit.

From the shower, she heard her security alarm softly chirp like a doorbell. But it died after a moment. She assumed one of her teammates had answered. Then it sounded again, this time more harshly to warn her that someone was in the building. Where the fuck was her team?! She turned off the water, grabbed a towel, and heard someone close her bedroom door. She dove for the counter, where a weapon was mounted under the sink, when she heard a familiar voice.

"Anna?"

Her heart caught in her throat but she didn't reply. Remy. There was a Rogue-doppelganger on the loose; who could say there wasn't a Gambit-doppelganger, too? And if someone wanted to bait her, he was exactly what they'd use.

She quickly loaded and racked the gun.

"Anna, dat you?"

As he approached the bathroom door, she yanked it open and thrust the barrel in his face. He froze and their eyes met. Not a double.

Her towel loosened and dropped.

Instantly, they were in each other's arms. She didn't even know who made the first move. Everything was a blur as she ripped off his clothes and they stumbled to her bed. Naked, he suddenly wanted to talk, which drove her crazy. Following a significant struggle and unnecessary foreplay, she finally mounted him. The universe morphed into utopia. The sunset beamed breath-taking hues across the floor and walls, but they hardly noticed. All through the night, they kept coming together, falling asleep, and waking to find their bodies joining again.

They didn't speak until morning.

"Where were you?" she asked as he trailed kisses along her jaw.

"Family business, chere."

"You mean Guild business." She groaned. "Remy, Ah was worried about you."

His mouth latched on to her ear lobe and she melted. Before things got out of control again, he said: "What about that girl? Y'all find out who she was?"

"How'd ya know it wasn't me?"

"She ain't as pretty as you."

She pursed her lips. "Ah'm too old to fall for a line."

"Was a time you found me charmin'… Reckon your tastes've matured." His tone was light but his words undercut a sharper accusation.

Why couldn't things ever stay good between them?

She rolled out of bed and tossed his clothes to him. "Stayin' for breakfast, or does the family need ya back?"

"Are y' gonna answer my question?"

"No! Ah'm not! When ya decided not to join, you gave up knowin' what we know. If that's why you seduced me-"

"Wait just a damn minute – you called me!"

"Ah didn't tell ya to break in and jump me in the shower!"

There was a knock at her door and Rachel called: "Hate to interrupt, but it's time to go."

Inwardly, she groaned. So everyone had heard and everyone knew… Although he'd managed to elude the team, they hadn't been quiet last night, and now her team would think she'd snuck him past security for a good time. If Johnny didn't know yet, he would soon. How did she always end up in these situations?

But she only replied: "Comin'!" Then, to Remy: "Come with us. Ah know you said you weren't interested in bein' an Avenger, but we could use your help… Ah could use your help."

He kissed her forehead. "And I'll always be here for you, chere. But this ain't the place for me."

She deflated a little, but offered a brave smile on her way out.

Outside, it was raining and Remy found a parking ticket on his bike. Could this day get any better? He considered camping out – despite his ex and her team – when his phone rang. He stepped under an overhang and answered in French.

"Hello, Marguerite."

"Hello, Remy!" She spoke no English. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important. Or amorous."

"Nothing more important than you, dear. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"You don't have a sweetheart? I won't ask for details, but your father seems content to wait forever for a grandbaby and I'm not."

"Ah, but see, there's a hole in my heart where a mother's love should've been. Your sons have no such excuse."

"American women are no good. You're wasted on them! Come to Domfront-" Remy heard his father in the background and she scolded: "Yes, yes, my love, just a moment… Your papa wants to talk and couldn't figure out this cell phone. …And they say dinosaurs are extinct."

A pause, and then Luc shouted: "Remy!"

"Lower your damn voice."

"Where are you?" his voice was still strained as if speaking over a crowd.

"Why?"

"Can you get to Kaarst?"

"Why?"

"Trouble. Dat's all I can say."

"Martin Manor? But-"

"Watch yourself. These things ain't secure!"

Remy rolled his eyes. "Oui, I can get there. Do we have eyes?"

"Fence. Apparently, a young lady's acquired de property."

"And the… family's just been watching?"

"She's de-" he struggled to find the word, "de replica of your former paramour. Not to be trifled with. To be honest, dat's de only reason Berlin called… Anythin' you wanna tell me, son?"

"On my way."

He hung up and looked back at her window. More than anything, he wanted Rogue with him on this. If this was another Rogue, she needed to make things right. Who else would she listen to if not herself? But she was guaranteed to share his information with SHEILD, and that would be a betrayal of everything he cherished. He rode recklessly through the rain: fleeing the country before she missed him.


