Authors note: Ok, So I can't spell cuz I am dyslexic. I do use Spell Check but that only goes so far. I haven't really found any one to read it over. I know there are betas or whatever but I am just getting the hang of this posting business. Anyway, I am sorry if the errors are too distracting for you but just pretend the author is poor at English and then you'll be kind of impressed!
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It had been more then two weeks since the red eyed mutant had stopped responding to any and all stimuli, even the most painful. The doctors had clamed he was in some form of self educed coma and could not be forced out of it. However the General was convince he was faking it and so went about in his own sadistic ways, trying to get a reaction from the living corpse. The doctor had placed bandages over Gambit's eyes keeping them close so they wouldn't dry out from lack of blinking. And when finally the General had grown beyond frustrated, he ordered the body of his prisoner to be shoved in a strait jacket, gagged, shackled, and dumped in a dark, black storage area, much cooler in temperature then the rest of the building. The Generals thought was out of sight, out of mind, and it worked, for a couple of days, especially with all the head aces he had to worry about coming from congress and their refusal to afford his out fit with any more funding, claming that the mission had been an utter failure and waste of money. It wasn't until rumors spread that an army of mutants was in the process of locating their fallen hero, that his attention shifted back to Remy. He was concerned that they were getting to close, he actually thought of just killing the mutie, but then decided against it. Perhaps he could use him as bate, and capture the rest of the X-Men. Then congress would re-appraise the work of his operation, and may offer him the funding he needed.
These great aspirations were soon foiled however as the day arrived, when the United Mutant Liberation Force came blasting threw the doors of the top secret base, with only one agenda, find Gambit! There were mutants all over the place, rounding up guards and searching every room and cell for their lost comrade. A handful of guards had been rounded up into what was once Gambit's cell. They were held their by Wofsbane, Multiple man and Syren, who patiently waited for Wolverine, who demanded to be the one asking the questions. He entered with Cyclops, Havoc, Domono and Storm, the others still searching for Gambit or battling the guards. Wolverine gave a sort sniff, then drew his claws with a growl.
"Easy Logan!" Cyclops whispered as he set a hand on the other's shoulder.
"The Cajun was in here!……..I can smell 'em!…..His blood, his sweat, his tears!" The short but fierce man stocked up to the closest guard and let two of his claws slowly slide out until they stopped just before grazing the man's eyes. The room grew completely silent as they all held their breaths. If he had blinked, his eyelids would have been cut. "Ok BUB!...I'm only gonna ask ya once, where's Gambit!" His voice was a low growl of anger but his body and arm were motionless. The other mutants each glanced to one another with looks of uncertainty, but remained silent. As expected, no one answered, so Wolverine let his claws drop down to the man's crouch, piercing threw the fabric. "Either one of ya tell me where he is,…….or I'll slice the balls off of every single one of you shit heads, then ask again!" He growled louder, prepared to carry out the threat. Gambit was an X-Man and a good friend, one of the best fighters he had ever met and could have handled all of these guys even on a sick day, but they had used their advantage to dominated him. He could smell the stench of Remy's fear and hopelessness, and the severe odor of humiliation and vulnerability. After another moment of silence a young guard spoke up, his eyes cast down to the side, filled with turmoil.
"He's in a storage room." The young soldier's words where whispered. Instantly the guard next to him elbowed him in the face braking his noise.
"Fucking coward!" The guard spat venomously before being restrained by Havoc and Storm. Wolverine released his grip on the other soldier and walked over to the restrained man. He looked at him questionably, than sniffed, his eyes growing wide.
"You got off on his pain." His tone was brimming with anger and disgust. He grabbed the man by his uniform slamming him into the wall. Storm and Havoc backed away, knowing to stand clear when Wolverine was in such a state. The soldier could not hide his contempt and sneered at the shorter man.
"Yhea, …….and?" His flippant remark was answered by a growl and another hard slam against the wall. Logan looked into his eyes, searching, and becoming more enraged by what he knew was true. He leaned in and growled a whisper that only the trapped man could here.
"You wanted to fuck him……..Well,…..FUCK YOU!" He screamed as he thrust his claws into the guard's abdomen, snarling as he watched him gasp.
"Wolverine!" Cyclops's voice boomed, but before he could say another word the other guards with the exception of the younger one, tried to fight back and where immediately restrained by the mutants in the room. After the momentary chaos, Wolverine turned his attention to the young guard with the broken noise.
"Ya got a name kid?" Logan was once more in control of himself but could easily fly off into another rage any second.
"Cooper, sir." The solder said quietly, shaking slightly.
"Well, Cooper,…ya been real helpful this far,……take us to where Gambit is and you get to see tomorrow unlike yer friends here." Logan snarled.
"Cooper you fucking rat bastered!……..Keep yer trap shut!" One of the other guards threatened. He was quickly pounded by three sets of fists as Multiple man felt the need to shut him up.
"Don' yo listen to him now ladie!……..It's obvious you are none to found of yer job here or the people in it………..Think with yer conscience for a change, not with your fear and bigotry." Syrin said in a soft but firm voice.
