Chapter 5

An incoming message had just arrived, its notification sound breaking the silence of his study room. Nathaniel Essex, with a practiced hand, swiftly decrypted the data. As the message loaded, an evil smile crept across his face. Without wasting a moment, he reached for the phone and called Bastion, asking him to login so they could communicate through a more secure method. It turned out Bastion had excellent news to share, news that Essex had been eagerly anticipating for weeks. He was ready, all of the smallest details were prepared, all that was left was an opportunity to present itself.

The information he had just received seemed almost too good to be true. The location, the event, the mutants present, it was almost poetic. That got him so excited, he logged in to his PC as quickly as he could because he needed to learn all the details. They established connection in a few moments and were able to exchange words in order to plan the X-Men's upcoming demise.

"Mr. Sinister, always a pleasure to collaborate with you. As you probably know now, I have crucial information regarding our mutual interest. Your Remy LeBeau will be attending a high-profile gala in Genosha," Bastion said, cutting to the chase. Essex wasn't particularly pleased with his usage of a possessive pronoun to refer to Remy LeBeau as his, but decided not to make a big deal out of it.

He leaned forward, looking intrigued, not caring to play games and hide how interested he was in the deal they had made and how the day they would annihilate the X-Men was coming to them sooner than anticipated.

"Interesting. And what brings you this information, Bastion?"

"I've already infiltrated the event's security network. Genosha's leadership has done a sloppy job of protecting their communication channels, and I've tapped into their systems. I can guarantee to you that Gambit's presence is confirmed."

"Perfect. This gala could be the ideal moment for our plans. What are you suggesting?"

"Given the security and the number of influential mutants attending, it will be the perfect cover for a discreet operation. You can use this opportunity to replace Gambit with the clone you've meticulously crafted. I myself might have other things in store for them."

Nathaniel Essex paid no mind to the last piece of information, all he extracted from what Bastion said was that it was time to test his newest device, making it fully operational for the first time. Remy LeBeau's clone was about to download his prime copy's emotions, feelings and knowledge just by being close to him. Sinister was eager to know how that was going to play out. And more than anything else, he was his creation to be successful this time. He was finally going to break the X-Men team from inside out. Madelyne Pryor was just a childish draft, his brand new clone was perfection. He was not going to develop new feelings, he would have all he needed in the back of his mind and Sinister would still get to manipulate him as he pleased, given the chance.

"Ah, yes. My masterpiece. The clone is ready and awaiting deployment. How do you propose we execute the switch without arousing suspicion?"

"I'll handle the logistics. I have machine eyes everywhere, I'll be watching his every step and I'll let you know when to approach him. Something tells me he will have his heart broken by that skank mutant of his and it will be easy to approach him, then."

"A heartbreak, you say? Intriguing. How can you predict that? Oh, I know, you and your machines, eyes everywhere. I don't want or need to know the details, all I know is that we can use the chaos in his life, and we can use his moment of weakness to replace Gambit seamlessly. You've thought this through, I appreciate that."

"Of course. It's imperative that we proceed with precision. Once the clone is in place, we can begin the next phase of our plan."

"Very well. I shall make the necessary preparations, prepare our trip. Ensure your agents are ready and the fallout is flawlessly timed. We cannot afford any mistakes."

"Understood. By this time tomorrow, Remy LeBeau will be out of the picture, and our plans will move forward unhindered. And you, you can do whatever you want to do to him," Bastion stated, moving on his seat, impatient to go back to work on his own plans.

"Excellent. I look forward to seeing our hard work come to fruition. Until then, Bastion."

"Until then, Sinister," Bastion said, closing the connection on his side.

Sinister stood up and walked in circles in his lab for a while, his mind roaming excitedly with all the possibilities that lay ahead. All afternoon, he busied himself with extracting Remy LeBeau's clone from the tank where he was being kept, preparing him to fulfill his duty. It didn't take long for him to have the flawless replica of Gambit lying motionless on the cold metal table in the center of the room. The clone's chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Essex's long fingers, gloved in latex, hovered just above the clone's face, almost reverent in their anticipation.

