A/N: Wow! 306 reviews! Yay! A big thanks to everyone! Sorry for the really late update. Power failures, annoying siblings, X3 hype and video games were the main hold-up. But as usual, I'm sure the length of the chapter will make up for the lateness :-)
Recap:- Lucas reveals to Rogue that he plans to annihilate the slumbering X-men with the mansion's self-destruct mode. Rogue is able to warn Jubilee on the phone, but before she could head back herself, he sends her crashing into a club, where Pietro, Gambit and Pyro are already present. After collapsing the roof on the four mutants, Lucas goes after Jean, Tabby and Kitty who luckily manage to escape.
Rogue's warning falls on deaf ears as Jubilee is revealed to be under the influence of Mesmero's mind-control powers along with Jamie and some of the other X-girls, who appeared to have 'taken care' of Emma Frost and are bound to make sure that no one gets out of the mansion alive…..
Hope you enjoy!
"Mein Gott……is zhis real?" Kurt uttered, his yellow-eyes huge in wonder and excitement.
A whole town filled with people possessing 'special' abilities or in other words—A town full of mutants. And the best part was, no one was frightened as Kurt walked down the streets in his true appearance……….
Two women giggled and whispered among themselves when Kurt passed them.
He grinned at them and ran his furry hand through his hair. "Oh yes…chicks definitely dig zhe fuzzy—Ahhh!" He let out a cry when someone's foot stomped on his tail. "You almost crushed my tail, man!" he snapped at the person behind him.
Piotr looked deeply apologetic. "Sorry. I-I got……distracted," the Russian stammered, embarrassed. "Are you alright?"
"Ja……Don't vorry…….I'll live……" Kurt hesitantly dismissed the matter before proceeding. "Any sign of them?"
Piotr shook his head.
Kurt let out a tired sigh, still unable to figure out what was happening.
It had been close to one in the morning when some strange noises outside awoke Kurt from his peaceful slumber. He had groaned in annoyance, but all his grumpiness had instantly faded on what his shiny yellow eyes spotted outside……..
Jean and Kitty……..running across the lawn, but that wasn't what had literally stopped Nightcralwer's heart. Watching his former crush and his leader's girlfriend hurriedly strip off their pajamas and throw on some causal clothes was a heart stopper.
"Gott in himmel!" He had gasped and teleported without any location in mind, landing himself on top of a sleeping Piotr.
"Nightcralwer, what is it?" Piotr had asked, up and ready for battle.
"Uh…oh…zhis……isn't my room," Kurt had said stupidly with a chuckle and got off from the awkward position. "Sorry Colossus." Luckily, he had been saved from further embarrassment from another noise outside.
The fuzzy elf's eyes had narrowed on discovering the source or rather….sources.
"Y're late," Remy had said sourly.
"Well you know how chicks are…….always stopping me to ask for my number," Pietro had replied smugly and winked. "Oh and I gave your number to some guys too. I hope it doesn't make Wolverine jealous."
Remy had clenched his fists before announcing, "Let's go." They then had both disappeared in a blink of an eye.
Without any delay, Kurt had grabbed the first person he could find, which happened to be the man of steel, that wasn't Superman, and they had set off. And that's how they landed in Mutopia.
"Be right back," Kurt told Piotr and teleported up to the roof. He looked around until his eyes settled on familiar looking girl, though not one of the X-men. He frowned in puzzlement as he watched her. It didn't seem like she was out for revenge against her father or brother as usual. She walked around in an almost……daze like state…….
Concerned, Kurt teleported infront of her, forgetting completely what happened the last time he popped in her face……
"Ah!" Wanda let out a startled cry before Kurt was hexed into a nearby dumpster. She glared down at him.
"Ja I know…..I shouldn't pop infront of people like zhat," Kurt spoke as he rubbed his aching head. "It's very annoying….."
Wanda gave him an irritated look as he got back to his feet.
"You know….you really shouldn't be out at zhis hour…." Kurt kindly advised, looking around nervously at their deserted surroundings.
The glare Wanda sent him in response effectively sent shivers down his tail. She whirled about and started walking away.
"Vanda! Vait!"
"What?" She turned to face him, more angry than annoyed.
"Uh…..H-Have you seen your….err……brozher?" Kurt asked meekly.
"Where else would that tramp of a brother go?" Wanda huffed and continued walking.
Kurt swallowed down his chuckle as he followed. "Umm I don't know…vhere?"
"The Wildcat Club," Wanda answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
"And Gambit is zhere vith him too right?" Kurt asked guardedly. It wasn't enough that Remy broke her sister's heart. Now he was getting himself drunk while watching scantily clad women dance. And what's more, he was a married man! Oh, he so deserved another beating.
"Who knows?" Wanda shrugged carelessly before suddenly freezing in her tracks.
"Vhat?" he questioned before following her line of vision. It seemed like somebody demolished an already condemned building. "Vanda, vhat is it?"
"T-That….that is the Wildcat Club……" Wanda whispered, gazing wide-eyed at the destruction.
All thoughts of doing something painful to Remy instantly vanished from Kurt's mind. "V-Vhat?" he asked in disbelief, unable to comprehend that this pile of rubble used to be a club.
"Pietro….." Wanda whispered, staring with a glazed look at the ruins.
"I-I'm sure he got out," Kurt assured, in a shaky voice. "H-He's just too fast." But what about Remy? He didn't have super-speed. Did he get out too? Kurt seriously doubted Pietro would be concerned about saving Remy.
Wanda just stood there, unable to move.
"Vanda, I'm sure he got out," Kurt repeated and silently tried to convince himself that the Cajun escaped too.
"H-He spends the whole night here until morning! How can he get out when he's drunk senseless?" she screamed, seemingly close to tears. "He was here with Pyro too……." she said numbly.
Kurt would have shared her grief if it weren't for the sudden sound his sensitive ears picked up. It was faint…….but atleast it was there.
"I…….I can hear Pyro crying," Kurt uttered, straining to listen
"W-What?" Wanda asked, her voice croaking.
"Pyro…….he's crying," Kurt repeated, more enthusiastic this time. He strained his ears and was overjoyed when he heard more voices. "Z-Zhey're still alive…….I-I'll go get Colossus!"
"No! It could take hours to dig them out!" Wanda cried. "Take me down there now!"
"I-If I can't see vhere I'm going, v-ve can end up…inside a vall!" Kurt explained fearfully. Or worst……impaled on beams. Either way they could end up dead.
Wanda grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him forward. "I said take me down there now!"
"Ok," Kurt agreed in a squeaky voice, finding death by teleporting into a wall much pleasant that Wanda's wrath. As he took her hand, he only had one thought in mind: How to make Pietro and Remy's afterlife a living hell in heaven…..if they both don't go to hell.
"For the last time Pietro, Ah'm not answerin' that question!"
"Well we have a right to know!" Pietro said decisively. "It's been too long. It's pretty clear nobody is coming to save us. So when you can't hold that ceiling anymore and it collapses, which one of us are you going to save from getting squished to death?" He asked Rogue darkly. "Me, the person who has been like a friend and a brother to you," he said emotionally, his blue eyes growing wide, "and was almost this close to being your son too," he mentioned, making her cringe. He pointed an accusing finger at the figure huddled in a corner. "Him, the crazy Australian guy who set you on fire once!" He then moved to Gambit, who had a charged card in his hand which illuminated only a small portion of the room. "Or him, that backstabbing, heartbreaking, traitorous sex-addict, who tried to blow you up once?"
"Ah'm not answerin' that question!" Rogue repeated vehemently.
"She's gonna save Remy….." John sniffled and buried his face in his hands. "We're going to get pan caked……."
"Ah didn't say that!" Rogue growled at the distressed John. "And Ah can hold this ceilin' as long as Ah want!" Just as she said this, her feet wobbled, making the weight above her head shake.
John cried harder. "We're going to die!"
"You were thinking that!" Pietro accused her.
"Oh so you can read minds now?" Rogue asked sarcastically.
"Aha!" Pietro cried triumphantly. "You admit it!" He then pouted. "You know Rogue, mothers put their children before anything….." He again tried blackmailing his 'future' mother. "Haven't you seen Bambi? Does Bambi's Mom care about him more or her oversized reindeer of a husband? She doesn't even act like she has a husband!"
"Why did she have to die and leave Bambi all alone? That part always makes me cry!" John wailed. "Bloody human hunters!"
"Pietro…..Y' were de one who were cryin' over Rogue bein' your mother," Remy reminded him as he searched for an exit. He also kept a strict watchful eye on Rogue, knowing well she lied when she said that she could hold the ceiling over her head for as long as she wanted.
"And now I've learned to accept her, but not Joseph," Pietro told him before spreading his arms toward Rogue. "Welcome to the family Rogue."
"Pietro, if Ah was the only woman left on earth and Magneto was the only man left, Ah would marry a Martian instead of him!" Rogue shouted. "And Pyro, stop cryin'! You're a grown man for Gawd sakes!"
"I'm a person with a lot of feelings," John blew his nose into a tissue. "A-And without my lighter….I-I'm nothing…." He gasped like it was the end of the world, "n-nothing!" He then slowly looked up at Rogue. "Oh……I wish I was invulnerable too. So that I can survive when…y-you…..save Gambit and not me."
'Let's just grab one and get out of here!' An irate Carol suggested.