August 4, 2018
Martin Residence
Kaarst, Germany

The historical records kept in the basement were immaculately maintained. Every Guild member since the dawn of man had a place in their family records. After a few anxious minutes, she located the LeBeau book. She followed the tree to the end.

Remy LeBeau, adopted age 10. Married Bella Donna Boudreaux, age 18. Annulled, age 18.

Her heart sank.

"Okay, so you're not listed, but that doesn't mean anything. Maybe – maybe Belle didn't tell the Guild and adopted you out."

'Look at his birthday… You should've been born three months ago. We have to accept that we didn't time travel, we crossed dimensions. It's okay. We can still work with this.'

She quietly put the record back in its dustless slot. "Makes me sad… A world without you."

'I hate to imagine a life without you and Oli.'

"I'm glad these people aren't my parents. I wouldn't want a family where I didn't have a big sister."

'Y'all were my light in dark times.'

"Always knew I was safe when you were around… I should've told you that every day. Oli was my rock. My compass. And I never told him."

'Didn't need said.'

"Alright," Raven wiped away tears. "Enough of this sissy stuff. Let's get back to work."

"It's the same every day," Fence proudly told Remy from their safe house near Martin Manor. "Almost to the minute! She wakes up at seven, reads the paper-"

"Local paper?" asked Remy.

"Huh… Yeah. Why?"

"So she speaks German. Or at least, she can read it."

"Hadn't thought of that. Guess that's why you make the big bucks!" Fence laughed heavily. He seemed happier than he'd been on their last job, but there was no time to catch up. "Eats a big breakfast. All her meals are at home, so we can forget slipping sleeping pills in her food. Then it's down to the library, some cleaning, light lunch, nap-"

"She naps?"

"Oh, she's a princess alright. Gets her groceries delivered. That's how we've gotten a glimpse inside. A solid two hours meditating, and then she goes for a run. Same route. Ninety minutes round trip. That's your best window for recon. After her run, it's shower, prayers and bed. Doesn't waste a minute and she's only got one recreational habit."

"The suspense is killin' me."

"Me, too, that's why you're here. Infrared is the best I can do. House has cameras, but she killed 'm. She knew exactly where they were and hasn't accessed a device we could reverse. Instead, she stands around in the same room: reading, writing, making notes… She's prepping for something."

"Ze girl is three steps ahead of ze Guild!" A middle-aged man with thunderous blue eyes stormed into the room. He was tall, lanky, with a heavily lined face and stingy white hair.

Remy knew him at once. "Franz Schmidt, I don't believe-"

"Zey told me you could get her out! Well! Go in and get her!"

"All in good time, mon ami. No one ever got anywhere with a woman by bein' impatient. When she goes for her run tonight, so will I."


Meanwhile…
Bureau d' Venguer

The police had gotten a tip that 'Rogue' (wanted for destruction of public property) was hiding in a little village near Tours. Nothing came from it and they realized the 'tip' had most likely been planted by the look-alike to throw them off her trail. But it had been their only lead.

"Doesn't make sense," Rogue grumbled, rubbing her temples. "How could she vanish? Ah can't even do my laundry without bein' seen!"

"I may have something," said Rachel.

"Found her?" Sam asked.

"Picking up some telepathic reports of Rogue sightings in Germany. And Gambit's nearby… Any reason for that?"

Rogue looked at her and realized all eyes had turned in her direction. "Don't look at me!"

"How close?" Pietro snipped. "I'll run by, check it out. If he's tracking her, I'll be gone and back before he realizes."

"Good-" She started but he'd already gone. "Hate when he does that!"


Near the Martin Residence
Kaarst, Germany

Gambit held his breath as she stepped outside and looked around. Then she stretched before jogging west – just like she'd done the last two nights. He waited until she rounded the corner before he slipped in through the back door.

Thanks to Fence's black market gadgets, Gambit was literally the Guild's eyes and ears inside Martin Manor. The dark, dusty hallways and narrow, high-ceilinged rooms were exactly as he'd last seen them.

"Work room's located on the second floor," Fence's voice spoke into his ears.

"Be careful going up the stairs. If I set a booby-trap, I'd put it there."

Gambit paused. "Darce? What're you doin' here?"

"Archivist extraordinaire, boss! Unless she's flipping hot parts or plotting a lift, you and Fence are out of your league. I'd bet good money she's been digging through Guild lore to get her hands on the gem. We need to know what we're seeing, not plug it into Google for SHIELD to track."