Cooper nodded still holding his noise, blood trickling threw his fingers
"Syrin, Wofsbane, Multiple Man and Domono, you stay here and keep your eyes on the guards!………Havoc,……Go find Beast and Jean, tell them we found him!" Cyclops turned to go with Storm and Wolverine right behind him, dragging Copper roughly.
"Scott!……….What about Rouge?" Havoc asked quietly. Scott stopped and looked back, every one's face held the same expression of hesitation and worry.
"If you see her,……….then tell her, but don't go looking for her. Better she find the General then Gambit!" He turned and in a voice that promised death, said, "Let us hope for your sake that Gambit is fine,…….because if he's not,………So help me you will each pay dearly for it!" With that they were gone, and the soldiers were left with the fear of knowing exactly what condition the mutants would find their friend in.
Copper led them to the storage room and punched in the code for the door. Jean and Beast arrived and in the next few seconds, Psylock and Arc Angle were there too. They all held there breath as the door slid open, and light from the hall way pierced the blackness of the small, cool room. Lying on the floor, looking more dead then alive was a skeleton of the man known as Gambit. He was blind folded with a ball gag in his mouth. He had grown so thin that the Strait jacket was actually too lose, and his tattered cotton pants were stiff with cold from the frigid air of the room. Ankles still shackled and the collar was a lose ring around his neck.
They all stood frozen in place by the sight of their team mate, so helpless and utterly defeated. Something inside Logan began to growl as his senses went into over drive. The shallow breaths and uneven heart beat became unbearably loud and the stench of a neglected body with Cajun spice, was suffocating. He felt sick and angry with disgust over the condition of his friend. Suddenly his mind snapped from human to beast and a roar of rage was released as he ran back threw the door and down the hall almost slashing Beast and Betsey as he went. One of his pack had been maimed and humiliated, that was just as bad as killing him. The General was the leader of the other pack, and the target of the Wolverine's vengeance.
They hesitated a moment longer before snapping into action, Beast was at his friends side in a mater of seconds, fallowed by Storm and Jean. Cyclops was yelling into his com badge to warn the others that Wolverine had gone feral and Arc Angle held onto the young guard. Beast carefully gather Remy in his arms, tears in his eyes as he felt the skeleton he was holding. Storm removed the ball gage and cried with compassion and outrage as she tossed it away. Jean used her telepathy to find him but was not surprised at the empty barrenness of his mind.
"How long has he been like this?" Jean asked as her firery gazed fixed onto Cooper.
" Couple weeks or so…..…He…… he asked me to tell you,…….He said, he was sorry but that he had to get away." The young guard focused on the mutant's limp body, then looked away with shameful tears at what he had allowed to happen.
"We need to get him to the Blackbird,………his pulse is weak and I fear his body may have been damaged beyond repair." Beast spoke with a professional tone, but could not suppress his emotional tears.
"What should we do with him?" Arc-Angle asked as he shook the guard in his arms, his voice filled with venom.
"Leave him here,……we have no further use of him!" Betsy's tone was equally cruel.
"No!……..He assisted us in finding Gambit, if we leave him here the military will label him a traitor. We owe it to him to keep him alive, at least until we get out of here!" Cyclops decided. " M.L.F……This is Alpha Blue! We have located the captive and accomplished our mission,……Ready the air crafts, take off in five!" He ordered over the com badge.
" Alpha Blue, this is Alpha Red,……that is a negative on departure time,………Wolverine and Rouge are after the General. Other teams are MIA. Request departure time be delayed until all of M.L.F is accounted for!" Cables low, stern voice crackled with static over the com device.
"Request confirmed,…..but hurry it up!…….Gambit is in critical condition!…….All available teams head for departure point, back up for transporting Gambit to Blackbird may be needed!" Cyclops was answered back by several different voices, confirming their comprehension.
Nearly twenty minutes later, they were ready for lift off. Beast had removed the bindings on Gambit and laid him out on a stretcher with an IV and an O2 mask. Remy's eyes were half opened, dull and glazed over, like those of a dead man. His skin was pale and covered with burns, bruises and lacerations. Bishop stood guard, keeping the others back out of Henry's way, and Night Crawler was asked to look after the young guard, just in case anyone felt particularly vengeful. Each team had brought their own plane for optimum space and fighting ability in case of pursuit and an air strike. Cyclops was busy on the radio, communicating with the other team leaders as the rest of the team filed in. Rouge and Wolverine were among the last to board the jet. Logan had blood splattered all over him, and was still on the feral side. He had been escorted back to the plane by Colossus and Cannon ball, who were both invulnerable to his animalistic slashes. Colossus held him tightly as he thrashed his body, roaring like a lion trapped. Jean went about tending to his mental state while Storm and the others tried their best to console Rouge who was desperate to see her retrieved lover.
"Rouge, please calm down!" Pyslock spoke calmly, but held her distressed team mate at arms length with a psychic restraint.
"DON'T YA TELL ME TAH CALM DOWN!……REMY, REMY!….WHERE IS HE? LET ME SEE HIM!" Her eyes were frantic and her voice pleading as tears streaked down her cheeks.
"We have him Rouge but he needs medical attention. You can see him when……." Bobby was cut off by her panicked cry.