Rogue only rolled her eyes and for a second, considered grabbing Remy and punching a hole through the surface while leaving him and Pietro behind. But it was a horrible thought and she mentally scolded herself for even thinking that. Those two were highly annoying right now, but that was no reason for her to let them die.
"Well, I've said all I have to say," Pietro sighed. "Time to make your decision, Rogue—I mean Mom. The good guy and most importantly….your soon-to-be-son," he patted himself proudly, "or the bad guys," he concluded, pointing at John and Remy.
"You? The good guy?" Rogue asked, half-amazed and half-angry.
"Uh…aren't you the bad guy too Pietro?" John paused his sobbing to ask him.
'If all these three are the bad guys, then why are you still here?' Carol asked Rogue annoyed. 'Let's just get out of here. My shoulders are hurting!'
Her shoulders were hurting? Rogue was the one posing as a pillar so that everything around them doesn't collapse. Carol had given up control of her limbs an hour ago.
"Which means we don't deserve t' be saved," Remy grumbled, more intent on finding someway out then discussing whom Rogue should save incase the ceiling collapses.
"Don't say that," Rogue warned him.
"Say what?" Remy asked distractedly and cursed when he came to another dead end. He made a fist and punched the wall. He then took in a sharp breath and regretted ever leaving the mansion to follow Carol. But if he hadn't left, then ofcourse he would be dead right now along with the—
Remy blinked, suddenly realizing something.
—For the matter of fact, if Carol didn't leave the mansion, then everyone would have been dead by now. Rogue would never have found out about Lucas's crazy plan and called the Institute to warn the other X-men.
Remy chuckled at the turn of events. In a way, Carol had saved the day by running off………Did the wrong thing for the right reason. Mon Dieu! This world was so screwed up right now!
"Remy, if you want to commit suicide, I can kill you right now!" Pietro growled before turning to Rogue. "I'm not evil! Just because my—someone related to me is doesn't make me evil!"
"Uh-huh, just because Mystique's your Mommy doesn't make you evil," John pointed out to Rogue. "Even if you pushed her of a cliff once. But don't worry Sheila. I understand you," he told her in a caring tone. "I set my mother's hair on fire when she didn't let me buy my favorite candy," he revealed merrily before becoming depressed again. "But she left me…….after my pretty flame burned the house……Mommy left me……" he sniffled and looked up at Rogue, teary-eyed. "I'll understand if you want to leave me too…a-and take Remy with you….."
Rogue frantically screamed for help in her thoughts, hoping against hope some telepath heard them and come to their rescue before she succumbed to insanity.
"Dis is crazy. Are people blind? Can't dey see a collapsed buildin'?" Remy asked exasperated. It was just ridiculous. By now the police, fire rescue and the press should be crawling around this place, but they weren't. The whole town was filled with mutants and no one had even showed up to help them.
"Maybe….Lucy….." John gulped, "…..Killed them all….."
"If the guy is a telepath then he obviously wiped their memories," Pietro provided an explanation. "My Da—" He abruptly stopped. He then narrowed his eyes in anger. "Magneto used Mastermind to do that all the time. Anyone who trespasses on his secret hideout, gets the you-were-never-here routine."
"Oh like de one he did on Wanda?" Remy asked dryly.
"Yeah. Look how sunny and happy she is now!" Pietro said brightly. His expression darkened. "If anyone in this room ever tries to tell her that, it's the you-were-never-here routine!" He then turned to Rogue. "So are we getting out of here or what?"
Remy gave him a repulsive look. "De way y're actin' Pietro…… It's just like your father."
"Hey! Don't use the F-word in my presence!" Pietro waved a fist in his face. "Oh and just so you know, if he was trapped here instead of me, he would've killed you all to lessen your suffering!"
"And y're doin' no better!" Remy retorted.
"Oh you want to get me started on family?" Pietro fumed. "Let's talk about your wife!"
"Don't go dere QuickSilver………" Remy warned in a dangerously low voice.
"I'm sure Roguey would love to know everything….." Pietro went on before casting a inquisitive look toward Rogue, "wouldn't you?"
'Yes!' Carol practically begged. 'Yes please!'
Rogue however, seemed reluctant and depressed. She lowered her eyes to the ground. "Ah don't want ta know anythin'."
Pietro zipped over to her. "Of course you do. He broke your fragile little heart!" He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He looks under girls' skirts when you're not looking! And just now he was flirting with a waitress! And let's not forget Mrs. LeBeau ……." he listed every bad habit of Remy's he could think of. "Don't you want to know more?"
Rogue rolled her eyes, already knowing almost everything Pietro told her. "Ah don't think so."
Pietro only continued. "He also steals from that rich guy with the bird wings!"
Rogue frowned. Now that was something she was unaware of. "You mean Warren?"
"Yeah him. How do you think Gambit got all those expensive gifts for you huh? Hard-earned money?"
Rogue turned to Remy with an interrogating look.
"I help de homme find glitches in his security system," Remy corrected, glaring viciously at Pietro.
"Suuuure…." Pietro drawled before leaning close to Rogue's ear and whispering, "You have no idea how much he's close to becoming a millionaire himself!"
"Gambit…" John tugged on Remy's shirt. "How about—"
"For de last time Pyro—Non! I'm not goin' t' spend all dat money on a giant lighter!"
John sniffled. "You're cruel Remy."
"What were you plannin' ta with the money then?" Rogue inquired, suspiciously.
"Still plannin'," Remy replied smoothly before diverting his attention and energy on finding a way out.
"Plus he's been so…..silent….." Pietro said colloquially. "Seems suspicious if you ask me……"
"Dat's because I'm tryin' t' save oxygen which is bein' wasted t'anks t' y'!" Remy snapped.
"You know Rogue…..now that Belle is back………I don't think he even loves you anymore……" Pietro's whisper was loud enough for Remy to overhear.
Remy whirled to face Pietro furiously. "Ofcourse I love her!" he exploded, ready to shove the charged card inside Pietro's throat. "How could y' even t'ink—"
"Oh really? Then why don't we put you through the test of love I invented?" Pietro suggested with an evil grin and rubbed his hands together. "To prove if you love her…..or not."
"Non!" Remy refused. "Anythin' y' invent is nothin' but a waste of time."
"But if you really love her Remyo, then take the test," Pietro said in a challenging voice.
Remy shook his head firmly. "Non."
"Non?" Pietro pretended to ponder. "Hmm…..Which means yes in English. Ok then question one: Looks wise, who is hotter? Your beautiful wife or Rogue?"
"That's easy. Remy's wife is," John answered casually. He received a dirty look from Remy. "Oh….umm…Rogue is?"
"Well Remy?" An impatient Pietro asked.
"Rogue," Remy finally answered, imagining what sounds Pietro would make if he ripped his tongue out.
Carol burst into laughter. 'I-Is he blind?'
Pietro shook his head and sighed. "Be honest Rogue, which drugs have you been feeding him?" he asked her. "Something is seriously wrong with his eyesight."
Rogue scowled at him.
"Don't worry Remy," Pietro winked at him. "I know you're answer would've been honest if Rogue wasn't here."
"It is honest," Remy said between gritted teeth.
'You need glasses,' Carol told him and burst into another round of laughter.
"Yeah sure liar……" Pietro rolled his eyes. "Ok next question: How long have you known Belladonna?"
"Since….we were….kids……" Remy said slowly, really not wanting to recall his past. But since Rogue had no choice, but to finally listen to him, then he had no choice but to go on.
"Which means you have loads full of memories with Belle and not Rogue, right?"
Remy sighed heavily. "Oui." He had spent a significantly large part of his life with Belladonna. He had so many memories of the insane things they did together……..like swimming in the swamp filled with alligators, which had always given Tante Mattie a scare and him a nice scolding; super-gluing women's shirts to their bodies during the Mardi Gras festival; tricking Julien into eating worms; shaving off Marius's hair and it's a surprise he decided to keep it that way…….The memories were almost endless…….
"Did you love her?"
"I did."
Pietro's eyebrow shot up. "I meant Belladonna."
"I know." Two best friends turned into lovers. 'Almost like Scott an' Jean,' Remy realized with a shudder. The only difference was Scott and Jean's families didn't try to kill each other.
Pietro was obviously surprised. "And do you still love her?"
Remy caught Rogue watching him. Her expression was a mixture of anxiety and hurt. Finally, he shook his head. "Non." It had been difficult, but he had moved on…..and then….he had met Rogue….and fell for her hard….a little too hard…..
"Did you love her more than you love Rogue right now?"
"Ok…..Where is dis goin' anyway?" Remy asked, getting irritated.
Pietro wagged his finger. "Answer the question Remy!"
"I don't t'ink I've ever loved anyone more dan Rogue." He turned to look at Rogue, his eyes gazing deeply into hers. "An' I don't t'ink I ever will."
Rogue bit her trembling lip, feeling a mixture of emotions she couldn't arrange. A part of her just wanted to forgive him and forget everything, but the other part reminded her of secret he had kept from her all this time.
'Oh please!' Carol gave Remy a disgusted look. 'Don't tell me you're falling for that act!'
"But Remy……you once said you loved your motorcycle more than anything in this whole world….." John mentioned. "You said you wouldn't let any woman come inbetween—"
Remy groaned. "Pyro, whatever I say when I'm drunk, just ignore it!"
"But you weren't drunk," John recalled.
