Chapter 5

Reapers landed on the Hospital Deck, quickly gaining the attention of all the Rogues and Swapped Gambit, who were still sitting there by the side of their loved ones. Each Reaper moved to the bedside of one of the comatose patients.

"What's going on?"

Little streams of red appeared, starting from the chest of each Reaper. The streams burst with absorbed life force, and flowed into the chests of each of their respective patients.

"What are you doing?"

Eyes began to open. The streams ceased, and each patient received a quick, telepathic info dump about where they were and what in the world they were doing here. Then each of the Reapers flew off to return to their patrols, and other tasks they had assigned themselves.

The formerly comatose sat up slowly one by one, their gaze turned to their soulmates.

"Roguey?" Nightmare Gambit asked, trying to process the info dump he got while also trying to take in that Nightmare Rogue looked different, a little older, than she had a moment ago.

"The condom broke," Nightmare Rogue replied, tears starting to prick at her eyes. "It's been six years."

"What?" He exclaimed.

"We have so much to talk about, but right now, I'm just glad you're awake."

The next bed over, Swapped Rogue grabbed Swapped Gambit's hands. "Did, did we stop it? Stupid question. The universe ended. That stopped it."

"You were in a coma for two days before the universe ended," Swapped Gambit replied gently. "We stopped it before the universe did."

She nodded. "Okay, okay, good. Good." She hugged him. "Good."

While the couples were reunited, Reaper Prime turned to Amalgam Prime and Witness Prime, who were observing the whole thing.

"Alright, next we need to track down the white bands who were hospitalised," Reaper Prime said. "Their universes can't pick up where they left off, because people who should've been hurt aren't any more. We'll need to do damage control." She frowned. "Might have to wait until after they reinstated the bonding before doing anything, but we can at least communicate it to them."

"We can track everyone down easily enough," Witness Prime said. "We are on every deck."

Reaper nodded. "I suppose that hivemind you have going comes in useful."

"It does, though it doesn't work the same way it used to."

"Do they need any damage control?" Amalgam Prime asked, gesturing to the newly awakened before them. "They have woken up before their time."

"But, they've woken up, and they were all expected to wake up sooner or later, preferably sooner," Reaper Prime replied. "That's completely different to suddenly being healed in the middle of a battle."

"Ah, yes, we understand. I expect that you will also want to address the former Horsemen?"

"Former…" Reaper Prime's eyes narrowed and her voice grew tight, "Horsemen?"

"Yes. There were several Gambits who were Death, and a few Rogues who were Famine. One of your otherselves took the liberty of redeeming them," Amalgam Prime replied. "We understand that they are most grateful."

"Ah. Yes," Reaper Prime nodded. "We will have to do, hmm, not damage control, adjustments for them too." She looked again at Witness Prime. "I think a hivemind is a very good idea."


Pirate Legend Rogue jumped over the bar at the Longev Hangout Deck and refilled her mug of ale. As she waited for it to fill up, she looked across the deck, trying to spot any Gambits she hadn't spoken to yet, who didn't already look taken. Almost everyone here had black armbands. Those with white armbands were likely busy 'bonding' elsewhere. Certainly, Pirate Legend Rogue didn't see any of the other pirate or privateer Rogues or Gambits here. Most of them all had white armbands.

Her eyes landed on a Gambit sitting alone at the edge of the rim. She studied him for a moment, then grabbed a second mug and filled that too. Finally, she swaggered over to the lone Gambit and dropped the second mug of ale on the table in front of him. AIB Gambit looked up at her as she sat down across from him.

"Ahoy matey," she greeted him, and he couldn't help but crack a smile. "What ye be doing, sitting here all alone?"

"Oh, just thinking deep thoughts about bonding with another Rogue and recreating the universe." He gave a shrug. "What it all means."

"Can't recreate the universe. Maybe the white bands can, but we black bands can't," Pirate Legend Rogue replied. "We can only be creating something new, and I intend to create the most interesting universe I can." She took a swig of her ale.

AIB Gambit raised his eyebrows, then smiled. "Oui, you're probably right. Something new." He looked towards another couple that appeared young who were chatting away in the bar.

Pirate Legend Rogue followed his gaze.