"Finally," he murmured to himself, a wicked smile curling his lips. "A perfect specimen, one that is better than its source material, in his full glory and holding his fully matured powers, ready to replace the original. With this new Remy, I will control not just his powers, but his very essence. The original will be obsolete, might as well be exterminated or better even experimented on, and my plans will advance unhindered," he said, speaking to himself, exuding mad scientist vibes.

The future, it seemed, lay in the hands of this creation, a testament to Mr. Sinister's unyielding ambition and twisted genius. Making the X-Men's lives harder had become his whole purpose for living these days.

-o0o-

As soon as the three friends met, Kurt self-proclaimed their tour guide and ltook the pretty couple on a walk around the downtown area where most of the festivities and celebrations were taking place and would continue all day long. Genosha was a recognized nation now, a mutant nation, everyone in the island was ecstatic and the positive vibes all around them were infectious. It was virtually impossible to remain unaffected by the vibrant atmosphere.

Remy LeBeau, however, still managed to watch it all unfold with careful and trained eyes. No one could blame him for that, though. He had been incarcerated and enslaved in that very same place. It was hard to let it all go and believe that all that hatred that led humans to treat them like second class citizens had just evaporated into thin air. If there was one thing he had learned being born and raised in the Big Easy is that if something is too good to be true, then it probably is.

Kurt eagerly explained everything to them, introducing them to a few people along the way, while Rogue and Gambit walked hand in hand, following their guide. Rogue was captivated by all she saw, her heart brimming with joy. This was everything they had ever dreamed of—Charles Xavier's vision brought to life. It was precious, and she could already see herself doing anything within her power to ensure the continuity and prosperity of this place. Remy couldn't help but smile at her; it was a relief to see her in such good spirits. It had been a while since he'd seen her so alive. The last time might have been that afternoon when they were playing basketball, just before Magneto arrived and ruined everything.

As they passed through a bustling market square, Remy's sharp eyes caught sight of a street performer expertly shuffling a deck of cards, his hands moving with a familiar grace. He had a little audience around him at this point. Intrigued, Remy slowed his pace, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"Now, this is something I gotta see," he said, stepping closer to the performer, joining the other onlookers. "Would you mind if I check out this homme, mes amis?"

"You just go and have some fun, Swamp Rat," Rogue replied, giving him a playful little slap on his ass as he moved away from her.

He looked back at her over his shoulder and blew her a kiss, a small, foolish gesture that made her heart sing with joy, and her cheeks blush a little.

With a flourish, the performer made a card disappear, only to pull it out from behind a spectator's ear. Remy watched intently, spotting the other mutant's quick trick, his fingers itching to join in. When the performer noticed him, his eyes went wide, as he seemed to recognize him. Remy couldn't resist and decided to take the opportunity.

"Mind if I try my hand?" he asked, reaching for the deck with the confidence of a master.

"If that isn't the famous X-Men Gambit, who surely knows a thing or two about cards. I'm a fan," the performer revealed. "Please, do join."

"Wooo, I'm about to make a name for myself here," Remy said, flexing his hands and fingers and sporting a wide grin. The mutants around them started clapping, wide smiles plastered on their faces. Remy's charisma and charm were irresistible, he had everyone's eyes glued at him. Rogue was thinking how she had never met anyone quite like him. There was this invisible aura around him, no one could see it, but they could feel it and that made him instantly likeable. Jubilee might be the one who makes the sparkles, but it was Gambit who made any room light up.

The performer handed over the cards, and the crowd leaned in, eager to see what this famous X-Man could do with a deck of cards. He started showing off, shuffling cards in all kinds of way, applying his power into them, alternating intensity for an incredible visual effect. The on and off magenta glow was so beautiful, one couldn't look away. Rogue too was thrilled, and she saw him doing that all the time. She stood there, her striking green eyes glowing with warmth as she watched Remy with a soft, beautiful smile that lit up her whole face. Kurt smiled sincerely as he noticed the tenderness in her expression, a blend of admiration and affection, as she saw the playful confidence in Remy's every move.,

"So, have you told him you love him already?"