Remy clenched his fists, losing his patience. "Den just ignore it anyway!"
John shrugged. "Ok Remy."
"Ahem! Alright…..next question: Have you and Belle slept together?" Pietro asked curiously……a little too curiously.
Remy gave him a murderous look. "Dat's non of your business Quicksilver!"
"It's Rogue's business," Pietro smiled delightedly.
Remy cracked his knuckles, wanting nothing more than to beat Pietro to death right now. "Oui, we have." He had slept with her……and as luck would have it, his first time had turned ugly when Marius found him in a not so decent position with his daughter.
Remy could clearly recall what had happened after that: Him running butt-naked as he dodged the angry male members of the Boudreaux household. But atleast he had given all the female members and the maids something to swoon about.
"Dammit!" Pietro hissed, but quickly regained his composure. "Ok next question."
"No more questions!" Remy declared. "Enough is enough!"
"But this is the last!" Pietro persisted.
"Oh and what is de last question?" Remy asked sardonically. "Remy did y' leave Belle because y' were gay?"
"No actually," Pietro snorted. "But thanks for reminding me to add that on the list."
Remy only growled, wanting to punch something…..especially something like Pietro's face.
Pietro cleared his throat. "Remy…..As you know, Rogue can't touch. Well she can if she uses the Leech kid, but it would be wrong to expose him to porn at such a tender age. So tell me, are you really willing to give up—"
"Yes," Remy answered before he could finish.
Pietro stared at him incredulously. "Remy….you are aware that it's a basic necessity for us, don't you? It's like…like oxygen. You can't survive without oxygen! How can you live without—"
"Oui. I can!" Remy said determined.
"Sooner or later you're just going to snap," Pietro informed with a smirk. "Sometimes when you cage the beast, the beast gets really angry Remy……"
'Remy is going to go insane one day because of celibacy huh? Well I saw that coming…..' Carol remarked.
"Y' know de beast is angry because y're annoyin' me t' death!" Remy yelled in Pietro's face.
"Too bad LeBeau is going to end with Remy LeBeau. Now…..for the final question—"
"Y' said dis was de last!"
"Oh yeah I lied." Pietro said carelessly and proceeded before Remy could protest. "Now if Belle and Rogue were dangling on the edge of a cliff about to fall, and you could only save one……would you choose to save Belle or let Rogue fall to her death?"
Remy glared at him for devising the most obvious leading question.
"Oh alright!" Pietro surrendered. "So who would you save?"
"Pietro, you're just goin' too far now!" Rogue yelled at him, not liking where this was going.
'No….' Carol disagreed. 'Now this got interesting….'
"Both," Remy replied decisively.
"Nuh-uh Remy, choose one."
"Den I'm not answerin'."
"Oh would you look at that?" Pietro indicated at his watch. "It's time…..and it's running out! So choose one or none! Besides…….it's not so hard. You're obviously going to save the one you truly love right? So, who's it going to be? Belle…..the beautiful, enchanting beauty who tamed the beast?" He let out a yawn. "Or Rogue?"
Remy shook his head. "I'm not answerin' dis."
"The answer to this question will prove if you told the truth in your previous answers," Pietro explained. "So….."
"I'm not answerin' it," he repeated for the third time.
"Not answering is like saying that you won't save both of them."
"No it isn't!"
"You have ten seconds to answer……Tick tock tick tock…Ten…."
"Y' know dis is stupid."
"Nine."
"It's an unfair question!"
"Eight."
"I'll kill myself!" Remy burst. "Happy now?"
"No you won't. Seven."
"You don't have ta answer," Rogue told Remy softly and glared at Pietro. "Just ignore him."
'Hell yes he has to!" Carol said excitedly. 'Or you'll die!'
"It's just like choosing between my red and blue lighter," John said. "I can't choose between them! They're both so pretty!"
"Six. You better hurry Remy. Both of them are slipping now……."
"I'm not answerin' de question!" Remy said resolutely.
"Five. Hmm….Belle is having trouble holding on."
Remy plugged his ears. "I'm not listenin'!"
"Four," John counted.
"Pyro, stop helpin' him!" Remy snapped.
"Three. Oops! Rogue almost lost her grip there for a second."
"Two," Remy said sarcastically.
"One and a half……they're screaming for you Remy. Can't you hear it?"
"Pietro Ah swear Ah'll kill you if you don't stop now!" Rogue threats had no effect on the speed demon.
"Help meh Remy! Help meh you swamp rat!" Pietro imitated Rogue's voice. "No, Remy!" he imitated, Belladonna's voice. "Save me! Save your wife! Save de mother of your child!"
"Dere is no child!" Remy screamed, wishing Rogue would let go of the ceiling so that it crushed Pietro.
"I know. But it sounds so……dramatic!" Pietro stated with a sigh. "And tragic if you don't save Belle….."
"Remy! Save one before they both fall!" John said desperately, clutching him by the shirt. "Save one!"
"Grrr….Pyro!" Remy pushed him away. "Dey're not fallin'!"
"Now they are. One…and……..zero—"
Remy deliberately put out the charged card and dropped it, plunging the area into darkness again.
"Hey! Turn the lights back on!" Pietro cried. "Remy! I said turn the lights back on!"
Remy remained silent.
"Remy?" He caught the quiver in Pietro's voice. "A-Answer me! I know you're here!"
"R-R-Remy?" John joined in too. "W-Where are you mate?"
Remy stayed as silent as the dead, enjoying them getting scared of the dark.
"Remy! T-There are rats here!" Pietro said, sounding frightened. "T-They could…eat us or something if you don't keep it bright."
Remy grinned, imagining rats chewing on Pietro as he screamed endlessly.
"Ah hope they eat you first, Pietro!" Rogue hoped, especially after he had asked Remy that last question. If somebody had asked her the same thing, but placed Scott and Remy, instead of her and Belladonna to choose between, then of course she would have given the same answer as Remy. She even had the choice to let Pyro and QuickSilver die right now and save Remy, but she opted to wait for help instead which might never come.
"I'm sure they'll go for the person who's carrying a lot of fat first!" Pietro said in a suggestive voice.
"How dare you!" Rogue screeched enraged.
'He's right…..' Carol said with a sad sigh. 'You are fat.'
"Shut up Carol!"
"Ha! I bet she agreed with me!" Pietro laughed at Rogue's outburst.
Remy all the while, remained silent. He was more occupied in his own thoughts…..especially in contemplating over Pietro's last question.
It really shouldn't have affected him—Anything invented by Pietro shouldn't have affected anybody. But for some reason, he just couldn't disregard it. He had enemies outside the X-men. What if they suddenly—
Remy shook his head, shoving aside his fears. Nothing was going to happen to the best thing that ever happened to him or his soon-to-be ex-wife. Besides, they were quite capable of taking care of themselves.
A bloodcurdling scream tore through his thoughts.
"Rogue?" Remy asked, his heart almost stopping.
Another scream followed.
"I-I told you rats would try to eat us!" Pietro said, his voice trembling.
Remy quickly reached for the cards in his trench coat……..Only to remember that Rogue was wearing it. He then frantically searched for the King of hearts he had dropped on the floor earlier.
Another scream sliced through the night, which frightened Remy like nothing else.
"Rogue! I'm comin'!" Remy finally found the card and juggled with it before he charged it. He stumbled towards her. "W-What? A-Are y' ok?" he asked between pants.
Rogue winced when he brought the card close to her face. "Get that out of mah face!"
"W-Why did y' scream? W-Why?" he asked hysterically as he inspected every inch of her for injuries. "W-What happened?"
Rogue rolled her eyes. "It was Pyro!"
"Help me! Something is one me!" John shrieked, letting out another feminine scream. "Get it off!"
Remy brought the glowing card toward him. His eyes widened when he found out what exactly was on John…….
A tail. A tail that belonged to none other than Nightcrawler himself……who was coughing alongside with the Scarlet Witch.
"Kurt!" Rogue exclaimed happily.
"Rogue?" Kurt looked at her surprised.
"Wanda!" John practically squealed and rushed to hug them both. "We're saved!"
Wanda surprisingly didn't hex him away. But she had a hex bolt ready to blast him.
"Oh I thought I would never see you again Sheila—" John excitement came to a stop when he accidentally felt Kurt's fur. "Oh……So soft….like velvet…." he uttered, stroking Kurt's face.
"Ok Pyro…..zhat's enough……" Kurt said uncomfortably as John continued. He slapped his wandering hand off. "I said zhat's enough!"
"You're fur feels just like my little kitten, Inferno, who….passed away," John recalled wretchedly.
Kurt gave him a dry look. He turned to the others. "Is everyone ok?"
"No!" Pietro replied in an irritated tone. "I've been screaming in my thoughts for hours! What the heck took you X-men so—" His rambling came to a halt when his sister unexpectedly embraced him. He blinked in astonishment. "Ok…..Who is this?" he asked, gesturing at Wanda.
Kurt shook his head wearily at Pietro's attitude. "She vas really vorried about you."
"No seriously, who is this?" Pietro asked, still in doubt. "Wanda only shows affection toward snakes and spiders."
"And me," John added cheerfully.
Just as Pietro finished his sentence, he felt Wanda's knee hit his stomach.
"S-See?" Pietro dropped down on the floor in agony. "Told you so……"
"I hate you," Wanda told her brother before turning to Kurt. "Get us out of here."