"They be friends o' yours?" she asked, almost mockingly.

"They both came from the same kind of universe as me. In fact he lost his Rogue the same way I lost mine, so we probably come from the same split, in that regard," AIB Gambit replied softly. "They figured out that their universes were shut down roughly at about the same point in the timeline. So, yeah, they're bonding and I guess their universe will pick up more or less where they left off."

"Timeline wise, aye," Pirate Legend Rogue said. "But he be dead in hers, and she be dead in his. One way or another, those deaths, their original history, will need to be rewritten."

"Yeah, that's what I've been thinking about."

"And how exactly did ye lose your Rogue?"

AIB Gambit picked up the mug of ale. "She was killed by a virus that was designed by people who wanted to exterminate mutants. We had a flirty friendship for about a decade, then she died in the most dramatic way possible. Let's just say the virus caused power control loss, and she had a lot of powers. It also happened a very, very long time ago. I gave up on ever…" he trailed off, and drank.

"I don't think I ever met my Remy, or if I did, it were only in passing," Pirate Legend Rogue replied. "The LeBeau fleet was defeated and thoroughly sunk by the Boudreaux fleet."

"Wow, Bordreaux. Now there's a name I haven't heard in awhile."

Pirate Legend Rogue leaned across the table. "So, what be your universe like?"

AIB Gambit gave a shrug. "Well, we're exploring and colonising space, and involved in an interstellar war."

She frowned. "And how be this, travelling through space be working? Ye have ships?"

"Oh sure, plenty of different sizes depending on need. I have a ship. Its small, fast, and light. I am a thief after all, and it's good for smuggling."

"Ah ha! Now we be talking," Pirate Legend Rogue said gleefully. "I've sailed the seas of Earth so long, I know 'em better than the back of me hand. I've been longing for some new waters to raid."

AIB Gambit chuckled softly. "Spaceships are a lot different from sailing ships."

"That's to be expected." Then she frowned. "How much different?"

"Quite a lot. I think some Rogues were building one on the Workshop Deck if you wanted to check it out."

"I think that sounds like a fine idea," she replied, and the look she gave him heavily implied the idea wasn't the only things she thought was fine. "So, what would ye like to know about me?"

He thought for a moment. "Got any family?"

"Oh sure. Me mother, is still very much alive, she got into the Fountain of Youth, same as me," Pirate Legend Rogue replied. "So did me three kids."

"Married?"

"No. I thought about it from time to time, but never found…" and for the first time all conversation she looked sad. "Well, I guess we already know why I never did find the right person."

"Yeah, I've five kids, four different mothers. Only married one of them. We divorced later on. It was just a marriage of convenience. I love all my kids though." AIB Gambit frowned. "I hope they'll still be in the new universe. I wouldn't wish them out of existence."

"They already no longer exist," Pirate Legend Rogue pointed out. "As do mine."

AIB Gambit was silent.

"I would like to have them in my new life too," she said.

"Yeah… So, how do you think we would've navigated that? You and me, having kids with other people?" AIB Gambit asked. "You know, in this new universe we're going to be creating?"

"Arr, no so fast. I haven't even seen what these spaceships of yours are like yet," Pirate Legend Rogue said, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"Well then." AIB Gambit skulled the rest of his ale and slammed the mug back down on the table. "Shall we?"

She grinned at him and finished her own ale. "I be delighted. You know," she said as they stood. "I be thinking our history involves us doing a lot of dancing around each other. Maybe we even start off as enemies."

"We could. The Thieves Guild gets their long life from the Elixir of Life, not this Fountain of Youth," AIB Gambit frowned. "We'd be really interested in getting our hands on the Fountain of Youth if it means we get out of Candra's thumb."

"Candra? Ye be involved with that sea witch?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Arr, I think she be dead now, well, she definitely be dead now," Pirate Legend Rogue said as they walked towards the Workshop deck. "She did plague us for sometime."

"I'd love it if she'd stop plaguing me."


"There!" Steampunk Rogue said as she made the final tweak to the new arm she'd made for Irony Rogue. "Done."

Irony Rogue flexed her new steampunk arm: all metal with pipes and valves, cogs and dials all over the place. It responded easily to her, just as easily as her original arm might have. "This is incredible. Thank you so much."