"WHY? WHATS WRONG WITH HIM?…….IS HE OK?……..OH, PLEASE,PLEASE.PLEASE, GOD, PLEASE!" She began to sob and fought harder to see him. "Let me go!……..REMY?…..REMY!" She cried in distress.
"By the Goddess child!" Storm smacked Rouge hard across the face, silencing the young women. Rouge's jaw dropped as she looked at Ororo in shock. Storm too was crying as she wrapped her arms around Rouge embracing her in a hug. "I too am concerned for Remy, but we must remain calm……..We must be strong." She sobbed, tightening her grasp on the southern bell. Rouge returned the hug and held Storm as they let their tears rain on each other's shoulders.
"Ah'm sorry ya'll! Ah just,…….can I just look in at em'?…….Please?……I just wanna see his face…….Just wanna know he's alive!" She pulled away, eyes pleading with a shaky voice. They looked to one another, than nodded. Bishop pulled back the curtain separating them from Hank and Remy. Rouge stepped up and stood next to Bishop, the rest peered over her shoulder.
Beast didn't seem to notice as he was fully occupied with the well being of his patient. He was preparing a needle of something and was muttering some medical gibberish. Rouge gasped as her heart sank, staring into the lifeless eyes of her lover. He's dead! That was the last thought in her mind before she passed out, falling into Arc-Angles arms. He gently sat her in one of the chairs as they all slumped into their seats, sharing silent communication though fearful eyes. The jet was in the air and moving fast as Wolverine finally regained his senses, anomalistic sounds of rage giving way to human pain and anger. Colossus at last released him as he heaved a distressed but rational sigh. Jean collapsed into her chair only to rise once more as Beast summoned her to the back, claming to need her assistance. Logan looked at his team mates then spoke in a calm, collected voice.
"Where's Gumbo?" He was answered by a hakf hearted sweep of Warren's arm in Remy's direction. Logan nodded, than looked down at the unconscious Rouge.
"What happened to her?" His voice gruff and unsympathetic.
"She saw Remy,……Couldn't take it!" Bobby's own tone was dreary at best.
"Who's blood?" Was the only thing Psylock could think to say. Logan looked down and shrugged
"Dunno..…….can't remember." He suddenly jerked his head to the side, eyes narrowing as a low growl crept out of his throat. "What the hell is he doing here!" Logan barked as he marched toward Cooper, who had remained silent in the corner, watching the mutants with a cautious curiosity. He sprang to his feet, eyes wide as Wolverine stalked up to him with a menacing, hatful glare in his eyes.
"Mein Frude!……Surly there has been enough blood spilt on Remy's behalf for today!" Kurt stood between his team mate and Cooper, arms outstretched defensively.
"Out of my way elf!…….I got me some questions that this punk's got answers for!" He growled again, unleashing his claws that cause Cooper to flinch.
"Wolverine!………..Back down!……He'll answer our questions with out your threats!………He's cooperated so far, I don't doubt he will continue!" Cyclops left the plane on auto pilot as he approached the men, his tone questioning Cooper as he lay a hand on Logan's shoulder. The young guard swallowed hard then nodded.
"Good……..Now for starters,…….Why did you help us?" Scott sat down and leaned forward intently. They each locked their gaze on the soldier, eyes analyzing his every breath.
"I……..I wanted to help him,……….Gambit, I mean. I tried to help him before, but I didn't know how." He said in a shaky voice.
"If ya wanted to help him so bad, then why didn't you let him escape, instead of letting yer damn General beat em' like a dog?!" Wolverine could hardly suppress his anger. Cooper opened his mouth to speak, then hung his head in shame.
"I…I tried to protect him, tried to ease his pain…….But there wasn't much I could do……He said thank you once, when I bandaged his writs. That was right before the General found out he was the one who hacked into the mission files and warned all the muties,……I mean mutants……….He almost killed him,………..I think it would have been better if he did." Cooper mumbled softly. Wolverine was about to erupt in anger when Storm beat him to it. She flew at him, pinning him against the wall. Eyes white, hair filled with static. Cooper's heart was racing as he felt the electricity running through the weather goddess.
"How dare you say such a thing!………..You have no right to decide the worth of his life………Gambit is a strong, and proud man who has lived though night mares you can't even imagine, and still he treasures life!………Do not think for one moment that he is as weak as you!.…If the roles had been switched, have no doubt that Gambit would have risked his life to help you, or any one else…….A life that is worth ten times your own!" Her voice was cold and bitter and regal. She spoke quietly with hushed anger and when she was done, her hair settled, her eyes cleared and her steady voice broke into a soft sob as she folded into the strong arms of Wolverine, who held her with compassion. It was then that Copper realized that these mutants were more then team mates or even friends, they were a family, and loved each other the way humans did. For the first time he saw them as people instead of some weird hybrid of man. He recognized their love and understood their anguish and pain. More now then ever he felt shame heavy on his shoulders, and wanted desperately to right his wrongs.
"You gonna answer our questions kid?" Logan growled.
"What do you want to know?" He lifted his head and spoke softly as he gazed into their eyes.