"Kurt, i-is everyone alright back at the mansion? A-Are they all safe?" Rogue bombarded Kurt with questions that perplexed him.
"Ja….Everyone's fine Rogue. But vhat are you doing…..here…." Kurt trailed off when he got a closer look at her.
"Umm…..Tryin' ta keep everythin' from collpasin'," she replied sheepishly as he stared at her slack-jawed. "Get everyone out of here first."
Kurt nodded rapidly, suddenly afraid everything would cave in on his sister if he didn't hurry. "Everyone hold on to me!"
John was more than happy to oblige, wanting to feel his fur.
"Not my face!" Kurt removed John's hand with a grunt. "Remy! C'mon!" he urged, quickly wanting to get everyone out so he could comeback for Rogue.
"I'll go wit' y' on de next trip," Remy said, stepping toward Rogue.
"The hell you won't! You're gettin' lost now!" Rogue said strictly.
"Non," Remy refused stubbornly.
"Kurt will come and get meh! You just go!" she hissed.
"Oh Wanda…..I thought death would rip us apart! But it didn't!" John was again stuck on Wanda.
"Grrr…..I don't have time for this!" Wanda screamed, interrupting Rogue and Remy.
Before anyone could figure out what happened, Remy was engulfed in a blue light before he vanished along with the others, leaving only Rogue…..alone with Carol……and the King of Hearts…….
Rogue stared at the playing card as it slowly floated to the ground.
'Do you know what happens when a burning cigarette is left near the oven?' Carol asked sarcastically.
Rogue only watched the card grow brighter by each second.
'The same thing that is going to happen to you…….thanks to Remy LeBeau!' Carol snapped. 'Oh well, atleast I'll get your body again.'
Rogue managed to groan before the card exploded.
Remy couldn't breathe. It wasn't because oxygen was lacking on earth neither it was due to the presence of too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The reason behind Remy's shortage of air was Kurt's tail, which was slowly squeezing the life out of him…….
"Strangle him!" Pietro cheered Kurt.
"Gambit set his tail on fire!" John yelled. "I want to see his tail get burned!"
And no one even bothered to help him…..explain that it was an accident…..that if Wanda hadn't intervened during his argument with Rogue, none of this would be happening right now.
"K-Kurt……please….." Remy's efforts were in vain due to the lack of oxygen. He prayed Rogue showed up quickly before he met his demise. If she could survive a car thrown at her or crushed under a truck, then surely she can live through this.
But Kurt seemed to have forgotten his sister was invulnerable and was more intent on killing her 'murderer' than digging her out.
Wanda just witnessed the fight between the two X-men wryly, wondering when those two blind idiots would see that they're fighting over nothing.
"Kurt! Kurt let him go!" a new voice screamed
Remy caught a glimpse of pink from the corner of his eye. "K-Kitty….." he realized as the shocked girl came into his view.
"L-Like what are you doing?" she demanded from Kurt.
"He blew up Rogue!" Kurt made it sound like Remy had strapped Rogue with dynamites and detonated them using a remote control.
"That's ridiculous!" Kitty screeched, trying to pull him off Remy.
"I-It was an accident!" Remy gasped, seeing black spots in his vision.
"Your death vould be an accident!" Kurt hissed, still not believing that he had been ready to mourn Remy's death.
"That's enough!" Jean's voice boomed, before Kurt was yanked off by an invisible force.
"Uh…..Alright…." Tabitha also joined the crowd. "Have you guys even noticed that Rogue is standing right there?" she pointed in the direction of the rubble.
"What?" Both Kurt and Remy exclaimed and spun around.
Rogue stood on top of the wreck, watching them with an amused expression on her face.
"Rogue!" Kurt immediately rushed over to her.
Remy, however, detected something different in his chere and resisted rushing over to her and showering her with kisses and crushing her with a hug.
"I zhought you vere gone!" Kurt said emotionally as he embraced her. "Don't ever scare me like zhat!"
"Aww…..I love you too fuzz," she cooed and Kurt felt himself being crushed.
"Rogue!" Kurt squirmed in her grip. "Y-You're crushing your little brozher!"
"You mean Carol, fake little brother," she corrected and planted a kiss on top of his head before releasing him.
Kurt blushed profusely, rubbing his head. "Umm….S-Sorry….."
"It's ok Fuzzball." Carol pinched his cheek. "And thanks for kicking his butt," she threw a dirty look towards Remy, "for trying to blow me up."
"I wasn't tryin' t' blow y' up Carol!" Remy snapped, angry at getting accused like that.
"Right….I'm sorry…..you were trying to blow Rogue up," she rephrased.
"She dug herself out five minutes ago. You two were too busy to notice," Wanda told Remy and Kurt dryly.
"You have a lot of explaining to do Carol!" Jean stormed over to Carol. "Do you have any idea how much trouble we went through to find you?"
Carol pondered for a moment. "Uh…no." She smiled. "How much was it?"
Jean let out a noise of disgust and clenched her fists, as if restraining herself from beating Carol. "For one night…….you just couldn't stay put for one night! Why?" she demanded. "What exactly was so important?"
"Framing my brother so that my parents don't find out I'm in a coma because of Rogue?" Carol said, continuing her jocular manner
"We like almost got burned alive because of you!" Kitty told her heatedly.
"What's this? Abuse Carol day?" Carol asked when she got angry looks from all the X-men. "I don't recall lighting a match to barbeque anyone."
"Vhat happened to all of you?" Kurt questioned the girls with a frown. They looked like they worked in a coal mine or were firefighters.
"Lucas?" Remy guessed, casting a questioning look toward Jean.
"Yes," Jean nodded, glaring at Carol. "Lucas."
"You guys too, huh?" Tabitha asked. "That loony son of your Professor burned a strip club—I-I meant a regular club….err….sorry guys," she apologized sheepishly to the glaring Kitty and Jean.
"No! I wanted the fire! Why couldn't Lucas set me on fire instead of burying me alive?" John wailed. "Why?"
"Vait…..You guys left zhe mansion…….to go to a strip club?" Kurt asked, looking at Jean and Kitty incredulously.
"Of course not Kurt! We were following Carol!" Kitty said quickly.
Carol smiled amusedly. "But I never went there perverts."
"Can we like forget about the strip club please?" Kitty requested, not wanting anymore memories of that dreadful place.
Pietro smiled slyly. "What did you do Kitty? Screamed at those shape-shifting strippers to turn into Lance?"
Kitty pouted, her cheeks turning red. "You know I didn't like want to say this infront of Wanda, but the women there screamed at him to turn into Ma—"
"Kitty!" Jean quickly interrupted before she revealed too much.
"Hey…..wait a second….you said Lucas is Professor's son?" Pietro realized. "That can't be possible!"
"Vhy not?" Kurt asked with a frown.
"Because the guy is crippled down the waist!"
He received dry looks from everyone.
"What? Aren't you all curious? How did he do it?"
"We have other more important……problems to worry about," Jean said, staring directly at Carol.
"Problems huh? As usual, blame me for everything!" Carol glowered at the accusatory look she was receiving from Jean. She turned around. "I'm getting out of here."
Jean blocked her path. "No you're not!"
"Oh and what are you going to do?" Carol asked in a bored tone. "Throw your SUV at me?"
"Oh Peter!" Kitty hollered.
Carol gave her a confused look and chuckled. "W-What?" She suddenly felt herself being grabbed by the wrists. "Oh….Peter…." She realized, looking up at Piotr, unimpressed, who was holding her wrists. "You really think he can hold me?" she asked Jean, preparing to break free. Her expression changed when she appeared to encounter a problem………
Jean smiled at her victoriously. "Yes."
"Just give me five more seconds!" The now struggling Carol grunted. "O-Ok P-Peter Pan……." She panted, halting her efforts. "You have forced me to do something I really didn't want to!" she shouted and kicked Piotr in the region which would cause men to drop down on their knees and writhe in agony. Piotr however, didn't even flinch. And all she got was a loud 'clang' after striking him. Her eyes widened in shock along with everyone else's. "You gotta be kidding me……."
"Mon dieu…." Remy breathed.
"You can say that again," Pietro remarked.
"Wow…..he really is 100 percent solid-metal," Tabitha grinned widely at the discovery. "But I'm sure Kitty already knew that."
Kitty only gave Tabitha dirty look.
"This isn't fair!" Carol whined as she thrashed in the Russian's arms. "This isn't fair!"
"Oh and since when is life ever fair?" Jean asked, suddenly wishing she never had a daughter. She walked over to Carol. "It seems like you overestimated your strength Carol—Hey!" she cried out when Carol tried to bite her hand.
"Let me go!" Carol started screaming at the top of her lungs, making the other mutants cover their ears. "Let go of me or I'll never stop screaming!"
Jean remained unfazed by Carol's threats. "Kitty, your coat please."
Kitty gladly handed over her pink coat.
"Stop!" Carol cried, not wanting to be gagged. "I-I don't want to go back to the Institute!"
"And why not?" Jean asked.
"Because it's boring!"
"And what do you suggest we do to make your stay more comfortable your Highness?" Jean snapped.
"Return me to my body!"
This response stunned Jean more than anyone else. "W-What?" she stammered.
"Return me to my body," Carol said in a matter-of-fact tone. "I go back and you don't have to kidnap me again after I runaway…….again!"
"We're not kidnappin' y'! We're only makin' sure Rogue stays safe!"