Her brother's question startled her, he caught her off guard. She usually went into that sort of conversation armed to the teeth. It was incredible how he could read her like a book even though they were complete strangers until a few years back. They bonded quickly when they learned that both shared the same burden and trauma of having Mystique as their mother. She was adopted, he was her flesh and blood. She had her love, he didn't. Saying it was all very complicated was an understatement. But the good that came out of it all was that they became close and knew they could lean on each other as needed. She stuttered, and in the end nothing came out.

"So?"

"I never told you I love him, not with all the proper words," she said.

"As if I needed that. You are basically drooling just watching playing with his cards," he offered with a chuckle.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Oui, mon chére," he joked. "The way you two look at each other, love shining through in every glance. Besides, he's the only person who makes you smile like that."

"Like what?"

"Like a fool in love."

"Because that's probably what I am. Have you seen this guy? Sugar, he's like, the most handsome man I know, for sure. And he treats me like a princess. I keep bracing myself for when he finally realizes I'm not worth of his time."

"Oh, but you are. I can't help but agonize a little, being around you two and knowing you two are not officially together, meine schwester. What's stopping you, Marie?"

Kurt was one of the few people who knew her name. Hearing him call her that sent the message he was trying to transmit even closer to home.

"Just watch him, Kurt. Look how beautiful he is, how he captivates everyone around him. How in the world could I have him shackled to me? Me the stupid one who can't even touch him like he wants, like I want. I want him so, so bad, Kurt. Sorry, probably too much information."

"You two need to forgive yourselves, your own shortcomings, and allow love to take the driver's seat. I had this same conversation with him when you were watching that street show. He is just the same, he thinks he isn't deserving, that love is not for the likes of him. Just like you, he thinks he's unworthy," he spoke softly, studying Rogue's reactions carefully.

"Besides," he continued, "he also mentioned touching. That his is not the kind of touch you're looking for. I would assume he thinks you are the one who can't go on without it, not him."

"It's all very complicated," she said hurriedly because she realized he was heading back towards them. Once he was close enough, she narrowed the gap between them and hugged him tightly. She held him inside her arms for a long while, never wanting to let him go. Gambit didn't quite understand the reason for being on the receiving end of such a public display of affection, but welcomed it, closing his eyes for a moment he kissed her hair lovingly.

Meanwhile, the council gathered in one of the modern tall buildings they had seen on arrival. Moira, Madelyne, Emma Frost, Callisto, and others, gathered around a table. Once upon a time, you would have better luck of seeing a cow fly than having that group of people sit together to discuss any kind of matter. Those days were gone, now each of them felt the weight of their responsibility. They knew the importance of that moment; their community needed more than just strong voices, voices that usually spoke to their own group of followers. What they needed from then on was to speak loudly and clearly as a united front. For that purpose, they required the figure of a leader. One who could inspire, strategize, and embody the ideals they all fought for.

Naturally, Charles Xavier would be that person. Unfortunately for them, he was presumed dead so they needed the next best thing, someone as close as they could get to Professor X. After much deliberation, it became clear that Magneto was the perfect fit for the role. In light of the recent events and his handling of the UN incident, his voice was finally heard. It seemed to the world that he had adjusted his speech to ensure not only his acceptance, but inspiring other mutants to follow him. Also, the kind of power he held, the experience, and unwavering dedication to mutantkind made him the ideal candidate.

At first, Magneto hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he considered the implications of such a position. Leading this council would mean not just guiding their actions but also shaping the future of their brand-new nation. He wasn't sure that was a task he was ready to embrace. First, the X-Men became his responsibility and now that? Too much, too fast.

"Look, Magnus, I may not be Jean Grey, but I know what the Professor would say if he was here. "Time to dream bigger."

And Madelyne had him with those words. He looked around at the faces of his peers, Moira's quiet resolve, Emma's steely determination, Callisto's fierce loyalty and realized they were all placing their trust in him. After a moment of silence, he nodded and agreed to take on the leadership.