"I know. You're welcome." Steampunk Rogue gave her a smile. "Now, went you want to fire it—"

"Fire?"

"Obviously, there's a built in gun."

"Oh of course."

"Nozzle is here." Steampunk Rogue indicated the middle of the palm. "Now, because the future is so uncertain and that makes acquisition of correct ammo questionable, I've made it an lightning gun. It's going to have a limited amount of shots, but it's still going to pack a punch if you decide to go hand to hand. Also," She indicated a switch on the side. "This is for power control. Mutation power, I mean."

Irony Rogue blinked, looked at the switch, then back at Steampunk Rogue. "As in, does that… Are you saying I'll be able to turn my absorption off if the Cure wears off and my powers come back?"

"That's absolutely what I'm saying," Steampunk Rogue replied and touched the choker around her neck. "I have a power dampener myself."

"Oh!"

"Mind you," Steampunk Rogue went on with a frown. "I don't know how technology works in your universe, so I can't guarantee this won't become a paperweight in your new universe. If you get one."

"You don't think I will?"

Steampunk Rogue shrugged. "I couldn't say, sugar. I only know I don't want one. I want to explore the multliverse. More than that, though, I had a good long happy marriage with my Remy, and I have no desire to replace him."

Irony Rogue nodded. Her eyes flickered over to her new friend, Steampunk Gambit, who was chatting with a couple of the other visiting Rogues and Gambit nearby.

"I was in a serious relationship with my Remy. We weren't at the marriage stage yet by any means, but I think it was ultimately going to go that way," Irony Rogue said. "I don't think I'm ready to move on with anyone. And moving on with another Remy just seems, I don't know, weird. Strange. Like hooking up with his twin brother or something."

Steampunk Rogue followed Irony Rogue's gaze, smiled towards Steampunk Gambit, and then looked back at Irony Rogue.

"We all deal with grief in our own time, and in our own way," Steampunk Rogue said. "As long as it's not taking over your life, it's fine. You take the time you need, and don't let any of the busybodies around here pressure you into bonding with anyone on their timetable."

Irony Rogue smiled. "I won't."

"You're also welcome to join me on Zenith's Majesty," Steampunk Rogue went on, with a happy smile towards her airship, then a frown. "If I don't get enough crew, I may have to redesign her so she can be flown with less people."

"I'd be happy to lend a hand," Irony Rogue replied, and lifted her new prosthetic arm, "or two."

Steampunk Rogue grinned at her. "I'd be glad to have it."


The Concert Deck had settled into something a little calmer. The musically inclined Rogues and Gambits with white armabands had paired off and were performing duets or serenading each other. Some who had been there before had left, but others were arriving on the deck to enjoy some live music and slow dancing.

As those with white armbands began to get closer together, their armbands started to turn gold.

Rockstar Gambit was with a group of other Rogues and Gambits from the same universe type who also had black armbands. They were off to the side, talking, comparing notes, trying to figure out the optimal way to pair off. A Reaper was with them to help and answer questions. Rockstar Gambit figured out pretty quickly that, while the numbers of Rogues and Gambits amongst them were even, they weren't even across all life stages. People would either have to look outside of their universe type for partners, or accept age gaps.

He found himself regularly disconnecting from the group and looking over at Hatred Rogue.

Hatred Rogue was the only one sitting alone on the deck. Not for the first time, Rockstar Gambit found himself looking at her white armband. Part of him was disappointed she wasn't available, but a bigger part of him wondered why she wasn't seeking out her Gambit. Surely she wanted to get back to a universe? This place was fun and all, but it wasn't living.

Rockstar Gambit forced himself to tune back into the conversation at hand just as the Reaper started answering:

"It's like conceiving a baby. You all have the DNA, if you will, of your original universe. Couples with white bands will be able to pick up where they left off, more or less. Obviously, they have experienced being here. Whether they remember that as fact or as a dream, or even at all, remains to be seen. With you black bands, well, the greater the differences there are in your universes, the more flexibility there is for change. We are learning too. What understanding we Reapers have is theory granted to us from the node and from our absorption of the M'Kraan Crystal of our own world. In practice, we can't make any promises that any couples from universes that are too far apart will make a lot of sense," she said, then shrugged. "On the other hand, perhaps it will turn out that universe DNA that is very different will create a healthier new universe than universe DNA that's closer together."