Carol ignored Remy and continued. "And you won't ever have to see me again…..and I won't ever have to see you people again….well….maybe not everyone……" she smiled absent-mindedly, thinking about Scott. She suddenly remembered something. "Oh by the way…is Scott safe and sound at home?"
She received confused stares.
"What do you mean?" Jean asked, trying not to let worry overwhelm her. "Why wouldn't he be safe?"
"Well…..Lucy was babbling about using the self-destruct mode to destroy you X-men," Carol revealed casually. "Why do you people have a self-destruct mode anyway?"
"What!" Almost all the X-men, except Remy exclaimed.
"Hmm…crazy kid wants revenge on father for abandoning him," Pietro guessed after hearing everything. "Now why does it sound so familiar?"
"Oh!" John said excited as he looked at Wanda. "I know!"
Pietro quickly clamped his mouth shut and gave his glaring sister the sweetest smile he could muster. "No, you don't! If you knew…we would all be dead!"
"Wait…y' didn't know dat?" Remy glanced rapidly from face to face. "None of y' knew anythin' about dis?"
"N-No," Kitty shook her head slowly in disbelief.
"W-We didn't…..we……w-were following h-her……" Jean was having trouble speaking as fear engulfed her. "Oh God…..Scott……"
Carol rolled her eyes. "Rogue already took care of the problem. She called and warned that Jubilee kid and now everything is fine," she assured nonchalantly.
"That's really not re-assuring!" Jean snapped bitterly before whirling to face Kurt. "Kurt, teleport me—"
"No!" Carol cut her short. "You return me to my body now!"
"W-What?" Jean croaked, her mind still reeling from the news.
"I want to go back to my body now!" she shouted persistently. "Lucas kept on saying he'll delete Rogue……which means if he shows up again, you get me instead of Rogue for the rest of your lives! Do you want that to happen?"
"God no," Tabitha said with a shudder.
"What else did he tell you?" Jean asked, trying to recover from one shock at a time.
"Oh just me being a personality and going to be erased…..obviously nothing but crap!" Carol dismissed with a wave of her hand as Jean and Kitty listened on in alarm. "Well?" she asked. "Can you do it or not?"
Jean stared wild-eyed at Carol before answering, "Yes."
"Ok….This is……strange……" Scott uttered, blinking in amazement at the original color of his surroundings. It must've been almost thirteen years since he saw everything in all color instead of one and the first thought that entered his mind was that he was dead……….killed by Rahne or the numerous clones of Jamie ……..that is, until he saw a familiar face……
"Emma?" Scott blinked at Emma, surprised to see her safe and sound and also discover that she was blonde. To him, every person with hair appeared as a red-head thanks to his mutation. "B-But how?"
Emma chuckled. "You thought I was a red-head?"
Scott only blushed before asking the inevitable question. "Are we……..dead?"
"Not yet I suppose." Emma sighed. "But if you don't wake up soon, you will be."
"I'm dreaming?" he asked. "This is a dream?" That would explain the absence of his powers.
"Not exactly……" she said mischievously. "This is….more like a place for psychics to discuss things…….more privately…"
"Oh really? T-That's….uh….interesting."
"Oh…..You don't know how….."
"B-But, w-where are you then? And Jean? Where is she?" he asked, looking around hoping to find Jean.
"Lucky Jean is out chasing Rogue's bubbly personality……As for me……" Emma sighed sadly. "I don't know. It's too dark and cold. And I'm afraid time is running out for me."
"Hey, don't say that. You're going to be ok."
Emma smiled at him. "Then be a hero and save me."
"We will," he told her, without a doubt in his voice.
"And…..Just in case we all die in the most horrible…. painful….extremely cruel way….." She inched closer to him as he stumbled back, "I just want you to have this…."
Scott gulped, trapped between her and the wall. "Uh….w-what?" He gulped as her hand worked its way lightly over his chest.
"It's just for good luck," Emma reasoned, cupping his face. "Besides…you're dreaming….remember?"
"A-Am I?" he stammered and was silenced into shock when her lips crushed over his.
He stood frozen, too shocked to push her away or even respond.
Emma slowly pulled back after a minute. "Mmm…" She smiled satisfied. "Something I'll always cherish even after death."
For Scott it was the exact opposite……something that will always haunt him till death…..which might come sooner if Jean finds out…..
"Time for you to wake up and oh…." She pinched his nose. "Remember to keep your eyes closed."
The scene around him suddenly vanished and all he saw was red.
"Scott! Close your eyes!" He heard Bobby scream in the background.
Disoriented slightly, Scott quickly obeyed, realizing he had brought half of the ceiling down. Some of the rooms on the first floor had now been shifted to the ground floor thanks to him.
"It's about time you woke up!" Bobby said to Scott, his hands pressed against the wall of ice he had made. He now struggled to maintain it as Amara exerted herself to melt it. "We're getting killed here!"
"Uh-oh….Jean is not going to like this….." Ray remarked, looking at the open underwear drawer and other contents scattered all over.
"This is going to hurt Kitty a lot….." Sam said, holding up a charred Lockheed.
"I think I found Emma's things," Roberto grinned, holding up a white corset. "Heh…..White definitely is her color."
Apart from not having his visor, Scott was still shaken up by the kiss to notice the other boys going through Emma and Jean's underwear. The only thing running through his mind was how Jean was going to torture him before finally killing him—
'Wait a minute….' Scott suddenly realized something.
It was just a dream…….which surprisingly felt very real. He had a dream in which Emma kissed him. That's it. End of story. No need to drag this any further. Jean couldn't grill him over a dream. Plus he had more important things to worry about at the moment.
"Thanks guys! You're all a lot of help!" Bobby snapped sarcastically as the 'enemies' finally broke through the wall.
"What's the matter Bobby?" Jamie mocked as he made more clones of himself and surrounded Bobby. "Seeing double?"
Bobby blinked, looking at the now six boys. "Uh…..No, I'm seeing more than that."
All the six boys attacked him at the same time.
"Ow! Ouch! Stop! Grrr….As soon as I find the real you, you're going to be in a lot of pain kid!" he threatened. Luckily Ray came to his rescue and zapped each and every clone and simultaneously countered Jubilee's blasts.
Sam and Roberto joined the battle, though well aware they were outnumbered.
Bobby and Amara were currently involved in an ice vs. fire match.
Bobby quickly iced up when the heat got to him. He drew closer to Amara, planning to head-butt her, gently though. Unluckily she flamed up at the last moment.
"Oh," Bobby chuckled nervously. "Forgot you can do that."
Amara gave a deadly glare and continued her attempt to melt Iceman.
Scott kept his eyes shut. He was in a state of helplessness. No visor meant he couldn't see where or whom he would be shooting his deadly beams at. And either way, if he let loose an optic blast on any of the girls, they would be subdued…..permanently…….
Scott let out an angry sigh.
Sometimes he wished he had some other power—
"Hey!" He suddenly felt numerous hands grab him, practically immobilizing him. "Jamie, don't do this!" he said, struggling to free himself from the clones' grips. "You can fight this—Mpffh!" His mouth was taped shut.
"I always wanted to do that when you bore us to death in those team briefings," Jamie revealed with a giggle.
"Hempff!" Scott said offended, his voice coming out muffled.
"You know what? You just talk too much!" Jamie said annoyed. "Even when people are getting bored, you keep on talking!"
"Whafpt?" Scott exclaimed. That wasn't true! Was it?
"Aye think he just wants to be like the Professor……." Scott recognized the new voice as Rahne's.
"Yeah…..like the Professor……" Jamie agreed. Scott could picture two evil grins on their faces. "I always wondered how you would look bald Scott……"
Scott froze. They wouldn't………
"Me too….." He heard the snapping of scissors. "Bald and crippled….."
'God if you're there, then prove it!' Scott desperately yelled in his thoughts as he felt Jamie clutch his hair. 'Show me a miracle!'
His prayer seemed to have been answered. The weight of the clones was suddenly gone and he was able to move his limbs.
He winced when the tape on his mouth was ripped off. He then felt his visor being slipped on. "Thank you….." he said, utterly grateful, "Thank—" His gratitude died on his lips when he got a very good look at his rescuer. "Mystique!" He immediately stood up. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Saving you from a very bad haircut is a better way to sum it up," Mystique said sarcastically before growing serious. "Where are Rogue and Kurt?"
Scott ignored her question. "If you're working with Mesmero then so help—"
"Yes, I'm working with the circus freak who left me for a statue at Apocalypse's tomb," Mystique said sardonically as she glanced over at the others. "And I'll take that as a thank you for saving all your pathetic lives."
"Teach us how to do that," Bobby practically seemed ready to worship her as he eyed the unconscious girls and most of the Jamies.
"Yeah….that was awesome!" Ray complimented her, having witnessed the whole thing. "Err…but are they going to be ok?"
Mystique rolled her eyes. "Thank you. And don't worry…they're still alive," she told the glaring Scott. "I don't usually hit children."
"No…you lock them inside the mansion then set it to blow….." Scott said sourly, his hand on his visor. "What do you want?"
"Mesmero's head on a platter would a nice start!" she responded furiously. "Nobody leaves me for a statue and gets away with it!" She punched her palm. "I was so close to wringing that neck of his and then—"
"Wait….You just want revenge?" Scott realized. Just like she wanted revenge on him for leaving her at Area51.