Fence grumbled about his superior IT security.

"Hush, children," said Gambit.

Beneath his feet, the wooden floor boards gave too much. A trap had been set. Cautiously, he crept towards the stairwell, alert to any sudden movement. Normally, he would've cut the security system and entered abnormally – through the attic, for example. But this house was protected by magic, which he automatically bypassed as a Guild member. She, too, was either protected or immune. As for sneaking in, Martin Manor wasn't as isolated as his usual marks. The neighbors would've automatically spotted a shadowy man lurking around the windows.

Snap!

Spear shot across the room, landing with a solid thud into the wall near his chest. His spine arched back to avoid the hit and felt a chill. Then, in his peripheral, he saw another missile. This time, he went forward, up and over the spear.

"Cleaning?!" Gambit snapped. "You thought she was cleaning?! Fence, you're a dead man!"

"Up! Up! UP!" said Darce.

He dashed up the stairs as shots chased his heels and transformed the staircase into toothpicks. If he thought he was safe at the second floor, he was terribly mistaken. His left foot activated a bear trap. Cat-like reflexes saved him from capture, but not injury.

Darce gasped when she saw the wound, making him flinch more than the pain.

"Shut up, you're no help," Fence fussed at her. To Gambit, he said: "Come on, man, just a flesh wound! Walk it – uh oh."

"Uh oh?"

"She's flying back!" Darce sounded panicked. "She knows you're there!"

"Time to high tail – where are you going?" Fence said.

"Not leaving till I know what's in that room!"

"First door on your right!"

He followed Fence's directions. Thankfully, no more booby traps. Inside the room was dark, so Gambit charged his staff, casting a purple glow over the wall of papers. He glanced over names, faces, a chart of numbers and dates, a global map, and spirals to nowhere.

"Got it?" Without waiting for an answer, he de-powered his staff and heard the front door slam. He hobbled to the window and found it jammed. So much for a sneaky exit. He'd raised his staff to smash the glass when she snatched it from his hands.

She swung the staff across his face and watched him crumble.

Disoriented, he watched her raise her hand for another attack when shadows surrounded her. Tiny metallic insects crawled up her legs, dug into her abdomen, and flew around her face. At first, she smashed them, but they kept coming and her hands could only catch so many. She panicked and lost track of Gambit.

"Fly my pretties!" cheered Fence, "Fly!"

Darce kicked in the door, dashed to him, and shouted: "Let's move!"

Grabbing his staff, he smashed the window and pushed her onto the roof. She was helping him climb out when the target snatched him. Darce refused to let go, so they both fell inside. Gambit pushed her aside and threw a handful of charged cards at their attacker. She emerged unfazed – but pissed – and raised her fists.

"I will end you!"

"NO!" Darce leapt between them – frail human hands raised in pitiful defense of the man who'd brought her here.

"You from the future?" Gambit asked. "Or an alternate universe?"

Slowly, both women turned to him in disbelief.

"I'm an X-Man," he said calmly. "Happens more often than you think."

'Rogue' lowered her fists and raised her chin. "I know. Those dumb saps usually work themselves right out of a job, don't they?" She sighed. "We tried to be discreet."

"We?" Darce asked.

For her observation, the girl threw her across the room and shouted: "Get out of my way!"

"Stop!" he shouted, "Dunno what you think the stone's capable of, but it can't get you home. We know time-travelers and-"

"There's no home for me to return to… They're all-" She couldn't say it.

Outside, doors quietly opened and shut. Footsteps, quick and light as rain, did not escape her notice.

"That'll be your girlfriend," she said. On her way to the window, she grabbed Darce by the neck and used her as a human shield. She shouted into the night: "I've got hostages! Stay back or they die!"

Then she blocked the window with an armoire.

"Let her go," said Gambit. "Rogue won't let anything happen to me. I'm as good as three hostages."

"Relax. I'm not gonna kill anyone. You-" she snapped at Darce. "There's a Bible in the basement. Bring it."

He hoped Darce would be smart enough to escape while she had the chance. To cover the sound of her retreating feet, he asked: "How did you survive?"

"Luck." She laughed bitterly. "If you can call it that! I don't know why God-" Again, she struggled to keep her composure. "Why He let this happen. Or why He chose me… The Phoenix can re-create them. But space, time, mass, matter, energy… It's a lot to work against. It's too much. The Momentary Princess can lift time and give the Phoenix room to work."