"Ah, is this a kissing cousins situation?" one of the other Gambits asked, only half joking.

"If that's the case, what does that make the white bands?" asked another.

Rockstar Gambit was distracted from incest jokes by the arrival of a lone Gambit on the Concert Deck. The new arrival began looking around the deck, obviously looking for someone, then stopped when he saw Hatred Rogue. Hatred Rogue in turn, noticed his attention, and stiffened as he approached her. Rockstar Gambit's gaze shifted to the white band around his arm, and realised in that moment that this Gambit was Hatred Rogue's soulmate.

This guy was old enough to be her father. Things started to make sense to Rockstar Gambit.

He watched as Hatred Rogue shook her head and waved her hands in a very decisive "no, absolutely not" fashion as she stood. Hatred Gambit looked apologetic. His shoulders were slumped and his face was downcast.

Rockstar Gambit wished he could hear what they were saying to each other, even more so when Hatred Rogue started going into some sort of rant. She waved her hands around and pointed at him, and Hatred Gambit seemed to become smaller and smaller which every motion. His responses to her were short, pleading.

Finally, Hatred Rogue heaved a big sigh and rubbed her forehead. Whatever she said next caused Hatred Gambit to just look defeated, and shake his head. The two looked at each other silently for a moment, then Hatred Rogue reached out her hand and took his. She spoke more to him. He nodded, replied, and just looked sad. A mischievous expression crossed her face as she spoke next, and he cracked a smile before replying, and finally letting go of her hand and stepping back.

In that moment, their white armbands transformed from a plain, single colour, to a back and white chequerboard pattern. Hatred Rogue and Hatred Gambit both noticed the change to the others band, then looked down at their own. She said something, he replied, and after a moment's hesitation on her part, she hugged him. The hug was brief, and then Hatred Gambit turned and walked away.

Hatred Rogue sat back down at her table, looking at the centre of the table top.

Rockstar Gambit mumbled a half-hearted "excuse me" to the group and beelined his way to Hatred Rogue.

"Hey," he said as he sat down on the second chair. "What was that about? If you don't mind my asking."

Hatred Rogue lifted her head to meet his gaze. She seemed both happy and sad as she touched her recoloured armband.

"Closure mostly," she said as a Reaper joined them, standing at the table as there was no room. "We've agreed that the farce we were calling a relationship should stay over and neither of us really wants to go back to the status quo that was our lives in that universe. It would appear that the node is supportive of this decision."

"Fascinating," said the Reaper. "Chequerboard armbands have been appearing all over the place. Mostly on the Kids Deck."

"Well, if there's a lot of big age gaps, then that's not really a surprise, is it?" Hatred Rogue replied cynically. "My Remy might have been an asshole, but he wasn't a pedo."

"You'll get no argument from me," the Reaper replied.

"Wait, how do you know what's happening on the Kids Deck?" Rockstar Gambit replied.

"We've created a hivemind so we can share information, and help all of you as effectively as possible."

"Cool, so," Rockstar Gambit turned his attention straight back to Hatred Rogue. "You're not getting back together with your ex, then?"

"Definitely not." She gave him a coy look. "Whyever are you asking?"

"Because I find you incredibly fascinating."

"I bet you say that to all the Rogues."

Rockstar Gambit cracked a smile. "Just you so far. You're smart, and clever, and fun."

"And beautiful and witty." Hatred Rogue's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Those too. And I would be very interested, if you'd have me, in becoming your soulmate."

Hatred Rogue bit her bottom lip and he knew he'd caught her off guard with his request. She gave him a flustered smile.

"Oh, um," abruptly remembering she should say something. "I don't know, sugar. I'm an engineer, not a musician. Not sure I'd fit in with your world. And I'm not sure how I'd handle all your…fans…"

"That 'I Slept With Remy LeBeau (And Damn If I Wouldn't Do it Again)' hasn't been written in my world."

"Hasn't been written or hasn't been promoted?"

Rockstar Gambit opened his mouth to reply, then stopped and thought about it. "I don't know what the timeline is."