"Obviously. Now where are Rogue and Kurt?"
"Uh…..Sleeping in their rooms' maybe?" Bobby suggested uncertainly since they would have woken up on hearing the destruction going about in the foyer.
Before the boys could even begin to move, Mystique was standing outside Rogue's room. Instead of knocking, she kicked the door, breaking it open.
"Hello privacy! Moms don't break into their daughters' rooms like that," Bobby pointed out as they came over. "You really have got to learn a lot about parenting."
"Is this the kind of room that you gave her?" she asked angrily, pointing at the huge hole in the wall and then the one in the floor.
"His fault!" Bobby quickly pointed at Scott.
"She's not even here," she stated and moved on to Kurt's room. When she opened the door, she got a nice view of the ground floor. "And by the looks of this, Kurt wasn't here either."
"Mystique, what is going on?" Scott demanded. "Why are you even here?"
Mystique sighed. "Let's just say Mesmero was making some….threats."
"Which involved your kids?" Bobby asked, getting a raised eyebrow from her. "By the way you're acting, it kinda looked like it. My Mom used to go crazy all the time if someone told her I got hurt or something," he mentioned proudly.
"Uh…guys?" Roberto gulped as he peered below. "Jamies are waking up……"
"Hmm…..He's a tricky one," Mystique observed with narrowed eyes, having felt sure she knocked the real Jamie out.
"Head for the elevator!" Scott commanded.
"A-And then what do we do?" Roberto asked, panicked as the girls began stirring. "Lock them in the Danger Room?"
"That's…..not a bad idea," Scott said as they stepped in.
"Hold that elevator…." Everyone was surprised when Mystique stepped in.
"Uh…..Does this mean you're helping us?" Bobby asked her.
"If it means giving Mesmero a fate worst than death, then yes."
"A.k.a I want to make sure my kids are ok," Bobby whispered to Ray.
"Most importantly," she said, startling the two boys. "Are you going to press that anytime soon?" she asked the shocked Scott, whose finger was hovering over the button.
Scott quickly recovered. He then glared at her. "We still don't trust you."
"I don't expect you to," Mystique simply said before Scott pressed the button.
An awkward silence filled the atmosphere as the elevator started moving.
"So…uh…..Mystique……" Bobby decided to break the ice. "Uh…..I'm just curious…..if you wanted……can you turn yourself into a car or umm…..a chair?"
"Unless I wanted to kill myself," she answered in an uninterested tone.
"And…..uh….are your clothes……real…or….."
"Just because I'm a shape-shifter doesn't mean I walk around naked all the time!" she said menacingly, which was a hint for Bobby to stop his questions.
Scott banged his head against the doors, praying desperately that the elevator moved faster before he found things about Mystique that were better left unknown.
Instead of being discouraged, Bobby continued. "And when you turn into a guy…..do you……you know….."
Mystique gave him a glare that clearly said 'finish-that-sentence-and-I'll kill you.'
Bobby gave her a nervous smile. "And I'll just shut up now."
"We're here!" Scott announced as he burst out of the elevator, not caring if his voice came out squeaky.
"Uh…..Are we on the right floor?" Ray asked, looking around in confusion. The sub-basement resembled a disaster hit zone.
"Looks like Amara has been a busy girl….." Bobby remarked, cringing at the burning smell around them.
"No Danger Room……." Roberto said, gazing at what used to be the Danger Room. "It's gone." He smiled, realizing something. "The Danger Room is gone….."
"Uh….in case you have forgotten, Professor is rich. He'll get it fixed in a day," Bobby told Roberto before he started celebrating.
"The control room looks ok," Ray said as he wandered there.
"Don't even think about it….." Scott warned Mystique after her gaze wavered longer than it should have toward the Cerebro chamber.
"I'm not," Mystique brushed past him.
"Umm…g-g-guys?" a very pale Ray stammered. "Y-You better take a look at this….."
Confused, they followed him into the control room.
"Look….." Ray pointed a shaky finger at the screen.
Everyone……even Mystique was horrified at the clock counting backwards on the large screen.
"Uh…M-Mystique?" Bobby gulped. "Don't you get the feeling Mesmero sent you into a trap again?"
"Are you frozen back there or something Red?" Carol's high-pitched voice shrieked. A few heads turned in her direction. "Hurry up!"
Under normal circumstances, Jean would have flared up and retorted, but right now, she was feeling sick to her stomach. First of all, she was worried about Scott. For some reason, he was blocking her attempts to talk to him through the bond they shared. And secondly was the unexpected duty of erasing Carol……..
'Jean?'
'Scott!' Jean felt greatly relived at the sound of his voice. 'I've been trying to get through to you for hours! Are you alright? Is everyone ok?'
'Uh…yeah sure.' He sounded more tense than relaxed. 'W-Why wouldn't we be ok?'
'Long story short. Lucas—'
'Lucas?' Scott immediately grew angry and concerned. 'Are you guys alright?'
'Yes we're fine. And he's gone,' Jean said unsurely, though without doubt that Lucas escaped unharmed from the fire he had started. 'I think. But Carol said—Well he said something to Rogue earlier……that he was going to use the mansion's self-destruct mode.'
'Oh……r-really?'
'Yes. But thankfully Rogue called Jubilee and told her—'
'Oh she told Jubilee huh? No wonder…..'
'No wonder what?' Jean asked confused.
'N-No wonder the uh…news spread so fast.' He let out a nervous laugh. 'You know Jubilee….always spreading stuff.'
Jean frowned. 'Scott…..is everything alright?'
'Yes…. Everything is ok now! We're all fine!' Scott's assurances seemed…..forced. 'Jean listen, are Kurt and Rogue with you?'
'Rogue is……' Jean found Carol glaring at her from across the corridor, 'sort of with me. I sent Kurt to the mansion—'
'W-What!' His yell startled Jean so much that she almost hit the ceiling. 'W-Why would you do that?'
'I don't know maybe because I was worried?' Jean said sarcastically, his yell still ringing in her head. 'Scott, what is going on?'
'Could you tell Rogue……not now, but later….err….later as in the event of something happening to Mystique. Dig eight feet underneath the kitchen floor of the Brotherhood Boarding House.'
"What?" Jean screeched. 'What are you talking about? A-And what exactly would happen to Mystique?' she asked, utterly baffled as to why they were suddenly discussing about the shape-shifter.
'Let's just suppose she….uh….passes on or something,' Scott replied timidly.
'I don't see Mystique meeting her demise any time soon—Wait a minute…..how would you even know something like that?'
'Wild guess?' Scott provided lamely.
That was it! 'I'm coming home right now!' she declared.
'No!' Scott's shout, nearly gave Jean a migraine. 'No….' His voice softened. 'I-I meant don't come home right now. Take your time. How about….twenty minutes? Don't come before that.'
'Why not?'
'Just don't. Everything is a sort of mess right now.'
'I don't care as long as my room is fine.'
'Your room? Uh yeah…..It's just….neat and tidy as always.'
Now Jean was beginning to feel more suspicious than worried. 'Scott…..Where's Emma?'
'Emma?' Scott sounded like he never heard the name before.
'Yes Emma…..you know the woman you're always staring eight inches south of her face?'
'I-I don't know,' Scott stammered, not even denying Jean's comment.
'What is that supposed to mean?' Jean fumed. 'You don't know where she is?'
'S-She must be around here……somewhere.'
'Well do make sure she's somewhere far….faraway from you!' Jean said strictly.
'Umm o-ok….Listen I-I really need to go now.'
A magazine suddenly hit the back of Jean's head, thrown most certainly by the intolerant Carol. 'Yeah….I need to go too….' she said between gritted teeth, rubbing her head.
'Take care of yourself and the others ok? I love you.'
Jean blinked in incredulity and worry. It almost sounded like a last goodbye rather than the usual see-you-later goodbye.
"Jean?" Somebody furiously shook her back to reality.
"Ah!" Jean yelped on seeing the male nurse infront of her."Remy! What are you doing? You look ridiculous!"
"De lady in de waitin' room has eyes like a hawk! Couldn't sneak past her so needed a disguise." He gave her a concerned look. "Y' ok?"
"Fine, I guess." Jean sighed. "You were supposed to wait with the others."
"Non," Remy glowered, looking ahead at Carol. "I want t' make sure everythin'…...doesn't get screwed up like it always does."
"It won't," Jean assured, though in a not at all confident voice.
Remy was quick to catch on that and immediately became worried for Rogue's wellbeing. "Rogue is goin' t' be ok? Right Jean?"
Jean nodded. "Yes, she'll be fine."
"Y' sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure," Jean promised. "You have nothing to be worried about."
"Hmm…" Remy still didn't look convinced. Something just didn't feel right. "An' what 'bout Carol? She gonna be ok too?"
Jean didn't answer. She just couldn't find the right words.
Remy raised an eyebrow. "Jean if y' gonna be a doctor, y' gotta learn how t' break de bad news."
"Yes and no," Jean finally replied with a remorseful sigh.
Remy gave her a confused look. "What? Dere's a fifty percent chance or somethin'?" He suddenly felt bad for thinking awful things about Carol.
"Remy…..." She bit her lip, unsure of his reaction. "That isn't really Carol Danvers. Carol never left her body."
"Quoi?" Remy exclaimed, flabbergasted by the revelation. He slowly stared at Carol, who was freely tossing out the contents of her trench coat…or rather his trench coat. "Den who or what is dat?"