Outside, Rogue and her team were planning a siege when a woman ran out of the house. She appeared harmless: completely non-descript. The perfect hostage. Rogue knew Gambit was the one to trade first. He was too clever, too strong, too likely to outwit, overpower and escape his opponent. But he'd talked his way into trouble. It was his superpower.

"I've killed him! I've killed him!" sobbed the former hostage. She was too distraught to provide any useable information, but apparently not too distraught to flee once attention had turned away from her.

Back inside, Gambit breathed a sigh of relief. Darce was more Ravenclaw than Hufflepuff after all.

"What's your name, petite?"

"Becca… No one's called me that since I was a kid. It's Raven now."

"Shame. I like Becca."

"So did my mother. She thought it went well with 'LeBeau'." With an irritated sigh, she returned to her work board. "I'm not your daughter, you know. You could kill me without guilt. I could kill you without un-creating myself. And I think it'll come to that."

"If you'd planned to kill me, you would've done it already."

"The stone may demand blood payment."

Now he was exceedingly glad Darce had left. "Let's find another way."

She squared her shoulders and pointed to the spiral. "Right. Imagine the earth is this room. And the Princess is someone standing in the hall. You can't see them, but they're there. Okay? Now – on prime years, "you" look through the keyhole. The person in the hall stands on the other side. Everything aligns perfectly for a few minutes. Then it all moves again. But you're still here and they're still there."

"So it never leaves?"

"It's passing through all dimensions all the time. Jumping – flashing in and out quicker than we can observe. Which is ironic because we also flash through all dimensions all the time! We're just waiting for the perfect universe to present itself before we commit. And here it is… At last, I've found it."

"Huh-uh."

"Don't believe me? You've never felt like everything was perfectly aligned? Like the universe kept trying to tell you something, but you couldn't understand the message?"

"No. And I ain't sure new-age mantras are what we need now."

She exhaled deeply. "Where is that woman? Well, if you want something done right! Come." She helped him down into the basement. "Every road taken leaves another unwalked. But the opposite of every choice still exists in the realm of possibility – a lesser world – one we don't see but still exists. These shadow worlds spawn other shadow worlds. On and on. Meanwhile, we flash in and out constantly. When we need the wisdom gleaned from the shadow worlds, we simply incorporate them into our beings."

"Right. And the Momentary Princess helps how?"

"I'm trying to tell you how important we are! How vital!" She dropped him and told him to find the Bible. "You'll never control it if you don't understand! Our family was selected to guard and honor the stone. Why? It conceals itself inside timeWhy? My parents, with their unique set of genes and philosophies, created me. The sole survivor of my world! Why? I could've gone to any universe, but I came here. Why?"

"Not sure this question's very helpful. Sometimes things just happen, petite, and there ain't no reason."

With her back to him, she closed her eyes and regulated her breathing. "Everything happens for a reason. Everything doesn't happen for a reason. Everything since the dawn of man has come together to create this moment… I cannot choose wrongly. All the wrong choices have been made." She turned to him. "Got the Holy Book? Okay. Now kill me."

From their safe house, the Guild watched as the Avengers tried and failed to infiltrate Martin Manor. They'd correctly identified the overriding factor – magic – and had called on an ally with superhuman expertise. She'd arrive shortly. Thousands of years of history and lore… It could not fall into the wrong hands! Franz ordered the Guild's protectors to activate the self-destruction spells inside the house.

"But-" Fence weakly protested, "Gambit's still there." When Franz only sneered, he re-activated Gambit's ear piece and said: "You better get outta there, man. Pronto."

In a flash, Raven crossed the room and knocked him on his back. She pinned him to the floor and sank her fingers into his wounded ankle. He tried to kick her off, but he may as well have kicked a cliff side. Like talons, her nails dug deeper and deeper.

"That all you got?!" She roared.

"You're crazy!" He charged and threw everything in his grasp. "Need some sense knocked into you!"

She twisted his foot, breaking it like a twig. "I survived a blast that destroyed the earth… No one can stop me from killing you. Your girlfriend's gonna watch. And then she's gonna join you!"

The following detonation blinded those watching through his eyes.

To Be Continued…

Author's Notes: Marguerite is my original character. Marvel's had Jean-Luc just popping in and out of Remy's life with no explanation for 15 years. In my mind, he's settled down with some charming (retired) courtesan and they spend all day drinking wine and listening to jazz on a gramophone. I imagine they occasionally undertake a Guild mission but mostly enjoy a leisurely life. Furthermore, I've decided to go with the Jean-Luc who's never heard of McDonald's instead of the more recent tech-savvy version. Both have been presented in the comics, so take your pick.