We were falling.

Hank leaped over to one of the pieces of machinery I had noticed earlier. He dug his claws deep into a metal panel and—with a grunt—tore it off. He immediately pulled some cables from his backpack and plugged them into the now-exposed equipment. "Cyclops, this is Beast. We have a problem."

"I noticed," came the terse reply.

"The Helicarrier was being powered by the mutant we had come to retrieve. She's gone now—"

"Gone?"

Hank's eyes flickered towards mine for a moment. "We'll explain later. I've found an emergency backup antigravity generator. I don't think there's a way to restart the rotors, but I'm going to be able to slow our descent while the power in my backpack lasts."

"Couldn't we just get the hell out of Dodge?" I asked him. "We do have a pretty fast jet parked outside."

"We're over a populated area, mon ami," Gambit told me. "We do nothing and thousands of people will die. Not exactly the heroic thing, no?"

"No, I guess not."

You can leave them, Kyle. The Eye will transport you to safety. Leave these fools to their fate. We have other matters.

That was the Lady, of course. As compassionate as ever.

Of course the big problem with that was that I was indirectly the reason the Helicarrier was falling. The X-Men weren't cleaning up their mess- - it was mine.

There was a heavy metallic thud that nearly knocked us off our feet.

"Hank, I've attached towing cables. I'll try to pull the Helicarrier out to sea before she goes down. Hang on there as long as you can. Once we're safely over water we'll evacuate your team."

"I don't think the anti-gravity generators will last that long, but we must make the effort, Cyke. It's a pity that Storm is out of the country right now. A good hurricane or two would come in quite handy right now."

"Ah reckon that's my cue, boys," Rogue drawled. "Ah'll help Cyke push this big hunk of metal out to sea." She looked over at Gambit and then over at me. "You two be ready to get out when you can, y'heah?"

"Be careful, ma Cherie. Remy does not want to lose you."

"What he said—except without the Cajun accent," I told her. I was thinking … "Remy, you know the layout of this thing. I need you to get me to the top deck."

Rogue took to the air and flew out of the room. Gambit's eyes never left her even while he said, "Gambit can do this, mon ami. What do you have in mind?"

"You'll see." If I had the strength. "Hank, tell Cyclops to keep an eye out."

"For what?"

"Believe me; he'll know it when he sees it. C'mon, Remy. We have to hurry."

We ran. We climbed stairs and ran some more.

Finally, we were at the very top deck of the Helicarrier—the one that led outside.

"Remy can you open the airlock?"

"But of course, mon ami!" He tossed a handful of glowing cards at the door and the door was blown off its hinges.

]

"I thought you'd pick the lock!" I yelled at him as we were nearly pulled outside.

"If it's worth doing, it's worth doing with style, mon ami!" Gambit flashed a grin at me.

"Hold that thought."

"Kyle … what are you doing?"

"Going outside."

"That's not a good idea, mon ami. The winds will tear you off the deck."

"I've got it covered." I hope. "I'll use levitation to keep me anchored to the deck."

"Kyle, I don't like this…"

"Me either. But you heard Hank. We aren't going to get this thing to the ocean before it crashes."

I stepped out onto the deck …

And was nearly blown off before I managed to "latch" onto the deck … effectively gripping onto the smooth metal with a mental "handhold."

Kyle, what are you doing?

"You said use the Eye. I'm using the Eye."

Not like this, you fool!

"Eye of Agamotto!"

The Eye opened and sent its astral counterpart out in front of the Helicarrier.

It opened wide enough to admit a man into an odd looking realm of colors and images that you'd have to see to believe.

"Eye of Agamotto!"

The opening grew larger. Now it would have admitted a house.

My nose began to bleed.

You don't have the power for this, Kyle. You'll kill yourself trying. Use the Eye to escape!

I couldn't escape.

This was my doing. My fault. I couldn't leave the X-Men to attempt to make it right.

"EYE OF AGAMOTTO!"

The opening grew larger yet … FINALLY big enough to admit the Helicarrier.

I could barely see now … my own eyes were bleeding.

I couldn't maintain the Eye and my levitation … I felt myself sliding … sliding …

"I told you this was a bad idea, mon ami!"

Gambit.

He had come out to get me.

He had wedged his staff into a slight indentation on the deck and was holding onto me with his free hand. "This had better work quickly, Kyle. I don't think I can keep us here long."

"Tell Cyclops to hurry!" I gasped. "I don't know how much longer …"

My chest hurt.

I started to cough up blood.

"Kyle!" Gambit shouted in my ear. "This is too much for you! Let it go! We'll find another way!"

"No. No time. Just tell Cyclops to hurry …"

You fool! I did not raise you up to see you die this way!

It felt like my brain was trying to squeeze itself out of my ears.

The Helicarrier began to slide into the warp made by the Eye …

"Good job, X-Men!" Cyclops shouted over the radio. "Rogue, pick them up before the whole thing goes!"

"On my way to the rendezvous point!" Hank radioed.

"Ah'm coming, boys! Hang on!"

"We're doing our best, Cherie. But I suggest you hurry. Kyle is not in a good way … Kyle! Kyle! You still with me, mon ami?"

"I think so … for a little longer at least …"

My heart hurt.

I could barely breathe.

My eyes were too bloody to see out of.

Breathing was such a very hard thing to do …

I felt the chill of the Eye now … I did not think we wanted to be on the Helicarrier when it went wherever the Eye was sending it …

But I did not let the Eye close … I could not let the Eye close.

Strong blue furred arms joined Gambit's and wrapped themselves around me.

"Give him to me, Remy."

"He be my friend, Henri. He my burden to bear!"

"I can carry him much easier, Remy. We have to get off this ship. You're nearly as fast and agile as I am, but you can't possibly carry him to safety. You'll both die. Let him go, Remy!"

"Let me go …" I echoed …

Just a little longer.

Just a little longer and I wouldn't have to fight any more. I could let go … let the darkness take me…

"Do not drop him, Henri. Gambit counting on you."

I felt Remy let go of me.

"Rogue!" He called out suddenly. "We need you, ma Cherie!"

I had a vague feeling that Remy and Hank were moving now … running and jumping over the top of the Helicarrier as it was swallowed by the Eye.

"Ah have to make sure that the Helicarrier doesn't break apart, Remy! Ah'll be there as soon as Ah can. How's Kyle."

"He … not good, Cherie."

"Not good …" I whispered.

Kyle, you cannot leave me now You cannot die when we are so close. You must not fail me now …

"Not my day for making the ladies happy," I whispered to myself.

Then … there was the sickening sensation of there being nothing beneath us … Hank and Remy literally jumped off the Helicarrier.

We were falling …

"The ship …"

"It's gone, mon ami! It's through the Eye! Stop now!"

I closed my eyes … and the Eye.

I wanted to stay awake. I wanted to know if Rogue was going to be able to catch us before we fell too far, too fast …

But I couldn't.

Blood red darkness had come for me, and I had nothing left within me to fight it.

I had nothing left.

The darkness swallowed me whole and I knew nothing more.