"Just another psyche….a personality….."
Remy was even more puzzled now. "Den what's all dis talk about returnin' t' her body if she isn't even de real t'ing?"
Jean looked into his eyes, hoping he would understand. "I can't risk her finding out…..."
It was then realization dawned upon Remy. His eyes widened. "Y're goin' t' kill her……now?"
"No, I'm going to erase her," she corrected, laying emphasis on the word, 'erase'. "She's not a real person Remy. Sooner or later, she has to be removed," she said as she observed Carol, now munching on some candy bar. "Sooner is better since Lucas told her everything."
"Yeah…." Remy recalled Carol's babble earlier. "But she doesn't believe it……"
"Which is a good thing."
"But…de real Carol. De one in a coma…will she—"
"She'll be just fine."
Remy slowly nodded, still watching Carol. "So can y' do it?"
Jean frowned at him. "What?"
He slowly turned to face her. "Can y' really kill Carol?" he asked, his eyes probing hers.
Jean was about to again correct him when she felt something hit her on the back of the head and conveniently get stuck in her hair. She carefully removed the candy bar wrapper from her hair. "If she keeps this up, then yes," she responded to Remy's question with a groan.
Instead of throwing the wrapper in the trash, Jean telekinetically hurled it at Carol's head.
Carol unexpectedly moved at the last moment, missing the flying wrapper. She turned around and stuck her tongue out.
"Wait….how did she even know that?" Jean asked surprised.
"Sixth sense?" Remy suggested with a shrug.
"Ugh! Will you stop talking to your friend's ex-boyfriend and return me to my body already!" Carol's shriek rang in the passageway. Few of the patients in the neighboring rooms stirred restlessly in their sleep.
"Would you keep your voice down!" Jean hissed, coming over to her. "This is a hospital!"
"Snails move faster than you!" Carol wasn't affected. "You were just standing there looking at nothing for the past twenty four hours!"
'I'll be close…..' Remy mentally told Jean as he blended into the shadows. 'Really close….'
'Wait with the others,' Jean told him firmly.
'Good luck killin' her.'
Jean scowled. 'It's erasing Remy.'
'Same thin'.'
'It isn't.' Jean turned back to Carol. "I was talking to Scott….telepathically."
"It didn't look like talking—" Carol made a disgusted face. "Eww…you two were doing it in your minds, weren't you?"
"Of course not!" Jean denied appalled.
"Yeah right….." Carol rolled her eyes. "So how was he?" she asked, very curiously.
"That's none of your business!" Jean exploded. From somewhere, a baby stated crying.
Carol smirked. "I meant if he's ok and all at the mansion."
Jean's anger turned into embarrassment. "Yes…he's fine….Everything is fine," she said, though not at all feeling convinced herself. "Shall we?" She stepped aside to let Carol lead the way. "I'm a little uncomfortable with hospitals…..so if you would hurry up….."
"Why? Rogue put you in a coma too?" Carol asked, least interested as they walked down the corridor.
"No. Pain and suffering of people all around—"
"Oh ok," Carol dismissed it uncaringly as she let herself into a room. "This is it," she announced as Jean entered.
Jean was in a stupor as she gaped at the comatose body of Carol Danvers, lying on the bed with—
She blinked in amazement.
—Make-up on her face?
"I still look so pale," Carol said in an unsatisfied tone. "Nothing a little more blush-on won't solve."
Jean shook her head, trying to regain her self awareness. "Huh?" She then happened to notice something……..something which shouldn't be around Carol's finger.
When Carol caught Jean staring, she let out a startled gasp. In the blink of an eye, she swiped it from her body and hid it behind her back.
"Hand it over Carol," Jean commanded, holding her hand out..
"Hand what over?" Carol asked, pretending to be clueless.
Jean telekinetically snatched it from Carol. She gasped as she observed the object…..
A ring…..a real diamond ring…….something which Carol could never afford in her current condition unless…..
"Did you steal this?" Jean demanded.
"No!" Carol denied, looking offended. "Someone whose name I won't say gave it to me and that person's identity shall always remain a mystery to you."
Jean rolled her eyes, knowing getting a straight answer from Carol was impossible. She slipped the ring on her finger. "Then I'm taking this for safe keeping."
"Fine! Take it!" Carol glared at her. "I'll get it back soon….." she muttered under her breath. "So…..get on with it!"
"Alright. Take a seat then."
"What's wrong with standing up?" Carol asked frivolously.
"I said take a seat, Carol!" Jean ordered in a hostile tone and telekinetically shoved the chair towards her. She was getting fed-up of Carol's happy-go-lucky attitude.
"Ok….." Carol remained undaunted by Jean's display of anger as she shrugged off the trench coat. She then propped down on the chair. "No need to use your scary voice, Doc."
"Don't make this harder than it already is," Jean sighed, coming behind her.
Carol titled her head back and looked up at Jean. "How long is it going to take anyway?'
"Uh…." Jean trailed off, trying to estimate. "Should take…..less than a minute……" Killing usually takes less then a second…...if it's instant death…..
Jean quickly shook her head, trying to clear her mind of such thoughts. 'Thanks a lot Remy,' she cursed and started to extend her hand toward Carol.
"Is it….going to hurt?" Carol suddenly asked, in a voice similar to a child's, her blue eyes large and fearful.
Jean's hand trembled in mid-air, unable to do anything. She quickly pulled it back, hoping Carol didn't see it. 'Yes………agonizingly yes,' she thought with a gulp. "Umm…..T-The transfer can be….a bit…..painful."
"A bit?" Carol shrugged, not a bit discouraged. "I can handle that. Ok, so bring it on."
Jean rubbed her wrist and again tried, but something just wouldn't let her. She clenched her fists, thinking how stupid this was…….
She shouldn't be feeling like this. She was just going to kill—erase a personality. 'You kill a person, but you erase a personality,' she reminded herself, which made her feel much worst. She had convinced Kitty and Remy that Carol was just another psyche, then why couldn't she do it?
"Well? I'm waiting…." Carol reminded her. "I don't see anything happening….."
"Don't you think we should hear what Rogue has to say about this?" Jean couldn't believe she was stalling.
"Uh….hello?" Carol snorted. "She would be happy that I'm gone!" She huffed. "I'm sure you all would be….."
"Sure……" Jean said weakly, trying again, but failing to do so. She let out an irritated sigh.
What was so hard about killing—erasing Carol? Professor had erased about eighteen different personalities. Why couldn't she do the same to one infuriating psyche? What exactly was different this time?
The answer came to her in an instant as she watched Carol humming some pop tune. 'Oh no….' she groaned inwardly, realizing why she felt this way.
She had treated Carol like a real person…….talked to her……screamed at her…..even been jealous of her advances at Scott…….just like anybody else……
She ran a nervous hand through her hair.
What had she done?
"Ugh! What is taking you so long?" Carol shouted frustrated.
"I'm….thinking." Jean unconsciously began to pace back and forth, trying to come up with a way to approach the issue.
"You just have to take me out of this body and put me in my own!" Carol made it sound like it was really simple. "Is that so hard?"
Jean came to a halt. "I've never done this before so yes, it could be hard." She then took in a deep breath. 'Ok Jean….you can do this,' she told herself. 'She's just a personality. Just erase her and get it over with! C'mon she left you in the ocean where you spent half a day with smelly, disgusting pirates! And she tried to seduce Scott…..'
But they really weren't valid reasons to just kill her. And damn Remy for getting her used to the word 'kill'.
Jean released her breath and rubbed her hands. 'You accidentally kill insects everyday….so kill a personality.' But if ants or cockroaches talked to her and said: 'Don't kill us Jean!' then of course she couldn't kill them.
She decided to look at the scenario from another perspective. Carol knew the truth, but she didn't believe it…and if somehow she suddenly does, then they are all screwed, especially Rogue. Carol would then most certainly want to stay in Rogue's body forever…..with Rogue out of it of course.
"Are you done thinking now?" Carol asked with a yawn.
"Yes…..I am." With renewed strength and motivation, Jean finally placed her hands on Carol's head.
Carol's hand suddenly shot up and grabbed her arm.
'Jesus!' Jean thought, almost fainting. "W-What is it?" she stammered, trying to control her rapid heart beat.
"My seventh sense… ….." Carol answered, glaring up at Jean.
"W-What?" Jean gave her a bewildered look. "Y-You mean sixth sense?"
Carol shook her head. "No…...Sixth sense is for seeing dead people. That's why I call it seventh sense. It warns me when I'm in danger. " She peered at Jean suspiciously. "Am I?"
Jean kept her gaze locked with Carol, stunned at the discovery that she did indeed possess a sixth— seventh sense. "W-Well……You are going to be transferred from Rogue's body to your own. So maybe you're mind thinks you're in danger…." she explained without pause, wondering where the hell she came up with that. It was pretty obvious why Carol's seventh sense was acting up.
Carol seemed to believe that. "Hmm…yeah……That could be it."
"So…are you ready?" Jean asked, nervously cracking her knuckles. She didn't remember being this nervous even before fighting Apocalypse.
"Duh," Carol said with a roll of her eyes. "You're the one who's making me wait so long."
Jean again reached for Carol, but the girl dodged from her contact.
"This isn't funny," Jean said seriously as Carol giggled in amusement.
"I can't help it. It's my seventh sense."