"You shall have me on one condition," Magneto spoke firmly.

"And that would be?" Moira asked him, intrigued.

"I want Rogue to lead with me, she will be my queen. People who don't identify with me, will surely at least place their trust in her and her choice to be with me. A man, and a woman, the face of a nation. It has worked for centuries."

While members of the council exchanged guarded glances, Emma Frost burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

"Oh, Erik," she said between fits of laughter, "I never pegged you as a cradle snatcher!" Her tone of voice rich with pure playful mockery, the kind only she could pull off. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs, clearly relishing the moment. "If that's what it takes, I say 'yes'. Now wait, does that mean that hottie with the devil eyes will be back in the market? I call dibs first."

The others were far more professional than Emma and simply said in a few words that they agreed to Magneto's condition. It was a small concession to make. After all, having a female co-leader could send out a positive message and break any suspicions of Magneto turning into an iron-fist dictator. Rogue could definitely soften the way the outside world saw Genosha and its leadership. It was the done, the deal was sealed.

As soon as the meeting was over, Erik Lehnsherr left the Council quarters and went looking for Rogue. He had to wait until she was back from her fun day out with Gambit and Nightcrawler which took longer than planned. They spent all the afternoon out and about, with the beautiful mutant only to return when it was time to get ready for the gala. When he finally got to deliver the news, she didn't take it all too well, as expected. She accused him of plotting this all along, in an attempt to get back together with her. She felt a bit ridiculous just hearing herself saying it. Surely she sounded very self-conceited, as if a man would go that far just to be with her. However, they both knew she was only speaking the truth and he finally conceded, letting the mask he had been wearing the whole time fall off.

"I won't deny my passion for you. As with Gambit, loving you makes broken men whole so that even as you deny us, our heartache is not in vain," he spoke softly.

She turned around, hugging herself tightly, she thought about the man she loved.

'Gambit! My love! How could I ever do to this him?'

Sensing her frailty as the handsome young man was mentioned, Magneto knew it was time to use the final card he had up his sleeve.

"Think about all the good you could do," he said, his voice low and persuasive. "Achieving Xavier's dream, everything you've fought for over the years, all the sacrifices you've made for that vision. Doesn't that outweigh everything else? Your desire for a man, a man you can't even touch. Consider this a publicity stunt, a move that will ensure the longevity of Genosha, our sanctuary, our mutant nation."

And just like that, just like in old times, Magneto sounded like the voice of reason. Rogue said 'yes'.

She went to her own room and looked at the only dress she brought for the gala, she had no option but to wear that dress, the one she bought for her first date with Remy. Wearing it seemed so evil. She was about to not only stab him in the back, but also twist the knife inside the wound she made. She got ready without much enthusiasm.

"It's a job, Anna Marie," she told herself as she saw her reflection in the mirror, applying the final touches to her make-up. "Let's do what we gotta do, girl. And hope to God that Remy will be able to forgive me for what I'm about to do."

He's an X-Man, she kept telling herself. Mutant lives and affairs should always come first.

'It's what he would do if he were in my position, and I would have to understand. Please, God, make him understand. I don't want to hurt him,' she thought as she finally made her way to his balcony. The cool night air greeted her, carrying with his scent, the scent of that cologne he would wear on special occasions. It was the same one he had on at the night of Jubilee's birthday. Memories of their time together flooded her mind, his playful grin, the warmth of his embrace, the way his eyes would always light up when he looked at her. But on that fateful night, the familiar comfort of his presence was overshadowed by the uncertainty of what was about to happen. With a deep breath, she stepped forward, knowing that whatever happened next would most probably change everything between them.

"Hey, there," she said in a soft voice the moment she saw him. He was looking dashing, all dressed up. He looked perfect. It made her want to cry, but she swallowed hard instead.

"Wasn't expecting a lady caller," he commented lightly, only to take her in and read her like an open book. Something was terribly wrong, she looked hopelessly sad. "What's wrong, chére?"

"You best sit down, sugar. We need to talk."

«-o0o-