"Ah, so you've met the prerequisites then."

"I, well, yeah. I'm not apologising for my slut period. My last serious relationship ended with me in the hospital, and a lot of those Rogues over there are black bands because in their universe, Julien was successful in murdering me," he replied, his tone a lot more blunt than usual. "I've been afraid to try again."

Hatred Rogue nodded slowly. "I suppose that's fair. And you think you and I would have a chance?"

"Oh sure. If anything, I think our chances might actually be better than my chances would've been with the Rogue of my universe. She was in the industry too. We hardly saw each other. Long distance relationships are hard. And that's not to say that we won't have a long distance relationship too, but, well, you're studying in New Orleans," Rockstar Gambit said earnestly. "I live there, obviously, and we usually record our albums there too. I don't know what kind of engineer you are, but music industry needs engineers. Not that we have to work together, but it's an option."

"What did happen to your Rogue?"

"Murdered by an obsessed fan."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"So am I. I took it a lot harder than, well, than I thought I had any right to at the time. We were barely friends. Guess knowing she was my soulmate makes me feel a bit better about that." He was quiet for a moment, then looked at the Reaper, who was continuing to sit quietly with them. "Is it bad… I'm not trying to replace her or anything."

"That Rogue is gone," the Reaper replied gently. "Just like everyone else in your universe, she can't come back."

"But what about my memories of her? Or," Rockstar Gambit gestured to Hatred Rogue, "your memories of him?"

"I'm afraid that your memories are going to be altered. There's no way around that," the Reaper replied. "If you two are serious about bonding with each other, memories will have to be changed to align with the new status quo of the new world. If it helps, perhaps think of it as being reborn. Your original universe, your original life, is dead, you've reached the afterlife, and now you're choosing to start life anew. You're just skipping ahead a few years."

"Just a few," Hatred Rogue said with a slight smirk.

Rockstar Gambit nodded slowly. "That works, I think. I don't know. I'm having a moment of questioning whether I'm doing something completely disrespectful right now." He looked at Hatred Rogue. "But I can't help but look at you and know, just know, that life with you would never be dull."

"Sugar, I'm pretty sure that life with a rockstar would never, ever be boring. There might actually be too much drama," Hatred Rogue replied mischievously, then her smirk faded. "What are… What are the X-Men like in your universe? Ororo? Logan?"

"Oh uh, there's no X-Men, not by that name. Um, there's Xavier Records. Ororo is a music legend. The Brotherhood is a band. Um," Rockstar Gambit tried to place some of the other names that had been dropped around. "Don't know about…Oh, wait I think the Rogues hired Logan as a bodyguard."

"Oh, that's cool."

"Yeah, I think, those who make up the X-Men in your world are involved in the music industry in mine."

Hatred Rogue looked at the Reaper. "So, which version of the X-Men would exist in this new universe?" She then looked back at Rockstar Gambit. "What are human/mutant relations like?"

Rockstar Gambit looked back at her blankly. "Um, fine?"

"The merging of your universes will mix and match elements of both," the Reaper replied. "Once the bonding between you has started, we can make modifications. At this point, we can only promise generalisations rather than specifics. Our primary goal is to prevent, uh, logical inconsistencies, which is something we're nervous about in combining universes that are too different. We don't want any universes to end up destroying themselves because they mixed science and magic in a conflicting way. Our secondary goal," and she smiled at them both, "is to make sure that you at least start off happy."

"Start happy?" Hatred Rogue repeated with a frown.

"Oh the first time anyone makes an important decision in the new universe, it'll start splitting. Probably within the first second of existence. We can't control anyone's happiness after that point. The best we can do is stack the deck."

"I suppose that's fair."


Reaper Junior and New Sun Junior touched down on the Kids Deck. The moment they landed, a band of little kids came running towards him.

"New Sun! Tackle him!" yelled several little Remys.

New Sun Junior found himself immediately pounced on by the kids. Reaper Junior giggled at the sight, while also scanning the armbands of the jumble of kids. All of them were black or chequerboard with varying degrees of gold at the top. At least she didn't have to worry about any of them bonding with New Sun Junior. That would get real awkward real fast.