Jean huffed. This was getting ridiculous. She had to restrain Carol somehow. But what could she use to restrain a girl who possessed super-strength?
Ten minutes later………
"This sucks….." Carol complained, shackled to an examining table. Piotr held her by the arms, just incase.
"It's for the best," Jean told her and felt glad she had tried to 'return Carol to her body' first. She didn't want to imagine what would have happened if Carol's seventh sense kicked in while the Professor was carrying out the task…..
"I hate thi—" Carol's head suddenly slump forward, as if she fainted.
Piotr released her and looked at her concerned.
"Carol?" Jean called, baffled as to what had happened. "Carol?"
Carol moaned before she groggily lifted her head. She blinked drowsily and Jean caught a glimpse of the familiar green eyes instead of those big blue baby eyes.
"Rogue?" Jean asked cautiously. "Is that you?"
"Jean?" Rogue stared at her and Piotr in confusion before her gaze traveled down. "W-What?" On finding herself bound, she was understandably scared, but on seeing Carol's comatose form lying across the room, she was outright terrified.
Before Jean could begin explaining, Rogue broke-free from the restraints as if they were threads.
"Hey! Hey! It's alright!" Jean tried to calm her. "Everything's ok!"
"W-Why ahm A-Ah here—what—W-What's goin' on?" Rogue breathed erratically, wildly looking around her surroundings. "W-What happened?"
"Carol. She wanted to return to her body."
"S-She's b-back in her body?" Rogue stuttered and glanced over at Carol's body.
"No. I'm going to return her to her body," Jean clarified. It was a lie but she couldn't risk Carol finding out. "Well, I was and then you came back. Are you alright?"
Rogue stayed silent, gazing at Carol with a faraway expression.
"Rogue?" She didn't even stir until Jean touched her shoulder and shook it gently. "Are you ok?"
After a moment, she nodded slowly, her eyes still resting on Carol. "I-Is she……"
"She's going to be just fine," Jean assured, believing Rogue had been struck silent by guilt after seeing what her powers had done to Carol.
"No….." Rogue slowly shook her head. "Is she…..wearin' make-up?"
Jean couldn't help herself and chuckled. "Yes, she is."
"So……" Rogue frowned, deep in thought, "y-you're goin' ta return her right now?"
"Yes….that's what she wanted." After she said this, she could have sworn she saw disappointment flash across Rogue's face. She raised an eyebrow. "Unless…..you're willing to delay for some reason……?"
Rogue whirled to face her as if she had been slapped. "Delay? Are you kiddin'? She's been drivin' meh nuts since she showed up! If Ah wasn't invulnerable right now, Ah would've killed mahself ta stop her from sqealin' another song!"
"Ok…." Jean held up her hands in defense. "I'm sorry I said that."
"Just get her out," Rogue grumbled, seemingly returning to her old unenthusiastic self. "Ah have enough people in mah head already."
"Of course, if you would just lie down," Jean said, gesturing to the table.
Rogue hesitated, eyeing everything around her once more, especially Carol. Like a woman condemned to a death sentence, she walked back to the examining table and lay down. "Umm….so how is this goin' ta work?" she asked anxiously as Jean came over.
"Like it normally does," Jean replied, avoiding her inquiring gaze.
Rogue swallowed the lump in her throat as she was strapped down by Piotr. "I-Is this really necessary?" She really didn't like the idea of being all tied up.
"Considering Carol couldn't stop moving…..yes." Jean was vague about the reason.
Rogue tried to keep a straight face, though failing. "So…..H-How does it normally work?"
"It's the same process…..which was done to make all those other……people you knew….to leave," she answered carefully, hoping Rogue caught some hints in her sentence.
She received a blank stare from Rogue. "What?"
Jean let out an exasperated sigh. "Look, just don't worry about it. Everything will be alright."
Rogue still seemed troubled about the whole thing. "Where's Remy?" she suddenly asked as if remembering something.
"Lurking outside. Do you…..want me to call him?" Jean asked uncertainly. "He was really worried."
Rogue thought for a second and then shook her head.
Jean raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" Remy's presence might put her somewhat at ease—
"Yeah," Rogue mumbled, looking unhappy. "Ah'm sure."
—Or maybe not……
"Alright," Jean decided to move ahead. "Are you ready?"
Rogue bit her lip and reluctantly nodded.
"Great," Jean rubbed her hands together. "All you need to do is relax, ok? Can you do that?"
Rogue mechanically nodded her head, appearing as if she was asked to eat Kitty's muffins for the rest of her life.
"Good." Jean then stretched out her hand toward Rogue.
"W-Wait….."
Her hand stopped a mere inches away from her.
"A-Are you sure you know what you're doin'?" Rogue asked tensely, suddenly hit by a major headache.
"Yes," Jean nodded. Enter Rogue's mind, locate Carol and…erase her. Simple as that.
Rogue had a hard time believing that. "B-But, you've never done somethin' like this before….." When was the last time Jean switched bodies? Or returned someone to their own? The only mutant who had been able to pull psyches out of Rogue was Apocalypse and that process had been really excruciating. Right then, Rogue had been certain it would kill her. But since Carol was different……"How can you—"
"There's a first time for everything." Jean was slightly disappointed at Rogue's lack of trust on her ability. "Look, I know I can do this."
Rogue chuckled. "That's not re-assurin'."
"Alright…..Just tell me, do you or do you not want to be rid of Carol?" Jean asked sternly, hoping it would push aside Rogue's worries.
Rogue rolled her eyes. "Of course……but—" She bit back the rest of her sentence and winced. But why was her headache growing? Her head was just exploding whenever Jean came near her. Something just wasn't right here.
Jean waited for her to continue. "But?"
"What if….." Rogue groped for the words. "Somethin' goes wrong?"
Jean sighed, rubbing her forehead. This conversation was just going around in circles. "Just trust me, ok?"
Rogue reflected over her answer. Should she listen to the girl who everyone trusted or her instincts? "Alright….." she conceded, grimacing. "Do it."
Jean finally placed her hands on either side of Rogue's head. She closed her eyes and concentrated.
Rogue gritted her teeth against another wave of pain stabbing her head.
She recalled all the times these strange headaches unexpectedly surfaced: When the Blackbird was about to be attacked; the baby about to puke on her at the airport; the truck about to crush her and Remy……there were just so many things….But one thing was for sure, it always warned her of any impending threat. And right now, something was definitely about to go wrong!
Rogue jerked her head away from Jean's hands. "S-Stop."
Jean opened her eyes and gave her a perplexed look.
"A-Ah….can't…." Rogue never thought she would hear herself stop her own exorcism, especially to expel someone like Carol. "A-Ah can't do this."
"Rogue…." Jean looked weary, just wanting it to end. Rogue gawked at her as if she was about to destroy the whole planet. "Trust me. You'll be fine."
"N-No," Rogue rapidly shook her head, her entire body trembling. "A-Ah c-can't do this!" Her headache had gotten to the point of unbearable now. She furiously began to struggle. "J-Just can't do this!"
Piotr looked worriedly at Jean, mentally asking if he could release her.
'Not just yet……' Jean told him before turning to Rogue. She was somehow certain Rogue's sudden change of mind had something to do with Carol's seventh sense. But what mystified her was why Rogue was getting it? 'Maybe because they're sharing the same body….' she assumed. And Rogue sensed Carol's fate. But it wasn't like she would disagree with the decision. She would be crazy to want to keep Carol's psyche inside her for the rest of her life.
"S-Somethin' is goin' ta go wrong!" Rogue cried, glancing at Carol's body with a petrified expression.
"No it won't!" Jean assured forcefully, but guiltily as she thought about Carol. "Nothing is going to happen! Whatever your sixth—or seventh sense is telling you, it's wrong! Just relax!"
"No!" Rogue let out an anguished cry and struggled more vigorously. "Let go!"
"It's going to be fine!" Rogue's seventh sense drowned Jean's constant assurances. "Rogue! Stay calm!"
With one burst of energy, Rogue tore free from Colossus's iron-strong grip, astonishing both him and Jean with her strength. Unfortunately, she accidentally clipped both the mutants in the face in the process.
Piotr, who was already in his metal form, only jolted a step back. Jean however, went flying across the room and got slammed against the wall. She slowly slid down to the floor, leaving a large dent in the wall.
Luckily, her telekinetic powers lessened the extent of the blow. She moaned in pain and was in utter disbelief she remained conscious after getting hit like that. She lifted her head weakly.
Rogue stood panting, as if she finished an exhausting Danger Room session. Her eyes blazed in anger as she stared down at Jean……her blue eyes…..
'Blue eyes…' Jean realized and incidentally noticed Rogue's gloves in Piotr's hands and missing from her own. Her eyes widened in panic.
"You….quack……"
A/N: I really can't help myself. I just love evil endings! Can you all believe this was supposed to be the chapter in which Carol goes bye-bye? But then, I changed it. Life really would be dull if Carol wasn't present to make it annoying, lol. So tell me……Did I do the right thing?
1) For those who got confused as to why Rogue freaked out, it was because of Carol's seventh sense. Since they share a body now, Rogue felt that Jean was about to kill her.
2) For those who have forgotten about the diamond ring, Scott gave it to Rogue for safe-keeping in chapter 18. This is where Carol hid it.
As usual review to motivate me, tell me to update fast and let know me what you loved or hated about this chapter. Well until next time…….