Reaper Junior took in the new universe designations that were replacing the original ones on the armbands and cross-checked them with the mental list the Reaper Hivemind was creating. There were many other Reapers on the Kids Deck, all running around, trying to do damage control. The kids had been so busy playing with each other and having fun, that they'd starting bonding and forging new soulmate bonds long before any adults had. The kids didn't care about who was from what universe, so this was making for some strange combinations.

Having located a universe designation that wasn't on the list, Reaper Junior called up the power of the M'Kraan Crystal and locked into the Remy and Anna Marie pair the new designation belonged to. She immediately blanched, wondering how in the world she was going to make sense of a Remy who was from a renaissance type high magic universe and an Anna Marie who was from a Sentinel dominated dystopia.

Her eyes glowed bright red as the power flowed into the two kids, who were having far too much fun grappling New Sun Junior to notice or care. Reaper Junior located the similarities between their worlds and used that as a starting point. A low tech, high magic world. A rivalry formed between learned magic users and natural magic users, with mutation seen as a form of natural magic. The Sentinels became arcano tech from a bygone era.

Reaper Junior gave an instinctive gasp as she let go. She added their universe designation to the mental list and hoped it would be enough to ensure a stable universe. She steeled herself and looked for the next pair.

A part of the Kids Deck was dedicated to the nursery, where all the babies and toddlers too young to participate in the other activities were occupied. Amalgams and Witnesses were busy figuring out appropriate pairings amongst the little ones, as well as spending time with them. The node could provide all their needs except socialisation, but since it was through socialisation that bonds were forged, they needed to be careful. They were now keeping all the little Rogues and all the little Remys separate from each other, until pairings were decided. Then they put each pair in their own little crib or playpen.

There were very few kids in the main play area who weren't already paired up. They were running around so much, having an awesome time, that super powers were the only way the Reapers could keep up with them. There was no point waiting for the kids to tire themselves out: that would never happen here.

Reaper Junior felt a tug on her cloak and looked down to see Sugah and X-Baby Gambit looking up at her, hand in hand. Their armbands had a thin strip of white along the bottom, but was mostly gold.

"Hi," Reaper Junior said.

"Hi," Sugah replied. "I think we're going to be going soon."

"Yes," Reaper Junior said as the gold continue to grow at a slow, but still noticeable pace. "I think you will be too."

Sugah and X-Baby Gambit immediately hugged her legs.

"T'anks for all the help!" X-Baby Gambit said.

"Yeah, thanks for getting rid of all the mean New Suns," Sugah said agreeably.

"You're welcome," Reaper Junior replied. "Good luck in your new, well, actually you two are going back to your original universe, aren't you?"

"Yeah," Sugah said as she and X-Baby Gambit pulled back from hugging her.

"We're all ready to kick Mojo butt," X-Baby Gambit said decisively.

Reaper Junior grinned. "I'm sure you'll do great."

"We will!" Sugah said, and then looked at New Sun Junior, who was lying at the bottom of a child pile on his stomach, just looking resigned at being squished. "Bye New Sun!"

"Bye! Have fun," New Sun Junior replied with a wave. "Don't accept any wooden nickels."

They giggled as the last few white threads turned gold, and they vanished into golden light.


The Mojoverse

Sugah and Gambit woke from their naps, both feeling very refreshed. Around them were their other X-Baby friends, all waking up from their naps as well.

"I had the best dream last night," Gambit said. "I got to play on a giant playground in space, and there was a bouncy castle as big as a real castle."

"I had that dream too!" Sugah said excitedly. "I got to bounce so high! It was awesome!"

"Aww," said Psychilde, with a pout. "I wanna bounce on the lifesize bouncy castle. No fair."

An alarm blared before anyone else could chime in.

"It's Mojo!" Cyke exclaimed. "He's found us! Baby the battle stations!"

"Yeah!" Wolvie shouted, running for the weapons console on their spaceship. "I'm gonna fire the torpedoes!"

"Yeah, and I'm gonna charge 'em up first," Gambit said gleefully, running for the torpedo bay.

"Me too," Sugah declared, running with him. "I'm gonna help."

"Okay!" He flashed a smile at her as he opened up the hatch, and they climbed down into the torpedo bay. Mojo was gonna get it this time.